By J. Keeler Johnson ("Keelerman") Twitter: @J_Keelerman Happy Thanksgiving! A delightful week of racing is underway. There are graded stakes to enjoy on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, including the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2), a prominent Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier. After analyzing the entries for a wide variety of races, here are four horses who I believe are highly likely to visit the winner's circle this week: Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs While there are exceptions, Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) alumni often perform well when wheeling back a few weeks later for the 1 1/16-mile Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs. In 2022, Curly Jack (fifth in the Juvenile) improved to second place in the Kentucky Jockey Club. In 2020, Juvenile third-place finisher Keepmeinmind delivered victory in the Kentucky Jockey Club. And in 2018, Signalman parlayed a third in the Juvenile into first prize in the Kentucky Jockey Club. That's why I'm willing to bet #2 Jonathan's Way (5-2) can shine in the Kentucky Jockey Club. He opened his career with back-to-back wins, rallying after a troubled start to dominate a six-furlong maiden special weight before wiring the one-mile Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs in decisive fashion. Jonathan's Way subsequently faltered at a short price in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, finishing seventh. But the Juvenile was a fast race, and even in defeat Jonathan's Way earned a respectable 87 Beyer Speed Figure and a sharp 99 Brisnet Speed rating. Jonathan's Way has turned in quick workouts since the Juvenile (including a bullet five furlongs in :58 4/5) and has every chance to rebound while dropping in class and returning to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Jockey Club. FTBOA Florida Sire My Dear Girl S. at Gulfstream Park A race restricted to Florida Sire Stakes-registered juvenile fillies isn't the most common place to search for future Kentucky Oaks (G1) contenders, but the favorite to win this year's 1 1/16-mile FTBOA Florida Sire My Dear Girl S. may indeed be Kentucky Oaks-caliber. #1 Stunner (3-5) has done little wrong in three starts against non-state-restricted competition. She finished second in her debut sprinting at Saratoga, a fast contest won by the exciting filly Senza Parole. Stunner subsequently wired a similar maiden sprint at Saratoga by 6 1/4 lengths. This preceded a start in the one-mile Tempted S. at Aqueduct, in which Stunner again led all the way to win by 3 1/2 lengths. She brings strong speed figures into the My Dear Girl and has the pedigree to shine while stretching out around two turns for the first time, so if you're looking for a single to build multi-race wagers around, this Brad Cox-trained filly is a compelling choice. FTBOA Florida Sire In Reality S. at Gulfstream Park Stretching out from seven furlongs to 1 1/16 miles is the one meaningful question mark facing #1 Rated by Merit (3-5) in the FTBOA Florida Sire In Reality S. But the abundant talent he's shown in sprints should allow him to shine even while making his two-turn debut. Rated by Merit hasn't been meaningfully challenged in three starts, all at Gulfstream. He debuted in a non-state-restricted maiden special weight and romped by 9 3/4 lengths with a 92 Beyer Speed Figure. The he stepped into the Florida Sire ranks, winning the six-furlong Dr. Fager S. by 6 1/4 lengths and the seven-furlong Affirmed S. by 3 3/4 lengths. Those wins yielded improving Beyers of 93 and 99, with the latter number ranking as the highest posted by any juvenile so far this year. There's enough stamina in Rated by Merit's pedigree to suggest he can stretch out over 1 1/16 miles, and a sharp five-furlong workout in :59 2/5 on Nov. 20 should have him ready for another peak performance. I'm confident he'll maintain his edge over #8 Neoequos (7-2), runner-up in the Dr. Fager and Affirmed. Hollywood Derby (G1) at Del Mar Although the Hollywood Derby takes place in California, the 1 1/8-mile turf test is often won by horses shipping in from the East Coast or Midwest. Five of the last eight winners prepped outside of California, and a sixth winner competed primarily on the East Coast before running in one prep race at Santa Anita. That's why I'm keen to support #4 Carson's Run (3-1) in this year's Hollywood Derby. The 2023 Summer (G1) winner has been on a roll as of late, winning the Tale of the Cat S., Saratoga Derby (G1), and Jockey Club Derby (G3) in addition to finishing second in the Nashville Derby (G3). Carson's Run has proven effective over distances from one mile to 1 3/8 miles, so the 1 1/8-mile trip of the Hollywood Derby should suit him just fine. Even better, there appears to be enough pace entered in the Hollywood Derby to set up Carson's Run's typical homestretch rally. I'm optimistic Carson's Run will swoop past the field to secure his third Grade 1 win. Now it's your turn! Who do you like this week? ***** Want to test your handicapping skills against fellow Unlocking Winners readers? Check out the Unlocking Winners contest pagethere's a new challenge every week! (Please note: older contest entries can be found here.) J. Keeler Johnson (also known as "Keelerman") is a writer, videographer, voice actor, handicapper, and all-around horse racing enthusiast. A great fan of racing history, he considers Dr. Fager to be the greatest racehorse ever produced in America, but counts Zenyatta as his all-time favorite. China-EU price commitment talks continue, show progress: commerce ministry Xinhua) 09:36, November 29, 2024 BEIJING, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- China and the European Union (EU) have made progress in their consultations on a price commitment plan for Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), and talks are still ongoing, China's Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday. The remarks were made by ministry spokesperson, He Yadong, at a press conference. He noted that various sectors in both China and the EU are looking forward to a proper resolution of the EU's anti-subsidy case involving Chinese EVs. Building on an existing principled consensus, technical teams from both sides have engaged in intensive consultations and have made some progress thanks to their hard work, the spokesperson confirmed. China hopes that the two sides will work in the same direction and address each other's legitimate concerns in a pragmatic and balanced manner, according to the spokesperson. Both sides should also meet the expectations of various sectors and jointly advance consultations toward positive outcomes, He added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) The collaboration will help BCG Eco scale up its carbon credit projects and connect with international markets, while also stepping up Bamboo Capital's sustainable development goals and contributing to promoting a green economy in Vietnam. As the issue of climate change gains urgency, the development of carbon markets has emerged as a key tool to boost green transition. It was in this context that BCG Eco was established to enhance environmental protection work, tap the carbon credit markets potential, and promote environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives. BCG Ecos main operations include forestry, forest care, and the nurturing of forestry seedlings. As an independent consultancy, it aims to offer comprehensive solutions for businesses looking to participate in the carbon credit market while expanding its sustainable development initiatives. Bamboo Capital and BCG Eco have implemented specific strategies, from project development to seeking credible international partners towards jointly developing carbon credit projects. All parties in the latest collaboration BCG Eco, Capital Quantum, and Corects have stated their commitment to building a sustainable and comprehensive carbon credit ecosystem. Their goal is to create a closed-loop value chain, from developing carbon emission reduction projects to carbon credit transactions. Under the agreement, BCG Eco will leverage the expertise and experience of Bamboo Capital in renewable energy and environmental sectors. It will take the lead in providing in-depth knowledge and consultancy on the carbon credit market standards in Vietnam. The company will also produce high-quality carbon credits for sale in Singapore, while exploring opportunities in carbon credit trading markets in Vietnam, Singapore, and Laos. From left: Tan Bo Quan, Andy - CEO of BCG Eco, Anthony Lau Hong Kay - CEO of Corects, and Sofia Cao - CEO of Capital Quantum, sign a cooperation agreement in Singapore. Photo: Bamboo Capital Capital Quantum is a pioneer in developing carbon credit platforms in Singapore. It is currently working closely with the Global Carbon Council (GCC). Recently, together with its joint venture partner in the country, it signed a framework agreement with the Papua New Guinea Forestry Authority to implement Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement the UN framework convention on climate change. Through its partnership with Capital Quantum, BCG Eco will benefit from international experience and advanced technologies that the former has developed through leading projects in Singapore. The Singaporean firm will support BCG Eco and Corects in managing, monitoring, and reporting on carbon credits. With Capital Quantum ensuring accurate and transparent measurement in accordance with international requirements, carbon credits from joint projects will meet necessary standards for international trading. Corects (Carbon Offset and Renewable Energy Consultancy, Technology and Solutions) specialises in providing consultancy services for the development of carbon credit projects, as well as supporting certification and auditing processes. With extensive experience in providing carbon credit consultancy and implementing carbon projects, it will play a crucial role in helping BCG Eco implement internationally compliant projects through advanced data analytics solutions. It will also provide guidance for companies like BCG Eco on exploring new carbon markets and expanding trading capabilities. The partnership with Capital Quantum and Corects marks an important step forward for BCG Eco in realising its development goals. It is not only a commercial partnership but also a move that underscores Bamboo Capital's strong commitment to sustainable and green development, the group's release said. Climate change is increasingly impacting peoples lives and destabilising economies. In response to the ongoing emergency, countries have initiated actions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and develop carbon credit markets. At COP 26 in the UK in 2021, Vietnam made its first commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. This goal has been incorporated into the National Strategy on Climate Change for 2050. Carbon credit markets are considered one of the most effective tools to help Vietnam achieve this target. Experts believe that developing carbon credit markets will bring economic benefits and help transition Vietnam from a brown economy to a green one. The shift will not only enhance Vietnam's position on the global stage but also attract attention and investment from international organisations and businesses. The Vietnamese carbon credit market is forecast to continue growing strongly, with a projected growth rate of up to 20 per cent due to pressures from international agreements such as the Paris Agreement and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Forestry is considered a sector with the greatest potential for carbon credit development in Vietnam. Photo: Bamboo Capital The "Carbon Market Development in Vietnam" project, currently under development, stipulates GHG emission reductions and ozone layer protection. From 2028 onwards, Vietnam plans to operate a carbon credit exchange, connecting the domestic market with regional and global markets. Bamboo Capital Group completed acquisition of 80.64 per cent share of AAA Insurance Bamboo Capital Group and its subsidiary BCG Financial JSC on December 2 received the Ministry of Finance's approval for the acquisition of 80.64 per cent of shares of AAA Insurance JSC. Bamboo Capital signs partnership deal with STACS Vietnams Bamboo Capital Group signed a partnership agreement on August 22 with STACS, an environmental, social, and governance (ESG) fintech firm headquartered in Singapore, marking a major step on the journey towards sustainable development. Crafting successful M&A deals: Strategies for long-term growth and resilience Binh Le Vandekerckove, founder and CEO of ASART Deal Advisory Binh Le Vandekerckove, founder and of ASART Deal Advisory, highlighted a significant shift in investment strategies among investors in Vietnam. "In the past, investors focused on specific industries such as healthcare, education, retail, agriculture, and logistics," she said. However, recent years have seen a move towards thematic investment areas, including environmental, social, and governance (ESG), AI, and sustainable agriculture. Healthcare continues to dominate as a key sector for M&A. In 2022, ASART advised on one of Vietnam's largest healthcare transactions - CVC Capitals $116 million acquisition of Phuong Chau International Hospital. This was followed by a sharp rise in healthcare-related investments in 2023, with more than 10 deals collectively worth billions of dollars. Education remains attractive to investors, but structural challenges persist. "Vietnam still lacks a sufficient number of large-scale, high-potential target companies in the education sector," Binh said. Looking ahead to 2025, when Vietnams M&A market is predicted to experience significant growth, Binh underscored the role of advisory firms in ensuring deal success. "Advisors act as the bridge between buyers and sellers, guiding them towards strategic alignment and helping both sides achieve their objectives," she said. She pointed out that deals exceeding $10 million, particularly those over $30 million, increasingly require professional advisory support to manage risks and align goals. Pham Minh Tuan, vice chairman of Bamboo Capital Group (BCG) Pham Minh Tuan, vice chairman of Bamboo Capital Group (BCG), outlined the companys strategy centred on M&A, particularly in renewable energy. "Foreign investors often approach Vietnam with caution due to limited understanding of local businesses and culture. However, renewable energy projects have become a reassuring entry point," he said. BCG, currently the third-largest player in Vietnams renewable energy sector, operates projects with a total capacity of 700 MW. Recent initiatives include a waste treatment project in Ho Chi Minh City and an investment of around $800 million in renewable energy projects. BCG aims to expand its renewable energy portfolio further by 2027 and is optimistic about government policies encouraging foreign investment. "Supportive regulatory frameworks will be critical in attracting international capital and strengthening Vietnams position in renewable energy," Tuan said. Nguyen Tran Thuc Anh, investment director of Covestcons LLC (a subsidiary of Coteccons Construction JSC) Nguyen Tran Thuc Anh, Investment director of Coteccons, said the companys strategic priorities during the M&A Vietnam Forum 2024. Coteccons focuses on identifying opportunities that align with its core strengths in construction while enabling diversification into complementary sectors. We aim to reduce dependence on one sector by exploring synergies and expanding into areas that complement our expertise, Thuc Anh said. We dont aim to be a Big Brother that imposes changes. Instead, we aim to build on the existing DNA of the businesses we invest in, honouring their culture and history while creating mutual growth. Central to Coteccons M&A strategy is the alignment of long-term visions with potential partners. This process involves significant time and effort to ensure shared goals, with a focus on sustainable development. Post-acquisition, the company works to enhance operations, refine processes, and strengthen human resources, while also refreshing brand identities and preparing for a new growth trajectory. We are focused on building businesses that endure for decades, even centuries, rather than being swayed by temporary market conditions. Our goal is sustainable growth over the long term, she said, underscoring the companys meticulous and forward-thinking approach to M&A. Dang Thi Kim Oanh, chairwoman and CEO of Kim Oanh Group Dang Thi Kim Oanh, chairwoman and CEO of Kim Oanh Group, shared her experiences working with Japanese real estate partners, highlighting the challenges and rewards of such collaborations. She described Japanese firms as having unparalleled professionalism, transparency, and discipline, which, while demanding, have significantly elevated her companys capabilities. These companies bring centuries of experience, and their stringent requirements have compelled us to adapt and grow. The learning curve has been steep, but the benefits are immense, she said In 2024, Kim Oanh Group began partnerships with four major Japanese conglomerates, a process expected to take two years to finalise. These collaborations focus on projects with prime locations and clear legal frameworks, adhering to Japanese investors preference for staged payments tied to regulatory milestones. We have had to adapt to their detailed contracts and strict timelines, but we are now approaching the final stages of these deals, Oanh said. Kim Oanh Group is also advancing a significant social housing initiative, aiming to deliver 40,000 units by 2028 across 26 projects, at a total investment of around $1.24 billion. The initiative, developed in partnership with Surbana Jurong, aspires to provide Singapore-standard homes for Vietnamese families. Luu Thi Thanh Mau, vice president of the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association and CEO of Phuc Khang Corporation Luu Thi Thanh Mau, vice president of the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association and CEO of Phuc Khang Corporation, highlighted the importance of building long-term, sustainable partnerships with foreign investors. She reflected on her companys collaboration with Japans Mitsubishi Corporation, which resulted in the development of the Diamond Lotus project - a green housing initiative with 800 units meeting international sustainability standards. This partnership was transformative. It was not only about creating a project but also about aligning our values and approach to sustainable development, she said. Mau spoke of the challenges of working with Japanese investors, particularly in meeting their rigorous standards. She noted that adapting to their expectations required her company to improve its internal processes and enhance its professionalism. Our collaboration with Mitsubishi pushed us to grow, and we are now extending these partnerships to other Japanese firms, such as Aeon Mall, to further integrate sustainability into our projects, she added. Mau also stressed the importance of preparation and adaptability when working with foreign investors. She recounted the story of how Phuc Khang had to respond to an urgent request from Mitsubishi during the Vietnamese New Year holiday, highlighting the need for flexibility in such partnerships. Angus Liew, chairman of Gamuda Land Vietnam Angus Liew, chairman of Gamuda Land Vietnam, reaffirmed the Malaysian companys deep commitment to Vietnam, a key market in its global portfolio. With a market capitalisation of $6 billion, Gamuda Land has pledged over $1 billion in investments in Vietnam over the next five years, focusing on infrastructure and real estate development. Challenges are inevitable in any market, but they also present opportunities. Vietnam remains one of our top priorities due to its immense growth potential, Liew stated. The company plans to leverage its experience to attract additional investors, creating a more vibrant and sustainable real estate market in Vietnam. Reflecting on Gamuda Lands M&A activities, which include 12 completed transactions, Liew shared key lessons. He highlighted the importance of anticipating uncertainties and preparing contingency plans to address unexpected challenges. Additionally, he emphasised the need for strong advisory teams to navigate regulatory complexities and avoid costly missteps. M&A is never straightforward, and achieving success requires persistence, adaptability, and mutual support between all parties involved, he said. Pham Duy Khuong, managing partner at ASL Law Pham Duy Khuong, managing partner at ASL Law, emphasised that understanding investor preferences was key to successful M&A transactions in Vietnam. Khuong observed that Chinese investors often focus on industrial real estate, leveraging Vietnams role as a hub for relocating manufacturers. In contrast, Japanese investors gravitate towards IT companies that can integrate into global supply chains. Meanwhile, e-commerce has become a significant trend, with cross-border platforms entering Vietnam after securing logistics assets such as warehouses and cold storage facilities through M&A to solidify their operations. The sectors most sought after by investors include industrial real estate, IT, logistics, and port infrastructure. Khuong noted that foreign investors have shown strong interest in acquiring Vietnamese ports, but these deals often require extensive legal due diligence, which can prolong the transaction timeline. Japanese companies will not engage unless all legal matters are thoroughly resolved, he explained. This rigorous approach often results in significant due diligence costs, but once a deal is closed, the benefits include long-term credibility and stable partnerships. M&A prospects bright in many sectors Dealmaking activities are arising in emerging fields ranging from semiconductors and data centres to liquefied natural gas, indicating ample room for buyers. Wide M&A prospects for ASEAN players Supported by an influx of capital from developed economies, Southeast Asia now stands as a strategic hub for international investors exploring growth opportunities. Despite this appeal, the market presents specific challenges that necessitate careful navigation. Nonetheless, the momentum in the Southeast Asian merger and acquisition (M&A) sector reflects a resilient and optimistic outlook, signalling strong potential for sustained investment returns. The 16th Vietnam M&A Forum: A Blossoming Market After a period of stagnation, Vietnams M&A market is now on a strong recovery trajectory, with major deals starting to re-emerge. The rise of industrial real estate M&A Vietnams industrial real estate mergers and acquisitions market is experiencing unprecedented growth, fuelled by improving infrastructure, revised laws, and increasing demand from foreign investors. What makes Vietnam an attractive market for maintenance, repair, and overhaul providers, as well as private jet manufacturers? The business jet market globally has followed a consistent developmental trajectory, and Vietnam is now on a similar path, akin to Chinas market 20 years ago. Business jets are no longer just a luxury for the ultra-wealthy; they are increasingly essential tools for business and leisure, particularly in Asia, where combining business trips with personal leisure is on the rise. Paul Desgrosseilliers, general manager at ExecuJet Haite Aviation Services The US market, with more than 15,000 jets, primarily serves publicly traded companies that operate fleets to comply with regulations. In developing markets like Vietnam, business jets represent a necessity for flexibility and efficiency, particularly for businesses operating in remote or underserved locations. Vietnams rapidly growing economy has created strong demand for business aviation, mirroring Chinas experience, where fleets expanded from a couple of jets to hundreds as businesses recognised the benefits. However, Vietnam must address its infrastructure limitations to support this growth. ExecuJet Haite sees significant potential in Vietnam, leveraging our proximity and operational advantages. Flights from Northern China to Hanoi take only three to four hours, and many Vietnamese operators already utilise our services for maintenance and support. Though challenges such as insufficient infrastructure are common across Asia, we see parallels with Chinas development. For example, we recently opened a dedicated business aviation facility in Beijing, featuring 100 parking bays and tailored services. Similar investments in Vietnam could significantly enhance its aviation capabilities. We are eager to support Vietnams progress through investment, infrastructure guidance, and services like maintenance and fixed-based operations (FBO). By sharing our expertise, we can help Vietnams business aviation sector thrive and contribute to regional connectivity. What strategies would you recommend to build partnerships and pull in clients in Vietnam? For over 20 years, ExecuJet Haite has been active in fostering partnerships across the business aviation ecosystem, encompassing manufacturers like Dassault, Gulfstream, Bombardier, Boeing, and Airbus, as well as engine and avionics companies like Honeywell. Operators, including VistaJet and others, are key participants alongside flight handling, fuel providers, leasing companies, and financial institutions like Bank of America. During my visit to Vietnam, I observed a collaborative spirit among stakeholders that is unique compared to hyper-competitive markets like China. This openness provides a strong foundation for fostering partnerships. Establishing a local chapter of an industry association similar to China, where the chapter grew from five to 35 members could provide a platform for networking, cooperation, and advocacy. Vietnams business aviation market resembles the early stages of Chinas development. While Ho Chi Minh City may seem like the logical hub for business aviation due to its economic activity, Hanoi currently has more business jets, primarily serving affluent individuals and local businesses. Charter services in Ho Chi Minh City are expected to grow as companies recognise the value of private aviation for efficiency and flexibility. With strong community engagement and rising demand, Vietnams business aviation sector could double its fleet within three years, creating exciting opportunities for partnerships and market development. How can ExecuJet Haite support Vietnams business aviation growth, particularly with the upcoming Long Thanh Airport? Engaging with governments to discuss the value of business aviation is essential. Tailored infrastructure, such as FBOs, generates high-paying jobs for pilots, engineers, and maintenance staff while contributing tax revenue and economic growth. For example, our facilities in Beijing and Tianjin employ 70-80 people, creating significant local impact. Business jets are not just a luxury; they are tools that drive economic growth and entice investment. Cities seeking foreign direct investment must accommodate Fortune 500 executives, many of whom rely on private jets. Without proper infrastructure, these companies will look elsewhere. FBOs equipped with VIP lounges, private terminals, and specialised services leave a strong impression on visiting investors and signal a citys readiness for high-level business engagements. Chinas experience highlights the importance of infrastructure. Cities like Beijing and Shenzhen have developed dedicated business aviation facilities, showing that even small airports with 12-15 parking bays can pull in investment. Despite challenges like military-controlled land in some areas, private companies are willing to invest when partnerships are in place. Raising awareness about the benefits of business aviation is equally important. Often misunderstood as purely luxurious, the industry drives local economic development, creates jobs, and fosters growth. Educating governments, local planners, and communities about these advantages will help position Vietnam as a prime destination for business aviation. Collaboration, specialised training, and robust advocacy are key to fostering a thriving business aviation sector in Vietnam. By working together, Vietnam can unlock the long-term growth potential of this promising industry. Ha Tien Dung, deputy managing director Hai Au Aviation Business aviation in Vietnam is not just a luxury; its an essential tool for businesses and investors. Demand is emerging in new forms, such as shared ownership and private charter services, where companies offer private jet flights allowing travellers to benefit from the convenience without owning the aircraft. Beyond the aircraft itself, critical support services such as flight permits, ground services, maintenance, and financing solutions are interconnected and require local collaboration for efficiency. Airport infrastructure, such as FBOs providing VIP lounges, customs, and maintenance facilities, is crucial but still underdeveloped. With the soon-to-open Long Thanh Airport, Vietnam has yet to address these needs. This gap highlights the importance of local communities understanding the economic potential of business aviation, such as generating revenue through hangar space or offering tailored services for business jets. The key to developing this sector is fostering collaboration among local businesses and government stakeholders. Without this, the opportunities in business aviation will remain untapped. It is essential to raise awareness about its economic impact and advocate for the infrastructure and services that will drive growth in this industry, benefiting not just high-net-worth individuals but the broader economy as well. Plans of Phu Quoc airport capacity expansion by 2050 proposed The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has recently submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Transport on the expansion of the Phu Quoc International Airport in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang to accommodate 18 million passengers per year by 2050. Masdar has successfully completed the acquisition of 70% of the outstanding shares of TERNA ENERGY to become majority shareholder of the Greek clean energy champion Following the closing of the transaction, Masdar will seek regulatory approvals for launch of an all-cash mandatory tender offer to acquire all the remaining shares Masdar will bring long-term capital and global expertise to supercharge TERNA ENERGY's growth plans as it targets 6GW of renewable energy operational capacity by 2029, supporting the energy transition in Greece and Eastern Europe The acquisition will play an important role in growing Masdar's portfolio in Europe as it targets 100GW global capacity by 2030 ABU DHABI, UAE and ATHENS, Greece , Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC Masdar ("Masdar"), the UAE's clean energy leader, announced today that it has successfully completed the acquisition of 70% of the outstanding shares of TERNA ENERGY SA (TENERGY.AT) from GEK TERNA SA (GEKTERNA.AT) and other shareholders, and received all regulatory approvals. The deal, agreed at a price of 20 euros per share, valued TERNA ENERGY at an enterprise value of 3.2bn euros, representing the largest ever energy transaction on the Athens Stock Exchange, and one of the largest in the EU renewables industry. Masdar Agios Georgios Wind Farm Following the closing of the transaction, Masdar will seek regulatory approvals from the Hellenic Capital Markets Commission (HCNC), for the launch of an all-cash mandatory tender offer ("MTO") to acquire the outstanding shares of TERNA ENERGY. TERNA ENERGY has been a key player in the renewable energy sector for over two decades, holding the largest and most diversified portfolio in Greece, as well as projects in Bulgaria and Poland. The company owns and operates clean energy projects across wind, solar, biomass and hydro technologies - Greece's renewable energy leader is also building one of the largest pumped hydro projects in Europe, the 680MW Amfilochia project. With TERNA ENERGY currently operating a capacity of 1.2 gigawatts (GW), the acquisition reflects Masdar's confidence in the company's impressive growth potential, targeting 6GW by 2029. TERNA ENERGY will play an important role in enhancing Masdar's portfolio across Europe as it targets 100GW global capacity by 2030 in support of the energy transition. Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, commented: "Masdar is proud to become the majority shareholder of TERNA ENERGY, bringing together two energy champions. Our committed vision and long-term capital will unlock significant opportunities for further growth in TERNA ENERGY's expansion as it executes on its strategy to support Greece's renewable energy goals. "Masdar's acquisition strategy has focused on acquiring not just assets, but investing in exceptional teams. Our ambition is to establish TERNA ENERGY as one of our core regional platforms that will help us deliver on our ambitious targets. I look forward to working with Executive Chairman, Georgios Peristeris, and Chief Executive Officer, Emmanuel Maragoudakis, in support of the energy transition in Greece and Europe." Georgios Peristeris, Chairman and CEO of GEK TERNA, and Executive Chairman of TERNA ENERGY, said: "Our agreement with Masdar is a reflection of TERNA ENERGY's unparalleled leading role in the green energy transition in Greece as well as in southeastern Europe, a result of our consistent and tireless efforts over the last 25 years to create the largest and fastest growing clean energy platform in our country. Sharing the same vision with Masdar for clean, affordable and domestically produced energy, we look forward to working together towards a future of endless growth possibilities for TERNA ENERGY". Masdar has retained Rothschild & Co. as sole financial advisor, and Simmons & Simmons, Bernitsas Law, Latham & Watkins as legal advisors, in connection with the transaction and financing. GEK TERNA Group was supported by Reed Smith LLP and Potamitis Vekris, who were the international and Greek legal advisors for the transaction respectively, while Morgan Stanley has been acting as sole financial advisor to TERNA ENERGY. For more information please visit: https://www.masdar.ae and connect: facebook.com/masdar.ae and twitter.com/masdar Nexif Ratch Energy obtained a survey licence in May 2021, installed two on-site masts in January 2022 and March 2023, and completed a bankable energy yield assessment. The project is now ready for the next stage of development. It will be the first wind power project in Khanh Hoa province. This, along with nine solar projects in operation, will significantly improve the provinces energy mix from renewable resources. With an estimated investment of $155 million, the project is expected to generate 312,500MWh of clean energy annually. Upon completion, it will provide significant benefits to local industries and residents, including the creation of over 100 jobs and substantial tax revenues during the construction and operational phases. The MoU highlights Khanh Hoa province's ambition to become a leading economic hub by 2030, with a strong focus on development of sustainable infrastructure and Nexif Ratch Energy's commitment to expanding its renewable projects in Vietnam building on a proven track record. Cyril Dissescou, CEO of Nexif Ratch Energy said, We look forward to fostering a cooperative relationship in supporting the research, investment, and permitting processes for the Nexif Energy Khanh Hoa 1 Wind Power Project. The MoU reflects our continued commitment to expanding our renewable energy portfolio in Vietnam, with Khanh Hoa remaining a key focus for future investments. Matthew Bartley, chairman of the Development Committee of Nexif Ratch Energy added, This partnership marks a significant milestone in the provinces energy transformation. The Nexif Energy Khanh Hoa 1 Wind Power Project aligns our strategic vision to enhance energy security through renewable sources and the provinces objectives to drive economic growth while advancing environmental agenda. Nexif Ratch Energy is a leading independent power producer, specialising in renewable energy, with a strong presence in Vietnam and the Philippines. In Vietnam, the company owns and operates two hydroelectric power projects and has a sizeable pipeline of onshore wind projects and solar projects. This positions the company to benefit from the upcoming regulatory framework for renewable energy projects, which is expected to be issued by the Vietnam government. This new framework will provide greater clarity for independent developers after a prolonged period of provisional arrangements. The company is confident in Vietnams renewable energy sector prospect and sustained growth. Nexif Ratch takes over Minh Luong hydro plant in Lao Cai On January 2, Nexif Ratch Energy Investments Pte. Ltd. (Nexif Ratch Energy) announced its successful acquisition of the 30MW Minh Luong run-of-river hydro power plant with peak hour storage located in the northern province of Lao Cai. Nghe An to welcome $590 million garment and textile from Singaporean investor. The project spans 50 hectares at Tho Loc Industrial Park-Phase 1, in Dong Nam Economic Zone. The construction will be implemented in three phases. The investor will try to complete the investment procedures in the second quarter of 2025. The first phase of the factory is expected to start operation in the second quarter of 2028, the factorys second phase is expected to start operation in the second quarter of 2030 and the third phase in the second quarter of 2034. The aim of the project is to produce a wide range of textiles, including fabrics, knitwear, coloured yarns, cut semifinished products, clothing, and belts. The annual production capacity is expected to reach approximately 67,200 tonnes of fabric, 10,300 tonnes of knitwear, 7,200 tonnes of coloured yarn, 100 million belts, 130 million clothing items, and 2.2 million cut semifinished products. Once completed, the factory will generate jobs for 15,000 people, contributing to the state budget of the province. Dong Nam Economic Zone in Nghe An currently has 318 valid investment projects with a total investment registration capital of $6.86 billion. With Mega Textile-Vietnam projects contribution, Nghe An is estimated to pull in $1.7 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) capital, taking the province into the top of 10 localities having the largest FDI this year. Mega Textile Singapore is a 100 per cent-owned company of Best Pacific International Holdings Limited, which its shares are listed on the stock exchange. The group built a factory in Hai Duong in 2016. Mega Textile-Vietnam will be the largest project of the group in Vietnam. Singaporean M&As hold wide promise Singapore dealmakers continue to set sights on dealmaking in Vietnam, with transactions in fields ranging from renewable energy to real estate. Trade boding well for Singaporean upgrade The flourishing trade and investment ties between Vietnam and Singapore are expected to make bigger strides when the two countries elevate their strategic partnership to a comprehensive strategic one in the near future. Soilbuild launches ready-built facility in Nghe An Singaporean real estate firm Soilbuild International held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Spectrum Nghe An ready-built facility in WHA Industrial Zone 1 in Nghe An province on August 1. The event is part of Hanoi's 2024 investment, trade, and tourism promotion programme, organised by Hanoi Promotion Agency on Investment, Trade, and Tourism, and Long Bien People's Committee. It aims to showcase agricultural products, One Commune One Product (OCOP) items, and typical agricultural and rural products of Hanoi and other localities. It also aims to find the consumption market, stimulate the development of agricultural and rural production, and connect producers with distribution channels in Hanoi. This is an important agricultural trade promotion event that has been held annually since 2022. Taking place at the year-end, the programme is expected to attract the attention of many citizens and tourists to visit and shop. It is a good opportunity for agricultural production and trading units to display and sell their products as well as introduce the potential and strength of each locality, promoting Vietnamese agricultural produce to domestic and international markets. More than 120 booths are available at the event. About 150 businesses, cooperatives, and OCOP enterprises showcase their products from 32 localities such as Hanoi, Lam Dong, Nghe An, Cao Bang, Hung Yen, Ha Giang, Bac Ninh, and Danang. Over 1,500 products are being displayed, including typical agricultural and OCOP products, regional specialities, green and high-tech agricultural products, and others. Typical specialties such as ancient Shan Tuyet tea from Ha Giang, Dien grapefruit from Hung Yen, traditional Phu Quoc fish sauce, or Thai Nguyen tea are displayed in an attractive and creative space. These products not only reflect the cultural diversity of the region but also demonstrate the ample potential of Vietnam's agricultural sector. At the event, the Cooperative Union of Hanoi also hosts the Weekend Market with 20 booths of OCOP items, agricultural products, and traditional craft villages of Hanoi. Hoa Binh province boasts 30 booths to promote OCOP items and agricultural products. These booths are expected to enrich the shopping experience for visitors. In addition to the exhibition and fair, there are other sideline activities during the four days, such as promotional programmes, on-site product processing, and product trials, along with cultural exchanges and art performances. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Bui Duy Quang, deputy director of the Hanoi Promotion Agency, said the programme, which starts in 2022, aims to connect the distribution of agricultural and OCOP products from Hanoi and surrounding provinces with consumers in the capital, while also bringing producers together with distribution channels in the city. This initiative contributes to stimulating the development of agricultural production and rural areas, he added. In the same vein, Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, director of Hoa Binh provinces Centre for Investment, Trade, and Tourism Promotion, underscored the programmes role in fostering collaboration, enhancing trade connections, and introducing agricultural products, OCOP items, and specialties from Hoa Binh to Hanoi residents and visitors. She noted that the event adds a vibrant touch to the 2024 year-end shopping season while effectively supporting the "Vietnamese people prioritise Vietnamese goods" campaign. Nguyen Xuan Thanh, director of Van Long International Import-Export Investment Company Limited, shared that the company brought to the programme many specialties of Ha Giang, including ancient Shan Tuyet tea in line with the 4-star OCOP criteria. This is an opportunity for the company to introduce Shan Tuyet tea products to consumers in the capital city while gaining access to modern retail systems. "We really hope to have more agricultural programmes for businesses in Ha Giang province to promote specialty products to the Hanoi market," Thanh added. Echoing this view, Nguyen Thi Lua, director of Global Multi-Business Solution Development Application Joint Stock Company, said that the company currently manages the GBAMart e-commerce site. Through this programme, the company has more opportunities to bring clean agricultural products and OCOP products to e-commerce sites for consumption. Currently, e-commerce is accounting for an increasingly large proportion of agricultural product consumption. According to a report by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, online retail sales in Vietnam grew by more than 20 per cent in 2023. Among them, agricultural products are one of the leading product groups in terms of consumption. By taking advantage of digital technology, it not only helps reduce intermediary costs but also opens up new markets, especially in urban and international areas. Vietnam currently has more than 10,000 OCOP products, many of which have met international standards and exported to demanding markets such as Japan, Europe, and the US. According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in 2023, the agricultural sector contributed about 14.85 per cent to the national GDP, with agricultural export turnover reaching nearly $54 billion. Key products such as rice, coffee, cashew nuts, and tropical fruits are increasingly securing their position in the global market. Hanoi welcomes Guangdong businesses to invest Duy Hoang Duong, permanent member and chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee of Hanoi Peoples Council, held a meeting on November 25 with a delegation from Guangdong Peoples Congress. Hanoi Mobile Banking scheme promotes personal financial management The expanded Mobile Banking project in Hanoi aims to enhance financial literacy, improve business skills, and drive the adoption of technology in personal financial management, with a particular focus on women and low-income households. On November 7, the Shenzhen Digital Economy Industry Promotion Association hosted the Exchange Global Enterprises - New Development Opportunities in Vietnam" event. This gathering brought together industry leaders and key stakeholders, including representatives from Vietnamese industrial real estate developer KTG Industrial. The event provided a platform to discuss Vietnam's dynamic investment environment, focusing on opportunities in the electronics manufacturing sector, risks related to overseas laws and regulations, supply chain management, and customs services. Industry insiders also shared successful experiences of enterprises expanding globally, further underscoring Vietnam's growing prominence as an investment hub. KTG Industrial joined Exchange Global Enterprises - New Development Opportunities in Vietnam" in Shenzhen, China Vietnam has emerged as a premier destination for foreign investment, underpinned by a strategic combination of geographic, economic, and demographic advantages. Situated at the heart of Southeast Asia, Vietnam enjoys proximity to major Asian markets, including China, and seamless access to global trade routes, making it an ideal hub for both manufacturing and export-oriented industries. The countrys youthful and dynamic population further enhances its appeal. With a median age of 30, a workforce that constitutes 70 per cent of its 100-million-strong population, and a rapidly expanding middle class, Vietnam offers a robust labour pool and a growing consumer base. These factors, coupled with rapid urbanisation, are driving domestic demand and creating significant opportunities for Chinese businesses. At the event, the experts also believed that Vietnams active participation in multiple free trade agreements is another critical factor differentiating it from regional peers. Membership in agreements such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, and bilateral deals with the EU, South Korea, and Japan provide Vietnamese businesses with preferential access to major global markets. These agreements enable companies operating in Vietnam to benefit from reduced export tariffs, facilitating market expansion and improving competitiveness. The FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness Index ranks Vietnam as the second-most open economy in the region, following Singapore, highlighting its favourable investment environment. Additionally, a competitive statutory corporate income tax rate of 20 per cent offers a significant cost advantage over markets like China, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. These factors make Vietnam an increasingly attractive destination for multinational corporations and emerging enterprises alike. Vietnams relatively minor trade deficits with the US and its favourable position in Southeast Asia make it an essential destination for foreign investment, said Koh Eng Meng, deputy director of Investment and Asset Management at KTG Industrial. This positioning is supported by data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, which identifies Vietnam as a leading reshoring destination, even surpassing Mexico. A report titled Reshoring Special Report: Vietnam Sees Strongest Reshoring-Related Growth Over Past Year", released in September, highlighted Vietnam's significant growth in reshoring-related sales, driven by domestic demand and exports. This trend aligns with the "China+1" strategy, as companies diversify production to mitigate geopolitical risks. "Vietnam is poised not only to become a regional manufacturing centre but also poised to grow as a significant domestic consumer market fuelled by the growth of the middle income," Koh added. Global corporations such as Samsung, Foxconn, and Intel have already established Vietnam as a leader in electronics manufacturing. Additionally, prominent Chinese electronics brands, including TCL, Haier, Midea, and Gree, have expanded operations in Vietnam, bringing high-quality products to market while stimulating the development of local supply chains. Vietnams consumer electronics market is projected to reach $6.9 billion in revenue by 2024, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.16 per cent from 2024 to 2029, according to Statista. This growth, combined with the countrys proactive approach to infrastructure development and foreign direct investment, positions Vietnam as a top choice for businesses navigating an increasingly dynamic global landscape. KTG Industrial: Diverse locations supporting global investors KTG Industrial has positioned itself as a vital partner for foreign investors, offering a diverse portfolio of industrial projects across Vietnam. Its strategic presence in both the northern and southern regions caters to businesses seeking proximity to key markets, infrastructure, and supply chain networks. KTG Industrial Nhon Trach 2 in Dong Nai province KTG Industrial has positioned itself as a vital partner for foreign investors, offering a diverse portfolio of industrial projects across Vietnam. Its strategic presence in both the northern and southern regions caters to businesses seeking proximity to key markets, infrastructure, and supply chain networks. Located in Dong Nai province, the Nhon Trach 2 project spans 18.69 hectares and is being developed in four phases. Phases 1 and 2 are nearly fully occupied, reflecting a strong demand for industrial spaces. Phase 4 marks a milestone with the introduction of KTG Industrials first double-storey factory, offering flexible configurations to accommodate diverse manufacturing needs. Strategically situated just 35km from Ho Chi Minh Citys central business district and 25km from the upcoming Long Thanh International Airport, the project ensures seamless connectivity to trade routes. The surrounding Nhon Trach district, with over 2.1 million residents, offers a robust and skilled labour pool, making it an ideal location for companies expanding in southern Vietnam. KTG Industrial Yen Phong IIC in Bac Ninh province In northern Vietnam, KTG Industrial Yen Phong IIC in Bac Ninh province presents another compelling investment opportunity. Located 22km from Noi Bai International Airport and 34km from Hanoi, it is strategically positioned near industry giants like Samsung and Luxshare, making it an integral part of established supply chain ecosystems. Phase 2 of the project offers state-of-the-art factories and warehouses for lease, with unit sizes ranging from 816-20,000 square metres. These facilities are designed to meet diverse industrial needs, from small-scale manufacturing to large logistics operations. Scheduled for completion in Q1/2025, KTG Industrial Yen Phong IIC Phase 2 boasts facilities built to Singaporean standards, ensuring high reliability and efficiency. Investors also benefit from KTG Industrials comprehensive service offerings, including customised consultations and post-establishment support. KTG Industrials presence across Vietnam ensures we can cater to a variety of operational needs, whether companies seek proximity to Hanois industrial centres or the economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City, shared a KTG Industrial representative. KTG Industrial Managed by BKIM (KTG Industrial), a co-developed brand of KTG and Boustead Projects, stands as a prominent force in Vietnam's industrial real estate sector. With a focus on ready-built factories, warehouses, and built-to-suit factories, KTG Industrial is committed to being the preferred choice for foreign businesses seeking robust and sustainable development opportunities. Website: https://ktgindustrial.com/ Email: cs@bkim.sg - Hotline: (+84)896 896 899 KTG Industrial expands industrial footprint at Taitronics 2024 KTG Industrial, a prominent player in Vietnam's industrial real estate market, successfully showcased its offerings at Taitronic 2024. The event provided a valuable platform for the company to connect with potential clients from Taiwan, a major investor in Vietnam's manufacturing sector. Elevating Bac Ninh's industrial landscape: KTG Industrial at VIMF 2024 KTG Industrial, a leading provider of ready-built factories and warehouses in Vietnam, participated in the Vietnam Industrial Manufacturing Fair (VIMF) 2024, from November 6-8 at the Kinh Bac Cultural Centre in Bac Ninh province. According to the General Department of Customs, in October, Vietnam's pepper exports reached 18,415 tonnes, valued at $120.6 million, increasing 7.7 per cent in volume and 9.1 per cent in value compared to the previous month. Cumulatively in the first 10 months, pepper exports totalled 218,732 tonnes, valued at $1.11 billion, marking a 3 per cent decrease in volume but a significant 47 per cent increase in value compared to the same period last year. With these figures, Vietnam has reclaimed its billion-dollar export milestone after a decade. Photo: vir.com.vn According to vtv.vn, Hoang Thi Lien, chairwoman of the Vietnam Pepper and Spices Association (VPSA), estimated that Vietnam's pepper exports could reach $1.4 billion this year. "This would be a record for the industry. This result is due to the ongoing price cycle, with current prices maintaining levels nearly double those of previous years," she said. Pepper exports over the 10-month period to the US saw robust growth of 47 per cent, while the EU market increased by 32 per cent. However, exports to China dramatically declined by 84 per cent. Lien said that growth in the US and EU markets had compensated for the significant drop in the Chinese market. Consequently, export volumes decreased by only 1.9 per cent compared to the same period in 2023. To ensure sustainable development, according to Lien, the VPSA has defined a vision of becoming a high-quality spice supplier, produced sustainably, with traceable origin, and meeting importing countries' regulations. The association's guidelines include expanding sustainable cultivation areas, reducing pesticide residues, lowering carbon emissions, reducing greenhouse gases, providing in-depth farmer training, increasing added value, and market development. Nguyen Quy Duong, deputy director of the Plant Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, stated that the country is striving to transform the pepper industry into a green, ecological, and sustainable agricultural sector. The goal is not only to maintain a presence in traditional markets, but also penetrate and dominate the Halal market in Indonesia and the Middle East. "This is a highly promising market for Vietnamese pepper. The Halal export market for food and spices is projected to reach around $10 trillion," Duong said. However, Duong said that this market has its own unique standards. Vietnam already has organisations certifying Halal standards. In this phase, all enterprises seeking to export must be trained, and farmers must be trained in cultivation techniques to successfully enter this market. Currently, Vietnam is one of the world's top three spice production and export countries, accounting for over 11 per cent of the global spice export market share. Statistics show 35 pepper processing plants have achieved standards like ISO, HACCP, BRC, ESA, and ASTA, with a processing capacity of around 140,000 tonnes annually. Many plants using steam sterilisation technology have helped Vietnamese pepper, especially high-value-added varieties like ground black pepper, ground white pepper, pickled pepper, and freeze-dried pepper, increasingly dominate the pepper export structure. Vietnam's exports of fruits and vegetables strive to hit $5 billion Vegetables are the agricultural sector's greatest export segment, due in part to the increased demand from China. Coffee exports exceed 3 billion USD Vietnam's coffee exports has topped 3 billion USD so far this year. The Rev. Jan C. Wessels, who serves as Co-General Secretary of the European Evangelical Alliance (EEA) alongside Co-General Secretary Connie Main Duarte, recently shared some of his reflections with Christian Daily International about his personal experience at the Fourth Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization (Lausanne 4) in Incheon, Korea. Wessels commented he is still processing his thoughts on the mega event held at the end of September (2024), which drew more than five thousand evangelicals from across the world together to discuss the Great Commission and strategies to fill the gaps. He commended Dr. Jay Matenga, head of the World Evangelical Alliance's Mission Commission and Opinion Editor for Christian Daily International for providing constructive points, both positive and critically, about the congress: Jay Matenga has done a great job. [See Matengas first of three op-eds here.] What immediately stood out for Wessels is the sheer largeness of Lausanne 4 It was huge, he remarks. Yet he remains uncertain about what the congress brought in the sense of new thinking about world evangelism. It is always inspiring to be with many mission-minded people in a conference but 5,000 people is just too much for good connections. The program was packed so that it was also difficult to network without skipping some of the sessions. Wessels personally enjoyed the Bible studies and table group discussions, joining three Americans (one of African descent), and nationals from India, Hong Kong Chinese with himself as a European: I felt we mixed a real global perspective in our discussions. A GAP discussion Wessels attended was interesting but he felt the format for discussions was not always helpful. I attended the Gap about Secularization/Secularism. Using a language of: closing the gap, is difficult to understand. In my opinion Secularism is not a gap that can be closed, but the ocean we have to navigate on. A lot of time and energy was spent on correcting the language. Wessels remains somewhat unsure about whether Lausanne 4 met his expectations. He simply confesses: I dont know and reiterates the challenge of trying to find specific people he was looking for amid such a large crowd. I had hoped to meet a lot of my network people. Apart from struggling to find them in the multitude of 5,000 people, even with the app, and [make appointments] with them, I missed a lot of our key global mission leaders. They were just not there: especially a lot of indigenous mission leaders from Africa and even Asia. Wessels considers the very high registration fee for the congress made it difficult for indigenous mission leaders to afford the event and for those attending, it came at a high financial cost. I know some of them have taken personal loans and made huge debts that will still burden them for a long time. Wessels is equally hesitant to yet conclude his thoughts on whether Lausanne 4 had a positive effect on the work of the EEA. We will have to see. There were quite a few of our leaders, but we haven't had a good opportunity to evaluate what the positive effect is, Wessels adds. There are countries that were really engaged, but there were also many national EAs (Evangelical Alliances) that were not engaged. "The great advantage we have in Europe that we are very close to Lausanne Europe, and I am sure they will keep on pushing the Lausanne agenda in Europe, though in a very European way. Wessels is also careful in using the widely used terminology about fulfilling the Great Commission because - as he points out - the Great Commission will only be fulfilled when Jesus actually returns. Yet he foresees a fresh impetus upon the notion of discipleship. We just have to be faithful in doing what Jesus has said. But yes, I think the whole idea of discipleship has at least received a new momentum. "I hope that together with Lausanne Europe, we will be able to help national alliances to really prioritize discipleship in a new way. I had hoped that Lausanne 4 would give a lot of new ideas for that, but I haven't seen a lot of new thinking. So, what are the next steps as the memories of Lausanne 4 fade and the evangelistic objective to reach others with the life-transforming love of Jesus Christ continues? I hope that the Evangelical family in Europe will be inspired and re-energised to put and keep discipleship, spiritual and missional formation as a lifelong learning, at the top of the agenda, and that they will find new ways to reach unreached groups and subgroups in Europe. In a sense, Wessels acknowledges this is not a new concept because Lausanne Cape Town 2010 had called for this already. And since then Pope Francis has called for it (2013), the Anglican Communion have called for a decade of intentional discipleship and disciple making (2016), the World Council of Churches in Arusha, Tanzania (2018) and last but not least the General Assembly of the World Evangelical Alliance in 2019. It is likely that further reflections and conversations will bring about a clearer picture of what remains for the longer term after Lausanne 4. As Wessels says he is still processing all the impressions. DECEMBER 13 UPDATE The California Highway Patrol has released the identities of two people who died in a crash south of Meyers on Thanksgiving night. 50-year-old Peggy Liu of Fremont, California, and 84-year-old Donald Smith died in the crash. One other person, identified as 28-year-old Jeffrey Chen of Kirkland, Washington, suffered major injuries in the crash. --- ORIGINAL ARTICLE Two people are dead after a head-on crash on U.S. 50 south of Meyers on Thanksgiving night. California Highway Patrol says a Toyota Sequoia was heading west while a Chevrolet Traverse was heading east on U.S. 50 near Audrain Way around 5:30 p.m. Thursday. CHP says for some unknown reason, the two SUVs collided head-on - in the eastbound lane. Authorities say the Traverse driver and a passenger from the Sequoia died. Four other people inside the Toyota suffered injuries and were transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. CHP says the Traverse driver was an 84-year-old man from Wellington while the Sequoia passenger was a 50-year-old woman was from Fremont - their names haven't been released. If you have any information that can help authorities, call the South Lake Tahoe CHP Office at 530-539-9500. Cinderella Sector: that was once the description for the under-supported demographic that members of the U.K. parliament used in 2018 when debating the needs of young people with long term speech and language problems. A therapist for Growing Hope, a Christian charity in London, is suggesting methods for churches to better support these youngsters, estimated to number around one million (7.6% of all children). Beth Marsden, a speech and language therapist at Growing Hope Kings Cross Clinic in London, provided exclusive insights to Christian Daily International about how churches can better support children with speech and language issues. Marsden said that churches play a vital role in helping such youngsters and suggested several practical strategies. Firstly, ensuring that Sunday morning kids groups at church meetings are inclusive for these children, regardless of their communication abilities, is crucial. This creates a sense of belonging, just as Jesus welcomed everyoneso should our kids groups, pointed out Marsden. She suggested that dedicated volunteers specially trained in working with children with special educational needs (SEN) could make a significant, positive difference for the youngsters and families involved. These volunteers can provide personalized attention and tailored support, ensuring that each childs unique needs are met, she added. Resource development is another area with Marsden suggesting that churches provide resources catering to diverse learning styles. She called this aspect essential and gave an example of creating a sensory box filled with fidget tools, tactile materials, and other sensory items, [which] can help engage children who might struggle with traditional learning methods. These resources can enhance focus and make connecting with Jesus fun for all! Multisensory learning activities complement these resources Marsden says, and points to Jesus as an example of teaching truth in multi-sensory ways. Incorporating activities that engage all the senses can help children with communication issues better understand and participate, said Marsden. For example, using visual aids, music, movement, and hands-on activities can accommodate different learning preferences. Jesus loved to engage all senses from taste (feeding the 5,000) to sight (show me your hands and feet) - God can connect with each of us in beautifully dynamic ways if we create space for this! Regular training for staff and volunteers on effective speech and language support for struggling children is also important. It ensures that everyone is equipped with the right tools and techniques. Marsden encouraged family involvement too, helping them to be part of the church community and a supportive network. Hosting workshops or support groups for parents can empower them and share strategies for supporting their childrens communication development, she added. Children with speech and language issues and their families need not only practical and regular support but ongoing prayers. Marsden outlined several prayer needs for believers to consider. Firstly, praying for strength and resilience: It can be hard being a parent of a child with additional needs, battles from right school placement, getting therapy support to daily challenges such as toileting routines and getting on the bus can often feel overwhelming, said Marsden. Pray for strength for the families including their emotional and mental well-being. Secondly, seeking healing and support: Pray for physical and emotional healing where needed, asked Marsden. It can feel isolating and a lot of parents feel guilty of 'am I doing enough'. Pray for the right support systems to be put in place for the families. Thirdly, encouraging community and inclusion. Pray for the church community to embrace these children, fostering an environment of love, acceptance, and inclusion, said Marsden. Ask for guidance in how to make the church a welcoming place for all. Also pray for communities; schools and local authorities to provide the much needed support for families. Meanwhile Growing Hope told Christian Daily International that the charity champions accessibility for these children and sets up clinics in partnership with churches across the U.K. The charity provides accessibility training, consultancy and an award for churches and schools, as well as facilitator training for parent and siblings courses. We bring hope to children with additional needs by providing free therapyincluding speech, occupational, physio, music, art therapy and counselingin our clinics. We give hope to families where hope has been lost due to isolation or rejection through our support groups and parent training and we share hope in Jesus because we believe Jesus brings hope even in the most difficult situations, said Marsden. Groups offered by the charity include When Dreams Change, giving space for parents and carers to share experiences of having a child with additional needs and the dynamic for he or she to become more of the person theyve been created to be. Another group for siblings helps brothers and sisters to share feelings about their experiences using creative activities such as puppetry. Speech and language therapy helps children improve their communication skills by assessing needs, developing personalized plans to achieve speech & language goals and to involve families so they can support their child at home and help them to flourish. K tc x vung bin tai x Tam Quang, huyen Tuong Duong (Nghe An). Anh: TTXVN phat Chap cnh nhung uoc mo Tai Nghe An hien c 2 m hnh K tc x vng bin do cc on Bin phng trien khai, o au at tai x Tam Quang (Tuong Duong) v Truong Trung hoc co......[Nhieu Hon...] 2025-02-25 Thanksgiving, traditionally celebrated in the United States and Canada, is gaining ground in some Latin American countries due to cultural influence and geographic proximity. In Mexico, for example, although it is not part of local traditions, the date has become popular among communities near the border and among U.S. expatriates, who celebrate family gatherings with traditional dinners such as turkey and the classic side dishes. In countries such as Colombia and Brazil, the concept of Thanksgiving has also been adapted in certain Christian communities and urban sectors. Although it is not an official holiday, some churches organize special services, and international restaurants offer themed menus that include traditional Thanksgiving elements, encouraging the participation of locals and tourists. According to an article in Voz de America, many Hispanics in the United States have reinterpreted this tradition as a way to honor their cultural heritage. It's not just a dinner, it's an opportunity to reflect on our blessings and keep alive the connection to our roots, commented Luz Herrera, a Salvadoran immigrant in Los Angeles. Despite its Anglo-Saxon origin, Thanksgiving in Latin America is evolving into a celebration that highlights universal values such as gratitude and family togetherness. These factors, combined with the rise of globalization, are driving its acceptance in diverse communities throughout the region. Thanksgiving has deeply Christian roots dating back to the Pilgrims who came to North America in the 17th century.These settlers, many of them Puritans in search of religious freedom, organized the first Thanksgiving feast in 1621 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The event was conceived as an act of gratitude to God for having survived the difficult winter and for the abundant harvest, an achievement to which the Native Americans who taught them how to cultivate the land also contributed. Over time, Thanksgiving Day became formalized as an annual celebration in the United States, and although its character has evolved into a secular event in many households, the original sense of gratitude to God persists in several communities. In Christian churches in the United States and Latin America, special services are often held on that day to reflect on the blessings received during the year.The spirit of thanksgiving to God for His provision and care is at the core of this tradition, explains Pastor John Rivas, who leads a multicultural church in Houston, Texas. This Christian connection has helped Thanksgiving to be well received in religious contexts in Latin America, where values such as gratitude and family togetherness are highly valued. In some cases, the celebration is integrated as an opportunity for evangelism, strengthening community and cross-cultural ties. Originally published by Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition. As the war in Sudan enters its second year with no clear resolution in sight, there are real fears that an escalation of hostilities between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) will further aggravate the humanitarian situation in Sudan. Speaking to Christian Daily International, the General Secretary of the Sudan Evangelical Alliance, Rafat Samir notes that Sudanese Christians have long been ignored and neglected in humanitarian relief increasing their vulnerability. Members of the evangelical churches are not among the groups accepted by the two warring parties due to their political and ethnic differences, said Samir who suggested that Christianity is seen as a Western import with spy charges often used against Christians. The Sudan Evangelical Alliance and local church leaders revealed critical shortages in food, clean water, medical supplies, and educational materials where most Christians were located in the IDP camps and inside the war zones. The Alliance has highlighted that the worlds attention has been focussed on the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East while the crisis in Sudan has often been underreported. Conflict, violence and displacement in Sudan has been a mainstay since the Darfur crisis in 2003. The country hosted 1 million refugees - the second highest refugee population in Africa - mostly coming from various conflicts in South Sudan and Tigray in Northern Ethiopia. After long-time Sudan ruler Omar al Bashir was ousted in 2019, there was some hope of a return to civilian rule, but the situation worsened instead. Amid the conflict, the country over the years has been impacted by severe weather conditions contributing to droughts and food insecurity. Tom Perriello, the U.S. special envoy to Sudan travelled to the African country for the first time on 18 November to push for an increase in the flow of aid to millions of people in need and an end to a devastating war. The visit was seen by many as a possible catalyst to at the least ensure access to aid. According to a State Department statement, Perriello discussed "the need to cease fighting, enable unhindered humanitarian access, including through localized pauses in the fighting to allow for the delivery of emergency relief supplies, and commit to a civilian government." On November 22, the UN's World Food Programme announced it had scaled-up its food aid operations across Sudan, reaching millions of people in the countrys most needy and isolated conflict areas. Over 700 trucks carrying about 17,500 tonnes of food were dispatched from the port of Sudan, enough to feed 1.5 million for a month. WFP Regional Director for East Africa Laurent Bukera said the organisation has been pushing to reach isolated conflict regions to turn the tide of famine in one of the worlds worst hunger crises. Despite the inroads in the distribution of food, the U.N. says more than 25 million people are in dire need of aid in the country. The numbers are even more staggering when taking into account that the estimated population of Sudan is 50 million people. Sudan is, once again, becoming a nightmare of mass ethnic violence. The suffering is growing by the day, with almost 25 million people now requiring humanitarian assistance. They are enduring a nightmare of violence, hunger, collapsed infrastructure, displacement and extreme weather, said Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General in remarks to the UN Security Council in October. The UN Secretary-General further points out that Sudan is also the largest displacement crisis in the world, with more than 11 million people fleeing since April last year. Noting that nearly three million have crossed into neighbouring countries with thousands battling extreme weather and climate change impacts. Reports suggest that Western actors, like mercenaries from the Sahel region - often holding anti-Christian sentiment - and others have joined the war further worsening the situation the minority christian community is likely to face. However, in a move strongly condemned by the UK and US, Russia vetoed a draft UK-backed UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Sudan on November 11. Russia says the UK was interfering in Sudanese affairs without involving Sudan itself while the British Foreign Secretary David Lammy termed the veto a "disgrace". All other 14 Security Council member states voted in favour of the draft, but the veto meant the resolution did not pass. According to the World Watch list, an annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution, Sudan was a good news story. Apostasy was no longer illegal, and more leniency around freedom of religion was brought in by the transitional government. However, in 2024 Sudan has moved up several places on the World Watch List to 8th: evidence that believers are now more vulnerable after the breakout of a civil war in April 2023. 2024 AGM - Chairman's Address Brisbane, Nov 28, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Sayona Mining Limited ( ASX:SYA ) ( DML:FRA ) ( SYAXF:OTCMKTS ) provides the Chair address for the 2024 Annual General Meeting. It is my privilege and honour to welcome you all to Sayona Mining's Annual General Meeting for 2024. Before we review our business and 2024 results, I want to comment on the merger between Sayona Mining and Piedmont Lithium. This transaction establishes a North American lithium leader with unrivalled project optionality and a robust pipeline of growth projects. The combination is highly strategic, positioning us as the largest hard rock lithium producer in the region, with immediate opportunities to progress a capital-efficient brownfield expansion of the NAL operation and other projects in the combined portfolio. By aligning our resources and integrating our businesses, we anticipate achieving substantial efficiencies and cost savings through synergies in logistics, procurement, marketing and corporate overheads. Simplified commercial arrangements and unified ownership structures pave the way for streamlined decision-making and enhanced efficiency. Together, we are creating a streamlined and agile organisation, well-equipped to capitalise on the growing demand for lithium products and to deliver superior value to our shareholders, partners, and communities. The merger is underpinned by a strategic capital raise, ensuring the financial resilience and growth capacity of the newly combined entity. With equity financing totalling approximately A$149 million, supported by a cornerstone investment from Resource Capital Fund VIII, the company's balance sheet is significantly strengthened. This enhanced financial foundation provides us with the flexibility to accelerate our development pipeline, pursue value-accretive projects, and withstand market fluctuations. The capital raise also demonstrates strong investor confidence in our strategy and positions us to capitalise on emerging opportunities across the lithium value chain. Now, to the main business of this meeting. The last year has been transformative for our company-a year defined by significant milestones, robust growth, and a steadfast commitment to sustainable practices. As we look back, it is clear that Sayona has cemented its position as a leader in the lithium sector, well-equipped to play a crucial role in the global energy transition. Today, I am excited to share an overview of our achievements, our strategic direction, and the bright future that lies ahead for our company. Firstly, on safety. While the year was free from fatalities, we still have significant room for improvement in our safety performance. Safety and sustainability are at the heart of our operations, and a relentless focus on health, safety, and environmental management will be hallmarks of the year ahead. Our safety programs and initiatives are moving us in the right direction, and the well-being of our employees and stakeholders will continue to be a priority as we grow. During the year we undertook significant steps to enhance our corporate governance practices, reflecting our commitment to transparency, accountability, and sustainable growth. We strengthened the Board with the appointment of independent non-executive directors, ensuring diverse perspectives and robust oversight. Key governance structures were established, including the formation of Audit & Risk and Nomination & Remuneration Committees, which reinforce our focus on risk management, strategic planning, and alignment of remuneration with company performance. A refreshed management team has been pivotal in driving these changes, highlighted by the appointment of a new CEO, CFO, and Company Secretary, as well as the creation of a dedicated Investor Relations function to improve stakeholder engagement. Complementing these changes, we introduced new remuneration policies and enhanced remuneration reporting to ensure fairness, clarity, and alignment with shareholder expectations. These initiatives collectively position Sayona as a company with strong governance foundations, ready to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving industry. One of the most significant achievements of 2024 has been the successful ramp-up of production at our North American Lithium (NAL) operation. The recommencement of spodumene concentrate production in March 2023 was a turning point for Sayona, demonstrating our ability to deliver complex projects on time and within budget. Since the restart, our operational team has continued to set new benchmarks in the lithium industry. By the end of FY24, we had produced 155,822 dry metric tonnes (dmt) of spodumene concentrate, with record monthly production of 19,314 dmt in May 2024 and peak daily output of 919 dmt in June 2024. These numbers are more than just figures; they are a testament to the strategic foresight, meticulous planning, and hard work of our entire team. The completion and commissioning of key infrastructure projects, such as the Crushed Ore Dome and Tailings Storage Facility 1, have been instrumental in stabilising plant operations and enhancing throughput. These investments have not only improved reliability and increased plant utilisation to over 90% but also contributed to a higher recovery rate, now nearing 70%. Such operational efficiencies are pivotal as we continue to scale up our production capacity and strengthen our foothold in the market. Additionally, we have seen significant progress in our exploration efforts. The 2023-2024 drilling campaign at NAL completed 198 drillholes totalling over 56,000 metres, confirming high-grade lithium mineralisation across multiple extensions. This resulted in a substantial 51% increase in our JORC Mineral Resource Estimate to 88 million tonnes at 1.13% Li2O. This robust expansion underscores our potential for future growth and paves the way for continued exploration aimed at supporting long-term, sustainable production. Our exploration drilling campaign at the Moblan Lithium Project has been a resounding success, with a total of 368 drillholes completed, covering over 75,000 metres. This extensive program has substantially increased the resource base, now standing at 93 million tonnes at 1.21% Li2O, underscoring the project's world-class potential. Turning to our financial performance, I am pleased to report significant progress despite the costs associated with the initial ramp-up of production. For the fiscal year ending June 2024, Sayona reported revenue of A$201 million-a remarkable achievement for our first full year of sales from the NAL operation. While net cash flow from operating activities stood at negative A$65 million, our financial position remains strong, supported by a cash balance of A$104 million at the end of September. This strong liquidity underpins our capacity to continue making targeted investments that drive growth and innovation. Our capital expenditure of A$128 million reflects strategic investments in infrastructure and exploration. These investments are not just expenditures; they are strategic steps towards ensuring that Sayona maintains its competitive edge and maximises future returns. From enhancing plant reliability to funding advanced drilling campaigns, our financial strategies have laid a solid foundation for sustainable growth. Looking ahead, we anticipate stronger financial performance as our optimisation projects continue to yield results. Initiatives such as pooling seaborne shipments to reduce freight costs, selective mining to improve ore quality, and the dissolution of the Piedmont offtake agreement are set to enhance our profit margins and long-term financial sustainability. Sustainability and social responsibility are cornerstones of Sayona's operations, and 2024 was no exception. Our commitment to minimising our environmental footprint and promoting sustainable practices is evident in projects such as the EVAPLANT(TM) water treatment initiative. This innovative project, which uses fast-growing willows to treat mining water and capture CO2, exemplifies our proactive approach to environmental management. By producing organic biomass that supports the rehabilitation of waste rock piles, this initiative is not only environmentally beneficial but also aligns with the principles of the circular economy. Equally important to our sustainability agenda is our engagement with the communities that host us. Throughout the year, we strengthened our relationships with local and Indigenous communities, ensuring that our growth is inclusive and mutually beneficial. Our collaboration with First Nations has been pivotal, exemplified by initiatives that respect cultural heritage and foster economic opportunities. We believe that true progress cannot occur in isolation, and we remain committed to working closely with these communities to promote shared prosperity. A testament to our dedication to sustainability and community relations was our recognition as Business of the Year at the Quebec Mineral Exploration Association Gala. This accolade is more than an award; it is validation of our unwavering commitment to responsible and transparent operations that benefit not only our stakeholders but also the broader community. At Sayona, we understand that our success is built on the dedication, skill, and innovation of our workforce. In 2024, we prioritised initiatives that foster a positive, inclusive, and high-performing work environment. Our comprehensive recruitment and retention strategies have allowed us to attract top talent in a competitive market. Moreover, the implementation of programs such as phased retirement and development scholarships reflects our commitment to supporting employees at all stages of their careers. Training and safety are paramount, and we have invested heavily in upskilling our workforce and maintaining robust health and safety protocols. I am proud to note that our focus on safety and well-being is paying off, as we continue to foster a culture where safety is not just a priority but a shared responsibility. Looking forward, Sayona is well-positioned for continued success. Our strategic priorities for FY25 and beyond include further expanding our resource base, improving operational efficiency, exploring downstream opportunities, and completing the merger and integration with Piedmont Lithium. In conclusion, 2024 has been a year of progress, challenges, and substantial achievements. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our management team, employees, partners, and shareholders for their dedication and support. Your trust fuels our ambition and drives us to push boundaries, innovate, and deliver on our promises. With a clear vision, strong fundamentals, and an unwavering commitment to sustainability and excellence, we are poised to lead Sayona into a future defined by growth, resilience, and positive impact. Thank you for your continued support and confidence in our journey. To view the 2024 AGM Presentation, please visit: https://www.abnnewswire.net/lnk/9F3256S9 About Sayona Mining Limited Sayona Mining Limited (ASX:SYA) (OTCMKTS:SYAXF) is a North American lithium producer with projects in Quebec, Canada and Western Australia. In Quebec, Sayona's assets comprise North American Lithium together with the Authier Lithium Project and the Tansim Lithium Project, supported by a strategic partnership with American lithium developer Piedmont Lithium Inc. Sayona also holds a 60% stake in the Moblan Lithium Project in northern Quebec. In Western Australia, the company holds a large tenement portfolio in the Pilbara region prospective for gold and lithium. Sayona is exploring for Hemi style gold targets in the world class Pilbara region, while its lithium projects include Company-owned leases and those subject to a joint venture with Morella Corporation. Related Companies Chairmans Address - 2024 AGM Perth, Nov 29, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Welcome to the 2024 Annual General Meeting of Horizon Minerals Limited ( ASX:HRZ ). Thank you for joining us today and for your ongoing support as shareholders. It is a privilege to address you as Chairman during what has been a pivotal year for our company. Horizon made significant advances across resource development, business development and our production pipeline in the year. We achieved key milestones despite the challenges posed by volatile market conditions and change within our business, positioning us for strong future cashflows in what is a high gold price environment. This past year we have worked tirelessly to secure two ore processing agreements, commenced two mining operations, completed the merger with Greenstone Resources Limited and are now into a proposed merger with Poseidon Nickel Limited. The processing agreements with FMR Investments Pty Ltd (FMR) and Norton Goldfields Limited Pty Ltd (Norton) underpin our cashflows for the next 18 months and are in line with our strategy of generating cashflow from mining projects through low capital development using existing regional infrastructure and partners. We have sought and received government approvals and awarded contracts for mining at our Boorara and Phillips Find projects. At the same time, we have progressed further studies and approvals on other gold projects in our project pipeline to generate longer-term cashflow. The merger with Greenstone brought in the Phillips Find project which we quickly turned on with joint venture partner BML Ventures Pty Ltd (BML). The Greenstone merger also brought the cornerstone Burbanks asset which we believe can underpin a larger development and gave us more critical mass in our resource base to look at owning our own plant and not be reliant on third party infrastructure. This is where the proposed merger with Poseidon is a natural pairing and if implemented would result in our in-ground assets being processed through the Poseidon Black Swan processing plant which we would propose to refurbish and repurpose as a gold plant. As a publicly listed company on the ASX, we are acutely aware of our responsibilities to our shareholders and other stakeholders. Corporate governance remains a cornerstone of our business. This year, we strengthened our governance framework, ensuring alignment with ASX Corporate Governance Council Principles and Recommendations and began a process of Board renewal. We refreshed the Board, welcoming Grant Haywood as Managing Director and Warren Hallam as a Non-Executive Director. Also, I would like to pay our thanks to outgoing Non-Executive Directors Jon Price and Chris Hansen for their service and contribution to the Company. Our Board undertook a thorough review of policies such as risk management, sustainability, and ESG practices, reinforcing our commitment to transparency and accountability. We also continue to uphold the highest ethical standards in our dealings, with robust systems in place to monitor compliance across our operations. In the current economic and market environment, effective cost management is more important than ever. The Company successfully implemented measures to optimise our cost base while maintaining the ability to achieve operational excellence and business goals. At a Board level we reduced Directors from four to three, and our corporate compliment of personnel has not significantly increased even following the recent Greenstone merger. Going forward, growth remains a key priority for Horizon. Looking ahead to next year and beyond, we plan to invest around $6 million in a planned 50,000m of exploration and resource drilling, focusing on strengthening our development pipeline and testing high-potential new targets. This includes drilling our cornerstone projects, including Burbanks and the greater Boorara area, to generate a targeted five year mine plan to supply the Black Swan processing facility that Horizon proposes to acquire and refurbish subject to successful completion of the proposed merger with Poseidon. Assuming a successful merger with Poseidon, we look forward to completing the processing and mining studies to transform the processing facility into a gold plant capable of generating strong cashflows and returns for all shareholders. On behalf of the board, I would like to thank all of our loyal employees, contractors and business partners for their tireless efforts in what has been a very busy and productive time for Horizon. Finally, I would like to thank you, our fellow shareholders, for your continued support in what is a very exciting growth phase of the Company going forward. Ashok Parekh Non-executive Chairman To view the 2024 AGM Presentation, please visit: https://www.abnnewswire.net/lnk/117U3E8L About Horizon Minerals Limited Horizon Minerals Limited (ASX:HRZ) is a gold exploration and mining company focussed on the Kalgoorlie and Menzies areas of Western Australia which are host to some of Australia's richest gold deposits. The Company is developing a mining pipeline of projects to generate cash and self-fund aggressive exploration, mine developments and further acquisitions. The Teal gold mine has been recently completed. Horizon is aiming to significantly grow its JORC-Compliant Mineral Resources, complete definitive feasibility studies on core high grade open cut and underground projects and build a sustainable development pipeline. Horizon has a number of joint ventures in place across multiple commodities and regions of Australia providing exposure to Vanadium, Copper, PGE's, Gold and Nickel/Cobalt. Our quality joint venture partners are earning in to our project areas by spending over $20 million over 5 years enabling focus on the gold business while maintaining upside leverage. Related Companies State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Zip Code Canadas Competition Bureau is taking legal action against Google for anti-competitive conduct in online advertising technology services in Canada. Following a thorough investigation, the Bureau has filed an application with the Competition Tribunal that seeks to remedy the conduct for the benefit of Canadians, the Bureau said in a press release. This case is about online web advertising, which consists of ads shown to users when they visit websites. Many publishers count on digital ad revenue to support their activities and reach. Digital ad inventory is often purchased and sold through automated auctions using sophisticated platforms. These individual platforms are known as ad tech tools while the entire suite of tools used throughout the buy and sell process are collectively known as the ad tech stack. The Bureaus investigation found that, in Canada, Google is the largest provider across the ad tech stack for web advertising and has abused its dominant position through conduct intended to ensure that it would maintain and entrench its market power. Googles conduct locks market participants into using its own ad tech tools, prevents rivals from being able to compete on the merits of their offering, and otherwise distorts the competitive process. In particular, the Bureau found that Google has unlawfully tied its various ad tech tools together to maintain its market dominance; and leveraged its position across these ad tech tools to distort auction dynamics by giving its own tools preferential access to ad inventory, taking negative margins in certain circumstances to disadvantage rivals, and dictating the terms on which its own publisher customers could transact with rival ad tech tools. The Bureaus position is that by implementing this anticompetitive conduct, Google has been able to entrench its dominance, prevent rivals from competing, inhibit innovation, inflate advertising costs and reduce publishers revenues. The Bureaus application with the Competition Tribunal seeks an order that, among other things requires Google to sell two of its ad tech tools directs Google to pay a penalty to promote compliance with the Competition Act and prohibits Google from continuing to engage in anticompetitive practices. The final decision in this matter rests with the Competition Tribunal. The Competition Bureau conducted an extensive investigation that found that Google has abused its dominant position in online advertising in Canada by engaging in conduct that locks market participants into using its own ad tech tools, excluding competitors, and distorting the competitive process. Google's conduct has prevented rivals from being able to compete on the merits of what they have to offer, to the detriment of Canadian advertisers, publishers and consumers. We are taking our case to the Tribunal to stop this conduct and its harmful effects in Canada, said Matthew Boswell, Commissioner of Competition. A recent Bureau study showed that a decline in competition deprives both businesses and consumers of the benefits of a competitive economy, including lower prices, greater choice, and more innovation. Online web advertising consists of ads shown to users when they visit websites. Advertisers and publishers use advertising technology services to support the selling and buying of online web ads. Google is unquestionably the largest provider of ad tech tools across the supply chain. In 2021, the Bureau obtained its first court order related to this investigation into Googles online advertising business. Earlier this year, the Bureau obtained another court order and expanded its investigation. The Bureau also investigated Google in 2016 for alleged anti-competitive conduct relating to online search, search advertising and display advertising. At that time, the Bureau committed to closely follow developments with respect to Googles conduct. Also Read: Google and Canada strike deal to keep news stories in search results Responding to a Delhi mans viral request asking a restaurant for extra onions via Swiggy, Swiggy Co-founder and CGO, Phani Kishan took to X to announce onions at INR 39 for all users in NCR through Swiggy Instamart. It all started when his flatmate took to Reddit to share the screenshots of the Swiggy user who humorously requested extra onions with his food order, saying "Onions bhot costly hai, main nahi kharid sakta" (Onions are very expensive, I can't buy them). The post quickly gained traction, amassing nearly 4,000 likes and 138 comments, resonating with consumers. Responding to the viral plea, Swiggy Instamart decided to step in. The platform launched a limited-time 1-hour flash sale on onions, offering the essential kitchen staple at just 39. The sale, which took place between 7-8 pm, brought relief to Delhi NCR residents who could now stock up on onions without shedding a tear over their skyrocketing prices. Came across this post about a Swiggy customer trying to save on the rising price of onions by asking the restaurant to send some extra onions ? We feel your pain ? and though we can't change the prices - just for you, were launching a flash sale today! Onions at Rs. 39 in pic.twitter.com/8v43LlEHRQ Phani Kishan A (@phanikishan) November 28, 2024 Swiggys Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer, Phani Kishan Addepalli also tweeted on X about the same, saying, Was browsing Reddit and came across this post about a Swiggy customer trying to save on the rising price of onions by sweetly asking the restaurant to send some extra onions. We feel your pain man. Just for you, were launching a flash sale today! Onions at Rs. 39 in Delhi NCR from 7-8 pm. Stock up. The tweet quickly caught the attention of many users. From laughing emojis to hashtags, netizens flooded platforms with their witty takes and shared experiences of struggling with the rising cost of the vegetable. Links to user reactions: Manasi Parekh is now the face of Malabar Gold & Diamonds latest campaign, aimed at educating customers on responsible and transparent gold purchasing. Recently awarded the National Award for Best Actress for her performance in the Gujarati feature film Kutch Express, Parekh will represent the brand over the next two years, connecting with both national and international Gujarati audiences. Adding depth to the campaign is Viral Shah, a State and National Award-winning filmmaker who has established himself as a cornerstone of the Gujarati film industry with critically acclaimed films like Kutch Express and Golkeri. He is thrilled to collaborate with Malabar Gold & Diamonds to have directed their first Gujarati campaign with Manasi Parekh. The campaign showcases Parekh adorned in an exquisite range of Malabars jewellery designs, from traditional gold pieces to contemporary rose gold diamond styles and everyday accessories. These visuals are set across relatable, everyday scenariossuch as a baby shower, a bridal shower, a conversation between neighbours discussing gold purchases, and celebratory momentshighlighting the emotional and practical aspects of buying jewellery from a trusted source. Each scene underscores the joy of gifting and the assurance that comes from purchasing jewellery through a transparent and reliable process. Manasi Parekh's style in the campaign reflects her personal blend of effortless chic with a deep sense of heritage. Sharing her excitement about the association, Parekh said, Im thrilled to be part of Malabar Gold & Diamonds campaign. I love how this campaign emphasizes honesty and transparency, helping people feel confident about the gold theyre buying. Each piece I wore felt special, not just for its beauty but for the trust it symbolizes. Im proud to contribute to this important narrative, celebrating quality and integrityvalues that are close to my heart and, I believe, resonate with so many of us. MP Ahammed, Chairman, Malabar Group, said, We selected Manasi Parekh for this campaign because of her strong cultural roots in Gujarat, which makes her a perfect ambassador for our brand among Gujarati customers. Renowned for her impactful work in both television and film, Manasi resonates across generations, adding broad appeal to our campaign. Her alignment with Malabar Gold & Diamonds' values of responsibility and authenticity strengthens our message around fair pricing and ethical practices. Her warm, approachable presence naturally opens up a conversation about Malabars commitment to transparent gold buying, making this campaign genuinely meaningful to the people of Gujarat and the diaspora worldwide. The campaign has launched across multiple platforms, including TV, print, digital media, social media, and hoardings, with a specific focus on reaching the Gujarati community. As Malabar Gold & Diamonds continues to grow, this initiative reinforces the brands dedication to responsible gold-buying practices, fostering trust and confidence among its customers on a global scale. Further emphasizing its commitment to social responsibility, Malabar Group allocates 5% of its profits to ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) initiatives, with a focus on health, housing, education, environmental sustainability, and hunger eradication, along with women empowerment programs. These initiatives reflect Malabar's dedication to creating a positive societal impact, aligning with its vision of contributing to a more responsible and sustainable world. Also Read: Ali Asgar & Manasi Parekh to host STAR Plus' Funtakshari!! Radico Khaitan Ltd., one of Indias leading spirits companies, announces the launch of Magic Moments Verve Lemon Lush in West Bengal, marking a significant step in this millionaire brands strategic expansion. This latest addition to the Magic Moments Verve range is set to appeal to the growing consumer demand for premium flavoured vodkas, offering a refreshing lemon-infused variant that combines pure Gandhoraj Lemon juice with superior grains. Building on the brand's success in key markets such as Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Kerala, Pondicherry, and Telangana, Radico Khaitan aims to further strengthen its market presence in West Bengal. The launch of Magic Moments Verve Lemon Lush, infused with the distinctive Gandhoraj lemon sourced from West Bengal, is a strategic move considering the flavor palette for the Bengal audience. The new variants smooth, refreshing taste and the citrusy flavour of the Gandhoraj lemons make it an ideal choice for the region's tropical climate. The products versatility also makes it an excellent base for a variety of cocktails, perfectly positioned to meet the growing trend of cocktail culture in urban social settings. Commenting on the launch, Amar Sinha, Chief Operating Officer at Radico Khaitan Ltd., said: Expanding Magic Moments Verve Lemon Lush into West Bengal aligns with our ongoing strategy of premiumisation and market expansion. With flavoured vodka now the largest growing segment in the category, we see significant potential in tapping into this demand with an innovative product offering that appeals to the evolving tastes of modern consumers. As the fourth-largest vodka brand globally, we continue to lead the market with a portfolio designed to meet the diverse preferences of our customers. The successful reception of this variant in other markets further strengthens our confidence in its success in West Bengal. Priced at 240 for 180ml, 450 for 375ml, and 860 for 750ml, Magic Moments Verve Lemon Lush is available in three convenient pack sizes across the state. The product will be distributed in prominent markets with strong demand for premium vodka, in line with Radico Khaitans strategy to reinforce its positioning as a leader in the premium spirits category. Globally, Magic Moments continues to solidify its position as a market leader, earning recognition for its consistent quality and performance. According to the Brand Champions 2024 Report published by The Spirits Business Magic Moments has been ranked as the 4th largest vodka brand by volume worldwide. Additionally, Magic Moments Verve has been awarded Gold at the prestigious Global Monde Selection Awards for ten consecutive years (2013-2023). Specifically, Verve Lemon Lush has earned Gold for three consecutive years (2021-2023), alongside the International High-Quality Trophy, further cementing its status as a top-tier product in the spirits industry. With a firm focus on quality, innovation, and consumer engagement, Magic Moments is poised for continued success as it expands its footprint in West Bengal and beyond. In a groundbreaking episode of the WTF Podcast - WTF is Really A.I.?, host Nikhil Kamath engages Yann LeCun, one of the Godfathers of AI & Chief AI Scientist at Meta and a pioneer of artificial intelligence, in an unfiltered conversation that pushes the boundaries of how we view AI. The dialogue explores AIs potential to redefine human intelligence, its role in solving critical global challenges like climate change, and the ethical dilemmas it brings to the forefront. "AI is not just a toolits a force multiplier for human intelligence," LeCun asserted during the conversation. The episode challenges listeners to rethink their understanding of AIs impact and raises questions about its future applications in business, policy, and society. The podcast covers important discussion areas as shared below: AI: The Amplifier of Human Intelligence LeCun described AI as more than automation, emphasizing its role in expanding human intelligence and improving decision-making. "AI offers humanity a way to overcome our intellectual limits," said LeCun. "The key to solving many of the worlds problems lies in making people smarter, and AI can be the catalyst for that transformation." He explored AIs applications in tackling large-scale challenges such as climate change, where both technological advancements and smarter governance are needed. He argued that AIs ability to analyze complex datasets, simulate outcomes, and identify solutions could fast-track innovation in sustainability and policy reform. Building on Yanns perspective, Nikhil added, "The democratization of AI means that we no longer need massive institutions to solve big problemsan individual with the right tools can drive meaningful change." Indias Young Entrepreneurs: The Next AI Pioneers LeCun offered a powerful call to action for Indias young innovators, describing the country as uniquely positioned to become a global AI hub. "India has the talent, diversity, and challenges that make it the perfect testing ground for AI-driven solutions," he said. He pointed to areas like agriculture, multilingual natural language processing, and affordable healthcare as prime opportunities for young entrepreneurs to create scalable solutions that can impact millions. Nikhil reinforced Yanns point stating, "With accessible AI tools, Indian startups can now tackle problems that were once the domain of tech giants. The potential for local solutions with global applications is enormous." Ethical AI: Balancing Progress with Responsibility The conversation delved into the ethical challenges AI presents, particularly the risks of misuse and bias. LeCun emphasized the importance of transparency, inclusivity, and public discourse in shaping AIs future. "The consequences of building intelligent machines could be revolutionary," he said, "but only if we address the ethical implications and ensure they benefit society equitably." LeCun also stressed the need for scientists to engage beyond academic circles, saying, "Im vocal on social networks and public platforms because shaping AI policy and public understanding is as crucial as the technology itself." Nikhil echoed this sentiment, noting that discussions about AIs societal impact are vital to ensure it evolves responsibly. The episode is out now and can be viewed here: WTF is A.I. Really? | Yann LeCun x Nikhil Kamath | People by WTF Ep #4 Alabama public school enrollment reached an eight-year high this fall, with pockets across the state seeing record growth. Statewide, K-12 enrollment rose to 729,242 in 2024-25 an increase of 0.3%, or about 2,500 students, from the previous year. Pre-K enrollment is now at 22,528, an increase of about 0.4% from the 2023-24 school year. While small, the increase appears to buck national trends, the Alabama Daily News found : According to the National Center for Education Statistics , Alabama is just one of 10 states that are projected to see enrollment increase through 2031. Of Alabamas largest school districts, Huntsville City and Limestone County saw the biggest jumps. Birmingham City and Baldwin County also saw increases. Most growing districts benefit from new residents, not just local birth rates. But researchers say there are factors beyond population changes that could influence future growth. The state is preparing to start a dramatic expansion in school vouchers , which could encourage current public school families to switch to private schools. How this plays out depends a lot on choice how much choice families will have and how they will exercise it, Sofoklis Goulas, a fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institution, told AL.com. See how enrollment in your district has changed over time. If you cant see the chart, view it here. Enrollment patterns also differ vastly from place to place, AL.com found, and can come with different sets of challenges. While North Alabama districts struggle to keep up with record growth, rural counties continue to face declines, forcing several small schools to close in recent years. I am very excited to see our numbers beginning to turn around after a steady decline for a decade, State Superintendent Eric Mackey said in a statement to AL.com. We are seeing more students select public schools because we are offering more options, parent confidence appears to be on the rise as well. He noted concern, though about declining enrollment in rural districts in Alabama and across the country -- and warned that lower enrollment and declining tax revenues would likely mean school consolidations. A market response Declining birth rates arent enough to explain local shifts, Goulas said. Nationally, enrollment loss is typically more concentrated in high-poverty districts and schools that are chronically low performing, indicating that more families might be making an active choice to leave traditional public schools. This strengthens the argument that the declines we see might be actually reflecting a market response, a choice on behalf of the communities, he said. Homeschool and private school enrollment ballooned nationally during the pandemic, and could continue to be a more popular option for families, Goulas and his co-researcher, Eloise Burtis found in a recent Brookings study. But family decisions to join or leave public schools depend on local factors, too. People talk about enrollment declines as a random phenomenon, like rain like something that is out of our control, Goulas said. But the reality is that to the extent that these enrollment declines reflect some family choice, there are ways that schools and districts can reengage with the families in their community. Which districts are growing the fastest? Much of the recent growth comes from growing communities in north and south Alabama, AL.com found, as well as virtual and charter schools, which added nearly 4,000 students this year. Eufaula City, home to the 6,104-student Alabama Virtual Academy, saw the highest district-wide increase, at about 22%. North Alabama districts also continue to boom, and now make up half of the states 10 fastest growing traditional school systems: Eufaula City, up 21.7% Marshall County, up 8.6% Athens City, up 7.4% Fairfield City, up 5.7% Chickasaw City, up 4.9% Gulf Shores City, up 4.3% Sheffield City, up 4% Limestone County, up 3.6% Opelika City, up 3.4% Jasper City, up 2.9% Birmingham City also saw a slight increase, by about 0.5%, for the first time in nearly 30 years. District leaders said theyve begun to take a customer service approach to stay more engaged with families and help curb declining enrollment. This moment is very pivotal for us as a school district, Superintendent Mark Sullivan said at a recent school board meeting. Theres school choice out there. More and more parents are homeschooling their children. There are families who are making decisions with their feet But our goal is to make sure Birmingham City Schools is the first choice in education, so we have to get this right. Shrinking rural districts More districts, however, are shrinking rather than growing. Those districts could face budget crunches and tough decisions about staffing or consolidation. Across the state, shrinking enrollment has led to the closures of several rural schools many of which are majority Black. More than 80 school districts and charter schools saw enrollment decline this year, losing a combined total of 5,725 students. In south Alabama, Mobile County lost nearly 1,000 students, while neighboring districts like Chickasaw, Saraland, Baldwin County grew. Selma City saw the biggest percent decrease in enrollment this year, losing 312, or 12%, of its students. And in Sumter County, years of depopulation and declining school enrollment have recently prompted state intervention and consolidation efforts . The rural school district saw another dip this year, losing 77, or 8%, of students, while the nearby University Charter School in Livingston added just 11 students. Consolidation is always difficult on local communities already facing economic challenges, Mackey said. We are currently managing this very scenario in Sumter County as the system goes from four campuses to a single centralized campus under state intervention. Otherwise, it would no longer be fiscally viable to maintain so many campuses for so few students. Heres where the state is seeing the biggest shifts. If you cant see the map, view it here. Changing demographics Schools are also seeing big demographic changes. Hispanic and Latino students now make up over 12% of the student population nearly doubling their enrollment over the past decade. Across the state, local districts have been enrolling more and more immigrant students and English learners, who typically come from Spanish-speaking countries. White student enrollment, which has been declining slowly for years, now makes up 50% of the student population. Black student enrollment is also down slightly, from 31.5% to 31.3%. A Huntsville aerospace and defense company plans to expand production of missile components in response to increased global demand driven by conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Aerojet Rocketdyne, a division of L3Harris Technologies, manufactures components for Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System rockets, or GMLRS, whose success in Ukraines conflict with Russia is driving worldwide demand . Aerojet announced in 2022 that it would expand its operations in Huntsville by leasing 379,000 square feet near the airport. The facility will support production of inert components for MK 72 and MK 104 solid rocket motors used to power the Standard Missile as well as inert (Solid Rocket Motors) SRM components for programs like Javelin and GMLRS ( being transferred from the companys Camden, Arkansas, site to Huntsville), said a spokesperson from L3Harris in a statement to AL.com Wednesday. The massive 379,000 sq. ft. facility has room to meet the production needs of today while positioning the segment to support new and emerging opportunities, the spokesperson added. The companys Huntsville workforce has grown sevenfold since 2016 to about 800 employees , while L3Harris' investment in Aerojet has increased more than 40% year over year, according to the spokesperson. Scott Alexander, the president of Aerojets Missile Solutions sector, describes Huntsville as attractive. Huntsville is a great place for our business, with a highly skilled workforce and proximity to government and industry partners, he said. With ongoing L3Harris investments, we are well positioned to support new and emerging opportunities here in the Rocket City. Aerojets three Huntsville sites include the Missile Solutions sector headquarters in Cummings Research Park, and two advanced manufacturing facilities, one in the North Huntsville Industrial Park and the other at the Jetplex Industrial Park close to the Huntsville Airport. Our two Huntsville manufacturing facilities specialize in production of inert (non-energetic) solid rocket motor components for programs like THAAD and Standard Missile. the spokesperson said. L3Harris is also expanding manufacturing capabilities beyond Huntsville. The spokesperson said: With internal and government investments, were building new manufacturing facilities across multiple sites and increasing capacity to support todays surges and tomorrows needs, including a ~60,000 square foot manufacturing facility dedicated to GMLRS at our Camden, Ark., site. As America winds down from four years of horrific mismanagement at the hands of the incompetent Biden administration, few issues stand as glaringly urgent as Americas cyber vulnerabilities. For President Trump, who is returning to the Oval Office amid a torrent of pressing global concerns, cybersecurity represents a battlefield that demands not only rhetoric but bold, decisive action. It is a battlefield plagued with the potholes of bureaucratic inertia, technological lag, and perhaps most alarmingly, a talent shortage that threatens to leave the U.S. woefully unprepared for the cyber onslaughts ahead. Microsoft, the Silicon Valley titan that holds the reins of countless federal contracts, has emerged as an unexpected cheerleader for stronger cybersecurity efforts from the Trump administration. Brad Smith, Microsofts president, has issued urgent calls for the U.S. government to take a tougher stance on cyberattacks emanating from Russia, China, and Iran. However, before we rush to brand Microsoft as the paladin of cybersecurity, let us not forget the tech giant's patchy track record. Despite pocketing hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to bolster U.S. cyberdefenses, Microsoft has been implicated in hundreds of breaches, many of them alarmingly high-profile. Critics might say this is akin to hiring a security guard who leaves the vault door ajar and then suggests installing more locks. Yet, Microsoft's calls are not without merit; the company has a point when urging the administration to tackle state-sponsored Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups with greater urgency. Speaking of APTs, the danger posed by state-sponsored hacking collectives is as pervasive as it is sophisticated. Countries like Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea have turned cyber warfare into a lucrative national sport. China's Gelsemium group, for instance, has been linked to a sinister Linux backdoor called WolfsBane, a malware capable of infiltrating critical systems with stealthy precision. Meanwhile, Russia's Cozy Bear and Fancy Bear groups continue to target Western governments, private enterprises, and election systems with brazen impunity. Iran's oil-rich regime funds APT groups like APT33, known for its attacks on energy and infrastructure, while North Korea's Lazarus Group uses ransomware to extort millions to fund its rogue missile program. These groups operate like shadow armies, wielding tools that can cripple economies and compromise national security. Beyond APTs, the broader cyber threat landscape reads like a dystopian script. Ransomware continues to evolve, with malicious actors increasingly targeting hospitals, schools, and municipalities. The days of "simple" data encryption are gone; today's ransomware often involves double extortion tactics, threatening to leak sensitive data unless a hefty ransom is paid. Malware loaders like BabbleLoader add yet another layer of complexity, functioning as the Swiss Army knife of cybercrime. These loaders distribute Trojans and spyware with alarming efficiency, opening the gates for broader, more devastating attacks. And let us not forget the murky waters of cryptocurrency-related schemes. President Trump has shown a clear fondness for digital currencies, but the blockchain boom has become a breeding ground for Bitcoin phishing scams and illegal activity. Bitcoin ransom demands, fraudulent Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), and crypto-mining malware are just a few of the plagues haunting this digital frontier. As if this litany of threats werent enough, America faces a glaring shortage of skilled cybersecurity personnel. Current estimates suggest that the U.S. is short by hundreds of thousands of qualified cyber experts, a gap that is as demoralizing as it is dangerous. Without the human capital to defend our digital borders, all the policy changes and technological advancements in the world may be rendered moot. Compounding the issue is the looming end of support for Windows 10 in the coming year. This transition could result in a wave of Blue Screen of Death errors across millions of devices, creating a fertile hunting ground for cybercriminals. A patchwork of outdated systems, ill-prepared for the next wave of attacks, could lead to catastrophic failures in critical infrastructure, from energy grids to financial networks. But while the picture may seem bleak, hope is not lost. The Trump administration has an opportunity -- perhaps even an obligation -- to spearhead a cybersecurity renaissance. Key reforms are needed at agencies like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the National Security Agency (NSA), where streamlined processes and better interagency collaboration could help counteract the bureaucratic red tape that often stifles progress. Investments in public-private partnerships will also be critical. Despite its flaws, Microsofts advocacy highlights the importance of leveraging expertise from the private sector. The administration must encourage more collaboration between tech giants and government bodies, ensuring that cybersecurity innovation keeps pace with emerging threats. Furthermore, addressing the talent gap will require a long-term strategy. This means investing in education and training programs to cultivate the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. Scholarships, apprenticeships, and fast-tracked certifications could help bridge the skills deficit and fortify Americas digital workforce. Yes, the challenges ahead are daunting. The international cyberthreat landscape is more dangerous than ever, especially as the unregulated AI world continues to grow and Americas digital defenses remain riddled with vulnerabilities. But the fight is far from over. With bold leadership, strategic investment, and a willingness to embrace both innovation and accountability, the Trump administration has a chance to not only strengthen American cybersecurity but set a global standard for resilience. The battle for digital dominance will not be won overnight. It will require grit, determination, and a clear vision for the future. But in the spirit of optimism, let us dare to believe that America can rise to the occasion. After all, it is not the size of the breach that defines us, but the strength of our response. Julio Rivera is a business and political strategist, cybersecurity researcher, founder of ItFunk.Org, and a political commentator and columnist. His writing, which is focused on cybersecurity and politics, is regularly published by many of the largest news organizations in the world. Image: RawPixel.com Trump is a fascist! Thats what Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, and a chorus of Democrats told us ad nauseam. When that moniker insufficiently expressed their hatred and fear of losing, the absurd Hitler insult was spewed forth. Most Americans likely cant spell fascism, much less define it. They can be excused for the latter deficit since historians have been all over the political map trying to provide a definition of the doctrine. What these mostly left-of-center professionals conveniently agree on, however, is that fascism is a product of the political right. Never mind that Mussolini arrived at fascism after spending his earlier years as a committed socialist (editor-in-chief of Avanti!) and that his totalitarian (Il Duces word) program naturally incorporated many of the policies embedded in that ideology. Add to those facts that Mussolini was greeted more than sympathetically by Progressive leftists of the time, including FDR, with whom, prior to Mussolinis invasion of Ethiopia in 1935, there existed a relationship of mutual admiration, if not a full-fledged bromance. The pre-TDS Jonah Goldberg cites in his book Liberal Fascism a letter from FDR that refers to that admirable Italian gentleman who was praising New Deal initiatives. FDR, in turn, writes that he is also much interested and deeply impressed by Mussolinis accomplishments. More to the point of this essay, Goldberg notes that as an FDR ally, Father Coughlin moved farther to the radical left and began criticizing Roosevelt, whereupon liberals started calling him a right-winger. In other words, [i]n the 1930s, what defined a right-winger was almost exclusively opposition to Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal. Here is a dissertation topic for an open-minded graduate student: the utility (or lack thereof) of the left-right political distinction. A couple of decades ago, when I asked Goldberg himself about historians who began linking fascism to the political right, he provided no answer. One likely reason for that linkage, I suspect, comes from the following quote in Mussolinis essay The Doctrine of Fascism (1932): We are free to believe that this is the century of authority, a century tending to the right, a Fascist century. Note, however, that Mussolini says tending to the right and even puts the word right in quotation marks. That Mussolinis fascism tends to the right likely means that it is more explicitly authoritarian than the implicitly (but still actually) authoritarian and totalitarian Soviet Union. Moreover, Mussolini certainly doesnt say far right, and elsewhere, he rejects the whole left-right system, noting that fascism could also have sat on the mountain of the center. He adds that these words in any case do not have a fixed and unchanged meaning and concludes, We dont give a damn about these empty terminologies. As many readers know, the left-right ideological terminology arose from the seating arrangement in Frances National Assembly at the time of the revolution (1789). Traditional monarchists sat on the right, whereas more liberal and radical members sat to the left. Using this same schema to describe modern political systems would presumably put fascism to the right of traditional monarchists an absurdity. George Orwell in 1944 correctly observed that the word fascism had become almost entirely meaningless, a term for which almost any English person would accept bully as a synonym. Later he declared that fascism had no meaning except in so far as it signifies something not desirable. As evidence of the accuracy of Orwells statement, one can note that the term has been applied to communist regimes. Red China claimed that the Soviet Union was fascist, and the Soviet Union returned the favor. Not surprisingly, Stalin labeled Trotsky a fascist before having him murdered. And in 1946, even the always fashionably left New York Times pondered the applicability of the term fascist to Stalins Russia, thereby linking the Soviet regime to Hitlers Germany. Anyone who wants to know what fascism is, at least in Mussolinis mind, can read Il Duces own description noted above, though a philosophical background is helpful, especially to understand his use of the term State (capitalized!). Though Mussolini never explicitly mentions Hegel in his essay, his theory of the State is largely borrowed from the philosopher, with a passionate Italian twist. Mussolini firmly rejects Marxs materialistic, class-based reinterpretation of Hegels philosophy, arguing that an organically vital and united nation is impossible in a government arising from competing class interests or from the individualistic principles embraced in democratic societies. Only persons whose lives are viewed in terms of their relationship and contribution to the state are truly free or fully human. Put succinctly, the Fascist conception of the State is all embracing; outside of it no human or spiritual values can exist, much less have value. And as Rousseau asserted in 1762, those who dont accept what is good for society as a whole will be forced to be free. Just as fascism doesnt fit neatly on a left-right scale and has become little more than a political pejorative, so also the whole left-right schema for categorizing political systems has become little more than a way of denigrating so-called right-wing groups. Indeed, this stigmatizing of conservative or populist movements is, I believe, the primary reason fascism was placed on the far right by historians largely sympathetic to leftist socialist regimes. That placement was an easy way to obliterate the obvious similarities between two totalitarian political ideologies, fascism and communism, as well as the socialist or state-directed economic systems each employs. The far right fascist absurdity also had the value of distancing communists and socialists from the horrors of the Holocaust as well as the pact Hitler and Stalin made in 1939 that allowed them to pillage and divide Poland between themselves. In sum, the left-right paradigm is itself an ideologically biased construct that obscures, more than illuminates, political realities. Putting Stalin and Castro on the extreme left simply because their ideology touts a nonexistent egalitarianism while ignoring the dictatorial, totalitarian traits those regimes share with Mussolini on the far right is absurd. One must also close ones eyes to the state-centered elements of Mussolinis regime that were so attractive to FDR and his advisers. Quoting Rexford Tugwell, a leading Roosevelt adviser, Its the cleanest ... most efficiently operating piece of social machinery Ive ever seen. It makes me envious. It is this fatally flawed schema thats employed to provide intellectual cover for socialist and Democrat propagandists to throw absurd fascist or Hitlerite insults at Trump as well as previous GOP POTUS candidates going back as far as Barry Goldwater even including, less vociferously, Mitt Romney! I doubt the left-right paradigm will be discarded any time soon, but well all be more enlightened when that aforementioned dissertation is written and becomes a transformational bestseller. Richard Kirk is a freelance writer living in Southern California whose book Moral Illiteracy: Whos to Say? is also available on Kindle. Image: paul_houle via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan, during a recent conversation with journalist Bari Weiss, made some startling revelations. Noonan calls herself a conservative and was once a speechwriter for President Ronald Reagan. But like most mainstream conservative commentators of that era, Noonan abandoned both her conservative and journalistic principles to devolve into a rabid hater of President Trump. She believed the hoaxes against President Trump, particularly the Trump-Russia collusion hoax. When she was proven wrong, instead of accepting her mistake, she claimed she didnt know what to think of Trump/Russia and wasn't "satisfied well ever fully understand it. In such cases, there are no greys. Trump was cleared by probers despite their deep bias against him and their lack of basis for the investigation. But Noonan purposefully tried to leave the door open by feigning confusion instead of admitting this obvious fact. Noonan's recent utterances proved how deeply she erred while covering Trump. But the sanctimonious seldom possess self-awareness. Therefore, Noonan bragged about her mistake because she thought she was following journalistic ethics. Noonan claimed when Trump decided to run for president his aides reached out to her for interactions. She claimed that she was hesitant to meet President Trump because she "had a feeling that up close he would be charming and funny, and that there would be something endearing, and that it would mess with my swing as an observer." "I didn't want to see him up close. I didn't want to see him far away. I wanted- had this intuitive sense [to] see him at a middle distance. And I felt I saw him clearly at a middle distance." Noonan was conflating intimate relationships with professional interactions. If Noonan had a romantic affair or a friendship with President Trump it would have been inappropriate and would render her unable to report on him objectively. But merely having interactions is not wrong, it is an essential component of covering any leader. Personal interactions present the opportunity to probe the thinking and understand the leader's perspective. It is not just the words but body language which is often quite revealing. Purposefully not meeting Trump was a gross dereliction of duty on Noonan's part. Noonan then revealed her experience when she recently met President Trump. "So two or three weeks ago, he came to the Wall Street Journal for an editorial board meeting, and my instinct kicked in again. 'Don't go.' But then I corrected myself.' Noonan said. 'I've been writing about him for eight years. I have occasionally clubbed him like a seal. He has occasionally clubbed me. And it would be so wrong if he came to my newspaper, and he couldn't go there and take retribution or do whatever he wanted to do. It just struck me as the fair, right thing. And so I went.' So anyway, at a certain point, the doors fly open and the entourage comes in, and there's Trump, who in person in that blue suit and the tie is huge, and the hair is huge, everything is huge. And he, like, blows by others, and he just says to me, You are wonderful. You are the most remarkable woman. '...He went on and off the record. But off the record, he was hilarious, rude, inappropriate, said things about foreign leaders that should not be said to a bunch of journalists. And I just sat back and thought by the end, 'Honey, your intuition was right. If you'd met him in 2015, you would have loved him and not seen him,' Noonan concluded. '" Noonan inadvertently actually confessed she was in awe of Trump. She also admitted her inadequacies as a journalist, i.e., she cannot be objective when the person is warm, affectionate, charming, and funny. But most top elected officials possess star quality and journalists must be able to look beyond the charisma and blandishment to cover the individual as objectively as possible. What Noonan also unknowingly revealed is that most of these journalists who suffered from TDS weren't doing so out of principle or reason. The first possible explanation for their inconsolable rage against Trump was that he won landslide mandates and remained popular despite their coordinated campaign against him. With every election, Trump increased his voter base, which is rare in politics. Before Trump, the media was able to destroy individuals, particularly Republicans or conservatives, with a few attacks. They successfully destroyed the political careers of Sarah Palin and the Presidential candidacies of John McCain and Mitt Romney because these individuals never had a deep connection with the public. Hence, a few hitjobs caused instant abandonment. Trump had rendered the media impotent and irrelevant. The second possible explanation for the rabidity against Trump is they are acting on orders. This seems plausible because, on any given day, 'experts' across outlets have identical opinions and even identical phraseology for any given incident. These media assassins know Trump isn't Hitler and a threat to democracy but repeat relentlessly because they are operating on orders from nefarious forces in Democrat leadership. Noonan's trepidation minutes before meeting Trump also revealed that spending prolonged periods in the echo chamber causes a divorce from reality. Noonan began to believe her falsehoods that Trump was a vicious beast who would deal with her with extreme brutality, but the opposite occurred. So, what do we make of this? Since Trump entered politics, not a day has gone by in which the mainstream media hasnt behaved irresponsibly, reprehensibly, or immorally. They have accused Trump of some of the worst failings any human can be accused of -- treason, bigotry, dishonesty, etc. Noonan is a leading member of this odious group of propagandists. Trump's reelection proves that they cannot sway a majority of Americans. But the bumbling word salad chef still received 74 million votes, proving the media still influences a significant number of Americans. Human nature is such that unfairness, baseless targeting, and a defeat due to manipulation cause rage, which causes an individual to be in battle mode, which results in the individual being perpetually alert. However, victories bring elation, and elation causes people to ease into a relaxed mode and forget about past unfairness. President Trump must be cautious while dealing with these media vultures. Noonan may not have revealed the specifics of Trump's off-the-record comments, but even divulging that he made 'inappropriate' remarks about foreign leaders" was a breach of trust and journalistically unethical. In the future, specifics of the utterances could be revealed, and that will cause an unnecessarily difficult situation, especially while conducting diplomacy. For fair-minded and independent-thinking Americans, abandoning this corrupt and mendacious mainstream media in favor of alternative media is a worthy option. As always, consumers must be deeply skeptical while consuming any content from any media, and following homework, treat everything as false until proven true. Image: Gage Skidmore The International Criminal Court (ICC), as encouraged by prosecutor Karim Khan, propagated the blood libel that Israel is attacking Palestinian civilians. Khan knows or should know that Israel has not only refrained from targeting civilians, but has taken extraordinary measures to the extent of putting its own soldiers at risk to avoid harming them. We also need to ask why South Africa has asked the International Court of Justice to prosecute Israel for genocide, another blood libel from a backward Third World country with its own long litany of human rights violations including the racist murder of Amy Biehl and the necklacing of Winnie Mandela's political opponents. Maybe Iranian money under the table has something to do with it. A letter signed by 161 attorneys alleges that "officials of the ANC received bribes from Iran to pay the party's debts in exchange for agreeing to accuse Israel of genocide in the Gaza Strip at the International Court of Justice." Karim Khan's Alleged Indiscretions The ICC's chief prosecutor is himself the center of some controversies, including sexual harassment. "According to a document seen by the Guardian, the accusations against Khan, 54, include unwanted sexual touching and 'abuse' over an extended period. They include an alleged incident in which he is said to have 'pressed his tongue' into the womans ear." Khan denies the allegations, but the controversy is there. Khan's misconduct is only alleged at this point, and the burden of proof is on his accuser, but the allegation is still a huge elephant in the room. UK Lawyers for Israel has meanwhile filed a professional misconduct complaint against Karim Khan. "Having received no reply, UKLFI has now reported the prosecutor, Karim Khan KC, and his assistant, Andrew Cayley KC, both English barristers, to the Bar Standards Board for England and Wales (BSB). UKLFI accuses Khan and Cayley of not complying with their duty not to mislead the Court." US Senators and Foundation for Defense of Democracies Weigh In The Foundation for Defense of Democracies reports that Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) called the ICC corrupt to its core and a rogue and politically motivated organization. To this, Graham, John Thune (R-SD), and John Fetterman (D-PA) added, Acquiescing to the Courts jurisdiction over Israel is to agree, in theory, they have jurisdiction over the United States. The fact that Iran and Communist China get a free pass from the ICC for their own extensive human rights violations, including genocide of Uyghur Muslims by the Chinese Communists and China's violation of the UN Charter by menacing Taiwan, underscores the ICC's partisan nature. The FDD's Clifford D. May adds, "The Corruption of the International Criminal Court (ICC)," which is highly instructive. It depicts the ICC as a menace to American sovereignty, for which there should be zero tolerance. Regardless of the ICC's reason for providing lawfare support to a foreign terrorist organization, with the sole exception of also filing charges against a few terrorists, President-Elect Trump is the right person to deal with this problem. Not only are Republicans and some Democrats seeking to punish the ICC, the Telegraph's Joe Barnes reports, "Trump could sanction British lawyer leading ICC push for Netanyahu arrest." Should the US and Israel Outlaw the ICC? Israeli law may enable it to classify the ICC as an unlawful association and treat it accordingly. "In accordance with the 1945 Defense (Emergency) Regulations, an unlawful association is defined as 'any body of persons, whether incorporated or unincorporated, named or not, which, from time to time, suggests, incites or encourages its constitution or propaganda of the following unlawful acts: Brings hatred or contempt or incitement thereof, against the Israeli government or its ministers in their official capacity.'" The ICC has certainly done this with its false accusations against Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Gallant, thus providing aid and comfort to terrorists. In addition, the Israeli law says, "In Israel's fight against terror and the sources that fund it, the government has the authority to declare relevant bodies and organizations as terrorist organizations, and the Defense Minister has the authority to declare groups as unlawful associations." Israel has already banned UNRWA for collusion with Hamas. Another law empowers the United States to use military force against any country that honors an ICC warrant against a U.S. service member or a U.S. ally (such as Netanyahu). Senator Tom Cotton cited the American Service-Members' Protection Act to warn, Woe to him and anyone who tries to enforce these outlaw warrants. Let me give them all a friendly reminder: the American law on the ICC is known as The Hague Invasion Act for a reason. Think about it." Israel is meanwhile well known for its ability to extradite people such as war criminal Adolf Eichmann from halfway across the world and, should the ICC actually manage to get Netanyahu into custody, it could wake up in the middle of the night to find not only Netanyahu gone but his captors in Israeli custody on charges of kidnapping. Were Israel to take the latter action, I would not say one word against it. Israel is not the only country that could arrest and imprison anybody who acts on an ICC warrant, or even possibly issue one against, for example, the President of the United States. Anybody who so much as even thinks about conspiring to kidnap the President of the United States needs to look at the potential consequences, namely, life in prison. Jurisdiction for "18 U.S. Code 1751 -- Presidential and Presidential staff assassination, kidnapping, and assault; penalties" does not stop at our borders either. In fact, "There is extraterritorial jurisdiction over the conduct prohibited by this section." Legal Insurrection's William A. Jacobson, who is an attorney, goes even further. He reminds his readers that the ICC's current behavior is why the United States never signed onto the Rome Statute, to which Israel also is not a signatory -- which means the ICC is trying to exercise jurisdiction where it has none. "The ICC needs to be gutted, treated and sanctioned the way we treat and sanction terrorist organizations" to which he adds, emphasis is mine, "And I think what youre going to see, and what I hope you see, is the U.S. under Trump and the Senate and the House under Republicans, gutting the ICC with sanctions. Anyone who cooperates with it being treated the way we treat somebody who gives material support to a terrorist group, criminalizing it." Tom Cotton adds, "The ICC is a kangaroo court and Karim Khan is a deranged fanatic. Woe to him and anyone who tries to enforce these outlaw warrants." If we note, with the exception of John Fetterman, who deserves full credit for his own denunciation of the ICC, the prevalence of Rs after the names of the senators in question, those of us who "used our heads and voted Red" a few weeks ago should feel amply vindicated in the election of Trump and a Republican Senate. If Karim Khan and his associates think William Jacobson, Lindsey Graham, John Thune, John Fetterman, Tom Cotton, Mike Waltz, Jim Risch, and Donald Trump are blowing smoke, the Secretary of State -- who is likely to be Marco Rubio -- has the power to designate an entity as a foreign terrorist organization which criminalizes all forms of material support for the entity in question. As far as I know, no vote by Congress is necessary, which means we can look forward, come January 20, 2025, to the image of the well-deserved heel of Uncle Sam's boot in the ICC's collective face. Civis Americanus is the pen name of an American Thinker contributor who remembers the lessons of history, and wants to ensure that our country never needs to learn those lessons again the hard way. Image: Oseveno Companies the world over watched the election results and tried to read the tea leaves on what will happen to trade policy. President Trump ran on increasing tariffs; now that hes won, companies think they need to prepare for those higher tariffs. But its not as simple as that. The proposals of either an across-the-board duty increase, or an increase in the existing punitive tariffs on mainland China, or some big new tariff focused on China (and maybe others too) are all possibilities. As the incoming Trump administration and the Republican Congress spend the winter tackling their critically important tax cut, there is a good chance that they will incorporate some trade remedies in that same omnibus bill, if at all possible. It is therefore too soon to anticipate just what the tariff aspect of it will look like. Rather than thinking of the incoming Republican majorities and what they are likely to do, consider instead the problem that they are attempting to remedy: the ongoing migration of American manufacturing to foreign countries, primarily to Red China or to companies controlled by it. The United States of America are still a manufacturing juggernaut; we have factories from coast to coast, and we do make everything from small appliances to industrial equipment. But we also import far more finished goods than ever before, and even more importantly, and infinitely more dangerously, all that American-manufactured product is more dependent than ever on numerous imported components. So, in a way, we manufacture both more, and less, than many realize; we do have more active factories, making more American goods, then many people give us credit for. But most of those American goods are dependent upon Chinese components, meaning that a great deal of American production would shut down immediately if our supply chain with China were to shut down, due to either natural disaster or war. It is economic suicide to be this dependent on a foreign power for the building blocks of our own economy, especially when that foreign power is a saber-rattling communist nation that has made no secret of its desire for conquest. At the Halfway Point The first Trump administration tried to convince American manufacturing to diversify its supply base to re-source to other countries or, hopefully, to near-shore, meaning re-sourcing to neighboring American manufacturers. It worked with many. The combination of 7.5% and 25% additional tariffs on Chinese goods (on top of whatever the standard duty and fees already were, which varied, depending on the product), did succeed in shaking sense into many companies. America now imports more things from more other countries than it did before the first Trump administration. But many other American companies decided to change nothing to simply live with the 7.5% and the 25% punitive tariffs, imagining without cause that they would go away, hoping they could just absorb the hit, hoping that this was as high as they would ever go. So you might say we are at the halfway point today, with the first group of companies having taken advantage of the past eight years to slowly and carefully decouple from Chinas grip, and far too many other companies having postponed such a change until it was absolutely necessary. Many of these are now, suddenly, coming to grips with the fact that higher tariffs are imminent, and they are desperately rushing to take corrective measures. Such companies would be well advised to consider some major risks: Negotiating it away: Its not unusual for a buyer to try to talk his vendor into absorbing a cost increase in order to hold onto the business. Some importers are therefore reaching out to their Chinese vendors to pressure them to lower their prices when the new tariffs are known, so the importer doesnt have to change vendors at all. Here we must remember that two of the U.S. governments primary concerns with China are Chinas famous tendencies to subsidize exports (known to economists as dumping) and to manipulate its currency. The U.S. International Trade Commission is on the watch for both, and the specific remedies for them, such as anti-dumping and countervailing duties, are far costlier to the importer than these punitive tariffs are. Talking the Vendor into Opening a Foreign Subsidiary: If an American company is uncomfortable with finding alternative suppliers because it has dealt with the same Chinese vendor for so many years, the easiest solution might appear to be to simply talk his existing vendor into opening another facility of its own in a different country. One could still deal with the same people, while getting products made in their old vendors new factory in Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, etc. Here we must remember that all Chinese companies are essentially joint ventures with the Chinese military. This is another of our problems with China: the government steals the intellectual property (IP) of all companies, whether trademark, patent, or copyright. If you buy instead from that Chinese companys foreign subsidiary, all your intellectual property still has the same pipeline to Beijing. What have you really accomplished? Seeking New Foreign Vendors Without Paying Attention to Where They Get the Product. The solution is to source from companies that have no connection to China, either here in the U.S.A. or abroad. The challenge here is rushing the process, because you need to do your due diligence to ensure that this new vendor really does manufacture the goods himself, where he says he does. There always has been a sizable black market for whats known as illegal transshipment the practice of shipping goods to another country, just for the purpose of repackaging and re-marking them with another countrys origin statement, to avoid import quotas or punitive tariffs at the destination. Doing so is fraud, of course, and the U.S. government penalizes guilty importers severely for this one, too. Importers must insist on inspecting their new vendors facility, vetting their supply chain, and confirming their process. If an Indian, Vietnamese or Thai business simply repackages and misleadingly relabels Chinese goods, they will eventually be caught, and proving ones innocence in such involvement is extremely difficult. Best to make sure theres nothing improper from the start. The Challenges for the Second Trump Administration Both in the interest of speed and in building the case before the American public, during the first Trump administration they relied on two little-used executive tools, the Section 301 and Section 232 tariffs. This time, the odds are good that Congress will join in the effort, since Americas dangerous dependence on Chinese production and therefore our need to free ourselves from it -- has become infinitely more obvious in the intervening years. That means that this years increases may not look like the last ones at all. But in addition, the administration must still consider all the related issues. Its not just the necessities of diversifying supply and becoming self-sufficient again. Its also about protecting American intellectual property from the Beijing politburo, and protecting the U.S. dollar, and combatting the slave labor that China still practices, and preventing the regulatory evasion of de minimis shipments, and patrolling import volumes for drug smuggling, and protecting targeted American industries from predatory dumping. On top of all this, the administration has to forge the successful, cooperative relationship with the Republican Congress that completely eluded them the first time. Trade policy needs to be a part of the solution, not a catalyst for a rift. The best thing for the American business community to do, therefore, is to help solve the problem without waiting for Washington D.C. to thread this complicated needle. The more the business community manages to become independent of China on its own, the less Washington D.C. will have to do to force the issue. And any believer in limited government is sure to recognize the value of this particular goal as well. Image: Pexels / Pexels License President-elect Trump has stated that success will be his revenge. While those of us on the right pray that his next term will be successful, there are distinctions between revenge and justice. Revenge is emotional, personal, vindictive and cyclic, whereas justice is rational, impersonal, and brings about vindication and closure. Were seeing what happens when people break the law with impunity. Those who commit smash-and-grab burglaries are given a slap on the wrist, when and if theyre apprehended. Stories of public figures committing blatant crimes flash across our screens and then fade into the ether. Millions of illegals are welcomed into our country and many wreak havoc. Meanwhile, grandmothers praying in front of abortion mills get sent to prison and government officials burst into peoples homes and euthanize their pets. Police departments, like our military, are having difficulty meeting recruitment goals as candidates have no wish to risk life, limb, and liberty for woke bureaucrats who dont have their back. At one time our government was ostensibly composed of people who respected the Constitution and the rule of law. Republicans campaign on being the party of law and order. Yet the GOP has a fairly well-established pattern of summoning people to their committees to testify as to their actions, writing up lengthy reports and then...nothing happens. Case in point: a story broke on November 27, 2024 concerning Michael Byrd, the Capitol Police (CP) officer who shot and killed Ashli Babbitt on January 6, 2021. Byrd has a checkered career in the CP. During the J6 demonstration he shot Ashli Babbitt, a small, unarmed female Air Force veteran in the neck, killing her. Byrd says that by shooting Babbitt he saved countless lives. Babbitt was reportedly 52 tall and weighed around 110 lbs. He couldve just pushed her down and sat on her. Did he not have a taser or pepper spray? The DOJ had previously cleared Byrd of criminal charges and he was subsequently promoted. House Oversight investigators have given the US Capitol Police until December 4, 2024 to turn over all records and devices used by Byrd from 1/1/21 through 1/1/24. Given the GOPs record of holding people accountable, I dont expect much. There are now roughly 800 Americans languishing in terrible conditions in jails for their actions on J6. The 6th Amendment states that, In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trialby an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed Its been four years. Thats not speedy. The 5th Amendment assures us that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law. Are these citizens receiving due process? While campaigning for her office as Attorney General, Letitia James promised she would investigate Trump. In 2022 her office sued Trump, three of his children, and the Trump Organization for fraud. The banker who was involved in the case testified that what Trump did was not unusual, that banks always carry out their own appraisals and that they were eager to do more business with the Trump Organization. Trump ended up getting slapped with a fine of nearly $454 million dollars. As of September 2024, the case is under appeal. Im not an attorney so Ill just ask, do the instances of lawfare were seeing constitute Deprivation of rights under color of law? Might not the victims of cases such as these file civil suits citing Malicious Prosecution? Are Republicans afraid that, once Democrats again achieve majorities in Congress, theyll prosecute Republicans under fabricated crimes? As the saying in the movie goes, Theres already been a first strike! Or are they cowards, afraid that their own closeted skeletons might be revealed? People dont change their behavior unless theyre motivated to do so, either because of an anticipated benefit or fear of negative consequences. If public figures engage in slander, libel, and lawfare without paying a price, theyll simply do it again. If citizens and residents are allowed to commit crimes without being charged, vigilantism may arise and civil society may be lost. Our justice system needs reformation. Unethical and Soros-funded AGs, judges, and prosecutors must be removed from office. Local, state, and federal law enforcement offices and our military need to return to their core missions. Every American citizen must be treated equally under the law, and there are provisions for illegals and temporary residents as well. Its said that we get the government we deserve and were seeing the results. The chaos in Western Europe and in our major cities are harbingers of whats in store for the rest of us if the voters who love the Constitution and the rule of law dont make our voices heard. Our elected representatives and appointed officials must step up and enforce the laws as written and intended. Image: Free image, Pixabay license. Candidates and their campaigns hire advisors and consultants and they're no doubt bombarded with suggestions from their supporters. With so many good ideas to choose from one wonders how and why some campaigns step on one rake after another. Its been said that a campaigns best weapon is its own candidate. That may not always be true. After staging their coup in July, supporters of and staffers in the 2024 Kamala Harris campaign may have convinced her to avoid interviews. There were at least two problems with this tactic. The first is that while it may have worked for Joe Biden, he could at least blame it on COVID. The second was that it represented a no-win situation for Harris. People complained she wasnt speaking out, and when she did speak she was incoherent. The more she said the less people liked her. In contrast, Donald Trump speaks at great length to people across a wide spectrum of political ideologies, classes, income levels, and belief systems. He speaks onstage at rallies extemporaneously for hours. While making use of teleprompters he would frequently go off-script, expound on something and then eventually return to his original point. He calls it "weaving." Kamala cant do that. She often repeats some phrase she thinks is profound, speaks in bumper sticker slogans or wanders off into a meaningless word salad. Net semantic content? Zero. Towards the end of both campaigns Trump and Harris both began doing interviews with podcasters. In Trump's case it was on the advice of his 18-year-old son, Barron. He reportedly told his father that he and his friends don't follow the legacy news media, instead monitoring podcasts such as the Joe Rogan Experience and This Past Weekend with Theo Von. He suggested his father go on some of those shows. It worked. Half of American men under aged 30 ended up voting for Donald Trump. James Carville, aka "The Ragin' Cajun" once again earned his nickname when he went on a tirade telling young progressive staffers that he "...doesn't give a sh*t what you think." It's too late to close that barn door, Jimmy. Kamala went on the "Call her Daddy" podcast which is a lewd, feminist pro-abortion program. The host focused most of the interview on abortion, which interests some but not all voters. Reactions to her appearance among followers of the show were mixed. Alienating portions of your own base is hardly a recipe for success. Continuing to heed advice from his son, Trump spent 90 minutes on the Flagrant podcast hosted by comedians Andrew Schulz, Akaash Singh, Mark Gagnon, and Alexx Media. This was another fun, wide-ranging interview in which the participants traded good-natured barbs with each other, frequently erupting in laughter before returning to more sober subjects. Harris meanwhile had difficulty even in friendly venues. On The View she told Sonny Hostin that she couldn't think of anything she wouldn't have done differently from Biden. Really? Afghanistan? Oprah Winfrey had to bring her back on point after she rambled for almost four minutes on how she would fix the problem at the border, without mentioning a single concrete policy. Watch the video if you can stand listening to this woman try to speak for that long. Compare that to Trumps visit to a Bronx barbershop. He was greeted somewhat cautiously by the patrons and the proprietors before engaging them in an honest discussion on kitchen table issues. Afterwards they complimented him, saying he was authentic and they wished more politicians were like him. It turns out that Barron Trump, his siblings and his friends as well as Trump staffers are more in touch with what average Americans are thinking and feeling than Kamalas advisors. Maybe they need to get out more. James Carville, the Kamala staff and the denizens of the DNC are isolated in their bubble, suffering from TDS and perhaps confirmation- and normalcy bias. Things may be changing soon. There are rumors that the Trump 47 Administration will be inviting more podcasters and independent media into the Brady Press Room. Legacy media personalities and the DNC may hear what us normies, deplorables, and bitter clingers are thinking whether they want to or not. In the meantime, will the Left continue to take advice from their fringe constituencies or will they reflect on whats happening and make appropriate adjustments? Any movement towards the center for them is a movement to the right, which they abhor. Theyve expelled moderates like Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema. Are there no Blue Dog Democrats left? Who are they listening to? In a match-up between Barron Trump and James Carville, right now my moneys on the kid. Image: Voice of America In what universe is it professional for a prosecutor to smear the target for which he failed to secure a conviction? The answer is none. However, there is Jack Smith, who in two cases made a dogged effort to throw President Trump in jail in a case started to prevent his re-election. Here's the bizarre thing he's up to now: Multiple accounts that Smith is preparing a report and that Garland will release it publicly, all before the inauguration. Harry Litman (@harrylitman) November 28, 2024 California GOP chief Harmeet Dhillon, who's an experienced attorney, saw something funny: The very idea of any prosecutor releasing a smear report on a defendant he was unable to convict, should be repugnant to any lawyer who believes in the integrity of our criminal justice system. Instead we have gloating trolls cheerleading such a disgusting abuse of process. Harmeet K. Dhillon (@pnjaban) November 29, 2024 Which sounds stinky indeed. But then Jack Smith isn't a legitimate prosecutor, as a judge has ruled. He sees no reason to act like professional prosecutors do. The gross thing here is that this isn't done, except on President Trump. Normal prosecutors don't do this, and imitation-prosecutors with no business being prosecutors shouldn't either. Smith's act underlines that this never was, and still isn't, an apolitical prosecution. This is the act of a bitter political partisan angry at the election results which were effectively the voice of the people stepping in as if to command him to stop the lawfare against Trump. Yes, it was that because President Trump faced a raft of primary challengers early in the election, all of them with platforms similar to President Trump's. But voter support coalesced around Trump after Smith's lawfare acts clearly intended to derail his campaign. Instead of scaring the public away, the public came together in numbers never before seen, forming a protective ring around Trump with the only possible purpose being to say "stop!" Smith, of course, just doubled down, hamstringing Trump's campaign, forcing it to spend on legal expenses, and allowing Democrats to bellow 'convict' and 'felon' around all of these multiple cases, of which Smith illegitimately commanded two. None were more fanatical than Smith, so now he refuses to go quietly and professionally. His cases in ruins, he stopped them, but remains bitter and wants to remain a prosecutor against Trump forever. All it shows is that illegitimate prosecutors will do illegitimate things. In doing this irregular smear campaign, he proves he never was a legally appointed prosecutor. Now like Rumpelstiltskin, Smith stamps his feet in rage and sinks himself into the ground. He can't be gone soon enough. I feel this meme is accurate. Jack Smith had no choice but to drop the case. I thought democrats were gonna get him THIS TIME? The meltdown on the left is the gift that keeps on giving. Sassafrass84 (@Sassafrass_84) November 26, 2024 Image: Twitter / x meme As the Biden era comes to an end, one image will come to define the immigration lawlessness of this era. After an illegal alien linked to the Venezuelan transnational gang Tren de Aragua was arrested for allegedly performing a lewd act after breaking into the home of a New York City prosecutor, a photo went viral on the internet and social media of the alien giving a wry smirk during a court appearance. Image: Screen shot from Eyewitness News ABC7NY video, via YouTube While the illegal alien, 25-year-old Brandon Simosa, is now being held without bail, he had previously had several run-ins with the law, including alleged incidents of thefts and assault, according to the New York Post. Despite Simosa allegedly engaging in repeated criminal activity and living in the country illegally, the sanctuary city of New York had given him a pass until he allegedly robbed one of their own prosecutors. New York City was ranked by the Immigration Reform Law Institute in 2022 as the most dangerous sanctuary city in the U.S. for its consistent coddling of criminal illegal aliens. The citys chief law enforcement officer is Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a notoriously soft-on-crime prosecutor and staunch supporter of New Yorks sanctuary policies. Now, Braggs malfeasance has led to the victimization of someone in his own office, an unfortunate irony that was noticed across social media, including by X (formerly Twitter) CEO Elon Musk. As the New York Posts Jennie Taer remarked: They think they're untouchable here. It makes sense when they're let go multiple times, like this monster. The unfortunate incident underscores the persistent culture of lawlessness that has engulfed New York, especially when it comes to immigration. The citys illegal immigration problem has become so pervasive that even the powerful are no longer safe from its consequences, although it should certainly be noted that the citys elite seemed content to allow this particular alleged criminal illegal alien to continue menacing the citys residents until he apparently came for one of their own. This latest incident is one of many unnecessary and unfortunate offenses perpetuated by those who should never have been in the country in the first place. Given the tragic results of illegal alien crime weve seen throughout the country just this year, with the murders of several innocent young women, including Laken Riley and Rachel Morin, it is a great relief that the outcome of this alleged robbery didnt turn out even worse. That our government continues to tolerate high levels of illegal immigration even as Americans are continually victimized by illegal aliens is one of the greatest derelictions of duty in U.S. history. Since taking office in January 2021, Joe Biden has allowed more than 10 million illegal aliens to enter the U.S., and is spending his final weeks in office attempting to further degrade American sovereignty. This administration and their allies in sanctuary cities are responsible for creating a culture of lawlessness that emboldens illegal aliens to commit crimes with a smile. The reason so many illegal aliens including Simosa feel they are above the law is because the most powerful people have sent a clear message that there are no consequences for violating our nations laws. When foreign nationals who enter the U.S. illegally are rewarded with free meals, stays at luxury hotels, and debit cards, it demonstrates that our nations elites are happy to disregard the rule of law when it comes to classes and constituencies they believe will benefit them politically. After all, if foreign nationals are allowed and even encouraged to violate Americas immigration laws, why would they respect any of our other laws? That someone who entered the country illegally and allegedly went on to commit several crimes felt like he could attack a law enforcement official without consequence is an indictment not just of the illegal alien, but of the nations irresponsible ruling class. Political leaders including Joe Biden and Alvin Bragg have spent years allowing foreign nationals to violate our laws with impunity at the expense of the safety and sovereignty of U.S. citizens. Their culture of lawlessness was firmly rejected by the American people at the ballot box in Novembers election as more and more people have become fed up with the consequences of illegal immigration. No photo sums up the absurd immigration lawlessness the U.S. has endured over the past four years than the photo of Simosa smirking in court after allegedly assaulting a prosecutor. It is up to the incoming Trump administration to follow through on their promises of border security and mass deportations to ensure the American people get the last laugh. Dale L. Wilcox is executive director and general counsel for the Immigration Reform Law Institute, a public interest law firm working to defend the rights and interests of the American people from the negative effects of mass migration. Image: Screen shot from Eyewitness News ABC7NY video, via YouTube Is there more to the Sam Bankman-Fried story than we have learned about from court records? A couple days ago, Elon Musk pointed out that 30 Silicon Valley barons had been abruptly 'debanked' without warning, their access to the entire banking system blocked, leaving them reduced to just cash-based transactions. Many were involved in cryptocurrency. They hadn't committed any crime, and they had no recourse to appeal. Did you know that 30 tech founders were secretly debanked? https://t.co/gmnCir43XD Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 27, 2024 That's interesting, because I searched around and found no evidence that former crypto bigshot Sam Bankman-Fried was ever debanked. Would that be the same Sam Bankman-Fried who was the Democrat party's biggest donor, a donor so big his donations topped those of the House of Soros? According to Reuters, citing the prosecutors who get him convicted of fraud, he donated $100 million to political campaigns in 2022, nearly all to Democrats, stealing the cash from his depositors for the purpose. Did that guy ever get debanked? His rivals did. As far as I could tell, he didn't. Funny how the topic didn't come up during the trial. Musk's tweet was derived from an interview that Silicon Valley venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, a longtime Democrat donor who went for President Trump this time, gave to Joe Rogan. A summary of the three-hour interview is here at Fortune magazine and below on this tweet string: Marc Andreessen just shocked the world on JRE. He revealed the government is: Kicking people off banking networks Using NGOs to do their dirty work Secretly trying to control AI I took a day to digest it all... And these are the 11 things I can't stop thinking about: pic.twitter.com/rduBE2Npkd Hosun (@hosun_chung) November 28, 2024 Among those 11 things, the Biden administration had been discouraging the creation of artificial intelligence companies, because the government had plans for just three to survive, the better to control them as they had with social media. What's more, AI will serve as the baseline for an emerging social credit system -- determining what you can buy, whether you can get a loan, what schools your kids get into, whether a door opens or not. China has nothing on these big plans. The government, using the secret "politically exposed persons" label, requires banks to debank if they throw that word at them. One guy in Andreessen's firm got debanked for having 'crypto' in his job title. All access to the banking system was shut off to that unlucky group without any recourse to appeal, leaving him to deal in just cash-only transactions. Too bad if he wanted to rent a car at the airport. The government also does it dirty work -- censorship, debanking, deplatforming -- through "public-private partnerships," meaning, NGOs on government contract. They serve as hitmen for the big guy behind the scenes (meaning, the government) for censorship, deplatforming, debanking, because they can't be seen with dirty hands. Debanking arguably began with the IRS's assault on the Tea Party activists for their politics -- they were denied permits for tax-exempt status which swung the 2012 election to Barack Obama. Not one IRS deep-stater was punished for this naked partisanship and the profoundly partisan official at the head of this effort, Lois Lerner, was permitted to retire to her mansion in the Virginia horse country with full pension. After that, much cruder debanking started popping up, first to gun dealers, and then pot shop owners -- large numbers of whom got debanked. A group called 'Gays against Groomers' had its PayPal account shut down, too. These weren't popular groups with those in the establishment, so the debankings drew little attention and nobody got punished for these anticonstitutional acts. That they got away with it only made them grow more ravenous. They went to cryptocurrency next, hitting Silicon Valley at one of its investment hotspots. Bankman-Fried was right there with them when it started. I'm no fan of cryptocurrency, which like pot, isn't a particularly good thing, given that it's just a ledger currency, but so long as it's legal, they have no business harassing it. The debankings turned half of Silicon Valley against Democrats and toward Trump, Andreessen said. Obviously, something very bad has been going on, like a Frankenstein's monster let loose and growing bigger. Yet the truly worst figure in the crypto world, Bankman-Fried, apparently never had any problem accessing his bank account. I searched, and didn't find any debanking under his name. Why was that? Maybe the fact that he donated to Democrats at a level unlike any of the others? If Congress were to call this miscreant in to start asking questions, some enlightening things could probably be uncovered. Such as: Does he know why he was never debanked? Did someone in government tell him he'd be 'protected' from debanking if he paid off Democrats in big, big dollar amounts for their campaigns? Did he start stealing from customer accounts to make those payments? Is paying Democrats the only way one avoids shutdown by a government that is determined to have just two or three companies in every field, the better to control them? Funny how all the campaign finance violations charges were dropped against him at the last minute, wasn't it? It sounds like the stuff of conspiracy theories, yet Andreessen is a credible source who didn't get as rich as he is by trafficking conspiracy theories. If even half this is true, we have a monster on our hands that only President Trump can stop. January 20 can't come soon enough. This is one of the most revolting stories of the deep state's abuse of power I've ever heard. Image: Twitter / X screen shot Imagine what the world would look like if after WWII foreign judges took it upon themselves to issue arrest warrants for Dwight Eisenhower and Harry Truman? For what crimes? Why, they killed untold numbers of civilians in Germany and Japan! Sure, the Germans and Japanese started the war and committed among the most depraved atrocities mankind has ever seen, particularly the industrial slaughter of millions of Jews, but hey, you gotta break a few eggs to make a totalitarian omelet, and they were only Jews. Besides, America became much too powerful. Sure, America and her allies saved the world. They protected Europe and the rest when they werent ableor willingto protect themselves. America became the arsenal of democracy. She kept her allies in the fight. She gave the greatest generation and asked only for the land to bury them. Then America set out to rebuild her allies and her enemies. Theyve never forgiven America for any of that. Even today, while so many of their citizens want to become Americans, their envy of America, and their disgust at their own weakness, burns brightly and violently. An obvious manifestation of that self-loathing, and of ancient anti-semitism, is the International Criminal Courts recent issuance of arrest warrants: The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. For balance, the ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif. The ICC says the Israeli leaders are guilty of crimes against humanity in connection with the war started by Gaza. The ICC is a bad joke, but sadly, there are countries that take it seriously: Binyamin Netanyahu faces the prospect of arrest if he travels to the UK after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his detention for war crimes in Gaza. The prime ministers official spokesman said today that the government respected the ICC as the primary international institution for investigating and prosecuting the most serious crimes of international concern. *** Because an arrest warrant has been issued the UK would be under a legal obligation to arrest Netanyahu should he enter UK territory. Canada has also announced its willingness to honor the warrants and the European Union is urging member states to do the same. Fortunately, for valid national sovereignty reasons, America is not a signatory to the ICC nor is Israel. Also fortunate is Donald Trumps election, as I suspect Biden and Harris handlers would be sorely tempted to arrest Netanyahu in the time they have left. I suspect hell remain in Israel for awhile. Graphic: X Screenshot At the Free Beacon, Matthew Continetti argues this is only a part of the global intifada against Israel: Anti-Semitism is already well entrenched at the United Nations. On November 20, the U.N. Security Council demanded, for the umpteenth time, that Israel submit to a unilateral ceasefire in Gaza. The United States vetoed the resolution. That is because the U.N. proposal failed to call for the release of the more than 60 men, women, and children, including Americans, who are thought to be alive since Hamas kidnapped and took them to underground dungeons on October 7, 2023. The proposal also said nothing about the remains of the innocents who have died in Hamas captivity. Pulling out of the UN, and expelling them all, would do much good, though Im afraid were stuck with the anti-western civilization lunatics. The ICC, at the same time, in a ludicrous attempt to appear to be balanced, issued a warrant for an almost certainly dead Hamas thug. The charges against Netanyahu and Gallant are bogus. They stand accused of starving Gaza, while convoys have been delivering many tons of food and other humanitarian aid since the war began. I can think of no other belligerent that has fed the civilian population of its enemy during ongoing military operations. Yet Israel is still held liable for not providing "enough" aid, despite Hamas's theft and looting of the supplies once they enter the Gaza Strip. At the same time, the ICC says Netanyahu and Gallant have intentionally targeted Gaza's civilian population, even though the research of experts such as John Spencer of West Point has demonstrated that Israel has taken extraordinary steps to keep civilian casualties low. Graphic: X Screenshot This latest antisemitic ploy is a slap at civilization itself, and very much another insult to Joe Biden who has faded so fast hes virtually transparent. Post January 20, America needs to make clear its full backing of Israels total victory over the savages sworn to destroy it, and our intention not just to ignore, but to punish, any individual, organization, nation or group that acts against American interests or the interests of our allies. Thats peace through strength, and its long overdue. Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor. Ive long been writing about the most insurrectionary insurrection to ever have been insurrected by domestic terrorist, white supremacist, racist, Deplorable insurrectionists. I speak, of course, of January 6, the only insurrection in history to have featured no insurrectionist guns, which ended after a few hours when the insurrectionists, who had no intention of overthrowing the government and no chance of succeeding even if they did, left of their own accord. Congress promptly finished its business and departed. A harrowing day it was, as only protestors were killed, though AOC and Kamla Harris were in deadly dangernearly killed--despite AOC being in an entirely different building, and Harris being at DNC Headquarters. Graphic: X Screenshot As time has passed, weve learned more about what actually happened that day. Donald Trump really did authorize 10,000 troops. Nancy Pelosi and DCs Mayor refused them. They were afraid of the optics of armed troops at the Capitol building, though those optics were no longer disturbing when armed troops and fences ringed the Capitol for months thereafter. And now were learning the Pentagon purposely delayed sending the National Guard to the Capitol that day. Graphic: X Screenshot Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) is heading a subcommittee investigating J6, and sent a letter to the DOD Inspector General: demanding a correction to an agency report published in November 2021. This report was the final product of the DoD IGs review into the events of January 6, and reviewed how the DoD responded to requests for support as the events unfolded, Loudermilk, the chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight for the House Administration Committee, wrote. Throughout the Subcommittees extensive investigation into the failures of January 6, 2021, we have discovered numerous flaws and inaccuracies in the report that your office has yet to appropriately address. This is more than grammarian nitpicking: After a thorough examination of emails and documents, including letters, memorandums, agreements, plans, orders, reports, briefings, statements made in congressional hearings, closed-door testimony to the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol (Select Committee), and closed-door testimony made to the DoD IG, Loudermilk wrote, the Subcommittees investigation has concluded that the Department of Defense intentionally delayed the deployment of the DC [National Guard] to the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Furthermore, Loudermilk added, the Subcommittee also maintains that the DoD IG knowingly concealed the extent of the delay in constructing a narrative that is favorable to DoD and Pentagon leadership. In other words, there was a whole lotta lyin goin on. Some of the findings of the subcommittee were: *Secretary McCarthys failure to communicate the Secretary of Defenses order to the DCNG Commander to immediately deploy forces to the Capitol at 3:04 pm. *Failure of Secretary McCarthy to communicate directly with the DCNG Commander between 2pm and 6pm IG Report states the calls took place despite both parties stating, under oath, that the calls never took place. *IG finding that DCNG was not prepared for the Civil Disturbance mission despite the knowledge that Secretary McCarthy had recently received comprehensive briefings on DCNG capabilities and observed rehearsals on Civil Disturbance operations by DCNG personnel. The blatantly partisan January 6 Committees final report, as reported in The Hill, said there was no delay in sending NG troops to the Capitol, but even NPR reported the general in charge said otherwise long before the J6 Committees report was released: Graphic: National Guard support mission [after J6]. Wikimedia Commons.og. Public Domain. It took more than three hours for former President Donald Trump's Defense Department to approve a request for the D.C. National Guard to intervene in the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, the commanding general of the outfit told senators on Wednesday. Maj. Gen. William Walker testified that he had National Guard troops at the ready and sitting idly for hours before he was finally given authorization to send them into the field. Walker said that the delay was caused at least in part over concerns of the optics of sending uniformed troops to the scene. This is particularly damning: "At 1:49 p.m., I received a frantic call from then-chief of U.S. Capitol Police, Steven Sund, where he informed me that the security perimeter at the Capitol had been breached by hostile rioters," Walker testified. "Chief Sund, his voice cracking with emotion, indicated that there was a dire emergency on Capitol Hill and requested the immediate assistance of as many guardsmen as I could muster." Walker said he "immediately" alerted Army senior leadership of the request. He was not informed of the required approval from then-acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller until 5:08 p.m., he said "3 hours and 19 minutes later." With Donald Trump as Commander in Chief, we will soon know the truth about January 6, and some Deep State operatives may be switching places in jail with J6 protestors. Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor. A few days ago, Donald Trump Jr. said that his father is considering banning some mainstream media outlets from White House press briefings and replacing them with more independent outlets. After all their lying, deception, and dirty tricks, boy, does that feel good! Maybe American Thinker staffers will get a place at the briefings. It is time to go much further. Donald Trump as president should declare that these legacy media are banned indefinitely from press briefings and interviews until they come clean on behavior unbefitting their stature. To this end, he will state publicly the top egregious violation (or should it be the top 5 or 10 or 20) committed by each one that any reasonable person would consider unacceptable, and demand a heartfelt apology to appear repeatedly, whether above its front-page fold, atop its internet site, or on-air during prime time; no stealth edits, weekend dumps, or corrections appended to years-old articles no one sees. The wording must be satisfactory to the aggrieved for the apology to be accepted. Here are a few examples of what I mean by an adequate apology: The New York Times and Washington Post: We admit we peddled the totally fictitious Trump-Russia collusion narrative, concocted by Hillary Clinton and the DNC and abetted by the DoJ/FBI/CIA. To this end, we knowingly and unquestioningly acted as stooges to print politically motivated leaks of false material damaging to Trump. This was unethical, unjustified, and indefensible; protecting democracy as we see it is not a valid rationale. We sincerely apologize, and we will strive to ensure something like this never happens again. Further, it was inappropriate and unwarranted for our reporter to receive a Pulitzer Prize for such reporting; the reporter has agreed to return the prize to the Pulitzer committee. The record will show that we consider this Pulitzer as not counting as an award received by our newspaper. ABC: We admit that supplying Kamala Harris in advance with the topics of the questions to be asked in the presidential debate with Donald Trump was by any fair standard deceptive, inappropriate and indefensible, regardless of how we feel personally about Donald Trump. Furthermore, announcing at the beginning of the debate that neither candidate received the questions [sic] in advance also was deceptive. Deciding before the debate to fact-check (not always correctly, we admit) only Donald Trump was also unfair and unethical. We apologize profusely and declare we will never do anything like this again. Other examples: peddling knowingly false COVID narratives; pretending the Hunter Biden laptop was Russian disinformation; hiding Joe Bidens mental decline and incapacity; CNNs debate violations. I would leave out more nebulous examples such as cited in the link above unless specific proof of unethical behavior is available. If you think everyone knows by now of MSM misdeeds, consider a very educated acquaintance of mine. I made the mistake of telling her that given the election results, at least we wont be subjected to DEI reprogramming anymore. Well, she thought DEI training was a great idea many need because they are white supremacists, and then she spilled out her other thoughts: Trump 45 inherited Obamas outstanding economy so he gets no credit; Trumps closeness with Putin may indeed indicate he is a Russian stooge and so investigation of him is warranted; Kamala Harris was a brilliant California DA and AG and a very strong presidential candidate, defeated only by white male supremacists who wouldnt vote for a black woman; she never heard that Kamala was given the debate topics in advance. I could go on. If youre wondering, my acquaintance reads the NYT. Maybe if people like her are exposed to the truth, candidates like Trump would win 80-20 rather than 53-47. Well, maybe not. Republicans in both Houses of Congress should be unified in not giving scoops to reporters from these outlets. If such reporters catch them in the halls and ask for comment, they should respond that they do not trust the reporter or its network after what they did, state their crime, and say they are awaiting an apology. If you think theres no way the media would subject themselves to such humiliating apologies, theyre already bleeding customers and money. Factor in no access, no interviews, no DoJ/FBI/CIA leaks, and they have nothing left. I guess they could still always make things up citing unnamed sources. Genuine difference of opinion and debate between liberal and conservative outlets is the American way. But this kind of dishonest behavior must end once and for all. W.A. Eliot is a pseudonym. Image: Free image, Pixabay license. Officially, Donald Trump will not be inaugurated until January 20, but his impact to-date and his actions are already demonstrating early governance and how he will proceed as President. He makes no apologies for his plans, and hes essentially started his term. How can anyone dispute his selection of Tom Homan as Border Czar? Homan has made it clear that he will begin to protect our national security by removing criminals and the cartels. And hes warned anyone who wants to stop him and protect these illegal migrants will be committing a felony: Its a felony if you knowingly harbor and conceal illegal aliens from immigration authorities. It is also a felony to impede a federal law enforcement officer, Homan said. I mean, I dont know what the hell is going on in Denver, but were going to go and were going to fix it. If you dont want to fix it, if he doesnt want to protect his communities, President Trump and ICE will. Imagine! Homan wants to protect citizens instead of illegal migrants and criminals! Trump has also let Mexico and Canada know that they can no longer ignore the migration of illegals into our country. Justin Trudeau, ever the politician, has let Trump know that hes on boardfinally. Heres what the conservative leader in Canada said: When reached for comment, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievres spokesperson Sebastian Skamski referred The Canadian Press to an interview Poilievre did with CKNW 980s The Jas Johal Show in Vancouver where Poilievre discussed immigration. In that interview, Poilievre said much of his criticism of the current immigration system is coming from what Trudeau himself has said since enacting these recent changes. Now, hes basically denouncing his entire immigration policy and expecting us to believe that he can fix the problems that he caused, Poilievre said. The bottom line is we have to fix our immigration, get back to the best system in the world, the one that brought my wife here as a refugee legally and lawfully, the one that brought so many people here to pursue the Canadian promise, and thats what Im going to do as prime minister. Well see if Trudeau is intimidated enough by Trump to set limits to immigration and to avoid the imposition of tariffs. Another example of Trumps already governing is the Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo. She originally sent a scathing open letter to Trump, condemning his plans for illegal immigration and tariffs. But once she had a conversation with him, she backtracked: President-elect Trump said he had a very productive conversation with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Just had a wonderful conversation with the new President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, Trump posted Wednesday to his Truth Social site. She has agreed to stop migration through Mexico, and into the United States, effectively closing our Southern Border. We also talked about what can be done to stop the massive drug inflow into the United States, and also, U.S. consumption of these drugs, his post said. It was a very productive conversation! And, the illegal migration of Chinese into the U.S. has been unprecedented. Trump has promised to increase the current tariffs on China, to send a message that they can no longer abuse their relationship with the U.S.: Trumps comments fired the starting gun for what analysts expect to be a bruising four-year trade war, potentially much worse than his first term which saw tariffs of 7.5%-25% levied and global supply chains uprooted. Indeed, Howard Lutnick, Trumps pick to run the Commerce Department and oversee the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, said in a podcast interview in October that China is attacking America with fentanyl and suggested Trump might levy tariffs as high as 200% on China. Since we know that Trump rarely makes idle threats, expect fireworks the day he takes office. It looks like governing to me! Image: Public domain. Molly Smith covers City Hall and government for the Express-News. She can be reached at molly.smith@express-news.net. Molly joined the Express-News in January 2023. Previously, she wrote for El Paso Matters, El Paso Times and The (McAllen) Monitor. An overwhelming majority of plants depend upon birds and insects for seed dispersal. Plants attract pollinators by releasing aromatic compounds into the air, or by producing sweet nectar that birds and insects feed upon. Species of the Pisonia plant are no different. They entice small birds to build nests on its branches, and when the birds brush against these seed-laden branches, the Pisonias sticky seeds get stuck to the birds feathers. After some time the seeds fall off, ideally when the birds had travelled to another island. But somewhere along the Pisonias evolutionary history, something went horribly wrong. Instead of using the birds as vectors of pollination, the Pisonia ends up killing a large number of birds by ladening them with so much seeds that the poor birds are unable to fly away. They fall to the ground and starve to death, or get eaten by predators. Black noddies nest on Pisonia trees in Heron Island, Queensland. Photo: Christopheb / Dreamstime.com Pisonia trees, also nicknamed bird-catchers, are found in tropical habitats, mainly islands in the Caribbean and Indo-Pacific. The trees produce long seeds, covered with a thick mucous and tiny hooks that stick to almost anything that brushes against them. The seeds grow in large tangled bunches, and each bunch can bear anything from a dozen to over two hundred seeds. The Pisonia tree flowers twice a year, and the timing of these events coincidenaturally through years of evolutionwith peak seabird traffic to the islands. These seabirds use the Pisonia for nesting, and when the young ones hatch and fledge, the result is often tragic. The young birds get entangled and entrapped in the sticky bunches. Even a handful of seeds can weigh a bird down, making them unable to fly. They fall down and eventually die of starvation, or become food for scavengers. At other times, the birds die in the trees; their mummified corpses hanging from the branches like macabre Christmas tree ornaments. Seeds of Pisonia trees. Photo: Christopheb / Dreamstime.com Seeds of the Pisonia tree are covered by a sticky resin. Photo: Scott Zona/Flickr The Pisonia trees grisly behavior has a devastating effect on the bird population. A study conducted on seabird population on Cousin Island in Seychelles revealed that the Pisonia tree killed a quarter of White Terns and nearly a tenth of Tropical Shearwaters via fatal seed entanglement. Scientists have wondered if there is any evolutionary benefit derived by the Pisonia tree by killing birds. One hypothesis stated that the trees get increased nutrients from the decomposition of bird corpses that fall at the foot of the trees. But when Alan Burger, an ecologist at the University of Victoria, analyzed seedlings sprouting near bird carcasses on Cousin Island, he did not find any evidence that seemed to indicate that the seeds were sprouting any better. In addition, the tree received far more fertilizer from the bird's droppings and fallen eggs, indicating they were worth far more to the tree alive than dead. A wedge-tailed shearwater covered in sticky Pisonia grandis seeds in Tiam'Bouene islet, New-Caledonia. Photo: Tristan Berr/Twitter A white capped noddy tangled in Pisonia seeds at Heron Island, Queensland, Australia. Photo: Christopheb / Dreamstime.com Next Burger tried immersing Pisonia seeds in seawater to test another hypothesis that the carcasses of dead birds might wash ashore on another islands, helping seed dispersal. To test the theory, Burger dunked the seeds in salt water and found that they died after just five days, ruling out the possibility that the Pisonia might be using dead birds as rafst to disperse seeds to faraway island. The results from my experiments showed quite convincingly that the Pisonia derived no obvious benefit from fatally entangling birds, Burger concluded in a paper than appeared on the Journal of Tropical Ecology in 2005. The entanglement and mortality of some of the potential vectors can be viewed as a negative side-effect of selection for seeds with sufficient adhesion to slick to a bird's plumage for several weeks and resist the efforts of preening birds to remove the seeds, Burger wrote. A fledgling brown noddy entangled with seeds across its chest and tail. Photo: BBC Photo: BBC In other words, the seeds absolutely need to be sticky so that they do not fall off the birds. And because the resin gradually loses its adhesion, especially when immersed in sea water, the seeds have to start out extremely sticky. Inadvertently, this results in the death of hundreds of thousands of seabirds every year. Conservationist on Cousin Island are now working to replace Pisonia trees with other native tree species to help the sea bird population to recover. They also actively seek out entangled birds and carefully clean them, before putting them back in a tree. Surprisingly, many seabirds seems to love Pisonia trees. Its rare to see a Pisonia tree that doesnt have seabirds in it, says Beth Flint, a wildlife biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Flint and her colleagues actually work to encourage Pisonia groves, because they are prime nesting habitats for red-footed boobies, frigatebirds and black noddies. References: # Alan E. Burger, Dispersal and Germination of Seeds of Pisonia grandis, an Indo-Pacific Tropical Tree Associated with Insular Seabird Colonies, Journal of Tropical Ecology # Pisonia grandisA grand problem?, Seychelles Seabird Group # Jason Bittel, This tree lures birds with a free lunch and then kills them, Washington Post # The island paradise with a dark heart, BBC According to a new report, the very first Ultra phone from Xiaomis POCO could arrive soon. This could actually be the recently-announced Redmi K80 Pro, but with a different name. The very first Ultra phone from Xiaomi is coming it seems Xiaomi has a habit of re-releasing some of its Redmi K series smartphones, that originally launched in China, under the POCO brand globally. Well, one such phone appeared at the FCC, it seems. The report comes from 91mobiles, as the Xiaomi device under the model number 24122RKC7G appeared. This phone is believed to be the POCO F7 Ultra, and its expected to arrive to global markets. That exact model number has been used for the Redmi K80 Pro, based on previous listings. That clearly signals that were looking at the exact same phone here. The POCO F7 Ultra is tipped to come in 12GB and 16GB RAM models. The 12GB RAM variant will be offered in combination with 256GB and 512GB of storage. The 16GB RAM model will arrive with 512GB of storage. It is expected to be a rebranded Redmi K80 Pro with powerful specs This listing confirms Wi-Fi 7 for the device, and 5G connectivity as well. Considering that the Redmi K80 Pro launched in China, very recently, its not exactly a mystery as to what the phone will look like or what specs will it bring. You can expect flat sides, in addition to a flat display, and flat backplate. A circular camera island will be placed on the back of the phone. A centered display camera hole will also be included at the top of the display. The Snapdragon 8 Elite will be a part of the package, as will a 6,000mAh battery. 100W wired charging is also something the Redmi K80 Pro offers, and the same goes for 50W wireless charging. The phone also has a 6.67-inch QHD AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Three cameras are placed on its back, while there are two nano SIM card slots. Android 15 will come pre-installed on the POCO F7 Ultra, and so on. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition has just received its very first update. This is still not One UI 7.0, though. Were looking at the One UI 6.1.1 update, which brings the November 2024 Android security patch. The very first update is now hitting the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition The firmware version here is F958NKSU2AXK4, and the update weighs 500MB. This update is not particularly small, but it does not add any new features to the table, it would seem. Based on the changelog that SamMobile shared, only the November patch is noted, along with some stability improvements and bug fixes. Essentially, it seems like Samsung is polishing things in terms of software here. The update is rolling out to the Korean model of the device. That phone has a different name in China, the Samsung W25, and it did not launch anywhere else, as you may know. Its also not expected to launch anywhere else. A report prior to its launch said that it will remain exclusive to Korea and China, and thus far, that report is spot on. If you managed to import one, or you live in Korea, the update should appear for you rather soon. This phone is seen as an improved version of the Galaxy Z Fold 6, kind of The Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition, as you probably already know, is a new and improved version of the Galaxy Z Fold 6. It looks a bit different. Its thinner, and it has a less noticeable crease, not to mention a better camera setup on the back. This smartphone was announced last month, and if youre interested to know more about it, click here. Its a shame Samsung opted not to release this one globally, thats for sure. Were sure that quite a few people would be interested in it, despite its rather high price tag. Considering this phone exists, were expecting major improvements for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 next year. Assisted dying would give society a better approach to the end of life, the MP leading a push for a change to the law has said, but opponents warned against bringing in a state suicide service. In a sign of the level of feeling on the divisive issue, more than 160 MPs made bids to speak during Fridays Commons debate the first on assisted dying in almost a decade. MPs began voting on the Bill just after 2pm, following a four-and-a-half hour debate. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales with less than six months to live to end their lives, subject to the approval of two doctors and a High Court judge. Pro-change demonstrators gathered outside Parliament on Friday (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP who has put forward the Bill, said debate in the Commons on the issue is long overdue and, while not an easy subject, it is the job of parliamentarians to address the issues that matter to people. She told MPs a more holistic view to care for dying people must be taken, saying: This Bill will give society a much better approach towards end of life. Were already seeing conversations about dying and death in a way that we havent seen, I dont think, enough in this country. But opponents of the Bill warned of the risks of providing a suicide service, and raised concerns around coercion and who might be caught up within the eligibility criteria. Conservative MP Danny Kruger, lead MP for opponents of the Bill, said he believed Parliament can do better for terminally ill people than a state suicide service. Conservative MP Danny Kruger, whose mother is Dame Prue Leith, is opposed to the assisted dying Bill (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA) He told the Commons: We are the safeguard, this place, this Parliament, you and me. We are the people who protect the most vulnerable in society from harm and yet we stand on the brink of abandoning that role. He urged MPs not to cast a vote for despair, arguing the debate should be the beginning of a conversation about dying well in which we have a better idea than a state suicide service. Mr Kruger is at odds with his mother, Great British Bake Off judge Dame Prue Leith, on the issue of assisted dying. Dame Prue has been vocal in her support for a new law, appealing earlier this year for less pearl-clutching on the issue. Mr Krugers comments were echoed by Labours Diane Abbott, who repeated the concerns of others around a lack of access to the right palliative care. The Mother of the House told the Commons: If this Bill passes, we will have the NHS as a fully-funded 100% suicide service but palliative care will only be funded at 30% at best. Ms Abbott suggested she could see herself in particular circumstances feeling she does not want to be a burden on others, as she spoke about wider concerns on how dying people might feel should assisted dying be legalised. Ms Leadbeater has insisted it is not an either-or question, saying assisted dying is not a substitute for palliative care, but that when it cannot meet the needs of a dying person the choice of an assisted death should be one component of a holistic approach to end-of-life care. She has branded the current law which sees a maximum jail sentence of 14 years possible for anyone convicted of encouraging or assisting suicide in England and Wales not fit for purpose. She said: Existing guidance does not stop people from being investigated by the police, adding fear, guilt and further trauma to grieving families. The law is not clear and it does not protect individuals, families or medical professionals, and this drives people to very desperate measures. Dame Prue Leith is at odds with her Conservative MP son on the issue of assisted dying (John Walton/PA) While she argued her Bill would address this, Mr Kruger branded it too big and too flawed for meaningful changes to be made to it during the parliamentary process. Labour MP Rachael Maskell said the proposed legislation is the wrong and rushed answer to a complex problem, adding that the Bill falls woefully short on safeguarding patients. Her party colleague Dame Meg Hillier wiped away tears as she spoke of her daughters admission to hospital with acute pancreatitis and how good medicine can relieve the pain. She said a failure in palliative care and support is not a reason to continue with the Bill. During the debate, one MP suggested terminally ill people stuck in hospital might consider it their patriotic duty to take advantage of assisted dying to free up beds in the event of another pandemic. Labour MP for Mid Derbyshire Jonathan Davies said: I worry that if we were to see another pandemic on the scale of what we saw in 2020 whether people might think they were doing something patriotic by getting out of the way, by freeing up a bed for a young person. Kim Leadbeater is the Labour MP behind the assisted dying Bill (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA) Ms Leadbeater has insisted her Bill is very, very clear in its criteria. She said: The title of the Bill is Terminally Ill Adults. It is not disabled people, it is not elderly people, as someone else referenced. But Mr Kruger raised concerns that, under the Bill as it stands, almost anybody with a serious illness or disability could fit the six-month definition, adding this was despite this not being Ms Leadbeaters intention. He suggested diabetics refusing insulin or people with eating disorders refusing food could potentially be eligible. He said: All you need to do to qualify for an assisted death, the definition of terminal illness under this Bill, is to refuse treatment. Conservative former minister Andrew Mitchell said he had completely changed my mind on assisted dying, and would be supporting the Bill. He said he had found himself with tears pouring down my face having listened to constituents who have set out so clearly speaking with such emotion about how their mother, brother, father or child has died in great pain and great indignity. A vote must be called before 2.30pm otherwise the Bill is highly unlikely to make any further progress through Parliament. If the Bill passes on Friday, it will go to committee stage where MPs can table amendments, before facing further scrutiny and votes in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, meaning any change in the law would not be agreed until next year at the earliest. Opposition campaigners outside Parliament on Friday (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Ms Leadbeater has said it would likely be a further two years from then for an assisted dying service to be in place. A bid to halt the Bills progress, in the form of an amendment, was not selected for consideration. Campaigners both for and against the Bill gathered outside Parliament on Friday. Boris Johnson has for British troops to be committed to peacekeeping duties at the Ukrainian border as part of any ceasefire deal. The former Prime Minister told the Daily Telegraph that peace-keeping responsibilities should be handled by a multinational group of Western nations. I dont think we should be sending in combat troops to take on the Russians, he said. But I think as part of the solution, as part of the end state, youre going to want to have multinational European peace-keeping forces monitoring the border [and] helping the Ukrainians. 1001 days into this war the basic struggle remains the same. It is a fight between the great Ukrainian ideals of freedom, democracy and independence on one side and on the other the brutal and criminal aggression of Vladimir Putin. Proud to wear this Kyiv designed T shirt. pic.twitter.com/SS1k44guZZ Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) November 20, 2024 I cannot see that such a European operation could possibly happen without the British. It comes against the backdrop of US president-elect Donald Trumps January inauguration. The incoming leader has called on peace talks between Russia and Ukraine to speed up and spoke on the campaign trail about his plans to end the war in 24 hours. Mr Johnson said other European nations should be transparent about any security or funding guarantees offered as part of a potential peace deal. One option he put forward was Ukraine joining Nato. The alliances treaty binds all members to come to one anothers defence in the event of an attack. We need to be spelling out what kind of security guarantees we think are appropriate, he said. The only thing that really works is a Nato Article 5 guarantee that has kept the peace in Europe for 80 years. Its the reason the Baltic states are in Nato. Its the reason that the Poles, Hungarians, Czechs, Finns and the Swedes are now in Nato. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is greeted by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as he arrives in Downing Street, London, (PA) Elsewhere, outgoing US President Joe Bidens administration urged Ukraine to lower its conscription age from 25 to 18 to help expand its pool of fighting-age men. The former Prime Ministers comments came less than a day after Sir Keir Starmer spoke to Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky as his countrys power grid faces bombardment by Russian forces. Russias renewed attack on Ukraines power grid, the second in less than two weeks, has added to fears the Kremlin is hoping to cripple its foes power generation ahead of winter. One million homes have lost power in the war-torn nation, according to Ukrainian officials. Russias renewed attack on Ukraines power grid, the second in less than two weeks, has added to fears the Kremlin is hoping to cripple its foes power generation ahead of winter. One million homes have lost power in the war-torn nation, according to Ukrainian officials. I spoke with UK Prime Minister @Keir_Starmer and informed him about yet another act of Russian air terror targeting Ukraines civilian infrastructure, involving over 90 missiles and nearly 100 drones. I expressed gratitude for the UKs unwavering support, including the pic.twitter.com/o88ihS3wnJ Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) November 28, 2024 Downing Street described the Russian strikes as egregious, adding that the Prime Minister characterised them as systematic and depraved when speaking to Mr Zelensky. Amid the attacks, Mr Zelensky expressed gratitude for the UKs unwavering support, including the commitment to provide at least 3 billion annually for Ukraines needs in his call with the Prime Minister. In a fresh signal that British Storm Shadow missiles are likely being used by Kyiv, the Ukrainian president added: We discussed advancing our defence cooperation and strengthening Ukraines long-range capabilities. UK authorities will not be drawn into confirming it has permitted Ukraine to use the weapons to strike targets inside Russia. No 10 would only say that both leaders underlined the importance of putting Ukraine in the best possible position ahead of another challenging winter of conflict. The hearse carrying the coffin of comedian Janey Godley will travel on a two-day final tour of Edinburgh and Glasgow ahead of her funeral. Godley, 63, died on November 2 after receiving palliative treatment for terminal cancer. In a post on social media, her daughter Ashley Storrie said the hearse will travel through Edinburgh, her beloved festival home, on Friday before travelling home to Glasgow. The funeral will take place at St Marys Cathedral in the West End on Saturday. Godley, who found viral fame with her dubbed parodies of then-Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeons coronavirus news briefings during the pandemic, revealed she had ovarian cancer in November 2021. Heres the details of Janeys final tour, thank you for all the love and kindness in this past week. Ashley pic.twitter.com/wDGNAVfwS8 Janey Godley (@JaneyGodley) November 9, 2024 Despite her diagnosis in 2021, Godley returned to touring and was given the all-clear in 2022 but later that year announced another scan had shown signs of the disease in her abdomen. However, she said she would continue touring with her Not Dead Yet gigs. In 2023, she won the inaugural Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival. In September, she cancelled her autumn tour after her stage four ovarian cancer returned with what she said were added complications. Godley died in the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow on November 2. In the social media post her daughter, Ashley Storrie, said: Heres the details of Janeys final tour, thank you for all the love and kindness in this past week. For the past few years of Mas life, it was important to her that she shared her journey with everyone, to offer support for others on the same path and to highlight the symptoms of Ovarian Cancer all of course in her very singular Janey style, with laughter and candour. So many of you who have travelled with us on this journey wish to bid her a final farewell, so heres the details of my mums final tour, in the two cities she loved with all her heart. Ashley Storrie arriving at the Bafta Scotland Awards (Jane Barlow/PA) The hearse will travel along the Royal Mile and Lawnmarket in Edinburgh with a pause for reflection at St Giles Cathedral before travelling along Cockburn Street, Market Street and on to Glasgow. After the funeral on Saturday, there will be a private service at the crematorium. Ms Storrie said her mother asked that instead of traditional funeral attire, those who wish to do so should wear bright colours, and that no flowers be sent but that people are invited to contribute to the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice or other charities. Ms Storrie concluded: Thanks again everyone for all the love and support, adding it does help so much. Accepting two awards at the Scottish Baftas, Ms Storrie said that Godley was in the room tonight and that shes in my DNA. Ms Storrie added: She would say well done, Im very proud and then turn around and say thats my daughter and make it all about her. Gregg Wallace has been accused of regularly making sexually explicit comments by a number of former colleagues. Photograph: Wenn Rights Ltd/Alamy Gregg Wallace has been accused of highly inappropriate behaviour including making lesbian jokes constantly, regularly discussing spanking and threesomes, and making sexually explicit comments while filming programmes, multiple sources have said. Further details of the allegations facing the MasterChef host have emerged since the announcement on Thursday that he was stepping away from his role after the BBC received complaints about alleged misconduct. In the hours after the news, Wallace, who has presented the BBC One cooking show alongside John Torode since 2005, thanked his supporters in a video on Instagram, in which he said: I would like to thank all the people getting in touch, reaching out and showing their support. Its good of you thank you very much. Related: Gregg Wallace is in trouble. I would tell him to put a sock on it, but isnt that what caused the problem? | Marina Hyde Wallace is facing allegations of inappropriate sexual comments from 13 people who worked with him across a range of shows over a 17-year period, according to an investigation by BBC News. The presenters lawyers have said the suggestion that Wallace engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature was entirely false. One woman who worked with Wallace on the travel show Gregg Wallaces Big Weekends in 2019 told BBC News that Wallace made lesbian jokes constantly, was fascinated by the fact she dated women, and asked her the logistics of her relationships. Another woman, who worked on the same programme in 2019, said the TV personality regularly talked about sex and about domination and spanking. [It] was highly inappropriate, she said. Another woman said Wallace had showed her photos of a woman in her underwear on his phone. On another occasion, she alleged that while filming in Italy he had shown her his outfits for the next day in his hotel room, had taken his top off and said let me give you a fashion show. She said a male colleague had initially been in the room, but had left. She recalled the Millwall tattoo on Wallaces chest, saying she found the experience very uncomfortable. Its weird to be alone in a room with a topless stranger, she told BBC News. Other allegations of inappropriate behaviour against Wallace include: A man who worked on Big Weekends and other travel shows between 2019 and 2022 said Wallace talked about threesomes with sex workers and said he loves spanking multiple times a day. A woman who worked on MasterChef in 2019 said Wallace talked about his sex life and had asked if her boyfriend had a nice bottom. A woman on the BBC Good Food Show in 2010 said Wallace stared at her chest. A woman on Eat Well for Less? in 2019 said Wallace told her he wasnt wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans. A man who worked on MasterChef in 2005-06 said Wallace regularly made sexually explicit comments on set. He said Wallace once said a dish tasted like his aunts vagina, and on another occasion had asked a female runner if she put her finger up her boyfriends bottom. A spokesperson for Channel 5, which airs Big Weekends, said the broadcaster had asked Rumpus, the production company which makes the show, to look into the claims. We take any allegations of this nature extremely seriously, they said. The health and wellbeing of everyone involved in our productions is very important to us and we want all of our productions to be safe and secure places for people to work. Rumpus said: We do not tolerate inappropriate behaviour on our productions. Our comprehensive duty of care processes were in place during production of these series and any matters raised would have been investigated in accordance with these. A No 10 spokesperson described the allegations against Wallace as deeply concerning. Its right that a thorough investigation is conducted, but this of course is one for the BBC and you will have seen their statement saying that they take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place, they said. I believe the BBC is currently undertaking a workplace culture review to deliver clear and timely recommendations, and its essential that staff and the wider public have confidence that the BBC takes these issues seriously. On Thursday MasterChefs production company, Banijay UK, said it had launched an investigation after the BBC received complaints about Wallaces behaviour and said the 60-year-old was committed to fully cooperating throughout the process. The presenter Kirsty Wark, who was a Celebrity MasterChef contestant in 2011, told BBC News that on two occasions during early morning filming Wallace told stories and jokes of a sexualised nature in front of contestants and crew. She said she felt strongly that the comments were really, really in the wrong place. Rod Stewart, whose wife, Penny Lancaster, appeared on Celebrity MasterChef in 2021, used his Instagram account on Thursday to comment on Wallaces break from the show. Stewart called Wallace a tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully and said the presenter had humiliated his wife. Speaking on BBC Radio 4s Today programme on Friday, the former BBC One controller Lorraine Heggessey, who was behind the high-profile sackings of Richard Bacon and Angus Deayton, said broadcasters and programme makers had to stop treating the presenter as if theyre a special case. She said: They are just one person in a huge team that gets a show on air, and they are neither more special nor less special than anybody else. Somehow weve got a culture of pandering to those who are in front of camera and letting them get away with the kind of behaviour that other people in teams wouldnt be allowed to get away with. A BBC spokesperson said: We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated. Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them. China-U.S. military relationship should serve as cornerstone for stability: spokesperson Xinhua) 10:16, November 29, 2024 BEIJING, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- China and the United States should build a military-to-military relationship featuring non-conflict and non-confrontation, open and substantive cooperation and gradual accumulation of mutual trust, a Chinese defense spokesperson said on Thursday. Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, told a press conference that such a mil-to-mil relationship, on the basis of equality and respect, would serve as a cornerstone for stability in overall China-U.S. relations. Despite all the ups and downs in China-U.S. relations in recent years, the two militaries maintained some dialogues and cooperation, and kept a generally stable relationship, Wu said when responding to a media query regarding China's views on the future China-U.S. military relationship. As two major countries, China and the United States should bear in mind the greater good, and inject more certainty and positive energy into a turbulent world, Wu said. He urged the U.S. side to work with the Chinese side in the same direction, take a positive and rational view of the growth of China and the Chinese military, and prioritize peace, stability and credibility as the basic principles of mil-to-mil engagement. In response to a media query regarding U.S. Secretary of Defense's erroneous accusation of China's activities in the South China Sea as "coercive" at the recent ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus, Wu said that Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun refuted the groundless accusations on the spot. Wu quoted Dong as saying that the U.S. side prods with and connives at a regional country to make provocations in the South China Sea for its selfish gains, which severely undermines regional peace and stability. The root causes behind the acts lie in its entrenched Cold War mentality and hegemonic thoughts, Wu said. The Chinese side stays committed to handling disputes through friendly consultation, Wu said, urging the U.S. side to stop fabricating lies, making provocations and stirring up troubles, and refrain from going further down the wrong path. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Annasofia Scheve covers trending news for the Express-News. She can be reached at Annasofia.Scheve@express-news.net. Annasofia has bachelor's degrees in journalism and political science from the University of Missouri. She is an Ohio native, and wrote for Cincinnati Magazine and the Cincinnati Enquirer before joining the Express-News in 2023. Gregg Wallace has been accused of making lesbian jokes and highly inappropriate comments in the latest of a string of complaints made against the TV presenter by people who claim they previously worked with him. The new accusations, reported by BBC News, follow Thursdays announcement that Wallace will step away from hosting hit BBC cooking show MasterChef while historical misconduct complaints are externally reviewed by the shows production company, Banijay UK. A woman who worked on Gregg Wallaces Big Weekends in 2019, which aired on Channel 5, and who BBC News has called Anna, told the outlet he was fascinated that she dated women and asked her the logistics of how it worked. She also said he reportedly talked about sex, domination and spanking, which she said was highly inappropriate. Another woman who worked on the show, who BBC News has called Amanda, said Wallace allegedly showed her photos of a woman in her underwear while they were travelling in a car together. She also recalled that he allegedly started showing her and another male colleague his outfits for the next day in his hotel room in Italy after they had finished filming, and that he took off his top and said let me give you a fashion show. Her colleague then left the room and she told BBC News: Its weird to be alone in a room with a topless stranger. A Channel 5 spokesperson said: We take any allegations of this nature extremely seriously. We have asked the production company to look into these historical claims. The health and wellbeing of everyone involved in our productions is very important to us and we want all of our productions to be safe and secure places for people to work. Production company Rumpus Media, which produces Big Weekends, added: We do not tolerate inappropriate behaviour on our productions. Our comprehensive duty of care processes were in place during production of these series and any matters raised would have been investigated in accordance with these. Another woman, who BBC News has named Georgina, reportedly worked with the TV presenter on BBCs Eat Well For Less TV show in 2019 and recalled him making comments on how his wife was only two years older than her. She also told the outlet that after he went to his car to sort his parking ticket, he allegedly replied: You can come to my car, but can you handle the fact everyone will think you just got off with a celebrity? Her colleague, named Lisa by BBC News, also recalled Wallace allegedly leaving a bathroom topless in front of them during a shoot and asking them to take his coffee order. She told BBC News that his behaviour isnt acceptable, adding: To not only continue to put women in these scenarios but to continue publicly platforming him is a disgrace to our industry standards. Sir Rod Stewart took to Instagram following the accusations on Thursday, accusing him of humiliating his wife Penny Lancaster on Celebrity MasterChef in 2021. The veteran singer wrote: So Greg Wallace gets fired from Master Chef. Good riddance Wallace You humiliated my wife when she was on the show, but you had that bit cut out didnt you? Youre a tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully. Karma got ya. Sir Rod Stewart. Ulrika Jonsson told The Telegraph that plenty of the crew on the set of MasterChef would not dare to speak up (Yui Mok/PA) Model Ulrika Jonsson also told The Telegraph that when she competed on Celebrity MasterChef in 2017, Wallace allegedly had to apologise after making a rape joke, which caused another female contestant to become really distressed. Jonsson did not hear the joke but said that when another contestant walked off the set, she was told what had occurred. The Swedish-born TV personality also posted a photo of her MasterChef apron to her Instagram Story, writing: Hopefully it will all come out in the wash and another statement saying: Plenty of crew on set who would not dare to speak up for fear of losing their jobs. On Thursday, BBC News reported that the 60-year-old faces allegations from 13 people across a range of shows over a 17-year period including former Newsnight host Kirsty Wark. Wark told the BBC that on two occasions Wallace relayed stories and jokes of a sexualised nature in front of contestants and crew and that she felt they were really, really in the wrong place. BBC News said it had been told of other allegations, including the presenter talking openly about his sex life, taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to give her a fashion show, and telling a junior female colleague he was not wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans. The TV stars lawyers say it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature, BBC News reported. A statement from Banijay UK on Thursday said Wallace is committed to fully co-operating with an external review. In an Instagram post on Thursday evening, Wallace thanked his followers, writing: I would like to thank all the people getting in touch, reaching out and showing their support. Its good of you, thank you very much. The Telegraphs restaurant critic William Sitwell said he was astonished at the allegations being made against Wallace in a comment piece in the newspaper. He wrote: Interesting, funny, exhausting and outrageous, is the Gregg I know. I gather his colleagues at MasterChef and the production company are as astonished as I am about the news. And Im sure we all hope this force of nature will be back on set sooner than you can say, as his catchphrase goes, buttery biscuit base. A statement from Banijay UK on Thursday said: This week the BBC received complaints from individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct while working with presenter Gregg Wallace on one of our shows. Whilst these complainants have not raised the allegations directly with our show producers or parent company Banijay UK, we feel that it is appropriate to conduct an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate. While this review is under way, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully co-operating throughout the process. Banijay UKs duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behaviour are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set. Whilst these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately. The statement added: If anyone would like to talk to us or raise any issues or concerns, then they can contact speakup@banijayuk.com in confidence. John Torode and Gregg Wallace have co-presented MasterChef since 2005 (BBC/Shine TV/PA) A BBC spokesman said: We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them. We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated. Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them. Wallace is best known for co-presenting MasterChef alongside John Torode since 2005, as well as its spin-offs Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals. He was made an MBE in the Queens Birthday Honours in 2022 for his services to food and charity. Gregg Wallace has been accused of making lesbian jokes and highly inappropriate comments in the latest of a string of complaints made against the TV presenter by people who claim to have worked with him. The new accusations follow Thursdays announcement that Wallace will step away from hosting hit BBC cooking show MasterChef while historical misconduct complaints are externally reviewed by the shows production company, Banijay UK. A woman who worked on Gregg Wallaces Big Weekends in 2019, which aired on Channel 5, has told BBC News he was fascinated that she dated women and asked her the logistics of how it worked. The woman, who BBC News has called Anna, also said he reportedly talked about sex, domination and spanking, which she said was highly inappropriate. Another woman who worked on the show, who BBC News has called Amanda, said Wallace allegedly showed her photos of a woman in her underwear while they were travelling in a car together. She also recalled how he allegedly took off his top and said let me give you a fashion show in front of her and a male colleague when trying on outfits in his hotel room after filming had wrapped for the day. Her colleague then left the room and she told BBC News: Its weird to be alone in a room with a topless stranger. Another woman, who BBC News has named Georgina, reportedly worked with the TV presenter on BBCs Eat Well For Less TV show in 2019 and recalled him making comments on how his wife was only two years older than her. She also told the outlet that after she went to his car to sort his parking ticket, he allegedly replied: You can come to my car, but can you handle the fact everyone will think you just got off with a celebrity? Her colleague, named Lisa by BBC News, also recalled Wallace allegedly leaving a bathroom topless in front of them during a shoot and asking them to take his coffee order. She told BBC News that his behaviour isnt acceptable, adding: To not only continue to put women in these scenarios but to continue publicly platforming him is a disgrace to our industry standards. John Torode and Gregg Wallace have co-presented MasterChef since 2005 (BBC/Shine TV/PA) On Thursday, BBC News reported the 60-year-old faces allegations from 13 people across a range of shows over a 17-year period, including former Newsnight host Kirsty Wark. The TV stars lawyers say it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature, BBC News reported. Actress Katy Brand also addressed the awkward moment Wallace told her he would munch the living daylights out of your little tart when she competed in Celebrity MasterChef in 2013. After a video of the comment began recirculating online, she wrote on Instagram on Friday: I took it as an innuendo-laden remark at the time, and I still see it that way now. My reaction on camera was one of shock and disbelief at such a crass and idiotic joke. She clarified she was not among those who have made an official complaint about Wallace, but applauded those who have. Sir Rod Stewart took to Instagram following the accusations on Thursday, accusing Wallace of humiliating his wife Penny Lancaster on Celebrity MasterChef in 2021. The veteran singer described the TV presenter as a ill-mannered bully, signing the statement off: Karma got ya. Sir Rod Stewart. Geordie Shore star Charlotte Crosby, who appeared on Celebrity MasterChef this year, commented on Sir Rods post writing: He was extremely unpleasant to me when I was on MasterChef. Ulrika Jonsson told The Telegraph that plenty of the crew on the set of MasterChef would not dare to speak up (Yui Mok/PA) Model Ulrika Jonsson told The Telegraph that when she competed on Celebrity MasterChef in 2017, Wallace allegedly had to apologise after making a rape joke, which caused another female contestant to become really distressed. Jonsson did not hear the joke but said that when another contestant walked off the set, she was told what had occurred. The Swedish-born TV personality also posted a photo of her MasterChef apron to her Instagram story, writing: Hopefully it will all come out in the wash and another statement saying: Plenty of crew on set who would not dare to speak up for fear of losing their jobs. A Downing Street spokesman said the allegations about Wallace were deeply concerning and that it was right that a thorough investigation is conducted in a statement on Friday. Wallace thanked his followers in an Instagram video on Thursday, saying: I would like to thank all the people getting in touch, reaching out and showing their support. Its good of you, thank you very much. The Telegraphs restaurant critic William Sitwell said he was astonished at the allegations being made against Wallace in a comment piece in the newspaper. He wrote: Interesting, funny, exhausting and outrageous, is the Gregg I know. I gather his colleagues at MasterChef and the production company are as astonished as I am about the news. And Im sure we all hope this force of nature will be back on set sooner than you can say, as his catchphrase goes, buttery biscuit base. A statement from Banijay UK on Thursday said the BBC received complaints from individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct while working with presenter Gregg Wallace on one of our shows. The production company said while the allegations were not raised with Banijay UK or their show producers, they would still be conducting an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate. It added that Wallace would be stepping away from his hosting duties on MasterChef while the review is conducted and that the presenter is committed to fully co-operating throughout the process. A BBC spokesman said it takes any issues raised with them seriously and any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated. A spokesperson for Channel 5, which broadcasts Big Weekends, also stated they take any allegations of this nature extremely seriously and have asked the shows production company Rumpus Media to look into the claims. Rumpus Media added: We do not tolerate inappropriate behaviour on our productions. Our comprehensive duty of care processes were in place during production of these series and any matters raised would have been investigated in accordance with these. The charity Ambitious About Autism dropped him as an ambassador after the complaints. An Ambitious About Autism spokeswoman said in a statement: In light of recent allegations, we are no longer working with Gregg Wallace. We have let him know our decision and thanked him for his support of our work over the last two years. The presenter has two children, Tom and Libby, from a previous relationship as well as a non-verbal and autistic son called Sid, whom he welcomed with his fourth wife Anne-Marie Sterpini in 2019. Wallace is best known for co-presenting MasterChef alongside John Torode since 2005, as well as its spin-offs Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals. He was made an MBE in the Queens Birthday Honours in 2022 for his services to food and charity. Louise Haigh was once described as having terrier-like intensity after she was first elected as an MP for Sheffield Heeley in May 2015. Then-House of Commons speaker John Bercow praised her for her campaigning against the closure of tax offices and the following year she was deemed by the Yorkshire Post to be the most hard-working of the new intake of MPs because of the volume of her parliamentary questions and speeches. Born in 1987 in Sheffield, she studied politics at Nottingham University and law at Birkbeck, University of London. She worked as a shop steward for the union Unite and as a Metropolitan Police officer in Londons Lambeth borough before entering politics. Ms Haigh has said she drew on her experience as a special constable when she was shadow policing minister from 2017. Delighted to be appointed as Shadow Policing Minister. As a fmr Special Constable I will fight hard for our police: https://t.co/vqDs3hmjMd pic.twitter.com/Nnv4Y08hsm Louise Haigh (@LouHaigh) July 3, 2017 The 37-year-old has called for changes to the culture of policing. She nominated Jeremy Corbyn in the Labour leadership contest in 2015 but then backed Owen Smith, and campaigned for Lisa Nandy rather than Sir Keir Starmer to be Labour leader in 2020. But she still remained in high-level roles within the party. Ms Haigh was made shadow secretary for Northern Ireland in 2020, at a time when tense post-Brexit trade negotiations were taking place, before taking up the shadow transport secretary post in 2021. Ms Haigh was appointed Transport Secretary on July 5 2024 after Labours general election win, becoming the youngest female Cabinet minister to ever be appointed. Delighted to arrive at my first in-person @UKLabour conference as Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland! A packed agenda and huge interest in the challenges facing Northern Ireland here. pic.twitter.com/QP1P4Banw6 Louise Haigh (@LouHaigh) September 26, 2021 In October, Ms Haigh said that she had boycotted P&O Ferries and encouraged others to do so, after the firm sacked hundreds of workers in 2022 and replaced them with lower-paid agency staff. The Prime Minister publicly criticised the comments, saying they were not the view of the Government. During the election campaign, Ms Haigh pledged to bring train services on Britains railways into public ownership. A day before her resignation, flagship Government plans to renationalise rail passenger services became law. The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill received royal assent and will enable the Government to take over services from private firms as their franchises expire or are broken. Ms Haigh said it marked a historic moment for our railways. The MSP behind the Scottish Bill to introduce assisted dying said he is delighted after similar legislation passed its first hurdle at Westminster. MPs voted 330 to 275 on Friday to approve Kim Leadbeaters Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill at second reading. While this will not affect the law in Scotland, where the issue is devolved to Holyrood, it has been welcomed by campaigners who want a similar change north of the border. Liam McArthurs Members Bill, which would allow certain terminally ill adults to request assistance to end their lives, is currently at the first of the Scottish Parliaments three-stage process before it can become law. Just as in Westminster, MSPs will have a free vote on the issue and there have already been divisions which cut across party lines. Supporters of Mr McArthurs Bill gathered outside Holyrood earlier this month (Lesley Martin/PA) The Scottish Parliament is expected to vote on the general principles of the Bill in late spring or early summer next year. Reacting to the vote, Liberal Democrat Mr McArthur said: I am delighted to see Kim Leadbeaters Bill pass its first parliamentary hurdle. This debate has shown the UK Parliament at its best with thoughtful contributions from across the House and a vote which shows a clear recognition that the present blanket ban on assisted dying does not work and that more choice, alongside excellent palliative care, is what dying people need. It is clear that todays vote reflects the wishes of the UK public, who overwhelmingly back a change in the law to offer choice and compassion. I am confident that MSPs in the Scottish Parliament will do the same when they vote at stage one on my Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill. John Swinney has previously spoken of his difficulty in deciding which way to vote on assisted dying (Jeff J Mitchell/PA) First Minister John Swinney has spoken of how he is finding it difficult to decide whether he should back the change, saying the issue raises deeply significant moral questions. Some religious groups in Scotland have set out their strong opposition to the principle of assisted dying. John Keenan, the bishop of Paisley and president of the Bishops Conference of Scotland, said: This is a sad day for the sick, the vulnerable and the disabled in society. Todays vote strikes a blow against the foundational principle of medicine do no harm. Since parliamentarians have voted to create a category of people that the state will help to commit suicide, doctors will now be invited to help their patients to kill themselves. As we have seen across the world, once enacted these laws are rapidly and dangerously expanded. Previous attempts to change Scottish law around end-of-life assistance have not been successful. Independent MSP Margo Macdonald brought forward similar proposals in 2010, with these rejected by 85 votes to 16 at stage one. A subsequent attempt by Green MSP Patrick Harvie to pass legislation was defeated by 82 votes to 36 in 2015. With two Holyrood elections having taken place since then, Mr McArthur pointed out that about two-thirds of current MSPs have not yet had the opportunity to vote on the issue. While the Lib Dem MSPs Bill has the same overall purpose as Ms Leadbeaters, there are a number of differences in the wording of the proposed laws. The UK Bill makes terminally ill adults with a life expectancy of six months eligible for assisted dying if they are 18 or older. The Scottish Bill sets the age limit at 16 and specifies that they have an advanced and progressive disease, illness or condition from which they are unable to recover and that can reasonably be expected to cause their premature death. Both Bills require the approval of two doctors for assisted dying, but the UK Bill also requires the approval of a High Court judge. The attack on 17 November was the most serious after months of escalating violence. The UN estimates a third of its aid entering Gaza is looted. Photograph: Vassil Donev/EPA Aid officials and witnesses have described the chaotic and violent moments when a huge convoy carrying enough flour to bake bread for two-thirds of the population of Gaza for a week was looted this month. The officials made clear the attack was undertaken by groups of criminals, not civilians who were now being deprived of food in a territory close to famine. The attack on 17 November was the most serious after months of escalating violence directed at aid convoys in Gaza, where experts have warned of imminent famine. The UN estimates a third or more of its aid entering Gaza is looted. One official said: It is organised crime on a massive scale. They are taking supplies paid for by member states. It is another horrendous consequence of the war and it is an utter disgrace that things have been allowed to get this bad. Aid officials said the attack on the convoy had very serious consequences. Pick up of supplies and fuel has stopped completely. For fuel it is a mess, as it means we are more or less grounded until the situation is fixed, one said on Wednesday. Another said the convoy had been bringing in enough flour to run bakeries for 1.5 million people in central and southern Gaza for about seven days. After the attack, the World Food Programme (WFP) emptied its warehouses, distributing enough flour for two days, an official said. A small convoy last week managed to bring in enough for a further 72 hours. Its hand to mouth. Theres absolutely nothing in reserve. If we run out, the bakeries shut and a million and a half people go hungry, he said. UN agencies say law and order has deteriorated across Gaza since Israel began targeting police officers, who guarded aid convoys, this year. Israel considers police in Gaza, which has been run by Hamas since 2007, an integral part of the militant Islamist organisation. Hundreds of convicted criminals escaped early in the conflict after prisons were bombed or police fled. Aid agencies say COGAT, the Israeli military agency that deals with humanitarian aid into Gaza, has refused to act effectively against increasingly daring looters. The UN had been assured by the Israeli military that the route of the convoy had been secured, officials said. Most of the organised looting has been taking place in a zone the [Israeli military] control. They dont have troops there, but their [armed drones] are everywhere, said one humanitarian official. Another UN aid official in Gaza said he had seen armed looters within spitting distance of an Israeli tank. The 17 November attack came at about 1.30am, shortly after the huge convoy of 120 trucks had been loaded on the Gaza side of the Kerem Shalom entry point from Israel in the south-east of the territory. The convoy then set out for UN distribution hubs in Khan Younis, 15km away, and Deir al-Balah, a 25km drive on battered roads. All closer warehouses were destroyed or made inaccessible by Israeli offensives since May. The timing of the trucks departure had been set for just before dawn but was changed at the last minute in an attempt to deceive looters. The leading vehicles crossed an area of deserted wasteland where many ambushes have occurred, then turned north on Salahuddin Road, the main artery in Gaza. Attackers allowed the first 10 trucks to pass, but shot out the tyres of those following, blocking the passage of the 97 behind. Some sources described hundreds of gunmen armed with assault rifles attacking in almost total darkness, firing in the air or towards trucks, beating or threatening drivers, and then forcing to drive their trucks to pre-prepared bases equipped with forklift trucks where they were ordered to unload their cargo. Aid officials said the attack marked a huge step change in scale and ambition. Gangs have made huge sums in recent months through stealing and stockpiling aid. The price of basics in Gaza has soared as deliveries have declined sharply. Every truck looted on 17 November carried more than 400 desperately needed bags of wheat flour, each worth $100 on markets in Gaza. Efforts to set up alternative routes to avoid the stretches of road most vulnerable to looting have not been successful. The first convoys that tried to use a more direct route to Deir al-Balah from the newly opened Kissufim entry point was attacked on 13 November, with 14 out of 20 trucks looted. Four drivers were hospitalised, three with gunshot wounds. The main organiser of the looters has been named in internal UN notes seen by the Guardian as Yasser Abu Shabab, a well-known tribal leader and businessman. He has since threatened to kill any driver working on aid convoys, UN sources said. Other officials said it was unclear who was behind the attack and that even major leaders among the looters were unable to control smaller gangs. Israeli officials claim most looting is by Hamas, which has ruled in Gaza since 2007. Im sorry, its not looters. Its Hamas people They are working in a very systematic way, said Avi Dichter, the minister for food security and a member of Israels security cabinet. The Israeli military says it has targeted looters in Gaza. COGAT says it does all it can to ensure that enough aid enters Gaza and that Israel does not prevent the entry of humanitarian aid, which had already fallen to an all-time low in October. COGAT acknowledged but did not respond to the Guardians questions about looting. This year Hamas set up popular resistance committees made up of Hamas fighters, allied armed groups and local clans to enforce some kind of order in swaths of Gaza that are in effect ungoverned. A day after the convoy was attacked, the Hamas-run interior ministry said 20 people had been killed in an operation to reclaim the looted supplies and said the operation was the start of a broader campaign to tackle the problem. A Hamas official said the operation showed that the group continued to govern Gaza. Hamas as a movement exists Hamas as a government exists too, not as strong as it used to be, but it exists, he said. Over recent months a range of violent actors have emerged in Gaza, including community defence groups and militias linked to clans. Community leaders said local people had fought back against the looters on Saturday and managed to retrieve some of the stolen trucks, which were then returned to the WFP. Central Gaza has emerged as a centre of resistance to the armed gangs who operate farther south, with multiple reports of fatal armed clashes between community groups and families based there and the gangs who steal aid before it reaches other parts of the territory. Some such violence has led to vendettas and a series of murders. Field hospitals in central and southern Gaza have seen multiple cases of injuries sustained in what appear to be punishment attacks on looters by vigilantes, two aid officials in Gaza said. These include kneecapping. Israels offensive into Gaza has killed more than 44,000 people, mostly civilians, and left two-thirds of the territory in ruins. Experts have said famine threatens some of its 2.3 million residents, most of whom have been displaced many times. Hamas killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 250 in its attack on 7 October 2023 which triggered the war. Kim Leadbeater (centre) is joined by campaigner Sophie Blake (left) and Rebecca Wilcox (daughter of Esther Rantzen, right) after hearing the result of the vote - Stefan Rousseau/P The cost of assisted dying to the NHS and the courts will be revealed next year, in a move opponents say could scupper the Bill becoming law. MPs on Friday voted in principle to allow the terminally ill to get help ending their lives, with 330 MPs backing the move and 275 voting against in a historic decision. An impact assessment will now be conducted by the Government, with two opponents Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, and Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary expected to play key roles. The Telegraph understands that the knock-on effect on court backlogs, NHS waiting lists, the quality of palliative care and wider pressures on doctors will all be scrutinised. Campaigners against assisted dying believe when the impact of the change is understood in more granular detail, wavering MPs could be persuaded to flip and oppose the Bill. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, the legislations official name, passed second reading on Friday, which is a vote on principle. More stages must now be passed for it to become law. Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, and Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, have been opponents of the Bill - Getty/Rasid Necati Aslim Supporters of the change believe that getting over the first hurdle in the House of Commons with a majority of 55 makes victory the most likely outcome. The vote came after five hours of emotional debate that saw MPs on both sides moved to tears as personal stories of pain and suffering at the end of life were shared in the Commons. The result means there is now a real prospect that a law allowing people in England and Wales with six months left to live to get help to die will enter the statute book next year. A committee of MPs will now be selected to scrutinise the Bill line by line. Amendments to the Bill can also be tabled, which are set to become the next battle for those seeking extra clarity and specificity in the proposals. Sir Keir Starmer and the majority of his Cabinet voted for legalising assisted dying on Friday, although he has ordered the Government to continue to remain neutral in the next stages of debate. He did not comment in public. Labour MPs were three times more likely to back assisted dying than their Conservative counterparts in Friday afternoons Commons vote. But the Government will carry out an impact assessment, as well as considering whether to propose its own amendments to make sure the prospective law would be effective if passed. Mr Streeting said in recent weeks that he feared legalising assisted dying could have knock-on impacts on the NHS and had asked health officials to look at the costs. It is unclear if this process will continue or be wrapped into the wider impact assessment. Campaigners who oppose assisted dying said the impact assessment could see MPs provisionally supportive of the Bill switch sides. Danny Kruger, the Conservative MP who gave the first speech opposing the Bill in the Commons, said there would still be opportunities to defeat it before it became law. Mr Kruger said: It is vital that the Government now has responsibility for explaining to Parliament what the effect of this Bill would be on the NHS and the courts. This is a huge change to the way these services will run. MPs will be paying close attention to the impact assessment and will want to ensure existing services in the family courts and care in the NHS and social care are not disrupted. Nigel Farage, the Reform leader who voted against legalising assisted dying, said: A lot of MPs that I know voted for it on the basis that they wanted to see more scrutiny. The fact there has been no impact assessment yet worries me greatly. The fear is this will cause huge division within the NHS and in a judiciary that has the most massive backlog from Covid. One figure campaigning against the Bill said: A bunch of people voted yes today who are not committed to voting yes at third reading It is very much still in play. We fight on. But others were celebrating the result. Kim Leadbeater, the Labour backbencher who drafted the private members Bill proposing the change, said after the vote that she was overwhelmed. Dame Esther Rantzen, the broadcaster with stage-four lung cancer who was one of the highest-profile supporters of the change, said she was absolutely thrilled. The campaign group Dignity in Dying said the vote was a historic step towards greater choice and protection for dying people. The next stage, which is expected to start in January, will see Ms Leadbeater select MPs to sit on a committee that will scrutinise her Bill. Amendments can be proposed and voted on in the committee. MPs from across parties and views on the issue will be picked, Ms Leadbeater has said. In a concession to critics of the Bill, evidence will be allowed to be submitted an unusual move for a private members Bill. Critics have already indicated areas they would seek to toughen up, such as the definition of terminally ill and whether family members need to be informed. Under the proposed legislation, two doctors and then a High Court judge must sign off any request for assisted dying. Opponents want the judge to be obliged to talk to the individual in question. No 10 insiders on Friday evening said that it was not yet decided which ministers will be in charge of considering amendments to the Bill and overseeing the impact assessment. However, there is a widespread expectation that Mr Streeting and Ms Mahmood will play central roles in the process. They both voted against the Bill on Friday. The issue was a free vote, meaning MPs were not told which side to back by their party leaderships. Should the legislation be voted through all remaining stages of the Commons, it will then go to the House of Lords for debate and approval. Ms Leadbeater said she hopes the Bill will be passed by both the Commons and Lords in the next six months. It could then be another two years before the new rules come into force. Supporters of the legalisation of assisted dying have said MPs decision to back Kim Leadbeaters bill would bring relief to terminally ill people facing terrible suffering, while opponents described the outcome as a very black Friday for vulnerable people. Esther Rantzen, who galvanised the debate on assisted dying last year when she revealed she had terminal lung cancer, said she was absolutely thrilled that the bill had passed. Those who dont want an assisted death and dont want to take part in providing assisted dying can opt out of it, dont have to do it, dont choose to end their lives that way, she said. So it offers everyone equal choice, whatever their religion. The vote was unlikely to make any impact on her own life, Rantzen added. Its going to take probably almost two years for it to change the law, and Id be astonished if the drug Im on manages to extend my life that far. Religious leaders generally expressed disappointment with the vote. Stephen Cottrell, the archbishop of York, said: I regret this decision. It changes the relationship between the state and its citizens, between doctors and their patients, and within families between children and their terminally ill relatives. Once begun it will be hard to undo and control. He said funding for palliative care would be harder to secure, and vulnerable people would feel a duty to die. The Catholic church said the bill was flawed in principle. The Right Rev John Sherrington, an auxiliary bishop of Westminster, said he hoped MPs would have the wisdom to reject this bill at a later stage in its progress. Andrea Williams, of the campaign group Christian Concern, said: Today is indeed a very black Friday for the vulnerable in this country, but this is not over. The proposals in this dangerous bill have been completely exposed. The proposed safeguards are completely meaningless, and more and more MPs are waking up to that reality. She said the bill must be stopped at third reading. George Carey, the former archbishop of Canterbury, welcomed the result. Now is not the time for celebration by supporters but for serious work to get this law right so that it protects the vulnerable, as well as reducing pain, suffering and indignity at the very end of life, he said. The quality of civilised and courteous debate in the House of Commons on all sides gives a clear lead as to how all parliamentarians should face the challenge of revising and amending the law in all its stages. Rabbi Jonathan Romain, the chair of the Religious Alliance for Dignity in Dying, said: For those facing a ghastly death and for those who may do so one day, this is a vote for compassion and a vote for hope. It will also be welcomed by many people of faith who felt that, unlike the religious hierarchy, this is a profoundly religious response. Related: The assisted dying bill has passed. At last: a decent life can end in a decent death | Polly Toynbee Dignity in Dying, the campaign group that has been at the forefront of efforts to change the law, said it was a historic step towards greater choice and protection for dying people. Sarah Wootton, its chief executive, said: Many will be feeling overwhelming relief and gratitude that today our country has moved closer than ever before to a safer and more compassionate law. Today MPs have voted for choice, safety and compassion. They have expressed the will of the British people and have made history. Trevor Moore, the chair of My Death, My Decision, which campaigns for assisted dying, said: Thousands of people will be heartened by this result. Every day, 20 people in the UK are suffering unbearable pain at the end of their lives despite receiving the best possible care. For them, the choices are stark and harrowing: travel to Switzerland and end their life by suicide, stop eating or drinking, or face an agonising natural death. These people deserve better. They deserve the dignity of choice at the end of their lives, and we are relieved to see MPs acknowledge this. The chief executive of Care Not Killing, which opposes assisted dying, said the bill was dangerous and ideological and would make many elderly, terminally ill and disabled people feel like a burden and end their lives prematurely. Gordon Macdonald said: The more MPs hear about assisted suicide and euthanasia, the more they turn against changing the law and rightly want the government to focus on fixing the UKs broken palliative care system. Toby Porter, the chief executive of Hospice UK, which takes a neutral position on changing the law, said the vote had monumental ramifications for the UKs end-of-life care system and hospice sector. He said MPs on all sides had been unified on the need to improve palliative and end-of-life care in the UK. People are not getting the care they need. This must change. We have said before that it is intolerable that anyone might choose an assisted death because of a fear that they wont get the care they need. That fear, at present, is real and justified. Government must act, now and in the long term, to change this. David Randall, a renal consultant in east London and an opponent of assisted dying, said: Those with the most to lose from this legislation are the poorest, frailest and most marginalised in society, and MPs have discounted the almost unanimous views of disabled people, minority groups and those with specialist professional expertise in treating those at the end of life. MPs should be ready to vote the bill down at third reading if it remains as inadequate as it currently is. Some of those with personal experience of a loved ones suffering welcomed the vote. Peter Wilson, whose terminally ill wife took her own life two years ago, said he would be raising a glass of something bubbly to her memory. He said the vote would hopefully begin a process that will prevent others having to end their life alone, as Beverly did, in order to protect their loved ones from implied involvement in their deaths. And I hope it will also save others from my traumatic experience, having discovered Beverlys body on my return home, of spending seven hours being questioned, photographed, swabbed and fingerprinted in police custody. The change in the law may have come too late for Beverly, but she would have been mightily pleased about the outcome of the vote today. Liz Poole, whose father tried to kill himself when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer, said: I feel an overwhelming sense of relief that MPs have done the right thing voting for this bill. This is the first step in getting closure on my dads death and its a huge step towards stopping the suffering that has affected so many people. This would have made my dad very happy. beer British beer lovers were shocked this week to hear news that the Danish brewing giant Carlsberg is delisting 11 well-loved beer brands. Popular ales like Bankss Mild and Marstons 61 Deep Pale Ale will disappear from pubs countrywide as the brewer withdraws them from sale on draught. A spokesman for Carlsberg Marston Brewing Company (CMBC) gave a statement to explain the decision: Like any brewer, we are always reviewing our lines to best appeal to our consumers and help grow cask ale while delivering the highest quality brews. Understandably, where demand has sadly declined we do have to make the difficult choice to delist beers. While some ales will still be available in limited formats in the future like Jennings Cumberland Ale, which will still be on sale in bottles some familiar names will be discontinued entirely. We take a look at which lines will be disappearing from British bars and the alternatives that disappointed punters can drink instead. Original Ringwood Old Thumper The disappearance of Old Thumper was a particular blow. The strong ale was a popular choice it made a great winter warmer at this time of the year. Alternative Batemans XXXB (Triple XB) Batemans XXXB (Triple XB) is an Extra Special Bitter (ESB) of 4.8% that does the same job. The Lincolnshire legends have been brewing this beer since 1978 and XXXB offers up comforting flavours that are malty, a little spicy and full of body. Original Marstons 61 Deep Pale Ale Fans of crisp pale ales will lament the demise of citrussy Marstons 61 Deep with its New World hop flavour. Alternative Oakham Ales Citra Session IPA But fear not, 61 Deep can readily be swapped for a classic from Peterboroughs Oakham Ales. Its single-hopped session IPA, Citra, has the same vibrant zing that helped to popularise 61 Deep, and its backed by the reassuring quality of an award-winning independent brewery that have been brewing for over 30 years. Citra can be found on cask in pubs nationwide as well as being listed in a number of supermarkets. Original Bankss Sunbeam Blonde Beer This is a refreshing 4.2% zesty ale which gets its characteristic gooseberry flavour from the Nelson Sauvin hop. Alternative Mallinsons Nelson Sauvin Happily, renowned Huddersfield brewer Mallinsons makes a single hopped blonde ale that weighs in at 3.8% ABV. Its Nelson Sauvin has all the crisp gooseberry goodness you could ask for now that the sun has set on Sunbeam. Original Eagle IPA This used to be brewed to 5.0% by Charles Wells, but in recent years has dropped to a sessionable 3.6% ABV. Alternative Burton Bridge Charrington IPA Now the Eagle is being discontinued, beer lovers in the Midlands would do well to look to the Burton Bridge brewery for an alternative. It has revived the historic Charrington IPA recipe under the Heritage Brewing Company brand. Its a little bit stronger at 4.5%, but it has that typical balance of hoppy and malt flavours that lovers of the English IPA style will be looking for. Alternative Hook Norton Hooky Best Bitter While Charrington IPA is quite a regionally specific beer, Hooky from Hook Norton Brewery, is a lower alcohol alternative (3.4%) that is widely available on cask in pubs up and down the country. The bitter is a true classic from one of the UKs oldest breweries. Original Bankss Mild While Bankss Mild will not be disappearing entirely it will still be available in cans there will doubtless be many people disappointed not to be able to find it on draught any longer. Alternative Bathams 3.5% Mild Another historic family brewer can be relied upon to fill the gap at least for drinkers in and around the Black Country. Bathams 3.5% Mild is an absolute classic interpretation of this historic beer style, now brewed under the watchful eye of sixth generation brewer, Alice Batham. Slightly sweet and indulgently thick in the mouth, Bathams Mild will scratch that dark beer itch for Bankss fans who are looking for an easy-going beer that doesnt compromise on flavour. Finlay MacDonald was ordered to serve at least 28 years in prison before he becomes eligible to apply for parole - Police Scotland/PA A man has been jailed for life for murdering his brother-in-law and attempting to kill three other people during a brutal and mindlessly violent shotgun rampage on the Isle of Skye and the Scottish mainland. Finlay MacDonald, 41, was ordered to serve at least 28 years in prison before he becomes eligible to apply for parole. He was convicted at the High Court in Edinburgh of the murder of John MacKinnon and the attempted murders of three others, including his wife, during a spree of violence on August 10, 2022. Judge Lady Drummond told him: You carried out a series of brutal and mindlessly violent attacks with a knife and a pump action shotgun within a matter of hours. Mr Mackinnons family said MacDonald was a callous coward who traumatised all those involved. Finlay MacDonald shot John MacKinnon several times, leaving him with fatal injuries - UNPIXS The attacks began that morning when the father of four repeatedly stabbed his wife, Rowena, at their home in Tarskavaig on the islands Sleat peninsula after finding flirty text messages on her phone between her and her boss. Giving evidence during the trial, Mrs MacDonald said the frenzied attack punctured both her lungs and left her squelching blood with every breath she took. After attacking his wife, MacDonald got into his car with a pump-action shotgun, a couple of hundred cartridges and a machete-type knife, and drove to his brother-in-law John MacKinnons house in the nearby village of Teangue. His sister Lyn-Anne MacKinnon, who was outside on the driveway, told the court she saw him with the gun as he walked into the house, and said she heard bangs as he shot Mr MacKinnon a number of times, leaving him with fatal injuries. A GP who lived nearby attempted to save Mr MacKinnon but he died at the scene. The court heard MacDonald had borne a grudge against his brother-in-law since the pair had a violent falling out in 2013. The car belonging to Finlay MacDonald outside the house in Dornie, where he shot John and Fay MacKenzie - PETER JOLLY NORTHPIX MacDonald then drove to the house in Dornie in Wester Ross, on the mainland, where his osteopath John MacKenzie lived with his wife Fay. MacDonald claimed Mr MacKenzie had previously given him a treatment session which he said ruined his life. After arriving, MacDonald shot Mrs MacKenzie in the face through the windows of the house and then shot Mr MacKenzie twice, in his front and side, before being tasered and arrested by police who had trailed him to the property. Mrs MacDonald, Mrs MacKenzie and Mr MacKenzie all survived their injuries, and gave evidence in court during the trial. Moment of madness The court was shown footage of a police interview with MacDonald the day after the attacks during which he said he stabbed his wife in a moment of madness and he then felt a total darkness come over me. MacDonalds lawyer had argued for his client to be convicted of the lesser offence of culpable homicide rather than murder in relation to the killing of Mr MacKinnon, saying his ability to control his actions had been impaired by reason of abnormality of mind. However after three and a half hours of deliberation on Friday, the jury found MacDonald guilty of one count of murder, three counts of attempted murder, and one count of possession of a shotgun with intent thereof to endanger life. Frenzied attack Sentencing him to life imprisonment, Lady Drummond said: What began with a frenzied persistent attack with a knife on your wife continued with you deliberately targeting those you bore longstanding grudges against, shooting at them at close range within their own homes where they had no opportunity to defend themselves or escape. That Rowena MacDonald, Fay MacKenzie and John Don MacKenzie are alive today is down to their own actions, the bravery and responsiveness of police, particularly local Portree police, the emergency services in reaching them and the medical professionals who treated them. The outcome for each was as likely to have been fatal. For them and the family of John MacKinnon life will never be the same again. She noted that MacDonalds victims had suffered severe injuries, with his wife having to endure six weeks in hospital and permanent scarring from at least nine stab wounds. A central focus of the 12-day trial was the extent to which MacDonald was in control of his actions when he carried out the attacks. The court heard evidence about his mental state from two psychiatrists and two psychologists, who all agreed he suffered from autistic spectrum disorder and depressive disorder. However, prosecutor Liam Ewing KC said MacDonalds actions after he stabbed his wife driving to two houses, loading and using a shotgun, and selecting his victims indicated he had been fully in control of his actions when he murdered the osteopath. Lady Drummond said that the jurors had rejected a claim of diminished responsibility, but his health issues were still a matter to be taken into account and she acknowledged that he had expressed remorse. Sexual infidelity She also noted that the jury by their verdict rejected a claim that he was provoked into attacking his wife by reason of sexual infidelity. Defending, solicitor advocate Shahid Latif said of MacDonald: He is sorry for what he did that day. He wishes he could undo and go back in time to try and stop himself. In particular, he indicates he has failed his children. He wants them to know he is sorry. Speaking outside the court on behalf of Mr Mackinnons family, Det Insp Richard Baird said: The loss of John is immeasurable. There are 10 children who have now lost their dads Finlay MacDonalds own children are now without a father due to his selfish and evil actions. He added: It should never be forgotten that John was defenceless at the time of his murder when he was inhumanely shot three times in his own home making breakfast for his children murdered by Finlay MacDonald a callous coward who traumatised all those involved. Speaking outside Edinburgh High Court, Det Insp Richard Baird said the loss of John is immeasurable - Duncan McGlynn Moira Kerr, Scotlands procurator fiscal for homicide, said: This has been a traumatic ordeal for all those affected by Finlay MacDonalds shocking crimes. The circumstances of John MacKinnons death and the injuries inflicted on Rowena MacDonald and Fay and John MacKenzie are deeply distressing and have had a profound effect on their communities. Det Supt Lorna Ferguson, of Police Scotlands major investigation team, said MacDonald had displayed an incomprehensible level of violence, and his crimes have had a lasting and devastating impact on generations of the families involved, and indeed entire communities. She added: I would like to end by making particular mention of the outstanding bravery displayed by the two officers who apprehended MacDonald. They acted under instruction to follow his vehicle and then put themselves at extreme risk by pursuing him into a house as shots were being fired. Their actions, which selflessly put public safety ahead of their own, brought this incident to an end without any further loss of life. Sir Keir pledged that Labour will reduce immigration numbers in a press conference this week - Tolga Akmen/Shutterstock Britains record migration figures should shock all of us, Sir Keir Starmer claimed on Thursday, as the latest data revealed net migration hit a high of nearly one million last year. At a hastily organised Downing Street press conference, the Prime Minister said Brexit had turned Britain into an open borders experiment. He accused the Conservatives of allowing migration levels to get completely out of control, with figures quadrupling since 2019, the year before Brexit legislation was enacted, and net migration reaching 906,000 in 2023. This was driven by people from outside the EU coming to the UK on work or study visas. Failure on this scale isnt just bad luck. It isnt a global trend or taking your eye off the ball. No, this is a different order of failure. This happened by design, not accident, Starmer said. He has also repeatedly criticised the Conservatives record on small boat crossings. But the PM has, on many previous occasions, adopted a somewhat softer stance on migration, including voting against stricter asylum measures 14 times while in opposition between 2015 and 2022, according to an analysis by the Henry Jackson Society. He never voted in favour of stricter measures. In particular, before becoming Labour leader, Starmer was vocal about maintaining free movement between the UK and the EU as the former separated itself from the bloc. He has since ruled out any return to freedom of movement. Tory critics have meanwhile accused Starmer, who in 1988 wrote in an edition of the magazine Socialist Lawyer that there is a racist undercurrent which permeates all immigration law, of hypocrisy on migration. Neil OBrien, the Conservative MP, said on Thursday: [Starmer] previously said all immigration law was racist. Hes full of BS. Heres why: November, 2022 At the CBI conference in 2022, Sir Keir set out Labours strategy to manage migration numbers - Darren Staples/Bloomberg A prospective Labour government was not going to hold business back if employers needed talent from abroad, Starmer said after addressing the Confederation of British Industry, having also called for an end to the days of cheap labour and for the UK to be weaned off its immigration dependency. When asked whether his party would cut migration levels, if elected, he said he did not want to be tied to arbitrary numbers. Over the last few years, weve had arbitrary figures plucked out of the air, and that hasnt worked for anyone, he told the BBC, promising a pragmatic approach to immigration instead. September 2020 Starmer told Times Radio that family members [from other countries] should be able to live together in Britain, and that the nation couldnt function without the flow of people seeking work here. January 2020 Just hours before the UK officially left the EU, Starmer, then shadow Brexit secretary, told an audience that we have to make the case for the benefits of migration, the benefits of free movement. When asked whether this would entail freedom of movement later being reinstated, he responded, Of course, bring back, argue for, challenge [the ruling], with the promise to defend free movement as we leave the EU. January 2020 Labour for Free Movement, a group of party members campaigning for the extension of free movement, sent a questionnaire to all prospective Labour leaders after Jeremy Corbyn announced he would step down following defeat in the December 2019 general election asking them to outline their stance on the issue. Starmer was the first to respond, saying: I will always defend migrants rights and make the positive case for immigration I believe that should be protected as we leave the EU, and I am very concerned at the impact that [Boris] Johnsons plans to end free movement will inevitably have on our economy, migrants rights and the freedom for people to work and live in the EU 27. February 2019 In a Newsnight interview, Starmer said that Britain should explore qualified free movement of EU workers. If somebody is coming to do a job and it needs to be done and it has been advertised locally beforehand with nobody able to do it, then most people would say I accept that. September 2018 Sir Keir was a strong supporter of Remain during the Brexit referendum - Ian Forsyth/Getty Images Starmer told the Labour conference in Liverpool that nobody is ruling out Remain as an option. He then argued for Article 50, the legal process for leaving the EU, to be extended should then-prime minister Theresa Mays Brexit deal be voted down. December 2017 The year after the Brexit referendum, Starmer conceded that freedom of movement cant stay the same. The status quo is not an option. Still, he argued that migration to and from the EU should be negotiated the end of free movement doesnt mean no movement. April 2017 We recognise that immigration rules will have to change as we exit the EU, but we do not believe that immigration should be the overarching priority, Starmer said when revealing Labours Brexit strategy. September 2015 A few months after being elected as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras, Starmer tweeted a government petition entitled: Accept more asylum seekers and increase support for refugee migrants in the UK, pushing for public support as we need urgent action to take refugees and review ineffective asylum rules. A Labour spokesperson told The Telegraph on Friday: The Tories turned Britain into a one-nation experiment in open borders. In Kemi Badenochs own words, the Tories broke the immigration system. This Labour government is picking up the pieces, fixing the foundations and delivering on British peoples priorities. Labour is reforming the points-based immigration system, cracking down on visa abuse, and linking skills and training to the economy so that we can drive down net migration, which has been too high for too long. William Oliver Roberson, 91, has a vast collection of memorabilia from his 21 years of service in the Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard. Ethan Rocke/Ethan E. Rocke/Contributor William Oliver Roberson, 91, has a vast collection of memorabilia from his 21 years of service in the Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard. Ethan Rocke/Ethan E. Rocke/Contributor William Oliver Roberson, 91, is one of the few people with discharge papers from three separate branches of the armed forces: the Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard. Ethan Rocke/Ethan E. Rocke/Contributor William Oliver Roberson, 91, served in the Coast Guard toward the end of a remarkably varied 21-year career in the U.S. military. Ethan Rocke/Ethan E. Rocke/Contributor William Oliver Roberson is one of those rare fellows who stands up three times when a military band plays the Armed Forces Medley on Veterans Day. He served in three branches of the U.S. armed forces: the Marines, the Navy and the Coast Guard, in that order. This is all my DD214s, said Roberson, now 91, as he pointed to discharge papers stacked on a table in his Northwest Side apartment. One in the Marine Corps, two in the Navy and two in the Coast Guard. Advertisement Article continues below this ad He's got the photos and memorabilia to prove it. There's a prized snapshot of Roberson and his Navy buddies getting ready to go into Hong Kong on liberty on a sunny day. There's a picture of him sitting in a Grumman SA-56 Albatross, a Coast Guard seaplane. There's a flight engineer's license from the Navy that he earned while flying between Midway Island and Alaska on an EC-121 Lockheed Constellation early warning radar plane from 1960-65. He saw combat during the Korean War and twice was seriously injured. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Roberson, a native of Memphis, has lived in San Antonio since 2013. He's a tad stooped these days and his voice is gravelly, but he has the energy of a teenager. As he reflects on distant events in far-away lands and oceans, he effortlessly ticks off places he visited while hopping from one service branch to another. He began his career in the Marines in late 1950. "They stationed me in Quantico, Va.," he recalled. "I was attached to the armory, so they sent me through small-arms school for the .45 and the Thompson submachine gun. And when I got out of the school, I was an assistant instructor teaching FBI agents in the morning and then running problems in the field for the 90-day wonders." The 90-day wonders were young Marine Corps officer candidates. When he was through with that, Roberson got orders for Korea. In February 1953, he was with Fox Company, 5th Marines, fighting north of Seoul, the South Korean capital. William Oliver Roberson, 91, served in the Coast Guard toward the end of a remarkably varied 21-year career in the U.S. military. Ethan Rocke/Ethan E. Rocke/Contributor 'Walking wounded' "There was some activity going on over in the enemy lines, which was about 100 yards across no man's land. They wanted to find out what was going on, so they picked the 3rd Platoon of Fox Company to make a raid on this enemy outpost ... to see if we could get a prisoner or so and find out what was going on," he recalled. "We did that." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Roberson and his platoon went up a hill and set up a firing position, taking occasional shots at enemy troops. Suddenly, he heard an incoming round. "So I ducked my head down ... left my hands up here on the rifle, and a round went off about four feet in front of me." He woke up on a stretcher, suffering from a concussion, and was evacuated by helicopter. A month later, American troops were manning three outposts called Vegas, Reno and Carson. Vegas was hit hard, losing 25 Marines. That wasn't the end of the story. The Marines wanted it back. Roberson was the fire team leader for 3rd Platoon, which was in reserve. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "They started up the hill, but the action got so bad that they had to call the 3rd Platoon up there," he said. "I took my fire team about halfway up the hill, and we had Corsairs from aircraft carriers. Marine Corsair planes were coming over, dropping 500-pound bombs on the hill. "Well, I took my fire team, and me and my rifleman jumped in this 500-pound bomb crater," Roberson said. "Just as soon as we jumped in this hole, an artillery round went off on the side of that ... hole. It killed my rifleman. It put shrapnel in my side and back and threw me out of the hole." Next thing Roberson knew, he was strapped into a helicopter, flying to a hospital ship in Inchon Harbor. He was there two weeks. Afterward, instead of returning to Fox Company and more combat, he got a break. The command sent him to an ammunition and food ration depot run by the Army. He was one of 18 Marines dubbed "the walking wounded" who were temporarily deployed to the unit. Their job was to load trucks with ammo and food and deliver the supplies to the front. His next job was building a tent city for repatriated prisoners of war in Panmunjom, the village near the de facto border between North and South Korea where an armistice was signed in 1953, ending the war. Histories refer to it as "Freedom Village" and the site of Operation Big Switch, a large prisoner swap. William Oliver Roberson, now 91, earned an instrumented-rated, commercial pilot's license while serving in the Navy. He later flew crop-dusters. Ethan Rocke/Ethan E. Rocke/Contributor A hard childhood Roberson said a difficult upbringing prepared him for the hardships of war. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "I'm not going to dwell on it too much, but my home life was very terrible. My daddy was really a disciplinary guy to us kids," Roberson said. His father beat his sons with electrical cable. "When he disciplined the girls, he made them go out and get a limb off of a tree, and they got a whipping with a limb," Roberson said. The children were too scared of their father to report him to authorities. Roberson quit school in the 11th grade. By then, his two older brothers already were in the Marines. Before long, he was a Marine, too. He said he sent part of his pay home to his father. When he returned from the Korean War, Roberson married, had children and settled down, for a time. Then he and his wife divorced. In search of a steady paycheck, he entered a Navy recruiting office. 'I'd go back in there right now' His first assignment was the USS Thomaston, a San Diego, Calif.-based dock landing ship that later would play a role in two historic events: the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Marine landings at Danang and Chu Lai in Vietnam. While on leave in October 1958, Roberson got married again, and he and his second wife moved to California. He remained in the Navy nine years and became a civilian again in 1967. Flying was on his mind. He'd used the GI Bill to secure his private pilot's license after getting out of the Marine Corps, and now had a commercial license he'd earned in the Navy. Roberson saw dollar signs in the wild blue yonder and flew a crop-duster for three years. By 1970, he wanted to be in uniform once more. "I went back to the Navy, but the Navy wanted to start me off at the bottom again," he said. A Coast Guard recruiting station was a short walk away. He signed up as a petty officer second class and remained in the service for nine years, making 173 rescues. But if he liked the Coast Guard, Roberson said he loved the Navy the best. Michelle Boyle was in the Guinness Book of Records in 1988 for lowest limbo on roller skates. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian Happy Saturday all! Thanks for starting your weekend with Five Great Reads some of the best things Ive read on the Guardian this week. Get ready to hear from five extremely different record holders, women who dared to bare it all, and a tale about the desecration of one of the worlds most valuable books. With a coffee or tea in hand, lets dive in. 1. Life after a Guinness World Record Imagine being crowned the worlds best at something? From the lowest roller skate limbo, to the longest under-ice free dive, some people train their whole lives to earn a Guinness World Record, Katie Cunningham writes, while for others picking one up is a happy accident. But what happens after the moment of glory? How low can you go: For Michelle Boyle, roller skating under a pole just 13.35cm off the ground was definitely the coolest thing to ever happen to a 10-year-old. Feelgood 80s story: Id like to say that I went on some kind of motivational speaking circuit or something like that. But, no, I didnt. How long will it take to read: Five minutes. Further reading: A deeper dive into the strange survival of Guinness World Records. 2. A second chance When the author Michael Visontay was researching his familys history during Covid lockdown he uncovered an unexpectedly extraordinary story: a crime against history in the book world set off a chain of events that led, via the horror of the Holocaust, to his familys delicatessen in 1950s Sydney. The benefactor: New York book dealer Gabriel Wells, who acquired a Gutenberg Bible in the early 1920s and sold the individual pages for a fortune. The beneficiary: Olga Illovfsky, Visontays grandfathers second wife, who inherited some of her uncle Gabriels money. How long will it take to read: Three and a half minutes. 3. Flesh after 50 Shooting for 500 Strong began in 2021, in photographer Ponch Hawkess Melbourne studio, where participants were given the choice: to show their faces or not. They were completely naked. About two-thirds of the women decided to remain anonymous, hiding their identities with chosen props. The experience left some women in tears but no one ever changed their mind about being photographed. *** Ive done projects about very worthy and important things in my life. This is the only one thats ever changed anything. Ponch Hawkes. On a larger scale: Artist Spencer Tunicks latest mass nude shoot in Brisbane brought together 5,500 bodies. One participant wrote about how weirdly normal the experience was. How long will it take to read: Four minutes. 4. Along the Stream of the Blackflies This read about a massacre in the Amazon jungle is worthy of a longer attention span. In 2004, 29 people were killed by members of the Cinta Larga tribe in Brazils Amazon basin. The massacre shocked the country but the truth of what happened is still being fought over. Key players: Nacoca Pio Cinta Larga, the general chief of his people, was made the public face of the atrocity, rather than the survivor of one. How long will it take to read: Nine and a half minutes. 5. Tim Robbins, with no politics please A quality movie, a quality television show, will last. Whether its a hit or not is irrelevant, Tim Robbins says. It helps that he starred in a film (The Shawshank Redemption) that remains on top of IMDb as the most favoured movie of all time. But with the newer television drama Silo, the actor known for his strong political stances, even though he begins this interview with a request to not discuss them is still choosing roles he truly believes in, and that echo real life. Streaming takeover: Hes also concerned about the wider future of his industry. How long will it take to read: Four minutes. Sign up Enjoying the Five Great Reads email? Then youll love our weekly culture and lifestyle newsletter, Saved for Later. Sign up here to catch up on the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture, trends and tips for the weekend. And check out the full list of our local and international newsletters. MPs have voted by 330 to 275 to approve the assisted dying bill at a second reading. But the bill is not yet law and still has to pass through several other steps. What comes next for parliament? Immediately after Fridays vote, Kim Leadbeater, the Labour backbencher who introduced the bill, moved a secondary motion to allow it to proceed to a public bill committee for further scrutiny. Leadbeater will pick the committee membership and has promised that its members will reflect a balance of views. A committee of selection will then have to approve the names. The government will appoint one minister to the committee, who is expected to come from the Ministry of Justice. It is expected to start work next year. The committee will take written and oral evidence before voting on a series of potential amendments, which it will then bring for votes on the floor of the House of Commons. This vote at report stage is normally a perfunctory affair, with government bills passing largely unchanged. However, some MPs are calling for several days to be set aside to debate and vote on all the amendments when they come. Eventually the bill will go to the Lords, where it could go through several further iterations, before both houses eventually hold their final votes on the text. There will then be a two-year implementation period, which has been built into the bill. for the government? The bill is a private members bill and the government remains officially neutral. However, ministers will have to pass a money resolution to allow public funds to be spent on the policy, and publish an official impact assessment. Sources said on Friday this was likely to happen before the bill goes to committee stage. If the bill eventually becomes law, officials say the departments of health and justice will jointly oversee its implementation a potentially thorny issue as the respective secretaries of state are both opposed to the change. Sources have spoken of Stephen Kinnock, the care minister, taking charge of the bill from within the health department. Heidi Alexander was thought to be in line to oversee it from within the justice ministry but that was before she was promoted to transport secretary. To oversee the whole operation, the government will appoint a minister who is expected to be from justice, as the bill would change criminal law. for Kim Leadbeater? Leadbeater left the Commons chamber on Friday afternoon surrounded by backslappers and well-wishers, even stopping at one point to sign a copy of the bill for another Labour MP. She then went to see her parents and the families of people affected by the current law who were in the public gallery for the debate, before doing interviews in parliament. She will remain the named author of the bill. for the cabinet? Downing Street has reiterated the message that cabinet ministers are not supposed to share their views on assisted dying, even now it has passed its second stage. Wes Streeting caused irritation among colleagues including Keir Starmer by repeatedly making clear his opposition to the bill in the lead-up to the second reading. His department will now be involved in writing the impact assessment, potentially making it even harder for him to now remain quiet about his views. A man walks past a poster in Dublin city centre. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA An exit poll in Ireland suggests a dead heat between Sinn Fein and the taoiseachs party Fine Gael in the general election, with Fianna Fail only slightly behind. The survey of first preference votes is the first real indication of how Ireland voted after three weeks of canvassing in the snap election called by Simon Harris. The poll put Sinn Fein, which went into the election as the third most popular party, in first place with 21.1% share of the vote followed by Harriss party at 21%, slightly edging Fianna Fail, the leader in the race in the latest polls this week, at 19.5%. Fianna Fails outgoing finance minister said it was clear a lot of seats were going down to the wire and the data was in the margin of error. Data on second preferences showed Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, led by Micheal Martin, doing better with 20% share of the vote each. Sinn Fein scored 17% on second preferences, according to the exit poll. The margin of error from the poll is 1.4%. Damien English, for Fine Gael, told the Irish broadcaster RTE it suggested a very positive result for the party and could translate to 37 or 38 seats, which will mean 20 news TDs [Teachtai Dala, members of the Irish parliament]. The leftist party, led by Mary Lou McDonald will be heartened by the suggestion it has slightly shaded the countrys two main political bodies given it went into the campaign battered by scandals and decline in popularity in its core base over its migration policy. Sinn Feins director of elections, Matt Carthy, hailed his partys performance. He said it marked a significant turnaround from the partys disappointing showing in Junes local and European elections. When you consider where we would have been coming out of the local and European elections, I have to say its a phenomenal result, Carthy told RTE. He added: We do recall that in 2020 the exit poll actually undershot Sinn Fein to the tune of 2%-plus. So if that was to transpire tomorrow morning, there is every chance that Sinn Fein will emerge from these elections as the largest political party. Carthy would not be drawn on what the exit poll might mean for coalition formation. This is a hugely positive exit poll but the real votes will be counted tomorrow, so lets see where they land, he said. Harris appears to have fared slightly better than polls this week, which projected a six-point drop in vote share from 25% at the outset of the three week campaign to 19%. The survey of about 5,000 voters who had cast their ballot during the day was carried out by Ipsos MRBI for RTE, The Irish Times, TG4 and Trinity College Dublin. It comes with two strong health warnings it reflects first preference votes only and with a margin of error. Gary Murphy, professor of politics at Dublin City University, told RTE that Fine Gael would be relieved with the exit poll given the quite dramatic and precipitous decline in popularity according to polls this week. The fourth largest group is predicted to be independents at 12.7% of the share, far below the projections of close to 20% in some earlier polls. Irish results are based on a proportional representation system, which makes the outcome more difficult to predict and the result longer to emerge. Voters rank candidates, with second preferences going to those choices as long as they are still in the race and have not already been elected or eliminated. Counting in Fridays ballot will not begin until 9am on Saturday, with close-to-final results expected by the end of Sunday. Tallies by the parties, which operate a parallel informal counting operation in all 43 constituencies, are expected to reveal their projections of the election results at around lunchtime on Saturday. It could be weeks before a government is formed as as no party was running enough candidates to form an outright majority. The Dail consists of 174 seats with around 88 needed for a clear majority. . Meanwhile the leader of the Social Democrat party announced the birth of a baby daughter on the day of the election. Holly Cairns, who is standing for re-election in the Cork South-West constituency, posted on Instagram: Shes here. We are completely in love with her. This article was amended on 17 December 2024. An earlier version said that an outright majority for one party was highly improbable; in fact, no party was running enough candidates to form an outright majority. Kim Leadbeater has put forward a private members bill on assisted dying - Ben Whitley/PA The first striking thing about the debate on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which is to have its second reading today, is how personally its sponsor, Kim Leadbeater MP, feels about the issue. She was devastated to hear that disabled people feared being pressure into suicide if her bill passes, though she did not change so much a word of her bill as a result of her devastation. She was disappointed that Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, dared to oppose her bill because the NHS could not implement it safely, even though he, of all people, would know. She finds the term assisted suicide offensive, even though assisted suicide is exactly what she has been promoting. The second striking thing about the debate has been Ms Leadbeaters limitless faith in the bill, which bears her name because she, quite literally, won a lottery. I dont have any doubts whatsoever about assisted dying bill, she told an interviewer this week, after her bill was torn apart by experts from every conceivable angle over the course of two weeks. As she never tires of telling people, her bill contains the strongest safeguards in the world. I think I understand Ms Leadbeaters faith in her bill. It would be dangerous to have doubts, when the former Lord Chief Justice, President of the Family Division of the High Court, Chief Coroner, and dozens of the countrys most senior jurists think your bills legal safeguards are unworkable and made out of chocolate, that the High Court would grind to a halt because of her bill, that there are no means to detect coercion nor to investigate suspicious deaths. It would be dangerous to lose faith, when disabled people tell her that they fear for their lives if her bill were to pass, when her governments own adviser on suicide prevention warns that it would undermine suicide prevention, when doctors point out that, far from offering a good death, many who die this do so in agony, over hours, and even days, when palliative care specialists tell you that to legalise assisted suicide would fatally undermine their work, because a dead patient is cheaper than a live one. It would be dangerous to have second thoughts, when your parliamentary colleagues from all sides, including at least a third of Cabinet and many dozens of Labour MPs, declare that they cannot support your bill. It would be dangerous to stop believing when Diane Abbott and Sir Edward Leigh, the Mother and Father of the House, who have never agreed on so much as the colour of the sky, are united against this dangerous assisted dying bill. It would be dangerous to lose your nerve, when Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands, and many other jurisdictions have witnessed the slippery slope whose existence she denies, jurisdiction which have legalised state-sponsored death for sick toddlers, disabled people living in poverty, depressed people, and many others. To this Ms Leadbeater counters confidently that assisted suicide works perfectly well in Oregon, where people have received assisted suicide for anorexia, arthritis, sciatica, and hernia. No, Ms Leadbeater, whose parliamentary career will now be forever associated with this bill, cannot afford to back down. Nor can the lobbyists of death who have thrown their full support behind her, who have covered the interior of Westminster tube station with pro-assisted suicide posters, who have spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on a professional advertising campaign, who have even printed promotional dog shirts for their cause. Does she ever wonder where that money is coming from? Then again, it is probably better to not ask too many questions. Ms Leadbeater may not want to ask too many questions; but her colleagues should. They may think that, by voting for this bill, they will secure their places in the history of progressive social reform in Britain. But when the horror stories of family coercion, of the sick being driven to assisted suicide because of inadequate NHS care, of medical staff pressuring their patients to free up beds by dying, they will have to answer for anger of the voters. They will not be able to say I had faith in this bill, because it simply wont be good enough. Sir Keir Starmers inaugural Cabinet was said to be the most diverse in terms of education background ever recorded - Andy Rain/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Louise Haighs departure as transport secretary leaves just one Cabinet minister who attended a private secondary school. Ms Haigh resigned on Friday morning following revelations that she was previously convicted of fraud in a police investigation involving a missing work phone. She was the only member of Sir Keir Starmers Cabinet to have been privately educated for the bulk of her secondary school career. Ms Haigh attended Sheffield High School, a private girls day school in South Yorkshire, which currently charges 15,960 per year. Her exit makes the Cabinet the heaviest state-educated No 10 team ever recorded. John Healey, the Defence Secretary, is now the only member to have attended a private secondary school. He went to St Peters School in York for sixth form after several years at a local community school. Hilary Benn, the Northern Ireland Secretary, was educated at Norland Place School and Westminster Under School, both prep schools in London, before moving to Holland Park School, a state comprehensive, for his secondary education. On Friday, No 10 announced that Heidi Alexander will replace Ms Haigh as Transport Secretary. The MP for Swindon South, a former courts minister was a pupil at Churchfields Comprehensive School, which has since become an academy, and New College Sixth Form, both in Wiltshire. Analysis by The Sutton Trust after the general election found that Sir Keirs inaugural Cabinet was the most diverse in terms of education background ever recorded. The social mobility charity said 92 per cent of the Prime Ministers top team were educated at comprehensive schools far higher than the 19 per cent under both Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss. Nick Harrison, chief executive of the Sutton Trust, said at the time that the share of state-educated Cabinet ministers in the Government marked the closest to genuinely reflect the proportion of Britons who went to comprehensive schools. Around 94 per cent of children across the UK currently attend state schools a figure that has gained political traction in recent months under the Governments plans to hit private school fees with VAT from Jan 1. Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, made reference to the number while formally unveiling the legislation in the Budget. She said charging private schools with the 20 per cent levy for the first time would raise money for 94 per cent of children in the UK [who] attend state schools. Sir Keir attended Reigate Grammar School, a selective state school that converted to a fee-paying school while he was a student. He was awarded a bursary for his final two years, meaning he could remain a pupil at the school without his parents paying fees. Several other ministers also attended private schools, though they are not full Cabinet members. They include James Murray, a treasury minister who is in charge of the Governments VAT plans for private schools, and Anneliese Dodds, the development minister and a women and equalities minister. The proportion of privately-educated MPs is currently at a record low for the three main parties, according to the Sutton Trust. Fewer than a quarter attended independent schools down from a peak of 51 per cent in 1983 while 63 per cent went to comprehensive state schools. Ms Haigh has previously said she feels quite uncomfortable about her education. In an interview with Schools Week in 2015, she said private schools were something that is very much looked down on for Labour MPs, and rightly so, adding: I am completely opposed to private school myself. Haigh is understood to have not declared a 2014 conviction for wrongly reporting a mobile phone stolen to the police, because she was asked only about unspent offences. Photograph: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Rex/Shutterstock Louise Haigh was advised to resign by No 10 for a possible breach of the ministerial code, after she did not declare her spent conviction for fraud to the government when she became a cabinet minister. Multiple sources said Morgan McSweeney, Keir Starmers chief of staff, delivered the message to the UK transport secretary on Thursday night that it would be best for her to resign. They said Haigh had not declared the 2014 conviction for wrongly reporting a mobile phone stolen to the police, because she was asked only about unspent offences. She had pleaded guilty to fraud by misrepresentation and received a conditional discharge. Three sources said Haigh had told Starmer about the conviction when she became shadow Northern Ireland secretary in 2020. However, Starmers official spokesperson refused to confirm on Friday whether the prime minister knew about the conviction at any point. Related: Louise Haigh: Labours outspoken young survivor is derailed by her past In a briefing with reporters, the spokesperson repeated the same line that following further information emerging, the prime minister has accepted Louise Haighs resignation. In a series of bizarre exchanges, the spokesperson gave the same scripted line when asked what the prime minister knew about Haighs spent conviction, what further information had emerged, and why he had appointed her to cabinet if he knew about the offence. Pressed on what she declared, the spokesperson said there were clear rules around declarations that meant ministers must give a full account in writing of private interests that might give rise to a conflict, actual or perceived. He also stressed that ministers must adhere to the seven Nolan principles of ethical standards in public life. A No 10 source said they did not feel that Haigh disclosed the full details to Starmer in opposition, and that it was not declared to the government when she became a minister. Her departure was more to do with a failure to be fully open than the original offence, they said. Sky News had reported on Thursday two sources saying Haigh had made the report to police in order to gain an upgraded mobile phone from her employer, while the Times reported that Haigh was put under investigation by her then employer, Aviva, over another phone reported missing. However, a source close to Haigh said it was absolute nonsense that she had reported it missing to get an upgrade, and that it had been an honest mistake. They said she had come fully clean to Starmer about the episode when he appointed her as shadow Northern Ireland secretary and he was very supportive of her at that point. However, she did not declare it to the government when she became transport secretary, because she was asked only about unspent convictions. She is understood to have spoken to Starmer on Thursday night before McSweeney made clear to her it was best for her to resign. Haigh quit the cabinet on Friday morning with a letter to Starmer saying that whatever the facts of the matter, this issue will inevitably be a distraction from delivering the work of this government. In a statement, Haigh said that while she was working for Aviva in her mid-20s, she was mugged while on a night out. She gave police a list of items missing from her handbag, including her work phone, which she thought had been stolen. Haigh was issued with a new phone but when she subsequently found her old work phone and turned it on, the police called her in for questioning. In her letter to the prime minister published on Friday morning, Haigh said not informing Aviva straight away that she had found her missing work phone was a mistake. Accepting her resignation, Starmer thanked Haigh for her work and huge strides to take our rail system back into public ownership. I know you still have a huge contribution to make in the future, he wrote. Downing Street later named the Swindon South MP Heidi Alexander as the new transport secretary, replacing Haigh. Haigh, 37, who was the youngest person appointed to Starmers cabinet, has become the first person to leave it five months after Labours election landslide. She thanked Starmer for his support in her resignation letter and said she took great pride in what Labour had achieved since the election. She said she was totally committed to our political project but believed it will be best served by my supporting you from outside government. I am sorry to leave under these circumstances, but I take pride in what we have done. I will continue to fight every day for the people of Sheffield Heeley who I was first and foremost elected to represent and to ensure that the rest of our programme is delivered in full, she wrote. Liam McArthur joins campaigners outside Holyrood in support of Scotlands assisted dying Bill - Lesley Martin/PA The MSP behind plans to legalise assisted dying in Scotland has expressed confidence that Holyrood will follow Westminster by backing the controversial change. Liam McArthur said he was delighted that the House of Commons had approved Kim Leadbeaters Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill at second reading. The Bill will apply to England and Wales but Mr McArthur said he was confident that MSPs would pass his Scottish equivalent when they vote on it next year. The Liberal Democrat said the Commons vote reflects the wishes of the UK public, who overwhelmingly back a change in the law to offer choice and compassion. However, Pam Duncan-Glancy, the first permanent wheelchair user elected to the Scottish Parliament, said she was heartbroken by the vote on social media. The Labour MSP previously warned that the proposals would be dangerous for disabled people and argued they may feel pressured into an assisted death if they wrongly believed themselves to be a burden on others. John Keenan, the bishop of Paisley and president of the Bishops Conference of Scotland, said: This is a sad day for the sick, the vulnerable and the disabled in society. Mr McArthur has lodged a Private Members Bill at Holyrood that would give mentally competent people over 16 who have been diagnosed with a terminal condition the right to end their life. Safeguards would include independent assessments by two doctors and a 14-day cooling off period. However, the Westminster Bill also requires the approval of a High Court judge. Those requesting an assisted death must have lived in Scotland for at least a year and must administer the life-ending medication themselves. Two previous attempts at Holyrood to change the law were decisively defeated but Mr McArthur expressed confidence that it would pass this time. MSPs will get a free vote on the general principles of the Bill in late spring or early summer next year. However, John Swinneys SNP government has warned that Holyrood is unable to legalise assisted dying without Westminsters authority. On X, formerly Twitter, Pam Duncan-Glancy said she was heartbroken by the Commons outcome - Ken Jack/Getty Images SNP ministers have said Mr McArthurs Bill touches on Westminsters powers over medicines, medical supplies and poisons and could change UK regulation of health professionals. Mr Swinney also said he was wrestling with whether to back the plans amid significant concerns that they would apply to 16-year-olds. The Westminster Bill makes terminally ill adults with a life expectancy of six months eligible for assisted dying if they are 18 or older. Responding to the Commons vote, Mr McArthur said: I am delighted to see Kim Leadbeaters Bill pass its first parliamentary hurdle. This debate has shown the UK Parliament at its best with thoughtful contributions from across the House and a vote which shows a clear recognition that the present blanket ban on assisted dying does not work and that more choice, alongside excellent palliative care, is what dying people need. It is clear that todays vote reflects the wishes of the UK public, who overwhelmingly back a change in the law to offer choice and compassion. I am confident that MSPs in the Scottish Parliament will do the same when they vote at stage one on my Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill. Kim Leadbeater (centre) joins activist Sophie Blake (left) and Esther Rantzens daughter (right) after the vote - Stefan Rousseau/PA Lib Dem Liam McArthur said he was delighted by the votes result in the Commons - Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images Also reacting to the vote, Bishop Keenan said: Todays vote strikes a blow against the foundational principle of medicine do no harm. Since parliamentarians have voted to create a category of people that the state will help to commit suicide, doctors will now be invited to help their patients to kill themselves. As we have seen across the world, once enacted these laws are rapidly and dangerously expanded. Earlier this month, the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP) warned that Scots with mental illness, diabetes or dementia could end their lives early using Mr McArthurs legislation. The RCP told Holyroods health committee that the definition of terminal illness in the legislation was very wide with no requirements for a maximum life expectancy or that patients should experience intolerable suffering. It also cautioned that diagnosing dementia can be complicated, which raises the prospect of someone being misdiagnosed and wrongly seen as eligible for an assisted death. Kristian White, 34, was found guilty on Wednesday of the manslaughter of Clare Nowland at her Cooma nursing home in 2023. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP The New South Wales policeman who fatally shot a 95-year-old great-grandmother with a Taser has said he never intended for her to be harmed, and remains entirely devastated for her familys loss. Sen Const Kristian James Samuel White shot Clare Nowland with his Taser in a Cooma nursing home in the early hours of 17 May 2023, after she refused to put down a sharp knife. Nowland fell and struck her head, dying a week later from inoperable bleeding on the brain. On Wednesday this week, White was found guilty of manslaughter, in a unanimous jury verdict in the NSW supreme court. On Friday, justice Ian Harrison continued Whites bail until February the police officer has not spent any time in prison telling the court jail was not an inevitable sentence. In the hours after Whites bail was continued, his lawyer, Warwick Anderson, issued a statement on his behalf. Mr White extends his thoughts and prayers to the Nowland family. Since that fateful morning, Kristian has tried to deal with the legal case against him, while confronting the pain that discharging his Taser ultimately resulted in Mrs Nowlands death, the statement, provided to Guardian Australia, said. He has never lost sight of the fact that Mrs Nowland passed away and he is acutely aware that the Nowland family is deeply hurt by what happened. Mr White gave sworn evidence before the Supreme Court in his trial, that he never intended for Mrs Nowland to be harmed or injured and that he was, and remains, entirely devastated for the Nowland familys loss. Nowlands family also issued a statement after a brief hearing in the court Friday. The Nowland family are disappointed that the court has today refused to place Kristian White into detention, it read. The family is struggling to understand why the court felt it was appropriate to leave Mr White on bail and free in the Cooma community without any real restrictions in light of that conviction. In court on Friday, Harrison continued Whites bail on the conditions he remained of good behaviour, did not travel overseas, and did not communicate with Nowlands family. White will return to court in February for sentencing. Harrison told the court he was not in a position to make a decision on Whites ultimate liberty, but that a jail sentence was not inevitable. I should not want to give unwarranted hope to Mr White that he will avoid a sentence of full-time imprisonment or to cause distress or frustration to those whose reasonably available and strongly held view is that nothing less than such a result would be appropriate. I am not prepared to say, in what I consider to be an acceptably judicial way, that it is realistically inevitable that Mr White will be sentenced to imprisonment to be served by full-time detention. The judge commented on the notoriously protean nature of manslaughter offences and the extraordinary range of sentencing options available to the court: from 25 years imprisonment to a non-custodial sentence. Harrison said the case was unlike any other that I have had to confront over nearly two decades on the bench. Ms Nowlands death resulted from what was on almost any view a failure by Mr White correctly to assess the seriousness of the threat confronting him or, on another view, a failure to recognise or appreciate that he was not confronted with a serious threat at all. It was no more and no less than an error of judgment with fatal consequences. The judge said White did not intend to kill or seriously injure Nowland. Related: Labor has passed its proposed social media ban for under-16s. Heres what we know and what we dont Mr White did not act out of anger, or malice, or revenge, or retribution, or envy, or jealousy, or avarice, or greed, or some misplaced desire to inflict harm or to avoid detection for some crime. Mr White made a significant mistake in the course of his work. The fact that the jurys verdict represents a conclusion that Mr Whites actions should be punished as a crime does not alone foreclose upon the ultimate sentencing outcome. The prosecution had applied for White to be detained ahead of sentencing next year, arguing the police officers imprisonment was realistically inevitable. But Whites defence barrister, Troy Edwards SC, argued his clients bail should be continued until he is sentenced and invited the judge to consider that the manslaughter offence was the lowest end in terms of seriousness. Evidence filed with the court showed that were White to be jailed, he would be placed into protective custody because of his status as a police officer. The prisoner would be classified as protection non-association meaning he will not be in the physical presence of other inmates at any time, Det Sgt Mitchell Bosworth of the homicide squad wrote. NSW police announced on Thursday morning that White was suspended from the force without pay after his conviction. His employment with the police force was still under consideration. Regarding the officers position in the NSW Police Force, the NSW Police Commissioner is following the procedure mandated under the Police Act 1990, s181D, the police said in a statement on Thursday. The section of the act referred to states that the police commissioner can remove an officer from the force if they do not have confidence in the police officers suitability to continue as a police officer. The woman was wearing a lime-green Primark crop-top and New Look jeans when she was found in the River Mersey, near Chorlton Water Park in Manchester. Photograph: Face Lab/PA Police have released a facial reconstruction of a woman who was found in a river in Manchester eight months ago but whose identity remains a mystery. The body of the woman, wearing a neon-green Primark crop-top and New Look jeans, was found by a member of the public in the River Mersey at Chorlton Water Park on 21 March. Greater Manchester police (GMP) said that despite forensic and DNA examinations and searching databases of missing people, they still had no idea of who the woman was. A facial reconstruction, created by Face Lab at Liverpool John Moores University, was released on Friday in the hope someone might recognise her. It is known that the woman was from a European background, about 5ft 1in tall, with a slim build, and dark brown hair. She was likely aged between 26 and 40, though could be older or younger. She was wearing dark green anti-slip socks, the type used in hospitals and care facilities. She also had an elastic band and hair bobble on her wrist. Police believe the womans body may have been in the river for one or two months. She may have entered the water in a surrounding area or region, with the rivers Tame and Goyt both merging into the Mersey. The cause of death is being treated as unexplained. Det Insp Louise Edwards, from GMPs major incident team, appealed for anyone who recognised the woman, or had information, to contact police. We want nothing more than to reunite her with her family and friends, she said. She could be someones mother, auntie, sister, or cousin somebody out there will know who she is and we want to ensure she gets back to her loved ones. If you have any information at all, please do get in touch with us. Even the smallest amount of information could greatly benefit in finding out who she is, and the circumstances which led to her sadly being discovered in the river more than eight months ago. Keir Starmer The Conservatives presided over net migration of almost a million people in the year to June 2023. That is surely one of the biggest betrayals in British political history. This is the party that promised in its manifestos of 2010, 2015 and 2017 to reduce net migration to the tens of thousands. Those pledges were worthless. The Brexit vote was clearly achieved off the back of a desire among the electorate to cut the number of people coming to Britain. Yet still the Tories didnt listen. Their 2019 manifesto vowed to introduce a points-based system as a way of controlling the number of lower skilled migrants being allowed into the UK. That helped Boris Johnson secure an 80-seat majority with my support. But in each of the past five years, the number of legal arrivals has exploded. Its clear the situation has spun out of control. This week Kemi Badenoch gave a press conference on immigration in which she read, like a robot, from an autocue. Once again the message was: Trust us, were going to fix this. Well she didnt convince me, and Im not sure she convinced many others. It should be said the Labour government doesnt have the answers either. The raw numbers are astonishing. As well as 906,000 people net arriving in the year to June 2023, a further 750,000 net have come to Britain in this calendar year so far. As those are just net figures, the demographic change in our country is even bigger. Thats just legal migration. As the smaller print details revealed, Britains asylum bill rose by 36 per cent in the last financial year to reach an estimated 5.4 billion. Thats 450 million a month or about 15 million each day. The true cost, however, is higher, because the official figure doesnt account for the daily cost of monitoring operations in the English Channel and running the processing centre at Manston in Kent. Looked at another way, the annual cost to taxpayers of our asylum system is about four times greater than the amount thats been taken away from pensioners via the winter fuel allowance cut. Perhaps that will give the government and the opposition pause for thought. Because of the chaotic immigration situation that has been allowed to take root, everybodys life has been affected for the worse. All problems flow from the fact that Britain has a rising population that costs ever larger sums of public money to maintain. The knock-on effects are everywhere. Whether its the increase in road traffic, the vast number of potholes, the lack of access to schools, the difficulty of getting a GP appointment, the shortage of housing or the fracturing of community cohesion, coping with practical problems like this has become part of everyday life. Boris Johnson appears to be unconcerned by what happened on his watch as Prime Minister. But is it any wonder that opinion polls now show that up to two-thirds of the British public would like a new party to vote for? The growing sense that voters have had enough of being lied to explains why Reform UK is booming. People are disgusted with the two main parties when it comes to immigration. Our message is clear. We want to leave the ECHR. We do not believe that any welfare payments should be given to any new arrival to this country for at least five years. And Britain should not provide social housing for immigrants on anything like the scale it currently does. Labour and the Conservatives do not seem to have grasped that if such incentives are on offer to people from the Third World, more of them will want to settle here. Britain is not a land of milk and honey. Its ridiculous to pretend otherwise. This country cannot afford to maintain handouts on this scale and that presupposes that taxpayers are in favour of their hard-earned money being used in this way in the first place. No voter has ever been consulted about mass immigration. They think they have been taken for fools. That is partly why so many are so angry. Indeed, two thirds of the country are now willing to vote for a party that isnt Labour or the Conservatives. In the new year I will lay out the immigration proposals of Reform UK in detail. For now, to give everybody a clue, I will say that we wish to rebrand the term net zero so that it applies not to the environment but to the overall number of people entering and leaving our country. Tarig Sinada and Jenny Cawson were among 31 tourists and 13 crew on board the vessel - Daily Mail An engaged British couple are among the seven people still missing from the Red Sea yacht disaster. Tarig Sinada, 49, and his fiancee, Jenny Cawson, 36, were enjoying a reef safari holiday off Egypt when the Sea Story vessel was capsized by a huge wave. There were 31 tourists and 13 crew on board, 28 of whom were saved by Monday evening, including two other Britons Colin Sharratt, 65, and his partner, Sally Jones, 58. On Tuesday, five survivors were saved after they managed to stay alive for 30 hours using air pockets in a cabin. One of them detailed how they prayed for rescue, with only their mouth and nose out of the water. Four bodies were also recovered. Five survivors stayed alive for 30 hours using air pockets in a cabin on the Sea Story - Red Sea Governorate Mr Sinada, an IT consultant and an astrophysics graduate of Imperial College, and Miss Cawson have lived together for some years in Ashburton, near Newton Abbot, Devon. They have both previously worked as scuba diving instructors in Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. An official source said that they were among those missing, presumed drowned. A spokesman from Tata Consultancy Services, where Mr Sinada works, said: The incident that took place in the Red Sea on Monday is tragic and our thoughts are with Tarigs family and all those that have been impacted. We hope for his safe return, along with all other passengers. A survivor from the Sea Story is transported ashore by rescuers - Egyptian Press Center Youssef Al-Faramawy, 23, was one of those who survived more than a day in the water. Detailing his experience, he told the Daily Mail: I heard screaming then the boat capsized on its right side, and we couldnt open the door because of the water pressure. In maybe five minutes, it sank, and I was shocked when water started filling the cabin. Just a small air pocket remained, about eight inches high. I was on the verge of falling into a coma, but tried to hold on. We couldnt scream because we had no strength left. By then, we had surrendered. We all kept praying to God. Then we heard something from outside... and screamed at the top of our lungs and tried to knock on the door. Minutes passed before a man with a crowbar was trying to open it the water pressure meant we had to work together to force it. Then my own uncle Khattab was one of the divers who pulled us out and saved us. Spains government approves a total of 16.6 billion (13.8 billion) in assistance for those affected by the flash flooding in Valencia - Jose Jordan/AFP Spains Left-wing government has introduced paid climate leave after flash flooding in Valencia last month claimed at least 222 lives and caused widespread devastation. The new scheme will allow workers to take four days off work per year on full pay in the event of extreme weather-related events. Yolanda Diaz, Spains deputy prime minister and labour minister, said the aim of the reform was to provide clarity for businesses and workers on what to do in climate-related events. No worker will have to run any risk, Ms Diaz said. Yolanda Diaz says the government is showing its commitment to green policies in the face of climate deniers on the Right - Chema Moya/Shutterstock In Valencia many workers went to work on Oct 29, despite Spains Aemet meteorological agency having placed much of the region under a red alert its highest warning level for torrential rains and potential flooding. Companies and the regional government of Valencia were criticised for not telling workers to stay at home or issuing a generalised closure of schools. Some parts of the administration, such as the Valencian governments environment department, sent staff home around midday on Oct 29, while Valencia University did not have in-person classes that day. Many Valencians went to work on Oct 29 despite the region being placed under a red alert for flooding - David Ramos/Getty Images Europe Ms Diaz said the new legislation was inspired by Canadian rules on extreme weather events and means that companies must inform employees on what to do in emergency situations, which now includes climate-related protocols in labour agreements. Faced with climate change deniers on the Right, we the government of Spain are showing our commitment to green policies, she said. If a situation such as heavy flooding makes travel to work impossible after four days, then workers can be placed on government-subsidised furlough, with more than 2,500 companies in Valencia having applied for such assistance in the past month. Several demonstrations call for the Valencian president to resign after an inadequate response to the floods - Manuel Bruque/Shutterstock Yolanda Diaz says the aim of the reform was to provide clarity for businesses and workers on what to do in climate-related events - Aldara Zarraoa/Getty Images Europe Spains government on Thursday approved a further 2.3 billion in assistance for those affected by the flash flooding, taking the total to 16.6 billion (13.8 billion). The financial aid included help for the owners of approximately 125,000 vehicles which were destroyed by fast-flowing flood-streams. Carlos Cuerpo, Spains economy minister, said that more than 69,000 homes and 12,500 shops had been damaged by floodwaters, with an estimated hit of four per cent to Valencias GDP. Spains financial assistance includes aid for the owners of around 125,000 cars which were destroyed by the floods - David Ramos/Getty Images Europe Several demonstrations held by Valencian Left-wing parties and unions have demanded that Carlos Mazon, the regional president, resign after his government failed to issue a mobile phone alert to the population until after 8pm on the day of the floods, by which time dozens of people had been swept away. Mr Mazon, of the conservative Popular Party (PP), apologised for his governments inadequate response, but insisted that his three-hour lunch with a journalist that afternoon did not stop him from remaining informed and in control of the decision-making process. Alberto Feijoo, the PP leader and leader of the opposition, has accused Pedro Sanchez, Spains socialist prime minister, of making a political calculation not to take control of the disaster by using emergency powers. A female soldier of the P18 Gotland Regiment covers her face with paint during a field exercise near Visby on the Swedish island of Gotland in 2022. Photograph: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images Germany is developing an app to help people locate the nearest bunker in the event of attack. Sweden is distributing a 32-page pamphlet titled If Crisis or War Comes. Half a million Finns have already downloaded an emergency preparedness guide. If the prospect of a broader conflict in Europe seems remote for many, some countries at least are taking it seriously and, in the term used by Germanys defence minister, Boris Pistorius, taking steps to get populations kriegstuchtig: war-capable. Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine has dramatically raised security tensions across the Baltic region, prompting Finland and Sweden to abandon decades of nonalignment and join Nato. Military capability, however, is not all: citizens have to be braced too. We live in uncertain times. Armed conflicts are currently being waged in our corner of the world. Terrorism, cyber-attacks, and disinformation campaigns are being used to undermine and influence us, the Swedish pamphlets prologue says. Also available in English, it adds that collective resilience is essential and if Sweden is attacked, everyone must do their part to defend Swedens independence and our democracy you are part of Swedens overall emergency preparedness. Swedes have long been familiar with such public information pamphlets: the first was issued in the second world war. The latest advises on, among other topics, warning systems, air raid shelters, digital security and how to use the toilet if there is no water. It also recommends keeping a good supply of water at home (and checking annually to see if it is still safe); having plenty of blankets, warm clothes and alternative heating; getting a battery-powered radio; and storing plenty of energy-rich, quick-to-prepare food. Reaction among Swedish residents has been mixed. Johnny Chamoun, 36, a hairdresser in Solna, near Stockholm, said it was good to be prepared. But, he said, while the brochure was a good idea, it had not been much of a talking point. In the salon Ive not heard many people talk about it. Just one said they had got it, he said. Theyre not stressing or anything. But Muna Ayan, a healthcare worker from Stockholm, was concerned by how unconcerned many Swedes were. Having experienced conflict firsthand in Somalia, Ayan said she was frightened. I am scared because I know what war means I have survived war, she said, adding that she had stocked up on water, battery lights, candles and Vaseline. She was also trying to work out how to tell her five children without scaring them. For people from Somalia, Syria or Iraq, talk of conflict in Sweden was traumatic, she said. We who have been in war, we are not well. We are very worried, because if there is war we know what will happen. In war we have lost relatives, some children will disappear. And Fatuma Mohamed, a health communicator in Stockholm, said many families in poorer areas did not have food for everyday life, let alone for stockpiling, while others were trying to find out where their local shelters were. She said she would like to see more information provided to people in person, rather than just in a brochure. Norways directorate for civil protection, DSB, has distributed a similar booklet to the countrys 2.6 million households. We live in an increasingly turbulent world, it says, affected by climate change, digital threats and in the worst case, acts of war. The Norwegian pamphlet advises people, for example, to hold at least a weeks worth of non-perishable food including crispbreads, canned pulses and beans, canned sandwich spreads, energy bars, dried fruit, chocolate, honey, biscuits and nuts. Norway also advises residents to stock up on essential medicines including iodine tablets, in case of a nuclear incident and, like Sweden, recommends that people have several bank cards and keep a ready supply of cash at home. In Finland, an exhaustive online guide called Preparing for incidents and crises offers residents information and advice on anything from water outages to wildfires, the collapse of the internet or longer-term crises such as military conflict. More practically, on a separate website, 72tuntia.fi, Finland which shares an 830-mile (1,340km) border with Russia asks its citizens bluntly: Would you survive 72 hours? in a range of crisis situations, inviting them to put both their skills and their supplies through a series of tests. The site has tips on strengthening psychological resilience to increase your ability to cope in difficult circumstances, improving personal cybersecurity and sheltering indoors (Seal doors and windows. Turn on the radio. Wait calmly for instructions.) Suvi Aksela of the womens national emergency preparedness association (Nasta), who is on the 72hours expert committee, said it had considered raising Finlands food storage recommendation to a full week of supplies, as Sweden and Norway had done. But in the end, the committee decided against it because the 72hours messaging was so well-established in Finland, she said. The 72 hours has become a brand here in Finland, so we didnt want to break that. But that is just the minimum. Russias war on Ukraine had been a wake-up call even in a country that had long been prepared, she said: women had signed up for preparedness courses, battery radios had flown off the shelves, and questions like how much water do you have at home? or do you have a camp stove? had become more mainstream. Germanys focus, meanwhile, is on ramping up the number of its bunkers and protective shelters after an official estimate that the nation of 84 million has fewer than 600 public shelters, together capable of holding just 480,000 people. Many cold war shelters have been dismantled owing to the belief they would no longer be needed, but Berlin has now launched a national bunker plan under the Federal Office for Population Protection, including a geolocation phone app. Experts predict an attack by Russia may be a possibility within the next five years and the search is now on for any structure that could be used if such an event occurred, including metro stations and basements of public offices, schools and town halls. German households have been urged to adapt their own cellars, garages or store rooms, or excavate old bunkers, while housebuilders will be legally obliged to include safe shelters in new homes as Poland has already done. The Frankfurter Allgemeiner newspaper this month revealed details of a 1,000-page army document aimed at German businesses advising them, for example, to train extra lorry drivers but containing civil preparedness recommendations for individuals. This article was amended on 29 November 2024 to quote Boris Pistorius as using the term kriegstuchtig, rather than kriegsfahig, and to better translate this as war-capable. Islamist insurgents have entered Syrias second city of Aleppo in a shock assault, eight years after forces loyal to Damascus seized control of the city. Fighters from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) began a major offensive earlier this week from their base in the Idlib countryside, a slim strip of land in Syrias north-west. It took only three days for the fighting to reach Aleppo, with insurgents capturing territory around the citys outskirts for the first time in four years as Syrian government forces pummelled rebel-held areas. Turkeys Anadolu state news agency reported on Friday afternoon that the insurgents had entered Aleppo, while unverified images and video circulating online showed armoured vehicles and armed uniformed militants on its streets. The Associated Press said residents reported hearing missiles striking its outskirts. Jihadists and allied factions have taken control of half of the city of Aleppo, Rami Abdul Rahman, the director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor, told Agence France-Presse early on Saturday, adding: There has been no fighting, not a single shot was fired, as regime forces withdrew. Syrian authorities closed Aleppo airport as well as all roads leading into the city on Saturday, Reuters reported, citing three military sources. The fighting over the last three days had killed 27 civilians, including eight children, David Carden, the UN deputy regional humanitarian coordinator for the Syria crisis, told Reuters. The rebels have rapidly recaptured dozens of towns and villages in the Aleppo countryside, seizing a military base, weaponry and tanks from Syrian government forces, while some Turkish-backed Syrian rebel groups based elsewhere in north-west Syria joined the fighting. The UN said Syrian government forces based in Damascus carried out at least 125 airstrikes and shelled areas across Idlib and western Aleppo controlled by the rebels in response to the offensive, killing at least 12 civilians and wounding 46 others, and displacing 14,000 people. Syria has been promised extra Russian military aid to help the army thwart the assault, two Syrian military sources told Reuters on Saturday. Damascus expects new Russian military hardware to start arriving at Russias Hmeimim airbase near Syrias coastal city of Latakia in the next 72 hours, the sources added. HTS said on Friday that it had captured four more towns including Mansoura, five miles from the centre of Aleppo. Syrias state news agency said four civilians were killed inside student accommodation in the city when it was struck by projectiles from insurgent forces. The regimes lines of defence have crumbled, I think they were taken aback. No one anticipated how fast the rebels would reach towards the edge of Aleppo, said Dareen Khalifa, of the nonprofit International Crisis Group. She added that it remained unclear whether the rebel forces would be able to hold the swath of captured territory, or how Russian forces backing the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Damascus may respond. Turkeys foreign ministry called for calm in the region around Idlib, demanding an end to the strikes on the area. It is of utmost importance for Turkey that yet another and greater instability is avoided and civilians are not harmed, it said. A popular uprising against Assads rule in 2011 was violently quashed and descended into a bloody civil war that has gripped the country for more than a decade. Assad has maintained a fragile grip on power with backing from Russia and Iran. The battle for Aleppo in 2016, in which forces loyal to Damascus regained control of the city, marked a watershed moment for Assads control of the country. A delicate balance of power in Syria has been increasingly tested over the past year, however, amid increasing regional fallout from Israels battle with the Iranian proxy group Hamas in Gaza. Israel has dramatically escalated airstrikes against Iranian forces stationed on the ground in Syria, carrying out more than 116 strikes on Syrian territory, according to the UN, and killing more than 100 people, while recent fighting in Lebanon has forced 500,000 people to flee into neighbouring Syria. The increasing Israeli strikes have put Iranian forces in Syria on the defensive, allowing rebels to exploit a moment where various proxy forces backing Assad are more engaged elsewhere. Khalifa said Moscow remained focused primarily on the fighting in Ukraine. The Russians are distracted in Ukraine. They are less invested politically if not military in Syria, she said. Its difficult to tell what the result of this offensive is going to be. The rebels think the other side is vulnerable, and they have leverage. The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said on Friday that Moscow regarded the rebel attack as a violation of Syrias sovereignty and wanted the authorities to act fast to regain control. Turkey, which backs rebel groups along Syrias northern border but has sought recently to normalise relations with Assad, is yet to publicly intervene in the latest round of fighting. HTS said it would target Iranian forces fighting alongside Syrian government troops as part of the latest offensive. Irans Tasnim news agency said a commander from the Revolutionary Guards was killed in western Aleppo late this week. The fighting and airstrikes appeared to paralyse much of the fragile network of services across rebel-held territory in Idlib, forcing the closure of health services and other infrastructure that sustain millions seeking shelter there. JJ O Dochartaigh, a member of Belfast-based rap group Kneecap, arrives at Belfast High Court - Mark Marlow/PA Taxpayers will foot the bill of an anti-UK Irish music groups legal victory over a decision by Kemi Badenoch to refuse them funding. Rap trio Kneecap won its discrimination case as the Government conceded its original refusal had been unlawful. The outspoken band which celebrated taking from the Kings stash had launched legal action claiming the decision to refuse the grant discriminated against it on grounds of nationality and political opinion. The Conservative leader, who was business secretary at the time, denied the 14,250 grant despite an application to the Music Export Growth Scheme (MEGS) being approved by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in February. Liam Og O hAnnaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh from West Belfast, attended the brief hearing at Belfast High Court on Friday the last pulling out in a kitted-out Royal Ulster Constabulary Land Rover. Reading an agreed statement, Ronan Lavery KC, barrister for Kneecap, said: It is declared that the decision is unlawful, procedurally unfair, took into account immaterial considerations and failed to take into account relevant factors. It was agreed that the sum of 14,250 would be paid by the Government to the group. The group is known for its provocative lyrics and merchandise - Luke Brennan/Getty Mrs Badenoch accused the Government of a cowardly decision for reaching an agreement with Kneecap. A spokesman for the Tory leader said: It is unbelievable Labour has chosen not to pursue this case yet another cowardly decision after giving away the Chagos Islands. Labour will always capitulate rather than defend UK interests. This case is not about whether a band promotes violence or hates the UK, as Kneecap clearly does; this is about whether government ministers have the ability to stop taxpayers money subsidising people who neither need nor deserve it. The spokesman said the Government would rather waste your money that stand up to a band that goes to court because the UK Government wont hand it cash. In February, a government spokesman said it fully supported freedom of speech, but that it was hardly surprising that it did not want to hand out taxpayers money to those opposed to the UK. The group, which formed in 2017, is known for its provocative lyrics and merchandise. JJ O Dochartaigh, whose stage name is DJ Provai, often appears wearing a balaclava in the colours of the Irish tricolour. The former teacher wore it to court and as he addressed crowds of people outside after their victory. In a statement after the victory, the band said its motivation was not money but equality. This was an attack on artistic culture, an attack on the Good Friday Agreement itself and an attack on Kneecap, it said. They dont like that we oppose British rule, that we dont believe that England serves anyone in Ireland and the working classes on both sides of the community deserve better; deserve funding, deserve appropriate mental health services, deserve to celebrate music and art and deserve the freedom to express our culture. They broke their own laws in trying to silence Kneecap. It referenced a beautiful 2019 tour poster artwork of Boris Johnson on a rocket not being liked. They didnt like our views, in particular our opposition to the United Kingdom itself and our belief in a United Ireland, which is our right to do, they added. They have tried to silence us and they have failed. The group said it was giving the sum away to two youth clubs, from the Protestant and Catholic communities. A statement from the Department for Business and Trade said: This Governments priority is to try and reduce costs and help protect the taxpayer from further expense, so we will not continue to contest Kneecaps challenge as we do not believe it is in the public interest. The music industry is the heart and soul of our economy and we are committed to helping acts continue to thrive and break into new markets, including through our MEGS programme, which has helped around 400 artists tour the globe. Alex Salmonds death leaves a huge gap in the lives of many - Shutterstock/Robert Perry It is entirely fitting that a politician of Alex Salmonds reputation should be honoured on Saturday by a memorial service at whats regarded as Scotlands principal kirk, St Giles in Edinburgh. He deserves it. I say that as someone who seldom, if ever, agreed with the man I generally referred to as Wee Eck, after that character in the Sunday Post newspaper. He knew I wasnt being complimentary; after all Salmond wasnt wee, either in stature or political standing. But he never complained; instead, after initially calling me on account of my age and experience the doyen of Scottish political reporting, he treated me ultimately with outright disdain, bordering on contempt. And, to return the compliment, it didnt bother me one bit. He was never in any doubt that he would eventually win an election and become first minister; in fact he told me so saying that all oppositions eventually win and become the government. And so he did, in 2007. We dogged each others footsteps all the way from my return to Scotland in 1994, through his initial reluctance and then enthusiasm for the idea of a devolved parliament, until we parted company with his defeat by David Cameron in the 2014 referendum. It might have been narrow in numbers but it was devastating in its effect on him. Shattering defeat He didnt really believe that Cameron was a worthy opponent but he was wrong as the prime minister united every aspect and sinew of the Union including the recruitment of Alistair Darling, former Labour chancellor to beat him. Defeat, when he was so close to victory, shattered him and his status withered dramatically as he became merely a bit player on the political stage. Scotland then had to witness the wholly unedifying spectacle of Salmond and his former protege Nicola Sturgeon knocking lumps off each other in a bitter and, at times, ferocious personal war. A sensational court case that in spite of seeing him acquitted of 13 charges alleging sexual assault did nothing for his reputation, especially given some of the lurid evidence about his behaviour. However, there is no doubt whatsoever that his absence from the fray has belittled the political scene in Scotland. Those he left behind in the SNP are pygmies when compared with Alex Salmond. His outright admirers will probably agree with his own belief in himself that he deserved a better fate than the relative obscurity that had become his lot at the time of his death. But Wee Ecks downfall was both political and personal, which I am sure or at least I hope his mourners accept. He worked no miracles, broke no moulds but fully deserves his place in the political history of his country. Alex Salmonds death leaves a huge gap in the lives of many, especially his family. But mourners should not lose sight of the fact that he was human, with perhaps more than his share of human frailties. However, he did not achieve his dearest political wish of an independent Scotland. And today, without him, that objective looks further away than ever. The group were advised that the no fees claim wasnt representative of the majority of pupils A number of leading London private schools have been forced to withdraw advertisements that claim they offer education with no fees. The London Fee Assistance Consortium (LFAC), which is made up of 24 top private schools in the capital, has been told to alter an advertising campaign to include caveats about scholarship and bursary eligibility. The original advert stated Top London schools. No fees but now reads Top London independent schools can be free, with an asterisk linking to terms and conditions. The group, which was founded more than a decade ago, has run adverts on the Tube, billboards, social media and in local newspapers for the past three years. The adverts wording was changed after a member of the public complained to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) that the claim was misleading and was first reported by news website London Centric. They alleged that the original advert amounted to a public relations campaign for the private schools, which include top institutions such as Harrow, Westminster School and Latymer Upper School. Around 6 per cent of Harrow students receive full assistance with their fees - LFAC It gives the impression that the schools offer full fee assistance to a significant number of pupils and are actively recruiting students who cannot afford to pay. They arent, the complainant added. Michael Bond, the chairman of the LFAC, said the group was told by the advertising regulator to either pull the adverts or formally challenge the complaint. He said that the group were advised the complaint would probably be upheld if LFAC chose to appeal since the no fees claim wasnt representative of the majority of pupils. Although the groups 24 London private schools offer a wide range of scholarships and bursaries, most only provide 100 per cent fee assistance to a small number of pupils. Of the schools that publicly disclose the proportion of students on full bursaries or scholarships, full fee assistance applies to around 4 per cent of students. The figure is higher at some other institutions such as Harrow School, where the 53,550-a-year fees are fully covered for 49 out of a total 820 pupils, which amounts to around 6 per cent. Fine print added to the new LFAC advert explains that eligibility criteria will apply. LFACs website also states that free or subsidised places are only available to children who do well in their entrance exams, but whose families may need support to pay the fees. Westminster School is one of 24 schools that make up the London Fee Assistance Consortium - Vladislav Zolotov Mr Bond told The Telegraph he was disappointed after being made to change the advert. He said the group was created to raise awareness that members and many other independent schools up and down the country offer fully-funded places to families whose children would thrive in our settings but whose financial circumstances would make paying fees impossible. Brentwood School in Essex, an LFAC member of which Mr Bond is head teacher, counts 70 children whose fees are paid for in full, plus a further 50 with significant financial support. Mr Bond suggested that the Governments plan to hit private schools with VAT from Jan 1 would place pressure on each schools ability to offer scholarships and bursaries. LFAC is not directly funded, but instead relies on the support of its members. Last year, we spent around 2.4 million supporting families in this way, and we along with other LFAC members are determined to maintain the offer of transformative bursaries that aid social mobility, despite the Governments attack on the independent sector in the form of VAT on fees and the removal of business rates relief, Mr Bond said. Independent schools want to be [and are] part of the solution to not the problem with our education system and we hope the Government will respond to the sectors efforts to engage, rather than continue down a path that will have devastating consequences for many children. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called Russias massive attack on energy infrastructure a very despicable escalation of Russian terrorist tactics. The overnight barrage that left more than half a million in Ukraines western Lviv region cut off from electricity. Another 280,000 in the western Rivne region and 215,000 in the north-western Volyn region also lost power, officials said. Ukraines emergency services said the Russian strikes inflicted damage in 14 regions across the country, with the nations west hard-hit. Zelenskyy said that Russia had also fired cluster munitions during the attack. Zelenskyy urging his allies to respond firmly to what he dubbed Russian blackmail. Russian president Vladimir Putin said the bombardment was a response to Ukrainian strikes on his territory with western missiles. Putin also threatened to strike Kyiv with Oreshnik missiles, an intermediate-range weapon that Moscow used against the city of Dnipro last week and that Putin has claimed cannot be shot down by any air defence system. Of course, we will respond to the ongoing strikes on Russian territory with long-range western-made missiles, as has already been said, including by possibly continuing to test the Oreshnik in combat conditions, as was done on November 21, Putin told leaders of a security alliance of ex-Soviet countries at a summit in Kazakhstan. At present, the Ministry of Defence and the General Staff are selecting targets to hit on Ukrainian territory. These could be military facilities, defence and industrial enterprises, or decision-making centres in Kyiv, he said. Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the Ukrainian president, described Putins claim that air defence systems could not take out Oreshnik missiles as fiction, of course. He said the Oreshnik was simply a lightly modified version of existing Russian intercontinental ballistic missiles, adding that Putin had made similar claims about the Kinzhal missile until they were shot down by Patriot air defence systems. Polish prime minister Donald Tusk said Putins threat to strike Kyiv was a testament to weakness, adding that the west would not be deterred by his words. Joe Biden has said the attack on Ukraines energy infrastructure showed the urgency of backing Kyiv, touting strong support ahead of Donald Trump taking office in January. This attack is outrageous and serves as yet another reminder of the urgency and importance of supporting the Ukrainian people in their defence against Russian aggression, Biden said in a statement. Trump is widely expected to bring a policy shift towards Ukraine, which has received almost $60bn from Washington for its armed forces since Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022. Donald Trumps plan to tap the retired US Lt Gen Keith Kellogg as US envoy to Ukraine and Russia has triggered renewed interest in a policy document he co-wrote that proposes ending the war by withdrawing weapons from Ukraine if it doesnt enter peace talks and giving even more weapons to Ukraine if Russia doesnt do the same. Students have complained saying they are being treated like blithering idiots The University of Cambridge students are being told how to walk down stairs by new health and safety advice. Posters at the university show a man with a phone in his hand who has seemingly fallen down the stairs. The accompanying text reads: Pay attention when using the stairs. Heads up, phones down! Dont be the next accident. Thank you for not using your phone. The poster has a QR code added where students can report an incident - Tracey Duffield/Bav Media A QR code has even been added that links to a website where students can report an accident or near miss. Undergraduates have complained saying they are being treated like blithering idiots. Student Gennaro Dello Ioio told The Sun: Why would anybody report a near miss episode of staircase use? Hi, I just saw this guy who was using his phone while going down the stairs, he tripped, and almost fell. Will the university immediately send its police to arrest him? Another added: Utter woke gibberish. Why are they treating the cleverest young people in the UK like blithering idiots? A spokesman from the university said: Some may find them amusing but they were put up following a number of accidents, and near misses, where people were using phones as they descended stairs. The university takes the health and safety of its staff and students seriously. It is the latest in a string of university advice to be criticised. The University of Reading faced backlash this month for putting a trigger warning on the human body to avoid upsetting biology students. Fridays vote by British MPs in favour of legalising assisted dying is the first step towards landmark legislation that would mean terminally ill adults wishing to end their lives can legally be helped to do so in England and Wales for the first time. The vote passed by 330 votes to 275, a clear but not overwhelming margin, reflecting the often passionately held positions on each side of the debate. Campaigners in favour of the change had argued that the legislation offered a rare opportunity to give choice and dignity to people who wanted to end their own lives, under strictly limited circumstances. But many of those who had opposed it expressed fears that it could allow vulnerable people to be coerced into opting for an early death. Others had argued that efforts should instead be directed to improving palliative and end of life care. Related: The power behind the vote for assisted dying? Ordinary people The vote is a watershed in what has been an intensely debated subject in the UK for decades. Polls show a majority of the public support legalising the measure. The bill passed by MPs proposes that terminally ill adults who are expected to die within six months and wish to hasten their death can be helped to do so by a doctor. Those supporting the bill insist it includes tough safeguards to prevent sick people being put under pressure to end their own lives. Under the proposals, a person living in England or Wales who wants to be helped to end their life must be over 18, be expected to die within six months and have the mental capacity to decide. They must make two separate declarations, witnessed and signed, about their wish to die, to the satisfaction of two independent doctors and a high court judge. While a doctor would prepare the substance being used to end life, the person would have to take or administer it themselves. It would be illegal to pressurise someone to take this step, with a penalty of up to 14 years in prison. The legislation does not apply in Scotland or Northern Ireland. The vote was introduced not as part of the governments business but as a private members bill. This is a lottery system by which MPs are able to propose measures that fall outside the governments agenda if their names are drawn at the top of a ballot. Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP behind the bill, came first in the ballot in September. While most private members bills go nowhere, Leadbeater opted to propose a measure on which MPs last voted in 2015 then, a previous assisted dying bill was comprehensively rejected. She has compared the campaign for assisted dying to the push to allow a woman the right to choose an abortion, arguing that terminally ill people should be given similar autonomy over their bodies. The landmark 1967 Abortion Act, which legalised abortion in Britain with limitations, was also introduced as a private members bill. It was a free vote, meaning individual MPs were allowed to vote according to their conscience, rather than along party lines communicated by a government whip. The prime minister, Keir Starmer, voted in favour, but the deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, the health secretary, Wes Streeting, and other cabinet ministers opposed it. The opposition Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, who voted against, had said she supported assisted dying in principle but could not back the current proposals. Most MPs from the ruling Labour party 234 out of 402 voted in favour, but only 23 Conservative MPs out of 121 did so; the previous prime minister, Rishi Sunak, was among them. The vote does not mean the matter is now law. Rather the passing of the second reading of the bill which, despite its name, is the first time representatives have been able to debate and vote on it in parliament means the proposal passes to the committee stage, the next step of the parliamentary process, at which each clause is examined carefully and any amendments can be debated. This will not happen before next spring. The bill will then be put to another MPs vote in the House of Commons before, if passing again, going to the House of Lords. As the law stands at present, assisting a suicide is illegal in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. While it is not explicitly a crime in Scotland, helping someone to die could lead to a charge of culpable homicide. The state has declined to prosecute in some cases, however, leading to uncertainty for terminally ill people who want to choose how and when to die. In 2010, Starmer at the time the director of public prosecutions or chief public prosecutor for England and Wales said it was not in the public interest to prosecute a doctor, Michael Irwin, who travelled with a patient to the Dignitas clinic in Zurich where he ended his life. Campaigners have long argued that a parliamentary vote was needed to end the legal ambiguity. A bitterly-fought climate finance deal reached at COP29 risks weakening emissions-cutting plans from developing countries, observers say, further raising the stakes for new national commitments due early next year. The UN climate talks in Azerbaijan, which concluded last Sunday, were considered crucial to boosting climate action across huge swathes of the world after what will almost certainly be the hottest year on record. Beginning days after the re-election of climate sceptic Donald Trump as US president, and with countries weighed down by economic concerns, the negotiations were tough-fought from the start and at one point seemed close to collapse. Wealthy polluters ultimately agreed to find at least $300 billion a year by 2035 to help poorer nations transition to cleaner energy and prepare for increasing climate impacts such as extreme weather. But it was slammed by developing nations as too little, too late. Taking the floor just after the deal was approved, Nigeria's representative Nkiruka Maduekwe dismissed the funding on offer as a "joke", suggesting it would undermine national climate plans due early next year. "$300 billion is unrealistic," she said. "Let us tell ourselves the truth." Current climate plans, even if implemented in full, would see the world warm a devastating 2.6 degrees Celsius this century, the United Nations has said, blasting past the internationally agreed limit of 1.5C since the pre-industrial era. A next round of national pledges is due in February and will cover the period to 2035, which scientists say is critical for curbing warming. Mohamed Adow of Power Shift Africa, a Kenya-based think tank, said the COP29 talks produced not just a "low-ball" figure, but a delivery date of 2035 that falls at the end of the range for climate plans. This "will certainly constrain the ability of developing countries to pledge ambitious emission cuts", he told AFP, calling for an improved goal and other measures, like debt relief and technology support. Global emissions need to be reducing by more than seven percent every year "to avoid unmanageable global outcomes as the world breaches the 1.5C limit", said Johan Rockstrom of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. "Our only chance is full focus on financing and implementing emission cuts now." Yet carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels -- the main driver of global warming -- are still rising, according to the Global Carbon Project. The COP29 deal acknowledged that lower income countries will need some $1.3 trillion annually to pay for their energy transition and build up their resilience to future climate impacts. Details of how to bridge the $1 trillion funding gap remain vague, but it would likely require a major effort to attract money from private investors, development banks and other sources. Other ideas include raising money through pollution tariffs, a wealth tax or ending fossil fuel subsidies. Friederike Roder of campaign group Global Citizen said discontent over COP29 piles pressure on countries to come up with concrete suggestions before the next climate meeting in Brazil in November 2025. That would "help rebuild some of the trust and give confidence to countries to come forward with ambitious targets", she told AFP. So far only a handful of countries -- recent and future COP hosts Britain, the UAE and Brazil -- have unveiled new climate plans. Observers say many other nations are now unlikely to meet the February deadline, as governments grapple with shifting political and economic situations. The new year will see a new Trump administration in the White House, with potentially sweeping implications for international trade and US climate policy. Germany, Canada and Australia will all hold elections in which conservatives less supportive of green policies stand a chance of victory. With the United States retreating from climate diplomacy, the relationship between China and the EU will likely become "the best source of momentum" on climate, said Li Shuo, director of the China climate hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute. One positive takeaway from COP29, he added, was early evidence of a willingness to work together, despite the trade rivalry between Beijing and Brussels. A lack of progress on emissions at COP29 has also caused alarm over stalling efforts on curbing warming. But Catherine Abreu, director of the International Climate Politics Hub, said the rejection of a watered down text on the subject this year meant national climate plans should still reflect last year's COP28 pledge to move away from planet-heating fossil fuels. It is small consolation. "Here we are in the hottest year on record. The impacts are enormous," she said. Bob Lambert vanished from his sons life two years after his birth, the inquiry heard, and made no effort to contact him for 24 years. Photograph: Unknown A woman has been absolutely ruined after discovering by chance that the father of her son was an undercover police officer, more than two decades after their child was born, a public inquiry has heard. The woman, known as Jacqui, described how the undercover officer, Bob Lambert, fathered their son and then vanished two years after his birth, claiming to be on the run from the police. She told the undercover policing inquiry that Lambert had told her lie after lie, leaving her to uncover the truth by accident when she read an article about him in the media. She has been deeply traumatised and has undergone hours of therapy. She said she had become reclusive, adding: Everything about my life has just been absolutely ruined I dont really have a life any more. Jacqui gave evidence on Thursday about Lambert, a central figure in the spy cops scandal. He was part of a secret Scotland Yard squad that spied on political activists. Between 1984 and 1989, he went undercover to infiltrate animal rights and anarchist campaigners. During his deployment, he had sexual relationships with Jacqui and at least three other women without disclosing to them that he was a police spy and was married with two children. He is also accused of carrying out an arson attack on a branch of Debenhams while pretending to campaign against the fur trade. He denies the claim. In the 1990s, he became a senior manager in the squad at a time when its undercover officers deceived women into intimate relationships. Lambert was awarded a commendation for his undercover deployment and an MBE for his police work. Lambert is due to be questioned next week by the inquiry. Sir John Mitting, a retired judge, is examining the conduct of about 139 undercover police officers who spied on tens of thousands of mainly leftwing activists between 1968 and 2010. Jacqui told the inquiry that she found Lambert captivating when they met in 1984. She was a young animal rights campaigner at the time. Shortly after starting their relationship, she told Lambert on many occasions that she very much wanted a baby. They were having unprotected sex, and Lambert never mentioned contraception, she said. When she told him she was pregnant, he seemed to be happy, Jacqui said. She described how Lambert watched her give birth to their son in an intimate experience one she did not know she was sharing with an undercover officer who had been deployed to spy on her and other animal rights activists. Jacqui said the registration of their sons birth was a fiasco as Lambert invented reasons to make sure that he was not named as the father on the birth certificate. She described him as a hands-on and devoted father after their son was born, changing his nappies, bathing him and bringing him gifts. He contributed financially. She said he seemed distraught when their relationship ended in 1987. She had become irritated with him as he was claiming to live an off-grid anti-capitalist lifestyle while she struggled financially. The following year, Lambert told her and other activists that he had to flee to Spain as the police were on the verge of arresting him for committing crimes to further animal rights campaigns. This was a false story that enabled him to disappear at the end of his covert deployment without raising suspicions. He actually went to work at Scotland Yard. For the next 24 years, he vanished from the lives of Jacqui and their son, and made no effort to contact them. In 2012, she saw by chance a photograph of Lambert in the Daily Mail newspaper, identifying him as a former undercover officer. Within 24 hours, she tracked him down as he worked as an academic at St Andrews University. Zelensky Credit: Sky News Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday night that he was willing to cede territory to Russia to end the war for the first time. The Ukrainian president said his country could give up land temporarily in exchange for a Nato umbrella over the territory Ukraine still holds. He added that after a ceasefire was agreed, Kyiv could diplomatically negotiate the return of the territory in the east that is currently under Russian control. If we want to stop the hot stage of the war, we should take under [the] Nato umbrella the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control, Zelensky said in an interview with Sky News. Thats what we need to do fast, and then Ukraine can get back the other part of its territory diplomatically, he added. The comments represent a considerable shift in his position. Kyiv has previously said it would continue to fight Russia until Ukraine was returned to its internationally recognised borders, which include the four regions annexed by Vladimir Putin in 2022, as well as Crimea. The shift comes as Donald Trump prepares to take office with a promise to end the war on day one. Meanwhile, support for a peace deal is also growing among European allies. Under plans floated by Mr Trumps team, a peace deal would see the current front line frozen in place, and Ukraine agreeing to shelve its ambitions to join Nato for 20 years. If agreed, the US would pump Ukraine with weapons to deter future Russian aggression. The Ukranian presidents position has shifted as Donald Trump prepares to take office Mr Zelensky hinted in his interview that the Nato umbrella would not be full membership of Nato, something Putin has rejected as part of any peace deal. Rather, it could mean Nato member states, including Britain, the US, France and Germany, providing individual security guarantees to Ukraine. Asked in the interview whether Kyiv would be willing to give up territory to Moscow altogether in exchange for full Nato membership, he said: No one has offered us to be in Nato with just one part or another part of Ukraine. He added that it could be possible, but no one offered. He later said he would be willing to consider ceding the Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine in exchange for the free parts of Ukraine to be brought under the Nato umbrella. The inauguration of the Mr Trump on January 20 is expected to accelerate talks over how to end the war. Mr Trump is thought to be considering a plan that would call on European and British troops to enforce an 800-mile buffer zone between the Russian and Ukrainian armies as part of a plan to end the war. Speaking to The Telegraph this week, Boris Johnson, the former prime minister, said that British troops should help defend Ukraines border as part of any peace deal. He said that any responsibility to guard a future ceasefire line between Ukraine and Russia should be given to a multinational group of European peacekeeping forces. I dont think we should be sending in combat troops to take on the Russians, he told the Telegraphs Ukraine: The Latest podcast. But I think as part of the solution, as part of the end state, youre going to want to have multinational European peacekeeping forces monitoring the border [and] helping the Ukrainians. I cannot see that such a European operation could possibly happen without the British. Mr Johnson said Western countries should make clear what security guarantees would be offered to Ukraine as part of any peace deal, to ensure Russia could not simply re-arm and attack again after a few years. Mr Zelensky switched to English in the latter part of his interview and suggested that other countries had unofficially proposed a ceasefire agreement between Ukraine and Russia. A lot of different countries proposed a ceasefire, he said. The question is, ceasefire where? He went on to say that if a ceasefire was agreed, it must guarantee that Putin will not come back. We need [Nato protection] very much, otherwise [Putin] will come back. Otherwise, how are we going to go to a ceasefire? So for us, its very dangerous. Downing Street declined to say whether the Prime Minister knew about Louise Haighs criminal conviction and said that further information had come to light before her resignation. Ms Haigh resigned as Transport Secretary after it emerged she pleaded guilty to a criminal offence related to incorrectly telling police that a work mobile phone was stolen in 2013. It is understood the incident was disclosed to Sir Keir Starmer when she joined the shadow cabinet. But Sir Keirs spokesman repeatedly told journalists on Friday her resignation came after new information emerged. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Louise Haigh, who has resigned as Transport Secretary (Owen Humphreys/PA) Following further information emerging, the Prime Minister has accepted Louise Haighs resignation, the spokesman said. He did not confirm whether Sir Keir had known about the conviction or specify what the new information was. Asked if the PM believed Ms Haigh was completely candid when she was appointed to his shadow cabinet, the spokesman said he would not get into individual conversations. He repeated that ministers are expected to adhere to the ministerial code, but did not say how the ministerial code applied to Ms Haighs resignation. Asked whether she was asked to resign or offered to, he said: She resigned. The Prime Minister has accepted her resignation and she has acknowledged that the issue will inevitably be a distraction on delivering the work of Government, he said. Swindon South MP Heidi Alexander has been appointed to replace Ms Haigh as Transport Secretary. New Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander(PA) Ms Haigh said that she was mugged in London and gave police a list of stolen possessions, including a work phone, when she reported the incident. She said she later found the phone was still in her house. In a letter to Sir Keir Starmer, she said: I should have immediately informed my employer and not doing so straight away was a mistake. I appreciate that whatever the facts of the matter, this issue will inevitably be a distraction from delivering on the work of this government and the policies to which we are both committed. Ms Haigh pleaded guilty in court over the incident on the advice of a solicitor and magistrates gave her the lowest possible outcome, she said in a statement. It is understood that the offence was fraud by false representation and that the conviction is now spent. Ms Haighs employer at the time, Aviva, launched an investigation after she said that company mobile phones had been stolen or had gone missing on repeated occasions, the Times reported. However, a source close to Ms Haigh disputed that multiple phones were involved. She resigned from her job at Aviva, it is understood. Ms Haigh does not believe a parliamentary colleague was behind the details of the conviction becoming public, the source said. Ms Haigh has been Sheffield Heeley MP since 2015 and held a number of shadow ministerial and shadow cabinet roles before becoming Transport Secretary when Labour won the election in July. Before she entered politics she spent time as a special constable. Nature is red of tooth and claw, as the old saying goes. But also, it is red of beak, as the skillful predatory instincts of so many bird species prove. When one thinks of ruthless avian hunters, the bird species that come most readily o mind are raptors like hawks, eagles, owls and ospreys. But dont forget pelicans in their number. They can be bold and vicious too. View the original article to see embedded media. In this video a pelican flies up behind an osprey who has just caught a fish and, in a stunning move, manages to wrest the tasty morsel from the raptors taloned grip. Related: Photographers Footage of Mama Osprey Protecting Her Babies in Florida Storm Is Majestic Writes photographer Mark Smith, who managed to capture this exciting clip: The pelicans have been extra bold lately, trying their hardest to snatch a free meal from the ospreys. They are rarely successful, but this time the pelican managed a very clever sneak attack from behind. Though pelicans are fully capable of fishing for themselves, this group of pelicans in Florida have apparently taken to harassing and shaking down the ospreys and trying to steal their catch. Of course, it was only luck that he was able to catch the osprey at a vulnerable moment. The osprey, thinking it was free and clear, tried to shake off the water weight from the dive, and that little pause was all it took for the hungry pelican to close the gap and its gaping maw around the ospreys catch, writes the photographer. Its crazy out there sometimes. The whole thing happens so quickly that the fish is still wriggling inside the gullet of the pelican once hes landed back in the water. What a dramatic meal! All About Pelicans Brown pelicans are a small species of pelican found with great regularity along Atlantic coastline from New Jersey down into South America and also throughout the Gulf region and all over the Caribbean. They gather in large flocks, breed monogamously, and subsist almost entirely on fish. Pelicans are notable for their large throat pouch which they use to scoop fish up out of the water. They also have webbed feet which help them paddle through the water. Though skillful hunters themselves, this pelican is not the only bird of its species who has been witnessed stealing food from ospreys. This fish piracy between birds is in fact a commonly occurring phenomenon. All About Ospreys Ospreys are one of the most widespread species of raptor, living all over the world where there is a large body of water with an adequate food society. Traditionally known as the seal hawk or river hawk, the osprey is a brown and white raptor who lives on fish and had a variety of body modification s that make it particularly suited for its lifestyle. Its plumage is oily and water-resistant to help it from becoming waterlogged. (In fact, the bird in this video is shaking water from its feathers, which slows it down enough for the pelican to make its move.) Ospreys also have barbs on their talons to help them hang on to fish that they have caught, as well as extra joints to help them hold their talons spread wide to grab fish of many sizes and shapes. But though catching may be easykeeping their catch might be harder, especially with pelicans lying in wait. Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips. Volodymyr Zelensky has suggested that Ukrainian territory under his control should be taken under the Nato umbrella to try and stop the hot stage of the war with Russia. Speaking to Sky News, the Ukrainian leader said that such a proposal has never been considered by Ukraine because it has never officially been offered. Speaking via a translation transmitted by Sky News, Mr Zelensky said: If we want to stop the hot stage of the war, we should take under Nato umbrella the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control. Volodymyr Zelensky is greeted by Sir Keir Starmer as he arrives in Downing Street ahead of meetings with the Prime Minister and Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte (Jonathan Brady/PA) Thats what we need to do fast, and then Ukraine can get back the other part of its territory diplomatically. This proposal has never been considered by Ukraine because no one has ever offered that to us officially. In the same interview, Mr Zelensky also said that any invitation should be given within its internationally recognised border, you cant give invitation to just one part of a country. Last month Mr Zelensky revealed a victory plan. The Associated Press reported that the plan to win his countrys fight against Russias invasion could bring peace next year, he said, but it contains a step that some crucial western allies have so far refused to countenance: inviting Ukraine to join Nato before the war ends. The interview comes in the same week that Russian drone and missile attacks have hit civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, leaving more than a million people without heat and power in freezing temperatures. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer discussed the attacks with Mr Zelensky in a call on Thursday. Downing Street said the leaders discussed the egregious Russian missile strike in the early hours of this morning, which had deprived more than a million people of heat, light and electricity. The Prime Minister described the systemic attacks on Ukraines energy sector as depraved, No 10 said. Following reports that a fresh consignment of Storm Shadow missiles have been sent to Kyiv, Mr Zelensky said in his call with Sir Keir we discussed advancing our defence cooperation and strengthening Ukraines long-range capabilities. "When I was doing social media, it was almost like I was playing a character," Warren tells PEOPLE exclusively of evolving his on-screen successes to the stage Hunter Moreno/Courtesy of Atlantic Records Alex Warren Alex Warren continues to strike a chord. If you thought you knew the viral content creator-turned-chart-topping musician who first came onto the scene on social media five years ago, think again because the person you hear on stage is "not" who you saw on screen. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Warren who recently wrapped his global headline Youll Be Alright, Kid Tour in support of his recently released debut album opened up about why he's pursuing a career in music while reflecting on his viral career trajectory that led him here. "It's definitely really trippy," Warren, 24, tells PEOPLE when thinking back about all that he's accomplished in his life to date, going from being homeless at age 17 and sleeping in friends cars to his current rise to stardom as a multi-talented musical artist. "I don't really look back much," he admits. Related: All the Details from Musician Alex Warren and Kouvr Annon's Romantic Garden Wedding (Exclusive) Hunter Moreno/Courtesy of Atlantic Records Alex Warren Why? Because the California native says he "still" hasn't "accomplished" what he envisions for himself. "I think I'll know where I want to be after a few albums," he foresees, explaining how his music has always stemmed from his personal life experiences, including loss and love. "I'm still finding out who I am. I'm 24. I just got married," he says of tying the knot with his longtime love Kouvr in July. "I want to have kids. I want to write songs about my kids. I want to do all these things," he shares, noting that the goal has "nothing to do" with "how big of a show" he wants to play. That, in part, is because the artist considers music "an outlet" to express himself. "It's always been for me... It's therapy," shares Warren, who often pens lyrics to cope with losing both of his parents. "Ever since I turned 12 or 13, I turned towards music to help me with grieving the loss of my dad." Related: Hype House Stars Kouvr Annon and Alex Warren Tie the Knot in Outdoor Ceremony in California: 'My Best Friend' Hunter Moreno/Courtesy of Atlantic Records Alex Warren That's around the time he wrote "One More I Love You," which went on to become his debut single released in 2021. "It was just a way for me to feel and still is today," he says of songwriting. "I think I would be a fully messed-up, different person if I didn't have an outlet like music." The vulnerability and full transparency that is displayed in both Warren's music and famously, the unscripted banter he has with fans on stage between songs is his candid way of effortlessly connecting with his audience in a style that he hasn't ever done before. Warren compared his showmanship today to the performance he gave his million-plus following on social media, particularly seen in the videos he'd create as a member of the viral Hype House. The content creation mecca, which later spawned a show on Netflix, allowed creators to film together. Michael Loccisano/Getty Alex Warren performs onstage during iHeartMedia New York Z100's Summer Bash at Hudson Yards in August 2024 in New York City "When I was doing social media, it was almost like I was playing a character. I feel like a lot of what I was doing was kind of not fake, but it was definitely not me," admits Warren. "And music was the first time that I had ever put out me." Warren reveals he was "terrified to show people who I was" at the time by sharing all that he's "gone through" in life. "I'm okay with them hating a character," he says of his past self, though adds, "But when I give them all of me and I give them the real me, I'm terrified that people won't like it." He continues, "And when I came out with music, that was the first time I had completely been like, 'Hey, this is me.' And people liked it. I didn't see one hate comment out of millions of people, and that was the first time for me. Really cool." Hunter Moreno/Courtesy of Atlantic Records Alex Warren Warren left the Hype House in 2022. "It wasn't leaving the house that drove me to do music. I did music and doing music is what drove me to leave the house," he makes clear, noting that music was always part of his life but creating comedy videos online "immediately" racked up the views. "I tried to be a musician for so long but never saw success and the one second I tried to do comedy, it immediately worked for me," he explains of why he leaned in. "I worked so hard to get to where I was, I was afraid of committing to it because I never wanted to go back to homelessness." Warren says his departure from the content house was when he "started really leaning into" his music. "When I left, I realized that there were a lot of things holding me back," he says. "A lot of people told me I was crazy; and thankfully, I didn't listen to them because I'm really happy." Related: Alex Warren Gets Vulnerable About His Brother's Suicide Attempts in His New Music Video (Exclusive) Jason Kempin/Getty Alex Warren performs at the SkyDeck on Broadway in Nashville in July 2024 In August 2022, Warren signed with Atlantic Records, where he continues to win over fans with his vulnerable pop melodies and intimate song lyrics combined with his passionate vocals present in his singles and throughout his debut album, Youll Be Alright, Kid (Chapter 1). "Carry You Home," Warren's biggest global success to date boasting over 151M global streams, impacting US Top 40 and Hot AC radio outlets nationwide and charting in over 15 countries on Spotify is featured on the album, along with his newly released track "Burning Down." Warren "channeled" a mix of experiences from the content house and his real home to write the song, which exploded on TikTok with more than 157M views and became his first Billboard Hot 100 hit since its release in September. The fame and music successes achieved are hard to ignore, but Warren who says he picked up a guitar for the first time at around age five, "wanted to be a Nickelodeon actor really badly" and aspired to be like the Naked Brothers Band says he "never thought" he was onto something. Related: Who's Performing at the 2024 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade? See the Full Lineup Hunter Moreno/Courtesy of Atlantic Records Alex Warren "Truthfully, making music has never really necessarily been like, 'Oh, I'm going to get famous and rich off of it'," he says. "I got really lucky off the bat. People liked it," he says, explaining that he now just looks for ways to "make a song that helps" him and other people. "I think that was the important thing I was looking for and what I still look for in a new song today," he says. And despite his decision to share the "real" him through his music, he's still searching for a bit of himself along the way. "I couldn't tell you who I am if you asked," Warren says, adding, "And I think I will succeed in life when I'm able to tell you exactly who I am when you ask." Australia has enacted a law banning children under 16 from social media, putting in place one of the worlds strictest measures against internet use for minors. The new legislation has sparked a fierce discussion in the country over possible impacts on child safety, online freedom, censorship and tech policies. The Social Media Minimum Age Bill, cleared after a heated debate in parliament, requires platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook to block under-16 users or risk fines of up to $49.5m AUD (25.7m). A trial of enforcement methods is set for January, with the ban coming into full force within a year. The law was championed by the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, who presented it as a necessary measure to protect children from the harmful effects of excessive social media use. Platforms now have a social responsibility to ensure the safety of our kids is a priority for them, he said. Were making sure that mums and dads can have that different conversation today and in future days. The ban is absolute, unlike similar measures in EU countries where minors may still access social media with parental permission. Critics claim the law was rushed without due scrutiny, but proponents see it as a critical step towards safeguarding young people. A student poses with her mobile showing her social media applications in Melbourne (Reuters) Why the ban? There is growing evidence linking social media use to declining mental health, particularly among teenagers. Pushing for the law, Mr Albanese highlighted specific risks such as body image issues for girls and exposure to misogynistic content for boys. The campaign leading up to the introduction of the bill saw testimonies from parents who have lost children to bullying driven by social media, strengthening public support. A national survey indicated that 77 per cent of Australians backed the legislation. Media platforms, including Rupert Murdochs News Corp, ran campaigns like Let Them Be Kids to galvanise support for the law. But public reaction to the passage of the law has been deeply divided. Some Australians see the new law as a much-needed intervention. I think thats a great idea because social media for kids is not really appropriate, Sydney resident Francesca Sambas said, they can look at things they shouldnt. But many regard it as an overreach. I am feeling very angry. I feel that this government has taken democracy and thrown it out the window, Shon Klose, 58, another Sydney resident, said. Social media companies have criticised the Australian ban arguing that it may push children towards online spaces that are far less regulated. A TikTok spokesperson said the rushed legislation ignored the advice of experts. Its entirely likely the ban could see young people pushed to darker corners of the internet where no community guidelines, safety tools, or protections exist, they said. Australia Senate committee backs bill to ban social media for children (Reuters) How does the Australian law compare globally? United Kingdom has no plan currently to introduce similar restrictions, but digital minister Peter Kyle has said that everything is on the table when it comes to ensuring online safety. He has commissioned a study to examine the impact of smartphone and social media use, particularly on children. Mr Kyle has also highlighted that Ofcom, the UKs communications regulator, must prioritise government concerns like safety by design, transparency, and accountability while enforcing the Online Safety Act starting next year. The law, passed in 2023, sets stricter standards for social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and TikTok, including the enforcement of age-appropriate restrictions. Norway has proposed raising the age at which children can independently consent to social media terms from 13 to 15. The government has also announced a plan to introduce a legal minimum age for social media use. It is not clear when such a law might be presented to the parliament. Government data shows that half of Norways nine-year-olds use some form of social media. EU legislation mandates that parental consent is required for tech companies to process personal data of children under the age of 16. Member states have the discretion to lower this limit to 13. France passed legislation last year requiring social media platforms to secure parental consent before allowing children under 15 to create accounts online, but technical challenges have delayed its enforcement. Earlier this year, a panel commissioned by president Emmanuel Macron recommended stricter measures like banning mobiles for children under 11 and internet-enabled devices for those under 13. It remains unclear when or if the recommendations will be adopted. Germany allows children aged 13 to 16 to use social media only with parental consent. There is no plan for further restrictions, even though child protection advocates argue that existing rules need better enforcement. Belgium enacted a law in 2018 requiring children to be at least 13 years old to create social media accounts without parental permission. The Netherlands does not have legislation setting a minimum age for social media use. However, mobile devices will be banned in classrooms from January 2024 to minimise distractions. Exceptions apply for digital lessons, disabilities, or medical needs. Italy requires children under 14 to have parental consent for creating social media accounts. No parental consent is required after the children turn 14. Anthony Albanese gestures during a press conference in Canberra on 29 November 2024 (AP) Implications for privacy, freedom and tech scrutiny The legislation has drawn criticism from privacy advocates who warn of heightened data collection risks. The Australian Human Rights Commission raised concerns about potential infringement on young peoples rights to participate in society. Platforms may require users to upload identification documents, paving the way for digital surveillance, cautioned Sunita Bose, managing director of Digital Industry Group, which represents major social media firms. A last-minute amendment now requires platforms to provide alternative verification methods. Internationally, the ban could strain Australias relations with the US, where Elon Musk, owner of X, called it a backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians. Challenges in enforcement Implementing the ban poses significant hurdles. Critics argue that the government has yet to clarify how platforms should verify users ages without compromising privacy. The exemption of platforms like YouTube, widely used in schools, further complicates enforcement. Some experts fear tech-savvy teens will bypass restrictions. It will only create a generation of young people who will be more technologically literate in bypassing these walls, said Sydney student Enie Lam, 16. Parental hopes and concerns Parents groups have largely applauded the initiative, with anti-bullying advocate Ali Halkic stating, Putting an age limit and giving control back to the parents is a starting point. But many young Australians worry about losing their vital online communities. LGBTQIA and migrant teenagers, in particular, depend on social media for support and self-expression. Critics warn that the ban could inadvertently isolate these vulnerable groups. Additional reporting by agencies By Alasdair Pal and Cordelia Hsu SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australians reacted on Friday with a mixture of anger and relief to a social media ban on children under 16 that the government says is world-leading, but which tech giants like TikTok argue could push young people to "darker corners of the internet". Australia approved the social media ban for children late on Thursday after an emotive debate that has gripped the nation, setting a benchmark for jurisdictions around the world with one of the toughest regulations targeting Big Tech. The law forces tech giants from Instagram and Facebook owner Meta Platforms to TikTok to stop minors from logging in or face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million). A trial of enforcement methods will start in January, with the ban to take effect in a year. "Platforms now have a social responsibility to ensure the safety of our kids is a priority for them," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday "We're making sure that mums and dads can have that different conversation today and in future days." Announcing the details of the ban earlier this month, Albanese cited the risks to physical and mental health of children from excessive social media use, in particular the risks to girls from harmful depictions of body image, and misogynist content aimed at boys. In Sydney on Friday, reaction to the ban was mixed. "I think that's a great idea, because I found that the social media for kids (is) not really appropriate, sometimes they can look at something they shouldn't," said Sydney resident Francesca Sambas. Others were more scathing. "I'm feeling very angry, I feel that this government has taken democracy and thrown it out the window," said 58-year-old Shon Klose. "How could they possibly make up these rules and these laws and push it upon the people?" Children, meanwhile, said they would try to find a way around the ban. "I feel like I still will use it, just secretly get in," said 11-year-old Emma Wakefield. WORLD FIRST Countries including France and some U.S. states have passed laws to restrict access for minors without a parent's permission, but the Australian ban is absolute. A full under-14s ban in Florida is being challenged in court on free speech grounds. Albanese's Labor party won crucial support from the opposition conservatives for the bill that was fast-tracked through the country's parliament as part of 31 bills pushed through in a chaotic final day of parliament for the year. The government has said enough notice was given as it first flagged the ban after a parliamentary inquiry earlier this year that heard testimony from parents of children who had self-harmed due to cyber bullying. But it was criticised by social media firms and some lawmakers who say the bill has lacked proper scrutiny. A spokesperson for TikTok, which is hugely popular with teen users, said on Friday the process had been rushed and risked putting children into greater danger. "We're disappointed the Australian government has ignored the advice of the many mental health, online safety, and youth advocacy experts who have strongly opposed the ban," the spokesperson said. Albanese said on Friday passing the bill before the age verification trial has been completed was the correct approach. "We've got your back is our message to Australian parents," Albanese said. "We don't argue that its implementation will be perfect, just like the alcohol ban for under 18s doesn't mean that someone under 18 never has access, but we know that it's the right thing to do." The ban could strain Australia's relationship with key ally the United States, where X owner Elon Musk, a central figure in the administration of president-elect Donald Trump, said in a post this month it seemed a "backdoor way to control access to the Internet by all Australians". It also builds on an existing mood of antagonism between Australia and mostly US-domiciled tech giants. Australia was the first country to make social media platforms pay media outlets royalties for sharing their content and now plans to threaten them with fines for failing to stamp out scams. (Reporting by Alasdair Pal, Cordelia Hsu and Byron Kaye in Sydney; Editing by Praveen Menon and Michael Perry) Experts are warning that fraudsters are exploiting Black Friday sales to target U.S. shoppers with fake websites and ads for major brands like IKEA, Wayfair and The North Face, after online scams hit record highs in 2023. A new report released by threat intelligence company EclecticIQ identified a campaign that operates a sprawling network of fabricated websites using "Trusted Store" badges to lure shoppers with fake products. When consumers attempt to make a purchase, scammers steal their personal and payment information. The consumers are often unaware they were scammed until they fail to receive the product. Reports of online fraud in 2023 exceeded $12.5 billion in potential losses a 22% jump from 2022, according to FBI data. Officials say increasingly sophisticated scams are using tools including AI to power their campaigns. "With the way it now seems like everyone is shopping online, reliance on digital platforms has handed these groups a wider attack surface than ever," EclecticIQ CEO Cody Barrow told CBS News. "Unfortunately, it's likely we'll see its impact stretch into next week." The scams EclecticIQ says it identified at least 8,000 fabricated sites that lure shoppers by offering steep "deals" on popular brands. The websites are not affiliated with the brands they appear to represent, but are designed to look like official sites and use URLs that appear authentic. In one example, a site posing as Wayfair used the URL wayfairtoday.com. Another site used the URL wayfairblackfriday.com. The website was registered in early November and offered fake "deals" including an $800 mattress reduced to $39. The photo shows a fake website pretending to have deals from Wayfair. / Credit: CBS Confirmed The photo shows a scam website posing as Wayfair. / Credit: CBS Confirmed CBS News also found an ad appropriating Wayfair's logo that directed users to another counterfeit site posing as the retailer. It was removed from Meta's ad library as of Friday. Wayfair told CBS News that it is actively monitoring scams to ensure customers are protected. Analysts discovered Mandarin coding and Chinese IP addresses on the sites, indicating that the phishing campaign was operated by a China-based group. IKEA told CBS News it was investigating one of the scam websites using its name that EclecticIQ identified. Separately, an ad on Facebook and Instagram using The North Face logo routed users to a fabricated site. The ad was removed for policy violations, and The North Face told CBS News it was working with Meta and "other partners" to combat scam sites. "Scammers use every online platform available to them and constantly evolve their tactics in order to evade enforcement," said Meta spokesperson Erin Logan. "In this instance, our systems proactively detected and removed a number of these ads before they were reported to us." The Federal Trade Commission released data in February that shows online shopping fraud was the second most common type of fraud reported in 2023. Experts say fraudulent sites and ads remain a pervasive issue. "Many of the scam sites are short-lived campaigns, so it's an ongoing effort to identify new sites," Ilya Volovik, director of Recorded Future Payment Fraud Intelligence, told CBS News. "Some of the longer living scam sites change their 'sales' advertisement based on a holiday." Tips to protect yourself Cliff Steinhauer, director of Information Security and Engagement at the National Cybersecurity Alliance, said consumers should take precautions, stay alert when online shopping and act quickly if they believe they have been scammed. Secure your accounts. Experts recommend setting up multifactor authentication as well as strong and unique passwords for all accounts, including shopping and bank sites. Avoid unfamiliar links: Be wary of links from unsolicited emails and text messages. Instead, use a search engine to navigate to the retailer's website. Look for red flags. Be wary of deals that appear too good to be true, as well as websites that use excessive pop-ups and urgent language. If in doubt, leave the site. Research the website. Look up reviews from other shoppers who have used the site. Visit the Better Business Bureau's website, which maintains a database with ratings for millions of businesses. If you think you have been the victim of fraud, immediately notify your bank to reverse the charges. You should also change the passwords to your online accounts. File a police report if you experience harassment or repeated attempts to steal more of your information. Experts also recommend freezing your credit on the three major credit reporting bureaus if your personal information has been compromised through a data breach. This will ensure your identity can't be stolen in the event that scammers obtain your social security number. Former Navy secretary says Trump's Defense Secretary pick will make the military "weaker" Investigators discover firefighter visited woman before she was found dead in burning home Ben Abraham joins "CBS Mornings Plus" to help surprise Adriana Diaz for her birthday President Biden held Thanksgiving calls with members of the U.S. military, according to the White House. Biden, alongside his wife, first lady Jill Biden, spoke with units from each branch of the U.S. military stationed around the world. They thanked the armed forces and their family members for their service. The commander in chief talked with soldiers in the Guam National Guard, members of the Marine Corps and the crew of USS Jason Dunham, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. He also spoke with the Air Forces 430th Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron, U.S. Space Force service members in Cyprus and the Coast Guards crew on Charles Moulthrope, a cutter stationed in Bahrain. Biden expressed gratitude to his supporters on Thursday in his final Thanksgiving message as president. With hearts full of gratitude: Happy Thanksgiving, America, Biden wrote Thursday on the social platform X. Jill and I are so grateful for the trust youve placed in us these past four years serving you has been the honor of our lives. The holiday season at the White House kicked off with the annual turkey pardoning ceremony, with Biden pardoning turkeys Peach and Blossom on Monday. This event marks the official start of the holiday season here is Washington. Its also my last time to speak here as your president during this season and give thanks and gratitude, Biden said. So let me say to you its been the honor of my life, I am forever thankful. During his visit to a fire department in Nantucket, Mass., on Thursday, the commander in chief said he was also grateful for a peaceful transition of power, expressing gratitude to my family, the peaceful transition of the presidency, and Im thankful by the grace of God we were able to make more progress in the Middle East, Im really thankful for being able to get the first peace done in Lebanon. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Students walk on campus at Texas State University in San Marcos. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News The campus of the University of Texas at Austin and Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium is seen, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Austin. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer A roadway veers off to the right and provides a pathway Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, for shuttle buses as well as bicyclists and pedestrians to travel underneath Wellborn Road when traveling from the west side of the Texas A&M University campus to the east side in College Station. The roadway travels generally along the proposed route of the tunnel that would be constructed by Elon Musks The Boring Company. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, right, gives a thumbs-up after former President Donald Trump mentions him beside State Sen. Brandon Creighton and Attorney Gen. Ken Paxton at a Save America Rally, Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, in Conroe. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Texas lawmakers are targeting colleges and universities in the next culture war battle, putting our most vital economic drivers at risk. The right-wing thought police, though, are fed up with freethinkers. Recent laws and proposed bills aim to restrict what ideas faculty and students can explore. The brightest minds will not stick around if the GOP limits intellectual freedom. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Republicans spent the 2023 legislative session protecting white supremacy by attacking programs intended to help historically under-represented students succeed. GOP lawmakers worried that fragile white students may feel uncomfortable discussing the nations history of slavery and oppression. State Sen. Brandon Creighton, a Conroe Republican who leads the Senate Education Committee, passed a law banning diversity, equity and inclusion programs at public universities. In a stunning example of Orwellian doublethink, Creighton said his law would boost diversity. However, when UT Austin complied with Senate Bill 17, a third of the 49 people laid off were Black, even though African-Americans make up only 7% of employees. Roughly three-fourths of the employees let go were women, though they make up just 55% of the total staff. Across all campuses, the University of Texas System eliminated more than 300 jobs to comply with the law, arguing it was a cost-saving measure. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Why is it that you must save costs on the backs of Black and brown employees and female employees? Texas NAACP President Gary Bledsoe asked. Not only do Republican leaders want to wipe out programs trying to reverse the lingering effects of white supremacist rule, but they also want to stop research into how racism and bigotry have harmed our society. The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott, recently cut 52 academic programs, including global culture and society, LGBTQ studies, global health, Asian studies and a certificate in performing social activism in the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts. Regent Michael J. Plank echoed UT officials, saying the board has a duty to "eliminate waste." Across the country, conservatives are using cost saving as a fig leaf for suppressing ideas they dont like. For example, A&M had only offered the LGBTQ studies minor for three semesters before declaring it wasteful. The University of North Texas made 78 changes to its course schedule, removing words such as race, gender, class and equity from titles and descriptions, the Dallas Morning News reported. Freedom of speech group PEN America accused university leaders of abusing SB17. Advertisement Article continues below this ad UNT seems to be arguing that the principle of academic freedom only exists when state law allows it, Jeremy Young, PENs Freedom to Learn project director, said. This ludicrous interpretation effectively nullifies academic freedom as a protection against government censorship, setting a perilous precedent for higher education institutions across Texas and potentially beyond. Texas A&M and UNT may have only been obeying in advance of more restrictive laws to come. While DEI-related curriculum and course content does not explicitly violate the letter of the law, it indeed contradicts its spirit, Creighton said during a Texas Senate Higher Education Subcommittee hearing. The curriculum does not reflect the expectations of Texas taxpayers and students who fund our public universities. Newly elected state Rep. Carl Tepper, a Lubbock Republican, has introduced a bill requiring the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to calculate a ratio of student debt to annual salary for every degree or certificate offered. The board would then assign a rating: reward, monitor, sanction or sunset. The goal is to shut down programs in the latter categories. Learning for learnings sake would not be tolerated under House Bill 281. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Political leaders have long interfered with colleges and universities. Texas lawmakers started using professors as political scapegoats within three years of establishing UT. Institutions have long offered tenure to protect underpaid professors from political interference. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has repeatedly said he wants to ban tenure and make it easier to remove professors who teach or study ideas the Legislature doesnt like. Unsurprisingly, two-thirds of the 950 Texas faculty surveyed by the American Association of University Professors said they would not recommend teaching in Texas to colleagues. Texas Republicans may feel a mandate to drive free thinkers out of public universities, but Texas employers looking for an educated workforce will pay the price. Daniel Khalifes audacious escape from HMP Wandsworth in 2023 revealed significant problems with the prison system. But when the 23-year-olds trial for spying charges began in October, a running theme of embarrassment in the way he was handled by the Army, police and British security services was also exposed. Here, the PA news agency looks at the security shortcomings in the military which emerged during the trial, as well as the blunders which allowed the spy to avoid detection and escape from prison. Khalife was never told he was doing anything wrong by using WhatsApp (Elizabeth Cook/PA) In September 2018, two weeks before his 17th birthday, Khalife joined the British Army, completing his basic military training before joining the Royal Corps of Signals, a specialist unit which provides communications, IT and cyber support to the army. The soldier completed his year-long specialist training in early 2020, and was posted to the 16th Signal Regiment in Stafford. Improper use of WhatsApp was rife, defence barrister Gul Nawaz Hussain KC told the trial at Woolwich Crown Court. Soldiers, including Khalifes superiors, sent training manuals, door codes and even photos of their secure computer screens using personal phones, from secure areas. Khalife was a member of a group chat called Fabulous Falcon F***tards a reference to the Armys Falcon communications system on which they worked. The signaller was never told he was doing anything wrong by using WhatsApp. Signs on the door of a secure area at Khalifes barracks (Metropolitan Police/PA) Giving evidence, a senior army intelligence officer named only as Soldier A, said the messaging service is not considered a safe form of communication by the military. An experienced Army IT expert agreed, and told jurors it was troubling to hear that sensitive information had been sent on WhatsApp. The trial was shown a Ministry of Defence directive telling soldiers not to use WhatsApp for any official business, but nobody within Khalifes unit was ever disciplined over the problem. In June 2021, an internal spreadsheet of soldier promotions was sent to a group chat called Brew Room Boys, of which Khalife was a member. He took details from the spreadsheet before logging on to an internal HR system for booking leave, to try to find out the soldiers first names. The list of soldiers, including some serving in the Special Air Service and Special Boat Service, was sent out by mistake and was also leaked to the press. Leaks arent all that uncommon in the military, Mr Hussain said. Barrister Naz Hussain KC said Khalife had exposed a running theme of embarrassment (Dominic Lipinski/PA) In November 2021, Khalife made an anonymous call to the MI5 public reporting line, confessing to being in contact with Iran for more than two years. He offered to help the British security services, and said he wanted to return to his normal life. If Khalife had not contacted MI5 to tell them about his contact with Iran, neither they nor the police would ever have known, his barrister told the court. The signaller sent an email to MI6 as early as August 2019 about his scheme, but never received a response. MI5 made nine attempts to return his calls, but were not able to reach him. The security agency reported him the following month, and he was arrested in January 2022. Police were not aware of his activities before MI5s approach. In January 2023, having been bailed by police, Khalife fled his barracks. (PA Graphics) Before being caught, he spent three weeks living in a stolen van just five miles away from the barracks, but the vehicle, which contained important evidence, would not be found by police for another eight months. A national manhunt was launched for the former soldier when he managed to escape from HMP Wandsworth in September 2023. Five days before his successful escape, he attached a sling to the underside of a lorry made from kitchen trousers and carabiners. The driver of the Mercedes truck involved, Balazs Werner, said he noticed both kitchen doors were open during his delivery to the site on the day of the escape, which he thought was unusual. As he was leaving the prison, two guards checked the vehicle with a torch and mirror, and told him someone was missing from the prison. When the guards said he could drive off, he was surprised the prison was not in lockdown, and said are you sure? but was allowed to drive out through the prison gates. The sling under the truck used in the prison escape (Metropolitan Police/PA) In a report published earlier this year, HMP Wandsworths Independent Monitoring Board (IMB), made up of volunteers tasked by ministers with scrutinising conditions in custody, said an audit found a raft of security failings at the jail in the wake of the escape. The IMB said the incident led to multiple reviews and action, including previously unavailable funding being found for security improvements and significant investment, in a bid to stop illicit items being taken into the prison. The security audit was carried out in November, while an internal review completed in December made 39 recommendations, according to the report. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is yet to publish those documents, outline its findings or confirm the details of disciplinary action taken against staff. On Nov. 25, 2020, the day before Thanksgiving, responders rushed to a house fire in Mt. Morris, Illinois. They discovered 27-year-old Melissa Lamesch inside, dead on the floor by the oven in the kitchen. Initially, investigators were uncertain whether the fire was intentional or accidental. But after taking a closer look, they believed foul play was involved and that the fire was arson. They did not find any electrical issues at the house and learned that the oven and stove burners were all in the off position. The autopsy performed on Lamesch revealed no soot in her lungs and normal carbon monoxide levels, but there were signs of strangulation. Investigators concluded that Lamesch was murdered before the fire started. But why would someone want to kill Melissa Lamesch? "48 Hours" contributor Nikki Battiste reports on the case in "The Firefighter's Secret," now streaming on Paramount+. When the fire occurred, Lamesch had been just two days away from giving birth to a baby boy. She was a dedicated EMT and was excited to become a parent. However, investigators learned there was someone who was not as enthused the expectant father of the baby, 33-year-old Matthew Plote, who was a firefighter-paramedic. When Lamesch let Plote know she was carrying his baby, she was surprised by his reaction, says Lamesch's sister, Cassie Baal. "Melissa thought he would want something to do with the baby. To that point, she thought he was a pretty nice guy," Baal told "48 Hours." "She saw a different side of him and that really upset her." Investigators learned Plote kept the fact that he was going to become a dad a secret, including from his parents and his co-workers. Rob Schultz, fire chief at the Carol Stream Fire District where Plote worked, explained to Battiste how unusual it was for someone not to talk about a big life event at the firehouse. "We're here 24 hours a day," Schultz said. "It's a just a normal, uh, course of being a firefighter that you talk about your family, your personal life, and what's going on good, bad or indifferent." Matthew Plote / Credit: Carol Stream Fire District Although Plote seemed disinterested in becoming a father, Lamesch had sporadically kept in touch with him, even sending him sonograms. "Sometimes he would respond a little bit, but she didn't know really where he stood exactly," Baal said. Lamesch, though, was ready to take care of the baby on her own, with the help of her family. Despite Lamesch not asking Plote for any type of support, investigators believe that as her due date drew closer, Plote became increasingly concerned that having a child was going to alter his lifestyle and that's why he had kept that baby a secret. "He was keeping a secret the fact that he fathered a baby in the hopes that the child wouldn't be born," Ogle County Assistant State's Attorney Allison Huntley told Battiste. The state began building a case against Plote. He was arrested on March 9, 2022, on charges including murder, the intentional homicide of an unborn child and arson. There was evidence that Plote had been at Lamesch's house the day of the fire something Plote admitted when he spoke with investigators. "He told them everything about his presence there, he didn't hide any of that," defense attorney John Kopp told "48 Hours." He says his client went there to discuss plans for being involved in the baby's life. "They discussed their finances," Kopp said. "And then Matt left as she was making some lunch." Prosecutors suspected Plote was lying about Lamesch being alive when he left and that he set the house on fire to try to cover his tracks. "I believe from the very beginning he was trying to set up a story that there was an accidental house fire, that she had been cooking something," said Ogle County Assistant State's Attorney Heather Kruse. "Which would explain why her body was found in the kitchen." For Chief Schultz, the thought of a firefighter inflicting harm was unthinkable. "It doesn't chime with what a firefighter is," he told "48 Hours." "We put fires out. We don't start fires. We help people. We don't hurt people." Missing hiker found after nearly six weeks in the Canadian wilderness War in Ukraine pushes women into new roles How severe weather could impact Christmas trees As the national tide turns in President-elect Donald Trumps favor, Fulton County DA Fani Willis is the last woman standing in his way but she isnt likely to last long. Willis is prosecuting the only court case left against Trump before he returns to office in January, over alleged election interference in Georgia. Federal cases into the returning presidents involvement in the January 6, 2021 insurrection in Washington DC and his alleged hoarding of classified documents were both dropped after he won the presidential election. A lot has changed from one year ago when Willis, 53 the first woman elected as Fulton County DA in 2021 was riding high as the prosecutor set to take down Trump in a blockbuster high-profile RICO racketeering case. Fulton County DA Fani Willis won re-election this month but her future is uncertain, as is her election interference case against President-Elect Donald Trump. AP Although Willis appears adamant she will stay the course, she could potentially be kicked off the case by a body who are investigating it or usurped by the state Supreme Court, who are likely to step in and close it, according to sources. Fani doesnt see how shes headed for a brick wall, shes going full tilt with vengeance and emotions, one local defense lawyer who knows her told The Post. Shes still so full of herself and hasnt learned her lesson yet. She doesnt realize she is her own demise and shes the reason everythings falling apart. Willis who won re-election for a second term as DA in November has remained defiant and ignored a subpoena in September from a special senate committee looking into the case, refusing to show up for a hearing when was supposed to testify. Last week, a Georgia appeals court abruptly canceled oral arguments scheduled for next month in the case and Trumps lawyers are likely cite the federal end to the election interference charges against him to get the Georgia case thrown out. I would be shocked if it wasnt (dismissed) but Fani has an ego bigger than the entire state so who knows, a source close to the Willis investigations told The Post. Georgia personal injury lawyer Nathan Wade was named special prosecutor on the Fulton County DA teams case against Trump but had to drop out after his romantic relationship with Fani Willis came out. Ron Sachs CNP for NY Post Wade seen leaving his Marietta, GA law office in Jan. 2024 holding a handgun as stories began to swirl about his romance with Fani Willis. Ben Hendren for NY Post Representatives for Willis and Wade did respond to requests for comment from The Post for this article. Willis, the daughter of a Black Panther-turned-criminal defense attorney, blew up her own reputation in Jan. 2024 when it came out that she had hired her boyfriend, Nathan Wade, a criminal defense lawyer with no prior experience with felony cases, to be a special prosecutor on the Trump case. Wade, who operates out of a basement office in a local industrial park, was allegedly paid thousands more than the other qualified lawyers on the team by Willis office. Despite the scandal which engulfed Willis and effectively derailed the case, she still keeps an Official Fani Store online selling personalized merchandise, including On My Grind: Madams Coffee, T-shirts with the words Fani T. Willis Fan Club, a Fani T. Willis Integrity Matters button, as well as framed posters, hoodies and mugs with her name and photo. Meanwhile, another high-profile case Willis is involved in a sprawling and costly trial over Atlanta area rapper Young Thug and his associates in the group YSL Young Slime Life is also going astray. President-elect Donald Trumps mugshot in Fulton County after a grand jury returned back indictments against him and 18 of his allies alleging they tried to overturn the results of the 2020 election. via REUTERS Trump and his co-defendants were all booked at the Fulton County jail. No one knows yet if the case against Trump will be dismissed along with the charges his co-defendants face. Her decision to prosecute Young Thug and YSL under RICO statutes, as if the rapper and his associates were a Mafia-level criminal gang also backfired, several sources close to the case told The Post. The original indictment charged 28 people with conspiring to violate Georgias RICO act but only six defendants were part of the trial that began one year ago. Jurors began deliberating this week are considering whether to convict Shannon Stillwell and Deamonte Kendrick, who raps as Yak Gotti, on gang, murder, drug and gun charges. The other four defendants, including Young Thug, took plea deals in October which one source close to the case told The Post were far better deals than they had been offered at the start. No doubt this case has been a fiasco, Doug Weinstein, the attorney representing Yak Gotti told The Post. There were about 50 mistrial requests alone and repeated instances that bordered on prosecutorial misconduct. The judge scolded the prosecutors regularly. They were unprepared and disorganized. And while Fani Willis was not the prosecutor in charge, she chose the one who was and the buck stops with Fani. Young Thug. whose real name is Jeffery Williams, accepted a plea deal in October that will involve no further prison time unless he violates the terms of his 15-year probation. AP Fani Willis wanted to appear as being tough on crime, a commenter in a forum online about the case posted. She thought a famous rapper high profile case would bolster her image, so they went after Thug without real evidence and thats why the case is a complete clusterfk. In the Trump case, Nathan Wade was forced to drop out after a hearing in February instigated by Trumps defense team over Willis apparent conflict of interest in hiring her boyfriend. Both Wade and Willis testified at the hearing they were no longer romantically involved. However, eyebrows were raised in September when they turned up together after Willis daughter was pulled over for driving while using her cellphone. Cops found she had a revoked license and arrested her. Some sources told The Post they believe Wade and Willis are still together. Willis and her supposedly ex-lover Nathan Wade were caught on police body cam video arricing at the scene when Willis daughter was pulled over for driving while using a cellphone and police found she also had a revoked license. Tyrone Police Department At the same time, Wade is said to be acting in an advisory capacity for another of his proteges, incoming Cobb County DA Sonya Allen. The new DA had most recently worked under Willis at the Fulton County DAs office and prior to that was legal counsel to the Cobb County Sheriff. Her office did not respond to a request for comment. Allen, rumored to have been a one-time paramour of Wade, came under fire alongside him in 2020 when she hired him to investigate suspicious deaths at the Cobb County jail. However, Wade ended his work at the jail without ever issuing a report or showing any documentation of what he did. Last week the Justice Dept released a scathing 150-page report based on a year of investigating Fulton County Jail, painting a Dickensian picture of horrifying conditions there. Among other things, a mentally ill inmate died, apparently partly as a result of being plagued by lice and by bedbugs. Willis opponents told The Post they blame a huge backlog of cases on Willis because her office spent so much time and resources on the YSL and Trump cases, leading to overcrowded jails. Willis, left, in red, and Wade, far right in the blue suit, listen during a hearing involving their conduct in the Trump case in March. Getty Images But even those who criticize Willis say they still believe she has a future. The optics on all of this are just not good for Fani, Dwight Thomas, a veteran criminal defense attorney in Atlanta told The Post. I dont think the Trump trial will ever happen, even if she tries to get it postponed to 2029. Shes made some mistakes but at the same time shes a good lawyer and I think she has aspirations to go further. Maybe even as a law professor somewhere. I would not write her off. Anti-abortion activists are elated about Donald Trumps return to power despite annoyances with the president-elect's lack of appetite for national restrictions. Now, they are cautiously optimistic, looking ahead to what his administration might do for their movement. President Trump has said, loudly, that he doesn't believe abortion is a federal issue something I deeply disagree with him on, said Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America. However, we can work with him. Though a national abortion ban is probably off the table, Hawkins and others say they are still hopeful about other steps they have in mind for Trump and his Cabinet, such as eliminating government funding for Planned Parenthood. But anti-abortion advocates also have expressed skepticism about some of Trump's other moves, including the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former Democrat who holds what they view as more lenient positions on abortion, to be his secretary of Health and Human Services. As a 2024 candidate, Trump said repeatedly that he would not sign a national abortion ban, adding last month in a Truth Social post that he would, in fact, veto it. Instead, Trump has said he supports individual states setting their own restrictions. The issue returned to the states when in 2022 the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that provided a constitutional right to abortion. Donald Trump holds hands with wife Melania Trump at his Election Night Watch Party at the Palm Beach County Convention Center after being elected the 47th President of the United States. Viktor Knavs, JD Vance and Ivanka Trump also are in the photo. I was able to kill Roe v. Wade, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post last May. He has repeatedly touted his judicial appointments that put a majority conservative Supreme Court bench in place. Democrats, including Vice President Kamala Harris, leaned heavily into talk of reproductive freedom and women's issues while campaigning this year. After all, the party had notched several wins in the 2022 midterm elections, fresh off the Supreme Court's controversial decision. As a stand-alone issue, abortion continued to fare generally well: Of the 10 states that proposed a related ballot measure, voters in seven approved the constitutional amendment to enshrine abortion access. But these same states simultaneously rejected Democratic candidates, like Harris, who advocated for and sometimes centered their campaigns on abortion rights. This election proves that abortion was not the silver bullet Democrats thought it would be, Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said in a statement commending Trump for his win. Instead, 2024 proved to be a success for Trumps party: Republicans took over the Senate and held on to the House. With a red trifecta at his disposal, Trump could have a relatively clear path to advancing his legislative agenda. And leaders in the anti-abortion movement say theyll be pushing to make sure their priorities are included. MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 15: Anti-abortion protesters hold signs as they watch people participate in the Coalition to March on the RNC near the Fiserv Forum on July 15, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Coalition to March on the RNC 2024 is holding a rally and march on the first day of the 2024 Republican National Convention where Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is expected to formally receive the GOP nomination for the 2024 U.S. Presidential election. Trump is also expected to announce his nomination for Vice President. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Will there be a national abortion ban under Trump? The prospect of a national abortion ban was talk of the 2024 presidential race, especially as Harris and other Democrats went after Trump by arguing that he would in fact sign a federal limit. Trump, though, maintained support for leaving the question to individual states, and his positioning became the banner disagreement between Trump and groups like SBA Pro-Life and Students for Life. We see a path for a strong agenda with the Trump administration, and I do see a path forward, Hawkins said. But I don't think the pro-life movement will get everything it wants with the Trump administration. That includes national regulation, which would struggle to surmount the 60-vote threshold in a 53-47 Republican majority Senate. And with several GOP lawmakers echoing Trumps state-by-state stance, the likelihood of a federal proposal is even more dubious. I think it's inappropriate for us to have a national abortion ban. And I know this is controversial, said Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., noting his own pro-life record in politics. And I think for those who want to overreach on this, then they're putting unborn lives at risk for overreaching, Tillis said. You've got to know your electorate, you've got to know the issues, and you've got to save babies one life at a time, and you do that by getting policies right at the state level. Abortion rights and anti-abortion rights activists are protesting in front of the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC on June 24, 2024. This demonstration marks the second anniversary of the court's Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling, which reversed federal protections for access to abortions. (Photo by Aashish Kiphayet / Middle East Images / Middle East Images via AFP) (Photo by AASHISH KIPHAYET/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images) Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump's transition team, did not respond directly to a question about Trump's willingness to enact a federal abortion limit but said in a statement: The American people re-elected President Trump by a resounding margin giving him a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail. He will deliver. What else do abortion opponents want? Defunding Planned Parenthood to start There are still plenty of other agenda items abortion opponents say they can work on with the president-elect and allies in Congress. Their priorities include cutting off government funding to Planned Parenthood. The abortion provider, which offers other services related to sexual health, including STD testing and treatment, received more than $1 billion in government funding from 2019 to 2021. Also on their wish lists are pardons for anti-abortion activists sentenced to prison for blockading and invading clinics, and reversing FDA approval for abortion medication. The fact that we have pro-life majorities in Congress is a huge opportunity, said Lila Rose, an anti-abortion activist and founder and president of Live Action. I hope that it's not wasted. The Trump administration also could undo much of the Biden administrations work on reproductive rights. Examples include a recent proposal to make over-the-counter birth control free, as well as Bidens executive order in August 2022 to support people who travel out of state for an abortion. The order at the time directed the secretary of Health and Human Services to consider all appropriate actions to expand reproductive health care access. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during former President Donald Trump's reelection campaign rally in Milwaukee on Nov. 1. RFK Jr. gets tepid welcome from anti-abortion groups Under Trump, HHS is expected to operate with a different approach, starting with the president-elect's pick for secretary. Trump tapped Kennedy, a former presidential candidate turned ally, to helm the department. A notorious vaccine skeptic, Kennedys nomination caused a stir among Democrats. Kennedy also has drawn ire from abortion opponents, who have scrutinized his comparatively lenient abortion position. Kennedy has said he believes terminations later in pregnancies should be the decision of the woman, not politicians. He has since amended that to say he supports legalizing abortions up to the point of viability, or the point at which a fetus can survive outside the womb. Rose called this stance barbaric and inhumane. The fact that Mr. Kennedy's position on abortion shifted this year, from supporting abortion through all nine months to supporting abortion through about 22 weeks, shows that he can change his mind when presented with the facts, Rose said in a statement. Were he to get the job, Kennedy would be in position to help lead the Trump administration's reproductive health care agenda, with authority to take measures such as limiting access to the abortion medication mifepristone. Republican senators, who would be the ones to confirm Kennedy, say they expect Kennedy to take his marching orders from Trump. He serves at the pleasure of the president, said Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo. You dont get to be an independent thinker in the Cabinet. Thats not that job. That job is you serve the administration, and I assume thats why he wants the job. USA TODAY staff writer Sudiksha Kochi contributed to this report. This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Abortion opponents celebrate Trump win, plot agenda with Republicans PIERRE, S.D. With the Christmas shopping season starting in earnest this week, South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley warns shoppers that scammers look to dampen the holiday spirit. Scammers enjoy the holidays for all the wrong reasons, Attorney General Jackley said in a release. They are always looking for ways to steal a persons personal and financial information whether people are shopping in a store or online. One common scam during the holidays is receiving an email or text from the U.S. Postal Service, Federal Express or another delivery service telling the customer they have a package waiting and to click onto to the attached link for delivery instructions. Never click onto such a link but contact the delivery organization directly to confirm the information, the release said. A scam that has increased during the holiday season involves gift cards. People who purchase gift cards should carefully check the card to make sure there has been no visible tampering with the package or the area to scratch off the code. Before you sign for an unexpected delivery, click onto a strange website or email, or agree to buy something over the telephone or Internet, always take a few minutes check out things first, said Attorney General Jackley in a release. If you believe you have been a victim of a shopping scam or theft, you are encouraged to call the Consumer Protection Division at consumerhelp@state.sd.us or call 1-800-300-1986 or 605-773-4400. Consumers can also sign up for Consumer Alerts via email from the Consumer Protection Division at www.consumer.sd.gov. Email addresses will not be shared or sold to a third party. Holiday tours: Adams House in Deadwood transformed into Christmas wonderland The Consumer Protection Division offers these tips on how to stay shopping safe: In-store purchases Check the refund and return policies for restrictions and exceptions. Are there re-stocking fees for returned items? When buying gift cards, check for fees and expiration dates that apply. Compare Prices. Review warranties before purchasing. Along with those traditional shopping methods consumers also need to proceed with caution when dealing with online retailers. Online shopping tips Always place orders from a secureconnection If your computer isnt protected from potential malicious software, your financial information and passwords are at risk from being stolen and anything else you store on your computer or do online. Avoid offers that seem to good to be true Any e-store that promises too much at too low a price should cause you to pause before going forward. Look-a-like sites are out there waiting to take your information and money. Dont use an e-store that requires more information than necessary to make the sale. Expect to provide method of payment, shipping address, telephone number, and email address IF the merchant requests other information walk away from the sale. Never give your bank account or social security information. Need to create a password for a site? make it unique. Most site will allow you to make the purchase as a guest but if you want to create account use a unique and strong password. Is the site secure? Look for the https NOT http the s tells you website is secure and encrypted to protect your information. Use a Credit Card to make your purchases Credit cards have standard protections in place should your card information be stolen. ALWAYS check the companys shipping and return policies. Know the time frames for eligible returns and do you need a RMA, Return of Merchandise Authorization number before returning merchandise. ow the time frames you may be up against if you need to return the product. If the Terms and Conditions are buried within the site or if they are vague - stop and think before completing the purchase. German Christmas Market: Codington County Museum hosts annual holiday favorite Cellphone shopping tips Be sure your computer and mobile devices are current with all software updates. Be cautious of social media scams. Stick to the sites that you are familiar with and do not click on unfamiliar links. Research price comparison apps. There are many malicious mobile apps just ready to be downloaded. Do not download apps from unknown sources. Scam message tips Never click or access the link that is provided. Always go directly to source and contact them. Scammers may tell you there is a fraud investigation, and you must verify your account or claim there is an unauthorized or fraudulent activity on your Amazon account Common ways to detect a fake message: 1. Misspelling and poor grammar; 2. Abnormally long numbers; 3. Suspicious link nothing relevant to the company they say they are from; 4. Message is urgent; and, 5. Message offers a refund. This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: South Dakota holiday phishing, gift card scams to avoid On Wednesday, November 27, the Halifax County Sheriffs Office in Virginia posted on their Facebook page that an arrest was made in connection to the murder of Emma Compton Layne. Sheriff Fred Clark announces the arrest of Russell Wayne Layne, age 67, of Nathalie, VA, for the senseless murder of his wife, Emma Compton Layne, which occurred in June of 2017, the HCSO Facebook post states. Layne was taken into custody by authorities earlier this evening and served with an indictment for murder by Sergeant Jeff Burton. Dateline featured Emmas story in October of 2017. Emma had vanished on Saturday, June 17, after she finished closing the convenience store she owned in Cody, Virginia around 7:30 p.m. She was supposed to spend the following day at the hospital visiting her mother, but never showed up. The family reported Emma missing that Tuesday, after they found Emmas credit card, clothes, car keys, cell phone, and dog left behind at her home. In 2017, Investigator J.M. Burton of the Halifax County Sheriffs Office told Dateline that police began their investigation and got in contact with Emmas husband, Russell Layne, who allowed authorities to search their home. Burton said Layne had been cooperative. I guess the husband is always a suspect to some extent, he said. He added that Layne had done several interviews with police and was not considered a person of interest at the time. Cadaver dogs were brought in to search the home and surrounding area the day after Emma was reported missing. The investigator also told Dateline they conducted ground searches and searches of nearby ponds, but none of those searches produced anything significant. On November 22, 2017, hunters found human remains in the woods less than a mile from the property Emma and her husband own. At the time, Halifax County Sheriffs Office Major Tommy Spencer told NBC affiliate WSLS the remains were scattered across the ground and someone seemed to have attempted to bury the body. The remains were transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner for autopsy, examination and positive identification. In January 2018, the remains were positively identified as belonging to Emma Compton Layne. It is unclear what Emmas cause of death was, but authorities have stated that she was violently murdered. From right: Wynona Compton-Childress, Sylvia Whitlow-McCurry, Emma Compton-Layne, Shawna Compton-Krohn Last year, on the sixth anniversary of Emmas death, WSLS spoke to one of Emmas sisters, Shawna Compton-Krohn, who said no matter how much time passes, shell never stop fighting for Emma. Were going to get justice for Emma. So just hiding, being cowards, its not going to make a difference because Im not going anywhere. Im going to fight for Emma every day, she said. The news of Russell Laynes arrest came just one day before Thanksgiving 2024. Emmas other sister, Wynona Childress, told WSLS earlier this week that the news feels like a full-circle moment. Emmas remains were found the 22nd of November. But in 2017, the 22nd of November was the day before Thanksgiving. And then we get this call today, the day before Thanksgiving. And its a blessing. I feel like I finally have something to be thankful for after seven years and five months, she said. In their announcement of the arrest, the HCSO stated that Emmas case has been a top priority since day one and that they remain committed to seeking justice for Emma and her family. We hope that this arrest will bring some measure of closure to Emma Laynes family and loved ones, they wrote. Russell Layne is being held without bond in the Blue Ridge Regional Jail Authority awaiting arraignment. It is unclear if he has representation at this time. Emmas case remains active and authorities urge anyone with additional information to contact Sergeant Jeff Burton of the HCSO Investigative Division at 434-476-3339. Indianola, Iowa Santa Claus isn't driving a sleigh this year in Indianola, Iowa and instead of presents, he's bringing joy and light, decorating every house on his block for the upcoming holiday season. John Reichart, 74, loves Christmas but there's something else he loves more: His wife of 53 years, Joan. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's four years ago, and since then, the Marine veteran has made it his mission to keep making her memories. "If it wasn't for my wife, I don't know if I would've done it," Reichart said. "But she wanted Christmas, so I'd give it to her. I'd do anything to make her happy." Now there are tons of extra hands on his project, helping set up lights, decorations and more. A steady stream of admirers are also coming to check out the holiday cheer. John Reichart stands outside his home in Indianola, Iowa. November 2024. / Credit: CBS News "I think the whole neighborhood feels very blessed to have him in this neighborhood," one neighbor said. "It's moving," added one spectator. "That's what Christmas is all about." Reichart said he can't see himself stopping the tradition now. "As long as she's OK," he said. "And even if she would pass, I'm gonna do it in her memory as long as I can do it." Joan said that she's loved the holiday spirit her husband has brought to the neighborhood. "I didn't know what to think," Joan said. "But I'm glad he did it. I love him." To thank Reichart and celebrate Joan, his neighbors have set up a P.O. box to receive Christmas cards. They'll give the cards to Reichart to read them to his wife. CBS News is inviting viewers to send cards. To mail a card to the Reicharts, address it to this P.O. box: John Reichart C/O Frank Ewurs P.O. Box 133 Indianola, Iowa, 50125 Grateful Dead members reflect on Phil Lesh's impact on the band, their lives Former Navy secretary says Trump's Defense Secretary pick will make the military "weaker" Iowa man decorates neighbors' homes to honor wife's love of Christmas JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has been communicating with Donald Trump in recent months through secret back channels, helping the president-elect hammer out a policy agenda before and since his decisive White House victory, The Post has learned. The 68-year-old Wall Street titan who, like 78-year-old Trump, grew up in Queens in New York City has acted as a sounding board for the incoming commander-in-chiefs economic manifesto, four sources close to Trumps transition team said. Dimon had a direct route into Trumps top team even as he was flirting with the idea of joining a potential Kamala Harris administration. Bloomberg via Getty Images One GOP insider said the president-elects inner circle held a series of no-holds-barred conversations with Dimon who at the time was rumored to be eyeing a government job himself. They have been speaking regularly for months, said another GOP source briefed on the situation. Three of the sources close to Trump said the secret back channel focused on plans for cutting government spending, banking regulation, taxes and trade. A company insider added that Trumps top aides set up the calls, which continued after the election, to create a bit of daylight between the two men and stop details of the exchanges leaking. A spokesperson for the Trump transition team declined to comment. A JPMorgan spokesman also declined to comment. The quietly cozy relationship between Trump and Dimon has flourished despite the bankers cryptic and tight-lipped tendencies when it comes to politics. Trump had floated Dimons name as a possible Treasury secretary pick in June and later claimed he had won his White House endorsement despite a lack of any public statement from Dimon to that effect. Trump and Dimon also have continued to talk despite bouts of tension, including on Nov. 14 when the president-elect declared on Truth Social that Dimon will not be invited to join his Cabinet. The banker promptly shot back: I havent had a boss in 25 years and Im not about ready to start. Trump is known to be a long-standing admirer of the JPMorgan CEO that one source familiar with the matter likened to a man crush. Getty Images The JPMorgan CEO, a registered Democrat who declined to back either candidate in the White House race, had even reportedly toyed with the idea of joining a Kamala Harris administration but then ruled himself out of leaving the Wall Street giant when her poll numbers tanked, The Post previously reported. On Nov. 22, The Post broke the news that Trump was also consulting with Blackrock CEO Larry Fink, a major Dem donor, on policy issues. Nevertheless, the former Apprentice stars admiration of Dimon, who has helmed JPMorgan Chase for nearly two decades and has a net worth estimated by Forbes at $2.6 billion, was described by one source as a man crush. Another individual close to the president-elect said Trump greatly appreciated it when Dimon, an avid reader of the New York Post, told CNBC in January the eventual election winner was kind of right to criticize illegal immigration and weak defense spending by Americas NATO allies. At a recent conference in Peru, Dimon said that Trumps tariff threats could help bring US trading partners to the table if used wisely. Bloomberg via Getty Images Dimons comments angered left-wingers within the Biden administration who then blacklisted Dimon from the White House in a fit of pique, as The Post exclusively reported. Two weeks ago, the JPMorgan boss said Trumps threat of slapping tariffs on Uncle Sams major trading partners will bring people to the table if done wisely. Dimon, a vocal critic of current US banking rules, recently slammed the onslaught of red tape drafted by Dem-backed regulators, launching a foul-mouthed tirade over a list of his most-hated pieces of legislation at a recent conference in New York, Its time to fight backIve had it with this st, Dimon told the stunned audience. The JPMorgan boss singled out regulations aimed at keeping banks resistant to financial storms by forcing them to hold more capital on their balance sheets. The proposal, known as Basel III, would see major lenders raise that emergency buffer by 9%. Trump, seen here with First Lady Melania Trump at Mar-a-Lago in 2018, has been holed up in his private members club since Nov. 5 nominating senior officials to join his new administration. AP Things are becoming unfair and unjust, and they are hurting companies, a lot of these rules are hurting lower-paid individuals, Dimon said on Oct. 28. Dimon, who pulled down a salary of $34.5 million last year, urged the US government in his annual letter to shareholders last May to deliver effective policy-making issuing a warning that a politicians dream is a businessmans nightmare. Wells Fargo analyst Mike Mayo said Trumps second term as president will present the biggest inflection point for banking regulation in three decades. This is Jamies vindication, Mayo told The Post. He is looking at all the bureaucracy and red tape and saying enough of the regulatory theater. Its like banking with one hand tied behind your back Scott Bessent was the top hedge funder eventually named by Trump to lead the Treasury Department after a bitter knife fight with Howard Lutnick, one of his main rivals for the job who ended up as Commerce Secretary. Bloomberg via Getty Images Mayo added that Trump potentially taking an ax to stringent banking rules should mean borrowers get better rates for their loans and better services for customers. The top analyst said: It would be foolhardy for any administration not to hear Jamie Dimon out. Everyone should at least be consulting him for ideas. The revelations that Trump has sought advice from a kitchen cabinet of Wall Street bigwigs comes after his appointment of staunch loyalist and hedge fund mogul Scott Bessent as Treasury Secretary. He has been hunkered down at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach building his team for his new administration. Trumps move to seek informal counsel from titans of American finance, who are outside his MAGA inner circle, could provide further reassurance to investors ahead of his second term in the White House that kicks off on Jan. 20. South Korea's military said Friday it scrambled fighter jets as five Chinese and six Russian military planes flew through its air defense zone, an area wider than the country's airspace. Five Chinese and six Russian military aircraft entered and exited the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone in the East Sea and South Sea from 9:35 am (0035 GMT) to 1:53 pm, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. But the planes crossed into the KADIZ "without violating South Korean airspace", the JCS said, adding that the military "identified the aircraft before they entered KADIZ and deployed Air Force fighter jets to take tactical measures in preparation for any contingencies." An air defense identification zone is a broader area than a country's airspace in which it tries to control aircraft for security reasons, but the concept is not defined in any international treaty. China's defense ministry called the flights "their ninth joint strategic patrol," which occurred above the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea in South Korea. It added in a post on its official social media account that the flights were held Friday "according to the annual cooperation plan between the Chinese and Russian militaries." South Korean military officials told local media that Chinese military aircraft flew towards the small Dokdo islands off South Korea's eastern coast, after passing between the Korean peninsula and Japan near the contested submerged rock of Ieodo. Russian planes also flew south towards the Dokdo islets, known as Takeshima in Japanese. Officials said the Chinese and Russian aircraft flew together over the sea south of Dokdo before departing. Since 2019, China and Russia have regularly flown military aircraft into South Korea's air defense zone without prior notice, citing joint exercises. In this photo provided by the U.S. Air Force via South Korea Defense Ministry, U.S. Air Force B-1B bombers, F-16 fighter jets, South Korean Air Force F-15K fighter jets and Japanese Air Force F-2 fighter jets fly during a trilateral air drill at an undisclosed location, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. / Credit: U.S. Air Force/South Korea Defense Ministry via AP Similar incidents occurred in June and December last year, and in May and November 2022, with Beijing and Moscow describing the flights as "joint strategic air patrols." South Korea's defense ministry on Friday "expressed regret" to China and Russia over their military aircraft entering the South's air defense zone and "flying for an extended period without prior notice," according to a statement. The ministry requested that "appropriate measures be taken to prevent a recurrence", adding that such actions could "unnecessarily heighten tensions in the region." China and Russia have expanded military and defense ties since Moscow ordered troops into Ukraine nearly three years ago. Both are also traditional allies of North Korea, Seoul's arch-foe. South Korea and the United States have accused nuclear-armed North Korea of sending thousands of soldiers to Russia to fight in Ukraine and this month Pyongyang ratified a landmark defense pact with Moscow. The South Korean jets being scrambled marks the latest incident involving Russian and Chinese militaries in recent months. Earlier this month, Italy and Norway mobilized jets after Russian aircraft were spotted over the Baltic Sea and along the Norwegian coast. In September, Japan said its warplanes used flares to warn a Russian reconnaissance aircraft to leave northern Japanese airspace. That same month, the U.S. military moved about 130 soldiers along with mobile rocket launchers to a desolate island in the Aleutian chain of western Alaska amid a recent increase in Russian military planes and vessels approaching American territory. Eight Russian military planes and four navy vessels, including two submarines, have come close to Alaska in recent days as Russia and China conducted joint military drills. In July, two Russian Tu-95s and two Chinese H-6s entered the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone, NORAD said. The bombers were intercepted by U.S. F-16 and F-35 fighter jets, along with Canadian CF-18s and other support aircraft, a U.S. defense official confirmed to CBS News. Senate Republicans hedge on Pete Hegseth support after latest controversy Extended interview: Selena Gomez Trump considering replacing Hegseth with DeSantis for defense secretary pick, sources tell CBS News Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz salutes after pinning badge on the new police officers during the graduation ceremony for Houston Police Academy Cadet Class 264 on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024 in Houston. HPD welcomed 53 new officers to the force during the graduation. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Consistently small Houston Police Department cadet classes this year have city leaders considering options such as working with local school districts looking for additional funding options, as they work to bolster the departments ranks. Mayor John Whitmire previously discussed the possibility of lowering the age required to enter the academy, but a city council member is now mulling taking high school graduates as civilian employees as a means of adding to the department's staff. The department last month graduated 65 cadets, the latest class to finish with fewer than the targeted 75 to 82 cadets recruiters aim for. Of the five classes this year, only one has finished within that range at 77. MORE FROM HOUSTON CHRONICLE: HPD leaders hope to complete review of 264,000 suspended cases by 2025 Advertisement Article continues below this ad The other classes have graduated 65, 66, 68 and 53 cadets, officials have said. It is a challenge recruiting these days, for a variety of reasons, City Councilman Julian Ramirez said. It requires some creativity. Ramirez this year helped usher through a measure of $4 million to add a sixth academy class in hopes of bolstering the departments ranks amid a wave of new retirements. That will take effect starting in the upcoming fiscal year. He said hes had conversations with Houston Independent School District officials in recent months about finding ways to improve the pipeline from high school graduation to the police department. Age and experience requirements mean someone cant graduate and immediately enter a cadet class, but the department is exploring the idea of hiring them as civilian personnel until they reach the age to enter the academy, Ramirez said. Gregory Fremin, a retired captain from Houston Police Department who is studying how departments recruit new officers, said the agencys struggles to fill recruiting classes are not unique to Harris County. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Houston joins many major cities across the country facing a hollowing out of police ranks as they are hit by a wave of retirements and resignations, particularly as public sentiment about law enforcement waned after the 2020 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Cities have begun actively recruiting police officers in other cites, offering cash bonuses and trying to raise base salaries, even as city budgets are strained. Fremin said big cities and even military branches, like the Marine Corps, are all competing for the same, relatively small pool of candidates. Smaller cities with fewer officers and more property tax revenue can often offer higher salaries Fremin said hed recently passed a billboard on the highway advertising $100,000 salaries for officers at the Plano Police Department. More than 90% of the HPDs budget goes toward staffing costs, covering roughly 5,200 officers and 900 civilian employees, according to budget documents. Leaders have said police staffing numbers are lower than they were 25 years ago, despite the growth of the citys population over the years. City leaders in recent months approved a $10,000 hiring incentive to cadets base salary of $42,000 as a way to draw additional applicants. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Several cranes tower above a busy construction site along state Highway 37 south of Mitchell where work is rapidly progressing on a $500 million grain plant that will be the latest addition to South Dakota's growing agricultural processing industry. For generations, the state has served as an agricultural production hub in the Great Plains, growing millions of bushels of corn and soybeans and raising millions of cows and hogs annually. For many years, most of the state's high-output food producers shipped their goods to be processed at plants elsewhere. The $500 million soybean processing plant under construction south of Mitchell, S.D., shown on Oct. 17, 2024, will be the latest project to expand processing of agricultural goods in the state. (Photo: Bart Pfankuch / South Dakota News Watch) As those commodities left the state, so too did the businesses and jobs needed to process agricultural products into their final form. Rural communities in South Dakota lost the potential for growth in local employment, housing and economic development generated by agricultural processing plants. "Historically, for some reason, here in South Dakota weve been content to raise commodities corn, soybeans, cattle and hogs and ship them out of state for processing," said Scott VanderWal, president of the South Dakota Farm Bureau. The $500 million soybean processing plant under construction south of Mitchell, S.D., shown on Oct. 17, 2024, will be the latest project to expand processing of agricultural goods in the state. But over the past 30 years, and with increasing frequency in recent years, the state agricultural industry has begun to take advantage of what insiders refer to as "added value." The term refers to the ability of those in the agriculture industry to generate more revenue from a single product.For instance, growing corn and then using it for food products, animal feed and in ethanol production. By processing soybeans closer to where they are grown, South Dakota farmers can grow and sell more commodities, which leads to spin-off revenues for a host of businesses, including in transportation, fuel, feed and machinery. "Were now finding out that we can make a little more money, generate local economic activity and create more jobs if we start adding value to the things we produce," VanderWal told News Watch. Details reveal size, scope of new soybean processing plant The High Plains Processing plant, now under construction 2 miles south of Mitchell, is being built by South Dakota Soybean Processors, a farmer-owned business that has a soybean plant in Miller and another in Volga, where the company is headquartered. Tom Kersting, company CEO, said the new plant will provide good-paying jobs now and well into the future and will create new revenues for a host of businesses and farmers throughout the region. It will also generate significant new property taxes for local governments and salestaxes for state government, he said. Construction costs are estimated to be about $500 million, and the target date for operations to begin is Oct. 1, 2025, Kersting told News Watch. The plant will be able to process soybeans as well as sunflower seeds and other products if market conditions warrant, he said. The AGP plant in Aberdeen, S.D., shown on Oct. 23, 2024, is the state's largest soybean processing plant with an annual capacity of 50 million bushels. (Photo: Bart P{Pfankuch / South Dakota News Watch) Finished products will mainly include oils and animal feed. The plant will have capacity to process 100,000 bushels of soybeans a day (about 37 million bushels a year), which makes it the second-largest plant behind the AGP soybean plant in Aberdeen, which has an annual capacity of 50 million bushels. The Mitchell plant has about 300 construction workers on site now and expects to employ up to 85 full-time employees and another dozen positions at the company offices in Volga. Kersting said the addition of new, consistent capacity for grain products at the Mitchell plant should not only stabilize but also increase the prices paid to local soybean and sunflower farmers. Without it, youd be much more dependent on the export markets for pricing, he said. By having the demand locally, and having it year-round, theres an opportunity for higher prices for farmers. In addition to oils, used in fuels and in some food products, the plant will also produce grains that are used to feed animals, mainly hogs and poultry, he said. The new plant will be 2 miles from Interstate 90 and next to a railroad line. More: Watertowns new Coteau Chic Boutique unites fashion with a focus on community Economic boost to South Dakota There is real excitement over the plant's potential for economic benefits, said David Lambert, regional development director for the Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce. Were just tickled, he said. From our perspective, we feel that the impact is going to be huge. Lambert said the plants economic impact will be felt most in Mitchell, where he expects many workers will live and spend money. The plant will create new revenue opportunities in several economic sectors, including housing, grocery, retail and transportation, he said. Nearby cities and towns will also see big benefits, not only from increased capacity to sell grain but also in the same tangential ways Mitchell will benefit economically, he said. The regional farm economy will also see a big boost, Lambert said. For instance, the new demand for soybeans created by the plant could raise the price of beans by 20 cents per bushel, which could generate $6 million a year in new income for area grain producers, he said. We know that when farmers have money, they spend that money, and they tend to do it locally, Lambert said. So the regional impact is so huge, and that is even after you take into account the 75 new, well-paid employees with an annual payroll over $4 million. Lambert said the chamber has already heard from businesses directly or indirectly related to the grain industry that are eyeing a potential move to or expansion within the regional Mitchell market. Weve already started to see some new opportunities from folks who want to take advantage of the economic activity that will be created by the plant, he said. More: Codington County could get lithium-ion battery plant The $500 million soybean processing plant under construction south of Mitchell, S.D., shown on Oct. 17, 2024, will be the latest project to expand processing of agricultural goods in the state. Where are processing plants expanding to in South Dakota? The South Dakota processing expansion began in earnest roughly 35 years ago when Poet biofuels began production of ethanol from corn in Scotland in the late 1980s. Since then, ethanol production has expanded to nine companies processing 740 million bushels into roughly 1.3 billion gallons of ethanol worth about $3 billion annually. South Dakota could see a huge economic benefit from the $1 billion Net-Zero 1 plant proposed by the company Gevo for a site east of Lake Preston, where corn would be processed into sustainable biofuel for jets. Officials from Colorado-based Gevo said the proposed plant, which recently received a $1.46 billion commitment from the Department of Energy Loan Programs Office, could create thousands of jobs once operational. The state has also seen rapid expansion of milk processing, with new or expanded cheesemaking plants in Milbank (Valley Queen Cheese), Brookings (Bel Brands) and Lake Norden (Agropur). The increased processing capacity has allowed the state's population of milk cows to more than double over roughly the past decade, from 91,000 cows in 2012 to about 210,000 in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. According to the USDA, South Dakota dairy farmers produced 4.5 billion pounds of milk in 2023, up from 3.1 billion pounds in 2020 and 2 billion pounds in 2013. Agricultural processing plants serve as major employers in several South Dakota cities. The Dakota Provisions pork and poultry plant in Huron has variable employment that can range from 600 to 1,000. The state's largest soybean plant, the AGP plant in Aberdeen that opened in 2019 at a cost of $300 million, has about 60 full-time workers. In addition to jobs in the plant and an increase in production capacity for individual farmers, increased processing of commodities closer to where South Dakota farmers produce them creates jobs and revenue for local trucking companies, parts and maintenance firms, fuel providers and sellers of machinery, VanderWal said. "We're providing jobs or creating economic activity because those processing plants need supplies and parts and people to run them, and all those things that go along with that," he said. VanderWal said recent efforts to expand in-state processing of beef cattle, as reported by News Watch in 2023, would also generate new income and reduce costs for South Dakota ranchers, who raised 3.5 million cattle and calves in 2023, according to USDA data. "In the cattle industry, especially years ago, most of our feeder cattle actually got shipped out of state for feeding even, and then further processing," he said. "We've put a lot of effort into the last few years into feeding them here. So we're using our own feed stuff, so corn, basically, and silage and things like that. So then the next step to avoid having to haul them so far when they're finished and ready for market, is to process them here." This story was produced by South Dakota News Watch, an independent, nonprofit news organization. Read more in-depth stories at sdnewswatch.org and sign up for an email every few days to get stories as soon as they're published. Contact Bart Pfankuch at bart.pfankuch@sdnewswatch.org. This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Mitchell adding new $500M agricultural processing plant The Kentucky State Capitol State of Kentucky (The Center Square) If bourbon or other spirits are on your shopping list this Christmas season, the state of Kentucky may have a deal for you. On Wednesday, the states Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control launched its first-ever auction of confiscated bottles from criminal cases the departments investigators have closed. Among the products available are two bottles of Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year bourbon that will be sold separately. The rare bourbon can cost $1,000 or more. A bottle of Eagle Rare 10 Year will also be up for bid as will four bottles of Blantons Single Barrel and a commemorative Makers Mark Breeders Cup bottle signed by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith. Another auction item is billed as a bar stocker package with various wines, vodkas, rums and whiskeys. The online auction, posted at ABC.ky.gov, is allowed through House Bill 439, a bipartisan bill sponsored by state Rep. Matt Koch, R-Paris and signed into law by Gov. Andy Beshear in April. Proceeds from the sale will benefit the AWARE Board, which provides grants to schools and colleges to promote responsibility awareness. We are proud to help finance educational programs that promote responsible alcohol use by adults and awareness programs for youth, including Project Prom and Project Graduation, ABC Commissioner Allyson Taylor said in a statement. We look forward to seeing the response to this auction and have started planning additional auctions for 2025. The auction is scheduled to end at midnight eastern time Dec. 11. Those interested in participating must be 21 or older and show proof of age online before placing a bid. The state will not ship bottles to winning bidders. Instead, winners must pick up their items themselves either from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 13 or 9 a.m. to noon on Dec. 14 in Frankfort. Matthew McConaughey are impressed after the Hollywood actor and his wife Camila unveiled a special Thanksgiving dish: Tequila Turkey. Camila took to her brands, Woman of Today, Instagram on Wednesday to share a video of herself preparing the dish, which she made using a recipe from Laurence Agnew, the executive chef at The Grand Marlin Pensacola Beach. The clip began with her pouring her and her husbands brand of tequila Pantalones Organic Tequila into a large bowl with brine and a large turkey in it. Matthew McConaugheys wife says she made a picture-perfect turkey with tequila (womenoftoday / Instgram) Matthew then appeared in the video, telling his wife to pour more tequila into the bowl, which she said no to doing. However, someone off-camera, presumably Matthew, then added more tequila to the mixture. Camila then laughed and stopped the pouring, before adding: Hey thats good, but save some for us! She then showcased a bowl of apple slices that she was putting into her bowl. She then showcased her cooked, golden-brown bird, which had been soaked in the tequila mixture before it was put in the oven. Oh look how beautiful this is! Camila said. We just made picture-perfect turkey with Pantalones. This is beautiful. Ive never made a turkey so beautiful before. After expressing her gratitude to Agnew, who won her Tequila Turkey Recipe contest, she shared how shell be having the turkey with the perfect beverage on the side. Now Im going to enjoy some tequila turkey with my Pantalones Tequila, she added, before blowing a kiss at the camera. Enjoy, Happy Thanksgiving. McConaughey and his wife and model Camila Alves at an Oscars party earlier this year (AFP via Getty Images) She gushed over the results of her turkey in the caption, writing: No jokeit came out sooo good!!! As she once again congratulated Agnew on winning her contest, she emphasized how grateful she was to be working with such a unique recipe, which is available on her website, Women of Today. And thank you for making me now comfortable on Thanksgiving turkey something I was so afraid of it before!! she wrote to the executive chef. In the comments, many fans expressed how impressed they were by Camilas turkey. This looks amazing! one person wrote, while another added: That is a beautiful looking turkey. Enjoy! Happy Thanksgiving blessings. A third quipped: Add tequila to the turkey, and Ill add cinnamon sugar and cloves to the kettle. Matthew and Camila, who share three children, first announced the release of Pantalones Tequila in October 2023. For their campaign earlier this month, they even re-created the poster for Matthews hit movie, How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days. In the image, Camila posed in the lead Andie Andersons (played by Kate Hudson) signature yellow dress, as she had her back turned from her husband. While Matthew was wearing a dress jacket, shirt, and tie, he wasnt wearing any pants, as the poster instead read: How to Lose Your Pants in 10 Ways. Earlier this month, Matthew also recalled how his wife shaped his career after they moved to a ranch in Texas. He also noted that he was at a point where he was saying no to certain projects, so he could stop being known as the dude who does rom-coms. That was my lane, and I liked that lane. That lane paid well and it was working. I was so strong in that lane that anything outside of that lane, dramas, and stuff that I wanted to do, were like, No, no, no, no, no McConaughey, he explained, during an episode of the Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios podcast. I made a pact with my wife and said, Im not going back to work unless I get offered roles I want to do. He also noted that there were a wobbly two years when he stuck to this rule. However, he later went on to work on acclaimed films including The Lincoln Lawyer, Bernie, Mud, Interstellar, Magic Mike, and Dallas Buyers Club for which he won a Best Actor Oscar. The investigation surrounding Natalie Woods death has "exhausted" all leads Silver Screen Collection/Getty Actress Natalie Wood, circa 1965. Natalie Woods tragic death at age 43 left many to question the circumstances surrounding her fatal drowning for decades. Beginning her career in Hollywood at the age of 5, Wood became an iconic figure in film and television after seamlessly transitioning from child star to leading lady. She also made headlines for her personal life and had relationships with Warren Beatty, Richard Gregson and Robert R.J. Wagner, whom she was married to at the time of her death. Wood was also a mother she shared a daughter named Natasha with Gregson and a daughter named Courtney with Wagner. Woods life was cut short less than a decade after the birth of her second daughter when she died during a 1981 boat trip to Californias Catalina Island. On Thanksgiving weekend that year, Wood and Wagner set sail on their 60-foot yacht, the Splendour, alongside Woods Brainstorm costar Christopher Walken and their longtime friend and skipper, Dennis Davern. What transpired over the next few days and how Wood ended up drowning in the dark waters off the coast of the island has been dissected for decades. While the actress' death was initially ruled an accidental drowning, the case would continue to stir controversy. In 2011, Davern came to authorities with information about an alleged fight between Wood and Wagner moments before her death details he had previously withheld and the investigation was officially reopened. Since then, investigators have received more than 100 tips, and at one point Wagner was named "more of a person of interest in relation to Woods death. In 2022, the actor was cleared of involvement by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. All leads in the Natalie Wood case have been exhausted, and the case remains an open, unsolved case, Lieutenant Hugo Reynaga told Page Six. If additional leads surface in the future, which have not already been investigated, the case will be reassigned to a detective to investigate the new leads. So, how did Natalie Wood die? Here are all the details of the star's death and the investigation into its cause. How did Natalie Wood die? Darlene Hammond/Hulton Archive/Getty Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner attending a formal event, circa 1980. Following Woods death in 1981, the Los Angeles coroner, Dr. Thomas Noguchi, initially ruled that she died due to an accidental drowning. At the time of her death, Wood had been on a break from filming her movie Brainstorm and was spending time aboard her yacht Splendour off the coast of Catalina Island. She was joined by her husband, Wagner, her Brainstorm costar, Walken, and Davern. On the day of her death, Wood, Wagner and Walken had dinner and drinks on land and returned to the yacht around 10 p.m., per Wagners 2008 memoir, Pieces of My Heart. Shortly after, Wagner allegedly had a confrontation with Walken after he made comments about Woods career. While there are conflicting reports of Woods final moments, Wagner said it was during this time that she disappeared. In Wagner's memoir, he wrote that he had seen Wood go to bed prior to the argument, and when he returned to their bedroom later that night, she was nowhere to be found. He wrote that he soon discovered that the yachts dinghy was also missing. Although it would have been out of character for Wood to take the dinghy out so late at night, Wagner wrote that he initially figured she had headed to land to get away from the fighting. In Pieces of My Heart, Wagner wrote that he alerted Davern, his skipper, and then called for the shore boat to take him to the island. Wagner didnt find Wood near the dinghy near the dock and at around 1:30 a.m. Davern radioed for help from the Baywatch, a private coast patrol. At 3:30 a.m., Wagner called the Coast Guard. After an extensive search of the boat, the Coast Guard began search and rescue. After hours of searching, the dinghy was found at 5:30 a.m. in an isolated cove. The boat was in neutral and turned off and Wood was not on board. Two hours later, Woods body was discovered. She was wearing a red parka over a nightgown and had bruising on her arms and legs as well as an abrasion on her cheek. She also had a blood alcohol content of 0.14%. In a press conference, Dr. Noguchi concluded that after accidentally falling into the water, Wood had attempted to board the dinghy, per Vanity Fair. Based on fingernail scratch marks on the inflatable boats side, he believed she had clung onto its side but was weighed down by her waterlogged parka and was unable to pull herself up. She stayed afloat for as long as possible until, as Noguchi theorized, overcome by exhaustion and hypothermia, she drowned. How old was Natalie Wood when she died? Wood was 43 years old when her body was discovered on the morning of Nov. 29, 1981, floating in a cove off the coast of Californias Catalina Island, about a mile away from her yacht. Although the actress was semi-retired in 1981, she continued taking on smaller roles, often collaborating with Wagner. The couple acted alongside each other in Switch and Hart to Hart in the years leading up to her death. When Wood died, she was near the end of filming the sci-fi movie Brainstorm. After her death, the ending of the film was re-written and Wood's younger sister Lana, with whom she had an at-times troubled relationship, stood in for some of her last scenes. Brainstorm came out two years after Wood's death and was dedicated to her memory. What happened in Natalie Woods final moments? Silver Screen Collection/Getty American actress Natalie Wood. Hours before her death, witnesses said the group was intoxicated during dinner on the island, so the restaurant manager warned the harbormaster, per CBS News. Late in the evening, Wagner wrote in his book that he smashed a wine bottle in front of Walken during a fight. Upset, Wood allegedly retreated to their room, and Wagner followed, beginning a fight between the couple. Marilyn Wayne, a woman who came forward in 2011, said she heard the alleged fight occurring aboard Wagner and Wood's yacht. Wayne was on a boat with her boyfriend and son 50 feet away from the Splendour. She told detectives that she had heard the altercation and a woman screaming for help, per The Hollywood Reporter. Wayne said she called harbor patrol and no one answered. Help me, someone please help me, Im drowning we heard repeatedly. Alarmed, I called out to my son, who also heard the cries, and looked at his new digital watch: it was just minutes after 11:00 p.m., Wayne shared, adding that she later heard a mans voice slurred, and in aggravated tone, say something to the effect of, Oh, hold on, were coming to get you, and not long after, the cries for help subsided, but we heard the cries for up to 15 minutes. What do those on board the Splendour believe happened to Natalie Wood? Paul Harris/Getty Splendour, the boat owned by Robert Wagner, docked off Two Harbors , Catalina Island the day after the body of Hollywood legend Natalie Wood was discovered in the chill November waters of Two Harbors. In his memoir, Wagner wrote that he had thought about the final moments of Woods life for decades. He believes that her death was an accident and she slipped off the boat while attempting to get on or to tie up the dinghy. Wagner explained that while he was hashing out his argument with Walken, Wood may have heard the dinghy banging against the boat outside of her window. He believes she went outside in the hopes of tying it tighter to stop the noise but accidentally slipped on the swim step, hitting her head and falling unconscious before ending up in the water. But its all conjecture. Nobody knows. There are only two possibilities: either she was trying to get away from the argument, or she was trying to tie the dinghy. But the bottom line is that nobody knows exactly what happened, Wagner wrote. While Walken has not often spoken out about that night, he told PEOPLE in 1986 that he believed Woods death was an accident. I dont know what happened. She slipped and fell in the water. I was in bed then. It was a terrible thing, he said. Meanwhile, despite Daverns prior statements that Woods death was an accident, he later claimed in his 2006 book Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour that he believed Wagner was involved in Wood's death. What happened during the investigation surrounding Natalie Woods death? Jason Hailey/MPTV Natalie Wood and husband Robert Wagner aboard their yacht "Splendor" on July 7, 1978 in Marina Del Rey, Ca. While the initial investigation around Woods death concluded it was an accident, over the years, Davern unsuccessfully tried to get authorities to give the case another look. In November 2011, the case was reopened after he came forward with information he had shared in his book but had previously withheld from investigators. I made some terrible decisions and mistakes. I did lie on a report several years ago. I made mistakes by not telling the honest truth in a police report, Davern said on Today. Over the next few months, authorities traveled to inspect the Splendour and spoke with witnesses. In August 2012, less than a year into the renewed inquiry, the coroners office decided to amend Woods death certificate. The cause of death was changed from accidental drowning to drowning and other undetermined factors, noting that the circumstances surrounding how Wood ended up in the water are not clearly established. Then, in 2013, the coroners report was updated to reflect that Woods bodily injuries may have occurred prior to her drowning. In 2018, two new people came forward claiming to be witnesses, saying they had seen Wagner and Wood on the back of the yacht on the night of her death. Shortly after, Wagner was called more of a person of interest in the case. This is a suspicious death investigation. This is not a murder investigation, Lt. John Corina of the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department said during a press conference. Weve interviewed a lot of new people near the island, near the boat, people who had knowledge about the couple and what was going on that weekend. Were closer to understanding what happened. Four years later, Wagner was cleared of involvement in the case by the L.A. County Sheriff's Department. What has Natalie Woods family said about her death? Ted Streshinsky/Corbis via Getty Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood with their daughters Natasha Gregson Wagner and Courtney Wagner at their Beverly Hills, California, home. Woods daughter Natasha, who was raised by her stepfather Wagner, believes that her mothers death was an accident and remembers telling her mother "Don't go" before she boarded the Splendour. "They were getting ready to go on the boat. I was hugging her and telling her I loved her and to have a great trip. She had an angora sweater on and it was very soft. Thats my last memory of her," Natasha told PEOPLE in 2016. While his children maintain Wagner's innocence, Woods younger sister Lana has long believed that her death was not an accident. She published her book Little Sister: My Investigation into the Mysterious Death of Natalie Wood in 2021. Natasha's 2020 documentary Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind includes her reasoning why she believes Wagner had nothing to do with her mothers death. Its outrageous and completely unacceptable that others have created this narrative about my dad and the night my mom died, Natasha said. I know that if my mom had been in any kind of distress he would have given his life for her. I know that as well as I know my name. In a rare interview in 2020, Wagner agreed that his daughter knows he never would have done anything to hurt her mother. He also told PEOPLE in 2016, I tried to keep her moms memory alive for her. We were all so shattered by the loss. Wood and Wagners younger daughter Courtney has expressed similar sentiments about her father, telling PEOPLE that the terrible things said about Wagner are very upsetting. I was furious at the accusations being said about him, it felt incredibly disrespectful, she told PEOPLE in 2020. I love him so deeply so and it has gone on for so long that I still cant believe they actually write such untrue things. What is Natalie Wood's legacy? Silver Screen Collection/Getty Natalie Wood in a studio portrait, against a pink background, circa 1965. While Wood had a prolific career in Hollywood, much of her legacy has been "overshadowed" by the mystery surrounding her death. Her daughter Natasha said this was the reason she produced Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind, hoping to honor her mothers life and allowing her moms memory to live in the light. The day my mom died my entire world was shattered. Since then, theres been so much focus on how she died that its overshadowed who she was as a person, Natasha said in the film. In both the documentary and her memoir More Than Love, Natasha characterized her mother as someone who wanted to be more than a movie star, saying, She was human, she was an artist who struggled and she was brave and she was happy. By Laurie Chen and James Pomfret BEIJING/HONG KONG (Reuters) - A Beijing court sentenced veteran Chinese state media journalist Dong Yuyu on Friday to seven years in prison for espionage, his family said in a statement, calling the verdict a grave injustice. Police in the Chinese capital detained the 62-year-old former Guangming Daily editor and journalist in February 2022 while he was lunching with a Japanese diplomat, the U.S. National Press Club said in a statement. He was later charged with espionage. "Sentencing Yuyu to seven years in prison on no evidence declares to the world the bankruptcy of the justice system in China," Dong's family said in a statement provided to Reuters. "Today's verdict is a grave injustice not only to Yuyu and his family but also to every freethinking Chinese journalist and every ordinary Chinese committed to friendly engagement with the world." The family added that in the court judgment, Japanese diplomats whom Dong met were "specifically named as agents of an 'espionage organisation,' which is the Japanese embassy in Beijing". Dong's conviction implied every Chinese citizen would be "expected to know that the Chinese government may consider those embassies to be 'espionage organisations'", it said, which would cause a chilling effect. Police guarded the court on Friday, with seven police cars parked nearby, and journalists were asked to leave the area. A U.S. diplomat said they had been barred from attending the hearing. Dong has been detained in a Beijing prison since a closed-court hearing in July 2023, the press club said in September. Chinese authorities handled the case "strictly in accordance with the law", foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a regular press briefing on Friday. Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya refused to comment on the verdict. "In any case, diplomatic activities conducted at our missions abroad are legitimate activities," he told a routine press conference. "Chinese authorities must reverse this unjust verdict, and protect the right of journalists to work freely and safely in China," said Beh Lih Yi, Asia program manager at the Committee to Protect Journalists. "Dong Yuyu should be reunited with his family immediately." Dong regularly had in-person exchanges with diplomats from various embassies and journalists. The Japanese diplomat he met, one of two he had regularly met in the past, was also detained for several hours, spurring a complaint from Japan's foreign ministry. At the time, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said the diplomat was engaged in activities "inconsistent with their capacity" in China. The diplomat was later released. A Nieman Fellow at Harvard University in 2007, Dong was a visiting scholar and visiting professor at Keio University and Hokkaido University in Japan, his family said in a statement in April 2023. He joined the Guangming Daily, affiliated to the ruling Communist Party, in 1987, after graduating from Peking University law school, and was the deputy editor of its commentary section. He wrote opinion articles in Chinese media and liberal academic journals on topics from legal reforms to social issues, and co-edited a book promoting the rule of law in China. His articles advocated moderate reforms while avoiding direct criticism of President Xi Jinping. His family had initially kept news of his detention private in the hope that charges could be reduced or dropped, but were told in March 2023 that he would stand trial, they said in their statement. Non-government bodies (NGOs) advocating press freedom have called for his release, with more than 700 journalists, academics and NGO workers signing an online petition for him to be freed. "Dong Yuyu is a talented reporter and author whose work has long been respected by colleagues," said Ann Marie Lipinski, curator of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard. "We stand with many in hoping for his release and return to his family." In February, a Beijing court handed a suspended death sentence to Australian writer and pro-democracy blogger, Yang Hengjun, on espionage charges. (Reporting by Laurie Chen and James Pomfret; Additional reporting by Joe Cash in Beijing and John Geddie in Tokyo; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Clarence Fernandez) PRAGUE (Reuters) - Czech online grocer Rohlik Group's valuation has nearly doubled from three years ago to 1.85 billion euros ($1.95 billion), calculations from bond issue documents show. The privately-held company, which has expanded in central Europe in recent years, has rarely commented on its valuation although in March it said it was valued at 1.3 billion euros in mid-2022. A 2021 funding round made it a so-called start-up unicorn with a valuation of over $1 billion. The company promotes its use of local suppliers and local products and has lately concentrated its expansion into Germany where it has struck a partnership with Amazon. Calculations on Rohlik's current value match an evaluation cited by Rohlik founder and Chief Executive Tomas Cupr in a podcast released this week. The valuation is important as a Cupr-controlled company is offering 3 billion Czech crowns ($125.02 million) of bonds with a 6.00% coupon that mature in December 2029, and holders have a right to an extraordinary yield of up to 27.5% if the value of Rohlik rises to above 3.5 billion euros. A valuation of between 2.5 billion and 3.5 billion euros at maturity provides a 25% extraordinary yield, while 20% is applied if the value of Rohlik is less than 2.5 billion euros. In a previous 3.55 billion crown bond issue maturing in 2026, Cupr has 114,400 shares of Rohlik, or 19.3% of issued shares, pledged to secure the bonds. Those shares can be used to calculate Rohlik's valuation using the bond's most recent loan-to-value ratio of 39.35% done by an outside party and published last month. Speaking to a J&T Banka podcast this week, Cupr said the company's latest independent valuation, conducted twice a year, estimated Rohlik's value at a similar figure. "(The evaluation) is a little more than what was in the last investment round in the summer, which was somewhere over 1.6 billion euros. But it is before news of Amazon so I think that is something that will catapult us," he told J&T Banka's podcast. "Of course at some moment, the evaluation is only some imaginary figure. What is important is the ability of the firm to make money." Cupr said profits from the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Romania would continue to fuel Rohlik's growth in Germany. In a May interview, Cupr told Reuters that Rohlik was on track to break even within 12 months. Rohlik has raised money from leading venture capitalists including Index Ventures, Partech and Belgian investor Sofina. J&T Banka, PPF Banka and Erste Group Bank's Ceska Sporitelna are managing the new bond issue. ($1 = 23.9960 Czech crowns) ($1 = 0.9471 euros) (Reporting by Jason Hovet, Jan Lopatka and Michael Kahn; Editing by Susan Fenton) By Parisa Hafezi and John Irish GENEVA (Reuters) - European and Iranian diplomats met on Friday to discuss whether they can engage in serious talks, including over Iran's disputed nuclear programme, before Donald Trump returns to the White House in January. The meetings in Geneva, the first since the U.S. election, come after Tehran was angered by a European-backed resolution last week that criticised Iran for poor cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran expected the talks to be "tough and serious. He added that next week Tehran would brief Russia and China, the non-Western signatories of a 2015 nuclear pact with Iran that Trump abandoned during his last term. Trump, who after reneging on the nuclear deal pursued a "maximum pressure" policy that sought to wreck Iran's economy, is staffing his new administration with noted hawks on Iran. Iran's deputy foreign minister and senior nuclear negotiator Majid Takhtravanchi met the EU's coordinator Enrique Mora on Thursday evening and held talks on Friday with top diplomats from Britain, Germany and France, known as the E3. While Trump's return to power leaves many questions open, four European diplomats said the E3 countries felt it was vital to engage now because time was running out. Mora said the exchange was "frank" and focused on Iran's military support for Russia, the situation in the Middle East and the nuclear dossier. The senior Iranian official said the three issues were "interconnected". The level of distrust between both sides was highlighted when the E3, the European parties to the 2015 nuclear accord, on Nov. 21 pushed ahead with a resolution by the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which criticised Iran. Tehran reacted to the resolution by informing the IAEA that it plans to install more uranium-enriching centrifuges at its enrichment plants. "If we finalise a roadmap with France, Britain and Germany on how to resolve the nuclear dispute, then the ball will be in the U.S. court to revive or kill the 2015 nuclear deal," the senior Iranian official said. A European official also said the primary aim was to try to agree a calendar timeline and framework to embark on good faith talks so that there was a clear commitment from Iranians to begin negotiating something concrete before Trump arrives. The E3 have adopted a tougher stance on Iran in recent months, notably since Tehran ramped up its military support to Russia. However, they have always insisted that they wanted to maintain a policy of pressure and dialogue. Iranian officials say their primary objective will be finding ways to secure lifting of sanctions. WAR FEARS The 2015 deal lifted international sanctions against Iran in return for Tehran accepting some curbs to its nuclear programme. Since Trump left the deal, Iran has accelerated its nuclear programme while limiting the IAEA's ability to monitor it. "There isn't going to be an agreement until Trump takes office or any serious talks about the contours of a deal," said Kelsey Davenport, director of non-proliferation policy at the Arms Control Association advocacy group. The talks also come as fears linger that tensions between Iran and arch-rival Israel could ignite an all-out war, despite a ceasefire in Lebanon between Israel and Iran's Hezbollah allies. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday he wanted to turn Israel's focus to Iran. The European powers hope Iran will decide to begin negotiating new restrictions on its nuclear activities, albeit less far-reaching than agreed in 2015, with a view to having a deal by the summer. That would give enough time to implement new limits on Iran's programme and lift sanctions before the accord ends in October 2025. It is not clear whether Trump would back negotiations. If no new deal is agreed, the E3 could trigger the so-called "snapback", a process under the 2015 deal where the issue is sent to the U.N. Security Council and sanctions can be reimposed. Iran, which has long said its nuclear programme is peaceful, has warned that it would review its nuclear doctrine if that happened. "The snapback is a major obstacle to resolving the nuclear dispute," the senior Iranian official said. (Writing and reporting by John Irish and Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Deepa Babington) MANILA (Reuters) -Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Friday that any impeachment complaint against his estranged vice president Sara Duterte would only distract Congress and not help people, in remarks that drew criticism from some lawmakers. Sara Duterte, who made threats against the president's life on the weekend, is under legislative investigation for alleged misuse of public funds. She quit her cabinet post as education secretary in June and has denied wrongdoing. A coalition of leftist lawmakers condemned Marcos' statement, calling it a "brazen attempt to influence Congress" after he discouraged impeachment proceedings against Duterte. "Why waste time on it?" Marcos told reporters. "None of this will help improve a single Filipino life. As far as I'm concerned, it's a storm in a teacup." In response, representatives France Castro, Arlene Brosas and Raoul Manuel, said they were "ready and preparing for impeachment" and urged Congress to assert its independence and hold officials accountable. "Vice President Duterte must be held accountable," the lawmakers said, warning Congress against becoming a "rubber stamp of the executive branch". Duterte's rift with Marcos and his cousin, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, has been at the centre of a bitter political row since the collapse of a powerful alliance between their families that led to Marcos' landslide win in the 2022 election. Amid escalating tension, a group of business and civil society organisations, including the prominent Makati Business Club, urged public officials to exercise restraint and prioritise public welfare over political interests. "Resorting to threats, incendiary rhetoric, or any form of violence has no place in a nation founded on the rule of law," the group said in a statement. On Saturday, Duterte said she had hired an assassin to kill the president, his wife and Romualdez, in the event that she herself were killed, prompting a strong rebuke from Marcos. Law enforcement officials had summoned Duterte for questioning over the statement on Friday, but the vice president failed to appear and asked for a new schedule. Her lawyers said she had office matters requiring her urgent attention. When asked if his relationship with the vice president was irreparable, Marcos replied: "Never say never." (Reporting by Karen Lema; Additional reporting by Eloisa Lopez; Editing by John Mair and Clarence Fernandez) Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng Three is anchored near the city of Granaa in Jutland, Denmark (Getty) Sweden has sent a formal request for China to cooperate with its investigations into the severing of two undersea data cables on the Baltic Sea bed. The cables were severed on 17 and 18 November when a Chinese ship, Yi Peng Three, was speculated to be sailing in the area. China, responding to Swedens request, said it stands ready to uncover the truth while denying any involvement in suspected sabotage. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said it will work with the concerned nations to find out how the two undersea cables were damaged. Swedish president Ulf Kristersson said on Thursday that Stockholm is seeking clarity from Beijing on how the two fibre optic cables were damaged. Today I can tell you that we have additionally sent a formal request to work together with Swedish authorities to get clarity about what has happened, he said during a press conference after a security meeting of government leaders of the Baltic Sea region. We expect China will choose to work together as we have requested. China willing to maintain communication on submarine infrastructure security (REUTERS) The two cables in question are the Arelion cable, linking Sweden to Lithuania, and the C-Lion 1 cable that runs between Finland and Germany. They are part of network infrastructure that facilitates international communication by providing high-speed data connections. According to data from ship tracking websites, theYi Peng Three disembarked from Ust-Luga post, west of St Petersburg in Russia, on 15 November. The vessel was tracked sailing over the cables around the time the cables were severed on 17 and 18 November. Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng Three is anchored near the city of Granaa in Jutland, Denmark, on 20 November 2024 (AP) The next day the ship was anchored in the Kattegat Strait, a passage between Sweden and Denmark, and was being monitored by multiple vessels, including from the Danish navy. According to a Wall Street Journal report, it is suspected the crew on the Chinese ship deliberately severed the cables by dragging its anchor through the seabed for more than 100 miles. Polish prime minister Donald Tusk expressed full solidarity and full support for Sweden as it acts in the interest of all countries in the Baltic region. Finnish, Swedish and German authorities have launched investigations into the rupture of the two cables. Germanys defence minister claimed the damage appeared to have been an act of sabotage, although there is no evidence thus far. The cable between Sweden and Lithuania, which is owned by a Swedish company, was damaged on 17 November, a Swedish prosecutor said. The cable between Finland and Germany, located south of the Sweden-Lithuania cable, was damaged a number of hours later. Both damage sites are located within the Swedish economic zone. Tensions have escalated in the Baltic Sea since Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The period of war has seen a number of incidents involving damage to undersea infrastructure costing billions of euros to countries in the region. Seven months into the invasion in 2020, undersea explosions damaged Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines which carried natural gas from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea. One investigation into the explosions reported in August that they were carried out by a Ukrainian sabotage team, but Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky denied the accusation. In October 2023, an undersea telecommunications cable between Estonia and Sweden was damaged. The Harris County Jail at 701 N San Jacinto Street as seen on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, in Houston. Karen Warren/Staff photographer Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez and Harris County have been dismissed from a lawsuit filed by a Houston woman who accused her former jailers of causing a miscarriage. Mikayla Savage, 35, of Houston, in February sued the county, Gonzalez and a group of jail deputies and accused them of failing to protect her from harm during a three-month stay in 2022 on charges of violating a protective order and aggravated assault, which were later dropped. HOUSTON CRIME: Former KIPP high school teacher accused of sexually assaulting six students Advertisement Article continues below this ad U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison dismissed the claims against Gonzalez and the County on Nov. 22, according to court records. At the same hearing, he denied motions made by individual deputies who also sought to be removed from the complaint. Savage accused a guard of shoving her into a wall while bringing her to a court hearing. She suffered a miscarriage about 10 days after the shove, according to the lawsuit. Savage attributed the miscarriage to being pushed, stomach first, into the wall. She claims to have suffered other harassment at the hands of guards, whom she accused of putting her in dirty cells, giving her soiled blankets and ignoring her complaints. Savage also claims to have suffered six physical and sexual assaults during her confinement, and said deputies failed to step in to protect her. After one of those assaults, Savage said was insulted by a deputy while she was being roughly dragged to a holding cell. The deputy referenced complaints her mother had made to the sheriff's office about her treatment. The lawsuit accuses the deputy of retaliating against her. County officials said they investigated complaints connected to Savage's treatment and "found insufficient evidence to verify the allegations." Advertisement Article continues below this ad The original 40-page complaint also tied Savage's treatment to other complaints about prisoner treatment in the jail dating back to the 1990s. The complaint is similar to another lawsuit, filed last year by families of people who died in jail custody in 2022, accusing the county of creating a "culture of deliberate indifference" that contributed to deaths and injuries among pre-trial detainees. In September, defense attorneys filed a motion to dismiss Savage's claims against the county and Gonzalez. The motion said parts of Savage's complaint, such as the date and time she was released from custody, were incorrect. The motion also stated Gonzalez can't be held liable for things that happened before he took office in 2017, and argued that Savage hadn't successfully shown that the county had enacted policies that led to the mistreatment of prisoners. The county also argued that Savage was misusing death statistics to argue the jail was dangerous. While the were 28 in-custody death at the jail in 2022, a record high, lawyers wrote that the in-custody date rate was lower than that of the U.S. population as a whole. The jail's 2022 death rates "show the living conditions are better, the medical care is better, and the risk of serious injury is lower in the Harris County Jail than the risk of injury on the outside." "If the jail is as unsafe as plaintiff claims, the death rate in the jail should far exceed the average death rate in the general population," attorneys wrote. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Three of the 10 deputies specifically named in the lawsuit, including the deputy accused of shoving Savage, asked Ellison to rule they had qualified immunity from lawsuits. He denied those motions. The seven other deputies haven't responded to Savage's lawsuit. Photo Illustration: Donald Trump and Kamala Harris' TikToks (Justine Goode / NBC News; TikTok) Despite advocating for a potential TikTok ban thats currently under judicial review, politicians of all stripes turned to the platform to boost their chances in the 2024 election. At least 49 members of Congress, five officials in President Joe Bidens administration and President-elect Donald Trump have verified TikTok accounts, according to an analysis by NBC News. Twenty-three of the 49 members of Congress voted for the TikTok ban. Many of these politicians have used TikTok to campaign, defend their beliefs and curate their public image even as they argue that the app poses a threat to American users. The presence of American politicians on the app who actively campaigned or voted for the potential ban highlights a thorny reality: Despite their claims that TikTok poses a national security risk, the app remains a primary source of media for a significant portion of their constituents. Recognizing this, many have leveraged TikToks massive reach to bolster their re-election campaigns, despite criticism of similar types of political hypocrisy, from the use of dark money to advocacy around early voting and voting by mail. Cheyenne Hunt, an attorney and a former Democratic congressional candidate in California who has worked on big tech regulation in the U.S. Senate and has over 100,000 TikTok followers, described the use of TikTok to reach people where they are while also advocating against big tech as an interesting balance. Hunt doesnt support legislation that singles out TikTok, because she said other big tech companies like Meta pose similar concerns. She said politicians are drawn to TikTok in part because of its unique algorithm, which can show their content to millions of people without requiring paid promotion or an established following. Increasingly, its becoming the main source of news for most Americans, Hunt said. Its really the place where people are. Its where theyre engaged. TikTok use in the Biden administration and incoming Trump administration After attempting to ban TikTok via an executive order in 2020, Trump launched his official account on the platform in June as part of his successful, online-driven presidential campaign. He quickly amassed the largest TikTok following of any U.S. politician, with 14.6 million followers. Biden joined the platform in February to campaign, then signed legislation two months later that would force a sale of the Chinese-owned company to an American entity. After Biden ended his re-election campaign and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, his TikTok account was then used by her team for viral memes, while Harris maintained a separate personal account. TikTok has argued in its legal challenge to the law that it is unwilling and unable to sell to an American owner. If TikToks owner fails to sell the app and the law is enforced, it would no longer be available in the U.S., which experts say likely wouldnt happen until 2026. During his campaign, Trump suggested that he would intervene to prevent a TikTok ban, allowing the platform to remain accessible in the U.S. Trumps TikTok videos featuring soundbites from campaign rallies, interactions with voters and appearances with celebrities and influencers get the most consistent views out of all of the politicians, and most of his top comments are positive. While Trump has flipped his stance on TikTok, his pick for Federal Communications Commission chair, Brendan Carr, has supported a ban on TikTok. Trumps picks for his administration cant be confirmed until he takes office, with Bidens administration continuing to serve until Trumps 2025 inauguration. At least five Biden administration officials, including Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, have verified TikTok accounts. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg leads the way with over 770,000 TikTok followers, while Interior Secretary Deb Haaland has a verified TikTok account with just over 1,100 followers. Haaland began posting on TikTok in September to campaign for Harris, but saw limited growth and engagement on the platform. While the presidential candidates from both parties used TikTok to campaign, despite previously stating their opposition to its Chinese ownership, Hunt said Trump is more likely to be perceived as having organically changed his mind. Trump joined the app while he was out of office, at the same time he reversed his position on TikTok. In contrast, Biden and Harris continued to oppose TikTok despite using it to campaign, which highlighted an ongoing inconsistency. The hypocrisy is so blatant on the surface when youre paying attention to the way theyre voting and talking about this, that its a huge threat to national security, Hunt said. Then to see the president of the United States posting on it not that many months afterward, its pretty stark. Some House members campaign on TikTok despite security concerns In March, 353 representatives voted in favor of a forced sale of TikTok, 65 voted against it, and 14 did not vote. Of the 353 who supported the bill to force a sale, 13 have verified TikTok accounts, all of whom are Democrats. Of those who voted against the bill, 17 have verified TikTok accounts. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., who did not vote, has a verified TikTok account. Another two dozen accounts that appear to belong to politicians who are currently in office are unverified, meaning they dont have a blue check mark of authenticity. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, voted present. She has an unverified TikTok account with 140,000 followers, putting her in the top 20 most-followed representatives on the platform, although she hasnt posted since September 2023. A representative for Crockett said she doesnt use the account due to security concerns, but leaves her account up to distinguish it from impersonator accounts, which the representative said can be difficult to report. While I agreed with the spirit of the bill, I have grave concerns about the constitutionality of it as written, as well as concerns about whether this was the best solution to the problems posed by TikTok, or indeed, a solution that can even be effectively enforced, Crockett said in a statement about her vote. I have just as many concerns, if not more, about the algorithms employed by X and Meta. Rep. Jeff Jackson, a Democrat from North Carolina, has 2.2 million TikTok followers, making him the most-followed House member on the platform. Despite that, in March he voted to force a sale of TikTok. Jackson posts on TikTok about twice a month, with videos frequently surpassing millions of views. He follows a similar format in each one, speaking directly to the viewer in a well-lit, focused shot that centers him entirely in the vertical video frame. Jackson explains what is going on in Congress in a conversational style, with one comment calling his videos the modern day fireside chat. He has used this style since late 2022, when he was first elected as a national representative after serving in the North Carolina Senate for eight years. In a TikTok video that reached almost 6 million viewers, Jackson apologized to his followers for voting against TikToks Chinese parent company. Explaining his vote, he said he heard genuinely alarming information about TikTok in congressional briefings and that he believed the bill was more likely to force TikToks owner to sell the app to an American buyer than to lead to a ban. Jacksons TikTok viewers expressed their dissatisfaction with his explanation in the comment section. But Jackson kept posting. He used TikTok to campaign for North Carolina attorney general and won by nearly 3 percentage points. Hunt said the nature of TikToks algorithm also makes it easier for creators to recover from a controversy like the one Jackson weathered, because videos are continually shown to new audiences. You basically have this ever-renewing chance to make a first impression or start over and lure people in, Hunt said. One of the unverified TikTok accounts in the House appears to belong to Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Republican from Florida who voted to divest TikTok from its owner. She has almost 7,000 TikTok followers and a verified YouTube account with almost 6,000 subscribers. Lunas communications director said that her TikTok account was for personal use and is not an official campaign account. A Trump-endorsed candidate and a former model with a large Instagram following, Luna became the director of Hispanic engagement for conservative youth outreach nonprofit Turning Point USA in 2018. Despite her accounts unofficial status, Luna started using TikTok to campaign in February 2020, winning the Republican primary but losing to the Democratic incumbent. Her last TikTok was uploaded in December 2022, the year she was elected. In 2022, she anchored a short-lived online podcast production that featured her at a desk, bathed in neon pink and purple lighting. Luna put some of her podcast clips on TikTok, along with videos that used trending sounds and music to attack Democrats. Lunas communications director said she stopped using TikTok that year after growing concerns about Chinese meddling with the app. He said Lunas account remains up as a placeholder to distinguish it from impersonators, like Crocketts account. Of the 65 representatives who voted against the bill, 16 were Democrats who have verified TikTok accounts and one was a Republican who has a verified TikTok account, Rep. Nancy Mace from South Carolina. Mace, who has over 90,000 TikTok followers, has argued that the legislation is an example of government overreach, writing on X, Sure, some of TikToks content is bad, but that is all over the internet. Thats not a coincidence, Hunt said, referring to Maces presence on TikTok and her opposition to the bill. Shes not going to get rid of the thing that makes her relevant. In the Senate, TikTok users vote along clear party lines In April, 79 senators voted in support of the forced sale of TikTok, 18 voted against it, and three senators did not vote. Unlike in the House, where elected officials with verified TikTok accounts voted in both directions across party lines, 10 Senate Democrats with verified TikTok accounts voted to force a sale of the platform, while one independent and one Senate Republican with verified TikTok accounts voted against the bill to do so. Two of the Senate Democrats who voted to force a sale of TikTok were Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia, who each have more than 400,000 TikTok followers. Ossoff, who got millions of views posting about topics like Covid-19 vaccines using TikTok meme formats, hasnt posted since November 2021. Booker still posts on TikTok, and he used his account to support Harris campaign. Booker leaned into the Brat-themed launch of Harris TikTok presence, a nod to pop artist Charli XCXs latest album, which performed well on social media. Bookers profile picture on his TikTok account is his first name in the style of the Brat album cover, and he made multiple references to the meme on TikTok, as well as Harris coconut tree soundbite meme. In an April 2024 statement, Booker said he would not have voted to force a sale of TikTok if it had been presented as a stand-alone measure, versus being part of a wider national security and foreign aid package. I would have voted against this provision if I had the opportunity, not because I dont have concerns about Tiktok or its ownership structure I do but because I worry that Congress is missing an opportunity to address larger issues with social media in general, from screen addiction, to its negative effects on mental health, to the alarming impact it can have on the well-being of American children, to privacy, to the stunning proliferation of hate speech online, to its use for bullying and intimidation, to its toxic spread of misinformation, and many more, Bookers statement said. The sole independent who has a verified TikTok account, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, voted against the bill. Even though Sanders told the New York Times editorial board in 2020 that he has no apps on his own phone, Sanders has the largest TikTok following in the Senate, with 1.5 million followers. His account has been active since March 2020, shortly before he dropped out of that years presidential race. In the beginning, Sanders campaign referenced TikTok memes on the platform, but his account has since shifted to posting high-quality video clips of the senator speaking and talking to constituents. Part of the value of having a national platform like Bernie Sanders is you have tremendous leverageable fundraising potential, Hunt said. You have the tools to invest in the types of things that actually reach your voters. While there are more than twice as many verified TikTok users in the House as in the Senate, the average senators follower count is almost twice as large as the average representatives which tracks with their larger constituencies. Senators with verified TikTok accounts have an average of 318,000 TikTok followers, while representatives with verified TikTok accounts have an average of 178,000 TikTok followers. Members of Congress have spent more time on TikTok, both in terms of the age of their accounts and the frequency of their posts, than the highest-profile members of the Biden administration and the Harris and Trump campaigns. Until we are going to be brave enough to stand up to that big tech lobby and pass comprehensive data privacy legislation, were not going to be any safer, Hunt said. Weve created this really strange position where were making enemies out of individual services instead of making a playbook of rules that everyone has to play by to keep consumers safe online. Rachael Ray shared her go-to recipes to transform Thanksgiving leftovers into delicious meals, including pasta ragu and a savory stuffing waffle. Tom McCorkle/The Washington Post/Getty Images; John Lamparski/Getty Image Rachael Ray shared her go-to recipes to transform Thanksgiving leftovers into delicious meals. You can make a savory waffle out of leftover stuffing, she told Business Insider. Curry, chili, and ragu are a few of Ray's favorite methods for using up leftover turkey. You don't need to let a fridge full of Thanksgiving leftovers go to waste. Business Insider spoke to celebrity chef Rachael Ray at last year's Burger Bash, an event during the New York City Wine & Food Festival, about her go-to recipes for transforming Thanksgiving leftovers like turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce into delicious meals. Ray built an empire after her "30 Minute Meals" classes were noticed by a local news station at a food market. She secured her own Food Network contract with multiple shows, bestselling cookbooks, and a successful magazine, and she also has a home-goods brand under her belt. Her recipes include quick weeknight dinners, comfort foods, budget-friendly meals, and ways to get creative with leftovers. Here are five easy ways to transform your Thanksgiving leftovers, according to Rachael Ray. Curries and chilis are an excellent way to utilize leftover turkey. Turkey curry in a bowl with white rice. Bartosz Luczak/Shutterstock Turkey curry and chili are two great options for day-after-Thanksgiving recipes because of how easy they are to prepare. "Curries, chilis ... those are your basics," Ray told Business Insider. Ray's recipe for turkey corn chili takes only 25 minutes to prepare and uses simple ingredients like cooked turkey meat, chopped onion, chopped bell pepper, crushed tomatoes, chicken stock or broth, and frozen corn. Ray said "any kind of ragu" is a useful way to use up leftovers. Ragu pasta with cheese. Beliphotos/Shutterstock Who doesn't love the smell of a pot of ragu simmering on the stove during the colder months? Ray's recipe for turkey porcini ragu uses dried, sliced porcini mushrooms, a pound of leftover Thanksgiving turkey, turkey or chicken stock, red wine, onion, garlic, crushed tomatoes, and more. She recommends making a matzo-ball-style soup out of leftover stuffing, cooked meats, and vegetables. Balls of stuffing in broth. Ludica/Getty Images For this recipe, Ray recommends rolling leftover stuffing into a ball and dropping it into broth like a matzo ball. Add "leftover vegetables, any sort of meat, turkey, chicken, or ham, and you have the equivalent of a matzo-ball soup," Ray said. Ray also suggests making a burrito with your leftover turkey. A turkey wrap with cheese, lettuce, and tomato. zkolra/Shutterstock One of the simplest ways to reuse leftover Thanksgiving turkey is to make a sandwich, wrap, or even a burrito, which Ray said is one of her favorite methods. You can add other Thanksgiving fixings like turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and gravy to your tortilla, or you can go a more standard route with fillings like shredded cheese, turkey, lettuce, and tomato. You can also make a waffle out of leftover stuffing. A waffle made out of leftover stuffing and topped with cranberry sauce. Tom McCorkle/The Washington Post/Getty Images One of the most unique ways to use leftover stuffing is to make her recipe for savory stuffing waffles. "You can put your leftover stuffing in your waffle iron, and then just put the turkey or the pheasant on top of the crispy stuffing once you take it out of the waffle iron," Ray said. "[Top it] with a little bit of fruity maple syrup, like cranberry sauce and maple syrup, or some sort of warm honey drizzled over the top." Read the original article on Business Insider King Charles and Mohammed bin Salman meet at Clarence House in 2018 (PA) King Charless decades old celebration of traditional architecture, arts and handicrafts is being embraced by the Arab world, now keen to promote their own arts and crafts in similar fashion. This week an agreement effectively uniting the commitment of two kingdoms was signed in Riyadh. The co-operation agreement commits The Kings Foundation to participate in Saudi Arabias Year of Handicrafts 2025 initiative through the Foundations School of Traditional Arts. The signing ceremony on Wednesday was attended by Prince Bader bin Farhan, minister of culture, at the Saudi International Handicrafts Week Exhibition in Riyadh. Khaled Omar Azzam, director of the traditional arts school at The Kings Foundation, and Hamed Fayez, deputy minister of culture, also attended the signing of the agreement, which aims to revive and promote handicrafts in Saudi Arabia throughout 2025. Khaled Omar Azzam, director of the traditional arts school at The Kings Foundation, and Hamed Fayez, Saudi deputy minister of culture, sign the agreement (Saudi Ministry of Culture) The collaboration will involve training programmes in crafts in Saudi Arabia, and the launch of the Regeneration of the Crafts of Saudi Arabia programme. For that, King Charless Foundations School of Traditional Arts will develop customised programmes. Central to the whole initiative is King Charless longstanding commitment to traditional arts, architecture and crafts. It goes back a long way. The King has made headlines over the years with his criticism of modern architecture, once famously criticising a proposed extension to the National Gallery as a monstrous carbuncle. Charless vision was to take physical form in his endorsement of Poundbury in 1993, an experimental town near Dorchester, based on traditional architecture. The then Prince of Wales speaks with artist Dana Awartani as he looks at her artwork during a visit to The Princes School of Traditional Arts Degree Show in London (PA) This and his public statements made the present King a beacon for traditionalism in the arts. Most significantly, in 1986 he had set up a Foundation, now known a s The Kings Foundation, which has been at the forefront in the education of traditional arts, heritage and craft skills, alongside urban design and traditional architecture, much of it taking place at Charless country residence, Highgrove in Gloucestershire. A key component of the courses is placing people and communities involved at the centre of the design process. He has urged communities not to lose the dwindling skills that shaped the built environment and prevent specialist trades from disappearing at an alarming rate. He has also said, in what is effectively a mission statement when he brought his relevant charities together to be based at Dumfries House: My hope is that by creating a place where we can teach building, design, textile and Stem [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] skills alongside food and farming education programmes, we can begin not only to create the vocational capacity to protect, regenerate and re-use our historic heritage, but also to create our future heritage, and to inspire a new generation to adopt healthier and more sustainable ways of living in their communities. Graduate Anjali Khanna with the then Prince of Wales as he attends the Degree Show at The Princes School of Traditional Arts, London (PA) The Saudis appear to share King Charless vision of protecting, promoting and developing traditional arts and crafts. A spokesman for the Saudi ministry of Culture said after the signing this week: The primary goal is to regenerate and renew Saudi craft traditions across different regions of The Kingdom. The agreement between the Saudi Ministry of Culture and The Kings Foundation school is part of the national culture strategy under the umbrella of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to transform the Saudi economy and diversify its social and cultural life. Ayrton Senna during a practice session at the 1989 Hungarian Grand Prix. Pascal Rondeau/Getty Images Netflix's drama series "Senna" follows the Formula 1 driver's career and 1994 death. The show touches on his relationship with his ex-wife, Lilian de Vasconcelos Souza, and girlfriend, Adriane Galisteu. Senna didn't have any kids, but he was dating Galisteu at the time of his death. Netflix's new limited series "Senna" gives the Hollywood treatment to late Formula 1 star Ayrton Senna's professional career and personal life. The six-episode scripted series, starring Gabriel Leone as the titular character, retells many of the most well-known parts of Senna's racing career, from his beginning in karting to his eventual success in Formula 1 as a three-time world champion. It also touches on the Brazilian driver's death at 34 years old at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix after he crashed into a concrete wall. "Senna" also delves into the driver's romantic relationships. Senna never had kids, but he had three serious relationships throughout his life: Lilian de Vasconcelos Souza, his first wife; Xuxa Meneghel, a Brazilian TV host; and Adriane Galisteu, a Brazilian actor, TV host, and model, who was also his girlfriend at the time of his death. Here's what to know about his relationships with de Vasconcelos Souza and Galisteu. Senna was briefly married to Lilian de Vasconcelos Souza, his childhood friend Alice Wegmann as Lilian and Gabriel Leone as Ayrton in "Senna." Netflix In the Netflix series, Senna and his girlfriend Lilian (Alice Wegmann) move from Brazil to Norfolk, England, so he can compete in Formula Ford, typically an entry-level race for Formula 1 drivers. As Senna progresses as a driver, she struggles to adapt to living in England. When Senna breaks his promise and pursues racing beyond the year he agreed to, he and Lilian divorce. Their relationship played out similarly in real life. According to Tom Rubython's 2004 biography "The Life of Senna," Lilian de Vasconcelos Souza (alternatively spelled Liliane Vasconcelos Souza) was from a "wealthy Brazilian family." She and Senna were childhood friends who married in February 1981 in Sao Paulo shortly before moving to England. As depicted in the Netflix drama, de Vasconcelos Souza didn't have a life of her own in the UK. She mainly attended Senna's races and supported his career. When Senna decided to drive in England for the 1982 season, de Vasconcelos Souza told him their marriage would end. The pair quietly divorced, and she stayed out of the spotlight. Ayrton Senna at the Japanese Grand Prix in 1989. Paul-Henri Cahier/Getty Images In a 2010 interview with Brazilian news site G1, de Vasconcellos Souza, who was then working as a designer, reflected on her relationship with Senna and her omission from Asif Kapadia's documentary "Senna: No Fear, No Limits, No Equal." She said it was "a very well-made film," but she was "bothered" that she wasn't included in it given her relationship with Senna. De Vasconcellos Souza also said she always knew she "was his second passion" after racing. Additionally, De Vasconcellos Souza told G1 that she and Senna's different views of having kids in the future caused their split. She said she became unintentionally pregnant with Senna's child, and he told her the plan would be for her to raise the baby in Brazil while he stayed in Europe to continue his racing career. De Vasconcellos Souza said she miscarried three days later. "At that moment, something was cut off inside me because his goal was to enter Formula 1, and mine was to have a husband that I loved and to start a family," she said. After her divorce from Senna, she remarried and had a son in 1984. De Vasconcellos Souza was in her third marriage when she heard about Senna's death on TV. She didn't attend Senna's wake or funeral but stopped by the cemetery where he was buried. She also visited his mom, Neyde Senna, and stopped by his Sao Paulo home. Senna was in a relationship with Brazilian model and actor Adriane Galisteu at the time of his death Ayrton Senna and Adriane Galisteu on vacation in February 1994. Gianni GIANSANTI/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images The final two episodes of "Senna" depict Senna's relationship with Galisteu. In the show, they properly meet when Senna celebrates his Brazilian Grand Prix victory at a club. In the last episode, she calls Senna, scared and concerned, after hearing about Simtek driver Roland Ratzenberger's fatal crash on the Imola track during qualifying. When Senna dies from a crash into a concrete wall the next day during the race, she's seen watching the tragedy unfold on TV. In real life, Galisteu and Senna dated from 1993 until his death at the San Marino Grand Prix in Italy. Galisteu met Senna when she worked as a hospitality hostess for the oil company Shell at the 1993 Brazilian Grand Prix. Although they crossed paths in the hospitality suite during the race weekend, they didn't have their first interaction until Senna's Brazilian GP celebration at Limelight Club. During their relationship, they traveled the world together, visiting Monaco, Hungary, and other destinations where the F1 races occurred. According to Rubython's biography, Senna planned to stay in Portugal with Galisteu for five months during the European race season in 1994 and not return to Brazil during that time, which was customary for him. This caused a rift between them and Senna's family, who felt Galisteu wasn't good enough for him. Adriane Galisteu at Ayrton Senna's funeral in Brazil in May 1994. Pool RIBEIRO/SASSAKI/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images Galisteu saw Senna for the last time on April 3, 1994, weeks before his death. She was taking an English language course in Brazil in preparation for spending time in Europe and living with Senna. Per the biography, Galisteu said that Senna told her he had plans to marry her someday, switch from Williams to Ferrari, and conclude his career with the Italian team. Galisteu watched the San Marino GP from a TV in Senna's Portugal home. She was among the mourners at Senna's funeral in Brazil in May 1994. After Senna's death, Galisteu married Brazilian businessman Roberto Justus from 1998 to 1999. She's been married to Alexandre Iodice since 2010, and they have a son named Vittorio. Galisteu still models and is active on Instagram, where she posts pictures of her photoshoots, her family, and tributes to Senna. All episodes of "Senna" are streaming on Netflix. Read the original article on Business Insider Mackenzie Root and Alysha Orsine tell PEOPLE their birthdays are also a day apart but welcoming their daughters back-to-back was a total surprise courtesy of Main Line Health (L-R) Sisters Mackenzie Root and Alysha Orsine holding their respective newborns Celine and Lylah Mackenzie Root, 24, welcomed her daughter on Oct. 7 at Lakenau Medical Center the next day, Alysha Orsine, 30, who works as a nurse at the same hospital, gave birth to her bundle of joy Making the moment extra special, both sisters already know what it's like to have birthdays that are only a day apart I'm just hoping they get to be really close growing up since they're so close in age, Root tells PEOPLE For two sisters in Pennsylvania, their annual Thanksgiving gathering is going to get a bit larger thanks to their newborn daughters, who arrived just one day apart. Mackenzie Root, 24, gave birth to her second child, daughter Celine, on Oct. 7, at Lankenau Medical Center in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, where her older sister, Alysha Orsine, 30, works as a labor and delivery nurse. Although they were pregnant at the same time, having back-to-back babies did come as a surprise as Orsines due date was over a week later than Root's but her daughter had other plans. In fact, Orsine was nine hours into her shift at the hospital when she went into labor, giving birth to Lylah on Oct. 8. Related: Mom Welcomes Fourth Baby Who Shares the Same Birthday with Her 3 Big Sisters: Blows My Mind (Exclusive) For the sisters, who have a six-year age difference, the birth of the newborns is even more special considering that their own birthdays are also one day apart: Aug. 13 for Root and Aug. 14 for Orsine. I had been making jokes about it the whole time, because our birthdays are a day apart, Orsine tells PEOPLE. "I kept saying, Oh, wouldn't it be so funny?' " But, she adds, "Mackenzie was like, No, we're not doing that. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. However, by the time her sister went into labor, Orsine, already a mom of two, had given up on the idea. "I already had an induction scheduled with my doctors for October 18th, so it wasn't even on my mind," she says. "And I was going to work." courtesy of Main Line Health (L-R) Mackenzie Root and Alysha Orsine Orsine, who is six years older than Root, says she actually remembers witnessing Roots birth and she says that influenced her decision to eventually become a nurse. I remember how crazy it was, Orsine recalls, because my mom had [the medical staff] discharge her the following day because it was my birthday. She was trying to run around and have a party for me still and everyone was coming over. it was kind of like a baby welcome home party and my birthday party at the same time. The sisters, who grew up in Glen Olden in Pennsylvanias Delaware County, also have a younger brother and another sister. Related: Texas Parents Who Have the Same Birthday as Their Daughter Turn 90: 'It's Really Been Fun' As for being pregnant at the same time, Root says she found her sister was expecting after calling about her own pregnancy. I called because the doctors were saying that there were problems, Root remembers. Then [she was] like, Well, if it makes you feel better, I'm pregnant, too.' " [Mackenzie] found out really early, Orsine adds, sharing that because it was early, doctors weren't initially sure if her pregnancy was viable, but were finally able to see the baby on ultrasound and determine everything would be fine. courtesy of Main Line Health (L-R) Mackenzie Root and Alysha Orsine Orsine says that she already knew she was pregnant but hadnt told anybody yet. And then when I had the due date confirmed, and then she told me her due date, I was like, Oh my God, we might deliver on the same day. When it came time to welcome her daughter, Root says she went into the hospital on the evening of Oct. 6, and her daughter arrived the following morning. Root says that her sister "came in my room to visit me when she got to work," but then had to start her shift. But, a few hours later, Root says everything changed when her sister "texted me saying that her water broke." Fortunately, both of their deliveries went smoothly. Related: Mom Welcomes Son on Her Birthday, Which She Also Shares with 8-Year-Old Daughter: It Does Feel Wild Since then, the two sisters have visited each other a few times (both live in Morton, which is also in Delaware County) accompanied by their newborns. They've seen each other, but they're not doing a whole lot right now except for really eating and sleeping, says Orsine. As for Thanksgiving, the sisters plan to celebrate together with their mom, their siblings and their kids. In addition to their newborns, Orsine is also a mother of two, ages 7 and 3, while Root has a 3 year old. courtesy of Main Line Health (L-R, foreground) Sisters Mackenzie Root and Alysha Orsine holding their newborns born one day apart There's always a ton of people, says Orsine, especially now that we obviously both have more than one child and our significant others." "We have family who lives really close by, like walking distance from our mother's house, and they usually are having a big Thanksgiving too," she adds. "So sometimes we'll all walk over to their house to have dessert afterwards and then walk back." Root acknowledges that it is an incredible feeling that she and her sister have new babies. She adds, I'm just hoping they get to be really close growing up since they're so close in age." A 10-year-old boy was rescued by Texas State Troopers after he crossed the US border on Thanksgiving Day only to be abandoned by smugglers in a desolate stretch of territory. The little boy, who came from El Salvador and was carrying only a cell phone, was alone and lost when he crossed into Maverick County, Texas. He told state troopers through tears that he was hoping to find his parents, who came to the country earlier and trusted coyotes to deliver him to family in America, Texas Department of Public Safety Lieutenant Christopher Olivarez said in an X post sharing the video of the child. The crying 10-year-old boy found his way to a state trooper while lost in the wilderness. X/LtChrisOlivarez The tearful young boy said his parents are already in the US. X/LtChrisOlivarez The area has been a hotspot for unaccompanied migrant kids. Just a few days ago, Texas authorities found a 2-year-old girl from El Salvador who crossed with 60 other unaccompanied children. The video of a Texas troopers interview with the tot, who said her parents were also already in the US, went viral, sparking outrage over the border crisis. As many of us are celebrating Thanksgiving with our families & friends. Lets not forget many children will not get to enjoy the holidays or see their families because they have been placed in a dire situation due to open border conditions, and many more who are trafficked across the southern border are exploited and exposed to a dangerous criminal environment during their journey to the US, Olivarez said of the latest heartbreaking case. Under the Biden administration, more than 529,000 migrant kids have entered the US, according to federal data. A shocking federal watchdog report released in August revealed that the federal government lost track of roughly 320,000 migrant kids who made the harrowing trek across the border without their parents. Once in the US, Border Patrol agents place the children into the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the agency tasked with vetting their sponsors in the US. WATCH: An unaccompanied two-year-old child from El Salvador explains she arrived in the US by herself and that her parents are in the US. The child had a piece of paper with a phone number & name. This morning, @TxDPS encountered a group of 211 illegal immigrants in Maverick pic.twitter.com/rXFoqee3Kk Chris Olivarez (@LtChrisOlivarez) November 24, 2024 Tara Lee Rodas, a whistleblower who worked under the HHS program, told The Post earlier this week that the federal agency merely makes a phone call to the childs sponsor to verify theyre expecting the child. Were picking up the phone. Were not seeing this person face to face, she said of the alleged responsible caregiver on the other end. Were not doing DNA testing, and were turning small children over to someone in the US that the child gets a piece of paper and says, This is where Im going. I mean nobodys questioning that, Rodas said. Some of those sponsors have turned out to be gang members and sex and labor traffickers, said Rodas. This is such a stain on our nation, she said. Olivarez called the trend concerning, saying that state authorities dont know exactly what happens to them on their journey and where they ended up afterwards. Donald Trump has unveiled a new strategy for dealing with the fentanyl crisis. I will be working on a large-scale United States Advertising Campaign explaining how bad fentanyl is for people to use Millions of lives being so needlessly destroyed, Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday. By the time the campaign is over, everyone will know how really bad the horror of this drug is. Trump did not provide further details about what the campaign would look like. On Monday, he vowed to impose tariffs on China and Mexico to get their governments to do more about the fentanyl crisis, which killed 73,838 people in the US in 2022, the year for which the most recent data is available. Trump raised concerns about the drug entering the US through Mexico. The countrys President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo responded in a written statement: Mexico has consistently expressed its willingness to help prevent the fentanyl epidemic in the United States from continuing. This is, after all, a public health and consumption problem within your society. So far this year, Mexican armed forces and prosecutors have seized tons of various types of drugs, 10,340 firearms, and have detained 15,640 individuals for violence related to drug trafficking. A person prepares to smoke fentany in June in Portland, Oregon. Trump has announced his intentions to lauch an advertising campaign against the drug (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Trumps social media post came out around the time he announced he had a productive conversation with Sheinbaum. He claimed the president agreed to stop migration. Sheinbaum said the two had an excellent conversation but disagreed with Trumps characterization of the call. We reiterate that Mexicos position is not to close borders but to maintain bridges between governments and people, she said on X. A majority of chemical precursors are produced in China. Trump has previously called on the countrys government to give the death penalty to drug dealers caught shipping the drug into the US. If they dont, Trump publicly said he would add 10 percent to tariffs already placed on the nation. A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy, Liu Pengyu, told The Hill: No one will win a trade war or a tariff war. Fentanyl is similar to morphine but about 100 times more potent. The illicit drug, which is primarily manufactured in foreign labs and smuggled into the US through Mexico among other routes, is being distributed across the country, according to the US Drug Enforcement Agency. Synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, are the primary driver of overdose deaths in the US. A UK-based spy ring passed secrets to Russia for nearly three years, endangering the national interest and putting many lives at risk, a court has heard. Bulgarian nationals Katrin Ivanova, 33, Vanya Gaberova, 30, and Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev, 39, were allegedly part of a group which carried out surveillance on opponents of the Russian state, even discussing kidnapping or killing one of them. The ring spied on a US airbase in Germany where Ukrainian troops were said to be trained, and attempted to curry favour from Kazakhstan by staging a fake demonstration outside its embassy, jurors heard. There was discussion about deploying the two female defendants as honeytrap agents, as activities spanned London, Vienna, Valencia, Montenegro and Stuttgart, the Old Bailey was told. Court artist sketch of Bulgarian national Vanya Gaberova (Elizabeth Cook/PA) Opening the trial on Thursday, prosecutor Alison Morgan KC told jurors: They were targeting people and places where the information that they obtained would be of particular use to Russia. It was highly sensitive information. By gathering the information and passing it on to the Russian state, the defendants were putting many lives at risk. By conducting activity of this type, planned on UK soil, these defendants were acting in a way that was prejudicial to the safety and interests of the UK. Hundreds of sophisticated devices were used to gather intelligence, including hidden bugs and jammers, jurors heard. Among the spy kit were 33 audio devices, 55 visual recording devices, 221 mobile phone phones, 495 SIM cards, 11 drones, 75 passports and 91 bank cards in various names, Ms Morgan said. Hundred of thousands of pounds were channelled into the ring via their Russian spymaster Rupert Ticz, said to be Austrian national Jan Marsalek, the court heard. The spy ring included two more defendants, Orlin Roussev and Biser Dzhambazov, who have pleaded guilty to espionage charges and accept having fake identity documents, the court was told. Ms Morgan said there were six spying operations which involved high level espionage with high levels of deceit which were extremely risky for those involved. Court sketch of Bulgarian national Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev (Elizabeth Cook/PA) They included getting close to their targets, filming them, and even envisaging direct contact, by deploying the female defendants as sexual bait to capture more information, jurors heard. Ms Morgan told jurors: It was high risk and it was highly sophisticated. The prosecution alleges that it is fanciful to suggest that any of these defendants were ignorant as to why they were doing what they were doing. The first operation, between September and November 2021, targeted Bellingcat investigative journalist Christo Grozev, 64, whose work on Russian affairs included uncovering Russian links to the 2018 Salisbury attack and the downing of a Malaysia Airlines plane in July 2014. Bulgarian Grozev was tracked across Vienna, in Austria, Valencia, in Spain, and Montenegro, but only recognised Gaberova as she had sent him a Facebook request, jurors heard. In a Telegram chat, the Russian agent and Roussev discussed placing a spy next to him on a flight from Vienna to Valencia. Among the options discussed were robbing him, burning his property, kidnapping him and taking him to Moscow, infiltrating Bellingcat and even killing him, jurors were told. The second operation in November 2022 focused on UK-based Russian dissident Roman Dobrokhotov. Jurors heard he is an investigative journalist and founder of The Insider, a media organisation which was formerly based in Russia, before he fled the country. Bulgarian national Orlin Roussev has admitted spying for Russia (Elizabeth Cook/PA) The third operation was on Kazakhstan former politician Bergey Ryskaliyev, who fled to the UK and was granted refugee status. The targeting of the political dissident in November 2021 would have helped cultivate relations between Russia and Kazakhstan, it was claimed. The fourth operation involved staging a fake demonstration outside the Kazakh Embassy in September 2022, to create a pretence that the spies had genuine intelligence about those responsible to pass on to Kazakhstan intelligence services to further curry favour, jurors heard. This operation was conducted with a man called Ivan Stoyanov, jurors were told. The fifth operation concerned Patch Barracks, a US military airbase in Stuttgart, Germany, in 2022. At the time, the defendants were said to have believed the base was being used to train Ukrainian soldiers, it was alleged. Ms Morgan said the defendants were using highly sophisticated technology to gather sensitive intelligence from the base. Bulgarian national Bizer Dzhambazov has pleaded guilty to espionage charges (Elizabeth Cook/PA The sixth operation targeted Russian lawyer Kirill Kachur when he was spending time in Montenegro between September 2021 and January 2022. The court heard Mr Kachur had been designated a foreign agent by Russia in November 2023 and was another dissident, jurors heard. Jurors were told that Dzhambazov, 43, was in a relationship with both Ivanova and Gaberova, with the latter formerly involved with Ivanchev. Ms Morgan said what the defendants did was not in dispute, and invited jurors to consider why they were doing it, what they knew and what they intended when they passed information back along the line. The defendants have denied a charge of conspiracy to spy between August 30 2020 and February 8 2023. Ivanova has denied a second charge of possession of false identity documents with improper intention under section 4 of the Identity Documents Act 2010. At the time of the alleged offences, Ivanchev was living in Acton, west London, Ivanova was living in Harrow, north-west London, and Gaberova in Euston, north London. Mr Justice Hilliard adjourned the trial until Monday. This photo provided by British Embassy Paris, Richard Moore, the Chief of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, also known as MI6, speaks at the British Embassy in Paris on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (British Embassy Paris via AP) PARIS (AP) The head of Britains foreign intelligence service said Friday that Russia is conducting a staggeringly reckless sabotage campaign against Ukraine's Western allies, and that his spies are working to stop the consequences from spiraling out of control. And in a message aimed in part at U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump, MI6 chief Richard Moore said that Russian victory in Ukraine would threaten American, as well as European, security. Moore said his agency and its French counterpart were working together to a dangerous escalation by calibrating the risk and informing the decisions of our respective governments in response to President Vladimir Putins mix of bluster and aggression. We have recently uncovered a staggeringly reckless campaign of Russian sabotage in Europe, even as Putin and his acolytes resort to nuclear saber-rattling, to sow fear about the consequences of aiding Ukraine, Moore said during a speech to diplomats and intelligence officials in France. Such activity and rhetoric is dangerous and beyond irresponsible, he said. Moore spoke alongside Nicolas Lerner, head of Frances external intelligence agency, the DGSE at an event marking 120 years of the Entente Cordiale, a pact between Britain and France that bound the age-old rivals together as military and diplomatic allies. Western security officials suspect that Russian intelligence is trying to destabilize Ukraines allies through disinformation, sabotage and arson. Moscow has been linked by Western officials to several planned attacks in Europe, including an alleged plot to burn down Ukrainian-owned businesses in London, and to incendiary devices in packages on cargo planes. In July one caught fire at a courier hub in Germany and another ignited in a warehouse in England. Lerner agreed that the collective security of the whole of Europe is at stake in Ukraine. He said Britains experience tackling Russia in the wake of recent attacks like the 2018 Salisbury Novichok poisoning of a former Russian spy, was invaluable to French intelligence seeking to defuse Russian actions. Britain and France have been among Ukrainian allies most willing to allow Kyiv to use weapons they supply especially missiles known as Scalp in France and Storm Shadow in Britain to hit targets inside Russia. The Biden administration recently eased its long-held opposition to U.S.-made missiles being used to strike Russia. Ukraine said last week it had used the American ATACM missiles to target Russia for the first time in the war. Since then, Putin has lowered the official threshold for Russias use of its nuclear weapons, and Russia has pounded Ukraines energy infrastructure with hundreds of missiles and drones, in what Putin said was a response to the firing of the American missiles against Russian soil. Russia also fired a new intermediate-range ballistic missile, called Oreshnik, and Putin threatened to use it against decision-making centers in Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital. In a warning to allies wavering in support for Ukraine, Moore said that the cost of supporting Ukraine is well-known, but the cost of not doing so would be infinitely higher. Trump has criticized the billions the Biden administration has spent in supporting Ukraine and has said he could end the war in 24 hours comments that appear to suggest he would press Ukraine to surrender territory that Russia now occupies. If Putin is allowed to succeed in reducing Ukraine to a vassal state, he will not stop there," Moore said. "Our security British, French, European and trans-Atlantic will be jeopardized. He said that if Russia wins, Iran and China which so far support Moscow as a transaction" would draw closer to Russia. If Putin succeeds, China would weigh the implications, North Korea would be emboldened and Iran would become yet more dangerous, Moore said. Some European officials worry about what Trump's America first agenda means for trans-Atlantic relations, but Moore whose name has been mentioned as a possible choice for U.K. ambassador to Washington said he was confident the bond was strong. For decades the U.S.-U.K. intelligence alliance has made our societies safer, he said. I worked successfully with the first Trump administration to advance our shared security and look forward to doing so again. By Emma Farge GENEVA (Reuters) - Large groups of women and children are scavenging for food among mounds of trash in parts of the Gaza Strip, a U.N. official said on Friday following a visit to the Palestinian enclave. Ajith Sunghay, head of the U.N. Human Rights office for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, expressed concern about the levels of hunger, even in areas of central Gaza where aid agencies have teams on the ground. "I was particularly alarmed by the prevalence of hunger," Sunghay told a Geneva press briefing via video link from Jordan. "Acquiring basic necessities has become a daily, dreadful struggle for survival." Sunghay said the U.N. had been unable to take any aid to northern Gaza, where he said an estimated 70,000 people remain following "repeated impediments or rejections of humanitarian convoys by the Israeli authorities". Sunghay visited camps for people recently displaced from parts of northern Gaza. They were living in horrendous conditions with severe food shortages and poor sanitation, he said. "It is so obvious that massive humanitarian aid needs to come in and it is not. It is so important the Israeli authorities make this happen," he said. He did not specify the last time U.N. agencies had sent aid to northern Gaza. U.S. WARNING U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin set out steps last month for Israel to carry out in 30 days to address the situation in Gaza, warning that failure to do so may have consequences on U.S. military aid to Israel. The State Department said on Nov. 12 that President Joe Biden's administration had concluded that Israel was not currently impeding assistance to Gaza and therefore was not violating U.S. law. The Israeli army, which began its offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip after the militant group's attack on southern Israeli communities in October 2023, said its operating in northern Gaza since Oct. 5 were trying to prevent militants regrouping and waging attacks from those areas. Israel's government body that oversees aid, Cogat, says it facilitates the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and accuses U.N. agencies of not distributing it efficiently. Looting has also depleted aid supplies within the Gaza Strip, with nearly 100 food aid trucks raided on Nov. 16. "The women I met had all either lost family members, were separated from their families, had relatives buried under rubble, or were themselves injured or sick," Sunghay said of his stay in the Gaza Strip. "Breaking down in front of me, they desperately pleaded for a ceasefire." (Reporting by Emma Farge, Editing by Timothy Heritage) Angleton business owner Jim Luna donated four bags of toys to the Freeport Police Department Thursday morning. The department's charitable organization lost its Blue Santa toy collection due to a rat infestation where the toys were being stored. Police Chief Jennifer Howell said Luna brought the group's first donation. Photo courtesy the Freeport Police Department Angleton business owner Jim Luna donated four bags of toys to the Freeport Police Department Thursday morning. The department's charitable organization lost its Blue Santa toy collection due to a rat infestation where the toys were being stored. Police Chief Jennifer Howell said Luna brought the group's first donation. Photo courtesy the Freeport Police Department Members of the Freeport Police Department Charitable Organization are looking for some Santa's helpers from the community after toys for their Christmas donation project were damaged. The charitable organization runs a Blue Santa Toy Store project which distributes toys at Christmas time. When volunteers started the project this week, they discovered toys that had been collected all year long were unusable due to a rat infestation. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The department is now accepting new, unwrapped toys or monetary donations. Toys can be dropped off at the Freeport Police Department at 430 N. Brazosport, shipped to Freeport PD or picked up by volunteers. Volunteers have also created an Amazon wish list where items can be purchased online and sent to the department. They are hoping to give to more than 300 children on their list. The Blue Santa Toy Store is a need-based program, where families apply for assistance to shop in the group's store to offer a Christmas to needy children. Police Chief Jennifer Howell said Friday the toy store is scheduled to be open the week of Dec. 16. "Unfortunately, the FPD Charitable Organization does not have a permanent home or a secure means of storage for our inventory. After Hurricane Beryl, a storm assessment was completed on the Blue Santa Toy Store inventory and discovered minimal damage to the supplies," said a release from the police department. "As we began the process to set up our Blue Santa Toy Store, during the movement of items, it was discovered that due to a rat infestation, the toys were covered in rodent feces and urine." Advertisement Article continues below this ad After consulting the Center for Disease Control and the Department of State and Health Services, the board voted it was not safe for the children and volunteers to continue with the damaged toys. "As you can imagine when we're trying to collect and purchase things all year long to be able to have a good supply. To go from that to starting from scratch, we have two weeks to do a lot of pulling things together," Howell said. "We're not going to stop and we're not going to give up because we want our families in need to be able to have a Christmas." POSSIBLE PAY BUMP: Retired Texas teachers could see a bump in Social Security payments under proposal in Congress "Know that the Freeport Police Department Charitable Organization places a priority on our children's welfare and the integrity of our organization. Because of the loss of inventory, we are asking for assistance from our businesses and community," according to the release. "We are aggressively seeking donations and are needing to make purchases this year to replace the loss of inventory." Howell said devastating is an understatement to describe how the volunteers felt this week. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "There were a lot of tears shed at the police department this week. We have a lot of people who have put a lot of blood and sweat into this program," she said. She said they have parents whose children have been recipients who now come back and volunteer with the project. "While it was a hard decision, we knew they made the right decision but it didn't make it any easier," she said. Jim Luna, owner of the Kick'N-Chick'N Shack in Angleton, dropped off four bags of toys to the department this week with his grandson. He said he saw a story about the damaged toys in The Facts newspaper that covers Freeport. Businesses he was affiliated with had hosted a toy drive the previous week and so far didn't have any takers from charities. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "This morning I read the headlines in The Facts about Freeport Blue Santa program losing all their toys and I immediately knew why no one had called back. Dios es muy grande! (God is very good)" he wrote in a Facebook post. According to the release, the organization has secured temporary storage and processes that will be safe and protected in the future. Teddy died last Sunday after a short, swift illness, probably cancer. He was eleven years old. My seminal Teddy memory: in the kitchen, during his early adulthood, I off-handedly said: Mommys coming. Teddy quivered with an anticipatory elation that consumed every particle of his being. This was my first experience of his bewildering linguistic acumen, and of an unadulterated emotional vocabulary that would never cease to surprise and amaze. Much more recently about a year ago I informed my wife Agnes that the elevator was broken again and Teddy would have to take the stairs. This information was not imparted to Teddy. But, as was so often the case, Teddy was listening. When I leashed him and opened the front door to our apartment, he proceeded not to the elevator but to the stairs and began to whimper he hated the stairs, his paws would slip and slide going up and down. The next day I told Teddy The elevator is fixed and he was a happy dog. Teddy was good friends with Neil and Diane down the hall. Early in this relationship, I informed Agnes that Teddy knew we were about to pay them a visit; he had heard us talking about it. Agnes was skeptical. Go and look, I suggested. Agnes poked her head out the door and observed Teddy parked on his haunches in front of 6D. Speak, I said. He barked, the door opened, and Teddy entered wagging his tail. The imagery of Teddy anticipating a visit was repeated many times. We acquired a self-serving habit of informing Teddy of impending surprises. The biggest announcements were that Bernie or Maggie our son and daughter were arriving. Teddy would position himself downstairs in the lobby, tautly immobilized. His suppressed energy would detonate once Bernie or Maggie appeared. We eventually conceded that we were exploiting his loyalty for our own pleasure. So we would strategize to keep Teddy in the dark which proved impossible, because he eavesdropped even on phone conversations. During the years that Agnes worked at Wadleigh High School on West 114 Street, Teddy and I would often meet her after work. Teddy would haul me to the bus stop at the corner of 96th and Central Park West and there inspect each arriving uptown bus. Or Teddy and I would walk 18 blocks to Wadleigh he knew the way. It mattered not if Agnes was delayed. We sat on a stoop scrutinizing the schoolyard. Not once would Teddy look left or right. Sometimes Agnes felt too tired or too busy to join us for Teddys early evening walk. Teddy would tenaciously object. Almost invariably, Agnes would change her mind. When I took Teddy to Central Park, I chatted with him about one thing or another. However busy reconnoitering, Teddy would glance up to acknowledge my comments and instructions. In later years, he grew increasingly sociable. He took no interest in other dogs or squirrels or horses, or the occasional raccoon, or the stray coyote we once saw at a distance. He could shrewdly assess which children and adults would likely succumb to his gaze. For many, it was irresistible. Can I pet your dog? Whats his name? May I say hello? Teddy would waylay passengers emerging from a car. He thought nothing of interrupting the cell phone conversations of strangers. Of his friends on the block (typically with people whose names I never learned), the oldest and most intense was with Dino the night doorman four buildings down. Our midnight walks would begin with single instruction Lets visit Dino or (on Saturdays and Sundays) no Dino. Teddy accepted the finality of no Dino and would proceed across the street to pee. Lets visit Dino meant waiting for Dino to appear and open a locked door. Sometimes Dino was not available and Teddy would cross the street with extreme reluctance. Dinos wife once asked him: Do you give him treats? But Teddys friendships were never enticed except by Teddy himself. When Teddy passed, Dino called him an angel. I owe my friendship with Dino to Teddy. I havent mentioned that Teddy was born with a couple of serious medical disorders: myasthenia gravis and mega-esophagus. A miracle drug called mestinon kept him alive. But he could not swallow food or water normally. Like all myasthenia gravis dogs, he ate in a Bailey chair which kept his throat vertical. So we hand-fed Teddy three times daily. The risk that Teddy would mis-swallow was ever present we would have to pound his sides to help dislodge phlegm and errant food. We belonged to a diligent online community of MG dog owners. Bonding with a dog with special needs is itself a special experience. Agnes and I never left Teddy alone. If we all travelled together, it was by car with Teddy and his chair; Teddy was far too large to pack on a plane. Last Monday, Agnes and I flew together for the first time in over a decade to be with Maggie and Bernie in San Francisco. When we return to our New York apartment, we will return to Teddys chair, to Teddys beds, to Teddys medicines and toys and blankets and coats to all things Teddy except Teddy himself. His passing leaves an immense void. An Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, launched a massive attack on Wednesday from Idlib. The death toll now stands at 242 dead, including many civilians. For Fr Bahjat, people are tired, and cannot sleep, lacking the energy to face another battle. The outbreak of violence stems from an untenable political stalemate. Aleppo (AsiaNews) Opposition and rebel groups from the province of Idlib are now on the outskirts of Aleppo, carrying out attacks. "In the city we can distinctly hear shelling. People are afraid, schools are closed, and classes suspended amid a climate of great apprehension and even catechism courses in parishes have been stopped, said Fr Bahjat Karakach, parish priest at Aleppos Church of St Francis of Assisi, speaking to AsiaNews. People are now tired, he noted, and do not have enough energy to face another battle, the start of another war. The fear is real, palpable, and the sounds of shelling can be heard very distinctly, so much so that people have not been able to sleep for three nights. The clergyman goes on: For several months there had been talk of a possible attack by opposition groups, but it seemed more of a threat than a real danger; unfortunately, its extent surprised us as we looked at it with concern over the past few days. On Wednesday, anti-Assad forces launched a massive offensive in north-western Syria, seizing territory from President's forces for the first time since fighting was halted, restricted to Idlib province. The Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied factions claim to have seized control of several towns and villages in the provinces of Aleppo and Idlib. The Syrian military has confirmed a large-scale attack by opposition groups who continue their advance after taking over outlying areas and now seem to be heading towards the city centre. According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), which has an extensive network of informants, at least 242 people have died since they launched their offensive. Shelling in Aleppo left four civilians dead this morning. Once the countrys business and trading capital, the city in the north-western Syria has become a symbol of devastation in a conflict now largely forgotten. Another 19 civilians were killed in airstrikes by Syrian and Russian planes in areas under opposition control. More than half a million people have been killed in Syrias civil war, which erupted after the Syrian government brutally cracked down on pro-democracy protests in 2011. Idlib, the oppositions last stronghold, is home to more than four million people, many of whom have been displaced during the conflict and forced to live in grim conditions. The city is mostly in HTSs hands, but other anti-Assad groups are present, including militias backed by Turkey operating under the flag of the Syrian National Army (SNA), as well as Turkish forces. SOHR director Rami Abdel Rahman notes that government's forces "were totally unprepared" for the attack. "It is strange to see regime forces being dealt such big blows despite Russian air cover and early signs that HTS was going to launch this operation," he explained. He speculates that the regime did not get any support from Hezbollah, which was engaged in the war with Israel. In 2020, Turkey and Assad's main ally, Russia, brokered a ceasefire stopping the government offensive towards Idlib, thus halting the escalation of violence, but sporadic clashes, airstrikes and shelling have continued in recent years. Last month, the UN special envoy for Syria warned that the wars in Gaza and Lebanon appeared to be catalysing conflict in north-west Syria in a dangerous manner. Geir Pedersen noted that Russia resumed airstrikes for the first time in months and pro-government forces have significantly accelerated drone attacks and shelling. In response, HTS and its allies launched a massive offensive to "deter aggression" and "thwart the enemy's plans. Meanwhile, the UNs Deputy Regional Humanitarian Co-ordinator for Syria, David Carden, said he was deeply alarmed, while the International Rescue Committee reported that almost 7,000 families had been displaced and that some health facilities and schools had been forced to suspend services. "This morning we woke up to the news of four university students killed by a bomb that fell near the student residence, said Fr Bahjat Karakach. Of course, we should not encourage panic, but it is equally clear that people are right to worry. This escalation, according to the priest, is also linked to "the political stalemate of recent years in Syria, when it was clear to everyone that it would not be sustainable in the long run. In fact, a real and final solution has never been reached, only fragile deals that could not last. A decisive intervention by the international community is more urgent than ever. Tensions and fears also affect the Christian community, which was set to prepare for the weeks of Advent that precede Christmas. The spirit has changed suddenly, the priest laments. We still try to live the situation with joy but the atmosphere has inevitably become heavier and perhaps will not allow us to be so carefree to move and celebrate. We hope and pray for an improvement. by Nirmala Carvalho Local councils forced about a hundred Christians to leave or renounce their faith. The police did not intervene immediately and at least 40 people were forced to take refuge in churches after their property was destroyed. According to some oraganizations, there has been an increase in violence against the Christian community in this Indian State this year. Sukma (AsiaNews) - To leave the village or to renounce being Christian: this is the choice faced by about a hundred faithful in the Indian tribal majority state of Chhattisgarh. On 17 November, eight panchayats (local councils) in the Sukma district passed a resolution forbidding Christians to remain in their territories. Otherwise their property and fields would be looted, they were told. The sarpanch (village headman) of Michwar, one of the eight villages involved (Dabba, Doodhiras, Gonderas, Gurli, Jagadlanar, Kundanpal, Kunna), also upheld the measure, stating that the decisions taken by the panchayats overrode the Indian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion and belief under Article 25. The next day, the Christians filed a complaint at the Gadiras police station, accompanying it with audio evidence documenting the allegations of the Michwar sarpanch. But the officers refused to register an initial information report (FIR), which was necessary to start an investigation. Instead, they asked to be escorted to the camps. By the time they reached the site, a mob of about 1,500 people had already looted Christian crops. The police left the area without offering any help, the Christians later reported. On 19 November, the Chhattisgarh Christian Forum (CCF) brought the matter to the attention of the Sukma district authorities, who ordered the complaint to be registered. But as of 21 November, the request had still not been followed up. In the meantime, about 40 forced to leave their villages because their land was plundered, have found refuge in a church in Michwar. These incidents are not only occurring in Sukma, but are affecting Christians in many districts, explained Fr Thomas Vadakumkara, of the Jagadalpur diocese, when asked by AsiaNews. Fundamental rights are systematically denied: burying the dead, staying on one's own land and cultivating one's own fields. This discrimination undermines human dignity and violates the principles laid down in the Indian Constitution'. According to the United Christian Forum (UCF), a Delhi-based organisation, there has been an increase in violence and discrimination against Christians in at least 23 of India's 28 states. Until October this year, 673 incidents of violence against the Christian community were recorded. The state of Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of hate crimes with 182 incidents, followed by Chhattisgarh with 139 cases. INDIAN MANDALA IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO INDIA. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY FRIDAY? TO SUBSCRIBE, CLICK HERE. Decree 147 in force from next month strengthens restrictions on data collection and content removal. Users: the regulation is good for the government and bad for companies. Inmates can be fined for spreading false information and prosecuted for anti-state propaganda. Hanoi (AsiaNews) - Internet users and activists in Vietnam are raising the alarm over the further crackdown planned by Hanoi on the Internet and, more generally, freedom of expression characterised by a tightening of controls in the face of already heavily regulated access. The rule is expected to come into force from next month and is intended to track companies' online browsing more closely: in particular, offshore service providers such as social media companies and app store service platforms must authenticate users in the country by requesting their phone or ID card numbers. The directives are contained in Decree 147, which will come into force on 25 December. Account authentication helps the authorities identify the real identity behind the user, providing good support for investigations and handling violations, Nguyen Tien Ma of the Ministry of Communications' Department of Information Security told Vietnam Television. Users of national social networking sites are also banned from publishing news and interviews. An activist in Hanoi, who did not wish to be identified, told Radio Free Asia (Rfa) that this will prevent the revival of a previously strong citizen journalism movement that used blogs to provide news and commentary on political issues. In addition, Decree 147 broadens the scope of content supervision, requiring Internet providers to self-punish themselves by monitoring and removing content deemed illegal by Vietnamese authorities. A businesswoman from Hung Yen city said the decree is good for the government and bad for businesses. 'Online sales are so popular now, everyone can sell online, so how can the government ignore such a lucrative opportunity? They have to track sellers,' he adds, to collect taxes. However, some online businesses are unaware of the decree and its implications, as revealed by questioning some owners of online fashion shops in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Both said they were completely unaware of the repercussions on their livestream marketing activities following the introduction of the controversial decree. Since the promulgation of the cyber-security law in 2018, the government has issued three decrees relating to the management, provision and use of internet services and online information: in particular, the law prohibits the use of cyberspace to oppose the state, spread false information that causes public confusion, offend others [and] violate national security. Moreover, companies must delete information deemed illegal at the request of the government; otherwise, their service will be suspended. Internet users can be fined for spreading false information and can be prosecuted for anti-state propaganda. Decree 27 expanded the scope of monitoring to include misleading and untruthful information considered bad or toxic but not yet illegal. Decree 53 further tightened national security-related content, which must be removed within 24 hours if considered a threat. Finally, the regulations require social network providers to use technology to automatically detect and report prohibited behaviour. So far, no comment from the top management of the major global players in the sector, including Google and Meta (Facebook). by Shafique Khokhar In Pakistan, police attack the mosques of the persecuted Islamic minority, who are not allowed to worship in public since 1984. Kakhanwali and Faisalabad are the scene of the latest raids, even though structures built before 1984 are protected. Ahmadi spokesman Aamir Mahmood slams the government for using the law against his community. Sialkot (AsiaNews) Tuesday night, police attacked the Ahmadiyya mosque in Kakhanwali, destroying its minaret. The action, led by the Phalwara Station House Officer (Sialkot) with 35 agents, followed a complaint by Sajjad, a non-local Muslim man. Earlier, the police had ordered the leaders of the Ahmadiyya community to destroy their own place of worship, claiming that it had been built after 1984. Forty years ago, the government issued an ordinance banning public worship by the Ahmadi community, a minority that is harshly persecuted in Pakistan. On 10 April 2023, Judge Tariq Saleem Sheikh, of the Lahore High Court, ruled that Ahmadi places of worship built before 1984 must be safeguarded and not vandalised. In Kakhanwali Muslim residents told the police that they are not opposed to the presence of Ahmadi mosques, and wonder how the attack took place, since it was requested by someone not from the area. On Wednesday, in another incident, some 20 armed Islamic extremists attacked an Ahmadi place of worship in Chak 27 JB, also in Sialkot. They arrived in broad daylight on motorcycles, broke in, and damaged the buildings arches. Some went upstairs and destroyed the minaret, and damaged a tomb. When locals tried to stop them, they said they belonged to the police and after desecrating the mosque they fled. In both Kakhanwali and Chak 27 JB, residents tried to stop the police and the extremists, to no avail. I strongly condemn the illegal steps taken by Punjab police and fundamentalists. The Ahmadi community has been facing such persecution for a long time, Aamir Mahmood, spokesman for Jamaat Ahmadiyya Punjab, told AsiaNews. So far this year, Punjab police and extremists have vandalised the minarets of 17 Ahmadi places of worship, and the state has taken no action against such perpetrators, Aamir lamented. It is pathetic, he went on to say, that law enforcement institutions are not working on the clear verdict by the Lahore High Court, which plainly states not to desecrate the minarets, tombs and arches of [Ahmadi] places of worship. Whether by police or extremists, this is ruining Pakistans international image. I call upon the government to take effective measures to protect Ahmadi places of worship and take strict actions to stop the hate campaign against the Ahmadi community in Pakistan, he insisted. We love our country and respect the law of the state but unfortunately law enforcement institutions are taking the law into their own hands and attacking Ahmadi places of worship. We can only appeal to the government and to the countrys courts and raise our voice against such violence. The government should take our requests seriously and protect its citizens and their rights. 29 November 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. Azerbaijan is proposing long-term tax exemptions for public-private partnership projects with a minimum value of 30 million ($18 million). This proposal is included in the package submitted to the Tax Code in the Milli Majlis. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 29 November 2024 20:00 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more The agreement on the return of prisoners of war between Armenia and Azerbaijan was concluded shortly after the second Garabagh war. These processes were carried out under the supervision of Russian peacekeepers, and for this reason, the number and identity of prisoners of war were handed over to Armenia by list. However, the Armenian side still continues its claims regarding an obscure list of POWs. Armenian politicians, especially continue to shed crocodile tears over the so-called Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan. It has been exploiting this issue since 2020, playing the victim. And who are they? After the end of the Second Garabagh War, the Armenian side was supposed to ensure that the Armenians remaining in several territories of Garabagh left those territories and prevented their armament. However, Yerevan did not keep its promise and continued secretly to support armed separatist Armenians who did not want to leave Garabagh. Finally, by 2023, as a result of anti-terrorist operations, the threat in Garabagh was eliminated, and as a result, a group of individuals leading armed separatist terrorists were arrested. Recently, the speaker of the national assembly of Armenia, Alen Simonyan, raised the issue again, begging the Dutch Ambassador to help "release" those so-called "POWs" kept in Baku prison. And the question arises: How can the Netherlands help Armenia release Armenian terrorists? First of all, Azerbaijan is not Armenia, and unlike Armenia, Azerbaijan is an independent country with its national interests, operating within its laws. Azerbaijan does not have patrons dictating its actions. As for the separatists in Baku prisons," this topic is out of the question. Not because Baku is self-conceited, but because there are no Armenian POWs. As it was mentioned above, Azerbaijan released all POWs after the war following the 10 November Declaration. Those Armenians in Azerbaijani prisons violated the country's laws and were arrested long after the cease-fire, which the Declaration does not cover. Moreover, let us not forget that Armenia used to deny its interference in the Garabagh issue. They fabricated a myth that following the collapse of the USSR, the so-called "Garabagh " emerged as an "independent country" like Azerbaijan. However, no country in the world, including Armenia, recognized the independence of Garabagh. They tried to brainwash people into believing it was a conflict between Azerbaijan and the so-called "Garabagh," with Armenia merely supporting their counterparts. But today, they speak about their soldiers. If Armenia did not take part in the war, what were their soldiers doing in Garabagh? Furthermore, no country in the world supports separatism. Laws regarding separatism in Armenia are much stricter than in Azerbaijan. This raises the question: "If Armenia is so strict on separatism, why should Azerbaijan release separatists and those who fought for separatism?" To top it all off, it is worth noting that it is the Armenian side that is not committed to the provisions of the Declarations. Over 4,000 Azerbaijani citizens went missing in the First Garabagh War, most of whom were POWs. There are photos, videos, and letters proving they were detained by Armenian soldiers and kept in prisons in Armenia or occupied Garabagh. For example, Natig Gasimov, a soldier, was captured in the church in Pirler village of Khojaly in 1992. Thanks to photos taken by Italian photographer Enrico Sarsini, we know he was detained and questioned by Vitali Balasyan, an Armenian retired general and politician. However, Natig went missing. Last year, British cinematographer Simon Stanford shot a documentary about him and conducted an investigation. Armenian soldiers involved in Natigs detention spoke in the film, noting that after Sarsini's deportation, Natig was dismembered and killed. Vagif Gurbanov, the first Azerbaijani pilot, is another victim. His aircraft was shot down near Nakhchivanik-Askeran by Armenian armed forces on June 13, 1992. He disappeared, and the Armenian side has not provided any information about him for over 30 years. We do not know if he is alive or dead. There are 4,210 persons sharing the same fate as Natig and Vagif. Instead of providing information about these POWs, the Armenian side mocks us. As is known, like Azerbaijan, Armenia exports its agricultural products to Moscow. Sometimes, letters written in Azerbaijani are found among these products, claiming they are being kept in prisons in Armenia and asking for assistance. We do not know if these letters are real, but every time they create hope in the family members of those who went missing. Playing with and mocking the emotions of these people is very cruel. Octavia Johnson is a general assignment reporter for the Houston Chronicle. Follow her on Bluesky (@octaviajnews.bsky.social), TikTok (@octaviaj_news) and Facebook (Octavia R. Johnson). Before joining the Chronicle, Octavia worked as a digital content producer at WATE-TV in Knoxville, Tenn., where she became a leader in producing fast-paced, audience-focused content. Octavia graduated from UNC Pembroke with a bachelor's degree in journalism before earning her master's degree in media and communications at Norfolk State University. 29 November 2024 15:16 (UTC+04:00) By Farman Aydin | AzerNEWS Tensions have been high on the streets of Tbilisi since the parliamentary elections in Georgia. Protests against the ruling Georgian Dream party reached their peak yesterday. A group of protesters clashed with the police and turned the demonstration into a real confrontation. Currently, civil strife is prevailing in the country as a result of the influence of some Western forces, and it is reported that this will continue in a more serious form. Parliamentary elections in Georgia were held on October 26, following amendments to the country's constitution adopted in 2017. Those amendments shifted the electoral system towards a fully proportional representation with a 5% electoral threshold. Thus, based on preliminary results published by the Central Election Commission of Georgia, Georgian Dream declared victory in the election with more than 53% of the vote, while the four major opposition coalitionswhich agreed not to cooperate with Georgian Dream in the parliament through their Georgian Charterreceived 37.79% in total. According to the information shared by the CEC, Georgian Dream posted the highest results in rural areas, particularly in the Samtskhe-Javakheti, Kvemo Kartli, Svaneti, Racha-Lechkhumi, Guria, and Adjara regions, but lost the capital Tbilisi and also Rustavi to the opposition, while only closely winning other major cities. However, the four major opposition coalitions and pro-Western and half-French citizen President Salome Zourabichvili claimed that the elections were fraud and they didnt accept its legitimacy. Recall that on November 28, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the October 26 parliamentary elections in Georgia, an EU candidate country, for being neither free nor fair, representing yet another manifestation of the continued democratic backsliding of the country for which the ruling Georgian Dream party is fully responsible. After this, Western institutions gave impetus to the escalation of tension in Georgia under the guise of protests. Many Georgian citizens who are concerned about the situation note that the country is facing danger in such a situation. A Georgian citizen who did not want to be named said in a statement to Azernews that Western institutions do not leave Georgia alone. It is precisely Western forces that play a role in the emergence of the conflict. The West is more behind the current situation in Georgia today. The protests that have been going on for days are specially organized and a group of people are being used as a tool, he said. The course of political processes in Georgia after the parliamentary elections, especially the activities of the Western-controlled opposition aimed at unreasonably cancelling the election results and holding new elections, clearly show that the West has planned and is trying to implement a colourful revolution scenario in Georgia. The main goal of the revolution is to overthrow the current government and form a Western-oriented, Western-controlled ruling team in Georgia. It is also clear from the citizens' anger that the artificial protest scene created in the country was prepared based on a special scenario. The scenario that the West wants to implement in Georgia involves the recurrence in its own form of the colour revolutions that took place in the post-Soviet space in 2004, including in Ukraine and Georgia, as well as the revolution that took place in Ukraine in 2014. Organizations such as USAID and others are actively participating in the implementation of these plans. The already widespread information also confirms that the West is implementing the scenario of the disintegration of Ukraine. For many years, the promises made to the Ukrainian people by Western forces have not been fulfilled, and the country has literally faced a catastrophic situation in terms of both economic and human resources. The West is generally trying to implement its plan to create hot spots in the post-Soviet space through hybrid wars at the cost of the destinies of individual countries and the lives and blood of millions of people. The same scenario is expected to be repeated in Serbia, where parliamentary elections will be held in the coming period. It is clear that the political parties, media, NGOs, diplomats, etc., currently under the control of the West, are taking the line of destabilizing Georgia. The indefinite protests that these forces are striving for are a method that was tested in 2004. The adoption of the law On Transparency of Foreign Influence by the Georgian authorities, the introduction of normative legal acts restricting the activities of sexual minorities, as well as the decision of the Georgian government not to put the countrys membership in the European Union on the agenda until the end of 2028, demonstrate that the Georgian authorities see this threat and are implementing countermeasures. However, the Georgian people are now understanding what the true intentions of the West and its supporters are and are seriously resisting it. Georgians understand very well that the only way to insure themselves against the devastating consequences of foreign influence is through regional unity, especially by further strengthening relations with Azerbaijan. As long as the Azerbaijani and Georgian people are united and moving towards the same goal, attempts to turn the region into a place of instability will not yield any results. Armenia still does not understand this reality, and Armenia, armed with the support of the West, continues to move towards its own disaster. The violation of the West's scenario in Georgia has shaken the hopes of the Armenian authorities. Armenians thought that the West's plan regarding Ukraine would also come true, and the Armenian authorities were building their plans based on this reality. However, the processes observed on the Russian-Ukrainian front in recent times show that this dream of the Armenians has also been dashed. Now the only hope for Armenians is in people like Polish President Andrzej Duda. However, Duda is also a figure who is not taken seriously in international politics, and the next elections to be held in a while will put an end to his activities at the political summit. 29 November 2024 13:23 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more The Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO) hosted a meeting with a delegation from the Kars Chamber of Commerce and Industry to discuss prospects for mutual cooperation, Azernews reports. According to AZPROMO, the meeting facilitated a comprehensive exchange of views on joint initiatives and partnership opportunities. Discussions highlighted Azerbaijan's business climate, investment potential, special economic zones, and opportunities in the liberated territories, emphasizing the favourable conditions created for foreign investors. The dialogue also focused on plans to deepen ties within the framework of a business trip to Turkiye scheduled for the first quarter of next year, marking a step forward in fostering economic collaboration. Note that the Export and Investment Promotion Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (AZPROMO) was established to facilitate non-oil exports and attract foreign investments to the non-oil sector by providing services to interested investors based on a 'single window' principle. The charter of the Export and Investment Promotion Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan AZPROMO was approved by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated July 23, 2021. AZPROMO, formerly a foundation, was established in 2003 by the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan to attract foreign investment in the non-oil sector and encourage exports of non-oil products. Moreover, AZPROMO organizes various international events to achieve numerous goals set by the head of the state to develop the non-oil sector in Azerbaijan, promote products in the foreign markets, raise awareness on Azerbaijani products among foreign consumers, facilitate networking with local companies, support foreign companies that are keen to gather comprehensive information about the investment climate in Azerbaijan and provide services to interested investors based on a 'single window' principle. 29 November 2024 17:11 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. The volume of cargo transportation across the Russian-Azerbaijani border has experienced a significant fivefold increase, Azernews reports, citing Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk as he told in a statement during the 104th meeting of the CIS Economic Council in Moscow. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 29 November 2024 18:26 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more The 104th meeting of the CIS Economic Council took place in Moscow on November 29, chaired by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk. The meeting focused on strengthening economic collaboration among CIS member states. Azerbaijan was represented by First Deputy Prime Minister Yagub Eyyubov, Azernews reports. According to the CIS Executive Committee, key documents were approved during the session, including: Formation of a Single Labor Market: The council endorsed a concept for the phased creation of a unified labor market and the regulation of labor migration among CIS nations. Nuclear Safety Measures: A comprehensive plan was approved to enhance safety in the peaceful use of atomic energy. The initiative aims to strengthen the institutional framework for developing nuclear technologies and to provide scientific and technical support for relevant organizations, in line with International Atomic Energy Agency recommendations. Industrial Cooperation Strategies: A list of priority areas was adopted to foster industrial collaboration. The plan focuses on creating innovative industrial clusters, advancing research and development of new technologies, and enhancing professional training in advanced industrial techniques. The next CIS Economic Council meeting is scheduled for April 28, 2025, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. 29 November 2024 18:49 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. The value of pharmaceutical products imported to Azerbaijan in January-October 2024 decreased, Azernews reports, citing the State Customs Committee. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! An exhibition titled "Jazz in Paintings" has been opened at the Heydar Aliyev Center in the Bilasuvar region, Azernews reports. The art project was co-organized by the Shirvan-Salyan Regional Culture Department and the Salyan State Art Gallery. The opening ceremony of the exhibition, dedicated to the memory of the world-renowned jazz musician, composer, and pianist Vagif Mustafazade, was attended by the head of the Bilasuvar District Executive Authority, Faiq Gurbatov, the head of the Shirvan-Salyan Regional Culture Department, Shahin Shahbazov, heads of law enforcement agencies, various departments and institutions, as well as artists and public figures. First, the precious memory of the martyrs was commemorated, and the National Anthem of Azerbaijan was sung. In their remarks, the founder of the jazz-mugham style, the prominent composer, and pianist Vagif Mustafazade's life and work were discussed in detail. It was noted that Vagif Mustafazade brought a new breath to jazz music by incorporating elements of Azerbaijani mugham into the genre. The musical style he created continues to thrive today, and Azerbaijani jazz is met with great admiration in various countries around the world.The exhibition features portraits of Vagif Mustafazade alongside other renowned jazz stars like Frank Sinatra, Nina Simone, and Charles Lloyd. Afterward, there was a tour of the exhibition, where artists provided information about their works to the audience. The exhibition "Jazz in Paintings" showcases 30 works by a total of 18 artists, including 6 professionals and 12 amateurs. The works primarily consist of portrait and landscape genres. Various jazz compositions were also performed during the exhibition. The event aroused great public interest. 29 November 2024 15:56 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more A criminal case initiated by the State Security Service is being prosecuted in connection with the fact that the citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in collusion with the citizens of other countries, participated in the commission of smuggling crimes between foreign countries, Azernews reports, citing the press service of the State Security Service (SSS). SSS noted that during the investigations, lieutenant colonel Mammadov Gahraman Shamil, who served as the chief assistant to the military attache of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the United States of America, colluded with another citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Gasimov Anar Ali, and citizens of foreign countries. a particularly large amount of gold transported from the United Arab Emirates to the Republic of Turkiye by a pre-conspired group of individuals substantial suspicions were established that the ingots were involved in smuggling across the customs border. So, according to the agreement reached in advance with others, Kahraman Mammadov, who holds a position with diplomatic status, came to the Republic of Turkey from the United States of America on November 22, 2024, and was brought by Anar Gasimov from the United Arab Emirates on the same day and was located outside the customs control at Istanbul International Airport. He took the bag that was placed in the storage room, which contained a large amount of gold bars. By deliberately using the diplomatic passport and official powers confirming the privileges and immunities intended for the members of the diplomatic staff, he took the gold bars through the customs border at that airport without declaring them. Later, Kahraman Mammadov was stopped by Turkish law enforcement officers while driving a taxi to a hotel in Istanbul to hand over these gold bars to Anar Gasimov. During the inspection of his bag, 70 kilograms of gold bars worth 10 million 220 thousand 900 manats were found and taken away. As a result of investigations, another bag containing 14 kilograms of gold bars and which did not cross the customs border was found in the mentioned storage area at the airport. Also, Anar Gasimov was detained in the Republic of Turkey and charged with criminal responsibility. 12.1, 206.3.2, 12.1-1, 206.3.3 of the Criminal Code (smuggling by a citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the case of a group of persons who conspired in advance outside the country, using a service position) and 12.1- 1, 341.1 (Position outside the country by a citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan was brought to criminal responsibility under the articles of abuse of authority or exceeding the authority of duty), the Baku Military Court ordered a preventive measure against him. At the moment, investigative and operational measures are being continued in the criminal case. 29 November 2024 17:32 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Azerbaijan's Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population held a meeting with a group of employers on the active employment programs implemented in order to ensure sustainable employment of the residents relocated to the liberated territories. Azernews reports that the meeting was attended by representatives of the State Agency for Housing Construction, the State Agency of Highways, "Tamiz Sheher" OJSC, "Azerishiq" OJSC, "Azerenergy" OJSC and the State Water Resources Agency. Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population, Anar Aliyev, informed about the active employment programs implemented in order to ensure sustainable employment of the residents relocated to the territories freed from occupation. It was stated that continuous cooperation with employers is being implemented in covering the residents of Garabagh and Eastern Zangazur with employment measures, as well as organizing vocational training courses for them, the concessions applied to employers operating in the liberated territories were brought to attention. The work done in the field of ensuring the employment of the citizens who settled and planned to settle in those areas was discussed. Together with the employers, further strengthening and increasing the efficiency of measures in this field, issues of future cooperation were discussed. 29 November 2024 14:55 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov held a meeting with Masaki Ishikawa, Special Representative of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) for Central Asia, the Caucasus, and GUAM, Azernews reports. The discussion centered on various aspects of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Japan, focusing on expanding economic, trade, and humanitarian ties. According to a statement from the Azerbaijani MFA, the meeting addressed key areas of collaboration, particularly in the industrial and energy sectors. Both sides emphasized the importance of the State Commission for Economic Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Japan, as well as the Japan-Azerbaijan Economic Committee. During the discussions, the issues of expanding economic and trade relations, especially in the industrial and energy sectors, as well as cooperation in the humanitarian field were considered, the statement noted. The parties also agreed on the significance of holding the next joint meeting next year to further strengthen bilateral relations. The two officials also discussed the role of interparliamentary cooperation between Azerbaijan and Japan, highlighting its importance in fostering bilateral ties. The importance of the important role of Azerbaijan-Japan interparliamentary cooperation in the development of bilateral relations and the intensification of mutual visits and contacts would be beneficial, the statement added. Deputy Foreign Minister Mammadov provided his counterpart with a detailed overview of Azerbaijans efforts to establish sustainable peace in the post-conflict period, including the mine problem in the liberated territories and ongoing rehabilitation projects in the Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions. Mammadov also informed Ishikawa about Azerbaijans successful presidency of COP29, which recently concluded. The counterpart congratulated Azerbaijan on its presidency of COP29, as well as the highly professional organization of the event and its leadership efforts to strengthen Azerbaijan's efforts to combat climate change, the statement said. Ishikawa emphasized the significance of the agreements reached at COP29, including the establishment of a New Collective Quantitative Goal on Climate Finance and the Loss and Damage Response Fund. The Japanese side also expressed appreciation for Azerbaijans contributions to global climate action. 29 November 2024 15:38 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. Azerbaijan's crude oil exports to Croatia have seen a significant increase in 2024, with a marked rise in both volume and value, Azernews reports. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! Since 1974, the Texas Renaissance Festival has been home to fantasy lovers, vagabond musicians and entertainers, and curious folk who've never had a cheesecake on a stick before. The festival marks its 50th anniversary this fall, bringing back fan-favorite entertainers, a new "Texas Wine Tasting," family-oriented activities and custom-made trinkets. Performers parade through the grounds during the Texas Renaissance Festival Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, in Todd Mission. Melissa Phillip/Staff photographer The festival, hosted on 55 acres of land in Todd Mission, has grown in popularity throughout the years eventually becoming one of the largest Renaissance-themed festivals in the nation. Starting off with 30,000 visitors its first year, the festival brings more than 500,000 visitors annually. Advertisement Article continues below this ad More recently, the festival gained national attention after the release of HBO's three-part documentary "Ren Faire," which showed founder George Coulam pit three of his upper-level employees against each other to see who would be crowned king or queen as they try to force him to sell or retire. George Coulam, founder of the Texas Renaissance Festival, talks during tour of the grounds Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, in Todd Mission. Melissa Phillip/Staff photographer While some guests may be visiting for the first time because of the documentary, Conroe resident Cody Goolsby is excited to see everyone he hasn't seen since last year. Goolsby said he started going to the festival when he first got his driver's license in 2005. And he's been going ever since, eventually making everlasting friendships. He works at the festival as a "Royal Ambassador," working closely with the marketing team and Coulam on community outreach. Advertisement Article continues below this ad One of Goolsby's favorite things about the festival is people's imagination, he said. He remembers dressing as Thor one of the years, walking around with the God of Thunder's hammer and allowing children, dressed as their favorite Marvel character, try to pick it up to see "if they were worthy enough." "And sure enough, I picked it up and the whole crowd around them started yelling," Goolsby said, noting that the experience is something he shares with his 8-year-old son. "The community is what drives me back." And for new comers or people looking to attend one of the festival's themed weekends, here's what you need to know: Escape rooms, wine and drinkware For 2024, the festival is bringing back Odin's Table Wine Tasting with a new and unique "Texas Wine Tasting" experience, according to its website. There will also be four escape rooms for families and children to explore and a 50th anniversary mug that patrons can purchase online. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Marshall Varon, 6, left, of Hockley and his friend, Issayah Hood, 6, of Tomball eat turkey legs during the Texas Renaissance Festival Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, in Todd Mission. Melissa Phillip/Staff photographer Odin's Table Wine Tasting For visitors that are ages 21 and older, the festival will host a "Texas Wine Tasting" experience, sponsored by Haak Wines. The tastings are expected to be interactive, educational, entertaining, and includes a commemorative, ergonomic wine glass with the Texas Renaissance Festival and Haak logos, the website states. Escape rooms For families and children, the festival is bringing four escape rooms this year. These rooms include Airry Botter & The Sorcery School Headmaster's Office, Airry Botter & The Alchemist's Lab, The Pirates' Dilemma and The King's Guard. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Spectators and performers are shown at the Texas Renaissance Festival Saturday, October 12, 2019, in Todd Mission. Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle To book one of the escape rooms, visit the festival's website. Commemorative tankard and mug Patrons can also purchase a commemorative tankard and mug for the festival's 50th anniversary. Drinkware was designed by renowned artist and philanthropist, Real Musgrave. All proceeds go towards animal charities, the website states. To purchase a 50th anniversary tankard or mug, visit the festival's website. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Tali Stermer, left, practices juggling with Rebekah Tynker, center, and her brother, Sam Tynker, right, who both perform at the Texas Renaissance Festival as Clan Tynker, a family circus, shown Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019, in Plantersville. Tali Stermers dad, Rio Blue, also a performer at the festival, owns property along Renfaire Dr. where many of the performers and vendors live seasonal in the neighborhood that is located next to the Texas Renaissance Festival. Melissa Phillip/Staff photographer Themed weekends schedule Like years before, the festival brings eight themed weekends, bringing visitors who are fans of faries and elves, Marvel superheroes and villains, ghouls and goblins, and pirates and barbarians. During the festival's run, each weekend brings a new theme. Each weekend will have a costume contest as well as an eating contest. Oktoberfest, which allows for folks to journey back in time to old Bavaria, Oct. 12-13. 1001 Dreams, which is for fans of faries, elves and other fanciful creatures, Oct. 19-20. All Hallows Eve, which is a theme to celebrate Halloween, Oct. 26-27. Pirate Adventure, which is for fans of Jack Sparrow and other pirates alike, Nov. 2-3. Heroes and Villains, which is for fans of Marvel and DC, Nov. 9-10. Barbarian Invasion, which is for folks that are barbaric in nature, Nov. 16-17. Highland Fling, which is for folks who are fans of kilts, Nov. 23-24. Celtic Christmas, which is a theme to celebrate Christmas, Nov. 29-Dec. 1. How much are tickets? Tickets are only sold at the festival gates and online at TexRenFest.com, its website states. Prices range between $14 to $35, depending on the day attending. The festival also offers weekend and season passes. George Coulam, founder of the Texas Renaissance Festival, walks by the mausoleum where he plan to be buried outside his home Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, in Todd Mission. He plans for his home called Stargate Manor to become a museum after his death. The home and grounds called Stargate Manor Arboretum would be opened to the public. Melissa Phillip/Staff photographer For a weekend pass, the price ranges between $28 to $48 and does not include camping. Season passes range between $300 to $800, depending on the type of pass. For children, a season pass is offered at $100. To purchase a ticket, visit the festival's website. Where to camp at the festival? The festival offers several ways to stay the night on the campgrounds, including a stargazing glamping tent, a cabin and an RV. Guests can also bring their own tent and RV to stay the night. Camping passes range between $25 to $32 per person, depending on the time purchased. The festival is also offering an "opening weekend" camping pass, which cost between $15 to $20, depending on the time purchased. A "Stay and Play" pass is also offered for anyone who wants to stay on the campgrounds the entire weekend and attend the festival. Each pass costs $70 per person. Children 12 and younger can camp for free, the website states. 29 November 2024 12:25 (UTC+04:00) Russian Colonel General Rustam Muradov has been elevated to the position of First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Ground Forces by order of President Vladimir Putin. His promotion reflects his involvement in various military operations, spanning from the Caucasus to Ukraine, Azernews reports. Muradov is well-known in the South Caucasus as the former commander of Russian peacekeepers in the Garabagh region following the 2020 war between Azerbaijan and Armenia. However, his tenure was marred by controversy. Accusations of covert support for Armenian separatists and perceived violations of his neutrality stirred dissatisfaction in Azerbaijani society. In 2021, Muradov faced sharp criticism for his meetings in Khankendi and for overlooking the activities of separatists, actions that many Azerbaijani analysts viewed as breaches of his peacekeeping mandate. His promotion to this key position within the Russian Ground Forces underscores his strategic contributions, including his recent activities on the Ukrainian front. 29 November 2024 22:50 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva The Canadian Competition Bureau has filed a lawsuit against the American corporation Alphabet, the parent company of the tech giant Google, over alleged abuses in the online advertising market, Azernews reports. "The Competition Bureau is suing Google for interfering with free competition in the field of online advertising technology services in Canada. After a thorough investigation, the bureau has filed an application with the Competition Tribunal, seeking to correct the companys practices in the interests of Canadian consumers and businesses," the document states. According to the statement, following the investigation, the regulator found that, as the largest provider of advertising services in the Canadian internet market, Google abuses its dominant position to restrict other market participants, preventing them from competing fairly with the American giant. The regulator is demanding that Google divest two of its advertising toolsthe DFP (DoubleClick for Publishers) server and the AdX advertising exchangearguing that this move would foster greater competition and benefit the Canadian digital economy. This lawsuit comes amid increasing global scrutiny of Google's market power, especially regarding its dominance in online advertising. Governments and regulators around the world, from the EU to the US and Canada, have been focusing on tech companies' monopolistic practices and their impact on smaller businesses. If the Competition Bureau succeeds in its case, it could mark a significant shift in the way digital advertising services are provided in Canada, potentially influencing similar cases in other markets. 29 November 2024 19:18 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched an investigation into Microsoft. The global technology giant has already been asked to provide relevant documents for the inquiry, Azernews reports. The FTC has requested Microsoft to submit detailed documents concerning its cloud services, artificial intelligence (AI) tools, and cybersecurity programs. This information was provided by a source familiar with the investigation, who chose to remain anonymous. However, both Microsoft and the Federal Trade Commission have declined to comment on the matter. Microsoft, known for its wide range of activities, has recently become a significant player in the AI field. This expansion is largely driven by investments in OpenAI and the development of Copilot, a proprietary AI system that enhances its existing offerings in cloud computing, enterprise software, gaming, and devices. This is not the first time Microsoft has faced antitrust scrutiny. Earlier in 2023, European regulators considered the possibility of collaborating with OpenAI to address competition concerns in the AI sector. Additionally, the company has been at odds with the FTC over its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Critics argued that the merger could create a monopoly in video game publishing, though Microsoft has strongly denied these claims and finalized a deal in October 2023. The timing of this investigation is noteworthy, as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office. Trump is expected to replace Lina Khan, the current chair of the Federal Trade Commission, which could potentially shift the agencys focus. His administration may also suspend or alter ongoing investigations. Trumps return to power raises broader questions about how his administration will address antitrust issues in the tech industry. For instance, Google could face the possibility of having to divest its Chrome browser after its search business was found to hold monopoly power. Ongoing investigations into Apple and Amazon's market practices also signal that antitrust scrutiny of tech giants will continue to be a key issue. 29 November 2024 21:15 (UTC+04:00) Russian and Chinese military aircraft entered and exited the Republic of Korea's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) without prior notification, Azernews reports. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff clarified that there was no violation of South Korean airspace. Our military detected Chinese and Russian aircraft before they entered the air defense identification zone. Air Force fighters were deployed, and tactical measures were taken to prepare for any potential emergency situations, the South Korean military stated. Air defense identification zones (ADIZ) are established by countries to monitor and control aircraft approaching their airspace, serving as a national security measure. While entering an ADIZ does not constitute a violation of airspace, it allows nations to identify and track foreign aircraft to ensure the safety of their skies. Additional context: Such incidents are not uncommon in regions with heightened military activity, especially near contested areas. The ADIZ serves as a buffer zone to give nations more time to respond to aircraft approaching their airspace. The presence of Russian and Chinese aircraft in this region highlights the ongoing geopolitical tension in East Asia, where military maneuvers and airspace incursions often attract international attention. China to hold int'l symposium on Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" Xinhua) 10:24, November 29, 2024 BEIJING, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- A symposium on Chinese ancient military strategist Sun Tzu and his renowned work "The Art of War" will be held in Beijing on Dec. 5 and 6, a Chinese defense spokesperson said Thursday. Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, told a press conference that over 350 delegates from nearly 30 countries had so far confirmed their participation in the 10th International Symposium on Sun Tzu's Art of War. Sun Tzu lived during China's Spring and Autumn period (770-476 BC), and is credited as the author of "The Art of War," one of the most influential works of military strategies and tactics that has affected both Western and East Asian philosophy and military thought. This year's symposium, themed "Sun Tzu's Art of War and Mutual Learning Among Civilizations," will feature six special sessions. Topics will include the contemporary cultural significance of "The Art of War," Sun Tzu's stratagems in the era of artificial intelligence, and more, according to Wu. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Epic and startup Particle Health have jointly submitted a proposed briefing schedule for Epic's motion to dismiss in their ongoing legal case. The agreement, discussed during a pre-motion conference on Nov. 21, outlines deadlines for filings and requests an extension of page limits for the briefings. Five things to know: Luxury footwear brand set to take over former Argos store in Belfast Russell & Bromley will be joined by Mango at the city centre location Ross's Court in Belfast John Mulgrew Fri 29 Nov 2024 at 07:28 A vacant Argos store in Belfast city centre will soon see the arrival of a luxury UK footwear and handbag retailers first location alongside a Spanish fashion chains new store, it can be revealed. Andrew Woods, CEO of Catagen, Aislean Nicholson, Deloitte lead partner for Fast 50 in Northern Ireland and Linda McMillan, chief people officer at Fibrus at The Kelvin in Belfast Nine companies in Northern Ireland have been ranked on business advisory firm Deloittes list of the 50 fastest-growing tech firms on the island of Ireland. The Deloitte Technology Fast 50 bases its rankings on the revenue of companies over a four-year period. The nine selections this year are the same number NI totalled in 2023. The companies are Fibrus, Catagen, Syndeo, Halo, Locate a Locum, Barclay Digital, SciLeads, Plotbox and Totalmobile. Broadband provider Fibrus was placed second on the list overall, and was joined in the top 10 by Catagen, Syndeo and Halo. Catagen also won the significant impact award. The 50 companies on the list include private firms and publicly-listed ones. Aislean Nicholson, Deloitte Fast 50 lead partner in Belfast, said: The Fast 50 ranking is a badge of honour, offering trusted recognition based on four years of revenue growth. This credibility distinguishes the programme, and not only identifies the tech leaders of tomorrow, but signals their readiness to scale globally. Congratulations to all of the companies and individuals whose hard work and innovation have earned them a well-deserved place on this year's list. "Northern Irelands reputation as a hub for creative, homegrown technology companies continues to grow and the success of those who have made the Fast 50 demonstrates the talent, expertise and vision of the innovative leaders in our local technology sector. Special newsboy cap donates 100% of profits to Belfast homeless charity The US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy III has been gifted a special piece of headgear that has been making a difference to those who have found themselves homeless on the streets of Belfast. Say Nothing: The IRA man not named in Disney show about murder of Jean McConville Despite the fact Bell is the only person to appear in a courtroom charged over a murder that shocked the world, it appears they may have decided to leave him out of the story. Veteran republican Ivor Bell previously pictured enjoying a pint in his local pub Steven Moore Fri 29 Nov 2024 at 14:05 This remains the only man to ever face a charge in connection with the kidnap and murder of Jean McConville 52 years ago. News Belfast woman tore clumps of her aunts hair out and threw bicycle through her window Sport For too long football investment has been concentrated in Belfast now is the time to bring football home to Coleraine Ulster University staff take to the stage in Birmingham after being named University of the Year at the annual Times Higher Education Awards Ulster University vice-chancellor Paul Bartholomew has spoken of his pride after the institution was crowned University of the Year 2024 in the annual Times Higher Education Awards. Its the first time in the universitys history that it has been recognised as the top higher education institution in the UK and Ireland. Known as the Oscars of the UK university sector, Thursdays awards celebrated the best of higher education, with the University of the Year accolade honouring exceptional university performance. Ulster University was hailed by judges as a force for good in fostering peace, prosperity and cohesion and took the top spot in recognition of its role as an anchor institution in a region that has undergone rapid change in the quarter-century since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Ulster University was up against London Metropolitan University, University of Stirling, University of Leicester, University of Sunderland, and University of Surrey. The award honoured the completion of Ulster Universitys 364m Belfast campus, creating a vital connection to a historically underserved community, backed up with a schools programme designed to boost higher education participation among the citys young males. In what was a momentous year, the university secured a multimillion-pound Shared Island investment in a new teaching and student services building in Londonderry, which is set to expand an already thriving hub for health sciences, interdisciplinary training and practice in the north west. The campus is preparing to graduate the first cohort of doctors from the Graduate Entry School of Medicine next year and offers the first paramedic science course in Northern Ireland, meaning that Ulster Universitys Londonderry campus provides the most comprehensive higher education healthcare offering in the UK and Ireland. Additionally, the university marked the completion of its new state-of-the-art Belfast city centre campus, one of the largest higher education capital projects in Europe, recently named Building of the Year by the Royal Society of Ulster Architects. We are incredibly proud and delighted to be announced as University of the Year by Times Higher Education, Mr Bartholomew said after receiving the award in Birminghams International Convention Centre. We thought we had a chance, but we were shortlisted with five other fantastic institutions and you never really know what the judges will be looking for. We did have a remarkable year, he added. And while we dont go chasing these awards, the recognition is wonderful for all the staff and the support of our student community across our campuses. The vice-chancellor said that while winning recognition for progress to date is a boost for all at the university, theres still a job to be done in building on what has been achieved over the past umber of years. The judges were also impressed by the securing of a 44.5m (37m) investment from the Irish Government for the development of Ulster Universitys Londonderry campus, making it a ground-breaking cross-jurisdictional project. The significance of such efforts to ongoing peace and collaboration were underscored by Ulster Universitys role as host to US President Joe Biden, on his visit to mark the Good Friday Agreements 25th anniversary. The judges said these achievements demonstrated the universitys growing influence and status in the island of Ireland, and as a force for good in fostering peace, prosperity and cohesion. AccuWeathers stance on Project 2025 has not changed since Trump was elected, an AccuWeather spokesperson said. In a statement, the company said the multi-sector approach to weather forecasting, with public and private partnerships, saved countless lives and significantly reduced the adverse impact of weather on the economy by hundreds of billions of dollars. AccuWeather emphasized that NOAA and the National Weather Services role is maximized when the government focuses on maintaining robust weather infrastructure, disseminating data, and issuing public warnings. Nielsen-Gammon said it would be remarkable if private companies couldnt improve upon the weather services forecasts because the forecasts are public and freely available, but he asserted that if the weather service stopped making forecasts, the quality of private forecasts would immediately decline. He pointed out that the source of Gilmans claim that private companies were more reliable than the weather service a press release from AccuWeather in 2020 didnt compare the companys forecasts with the weather services forecasts and is flat-out wrong. He added that the local weather service offices also coordinate with private forecasters to ensure everyone has the same information. By mutual agreement, private companies do not issue public weather warnings, Nielsen-Gammon said. It is crucial that the public receives clear, consistent messages regarding imminent threats of severe weather, and that the warning information be freely available. Ten of NIs 18 MPs took part in House of Commons voteDUP MP shares late fathers cancer battle during emotional five-hour debatePresbyterian Church expresses deep disappointment, sadness and regret over vote outcomeChurch of Ireland says assisted suicide is not how to help those suffering Proponents and opponents of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill outside Westminster on Friday. Pic: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire Nine of Northern Irelands 11 sitting MPs voted against legalising assisted dying in England and Wales as the House of Commons passed the bill on Friday with 330 votes for the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life Bill) and 275 against a majority of 55. The private members bill will give terminally ill people the right to choose to end their life. However, the bill has not yet reached the stage of becoming law but will now move on to further parliamentary scrutiny. Any future change in law will not come into force in Northern Ireland as it is a devolved matter. In the vote on Friday, the SDLPs Colum Eastwood was the only NI MP to vote in favour of legalising assisted dying. His party leader Claire Hanna announced on Thursday that she would be abstaining. Meanwhile, the Alliance Partys Sorcha Eastwood, UUP MP Robin Swann, TUV leader Jim Allister and independent unionist Alex Easton all voted against the bill. The DUPs five MPs Gavin Robinson, Carla Lockhart, Gregory Campbell, Sammy Wilson and Jim Shannon also voted against. Sinn Feins seven MPs did not vote due to the partys Westminster abstention policy. NI Secretary of State and Labour MP Hilary Benn voted in favour of the bill. Speaking during the emotional five-hour debate prior to the vote, the DUPs Upper Bann MP Ms Lockhart told the House of Commons about her late father Kenneth, who died in June last year after battling painful and aggressive cancer. DUP Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart (Oliver McVeigh/PA) Terminally ill for five years with a painful and aggressive cancer, yet a faith that sustained him and a health service that sought to support, care, comfort and preserve his life, she said. Consultants and medical staff who went over and above to ensure that he got every opportunity to see his family, and particularly his grandchildren, grow up. Did I want to see my dad suffer? Absolutely not, but equally those difficult times provided us with an opportunity to care for and express a love for a person whose life we valued. The root of my conviction is this life in all its forms is of inherent worth and value, and while I have come to that conclusion - partly because of my faith - like everyone across the house, I have listened carefully to the evidence in coming to my conclusion on the danger this bill represents. Speaking after the vote, Ms Lockhart said it represents another step towards the nation changing how we view and value the lives of the our fellow citizens. Lagan Valley MP Ms Eastwood added that she wants to support life. Were having this discussion in a sense that almost implies palliative care right across the UK is of the same excellent standard everywhere and I have to inform the house that it is not, she told the House of Commons. It is of deep regret that is the case. I also want to say that I feel that I cannot stand by this today because there are many vulnerable, marginalised people that will be impacted by this. I want to support life, I want to affirm life and I also want to do that with dignity. Proponents and opponents of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill outside Westminster on Friday. Pic: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire MPs vote for assisted dying in England and Wales North Antrim MP Mr Allister said he could not square the circle where the UK would reach out to those threatening suicide to then move to sanction suicide. "And to do that in respect of those who are intrinsically the most vulnerable in our society, he continued. "Anyone who gets a diagnosis of terminal illness is, by reason of that, obviously vulnerable. "Many, in consequence, suffer depression and other difficulties, so they are among the most vulnerable in our society. Being vulnerable, they are among those most liable to fall under the foul influence of coercion. Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Rev Dr Richard Murray and the churchs council for public affairs Rev Daniel Kane, expressed deep disappointment, sadness and regret that the bill will now move on to the next stage. On behalf of our church, we want to express our deep disappointment, sadness and regret at todays news that MPs have voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, enabling it to progress to its next legislative stage, they said in a joint statement. We have consistently affirmed the importance and innate dignity of every human life from conception to death as precious and a gift from God. "The preservation, protection, and dignity of human life are moral and precious values that cannot, and should not, be altered by legislative change. "This mornings vote is a watershed moment for the UK, both culturally and spiritually, which has shifted the value that society places on life itself. Along with others, we firmly believe that no amount of legal safeguards can ensure the safety of the most vulnerable in society and protect them from emotional coercion, or the very feeling that they are now a burden to their family. "We should be protecting peoples lives and advocating for a better way, not speeding up death and devaluing life. The Church of Ireland said it does not accept legislating for assisted suicide is the best way to help those suffering. "We do not accept that legislating for assisted suicide will inevitably reduce suffering, added the church. "The only inevitability of such legislation seems to be its progressively widening scope. "Instead, our governments should work to ensure the best possible palliative care is available to all regardless of their location or financial situation, so that no-one need to fear suffering in death. Proponents and opponents of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill outside Westminster on Friday. Pic: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire News Catch Up - Thursday 28 November The grieving partner of a Co Tyrone man who died in a crash has said she wishes it was all just a dream. Ryan Glenn was one of three men killed in the accident in Co Donegal last Friday night. The 25-year-old died alongside his friend Gordy Galbraith in the tragedy near the village of Liscooley, around five miles from the border with Co Tyrone. Both men were from the Castlederg area. Ryan Glenn with son Logan Mr Glenns partner, Stephanie Farmer, said she is struggling to accept his passing, poignantly recalling he loved me to bits. I wish he would just call my phone, Im still texting Ryans phone, waiting on him to reply, she told the Belfast Telegraph. The car in which Mr Glenn and Mr Galbraith were travelling collided with another vehicle at approximately 10pm last Friday. A third victim, Samuel Hunter from Lifford in Co Donegal, was taken to hospital following the crash but passed away on Tuesday. Stephanie Farmer and Ryan Glenn Paying tribute to her partner, Ms Farmer said they had a loving relationship and described him as her best friend. We were just mad about each other. He loved me to bits, she said. She described Mr Glenn as a loving and devoted father to their six-year-old son, Logan. He is the image of his daddy he loves him very much always and forever, she added. Ms Farmer said everyone in Mr Glenns life has been devastated by his passing. He was a loving and caring person, he will be sorely missed, she said. I dont know how Im going to get on without him the love of my life is gone. Ryan Glenn with son Logan A service of thanksgiving for Mr Glenns life will be held at Lynchs Funeral Home, Castlederg at 1pm on Friday. Mr Galbraith, who was 38, was laid to rest on Thursday in Castlederg. A service of thanksgiving took place in his family home, with interment afterwards in Castlederg Cemetery. Rev Peter Ferguson, rector at Derg Parish Church of Ireland, led the service. The coffin paused briefly between the Derg Arms and Castle Inn, where the deceased socialised. Dergview FC paid tribute to Mr Galbraith, who previously played for the team. Gordon (Gordy) Galbraith's funeral procession They said: Gordy was a past player of the club at both youth and senior level and his two sons are currently playing with our youth academy. Our thoughts and prayers are also with the others involved in the accident. Mr Hunter, who was in his 70s, late of Murlog, Lifford, and formerly of Cranford, will be laid to rest on Friday in Milford. A funeral service will be held in Ballindrait Presbyterian Church at 1pm with burial afterwards in the family plot in Milford Presbyterian church graveyard. Gordon (Gordy) Galbraith's funeral procession Mr Hunters wife, Dolores, who was seriously injured in the crash, remains in hospital. A second woman, aged in her 30s, was treated for non-life threatening injuries. Garda have urged anyone with information on the collision to come forward. The mens deaths come at a difficult time for the Castlederg community. Earlier this month, another young local man, Eoin Lynch (29), died in a crash near Strabane. A Co Fermanagh man who celebrated the speech and the history of the people of east Antrim and became renowned as the Bard of Kilwaughter is to be commemorated with an Ulster History Circle Blue Plaque at the Larne Museum and Arts Centre. John Clifford wrote one of his best-known poems, The Hirin Fair, in wartime England and wrote numerous poems in Ulster-Scots about his adopted homeplace. Born in Enniskillen in 1900, Clifford moved to east Antrim when he was eight and later worked on a number of farms in the area before going to London. Initially he was invited to go by his friend Richard Hayward, who was also brought up in Larne, and went in search of acting work. Realising he needed more education, he went to evening classes for five years and joined the civil service. While educating himself he worked for around 50 hours a week as a wireman in the London Telephone Exchange. He joined the Unity Theatre and toured with it throughout the UK, presenting drama on social and political issues. One of Cliffords best-known works is The Hirin Fair, which he wrote on the south coast of England, sitting on Beachy Head in the 1940s when Nazi invasion seemed a real possibility. At the start of the war hed joined the Air Raid Precaution Service and was awarded a medal for his services. John Clifford When Clifford came back to Larne 30 years later, he was one of the founders of the Larne and District Folklore Societ, which brought the tradition back to life, recreating the flavour of an old Hirin Fair with local musicians, people dressed in turn-of-the century costume, and a horse-trading re-enactment. Clifford was in the midst of it all, sporting a stage moustache, putting his acting skills to good use and speaking in the local language he loved. He also helped set up a museum in what became known as the Larne Historical Centre, of which he was the first curator. Its now the Larne Museum and Arts Centre. The John Clifford Gallery there is named in his honour, recognising how active he was in preserving artefacts that would otherwise have been lost. He was one of the most prominent folklorists of his day in Larne and east Antrim. He played fiddle and accordion and he sang and wrote and performed in plays. He helped revive Mounthill Fair in Larne, one of the oldest horse fairs in Ireland. Clifford died on October 8, 1983. In paying tribute, Sam Cross, co-founder of Larne and District Folklore Society, wrote: Those of us who were privileged to know him were ever conscious that we were in the presence of a living legend. We never ceased to wonder at his boundless energy, his youthful enthusiasm, his marvellous poetic gift. John had a deep-rooted love of his native soil, its people and its language, which 30 years in London left undimmed. Lolly Spence organised a series of events at Larne Museum and Arts Centre last year for the 40th anniversary of Cliffords death. John Clifford was exceptional, hard-working, talented, civic-minded, with a broad range of interests, she said. He recognised that he was living through changing times, so he recorded folklore, language and history to leave us a valuable record. His legacy is of interest to scholars and local folk, to linguists and historians. The plaque will be unveiled on Friday at 10.30am at Larne Museum and Arts Centre. LIVE | Irish Election 2024: Taoiseach casts his ballot as voters head to polls in too close to call election Door knocks, hustings and TikToks, the Irish General Election 2024 campaign has officially come to a close and voters hit the polling stations today follow all the news and views from the Irish Independent right here Taoiseach casts his ballot as voters head to polls in too close to call General Election Irish Independent Newsdesk Fri 29 Nov 2024 at 10:45 Voters head to the polls this morning for the Irish General Election which will set the political landscape in Ireland for the next five years. Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris accompanied by his wife Caoimhe and children Cillian and Saoirse as he casts his vote at Delgany National School (Niall Carson/PA) The leaders of the three largest parties in Ireland have voted in a close-fought General Election that could see one of them become the countrys next premier. Current Taoiseach Simon Harris said he expects a fascinating couple of days after he submitted his ballot minutes after polling stations opened. Political leaders stepped out in driving rain on Friday to vote, with the exception of Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns who gave birth to a baby girl on polling day. The Cork South-West candidate posted a picture of her cradling her daughter on Instagram with the caption shes here. Friday also saw key monthly figures on the level of homelessness published as people voted. They showed another record high of 14,966 people, including 4,645 children, were housed in emergency accommodation last month, according to the Department of Housing tally. Speaking after voting on Friday, Mr Harris said that the make-up and stability of the next government could be decided by where transfer votes go a key part of Irelands complex electoral system of proportional representation with a single transferable vote (PR-STV). The Fine Gael leader arrived at the polling station at Delgany National School in Co Wicklow just before 7.30am with his wife Caoimhe and their children, Saoirse, five, and Cillian, three. Im feeling really hopeful, hopeful in terms of the election, but hopeful for the future of our country, he said as he called on people to use your voice, use your vote. In an election which has seen several opinion polls put the three main parties Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and opposition party Sinn Fein within touching distance of one another, turnout is expected to be another crucial factor. Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris casts his vote at Delgany National School, County Wicklow (Niall Carson/PA) Irelands deputy premier Micheal Martin urged people to brave the wet and windy weather and to use their vote. I encourage people to vote its a key part of our democracy. The weather notwithstanding, we encourage people to come out to vote but yes, it is a pity that its such a wet morning, he told reporters in Cork City. The Tanaiste attended his polling station at St Anthonys Boys National School in Ballinlough, with his wife Mary, his daughter Aoibhe, and his sons Micheal Aodh and Cillian. The Fianna Fail leader said his party had run a positive campaign in a close-fought race as he argued for the formation of a coherent, stable government. Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin casts his vote at St Anthonys Boys National School, Beechwood Park, Ballinlough, Cork (Jacob King/PA) Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said it was decision day after she voted in Cabra, Dublin. She said it was a particularly significant election for younger people as she urged people to vote. I just want to encourage everybody to come out and make their mark on what can be, in my belief, a really significant, in fact, a historic day where we can elect a new government for change, she said. Irish president Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina cast their votes at their local polling station in the Phoenix Park as the leaders of smaller parties also came out early to vote. Irish President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina cast their votes at St Marys Hospital, Phoenix Park, Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) Labour leader Ivana Bacik voted at a polling station on Pleasant Street in Dublin, Green Party leader Roderic OGorman voted in Blanchardstown and co-leader of Independent Ireland Michael Collins voted in Schull, Co Cork. Aontu leader Peadar Toibin voted in Johnstown, Navan; People Before Profit leader Richard Boyd Barrett voted in Glasthule, Dublin; while Social Democrats deputy leader Cian OCallaghan voted in Scoil Mhuire in Howth. The three largest parties were virtually neck-and-neck heading into polling day, with one party leader describing the race as too close to call. The latest poll, a Red C-Business Post survey, shows support for Fianna Fail unchanged at 21%, only slightly ahead of its coalition partner, Fine Gael, which is down two percentage points at 20% and now tied with the largest opposition party, Sinn Fein, which has gained two. The polls opened at 7am and will close at 10pm, with a total of 174 seats in the countrys parliament to be filled more than ever before. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald casts her vote at Deaf Village Ireland on the Navan Road in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) More than three million registered voters will pick their representatives across 43 constituencies, in a campaign that has focused on the countrys housing crisis, the response to a dramatic increase in immigration, and economic management for the cost of living as well as potential future trade shocks. After the 2020 general election delivered an inconclusive result, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, two parties forged from opposing sides of Irelands Civil War of the 1920s, agreed to set aside almost a century of animosity and share power. Sinn Fein won the popular vote in 2020 but a failure to run enough candidates meant it did not secure sufficient seats in the Dail to give it a realistic chance of forming a government. This time around, Ms McDonald fielded many more candidates in a vow not to repeat past mistakes, as she urged voters to elect a government of change without Fine Gael or Fianna Fail. More than three million registered voters will pick their representatives across 43 constituencies (Niall Carson/PA) An exit poll at 10pm will provide the first sense of what Irelands next government may look like. The arithmetic to form a majority could prove tricky though, with the countrys several smaller parties and many independents potentially jockeying for a place in government. It will end a lacklustre three-week campaign that seemed to fail to ignite a surge of enthusiasm among the public, after the election was officially called by Mr Harris on November 8. That decision was ultimately his prerogative, and occurred while Fine Gael was enjoying a lift in the polls after he took over as leader from Leo Varadkar earlier this year. It also came at a time when Sinn Fein was beset by a string of controversies in the preceding weeks including former party members writing job references for a colleague who was later convicted of child sex crimes. But opinions polls suggest the parties fortunes have since shifted, with the opposition party making gains as Fine Gael suffered a slide. Mr Martin, Ms McDonald and Mr Harris (left to right) during the final leaders debate (Niall Carson/PA) One key flashpoint in the campaign arose out of Donald Trumps presidential election victory in the US, which brought heightened concern around what his proposals for corporation tax and tariffs could mean for Ireland. As such, the scale of Sinn Feins spending proposals have been dubbed as irresponsible by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, who have argued that Ireland needs to prepare for potential trade shocks with more prudent financial management. But the campaigning tactic has been derided as project fear and desperate scaremongering by critics. At the same time, a Sinn Fein pledge to instigate an independent review into Irish national broadcaster RTEs coverage of Gaza and other international conflicts was met with criticism by the partys opponents, and the National Union of Journalists. Mr Harris described the proposal as chilling, with others noting that several party figures, including Ms McDonald, had taken legal actions against journalists and media outlets. The polls opened at 7am and will close at 10pm (Niall Carson/PA) Meanwhile, Fine Gaels campaign has been plagued with several controversies which the Taoiseach has been unable to shake. Mr Harris has repeatedly apologised for a much-criticised encounter in which he was accused of dismissing the concerns of a disability care worker at a supermarket, which had been filmed by RTE. It later emerged that a member of the Fine Gael team contacted RTE about the interaction prior to publication. Ms McDonald took her opportunity to use Mr Harriss own words against him, characterising the development as chilling. The Fine Gael campaign has also been dogged by footage entering the public domain which showed a candidate engaged in a fight outside a pub. John McGahon had been found not guilty in a criminal case around the incident, but was ordered to pay damages in a civil case. Fine Gael candidate John McGahon (left) (Fergal Phillips/Fine Gael/PA) Mr Harris notably did not canvass with the candidate in his high-profile tour of the country. Elsewhere, an endorsement of a Fine Gael candidate from outspoken Ryanair boss Michael OLeary was welcomed by senior party figures, albeit in a qualified nature after he suggested teachers should not run the country. One such teacher in government is Mr Martin. His partys platform also faced criticism over its proposals to decriminalise cannabis for personal use. It formed part of a wider row on handling the justice portfolio, which has come into sharp relief in the context of 2023s Dublin riots and a perception that the capital is unsafe. Some Fianna Fail figures have been accused of sexism over their criticisms of the Justice Minister Helen McEntee, Fine Gaels deputy leader. Green leader Roderic OGorman, Mr Harris and Mr Martin (left to right) (Clodagh Kilcoyne/PA) After the 2020 election, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail relied on the Green Party as a junior partner to secure the coalitions majority. Green leader Roderic OGorman has said it looks likely his government partners will be returned to power, but cautioned they could seek an easier life over the next five years. He said this could result in right-wing independents or small populist parties padding out the numbers. The final results will immediately kick-start government formation speculation amid the possibility that more than three parties will be needed to get over the line. The protracted process of counting ballots by hand will begin on Saturday. As Ireland uses a system of proportional representation where candidates are ranked by preference, the voting slips need to be counted several times an undertaking which can last days. Former prime minister Boris Johnson speaks during the Global Soft Power Summit, at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre. Boris Johnson has for British troops to be committed to peacekeeping duties at the Ukrainian border as part of any ceasefire deal. The former Prime Minister told the Daily Telegraph that peace-keeping responsibilities should be handled by a multinational group of Western nations. I dont think we should be sending in combat troops to take on the Russians, he said. But I think as part of the solution, as part of the end state, youre going to want to have multinational European peace-keeping forces monitoring the border [and] helping the Ukrainians. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content I cannot see that such a European operation could possibly happen without the British. It comes against the backdrop of US president-elect Donald Trumps January inauguration. The incoming leader has called on peace talks between Russia and Ukraine to speed up and spoke on the campaign trail about his plans to end the war in 24 hours. Mr Johnson said other European nations should be transparent about any security or funding guarantees offered as part of a potential peace deal. One option he put forward was Ukraine joining Nato. The alliances treaty binds all members to come to one anothers defence in the event of an attack. We need to be spelling out what kind of security guarantees we think are appropriate, he said. The only thing that really works is a Nato Article 5 guarantee that has kept the peace in Europe for 80 years. Its the reason the Baltic states are in Nato. Its the reason that the Poles, Hungarians, Czechs, Finns and the Swedes are now in Nato. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is greeted by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as he arrives in Downing Street, London, (PA) Elsewhere, outgoing US President Joe Bidens administration urged Ukraine to lower its conscription age from 25 to 18 to help expand its pool of fighting-age men. The former Prime Ministers comments came less than a day after Sir Keir Starmer spoke to Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky as his countrys power grid faces bombardment by Russian forces. Russias renewed attack on Ukraines power grid, the second in less than two weeks, has added to fears the Kremlin is hoping to cripple its foes power generation ahead of winter. One million homes have lost power in the war-torn nation, according to Ukrainian officials. Russias renewed attack on Ukraines power grid, the second in less than two weeks, has added to fears the Kremlin is hoping to cripple its foes power generation ahead of winter. One million homes have lost power in the war-torn nation, according to Ukrainian officials. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Downing Street described the Russian strikes as egregious, adding that the Prime Minister characterised them as systematic and depraved when speaking to Mr Zelensky. Amid the attacks, Mr Zelensky expressed gratitude for the UKs unwavering support, including the commitment to provide at least 3 billion annually for Ukraines needs in his call with the Prime Minister. In a fresh signal that British Storm Shadow missiles are likely being used by Kyiv, the Ukrainian president added: We discussed advancing our defence cooperation and strengthening Ukraines long-range capabilities. UK authorities will not be drawn into confirming it has permitted Ukraine to use the weapons to strike targets inside Russia. No 10 would only say that both leaders underlined the importance of putting Ukraine in the best possible position ahead of another challenging winter of conflict. Nurse Lucy Letby has been convicted of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven others (Cheshire Constabulary/PA) A retired hospital chief has denied he could have prevented the murders of two triplet boys by nurse Lucy Letby, a public inquiry has heard. Letby injected air into the newborns on successive days at the Countess of Chester Hospitals neonatal unit in June 2016 as part of a series of attacks from a year earlier in which she murdered seven infants and attempted to murder seven more. The Thirlwall Inquiry into the events surrounding Letbys crimes has heard that neonatal clinical lead Dr Stephen Brearey raised concerns about Letby with then-medical director Ian Harvey at a meeting a month earlier on May 11. Lucy Letby is serving 15 whole-life orders (Cheshire Constabulary/PA) Dr Brearey previously told the inquiry that at the time he felt the number of deaths in 2015 and early 2016 were exceptional and highlighted to Mr Harvey that it was unusual that six out of nine arrests had occurred between midnight and 4am. He said he went on to inform him that a number of reviews of care had already taken place, including with an external neonatologist, and the only common theme was the association with Letby being on duty. Mr Harvey said that did not accord with my recollection of that meeting and he did not remember Dr Brearey being that detailed or that assertive. Counsel for the inquiry Rachel Langdale KC said: Child O and Child P should never have died after that May 11 meeting, should they? She (Letby) could have been off the ward and referred to the police then. The inquiry chaired by Lady Justice Thirlwall is being held at Liverpool Town Hall (Peter Byrne/PA) Mr Harvey said: I would not accept as a result of that meeting that the conversations we had and the approach that Dr Brearey and the nursing staff had, that there was anything that would have supported such action. Dr Brearey was entirely supportive of the action that came out of the meeting and it was highlighted that one of the actions was the reporting of any further collapses or incidents. He also stated to the inquiry: At no stage during this meeting did I feel that it was being reported because there was worry that Letby was responsible for the deaths. Nursing managers attended the same meeting and explained there was no evidence whatsoever against Letby apart from coincidence and because of her qualifications she was more likely to be looking after the sickest infants on the unit. Richard Baker KC, representing families of Letbys victims, said the parents of Child O and P regarded the meeting as a missed opportunity to avoid the deaths of their sons. Mr Harvey said he did not accept that proposition. Mr Baker said: Did you not see anything significant about the fact that all of these deteriorations were occurring on night shifts? Mr Harvey replied: There is evidence that standards of care are lower at weekends and at nightand that would have been my initial concern. He said that an Imperial College research paper had found increased mortality at weekends and added: But its accepted that the risk is also greater at night. That almost certainly reflects different staffing levels. Letby was eventually moved to an administrative role in July 2016 after all the consultant paediatricians met with executives after the deaths of Child O and Child P and voiced their fears the nurse may be deliberately harming babies. Mr Harvey went on to commission a series of reviews into the increased mortality as Cheshire Constabulary was not called in to investigate the matter until May 2017. Consultants pressed on with expressing their concerns amid plans in early 2017 to return Letby to the neonatal unit, the inquiry has heard. Mr Harvey said: One of the greatest regrets of my career is the breakdown in communication between the executives and paediatricians, and with me in particular. I recognise how intense and difficult a situation that was. Asked by Ms Langdale if he accepted that he, chief executive Tony Chambers and director of nursing Alison Kelly created an atmosphere of fear, he replied: I did not seek to create an atmosphere of fear. That was completely contrary to how my practice had been up until that time. I have accepted there were one or two emails that I inappropriately worded. Letby was working at the Countess of Chester Hospital in Chester (Peter Byrne/PA) Ms Langdale said: It was an us-and-them situation, wasnt it? The executives versus the consultants. Mr Harvey replied: It is one of the biggest regrets that at this stage it was reaching this situation. Letby, 34, from Hereford, is serving 15 whole-life orders after she was convicted at Manchester Crown Court of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven others, with two attempts on one of her victims, between June 2015 and June 2016. The inquiry, which is being held at Liverpool Town Hall, is expected to sit until early 2025, with findings published by late autumn of that year. A man has been charged with two counts of attempted murder after an eight-year-old girl and her father were injured in a shooting. Jazz Reid, 32, of Kensington, west London, was also charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition and a court official confirmed he will appear at the Old Bailey on December 20. The child was injured along with her 34-year-old father after a gunman opened fire into their car in Southern Row, Ladbroke Grove, west London, at around 5.30pm on Sunday. Superintendent Owen Renowden speaks to the media on West Row, near the scene on Southern Grove in Ladbroke Grove (Aaron Chown/PA) The girl had surgery on Monday and was said to be in a stable condition, while her father has been left with potentially life-changing injuries. The pair were with her two-year-old sibling and 32-year-old mother, who were both unhurt, at the time of the attack. Detectives from the Mets Specialist Crime Command are leading the investigation and continue to ask anyone with information that may assist to come forward. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she is confident that a tariff war with the United States can be averted. Her statement on Thursday the day after she held a phone call with US President-elect Donald Trump did not make clear who had offered what. There will be no potential tariff war, Ms Sheinbaum said flatly when asked about the issue at her daily morning news briefing. On Wednesday, Mr Trump wrote that Ms Sheinbaum had agreed to stop unauthorised migration across the border into the United States. President-elect Donald Trump (Allison Robbert/AP, File) She wrote on her social media accounts the same day that migrants and caravans are taken care of before they reach the border. But whether that constituted a promise, a pledge or a simple statement of reality remains unclear. In recent years, migrants who have been unable to obtain permission to cross Mexico have joined together in caravans to walk or hitchhike north toward the US border, seeking safety in numbers. In fact, apart from the first caravans in 2018 and 2019 which were provided buses to ride part of the way north no caravan has ever reached the border walking or hitchhiking in any cohesive way. For years, migrant caravans have often been blocked, harassed or prevented from hitching rides by Mexican police and migration agents. They have also frequently been rounded up or returned to areas near the Guatemalan border. So, Ms Sheinbaums statement appears to reflect a reality that has been true for some time. President Joe Biden speaks in the Rose Garden at the White House (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP) US President Joe Biden on Thursday said he hoped Mr Trump would rethink his plan to impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada, saying it could screw up relationships with close allies. I hope he rethinks it. I think its a counterproductive thing to do, he told reporters in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Mr Trump had earlier threatened to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada until those countries satisfactorily stop illegal immigration and the flow of illegal drugs such as fentanyl into the United States. He also said Chinese imports would face additional tariffs of 10% until Beijing cracks down on the production of materials used in making fentanyl. Remains exhumed from a grave in County Monaghan are being tested to establish if they included the body of Joe Lynskey. Remains exhumed from a grave in County Monaghan are being subjected to DNA testing to determine whether they include those of Joe Lynskey. The former monk turned IRA man was abducted, murdered and secretly buried by the republican group in 1972. Lynskey is understood to have tricked a fellow IRA man into shooting a love rival also a member of the IRA. The IRA court martial sentenced him to death, a fate he seemed to accept it never trying to escape. Who was Joe Lynskey, why did he become one of the disappeared and what led investigators to an unrelated family plot in Monaghan over fifty years since his disappearance? The Belfast Telegraphs security correspondent Allison Morris joins Ciaran Dunbar. A post recently made by comedian Hong Seok Cheon on Instagram featuring actor Byeon Woo Seok became a hot topic among fans. In the post, Byeon wore an AI wig with YouTuber Kim Ddolddol that had many viewers double-taking. The wigs also featured in a post on Hong's Instagram feed, wherein the trio wore the wigs, with Kim joking to Hong about how he looks with long hair, likening him to 'an Afghan hound dog. 'To which Hong replied: "He's beautiful no matter what." Hong captioned the viral post: "I want hair, LOL. Meanwhile, Woo Seok looks beautiful no matter what. Ddolddol, will you please stop pranking me like this? Social media was flooded as fans started chuckling at the hilarious interaction between the two as well as appropriately praising Byeon Woo Seok. User comments included, "Byeon Woo Seok is as beautiful as his sister," and more. One remarked this is hilarious lol. Byeon Woo Seok is pretty why so pretty Here are other comments from the online community forum theqoo: INSERT COMMENTS: https://theqoo.net/hot/3501576103 Byeon Woo Seok's older sister, a model-turned-flight attendant, has garnered attention for her own striking beauty. Korean netizens have been quick to plant comparisons between the two. Byeon was well showcased not only through the charm of the AI filter but also by the obvious similarity to his sister. Rama / Wikimedia Commons Does He really "allow" it? Or does the Bible simply relate instances of it in the same way it gives accounts of other types of sin? "No one is to approach any close relative to have sexual relations. I am the Lord" (Leviticus 18:6, NIV). Verses 7-18 proceed to delineate several close relatives which are included within the prohibition of verse 6: Mother (verse 7) Stepmother (verse 8) Sister (including half-sisters, verses 9, 11) Granddaughter (verse 10) Aunt (verses 12-14) Daughter-in-law (verse 15) Sister-in-law (brother's wife, verse 16) A woman and her daughter or granddaughter (verse 17) Sister-in-law (wife's sister, verse 18) Clearly, God did not "allow" incest, at least after giving the Law to the Israelites! But just as clearly, there are instances of such relations in Scripture. Many of them took place prior to the issuance of the Law at Mount Sinai. Once the Law was issued, it became clear that such relations were improper. Abraham and Sarah One of the most well-known examples of "incest" in the pre-Sinai period is that of Abram and Sarai. The story of Abram/Abraham begins with God's call for him to "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you." God promises to make Abram into a great nation and that all nations will be blessed through him. Abram believed in God, and he and his family set off across the desert as God directed. When Abram arrived in Shechem, God said, "This is the place!" "To your offspring, I will give this land." So, Abram built an altar there, traveled to Bethel, pitched his tent, built another altar and called on the name of the Lord. After that, a famine hit, so Abram and his group went down to Egypt. Abram was afraid that the Egyptians would kill him and take Sarai because she was very beautiful, so he asked her to tell them that she was Abram's sister (Genesis 12:13). We find out later that this was true; Abram (now known as Abraham) told Abimelek: "Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife." (Genesis 20:12). Lot and His Daughters In Genesis 19, God destroys Sodom and Gomorrah, where Lot and his family lived. Presumably, out of faithfulness to Abraham, God sends two angels to rescue Lot and his family and take them out of the city. Lot's wife famously looks back on Sodom and is turned into a pillar of salt. So Lot and his daughters head into the hills to escape the destruction of Sodom. Because their husbands-to-be had refused to leave with them, Lot's daughters despaired of ever having children since Sodom had been destroyed. "One day, the older daughter said to the younger, 'Our father is old, and there is no man around here to give us children as is the custom all over the earth. Let's get our father to drink wine and then sleep with him and preserve our family line through our father'" (Genesis 19:31-32). Judah and Tamar Genesis 38 relates the story of Judah and Tamar. Tamar had married Judah's son, Er. Er was "wicked in the Lord's sight," so God put him to death. Judah's second son, Onan, then married Tamar; Judah told him to "fulfill your duty as a brother-in-law to raise offspring for your brother." But Onan refused to honor this obligation; instead, he "spilled his seed on the ground" to keep from getting Tamar pregnant. God was displeased with this, so he also put Onan to death. Judah then declined to give his next son to Tamar as a husband because he was afraid of what might happen to him. So, Judah told Tamar to go live in her father's household and wait until his son grew up. However, Tamar "saw that, though Shelah had now grown up, she had not been given to him as his wife." So, she disguised herself as a prostitute, slept with Judah her father-in-law and became pregnant. After her pregnancy became obvious, Judah accused her of adultery until she revealed that he was the father of her unborn child. Judah said, "She is more righteous than I since I wouldn't give her to my son Shelah." And he did not sleep with her again (Genesis 38:26). Other Cultural Prohibitions Interestingly, other cultures of the Ancient Near East (ANE) also prohibited incest. For example, Hittite laws included incest within a category of offenses punishable by death or banishment. (The Hittite laws date to the middle of the second millennium BC, i.e., between 1650 and 1500 BC.) Also, the Code of Hammurabi, dating to about 1750 BC, prohibited incest, with the same penalties (banishment or death). Thus, the fact that the Bible does not specifically prohibit such relations prior to Sinai does not necessarily mean that they were acceptable; rather, it could mean that "everyone knew" that such relations were wicked, and thus no specific prohibition was necessary. God's "Response" In none of the cases recounted in Genesis did God specifically approve of these actions. He did not immediately strike down the people involved but that does not mean that God "allowed" it. Scripture shows humanity "warts and all" even those people recognized as "righteous," like Abraham. But the fact that God later made it clear that such relations were sinful demonstrates that God did not, in fact, "allow" incest. For example, Genesis twice tells us about Abraham's deception concerning Sarah's status as his wife. Does this mean that God allowed it? Probably not, such deception demonstrates a lack of trust in God's ability to protect Abraham. Did God approve of Jacob's deception of both Esau and Isaac? Or was that a case of a person taking matters into their own hands to achieve what they thought was God's will? "When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone, but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death" (James 1:13-15). God does not cause people to sin, nor does he approve of sin. And since God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, what was evil before is still evil today. Why Does God Allow Incest in the Bible? He doesn't! The fact that God didn't specifically forbid incest prior to Sinai doesn't mean that He "allowed" it. Considering that other cultures (specifically Hittite and early Babylonian, as reflected in the Hittite Laws and the Code of Hammurabi) treated incest as a serious crime, it would be a grave mistake to think that God "allowed" it. However, since God does not "hard-wire" us either for obedience or disobedience Scripture shows instances of incest the same way it shows murders, adultery, and other sinful behaviors. Such actions are included in the Biblical account to demonstrate the truth of Paul's declaration: "There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:22-24). God never "allows" sin in the sense that he approves of it; Scripture relates the story of the human condition, for good and for bad, to demonstrate that everyone needs the forgiveness that God offers in Jesus! If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. Venture Center wins gold at inaugural CII-AMTZ MedTech Quality Champion Awards 2024 November 29, 2024 | Friday | News Key to this achievement is Venture Center's ISO-certified MedTech Cleanroom Pune-based Venture Center, Indias leading technology business incubator focused on science and technology startups, has been awarded the Gold Award in the Service Enterprise category at the inaugural CII-AMTZ MedTech Quality Champion Awards 2024. The award was presented at the 32nd CII Excellence Summit held in Bengaluru on November 27, 2024, where Chetna Dharmavat Dabi, Associate Manager Regulatory Services, received the award on behalf of Venture Center from Dr Jitendra Sharma is the Managing Director and Founder CEO of Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ). The CII-AMTZ MedTech Quality Champion Awards aim to foster a culture of excellence in the medtech industry by encouraging organizations to set higher standards in quality and innovation. This prestigious recognition highlights Venture Centers exceptional services that empower medtech startups to innovate and succeed in the competitive healthcare sector. Key to this achievement are Venture Center's ISO-certified MedTech Cleanroom, regulatory support for Indian, European, and US markets, and personalised mentoring for medtech startups. Additionally, the center has built a comprehensive database and library of regulatory information, offering startups valuable access to resources and service providers for standard tests and documentation. Venture Centers ISO-certified MedTech Cleanroom Facility, which was recently recertified for ISO 13485:2016, is designed to support bio-entrepreneurs, startups and larger enterprises, and enables the manufacturing and packaging of medical devices. Home > 2024 > Culture of Confession and Power-Politics | Sunita Samal Abstract: Are confessions and revelations hidden truths? Augustine wrote his Confession for the same reasons that people write confessional autobiography today. There was a moral imperative for one to confess his or her sin in order to be a good Christian or for attainment of good life. The historical goal of confession as Foucault argues is to transfer sex into discourse. Introduction: Christianity has brought a growing suspicion of mans power to shape identity. But confession so conceived is relational, thus ethical act [1]. We further theorize truth telling within the tradition of confession which reflects on understanding as a collection of the self from dispersion which always willing to bear witness to where one founds one self. For Rousseau, it is possible to act other than as one is or not to be one self. Foucaults genealogy of the confession over time and explored the linkage between psychoanalysis and religion that contribute to the confession as a ritual of truth production. Taylor explained that confession as a practice to discipline the other by instilling anxiety as much as providing comfort or relief. Confession and Identity Politics: Communication and literary production, acts of revelation and confession, prompt the revision of previously secret aspects of the historical part [2]. Perpetrators testimonies often raise grave suspicion as the testifiers underlying motives are difficult to be opened. Here judiciary and confession are other sides of same coin. These testimonies are sometimes seen as a form of confessiona performative ritual meant to cleansed one from sin and clear ones conscience and get of guilt and responsibility. Indeed, public confession and narratives of perpetrators were often meant to provide softer, more tolerable versions of violent events to help them to escape punishment. This thesis considers analysis of confession in the continental philosophy and interpreters examples of confession in film and literature in life of philosophical texts. There are three main objectives of the study of confessions. The first objective is to refute common notions about confession such as that it reveals the truth of a pre-given subject and that it functions as a form of psychological catharsis. Instead, it is argued that confession as we know it, is a modern product of disciplinary power and that it serves to fix identities rather than to relieve minds of their memories. The first part of this thesis, therefore, pieces together and supplements Foucaults writings on confession in order to sketch a genealogy of what he calls the confessing animal. It aims to show that confession is a contingent rather than a trans-historical compulsion and that it is often constraining rather than liberatory subjects [3]. The second objective of this is to consider the relation between confessor and confessant not only according to what Foucault calls the axis of power but also axis of Ethics concerns relations with self. Here ethics will here be taken as a relation of responsibility for the other. The confessional other will, therefore, be considered in so far as she is called upon both to listen and respond. The third objective of this thesis is to explore both discursive and non-discursive alternatives to confession including silence, non-fictional autobiography, political and artistic practices. The elements of modifying the self through truth telling is consequently is more self-conscious in antiquity. Repeated pointing our factures and contingencies in histories of confessional practices, Foucault points out that the political dimensions of refusal and reinvention by becoming what we are rather than binding ourselves to offered identities by confessing what we are. The constant need for verbalization of referral reasons as inner truth and avowing to these underlying reasons was indeed shown to be part of larger expert culture that exercise power while silencing alternative solution beyond food charity. This approach makes possible a rich vein of research including analysis and resistance of Burchells important reconstruction of problem of confession posted for Foucault in the genealogy of his work [4]. Thus, a genealogical analysis questions, the very search for essence and stability. The starting point for genealogical analysis is rather to problematize the present, that is to destabilize and question that taken-for granted ways of thinking, knowing and doing things in the present. Self-consciousness and Discourse Formation: Foucault observes that the examination of conscience is rare and exist only as rather uncommon philosophical practice. The obligation to tell the truth about oneself occupies a rather limited place. In comparison to the explosion and omnipresence of confessional discourses today, it should be stressed first and foremost that such discourses were nearly absent in antiquity. But these statements of truth do not accompany by repression and shame. The later elements appeared in monastic confession of the Middle Ages. In Greek it was a form of self-examinations that were different from what has been taken in the time of modernity. Ancient techniques of self-transformation and self-mastery rather than interpretation. The element of modifying the self through truth-telling is consequently more self-conscious in antiquity than in modernity at which point the subject will think he or she is discovering herself. It binds the manners in which self-discovery is in fact a positive act of production. In antiquity, the truth question was not a hidden and secret truth unique to being of the speaking subject and how well they conform the philosophical truth of the good life. Among ancient philosopher, one was ideally ones own master. These ideas about good life was consider true and the aim was to exercise how well ones behavior had adhered to these ethical guidelines in order to better attain them over time. Examination of ones acts were thus part of a self-consciously under taken process of becoming a certain kind of subject in conformity with the philosophical truth of an ethical teaching which one rationally accepted. Temporarily, the emphasis on truth does not lie with the truth of ones declarations nor with the truth of ones self, but with the truth of the ethical ideals at which those declarations aimed and to which one compares them [5]. Unlike in Christian and modern forms of confession, Foucault notes that what is confessed to is not concerned with shameful desire and things of that sort of but related to more properly Greek concerns of political life and glory [6]. In contrast to antiquity, the technique of truth-telling and practice of self in Christianity would be increasingly complex and hierarchical in nature. At the same time, the discipline involved would argument and aim towards obedience to doctrine within a hierarchy ever less clearly and less calmly chosen [7]. A confessional faith in Christianity especially Catholics followers to develop certain relations between themselves and the truth. By knowing ones sin and temptations, a Christian could better access the truth of God. Foucault is far more concerned with the techniques which Christianity developed for making truth inside oneself. As Foucault notes, however, this is a late invention of Christianity which he did not discuss at all in Christianity. Although the concern with confession runs through Foucaults writing during the last decade of his research which he did not address systematically [8]. Publishing Ones Inner-self: Most of this above performance occurred in public. Here, one renounces the sinful and embodied self-become closer to the light of God. One tried to get rid of or change ones former self, therefore, not to discover it. In this sense, publishing one self was a technology of self. At the same time, confession in modern time is basically public and that we found in modern judiciary system. It is important to note that in the temptation to remain silent which is over come through the verbalization of confession is the subjects attachment to Satan. This attachment to Satan is also an attachment to oneself. She also renounces her attachment to her body and to his self and its pleasure in favor of truth and God. As in Publishing oneself one manifests the truth of self-aimed to be forms of self-sacrifice, self-destructions which brought one close to God. It is a new kind of relationship to ourselves one which is far more complicated than to be discovered in the technologies of the self in ancient Greece [9]. Foucault distinguishes between two forms of early Christian truth-telling practices. First is the one which is concerned with telling the truth of Christian faith and second is those concerned with telling the truth to self. Despite a dominant interpretation, Augustines confessions are more concerned with confessing the truth of the Christian faith than with telling the truth of the author. This is perhaps another reason for Foucaults attention to the work. The contrast which Foucault draws between Augustine and ancient Greeks is supported by Phillip Carys theses in Augustine intervention of the Inner-self. In the view of Cary, the concept of inferiority is new to Augustine who invented the idea of private interior self as a solution to his unique theological problems. Cary observes that the concept and experience of private interior realm is not an inevitable part of human self- description [10]. Much as Foucault shows that various experiences which deemed instinctual, natural, universal and inevitable are in fact contingent accident of history. Cary argues that it was only the particular teleological questions which Augustine posed and the particular solutions which he reached, were his notion of experiences. It resulted finally in modern secularized institutions about the self which are quite different from those entailed by Augustine thought. According to Cary, God is within Augustine, we can look up to God. This individualism is not conceived by Augustine as a source of human dignity, but as a tragic consequence of original sin. For Augustine, we only have differentiated souls or private, inner world because we are fallen. This individualization of souls experienced by the saint as a tragic form of isolation, making even new born babies unknown to the women who nurse them as Augustine would lament in his confession. While for the modern confessional subject, truth is to be found within, for Augustine, as Taylor acknowledges The truth is not in me. I see truth in God [11]. To conclude with Augustine, it showed be clear that we need to hesitate before seeing his confessions as prototype of modern autobiographical writings, while they are also unlike ancient practices of self-writing because they are not overtly concerned with self-fashioning. Augustines confession, according to Foucault is not like ancient practices of self-examination. It Is an example of problem nor of solution. What really interests Foucault is not various forms of sexual confession in his sexual discourses and the internalization of the coercion to confess such that it is today experienced as a pleasure and a desire. This transformation into desire masks and inverts our intuitions about the working of power [12]. Power mechanism now work in such a way that it would invert sex in to discourses which has to be examined and become essential. Concluding Observations: The media has also revamped confession blurring the private-public boundary altering its function and transforming its power. While St. Augustine acknowledge the truth is not in human being but sees truth in God, but for modern confessional subject, the truth is to be found in human being. Confession that found by Foucault is ending where the story began with the Greeks. The whole essence of confession can not be reached without publishing oneself for revelation. (Author: Political Commentator, and author of multiple books including Politics: Promises and Compromises (2021) published by Asian Press Books, Kolkata) Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. Simon Harris has said he expects a fascinating couple of days after he cast his vote in the General Election minutes after polling stations opened. The Taoiseach said that where transfer votes would go a key part of Irelands proportional representation with a single transferrable vote system (PR-STV) would decide the make-up and stability of the next government. Advertisement The Fine Gael leader arrived at the polling station at Delgany National School in Co Wicklow just before 7.30am with his wife Caoimhe and their children, Saoirse, five, and Cillian, three. Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris casts his vote at Delgany National School, County Wicklow. Photo: Niall Carson/PA. Im feeling really hopeful, hopeful in terms of the election, but hopeful for the future of our country, he said. I wanted to vote early because I now want to head across our country today, continuing to encourage everyone to get out and have their say in this election. The three largest parties were virtually neck-and-neck heading into the vote, with one party leader describing the race as too close to call. Advertisement Simon Harris speaks to the media after casting his vote (Niall Carson/PA) The latest poll, a Red C-Business Post survey, shows support for Fianna Fail unchanged at 21 per cent, only slightly ahead of its coalition partner, Fine Gael, which is down two percentage points at 20 per cent and now tied with the largest opposition party, Sinn Fein, which has gained two. Asked whether he was glad the election campaign was over, he said he enjoyed the campaign and enjoyed making a pitch for his vision for the countrys future. He said he would be working up until polls close and is expected to travel to counties Carlow, Laois, Monaghan and Tipperary as well as the Irish capital. Mr Harris canvassing in Dublin. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA. The polls opened at 7am and will close at 10pm, with a total of 174 seats in the Dail to be filled more than ever before. Advertisement More than three million registered voters will pick their representatives across 43 constituencies, in a campaign that has focused on the countrys housing crisis, the response to a dramatic increase in immigration, and economic management for the cost of living as well as potential future trade shocks. After the 2020 general election delivered an inconclusive result, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, two parties forged from opposing sides of Irelands Civil War of the 1920s, agreed to set aside almost a century of animosity and share power. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA. Sinn Fein won the popular vote in 2020 but a failure to run enough candidates meant it did not secure sufficient seats in the Dail to give it a realistic chance of forming a government. This time around, party leader Mary Lou McDonald fielded many more candidates in a vow not to repeat past mistakes, as she urged voters to elect a government of change without Fine Gael or Fianna Fail. Advertisement An exit poll at 10pm will provide the first sense of what Irelands next government may look like. The arithmetic to form a majority could prove tricky, though, with the countrys several smaller parties and many independents potentially jockeying for a place in government. It will end a lacklustre three-week campaign that seemed to fail to ignite a surge of enthusiasm among the public, after the election was officially called by Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris on November 7. Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA. That decision was ultimately his prerogative, and occurred while Fine Gael was enjoying a lift in the polls after he took over as leader from Leo Varadkar earlier this year. It also came at a time when Sinn Fein was beset by a string of controversies in the preceding weeks including former party members writing job references for a colleague who was later convicted of child sex crimes. Advertisement However, opinions polls suggest the parties fortunes have since shifted, with the opposition party making gains as Fine Gael suffered a slide. One key flashpoint in the campaign arose out of Donald Trumps presidential election victory in the US, which brought heightened concern around what his proposals for corporation tax and tariffs could mean for Ireland. Mr Martin, Ms McDonald and Mr Harris during the final leaders debate. Photo: Niall Carson/PA. As such, the scale of Sinn Feins spending proposals have been dubbed as irresponsible by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, who have argued that Ireland needs to prepare for potential trade shocks with more prudent financial management. However, the campaigning tactic has been derided as project fear and desperate scaremongering by critics. At the same time, a Sinn Fein pledge to instigate an independent review into Irish national broadcaster RTEs coverage of Gaza and other international conflicts was met with criticism by the partys opponents, and the National Union of Journalists. Mr Harris described the proposal as chilling, with others noting that several party figures, including Ms McDonald, have taken legal actions against journalists and media outlets. Green party leader Roderic OGorman. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA. Meanwhile, Fine Gaels campaign has been plagued with several controversies which the Taoiseach has been unable to shake. Mr Harris has repeatedly apologised for a much-criticised encounter in which he was accused of dismissing the concerns of a disability care worker at a supermarket, which had been filmed by RTE. It later emerged that a member of the Fine Gael team contacted RTE about the interaction prior to publication. Ms McDonald took her opportunity to use Mr Harriss own words against him, characterising the development as chilling. The Fine Gael campaign has also been dogged by footage entering the public domain which showed a candidate engaged in a fight outside a pub. Fine Gael candidate John McGahon (left). Photo: Fergal Phillips/Fine Gael. John McGahon had been found not guilty in a criminal case around the incident, but was ordered to pay damages in a civil case. Mr Harris notably did not canvass with the candidate in his high-profile tour of the country. Elsewhere, an endorsement of a Fine Gael candidate from outspoken Ryanair boss Michael OLeary was welcomed by senior party figures, albeit in a qualified nature after he suggested teachers should not run the country. One former teacher in the campaign is Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin. Mr Martins partys platform also faced criticism over its proposals to decriminalise cannabis for personal use. It formed part of a wider row on handling the justice portfolio, which has come into sharp relief in the context of 2023s Dublin riots and a perception that the capital is unsafe. Mr OGorman, Mr Harris and Mr Martin. Photo: Clodagh Kilcoyne/PA. Some Fianna Fail figures have been accused of sexism over their criticisms of the Justice Minister Helen McEntee, Fine Gaels deputy leader. After the 2020 election, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail relied on the Green Party as junior partner to secure the coalitions majority. Green leader Roderic OGorman has said it looks likely his Government partners will be returned to power, but cautioned they could seek an easier life over the next five years. He said this could result in right-wing independents or small populist parties padding out the numbers. Election 2024 Election day in Ireland: How to vote and how the c... Read More The final results will immediately kick-start government formation speculation amid the possibility that more than three parties will be needed to get over the line. The protracted process of counting ballots by hand will begin on Saturday. As Ireland uses a system of proportional representation where candidates are ranked by preference, the voting slips need to be counted several times an undertaking which can last for days. Voting is under way in a general election that will set the political landscape for the next five years. The three largest parties were virtually neck-and-neck heading into the vote, with one party leader describing the race as too close to call. Advertisement The latest poll, a Red C-Business Post survey, shows support for Fianna Fail unchanged at 21 per cent, only slightly ahead of its coalition partner, Fine Gael, which is down two percentage points at 20 per cent and now tied with the largest opposition party, Sinn Fein, which has gained two. Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris on a canvass in Dublin. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA. The polls opened at 7am and will close at 10pm, with a total of 174 seats in the Dail to be filled more than ever before. More than three million registered voters will pick their representatives across 43 constituencies, in a campaign that has focused on the countrys housing crisis, the response to a dramatic increase in immigration, and economic management for the cost of living as well as potential future trade shocks. After the 2020 general election delivered an inconclusive result, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, two parties forged from opposing sides of Irelands Civil War of the 1920s, agreed to set aside almost a century of animosity and share power. Advertisement Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA. Sinn Fein won the popular vote in 2020 but a failure to run enough candidates meant it did not secure sufficient seats in the Dail to give it a realistic chance of forming a government. This time around, party leader Mary Lou McDonald fielded many more candidates in a vow not to repeat past mistakes, as she urged voters to elect a government of change without Fine Gael or Fianna Fail. An exit poll at 10pm will provide the first sense of what Irelands next government may look like. The arithmetic to form a majority could prove tricky, though, with the countrys several smaller parties and many independents potentially jockeying for a place in government. It will end a lacklustre three-week campaign that seemed to fail to ignite a surge of enthusiasm among the public, after the election was officially called by Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris on November 7. Advertisement Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA. That decision was ultimately his prerogative, and occurred while Fine Gael was enjoying a lift in the polls after he took over as leader from Leo Varadkar earlier this year. It also came at a time when Sinn Fein were beset by a string of controversies in the preceding weeks including former party members writing job references for a colleague who was later convicted of child sex crimes. However, opinions polls suggest the parties fortunes have since shifted, with the opposition party making gains as Fine Gael suffered a slide. One key flashpoint in the campaign arose out of Donald Trumps presidential election victory in the US, which brought heightened concern around what his proposals for corporation tax and tariffs could mean for Ireland. Advertisement Mr Martin, Ms McDonald and Mr Harris during the final leaders debate (Niall Carson/PA) As such, the scale of Sinn Feins spending proposals have been dubbed as irresponsible by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, who have argued that Ireland needs to prepare for potential trade shocks with more prudent financial management. However, the campaigning tactic has been derided as project fear and desperate scaremongering by critics. At the same time, a Sinn Fein pledge to instigate an independent review into Irish national broadcaster RTEs coverage of Gaza and other international conflicts was met with criticism by the partys opponents, and the National Union of Journalists. Mr Harris described the proposal as chilling, with others noting that several party figures, including Ms McDonald, have taken legal actions against journalists and media outlets. Advertisement Green party leader Roderic OGorman. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA. Meanwhile, Fine Gaels campaign has been plagued with several controversies which the Taoiseach has been unable to shake. Mr Harris has repeatedly apologised for a much-criticised encounter in which he was accused of dismissing the concerns of a disability care worker at a supermarket, which had been filmed by RTE. It later emerged that a member of the Fine Gael team contacted RTE about the interaction prior to publication. Ms McDonald took her opportunity to echo Mr Harris, characterising the development as chilling. The Fine Gael campaign has also been dogged by footage entering the public domain which showed a candidate engaged in a fight outside a pub. John McGahon (left). Photo: Fergal Phillips/Fine Gael. John McGahon had been found not guilty in a criminal case around the incident, but was ordered to pay damages in a civil case. Mr Harris notably did not canvass with the candidate in his high-profile tour of the country. Elsewhere, an endorsement of a Fine Gael candidate from outspoken Ryanair boss Michael OLeary was welcomed by senior party figures, albeit in a qualified nature after he suggested teachers should not run the country. One former teacher in the campaign is Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin. Mr Martins partys platform also faced criticism over its proposals to decriminalise cannabis for personal use. It formed part of a wider row on handling the justice portfolio, which has come into sharp relief in the context of 2023s Dublin riots and a perception that the capital is unsafe. Mr OGorman, Mr Harris and Mr Martin. Photo: Clodagh Kilcoyne/PA. Some Fianna Fail figures have been accused of sexism over their criticisms of the Justice Minister Helen McEntee, Fine Gaels deputy leader. After the 2020 election, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail relied on the Green Party as junior partner to secure the coalitions majority. Green leader Roderic OGorman has said it looks likely his Government partners will be returned to power, but cautioned they could seek an easier life over the next five years. He said this could result in right-wing independents or small populist parties padding out the numbers. Ireland 'I had another experience of Simon Harris', says m... Read More The final results will immediately kick-start government formation speculation amid the possibility that more than three parties will be needed to get over the line. The protracted process of counting ballots by hand will begin on Saturday. As Ireland uses a system of proportional representation where candidates are ranked by preference, the voting slips need to be counted several times an undertaking which can last for days. Polls have closed in the general election after a quick campaign that focused on the countrys most pressing issues. Turnout tipped across 40 per cent in some areas by 6pm amid fears that harsh winds and heavy rain may deter some voters. Advertisement The leaders of all the main political parties cast their votes, except for the head of the Social Democrats Holly Cairns who gave birth to a baby girl on polling day. The Cork South-West candidate posted a picture of her cradling her daughter on Instagram with the caption: Shes here. Holly Cairns was unable to vote after giving birth to her baby daughter (Holly Cairns via Instagram/PA) Current Taoiseach Simon Harris said he expects a fascinating couple of days after he submitted his ballot minutes after polling stations opened. Speaking after voting on Friday, Mr Harris said that the make-up and stability of the next government could be decided by where transfer votes go a key part of the complex electoral system of proportional representation with a single transferable vote (PR-STV). Advertisement The Fine Gael leader arrived at the polling station in Co Wicklow just before 7.30am with his wife Caoimhe and their children, Saoirse (5) and Cillian (3). Im feeling really hopeful, hopeful in terms of the election, but hopeful for the future of our country, he said. The three main parties Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein were considered to be near neck-and-neck rivals coming into polling day, with turnout expected to be another crucial factor. Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris casts his vote at Delgany National School, Co Wicklow. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Tanaiste Micheal Martin urged people to brave the wet and windy weather to attend their local polling station: I encourage people to vote its a key part of our democracy. Advertisement After voting in the suburbs of Cork city with his wife Mary, his daughter Aoibhe, and his sons Micheal Aodh and Cillian, the Fianna Fail leader said his party had run a positive campaign in a close-fought race as he argued for the formation of a coherent, stable government. Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin casts his vote at St Anthonys Boys National School, Beechwood Park, Ballinlough, Cork. Photo: Jacob King/PA Mary Lou McDonald, the Sinn Fein leader, said it was decision day after she voted in Cabra, Dublin. She said it was a particularly significant election for younger people as she urged people to vote. I just want to encourage everybody to come out and make their mark on what can be, in my belief, a really significant, in fact, a historic day where we can elect a new government for change, she said. Advertisement President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina cast their votes at their local polling station in the Phoenix Park as the leaders of smaller parties also came out early to vote. President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina cast their votes at St Marys Hospital, Phoenix Park, Dublin. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Labour leader Ivana Bacik, Green leader Roderic OGorman, People Before Profit leader Richard Boyd Barrett, and Social Democrats deputy leader Cian OCallaghan were among those who voted in Co Dublin. Meanwhile, Independent Ireland founder Michael Collins voted in Co Cork and Aontu leader Peadar Toibin cast his vote in Navan. The polls opened at 7am and will close at 10pm, with a total of 174 seats in the Dail to be filled more than ever before. Advertisement Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald casts her vote at Deaf Village Ireland on the Navan Road in Dublin. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA More than 3 million registered voters will pick their representatives across 43 constituencies, in a campaign that has focused on the housing crisis, the response to a dramatic increase in immigration, and economic management for the cost of living as well as potential future trade shocks. After the 2020 general election delivered an inconclusive result, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, two parties forged from opposing sides of the Civil War of the 1920s, agreed to set aside almost a century of animosity and share power. Sinn Fein won the popular vote in 2020 but a failure to run enough candidates meant it did not secure sufficient seats in the Dail to give it a realistic chance of forming a government. An exit poll at 10pm will provide the first sense of what the next government may look like. The arithmetic to form a majority could prove tricky though, with the countrys several smaller parties and many independents potentially jockeying for a place in government. It will end a lacklustre three-week campaign that seemed to fail to ignite a surge of enthusiasm among the public, after the election was officially called by Mr Harris on November 8th. That decision was ultimately his prerogative, and occurred while Fine Gael was enjoying a lift in the polls after he took over as leader from Leo Varadkar earlier this year. It also came at a time when Sinn Fein was beset by a string of controversies in the preceding weeks including former party members writing job references for a colleague who was later convicted of child sex crimes. But opinions polls suggested that the parties fortunes may have since shifted. Mr Martin, Ms McDonald and Mr Harris (left to right) during the final leaders debate. Photo: Niall Carson/PA One key flashpoint in the campaign arose out of Donald Trumps presidential election victory in the US, which brought heightened concern around what his proposals for corporation tax and tariffs could mean for Ireland. As such, the scale of Sinn Feins spending proposals have been dubbed as irresponsible by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, who have argued that the country needs to prepare for potential trade shocks with more prudent financial management. But the campaigning tactic has been derided as project fear and desperate scaremongering by critics. At the same time, a Sinn Fein pledge to instigate an independent review into national broadcaster RTEs coverage of Gaza and other international conflicts was met with criticism by the partys opponents, and the National Union of Journalists. The polls opened at 7am and will close at 10pm. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Meanwhile, Fine Gaels campaign has been plagued with several controversies which the Taoiseach has been unable to shake. These include a much-criticised encounter in which Mr Harris was accused of dismissing the concerns of a disability care worker at a supermarket, a video of another party candidate involved in a fight outside a pub, and an endorsement of a Fine Gael minister by Ryanair boss Michael OLeary that suggested teachers should not run the country. The party of Mr Martin a former teacher also faced criticism over its proposals to decriminalise cannabis for personal use. Fianna Fails approach to drug use formed part of a wider row on handling the justice portfolio, which has come into sharp relief in the context of 2023s Dublin riots and a perception that the capital is unsafe. Some party figures were accused of sexism over their criticism of Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, Fine Gaels deputy leader. Green Party leader Roderic OGorman. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA After the 2020 election, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail relied on the Green Party as a junior partner to secure the coalitions majority. Mr OGorman said it looks likely his government partners will be returned to power, but cautioned they could seek an easier life over the next five years. He said this could result in right-wing independents or small populist parties padding out the numbers. The final results will immediately kick-start government formation speculation amid the possibility that more than three parties will be needed to get over the line. The protracted process of counting ballots by hand will begin on Saturday. As the State uses a system of proportional representation where candidates are ranked by preference, the voting slips need to be counted several times an undertaking which can last days. A jury has begun considering their verdict in the trial of a 28-year-old man accused of murdering a father-of-five who was shot dead in the hallway of his mothers home. Mr Justice Tony Hunt on Friday concluded his charge to the 12 jurors in the Central Criminal Court trial of Cailean Crawford who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Thomas McCarthy on July 27th, 2020 at Croftwood Park, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10. Advertisement The judge told the panel they must be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt of the prosecution narrative in order to convict. He said if they are satisfied the defence narrative is reasonably possible then they must acquit Mr Crawford. Mr Justice Hunt told the jury they must be unanimous in their verdict. During the trial, the accused took the stand and told the jury that he was being blamed as the centre point of a murder he didnt commit after he loaned a GoVan he had hired on the morning of the killing to another man. The prosecution alleges that the GoVan and a Sim card for a phone attributed to the accused were used in connection with the murder. Advertisement Mr Crawford said he assumed the other man needed the van to collect drugs. Mr Crawford said the man he handed the van over to was a "mate" of this man who had bones sticking out of his face. In his closing address, Bernard Condon SC for the Director of Public Prosecutions said the jury had been presented with a tissue of lies. He said Mr Crawfords evidence was full of untruths and equivocations and dishonesty and described the accuseds claim that the movements of his van was due to drug dealing as absurd. Advertisement He also described as nonsense the accuseds references to a boney-faced man to whom he gave his phone and van, adding that it was preposterous that someone could have then gone and parked the van outside the accuseds grandmothers house. In his closing speech, Mark Lynham SC, for Mr Crawford, told the jury that the most important thing in this case is the presumption of innocence, adding that what they had heard from Mr Condon was the presumption of guilt. Counsel reminded the panel that an eyewitness had given a description of the person suspected of being the killer as being six-foot tall, not young, possibly late 30s, very skinny and junkie-looking, with a black tooth or tooth missing. He said that the accused did not match this description. Mr Lynham acknowledged the accused was involved in criminality but told the jury that being a criminal doesnt mean youre a murderer. Advertisement Completing his charge to the jury on Friday, Mr Justice Tony Hunt told the panel of six men and six women that the prosecution case depends fairly and squarely on the involvement of the GoVan and the phone from 9am up to and until shortly after the killing. He said the phone didnt go silent until about eight minutes later. He told the jury that if they do not believe the GoVan and the phone are part of the picture here then they must acquit. However, he said if they accept that the GoVan and the SIM card with the number attributed to Mr Crawford were in use after 9am and were in use connected with the murder then the obvious question was who was in possession of the van and the phone. Thats what this case boils down to, he said. Who had the van and who had the phone after about five past nine. Mr Crawford tells you: It wasnt me, I was asked to go to Palmerstown Drive to give the phone and the van to the man and it would be taken away. Advertisement He told the jury they must consider: Is that the truth or is it even reasonably possible. If its reasonably possible then you must acquit him because theres a reasonable doubt in the prosecution case. He said, on Mr Crawfords account, the GoVan was not back in his possession until about 11.50am. You have to decide if its a shocking stroke of bad luck or if, as the prosecution say, there is no handover, he continues to be in possession of the phone, he continues to be in possession of the van after 9am, said Mr Justice Hunt. Mr Justice Hunt told the 12 jurors they must proceed with care and be aware of possible infirmities. The jury retired to begin their deliberations just after 12.30pm on Friday and will return on Monday. Insurgents breached Syrias second-largest city and clashed with government forces for the first time since 2016 on Friday, according to a war monitor and fighters. The surprise attack sent residents fleeing and added fresh uncertainty to a region reeling from multiple wars. Advertisement The advance on Aleppo followed a shock offensive launched by insurgents Wednesday, as thousands of fighters swept through villages and towns in Syrias north-western countryside. Syrian opposition fighters stand guard in Kafr Halab in the Aleppo countryside, Syria (Ghaith Alsayed/AP) Residents fled neighbourhoods on the citys edge because of missiles and gunfire, according to witnesses in Aleppo. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the countrys unresolved civil war, said dozens of fighters from both sides were killed. The attack injected new violence into a region experiencing dual wars in Gaza and Lebanon involving Israel, and other conflicts, including the Syrian civil war that began in 2011. Advertisement Aleppo has not been attacked by opposition forces since they were ousted from eastern neighbourhoods in 2016 following a gruelling military campaign in which Syrian government forces were backed by Russia, Iran and its allied groups. But this time, there was no sign of a significant pushback from government forces or their allies. Instead, reports emerged of government forces melting away in the face of advances, and insurgents posted messages on social media calling on troops to surrender. Robert Ford, who was the last US ambassador to Syria, said the attack showed that Syrian government forces are extremely weak. Advertisement In some cases, he said, they appear to have almost been routed. Syrian opposition fighters stand next to a government sign after entering the village of Anjara (Omar Albam/AP) This weeks advances were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, and represent the most intense fighting in north-western Syria since 2020, when government forces seized areas previously controlled by the opposition. The offensive came as Iran-linked groups, primarily Lebanons Hezbollah, which has backed Syrian government forces since 2015, have been preoccupied with their own battles at home. A ceasefire in Hezbollahs two-month war with Israel took effect Wednesday, the day the Syrian opposition factions announced their offensive. Advertisement Israel has also escalated its attacks against Hezbollah and Iran-linked targets in Syria during the last 70 days. The attack on Aleppo followed weeks of simmering low-level violence, including government attacks on opposition-held areas. Turkey, which has backed Syrian opposition groups, failed in its diplomatic efforts to prevent the government attacks, which were seen as a violation of a 2019 agreement sponsored by Russia, Turkey and Iran to freeze the line of the conflict. Turkish security officials said on Thursday that Syrian opposition groups initially launched a long-planned limited offensive toward Aleppo, where attacks targeting civilians originated. Advertisement However, the offensive expanded as Syrian government forces began retreating from their positions, the officials said. Syrian opposition fighters ride in a truck as they enter the village of Anjara, on the western outskirts of Aleppo, Syria (Omar Albam/AP) The aim of the offensive was to re-establish the boundaries of the de-escalation zone, according to Turkish officials. The 2016 battle for Aleppo was a turning point in the war between Syrian government forces and rebel fighters after 2011 protests against Bashar Assads rule turned into an all-out war. Russia and Iran and its allied groups helped Syrian government forces reclaim control of the city that year after a gruelling military campaign and a siege that lasted for weeks. Besides backing opposition forces, Turkey has also established a military presence in Syria, sending troops into parts of the north-west. Separately and largely in the east of Syria, the US has supported Syrian Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State militants. The Syrian government did not comment on insurgents breaching Aleppo city limits. The Kremlin said on Friday that it considered the attack an encroachment on Syrias sovereignty and that it supported the quickest possible establishment of constitutional order in the region. Of course, this is a violation of Syrias sovereignty in this region, Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told a press briefing. A destroyed Syrian army tank sits in the village of Anjara (Omar Albam/AP) Syrias armed forces said in a statement on Friday that they clashed with insurgents in the countryside around Aleppo and Idlib, destroying drones and heavy weaponry. They vowed to repel the attack and accused the insurgents of spreading false information about their advances. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the insurgents detonated two car bombs on Friday at the western edge of Aleppo. The war monitor said insurgents were also able to seize control of Saraqeb, south of Aleppo, a town at the strategic intersection of the highways linking Aleppo with Damascus and the coast. Syrian government authorities diverted traffic from that highway on Thursday. An insurgent commander posted a recorded message on social media calling on Aleppo residents to cooperate with the advancing forces. Turkeys state-run Anadolu Agency reported that the insurgents entered the city centre on Friday and now control about 70 locations in Aleppo and Idlib provinces. Syrias state media reported that projectiles from insurgents landed in student accommodations at Aleppos university in the city centre, killing four people, including two students. Syrian armed forces said the insurgents are violating a 2019 agreement that de-escalated fighting in the area, the last remaining opposition stronghold for years. Hezbollah was the main force in the governments control of Aleppo, said Rami Abdurrahman, head of the Observatory. In a phone call with his Syrian counterpart, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the insurgent attacks in Syria as a plot orchestrated by the US and the Zionist regime following the regimes defeat in Lebanon and Palestine. Insurgents posted videos online showing they were using drones, a new weapon for them. It was not clear to what extent the drones were used on the battleground. Insurgents attacked a military airbase south-east of Aleppo with drones early on Friday, destroying a helicopter, the Anadolu Agency reported. The opposition groups also seized heavy weapons and military vehicles belonging to the government forces, the agency said. Amazon staff in India have joined strike action calling for better wages and working conditions as the company prepares for one of the busiest shopping periods of the year. About 200 warehouse workers and delivery drivers joined a rally in the capital, New Delhi, under a Make Amazon pay banner. Advertisement Some donned masks of Amazon boss Jeff Bezos. The walkout on Black Friday, which starts one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year, was repeated at Amazon warehouses in other countries as workers called for higher wages, better working conditions and union rights. The walkout took place on Black Friday, which starts one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year (Manish Swarup/AP) Nitesh Das, a union leader, said the workers took to the streets because they want the government to take up their cause. Amazon, in a statement issued in India, accused the workers of intentionally misleading and continuing to promote a false narrative. Advertisement Our facilities are industry-leading and provide competitive pay, comfortable working conditions, and specially designed infrastructure to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for all, the company said. Weve created more than 1.5 million jobs around the world, and counting, and we provide a modern, safe and engaging workplace whether you work in an office or at one of our operations buildings. A statement from the Amazon India Workers Union said similar protests are planned in other parts of India as well as in other countries, including the US, Germany, Japan and Brazil. A participant wears a paper mask in the likeness of Amazons Jeff Bezos as workers stage a protest against the Seattle-based company (Manish Swarup/AP) The demonstrations will call on Amazon to pay its workers fairly, respect their right to join unions, and commit to environmental sustainability, it said. Advertisement The union said it would submit a memorandum highlighting its demands to Indias labour minister Mansukh Mandaviya. The gig economy has become huge in India due to its fast economic growth, but workers face low wages and difficult working conditions. Indias National Human Rights Commission sent a notice to Amazon in June 2023 after local media reports that workers were being made to work without breaks during the peak hot summer season. Amazon India denied the charge. Boris Johnson has called for British troops to be committed to peacekeeping duties at the Ukrainian border as part of any ceasefire deal. The former UK prime minister told the Daily Telegraph that peace-keeping responsibilities should be handled by a multinational group of Western nations. Advertisement I dont think we should be sending in combat troops to take on the Russians, he said. But I think as part of the solution, as part of the end state, youre going to want to have multinational European peace-keeping forces monitoring the border [and] helping the Ukrainians. 1001 days into this war the basic struggle remains the same. It is a fight between the great Ukrainian ideals of freedom, democracy and independence on one side - and on the other the brutal and criminal aggression of Vladimir Putin. Proud to wear this Kyiv designed T shirt. pic.twitter.com/SS1k44guZZ Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) November 20, 2024 I cannot see that such a European operation could possibly happen without the British. It comes against the backdrop of US president-elect Donald Trumps January inauguration. Advertisement The incoming leader has called on peace talks between Russia and Ukraine to speed up and spoke on the campaign trail about his plans to end the war in 24 hours. Mr Johnson said other European nations should be transparent about any security or funding guarantees offered as part of a potential peace deal. One option he put forward was Ukraine joining Nato. The alliances treaty binds all members to come to one anothers defence in the event of an attack. Advertisement We need to be spelling out what kind of security guarantees we think are appropriate, he said. The only thing that really works is a Nato Article 5 guarantee that has kept the peace in Europe for 80 years. Its the reason the Baltic states are in Nato. Its the reason that the Poles, Hungarians, Czechs, Finns and the Swedes are now in Nato. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy is greeted by UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer as he arrives in Downing Street, London, (PA) Elsewhere, outgoing US president Joe Bidens administration urged Ukraine to lower its conscription age from 25 to 18 to help expand its pool of fighting-age men. Advertisement The former prime ministers comments came less than a day after Sir Keir Starmer spoke to Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelenskiy as his countrys power grid faces bombardment by Russian forces. Russias renewed attack on Ukraines power grid, the second in less than two weeks, has added to fears the Kremlin is hoping to cripple its foes power generation ahead of winter. One million homes have lost power in the war-torn nation, according to Ukrainian officials. Russias renewed attack on Ukraines power grid, the second in less than two weeks, has added to fears the Kremlin is hoping to cripple its foes power generation ahead of winter. Advertisement One million homes have lost power in the war-torn nation, according to Ukrainian officials. I spoke with UK Prime Minister @Keir_Starmer and informed him about yet another act of Russian air terror targeting Ukraines civilian infrastructure, involving over 90 missiles and nearly 100 drones. I expressed gratitude for the UKs unwavering support, including the pic.twitter.com/o88ihS3wnJ Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) November 28, 2024 Downing Street described the Russian strikes as egregious, adding that the prime minister characterised them as systematic and depraved when speaking to Mr Zelensky. Amid the attacks, Mr Zelenskiy expressed gratitude for the UKs unwavering support, including the commitment to provide at least 3 billion annually for Ukraines needs in his call with the prime minister. In a fresh signal that British Storm Shadow missiles are likely being used by Kyiv, the Ukrainian president added: We discussed advancing our defence cooperation and strengthening Ukraines long-range capabilities. UK authorities will not be drawn into confirming it has permitted Ukraine to use the weapons to strike targets inside Russia. No 10 would only say that both leaders underlined the importance of putting Ukraine in the best possible position ahead of another challenging winter of conflict. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she is confident that a tariff war with the United States can be averted. Her statement on Thursday the day after she held a phone call with US President-elect Donald Trump did not make clear who had offered what. Advertisement There will be no potential tariff war, Ms Sheinbaum said flatly when asked about the issue at her daily morning news briefing. On Wednesday, Mr Trump wrote that Ms Sheinbaum had agreed to stop unauthorised migration across the border into the United States. President-elect Donald Trump (Allison Robbert/AP, File) She wrote on her social media accounts the same day that migrants and caravans are taken care of before they reach the border. But whether that constituted a promise, a pledge or a simple statement of reality remains unclear. Advertisement In recent years, migrants who have been unable to obtain permission to cross Mexico have joined together in caravans to walk or hitchhike north toward the US border, seeking safety in numbers. In fact, apart from the first caravans in 2018 and 2019 which were provided buses to ride part of the way north no caravan has ever reached the border walking or hitchhiking in any cohesive way. For years, migrant caravans have often been blocked, harassed or prevented from hitching rides by Mexican police and migration agents. They have also frequently been rounded up or returned to areas near the Guatemalan border. So, Ms Sheinbaums statement appears to reflect a reality that has been true for some time. Advertisement President Joe Biden speaks in the Rose Garden at the White House (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP) US President Joe Biden on Thursday said he hoped Mr Trump would rethink his plan to impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada, saying it could screw up relationships with close allies. I hope he rethinks it. I think its a counterproductive thing to do, he told reporters in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Mr Trump had earlier threatened to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada until those countries satisfactorily stop illegal immigration and the flow of illegal drugs such as fentanyl into the United States. He also said Chinese imports would face additional tariffs of 10% until Beijing cracks down on the production of materials used in making fentanyl. Thousands of demonstrators protesting the Georgian governments decision to suspend negotiations to join the European Union rallied outside parliament in Tbilisi for a second straight night on Friday, surrounded by a heavy police presence. The previous night, police used water cannons, pepper spray and tear gas to disperse protesters who took to the streets after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of the ruling Georgian Dream party announced the suspension. Advertisement The interior ministry said it detained 43 people during the protests. On Friday evening, protesters again swarmed Parliament, with some banging on the metal gates to the building. Riot police deployed in force to protect the building and a water cannon could be seen parked nearby. Georgian Dreams disputed victory in the October 26 election, which was widely seen as a referendum on the countrys aspirations to join the European Union, has sparked massive demonstrations and led to an opposition boycott of parliament. Advertisement The opposition said the vote was rigged under the influence of Russia seeking to keep Georgia in its orbit. President Salome Zourabichvili joined protesters on Thursday after making an address to the nation, in which she accused the government of declaring war on its own people. Protesters hold an EU flag during a rally outside the parliament building in Tbilisi, Georgia (Zurab Tsertsvadze/AP) The Georgian president, who has a largely ceremonial role, has declared that the ruling party rigged the election with the help of Russia, Georgias former imperial master. The governments announcement that it was suspending negotiations to join the EU came hours after the European Parliament adopted a resolution that condemned last months vote as neither free nor fair, representing yet another manifestation of the continued democratic backsliding for which the ruling Georgian Dream party is fully responsible. Advertisement European election observers said Octobers vote took place in a divisive atmosphere marked by instances of bribery, double voting and physical violence. The EU granted Georgia candidate status in December 2023 on condition that it meet the blocs recommendations, but put its accession on hold and cut financial support earlier this year after the passage of a foreign influence law widely seen as a blow to democratic freedoms. EU legislators urged a rerun of the parliamentary vote within a year under thorough international supervision and by an independent election administration. They also called on the EU to impose sanctions and limit formal contacts with the Georgian government. Advertisement Protesters poured onto the streets of Tbilisi following the announcement (Zurab Tsertsvadze/AP) The Georgian prime minister fired back, denouncing what he described as a cascade of insults from the EU politicians and declaring that the ill-wishers of our country have turned the European Parliament into a blunt weapon of blackmail against Georgia, which is a great disgrace for the European Union. We will continue on our path toward the European Union; however, we will not allow anyone to keep us in a constant state of blackmail and manipulation, which is utterly disrespectful to our country and society, Mr Kobakhidze said. We must clearly show certain European politicians and bureaucrats, who are completely devoid of European values, that they must speak to Georgia with dignity, not through blackmail and insults. Mr Kobakhidze also said Georgia would reject any budgetary grants from the EU until the end of 2028. Advertisement World Mexican president is confident tariff war with the... Read More Critics have accused Georgian Dream established by Bidzina Ivanishvili, a shadowy billionaire who made his fortune in Russia of becoming increasingly authoritarian and tilted toward Moscow. The party recently pushed through laws similar to those used by the Kremlin to crack down on freedom of speech and LGBTQ+ rights. The EU suspended Georgias membership application process indefinitely in June, after parliament passed a law requiring organisations that receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as pursuing the interest of a foreign power, similar to a Russian law used to discredit organisations critical of the government. Russian defence minister Andrei Belousov has arrived in North Korea for talks with military and political leaders as the countries deepen their alignment over Russias war on Ukraine. Mr Belousov, a former economist, replaced Sergei Shoigu as defence minister in May after Russian President Vladimir Putin started a fifth term in power. Advertisement Photos released by Russias Defence Ministry showed Mr Belousov walking alongside North Korean defence minister No Kwang Chol on a red carpet laid out at a Pyongyang airport. North Korean military officials were seen clapping under a banner that read: Complete support and solidarity with the fighting Russian army and people. Mr Belousov noted after his arrival that military co-operation between the countries is expanding. Russias Andrei Belousov speaks across a table to North Korean defence minister No Kwang Chol (Vadim Savitsky, Russian Defence Ministry Press Service via AP) He applauded a strategic partnership agreement signed by Mr Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un following their June meeting in Pyongyang, which he said is aimed at reducing tensions by maintaining a balance of power in the region and lowering the risk of war, including with nuclear weapons. Advertisement The June meeting demonstrated the highest level of mutual trust between the leaders, Mr Belousov said, and also the mutual desire of our countries to further expand mutually beneficial co-operation in a complex international environment. Mr No also praised the expanding co-operation between the countries militaries and reiterated North Koreas support for Russias war in Ukraine, describing it as a just struggle to protect the countrys sovereign rights and security interests. The visit came days after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met a Ukrainian delegation led by defence minister Rustem Umerov in the South Korean capital Seoul and called for the two countries to formulate countermeasures in response to North Koreas dispatch of thousands of troops to Russia in support of its fight against Ukraine. Mr Kim in recent months has prioritised relations with Russia as he tries to break out of isolation and strengthen his international footing, embracing the idea of a new Cold War. Advertisement The United States and its allies have said North Korea has sent more than 10,000 soldiers to Russia in recent weeks and that some of those troops were engaging in combat. Mr Belousov, right on the red carpet, is welcomed by No Kwang Chol upon his arrival at Pyongyang International Airport (Russian Defence Press Service via AP) North Korea has also been accused of supplying artillery systems, missiles and other military equipment to Russia that may help Mr Putin further extend an almost three-year war. There are also concerns in Seoul that North Korea in exchange for its troops and arms supplies could receive Russian technology transfers that could potentially advance the threat posed by Mr Kims nuclear weapons and missile programmes. The Russian defence minister doesnt visit North Korea just to celebrate bilateral ties, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. This visit indicates Putin and Kims military co-operation in violation of international law is about to increase further. Advertisement Mr Yoons national security adviser, Shin Wonsik, said in a TV interview last week that Seoul assesses that Russia has provided air defence missile systems to North Korea in exchange for sending its troops. Mr Shin said Russia has also appeared to have given economic assistance to North Korea and various military technologies, including those needed for the Norths efforts to build a reliable space-based surveillance system, which Mr Kim has stressed as crucial for enhancing the threat of his nuclear-capable missiles targeting South Korea. Mr Shin did not say whether Russia has already transferred sensitive nuclear weapons and ballistic missile technologies to North Korea. Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin have signed a pact stipulating mutual military assistance if either country is attacked (Mikhail Tereshchenko, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) Mr Yoons office has not said whether the two governments discussed Seouls possible weapons supply to Ukraine during his talks with Mr Umerov. Advertisement Since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, South Korea has joined U.-led sanctions against Moscow and provided humanitarian and financial support to Kyiv. But Seoul has avoided directly supplying arms, citing a longstanding policy of not giving lethal weapons to countries actively engaged in conflicts. Mr Yoon has said his government will take phased countermeasures, linking the level of its response to the degree of Russian-North Korean co-operation. Last year, Mr Kim hosted a Russian delegation led by Mr Shoigu and gave him a personal tour of a North Korean arms exhibition, in what outside critics likened to a sales pitch. That event came weeks before Mr Kim travelled to Russia for a summit with Mr Putin, which sped up military co-operation between the countries. During another meeting in Pyongyang in June this year, Mr Kim and Mr Putin signed a pact stipulating mutual military assistance if either country is attacked, in what was considered the two countries biggest defence deal since the end of the Cold War. The Russian report about Mr Belousovs visit came as South Korea scrambled fighter jets to repel six Russian and five Chinese warplanes that temporarily entered the countrys air defence identification zone around its eastern and southern seas, according to the Souths joint chiefs of staff. The joint chiefs said the Russian and Chinese planes did not breach South Koreas territorial airspace. The head of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) said she is eager to work with the US President-elect and his trade team, while taking a wait-and-see stance about Donald Trumps plans to impose new tariffs on goods from other countries including China, Mexico and Canada. WTO director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala made the comments to reporters after member countries handed her a second four-year term, in a vote with no opposition. Advertisement The Geneva-based trade bodys future is clouded by Mr Trumps looming return to power in January in the US, home to the worlds single biggest economy, because his pledges to put unilateral tariffs on foreign goods entering the country could face challenges at the WTO. I think that I look very much forward to working with President Trump with all the new people who will be appointed, she said. Im eager for it. While Mr Trump before his first term threatened to pull the US out of the WTO, Ms Okonjo-Iweala said there is a general recognition that the organisation needs to be supported and pointed to US interests in intellectual property protections and product safety fostered by the trade body. The WTO and its rules underpin 75-80% of global goods trade, she said. Advertisement Ms Okonjo-Iweala expressed hopes to help strike a deal in the WTO that would phase out 22 billion dollars in harmful subsidies in the fisheries industry that raise worries about damage to ocean fish stocks. During his first term, the Trump administration largely bypassed WTO rules by imposing tariffs on steel and other goods from countries including China and even US allies. On Monday, Mr Trump vowed sweeping new tariffs on Mexico and Canada, as well as China, as soon as he takes office as part of his effort to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs. Mr Trump said he would impose a 25% tax on all products entering the country from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10% tariff on goods from China, as one of his first executive orders. Advertisement Such tariffs, if imposed, could face a challenge through the WTOs dispute resolution process, though its body that hears appeals is not operating largely because of US unwillingness to let new members be appointed to it. Ms Okonjo-Iweala, a former Nigerian finance minister who also has US citizenship, took office in 2021 as the first woman and first African to hold the job of WTO chief. Her second term will officially begin next September. Until we get specifics in terms of what is planned, I think it would be a bit premature to try to pronounce on these issues, she said, referring to Mr Trumps plans. Advertisement I think we should wait for actual policies, Ms Okonjo-Iweala said. And were very much looking forward to working in a productive fashion. The WTOs 166 members take decisions by consensus, meaning that any one country can block them. Malaysia is preparing for its worst floods in a decade after heavier-than-expected monsoon rains caused severe flooding that killed three people and displaced more than 90,000. Some 94,778 people, from more than 28,000 families, across nine states have been evacuated to 527 temporary shelters, according to the National Disaster Command Centre online portal. Advertisement The north-eastern state of Kelantan, bordering Thailand, was the worst affected, with 63,761 people evacuated from their homes, followed by neighbouring Terengganu with 22,511. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Friday that all cabinet ministers were banned from going on holiday. He said they have been instructed to provide assistance in flood-prone areas. Residents walk along a flooded street in Malaysia (Loo Kok Chong/PA) His deputy, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who heads the disaster response, said on Thursday that floods this year were expected to be worse than 2014, when more than 250,000 people were displaced and 21 killed. He was cited by local media as saying that the weather forecast indicated that heavy rainfall next month would probably affect more states. Advertisement Nearly 83,000 personnel and thousands of rescue boats, four-wheel vehicles and life jackets as well as 31 helicopters are ready, he said. The government has also identified 8,481 temporary evacuation centres nationwide that can accommodate more than two million people, he added. Floods are common in parts of Malaysia during the annual monsoon season, that starts in November and could last until March. The Meteorological Department has said the country can expect between five and seven episodes of heavy rainfall during this period. Its been some years since media baron Rupert Murdoch has visited Australia but that may change over the summer. The talk in well-placed circles is that Murdoch, with wife number five Elena Zhukova in tow, is planning a visit, after failing to make a much-anticipated trip earlier this year for the 60th anniversary of The Australian newspaper. News Corps New York media team did not respond to a request to confirm if the 93-year-old chairman emeritus of News and Fox Corporation would be visiting. Murdoch, who has sold about $US48 million ($74 million) in Fox shares this month, has endured a year of highs and lows, personally and professionally. A holiday with family in Australia may provide some respite before he fortifies himself for next year, which is promising to be equally troublesome. Rupert Murdoch outside a US court room earlier this year as he sought to change the terms of the family trust. Credit: NYT The difficulties of the past year have included this months News Corp annual meeting where shareholders, led by activist investor Starboard Value, put forward a non-binding resolution to end the dual-class share structure. The structure allows Murdoch and his four eldest children, through a trust, to have a voting interest of 41 per cent in News Corp and Fox, even though they hold an economic interest of just 14 per cent. In its statement, the MSO described the boardroom overhaul as part of an orderly process of board renewal. Lis departure would have been constitutionally required in July next year once he reached 12 years on the board, the maximum allowed by the companys constitution. Sophie Galaise was sacked as managing director of the MSO in the wake of the Gillham affair. Credit: Laura Manariti The remaining board members will be led by Edgar Myer, a regulatory lawyer heavily involved in his familys philanthropic affairs. New Zealand-born Richard Wigley, a concert bassoonist and experienced orchestral leader, has been appointed chief executive of the MSO after acting in the role since Galaises sacking. The MSO is an iconic organisation brimming with talented musicians and artistic teams, led by a professional management team under Richard, Myer said. I am humbled by the privilege of leading the MSO board and am committed to working with the board to strengthen the MSO, with an immediate focus on engaging new directors to reflect a renewed approach to achieving the organisations objectives and growing audiences. One of Myers most pressing tasks will be to fill the empty chairs around his board table. Former Victorian arts and health minister Martin Foley and Farrel Meltzer, chief executive and chair of the Wingate funds management group, will serve as co-deputy chairs. The MSO is Australias oldest professional orchestra. Credit: Garrett, a still performing rocker and former federal arts minister, was commissioned to lead an independent review, supported by consultancy group KPMG, into the MSOs policies and practices surrounding artistic and political expression. The review was commissioned at a time when the war in Gaza had driven a rift within Sydney and Melbourne arts organisations between pro-Palestinian performers, their employers and Jewish philanthropists who fund their artistic endeavours. Garretts review was announced on August 26, but he did not start his work due to the legal complexities presented by Gillhams legal claim against the MSO and the companys dispute with Galaise. Three sources close to the company, but not authorised to speak publicly, confirmed that the MSO feared any staff testimony gathered by Garrett would have been potentially discoverable by lawyers acting for Gillham or Galaise. This masthead has previously revealed the MSOs practice of gagging exiting staff and orchestra members with non-disclosure agreements. Garrett has now informed the MSO that the window open to him to conduct the review is closed and that he is too busy with other work. KPMG will instead complete the governance review it has already commenced. The MSO intended that musician and former federal arts minister the Hon Peter Garrett AM would lead the review, the company statement read. Unfortunately, due to the delays in progressing the review arising from legal action commenced against the MSO, Mr Garrett is no longer available to lead the review because of pre-existing commitments. The MSO is deeply appreciative of Mr Garretts willingness to support this process. Loading The MSO statement said that once the legal issues were resolved, the company would embark on a cultural change process. Tensions within the MSO broke into public view on August 12 when Gillham, an internationally acclaimed pianist contracted to perform two concerts with the company, made a speech on stage during his first performance accusing Israel of war crimes by targeting Palestinian journalists in Gaza. Gillham made the comments when he was introducing a piece titled Witness by an Australian composer, Connor DNetto. The piece was dedicated to journalists killed in the conflict. Over the last 10 months, Israel has killed more than 100 Palestinian journalists, Gillham said according to his statement of claim. A number of these have been targeted assassinations of prominent journalists as they were travelling in marked press vehicles or wearing their press jackets. Israel denies its armed forces target journalists. International groups such as the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists claimed at the time of Gillhams comments that more than 100 journalists in Gaza had been killed by IDF strikes. The MSO management, led at the time by Galaise, was unaware of the contents of Gillhams planned speech. Without consulting the board, they apologised to audience members offended by his comments and cancelled his second and final show. This triggered a vote of no confidence in Galaise and Ross by orchestra members and a crisis within the MSO that culminated in the board severing Galaises tenure after eight years in the job. Advertisement Tips & adviceCocktails and spirits Raise a glass to the new feel-good cocktail of summer (starring the fastest-growing spirit in Australia) Move over, margarita. Sayonara, limoncello spritz. This season, its all about the citrusy, tequila-based Paloma. Katie Spain November 29, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share While nothing gets the blood pumping like a spicy margarita, the feel-good cocktail hit this summer is the Paloma. Mexicos most popular cocktail is traditionally made with tequila, lime, salt and grapefruit soda and served in a highball glass. Bartenders and mixologists across Australia say the refreshing sessionability of the citrus-forward combination makes it the perfect cocktail choice in Australia, especially when the mercury rises. That, and the rising popularity of prestige tequila. Tequila is on fire, says James Fisher, senior brand manager for spirit producer Patron. Its the fastest-growing spirit category within Australia. Advertisement While everyone knows the tequila-based margarita, Fisher says the Paloma is on the rise globally. It has more sessionability because its a bit more savoury and citrus-forward. At The Charles in Sydney, the Paloma is transformed with the addition of a grapefruit and lime sherbet. Edwina Pickles In general, Fisher says long cocktails are more refreshing. You see things like Palomas and Japanese whisky in highballs gathering more momentum, he says. Fisher recently returned to Australia after a stint living and working in Canada, and has his eye fixed on US trends. The Paloma is so huge in Mexico and North America that youre seeing [premium mixers like] the Fever Trees and Fentimans of the world producing grapefruit soda as well. This means its now easier to drink a Paloma at home because there are more options. Advertisement According to Patron, the Palomas history is difficult to pinpoint. Historians struggle to agree on where or how the drink was created. Despite ambiguity around its origins, the Palomas popularity spiked when a grapefruit soda called Squirt was introduced to Mexico in the 1950s. Locals mixed it with tequila and the rest is history. Bartender Tom Younger at HER Rooftop with their Bloody Perfect Paloma. Simon Schluter Tom Younger, head of cocktails at Melbournes HQ Group (HER, Afloat, Arbory Bar & Eatery) says people are looking for tequila-based cocktails other than the margarita. Ive been a fan of the Paloma for quite some time, Younger says. I love the fresh, vibrant and citrusy profile and how it builds the taste of the tequila, rather than masking it. In Australia, mixologists occasionally push boundaries. Tom and the HER team recently added the Bloody Perfect Paloma to the venues cocktail menu. Advertisement HER Rooftops boundary-pushing Bloody Perfect Paloma. We wanted to elevate it for evening drinking, with a little more interest and thrill than your average recipe, he says. Thats where blood orange and raspberry come into play. The sweetness of the blood orange balances the tart notes of the raspberries, creating a harmonious, extra-juicy flavour profile. At its core, its still a refreshing drink but its more complex (less sweet, more bitter) than your average Paloma, lending itself to long summer nights. In Sydney, The Charles Bar riffs on the original with its new Paloma Flotante. The Charles bar manager Colin Tam with his take on the Paloma. Edwina Pickles Advertisement Its a combination of two classics, The Paloma and the Ramos Fizz, says bar manager Colin Tam. The bitterness from the grapefruit gives the drink a zesty punch and with the addition of vanilla and rosewater, it transforms into a refreshing, floral, thirst-quencher. The Charles bar team worked closely with pastry chef Rhiann Mead to create the grapefruit and lime sherbet incorporated in the drink. Adding the sherbet gives the cocktail a silkier and a fuller body, Tam says. Tequila is on fire. Its the fastest-growing spirit category within Australia. James Fisher, senior brand manager for spirit producer Patron. In Adelaide, Latin American-style laneway bar Paloma was named after the cocktail. Advertisement Other names we considered sounded a bit too harsh, says Andrew Cooper, bar manager at Palomas sister venue 2KW Bar & Restaurant, also owned by Palmer Hospitality Group. Paloma means dove [in Spanish] so it felt soft and just right, says Cooper. If you know the Paloma, you love it. Its a good summer cocktail because it kicks off all the senses; on the palate youve got bitterness, sweetness and citrus. The Adelaide bar generally keeps its namesake cocktail classic but at the moment is pouring a version made with a touch of gin. This is to make it more of an entry point [for tequila newbies], Cooper says. Because generally, compared to a margarita, you can taste the tequila much more in a Paloma. Canned cocktail producers are also getting in on the action. Campari Groups Espolon Tequila recently launched Sparkling Margarita and Sparkling Paloma ready-to-drink products in Australia. Advertisement Papa Salt Coastal Gins Los Angeles-based co-founders, clockwise from top: Charlie Maas, Regan Riskas Maas, Tom Ackerley, Margot Robbie and Josey McNamara. In October, newish label Papa Salt Coastal Gin added a Paloma to their range. The canned cocktail is a collaboration with local soda label CAPI, and contains cold-pressed grapefruit juice, rosemary, and Papa Salt Gin. Papa Salt was started by LA-based friends-turned-business partners Josey McNamara, Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley, Charlie Maas and Regan Riskas Maas, who met through the film industry in London and discovered they shared a passion for gin. Yet despite their fondness for the spirit, theyd never mixed it with grapefruit soda, says Papa Salt CEO Charlie Maas. When we launched in May 2023, we travelled around Australia visiting bar after bar and at almost every bar, the bartender would suggest serving Papa Salt with grapefruit soda, says Maas. Advertisement Byron Bay-based gin brand Papa Salt has added a canned Paloma cocktail to its product range. The Papa Salt Paloma made its debut at SXSW Sydney in October and is available at Dan Murphys, BWS, and independent retailers. It is also available on all domestic and international short-haul Virgin Australia flights, marking the brands first expansion into travel retail. Gin has had a rough year or two, and agave is coming on strong, Maas says. For an individual consumer, that probably means more long drinks and more citrus-forward cocktails. Were lucky that Papa Salt can play in both worlds. Tips for serving a Paloma Simplicity is key, especially for traditionalists. Good-quality tequila is a non-negotiable, Younger says. A bold, rich tequila like Patron Silver is our preference, and whatever citrus fruit is in season and at its best when youre making it. Let the produce do the heavy lifting. The natural sugars and acidity of the fruit will balance the drink, with little need to intervene beyond that. Use fresh, seasonal ingredients. Juicing fresh grapefruit adds so much more to the drink than store-bought juice ever could, Tam says. Swore off tequila for good? Heres how to enjoy the alcohol that once betrayed you Golden hour: 12 of Melbournes best rooftop dining and drink specials The best recipes from Australia's leading chefs straight to your inbox. Sign up University of Sydney vice chancellor Mark Scott says his job is still tenable in the face of calls for his resignation following a bruising year dominated by pro-Palestinian protests on campus. The university chiefs comments come as his institution faces backlash for a proposed campus civility rule, which critics fear would hamper free speech and political expression. University of Sydney vice chancellor Mark Scott at the federal parliamentary hearing on Friday. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen At a parliamentary hearing into antisemitism at universities on Friday, Scott was asked by Liberal MP Henry Pike if his job was still tenable. The former ABC managing director faced political pressure this year stemming from a pro-Palestine encampment on campus and allegations that Jewish students felt unsafe. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and a Jewish student group both called for Scotts resignation. Homicide squad detectives are investigating the death of a woman at a brothel in Melbournes inner west. Police were called to a property on Cowper Street in Footscray for a welfare check just after 8pm on Friday. Police investigating property where a woman was found deceased at a property on Cowper St, Footscray after a welfare check last night. Credit: Eddie Jim A woman, who is yet to be identified, was found dead at the scene. Detectives are making enquiries to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and investigations remain ongoing, a Victoria Police spokesperson said. Anthony Albanese clearly wants an election dividend from his policy slog over the past two weeks in getting laws through parliament to deliver on his promises. But the prime minister cannot count on the reward when he knows that the next election will be decided on what he offers next. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese brings out Finance Minister Katy Gallagher and Treasurer Jim Chalmers to celebrate their successes. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen The Labor strategy is all about the forward offer to Australians about what they should expect over the next three years, rather than counting on their gratitude for the laws just passed. Albanese emerges from this week with a greater confidence that he can get his way by holding the line. He secured the passage of cost-of-living measures despite Coalition objections, while gaining the sweet victory of staring down the Greens on housing. Anthony Albanese has signalled his election campaign slogan after driving a raft of major policy reforms through the Senate, declaring the government has the back of ordinary Australians. An upbeat prime minister told an early morning press conference on Friday that after the passage of 45 pieces of legislation this week, the government had shown it could deliver on its agenda, which was focused on immediate issues such as the cost of living, while also putting in place major economic reforms. A happy Anthony Albanese on Friday morning, after passing 31 pieces of legislation through the Senate on a single day on Thursday. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen On Thursday evening alone, the Senate passed 31 bills, including reforms to the Reserve Bank, the budgets centrepiece Future Made in Australia tax laws, a world-leading ban on children under 16 using social media and Build to Rent changes it believes will increase the number of rental properties by 80,000. Albanese, who at the start of November used a campaign-like event in Adelaide to outline major changes to TAFE and higher education, said the driving force for the government was to help people. If the 2024 property market is to be remembered for anything it is not for the whos who of sellers, but the many more who didnt sell. You know who you are. Entrepreneurs, political types and minor celebrities caught up in the high hopes of 2023 only to see real buyers vacate the market in droves. The Watsons Bay waterfront home of Gee Soon Low has been discounted by more than $10 million. Credit: Domain In many cases, bullish guides have already been revised to meet the new market. Among those taking a cut to their initial hopes is Gee Soon Low, a member of the billionaire Malaysian family behind development giant Low Yat Group. The $50 million guide of March is now just $39.8 million. For the record, the Watsons Bay waterfront house last traded for $2.7 million in 1994, so Low should still get by financially. Arnhem Land, named after the Dutch Ship The Arnhem which was blown off course in the area in 1623, is home to some of Australias best art, whether it be painted on rocks, bark, canvas or paper. From the moment our 22-year-old Kakadu Air pilot dodges a kangaroo hopping across the red-dirt runway to land our plane in Arnhem Land, the artwork, like the crocodiles, takes my breath away. Even before that, I learnt coming to Darwin in early August is the peak time for lovers of Aboriginal art to visit the Territory. Its the modern-day equivalent of going to Florence in the 15th or 16th centuries to understand Italian Renaissance art. One of the main attractions each August is the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (Telstra NATSIAA). Known as the Aboriginal Archibalds, and now in its 41st year, it is the richest, longest-running and most prestigious Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award. This years $100,000 first prize went to Noli Rictor, a Pitjantjatjara man and artist from Tjuntjuntjara in Western Australia, for his synthetic polymer paint on linen piece titled Kamanti. Rictor is considered the youngest first contact Aboriginal person in Australia, his family having been located by relatives in 1986 in the Great Victoria Desert of Western Australia. In his 20s, he moved from the remote desert to Yakadunya, where Spinifex people had relocated due to nuclear testing at Maralinga. His giant work, along with the 72 other finalists will remain at the exhibition at the Museum and Art Gallery of the NT (MAGNT) until January 27, 2025. It is a Darwin must see for anyone interested in viewing the best of contemporary Indigenous art, as is the outdoor awards ceremony, held annually at sunset on the sprawling MAGNT lawns on an early August night. As with the Archibald Prize, there is a NATSIAA Salon des Refuses, which this year gathered some of the 238 NATSIAA award entries not selected as finalists. Also in August, the four-day Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair assembles art from more than 80 art centres around Australia. This is an easy one-stop shop for art lovers who want to collect work from some of Australias most remote Indigenous art communities. This year the fair achieved more than $4.378 million in sales, while injecting a further $11.3 million into the Northern Territory economy. It was designed to coincide with the NATSIAA art awards the museum foundation board came up with the idea to connect artists to buyers, says Claire Summers, executive director of the fair (known as DAAF, in Darwinese). Not to be missed: The Darwin Festival is an Indigenous showpiece. Credit: It is now celebrating its 18th year in our first year there were about 16 Northern Territory art centres participating at the event, now we have 81 centres at the fair from all over Australia including a collective from NSW for the first time: the Malang Indigenous Corporation in Toronto. This fair is about access. These artists are living in some of the remotest places in Australia, let alone the world. This event, in person and online, is our way of giving over 1500 artists access to a market for their work. It also offers access for art buyers who perhaps dont have the time or money to visit the art centres in places such as Arnhem Land or other NT remote communities. All these events, now firm fixtures of the Australian arts calendar, are held under the umbrella of the Darwin Festival, now run by artistic director Kate Fell. I love the deep connection to community this festival has its a great place to winter over, says the Queensland-born former Brisbane Festival director. The 18-day festival is a multi-arts festival based around a central Festival Park, with outdoor stages including a Spiegeltent featuring comedy, music, theatre, family shows and food. Festival Park is the venue for the 18-day Darwin festival. Credit: There are about 40 venues, with 80 different events hosting 680 performances by 700 artists about 60 per cent of them from the Northern Territory, Fell says. The opening weekend becomes a drawcard for anyone interested in First Nations Arts and Culture with DAAF, the NATSIAAs and a host of galleries hosting shows too, she says. The festival is a broad church, but First Nations Art is a big part of our appeal, Fell says. There is this magical feeling you get in Darwin at this time of the year the being outdoors, its kind of like Darwins Christmas. Everyones feeling really good, and when you come and visit from elsewhere you kind of get swept up in it. Other major artistic drawcards in August in Darwin include Country to Couture, the National Indigenous Fashion Awards for fashionistas, and for music lovers theres the National Indigenous Music Awards. For those willing to make the 28-hour drive from Darwin to Gulkula on the Gove Peninsula, theres also the four-day Garma festival (garma.com.au), a celebration of Yolngu life hosted by the Yothu Yindi Foundation. If August doesnt suit for a visit, theres always the Darwin Street Art Festival, held since 2017 most years in May and June, when this tropical city on Larrakia land transforms into a mecca for graffiti artists from the world over. Works by artists such as Fintan Magee, and this years Archibald Packing Room Prize winner Matt Adnate, adorn buildings all over the city. Another drawcard: Darwin street art in the CBD. Credit: We have great art not just on rock walls but also city walls in the NT, says Street Art Festival director Dave Collins. If you are not there at the same time as the festival, the excellent DSAF app, can direct you on a self-guided tour through the major works downtown. For anyone wanting to escape the chilly temperatures of August in colder parts of Australia, I cant help but echo the words of our Arnhem Land rock art guide, Ryan Paget. A Darwin winter arts and culture break never gets old. THE DETAILS FLY Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar fly direct to Darwin daily from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. See Qantas.com/VirginAustralia.com/jetstar.com STAY Davidsons Arnhem Land Safaris https://davidsonsarnhemland.com.au/history/ SEE & DO The NATSIAA awards runs at MAGNT until January 27, 2025 https://www.magnt.net.au/2024-telstra-natsiaa Darwin Festival 2025, August 7-24, 2025 https://northernterritory.com/darwin-and-surrounds/events/darwin-festival Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair 2025, August 7-10, 2025 https://daaf.com.au/ Australians might well wonder why Asia has long had such limited cruise choices. We look north and know this continent has plenty to explore, from glittering cities to spice-scented islands, steaming jungles to chilly volcanic landscapes. At last, our hopes of more choices are being realised as Asian cruises become more common. The growth is partly fuelled by the increasing number of Asian cruise passengers and the rise of Asian cruise lines. Countries such as China, Malaysia, Indonesia, India and South Korea have improved their port infrastructure and are actively courting the cruise business. American and European cruise companies have long been aware of Asias potential, and of the increased interest in Asia from their customers. Celebrity, Cunard, Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Scenic, Silversea and Viking have a growing presence in Asia. MSC will launch MSC World Asia in 2026, its second ship dedicated to Asian cruising. Viking ship the Yi Dun docked in Shanghai. Credit: Asia is now the fourth most popular cruise destination in the world after the Caribbean, Mediterranean and the rest of Europe. Key home ports are Shanghai and Singapore, with Hong Kong growing rapidly. Keane and Allsop declined to comment in response to the statement from Wongs office, and in relation to this piece more generally. Gummow did not respond to requests for comment. French said he was aware of the ministers concerns and respected her position. I continue to independently assess the risks and benefits for the rule of law in Hong Kong of my membership of the CFA, he said. Jimmy Lai being led away in handcuffs in 2020. Credit: AP The foreign ministers remarks follow two high-profile cases in Hong Kongs High Court in mid-November. In the first, 45 pro-democracy advocates were jailed for up to 10 years for subversion, among them Ng, who was handed a sentence of seven years and three months. The following day, media tycoon and trenchant critic of Beijing, Jimmy Lai, began testifying in his high-profile trial against charges of colluding with foreign forces and publishing seditious material. The prosecutions have been condemned by numerous Western governments and human rights groups, and the Australian government has called for the repeal of the national security law. Loading The role of overseas judges in Hong Kong has regularly been likened to canaries in the coal mine, with their presence serving as a litmus test of the independence of the court. Five judges have left the court this year two of them, British judges Lord Jonathan Sumption and Lord Lawrence Collins, explicitly citing the political situation as the reason for their departure. To a chorus of supporters of Hong Kongs pro-democracy movement, the remaining judges are an artifice of legitimacy on a legal system eroded by Chinas attacks on the rule of law in Hong Kong. The debate has been particularly heated in the UK, where British judges have come under sustained public pressure to resign, and the former conservative government said their presence risked legitimising oppression. Lord Chris Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong, has been a prominent critic of the ongoing service of foreign judges. When the Court of Final Appeal, in August, unanimously upheld the convictions of Lai and seven pro-democracy activists who participated in an unauthorised 2019 protest, Patten denounced the unjust verdict as having been made worse by the fact that British judge David Neuberger was party to it. In this case, perhaps some of his views on the law changed between the first class waiting room at Heathrow and the arrival terminal of Hong Kong International Airport, Patten said at the time. Riot policemen firing tear gas to protesters on a street during the anti-extradition bill protest in Hong Kong in August 2019. Credit: AP Ted Hui, a former Hong Kong politician who fled to Australia in 2021 and has a police-issued bounty on his head for alleged national security breaches, believes the remaining overseas judges should resign, saying leaving the judiciary of Hong Kong is to stand with Hong Kong people. Kevin Yam, a former Hong Kong lawyer who now lives in Australia and also has a bounty on his head for his activism, says Ngs jailing and the targeting of Hui and himself should prompt a reflection on why the judges are staying. How well does it sit, for people who are essentially representatives of Australia sitting on the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal, when youve got three Australian citizens or residents in that sort of situation? he said. The Australian judges, along with two remaining UK judges Leonard Hoffmann and Neuberger, have defied calls for them to resign from their posts. Their decision to remain raises a number of vexed questions, including whether they can still have a meaningful influence on the rule of law. And what the impact on Hong Kongs legal system would be if they all resigned en masse. Views from inside Hong Kong Meanwhile, inside Hong Kong, the continuing presence of overseas judges on the citys top court has become a regular hot, if hushed, topic among lawyers at networking events and in water cooler conversations inside law firms. Theres still some rumour and questioning about whether the remaining foreign judges would now resign as a result of the sentencing [of the 45 democracy campaigners], and also the Jimmy Lai trial. There is definitely some discussion in the profession about it, said one Australian lawyer who has worked in Hong Kong for 15 years. A number of the Hong Kong-based lawyers interviewed for this piece requested anonymity to reflect freely on the court system in which they practise, to protect against any professional consequences and to avoid potentially running foul of the national security law themselves. A British commercial litigation law firm partner, who has worked in Hong Kong for decades, said most people he had spoken to in the legal sector felt the judges should stay. Its not going to change anything if they walk out and say, Oh, we dont want anything to do with Hong Kong any more, he said. Loading He believes that there remains a strong rule of law in Hong Kong, which would continue even if all the overseas judges quit the top court. You can argue the rule of law has been eroded a little bit in the national security space, but its only in that very narrow, albeit significant space. Most of the courts work to do with commercial cases, to do with non-national security cases, all goes on as normal. Another long-time Hong Kong solicitor believes that out of principle, they ought to all fall on their swords. The Hong Kong-based Australian lawyer said a mass exodus of the foreign judges would strike a significant blow to morale and confidence in the legal system, adding: If they are not being pushed to decide cases one way or the other then I dont see why they cant continue to stay on the Court of Final Appeal. A sledgehammer to crack a nut: Beijings national security crackdown It has been more than four years since the world watched as Hong Kong teetered on the brink of near-total social collapse. What began as massive peaceful protests in June 2019 against a proposed extradition law between Hong Kong and the mainland and concerns about Beijings growing influence, often descended into violent clashes between police and radical activists over the following year. As tensions intensified, the Chinese government intervened, inserting a new national security law into Hong Kongs Basic Law, sometimes referred to as its mini-constitution, which it claimed was necessary to restore order. It was signed in to operation by Chinese President Xi Jinping on June 30, 2020, without local consultation and took immediate effect, criminalising secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign organisations. Since then, it has been used to haul hundreds of protesters, activists, academics, journalists and former opposition lawmakers before the courts on national security charges, in conjunction with colonial-era sedition laws, in a crackdown that has been widely condemned as an effort to crush dissent in the city. One veteran Hong Kong lawyer likens the laws application by authorities to a sledgehammer being used to crack a nut, but said the overseas judges were not being drafted to uphold the bubble of [the] national security law. Theyre there to deal with other cases where rule of law does apply. It really does add something to the jurisprudence here, and it would be a great shame for that to be taken away, he said. The judges defenders point to cases where they have had a tangible impact, such as Keanes decisive role in a 3:2 judgment last year that ruled in favour of recognising a right to gay civil unions in a case brought by democracy activist Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit. But to its legion of critics, Beijings law sits in irreparable conflict with the other elements of the Basic Law regarded as the legal heart of the one country, two systems principle that China agreed to when Britain handed back the colony in 1997. It promised Hong Kongers a high degree of autonomy and political freedoms not otherwise enjoyed in mainland China, but it also obligated the city to have a national security law. As a way of preserving the British legal tradition in Hong Kong, the Basic Law provided for the creation of a Court of Final Appeal that could invite overseas judges from other common law countries to sit on it, replacing the UK Privy Council in hearing appeals from the region. The court functions with appeals heard by five judges, comprising four permanent Hong Kong judges and one non-permanent judge, typically chosen from the ranks of overseas judges who are not based in Hong Kong but travel there for sittings on an ad hoc basis. None of the foreign judges have yet sat on national security law appeals, and its possible they will never be selected to do so, or could elect to make themselves unavailable for such cases. For Sumption, who quit the court in June saying the rule of law had been profoundly compromised and Hong Kong was slowly becoming a totalitarian state, the erosion of the rule of law in one part of legal system that is, in national security cases cannot not be siloed from the broader system. The rule of law is indivisible, and that if there is one area of the courts business where they are effectively compromised by pressure from the Chinese government, then one cannot assume that that will not happen in other areas, he told the British Law and Disorder podcast in October. Sumptions red line was the High Courts decision in the case known as the Hong Kong 47 to convict Ng and 13 other pro-democracy activists of conspiracy to commit subversion for holding a peaceful unofficial primary election. The verdict, he said, demonstrated the judiciary were prepared to kowtow to Beijing. The court found that the intention of Ng and the other activists (31 had earlier pleaded guilty and two were acquitted) was to preselect pro-democracy candidates who could win majority control of the Hong Kong legislature at official elections later that year and reject the governments budgets, with the aim of toppling the citys leadership. You might as well say that the UK Labour Party was guilty of subversion by winning the election, which caused the last Conservative prime minister to resign. I mean, its as absurd as that, and thats why I left, Sumption told the podcast. His views have been strongly rejected by the Hong Kong government. The Hong Kong Bar Association has also defended the independence of the judiciary, as have a number of the resigning judges, including Lord Collins and Canadian Beverley McLachlin who quit this year while expressing their total confidence in the court on the way out the door. Pro-democracy activist Raphael Wong queues up for public gallery seats ahead of the sentencing of the 45 pro-democracy activists convicted in Hong Kongs largest national security case. Credit: Daniel Ceng Hundreds of Hong Kongers, along with international media, queued for hours outside the court to await the sentencing of the 45 activists this month, such was the significance of the outcome for the pro-democracy movement in the city. Among them was Raphael Wong, a prominent activist who has already served jail time for his role in unauthorised 2019 protests. He believes the optics of some judges leaving has been good for keeping the international spotlight on Hong Kongs courts, but if all of them quit the impact would be catastrophic. If theres no more foreign judges the Chinese judges will not be held accountable by the international community, he says. Australian judges, the last men standing The Australian judges have been restrained in their public remarks about why they have chosen to stay. In June, in response to Sumptions and Collins departures, French told this masthead that mass resignation would be damaging to the rule of law and contribute to the isolation of Hong Kong from international legal thinking. For the time being, engagement is preferable to disengagement, he said. Keane told The Australian Financial Review he did not believe a red line had yet been crossed in the form of government pressuring the judiciary or refusing to accept the decisions of the courts, and rejected suggestions judges were staying on for the money as insulting. The overseas judges are reportedly paid $HK399,950 (or about $80,000) per sitting, which requires them to travel to Hong Kong for one month to hear several appeals. It includes paid flights and accommodation. Now you got four years where we know what were doing, where we have a chance to start from scratch with people who we know are absolute warriors for the movement, he said on conservative activist Charlie Kirks podcast last week. Now youre stuck with that for four years. It was Don Jr who saw the early threat that Robert F. Kennedy Jrs candidacy posed to his fathers campaign, and who, allies say, tried to brainstorm ways to bring him into the fold. Ex-president Donald Trump hugs Donald Trump Jr at a rally in Pittsburgh. Credit: AP Since Kennedy was chosen as the nominee for Health and Human Services secretary, Don Jr has kept him close, even feeding the notoriously health-conscious Kennedy a McDonalds burger aboard his fathers plane and then taking a picture of it. This is a tactic Kirk suggested was akin to a mob strategy: If you think someone is an informant, you make them take a little drugs, he suggested during the podcast interview. Loading Bobby did have some McDonalds, Don Jr said. We definitely had some fun with that one. Loyalty first This loyalty-first approach explains how and why Matt Gaetz, a fierce Trump defender, was selected as the nominee for attorney general. (The subject of an investigation involving sex trafficking, Gaetz pulled himself out of consideration on November 21.) It explains how Sergio Gor, Don Jrs business partner at Winning Team, their conservative publishing company, was selected to lead the White House Personnel Office. And it explains how J.D. Vance, the vice president-elect, was chosen as well. Each choice amounted to a set-it-and-forget-it guarantee, not only for a president who demands fealty but also for a son prepared to enforce his fathers demands. Don Jr declined a request for an interview through a spokesperson, but others who are close to him were cleared to speak on his behalf, including Kirk. He only weighs in when something is particularly important to him, Kirk said, or where he feels as if there might be something that would not be in his fathers best interest. Topics that are most important to him include issues around the Second Amendment, the border, privacy and foreign policy, several allies said, with one prominent example: Don Jr was an early champion of Vance because the two men shared the belief that the United States should stop the flow of aid to Ukraine. He is also a crusader in the so-called anti-woke movement, and seems to revel in being hated and feared by liberal Americans who accuse him of harmful and divisive beliefs. Week after week, he publishes a torrent of posts on social media, targeting an array of topics and people that are red meat to the MAGA base, from transgender Americans to members of the news media. A prime example of Don Jrs typical fare appeared on his Instagram account last week, when he asserted that biological & objectively attractive women are allowed to win beauty pageants again. WE ARE SO BACK!!! The post drew a fire emoji from Elon Musk, the worlds-richest-man-turned-MAGA-surrogate. On Kirks podcast, Don Jr said that he and Musk recently spent three hours aboard the president-elects plane talking about space. He has a real commitment to developing both the policies and the personnel, said Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker, who was recently a guest on Don Jrs podcast. Hes a sentinel trying to defend the president and Trumpism from people who would like a job but dont necessarily have the right credentials to do it. Donald Trump Jrs nickname in the first Trump White House was Fredo, at left, the hapless member of the Corleone family in the Godfather trilogy. Credit: Paramount Pictures This means that other threats, such as former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, a first-term appointee who later fell out of favour for, among other things, criticising Trumps response to the riot at the Capitol, have not fared as well. She is now a figure of mockery for the president-elects son. When Haley criticised Trumps cabinet picks this week, Don Jr, as he often does, used social media to fire back. If Nikki Haley really wants a Cabinet filled with neocon warmongers to satisfy the billionaire donors that control her, she should try running for President and winning herself, he wrote. Oh wait, I forgot she already tried that and lost in a landslide. An evolving relationship For a son who at times has taken pains to differentiate himself from his father, on style if not substance, he has remarked to associates that, as it turns out, he might be more like his father than he initially realised. He has long embraced his fathers grievance-based brand of politics. He is ubiquitous at Trump rallies, on social media and on conservative podcasts, serving as a megaphone for Trumps base, rather than trying to lead from inside. Hes on the outside. He has his businesses, Gor said. Sometimes people on the outside like Don have more influence than people on the inside. It is a striking evolution for a father-son relationship that has at times been distant and tense. He did not speak to his father for a year after Trump divorced his mother, Ivana, during an affair with Marla Maples, who would become Trumps second wife. While his father enjoyed the perks of life in towers and seaside mansions, Don Jr, who was taught to hunt and fish by his maternal grandfather, preferred life outdoors. (A father of five, he will leave his fathers side to go on a Thanksgiving-week hunting trip with one of his children.) And, in 2017, he earned Trumps ire for becoming a central figure in the investigation into the Trump campaigns ties to Russia earning him a reputation with the first-term White House as being reckless. His nickname among some first-term aides was Fredo as in the hapless eldest son of the fictional Corleone family, according to one of those aides. He is still careful not to ever try to eclipse his father, a half-dozen associates said, but he has since proved himself and his value to Trump. He has turned his efforts to identifying and cultivating a new generation of MAGA-loyal politicians, including Vance and several new Republican senators in the next Congress, such as Bernie Moreno of Ohio, Tim Sheehy of Montana and Jim Banks of Indiana. If you have a son who is smart, hardworking and wants to help you, Gingrich said, you sort of have to think, why wouldnt you listen to him on occasion? Indian property seekers were particularly interested in Australian homes in October, with searches for properties to buy and rent both up by 23% compared to last year, Dellow said. Mackay led quarterly growth with an 8.3% rise in dwelling values, followed closely by Geraldton at 8.2% and Townsville at 6.6%. Over the year, Geraldton recorded an impressive 28.7% increase, adding more than $100,000 to the median property value. November 28, 2024 GATINEAU (Quebec), Competition Bureau The Competition Bureau is taking legal action against Google for anti-competitive conduct in online advertising technology services in Canada. Following a thorough investigation, the Bureau has filed an application with the Competition Tribunal that seeks to remedy the conduct for the benefit of Canadians. This case is about online web advertising, which consists of ads shown to users when they visit websites. Many publishers count on digital ad revenue to support their activities and reach. Digital ad inventory is often purchased and sold through automated auctions using sophisticated platforms. These individual platforms are known as ad tech tools while the entire suite of tools used throughout the buy and sell process are collectively known as the ad tech stack. The Bureaus investigation found that, in Canada, Google is the largest provider across the ad tech stack for web advertising and has abused its dominant position through conduct intended to ensure that it would maintain and entrench its market power. Googles conduct locks market participants into using its own ad tech tools, prevents rivals from being able to compete on the merits of their offering, and otherwise distorts the competitive process. In particular, the Bureau found that Google has: unlawfully tied its various ad tech tools together to maintain its market dominance; and leveraged its position across these ad tech tools to distort auction dynamics by: giving its own tools preferential access to ad inventory, taking negative margins in certain circumstances to disadvantage rivals, and dictating the terms on which its own publisher customers could transact with rival ad tech tools. The Bureaus position is that by implementing this anticompetitive conduct, Google has been able to entrench its dominance, prevent rivals from competing, inhibit innovation, inflate advertising costs and reduce publishers revenues. The Bureaus application with the Competition Tribunal seeks an order that, among other things: requires Google to sell two of its ad tech tools; directs Google to pay a penalty to promote compliance with the Competition Act; and prohibits Google from continuing to engage in anticompetitive practices. The final decision in this matter rests with the Competition Tribunal. A backgrounder with more information on the Bureaus investigation and next steps is available on our website. The application to the Competition Tribunal will be available on the Tribunals website shortly. After a decade of litigation, a federal judge has refused to compel the USDA to release additional records about its audit of the Beef Checkoff program. U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan in Washington, D.C., has ruled the USDAs Office of Inspector General properly exempted the documents from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. The Court is persuaded that USDA-OIG has met its burden of showing that the redacted information is generally treated as private by the owner of the records, the ruling said. The withheld contents include information such as financial reports, accounting ledgers, budgets, and vendor contact information. In 2013, the USDAs Office of Inspector General published an audit examining the Beef Checkoff, a federal program which raises money from cattlemen to fund research and promotions. The audit was triggered by allegations the National Cattlemens Beef Association, an industry group that receives checkoff dollars, unlawfully misused that money for prohibited purposes, such as lobbying for policy positions. According to the audit, the USDAs internal control function needs improvement, as shortcomings in the agencys oversight resulted in reduced assurance that beef checkoff funds were collected, distributed and expended in compliance with federal regulations. However, the Organization for Competitive Markets a nonprofit thats critical of the checkoff program claimed the audit left out information about vulnerabilities that contributed to NCBAs virtual chokehold over contracts from the Cattlemens Beef Board, which oversees the checkoff. Alleging a discrepancy between the USDAs audit and earlier findings from an independent accounting firm regarding prohibited policy operations, the Organization for Competitive Markets filed a Freedom of Information Act request seeking to obtain additional records about the agencys investigation. Though the USDA turned over about 23,000 documents to the nonprofit, the agency claimed other records were exempt from the Freedom of Information Act, which prompted the Organization for Competitive Markets to file a lawsuit in 2014 to compel their disclosure. The litigation was repeatedly delayed as the USDA and the plaintiff negotiated over the records and due to other procedural matters, but the judge has now agreed with the agency that it had properly exempted the remaining documents from release. While the Organization for Competitive Markets argued that NCBA and other contractors do not have an expectation of privacy regarding information theyre required to provide the government, the judge decided that such financial records can remain confidential. The documents contain information about NCBAs business operations, budgeting, strategies and operational efficiencies that could prove damaging if revealed publicly, the ruling said. In the hands of NCBAs competitors or the public, NCBA has adequately shown that any of this information alone could foreseeably cause financial and competitive harm. Likewise, the USDA properly withheld information regarding the Office of Inspector Generals deliberative process in researching and writing the audit. The Organization for Competitive Markets claimed the exemption relating to government deliberations should not apply because of the USDAs misconduct. Specifically, the nonprofit claimed that agency officials involved in checkoff oversight improperly coordinated with the Office of Inspector General and influenced its report. As an example, the plaintiff cited an email between officials in the USDAs Agricultural Marketing Service and the Office of Inspector General that referred to heartburn over the report due to its potential to reflect poorly on USDA. However, the judge said the evidence doesnt reach the egregiousness required to qualify as misconduct, meaning the Freedom of Information Act exemption still applies. While the evidence shows that USDA-OIG communicated and collaborated with AMS regarding the audit report and that AMS was potentially concerned about the audit findings, the combination of these does not equate to evidence that USDA-OIG lost its objectivity and independence during the audit or that USDA-OIG had a nefarious intent, the ruling said. By Cillian Sherlock, Grainne Ni Aodha and Claudia Savage, PA Polls have closed in the general election after a quick campaign that focused on the countrys most pressing issues. Turnout tipped across 40 per cent in some areas by 6pm amid fears that harsh winds and heavy rain may deter some voters. The leaders of all the main political parties cast their votes, except for the head of the Social Democrats Holly Cairns who gave birth to a baby girl on polling day. The Cork South-West candidate posted a picture of her cradling her daughter on Instagram with the caption: Shes here. Holly Cairns was unable to vote after giving birth to her baby daughter (Holly Cairns via Instagram/PA) Current Taoiseach Simon Harris said he expects a fascinating couple of days after he submitted his ballot minutes after polling stations opened. Speaking after voting on Friday, Mr Harris said that the make-up and stability of the next government could be decided by where transfer votes go a key part of the complex electoral system of proportional representation with a single transferable vote (PR-STV). The Fine Gael leader arrived at the polling station in Co Wicklow just before 7.30am with his wife Caoimhe and their children, Saoirse (5) and Cillian (3). Im feeling really hopeful, hopeful in terms of the election, but hopeful for the future of our country, he said. The three main parties Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein were considered to be near neck-and-neck rivals coming into polling day, with turnout expected to be another crucial factor. Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris casts his vote at Delgany National School, Co Wicklow. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Tanaiste Micheal Martin urged people to brave the wet and windy weather to attend their local polling station: I encourage people to vote its a key part of our democracy. After voting in the suburbs of Cork city with his wife Mary, his daughter Aoibhe, and his sons Micheal Aodh and Cillian, the Fianna Fail leader said his party had run a positive campaign in a close-fought race as he argued for the formation of a coherent, stable government. Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin casts his vote at St Anthonys Boys National School, Beechwood Park, Ballinlough, Cork. Photo: Jacob King/PA Mary Lou McDonald, the Sinn Fein leader, said it was decision day after she voted in Cabra, Dublin. She said it was a particularly significant election for younger people as she urged people to vote. I just want to encourage everybody to come out and make their mark on what can be, in my belief, a really significant, in fact, a historic day where we can elect a new government for change, she said. President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina cast their votes at their local polling station in the Phoenix Park as the leaders of smaller parties also came out early to vote. President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina cast their votes at St Marys Hospital, Phoenix Park, Dublin. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Labour leader Ivana Bacik, Green leader Roderic OGorman, People Before Profit leader Richard Boyd Barrett, and Social Democrats deputy leader Cian OCallaghan were among those who voted in Co Dublin. Meanwhile, Independent Ireland founder Michael Collins voted in Co Cork and Aontu leader Peadar Toibin cast his vote in Navan. The polls opened at 7am and will close at 10pm, with a total of 174 seats in the Dail to be filled more than ever before. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald casts her vote at Deaf Village Ireland on the Navan Road in Dublin. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA More than 3 million registered voters will pick their representatives across 43 constituencies, in a campaign that has focused on the housing crisis, the response to a dramatic increase in immigration, and economic management for the cost of living as well as potential future trade shocks. After the 2020 general election delivered an inconclusive result, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, two parties forged from opposing sides of the Civil War of the 1920s, agreed to set aside almost a century of animosity and share power. Sinn Fein won the popular vote in 2020 but a failure to run enough candidates meant it did not secure sufficient seats in the Dail to give it a realistic chance of forming a government. An exit poll at 10pm will provide the first sense of what the next government may look like. The arithmetic to form a majority could prove tricky though, with the countrys several smaller parties and many independents potentially jockeying for a place in government. It will end a lacklustre three-week campaign that seemed to fail to ignite a surge of enthusiasm among the public, after the election was officially called by Mr Harris on November 8th. That decision was ultimately his prerogative, and occurred while Fine Gael was enjoying a lift in the polls after he took over as leader from Leo Varadkar earlier this year. It also came at a time when Sinn Fein was beset by a string of controversies in the preceding weeks including former party members writing job references for a colleague who was later convicted of child sex crimes. But opinions polls suggested that the parties fortunes may have since shifted. Mr Martin, Ms McDonald and Mr Harris (left to right) during the final leaders debate. Photo: Niall Carson/PA One key flashpoint in the campaign arose out of Donald Trumps presidential election victory in the US, which brought heightened concern around what his proposals for corporation tax and tariffs could mean for Ireland. As such, the scale of Sinn Feins spending proposals have been dubbed as irresponsible by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, who have argued that the country needs to prepare for potential trade shocks with more prudent financial management. But the campaigning tactic has been derided as project fear and desperate scaremongering by critics. At the same time, a Sinn Fein pledge to instigate an independent review into national broadcaster RTEs coverage of Gaza and other international conflicts was met with criticism by the partys opponents, and the National Union of Journalists. The polls opened at 7am and will close at 10pm. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Meanwhile, Fine Gaels campaign has been plagued with several controversies which the Taoiseach has been unable to shake. These include a much-criticised encounter in which Mr Harris was accused of dismissing the concerns of a disability care worker at a supermarket, a video of another party candidate involved in a fight outside a pub, and an endorsement of a Fine Gael minister by Ryanair boss Michael OLeary that suggested teachers should not run the country. The party of Mr Martin a former teacher also faced criticism over its proposals to decriminalise cannabis for personal use. Fianna Fails approach to drug use formed part of a wider row on handling the justice portfolio, which has come into sharp relief in the context of 2023s Dublin riots and a perception that the capital is unsafe. Some party figures were accused of sexism over their criticism of Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, Fine Gaels deputy leader. Green Party leader Roderic OGorman. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA After the 2020 election, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail relied on the Green Party as a junior partner to secure the coalitions majority. Mr OGorman said it looks likely his government partners will be returned to power, but cautioned they could seek an easier life over the next five years. He said this could result in right-wing independents or small populist parties padding out the numbers. The final results will immediately kick-start government formation speculation amid the possibility that more than three parties will be needed to get over the line. The protracted process of counting ballots by hand will begin on Saturday. As the State uses a system of proportional representation where candidates are ranked by preference, the voting slips need to be counted several times an undertaking which can last days. By Jonathan McCambridge, PA Irish rap trio Kneecap has won its legal challenge over a decision by the UK's former business secretary Kemi Badenoch to refuse them a 14,250 (17,120) funding award after the UK Government conceded it was unlawful. The band had launched the legal action claiming the decision to refuse the grant discriminated against them on grounds of nationality and political opinion. During a brief hearing at Belfast High Court on Friday, Mr Justice Scoffield said he was glad that the two sides in the case had reached agreement. Reading an agreed statement, barrister for Kneecap Ronan Lavery KC said: It is declared that the decision is unlawful, procedurally unfair, took into account immaterial considerations and failed to take into account relevant factors. It was agreed that the sum of 14,250 would be paid by the UK government to the group. The west Belfast hip-hop artists had applied for a grant allocated to support UK-registered artists in global markets. Their application to the Music Export Growth Scheme had been approved by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). Former UK business secretary Kemi Badenoch had refused the funding for Kneecap (Ben Whitley/PA) However, the grant scheme is overseen by Britain's Department for Business and Trade, and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport at Westminster, and then UK Business Secretary Ms Badenoch, now the Conservative Party leader, decided to refuse the funding in February. At the time a UK government spokesperson said it fully supported freedom of speech, but that it was hardly surprising that it did not want to hand out UK taxpayers money to those opposed to the United Kingdom. Kneecap was formed in 2017 by three friends who perform under the stage names Mo Chara, Moglai Bap and DJ Provai. Following the agreement, the band said it would donate the grant to two youth organisations in Belfast one from a nationalist and one from a unionist area. A statement from the band said: For us, this action was never about 14,250; it could have been 50 pence. The motivation was equality. This was an attack on artistic culture, an attack on the Good Friday Agreement itself and an attack on Kneecap and our way of expressing ourselves. The statement added: The former secretary of state Kemi Badenoch and her department acted unlawfully; this is now a fact. They dont like that we oppose British rule, that we dont believe that England serves anyone in Ireland and the working classes on both sides of the community deserve better; deserve funding, deserve appropriate mental health services, deserve to celebrate music and art and deserve the freedom to express our culture. They broke their own laws in trying to silence Kneecap. They added: They have tried to silence us and they have failed. Solicitor for Kneecap Darragh Mackin said his clients had been vindicated by the judgment (Niall Carson/PA) The bands lawyer, Darragh Mackin from Phoenix Law, said: A court has exonerated our clients and declared this decision unlawful in every sense of the word. Today is not only a victory for Kneecap, but a victory for the arts, for culture, for the freedom of expression. Kneecap continue to lead by example in practising what they preach. A statement from the UK Department for Business and Trade said: This Governments priority is to try and reduce costs and help protect the taxpayer from further expense, so we will not continue to contest Kneecaps challenge as we do not believe it in the public interest. The music industry is the heart and soul of our economy and are committed to helping acts continue to thrive and break into new markets, including through our MEGS programme which has helped around 400 artists tour the globe. By Cillian Sherlock, PA Simon Harris has said he expects a fascinating couple of days after he cast his vote in the General Election minutes after polling stations opened. The Taoiseach said that where transfer votes would go a key part of Irelands proportional representation with a single transferrable vote system (PR-STV) would decide the make-up and stability of the next government. The Fine Gael leader arrived at the polling station at Delgany National School in Co Wicklow just before 7.30am with his wife Caoimhe and their children, Saoirse, five, and Cillian, three. Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris casts his vote at Delgany National School, County Wicklow. Photo: Niall Carson/PA. Im feeling really hopeful, hopeful in terms of the election, but hopeful for the future of our country, he said. I wanted to vote early because I now want to head across our country today, continuing to encourage everyone to get out and have their say in this election. The three largest parties were virtually neck-and-neck heading into the vote, with one party leader describing the race as too close to call. Simon Harris speaks to the media after casting his vote (Niall Carson/PA) The latest poll, a Red C-Business Post survey, shows support for Fianna Fail unchanged at 21 per cent, only slightly ahead of its coalition partner, Fine Gael, which is down two percentage points at 20 per cent and now tied with the largest opposition party, Sinn Fein, which has gained two. Asked whether he was glad the election campaign was over, he said he enjoyed the campaign and enjoyed making a pitch for his vision for the countrys future. He said he would be working up until polls close and is expected to travel to counties Carlow, Laois, Monaghan and Tipperary as well as the Irish capital. Mr Harris canvassing in Dublin. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA. The polls opened at 7am and will close at 10pm, with a total of 174 seats in the Dail to be filled more than ever before. More than three million registered voters will pick their representatives across 43 constituencies, in a campaign that has focused on the countrys housing crisis, the response to a dramatic increase in immigration, and economic management for the cost of living as well as potential future trade shocks. After the 2020 general election delivered an inconclusive result, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, two parties forged from opposing sides of Irelands Civil War of the 1920s, agreed to set aside almost a century of animosity and share power. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA. Sinn Fein won the popular vote in 2020 but a failure to run enough candidates meant it did not secure sufficient seats in the Dail to give it a realistic chance of forming a government. This time around, party leader Mary Lou McDonald fielded many more candidates in a vow not to repeat past mistakes, as she urged voters to elect a government of change without Fine Gael or Fianna Fail. An exit poll at 10pm will provide the first sense of what Irelands next government may look like. The arithmetic to form a majority could prove tricky, though, with the countrys several smaller parties and many independents potentially jockeying for a place in government. It will end a lacklustre three-week campaign that seemed to fail to ignite a surge of enthusiasm among the public, after the election was officially called by Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris on November 7. Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA. That decision was ultimately his prerogative, and occurred while Fine Gael was enjoying a lift in the polls after he took over as leader from Leo Varadkar earlier this year. It also came at a time when Sinn Fein was beset by a string of controversies in the preceding weeks including former party members writing job references for a colleague who was later convicted of child sex crimes. However, opinions polls suggest the parties fortunes have since shifted, with the opposition party making gains as Fine Gael suffered a slide. One key flashpoint in the campaign arose out of Donald Trumps presidential election victory in the US, which brought heightened concern around what his proposals for corporation tax and tariffs could mean for Ireland. Mr Martin, Ms McDonald and Mr Harris during the final leaders debate. Photo: Niall Carson/PA. As such, the scale of Sinn Feins spending proposals have been dubbed as irresponsible by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, who have argued that Ireland needs to prepare for potential trade shocks with more prudent financial management. However, the campaigning tactic has been derided as project fear and desperate scaremongering by critics. At the same time, a Sinn Fein pledge to instigate an independent review into Irish national broadcaster RTEs coverage of Gaza and other international conflicts was met with criticism by the partys opponents, and the National Union of Journalists. Mr Harris described the proposal as chilling, with others noting that several party figures, including Ms McDonald, have taken legal actions against journalists and media outlets. Green party leader Roderic OGorman. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA. Meanwhile, Fine Gaels campaign has been plagued with several controversies which the Taoiseach has been unable to shake. Mr Harris has repeatedly apologised for a much-criticised encounter in which he was accused of dismissing the concerns of a disability care worker at a supermarket, which had been filmed by RTE. It later emerged that a member of the Fine Gael team contacted RTE about the interaction prior to publication. Ms McDonald took her opportunity to use Mr Harriss own words against him, characterising the development as chilling. The Fine Gael campaign has also been dogged by footage entering the public domain which showed a candidate engaged in a fight outside a pub. Fine Gael candidate John McGahon (left). Photo: Fergal Phillips/Fine Gael. John McGahon had been found not guilty in a criminal case around the incident, but was ordered to pay damages in a civil case. Mr Harris notably did not canvass with the candidate in his high-profile tour of the country. Elsewhere, an endorsement of a Fine Gael candidate from outspoken Ryanair boss Michael OLeary was welcomed by senior party figures, albeit in a qualified nature after he suggested teachers should not run the country. One former teacher in the campaign is Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin. Mr Martins partys platform also faced criticism over its proposals to decriminalise cannabis for personal use. It formed part of a wider row on handling the justice portfolio, which has come into sharp relief in the context of 2023s Dublin riots and a perception that the capital is unsafe. Mr OGorman, Mr Harris and Mr Martin. Photo: Clodagh Kilcoyne/PA. Some Fianna Fail figures have been accused of sexism over their criticisms of the Justice Minister Helen McEntee, Fine Gaels deputy leader. After the 2020 election, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail relied on the Green Party as junior partner to secure the coalitions majority. Green leader Roderic OGorman has said it looks likely his Government partners will be returned to power, but cautioned they could seek an easier life over the next five years. He said this could result in right-wing independents or small populist parties padding out the numbers. The final results will immediately kick-start government formation speculation amid the possibility that more than three parties will be needed to get over the line. The protracted process of counting ballots by hand will begin on Saturday. As Ireland uses a system of proportional representation where candidates are ranked by preference, the voting slips need to be counted several times an undertaking which can last for days. China releases guidelines for digital trade, aiming to boost development, openness Global Times) 10:30, November 29, 2024 Foreign and Chinese attendees interact via an AI translation screen at the third Global Digital Trade Expo in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province on September 26, 2024. (Yin Yeping/GT) China released new guidelines on Thursday for reform and innovation in digital trade, aiming to create fresh momentum for the digital sector, boost its contribution to overall trade, and expand opening-up to encourage foreign investment. By 2029, the scale of digitally deliverable services trade is expected to have grown steadily. It is set to surpass 45 percent of China's total services trade, with improved infrastructure, institutional frameworks, and significantly enhanced openness in the digital sector, aligning more closely with high-standard international trade rules. By 2035, this proportion is projected to exceed 50 percent, according to the guidelines released by China's State Council and the General Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. The guidelines focus on four main areas: supporting the growth of digital trade sectors and businesses, advancing institutional openness in digital trade, enhancing the governance system, and reinforcing organizational support. The guidelines emphasize the active development of digital product trade, strengthening innovation in digital applications and business models, and improving the quality of digital content production. They also focus on expanding cross-border digital delivery channels and enhancing international competitiveness. The guidelines encourage e-commerce platforms, operators, service providers, and other stakeholders to grow and strengthen their businesses, while accelerating brand development. They also call for the construction of cross-border e-commerce pilot zones and offer support for "cross-border e-commerce plus industrial hubs." Additionally, the guidelines push for the integration of digital trade with both domestic and foreign trade. The guidelines call for improving the pre-access national treatment and negative list management model, promoting the orderly opening-up of sectors like telecommunications, internet, and culture, and encouraging foreign investment in the digital sector. They also aim to dismantle market entry barriers and enhance the ease of operation for foreign-invested enterprises in digital trade. The guidelines emphasize the need to promote and regulate cross-border data flow, improve data export security management, and establish a systematic process for data security assessment. They aim to create an efficient, secure, and convenient mechanism for data flow across borders, ensuring the protection of important data and personal information. The guidelines also mention that China will actively participate in shaping international digital trade rules and deepen international cooperation in digital trade. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) Advertisement Fluctuations in TTF gas prices and coal have been the main factors driving the market, where prices have now been ranging between EUR60-66. The US election result is expected to put short-term pressure on green projects while the market awaits the direction of US policy in the next few years. Will this be a repetition of 2016, with the US leaving the Paris Agreement, or will there be an increased focus on fossil fuels, alongside green projects? Speculators have stayed away from the long-term market, which is now trading substantially lower than the forecast EUR120 -130 for the 2030+ period. The European cement sector raised the suggestion of having earmarked support from the EU Commission, based on the sectors EU ETS payments, replacing complicated innovation fund measures, despite cement projects having been rewarded this year. EUA front-year contract, July 2020-October 2024 The trading range is seen at EUR62-68/t. Long-term prices for 2030 have slipped from EUR81 to EUR78. The current (Dec24) contract is four per cent lower when compared with ICRs previous issue at EUR63.50. The UK Allowance (UKA) December 2024 price rose by two per cent to GBP38.20 (EUR46) and is now at a 28 per cent discount compared to the EU-ETS price. Brannvoll ApS has issued its forecast for 2025, projecting a price range between EUR60-80 for the Dec25 contract, with an expected average of around EUR72. There are not many organizations that are as near and dear to my heart as the Chattanooga Police Department. After 30 years wearing the badge, the CPD is interwoven into my DNA. I am also a proud son of Chattanooga, and it has been my lifes honor and privilege to serve and protect the people of my hometown. So, as a retired officer and now private citizen, I was both shocked and disappointed when I learned that Chief of Staff Jerri Sutton was not only passed over for promotion to deputy chief (second in command), but also effectively demoted by newly appointed Chief of Police John Chambers. Chief Sutton is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable leaders on the executive staff. She has served in almost every capacity at the CPD. From being the director of Training Division, Public Information coordinator, Patrol Sector captain, assistant chief over Patrol Division and Investigations Division, and most recently chief of staff. If you can name it, Chief Sutton has done it at the CPD. In addition to her duties within the department, Chief Sutton has worked tirelessly in her personal time with civic organizations across this city in an effort to improve the lives of Chattanoogans and to strengthen the relationship between our police officers and the communities they serve. There is not a neighborhood you can visit in this city where the residents do not know and respect Chief Sutton. You do not reward that level of service and dedication by passing over a person, and you certainly do not reward it with a demotion. The civil unrest that we experienced during the summer of 2020 highlighted a few things that our community expects from our police department. None more important than having empathetic police leaders who have sound judgement and who have earned respect and built trusted relationships within our community. Chief of Staff Sutton is one such leader. During the term of our last chief, Mayor Kelly saw fit to step in when our new chief made a questionable decision that adversely impacted the work status of 15 CPD officers. I would appeal to Mayor Kelly to exercise that same level of oversight by reevaluating another questionable decision. This time, one made by our new chief, John Chambers. Glenn Scruggs * * * Im am saddened by the Officer Sutton situation. The demotion has me baffled - what would be the chief reasoning for this? They both have worked together in one form or other. Overlooking her for a promotion. Prior to that not receiving the position for chief of police sends a red flag since the position went within the department she was in. More experienced, higher ranking, etc., that did not mean anything in todays city protocol, ethics, dedication, etc. For some reason I see preference, women's efforts and dedication being cast aside and chastised. I do see politics, unfairness served cold, blatantly in our face. Another sad day for women choosing law enforcement. Cecilie M. Roman The world's first center for solar batteries and optoionic technologies is being established in Bavaria. The Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Max Planck Society (MPG) have set the course for this with the support of the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs. With the SolBat Center, a unique research ecosystem will be formed to research new types of energy storage systems and develop applications to use solar energy even more efficiently and flexibly. The focus is on solar batteries, which are still largely unexplored. They combine solar cells and batteries in a single component and can chemically store the energy from sunlight directly - without the detour of converting it into electricity. The technology can be used, for example, to compensate for daily and weather-related fluctuations in solar power and, at the same time, increase energy efficiency through an improved ion cycle. Optoionics - a cross-sectional science between optoelectronics and solid-state ionics, which deals with the control of ions by light - offers enormous potential for various solar and optical application technologies. The new SolBat Center will be headed by Prof. Jennifer L.M. Rupp, holder of the Chair of Solid State Electrochemistry at TUM and Fellow at the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, Prof. Karsten Reuter, Director at the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society and Distinguished Affiliated Professor at TUM, and Prof. Bettina V. Lotsch, Director at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research in Stuttgart and honorary professor at the Universities of Munich (LMU) and Stuttgart. All three are also board members of the e-conversion Cluster of Excellence, on whose results, network of experts, and interdisciplinary basic research the new center is primarily based. Jennifer Rupp emphasizes: "The fusion of solar and battery technologies will open up a new dimension for the future of sustainable energy supply. The concept of our globally unique center is based on the close integration of basic research and technology development. We see this as an opportunity to make energy systems significantly more compact and efficient." Bavaria's Minister of Economic Affairs Hubert Aiwanger announces that the Free State of Bavaria is funding the SolBat Center with up to eight million euros: Today, we are facing unprecedented challenges in the areas of energy and sustainability. In order to develop new energy solutions, modern materials are just as important as new concepts for energy conversion and storage. I am convinced that the SolBat initiative will make a strong contribution to finding solutions for the massively increased energy storage requirements of the future. With our financial support for infrastructure measures at TUM's Garching campus, we are helping to position Bavaria at the forefront of innovation in solar energy storage. Optoionics: a new branch of research with far-reaching potential The center focuses on optoionics, a pioneering discipline that combines solid-state ionics with light. Bettina Lotsch explains: "Optoionics not only enables us to improve light-controlled processes in energy materials, but also to produce new types of energy systems at the intersection between batteries and photovoltaics, which act as direct 'light storage devices'. Optoionics can be a key factor in increasing the efficiency of solar batteries and the functionality of future energy systems." Those involved also hope the center's research will provide new impetus for photocatalysis, sensor technology, and artificial intelligence (AI). Karsten Reuter emphasizes the importance of theoretical modeling for developing solar batteries: "With the help of precise simulations, we can better understand the complex interactions between light and ion movements in the materials. This understanding will be incorporated into AIs from the outset, which will increasingly take over the planning of experiments in order to optimize materials and processes in a targeted manner and develop new functionalities." The SolBat Center's approach of combining experimental, theoretical, and AI-based research and considering the entire value chain up to the development of components creates a unique innovation platform for the next generation of energy storage systems. How a solar battery works In a solar battery, the solar cell and battery are not separate but are integrated into a single component. This enables the direct conversion of sunlight into electrochemical energy and its storage. The process begins when photons (light particles) hit the light-absorbing layer and excite electrons. The key innovation of solar batteries is that the light not only excites the electrons but also influences the movement of ions. This enables the simultaneous absorption of light and the storage of electrochemical energy in a single component. In addition, the ions, for example lithium or oxygen ions, can move faster within the solid state due to optical stimulation, which can accelerate the (dis)charge processes of the battery. In the discharge process, the process is reversed: the stored electrochemical energy is released, whereby the ions move back, and an electric current is generated. The simultaneous use of light absorption and charge storage can reduce losses that occur in conventional systems due to separate generation and storage processes. In addition, optoionics opens up new perspectives for producing highly integrated light storage systems that can be used flexibly outside the power grid. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Gethsemani Baptist Church food ministry is delivering bread to those in need of San Luis, Arizona. | photo credit: Gethsemani Baptist Church A U.S. court has ruled that an Arizona city cannot prevent a church from suing over the shutdown of a ministry that provided food to needy families near the U.S. southern border. Senior United States District Judge G. Murray Snow, appointed by George W. Bush, issued an order last Friday denying the city of San Luis request to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Gethsemani Baptist Church. In his ruling, Snow stated, the Church has a plausible claim that it maintains the legal right to continue operating its ministry and that the congregation sufficiently plead facts to establish a plausible entitlement to relief. Gethsemani Baptist Church is being represented by the First Liberty Institute (FLI). Camille Varone, associate counsel with FLI, commented, The city should vigorously support a church that meets the needs of those going hungry without using government resources. She further added, Its indefensible that a city would purposefully stop a ministry that feeds the hungry. We hope to allow Gethsemani Baptist Church to once again provide care for the vulnerable, hurting people in the surrounding communities. In March, Gethsemani filed a complaint in federal court against the city of San Luis, Mayor Nieves G. Riedel, Acting City Manager Jenny Torres, and City Code Enforcement Officer Alexis Gomez Cordova. According to the lawsuit, the city shut down the food ministry, which had been operating since 1999, and reported aiding hundreds of families by distributing food and sharing the Gospel. The complaint notes that after Riedels election in 2022, the city claimed the outreach program violated zoning laws, such as the use of semi-trucks in a residential area. City officials characterized the church's activities as commercial-level food distribution. The complaint stated, Since 2012, when the City adopted its current Zoning Code, the Church and its Food Ministry were treated as a 'legal nonconforming use,' meaning that it could continue to operate in the residential zone. It also noted that although the Food Ministry has grown in scale and required larger trucks since 2002, its scope and character have remained largely unchanged since the adoption of the Zoning Code. In late July, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a statement of interest in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, explaining that the churchs activities are legitimate under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the DOJ Civil Rights Division stated, Federal law provides broad protection to religious exercise, including for ministries that serve people who are hungry or in need of basic supplies. Clarke added, Once a municipality applies its zoning code to restrict religious exercise, impacted groups do not need to jump through procedural hoops to obtain relief in federal court. The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that religious groups can properly exercise their rights under RLUIPA. Saint Augustine's University in Raleigh, North Carolina. | photo credit: Facebook/ Saint Augustine's University A historically African American university affiliated with the Episcopal Church is cutting half of its employee positions due to financial struggles that threaten its accreditation. Saint Augustine's University (SAU) in Raleigh, North Carolina, announced on Saturday that it plans to eliminate several positions this month, including part-time and full-time non-faculty roles and some vacant positions. The four-year liberal arts university aims to reduce 67 staff positions, comprising 37 full-time faculty and 32 adjunct faculty roles, totaling around 50% of its workforce. This decision precedes an important meeting with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) scheduled for next month. The university described its actions as a significant move toward fiscal responsibility. To maintain its accreditation, SAU reported that it has reduced expenses by approximately $17 million in fiscal year 2024 compared to fiscal year 2023 and is currently settling multiple outstanding balances with vendors. The momentum we are building is promising. While difficult, we acknowledge the seriousness of our financial challenges, and these measures are crucial for our long-term sustainability, stated SAU Interim President Marcus H. Burgess. He added, Our ongoing efforts to stabilize the financial condition of Saint Augustine's University are now showing tangible results our community is responding positively, and we are excited about our future. Together, we will work diligently to rebuild our foundation. Founded by the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina in 1867 to educate freed slaves after the Civil War, SAU is situated on a 105-acre campus near downtown Raleigh and has an average enrollment of about 1,000 students. However, the university has experienced financial difficulties in recent years; it was placed on probation from 2014 to 2018 but later regained full accreditation. In last December, SACSCOC trustees voted to remove SAU from membership as an accredited institution due to financial stability concerns. In response, SAU launched the Falcon Pride Initiative Fundraising Campaign in February to help preserve its official accreditation. While an appeals committee later upheld the initial ruling, the university has since transitioned most of its classes from in-person to online formats, with these changes taking effect in April. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Labor announced an investigation into the university amid reports that employees had not received paychecks for multiple pay periods in May. In July, an arbitration committee appointed by SACSCOC issued a unanimous decision supporting the reversal of SAU's accreditation removal but noted that the university would remain on probation. ERLC President Brent Leatherwood. | ERLC The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) filed an amicus brief in a Supreme Court case examining a Texas law requiring age verification for adult website users. According to Baptist Press, Texas House Bill (H.B.) 1181 requires websites to verify the age of users if at least one-third of their hosted content is considered harmful to minors, such as pornography. Additionally, the law mandates these websites to display a warning about the detrimental medical and societal effects of pornography consumption. The case, titled Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, will determine whether the legislation infringes upon the First Amendment by imposing a burden on adults access to content that the plaintiffs argue is protected by free speech. The suit involves the Free Speech Coalition and other plaintiffs suing the state of Texas to block the law from being enacted, with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton named as the defendant. On Friday, November 22, the ERLC filed the amicus brief in collaboration with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC) and the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT). The brief argues that the widespread access to pornographic content via the internet necessitates the Supreme Court to establish guidelines to protect minors. The exhibition and distribution of media containing obscene portrayals of sexual conduct is nothing new in America. But in the grand scheme of history, what is relatively new is the ubiquitous access that the internet provides to such materials. This gives rise to a host of moral, social, and health concerns, not the least of which is minors access to these materials, the brief states. The ERLC references the 2001 Southern Baptist Convention resolution On The Plague Of Internet Pornography and the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 to demonstrate Southern Baptists views on the dangers of pornography, particularly for minors. Southern Baptists believe that God gave all of humanity free choice when it comes to questions of morality. But minors often lack the developmental capacity or moral maturity to know how to exercise that free choice responsibly, the brief added. Furthermore, it argues that as originally understood, the First Amendment existed primarily to protect political speech and speech on matters of public concern. It was not originally understood to protect obscene expression, especially when such expression might be received by minors. The passage of Texas H.B. 1181 in June 2023 prompted a group of pornography companies, led by the Free Speech Coalition, to file a lawsuit a month later to block its implementation. Although a district court granted the groups preliminary injunction, the Texas Attorney Generals office appealed the decision, and the injunction was vacated by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. Paxton praised the 5th Circuits action to uphold the law, stating in a press release, Texas has a right to protect its children from the detrimental effects of pornographic content. As new technology makes harmful content more accessible than ever, we must make every effort to defend those who are most vulnerable. The plaintiffs approached the Supreme Court in April 2024, requesting intervention, and in October, the High Court announced it would hear the case during its January term. The Supreme Court is scheduled to examine the case on January 15. Home News Australia set to ban social media for minors under 16, the worlds strictest regulations Australia has passed legislation to ban children under 16 from using social media, a move that will enforce the worlds strictest regulations on platform usage by minors. The ban, which will not come into effect for at least 12 months, allows for penalties of up to A$50 million ($32.5 million) for tech companies that fail to comply. Minister Anthony Albanese has described the new law as essential for protecting young people from the "harms" of social media, a concern echoed by numerous parent groups. "This is a global problem, and we want young Australians essentially to have a childhood," Albanese said when introducing the bill in the lower house. "We want parents to have peace of mind." Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The law sets the highest age restriction globally for social media use and notably does not provide exemptions for existing users or parental consent. Critics, however, have raised concerns about how the law will be enforced and its potential effects on privacy and social connectivity. After passing the Senate by a vote of 34 to 19, the bill will return to the House of Representatives for the approval of amendments, where it is expected to pass given the governments majority. The legislation does not specify which platforms will be subject to the ban, leaving that decision to the communications minister, who will consult with the eSafety Commissioner, an internet regulator tasked with enforcing the rules. Platforms focused on gaming or messaging, as well as sites accessible without an account, such as YouTube, are expected to be excluded. The government plans to implement age-verification technology to enforce the ban, with trials of various methods to be conducted in the coming months. The responsibility for adopting and managing these verification processes will fall on the social media platforms. Digital researchers have expressed doubts about the reliability of these technologies, which may rely on biometrics or identity verification, and have called for assurances regarding privacy protections. Concerns have also been raised about the ease with which the restrictions could be circumvented using tools like virtual private networks (VPNs), which can mask users locations. Importantly, children found bypassing the rules will not face any penalties under the law. Polling, though limited, suggests widespread support for the measures among Australian parents and caregivers. Amy Friedlander, a parent advocate, expressed relief at the legislation, saying, For too long parents have had this impossible choice between giving in and getting their child an addictive device or seeing their child isolated and feeling left out. Weve been trapped in a norm that no one wants to be a part of. Despite such support, experts have described the ban as "too blunt an instrument" to address the complexities of social media risks and warned that it could inadvertently drive children toward less regulated corners of the internet. During the brief consultation period before the bills passage, companies like Google and Snap criticized the law for its vagueness, while Meta argued that it would be "ineffective" in achieving its stated aim of enhancing child safety. TikTok expressed concerns that the broad and ambiguous definition of a social media platform could encompass nearly all online services. X (formerly Twitter) questioned the bills legality, suggesting it might conflict with international regulations and human rights treaties signed by Australia. Meanwhile, youth advocates accused the government of sidelining their voices in the debate. We understand we are vulnerable to the risks and negative impacts of social media. But we need to be involved in developing solutions, wrote the eSafety Youth Council, which advises the regulator. Albanese has acknowledged the complexity of regulating digital platforms but firmly defended the legislation. "We all know technology moves fast, and some people will try to find ways around these new laws, but that is not a reason to ignore the responsibility that we have," he said. International precedents highlight the challenges Australia may face. France introduced a law requiring parental consent for children under 15 to use social media, though research shows nearly half of users circumvented the ban with VPNs. In the United States, a similar law in Utah was struck down as unconstitutional by a federal judge. Global leaders are closely watching Australias approach. Norway has already announced plans to adopt similar restrictions, and the U.K.s technology secretary recently suggested that a comparable ban was on the table, though he clarified it was not under immediate consideration. Australias success in implementing these laws could set a precedent for how nations tackle the complex intersection of youth safety, privacy, and technology regulation. This article was originally published by Christian Daily International. Home News Brazil's Supreme Court allows crucifixes, religious symbols in public buildings Brazil's Supreme Federal Court has unanimously ruled to allow the presence of religious symbols in public buildings, affirming that their display does not conflict with the country's secular principles. All 11 justices held that symbols such as crucifixes are permissible as reflections of Brazil's cultural history and tradition, reported the legal advocacy group ADF International, which filed a legal brief cited in the court's reasoning. "The presence of religious symbols in public buildings whether at the federal, state, district, or municipal level when intended to reflect the cultural tradition of Brazilian society, does not violate the principles of non-discrimination, state secularism, or impartiality," wrote Justice Cristiano Zanin in the ruling, according to an English translation provided by The Brazilian Report. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Justice Alexandre de Moraes said symbols in public spaces are acceptable, provided they remain consistent with the intention of manifesting the historical, cultural and traditional aspects of the majority-Catholic Brazilian society. The case dates back to 2009, and the ruling comes in response to a complaint filed by a Brazilian citizen who argued that the presence of religious symbols in public spaces caused him emotional distress. The Federal Public Ministry, Brazil's Public Prosecutor's Office, had supported the plaintiff by seeking the removal of all religious symbols from federal and state buildings, claiming that their presence violated the principle of non-discrimination and compromised the religious freedom of all Brazilian citizens. However, the lawsuit was dismissed by both the trial and appeals courts and a subsequent appeal was also rejected. Finally, the case reached the Supreme Court, resulting in this week's decision that rejected the FPM's arguments. The court's ruling is binding for all federal and state public entities in Brazil, ADF International said. Tomas Henriquez, director of advocacy for Latin America & the Caribbean for ADF International, called the ruling "a resounding victory for religious freedom in Brazil." Henriquez contends that the argument of "hurt emotions" was insufficient to justify banning religious symbols. ADF International's brief stressed that the principle of state neutrality should not equate to hostility towards Christianity and highlighted the relevance of recognizing the historical, cultural and social significance of Christianity in Brazil. The case drew parallels to a prominent European case. In 2011, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights made a similar ruling in Lautsi v. Italy, where it upheld Italy's right to display crosses in classrooms, concluding that such symbols were not incompatible with the Convention's principles. ADF International also participated in that European case, providing legal expertise on behalf of European Parliament members. In the United States, Louisiana was blocked by a lower court ruling that prohibited the enforcement of a new law passed this year requiring the placement of Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms. Last week, a federal appeals court limited the scope of that ruling, requiring schools in which there is no challenge to the mandate to place Ten Commandments next year. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in 1980 that Kentucky could not mandate that public schools display the Ten Commandments because it violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Home News Human trafficking survivor reveals how she escaped abuse and manipulation NEW YORK Moments after human trafficking survivor Chereese Smith began telling her story inside a conference room at the Omni Berkshire Place Hotel in Midtown, Manhattan, on Monday morning, the audience hushed. It was the first time that the 32-year-old, who now works for global anti-human trafficking organization A21, would reveal her real name to the public. "As a survivor, my story isn't simple or easy to tell," Smith began. "When I first shared my story, I went by a different name. At that time, I wasn't ready to fully reveal my identity. I was still fresh out of being trafficked. I was dealing with trauma and uncertainty of what it meant to reclaim my life. But today, I stand before you using my real name, ready to embrace my journey and the strength that comes with it." Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe At this point in her journey, Smith is fully revealing her identity to help boost the launch of A21's "Can You See Me?" national awareness campaign to help the general public recognize indicators of human trafficking, and report suspected scenarios ahead of the peak holiday travel season. The campaign features vivid advertisements on Times Square billboards, transportation hubs and digital platforms, urging citizens to take action through national hotlines. Human trafficking or trafficking in persons, according to federal authorities, "is a crime in which traffickers use force, fraud, or coercion to compel individuals to provide labor or services, including commercial sex." To help get their message out about their campaign against the crime nationally, A21 is collaborating with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations New York, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, advertising firms LAMAR and Outfront Media, Amtrak, and Omni Hotels. The organization is amplifying voices like Smith's to drive their message home. "I endured years of trauma, abuse, and manipulation, but today, I'm not here to focus on just the darkness. I want to share with you what it took to get out of and why is it so important that we all work together to stop this from happening to anyone else," said Smith. "It is all about responsibility to raise awareness, overcome misconception and ensure people can recognize the signs of human trafficking." Smith says she was lured into trafficking by a family friend who offered her "a chance to hang out" when she was just a teenager. "Little did I know that choice would change my life. While I was spending the time with him, one day, I met another girl who was already involved in [that] life, also known as sex trafficking. She pulled me inside and asked me if I wanted to party and make some money. At that moment, I was unaware of the dangerous path I was about to step onto, thinking it would be an exciting opportunity instead of a descending into a nightmarish reality," she recalled. "I was quickly taken to the track in the Bronx and, days later, taken to New Jersey," she said. Soon, she would find herself with no money and no way to return home. She would meet another girl who told her she could help but only put her in the clutches of a new trafficker who physically abused her. "After lunch one day, I woke up to one of the girls . engaged in a conversation with our trafficker that lasted about 20 minutes. Later, I heard a knock on the door. When I looked through the peephole, I saw it was my trafficker and his cousin. When I opened the door, I was brutally beaten, and the result was that my jaw was broken in multiple places," she revealed. "I was beaten because my trafficker's cousin deceived him, claiming that I had expressed feelings for him, that I had shown interest. In reality, I had been sexually assaulted but hadn't informed my trafficker. Instead of telling the truth, the cousin lied about what had happened after things got even worse," Smith explained. "I was exploited and mistreated, consistently told that I had to earn thousands of dollars before I could leave." It wasn't before another year of "violence, isolation and manipulation" that Smith said she was able to convince her trafficker to attend a "follow-up appointment" alone and she went home to her mother. The escape, however, didn't last long. "I was terrified that they would come to our house and harm my family as they had my personal information, including my state ID, social security card and birth certificate. To protect my family, I returned to the streets, hoping that by putting myself in danger, I could keep them safe from potential threats," Smith admitted. She soon became a victim to a third trafficker who she said controlled every aspect of her life. "They didn't just take my body; they took my mind. They controlled everywhere I went, who I talked to, what I had to say and how I felt about myself. They took away my dignity and made me believe that I had nothing else to offer except what they were forcing me to do," she said. Smith said she finally had enough one night after she was drugged and then physically and sexually abused. She reached out to a female detective for help who she had met after she escaped from her first trafficker. "While my trafficker was asleep, I sent Detective Rose a picture, a piece of mail that I had my address on it. The police organized a raid, and that was when I began reclaiming my life," she said. It has been a difficult journey for Smith, who says her emotional and psychological wounds took years to heal. "While the physical trauma was undeniable. It was the emotional manipulation and the persistent feeling of being trapped that haunted me the most. Today, I stand here as a survivor, but many others are still trapped in a horrific cycle, often without realizing they are victims too," Smith explained. "Human trafficking is not an abstract problem. It happens in our cities, and it affects people you might know. It's crucial to understand that trafficking is a crime of exploitation and control, and it's about manipulation. Victims often face judgment as prostitutes, but most did not choose this life," she said. "They were deceived and forced. We must acknowledge their humanity and support their recovery." Because trafficking tends to happen locally in familiar settings, Smith says it is easy for people to miss the signs that someone is being trafficked. "I've experienced the system firsthand and witness how easy people can overlook the signs. Law enforcement, for an example, can glance at a situation as merely a domestic dispute, but often, it runs much deeper than that. When I was in the streets, I remember how some officers walked right past me and my trafficker mistakenly believing it was a personal issue," she said. "They didn't understand that I was being trafficked and that I wasn't there by choice. If law enforcement will take the time to listen and dig deeper, that's when they can uncover the truth." Others, like transportation workers, healthcare professionals, hotel employees and even everyday commuters, can help prevent human trafficking by educating themselves about the scourge. "The ripple effect of awareness is huge. The more people know about human trafficking, the more people who can identify it, the more we can gather data, change policies and save lives. And that's what it's all about, changing lives, helping people rebuild and keeping others from falling into this trap," Smith, who celebrated a birthday on Monday, said. "Don't wait until there's somebody you know. Stand up, get involved and be part of the change." Home News Ministry gifts millions of kids the Gospel, teaches true meaning of Christmas to combat rising secularism Amid concerns that younger generations are falling away from religion, an interdenominational group is delivering the gift of the Gospel to millions of children across the globe this Christmas season and filling their hearts with the love of Jesus. The Child Evangelism Fellowship expects to help deliver the Gospel to over 12 million children through its Christmas Party Club campaign this holiday season and is inviting churches and community leads to sign up to host a Christmas Party Club and share the Gospel with children. Founded in 1937, the ministry equips fellow Christians to minister to children and form them into disciples of Christ. Studies suggest that younger generations are less religious and less likely to attend church than previous generations. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe "The truth of the Bible is still applicable today no matter what is happening in the world around us," CEF Acting Vice President of Administration Fred Pry told The Christian Post. "That's why we believe in the importance of sharing Christmas Party Clubs and the true meaning of Christmas." For this year, CEF's goal is to train 348,000 volunteers and conduct 367,000 Christmas Party Clubs to teach 12.6 million children about the Gospel and the true meaning of the holiday. The clubs start in November, leading up to Christmas. Sometimes, they extend into January. CEF provides many club activities, including songs, Scripture memory and review games as well as Bible lessons. One lesson, the "Light of Life" teaches children how God used light to announce the birth of His son. The lesson also allows children to create their own "Light of Life" cross and share the word of God with their family and friends. "When you talk about a gift and, of course, children associate that with Christmas, and then you explain what the best gift was that they received or could receive, well, now it connects," Pry said. "Their eyes get big, and they understand the reality that God loves them better than anyone could love them, and that's what draws people." Last year, CEF staff and volunteers held 295,000 clubs and delivered the Gospel to 9.1 million children worldwide, growing from 169,000 clubs in 2022, reaching over 6.2 million children. In 2023, the ministry also conducted 12,900 training seminars and trained 277,500 volunteers. According to Pry, the volunteers work within the countries where the Christmas Party Club is held and are trained by CEF workers. The Bible-centered organization has around 3,600 staff members worldwide, many residing at refugee centers in other countries, who walk volunteers through the club materials and demonstrate how to use them. Christmas Party Clubs are held in various countries, Pry said, including ones where Christians are persecuted. The CEF administrator stressed that this is why prayer is a vital component of the organization's mission. "We often say, in fact, it's one of our value points at CEF; it's not the meetings we hold or the decisions we make that bring the strongest results to our ministry," Pry said. "It's the time spent before the throne of God in prayer, and that's how we move forward." "In these countries that are dangerous for Christians, we pray," he added. "We pray a lot." He cited this as one of the reasons why CEF holds the 50 Days of Prayer, a worldwide effort that started on the first of November. At the time of the interview, Pry said that over 400 people worldwide had signed up to join CEF in 50 Days of Prayer. While the numbers related to the Christmas Party Club are still coming in, the ministry leader confirmed CEF has already begun teaching children. Pry expressed gratitude toward the individual donors who believe in CEF's mission, noting that providing free materials like this worldwide typically costs the organization over $1 million. Last year, one donor gave more than $500,000 to support CEF's work. "When we look at our world today, there's a lot of people, you know, that do good things that are helping people, that are helping children, providing food and clothing, but when you think about a person's eternal destiny, what value do you put on that?" Pry asked. "That's what this donor recognized, and many people like that donor recognize," he added. "The value of a life spent for eternity is invaluable, and they are willing to support that." Home News A month in chains: Nigerian priest abducted, forced to march barefoot forgives attackers WASHINGTON A Nigerian priest abducted by armed insurgents, forced to march barefoot for days and left chained up for over a month before his release is opening up about his road to healing as he seeks to help others who have suffered similar trauma. During a Religious Freedom Roundtable discussion on Tuesday, Fr. Stephen Ojapah, author of Tears and Torture: 33 Days in Kidnappers Den, recalled the night of his abduction in May 2022. On that night, Ojapah and four others, including Fr. Oliver Oparah, sought refuge at a parish in Nigerias Katsina state. The insurgents who stormed the parish, thought to be a jihadist group that had split from Boko Haram, rounded everyone up, but they could not identify which one was the priest. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe "I said, 'I am the priest,'" Ojapah recounted during the roundtable discussion. "So I begged them, 'Please, I know you have come for me. Release the other three and go with me.'" Despite the priest's attempt to protect his flock, the insurgents abducted Ojapah's companions and forced the captives on a march that lasted two days. Ojapah's kidnappers didn't allow him to put on shoes before they took him from the parish, so his feet were bleeding, and he struggled to stand throughout the journey. After he noticed that the gunmen were smoking marijuana, which appeared to give them energy, the priest asked if he could have some. The insurgents gave Ojapah an energy enhancer instead, but since the priest did not have any food or water, the drug only made him weaker. Two of the priest's companions helped him keep moving by carrying him. Eventually, the kidnappers forced their captives onto bikes to take them the rest of the way. Once they arrived at their destination, Ojapah said the captors began to beat and flog the group. "When they finished flogging, they tied our legs with chains and kept us on the floor," the former captive recalled. "Rain fell on us, and the sun will shine on your head. And we remained in that situation for the next 33 days." At some point, Ojapah and the others started to smell like toilets. According to the kidnapped priest, "the dirt became part of [them]," an experience that Ojapah noted was "humiliating." After spending over 30 days in captivity, the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto paid what amounts to more than $30,000 in exchange for their freedom. The priest remembered that before his release, one of his captors asked him, "'Father, will you still forgive us after all we have done to you?'" "Well, as a Christian and as a priest, I knew that I'm better off forgiving them," Ojapah told event attendees. "So, I told them to their faces, I said, 'Yes, truly I forgive you.'" "And I meant it," he added. "And I still mean it because that actually helped me to begin to process my own healing and to become better, to be able to even contribute to humanity and to life." Following his release, the priest started a project called the Trauma Victims Initiative, which seeks to support Nigerians who also faced a kidnapping experience. The initiative invites trauma victims to go through counseling sessions and share their stories. Ojapah published his memoir in September about his healing from the trauma of the kidnapping experience. He said it offers a "vivid account of what victims of kidnapping go through in Nigeria, and the trauma many are living with daily." In addition to uplifting trauma victims, Ojapah said helping Nigeria also requires regional collaboration and continued humanitarian aid, which it receives from various Christian organizations in the West. Noting that Nigeria is comprised of Christians and Muslims, the priest called for a society where members of both religions have equal rights and opportunities. He also called for humanitarian aid to support the victims traumatized by terrorism in their country. The Catholic priest also highlighted various countries, including Chad and Niger. According to Ojapah, Nigeria cannot engage in the "battle" alone, and radical ideologies practiced by groups like Boko Haram must be fought as a region. "I'm still very hopeful," Ojapah said. "I'm very hopeful that it is possible for Nigeria to grow from her ashes. And I realize that when all of the chips are down in life, all we have is God." "God uses humanity for good." As various religious freedom organizations have noted, Nigeria is one of the most dangerous parts of the world to be a practicing Christian. Followers of Christ are subjected to violent persecution not only from radical Islamic groups like Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen but from their Muslim neighbors as well. Home News Texas AG sues church homeless ministry, says it endangers elementary school Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a complaint against a church-affiliated homeless ministry, alleging it creates a dangerous environment for a neighborhood that houses an elementary school. Paxton filed a lawsuit in the District Court of Travis County against the Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center of Austin in response to complaints from several local residents, school staff and the parents of students enrolled at Joslin Elementary School. "In South Austin, a once peaceful neighborhood has been transformed by homeless drug addicts, convicted criminals, and registered sex offenders," stated the complaint. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe "These people do drugs in sight of children, publicly fornicate next to an elementary school, menace residents with machetes, urinate and defecate on public grounds, and generally terrorize the surrounding community." The Sunrise facility has become a "magnet" for "rampant crimes" in the area committed by homeless individuals, including near the local elementary school, the complaint alleges. The attorney general's office found that in the past several years, people who received services from Sunrise "have repeatedly broken into the school or otherwise forced the school to enter into 'lockdown' due to violent behavior." According to Paxton's office, the city of Austin has contributed more than $1 million taxpayer dollars to Sunrise. The complaint is seeking injunctive relief from the court to stop Sunrise from operating, believing that the nonprofit is enabling various disorderly conduct in the neighborhood. "Drug activity and criminal behavior facilitated by this organization have hijacked an entire neighborhood," said Paxton in a statement released Tuesday. "By operating a taxpayer-funded drug paraphernalia giveaway next to an elementary school, this organization is threatening students' health and safety and unjustly worsening daily life for every single resident of the neighborhood. We will shut this unlawful nuisance behavior down." Mark Hilbelink, executive director of Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center, said in a statement that the ministry will continue despite the legal pressure. "It is regrettable that the Attorney General Paxton took this route, especially during the week of Thanksgiving, but Sunrise intends to keep offering services to people in our community who need them," said Hilbelink. "We are committed to being a good neighbor. We will continue to work, every day, to support Joslin Elementary School, our neighborhood, and our entire community." The nonprofit is a ministry of Sunrise Community Church, which calls itself the "Weirdest Little Church in Texas." The congregation is part of the Reformed Church in America and City Classis. According to its website, the facility is "the largest provider of homeless services in Travis County" and has operated since 2015. It provides "housing for people experiencing homelessness through low-barrier access to wraparound services by providing innovative, trauma-informed, and person-centered programming that engages our communities and leads system-wide transformation." "We originate from the Christian faith and believe that our community is best served when diversity and inclusion are embedded in everything we do," states the Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center website. "We create an environment that brings together unique perspectives, removes obstacles for marginalized populations most disproportionately harmed by homelessness to attain their personal goals, and actively work towards dismantling the systems that perpetuate inequity in our community." Home News UK votes to legalize assisted suicide; final approval of bill pending United Kingdom lawmakers have passed a bill that, if finalized, will legalize assisted suicide in England and Wales under strict circumstances. The House of Commons passed a bill by a vote of 330 votes in favor to 275 against. The legislation will next go to committee review before it can be enacted. The bill allows for medical assistance in dying for any person at least 18 years of age who has fewer than six months to live. The request for assisted suicide also must be approved by a high court judge and two doctors. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The proposal was divisive among the government, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer supported it while Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Health Secretary Wes Streeting voted against it. Esther Rantzen, a notable supporter of the bill who is terminally ill with lung cancer, believes that the legislation offers everyone "equal choice" regarding how they end their life. "Those who don't want an assisted death and don't want to take part in providing assisted dying can opt out of it, don't have to do it, don't choose to end their lives that way," Rantzen told The Guardian. "So it offers everyone equal choice, whatever their religion." Kit Malthouse, a Conservative Party member and supporter of the bill, argued that the legislation was compassionate by allowing people to avoid pain near the end of their lives. "The deathbed for far too many is a place of misery, torture and degradation, a reign of blood and vomit and tears," said Malthouse, as quoted by The New York Times. "I see no compassion and beauty in that: only profound human suffering." Nigel Farage, a member of Parliament known for his past championing of Brexit, was among those who voted against the legislation, fearing that it will inevitably be broadened. "I voted against the assisted dying bill, not out of a lack of compassion but because I fear that the law will widen in scope. If that happens, the right to die may become the obligation to die," Farage, leader of Reform UK, tweeted. In recent years, there has been much debate over the thorny ethical issue amid efforts to legalize assisted suicide under certain circumstances. In 2022, the Church of England General Synod passed a motion by a vote of 289 in favor, 25 against and 33 abstentions to denounce assisted suicide and call on the government to consider alternative approaches, like improve palliative care. Among advocates for assisted suicide is former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey, who has challenged the Church of England's stance, saying the issue is "profoundly Christian." Opponents of assisted suicide fear that laws could be manipulated by family members or others to pressure vulnerable individuals to opt for assisted suicide. A recent survey of over 5,000 British adults carried out by Focaldata on behalf of the Care Not Killing coalition found that a majority (59%) believe it is "impossible to create safeguards that would always prevent people from being coerced into assisted dying." About 24% disagreed with that assessment. The survey also found general confusion among the public about what "assisted dying" means, with around half (52%) believing it involved "life-prolonging treatment." Home Opinion Trump will never be the moral savior of America What are the cultural implications of Donald Trumps decisive presidential victory? On the one hand, he incurred the ire of the pro-life movement by distancing himself from historic pro-life stances, gutting the GOP platform in the process. (He gutted the platform in terms of pro-life issues as well as marriage and family issues.) On the other hand, his victory signaled the large-scale rejection of radical leftist policies, to the point that major, leftist media outlets have been scrambling to move closer to the center. How should followers of Jesus assess all this? On a certain level, things just got a lot simpler. Thats because it will become increasingly difficult for the Church to look to Trump to lead the way on key moral and cultural issues. To be sure, he has chosen his battles carefully, highlighting the destructive extremes of radical transgender activism while distancing himself from Project 2025. It seems evident that this reflects pragmatism more than (or, at least as much as) conviction. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe More and more Americans are saying No way! to boys sharing locker rooms with girls and to the genital mutilation of minors. At the same time, the vast majority of Americans have no idea what is in Project 2025, other than the Democrats said it was really, really draconian and evil. Trump campaigned against trans-activism while vigorously declaiming any connection to Project 2025. Again, hes a pragmatist, and it worked. But when it came to pro-life issues, his insistence that he would not sign a federal abortion ban into law, along with his adopting a moderate pro-choice position, caused some pro-life activists like Lila Rose to call for a boycott against Trump in 2024 before finally voting for him in the end. Indeed, from the very strong pro-life language in GOP platforms dating back to 1980, the new Trump-mandated version primarily voices opposition to late-term abortion, which is largely rejected by most Americans. And while Trump emphasized that by overturning Roe, the states could decide what policies to enact, there can be no doubt that his language and emphasis changed from 2016 to 2024. Again, this is most likely attributed to political pragmatism, as opposition to abortion has been invigorated since the overturning of Roe. As for issues pertaining to marriage and family, while Trump had said already in 2016 that same-sex marriage was the law of the land, he didnt tamper with the language of the GOP platform in 2016 or 2020. Yet this year, the changes were so dramatic that a Newsweek editorial by Brad Polumbo opined, Trump's New GOP Platform Is a Massive Win for LGBT Americans. The older platform stated, Traditional marriage and family, based on marriage between one man and one woman, is the foundation for a free society and has for millennia been entrusted with rearing children and instilling cultural values. We condemn the Supreme Courts ruling in United States v. Windsor, which wrongly removed the ability of Congress to define marriage policy in federal law. That language totally disappeared from the 2024 platform. The shift was seismic. So I ask once again, How should followers of Jesus assess all this? Its really quite simple. Trump never was and never will be the moral savior of America. As for the GOP, it is not Gods party, championing righteousness and purity in the land. Hardly. But this is not necessarily bad news, since, as I have stated endlessly over the years, politics cannot do what only the Gospel can do. And while there are highly moral politicians, and while I still prefer GOP policies to Democratic policies, we make a terrible, sometimes even fatal mistake when we look to a worldly system to carry out heavenly work. Without a doubt, we can look to the government to help secure our borders. But we cannot expect the government alone to reach struggling (and legal) immigrants with compassion and kindness. And while it would be wonderful if in state after state, pro-life legislation was passed and enacted, that could only happen as the result of a massive spiritual awakening resulting in the radical changing of millions of hearts and minds. Otherwise, how could those laws be widely passed? Its the same with marriage and family values. Regardless of the language of the GOP platform and regardless of the convictions of President Trump, theres not the slightest chance that views towards same-sex marriage could be reversed without an immense cultural and ideological shift. (According to a 2023 poll, while roughly 60% of Americans aged 50 and older think same-sex marriage should be recognized by the law as valid, that number jumps to 89% of 18-29 year-olds.) As for other aspects of Trumps moral example, he is hardly even attempting to present himself as a moral icon. Thats why I say that things have simplified for us as followers of Jesus, in particular, for those of us who voted for Trump. We no longer have to present him as Saint Donald (as some almost did in 2016), the champion of the pro-life movement, a fine upstanding Christian. We can recognize his many weaknesses and appreciate all the good he can do without looking to him to do our job. After all, Jesus didnt say to the President of the United States, You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world (see Matthew 5:13-16). He said that to His disciples. Thats our task and calling. Lets give ourselves to it, by His help and grace, while praying for Gods best for the president. And while we can seize the cultural movement in which so many radical leftist policies and ideas are being exposed, we cannot let secular culture lead the way. Thats our job. Home Opinion What the Bible says (and does not say) about persecution In places like China, India, Nigeria, North Korea and many others around the globe, Christian persecution is on the rise. It comes in many forms, from arrests by police to oppression and shunning by community and family members. There are many examples of Christian persecution in Scripture and throughout history, from persecution of the first disciples to that of believers today in hostile areas and restricted nations. As followers of Christ, we must anchor our understanding in what Gods Word says and, just as important, does not say about persecution. The Bible says Christians should expect persecution Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The Bible speaks directly about the reality of persecution, preparing believers to expect and endure it. In 2 Timothy 3:12, Paul writes, Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Peter echoes this warning in 1 Peter 4:1213, telling believers, Do not be surprised [by fiery trials, but rather] rejoice insofar as you share Christs sufferings. The Bible doesnt provide a way to avoid persecution; instead, it offers peace and courage in the midst of it. In John 16:33, Jesus declares, In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. I recently had the privilege of interviewing a young lady named Hana. November marked the 20th anniversary of her fathers arrest in Eritrea. She was only 6 years old when her father went to prison, and she too was detained when her churchs Sunday school was raided by police. During our interview, I asked her about her thoughts on the Bibles instruction for Christians to love our enemies. Specifically, I wondered how she and her family felt about the Eritrean government that has imprisoned her father for two decades. Hanas reply was illuminating; she said nobody really asked her or her mother about enemies until they came to America. We knew that the government is persecuting us, she said, but at the same time it just felt like a reality of every Christian. Our enemy never felt [like] the government in any sense. It just felt like this is what it means to follow Christ Jesus. The Bible says persecution can strengthen the Church The Bible clearly shows that persecution can advance the Gospel and unify the Church. In Philippians 1:1213, Paul (writing from a Roman prison) shares how his imprisonment has emboldened others to proclaim Christ without fear. I want you to know, brothers, Paul writes, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the Gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. Throughout history, persecution has purified and strengthened the church, fueling its growth even in the most difficult and dangerous places to follow Christ. Consider the underground church in Iran, the fastest-growing Christian community in the world despite or perhaps because of 45 years of oppression by a government doing everything it can to hinder its work. The church in Eritrea is another remarkable example. Pastors there have found ways to witness to others while in prison. The church thrives when its focus is sharpened, and denominational divisions fall away under the weight of shared suffering and purpose. The Bible tells Christians how to respond to persecution The Bible provides clear guidance on how to face persecution. Jesus words in Matthew 5:44 are simple and unambiguous: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. This radical response is both a reflection of Gods love and a powerful testimony to a watching world. The Bible also tells us that Christians who arent currently facing persecution still have a role to play and shows how to hold our Christian brothers and sisters in our hearts and minds: Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies (Hebrews 13:3 NLT). The stories and testimonies of persecuted Christians demonstrate the transformative power of following Christs command and example. An imprisoned pastor in Central Asia saw his treatment improve drastically after he began receiving letters of encouragement from believers worldwide. His guards became kinder and his warden more attentive, all because of the unity and love evident among the global body of Christ. We Christians in free nations must recognize our role in supporting and praying for our persecuted brothers and sisters. The Bible shows that persecution can be a platform for Gods power Even amid our trials and weaknesses, God often works mightily through his people. After a house church pastor was arrested in Iran, his wife was terrified that she might be next. She worried that she wouldnt be able to resist torture and would give up other believers names. She prayed that God would hide her from the religious police. But when they arrested and interrogated her, she became empowered by the Holy Spirit, witnessing boldly to her interrogator. You are an interrogator, she told him, but one day you are going to stand before the ultimate interrogator, Jesus Christ, and he is going to examine you. Without him, there is no hope for you. After three straight days of her bold, spirit-empowered witness, the interrogator visited her filthy jail cell late one night. She feared that he was there to kill her, but instead he placed his faith in Christ and told her how she could witness for Christ more safely. Then, the interrogator released her and her husband. This story highlights a profound truth: God often uses human frailty to show us his strength. As Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 12:9, Gods power is made perfect in weakness. What the Bible does NOT say about persecution The Bible never tells believers to be afraid. This is striking, considering the suffering brought by persecution. Yet Scripture repeatedly emphasizes courage and trust in Gods sovereignty. As Richard Wurmbrand, Romanian pastor and founder of The Voice of the Martyrs, observed, the Bible contains 366 admonitions to fear not one for every day of the year, including an extra for leap years. That number was significant to Wurmbrand because he was arrested on Feb. 29, which occurs only in leap years. Fear is a natural human response, but it does not have to define us. A Filipino pastor once told me, Until God is finished with you, you are invincible. His confidence was not rooted in his own human strength but in Gods purpose and power. Persecution may not be part of your reality today, but the call to be involved remains. Whether through prayer, advocacy or encouragement to believers who are currently facing persecution, every follower of Christ has a role to play. Let us live boldly, trusting that Gods grace and power are sufficient for every trial we face. Home News Daystar President Joni Lamb accuses son Jonathan of attempted blackmail, smear campaign President and co-founder of the Texas-based Daystar Television Network, Joni Lamb, has accused her son, Jonathan Lamb, of attempted blackmail and running a smear campaign in a power struggle for leadership after he alleged she covered up the sexual abuse of his daughter by a family member in the wake of his recent firing. I want to assure you that all the allegations that are circulating against myself, my late husband, and other members of my family are completely false and we have already begun to take legal steps to defend ourselves and will address the accusations in a God-honoring way, Joni Lamb said in a statement Monday about the dispute at the network, which claims to reach 6.85 billion people worldwide and is in 2.3 billion homes. Jonathan Lamb and his wife, Suzy, alleged in a recent interview with The Roys Report that a family member, only identified as Pete, is suspected of sexually abusing their daughter. Pete has denied abusing the child. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe (My client) unequivocally denies the statements made by Jonathan and Suzy Lamb alleging that he engaged in some form of improper contact with any child. [] Anyone who knows (client) knows that these statements are false, insulting and demeaning, Petes attorney, Mark G. Daniel, said in a letter to Julie Roys or The Roys Report. Jonathan and Suzy Lamb allege that in the summer of 2021, they caught Pete alone with their unclothed daughter in a room at a beach house Daystar rented for its annual executive retreat in Miramar Beach, Florida, and confronted him about it. They allege that their daughter later revealed that she was sexually abused. When Suzy Lamb reported this to Joni Lamb, she claimed she was told not to report it to the police. Joni Lamb reportedly asked that her granddaughter be brought to her in a meeting alone, and after that meeting, the child stopped discussing the abuse. I dont know what happened there, Suzy Lamb told TRR, but she was like a lock box. She doesnt remember one thing, Jonathan Lamb said. She doesnt even remember having that conversation. Its like it never happened. The couple said they secretly reported their suspicions of the abuse to police, but the case was closed because their daughter wouldnt talk. The case has reportedly been reopened, but no formal charges have been filed. Jonathan Lamb told Roys that they took their daughter to a counselor in 2023 who reported the suspected abuse to Texas Child Protective Services. The couple says the police investigation was reopened. Despite their concerns, Jonathan and Suzy Lamb claim his late father, Marcus Lamb, who died in November 2021, and mother worked to protect Pete and Daystars image rather than their own granddaughter. In her statement Monday, Joni Lamb stated that her son was fired after a 15-month performance review during which he failed to satisfy a performance improvement plan. He further refused to "participate in a formal mediation to resolve grievances in a biblical and professional manner." Rather than take any steps to improve his performance at Daystar, it seems clear now that Jonathan was focused on fabricating a smear campaign, Joni Lamb asserted in her statement. She claims her son tried to blackmail the network into naming him president of Daystar despite his late fathers directive to both his family and the board that the job would go to her. "We remain willing to put this episode behind us, however, we also require security, transparency, and certainty about our futures at Daystar. To achieve this goal, we would suggest that Joni, Daystar, and ourselves enter into a new contract that clearly spells out my future role as President of Daystar, restricts the ability of Joni (or any other officer or director) from taking actions adverse to our employment without good cause (to be clearly defined), and without prior approval of a majority of the board of directors, Jonathan Lamb reportedly wrote in an email to his mother. In exchange for the agreement contemplated above, we will agree not to use, disseminate or otherwise publish any and all audio recordings that could be harmful or embarrassing to Daystar, Joni or our family." The Christian Post reached out to Jonathan Lamb for comment on his mother's claims. A response is pending. Jonathan Lamb told The Roys Report that his request about becoming the future president of Daystar was in reference to the succession plan laid out by his father, which stated that Jonathan Lamb would become president should Joni Lamb retire or die. According to Roys, Lamb's email was a response to 13 stipulations Daystar provided to the couple if they wanted their positions back. Joni Lamb contends that her son was not happy with her marrying Christian counselor and sex therapist Doug Weiss. His disappointment in not getting his way only deepened when I married Doug Weiss, who has been such a blessing to me, the rest of my family, and Daystar. Jonathans disappointment escalated to the point where he attempted to blackmail his way into becoming the future president of Daystar, Joni Lamb said. I certainly have nothing to hide, nor would I ever submit to threats of blackmail, she added. As a mother and grandmother, this situation saddens me deeply, and it grieves my heart, because I love my family. I love all of my children and grandchildren. I love the work weve done together for so many years. I had hoped we could have resolved this situation in private, but now he has given me no choice except to speak out. Home News TD Jakes files defamation lawsuit against man who accused him of sexual assault A day after suffering "a slight health incident" while preaching on Sunday, Bishop T.D. Jakes of The Potter's House megachurch in Dallas, Texas, filed a defamation lawsuit against former-pastor-turned-registered sex offender Duane Youngblood, who alleged he was sexually assaulted by Jakes when he was a teenager some 40 years ago. "The underlying story in this case depicts a carefully planned effort by a convicted criminal, and those acting in concert with him, to rewrite history in order to deflect blame and accountability for his own reprehensible and criminal conduct and to publicly smear a renowned and eminently respected religious leader in a blatant and explicit attempt to extort him for millions of dollars," lawyers for Jakes wrote in the 20-page lawsuit filed in the Western District Court in Pennsylvania in which they detailed Youngblood's history of abusing minors since at least 2002. Jake's lawyers noted that Youngblood was first arrested on charges of sexual assault and corruption of minors and other charges while he served as a pastor of a church in Homestead. In that case, Youngblood was accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old in 2002 while counseling the boy. The teen sought counseling from Youngblood because a cousin had molested him, according to a police affidavit. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Youngblood, who is on parole under the supervision of Pennsylvania's Department of Parole, was also charged with inappropriately touching two teenage victims while he was counseling them between 2009 and 2011. In one instance, he reportedly engaged the victim on about 25 occasions. "On all occasions, Youngblood has pleaded guilty and admitted to his heinous crimes," the lawsuit notes. Jakes' lawyers noted that despite his background, Youngblood has conspired with others to extort Jakes, and the aim of the renowned pastor's lawsuit is to stop the conspiracy and the pain it is causing Jakes. "This lawsuit is intended to bring that scheme to a halt, to end the extreme emotional, physical, and spiritual toll Defendants' conduct has caused Bishop Jakes, to set the record straight so the world understands the patent falsity of the accusations, and to restore Bishop Jakes's reputation," they note. Jakes, 67, filed the lawsuit against the 58-year-old Youngblood, who claimed in interviews with internet personality Larry Reid on his "Larry Reid Live" show on Oct. 28 and Nov. 3 that Jakes assaulted him when he was about 18 or 19 years old. Youngblood claimed to Reid that he had been talking with Jakes for about two hours at the home of an older adult clergywoman, where he was staying during a local church revival approximately 40 years ago when Jakes tried to kiss him. "After sitting there and having this long discourse with him, I finally looked at my watch, and I'm like, 'Oh my goodness, I got to go. I got to get this car back to my mother. She's gonna kill me.' So I said to bishop, 'I got to get up,'" Youngblood recalled. "And I got up from the table, he got up from the table, he walked around toward the way I had to exit quicker than I got over there, and when I started to walk past him, he pulled me to himself, wrapped his arms around me, and tried to kiss me. And in that moment, I literally died." The morning after the encounter, Youngblood alleges Jakes called his home and intimated that he wanted him to become a local sex partner. "My mother answers the phone, and she says to me, 'Duane, it's Elder Jakes.' Jakes and I get on that phone and when I get on that telephone, I can hear water. He is sitting in a bathtub, and in that thing, he says to me, without any hesitation, 'there's three things I need you to do. The first one is, when I come to Pittsburgh, you're going to be the only person I sleep with. The second one is you can't sleep with anybody else because I don't want to give my wife anything. And thirdly, I will take care of you the rest of your life," Youngblood, who is now a registered sex offender due to his past abuse of minors, claimed during his interview with Reid. Days after making those allegations public, Jakes' attorneys said an attorney representing Youngblood sent a demand letter to Jakes on Nov. 24 demanding $6 million "to 'resolve this matter quickly and privately;' otherwise, Youngblood would bring a lawsuit against Bishop Jakes for sexual assault and harassment." Jakes' lawyers, who noted that the interviews went viral, said Youngblood's allegation caused the megachurch pastor millions of dollars in reputational harm and hurt his physical health. "Youngblood's lies have put in jeopardy the critical philanthropic missions Bishop Jakes spearheads and has likely impaired significantly the benefits that the recipients of such efforts receive. And Youngblood's intentional and malicious lies have taken a substantial emotional and physical toll on Bishop Jakes," the lawsuit alleges. "On November 24 the day before he filed this action Bishop Jakes suffered a medical crisis on stage in the middle of his Sunday service in front of his entire church." The legal filing further noted that, despite his claims, Youngblood is not a victim. "Bishop Jakes believes with all his heart that actual victims of sexual abuse should be treated with the utmost respect, kindness, empathy, and sympathy and that true perpetrators of such abuse should be held accountable for their actions. But that is not the case here," the lawsuit reads. "Youngblood has used and abused the might of social media and the legal process to revictimize those he preyed on and harmed and to make knowingly false accusations for his own personal and financial gain. Men like Youngblood must be held accountable for their abuse of the system and for setting back those with legitimate and real allegations of sexual abuse." Asked about Jakes' lawsuit Wednesday, Youngblood's attorney, Tyrone A. Blackburn, quoted Matthew 7:15-16. "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves," he wrote in a statement to The Christian Post. "You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? T.D. Jakes chickens have finally come home to roost. Stay tuned." (Photo: Getty/iStock) Christians are being urged to keep on praying after MPs voted in the House of Commons to legalise assisted suicide in England and Wales. MPs voted 330 in favour of Kim Leadbeater's Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, to 275 against. Those voting in favour included Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The bill will now be scrutinised in the coming months and subject to further votes before potentially becoming law. The Church of England's lead bishop for healthcare, Dame Sarah Mullally, who had joined other faith leaders in warning against legalising assisted suicide, said that safeguarding the vulnerable "must now be our priority". "I have been deeply moved watching proceedings unfold in the House of Commons today. My prayers are with all those who have been affected, who have shared and heard their stories, and facilitated this debate," she said. "The Church of England believes that the compassionate response at the end of life lies in the provision of high quality palliative care services to all who need them. "Today's vote still leaves the question of how this could be implemented in an overstretched and under-funded NHS, social care and legal system. "In the wake of the decision MPs have made, safeguarding the most vulnerable must now be our priority in the Parliamentary process to come." The Christian Institute said it was "deeply disappointed" by the vote and called the bill "dangerous and divisive". "We are grateful to the many MPs who spoke and voted against it, and the fight is not over," he said. "We know that the more people know about assisted suicide the less they like it. Those MPs who supported the principle of the bill but have concerns about its practical implications must now take the time to scrutinise it properly. "They will find the promised safeguards are nothing more than a mirage. They will then have a further opportunity to vote against the bill before it clears the Commons. If it does go to the House of Lords, it is by no means guaranteed to pass there. "We urge Christians to keep on praying and to be ready to approach their MPs again over the coming months. This is a life and death issue. Now is not the time to give up." Christian MP Tim Farron was among those who spoke out against the bill during Friday's five-hour debate in the Commons. He had urged MPs to vote against it to protect vulnerable people from coercion, and said that the priority should instead be greater investment in quality palliative care. "I believe that freedom is essential, that the right of the individual underpin a decent society, but that my right must be held in check if they nullify your rights," he said. "Since we know - and we really do know - that to legalise assisted dying is to permit people to die who will self-coerce, to permit people to die as a consequence of manipulative coercive control, to permit people to die outrageously not because of a real sovereign choice but because of a heartbreaking Hobson's choice due to inadequate palliative care, then I have no right to impose that ultimate and most appalling constraint on the freedom of the most vulnerable people in our society. "So I urge all of us to stand in defence of those most vulnerable people, to defiantly defend their liberty, to make a renewed commitment to world-class palliative care and to human dignity, and to reject this bill." Dr Gordon Macdonald, chief executive of Care Not Killing, shared in the disappointment over the outcome. He said that legalising assisted suicide was a "dangerous and ideological" move "that will make many elderly, terminally ill and disabled people feel like a burden and end their lives prematurely, exactly as we see in the US state of Oregon, the model for this draft bill". Dr Macdonald concluded: "Our current laws protect vulnerable people and do not need changing, instead we need to focus our attention on how to ensure we provide the very best palliative care to those who need it." Right to Life said it would be redoubling its efforts to stop the bill from becoming law. Spokesperson for Right To Life UK, Catherine Robinson, said: "This is just the first stage of a long journey through the Commons and then the Lords for this dangerous assisted suicide Bill. We are now going to redouble our efforts to ensure we fight this bill at every stage and ensure that it is defeated to protect the most vulnerable. "A very large number of MPs spoke out against this extreme proposal in Parliament today. They made it clear that this dangerous and extreme change to our laws would put the vulnerable at risk and see the ending of many lives through assisted suicide. "Serious concerns remain about how this legislation would operate in practice, and the strong response from MPs across all parties shows these issues won't simply disappear. "The Government must now provide a detailed impact assessment, outlining how this Bill would affect the NHS and our judicial system. MPs deserve full clarity on its real-world consequences before they are asked to vote again. "This Bill can and must be defeated in Parliament. It still has a long way to go and presents an acute threat to vulnerable people, especially in the context of an overstretched healthcare system. Even members of the Prime Minister's own cabinet recognise this problem and that, within this environment, certain people will likely be particularly vulnerable to coercion." (Photo: Getty/iStock) Protesters have gathered outside Parliament to make their opposition to assisted suicide known as MPs debate Kim Leadbeater's bill proposing a change to the law. The Labour MP's private member's bill outlines plans to legalise assisted suicide for terminally ill people if they have the mental capacity to make the decision for themselves and the consent of two doctors and a High Court judge. Supporters claim it will give people dignity at the end of their life but opponents say it will put vulnerable people at risk of coercion. Critics also fear that promised safeguards are unlikely to hold for long before the criteria is widened to include non-terminal conditions, as has happened in countries where it is already legal like Canada, the Netherlands and Belgium. Christian Concern and Distant Voices have organised a protest outside Parliament as MPs debate the bill on Friday. Andrea Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern and a non-practising barrister, is sceptical of supposed protection measures in the bill. "This bill contains no meaningful safeguards that would hold up in real life. They seem to be designed to give the appearance of rigour, but to fail in practice and immediately be jettisoned," she said. "Requiring a judge to approve a request for assisted suicide is unworkable in practice. The thousands of cases flooding into the legal system would render any serious attempt at oversight impractical. "It is deeply shocking that this bill specifically allows doctors to raise the option of assisted suicide with vulnerable patients at their sole discretion. Doctors should not be allowed to suggest suicide to any patient. "As we have seen around the world where assisted suicide is available, people are made to feel like a burden and numbers skyrocket. Death is offered as if it is a treatment option and in time, pressures on NHS funding would inevitably mean that the choice to live is taken away from those who want it. "A caring and compassionate society would never offer to facilitate suicide. That is the very opposite of caring and compassionate. "Vulnerable people should not be offered suicide as an option." Nikki Kenward, of Distant Voices, who was left locked in her own body by Guillain-Barre Syndrome, believes she would have opted for assisted suicide if it had been available at the time of her diagnosis but is now glad that she lived to experience precious milestones with her family, like seeing her son grow up and get married. "If you'd asked me then, I would have said I'd rather not live," she said. "Just one of my eyes would open and I think if my family had been asked by the hospital they'd have opted to end my life. I hadn't seen my son for months and the thought of him being without me broke my heart more than what was happening to me." She added, "I believe that suicide is not the answer, the answer is to be cared for with absolutely brilliant, palliative care." Ross Hendry, head of Christian advocacy group CARE, is urging MPs to vote against the proposals. He called them "morally wrong and practically dangerous", and said that the evidence from other countries showed that safeguards "don't work". "This practice fundamentally alters the value societies ascribe to human life. Assisted suicide creates a two-tier society where some lives are seen as not worth living and afforded less protection. Rather than stepping into the business of ending life, the government should seek to bolster existing, life-affirming support for dying people," he said. "The evidence of how 'assisted dying' laws work in other countries should be troubling to all of us, whatever our principled position on this matter. Assisted deaths are often not the painless and peaceful deaths campaigners present them as. They are medically dangerous and known to cause trauma to patients, their loved ones, and doctors. "It's also clear that 'safeguards' don't work. No number of safeguards can remove the threat of patient coercion. Citizens choosing assisted suicide would do so because they feel like a burden or lack support. Deaths under a UK law would be driven by citizens' experiences of poverty, healthcare inequality, social isolation, and other factors. "At present, our society seeks to prevent every suicide and offer compassionate, life-affirming support to people who are struggling. We believe this is the right approach, and the one that best guarantees the protection of vulnerable groups. We'd ask parliamentarians to uphold it now, and in the years ahead." Previous years of Express Entry draws can help us make reasonable estimates of how many Invitations to Apply (ITAs) we might expect to see issued for the remainder of 2024. Should the number of ITAs issued in the remainder of 2024, relative to the landing target for 2025, be the same as it was on average for years 2021 to 2023, we might expect IRCC to issue about 3,522 ITAs through Express Entry in December. That said, this number is only a reasonable estimate given the truth of the assumptions abovethe actual number of ITAs issued in December may be significantly higher or lower than this estimate. In the rest of this article, well explain how we arrived at this estimate, and will also discuss some reasonable expectations of who may receive these invitations. Get a Free Express Entry Assessment How can we guess how many more ITAs IRCC will issue this year? IRCC issues ITAs with the intention of meeting a specific target for landingswhen a foreign national first arrives in Canada as a new permanent resident, or when a temporary resident already in Canada receives permanent residency. There are two things to keep in mind here: Not every ITA will result in a landing (some ITAs will be returned); and Landings will lag ITAs significantly, on account of processing times. IRCCs landings target is set out in the annual Immigration Levels Plan. The Immigration Plan details admissions, not ITAs. An admission, or landing, is defined as the final interview with an immigration officer, either at a port of entry or a local office in Canada, during which an applicant signs their confirmation of permanent residence (COPR) and becomes a permanent resident. This process can be done electronically as well but always involves the approved immigrant arriving in Canada to accept their PR status. Although it might seem easy enough to simply compare annual immigration targets to ITAs issued in a year to deduce the number of remaining ITAs, doing so would not take into account the lag between ITAs and landings due to IRCC processing times, as well as the logistics of moving from ones home country to Canada. Per a newly released IRCC memorandum from July of 2024 to the Deputy and Associate Deputy Ministers of Immigration, due to the lag between ITA (Invitation to Apply) and to admission(s) (between six to 16 months...), most ITAs issued between now [July 2024] and December (and up to the end of February 2025, for the most part) will count towards 2025 permanent residence targets. Therefore, a more robust method to derive the number of remaining ITAs in a given year may be to look at the number of ITAs delivered between July to December, relative to the following years Immigration Levels Plan target. Assuming that IRCC will keep ITA issuances at consistent proportions to previous (non-COVID) years, the department issues a number of ITAs equal to between 43-46% of the following years landing target, between July 1 to December 31 of the current year. Outside of COVID years, this percentage has remained consistent: Year ITAs issued between July to December of the previous year Annual landing target through Federal High-Skilled pathways ITAs issued as a percentage of the years landings target 2018 34,738 74,900 46.38% 2019 50,100 81,400 61.55% 2022 25,509 55,900 45.63% 2023 35,750 82,800 43.18% 2024 50,718 110,770 45.79% After removing the proportion of ITAs relative to landings in 2019 as an outlier, we can average out the remaining proportions to build a general idea of how IRCC manages the issuances of ITAs. The average number of ITAs issued between July to December in a year, expressed as a proportion of next years landings target is 45.245%. How many more ITAs could we see in December? For 2025, IRCC has set an immigration target of 124,680 new newcomers through the Express Entry system. Between July to November of this year, the department issued 52,888 ITAs through the Express Entry system. This is equal to 42.42% of next years landings target. If we assume that the proportion of ITAs issued this year relative to next years landings target will align with the average of the non-outlier previous five years, we might expect that IRCC will issue a number of ITAs equivalent to 2.825% of its admissions target for 2025, in December of this year. This equates to 3,522 more ITAs delivered to candidates in the Express Entry pool over the remainder of 2024. This estimate is only a reasonable expectation should the above assumptions hold true. There is no certainty that what IRCC does this year will line up with what it has done in previous years. The department could issue far fewer or far more ITAs, as it sees fit. The forecast also does not consider several factors that we do not have visibility into, but IRCC likely does (for example the average rate of ITA refusal, or variable processing times for PR applications). Who is likely to get these ITAs? IRCCs Immigration Levels Plan can also shed some light as to which kinds of candidates in the Express Entry pool are likely to receive these ITAs. The 2025-2027 Levels Plan split the Federal High-Skilled allocation (under which Express Entry falls) into two separate categories that will be handled through the federal system: Federal Economic Priorities and In-Canada Focus. These two categories cumulatively make up the totality of landings/targets through the Express Entry system in 2025. The Federal Economic Priorities" category (allocated 41,700 admissions) will encompass category-based selections for candidates who have professional skills and experience in in-demand sectors of the Canadian economyas well as those with strong French language proficiency. In 2025 eligible categories will include: Healthcare occupations; Trade occupations; and French-language proficiency. Targets for Francophone immigrants outside Quebec are also set to increase, from 8.5% of all admissions in 2025 to 10% in 2027. The In-Canada Focus category (allocated 82,980 admissions) will invite candidates who are already in Canada, in a bid to meet the targeted immigration levels, without further adding to the countrys population. Research also shows that these individuals tend to perform well in Canadas labour market. In 2025 this category will encompass: Based on the governments stated intention, we might reasonably expect that many of the remaining 3,522 ITAs may be issued to candidates in the CEC program, PNP programs, candidates who have strong French language proficiency, and/or who have professional experience in healthcare or trade occupations. This trend is also reflected in Express Entry draws held in the previous months of 2024. For example, consider the last 20 Express Entry draws that IRCC has held (from August 2024 onwards): Draw type Number of draws (August - December 2024) Canadian Experience Class 7 Provincial Nominee Program 7 French langauge proficiency 4 Trade occupations 1 Healthcare occupations 1 Get a Free Express Entry Assessment We are seeking a professional and innovative company to assist us with a comprehensive overhaul of our website and development of a brand book. We are inviting companies to submit a commercial proposal, that will include: Commercial offers will be submitted to natalia@rise.md until 20 December 2024, 23.59 EEST. Full statement is available here: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25420925-rise-moldova-website-overhaul-requirements The Organization About Rise RISE Moldova is a leading media non-profit founded in 2014, in Chisinau. RISE Moldova has the mission to investigate organized crime, offshore deals, and reveal money laundering schemes involving companies from Moldova, Romania, Eastern Europe, and countries from Central Asia. Our reporters also focus on corruption and smuggling schemes, tax evasion, arms trafficking and bring to light the hidden businesses of politicians. We operate within international networks of investigative journalists such as OCCRP (Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project) and GIJN (Global Investigative Journalism Network). RISE Moldova was the partner for projects: Panama Papers, The Russian Laundromat, The Troika Laundromat, MetalLeaks, FinCENFiles, and Pandora Papers. The impact of our investigations includes the resignation of state officials, arrests, initiation of criminal trials and office investigations, protests, online petitions. Our investigations also led to money being recovered from criminals as well as to changes in laws in various countries and shutting down banks servicing criminals. The Role of www.rise.md Our main website, www.rise.md is the primary publishing channel for our journalism. The website has the following functions within our global strategy: Tell the stories uncovered in our investigative reporting into crime and corruption in and around the Republic of Moldova. Provide documents and proof linked to stories our journalists have uncovered. The History of Rise The current version of www.rise.md was launched in 2015 and is based on the WordPress CMS with a custom template on the front-end. The platform's main scope was that investigative journalists could publish their stories. Since the team had a time shortage and limited financial resources back in 2015, we started using WordPress CMS. It provided very simple design and easy maintenance at this time. The Project Context Expectations and objectives RISE Moldova is a growing organization and we need a website that is up to the standards set by our competitors and partners around the world. The current website needs a brand refresh, and we have specific ideas of how wed like to be able to publish multimedia content in the future. RISE Moldova is expecting to achieve the following from the new website: Provide a more user friendly experience Our current website doesnt give users a modern and friendly experience when reading. We want the website to showcase the quality of our work and our journalism in a way that adds credibility and gravitas to our work. Make reading longer stories easier Many of our articles take a long form of a story of many thousand words. We want to make these stories more digestible for our readers by providing components like images that can sit inside the story and break up the content. We also want multimedia components and other components such as expanding boxes and sliders. We wish for our editors to have these tools at their disposal when laying out stories. Make our stories look more modern and attractive Our current story layout options are limited and the stories look dated and old-fashioned. We want to bring the Rise brand and experience up to date and give a modern refresh. Speed up the website Loading speed and performance of the website is also an important criteria for us and we want to ensure that the final website has fast loading times. Mobile-first layout Most of our users are viewing the website on mobile, so the site should be designed mobile-first and should adapt perfectly to modern browsers and mobile devices. Encourage supporting us through donations - We currently offer donation options via PayPal and Patreon, with users being redirected to these platforms. We aim to expand these options by integrating additional payment methods, such as MIA QR code, Apple Pay and Google Pay. - We are looking to implement a crowdfunding feature that allows us to raise funds for specific investigative topics or projects. - Additionally, we want to enhance user engagement by incorporating personalized banners within the text of our articles. The structure of the website. The website will have sections/categories dedicated to: - Projects, tags; - An area for People of Interest database (https://profiles.rise.md/) that could be dynamic. - Area for video / podcasts; - Subscribe button, including inside the articles. - Donate button to support our work. - Button or banner for RISE Leaks. - Interactive data visualizations on the site to support investigative findings. - Ability to highlight words in the text (e.g. when linking persons targeted in articles on the People of Interest database). Alte articole de la acest autor: Background The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is committed to supporting the Ukrainian refugees and local communities of the Republic of Moldova in addressing employment and integration challenges that affect sustainable development and the well-being of its communities. The refugee crisis affects the entire socio-economic fabric of the country and contributes to increasing tensions between host communities and refugees. IOM works to provide support to the displaced persons from Ukraine and local communities, by conducting Romanian language classes for both refugees and local community to facilitate employment, social cohesion, integration and empowerment, peaceful coexistence, through the provision of Romanian language classes in key communities hosting refugees. Objectives The primary objectives of this call for proposals are to: 1. Enhance Employment opportunities for refugees and local community members: Learning of Romanian language by refugees and locals that would like to enhance their job opportunities in Republic of Moldova. 2. Strengthening Social Cohesion and Integration in the communities: Learning Romanian language classes by refugees and locals will encourage social interaction and foster a sense of belonging among different community groups. Eligibility Proposals are invited from accredited companies providing Romanian language classes in Chisinau, Cahul, Comrat and Balti based on an elaborated curriculum for Grade A1, A2. When preparing your quotation, please be guided by the RFQ information. It is your responsibility to ensure that your quotation is submitted on or before the deadline. Quotations received after the submission deadline, for whatever reason, will not be considered for evaluation. Deadline for submission: 9 December 2024 Offered value- should be in MDL, VAT 0% (according to the GD 246 of 08.04.2010) Documents available here IOM Moldova Procurement under RFQ-MD056-24 Alte articole de la acest autor: Peste o mie de copii din raionul Criuleni vor avea acces gratuit la un spatiu modern pentru joaca si lectura ShelterBox Glad tidings to you and your kin, dear readers, for the festive season has truly arrived. Civil Society Towers halls are now decked with boughs of holly in anticipation of the annual visit of the worlds most mysterious philanthropist, Mr Santa Claus. Not that Diarys a humbug of course, especially when there are such fun charity-related gifts on offer this year. Hot storage units Behold, the most boring calendar ever produced by Access Self Storage with all proceeds going to Cancer Research UK. Access Self Storage Whats so drab about the product, you ask? Well, its 12 months of the hottest storage units in the UK. Tell me more, I hear you say. Go on then: January features a compact nine square feet locker in Fulham, a 200 sq ft drive up unit in Cricklewood adorns October, while Mr December is a maximum capacity 700 sq ft unit in Harrow. At only five quid, and to a good cause, Diary could not resist getting one for their father-in-law, who loves to indulge in the mundane. Hunger striking Santa Elsewhere, a pair of Santa impersonators have been banned from posing as the jolly red giant for being too right wing, or so says the Daily Mail . One rejected Santa, a 78-year-old Reform voter in Blackpool, told the paper his local community group stopped him from being Father Christmas at their grotto after he participated in a 40-day hunger strike over the summer to protest against illegal immigration. Diary cant help thinking that he might have just been rejected for being too skinny. If Christian Bale were cast as Papa Noel, hed double in size and grow an appearance-altering beard in preparation. Perhaps Friends of Stanley Park should give the Batman star a ring. Davey sings for charity As you may have heard, Band Aid is back for its 40th anniversary and not everyone is happy about it (read more about it here ). Seeing as you asked, Diarys tuppence worth is no matter what you think about the Do They Know Its Christmas, at least it doesnt bang on about sausage rolls. Other charity singles are available this year, of course, including a song featuring Lib Dem leader Ed Davey (Boris Johnson for centrist dads). Davey follows a summer of death-defying campaign stunts to join Bath Philharmonias Young Carers Choir to sing a sweet festive ditty called Love is Enough. Diary has listened to the song and honestly cant hear Daveys voice, which might be a Christmas miracle. Dench unwraps And finally, Shakespearean actor Judi Dench showed her versatility by playing a twinkly-eyed older lady opening a cheeky selection of gifts on Christmas morning. Playing herself in the advert for charity ShelterBox , the national treasure unwraps a selection of gifts including skimpy underwear, which she dismisses, saying red is not my colour. She also tosses aside, with a wry smile, a glammed up, pink dustpan and brush. Diary will have to get her something else next year. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Sign up for The Media Today, CJRs daily newsletter. I met Mac in a bar in Beirut. He was the journalists journalist. He wore a faded khaki waistcoat that smelled of cordite and was stuffed with notebooks, plus combat trousers and paratrooper boots. Youre never off duty in this job, he assured me. Assurance was his thing. He listened with one ear to the bar (Thats my Arabic ear: had the best stories that way), one ear to the TV news, and no ear at all to me. His legs were full of shrapnel, and he downed a tumbler of whisky for my every sip of beer. See that guy? he said, nodding to an Arab hunched over a pink gin. I cant tell you about him, but youll hear of him soon. Oh, yes, you will. Another one, please, Khalid. Mac knew what had happened and what would happen, exactly when and exactly why. The shifting alliances of Lebanese politics were as predictable as arithmetic. It was a great privilege for me to sit at the feet of an oracle. My role was just to buy the whisky. Mac knew that he was a great writer. That, along with the date of the next car bomb, was unarguable. When I got back to the hotel I looked him up. His pieces were swashbuckling, emphatic, and usually wrong. They could be no other. They purported to be about the real world, and the real world is always incalculable. Mac saw himself as a realist, his vision unclouded by sentiment or prejudice. In fact he wasnt describing the real Lebanon at all, but his own theories about the place: theories more precious to him than the data; theories so sacred that they could not be confounded by hindsight. He was always, and only, writing about himself. Mac was a splendid, clever, and well-informed man, but his theories about Lebanon werent as interesting as Lebanon, and did not relate in any meaningful way to it. His certainty was an absolute disqualification for the job he was employed to do. Sign up for CJRs daily email What makes a great writer? Keats was famously clear. Especially in literature, he wrote, a Man of Achievementis capable of being in uncertainties, mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact and reason. My paraphrase: a great writer is one who appreciates the incalculability of the cosmos and everything in it, and writes accordingly. Shakespeare, wrote Keats, possessed this capacity (which Keats called Negative Capability) so enormously. What does Negative Capability look like on the page? The English philosopher Iain McGilchrist nails it down in his 2009 book The Master and His Emissary. In Shakespeares plays, he wrote, there is a complete disregard for theory and for category, a celebration of multiplicity and the richness of human variety, rather than the rehearsal of common laws of personality and behaviour according to type. Shakespeares characters are so stubbornly themselves, and not the thing that fate, or the dramatic plot insists they should be, that their individuality subverts the often stereotypical pattern of their literary and historical sources. Its why King Lear is truer, in a way, than much of journalism. This is (Im certain) because uncertainty is part of the web and weave of the universe. Niels Bohrs great achievement (now proven experimentally) was to show that no theory, however sophisticated, could ever explain everything about the world, because the action of everything is affected by the observer. This is usually quoted in discussions about quantum phenomena, but it is true at every level. The visible world is just a scaled-up set of quantum phenomena. Just think how many observer-observed relationships there were in Lebanon; how many incalculables. This is a world of vertiginous contingency. Its far too exciting a place to be comfortable, and its certainly too exciting a place to be described by any rules, or written about as if it could be. For my money, the best advice to writers comes in Alan Garners book of essays The Voice That Thunders (1996). He wrote that the function of the storyteller is to relate the truth in a manner that is simple; for it is rarely possible to declare the truth as it is, because the universe presents itself as a Mystery. Its good physics to say that the universe is mysterious, and good writing to acknowledge it. One of Garners characters, Colin, a physicist himself, declares, in the novel Boneland (2012): Im for uncertainty. As soon as you think you know, youre done for. You dont listen and you cant hear. If youre certain of anything, you shut the door on the possibility of revelation, of discovery. You can think. You can believe. But you cant, you mustnt, know. It shouldnt cause paralysis. But it should be an antidote to hubris, a call to humility, an implicit statement of the writers job descriptionand it should imply something not just about what the job is but how, practically, it should be done. If certainty is in principle impossible, writers shouldnt look for it inside themselves (by reference to their life experience, their pet theories, whatever). Where can they look? Only to the story itself. There is an absolute duty to the story: to let it tell itself. The right language to describe this duty is the language of mediumship. An authentic medium doesnt rig up devices, generate fake protoplasm, or tap the table herself. She gets out of the way. Theres great craft in writing like this, of course. The legitimate pride of a writer is in getting out of the way of the story, in letting something that isnt linguistic at all reveal itself in words. The sorts of words best for that are surely simple, short, direct, Germanic words: mostly nouns and verbs; only occasional adjectives, and adverbs (self-referential horrors for the most part) only on special occasions. We need to abandon the notion that the creative (as opposed to the crafty) part of writing happens at our laptop. It happens in the reading. This is true whether the writing is fiction or nonfiction. (All writing, after all, is only ever relative nonfiction or relative fiction.) All this is a big ask. It demands real cleverness as well as real simplicity (not a common coalition), a strenuous sense of responsibility, and a really fanatical humility. The proper person to be entrusted with power, wrote John Stuart Mill, is the person most unwilling to accept it. His maxim is easily adapted for writers. He must increase, but I must decrease, declared John the Baptist of Christ. Writers, similarly, should practice decreasing so that the story may be told more truthfully. Its of a piece with everything we know of life outside the writers study. All the Eastern religions, for instance, advocate the dissolution of Self so that reality can be seen more clearly. There is nothing flagellant about this radical literary humility. There is, for a start, the sheer joy in the craft: in fashioning joints between sentences; in choosing the one terse word that will say more than a page of artful fabrication, that will let the reader create when she reads it. And then there is something even more exciting, and more metaphysical. We see the same principle at work in our offices, at our dinner tables, and in our bedrooms. There seems to be a general law: the last will be first: that only if you humble yourself will you be exalted. In the story related in the Lurianic Kabbalah, Ein-Sof (who very roughly equates to God) created the world. What next? An imperious command? A stream of iterations? No: he withdrew: withdrew to create a place for something other than himself to come into being. Though we may be the lantern bearers, observed Garner, we are not the lanterns. Federal authorities are looking into the discovery of dolphin remains on a New Jersey beach that appeared to have been butchered. The Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) received a troubling call on Oct. 30 about the remains found in Allenhurst, New Jersey. When the stranding coordinator arrived at the scene, they found a common dolphin's carcass in a shocking state. According to a post shared on the MMSC's Facebook page, "The animal's flesh had been completely removed with clean cuts from a sharp instrument, leaving only the head, dorsal fin and flukes." READ MORE : SpaceX Postpones Starlink Mission After Helium Leak Disrupts Launch Preparation Dolphin's Remains Found with Missing Organs The post further detailed that nearly all of the dolphin's organs were taken out, with only the heart and lungs remaining. This has raised serious concerns among officials and the public about the circumstances surrounding the animal's death. Witnesses reported that the night before, they had seen a live dolphin struggling in the waves just a block away from where the remains were found. Fortunately, the dolphin was able to swim back out to sea after managing to get over a sandbar. It remains uncertain if this dolphin is the same one found dead on the beach the following day, according to AP News. The remains were carefully transported to the MMSC for documentation and photography before being buried on the beach. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries (NOAA) Office of Law Enforcement is now involved in the investigation. The agency has been active in addressing similar incidents; for example, in April, they investigated the death of a bottlenose dolphin that was shot. This dolphin was discovered with multiple bullets lodged in its body, leading to its tragic demise, as per a press release. Bottlenose dolphins are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, although they are not classified as endangered or threatened. As the investigation into the butchered dolphin continues, officials are urging anyone with information to come forward. Two years after Mauna Loa, the world's largest active volcano, erupted in November 2022, scientists have validated their early warnings of the event. A new study analyzing the lava's chemical makeup has confirmed the timeline geologists predicted based on early warning signs. Geologists Confirm Mauna Loa Eruption Timeline with Lava Crystals Study Months before the eruption, geologists detected increased earthquake activity and ground swelling near Mauna Loa. These signals suggested that magma was moving upward through the Earth's crust, creating pressure beneath the volcano. Researchers from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, led by geologist Kendra Lynn, studied crystals in the lava to understand the process better, New Scientist reported. Their findings revealed that large amounts of molten rock began rising from deep within the Earth about 70 days before the eruption. The molten rock, originally located 3 to 5 kilometers beneath the summit, moved closer to the surface, stopping just 2 kilometers below. Once the pressure became too great, the magma broke through the surface, transforming into rivers of lava. These findings, published in Nature Communications, align with the initial timeline geologists predicted using external signs such as earthquakes and ground shifts. Scientists emphasize that predicting the exact timing of volcanic eruptions remains impossible. However, geologists can issue "forecasts" based on patterns and data. Ben Andrews, head of the global volcano program at the Smithsonian Institution, compared these forecasts to weather predictions, noting they rely on probabilities rather than certainties. Researchers Push for Advanced Volcano Eruption Forecasts For Mauna Loa, understanding its magma reservoirs is a critical step toward refining these forecasts. According to AP, researchers hope that by studying similar patterns in the future, they can give residents of Hawaii's Big Island more advanced warnings of potential eruptions, extending forecasts from minutes to months. Mauna Loa's 2022 eruption was its first since 1984, but Hawaii is home to several active volcanoes. The U.S. Geological Survey tracks active volcanoes across the country, with most located in Hawaii, Alaska, and along the West Coast. Globally, approximately 585 volcanoes are classified as active. Volcanologist Erik Klemetti Gonzalez explained that volcanoes are challenging to study because scientists cannot observe the inner workings directly. Instead, they rely on indirect clues like ground movement, earthquakes, and chemical analyses of lava. These tools, combined with better historical data, could help scientists anticipate future eruptions with greater accuracy. The new study underscores the importance of ongoing research into volcanic activity, revealing that even well-studied regions like Hawaii continue to hold surprises for scientists. U.S. tech companies with a focus on emerging markets offer the best investment opportunities for the coming year, according to veteran emerging markets investor Mark Mobius. "The U.S market will continue to do well. As you know, tech has already done well. So, what I would do is focus on companies and industries that are taking advantage of technology to improve productivity," the chairman of the Mobius Emerging Opportunities Fund said in an interview with CNBC last week. U.S.-based companies geared toward China and India, as well as other major emerging market economies, are well positioned, he added. "I focus on those companies that are global in their scope, and producing and exporting and selling in these countries, because that's where the growth will be." Investors should also consider firms taking advantage of what Mobius calls "accelerated information," such as chip manufacturers. "I call AI accelerated information because there's nothing artificial about AI and it's not intelligent. But it's getting more information faster and being able to analyze that information much more effectively," he said. His comments come as emerging markets that produce semiconductors enjoy an economic boom, with Taiwan which makes most of the advanced chips in circulation a particular success story. ASEAN countries in Southeast Asia are also enjoying increased foreign investment. Malaysia's focus on chip production, for instance, has seen it become deeply embedded into the global supply chain. Speaking with CNBC at the October IMF annual meetings in Washington, D.C., Malaysia's central bank governor Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour said the country exports 7% of the world's semiconductors. One way investors can ride the wave of optimism heading into 2025 is by shorting Cathie Wood's ARK Innovation ETF and buying the equal-weighted S & P 500 Index, according to Trivariate Research. That is because the "low-quality," "hyper-growth junk stocks" found in the ARK fund are likely to slow at the same time as megacap growth stocks underperform next year, given the backdrop of a broader, risk-on market, Trivariate CEO and founder Adam Parker wrote in a report earlier this week. Instead, the former chief U.S. equity strategist at Morgan Stanley favors the equal-weighted S & P 500 index, which gives each company the exact same importance regardless of size, as opposed to the broad market index, which bends under the weight of the largest companies such as Nvidia and Apple . ARKK YTD mountain The Ark Innovation fund is on track for its best month of the year. Parker's pair trade idea comes as stocks continue to reach new all-time highs in the wake of President-elect Donald Trump's victory earlier this month. The market was further buoyed this week by Trump picking hedge fund manager Scott Bessent as his intended Treasury secretary, and chose to ignore Trump threatening 10% across-the-board tariffs on Chinese imports and 25% on goods entering the U.S. from Mexico and Canada. Cathie Wood's Ark Innovation fund has surged almost more than 25% in November alone through Wednesday's close and is on pace for its best month of the year. The fund's largest holding, Tesla , has advanced 33% in November. The type of "fast projected growth" stocks in Wood's portfolio are likely to prove "an inferior risk-adjusted asset class over time, as it is a high-beta, negative alpha growth proxy, which we think is worth fading after strong periods of appreciation," Parker wrote. The Invesco S & P 500 Equal-Weight ETF , which tracks the equal-weighted S & P 500 index, has gained 6.1% in November, still beating the 5.1% gain in the S & P 500. RSP YTD mountain The Invesco S & P 500 Equal Weight ETF. "The cap-weighted S & P 500 will likely outperform if we get a down tape in January 2025, but for now, large upward catalysts from the Mag 7 seem less likely than the continuation of broad-based optimism that drives the market higher," Parker added. The exterior of the new headquarters of Google is seen at 550 Washington Street in Hudson Square on January 09, 2024 in New York City. Canada's Competition Bureau is suing Alphabet's Google over alleged anti-competitive conduct in online advertising, the antitrust watchdog said on Thursday. The Competition Bureau, in a statement, said it had filed an application with the Competition Tribunal seeking an order that, among other things, requires Google to sell two of its ad tech tools. It is also seeking a penalty from Google to promote compliance with Canada's competition laws, the statement said. Google said the complaint "ignores the intense competition where ad buyers and sellers have plenty of choice and we look forward to making our case in court." "Our advertising technology tools help websites and apps fund their content, and enable businesses of all sizes to effectively reach new customers," Dan Taylor, VP of Global Ads, Google said in a statement. The Competition Bureau opened an investigation in 2020 to probe whether the search engine giant had engaged in practices that harm competition in the online ads industry, and expanded the probe to include Google's advertising technology services earlier this year. The investigation found that Google is the largest provider across the ad tech stack for web advertising in Canada and it "has abused its dominant position through conduct intended to ensure that it would maintain and entrench its market power," the bureau said on Thursday. The case follows the U.S. Justice Department's effort to show Google monopolized markets for publisher ad servers and advertiser ad networks. Google has argued that the U.S. DOJ is ignoring the company's legitimate business decisions and that the online advertising market is robust. The company also says the U.S. government had cherrypicked a narrow slice of the online market and did not account for aggressive competition. The closing arguments in the U.S. case were made on Monday. Earlier this year, Google offered to sell the ad exchange to end an EU antitrust investigation but European publishers rejected the proposal as insufficient, Reuters first reported in September. Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) The President of the International Bar Association (IBA), Almudena Arpon de Mendivil Aldama, says greater efforts are needed to guarantee that IBA objectives to promote and defend the rule of law and human rights, advance legal education, and enhance unity amongst legal professionals across the planet are also achieved in the African region Pictured here is a construction site of property developer Hongkong Land, in Shanghai on Nov. 4, 2024. China's home prices are expected to fall at a slower pace this year and next, and stabilize in 2026, a Reuters poll showed, as a slew of support measures to reverse a years-long property slump start to bear fruit. Analysts in the poll now expect home prices to fall 6.0% in 2024, versus a 8.5% decline tipped in a previous survey in August. In October new home prices fell the most year-on-year since 2015, but month-on-months falls have narrowed. Prices are likely to dip 2.0% in 2025, and rise 1.6% in 2026 compared to 0.0% in the last survey. China has been scaling up efforts to arrest the real-estate downturn that began in 2021, which has squeezed financing for local governments and discouraged home owners and businesses tied to a sector that once accounted for a quarter of the country's economic activity. Policymakers changed rules for the property sector at the end of September, including a cut in the minimum down payment ratio to 15% for all housing categories and a relaxation in home purchase restrictions. The finance ministry rolled out tax breaks to spur demand in November. But a broader consumer and investor confidence crisis has kept prospective buyers' wallets glued shut. "The decline in home prices in the current real estate cycle is mainly influenced by supply and demand, and home purchase expectations," said Gao Yuhong, a manager at CSCI Pengyuan Credit Rating. "It is expected that home prices in first-tier cities will take the lead in stabilising in the second half of next year," said Gao. The poll of 13 analysts conducted from Nov. 15-28 showed property sales are expected to shrink 5.0% in 2025, less than the 10.0% slump forecast in the previous poll, while investment was expected to fall 8.0% against a 7.5% slump forecast in August. "Since end-September, the combined effect of the policy cascade of monetary, fiscal, real estate and other measures has led to a significant recovery in housing sales in October, indicating a positive trend of stabilization," said Wang Xingping, a senior analyst at Fitch Bohua. "The policy of 'allowing to use special bonds to purchase land and existing housing' is an important measure in reducing inventories and stabilizing the property market, yet continuous efforts are still required," Wang added. The 46th fleet of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy sets sail from a military port in Zhanjiang, south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 21, 2024. Satellite images obtained by Reuters on Thursday show a build-up of Chinese civilian vessels near contested Thitu Island, Manila's key outpost in the South China Sea, but a senior Philippine navy officer said they are "not a cause for concern". One of the images taken by Maxar Technologies on Monday and reviewed by Reuters shows about 60 vessels, some within 2 nautical miles of Thitu, a strategically important island from which Manila monitors Chinese vessels and aircraft in the busy waterway. Vice Admiral Alfonso Torres, chief of the Philippines' Western Command, said it was common for "maritime militia" ships to gather in the area. Manila, the Pentagon and foreign diplomats say such vessels work with the Chinese coast guard and navy to strengthen Beijing's presence in disputed waters. Rear Admiral Roy Trinidad, Philippines Navy spokesman for the South China Sea, also said maritime militia ships were regularly in the area, adding that Manila was aware of the vessels, which he called an "illegal presence", but there was no need for alarm. "It's not a cause for concern," Trinidad said. "We don't have to read every action and react to that... What is important for us is to maintain our posture." Online ship trackers show that many of the vessels in the satellite photos are Chinese-registered fishing craft. The Chinese defence ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. China has never confirmed it has a militia of civilian vessels. The island, which the Philippines calls Pag-Asa, is Manila's biggest and most strategically important in the disputed South China Sea, which is largely claimed by China and through which billions of dollars worth of goods pass each year. A 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague found that Beijing's expansive claims had no basis under international law. The build-up comes after months of clashes and rammings between Chinese coast guard and fishing vessels and Philippines ships, particularly at the Scarborough and Second Thomas Shoals. Thitu is close to a Chinese naval base and runway on Subi reef, which has sometimes served as a port for large numbers of Chinese maritime militia vessels, Trinidad said. "When you go in there (to Subi), when you go out, you will pass through the territorial sea of Pag-Asa," he said. Regional diplomats and security analysts are watching developments closely, with some noting the Chinese vessels had their transponders on this week, allowing them to be tracked. Singapore-based security scholar Collin Koh said Beijing could be testing Manila's reactions at a moment of domestic political tension in the Philippines. Embattled Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr of seeking to remove her from office, after the national police filed a formal complaint accusing her of assault and coercion. "This needs to be watched in the days ahead," said Koh, of Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. If the militia presence continues, Koh said, it could be that China is hoping to delay Philippine construction work on the island. A new aircraft hangar is reportedly due for completion in the next few weeks, the latest in a several moves to buttress the Philippines' presence on Thitu and improve monitoring capabilities. This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Like what you see? You can subscribe here . European markets closed higher U.S. markets were closed for the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday. The pan-European Stoxx 600 added 0.46%, pulling back slightly from gains earlier in the day. Shares of British insurance firm Direct Line surged 41.4%, their highest level since early 2023, after it said a takeover offer from rival Aviva "substantially undervalued" the company. Looser chip export ban by U.S. Shares of global semiconductor suppliers, such as ASML and Tokyo Electron , jumped on Thursday on reports that the U.S. might implement export restrictions that are less strict than expected. The report stated that the U.S. is considering adding fewer of Huawei's suppliers to an export blacklist. Tighter tungsten export control by China China will start limiting exports of tungsten this weekend, as part of measures that control the flow of goods that can be used for both military and civilian purposes. It's a stark reversal of the past decades, when China controlled 80% of the tungsten supply chain, according to Argus. To make up for the drop in supply, companies are looking to open or resume production in tungsten mines. Russia ruble rout The Russian ruble weakened to 114 against the dollar on Wednesday. That's its lowest level since March 2022, shortly after the country invaded Ukraine. Russia's central bank intervened on the same day, saying it would halt foreign purchases on the domestic currency market for the rest of the year "in order to reduce the volatility of financial markets." [PRO] 'Europe is a stock picker's market' While Morgan Stanley downgraded European equities to neutral earlier this year, the Wall Street bank recently reevaluated its stance. "Europe is a stock picker's market" now, Morgan Stanley said, and there is "material scope for alpha generation" for the right stocks. IT support might not be one of the most glamorous tech jobs, but it's a smart path to consider if you're looking for a career that pays well and offers strong job security. Often overlooked as a behind-the-scenes job, IT support offers competitive salaries, diverse opportunities and flexibility that many fail to recognize, Lisa Gevelber, a vice president at Google and founder of Grow With Google, tells CNBC Make It. With more companies moving online and adopting new technologies, including artificial intelligence and cloud computing the need for IT support has become more urgent. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the number of IT support jobs will grow at least 15% in the next decade more than three times faster than the average for all occupations. There are more than 300,000 unfilled IT support jobs in the U.S. right now, Gevelber points out. On Google, searches for "IT support jobs" and "IT support skills" hit an "all-time high" in 2024, since the search engine started tracking such queries 20 years ago, she adds. Here's how to land a job in IT support and where to find the best opportunities: Five Canadian news media companies filed a legal action on Friday against ChatGPT owner OpenAI, accusing the artificial-intelligence company of regularly breaching copyright and online terms of use. The case is part of a wave of lawsuits against OpenAI and other tech companies by authors, visual artists, music publishers and other copyright owners over data used to train generative AI systems. Microsoft is OpenAI's major backer. In a statement, Torstar, Postmedia, The Globe and Mail, The Canadian Press, and CBC/Radio-Canada said OpenAI was scraping large swaths of content to develop its products without getting permission or compensating content owners. "Journalism is in the public interest. OpenAI using other companies' journalism for their own commercial gain is not. It's illegal," they said. A New York federal judge dismissed a lawsuit on Nov. 7 against OpenAI that claimed it misused articles from news outlets Raw Story and AlterNet. In an 84-page statement of claim filed in Ontario's superior court of justice, the five Canadian companies demanded damages from OpenAI and a permanent injunction preventing it from using their material without consent. "Rather than seek to obtain the information legally, OpenAI has elected to brazenly misappropriate the News Media Companies' valuable intellectual property and convert it for its own uses, including commercial uses, without consent or consideration," they said in the filing. "The News Media Companies have never received from OpenAI any form of consideration, including payment, in exchange for OpenAI's use of their Works." In response, OpenAI said its models were trained on publicly available data, grounded in fair use and related international copyright principles that were fair for creators. "We collaborate closely with news publishers, including in the display, attribution and links to their content in ChatGPT search, and offer them easy ways to opt out should they so desire," a spokesperson said via email. The Canadian news companies' document did not mention Microsoft. This month, billionaire Elon Musk expanded a lawsuit against OpenAI to include Microsoft, alleging the two companies illegally sought to monopolize the market for generative AI and sideline competitors. Finding the perfect gift doesn't have to break the bank. Gifts under $50 can strike a balance between thoughtfulness and practicality, making them ideal for family, friends or even a secret Santa exchange during the holiday season. The best presents at this price point either offer a small touch of luxury or provide everyday usefulness and come with glowing recommendations from those who've tried them. With that in mind, here are 10 unique, fun and practical gifts for everyone on your shopping list, curated by CNBC Make It staff members. 1. Cordless Waterpik Price: $37.97 In 2022, I was diagnosed with my first three yes, three cavities. My hygienist, sensing my self-loathing, recommended I buy a Waterpik. I was initially skeptical; flossing sucks, I won't use it and does Big Dental really need more cash? But fortunately for my oral health and fragile ego, my people-pleasing tendencies won out and the product changed my life. I use mine for about 20 seconds in the shower every morning. Sure, I haven't had another cavity since, but the approval from my hygienist is priceless. Megan Sauer, Success Reporter 2. 'The Comfy' wearable blanket Price: Starting at $37.99 If you want to have the coziest, toastiest winter, I can't recommend getting "The Comfy" wearable blanket enough! It had been sitting on my Amazon wishlist for a while until a particularly cold weekend pushed me to go ahead and get it. I'm so glad I did. It's incredibly soft and I love that I can keep my arms and hands free to hold my books while I'm curled up on my couch reading. And the pouch can hold my phone and TV remote. Cheyenne DeVon, Money Reporter 3. Eucalyptus shower bundle Illustration by Elham Ataeiazar Price: $48.50 If I want to feel like I'm at a spa without actually ponying up the money to go to one, I purchase a eucalyptus shower bundle. I recommend it generally, but I will double down if you anticipate a stressful season in your life. Florists typically bundle eucalyptus either by itself or with rose or lavender. Once received, I hang the bundle over my showerhead and position it away from the stream of water. It turns every shower I take into a scent-filled spa-like experience. At $48.50 to $55.50, depending on the size of the bundle you prefer, this is a gift that delights your senses without the spa bill at the end. Judy Lagrou, Editorial Intern 4. Microfiber wash mitt Price: $6.63 (on sale from $8.99) In March, my girlfriend sent me an Instagram video of a man promising a simple $8 hack for a better way to dry a wet dog. I have a dog. Sometimes, we walk in the rain. I pressed play. The hack: a microfiber car wash mitt. For $8, I figured, what the hell, I'll order the first one I see on Amazon and give it a try. Turns out, it's just about exactly as effective as a regular towel, and the process is much, much simpler: No more dog tripping over the excess cotton, or getting bored and trying to walk away. It doesn't wet out as easily, and it dries more quickly. Plus, fun colors! Mine's lime green. I'd buy it again in a heartbeat. Cameron Albert-Deitch, Success Editor 5. Baby Baggu tote bags Price: $12 I've long been a fan of Baggu's standard reusable totes, but I recently purchased two of the baby size and they're game-changers. The foldable bags are lightweight, easy to store and can hold a decent amount of weight. For me, they're perfect for carrying my lunch to work, and the small size makes it easy to toss in a purse or backpack on the go. Plus, they come in a multitude of fun patterns and designs, which adds a pop of color and whimsy to my day. Emmie Martin, Money Editor 6. Fit-over sunglasses Illustration by Elham Ataeiazar Price: $13.29 Earlier this year, I somehow lost my precious pair of prescription sunglasses. This was a blow to my sense of self (I'm the kind of person who usually finds things other people lose!) and a potential blow to my bottom line, too, since replacing them would cost several hundred dollars. Before accepting that irritating reality, I decided to look online for creative alternatives and I found a pair of sunglasses designed to be worn over glasses. Hoping they'd look less doofy than the clip-ons worn by the principal in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," I ordered them. Sure enough, they're good! They fit, they're light, they stay put. And they work on their own if I happen to wear my contacts. If I were to get a second pair, I'd find one with opaque lenses, so you can't see my actual glasses underneath. The fact that you can makes me look a little doofy, though hopefully not at the level of the bad guy in an 80s comedy. Ester Bloom, Deputy Managing Editor 7. Packing cubes Price: $21.59 I'm not going to lie I was influenced by TikTok to buy these Bagsmart compressible packing cubes. But after using them for a weeklong trip that included multiple formal events, I have to say, they live up to the hype. These cubes have an extra zipper that compresses all of the air out after they're closed, creating even more space in your suitcase. They made it super easy to organize my clothes for a multi-part trip and maximize how much I could fit in a carry-on. Emmie Martin, Money Editor 8. Label maker Price: Starting at $29.99 I find immense joy in organizing, and nothing makes a project look more polished than a printed label. I've been using my Brother P-Touch label maker for about 15 years and can't recommend it enough. It's incredibly easy to use, prints in seconds and allows for a decent amount of customization. I've used it to label everything from my the tabs in my recipe binder to different sizes of knitting needles. Plus, I never have to decode any messy handwritten labels years after the fact. Emmie Martin, Money Editor 9. Airalo digital SIM card Price: $11 In the past when I've traveled abroad, I've mostly relied on hotel and public Wi-Fi to make do on my phone, depending on offline Google Maps to navigate my way around foreign cities. This time though, when my husband and I traveled to the Netherlands and Italy for our two-week honeymoon, I decided to upgrade my travel connectivity experience. For just $13, I bought a 3GB eSim from Airalo that worked across Europe and let me navigate in real time, scroll Instagram while waiting in long museum lines and translate when needed, anywhere we had cell service. Hanna Howard, Senior Work Editor 10. Portable phone charger Consumers beware: With bitcoin trading solidly over $90,000 this month and closing in on the $100,000 level, cybercriminals will be circling the wagons. "This is going to create a lot of FOMO and a lot of urgency around investing in bitcoin and paying with bitcoin," said Eva Velasquez, president and chief executive of the Identity Theft Resource Center. Scammers "love, love, love to leverage external events, create confusion, create that sense of urgency and steal your hard-earned money." The issue is compounded by the fact that legitimate strategies to make money with bitcoin are being discussed publicly by reputable sources. That, coupled with the technological advances of AI, makes scams seem more real, even for more sophisticated investors, industry professionals said. The stakes are particularly high given that the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Internet Crime Complaint Center received more than 69,000 complaints last year related to cryptocurrency fraud, with estimated losses topping more than $5.6 billion. The losses associated with these complaints accounted for nearly half of the total fraud losses reported. With this in mind, here's how to recognize and avoid the latest crypto scams: 'Elon Musk is not going to double your money' Prevalent scams today include fake bonuses in exchange for an initial investment, bogus coin promotions, phishing emails or texts that appear to come from reputable crypto companies or exchanges, Ponzi and pyramid schemes, or "Pig butchering" scams that involve fraudsters building trust over time, often posing as friends or romantic partners, before convincing victims to invest in fake crypto platforms. Schemes also commonly invoke well-known names like crypto enthusiast and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Scammers have been broadcasting fake video of Elon Musk including fake livestreams, making it seem as if he were speaking about specific cryptocurrency opportunities. In one such scam, the thieves tried to lure investors to scan a QR code before the "livestream" ended. Investors were promised double the amount of cryptocurrency they deposited, according to a report by Engadget. "Elon Musk is not going to double your money if you send him crypto," said Merrick Theobald, vice president of marketing at BitPay, a cryptocurrency payment service. These types of scams are likely to proliferate with Musk, who is always in the headlines, figuring even more prominently in President-elect Trump's orbit and picked to co-lead the proposed Department of Government Efficiency. The Trump administration is also expected to serve as tailwind for crypto with pro-crypto legislation expected to be one of the first legislative efforts taken up in a new Congress. Coinbase warns scammers will prey on your fear Fraudsters also use fear to ensnare victims. Coinbase is seeing several scams in which cyber thieves send a text claiming a crypto owner's account has been compromised. If the user responds to the text, scammers try to pry additional information such as the crypto owner's seed phrase, which allows the thieves to empty the account, said Jeff Lunglhofer, chief information security officer of Coinbase. People fall for this because it all seems plausible and the scammers convince them their assets are at risk, he added. If you get a text or an email claiming there's a problem with your crypto account, don't respond or click on any links. Instead, go directly to your provider's website or call the phone number you know is attached to the provider to inquire about your account, Theobald said. Be skeptical of one-time promotional offers Scammers sometimes send emails or place ads on social media, offering one-time promotions for investing in crypto. These ads often look like legitimate offers from reputable companies that people may be familiar with, or have done business with in the past, said Howard Greenberg, president of The American Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Association, a non-profit trade association. But there might be a letter missing in the URL and if you click on it, you'll see something that looks very much like the homepage of the reputable site, confusing people more, Greenberg said. In reality, crypto owners are plugging in their credentials on a fraudulent site. "Before you realize you've signed on to a fake site, your money is gone," Greenberg said. "There's no way to do a dispute like you can with a credit card." To avoid this problem, he recommends people bookmark the websites of the legitimate providers they use. This way, investors can go there directly to purchase crypto and they don't accidentally fall for a scam by clicking on someone else's link. In addition, he recommends people only buy crypto on reputable exchanges, which include Coinbase and Gemini. "You don't want to be using a fly-by-night exchange out of Liechtenstein," Greenberg said. How families get defrauded There's the adage, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is," but when it comes to crypto scams, people still take the bait. Sometimes it's because they don't recognize the warning signs. These include offers that seem too good to be true, pressure tactics or unrealistic promises for returns. A little homework can save a lot of money and headaches, industry professionals said. Yaya Fanusie, director of policy for anti-money laundering and cyber risk at the Crypto Council for Innovation, had a family member recently defrauded by a crypto scammer. The company, supposedly founded by a well-known mathematician, advertised a guaranteed investment return of 150%. Fanusie did some digging on the relative's behalf and found the supposedly famous mathematician had only a few dozen followers on LinkedIn. Fanusie was also suspicious due to the lofty investment guarantee and because his relative was being asked to communicate with the company on What'sApp, which is end-to-end encrypted and offers scammers extra protection. Another red flag is if an organization asking for money claims crypto is the only payment option, Velasquez said. "I would be very, very leery about any transaction where the only way you can pay is through cryptocurrency." Do detailed research on new tokens and cryptocurrency companies Fanusie recommends that prospective investors search the internet for background on any company they are considering doing business with, including where it was registered and when. He also urges would-be investors to check Fincen's website to determine whether the provider they're considering is regulated as a money service business. If a company claims to be an investment company, it's worth checking with the SEC to see if it is registered, he said. "You can't take what they say on faith," he said. Prospective investors should also take the time to ensure any digital coin they are considering buying is legitimate. If the token isn't listed on a mainstream site, it might not be legitimate or it might be obscure and thus riskier. One way to verify a token's legitimacy is by looking it up on price-tracking sites such as CoinGecko or CoinMarketCap. "Often if you do a little bit of verification you find out that things aren't always what they seem to be," Fanusie said. President-elect Donald Trump has made his dislike for student debt relief clear. Experts expect he will abandon or roll back many of the Biden administration's student loan efforts which on the campaign trail he called "vile" and "not even legal." Assuming the Trump administration abandons the U.S. Department of Education's new affordable repayment plan, known as SAVE, borrowers enrolled in it will have to shift to a different repayment plan with significantly higher monthly payments. SAVE was supposed to cut in half monthly bills for millions of federal student loan borrowers. "For those worried about SAVE going away, I think it probably will, unfortunately," said Betsy Mayotte, president of The Institute of Student Loan Advisors, a nonprofit that helps borrowers navigate the repayment of their debt. More from Personal Finance: 59% of Americans consider this the No. 1 sign of success Millennials plan big holiday spending: 'I see a lot of optimism' These key 401(k) changes are coming in 2025 SAVE has already been temporarily suspended by a federal court, after legal challenges brought by Republican attorneys general in Kansas and Missouri. In the meantime, the Biden administration has put SAVE enrollees into an indefinite administrative forbearance in which they don't owe anything on their debt. When Trump returns to the White House in January, borrowers enrolled in SAVE should be prepared for that forbearance to come to an end, said Malissa Giles, a consumer bankruptcy lawyer in Virginia. The incoming administration is "not bound by the position of the prior administration," Giles said. If the Trump administration doesn't continue to defend the SAVE plan in court or the Republican-controlled Congress scraps it entirely, borrowers are likely to see their bills revert to their prior levels, Giles said. For some, bills could be double what they would have paid under SAVE. "I cannot imagine the stress that will be put on folks," Giles said. Lombard Odier one of Switzerland's oldest private banks was indicted by Swiss prosecutors on charges of aggravated money laundering. In a release on Friday, the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland, or OAG, said it filed an indictment against Lombard Odier and a former employee of the bank at Switzerland's Federal Criminal Court on Tuesday. The OAG said the accused helped conceal the proceeds of a criminal organization set up by Gulnara Karimova the daughter of Islam Karimov, the authoritarian president of Uzbekistan who died of a stroke in 2016. Karimova was indicted by the attorney general in 2023 on accusations of laundering money that was a result of criminal activities in Switzerland between 2005 and 2012. "Investigations have led the OAG to believe that part of the money laundered in Switzerland may have been transferred in bank accounts at ... Lombard Odier in Geneva. The bank and one of its former relationship managers are alleged to have played a decisive role in concealing the proceeds of the criminal activities of 'The Office,'" the OAG said in its statement. They have been under investigation since 2016, the prosecutors added. Lombard Odier, whose origins date back as far as 1796, denies the allegations. "We have taken note of the decision of the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland to bring charges against the Bank for insufficient controls," the bank said in a statement on Friday. "This step follows the opening of a formal investigation against the bank initiated and made public in 2016. For the bank, the allegations are unfounded and without merit. The bank plans to defend itself vigorously." The bank said the case was initiated by Lombard Odier's "proactive reporting of suspicions to the Swiss authorities." CNBC has reached out to Gregoire Mangeat, who has represented Karimova throughout her legal battles with Swiss authorities. Karimova is currently serving a jail sentence in Uzbekistan. Australia has introduced the worlds first nationwide ban on social media for children under 16 , passing legislation that fines platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram up to 50 million AUD ($33 million) for non-compliance.While the laws sweeping nature is unprecedented, several countries have enacted or proposed similar restrictions in recent years, reflecting a growing global concern over childrens safety online.Heres how Australias strict new rules compare to measures in other nations:Across the European Union (EU), childrens social media usage regulations focus heavily on parental oversight rather than outright bans. Under EU law, parental consent is required to process the personal data of children under 16. However, individual member states can lower this age to 13, leading to variation in enforcement.In 2023, France introduced a law requiring platforms to obtain parental consent for minors under 15. Enforcement has faced delays due to technical challenges. Additional recommendations include banning smartphones for children under 11, though these measures remain under review.Parental consent is mandatory for children aged 13 to 16 to access social media. There are no plans to implement stricter restrictions, though child safety advocates argue for better enforcement of existing rules.The Norwegian government recently proposed raising the age for independent social media consent from 13 to 15 while also exploring legislation for a minimum age requirement. Half of Norways nine-year-olds already use social media, highlighting enforcement challenges.A 2018 law prohibits children under 13 from creating social media accounts without parental permission.The UKs Online Safety Act, set to take effect in 2025, imposes stricter age verification and content moderation standards on platforms but stops short of a blanket age ban. Digital Minister Peter Kyle has commissioned studies to explore the impact of social media and smartphone use on children, leaving room for future policy adjustments.In the US, platforms like Instagram and TikTok have self-imposed age limits of 13, but enforcement primarily relies on user honesty. Federal legislation akin to Australias has yet to emerge, though individual states, such as Utah, are experimenting with stricter parental control measures for minors online activities.Inspired by Australias ban, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has called for similar legislation, urging lawmakers to prioritise child protection online. "I agree, I believe all of this should be immediately regulated through a special law. Im asking the sovereign National Assembly to build a consensus with the people they should call on the youth. So that we can create a good protection law like Australia did and like all countries in the world are doing," he said.Unlike its counterparts, Australias law mandates an outright ban for under-16 users, with no parental consent loopholes. Exemptions are limited to education and health services, such as YouTube and Messenger Kids, to mitigate disruptions in learning and communication.Critics argue that Australias approach risks isolating children, particularly marginalised groups such as LGBTQ+ teens, who often rely on social media for support. Privacy concerns over how platforms will verify users ages without infringing on rights remain a sticking point, drawing parallels to challenges faced by France.Australias legislation reflects a broader trend of governments grappling with the risks of social media. While the countrys hardline stance is unique, it may set a precedent for stricter global regulations. As nations like Norway and France consider bolstering their policies, and the UK enforces its Online Safety Act, Australias model could influence future legislation worldwide.Whether this represents a turning point in child online safety or raises more questions about privacy and enforcement remains to be seen. Health investigators in Canada have recently concluded their investigation into the H5N1 bird flu infection involving a teenager in British Columbia. The investigation, however, was not able to identify the source of the infection. In a press release, B.C.'s health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said they have conducted an exhaustive search and could not find the actual source of the teen's bird flu infection. They added that their investigation included testing health workers, family members, other close contacts, and all animals related to the case. All the tests came back negative, which Henry said meant they had ruled out additional cases of human-to-human transmission. "Though we have not been able to determine definitively the source of exposure, we were able to rule out many potential risks and ensure there are no further cases related to this young person," Henry said in a statement. What Did the Investigation Find? Despite failing to identify the actual source, the investigation may have found clues. Specifically, Henry said a whole-genome sequencing found that the bird flu virus in the B.C. teen belonged to the D1.1 genotype, which is closely related to those found in wild birds in the Fraser Valley area in October. It is important to note that health officials did not find the D1.1 genotype to be directly tied to recent bird flu outbreaks at poultry farms in the area. While the investigation has concluded, B.C. health officials are still conducting serology testing of patient contacts as well as further observations to determine if there are any mutations that occurred over the course of the infection. Experts Say the Findings Point to 'Red Flags' The teen's bird flu infection is not the only one with no known exposure to date. Last week, a child in California also tested positive for the H5N1 avian flu, which followed a third infection in Missouri in September. For both cases, the origins of the infection are still unknown. This could be alarming, per infectious disease physician Dr. Abraar Karan. Speaking to Salon, Karan said the fact that health officials could not identify the source "raises a lot of red flags." He also noted that the more bird flu spreads between animals, the more chance it has to evolve and mutate to a version that could make it more transmissible between humans---much like COVID-19. As of writing, 675 dairy herds have been infected with avian flu in 15 states. More than 110 million poultry have been affected by the outbreaks across 49 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Over the last year, Florida was found to be responsible for nearly half of the entire country's book bans as the number of banned books reaches a new high. A recent study by PEN America, a human rights organization that focuses on the freedom to access literature, found that Florida saw 4,561 book bans across the state in the 2023-24 school year. The report, which reflects numbers as of October, stated that nearly half of all counties in Florida 33 out of 67 saw book bans. The thousands of books banned this year saw a significant jump from the prior school year, which saw 1,406 books banned, as reported by the Tallahassee Democrat. "Of the most commonly banned books in the 2023-2024 school year, 44% featured people and characters of color and 39% featured LGBTQ+ people and characters," PEN America said in the report. Prior to the previous school year, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a House bill into law that created an official process for banning books. Libraries were also required to remove any books that were under review for claims of sexual content, as reported by El Pais. Florida's number of book bans accounts for nearly half of the more than 10,000 book bans implemented across the county. Only about 3,300 book bans were implemented nationwide during the prior school year. Following Florida, Iowa came in second for the most number of banned books, with PEN America reporting 3,671 in the previous school year. Texas came in third with 538 book bans. Originally published by Latin Times. Mainland slams Lai Ching-te's provocative move of transiting through Hawaii Xinhua) 10:57, November 29, 2024 BEIJING, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese defense spokesperson on Thursday slammed Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te's plan to transit through Hawaii during his so-called "visits" out of Taiwan. The Chinese military will resolutely crush any separatist attempt seeking "Taiwan independence" and thwart any external interference, Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, told a press briefing in response to Lai's transit plan. Noting that China firmly opposes any form of official interactions with its Taiwan region by any countries, Wu said the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities' political manipulation and provocation to seek "Taiwan independence" are doomed to fail and can never stop the historical trend of China's reunification. Wu also urged the U.S. side to abide by the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-U.S. joint communiques, stop sending wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, and take concrete actions to maintain China-U.S. relations and cross-Strait peace and stability. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) More than a dozen attorney generals in states across the country have come out in support of a student who was banned from wearing an anti-transgender shirt to school, and have called on the Supreme Court to hear the student's case. Friend-of-the-court briefs were filed by 18 mostly Republican-led states asking the Supreme Court to take student Liam Morrison's case after this lawyers filed a petition. A Boston Court of Appeals agreed with the previous decision that his rights were not violated in June, as reported by Boston.com. In March 2023, Morrison was sent home from his middle school after he refused to change his shirt which read "There are only two genders." He then later wore a "There are only censored genders" to the school, and was asked again to change his shirt, as reported by the Boston Herald. "This case isn't about T-shirts; it's about a public school telling a middle-schooler that he isn't allowed to express a view that differs from their own. The school actively promotes its view about gender through posters and 'Pride' events, and it encourages students to wear clothing with messages on the same topicso long as that clothing expresses the school's preferred views on the subject," David Cortman, senior counsel and vice president of U.S. Litigation for the conservative group Alliance Defending Freedom, said in a statement. South Carolina and West Virginia led the multi-state brief, which was also supported by Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Texas, Utah and Virginia. "By silencing L.M., the First Circuit created a speech-hostile standard thatcontrary to [Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District]allows schools to restrain even silent, passive displays of speech that cause no actual disruption," the brief reads. "It split from other circuits on issues like what facts a school must show to justify a restriction on student speech. And it effectively sanctioned viewpoint discrimination in public schools." In the Appeals Court ruling, the court stated that the school had been enforcing a dress code as the shirt reportedly had a "disruptive impact." The school's principal also reportedly told Morrison that students had reported feeling unsafe as a result of the shirt, as reported by the Herald. Meanwhile, the conservative groups and Morrison's lawyers argued that the school violated his freedom of speech, and that the alleged disruption mentioned by the school was not proven in court. Originally published by Latin Times. I have written time and again in the Mail about the many problems associated with Britain's experiment in uncontrolled mass migration. But these new figures have shaken me to my core. By anyone's reckoning, the latest numbers from the Office for National Statistics are simply staggering. In the year to June 2023, net migration is now calculated at 906,000, a record high and only a few tens of thousands shy of the deeply symbolic figure of one million. That sum was, of course, revised up from an earlier, already eye-watering estimate of 740,000, after the ONS's cack-handed statisticians simultaneously underestimated immigration which in reality stands at 1.3million and overestimated emigration, which accurately stands at 414,000. To me, a huge question mark now stands over the ONS's estimate for net migration in the year to June 2024, which it calculates at 728,000 supposedly a 20 per cent fall on the previous year. Does anyone seriously think that will happen? I suspect that this, too, will prove to be yet another gross underestimate, and that Britain's immigration crisis its gaping open border and the attendant social and economic costs that come with it will only worsen. Failed Because 906,000 really is a terrifying figure roughly equivalent to importing three cities the size of built-up Nottingham in a single year. And every last one of those people, incidentally, was brought here under the oversight of a Conservative government that has palpably failed to heed the repeatedly and powerfully expressed concerns of voters about the devastating impact of uncontrolled migration on infrastructure, services and community relations. In the year to June 2023, net migration is now calculated at 906,000, a record high Researcher Dr Rakib Ehsan suspects the ONS's estimate for net migration in the year to June 2024, which it calculates at 728,000, will prove to be yet another gross underestimate This week, the new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch sought to pre-empt criticism of her party's record on immigration, admitting that her colleagues had got it wrong. Fine words and she had the guts to say them but voters could have told her that for free. Under the last Tory administration from Boris Johnson's landslide in 2019 to Rishi Sunak's calamitous defenestration earlier this year net migration rose exponentially, from 184,000 to these latest gargantuan figures. And that is before we consider the ongoing small-boats emer-gency and the broken asylum system that exists alongside it. Put both together and even an economist of Rachel Reeves's abilities can grasp one simple truth: that a vast annual influx of people puts intolerable pressure on public services and an already struggling housing market. Last year, the Centre for Cities think-tank published a report suggesting that government failure and Britain's woeful planning system had combined to leave our nation short of a staggering 4.3million homes, a deficit that would take at least 50 years to fill, even if the Labour Government's much vaunted target of building 300,000 homes per year is met. And that is before you factor in ongoing immigration. If present trends continue, Migration Watch UK another apolitical think-tank that has always proved reliable in its forecasting calculates that the UK population will rise by at least 16 million, reaching up to 87 million people by 2046. Concreted That would require building no fewer than 15 new cities the size of Birmingham, a demand that all the brownfield sites in the country would never come close to meeting. Vast swathes of England particularly in the south, where many new migrants tend to live and work will need to be con-creted over. Those houses will also, of course, require essential amenities such as doctor's surgeries, shops, hospitals and schools. The 906,000 figure really is terrifying, roughly equivalent to importing three cities the size of Leicester in a single year If present trends continue, Migration Watch UK calculates that the UK population will rise by at least 16 million, reaching up to 87 million people by 2046 And there's another problem that the ONS's hastily revised figures don't reflect. The nature of our immigration influx is changing. Before Brexit, EU migrants predominated, with Poles, other eastern Europeans and latterly Romanians coming here in the greatest numbers. Now, non-EU migrants swell the ranks. In provisional figures for the year ending June 2024, one million of the overall total of 1.2million immigrants who have come into the UK were from non-EU countries such as India, Nigeria, Pakistan and China. More than half, 55 per cent, of the 'study' visas given to Nigerian nationals to come here were for their dependants and family. This is beyond bizarre. Why does someone coming to university in Britain need to bring their mum along with them and what possible benefit will she offer to the UK economy? The answer, very likely, is none. For years, we have all been cudgelled over the head by the claim that mass immigration somehow boosts economic growth a fiction that has become ever harder to maintain now that Britain's GDP per capita is now lower than Finland, Australia, Hong Kong and many others. Instead, our once-vibrant, forward-thinking economy has morphed into one of low growth, sclerosis and poor productivity, reliant on cheap foreign labour. And for a long time, we have been asked by politicians to swallow, wholesale, the mantra that 'diversity is our strength'. Not necessarily. Diversity is not a positive in and of itself it depends on which cultures are 'diversifying' the prevailing one, and what benefits or negatives they may bring with them. Low-skilled And this is not a picture borne out in many areas of the country, where swathes of low-skilled migrants live separately from the wider community packed in overcrowded housing, exploited by bosses and landlords alike. It is not helping the wider economy, and nor is it ethical and fair. So if you were tempted to take Keir Starmer at face value at yesterday's hastily assembled Press conference, and believe him when he said: 'We will get the numbers down,' I have a bridge to sell you. It was Labour, after all, who opened the floodgates to mass migration under Tony Blair. It is Labour activists, too, who were more likely to parrot the mantra 'refugees welcome', even when it became clear that large numbers of the illegal arrivals were male economic migrants rather than women and children fleeing war and persecution. And it is Labour that largely allowed a culture of benefits dependency to fester under Blair and Gordon Brown and shrieked at any attempts to reform welfare instead of arguing to upskill British workers. To move this fractious debate on, we need to be honest. It is time to be realistic about which migrants are net contributors and which are net takers to restore some 'quality control' to our immigration system. The future of Britain rests not on millions of migrants arriving on our shores every year, but on a new economic, social and political settlement. We must end our addiction to cheap foreign labour, and rehabilitate our country by investing in our own citizens at last. You could be forgiven for assuming that, after four consecutive Conservative election wins and a victory in the EU referendum for the Leave camp, net migration would have fallen drastically. Nothing could be further from the truth. Far from dropping, the number of people entering this country under successive Tory administrations spiralled out of control. In 2010, the year David Cameron took power, net migration stood at 252,000, a record high. By the time Rishi Sunak called in the removal men earlier this year, the equivalent figure had got within touching distance of one million a year 906,000 to be exact, a new all-time record. So what explains the leap? The migration debate in this country is often focused on illegal migration. The number of people who cross the Channel in small boats has certainly mushroomed in recent years, from virtually zero before 2018 to just shy of 30,000 last year. Yes, it is a disgrace that so many people are being allowed to enter Britain illegally and not sent back even if their asylum applications fail. But illegal migration forms a relatively small part of overall migration. While asylum applications have risen from 40,000 in 2016 to just over 100,000 per year now, this number still accounts for less than 10 per cent of the 1.2 million who arrived in the year to June 2024. The vast majority of migrants instead came to work (417,000) or study (375,000) all perfectly legally. The truth is that the spike in migration we have witnessed in recent years is largely down to a single piece of legislation introduced in August 2020 following the onset of the Covid pandemic. While net migration fell to just 111,000 in the year to mid-2020, thanks to the travel restrictions occasioned by the pandemic, the introduction of the health and care worker visa scheme by the then-Conservative government soon turbo-charged it. It is a disgrace that so many people are being allowed to enter Britain illegally, but illegal migration forms a relatively small part of overall migration. Pictured, migrants are helped ashore from an RNLI lifeboat in Dungeness in 2021 The visa scheme was intended to be a short-term measure to help the NHS recover from Covid but the visas were issued on very generous terms that enabled workers to bring dependents and boasted of offering a pathway to settlement should workers remain employed an offer that, not surprisingly, many eagerly took up. In December, 2021, the scheme was extended further ironically by then home secretary, Priti Patel, who was simultaneously promising to crack down on migration. It is, of course, ironic too that Boris Johnson the Leave camps most high profile Brexiteer, with its slogan of Take back control should have presided over such an apparent lack of control as prime minister in 2021. When Britain was in the EU, the immigration figures were dominated by workers from Eastern Europe. Having regained control of Britains migration policy, Boris moved to attract workers from further afield. In April 2022, he travelled to India to start negotiations on a trade deal with that country and was happy to use the prospect of a relaxation in migration as a bargaining chip. I have always been in favour of talented people coming to this country, the then-prime minister told reporters. We are short to the tune of hundreds of thousands of people in our economy and we need to have a progressive approach and we will. While asylum applications have risen from 40,000 in 2016 to just over 100,000 a year now, this number accounts for less than 10 per cent of the 1.2 million who arrived in the year to June 2024 As the number of people coming to Britain to work has increased sharply, so has the number of Britons who are out of work, something even Sir Keir Starmer appears to have recognised The health and care worker visa scheme had the effect of greatly increasing migration from developing nations. In the most recent year for which numbers are available, the countries which sent the most migrants were India (240,000), Nigeria (120,000), Pakistan (101,000), China (78,000) and Zimbabwe (36,000). While the influx of health workers has helped out the NHS, it put pressure on our over-subscribed public services, from GP surgeries and schools to public transport and the housing sector. It also presented an ethical issue, as poaching medical staff from developing countries denuded their own health systems. And was Britains economy really short of workers in any case? As the number of people coming to Britain to work has increased sharply, so the number of Britons who are out of work has risen commensurately. In November, 2018, there were 3.65 million people on out-of-work benefits (either Jobseekers Allowance, Incapacity Benefit or Universal Credit). That number has shot up to 5.79 million, much of it thanks to people being declared unfit to work. The rise began before either Brexit or Covid and seems to have coincided with significant numbers of people being moved on to Universal Credit. And many people appear to be gaming the system, something even Sir Keir Starmer appears to have recognised, as evidenced by his article promising to tackle worklessness. It seems to be far too easy to get written off in Work Capability Assessments many of which are conducted over the telephone rather than in person. Not that Starmer came up with a solution the Governments white paper on welfare reform published on Tuesday put off the problem to another day. The overall picture, then, is of Britain sucking in ever more migrant workers to take up jobs which employers are struggling to fill because increasing numbers of Britain are being signed off sick. It is very different from what the Leave campaign promised in 2016. Brexit should have helped Britain to reduce migration, over which it had no control while we were in the EU. Instead, our government and authorities are looking even more powerless than before. Vested interests were doing their thing vesting away in a Lords debate about the politicisation of Whitehall. Up popped the late Queens top flunkey to disclose that Her Majesty was lucky not to have been bumped off by Boris Johnson. Lord Young of Old Windsor, who is indeed only 58, was on his way home from Buckingham Palace one night in April 2020, soon after Boris was hospitalised with Covid. Youngs mobile rang. It was No 10s principal private secretary, the excellent Martin Reynolds, reporting that the PMs bodyguards had overheard doctors discussing his illness. He was going to be moved to intensive care, possibly to a ventilator. The principal private secretary thought The Queens private secretary might like to know this hot gossip. That is how HM learned of the mortal peril facing her head of government. Monarch and PM had been scheduled to have a face-to-face audience just days earlier. Boris (not yet aware he was infected) had been all for it; ditto the Queen, citing Blitz spirit. Aides were more doubtful. The in-person audience was only cancelled when Young and Reynolds each told their respective bosses that the other protagonist had developed second thoughts. But for that fib, noted Lord Young, drily, history might have taken another, constitutionally taxing path. He produced the story to show that officials should serve the Crown before their ministerial bosses. Well, that was his line. It is not impossible he also relished telling a good yarn. The debate opened with Lord Butler, the mandarinates shop steward emeritus, pouring sand into Sir Keir Starmers turn-ups. Former Cabinet Secretary Butler alleged that political appointees, led by Sir Keirs bearded henchman Morgan McSweeney, have seized the levers of No 10. Lord Butler was unhappy that ultra-political The late Queens top flunkey disclosed that Her Majesty was lucky not to have been bumped off by Boris Johnson Monarch and Boris had been scheduled to have a face-to-face audience just days earlier. Boris (not yet aware he was infected) had been all for it; ditto the Queen, citing Blitz spirit. Aides were more doubtful Sir Edward Young, Private Secretary to Queen Elizabeth II. Lord Young of Old Windsor, who is indeed only 58, was on his way home from Buckingham Palace one night in April 2020, soon after Boris was hospitalised with Covid. Youngs mobile rang Jonathan Powell was now National Security Adviser. I make no criticism of him, insisted his lordship in the classic, airy manner. This was, please, merely about principles of objectivity. The words Labour is up to its filthy politicisation tricks again went entirely unuttered. Lord Butler feared Sir Keir was taking us towards a Trumpian world in which spotless officialdom was barged aside by partisanship. Lord Mandelson (Lab), his usual cocktail of oil and acid, argued that things were worse under the Tories. But Lord Butlers remarks met with nodding from his fellow crossbencher Lady Shafik. Recently, she was mentioned as a contender to be Sir Keirs next Cabinet Secretary, but she has faded in the betting. Maybe she took one look at itchy-pitchy Brother McSweeney and decided the job was not for her. A Blairite, Lady Morgan of Huyton, shouted her way through a speech. Its thesis that Whitehall impartiality had nothing to fear from Labour was hardly bolstered by her numerous anti-Tory barbs. Voice like a toothpick, Lady Morgan. Lord Turnbull, another ex-Cabinet Secretary, disliked the chief-of-staff role currently adorned by Mr McSweeney. Like chewing gum and Halloween, an unwelcome import from the United States, murmured Lord Turnbull. Lord Wilson, yet another ex-Cabinet Secretary, sank his considerable teeth into Sir Keir by saying: I think No 10 is going awry. Lord Bichard, a former permanent secretary, conceded that Whitehall was often pretty hopeless and struggled with the concept of openness. Peachy understatement. Lady Fox (Non-Aff) tilted against Whitehall wokery. Rainbow lanyards and preferred pronouns were highly political, she argued. Lord Moore Lord Mandelson (Lab), his usual cocktail of oil and acid, argued that things were worse under the Tories (Non-Aff) likewise noted that mandarins did nothing to stop their underlings supporting the sharply Left-wing Black Lives Matter movement. Lord Liddle (Lab), Europhile, wished we were more European. Lord Maude (Con) quoted himself. Crossbencher Lady Prashar (aka Lady Crasher) bored for Britain. And former judge Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd (Crossbencher) spoke about judges, but it was hard to concentrate on his words because he kept whipping his glasses on and off. Must have done it 20 times in a couple of minutes. I was terrified hed jab out his eyes. Such indecision. In restaurants his wife must be driven mad waiting for him to choose a starter. A doctor has revealed four broad symptom groups that suggest you could have Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). BPD is a personality disorder which, according to the American Psychological Association, is 'characterised by a long-standing pattern of instability in mood, interpersonal relationships, and self-image that is severe enough to cause extreme distress or interfere with social and occupational functioning'. The condition is also referred to by some as Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD). UK-based GP and TikTok content creator Dr Ahmed, who has more than 280,000 followers on the platform, where he uses the handle @drasays, discussed the disorder in a video. According to the medic, terms like 'split personality' and 'personality disorder' are 'thrown around in everyday use', but often inaccurately. UK-based GP and TikTok creator Dr Ahmed (pictured) discussed four groups of symptoms related to BPD in a video on the platform Specifically referring to BPD, he said in the video: 'Let's explain more. So borderline personality disorder can cause a wide array of symptoms, but [they can] broadly can be grouped into one of four categories.] He then went on to outline the four categories. 1. Emotional instability According to Dr Ahmed, the first group of symptoms relates to emotional instability. He explained: 'This is where you can cycle through emotions very quickly, from shame, sorrow or despair. 'Now it's not uncommon for people with BPD to feel completely suicidal and then in a couple of hours, feel elated. 'However, the key point to note is the mood swings can be completely unpredictable.' 2. Disturbed patterns of thinking The GP (pictured) said you should speak to your doctor if you think you may have the disorder, as if you have BPD, they 'need to refer you to the mental health team' 'In the second type you may have disturbed patterns of thinking,' the medic explained in the video. He continued: '[This] can cause visual and auditory hallucinations.' WHAT IS BPD? BPD is a personality disorder characterised by a long-standing pattern of instability in mood, interpersonal relationships, and self-image that is severe enough to cause extreme distress or interfere with social and occupational functioning. Among the manifestations of this disorder are: (a) Self-damaging behaviour (e.g., gambling, overeating, substance use) (b) Intense but unstable relationships (c) Uncontrollable temper outbursts (d) Uncertainty about self-image, gender, goals, and loyalties (e) shifting moods (f) Self-defeating behaviour, such as fights, suicidal gestures, or self-mutilation (g) Chronic feelings of emptiness and boredom. Source: American Psychological Association Advertisement 3. Impulsivity Describing the third group of symptoms as ones which can be 'particularly challenging', Dr Ahmed said this group was about impulsivity. He explained: 'So you may have a sudden urge or impulse to do reckless things.' These, he added, could include behaviours including binge drinking or taking drugs among others. 'Concerningly, [you may] have an impulse to self harm,' he noted. 4. Relationship instability Moving onto the fourth group of symptoms, Dr Ahmed listed relationship instability. 'Generally,' he explained, 'It tends to involve people with BPD being not able to let people go or have a feeling that they're going to be left alone. 'This can involve constant texting or calling. 'Or, worst case scenario, threatening to kill themselves if somebody is going to leave them.' Going on to discuss the disorder itself further, he noted that 'we don't know the cause of BPD, but it tends to be a mixture of genetics and environmental factors'. He added that there are theories that 'a lot of people [with] BPD may well have had some trauma in the past, either in their childhood or adult life.' When it comes to what you should do if you suspect you have the disorder, he said: 'Please go into your doctor, because we need to refer you to the mental health team. 'Treatment can vary, but generally involves intense therapies that are specialist.' He added that while 'medication has not been proven to be fully effective', mood stabilisers 'can be used if you're having particularly huge mood swings'. The Princess of Wales has issued a moving message of support to those suffering from addiction. Emphasising the importance of 'simple acts of kindness' and understanding, Catherine said it was important not to 'judge or criticise' those affected but to understand they are suffering from a 'serious mental health condition'. The Princess, who announced in September that she would make a slow and measured return to royal duties after completing a course of preventative chemotherapy following major abdominal surgery in January, issued a message in her role as Patron of the Forward Trust to support Addiction Awareness Week, which begins tomorrow. She writes: 'It has been heartening to see that progress is still being made to end the stigma surrounding those battling addiction. For too long, many have suffered in silence, harbouring feelings of shame and guilt about their condition, despite their vulnerability. 'Everyone suffering from addiction is another human being, with a story of their own, which many of us don't understand or see. 'It is not our place to judge or criticise, we must take the time to sit by someone's side, learning the values of love and empathy. 'Being a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen, these simple acts of kindness are crucial in breaking down the misunderstandings that so many face. ' The princess insisted that addiction was 'not a choice' and that no-one was immune from its grip. The Princess of Wales, 42, has delivered a powerful new message about addiction and recovery for Taking Action on Addiction In a message that the Prince and Princess of Wales have reshared on X, mother-of-three Kate encourages people to show empathy towards those battling addiction The Princess of Wales has issued a moving message of support to those suffering from addiction. Kate is pictured in October meeting the families of those who were victims of the Southport attacks Kate is pictured talking to families of recovered addicts at the launch of the Forward Trust's Taking Action on Addiction in 2021 She added: 'Addiction is not a choice. It is a serious mental health condition that could affect any one of us. By acting with humility and compassion we can all make a difference and support those who are suffering. 'Many charities up and down the country are guiding individuals and families through the toughest of times. But they cannot do it alone. 'It is up to each and every one of us to change the way we think about and consider the many people coping with addiction. Because recovery is possible.' The princess will be seen next week as she takes part in her most significant public engagement since she effectively withdrew from public duties to focus on her health at the start of the year. She and Prince William will represent the King at the State Visit of the Amir of Qatar, greeting the ruler and his wife at their London residence and escorting them to Horse Guards for an official ceremonial welcome. She is also working on last minute arrangements for next Friday's 'Together At Christmas' annual carol service at Westminster Abbey. Royal aides said today's message around the importance of empathy will also be a theme of the service. The princess insisted that addiction was 'not a choice' and that no-one was immune from its grip. Pictured visiting Brynawel Rehabilitation in 2023 Kate pictured during the first annual gala dinner in recognition of Addiction Awareness Week in 2019 The princess said: 'It is up to each and every one of us to change the way we think about and consider the many people coping with addiction. Because recovery is possible.' Pictured in 2019 attending a gala in recognition of Addiction Awareness Week Working with those suffering from addiction has long been an issue high up on the Princess's agenda. Addiction Awareness Week is something she has advocated strongly in the past. She has been at the forefront of Addiction Awareness Week for several years running, offering her support and heartfelt words to those battling addiction. Since the very beginning of her royal tenure, Catherine has been passionate about the issue. One of the first charities of which she became a patron of was Action on Addiction. The princess has also been a patron of the Forward Trust since 2021, which offers support via an online chat service for people struggling with addiction, as well as other social issues including homelessness, unemployment and criminal offences. According the charity, 45 per of British adults aged 18 to 75 - around 22 million people - have either experienced addiction or dependency on alcohol, drugs, medication, gambling or sex themselves or are close to someone who has. Last year, Catherine visited a prison in Surrey ahead of the annual month to raise awareness about addiction. The princess shadowed a family during a normal visit, where she served usual protocol and was checked my sniffer dogs. There, she heard of the work the Forward Trust were doing to rehabilitate prisoners including a Stepping Stones programme to help those maintain abstinence from alcohol and drugs. The Princess of Wales during a visit to Brynawel Rehabilitation Centre near the town of Pontyclun, Mid Glamorgan, to hear about the work they do to support those struggling with the effects of drug and alcohol addiction in Feb 2023 At the event three years ago, Catherine spoke to TV presenters Ant and Dec, with the former opening up about his previous experience battling addiction to painkillers The Duchess of Cambridge talking to families of recovered addicts at the launch of the Forward Trust's Taking Action on Addiction campaign at BAFTA, London. Picture date: Tuesday October 19, 2021 In 2021, Kate and William visited homeless charity The Passage, speaking to frontline workers about challenges including drug addiction and mental health issues The Princess of Wales pats a dog during a visit to Brynawel Rehabilitation Centre in February 2023 The theme for last year's Addiction Awareness Week was 'Everyone Knows Someone', recognising the widespread impact it has on everyone. At the time, the princess said: 'This year, we are reflecting on how 'Everyone Knows Someone' affected by addiction. 'I hope, by talking more openly, we can consider the people in our own lives and communities who have been impacted. 'Addiction affects people in so many ways beyond that one person who is experiencing it themselves - be they parents, children, siblings, friends or neighbours. 'By understanding their experiences, and starting from a position of compassion and empathy, we can help to break the cycle. 'Addiction is not a choice. It is a serious mental health condition. And with the right support delivered by wonderful charities like The Forward Trust, recovery is possible,' she concluded. In 2021, Catherine also supported the charity's Taking Action on Addiction Awareness week. At an event held by Forward Trust, the then Duchess of Cambridge delivered a passionate speech on the devastating impact of addiction, while emphasising the importance of battling misinformation. At the event three years ago, Catherine spoke to TV presenters Ant and Dec, with the former opening up about his previous experience battling addiction to painkillers. The Princess of Wales, 42, continued her return to public duties as she attended Remembrance events earlier this month The Princess of Wales will host her annual Christmas carol concert this year, Kensington Palace has announced. Pictured at the 2022 service This year the campaign is focusing on the fact that addiction affects everyone, but recovery is possible. Running from November 20 to December 7, and now in its fourth year, the campaign will provide an intense focus on addiction and recovery and its impact on people in the media. It comes after the Princess of Wales paid tribute to aspiring photographer Liz Hatton, who passed away yesterday morning at the age of 17. Liz, from Harrogate, Yorkshire, died in the early hours of Tuesday morning, her mother Vicky Robayna, announced on X/Twitter last night, after a battle with desmoplastic small round cell tumour, a rare and extremely aggressive form of cancer. Posting a heartfelt message on the same social media platform, as well as their Instagram story, the royal couple wrote: 'We are so sorry to hear that Liz Hatton has sadly passed away. It was an honour to have met such a brave and humble young woman. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with Liz's parents Vicky and Aaron and her brother Mateo at this unimaginably difficult time.' The parents-of-three signed off the message with their initials, 'W & C', indicating they had written the tribute personally. Tragically, Liz passed away days before she was due to celebrate an early Christmas with her family. Speaking to the Mail last night, Vicky said: 'Our lovely Liz died in the early hours of this morning. She remained determined to her last. Even yesterday she was telling me that I had better get nurses sorted so she could do more things. Liz Hatton made headlines after she was invited to Windsor Castle to photograph an investiture, where she found herself meeting the Prince and Princess of Wales The Prince and Princess of Wales posted on X/Twitter to share their sadness at the death of Liz Hatton, who passed away in the early ours of Wednesday morning Liz Hatton, the talented teen photographer who moved the royals with her candid cancer journey, has passed away aged 'She went out in a blaze of glory with almost everyone she cared out seeing her for the last time at her exhibition last week.' Kate, an amateur photographer herself, first met Liz at Windsor Castle at the beginning of October, when the 17-year-old was invited by the Prince and Princess of Wales to take photos of Prince William carrying out investitures that day - giving her the chance to capture famous faces including Mark Cavendish. Earlier this month, the Princess of Wales attended events for remembrance as she continues her slow and measured return to royal duties following her treatment for chemotherapy. She has also been confirmed to be hosting her annual Together At Christmas carol concert on Christmas Eve on ITV. It was a normal Thursday evening when Sarah* and her husband Guy* plonked themselves on their sofa after a day at work with a cup of tea each. There was nothing extraordinary about this particular evening their two teenagers were in their rooms and the TV was in the background. The conversation turned to their sixteen-year-old son, who had just started dating a girl in his class. 'We need to remind him of the birds and bees chat!' laughed Sarah. 'Weren't you about his age when you lost your virginity to your girlfriend?' There was silence before the words tumbled out. 'I was 10. I was just a little kid. I was abused by a neighbour,' said Guy. 'I'm sorry. I have never told you.' What happened next is between Guy and Sarah - who are both in their early 40s and work in education - but what I can tell you is that there was shock, sadness, tears and pain. They had been together for 18 years. How could Guy have kept his secret from Sarah for so many years? How did Sarah not know this about her husband and in what ways could she now support the man she loved? In her former life as a high-class escort, journalist Amanda Goff (pictured) encountered many men who confessed to her they were sexually abused as children. It remains a taboo issue for men, who often go their entire lives without telling a soul what happened to them If you think this is an uncommon scenario, think again. Similar tales are all over TikTok, where women are encouraging each other to ask the men in their lives the same question: 'When did you lose your virginity?' The viral trend sheds light on the worrying number of men whose first sexual experience was abuse. In many cases, the men don't even realise they were exploited. The statistics on the exploitation of young boys in Australia are terrifying. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, one in six boys (and one in five girls) have been abused; and one in seven kids before the age of 18 will be targeted. Adam Washbourne is the founder of FACAA (Fighters Against Child Abuse Australia) and runs the 'Phoenix' program where victim-survivors take part in what Adam describes as 'empowering' activities like martial arts to help them heal from their trauma. 'Statistically speaking, roughly four kids in every classroom in Australia are being abused,' Adam, 43, tells me. 'It's happening right now in every street and in every suburb. Child abuse doesn't discriminate, rich, poor, older, younger.' Gone are the days of 'perverts' being dirty old men in trench coats, the creepy uncle or family friend, or the man with the 'puppies' in his van: paedophiles are grooming kids on the internet they are infiltrating your living room, they are in your child's bedroom. 'These predators are coming straight into your house today,' says Adam. 'They're invading your son's computer games, when they're playing Roblox or Fortnite. They can spot a vulnerable child a mile off. Don't for one minute think because your son is in his bedroom, he's safe. Vigilance and communication with your kids is key to stopping abusers.' Adam Washbourne, 43, is the founder of FACAA (Fighters Against Child Abuse Australia). He warns that abuse is becoming more prevalent as social media and online video games make it easier than ever for predators to access children in their own bedrooms Abused boys, of course, become adult men. Many of them keep their childhood trauma a shameful secret and shoulder the burden alone for the rest of their lives. Tragically, I've had experience with this first-hand. In my former life as the high-class escort Samantha X, men from all different backgrounds have confessed to me through tears their devastating secret - that they were groomed and abused at a young age, and they've spent decades trying to forget what happened to them. Some men feel they can tell a stranger, like me, about their abuse more easily than those they love. While some tell their wives, my experience is that most fight their demons alone. Let me tell you about John*, a banker now in his fifties, who told me he had been abused by a Catholic priest as a teenager. He never told his (now ex) wife of 30 years because he 'didn't want to upset her'. And Billy*, a construction worker in his forties, who had been groomed and abused for years by three older men, starting from the age of 12. Both had never told a soul, both felt ashamed and 'dirty', and both had spent their lives questioning their sexuality, not to mention blaming themselves. I weep for these men, and the many more who are unhappily married or unable to form healthy relationships because of what happened to them. Some, tragically, end their lives. 'Some men feel they can tell a stranger, like me, about their abuse more easily than the people they love,' writes Amanda (this is a stock photo posed by models) Resources for victims Speak to your GP to obtain a referral to see a psychologist or psychiatrist. Disclose the abuse to a loved one Speak with a lawyer for advice. 'Speaking out will not only release them from the secret they have been keeping for eternity but will mostly likely result in another innocent child being saved,' says Andrew. Know that this was not your fault and there is nothing to be embarrassed about in coming forward. Contact organisations like FACAA or SAMSN (Survivors & Mates Support Network) Facaaus.org Seawaycounselling.com.au Websterslawyers.com.au Samsn.org.au Advertisement Andrew Carpenter, senior associate for Webster Lawyers in South Australia, was once named 'the man most hated by Australian child sex offenders' by a newspaper for spearheading a campaign for a national sex offenders register. He has also pushed for offenders' superannuation to be made accessible to their victims. 'Talking about child sexual abuse is still such a taboo subject for men,' Andrew tells me. 'Despite sex offenders being universally despised, victim-survivors feel they will be judged or not believed, which is not the case.' Women have movements like #MeToo, where they can speak out publicly about their abuse, but often men stay silent, terrified of being labelled as weak or even gay. 'We feel a lot of guilt and shame that we let that happen to us, but nothing could be further from the truth,' says Adam. Men want to be seen as tough. They don't talk about their feelings. They are supposed to be strong, and they certainly don't ever want to make themselves vulnerable - a sentiment echoed by psychotherapist Julie Sweet of Seaway Counselling and Psychotherapy. 'Shame consistently emerges as a recurring theme in therapy,' says Julie, a therapist of 12 years who worked closely with survivors of child sexual abuse for the Royal Commission. It takes on average 22 years for men to speak out, she reveals. 'The experience of abuse can be isolating, consuming and overwhelming. Shame and embarrassment, along with anger, repeatedly surface and impact relationships, work and family. In men, this often manifests as hypervigilance, reactivity, post-traumatic stress responses, emotional dysregulation, anxiety and depression.' Julie has worked with men who have never disclosed their abuse to police, family, friends or their adult children. 'Many have shared that disclosing their abuse would make them feel embarrassed and weak, fearing that their partners, family or friends' perception of them would shift and their relationships would be impacted,' she explains. 'Some express concerns that their children might develop a fear of them, or that they in fact fear themselves.' The trauma these men experienced as little boys has devastating effects later in life. 'Men may experience a range of symptoms, including somatic symptoms (physical/body), avoidance or withdrawal, instability, dissociation, emotional dysregulation, disorders, maladaptive coping strategies (self-medication through alcohol and other drugs or gambling), and more,' adds Julie. So, as women, how can we help our brothers, friends, partners and husbands? 'As men, we need women,' Adam says. 'Not just as partners but as support. If a man - not necessarily your partner - discloses to you that he was abused as a child, listen to him, let him speak, understand that disclosures are an evolving process so the exact details may not be 100 per cent the same as when he first spoke.' And respond with love and non-judgement, adds Julie. 'Actively listen without making assumptions. Allow your partner to share as he is ready. Ask questions from a place of empathy, not interrogation.' She recommends using phrases like 'I believe you', 'I'm so glad you shared with me', and 'tell me more.' 'Men want to be heard, they want to be seen, and most importantly, they want to be believed.' Gone are the days of sweeping uncomfortable topics under the carpet. Times are changing, and what used to be taboo topics decades ago are being widely discussed. 'Twenty years ago, people didn't talk about mental health, ten years ago people didn't talk about suicide, five years ago people didn't talk about domestic violence,' Andrew tells me. 'It's time we have uncomfortable conversations around uncomfortable topics to prevent future offending.' The Prince and Princess of Wales will celebrate Christmas at Sandringham with King Charles and the rest of the royal family following a tumultuous year for them. On Friday, The Mirror reported that William and Kate, both 42, will join senior members of The Firm for the annual Christmas Day Service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham on December 25. It will be a special Christmas for the family as they come together after what has been a difficult year following Charles, 76, and Kate's back-to-back cancer diagnoses. Sources told the newspaper Charles, who is currently in Sandringham, is 'delighted' that the whole family will be together for the holidays - with the monarch reportedly overseeing the planning himself. One insider said: 'The King is embracing the Christmas period already and really getting into the spirit. Staff who have seen him this week remarked how happy and healthy he was looking.' Charles and Camilla are reportedly spending the weekend at the Norfolk estate, with one source explaining how Charles is 'enjoying time outdoors' as he continues his cancer treatment. Charles was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer earlier this year while undergoing treatment for an enlarged prostate. It will be a special Christmas for the family as they come together after what has been a difficult year - following Charles, 76, and Kate's back-to-back cancer diagnoses Catherine, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales, Prince George of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales attend the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on December 25, 2023 in Sandringham, Norfolk William previously described 2024 as the 'hardest year of my life' as the future King opened up about the health challenges faced by his father and wife. Kate was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer after she was admitted to the London Clinic in Marylebone for an abdominal operation in January. While Charles is still undergoing treatment, the future Queen announced she has completed a preventative course of chemotherapy - and will make a gradual return to public life following the diagnosis. Reports about the Royal Family's Christmas plans come days after it was reported that Kate will undertake her most significant public engagement since she began cancer treatment as she welcomes the Emir of Qatar for his official state visit to the UK next month. Catherine will accompany her husband Prince William to officially greet the Emir and his wife, Sheikha Jawaher, at their residence on December 3 and accompany them to Horse Guards Parade for a stunning ceremonial welcome. The King and Queen will be waiting to greet the guests before accompanying them back to Buckingham Palace. It is expected that the princess, who announced in September a slow and measured return to public life after the completion of her preventative chemotherapy treatment, will join the Royal Family at the palace for lunch. But it has been confirmed that she will not attend a glittering State Banquet in the evening. The Prince and Princess of Wales during a visit to Southport Community Centre on October 10 The Princess of Wales will undertake her most significant public engagement since she began cancer treatment next month Catherine will accompany her husband to officially greet the Emir and his wife, Sheikha Jawaher, at their residence on December 3 and accompany them to Horse Guards Parade for a ceremonial welcome A royal source described the announcement of her attendance at some elements of the visit, however, as 'good news'. The princess has attended a number of high profile events such as Trooping the Colour, Remembrance events and Wimbledon over the last eleven months since she effectively withdrew from public life to focus on her health. But next month's appearance will be her most significant so far given that she will be playing an active role in events. 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The commander was first appointed to the household in 2020, when William and Kate were Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and continued in the role when they became the Prince and Princess of Wales. After being loyally by William's side for four years as his right-hand man, he is now set to return to his post in the Royal Navy. Sharing a moving post to his LinkedIn account this morning as he prepares to step down as equerry, the officer thanked the Prince for the 'incredible opportunity' and reinforced his continuing commitment to 'Team Wales'. He accompanied his post with some touching images from his time in the role, such as laughing alongside the Princess of Wales during her Christmas event in 2022, and joining Prince William and Prince George for the Platinum Jubilee. Mr Dixon wrote: 'Its time to move on Ive had the most incredible opportunity to serve in a role that not only challenged me, but allowed me to grow, to learn, and to make meaningful contributions alongside a talented and passionate team. 'I am immensely grateful for the support, collaboration, and friendships formed during these last 4 years. Its been a remarkable journey and I look forward to carrying the skills and insights Ive gained into my next appointments.' He went on to reflect on the momentous events he had been involved in during his role, including the Platinum Jubilee, King Charles's coronation and the funerals of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Prince William 's dashing royal equerry Rob Dixon has shared an emotional message to LinkedIn as he prepares to bid farewell to the role (pictured in September) As royal equerry, Rob Dixon has been by Prince William and Kate's sides for many a royal event. Pictured at Together At Christmas in December 2022 He continued: 'There were engagements when our whole Household was involved, every single person, and there were times when I was quite rightly standing alone, calling the shots and backing the shots Id taken. 'Its now time to swap the top hat and tails for daily working rig once again, and its the right thing to do. An Equerrys role is finite, and handing over to an enthusiastic fresh set of eyes is all part of the process. 'The aim of any military role should be to serve, lead and support your team, strive for success, then move onwards and upwards; Im excited to do just that. I will be forever grateful to everyone who played their part alongside me in Team Cambridge and Team Wales, and also to my superb Principals. I wish you all fair winds and following seas.' Equerries are officers from one of the three branches of the Armed Forces who are seconded to assist senior royals in the course of their royal duties. This involves organising and helping out at public engagements, to arranging official diaries - with about six of them working in the Royal Household at any one time. The role dates back to the 16th century and aims to reinforce the Crown's role as Head of the Armed Forces. It is usually held for three years. Mr Dixon is heading back to the Royal Navy after four years. Prince William's new equerry will be Squadron Leader Mike Reynolds, who is also a trained helicopter pilot and on secondment from the Royal Air Force. Sharing a moving post to his LinkedIn account this morning as he prepares to step down as equerry, the officer thanked the Prince for the 'incredible opportunity' Royal fans have previously gushed over Mr Dixon when he appears at royal events. Pictured November 2022 Prince Harry, Prince William, King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Peter Phillips and Rob Dixon gather at Windsor Castle during the Committal Service for Queen Elizabeth II held at St George's Chapel on September 19, 2022 He was by the royals' side for a vigil for Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. Pictured right, alongside Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh and Prince Edward Mr Dixon highlighted the opportunity of playing a 'small role' in momentous royal events, such as the Platinum Jubilee in 2022 (pictured) WHAT IS A ROYAL EQUERRY? Equerries are officers from one of the three branches of the Armed Forces who are seconded to assist senior royals in the course of their royal duties. This involves organising and helping out at public engagements, to arranging official diaries - with about six of them working in the Royal Household at any one time. The role dates back to the 16th century and aims to reinforce the Crown's role as Head of the Armed Forces. It is usually held for three years. There are around six equerries working for the Royal Household at a time and they are recruited from the Armed Forces to assist key members of the monarchy at public engagements. It is thought that the royals choose their own equerries. King Charles's equerry is Major Jonathan Thompson. Prince William's new equerry will be Squadron Leader Mike Reynolds after Rob Dixon steps down. Historically, equerries were in charge of the stables and the position has only ever been held by men. They are usually considered to be a royal's right-hand man and act as 'eyes and ears' for the crown. Famously, Captain Peter Townsend was royal equerry to King George VI. His relationship with Princess Margaret was later dramatised in Netflix series The Crown. Advertisement Mr Dixon was appointed to the Royal Household in September 2020, working as an equerry for Prince William, according to his LinkedIn account. A source previously said how Lieutenant Commander Dixon was a 'confident' member of the royal household and added: 'He and William work really well together, not least because they are both helicopter nuts.' The military man, who attended Dr Challoner's Grammar School in Amersham, followed by the Joint Services Command and Staff College in Shrivenham, has spent almost 24 years working for the Royal Navy. His CV boasts an impressive list of roles, including Helicopter Instructor, and Wildcat HMA Mk2 Pilot. While describing himself as 'mostly operating as a leader', he has noted that he also 'operates well as part of the team'. In 2015, he was awarded a Green Endorsement, being commended for 'the speed of thought, judgement and total professionalism with which he dealt with a compounding series of circumstances'. Royal fans previously went wild after Mr Dixon was spotted chatting to King Charles's hunky equerry at Ascot in June 2023. The King's Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Thompson of the 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland was spotted in top hat and tails chatting to Mr Dixon. William the Prince of Wales at the funeral of Sir Bobby Charlton at Manchester Cathedral, November 2023 Mr Dixon is pictured left Britain's William, Prince of Wales, arrives at the Houses of Parliament to attend a vigil during Britain's Queen Elizabeth lying-in-state Kate is pictured with Rob Dixon during Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021 Zara Phillips, Michael Middleton, Carole Middleton, Pippa Middleton, James Matthews and Rob Dixon attend the 'Together at Christmas' Carol Service at Westminster Abbey on December 15, 2022 The lieutenant commander was first appointed to the household in 2020, when William and Kate were Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Pictured in March this year 'Rob Dixon alert!' one royal fan wrote on Twitter. 'Thanks to the wonderful [photographer] Chris Jackson who understands the needs of the public,' said another. Following Queen Elizabeth's death in September 2022, he was snapped at events including the vigil at Westminster Hall, where the Queen's grandchildren stood at the monarch's casket. The officer was spotted cheering with William at the Euros earlier this year. Meanwhile pictures from July 2022 showed the equerry smiling as he attended a polo match in Surrey with Prince William. Meanwhile an April 2021 snap showed him with the Princess of Wales during the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle. In 2015, he was awarded a Green Endorsement, being commended for 'the speed of thought, judgement and total professionalism with which he dealt with a compounding series of circumstances'. A MasterChef winner is closing his restaurant after only three years, revealing that 'it's time to move on' - and focus on fatherhood. Stu Deeley, from Birmingham, took home the trophy in 2019 - and in 2021, opened his own eatery, titled Smoke at luxury hotel Hampton Manor, in Solihull. It promised diners 'wood fired feasts' and seasonal produce which is 'cooked with creative simplicity and soul'. However, the cook has now announced, in an Instagram post that 'all good things must come to an end'. 'After nearly 4 years at @hamptonmanor and over 3 years of @smoke_hamptonmanor it's time for me to move on,' he penned. 'It wasn't an easy decision to make. After winning Masterchef in 2019. Then, immediately going into a pandemic. When Smoke opened in August 2021, it really did become a home away from home. 'Seeing the amazing people that have passed through the team and the encouragement we have received from guests and guides alike, and I'm over the moon to say we are still as busy as ever.' Stu thanked the wider team at both the restaurant and James and Fjona Hill - who own the manor - for their help over the years, and promised he will be cooking for New Year's Eve at the manor. Stu Deeley, from Birmingham , took home the trophy in 2019 - and in 2021, opened his own eatery, titled Smoke at luxury hotel Hampton Manor, in Solihull A MasterChef winner is closing his restaurant after only three years, revealing that 'it's time to move on' - and focus on fatherhood Stu thanked the wider team at both the restaurant and James and Fjona Hill - who own the manor - for their help over the years, and promised he will be cooking for New Year's Eve at the manor Smoke will also 'continue as normal' until February 23. 'What's next for Smokes Location will be amazing as @jamesandfjona will never settle for anything less,' he continued. However, he revealed that a big focus of his at the moment will be welcoming his new baby. 'I will let you all in on what's next when the times are right, but for now... we have baby Deeley on the way,' the chef wrote. 'So my focus will be on Nursery's and baby proofing the house (3rd and final baby, hope you're listening Tash). Merry Christmas, you filthy Animals! Stu.' In a social media post, Hampton Manor also confirmed the news, writing: 'As an estate, we're constantly evolving and we're excited to share that 2025 will be no exception. On February 27, we're opening Kynd, a new, produce-led restaurant, celebrating the joy of food through simple, thoughtful cooking. From our own Michelin-starred chef, @david_taylorchef, expect generous dishes, rooted in comfort, heritage and flavour. 'Kynd will open on the current site of @smoke_hamptonmanor, and after four soul-filled years on the estate, @stuart_deeley will be moving on from Hampton Manor. It promised diners 'wood fired feasts' and seasonal produce which is 'cooked with creative simplicity and soul' Commenters were heartbroken to learn of the restaurant's fate, writing that they'd had some of their best meals there 'We're hugely grateful for Stu's contribution to the estate throughout his time with us. Putting the old furnace house on the map, Stu has led Smoke from strength to strength, achieving 3 AA rosettes, some exceptional reviews and gaining a sizeable fan club. 'Before embarking on his next project, Stu will be taking time out with his family, to coincide with the birth of his third child. We know you'll join us in wishing Stu and his wife all the very best for what is bound to be a bright future.' Stu opened Smoke in 2021, after plans were put on hold during the pandemic. He had planned to launch the restaurant in the summer of 2020, in the city, but an investor pulled out. The culinary star had initially joined the manor's restaurant, Peel's, as sous chef - before going on to become its development chef. Speaking of the opening three years ago, Stu gushed of the 'amazing feeling'. 'I think as I've got older and as if I've kind of been cooking for longer, I really just like food that's slightly simpler,' he told the BBC. 'I'm not so interested in foams and gels and whatever any more. I just want a really nice cooked piece of meat and some really nice veg to go on the side.' He added: 'I'm just fortunate that we didn't open and then had to close. 'I'm a big believer in fate and I think if you dwell on the fact that something didn't happen, then you're gonna spend your life regretting missed opportunities that you could go for instead.' As per Hampton Manor's website, Smoke is 'the honest setting of the old furnace house where you can shake off your best manners and dig in'. It also reads: 'The space invites convivial gatherings and romance with its rustic charm, fire pits, greenhouses and stripped back vibe.' Commenters were heartbroken to learn of the restaurant's fate, writing that they'd had some of their best meals there. 'Good luck @stuart_deeley, enjoy some family time and looking forward to hear about the new chapter,' one penned. Another added: 'Good luck mate had one of the best meals of 2024 at Smoke, big love to you at the team.' Elsewhere, a third wrote: 'Love it bro, and well done!! Loved every meal we had with you x.' Stu has previously opened up about wanting to be a chef as young as 14. Speaking to Great British Chefs, he revealed: 'I started watching Gordon Ramsay, Ready Steady Cook, almost any TV cooking programme. I became obsessed with the idea.' He got his start working in a cafe, and before long was being trained at Jamie's Italian in the city. Next came a three-year stint at Brockencote Hall Hotel in Kidderminster, and after that, Simpsons in Edgbaston. He has also worked at Mallory Court Hotel and Alex Claridge's The Wilderness before bagging a spot on MasterChef. Speaking of his time on the show, he revealed: 'As the rounds went on I got progressively better at having my own voice and personality. 'I loved it. The later rounds were the easier ones for me.' The Dutch royal family posed for their official Christmas photograph today at the Begijnhof in Amsterdam - and of course, their beloved dog Mambo was included. Queen Maxima, 53, and King Willem-Alexander, 57, beamed as they huddled next to their three daughters in the enclosed courtyard which dates back to the 14th century. Princess Amalia, 20, Princess Alexia, 19, and Princess Ariane, 17, all wore long winter coats as they stood and smiled with their parents. The official portrait is organised to ensure that the Dutch royal family's privacy is respected by the media. But instead of looking at the cameras, the family-of-five were left red faced as their beloved dog Mambo frolicked on the grass nearby. Mambo is no stranger to a camera and regularly makes an appearance in official portraits. But this time it seems the photoshoot had gone on too long for the toy poodle. As the royals posed for what was meant to be a heartwarming snap, Mambo is seen warming up a tree nearby. From left to right: Princess Ariane, Princess Amelia, King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima and Princess Alexia As the Dutch royals posed for their Christmas portrait, their dog Mambo had other ideas Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima pose with dog Mambo during a traditional photo session of the Dutch royal family Maxima hold the cheeky dog during the autumnal photo session Queen Maxima walks with dog Mambo to an official photo session in Amsterdam, Although his toilet break almost certainly does not live up to royal protocol, the family appeared to forgive their pooch almost instantly. As Princess Alexia points out what their dog is doing, King Willem-Alexander appears to have a giggle to himself, as does his youngest daughter Ariane. Heir-to-the-throne Amalia screws up her nose in disgust - with a hint of amusement - before quickly covering her face with her hand to stifle a laugh. Holding his leash, Queen Maxima dutifully remains looking at the cameras but appears to make a cheeky remark to her family - which makes her husband laugh even more. The mother-of-three looks elegant as always in flowing white trousers and a white coat accentuated with a gold Yves Saint Laurent Gold brooch and pearl embellishments. Wearing matching pearl earrings, the 53-year-old stays warm in a thick camel-coloured turtle neck and leather gloves. King Willem-Alexander seems to be less fussed by the cold weather, wearing a striped blue shirt under a grey suit. His eldest daughter Amalia, whom he posed with for additional photos, wears her golden tresses down over a beige coat and opts for a casual pair of blue jeans paired with a black jumper. Maxima holds Mambo during the photo session in Amstedam Mambo made a dash for it as he caused chaos at the photoshoot King Willem-Alexander held Mambo for the Queen The king looked delighted to be cuddled up to the dog The royal couple were far from stiff upper lipped with the young dog The family-of-five watch their dog play at the Begijnhof in Amsterdam The royal women all wear winter coats as they pose for the official photograph while King Willem-Alexander appears to be less bothered by the cold in just a grey suit and blue-striped shirt The official portrait is organised to ensure that the Dutch royal family's privacy is respected by the media By her side she holds a dark brown satchel that matches her leather boots and she accentuates the laid back look with golden jewellery. Princess Alexia, the middle child who started an engineering degree in London this year, wears a dark grey coat with an open-collared shirt and plaid skirt poking out from underneath. Ever classy, the princess smizes for the camera as the rest of her family sport grins. Although Princess Ariane matches her older siblings and mother by wearing a long winter coat, she adds a youthful twist. The 20-year-old royal looks lovely in a bright purple coat from Belgium brand ALICIAAUDREY and her hair in bouncy blow-dry waves. The Dutch royal family do make for quite a picture - and perhaps Mambo just wanted to bring them back down to earth by urinating nearby. The family adopted Mambo in October 2021 and he was introduced on the family's social media for World Pet Day. Although Mambo is an integral part of their lives, the Dutch royals are also the proud owners of three Labradors named Skipper, Luna and Nala. King Willem-Alexander and his eldest daughter Princess Amalia posed for extra photographs Princess Amalia is Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander's first child, making her apparent heir-to-the-throne King Willem-Alexander, Princess Amalia and Queen Maxima arrive for the photoshoot with their dog Mambo. They are also the proud owners of three labradors named Skipper, Luna and Nala It has been a busy week for the King and Queen of the Netherlands who attended a charity event in Utrecht with King Willem-Alexander on Tuesday. Maxima opted for a timeless camel ensemble to present certificates on behalf of the Oranje Fonds Growth Program at Centraal Museum. The style-conscious royal complemented her camel outfit with a champagne-coloured leather bag by the Greek designer Marina Raphael, which retails for $469 (371). Having swept her blonde hair into an elegant updo, Maxima opted for her signature smokey brown eye look and was also pictured with a burgundy manicure. Glowing mom-to-be Tiffany Trump, 31, was seen in a rare appearance at Mar-a-Lago to celebrate Thanksgiving with her family on Thursday as she showed off her growing bump. The blonde beauty, daughter of future President Donald Trump, wore a short, cream-colored wrap dress to the holiday affair, complete with a belted middle and billowing sleeves. She topped the look off with a pair of brown high heels and what appeared to be a brown Mini Kelly bag from Hermes, which often retails for more than $20,000. The Georgetown Law graduate was also seen walking next to her younger brother, Barron, who towered over her at 6'7. Her pregnancy comes just two years after she married businessman Michael Boulos in November 2022 at Mar-a-Lago. In early October, her dad let the cat out of the bag during a speech at the Detroit Economic Club, telling the world that she was expecting. He recognized several guests in the crowd, including businessman Massad Boulos, who is Tiffany's father-in-law, and then delivered the good news. 'He happens to be the father of Tiffany's husband Michael, who's a very exceptional young guy,' Trump told the crowd. Glowing mom-to-be Tiffany Trump, 31, was seen in a rare appearance at Mar-a-Lago to celebrate Thanksgiving with her family on Thursday night, as she showed off her growing bump Tiffany was seen with Lara, who is the wife of her brother, Eric, and RNC co-chair The Georgetown Law graduate was also seen walking next to her younger brother, Barron, who towered over her at 6'7 'And she's an exceptional young woman. And she's going to have a baby. So that's nice.' The audience applauded enthusiastically and Trump thanked them. He did not say when the baby was due. Later, Tiffany's representative also confirmed her pregnancy to multiple outlets. Tiffany's baby will be the former president's 11th grandchild. Son Don Jr. has five children, Ivanka has three, and Eric has two. Trump welcomed Tiffany with ex-wife Marla Maples in 1993. And, it looks like Tiffany's time at Thanksgiving dinner was spent with plenty of family members, like stepmom Melania and Barron. Her brother, Eric, and his wife and RNC co-chair, Lara, were also spotted at the bash, as they sat around round tables complete with bright floral arrangements. Plus, Tesla and X scion Elon Musk, who has rarely left Trump's side, was also there. 'And she's an exceptional young woman. And she's going to have a baby. So that's nice,' Trump said about his daughter when announcing her pregnancy Tiffany's baby will be the former president's 11th grandchild. Son Don Jr. has five children, Ivanka Trump has three, and Eric Trump has two And, it looks like Tiffany's time at Thanksgiving dinner was spent with plenty of family members, like stepmom Melania and Barron Her brother, Eric, and his wife and RNC co-chair, Lara, were also spotted at the bash, as they sat around round tables complete with bright floral arrangements The Rocky icon compared the president-elect to the Founding Fathers, calling him 'the second George Washington' at a star-studded Mar-a-Lago bash two weeks ago Musk's mother Maye, who has been seen passionately backing her son on television in recent weeks, was also in attendance. In another video, Musk was seen chatting with Sylvester Stallone, a newer fixture around the so-called 'Winter White House.' The Rocky icon compared the president-elect to the Founding Fathers, calling him 'the second George Washington' at a star-studded Mar-a-Lago bash two weeks ago. And, perhaps Tiffany will even get some parenting advice from her stepmom, Melania. In her October memoir, Melania revealed how she navigates the relationship with her four stepchildren - Tiffany, Ivanka, Don Jr. and Eric - and why she's not trying to be a replacement for their mothers. 'Stepping into a marriage with Donald, I found myself navigating the intricate dynamics of his big family,' Melania wrote in her new memoir. 'It demanded flexibility and openness, but each moment was a chance to connect, learn, and grow in this new environment.' She explained that by the time she had married Trump, many of her stepchildren had already become 'more independent,' and while Tiffany was in her 'formative years,' she was living with her mother in California. 'I recognize their individuality, understanding that, as their stepmother, my role is not to replace their mothers but to nurture a supportive and amicable connection,' she continued Trump welcomed Tiffany with ex-wife Marla Maples in 1993, their only child together Her pregnancy comes just two years after she married businessman Michael Boulos in November 2022 at Mar-a-Lago 'My approach to building relationships with Donald's children has always been grounded in love and respect,' Melania wrote 'My approach to building relationships with Donald's children has always been grounded in love and respect,' Melania wrote. 'I recognize their individuality, understanding that, as their stepmother, my role is not to replace their mothers but to nurture a supportive and amicable connection,' she continued. 'This perspective has enabled me to cultivate meaningful relationships with each child in a unique way.' However, she did maintain that she does not always agree with the opinions of her stepchildren, or even her own husband, it is a 'natural aspect' of any relationship. 'While I may not agree with every opinion or choice expressed by Donald's grown children, nor do I align with all of Donald's decisions, I acknowledge that different viewpoints are a natural aspect of human relationships,' the jewelry designer penned. 'It is essential to remember that each person is deserving of respect and understanding, regardless of disagreements,' she continued. 'I have focused on creating an environment where everyone feels free to express themselves authentically. Rather than impose my views or critiquing others, I have aimed to be a steady presence - someone they can rely on.' Queen Letizia of Spain looked sensational in a classy beige dress as she attended the opera with her husband King Felipe today. The Spanish royal, 52, exuded glamour as she arrived at the opening night of the opera Il Trittico in Bilbao, northern Spain. The mother-of-two's stylish long-sleeved frock featured a collared-neckline and strips of gold ribbon down the front. She paired it with a pair of shiny beige pointed heels and a matching clutch bag. Queen Letizia completed the look with gold drop earrings and her brunette locks were styled with a slight wave. King Felipe looked typically smart in a black suit which he paired with a blue tie and white shirt. The couple looked relaxed as they stepped out for an evening of music in Bilbao on Friday. The Spanish King and Queen are known for their love of opera and have frequently attended premieres across the country. Queen Letizia was pictured shaking the hands of some of the performers before the show, which lasts for around four hours, got underway. She and her husband were greeted by the president of Bilbao's opera association, Juan Carlos Matellanes, and the mayor of the city, Juan Mari Aburto. Queen Letizia of Spain looked sensational in a classy beige dress as she attended the opera with her husband King Felipe today Queen Letizia shakes hands with members of the cast before the performance kicked off The Spanish royal, 52, exuded glamour as she arrived at the opening night of the opera Il Trittico in Bilbao, northern Spain It comes after the King and Queen of Spain attended the ceremony of the Gold Medals for Merit In Fine Arts Seville, Spain on Wednesday. The Gold Medal for Merit in the Fine Arts is awarded by the Spanish ministry of culture to individuals or organizations excelling in artistic and cultural works. It is also given to those who provide valuable services in the promotion of art and culture along with the conservation of the artistic heritage. Letizia also looked elegant on November 20 as she attended the 85th Madrid Press Association Awards. The royal, who was once a journalist herself, granted the awards at the Real Casa de Correos (The Royal House of the Post Office) in Puerta del Sol, which serves as the office for the head of regional government. Letizia looked effortlessly glamorous in the smart three-piece suit - a relatively affordable option from high street brand Mango. The Queen paired the 79.00 jacket with 49.99 trousers and a 39.99 waistcoat, with the total cost coming to 169 (140). The stunning three-piece suit in mottled grey wool made for a minimalist yet elegant ensemble, perfect for the increasingly cold weather and complete with a pointed v-neck, shoulder pads and straight-cut tailored trousers. The Queen completed her look with a matching being clutch bag Spanish King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia during premiere Opera Il Trittico in Bilbao Spanish King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia pictured during premiere Opera Il Trittico in Bilbao Queen Letizia also wore a pair of shiny beige heels to complete the look Spanish King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia during premiere of Il Trittico in Bilbao The mother-of-two's stylish long-sleeved frock featured a collared-neckline and strips of gold ribbon down the front She added a smart black handbag with a chain from Nina Ricci, and black loafers from Hugo Boss. Letizia awarded journalist Pedro Piqueras the APM award for Best Journalist of the Year 2023, and was accompanied by President of Madrid's Press Association, Maria Rey. The Spanish Queen, whose father Jesus Jose Ortiz Alvarez and stepmother Ana Togores are both journalists, worked in TV and newspapers before marrying Felipe in 2004. After a stint at Asturian daily paper, La Nueva Espana, she went on to work for ABC, a popular national newspaper that enjoys the third largest circulation in Spain. Next came a stint at Spanish news agency EFE before a move to Guadalajara in Mexico saw her take on a role on local paper, Siglo 21. Back in Spain a year later, she worked for the Spanish version of Bloomberg, a news channel and agency specialising in economics, before moving to CNN+. By the time she met her husband-to-be, Letizia was working for popular TV channel 24 Horas, where along with anchoring the popular Telediario 2 evening news bulletin, she reported on a wide range of breaking news events. The King and Queen were greeted by the head of Bilbao's opera association and the mayor of the city Spanish King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia during the premiere of Il Trittico in Bilbao King Felipe looked typically smart in a black suit which he paired with a blue tie and white shirt The couple were pictured inside the opera theatre as they settled down for an evening of music Spud Brothers' TikTok success has landed them a shiny new pop up joint in London's West End, but fans can't believe the surge in prices. Back in their humble tram in Preston Flag Market brothers Jacob, 28, and Harley Nelson, 21, have customers queuing hours for spuds, with fans travelling from Australia, Turkey, Spain, Germany and Amsterdam to Lancashire to try their potatoes. It's a buzz that they're hoping to recreate in their new London pop up, but customers should expect to pay premium price, with a cheese and beans jacket potato costing 9.50. However, in Preston, Spud Brothers confirmed on Facebook that a medium jacket with two toppings cost 5. The brothers revealed on TikTok that in 2022 they charged 3.50 for a small jacket potato with cheese and beans, 4.50 for a medium, comprised of one and half potatoes plus the toppings, and 5 for a large of two potato's and two toppings. In London, a jacket potato with butter is 5, a TikTok by @itsjimmyofficial_ revealed. To add cheese, beans, or coleslaw, customers will have to pay 2 per topping, and for tuna, chicken curry or chilli con carne, it's an added 4 per option. The once low prices meant customers took to TikTok to tell each other to visit Spud Brothers over business competitor Spud man, who has faced backlash for charging up to 12 for a jacket potato, despite a plain jacket potato with butter costing him 46p to make. Rival vendor, Ben Newman, 39, known as 'Spud Man', became a household name on TikTok in recent months, with tens of millions of hits online and a fanbase extending from Malaysia to Hawaii. Spud brothers jacket potatoes (pictured) have landed them a new pop up location in London, but fans should expect to pay a premium price Spud Brothers Jacob, 28 (pictured left), and Harley Nelson, 21, (pictured right) are charging 9.50 for a jacket potato with cheese and beans at the London pop up Taking to TikTok in 2022, Spud Man explained his cost breakdown, saying: 'These videos always spark a good conversation; we're doing another product costing video. 'How much does a plain potato with butter cost me to produce?' He explained: 'So, one and a half spuds, butter, and a tray. 'Tray costs me 7p, butter costs me 12p, I put a double portion on when it's a plain potato, and one and a half spuds in 27p. 'So, a plain potato, which we run out at Tamworth at 2.50 anywhere up to 5 on festivals, costs us 46p to produce, that is not including my wages, the rent, the gas, the diesel to get there, and all those other costs that are incurred; that is just purely the product cost, 47p' However, prices soon skyrocketed, and at Silverstone, Spudman revealed that he charged 7.50 for a plain potato, 8.50 to have the spud with one filling, and 9.50 for two fillings. Cold drinks cost 3.90, water 3.30, and red bull was 4.50. There most expensive option was terriyaki chicken, costing 12. 'Goes without saying, same quality, same fillings, same size, we do every day in Tamworth,' he concluded. Meanwhile, at his van in Tamworth, a customer under the name of @therealjoeydiaz on TikTok, reported similar findings. Spud Brothers face competition from a similar vendor called Spud man (pictured), who has also found fame on TikTok The brothers started appealing to students on TikTok and were shocked at how many followers they got Londoners will pay 5.50 for a jacket potato with butter, plus 2 for cheese, baked beans, or coleslaw, and 4 for chilli con carne, chicken curry, or tuna mayo He said: 'For a plain jacket potato with no toppings is 7.50. A potato with one topping is 8.50. Two toppings are 9.50. 'For one cold drink it's 3.90, a Red Bull is 4.50, and a bottle of water is 3.20. For teriyaki chicken or barbeque pulled pork on your potato it will cost you 12.' Viewers took to the comment section urging Joey to go to Spud Brothers. One said: 'Spud bros prices are better'. Another added: 'Just go to Spud bros'. A third agreed, saying: 'Spud bros is way better'. That's why it came as a shock when fans saw the prices at the new Spud Brothers London location, with one questioning: 'Why is it 9?' 'Genuinely thought it was 2 for the spud,' a second said. A third wrote: 'As a Londoner myself, 9 is steep for what it is.' Another said: 'A cheap potato with cheese and beans 9. Absolute rip off'. A fifth added: 'I was going to go but for those prices they can keep it.' Others came to their defence. One said: 'Why are people moaning about the price? The rent in soho will be insane.' A second viewer added: 'It's London, 9 quid is standard; you pay a premium on everything there'. In May, Spud Brothers revealed insight into their success, and they often have to turn customers away due to the high demand. Jacob said: 'We open at 11.30am and we always have around 30 people in the queue waiting for us to open. 'Then it's constant to 3pm so we have to turn people away because the jacket potatoes take around two hours to cook. 'We hate doing it and disappointing people, but we have to do it. We don't even know how many potatoes we can serve in a day, which is bizarre, because it's constantly busy from open to close. 'We've had people come from Germany, Amsterdam, Turkey, Spain and Australia come to visit. 'We love the support and we are so grateful for people trying our little potato van in Preston so we always try and make it special for them. We try and serve food and also give people that customer interaction.' Spud Brothers Jacob and Harley took over their TikTok account from their dad, Anthony, 57, who managed to get a whopping 60,000 followers. But Jacob quit his job as a sales manager to work at the company full time and now they have reached over three million followers. The brothers have managed to get millions of views from posting themselves serving jackets on TikTok Hungry customers queue for hours in Preston for a chance to try the brothers' jacket potatoes The sibling duo decided to start posting on TikTok to market themselves to the thousands of students that live in Preston. Instead of highly-edited videos, they decided to want to bring 'a lot of northern humour' to their content. Jacob said: 'There's a lot of students in Preston and we just used to see them walking past the tram, going to McDonalds or Greggs. 'My dad started the TikTok and struggled with it - even though he did get us up to around 60,000 followers. 'But then me and Harley decided to take it up to the next level so we did a lot of research and decided we wanted to bring a lot of northern humour to it. 'We wanted banter and for it to be more raw and natural, so a lot of the videos that we do is just raw footage. 'It might be slightly edited but what you see, is what you get and a lot of people in the north west get it.' Jacob said they didn't think they would have as many followers as they do now. But within months, they had hundreds of thousands of people following them. Fans of Spud Brothers urged customers to go to the Preston joint over Spud man's for the cheaper prices, but now customers can expect to pay similar prices He added: 'We are nearly at a million now and I never would have thought we would have got to this stage, just based on the humble jacket potato. 'We've got one video that's got 20million views. It's just of me doing a pov, doing what we do, serving the spuds.' The business was founded in 1955 by Ernie Rhodes, who then passed it on to his nephew Keith Roberts in 1978. Exactly 30 years later, Keith passed the company to his son, who was also called Keith, but he passed away in 2020. Harley and Jacob's dad took over the business, and the two brothers have served jacket potatoes five days a week ever since. Now punters flock to pick up baked potato meals with a variety of toppings, which sell for around 5 a pop. Jacob added: 'I actually worked with Keith and it was my first ever Saturday job 14 years ago. 'It was always a good business that did well and had a good reputation in Preston. Nobody in his family wanted to take it on so he spoke to my dad about it because they were good friends and I used to work there. Fans took to the comment section to share their thoughts and some dubbed the prices a 'rip off', while others came to their defence 'We just decided to buy the business and made a go of it to keep the legacy going. It's just insane.' The sibling duo serve all types of classic spud toppings including cheese and beans, tuna and coleslaw. A lot of British staples such as crumble and baked beans on toast have become highly sought after thanks to influencers online. Thanks to the power of TikTok, and the recent booming fascination with the classic British dish, 'Spud Man' has been selling as many as 1,450 spuds a day. Mr Newman, from Tamworth, Staffordshire, said: 'Retail has changed. There isn't the passing trade in town. You can't just rely on footfall of people and word of mouth anymore. 'January is normally a hard time for a lot of market traders and shops in town. 'But the amount of people that are just in Tamworth on a Saturday and throughout the week, like everyone is having a really good January off the back of this.' He added: 'We had customers today from Malaysia. They landed in Gatwick this morning and drove straight up. 'They came to England to get a jacket potato. I asked them: ''Have you got holiday plans?', and they were like ''No, we came to England to come and see you''.' Ben has also leveraged the recent social media frenzy to benefit other jacket potato vendors across the UK, with many experiencing non-stop trade after his social media videos. However, the content creator is under 'no illusion' they are currently experiencing a huge wave of hype. 'They're not coming just for jacket but are they're coming to meet a TikToker. They're coming to show support and see what it's all about. 'We're a social media business that sells potatoes. Social media is just as big a thing as the actual business now.' After turning 50, there was one was one question looming in Karen's mind: 'Will I ever have enough money to retire?' The busy mum from Sydney had always been diligent managing her finances and mortgage through spreadsheets. But after paying 'non-negotiable' bills, groceries, petrol and private school fees, there was little left over for savings. 'For years I thought my husband and I would need to work forever to make an income. I was fairly pragmatic about it and felt like there wasn't a lot I could do to change things,' Karen, who is now 70, told FEMAIL. 'I tried not to stress too much over the fact I might have to work full-time until I'm 90.' A few years later, the dire situation started to ease. Her children grew up and moved out, leaving Karen and her husband with more money to 'play with' - so they decided to start thinking seriously about retirement. She had dabbled in the stock market as a young woman in the 1980s when she invested about $3,000 in three to four companies, but didn't quite understand what she was investing in, or why, so failed to make any significant returns. After finally paying off the mortgage on the family home, Karen decided to take investment for seriously during the pandemic and enrolled in a Mastering Money course with SkilledSmart all about managing finances and investing wisely. Four years later, she is comfortably retired with an impressive investment portfolio worth $200,000 with CommSec, in addition to $500,000 in superannuation. Karen (pictured), from Sydney, used to worry she would never have enough money to retire. During the pandemic she took matters into her own hands and learned about investing Growing up, Karen lacked what we now call financial literacy and had 'no idea' how to start investing, so had to learn for herself. It wasn't until she was well into her 60s that she started reading books and magazines on investments, which pointed her in the right direction. There was an element of 'trial and error' at first but, over time, her confidence grew. Today, she is seeing income flow in from her various Aussie share market investments, which has left her feeling 'more positive and reassured about the future'. She uses CommSec and has found it to be one of the best options with the cheapest brokerage fees. 'Back in the day, I used to work with an actual stock broker which is what was the common practice back before online brokers,' Karen said. After just four years, she is comfortably retired with an impressive investment portfolio worth $200,000, in addition to $500,000 worth of superannuation What does Karen invest in? Karen's portfolio consists mostly of Australian shares spanning across seven to nine industries, with a bigger focus on the financial sector and consumer industry. Karen's investing mindset How often does she invest? Infrequently - about six times a year - depending on the funds available. How much does she invest? The amount can vary but she prefers to contribute lump sums and balance out her portfolio. What does she invest in? Australian shares and ETFs across different sectors. What does she use? CommSec. Does she invest in real estate? No, but she did have an investment property in her 20s which she sold. She hasn't invested in real estate since due to the capital required. Advertisement She invests in both ETFs (exchange traded funds, or a 'basket' of multiple companies) as well as direct shares. 'I don't have a strict allocation that I adhere to, but I do pay attention to the balance between the different industries, so if the portfolio starts skewing heavily towards one sector, I might try to balance it out,' Karen said. 'For example, right now my financial sector investments are a much larger percentage of the portfolio than is perhaps ideal, so I may consider investing in other sectors to start to balance that a little by buying into other sectors more.' In terms of how often she invests, the retiree doesn't try to 'buy on the dip' or 'time the market' but instead focuses on time spent in the market. She only makes a handful of transactions every year - estimating around half a dozen - and makes her decision based on what income the share can provide. 'On the odd occasion if I feel there is a need for it, I might sell,' Karen said. 'I tend not to time the market, I look at the overall package, what's more important is buying a good-quality investment.' Karen said she is always paying attention to the amount she has in each sector and tries to avoid having her portfolio skew in one particular direction. However, she adds this isn't a 'strict rule' and more of a 'guiding principle'. 'I do like to focus on one industry at a time and determine which specific investments I'd like to make in that industry. In recent years, I have taken more of an interest in investments that provide a good dividend,' she explained. 'Although that's certainly not the deciding factor, it's something I do think I value more now, given my stage of life where having that additional income stream is useful.' Real estate is often seen as the golden ticket to a financially secure retirement for baby boomers, but Karen has taken a different part. Instead of buying an investment property, she has focused on the share market (stock image) Karen once owned an investment property in her 20s but sold it soon after getting married, then bought a family home with her husband. Since then she has not reinvested in real estate again, simply because of the capital required, which she didn't have. 'Real estate takes a lot more money upfront, whereas you can buy shares with much smaller amounts of money, making it more accessible. It's also simpler than real estate investing, so I found it easier to stick to share-market investing,' she said. She has never considered investing in cryptocurrency, which is popular among younger investors, due to how complex and confusing it can be. How does Karen manage risk? Karen said the most important aspect when it comes to investing and managing risk is to continue learning and educating yourself. 'Over time, you improve. You aren't making guesses, you're making informed decisions, and you get better each time. I don't think you're ever too old to learn something new. That helps you build the skills and knowledge to make better decisions, which helps you minimise and avoid mistakes,' she said. Karen also ensures she diversifies her portfolio by 'not having all her eggs in one basket' - a popular strategy. This minimises the risk if a sector decreases in value or, in the worst-case scenario, if a company shuts down for good. Another way she manages risk is by looking beyond her investments and focusing on the rest of her finances and her cash flow management. 'Over the years, I've tried to be diligent with tracking expenses. We did have debts at one point which I made a priority to pay off. This meant I could keep my investments invested and growing without having to sell urgently or for an emergency,' she said. Her only regret is not starting sooner. 'If I had understood when I was 20 what I now know about investing, I would have been in a much better position today,' Karen said Her only regret is not starting sooner. 'If I had understood when I was 20 what I now know about investing, I would have been in a much better position today,' Karen said. 'But it's never too late to learn. I'm grateful I took the leap, even later in life, because it has given me a sense of security and peace of mind.' KAREN'S THREE GOLDEN MONEY RULES 1. Start as soon as you can Karen's main piece of advice to others is simply to make a start, regardless of your age - but the sooner you begin, the better off you'll be. 'I wish I had started years earlier but I had no guidance. No one in my family knew about it,' she said. 'I came to it all later in life. The sooner you start, the better, and over time you become more disciplined with your money.' 2. Take an active interest - don't leave it to your husband Karen hopes women are inspired to take the lead with their finances rather than letting their husbands do all the work. 'I think a lot of women in particular think it's too difficult, but it's important to take an interest,' she said. 'Even if your partner is the one managing the finances now, you never know what might happen to your partner or what the future might hold. It does take some time, and willingness to learn. 'It might feel like a slow and gradual process, but over time you do build confidence. You can do it at any age; it's never too late to learn. I hope my story inspires others to see that.' 3. Expose yourself to financial content When investing, it is important to keep up to date with financial news and how businesses are tracking to help make a decision on where to allocate your funds. Doing so will also help you understand different terminology. 'Over time you start to piece together the different financial terms and concepts, and it starts to shape your thinking,' Karen said. 'Then it becomes easier to make better decisions because you're less easily influenced by all the noise, you have more confidence and clarity in your own decision-making and knowledge.' Common prescription and over-the-counter drugs could be secretly fueling your hair loss, a doctor has warned. Anti-depressants, blood thinners and anti-acne creams taken by tens of millions can cause alopecia, the medical term for hair loss, or cause hair follicles to shut down. While hair loss is natural as people age, particularly for men, Dr Zain Hasan, a Los Angeles-based anesthetist, said five common medications could be speeding this up. Dr Hasan warned his 636,000 followers on social media: 'If you want to keep your hair, you wanna know about these five medications.' He added in a TikTok video: 'These five medications, if you don't know yourself I know you know someone that's taking it.' The first on his list was the antidepressant Wellbutrin, a prescription drug that boosts feel good hormones in the brain to raise someone's mood. Pictured above is Dr Zain Hasan, from Los Angeles, who made the list A mother-of-four uploaded these images to TikTok, saying that her hair started to fall out after she used Wellbutrin Research has shown, however, that the drug can also cause hair loss in both male and female patients. A 2018 study that compared 1million new users on nine common antidepressants found those on bupropion (brand name, Wellbutrin) were the most likely to suffer from hair loss. And people have also reported the side effect anecdotally online, saying it was 'terrifying' and left them 'not even wanting to leave my apartment'. Around one one in 1,000 patients suffer from the side effect (or 29,000 out of the 29million who take the drug annually). Doctors suggest that the dopamine surge caused by the drug may also trigger hair follicles to shift into the resting phase of their growth cycle, halting further hair growth and causing hair loss over time. Next on Dr Hasan's list were certain types of retinoid drugs that people take for acne, such as Accutane, or isotretinoin. Prescribed to more than one million people in the US a year, Dr Hasan said hair loss was rare with these drugs but could happen to those taking a higher dose. A 2022 study on 565 people taking isotretinoin for acne found that about six percent of those on a high dose reported hair loss, compared to 3.2 percent of those on a low dose. Patients were about 22 years old on average. ACCUTANE: The above woman posted on Reddit about her hair loss while using the anti-acne drug. She is pictured three months into taking the drug (left) and 10 months after she stopped taking the drug The woman also shared this image in August 2021, which is when she said she was at the peak of her hair loss while on the drug A separate study also from 2022 warned that patients taking isotretinoin who were older, had stronger doses or had long treatment durations were more likely to have hair loss. Retinol creams used to ease acne and slow aging, available both over-the-counter and on prescription, could also cause hair loss in some cases, doctors say. Dr Michele Green, a dermatologist in New York City, previously told InStyle: 'You can experience sensitivity, redness and irritation... resulting in hair loss or thinning.' She added: 'If you have a sensitive scalp, you should stay clear of using any form of retinol on your scalp.' Your browser does not support iframes. Scientists suggest that Accutane and similar drugs may cause hair loss because they can cause hair to shed prematurely. Hair loss due to the drugs is not usually permanent and can be reversed by stopping the drugs. The most common side effects from them include skin redness, an itching, burning or stinging sensation on the scalp and peeling or chapped skin. Next on Dr Hasan's list were anticoagulants, or blood-thinners, such as Eliquis, Warfarin and Heparin which are taken by up to 18million people per year. Hair loss usually starts two to four months after first taking the drug. AFTER ACCUTANE: This individual said Accutane led to hair loss. Posting online, he said it 'ruined my hair' and 'made me depressed' The above image shows his hair before he started taking Accutane A 2016 study reporting that there were 4.4 events per 100 patient years among those on Eliquis or other anticoagulants. In another 2021 study on Warfarin, researchers wrote: 'Warfarin therapy is a rare cause of alopecia but should be considered in patients on long-term anticoagulation when other diagnoses have been excluded. 'Hair loss has a profoundly negative impact on patient quality of life and should prompt investigation to determine the underlying cause.' The drugs work by blocking an enzyme used to make clotting factors in the blood, reducing the risk that a blood clot will form. Doctors suggest these drugs cause hair loss because they can trigger hair follicles to enter the 'resting phase' of their growth cycle, arresting hair growth. Hair loss from these drugs does not tend to be permanent. The fourth drug on Dr Hasan's list was beta blockers like metoprolol, brand name Lopressor, a prescription medication that helps to treat high blood pressure. Taken by more than 26million Americans per year, the prescription drugs work by blocking the effects of hormones like adrenaline causing the heart to beat more slowly and lowering blood pressure. But there are rare reports of patients suffering from hair loss while on the drug, which tends to start two to five months after taking it. Dr Kristianne Hannemann, a pharmacist in California, said previously on Drugs.com: 'Hair loss was not a commonly-reported side effect during clinical trials of metoprolol. 'However, rare reports of reversible hair loss have been reported by patients taking it. After stopping the medication, hair grows back again.' Common side effects of the medication include tiredness, dizziness, depression and shortness of breath, doctors say. It is likely that this drug causes hair loss because it interferes with the hair growth cycle. The final drug on Dr Hasan's list was the cancer treatment tamoxifen, brand name Nolvadex, which is used to battle breast cancer in men and women. About one in three people who take the drug suffer from hair loss, which doctors say occurs because the drug lowers estrogen levels in the body interfering with the hair's cycle. The hair loss becomes noticeable about six months to two years after starting on the drug, says non-profit Breastcancer.org. About 900,000 prescriptions for the drug are written every year, which works by slowing the growth of breast cancer. Chemotherapy drugs have also been linked to hair loss, including those for breast cancer. Stats suggest about 65 percent of people on chemotherapy drugs experience hair loss. Dr Hasan also mentioned other drugs that anecdotal reports have linked to hair loss, including drugs like Ozempic. He said patients should consult with their doctor before considering discontinuing using a prescription drug. Brits were today warned of a gruesome diarrhoea-causing parasite after the UK logged its largest ever outbreak this year. More than 770 adults and children were struck down with cryptosporidium, an infection that can pass between animals and humans, as well as from human to human, also causes stomach cramps, vomiting and in rarer cases blood in stools. Two other separate outbreaks since 2023 have also seen a further 700 people battling the microscopic bug, health chiefs said. Dozens were left suffering bouts of illness so severe they required hospital treatment. Officials investigating the unusual clusters of cases believe all three were linked to petting farms which offer cuddles with lambs. People can get infected with cryptosporidium via contact with infected faeces which they then accidentally ingest by not washing hands thoroughly. This can be direct contact from an infected animal or person, or from contaminated surfaces like farm gates or the bottom of shoes. Infected people can shed up to 100million cryptosporidium germs in a single bowel movement, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). UKHSA issued a warning about the risk of cryptosporidium infection from farm visits earlier this month Swallowing just ten of these germs is enough to get ill. The outbreak involving 775 Brits is thought to be the largest of its kind recorded in England. The two other incidents affected 264 and 482 people respectively, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). It affected mainly women aged 18 to 48 and children under the age of 16 who had admitted to cuddling and feeding lambs. At least 75 Brits were hospitalised. Environmental investigators found inadequate infection prevention and control practices, including concerns regarding handwashing facilities, animal health, animal handling and feeding, and staff preparedness. Food was also served in or close to where animals were being handled. The authorities did not share which month or where the incidents occurred. The fresh UKHSA data was presented at the European Scientific Conference on Applied Infectious Disease Epidemiology in Stockholm. Cryptosporidium parasites are protected by a thick shell that allows them to even survive in chlorinated swimming pool water Earlier this year Sophie Enright, 14, from Hollywood, near Birmingham is one of those who reported symptoms after her farm visit. She became ill on April 9 coming down with diarrhoea, stomach cramps and vomiting six days after she visited the farm. Sophie was eventually diagnosed with cryptosporidium and lost a stone over the course of her illness. Her mother Emma Cleverley, 38, said she was worried her daughter's exam results would suffer as she missed so much school. According to the UKHSA, people visiting farms should take precautions to protect themselves from infection including checking there are good hand-washing facilities at the farm with hot water, soap and paper towels. Children and their supervisors should wash their hands carefully after touching the animals and other farm objects and especially before eating or drinking. Children should not eat or drink or put their fingers in their mouths whilst close to animals and before washing their hands. If possible, visitors should clean shoes and pushchair wheels before leaving the farm and wash hands immediately after cleaning is complete. Sophie Enright, 14, (pictured) visited a farm with her mum Emma Cleverley, 38, on April 3 and became ill with diarrhoea, stomach cramps and vomiting by April 9 For most people, cryptosporidiosis the technical name for the infection is mild. It typically clears on its own without any treatment within a few days or weeks. However, for vulnerable people, like those with weakened immune systems and the elderly or patients undergoing cancer treatment, it can be more serious. Some of the symptoms, such as abdominal pain and blood in the stools, may be particularly anxiety-provoking as they mimic the signs of bowel cancer, which is known to be on the rise. Due to the bug's highly infectious nature people with symptoms such as diarrhoea and vomiting are told to stay off work or school until they have been free from these symptoms for at least 48 hours. Victims can also experience periods of false hope where their symptoms clear for a few days, making them believe they are finally over the infection, only for it to return. Most people with cryptosporidiosis aren't offered treatment and are instead told to drink plenty of fluids and minimise contact with other people while waiting until symptoms pass. People are typically infected via contact with faeces containing the parasite, either from humans or animals, that then enters their mouth. Risk of water supplies becoming infected is also higher following periods of heavy rainfall and when animals are giving birth, such as the lambing season. Earlier this year the UKHSA issued a warning about the risk of cryptosporidium infection from farm visits. In a twist on the classic children's rhyme the agency wrote on social media: 'Mary had a little lamb, its fleece was white as snow. 'But wash your hands and dry them too in case it has crypto.' Another case of the new deadly mpox strain has been detected in the UK, health officials confirmed today. The clade 1b mutation, which experts have called 'the most dangerous one so far' kills one in ten of those infected and is believed to be behind a wave of miscarriages. It takes the total number of confirmed cases in Britain now to five. The unidentified patient, from Leeds, had no links to the previous four cases. Officials don't yet know how they became infected with the strain. But they had 'recently' travelled back to the UK from Uganda, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said. The latest patient is under specialist care at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 160 miles from where the first four cases were identified in London. However, health chiefs say they still consider the threat clade 1b poses to the public as 'low'. Professor Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at UKHSA, said: 'It is thanks to clinicians rapidly recognising the symptoms and our diagnostics tests that we have been able to detect this new case. It takes the total number of confirmed cases in Britain now to five. The unidentified patient, from Leeds, had no links to the previous four cases 'The risk to the UK population remains low following this fifth case, and we are working rapidly to trace close contacts and reduce the risk of any potential spread. 'In accordance with established protocols, investigations are underway to learn how the individual acquired the infection and to assess whether there are any further associated cases.' The UKHSA said all contacts of this fifth case will be offered testing and vaccination as needed and advised on any necessary further care if they have symptoms or test positive. The UK's first mpox case was detected after the unidentified patient developed flu-like symptoms, followed by a rash and attended A&E on October 27 where they were tested. They were then transferred to a high-level isolation unit at the Royal Free Hospital in North London the same facility where imported cases of Ebola were treated in 2015. Earlier this month, officials confirmed a further three patients were being treated at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust with the strain. But all four cases, who were from the same household, have now all fully recovered, the UKHSA said today. A global outbreak of mpox, previously known as monkeypox, began in Africa in May 2022. Cases of Clade 1b in the UK are a far cry from the 2022 outbreak where thousands of cases were recorded, mostly in London But the latest Clade 1b strain is considered far deadlier. It has swept through central Africa killing at least 1,000 people, since the outbreak began. Countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo have been hit especially hard with cases also spotted in Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya. However, experts say fatality rates of clade 1b from central Africa are unlikely to be replicated in developed nations like the UK due to better access to higher quality healthcare. Britain's five cases means it joins countries including the US, Sweden, Thailand, India and Germany in having cases outside of Africa. In July, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an ongoing mpox outbreak across several central African nations as a 'public health emergency of international concern'. This is the same designation the WHO gave Covid in late January 2020, just a few weeks before the virus ripped across the world, and some scientists have compared the current outbreak to the 'early days of HIV'. Mpox causes characteristic lumpy lesions, as well as a fever, aches and pains and fatigue. However, in a small number of cases, it can enter the blood and lungs, as well as other parts of the body, when it becomes life-threatening. Current mpox vaccines, which are designed to work on smallpox a close relative of the mpox virus, were used during the 2022 outbreak against the milder strain. But they have yet to be widely tested against the more potent clade 1b strain. The WHO and the NHS recommends a vaccine within four days of contact with someone who has the virus or within up to 14 days if there are no symptoms. Healthcare workers and men who have sex with men are advised to receive a vaccine even if they have had no mpox exposure. There are no direct treatments available with medics focused instead on supporting a patient to help their body fight off the virus. Charlotte Rooney cant remember exactly what she was doing when she first became aware of the sensation of a blocked nose in January this year. I was otherwise healthy, so I wasnt overly worried at first, says Charlotte, 34, a primary teacher and mother of one. I assumed it was just a seasonal cold and sniffle and that it would clear up on its own. But after three weeks of living with a subtle block in her right nostril - noticing that it sounded different to the other nostril when she expelled air out of her nose - and with no other signs of a cold, she went to the doctor. The doctor couldnt see anything wrong in my nose and gave me Naseptin Nasal Cream to clear it, she says. (Naseptin is a cream used to treat bacterial infections, which can be a cause of blockages in the nose.) After two weeks, not only was there no improvement, but Charlotte, from Banbury, Oxfordshire, also developed a tickling sensation around her nostril. However, when she sought help at her surgery again a nurse assured her it was nothing serious. By the end of February Charlotte also had a feeling of an electric shock and burning sensation on the right side of my face, under my eye and up to my ear. Another visit to the doctor at the end of February resulted in a diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia - a condition which causes short, sharp bursts of pain in the face, usually because of pressure on the trigeminal nerve (which communicates sensations of pain and touch from the face to the brain). But Charlotte wasnt convinced. Charlotte Rooney, 34, from Banbury in Oxfordshire, had a suspicion there was something in her nose pressing on a nerve and causing pain - it turned out to be cancer I thought that something in my nose was pressing on a nerve and causing the pain, she says. So Charlotte asked for a referral to see an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist and she was by now so worried that she paid 550 to get a private appointment rather than face NHS delays. Weeks later Charlottes decision was vindicated. After a nasal endoscopy where a probe with a camera on the end is inserted up the nose the consultant spotted a growth in her right nostril. In April, following further scans and a biopsy, she was diagnosed with a rare type of head and neck cancer, called adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). Whats more, she was warned she might not make it through the year without treatment. I was in total disbelief at first, says Charlotte, who was convinced there was some mistake. I dont think I cried, I just sat there in shock looking out of the window. It didnt feel real. My four-year-old daughter needed me and I kept thinking how could this be happening to me? says Charlotte. ACC is a rare, slow-growing cancer that mainly affects the salivary glands, but can also appear in the nasal sinuses, and, more rarely, in the breast, tear glands, or airways, according to the charity Oracle Head and Neck Cancer UK. Charlottes was in her right sinuses - the hollow areas in the bones around the nose. The symptoms vary depending on where it occurs, but common symptoms include lumps or swelling - often in the mouth, neck or face, says Clare Schilling, a consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeon specialising in head and neck cancer at University College London Hospitals NHS Trust. The salivary glands are located in the upper neck and face - a new lump in front of or below the earlobes could indicate an early salivary gland tumour. Other signs include pain or numbness, as ACC grows along nerve pathways. And depending on where a tumour is growing, for example in the mouth, throat or airways, it can cause difficulty swallowing, speaking and breathing. If it occurs near the eyes, it can cause vision problems (such as double vision), adds Ms Schilling. Since ACC is slow growing, these symptoms might develop gradually over many months. While ACC is rare, its essential to recognise its unique characteristics, and what makes it distinct is its tendency to invade nerve fibres, sometimes causing pain or sensation changes, in the affected area. This is what was causing the tickling and burning sensations Charlotte noticed before her diagnosis. In the later stages, the cancer can cause damage to the main nerve which moves the muscles of the face, resulting in facial weakness that can resemble the signs of a stroke, Ms Schilling adds. Any facial lump and new facial weakness must be taken extremely seriously. Despite being slow growing, ACC can behave aggressively and may spread to other areas, such as the lungs and bones. The disease often spreads along nerve pathways, which makes treatment challenging and increases the risk of recurrence. As Charlottes diagnosis demonstrates, ACC can affect anyone, although its most commonly diagnosed in adults between 40 and 60 years old, and women are slightly more likely to develop ACC than men, though its not understood why. In fact, the causes and risk factors for ACC are still largely unknown - unlike some cancers, it doesnt have strong links to lifestyle factors such as smoking or family history. Although were learning more about ACC each year, theres still much to uncover about why it develops and how best to treat it, adds Ms Schilling. The most effective treatment is surgery to remove the tumour, followed by radiotherapy to lower the chance of it coming back. But its not always possible to operate. Because of its rarity and complexity with only about 87 new cases diagnosed each year in the UK managing ACC needs a specialised team and long-term follow-up. Charlotte initially put it down to a seasonal cold, but after three weeks of living with a subtle block in her right nostril, she went to the doctors Initially, Charlotte told everyone close to her about her diagnosis, apart from her daughter, who she felt was too young to understand. Everyone was shocked and trying to make sense of it - some people didnt know what to say, says Charlotte, who lives with her long-term partner Martin, 37. Just four days after finding out she had cancer, Charlotte met an oncologist and a head and neck surgeon who talked about treatment more positively, confirming that surgery was an option, with the aim of removing the bulk of the cancer, then radiotherapy could get rid of the rest of it. This gave me hope, says Charlotte. However, in June, when Charlotte had surgery, surgeons discovered the tumour had grown much bigger than expected. It had spread across the nerve and was going as far as the carotid artery, which takes blood to the brain. The operation was stopped early, as the team didnt think it was safe to continue. It was a huge blow, but a month later I started six weeks of high dose radiotherapy, says Charlotte. Whilst recovering from the radiotherapy, Charlotte decided to organise a charity fundraiser festival during which she would sing. She'd always loved singing at home in the kitchen and decided she wanted to perform something shed never done before and which would be a huge challenge, given the side-effects of her treatment. The radiotherapy had left my mouth terribly burnt and sore inside so to begin with I struggled to swallow, eat and speak properly, she says. But against all the odds I managed to sing a number of songs including Roads by Portishead, Let it Go from Frozen, and All That Jazz from Chicago, to which my daughter joined in dancing. The event raised more than 6,000 for Oracle Head and Neck Cancer UK and was an extremely emotional day, recalls Charlotte. And a little over two weeks later, after an MRI scan, Charlotte received the positive news that exceeding everyones expectations the scan couldnt detect any cancer at all. It was a big shock, she says. They showed me a scan with a whole patch of grey, which previously had been all white with cancer, and now it is healing bone. Its the best news I can have. Its probable that there is still some cancer remaining, but its too small to be made out and is likely not growing. Ill have an MRI every three months for the indefinite future, says Charlotte. They do expect it to come back. ACC regularly recurs, but I dont know when that will be.' She adds: I want everyone to listen to their body and trust their instinct. You really do need to push for answers if you know something isnt right. More than half of people waiting the longest for pre-planned hospital treatment in England are under the care of just nine hospital trusts. Over 2,700 patients in England had been waiting at least a year and a half to begin elective surgeries such as hip and knee replacements or cataract eye surgery. University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust was responsible for around one in five (21.4 per cent) of the longest waits more than any other. The NHS Constitution says patients should begin treatment within 18 weeks of a referral but waits rocketed as routine care was suspended during the pandemic. Hospitals stress the number waiting more than 18 months is coming down weekly and has reduced since the end of September. Health leaders said hospitals are struggling to make inroads on the longest waits due to high demand for emergency care and problems with getting people out of hospital who are medically fit but are awaiting social care. The revelation comes after Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said failing hospitals will be named and shamed in league tables and NHS managers sacked if they cannot improve patient care and take control of finances. But critics said trusts should be supported to improve services, rather than named and shamed. Your browser does not support iframes. Over 2,700 patients in England had been waiting at least a year and a half to begin elective surgeries such as hip and knee replacements or cataract eye surgery One hospital leader suggested the move would resurrect the so-called targets and terror era introduced under the Blair government. The programme did bring down waiting lists but the hospital chairman said it was coupled with a big inflow of funds and applying it while saying the NHS is not going to get any significant increase in resources will not work. The nine NHS trusts with the largest number of people waiting for at least a year and a half for pre-planned care are all in southern or eastern England. The list includes University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, with 579 patients, or 21.4 per cent of the total followed by Norfolk & Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, with 168 patients or 6.2 per cent of the total. Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust had 162 patients which is 6 per cent of the total, Milton Keynes University Hospital had 113 patients or 4.2 per cent of the total and Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust with 73 patients or 2.7 per cent of the total. Also on the list is Barts Health NHS Trust with 72 patients which is 2.7 per cent of the total, Guys & St Thomas which had 70 patients waiting, making 2.6 per cent of the total, Kings College Hospital with 65 patients or 2.4 per cent of the total and Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust with 57 patients making 2.1 per cent of the total. When looking at the geographical spread of patients having to wait at least a year to start hospital treatment, the picture is more mixed although the same trust appears at the top of the list. There were also 249,343 patients in England at the end of September waiting at least a year to start treatment. University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust was responsible for around one in five (21.4 per cent) of the longest waiters more than any other The NHS Constitution says patients should begin treatment within 18 weeks of a referral but waits rocketed as routine care was suspended during the pandemic Twenty-eight NHS trusts together account for more than half (50.9 per cent) of this total. University Hospitals Sussex again accounts for the largest proportion, at 4.4 per cent or 10,976 patients. However, some trusts including some in southern or eastern England saw all or almost all their patients within 18 weeks following a referral. Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust saw all 154 patients within the timeframe, while Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust, which has 2,152 patients, saw almost everyone (99.9 per cent) too. South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust had 3894 patients and 99.54 per cent of them were seen within 18 weeks. Rory Deighton, acute director at the NHS Confederation, said: NHS leaders and their teams have been working incredibly hard to drive down waiting lists and we welcome the progress made in cutting the longest waits. But this success is not spread evenly across the country. As this analysis makes clear, there are some trusts who are struggling to make inroads in their longest waits. The nine NHS trusts with the largest number of people waiting for at least a year and a half for pre-planned care are all in southern or eastern England This can be down to a variety of reasons, including high bed occupancy due to high demand for urgent and emergency care, or a lack of community or social care to help discharge patients more quickly. It is vital that these trusts are supported to boost capacity and not just named and shamed when there are often long-standing factors that need to be addressed. One of the most important ways to do this is for the Government to continue to boost capital investment into the NHS so hospitals can repair dilapidated estates, replace out-of-date equipment and invest in the latest technologies.' Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents trust bosses, said: Trust leaders dont want patients to wait a moment longer than they have to for vital treatment and are doing all they can to see patients as quickly as possible amid soaring demand, major financial pressures and deeply entrenched health inequalities. But health leaders are ready to work with the Government on the elective recovery plan and 10-year health plan so they can tackle head-on the challenges facing the NHS. A spokesman for University Hospitals Sussex said: As one of the largest trusts in the country, operating seven hospitals across Sussex, we recognise the magnitude of our waiting list challenges and know too many people are waiting too long for their care. However, we have responded with significant measures to improve this. Our dedicated staff have delivered additional clinics, making the most use of Community Diagnostic Centres, and have improved processes, resulting in our waiting lists falling faster than nearly any other trust in the country. The ongoing focus of our staff, and our system partners, is clear, and we will keep working at this pace to help make sure people receive safe, high-quality care as soon as is possible. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: Patients have been let down for too long whilst they wait for the care they need. We will tackle this head-on by delivering an extra 40,000 additional appointments per week. We are also sending teams of top clinicians to hospitals around the country to help cut waiting lists and we recently announced a package of reforms to attract top talent and crack down on failing services. September saw the size of the waiting list decrease and boosted by the extra investment secured at the Budget, we will cut waiting lists further, get patients seen faster and build an NHS fit for the future. READ MORE: The surprising sexual kink that is most likely to result in orgasm Doctors have revealed Americans' biggest bedroom kinks, some of which land thousands in the hospital every year. Experts from telehealth company Hims asked more than 7,000 Americans about their sex lives and habits they prefer in the bedroom. As three in four said they wanted to explore different trends, respondents revealed which kinks they were more interested in trying. One of the most popular, and risky, was objectophilia, which involves being sexually attracted to inanimate objects. For many, this means inserting foreign objects into one's anus or vagina to achieve orgasm. Recent research shows that nearly 4,000 Americans are rushed to the emergency room every year for getting these objects stuck in their rectums - including sex toys like vibrators, others have opted for jars, drugs, and even weaponry and live animals. Depending on how big or sharp the object is, insertion gone wrong can lead to tears in the rectal wall, infections, and bowel obstructions. Foot fetishes, roleplay and cuckholding - the act of watching one's partner have sex with someone else, also made the list of habits Americans were most curious about. The findings come as the US faces a 'sex recession,' with recent studies suggesting that more than one in three young people haven't had a sexual partner in the last year. A survey from Hims revealed the most popular sexual kinks in America (stock image) Researchers from the University of Rochester, New York, found that men were more likely than women to come to hospital with a foreign object lodged in their rectums. They suggested, however, that this may be down to reporting bias because women were less likely to put non-sexual objects in their rectums, reducing the chances of their case being recorded Your browser does not support iframes. In the Hims survey, one in 15 participants expressed an interest in objectophilia, The team wrote: 'Oral sex, anal sex, and other types of sexual experience with objects can be a great way to find new sexual pleasure.' America's favorite kinks Roleplay: 31 percent Dom/sub relationships: 17 percent Sexual voyeurism: 17 percent Sugar relationships: 17 percent Solo polyamory: 13 percent Consensual exhibitionism: 12 percent Digital sex work: 12 percent Cuckholding: 10 percent Foot fetishism: 9 percent Objectophilia: 6 percent *from a Hims survey of 7,000 respondents Advertisement However, the researchers suggested using objects with a flared base, as this prevents them from getting lodged in the anus. While putting an object up one's rectum can be safe, the practice has led to thousands of injuries every year in the US. An analysis from researchers at the University of Rochester in New York, for example, found that nearly 40,000 Americans were hospitalized between 2012 and 2021, the equivalent of almost 4,000 per year. Men accounted for nearly eight in 10 cases, with the most common group being males in their 20s and early 30s, who made up a third of all ER visits. Bottles, jars or bottle lids were the most common non-sexual devices found stuck in people's rectums, they found, accounting for 10 percent of cases. They were followed by drugs, five percent, and a ball or marble, three percent. Other objects spotted were described as 'writing implements,' or 2.3 percent, which may include pens, markers and crayons. In one extreme case from 2022, an 88-year-old man in France shut down his local hospital when he came into the emergency room with a World War I-era artillery shell in his anus. He claimed he slipped and fell. An 88-year-old French man shut down a hospital in Toulon in 2022 when he arrived at the emergency department with an eight-inch First World War-era artillery shell in his anus The researchers also found that one in three participants were interested in roleplaying with their partner Additionally, the survey revealed that 31 percent of respondents had roleplay on their list of things to try with their partner. The team said this included situations with power dynamics, such as pretending to be a teacher and a student. Another 17 percent were interested in dominant and submissive relationships, in which one person takes control during sex. BDSM can also fit into this category, the researchers said. Meanwhile, another 17 percent chose sexual voyeurism, or wanting to watch others have sexual exchanges without their knowledge. At least 12 percent of participants said they wanted to explore digital sex work, or using a platform like OnlyFans to sell or pay for content. And one in 10 showed an interest in cuckholding, which is when one partner watches the other one 'cheat' on them with someone else. Foot fetishes, 'sugar' relationships, and polyamory were also among the most popular kinks. READ MORE: Salmonella could help stem the tide of rising colon cancer deaths Cucumbers have been recalled from major retailers due to potentially being contaminated with deadly bacteria. SunFed Produce, LLC, has pulled all sizes of its fresh whole cucumbers because of fears they contain the bacteria salmonella, which hospitalizes 26,000 Americans every year. The recall includes SunFed cucumbers sold in 26 states and five Canadian provinces, according to the FDA. Affected products were sold at Walmart, Wegmans and Albertsons stores. There have been 68 illnesses and 18 hospitalizations, according to the CDC. No deaths have been reported. Cucumbers from SunFed, LLC (pictured here) have been recalled from retailers in 26 states, the FDA said If you have purchased affected products, the FDA advises throwing them out and cleaning counters that may have some into contact with them to avoid cross contamination (stock image) Your browser does not support iframes. The affected products were sold in the following states, the FDA said: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. They were also sold in Canadian provinces Alberta, British Columbia, Calgary, Saskatchewan, and Ontario. The cucumbers were sold to companies that resell or redistribute produce to food service retailers. Arizona-based SunFed said it is contacting buyers to advise them of the recall of the cucumbers, which were sold in bulk cardboard containers with the 'SunFed' label or in a plastic crate with a sticker identifying the grower in Mexico: 'Agrotato, S.A. de C.V.' The impacted cucumbers were sold between October 12 and November 15. SunFed president Craig Slate said in a statement: 'As soon as we learned of this issue, we immediately acted to protect consumers. 'We are working closely with authorities and the implicated ranch to determine the possible cause.' Walmart, Wegmans, and Albertsons all issued recall notices to consumers in affected states. Salmonella is caused by eating foods contaminated with animal feces. It typically causes diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps that begin six hours to six days after initial infection, according to the CDC. Most people recover within days, though the illness is responsible for more than 26,000 hospitalizations and 400 deaths a year. The FDA warns to not consume affected products. If you are unsure if a product has been recalled, contact the retailer from whom it was purchased. The agency also advises cleaning any surfaces that might have come into contact with the cucumbers to avoid cross contamination. Literary Fiction Claire Allfree Enlightenment by Sarah Perry (Jonathan Cape 20, 400pp) James is available now from the Mail Bookshop It missed out on the Booker but Sarah Perrys juicy ghostly fourth novel is still a treat. Set in the same fictional Essex town of Aldleigh as The Essex Serpent, it seems to contain the mysteries of the cosmos in its story of a lonely bachelor obsessed in 1997 with the Hale-Bopp comet. As rich and satisfying as any plum pudding. James by Percival Everett (Mantle 20, 320pp) Spare a thought for Percival Everett, denied this years Booker prize by the undeniably worthy Orbital, by Samantha Harvey, but who in this audacious rewrite of Huckleberry Finn has produced one of the novels of the year. Its told from the point of view of Jim, Hucks runaway slave buddy, and is both true to the original and turns it entirely on its head. Crackling with insight and wit. Silverback by Phil Harrison (Fleet 18.99, 192pp) This quietly excellent novel about the psychological impact of the Troubles for a generation of Belfast men has been rather overlooked. The story of an unusual friendship between a respected surgeon and a man acquitted of murdering his father, a former Loyalist thug, it barely mentions politics yet its legacy is felt in almost every exchange. Sickeningly good. Anthony Cummins LIARS by Sarah Manguso (Picador 16.99, 272pp) I couldnt tear my eyes away from this brutally candid novel venting the dirty laundry of marital discord. In spiky little shards of angry self-disclosure, the narrator outlines the failings of her husband, an unreliable philanderer. The full story? Who can say, but whatever your view, the nigh-on radioactive power of Mangusos writing is impossible to deny. The Hypocrite is available now from the Mail Bookshop PRACTICE by Rosalind Brown (W&N 18.99, 208pp) This quiet debut has stuck with me all year. Its about an Oxford student struggling to concentrate on an essay while thinking of her older lover. An unpromising subject, maybe, but theres bravery in the scrutiny Practice brings to the everyday churn of thought and emotion that most novels ignore. THE HYPOCRITE by Jo Hamya (W&N 18.99, 240pp) In this excellent second novel from an exciting young UK writer, a playwright puts her philandering father through the wringer when he sits through a performance of her latest show, centred on a long-ago sexual encounter he didnt realise she knew about. Hamya keeps the readers judgment almost uncomfortably suspended in a sharp take on intergenerational strife. Stephanie Cross THE LAND IN WINTER by Andrew Miller (Sceptre 20, 384pp) My Friends is available now from the Mail Bookshop However cold this winter turns out to be, its unlikely to beat 1962s Big Freeze. Millers deeply evocative novel follows the intertwined lives of two pregnant women and their husbands against this icy backdrop, its snow-bound strangeness seeping into the narrative fabric. With the long shadows of World War II still lying across the land, its a memorable slice of historical fiction. MY FRIENDS by Hisham Matar (Viking 18.99, 464pp) This is an expansive, absorbing masterclass in storytelling that centres on the 1984 Libyan embassy protest that left WPC Yvonne Fletcher dead and 11 others injured. Among them is student Khaled, whose life is changed utterly that day. Thirty years later, on a novel-spanning night walk across London, he reflects movingly on exile, literature and friendship. THE ECHOES by Evie Wyld (Jonathan Cape 18.99, 240pp) What would Christmas be without a ghost story? In the present, recently deceased Hannah attempts to reach her creative writing teacher husband, who remains painfully oblivious. But we also rewind to Hannahs Australian childhood, where the crimes committed against indigenous children refuse literally to stay buried. As always from Wyld, this is an electrifying and pitch-perfect performance. Classic Crime Barry Turner A Case of Mice and Murder by Sally Smith (Raven Books 16.99, 352pp) When the Lord Chief Justice is found murdered in the precincts of the Inner Temple, Sir Gabriel Ward, a sharp-witted upholder of the law, must identify the killer. Set in Edwardian London, this five-star debut novel is entirely convincing in detail and characterisation. Death on the Lusitania is available now from the Mail Bookshop Death on the Lusitania by R .L. Graham (Macmillan 9.99, 400pp) This outstanding novel of deception and double-dealing is set on the Lusitania as it heads for destruction by a German torpedo. With a suspected traitor on board and the violent death of a passenger, an undercover agent has his work cut out before the luxury liner meets its end. Every Trick in the Book by Bernard OKeeffe (Muswell Press 9.99, 354pp) Fact follows fiction when the death of a novelist closely follows the plot of his debut novel. It falls to Inspector Garibaldi, a literary-inclined detective, to track the clues left by the dead writer. A rising star of crime fiction, Bernard OKeeffe gives us an enthralling mix of mystery and murder. Other Paths to Glory by Anthony Price (Penguin Modern Classics 9.99, 288pp) Identifying a patch of woodland from the Battle of the Somme proves life threatening for military historian Paul Mitchell. Discovering why his knowledge is so vital pitches him into a deadly international intrigue that builds to a heart-thumping climax. Psychos Christena Appleyard The Last Time I Saw Him by Rachel Abbott (Wildfire 9.99, 432pp) This is another reliably intruiging tale from Abbott, who has a gift for believable characters and gripping plots. Three women collude to wreak revenge on a revolting high-profile misogynist who hides behind his public image of benevolent philanthropist. When he is suddenly murdered, the women are forced to confront new truths and each other. A Place Called Hope is available now from the Mail Bookshop A Place Called Hope by Morgan Greene (Canelo 9.99, 384pp) A dark and timely take on the American Dream. A young man stuck in a dying small town sees a chance to get out after his grandfather tells him a family secret about a stolen painting. But his plan depends on who he must choose to help him. An original story by a gifted writer which steps outside the rules of a conventional thriller but scores a bullseye. Beautiful People by Amanda Jennings (HQ 16.99, 352pp) Perfect escapism for lovers of the rich and luxury as a backdrop. Artist Victoria is reunited with her glamorous university friends and an opportunity for revenge. Well-drawn characters and a plot that resists the obvious and surprises right to the end. Contemporary Sara Lawrence Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner (Wildfire 20, 464pp) Ordinary Time is available now from the Mail Bookshop This family saga focuses on the mixed blessings of inheriting vast wealth. The Fletchers believe their money protects them from danger; nothing bad happens until 1983, when the father, Carl, is kidnapped and held to ransom. All talk about the brutal attack is shut down, but decades later it becomes apparent that the trauma remains. A rollercoaster. Ordinary Time by Cathy Rentzenbrink (Phoenix 20, 352pp) I loved this wise book about duty, family and love. Vicars wife Ann struggles with the role her marriage demands and also with her husband, who cares more for his parishioners than for their family. When he accepts a rural job, Ann thinks about the many ways her marriage isnt working. But then everything changes. Thought-provoking. Brightly Shining by Ingvild Rishoi (Grove Press 12.99, 192pp) A beautifully written story about young sisters Ronja and Melissa, whose alcoholic father is unemployed. Set at Christmas, its a heart-breaking portrait of a family in crisis. Things improve when he starts selling Christmas trees but he then ruins the opportunity. The girls take on the job and are helped by their community. Wonderfully festive. Crime Geoffrey Wansell A Drowning Tide by Sarah Lawton (Black & White 16.99, 320pp) This delightful debut, set on the Isle of Wight, introduces the reclusive spinster Ms Merriweather, who likes cryptic crosswords and solving crimes with the help of former policeman Gareth Jones. Charming, yet also thrilling. The Mistletoe Mystery is available now from the Mail Bookshop Clete by James Lee Burke (Orion 22, 336pp) This may be the last appearance of Burkes retired detective Dave Robicheaux, as the author is already 87, but it is as good as any of his fabulous series set in the Louisiana Bayous. This time the focus is on his old friend Clete Purcell and Burkes story-telling is as exquisite as ever. The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose (HarperCollins 9.99, 128pp) The third outing for Proses remarkable heroine Molly the Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel is as delicious as its predecessors. Why does her beloved boyfriend, Juan Manuel, keep telling her strange tales about his whereabouts. Is there a crime to be solved? Pure joy. The Black Loch by Peter May (Riverrun 22, 400pp) Mays return to the Isle of Lewis for a story after 12 years sees his hero detective Fin Macleod go back to save his teacher son Fionnlagh, who has been charged with murdering an 18-year-old pupil. Laced with melancholy, it is May at his best. Debuts Sara Lawrence Interpretations of Love by Jane Campbell (Riverrun 16.99, 240pp) Campbell is 81 and her first novel is wise and moving, full of original takes on old ideas. Agnes was orphaned as a child and scooped up by her mothers brother, Malcolm. On her deathbed, Malcolms sister asked him to deliver a letter but it takes him 50 years. When the contents are revealed, lives change. Stunning. Green Dot is available now from the Mail Bookshop The White Flower by Charlotte Beeston (Les Fugitives 12.99, 194pp) The narrative alternates between Stellas contemporary story and Julias Edwardian one. Both are suffering debilitating grief. Stellas mother died of cancer and Julia is mourning her daughter. Their individual mediations combine to form an emotionally intelligent look at the mother-daughter bond. Raw and compelling. Green Dot by Madeleine Gray (Weidenfeld & Nicolson 16.99, 384pp) Despite a university education and many successful friends, Hera has no ambition. She gets a junior job in an office but is so bored she starts flirting with middle-aged, married Arthur. This quickly becomes an affair and a tortured love story. Sharp and hilarious. Short Stories Eithne Farry Table For Two by Amor Towles (Cornerstone 15.99, 464pp) Ghostroots is available now from the Mail Bookshop Glinting with mischievous irony, these scintillating, sophisticated stories are trademark Towles beautifully crafted, morally upright and stylishly funny. Set in Revolution-era Russia, New York and Los Angeles, they pitch good sports, hapless husbands and gutsy heroines against the unscrupulous machinations of chancers and conmen in six superb short stories and one stellar noir novella. Ghostroots by Pemi Aguda (Virago 16.99, 208pp) The eerie and the everyday are perfectly aligned in these 12 stories set in the hustle and bustle of modern-day Lagos, as Aguda delights in transforming the domestic into something altogether more sinister. Here, love is treacherous, motherhood malign and death stalks ordinary family homes, honing in on male children. The History of Sound by Ben Shattuck (Swift Press 14.99, 320pp) Elegantly written, beautifully structured and emotionally involving, this outstanding collection of 12 interconnected stories is multi-layered and beguilingly subtle. Spanning decades, and with the cinematic landscapes of New England as a backdrop, these intimate tales of music collectors, apple growers, struggling artists and beleaguered cult followers are brimful of heartbreak, hope and hard-won happiness. Popular Wendy Holden THE BLUE HOUR by Paula Hawkins (Doubleday 22, 336pp) Those excellent bedfellows art and crime meet in this class-conscious thriller. Boho artist Vanessa has left her art to a horrid posh family. But when a human bone is found in a sculpture, their curator must find out whose it is. Off he heads to the island where Vanessa lived, and where her lifelong friend Grace proves a tricky customer. The Excitements is available now from the Mail Bookshop THE EXCITEMENTS by C. J. Wray (Orion 18.99, 352pp) We all desperately need some cheering up at the moment and nothing could be better than this superb comedy about two nonagenarian British war heroines. Penny and Josephine are plastered with medals and off to Paris to accept another, escorted by their devoted nephew. The trip revives all kinds of memories and the fast-paced plot moves between the 1940s and the present. Brilliant. THE WINDS FROM FURTHER WEST by Alexander McCall Smith (Polygon 16.99, 272pp) A cancel culture drama featuring some shocking academic skulduggery. AMS dips a toe in some controversial waters while maintaining the usual steady stream of kindly wisdom. Scientist Neil has been de-platformed and must leave his Edinburgh college. But will the remote Isle of Mull prove a comfort, or just make things worse? Historical Eithne Farry The Kings Mother by Annie Garthwaite (Viking 16.99, 400pp) Treason, treachery and back-stabbing political machinations are at the heart of The Kings Mother as a tangle of Tudors, Woodvilles and Beauforts vie for the throne, under the watchful eye of arch manipulator Cecily Neville. Meticulously researched, brimful of leap-off-the-page characters, whose stories unspool in vivid, vital prose, this is a tightly plotted, electrifying read. The Bone Hunters is available now from the Mail Bookshop The Bone Hunters by Joanne Burn (Sphere 20, 352pp) Inspired by the intrepid Mary Anning, the trail- blazing Victorian paleontologist, this gripping page-turner heads to the wild shores of Dorsets Jurassic coast in the company of obsessive, stubborn, clever 24-year-old Ada Winter, whos desperate to be accepted by the male geological community. A powerful story of scientific adventure and self-discovery, with a gloriously staunch heroine at its core. Small Bomb At Dimperley by Lissa Evans (Doubleday 18.99, 320pp) The war is over and reluctant heir Corporal Valentine Vere-Thissett is heading back to his down-at-heel stately home, and its eccentric, impractical inhabitants. Damp, saddled with debt, dilapidated Dimperley seems doomed. Enter enterprising secretary Zena Baxter, who has an audacious plan to save them all, in this perfectly pitched, funny tale of old ways and new ideas. Thrillers Geoffrey Wansell Angelique by Guillaume Musso (Weidenfeld & Nicolson 22, 240pp) Angelique is available now from the Mail Bookshop Frances best-selling author never disappoints and this sinister tale of a former policeman who takes on the case of the disappearance of a young womans mother is as good as anything Musso has done. Nothing is what it seems. The Peacock and the Sparrow by I. S. Berry (No Exit Press 9.99, 352pp) Written by a real former CIA agent, this tale of a washed-up agent with a drinking problem who is sent to Bahrain to serve out his last days as a spy positively reeks authenticity. It superbly captures the twilight world of espionage, where no one tells the truth, but a hero can still find love. What Have You Done by Shari Lapena (Bantam 18.99, 352pp) This creepy masterpiece takes place in the small town of Fairhill in Vermont, where a much-loved teenager is found naked and butchered in a hayfield with vultures circling overhead. Suspicion falls on her boyfriend, but everyone in town seems to have their secrets. A proper page-turner. Sci-Fi and Fantasy Jamie Buxton Navola by Paolo Bacigalupi (Head of Zeus 16.99, 576pp) Power delivers wealth, luxury and security the problem lies in staying strong. Alas, poor Davico could not be less suited to inherit his fathers business empire. In this re-imagined reworking of the Italian renaissance, theres beauty, terror, high politics and low skullduggery. Dazzling, gripping, and horribly moving. Exodus: The Archimedes Engine by Peter F. Hamilton (Tor 25, 928pp) The Fox Wife is available now from the Mail Bookshop A spaceship from the past erupts into a bewilderingly complex empire of super-evolved humanity where everything runs on Machiavellian powerplays. Then a rebel sees a chance to upset it all. This is a huge book dealing with mighty themes, but for all that its nimble, compelling and gripping. Empire of the Damned by Jay Kristoff (Harper Voyager 22.00, 384pp) Theres a brutal simplicity here. If Vampires are all about blood, sex and violence, thats what youre getting. The Holy Grail is missing, the disgusting Dyvok clan need to be destroyed but can the silver-saint wade through enough gore to save the empire? Youll be awestruck. The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo (Quercus 20, 400pp) Manchuria at the start of the 20th century. Times are changing but fox gods still walk the earth. Theyre beautiful shapeshifters with surprising appetites. Theres revenge, politics and a sweet love story as an elderly investigator follows a mystery to its surprising conclusion. Beguiling, gripping. Catherine, The Princess of Wales: The Biography by Robert Jobson (John Blake 22, 320pp) Catherine, The Princess of Wales is available now from the Mail Bookshop The Princess of Wales loves green smoothies and sticky-toffee pudding. Her idea of happiness is being in the thick of family mayhem, chaos in the kitchen and the rough and tumble over what music should be played over breakfast. In this lively and affectionate biography of Catherine, the Princess of Wales, Robert Jobson shows us a woman who, after her own happy, outdoorsy childhood, makes a priority of giving her children the security, love and freedom to roam that she had. Jobson portrays William and Catherine as a couple deeply in love, and Catherine as a pillar of stability. After their moment of misstep in March, when they released the Photoshopped family photo, the outpouring of love for the Princess of Wales when she revealed her cancer diagnosis showed the esteem in which shes held. Charles III: New King, New Court The Inside Story by Robert Hardman (Macmillan 22, 544pp) Charles III is available now from the Mail Bookshop In this updated edition of his superb, impeccably sourced portrait of Charles III, first published in January to great acclaim, Robert Hardman takes us up to this autumn, incorporating the family-picnic video released by the Waleses after the Princess had completed her chemotherapy treatment, and the Duke of Yorks stubborn declaration that hell be staying on at Royal Lodge, and financing it himself. Of the King, a close friend said: Theres been no return to the Eeyorish moods of his middle years . . . Being King is a suit that fits him well. His spiritual mentor the Right Reverend Richard Chartres said that the King had been energised by the tremendous outpouring of support for him when his cancer was diagnosed. Ive had so many wonderful messages and cards, the King said to then prime minister Rishi Sunak. Its reduced me to tears. Hardman includes excellent details, such as that our late Queen reduced the number of courses at royal banquets from five to four; the King has since reduced them from four to three, doing away with the soup course. That really is a slimmed-down monarchy. A Voyage Around The Queen by Craig Brown (Fourth Estate 25, 672pp) A Voyage Around The Queen is available now from the Mail Bookshop In his scintillating and sparklingly funny A Voyage Around The Queen, Craig Brown treats us to a succession of delicious, quirky glimpses of our late Queen seen from many angles. Her wit, steadfastness and radiance shine out. So does her devotion to her horses and dogs. When one of her corgis died, Lady Pamela Hicks wrote her a brief letter of condolence. The Queen replied with a six-page letter listing all of the dogs virtues. People were so overwhelmed when they met the Queen that they blurted out gibberish. Terry Wogan summed it up: You say the first thing that comes into your head, and you carry the memory of your foolishness to the grave. Theres an unforgettable Queen-related nugget on every page of this delightful book, which doubles up as a unique portrait of Britain over the last century. The Kings Loot: The Greatest Royal Jewellery Heist in History by Richard Wallace (The History Press 22.99, 288pp) The King's Loot is available now from the Mail Bookshop On April 2, 1987, at the Hotel Beau Rivage in Geneva, a Sothebys sale took place with 306 lots of the deceased Duchess of Windsors jewellery. The auction raised 39 million, with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Elizabeth Taylor among the purchasers. But where did this treasure trove of jewellery come from, and was it ever really the Duchesss at all? Richard Wallace, who was present at the sale, investigates the mysteries surrounding the Duchesss jewels. When Edward, the Prince of Wales, fell in love with Wallis Simpson, he showered her with gems from the vaults of the Royal Collections. Because the personal possessions of the Royal Family have not been documented since Henry VIIIs days, no one knows exactly what was there, or how much Edward brazenly helped himself to. Then there was the mysterious theft of the Duke and Duchess of Windsors jewels while they were staying with the Earl and Countess of Dudley in 1946. Did the Duchess defraud the insurers by overstating the number and identification of the jewels? This is a fascinating dip into the murky world of the Duke and Duchess of Windsors obsession with money and possessions. Power and Glory: Elizabeth II and the Rebirth of Royalty by Alexander Larman (W&N 25, 352pp) Power and Glory is available now from the Mail Bookshop In the highly readable concluding volume of his trilogy on the House of Windsor, Alexander Larman takes us from VE Day to the Coronation of Elizabeth II. We see Princess Elizabeth blossoming into the confident, inspirational monarch she would become. She certainly got her way when it came to choice of husband. Madly in love, she declared to the US diplomat Robert Coe that if objections were raised to her marrying Philip, she would not hesitate to follow the example of Edward VIII and abdicate. Running alongside this story, Larman depicts the exiled Duke and Duchess of Windsor living in futile splendour in France, the Duke consumed by loathing for what he saw as his icy and mean relatives. He was deluded enough to believe that when his brother was seriously ill in the early 1950s, hed be able to seize the throne, and take on the office of regent. My Mother and I: The Inside Story of the King and our Late Queen by Ingrid Seward (S&S 25, 304pp) My Mother and I is available now from the Mail Bookshop The Kings strained relationship with his mother, the late Queen, is revealed in this insightful book by Ingrid Seward. From early childhood, when he saw her for only an hour after tea, to being sent off to boarding prep school where he missed his governess far more than he missed his mother, the young prince learned to hide his emotions. Craving affection from his mother, the sensitive prince retreated behind a mask of formality. To this day, he sleeps near his beloved teddy bear, and sends it to be repaired and patched by his wifes couturier, with instructions to do it quickly. Over the years he and his mother mended their strained relationship and became closer, even if they didnt show it. Not strictly relevant to the central plot, but nonetheless unforgettable, is the detail that Prince Philip never took to Meghan Markle, and called her DOW from the start, because she reminded him so much of the Duchess of Windsor. TI Fluid Systems has become the latest major British firm to strike a takeover deal with a foreign company this week. The car parts supplier revealed it had accepted a 1billion offer from Canadian rival ABC Technologies, which makes vehicle components, including defrosters, door panels, and fuel tanks, for some of the world's largest automakers. ABC said the acquisition would bolster its product portfolio and presence across core automotive markets in Asia, Europe and the Americas. Under the terms of the transaction, TI's investors will receive 200 pence per share, a 47.3 per cent premium to its closing share price of 135.8p on 12 September, the final day before the current offer period began. ABC made two unsolicited bids for the business earlier this summer worth 165p and 176p per share, respectively, but TI turned both down for being too low. Last week, the City's Takeover Panel extended the deadline for ABC to make a 'put up or shut up' offer for the Oxford-based group to 5pm today. Acquisition: Car parts supplier TI Fluid Systems has become the third major British business this week to strike a takeover deal with a foreign company Both companies expect the acquisition to be finalised in the first half of 2025, subject to approval from TI shareholders representing at least three-quarters of votes. Tim Cobbold, chair of TI Fluid Systems, said the enlarged business would be better positioned to navigate the current challenges facing the automotive industry and deliver sustainable long-term growth.' He added that the offer represents an attractive premium and provides shareholders with the certainty of a cash consideration that reflects TI Fluid Systems' fundamental strengths and opportunities, while also acknowledging the wider industry uncertainties. While officially founded in 2000, TI's roots can be traced back to the Bundy Corporation, which was set up in 1922 and supplied fuel lines for the Ford Model T. TI's takeover announcement comes just one day after the waste management company Renewi approved a 700million offer from Australian asset manager Macquarie. Cosy Club operator Loungers also said yes to a 351million bid from Majestic Wines owner Fortress Investment Group. London-listed firms are often considered attractive takeover targets due to a perception that they are undervalued relative to their global peers. Cybersecurity specialist Darktrace, video games services provider Keywords Studios, and music rights investor Hipgnosis Songs Fund have all fallen into overseas ownership this year. Investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown, soft drinks producer Britvic, and Royal Mail owner International Distribution Services have also made billion-pound takeover deals. Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell, said: 'Like many other takeover targets over the past few years, TI Fluid struggled to generate much excitement among investors and traded on the type of valuation that left it vulnerable to a bid. 'The shares have traded below eight times 12-month forward earnings since 2022, which put TI Fluid in bargain basement territory. It was only a matter of time before someone gobbled it up.' TI Fluid Systems shares were 1.8 per cent up at 192.6p on late Friday afternoon. Misconduct including the burgeoning scandal in the motor finance industry could cost lenders at least 25billion, the Bank of England warned. Sam Woods, the Bank's deputy governor, said it was not considered to be a risk for UK financial stability. But he warned yesterday that in the past, such misconduct 'has often been quite a significant headwind'. He added: 'We've been spending a lot of time on that issue.' Lenders continue to count the cost of a recent Court of Appeal ruling on the way car dealers sold loans to customers to finance the purchase of vehicles. In a ruling that stunned the industry, the court said it was unlawful for dealers to receive a commission from those banks without receiving the informed consent of the customer. Burgeoning scandal: Lenders continue to count the cost of a recent Court of Appeal ruling on the way car dealers sold loans to customers to finance the purchase of vehicles The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has said it means many customers who took out a loan through a dealer may be owed compensation. Credit ratings agency Moody's has estimated the total industry cost could reach 30billion. Woods set out the Bank of England's response as it published its twice-yearly Financial Stability Report, which assesses the health of Britain's financial system and its ability to cope with major stresses both from the UK and globally. The report said: 'Some lenders face uncertainty over the potential for redress payments associated with certain historic commission payments.' Woods told reporters: 'We did not attempt to make a point estimate on that particular issue what we did instead was take a crude but prudent approach.' Instead, the Bank extrapolated assumptions it had made in previous 'stress tests' giving average annual costs of 5billion for 'conduct' issues and multiplied them over five years. 'That's a 25billion hit. Even while taking a hit of that size, the system still has plenty of headroom,' Woods said. 'We do not consider that issue to be a risk to financial stability. But misconduct has often been quite a significant headwind and our job is to make sure that we're capturing that appropriately in the stress testing that we do.' Lloyds Banking Group is among the lenders facing a potential major bill for compensation and has set aside 450million to cover the cost. Santander UK, meanwhile, has set aside 295million. Two smaller lenders, Close Brothers and Investec, have also revealed that they continued to face uncertainty over the impact of the scandal. Lenders involved in the court case plan to appeal. The Bank's wider assessment in yesterday's report found that 'UK household and corporate borrowers are likely to remain resilient'. That is despite growing complaints from businesses that they face being battered by Labour's Budget measures including a 25billion raid on employer National Insurance and a sharp increase in the minimum wage as well as the introduction of a raft of new workers' rights. The report did point to more general risks facing smaller businesses as well as companies saddled with large debts, including those owned by private equity firms. Asked about the negative impact of the Budget on companies, Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey said: 'We are not at the moment seeing any sign of an increase in corporate distress. 'But, as you would expect, we will watch very carefully to see how the effects of all of this pass through into both the corporate and the household sector.' Sky has threatened legal action if the competition watchdog approves a 15billion merger between Vodafone and Three next week. The broadcaster and mobile provider has told the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) it will be 'forced' to challenge the decision if the regulator approves the deal between the mobile giants in its current form. The merger with Three is a big test of strategy for Vodafone boss Margherita Della Valle who is trying to reduce its debts and streamline operations. Plans: Vodafone boss Margherita Della Valle Earlier this month, the CMA said it could 'allow the merger to go ahead' after Vodafone and Three's owner, Hong Kong giant CK Hutchison, agreed to a series of commitments to ease concerns that the tie-up could lead to higher bills. These included a pledge to cap their lowest-cost mobile plans at 10 for two years and invest in the roll-out of 5G internet over eight years. If the deal is approved it will make the combined entity the UK's largest mobile network operator, leapfrogging Virgin Media O2 and BT's EE. But Sky said it was 'evident' that there were still 'substantial concerns' around the deal. James Robinson at analysts Assembly Research said: 'Whether this is a genuine threat from Sky or just a last-ditch attempt at influencing the CMA is difficult to say.' Having made further steps towards a major restructuring of its business, Anglo American got support from analysts at Jefferies, who upgraded their rating for the blue-chip miner to 'buy' from 'hold'. Though there are still risks around the restructuring, which has seen Anglo American sell off its coal and platinum assets, the Jefferies analysts said a drop in the company's share price leaves the stock looking good value. The US bank's analysts said that after the restructuring is complete, Anglo American will be well-positioned to benefit from a rising copper price and a resilient iron ore price. The company should also have a strong balance sheet and robust cash flow, enabling it to deliver large capital returns. With Anglo American shares down around 15 per cent since the restructuring was unveiled in May, the Jefferies analysts also lifted their share price target for the stock to 2850p from 2500p. Anglo American's shares topped the FTSE 100 risers, up 5.4 per cent, or 129.5p, to 2520.5p. Right direction: Restructuring has seen Anglo American sell off its coal and platinum assets On the final trading session of November, the FTSE 100 index edged up 0.1 per cent, or 6.08 points, to 8287.3. Over the course of the month, the blue-chip index has gained around 2 per cent. With just one more month to go until the end of 2024, it is ahead around 6.5 per cent but remains well below the all-time peak of 8474.41 hit in May. The FTSE 250 index crept up 0.04 per cent, or 8.79 points, to 20771.57p, but was also up around 2 per cent for the month, putting it about 5 per cent higher so far this year. Broker comment was also a spur to gains for blue-chip engineer IMI, which added 3.3 per cent, or 58p, to 1820p after analysts at Bank of America Merrill Lynch upgraded their rating to 'buy' in a big note on the engineering sector. But FTSE 100-listed defence engineer BAE Systems dropped 4.9 per cent, or 63p, to 1227p on the back of a downgrade to 'underperform' by the Bank of America analysts. And FTSE 250-listed defence peer QinetiQ also suffered, losing 3.5 per cent, or 15p, to 415.2p as the same analysts also cut its rating to 'underperform'. Retailers were in focus on Black Friday, a key shopping date for the sector. Next shares gained 2.2 per cent, or 218p, at 10080p as analysts at Berenberg started coverage of the clothing and homewares stores group at 'buy'. But rival M&S shed 0.3 per cent, or 1p, to 382.7p as the Berenberg analysts adopted a less bullish view, starting coverage with a 'hold' rating. Elsewhere, stocks with exposure to Georgia suffered after the government of the former Soviet republic suspended moves to join the European Union, leading to violent clashes between demonstrators and riot police. Topping the FTSE 250 fallers list, TBC Bank shed 5.9 per cent, or 190p, to 3030p and Bank of Georgia dropped 6.2 per cent, or 310p, to 4685p. Among the small caps, gaming minnow Webis soared 7.1 per cent, or 0.01p, to 0.15p as it posted resilient annual results, a last hurrah after recently announcing its intention to delist from AIM to reduce costs as it seeks to grow its business in North America. A true-crime historian has revealed how the disturbing crimes of a killer from a small town in Wisconsin inspired three of the most iconic horror films ever made. Dubbed 'The Butcher of Plainfield,' Ed Gein is known to have killed at least two women - potentially more. But unlike infamous serial killers such as Ted Bundy or Jeffrey Dahmer, he was predominantly was a body snatcher who preyed upon dead victims. Gein, whose horrifying crimes are now set to be featured on Season 3 of Ryan Murphy's 'Monster', would scan obituaries in his small town, go to the graveyard and dig up the bodies of the listed deceased. He would then take the stolen remains to his farmhouse where he would dissect, dismember and skin them. Some of the body parts he removed were used as home and fashion accessories. Skin became chair covers, masks were made from human faces, kitchen utensils from skulls and bones, and nipples were used to make belts. Gein's descent into madness began when his mother, Augusta, died in 1945. The loner had a sick infatuation with her and tried to dig up her grave when she died. When he came up empty-handed, he went in search of other woman who resembled her. This led Harold Schechter, two-time Edgar nominee and true crime historian who has published more than 50 books, to nickname Gein the 'original Pyscho'. Edward Theodore Gein was known as 'the Butcher of Plainfield.' It is unclear the number of corpses he dug up but it is estimated to be at least a dozen Bates lured his victims into his home as the proprietor of the 'Bates Motel' In the 1960s cult classic horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, Norman Bates was also obsessed with his mother and dressed up her corpse. Gein has also been compared to fictional monsters Buffalo Bill in The Silence of the Lambs and Leatherface in Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Even decades later, Gein continues to inspire terror in pop culture, with 'Sons of Anarchy' actor Charlie Hunnam pictured transforming into Gein on the set of the upcoming season of 'Monster' earlier this week Donning the serial killer's iconic plaid getup, Hunnam was seen chatting with a police officer in Los Angeles on Tuesday. Schechter's book 'Deviant: The Shocking True Story of Ed Gein, the original 'Psycho' - first published in 1989 - has been called the definitive book on the Ed Gein case. He told DailyMail.com that Gein was in a class of his own. 'He wasn't a Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, or a John Wayne Gacy. They were sadistic sex killers, people who derive this very sick sexual pleasure of torturing and killing helpless victims,' he explained. 'Gein did not have that mentality. He derived his pleasure from mutilating corpses.' Between 1945 and his arrest in 1957, police said he killed two women. Pictured: Charlie Hunnam was spotted on the set of 'Monster' as Ed Gein Gein's story is believed to have inspired the character of Hannibal Lecter played by Anthony Hopkins in the 1991 classic, 'The Silence of the Lambs' 'He executed them very swiftly. He was just interested in bringing their bodies home and doing the things he did to them,' Schechter noted. In his book, the author stated that Gein wasn't the classic serial killer but more of a 'ghoul' or a 'necrophile' - someone who is sexually attracted to corpses. 'Ghouls are creatures who violate corpses, dig up graves,' he said. 'You can't really compare him to anybody else because there is nobody else certainly in American criminal history who is anything like him,' he continued. Schechter explained that murderers Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, The Hillside Strangler and the Night Stalker were classic serial killers and extreme sexual sadists who preyed on their victims and committed evil acts on them. Gein, on the other hand, was 'absolutely unique'.. 'No one is doing the stuff that he was doing. He wasn't into torturing,' Schechter explained. 'Serial killers often have orgasms the moment they murder their victims. That wasn't Gein.' Gein pictured kneeling on the floor of his filthy kitchen in this dilapidated farm house where human skulls and body parts were found Ed Gein as obsessed with his mother Augusta Wilhelmine Gein (pictured) Gein kept his mother's bedroom untouched after her death though the rest of the house was strewn with filth and human body parts Schechter, who was a Professor Emeritus at Queens College, CUNY, where he taught classes in American literature and myth criticism for 42 years, explained that 'classically, necrophiles do have sex with corpses'. However, it remains unclear if Gein had sex with the bodies he dug up. 'Gein claimed that they smelled too bad for him to have sex with them,' Schechter said. True crime historian Harold Schechter has written more than 50 books. He was a Professor Emeritus at Queens College, where he taught classes in American literature and myth criticism for 42 years In his comprehensive book, Schechter wrote about Gein's childhood in Wisconsin and his obsessive relationship with his mother. He even traveled to Gein's hometown to speak with those who knew he knew him. Schechter revealed that Gein had grown up with an alcoholic father, who beat him and eventually died of a heart attack. His older brother Henry also died under mysterious circumstances. Though some theorized that Gein killed his brother, Schechter said he doesn't believe that to be true. After their deaths, Gein lived alone with his mother for many years. He described her as a God-fearing woman - a religious fanatic 'who would frequently lecture her son on the evils of modern womanhood and the dangers of sex'. 'His mother was such a dominating figure in his life,' Schechter said. 'I think he was trying to reconstitute her by bringing these corpses home but also taking this revenge on her by perpetuating these relations on the female body.' Though he said there was no indication that that the mother and son were incestuous, Schechter pointed out that in some way their relationship was 'psychologically and emotionally incestuous.' Waushara County Sheriff Art Schley, left, escorts Edward Gein, 51, of Plainfield, Wisc. into Central State Hospital for the Criminally Insane November 23, 1957, in Milwaukee. Gein, who admitted slaying two women and dismembering their bodies as well as robbing graves, was about to undergo a 30-day mental examination A horrifying photo of a broken bed with no mattress, a cardboard box that held four-gallon jugs of industrial sized bleach used in hospitals, soiled blankets and sheets and trash strewn about Deputy sheriff standing outside of house belonging to Ed Gein, where he lived a deceptively quiet life and where parts of his victim's bodies were found Police investigators move a car as they search for evidence in a garage on the property of murderer and body snatcher Overhead view of police investigators as they dig for evidence in a garage on the property of murderer and body snatcher Ed Gein, Plainfield, Wisconsin, late November, 1957 When his mother died in 1945, Gein spiraled into madness. Schechter described him as a recluse. He worked as a handyman but in fact earned money as a babysitter. It was only when two women in his small town mysteriously disappeared that cops began investigating him. Shechter's 1989 book 'Deviant: The Shocking True Story of Ed Gein, The Original 'Pscyho' new book cover will be out in the Spring Among them was Mary Hogan, 54, who ran a tavern that Gein frequented and went missing in December 1954. Three years later, Bernice Worden, 58, disappeared from a hardware store she worked at in the town of Plainfield where Gein lived. Worden's son was the town's deputy sheriff who had become suspicious of Gein. After Gein was apprehended, the authorities went to his dilapidated farmhouse where they were confronted by a house of horrors. Worden's body was found hanging from the ceiling. She had been decapitated. Her head was found in a sack, and her heart was in a plastic bag. It was revealed later in the search that the remains of more than 15 bodies were found at his home. Schechter explained that 'after Gein was arrested, people assumed that all the body parts in the farmhouse were woman he murdered, but when he explained to them that most of the bodies he had were dug up, they didn't believe him.' However, they soon realized he was telling the truth when they went to the victims' graves and saw their coffins were empty. After his arrest, Gein confessed to killing both Worden and Hogan. During his confession, he also spoke of what a 'saintly woman' his mother was. He eventually entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity and was later found unfit to stand trial after a schizophrenia diagnosis. He was committed to Central State Hospital in Waupun, Wisconsin. Gein was later transferred to Mendota Mental Health Institute in Madison, Wisconsin, where he died aged 77 in 1984 from lung cancer and respiratory illness complications. In the three weeks since Kamala Harris' devastating election defeat, the Democrats have tried to come to terms with a daunting reality: Donald Trump's support grew substantially nationwide. Even in the states that were called blue, the Republican saw a groundswell of popularity that carried him to a decisive victory in what polls suggested would be one of the closest races in history. Trump received more than 2.5 million votes than he did in 2020 and gained ground in all of the 50 states, while Harris saw a decline of seven million votes from President Joe Biden's total in his 2020 win. The vice president's party has been trying to figure out what happened, and the finger-pointing has sparked a furious debate that will keep going until the next presidential election cycle. The statistics show that Harris lost some counties the Democrats have won in every presidential election since 2008. In some cases she managed to keep some areas blue, but the loss in support represents the nationwide shift that ultimately secured the presidency for Trump. DailyMail.coms data journalism team has broken down the 20 counties from around the country that saw the biggest move from blue to red. In Maverick, Texas, Harris saw 13.82 percent less support than Biden, giving Trump the first Republican victory there in five election cycles. There are also appearances from counties in the usually safe Democratic states of New York, New Jersey and California. Your browser does not support iframes. In New York City, for example, Harris recorded the worst results from someone in her party since 1988. In the Bronx, she saw a 10.73 percent drop in support compared to Biden in 2020. The Empire State still voted for Harris, but losses elsewhere sealed her fate. Miami-Dade County, Florida - a once solidly blue county with an almost 70 percent Hispanic population - voted for the first Republican president since 1988. Arizona is the only one of the seven swing states where counties make an appearance on the list. In Yuma County, which sits on the border with Mexico, Harris saw an 11 percent drop in support compared with 2020. Trump ended up sweeping the seven battlegrounds that polls determined were on a knife-edge in the build-up to the November 5 vote. The president-elect also secured the popular vote - becoming the first Republican nominee in 20 years to do so. He even took a bite into Harris' support in urban areas, where she was favored, and dominated the black and Hispanic votes and saw a surge in backing from men under the age of 45. 1. Maverick, Texas Kamala shed 13.82 percentage points Latino population: 94.7% 2024: Republican (40.5% Harris, 59.0% Trump) 2020: Democrat 2016: Democrat 2012: Democrat 2008: Democrat 2. Webb, Texas Kamala shed 12.61 percentage points Latino population: 94.9% 2024: Republican (48.5% Harris, 50.7% Trump) 2020: Democrat 2016: Democrat 2012: Democrat 2008: Democrat 3. Passaic, New Jersey Kamala shed 11.02 percentage points Latino population: 44.7% 2024: Republican (46.7% Harris, 50.1% Trump) 2020: Democrat 2016: Democrat 2012: Democrat 2008: Democrat 4. Yuma, Arizona Kamala shed 11 percentage points Latino population: 65.2% 2024: Republican (35.1% Harris, 64.2% Trump) 2020: Republican 2016: Republican 2012: Republican 2008: Republican 5. Bronx, New York Kamala shed 10.73 percentage points Latino population: 55.0% 2024: Democrat (72.8% Harris, 27.3% Trump) 2020: Democrat 2016: Democrat 2012: Democrat 2008: Democrat 6. Dimmit, Texas Kamala shed 10.38 percentage points Latino population: 87.4% 2024: Democrat (51.4% Harris, 48.4% Trump) 2020: Democrat 2016: Democrat 2012: Democrat 2008: Democrat 7. Nevada, California Kamala shed 10.28 percentage points Latino population: 10.9% 2024 Republican (45.9% Harris, 51.5% Trump) 2020: Democrat 2016: Democrat 2012: Democrat 2008: Democrat The below table shows the swing to Donald Trump across the 50 states in the immediate aftermath of the election. Since then it has been determined he gained ground in every state. Your browser does not support iframes. 8. Queens, New York Kamala shed 10.26 percentage points Latino population: 28.1% 2024: Democrat (62.0% Harris, 38.0% Trump) 2020: Democrat 2016: Democrat 2012: Democrat 2008: Democrat 9. Starr, Texas Kamala shed 10.22 percentage points Latino population: 97.0% 2024: Republican (41.8% Harris, 57.8% Trump) 2020: Democrat 2016: Democrat 2012: Democrat 2008: Democrat 10. Hudson, New Jersey Kamala shed 9.98 percentage points Latino population: 40.8% 2024: Democrat (62.6% Harris, 34.6% Trump) 2020: Democrat 2016: Democrat 2012: Democrat 2008: Democrat 11. Hidalgo, Texas Kamala shed 9.96 percentage points Latino population: 91.9% 2024: Republican (48.1% Harris, 51.0% Trump) 2020: Democrat 2016: Democrat 2012: Democrat 2008: Democrat 12. El Paso, Texas Kamala shed 9.86 percentage points Latino population: 82.8% 2024: Democrat (57.0% Harris, 41.8% Trump) 2020: Democrat 2016: Democrat 2012: Democrat 2008: Democrat 13. Culberson, Texas Kamala shed 9.84 percentage points Latino population: 68.3% 2024: Republican (40.9% Harris, 57.8% Trump) 2020: Democrat 2016: Democrat 2012: Democrat 2008: Democrat 14. Miami-Dade, Florida Kamala shed 9.52 percentage points Latino population: 69.1% 2024: Republican (43.9% Harris, 55.4% Trump) 2020: Democrat 2016: Democrat 2012: Democrat 2008: Democrat 15. Cameron, Texas Kamala shed 9.41 percentage points Latino population: 89.2% 2024: Republican (46.7% Harris, 52.5% Trump) 2020: Democrat 2016: Democrat 2012: Democrat 2008: Democrat 16. Imperial, California Kamala shed 8.73 percentage points Latino population: 86.3% 2024: Democrat (52.4% Harris, 45.2% Trump) 2020: Democrat 2016: Democrat 2012: Democrat 2008: Democrat 17. Merced, California Kamala shed 8.7 percentage points Latino population: 63.9% 2024: Republican (45.4% Harris, 52.6% Trump) 2020: Democrat 2016: Democrat 2012: Democrat 2008: Democrat 18. Alameda, California Kamala shed 8.62 percentage points Latino population: 22.3% 2024: Democrat (71.6% Harris, 24.9% Trump) 2020: Democrat 2016: Democrat 2012: Democrat 2008: Democrat 19. Zapata, Texas Kamala shed 8.59 percentage points Latino population: 94.2% 2024: Republican (38.6% Harris, 61.0% Trump) 2020: Republican 2016: Democrat 2012: Democrat 2008: Democrat 20. Zavala, Texas Kamala shed 8.55 percentage points Latino population: 92.7% 2024: Democrat (56.9% Harris, 42.4% Trump) 2020: Democrat 2016: Democrat 2012: Democrat 2008: Democrat As South Yorkshire is gripped by a dramatic spike in dog attacks, police were this month forced to issue a dire warning to owners as they declared: 'Step up before someone dies'. South Yorkshire Police admitted they do not have the resources to be rushing to incidents day in, day out as the region grapples with being one of the mauling hotspots of the UK. The stretched force had to issue the warning after there were 13 reported dog attacks in less than 48 hours. But the wave of attacks comes as no surprise to those living in the region, who told MailOnline they share the police's prediction that someone will die soon if things don't change. As to why there is such a spike in areas such as Sheffield, one Steel City local said: 'There are plenty of lads round here who like to play up to the hard Yorkshire man stereotype and a big dog backs that up.' From February 2023 to July 2024, there have been 796 dog attacks in South Yorkshire - 370 in 2023 and 426 in 2024. The number of dog attacks this year alone has nearly doubled since 2020, when there were 227 reported. Experts have told MailOnline that the dog attack spike is being driven by pandemic pet owners not training their animals properly, a rise in uninsured pets and the fact that local authorities such as South Yorkshire Police are strapped for cash. Coining it the 'Disney dog era', alarmed dog trainers have also warned Covid pet owners are treating their untrained animals more like 'cuddly toys' before they eventually snap and launch horrific attacks on the public. A man is dragged into the road as he tries to fight off an attacking dog in Sheffield last year Your browser does not support iframes. One dog trainer told us seven out of 10 dogs that approach them shows aggressive tendencies as they warned: 'This is only going to get worse.' The police warning comes days after 10-year-old Savannah Bentham was killed at her family's home in North Yorkshire by their dog on November 1. Meanwhile, among the 13 attacks in less than 48 hours was a man was mauled diving in between two fighting bulldogs to try and separate them. Michael Bamforth suffered cuts to his face, neck and head following the incident in the Shiregreen district of the city.. Neighbours told MailOnline armed police raced to his corner terrace house when residents there called the emergency services as Mr Bamforth was hurt. Mr Bamforth kept a pocket bully - a smaller version of the American bully breed - called B******. He is understood to have intervened in a fight between his dog and an American bully called Spartacus, owned by the son of his partner. 'Maybe acting out of jealousy, Spartacus just flew at him,' he told MailOnline. 'I'd positioned myself over him as he was making no attempt to have a go back at this point. 'Spartacus lunged toward my jugular but I threw up my forearm which he literally just shredded as I tried to protect my throat. 'He was trying to roll me over but fortunately I could pivot myself against the wall for support. 'I didn't feel any pain for the first few seconds because I was so confused. I was thinking "why have you just gone for me like that?". 'He then clamped down on my neck and I began to feel every bite and it was agony. I was terrified and heartbroken at the same time. 'I began crying because I knew either I was going to die, or Spartacus was because he was never going to be allowed to live after this. 'His mouth was gripped vice-like over my head, and I knew I had to get up off the floor. 'I managed to use all my strength to stand up and as I did so I pushed B****** away with my feet hoping he'd run out of harm's way. 'There is a sort-of fantasy ceremonial sword that I have in the room. The sort you buy in comic book shops. I thought I could maybe reach for that and stab Spartacus with it. 'I began punching him as hard as I can to try and get free but no matter how hard I hit him it has zero effect. That's when he ran around to the other side of the bed and slammed into Spartacus, knocking him over momentarily. 'During that split-second I made a run for the door and slammed it behind me while both dogs continued to fight and snarl. 'Blood was pouring down my face and neck and I couldn't breathe properly. I called 999 and pleaded with the operator to send an ambulance as quick as possible.' Video grab of an out-of-control dog attacking another dog on Richmond Road in Sheffield on September 2 last year Michael Bamforth (pictured) suffered cuts to his face, neck and head following the incident in the Shiregreen district of the city on Thursday. He was one of the 13 attacks in less than 48 hours Mr Bamforth said he has had his dog since he was a puppy but has only had two-year- old Spartacus for 11-months. He said the dog had never showed any aggression towards him before but had been confiscated by police in February this year when he snapped at one of his friends, biting off a chunk of his nose. Officers concluded, however, that it was not a proper bite and had been done by accident so gave Spartacus back. Mr Bamforth said: 'That dog has gone to sleep with his head lying on my arm on countless nights. Up until the attack, he had been the most loving and affectionate dog. 'He used to sleep on the cushion next to him. Both dogs were as good as gold together. 'I don't know why he snapped so badly. 'There was an incident with a friend of mine in February. We were watching TV and I'd fallen asleep on the floor while he was on the couch. 'He went to wake me up and Spartacus growled at him. He ignored him and got closer, and the dog took a nip at him. There was no real power behind it, but it was enough to slice the skin off the tip of his nose. 'My friend went to hospital and police took Spartacus away for tests but concluded that he wasn't overly aggressive and hadnt meant to cause injury and so we got him back. 'We had Spartacus to protect the house as we've been broken into recently and had our windows smashed by vandals. 'These animals are so powerful. People don't realise how volatile they can be. 'But we've signed the forms giving our consent for Spartacus to be put to sleep Hes too dangerous and unpredictable. The police still have B******. We're hoping he can come back soon because he saved my life. If he hadn't barrelled into the bigger dog, I wouldn't be here.' Dog trainer Naomi Nicholson (pictured) says Britain is going through a 'Disney dog era' where pandemic owners are treating their pets like 'cuddly toys' rather than training them properly A local who lives close to the scene of the attack in Shiregreen, a suburb in the north of the city, told MailOnline: 'It's an awful thing to happen, but I can't say I'm surprised because people have always been on to Michael to control his dogs. 'He had a tan-coloured pocket bully that he rather insensitively called B******. There's another dog at the properly, an American bully called Spartacus, which I think is more his partner's son's pet. 'Michael apparently got in between both dogs when they were fighting last Thursday and was savaged as a result. He had cuts to the left side of his throat, face and head. One of the dogs had apparently gone for his jugular. 'I don't know how serious his injuries are exactly. I know he was taken to hospital afterwards. Someone I know said they saw him the day afterwards with a bandage around his head. 'Both dogs were taken away by the police. They are a handful. 'Michael has had the pocket bully dog for about three years. I don't know how long the American bully has been there for, but the dogs are forever leaping up at the fence when you walk past with jaws gnashing while they snarl at you. 'Michael and his partner have actually had to put more fencing up to stop the dogs from jumping out. 'Other neighbours have told me they've had numerous words with Michael in the past about his dogs. They would literally bound against people's fences but not in an excitable way, it was extremely intimidating.' Other attacks that rocked South Yorkshire in 48 hours included a loose XL Bully jumping up at a woman who had her baby in a carrier on her chest and a woman and her grandchild who were attacked by another dog off the lead in Sheffield. Dog trainer Naomi Nicholson, who is based in West Yorkshire, says the seismic shift in the dog world started after Covid as she warned it is a 'very, very concerning time'. 'I definitely said Covid has 100 per cent played its part, there seems to be a massive shift in owners, the dogs, responsibility,' she said. 'I'm out in the world every single day with my clients, with my own dogs, and it's quite hard for a day to pass where there isn't an incident with somebody else and somebody else's dog. This is the dramatic moment armed police surrounded a man after a dog attack in Sheffield 'I've never had so many aggressive cases like what I do today.' 'I'd say probably seven out of 10 that come to me have aggressed towards their owners, have aggressed towards children. They've aggressed towards a member of the family. It's a really, really worrying time for me. 'In Covid, the dog population rose by millions, and there were many people who'd never owned a dog before. People had time on their hands that they've never had before. Years ago to own a dog was a privilege, whereas in today's society, it's more of a right. 'I think a lot of owners missed out on the education, and they made their own guesses about it. 'It is the owners not taking responsibility and not understanding what they have on the other end of the lead. 'I think a lot of people are quite naive and they do believe that their dog would never hurt another person or another dog. But at the end of the day it's an animal, and an untrained animal is dangerous.' Ms Nicholson continued: 'Dogs, as a whole, they do require rules, they do require boundaries, they do require discipline, and they do require leadership. 'Many people now are just seeing the dogs as almost cuddly toys. Me and a lot of other dog trainers are calling it the Disney Dog Era. 'When I get a dog, it's a dog. I love my dog and I'm going to train my dog to give it the life skills that it needs to be able to cope with life stresses out and about on its walks. This is the horrifying moment a man is mauled by pair of dogs after they reportedly escaped onto the street on Dagenam Crescent in Sheffield The footage cut to show the man trying to flee, but he fell to the floor as another person tried to yank the dog away 'But many people just stick the dog on a lead, and they take it out. All you need to do is just go down to your local park and sit there for 30 minutes and you will see exactly what I mean. 'People are being dragged around by the dog and letting the dogs drag them up to people and other people's dogs, and there's just no accountability there. 'I think dog ownership has changed. We're not training our dogs in the way that they need to be trained. 'They're treating them more like little humans and cuddly toys. It's the Disney dog era. 'I'm meeting golden retrievers that are attacking their owners. I'm meeting spaniels that are attacking their owners. I'm meeting terriers that are attacking the Chihuahuas.' Ms Nicholson also said that the massive rise in the price of dogs has enticed people to breed the wrong kind of dogs. She added: 'In 2020, I said to everybody around me, wait until 2023, 2024 when these Covid dogs hit social maturity, all instincts begin to set in and watch how dog attacks rise to numbers that we have seen. 'I called this years ago, as did many trainers. Going forward, this is going to be a problem until we tackle the human side of the lead that is just going to get worse.' The rise in dog attacks has evoked a sense of panic among residents in South Yorkshire who fear someone could die soon. Jamie Cross, 34, who was exercising in Endcliffe Park, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, said the spate of attacks in the city was 'very alarming.' Web designer Jamie said: 'If the irresponsible dog owners can't get their animals under proper control then someone could be killed. 'These XL type dogs are not necessarily. Who needs a vicious dogs like that? 'I jog here regularly and the odd dog might park at me or give a little chase, but I've never encountered any real problem. But, then again, this park is used by responsible dog owners.' Meanwhile Karl Davies, 45, said: 'I've heard about the problem with dog attacks in this area and can only think it's those of a criminal mind that have these dogs. 'It might be a macho thing or some security for criminals. 'There are plenty of lads round here who like to play up to the hard Yorkshire man stereotype and a big dog backs that up.' Neena Garnavos, 36, was enjoying the park with her four-year-old son Stanley. The mother-of-two, founder of the Village Learning Community, which helps new mums improve their mental health, said: 'I've seen people on the S11 Facebook group, which covers our postcode, talking the dogs being attacked. 'So their dogs have been on a lead and they have been attacked by others dogs, but there was no real mention of the make of dogs doing the attacks. 'There have been a couple of instances around here and the warnings have gone out on social media. 'It is worrying. My one-year-old is crawling around now and we come to the park to play, so we need to be wary.' Neena Garnavos, pictured with her son Stanley in Sheffield, said she now has to be 'wary' because of the attacks Yasmin Salamat, 34, who was in the park with Dixie, the six-year-old Dachshund, and her three-year-old son Ronnie, said the South Yorkshire attacks were 'concerning' Retired company director Patrick Herron, 76, who was walking his four-and-a-half year old Cavapoo Murphy, said its the owners that are the problem Dawn Higson, 73, a retired nurse, said: 'I've seen the police warnings and the videos that have been released and it is pretty scary. 'I don't know why Sheffield should have such a problem. I don't know how I'd fare if one of those XL Bullies has a go at me, I'd surely come off second best though. 'There needs to be harsher punishments for those people keeping these illegal dogs. They are practically a deadly weapon.' Retired company director Patrick Herron, 76, was walking his four-and-a-half year old Cavapoo Murphy. Patrick said: 'I walk Murphy here about twice a day and there doesn't appear to be a big problem around here, but there not those type of dogs around this area. 'We don't get the nasty breeds about here, but it is often the owners, rather than the dogs themselves that are at fault.' Yasmin Salamat, 34, was in the park Dixie, the six-year-old Dachshund, and her three-year-old son Ronnie. Yasmin said: 'Because we have a dog Ronnie thinks all dogs are nice and friendly, but obvious they are not. 'I warn him regularly to be careful about other dogs. It is certainly concerning the number if attacks that are taking place in Sheffield.' A number of attacks are being driven by unscrupulous breeds, including XL Bullies (pictured) James McNally, a specialist dog injury lawyer with Slee Blackwell, told MailOnline that they are seeing a rise in uninsured dogs, while councils and local authorities are suffering from a lack of resources. He explained: 'We've seen over the last 12 months, 18 months, a big rise in dog owners being uninsured. 'From our point of view, and they've done it for all the dogs on the banned list like XL Bullies, we think insurance should be compulsory because that would mean that any victims of this are able to get some kind of recompense for what they've been through.' Mr McNally, known as the dog bite solicitor, added: 'Training should be compulsory - maybe there needs to be stronger rules brought in by councils and local authorities as to where dogs should be on and off the lead where they should be muzzled. 'But it comes down to as resources. Ss South Yorkshire police are saying, they don't have the people to go out and visit every dog attack or report, which is concerning. 'If you've got a dog being aggressive, but not causing injury, that's the point for the police to kind of step in and put in restrictions in terms of that dog. 'If you've got local authorities with no money and no dog wardens then who's going to enforce whether a dog's got a lead in a park etc.' But he added that its on a much wider scale, saying: 'I don't think it is a regional problem, I think it is a national problem. 'If you look at other police forces, then you'll see that reports of dangerous dogs are going up nationally. 'So I think South Yorkshire police are the ones who've on this occasion have said, there's an issue but It's a national problem. 'We've got more dogs and more irresponsible dog owners.' Dogs Trust, the UK's largest Dog Welfare Charity, said it 'shares the public concern' regarding the rise in dog attacks and have called for further action to 'protect the public'. A spokesman told MailOnline: 'For more than 30 years, Dogs Trust has been calling on Government to overhaul the Dangerous Dogs Act as its current focus on breed specific legislation is not only detrimental to dog welfare, but it is ineffective and does little to protect members of the public. 'Instead, the issue of dog control should be tackled by introducing preventative, breed-neutral legislation to address the unscrupulous breeders who are putting profit before welfare, and owners whose dogs are out of control.' Meanwhile, Dr Samantha Gaines, a dog welfare expert and lead on dog control at the RSPCA, said: 'While we now have a ban on five types of dogs, including the recent addition of the XL Bully type, serious dog bite incidents are continuing to occur.' The RSPCA is calling for the Government to ensure there is robust legislation that is property enforced, a centralised record of data, that dog owners are understand how to train their pets and that well-funded agencies can work together to prevent further incidents. Bill Lambert, spokesperson for The Kennel Club, added: 'Whether a dog is 'safe' or 'dangerous' is heavily dependent on the upbringing of the individual dog. Every dog owner has a responsibility to make sure their dog is well-trained and well-behaved.' Mr Lambert said that research has found many new puppy owners 'picked up bad habits during lockdown'. He added: 'This increases the chances of a dog acting aggressively because they feel frightened, threatened or provoked due to an unfamiliar situation. 'During lockdown, new and inexperienced owners did not have access to the trainers or specialist behaviourists that they needed.' Warning dog owners earlier this week, South Yorkshire Police said: 'As dogs causing harm and fear in our communities continues to place significant demand on our force, we're urging owners to step up, before someone dies. The police force bemoaned the financial cost and resources they incur for every response to a dog attack saying it took officers 'away from other calls'. As well as having to contract kennel personnel to transport and house the mutts, they also have to carry out safeguarding checks and investigate any criminal aspects to 'ensure justice is secured'. Chief Inspector Emma Cheney, leading the work on dangerous dogs across the region, said: 'We only have a limited number of resources, attending dangerous dog incidents takes officers away from other calls. If every owner steps up and makes small changes, we can make a difference.' In an additional statement to MailOnline, CI Cheney said: 'Each year we have continued to see an increase in dogs being seized within South Yorkshire for causing fear and harm in our communities. 'Dangerous dogs are not just a problem for us, serious attacks and fatalities have been seen across the country. 'During the Covid-19 pandemic the number of dogs in the UK increase by millions, with many owners buying dogs with a lack of experience and socialisation. 'As these lock down puppies matured, the unpredictability, poor breeding and predisposed nature began to cause an increase in incidents, with the UK seeing the highest number of fatalities in 2022. 'Any dog can cause injury or fear, regardless of it's breed, age or previous history and we continue to urge all owners to step up, take actions and increase their family's and everyone's safety. 'We have a dedicated team of dog legislation officers who work closely with colleagues across the force, partners in the NHS, social care and charities to safeguard vulnerable people and educate owners and our communities, but it requires effort from everyone and I urge to do your part.' It has been a year of seismic election results, from Donald Trump's historic reclaiming of the White House in the US to the UK electorate returning a first Labour government since 2010. However, with just a few days remaining until December festivities subsume the rest of our year's calendar, there is one more possible electoral sensation on the horizon. Across the Irish Sea, Ireland's electorate are into the candlelight hours of voting in their hugely consequential snap election. Incumbent Prime Minister Simon Harris, who only assumed the role in April, called for a general election almost half-a-year early, feeling that a 'new manager bounce' of sorts could push his Fine Gael party over the top and secure a fourth successive term in power. Sinn Fein's Mary Lou McDonald is out to disrupt this trend though and seeks to not only elevate her Republican party to power for the first time in the history of the Irish state, but also become its first female Prime Minister in the process. With all three major political parties presently polling at roughly 20 per cent, McDonald's Sinn Fein are neck and neck with the current ruling coalition of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail. The Sinn Fein leader is also polling as voter's second most preferred option for next Prime Minister out of major party leaders on 22 per cent. A strong performance in last Tuesday's primetime leaders debate on Irish national broadcaster RTE may yet have tipped the scales further in the direction of Sinn Fein, with a first-time election win certain to result in shockwaves being felt by those nervously watching on from Whitehall. Sinn Fein leader could potentially lead her party to power for the first time in the history of the Irish state and simultaneously become the nation's first ever female PM A strong showing in last Tuesday's leaders debate may have tipped the election scales further in Sinn Fein's favour McDonald has this week called for discussions with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer over the process of Irish reunification In the very first line of its 'plans for Ireland' section in its 2024 election manifesto, Sinn Fein states its goal of delivering 'a plan to achieve a United Ireland' as its foremost domestic policy goal. Mary Lou McDonald reiterated that sentiment on the campaign trail last week in Dublin, telling the press pool that if elected to power, one of her first acts would be to create a dedicated junior ministry role to pursue and oversee the process of reunification. McDonald also told reporters that beyond this role, a conversation had to be had with the Starmer administration on delivering a United Ireland this decade. 'The British Government needs to start now indicating for them what they believe is the tipping point at which they believe a referendum would be called', McDonald said. 'I've pursued this with them for a long time through many prime ministers, but I think it's necessary that the person who is Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) would pursue that because, obviously, that brings it to a different level, and a different proposition', the Sinn Fein leader added. However, British PM Sir Keir Starmer has previously been a staunch objector to Irish reunification, stating during his time in opposition that an Irish unity referendum was 'not even on the horizon'. Under the terms of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement though, which brought about an 'official' end to hostilities in Northern Ireland, the UK government must allow for a referendum on unity to take place if evidence of a significant shift in public opinion can be proven. If Sinn Fein were to ascend to power in Dublin for the first time though, how could one argue that the prevailing public sentiment had not shifted with the Republican party simultaneously holding both branches of power on either side of the Irish border? Mary Lou McDonald is currently the second most popular party leader in Irish polls Michelle O'Neill has overseen Sinn Fein's rise to become Northern Ireland's largest political party for its first time ever Incumbent Prime Minister Simon Harris has previously quashed any possibility of forming a coalition with Sinn Fein UK PM Sir Keir Starmer has been a staunch objector to Irish unity in the past A win for Sinn Fein in the Irish general election would cause pandemonium for Whitehall's ardent unionists Ordinarily, a potential Sinn Fein win in an Irish general election would trouble staunch unionists in Whitehall, but ultimately likely prove little more than a thorn in their side. However, following the party's momentous first ever Northern Irish Assembly win in 2022, Sinn Fein would in this scenario control the legislative houses in both Belfast and Dublin and thus remove some of the largest obstacles to a border poll. Unionism in Northern Ireland had previously protected Westminster's rule over the six Ulster counties, but the North's largest unionist party now lies in ruin after the DUP's then-leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson was arrested earlier this year on child sex offence charges. Moreover, July's UK general election saw Sinn Fein return as the most well-represented Northern Irish party in the House of Commons, with seven of 18 seats won. This shift in Northern Ireland's political landscape follows the results of the 2022 census which revealed that Catholics, who traditionally support reunification, outnumbered Protestants in population for the first time in over a century. With all of the ducks seemingly lining themselves up in a row in favour of a United Ireland, it is clear to see how Sinn Fein's ascension to power in the Republic of Ireland could be the final piece required in the reunification puzzle. Whether or not Mary Lou McDonald makes political history as votes are counted in the coming days remains to be seen though, with the two other major parties in Fine Gael and Fianna Fail ardently stating their unwillingness to create a coalition - usually a requirement to form a government in Ireland's proportional representation system. Nevertheless, as elections have proven over the last number of months both in the UK and abroad, political affirmations are transient in nature, and should the Irish electorate return Sinn Fein as the island's largest political party, it could well prove to be the signaling of the end for British rule in Northern Ireland. An Idaho couple had their worst nightmare realized in February when their newborn baby died without explanation. Diamond and Alexis Cooley recalled the horrific moment they found their baby son Onyxx lifeless - and the gut-wrenching quest for answers that came after. Alexis told the Idaho Statesman she found her baby on his back - as she had left him sleeping the night before - with a half-inch of yellowish-white, bloodied foam coming from his mouth. The parents - who are separated and share joint custody of their three sons, Jasper, Stohne, and Onyxx - still don't know exactly how their son died, since they never got a full investigation. Bonneville County coroner Rick Taylor, 68, who works part-time on a salary of $95,928, filed away the cause as a mystery without conducting a thorough probe - highlighting a loophole in wider state legislation. Taylor would later go on to announce his resignation on November 8 - effective December 28. The nightmare began for the Cooley family on February 1, when Alexis woke around 6:10 am at her home in a sleepy farming community of Shelley, close to Idaho Falls, to find her youngest child cold and lifeless. In a fit of desperation, she tried to clear his airway with her finger before using the Heimlich maneuver she learned from a training course. When these attempts failed, she ran upstairs with Onyxx in tow while screaming for help from her parents, whom she lives with in Shelley. An Idaho couple had their worst nightmare realized in February when their newborn baby died without explanation. (Pictured: Baby Onyxx with his father Diamond) Diamond and Alexis Cooley recalled the horrific moment they found their baby son Onyxx lifeless - and the gut-wrenching quest for answers that came afterward as they scrambled for answers in a system that seemed set against them. (Pictured: Alexis Cooley) She frantically called 911 before giving the phone to her mother while trying to save her baby boy's life. Alexis then called Diamond, who lives around 20 minutes away in Idaho Falls. Leaping into action, Diamond got in his truck and made it to the Shelley home just in time to see his son disappear into the back of an ambulance. The family followed behind in his pickup to the emergency room of Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, where records show they arrived at 6:43 am. A doctor delivered the devastating news that Onyxx had died just two minutes after their arrival, and medics gave a preliminary diagnosis of sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS. Onyxx was born with a cleft lip, which led to some complications, including him being unable to breastfeed and choking on spit-up a couple of times after being placed on his back. But he was otherwise a calm, easy child to raise, his parents said - he rarely cried and loved his older brothers. Since he was otherwise healthy and the hospital diagnosis was not certain, a coroner was recruited to aid the Cooley's quest for answers. Onyxx was born with a cleft lip, which led to some complications, including him being unable to breastfeed and choking on spit-up a couple of times after being placed on his back The parents - who are separated and share joint custody of their three sons, Jasper and Stohne but still don't know exactly how their son Onyxx (pictured) died Bonneville County coroner Rick Taylor (pictured), 68, who works part-time on a salary of $95,928, filed away the cause as a mystery without conducting a thorough probe - highlighting a loophole in wider state legislation The nightmare began for the Cooley family on February 1, when Alexis woke around 6.10am at her home in a sleepy farming community of Shelley, close to Idaho Falls, to find her youngest child cold and lifeless On the day Onyxx died, Diamond (pictured) got in his truck and made it to the Shelley home just in time to see his son disappear into the back of an ambulance But Bonneville County coroner Taylor simply ruled the death a mystery, and did not investigate properly what led to the tragedy. He did not ask the Cooleys what happened in the days before Onyxx died, or visit the scene - or even order an autopsy as national guidelines outlined. Taylor was able to do this because Idaho law does not require elected county coroners to follow national standards for death investigations. This differs from most states, which have professional boards that write regulations for coroners, with many requiring them to conduct full autopsies for unexplained child deaths. In Idaho, one of the few requirements is attending 'coroner's school' within a year of taking office and 24 hours of training every two years after that. And there's no punishment for failing to do the bare minimum; records show that Taylor didn't come close to hitting 24 hours of training since 2018, the Idaho Statesman reported. As a result, the death of a child who passes away in the state outside of a doctor's care is more likely to go uninvestigated than anywhere else in the United States. A review by the state's Office of Performance Evaluations this year found 49 percent of those deaths with unnatural or unknown causes were autopsied in Idaho from 2018 until 2022 - compared with the national average of 79 percent. Onyxx (pictured) was a calm, easy child to raise, his parents said In Bonneville County, the stats are even more dire - with Taylor ordering autopsies in only 33 percent of the 39 child deaths whose causes were unnatural or unknown. Taylor's alleged inadequacies were aired by Rich Riffle, the Ada County coroner, which conducts autopsies under contract with 30 other county coroners in the state, including Bonneville. He penned a letter in January to the Bonneville County board of commissioners saying there were 'multiple issues' with Taylor's death investigations. The office 'consistently furnishes inadequate information' ahead of autopsies,' according to Riffle, adding that Taylor often sent over 'mere summaries of the case, sometimes just a few sentences on homicide cases.' Taylor hit back by saying his reports were short because he didn't see the point of duplicating the work of police, adding that Riffle had been 'real hard to work with since he got elected', per the Idaho Statesman. However, in his resignation letter, Taylor wrote, 'Its getting to be a lot busier than it ever has been with the increase in the population. Im considered a part-time employee, but it will become a full-time position with the next coroner, and I dont have that time to commit to it.' The devastated parents of a 14-year-old girl who killed herself suddenly are begging her school to intervene in the horrendous bullying they say led to her suicide. Ashley Scott, 14, was beloved by her parents, friends, and teachers in Douglas County, an area near Denver, Colorado. The kind-hearted young cheerleader was known for helping others, especially the homeless through her nonprofit KidsCareToo, and she appeared to be a happy and excitable teenage girl. Her parents never expected to find her lifeless on October 23, mere minutes after they'd planned a family dinner, and hours after she'd begged them for spare change for the vending machine at cheer practice. A month later, they remain largely in the dark about the demons she was facing. Anne and Troy Henington suspect their daughter was bullied, but have had no indication from Ashley's school about what was done to stop it. And they cannot access her phone because of its passcode. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office is in possession of the teen's device and is investigating it for signs of cyberbullying. At her memorial service, another teenage girl approached the parents, begging for help and saying she started getting bullied after Ashley passed. 'It was just heartbreaking, it's a tragedy,' her mother, Anne, told Daily Mail. Ashley Scott's death in late October came as quite the surprise of her family, as the young teen was doing well in school, had an busy social life The medical examiner ruled her death a suicide, according to the autopsy report, viewed by Daily Mail She was later found to have taken her own life with a gun. While police are yet to reveal what they think drove Ashley to take her own life, her parents are convinced bullying is the answer, but the family still has no idea who her tormentors are. They believe she was picked on at school, potentially by multiple students, but she'd only mentioned once that a girl at school was 'really mean' to her. And since her passing, a teacher has given them a paper where she wrote about bullying and had mentioned that people needed 'more help than her.' It had a been a 'red flag to the teacher,' Anne told Daily Mail, saying that the educator had handed over the paper to them at Ashley's celebration of life on Saturday. But that flag went nowhere, as the school did nothing about the potential bullying and Anne believes the educational institution is not doing enough to 'monitor' students, especially their online activity. Anne and Troy Henington suspect their daughter was bullied, but have had no indication from Ashley's school about what was done to stop it At her memorial service, another teenage girl approached the parents, begging for help and saying she started getting bullied after Ashley passed 'It was just heartbreaking, it's a tragedy,' her mother, Anne, told DailyMail.com 'The school has a duty to protect children...and the school has a duty to inform parents,' Anne told DailyMail.com. Ashley's parents believe their daughter had been subjected to cyberbullying and that it was mainly happening during school hours. Students at Rock Canyon High School use Canvas to do their homework and assignments online and the young scholars are required to have a phone or laptop to do use the platform. 'A lot of [the bullying] was done electronically,' Anne told DailyMail.com. Police are now working to get warrants for the phone company and Apple to gain access to the teen's phone, as well as working with the school and teachers to paint a clearer pictured of what happened. 'This is still an open investigation so there isnt anything additional we can release at this point,' the Sheriff's Office told Daily Mail. Although charges have not been brought against the alleged bully or bullies, Anne and Troy would 'absolutely' consider pressing them to avoid another child going through the same thing, the mother told Daily Mail. Anne has a 'gut feeling' that the 'ball was dropped' by the school when it came to protecting students from bullying. '[There is so much] resources and funding at that school,' Anne said. The kind-hearted young cheerleader was known for helping others, especially the homeless through her nonprofit KidsCareToo, and she appeared to be a happy and excitable teenage girl Ashley inspired many with her KidsCareToo organization, which she launched as a first grader The project began after Anne told little Ashley that they had 'extra Christmas money' left over one year and asked her what she wanted to do with it. Anne had expected the child to pick a Winter Wonderland activity, but little Ashley surprised her by saying she wanted to help the homeless The school is located in a 'very privileged' area, where the majority of nearby homes are worth around $1.5million, the mother-of-two said. The parents also believe Ashley felt the familiar pressures of teenagers to be without flaws. 'I think she put a lot of pressure on herself...She had to be perfect,' Anne recalled to DailyMail.com. 'She cared so much about her appearance, [she] was very fashion-forward.' Ashley would wake up at 4:30am before school just to do her hair and makeup, even though her parents insisted she was just as beautiful barefaced and with her hair thrown up in a ponytail. 'She had to look perfect,' Anne said. Anne and Troy and are hoping to change that discourse by encouraging young people to start talking about their feelings and what's really going, versus striving to always be flawless. In response to the death, her parents launched the Ashley Isabella Scott Foundation to help children in need. The organization's funds will help students who are struggling by assisting teens to reach their goals both monetarily and through various services. The parents also believe Ashley felt the familiar pressures of teenagers to be without flaws. 'I think she put a lot of pressure on herself...She had to be perfect,' Anne recalled In response to the death, her parents launched the Ashley Isabella Scott Foundation to help children in need Ashley also inspired many with her KidsCareToo effort, which she started when she was just five years old as a first-grader in Colorado Springs. Through the organization she helped the homeless in her area by providing blankets and clothing, handing out cookies and giving out presents during the holidays. The project began after Anne told little Ashley that they had 'extra Christmas money' left over one year and asked her what she wanted to do with it. Anne had expected the child to pick a Winter Wonderland activity, but little Ashley surprised her by saying she wanted to help the homeless. Her mother asked her to pick a number - 15 - and that's how many bags they made the first year. Ashley also had wanted to hand the bags out to the homeless on the street, as in Colorado unhoused people with dogs are not allowed in shelters and families are broken up by gender, so she knew they needed it most, Anne said. Since its first year, the project has expanded beyond Colorado Springs to Pueblo, Colorado and Birmingham, Alabama. In 2018 the then-Governor John Hickenlooper honored Ashley for her work at his State of the State address. In 2018 the then-Governor John Hickenlooper honored Ashley for her work at his State of the State address He said it was a shame that the then seven-year-old could not run for governor He said it was a shame that the then seven-year-old could not run for governor. The family has started a GoFundMe to help with their new foundation in her name and to carry on her legacy. Ashley's loved ones remembered her as a beautiful and fearless teen who would hug anyone on the street and bend over backward to provide help. Ashley had a 'bright smile' and had a knack for bringing people together and making 'everyone feel loved,' her mother said of the adventurous and witty teen. And the teen lived a lot life in just 14 years, having participated in gymnastics, cheerleading, surfing, skating, learned to play guitar, and more. 'I would say in her 14 years, she lived more than someone who is 80,' Anne told DailyMail.com. 'She had no fears.' As the Christmas season rolls in, Ashley's spirit will remain alive as her friends and family now live by the 'Do it for Ashley' motto and will carry on her legacy of making everyone feel seen and loved. Advertisement A Scottish photographer has walked more than 16,000 miles in his quest to capture New York as you've never seen it before. David Gray, an award-winning creative designer originally from Edinburgh, UK, says he trekked eight miles a day for eight years - which he admits makes him sound crazy - taking more than a million photographs of his beloved adopted city. The result is his new book, Wait For It, which has curated that selection down to around 300 images that reveal New York's unexpected side - away from Times Square and Central Park, instead revealing its grittier, quirkier underbelly. In his foreword, publisher Aaron Hicklin says: 'In his street photography, David Gray... has captured the city as the bright, glittery, sometimes dirty place I fell in love with. The High Line's pigeon sculpture 'Dinosaur' celebrates the ever-present New York City street bird The familiar New York skyline - from an unfamiliar vantage point More pigeons - this time on the steps of Brooklyn's Public Library 'The semaphoring of New York's past is everywhere in these photos, from the peeling iron girders of a subway station to the ubiquitous construction hoardings of a city in constant renewal and renovation.' The images also explore the 'only in New York' moments that feel unique to the place: a T-Rex walking a dog down a Brooklyn street; a man carrying a black cat on the subway; a lion casually grabbing a coffee. In fact, wildlife is a recurring theme - where a panda rubs shoulders with the ever-present pigeon, a giraffe peers curiously over the Financial District, and a baby Cookie Monster meanders home after a long night. 'To spend time with Gray's photos is to feel that you are part of drama of the city itself,' writes Hicklin, 'the person on the other side of the lens, catching a glimpse of the Brooklyn Bridge through the window of a rain-lashed ferry, spying a dog through the steamed-up glass of a coffee shop, or peeping at a man with a cane as he contemplates the creamy white contours of a female nude in the sculpture hall of New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art.' Wait For It: Photographs of New York City by David Gray is published by Grand Editions Just a black cat in a T-shirt, watching you from the subway steps The irony of a sausage dog walking past a butcher's shop is not lost on Gray Nothing to see here - just a T-Rex walking a dog in Park Slope, Brooklyn A lion takes his coffee to go in a leafy Gowanus The skyscrapers of Hudson Yards tower over a casual panda Gillie and Marc Schattner's giant wildlife sculptures preside over Manhattan's Financial District Fishing in Red Hook - there is no record of whether the fish was thrown back or taken home for dinner Arguably Coney Island's two most famous attractions - the Cyclone roller coaster and the New York Aquarium The Cookie Monster wanders home in Cobble Hill Monster John Sweeney who murdered a US model and a second woman and is the inspiration for the new ITV drama 'Until I Kill You' should be probed over eight unsolved deaths in Belgium, a cold case expert has said. Sweeney, 66, was on the run in Europe at the same time the headless remains of five women were found in and around the Belgian city of Mons in the 90s. The killer, dubbed 'The Butcher of Mons', has never been found. But Kurt Wertelaers, who is the founder of a group investigating cold cases in Belgium called the Bureau van Meerbeeck, has now called for Sweeney to be probed over a total of eight killings, including the Butcher of Mons murders. 'I'm not saying all the unsolved cases are linked, but we at least should try to figure out or exclude if some of them are or are not. Killers don't stop at country borders,' Wertelaers told the Mirror. Branded the 'Scalp Hunter', Sweeney murdered and dismembered two former girlfriends before dumping their remains in canals in Rotterdam and London. Sweeney pursued US model Melissa Halstead, 33, across Europe before killing her in Amsterdam in 1990 and dumping her body in a canal. He also killed mother-of-three Paula Fields, 31, in 2001 and disposed of her dismembered body in a canal. Sweeney went on to attack his ex Delia Balmer, now 71, with an axe outside her north London home in 1994. Delia's ordeal has now been retold in ITV's new drama 'Until I Kill You', which is inspired by her 2017 memoir, Living with a Serial Killer, and is accompanied by a new documentary which details the true timeline of events. Double killer John Sweeney (pictured) who murdered a US model and a second woman should be probed over eight unsolved deaths in Belgium, a cold case expert has said Sweeney pursued US model Melissa Halstead (pictured), 33, across Europe before killing her in Amsterdam in 1990 and dumping her body in a canal He also killed mother-of-three Paula Fields (pictured), 31, in 2001 and disposed of her dismembered body in a canal Anna Maxwell Martin as Delia Balmer and Shaun Evans as John Sweeney in ITV's 'Until I Kill You' While Sweeney was on the run, he lived under different aliases until he was finally caught in 2001 and brought to justice for the attempted murder of Delia - but not before killing and chopping up Paula Fields, who he lived with in Finsbury Park. The body of mother-of-three Paula, 31, was cut into pieces and stuffed into six holdalls, which were found in a Camden canal in early 2001. Former Met Det Chief Inspector Howard Groves, who led the team that investigated the Sweeney murders, said that 'quite a few women were found dead around Europe' in similar circumstances to Melissa and Paula while Sweeney was on the run. He added: 'We know he travelled extensively there during that time. The question has always been, why did that stop when he was arrested and put in prison?' Neither Melissa nor Paula's heads were ever found, which resembles the eight cold cases identified by Wertelaers, who said that Sweeney couldn't be excluded as a suspect for these murders due to the matching timeline of him living off-grid under at least four different aliases and his profile. 'To cut women into pieces like that shows a very strange psychology and is a sexual connotation to all of these murders,' Wertelears added. Sweeney himself admitted to having several lovers as he travelled through Europe, which led investigators to believe there could be more victims than Melissa and Paula. Sweeney's first victim Melissa Halstead met a recently divorced Sweeney in 1986 while she was working internationally as a model and photographer. John Sweeney pictured with Melissa Halstead, who he brutally murdered in Amsterdam in 1990 The body of mother-of-three Paula Fields (undated picture of Paula while pregnant above), 31, was cut into pieces and stuffed into six holdalls, which were found in a Camden canal in early 2001 Sweeney went on to attack his ex Delia Balmer (pictured), now 71, with an axe outside her north London home in 1994 Delia's ordeal has now been retold in ITV's new drama 'Until I Kill You', which is inspired by her 2017 memoir, Living with a Serial Killer, and is accompanied by a new documentary which details the true timeline of events About a year into their relationship, he had been charged at least once for domestic violence against her, and was subjected to a number of fines until the pair relocated to Austria. He had tracked her down, stalked her, tied her up and attacked her with a hammer which cracked her skull. After being released and ordered to leave Austria, the pair settled in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. But her body was found floating in a canal in May 3, 1990, after he transported her body to Rotterdam. Her head was never found. Detectives found deeply disturbing drawings by the murderer, including sketches that suggested how he butchered Melissa. The American model's body was found dismembered in a Dutch canal. In one poem, Sweeney said she had been 'fed to the fishes and chopped into bits, Amsterdam was the pits'. There were also self-portraits captioned 'seal hunter' in which the killer was shown as a devil with a bloody axe. In one sketch, which Sweeney titled The Scalphunter, he drew women tied up. In another, he can be seen holding blades dripping with blood. Metropolitan Police undated handout photo of a contact sheet of modelling photos for Melissa Halstead A note seized from John Sweeney in 2001 referring to the death of Melissa Halstead before she was identified John Sweeney's drawing of Melissa in the middle and a message saying RIP above her head, which he later covered up with Tippex Another of Sweeney's poems read: 'On the run from the law, with my back to the wall. Watching the windows and the door. I'm not afraid to do or die. Maybe when this life is over I will get some sleep.' Two years after Melissa was killed, a woman's hands and legs were found in a canal in Amsterdam. Her torso was later found in a suitcase thrown into another canal in the city, while more body parts were discovered in yet another stretch of water. She was never identified, but Wertelaers believes that she might have been one of Sweeney's victims as she is the first of eight unsolved cases that fits his modus operandi. A year later, in November 1993, the head and a leg of mother-of-two Liliane Sek, 37, were found near the Belgian town of Charleroi. The dismembered body of another unidentified woman was found in July 1994 near a campsite in Retranchement, a Dutch seaside town. In March 1997, remains were found in the southern Belgian city of Mons and investigators later discovered that the woman was the latest victim of a serial killer, later dubbed the Butcher of Mons. In the following months, police discovered 38 body parts from the victims, which were identified as Carmelina Russo, 46, Martine Bohn, 43, Jacqueline Leclerq, 33, Nathalie Godart, 21 and Begonia Valencia, 38. They disappeared between January 1996 and July 1997 after frequenting the slum neighbourhood around the train station in Mons. In November 1993, the head and a leg of mother-of-two Liliane Sek, 37, were found near the Belgian town of Charleroi A picture of Carmelina Russo,victim of the Butcher of Mons A picture of Martine Bohn,victim of the Butcher of Mons Discovery of bodies in bags on March, 1997 in Mons, Belgium A picture of Jacqueline Leclercq,victim of the Butcher of Mons A picture of Nathalie Godart,victim of the Butcher of Mons A picture of Begonia Valencia (left),victim of the Butcher of Mons Their body parts like arms, legs, hands, and torsos were discovered in 15 bin bags in Rue du Depot (dump), near the River Haine (hate), on the Chemin de l'Inquietude (the path of worry), the banks of the River Trouille (jitters) and in La Poudriere (powder-keg). The names of these locations where body parts were found led investigators to believe they were being taunted by the killer. Four of the women were mothers and all had recently fallen on hard times. It was not until 2008 that Melissa's remains were identified using an advanced DNA test, paving the way for Sweeney to be charged with her murder. Sweeney was given a whole life sentence at the Old Bailey in 2011 after being convicted of murdering Melissa and Paula. ITV's new crime drama 'Until I Kill You' reveals how Sweeney butchered Melissa and Paula's bodies, removing their heads and hands so their corpses couldn't be identified. He then tied up their body parts with rope and put them into bags filled with tiles and bricks to weigh them down in the water. Melissa was thrown into a Rotterdam canal, while Paula's was put into London's Regent's Canal. Discovery of bodies in bags on March, 1997 in Mons, Belgium Delia Balmer was hacked to within an inch of her life by John Sweeney (pictured together), who she had dated for three years Discovery of remains of human bodies found near Monts on April 12, 1997 in Monts, Belgium Prosecutors during the killer's trial in 2011 said this was a deliberate attempt to prevent them from being identified and Sweeney being exposed as being responsible for the murders. Delia, who survived her near fatal relationship with Sweeney and remains his sole known survivor, testified to him telling her about Melissa's murder, which helped prosecutors to build a case against him. In 'Until I Kill You', Delia tells how Sweeney attempted to murder her, bludgeoning her with an axe. In the drama, romance blossomed between Sweeney (played by Shaun Evans) and Delia (played by Anna Maxwell Martin) when he approached her at a bar in Camden, London, one evening and offered to buy her a drink. They bond over their shared love of travel. While at first appearing attentive and caring, buying Delia bouquets of flowers and showing outward signs of affection, their relationship quickly deteriorated. Sweeney, who took up residence in Delia's flat, became erratic and controlling towards Delia, criticising her appearance and where she spent her free time. When she finally gathered the strength to demand him to leave, she was met with his wrath. Delia found herself increasingly tormented by Sweeney. She was hacked to within an inch of her life by the killer, who attacked her with a hammer and an axe. Prior to the attempt on her life, Sweeney had held her captive and repeatedly raped her in a week-long ordeal, for which he was arrested but released on bail. Delia (pictured as a young woman) met Sweeney in a pub in Camden, London, when she was working as an agency nurse Sweeney, who took up residence in Delia's flat, became erratic and controlling towards Delia, criticising her appearance and where she spent her free time When she finally gathered the strength to demand him to leave, she was met with his wrath. Delia found herself increasingly tormented by Sweeney In 1994, in a terrifying ordeal spanning just a few days, Sweeney held Delia against her will, tied her to the bed and intimidated her with threats of disfiguring her tongue. It is then that Sweeney admitted to murdering his ex-girlfriend Melissa Halstead, 33, in Rotterdam. In her memoir, Delia recounted Sweeney's admission: 'We had a room in Amsterdam. I went in. There were two Germans there with her. I killed them all. I didn't know what to do with the bodies. I sat with them for three days. On the third day, I cut them up, and I put them in bags and I threw them in the canal.' However, Delia's struggles did not end there, as she was then let down by the police and the legal system. Her life was then put in danger once again when Sweeney was released on bail and made a second attempt on her life. He was finally caught in 2001 and sentenced to nine years in prison for his attack on Delia. Delia, who collaborated on 'Until I Kill You', said she remains an 'angry person' as a result of her experiences. In an interview before the show was released she said: 'My concern has always been to get the truth out by whatever means. I remain an angry person. 'Sweeney was let out on bail. The police gave me insufficient protection before his final assault. Later, I was forced to go to court to be further traumatised by the system.' While at first appearing attentive and caring, buying Delia bouquets of flowers and showing outward signs of affection, their relationship quickly deteriorates (pictured is Anna Maxwell Martin as Delia Balmer and Shaun Evans as John Sweeney) Anna Maxwell Martin as Delia Balmer in 'Until I Kill You' which dramatises the relationship between Delia and axe murderer John Sweeney Delia, who collaborated on the ITV production of 'Until I Kill You', said she remains an 'angry person' as a result of her experiences Interpol are seeking help identifying 22 women (12 pictured) who have been found since 1976 This handout photograph made available by Antwerp's public prosecutor's office on November 14, 2023, shows a portrait of Rita Roberts, a British woman found murdered 31 years ago in a river in Belgium Rita Roberts' flower tattoo helped police identify her body. An appeal for information was in relation to 22 unsolved cold cases across Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany Sweeney has previously been linked to some cases included in a 2023 Interpol appeal which is seeking to uncover the names of 22 women - each of whom are suspected murder victims from across Europe since 1976. Three of those pictured by Operation Identify Me were women who were decapitated and had their remains left in canals in the Netherlands. Interpol has confirmed that Sweeney is a person of interest in their investigation as he was a jobbing carpenter who was known to work on building sites in Germany, Holland and Belgium. His first known victim Melissa was also found in the Netherlands. One of the cases Sweeney might be connected to is related to 'the woman with the flower tattoo', who was later identified as Rita Roberts. Sweeney was known to be living in Belgium and the Netherlands at the same time as the Rita's body was found washed up at a water treatment plant in Antwerp. Police say she met with an extremely violent death - similar to Sweeney's two victims Melissa, 33, and Paula, 31, who were about the same age as Cardiff-born Rita. Sweeney was known to romance vulnerable women including prostitutes like Rita before attacking them with an axe. Rita was finally identified through the rose tattoo on her arm 31 years after she was brutally murdered. A spokesman for Rita's family told MailOnline after she was identified as one of the Operation Identify Me victims: 'It's a lot to take in but obviously we want her killer brought to justice. 'We hoped for some sort of closure after her body was identified after all these years but instead it has raised so many unanswered questions.' A terrified supermarket worker has revealed what it's really like working on Britain's 'Wild West' high streets, where gangs of shoplifters cause mayhem. The 20-year-old worker, called Joe, quit his job over mounting fears for his safety, saying he felt he was 'putting his life on the line' constantly dealing with thieves. The supermarket employee said prolific shoplifters would come in to steal up to five times a day. On other occasions, organised gangs would charge into his branch and ransack the booze and make-up aisles before fleeing in a 'getaway' car. As Black Friday and the festive period gets underway, a survey by Motorola Solutions has found that four in 10 retail workers are concerned for their safety. Workers have been left fearing for their lives as gangs of thieves wreak havoc on retailers - with one in four considering quitting their jobs as a result. 'I don't get paid enough to get punched. I'm not a boxer,' Joe told MailOnline. Almost 444,000 shoplifting offences were recorded by forces in England and Wales in the year to March, up from 342,428 in the previous 12 months A prolific shoplifter stealing four bottles of the liqueur in plain sight in Aldi A masked shoplifter who stole bottles of booze from a Tesco in Belsize Park in front of security guards and staff He said working in retail 'feels like the Wild West' and that he was terrified he would eventually encounter a thug armed with a knife, intent on ransacking his shop. The youngster, who lives with his parents, said it was his first job after leaving sixth form but said every day was a nightmare. 'I feel I'm putting my life on the line. We're doing too much. We're trying to stop people stealing but it's too much,' he said. 'You don't know what these people who are stealing have on them. You don't know what weapons they might have or whether they might punch you. He added he felt 'powerless' to stop criminals and was 'scared' for the safety of his female colleagues in store. 'I will always walk with two of my coworkers to the car park at the end of the shift. It's that extra bit of safety as it's getting dark now. On Black Friday and ahead the holiday rush, the worker said his colleagues were 'anxious' about the 'chaos' that would unfold, as well as the thieves looking to take advantage of it Footage shows a brave Poundland employee grappling with a shoplifter in a store at Westway Cross Shopping Park in Greenford Footage filmed earlier this year shows a group of men brazenly grabbing goods from a Boots store in north London before loading them into bags in front of shocked shoppers Shoplifters were caught strolling out of Tesco with bottles of booze from Tesco in West Drayton - in front of security who were powerless to step in Joe has now left his job and hasn't secured another one yet. 'It's not the smartest option but I just had to get out. I was fed up,' he said. 'It will have a big impact on me financially.' He declined to provide a picture or full name. Britain's stores are suffering two thefts every minute as retail theft has hit its highest level since records began. A staggering 469,788 offences were logged in the year to June 2024, which is up 29 per cent on the 365,173 recorded in the previous 12 months. It equates to a horrifying 9,000 offences a week and 1,290 a day - meaning there are two every minute for the average store's 10 hour opening times. A Motorola Solutions study of 1,000 retail workers found a quarter of workers had considered quitting their jobs and that six in 10 think their employers can do more to improve safety. Workers are being subjected to horrific abuse on a regular basis, including one instance where a gang of hooded youths entered a shoe shop on Oxford Street and threw an unknown substance over customers. Panic buttons, video cameras and body-worn cameras are being rolled out across British supermarkets to make workers feel safer. Last year, Lidl became the first supermarket in the UK to give staff body cameras as a standard in its 2million fight-back against shoplifters. John Lewis, Aldi and Primark are also among retailers handing staff bodycams to tackle Britain's retail epidemic. Meanwhile, Boots monitors crime at more than 1,000 of its stores across Britain from a hi-tech security centre to help staff report shoplifters and monitor serial offenders. The site in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, receives about 600 alerts a day from shops which have six alarms that staff can press if they have suspicions about a shopper. Nearly all 2,100 Boots stores have CCTV, with 1,200 of the biggest and busiest linked by the panic buttons to the monitoring centre. Vivienne Francis, vice-president of channel sales EMEA at Motorola Solutions, said: 'No one should feel unsafe at work, but our survey reveals retail workers' concerns for their own safety and the safety of shoppers. 'The concerns are amplified as we head into the holiday season, when shops are busier, stay open later and may be understaffed. 'The need for enhanced security is more pressing than ever to help deter theft, de-escalate hostile customer interactions and simultaneously notify everyone, including 999, in emergencies.' UK BLACK FRIDAY WEEKEND SALES 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024* Friday 2.44 2.53 2.78 3.20 3.01 3.01 3.18 Saturday & Sunday 2.88 3.00 2.31 2.29 2.53 2.39 2.63 Monday 2.96 3.04 2.86 3.15 3.17 3.34 3.33 TOTAL 7.78 8.57 7.95 8.64 8.71 8.74 9.14 Data in billions, provided by VoucherCodes. The * denotes forecast for the year. Data for all other years is actual total UK BLACK FRIDAY WEEKEND GROWTH 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024* Friday +10.1% 14.9% -5.8% -0.2% +5.6% Saturday & Sunday -23.2% -0.7% +10.4% -5.5% +10.2% Monday -5.8% +10.2% +0.3% +5.6% -0.5% TOTAL -7.2% +8.7% +0.8% +0.4% +4.5% Data provided by VoucherCodes. The * denotes forecast for the year. Data for all other years is actual total It comes as Britons are set to splash out on the biggest Black Friday weekend ever as they spend more than 3billion today - up 6 per cent on last year. Consumers are expected to defy the cost-of-living crisis by spending 3.33million every minute today as they stock up on discounted Christmas presents. But the majority of shoppers will stay at home with 1.92billion of today's total to be spent online, up 3 per cent on last year. Offline sales will rise 10 per cent to 1.26billion - giving a total of 3.18billion, according to research by VoucherCodes . Analysts believe that today by itself is set to just miss out on being a Black Friday record-breaker, with the 2021 sales total slightly higher at 3.20billion. But it could be the biggest four-day weekend ever with a total spend of 9.14billion from Black Friday through to Cyber Monday - up 5 per cent on last year. Nationwide said its customers had made 3.59million transactions by 12pm today - which was 11 per cent up on Black Friday 2023 and 17 per cent up on 2022. The sinking of the cruise ship that inspired 'The Love Boat' and was featured in the James Bond film 'From Russia With Love' has been a mystery since it became submerged six months ago. The 70-year-old MS Aurora, a 2,500-ton German vessel named Wappen von Hamburg cruiser, later grew to 'Hollywood' stardom until it hit a string of bad luck. After a slew of different owners, the ship was eventually abandoned and fell into despair as it became a shelter for the homeless and a drug den - before it took on water. In May, the vessel sank in the back channel of Sacramento's San Joaquin Delta. Since the ordeal, there have been accusations and finger pointing over its doomed fate. The tale of the ship's demise and how it ended up in the Northern California Delta, an estuary located in San Francisco Bay that provides fresh water to two-thirds of the state, is puzzling. Many were heartsick over Aurora's descent on the night of May 22, including Peter Knego, a cruise ship historian, who has been smitten with the vessel since he first laid eyes on her as a teen in the 1970s. 'It's all very strange,' Knego told the The Los Angeles Times, 'all this nefarious dark stuff.' 'Who actually owns the ship? Why did she sink? Who should be held responsible?' Knego asked. 'And what on earth should happen to the ship now that she has been "refloated" and sits hobbled less than a mile from Stockton's drinking water intake?' The 70-year-old MS Aurora - once described as a 'Hollywood star' that sailed the Grecian isles and the West Coast of North America - hit a string of bad luck and was once used as a shelter for the homeless and drug den for vagrants Many are heartsick over the Aurora's descent on the night of May 22, including Peter Knego, a cruise ship historian, who has been smitten with the vessel ever since he first laid eyes on her as a teen in the 1970s The ship has had several owners, most of them men, who were enchanted by her. Chris Willson had big dreams for the Aurora when he purchased the ship on Craigslist hoping to restore it to the ships integrity. The software developer took to Instagram and posted images of her rehabilitation along with his team over the years on the restoration project. But last fall, he sold the boat to a secret buyer due to 'small-mind governance.' He told the LA Times that 'he felt beaten down by a number of local authorities' before he made the difficult decision to sell. 'I came there to do something good for the ship, to save a pretty valuable piece of history in my opinion,' Willson said. 'Luck would have it that I got stuck in Stockton.' Willson, who is originally from Utah, lived on the vessel with his partner, Jin Li, and made the boat a home while he spent much of his time restoring the vessel. He said he was shocked when he learned that the ship had partially sunk only months after selling it. Pictured: The Aurora sinking into the Northern California Delta Chris Willson, seen here with partner Jin Li, bought the massive ship on Craigslist in 2008 Willson made renovations to make it livable and called the vessel his home for more than 10 years The San Joaquin County Sheriffs Office said at the time, 'It has been determined the ship has suffered a hole and is taking on water and is currently leaking diesel fuel and oil into the Delta Waterway. The US Coast Guard later removed an estimated 21,675 gallons of oil-contaminated water, 3,193 gallons of waste and five 25-yard bins of debris all from the vessel. Willson said: I didnt see it sinking. We had it for 15 years, and we had no problem with it. He added: 'I meticulously maintained that ship and put in more than $1 million into its refurbish. I checked everything on it multiple times every day. We were on it all of the time It just saddens me like nothing else.' Despite the criticism he faced from locals, Willson said he still looks back on his time with the ship fondly. 'We absolutely loved our time with that ship,' Willson said. 'It [selling] was probably the hardest thing Ive done in my life.' But others did not have the same sentiment. Pictured: The Aurora's cameo in 'From Russia With Love' in 1963 A scene from the James Bond classic, 'From Russia With Love' above the famed vessel Connie Cochran, one of Stockton's community relations officer, said 'there's no love here,' whose city is footing the bill to keep the Aurora refloated. U.S. Rep. Josh Harder also expressed his frustration with the 'abandoned boats' along the Delta, and recently established legislation that would require owners of big boats to have more insurance and more liability. According to the news outlet, Harder was on the scene as the Coast Guard tried to contain oil leaking from the ship last spring. Another boat went down in the same spot last year where the Aurora sank, as per the news outlet. Jeraldine Saunders, who worked as a cruise director during the early days of the Aurora, shared that her memories of those cruises was part of the inspiration for 'The Love Boat,' during the 70s and 80s. The ship was also featured in the 1963 James Bond classic, 'From Russia with Love.' Knego shared the boat's remarkable history. The Aurora was built in a shipyard in 1955 Hamburg, Germany, where she was christened the Wappen von Hamburg. A scene from 'The Love Boat' with actors (pictured left to right) Ted Lange, Lauren Tewes, Fred Grandy, and Bernie Koppel He told the LA Times it was the first 'significant' passenger ship built in Germany after the wreckage of World War II. The majestic ship - that stretches nearly 300 feet stem to stern - was regal with three- towering decks, staterooms and a hair salon. On her maiden voyage, she carried 1,600 guests, he explained. After the ship spent a few years sailing the North Sea, the Aurora moved south to Greece, and was renamed the Delos, and became one of the first modern ships to bring cruising to the Aegean Sea. In the late 1960s, the ship had been sold again this time and called Pacific Star and Polar Star sailing through America's West Coast. The ship began to face rough seas. During the early 1970s, a new owner named Donald Ferguson bought the ship and called her the Xanadu, and by 1977, the ship was in the Port of Seattle. The majestic ship (pictured here sinking) that stretches nearly 300 feet stem to stern carried 1,600 guests on her maiden voyage After several unfortunate experiences, the ship was towed to Los Angeles. In the early 1990s, the ship - renamed the Faithful - was sold to a religious group. The new owners planned to transform it into a Christian relief ship. But, those plans never came to fruition. The ship would later become a hotbed for the destitute and squatters, Knego explained. In an effort to reach out to the religious group, who did not return his calls, he rented a boat and tried to approach her by sea, only to be told to go away, as per the news outlet. At that point, Knego knew there were something odd taking place on the ship. The Coast Guard eventually evicted the squatters, but it would eventually become a drug den in the mid 2000s and a floating homeless shelter, according to Alameda officials. City officials in Alameda were eager to find someone who would just take the ship away. The value of the ship, at that point, was less than $2,000 and scrapping the vessel would prove to be too expensive. City officials declared her an abandoned vessel, until 2008 when they paid a man named Curt Lind $200,000 to get the ship out of Alameda. Chris Willson (pictured center) had big dreams for the Aurora when he purchased the ship hoping to restore the ship to its integrity but sold it the vessel to a secret buyer last fall The 80-year-old Lind was a colorful character. He spoke of his love of ships with the LA Times, 'It's a sickness...a sickness that a lot of men get,' he said. One of his goals, he explained, was to take some of the money from the city of Alameda and turn her into a floating restaurant. The California State Lands Commission, which has jurisdiction over California's rivers, determined that the ship was moored illegally. The commission's staff report also noted that the ship was sitting next to another ailing vessel, an old ferryboat called the San Diego. When Lind was told to move the ship, he decided it was 'just getting too much for me to take care of, so I just decided, you know, to get rid' of her, and that is when he listed the ship on Craigslist. In August 2008, Willson, a software developer in Santa Cruz, who was 36 at the time, saw the ad. He described himself as not a 'boat guy,' and his intention was to film her and use the footage to show off a 'virtual tour' software he was developing. He was bewitched and claimed 'the ship had a magnetic pull on me,' he later wrote in a history of his first few years with the ship. He faced many challenges after becoming the new owner of the dilapidated luxury liner. He also already owned two other boats, the Fir and the Robert Gray, as well. After nearly 15 years of trying to keep the ship afloat and dealing with red tape and bureaucracy, he decided he didn't have it in him to fight anymore. He found a buyer and left California. On May 20 of this year, Knego was in Northern California and decided to pay a visit to the Aurora. 'The ship looked terrible,' he recalled. A hot wind blowing through the Delta that day added to his sense of foreboding. A friend who had accompanied him was unsettled, telling him: 'I want to get out of here. It's full of bad vibes.' Two days later, the Aurora went down. Nima Momeni makes his way into the courtroom at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco. Momeni is facing murder charges after law enforcement officials accused him of killing Bob Lee, the founder of Cash App. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle 2023 On a dark and deserted street in San Franciscos downtown last year, 43-year-old tech mogul Bob Lee knifed twice in the chest and once in his hip bled out on the sidewalk a few hours before dawn. In a case that has featured a number of surprising twists and turns since then, one thing is undisputed: Lee, founder of Cash App, was found stabbed to death on April 4, 2023. But thats largely where the uncontested part ends. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The alleged assailant: Nima Momeni, an Emeryville tech consultant whose sister, Khazar Momeni, was a friend, and possibly a romantic partner, of Lees. After a night of partying, the men left her condo in the Millennium Tower and ended up talking outside of Momenis car, just beneath the Bay Bridge. This week, after hearing the dueling narratives for a month, a jury is expected to begin deliberating. The trial has come down to a central question: Did Momeni kill Lee out of anger, or was Momeni defending himself as Lee lunged at him with a knife? Momeni pleaded not guilty to murder charges. The defense, a team led by celebrity lawyers from Florida, said Lee whipped out a knife and lunged at Momeni over a bad joke implying Lee was a negligent father, more interested in spending an evening at a strip club than seeing his family. Prosecutors said it was Momeni who pulled out the blade and, harboring a grudge against Lee for leading his sister into danger, plunged it into Lees heart. The saga carries all the elements of a seamy novel, with sex, glamour, drugs and violence, and it has unspooled before a San Francisco Superior Court jury of six men and six women in a parade of forensics experts, investigators, friends of Lees and Momeni himself. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The day before the stabbing, prosecutors say Lee took Khazar Momeni to a convicted drug dealers apartment to use cocaine and huff nitrous oxide. After Lee and his friend left, Khazar Momeni testified that the dealer supplied her with shots of GHB, colloquially known as the date rape drug, and abused her while she was incapacitated. After she woke up, she called her brother in tears. Assistant District Attorney Omid Talai argued in court that after Momeni fetched his sister from the dealers apartment and brought her back home, he ended the evening with his sister and Lee just before taking Lee on a drive, ostensibly heading back to Lees hotel. Surveillance videos presented in court could make out only the grainy outlines of the two men standing outside Momenis white BMW just before 2:30 a.m. Thats when prosecutors say Momeni stabbed Lee to death in a rage over the debacle with the drug dealer. Ladies and gentlemen, you are sitting in court with a murderer, Talai said in his opening statements to the jury. Seated behind me is an individual and a coward who stabbed an unarmed man three times. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Momenis defense team led by Saam Zangeneh of Miami, known for high-profile clients including rapper Pooh Shiesty, and Bradford Cohen of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., who was on Donald Trumps show The Apprentice and defended rapper Lil Wayne flips that story on its head. They say Momeni, 39, and Lee were friendly in person and in texts throughout the otherwise chaotic evening, while Momeni tried to nail down what happened at the dealers apartment. At some point after their predawn drive, the defense says, Lee went crazy after Momeni rebuked him with the bad joke. In the self-defense theory, Lee pulled a knife on Momeni, and Momeni trained in martial arts turned the blade on Lee. Autopsy reports revealed that Lee was under the influence of cocaine, alcohol and ketamine that night, and throughout the trial the defense has said that Lees prolific use of cocaine would have made him aggressive. In elaborate reenactments before the jury, former San Francisco police Sgt. Steven Pomatto, hired as an expert witness for the defense, demonstrated how Momeni could have grabbed the hand and the arm of Lee as he thrust the blade, and in the struggle, pushed it thrice into Lees body. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I was scared for my life, testified Momeni, who teared up during his time on the stand. I had to defend myself. He also said a video shot by an undercover police officer showing Momeni pantomiming stabbing motions in a parking lot to the investigator for his former attorney was actually him reenacting Lees attack on him rather than him attacking Lee, as prosecutors have maintained. Assistant District Attorney Dane Reinstedt countered with a demonstration of his own, showing how he believes Momeni jammed the knife into Lee twice as he faced him, and then in the hip as the victim turned away. Jurors were presented copious images of Lees body so they could see the three stab wounds. Two were in the chest and one in the hip all three straight in about 3 to 5 inches deep. One of those was a thrust to the heart that caused Lee to bleed into unconsciousness in a doorway about a block away from the attack site, a few minutes after Momeni said he tossed the knife over a fence and drove away. Lee died shortly afterward at a local hospital. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The weapon was a small paring knife that lawyers on both sides say probably came from Khazar Momenis apartment. Tests revealed only her brothers DNA on the handle, and Lees on the blade, the jury was told. In response to a juror question about whether Momeni saw blood on the knife when he disposed of it, he said the answer was no, although forensics photos presented to the jury showed a red smear on the blade. Nima Momeni was arrested at his Emeryville home nine days after the killing and has been in jail ever since. If convicted of first-degree murder, he could face 25 years to life in prison. A manslaughter conviction could fetch as little as two years. Testimony ended Nov. 21, and after a weeklong pause for Thanksgiving, closing arguments are set to begin Dec. 2. I would not want to be a juror in this trial, said former San Francisco prosecutor and current defense attorney Shannan Dugan, who watched the entire proceeding from the gallery but is not involved in the case. Theres a lot of evidence on both sides that conflicts, and in a trial you have to make a finding beyond a reasonable doubt. Thats such a high standard, and a hard job any time, she said. On the one hand, the fact that 99% of the DNA on the handle of the knife is Momenis is a big problem for the defense, she said. But if the jury believes or even somewhat believes the self-defense expert who testified in support of Momeni, thats a problem for the prosecution, Dugan said. The DA has to essentially prove that there is no way it was self-defense, and to me, thats extremely significant. During his time testifying, Momeni often appeared combative and recalcitrant when he was pressed for details on how exactly Lee went crazy in his final minutes. The atmosphere grew more tense when the prosecution asked Momeni to explain a semi-cryptic and accusatory text exchange he had with his sister in the days after Lees death, in which Khazar Momeni called her brother fing psychotic and demanded he tell her where he had dropped Lee off. Momeni texted back that he thought Lee had gone to a strip club. The Momenis wrote off these incongruities as bickering and maintained they cared deeply for each other. Talai, one of the prosecutors on the case, put on the stand several of Lees longtime friends who described him as a teddy bear and said that, despite his frequent use of cocaine and other recreational drugs, he never displayed aggressive or violent behavior. Speaking to reporters on the days of Momenis time on the stand, the victims brother Tim Oliver Lee said he believed Momeni was lying, and that the defendants version of events didnt make any sense. He described his brother as a doughy tech guy who would never have carried around a knife. Bob Lees brother and ex-wife Krista Lee have sat with friends and other relatives in second row seats nearly every day of the trial. Several of the family members wear special amulets around their necks in honor of Lee and at times angrily stomped out of the courtroom. On the other side of the room has been Momenis only consistent supporter: his mother, Mahnaz Tayarani Babi, who has attended all of his court hearings. Shes been joined at times by one or two friends or relatives, but most of the time has been alone. Much of the testimony by witnesses, such as Khazar Momeni and a handful of Lees friends who testified to his character, has unveiled the inside world of a high-class, moneyed universe where designer drugs are plentiful and parties stretch on for days. Nima Momeni admitted using cocaine with his sister on occasion and described his sisters relationship with her husband, plastic surgeon Dino Elyassnia, as an open marriage. On the stand, Momeni also recounted Elyassnia finding his wife in bed with the dealer the day after her alleged abuse by the same man. The defense attorneys said that when Lee was killed, the Cash App founder was at the end of a 91-hour cocaine binge, and witnesses described how he drank at seemingly every encounter in the days leading up to his death. Descriptions of visits to exclusive nightclubs, rampant drinking and recreational drug use by virtually everyone in the Momeni and Lee circles have suffused the entire trial. A self-professed white supremacist charged with murdering a man found in a tent in Montana forest pleaded not guilty as he claimed he acted in self-defense. Daren Christopher Abbey, 41, told a judge that his alleged victim Dustin Kjersen, 35, 'tried to kill me', as he pleaded not guilty to charges of deliberate homicide and evidence tampering. Kjersen's death in Big Sky, Montana on October 10 was initially believed to be a bear attack due to the severity of his injuries. However, an autopsy revealed he suffered a number of 'chop wounds', including to his skull, while detectives found no evidence of animal involvement. DNA from a beer can and shot glasses left in the tent found two matches on the national criminal database - Abbey, and his twin brother, who was ruled out as he is already serving a prison sentence. With no apparent link between the two men, Abbey was arrested three weeks after Kjersen's body was found, and he confessed to the slaying but claimed he did so out of fear for his own life. He told detectives that Kjersen threatened him with a gun and attacked him, and Abbey responded by striking him over the head with a block of wood then stabbing him in the neck with a screwdriver. Gallatin County records showed that after his arrest, Abbey listed his affiliation with a white supremacist group, and officials said he has a number of far-right tattoos including an iron cross with a swastika. Daren Christopher Abbey, 41, a self-described white supremacist accused of murdering a camper last month, claimed in court this week that his alleged victim 'tried to kill' him Dustin Kjersen, 35, was found dead in a tent in Big Sky, Montana on October 12, two days after he was last seen alive. The severity of his wounds led his girlfriend to initially think he had been mauled by a bear Investigators described the episode between Kjersen and Abbey as a 'chance encounter.' Kjersem had arrived in the Moose Creek area on October 10 to set up a campsite, intending to pick up his girlfriend the next evening for a weekend together. At some point in the evening of October 10, he and Abbey shared a beer together, which is when Abbey left his DNA that tied him to the scene. When Kjersem failed to pick up his girlfriend, she drove to the site and found his lifeless body in his tent. She initially reported his death to police as a bear attack due to his gruesome injuries. According to Abbey, he violently killed Kjersem after he was threatened with a gun. Although he admitted to using a block of wood and a screwdriver, detectives said Abbey failed to mention that he also used an axe in the attack. When questioned over the axe, police said Abbey offered various stories, including that he found the weapon inside and outside the tent, reports The Independent. He reportedly added that he then rinsed off the axe and screwdriver in a nearby creek. Abbey was arrested weeks after Kjersem's death after DNA left on a beer can tied him to the scene Kjersem, pictured with his young daughter, was described by his family as a 'loving, helpful and adoring father who in no way deserved this' Abbey told detectives he beat Kjersem with a block of wood and stabbed him in the neck with a screwdriver before leaving him in a tent, claiming he did so out of self defense Abbey said he fled the scene and didn't report it because he already owns a felony record. He said when he fled, he took beers and guns from the campsite, and returned the next day to find a beanie he thought he lost the night of Kjersem's death. Cops charged him with evidence tampering for his alleged actions in the days after the killing, also including taking two cell phones from Kjersem's truck. At a press conference after Kjersem's body was found, his sister Jillian Price, 35, described him as a 'loving, helpful and adoring father who in no way deserved this.' The heartbroken sister reflected on the kind of person Kjersem was, as she called him 'a hard-working tradesman'. A GoFundMe page has since been created to help raise money to support Kjersem's children following his sudden death. The immigration hotspots of England and Wales are today laid bare in an interactive map following another record-busting year. In an extraordinary revision of Government estimates, Office for National Statistics (ONS) analysts revealed a staggering 906,000 people were added to the UK's population during the year ending June 2023. This was 166,000 or 22 per cent higher than the agency's original toll, which itself was an all-time high. ONS bosses have yet to update their estimates for individual authorities, meaning the true immigration levels could be even greater than our map suggests in parts of the country. Middlesbrough home to roughly 150,000 people was this summer named as being the council most-affected by immigration, registering an influx of just shy of 6,800 international migrants throughout 2023. The ONS's most up-to-date figures, therefore, imply international migration last year alone accounted for roughly 4.4 per cent of Middlesbrough's total population. Similarly high figures were logged in Coventry (4.3 per cent) and Newham in London (3.9 per cent). Sky-high immigration levels meant parts of the capital welcomed up to 240 more residents per square kilometre last year, heaping even greater pressure on housing, schools and the struggling NHS. Your browser does not support iframes. Birmingham logged the biggest net gain last year in international migrants, becoming home to nearly 25,000 citizens from outside the UK. Given the city has a population of 1.2million, however, the effects of international migration aren't as stark as they are in Middlesbrough. Only South Holland and the Isles of Scilly saw a higher number of international emigrants than immigrants, according to MailOnline's analysis of 318 districts in England and Wales. This figure reflects people immigrating from outside of the UK. Movement around the UK known as internal migration is recorded separately. The ONS cautions there might be some overlap in the data, although it is unclear by how much because of the difficulties in examining population flow. For example, the same person could be classed as both an international immigrant and internal emigrant. They could also die, further confusing the picture. Government statistics yesterday revealed 728,000 more people were added to the UK's population in the year ending June 2024. That figure was almost as high as the previous record, set in the previous 12-month spell. But the bar was shifted upwards because of the ONS's revision to the 740,000 estimate it originally published. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. The ONS said it now has more complete data and has also improved how it estimates the migration behaviour of people arriving in the UK from outside the EU. It estimated that fewer EU nationals departed the country, and more students from outside the EU stayed after finishing courses. However, the latest revisions will fuel criticism of the statistical body, which is already under intense fire for faulty labour force numbers. The scale of the inflows with the peak roughly equivalent to adding two cities the same size as Leicester in a year is poised to spark a fresh political row. Numbers from outside the EU have exploded since 2021, after the Brexit deal took effect. Of the 1.2million people who came to live in the UK in the 12 months to June 2024, around 86 per cent a million hailed from outside the EU. Indian was the most common nationality for both work-related (116,000) and study-related (127,000) reasons. Kemi Badenoch used a major speech last night to insist the Tories would not allow Britain to be treated like a 'hotel' for migrants. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. She warned yesterday that immigration levels are 'a world away from where we need to be' as she promised a 'strict numerical cap' on arrivals. Only those able to make a 'substantial and clear contribution' to Britain will be allowed in, the Tory leader said. Ms Badenoch will review Britain's membership of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the continuation of Labour's Human Rights Act, which have both been blamed for blocking past attempts to get tough. The Tory leader said there would be 'zero tolerance for foreign criminals remaining in the UK'. Following their landslide election win, Labour immediately vowed to tackle the small boats crisis with its Border Security Command to counter trafficking gangs and people smugglers. Ex-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's plan to send migrants to Rwanda was canned, however. Revealed: England's five immigration hotspots, by Darren Boyle Middlesbrough Middlesbrough has witnessed its population grow from 138,368 in 2011 to north of 150,000 in 2023. Last year the total of new foreign migrants arriving in the town was 4.44 per cent of the total population, analysis suggested. Meanwhile, 480 housing units were started in the last financial year, while 600 were completed. The local NHS trust treats 61.6 per cent of patients within the 18-week NHS England target. Half of all patients in the area are treated within 14 weeks, while 92/100 patients wait 43 weeks for a consultation with a consultant. Some 97 per cent of primary school children and 83 per cent of secondary students receive their first choice option. Middlesbrough has reported the highest percentage of new arrivals to the UK over the past year compared with their population Leicester In Leicester, data suggests 3.6 per cent of the total population are immigrants who arrived in the area over the past financial year. The population of the city has grown by more than 13 per cent between 2011 and 2023, rising from 329,627 to 379,780. The city has seen 110 new homes started with a further 260 properties completed over the past 12 months. The local NHS trust manages to see 59.4 per cent of patients within the 18-week NHS England guideline. Half of all patients referred to a consultant receive their first appointment within 15 works, while 97 per cent of primary and 81 per cent of secondary pupils receive their first choice school. Leicester has reported that more than 3.5 per cent of their population has arrived in the UK over the past year Coventry In Coventry, the population has increased from 316,915 to 360,702 between 2011 and 2023, a rise of 12 per cent. Last year the number of new migrants to the city made up a total of 4.31 per cent of the population, MailOnline's calculations implied. Over the past financial year, 690 new homes were started while a further 730 were completed in the city. Some 54.2 per cent of patients being referred to a consultant at the local NHS trust receive their first appointment within 18 weeks. In schools, 94.5 per cent of primary and 81.8 per cent of secondary school pupils received their first choice. Last year the number of new migrants to Coventry made up a total of 4.31 per cent of the population Camden In Camden, the population of the borough has only increased by 0.37 per cent since 2011. Data suggests that 3.48 per cent of the population have arrived from overseas in the past year. The borough has seen 70 new homes started and 70 completed over the past financial year, while 59 per cent of NHS patients in the area receive their initial consultant-led treatment within 18 weeks. Half of all patients receive that consultation within 15 weeks, while 92 out of 100 were seen within 46 weeks. In schools, only 84 per cent of primary school students and 76 per cent of secondary school pupils received their first choice. In Camden, 3.48 per cent of the population have arrived from overseas in the past year Newham In Newham, the population has increased by more than 14 per cent between 2011 and 2023, jumping from 310,460 to 362,552 over that period. In the past 12 months, 3.94 per cent of the borough's population is thought to have arrived from abroad, however, with 2,080 new houses started and 1,480 completed, they had the largest number of developments of the five areas. Almost 55 per cent of patients referred for hospital treatment at the local trust are seen within the 18-week target. Meanwhile, 92 per cent of primary school pupils and 69.5 per cent of secondary school students receive their first choice options. A former IRA prisoner has claimed in the Mail's new podcast that the 1981 hunger strikers could have been saved - but Republican chiefs including Gerry Adams chose not to accept a secret deal offered by Margaret Thatcher because they wanted to boost their profiles. Bobby Sands was one of ten who went on hunger strike inside the infamous Maze Prison in 1981 over the British government's refusal to grant Republican inmates 'special category status' that would have seen them treated as prisoners of war rather than criminals. Sands, who was elected as an MP while in prison, became a global icon during his strike and finally died after 66 days without food. A further nine other Republican activists passed away before the action came to an end in October 1981. Speaking on newly-released From Bomb to Ballot: The Rise of Sinn Fein, ex-IRA man Anthony McIntyre, who spent 18 years in prison for the murder of a loyalist activist in 1976, blamed their deaths on Republican leaders. He highlighted how the release of classified documents in 2012 appeared to show that - despite her public hard line - Mrs Thatcher had made a secret offer to the strikers that would have given them all their demands. Mr McIntyre claims that IRA negotiators leading discussions inside the Maze were prepared to accept the offer but were overruled by Adams and other Republican leaders. Asked by presenter John Lee, the Daily Mail's executive editor in Ireland, why they did so, he said: 'Well I think they preferred to generate as much animosity and public animosity towards the British as possible, and in the meantime building up their own profile. A former IRA prisoner has claimed in the Mail's new podcast that the 1981 hunger strikers could have been saved. Bobby Sands (top row, centre) was one of ten who went on hunger strike inside the infamous Maze Prison in Northern Ireland in 1981 Speaking on newly-released From Bomb to Ballot: The Rise of Sinn Fein, ex-IRA man Anthony McIntyre, who spent 18 years in prison for the murder of a loyalist activist in 1976, blamed the hunger strikers' deaths on Republican leaders 'I mean, Adams, throughout the Hunger Strikes, built himself a serious, serious profile, which he didn't have prior to that. 'He was known, but he didn't have this persona, television, media personality, which he became.' NEW PODCAST: From Bomb to Ballot: The History of Sinn Fein DON'T MISS: The Mail's John Lee delves into the evolution of Sinn Fein, exploring its roots in the Troubles and interviewing key figures to understand the party's past and future. Listen wherever you get your podcasts now. Advertisement He then launched a personal attack on Adams, saying: 'I've said it continuously anyway, Adams never carries coffins, Adams uses coffins to carry him. And he has surfed on the coffins of IRA volunteers and IRA hunger strikers to a career.' Mr McIntyre added that whilst the hunger strikers were 'very brave' and 'great, courageous people', it would have been 'much better' if they had survived. Earlier this year, the High Court ordered secret recordings in which Mr McIntyre spoke of what he did during the Troubles be handed over to police. He was one of dozens of former IRA paramilitaries who gave testimonies to a history project run by Boston College, on the understanding they would stay secret while they were alive. Police then went to court to secure access to the transcripts and tapes of former IRA woman Dolours Price and loyalist Winston 'Winkie' Rea. That was followed by a protracted legal battle over the other material, including the contribution of Mr McIntyre. He also told the Mail of his time in prison, saying: 'We weren't allowed anything. What we had in the cell was a mattress on the floor, no pillow, three blankets, a paper thin towel, and it was just to cover your rear going on wing shifts.' Mr McIntyre added that he warned he would use a Bible he was given as 'toilet roll' and for 'cigarette paper'. 'I'm going to f*****g stand on it and keep my feet warm,' he added. Meanwhile, fellow former terrorist Martin Ferris spoke in the Mail podcast about surviving 47 days on Hunger Strike. He said: 'You were on your own. Sands, who was elected as an MP while in prison, became a global icon during his strike and finally died after 66 days without food Mr McIntyre claimed Gerry Adams, who led Sinn Fein from 1983 until 2018, 'surfed on the coffins of IRA volunteers and IRA hunger strikers to a career'. Above: Adams in 1983 and speaking at Belfast University last year 'You have sentenced yourself to death and you're hoping for a reprieve. It's voluntary, totally voluntary, there was no one putting any pressure on you to do it. 'Everything goes through your mind. The effects you're going to have on your family in particular.' He added: 'But the only time I knew that I would prepare to die and would be able to die was after seeing my mother. 'And that was in the 45th day. I was taken out in a wheelchair, and into a kind of a cubicle. 'And I was wheeled out and my mother was there and she leaned up on the wire, and I'll never forget the shock on her face. The 1981 hunger strikes took place at the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland Former IRA activist Martin Ferris seen in 1984, when he was sentenced to a decade in prison. Right: In 2005. 'And she looked and next thing she said, "we back you Martin", she said, "whatever you decide, we're backing you a hundred percent". And that gave me the courage to continue. Simple as that.' Also interviewed is Bertie Ahern, the former president of the Republic of Ireland. He claimed that Mrs Thatcher's hardline public stance only hardened the responses of the Republican activists. 'She didn't seem to have any, either sympathy or respect or really want to find, a solution to those problem,' she said. 'And I suppose, I mean, she probably felt in the end, after a number of deaths and you know, where the Republican movement effectively stopped it, she probably felt that was another victory. 'But I mean, that was only hardening positions and hardening people's attitudes against it. And in hindsight, it was evolving the, the hardliners into a stronger position than they ever were.' All seven episodes of From Bomb to Ballot: the history of Sinn Fein are available now. A beekeeping widower faked his late wife's signature to try and blame her for his motorway speeding offence, a court heard. Philip Clarkson, 68, forged the signature of his late partner when the letter arrived at their former matrimonial home, requesting information on who was driving. Woolwich Crown Court heard Tracey Luxford Clarkson, who passed away aged 55 in 2021, was still the registered keeper of a Vauxhall Corsa. It was snapped by an M20 camera travelling at 64mph in a 50mph zone on April 12, last year. When the RTA Form 172 arrived at Clarkson's house in Harefield Road, Brockley he completed it, confirming Tracey was the driver and she was fined and received three penalty points on her still-active driving licence. He pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice between April 11 and May 18, 2023 and was sentenced to four-week home curfew between 9pm-6am, plus 250 costs. Judge Andrew Lees told Clarkson the sentencing guidelines suggest a starting point of six months immediate imprisonment. 'This is a very serious offence and in many cases leads to a lot of police time that is completely wasted and there has been an investigation here to get to the bottom of it,' the judge told him. Philip Clarkson, 68, forged the signature of his late partner to avoid a speeding offence Tracey Luxford Clarkson, who passed away aged 55 in 2021, was still the registered keeper of a Vauxhall Corsa The widower said Tracey was the driver and she was fined and received three penalty points on her still-active driving licence Prosecutor Arizuna Asante told the court: 'The form, which requires a signed declaration, was signed as Tracey Luxford. 'It was not possible for her to sign that form because she had sadly passed away on September 27, 2021.' Clarkson was exposed when a subsequent police letter was sent to his address and an unnamed member of the household reported him. When officers questioned Clarkson he replied 'no comment' to all questions. 'Offences of this kind are always considered very serious by the courts, but this is at the bottom,' announced Judge Lees. The court heard Clarkson's only income is his pension and he has resided in the same rent-controlled house for the last forty-five years. 'No doubt you have been kicking yourself since you did this and I am sure you will not do anything like this again,' Judge Lees told him. 'No, never again,' replied an obviously relieved Clarkson. A conservative couple publicly disowned and shamed as racists by their daughter-in-law in a magazine article have responded to her explosive claims. Ingrid Rojas Contreras wrote an essay for The Cut in which she claimed she was forced to stop speaking to husband Jeremiah Barber's parents Blaine and Kristine Barber due to their inflammatory stance on immigration. The Colombian-born author described one clash in which she was allegedly asked by her father-in-law if her sympathy for asylum seekers was because she was 'illegal' herself. Contreras never lived in the US illegally and was a visa holder until she obtained her green card and subsequent citizenship. Writing for New York magazine's popular female-focused website, she also accused the pair of gifting her an offensive book written by a pro-eugenics author. But now Kristine Barber, who revealed she and her husband work with immigrants, has refuted her daughter-in-law's accusations. She stressed that she did not wish to get into a tussle with Contreras but suggested she may have bent the truth for the purposes of her article. 'Our daughter-in-law is a very talented writer, I think this article that she has written uses a writing device called verisimilitude - which is when you inject things that are not true to make your point,' Barber, who is a retired nurse, told DailyMail.com. She did not elaborate further on what lies she claims Contreras told. In her piece, Contreras revealed that she and her in-laws had not spoken for seven years. She claimed a major breakdown in the relationship occurred in 2018, after her they gifted her a book by eugenicist John Tanton, called The Immigration Invasion. Blaine and Kristine Barber, who were branded racist by their liberal daughter-in-law in a viral opinion piece, have hit back at her claims Tanton believes that immigrants of color are a threat to the US and thinks that 'less intelligent' people should be stopped from reproducing. 'When I asked my in-laws if they could not see why giving me this book was wildly inappropriate, offensive violent, even my father-in-law said no, he could not see why they couldnt just give me a book,' Contreras wrote. However, Kristine, who retired in Mesa, Arizona, after a life spent in Michigan, stated that 'apparently no one fact checked the article'. 'My husband and I have lived overseas and he was a pastor of an international church,' Barber explained. 'Now, we currently teach English to Japanese and Spanish speaking immigrants and none of those things were mentioned in her article.' But even prior to the book incident, Contreras described how she found it difficult to stomach lectures from her Baptist father-in-law about how she should defer to her husband. After the fall out, Contreras decided to stop speaking to her in-laws, a move she says her husband Jeremiah Barber supports as he tries to navigate his own relationship with them. However, the Pulitzer-nominated author, who lives in San Francisco, admitted she did receive an olive branch from them just before the election. Contreras said the short letter from her in-laws contained no apology or understanding of what had caused the rift in the first place. Liberal author Ingrid Rojas Contreras said she 'broke up' with her conservative in-laws over their stance on immigration Contreras shared this post on Instagram inviting strangers to hear the story of an ugly family rift she shared with New York magazine's The Cut website She decided to pen a reply which so far she is yet to send and seems unlikely to ever do so. 'Why, I asked, had they not recoiled at the thought of eugenics? I wrote that my trust has been broken. That I hope their lives are as full of beauty and love as mine is, sincerely, but that I can no longer be a part,' Contreras wrote. 'I did send her a note and ask for a path to reconciliation,' Barber said. 'I am sure that airing our differences in the media is not that path, but that is my ultimate desire.' Contreras wrote that her situation is one that is being mirrored across the US in the advent of Donald Trump's second presidency. The president-elect has vowed to tackle the immigration crisis with mass deportations, the likes of which have never been seen before. But for Contreras, Trump's pledges to detain illegal immigrants triggered unpleasant memories of his first time in office. Pultizer-winning Contreras was born and raised in Bogota, to an engineer father and a medic mother. Contreras said her husband Jeremiah Barber supports her decision to cut off his parents. But the Barbers say they would love to reconnect Contreras' in-laws suggested that nobody had 'fact-checked' her version of events She described how her 'leader' mom made most of the decisions with the support of her husband, who helped out with managing the household. She relocated to the US and lived in the country legally on a visa until she gained a green card through her marriage. But she recalled how even as she was being sworn in as a US citizen, the president-elect was making controversial remarks about restricting migration from 's**thole countries'. The author's familial rift has no doubt been echoed across the country in the wake of the latest election cycle, where immigration was a dominant theme. Contreras characterized the split and the subsequent radio silence as her finally giving up on trying to convince her parents-in-law of her humanity. Kristine said she had not even been informed the essay was going to be written. Both parties have claimed they still respect one another. 'We wish her well and would love to reconnect with her, but, yeah...' Barber said. A dog walker who was knocked out and left with multiple fractures in an unprovoked attack thought she had fallen before a trauma specialist told her the injuries were inflicted by someone else. Kay Crisp, 68, was ambushed as she walked along a footpath a few minutes away from her home with her two pets. She has no memory of the assault but believes she must have been hit from behind before being kicked on the ground. The mother-of-four was treated for fractures to her eye socket, cheek and jaw as well as severe bruising around her neck, but it was only when she saw a consultant that she discovered she must have been the victim of an assault. She remembers a jogger passing her moments before she lost consciousness but has no other memories of the incident up until she was in hospital. Concerned that her attacker may be a threat to other members of the public, she told the Mail people must beware of the fact this has happened. Mrs Crisp set off from her home in Mendlesham, Suffolk, before 8am on November 18 with her five-year-old American Cocker Spaniel, Yana, and eight-year-old English Cocker Spaniel, Florence. I had a couple of conversations with people and just before I got to a footpath an unusual [looking] jogger was veering across towards where I was, she said. Kay Crisp, 68, (pictured) thought she had fallen when she was left with several fractures after taking her two dogs for a walk She has no memory of the incident up until she was at the hospital (Pictured: Ms Crisp's injuries) I gathered my dogs to get them out of the way and let him go first. The chap jogged past me but unusually didnt even look at me, he just had his head down as he went past. I thought hed gone up the path but he just vanished. Im not saying he did it but I dont know where he went. Theres a gap in the hedge thats one place where someone might have been waiting. I remember going forward through the entrance [to the path] and I dont know anything else until I was in hospital. One person said I was lying there shouting for help but Im completely unaware of what happened. Mrs Crisp, a former dog groomer who now runs a natural products business for dogs with her husband Stuart, 70, said nothing was taken from her. She was only carrying her mobile phone at the time. She was then found by two schoolgirls who raised the alarm. She was then put into the recovery position and her husband and son, who drove her to Ipswich Hospital, arrived shortly afterwards. Doctors took X-rays and then arranged for her to see a head trauma specialist at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. A trauma specialist at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital revealed to the her injuries, which included an injury to her eye socket, were inflicted by somebody else The consultant said you dont get hurt where I was from falling on your face. My eye socket was in a terrible state and my cheek. I may have also been kicked in the face. I didnt want to believe it because it would have been a lot easier if it was a fall. It would have eased my mind. Suffolk Police refused to believe she was the victim of an assault at first, Mrs Crisp said. They were pretty good at first but then they dug in their heels. I had an officer ring me up and say Youve just fallen. That upset me very much. Weve not got it sorted out and they put someone else on the case. She is now scared of going out alone and has been resting since the incident as she is suffering from trauma, headaches and memory issues. Im finding it difficult sometimes to get my words out and finding them [the right words], she said, adding she was due to have further scans. She was initially found on the path by two schoolgirls, with her husband and son later arriving to drive her to Ipswich hospital The tall, skinny jogger was wearing a white vest top, very short white shorts, a black cap and had earbuds, according to Mrs Crisp. She added: I thought Whats he running about in the freezing cold like that for? A Suffolk Police spokeswoman said: An investigation into a potential grievous bodily harm assault is underway. The incident took place on November 18 between 6.45am and 8.15am. Police are conducting enquiries, including reviewing CCTV footage, and are keeping an open mind as to the circumstances of the incident. Officers investigating the incident are keen to speak to a man who was jogging in the area at the time and who may have witnessed the incident. He is described as skinny with dark hair or a dark hat and was wearing a white vest top and white shorts. Police have released a facial reconstruction of a woman whose body was found in a river. The unidentified woman was spotted by a member of the public in the River Mersey, near Chorlton Water Park in Manchester, on March 21 this year. Today, as parts of ongoing efforts to identify the woman, Greater Manchester Police have released a facial reconstruction in the hope someone might recognise her. The image has been created by Face Lab at Liverpool John Moores University. It is believed the woman's body was in the water for one or two months before she was discovered. The force believes she may have entered the water in a surrounding area or region, with the River Tame and River Goyt both merging into the River Mersey. Her cause of death is being treated as unexplained and further analysis of her body is due to be completed. The force believes she may have entered the water in a surrounding area or region, with the River Tame and River Goyt both merging into the River Mersey. Today, as parts of ongoing efforts to identify the woman, Greater Manchester Police have released a facial reconstruction in the hope someone might recognise her. The image has been created by Face Lab at Liverpool John Moores University Forensics teams conducting investigations within a cordoned off footpath along the River Mersey in March. The unidentified woman was found by a member of the public in the River Mersey, near Chorlton Water Park in Manchester A lime-green crop top from Primark similar to the one worn by the woman New Look jeans similar to what the woman was wearing when she was found The force believes she may have entered the water in a surrounding area or region, with the River Tame and River Goyt both merging into the River Mersey. The woman is described as being from a European background, about 5ft 1in, of a slim build and with dark brown hair. She was wearing a bright green Primark top and New Look jeans when her body was discovered. Police believe she is between 26 and 40, although could be older or younger. Detective Inspector Louise Edwards, from GMP's Major Incident Team, said: 'We have worked with numerous experts covering a wide range of forensic examinations and tests available to us, but we have sadly been unable to uncover the woman's identity. 'We want nothing more than to reunite her with her family and friends. She could be someone's mother, auntie, sister, or cousin - somebody out there will know who she is and we want to ensure she gets back to her loved ones. 'If you have any information at all, please do get in touch with us. Even the smallest amount of information could greatly benefit in finding out who she is, and the circumstances which led to her sadly being discovered in the river more than eight months ago.' Anyone who may recognise the woman or has information can contact police on 101, by using the Live Chat Service at gmp.police.uk, quoting log number 1191 of 21 March 2024, or online at mipp.police.uk/operation/06GMP24A75-PO1. The major incident team can be called directly on 0161 856 9479, or information can be given anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. These are the first photos of a fire brigade boss and a junior female colleague who sued him for sex harassment after he commented on her Mulberry handbag. West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue service employee Tayba Amber lost a number of claims against the organisation after claiming Martin McCarthy was a 'sexual predator'. Miss Amber worked as an information governance assistant at the fire service's HQ before going off sick from stress in March 2022. During a meeting with Mr McCarthy, the director of corporate services, he remarked on her expensive designer Mulberry handbag, to which she took offence. After noticing the high-end fashion accessory, he asked her if she would later be going to the Mulberry shop - where bags can cost more than 1,500 - and said he had spent a 'considerable amount of money' on handbags for his wife. Ms Amber included Mr McCarthy's comments in a series of tribunal claims she made against Bradford-based West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. However, the tribunal found that while his Mulberry remarks were 'unwise' and a 'clumsy attempt' to gain Ms Amber's confidence, this did not amount to sexual harassment. Ms Amber lost her claims for race discrimination, disability discrimination, sexual harassment and unfair dismissal, though did successfully sue for victimisation. West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue service employee Tayba Amber lost a number of claims against the organisation after claiming her boss Martin McCarthy was a 'sexual predator' Fire brigade boss Martin McCarthy was accused of sexual harassment by Tayba Amber after he made a remark about his wife having a Mulberry handbag just like hers The tribunal, held in Leeds, heard that Ms Amber started working as an information governance assistant at the fire and rescue service in 2016. In March 2022 she went on sick leave for work-related stress which lasted until she resigned in January last year. During her absence she had meetings with her managers about a potential return to work including one with Mr McCarthy, the director of corporate services, in August 2022. It was during that meeting he mentioned his marital status, as he had recently split up with his wife and felt lonely, the tribunal heard. 'At the end of the meeting, Mr McCarthy commented on [Ms Amber's] Mulberry handbag,' the hearing was told. 'He said that in the context of her saying she was going to meet up with some friends and go for some retail therapy and, noticing that she had a Mulberry handbag, he made a comment to the effect that his wife had one of those. '[His] recollection is that he had asked what she was doing after the meeting and whether she was going to the Mulberry shop. 'She said he had said he had spent a considerable amount of money on handbags for his wife.' Fire brigade worker Tayba Amber sued her employers claiming sexual harassment following a remark one of her managers made about her Mulberry handbag (stock image) She launched the employment tribunal case against West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service - pictured is its main HQ in Birkenshaw, Bradford Ms Amber told the tribunal that she felt Mr McCarthy had made the meeting into a 'sexualised freak show' and called him a 'sexual predator'. The panel found that the comments about Ms Amber's Mulberry handbag were not sexual harassment but 'probably unwise'. Employment Judge David Jones said: 'The discussion about his wife's shopping habits and having a Mulberry handbag fell into a similar category. 'Raising his personal situation in this type of meeting was unnecessary, and probably unwise, but reflected his attempt to demonstrate some sort of empathy. 'Given the very different circumstances of these two employees, they were never likely to resonate with [Ms Amber]. 'This was a clumsy attempt to gain [Ms Amber's] confidence, but it was not conduct either related to sex or of a sexual nature.' The tribunal heard that in December 2022 the brigade's director of human resources Ian Brandwood emailed Ms Amber to say that her most recent fit note had not been received and that unless it was sent within three days her pay would be suspended. Mr Brandwood then emailed her therapist to ask what reasonable adjustments she would suggest should be made for her given complaints Ms Amber had made about her colleagues, adding that there was a 'requirement' for her to 'work constructively' with the rest of her team. That month Ms Amber submitted grievances for sexual harassment by Mr McCarthy and harassment and victimisation by Mr Brandwood, neither of which was upheld. Ms Amber then resigned to take a new job with the NHS before moving to a role with West Yorkshire Police in March last year. The tribunal found that she had been victimised by a threat to suspend her pay, an email to her therapist portraying her as 'unreasonable' and the 'unfair' handling of her complaint against Mr McCarthy. A hearing to decide her compensation will be held at a later date. Neither Mr McCarthy nor Miss Amber were available at their homes today to pass further comment on the handbag issue. Gregg Wallace was hauled in for a 90-minute meeting after two women complained about the star's 'disgusting' sexual jokes. Wallace, 60, was warned in 2018 about his behaviour on Impossible Celebrities by a BBC executive after the women claimed he boasted to them about being a good lover. It was also alleged he would tell them how often he had sex and crack unsavoury gags that made them feel uncomfortable. The women were offered counselling and Wallace apologised with a formal HR investigation outcome letter, seen by BBC News, finding 'many aspects' of his behaviour were 'both unacceptable and unprofessional'. Wallace was warned by an executive in a 90-minute-long meeting 'how seriously the BBC takes this matter' with staff being told that action would be taken to prevent it from happening again and to safeguard others, reported BBC News. Now more claims have been made about Wallace's behaviour - by Ulrika Jonsson who alleged that he made a 'rape joke' when she appeared on Celebrity MasterChef in 2017. He is also accused of constantly making 'lesbian jokes' when he worked on travel show Big Weekends in 2019 after becoming 'fascinated' with a female co-worker's love life when he found out she dated women. It comes as stepped down from MasterChef on Thursday amid allegations he made 'sexual comments to 13 colleagues'. Gregg Wallace, 60, was warned in 2018 about his behaviour on Impossible Celebrities by a BBC executive after two women claimed he boasted to them about being a good lover It comes as tonight Wallace broke his silence for the first time after he stepped down from MasterChef amid allegations he made 'sexual comments to 13 colleagues' Ulrika Jonsson has claimed Wallace made a rape joke when she pictured appeared on Celebrity MasterChef in 2017 (pictured) Jonsson told The Telegraph a female contestant was 'really distressed' by Wallace's offensive joke which caused another member to walk off the set. The contestant retold the alleged joke to Jonsson and then went to speak with a producer. 'They then went off to speak to Gregg,' she said. 'After a while he came upand he apologised,' she said. 'He could hardly get his words out. He was apologising, and he had tears in his eyes. The contestant is said to have accepted his apology, but Jonsson said Wallace should have said sorry to everyone. Wallace allegedly regularly spoke about sex, spanking and domination when he worked on Big Weekends in 2019. A female co-worker claimed he asked her if she was 'sure' she didn't want to date men when he found out she was a lesbian and became 'fascinated' by her love life, even asking her the 'logistics' of how it worked, reported BBC News. '[It] was highly inappropriate,' she said. It's also alleged he came out of a bathroom topless when he worked on BBC show Eat Well For Less and asked two women to take his coffee order. One, named as Georgina, claims she felt 'uncomfortable' when he told her his wife was only two days older than her. She said another time she had to go to his car to sort out his parking ticket and when she asked him if it was ok he allegedly replied: 'You can come to my car, but can you handle the fact everyone will think you just got off with a celebrity?' Georgina says she refused to ever work on a show with him again. Another female worker on the show said his behaviour isn't acceptable and that it was a 'disgrace' to continue to 'publicly platform him'. Gregg Wallace (pictured on Thursday) is accused of dancing naked in the MasterChef studio with only a sock to cover his modesty, according to one report The grocer turned presenter thanked people on Thursday night for their support following accusations he mimicked a sex act and wandered into the MasterChef studio 'completely naked' apart from a 'sock covering his penis'. In a video posted on Instagram, he said: 'I would like to thank all the people getting in touch, reach out and showing their support. 'That's good of you, thank you very much.' The Daily Telegraph says it has spoken to a witness who claims to have seen both these alleged incidents. Wallace was also 'very touchy feely', the newspaper quotes the witness as saying. The presenter is also accused of making 'disgusting sex-related jokes', including one about an 'aunt' while tasting a contestant's dish during the show. It came as Sir Rod Stewart accused Wallace of bullying his wife Penny Lancaster on the show in 2021. 'Good riddance Wallace... You humiliated my wife when she was on the show, but you had that bit cut out didn't you? You're a tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully. Karma got ya', he said on Instagram. MailOnline has asked Mr Wallace to comment on the claims, which if proven would likely end the BBC career of one its biggest names in yet another sex-related crisis to grip the corporation. On Thursday the star stepped away from MasterChef after 13 people including Newsnight host Kirsty Wark accused him of 'wrong' and inappropriate 'sexualised' behaviour during filming. Ms Walk claims that on two occasions Wallace told stories and jokes of a 'sexualised nature' in front of contestants and crew while filming Celebrity MasterChef in 2011. She said his gags and comments were 'really, really in the wrong place'. 'There were two occasions in particular where he used sexualised language in front of a number of people and it wasn't as if anyone engaged with this. It was completely one-way traffic. But I think people were uncomfortable and something that I really did not expect to happen', she said. Scottish broadcaster Aasmah Mir shared a picture on Thursday of herself during the 2017 Celebrity MasterChef series with the cryptic message: 'Always keep your receipts'. It is not yet known if she has also complained. Mr Wallace was at home in Kent on Thursday as it emerged he was under investigation Kirsty Wark and Gregg Wallace on Celebrity MasterChef 2011 Wallace, pictured with wife Anne-Marie Sterpini in October, has stepped away from MasterChef while he is investigated Wallace has been accused of taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to 'give her a fashion show' and talking about his sex life to others. On one occasion he allegedly told a junior female colleague he wasn't wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans. The BBC has revealed that 13 people, including Ms Wark, have complained about his conduct while working with him over a 17-year period across five shows, from 2005 to 2022. The BBC claims that Wallace walked away from MasterChef after BBC News sent a letter to his agent on Tuesday, setting out allegations from 13 people and giving him a right of reply. They say he was warned after a complaint was raised in 2018, but new historical claims emerged over the summer of 2024. Wallace is 'committed to fully cooperating throughout the process', the show's production company Banijay UK said. But he was on BBC One as usual on Thursday night because MasterChef: The Professionals, which is already recorded, will transmit as planned and into December. MasterChef's Christmas specials will also still be broadcast. Mr Wallace is yet to comment - but at the time of the announcement on Thursday afternoon he did take to Instagram to share his recipe for prawn tacos with pineapple salsa. But in October Gregg vehemently denied that he had made inappropriate sexual comments towards women, declaring that he would never 'flirt with' or 'hit on' another woman and saying: 'I didn't say anything sexual'. Gregg Wallace will step away from presenting MasterChef while complaints made to the BBC from individuals about historical allegations of misconduct are investigated. Former Newsnight host Kirsty Wark is among 13 people who have accused MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace of making inappropriate sexual comments she heard filming Celebrity MasterChef in 2011 (right) Kirsty would make the final of the sixth series of Celebrity MasterChef Gregg looked stressed as Ms Wark struggled with her gravy in 2011 In October, Gregg denied claims he boasted about his sex life to a younger female BBC employee and took his top off in front of her while filming a game show, saying he would never 'flirt with' or 'hit on' another woman Wallace (pictured with John Torode), 60, is 'committed to fully cooperating throughout the process', the show's production company Banijay UK said Former Celebrity Masterchef quarter finalist Tracy-Ann Oberman posted a cryptic status on X tonight The BBC has said that it will take the issues raised about Wallace 'seriously' BBC News said it had been told of other allegations, including the presenter 'talking openly about his sex life, taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to 'give her a fashion show', and telling a junior female colleague he was not wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans'. What has Gregg Wallace been accused of? 13 people who have told the BBC of what they consider inappropriate sexual comments made by Wallace across a range of shows over a 17-year period. These include: Kirsty Wark says that on two occasions Wallace relayed stories and jokes of a 'sexualised nature' in front of contestants on Celebrity MasterChef and crew and that she felt they were 'really, really in the wrong place'. Gregg would allegedly openly talk about his sex life on set Taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to 'give her a fashion show' Telling a junior female colleague he was not wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans' Allegedly entering the studio naked with his genitals covered with a sock and doing a 'silly dance' Mimicking a sex act close to a member of production staff He told 'disgusting sex-related jokes', including one while tasting a contestant's unusual dish; Advertisement Banijay has not revealed the nature of the allegations, but last month it was claimed the grocer turned TV star had boasted about his sex life to a younger female BBC employee and took his top off in front of her. In a statement to the PA news agency Banijay UK said: 'This week the BBC received complaints from individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct while working with presenter Gregg Wallace on one of our shows. 'Whilst these complainants have not raised the allegations directly with our show producers or parent company Banijay UK, we feel that it is appropriate to conduct an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate. 'While this review is under way, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully cooperating throughout the process. 'Banijay UK's duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behaviour are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set. 'Whilst these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met, are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately.' The statement added: 'If anyone would like to talk to us or raise any issues or concerns, then they can contact speakup@banijayuk.com in confidence.' The BBC has said it takes any issues that are raised with it 'seriously'. A BBC spokesperson said: 'We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them. 'We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated. 'Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them.' In October Mr Wallace admitted he was feeling stressed amid allegations he made inappropriate sexual comments towards women - and his fellow judge John Torode's wife alleged he 'repeatedly told rude jokes' on set. Wallace took to Instagram with a live video as he offered tips on healthy eating while also alluding to new allegations made against him this week. He told viewers he was 'a little bit distracted at the moment', but said he 'wanted to check in and say hello'. His social media riposte came as it emerged his MasterChef co-host John Torode's wife Lisa Faulkner would think, 'I don't want to hear this', as he apparently delivered punchlines to crew of the BBC's flagship cookery show. Faulkner, 52, appeared on the series in 2010 where she went on to win the Celebrity MasterChef trophy - and has opened up about her time on the show. MasterChef co-presenter Gregg Wallace filmed a live video message admitting he was feeling some 'stress' as newly-emerged allegations were made against him in October Actress Lisa Faulkner (centre) has said Gregg Wallace (left) repeatedly made rude jokes to MasterChef crew members - she is married to his co-host John Torode (right) Gregg Wallace has said in another Instagram video message that he has always been true to his wife Anne-Marie Sterpini - the couple are pictured here at the wedding of Lisa Faulkner and John Torode in Banbury, Oxfordshire, in October 2019 Brookside and Holby City star Faulkner told the Cheltenham Literature Festival how she would overhear the former greengrocer's jokes as she was prepping her dishes. She said: 'Gregg was telling I'm probably not allowed to say thisGregg just told rude joke after rude joke to the crew. 'You're just sitting there and if you're on the front bench just chopping away thinking, 'I've got ten minutes left', and he's saying, 'So this girl walked into a bar' 'And I'm going, 'Please, I don't want to hear this joke'.' Her husband John, 59, who was also on stage with her to promote their new book, told her: 'It's changed quite a lot really' Gregg, 60, absolutely denied claims he boasted about his sex life to a younger female BBC employee and took his top off in front of her while filming a game show - saying he would never 'flirt with' or 'hit on' another woman. Bosses at the corporation are said to have hauled the MasterChef co-host into a meeting in 2018 following allegations of 'inappropriate sexual comments' and told him to 'change his behaviour'. An insider claims Gregg brushed it off as 'just banter', having been reported for making 'consistent inappropriate comments' to the member of the production team while working on game show Impossible Celebrities. Lisa Faulkner has said Gregg Wallace would tell 'rude joke after rude joke' on MasterChef But taking to Instagram, Wallace hit back at the allegations in an emotional video saying he was 'madly in love' with his wife Anna. He said: 'The story that's hitting the newspapers was investigated promptly when it happened six years ago by the BBC. 'And the outcome of that was that I hadn't said anything sexual. I'll need to repeat this again. I didn't say anything sexual. 'Despite what the newspapers are suggesting nobody six years ago accused me of flirting with anybody or hitting on anybody. 'And the reason I say this is because of my wife Anna. I have always been true to my wife Anna and have never flirted or hit on anybody in the 12 years [since] I met her and fell in love with her. 'And it's important that, so that people don't misunderstand that, that I am true to my wife.' Wallace, who has previously spoken of losing 5st with an exercise regime, told viewers: 'I've had a fair bit of stress over the last few days, but my healthy lifestyle choices have stayed the same because that's my lifestyle. That's what I do without thinking'. 'Does that make sense to people? I really, really hope it does. I'm a little bit distracted at the moment, you can probably tell.' Wallace went on to say: 'There are so many benefits of upping your levels of activity, so many healthy benefits. 'I'm not going to mention the newspapers at the moment I've got that coming at me left, right and centre.' He also responded to commenters including one who spoke of loving chocolate buttons, with Wallace saying: 'Chocolate buttons are lovely right now, that sugar hit, I get it. I understand.' But he added: 'I really like a mango. I really like a pineapple. I really like a bowl of blueberries. And fruit isn't full of sugar and fat. Here's the saying love food that loves you back.' The TV presenter then signed off by saying: 'I've got a really, really busy day I wanted to check in and say hello. 'If you want to make a difference to your life, really consider the choices you make.' The allegations of inappropriate comments have only now emerged amid the BBC this week launching a probe into workplace culture as bosses aim to crack down on the 'abuse of power'. Bosses at the corporation are said to have hauled the MasterChef co-host into a meeting in 2018 following allegations of 'inappropriate sexual comments' and told him to 'change his behaviour' The insider who made the claims against Wallace, which his team says are 'inaccurate', raised questions as to why he was allowed to continue presenting MasterChef. They told The Sun: 'He is said to have been boasting about his sex life with his partner at the time. At one point, Wallace was also accused of taking his top off in front of the woman which felt inappropriate. The team working on the show were said to have gone to BBC bosses to complain after being left 'mortified' by Wallace's alleged behaviour. A spokesman for the BBC told The Sun: 'Whilst we do not comment on individuals, if issues are raised they are dealt with swiftly and appropriately at the time. 'We do not tolerate any form of inappropriate behaviour and have robust processes in place.' It was previously reported by The Times back in May last year that he had allegedly offended female staff members at the Nestle UK factory in York with comments about their weight during a 'friendly' conversation. Wallace then denied that he left the BBC show Inside The Factory in March that year due to inappropriate comments made towards female staff. Gregg Wallace hit back at the latest allegations in a response on Instagram, saying he was 'madly in love' with his wife Anna Wallace quit BBC show Inside The Factory in March last year after allegations that he had been 'rude towards staff' and spoke to them in a 'derogatory manner, especially to women' Appearing on Good Morning Britain in August 2023, the called the claims 'inaccurate'. The newspaper had quoted a source as saying: 'He was rude towards staff and continued to talk in a derogatory manner, especially to women.' The comments were reportedly non-sexual but deemed 'inappropriate' and a complaint was lodged with Voltage TV, the production company responsible for developing the show. When asked on GMB by Richard Madeley about his departure from the programme, Wallace responded by saying: 'There was an argument inside the factory, the reporting isn't accurate. 'There was an issue and I thought this is the perfect time to come out.' 'Offending people? No, no - if you look at the headlines, you can't see a story that matches those headlines.' Gregg also revealed that he also wanted to leave to help care for his son Sid, born in 2019, who is autistic. Explaining his home situation, he said: 'I've got a little boy called Sid who at the moment is non-verbal, he is still in nappies, he's got learning difficulties. Mum needed help there.' Gregg Wallace was accompanied by his wife Anne-Marie Sterpini when he received an MBE honour for services to food and charity, at Windsor Castle in February 2022 Gregg Wallace (left) and John Torode (right) have co-presented MasterChef since 2005 He revealed that the demanding nature of the filming around the different factories across the country meant that it made sense to give it up. Wallace added: 'It's completely inaccurate, I didn't challenge it. There was an issue, I don't want to discuss the issue but it wasn't what the papers said it was. 'There was nothing offensive to anybody that's just people guessing. It was a decent time to come out, I think.' Wallace wed Anne-Marie Sterpini, 22 years younger than him, at Hever Castle in Kent in August 2016, having met three years earlier. Question: Have any animals been collected to extinction? In the Victorian era, collecting wild bird eggs, or oology, became a popular craze. It eventually led to the decline of many of our bird species and ultimately, in 1954, to the Protection of Birds Act, making it illegal to take or destroy the eggs or nest of any wild bird. The most famous casualties of the practice were the great auks (Pinguinus impennis). These flightless seabirds were once abundant in the North Atlantic, nesting in large colonies on isolated islands such as Funk Island off Newfoundland, St Kilda in Scotland, and Iceland. They were hunted extensively for their meat, eggs and feathers but, as the population began to decline, their very rarity increased their value to collectors. The last confirmed breeding pair of great auks was killed in 1844 on Eldey island, near Iceland. This act was carried out by hunters seeking specimens for a private collector. Their egg was smashed during the incident. The mazarine blue butterfly of southern England disappeared in the 19th century; it is thought that changes to haymaking which resulted in clover being cut while this species was a caterpillar may have been a factor in its demise. Great auks (Pinguinus impennis) were one of the most famous casualties of the Victorian practice of collecting wild eggs A picture of Orkney islanders hunting birds and eggs on the cliff face The New Forest burnet, a black moth with red spotted wings, disappeared in the early 20th century, probably through over-collection. Russell E. James, writing in The Entomologist's Record and Journal of Variation, reported: 'I found one professional on the ground, and was informed by a labourer that he had 'lived' there for a week, and had taken some 600 specimens!' Simon Kelly, Ilkeston, Derbyshire Question: Aside from the one in Edinburgh, are there any other underground cities in the world? There are various underground cities around the world, created for a variety of reasons: some were simply built over as part of urban planning, others were built to shelter people from invasion, and some were built to combat the threat of nuclear attack. Beneath the streets of Edinburgh lies a network of 18th-century vaults used for storage, workshops and even illicit or occult activities. These underground chambers are part of the city's South Bridge and are now a popular tourist attraction. Tomorrow's questions Q: What is the ingredient in cat treats they go frantic for? Frank Gunn, Beaconsfield, Bucks Q: I'm enjoying Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light. What is the meaning of 'the mirror and the light'? Mrs B.O.Neil, Birkenhead Q: What is the largest denomination banknote in the world? Steve Greenhough, Belper, Derbyshire Advertisement Manchester has an intricate network of tunnels and spaces, including the now-defunct Guardian Underground Telephone Exchange, a Cold War communications hub buried 100ft below the city. There is also a web of older abandoned railways and canals. Derinkuyu and Kaymakli in Turkey are underground shelters built during the 8th-7th century BC to protect inhabitants from invaders. Derinkuyu could house up to 20,000 people and includes living quarters, storage rooms, a church and a ventilation system. Dixia Cheng is a 33-square-mile network of tunnels and chambers under Beijing. Built during the 1970s, it acted as a potential shelter during invasions, nuclear attacks or air raids. At one point there were more than 90 entrances to the system, hidden in the backs of homes and businesses. Coober Pedy is an Australian adaptation to extreme climate. Situated 526 miles north of Adelaide, 'the opal capital of the world' is in the Western Desert. Many residents live in underground homes called 'dugouts' to escape the scorching desert heat, and the town also has underground churches, hotels and shops. Derrick Mackenzie, Bishop's Stortford, Herts Question: In India it is common practice to copy U.S. sitcoms. What examples are there? Hello Friends was a short-lived Hindi-language sitcom (1999-2000) which attempted to replicate the storyline and characters of the hit American series Friends but failed to capture the same charm. There was also Sumit Sambhal Lega (Sumit Will Handle All), an Indian take on Everybody Loves Raymond, exploring the humorous conflicts between a young man, his parents, wife and brother. The show, which aired in 2015, localised the content to match Indian cultural and family dynamics. From 2003-2006, there was Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin (There Is No One Like Jassi), which was a copy of Ugly Betty. Jasmeet Walia, known as Jassi (Mona Singh), is a smart but socially awkward woman finding her place in the corporate world. Both were ultimately based on the Colombian show Yo Soy Betty, La Fea. It's not just U.S. sitcoms: India had Ji Mantriji (2001), their own version of Yes Minister. There was The Office India (2019) and, in the 1990s, Zabaan Sambhalke (Watch Your Tongue), the Indian version of the 1970s sitcom Mind Your Language. Kay Holmes, Gillingham, Kent What does Samin Nosrat want for the holidays this year? We decided to ask the Salt Fat Acid Heat author and seven other people with exceptional taste in the Bay Area food and drink world. Specifically, we asked for two gift ideas theyd love to receive: one affordable option that costs less than $25 and one splurge. The results include pantry favorites like crunchy chile oils and high-end jams as well as showstopping aprons and hyper-local tea towels. The food lover in your life will be lucky to unwrap one of these presents. Samin Nosrat recommends gifts from Fat Gold and Saba Jam. Photo illustration: Steven Boyle/The Chronicle; Olive oil: Fat Gold; Saba: Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle Samin Nosrats wish list Under $25: Samin Nosrat adores Saba Jam, a wildly popular jam business run by a former chemical engineer in Berkeley. Owner-namesake Saba Parsa is known for seasonal, unusual flavor creations like plum with Korean perilla leaf, tomato-saffron or Nosrats favorites, aprium-noyaux (almond extract) and tayberry with rose petals (all jams cost $17.95). Parsa often highlights niche fruit varieties and uses no pectins or preservatives in her jams. I consider Saba June Taylors successor, which is to say her work highlights the best of each individual fruit, Nosrat said, referencing a legendary Berkeley jam-maker. Theres nothing else quite like it. Find Saba Jams online or at local businesses including Preserved in Oakland and the Mill and Reliquary in San Francisco. sabajamsf.com Advertisement Article continues below this ad Splurge: Give the gift of liquid gold. Specifically, a subscription from Fat Gold ($179), which Kathryn Tomajan and Robin Sloan started as a tiny olive grove in the Bay Area in 2017. They now run their own olive mill in the San Joaquin Valley. Fat Gold promises, as Nosrat put it, delicious, high-quality olive oil made by two olive oil geeks. Four times a year, the subscription delivers a 500-ml tin of limited-edition California extra-virgin olive oil, milled especially for subscribers. It comes with a zine that details where the olives came from, tasting notes and how to best use it. The owners want to give people an education, practical and unpretentious, the Fat Gold website states. fat.gold/subscribe Elena Kadvany Chef Anthony Salguero says every home cook deserves a great apron. Photo illustration: Steven Boyle/The Chronicle; Stagger Lee: Allison Webber; Kuali: Aysia Stieb/Special to the Chronicle Anthony Salgueros wish list Under $25: Anthony Salguero, chef at trailblazing Salvadoran restaurant Popoca in Oakland, likes it spicy. The chef keeps steady rations of seductively hot salsa macha from Oakland purveyor Kuali Salsa in his pantry. A collection of seeds, garlic and chiles, Kualis salsa macha ($18), also known as salsa de aceite, is highly sought after for its potent flavors. The salsa outfit makes two versions: a milder standard version and a hot one with peanuts. Salguero says he puts it on his eggs in the mornings, but you could also try it with pizza, ice cream, back aches or anything that might need a little bit of fire. kualisalsa.com Advertisement Article continues below this ad Splurge: Every home cook should have a show-stopper apron, says the Popoca chef. His pick is made by Stagger Lee Goods ($72-$156), based in Brisbane. The way Salguero sees it: the owner Alfred Ramos is truly a master, his aprons last forever and get better with time. Styles range in color, pattern and length, most of which have signature leather straps attached by copper buttons. Theres no guarantee that it will make you cook better but its scientifically proven to make you look cooler.staggerleegoods.com Cesar Hernandez Farmer Kristyn Leachs wish list is all about sauce. Photo illustration: Steven Boyle/The Chronicle; Shawarmaji: Nader Khouri; Big Spoon Sauce Co.: Nathan Bender Kristyn Leachs wish list Under $25: You may not know Kristyn Leachs name, but if youve eaten at any number of Korean restaurants in the Bay Area, youve sampled her perilla, melons and peppers. In addition to farming, Leach is a founding member of Second Generation Seeds, a seed-saving organization that, a couple years ago, hosted chef Mohammad Abutaha of Shawarmaji for a cooking workshop. Ive been a huge fan ever since, Leach says, and now she stocks up on Shawarmajis jarred sauces($13.99-$19.99) specifically his garlicky toum, both original and chipotle, and shatta, a fermented hot sauce. Theyre a great way to acquaint yourself with the flavors of his Jordanian and Palestinian-inspired food. Cant pick just one? Grab 6 oz. jars of all three for $29.99 online or at Shawarmajis restaurants in Oakland and Santa Clara. 2100 Franklin St., Suite 2190, Oakland; 2281 the Alameda, Santa Clara. theshawarmaji.com Advertisement Article continues below this ad Splurge: A subscription to Big Spoons chili crisp club ensures that you never accidentally run out, Leach says, hinting at the potentially disastrous consequences of a pantry without the crispy, crunchy Chinese chile oil in her household. Each quarterly shipment in Big Spoons Club Big Dipper ($95 every three months) contains three 12 oz. jars from the Sonoma County outfits core lineup their classic Chili Crisp, extra spicy Dragons Booty and fermented black bean-spiked Magic Beans plus two 6 oz. seasonal releases. Leach says her four-year-old daughter looks forward to every shipment and puts the sauces on everything, claiming it makes her brain hulk out. bigspoonsauceco.com MacKenzie Chung Fegan Brie Garcia recommends giving your loved one a staycation. Photo illustration: Steven Boyle/The Chronicle; Dandelion: Nick Katkov; Staycation: Four Seasons Resort Brie Garcias wish list Under $25: A few years ago, professional wrestler and reality star Brie Garcia one-half of the famous Bella Twins duo traded in the wrestling ring for the vineyard. She moved her family away from the spotlight to Napa Valley, where she runs a wine brand and speakeasy-themed tasting room, Bonita Bonita, with her twin sister Nikki. (The twins also host a twice-weekly podcast.) But wine isnt her only go-to holiday beverage: Garcia says a 10th wedding anniversary trip to Santa Fe turned her into a connoisseur of hot chocolate. Now, shes always on the hunt for it, and has crowned Dandelions Gingerbread Hot Chocolate ($18) as San Franciscos best. This holiday-edition hot chocolate, featuring cacao from Costa Esmeraldas, Ecuador mixed with spices, comes packaged in a stylish and reusable corked glass bottle. And if gingerbread isnt your jam, Dandelion makes several other flavors, like peppermint, hojicha and mocha. Garcia recommends picking up the hot chocolate in person after a tour of Dandelions historic 16th Street factory ($20, offered daily), where you can see the chocolatiers in action. 2600 16th St., San Francisco. dandelionchocolate.com Advertisement Article continues below this ad Splurge: When Garcia wants to spoil her husband, her go-to gift is the next best thing to a tropical winter vacation: A staycation and spa day at the Four Seasons. City-dwellers seeking a fancy getaway may flock to the Four Seasons in Garcias scenic home of Napa Valley which has a Michelin-starred restaurant and a winery but she does the opposite, often escaping to the urban jungle, the Four Seasons San Francisco. Its her favorite hotel in the city, largely due to the incredible views and cozy beds. Stress melts away at the San Francisco Four Seasons spa (operated by high-end fitness company Equinox), but a luxurious slumber at any of the Four Seasons four Bay Area outposts will do the trick. fourseasons.com Jess Lander Emma Kruch loves the napkins, tea towels and more from Jenny Pennywood Linens. Photo illustration: Steven Boyle/The Chronicle; Photos: Emma Kruch/Emma K Creative Emma Kruchs wish list Under $25: Emma Kruch, a Napa photographer who has become the go-to hire for Wine Countrys most photogenic wineries, is a self-proclaimed bona fide sauce freak. As proof, she says, her fridge is roughly 50% sauce. So she was thrilled this year when chef Yan Iskandar opened his Singaporean takeout spot Pasar in Napa, offering a truly spectacular sambal. Ground in a mortar and pestle with California-grown red chiles, galangal, lemongrass, shallots and garlic, the Pasar by Yan Sambal is deeper and brighter and more balanced than any other version of the condiment Kruch has ever had. Its available by the jar ($12.50), and during the holiday season Iskandar is also offering a gift box that includes the original (which happens to be vegan) along with a new shrimp and garlic sambal. As a bonus, Kruch says, Iskandar is a breath-of-fresh-air type of human always smiling and upbeat, even when hes getting slammed with orders or someone calls in sick. 1758 Industrial Way, Napa. Also available at the Napa Farmers Market.pasarbyyan.com Advertisement Article continues below this ad Splurge: Anyone who follows Kruch on Instagram (@emmakcreative) knows she has impeccable taste not only in food (her homemade lunches are always enviably colorful) but also in homewares. To emulate her tablescapes, look for Jenny Pennywood linens. The iconic work of San Francisco-based artist and textile designer Jen Garrido has been a staple in my home for more than a decade, Kruch says. The super-durable Everyday Napkins ($54 for 2), usually in a mix-mash of enchanting seasonal colorways and patterns, are always on Kruchs table at a dinner party, and she also loves the kitchen towels ($36), cocktail napkins ($48 for 4) potholders ($38), sweatshirts ($175) and even scrunchies ($18) made from napkin and towel scraps. Garrido runs a hyper-local operation, keeping her design, screenprinting, sewing and dyeing within 50 miles of her San Francisco studio. Unlike other cloth napkins, Kruch says the linen-cotton blend on these feel better after every wash. Theres rarely a day where Im not using or wearing at least one Jenny Pennywood item, says Kruch. I guess that makes me a Pennywood stan? Im okay with it.jennypennywood.com Esther Mobley Proyecto Diaz co-owner Fernando Diaz says chocolate and mezcal make for great gifts. Photo illustration: Steven Boyle/The Chronicle; Casa de Chocolates: Francesca Tamse/Special to the Chronicle; Mezcal: Tahona Mercado Fernando Diazs wish list Under $25: At the core of Oakland coffee shop and roastery Proyecto Diaz is culture; co-owner Fernando Diaz showcases single-origin coffees from Mexico and lattes infused with Latin American ingredients. Naturally he feels theres a bit of kinship between his company and Berkeley chocolatier Casa de Chocolates, which specializes in confections featuring flavors from Mexico and beyond. Its a nod to where chocolate comes from so I thought that was really cool, he says. The six-piece Mexican Assortment box ($21) comes with colorful chocolates spiked with cinnamon, chipotle, Mexican vanilla, mole, tamarind and Tequila. 2629 Ashby Ave., Berkeley. casadechocolates.com Advertisement Article continues below this ad Splurge: In a similar vein, Diaz and his family have a special appreciation for Oaxacan terroir. For generations, they have stewarded a coffee farm in the mountainous highlands, caring for the delicate crops and learning to bring out the nutty, chocolate-like profile the regions beans are known for. Oaxacan soil is also where one finds some of the best agave for mezcal. Everybody loves a good mezcal and theres nothing better than getting it from someone who really knows what they are providing, Diaz says. Enter Tahona Mercados quarterly club mezcal subscription ($200 for three months). The San Francisco bottle shop works with premier distillers to bring members outstanding selections sourced directly from the producers and access to complementary tasting events. Membership also grants early access to limited bottles and discounts on mezcal dinners. 1168 Leavenworth St., San Francisco. tahonamercado.com Mario Cortez Clara Lee and Eddo Kim recommend an unusual splurge gift: a fancy chicken. Photo illustration: Steven Boyle/The Chronicle; Jelly Jammer: Yo Tambien Cantina: Whole bird: SimpleImages/Getty Images Clara Lee and Eddo Kims wish list Under $25: Clara Lee and Eddo Kim of Queens, whose top-tier Korean food products are sold throughout the Bay Area (and previously at their restaurant of the same name), have a thing for condiments. When theyre not using their own gochujang or sesame oil to amp up dishes, theyre turning to a jar of Jelly Jammer ($9) from Yo Tambien Cantina in San Francisco. If youre lucky, youll spot this fermented hot sauce on the shelves at the tiny Inner Sunset neighborhood favorite known for its seasonal rice bowls and tamales. Its not quite jelly, not quite jam, just a lil saucy thing to put on top of everything, owners Isabella Bertorelli and Kenzie Benesh write on the restaurants website. They make a different iteration every year; the 2024 Jelly Jammer is made simply from fermented red jalapenos, local honey, white vinegar and salt. One of our absolute favorite condiments made by two of our favorite people in the city, Lee and Kim said. 205 Hugo St., San Francisco. ytc2go.com Splurge: Imagine absolutely killing the holiday gift-giving game by showing up with a chicken? Lee and Kim love to splurge on a whole pasture-raised bird ($8.75/lb) from Channa Ranch. The small Yolo County farm sells poultry at the Outer Sunset Farmers Market on Sundays in San Francisco. The couple uses it first to make samgyetang, a nourishing Korean soup made with a whole chicken stuffed with rice, garlic, ginseng and jujube. They then turn the leftover meat and broth into dak kalgooksu (knife-cut noodles with chicken). If you cant find Channa Ranch at your local farmers market, hit up any other farm stand with high-quality birds or a local butcher. channaranch.com A former childcare worker who preyed on girls aged between two and seven who were in his care over the course of 20 years will learn his fate during his sentencing. Dubbed one of Australia's worst paedophiles, Ashley Paul Griffith, 47, will be sentenced in the Brisbane District Court on Friday. Earlier this year, Griffith pleaded guilty to 307 charges linked to the abuse of children in his care when he worked for childcare centres in Queensland and overseas. The charges included 190 counts of indecent treatment of children, 67 counts of making child exploitation material, 28 counts of rape, and 15 counts of maintaining an unlawful relationship with a child. In addition there were another four counts of producing child exploitation material, one count of distributing child exploitation material, one count of possessing child exploitation material and one count of using a carriage service to access child pornography material. Griffith's offending spanned throughout his career in childcare, from 2003 up until his arrest in 2022. Griffith was arrested after Australian Federal Police found evidence he had filmed or photographed himself sexually abusing victims - all young girls - while he was working at childcare centres. The court was told the police had discovered several videos online and were able to link them to Griffith in 2022 after discovering a branded blanket visible in one of the videos that was sold to specific childcare centres in Queensland. On Thursday, Griffith's victims and their families delivered their impact statements, with many revealing to the court the harrowing realisations they have to now endure after learning the extent of his offending since his arrest. Former childcare worker Ashley Paul Griffith will be sentenced on Friday Ashley Paul Griffith pleaded guilty to 307 charges against him. The court was told many of Griffith's victims weren't even aware or had any memory of the vile offending. One mother, who cannot be legally identified, said the knowledge of what Griffith had done to her daughter would haunt her forever. 'The only time she was away from me is when I placed her in your hands which is something I'll regret for the rest of my life,' she said. 'The person I knew myself to know had died from the horror of your betrayal.' Another parent said their daughter's 'innocent childhood had been taken away' because of Griffith's offending. '(You were the) one who was supposed to keep them safe in a childhood centre,' the parent said. 'I now look at every male teacher or carer with suspicion. Nowhere is safe.' One father said he felt 'grief and anger' because he felt like he'd failed in his 'duty to protect my family'. The 47-year-old had been offending since 2003 until he was arrested in 2022 'The emotional and psychological toll on our family has been significant,' he said. 'Their innocence was stolen and that will never be fully erased. 'My heart aches that they're carrying this burden even if it's in ways they cannot articulate. 'I fear the event will cast a shadow on their future in ways we will not be able to fully understand yet. 'The harm inflicted on families will never be erased.' Griffith was initially arrested and charged with two counts of making child exploitation material and one count of using a carriage service for child pornography material in August 2022. AFP officers later charged him with 1600 additional charges after more child abuse material was found on devices belonging to Griffith a year later. Queensland Director of Public Prosecutions Todd Fuller KC told the court the 'true horror' of Griffith's offending 'is hard to capture in words'. Justice Paul Smith will hand down his verdict on Friday. Picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell 'The offending is abhorrent and difficult to comprehend,' he said. Mr Fuller argued that Griffith should be given a life sentence with a non-parole period of 30 years. Griffith's defence barrister, Sarah Cartledge said her client should serve a non-parole period of 15 years if a head sentence of 25 to 30 years was handed down. Ms Cartledge said Griffith's offending was 'deserving of significant punishment' but his offending was 'not the worst category'. 'I want to make clear to the court that offences against children are abhorrent,' Ms Cartledge said. 'Nothing I can say is intended to take away from that; however, it is important all features before this case are put before the court. 'Emotion should not play a role (in sentencing).' Justice Paul Smith will hand down his sentence at 11am on Friday. One of Australia's worst pedophiles has been jailed for life for hundreds of sex offences he committed over the course of 19 years while working in childcare centres. Ashley Paul Griffith, 46, returned to the dock in Brisbane District Court on Friday for the completion of his sentencing hearing. He has pleaded guilty to 28 counts of rape against girls primarily aged three to five at childcare centres in Queensland between 2007 and 2022. Judge Paul Smith imposed a non-parole period of 27 years and said Griffith was 'depraved and has a high risk of reoffending'. 'People except their children will be protected in childcare centres and this will be a concern to every parent in this state,' he said. Griffith pleaded guilty to a total of 307 offences including ongoing sexual abuse and making child exploitation material against nearly 70 victims beginning in 2003. Judge Smith said the youngest victim was a one-year-old and the oldest was aged seven to nine. Dozens of parents of victims and some of the victims themselves, now young adults, were in court to watch the sentencing. They sat a short distance behind Griffith, separated from him by a wall of unbreakable glass. Former childcare worker Ashley Paul Griffith will be sentenced on Friday. Picture: NewsWire/ Brett Lethbridge Ashley Paul Griffith pleaded guilty to 307 charges against him. Judge Smith said Griffith had filmed all but one of the 65 victims as he sexually assaulted them and there was a chance the videos he shared with others would 'live forever on the internet'. 'The children were awake or asleep ... he frequently gave them an iPad to distract them,' he said. Judge Smith said Griffith could be heard in the videos he made mocking victims for saying his abuse was 'yucky' and telling him to stop. Judge Smith said Griffith had initially denied committing any offence but later made admissions during 13 police interviews while still downplaying the number of victims and seriousness of the sexual assaults. 'There was co-operation in identifying victims and the location of offending ... the defendant did not identify any victims not captured on video,' Judge Smith said. Director of Public Prosecutions Todd Fuller previously said Griffith had uploaded videos of himself abusing six children to a dark web in order to gain access to child exploitation material from other members of a website. Judge Smith said Griffith was made a 'VIP user' on the website and wrote comments to other pedophiles advising them on how to sexually assault children. The judge listened for two hours on Thursday as three victims and 20 parents of victims read their impact statements. The 47-year-old had been offending since 2003. Picture: Scott Breton / NewsWire One mother, who cannot be legally identified, said the knowledge of what Griffith's had done to her daughter would haunt her forever. 'The only time she was away from me is when I placed her in your hands which is something I'll regret for the rest of my life,' she said. 'The person I knew myself to know had died from the horror of your betrayal.' Another parent said their daughter's 'innocent childhood had been taken away' because of Griffith's offending. '(You were the) one who was supposed to keep them safe in a childhood centre,' the parent said. 'I now look at every male teacher or carer with suspicion. Nowhere is safe.' One father said he felt 'grief and anger' because he felt like he'd failed in his 'duty to protect my family'. 'The emotional and psychological toll on our family has been significant,' he said. 'Their innocence was stolen and that will never be fully erased. 'My heart aches that they're carrying this burden even if it's in ways they cannot articulate. 'I fear the event will cast a shadow on their future in ways we will not be able to fully understand yet. 'The harm inflicted on families will never be erased.' Judge Smith said: 'There is no doubt there has been significant effects on many people. There has been significant harm that will continue.' Judge Smith said Griffith had used 'a degree of violence and emotional manipulation' to enable his abuse of children. Griffith has been in custody for 831 days since his arrest in August 2022, when police searched his Gold Coast home. He will be eligible for parole in 2049. Griffith is also subject to an arrest warrant for child sex offences allegedly committed while working in NSW between 2014 and 2018. Two Britons rescued from a yacht that capsized in the Red Sea claiming the lives of at least four people have been pictured for the first time. Colin Sharratt, 65, a former project manager from London, and Sally Jones, 58, a former consultant, were among the 28 survivors found on the day of the tragedy on Monday. According to a friend, Mr Sharratt and Ms Jones are 'seasoned sailors' of more than 20 years and have spent their retirement voyaging around the world. Tom Postin, 72, a retired engineer from Brisbane, Australia, told The Times: 'They spend their lives going from one adventure to the next. 'They're really nice people, genuine honest people and they just go around the world having fun.' 'Theyre very, very experienced sailors and they would know what was going on and thankfully they both survived but the other people wouldnt know what hit them,' he added. Mr Postin said he only realised his friends were on the boat after he spotted Mr Sharratt and Ms Jones being rescued on television. Witnesses said an 'abnormally huge' hit Sea Story, a 144ft pleasure craft, near Marsa Alam in southeastern Egypt, causing it to capsize. Sally Jones, 58, a former consultant, and Colin Sharratt, 65, a former project manager from London, were among the 28 survivors found on the day of the tragedy Medics wait for possible survivors after a boat sank at a harbour in Marsa Alam, November 25 Rescuers and medics are seen on a pontoon after the boat capsized early yesterday morning It sunk in around five minutes at 5.30am while passengers were asleep in their cabins. Four bodies have been recovered so far and authorities are still searching for seven people yet to be found. Two Britons are among those still missing as of Thursday evening. It comes as one survivor shared how his son courageously sent out a distress signal before the boat sank. Hossam Al-Farmawi told the Times how his son, Youssef, along with Captain Alaa Hussein bravely 'rushed to help a man and a woman' after calling for help. 'Youssef was their diving instructor and they were trapped in a cabin but the water flooded the boat,' he said. He said his son found 'about 20cm' of the cabin was still not flooding, allowing them to breathe 'and stay alive until the rescue teams arrived'. Elsewhere, he said, two more survivors remained in 'complete darkness and cold water for about 30 hours' until rescue teams arrived - from 5.30am until around 11am. One British survivor told the Times that they were helpless to swim as the boat capsized in pitch black darkness. 'What saved me was my life jacket, which kept me on the surface until the rescue teams arrived,' they said. The 144ft vessel sank in around five minutes after being hit. Waves in the region climbed to four metres amid turbulent weather. Survivors of the incident are believed to have spent 30 hours trapped in small air bubbles as the vessel went down. The Sea Story is a 144ft pleasure craft built in 2022, which can carry up to 36 passengers The horror echoed the tragic sinking of the Bayesian superyacht in September. Victims are feared to have suffocated to death in air bubbles that filled with carbon dioxide as air ran out, based on their autopsies. Survivors of the 'Sea Story' sinking were reportedly found inside the overturned vessel after rescuers broke into a room not yet filled with water, an official revealed earlier this week. A government source close to rescue operations said the five survivors were found on Tuesday morning inside the boat, which the governor said had been thrown on its side by an early morning wave but had not completely sunk. 'They were found inside one of the rooms which had not filled with water,' the government source told the AFP news agency, requesting anonymity because he was not authorised to brief the media. The group had spent at least 24 hours in the overturned vessel after authorities first received distress calls at 5:30 AM local time on Monday, initial reports said. A military-led team rescued two Belgians, one Swiss national, one Finnish tourist and one Egyptian, the governor said, bringing the total number of survivors from the accident to 33. The four bodies recovered on Tuesday were also located inside the stricken vessel. Those killed in the wreck have not yet been formally identified. Rescuers acted quickly to pull 28 of the 44 on board to safety on Monday. Two Britons were listed among the rescued. According to a source at a hospital in Marsa Alam, six tourists and three Egyptians were admitted with minor injuries and discharged on Monday. The tourists included 'two Germans, two Britons, one Spaniard and one Swiss national,' the hospital administrator told AFP, requesting anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media. According to the governor's office, the boat was carrying tourists from Belgium, Britain, China, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland and the United States. Among the missing are two Polish tourists and one from Finland, according to both countries' foreign ministries. A file photo dated November 20, 2024 shows an aerial view of the Red Sea pier where Sea Story was docked Medics and people wait for possible survivors after a boat sank at a harbour in Marsa Alam, Red Sea Governorate, in Egypt, on November, 25, 2024 The boat had embarked on a multi-day diving trip on Sunday and had been due to dock on Friday at the town of Hurghada, 200 kilometres (124 miles) north. The governor on Monday said it capsized 'suddenly and quickly within 5-7 minutes' of the impact with the wave, leaving some passengers - among them European, Chinese and American tourists - unable to set out of their cabins in time. The incident occurred during rough weather conditions, with the Egyptian Red Sea Ports Authority reporting wave heights of 10-13 feet and wind speeds of 34 knots in the area on Sunday, leading to the closure of maritime traffic. A surviving crew member said the boat was 'hit by a wave in the middle of the night, throwing the vessel on its side', according to a manager of a diving resort close to the rescue operations. Survivors earlier described their horror as the boat capsized and filled with water, with one of the British tourists who made it out alive detailing how he got free. An experienced diver who was on the tour reportedly said: 'I heard screams coming from the cabins, but many could not get out because the doors were closed and the room was filled with water.' Another of the survivors, a British tourist, added: 'It was dark and the water suddenly surrounded us on all sides. I tried to swim to the surface, but the current was very strong and I felt like I was about to suffocate.' The man credited his life jacket with saving him by keeping him buoyant before the first rescue teams arrived. Some of the survivors were reportedly flown back to shore by a helicopter to receive medical care, while others were transported via another boat. The search was reportedly made more difficult due to bad weather, which comes after authorities in the Red Sea capital of Hurghada on Sunday shut down marine activities and the city's port - also due to 'bad weather conditions'. But winds around Marsa Alam had remained favourable until Sunday night, the diving manager told AFP, before calming again by morning. The firm that operates the yacht, Dive Pro Liveaboard in Hurghada, Egypt, said yesterday it had no information on the matter. The boat had reportedly passed its last safety inspection in March 2024, with no technical issues reported. The boat, owned by an Egyptian national, was 34 meters long and had received a one-year safety certificate from the Maritime Safety Authority. The boat named Sea Story (pictured) had 31 tourists of different nationalities as well as 13 crew members on board when it sank Survivors of the sinking boat rest at a harbor in Marsa Alam, Red Sea Governorate, in Egypt, 25 November 2024 Pictured: people waiting on the beach for survivors after the boat capsized Medics wait for possible survivors after a boat sank at a harbour in Marsa Alam, Red Sea Governorate, in Egypt, 25 November 2024 Ship tracking website Marine Traffic showed the last location shared by the boat as somewhere off Hurghada Ship tracking website Marine Traffic showed the last location shared by the boat as somewhere off Hurghada. The Sea Story is a 144ft, four-deck pleasure craft built in 2022, which can carry up to 36 passengers. The boat has a total of 18 twin cabins with en-suite bathrooms on board, which are used for tourists on diving trips hoping to explore the Red Sea reefs. Authorities have not confirmed the nationalities of the tourists and it is unclear who is among the rescued and who is still missing. The Chinese embassy in Egypt said Monday two of its nationals were 'in good health' after being 'rescued in the cruise ship sinking accident in the Red Sea', Chinese state media reported. Polish foreign ministry spokesman Pawel Wronski said authorities 'have information that two of the tourists may have had Polish citizenship'. The Finnish foreign ministry confirmed to AFP news agency that one of its nationals is also among the missing. A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office told MailOnline: 'We are providing consular support to a number of British nationals and their families following an incident in Egypt and are in contact with the local authorities.' It is not the first time this year a diving tour boat sank in the Red Sea. Earlier this month, 30 people were rescued from a sinking dive boat near the Red Sea's famous Deadalus reef. In June, two dozen French tourists were safely evacuated before their boat sank in a similar accident. A man who initially sold a 35-cent banana was stunned and heartbroken to discover that his produce sold for $5.2 million at auction. Shah Alam, 74, works for $12 an hour at a fruit stand outside Sotheby's auction house on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Chinese cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun won a heated bidding war inside that Sotheby's on Wednesday, where he snapped up the infamous 'Comedian' by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan - quite possibly the world's most expensive piece of fruit. The unusual installation, which consists of nothing more than a banana that has been secured to a blank wall with regular duct tape, has become a sensation among art collectors. The banana was purchased from Alam's stand for just 35 cents. He learned of the outcome of the sale a few days later, having had no idea he'd sold a multi-million dollar banana, worth $6.2 million after auction fees. 'I am a poor man. I have never had this kind of money; I have never seen this kind of money,' he told the New York Times. Alam, who is nearly blind, left his civil servant job in Bangladesh in 2007 to move closer to his daughter on Long Island. He lives in a $500-a-month apartment shared with five other men in the Bronx and works 12 hours per day, making just under $150 per shift. A man who initially sold a 35-cent banana was stunned and heartbroken when he discovered it had become part of a cryptocurrency art piece that sold for $5.2 million at auction Shah Alam, 74, works for $12 an hour at this fruit stand outside Sotheby's auction house on Manhattan's Upper East Side Alam, who has no memory of the sale, also doesn't quite understand what's so interesting about the art installation: 'Those who bought it, what kind of people are they? Do they not know what a banana is?' The artist who created 'Comedian,' Cattelan said he appreciates Alam's 'role' in the sale. 'The reaction of the banana vendor moves me deeply, underscoring how art can resonate in unexpected and profound ways. However, art, by its nature, does not solve problems if it did, it would be politics.' Sun, the man who bought the artwork, spoke similarly: 'His role in this artwork is not taken lightly' and called it 'poignant.' In response to the news, a GoFundMe has been started to help out Alam by an anonymous person who promised to match everyone who met the $5,000 goal. The user, known only as 'J S' wrote: 'Do we really want to live in a city where we can shrug off a street vendor whos moved to tears by the fact that hes been made the butt of a joke involving an amount of wealth obscene to him, while celebrating some smartass for figuring out how to make $6 million from that joke? If this utter and gross indifference isnt what ails us, what is?' He also slammed Cattelan's statement, saying he was essentially calling Alam's plight 'none of my business.' The crowdfund has hit over $7,600, with 'J S' matching the first $5,000, meaning he's already over $12,000. Chinese cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun won a heated bidding war and said in a statement that Alam's 'role in this artwork is not taken lightly' The jaw-dropping $6.2 million sale of the single banana duct-taped to a wall at a New York auction has left many in the artworld stunned - and not just because of the eye-watering price. It was originally expected to sell for between $1 million and $1.5 million. Bidding began at $800,000, and the price quickly spiraled to a whopping $5.2 million - or $6.2 million once auction house fees were taken into account. Sun, who founded the Tron blockchain network, outbid six other wealthy art enthusiasts to secure the controversial piece. 'This is not just an artwork,' Sun told Sotheby's after his splurge purchase, as reported by Reuters. 'It represents a cultural phenomenon that bridges the worlds of art, memes, and the cryptocurrency community. I believe this piece will inspire more thought and discussion in the future and will become a part of history.' Three previous editions of the artwork have sold for more than $120,000 - but this latest sale was even more bizarre. In this instance, the buyer didn't even get the original fruit. They instead received just a 'certificate of authenticity' that gives them permission to recreate the bizarre installation - or essentially, buy their own banana to duct-tape to a wall and call Comedian. The artist who created 'Comedian,' Cattelan said he appreciates Alam's 'role' in the sale The jaw-dropping $6.2 million sale of a single banana duct-taped to a wall at a New York auction has left many in the artworld stunned - and not just because of the eye-watering price Some art experts claim the piece is a brutal takedown of the art world while others, like Sotheby's head of contemporary art David Galperin, call it 'profound and provocative'. 'What Cattelan is really doing is turning a mirror to the contemporary art world and asking questions, provoking thought about how we ascribe value to artworks, what we define as an artwork,' Galperin told the Associated Press. Chloe Cooper Jones, an associate professor at the Columbia University School of the Arts emphasized the context behind the artwork. She said if the artwork was simply about understanding the insular, capitalist, art-collecting world, Cooper Jones said, 'it's not that interesting of an idea.' Cattelan is thought of 'trickster artist,' she said. 'But his work is often at the intersection of the sort of humor and the deeply macabre.' 'He's quite often looking at ways of provoking us, not just for the sake of provocation, but to ask us to look into some of the sort of darkest parts of history and of ourselves.' She revealed perhaps a darker truth: the banana isn't just a joke - it's a powerful symbol of global trade exploitation, imperialism, and corporate greed. 'It would be hard to come up with a better, simple symbol of global trade and all of its exploitations than the banana,' Cooper Jones said. 'If 'Comedian' is about making people think about their moral complicity in the production of objects they take for granted, then it's 'at least a more useful tool or it's at least an additional sort of place to go in terms of the questions that this work could be asking,' she said. In May, a South Korean art student who was 'hungry' after skipping breakfast, ate the banana that was part of the installation. The ripe banana masterpiece was then taped to a wall at Seoul's Leeum Musuem of Art. The student, Noh Huyn-soo, boldly taped the peel to the wall after eating the banana. A new banana was then placed in the empty spot. According to the museum, the banana has to be replaced every two to three days. Performance artist David Datuna had previously pulled the banana from a wall in 2019, after the artwork had just been sold for $120,000 at Art Basel in Miami. The banana had been replaced at the time and no action was taken. Cattelan is perhaps best known for his 18-carat, fully functioning gold toilet called 'America' that he had once offered on loan to US President Donald Trump. The toilet, valued at around $5 to $6 million, was in the news again in September when four men were charged with the theft of the item from Britain's Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of wartime leader Winston Churchill, where it had been on display. A woman has died after a Land Rover followed and rammed into an e-bike in a hit-and-run collision, say police. The 25-year-old pillion passenger was thrown off the bike by a dark coloured 4x4 in Batley Lane, Pleasley, in Derbyshire at about 8pm on Tuesday. She was pronounced dead at the scene with her family being supported by specialist officers. The male rider, aged in his 20s, was rushed to hospital with serious injuries. His condition is not believed to be life-threatening. Two people, a man and woman aged in the 30s from the Skegby area of Nottinghamshire, have both been arrested with police launching a murder investigation. They both remain in custody where they are being quizzed by detectives. A 4x4, believed to be a Land Rover Discovery, had followed two e-bikes before ramming into one of them and driving off, Derbyshire Constabulary said, in what murder detectives have described as a 'shocking' incident. A woman, 25, has died after she was thrown off an ebike when it was rammed into by a dark coloured 4x4 in Batley Lane, Peasley, in Derbyshire (pictured) on Tuesday Two people, a man and woman aged in the 30s from the Skegby area of Nottinghamshire, have both been arrested with police launching a murder investigation DCI Claudia Musson, who is leading the investigation, said: 'This is an understandably shocking incident that has left a family grieving the loss of a young woman. 'A team of detectives have been working non-stop since the incident took place and have generated significant lines of enquiry. 'We are, however, wanting to hear from anyone who has any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to help us bring those responsible to justice. 'Of particular interest is anyone with information about a dark coloured Land Rover Discovery, it may be that you saw it in the area around the time of the incident or you have seen a vehicle matching this description that may have sustained damage or been recently repaired.' The 4x4 was last seen on Rowthorne Lane where it turned right onto the A617 towards New Houghton. Police say they believe it was manufactured between 2004 and 2009. Anthony Albanese is resorting to Donald Trump-style tactics to deport non-citizens - as he celebrates the passage of a series of tough new laws. Labor's Migration Amendment bills passed late on Thursday night, with support from the Coalition as 30 other bills were passed on the last sitting day of parliament for the year. Under the new laws, close to 80,000 people without a valid visa stand to be deported while asylum seekers who resist deportation face going to jail. The latest development is a major policy shift for the Prime Minister who hails from Labor's left faction - long opposed to offshore detention. Less than a decade ago, Mr Albanese expressed his opposition to denying boat people entry into Australia. But in a bid to cling to power, the PM - who represents an inner-city electorate - is dumping his previous principles for political purposes. His government is talking up the prospect of forced deportations and reinstating ankle bracelets for stateless criminals. Human rights groups are warning that stateless people deported to a third country face being killed or violently attacked, while an asylum seeker group has described it as a 'Trump-like bill'. Anthony Albanese is now resorting to Donald Trump-style tactics to deport non-citizens with an election due within six months Labor was left reeling from a High Court decision last year that saw sex offenders and murderers released into the community. Former immigration minister Andrew Giles, who was previously a refugee lawyer, introduced legislation in March to have non-citizens in detention deported, which Asylum Seeker Resource Centre lawyer Rachel Saravanamuthu said was a 'Trump-like bill [that] has no place in our democracy'. Labor is traditionally regarded as weak on border protection so, if that means resorting to mass deportations - the kind of policy that helped return Trump to the White House - then so be it. As the next American president prepares to deport illegal arrivals from Mexico, Australia is embarking on the deportations of those whose visas have been cancelled or expired. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke three weeks ago announced new legislation to have non-citizens deported to third countries, with these countries paid to take people Australia didn't want. His announcement followed the High Court ruling in the case of a stateless asylum seeker from Eritrea - known as YBFZ - who came to Australia at age 14 and was released from immigration detention in November 2023. This was after the High Court had ruled in another case - NZYQ - that indefinite detention was unlawful and unconstitutional. YBFZ was required to obey a 10pm to 6am curfew and wear an ankle bracelet. But the High Court ruled the curfew and the ankle bracelet were unconstitutional - even though ordinary Australians had to obey a curfew in Melbourne during Covid lockdowns. To get around this, Mr Burke announced proposed laws to have them deported, rather than detained indefinitely, and also announced he would be using his power as a minister to reinstate ankle bracklets by regulation. As the next American president prepares to deport illegal arrivals from Mexico, Australia is embarking on the deportations of those whose visas have been cancelled A regulation means a temporary order can be made that comes into force immediately without the government having to wait for parliament to vote on it to become permanent. 'Regulations are now being finalised that will allow for an adjusted process for electronic monitoring devices and curfews to be used,' Mr Burke said. Labor's plan to deport non-citizens or electronically monitor them could potentially affect 75,400 people who don't hold a valid visa. The Department of Home Affairs made that admission to a Senate legal and constitutional affairs committee hearing last week. Labor now faces a campaign from the Greens in cosmopolitan, inner-city electorates. Josephine Langbien, an associate director of the Human Rights Law Centre, warned asylum seekers forcibly deported could be killed under Labor's plan to deport non-citizens. 'We don't know which countries will be included; we don't know how the countries will treat the people who are sent there,' she told senators last week. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke three weeks ago announced new legislation to have non-citizens deported to third countries, with these countries paid to take people Australian didn't want 'They could be detained arbitrarily, denied medical treatment, they could be violently attacked or killed or they could be sent back to their countries of origin. 'This is not far fetched because all of these things have happened to people previously exhiled offshore.' Ms Langbien warned of children being separated from their parents - echoing what happened on the Mexican border when Trump was last in power. 'It would allow the government to separate people from their families, sending them to permanent exile in third countries against their will with no way to ever return to their lives in Australia,' she said. 'These people have been singled out for harsher treatment than the rest of the Australian community simply by virtue of their visa status. 'It will affect thousands of people - any person who is subject to removal from Australia could be sent to an unspecified third country. 'That's any person - adult or child, refugee or tourist without any consideration given to their connections to Australia or indeed their connections to the country which they'll be removed. 'It will be the people who cannot be returned to their countries of origin who are most at risk - refugees, stateless people and people who have fled oppressive regimes.' John Howard's Coalition government sent asylum seekers to Nauru and Manus Island in Papua New Guinea from 2001. But his Labor successor Kevin Rudd scrapped the Pacific solution only for boat arrivals to surge from three in 2007-08 to 117 by 2009-10. The number of asylum seekers soared from 25 to 5,327, figures from a Parliament House research paper showed. Julia Gillard, who replaced Rudd in a party room coup, tried introducing a people swap deal with Malaysia but the High Court struck that down in 2011. Labor never recovered politically and Liberal leader Tony Abbott won the 2013 election in a landslide, appointing Scott Morrison as the immigration minister who stopped the boats after Labor had already revived the Pacific solution. Under Labor's watch when it was last in government, 50,000 asylum seekers arrived on 800 boats between late 2007 and 2013. More than a decade on, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is leading the government in the polls. The former Queensland police detective was also previously a tough-talking home affairs minister. Ahead of the last election in 2022, Mr Albanese suggested he was against offshore processing - but later clarified he was. 'We'll turn boats back. Turning boats back means that you don't need offshore detention,' he told reporters at Cessnock in the Labor-held seat of Hunter. In 2015, he told the ABC's Insiders program he didn't personally support the idea of turning back asylum seek boats. 'Different people took different positions and that was the issue of turn backs,' he said. 'For me, that was something that I couldn't support but in the context of the policy, I said earlier on in the week that you could be tough on people smugglers without being weak on humanity.' Like the Howard government Albanese so despised, he has ramped up legal immigration to record-high levels and resorted to sending problem asylum seekers offshore - talking tough and acting tough. The moment a terrified Sydney man was kidnapped and forced to divorce his wife under Islamic law has been released on video, as his brazen attackers wait for sentencing. In January, the four kidnappers travelled from Melbourne to Guildford in Sydney's west and captured 25-year-old Younis Younis. Kodar Faytrouni initiated the plot because he believed Younis, his brother-in-law, had only married his sister to obtain an Australian visa. One of the kidnappers filmed the offence. The footage, played in Parramatta District Court on Thursday, appeared to show them manhandling Younis in his family home, and then holding him in a headlock as they drove him away. They shouted in Arabic while a visibly frightened Younis tried to resist, The Daily Telegraph reported. A neighbour had seen Younis being dragged out of his home and piled into a BMW. They called police and a specialist gang squad team immediately swung into action. The group drove Younis to another property in Guildford before, several hours later, police spotted the BMW on the move again and pulled it over, foiling the kidnapping. Faytrouni, Abud Elkerdi, Safwan Hussein and Ali Hamad all pleaded guilty to kidnapping charges. Footage showed Safwan Hussein holding Younis in a headlock while he was driven away Four men pleaded guilty to kidnapping charges after police tracked them down (one of the men is pictured left) A fifth alleged kidnapper, Imad Fatrouni, pleaded not guilty to kidnapping charges and will stand trial in April. It was Hamad who filmed the footage on his phone, which showed Hussein holding Younis in a headlock while Kodar Faytrouni sat next to him in the car. Before sentencing on Thursday, Faytrouni's lawyer argued his client had a low IQ and was unable to problem solve. But Judge Stephen Hanley said Faytrouni had initiated the offence because he didn't accept that his sister wanted to marry Younis. 'It shows a complete failure to allow this woman to select who she wants to have as her partner,' the judge reportedly said. Judge Hanley also refused to accept that Faytrouni's role in the kidnapping was below the mid-range of objective seriousness. 'They seem to be able to find him, break into his house, extract him from his house, assault him in the car, force him to make a divorce according to Islamic law while his partner listens on the phone with a distressed condition, and you want to say this is below mid-range?' Faytrouni had been capable of planning the crime and recruiting his friends, the judge said. Video also appeared to show the kidnappers manhandling Younis in his family home 'He's the one who started it, he's the one who recruited and yet I'm supposed to accept he's got some sort of intellectual disability, that he's incapable of doing any of this, is that right?' Elkerdi's defence argued that he, too, had a low IQ and relied on his wife to get dressed - however, the judge also questioned that claim. 'Too intellectually disabled to plan anything, it's extraordinary.' Elkerdi and Faytrouni were due to be sentenced on Thursday, but the date was put off after Elkerdi collapsed during the lunch adjournment. The 38-year-old was taken to Westmead Hospital due to chest pains, his lawyer said. The two men will appear in court again on December 20. The cases of Hamad and Hussein have been adjourned until December 13. A West Australian woman has been jailed after she admitted she was high on cocaine and meth when she killed another driver in a high-speed crash. Abbey Rose Sheriff, 21, died after she was hit by Evie Butterworth, 30, along the Kwinana Freeway near Baldavis, in south Perth, just before midnight on January 11, 2023. Ms Sheriff's parents, Julie and Darren, said they were 'never going to heal' from their loss even after their daughter's killer was sentenced to prison on Thursday. Butterworth was on a cocktail of drugs while travelling 150km/h, more than 40km/h over the speed limit in the area, in her Nissan Maxima when she collided with Ms Sheriff's Nissan X-Trail. The Nissan X-Trail was propelled 94 metres from the crash site before coming to a stop near a bike lane on the side of the road where two other drivers tried to help Ms Sheriff. They were unable to free her from the wreckage and Ms Sheriff died before paramedics arrived. Butterworth was unaware that she had even hit another car due to her level of intoxication. Butterworth told bystanders that she was in fact the victim of a hit-and-run and that she had been side-swiped by another car earlier in the night. She was seen wiping away tears in court as Justice Alain Musikanth of the WA Supreme Court sentenced her to nine and a half years in prison, reported the ABC. Abbey Rose Sheriff's parents, Julie and Darren, (pictured together) said they will never recover from losing their daughter in a high-speed crash in Perth in January 2023 Evie Butterworth, 30, was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years in prison for manslaughter after she admitted to being high on cocaine and meth while speeding at the time of the crash Ms Sheriff's parents said they were 'somewhat content' with Butterworth's sentence outside the court while tearfully adding that it will not bring their daughter back. 'We got the higher end of sentencing and that's what we hoped for,' Ms Sheriff's mother said. 'I mean the time is never enough [but] under all the evidence, it's appropriate. 'We just miss her and we love her. Our lives are forever changed now.' Butterworth's lawyer, Ashleigh Antoine, said her client did not remember the crash at all and that she now accepted never having been side-swiped by another car on the night. Initially Butterworth had lied to paramedics who asked her on the night if she was intoxicated, telling them 'no' despite the cocaine and methamphetamine in her system. The former childcare worker was fined $300 for driving under the influence of meth in 2018. Both Ms Sheriff's parents refused to accept an apology written by Butterworth which was delivered to them in early November. Butterworth had no recollection of the crash due to the drugs in her system but her lawyer told the WA Supreme Court that she now accepted the recollections of others as fact Ms Sheriff, 21, died after being hit by Butterworth along the Kwinana Freeway near Baldavis, in south Perth, just before midnight on January 11, 2023 'We've only just received letters three weeks ago before the last hearing, so if there was deep remorse we would have heard within six months of our daughter passing away,' Ms Sheriff's mother said. Witnesses at the scene of the crash who told Butterworth what happened did recall her being remorseful and immediately wishing that she was the one who died at the time, the court heard. State prosecutor Kade Rosenthal said the crash was treated as a serious example of motor vehicle manslaughter given Butterworth's speed and intoxication behind the wheel. Mr Rosenthal said the amount of drugs in Butterworth's system when matched with the speed she was travelling had placed the public in 'significant danger'. Justice Musikanth agreed, adding that Butterworth's actions had been 'extremely dangerous' and showed a 'complete disregard for the safety of other road users'. The Justice told the court he accepted Butterworth was remorseful but that she would be made an example of for the community as to what happens to dangerous drivers. Butterworth will be eligible for parole after she serves seven years and six months behind bars. With time already served she may be able to walk free by early 2031, after which she will be banned from driving for another 10 years after her release. Ms Sheriff's mother said she had lost her 'baby' and her 'best friend' (Ms Sheriff is pictured right) and that her family would 'never be the same' as a result Ms Sheriff's parents cried outside court and told reporters that the sentence was appropriate but that it is still not enough to bring their daughter back Ms Sheriff, who worked as a barista in Perth, was her parents only child. Her mother said at the time of her death that she had lost her 'baby' and her 'best friend' and that the family would 'never be the same' as a result. Her daughter's car has been donated to the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) to be used in a youth road trauma forum focusing on the dangers of drug driving. 'You hear a lot about drink driving but never about drug use and what it can do to the family's and people that are left behind without their loved ones,' the mother said outside court. 'You're not only going to affect the victims but also their families forever.' A Canadian woman has been left fighting for her life after ignoring telling signs of stage 4 cancer. Taylor Deanne Roy, 32, had noticed a series of symptoms over a two-year period, but didn't believe anything sinister was at play. 'I had extreme tiredness, shortness of breath, itchy skin and random pains for years, but I thought it was nothing to worry about,' Roy says. She visited the doctor just in case, but believed her health complications were due to follicular eczema and the other issues were merely a result of aging. 'For two years I had become extremely tired and out of shape but I thought it was just part of being older. [Then] I started getting random pains that I blamed on myself,' she recalled. But in time, she noticed a large lump on her neck in September and asked a doctor for an ultrasound which then led to a biopsy. A month later, results showed she was suffering from stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma. 'On October 2 of this year, less than two months after finding the lump, I received my diagnosis for stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma that had spread to my lungs and the bones in my spine. Taylor Deanne Roy, 32, has been left fighting for her life after she ignored a series of symptoms Results eventually showed she was suffering from stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma 'The moment I was told I had cancer it was as if the whole world around me stopped. I felt like nothing was real for a few minutes. 'All I wanted was to be the best version of myself and start a family. Now, at 32, Im in the fight of my life,' she said. Roy is now undergoing treatment for the condition and has been left plagued with 'severe pain, nausea as well as exhaustion'. 'My body is a stranger, betraying me in ways I never thought possible. Simple tasks that I once did without a second thought are now sometimes nearly impossible. 'The hardest part is losing the independence I worked so hard to build,' she revealed. She noticed a large lump on her neck in September and asked a doctor for an ultrasound which then led to a biopsy She also believes that she may have found out earlier about her disease if she had been more 'pushy' with her doctors and not ignored the signs Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system. Some of its common symptoms include swelling of lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin, fever, tiredness, night sweats, weight loss and tiredness. By stage 4, the cancer spreads to at least one organ outside of the lymphatic system, such as the liver, lungs or bone marrow. This is in addition to cancer in the lymph nodes. Treatment for stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma typically includes six to eight rounds of chemotherapy, possibly steroids and radiation therapy, according to the Cancer Center. But despite her situation, Roy found support among family and friends - noting they have helped her in every way possible. 'Theyve shown up in every way they can. From donations to making food, sending me onesies to replace the ones I lost and helping with daily taskstheyve done everything. Im beyond brokenphysically, mentally, financially,' she said. 'Ive reached a point where I need to ask for help because sometimes, no matter how strong we try to be, we cant do it alone.' According to the Mayo Clinic, Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system. Some of its common symptoms include swelling of lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin, fever, tiredness, night sweats, weight loss and tiredness Roy is now undergoing treatment for the condition and has been left plagued with 'severe pain, nausea as well as exhaustion' She also believes that she may have found out earlier about her disease if she had been more 'pushy' with her doctors and not ignored the signs. 'I wish I had mentioned them to my doctor sooner. If I had been more pushy with doctors, I wouldnt be stage 4 right now. 'Advocate for yourself and dont give up when doctors dont listen,' Roy said. She has also launched a GoFundMe to raise money to support herself and fund her treatment. As of now, the crowdfunding page has raised $815 CAD out of its $25,000 goal. Heartfelt tributes have poured in for a 16-year-old boy who tragically lost his life after a brown snake bite, as his mother revealed he will live on through organ donations. On Monday, Beau Horan, 16, was doing yard work at his family property at Wurdong Heights in the Gladstone region of Queensland. He thought he had scratched himself on the foot while working in the bushes, but his sister spotted a brown snake darting away. Beau quickly returned inside and moments later collapsed, hitting his head against a wall and tiles on the floor before later passing in hospital. Friends have left touching tributes to young Beau, shocked by his early death. 'Beau was my best friend and didn't deserve this, he was a very kind boy,' one friend wrote. 'I've never met such a pure soul like Beau. I am grateful to have shared moments and memories with him in previous years, and it is devastating to know that his life got taken away so young,' another girl wrote. 'He deserved the world and would have been a life-changing teacher. He was the type of guy to light up a room with nothing but his happiness to share. 16-year-old Beau Horan (left) was doing yardwork on the family property in Gladstone, Queensland, his mother Bek Eddy (pictured right) said Beau Horan (right) was rushed to hospital where he was given antivenom, but staff discovered a brain bleed Beau is pictured alongside his sisters 'In our hearts forever, and much love for his family and those grieving. Rest in peace friend.' His mother recalled the heartbreaking telephone call she received when Beau collapsed inside her home. 'I was at work when it happened, and his sister and stepdad were with him. I was on the phone with his stepdad when he collapsed, Bek Eddy told Daily Mail Australia. 'They called an ambulance, and after assessing him, he was rushed to the hospital, where he was given antivenom.' That night Beau was put into a coma, and when staff discovered that he had a severe brain bleed he was flown to Brisbane Hospital. Beau fought for his life for three days, but tragically passed away on Thursday morning, leaving behind two sisters. A GoFundMe has been setup to support the family. The family is still unsure whether the snake bite directly caused his brain bleed. 'He was so involved in school he loved robotics and was a passionate gamer, always playing with his friends,' Bek explained. 'He had a cheeky sense of humour, was incredibly loyal to his sisters, and always managed to stay positive, no matter what life threw at him. He could shake off a bad day. 'He was so excited to go into Year 11 and had big dreams of becoming a teacher. He was incredible truly the love of my life. 'This was the first brown snake we've seen in three years, though we've always been aware of the danger.' Mrs Eddy revealed that her son was an organ donor, and through his generosity, he will give the gift of life to four other people. She also wanted to raise awareness about the risks of snake bites. Brown snakes are the most common cause of fatal snake bites in Australia, but it is rare for people to die from them. About 3,000 snake bites are reported each year, resulting in about two deaths annually. Bek Eddy said her son was excited to go into Year 11 and had dreams of becoming a teacher Beau Horan was heavily involved in his school and had a passion for robotics, his mother said The eastern brown snake is found across eastern Australia, from north Queensland to South Australia, and is extremely venomous. Snake catcher and expert Raymond Hoser said brown snakes were the most common venomous snakes in the Gladstone region. November was peak activity season for the species in Queensland as they were feeding and mating, Mr Hoser said. 'Unless you are licensed to handle snakes don't go near them. 'Assume that all of them are potentially dangerous - don't sit there trying to identify them.' Even the most dangerous snakes don't generally bite unless placed in a life-threatening situation, he added. A spokesperson for Queensland Ambulance Service confirmed that a male teen was transported to Gladstone Hospital on Monday, in a life-threatening condition after a suspected snake bite to the foot. A Gladstone Hospital spokesperson said the patient was later transferred to a Brisbane hospital. Juliette Colunga stands in the library at Masters University in Santa Clarita on Oct. 5. She participated in one of the numerous lawsuits in which conservative students and professors allege that Californias community colleges hindered their First Amendment right to free speech. Carlin Stiehl/CalMatters At Californias community colleges, conservative professors and students are making their voices heard not just in the classroom but in court. Their lawsuits have already led community colleges to pay millions in settlements and legal fees. CalMatters identified at least seven cases filed since 2020 in which professors or students have sued their community college districts for issues related to free speech. Most of the cases are still continuing and are located in Californias Central Valley, in counties where Republicans often outnumber Democrats. Although separate, many of these lawsuits include similar allegations: that programs promoting diversity, equity and inclusion are restricting the right to free speech under the First Amendment. The University of California system is facing a similar case in Santa Cruz. In a state with 73 community college districts and 116 community colleges, such lawsuits are rare. Still, President-elect Donald Trump has used similar cases as fodder for national policy, such as a 2019 executive order he signed regarding free speech on college campuses, which he justified by pointing to a few conservative and religious students who claimed colleges had restricted their rights. Throughout his campaign for this years election, Trump promised to continue that focus if reelected. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The time has come to reclaim our once-great educational institutions from the radical left, he said in a campaign video last year, later adding that he would protect free speech and remove all Marxist diversity, equity, and inclusion bureaucrats from college campuses. Even when these lawsuits get dismissed, community colleges can still pay a price. In a Riverside County lawsuit, Moreno Valley College professor Eric Thompson claimed the community college violated his right to free speech when it fired him. The lawsuit alleges that his termination was a result of various student complaints, all stemming from opinions that Thompson had presented in class or over email with the wider college community. He argued, for example, that homosexuality is the result of social factors, not genetics, and that conversion therapy should be allowed. Thompson lost the case, but public records show that the district still paid nearly $900,000 in legal costs to fight it. For Daniel Ortner, an attorney who recently helped students and professors file three different lawsuits against community college districts, these cases are part of a broader trend of cracking down on controversial speech and forcing conformity to a certain viewpoint, especially on topics of race. Ortner works for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a nonprofit organization that focuses on free speech issues. The community college system, the California State University system, and the UC Office of the President all have policies promoting diversity, equity and inclusion on their campuses, though each system has taken a different approach. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Ortner said the policies at the community college level are the strictest, and therefore, elicit more pushback from faculty. According to state regulations adopted in 2022, every community college district in the state must develop a policy to evaluate staff based on their ability to advance diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. Students must experience campus and classroom cultures that they feel they can belong to, where they can thrive and succeed, said Eloy Ortiz Oakley, then-chancellor of the community college system, during a 2022 presentation about the new regulations. Of the more than 2 million students who enrolled at one of the states community colleges last year, most are low-income, including some students who are former foster youth or formerly incarcerated. Most students identify as Black, Hispanic or Asian. The California community college system has the most diverse student population in the nation, said Ortiz Oakley, later adding that neither the CSU nor the UC system had similar regulations in place. We should be proud that were leading the way. Nationally, many college systems have taken the opposite approach. A total of 25 states have proposed or signed legislation curbing how colleges support diversity, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. Lawsuits over pronouns, posters and alleged censorship Many of the California lawsuits follow the same general contours. Advertisement Article continues below this ad According to the details of one case, David Richardson, a professor at Madera Community College, started using the pronouns Do, Re, Mi while attending a 2021 presentation about personal gender pronouns. When the facilitator later approached Richardson about his choice of pronouns calling his actions harmful to trans people Richardson doubled down, claiming that his choice of pronouns was part of his right to free expression. After the college disciplined him, Richardson sued the State Center Community College District, which oversees Madera Community College. The case is still pending in federal court. The Campus Center of Bakersfield College on June 14, 2023. Bakersfield College is one of several campuses involved in numerous lawsuits where conservative professors and students allege that Californias community colleges are hindering their First Amendment right to free speech. Larry Valenzuela/CalMatters/CatchLight Local Another lawsuit at Bakersfield College dates back to 2019, when two professors, Matthew Garrett and Erin Miller, put together a campus talk about free speech and campus censorship. During the talk, Garrett and Miller criticized the school for supporting Kern Sol News, a nonprofit news site, and criticized specific professors at the schools Social Justice Institute. Bakersfield College administrators then wrote a note in their personnel files, criticizing Garrett and Miller for unprofessional conduct, effectively chilling their First Amendment rights, according to the lawsuit. The Kern Community College District settled with Garrett this summer, paying him $2.4 million on the condition that he drop all of his legal complaints against the district. Its less than 1% of the districts annual budget, but for a faculty member, many of whom make around $100,000 a year, its a significant sum. Miller is continuing with the case. In the settlement, both Garrett and the district deny any wrongdoing. The settlement is in the best interest of the District and allows us to focus on the future and continue to deliver quality higher education for students of Kern County without any further legal distractions, said Norma Rojas-Mora, a spokesperson for the Kern Community College District, in a written statement. To be clear, the dispute with Matthew Garrett was a disciplinary matter due to his disruptive actions on campus, none of which concerned freedom of speech. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Miller and Garrett declined multiple requests to comment. Another Central Valley case stems from an incident in 2021. At the time, Juliette Colunga was a student at Clovis Community College and on the leadership team of her colleges chapter of the Young Americas Foundation, a national conservative organization with local branches at over 2,000 college campuses. She and two other students placed a set of posters across campus that criticized communism, which the college then removed after other students complained. Later, Colunga and her co-leaders asked to put up pro-life posters, but school leaders said they could only be placed in a different location, far from the spot where they usually placed their content. With help from Ortner and the Young Americas Foundation, she and the other student leaders sued, alleging that the school districts actions violated their First Amendment Rights. This summer, the State Center Community College District, which oversees Clovis Community College, agreed to pay her, the other student leaders, her attorneys, and the Young Americas Foundation $330,000 as part of a legal settlement. The district also agreed to implement a new policy for displaying posters on campus and to provide First Amendment training to all of its managers. It was never about making money, Colunga said. It was not only about making change, but also about ensuring that change remains for future students. Kirsten Kuenzli Corey, general counsel to the State Center Community College District, declined to comment on Colungas lawsuit, Richardsons lawsuit, and another similar lawsuit. She pointed to the pleadings in the cases as evidence of the districts position. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Do public employees, students have the right to free speech? In general, the free speech provision of the First Amendment governs the relationship between people and government. Faculty and students at a public college have a right to free speech under the First Amendment, but in a slightly more limited manner, said David Snyder, the executive director of the First Amendment Coalition. Various courts have found that public institutions can limit the free speech rights of its employees in this case, faculty if an employees behavior runs counter to the mission of the institution. Schools also have a right to restrict their students speech, but only if it disrupts education. The most famous example is the Tinker test, where the U.S. Supreme Court said that students had a First Amendment right to free speech, as long as their conduct did not materially and substantially interfere with education. What also matters is what the schools policies say, Snyder said. Regardless of the constitutional questions, a professor or student can sue if they feel the schools actions contradict its policies. In addition to its policy on diversity, equity and inclusion, Californias community college system also has a policy on academic freedom, which states that faculty, staff and students should have the opportunity to express their opinions at the campus level. The regulations around diversity, equity and inclusion do not conflict with the academic freedom policy or otherwise censor or compel speech, said Paul Feist, a spokesperson for the community college system, and he pointed to a lawsuit filed by Bakersfield College professor Daymon Johnson as evidence. Johnson does not agree with the colleges principles of diversity, equity and inclusion and claims that being forced to adhere to them would infringe on his rights, according to the case. A judge recently dismissed Johnsons claims, though he has appealed the ruling. Neither the district nor Johnson responded to requests for comment. Of the seven lawsuits identified by CalMatters, most have taken years to resolve. Colungas lawsuit settled this summer almost three years after she and the other student leaders first put up the posters at Clovis Community College. By the time the case settled, she had already graduated and transferred to the Masters University, a private, four-year Christian college near Los Angeles. READ MORE: Baby fighting for life after early morning crash A driver has been rushed to hospital in a critical condition and a teenage pedestrian seriously injured following a peak-hour crash in East Melbourne. The teenage boy had been walking near the intersection of Nicholson St and Victoria Pde outside St Vincent's Hospital when a car is believed to have mounted the kerb. Ambulance Victoria told Daily Mail Australia the driver of the car received life-threatening upper and lower body injuries and she was rushed to Royal Melbourne Hospital. 'The teenager was taken to [the same] hospital in a serious condition with lower body injuries,' a spokesperson said. The car is believed to have hit five parked cars, with pictures from the scene showing the blue station wagon decimated by the impact. 'I've seen some damaged cars in my time, but this is very high impact,' Seven News reporter Paul Dowsley, who was in the area, told 3AW. The driver and pedestrian were the only two people injured, the spokesperson said. Drivers had been urged to avoid the area as police attended the scene with delays expected until midday. A car which mounted a kerb in Melbourne during peak hour on Friday has left the driver fighting for life and a teenage boy seriously injured Tram services were also suspended in the area with Route 86, 96 and 30 all impacted. Victoria Police confirmed it is investigating after a serious collision in East Melbourne on Friday. 'Emergency services were called to reports a car mounted a kerb and collided with a pedestrian at the intersection of Nicholson Street and Victoria Parade about 7:05am,' a spokesperson said. Anyone who witnessed the crash or who has dashcam footage is asked to contact police. A police officer who fired his Taser on a 95-year-old woman and ended her life will remain on bail ahead of his manslaughter sentence. Senior Constable Kristian James Samuel White discharged his stun gun at Clare Nowland in a treatment room at Yallambee Lodge aged-care home in the southern NSW town of Cooma during the early hours of May 17, 2023. In video footage played at his NSW Supreme Court trial, the 34-year-old officer was heard saying 'nah, bugger it' before shooting the great-grandmother in the torso. Police and paramedics were called to the nursing home after Mrs Nowland grabbed two steak knives from a kitchen before raising them against residents and staff and throwing one at a carer. White pulled the trigger after only three minutes of negotiations to get Mrs Nowland to put down the remaining knife. She hit her head on the floor as she fell and died at Cooma hospital a week later. A jury unanimously found White guilty of manslaughter on Wednesday, with crown prosecutors making a bid to place him behind bars a day later. Justice Ian Harrison handed down his bail decision on Friday, ruling White could remain out of custody ahead of his sentencing. A top criminal psychologist has claimed a police officer found guilty of manslaughter like Senior Constable Kristian White (pictured) would be 'terrified' about going to prison A jury found White guilty of manslaughter for using his Taser on 95-year-old grandmother Clare Nowland (pictured) which led to her death in May 2023 The officer's defence barrister, Troy Edwards SC, previously argued that a prison sentence for the police officer was not inevitable. Evidence filed with the court shows White would be placed into protective custody for his safety if imprisoned because of his status as a serving police officer. 'The prisoner would be classified as 'protection non association' meaning he will not be in the physical presence of other inmates at any time,' wrote Detective Sergeant Mitchell Bosworth of the Homicide Squad. White's employment has been suspended without pay while NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb goes through the necessary legal procedures to remove him from the force. His sentence hearing is expected to be held in February. A 'sophisticated' spy ring passed secrets from Britain to Russia for nearly three years, a court heard yesterday. UK-based Bulgarian nationals Katrin Ivanova, 33, Vanya Gaberova, 30, and Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev, 39, allegedly carried out surveillance on individuals and places of interest to Russia. They targeted journalists, dissidents and prominent individuals in London, Vienna in Austria, Valencia in Spain and Montenegro, as well as sites including an airbase in Stuttgart, Germany, prosecutors said. The alleged spies had access to 'law enforcement-grade' surveillance equipment, drones, and dozens of fake passports and identity documents, the Old Bailey heard. The two female defendants, who were also in 'tangled' relationships with two of the male alleged spies, were intended to be deployed in honey-trap operations 'as sexual bait to capture more information', a jury was told. And members of the alleged spy ring were paid 'significant' sums of money for their work, Alison Morgan KC, prosecuting, said. 'This case is about espionage activity,' she told jurors. 'Between 2020 and 2023 these three defendants together with a number of other people spied for the benefit of Russia. Over a period of nearly three years they sought to gather information for the benefit of Russia, an enemy of the UK, information about various targets, both people and physical locations. Information of particular interest to the Russian state. 'Their activity caused obvious and inevitable prejudice to the safety and interests of the United Kingdom.' The spy ring included two more defendants, Orlin Roussev, 46, who lived in the seaside town of Great Yarmouth, and Biser Dzhambazov, 43, who have already admitted espionage charges, the court was told. UK-based Bulgarian nationals Katrin Ivanova (pictured), 33, is one of the defendants who allegedly carried out surveillance on individuals and places of interest to Russia Vanya Gaberova (pictured), 30, was part of spy ring which targeted journalists, dissidents and prominent individuals in London , Vienna in Austria, Valencia in Spain and Montenegro, as well as sites including an airbase in Stuttgart, Germany, prosecutors said The spy ring included Biser Dzhambazov (pictured), 43, who has already admitted espionage charges, the court was told. It is claimed that the defendants plotted with a Russian agent codenamed 'Rupert Ticz', who was actually Austrian national Jan Marsalek, to obtain information directly or indirectly useful to Russia. The spies' activities endangered Britain's national interests and 'put many lives at risk', Ms Morgan told the court. She said there were six spying operations which involved 'high-level espionage with high levels of deceit' and a great deal of risk to the participants. The first operation, said to have taken place between September and November 2021. It targeted Bellingcat investigative journalist Christo Grozev, whose work includes uncovering Russian links to the 2018 Salisbury Novichok poisonings. The second plot, in November 2022, focused on UK-based Russian dissident Roman Dobrokhotov, founder of publisher The Insider. Former Kazakh politician Bergey Ryskaliyev, granted refugee status after fleeing to Britain, was also targeted, the court heard. The fourth operation involved staging a fake demonstration outside the Kazakh embassy in September 2022 to create the impression the spies had genuine intelligence about troublemakers to curry favour with the Kazakhstan intelligence services, the court heard. The group targeted dissident Russian lawyer Kirill Kachur when he was in Montenegro between September 2021 and January the following year, jurors were told. And they used 'highly sophisticated technology' to gather intelligence from Patch Barracks, a US military base in Stuttgart, Germany, which the group believed was being used to train Ukrainian soldiers. The spy ring was allegedly run by Roussev, who lived in a guest house in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, and was given instructions by Marsalek which he then delegated to the other members, the court heard. Marsalek and Roussev discussed the possibility of kidnapping Mr Grozev and taking him to Moscow, jurors heard. Over Telegram, they also plotted to place a spy next to the journalist on a flight from Vienna to Valencia, as well as robbing him and even murdering him, Ms Morgan said. Orlin Roussev (pictured), 46, who lived in the seaside town of Great Yarmouth. Nearly 80,000 Telegram messages were recovered between Marsalek and Roussev, with the Austrian sending the Bulgarian payments via 'secret routes,' Alison Morgan KC said Court artist sketches from left to right: Katrin Ivanova, Vanya Gaberova, Orlin Roussev, Ivan Stoyanov and Bizer Dzhambazov appearing via video link at Westminster Magistrates' Court Nearly 80,000 Telegram messages were recovered between Marsalek and Roussev, with the Austrian sending the Bulgarian payments via 'secret routes,' Ms Morgan said. Dzhambazov received 204,664 euros and passed on 43,478 to Ivanova, 28,405 to Gaberova, and 8,450 to Ivanchev, the court heard.When police raided Roussev's home, they found it packed with technical equipment including 221 mobile phones, 258 hard drives, 495 SIM cards, 55 visual recording devices and 11 drones. There were also trackers and hacking software, as well as 91 bank cards in the names of 17 individuals and 75 passports and identity documents in 55 individuals' names. At Ivanova's home they allegedly found 18 false identity documents, including British, French, Italian, Greek, Czech, Slovenian, Croatian and Bulgarian passports, along with a Spanish residence permit and other identity cards, residence permits and driving licences. 'None of the defendants could have been in no doubt that they were engaged in serious espionage activity,' Ms Morgan said. Dzhambazov was in a relationship with both Ivanova and Gaberova, with the latter formerly involved with Ivanchev, it was claimed. The defendants have denied a charge of conspiracy to spy. Ivanova has denied a second charge of possession of false identity documents with improper intention under section 4 of the Identity Documents Act 2010. The trial continues. The vote on assisted dying was on a knife edge last night in the countdown to the crunch Commons debate. While a majority of the MPs to publicly declare their position have come out in favour of introducing one of the most significant social changes in Britains history, the outcome still remains shrouded in uncertainty. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed he would vote today, saying he has a huge amount of interest in the issue, but he declined to specify on which side he would come down. Meanwhile Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP behind the proposed change to the law, spoke of being emotionally ruined by weeks of campaigning and told how she can no longer walk down the street without somebody revealing a personal story. After a five-hour debate today, MPs are expected to vote for the first time in almost a decade on whether to legalise assisted dying. If approved, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill would allow terminally ill, mentally competent adults to seek an assisted death with the approval of two doctors and a High Court judge. The issue has crossed political demarcations with former Labour prime ministers coming out against it and ex-Tory premiers in favour and MPs will have a free vote today allowing them to go with their conscience rather than party lines. An analysis of vote trackers suggests a majority of MPs will back the Bill, with more than 200 known to be likely to support a change in the law based on public statements or past votes. Around 150 were last night thought to be ready to vote against the Bill. Dignity in Dying campaigners gather in Parliament Square last month in support of the 'assisted dying bill' Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed he would vote today, saying he has a huge amount of interest in the issue, but he declined to specify on which side he would come down More than 80 per cent of the Commons had declared their positions yesterday, according to a Times poll of MPs which gave supporters the largest lead with 267 in favour of reforming the law. But with a significant number of MPs not publicly declaring their position, the outcome is almost impossible to predict accurately. The last time there was a binding vote on changing the law, in 2015, it was defeated by 331 votes to 119. But each side now accepts the debate has moved on and a series of recent polls have suggested that a majority of the public are now in favour of reform. Speaking yesterday ahead of the debate, Ms Leadbeater said she hopes the Bill will pass and that this parliament will be remembered for its major social reform. She added: I hope parliament will show itself at its best and most compassionate and that MPs will show themselves, as they have in the past when major social reforms have come before them, ready to correct injustice and reduce human suffering. But others were staunch in their opposition to the Bill. Actress and disability activist Liz Carr urged MPs to vote against it as she said many disabled people are terrified of it being approved. Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson echoed her call and warned that disabled people are really worried. The former athlete, who would have a vote on the Bill if it passed through to the Lords, said: I cant see safeguards that would be OK, that wouldnt risk some people having their lives ended without them wanting to. Under the Bill, terminally-ill adults with less than six months to live and a wish to die would be eligible for an assisted death if signed off by two doctors and a High Court judge It came as a number of prominent figures made their voting intentions public last night. Solicitor General Sarah Sackman KC said she would vote for the Bill out of a respect for individual autonomy. But shadow attorney general Lord Wolfson said he would oppose the Bill, declaring that MPs are being asked to vote in the dark. Home Office minister Seema Malhotra also said she would vote against the proposed new laws yesterday, but added that decisions should be made on a secular basis with religion left out of the debate. It comes after Lord Cameron, who previously voted against the practice, announced that he now intended backing the Bill. His intervention came after Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, Theresa May and Gordon Brown all stated they are against the proposed legislation. Meanwhile, the UKs human rights watchdog warned the end-of-life Bill could push people into considering an assisted death because of the postcode lottery of palliative care access. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which said it is neutral on assisted dying, also warned there has been an insufficiently detailed analysis of the implications for human rights. Labour's botched plans to hand over the sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius is unravelling. The new Mauritian prime minister has reportedly questioned the proposed treaty, including the way it was agreed before the country's general election took place. Individuals in the incoming US administration have raised concerns. And the Chagossian community have been angered over how they have been sidelined, with some protesting outside the British Embassy in Mauritius. Jonathan Powell, the Prime Minister's Special Envoy conducting the negotiations and a former senior aide to Tony Blair, has been racking up the air miles travelling the globe to try to salvage the plans. But all we know about this are comments from government sources and commentary from Mauritius and the US, because Labour ministers are unwilling to answer questions about what is happening. While there is a growing caucus criticising the plans, we saw Foreign Secretary David Lammy bragging in a parliamentary committee this week that he was 'really pleased with the deal struck' while refusing to give any details of the costs and impact on our defence and security interests. Keir Starmer and David Lammy are prepared to give away the Chagos Islands, then use taxpayers' money to pay for the privilege, which would be one of the worst deals in history We need the Chagos Islands to stay under British sovereignty, not be bargained away by secretive dodgy dealing, writes PRITI PATEL Chagossians living in the UK protest at College Green against the Government's decision to hand over sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius What we do know is Mr Lammy and Keir Starmer are prepared to give away the Chagos Islands, then use taxpayers' money to pay for the privilege, which would be one of the worst deals in history, and they are desperate to rush this through before US President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated. There's a strong suspicion that a cosy cabal of Left-wing international law obsessives in the Labour Party are casting aside our national interests in favour of appeasing the view of some fellow lawyers. So if they are prepared to give away our overseas territories on the whim of campaigners and capitulate this quickly to an advisory opinion, what will they do next? Let's be clear. The Chagos Islands are in a prized strategic location supporting our defence interests and our American partners to project power in the Indian Ocean. With the growing challenges posed by China and the significant global threats and uncertainties we face, it is unacceptable for the Labour Government to weaken our defences. We need the Chagos Islands to stay under British sovereignty, not be bargained away by secretive dodgy dealings. Chagos handover still on, Starmer insists by Harriet Line Britain is 'engaging' with the new government of Mauritius to take forward the deal to hand over the Chagos Islands, Keir Starmer insisted yesterday. Amid criticism from the new leader of Mauritius and the incoming Trump administration, the Prime Minister defended the 'good deal'. The UK agreed to hand over the Chagos Islands, also known as the British Indian Ocean Territory, to Mauritius in October. Ministers said the agreement had secured the long-term future of a joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands. But critics have warned it risks allowing China to gain a military foothold in the region. New Mauritian prime minister Navin Ramgoolam, a critic of the deal before he took office, reportedly repeated his reservations after a meeting with the UK's national security adviser Jonathan Powell on Monday. The UK agreed to hand over the Chagos Islands, also known as the British Indian Ocean Territory, to Mauritius in October A map of the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean. The Prime Minister has defended the 'good deal' to hand over the territory And Donald Trump's pick for secretary of state, Marco Rubio, warned last month that the agreement posed 'a serious threat' to US national security by handing over the islands to a country allied with China. Nigel Farage, who has repeatedly offered to be a link between the UK Government and the incoming US administration, has said his contacts in the Trump cabinet were 'horrified' by the deal. But yesterday Sir Keir said: 'The Chagos deal is a good deal. It secures the base that's in the vital interests of the US and the UK. And we are already engaging with the new administration in Mauritius as to how we take that forward.' Downing Street earlier denied that there was an effort to get the deal done and dusted before Mr Trump's inauguration in mid-January. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'We haven't set a timeline to ratify the deal and we don't intend to put a timeline on it.' A high-profile Australian academic made troubling claims about the Covid vaccine shortly before she died after a long battle with illness. Professor Gemma Carey, once the director of the Centre for Social Impact at the University of New South Wales, died on November 17. Just two months earlier, she alleged in one of her final messages on X that the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine had nearly killed her and taken years off her life. 'For 3+ years now I have been professionally and personally expected to defend a medical intervention that nearly cost me my life, and caused suffering beyond what I thought the human body was capable of enduring or experiencing,' Prof Carey wrote. 'I have personally read 1000 case reports of people injured or killed, and 40 released under FOI from the TGA that included child deaths from heart attacks,' she continued. 'I believe we are past a point we should be using these vaccines. They do not prevent infection, the harms are significant and we have no concrete reliable data on the frequency of those harms. 'If we don't stop now, we will face serious regrets in the future about the damage we allowed to happen from this point onwards in the pandemic. 'So no, you won't see me publicly supporting the thing that stole years of my life anymore.' Australian Professor Gemma Carey, a passionate advocate for the rights of people with disabilities, died after a battle with illness Prof Carey made the post about the Covid vaccine just two months before she died Prof Carey's family have not confirmed that the Covid vaccine had anything to do with her death, telling Daily Mail Australia only that she had died 'after a long battle with illness'. On Tuesday, Senator Gerard Rennick, a Senator for Queensland, gave his condolences to Prof Carey's family and claimed that she 'suffered from a Covid vaccine injury'. 'Gemma was a strong advocate for improving the vaccine injury scheme,' Senator Rennick wrote. Prof Carey suffered a serious injury from receiving the Covid vaccine in May 2021, after she took the AstraZeneca jab which was the only one recommended at the time for people with her Guillain-Barre Syndrome condition. Guillain-Barre Syndrome is an autoimmune disease that can cause paralysis in extreme cases. She told newsletter Crikey that the jab left her suffering 'functional stroke' symptoms. Her gruelling rehab process has involved relearning how to read, write and talk while on leave from her job. In January 2022, Prof Carey said she was desperately waiting for the protein-based vaccine Novavax to be approved to allow her to continue her course of Covid vaccines. Prof Carey, who passed away on November 17, pictured with husband Ben O'Mara She alleged the AstraZeneca jab had inflamed her Guillain-Barre Syndrome. 'Every fine nerve fibre in my body became inflamed,' Professor Carey told the Sydney Morning Herald. 'It was excruciating. I was in acute care for quite a while.' Earlier this month, medical researcher Joshua Leisk claimed in a now-deleted post on X that a doctor had raised concerns with Prof Carey that she could be suffering from long Covid. 'In complete despair, she reached out a few hours later for information on voluntary assisted dying,' Mr Leisk said. He claimed Prof Carey was 'terrified of getting Covid'. Her family attempted to lead a Covid-free lifestyle. Mr Leisk said that she had previously battled a severe staph infection in the gastrointestinal tract that had developed into septicemia. 'It became an intense ordeal during this period and sleep had become challenging,' he wrote, and she sought information about voluntary assisted dying. Prof Carey's last post on Instagram, dated August 25, contained a heart-wrenching cry of despair Voluntary assisted dying, also known as euthanasia, will become legal in Canberra in 2025. Daily Mail Australia does not suggest Prof Carey used voluntary assisted dying. ACT Police confirmed the death of the Canberra-based academic is not being treated as suspicious. She is survived by her husband Ben O'Mara and two-year-old son Gideon. Campaigning for fairer and broader vaccine injury compensation scheme saw her targeted by trolls. That led to her leaving the social media platform then known as Twitter and taking professional leave from her job at UNSW. 'Due to harassment that has crossed form this platform into all aspects of my professional and personal life, I will be taking a leave of absence,' she tweeted on September 10. Her last post to Instagram, dated August 25, was a poetic cry of heart-wrenching despair. 'So this is it? This is my story now? 'The Dying Girl? 'The Dead Girl? 'The B**ch 'The Survivor. 'Don't I ever get to be anything else? 'Don't I ever get to be myself again?' For confidential 24-hour support in Australia call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Two Tren de Aragua gangsters tied to a shocking apartment building takeover in Aurora, Colorado, were arrested in New York City in an early-morning raid. Danyeer Aramillo-Meneses, 23, and Edilson Yoel Pena-Angulo, 25, were taken into custody Wednesday alongside 13 other men suspected of having ties to the infamous Venezuelan gang. The raid at an apartment in the Bronx was part of a probe into a narcotics, weapons and credit card scam operation the men were allegedly running, and turned up a cache of assault rifles. It was carried out by a task force led by the NYPD and US Homeland Security in a sting operation that lasted months, sources told the New York Post. A law enforcement officer told the outlet: 'Enough already with these guys. [Tren de Aragua's] Time is up.' Meneses and Angulo were allegedly part of a gang that terrorized a Colorado apartment complex earlier this year. The episode caught national attention after footage captured gang members burglarizing the apartment in a brazen broad-daylight attack. It is unclear when Meneses and Angulo travelled from Colorado to New York City, and they reportedly had warrants out for their arrests in Colorado on October 1. Two Tren de Aragua gangsters tied to a shocking apartment building takeover in Aurora, Colorado (pictured) were arrested in New York City in an early-morning raid Edilson Yoel Pena-Angulo, 25, (left) and Danyeer Aramillo-Meneses, 23, (right) were arrested Wednesday in New York City in an early-morning raid Sources told the Post that narcotics detectives were investigating a drugs ring in the Big Apple for over six months and found the Tren de Aragua operation ran from the Bronx apartment to lower Manhattan. They allegedly peddled a number of drugs including heroin and synthetic marijuana, and were also involved in credit card fraud. Multiple firearms were found in the apartment, sources said, including three assault rifles, two pistols and ammo cans. Charges against the men snared in Wednesday's raid are unclear as their cases have reportedly been sealed. Meneses and Angulo are already facing charges in Colorado related to the gang's takeover of The Edge apartment complex in Aurora, Colorado, including first-degree burglary and menacing with a firearm, reports Denver7. Meneses and Angulo are already facing charges in Colorado related to the gang's takeover of The Edge apartment complex in Aurora, Colorado back in August The Aurora Police Department said on social media that their arrest warrants were signed by a judge related to a shooting on August 18. Through a task force dubbed Operation Save Haven, cops have identified five of the six men involved in the shooting, however only one, Naudi Lopez-Fernandez, 21, is in custody. The department said in a statement: 'Operation Safe Haven investigators are actively searching for all outstanding suspects with the assistance of local, state and federal law enforcement partners. 'Investigators also are working to positively identify the last remaining suspect in anticipation that a warrant for his arrest will be written and submitted to the courts in the future.' Footage captured the moment the gang seized control of the building in August, where heavily-armed mob were seen storming through the residence brandishing guns. In the video, a man in a hoodie lugs a high-powered rifle and pounds on a door in the building, while several others wield pistols. 'A GANG HAS TAKEN OVER several apartment complexes in Aurora!' local council member Danielle Jurinsky wrote on Twitter at the time. Four men have been jailed for handling more than 5,000 stolen mobiles - as London's phone snatching epidemic reaches a crisis point. Some victims had thousands of pounds stolen from their accounts, while others saw large sums spent on designer clothing or even loans taken out in their name. Over an 18-month period, Zakaria Senadjki, 31, Ahmed Abdelhakim Belhanafi, 25, Nazih Cheraitia, 34, and Riyadh Mamouni, 25, were at the centre of the terrifying trend of gadget grabbing sweeping the capital. Their crimes totalled a whopping 5.1million, an investigation by the Met Police found - with many of the devices believed to have been sold abroad. It comes as 64,000 mobile phones were reported to police as stolen in London last year - double the number in the two previous years. The criminals, often riding mopeds or illegally modified e-bikes, speed around corners and along pavements, catching unsuspecting tourists and locals off guard. The four men were all jailed today with Senadjki, from Notting Hill, sentenced to eight years for conspiracy to receive stolen goods, conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and possessing an ID with improper intention. Belhanafi, also from Notting Hill, was convicted of conspiracy to receive stolen goods and conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation, and jailed for four years and eight months. Ahmed Abdelhakim Belhanafi, 25, (right) and Nazih Cheraitia, 34, (left) have both been jailed for their part in the phone snatching criminal group Pictured: Some of the phones recovered from a raid on an address linked to the group on February 26 More than 5,000 stolen phones were handled by the group over an 18-month period Zakaria Senadjki, 31 (left) and Zakaria Senadjki, 31 (right) have both been jailed for their part in the criminal group Cheraitia, from Acton, was convicted of conspiracy to receive stolen goods and possessing an ID document with improper intention. He was sentenced to three years and five months. Whereas Mamouni, 25, from Notting Hill, was convicted of conspiracy to receive stolen goods and sentenced to two years and eight months. The group were tracked down by police after multiple victims reported they had tracked their stolen devices to two London addresses. During raids on February 26, officers found 170 phones believed to have been stolen and they believe thousands more were victims to the group. Commander Owain Richards, from the Metropolitan Police, said: 'I want to commend the borough based local officers involved for their excellent work in tracking down these individuals and ensuring they were brought to justice. 'We do not underestimate the impact these crimes have on Londoners and are doing all we can to tackle phone thefts. This includes increased policing in hotspot areas and making better use of technology. 'However we need the phone companies to play their part and make it more difficult for criminals to re-sell these stolen devices. The Met will be speaking with them in the coming weeks to push this issue even further.' Pictured: Some of the phones recovered from a raid on an address linked to the group on February 26 Your browser does not support iframes. Pictured: Some of the phones recovered from a raid on an address linked to the group on February 26 Your browser does not support iframes. Pictured: Some of the phones recovered from a raid on an address linked to the group on February 26 Police have not yet been able to track down all the owners of the phones seized during the raid on February 26. Today, the Met is urging anyone who has had a lost or stolen phone to use the national mobile phone register so recovered phones can be restored. Criminals riding e-bikes and mopeds have increasingly been using violence and distraction tactics to target victims. The worst-hit borough was the City of Westminster, where tourists flock for theatre shows and high-end shopping, with 18,863 reported incidents in the year to December - up 47 per cent from 12,836 in the previous 12 months. Camden was the second worst affected, with 4,806 incidents, followed by Southwark (4,376), Hackney (2,761), Newham (2,585), Lambeth (2,394) and Islington (2,117). A number of MPs are now reported to have fallen victim to the muggers, who are typically captured on camera stealing devices around the upmarket Mayfair area and along Oxford Street. Labour MP Chris Webb, by his own admission a 'big lad' at 6ft 2ins who would normally repel trouble, fell victim to a group of mobile muggers earlier this month. He had been walking to a local shop to pick up a delivery close to his parliamentary property in London when a gang of bikers rode up alongside and snatched the phone from his pocket. They had been 'deadly silent,' he said. The Met Police has since arrested two boys aged 16 and three aged 15 in connection with the incident, all of whom have since been bailed. Some of the crooks have even been snatching phones out of the hands of children. Our map shows how gangs of bike thieves like to target the richest areas of central London around Park Lane, Mayfair and Oxford Street A balaclava-clad thief was seen brazenly snatching a mobile phone from a woman's hand before racing away in central London in April London tour bus employee Ovye told MailOnline recently: 'It can happen to anyone. I once saw someone snatch a phone out of a little girl's hand while she was taking a picture. 'She can't have been more than four years old. Unbelievable.' Staff at the London Dungeon have been told by their managers to keep phones out of sight because of a spate of snatch thefts around Waterloo Station. Dungeon worker Georgina Collier, 24, said: 'We got an email a couple months ago warning us about the phone snatching. 'We've been told to leave in pairs at the end of our shifts. Although it does happen in the morning too. 'One of my colleagues had her phone snatched just around the corner.' Police say the best advice is to contact the police as quickly as possible after the theft has occurred as it maximises the chances of the criminals being brought to justice. And Detective Superintendent Saj Hussain said plain clothes Met Police officers are now patrolling tourist hotspots to try and catch the criminals in the act. 'Met officers are targeting resources in hotspot areas with increased patrols and plain clothes officers - and this result makes clear this approach is having a positive impact,' he said. 'We encourage people to report as soon as they can whenever they have been the victim of a robbery or theft so officers can attend the scene and investigate swiftly.' In July, an incident within the Hyde Park hotspot was captured on CCTV footage when an e-bike riding crook in all black crept up behind an unsuspecting man and swiped his phone. And an incident reported in September saw a brazen phone snatcher steal a woman's mobile in the middle of the day on Oxford Street before calmly taking off. CCTV captured a bike theft in July on Park Lane when another unsuspecting man had his mobile snatched in broad daylight by a crook in all black A woman can only look on, stunned, after an e-bike rider snatched a phone from her hand on Oxford Street A man had his phone stolen at the same spot on July 29, also by a man in all black riding the same style of bike - which resembles a dirt bike with high ground clearance, perfect for bounding up and down pavements and weaving through traffic. Met Police Commander Owain Richards described the thefts as 'invasive' and sometimes 'violent', adding that the regular hotspot areas include Westminster, Lambeth and Newham. And Dep Supt Saj Hussain, the Metropolitan police's lead officer for phone theft, told the Guardian last month the majority of victims are school-age children. For those thinking of fighting back, he advises against it. Met figures suggest a quarter of snatch thefts involve a knife. Horrifying recent footage of a stand-off in Tottenham Court Road shows a man yelling at a masked e-bike rider in the middle of the road clutching a huge, serrated combat-style blade. DS Hussain is not surprised that London has become a hotspot for the so-called 'i-jackers'. 'It's the largest metropolis, it's the area that most people come to visit both nationally and internationally. It's got a lot of footfall, especially tourists,' he said. 'We have some of the best transport networks in the world in London. The Elizabeth line has been wonderful for me to commute, but it's also a wonderful opportunity for those that have been committing thefts elsewhere to come into London, which is a more lucrative market. 'It's the opportunists' capital of the nation. You can't change that.' A prominent radio host has claimed the state of Victoria is 'cooked' after two major decisions from the state's legal system. Jacqui Felgate, the host of 3AW's Drive program, made the claim on Thursday's show after a convicted killer was allowed leave from prison to receive IVF treatment, while a 17-year-old was separately granted bail on 57 offences after a string of alleged burglaries and thefts. The killer, Alicia Schiller, is currently serving a 16-year prison sentence after being found guilty of murdering mother-of-three Tyrelle Evertson-Mostert, 31, during a drug-fuelled rage over a $50 debt in Geelong on November 9, 2014. Corrections Victoria gave the greenlight to Schiller receiving IVF treatment on Wednesday, shocking the family of Ms Evertson-Mostert who described it as 'bizarre' - with the situation leaving Felgate appalled. 'It is one of the most disgusting stories I think I've ever heard, that someone has looked at this on paper and said, "yes she's a convicted murderer ... Let's allow her to go out of prison",' the radio host said. She then pointed to the example of a teenager accused of violent crimes who was released on bail in Victoria. Despite Victoria Police alleging the teen committed multiple alleged aggravated burglaries and car thefts for almost a month - while on three different sets of bail conditions - they were yet again granted liberty by the courts. Felgate said the decisions, made just a day apart, were 'disgraces', leading to her claiming the 'state is cooked (beyond repair)'. 3AW Drive host Jacqui Felgate (pictured) has claimed Victoria is 'cooked (beyond repair)' after the state granted a murderer IVF treatment while behind bars and bailed a teen facing 57 charges Maximum security prisoners such as Schiller are required to be accompanied by two prison officers during any granted leave. If the murderer were to go through public health system for the procedure, Schiller would be taking a spot from someone who isn't an imprisoned convicted criminal, Felgate argued. If she was to become pregnant and give birth, the child would be brought up behind bars until they turned five and would be given to the murderer's parents. The Victorian Government insisted taxpayers would not be forced to pay for any of the staffing, security or transportation costs between the prison and the external IVF clinic. But it refused to say if the treatment was successful, how much it would cost to care for the child in the specialist parent ward or if taxpayers would bear the costs. Corrections Minister Enver Erdogan attempted to deflect responsibility for the decision to the Supreme Court. The minister said there were many questions that needed to be asked about the 'appropriateness and necessary nature of this treatment'. 'In terms of access to treatment, its a Supreme Court decision,' he said. 'But I think ethical questions about these kinds of treatments, especially when someone is serving such a long sentence, I think the medical professionals need to consider those.' Felgate said the decision to allow the teen's bail and jailed murderer Alicia Schiller (pictured) IVF treatment were 'disgraces' Just a day after Schiller's treatment was granted, Victoria Police announced the arrest of the 17-year-old, who can not legally be named, before he was charged with 57 offences. Those offences included 16 counts of motor vehicle theft and eight counts of aggravated burglary allegedly committed on a spree across northwest Melbourne from October 31 to November 28. Police opposed bail in Children's Court on Friday, claiming he posed an unacceptable risk of reoffending and the community would be endangered if bail were granted. Senior Constable Sarah Beagley noted further allegations of arson and dangerous driving as an 'escalation (in offending)', the Herald Sun reported. The presiding magistrate noted the community would be concerned by the allegations. But he said the risk of reoffending was lowered with the support of Youth Justice. He granted the boy bail on the condition he abide by a curfew, live with his parents and not associate with any co-accused. Felgate questioned why the teenager was freed despite Jacinta Allan's government's commitment to strengthening youth bail laws. 'These changes to bail laws could make it even easier for offenders could make this worse,' she said. The mother of a Cambridge graduate killed in a London Bridge terror attack says she still remembers the last conversation she had with her daughter five years on from the horror stabbings. Saskia Jones, 23, was knifed to death along with Jack Merritt, 25, by convicted terrorist Usman Khan during a prisoner rehabilitation event at Fishmongers' Hall in London on November 29, 2019. Khan, 28, attended the event, organised by Cambridge University's Learning Together programme, armed with two kitchen knives wearing a fake suicide vest and killed Mr Merritt and Ms Jones before he was shot dead by police. Today, on the five-year anniversary of Ms Jones's murder, her heartbroken mother, Michelle, has told how her life has been shattered since her death and said her daughter was in two minds about attending the event. Michelle recalled the final conversation she had with her and said it was almost like 'she knew' something was going to happen, reported The Mirror. Ms Jones had been stirring a pot of rice and talking to her mother about visiting a Christmas market with her friends before she lovingly told her: 'I want you to come with us because everybody knows you are my best friend, because you are.' Although that last chat has given Michelle some comfort she says her beloved daughter's death has 'left a permanent hole in my heart'. Saskia Jones, 23, was knifed to death along with Jack Merritt, 25, by convicted terrorist Usman Khan during a prisoner rehabilitation event at Fishmongers' Hall in London on November 29, 2019 Saskia's heartbroken mother, Michelle (pictured attending her daughter's memorial in 2019) says she still remembers the last conversation she had with her 'Its ever-present from when I rise to when I sleep,' she said. Ms Jones had been dead for nine hours before police told Michelle her daughter had been killed, something she says was 'one of the hardest things to deal with' as she asked: 'Why did no one contact me?' She had initially thought she wasn't replying to her messages as she was too busy helping others following the attack. But when two police officers arrived at her home she 'froze' as she realised her daughter was one of the stabbing victims. Khan was lawfully killed by police who shot him 20 times after he stabbed the two Cambridge graduates. Khan had been released on licence from prison 11 months earlier, after serving half of a 16-year sentence for being part of a terror cell plotting to blow up the London Stock Exchange. He had to wear an electronic tag and was supposed to be monitored by a multi-agency public protection arrangement (Mappa), made up of prison, probation and police officers. Mappa knew that Khan had spent his entire jail term trying to radicalise, bully and forcibly convert other prisoners. Ms Jones had been stirring a pot of rice and talking to her mother about visiting a Christmas market with her friends before she lovingly told her: 'I want you to come with us because everybody knows you are my best friend, because you are' Saskia Jones before she was stabbed to death. Convicted terrorist Usman Khan, 28, killed Cambridge University graduates Ms Jones, 23, and Jack Merritt, 25 Ms Jones sits with her killer Usman Khan at the Fishmongers' Hall event shortly before he stabbed her to death An inquest jury last month found that failings by the police, probation service and MI5 contributed to the unlawful killings of the two graduates Khan, 28, pictured, murdered the Cambridge graduates during a Learning Together event at Fishmongers' Hall in London in November 2019 Saskia Jones, 23, and Jack Merritt, 25, were both killed by the convicted terrorist Khan was challenged outside the Fishmonger's Hall by members of the public, who had a fire extinguisher and a narwhal tusk, before the arrival of police But astonishingly, officials believed he had changed his ways and sanctioned his trip to London for the Learning Together event. An inquest jury in 2021 found that failings by the police, probation service and MI5 contributed to the unlawful killings of the two graduates. After the verdict, Ms Jones's family criticised the event's organisers Dr Ruth Armstrong and Dr Amy Ludlow for the 'seemingly scant regard they had for the fundamental safety of their staff'. The inquest heard that Learning Together often did not know details of prisoners' offending backgrounds and staff did not receive training on handling dangerous inmates. An 'exceptionally dangerous' paedophile who live streamed himself sexually assaulting a young girl online has been handed a 25-year sentence. Woody Spencer, 34, was arrested in his Exeter home earlier this year on March 8 by National Crime Agency (NCA) investigators. His arrest came after information was received from the Australian Federal Police in relation to the video that emerged online. Despite Spencer's attempt to hide his identity in the live stream, the NCA identified him as well as his home address. Authorities discovered 163 indecent images of children on the paedophile's phone, with 43 being classed as category A - the most serious. Fifty category B images were also found on his phone as well as 70 category C child abuse photos. In an investigation led by the UK crime agency, additional evidence relating to voyeurism offences against an 18-year-old woman was also found. Spencer had covertly recorded the young woman without her permission whilst she showered. He admitted this offence at an earlier date. Woody Spencer, 34, who has been described by a judge as an 'exceptionally dangerous' paedophile live streamed himself sexually assaulting a young girl He has been handed a 20-year prison sentence as well as a 5-year licence due to the danger he presents to others (Pictured: Exeter Crown Court) Judge James Adkin at Exeter Crown Court yesterday sentenced Spencer to 20 years in jail with an extra five years on licence. The judge called Spencer 'an exceptionally dangerous man', adding that he presented 'an imminent risk' if he were 'to be at large'. 'Even when you are released you will need the most careful scrutiny that can be provided to a defendant and supervision for many years to reduce the risk,' the judge said. 'You are clearly a dangerous offender.' The judge commended all those involved in bringing Spencer, who he labelled a 'repugnant and persistent' offender, to justice. The paedophile was found guilty of several offences including assault of a child under 13 by penetration, sexual assault of a child under 13, and causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity. He was also determined guilty of attempted oral rape, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, causing a child to watch sexual activity, as well as making and distributing indecent image of children. During the trial Nigel Wraith, defending, said Spencer had made some admissions about his crimes. Mr Wraith also noted the sex offender had mental health issues as well as a difficult upbringing. NCA Operations Manager Holly Triggs said: 'The victims in this case have been subjected to horrific sexual abuse, for the sexual gratification of Woody Spencer and others online. 'Due to the dedicated work from all officers in this case, they have now been safeguarded and can start the road to recovery. 'Tackling this global threat remains a priority for the NCA and our partners. We will continue to work tirelessly to protect those affected by child sexual abuse and stop offenders who pose a sexual threat to children, no matter where in the world they are.' Three men have been jailed for the 'degrading and heinous' gang rape of three 'terrified' teenagers in an Airbnb apartment during a bucks party weekend in Newcastle. Maurice Hawell, 30, Andrew David, 30, and Marius Hawell, 23, were sentenced on Friday over the attacks committed in February 2022 ahead of the older Hawell brother's wedding. Judge Gina O'Rourke imprisoned Maurice Hawell for 14 years with a minimum eight years and six months, while David received 13 years and a non-parole term of seven years and nine months. Marius Hawell will serve at least five years and five months of a nine-year maximum sentence. The three were among nine men who rented an Airbnb which became the setting of a nightmare for two 18-year-old friends and a 19-year-old girl who were gang raped over two nights. The Hawell brothers and David were found guilty in July of engaging in a joint criminal enterprise to sexually assault the women after a weeks-long trial in the NSW District Court. Judge O'Rourke described the men's actions as 'degrading and heinous'. All three had received letters of support from female family members and loved ones. Three men have been jailed for the 'degrading and heinous' gang rape of three 'terrified' teenagers in an Airbnb apartment during a bucks party weekend in Newcastle. Andrew David (above) received 13 years and a non-parole term of seven years and nine months But Judge O'Rourke said their crimes were in 'stark contrast to how their mothers, wife, girlfriends and sisters have described them'. On that weekend, the men had been 'capable in a pack mentality of treating three young women in this cold, callous, degrading and criminal way,' Judge O'Rourke said. 'And of also participating in breakfast on each of the mornings after in which the group of men attending this buck's party boasted about having sex with the women who attended the apartment, and ridiculed an offender for having sex with a young woman.' Having testified against the rapists and convincing a jury of their guilt, two of their teenage victims described the lasting consequences of what was done to them. The 19-year-old said she was 'terrified to face the world' after she was sexually assaulted by Maurice Hawell and David in a dark room while Marius watched on the Saturday night. She told the court in a victim impact statement read out by a support person, she was left feeling vulnerable, experienced panic attacks and was 'unable to leave my home alone' in the months that followed. 'From being constantly surrounded by friends to wanting to be left alone, I felt I deeply lost myself,' the victim said. 'I began to blame myself for allowing it to happen.' Maurice Hawell, 30, Andrew David, 30, and Marius Hawell, 23, were on Friday sentenced over the attacks committed in February 2022 ahead of the older Hawell brother's wedding. Maurice Hawell (above) was jailed for 14 years with a minimum eight years and six months The attack, which the woman never imagined enduring, had forever changed her life. I was known for being happy, outgoing and constantly surrounded by my friends, she said. After the assault, I was left feeling vulnerable, terrified to face the world [and] struggled to find my happiness. It took months and months to find myself again, to find my happiness and find my purpose in life. I look back now and am so proud of what I have overcome. The 19-year-old said she had countless sleepless nights thinking about what she might have done differently that night to prevent the gang rape. She had testified about being approached on the street by Maurice Hawell, who used a fake name as he persuaded her to come up to the Airbnb for drinks. Instead of giving her a drink, Maurice pushed her onto a bed and asked her to have a threesome with him and David. Marius Hawell (above) will serve at least five years and five months of a nine-year maximum sentence The three were among nine men who rented an Airbnb (above) which became the setting of a nightmare for two 18-year-old friends and a 19-year-old girl who were gang raped over two nights The woman refused but David knelt on her shoulders and forced his penis into her mouth while Maurice Hawell raped her. One of the 18-year-old victims said the gang rape on the Friday night had taken a 'massive emotional toll' on every aspect of her life. 'This event has made me stop trusting the people around me,' she said in her victim impact statement, which was read out by the same volunteer. I have fear of going out and having fun, which is something I enjoyed doing. 'I was unable to trust any man around me it is unfair I have to regain my trust in people. The 18-year-old and her friend were pinned down to beds and violated when they went into a bedroom to retrieve their phones as they tried to leave the Airbnb. Since the rapes, the woman has had constant flashbacks and felt guilt about what happened, which had affected the way she viewed the world. She had been raped by a man she couldn't see while another man knelt on her arms and thrust his penis into her mouth. At the same time, the other 18-year-old was held down on an adjacent bed and stripped naked by a 'swarm' of men before being raped. The perpetrators have definitely made myself and my family think very differently of the world we live in and what society has come to, the woman said. I am so proud of myself for the courage to be able to show the world what some people are really capable of. All three men continue to maintain their innocence, with Maurice Hawell and David claiming the sexual activity was consensual, and Marius Hawell insisting he had not engaged in any sex acts during the bucks weekend. All three have indicated they intend to appeal their convictions. Police are urgently searching for a convicted rapist who is 'actively evading' officers. The public have been warned not to approach David Doherty, 58, from Doncaster, and call 999 instead. He is wanted for two breaches of Sex Offender Notification Requirements and in connection to a report of making threats to kill. Doherty was jailed for rape in 2014 and he was also convicted of attempted rape and indecent assault in 2000. Upon his release from prison he was placed on the sex offenders' register for life. As part of the terms of the register, Doherty is required to regularly register his address with police but he has recently failed to do so. South Yorkshire Police have appealed to anyone who has heard from Doherty as they believe he is 'actively evading officers'. He is described as a white man, of slim build, 6ft 4ins tall, and with greying light brown short hair. Police believe he is in the Scawthorpe or Balby areas of Doncaster, however, he also has links to Grimsby. Pictured: David Doherty, 58, who is a convicted rapist from Doncaster South Yorkshire Police have appealed to anyone who has heard from Doherty as the believe he is 'actively evading officers' (stock photo) A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police said: 'Doherty, 58, from Doncaster, is wanted for two breaches of Sex Offender Notification Requirements, and in connection to a report of making threats to kill. 'In 2000, Doherty was convicted of attempted rape and indecent assault, and in 2014 he was convicted of rape. Upon his release from prison he was placed on the sex offenders' register for life. 'As part of the terms of the register, Doherty is required to regularly register his address with police. 'He has recently failed to register his address as required. 'We want to hear from anyone who has seen or spoken to Doherty recently, or knows where he might be staying. He knows he is wanted and we believe he is actively evading officers. 'He is described as a white man, of slim build, 6ft 4ins tall, and with greying light brown short hair. 'Officers believe Doherty is in the Scawthorpe or Balby areas of Doncaster, however, he also has links to Grimsby. 'If you see Doherty, please do not approach him, but instead call 999. 'If you have any other information about where he might be, you can contact us via our online live chat, our online portal or by calling 101. 'Please quote investigation number 14/204158/24 when you get in touch. 'Alternatively, if you prefer not to give your personal details, you can stay anonymous and pass on what you know by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers. 'Call their UK Contact Centre on freephone 0800 555 111 or complete a simple and secure anonymous online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org.' Ruby Franke's daughter Shari has shared a brutal Thanksgiving message to her mom - but admitted she did learn at least one thing while under her thumb. In a post on Thursday, Shari shared a picture of herself making dinner rolls, and used an emoji of a devil alongside a quip about her abusive mother. 'This Thanksgiving, I'm especially not thankful for Ruby,' Shari, 21, captioned an Instagram story, taking a swipe at her mother who is serving up to 30 years in prison for the horrific abuse of her six children. 'But damn did she teach me how to make good rolls.' The 21-year-old has been outspoken since her mother's conviction in February, and recently revealed she plans to release a book The House of My Mother in January. She also recently petitioned the Utah House of Representatives to bolster child abuse laws in the state, and described herself as a 'victim of family vlogging.' 'I want to be clear that there is never, never a good reason for posting your children online for money or fame,' she told lawmakers. Ruby would often film Shari and her siblings for her Mormon momfluencer YouTube account, which amassed millions of followers before Ruby was revealed to be a child abuser. The 'mommy vlogger' was snared in August 2023 when her emaciated son escaped her house of horrors and fled to a neighbor's home for help. Ruby Franke's daughter Shari shared a brutal Thanksgiving message to her mom to mark the occasion - but admitted: 'Damn did she teach me how to make good rolls' Shari has been outspoken since her mother's conviction in February, and recently revealed she plans to release a book The House of My Mother in January The popular YouTuber was arrested along with her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt in August and charged with six counts of felony child abuse after one of her sons was discovered with open wounds and duct tape on their limbs Disgraced YouTube mommy blogger, Ruby Franki, 42, was sentenced to up to 30 years in prison in February for brutally abusing two of her own children in a 'concentration camp-like setting' Shari's Thanksgiving post at her mother comes after she made headlines by scathing a new documentary about her family, claiming she and her siblings were never contacted. She hit out at Lifetime producers for leaving her in the dark about the film, which was released on October 26. The film it titled Mormon Mom Gone Wrong: The Ruby Franke Story stars Heather Locklear, but Shari saying she was caught off guard by the film about her family's life. 'I saw the trailer suddenly in class and had an anxiety attack,' she shared on Instagram. She added: 'None of us were contacted about the movie.' Shari further stated that 'none of the proceeds' from the film would be going to any of her moms victims. 'This movie is trash, and only hurts my siblings more,' she said. At the end of her post, she issued a desperate plea for people not to support the film. In a post on social media, Shari Franke hit out at producers for leaving her in the dark about the film Franke's oldest daughter, Shari, revealed that no one in her family was contacted by Lifetime about their new movie about her mother's crimes 'This movie is trash, and only hurts my siblings more,' Shari Franke wrote of the new Lifetime film starring Heather Locklear (pictured) In February, Franke was sentenced to up to 30 years in prison for brutally abusing two of her six children in a 'concentration camp-like setting'. Crime scene photos, doorbell videos, and interrogation tapes were released a month later, showing her children with gruesome injuries after being tied up, beaten and starved. Last October, Shari - who is estranged from her parents- wrote on Instagram that there were 'not even words to describe how upside down my life has become' after her mother's arrest. I've cried, had an infinite number of panic attacks, had way too much ice-cream, and yet life goes on,' she continued. She credited her faith with seeing her through this troubling time. 'Therapy has literally saved me, but God has too,' Shari wrote. 'My life is somehow becoming more beautiful and fulfilling, despite all the terrible things going on.' A month before, she had claimed that relatives had been 'trying to tell police and CPS for years about' her mother's abuse. She added that she was 'so glad they finally decided to step' and the kids were safe. In February, Ruby Franke was sentenced to up to 30 years in prison for brutally abusing her children in a 'concentration camp-like setting Franke, (left) who ran the now-defunct 8 Passengers channel, was arrested along with her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt (right) on August 30 Crime scene photos, doorbell videos, and interrogation tapes were released a month after Franke's sentencing Ruby's business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, a mental health counselor, was also sentenced to 30 years after it was revealed that she was involved in the abuse. Franke's estranged husband, Kevin, had not seen the children for more than a year and was not charged with any crime. During Franke's trial, prosecutors played dramatic doorbell camera footage that showed the disturbing moment her son arrived at a neighbor's house in shackles asking for help and directions to the police. In the video, the emaciated and badly bruised 12-year-old boy tentatively approached his neighbors on their porch after managing to escape the torture of his mom via a window. The child had just escaped from Hildebrandt's home, investigators said. He is seen ringing the doorbell of his neighbors and walking away as he thinks no one is home - until a neighbor calls him back. 'I was wondering if you could do me two favors,' the boy says politely. 'Well what are they?' the neighbor responds. 'Taking me to the nearest police station,' the young boy replies before he is asked to take a seat and explain what's happened. He also said he needed cops for 'personal business.' Images released by the courts also highlight the extent of the abuse by Franke and show the two emaciated victims with infected cuts on their legs, duct tape around their arms and feet and scratches and bruises on their bodies. A video taken from inside the ambulance shows the 12-year-old boy eating from a bag of nuts while being treated and a cop asks him who tied him up with rope Images released highlight the extent of the abuse by Franke and show the two emaciated victims with infected cuts on their legs and duct tape around their arms and feet Photos highlight the extent of the abuse by Franke including duct tape wrapped around the arms and legs of the young boy Police discovered a cramped safe room in the basement of the property that was locked from the outside, rope that would be used to tie up the children in adult diapers. Chief Deputy Washington County Attorney Ryan Shaum said in a written statement that Franke and Hildebrandt's actions amounted to 'some of the worst child abuse' he had seen in nearly 30 years of prosecuting. Louise Haigh stands out with her bright red hair but her commitment to the socialist cause runs deep in her roots. She was born in Sheffield into a staunch Labour family, with her grandfather and uncle both trade union officials. Having made her name as a shop steward for Unite, she went on to court controversy by showering the rail unions with cash to end their strikes - and finally by resigning on Friday after a fraud charge. She resigned this morning, telling the Prime Minister she was 'sorry to leave under these circumstances' but took 'pride in what we have done'. Accepting her resignation,Starmer said: 'I know you still have a huge contribution to make in the future.' Despite her Left-wing background, Ms Haigh was educated at Sheffield High School for Girls, making her one of only two members of Sir Keir Starmer's Cabinet to be privately educated. The Transport Secretary, 37, started a degree in government and economics at the London School of Economics before transferring to Nottingham University to complete a BA in politics. After two years she landed a job in Parliament co-ordinating an all-party parliamentary group on international corporate responsibility while also working for Unite. Ms Haigh then worked for insurance company Aviva for three years before being elected as the MP for Sheffield Heeley in 2015 aged only 27. She was one of the 36 Labour MPs to nominate Jeremy Corbyn as a leadership candidate in 2015 although she has since said she regrets doing this and had been 'naive'. Louise Haigh stands out with her bright red hair but her commitment to the socialist cause runs deep in her roots She was quickly elevated to the Labour front bench by Mr Corbyn. Haigh was named the hardest-working of the new intake of MPs in 2015, by the House of Commons Library and when Sir Keir became Leader of the Opposition in 2020, he made Ms Haigh his Northern Ireland spokeswoman before moving her to the transport brief in 2021. Her first few months as Transport Secretary have been characterised by a string of controversies. While boasting about the Government's new Employments Rights Bill, she urged the audience to join her in boycotting 'rogue operator' P&O Ferries, whose parent company responded by threatening to pull 1billion of investment in the UK. She has also been accused of 'emboldening' militant union barons. In August Ms Haigh handed rail drivers in the Aslef union a 14.25 per cent hike over three years with no strings attached. Two days later the hard-Left union announced fresh strikes. Since the election, she has received a 10,000 donation from Unite. She has also had a colourful personal life. In 2019 it was reported that she had a fling with DIY SOS star Nick Knowles the previous year after meeting at the Police Bravery awards. NBC4 anchor Leon Harris struggled to get through a news segment before he was swiftly taken off the air, sparking fears for his health. Harris' broadcast went viral on Thursday night after he appeared to slur his words and miss the end of sentences just minutes into the show. In the opening segment, he struggled to say several street names and began chuckling to himself after multiple slip-ups. The newsreader's condition appeared to deteriorate throughout the two-minute piece, stumbling over words as he continued to grapple with the teleprompter. He was taken off the air soon after, as the network turned to a weatherman to step in. It is unclear if Harris was suffering some form of medical emergency, and NBC4 did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The anchor was taken off the air after reading the 6pm headlines for the Washington DC area, and viewers noted that it went over 20 minutes without broadcasting any news as the station played a long feature segment and aired extended weather reports. Weatherman Ryan Miller acknowledged during his time on air that the station had received 'a lot' of messages from viewers concerned about Harris' condition. Viewers were left fearing for NBC4 anchor Leon Harris' health after the broadcaster struggled to get through a news segment on Thursday night before he was taken off the air Harris, a longtime newsman in the Washington DC area, was taken off the air after his concerning broadcast, however a weatherman later said he was 'fine' 'We want to assure you that our colleague Leon Harris is fine,' he said. Only weeks earlier Harris revealed he was recovering from foot surgery, and told viewers he was taking time off the air to recover after breaking his foot in five places slipping on his home stairs. Viewers said NBC4 briefly returned to the news before NBC Nightly News aired half an hour earlier than scheduled. One concerned viewer took to X to wish Harris well, saying his broadcast was 'hard to watch.' 'Leon Harris is one of the OGs in the DC local TV business,' they said. 'Hope he's okay.' Another said: 'Praying hes not having a stroke or anything of that nature. Prayers up for this man!' Harris has been open about his past struggles with addition, and was arrested for DUIs in 2013 and 2022 Some viewers feared the episode was related to Harris' public battles with addiction, as he has spoken candidly about his past issues with alcohol. Harris, a former anchor for CNN, made headlines 10 years ago when he was arrested for a DUI in Montgomery County, Maryland, and was handed a six-month suspended jail sentence. In January 2022, Harris was arrested and charged again for a DUI in Montgomery County following a crash with another vehicle. The longtime Washington DC broadcaster was driving outside of the nation's capital when he rear-ended a car, sending it into another vehicle, the Montgomery County police report said at the time. No one was seriously injured, however when officers arrived at the scene, they found the anchor attempting to flee, police reported. When stopped by police, Harris failed a field sobriety test and recorded a .08% BAC- twice the legal limit- during a breathalyzer test, police said. He spent 10 days in jail and was taken off the air by NBC4 for a month while being investigated, and after receiving a one-year suspended jail sentence, he spoke candidly with viewers upon his return. 'Many of you know that I made a terrible mistake one night in January,' he said to open the broadcast. 'After drinking, I decided to get into my car and drive. This is the worst decision I could possibly have made.' Speaking with the network soon after, he admitted: 'I thought after having about four glasses of wine I was good.. I wasnt, nobody is going to be good after that.' He said he was seeking daily therapy and 'embracing sobriety', and was seeing some 'very tough professionals to get control of this disease called alcoholism.' The award-winning broadcaster worked at CNN for 21 years before moving to DC in 2003 In September, Harris revealed in a video to viewers that he was off the air again after breaking his foot in five places and requiring surgery Harris (right) married his college sweetheart Dawn Lomax (second from left) with whom he shares two children, Darren (left) and Lauren (second from right) Harris was also off the air weeks ago at the end of September as he revealed he underwent foot surgery, and joked with viewers that he wished he had a 'really good story' for why he was taken off the air again. 'I wish it involved me saving a baby from a burning building or something like that. But, unfortunately, not the case,' he said, revealing he broke his foot in five places. 'Whatever you do, do not run up and down stairs in socks.' Harris has twice been awarded the National Cable Ace Award for Best Anchor and won a dozen Local Emmys for his reporting and anchoring throughout the years. In 2013, Harris shared that he experienced a life-threatening health crisis which put him in intensive care unit for two weeks and has left him with half a pancreas. At 52 years old, he was airlifted from his home to a hospital in Baltimore, where he was diagnosed him with acute necrotizing pancreatitis. His condition was life-threatening as his pancreas was inflamed and starting to die, which in turn had caused his kidneys to start to fail and his lungs were filling with fluid. The head of trauma at the Baltimore hospital described Harris' CT scan as looking if a bomb had gone off where the pancreas resides. While on a ventilator, his heart stopped on two different days and he was technically dead. But then the pancreatitis subsided just as quickly as it came on and after five weeks, Harris was back on the air. Australia's ban on under-16s using social media has caused an international stir after the world-first legislation made it through the Senate on Thursday. The bill, passed during the final day of Parliament of the year, is set to come into effect by the end of 2025, and will require platforms including TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook, to block children and younger teenagers from accessing their services. Individual companies face $50million fines for failing to comply. Internationally, news sites including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Independent in Britain, and Russia's state-run TASS agency covered the law's passage. Zurich-based newspaper Blick excitedly ran a response from Communications Minister Michelle Rowland on Friday following the bill's passing. 'The land of kangaroos has just passed a bill to fine social networks that tolerate accounts opened by children to the tune of millions. Blick asked the Australian Minister of Communications how and why it was urgent to act. And Michelle Rowland answered us!' the article read. ''This reform is about protecting young people and reassuring parents that we are on their side,' insists the honourable politician, according to the Australian denomination.' The UK's technology secretary, Peter Kyle, last week told the BBC the Australian motion could sway him to lobby for similar laws in Britain. International legislators and media outlets keenly watched Australia's social media ban pass the senate on Thursday The legislation attracted attention from media in major world powers including India, the United States, Russia and the United Kingdom (Narendra Modi pictured above) 'I'm in touch with the legislators in Australia,' Mr Kyle said. 'As you'd expect, I'm really interested in what they're doing, why they're doing it, and the evidence they're basing it on.' Though Britain has no current plans for Australia-style restrictions. The UK's Independent hoped Australia would act the guinea pig for world legislators. '[It] sets Australia up as a test case for a growing number of governments which have legislated, or have said they plan to legislate, an age restriction on social media,' their article read. Russia's TASS agency noted the Kremlin had already banned Instagram and Facebook which have been 'recognised as extremist'. Some outlets, however, emphasised critics' concerns. Major Hindi paper Amar Ujala, with a circulation of over 1.5million, cited Greens Senator David Shoebridge in their article. The paper noted Mr Shoebridge's warning 'children from rural areas and the LGBTQ community' wouldn't benefit from the plan. 'They hoped the government would conduct another study on it, which would tell how children can be kept out of social media in the right way,' the paper read. Spanish paper El Mundo echoed concerns the 'technology companies recognise that they don't yet know how to verify the age of their users'. The New York Times reported on the 'sweeping' ban, and wrote that the finer details of the plan appeared foggy. 'Australia has imposed a sweeping ban on social media for children under 16, one of the world's most comprehensive measures aimed at safeguarding young people from potential hazards online. But many details were still unclear, such as how it will be enforced and what platforms will be covered.' The Wall Street Journal labelled it 'one of the world's most restrictive social media bans'. The Drudge Report, a US site with 640million views a month, had 'Australia outlaws socials for minors' as their lead story on Friday. International media reported on the landmark bill, with Russia's state-run TASS agency supporting restrictions on Meta-owned platforms Communications Minister Michelle Rowland vowed the bill would support parents concerned about 'the harms to children' Press agency Reuters interviewed youth across Europe about the legislation and were met with a variety of responses. 'I would not like this to happen in Spain,' a 12-year-old Spanish student said. 'They should have done a demonstration because this is very crazy.' A 20-year-old waiter in Rome disagreed. 'It's an initiative that makes a lot of sense in Australia and one that we should bring here to save the next generation,' he said. Elon Musk previously claimed the law was unnecessarily restrictive on his own social media site X. 'Seems like a backdoor way to control access to the Internet by all Australians,' he wrote. Tech giants Google and Meta begged the government to delay the legislation to allow their platforms to better assess its potential implications. TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance also urged for further consultation. The federal Coalition supported the policy but argued Labor's legislation was rushed. The Albanese government said the new legislation would require the implementation of age-verification technology the details of which have been vague so far. The bill placed the onus of verification on social media companies themselves. The age-limit will be the highest of any international regulation and won't allow for exemptions - including from parents. However, Australians who skirt the rules will face no penalties under the legislation. Last year, France announced social media companies would have to verify the age of their users, and those under 15 years of age looking to use apps like TikTok would have to obtain parental consent. However, local media say technical challenges mean the law is not yet enforced. South Korea implemented laws in 2011 targeting video game addiction preventing those under 16 from playing online games between 10.30pm and 6.00am.The law was later repealed. China's Cyberspace Administration announced similar laws in 2022 using identity verification and facial recognition technology to restrict Chinese youth's access to video games. The Norwegian government last month proposed raising the age at which children can consent to the terms required to use social media to 15 years from 13 years currently, although parents would still be permitted to sign off on their behalf if they are under the age limit. The centre-left government also said it had begun work on legislation to set an absolute legal minimum age limit for social media use, but it was not immediately clear when a law mandating this may reach parliament. In Germany, minors between the ages of 13 and 16 are allowed to use social media only if their parents give consent. In 2018, Belgium enacted a law requiring children to be at least 13 to create a social media account without parental permission. The Netherlands doesnt have any laws regarding a minimum age for social media use, but the government banned mobile devices in classrooms from January 2024 to reduce distractions. Exceptions apply for digital lessons, medical needs or disabilities. Children under 14 in Italy need parental consent to sign up for social media accounts, while no consent is required from that age upwards. 'This is a global problem and we want young Australians essentially to have a childhood,' Prime Minister Albanese said last week. 'We want parents to have peace of mind.' Donald Trump spent Thanksgiving enjoying the company of his family, celebrities and his new 'adopted son' Elon Musk as they belted out his theme song 'YMCA' at a Mar-a-Lago holiday bash. The president-elect was joined by various family members, with son Barron looking on in amusement as his father and the new DOGE co-chair attempted to do Trump's signature dance to the Village People classic. Trump's wife Melania, daughter Tiffany, son Eric and Eric's wife and RNC co-chair Lara were also spotted at the bash. Musk's mother Maye, who has been seen passionately backing her son on television in recent weeks, was also in attendance. In another video, Musk was seen chatting with Sylvester Stallone, a newer fixture around the so-called 'Winter White House.' The Rocky icon compared the president-elect to the Founding Fathers, calling him 'the second George Washington' at a star-studded Mar-a-Lago bash two weeks ago. On Thursday, Elon appeared to be having a blast with his new 'adopted family,' with social media pointing out what Trump has said in the past: he never seems to leave. 'I think the Donald has adopted him,' joked one MAGA fan upon seeing the videos. Donald Trump spent Thanksgiving with his family, celebrities and his new 'adopted son' Elon Musk as they belted out his theme song 'YMCA' at a Mar-a-Lago holiday bash Much of the Trump family was at the party as well, with son Barron looking on in amusement as his father and the new DOGE co-chair attempted to do Trump's signature dance to the Village People classic Another wrote: 'Elon has residency now at Mar-a-Lago.' A more snarky commenter snapped: 'Elon has made himself right at home. Looks like he even took Don Jrs seat at the table!' One user couldn't help but enjoy Barron's amused face at the attempt to do his father's now iconic dance moves: 'Barron's like "Okay have we had enough of this song yet father.' Trump has made several jokes since the election about how he can't get rid of Musk, who became a major ally, fundraiser and organizer for the president's successful campaign win over Kamala Harris. At the House Republican conference meeting on Capitol Hill, Trump reportedly joked: 'Elon won't go home.' 'I can't get rid of him. Until I don't like him.' Seated front and center at the gathering was the world's richest man, Musk. Musk has been a near permanent fixture at the center of the Trump transition since the ex-president won the 2024 election with considerable campaign help from the businessman. Donald was seen walking into the ballroom with wife Melania at the Thanksgiving party Musk joined families together, bringing his spitfire mother Maye, who has been seen passionately backing her son on television in recent weeks In another video, Musk was seen hobnobbing with Sylvester Stallone, a newer fixture around the so-called 'Winter White House .' The Rocky icon compared the president-elect to the Founding Fathers , calling him 'the second George Washington' at a star-studded Mar-a-Lago bash two weeks ago Trump's granddaughter Kai has even dubbed Musk 'Uncle Elon.' It comes after Trump announced Musk will co-lead a new Department of Government Efficiency along with 2024 GOP presidential primary candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Trump said in his statement it would pave the way for his administration to dismantle 'Government Bureaucracy' and that would be 'potentially, "The Manhattan Project" of our time.' 'We finally have a mandate to delete the mountain of choking regulations that do not serve the greater good,' Musk wrote Wednesday on X, which he also owns. But the move has also been met with criticism as Musk's companies have tangled with the very agencies he will now be dealing with directly. Musk has joined Trump on calls with world leaders and, as a member of the administration's transition team, has weighed in on staffing decisions. Last week, Trump watched the SpaceX Starship launch above Texas on Tuesday, accompanied by top MAGA allies and his granddaughter Kai Trump. Lara and Tiffany Trump stopped to pose for a photo during the festivities Trump posing with two of Eric and Lara's children Eric and Lara with their children. Lara has been co-chair of the Republican National Committee since earlier this year The president-elect, 78, listened intently as the Tesla billionaire explained how his rockets worked before watching the largest in his fleet take off on the horizon. The billionaire Tesla founder also joined the President-elect at a UFC event in New York City. Trump and Musk joined opera singer Chris Macchio on -stage to perform a bizarre rendition of God Bless America during a party at Mar-a-Lago just after the election. The performance came after Trump, accompanied by his billionaire First Buddy, flew to DC to chat with President Joe Biden face-to-face. The duo returned to a hero's welcome at the 'Winter White House' last Wednesday and made surprise appearance at the A1Policy conference and joined Macchio as he belted out the patriotic classic. Musk appeared to mime the lyrics. An Aussie influencer who has boasted about earning six figures in the past has launched a fundraiser hoping to raise $50,000 for her father after he was scammed out of $20,000. Natalie Sinead, 24, revealed the shocking amount her 64-year-old father, Martin, had lost to the frauds mimicking a real clothing brand on Friday. The content creator and 'storytelling specialist' told her 26,000 followers she had launched a GoFundMe page, seeking to raise $50,000 - more than double the amount her father lost - to help set him up for retirement. But her social media pages were subsequently flooded with dozens of critical comments from people questioning why she couldn't help her father out, given she has boasted about raking in six figures from her content creation. Ms Sinead, who has since removed the comments, was later forced to respond to the deluge of criticism. 'A lot of people are very angry at the fact that in the past I've said I'm a six figure content creator and people are saying: "Well, why don't you help him? This is your responsibility. He was the one that was silly and got scammed"," she said in a video recorded in her car. Ms Sinead went on to explain that, while her six-figure pulling power was '100 per cent true' in the past, she was no longer in such a strong financial position. 'As it stands, I'm no longer a six figure content creator,' she admitted. Aussie influencer Natalie Sinead has launched a GoFundMe for her father, Martin's (both pictured) retirement fund after he was scammed out of more than $20,000 in under a month But her social media pages were subsequently flooded with dozens of critical comments from people questioning why she couldn't help her father out, given she has boasted about raking in six figures from her content creation (pictured) 'I lost my TikTok account in August which meant I lost the majority of my income. I don't make a cent from social media anymore.' She added: 'I do not have $20,000 to give to my dad. Trust me, if I had the money, I would help my dad, help my mum, help my sisters, brothers, everyone.' Her GoFundMe page, which is seeking to hit $50,000, has so far raised $230. Ms Sinead said a lot of the criticism was driven by the fact she was seeking to raise over $30,000 more than her father lost in the scam. 'The reason why I did that is just because I feel bad for my dad,' she explained. 'My dad has worked his entire life, he's 64. My grandad had dementia and that's how he passed on and I worry that my dad is showing early signs of dementia.' She revealed his mortgage was not paid off but he was struggling to work. 'He's not in a position (financially) where he can retire, but mentally and physically he is showing signs that he needs to retire,' she added. Having spent years on social media building up an audience of tens of thousands of followers, Natalie wished her dad had told her about the job before he was sucked in Her father told Daily Mail Australia that he was looking for a new revenue stream to keep up with increasing mortgage payments after his declining memory cost him his job in IT. He came across the scam, disguised as a paid role generating pop-up windows on a website masquerading as a Japanese clothing brand, scrolling through TikTok in late October. After making contact with one of the fraudsters, he was swept up by the simple job and was duped into sending them a payment of $167 in cryptocurrency for 'VIP access' to higher pay rates. While it initially seemed worth the investment, the payments he had to make rapidly increased while the scammer started to 'move the goalposts' and refused to pay him his promised returns. By the time he eventually realised he had been duped on Thursday, he had already lost more than $20,000 of his retirement savings and is now facing financial turmoil. Natalie said she was 'mortified' after he revealed to her just how much he had lost in under a month. The influencer told Daily Mail Australia she wished she could have helped her dad before he was drawn into the scam, but has started a GoFundMe to help him recoup some of his losses. 'I was also horrified knowing that this money had come out of my dad's retirement fund because he doesn't have much,' she said. 'It saddens me because I'd love to see him retire.' Having spent years on social media building up an audience of tens of thousands of followers, Natalie wished her dad had told her about the job before he was sucked in. 'I wish that he'd come to me first because it turns out a simple Instagram or Google search could have potentially stopped this,' she said. 'I think that's why this scam is so risky because they're preying on people that don't that, they're not in the loop of social media.' Mr Sinead agreed, revealing the sinister ways they made the job feel real to those who are not as savvy to online scams. Among their duplicitous techniques was adding Mr Sinead to a WhatsApp group filled with people supposedly doing the same job who would often brag about their earnings. The company also used the same name as a popular Japanese clothing brand which lent it credibility. While Mr Sinead only lost $20,000 from the scam, his daughter is hoping to hit a goal of $50,000 through the fundraising effort so he can retire more comfortably. 'I fear for my dads future as he does not have enough money to retire with his mortgage, so losing the additional $20k is heartbreaking,' she wrote. While his reduced memory has meant he can't work the same jobs that he used to, Mr Sinead also suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - commonly known as emphysema. It means he struggles to travel longer distances for work or be employed in physically demanding roles, severely limiting his ability to make back the money he lost on his own. The dad warned anyone who comes across a deal that's 'too good to be true' to always exercise caution and 'do more research than I did' before investing any money. A frisky Florida couple were caught having 'loud sex' on top of a huge Art Basel animal installation on a beach - but were let go with a simple warning. The couple, who are yet to be identified, were caught in the act on one of the elephants of the Great Elephant Migration installation on South Beach on November 25, Page Six reports. 'A security guard heard strange noises and went over with his flashlight to investigate,' a source told the outlet. 'Apparently he saw a couple on top of one of the elephants! We do not know how they got up there.' Despite the couple's antics, a sympathetic security guard let them go and did not alert the cops. 'He simply asked them to leave, no arrests were made,' says the publication's insider. But it seems they were not the only people who were interested in the installation. A rapper, allegedly affiliated with DJ Khalid, was spotted at the Beach attempting to film a music video among the herd at around 4am. A risk-loving Florida couple were caught having 'loud sex' on top of one of the elephants of the Great Elephant Migration installation on South Beach on November 25 He too was let go with a warning and no charges were pressed. It remains unclear if both incidents happened at the same day. As a result of the rising incidents, security has been increased around the installation to ensure that it does not endure any damage. The Great Elephant Migration is traveling installation of a 100 life-size Indian elephants sculptures made of an invasive weed called Lantana camara by artisans living in the Nilgiri Hills mountain range in South India. The project is meant to 'power human-wildlife coexistence projects and protect migratory animals making spectacular journeys across land, rivers, skies and oceans', according to its website. Despite the lustful couple's dangerous antics, the sympathetic security guard let them off without a warning and did not alert the cops The Great Elephant Migration is traveling installation of a 100 life-size Indian elephants sculptures made of an invasive weed called Lantana camara by artisans living in the Nilgiri Hills mountain range in South India Each of the herd's members, which is made of entire elephant families including babies, adolescents and full size adults, is available for sale for about $28,000. Each elephant is paired with a wildlife conservation NGO and all sales go towards benefiting the artists and the nonprofits. Cher, Diane von Furstenberg and Sex and The City star Kristin Davis are some of ambassadors of the project. The majestic installation was last seen in New York City's Meatpacking district and will be moved to Hermann Park in Houston, Texas in April 2025. Each of the herd's members, which is made of entire elephant families including babies, adolescents and full size adults, is available for sale for about $28,000 Two artists were previously removed from a Miami Art Basel after milking a woman's breast and selling it for $200,000 two years ago. Artists OONA and Lori Baldwin staged an impromptu exhibit after their planned performance Milking the Artist was deemed 'too controversial.' In front of a crowd of 300, the two artists milked OONA's breast, which appears to be prosthetic, and auctioned it off. The first glass of milk sold for 50 Ethereum - which is equal to $64,000 - and the second glass sold for 158 Ethereum, or $200,000, before the artists were forcibly kicked out of the premises. TX Group / Key word(s): Dividend/Miscellaneous Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LRZurich, 29. November 2024TX Group adjusts dividend policy 29-Nov-2024 / 06:30 CET/CEST Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. TX Group founded SMG Swiss Marketplace Group in 2021 together with Die Mobiliar, Ringier and General Atlantic, and contributed the highly profitable businesses Homegate and Ricardo, as well as Tutti and car4you. As SMG Swiss Marketplace Group has not paid any dividends to date, the distribution of an extraordinary dividend totalling CHF 230 million was approved yesterday. CHF 71 million of this amount will be paid to TX Group and will be included in the Groups free cash flow. In order to reduce fluctuations due to irregular events over the years and to enable better planning, the TX Group Board of Directors has decided to adjust its payout policy. The dividend proposal to the Annual General Meeting will continue to be based on the free cash flow b. M&A after dividends to minorities and repayment of leasing liabilities. The range will be extended to 30 to 50 per cent of the resulting cash flow. In any case, a dividend of CHF 4.00 per share will be proposed for the financial years 2024, 2025 and 2026 from the available funds. The dividend policy aims to take account of the legitimate interests of all stakeholders. The shareholders of TX Group AG have always been committed to sustainability and, with their willingness to reinvest the majority of the profits generated, have enabled the long-term development and expansion of the Group. Contact Ursula Notzli, Chief Communications & Sustainability Officer, +41 79 462 52 45, ursula.noetzli@tx.group About TX Group The TX Group forms a network of platforms and participations that offers users information, orientation, entertainment and assistance for everyday life on a daily basis. Its roots lie in journalism with the diverse newspapers of Tamedia and the free media of 20 Minuten. The portfolio is complemented by the advertising marketer Goldbach. The TX Group is an anchor shareholder of the SMG Swiss Marketplace Group and JobCloud, holds majority stakes in Doodle and Zattoo and is an investor in the fintech sector through TX Ventures. Founded in 1893, TX Group has been listed on the Swiss stock exchange since 2000. www.tx.group End of Inside InformationLanguage: EnglishCompany: TX Group Werdstrasse 21 8021 Zurich SwitzerlandInternet: www.tx.groupISIN: CH0011178255Valor: 1117825 Listed: SIX Swiss ExchangeEQS News ID: 2040805 End of Announcement EQS News Service 2040805 29-Nov-2024 CET/CEST TX Group / Key word(s): Dividend/Miscellaneous Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LRZurich, 29. November 2024TX Group adjusts dividend policy 29-Nov-2024 / 06:30 CET/CEST Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. TX Group founded SMG Swiss Marketplace Group in 2021 together with Die Mobiliar, Ringier and General Atlantic, and contributed the highly profitable businesses Homegate and Ricardo, as well as Tutti and car4you. As SMG Swiss Marketplace Group has not paid any dividends to date, the distribution of an extraordinary dividend totalling CHF 230 million was approved yesterday. CHF 71 million of this amount will be paid to TX Group and will be included in the Groups free cash flow. In order to reduce fluctuations due to irregular events over the years and to enable better planning, the TX Group Board of Directors has decided to adjust its payout policy. The dividend proposal to the Annual General Meeting will continue to be based on the free cash flow b. M&A after dividends to minorities and repayment of leasing liabilities. The range will be extended to 30 to 50 per cent of the resulting cash flow. In any case, a dividend of CHF 4.00 per share will be proposed for the financial years 2024, 2025 and 2026 from the available funds. The dividend policy aims to take account of the legitimate interests of all stakeholders. The shareholders of TX Group AG have always been committed to sustainability and, with their willingness to reinvest the majority of the profits generated, have enabled the long-term development and expansion of the Group. Contact Ursula Notzli, Chief Communications & Sustainability Officer, +41 79 462 52 45, ursula.noetzli@tx.group About TX Group The TX Group forms a network of platforms and participations that offers users information, orientation, entertainment and assistance for everyday life on a daily basis. Its roots lie in journalism with the diverse newspapers of Tamedia and the free media of 20 Minuten. The portfolio is complemented by the advertising marketer Goldbach. The TX Group is an anchor shareholder of the SMG Swiss Marketplace Group and JobCloud, holds majority stakes in Doodle and Zattoo and is an investor in the fintech sector through TX Ventures. Founded in 1893, TX Group has been listed on the Swiss stock exchange since 2000. www.tx.group TX Group founded SMG Swiss Marketplace Group in 2021 together with Die Mobiliar, Ringier and General Atlantic, and contributed the highly profitable businesses Homegate and Ricardo, as well as Tutti and car4you. As SMG Swiss Marketplace Group has not paid any dividends to date, the distribution of an extraordinary dividend totalling CHF 230 million was approved yesterday. CHF 71 million of this amount will be paid to TX Group and will be included in the Groups free cash flow. In order to reduce fluctuations due to irregular events over the years and to enable better planning, the TX Group Board of Directors has decided to adjust its payout policy. The dividend proposal to the Annual General Meeting will continue to be based on the free cash flow b. M&A after dividends to minorities and repayment of leasing liabilities. The range will be extended to 30 to 50 per cent of the resulting cash flow. In any case, a dividend of CHF 4.00 per share will be proposed for the financial years 2024, 2025 and 2026 from the available funds. The dividend policy aims to take account of the legitimate interests of all stakeholders. The shareholders of TX Group AG have always been committed to sustainability and, with their willingness to reinvest the majority of the profits generated, have enabled the long-term development and expansion of the Group. TX Group founded SMG Swiss Marketplace Group in 2021 together with Die Mobiliar, Ringier and General Atlantic, and contributed the highly profitable businesses Homegate and Ricardo, as well as Tutti and car4you. As SMG Swiss Marketplace Group has not paid any dividends to date, the distribution of an extraordinary dividend totalling CHF 230 million was approved yesterday. CHF 71 million of this amount will be paid to TX Group and will be included in the Groups free cash flow. In order to reduce fluctuations due to irregular events over the years and to enable better planning, the TX Group Board of Directors has decided to adjust its payout policy. The dividend proposal to the Annual General Meeting will continue to be based on the free cash flow b. M&A after dividends to minorities and repayment of leasing liabilities. The range will be extended to 30 to 50 per cent of the resulting cash flow. In any case, a dividend of CHF 4.00 per share will be proposed for the financial years 2024, 2025 and 2026 from the available funds. The dividend policy aims to take account of the legitimate interests of all stakeholders. The shareholders of TX Group AG have always been committed to sustainability and, with their willingness to reinvest the majority of the profits generated, have enabled the long-term development and expansion of the Group. Contact Ursula Notzli, Chief Communications & Sustainability Officer, +41 79 462 52 45, ursula.noetzli@tx.group Contact Ursula Notzli, Chief Communications & Sustainability Officer, +41 79 462 52 45, ursula.noetzli@tx.group About TX Group The TX Group forms a network of platforms and participations that offers users information, orientation, entertainment and assistance for everyday life on a daily basis. Its roots lie in journalism with the diverse newspapers of Tamedia and the free media of 20 Minuten. The portfolio is complemented by the advertising marketer Goldbach. The TX Group is an anchor shareholder of the SMG Swiss Marketplace Group and JobCloud, holds majority stakes in Doodle and Zattoo and is an investor in the fintech sector through TX Ventures. Founded in 1893, TX Group has been listed on the Swiss stock exchange since 2000. www.tx.group About TX Group The TX Group forms a network of platforms and participations that offers users information, orientation, entertainment and assistance for everyday life on a daily basis. Its roots lie in journalism with the diverse newspapers of Tamedia and the free media of 20 Minuten. The portfolio is complemented by the advertising marketer Goldbach. The TX Group is an anchor shareholder of the SMG Swiss Marketplace Group and JobCloud, holds majority stakes in Doodle and Zattoo and is an investor in the fintech sector through TX Ventures. Founded in 1893, TX Group has been listed on the Swiss stock exchange since 2000. www.tx.group 2040805 29-Nov-2024 CET/CEST Controversial far-right American firebrand Candace Owens has suffered a second blow to her speaking tour ambitions following the cancellation of her Australian visa by Immigration Minister Tony Burke. New Zealand has now followed suit and declined to grant Ms Owens a visa, denying her a scheduled speaking event in Auckland as part of her Candace Owens Live tour. In a statement to NewsWire, Immigration New Zealand acting deputy chief operating officer Jock Gilray confirmed his department had blocked Ms Owens' visa application on November 19. 'Immigration New Zealand has declined the application from Candace Owens for an entertainer's work visa,' Mr Gilray said. 'Under section 15 of the Immigration Act, an individual may not be granted a visa to come to New Zealand if they have been excluded from another country.' There is no information in the statement that New Zealand declined her visa on character grounds, which was the reason underpinning Mr Burke's decision to block Ms Owens from Australia. 'From downplaying the impact of the Holocaust with comments about Mengele through to claims that Muslims started slavery, Candace Owens has the capacity to incite discord in almost every direction,' Mr Burke said in October on announcing his decision to knock back her visa. 'Australia's national interest is best served when Candace Owens is somewhere else.' US right-wing firebrand Candace Owens (pictured) has now been blocked from both Australia and New Zealand Immigration Minister Tony Burke (pictured) blocked Ms Owens' visa on character grounds Ms Owens was initially scheduled to tour Australia across November but following Mr Burke's intervention, the shows have now been rescheduled for early 2025. The first date on the tour is listed for Auckland on February 28 and then Brisbane on March 4, Sydney on March 6, Perth on March 8, Adelaide on March 9 and then Melbourne on March 10. Ms Owens' has launched an appeal against Mr Burke's decision. In a statement, a spokesman for Ms Owens said the challenge would argue Mr Burke's decision was made with 'clear bias and improper motivations'. 'According to Ms Owens' legal representatives, Mr Burke displayed prejudice against her case from the outset, making public remarks that cast doubt on his impartiality long before a decision was made,' the spokesman said. 'Mr Burke also revealed private details of Ms Owens's application to the media, further calling into question his neutrality.' The spokesman said the grounds for Mr Burke's refusal were 'legally unreasonable and unjustifiable'. 'The minister's conduct suggests that this decision was aimed at boosting his public image rather than upholding a fair process,' the spokesman said. 'Mr Burke has been asked to step down from any further involvement in this case. An impartial official should reconsider her application.' The legal challenge follows a concerted pushback from Ms Owens across her social media channels in which she lashed the government for what she called a 'petty act of vandalism'. Ms Owens is a fervent critic of Israel and has suggested her Australian visa was blocked due to her coverage of attacks on Palestinians in Gaza. An Israeli airstrike on the Al Farouq Mosque in the Al Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip on November 23 2024 is pictured She has suggested her application was blocked due to her coverage of attacks on Palestinians in Gaza. 'I just wanted to make sure that every person knows that despite me being fired, demonised, spoken ill about, I haven't changed my position,' she said. 'That's what this really is, a petty act of vandalism. No one's worried about me coming to Australia because they're angry that they've put this narrative out about me and my listeners haven't accepted it.' NewsWire has reached out to Ms Owens' team for comment. The influencer, who split from mainstream US conservative commentator Ben Shapiro and his news outlet The Daily Wire in March this year, counts 5.8 million followers on Twitter and some five million on Instagram. Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim called on Mr Burke to cancel Ms Owens' visa, arguing she failed the character test under the Migration Act. 'At a time of unprecedented strains on the cohesiveness of Australian society, which is very largely the outcome of ignorant and malicious comment on social media, the last thing we need to be importing into our country is yet another so-called celebrity who has made racist and bigoted comments about Jews and other vulnerable groups,' he said. The mayor of a small South Carolina town has died in a car crash days after its entire police force quit over complaints about 'troublesome councilman'. Mayor George Garner II, 49, of McColl, was driving along westbound Highway 34 in Mechanicsville in a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe when he veered left of the center line and collided head on with an 18-seater Volvo tractor-trailer at around 2.50pm on November 26. Emergency responders took both Garner and the driver of the truck to a nearby hospital where the mayor succumbed to his injuries. The condition of the driver remains unknown. According to coroner Todd Hardee, the mayor was being pursued by a Marlboro County Deputy at the time of the crash. However, he clarified in a Facebook post that he was not implying that any laws had been broken by the word 'pursuit' rather 'an effort to protect the well being of Mr. Garner'. The coroner also said that he will make a ruling on the manner of death in the coming days. Mayor pro tempore Brian Blue assured residents: 'I know its a hard time right now for our town, but us as a council and me as your mayor pro tempore, we will continue fighting for you all.' A funeral service for the mayor will be held at 3pm on December 3 at McColl Church of God. Burial will follow at Rogers cemetery, according to WPDE. Mayor George Garner II, 49, of McColl, was driving along westbound Highway 34 in Mechanicsville in a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe when he suddenly traveled left of the center line and collided head on with an 18-seater Volvo tractor-trailer at around 2.50pm on November 26 The coroner also said that he will make a ruling on the manner of death in the coming days Garner's untimely death comes within a week of Police Chief Bob Hale and the town's four officers' resignation from their respective roles Garner's death comes within a week of Police Chief Bob Hale and the town's four officers' resignation from their respective roles. In a lengthy statement, Hale revealed that he stepped back from being Chief due to alleged repeated harassment, personal attacks and 'the overall creation of a toxic work environment' by a town councilman. He also claimed that the department was facing a depleted budget and said appeals for funding as well as training were also being ignored after the certain councilman was elected. Hale included allegations that for months, he had 'endured unwarranted and malicious behavior' aimed at undermining his integrity and leadership. He claimed that the 'toxic atmosphere' at the department 'hindered its ability to function effectively' - despite multiple efforts to improve the situation and address the problem through 'professional channels'. 'As a law enforcement leader, my primary duty is to serve and protect the people of this community while ensuring my team can operate with dignity and respect,' he said. 'The ongoing actions of this particular Councilman have made it impossible to fulfill this mission without compromising our principles and well-being. 'I also can't help but feel that these consistent negative acts were strategically used to inhibit the continued growth and success of the department. Emergency responders took both Garner and the driver of the truck to a nearby hospital - where the mayor succumbed to his injuries. The condition of the driver remains unknown 'This lack of investment hampered our ability to operate at the standard the citizens of the Town of McColl rightfully expect and deserve. 'The safety of the residents and the well-being of the officers should have been prioritized by committing the necessary resources to build a department capable of addressing the complexities of 21st-century policing. 'Sadly, this was not the case and the majority of my tenure as Chief of Police was spent clearing the names of my officers as well as myself, from the numerous falsehoods that were made against us.' Another officer who resigned also said: 'At the end of the day, I have a family and when my job's constantly getting threatened and certain things are getting said, I'm not going to stay somewhere and tolerate that,' according to WYFF. Former McColl Investigator Courtney Bulusan added to Hale's comments and said her job too had faced challenges due to the lack of equipment. 'I was on my way to a call when that one just stopped working. We need cars,' Bulusan said. The councilman has not been named by any of the officers in their respective statements. The police team's last working day was on November 22. Since their mass resignation, town locals have been left worried about their safety. At the time, Resident William Groom stressed over how many could be at risk now that there is no police force. The councilman has not been named by any of the officers in their respective statements. The police team's last working day was on November 22 A funeral service for the mayor will be held at 3pm on December 3 at McColl Church of God. Burial will follow at Rogers cemetery 'Say if someone were stabbed or shot or whatever. Without police enforcement, they would have to come from the sheriff's office in Bennettsville 'We're talking 10 or 15 minutes and someone could possibly expire in that amount of time. Without police enforcement, it's definitely a bad situation', he said. Prior to his death, Garner had asked the Marlboro County Sheriffs Office and other nearby agencies to help cover the town in the meantime. He had also enlisted the help of the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division and assured residents that his office was actively working to hire a new Chief and officers, according to the New York Post. An expert has revealed a small detail in overseas bottles of booze that can indicate a potentially deadly drink, as the Australian government issues an urgent warning over a specific brand of vodka and whisky to avoid at all costs. Aussie backpackers Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both 19 and from Melbourne, and four other tourists died after falling ill in Vang Vieng, a popular tourist town in Laos, two weeks ago from suspected methanol poisoning. Methanol is a colourless, flammable liquid that smells remarkably similar to ethanol, the base element of all alcoholic drinks, but cannot be broken down in the human body. There is no way to test for methanol outside a lab, which means it is incredibly dangerous because it has devastating effects in even small doses, including blindness, organ failure and death. However, safe drinking advocate Colin Ahearn has suggested that its presence can sometimes be spotted in drinks. Mr Ahearn, who runs the 'Just Don't Drink Spirits in Bali' Facebook page, recently shared photos of two nearly identical bottles of rum sent to him by a young man who had travelled to Bali a few years ago. The booze in the Bali-bought bottle appeared a lot lighter than a similar bottle of the same brand purchased in duty free - a key giveaway that it could be spiked with methanol, Mr Ahearn suggested. It comes as the Australian Government website Smartraveller has issued a new warning about drinking in Laos urging Australians to avoid Tiger Vodka and Tiger Whisky because of 'serious safety concerns'. The 'rum' on the left was purchased from a Balinese mini-mart, the one on the right from a Duty Free store Melbourne teenager Bianca Jones (pictured) died after a suspected mass methanol poisoning in Laos Eight staff from the Nana Backpacker Hostel, where Melbourne teenager Holly Bowles (above) died after drinking an allegedly contaminated beverage, were arrested on Monday 'Australians should avoid consuming these products due to these serious safety concerns,' the new Smartraveller alert states. 'Several foreign nationals, including Australians, have been victims in November 2024 of methanol poisoning through consuming alcoholic drinks. 'Be alert to the potential risks particularly with spirit-based drinks including cocktails.' The six people who died in Laos had all been staying at Nana Backpackers Hostel where they were reportedly given free shots of Tiger Vodka. The hostel owner and barman, Duong Duc Toan, previously insisted it wasn't his Tiger Vodka that made his guests ill. Daily Mail Australia does not suggest otherwise. Eight staff members, including Mr Toan, at the hostel have been arrested by police. No charges have been laid. Safe drinking expert Mr Ahearn said the man who had sent him the photo of the two rum bottles was hesitant to swill the Bali-bought bottle as it lacked the signature dark tone of the drop he was accustomed to. It comes as the Australian Government website Smartraveller has issued a new warning about drinking in Laos urging Australians to avoid Tiger Vodka and Tiger Whisky because of 'serious safety concerns'. (ictured: Hostel manager and bartender Duong Duc Toan previously claimed it wasn't his Tiger Vodka that made the tourists sick and Daily Mail Australia does not suggest otherwise Mr Ahearn posted the comparison shots to his Facebook page 'Just Don't Drink Spirits in Bali' on Thursday in the wake of Ms Bowles' and Ms Jones' devastating deaths from suspected methanol poisoning in Laos. 'He said it loomed too light ... (he) drank the Captain regularly and was very aware of what it should look like,' Mr Ahearn wrote online. 'He decided to contact me versus just drinking it. Great move as it turns out.' The anonymous man compared the mini-mart bottle of rum to a bottle of Captain Morgan he'd purchased at the Bali duty free. 'He took both bottles home to Melbourne if I recall, had a small taste of both, of course the lighter one didn't taste anything like it should. The right tasted fine,' Mr Ahearn said. In the comparison photo, the mini-market bottle had a lighter yellowish colouring; the real deal was a deep amber. Mr Ahearn noted the mini-mart bottle of rum looked to contain separated layers of liquids. 'If that top layer that looks separated is actually methanol, then my guess would have been a case of blindness as a minimum. How safe do you think this would be?' he asked viewers. Mr Ahearn's advice is for travellers to avoid drinking spirits in south-east Asia altogether,. Viewers were left furious the bottled liquor might have contained methanol. 'That's crazy. This shouldn't be happening. People who sell these diluted poisonous drinks are no better than drug dealers,' one woman wrote. 'We need TV ads about this during leavers [celebrations]. I tried to organise a talk at my son's school but they said 'no way'. So ridiculous,' another woman added. One woman revealed she'd had a hellish episode after drinking liquor overseas. 'I almost died and I went blind for almost four hours at least when I was poisoned. I was excruciating vomiting blood. Still have nightmares from time to time and it's been years since,' she wrote. Britain's 'revolving door' borders were laid bare again today as MailOnline reveals how a career criminal was deported to Romania and banned from the UK only to be arrested on almost the same spot in London weeks later. Ionut Stoica has been thrown into prison for the next 16 weeks before he will be flown back to his home country for what appears to be at least the third time. It came as net migration to Britain hit a record 906,000 in the year to June 2023, astonishing figures revealed on Thursday, made worse because the ONS admitted missing 166,000 migrants, making it the new highest year on record. Scotland Yard has released footage of the moment police rugby tackled Stoica to the floor on Westminster Bridge in early August. Stoica was spotted close to Big Ben and ran south across the Thames towards the London Eye - but an officer grabbed him and pinned him to the ground. He was arrested for illegal gambling on the bridge and breaching a deportation order banning him from the UK. After being prosecuted he was deported back to Romania again in September. But MailOnline can today reveal that brazen Ionut Stoica has snuck into Britain yet again - and was caught loitering on Westminster Bridge last Friday, yards from where he was arrested around 10 weeks earlier. One Tory MP said that the case showed how Labour is failing to get a grip on who is coming in and out of the UK. 'This man is now taking the p***. How on earth does he keep getting in?', he said. November 22 2024: The moment Ionut Stoica was arrested on Westminster Bridge - just ten weeks after he was deported from Britain August 2024: Stoica attempts to flee police who wanted him for breaching a deportation order banning him from the UK, having already been deported before The Romanian, who was also involved in illegal gambling on Westminster Bridge, was pinned to the floor. But despite sent back to Romania, he is already back Stoica has started a 16-week jail term in the UK and will be deported again in 2025 Stoica's rampant law-breaking and border-jumping emerged on social media. Sharing a picture of him in the back of a police van, the Met's Lambeth North-West team said: 'In the summer we arrested this young chap who was involved in illegal gambling on the bridge. He was also arrested for breaching a deportation order banning him from the UK. He was removed from the UK in September'. But late last week he was 'spotted' back on the bridge - 1,585 miles from Bucharest, where he was dispatched to by the British Government in September. 'We received information that he may well have made a reappearance in the UK. This information proved to be correct when he was spotted by an officer who was heading into the office, who promptly arrested him for breaching a deportation order again', the Met said. Stoica has pleaded guilty to another breach of his deportation order in court and was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, followed by immediate deportation to Romania when released. One social media user commented on the case and said: 'He'll be back'. Another said the UK has a 'revolving door'. While another joked that Stoica was in the UK so often he is 'surprised he wasnt given a house'. The Office for National Statistics admitted that it got its already high net migration numbers for last year wrong, a furious political row broke out. The ONS confirmed net migration the difference between those arriving in Britain and those emigrating rocketed to 906,000 in the year to June 2023 alone, having previously put the figure at 740,000. When it revised its data covering a three-year period 2021, 2022 and last year net migration hit 2,222,000, an addition to the country almost double the size of Birmingham and equivalent to more than 2,000 being added to Britains population every day. ONS statisticians admitted their calculations had previously missed 307,000 people from the figures. The scale of the numbers prompted angry exchanges in Westminster, with Sir Keir Starmer blaming the Tory government of running a one-nation experiment in open borders. The Conservatives retaliated by accusing the Prime Minister of having no credibility on the issue after he scrapped the Rwanda asylum scheme and shelved one of the Tories key visa reforms. Sir Keir said his Government would publish plans imminently to bring down the number of people entering the UK, promising to turn the page. But he refused to commit to putting a cap on numbers. If migration levels are under-estimated it means ministers and civil servants are unable to properly gauge demand for housing, the NHS, benefits, education and other public services, planning and setting policy accordingly. Tory MP Neil OBrien said: These figures are just incredible. The changes in this data deliver a further body blow to confidence in our ability to know who is in this country. We need a total overhaul of the way the Home Office and ONS treat migration data. Karl Williams, of the Centre for Policy Studies think-tank, said: Todays net migration figures from the ONS are astonishing. The scale of the adjustment raises a serious question mark over the quality of our migration data. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage added of the figures: Theyre horrendous if you want to get a GP appointment, horrendous if you want to travel around Britains motorways, horrendous if you want your kids or grandkids to ever get a foot on to the housing ladder. Horrendous in terms of producing very disjointed societies and communities. Net migration rose in June 2023 to far higher levels than initially estimated, according to the Office for National Statistics - prompting criticism of how it is gathering data Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. The ONS admitted its earlier figures had failed to fully adjust for large numbers of foreign nationals who stayed in this country when they changed visas. Statisticians had wrongly assumed most were going home, and counted them as emigrants when, in fact, they remained here. Sir Keir said a quadrupling of net migration over four years under the Tories had happened by design, not accident and amounted to a complete loss of control. But Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: If Keir Starmer really cared about bringing down net migration, he would not have suspended our increase to the family visa salary threshold and scrapped the Rwanda deterrent. Starmer has no credibility on this issue. It has also emerged that British taxpayers are shelling out almost 15million per day to fund the asylum system. Home Office figures confirm that spending hit 5.38billion in 2023-24 most of which went on hotels and other accommodation for asylum seekers. A former childcare worker described as 'one of Australia's worst paedophiles' has been sentenced to life in prison for hundreds of horrific sex offences committed over nearly two decades. Ashley Paul Griffith, 47, admitted to 307 offences, including 28 counts of rape committed between 2003 and 2022. His victims were predominantly girls aged between one and seven, with the youngest just 12 months old, according to police. He carried out his heinous crimes primarily at childcare centres in Queensland, Australia, but also in the region of New South Wales and even across the world in Pisa, Italy, where four of his victims were identified. Investigators uncovered thousands of photographs and videos he had filmed depicting the deplorable abuse. Many were uploaded to the dark web where Griffith was granted 'VIP user' status, sharing content with other paedophiles and advising them on how to abuse children. Australian Federal Police first arrested Griffith in August 2022 after painstakingly reviewing the horrific content he had created. Griffith had cropped his face and any distinguishing features out of the material, but investigators managed to trace the footage back to him due to a distinctive set of bedsheets that they learned had been sold primarily to childcare centres across Queensland. After charging him in 2023, senior officer Michael Fitzgerald said it was 'one of the most horrific cases' of child abuse the police force had seen. 'It's beyond the realms of anyone's imagination what this person did to these children,' he said at the time. Ashley Paul Griffith pleaded guilty to 307 charges against him He carried out his heinous crimes primarily at childcare centres in Queensland , Australia, but also in the region of New South Wales and even across the world in Pisa, Italy Griffith was charged with over 1,600 child sex offences, though most of these charges were later dropped as part of the legal proceedings. In an emotionally charged hearing, victims and their families shared harrowing impact statements. One mother, whose identity is protected by law, said: 'The only time she was away from me was when I placed her in your hands, which is something I'll regret for the rest of my life.' Another parent lamented that their daughter's 'innocent childhood had been taken away' because of Griffith's offending. '(You were the) one who was supposed to keep them safe in a childhood centre,' the parent said. 'I now look at every male teacher or carer with suspicion. Nowhere is safe.' Among the victims were two sisters abused by Griffiths. One, who once considered Griffith her favourite teacher, said: 'To find out what he was really doing was devastating. I don't seem to be able to process it even now because there's a disconnect between what I remember and the reality,' she said in quotes carried by The Courier Mail. Another survivor described how the abuse had left her grappling with mental illness: 'I will never know what my life could have been like. I can never know what it would have been to grow up unafraid of people,' she told The Guardian Australia. One father shared: 'I feel grief and anger because I failed in my duty to protect my family.' Another mother revealed how she had tried to shield her daughter from the knowledge of the abuse: 'I cannot undo what you did to her body, but I will do everything I can to limit the damage to her mind.' The case has also raised serious concerns about systemic failures within Australia's childcare industry as families outside the courtroom called for an investigation into how Griffith was able to operate undetected for so long. Griffith had passed the stringent series of background checks needed to work at childcare centres in the states of Queensland and New South Wales. 'Parents are walking their children into these centres today with a false sense of security,' one father warned. The 47-year-old had been offending since 2003 The parents of a victim (centre, blurred) talk to the media outside the Brisbane District Court amid proceedings against Ashley Paul Griffith Judge Paul Smith acknowledged the lasting damage, stating: 'There is no doubt there have been significant effects on many people. The harm inflicted on families will never be erased.' Griffith's sentencing also highlighted the chilling extent of his manipulation. Judge Smith noted that Griffith often gave his victims iPads to distract them, mocked them when they resisted, and denied his offences during 13 police interviews before eventually cooperating to a limited extent. Griffith appeared in Brisbane District Court on Friday for the completion of his sentencing, where Judge Smith called his crimes 'depraved and horrendous,' highlighting the 'significant breach of trust' involved. Judge Smith imposed a non-parole period of 27 years, stating Griffith was at a 'high risk of reoffending' due to his 'paedophilic disorder.' Griffith has been in custody for 831 days since his arrest and will be eligible for parole in 2049. However, given the nature and scale of his crimes, it is clear the impact on his victims and their families will endure far longer. The chairman of Gail's has warned some of his businesses 'might not survive' the Labour government as he criticised it for 'crushing' the private sector. Luke Johnson, a former boss of Pizza Express who is director and co-owner of companies employing 10,000 people, criticised plans by ministers to impose a raft of new workers' rights on British businesses. He told the Employment Rights Bill committee: 'Even if we don't suffer a technical recession next year, it's odds on there will be a serious slow down. In some cases, some of my companies might not survive next year.' The serial entrepreneur said insolvency specialists would be 'rubbing their hands' with glee at the prospect of an approaching surge in company collapses. He added: 'The timing of this is beyond belief... it's death by a thousand cuts. If you crush the private sector, you crush jobs.' Luke Johnson has criticised plans by ministers to impose a raft of new workers' rights on British businesses Mr Johnson did not specify what businesses he had concerns about. He has a wide range of commercial interests, including investments in firms ranging from swimwear brand Zoggs to Giraffe restaurants and ten pin bowling business All Star Lanes. He also sits on the board of the Brighton Pier Group, Revolution Bars and Brompton bicycles. Angela Rayner's overhaul of workers' rights contains more than 70 measures aimed at improving conditions for employees and boosting trade union power. They include ending exploitative zero-hours contracts, establishing day-one rights for paternity and parental leave, and making flexible working the default where practical. The Government had admitted the workers' rights overhaul could cost businesses up to 5billion a year, but watchdog Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC) has said this figure may need 'clarifying'. Appearing before MPs yesterday, Mr Johnson warned smaller companies could become overwhelmed by the increase in costs and time-consuming red tape. 'The idea that companies that can barely afford any form of HR could stomach a big new bill of 150 pages in 28 measures they won't even have time to read it,' he said. 'You never know, until you get a big tribunal, what the real cost is.' The entrepreneur said the timing of the employment bill just a few months after businesses were clobbered in Labour's first Budget was 'beyond belief'. Angela Rayner's overhaul of workers' rights contains more than 70 measures aimed at improving conditions for employees and boosting trade union power He added: 'Jobs don't just fall from the sky they appear because companies are created by risk takers. Jobs only exist because they are helping that business to progress. If you crush the private sector, you crush jobs. Without jobs, you don't have civilization.' The RPC believes the new measures will cost employers more than officials have anticipated. In particular, it highlighted the cost of an agreement on adult social care pay which may be 'much higher' than the 1billion the Department for Business and Trade claimed. The watchdog deemed eight of the 23 individual impact assessments into the measures not fit for purpose. Because six are in the 'highest impact' category, the overall opinion was that the impact assessment as a whole is 'not fit for purpose', the RPC said. It added the estimate 'does not account for the likelihood employers may offset the costs of regulation and mandated benefits through wage adjustments, benefit reductions or other compensatory mechanisms which would eventually be borne by the employee'. Earlier this week, business groups issued fresh warnings about the impact of Labour's plans. The Federation of Small Businesses said the RPC's findings were a 'sharp wake-up call' for ministers, who must 'think again about the dangers of a cavalier approach to jobs and work'. Policy chairman Tina McKenzie said: 'The country cannot afford to pile further cost and risk on to small employers based on such an overwhelmingly weak evidence base.' Tory business spokesman Andrew Griffith said: 'Businesses up and down the country knew this already. Just like the National Insurance jobs tax, this Bill is the second wave of an attack on job creators.' The Prime Minister's spokesman said: 'These initial indicative assessments of the primary legislation represent the best estimate of likely impact at this stage. However, we intend to refine our analysis and conduct further assessments.' This is the chilling moment a killer was caught on camera pretending to be someone else as she was arrested for her honeytrap role in a brutal machete murder. Rebecca Moore, 25, claimed to be 'Lauren Smith' when she was cornered by police over the murder of Sacad Ali, who was hacked to death with machetes. But her cover was blown when they identified her from a photo and she then wailed 'no, no, no' as she was handcuffed by police. She had lured Mr Ali to a park offering him sex and promising to buy crack cocaine from him before he was brutally attacked in an ongoing drugs feud. Mr Ali, 24, was playing video games and relaxing at a friend's flat in the Netherthorpe area of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, on March 9 this year when the sex worker called and convinced him to leave the flat and meet her in Ponderosa Park. Her two accomplices, Barney Griffin and Jack Douglas who had been running a drugs line in Sheffield and were 17 and 16 respectively at the time, then appeared from the darkness to ambush Mr Ali before stabbing him 16 times with a machete as he begged them to stop their brutal assault. They then fled the scene, leaving him to die from his injuries. Rebecca Moore was heard on body-worn footage crying 'no, no, no' as she was handcuffed by police In footage on March 12 released by the force, before she was arrested by officers Moore lied about her name and age in order to try and evade justice It shows as the officer involved waited for a picture of Moore to be sent through to his phone in order to confirm her identity Despite the best efforts of paramedics, Mr Ali died in Ponderosa Park shortly after 5am, prompting a murder investigation to be launched. Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Ben Wood, of South Yorkshire Police, said police then quickly surrounded the park. Moore had now been found guilty of murdering Mr Ali on November 11 after a 16-day trial at Sheffield Crown Court. Griffin, 18, and Douglas, 17, had already pleaded guilty to murder and possession of a bladed article. DCI Wood said: 'After our officers arrived in Ponderosa Park, they immediately secured a large scene in order to preserve any possible pieces of evidence before they began gathering witness statements from as many people as possible who were in the area at the time. 'They provided physical descriptions of the attackers, including details of the clothes they were wearing, with these matching clothing we seized from Griffin's home following his arrest. 'Forensics work was also pivotal as blood recovered from near Oxford Street matched that of Griffin, with CCTV also proving crucial as this allowed us to track the movements of those involved and implicated Moore, Griffin, Douglas as the people involved in Sacad's murder.' Yesterday Moore and Douglas were jailed for minimum terms of 15 years while Griffin was ordered to serve at least 16 years. In March 12 footage released by the force, Moore lies to police about her name and age in order to try and evade justice. It shows one officer waiting for a picture of Moore to be sent through to his phone in order to confirm her identity. Left to right: Barney Griffin, Rebecca Moore and Jack Douglas have now been sentenced following the brutal killing of Sacad Ali Following the hearing, Sacad Ali's heartbroken family said it felt like his death had taken 'the light out of our lives.' With the net closing in on Griffin and Douglas, they handed themselves into police custody later that morning. During the sentencing yesterday, a judge lifted restrictions banning Douglas' identification. Passing sentence on them, Judge Richardson said: 'If ever there was a case that demonstrates the twin evils of drug peddling and carrying knives, particularly young people carrying knives, this is it. 'This case demonstrates what can happen when young people get embroiled in drug peddling and a drug-related turf war erupts.' Following the hearing, Mr Ali's heartbroken family said it felt like his death had taken 'the light out of our lives.' They said: 'Sacad was a loving son and brother who was loved by all his family. He was the heart of our family and was always happy and smiling. 'All those who knew Sacad, knew how positive and happy he was. It feels like all the light out of our lives has been taken. 'Our lives have been completely broken by what has happened, and we will never be able to forget. 'We would like to thank everyone who helped Sacad and who came forward to assist the police. A police cordon was put in place at the scene of the stabbing in the Netherthorpe area of Sheffield The park is located near Sheffield University. Pictured: A police cordon at the scene Multiple police vehicles were pictured at the scene of the stabbing 'We would also like to thank DCI Ben Wood, DC Lisa Glover, DC Karen Edge and all the officers who have been involved in the investigation.' DCI Wood said: 'I know that today's sentencing won't bring Sacad back but I hope this gives his family, friends, loved ones and everybody who knew him some sort of closure as they try to rebuild their lives and recover from the grief inflicted upon them. 'The two teenagers murdered Sacad in a barbaric way, with Moore also murdering him by duping him into meeting and luring him to the spot where he would be brutally attacked. 'Rather than admit her guilt, Moore then made Sacad's loved ones relive the events of the day he died by making them endure a trial in court, after which she was found guilty of murder. 'A lot of exemplary detective and policing work went into this murder investigation and today's result is testament to everyone's hard work on this tragic case. The acting chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police dubbed 'Britain's sexiest copper' was suspended over sending 'personal' messages on his work phone. Jim Colwell is being investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for alleged breaches of professional standards. His suspension came after a compulsory referral to the police watchdog by Alison Hernandez, the police and crime commissioner for Devon and Cornwall. Mr Colwell was leading the force in place of chief constable Will Kerr, who was suspended in July last year following 'serious allegations of sexual offences'. In a statement the IOPC said Mr Colwell had been served with a gross misconduct notice over allegations he used his work mobile phone to exchange messages of a 'personal nature'. 'Following a referral from the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner on Monday November 25 we have started an independent investigation into the conduct of acting chief constable Jim Colwell,' a spokesman said. 'On Wednesday he was served a notice telling him he is being investigated for potential gross misconduct in respect of his use of a work issue mobile phone to exchange messages of a personal nature without a policing purpose. 'The notice also relates to his alleged conduct concerning a force disciplinary matter. Our investigation is in its very early stages.' Jim Colwell (pictured) is being investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for alleged breaches of professional standards His suspension came after a compulsory referral to the police watchdog by Alison Hernandez (pictured), the police and crime commissioner for Devon and Cornwall The statement added: 'The serving of such a notice advises an officer their conduct is subject to investigation and does not necessarily mean that any proceedings will follow.' The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (PONI) and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) are also investigating Mr Kerr. The PONI said its criminal investigation followed 'serious allegations of sexual offences' against Mr Kerr, formerly the assistant chief constable at the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). Mr Kerr had said he 'strenuously denies any allegations of criminality'. Mr Colwell was dubbed 'Britain's sexiest copper' after Facebook users swooned over his looks. Ms Hernandez said of Mr Colwell's suspension: 'Sadly it has been my duty to suspend acting chief constable Jim Colwell and refer this matter to the IOPC. 'Suspension is a neutral act to enable an independent and thorough investigation to take place. 'It has no bearing on any indication that the allegations will be upheld and should not be seen as such. 'Acting chief constable Colwell has seven days to make representations to me relating to his suspension. 'As required for any suspension of a senior officer, I have this morning informed the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Panel of my decision and fully understand that there may be concerns within the force, in our communities and with our partners in relation to this suspension. The headquarters of Devon and Cornwall Police. It was previously led by chief constable Will Kerr, who was suspended in July last year 'I share those concerns and resolving leadership issues in the force remains my most pressing priority.' The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (PONI) and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) are investigating Mr Kerr. The PONI said its criminal investigation followed 'serious allegations of sexual offences' against Mr Kerr, formerly the assistant chief constable at the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). Mr Kerr had said he 'strenuously denies any allegations of criminality'. Women arrested by the Taliban have said that they are being subjected to 'brutal' rapes and beatings in Afghan prisoners. They said they were arrested for begging by Taliban officials enforcing draconian new anti-begging laws before being sexually abused, tortured and forced to work in prison. Children were allegedly also detained, abused and some were even beaten to death. The women explained that they had to beg for money and food for their children as they were unable to find paid work after the Taliban took power in Afghanistan in 2021 and barred women from working. Earlier his year the Taliban passed a new law prohibiting 'healthy people' who have enough money for one day's food from begging on the streets. The Taliban said they have 'rounded up' nearly 60,000 beggars just in Kabul. One mother-of-three, aged 32, said she had to move to Kabul to beg for food after her husband, who was a member of the national army of Afghanistan's former government, disappeared. After her husband's disappearance, she said she went to the neighbourhood councillor for help. 'He said there was no help and told me to sit by the bakery [and] maybe someone would give me something,' she told the Guardian. Women begging have reportedly been targeted under the new law in Kabul, where the Taliban claims to have detained nearly 60,000 people File image of women and children begging for bread outside a bakery in central Kabul, Afghanistan, Jan. 14, 2022 She only learned of the Taliban's anti-begging laws when officials stopped their car near the bakery and forced her into the vehicle after taking her son. The woman then allegedly spent three days and nights in a Taliban prison, where she was forced to cook, clean and do laundry for the men employed there at first before officials told her that she would be fingerprinted and have her biometric details recorded. Her resistance resulted in a brutal beating, leaving her unconscious. The 32-year-old claims that she was then raped. The woman said she thought about suicide following her release, but worries about who would feed her children have stopped her. Another woman arrested after begging in Kabul said she was taken to Badam Bagh prison and held there for 15 days. The mother of a four-year-old daughter, whose husband abandoned her and her child, also said she was forced to clean and wash dishes. She said she was beaten and raped, along with two other women, while in prison, which left her traumatised and depressed. The woman added that even young children who polished shoes on the streets were detained. An Afghan woman begs for money from passing cars in the snow, with a child huddled beside her, on the Kabul road south to Pul-e Alam, Afghanistan, on January 17, 2022 Another former detainee told Afghan news outlet Zan Times that two children were beaten to death in front of her while she was in prison. 'No one dared speak,' she added. 'If we spoke up, they'd beat us and call us shameless. Watching those children die before my eyes is something I'll never forget.' The Taliban even included a provision for beggars dying while in prison into their anti-begging law, which states that if a beggar dies in custody, authorities will handle the burial should the deceased not have any relatives or should their family refuse to collect the body. Beggars are categorised as 'professional', 'destitute' or 'organised' by a newly-established commission, which involves taking their biometric data and fingerprints. Those categorised as 'destitute' are technically entitled to financial assistance following their release from detention, but the women said they had received no help. One said she had been too afraid to beg again and instead was forced to rely on her neighbours to help out. 'These days, I go door to door in my neighbourhood, collecting stale, dry bread. I have no other choice,' she told the Zan Times. 'The Taliban are brutal and oppressive but where can I go to complain about them? We are alone.' Three 'narco-submarines' trafficking $8 billion worth of drugs from South America to Australia have been intercepted by the Colombian navy in what was a a six-week-long global drug bust. The latest phase of operation 'Orion' resulted in the seizure of 1,400 tons of drugs, including 225 tons of cocaine and 128 tons of marijuana, navy official Orlando Enrique Grisales told reporters in a press conference on Wednesday. More than 400 people were arrested in the crackdown in October and November that involved the security agencies of the United States, Brazil, Spain, the Netherlands and several other nations. Grisales said officials also seized a semisubmersible vessel on its way to Australia with Colombian cocaine, revealing a 'new route' of trafficking with sophisticated boats that can cover the distance of some 10,000 miles without needing to refuel. 'The first was discovered in Colombian watersm and thanks to the maps it carruedm we identified the route', Grisales said. The last submarine to have been intercepted during the bust was found off the coast of Clipperton Island in the eastern Pacific. A kilogram of cocaine is sold for up to $240,000 in Australia, said the official - about six times more than the price in the United States. The operation also uncovered previously-unknown alliances between cartels from Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru with groups from Europe and Oceania. The Colombian navy seized three "narco-submarines" trafficking cocaine across the Pacific from South America to Australia, as part of a massive bust that intercepted drugs worth more than $8 billion over six weeks The latest phase of operation 'Orion' resulted in the seizure of 1,400 tons of drugs, including 225 tons of cocaine and 128 tons of marijuana More than 400 people were arrested in the crackdown in October and November 'It is not just a pyramid structure as the cartels once were. Today they are organized crime networks joined together,' said Grisales. Colombia is the world's biggest cocaine producer and exporter, mainly to the United States and Europe. Meanwhile, Australians are the highest per capita users of cociane in the world, according to the OECD. Last year, the South American country set a new record for cocaine production and cultivation of the coca leaf it is made from. It comes after Royal Navy commandos intercepted a narco-sub and seized two-tonnes of cocaine worth a staggering 1600 million back in September. Royal Marines based on patrol ship HMS Trent made the historic bust during a patrol in the Caribbean. A former model has been jailed for four years for a drink-driving crash that caused the death of her best friend. Jennifer Thomas, 46, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of 50-year-old mother-of-two Sheila Dunne in February of this year. Thomas had consumed 12 alcoholic drinks before getting behind the wheel of her jeep, in which Ms Dunne was a passenger, when she lost control of the vehicle and mounted a ditch in Glanmire, Cork, on February 11. Judge Helen Boyle imposed a sentence of five years with the last year suspended. She said that there was no sentence she could impose that would bring justice for the devastating loss of Ms Dunne, a much-loved mother, daughter, cousin, sister and friend. The court also heard that Thomas had falsely told a garda that it was Ms Dunne, and not her, who was behind the wheel. Judge Boyle praised Lilley Dunne, the 23-year-old daughter of the deceased, for her bravery in delivering her victim impact statement herself. She also commended her for the level of responsibility she had shown in taking on the care of her younger brother TJ, who has autism and is non-verbal, now he has lost both parents. Sheila Dunne was predeceased by husband Ted, who died from Covid in 2021. Jennifer Thomas (pictured), 46, has been jailed for four years for a drink-driving crash that caused the death of her best friend Mother-of-two Sheila Dunne,50, was killed when Thomas crashed her jeep in Glanmire, Cork, on February 11 this year In her victim impact statement on behalf of herself and her brother, Lilley Dunne condemned the reckless decision made by a selfish individual. She said of her brother TJ: He is struggling to understand why she is no longer with us. It breaks my heart into even more pieces when he says, I want Mommy please and I will never be able to make that better for him. 'When he is upset, I remind him that Mommy is with Daddy and they are up in the sky. It is impossible to gauge the extent of the trauma he has endured. Ms Dunne said that Thomass absence of remorse had made the grieving process so much more challenging. She said of her mother: She has only started to live her life again after Dads passing. She will never get the opportunity to finish her bucket list, to see out the dreams she had for her future or to watch TJ and I grow up. Sheilas mother Esther OBrien said that she was heartbroken to have lost her daughter to a drunk driver. She said: Her absence has changed everything for me and for my grandchildren. Only for them life is not worth living. Judge Boyle said that sustained poor driving led Thomas to mount a ditch at Sarsfield Court in Glanmire. She noted that Thomas had fallen asleep behind the wheel twice while stopped at traffic lights. During the course of her erratic driving, Thomas narrowly missed two pedestrians, knocked down traffic cones, took two U-turns and drove on the wrong side of the road. In sentencing Judge Boyle said that she accepted that Thomas had experienced certain difficulties in life. The judge remarked: She has over the years had attendances with mental health services. She suffers from both depression and anxiety and I accept she made an intentional attempt on her life in October of 2024. 'She has a long history of mental health difficulties. She understands and accepts she caused the death and has caused enormous loss to [Sheila Dunnes] friends and family. Detective Garda Mark Durcan had told Judge Boyle that Thomas had consumed espresso martinis, Prosecco, gin, mimosa and tonic, and wine on February 11, having gone for lunch with Ms Dunne in Douglas in Cork. Det Gda Durcan said that the crash occurred when Thomas drove erratically around a left bend. He said: She failed to straighten the vehicle, went on to a grass verge, mounted a walled kerb and overturned on to the drivers side at 7.31pm. Thomas, of 10 Oakfield View, Glanmire, Cork, told emergency services that she was behind the wheel of the vehicle when they arrived at the scene of the crash at Sarsfield Court. However, she falsely claimed to a garda that Ms Dunne, who was in the front passenger seat of the jeep, was driving as she had more control. Det Gda Durcan indicated that during Garda interviews Ms Thomas was shown CCTV footage and then accepted she was driving. She said she had no recollection of the incident due to concussion. However, she was found not to have concussion. Following the sentencing hearing, Lilly Dunne urged motorists not to drive drunk, remarking: Drunk driving is a choice. A choice that ruins lives. Gregg Wallace cried after being reprimanded for making a 'rape joke' that left a MasterChef contestant 'really distressed' and forced another off set, Ulrika Jonsson has claimed, as a slew of stars accused him of being obsessed with sex and 'weird' on set. Wallace stepped down from the show yesterday amid allegations he made 'sexual comments to 13 colleagues' and was even accused of wandering around naked with his penis in a sock. Ulrika Jonsson, who appeared on Celebrity MasterChef in 2017, today claimed a female contestant was hugely upset by Wallace's 'rape joke' which caused another person to storm off set and complain to their bosses. 'They then went off to speak to Gregg. After a while he came upand he apologised. He could hardly get his words out. He was apologising, and he had tears in his eyes', she said. But she added: 'The apology should have been to everyone. It felt like, you know, 'don't make the joke in the first place' and said she 'definitely' felt uncomfortable on set following his joke. Today Aggie Mackenzie, presenter of 'How Clean is Your House' who was also on the 2011 series of celebrity MasterChef, said Wallace 'behaved like a sort of Sid James character' who would tell sex jokes and 'swagger around and do as he liked'. Sir Rod Stewart called him a 'tubby bully' last night and accused him of 'humiliating' his wife Penny Lancaster on the show, where he criticised her tartare sauce and timekeeping. Charlotte Crosby, who was on Celebrity MasterChef this year, said he had been 'extremely unpleasant' to be around. Through his lawyers, the grocer turned broadcaster has insisted that it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature. But a slew of celebrities, MasterChef staff and crew on his other shows have come forward, accusing him of being like a Carry On film character making 'lesbian jokes', asking a gay woman if she was 'sure' she didn't want to date men and other 'highly inappropriate' comments on set. Another woman was apparently asked if she put her finger up her partner's anus. One refused to work with him again, accusing him of asking her to sort his parking tickets and making suggestive jokes about them 'getting off' in his car and her being close in age to his wife. Another MasterChef production worker claimed today Gregg would joke about threesomes with prostitutes and how he 'loves spanking'. There were also 'disgusting sex-related' gags, including one too rude to publish about an 'aunt' and her genitals while tasting a contestant's dish. Through his lawyers, the grocer turned broadcaster has insisted that it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature. Ulrika is the latest star to speak out about Wallace, who has been complained about by 13 people about his conduct while working with him over a 17-year period across five shows, from 2005 to 2022. Celebrity whistleblowers include: Aggie Mackenzie said Gregg 'behaved like a sort of Sid James character' who made 'stupid, unfunny jokes that people kind of had to tolerate'; Charlotte Crosby branded him 'extremely unpleasant'; Kirsty Wark accused him of 'wrong' and inappropriate 'sexualised' behaviour during filming; Aasmah Mir, also a MasterChef contestant, shared cryptic tweet after Wallace left the show yesterday; Footage of him telling Katy Brand: 'I'll munch the living daylights out of your little tart' emerges; Sir Rod Stewart says he bullied Penny Lancaster, who was criticised by Gregg for her tartare sauce and timings; Penny is expected to help the BBC inquiry; Ulrika Jonsson claimed Wallace made a rape joke when she appeared on Celebrity MasterChef in 2017 (pictured) Gregg Wallace stepped down from MasterChef on Thursday amid allegations he made 'sexual comments to 13 colleagues' Ulrika Jonsson today claimed a female contestant was hugely upset by Wallace's 'rape joke', which caused another member to storm off set and complain Mr Wallace was at home in Kent yesterday as it emerged he was under investigation for poor behaviour And production staff claimed: Star allegedly joked about threesomes with prostitutes and 'spanking'; Male colleague claims Gregg made a foul joke about food tasting like an aunt's intimate areas; A female runner claims he asked her if she ever put her finger up her boyfriend's bottom; A woman refused to work with him again after her experience on BBC's Eat Well For Less TV show after he allegedly asked her to sort his parking tickets. He allegedly said she was only just younger than his wife and: 'You can come to my car, but can you handle the fact everyone will think you just got off with a celebrity?' She and a colleague also said he left a bathroom with no top on to ask them to get him coffee; Woman who worked on Channel 5's Gregg Wallace's Big Weekends in 2019 said he took out his phone and showed her photos of a woman in her underwear. She also claims she took him back to his hotel room to show him his on-screen outfits and so took off his top and allegedly said 'let me give you a fashion show'; Wallace allegedly wandered into the MasterChef studio 'completely naked' apart from a 'sock pulled over his penis' before throwing himself into a 'silly dance'; Witness claims he allegedly mimicked a sex act while a crew member was on her knees; He allegedly joked about going commando under his jeans at work; Comparing him to the Carry On star Sid James, famous for his saucy comments and sexual innuendo, Aggie claimed Wallace made 'stupid, unfunny jokes that people kind of had to tolerate.' She said: 'He used to fill all the time with these stupid, unfunny jokes that people kind of had to tolerate. 'It's as if he's never really grown up or been properly supervised and told to kind of watch what he's saying. She also said 'he'd be very well aware of his power...knowing that he can swagger around and do as he liked': 'It's always, you know, the most junior of members have the least power and the smallest voices and they've got most to lose. So, you know, if you want to hang on to your job and make your way in telly, you're not going to stick your head above the parapet, are you? 'And so, yeah, somebody in his position, he'd be very well aware of his power, possibly in an unconscious way, but knowing that he can, you know, swagger around and do as he liked'. She also shone a light on his relationship with co-star John Torode, calling them 'very, very different people' with no real 'connection'. Aggie said: 'They behave very differently. And I observed that when the cameras were off, they would go to separate ends of the room. They didn't really communicate or have a connection off screen'. BBC presenter Gregg, 60, (pictured) stepped away from MasterChef after 13 people including Newsnight host Kirsty Wark accused him of 'wrong' and inappropriate 'sexualised' behaviour during filming Wallace allegedly regularly spoke about sex, spanking and domination when he worked on Big Weekends in 2019. He is also accused of constantly making 'lesbian jokes' when he worked on the travel show after becoming 'fascinated' with a female co-worker's love life when he found out she dated women. The moment he refused to eat Penny Lancaster's tartare sauce - blasting her for using 'whole eggs instead of egg yolks' - re-emerged today after her husband Sir Rod Steward branded him a 'tubby bully' who 'humiliated' his wife. Gregg also chastised Penny, 53, for being late serving her food to critics in the quarter finals, leaving her in tears when she appeared on the show in 2021. Sir Rod said last night: 'Good riddance Wallace... You humiliated my wife when she was on the show, but you had that bit cut out didn't you? You're a tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully. Karma got ya'. It comes as Wallace 60, stepped away from MasterChef amid accusations of 'sexualised' behaviour during filming of the hit BBC show. On one occasion he allegedly told a junior female colleague he wasn't wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans, is accused of wandering into the studio naked apart from a sock on his penis and mimicking a sex act on a producer when she knelt down to clean his trousers. In the resurfaced clip, Penny was humiliated when her fried calamari and homemade tartare sauce went awry, with the judges refusing to taste what was brandied a 'raw egg/oil milkshake'. When initially tasked with making her own tartare sauce the former Loose Woman star seemed to believe she was getting off to a promising start, beaming with confidence. She quipped to the camera: 'I'm doing surprisingly well compared to what I imagined how I'd be doing. I don't want to slip up now.' But the 53-year-old spoke too soon as her sauce quickly went wrong as John delivered the devastating blow of declaring the sauce inedible. Penny Lancaster was initially beaming with confidence when she began making her tartare sauce - but that changed when Torode and Wallace went to taste her food As chaos filled the kitchen during her stint on the show, Wallace told Penny: 'Mate, we can't be 10 minutes late,' calling her delay 'serious' Fellow judge John Torode branded it a 'raw egg/oil milkshake' as Wallace informed her she had used whole eggs instead of egg yolks Following Gregg's departure, Rod Stewart released a statement to Instagram branding him a 'tubby bully' When she served, Penny said: 'That tartare sauce doesn't look like the tartare sauce I'd normally have', as Gregg informed her: 'You used whole eggs instead of egg yolks'. 'What I've got in here is a raw egg/oil milkshake. Unfortunately, I can't eat that,' co-judge John Torode added. However all wasn't lost for Penny as she received compliments on her calamari from the duo and later wowed the hosts with her chicken and coconut curry, green papaya chutney, grated apple, turnip and carrot salad as well as the coconut rice. Gregg showered her with praise at the time branding her 'a stand out cook', adding: 'I found myself going from bowl to bowl to bowl and finding it difficult to stop, you have had what we call in the industry and very good day.' However another clip showed a tense moment between Penny and Gregg as chaos ensued in the kitchen. In the episode where the model was later eliminated, Gregg told Penny: 'Mate, we can't be 10 minutes late,' calling her delay 'serious'. Penny admitted she was so emotional: 'Everything piled on top of me. I just hope the wait was worth it,' she said. But unfortunately she was knocked out of the show. Post-results, a choked Penny said: 'It would've been incredible to get through to the semi finals but it wasn't meant to be. Absolutely no regrets whatsoever. I've always loved to eat food, never loved to cook - and now I love both.' The recently resurfaced clip comes as Sir Rod Stewart issued a furious rant at Gregg Wallace branding him a him a 'tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully' for 'humiliating' his wife when she appeared on the show in 2021. Following Gregg's departure, Rod wrote: 'So Greg [sic] Wallace gets fired from Master Chef. 'Good riddance Wallace... You humiliated my wife when she was on the show, but you had that bit cut out didn't you? 'You're a tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully. Karma got ya'. The BBC has since revealed that 13 people, including Kirsty Wark, have complained about his conduct while working with him over a 17-year period across five shows, from 2005 to 2022. Ms Walk alleges that Wallace told stories and jokes of a 'sexualised nature' in front of contestants and crew while filming Celebrity MasterChef in 2011 on two occasions, adding that his gags and comments were 'really, really in the wrong place'. Rod and wife Penny pictured together in 2019 BBC News said it had been told of other allegations, including the presenter 'talking openly about his sex life among others The BBC and Banijay declined to comment. Following Penny's eviction from the kitchen in 2021, she shared a cryptic post on Instagram hinting at 'a person's behaviour'. She wrote on Instagram: 'When you finally learn that a person's behaviour has more to do with their own struggle than it ever did with you, you learn grace'. On Thursday, Scottish broadcaster Aasmah Mir shared a picture of herself during the 2017 Celebrity MasterChef series - also with a cryptic message. It read: 'Always keep your receipts'. It is not yet known if she has also complained. The BBC claims that Gregg walked away from MasterChef today after BBC News sent a letter to his agent on Tuesday, setting out allegations from 13 people and giving him a right of reply. They say he was warned after a complaint was raised in 2018, but new historical claims emerged over the summer of 2024. Gregg is 'committed to fully cooperating throughout the process', the show's production company Banijay UK said. Gregg will be on BBC One as usual on Thursday night because MasterChef: The Professionals, which is already recorded, will transmit as planned and into December. MasterChef's Christmas specials will also still be broadcast. The chef has since thanked people for their support following accusations he mimicked a sex act and wandered into the MasterChef studio 'completely naked' apart from a 'sock covering his penis'. Now in a video posted on Instagram tonight, he said: 'I would like to thank all the people getting in touch, reach out and showing their support. 'That's good of you, thank you very much.' Wallace allegedly wandered into the MasterChef studio 'completely naked' apart from a 'sock pulled over his penis' before throwing himself into a 'silly dance', a report last night claimed. Wallace, 60, is also accused mimicking a sex act in front of a member of the show's production staff who was kneeling down to clean his trousers during filming, according to the lurid and so-far unsubstantiated allegations. The Daily Telegraph says it has spoken to a witness who claims to have seen both these alleged incidents. Gregg was also 'very touchy feely', the newspaper quotes the witness as saying. MailOnline has asked Mr Wallace to comment on the claims, which if proven would likely end the BBC career of one its biggest names in yet another sex-related crisis to grip the corporation. Today the star stepped away from MasterChef after 13 people including Newsnight host Kirsty Wark accused him of 'wrong' and inappropriate 'sexualised' behaviour during filming. Ms Walk claims that on two occasions Wallace told stories and jokes of a 'sexualised nature' in front of contestants and crew while filming Celebrity MasterChef in 2011. She said his gags and comments were 'really, really in the wrong place'. 'There were two occasions in particular where he used sexualised language in front of a number of people and it wasn't as if anyone engaged with this. It was completely one-way traffic. But I think people were uncomfortable and something that I really did not expect to happen', she said. Scottish broadcaster Aasmah Mir shared a picture of herself during the 2017 Celebrity MasterChef series with the cryptic message: 'Always keep your receipts'. It is not yet known if she has also complained. Kirsty Wark and Gregg Wallace on Celebrity MasterChef 2011 Wallace, pictured with wife Anne-Marie Sterpini in October, has stepped away from MasterChef while he is investigated Wallace has been accused of taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to 'give her a fashion show' and talking about his sex life to others. On one occasion he allegedly told a junior female colleague he wasn't wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans. The BBC has revealed that 13 people, including Ms Wark, have complained about his conduct while working with him over a 17-year period across five shows, from 2005 to 2022. The BBC claims that Wallace walked away from MasterChef after BBC News sent a letter to his agent on Tuesday, setting out allegations from 13 people and giving him a right of reply. They say he was warned after a complaint was raised in 2018, but new historical claims emerged over the summer of 2024. Wallace, 60, is 'committed to fully cooperating throughout the process', the show's production company Banijay UK said. But he will be on BBC One as usual tonight because MasterChef: The Professionals, which is already recorded, will transmit as planned and into December. MasterChef's Christmas specials will also still be broadcast. Mr Wallace is yet to comment today - but at the time of the announcement this afternoon he did take to Instagram to share his recipe for prawn tacos with pineapple salsa. But in October Gregg vehemently denied that he had made inappropriate sexual comments towards women, declaring that he would never 'flirt with' or 'hit on' another woman and saying: 'I didn't say anything sexual'. Gregg Wallace will step away from presenting MasterChef while complaints made to the BBC from individuals about historical allegations of misconduct are investigated. Former Newsnight host Kirsty Wark is among 13 people who have accused MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace of making inappropriate sexual comments she heard filming Celebrity MasterChef in 2011 (right) Kirsty would make the final of the sixth series of Celebrity MasterChef Gregg looked stressed as Ms Wark struggled with her gravy in 2011 In October, Gregg denied claims he boasted about his sex life to a younger female BBC employee and took his top off in front of her while filming a game show, saying he would never 'flirt with' or 'hit on' another woman Wallace (pictured with John Torode), 60, is 'committed to fully cooperating throughout the process', the show's production company Banijay UK said BBC News said it had been told of other allegations, including the presenter 'talking openly about his sex life, taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to 'give her a fashion show', and telling a junior female colleague he was not wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans'. What has Gregg Wallace been accused of? 13 people who have told the BBC of what they consider inappropriate sexual comments made by Wallace across a range of shows over a 17-year period. These include: Kirsty Wark says that on two occasions Wallace relayed stories and jokes of a 'sexualised nature' in front of contestants on Celebrity MasterChef and crew and that she felt they were 'really, really in the wrong place'. Gregg would allegedly openly talk about his sex life on set Taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to 'give her a fashion show' Telling a junior female colleague he was not wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans' Allegedly entering the studio naked with his genitals covered with a sock and doing a 'silly dance' Mimicking a sex act close to a member of production staff He told 'disgusting sex-related jokes', including one while tasting a contestant's unusual dish; Advertisement Banijay has not revealed the nature of the allegations, but last month it was claimed the grocer turned TV star had boasted about his sex life to a younger female BBC employee and took his top off in front of her. In a statement to the PA news agency Banijay UK said: 'This week the BBC received complaints from individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct while working with presenter Gregg Wallace on one of our shows. 'Whilst these complainants have not raised the allegations directly with our show producers or parent company Banijay UK, we feel that it is appropriate to conduct an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate. 'While this review is under way, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully cooperating throughout the process. 'Banijay UK's duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behaviour are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set. 'Whilst these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met, are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately.' The statement added: 'If anyone would like to talk to us or raise any issues or concerns, then they can contact speakup@banijayuk.com in confidence.' The BBC has said it takes any issues that are raised with it 'seriously'. A BBC spokesperson said: 'We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them. 'We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated. 'Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them.' In October Mr Wallace admitted he was feeling stressed amid allegations he made inappropriate sexual comments towards women - and his fellow judge John Torode's wife alleged he 'repeatedly told rude jokes' on set. Wallace took to Instagram with a live video as he offered tips on healthy eating while also alluding to new allegations made against him this week. He told viewers he was 'a little bit distracted at the moment', but said he 'wanted to check in and say hello'. His social media riposte came as it emerged his MasterChef co-host John Torode's wife Lisa Faulkner would think, 'I don't want to hear this', as he apparently delivered punchlines to crew of the BBC's flagship cookery show. Faulkner, 52, appeared on the series in 2010 where she went on to win the Celebrity MasterChef trophy - and has opened up about her time on the show. MasterChef co-presenter Gregg Wallace filmed a live video message admitting he was feeling some 'stress' as newly-emerged allegations were made against him in October Actress Lisa Faulkner (centre) has said Gregg Wallace (left) repeatedly made rude jokes to MasterChef crew members - she is married to his co-host John Torode (right) Gregg Wallace has said in another Instagram video message that he has always been true to his wife Anne-Marie Sterpini - the couple are pictured here at the wedding of Lisa Faulkner and John Torode in Banbury, Oxfordshire, in October 2019 Brookside and Holby City star Faulkner told the Cheltenham Literature Festival how she would overhear the former greengrocer's jokes as she was prepping her dishes. She said: 'Gregg was telling I'm probably not allowed to say thisGregg just told rude joke after rude joke to the crew. 'You're just sitting there and if you're on the front bench just chopping away thinking, 'I've got ten minutes left', and he's saying, 'So this girl walked into a bar' 'And I'm going, 'Please, I don't want to hear this joke'.' Her husband John, 59, who was also on stage with her to promote their new book, told her: 'It's changed quite a lot really' Gregg, 60, absolutely denied claims he boasted about his sex life to a younger female BBC employee and took his top off in front of her while filming a game show - saying he would never 'flirt with' or 'hit on' another woman. Bosses at the corporation are said to have hauled the MasterChef co-host into a meeting in 2018 following allegations of 'inappropriate sexual comments' and told him to 'change his behaviour'. An insider claims Gregg brushed it off as 'just banter', having been reported for making 'consistent inappropriate comments' to the member of the production team while working on game show Impossible Celebrities. Lisa Faulkner has said Gregg Wallace would tell 'rude joke after rude joke' on MasterChef But taking to Instagram, Wallace hit back at the allegations in an emotional video saying he was 'madly in love' with his wife Anna. He said: 'The story that's hitting the newspapers was investigated promptly when it happened six years ago by the BBC. 'And the outcome of that was that I hadn't said anything sexual. I'll need to repeat this again. I didn't say anything sexual. 'Despite what the newspapers are suggesting nobody six years ago accused me of flirting with anybody or hitting on anybody. 'And the reason I say this is because of my wife Anna. I have always been true to my wife Anna and have never flirted or hit on anybody in the 12 years [since] I met her and fell in love with her. 'And it's important that, so that people don't misunderstand that, that I am true to my wife.' Wallace, who has previously spoken of losing 5st with an exercise regime, told viewers: 'I've had a fair bit of stress over the last few days, but my healthy lifestyle choices have stayed the same because that's my lifestyle. That's what I do without thinking'. 'Does that make sense to people? I really, really hope it does. I'm a little bit distracted at the moment, you can probably tell.' Wallace went on to say: 'There are so many benefits of upping your levels of activity, so many healthy benefits. 'I'm not going to mention the newspapers at the moment I've got that coming at me left, right and centre.' He also responded to commenters including one who spoke of loving chocolate buttons, with Wallace saying: 'Chocolate buttons are lovely right now, that sugar hit, I get it. I understand.' But he added: 'I really like a mango. I really like a pineapple. I really like a bowl of blueberries. And fruit isn't full of sugar and fat. Here's the saying love food that loves you back.' The TV presenter then signed off by saying: 'I've got a really, really busy day I wanted to check in and say hello. 'If you want to make a difference to your life, really consider the choices you make.' The allegations of inappropriate comments have only now emerged amid the BBC this week launching a probe into workplace culture as bosses aim to crack down on the 'abuse of power'. Bosses at the corporation are said to have hauled the MasterChef co-host into a meeting in 2018 following allegations of 'inappropriate sexual comments' and told him to 'change his behaviour' The insider who made the claims against Wallace, which his team says are 'inaccurate', raised questions as to why he was allowed to continue presenting MasterChef. They told The Sun: 'He is said to have been boasting about his sex life with his partner at the time. At one point, Wallace was also accused of taking his top off in front of the woman which felt inappropriate. The team working on the show were said to have gone to BBC bosses to complain after being left 'mortified' by Wallace's alleged behaviour. A spokesman for the BBC told The Sun: 'Whilst we do not comment on individuals, if issues are raised they are dealt with swiftly and appropriately at the time. 'We do not tolerate any form of inappropriate behaviour and have robust processes in place.' It was previously reported by The Times back in May last year that he had allegedly offended female staff members at the Nestle UK factory in York with comments about their weight during a 'friendly' conversation. Wallace then denied that he left the BBC show Inside The Factory in March that year due to inappropriate comments made towards female staff. Gregg Wallace hit back at the latest allegations in a response on Instagram, saying he was 'madly in love' with his wife Anna Wallace quit BBC show Inside The Factory in March last year after allegations that he had been 'rude towards staff' and spoke to them in a 'derogatory manner, especially to women' Appearing on Good Morning Britain in August 2023, the called the claims 'inaccurate'. The newspaper had quoted a source as saying: 'He was rude towards staff and continued to talk in a derogatory manner, especially to women.' The comments were reportedly non-sexual but deemed 'inappropriate' and a complaint was lodged with Voltage TV, the production company responsible for developing the show. When asked on GMB by Richard Madeley about his departure from the programme, Wallace responded by saying: 'There was an argument inside the factory, the reporting isn't accurate. 'There was an issue and I thought this is the perfect time to come out.' 'Offending people? No, no - if you look at the headlines, you can't see a story that matches those headlines.' Gregg also revealed that he also wanted to leave to help care for his son Sid, born in 2019, who is autistic. Explaining his home situation, he said: 'I've got a little boy called Sid who at the moment is non-verbal, he is still in nappies, he's got learning difficulties. Mum needed help there.' Gregg Wallace was accompanied by his wife Anne-Marie Sterpini when he received an MBE honour for services to food and charity, at Windsor Castle in February 2022 Gregg Wallace (left) and John Torode (right) have co-presented MasterChef since 2005 He revealed that the demanding nature of the filming around the different factories across the country meant that it made sense to give it up. Wallace added: 'It's completely inaccurate, I didn't challenge it. There was an issue, I don't want to discuss the issue but it wasn't what the papers said it was. 'There was nothing offensive to anybody that's just people guessing. It was a decent time to come out, I think.' Wallace wed Anne-Marie Sterpini, 22 years younger than him, at Hever Castle in Kent in August 2016, having met three years earlier. In October Gregg vehemently denied that he had made inappropriate sexual comments towards women, declaring that he would never 'flirt with' or 'hit on' another woman and saying: 'I didn't say anything sexual'. Banijay has not revealed the nature of the allegations. In a statement to the PA news agency Banijay UK said: 'This week the BBC received complaints from individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct while working with presenter Gregg Wallace on one of our shows. 'Whilst these complainants have not raised the allegations directly with our show producers or parent company Banijay UK, we feel that it is appropriate to conduct an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate. 'While this review is underway, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully cooperating throughout the process. 'Banijay UK's duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behaviour are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set. 'Whilst these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met, are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately.' Gregg has been accused of taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to 'give her a fashion show' and talking about his sex life to others Following Penny's eviction from the kitchen in 2021, she shared a cryptic post on Instagram hinting at 'a person's behaviour' The statement added: 'If anyone would like to talk to us or raise any issues or concerns, then they can contact speakup@banijayuk.com in confidence.' The BBC has said it takes any issues that are raised with it 'seriously'. A BBC spokesperson said: 'We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them. 'We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated. 'Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them.' It was supposed to be the adventure of a lifetime - a luxury cruise to the remote, icy wonderland of Antarctica. But for the 170 passengers aboard Swan Hellenic's SH Diana, dreams of witnessing towering glaciers, pristine landscapes and roaming penguins were crushed when an engine failure put paid to their grand voyage earlier this month. The news was devastating for the Antarctic enthusiasts who had spent between 7,000 and 10,000 on what Swan Hellenic describes as a 'boutique 5-star' experience. A trip to Antarctica isn't just a holiday - for many, it's the culmination of a lifelong dream. As one group of passengers put it in a letter to the luxury cruise company: 'For a majority of us, this is our first time visiting Antarctica, and potentially the last opportunity for many. 'Some guests are elderly, disabled, and have struggled already to get to this point, only for the trip to be cut short. For many of us, visiting Antarctica is a life-long bucket list that we want to achieve before death or disability,' the letter read, according to The Times. But upon hearing that the company would not offer them a full refund for the journey, several of the disgruntled passengers took drastic measures and began a hunger strike in an attempt to pressure Swan Hellenic's executives to cave. The trouble began shortly after the ship set sail from Cape Town on November 13, embarking on what was billed as a 20-night journey to one of the world's most remote destinations. The ship was scheduled to make stops at iconic locations like Elephant Island and Deception Island. Instead, an electric motor failure forced the vessel to cancel the entire Antarctic leg of the voyage. Several of the disgruntled passengers took drastic measures and began a hunger strike in attempt to pressure Swan Hellenic's executives to cave An electric motor failure forced the Swan Hellenic vessel to cancel the entire Antarctic leg of the voyage SH Diana is now limping along at an agonisingly slow 6 knots (6.9mph) towards a port in southern Argentina. Swan Hellenic has offered their passengers a 50% refund, or a 65% 'future cruise credit' which passengers could redeem on any journey within two years. It has also promised free excursions in Ushuaia in Argentina where the ship is expected to dock on Saturday for repairs before heading out again on December 3. But the compensation offer has only fuelled outrage. Passengers have described the response as 'insulting' with tempers boiling over as the ship inched its way toward Ushuaia. The situation reached a tipping point when a group of passengers that The Times reported as being Russian unfurled signs demanding full refunds and launched a hunger strike. Swan Hellenic's chief executive Andrea Zito defended the company's compensation package, noting that it exceeds legal requirements. 'We deeply regret having to alter the itinerary due to technical issues,' Zito said. 'But we believe our offer is fair. Some passengers have already accepted it and even rebooked future trips.' One of the passengers is pictured touting a sign saying '100% trip refund or cash refund' For passengers who had spent between 7,000 and 10,000 on what Swan Hellenic describes as a 'boutique 5-star' experience, the news they would miss out on Antarctica was devastating For others onboard, it's not enough. 'The company needs to make a better offer,' another passenger said. 'Things were getting nasty yesterday, and it's only getting worse.' Other passengers were more understanding, but remained upset by the situation. One passenger told The Times: 'They made the right call not to go to Antarctica for safety reasons, but it is being handled very badly by Swan Hellenic.' Zito said in a statement: 'The initial unease has largely subsided. A select few chose to stage a hunger strike in their protest which is of rather counterproductive. We are working towards a swift end to this action.' He added: 'We feel we have offered a very generous compensation package, beyond what is legally required.' The chaos on board the ill-fated Swan Hellenic cruise liner comes weeks after passengers aboard another massive cruise ship finally set sail on an around-the-world trip after the vessel spent four months stranded in Northern Ireland. The Villa Vie Odyssey had been scheduled to leave Belfast since May for a three-year, round-the-world cruise but was delayed due to unexpected repairs. Its passengers were effectively stranded in Northern Ireland for the entire summer, unable to leave lest they risk missing out on the journey with no telling of when the ship could set sail. Passengers wave as they board the Villa Vie Odyssey at Belfast Cruise Ship Terminal on September 30 The Villa Vie Odyssey cruise ship at Belfast Port on September 28 as preparations continued After months of waiting, the ship eventually left port in early October. But it was later revealed that some passengers considered abandoning ship in the days after the departure when the vessel's sewage systems stopped working. Those living on board said that the stench of sewage was left 'wafting through the corridors' as the ship headed for France and then Portugal, with another saying the situation was 'Third-World'. Shortly after setting off from Belfast, residents complained that the TV channels and the swimming pools were not operational - and said the company even messed up smashing the champagne bottle against the side, which took three attempts before it broke. When they finally got to their first stop - Brest, in France - passengers were trapped on the ship because there were not enough port workers to set up a gangplank. Soon things went from bad to worse, when all the water was cut off and residents found themselves with no way to flush their toilets - supposedly because the wastewater tanks were not properly installed. While this was fixed later that day, the hot water did not return until their second day in Bilbao. One passenger named Joe Rhodes who has been writing about his experiences aboard the cruise ship: 'Most Residents didn't realise this the shutdown happening in the middle of the night until AFTER they'd made deposits, so to speak. Yep, we awakened to the faint smell of s**t marinating in a hundred unflushed bowls, wafting through the corridors, gently mixing with the ocean breeze.' Mr Rhodes told The Telegraph: 'Things have gone much more smoothly since Bilbao. No more problems with the hot water or non-flushing toilets. 'The food has gotten exponentially better and things are going pretty well, much closer to what we'd anticipated the cruise would be. The beer is still terrible, though.' The model daughter of a British businessman is recovering after a terrifying kidnap ordeal in Brazil. Luciana Curtis, who has worked with the likes of Beyonce and appeared on the front cover of magazines including Marie Claire and Cosmopolitan, was taken hostage with her photographer husband Henrique Gendre and their 11-year-old child as they left a restaurant in Sao Paulo. The armed robbers that ambushed them held them for around 12 hours and reportedly stole their car and took money from their bank accounts before releasing them yesterday. Local reports said they were kept overnight in a wooden shack in Brasilandia, one of Sao Paulo's 96 districts, with just a mattress, toilet and sink after being driven to the cramped hideaway in the family car by their captors. Their terrifying ordeal began on Wednesday night as they left an eatery in the upmarket area of Alto do Lapa. The alarm is said to have been raised on Thursday morning after the kidnapped couple's eldest child discovered the rest of her family had not returned home and alerted a relative who called police. Luciana and her husband and her youngest child were released by their captors as the police hunt for them began and they sought help from locals before being taken to safety. Luciana Curtis, the model daughter of a British businessman is recovering after a terrifying kidnap ordeal in Brazil that also involved her husband and her 11-year-old child Luciana pictured with her husband and children The model and her family were being held up in a shack (pictured) The criminals that took them hostage stole their car before abandoning the hideaway they had kept them in and are understood to have transferred money from the couple's bank accounts to their own during the terrifying ordeal. A spokesman for Luciana, 53, confirmed the kidnap to local press, adding: 'The family has been released and they are safe and well.' A specialist police anti-kidnap unit is investigating and officers have been analysing CCTV footage around the unnamed restaurant where the gang struck, which is located on an avenue identified locally as Avenida Pio XI. The shack pretty brunette Luciana and her family were taken to has already been located by detectives and pictured in Brazilian press. Police said in a statement: 'The armed criminals approached the victims outside a restaurant and took them captive. 'During the search by specialist police teams, the gang abandoned the family and fled.' Ford Models beauty Luciana Curtis was born in Sao Paulo to British businessman father Malcolm Leo Curtis and Brazilian teacher mum Katia Maria Furtado de Mendonca Curtis. Her main residence is in New York although she spent several years living in London. Luciana and her family were rescued by cops Luciana Curtis pictured with her husband Henrqiue Gendre A spokesperson for Luciana confirmed the abduction to local media She won the Brazilian final of Supermodel of the World in 1993 after receiving an invite to become a model during a visit to a shopping centre as a teenager and in the world final placed in the top four. She went on to become the cover of a string of fashion magazines including Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Marie Claire and Nova and has done ads for the likes of Arden B, Harrods, H&M and Victoria's Secret. Luciana, who has 22,000 Instagram followers, earned an estimated million dollars to star in Revlon campaigns in 2001 alongside three other models. Shortly afterwards she took part in the worldwide campaign for L'Oreal's 'True Match' powder and foundation with Beyonce. She appeared earlier this year alongside other models on the front cover of ELLE Brazil, which said in a write-up accompanying the photo: 'The cover of ELLE Brasil #Volume16 is an ode to Brazilian supermodels who, from the late 1990s to the present day, have been taking the profession abroad, appearing on catwalks for major brands and becoming muses of legendary stylists and established photographers.' Luciana and her husband have yet to make any official comment about their ordeal. This is the heartstopping moment a hero cop saved a man from death at the last second after he fell asleep on the ledge of a bridge. Police in Oklahoma released the incredible footage of their intervention as the sleeping man rolled over the edge in Oklahoma. As he started to fall, officers somehow clasped hold of his hoodie and struggled to keep him from plunging as they waited for help to arrive. While conducting a welfare check on November 10, Officer William Reyes had noticed the man lying 'completely flat with his arms partly crossed as if he were looking into the sky, looking at the clouds, or possibly asleep.' Upon further inspection, Reyes noticed that the man had started to lift his leg and roll over off the ledge of the bridge. Reyes' body camera footage captured the nail-biting moment the quick-thinking officer reacted with life-saving speed as he grabbed the man's red hoodie and then his arm as he began to fall. The sleepy man can be heard groaning aloud as he hangs from the bridge for a few seconds facing outward. A morning jogger making their way past the incident also stopped to step in and lend a hand to Reyes - allowing the two to pull the sleeping man back to safety. Oklahoma police were called after a man was spotted sleeping on the ledge of a bridge The man was seconds away from rolling completely off the bridge but a hero cop swooped in Officer William Reyes grabbed the hoodie and hand of the man before he slipped off into the water The sleeping man was dragged back over the edge by the cop and a jogger The bridge runs over the Oklahoma river and connects Stockyards City Main Street to Oklahoma City via Exchange Avenue 'Hey sir, come on,' Reyes can be heard saying while the jogger asks, 'You all right bud? You all right?' After a medical team examined the man, they determined he was not hurt and the heroic officer gave him a ride back home to his family. Police said the unnamed man simply fell asleep, and that rescuers happened to be in the right place at the right time. Oklahoma City Police Msgt. Gary Knight told News9 that the guardrail is about a foot wide and that there is about a 30-to-40-foot drop to the water below. 'It's a real hero type thing you see an officer spring into action save someone's life with the help of a citizen,' Knight said. According to USA Today, the man explained he was in the city because his mother-in-law was undergoing surgery. He said that while his wife was completing DoorDash orders, he decided to take a break by the bridge after walking around the area, but he ended up falling asleep. The man told Reyes that when he woke up, he saw 'he was going over the edge of the bridge and observed water,' as per the report. The bridge runs over the Oklahoma river and connects Stockyards City Main Street to Oklahoma City via Exchange Avenue. He expressed his gratitude to the Oklahoma police officer for saving his life. A young bride was found dead in the street just days after her wedding while on her dream honeymoon to Miami. Aleksandra Leczycka, 26, tragically died of a suspected drugs overdose or severe allergic reaction to them in the Florida city after traveling from Poland to celebrate with her husband, officials say. Leczycka and her husband David Leczycki, from Siedlce, had gotten married just 23 days before the pair were found unconscious on the Miami street. But police were baffled at how the pair collapsed, and how David became the only survivor. The pair had been stripped of cash and jewelry, reports local media, leading US police to assume they had been doped and robbed, Polish media recently reported. But the tragic truth around the bride's death has now been revealed following an investigation. Examining evidence gathered in Miami, cops have now determined the pair had voluntarily taken psychoactive drugs. The new bride had suffered from either a severe allergic reaction or overdose, investigators in Poland said. Aleksandra Leczycka, 26, tragically died of a suspected drugs overdose or severe allergic reaction to them in Miami Leczycka and her husband David Leczycki, from Siedlce, had gotten married just 23 days before the pair were found unconscious on the Miami street The new bride had suffered from either a severe allergic reaction or overdose, investigators in Poland said The pair both fell unconscious in the street but David was the only survivor Hours before Leczycka died in August 2022, she had been posting images of herself enjoying drinks and having fun at a Miami beach. Siedlce District Prosecutor Krystyna Golabek said: 'By a decision dated 23rd October 2024, the District Prosecutor's Office in Siedlce discontinued the investigation into the case of Aleksandra L., whose death occurred on 29th August 2022, in Miami Beach, USA, as well as into the exposure of Dawid L. on the same date and in the same location to immediate danger of death or serious harm to health. 'Extensive investigative measures were carried out, including a request for legal assistance from the American side, which provided materials from their investigation. 'Expert opinions in the fields of computer science and toxicology were also obtained.' Golabek added their evidence suggested the couple had taken drugs themselves but they could not rule out that they were involuntarily drugged. The investigator added that none of their evidence confirmed the cops' initial thoughts. Leczycka and David tied the knot o August 6, 2022, but she died around three weeks later. Her cause of death was determined on October 23, 2024, after a re-investigation was opened. Her husband has not publicly commented on the incident. A 16-year-old girl has been charged with murdering a homeless man after he was attacked at Kings Cross Station. Anthony Marks, 51, died after being assaulted on Cromer Street on Saturday, August 10. The teenager, from Brixton South London, will appear at Croydon Magistrates' Court later today charged with the murder. Marks, who was homeless, was believed to have sheltered in a bin shed during the attack. A 17-year-old boy, from Dagenham, was arrested on October 4 and charged two days later with Anthony's murder. He has been remanded in custody and will face trial next year. The Metropolitan Police have not been able to locate Marks's family and an appeal has been launched to find them. Officers are encouraging witnesses of the attack and his next of kin to come forward. Speaking on the murder in October Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Lee, from the Met's Specialist Crime Command, said: 'Despite someone having been charged, our investigation is ongoing with a number of active lines of enquiry. Anthony Marks, 51, died after being assaulted on Cromer Street on Saturday, August 10 Marks, who was homeless, was believed to have sheltered in a bin shed during the attack (pictured Cromer Street) 'Sadly, despite our best efforts, we have been unable to identify next-of-kin for Anthony and I urge anyone who can help to contact the investigation team. 'I am also very keen to hear from anyone who witnessed this incident but has not yet spoken with police. 'There were a number of people in the area at the time of the murder and we know that some of those people tried to help Anthony. 'If you are one of those people please do get in touch with us.' Anyone with information should contact the incident room directly on 0208 358 0300, dial 101 or contact the police on X. JK Rowling has slammed a trans-inclusive women's charity after it posed up with Sadiq Khan for the Suffragette Line unveiling. The picture sparked outrage yesterday with the Harry Potter author accusing the Fawcett Society of 'cosying up with the political elite' while fellow women's rights campaigners stand at the Supreme Court 'fighting for actual women'. The Fawcett Society - named after famous suffragette Millicent Fawcett - is a charity which says it is dedicated to championing women's rights. But it also says it is trans-inclusive, something which some feminists think is incompatible in areas, such as female-only spaces like toilets. The tweet celebrating the trainline tribute has now been deleted after it was heavily criticised and called 'performative feminism'. It comes after the Fawcett Society came under fire for its 'dismaying' response to the EHRC guide for separate and single-sex service providers where it 'supported' the idea that separate spaces - such as bathrooms - were only permissible under certain criteria. To add fuel to the fire the Mayor of London - who has also been lambasted by feminists for his position on trans-rights - was also pictured standing with the Fawcett Society member. JK Rowling has slammed the Fawcett Society amid women's rights activists condemning the charity following a tweet showing a society member standing with Sadiq Khan for the Suffragette Line unveiling. The Fawcett Society's Tweet has since been deleted Reacting to the picture Rowling wrote on X: 'While @fawcettsociety has been cosying up to the political elite for photo ops, @ForWomenScot have been in court fighting for actual women.' X users flocked to the site to share their opinions on the controversial post - with many agreeing with the author and criticising the Fawcett Society. One person wrote: 'Naming train lines is performative feminism and does nothing for women.' The Harry Potter author accusing the organisation of 'cosying up with the elite' while fellow women's rights campaigners stand at the Supreme Court 'fighting for actual women'. Pictured: Women's rights campaigners outside the court on Tuesday Another added: 'Meanwhile @ForWomenScott is out here in court doing the real work' to which someone replied: 'Indeed, very true - actions speak far louder than words and selfies!' 'Empty posturing gesture of virtue-signalling. Do you even know whats been going on at the Supreme Court this week? 'Women are quite literally fighting for our right to exist in law while youre f******* about,' remarked a fourth. A fifth reckoned: 'They don't know what suffrage means. It's sad that people haven't looked into the history of the woman's movement at all.' And a sixth said: 'working class suffrage' - what do this lot know about it? Virtue signalling b******.' Others took aim at Sadiq Kahn and questioned his commitment to the cause. One person commented: 'He does not even know what a woman is,' while another added: 'That dude doesn't give 2 poops about Women's suffering.' X users flocked to the site to share their opinions on the controversial post - with many agreeing with the author and criticising the Fawcett Society A third said: 'What have you done to keep men out of womens safe spaces and sports? Better to Honor the living than those that have gone.' Previously the mayor has found himself in hot water following claims his administration had sacked a women's campaigner after she expressed concerns about trans women being allowed into refuges for rape victims. The charity mentioned in Rowling's tweet - For Women Scotland - has this week brought a landmark case to the Supreme Court challenging the Scottish Government over the definition of a woman. Campaigners from the group are arguing that trans women should not be able to fill roles meant for biological women under legislation designed to ensure equal numbers of men and women on company boards. The case which has been brought by gender-critical activists will see five justices consider the question: 'Is a person with a full gender recognition certificate which recognises that their gender is female, a 'woman' for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010?' The Scottish government, which is contesting the case, insists the term woman includes a 'person issued with a full GRC in the acquired gender of female'. Supporters of For Women Scotland were seen standing outside the court holding a large sign which read: 'We know what a women is'. They were successful in their campaign and have prompted ministers to change the bill to the effect that a full gender recognition certificate could be taken as a declaration of someones sex 'for all purposes'. Sadiq Khan's press office declined to comment. The Fawcett Society has been approached for comment. The Labour MP pushing assisted dying legislation has told the House of Commons the British public wants 'a change in the law' as she opened today's historic debate. Kim Leadbeater told fellow MPs that her Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will give people 'choice, autonomy and dignity at the end of their lives'. The Commons this morning began a scheduled five hours of debate before they vote this afternoon - around 2.30pm - on whether to proceed with Ms Leadbeater's proposed legislation. It will be the first time MPs have voted on the issue of assisted dying since 2015. MPs of all parties have been given a 'free vote' and the Government has taken a neutral stance on the Bill. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer could vote in favour of the Bill - having backed a law change in 2015 - but Tory leader Kemi Badenoch will oppose the legislation after claiming it had been 'rushed'. At the opening of today's second reading debate on her Bill, Ms Leadbeater said: 'Let me say to colleagues across the House - particularly new colleagues - I know this is not easy. 'It certainly hasn't been easy for me. But if any of us wanted an easy life I'm afraid we are in the wrong place. 'It is our job to address complex issues and make difficult decisions. And I know for many people this is a very difficult decision. 'But our job is also to address the issues that matter to people, and after nearly a decade since this subject was debated on the floor of the House, many would say this debate is long overdue.' Kim Leadbeater told fellow MPs that her Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will give people 'choice, autonomy and dignity at the end of their lives' At the opening of today's second reading debate on her Bill, Ms Leadbeater said: 'Let me say to colleagues across the House - particularly new colleagues - I know this is not easy' The Commons this morning began a scheduled five hours of debate before they vote this afternoon - around 2.30pm - on whether to proceed with Ms Leadbeater's proposed legislation Long-serving Labour MP Diane Abbott, known as the 'Mother of the House', told the Commons that 'the state should not be involed in taking a life' Esther Rantzen hopes vote 'goes the right way' Dame Esther Rantzen said she is hoping today's House of Commons vote on assisted dying 'goes the right way'. The broadcaster and Childline founder, who is terminally ill, has been a high-profile voice in the conversation for the past year, repeatedly calling for a change in what she has described as the 'cruel' current law. Asked what her message was to MPs, Dame Esther told The Jeremy Vine Show on Channel 5 this morning: 'I'm not going to say vote one way or the other because I believe in choice 'And choice is what this Bill is about, giving me the choice to shorten my own death... giving you the same choice. So how you vote is up to your conscience. 'But obviously for some of us it's a very, very real and immediate decision and we are hoping that it goes the right way.' Advertisement The Spen Valley MP went on to recount stories she had been told by members of the public, as she opened what is likely to be an emotionally-charged debate in the Commons. She also pointed to polling showing a majority of the British public want assisted dying to be legalised. 'It may not be that surprising that most people believe, as I do, that we should all have the right to make the choices and decisions we want about our own bodies,' Ms Leadbeater added. 'Let's be clear, we are not talking about a choice between life or death, we are talking about giving dying people a choice of how to die.' But Conservative MP Danny Kruger said Ms Leadbeater's Bill was 'too flawed' for the Commons to support. 'My view is that if we get our broken palliative care system right and our wonderful hospices properly funded we can do so much more for all the people that we will hear about today, using modern pain relief and therapies to help everybody die with a minimum of suffering when the time comes,' he said. 'But we won't be able to do that if we introduce this new option. Instead we will expose many more people to harm.' Mr Kruger argued that 'almost anybody with a serious illness or disability' could fit the definition of terminally ill under the Bill. The East Wiltshire MP said: 'Because all you need to do to qualify for an assisted death, the definition of terminal illness under this Bill, is to refuse treatment like insulin if you're diabetic.' He added: 'In the case of eating disorders you just need to refuse food and the evidence is, in jurisdictions around the world and in our own jurisprudence, that would be enough to qualify you for an assisted death.' Long-serving Labour MP Diane Abbott, known as the 'Mother of the House', told the Commons that 'the state should not be involed in taking a life'. 'In 1969, Parliament voted to abolish the death penalty for murder,' she said. 'Public opinion was actually against it, but MPs believed [as] a point of principle that the state should not be involved in taking a life. 'It was a good principle in 1969, and it remains a good principle today.' Sir Keir's Cabinet and all the major political parties are heavily divided on changing the law to allow medics to help the terminally ill end their lives without fear of prosecution. More than 100 MPs are expected to try to speak during today's debate. But critics of the law change have suggested it is being forced through too quickly. If approved, the Bill would allow terminally ill, mentally competent adults to seek an assisted death with the approval of two doctors and a High Court judge. The issue has crossed political demarcations with former Labour prime ministers coming out against it and ex-Tory premiers in favour and MPs will have a free vote allowing them to go with their conscience rather than party lines. The splits have even affected smaller parties, with Reform leader Nigel Farage planning to vote against it, but Reform MP Rupert Lowe saying he will vote for it, after polling his constituents. Former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, who plans to vote against the bill, last night tweeted: 'Tomorrow we'll have 100+ MPs trying to speak (most for a rushed minute or two) during a ludicrously curtailed, hasty debate with hundreds more voting. 'I just don't think we've remotely considered this unspeakably serious issue in this kind of depth. We must reject this.' If approved, the Bill would allow terminally ill, mentally competent adults to seek an assisted death with the approval of two doctors and a High Court judge Sir Keir Starmer's Cabinet and all the major political parties are heavily divided on changing the law to allow medics to help the terminally ill end their lives Dignity in Dying campaigners gather in Parliament Square last month in support of the 'assisted dying bill' Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed he would vote today, saying he has a 'huge amount of interest' in the issue, but he declined to specify on which side he would come down While a majority of the MPs to publicly declare their position have come out in favour of introducing one of the most significant social changes in Britain's history, the outcome still remains shrouded in uncertainty. Sir Keir confirmed he would vote today, saying he has a 'huge amount of interest' in the issue, but he declined to specify on which side he would come down. Ms Badenoch posted on social media this morning: 'Despite supporting the principle of assisted dying long before I became an MP, I can't support today's bill. 'It's rightly a free vote and a matter of conscience for MPs, but the system cannot yet manage the complexity proposed and the bill is being rushed.' Meanwhile Ms Leadbeater spoke of being 'emotionally ruined' by weeks of campaigning and told how she can no longer walk down the street without somebody revealing a personal story. An analysis of vote trackers suggests a majority of MPs will back the Bill, with more than 200 known to be likely to support a change in the law based on public statements or past votes. Around 150 were last night thought to be ready to vote against the Bill. More than 80 per cent of the Commons had declared their positions yesterday, according to a Times poll of MPs which gave supporters the largest lead with 267 in favour of reforming the law. But with a significant number of MPs not publicly declaring their position, the outcome is almost impossible to predict accurately. The last time there was a binding vote on changing the law, in 2015, it was defeated by 331 votes to 119. But each side now accepts the debate has moved on and a series of recent polls have suggested that a majority of the public are now in favour of reform. Speaking yesterday ahead of the debate, Ms Leadbeater said she hopes the Bill will pass and that this parliament will be remembered for its 'major social reform'. She added: 'I hope parliament will show itself at its best and most compassionate and that MPs will show themselves, as they have in the past when major social reforms have come before them, ready to correct injustice and reduce human suffering.' But others were staunch in their opposition to the Bill. Actress and disability activist Liz Carr urged MPs to vote against it as she said many disabled people are 'terrified' of it being approved. Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson echoed her call and warned that disabled people are 'really worried'. The former athlete, who would have a vote on the Bill if it passed through to the Lords, said: 'I can't see safeguards that would be OK, that wouldn't risk some people having their lives ended without them wanting to.' Under the Bill, terminally-ill adults with less than six months to live and a wish to die would be eligible for an assisted death if signed off by two doctors and a High Court judge It came as a number of prominent figures made their voting intentions public last night. Solicitor General Sarah Sackman KC said she would vote for the Bill out of a 'respect for individual autonomy'. But shadow attorney general Lord Wolfson said he would oppose the Bill, declaring that MPs are being asked to 'vote in the dark'. Home Office minister Seema Malhotra also said she would vote against the proposed new laws yesterday, but added that decisions should be made on a 'secular basis' with religion left out of the debate. It comes after Lord Cameron, who previously voted against the practice, announced that he now intended backing the Bill. His intervention came after Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, Theresa May and Gordon Brown all stated they are against the proposed legislation. Meanwhile, the UK's human rights watchdog warned the end-of-life Bill could push people into considering an assisted death because of the 'postcode lottery' of palliative care access. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which said it is neutral on assisted dying, also warned there has been an 'insufficiently detailed analysis' of the implications for human rights. Health officials in California are warning diners who ate at a California restaurant run by a national fast food chain that they may have been exposed to Hepatitis A. LA County's Department of Public Health is investigating the possible spread of the highly infectious disease at a Buffalo Wild Wings in Monterey Park. Customers who ate at the restaurant at 4000 Market Place Drive between November 13 and November 22 have been urgently asked to get a Hepatitis A vaccine if they aren't already immunized, as they may have been exposed. An employee of the restaurant was infected with the disease, which attacks the liver. A spokesperson for the chain confirmed that the restaurant later received a clean bill of health from health officials and was reopened on Wednesday night. Cases of Hep A can range from mild to severe, and in some instance can be fatal. Symptoms include fever, weakness, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, yellowing of the skin or eyes, stomach pain, vomiting, dark urine, pale stools and diarrhea. Those infected are often sick for weeks, but most will usually recover with no lasting damages. Cases of Hep A can range from mild to severe, and in some instance can be fatal (File image) LA County's Department of Public Health is investigating the possible spread of the highly infectious disease at a Buffalo Wild Wings in Monterey Park (pictured) Though there is no antiviral cure for it, getting a vaccine within 14 days of exposure can lessen the risk of infection. The California warning comes after diners at a Milwaukee restaurant were strongly encouraged to receive a hepatitis A vaccine after being exposed to the virus by an infected employee. A manager who was actively infectious between October 31 and November 13 could have transmitted the virus if they came into contact with the diners food or water. The restaurant, Beans & Barley, is cooperating with the City of Milwaukee Health Department to notify the roughly 80 individuals who may have been exposed in that timeframe. There is no risk to individuals who ate there before the 31st or after the 13th, and no indication that a patron of Beans & Barley has been infected. The restaurant says the person who became sick was a manager who did not direclty handle food. Jim Neumeyer, co-owner of the restaurant, explained that the worker, a food safety manager, did not prepare food but would sometimes hand out orders. The employee left work after noticing symptoms, which can include fever, nausea, abdominal pain, jaundice, dark urine, and hives, and notified their superiors. Milwaukee's Commissioner of Health, Mike Totoraitis, said he is very confident based on the information that we have that the risk to the general public is very low. County in NE China's Jilin cultivates thriving ginseng industry People's Daily Online) 11:12, November 29, 2024 Ginseng cultivation is driving economic growth in northeast China's Fusong county, where the medicinal herb, often called the "king of herbs," has become a booming industry. Nestled in the Changbai Mountain region, Fusong county in Jilin Province stands as a major ginseng production hub with a cultivation heritage spanning more than 460 years. The area is recognized as China's traditional ginseng heartland. Photo shows ginseng roots from Changbai Mountain, northeast China's Jilin Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Yang) "Our ginseng yield per mu (0.067 hectares) has reached more than 750 kilograms this year," said Wang Zengzhu, Party chief of Dafang village in Wanliang township, Fusong county. The village faced challenges when authorities banned traditional ginseng cultivation on cutover lands to protect the environment. The Fusong ginseng quality testing center provided a solution by introducing farmland cultivation methods. What began as a 10-mu experimental field in Dafang village in 2011 has expanded to 200 mu. The initiative now supports more than 200 farming households, with each earning approximately 100,000 yuan ($13,800) annually. In recent years, Fusong has enhanced its ginseng sector through improved varieties and standardized planting techniques, balancing quality assurance, farmer income and environmental protection. Local authorities continue to develop the industry, striving to make the sector a new growth point for high-quality development. The Changbai Mountain Ginseng Market in Wanliang township has emerged as a bustling trading hub, with vendors reporting strong daily earnings. "I can earn several thousand yuan a day on average," said Li Jianxia, a market seller. Photo shows Changbai Mountain Ginseng Market in Wanliang township, Fusong county, Baishan city, northeast China's Jilin Province. (Photo courtesy of the publicity department of the Communist Party of China Fusong county committee) The market dominates China's ginseng trade, handling about 80 percent of national transactions. In 2023, fresh ginseng sales reached 2.74 billion yuan, while dried ginseng transactions totaled 4.2 billion yuan. Quality control has become a top priority. Jilin Province implemented a ginseng quality traceability platform and established the Jilin Ginseng Product Inspection and Testing Alliance to maintain product standards. Zeng Fansheng, Party chief of Fusong, said the county has strived to promote the high-quality development of its ginseng industry in recent years. "The transaction volume of the entire ginseng industrial chain in the county approached 20 billion yuan in 2023," Zeng said. The county has encouraged research and development while promoting cooperation between enterprises, universities and research institutions to develop competitive ginseng products, including ginseng polypeptide. It has also established an industrial park that has attracted more than 30 leading enterprises. Fusong county now hosts 3,200 ginseng processing enterprises, including 37 major companies. The county produces more than 600 types of ginseng-based products, from food and beverages to pharmaceuticals, health products and cosmetics, which are exported to more than 30 countries and regions. Currently, 45,000 people in the county work directly in ginseng production, sales and related industries. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun) Deutsche Post Group (DHL) is experiencing challenging market conditions, with its stock currently trading at 34.71, marking a significant decline from its 52-week high of 47.03 recorded in December 2023. This represents a drop of over 36% in share value. Despite these headwinds, the logistics giant demonstrated operational resilience in its latest quarterly results, posting a 6.16% increase in revenue to 20.59 billion. However, earnings per share slightly decreased to 0.64 compared to 0.68 in the same period last year, reflecting ongoing market pressures. Analyst Outlook Remains Positive Market analysts maintain an optimistic stance on Deutsche Posts prospects, setting an average price target of 41.43. The companys dividend is expected to remain stable at 1.85 per share for the current year, while experts project earnings per share to reach 2.82 in 2024. These forecasts underscore confidence in the companys long-term stability, despite recent challenges including a cargo aircraft incident near Vilnius airport, which has drawn increased investor attention. Ad Deutsche Post Stock: New Analysis 30 November Fresh Deutsche Post information released. Whats the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends. Read our updated Deutsche Post analysis Deutsche Post Group (DHL) is experiencing challenging market conditions, with its stock currently trading at 34.71, marking a significant decline from its 52-week high of 47.03 recorded in December 2023. This represents a drop of over 36% in share value. Despite these headwinds, the logistics giant demonstrated operational resilience in its latest quarterly results, posting a 6.16% increase in revenue to 20.59 billion. However, earnings per share slightly decreased to 0.64 compared to 0.68 in the same period last year, reflecting ongoing market pressures. Analyst Outlook Remains Positive Market analysts maintain an optimistic stance on Deutsche Posts prospects, setting an average price target of 41.43. The companys dividend is expected to remain stable at 1.85 per share for the current year, while experts project earnings per share to reach 2.82 in 2024. These forecasts underscore confidence in the companys long-term stability, despite recent challenges including a cargo aircraft incident near Vilnius airport, which has drawn increased investor attention. Ad Fresh Deutsche Post information released. Whats the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends. A man has been charged following a double shooting in Kensington that left an eight-year-old girl and her 34-year-old father with serious injuries. Jazz Reid, 32, was charged with two counts of attempted murder and possession of a firearm and ammunition. The shooting happened on Southern Row, Ladbroke Grove, at around 5.30pm on November 24. Reid will appear at Thames Magistrates' Court on Friday, November 29. The child had surgery on Monday and was said to be in a stable condition, while her father has been left with potentially life-changing injuries. The pair were with the little girl's two-year-old sibling and 32-year-old mother, who were both unhurt, at the time of the attack. Police officers search the scene on Southern Grove in Ladbroke Grove, west London, after an eight-year-old girl was seriously injured when she was shot A police forensic officer at the scene on Southern Grove on Ladbroke Grove, west London Police officers guard a cordon after an eight-year-old girl and a man were shot in Ladbroke Grove A shooting took place on Southern Row, Ladbroke Grove (pictured) on November 24 Superintendent Owen Renowden previously said the shooting was 'an appalling incident' as he appealed for witnesses. Detectives from the Met's Specialist Crime Command lead the investigation and continue to ask anyone with information that may assist to come forward. Alternatively, anyone who can help has been urged to call 101 or 'X' @MetCC and quote CAD reference 5238/24NOV24. You can also provide information by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. A deluxe antiques dealer is locked in a bitter court battle with a former intern who claims she has a right to be handed half of his 1million company. Christopher Howe runs a high end antiques and interiors empire in Pimlico Road, London, worth millions, which has boasted distinguished clients including Hollywood legend Richard Gere, artist Lucian Freud and even Hampton Court Palace. The business, however, is now at the centre of a court fight over ownership between founder Mr Howe, 63, and Joanne Brierley, a family friend and former intern who began working for him unpaid as a student in 2008 and rose to become his right-hand woman. Ms Brierley, 37, says she helped Mr Howe grow his business, which split into two separate companies in 2014, as a partner in all but name and was promised she would have half of the company behind the textiles side of his empire in a deal that he later reneged on. Mr Howe denies making any such promise to his ex-intern, however, and after a falling out which saw Ms Brierley removed as a director of the company, the pair are now gearing up for a court fight over ownership of the luxury leather and fabrics brand. London's High Court heard that Mr Howe began his business in 1986 from a 'tiny shop' at 36 Bourne Street, close to Sloane Square, specialising in furniture restoration and gilding. He 'soon expanded to the restoration and retailing of antiques, antique lighting and furniture making, securing an early commission for the National Gallery,' Judge Sally Barber explained. Over the years, Mr Howe established a trusted reputation, providing works for some of Britain's most famous cultural institutions, including The Royal Pavilion in Brighton, the Sir John Soane's museum and Hampton Court Palace, the last of which he supplied with an 18-foot-high George I four poster bed, made in 1712, which he had sourced and restored. Deluxe antiques dealer Christopher Howe, pictured, is locked in a bitter court battle with a former intern who claims she has a right to be handed half of his 1million company Ms Brierley (pictured), 37, says she helped Mr Howe grow his business as a partner in all but name and was promised she would have half of the company He expanded to a bigger shop in Pimlico Road, Belgravia, in 1995 as his reputation grew, with celebrity clients reportedly including painter Lucien Freud, who liked his 'esoterically shabby chairs to use in his portraits' and actor Richard Gere. The judge explained that Ms Brierley, then an art student, became involved in 2008 when her college friend, Mr Howe's daughter, Holly, asked him if he could offer her an internship. 'He agreed to do so. The unpaid internship took place between September and December 2008,' she added. After graduating in the summer of 2009, she began working there full-time, and in 2010, it was agreed she would focus on helping to develop his leather, fabrics and wallpaper arm, conducted from the original shop in Bourne Street, whilst Mr Howe would focus on the rest of his business. Mr Howe set up Bourne London Ltd in 2013 and ran both shops through his new company, then in the spring of 2014 he 'proposed to Ms Brierley' - by then an important part of his set up - that the leather, fabrics and wallpaper business should be separated into a new company, 36 Bourne Street Ltd, whose 'day-to-day affairs would be managed by her'. Ms Brierley says that they agreed that she would have a 25% share in the new company, subject to revenue targets being met, and that in 2018 after she had guided the new company to success. An improved promise was then made that she would be given a 50% stake in the shares of the company, of which she was by then already a minor shareholder and managing director. The judge said that the pair fell out after Ms Brierley returned from an extended business trip in India and told her mentor that she wanted to leave and set up her own business. Mr Howe runs a high end antiques and interiors empire. Pictured is his shop in Pimlico Road, London Mr Howe's store has boasted distinguished clients including Hollywood legend Richard Gere, pictured They were initially working towards an 'amicable' parting until Ms Brierley began 'demanding a 49% buyout as a condition of her departure,' Mr Howe says. Now the pair are set to face off in court over ownership of the company, which in 2022 had listed assets on Companies House of around 1m. In a judgment relating to a preliminary company law issue, Judge Barber said that Mr Howe 'denies that any firm or unqualified agreement to transfer 49%/50% of the shares in the company to Ms Brierley was reached in July 2018 or at all.' 'He maintains that he agreed to "gift" five per cent of his 100% shareholding in the company to her as she had attained the revenue target of 280,000 for the year ending 31 July 2017 that they had expressly agreed,' she said. And he had agreed to 'gift' another five per cent in 2018 at her 'insistence,' she having worked hard the previous year. 'He says that any discussions of arrangements that would result in [her] receiving further shares in the company were at all material times understood by both...to be subject to legal, including tax, advice and ultimately came to nothing.' Ms Brierley disagrees however, claiming that, amongst other things, in July 2019 Mr Howe took her for 'lunch at 'Joe & the Juice' in Wimbledon' and assured her 'that she could trust him to honour the 49% agreement and directed her to leave the matter with him.' Among Mr Howe's famous clients at his antique shop was Lucian Freud Over the years, Mr Howe established provided works for Hampton Court Palace, pictured She also relies on a company 'rebranding exercise' in August 2019, during which references to 'Howe' were removed from the company's branding and new stationery and other materials were produced that read '36 Bourne Street Ltd* Proprietors C. Howe & J. Brierley. Mr Howe however 'maintains that the exercise was undertaken in order to improve Ms Brierley's morale' rather than in recognition of any promise to make her an equal partner. The judge ruled in favour of Mr Howe on an initial skirmish, striking out two grounds of claim by Ms Brierley based on company law. But she is still suing in her personal capacity in her main claim that Mr Howe is holding 39% of the shares in 36 Bourne Street Ltd 'on trust' for her, making up her promised 49% share along with the 10% she currently has. The judge said that the court will have to hear evidence about how the company was formed, whether it was a partnership type arrangement, and about alleged promises made by Mr Howe about shares. The court will also consider the extent to which Ms Brierley relied on alleged promises in carrying on with her life, and whether Mr Howe holds shares on trust for her. The case will return to court at a later date. Britain's brightest students at Cambridge University are being told how to walk down the stairs in new health and safety posters. The university, which ranks among the top ten in the world, has warned students to 'pay attention when walking down the stairs.' The posters feature a red banner saying 'don't get distracted' and then show a photo of a man in the floor after taking a fall while using his phone. Students are also given a link and QR code for a website to report any 'accidents' or 'near misses'. The 'over the top' posters in the engineering department, advise students to not use their mobile phones when on the stairs. The poster adds: 'Heads Up, Phones Down. Don't be the next accident. Thank you for not using your phone.' Locals have commented on the posters, with Sarah Williams saying: 'I love how members of the University of Cambridge obviously can't be trusted to use stairs (well at least without guidance).' Whilst Carrie Webb added: 'Yet still holding their phone after neatly sliding down the whole staircase on their face it would seem.' The posters feature a red banner saying 'don't get distracted' and ask students not to use their phones when on the stairs The university, which ranks among the top ten in the world, have warned students to be careful when using their mobile phones The posters also feature a QR code for a website to report any 'accidents' or 'near misses' Julie Hogg said: 'This makes me laugh whenever I'm heading up and down the stairs in the department (without my phone obviously).' Gennaro Dello Ioio said: 'Why would anybody report a 'near miss' episode of staircase use. 'Hi, I just saw this guy who was using his phone while going down the stairs, he tripped, and almost fell'. Charlotte Wilcox said: 'Is it not a bit weird to have a QR code encouraging people with smart phones to scan on a poster discouraging phone use on stairs?' Janie Morris added: 'There have always been absent-minded really clever people. It's just the distraction itself which changes.' Student Tracey Duffield said: 'The posters seem rather over-the-top.' Cambridge University has been approached for a comment. Russia has lost more than 2,030 troops in just the past day on the frontlines of Ukraine, Kyiv officials have claimed - a figure that if true represents a record daily high in the near-three-year-long war. Ukraine's General Staff shared the estimated losses for Russia's forces in its routine battlefield update this morning, adding that more than 300 weapons and military equipment were also destroyed - though the figures cannot be independently verified. Moscow's shocking losses come as Vladimir Putin's army seeks to seize as much territory as possible ahead of Donald Trump's imminent return to the White House, with both sides expecting Washington to push for ceasefire talks early next year. Although their ranks are suffering heavy casualties, the Russian army is advancing westward in Ukraine at a rate faster than any other time after the initial days of the 2022 invasion, taking an area half the size of London over the past month. Putin's troops swept through swathes of Ukraine in early 2022 and were bearing down on Kyiv in a matter of days, but they were held on the outskirts of the capital before being pushed back and retreating further east. Since then, the 1,000 km (620-mile) front line remained largely static save for some minor offensives one way or the other - that is until Ukraine launched a lightning incursion into Russia's Kursk region this summer. Now though, Ukraine's valiant defenders are wilting under incessant pressure from Russian troops which have sustained a fearsome rate of artillery fire matched with glide bomb attacks and full-frontal assaults. A serviceman of 24th Mechanised brigade named after King Danylo of the Ukrainian Armed Forces fires a 2s5 'Hyacinth-s' self-propelled howitzer towards Russian troops at a front line The body of a dead Russian soldier lies on the ground at the frontline between Russian and Ukrainian positions near Klishchiivka, Donetsk Region An aerial view of Chasiv Yar shows the frontline city in ruins after heavy fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces for over a year, Donetsk Region 'Russia has set new weekly and monthly records for the size of the occupied territory in Ukraine,' independent Russian news group Agentstvo said in a report this week. The Russian army captured almost 235 square kilometres (91 square miles) in Ukraine over the past week - a weekly record for 2024 - and had taken roughly 600 square kilometres (232 square miles) in November, the report claimed. Those figures were largely supported by the US-based Institute for the Study of War, which put the amount of territory gained since November 1 at 574 square kilometres (221 square miles) - an average rate of 22 square kilometres per day. The war is now entering what some Russian and Western officials say could be its most dangerous phase weeks before Trump returns to the Oval Office amid fears he could dramatically reduce aid to Ukraine as he seeks to force a ceasefire deal. North Korean troops are reported to be bolstering Moscow's forces and Kyiv is now using Western-supplied missiles to strike back inside Russia - a development that prompted Putin to unleash a never-before-seen 'Oreshnik' hypersonic missile last week. The Russian President also declared yesterday that Moscow could soon begin to strike 'decision-making centres' in Kyiv if Ukraine continues to hit targets in Russia with US and UK missiles. The Kremlin chief's stark warning followed hours after Russian forces pounded Ukraine with dozens of missiles and drones overnight in an attempt to degrade the energy network as a bitter winter approaches. Thursday's barrage, in which Ukraine downed 79 missiles and 35 drones, left over a million Ukrainians without electricity in freezing cold temperatures. Workers fix a thermal power plant damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, at an undisclosed location in Ukraine November 28, 2024 This handout photograph taken and released by the National Police of Ukraine on November 29, 2024 shows burning house following a drone attack at an undisclosed location in Odesa region In this handout photograph taken and released by the Ukrainian Emergency Service on November 28, 2024, Ukrainian rescuers prepare to load the remains of a Russian X-55 cruise missile onto a truck The thrust of the Russian advance has been in Ukraine's Donetsk region, with Moscow's forces pushing towards the town of Pokrovsk and into the town of Kurakhove. Pokrovsk is widely cited as a key strategic location given that it serves as a vital logistics hub for Ukraine's Armed Forces. Russian war bloggers say that if Russia can pierce the Ukrainian defences around Kurakhove, they will be able to push westwards towards the city of Zaporizhzhia while securing their rear to allow a swing towards Pokrovsk. Sergei Naryshkin, the head of Russia's SVR Foreign Intelligence Service, said on Tuesday that Russia held the complete strategic initiative on the battlefield. He also added that Russia is open to negotiations but stated that the Kremlin would 'categorically reject' any 'freezing' of the current frontline, demanding that Ukraine relinquish areas of the four Ukrainian regions - Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson - that the Kremlin has illegally annexed without fully occupying. The past days saw Russia launch some of the biggest drone attacks of the war so far, cutting power to much of the western region of Ternopil and damaging residential buildings in the Kyiv region. But for all the fanfare over Putin's latest hypersonic missile and the devastation caused by large-scale drone attacks, most analysts argue the main driver preventing Kyiv's troops from successfully defending their territory is a lack of ammunition. Russia has increasingly encircled territory and then pummelled Ukrainian forces with artillery and glide bombs, according to Russian analysts, with the sheer numerical superiority of Moscow's artillery batteries and ammunition affording Putin's troops a significant advantage. Russian artillery divisions can be deployed in more locations and can sustain a much higher rate of fire than their Ukrainian counterparts, helping to scupper Kyiv's counterattacks while softening up defensive positions. Firefighters remove debris after Russian missile attack on November 26, 2024 in Sumy, Ukraine Ukrainian servicemen of the 43 Artillery Brigade fire a 2S7 Pion self-propelled cannon towards Russian positions at a front line in the Donetsk region Russian servicemen jump off a T-90M Proryv tank during a combat training for assault units in an undisclosed location A recent report published by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think tank and Open Source Centre estimated that Russian artillery attacks are responsible for some 70 per cent of Ukrainian casualties. Their research revealed that Russia's rate of artillery fire has averaged roughly 10,000 rounds per day since the early months of the war which saw peaks as high as 36,000 rounds per day. By contrast, Ukrainian fire rarely exceeded 6,000 and dropped below 1,800 rounds per day by early 2024. The RUSI report also surmised that sustaining such an outsized artillery and ammunition advantage is central to Russia's path to victory, concluding that it is essential for Western countries to provide Ukraine with considerably more ammunition to prevent Russia's advance. 'As of August 2024, the Russian theory of victory does not centre on major breakthroughs, but rather on the destruction of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) as a force capable of defending the breadth (of the frontline),' the RUSI report read. 'The Russian leadership likely believes it can kill its way out of the war, and artillery will be key to doing that. 'So long as Russia maintains a substantial advantage in artillery systems, it can use tactics that will, over time, deplete the AFU of reserves a critical vulnerability for Ukraine.' This photograph taken in Borodyanka, Kyiv region, on November 7, 2024, shows destroyed residential buildings, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine An aerial view shows the destroyed city of Vovchansk in the Kharkiv Region near the border with Russia A Ukrainian wounded serviceman who was brought back from positions is being treated by Ukrainian military doctors is prepared to be transported to a hospital, at a stabilisation point of the 33rd Mechanised Brigade, near the Kurakhove town's frontline Security camera footage out of the central-eastern city of Dnipro showed several projectiles streaking in and detonating after Russia launched a new hypersonic missile yesterday A grab taken from handout footage released by Russia's Defence Ministry on March 1 purports to show the test firing of an ICBM belonging to the country's nuclear deterrence forces Though satellite imagery and intelligence reports allow researchers and analysts to assess the Russian advance with relative accuracy, battlefield reports from both sides consistently contradict one another. This morning, Russia's Defence Ministry reported the capture by its forces of another village, Kopanky, in Kharkiv region, another focus of Russian military activity north of the main theatre of fighting in Donetsk region. But Ukraine's third separate assault brigade said it had cleared the village of Russian soldiers in a post on Telegram on Monday. Ukrainian media quoted Nazar Voloshyn, a spokesperson for the Khortytsya group of troops, as saying Kyiv's forces had repelled a Russian advance on the logistical centre of Kupiansk, also in Kharkiv region. It was the second time this month that the Ukrainian military reported rebuffing an attack on Kupiansk, even after Russian commanders said they had invaded the city two weeks ago. Putin has repeatedly said that Russian forces are advancing much more effectively now than earlier in the war and insisted that Russia will 'achieve all its aims' in Ukraine without specifying exactly what those are. Militarily, the goals of the so-called special military operation are generally seen as securing the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions and ousting Ukrainian troops from Kursk. Russia controls 18% of Ukraine including all of Crimea and almost all of the Luhansk region. However, Ukraine has managed to retain roughly 30-35% of the Donetsk region, as well as the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions in the south. A source on Ukraine's General Staff on Sunday said that Ukraine now held around 800 of the 1,376 square kilometres of Kursk that they held initially and would hold it 'for as long as is militarily appropriate'. Putin is also adamant that Ukraine must remain a 'neutral state' that is not part of NATO. He claims that Western powers - particularly the US and UK - are fighting a war with Russia through Ukraine which he sees as a vassal state. A member of Ukraine's 72nd Brigade Anti-air unit fires at a Russian Zala reconnaissance drone over head on February 23, 2024 near Marinka, Ukraine A view of destruction of the city of besieged Mariupol in southeastern Ukraine Ukrainian servicemen operate a Soviet-made T-72 tank in the Sumy region near the border with Russia Injured Ukrainian soldiers are transferred on stretchers from ambulances to a military evacuation train to transport Ukrainian servicemen wounded in frontline areas to hospitals, in an undisclosed location A mortar platoon soldier with an 82mm mortar performs a combat mission as Ukrainian soldiers hold their positions in bitter conditions Neither Russia nor Ukraine publishes accurate data on their losses, though Western intelligence estimates casualties to number hundreds of thousands killed or injured, while swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine have turned into wastelands. Ukraine has been struggling with deepening manpower shortages and is embroiled in an unpopular debate about how to bolster the military's ranks amid outrage over brutal incidents of civilians being press-ganged on the streets of Kyiv and other cities. Secretary of Ukraine's National Security Council Oleksandr Lytvynenko told Parliament in late October that the army planned to recruit another 160,000 people in the coming months. But Ukrainian military officials acknowledge the situation in the east is the worst now that it has been all year. In an interview with former Ukrainian MP Borislav Bereza last month, Col-Gen Dmytro Marchenko said: 'I won't be revealing a military secret if I say that our front has crumbled.' He went on to cast doubt on Volodymyr Zelensky's 'victory plan' for being too reliant on political, economic and military support from Western allies. 'This plan lacks any points addressing Ukraine or our needs,' Gen Marchenko added. Zelensky has blamed the difficulties of his armed forces on several factors, including delays of up to a year in equipping brigades, partly because of the long time the US Congress took to sign off on a major Ukraine assistance package. Telling someone with a foreign accent you can't understand them could be racial harassment, a senior tribunal judge has suggested, after a university worker sued her employer after criticism of her 'strong' Brazilian accent. His Honour Judge Tayler warned that commenting on or criticising the way someone from another country or ethnic group speaks could breach employment law. He also said people can still commit racial harassment even if they have no idea what they were saying was offensive. The Senior Circuit Judge of the Employment Appeal Tribunal [EAT] made the ruling following a case about a university worker who sued when she received criticism over her 'strong' Brazilian accent. Elaine Carozzi took the University of Hertfordshire to an employment tribunal, claiming she suffered race discrimination and harassment over comments about her accent. Although the marketing manager had a good grasp of the English language, managers at the institution struggled to understand what she was saying. Ms Carozzi alleged her pronunciations were 'used as a measuring stick to deduct my credibility and professional capability' before she resigned in January 2019. Elaine Carozzi, pictured, took the University of Hertfordshire to an employment tribunal, claiming she suffered race discrimination and harassment over comments about her accent Her claims were initially dismissed by a tribunal in Watford, however, she has now won the legal battle to have part of her case reheard as the EAT found that there were mistakes in its decision about her accent. Judge Tayler, sitting on the appeal case, found that the tribunal did not properly consider that an accent is linked to someone's race. The tribunal heard how Ms Carozzi made allegations including that her manager Annabel Lucas discriminated against her. This happened while she was on probation at the University of Hertfordshire, having joined in December 2017. However, the probation period kept getting extended over concerns about her communication in part due to her pronunciation. Ms Carozzi said: 'Over 13 months, Annabel Lucas used my accent, religion, and cultural background as a measuring stick to deduct my credibility and professional capability.' She claimed: '[Mrs Lucas] overreacted and started making derogative remarks about my attitude, culture, and my Brazilian accent. '[Mrs Lucas] told me that 'the team' was having issues with my 'very strong accent', and therefore they didn't want to invite me to important meetings and events.' She added: 'I have a Brazilian accent. I can't change my background, my ethnicity, and my national origins.' All of Ms Carozzi's claims were dismissed by the original tribunal in 2021. However, the EAT said the tribunal made mistakes in its judgement relating to a probation meeting in April 2018. At the meeting, Mrs Lucas said: 'You have a very strong accent, and although your English language is very good it can be difficult for you to be understood, and this is an issue when your role if [is] one of communication, engagement and partnership.' The original tribunal ruled the former employee's accent had 'had nothing whatsoever to do with her race' and that Mrs Lucas's comments did not harass her. But Judge Tayler at the EAT said the tribunal made a mistake because even though Ms Carozzi's race did not 'motivate' Mrs Lucas' comments, it was still connected and therefore potentially harassment. The original tribunal made a similar mistake in another of her claims about her accent, Judge Tayler found. He said it also made a third mistake when making a ruling on a claim about victimisation, the judge said. The judge found that the original panel 'erred in law' when it found that the university did not racially harass Ms Carozzi. He suggested that comments about not understanding someone with a foreign accent could still be harassment. This happened while she was on probation at the university having joined in December 2017. Picture: University of Hertfordshire 'An accent may be an important part of a person's national or ethnic identity,' he said. 'Comments about a person's accent could be related to the protected characteristic of race. 'Criticism of such an accent could violate dignity. Obviously, that does not mean that any mention of a person's accent will amount to harassment. 'Consideration would have to be given in any case to whether a comment about an accent was unwanted, related to race and... such as whether the conduct had the purpose or effect of violating dignity.' Speaking generally about causing offence in his ruling, Judge Tayler said that people can be guilty of harassment even if they have no idea what they are saying is offensive. 'Take, for example, a person who unknowingly uses a word that is offensive to people who have a relevant protected characteristic because it is historically linked to oppression of people who have the protected characteristic,' he said. 'The fact that the person, when using the word, did not know that it had such a meaning or connotation, would not prevent the word used being related to the protected characteristic. 'That does not necessarily mean the person who used the word would be liable for harassment, because it would still be necessary to consider whether the conduct violated the complainant's dignity. 'If the use of the word had that effect but not that purpose, the Employment Tribunal would go on to consider [if it amounted to harassment under employment law]. 'That said, there could be circumstances in which, even though a word was used without knowledge of the offensive connotations, having considered... the perception of the recipient, other circumstances and whether it is reasonable for the conduct to have that effect, the use of the word would nonetheless amount to harassment.' Concluding, he added these three complaints should be heard by a new tribunal. Reacting to the EAT decision on Linkedin, Ms Carozzi said: 'They thought someone with a 'strong accent' would be an easy target. Surprise! 'This Brazilian accent came with a backbone of steel. They didn't realise they were up against someone who wouldn't back down. 'Never underestimate someone just because they speak differently. Sometimes the strongest voice is the one they tried to silence.' A University of Hertfordshire spokesperson said: 'No court or Tribunal has made any finding of antisemitism or any other form of discrimination against the University, or any of its employees in this case. 'There have been no findings of discrimination in relation to Ms Carozzi's accent; neither have there been any findings regarding colleagues tracking her life, whereabouts, anything to do with her accent, or anything else. 'The University is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and welcoming environment for our global community spanning 140 nationalities so that everyone, no matter their background, feels welcome and safe. 'We have comprehensive inclusivity training and policies and regular workplace culture assessments. We also adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism, as clarified by the Home Affairs Select Committee in 2016. 'We would consider any antisemitism to be in breach of our policies and position on equality and diversity, and our commitment to an inclusive and understanding culture.' They were the plans to protect the monarch when nuclear war seemed likelier than it had ever been. In 1962 - when the Cuban Missile Crisis between the US and Russia had threatened global annihilation - what was initially codenamed Operation CANDID was drawn up by the government. It and later iterations detailed how Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip would have either been sent to country houses away from London or, if there was time, evacuated to sea aboard Her Late Majesty's beloved Royal Yacht Britannia. Crucially, the Home Secretary would have accompanied the royals - therefore allowing the Queen to have enough Privy Councillors present to appoint surviving politicians to ministerial posts in the aftermath of an attack. Now, with renewed tensions between the West and Russia, the spectre of nuclear conflict has again been raised by some experts. Amid Vladimir Putin's threats to launch nuclear weapons, the Daily Mail's Ephraim Hardcastle column reported this week that Prince William is concerned about the safety of his children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. William is said to be worried about 'the absence of provisions for saving his three heirs.' Although all current plans related to where King Charles, Queen Camilla and other royals would go in the event of nuclear war are highly classified, they could not use the Royal Yacht because it was decommissioned by Tony Blair's Labour government in 1997. But if the plans remain in any way similar to those first outlined in the 1960s, it would mean the King and Queen could be kept safe alongside Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. Historian Sir Peter Hennessy revealed in his book Secret State that planning for the Queen's evacuation to a safe place began in her earliest years on the throne, in the 1950s. Plans drawn up in the 1960s for how to protect the Royal Family in the event of a nuclear attack said Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip would have either been sent to country houses away from London or, if there was time, evacuated to sea aboard Her Late Majesty's beloved Royal Yacht Britannia The Royal Yacht arriving at Torquay during a visit by the Queen and Prince Philip in 1988 It was decommissioned by Tony Blair's Labour government in 1997 'Once the royal yacht Britannia was commissioned in 1954, the plan was to get her aboard and out of danger during a period of international tension,' he wrote in the book, which was updated in 2010. He added: 'The war planners realized that, as one insider put it, "It made no sense to have the Queen with the War Cabinet in case the whole lot were wiped out together." 'With an enduring sense of the personal royal prerogatives, it was appreciated that the Queen would need to appoint a new Prime Minister and senior ministers to replace the old set, if other politicians had survived, once it was safe for Britannia to sale back to her shattered kingdom.' Professor Hennessy added in a note: 'I discovered many years later from a Buckingham Palace official that with the Home Secretary in attendance, the Queen would be able to find a quorum to enable her to convene a meeting of the Privy Council (the other two privy councillors with Her Majesty being the Duke of Edinburgh and her Private Secretary). 'A quorate Privy Council would enable the Queen, for example, to appoint surviving politicians to ministerial posts. 'The Home Secretary would board the Royal Yacht Britannia to join the royal party.' Professor Hennessy examined the contents of a classified 'War Book' that was drawn up by the government in the 1960s. The document was updated until the 1990s. Now, with renewed tensions between the West and Russia, the spectre of nuclear conflict has again been raised by some experts. Amid Vladimir Putin 's threats to launch nuclear weapons, the Daily Mail's Ephraim Hardcastle column reported this week that Prince William is concerned about the safety of his children The Cuban Missile Crisis threatened global nuclear annihilation. Above: Cuban dictator Fidel Castro during the crisis Britain developed its nuclear weapons in the 1950s. Above: Britain's first atomic bomb test, October 3, 1952 Operation Python, a follow-up to Candid, would have seen the prime minister and other 'authorised retaliators' sent to several secret locations. Professor Hennessy said in 2010: 'The Queen had to be kept separate because only The Queen can appoint a Prime Minister. 'She could not be with the Prime Minister and the War Cabinet because they would get wiped out the moment they operated from this bunker. 'The signals traffic would give the Sovs (Soviets) a very good idea of what was happening.' The Royal Yacht plan would have seen the Queen 'lurk in the sea lochs of the North West coast of Scotland, moving from one to the other, because the mountains would stop the Sov [Soviet] radar getting to her,' he added. The prime minister, military chiefs and 4,000 civil servants would have sheltered at what was officially known as the Central Government War Headquarters, also referred to as Burlington or Turnstile. Above: The former bunker pictured in 2006 Soldiers at work in the bunker at Corsham. The facility would have been protected from a nuclear blast and radiation The Daily Mail's front page in October 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis The prime minister, military chiefs and 4,000 civil servants would have sheltered at what was officially known as the Central Government War Headquarters, also referred to as Burlington or Turnstile. The top-secret, giant bunker in Corsham, Wiltshire, stretches across 34 acres. The complex was completed just before the Cuban Missile Crisis, when America discovered that Russia was housing nuclear missiles on nearby Cuba. For 30 years, until the end of Margaret Thatcher's administration, it remained on standby. It was fully decommissioned in 2004. The former bunker was visited by the Daily Mail's Robert Hardman in 2006. Foreign nationals are up to three times more likely to be arrested than Brits in parts of the country, according to the latest available data - as revised figures show migration is higher than expected after 166,000 arrivals were missed off official records In an extraordinary revision of Government estimates, Office for National Statistics (ONS) analysts revealed a staggering 906,000 people were added to the UK's population during the year ending June 2023. This was 166,000 or 22 per cent higher than the agency's original toll, which itself was an all-time high. The latest ONS data release did not include figures on the number of crimes carried out by new arrivals, but a picture of offending by foreign nationals in local police areas has previously been constructed using information sourced under freedom of information laws. In Cambridgeshire, of the more than 21,200 arrests made between 2021 and 2023, nearly 8,800 (41.5 per cent) were not UK citizens. This is despite them comprising just 15 per cent of the local population. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Statistics from Cambridgeshire Police, which covers cities such as Cambridge and Peterborough, suggest foreign nationals residing in the UK are three times as likely to be arrested on suspicion of a crime than Brits. In the county, the average annual arrest rate for foreign nationals between 2021 and 2023 was 21.5 per 1,000 population. In comparison, MailOnline analysis suggests the equivalent rate for Brits was 6.5 per 1,000. Other notable areas include Gloucestershire with 27.5 arrests per 1,000 foreign nationals compared to 8.1 per 1,000 Britons, Nottinghamshire with 31.7 for migrants vs 10 for Britons, and Derbyshire with 32.6 against 10.2. Figures were obtained from 26 out of 43 forces in England and Wales which responded to a Freedom of Information request by the Centre for Migration Control thinktank. The other 17 forces said they were unable to provide the information. The FOI asked each force how many non-UK citizens, who are resident in the UK, its officers had arrested in 2021, 2022 and 2023. People included in the figures for arrests in each police force area do not necessarily live there, so it should be noted that the analysis does not measure the number of alleged criminals living in an area. The figures are also for numbers of arrests, not individuals, so if someone was arrested more than once they will appear multiple times. Population data for MailOnline's analysis comes from the 2021 Census, so the crime rates calculated in 2022/23 will not take into account soaring levels of migration. The figures use primary passport as a proxy for nationality, so migrants who have become UK citizens are not counted as foreign nationals. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Our analysis has also assumed that those with no passport are British nationals, as an ONS report has concluded that around 96 per cent of those without one are UK-born. There were nearly 760,000 arrests across out of a total of 21,830,731 Brits across the 26 police forces between 2021 and 2023, or a yearly average of 10.3 per 1,000 people. This is compared to the more than 140,000 out of 2.16million foreign nationals arrested in the same period, an average of 21.7 per 1,000. Just one out of the 26 forces had lower levels of migrant arrests in the three years, Devon and Cornwall with a rate of 7.2 per 1,000 for migrants against 10 in 1,000 for Britons. The analysis come after Tory leadership candidate Robert Jenrick said the scale of crime committed by migrants was being covered up. The ex-immigration minister told the Telegraph earlier this year that the public 'deserved to know the truth'. He and other supporters claim the data, a version of which is published in Denmark and some US states, could help strengthen visa and deportation policies for people from countries whose nationals have higher crime rates. Public safety campaigner and former constable Rory Geoghegan told MailOnline that the figures show that the statistics strengthen the need for stricter immigration controls. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. The founder of the Public Safety Foundation, also a former No10 and Home Office adviser, said: 'These latest figures strengthen the case for stricter controls, limits and checks to ensure that immigration policy does not undermine public safety. 'Too many foreign nationals, whether entering illegally or legally, engage in criminality. 'The minority who do so need to know that their actions will have swift and certain consequences including removal. 'If the Government don't take these issues seriously and get a grip of them then opposition parties serious about representing the mainstream in Britain must be prepared to step up and speak up. 'The Home Secretary would also do well to work with her colleague the Justice Secretary to publish much more granular data in order that the true scale of these issues can be understood.' Government statistics yesterday revealed 728,000 more people were added to the UK's population in the year ending June 2024. That figure was almost as high as the previous record, set in the previous 12-month spell. But the bar was shifted upwards because of the ONS's revision to the 740,000 estimate it originally published. The ONS said it now has more complete data and has also improved how it estimates the migration behaviour of people arriving in the UK from outside the EU. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. It estimated that fewer EU nationals departed the country, and more students from outside the EU stayed after finishing courses. However, the latest revisions will fuel criticism of the statistical body, which is already under intense fire for faulty labour force numbers. The scale of the inflows with the peak roughly equivalent to adding two cities the same size as Leicester in a year is poised to spark a fresh political row. Numbers from outside the EU have exploded since 2021, after the Brexit deal took effect. Of the 1.2million people who came to live in the UK in the 12 months to June 2024, around 86 per cent a million hailed from outside the EU. Indian was the most common nationality for both work-related (116,000) and study-related (127,000) reasons. Kemi Badenoch used a major speech last night to insist the Tories would not allow Britain to be treated like a 'hotel' for migrants. She warned yesterday that immigration levels are 'a world away from where we need to be' as she promised a 'strict numerical cap' on arrivals. Only those able to make a 'substantial and clear contribution' to Britain will be allowed in, the Tory leader said. Your browser does not support iframes. Ms Badenoch will review Britain's membership of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the continuation of Labour's Human Rights Act, which have both been blamed for blocking past attempts to get tough. The Tory leader said there would be 'zero tolerance for foreign criminals remaining in the UK'. Following their landslide election win, Labour immediately vowed to tackle the small boats crisis with its Border Security Command to counter trafficking gangs and people smugglers. Ex-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's plan to send migrants to Rwanda was canned, however. Mark Hamill has been slammed after he appeared to compare Donald Trump's election to Pearl Harbor. The Star Wars actor, 73, took to Bluesky to describe election day as 'a Day That Will Live In Infamy.' It is the phrase Franklin Roosevelt used to describe the horrific Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, which forced the US to enter World War II. While Hamill did not receive any pushback on the BlueSky platform, which is mostly used by liberals, many X users took issue with the comparison. 'Mark has allowed the darkness to consume his soul,' said on X user after the account Libs of Bluesky shared Hamill's post on X. 'Mark's not a big fan of democracy,' said another. 'At last he found a place where he can push his nonsense with no pushback,' added a third X user. Hamill has long been a staunch critic of Trump and Republicans and fiercely supported Kamala Harris during the presidential election. Mark Hamill used a phrase famously used by FRD to describe the attack on Pearl Harbor to describe Donald Trump's election Hamill said the day of Trump's election 'will live in infamy,' sparking backlash Posting a photo smiling alongside VP Harris in July, he wrote in a caption: 'I want to offer my full support & endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year - @JoeBiden. 'Vote for the candidate who will both honor & further his legacy: @KamalaHarris. #HamillHeartsHarris.' And on September 20, he shared a snapshot of Kamala by herself, writing, '47 days til shes 47.' Back in May, Hamill even visited the White House, praising the president's record and debuting a potential new Biden nickname. 'Well, you know, I called him Mr. President. He said, "You can call me Joe." And I said, "Can I call you Joe B.-Wan Kenobi?' the Luke Skywalker actor said. 'He liked that,' Hamill added. 'How many of you have Mark Hamill will lead the press briefing on your BINGO card,' he asked surprised journalists. 'Yeah, me neither,' the actor joked. 'I just got to meet the president and he gave me these aviator glasses,' Hamill went on. 'I love the merch, I love it all.' He then explained why he was a continued supporter of the Biden administration. 'But listen I just want to say I was honored to be asked to come to the White House to meet the president, the most legislatively successful president in my lifetime,' said the 72-year-old. 'And I don't have to go through the list, the bipartisan infrastructure law, the PACT Act, the CHIPS Act. 15 million jobs. It's all good.' Hamill has previously found himself in hot water over his rhetoric about Trump. After Trump survived an assassination attempt over the summer, the actor was slammed for mocking the president-elect's appearance at the Republican National Convention. Hamill wrote at the time: '1st APPEARANCE of ludicrously oversized ear bandage, apparently not needed prior to tonight [ear emoji and rolling on the floor laughing emoji].' A former Metropolitan Police officer accused of raping a teenage girl more than 13 years ago has died, a court heard. David Campbell was off-duty at the time of the alleged offence in north London in May 2011. The alleged crime was reported to the authorities in 2022 and - Campbell who was part of the Frontline Policing command - was arrested and suspended from duty in February 2023. The alleged victim was aged between 16 and 17 and the matter was reported to police in 2022. The cause of the former officers premature death was not discussed at Westminster Magistrates Court today. David Burns, prosecuting, told the court: Mr Campbell has passed away, we are waiting for a death certificate. Campbell, 46, who was living in Bedford, was charged with rape and misconduct in a public office. District Judge Daniel Sternberg has set a hearing for December 30, where a death certificate will be produced. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson, speaking in October, said that the former PC Campbell no longer works for the Met, adding: 'We will not be discussing the circumstances around this at this time to avoid prejudicing criminal proceedings.' Campbell, who was part of the Frontline Policing command, was arrested and suspended from duty in February 2023 David Campbell was accused of raping a girl aged 16 or 17 in north London in 2011, while off duty (pictured Westminster Magistrates' Court) His death comes after a damning report by the police watchdog in August claimed that the Metropolitan Police is failing in almost every area of its work. His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services said it had 'serious concerns' about how Britain's biggest police force headed by Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley is preventing and reducing crime. Lee Freeman, HM inspector of constabulary, judged too that the service was not managing the risks posed by registered sex offenders and online abusers 'effectively' - with one high-risk offender not being visited by the police since 2017. Scotland Yard was also criticised for failing in the support it offers to victims. A prominent disability rights activist was left humiliated after she was strip-searched at Sydney airport. American citizen Keely Cat-Wells, 28, who has met multiple US Presidents in her role as disability rights campaigner, was travelling through security at Sydney airport last Thursday with her mum when she told security staff she had an ileostomy. An ileostomy is a surgical procedure whereby a hole is created in your abdomen to allow waste to be collected externally in a bag. Ms Cat-Wells, who had an ileostomy in 2016 after doctors were forced to remove her entire colon, said the external bag has never been a problem at airports before. '(But) as soon as I went under the scanner and I mentioned that I had an ileostomy, they said I needed to show it to them, that they needed to physically see it,' Ms Cat-Wells told Yahoo News. 'They were incredibly insistent that the only way for me to get through security and go into the airport was for them to physically see it.' Although the award-winning disability rights advocate told staff members it was not standard procedure, they asked her to expose her ileostomy bag in front of other travellers at the busy security gates. Ms Cat-Wells was eventually escorted to a private room where she was asked to remove her trousers. American citizen Keely Cat-Wells (pictured), 28, who has met multiple US Presidents in her role as disability rights campaigner, was travelling through security at Sydney airport last Thursday with her mum when she told security staff she had an ileostomy Ms Cat-Wells, who had an ileostomy in 2016 after doctors were forced to remove her entire colon, said the external bag has never been a problem at airports before 'I don't know what she (a female member of staff) was trying to do, but at one point I thought she was going to touch it... it felt dehumanising,' Cat-Wells said. Ms Cat-Wells complained to Sydney Airport about her 'traumatising experience' and said they were 'very apologetic'. A Sydney Airport spokesperson who told Yahoo they 'are sorry for any distress that was caused as a result of this incident'. 'From our initial assessment it appears that, although the correct procedures were followed, there were shortcomings in terms of communication and customer service,' the spokesperson said. Ms Cat-Wells said her experience echoed with others in the disabled community who said they feared travelling for that very reason. 'There's so much irony in my work... one week I'm advocating to President Biden about accessible transport in the US, and then here I am having an awful experience,' she said. 'I can't wait until we can just live and not have to continuously advocate.' Ms Cat-Wells, who was born in England but now lives in the US, met US President Joe Biden at a commemoration of the 33rd Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act at the White House last year. Ms Cat-Wells, who was born in England but now lives in the US, met US President Joe Biden at a commemoration of the 33rd Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act at the White House last year (pictured) November 28, 2024: Russian efforts to provide enough soldiers to continue the war in Ukraine have proved to be something of a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. This describes the war in Ukraine as well. The war is stalled because there are few Russians willing to fight, or even wear a uniform, carry a gun and pretend to fight in Ukraine. Evading military service has become a widespread activity in Russia. The government calls it treason and threatens prison for the resisters. The Threat of imprisonment is considered preferable to service in Ukraine. Russians call Putins Special Operation in Ukraine a form of mass murder against Russian men. Currently, Russian military operations in Ukraine are at a standstill. There are some random Russian soldiers who will fire their weapons into the air. Russian officers are ordered to keep their men from getting too close to Ukrainian forces because of the growing incidents of Russian soldiers surrendering. The war in Ukraine, the first modern war for Russia since 1945, soon devolved into a multitude of problems. There has been a lot of resistance to the war among soldiers, as well as civilians. Efforts to evade military service continue to grow. In turn, Russian recruitment efforts have become more ruthless. Young men are seized, arrested, coerced or manipulated into serving in the military. If all these efforts worked, Russia would have over a million soldiers headed for Ukraine. The reality is that Russia can barely get enough new troops for Ukraine to cover monthly losses. These casualties are as high as 30,000 a month and Russians back home know it. Men seized, duped or taken from prison to be soldiers resist. There have been some major insurrections among soldiers headed for Ukraine. Threatening these men with imprisonment does not work because that gets them safely out of the way. The morale of Russian troops already in Ukraine continues to plummet. The 350,000 dead Russia has suffered in Ukraine has been demoralizing. Since late 2023 Ukrainian troops have increasingly encountered Russian soldiers who surrendered at the first opportunity. Sometimes Russian troops were encountered who had already dropped their weapons and were looking for someone to surrender to. While troops can be motivated or compelled to fight, they are often ineffective. That means they suffer a lot of casualties while still unable to gain much ground. Russian commanders were aware of this and had orders to do something to prevent these surrenders and efforts to avoid combat. That proved to be an impossible order to comply with. Physical punishments did not improve morale and willingness to fight. The main problem was that troops had no confidence in their scarce commanders (there are few company-grade officers). These officers were often just as dismayed at the situations they faced on the battlefield. Frequently there was not enough food, ammunition, or medical care. It is now winter in Ukraine and once more the government has not supplied enough cold weather clothing and equipment for the troops. Worse, the clothes and equipment were often almost useless cheap imitations instead of standard issue. This lack of support is the only thing the troops can depend on. Much of that is caused by government corruption. The government may have appropriated money to purchase essential items, but corrupt officials steal the money or divert the supplies to black market dealers who will resell the goods and share the profits with their corrupt partners. This process often involves Russian criminal organizations, which do not hesitate to kill anyone who tries to disrupt their bad behavior. This is encouraged by the corruption of Russian military leadership down to company and field-grade officers who sell narcotics and other illegal drugs to their enlisted men. Russias leadership, especially supreme leader Vladimir Putin, was delusional about the continuing lack of progress in Ukraine or the reasons for that. Even Russians who thought restoring independence, since 1991, Ukraine to Russian control was a good thing and worth fighting for began losing confidence in Putins ability to make that happen. Each time failure in Ukraine became obvious, Putin would come up with a new reason why Russia was winning, and each of these was soon shown to be false. Putin now believes he can eventually prevail because of disagreements among NATO members about whether or how Ukraine can win against the Russian invaders. NATO members agree about Russias inability to win in Ukraine but many politicians in some of the larger, and more distant from the fighting nations like the United States, Germany, France, and Italy, openly doubt Ukraines ability to regain control of lost territory. Putin supports this attitude by continuing to threaten use of nuclear weapons if Russia is faced with losing all its seized territory in Ukraine. Such a move is also unpopular in Russia and one of the growing number of reasons Russians are losing faith in Putin's promises that Russia will win in Ukraine. An increasing number of Russians now openly oppose the war even though Putin quickly created laws to make such public dissent illegal. The failure of such laws soon became obvious in many ways. Anti-war demonstrations and physical attacks on military facilities, especially recruiting stations, are more frequent. Refusing to report when conscripted became more common. Another form of defiance is veterans of the Ukraine fighting providing details, based on personal experience, of why Russian forces are failing. Numerous veterans are no longer in the military because they refused to renew their contracts. Many more soldiers remained in the army but refused to return to Ukraine and got away with it. Putin ordered that these soldiers be officially described, in their military records and military ID, as unreliable and unwilling to fight. In any other country a soldier who refuses to fight during wartime is subject to severe punishment, often execution. That still happens to reluctant Russian soldiers inside Ukraine where officers have the authority to shoot reluctant troops. Initially, as Russian casualties grew and progress was nonexistent, some officers did shoot troops refusing to fight. That soon changed as the troops threatened to and sometimes did shoot back or, in at least one known case, ran over an insistent officer with a tank. Not to mention troops sometimes shooting undesirable officers first. Ukrainian forces have provided additional confirmation of this violence and collapsing morale within Russian units. Many Russian troops will surrender to the Ukrainians at the first opportunity and admit it to Ukrainian, Russian, and foreign journalists. This prompted Ukraine to equip some of its quadcopters to notify and lead surrendering Russian troops safely to Ukrainian front-line forces. The number of Russian military personnel is declining because of combat losses and veterans refusing to stay in, even though being a contract, or volunteer soldier is one of the few jobs Russians can get because of high unemployment rates caused by Western economic sanctions. Russia responded by lowering recruiting standards and accepting recruits or conscripts with physical, mental, legal, or psychological problems that would normally make them ineligible for military service. Russia has also dropped age limits for volunteers and is willing to accept non-Russians as long as they can speak some Russian and are willing to fight. Recently Russia rented 12,000 North Korean soldiers to fight in Ukraine. These men did fight, as part of the effort to get Ukrainian forces out of Russia. Ukrainian troops entered Kursk province in August and are still there, despite the aggressive North Korean troops. Meanwhile Russian recruiting efforts are not producing enough new troops to be immediately useful because most of them have no military training and at least two months are required to produce useful troops for combat, so new recruits get only one to three weeks. Conscripts require less training and are often used for support operations outside Ukraine during their one year in uniform. Many conscripts are now refusing to show up at army induction centers and Russian soldiers sent to get these men often encounter mobs of civilians who oppose the war. Killer whales have been spotted wearing dead fish on their heads - a look they were seen sporting nearly 40 years ago by researchers. Images have surfaced of orcas across Pudget Sound in the Pacific Northwest wearing salmon on their heads in recent weeks. But this is not the first time the deadly whales have been seen sporting the rather unique look. Back in 1987, a female orca off the US west coast was seen with a dead salmon resting on the top of her head. The look appeared to catch on when other female whales began to swim around with their 'fish hats'. Their odd behaviour had never been seen before, capturing the interest of researchers who saw it as example of an orca 'fad', as the action appeared to spread from killer whale to killer whale, despite serving no purpose. The trend was shortlived, however, with scientists left to wonder why the marine animals ever started wearing the fish in the first place. Killer whales have been spotted wearing dead fish on their heads Researcher say their behaviour could be linked to a larger population of salmon in the waters this year, and because they have an abundance of fish around them, it is possible they might be saving them as a snack for later Killer whales were first spotted wearing fish on their heads in in 198 But as salmon hats are back in fashion among orcas in the region, researchers say it is possible that the same whales from 1987 are simply trying to relive their youth. Other reasons for their behaviour could be linked to a larger population of salmon in the waters this year, and because they have an abundance of fish around them, it is possible they might be saving them as a snack for later. Images of the fahsionable killer whales come after a family of massive orcas were captured on dystopian video footage after they were spotted gliding through the waters of Canada. False Creek Ferries, a local ferry company in the area, was traveling from the west end of downtown Vancouver to Kitsilano Beach when passengers were stunned with four surprise visitors - a 26-year-old mother killer whale and her three calves within just 10 feet of the boat. 'It was pretty surreal,' Jack Hemsworth, the captain of the ferry, told CityNews. 'It was pretty crazy to see how big they really are, because they were bigger than the boat.' The video shared to social media by the ferry company captured the transient killer whales - which are also known as Bigg's killer whales - as they silently glided through the harbor past a row of high-rise buildings that served as their picture-perfect backdrop. Amazed passengers can be heard in the background in absolute awe over the stunning sight - 'wowing' every time the pod appeared back to the surface. Ms Badenoch's decision has now been ruled 'unlawful' in the High Court Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has accused the Labour Government of a 'cowardly decision' after it it reached an agreement in a legal challenge from controversial Irish language rap trio Kneecap. The Belfast-based band, which has been accused of glorifying the IRA, launched the legal case after Ms Badenoch refused them a 14,250 funding award when she was Business Secretary. They claimed the decision to refuse the grant discriminated against them on grounds of nationality and political opinion. The UK Government has admitted that the decision was 'unlawful'. However, a spokesman for Ms Badenoch has said: 'It is unbelievable Labour have chosen not to pursue this case - yet another cowardly decision after giving away the Chagos Islands. 'Labour will always capitulate rather than defend UK interests. 'This case is not about whether a band promotes violence or hates the UK, as Kneecap clearly do; this is about whether government ministers have the ability to stop taxpayers' money subsidising people who neither need nor deserve it.' The spokesman said the Government would 'rather waste your money' that stand up to a band 'who go to court because the UK government won't hand them cash'. Irish language rap trio Kneecap has won a discrimination case against the Government over a decision by then-Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch to refuse them a 14,250 funding award. (Pictured: JJ O'Dochartaigh, also known as DJ Provai, from Kneecap outside Belfast High Court) Kneecap had launched legal action claiming the decision to refuse the grant discriminated against them on grounds of nationality and political opinion. (Pictured: Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch, who was Business and Trade Secretary at the time of her decision) Kneecap is a Republican band, which has been accused of glorifying the IRA (Pictured: Poster for the 2020 'Farewell to the Union' Kneecap tour that showed Boris Johnson and Alene Foster strapped to a rocket on top of a burning bonfire) A spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade said: 'This Governments priority is to get on delivering the change we promised and protect the taxpayer from further expense, so we will not continue to contest Kneecaps challenge as we do not believe it in the public interest. 'The music industry is the heart and soul of our economy and are committed to helping acts continue to thrive and break into new markets, including through our MEGS programme which has helped around 400 artists tour the globe.' During a brief hearing at Belfast High Court on Friday, Mr Justice Scoffield said he was glad that the two sides in the case had reached agreement. Reading an agreed statement into the record, Kneecap's barrister Ronan Lavery KC said: 'It is declared that the decision is unlawful, procedurally unfair, took into account immaterial considerations and failed to take into account relevant factors.' It is understood that the court has ordered the Government to make an ex gratia (or goodwill) of 14,250 payment to Kneecap, which is an equivalent amount to the grant that was blocked, but costs are yet to be agreed. Kneecap, named after the brutal paramilitary form of punishment of shooting someone in the knee, are known for their balaclava-clad performances, unveiling murals depicting violent attacks on police, promoting themselves with pictures of petrol bombs and welcoming growing support among the young for the IRA. Despite their opposition to the UK and repeated calls for 'Brits out of Ireland', the west Belfast hip-hop artists had applied for a grant allocated to support UK artists overseas. Their application to the Music Export Growth Scheme had been approved by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). However, the grant scheme is overseen by the Department for Business and Trade and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport at Westminster, and the then-UK business secretary Mrs Badenoch, who is now the Conservative Party leader, decided to refuse the funding in February. At the time, a government spokesperson said it fully supported freedom of speech, but that it was 'hardly surprising' that it did not want to hand out UK taxpayers' money to those opposed to the United Kingdom. The UK government conceded that the decision 'unlawful' and Mr Justice Scoffield said he was glad that the two sides in the case had reached agreement at Belfast High Court. (Pictured: JJ O'Dochartaigh, also known as DJ Provai, from Kneecap, arriving at Belfast High Court) Kneecap had applied for a grant allocated to support UK-registered artists in global markets, but were blocked by Ms Badenoch. The Government will now pay out 14,250 of taxpayers money to the group. (Pictured: JJ O Dochartaigh (middle) and others at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival) Kneecap previously took to X (formerly Twitter) to say: 'We've been blocked from receiving significant music funding because a Tory Minister doesn't like our art. F*ck the Tories ' Kneecap, formed in 2017 by three friends who perform under the stage names Mo Chara, Moglai Bap and DJ Provai, openly court controversy with their provocative lyrics and merchandise. The group had said its views in favour of Irish unity, and particularly a provocative poster for their 2019 'Farewell to the Union' tour, had angered the Conservative Party. Band member DJ Provai arrived at court on Friday in an old Land Rover, styled to look like a police vehicle, which was bearing the Irish tricolour and Palestinian flags and blaring loud music. He was wearing his usual Irish tricolour balaclava, which he removed to enter the court building. After the agreement was read, barrister Mr Lavery said he was sorry he could not read it in Irish, to which Mr Justice Scoffield replied: 'Go raibh maith agat', which means 'thank you' in Irish. The band said it would donate the grant to two youth organisations in Belfast - one from a nationalist area and one from a unionist area. Speaking outside court afterwards, DJ Provai said: 'For us, this action was never about 14,250; it could have been 50p. 'The motivation was equality. At the time, a government spokesperson said it was 'hardly surprising' that it did not want to hand out UK taxpayers' money to those opposed to the United Kingdom. (Pictured: Members of Kneecap protest outside the Eyptian Theatre before the start of the 2024 Sundance Film Festival) Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn once called Kneecap 'inspiring'. (Pictured: Jeremy Corbyn, left, and members of Kneecap) 'This was an attack on artistic culture, an attack on the Good Friday Agreement itself and an attack on Kneecap and our way of expressing ourselves.' He added: 'The former secretary of state Kemi Badenoch and her department acted unlawfully; this is now a fact. 'They don't like that we oppose British rule, that we don't believe that England serves anyone in Ireland and the working classes on both sides of the community deserve better; deserve funding, deserve appropriate mental health services, deserve to celebrate music and art and deserve the freedom to express our culture. 'They broke their own laws in trying to silence Kneecap.' He added: 'They have tried to silence us and they have failed.' Asked what his message was for Mrs Badenoch, DJ Provai said: 'Good effort Kemi, hard lines in the elections. Onwards and upwards.' The band's lawyer, Darragh Mackin from Phoenix Law, said the unlawfulness of the decision in February by the government was as 'clear as the nose on your face'. He added: 'A court has exonerated our clients and declared this decision unlawful in every sense of the word. 'Today is not only a victory for Kneecap but a victory for the arts, for culture, for the freedom of expression. 'Kneecap continue to lead by example in practising what they preach.' DJ Provai posed for photographs outside the court after the short hearing before going back to the Land Rover, where a small crowd had gathered, and was driven off. A statement from the Department for Business and Trade said: 'This Government's priority is to try and reduce costs and help protect the taxpayer from further expense, so we will not continue to contest Kneecap's challenge as we do not believe it in the public interest. 'The music industry is the heart and soul of our economy and are committed to helping acts continue to thrive and break into new markets, including through our MEGS programme - which has helped around 400 artists tour the globe.' Kneecap previously landed an astonishing 1.6million of taxpayer and National Lottery money to fund a semi-autobiographical film starring the band that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah this year. New potential evidence has emerged in the case of a Utah woman who has been accused of murdering her husband. Jennifer Gledhill, 41, was arrested in early October after her husband Matthew Johnson, 51, vanished and was later charged with his murder. Police say the mom-of-three opened fire on Johnson as he slept at their $1 million home in Cottonwood Heights, a suburb of Salt Lake City, then dumped his body in a shallow grave. His remains have yet to be found but a batch of new evidence has been turned over for discovery in the case according to a document seen by ABC4. Among the items including 'Jennifer's Phones', 'mis. cell phone data', photos and videos of several guns and black boxes, according to the outlet. She is scheduled to appear back in court for a preliminary hearing on Monday, December 2 after an earlier appearance in October. That hearing heard how she and her husband had spent the night before he vanished 'drinking whiskey' and having sex. She sobbed as a judge banned her from contacting her three children over fears she'd interfere with their witness testimony. Jennifer Gledhill, 41, was arrested in early October after her husband Matthew Johnson , 51, vanished and was later charged with his murder Police say the mom-of-three opened fire on Johnson as he slept at their $1 million home, then dumped his body in a shallow grave Gledhill was also accused of inconsistencies in her story after claiming Johnson had left her bruised following a domestic violence attack. Johnson was reported missing on September 23, with Gledhill arrested after her unnamed lover told police that she'd told him about killing her husband. In a police interview after her October 3 arrest, Gledhill claimed to have separated from Johnson - only to spend the evening of September 20 talking and drinking liquor with him. She said they had sex , and 'informed (the officer) due to the intoxication from the whiskey she had a hard time recalling the events that took place after', a search warrant said. Gledhill said Johnson 'became upset' during their evening together, but could not recall why, reports Fox13Now. She went on to offer conflicting excuses for bruises on her body, it is claimed. Gledhill told cops Johnson 'struck her several times' with a closed fist, leaving her bruised on her arms, hands, face and legs. Her secret lover - whose name has not been released - says Gledhill told him she got the bruises 'from moving Matthew's body and cleaning the mess in the house'. Asked by one cop why she did not report her husband's alleged domestic excuse, she claimed to have 'made a deal' with him. Gledhill is said to have had a 'long history of calling the police on Matthew for non criminal altercations.' Johnson was reported missing on September 23, with Gledhill arrested after her unnamed lover told police that she'd told him about killing her husband Her secret lover - whose name has not been released - says Gledhill told him she got the bruises 'from moving Matthew's body and cleaning the mess in the house', seen here She told cops that they'd agreed he'd return to work at Camp Williams State Military Reservation the night after they had sex. The alleged murderess says the first she knew of Johnson's disappearance was a message from his co-workers saying he hadn't made it into work. Her lover offered an alternative version of events. He claims Gledhill told him that she'd shot Johnson in the head as he slept. Gledhill is then said to have put his body in an attic store container, before sliding it down the stairs and into the back of her minivan. Gledhill allegedly smashed Johnson's phone and drove his truck to another area of their estate before driving his body north and burying him in a shallow grave. Thoma, 71, and Rosalie Gledhill, 67, have both been arrested over claims they helped their daughter cover-up the murder of her husband In late October her parents Thomas, 71, and Rosalie, 67, Gledhill were both charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly helping their daughter clean the crime scene. Police say witnesses saw the parents cleaning the house for five hours, with Rosalie suspected of buying a new mattress for her daughter. Detectives believe Johnson was killed on the old mattress, which subsequently disappeared and has not been found. Blood stains were reportedly found underneath Jennifer's bed when a search warrant was executed on September 28. Jennifer's parents told police earlier this month that they had been at her home, but denied helping her clean it. A crypto boss has eaten the $6.2 million banana art he purchased and promised to buy 100,000 more pieces of the fruit from the vendor who sold the original. But Justin Sun's pledge to NYC fruit seller Shah Alam, 74, has the vendor panicking as he warned it would be almost impossible to source that many bananas. And he warned that even if he did, the profit would be miniscule. Sun made headlines around the world when he became the successful bidder on 'Comedian' by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan last week. The piece, which was dubbed the 'most expensive piece of fruit in the world', featured a 35 cent banana duct taped to a wall. Alam sold the fruit to Cattelan for 35 cents from his cart outside Sotheby's auction house in New York. He was distraught to learn how much the low-cost item fetched when it went under the hammer. Sun sought to reassure him with a promise to purchase tens of thousands more and, distribute them 'free worldwide through his stand [...] while supplied last'. But Alam, who earns $12 an hour for his 12 hour days and lives in a shared house with five other men, told the New York Times: 'There is not any profit in selling bananas'. Crypto boss Justin Sun has eaten the banana from a piece of art he purchased for $6.2 million The net profit of the purchase would work out to be $6,000 and would prove very difficult to orchestrate since they are sold in boxes of 100, Alam added. He also explained that any profit would go to the stand's owner, Mohammad R. Islam, 53, who did offer to split any pay day but said he had yet to be approached. 'It's definitely an inequality,' Islam's brother Mohammad Alam Badsha said of the potential sale. A GoFundMe has since been set up for Alam which has raised more than $6,000 so far. Sun purchased the artwork for $6.2 million including auction house fees. At one of Hong Kong's priciest hotels, he gobbled up the banana in front of dozens of journalists and influencers after giving a speech hailing the work as 'iconic' and drew parallels between conceptual art and cryptocurrency. 'It's much better than other bananas,' Sun said after getting his first taste. 'It's really quite good.' Sun was among seven people vying for the piece said he felt 'disbelief' in the first 10 seconds after he won the bid, before realising 'this could become something big'. In the 10 seconds after that, he decided he would eat the banana. The banana was bought from Shah Alam, 74, who works for $12 an hour at this fruit stand outside Sotheby's auction house on Manhattan's Upper East Side Sun pledged to buy 100,000 more bananas from the same stand, but Alam warned it would be impossible and barely profitable to source so many pieces of fruit 'Eating it at a press conference can also become a part of the artwork's history,' he said Friday. The debut of the edible creation at the 2019 Art Basel show in Miami Beach sparked controversy and raised questions about whether it should be considered art -- Cattelan's stated aim. And Sun on Friday compared conceptual art like 'Comedian' to NFT art and decentralised blockchain technology. 'Most of its objects and ideas exist as (intellectual property) and on the internet, as opposed to something physical,' he said. Sun this week also became an advisor to World Liberty Financial, a crypto initiative backed by US president-elect Donald Trump, following a $30 million investment. He earlier wrote on social media platform X that he was 'excited to help make crypto great again in the US' with Trump's leadership. On Friday Sun denied that the investment, which made him the largest investor in the project, was an attempt to influence Trump or American politics. But Sun said he is 'apolitical'. The banana formed part of the piece 'Comedian' by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan Sun gobbled up the art at a press conference at one of Hong Kong's swankiest hotels last week 'Me (serving) as advisor also contribute a lot of value... I can be a great bridge for traditional financial and the (decentralised finance) industry.' The 34-year-old crypto businessman was last year charged by the US Securities and Exchange Commission with fraud and securities law violation in relation to his crypto project Tron. Sun has rejected the allegations and the case is ongoing. The chief of MI6 has said that the world is more dangerous than it has been in the last forty years amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and the West's mounting tensions with Russia. Speaking at the British embassy in Paris, Sir Richard Moore also warned that Britain and its allies are facing a 'reckoning' as a new generation of potential terrorists are radicalised over the war currently erupting in the Middle East. Sir Moore added that the threats Europe faces 'could hardly be more serious', warning if the Russian President is able to reduce Ukraine to a puppet state, he 'will not stop there'. The MI6 chief said British, French, European and transatlantic security will be jeopardised with the cost of not supporting the war-torn country 'infinitely higher' than supporting it. 'Some nations fear if Putin wins in Ukraine he could push into countries in NATO's eastern flank next, such as the Baltic states'. Moore spoke alongside Nicholas Lerner, head of France's external intelligence agency, the DGSE, where the pair gave their first lecture at the event marking 120 years of the Entente Cordiale - a pact between Britain and France that merged the rivals together as military and diplomatic allies. The former ambassador who became chief in October 2020, said: 'In 37 years in the intelligence profession I've never seen the world in a more dangerous state. 'And the impact on Europe, our shared European home, could hardly be more serious'. Speaking at the British embassy in Paris, Sir Richard Moore warned that Britain and its allies are facing a 'reckoning' as a new generation of potential terrorists are radicalised over the war currently erupting in the Middle East Moore added that the threats Europe faces 'could hardly be more serious', warning if the Russian President is able to reduce Ukraine to a puppet state. Pictured: A serviceman of 24th Mechanised brigade named after King Danylo of the Ukrainian Armed Forces fires a 2s5 'Hyacinth-s' self-propelled howitzer towards Russian troops at a front line This handout photograph taken and released by the National Police of Ukraine on November 29, 2024 shows burning house following a drone attack at an undisclosed location in Odesa region Western security officials suspect that Russian intelligence is attempting to destabilise Ukraine's allies through disinformation, sabotage and arson. Moscow has been linked by Western officials to several planned attacks in Europe, including an alleged plot to burn down Ukrainian-owned businesses in London, and shipping incendiary devices in packages on cargo planes. In July one caught fire at a courier hub in Germany and another ignited in a warehouse in England. Lerner agreed that 'the collective security of the whole of Europe is at stake' in Ukraine. Britain and France have been among Ukrainian allies who have given permission to Kyiv to use weapons they supply including Scalp in France and Storm Shadow in Britain to destroy targets deep inside Russia. The Biden administration recently eased its opposition to US.-made missiles being used to strike Russia, with Ukraine last week saying it had used the American ATACM missiles to target Russia for the first time in the war. Since then, Russia has blasted Ukraine's energy infrastructure with a barrage of missiles and drones, in what the president claimed was in retaliation to the firing of American missiles. Russia then fired a new medium-range hypersonic ballistic missile - dubbed Oreshnik - and Putin quickly threatened to use it against 'decision-making centres' in Kyiv. US Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) is seen in action The picture captures the moment Russia used the Oreshnik for the first time to strike Dnipro, Ukraine, on 21 November 2024 Russian T90M tank firing towards Ukrainian positions, at an undisclosed location in Russia In Russia, Putin's troops are continuing to gain ground in the eastern Donbas region and there are growing concerns that Ukrainian troops are set to face their harshest winter in three years thanks to the attacks on the country's energy infastructure. Moore said that Ukraine has 'the will to win' but that Britain and the West acknowledged they needed to 'do more to help'. 'We have a war on European soil Nicolas and I are in no doubt about the stakes in Ukraine: if Putin is allowed to succeed in reducing Ukraine to a vassal state he will not stop there,' he added. Regarding the conflict erupting in Gaza, Moore warned: 'We have yet to have a full reckoning with the radicalising impact of the fighting, the terrible loss of innocent life in the Middle East and the horrors of October 7'. Moore said that the 'menace of terrorism has not gone away' and after pulling out of Syria and Iraq, ISIS was again widening its reach, launching fatal attacks in both Iran and Russia. The former head of MI6, Sir John Sawyers, who was also attending the speech in Paris, has previously warned that if Islamic terror attacks on British soil return it could have been prompted by the killings of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders. He warned that the police force in Britain, as well as its spy agencies, should be 'on their toes' after changes of leadership in the Middle East. There are growing concerns over Iran's nuclear ambitions. Pictured: Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Smoke billows above Beirut's southern suburbs following an Israeli airstrike on November 26 Civil defence teams and civilians try to rescue those trapped under the rubble following an Israeli army's attack on Et-Tabiin School, where displaced people took shelter in Ed-Deraj neighborhood in Gaza City, Gaza on November 27, 2024 Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted Beirut's southern suburbs on November 26 There are also fears about Iran's nuclear ambitions as the country holds talks in Geneva with Britain, France, Germany, and the EU in an attempt to find a way out of an impasse over its nuclear programme before Donald Trump takes up US presidency in January next year. Trump, who pursued a policy of 'maximum economic pressure' against Iran during his first term, returns to the White House on January 20. A day prior to the talks, Kazem Gharibabadi, an Iranian minister, stirred tensions by saying the EU 'should abandon its self-centred and irresponsible behaviour' on a range of issues including the war in Ukraine and the Iranian nuclear issue. Many Europeans fear that Iran's growing stockpile of highly enriched uranium reveals it is covertly attempting to build a nuclear bomb. Iran believes Europe rebuffed a clear sign of willingness to negotiate when Tehran offered to cap its uranium enrichment programme at 60 per cent and to allow experienced IAEA nuclear inspectors back into Iran. Moore said the risk of an Iranian nuclear proliferation was expected to be the most 'critical threat' in coming months and that the Iranian regime's nuclear ambitions 'continue to threaten all of us' despite the series of blows dealt in recent months to Tehran's allied militias across the Middle East. A Labour MP choked back tears today as she spoke about her daughter's illness during an emotionally-charged debate on assisted dying laws in the House of Commons. Dame Meg Hillier, a senior backbencher, voiced her opposition to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. Drawing on her own personal experiences, Dame Meg recounted her daughter's admission to hospital with acute pancreatitis and how 'good medicine' can relieve the pain. 'Those first five days she did not sleep and she was crying out in pain,' she told the Commons as her voice broke with emotion. 'I saw what good medicine can do that palliated that pain, that got her to a place where although for two-and-a-half months she was unable to eat, she was saved. 'And the key was she was not in pain well, she was in pain but it was managed.' Dame Meg told MPs they were being asked to 'cross a Rubicon' by backing the legalisation of assisted dying in England and Wales. 'This is a fundamental change in the relationship between the state and the citizen, and the patient and their doctor,' she added. 'If we have a scintilla of doubt about allowing the state that power, we should vote against this today.' The Commons is holding five hours of debate before a vote - around 2.30pm - on whether to proceed with the private members' bill introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater. It will be the first time MPs have voted on the issue of assisted dying since 2015. MPs of all parties have been given a 'free vote' and the Government has taken a neutral stance on the Bill. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer could vote in favour of the Bill - having backed a law change in 2015 - but Tory leader Kemi Badenoch will oppose the legislation after claiming it had been 'rushed'. Dame Meg Hillier, a senior backbencher, choked back tears as she voiced her opposition to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill The Commons this morning began a scheduled five hours of debate before they vote this afternoon - around 2.30pm - on whether to proceed with Ms Leadbeater's proposed legislation Your browser does not support iframes. At the opening of today's debate, Ms Leadbeater said the British public wants 'a change in the law' and her Bill will give people 'choice, autonomy and dignity at the end of their lives'. She told the Commons: 'Let me say to colleagues across the House - particularly new colleagues - I know this is not easy. 'It certainly hasn't been easy for me. But if any of us wanted an easy life I'm afraid we are in the wrong place. 'It is our job to address complex issues and make difficult decisions. And I know for many people this is a very difficult decision. 'But our job is also to address the issues that matter to people, and after nearly a decade since this subject was debated on the floor of the House, many would say this debate is long overdue.' The Spen Valley MP went on to recount stories she had been told by members of the public, as she opened what is likely to be an emotionally-charged debate in the Commons. She also pointed to polling showing a majority of the British public want assisted dying to be legalised. 'It may not be that surprising that most people believe, as I do, that we should all have the right to make the choices and decisions we want about our own bodies,' Ms Leadbeater added. 'Let's be clear, we are not talking about a choice between life or death, we are talking about giving dying people a choice of how to die.' Kim Leadbeater told fellow MPs that her Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will give people 'choice, autonomy and dignity at the end of their lives' At the opening of today's second reading debate on her Bill, Ms Leadbeater said: 'Let me say to colleagues across the House - particularly new colleagues - I know this is not easy' Long-serving Labour MP Diane Abbott, known as the 'Mother of the House', told the Commons that 'the state should not be involed in taking a life' Esther Rantzen hopes vote 'goes the right way' Dame Esther Rantzen said she is hoping today's House of Commons vote on assisted dying 'goes the right way'. The broadcaster and Childline founder, who is terminally ill, has been a high-profile voice in the conversation for the past year, repeatedly calling for a change in what she has described as the 'cruel' current law. Asked what her message was to MPs, Dame Esther told The Jeremy Vine Show on Channel 5 this morning: 'I'm not going to say vote one way or the other because I believe in choice 'And choice is what this Bill is about, giving me the choice to shorten my own death... giving you the same choice. So how you vote is up to your conscience. 'But obviously for some of us it's a very, very real and immediate decision and we are hoping that it goes the right way.' Advertisement But Conservative MP Danny Kruger said Ms Leadbeater's Bill was 'too flawed' for the Commons to support. 'My view is that if we get our broken palliative care system right and our wonderful hospices properly funded we can do so much more for all the people that we will hear about today, using modern pain relief and therapies to help everybody die with a minimum of suffering when the time comes,' he said. 'But we won't be able to do that if we introduce this new option. Instead we will expose many more people to harm.' Mr Kruger argued that 'almost anybody with a serious illness or disability' could fit the definition of terminally ill under the Bill. The East Wiltshire MP said: 'Because all you need to do to qualify for an assisted death, the definition of terminal illness under this Bill, is to refuse treatment like insulin if you're diabetic.' He added: 'In the case of eating disorders you just need to refuse food and the evidence is, in jurisdictions around the world and in our own jurisprudence, that would be enough to qualify you for an assisted death.' Long-serving Labour MP Diane Abbott, known as the 'Mother of the House', told the Commons that 'the state should not be involed in taking a life'. 'In 1969, Parliament voted to abolish the death penalty for murder,' she said. 'Public opinion was actually against it, but MPs believed [as] a point of principle that the state should not be involved in taking a life. 'It was a good principle in 1969, and it remains a good principle today.' Conservative MP Alicia Kearns said it is 'wrong' not to give those with six months to live a choice, as she spoke about her mother's experience of cancer. The West Rutland MP told the Commons: 'Imagine a situation where you have cancer that day by day is breaking every individual vertebrae on your body, one by one. 'There is nothing that can take away the pain, and that is a situation in which my mother lost her life, her last words were 'I cannot go on like this'. 'And thankfully for her, there were only a few more days of pain. But for others, there are months, and before they get to that six months, they will have suffered from years of excruciating agony that palliative care cannot resolve.' 'To deny choice to others, especially those with only six months to live, where their personal choice does no harm, is wrong,' she added. Sir Keir's Cabinet and all the major political parties are heavily divided on changing the law to allow medics to help the terminally ill end their lives without fear of prosecution. More than 100 MPs are expected to try to speak during today's debate. But critics of the law change have suggested it is being forced through too quickly. If approved, the Bill would allow terminally ill, mentally competent adults to seek an assisted death with the approval of two doctors and a High Court judge. The issue has crossed political demarcations with former Labour prime ministers coming out against it and ex-Tory premiers in favour and MPs will have a free vote allowing them to go with their conscience rather than party lines. The splits have even affected smaller parties, with Reform leader Nigel Farage planning to vote against it, but Reform MP Rupert Lowe saying he will vote for it, after polling his constituents. Former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, who plans to vote against the bill, last night tweeted: 'Tomorrow we'll have 100+ MPs trying to speak (most for a rushed minute or two) during a ludicrously curtailed, hasty debate with hundreds more voting. 'I just don't think we've remotely considered this unspeakably serious issue in this kind of depth. We must reject this.' If approved, the Bill would allow terminally ill, mentally competent adults to seek an assisted death with the approval of two doctors and a High Court judge Sir Keir Starmer's Cabinet and all the major political parties are heavily divided on changing the law to allow medics to help the terminally ill end their lives Dignity in Dying campaigners gather in Parliament Square last month in support of the 'assisted dying bill' Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed he would vote today, saying he has a 'huge amount of interest' in the issue, but he declined to specify on which side he would come down While a majority of the MPs to publicly declare their position have come out in favour of introducing one of the most significant social changes in Britain's history, the outcome still remains shrouded in uncertainty. Sir Keir confirmed he would vote today, saying he has a 'huge amount of interest' in the issue, but he declined to specify on which side he would come down. Ms Badenoch posted on social media this morning: 'Despite supporting the principle of assisted dying long before I became an MP, I can't support today's bill. 'It's rightly a free vote and a matter of conscience for MPs, but the system cannot yet manage the complexity proposed and the bill is being rushed.' Meanwhile Ms Leadbeater spoke of being 'emotionally ruined' by weeks of campaigning and told how she can no longer walk down the street without somebody revealing a personal story. An analysis of vote trackers suggests a majority of MPs will back the Bill, with more than 200 known to be likely to support a change in the law based on public statements or past votes. Around 150 were last night thought to be ready to vote against the Bill. More than 80 per cent of the Commons had declared their positions yesterday, according to a Times poll of MPs which gave supporters the largest lead with 267 in favour of reforming the law. But with a significant number of MPs not publicly declaring their position, the outcome is almost impossible to predict accurately. The last time there was a binding vote on changing the law, in 2015, it was defeated by 331 votes to 119. But each side now accepts the debate has moved on and a series of recent polls have suggested that a majority of the public are now in favour of reform. Speaking yesterday ahead of the debate, Ms Leadbeater said she hopes the Bill will pass and that this parliament will be remembered for its 'major social reform'. She added: 'I hope parliament will show itself at its best and most compassionate and that MPs will show themselves, as they have in the past when major social reforms have come before them, ready to correct injustice and reduce human suffering.' But others were staunch in their opposition to the Bill. Actress and disability activist Liz Carr urged MPs to vote against it as she said many disabled people are 'terrified' of it being approved. Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson echoed her call and warned that disabled people are 'really worried'. The former athlete, who would have a vote on the Bill if it passed through to the Lords, said: 'I can't see safeguards that would be OK, that wouldn't risk some people having their lives ended without them wanting to.' Under the Bill, terminally-ill adults with less than six months to live and a wish to die would be eligible for an assisted death if signed off by two doctors and a High Court judge It came as a number of prominent figures made their voting intentions public last night. Solicitor General Sarah Sackman KC said she would vote for the Bill out of a 'respect for individual autonomy'. But shadow attorney general Lord Wolfson said he would oppose the Bill, declaring that MPs are being asked to 'vote in the dark'. Home Office minister Seema Malhotra also said she would vote against the proposed new laws yesterday, but added that decisions should be made on a 'secular basis' with religion left out of the debate. It comes after Lord Cameron, who previously voted against the practice, announced that he now intended backing the Bill. His intervention came after Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, Theresa May and Gordon Brown all stated they are against the proposed legislation. Meanwhile, the UK's human rights watchdog warned the end-of-life Bill could push people into considering an assisted death because of the 'postcode lottery' of palliative care access. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which said it is neutral on assisted dying, also warned there has been an 'insufficiently detailed analysis' of the implications for human rights. The Boston Tapes co-ordinator and former IRA prisoner Anthony McIntyre plays a central role in a new chart topping Daily Mail podcast on the history of controversial Irish political party Sinn Fein. The Boston tapes are secret recordings in which ex-paramilitaries talk about their role during the decades of violence in Northern Ireland known as the Troubles. The recordings were made on behalf of the US university, Boston College, as part of an academic project to create an oral history of the conflict in Northern Ireland. Anthony McIntyre was himself jailed for a terrorist killing - interviewed some of the countrys most infamous Irish Republican Army terrorists. The project became highly controversial as police in Northern Ireland later gained access to the tapes for use as evidence in ongoing murder inquiries. Those police investigations included one into the 1972 murder of mother-of-10 Jean McConville. So heinous even by the IRAs standards - was Ms McConvilles murder that she became one of the Disappeared. The Disappeared were killed, mostly for being alleged informers to the authorities. But unlike most murdered IRA informers - who were left the side of the road as a warning to potential traitors their bodies were hidden and never returned to their families. Anthony McIntyre was himself jailed for a terrorist killing - interviewed some of the countrys most infamous Irish Republican Army terrorists Mr McIntyre gives an account of his career as an IRA man from the early seventies to his role in the Hunger Strikes in the H Block prison. He also emerges in the new Daily Mail podcast series From Bomb to Ballot: The History of Sinn Fein as the chief critic of Gerry Adams, the former President of Sinn Fein. In interviews for the podcast he reinforces the allegations of others in the Boston Tapes project that Gerry Adams played a central role in the Disappeared events. He claims in From Bomb To Ballot, that Adams used dead republicans to further his political career. In episode 3 Mr McIntyre says: If there's martyrs coming out, if there's people dying, he'll [Adams] happily carry coffins at the end of his political career if it's getting him votes and enhances his political career. Adams never carries coffins. Adams uses coffins to carry him. And he has surfed on the coffins of IRA volunteers and IRA hunger strikers to a career. In 2014, the PSNI made arrested Gerry Adams as part of the Jean McConville murder inquiry. The case was not pursued against Adams and he had nothing to fear from any disclosure and denied all of the accusations levelled at him. During four days of questioning, the Boston tapes formed part of the material that detectives put to him about his alleged role in Mrs McConville's death. Mr Adams, who was released without charge, criticised the PSNI for political policing and said the Boston tapes had formed the mainstay for my arrest. McIntyre emerges in the new Daily Mail podcast series From Bomb to Ballot: The History of Sinn Fein as the chief critic of Gerry Adams, the former President of Sinn Fein The Boston Tapes and the Disappeared recently gained worldwide attention when Disney + released a dramatization of plight of victims of the Northern Ireland Troubles, Say Nothing, based on the book by Patrick Radden OKeeffe. Much of what we know about activities of the IRA in relation to the Disappeared comes from the Boston Tapes. Boston College launched its Belfast Project in 2001, three years after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, an international peace accord which effectively marked an end to the Troubles. By that stage, hundreds of paramilitary prisoners had already been granted early release from jail under the terms of the 1998 agreement. The deal was that the former paramilitaries would tell their stories in secret, on the understanding that the recordings and transcripts would only be made public after their deaths. Gerry Adams is the former president of Sinn Fein, elected in 1983 Boston College tried keep its tapes secret, but the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) launched an international court battle to force academics to hand over the material. The oral history project was directed by the Irish writer and journalist Ed Moloney, with the interviews carried out by two researchers. Loyalists' testimonies were recorded by Wilson McArthur, while republicans were interviewed by Anthony McIntyre. Among the participants were former IRA commander Brendan Hughes and former IRA member Dolours Price. Brendan the Dark Hughes spoke of his former close friend, Gerry Adams, claiming the former Sinn Fein leader was once the overall commander of the IRA's Belfast brigade. He also claimed Adams had controlled his own squad within the IRA, known by the organisation as the Unknowns. The Unknowns, said Hughes, were responsible for the deaths of the Disappeared. In 2010, former IRA bomber Dolours Price gave an interview to a newspaper in which she admitted she had taken part in the Boston Tapes. Price claimed to have been the person who drove IRA murder victim Jean McConville to the place where she was shot dead. McIntyre now faces pursuit by the Northern Ireland police, who want to gain access to his own testimonies in the Boston Tapes about the IRA McIntyre now faces pursuit by the Northern Ireland police, who want to gain access to his own testimonies in the Boston Tapes about the IRA. McIntyre tells From Bomb To Ballot of his own close brush with starving to death, like the ten other young men who died from hunger strike in Long Kesh prison in 1981. The men were seeking political status as prisoners, through hunger strike. From Bomb To Ballot chronicles the harrowing story of Bobby Sands who was elected to the UK parliament while in jail - and his fellow hunger strikers. McIntyre had been convicted of a drive-by shooting. It was deemed by the Republican leadership to be a sectarian crime; and not one likely to garner the sympathies of the wider public. They didnt want anyone on it who could be conceived of as a sectarian killer, McIntyre tells the podcast. It would be too easy for the authorities to outmaneuver them in a propaganda battle. I mean, once they died, there were going to be martyrs anyway, but they, in the build up to them dying, they wanted the maximum amount of publicity. 'This is why Bobby was to be portrayed as the golden boy, the poet, the thinker. You almost thought, from some of the stuff, that Bobby was a pacifist. A thug who killed a church leader grandmother after befriending her has been jailed for 12 years. The court heard how Hugo Da Silva Pires broke into Nelly Akomah's home on June 20, 2023. Akomah, 76, was found with fatal injuries and a black eye at the bottom of the stairs in her house on Ladbrook Road in Thornton Heath, south London. The mother-of-two's body was discovered by her sister, who had become worried when she could not contact her that morning. Da Silva Pires knew Akomah lived alone as he had recently fitted a kitchen for her and even visited the address earlier that day to help Akomah register appliances. During the burglary, he violently attacked Akomah which resulted in her falling down the stairs and dying of her injuries. Da Silva Pires then went on to use Akomah's bank card to buy smartphones, children's bedding and power tools. Da Silva Pires, 29, of Fernham Road, Thornton Heath South London, was sentenced at the Woolwich Crown Court on Monday, November 25, for manslaughter, burglary and fraud. Hugo Da Silva Pires (pictured) befriended Nelly Akomah after fitting a kitchen in her Croydon home Nelly Akomah (pictured), 76, was found with fatal injuries and a black eye at the bottom of the stairs in her house on Ladbrook Road in Thornton Heath Police launched a manhunt to find Da Silva Pires who was eventually caught after using Akomahs bank card on CCTV Detectives were able to track down Da Silva Pires after he was caught on CCTV using the bank card. His DNA was also found under his victim's fingernails after she tried to fight back. Evidence of Akomah trying to fight off her attacker can be seen in Da Silva Piress mugshot. The photograph taken by police shows Da Silva Pires littered with scratches. In an attempt to avoid police Da Silva Pires cut the wires to the CCTV system installed at Akomah's home. He also entered a shipping address in the Azores for the items he bought on her bank card although he put an address of Thornton Heath for an iPhone he also attempted to buy. He eventually discarded the bank cards at Clapham Junction Train Station. Aided by his girlfriend Catiana Feliciano, Da Silva Pires tried to flee the country but was stopped by officers at Stanstead airport before escaping. In a heartbreaking statement, Akomah's family said that the past 17 months have been an 'unimaginable ordeal' and no punishment can ever bring back their 'mother, grandmother, sister, friend and mentor'. The family said: 'We will forever cherish our memories with the matriarch of our family and community, whose life was taken far too soon. Akomah, 76, was found with fatal injuries at the bottom of the stairs in her home Police were called by the London Ambulance Service after reports Akomah was found dead at a house on Ladbrook Road (pictured) Akomahs family said that their hearts had been broken due to the cruel, mindless and senseless attack 'Nelly found joy in serving and helping those around her. A church leader with a 30 plus year nursing career, she cherished her life, her faith and her family and friends. 'Nelly brought compassion and care to everyone she came across in her life and was looking forward to celebrating her 77th birthday with more energy and vivacity than ever. 'Hugo Da Silva Pires is a heartless individual. He deliberately preyed on an elderly woman who trusted him in her home as a tradesman. 'The manslaughter conviction can never quantify the severity of this crime, and the lasting impact that Da Silva Pires' callous motivations will have on the many, many people who loved Nelly.' Speaking in June of last year fellow churchgoers described Nelly as an 'understanding' leader of the 'Croydon group' of the Upper Tooting Methodist Church in south London. The president of Ms Akomah's Nigeria Methodist Mission UK, Dame Susan Solanke, said in a statement: 'Sister Nelly, only last week we were all at a weekend retreat, full of life. 'You were such a valuable member of the mission who will be sorely missed. My heart is broken with this cruel, mindless and senseless attack. 'The manslaughter conviction can never quantify the severity of this crime, and the lasting impact that Da Silva Pires' callous motivations will have on the many, many people who loved Nelly. 'As we move forward, we ask for privacy as we can finally grieve and try to rebuild our lives. We hope that this sentencing serves as a message that such senseless violence and greed has no place in our society.' Feliciano, 33, of Fernham Road, Thornton Heath, pleaded guilty to fraud and perverting the course of justice and was sentenced to two years imprisonment in January 2024. A sex pest who sexually assaulted a 20-year-old female passenger during a train journey has been spared jail. Hamada Salah, 28, who is seeking asylum in the UK, targeted two lone women in separate incidents on a TransPennine Express journey from Leeds to Middlesbrough in February. The victims were left feeling 'objectified' and 'unnerved' after the Egyptian national began showing them pornography, Newcastle Crown Court heard. Salah targeted a woman aged 20, which he said was 'the perfect age for sex', and started touching her legs, before moving to another part of the train before rubbing his groin in front of a 67-year-old passenger. Judge Carolyn Scott said it must have been a 'terrible ordeal for a woman of 20' and added: 'She was on public transport and had no opportunity to escape the situation.' She sentenced Salah to a suspended jail term and also gave him a sexual harm prevention order which prohibits him from communicating with any unknown female on public transport unless it is a member of staff in relation to her duties. He has also been banned from deliberately touching any unknown female on public transport under the same order. Salah, who left his home country at the age of 14 due to civil unrest, been isolated in the UK, with no friends, family or relationship, the court was told. Hamada Salah (pictured), 28, sexually assaulted a 20-year-old female passenger during a train journey Salah targeted two lone women in separate incidents on a Transpennine Express journey from Leeds to Middlesbrough in February. Pictured: A TransPennine Express at Lowgill in Cumbria Prosecutor Joe Culley told the court Salah boarded the train at Garforth and sat at a table seat across the aisle from the 20-year-old stranger. Mr Culley said: 'Initially she paid the defendant little attention but began to notice from the corner of her eye that he kept looking at her. 'He was facing her with his legs spread, which was causing her to feel uncomfortable. 'She moved her bag into the seat next to her in an effort to obstruct his view of her.' The court heard after about ten minutes Salah approached the woman and asked her questions about the train destination then requested to sit next to her, which she refused. Mr Culley said Salah then sat on the table seat opposite the victim and told the court: 'She began to feel him using his legs to make contact with her own legs and also doing the same with his feet. 'She generously initially wrote this off as an accident but gradually realised this was a purposeful effort, each time she moved her legs and feet his would make contact again. 'At one point she also noticed he was looking under the table, apparently to attempt to look up her skirt.' The court heard Salah walked off and left a mobile phone on the table, which was showing pornographic images then came back and questioned her about her private life. Newcastle Crown Court (pictured) heard the victims were left feeling 'objectified' and 'unnerved' after the Egyptian national began showing them pornography When she told him she was just 20, Salah said that was 'the perfect age for sex'. The court heard the woman left the carriage and Salah, who apologised, moved to another part of the train, where he asked a 67-year-old female passenger details about the journey. Mr Culley added: 'The defendant showed her an image on his phone of a gift card. She thought this was perhaps innocent communication difficulties about his ticket but the defendant began swiping through the images and the next image was pornography from the internet. 'He laughed and said "oops, my girlfriend" and swiped to an image of a clothed woman who he said was his girlfriend.' The court heard Salah sat next to the woman, who was alone in that carriage and began to rub his groin area. The woman told him she was 67 in the hope it would deter him but his behaviour did not change. Mr Culley said when a train guard approached the woman left the carriage. Salah, of Wingrove Road, Newcastle, who has no previous convictions in the UK, admitted sexual assault in relation to his legs and feet touching the woman under the table and two charges under the public order act of causing harassment, alarm or distress. Judge Scott sentenced Salah to 44 weeks, suspended for two years, with rehabilitation requirements and 200 hours unpaid work. Salah was ordered to sign the sex offenders register and abide by the sexual harm prevention order for ten years. Germany's government in waiting has said that foreigners must assimilate to the country's local values and culture as it attempts to clamp down on migration. Following this month's collapse of Social Democrat Chancellor Olaf Sholz's fractious three-way coalition, the country's centre-right Christian Democrats Union political party has been promoting its 'Leitkultur' manifesto, in which it stresses the importance of making migrants in Germany adapt culturally. This includes speaking the German language, respecting the German law and becoming German citizens. Speaking to The Telegraph, CDU interior affairs spokesperson Alexander Throm said that all foreigners living in Germany should adopt the concept of 'Leitkultur'. 'It is the way that we live in Germany as a cultural nation,' he said. 'It concerns not only our languages and customs, but also our cultural and historical foundations. It ultimately means that people, no matter why they come to Germany, orient themselves towards this cultural basis, not the other way around.' Throm also revealed that Germany will start turning non-European refugees away from its border if the CDU wins the next election, due to its 'special duty' towards Ukraine. He also warned that EU states would be expected to take in a fairer share of refugees in future, as Germany has already taken in 1.2 million migrants from Ukraine. CDU interior affairs spokesperson Alexander Throm said that foreingers must assimilate to the country's local values and culture FILE PHOTO: German police officer escorts a group of migrants who illegally crossed the border from Poland into Germany 'It is clear that we stand by our European neighbours and by refugees. But it's also clear that, with every further movement of refugees in our direction, we must ensure that they are appropriately distributed in all European countries,'he said. Germany receives the most asylum applications in the European Union - nearly a third of all total claim to the 27 member states. Former Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to admit over a million refugees fleeing wars in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan in 2015 has proven controversial in Germany - with even Merkel herself admitting that while she supported her decision, 'for some time we didn't have enough control' at the border. The November collapse of the German government invites the possibility of change, with centre-right Frierich Merz of the CDU expected to perform well after his campaign on a stronger stance on migration. Throm's comments come after it was announced last month that asylum seekers will be stripped of their benefits after the government voted to tighten its rules for refugees. The package of measures will withdraw benefits from asylum seekers who have already been registered in other EU countries and are slated for deportation. It will also mean that refugees who temporarily return to their home countries will 'as a rule' lose their right to protection in Germany, according to the legislation. His comments come after the German parliament last month voted to tighten rules for asylum seekers The new rules were brought forward by the government in August in response to a deadly stabbing at a festival in the western city of Solingen. Image shows police officers securing the area of the Solingen attacks after a man randomly stabbed passers-by with a knife Anti-immigration sentiment in Germnay marks a change in the country's attitudes towards immigration, almost a decade after former Chancellor Angela Merkel opened the country's doors to refugees in 2015 The same will apply to refugees who commit crimes with anti-Semitic or homophobic motivation. The new rules were brought forward by the government in August in response to a deadly stabbing at a festival in the western city of Solingen. The suspect, a 26-year-old Syrian man with suspected links to the Islamic State group, was slated for deportation but evaded authorities' attempts to remove him. The whole package will also introduce stricter rules on the carrying of knives and gives police broader powers of investigation. NBC means Nuclear, Biological, Chemical November 28, 2024: While the Russian army falls apart in Ukraine, the air force and navy worry that their ability to maintain their aircraft and ships is at risk, as well as the viability of tactical and strategic nuclear weapons. Some air force aircraft can carry missiles armed with nuclear weapons. The navy has seven Borei class SSBNs. These nuclear powered submarines are armed with sixteen missiles carrying nuclear warheads. Russias mysterious special purpose 14,000 ton nuclear submarine Belgorod has showed up again in 2033 . Commercial satellite photos showed the Belgorod on the surface off the northeastern Russian coast, where several ports used by the Northern Fleet are located. Russia reported that Belgorod was testing mockups of its primary weapon, the Poseidon torpedo, to make sure they could be carried and launched from Belgorod. These tests also confirmed that the nuclear propulsion system worked as expected. Belgorod is a larger and heavier Oscar class sub but it still uses the same power plant as the other Oscars. Poseidon torpedoes are too large to be carried inside Belgorod for launch from a torpedo tube and are instead affixed to the underside of the sub and released by the submarine captain. The dummy Poseidon is the same size and weight of the real one. The size and weight of the Poseidon attached to the bottom of the Belgorod changes the performance characteristics of the Belgorod and tests were done to note and fix any problems. The actual Poseidon torpedoes, which are described as a doomsday weapon, are being built and not expected to be ready until 2025 or later. Belgorod was launched in 2019 and entered service in mid-2022. After that, nothing that could be detected happened. Between 2019 and 2022 Belgorod had special equipment installed and tested before this modified Oscar class SSGN/nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine was ready for service. Belgorod wont work for the navy like other subs, but for the GUGI/Main Department of Deep-Water Researches which works for the intelligence services and is attached to the Navy for ship and crew support. Belgorod has come a long way since construction began in 1982. At one point the sub was canceled while still under construction. In 2006 Russia announced it would not finish construction of the Belgorod, the last of nine Type 949A SSGNs. Known in the West as the Oscar II class, these boats began entering service just as the Cold War ended. Three were in commission when the Soviet Union disintegrated in 1991. Construction continued on six more, and by 1997, eight were in service. But, at that point the navy had run out of the money, with the Belgorod not quite complete. Another $100 million was needed to complete Belgorod and the government, although not the navy, felt it wasn't worth it. Seven Oscar IIs remain in service, as the Kursk was lost in 2000, to a well-publicized accident. Work then resumed on Belgorod. That did not last long because the money was not there and not likely to be in the immediate future. Then in 2012 it was announced that the Belgorod, which had not been scrapped but put in storage, was once more scheduled for completion. This time there would be some major revisions that turned Belgorod into something more than an SSGN. The original Oscars were designed as carrier destroyers with long-range cruise missiles that could, in theory, take out an American aircraft carrier. The Oscar II class boats have a surface displacement of 14,000 tons. They have eight torpedo tubes, and 24 SS-N-19/P-700 Shipwreck missiles. These anti-ship missiles have a range of 550 kilometers, a speed of 1600 kilometers an hour, and a 750 kg high-explosive warhead. A nuclear warhead of 350 or 500 kilotons as an option. The Oscar's crew of 107 contains 48 officers. That's because of the high degree of automation, and the need to offer officers pay and accommodations to attract the technical talent required to keep these boats going. The new Belgorod was 11 meters long, at 184 meters and several tons heavier than the other Oscars. It no longer carried the 24 cruise missiles but instead was equipped to handle a number of new systems. These included four to eight Poseidon AUVs/autonomous underwater vehicles that are armed with very powerful Cobalt nuclear warheads designed to release both more radiation than normal, and longer-lasting radiation. Poseidons are also nuclear-powered and purportedly programmed to travel autonomously to enemy coastal cities, detonate underwater and somehow create large waves that cause enormous damage and spread radioactivity along the nearby coasts. The Poseidon can travel thousands of kilometers underwater on its own, at very high speed for a torpedo because it has its own nuclear reactor before detonating the two-megaton warhead while on the seabed of the continental shelf. Such doomsday weapons would allegedly be used only if Russia lost a nuclear war in order to punish its opponents even more. In that sense Poseidon is a psychological terror weapon, something the Russians have long been fond of. Its an expensive obsession because creating the Belgorod and Poseidon torpedoes and their Cobalt radiation warheads cost billions of dollars for a weapon that may never be used and if it does get used, may not work as expected. After all, how do you test the Cobalt super bomb to confirm that it works? With that in mind, Belgorod also can transport a new, since 2003, smaller 65 meters long and nuclear-powered Losharik mini sub underneath it. This mini sub can perform various operations using remotely controlled arms. It carries a crew of 25 to great depths of up to 6,000 meters)and has a top speed of 72 kilometers an hour. Losharik is believed to be for checking Russian underwater data cables for bugs or damage in general and tampering with underwater cables and other equipment belonging to the United States and other Western states. American nuclear submarines often did such things to Russian underwater cables during the Cold War. Because Losharik can dive deeper than any other sub and is quite large for a deep-diving sub, it can find and retrieve useful items that end up in very deep waters like electronics from Western aircraft or ships. Losharik can also survey very deep sea-bottoms for suitable sites for placing various electronic devices. Belgorod can also transport a Shelf nuclear power plant that can be placed on the ocean floor to power the Harmony system of underwater sensors or any other new tech that needs to be powered for a long time. Power supplies similar to Shelf have been used in space satellites that require a lot of power. Belgorod is also equipped to carry combat divers similar to U.S. SEALS and Harpsichord AUVs that are the size of standard torpedoes but contain side-scan sonar and other sensors that can operate while up to 2,000 meters underwater. Belgorod is also designed to tow objects behind it. These can be a towed array sonar or other items. Russia already has some specialized subs equipped for special operations. These are conversions of existing subs while Belgorod was custom designed and built for the special operations tasks. In late 2016 Russia finally sent its second special operations SSN, the Podmoskovie, to sea for trials. This sub is actually a Delta IV class SSBN/nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine that began its career in 1986 as K64 Podmoskovie. Since 1999, K64 has been undergoing conversion to BS64, which appears to be something similar to customized U.S. SSNs that have been in service since the 1970s. The current American example of this is the USS Carter, a Seawolf-class SSN converted while under construction to be 30 percent longer and 20 percent heavier than the other two Seawolfs. The additional space was to hold mini subs for the fifty SEALs it can carry, or to tap into underwater communications cables and perform other intelligence gathering tasks. The Carter entered service in 2005 and replaced Parche, an older Sturgeon class SSN that entered service in 1991 and was retired in 2004. The Parche replaced earlier SSNs that had performed these intel missions throughout the Cold War. The 13,500-ton Podmoskovie had its 16 ballistic missile silos replaced with facilities for launching remotely controlled mini-subs for intelligence missions. The renovations resulted in the sub becoming about five percent longer. This meant that the converted Podmoskovie was somewhat lighter at about 12,000 tons. The first Russian SSBN to undergo a similar conversion was the K129 Orenberg, a Delta III class SSBN whose conversion to BS136 began in 1994 and entered service in 2008. The Delta III is about the same size and displacement as the Delta IV but the Podmoskovie conversion seems to be more extensive than the Orenberg. Both the Orenberg and Podmoskovie carry the Losharik minisub beneath it. The United States has also converted four SSBNs, but not for intelligence work. In early 2011 the USS Florida, an American Ohio class SSGN, fired its Tomahawk TLAM-E cruise missiles in combat for the first time off Libya. Most of the hundred or so Tomahawks launched that day were fired by the Ohio. This was not the first-time nuclear subs have fired cruise missiles in wartime as U.S. SSNs have fired Tomahawks several times. But the Ohio class SSGNs carry 154 cruise missiles, more than ten times the number carried by some SSNs. The four Ohio class SSGNs are SSBNs converted to cruise missile submarines (SSGN) and these first entered service in 2006. Each of these Ohio class boats now carries cruise missiles as well as many as 66 SEAL commandos and their equipment. The idea of converting ballistic missile subs, that would have to be scrapped to fulfill disarmament agreements, has been bouncing around since the 1990s. After September 11, 2001, the idea got some traction. The navy submariners love this one because they lost a lot of their reason for being with the end of the Cold War. The United States had built a powerful nuclear submarine force during the Cold War, but with the rapid disappearance of the Soviet navy in the 1990s, there was little reason to keep over a hundred nuclear subs in commission. These boats are expensive, costing over a billion each to build and over a million dollars a week to operate. The four Ohio class SSBN being converted each have at least twenty years of life left in them. The idea of a sub, armed with 154 highly accurate cruise missiles, and capable of rapidly traveling underwater (ignoring weather, or observation) at a speed of over 1,200 kilometers a day to a far off hotspot, had great appeal in the post-Cold War world. The ability to carry a large force of commandos as well was also attractive. In one sub you have your choice of hammer or scalpel. More capable cruise missiles are in the works as well. Whether or not this multi-billion dollar investment will pay off remains to be seen, but it certainly worked off Libya. More recently an SSGN launched cruise missiles at targets in Yemen. The SSGNs are carrying a new version of Tomahawk, the RGM-109E Block IV Surface Ship Vertical Launched Tomahawk Land Attack Missile. Each of these weighs 1.2 tons, has a range of 1,600 kilometers and travels at 600-900 kilometers an hour. Flying at an altitude of 17-32 meters, they will hit within 10 meters of their aim point. The Block IV Tomahawk can be reprogrammed in flight to hit another target and carry a vidcam to allow a missile to check on prospective targets. The Russian special operations boats are certainly special with their nuclear-powered mini subs and AUV nuclear-armed mini-subs as well as the sensor equipped smaller mini-subs. President-elect Donald Trump has reportedly been communicating with JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon through secret back channels on economic policy ideas. The New York Post reported Friday that Dimon has been acting as a 'sounding board' for the incoming commander-in-chief, sources close to the transition team told the paper. One Republican insider said the president's inner circle has held 'no-holds-barred conversations' with Dimon. 'They have been speaking regularly for months,' another GOP source said. The report comes after Trump publicly said that Dimon would not be joining his Cabinet. 'I respect Jamie Dimon, of JPMorgan Chase, greatly, but he will not be invited to be a part of the Trump Administration. I thank Jamie for his outstanding service to our Country!' Trump wrote on Truth Social earlier this month. The message came after Reuters reported the day after the presidential election that Dimon had no plans to join the Trump White House 2.0. 'I havent had a boss in 25 years and Im not about ready to start,' Dimon shot back after Trump's public pronouncement. President-elect Donald Trump has reportedly been communicating with JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon through secret back channels on economic policy ideas Dimon, a registered Democrat, didn't endorse Trump ahead of the election, though The New York Times reported in late October that he was quietly supporting Harris. His wife Judy went a step further and knocked doors for Harris in the swing state of Michigan the weekend before voters headed to the polls. Judy Dimon donated nearly $200,000 to the Democratic National Committee and gave the Harris campaign $3,300 - the max individual donation allowed to be donated to a candidate's committee per election cycle, according to Open Secrets. She gave the same amount to Michigan's Democratic Senate hopeful, Rep. Elissa Slotkin, who was successful in her bid. Jamie Dimon's net worth is estimated to be around 2.5 billion - and he's credited with helping JPMorgan Chase CEO navigate the 2008 financial crash, running the bank for nearly 19 years. He chose to not publicly support a candidate this cycle because he feared Trump might retaliate should he endorse. At one point Trump suggested that Dimon was actually supporting his presidential bid. The Post reported that the two have discussed plans for cutting government spending, banking regulation, taxes, as well as trade policy. Trump has threatened import taxes on Canadian, Mexican and Chinese goods this week over border crossings and fentanyl. At APEC earlier this month, Jamie Dimon said he believed tariff threats would get people to the negotiating table, but added, 'I just hope it's done wisely' Earlier this month, Dimon attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Lima, Peru and advised attendees to read Trump's book, The Art of the Deal. 'Read his book: create options,' Dimon said. As for Trump's tariff threats, the banker said, 'I just hope its done wisely.' This week Trump said he would put a 25 percent import tax on Canadian and Mexican products if the country's failed to help him with border control - he also threatened to add another 10 perfect tariff on China over the government not doling out the death penalty to fentanyl dealers. The president-elect almost immediately held calls with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo. Dimon said that tariff threats would 'get people to the table' to negotiate and predicted that Trump wouldn't want to negatively impact the stock market. Pilots flying a Boeing jet made a chilling mayday call before being forced to make an emergency landing in Canada. Pilots onboard the Boeing 737 Nolinor Flight 662 made a distressing mayday call as they made an unbalanced emergency landing at Mirabel in Montreal when the left landing gear malfunctioned. 'Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! Nolinor 662,' the pilot told air traffic control. The pilot had originally declined having firetrucks on the runway during landing as he didn't think they would need it for a flap problem he had earlier called in, but the controller quickly sent some as smoke rose from the aircraft. 'We're rolling the [emergency] vehicles,' the controller told the pilots, according to CTV News. Prior to the landing, the flight with 87 passengers and seven crew members had put in a 'Pan Pan' emergency call - a message alerting air traffic control of an urgent but non-emergency situation - over a flap problem while it was flying toward its layover stop at Saguenay-Bagotville Airport. But while it diverted to Montreal, no one informed the tower of the plane's distress call on Wednesday, causing the pilot to confirm the malfunction was happening as he went to land. When asked, the pilot affirmed the warning, saying: 'We had this from the start on the approach to Bagotville. I'm really curious that the transfer from Montreal wasn't included in the message on Pan! Pan!' Moments after, the urgent call turned into an emergency as the plane touched down, according to CTV News. Pilots onboard the Nolinor Flight 662 made a 'Pan Pan' emergency call - a message alerting air traffic controller of an urgent but non-emergency situation - while it was flying toward its layover stop at Saguenay-Bagotville Airport However, the flight with 87 passengers and seven crew members ended up making an emergency landing at Mirabel in Montreal, but the tower had not been informed of the plane's distress call on Wednesday 'Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! Nolinor 662,' the pilot told air traffic control. The pilot had originally declined having firetrucks on the runway during landing as he didn't think they would need it for a flap problem, but the controller quickly sent some as smoke rose from the aircraft The smoke quickly dissipated and no fire broke out on the aircraft. All passengers and crew were evacuated safely via slide The smoke quickly dissipated and no fire broke out on the aircraft. All passengers and crew were evacuated safely via slide. The Boeing aircraft was intended to fly from Quebec City's Jean Lesage Airport to Wabush airport in Newfoundland and Labrador with a pitstop at Saguenay-Bagotville Airport, according to CTV News. The incident is being investigated by the Transportation Safety Board. 'During deceleration after landing with the flaps retracted at Montreal-Mirabel airport, the left main landing gear collapsed until the left engine touched the ground. The aircraft continued on its engine-supported path until it came to a complete stop on the runway,' TSB summary said, according to CTV News. The aircraft did suffer 'significant damage' and images of the plane on the runway show it heavily leaning with the fan on the ground. The flight's passengers eventually departed Montreal-Trudeau Airport on Wednesday evening. Walk around this handsome, bustling campus home to nearly 40,000 students and the names of two men stand out. One was born to great wealth, a duke related to the Royal Family and heir to a stately home so vast it had a railway from the kitchen to the dining room. The other grew up in poverty, scouring hedgerows in search of berries for his fathers home-made potions. Between them, though, they would donate the money, the land and the prestige to this institution making it one of Britains great seats of learning. Hence the fact that the University of Nottinghams two principal buildings bear these benefactors names for now, at least. The headquarters and centrepiece of the main campus is the palatial Grade II-listed Trent Building, with its famous bell-tower. It is named after the 1st Lord Trent, Jesse Boot, the locally-born founder of Britains best-known chemist. The equally grand Portland Building, now home to the student union, might be covered in the finest Portland stone but is actually named after its former long-serving Chancellor, William Cavendish-Bentinck, 7th Duke of Portland. The ghosts of both these great benefactors, however, may now be wondering why on earth they bothered. For these two philanthropists now find themselves singled out for their historic links to the transatlantic slave economy by the institution they so generously endowed as it embarks on a multilateral reparatory justice process. Robert Hardman standing outside the Portland Building at Nottingham University This might have a familiar ring to it. Similar investigations are also underway to explore the links between slavery and the Church of England, the monarchy and, indeed, the UK as a whole. Hence that demand by a consortium of Caribbean nations for as much as 19trillion of reparation payments. However, one aspect of this particular case seems especially baffling. Neither the University of Nottingham nor these two benefactors even existed until long after Britain had abolished both the abominable trade in human beings and slavery itself. Surely this rather elementary thought would have occurred to the governing body of a distinguished Russell Group university which has produced two Nobel prize winners, the inventor of Ibuprofen, a former head of MI6 and the writer, DH Lawrence. But, in these enlightened times, it is best not to argue with those controlling the moral high ground. Imagine the gnawing terror of being cancelled for criticising an attempt to implicate 20th-Century figures in the cruelty of the Jane Austen era! No less than 24 academics including seven professors have put their names to this new 137-page document entitled Nottinghams Universities and Historical Slavery. The report tracks the journey of University College Nottingham (founded 1881) to full university status (1948) along with the evolution of Nottingham and District Technical College (1945) into Trent Polytechnic (1970) and, latterly, Nottingham Trent University (1992). It then singles out the eight most prominent benefactors who played a key part in this process and proceeds to link them to the slave trade. No matter that some of the evidence is flimsy or even hypothetical. It almost feels as if these academics are craving some sort of guilt by association. As Professor Katherine Linehan, the universitys Pro-Vice-Chancellor for People and Culture, puts it: The publication of this report is the first step and will act as a catalyst to an open dialogue... with respect to reparative justice. But is it fair? The families of some of those named in the report think not. Absurd and sad, reflects one of Jesse Boots great-grandchildren. Relations of the 7th Duke of Portland say that, despite repeated requests to contribute to the report, they were denied the opportunity and fear the university is trying reverse-engineer history. And you dont have to spend long here in Nottingham to understand their feelings. The Jesse Boot bust at Nottingham University. The 1st Lord Trent was the locally-born founder of Britains best-known chemist, and has now found himself singled out for his 'historic links to the transatlantic slave economy' William Cavendish-Bentinck, 7th Duke of Portland, after whom the Portland Building at Nottingham University is named Approach the university from the city centre and you will be greeted at the gates by the bronze bust of a man with flowing locks and bristling moustache. Our Great Citizen Jesse Boot, Lord Trent it reads above a stirring inscription: Before him lies a monument to his industry. Behind an everlasting monument to his benevolence. It reminds me of the tribute (in Latin) to Sir Christopher Wren engraved beneath the dome of St Pauls Cathedral: If you seek his monument, look around you. For the benevolence of Jesse Boot was, indeed, spectacular. In total, he and his family gave University College Nottingham more than 142million in todays money, enabling it to move from the city centre to todays huge campus and seek university status. It was one of the many ways in which he expressed his thanks to the city where he turned a tiny herbal remedy shop on Goose Gate into a national institution. By the time of his death in 1931, there were nearly a thousand branches of Boots in Britain. When the Trent Building was completed in 1928, King George V and Queen Mary no less came to open it. His was a fortune built on improving the lot of his fellow man, too. My great-grandfather was driven by a burning desire to better the lot of the poor, his descendant, Emma Houston, tells me. My goodness me, he did that more than most people have ever done. A staunch Methodist, he slashed the prices of his medicines compared to those of other dispensaries, opening up basic healthcare to the poor. I visit the site of his first shop in Nottingham the first, incidentally, to install a ladies loo. So why was Jesse Boot (born 1850, son of a former farm labourer) linked to slavery (abolished in 1833) in this report? Over seven pages, the academics lay out the charges. The first link came about in the 1880s when Mr Boot wanted to move to larger premises a few doors down. To do this, he borrowed 2,000 from the Nottingham Joint Stock Bank (NJSB). This was founded in 1865, long after abolition, but its founders included one Thomas Adams who, in the 1830s, had been one of Nottinghams leading lace manufacturers. Foundational to his (Adamss) success, though not the only source, was the increasing amount of raw cotton imported into Britain, the report notes. The majority of this was sourced from the United States where it was cultivated by enslaved African people. Students Kitty Sheppard, 18, and Freya Haynes, 19, aren't in favour of renaming buildings at Nottingham University in light of the new report As the authors of the report note gravely: It was their capital which helped to float and develop the bank, eventually permitting it to extend capital to local clients such as Jesse Boot. But thats not all. The second link is that, by 1892, Jesse Boot had opened more branches in cities such as Sheffield and Lincoln. He needed a factory to produce his cut-price medical products and rented an empty site previously occupied by the Elliott family, producers of hosiery. It is highly probable that the [Elliott] family used at least some enslaved picked cotton, says the report. Jesse Boot would, therefore, have used part of Nottinghams built environment that was financed by cotton and slavery. Theres more. In 1912, Mr Boot took over another factory site once occupied by another hosier called Jonathan Hine. As the report notes: Hines use of cotton thread to produce hosiery implicated him in the transatlantic slave economy. The final charge is that Mr Boot secured another loan from the National Provincial Bank (NPB), soon after its acquisition of the Union of London & Smiths Bank in 1918. Back in the 1830s, two Smiths partners had owned slave plantations. Smiths appear to have used the transatlantic slave economy to assist their development into a prosperous bank that NPB benefited from when it took over in 1918, helping to explain its capacity to increase the limit of Jesse Boots overdraft to 600,000 in 1920. So there we have it. Jesse Boot used premises whose previous occupants had a highly probable connection to slavery while borrowing money from a bank which bought another bank linked to slavery. At which point, I can only throw up my hands and declare my own link to slavery. For NJSB became Midland Bank which became HSBC and I have had a mortgage with them, too. We are all guilty. The Boot family sold the business long ago. It has since changed hands many times and is now owned by a US conglomerate which has dutifully co-operated fully with the report, saying we are committed to drawing lessons from our history. It would be interesting to know just what lessons these might be. Dont borrow money, maybe, or dont buy property from anyone else? It is the family of Mr Boot who are now seeking to defend his honour. They have not sought to inflame a row but remain deeply loyal and proud of what Jesse did for Nottingham and also for his wifes birthplace, Jersey. This is all so tenuous, says great-grandson, Michael Holman (whose second name is Jesse). It feels like they are hunting for impropriety. This is guilt by association. His cousin, Emma Houston, agrees: I am absolutely not going to be drawn into anything that might seek to drag him down. Any attempt to associate Jesse with something that he would have found abhorrent is ridiculous. The family of the late Duke of Portland are unhappy for different reasons. As they are the first to acknowledge, the 1st Duke of Portland ended up as governor of Jamaica (where he died) and did, indeed, own slaves. Also, the 3rd Duke, as prime minister, made no attempt to curtail the slave trade. However, the report claims that the family derived wealth and what it calls social capital as a result of slavery and that this, eventually, put the 7th Duke who died in 1977 in a position to be a benefactor to the university. The report lists other members of the family who made donations to the university with a combined value, in todays terms, of around 2million. Ultimately, the Cavendish-Bentincks benefitted from the slavery business in terms of reputational, cultural and social capital, say the authors. The family had issued no public response until contacted by a newspaper which suggested they were somehow seeking to amend the report. That is simply not true, says a source close to the family. We have no problem with the historic research. We have simply tried to request that the report makes clear that the 7th Duke was not personally involved in slavery and derived no inherited financial, social, or reputational capital from it either. The family long ago donated its papers to the university and these show that the 1st Duke only went to Jamaica to avoid financial disasters at home, dying of tropical disease (the black vomit) deeply in debt. The familys wealth, though very great, came from other family members and other means, not least coal mining and marriage, while any social capital (what others might call poshness) came from aristocratic connections, not slave labour. The Kings great-great-grandfather, for example, was a Cavendish-Bentinck who had nothing to do with slavery or coal for that matter. He was a vicar. A university spokesperson tells me: We are unaware of anyone having been excluded from the consultation exercise. Lawyers for the family, however, have a detailed list of more than 15 failed attempts to speak or correspond with the university. Perhaps stung by this weeks media coverage, the university has now finally set a date for a meeting next week. Until then, the family say that they do not wish to stir things up. I drive up to Welbeck Abbey, the ancestral seat an hour north of Nottingham. The last Duke of Portland died in 1990 when the male line ran out but there is still a (distantly-related) Earl of Portland who works as an actor, best-known as David Archer in Radio 4s The Archers. The ducal estate has passed down to the 7th Dukes grandson, former film critic William Parente, and his family. Back in Nottingham, the university will now decide how to progress with its reparatory justice. This may include renaming the Trent and Portland Buildings, both here and at the universitys overseas outposts in Malaysia and China, which have buildings of the same names. The university insists that no decisions have been taken, though the report warns that some students may suffer harm, distress and offence from the symbolic honouring of individuals/families with exploitative connections to the slavery business. It adds: The naming of immovable structures after patrons has also served to immortalise their characterisation as respectable philanthropists. The enslavement of African people, which played an important role in the enrichment of (university) sponsors, are just as important to acknowledge as their philanthropic efforts. A source close to the Portland clan says that they would have no problem with a change of name, though some of Jesse Boots descendants say it would be very sad to see him cancelled. So what do the students think? The funny thing is that I cannot find a single one in favour of a change. I dont see what the fuss is about, if he had nothing to do with slavery, says chemistry student Kitty Sheppard, 18, walking past Jesse Boots bust. Leave things as they are, says Freya Haynes, 19. Of course they should do the research into slavery, says Freddie Sullivan, 21, but I dont think you should stop celebrating people who did great things for this place and werent even born at the time. There is one thing missing from the report, however. I see no mention of links to modern slavery. Perhaps the university might want to explore the use of forced labour in, er, China? After all, it has a campus there. Then again, perhaps not. A pub has introduced a new hardline dress code which bans tracksuits and jogging bottoms - sparking mixed reactions from punters. The Dark Horse pub in Moseley, Birmingham, made an 'important announcement' about the new rule and warned that those who fail to comply 'will be politely asked to leave'. After 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays the Alcester Road venue will no longer grant entry to people wearing a full tracksuit or jogging bottoms. The move has been applauded by some regulars, who said they're 'sick of seeing people out in tracksuit bottoms' and pointed out the bar is 'not a gym', while others accused the pub of 'discrimination'. The pub, which holds regular live music nights, alerted customers to the new rules in a Facebook post this week, which said: 'Important announcement about dress code. Just a heads-up that from Friday, December 6, we're going to be implementing a very easy going dress code across our venue from 9pm on Friday and Saturday nights. 'If you are wearing a full tracksuit or jogging bottoms, you will not be allowed into the venue. You're welcome in before 9pm if you're wearing a tracksuit or jogging bottoms, but you will be politely asked to leave the venue when the cut-off arrives. A Birmingham pub has introduced a new hardline dress code which bans tracksuits and jogging bottoms - sparking mixed reactions from punters. Pictured: The Dark Horse pub in Moseley After 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays, the Alcester Road venue will no longer grant entry to people wearing a full tracksuit or jogging bottoms (stock image showing a group of people at a pub) As we mentioned, this dress code only applies to Friday and Saturday nights and the occasional bank holiday Sunday.' Followers took to the comment section to share their views, with Roma Tough saying: 'Good!! Sick of seeing people out in tracksuit bottoms!' Kelly Cowley said: 'Why would you even leave the house in joggers anyways, unless you got a medical reason to?' And Darren Birch wrote: 'Good!!! It's not a gym!' On the other side of the fence, Liam Jelfs said: 'Why though? Wonder how many customers you will lose for discriminating against someone's clothing choice.' And Holly put: 'Don't see what the point is, they are just clothes. It's a form of discrimination. I wouldn't dress that way myself. But it's a bit shallow.' Others responded more light-heartedly to the rule change, as Martin Ward said: 'What about crocs? Fashion crime those things are.' And Justine Willington added: 'How about socks and sliders? Crime against fashion!' It's not just the fashion police patrolling UK pubs as the dress code follows a string of boozers adopting new rules. In October an 84-year-old army veteran turned landlord Kevin Moran announced anybody caught using a mobile phone in his Belgravia pub the Nags Head would be booted out after strike one. And, in April, a pub was slammed online for a sign banning children from the establishment. The Lower Red Lion in St Albans, Hertfordshire came under fire for their 'child-free' and 'dog friendly' policy after a social media user innocently posted a picture of himself with the sign, captioned 'found my new local'. Meanwhile Jeremy Clarkson's The Farmer's Dog has banned Prime Ministers and fellow former Top Gear host James May. In August Clarkson revealed that Sir Keir 'is banned' from the pub saying: 'He's actually the first person to be banned. 'It's actually on a board in the hall. He hasn't done much to endear himself to me yet.' Jeremy Clarkson (pictured) has banned Sir Keir Starmer from his pub, The Farmer's Dog It comes after in May furious punters blasted their local pub as 'disgusting' after it refused to take cash and accused staff of acting like 'Big Brother' The Old Vine in Winchester turned heads (and some customers away) by announcing they will no longer accept cash payments. The decision was branded 'not fair' on the older generation, who said they like the freedom of spending their money without using a card or mobile phone. Saboteurs and vegans were banned from the Dorset Inn in Lewes for the day in 2018 due to the Christmas hunt. And In July this year, a Birkenhead pub received backlash after announcing a blanket ban on workwear after 6pm. A South Carolina town is demanding answers after their newly-elected mayor died in a car crash days after the town's police force quit over complaints. Mayor George Garner II, 49, of McColl, was driving on Highway 34 in Mechanicsville when he veered left of the center line and collided with an 18-wheeler on November 26. Emergency responders took Garner and the driver of the truck to a nearby hospital where the mayor succumbed to his injuries. His death came just days after Police Chief Bob Hale and the town's four officers' resignation from their respective roles. In a statement, Hale said he stepped down over alleged repeated harassment, personal attacks and the 'creation of a toxic work environment' by a town councilman. Locals have now been left demanding answers over Garner's death, who have since described him as a 'real nice guy'. One of his neighbors Bill Young told WMBF: 'It shocked me. It shocked me because it was like "Are you telling me the truth?.' According to Young he went to school with Garner, and remembers him as being someone who would gladly reach out to those in need. Mayor George Garner II, 49, of McColl, was driving on Highway 34 in Mechanicsville when he veered left of the center line and collided with an 18-wheeler on November 26 Locals like Bill Young, seen here, have now been left demanding answers over Garner's death His death came just days after Police Chief Bob Hale and the town's four officers' resignation from their respective roles He added: 'The person that I knew was a real good guy, you know. He was a real nice guy. I saw him two days ago on his porch doing Christmas lights.' Young added: 'We need leaders, we need somebody to take charge.' Dave Price and his wife had been near the crash when the horrific events unfolded, telling the outlet of the aftermath. Price said: 'It was just a large crunch. You could tell the person wasnt surviving. We didnt know anything at the time, but it didnt look good.' Temporary Mayor Brain Blue said in a statement: 'I want everyone to know the mayor loved his family and the people in the Town of McColl. 'He always told us whether he was in or out of office, he always wanted us to move the town in the right direction. 'And at this time, I would like for everybody to keep his family and the Town of McColl in your prayers as we deal with the loss of the mayor of McColl.' According to local coroner Todd Hardee, the mayor was being pursued by a Marlboro County Deputy at the time of the crash. However, he clarified in a Facebook post that he was not implying that any laws had been broken by the word 'pursuit' rather 'an effort to protect the well being of Mr. Garner'. Dave Price, seen here, and his wife had been near the crash when the horrific events unfolded Emergency responders took Garner and the driver of the truck to a nearby hospital where the mayor succumbed to his injuries The coroner also said that he will make a ruling on the manner of death in the coming days. Hale had claimed in his statement that the department was facing a depleted budget and said appeals for funding as well as training were being ignored. Hale included allegations that for months, he had 'endured unwarranted and malicious behavior' aimed at undermining his integrity and leadership. He said that the 'toxic atmosphere' at the department had 'hindered its ability to function effectively'. 'As a law enforcement leader, my primary duty is to serve and protect the people of this community while ensuring my team can operate with dignity and respect,' he said. 'The ongoing actions of this particular Councilman have made it impossible to fulfill this mission without compromising our principles and well-being. 'I also can't help but feel that these consistent negative acts were strategically used to inhibit the continued growth and success of the department. 'This lack of investment hampered our ability to operate at the standard the citizens of the Town of McColl rightfully expect and deserve. 'The safety of the residents and the well-being of the officers should have been prioritized by committing the necessary resources to build a department capable of addressing the complexities of 21st-century policing. 'Sadly, this was not the case and the majority of my tenure as Chief of Police was spent clearing the names of my officers as well as myself, from the numerous falsehoods that were made against us.' Hale, seen here, had claimed in his statement that the department was facing a depleted budget and said appeals for funding as well as training were being ignored Another officer who resigned also said: 'At the end of the day, I have a family and when my job's constantly getting threatened and certain things are getting said, I'm not going to stay somewhere and tolerate that,' according to WYFF. Former McColl Investigator Courtney Bulusan added to Hale's comments and said her job too had faced challenges due to the lack of equipment. 'I was on my way to a call when that one just stopped working. We need cars,' Bulusan said. The councilman has not been named by any of the officers in their respective statements. The police team's last working day was on November 22. Since their mass resignation, town locals have been left worried about their safety. A funeral service for the mayor will be held at 3pm on December 3 at McColl Church of God. Burial will follow at Rogers cemetery At the time, Resident William Groom stressed over how many could be at risk now that there is no police force. 'Say if someone were stabbed or shot or whatever. Without police enforcement, they would have to come from the sheriff's office in Bennettsville 'We're talking 10 or 15 minutes and someone could possibly expire in that amount of time. Without police enforcement, it's definitely a bad situation', he said. Prior to his death, Garner had asked the Marlboro County Sheriffs Office and other nearby agencies to help cover the town in the meantime. He had also enlisted the help of the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division and assured residents that his office was actively working to hire a new Chief and officers, according to the New York Post. A funeral service for the mayor will be held at 3pm on December 3 at McColl Church of God. Burial will follow at Rogers cemetery. A former bus driver who kidnapped a girl and held her captive for 12 years has been finally captured in Colombia. Carlos Grisales, was taken into custody in Medellin on November 22, the Attorney General's Office revealed Thursday. The victim, who is now around 19 years old, managed to escape in February. The girl had spent the last two years locked down in a home because she had been complaining over the treatment she was being exposed to. The Attorney General's Office said she was only seven years old when she was abducted in early 2012 and taken to a home in the city center. Grisales allegedly 'psychologically manipulated and sexually subjugated her, making her believe that such behavior was normal.' Carlos Grisales was nabbed by the police in Medellin, Colombia on November 22 in connection with the 2021 kidnapping of a girl, who was seven years old at the time. The Attorney General's Office said that the victim was able to escape in February from a home where she was being held captive Grisales changed the girl's name and moved her to different homes in Medellin and the nearby municipality of Bello to prevent authorities and her family from locating her. Grisales was charged with kidnaping, sexual assault of a minor under 14 years of age, and sexual acts with a minor under 14 years of age. He is also charged with pornography with a person under 18 years of age. 'We will not lower our guard in our work against the sexual and commercial exploitation of our children and women,' Medellin Mayor Federico Gutierrez said in a statement. 'The message is clear: the life and integrity of our children comes first.' London will be busier than usual this weekend with a pro-Palestine march and counter-protest set to clash with Black Friday shopping and Winter Wonderland festivities, police have warned. Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstrators will march from Park Lane to Whitehall on Saturday afternoon, in their 21st protest since Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023. Counter-protesters from Stop The Hate will gather on Coventry Street near Piccadilly Circus, on the route of the pro-Palestine procession, to urge the marchers to 'stop supporting terror'. It comes as the Metropolitan Police issued another warning that Palestinian group Hamas and Lebanese militants Hezbollah are proscribed terror organisations and that expressing support for them is a criminal offence. This includes chanting, wearing clothing and displaying articles such as flags, signs or logos. Scotland Yard said it expects the weekend to be one of the busiest shopping weeks before Christmas, with Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland also occurring nearby. The force would not say how many protesters it expects to take to the streets, but said previous demonstrations have seen 'significant numbers'. Demonstrators march on Whitehall to oppose Israel's actions in Gaza on July 19 Women pose for a selfie next to a carousel at the Winter Wonderland theme park at Hyde Park in London Shoppers head to Oxford Street for the Black Friday sales on Friday Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jon Savell, who is leading the policing operation, said: 'Ahead of the weekend we have been in regular discussions with the PSC, counter-protesters Stop the Hate, as well as faith and community groups - particularly the Jewish community who we know continue to be impacted by protests - residents, and businesses. 'We expect this weekend to be very busy with many people shopping during the Black Friday sales, and visiting the capital ahead of the festive period, including Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park which is nearby. 'We have worked with organisers to seek to minimise disruption and balance the right to protest. 'Officers will be highly visible along the protest route and wider area to ensure the events take place safely and will deal with any offences.' Palestine Solidarity Campaign speeches will occur in Whitehall, and the assembly must finish by 4.30pm. Procession participants on the pro-Palestine march must not deviate from the prescribed route specified on the attached map Any person participating in the Palestine Solidarity Campaign post-procession assembly must remain within the designated area on this map The area shown on this map is where participants have been told to gather for the pro-Palestine march Any persons participating in the Stop the Hate assembly must remain within the designated area on this map The advocacy group, which has been at the forefront of organising pro-Palestine marches across the country, are demanding an end to 'British complicity in Israel's genocide and apartheid' of Gaza. It comes after a truce between Israel and Iran-backed militants Hezbollah to suspend hostilities for 60 days was announced on Tuesday night, with both sides withdrawing from southern Lebanon. Last week, the International Criminal Court issued warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defence minister and Hamas's military chief, accusing them of crimes against humanity in connection with the war in Gaza. The UK would respect the process set out under domestic legislation when it comes to the arrest warrant, Downing Street said. Pro-Israeli counter demonstrators shout as pro-Palestinian activists take part in a 'March for Palestine' in central London on October 5 People queuing outside a shop for the Black Friday sales on Oxford Street on Friday A former Democratic megadonor believes Donald Trump's 18-year-old son Barron was smarter than every member of Kamala Harris' campaign because of the critical role he played in pushing his father to appear on podcasts. In a brutal assessment of the vice president's loss, Morgan & Morgan founder John Morgan said Trump going on Joe Rogan was one of the key turning points of the campaign. He added that Harris should have never run for president, mocked her for trying to imitate President Barack Obama and said she should 'go away and never come back'. Barron is said to have had the final say on his father's podcast appearances during the campaign, before he swept the swing states on the way to winning the popular vote. It's a strategy credited with helping Trump see a huge surge in support from male voters under the age of 45. The president-elect's three-hour interview with the podcaster on October 25 has more than 50 million views on YouTube. In comparison, Harris' appearance on the podcast 'Call Her Daddy' has failed to break one million downloads. Despite negotiating with Rogan's team, Harris never went on his show before her decisive defeat at the hands of Trump. In the end Trump's support grew in all 50 states, while Harris saw a decline of seven million votes from President Joe Biden's total in his 2020 win. Former Democratic megadonor John Morgan believes Donald Trump 's 18-year-old son Barron was smarter than every member of Kamala Harris' campaign because of the critical role he played in pushing his father to appear on podcasts Barron Trump speaks to his father during a Thanksgiving dinner at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday Morgan slammed her aides for not doing more podcasts and other forms of media. 'It turns out that Barron Trump, who looks like a runway model, was telling his father, You need to go on podcasts, you need to go on Joe Rogan",' he told Fox News on Wednesday night. 'You know, he was three hours late to a rally because he was doing Joe Rogan because that was so important. 'So Barron Trump is a lot smarter than everybody in the Harris (campaign). 'They said they didnt go on Joe Rogan, the progressives around her you heard what Carville said the progressives didnt want her to go on Joe Rogan. Harris was accused of avoiding interviews when she replaced President Joe Biden on the Democratic ticket and didn't pick up her rate of media appearances until the final weeks of the campaign. 'Look, if Im running, Im going on Joe Rogan, Im living on Fox. Thats how you change minds! 'They played hide the ball, they lost badly. She should go away and never, ever come back. She spent almost $2 billion. 'Theyre raising money this week to pay off the debt! If you cant run your campaign, you damn sure cant run the country.' 'Morgan also mocked Harris for trying to imitate former Obama. '[Harris] thinks she's Obama,' Morgan said. 'She goes to Hawaii since Obama goes to Hawaii. She started talking like Obama, imitating Obama. She is not Barack Obama. She has no talent. She can never run for president again. 'She was going to be tethered to Biden no matter what.' Barron is said to have had the final say on his father's podcast appearances during the campaign, before he swept the swing states on the way to winning the popular vote Morgan laid out while Barron pushing his father towards alternative media was such a disaster for Kamala Harris' campaign, who were far more skeptical Morgan added that Harris should have never run for president, mocked her for trying to imitate President Barack Obama and said she should 'go away and never come back' In September, Trump told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview that Barron was the driving force behind the shift in focus from mainstream media to YouTube, influencers and podcasters. 'He knows so much about it,' said Trump, his eyes brimming with paternal pride. 'Adin Ross, you know, I mean, I do some people that I wasn't so familiar with, different generation. He knows every one of them. And we've had tremendous success.' Polls showed Trump was trailing in younger voters, but Barron helped bridge the gap by using platforms that were new to Trump, who stumbled over the specifics as he tried to describe them. 'We did three unusual .. I don't know what you'd call them, but it's a platform with three people that I don't know, but three people that Barron knows very well,' he said. 'He actually calls all of them like friends of his, because it's a different generation. They don't grow up watching television the same way as we did. They grow up looking at the Internet or watching a computer, right?' An author has begged Los Angeles' District Attorney to reopen the investigation into the death of actress Natalie Wood before her husband dies. Writer Marti Rulli said bombshell new accounts given to her by eyewitnesses point the finger at the West Side Story star's spouse, Robert Wagner, 94. Wood and Wagner were a nearly unparalleled Hollywood power couple when the 'Splendor in the Grass' actress shockingly drowned to death after falling from a yacht off Catalina Island during Thanksgiving weekend 1981. Rulli claims that witnesses told him that Wood was screaming for her life whilst hurling accusations at her notoriously hot-headed husband in the hours before her death. 'The case will remain open as long as Robert Wagner is alive because he is the suspect', said Rulli told RadarOnline.com. 'I still hold hope the Los Angeles DA will see fit to let the strong previous evidence, and the new evidence I have gathered, bring justice for Natalie's murder. Rulli plans to disclose the new evidence in a forthcoming book, Natalie Wood and the Devil She Knew. Author Marti Rulli has begged Los Angeles ' District Attorney to reopen the investigation into the death of actress Natalie Wood before her husband dies She explained that the witnesses, who include a teenager who was among the last to see Wood alive, came forward after the investigation into her death was reopened in 2011. In 2012, Wood's cause of death was changed from 'accidental drowning' to 'drowning and other undetermined factors' - decades after cops cut Wagner loose as a suspect. 'The reason the witnesses didn't speak out earlier is because, at the time, the case was declared an accident so fast they just ignored what they saw or heard', Rulli explained. She added she believes the new accounts could warrant a fresh grand jury investigation of Wood's death in the dark waters near their yacht 'Splendour' off Catalina. She described one of the witnesses as a California man who was just 17 at the time of Wood's drowning death, which, after 43 years, remains mired in mystery. The teen, Rulli said, had been a worker on a fishing boat moored near the yacht owned by her husband, Wagner, where the 'Rebel Without a Cause' star was last seen alive. Contacting Rulli last year, he recalled hearing Wood's screams - as well as an argument shortly before her death at about 11 p.m. on Nov. 28, 1981. Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner are pictured in 1970. The actress drowned in 1981, and some of the last people to see her alive are now airing bombshell claims some say could result in fresh charges being filed in the long cold case Wagner, now 94, was named as a person of interest amid a renewed probe into the case in 2018, but was cleared in 2022. Both of the new witness accounts appear to paint him as Wood's killer Eyewitnesses claim they heard Wood and Wagner aboard their yacht arguing before she vanished The account Rulli said, coincided with ones given to police by the boat's captain, Dennis Davern - one of only four aboard the 'Splendour' that night. He was joined by Wood, Wagner, and a then 38-year-old Christopher Walken - each part an alleged love triangle said to have sent Wagner into a rage. The man's claim supports testimony by Davern, who told police the Thanksgiving weekend cruise turned violent when Wagner accused Wood, 43, of having an affair with her 'Brainstorm' co-star Walken. Davern has claimed an irate Wagner, then 51, allegedly smashed a bottle of wine on a table and began brawling with Wood just before she vanished. At one point Davern claims he heard Wagner scream: 'Get off my f***ing boat!' Rulli said she also was contacted by an elderly woman who said she worked with Wood as an up-and-coming actress in the 1960s, but today is close to death. Her account also indicated alleged abuse from Wagner, who she claimed put his hands on Wood in their dressing room The case was reopened in 2011. The next year, Wood's cause of death was changed from 'accidental drowning' to 'drowning and other undetermined factors' - decades after cops cut Wagner loose as a suspect Wood's drowning death occurred on November 29, 1981, after she vanished from Wagner's boat the 'Splendour,' seen here the day after the incident Now reopened, the cold case could now give way to a grand jury investigation with the man and another unnamed witnesses new allegations against Wagner 'She said she saw Wagner come into their dressing room [before the incident],' Rulli said of the woman's claims, calling them 'additional evidence of [the] abuse.' Wagner has repeatedly denied and denounced the claims. He maintains Wood went off in a dinghy of her own accord. Rulli has so far kept quiet on the names of both witnesses in hopes that the accounts will soon spur a grand jury investigation that will see Wagner - who was recently cleared again after being declared a person of interest in 2018 - indicted. This series, we're bringing you the most important updated from The Thirwall Inquiry, new episodes weekly A retired hospital chief has denied he could have prevented the murders of two triplet boys by nurse Lucy Letby, a public inquiry has heard. Letby injected air into the newborns on successive days at the Countess of Chester Hospital's neonatal unit in June 2016 as part of a series of attacks from a year earlier in which she murdered seven infants and attempted to murder seven more. The Thirlwall Inquiry into the events surrounding Letby's crimes has heard that neonatal clinical lead Dr Stephen Brearey raised concerns about Letby with then-medical director Ian Harvey at a meeting a month earlier on May 11. Dr Brearey previously told the inquiry that at the time he felt the number of deaths in 2015 and early 2016 were 'exceptional' and highlighted to Mr Harvey that it was 'unusual' that six out of the nine deaths had occurred between midnight and 4am. He said he went on to inform him that a number of reviews of care had already taken place, including with an external neonatologist, and the only common theme was the association with Letby being on duty. Mr Harvey said that 'did not accord with my recollection of that meeting' and he did not remember Dr Brearey being 'that detailed or that assertive'. Counsel for the inquiry Rachel Langdale KC said: 'Child O and Child P should never have died after that May 11 meeting, should they? She (Letby) could have been off the ward and referred to the police then.' Mr Harvey said: 'I would not accept as a result of that meeting that the conversations we had and the approach that Dr Brearey and the nursing staff had, that there was anything that would have supported such action. Lucy Letby injected air into the newborns on successive days at the Countess of Chester Hospital's neonatal unit in June 2016 as part of a series of attacks from a year earlier in which she murdered seven infants and attempted to murder seven more Letby, 34, from Hereford, is serving 15 whole-life orders after she was convicted at Manchester Crown Court of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven others 'Dr Brearey was entirely supportive of the action that came out of the meeting and it was highlighted that one of the actions was the reporting of any further collapses or incidents.' He also stated to the inquiry: 'At no stage during this meeting did I feel that it was being reported because there was worry that Letby was responsible for the deaths.' Nursing managers attended the same meeting and explained there was 'no evidence whatsoever against Letby apart from coincidence' and because of her qualifications she was more likely to be looking after the sickest infants on the unit. Letby was eventually moved to an administrative role in July 2016 after all the consultant paediatricians met with executives after the deaths of Child O and Child P and voiced their fears the nurse may be deliberately harming babies. Mr Harvey went on to commission a series of reviews into the increased mortality as Cheshire Constabulary was not called in to investigate the matter until May 2017. Consultants pressed on with expressing their concerns amid plans in early 2017 to return Letby to the neonatal unit, the inquiry has heard. A grab from an officer's body worn camera footage showing the moment Letby was arrested Ian Harvey, former Medical Director of the Countess of Chester Hospital (pictured) commissioned a series of reviews into the increased mortality as Cheshire Constabulary was not called in to investigate the matter until May 2017 Mr Harvey said: 'One of the greatest regrets of my career is the breakdown in communication between the executives and paediatricians, and with me in particular. 'I recognise how intense and difficult a situation that was.' Asked by Ms Langdale if he accepted that he, chief executive Tony Chambers and director of nursing Alison Kelly created an 'atmosphere of fear', he replied: 'I did not seek to create an atmosphere of fear. That was completely contrary to how my practice had been up until that time. 'I have accepted there were one or two emails that I inappropriately worded.' Ms Langdale said: 'It was an us-and-them situation, wasn't it? The executives versus the consultants.' Mr Harvey replied: 'It is one of the biggest regrets that at this stage it was reaching this situation.' Letby, 34, from Hereford, is serving 15 whole-life orders after she was convicted at Manchester Crown Court of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven others, with two attempts on one of her victims, between June 2015 and June 2016. The inquiry, which is being held at Liverpool Town Hall, is expected to sit until early 2025, with findings published by late autumn of that year. November 29, 2024: Its recently become visible, via satellite photos, that the Russian railroads are at a standstill in many parts of the country and thousands of locomotives and rail cars are going out of service because of a shortage of ball bearings. The ball bearing shortage is a problem thats been building for over a decade and has now arrived. Satellite photos show major Russian cities receiving little or no merchandise by rail. The annual four months of cold and often freezing weather has begun. While oil and natural gas pipelines are still working, performing maintenance on those pipelines requires access to a functioning railroad system. Currently, if there are any pipeline problems, they have to be repaired using truck transportation. This takes longer if the problem is in an area with no roads or river/canal nearby. Some of these areas will take trucks a week to reach. Unlike the extensive road networks in Europe and North America, Russia depends mostly on railroads. Russia never built a large network of highways. It was too expensive. Instead long-distance commercial and military land transportation was handled by the government owned and operated railroad. There are 128,000 kilometers of track on which 800,000 uniformed railroad workers used to operate over 19,000 locomotives and over 800,000 railway cars. In addition there are 65,000 kilometers of private railways built, maintained and used by various industries. Russia has lost a growing number of railroad employees to army recruiters. Despite the importance of the railroads, the Russian military will grab any military age railway workers it can and turn them into soldiers for the Ukraine conflict. The government also uses fake ads seeking workers for the railroads. Those who respond are then easier to grab and put into the army. Several million Russians have left the country to avoid military service. Many of these men have completed their one year of conscript service and dont want to be forcibly mobilized into the military to die in Ukraine. The end result is a railroad labor shortage. Now the railroads are failing and so is the economy. Russia has been operating under economic sanctions for a decade and the sanctions got a lot worse after Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022. The invasion force is stalled in part because of a shortage of soldiers, but also because the railroad crisis means their troops are not getting needed supplies of food, munitions, medical supplies and cold weather clothing for the next three months of low temperatures and lots of snow. The increased sanctions and reduced railroad capabilities have caused political problems for the Russian government and sustainability problems for Russian forces in Ukraine. To make matters worse, in late November, the Kerch Strait bridge suffered a partial collapse, apparently brought on by years of Ukrainian attacks followed by hasty Russian repairs. As a result of all this, since mid-2024 Russian forces in Ukraine have been suffering ammunition shortages and increasingly unreliable railroad deliveries. Part of the reason for this was the August 2nd Ukrainian attack into Kursk province. The Ukrainians destroyed several key bridges during their incursion and Russia has not been able to assemble the materials and manpower to make repairs. The Russian railroad system is also in bad shape. Over two years of economic sanctions sidelined hundreds of locomotives and reduced track and signal system maintenance. One thing that increased was Ukrainian sabotage efforts against Russian railroads. The sabotage is often carried out by Russians fed up with Putins foolish and costly war. Russia has been arresting, prosecuting and jailing some of these saboteurs. This does not appear to diminish the number of sabotage incidents. Ukrainian sabotage teams in Russian territory disrupt railroad movement by damaging key elements of the railroad signals and communications systems. This makes the railroads less reliable and often leads to accidents that derail supply trains and block further use of that line until the wreckage is removed and the rails are repaired. Ukraine has even been able to get operatives deep inside Russia to damage the Trans-Siberian Railroad, which is currently used to move weapons and munitions and North Korean soldiers from North Korea to Ukraine. Ukraine continues to concentrate on Russian logistics, using long range missiles and GPS guided aircraft bombs to destroy Russian supplies that have been stockpiled for troops to use. Russia responded by moving the stockpiled supplies farther from the front lines and, when possible, storing them in underground bunkers. Such bunkers are great in theory, but in practice there are not many of these bunkers and supply stockpiles often end up out in the open, on pallets and covered by tarps. Meanwhile, the railroad situation in Ukraine is not ideal. Ukraine and the NATO countries have different gauge railroads. Europe uses what is known as Standard Gauge while Ukraine uses the old Soviet standard. Gauge means the distance between the two rails. Current standard gauge rails are 1,455mm apart. The Russian gauge is wider with the rails 1,524mm apart. Until 1991 Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union, which means Ukrainian railroads are Russian gauge. To deal with this problem, Ukraine built a transshipment point in the west Ukraine town of Uzhhorod which is on the border with Slovakia and near the Hungarian border. Here there are cranes that will quickly lift standard cargo containers from Russian gauge flatcars and load the containers onto European Standard Gauge flatcars. Passenger trains have a similar arrangement where passengers can disembark and walk a short distance to trains with a different gauge. Rail gauge can be quickly changed, especially if the conversion is from a wider to a narrower gauge. Converting locomotives and rail cars to use a narrower gauge takes longer and requires special facilities. Ukraine is also supposed to receive locomotives and rail cars from NATO countries where there are proper gauge rail lines and locomotive and rail car maintenance facilities. Ukraine has already converted some existing rail lines to European Gauge rail lines in several cities. Eventually Ukraine wants to convert all its major rail lines to Standard gauge. This will make it easier to handle trade with Europe. If theres another war with Russia, the Russians will not have all those Russian gauge rail lines available to quickly move troops and supplies into Ukraine on Russian gauge railroads. Instead, the Russians will have to use roads or capture Ukrainian railroad engines along with passenger, cargo, and flatcars so they can use Ukrainian European Standard gauge railroads. Strange footage shows Vladimir Putin's legs twitching uncontrollably at a public event yesterday amid rumours he has Parkinson's disease. The 72-year-old Russian leader appeared unable to control his movements as he gave an hour-long speech at a podium in Astana, Kazakhstan. In the clip, the twitching seems to start in his left foot before affecting both his legs and feet. Putin then took a wider stance but continued to rock back onto his heels and move his legs. The Russian leader has been plagued with rumours about his health in recent years - despite the Kremlin vehemently denying the claims. Last week, Ukraine's internal affairs spokesman Anton Geraschenko claimed during an eight-minute video address, Putin showed signs of serious health problems. He said that the footage, in which Putin threatened the West with long-range missiles, appeared to have been manipulated, with his hands barely moving. Analysts suggested the changes could have been made to hide the effects of Parkinson's disease that causes the body to shake. Strange footage shows Vladimir Putin's legs twitching uncontrollably at a public event yesterday amid rumours he has Parkinson's disease The 72-year-old Russian leader appeared unable to control his movements as he gave an hour-long speech in Astana, Kazakhstan Putin then took a wider stance but continued to rock back onto his heels and move his legs Commenting on the latest video, Gerashenko said: 'I wasn't sure about Putin's hands. 'But these legs and feet are definitely his. And the heels, too. That's clear.' It comes after Putin suffered mystery itching during a trip outside Moscow last month. He was seen repeatedly rubbing and scratching his face and the back of his neck as he paid a visit to a new fencing centre in the city of Ufa. The Russian dictator - who is believed to have undergone repeated botox treatments to mask his ageing - had been seen dealing with similar itches a day earlier in Moscow. It followed reassurances from the Kremlin that there was nothing untoward with Putin's health after the dictator disclosed he was having 'all sorts of regular examinations' in a top Moscow hospital. Meanwhile in May, Putin looked off-colour at a conference with Belarusian ally Alexander Lukashenko today as the pair met to discuss the war in Ukraine. The Russian president posed for cameras to shake hands with his counterpart in Minsk but appeared frail as he talked through developments in the conflict across the southern border. Footage from official meetings has shown Putin gripping a table for support, tapping his feet, and looking unsteady as he walked, with his appearance becoming more rounded and puffy over the years. Vladimir Putin was caught on camera repeatedly itching his face on a visit to Ufa's new fencing center Putin meets with the Governor of the Kirov region in Moscow, Russia, on November 29 And in February, footage emerged of Putin having to control a wandering leg during an interview with Tucker Carlson. In the two-hour interview with the former Fox News host, Putin had to use his hand to calm his leg and stop it from moving. The Russian president also coughed and cleared his throat several times while making bombshell claims such as Russia has superior 'supersonic missiles' to every other nation. Some critics questioned Putin's health ahead of the interview when the leader was pictured making grimaces during a meeting with Belarusian President Lukashenko on January 28, saying he appeared confused. Last October, the General SVR Telegram channel, which regularly alleges Putin is terminally ill with cancer, alleged he suffered a 'cardiac arrest.' The channel said all recent appearances by the Russian dictator, including foreign visits, have been by a body double or doubles. It claimed that doctors resuscitated Putin and he was taken to a special intensive care facility at his official residence. 'Doctors performed resuscitation, having previously determined that the president was in cardiac arrest,' reported the channel. 'Help was provided on time, the heart was started and Putin regained consciousness.' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, 'Everything is fine with him, this is absolutely another fake [rumor].' 'These [kinds of stories] belong to the category of fake news, discussed with enviable tenacity by a number of media outlets. This brings nothing but a smile [in the Kremlin].' Islamic insurgents now control half of the Syrian city of Aleppo following a shock offensive earlier this week, a war monitor has said. Rami Abdul Rahman, the director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Right said the area was now 'under the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and allied factions', adding that 'there has been no fighting, not a single shot was fired, as regime forces withdrew.' At least 277 people have been killed, including 28 civilians, in the fighting which is the deadliest between rebels and pro-government forces in Syria for years. According to local media, the insurgents have also imposed a curfew on parts of Aleppo in a bid to secure it. The insurgents' advance the city of two million people followed a shock offensive they launched on Wednesday, as thousands of fighters swept through Syria's northwestern countryside. The surprise attack added new uncertainly to a region already reeling from the dual wars in Gaza and Lebanon with Israel, and other conflicts including the unresolved Syrian civil war that began in 2011. It was the first time the city has been attacked by opposition forces since 2016, when they were ousted from Aleppo's eastern neighborhoods following a grueling military campaign in which Syrian government forces were backed by Russia, Iran and its allied groups. But this time, there was no sign of a significant pushback from government forces or their allies. Instead, there were reports of government forces melting away in the face of advances, and insurgents have posted messages on social media, calling on troops to surrender. Anti regime fighters hold a position on the outskirts of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on November 29 Insurgents led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham have been clashing with government forces on the city's western edge A picture taken from the area of New Aleppo shows smoke rising during clashes between jihadists and Syrian soldiers in the northern city of Aleppo on November 29 The offensive came as Iran-linked groups, primarily Lebanon's Hezbollah, who had backed Syrian government forces since 2015, have been preoccupied with their own battle at home. A ceasefire in Hezbollah's two-month-long war with Israel came into force Wednesday, the day the Syrian opposition factions announced their offensive. Israel has also escalated its attacks against Hezbollah and Iran-linked targets in Syria during the last 70 days. The attack on Aleppo came after weeks of simmering low-level violence, including government attacks on opposition-held areas. Turkey, which has backed Syrian opposition groups, failed in its diplomatic efforts to prevent the government attacks, which were seen as a violation of a 2019 agreement sponsored by Russia, Turkey and Iran to freeze the line of the conflict. Turkish security officials said on Thursday that Syrian opposition groups initially launched a long-planned 'limited' offensive toward Aleppo, from where attacks targeting civilians originated. However, the offensive expanded as Syrian government forces began retreating from their positions, the officials said. The aim of the offensive was to reestablish the boundaries of the de-escalation zone, according to Turkish officials. The 2016 battle for Aleppo was a turning point in the war between Syrian government forces and rebel fighters since the 2011 protests against Bashar Assad's rule turned into an all-out war. Russia and Iran and its allied groups had helped Syrian government forces reclaim control of all of Aleppo that year, after a gruelling military campaign and a siege that lasted for weeks. As well as backing opposition forces, Turkey has also established a military presence in Syria, sending troops into parts of the northwest. Separately and largely in the east of Syria, the United States has supported Syrian Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State militants. The Syrian government did not comment on insurgents breaching Aleppo city limits. But on Friday, the Kremlin said it considers the attack an encroachment on Syria's sovereignty and supports the quickest possible establishment of constitutional order in the region, Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said at a press briefing. An injured fighter holds a position with a fellow militant on the outskirts of the northern city of Aleppo on November 29 Anti regime fighters hold a position on the outskirts of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on November 29 A damaged vehicle belonging to the Syrian Government troops, seen in Kafr Halab, Aleppo countryside 'Of course, this is a violation of Syria's sovereignty in this region,' Peskov said. He added: 'We urge Syria's authorities to reassert control and restore constitutional order as soon as possible.' Syria's Armed Forces said in a statement Friday they have been clashing with insurgents in the countryside around Aleppo and Idlib, destroying drones and heavy weaponry. They vowed to repel the attack and accused the insurgents of spreading false information about their advances. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, said the insurgents detonated two car bombs at the western edge of Aleppo on Friday. The war monitor said the insurgents were also able to seize control of Saraqeb, south of Aleppo, a town strategically located at the intersection of the highways linking Aleppo with Damascus and the coast. Syrian government authorities had diverted traffic from that highway Thursday. An insurgent commander posted a recorded message on social media calling on Aleppo residents to cooperate with the advancing forces. Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency reported that the opposition insurgents entered Aleppo city center Friday. It said the insurgents 'broke through the defense lines of the regime forces along the Hamdaniyya, New Aleppo, and Zahra axis on the outskirts of the city.' It added the insurgents now control approximately 70 locations in Aleppo and Idlib provinces. Syria's state media reported earlier Friday that projectiles from insurgents landed in student accommodation at Aleppo's university in the city center, killing four people, including two students. Public transportation was also diverted from the main Aleppo-Damascus highway to avoid clashes, the report said. This week's advances were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, and represent the most intense fighting in northwestern Syria since 2020, when government forces seized areas previously controlled by opposition forces. A picture taken from the area of New Aleppo shows smoke rising during clashes between jihadists and Syrian soldiers in the northern city of Aleppo on November 29 Smoke rises in the distance as anti-regime fighters hold a position on the outskirts of the northern city of Aleppo on November 29 Syrian opposition fighters stand guard in Kafr Halab, Aleppo countryside Syria's Armed Forces said the insurgents are violating a 2019 agreement that de-escalated fighting in the area, the last remaining opposition stronghold for years. The Syrian Observatory said dozens of fighters from both sides were killed in the battles that started Wednesday. Hezbollah was 'the main force' in the government's control of Aleppo, said Rami Abdurrahman, head of the Observatory. In a phone call with his Syrian counterpart, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the insurgent attacks in Syria 'as a plot orchestrated by the US and the Zionist regime following the regime's defeat in Lebanon and Palestine.' Insurgents posted videos online showing they were using drones, a new weapon for them. It was not clear to what extent the drones were used on the battleground. Turkey's Anadolu Agency, reporting from Idlib, said insurgents attacked a military airbase southeast of Aleppo city with drones early Friday, destroying a helicopter. It said the opposition groups seized heavy weapons, depots and military vehicles belonging to the government forces during their advance. Aid groups said the fighting has displaced thousands of families, and forced some services to be suspended. The opposition fighters said their offensive will allow the return of thousands of displaced people who were forced to flee government bombardment in recent weeks. Jason Brodsky, Policy Director at the United Against Nuclear Iran advocacy group, told MailOnline: 'The insurgent offensive on Aleppo demonstrates how dependent Assad has been on Russia and Iran to maintain his rule in Syria. 'But Russia is now stretched thin militarily given its war in Ukraine, and Iran has been weakened after the degradation of Hezbollah. This places Assad in a very vulnerable position. 'Not only Assad, but Iran's broader grand strategy is in jeopardy as Syria is vital to its ability to rearm Hezbollah after the ceasefire with Israel in Lebanon. 'We are seeing the erosion of Iran's proxy network in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza, which places Tehran in weak position, especially at a time when its financial balance sheet has been impaired with U.S. sanctions.' Kasra Aarabi, UANI Director of IRGC Research, told MailOnline: 'As Syrian opposition forces make advances in Aleppo, Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Iranian regime's supreme leader, will be feeling the absence of the late IRGC Quds Force commander, Qassem Soleimani. 'During the 2015-16 period, Soleimani micromanaged every aspect of the hybrid slaughter that combined Russian air-support with the on-the-ground mobilisation of Iranian regime backed Shia jihadists, which eventually led to Assad's seizure of Aleppo in 2016. 'The assassination of Soleimani in 2020 by the Trump administration landed a colossal blow to the Iranian regime and it is now contributing to the fall of Aleppo to Syrian opposition forces.' A number of claims of racism between English and Welsh people have been recorded as non-hate crime incident by UK police, it has emerged. It comes as police have been accused of wasting 'valuable time' on investigating jokes and playground insults as possible hate speech amid a rise in serious offences. The Telegraph reported one woman contacted police after she was called a 'Welsh witch', with officers logging the comment as a 'racial' non-hate crime incident. One man also filed a complaint with North Wales Police after being told he was a 'sheep sh*****', while officers became involved in another incident after a series of 'anti-Welsh' slurs were shouted in the street. Non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) are meant to be reserved for cases that are 'clearly motivated by intentional hostility' and where there is a genuine risk of significant escalation, according to government guidance. However, UK police forces have received backlash from senior officials, for wasting their time on trivial complaints, with 13,000 non-crime hate incidents recorded in the year to June. Rachel Reeves was among those to hit out last week after it emerged that police had been probing children for insulting each other. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp also said: 'This nonsense undermines confidence in policing'. A number of claims of racism between English and Welsh people have been recorded as non-hate crime incident by UK police, it has emerged Rachel Reeves was among those to hit out last week after it emerged that police had been probing children for insulting each other Details obtained under freedom of information rules by The Times showed a nine-year-old child was among the youngsters who have been looked at by police. Officers recorded incidents against the child, who called a fellow primary school pupil a 'retard', and against two schoolgirls who said another student smelled 'like fish'. According to The Telegraph, North Wales Police recorded 274 non-crime hate incidents in the two years to June. Data was obtained through a Freedom of Information request. Incidents are being investigated and recorded by the force despite a large proportion of crimes going unsolved. Data shows 97 per cent of bike and personal thefts go without charges in the year ending this June. Around 95 per cent of burglaries, 93 per cent of car thefts and 77 per cent of shoplifting offences also went uncharged. Another incident recorded by North Wales Police included a pub-goer who claimed he was refused service because he was English, however bar staff told police he was turned away because he was too drunk. The force logged: 'Was spoken to the day after when he was sober and he did not want to provide any other information or make a complaint.' Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'This nonsense undermines confidence in policing' Allison Pearson (pictured) was investigated by police for 'stirring up racial hatred' in a post on social media In another incident, a shopper claimed he was racially profiled when unscanned items were found in his basket. Police also dealt with a 'racial' social media post where someone had written: 'If you cannot speak Welsh, you shouldn't be here.' Just last week, Essex Police dropped its investigation into Telegraph journalist Allison Pearson over a tweet that was posted, and then quickly deleted, in November last year. Pearson revealed officers from the force knocked on her door on Remembrance Day earlier this month to inform her of the probe, but could not give her any details about what post was being investigated or who made the complaint against her. She insisted in a ten-point post on 'X', formerly known as Twitter, that she was not 'racist' and that she 'did not post a racist tweet'. Essex Police have now confirmed 'no further action' will be taken against Pearson, and the 'investigation is closed'. Chief Constable Mark Hobrough, the National Police Chiefs' Council hate crime lead, will conduct an independent review of the force's handling of the case. An Essex Police spokesperson said: 'We investigate crimes reported to us without fear or favour. 'We're sometimes faced with allegations of crime where people have strong opposing views. 'That's why we work so hard to remain impartial and to investigate allegations, regardless of where they might lead.' A 12-year-old who went missing after she falling into a manhole has been found dead, authorities in the northeastern city of Dias D'Avila confirmed Friday. Surveillance video showed Amanda da Silva holding an umbrella as she was returning home from school when she tripped on a flooded street near train tracks and fell Wednesday afternoon. The Bahia Military Fire Department initiated rescue efforts after learning of the incident and searched the city's sewage system before stopping in the evening. At least 80 firefighters and volunteers resumed the search Thursday and located da Silva's backpack in the drainage system a little over one mile from where she fell. The search continued Friday with the assistance of sniffer dogs and special cameras that were used to inspect nearly 2,296 feet of pipes that lead to the Imbassi River. Da Silva body was eventually found just 1.2 miles away from where she fell. The manhole where da Silva fell through was over 30 years old and was missing its cover, according to an investigation report that was released by the Dias D'Avila city hall office. The National Department Transport Infrastructure blamed the Bahia state government, indicating that it should have overseen maintenance on the avenue. Amanda da Silva was found dead by the fire department on Friday, two days after she fell inside a manhole in the northeastern Brazilian city of Dias D'Avila. The 12-year-old was returning home from school Wednesday afternoon when she tripped and fell through the uncovered manhole A surveillance camera showed 12-year-old Amanda da Silva walking near train tracks and stepping on a flooded street when she suddenly tripped and fell through an uncovered manhole The state government distanced itself from any responsibility by that the city of Dias D'Avila was responsible. In turn, the city blamed the National Department Transport Infrastructure because the uncovered manhole is located next to the train tracks. Jonatas Sodre, a local sanitation engineer, told Brazilian news outlet G1 that while lids are not required to be placed over manholes, it would have been prudent to have covered it due of its proximity to the school. 'In theory, it is taking up a bit of the sidewalk, so there is a problem there that could perhaps be covered, as it is an urban area,' Sodre said. 'If you close it with concrete, with a fence, for example, it would be safer for people to walk around.' The Bahia state government, the Dias D'Avila municipal government pointed and the National Department Transport Infrastructure distanced themselves from any culpability over the uncovered manhole through where 12-year-old Amanda da Silva fell Wednesday before she was found dead Friday morning Between Wednesday and Friday morning, the Bahia Military Fire Department canvassed nearly searched about 2,296 feet of pipes in the drainage system that lead to the Imbassi River. They found Amanda da Silva's body found just 1.2 miles away A seven-year-old boy survived a similar accident in December 2023 in the southern Brazilian city of Cruz Alta. Raphael dos Santos was playing with a group of friends when he fell into a manhole in the middle of a rainstorm. Dos Santos' body was swept 1,000 feet down the drainage system and managed to come out of another drain near his home. The Cruz Alta Public Works Department covered the manhole a day after the accident and inspected other drains throughout the city to ensure they were properly sealed. Conservative commentator Scott Jennings has been asked to join the editorial board of The Los Angeles Times, much to the annoyance of liberals. Jennings, who has long been a vocal support of president-elect Donald Trump on CNN, was asked by owner of the newspaper Pat Soon-Shiong who announced the move on X. Soon-Shiong posted after Jennings sparked a heated debate on CNN earlier this week after he called the social media site the 'most ideologically balanced'. He said: 'Thats why I want Scott on our new editorial board. Growing the board with experts who have thoughtful balanced views and new candidates are accepting the challenge to join us! Way to go Scott and thanks for accepting. Stay tuned we are making this happen.' Soon-Shiong told former CNN reporter Oliver Darcy earlier this week that he wanted to overhaul the editorial board and rebuild it 'from scratch' to represent 'all voices'. Writing on his newsletter Status, Darcy said that Soon-Shiong told him he likes Jennings 'interactions' on CNN and how he battles 'five to one against the left'. The billionaire added that he thought Jennings was 'respectful and thoughtful' in expressing his viewpoints on air. Darcy took umbrage with that, writing that he thought it was 'very debatable' that Jennings was 'respectful to his fellow panelists'. Jennings, who has long been a vocal support of president-elect Donald Trump on CNN , was asked by owner of the newspaper Pat Soon-Shiong who announced the move on X Soon-Shiong posted the move to his page after Jennings sparked a heated debate on CNN earlier this week Darcy said their conversation 'grew combative' which ended with Soon-Shiong putting the phone down on him. The panel that seems to have prompted the post by Soon-Shiong had been discussing billionaire MAGA darling Elon Musk flirting with the idea of buying MSNBC. Audie Cornish questioned Jennings on whether or not the billionaire, who will co-head the new Department of Government Efficiency, purchasing media would turn it into propaganda. 'I mean, is the concern that certain media outlets would become propaganda arms of political ideologies? Don't we already have that in this country at a large scale? 'Also, I hear what you're saying about X, I saw a survey this week, it's now the most ideologically balanced user platform,' Jennings said. CNN contributor Cari Champion interrupted saying, 'Scott, Scott, stop, it's too early. I just sat down. I've only been here for two minutes, you cannot say that. Who's the source?' He replied, 'We've reported on this network.' Champion said, 'It's not accurate and you know it.' Jennings's was referring to report from CNN data guru Harry Enten that said X users are made up of an even split of Democrats and Republicans, according to Mediaite. Darcy, seen here, said their conversation 'grew combative' which ended with Soon-Shiong putting the phone down on him Guest anchor Audie Cornish questioned Jennings on if the billionaire being closely linked to the government purchasing media would turn it into propaganda On X, liberals have been responding in outrage over the move to appoint Jennings, some saying they had cancelled their subscriptions to the California paper. One person wrote: 'If he thinks Jennings is in any way "thoughtful" or "balanced," he is stupid or ignorant. 'More likely, he's pandering to Trump. I'm even happier now that I canceled my 60-year subscription.' Another added: 'Sadly, Scott Jennings is being added to the LA Times editorial board. I hope that pushes the LA Times out of business and into bankruptcy!' Earlier this month, Jennings poked fun at his colleagues for describing President-elect Donald Trump as 'Hitler' and a 'fascist' during the presidential campaign. After playing clips of Trump and Biden criticizing each other on the campaign trail, the CNN panel discussed the successful meeting between Biden and Trump at the White House. Meghan Hays, a former Biden White advisor, said that Biden did not traditionally hold grudges and was ultimately a dignified statesman in the end. On X, liberals have been responding in outrage over the move to appoint Jennings to the editorial board The Los Angeles Times has exclusively endorsed Democratic presidential candidates since then-Senator Barack Obama ran in 2008 'I'm shocked,' Jennings said, holding up a copy of the Wall Street Journal featuring a picture of the two men together. 'I mean, did you ever think you'd see literal Hitler in the Oval Office - with the President United States?' 'C'mon, Scott,' Hays protested. 'It was the underpinning of the Democratic campaign, that Donald Trump is a fascist,' Jennings continued. 'And what I see in this is I'm glad it's happening ... but what it tells me and what it ought to tell Democrats is they didn't mean any of it. It was all campaign rhetoric.' The move to appoint Jennings also comes after Soon-Shiong blocked its editorial board from endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for president. Members of the newspaper's editorial board were prepared to endorse Harris for commander in chief until a shock announcement from executive editor Terry Tang. Tang informed staff earlier this month that they would not be endorsing a candidate for president. Sarah Ferguson was seen jetting off today at London Heathrow on a Christmas trip without Prince Andrew, as his bitter feud with brother Charles continues over the Royal Lodge. The Duchess of York, who still resides at the Windsor property despite divorcing Prince Andrew nearly three decades ago, has previously self-proclaimed herself and the Duke of York as the 'happiest divorced couple in the world'. However, although maintaining a such a close bond, Fergie set off solo for the Austrian capital of Vienna to take in the many festive sights on offer. Speaking in a TikTok video from Heathrow departures, the Duchess of York told her followers: 'It's Monday and I decided that we need to get the Christmas spirit going. 'Heathrow Airport on my way to Vienna. And what am I doing in Vienna? I am going to see (the) Christmas fair'. Attempting to drum up some festive cheer, Fergie continued: 'The airports are just so exciting. It's a new adventure, new day, new journey. Let's go'. This all comes as Prince Andrew and King Charles continue on their grudging dispute in the wake of elder brother Charles cutting Andrew's financial lifelines. The King stopped paying his disgraced brother's 3 million-a-year security bill at the 30-room Windsor Royal Lodge last month and urged him to move into more modest accommodation as part of an extraordinary row dubbed 'the siege of Royal Lodge'. Sarah Ferguson spoke to followers from Heathrow departures ahead of her trip to Vienna Andrew has since been allowed to stay at the property in Windsor Great Park after convincing Palace authorities that he has secured enough funds to support himself Prince Andrew and King Charles are continuing on their grudging dispute in the wake of elder brother Charles cutting Andrew's financial lifelines But Andrew has since been allowed to stay at the property in Windsor Great Park after convincing Palace authorities that he has secured enough funds to support himself. Mystery remains over the exact source of Andrew's funding, but it has been muted that Keeper of the Privy Purse Sir Michael Stevens approved the financing as coming from legitimate sources. Earlier this month, the Daily Mail's acclaimed royal writer Robert Hardman revealed in his updated biography of Charles III that the King has also severed his brother's annual personal allowance, believed to be 1 million a year. Andrew, however, claims to have found 'other sources of income related to his contacts in international trade', a source told Hardman. The Duke signed a 75-year lease agreement with the Crown Estate for Royal Lodge in 2003. He pays rent reported to be 260,000 a year and must also 'repair, renew, uphold, clean and keep in repair and where necessary rebuild' the sprawling property. In an increasingly acrimonious stand-off, the King, 75, has been attempting to persuade Andrew, 64, to move to nearby Frogmore Cottage, recently vacated by Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex. The revelation that he has found the funding to remain in Royal Lodge will raise fears that Andrew is exploiting the foreign business contacts he accumulated during the decade he spent as Britain's trade envoy. In 2019 the MoS revealed how he used the taxpayer-funded role to quietly promote a private Luxembourg-based bank for the super-rich, owned by controversial multi-millionaire David Rowland and his family. Sarah Ferguson was seen jetting off today at London Heathrow on a Christmas trip without Prince Andrew The King urged his brother to move to more modest accommodation after he stopped paying his disgraced brother's 3 million-a-year security bill at the 30-room mansion last month The Duke signed a 75-year lease agreement with the Crown Estate for Royal Lodge in 2003 The revelation that he has found the funding to remain in Royal Lodge will raise fears that Andrew is exploiting the foreign business contacts he made during his time as Britain's trade envoy Despite living the lifestyle of a billionaire for years, with an extensive collection of watches, including a 150,000 Patek Philippe, and a small fleet of luxury cars, mystery has surrounded Andrew's finances. Charles's decision to sever his allowance means his only official income comes via a small Navy pension of about 20,000a-year. Buckingham Palace refused to comment on reports that Sir Michael, a former accountant with KPMG who was appointed Keeper of the Privy Purse in 2018, had approved Andrew's apparently new funding as coming from legitimate sources. It is unknown what checks took place or, crucially, how long Andrew said the funding would be in place for. The secrecy will fuel fears that Andrew's dealings could plunge the Royal Family into a fresh scandal. There have been mounting calls for clarity from both sides of the political divide too, with MPs seeking assurances over the sourcing of Andrew's funding. Earlier this month, York Central Labour MP Rachael Maskell told the MoS: 'When the funding for the Royal Family is due to rise by 45 million next year to a staggering 132 million, serious questions need to be asked as to why the monarch's brother continues to reside at his mansion. 'There must be greater transparency on the source of the money that has allowed Andrew to stay at Royal Lodge.' Similarly, Nigel Mills, a former Tory MP who served on the Public Accounts Committee, said: 'If he was renting a private house then we wouldn't have any interest in who was giving him money for rent. But while he is living in a house that is owned by the monarchy, then some transparency is necessary. 'If the person who is giving the money doesn't want to be named, then it's probably a better idea for them not to give money to a disgraced prince.' Former Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint is facing a tax bill of more than 1.8million after losing a legal battle with HM Revenue and Customs. Grint, who played Ron Weasley in the franchise, was originally ordered to pay the sum in 2019 after HMRC launched an investigation into his tax return from the 2011-12 tax year. The actor had received a 4.5 million sum from a company which managed his business affairs as 'consideration for rights, records and goodwill' from his work, which he claimed was a 'capital asset' and therefore the subject of capital gains tax. But HMRC argued that the fee should have been classed as income, and following the investigation told Grint he needed to pay an additional 1,801,060 in tax. At a hearing in the First-Tier Tribunal, held in London in November and December 2022, lawyers for the 36-year-old actor appealed against HMRC's decision, arguing that the right amount of tax had been paid. But in a ruling, Tribunal Judge Harriet Morgan dismissed the appeal, finding that the sum 'is taxable as income'. She said that the money 'derived substantially the whole of its value from the activities of Mr Grint', which was 'otherwise realised' as income in the 2011/12 tax year. Grint played Ron Weasley in all eight Harry Potter films from 2001 until 2011 and is calculated to have earned around 24 million from the role. Former Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint is facing a tax bill of more than 1.8million after losing a legal battle with HM Revenue and Customs Grint, who played Ron Weasley in the franchise (pictured with Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson), was originally ordered to pay the sum in 2019 after HMRC launched an investigation into his tax return from the 2011-12 tax year Grint with the late actress Maggie Smith, who played Professor McGonagall He previously lost a separate court battle concerning a 1 million tax refund in 2019. That case referred to the 20-months up to April 5, 2010, in which the actor was said to have generated a turnover of 28 million and 15 million in net profits. His accountants tried to shift eight months' worth of his income into the 2009/10 tax year, during which the top rate of tax was 40%. A new top rate of 50% took effect in 2010/11, so the move promised to cut the actor's tax bill on that income by 10%. The accountants said he had moved his accounting date from July 31 to April 5, bringing the whole 20-month period within the lower tax rate. The tax authorities agreed that Mr Grint had every right to change his accounting date - but denied that he had actually done so. A tax tribunal judge in 2016 agreed with HM Revenue and Customs and dashed the actor's hopes of a bumper rebate. Since ending his Harry Potter role, Grint has starred in numerous roles on stage and screen, including a recurring role over the last four years in Apple TV series Servant. The actor has starred over the last four years in Apple TV series Servant Grint (centre) with his Harry Potter co-stars Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe A speech by Peter Mandelson in the House of Lords is a rare event he's spoken only once in the chamber in the past 12 months. But he is not averse to taking full advantage of the networking opportunities the Upper House has to offer. So it was that Mandelson was spotted in deep conversation in their Lordships' bar the other day with none other than Lord Alli,the media tycoon. Alli, worth a reputed 200million, was at the centre of the 'freebies' row that engulfed Labour after it emerged he had given Sir Keir Starmer more than 30,000 of designer suits and spectacles. Mandelson, who happens to be a close friend of Alli, could soon be in need of a new wardrobe himself if his hopes of becoming the next British ambassador to Washington come to pass. The present incumbent, Karen Pierce, will see her tenure of the most coveted posting in diplomatic circles come to an end in the months ahead. And Mandelson, a former Labour Cabinet minister, has emerged as the frontrunner to replace her. Given that he is impeccably well-connected, Mandelson inevitably has powerful friends arguing his case. They include Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, who more than any other minister will have the ear of the Prime Minister as he makes the final choice. It did not go unnoticed that when Reeves made her keynote speech to last year's Labour conference, Mandelson was the first to his feet leading the standing ovation after very publicly taking his place in the front row of seats reserved for the Shadow Cabinet. This consummate political operator supposedly suffered a setback this week when he failed to become Chancellor of Oxford University, a position that went instead to William Hague. But Mandelson's many supporters argue that he is undaunted they point out that the fact he made the shortlist of five for arguably the most prestigious post in British academia underlines the gravitas of a statesman who has held three major Cabinet posts and served as EU trade commissioner for four years. Some in Westminster ask if his support for closer trade links with China could end his hopes of becoming ambassador in Washington (Mandleson pictured in 2009) Peter Mandelson (left) receives a Chinese-made T-shirt from Chinese Commerce Minister Bo Xilai at a press conference in 2005 A photo taken on Jeffrey Epstein's Litte St James Island - seen left Peter Mandelson Happily, they dismiss as irrelevant his two highly controversial forced resignations from the Labour Cabinet in the late 1990s and early 2000s, of which more later. As part of his campaign to become Chancellor of Oxford, he pledged to raise millions for the university from his bulging list of contacts, gained not just from his time in government but through his international 'public affairs consultancy' Global Counsel. When he was a minister, Mandelson famously declared that New Labour was 'intensely relaxed about people getting filthy rich'. He followed through by founding Global Counsel in 2010, after Gordon Brown lost the general election, as he carried out his ambition to join the ranks of the rich. It has worked: Today he is reportedly worth 20million. Global Counsel offers to help corporations 'see opportunities in politics, regulation and public policy' and has offices in London, Berlin, Brussels, Doha, Singapore and Washington. Mandelson has never declared a single client of Global Counsel in the House of Lords register of interests, despite several rule changes intended to achieve greater transparency. What is clear, however, is that he has connections with Vladimir Putin's Russia. Mandelson served as a non-executive director of the Russian conglomerate Sistema, which is itself the majority shareholder of RTI, a defence technology company. RTI produced radar and satellite communications for Russia's land-based missile early warning system and its chairman was one Yevgeny Primakov, a Putin ally and former prime minister. Mandelson remained on the board until June 2017, long after Putin's annexation of Crimea in 2014. Then there are his Chinese links. The website of Global Counsel still contains his flowery account of his October 2018 meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping. Headlined 'Tea with Xi', he waxed lyrical about the Communist ghoul and urged stronger links between Europe and Beijing. Peter Mandelson is seen during the second day of the Labour Party Annual Conference Conference on September 27, 2004 in Brighton, England Mandelson failed to become Chancellor of Oxford University (pictured) -losing out to William Hague Lord Peter Mandelson listens as Jonathan Reynolds at the Labour Party Conference last year The man once nicknamed 'the Prince of Darkness' gushed: 'For a very powerful head of a huge and centrally controlled nation, President Xi Jinping of China has a remarkably relaxed air about him. He exudes composure, in public at least. In a receiving room of the Great Hall of the People, Xi welcomed a small UK group which I joined this week to commemorate the anniversary of the Icebreakers ... a mission of business people who took Britain's first trade mission to China in 1953.' He also wrote: 'Ten years ago, as the EU's trade commissioner, I said China was in danger of becoming a runaway juggernaut in the international trade system and that reciprocity in market opening was vital if a Western backlash was to be avoided. Chinese leaders listened and attempted to apply balm, but since then the juggernaut has not exactly slowed.' The praise of Xi condemned worldwide for human rights abuses in China and the brutal suppression of democracy in Hong Kong was presumably designed to show potential clients how well-connected Mandelson is. Some in Westminster ask if his support for closer trade links with China could end his hopes of becoming ambassador in Washington, where he would have to court the Trump administration just as it plans massive trade tariffs on Beijing. But Dan Mullaney, a former assistant US trade representative under Trump who crossed paths with Mandelson in Brussels, does not think so. 'Having someone from the UK in Washington who knows all three systems the EU system, the UK system, the US and knows trade is a very useful skill set for the challenges that are to come,' he tells me. Through Global Counsel's office in Washington, Mandelson has forged valuable relationships. They include Scott Bessent, a hedge-fund billionaire who has been announced as Trump's Treasury Secretary. Bessent is close to Mandelson and would be an important ally on Capitol Hill. But there are still questions about Mandelson's long relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, the paedophile financier found dead in a prison cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on new charges of sex trafficking minors. Lord Mandelson arrives at the BBC Broadcasting House to attend the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show in London in June this year Peter Mandelson speaking at the Labour Party Conference in 2000 As far back as 2002, New York Magazine described his presence at an intimate dinner party at Epstein's Manhattan townhouse, and in 2022 a photo emerged of Mandelson and Epstein celebrating a birthday at the financier's lavish Paris apartment in 2007. This was followed by a report, made public only last year, that describes repeated meetings between the serial child rapist and the politician he affectionately knew as 'Petie'. The internal 2019 report by JP Morgan was filed to a New York court in 2023 and suggests that in June 2009, when Mandelson was business secretary, he stayed at Epstein's even as the financier was in prison for soliciting prostitution from a minor. The report also declared: 'Jeffrey Epstein appears to maintain a particularly close relationship with Prince Andrew... and Lord Peter Mandelson, a senior member of the British government.' Mandelson is rightly ashamed of his association with the paedophile. Last year a spokesman said: 'Lord Mandelson very much regrets ever having been introduced to Epstein. This connection has been a matter of public record for some time. He never had any kind of professional or business relationship with Epstein in any form.' And yet, he remains untainted by these questionable links. Indeed, it is extraordinary in one sense that people are talking of him as the next ambassador to America at all after a career so replete with self-inflicted setbacks. As I said, this is the man whose dealings with the super-rich twice forced his resignation from Tony Blair's Cabinet. The first was in 1998 after the disclosure of a secret 373,000 loan from former millionaire Labour MP Geoffrey Robinson, which he used to buy a house without telling his mortgage company. He quit again in 2001 after being accused of helping one of the billionaire Hinduja brothers secure a passport in return for a 1million donation to the government's Millennium Dome project. He was later cleared by an inquiry. Not that this has hindered his business ventures. In April he took a step back from his commercial operations when he sold a 20 per cent stake in Global Counsel. The deal valued the business at 30million, meaning the 35 per cent stakes held by Mandelson and business partner Benjamin Wegg-Prosser could be worth around 10.5million each. Mandelson has made no secret of his desire to be our man in Washington and appears unfazed by the incoming Trump administration. He's already come up with a plan to build bridges with Elon Musk, a close ally of the President-elect, who has been highly critical of the Starmer administration. 'I'd be asking the embassy in Washington to find out who [Musk's] British friends are. And they've got to be used as a bridge to Musk,' he has said. 'You cannot just continue this feud indefinitely. You've got to get over it.' To the consternation of some Labour MPs, he even suggested talking to Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, who is close to Trump. 'You can't ignore him,' he has said. 'He's an elected MP, a public figure, and bridgehead to President Trump and to Elon Musk.' And Farage, who as an MEP regularly crossed swords with Mandelson, had an equally surprising take. 'We are politically miles apart,' he told me. 'But Peter Mandelson is highly intelligent, a clever political operator, he is always on top of his brief as I discovered when he was the EU commissioner. He has a huge intellect. And has to be a serious contender to be the next ambassador.' Two schoolboys, aged 14 and 16, have been arrested after a suspected chemical attack at Surbiton station, as two police officers have been rushed to hospital. British Transport Police were at the train station in south west London at around 4.20pm today where they noticed two boys 'acting suspiciously'. When officers approached the teenagers, they were exposed to a chemical substance believed to be alkaline. Two officers were taken to hospital but their injuries are not believed to be life-changing or life-threatening. Passengers travelling through Surbiton station faced major disruption today, as some services were cancelled and others were severely delayed. No trains stopped at the station for around three hours which has had a knock-on impact on services. While trains are now running normally, South Western Railway said disruption is expected to last until 10pm today. Two schoolboys, aged 14 and 16, have been arrested after a suspected chemical attack at Surbiton railway station (pictured) on Friday afternoon A spokesperson for South Western Railway (SWR) said: 'Due to emergency services dealing with an incident between Surbiton and Woking all lines are blocked. Trains may be cancelled, delayed or revised because of this problem.' A spokesperson for British Transport Police said: 'Officers from British Transport Police were at Surbiton railway station today at around 4.20pm when they spotted two people acting suspiciously. 'As officers engaged with the people, they were exposed to a substance believed to be alkaline. 'Two officers were taken to hospital with injuries not believed to be life changing or life threatening. 'Seven other officers, including two officers from the Metropolitan Police were checked at the scene by paramedics. 'Two boys, aged 14 and 16, have been arrested on suspicion of possession of a corrosive substance in a public space and conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm. The 16-year-old has been taken to hospital as a precaution. 'Officers are not looking for anyone else in connection and enquiries are ongoing. 'The station was closed while the London Fire Brigade made the area safe, but has since been reopened.' Passengers affected by the incident today have been told by SWR they can use their tickets on White Bus Services 458 between Staines, Shepperton, Walton-on-Thames, Hersham, Esher, Hinchley Wood, Thames Ditton, Surbiton, Kingston. Or, TFL buses between Surbiton, Kingston, Wimbledon, Raynes Park and Twickenham. Tulsi Gabbard stirred excitement among MAGA supporters after sharing a heartfelt Thanksgiving message with her husband, Abraham Williams. The 43-year-old posted an Instagram photo of the couple standing atop a cliff at sunset, wearing plate carriers and proudly raising an American flag. 'My heart is filled with gratitude - for Gods unconditional love, for the love and support of my family, for freedom and our great country. Happy Thanksgiving!!' her post reads. Donald Trumps recent nomination of Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence has sparked significant scrutiny, not only over her political views but also due to the intriguing presence of her New Zealand-born husband and their ties to a controversial spiritual movement. Williams, a part-Maori, part-Samoan cinematographer and surfer, met Gabbard while volunteering for her 2012 congressional campaign. Their mutual love of watersports led to a romance, culminating in a Hindu Vedic wedding in Hawaii in 2015, after Williams proposed during a sunset surf session with a ring taped to a flotation device. Known for his laid-back demeanor and striking looks, Williams now focuses on creating content for Gabbards political ventures, earning media acclaim, with Marie Claire dubbing him the coolest political spouse. Critics have focused on Gabbards unconventional political history, including perceived friendliness toward authoritarian figures like Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad. Tulsi Gabbard stirred excitement among MAGA supporters after sharing a heartfelt Thanksgiving message with her husband, Abraham Williams The 43-year-old posted an Instagram photo of the couple standing atop a cliff at sunset, wearing plate carriers and proudly raising an American flag. Her background has also drawn attention to allegations of ties to the Science of Identity Foundation (SIF), a secretive sect founded by Hawaii-based guru Chris Butler. SIF, an offshoot of the Hare Krishna movement, has faced allegations of intolerance toward women, LGBTQ individuals, and Muslims. Former members have described Butler as wielding near-divine authority within the group, likening it to a cult. Gabbard, who served in Congress from 2013 to 2021 and gained national attention during her 2020 Democratic presidential bid, formally left the Democratic Party in 2022, citing dissatisfaction with its direction. She officially joined the Republican Party earlier this year during a campaign rally with Trump. Her nomination to succeed Avril Haines as DNI underscores her growing influence in conservative circles. Donald Trumps nomination of Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence has drawn scrutiny, not just for her political views but also for her New Zealand-born husband and their ties to a controversial spiritual movement A vocal critic of what she calls the weaponization of the intelligence community, Gabbard has condemned its alleged misuse under President Joe Bidens administration, particularly in actions targeting Trump and his allies. Her nomination, while celebrated by her supporters, remains polarizing, as both Democrats and Republicans weigh her controversial past and shifting political alliances. November 29, 2024: Currently the Russian military is organized domestically into five military districts; Leningrad, Moscow, Central, Eastern, and Southern. In 2010 there were six or more, but the military reforms Russia has undergone since the 1990s reduced the number of districts as well as reducing and reorganizing the forces within each district. Each district was in charge of all the troops and bases within the district. Operations in Ukraine are controlled by generals from the Moscow District. As the war in Ukraine continued beyond the few weeks Russian leaders originally thought it would take, the other four military districts were gradually stripped of most of their military units. This was made possible by the reforms carried out in the districts since 1991. The districts have some autonomy with what they do and the central military command sought the most effective developments in districts and adopted them for the entire military. For years frustrated Russian leaders have been going public with statistics describing the sorry state of military reform efforts since the 1990s. You know the leadership is serious about changing something when senior people start spouting embarrassing statistics. Among the problems were officers in military schools still spending much of their time studying World War II. The world has moved on, and the Russian military leadership has not. Many Russian generals believed that serious reform should have begun after the Americans demonstrated what modern military tech and training methods could do during the 1991 Gulf War. At the time, Russian generals dismissed the results of that war because the Americans were fighting Arabs. This absolved Russia of any responsibility for the poor performance of the Russian weapons Iraq was using. It was pointed out that Russia didn't really try to reform after 1991, but simply reacted to over a decade of more immediate problems. When the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, it had five million troops. Now it's down to about one million in just Russia, which got about half the population of the Soviet Union, and most of the territory, when the USSR dissolved. Although the Russian armed forces lost 80 percent of its strength since 1991, a disproportionate number of officers remained. Twenty years after the Soviet Union collapsed, the Russian military had about 1.2 million personnel. This included 400,000 in the army itself, and the rest in paramilitary units that are largely uniformed and armed like soldiers. But there were 355,000 officers in this force. That's more than one in three, and included 1,107 generals, 25,665 colonels, 99,550 majors, 90,000 captains, and only 50,000 lieutenants. With all that, some 40,000 officer positions were still vacant. That led to a reorganization that eliminated 20 percent of the generals, 65 percent of the colonels, 75 percent of the majors, and 55 percent of the captains. The number of lieutenants was increased 20 percent. The 2,500 military organizations were reduced by 80 percent. Most of these organizations were reserve units and Cold War relics that contained only a cadre of officers. In the event of a major war, reservists, who were no longer available, would be called up to use the stockpiled equipment, which was now missing. The general staff had its personnel cut 61 percent to 8,500 and military districts and bases were consolidated. This eliminated thousands of officer jobs. Many generals were not happy with all these cuts, but their resistance never got beyond sharp words and bitter regrets. Nevertheless, all these cuts are not enough. The biggest change was the age of the senior officers. For those that served before 1991, many senior Russian generals and admirals suspected that they were the victims, as well as the authors, of all the bad decisions made during the Soviet period. After 1991 new generations of military leaders accepted the fact that Russia had fallen way behind in military technology and thinking. The 1991 generals, who spent their entire careers facing the United States as the primary foe, could not accept the fact that the American military had evolved farther, and more quickly, than Russia. But post-1991 generals accepted the fact that the Americans, and Western military professionals in general, had done a better job adapting rapidly changing technology to military use. Throughout the 1990s Russian military leaders sought to convince the politicians to pay more attention to personnel problems and that they should not hastily buy a lot of new weapons that were often second rate. Russian defense industries were under attack by politicians and generals for years for producing inferior weapons Until Russia became more aggressive in 2014, the military was allowed to buy warships, armored vehicles, UAVs and infantry equipment from Western suppliers. But reformist generals warned that the best weapons in the world do little good if you have not got world class troops to operate them. Conscription had to go, and the military needed better training, more professionalism and a more open minded attitude towards what works, and what doesn't. The government was spending more on military pay, so it was really up to the generals to actually do what they say needed to be done. That never happened because there was not enough money to buy all the new equipment or create an all-volunteer force. Conscription continued and most reforms were never enacted. One exception was the reorganization of the military districts. This did not cost much, because it was mainly staff work. Russian military staffs have long been among the best in the world. All this staff work warned that an invasion of Ukraine would not be easy. The staff advice was ignored and some staff officers were replaced with men more positive about conquering Ukraine. This is not the first time, in many nations, where sound staff advice was ignored in favor of disastrously flawed plans. Ukraine is the latest example and most national military staffs will ignore or misinterpret the lessons of Ukraine. Some traditions, especially bad ones, tend to resurface again and again because there are military and political leaders who dont believe the past has any influence on the future. Nicola Sturgeon will not be at the memorial service for her one-time friend and mentor Alex Salmond and will instead attend the funeral of a Scots comedian. The former First Minister, who will snub the service at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, is due to be at the funeral for Janey Godley best known for her voiceovers of Ms Sturgeons daily media briefings during the pandemic. First Minister John Swinney and Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes are both due to attend the service for the former SNP leader. Salmonds friendship with Ms Sturgeon collapsed spectacularly in recent years amid investigations into complaints about his conduct when he was in Bute House. He won a judicial review case against the Scottish Government in the Court of Session, which found the government investigation into complaints had been unlawful and tainted by apparent bias. Salmond was then cleared of all sexual assault charges following a trial. Last month, Ms Sturgeon opted against attending a motion of condolence in the Scottish parliament. She said at the time that she wanted to pay appropriate respect in a way which felt right and did not distract from the grief of the Salmond family. Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon, pictured here in 2014, were once allies but their relationship imploded Janey Godley died on November 2 after receiving palliative care for terminal cancer She concluded that it is best for me to remember Alex privately. A source close to Ms Sturgeon confirmed she was taking the same approach for todays memorial service. In one of his last major interviews prior to his death, Salmond told a BBC documentary: I dont really do hurt feelings very much but it is a big regret that Nicola and I are no longer on speaking terms, and I seriously doubt that it is going to improve. Well just have to let the past take care of itself. Salmonds family said Saturdays event would celebrate Scottish culture and arts, which were close to his heart. It will feature performances by musicians Dougie MacLean and The Proclaimers. Tributes will be delivered by former Alba Party MP Kenny MacAskill, who was ever-present in Salmonds SNP government, and advocate Duncan Hamilton, KC, while long-serving Nationalist MSP Fergus Ewing will read from The Wild Geese by Violet Jacob. Christina Hendry, Salmonds niece, told the BBC: Im not sure theres really been time to fully process things and fully grieve but as a family were sticking together, keeping close and keeping going. Reflecting on the many messages the family have received since his death on October 12, she said: It has given us a chance to think back on everything he did and just... how proud we are of him. Ms Sturgeon will be in attendance at Ms Godleys funeral at St Marys Cathedral in the West End of Glasgow today. The comedian died on November 2 after receiving palliative care for terminal cancer. She revealed she had ovarian cancer in November 2021 but returned to touring and was given the all-clear in 2022 but later that year she said another scan had shown signs of the disease in her abdomen. A shooting at a mall in Little Rock, Arkansas, sent shockwaves through crowds of Black Friday shoppers today. Gunfire erupted at the Park Plaza Mall on Friday afternoon, triggering a panicked evacuation and fears of an active shooter. Police said they responded to a call about an 'active aggressor' at about 1:45pm local time. According to preliminary reports, two people who knew each other exchanged gunshots inside a store. Three people were injured. Their conditions remain unknown. Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr condemned the violence in a statement on Friday afternoon. 'The careless, senseless and criminal actions of two individuals today jeopardized the lives and safety of residents and visitors. 'We are praying for the victims of this incident and are hopeful they make a full recovery. 'Gun violence is unacceptable at any time or in any place,' he said. Park Plaza Mall was evacuated after reports of shots fired inside on Black Friday Emergency services were seen outside the Little Rock shopping center on Friday 'We trust those responsible for this will be held fully accountable for their dangerous and reckless decisions.' Images from the scene show a large police presence as well as medical personnel outside the shopping center. It remains unclear if there are anyone was injured in the shooting or of any arrests have been made. Police have urged people to avoid the area. Holiday shoppers who were at the mall took to social media to say they were evacuated after shots were fired inside the shopping center. 'We just ran out of Park Plaza Mall after shots were fired,' shopper Brittany Shannon wrote on Facebook. 'Not sure where or how many injured but needless to say we are done shopping for the day.' 'PLEASE AVOID PARK PLAZA MALL!' added Claudetta McElhaney on Facebook. 'My hubby just called and said about 25 to 30 police at Park Plaza Mall. Please avoid the area and lift prayers!' From the dusty old workshop of woodcarver Callum Robinson, objects of alluring beauty emerge: the cigar cabinet of cedar and gold, encased in butter-soft Scottish leather destined for Bond Street; a bespoke chest in sculpted oak sourced from the ancestral estate of Princess Diana and commissioned to hold a million-dollar Swiss watch. When Callum stands back and admires a completed piece he is always struck by the incongruity of its elegance against the surroundings of where it was made a workshop in an old sawmill, its air thick with sawdust and its benches strewn with the detritus of drills, saws and chisels. You can have the blingiest, most luxurious thing and it is being worked on by one of us in filthy overalls and a woolly hat and glue all over him, he explains. When something is finished it looks incredible and it seems a contradiction to see it essentially in a shed in the woods. The cigar cabinet was this week delivered to the Mayfair premises of Vacheron Constantin, the worlds oldest watch brand, for its new members lounge where collectors can smoke Davidoffs and sip rarefied spirits. The chest created for the brands million-dollar watch was honed from an oak on the Spencer familys Althorp Estate, furnished with gold locks and lined with lush goat suede. Callums father, a master woodcarver, detailed the piece with Maltese crosses. It was displayed in the Royal Academy of Arts in London and Edinburghs prestigious Dovecot gallery before being sold, watch included, to a private client. It is with the precision of watchmakers that Callum, his wife Marisa and their team create such items in their workshop hidden among Scots firs in Beecraigs Country Park near Linlithgow, West Lothian. Callum and his wife Marisa in their workshop where they craft beautiful bespoke items Their pieces have featured in Paris and Berlin fashion weeks and lavish brands such as Burberry, Bentley and Hermes are on their client list. The finished works are delivered into a world of opulence where rarely a second thought is given to the intricacies and dedication of the teams labours. But now, in a new memoir, Callum, 43, shares the story of the craft behind the bespoke beauty. How just as solidly as an oak is planted in the earth, his mastery is rooted in the teachings of his father David. From childhood, his father made him his apprentice and at times Callum grudged it. Now he is grateful for the passion it gave him. He said: I think to myself that all over Britain, people are dragging themselves to jobs they hate, being crammed into trains and buses, stewing in traffic, watching the clock and seeing their days tick slowly away. And here I am having found something I love. Ingrained, The Making of a Craftsman, is a love letter to his father, to Marisa, to arboreal splendour and to making things by hand in a mass-produced world. He said: My dad is such a big character. He loves the attention his work brings. I wanted him to be around to read it. Callum is the virtuoso with words that he is with woodcraft. His book is intimate, elegant and soulful; it is an ode to natures gift of wood and how the deftness of the artisan can shape it into something wonderful. Callum's 'Father and Son' otters, that swim through solid elm, was viewed six million times on X This bespoke chest was hand-crafted to hold a very expensive timepiece The intricate display trunk that was created for luxury car maker Bentley We get to go to work every day and conjure up treasure, he said. We take the spark of an idea and through trial and error, care and experience, make it whole but I have rarely been able to find books about the subjects that resonate, that really bring this world to life. Method Studio, the company founded by Callum and Marisa, an architectural designer, does make furniture for mid-range customers but largely produces for high-end markets with pockets deep enough to pay for pieces that could take years in the making. Callum liked the idea that, with the book, a creation he had poured a year and his heart into could be picked up for only a few pounds or for free in a library. Four of the UKs top publishers were locked in a bidding war for the debut, which has attracted dazzling critical acclaim and been longlisted for a 2025 Carnegie Medal for Excellence. Already a success story for Penguin, it will be published next week in Canada and the United States, where the New Yorker is planning a profile, before release in Australia and New Zealand. Socially awkward growing up, Callum found writing was the bridge that connected him with people. He wrote funny scripts and stories which amused his peers on the school bus. The concentration and tenacity he developed in the years of working with wood made the book possible and it turned into a journey of self-discovery he had not expected. The sift through his memories brought him time and again back to how his parents had been his artistic influence. David and Callums mother, a teacher turned stay-at-home mum, were both creative spirits. Callum said: I think my mother was an incredibly loving and gifting presence. The side of my work including my writing, that is about trying to make people happy and move them, that comes from my mum. He grew up with a younger brother and sister in a ramshackle 18th-century farmhouse in rural East Lothian which David, then an architectural landscaper, spent years restoring. The book opens with David taking his son hunting for wood to a hidden gem of a timberyard in the north of Scotland which stocked woodland behemoths of trees. Some were protected species, gnarled and centuries old which had given in to nature, storms and age. They werent flat-packed and homogenous and thats why David wanted them. Callum describes how his father a 6ft 4in block of a man in his old felt hat and pencil behind his ear would pursue the perfect specimen and run a hand along the fissured bark of a huge log, as another man might caress a dogs flank. As if to say: Good log. It was in these yards and in the woods near his family home that Callum began to share his fathers fascination for trees and the possibilities lurking in their grain. In the book he writes: What did the world look like when these trees first broke through the soil? How many hard years and epic storms might they have weathered? Who might have climbed in their branches, sheltered beneath their canopies, carved a lovers name into their living flesh? At 40, David was made redundant from the small business which employed him and, facing pecuniary, he did the only thing he could he got creative, hit the workshop and started to make furniture to keep food on the table and his money pit of a house standing. He insisted Callum help him and, though he was a typically sullen teenage presence in the workshop, he did secretly enjoy spending time with his father. Five years later, when Davids bespoke kitchen business was doing well, he offered his son a full-time job. Callum, then 19, had been floundering. Callum absorbed in work at his studio, which is nestled in woods outside Linlithgow Working in a pub and propping up the bar and having failed to take up a place at university, he had no prospects in sight. He said: The offer of a job was in part because my dad needed help and in part because he wanted to keep me out of trouble. It was difficult, my dad sets a high standard. He was a big strong guy and he expected me to work as hard as him. I wanted to try to keep up. I felt in his shadow. I still do. But he didnt just want me to help him, to learn new skills and find direction, he wanted me to love it as much as he did. Though he often felt incapable, Callum immersed himself in the apprenticeship and, over the years, he didnt just learn he excelled. And, just as his father had hoped, he fell wholeheartedly for the charms of the craft. He met Marisa Giannasi in 2006 in an Edinburgh nightclub. The draw was magnetic to the architectural designer who has now been his wife for 12 years. Marisa was a Glasgow School of Art graduate from an Italian and Glaswegian family who owned both a restaurant and a sawmill. Callum said: She is a particular mix of mountain Tuscan and East End Glaswegian which makes her garrulous and gregarious and entirely immune to fear. I have been crazy about her since the moment I saw her. After travelling the world together, in 2009 they set up their own company in the old sawmill and theirs is as symbiotic a relationship in business as it is in life. Callum said: We love working. We are two sides of one brain. None of the success would have happened, not the business not the book, if I hadnt met her. She taught him the technicalities and finesse of design then he applied his craft, but building the business has been anything but easy. Part of the book focuses on their worst of times, when a luxury client pulled out of a crucial deal and they feared they would lose everything including Methods artisanal team, who were like family. But, teetering on the cliff edge, they took the same path as David, got creative and made furniture. They opened a shop in Linlithgow High Street and crossed their fingers. The book gives a nail-biting insight into a small business in a fight for survival; how each customer who wanders into a shop is a hope dashed or realised. In time, enough furniture sales came and the luxury brands called with commissions. They not only survived but ultimately thrived. The shop is gone now but they have plenty of commissions. David, one of only 40 master carvers in the UK, often embellishes their work, while his own carvings have brought him international renown and more orders than he can cope with. His stunning piece Father and Son, where two otters appear to swim through solid elm, was posted on X by Callum and viewed six million times. A Highland pony being led through the hills at Balmoral was commissioned by the late Queen, and she adored it. Method is currently finishing a project for the Glenturret Distillery in collaboration with US artist James Turrell, whose work is popular with celebrities including Kendall Jenner. Callum and Marisa have created 88 leather and ash-clad cabinets to house decanters of an exclusive 90,000 Glenturret blend. The firm previously commissioned a cabinet made of Scottish sycamore, 24ct gold, brass and leather to house a jade-green Lalique crystal decanter filled with the Uaine 1987 single malt. The finished ensemble fetched 35,000 at a Sothebys charity auction. Coming out of the workshop soon are ten oak and teak boxes using wood salvaged from HMS Victory. They have been made for a special edition of Patrick OBrians Master and Commander being printed by a publisher in Arizona. David has carved HMS Surprise the ship featured in the book on the boxes teak lids. Other commissions include art deco fragrance chests for Burberry inlaid with polished green marble, gold leaf and velvet. For Bentley, they created an intricate display trunk of birch, poplar, steer leather, powder-coated steel and aluminium. The commissions and their sheer endeavour have allowed Marisa and Callum to live exactly where they should, in a wooden house in a tree-filled glade near Linlithgow. The property still needs some restoration to make it into a perfect home for the couple and their unruly sheepdog Ash but, given the wondrous creations in their portfolio, they should manage the work just fine. Labour's deal to give up the Chagos Islands suffered a fresh setback as the prime minister of Mauritius ordered a review into the agreement. Navin Ramgoolam's administration is on course to take over sovereignty of the Indian Ocean cluster of islands, which includes the Diego Garcia military base used by the US and the UK. Sir Keir Starmer's deal, which would bring to an end 200 years of the archipelago being under British control, has been dogged by issues ever since Labour announced the agreement last month. Mr Ramgoolam only came to power this month, but has already hit out at the deal signed by his predecessor. During his election campaign, Mr Ramgoolam and his allies accused the then-prime minister Pravind Jugnauth of 'high treason' and described the agreement as a 'sell-out' motivated by desperation. Labour's deal to give up the Chagos Islands suffered a fresh setback as Navin Ramgoolam, the prime minister of Mauritius, ordered a review into the agreement Sir Keir Starmer's deal, which would bring to an end 200 years of the archipelago being under British control, has been dogged by issues ever since Labour announced it last month Navin Ramgoolam's administration is on course to take over sovereignty of the Indian Ocean cluster of islands, which includes the Diego Garcia military base used by the US and the UK This week, Mr Ramgoolam said he 'would like to have more time to study all the details of the agreement with a panel of legal advisers'. Yesterday he asked for an independent review of the confidential draft agreement with Britain. Prime minister Ramgoolam has yet to outline his concerns over the deal, which includes the 99-year lease of Diego Garcia. Labour has come in for heavy criticism since it agreed to hand over the Chagos Islands to China-ally Mauritius amid fears the move could potentially strengthen Beijing's influence. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said it would be good for national security. Labour has come in for heavy criticism since it agreed to hand over the Chagos Islands to China-ally Mauritius amid fears the move could potentially strengthen Beijing's influence Sir Keir Starmer is globe-trotting too much and should spend more time in Britain fixing domestic problems, most voters believe. A damning exclusive poll for the Daily Mail found that a majority think the Prime Minister has jetted off to too many overseas events and summits. While 26 per cent say they think he is spending the right amount of time abroad, more than a third (36 per cent) say he should be in the UK more. Only 4 per cent say he is spending too little time abroad. The More In Common survey shows nearly half of voters (48 per cent) think his jaunts will either make no difference or be harmful to the UK. On his travels: Sir Keir Starmer is globe-trotting too much and should spend more time in Britain fixing domestic problems, most voters believe Just 21 per cent say they will bring benefits. He undertakes trips to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, next month and Abu Dhabi. 'The public has become convinced that Britain often gets a bad deal from foreign engagements,' said Luke Tryl from More In Common. A survey by More In Common shows nearly half of voters (48 per cent) think Sir Keir Starmer's jaunts will either make no difference or be harmful to the UK A father-of-two died when he was buried alive under soil from an overloaded trailer that detached from a tractor and rolled on to his car, an inquest heard. Jon-Paul Prigent, 47, was in the passenger seat giving his daughter a driving lesson when the freak accident happened. The combined weight of the trailer and soil put him in a compressed position, causing asphyxiation. The decoupling is likely to have occurred because of heavily worn equipment, a coroner has ruled, leading him to call for stricter regulation of agricultural vehicles, many of which are exempt from independent testing. In a prevention of future deaths report, Peter Nieto wrote: This places the responsibility for checking roadworthiness on the user... It is highly likely that some tractors and trailers are being driven on roads for agricultural purposes in unroadworthy and unsafe conditions. The report was sent to the Department for Transport, Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency, the National Farmers Union, Health and Safety Executive and other agricultural bodies. Mr Prigent, a programme manager who had served in the Armed Forces, was with his daughter Maisie in his Toyota Aygo near the family home in Chesterfield, on July 30, 2020, when he was killed. The overloaded trailer detached as it went over a speed bump before rolling down the hill, hitting a wall and overturning onto the car, covering it in soil. Jon-Paul Prigent, 47, pictured with his wife Catherine, was in the passenger seat giving his daughter a driving lesson when soil from an overloaded trailer that detached from a tractor and rolled on to his car buried him alive The tractor and trailer, which belonged to a skip hire company, were driven by John Banks, 43, of Chesterfield, who was given a 16-week suspended sentence in November last year after he admitted failing to discharge general health and safety duty at work Mr Prigent, who was married to Catherine and also had a son, Oliver, was pronounced dead at the scene. His daughter escaped with minor injuries. Senior coroner for Derby and Derbyshire Mr Nieto concluded an inquest on November 15 and his report was published on Thursday. He gave a narrative verdict, saying: It is unlikely that his death would have occurred if the hitch and coupling components had been checked to a reasonable standard. A combination of factors probably led to the accident, he added, including the towing hook and hitch ring being worn to below its minimum thickness and a gap between the tip of the towing hook and keeper plate. The trailer had a maximum load of ten tons but was loaded with 13.8 tons of soil, which was unevenly distributed, affecting its centre of gravity. As the hitch coupling passed over the speed bump, a bigger gap opened up for the hitch ring to pass between the tow hook and keeper plate, Mr Nieto said in his report. He noted tractors and trailers driven below 25mph do not require safety measures to prevent decoupling and suggested the UK introduce more robust laws similar to the EU. The tractor and trailer, which belonged to a skip hire company, were driven by John Banks, 43, of Chesterfield, who was given a 16-week suspended sentence in November last year after he admitted failing to discharge general health and safety duty at work. Sinn Fein, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are virtually neck-and-neck in terms of first preference votes in the Irish General Election, according to an exit poll. The Ipsos B&A Exit Poll was commissioned by RTE, The Irish Times, TG4 and Trinity College Dublin suggests Sinn Fein have picked up 21.1 per cent of the vote - with Fine Gael on 21 per cent and Fianna Fail just behind on 19.5 per cent. It puts the two largest parties in the current coalition, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, on a combined 40.5 per cent. . While the exit poll is indicative of the support base for the political parties, the final results will be determined by transfer votes a key part of Ireland's complex electoral system of proportional representation with a single transferable vote. The inconclusive results mean that all eyes will now turn to the potential search for coalition partners. Elsewhere, the exit poll showed: Social Democrats (5.8 per cent), Labour (five per cent), Greens (four per cent), Aontu (3.6 per cent), People Before Profit-Solidarity (3.1 per cent), and Independent Ireland (2.2 per cent). Independents and other candidates were on 14.6 per cent. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris There is a margin of error of 1.4 per cent. Sinn Fein's director of elections Matt Carthy has celebrated his party's performance. He said it marked a significant turnaround from the party's disappointing showing in June's local and European elections. 'When you consider where we would have been coming out of the local and European elections, I have to say it's a phenomenal result,' Mr Carthy told RTE. He added: 'We do recall that in 2020 the exit poll actually undershot Sinn Fein to the tune of two per cent-plus. So if that was to transpire tomorrow morning, there is every chance that Sinn Fein will emerge from these elections as the largest political party.' Mr Carthy would not be drawn on what the exit poll might mean for coalition formation. 'This is a hugely positive exit poll but the real votes will be counted tomorrow, so let's see where they land,' he said. The results of the exit poll suggest the arithmetic to form a majority may prove tricky, with the country's several smaller parties and many independents potentially jockeying for a place in government possibly in a coalition made up of four parties. The leaders of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have consistently ruled out entering into a future coalition with Sinn Fein, citing substantial differences on policy. As such, Sinn Fein faces a much more challenging route to forming a government. However, long-held and seemingly insurmountable political differences have eroded as recently as 2020 when the general election also delivered an inconclusive result. It was in that instance that Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, two parties forged from opposing sides of Ireland's Civil War of the 1920s, agreed to set aside almost a century of animosity and share power for the outgoing coalition after similar pledges against forming coalitions had been made prior to the final results. The Greens joined the coalition as a junior partner. In that election, Sinn Fein won the popular vote but a failure to run enough candidates meant it did not secure sufficient seats in the Dail to give it a realistic chance of forming a government. This time around, party leader Mary Lou McDonald fielded many more candidates in a vow not to repeat past mistakes, as she urged voters to elect a government of change without Fine Gael or Fianna Fail. How an election victory for Ireland's first female PM could shake the foundations of the British Union by RORY FLEMING It has been a year of seismic election results, from Donald Trump's historic reclaiming of the White House in the US to the UK electorate returning a first Labour government since 2010. However, with just a few days remaining until December festivities subsume the rest of our year's calendar, there is one more possible electoral sensation on the horizon. Across the Irish Sea, Ireland's electorate are into the candlelight hours of voting in their hugely consequential snap election. Incumbent Prime Minister Simon Harris, who only assumed the role in April, called for a general election almost half-a-year early, feeling that a 'new manager bounce' of sorts could push his Fine Gael party over the top and secure a fourth successive term in power. Sinn Fein's Mary Lou McDonald is out to disrupt this trend though and seeks to not only elevate her Republican party to power for the first time in the history of the Irish state, but also become its first female Prime Minister in the process. With all three major political parties presently polling at roughly 20 per cent, McDonald's Sinn Fein are neck and neck with the current ruling coalition of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail. The Sinn Fein leader is also polling as voter's second most preferred option for next Prime Minister out of major party leaders on 22 per cent. A strong performance in last Tuesday's primetime leaders debate on Irish national broadcaster RTE may yet have tipped the scales further in the direction of Sinn Fein, with a first-time election win certain to result in shockwaves being felt by those nervously watching on from Whitehall. Sinn Fein leader could potentially lead her party to power for the first time in the history of the Irish state and simultaneously become the nation's first ever female PM A strong showing in last Tuesday's leaders debate may have tipped the election scales further in Sinn Fein's favour McDonald has this week called for discussions with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer over the process of Irish reunification In the very first line of its 'plans for Ireland' section in its 2024 election manifesto, Sinn Fein states its goal of delivering 'a plan to achieve a United Ireland' as its foremost domestic policy goal. Mary Lou McDonald reiterated that sentiment on the campaign trail last week in Dublin, telling the press pool that if elected to power, one of her first acts would be to create a dedicated junior ministry role to pursue and oversee the process of reunification. McDonald also told reporters that beyond this role, a conversation had to be had with the Starmer administration on delivering a United Ireland this decade. 'The British Government needs to start now indicating for them what they believe is the tipping point at which they believe a referendum would be called', McDonald said. 'I've pursued this with them for a long time through many prime ministers, but I think it's necessary that the person who is Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) would pursue that because, obviously, that brings it to a different level, and a different proposition', the Sinn Fein leader added. However, British PM Sir Keir Starmer has previously been a staunch objector to Irish reunification, stating during his time in opposition that an Irish unity referendum was 'not even on the horizon'. Under the terms of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement though, which brought about an 'official' end to hostilities in Northern Ireland, the UK government must allow for a referendum on unity to take place if evidence of a significant shift in public opinion can be proven. If Sinn Fein were to ascend to power in Dublin for the first time though, how could one argue that the prevailing public sentiment had not shifted with the Republican party simultaneously holding both branches of power on either side of the Irish border? Mary Lou McDonald is currently the second most popular party leader in Irish polls Michelle O'Neill has overseen Sinn Fein's rise to become Northern Ireland's largest political party for its first time ever Incumbent Prime Minister Simon Harris has previously quashed any possibility of forming a coalition with Sinn Fein UK PM Sir Keir Starmer has been a staunch objector to Irish unity in the past A win for Sinn Fein in the Irish general election would cause pandemonium for Whitehall's ardent unionists Ordinarily, a potential Sinn Fein win in an Irish general election would trouble staunch unionists in Whitehall, but ultimately likely prove little more than a thorn in their side. However, following the party's momentous first ever Northern Irish Assembly win in 2022, Sinn Fein would in this scenario control the legislative houses in both Belfast and Dublin and thus remove some of the largest obstacles to a border poll. Unionism in Northern Ireland had previously protected Westminster's rule over the six Ulster counties, but the North's largest unionist party now lies in ruin after the DUP's then-leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson was arrested earlier this year on child sex offence charges. Moreover, July's UK general election saw Sinn Fein return as the most well-represented Northern Irish party in the House of Commons, with seven of 18 seats won. This shift in Northern Ireland's political landscape follows the results of the 2022 census which revealed that Catholics, who traditionally support reunification, outnumbered Protestants in population for the first time in over a century. With all of the ducks seemingly lining themselves up in a row in favour of a United Ireland, it is clear to see how Sinn Fein's ascension to power in the Republic of Ireland could be the final piece required in the reunification puzzle. Whether or not Mary Lou McDonald makes political history as votes are counted in the coming days remains to be seen though, with the two other major parties in Fine Gael and Fianna Fail ardently stating their unwillingness to create a coalition - usually a requirement to form a government in Ireland's proportional representation system. Nevertheless, as elections have proven over the last number of months both in the UK and abroad, political affirmations are transient in nature, and should the Irish electorate return Sinn Fein as the island's largest political party, it could well prove to be the signaling of the end for British rule in Northern Ireland. Reports male contacted his mother with plans to kill A man found dead alongside a woman in a beachside Melbourne suburb reportedly told his mother he intended to murder his estranged wife. The 41-year-old Mordialloc woman was found dead alongside a 38-year-old St Kilda man, who is suspected of carrying out the deadly attack. Witnesses have told reporters at the scene they approached the feuding pair around 11am on Thursday in an effort to 'ease the tension'. It remains unclear how the pair died, with Detective Inspector Scott Dwyer revealing little more than confirming the deceased were known to each other. On Thursday, Sherele Moody, who runs a website recording the number of women killed across Australia, claimed she had been contacted by someone who confirmed the awful allegations. 'The male has killed himself. I have confirmed they were separated and he contacted his mother telling her he planned on killing the woman,' she told her followers on social media. 'They had divorced quite recently.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Moody and Victoria Police to clarify the statement. The discovery came after one of the victim's colleagues called triple zero. A neighbour said she heard a 'blood-curdling scream' after a woman discovered the bodies just before 11am on Thursday (pictured, detectives arrive at the scene in Mordialloc) Forensics, police and SES crews were at the taped-off scene on Thursday Other witnesses claimed to have seen and heard a vehicle tearing away from the scene shortly after the pair are believed to have died. Ange Notta told the Herald Sun he heard a car speed from the street moments before the grim discovery. 'I heard a car, it just fanged off, which was unusual, I just thought it was someone leaving the street in a distressed manner,' he said. 'Just heard the car and screeching wheels.' Mr Notta claimed detectives had asked neighbours if they had noticed a yellow Volkswagen in the area. The man and woman were discovered in a property on James Sreet in Mordialloc in Melbourne's southeast (police and SES crews are pictured at the scene) However police later told Daily Mail Australia the car is no longer believed to have been involved in the tragedy. The pair were discovered in a property on James Street in Mordialloc, in the city's south-east, just before 11am on Thursday. Photos from the scene show SES crews assisting police as a crime scene was established on the residential street. Neighbour Jade Lindsay said she heard a loud scream from a 'very distressed' woman who had discovered the bodies. 'It was a really distressing, blood curdling scream that really scared me because it was so prolonged,' she told the Herald Sun. 'It's a pretty distressing thing to hear obviously that lady who screamed was very distressed.' Ms Lindsay said a man and a woman, believed to be in their 30s, were pacing up and down the pavement outside the home. She saw the man stop and put his head in his hands. Victoria Police said they are not looking for anyone else in relation to the deaths. 'The circumstances surrounding the deaths are yet to be determined,' police said. 'Officers have cordoned off the area and a crime scene has been established.' There is no threat to the community. Patrick Orren Stephenson has pleaded not guilty to murder The hunt for her body continues The jury trial of a man charged over the murder of missing mum Samantha Murphy will take place in the country Victorian region where she vanished. The mother-of-three vanished without a trace on the morning of February 4 after leaving her home on Eureka Street in Ballarat East, Victoria. Her family reported her missing later that day after she failed to show up to a family brunch. On Friday, her alleged killer, Patrick Orren Stephenson, fronted the Supreme Court of Victoria for the first time. Appearing via video link from Melbourne Assessment Prison, Stephenson pleaded not guilty to Ms Murphy's murder on November 14 at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court. His plea meant plans for a preliminary committal hearing within that court were scrapped and sent directly to the Supreme Court where the matter is to be fast tracked to trial. That jury trial has been pencilled in to be held in Ballarat at a yet-to-be-determined time. Judicial registrar Tim Freeman told prosecutors and Stephenson's defence Ballarat was the appropriate jurisdiction for the trial unless someone made a specific application to have it moved to Melbourne. Samantha Murphy vanished in February after going out for a jog In August, alleged mushroom killer Erin Patterson was told her trial could also be held within the local community where her alleged crimes took place. Patterson is accused of murdering three people by serving a beef Wellington laced with poisonous mushrooms. Stephenson's trial location is unlikely to provide any relief to Ms Murphy's long-suffering family, who face their first Christmas without her. Just weeks ago Ms Murphy's husband Mick Murphy put eyes upon his wife's alleged killer for the very first time. Seated at the front of Ballarat Magistrates' Court, Mr Murphy glared at the video screen in court where Stephenson appeared. Now sporting long hair and a woolly beard, Stephenson appeared calm as he officially denied murdering Ms Murphy, whose body has still not been found. With his arms crossed, a relaxed Stephenson simply uttered the words, 'Not guilty, your honour' when asked for his plea. Flanked by Crown prosecutor Ray Gibson and Homicide Squad police, Mr Murphy refused to comment to a waiting media pack outside the court. While Stephenson has appeared in court previously both in person and via video link, it was the first time Mr Murphy had laid eyes on his wife's alleged killer since he was charged. Mick Murphy (rear) makes his way out of the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on November 14 Police located Ms Murphy's phone on the banks of a dam in May On Friday, the Supreme Court heard prosecutors had struggled to disclose all of the trial material to Stephenson's defence due to delays involved in analysing the contents of Ms Murphy's phone. The phone was retrieved on May 29 on the muddy banks of a dam positioned along the Buninyong-Mount Mercer Road in the same region the phone last connected to a mobile phone tower before it went dark. An image of the device pulled from the scene showed what appeared to be an Apple iPhone contained in a wallet stuffed with identification cards. It is understood the focus of finding out what was on that phone put everything else in the investigation on hold. Detectives have been told to disclose everything needed for the trial by February, when the matter will return to court for another administrative hearing. It is then when it will be made clear if prosecutors plan to try and have the trial moved to Melbourne. Even with the matter fast tracked to court, the actual trial might still not get underway until late into next year. A lengthy pre-trial is expected to take place throughout the opening months of next year in the hope of ironing out any potential issues before the main trial begins. Patrick Orren Stephenson doesn;t look like this anymore Samantha Murphy and husband Mick in happier times. Mr Murphy faces a sad Christmas As the matter progresses through court, police appear no closer to finding Ms Murphy's body. Police remain tight-lipped over how the investigation is progressing, advising only that the search for Ms Murphy's body continued. Large search crews have repeatedly ventured into the wilderness around Ballarat throughout the year without any success. Stephenson, 22, is accused of murdering Ms Murphy while she was out on a Sunday jog. It is understood Stephenson, who was arrested five weeks after Ms Murphy was allegedly murdered, has not told police where her body is located. He is due to appear for a preliminary hearing at the Ballarat Magistrates Court in August. Stephenson is the son of former AFL Richmond and Geelong AFL player, Orren Stephenson and is not known to the Murphy family. Australia is one of the world's most expensive places to live, so it's hardly surprising retirees are moving to Asia for a better lifestyle for a fraction of the cost. Bali is the most popular overseas holiday destination for Australians, after New Zealand. But unlike our Kiwi neighbours, Bali offers affordable luxury real estate by the beach with a much warmer climate all year round - making it an ideal place to retire. Boomers on the age pension - and even some Gen Xers - are selling up in the suburbs of Australia's big cities, leaving behind the traffic congestion and housing stress for a Bali villa by the ocean. And it's not just retirees making the move either: the work-from-home revolution since Covid has also turbo-charged demand for real estate in the tropical paradise. Those who find Kuta too busy can also try Uluwatu, a popular surf beach, or nearby coastal districts such as Legian and Seminyak. Marie Stephens, a grandmother in her late fifties, left the Gold Coast in 2018 to live in a villa in Legian and has never looked back. She loves how there's so much more to do in Bali, and it feels safer as an older person. 'The difference is it's way livelier. There's such a better nightlife,' she tells me. Australia is one of the world's most expensive places to live, so it's hardly surprising retirees are moving to Asia for a better lifestyle - for a fraction of the cost (pictured: tourists in Denpasar) Those who find Kuta (pictured) too busy have choices just a short distance away at Uluwatu, a popular surf beach, or in other nearby coastal districts like Legian and Seminyak 'As an older person, you don't feel intimidated going to bars and things like that - there's always beach bars open with live music. 'On the Gold Coast, I just found at my age, where do you go? Do you go to the casino? There's just not a lot of bars to go to. 'Here, it's endless. One street, there are 20 bars but when you're on the Gold Coast, there's just not as many.' Then there's the food, which is so much cheaper than anything in Australia. 'It's obviously a lot more economical to live here,' Ms Stephens says. A plate of nasi goreng fried rice with chicken satay sticks is just $3.50 in Australian dollars, while a restaurant meal is typically just $6 for the likes of chicken with vegetables, a curry, a schnitzel or a stir fry. 'You can go out and get a fabulous meal for $5, $6,' she adds. An iced tea is just $1.10, while a coffee is $2. Wine is a bit more at $6 a glass, while cocktails are usually about $10. Marie Stephens, a grandmother in her late fifties, in 2018 left the Gold Coast to live in a Legian villa, and loves how there's a lot more to do in Bali The bargains don't stop with affordable food and drink: transport is also much cheaper with a taxi fare only costing about $5. Gojek, Indonesia's equivalent of Uber, is a steal compared to rideshare apps back home, Ms Stephens says. Riding on the back of a motorbike is just $1 for one trip. Car hire is just $25 for the whole day. Ms Stephens, who sells property in Australia and Indonesia but lives in Bali full-time, has made plenty of friends with other expats as someone who is single. 'There's a huge circle of expats here - huge. There's great social life, great friendships,' she tells me. 'Lots of people from the Gold Coast that I know have moved here and it's really easy to make friends because there are so many people living here who are liked-minded. 'It's just much more relaxed.' A plate of nasi goreng fried rice with chicken satay sticks is just $3.50 in Australian dollars, while a restaurant meal is typically just $6, for the likes of chicken with vegetables, a curry, a schnitzel or a stir fry Buying property in Bali Foreigners are banned from buying land or real estate in Indonesia unless they set up an investment company registered locally, known as a PMA, or penanaman modal asing. The most common way to buy a villa in Bali is instead to pay a decades-long lease upfront to the landowner, which is the closest thing to purchasing a house. In Australia, renters pay weekly or monthly, but in Indonesia, cashed-up foreigners pay a big upfront lease to a property owner in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Isabel Whitaker, a 47-year-old business owner with two children in their twenties, last year paid $600,000 for a 25-year lease, which also included the cost of developing a three-bedroom clifftop villa at Uluwatu with three ensuite bathrooms and a 'massive pool'. 'It's amazing, it's five minutes from the beach, it's five minutes from everything there,' she tells me. 'I was nearly in tears when I went there, it was incredible. I'm very lucky because I hit the jackpot - it's a dream.' For the price of a one-bedroom unit in Sydney, Ms Whitaker will be living like someone in a mansion near the harbour. 'It's like if I suddenly moved to Double Bay. I got in at the right time,' she says. The Svara complex she bought into, built by developer Mazari Villas, has luxury homes that have sold from $343,000 to $661,000. Foreigners cannot usually buy real estate in Indonesia. The closest thing to buying a Bali villa is instead to pay a decades-long lease upfront to the landowner. Isabel Whitaker (pictured), a 47-year-old business owner with two children in their twenties, paid $600,000 for a 25-year lease This included the cost of developing a three-bedroom clifftop villa at Uluwatu with three ensuite bathrooms and a 'massive pool' Ms Whitaker paid for the lease in July 2023 without ever having visited Bali. She stayed at the property for the first time in July this year. 'I wanted something close to Australia so that when my kids eventually have their kids, I can come back easily and I can help them out with the grandchildren,' she says. By the end of next year, she is planning to sell her five-bedroom house at Oakdale, in Sydney's south-west, for $1.5million along with her business, The Chocolate Library in Camden. She wants to quit working 10-hour days, seven days a week, and move into her new Bali home, with the development almost complete. Ms Whitaker is planning to spend four months a year in Bali, another four months a year travelling the world, and the remaining four months staying with her daughter, 24, and her boyfriend when they eventually buy a house with a granny flat. 'For me, it's all about wanting to have a certain kind of lifestyle when I do "retire" - in inverted commas - so the main thing for me was travel,' she explains. Isabel (pictured with her rescue dogs Chino and Tiga) has since moved to Seminyak, paying $450,000 for a 25-year lease on a three-bedroom villa with a pool that was in need of renovation 'I wanted to see as much of the world as I possibly could. Yes, I'll be technically retiring, but what I'd love to do is go to different places and teach English as a second language, to do that kind of thing in different places.' Ms Stephens, who flies back to Australia every three months to visit her family on the Gold Coast, initially moved to Legian in 2018, paying $37,000 for the final five years of an existing lease on a three-bedroom villa. She has since moved to Seminyak, paying $450,000 for a 25-year lease on a similar-sized villa with a pool that was in need of renovation. Annual leases in her suburb are about $30,000 a year. 'Everyone wants to move here because it's cheaper to live here - it's still far cheaper to rent or lease than it is in Australia,' she says. Despite Australia being a much more expensive place to live, Ms Stephens is reluctant to criticise the country where she remains a citizen. 'I do love Australia and I'm Australian and I'm very proud of that so there isn't anything bad about Australia - but it's just a completely different environment to live in,' she says. 'It hasn't got as much to offer, that's a diplomatic way of saying it.' Getting the age pension overseas Australians living overseas can still qualify for the aged pension of $1,020.60 a fortnight for singles. But they have to move back to Australia for two years to continue receiving Centrelink payments. That's because there is a two-year waiting period before the age pension is portable. If someone leaves Australia before that two-year period is up, their payment is cancelled and they have to move back to Australia to reapply. The pensioner concession card is cancelled if someone has been out of Australia for six weeks. For the Commonwealth senior's health card, it's 19 weeks. Those living overseas are advised to have a myGov account to receive Centrelink notifications. Ms Stephens, who flies back to Australia every three months to visit family on the Gold Coast, initially moved to Legian in 2018, paying $37,000 for the final five years of an existing lease Getting private health cover Living overseas also means getting private health insurance to cover private hospital cover or elective surgery, should something go wrong. Ms Stephens recommends getting overseas visitor cover with the likes of Allianz. 'Some people get concerned about [the hospitals in Bali] because they're getting a little bit older - but they're good,' she says. 'A lot of people are frightened to come here because they don't think the health system's good, but we've got really good hospitals here.' Residency, visas and citizenship Indonesia does not offer dual citizenship for adults, meaning Australian retirees cannot apply for a passport and must obtain the correct visa. But expats can apply for permanent residency - known as kartu izin tinggal tetap or KITAP - if they have lived in Indonesia for five years. A KITAS visa (kartu izin tinggal terbatas) allows foreigners to live in Indonesia for an extended period either as workers, investors, retirees or students. Ms Whitaker is on a two-year investor KITAS visa, which she will need to renew. Ms Stephens is on a similar visa that allows her to stay in Indonesia without becoming a permanent resident. Retirees can stay for five years if they are 60 or older and can prove they can draw AU$53,000 per year from their superannuation. They also have to sign a one-year lease and have no plans to work in Indonesia. Foreigners staying in Indonesia for more than three months need to obtain a temporary stay permit known as an ITAS or izin tinggal terbatas. This means Australian expats would need an employer as a sponsor to obtain a permit that lasts for six to 12 months. This permit can be renewed four times. The ITAS permit is also available for foreigners who marry an Indonesian, but it only lasts for a year. NHLAMBENI - The storm, which was accompanied by strong winds, lightning, heavy rain and hail, left a trail of destruction in some parts of the country, including Ngonini. According to the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) situation report, which was released by the agencys Communications Manager, Magman Mahlalela yesterday, on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, the Kingdom of Eswatini was hit by a severe thunderstorm, which was characterised by strong winds, lightning, heavy rain and hail. He said this destructive weather caused widespread damage across the kingdom and marked the second severe weather phenomenon within a month, the first of which affected over 371 households. Impacted Mahlalela said their preliminary reports indicate that 91 households, comprising 455 individuals, were severely impacted, with many homes sustaining significant damage, including roofs blown off and broken windows. Some of the areas which were affected by the storm include Mafutseni, Nhlambeni, Manzini South, Dvokodvweni and Mplonjeni. Others are Lobamba Lomdzala, Zombodze Emuva, Matsanjeni South, Mhlangatane and Ntfonjeni. This publication visited Ngonini, under Nhlambeni Inkhundla in the Manzini Region, that is one of the affected areas and found that some of the structures which were damaged include police institutional houses and an administration block at Ngonini Operational Support Services Unit (OSSU), offices of Apostolic Faith Mission International, ablution block of Damaseko Primary School and a number of homes. Meanwhile, according to Mahlalela, in some areas, the hailstorm caused damage to agricultural lands, particularly maize fields and vegetable crops, compounding the challenges faced by the affected communities. The communications manager said the storm also disrupted critical infrastructure, with electricity power lines heavily impacted, as over 4 850 power outages were reported nationwide, which is something that affected the daily life of emaSwati and access to essential services. He said unpaved road infrastructure in some areas was also severely damaged by the high-intensity rainfall, which further hindered mobility and access to affected communities. Affected He added that some of the structures that were reported to be affected include; Mthonjeni High Schools sanitation facilities and a national care point at Mafutseni. Thereafter, he said as an agency, in collaboration with the Baphalali Eswatini Red Cross Society (BERCS) and with assistance from community volunteers, they are rendering relief assistance to address the immediate needs of those affected. He said their teams are also conducting assessments to determine the full extent of the damage. By close of business yesterday, six households were supported with relief materials, including tarpaulins to provide temporary shelter for affected families. Queen Rania of Jordan has earned a reputation as one of the world's most stylish royals. The wife of King Abdullah II captivates global audiences with her impeccable taste, blending contemporary elegance with a diverse array of designers. Georgie Pincus, royal stylist and founder of A Happy Life, believes that Rania has mastered the art of dressing for every occasion. She tells MailOnline: 'Queen Rania crafts looks that are fresh, varied and well-suited to different occasions, from royal engagements to global tours.' Whether donning traditional Jordanian attire or dazzling in couture at grand gala events, the Queen embodies sophistication. Her glamorous lifestyle, paired with a designer wardrobe featuring Alexander McQueen, Dior and Valentino, has also attracted a loyal Instagram following of 10.3 million fans. The stylist, whose clients have included the Duchess of Edinburgh, believes that what sets Queen Rania apart from British royals is how she combines contemporary, high-fashion pieces with traditional Jordanian and Middle Eastern elements. 'By embracing a variety of designers, Rania has the ability to seamlessly transition from glamorous red carpet gowns to fashion-forward suits, which is a testament to her deep understanding of fashion's nuances,' she says. Queen Rania stepped out in an ultra-modern look in Amman wearing a cropped blazer with boxy shoulders and long sleeves for a tapered look from Sportmax. The fitted number was teamed with a pair of slim-fit stirrup leggings from Bottega Veneta, Dior pumps and an it-girl woven handbag from Bottega Veneta. While she frequently steps out in bespoke ensembles for events, Queen Rania chose a refreshingly unexpected brand for her visit to Jordan's King Hussein Cancer Centre. Embracing a cool girl aesthetic, she sported a deconstructed co-ord set from premium High-Street fashion label COS Looking impeccable as always, it was masculine tailoring for a day out in New York. Layering white on white with a Wardrobe NYC waistcoat and trousers, the soft pleats on her wide leg trousers and tan Fendi bag gave a feminine touch to the ensemble 'Rania is mindful of her cultural heritage, and this is reflected in her wardrobe choices. She gravitates towards clean lines, understated colours, and tailored silhouettes. 'Even when she's sporting avant-garde or trendy pieces, she stays true to this refined aesthetic, making everything she wears look timeless.' Rania is also widely recognised for her thoughtful approach to diplomacy through fashion, using her wardrobe as a tool for cultural exchange. Pincus explains: 'By incorporating elements of her host country's culture into her outfits, she signals respect and builds a visual bridge between Jordan and the nations she visits, intertwining modern elegance with cultural heritage.' An example of this came in November 2022, when Queen Rania and her husband King Abdullah II met Pope Francis at the Vatican. For the wedding of her eldest son Crown Prince Hussein, Queen Rania stunned in a Dior Couture black gown that was equal parts glamorous and refined, with a high-necked collar and wide cuffs at the wrist embellished with delicate gold. She paired the look with dangling gold earrings and an elegant clutch. The Dior gown's embroidered back and sleeve detail paired with dangling gold earrings provided an elegant touch Arriving at a traditional henna party for her soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Queen Rania wore a bespoke kaftan gown by Lebanese designer Saiid Kobeisy. Featuring bell sleeves in a subtle, powder blue, worked with plenty of glittering bead work, the exquisite gown was paired with breathtaking diamond earrings Queen Rania brought a Schiaparelli look that was straight off the catwalk runway to King Charles' Coronation reception. The brown jersey dress featured a stand-up collar, gathered sleeves and a row of keyhole gold buttons surrounded by ruched material that created an elongated waistline and corset-like appearance. It was paired with Gianvito Rossi heels and a Dior bag to accentuate the gold accents During an official visit to Japan last year Rania was a vision in pastel pink wearing the ultimate spring two piece. If there's any designer label to shop for feminine florals, it's Zimmermann and the look boasted an elegant high neck with puffed sleeves which could perhaps be an ode to Japan's iconic cherry blossom trees On a visit to the Vatican City Rania showed her own spin on the traditional dress code wearing a black dress with white headscarf The dress was by luxury brand, Diamondogs and had been wore previously in 2018 without headscarf Making an appearance at Buckingham Palace in 2022 for a reception to raise awareness about violence against women, Queen Rania made a statement in a colour-blocked dress by Roksanda. The show-stopping look was teamed with a Fendi bag that perfectly enhanced the acid yellow and blush pink panels of the designer frock Rania offered her own spin on the traditional dress code, opting for a black dress and covering her hair with a white headscarf. Her demure monochrome dress, designed by Pascale Habis for the luxury label Diamondogs, was a repeat from 2018, exemplifying her sustainable approach to fashion. For a refined yet effortless look, Rania often turns to American designer Brandon Maxwell. In 2022, she chose a charming pale blue dress from the brand for a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte, accessorising with a bold printed Fendi bag that added a modern twist to the outfit. Rania's fashion prowess extends to edgier styles as well, such as a striking leather ensemble by Ermanno Scervino. This look combined a pleated skirt with a peplum shirt and was accessorised with patent Prada pumps and a Louis Vuitton quilted handbag. Queen Rania isn't one to shy away from a colourful and embellished ensemble and for a banquet dinner in honour of the visiting Norwegian royals she perfected the trend of colour blocking while showcasing her strong relationship with Arab designers by wearing a Jordanian Kaffiyeh scarf with a gold satin blouse by Lebanese couturier duo Azzi & Osta Stepping out for an interview on Good Morning America in 2022, Queen Rania wore a pastel pink asymmetric trouser suit that could have been chosen by Kate Middleton. The Alexander McQueen two-piece featured a blazer with a stylish drop hem and was paired with matching leg-engthening cropped trouser Typically refined when arriving at the White House, Queen Rania donned a pastel pink jumpsuit by Adeam. Her ensemble fell in line with her penchant for free flowing yet tailored ensembles with the delicate pleats creating contrast and movement. She accessorised with a tonally coordinated bag For the most fashionable affair of the year she donned a Valentino gown which featured a black tulle skirt and whimsical feather-embellished swan that wrapped around her body across black, sheer netting The Queen's first look in Paris was a pale blue pleated dress by Brandon Maxwell Queen Rania's bold leather ensemble was from Ermanno Scervino and accessorised with a Louis Vuitton handbag and Prada heels Rania's fashion prowess extends to edgier styles as well, such as a striking leather ensemble by Ermanno Scervino. This look combined a pleated skirt with a peplum shirt and was accessorised with patent Prada pumps and a Louis Vuitton quilted handbag. Georgie Pincus believes that what sets Queen Rania apart from the British royal family is how she combines contemporary, high-fashion pieces with traditional Jordanian and Middle Eastern elements Black Friday is here, and royal fans have reason to celebrate: many of Kate Middleton's favourite products have joined the line-up. Known for her timeless elegance and carefully curated style, the Princess of Wales has a knack for choosing pieces that seamlessly combine luxury, practicality and sustainability. Whether it's her signature handbags, go-to beauty essentials, or the delicate jewellery she wears to royal engagements, Kate's picks consistently captivate audiences - and now they're available at irresistible prices. Aspinal of London Midi Mayfair bag - was 650, now 520 Royal enthusiasts can purchase Kate's iconic black croc Midi Mayfair handbag by Aspinal of London at a rare discount - 130 off the original price - during the brand's exclusive Black Friday sale. This vintage-inspired bag, crafted from full-grain Italian leather, features elegant gold hardware, including Aspinal's signature shield lock. With 26 colours and various finishes to choose from, it's the perfect versatile addition to any wardrobe. Aspinal of London's Midi Mayfair is the perfect size for holding everyday essentials, with three internal compartments and a back slip pocket for easy organisation and access Royal fans have the rare opportunity to purchase a handbag just like Kate's for 130 less than its original price - for a limited time only Clarins Natural Lip Perfector - was 23, now 18.40 at John Lewis Elevate your make-up bag with Kate's favourite beauty essential: the Clarins Natural Lip Perfector in Rose Shimmer. Spotted in 2019 as the Princess applied it at Wimbledon, this vanilla-scented balm is now 4.60 off at John Lewis. Offering a nourishing formula that hydrates and plumps lips with a hint of shimmer, it's a royal-approved way to add effortless glamour. Kate Middleton was spotted using Clarins Natural Lip Perfector in Rose Shimmer at Wimbledon in 2019 According to the Clarins website, the vanilla-scented lip balm plumps and hydrates with its 'melting cream texture', while delivering a tint of shimmering colour Monica Vinader Nura Pearl necklace - was 128, now 86.70 Monica Vinader's elegant Nura Pearl necklace is a must-have for those who appreciate classic style with an ethical edge. Kate has worn the dainty design on numerous occasions, most recently at the Festival of Remembrance. Available now for 86.70, down from 128, this stunning piece features a delicate freshwater pearl on an 18-carat gold-plated chain. As a devoted advocate of sustainable fashion, Kate's endorsement reflects the brand's commitment to recycled metals, recyclable packaging and eco-friendly practices. The Princess of Wales teamed an Alexander McQueen dress with the Nura Pearl necklace by Monica Vinader for the Festival of Remembrance Available now for 86.70, down from 128, this stunning necklace features a delicate freshwater pearl on an 18-carat gold-plated chain Berghaus Supalite II Goretex hiking boots - were 185, now 138 at Go Outdoors Kate's Berghaus walking boots have been reduced ahead of Christmas, making it the perfect time to snap up a pair for 138 - that's a 47 saving. The Princess famously wore these boots in the heartwarming video released to mark her 10th anniversary with Prince William - and has repeated them several times since. Suitable for all weathers, the Berghaus Supalite II is crafted from supple leather with memory foam cushioning and a mud-shedding shock-absorbing sole. Kate's Berghaus walking boots have been reduced ahead of Christmas, making it the perfect time to snap up a pair Suitable for all weathers, the Berghaus Supalite II is crafted from supple leather with memory foam cushioning and a mud-shedding shock-absorbing sole Lancome Artliner eyeliner - was 27.50, now 19.25 at Lookfantastic When you're in front of the camera, dependable, long-wearing make-up is essential. One of Kate's reported go-to products is Lancome's Artliner pen. Resembling a felt-tip marker, it boasts a soft foam applicator and quick-drying, smudge-resistant formula. The Princess is known to expertly glide this deep black liquid liner along both her upper and lower lash lines for a defined, striking look. Now, you can bag this eyeliner for just 19.25 at Lookfantastic. The Princess is known to expertly glide black liquid liner along both her upper and lower lash lines for a defined, striking look Resembling a felt-tip marker, Lancome's Artliner pen boasts a soft foam applicator and quick-drying, smudge-resistant formula Superga Cotu Classic trainers - were 65, now 25.75 at Very Why does Kate love Superga trainers? For starters, they're vegan and designed for comfort, incorporating a breathable, durable cotton upper. These crisp white kicks are also incredibly versatile, seamlessly pairing with everything from tailored shorts to casual jeans - as Kate has shown. Right now, her reliable footwear is reduced from 65 to 25.75 at Very, don't miss out! Why does Kate love Superga trainers? For starters, they're vegan and designed for comfort, incorporating a breathable, durable cotton upper They're one of Britain's most beloved double acts. And now Wallace & Gromit are back with a brand new Christmas animation. The six-minute animation features the duo decorating their Christmas trees before their arch nemesis, Feathers McGraw, attempts to scupper their plans. If you want to see it, don't reach for the TV remote or venture down to your local cinema. Instead, you'll need to head to the iconic Battersea Power Station in London, where the animation will be projected throughout December. Aardman Animations, the world-famous creators of Wallace & Gromit, joined forces with Apple to create the animation, which was shot entirely on an iPhone 16 Pro Max. MailOnline's Shivali Best was exclusively invited behind-the-scenes at Aardman's studios in Bristol to see how the stop-motion animation was shot. And with Wallace's puppet measuring just 7.8-inches (20cm) high, it's safe to say that transforming him and his silent sidekick to fit on the power station's 338ft towers was no mean feat. If you want to see it, don't reach for the TV remote or venture down to your local cinema. Instead, you'll need to head to the iconic Battersea Power Station in London, where the animation will be projected throughout December They're one of Britain's most beloved double acts. And now Wallace & Gromit are back with a brand new Christmas animation Last year, Apple teamed up with David Hockney, who sketched a Christmas tree on an iPad Pro before it was projected onto Battersea Power Station. Following the success of that collaboration, this year, the tech giant has joined forces with Aardman Studios. Speaking to MailOnline's Shivali Best at Aardman's Bristol headquarters, Gavin Strange, Aardman's director and graphic design lead explained: 'This is a project that we're working on with Apple to create a stop-frame film featuring Wallace & Gromit, all shot on iPhone 16, that will be projected, every night in December, on the iconic Battersea Power Station 103 metres tall. 'That's an insane sentence to say!' Like all of Aardman's Wallace & Gromit animations, this Christmas special is stop motion - a painstaking technique that creates the illusion of movement. 'Stop motion is a technique where, simply put, you use a camera in our case, an iPhone 16 Pro Max to take an image,' Mr Strange explained. 'We have our puppets (that's what you call stop motion characters), and we put them in a pose, take a picture, and then an animator will move it a really, really small amount, before taking another picture. 'It doesn't sound like much in two or three images, but when you play those still images back 24 images per second the illusion of life kicks in and suddenly those characters are living and breathing and moving.' Aardman Animations, the world-famous creators of Wallace & Gromit, joined forces with Apple to create the animation, which was shot entirely on an iPhone 16 Pro Max Stop motion is nothing new for the Aardman team, who have been using stop motion since the 1970s. However, the real challenge here was the scale of the project This technique is nothing new for the Aardman team, who have been using stop motion since the 1970s. However, the real challenge here was the sheer scale of the project. 'Wallace, as a puppet, is about 20cm high, and Gromit is a little shorter than that. You can't go too small, because you simply wouldn't have the fidelity to move the puppets,' Mr Strange explained. 'But because our Christmas trees are projected to fit in the brilliantly bonkers ratio of the Battersea Power Station towers, they have to be very thin and very tall. 'So, our puppet of Wallace is 20cm, but our tree is about 5ft 3. That's massive for Wallace and absolutely huge when you see it projected!' Aardman usually shoots its stop motion animations on film, but it turned to a new camera for the Battersea animation - the iPhone 16 Pro Max. This flagship device was mounted on motorised heads on set to capture two angles of the Christmas trees, shooting a total of 6,000 frames. Meanwhile, eight iPhone 16 Pro Max devices used the 5x Telephoto camera to shoot super-high-resolution images in ProRAW, which were then assembled frame by frame to produce a stunning 6K video. Aardman usually shoots its stop motion animations on film, but turned to a new camera for the Battersea animation - the iPhone 16 Pro Max 'When you do go see it, everything you see, all those tiny decorations, were made by humans, by hand,' Mr Strange said Wallace & Gromit: A brief history 1982: Nick Park has the original idea for Wallace & Gromit 1990: A Grand Day Out is transmitted on Channel 4 1993: The Wrong Trousers airs on BBC, before winning over 40 awards, including an Academy Award 2002: Series of short films called Cracking Contraptions are produced 2010: Wallace and Gromit are immortalised on Christmas stamps 2021: First AR experience, The Big Fix Up, is created 2024: Aardman collaborates with Apple on a Christmas animation Advertisement 'The iPhone 16 Pro Max gives us flexibility. We can have multiple cameras capturing multiple setups that we need,' Mr Strange said. 'We've got an iPhone 16 mounted in a motion-control head, which lets us capture the maximum resolution of these huge trees in two sections, so we get mega mega resolution when we stitch them together. 'The size of the iPhone lets us be way more flexible in what we're capturing. 'We then have other iPhones in the animators' units for reference. 'So, we're capturing with one iPhone, we've got another one so an animator can see the full height of what they're animating, and then we've got another iPhone capturing beautiful 4K timelapses. 'We still animate the same way, but it means our ambition is greater, which is really exciting.' In terms of the animation itself, the silent film features Wallace and Gromit decorating two huge Christmas trees, which have sprung up on the two chimneys at Battersea Power Station. 'It's a simple story. Gromit starts decorating his tree in his way he's considerate, and curated, and methodical,' Mr Strange explained. In terms of the animation itself, the silent film features Wallace and Gromit decorating two trees, which have sprung up on the two chimneys at Battersea Power Station 'The iPhone 16 Pro Max gives us flexibility. We can have multiple cameras capturing multiple setups that we need,' Mr Strange said How to create your own stop motion movie The best camera is the one in your pocket - simply use your iPhone to shoot and edit Use the Aardman Animator app to turn all your shots into one slick animation Build a rig to hold your iPhone in a secure position. A stable camera means slicker stop motion Get creative with your set! Look at what crafts you have at home - you can use clay, small figures or toys Get your puppet in position, then shoot it, move it, shoot it, move it etc! The smaller the movement, the smoother the action Advertisement 'And then in storms Wallace, on a brand new contraption he's created called the Decorate 1000, which is essentially a scissor-lift with porridge cannons full of decorations. 'Wallace proceeds to blast his tree with all sorts of decorations, absolutely filling it. 'They both finish decorating their trees, placing their respective stars at the top of the iconic Battersea Power Station towers. 'But then in walks the mysterious, nefarious penguin, Feathers McGraw, who discovers the power cable on the floor, pulls it up, and pulls it apart, plunging them into darkness. 'He scuttles off with not a care in the world and Gromit goes to investigate what's wrong because, of course, Wallace is stuck at the very top of his lift extension. 'Gromit slides down his ladder, discovers that the power has been pulled, finds it and plugs it back together. 'Wallace then comes down to safety, joins Gromit at the very front of the projection so they can admire their hard work, and then Gromit has the icing on the cake where he turns the dial on the power block to go from five to 11, and the trees are then beautifully illuminated creating a really beautiful Christmas scene. 'Finally, the trees fall back down and the loop starts all over again.' Given the sheer size of Battersea Power Station, the six-minute loop should be visible for people to see from miles around. 'It's a really lovely, simple tale. Wallace and Gromit have a nice bond, so it's really nice to make something festive and warm and charming,' Mr Strange added. 'Wallace & Gromit are a much-loved and iconic duo, and were delighted that they will be lighting up Battersea Power Station for Londoners this year,' said Greg Joswiak, Apples senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. 'Its great to see the skill and ingenuity of Aardman, and how theyve used the most advanced iPhone weve ever made to produce something so joyful. If you'd like to see it, simply head down to Battersea Power Station where the animation will be projected from 5pm to 10:30pm today, and every day until New Years Eve. 'When you do go see it, everything you see, all those tiny decorations, were made by humans, by hand,' Mr Strange said. 'Hopefully there will be repeat watchings to A. Enjoy it, and B. Spot different things. 'I don't think you'll be able to appreciate the scale of it until you're there, staring up at it.' A veteran UFO investigator has claimed that UFOs have visited America's nuclear weapons sites since the dawn of the atomic age and he believes these intruders may have the power to 'neutralize' such weapons. Robert Spearing is an investigator for the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), which has 700 investigators in the US and is one of the world's oldest UFO organizations, having collected evidence of suspected extraterrestrial encounters since the 1960s. Spearing said that among MUFON's files and the organization has nearly 137,000 reports on UFO encounters from the US and around the world there are multiple cases alleging alien visitors hovering above nuclear bases and nuclear-armed ships. 'There is enough evidence that the visitors have the ability to neutralize their use,' as Spearing told DailyMail.com. 'The question is whether it is for defensive purposes or offensive purposes,' according to Spearing. 'It's either to save us from ourselves or to ensure they could destroy us if they had to.' When former Pentagon counterintelligence official Luis Elizondo reemerged this summer, the veteran UFO hunter floated an equally dire theory: the dozens of UFOs sighted near nuclear bases since 1945 could be scouts for a potential invasion. Spearing personally investigated one sighting from the Vietnam War, which he believes shows at least a definite 'connection' between UFOs and nuclear sites. Above, US Coast Guard photographer Shell Alpert took this photo through a window screen on July 16, 1952 - allegedly capturing four unidentified flying objects in a 'V' formation over the Salem Massachusetts Air Station - back in the early days of the 'UFOs and Nukes' mystery Whether their intentions were for good or ill, as he told DailyMail.com, 'There was all sorts of stuff coming out of the South China Sea' during the war, as well. January 15, 1973 - South China Sea 'I enjoy the Vietnam cases the most,' Spearing said. 'This particular encounter happened when, in theory, no one knew that the United States had nukes that were close to China and Vietnam,' according to the MUFON director, who previously worked as a forensic investigator for railroads as part of the New York Port Authority. 'But,' Spearing added, 'somebody knew.' A witness on board ammunition ship the USS Mauna Kea reported seeing a strange orb of pulsing light come out of the sea, while the man was loading nuclear-tipped missiles onto the USS Oklahoma City. He described the encounter in his report as a 'hovering pulsating orb shape color, similar to a large beach ball hovering about 30 to 50 feet above the water, hovering at approximately 16 to 18 knots.' 'Could see reflection on water,' the witness continued, 'could see clearly underneath no wake.' When the encounter occurred, the man was loading nuclear weapons with a forklift. 'This sighting was in the South China Sea off the port beam,' he said. 'Our ship was an ammunition ship carrying nuclear weapons. It felt as if we were being probed.' Spearing interviewed the witness himself, and said that the man 'felt chills and felt he was being observed'. A witness on board the ammunition ship the U.S.S Mauna Kea reported seeing a strange orb The orb was 'car-sized' and was visible up close for around 10 minutes, between two and four AM. When the witness checked the radar room, no one had registered images of the object. Spearing described the encounter as 'very suspicious,' saying, 'There is, of course, the possibility it was a plasma ball, like ball lightning, which was carried along by being magnetically linked [attracted] to the ship hull.' 'However, the duration of sighting is too long for ball lightning and ball lightning would have been [further] attracted into the hull and would have exploded.' May 1960 - Mountainside, New Jersey A witness approached MUFON about an eerie encounter in 1960 near a nuclear base in New Jersey. The witness told MUFON's investigators that a group of young children and teens saw a formation of silver discs hovering near a nuclear base while leaving their homes at dusk. The Watchung Mountains base housed Nike Ajax missiles designed to shoot down incoming bombers - the project experimented with nuclear-tipped missiles, before the focus shifted towards ICBMs rather than nuclear bombers. The children knew there was a base in the area, and had done many safety drills in school as a result making it easy to determine that that these mysterious discs were hovering above the base. In 1957, during the Cold War, the U.S. army declared that it would construct a Nike missile base on the Watchung Reservation Above, a Minuteman III missile in a silo in the late 1970s. 'I know this was a long time ago,' the witness said, 'but... when exiting the woods above our homes we were shocked to find a perfect V formation of five plain, dull silver discs hovering over us. No sound. No movement.' 'After about five minutes they took off to the west without making sounds of any kind. The location where we were is on the edge of "first mountain" just west of New York City,' the witness told Spearing. 'Directly above us, about one mile, on the top of the mountain was a deeply buried nuclear anti-ballistic missile in a military outpost in the Watchung Mountains which was part of NYC area defense system,' the source continued. 'We realized when talking about it, that it seemed that these discs were hovering above that nuclear warhead site. I have never forgotten it.' MUFON closed the case (which has never been reported before in the mainstream media), classifying the oddity as an 'unknown UAP'. The USS Kilauea was in a group with other ships including the carrier U.S.S. Mason Above, three classic flying saucers in a photo dramatization Early 1974 - Vietnam While investigating the first encounter in Vietnam, Spearing came across another eerie account of an orb visiting another nuclear-armed ship. The witness said that they were in a group with a destroyer and an aircraft carrier, the USS Mason, when they saw a incredible craft exit the water. 'We were watching the USS Mason in front of us and the glowing trail of ocean it was kicking up from the phosphorus algae in the water when the ocean in front of us lit up, started glowing,' the witness said in astonishment. 'It got brighter and brighter and then this really bright orange/yellow ball came out of the water on the right-starboard side of the destroyer.' 'It flew over the top of the destroyer and went back in the ocean on the port side, with the same glowing ocean water and then disappeared,' this Navy source continued. 'We all just stared at each other with our mouths open.' 'We could not believe what we saw, but I asked friends of mine who were on watch on the bridge if they saw it,' he noted, 'and they all did.' The witness said that the object was up to 200 feet in diameter and that officers on the destroyer must have had a 'good look at it' although nothing was ever officially recorded. What does it all mean? Retired US Air Force staff sergeant, Larry Hancock, who has contributed to a series of studies on the UFOs and nukes connection for the Scientific Coalition of UAP Studies (SCU), believes that just the regularity of these events offers solid clues. Solid military and police cases from 1945 to 1975, Hancock told DailyMail.com this year, appear to show intentional study of America's most sensitive weaponry. 'I mean, focus implies intention,' he said. 'And focus obviously implies intelligence.' 'The way it progressed from one type of facility to another type I mean, it starts with manufacturing plants, moves on through assembly plants, storage, deployment, it's hard to read that as anything other than someone having an agenda,' according to Hancock. Hancock's research partner, Ian Porritt, ventured even a little further: 'They may have a better understanding of the future, our future, than we do.' The world's largest gold deposit has been discovered in China's central Hunan province - and geologists believe it could hold 1,000 tonnes of the precious metal. At current prices this 'supergiant gold deposit' could be worth more than $80 billion (63bn), making it the richest source of gold on the planet. Scientists from the Geological Bureau of Hunan Province (GBHP) say they have discovered more than 40 veins beneath the Wangu gold field in Pingjiang County. Drilling shows there are already more than 300 tonnes of gold just in the veins less than 2,000m (6,500ft) deep. However, further 3D modelling suggests there are veins holding an additional 700 tonnes extending down to a depth of 3,000m (9,800ft). Rock samples taken at the site show that every tonne of ore could contain as much as 138 grams of pure gold. This would be a truly astonishing level of richness considering that ore is considered high quality if it contains just eight grams per tonne. Chen Rulin, an ore-prospecting expert at GBHP, told state media: 'Many drilled rock cores showed visible gold.' The world's largest gold reserve has been discovered in China and is believed to contain over 1,000 tonnes of the precious metal (stock image) The gold reserve was found beneath the Wangu gold field in Pingjiang County, part of China's central Hunan Province Using ore prospecting techniques and 3D geological modelling, geologists have mapped the structure of the vast mineral veins beneath the Wangu gold field. The discovery surpasses even the 900 tonnes buried within the 3,000m-deep (6,500ft) South Deep mine in South Africa which was previously the world's largest reserve. And the geologists behind the find say that there might be even more veins yet to be found. GBHP told state media that gold was also found during drills around the site's edges, raising the prospect that there could be veins which haven't yet been detected. Chinese officials have not yet announced plans to develop the site but it is likely that the Wangu gold field will soon become one of the country's biggest mining projects. Currently, the country's biggest gold mine is the Xiling gold mine in Shandong Province, a coastal region in the East of China. But even that mine, with its massive deposit of 580 tonnes, would only be almost half the size of any mine built over the Wangu gold field. Gold prices lept at the news of the discovery, rising to near-historic highs in the days following. Scientists from the Geological Bureau of Hunan Province (pictured) told state media that they had found more than 40 veins of extremely pure gold ore, valued at $80 billion (63bn) The world's largest gold deposits South Deep , South Africa: 929 tonnes Grasberg , Indonesia: 856 tonnes Olimpiada , Russia: 737 tonnes Lihir, Papua New Guinea: 680 tonnes Norte Abierto , Chile: 657 tonnes Carlin Trend , Nevada 353 tonnes Boddington, Australia: 350 tonnes Mponeng , South Africa: 330 tonnes Pueblo Viejo , Dominican Republic: 309 tonnes Cortez , Nevada: 246 tonnes Advertisement Amid rising geopolitical tensions and mounting uncertainties, the price of gold has already been climbing over the course of 2024. But as the news of the Wangu gold field broke the price of gold briefly jumped to 2,171 ($2,759) last weekend. China is already one of the world's largest producers of gold, accounting for 10 per cent of the global output. Earlier this year, estimates already put the country's total gold reserves at over 2,000 tonnes. However, China is also a huge market for gold and currently consumes more of the precious metal than it can produce. Years of rapid economic development and a fast-growing middle class have fueled demand for gold as a form of investment for many Chinese citizens. In the first three quarters of this year, China consumed 741 tonnes of gold while producing only 268 tonnes, leading to massive flows of imports. As the demand for the metal surges, the country has become increasingly concerned over the need to shore up domestic supply. Drilling found samples of rock containing as much as 138 grams of pure gold per tonne. Gold ore is considered high quality if it contains just eight grams per tonne. Pictured: Geologists drill for rock samples at the Wangu gold field The Hunan Provincial Geological Institute says this discovery could be 'significant in helping safeguard the countrys resource security.' This discovery comes as China embarks on its massive SinoProbe II project which aims to produce a detailed subterranean atlas of the country. Starting early next year, thousands of researchers will begin drilling to record depths to uncover the structure of rock layers kilometres beneath the surface. The 6-year survey will not only settle longstanding scientific questions but also reveal China's vast mineral wealth and reduce the country's dependency on imports. With Christmas just 26 days away now, many Britons will be excitedly dusting off their best Christmas jumpers. For most people, these festive garments are novelty items that end up stuffed back in the attic when January rolls back around. However, others are so obsessed with their jumpers that they actually derive sexual pleasure and arousal from wearing them. That's according to Dr Mark Griffiths, an expert in Behavioural Addiction at Nottingham Trent University, who has detailed the strange 'wool fetish' in his new book, Sexual Perversions and Paraphilias. 'Human beings appear to have the capacity to fetishize about almost anything,' he explains in the book. 'Woolies are individuals who derive sexual pleasure and arousal from wearing wool, typically in the form of full-body "wool suits". Dr Griffiths believes that this may be a relatively new fetish. 'Given that there is absolutely no scientific research on woolies suggests either that the fetish does not really exist or that it is a relatively newly realized fetish,' he added. Some people are so obsessed with their jumpers that they actually derive sexual pleasure and arousal from wearing them (stock image) 'Woolies' are people who get sexual pleasure or arousal from the feeling of soft wool on their own, or others' skin. According to the experts, wool fetishes sit on a spectrum ranging from fairly tame to extreme. For example, some users simply enjoy the subtleness of a woman wearing a turtleneck sweater. However, at the other end of the scale, some woolies enjoy being 'partially mummified' in layers of blankets. Back in 2014, Dr Griffiths was asked to comment on several cases of 'woolies' for a TV documentary on the Discovery Channel, called Forbidden. 'One of the woolies featured was an American, Scott from Florida, who perhaps unsurprisingly ran a small company selling sweaters and said he had a "lifelong obsession" with wool,' Dr Griffiths explains in his book. 'As a boy he claimed he would steal sweaters to hide in his school locker or in the woods near his house. 'At the time of recording, he had a collection of about 3,000 sweaters and claimed to be sexually attracted to anyone wearing a sweater including men (even though he is heterosexual).' Some users simply enjoy the subtleness of a woman wearing a turtleneck sweater. However, at the other end of the scale, some woolies enjoy being 'partially mummified' in layers of blankets (stock image) Scott described his love for wool as a 'secret fetish', because no-one knew that he was actually getting aroused by walking the streets in his jumper. The documenatry also featured a German women called 'Lady Mohair', who sold full-body knitted outfits to people worldwide. 'In the programme she introduced the audience to a few of her more "eccentric" woolies such as "Knuti" who assumed the persona of a woolly polar bear,' Dr Griffiths recalls in his book. While there is yet to be any scientific research on wool fetishes, Dr Griffiths says that he's convinced they're legitimate. 'My own view is that wool fetishists do exist,' he added. 'But, as with many other niche fetishes I have covered, the incidence and prevalence is likely to be very small.' You can find out more about paraphilias in Professor Griffiths' new book, Sexual Perversions and Paraphilias: An A-Z. New clues have emerged in the quest to solve America's 'longest-running murder mystery' that has plagued ranchers since the 1970s. Several states, from Kansas to Iowa and Oregon, have reported strange cases of dead cows sliced with surgical-like precision with their reproductive organs removed. In many cases, not a drop of blood was found at the crime scenes. The reports sparked fears about aliens mutilating the animals, but a former rancher from Oregon has suggested that the cows were killed by a 'sophisticated network of humans.' Colby Marshall, who found five murdered bulls with their tongues missing in 2017, believes cultists or a group using the animal parts for rituals are to blame. 'They're using some sort of toxin that causes the animal to go catatonic,' he explained. 'There's no sign of struggle with the animal, so they dart them or something.' Marshall continued to explain that the lack of blood is due to the culprits draining it from the animal's tongue, which they then take 'because that is the one piece of forensic evidence.' Strange cases of cattle who have been murdered, their eyes and vital organs removed with 'surgical precision,' have plagued American ranchers since the 1970s. But new clues are emerging in Wheeler County, Oregon, local sheriffs said, amid a rash of new cases (pictured) The Wheeler County Sheriff's Office is particularly perplexed by one case of a cow in Oregon left in this uncanny sitting position (pictured). The animal's tongue and reproductive organs had been removed in July 2020, they reported 'I believe that, yes, there probably is aliens out there. And, you know, they've probably visited Earth,' Marshall told Fox News Digital. 'Now, do I think they're using their technology to come after free-range bulls in eastern Oregon? No, I don't I think they would have better uses of their technology than that.' The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) filed its first report on the mutilated cows in 1974, sighting cases in Oklahoma and Nebraska. At least 10 dead cows appeared in Minnesota that same year and in 1975, thousands of cases surfaced in Colorado. Bloodless cattle killings were also reported in 23 states, including Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Texas, Oklahoma, Montana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and California. The FBI investigated the deaths until 1978, but never found a culprit. But by the end of the decade, more than 10,000 cases of cattle mutilation had been recorded, mostly at small-scale ranches in the West and Midwest. Marshall has opened his own probe into the crimes, believing the murders were carried out by multiple people. He explained that one person would've held the leg up, while another made an incision and cut around the testicles to remove them. 'Then you've got to hand all that material to somebody, because if you drop it on the ground, you're going to cause tracks and you're going to drop blood. there would be signs,' he continued. Above, a photo from former ranch manager Colby Marshall who said that this bull and others like it had their organs removed with surgical precision Above, an image of a cattle mutilation case investigated by the nonprofit Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) - which has explored the theory that 'aliens' might have been behind the grisly crimes 'None of that stuff is present, so I think there is a team of people [that pull it off]. The murdered bulls also had no signs of liver or heart damage, and none of those vital organs were missing when Marshall stumbled upon the carcasses. And prior to the deaths, the cows 'were eating and drinking, showing now signs of stress.' Marshall and his team took blood samples from the bulls within 24 hours of their deaths and found no signs of chemicals in the animals' blood streams. 'Anything that metabolizes quickly in the bloodstream is not going to be detectable,' he said. 'That's one of the things that I think is key to this is that this toxin they're using metabolizes quickly.' Marshall gave an example of a sedative used in horse racing, which puts the animals down for a few minutes so their hooves can be maintained. 'It goes through the system within a few minutes, the animal gets up and they're fine. '[In the case of the dead cows,] the animal doesn't get up because they bleed them to death. At least that's my theory.' He also raised the idea that the carcasses were never devoured by predators. 'The scavengers were not tearing the animals apart. The animals kind of melted into the ground,' Marshall continued. 'That was always a head scratcher for me.' He continued to explain that the lack of blood may have been why predators left the dead cows alone. But Joseph Laycock, associate professor of religious studies at Texas State University, told DailyMail.com in 2023 that it's unlikely Satanists are to blame because the vast majority don't practice animal sacrifice and most of them actually condemn the practice. 'There is always the possibility of teenage delinquents harming animals in the name of Satan. But I don't think that's what's happening in this case. Teenagers would probably have left tracks or other obvious evidence,' he said. That same year, six mutilated cow were found along a rural highway in Texas, all with their tongues cut out and not a drop of blood in sight. Cybersecurity experts have uncovered an SMS phishing campaign targeting Netflix users in an attempt to steal accounts and credit card information. Hackers are sending fraudulent text messages that claim the victim has failed to pay for their subscription and the account will soon be suspended. A link is also included that takes users to a sit designed to look like Netflix's platform, prompting them to give their login and credit card information. Experts urge Netflix members to be vigilant when receiving communications from the streaming giant as hidden signs point to criminal activity. The language used in the messages is a dead giveaway, such as grammatical errors, and links with terms not associated with 'Netflix.' Cybersecurity firm Bitdefender, which uncovered the scam, has identified the fake messages, including several with misspelled words and strange links. 'NETFLIX : There was an issue processing your payment. To keek your services active, please sign in and confirm your details at : https://account-details[.]com,' one message reads that features misspelled words. Bitdefender has urged users to never open messages from unknown senders and if they do, do not click links accompanied with the text. Netflix users are being warned about a 'scare' scam aimed at stealing their accounts and credit card information 'We will never ask you to enter your personal information in a text or email,' Netflix said in a statement about the fishy text messages. 'We will never request payment through a 3rd party vendor or website. If the text or email links to a URL that you don't recognize, don't tap or click it. Bitdefender found the scam has been running wild in 23 countries, including the US, since September. Other countries being target include Germany, Spain, France, Greece and Australia. 'A big security problem is that Netflix doesn't have 2FA (two-factor authentication) and only relies on usernames and passwords,' Bitdefender shared. 'This means that Netflix customers are very exposed to account takeover attacks via credential stuffing.' Many Netflix users who have received the fake messages have shared how others can avoid being scammed. Miguel A. Calles, a security analyst, posted a message he received: Notice that 'http://netflix.com' is at the start of the domain. So it must be valid at first glance, right? Miguel A. Calles, a security analyst, posted a message he received, highlighting how the text includes language errors Bitdefender has urged users to never open messages from unknown senders and if they do, do not click links accompanied with the text 'Did you notice the address starts with http:// instead of the https:// that Netflix and other major companies enforce?' He continued to explain that criminals will also add '911' in the URL to spark urgency among victims. 'Having this number in the address plays with our subconscious that we must react right away,' Calles added, urging users to never click links from unknown text message senders. But if users accidentally click the link, Bitdefender explains the lengths criminals go to steal your data and money. 'Funnily enough, they first want to see if you're a robot. This is likely done to give potential victims a false sense of security and to reinforce the impression that they are visiting an official website,' the firm shared. 'The next step is to collect credentials from Netflix customers. As soon as the user inputs those credentials, the attackers have them.' Once login information is given, a 'Your account is temporarily suspended' alert appears on the screen with another option to make a payment. 'There's even the option to pay via a Gift Card instead of a credit card, which is just as good,' said Bitdefender. 'Netflix does offer the option to purchase gift cards, but it's worth noting that they're not available in every region.' If users do fall for the scam, the firm explained that their 'Netflix credentials and payment information will likely end up on the dark web, where they will be sold in bundles or as a single item.' Amazon users say they are canceling their Prime memberships after a video surfaced claiming to show pricing was cheaper without it. A woman recently shared a TikTok video, claiming she sent a friend an Amazon link for drill bits to determine if they were right. 'He says 'Yeah get them, they're only $12.' I'm looking on my end and it shows $16,' she said in a TikTok video. The revelation came when she learned her friend was not a Prime member. 'He gets a discount on the products. I have to pay additional,' she continued. 'I thought my Amazon Prime membership covered the two-day shipping. But it does not. I find that to be fraudulent.' The video, which has more than 100,000 comments, was flooded with people saying they canceled their Prime for that reason. Amazon Spokesperson Maria Boschetti told DailyMail.com: 'The information in this video is incorrect. Amazon does not increase prices on Prime purchases to cover shipping costs. 'We know saving money is important to people, and we work hard to deliver the most value possible to our customers, helping them save more and spend less when they use Prime and shop with Amazon. Amazon users reported that they were canceling their Prime memberships after a video surfaced claiming to show pricing was cheaper without it 'We take customer feedback seriously and are contacting the customer to investigate the customers concern, and this article was published without first verifying the information in the video.' More than 200 million people worldwide use Amazon, which data shows saved customers nearly $24 billion. Amazon's website states that 'Prime members get free two-day shipping on millions of items, and free one-day shipping on more than 15 million items.' Other Amazon members shared frustrations about their orders not arriving within the promised two-day delivery. 'Once I realized my purchases did not arrive in the time stated I canceled,' another user shared. Amazon was hit with a class action lawsuit this year that accused the e-commerce giant of failing to meet its stated 'guaranteed' delivery for some purchases. However, a Seattle judge dismissed the case in June citing that the customer had not shown how Amazon's delivery practices would violate Washington's consumer protection law. The lawsuit said Amazon met a delivery date for a purchase but missed the four-hour window the consumer picked for their package's arrival. 'It is not unfair or deceptive for Amazon to fail to abide by promises it did not make,' Evanson wrote. Amazon's website states that 'Prime members get free two-day shipping on millions of items, and free one-day shipping on more than 15 million items' But Amazon is still facing legal troubles with the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which accused the company of deceptively enrolling millions of online shoppers into the e-commerce giant's Prime service without their consent and making it hard for them to leave. The FTC accused Amazon last year of using 'manipulative, coercive or deceptive user-interface designs known as 'dark patterns' to trick consumers into enrolling in automatically renewing Prime subscriptions.' Amazon has denied any wrongdoing in the lawsuit, which also names three of its senior executives as defendants. 'The three individual defendants, whose lives have been upended by the FTC's baseless and unjust allegations, are particularly eager to see those allegations fail, and any delay further prejudices them,' Amazon said in a Amazon said in a filing last month opposing the FTC's request to push the trial back to July 2025. The lawsuit is among several federal and state government actions challenging Amazon's business practices. The FTC last year accused Amazon in an antitrust lawsuit of abusing its market power, in part by curbing the ability of its sellers to offer better prices on other platforms. Contains affiliated content. Products featured in this article are selected by our writers. If you make a purchase using links on this page, Daily Mail Australia will earn an affiliate commission. Click here for more information. When the iconic No7 landed on Aussie shores earlier this year, skincare obsessives in the know were ready and waiting for its local debut, immediately snapping up the range of innovative yet affordable products. The brand's clever No7's Future Renew serum has seen a surge in popularity with Aussie shoppers who say they 'absolutely love' the anti-ageing skincare product. Priceline has curated sets for the festive season offering incredible savings and making your Christmas shopping a breeze. If you have a beauty lover in your life, a gift from the UKs number one skincare brand^ is sure to be a hit on Christmas morning or take advantage of the epic savings and stock up on the products for yourself. With a range of sets catering to varying skin types and goals, you can treat everyone from your teen to mother in law with a complete skincare collection. Gift givers can't go wrong with the No7 Future Renew Collection 3 Piece Set. Featuring the brands bestselling hero skincare line, this bundle includes a 50ml Night Cream 50ml, 25ml Serum, and 15ml Eye Serum. Purchased individually, the three products are worth $180.97, however Pricelines gift set is now just $99.99, offering incredible value. Gifting made easy: Curated gift sets from the UK's number one skincare brand are sure to be a hit with beauty lovers and the No7 Future Renew Collection 3 Piece Set is now just $99.99 Impressive: Cult UK beauty brand No7 has wowed shoppers with its innovative Future Renew range which boasts patented peptide technology The groundbreaking Future Renew line is so popular, that a serum sold every two seconds in the UK when it launched. Products from the range have garnered thousands of five star online reviews, with customers reporting they 'can see results after just two weeks. A little goes a long way! Definitely buying again.' All the products in the Future Renew range are enriched with No7 exclusive peptide technology, which the brand says is designed to 'support the skin's natural self-repair mechanism to help repair visible signs of skin damage such as fine lines, wrinkles, uneven tones and textures'. Cult product: The No7 Future Renew Serum sold every two seconds in the UK 'This is one of the best products Ive ever used. My skin feels so good and looks so much better,' another reviewer boasted. Priceline is also offering a range of four-piece mini sets, perfect for those curious to trial products from the other No7 ranges - all featuring a full size serum and travel sized day cream, night cream and eye serums. The complete Restore & Renew regime promises to 'provide essential nutrition to help your skin look and feel young again, to uncover not only a firmer feeling, lifted, smoother and more even looking face & neck'. Incredible value: The Restore & Renew gift set offers a staggering discount and is now just $35.99 No7 Restore & Renew Mini 4 Piece Set includes a Face & Neck Multi Action Day Cream SPF15 25ml, Face & Neck Multi Action Night Cream 25ml, a full size Face & Neck Multi Action Serum 30ml, and Multi Action Eye Cream 5ml. Usually worth $134.98, this set offers a staggering discount and is now just $59.99. For those striving for a glowing complexion, the Lift & Luminate collection promises that 'skin will appear lifted and noticeably firmer and skin tone will be more even'. No7 Lift & Luminate Mini 4 Piece Set includes a Triple Action Day Cream SPF15 25ml, Triple Action Night Cream 25ml, full size Triple Action Serum 30ml, and Triple Action Eye Cream 5ml - priced at $59.99, a saving of $63.32. Or there is the Protect & Perfect collection: Formulated with Matrixyl 3000+, No7s powerful anti-wrinkle peptide technology, the products feature an advanced 'supercharged' formula that promises to protect skin from future signs of ageing. Complete regime: Priceline's No7 four piece mini sets include a full size serum, plus day cream, night cream, and eye cream No7 Protect & Perfect Mini 4 Piece Set, worth $111.64 but priced at $59.99, includes the Intense Advanced Day Cream SPF15 25ml, Intense Advanced Night Cream 25ml, full size Intense Advanced Serum 30ml and Intense Advanced Eye Cream 5ml. With every gift set beautifully packaged in a festive box, its a time-saving and wallet-friendly no brainer gift this Christmas. To shop the No7 gift collections exclusively at Priceline, click here. *Based on Boots sales volume data on 12/04/2023 ^Source: Kantar Total Market | 52 w/e 24th December 2023 | Boots No.7 Value Share of Mass Female/Unisex Skincare LOBAMBA The answer is an emphatic no. These were the words of the Attorney General, Sifiso Mafelenkhosini Khumalo, yesterday in Parliament as he provided clarity on a submission that seemed to be popular in the House of Assembly. During the debate of the Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr INC (CDH) Forensic Report on the E335 million that was lost through Ecsponent, most Members of Parliament (MPs) were suggesting that government should pay the investors. The MPs, who included Nkilongo MP Petros Mavimbela, Shiselweni II MP Bhekithemba Bhembe, Lobamba MP Michael Masilela, Ntfonjeni MP, Manzini Region MP Thandeka Mavuso, Mhlambanyatsi MP Dr Bonginkhosi Dlamini, among others suggested that government should pay the investors and then look for Dave van Niekerk, George Manyere, Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) and others to recover the funds. The MPs said the reason they feel government should pay the investors while it looks for the suspects is because its entities failed to carry out their mandate. They suggested that from the two recommendations that were made by the committee, a third option should be added.The committee, in the tabled report, had suggested that the investors could continue with the legal processes, involving lawsuits and counter lawsuits, should be given space, no matter how long it takes, to bring this matter to finality. The second one was whether the House assigns the minister for Finance, working with the Central Bank of Eswatini (CBE) Governor to set in motion a model that will get all the two major stakeholders companies on the matter involving Manyere and van Nierkerk; FSRA and others, to at least, pay back the principal amounts paid by the investors into Ecsponent Eswatini. The issues of accrual of interest due to investors may be handled separately. It was highlighted that there was a likelihood that more people, if they continue with the court route, might die without getting their money as 81 of the the over 1 000 investors have already passed away.Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo after noting that most MPs were suggesting that government, which is funded by taxpayers, should pay the investors, sought clarity from the AG on whether Parliament could compel government to pay the investors using public funds. Constitution The AG said: The answer is an emphatic no; that cannot happen. He said the House cannot expect government to pay the investors especially because the funds in question are not public funds as envisaged in Section 206 of the Constitution, but private investments. Khumalo said Parliament has authority where it concerns public funds that are in the consolidated funds such as taxes. He added that Parliament can debate the forensic report but cannot pronounce who should pay, given that there is a matter that is pending in court relating to the matter. The court is seized with the matter and it is not up to Parliament to say the matter should be withdrawn from court but for the litigants who are the investors, he said. On the face of it, it's one of the more unlikely Instagram sensations the trials and tribulations of a 22-year-old woman and her beloved 40-year-old blue Land Rover 90. Yet Tati Reed, from West Sussex, has discovered a knack for making snappy, amusing videos for her @overintherover account featuring her classic 1985 petrol 'Landy', Blue Tit, that hold viewers spellbound and drive up clicks, even if they only show her tinkering with the engine. At the time of writing, Tati has 426,000 followers, with individual clips garnering tens of thousands of views. One, which shows Tati replacing a small part, has clocked up 97,000 likes. Another, in which Tati changes the gearbox oil, has amassed an impressive 19,000 likes. But when MailOnline Travel caught up with the content creator to ask her to lift the lid/bonnet on her life with Blue Tit and their online success, we discovered that it was actually a video about a road trip that lit the social media fuse. Tati explained that in May 2023 she began posting about a Blue Tit road trip to Europe and gathered 'a few hundred followers', adding: 'A few weeks after we got back, I made a silly spoof [Bentley) video that got 23million views, and suddenly I had 53,000 followers. 'That was a bit weird. Social media, or being on it, has never been important to me, so I sat down with my parents and went through the options: I was considering deleting the account because I didn't know what to do. 'My parents told me to keep on going, be myself, and see where it took me. I am still living by that advice at the moment.' Tati Reed (above) has become an Instagram sensation from posting videos of her travels with a 40-year-old Land Rover called Blue Tit (above). She said that this picture was taken in Switzerland on a morning when it was 'blooming freezing', adding: 'Wed almost got salmonella poisoning from horrific chicken fajitas the night before, but we were just so so happy' Tati has 426,000 followers for her @overintherover account. Above is Blue Tit at Isola 2000 in Italy, a point marking the first land border [France/Italy] she ever crossed with Tati - 'an ecstatic moment' Tati says Blue Tit is 'just heaven' What does she think the secret to her social media success is? She said: 'Not taking myself too seriously, probably. There isn't fluff, or glamourising in my content. It is very honest. Things never go to plan with a Land Rover, so why pretend?' How did she get into Land Rovers? Tati revealed: 'Neither of my parents were car people. Now I am in love with them. I found out Dad used to drive them in the army, and my Grandad had an old 90 in a similar colour. 'I didn't know anything about them, or anything about mechanics, but I am quite practical, so when the opportunity came to buy my own, wanderlust, naivety, and a good sprinkling of gung-ho attitude took over, and I committed. 'I said when I bought and took the keys for Blue Tit that I may as well burn the green new-owner slip, because she was never getting sold. Little did I know the commitment I was making - but I have never regretted a commitment less.' Tati admitted that Blue Tit, which she bought for 10,000, breaks down 'all the time' and driving her means putting up with 'leaks, shakes, and a bumpy ride'. But she is, nevertheless, 'just heaven', said Tati, who described Land Rovers as 'British icons that are full of character and charm' that can 'literally go anywhere in the world, be fixed anywhere in the world, and park anywhere and not look out of place'. Tati and her dad converted Blue Tit into a mini glamping-ish home on wheels, with a roof tent; pull-out kitchen with gas stove, sink, cutlery drawer and mini pantry; plus a wardrobe and spare parts drawer. Tati said: 'I love sleeping up in my roof tent on Blue Tit. I'd choose it over sleeping in a camper van, and a lot of Airbnbs. 'Having the fresh air all around, and unzipping a window to reveal the sights you may not have seen when you parked up in the dark the night before, is just second to none. 'This is us broken down, four days into our first-ever road trip,' said Tati. 'I am on the phone to Steve, who I bought Blue Tit off, and next to me I have the roll of tools that I left the UK with. Those are the only tools I owned then. The coolant hose had a hole in it, so was leaking' LEFT: This picture was taken a few days before Tati took ownership of Blue Tit. She said: 'I think I was trying to hide some wires. I was so excited, but retrospectively, so naive, in a good way.' RIGHT: This picture was taken in Italy on the first road trip in 2023, said Tati, who added: 'Mum had to come out to visit me. We arrived in the dark, and woke up the cows. There were valleys and mountains as far as the eye could see, and no one around. There was a slight drama when we thought our gas would explode and wed have a burnt-down Land Rover, but all was well, thankfully. That was a perfect evening' 'She is my home. Everything I could possibly need is in/on Blue Tit. Having this self-contained little home, which I can park literally anywhere, even the places other cars cannot get to, waking up with mountains surrounding you, or vineyards, or woodland, or lakes, or rice fields, or literally anything, but with no one around, is pure bliss.' So far, Tati has taken Blue Tit to France, Switzerland, Italy, St Marino, Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Belgium, Spain, Andorra, Wales and Scotland and describes her as 'the best' travel companion, 'though she can get a bit hot and bothered going up Alpine passes'. And how do people react to her abroad? Tati said: 'She gets a lot of looks, that is for sure. The Italians think she is too slow, though. Once, we were driving through a tunnel where overtaking was prohibited, and we were in the slow lane, as per usual. 'A lorry behind us started honking as he wanted us to go faster, but we physically couldn't go any faster. He just held his horn and honked us out of the tunnel for maybe three minutes solid. It was deafening. The police pulled us over as soon as we got out of the tunnel. There was a bit of a language barrier - they told us we had been pulled over for "walking too slowly". I burst into laughter because the whole situation was ridiculous But despite my giggles, we were let free.' Luckily, most people abroad have reacted very positively to Tati and Blue Tit. Tati continued: 'We've had surprise experiences that have revolved around very kind, very helpful random people. Because of breakdowns. We have climbed canyons with Frenchmen, shared beers on the side of the road with diamond dealers, made friends and camped with utter strangers just because they drive the same car, and camped in people's garages and had museum tours, all because of a shared love of classic cars.' Describing this picture, Tati said: 'We just arrived in the Dolomites. We sort of went there by mistake and I had no idea what to expect. I didnt even know what the Dolomites were. It was breathtaking! We just stumbled across them' LEFT: Tati fixing the roof tent in the Dolomites. RIGHT: Blue Tit in Switzerland earlier this year. Here, said Tati, the roads are 'ridiculously beautiful' Tati and Blue Tit in Switzerland - 'with snow so close, it was just the most stunning scene' This is Blue Tit before she was renovated and sold to Tati, who remarked: 'She was looking very unhappy, having sat behind a shipping container for so many years' Tati also revealed that the breakdowns abroad helped teach her how to fix Blue Tit. She explained: 'We left for a two-and-a-half month road trip around Europe two days after I collected Blue Tit, with nothing but a roll of tools and breakdown insurance, not fixing cover. 'When we broke down - every four days - I would call up my mechanic friend Steve, who I bought Blue Tit off, and explain the symptoms and he would talk me through testing each of the components, and eventually, we would get to the solution. It has grown from that. I still call him to help me with issues, but often I can now diagnose and fix the issues as I have typically fixed the issue before, or am expecting it to go wrong. It's a Land Rover, it's basically greasy Lego. How hard can it be?' And what's next for Tati and Blue Tit? She said: 'I want to cross continents, and travel the whole world, and sadly, I do not think Blue Tit is quite up to it, nor has the space. So, she is going to need a slightly bigger friend, a 110 Land Rover in the near future. I want to get a Land Rover I can live inside of, as well as outside of. A lot of this is because of the safety elements of going further afield. If I want to get out of trouble, I want to be able to lock myself into the vehicle so people can't see me. Blue Tit is like a greenhouse, so not very conducive to security and safety.' Along with the rest of Tati's 426,000 followers we can't wait to meet Blue Tit's new friend. For more from Tati and Blue Tit visit www.instagram.com/overintherover and www.youtube.com/@overintherover. Jetstar has launched its biggest sale of the year for Black Friday and Aussie travellers can score a bargain including free return flights. The sale includes return domestic flights from only $42 and return international flights from $165, but the airline warned seats are limited so those wanting a holiday bargain would need to act fast. The sale ends at midnight on Sunday, or until tickets are sold out. Over 100 different routes are on offer and travel dates vary for each route, but domestic flights included in the sale are within the mid-July to late October travel period in 2025. International flights fall within the mid-February to mid-September travel period in 2025. The sale prices don't include checked baggage, and arrival and departure ports within the booking must both be the same. Some of the best deals include Sydney to Ballina Byron from $42, Sydney to Melbourne (Avalon) from $51, Sydney to Phuket from $299, Perth to Singapore from $165 and Sydney to Port Vila (Vanuatu) from $209 Jetstar has launched its biggest sale of the year for Black Friday and Aussie travellers can score a bargain, with free return flights Aussie travellers can soak up the sun in Phuket (pictured) with return flights from Sydney from $299 Sale fares and full conditions are available at Jetstar.com. The Black Friday sale comes as Jetstar announced it is on track to sell more than 12 million fares for under $100 this year and more than 21 million for less than $200. Here are some of the bargains on offer in Jetstar's Black Friday sale. Domestic Sydney to Melbourne (Avalon) from $51 Newcastle to Gold Coast from $59 Adelaide to Melbourne (Tullamarine) from $65 Melbourne (Tullamarine) to Hobart from $67 Gold Coast to Melbourne (Avalon) from $72 Canberra to Gold Coast from $69 Sydney to Hamilton Island from $109 Melbourne to Uluru from $115 Perth to Cairns from $189 Jetstar is offering return flights from Perth to Bangkok (pictured) from $199 International Perth to Singapore from $165 Gold Coast to Auckland from $199 Perth to Bangkok from $199 Sydney to Port Vila (Vanuatu) from $209 Melbourne (Tullamarine) to Singapore from $209 Melbourne to Bali (Denpasar) from $219 Melbourne (Tullamarine) to Queenstown from $234 Sydney to Phuket from $299 Melbourne (Tullamarine) to Honolulu from $316 Sydney to Seoul (Incheon) from $349 Brisbane to Tokyo (Narita) from $373 Sydney to Osaka from $373 As well as launching the Black Friday sale, Jetstar announced a new addition to its fleet of aircraft this week. The airline's first A320 neo (New Engine Option) has arrived in Australia after a three-day journey from the Airbus factory in Toulouse, France. The airline called it 'one of the quietest and most fuel efficient craft in our narrow-body fleet'. The plane seats Jetstar's 188 passengers in economy. To coincide with the new aircraft, Jetstar has launched an updated uniform with more than 6,000 staff having new options including blazers in blue and the airline's distinct orange, as well as dresses, tailored skirts, tapered-fit trousers, polos and overcoats. Prunes soaked in port, a pair of cockerels and packet stuffing... they're just some of the surprises these top TV chefs served up when we asked for their favourite festive memories. And just wait until you read their Christmas disasters... JAMIE OLIVER Favourite festive food and drink? It has to be the traditional turkey dinner, with all the trimmings. Roast potatoes are a real highlight for me, and every year I try to make them a little better this time Ill be par-boiling them in chicken stock before roasting, to give them even more flavour. Theyre gonna be so good. And I always have a Kelly Bronze turkey for ultimate flavour. For drinks, Ill probably have a couple of Old Fashioneds, finished with a squeeze of clementine zest. Its just the perfect Christmas smell. Best Christmas foodie memory? It has to be with my Nan, aka Tiger! She was such a special person and was always particularly on form at this time of year I dedicated Jamie Olivers Christmas Cookbook to her. My Christmas pudding recipe is based on the one she used to make when we were kids, so I think of her every time I make it. Jamie Oliver with the sticky toffee coffee pudding featured in Jamie Cooks Christmas, which airs next month on Channel 4 Christmas Day at Jamies? Im a traditional at heart. Start off the day with scrambled egg and smoked salmon, then the full Christmas dinner followed by my mums trifle a Christmas staple for the Oliver clan! and in the evening, a full-on cheese board! The brilliant kitchen gadget youd recommend as a gift Thats a tricky one! There are lots of things that can make your life easier in the kitchen, but theyre not always exciting like a speed peeler, which helps you create interesting texture, or my current obsession, an olive oil spritzer, great for keeping your roasties happy. What I like to do is gather a few of my favourite foodie bits together, both practical and some nice treats think a lovely bottle of olive oil or some fancy crackers to have with cheese and make a mini festive box or hamper up. You know a bit of chocolate is always gonna go down well too! Jamie Cooks Christmas, Sunday 8 and 15 December, Channel 4 RICK STEIN Favourite festive food and drink? Married as I am to an Australian, Sas and I spend every other Christmas in Sydney and Ive become very fond of sparkling shiraz. Every Christmas in Cornwall I open a bottle for everyone, including my sons, and its become a bit of a joke as nobody else likes it! I think chilled sparkling shiraz, made in the same way as Champagne, is a wonderful and original drink for Christmas, but every year one of my boys says, Oh no, not the sparkling shiraz! For about 20 years since filming my series Food Heroes in the UK, where I visited a goose farm in Leicestershire, I favour goose at Christmas over turkey. I love the darker meat and we all particularly love the crispy skin. Best Christmas foodie memory? What I enjoyed most about my childhood Christmas lunches was my mothers chestnut stuffing. In those days we had two stuffings sausage meat went into the main cavity of the turkey, and chestnut went into the neck. These days its held to be a bit risky putting any stuffing in the main part of the bird unless you cook the turkey until its considerably well done. But the neck cavity is still used. Christmas Day at Ricks? Not a lot happens at breakfast. I might leave some smoked salmon for anyone to help themselves, but its all about the lunch. We dont start Christmas lunch until about 3pm because we go to The Cornish Arms in Padstow from 12 noon until 1pm and after that its opening presents, and then the last-minute cooking. The only and everlasting tip is try and get as much ready before you go to the pub, and try and get as much prepped before the 25th as you can. Rick Stein with his tray of mince pies. He alternates between spending Christmas in Cornwall and in Sydney Christmas kitchen disaster? Not exactly a disaster, but some years ago I picked up a cherished bottle of Moss Wood cabernet sauvignon on a trip to Western Australia and I decided to serve it as the most memorable wine over lunch. I asked Jack, my son, to get it out of the garage in plenty of time for it to get to room temperature. He forgot, and in order to make up for lost time he popped it into the oven, which he assumed had been turned off a long time earlier. It was still on. It wasnt exactly boiling but... The brilliant kitchen gadget youd recommend as a gift? Youre probably going to want to buy this for somebody special because it will cost you at least 50, but as someone who is a total convert to food thermometer probes a Thermapen is the best kitchen gadget. Not only do they last, but the temperature readout is instant. Rick Steins Food Stories is published by BBC Books, 28. MARCUS WAREING Favourite festive food and drink? I really love Christmas dinner and I always look forward to it. Though its just a simple roast its nice to have all the trimmings. In addition, Im very fond of homemade sausage rolls and homemade mince pies. Every year I wonder why we only make them at Christmas. My favourite festive drink is Champagne bubbles at Christmas always! Best Christmas foodie memory? A very well-known family favourite box stuffing mix I still love it. Any other just isnt the same! I admit I pimp it up a little now but I still love the underlying flavour. Christmas Day at Marcuss? My wife Janes family will be joining us so well have 11 round the table. Now that our children are older our youngest, Jessie, is 17 we dont have to get up quite so early. It means well have some sort of cooked breakfast that allows all the stragglers to get up! Well have canapes, smoked salmon blinis and a chicken liver parfait from my new book Marcuss France (so easy and delicious!), served with Champagne or cocktails if the kids want to get creative. Well sit down for our main meal just after the Kings Speech. We dont have a starter as theres so much food to eat already. This year I may cook a couple of cockerels rather than a turkey theyre smaller which means they fit easily into the oven. After a cheese course well have Christmas pudding with custard. Ill have a Meursault and a good red Bordeaux at the ready. My tips: if you only have one oven and space is limited, try cooking the crown of the turkey with the legs removed. Its a simple roast dinner, so dont panic. And think about allocating some tasks to your guests. Chef Marcus Wareing with a delicious Christmas trifle Christmas kitchen disaster? I went to collect my turkey from my head chef, who would always order mine alongside the restaurants but it hadnt been ordered! Quick dash to our local butcher solved the problem! The brilliant kitchen gadget youd recommend as a gift? One of the most useful gadgets in the kitchen is a good smoothie blender. I use it to make soups, curry sauce, anything that needs to be smooth. Its so quick and easy to use. But do not whizz anything thats boiling the lid creates a vacuum and can be dangerously hot. MasterChef: The Professionals, Mon, Tue, Thu, BBC1. TOM PARKER BOWLES Favourite festive food and drink? A really good ham from DukesHill and a big rib of beef from Glenarm. Plus all the trimmings, the decent claret from Corney & Barrow and some good Champagne too. Best Christmas foodie memory? Any memory of sitting down with my whole family, and eating and drinking together. Christmas Day tips? Preparation is everything. Peel the sprouts, take the meat (turkey, beef or goose) out of the fridge the night before. Peel the potatoes and prepare everything. Then its simply a matter of timings on the day. Oh, and have a glass of wine or Champagne nearby at all times. Tom Parker Bowles says preparation is everything when it comes to cooking for Christmas Day Christmas kitchen disaster? When I was young, the Aga at home used to go out on Christmas Day without fail. Which meant my mother and aunt trying to stuff a big turkey into a small electric Baby Belling oven. Somehow, though, lunch always appeared, albeit a little late. The brilliant kitchen gadget youd recommend as a gift? Ive just bought a Fissler Pressure Cooker. Its incredible stocks in 25 minutes, braises and stews in 30 minutes. A life-changer and totally safe too. Cooking And The Crown: Royal Recipes From Queen Victoria To King Charles III by Tom Parker Bowles is published by Aster, 30. JAMES MARTIN Favourite festive food and drink? Roast pork from Little Oak Farm in Somerset, and I treat myself to a bottle of white Burgundy, normally a Montrachet. Best Christmas foodie memory? Wed normally be 12-16 people sitting down to Christmas lunch on our farm. I remember my grandparents arguing over which channel to watch the Queens speech on. Christmas Day tips? Treat it like a large Sunday lunch and dont panic. My tip is that the turkey needs to be out of the oven to rest for an hour and a half before serving. James Martin says you should treat Christmas Day dinner as like a large Sunday lunch Christmas kitchen disaster? My grandmother on my fathers side used to cook the vegetables for so long, you could literally stick wallpaper up with them. If she was alive today, she would say the same! The brilliant kitchen gadget youd recommend as a gift? A very large wooden chopping board from The Corbridge Farmhouse. Visit thecorbridgefarmhouse.co.uk. James Martins Saturday Morning At Christmas, 14 December, ITV1. THEO RANDALL Favourite festive food and drink? We usually start with some smoked salmon on toasted sourdough bread with lots of butter, capers and lemon with a glass of Champagne. Then lunch is always roast duck with lots of roasted root vegetables, duck fat roast potatoes, and braised savoy cabbage with smoked bacon and chestnuts and lots of rich gravy made with the duck juices and red wine. To drink, it has to be a bottle of Barolo. Dessert is always a classic steamed Christmas pudding with cold single cream. Best Christmas foodie memory? Once we had the whole family over so I was cooking for 15. Id roasted four big ducks to a lovely golden brown and had a large bowl of raw cavolo nero leaves in a big bowl. My daughter Lola, who was three at the time, marched into the kitchen, looked at the ducks and cavolo nero leaves with a face like thunder, then grabbed my hand very tightly and said, I am not eating roast dog and I dont like crocodile skin. Theo Randall once poured too much brandy on his Christmas pudding before setting it alight, and turned it into a mound of molten lava Christmas Day tips? Keep it simple. Its better to serve a few dishes really well rather than lots that are just OK. Give your fridge and kitchen a good clear-out the day before as you do not want clutter. Take out anything thats not being used. This will make plating dinner so much less stressful. Dont pack the fridge with drinks, just place them outside as this will keep everything reasonably cold. If you want something really cold use an ice bucket. Make sure your glasses are not dusty as a dirty glass can ruin the taste of wine. Christmas kitchen disaster? Pouring too much brandy on the Christmas pudding and setting it alight. I turned it into a mound of molten lava. It was almost charred on the outside. Less is more when it comes to lighting a pudding! The brilliant kitchen gadget youd recommend as a gift? A Smeg hand blender. Its all you need to chop, mix, puree and whisk anything in the kitchen. Verdura: 10 Vegetables, 100 Italian Recipes by Theo Randall is published by Hardie Grant, 28. PRUE LEITH Favourite festive food and drink? The fizz on arrival. I do love a party. But if it turns out to be awful (which is rare of course) the best moment is goodbye. Best Christmas foodie memory? Most of my memories of Christmas are funny my Mama insisting we all watch the Queens speech, and then snoring gently right through it, a Nativity play when our pet donkey ate the straw in the manger, including the corn-dolly Jesus. But my favourite memory was of a trip to London for the annual panto treat. We worried that our four-year-olds might be too young for The Sound Of Music, but all was well until the quietest, most tear-jerking pause had the whole audience in suspense. Then my sons clear-as-a-bell voice rang out, filling the auditorium with a long-drawn out whine, Can we switch it off now, Mum? Prue Leith ruined her first attempt at cake icing when making a Christmas cake Christmas Day at Prues? We eat prunes soaked in port on Christmas Eve, served with creme anglaise. One year we just soaked the prunes until soft in a bottle of port without cooking them and ate the lot between four of us. Which meant a quarter of a bottle of port each, which had us all more than tipsy. We also hang Quality Street sweets on a bare branch for a sweetie tree which the grandchildren love. Christmas kitchen disaster? My earliest Christmas disaster was my first attempt at cake icing. Id proudly come home from school with a Christmas cake covered with smooth royal icing on which Id painted the three kings, but Id omitted the teaspoon of glycerine which would have prevented it drying to concrete. My dad broke my mothers ivory-handled knife on it. He was using it as a chisel and hitting it with a hammer. We turned the whole thing over and scooped out the cake and marzipan. The brilliant kitchen gadget youd recommend as a gift? I love my Mouli, a metal sieve with a blade. Its the only thing that makes perfect mashed potato. I also squish peas through it to make pea soup. The Great Christmas and New Year Bake Offs, Christmas Eve and New Years Day, Channel 4. ---- Have yourself a star-studded Christmas: Mary Berry's roasties, Prue Leith's crowd-pleasing pud, Rick Stein's perfect profiteroles and more... TV's top chefs and foodies share their favourite festive recipes Tom Parker Bowless turkey Tom's Fortnum & Mason turkey recipe requires the bird to be free-range, and it must have the legs separated from the crown The key to this Fortnum & Mason recipe is a proper free-range clucker and separating the legs from the crown when cooking it. That way, both stay succulent. If the skin of the legs looks a little pale, colour them in a hot frying pan before serving. SERVES 8-10 A 5-6kg turkey A little vegetable oil For the stuffing 1 small onion, chopped Leaves from a few sprigs of thyme 20g butter 200g sausage meat 90g dried apricots, chopped 150g vacuum-packed chestnuts, chopped The liver from the turkey, cleaned and chopped 90g fresh white breadcrumbs Salt and black pepper For the gravy The bones and neck from the turkey, roughly chopped 1 onion, chopped 2 carrots, chopped 1 stick of celery, chopped 1 garlic clove, roughly chopped 200ml dry white wine A few sprigs of thyme A sprig of rosemary 1 bay leaf 10 peppercorns 50g plain flour 1tsp tomato puree 1-1.5ltr chicken stock First make the stuffing. Gently cook the onion and thyme in the butter until soft. Transfer to a bowl and leave to cool for a few minutes. Add the sausage meat, apricots, chestnuts, turkey liver and breadcrumbs. Mix well and season with salt and pepper. Lay the turkey legs, skin side down, on a work surface and put a layer of stuffing down the centre of each one. Roll up each leg around the stuffing not too tightly. Tie with string about four or five times to secure. Wrap each leg in greaseproof paper and then in foil, twisting the ends so it keeps its shape. Put any leftover stuffing in a small ovenproof dish and dot with butter to bake for 30 minutes along with the turkey. TOM'S TIP Ask a butcher to take the legs and wings off, bone the legs and remove the wishbone and sinews. Keep the bones for the gravy. Advertisement When you are ready to cook, heat the oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Put the bones and neck and the chopped veg and garlic for the gravy into a heavy-based roasting tin, and place the turkey crown on top. Season and drizzle with vegetable oil. Cook for 30 minutes, then turn the oven down to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Add the turkey legs to the tin. Cook for 45 minutes-1 hour, stirring the veg and basting the turkey every so often. To test, insert a skewer into the thickest part of the breast, leave for 30 seconds, then pull it out and touch the tip; if it is hot the turkey is done. The turkey will probably take 1 hour 30 minutes in total but test after 1 hour 15 minutes. Unwrap the legs and transfer with the crown to a serving plate, cover lightly with foil and leave to rest in a warm place for half an hour before carving. While the bird is resting, make the gravy. Drain off any fat from the roasting tin. Put the tin on the hob over a low heat, add the wine, herbs and peppercorns and cook, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan, until the wine has reduced by at least half. Stir in the flour and tomato puree. Gradually pour in the chicken stock and bring to the boil, stirring constantly. Simmer for 20-30 minutes, until the gravy has concentrated in flavour and thickened. Strain through a fine sieve and keep covered and warm. To serve, remove the breasts from the bone; this will make carving much easier. Slice the legs and serve the breast and legs with the gravy and all the trimmings. Extracted from Fortnum & Mason: Christmas & Other Winter Feasts by Tom Parker Bowles (Fourth Estate, 35). Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstalls leeks and greens Hugh's leeks and greens are the perfect side dish for a Christmas feast TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall Leeks become deliciously sweet and tender when gently sweated for a while, making them the perfect foil for the punchy taste of cabbage. Caraway seeds add a lovely aromatic note here, and a nibblesome texture too. SERVES 4 2 leeks, trimmed and well washed 25g butter or olive oil, plus extra to serve 1tsp caraway seeds 1-2tsp dried seaweed flakes (optional) 2-3 garlic cloves, finely grated a medium cabbage, such as Savoy, Hispi or January King Sea salt and black pepper Thinly slice the leeks into 5mm thick slices, slightly on the diagonal; set aside. Melt the butter or heat the oil in a large saucepan over a medium-high heat. Add the caraway seeds and allow to sizzle for a minute or so. Now add the leeks with a pinch of salt, and the seaweed flakes if using. Give it all a good stir and sweat for a few minutes, then turn down the heat to medium. Put the lid on the pan and sweat for 10-12 minutes, uncovering to stir occasionally. If the leeks start to colour, add a splash of water then continue. Add the garlic, stir and sweat for another few minutes. In the meantime, shred the cabbage and cook it briefly: either steam it for 5 minutes or simmer in lightly salted water to cover for 3 minutes. Drain and set aside until the leeks are done. Add the cabbage to the leeks, season well with salt and pepper and cook together for just a couple of minutes. Toss with a knob of butter or a dash of olive oil, add a final twist of pepper, then serve. Extracted from How To Eat 30 Plants A Week by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (Bloomsbury, 25). Mary Berrys roasties Mary's roast potatoes can be cooked with goose fat or extra sunflower oil Mary Berry's Simple Comforts book is packed with recipes perfect for Christmas A roast potato should be ultra-crispy and golden on the outside with a fluffy light middle. Par-boiling the potatoes ahead and roughing them up before roasting gives a lovely crispy outside, with the semolina adding extra crunch. MARY'S TIP These can be roasted up to 12 hours ahead. Before serving, reheat in a hot oven for 15-20 minutes no need to add extra fat. Advertisement If you dont have any goose fat, use extra sunflower oil. SERVES 6 1kg potatoes, such as Maris Piper or King Edward, cut into medium-sized chunks 50g semolina 3tbsp goose fat 3tbsp sunflower oil Salt Preheat the oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Put the potato chunks in a pan of cold salted water. Bring to the boil and boil for about 5 minutes until the potatoes are starting to soften around the edges. Drain in a colander until completely dry, tip back into the pan and shake to rough up the edges. Sprinkle in the semolina and shake again until coated. Preheat a roasting tin in the oven until hot. Add the goose fat and oil and heat for 5 minutes until smoking. Add the potatoes and turn them in the fat until coated. Return to the oven and roast for about 45-55 minutes until the potatoes are golden brown and crisp, turning them over halfway through the cooking time. Serve piping hot. Extracted from Simple Comforts by Mary Berry (BBC Books, 27). Prue Leiths sprouts Prue's Brussels sprouts don't require peeling and making crosses in their stalks, as they are small Brussels sprouts have an undeserved bad reputation, and indeed I used to hate them years ago when they were big and bitter. But now they seem to be bred to be sweeter, and are harvested smaller and younger. In this recipe theres no nonsense about peeling them and making crosses in their stalks to allow the heat to cook the centre. Small sprouts dont need that. SERVES 4-6 750g Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved 100g bacon lardons 25g butter 120g cooked and peeled chestnuts, chopped 75g dried cranberries 50g pecans, roughly chopped PRUE'S TIP You can reheat this in a microwave, if you prefer. Cover with a plate or clingfilm, and heat at the last minute before serving. Advertisement Boil the Brussels sprouts for about 5 minutes in a large saucepan of salted water, then dunk them briefly in cold water to set their bright colour. Drain and set aside. Heat a non-stick frying pan on a high heat, without oil. Fry the bacon lardons for 4-6 minutes, until brown all over. Add the butter, chopped chestnuts, cranberries and chopped pecans to the pan and shake over the heat until everything is warmed through. When youre ready to serve, tip the cooked sprouts into the pan with the nuts, bacon and cranberries, put it on a medium heat and shake it to warm through. Extracted from Lifes Too Short To Stuff A Mushroom by Prue Leith (Carnival, 25). The Hairy Bikers fruit & nut chocolate salami This fruit and nut chocolate salami contains a tot of alcohol to make it even more delicious than the original Romanian recipe Daves family have always loved this sweet treat, which has its roots in a Romanian recipe. Weve added some dried fruit, glace cherries, nuts and a tot of alcohol to make it even more delicious. You could make smaller logs and wrap them up like Christmas crackers to give as presents. MAKES 2 LOGS 100g raisins or chopped prunes 100ml rum or Marsala wine, plus an optional extra tbsp 75g dark chocolate 175g cold butter, diced 4 egg yolks 150g caster sugar 75g cocoa powder 200g hazelnuts or almonds, lightly toasted and broken up 100g dark glace cherries, halved 200g biscuits (shortbread or similar), broken into 1cm pieces 3tbsp icing sugar tsp ground cinnamon (optional) Si King and the late Dave Myers made up cooking duo The Hairy Bikers Put the raisins or prunes into a small pan and cover them with the 100ml of rum or Marsala. Bring to the boil, then remove from the heat and leave to stand until the liquid has been absorbed by the fruit. Put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl and set the bowl over a pan of simmering water. Let the chocolate melt, then remove the bowl from the heat. Leave to cool for 5 minutes then add the butter the butter will melt and help cool down the chocolate at the same time. Whisk them together until smooth. Beat in the tbsp of rum or Marsala, if using. Put the egg yolks into a large bowl with the sugar and beat to a smooth paste. Pour in the chocolate and butter, add the cocoa powder and mix together until you have a thick chocolate paste. Add the dried fruit, nuts, cherries and biscuits, then stir again. The mixture will be quite soft at this stage, but it will firm up quickly in the fridge. Take two pieces of baking parchment and dust with the icing sugar and the cinnamon, if using. Divide the mixture in half and with wet hands, shape it into two log shapes, each about 20cm long and 5-6cm in diameter. Place each log on a piece of baking parchment and roll them up as tightly as you can, then wrap again in foil. Leave to set and chill in the fridge for several hours, preferably overnight. Serve sliced into rounds. Extracted from The Hairy Bikers: Our Family Favourites by Si King and Dave Myers (Seven Dials, 25). Rick Steins profiteroles with chocolate sauce Rick's profiteroles with chocolate sauce don't contain sugar in the whipped cream I think the three most important aspects of perfect profiteroles are great chocolate, eating them when just cooled down out of the oven, and no sugar in the whipped cream just a little vanilla. This seems to accentuate the complexity of a good chocolate sauce. MAKES 16-20 75g plain flour A pinch of salt 55g cold butter, cut into small cubes 2 eggs, beaten For the chocolate sauce 30g butter 125g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), broken up For the filling 300ml double cream 1tsp vanilla extract Sift the flour and salt into a bowl. Put the butter in a pan with 150ml of water and place over a medium heat ideally you want the water to come to the boil just as the butter has melted. Turn off the heat as soon as the water comes to the boil, then dump all the flour into the pan in one go. Vigorously beat in the flour to make a thick, lump-free paste. It should form a ball that leaves the sides of the pan clean. Use an electric whisk to do this if you like. Transfer the mixture to a plate and leave it to cool for 10-15 minutes, then put it back into the cool pan or a bowl. Beat in the eggs, a little at a time, fully incorporating each addition before adding more. Continue until all the egg is used up and you have a smooth, glossy paste. Preheat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Line a baking sheet with baking parchment and sprinkle it with a few drops of water. Using a piping bag, squeeze blobs of the paste on to the baking sheet, allowing space around them as they will puff up during cooking. The mixture should yield about 16-20 profiteroles. Bake the profiteroles for 10 minutes, then increase the heat to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7 and cook for a further 15 minutes or so until they are well risen and golden. Pierce the base of each and make a small hole the size of a piping nozzle. Put the profiteroles back in the oven for 2 minutes, holes uppermost, to allow the insides to dry out a little. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool. For the sauce, place a heatproof bowl over a pan of just simmering water the base of the bowl shouldnt touch the water. Add the butter and chocolate, then stir together until melted and smooth and glossy. Add a splash of water if the sauce seems too thick. Whisk the cream and add the vanilla. Spoon the cream into a piping bag, fitted with a 0.5-1cm plain nozzle, and carefully fill each profiterole. Serve the profiteroles drizzled with the warm chocolate sauce. Extracted from Rick Steins Food Stories by Rick Stein (BBC Books, 28). Photography: James Murphy. Prue Leiths Christmas cake ice cream Prue's Christmas pudding ice cream is a great option for children who don't like the traditional dessert Few children like Christmas pudding, but Ive never met one who didnt like ice cream. About 40 years ago, I started using the leftover Christmas cake or lump of Christmas pudding in a Christmas dessert made mostly of vanilla ice cream. Now everyone expects this version of Christmas pud. SERVES 8 1ltr shop-bought soft-scoop vanilla ice cream About 350g leftover Christmas cake, pudding or mince pies, roughly crumbled 3tbsp brandy PRUE'S TIP Its better to under-mix and have patches of plain ice cream than to beat all the air out and end up with a rock-hard dessert. Advertisement In a large, chilled mixing bowl, combine the softened ice cream with the crumbled leftovers and the brandy. Take care not to over-mix you want big pieces of Christmas pud, or whatever, throughout. Line a large plastic pudding bowl or a large loaf tin with clingfilm, making sure to leave plenty of overhang so you can wrap the contents fully. Transfer the mixture into the container, then cover the top and freeze for at least 6 hours. When its time to serve, unwrap the ice-cream pudding or loaf and either turn it out to serve in slices or scoop it from the tin. Extracted from Lifes Too Short To Stuff A Mushroom by Prue Leith (Carnival, 25). Photography: Ant Duncan. Mail+ bonus recipes The Hairy Bikers stollen bites The Hairy Bikers' stollen bites are much quicker and easier to make than traditional stollen There is just something about these little mouthfuls of sweetness and spice they are an all-time favourite in winter. Traditionally, stollen is made with a yeast dough, but these bites are much quicker and easier to make and still really delicious. MAKES ABOUT 30 100g raisins, sultanas or currants, roughly chopped if large 50ml hot tea 2tbsp rum 75g candied peel, finely diced 50g glace cherries, rinsed of syrup and chopped Zest of 1 orange 300g plain flour 100g ground almonds tsp baking powder tsp bicarbonate of soda 1tsp ground cinnamon tsp each of allspice, cloves and cardamom tsp salt 50g light brown soft sugar 125g butter, chilled and diced 1 egg 175g ricotta 125g marzipan, cut into 30 pieces TO FINISH 100g butter 75g icing sugar, plus more for dusting Put the raisins, sultanas or currants into a small saucepan and add the tea and rum. Bring to the boil, then turn the heat down to a simmer until most of the liquid has been absorbed. Remove from the heat and stir in the peel, cherries and orange zest. Leave to cool. Preheat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Line a large baking tray with baking parchment. Put the flour, ground almonds, raising agents, spices and salt into a large bowl, then stir in the sugar. Rub in the butter until the mixture resembles very fine breadcrumbs. Drain the fruit and add it, along with the egg and ricotta, and mix to make a fairly firm but sticky dough. Divide the dough into 30 pieces, each weighing about 40g. Gently soften and flatten a piece of marzipan with your hands and push it into the centre of a piece of dough. Shape the dough to make sure that the marzipan is encased and as much of the fruit is covered by dough as possible. Repeat to make the rest of the stollen bites. Arrange them on the baking tray and bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, until slightly raised and golden brown. Meanwhile, melt the 100g of butter. As soon as you take the stollen bites out of the oven, brush them liberally with the butter, then dip them into icing sugar right away, so they are coated all over. Place them on a rack to cool. Dust with more icing sugar before serving. Extracted from The Hairy Bikers: Our Family Favourites by Si King and Dave Myers (Seven Dials, 25). Photography: Andrew Hayes-Watkins. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstalls Christmas pud Hugh's Christmas pudding has a yummy boozy ginger topping A steamed pudding is a classic comfort food and my festive variation makes a lighter version of a classic Christmas pud. There is absolutely no reason not to customise it with a variety of fruits and even some nuts and oats. More plants means more goodness. SERVES 6-8 150g butter, softened, plus extra to grease the basin 50g raisins 50g dried prunes or apricots (unsulphured), roughly chopped 1tsp ground ginger or 1cm piece of fresh ginger, grated 50g dried cherries or cranberries 50g chopped dried apples or pears 100g fine plain wholemeal flour 30g ground almonds 2tsp ground mixed spice 40g porridge oats 20g poppy seeds 2 level tsp baking powder A pinch of salt 75g golden caster sugar or soft brown sugar Finely grated zest of 2 lemons and juice of 1 lemon Finely grated zest of 1 orange 3 medium eggs For the boozy ginger topping 75ml rum, brandy or whisky 4tbsp soft dark brown sugar 3cm piece of fresh ginger, grated Grated zest of 1 orange, plus a generous squeeze of the juice To serve Cream, yoghurt or creme fraiche Grease an 850ml pudding basin with a little butter. Cut a double layer of foil or baking paper that will generously cover the top of the pudding basin (with plenty of overhang) and butter one layer of this too; set aside. For the topping, in a small bowl, stir the rum, brandy or whisky with the brown sugar, grated ginger and orange zest and juice until well blended (dont worry if the sugar doesnt fully dissolve). Tip into the pudding basin. For the filling, toss the dried fruit and ginger with 1tbsp of the flour and set aside (the flour coating helps to stop the fruit sinking as the pudding cooks). Tip the rest of the flour into a bowl and add the almonds, mixed spice, oats, poppy seeds, baking powder and pinch of salt. Toss to mix and set aside. HUGH's TIP For an alcohol-free sauce, swap the booze for the juice and zest of 2 lemons. You can also swap in any dried fruit you like. Advertisement Put the butter, sugar and lemon and orange zest into a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Using an electric hand mixer or the stand mixer, beat together until light and fluffy. Add 1 egg, along with a spoonful of the flour mix, and beat in. Repeat to incorporate the other 2 eggs, each with a spoonful of the flour mix. Tip the remaining flour mix into the bowl and use a large spoon to fold it in lightly but thoroughly. Add the lemon juice and fold through, then, finally, gently fold in the floured fruit. Spoon the mixture carefully into the pudding basin (the boozy ginger topping in the bottom of the basin will rise up the sides; dont worry about this). Make a pleat in the centre of the doubled foil or paper and lay, buttered side down, over the basin. (The pleat will allow room for the pudding to expand during cooking.) Secure with kitchen string under the rim. Place a small heatproof plate or trivet in the bottom of a large, deep saucepan and stand the pudding basin on it. Pour in enough boiling water to come halfway up the sides of the basin. Cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid and bring the water to a simmer over a medium-low heat. Steam the pudding like this for 2 hours, topping up the boiling water a couple of times, as necessary. Using oven gloves or a tea towel, lift the pudding basin out of the pan and remove the foil or paper. Run a knife around the side of the pudding to loosen it, then invert a serving plate over the basin. Now turn the plate and basin over to slide the pudding onto the plate. Cut the pudding into slices and serve, with a spoonful of cream, yoghurt or creme fraiche. Extracted from How To Eat 30 Plants A Week by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (Bloomsbury, 25). Photography: Lizzie Mayson. A beloved BBC documentary series is returning to screens next month after garnering rave reviews in its debut outing. After a successful launch in October, Charlie Cooper's Myth Country is set to make a comeback, this time with a winter special. The festive edition of the show, fronted by Daisy Cooper's brother, with see the host eschew modern Christmas festivities and instead explore alternative winter celebrations and understand the deeper meaning behind them. Hopping into his trusty yellow campervan once again, Charlie, 35, will travel the length and breadth of the country to immerse himself in different winter festivals - from barrel burning in Devon to Morris dancing in Gloucestershire. The series will see the This Country actor also take a particular interest in the winter solstice as he delves in to the countrys Pagan past. His itinerary will see him head to The Barrel Burning festival in Devons Ottery Saint Mary which has been held annually since the 17th century, where townspeople believe that by lighting barrels filled with tar and running through the streets, they can protect their community from malevolent forces. A beloved BBC documentary series is returning to screens next month after garnering rave reviews in its debut outing After a successful launch in October, Charlie Cooper's Myth Country is set to make a comeback, this time with a winter special Sharing his excitement at the upcoming show, Charlie shared in a statement: 'Im thrilled that the BBC cameras will follow me again as I explore our wonderful, wild and sometimes hair-raising winter festivals, which for centuries have brightened up the darker months.' Tom OBrien, MD of Naked and Executive Producer said of the show: 'Charlie Coopers Myth Country immediately connected with a large and engaged audience on the BBC. 'Were excited to bring it back for another look at a special moment in the years calendar - one steeped in lore, tradition and storytelling. Charlie will continue to feed his passion for the weird and the wonderful.' While Nasfim Haque, Head of Content, BBC Three added: 'Audiences will be delighted that Charlie is back for a solstice special after his first outing attracted so much love. Charlie getting the inside track from unique festivals across the UK is going to be the perfect winter warmer.' It comes after the success of the first series, in which Charlie tours the UK in a camper van to investigate rural myths and legends. In the debut factual series, Charlie investigated everything from Crop Circles and UFOs in Wiltshire to roaming ghost dogs on the coast and countryside of East Anglia. While he met the believers and the naysayers, visiting iconic locations and gathering evidence in a bid to get to the bottom of the truth. Charlie's new show comes after his sister Daisy vowed to 'sort out' their relationship after drifting apart. The festive edition of the show, fronted by Daisy Cooper's brother, with see the host eschew modern Christmas festivities and instead explore alternative winter celebrations and understand the deeper meaning behind them Hopping into his trusty yellow campervan once again, Charlie, 35, will travel the length and breadth of the country to immerse himself in different winter festivals - from barrel burning in Devon to Morris dancing in Gloucestershire 'Im thrilled that the BBC cameras will follow me again as I explore our wonderful, wild and sometimes hair-raising winter festivals, which for centuries have brightened up the darker months' At the height of its fame, the creators of This Country made several public appearances together on red carpets of award shows (where they often enjoyed success) and while promoting the series. One notable red carpet look was Daisy's Swindon Town FC dress which she wore to the BAFTAs 2018 where she picked up a Best Comedy Actress award. Charlie, by her side as she proudly displayed the gong, opted for a black tuxedo. But since the show ended, their joint public appearances are scarce. While Daisy has developed a huge social media following with her cheeky antics, Charlie rarely posts on his Instagram account. Last year, Daisy opened up about her relationship with her brother, which she revealed had become more distant after she'd had two children and Charlie had also become a father. Speaking to the Independent, she said she and Charlie had once been like 'vagabonds' who stuck together 'through thick and thin'. Charlie's new show comes after his sister Daisy vowed to 'sort out' their relationship after drifting apart At the height of its fame, the creators of This Country made several public appearances together on red carpets of award shows (where they often enjoyed success) and while promoting the series However nowadays, she revealed she and her brother now go without speaking 'for long periods of time' because of their conflicting schedules and family conflicts - something she was struggling to grapple with However nowadays, she revealed she and her brother now go without speaking 'for long periods of time' because of their conflicting schedules and family conflicts - something she was struggling to grapple with. As she reflected on the distance between herself and Charlie, she went as far as to question whether her phenomenal career success was worth the consequences. 'At the minute, it doesn't feel worth it to sacrifice my relationship with my brother which was what all this was about in the first place, and you lose sight of that,' she said. Daisy continued to say she will have moments where it comes to her that 'I've got to sort my relationship out with my brother'. Shetland fans have called out a glaring 'plot hole' in the latest episode of the BBC crime drama. The crime drama, which recently returned for its ninth season, follows DI Ruth Calder and DI 'Tosh' McIntosh as they investigate the sudden disappearance of Tosh's friend, Annie Bett. Annie's sudden disappearance sent shockwaves and panic through the village as things took a gruesome turn when her body was discovered at a construction site owned by her estranged husband Ian, alongside the body of Anton Bergen. During the latest episode, Calder and Tosh make a shock discovery at the marine research facility but their attentions are soon turned to another twist as Astrid Jakobson (played by Ines Asserson) goes missing. But as the tense scenes played out on screens, viewers were left distracted by one significant detail - that Tosh and Calder always seem to manage to get phone signal despite being in remote areas of Shetland. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, fans were quick to share their observations. Shetland fans have called out a glaring 'plot hole' in the latest episode of the BBC crime drama The crime drama, which recently returned for its ninth season, follows DI Ruth Calder [Ashley Jensen, pictured] and DI 'Tosh' McIntosh as they investigate the sudden disappearance of Tosh's friend, Annie Bett They penned: 'Dont remember phone signal being that good when I was there.' 'That they can get brilliant phone signal in the remotest roads is amazing in.' It comes after last week, viewers have raged that the show is 'going downhill fast' and complained they're 'struggling' with the 'plodding and naff' new BBC series. During a recent episode, Calder and Tosh tried to rake through Annie's past for clues, but it turned out to be a lot harder than they thought. Later on, Tosh received a frosty welcome from a group of locals gathered at the pub who were angry at her for arresting Ian, Annie's estranged husband. Ian was released from custody after Joni, one of Annie's friends, acted as an alibi, telling Tosh they were together the night Annie died because they had been having an affair. The lab results also proved that the blood on Ian's shirt was not Annie's. Meanwhile Calder found herself becoming attached to Annie's son Noah, who had been suffering with panic attacks and hadn't spoken since he witnessed his mother's murder. Ashley Jensen as DI Ruth Calder and Alison O'Donnell as DI Alison 'Tosh' McIntosh in Shetland But as the tense scenes played out on screens, viewers were left distracted by one significant detail - that Tosh and Calder always seem to manage to get phone signal despite being in remote areas of Shetland Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter , fans were quick to share their observations The detective is now tasked with getting as much information out of the traumatised and mute child to help solve the murder. But despite the show being jam packed with drama, some fans are feeling let down by the latest season. Taking to social media to express their disappointment, one wrote: 'Urgh. #Shetland went downhill fast.' Another said: 'Modern dramas are so plodding and naff #Shetland'. 'Struggling a bit with this series... #Shetland', a third posted. However, not all viewers felt the same as some were impressed with the ninth season. One wrote: 'Thoroughly enjoying BBC One's Shetland. Still got that edge, which is great to see. With unexpected plot turns... Fantastic performances from everyone.' A second said: '#Shetland delivers another belter of an episode...and again, stand out performance for the young lad playing Noah. Scotland's next big star!' Earlier this month, actress Alison O'Donnelll opened up about the personal changes her character Tosh has gone through this season, with Tosh notably suffering with imposter syndrome at times. Despite the show being jam packed with drama, some fans are feeling let down by the latest season It comes after last week, viewers have raged that the show is 'going downhill fast' and complained they're 'struggling' with the 'plodding and naff' new BBC series She told Daily Record: 'Tosh is where she has always been - Lerwick Police Station. Only now, side-by-side with DI Ruth Calder, she's in charge too. I think she's been on a journey with her confidence ever since we first met her with her braces and her bobble hat.' On her character's development, she continued: 'For sure her confidence has increased pretty rapidly over the last couple of years as she has stepped into the breach following Perez's departure and discovered she was more capable than she perhaps first thought. 'She still has little moments of doubt, though, and I think that's important because the audience have watched her grow from rookie status to heid bummer [the big boss] and it's both realistic and relatable that she would wobble from time to time. I think everyone has imposter syndrome, some people are just better at hiding it than others' Shetland airs Wednesdays at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Conclave (12A, 120mins) Verdict: Heavenly Drama Rating: There is no puff of white smoke, except possibly from a celebratory cigar, when the Best Actor is announced at the Academy Awards. But if Ralph Fiennes is not at least in the Oscars running for his impeccable performance at the heart of Edward Bergers gripping papal-election thriller Conclave, I might have to eat his scarlet cardinals cap, which I gather is called a zucchetto. The word derives from zucca, meaning pumpkin, evidently because it looks (to some) like a pumpkin cut in half. I know this because I watched Conclave this week with a priestly friend of mine, admittedly an Anglican rather than a Roman Catholic, but very well-informed in all matters ecclesiastical. He loved it too. I first saw Conclave at last months London Film Festival and anointed it with four stars, but on re-appraisal I think it is worth five, largely because it reminds us, brilliantly, that a riveting thriller need not depend on sex, violence or even criminality. There is no requirement for anyone to jump off a bridge or a train, or to tap telephones or hide in the shadows. The only crucial ingredient is secrecy. I first saw Conclave at last months London Film Festival and anointed it with four stars, but on re-appraisal I think it is worth five, largely because it reminds us, brilliantly, that a riveting thriller need not depend on sex, violence or even criminality If Ralph Fiennes is not at least in the Oscars running for his impeccable performance at the heart of Edward Bergers gripping papal-election thriller Conclave, I might have to eat his scarlet cardinals cap Stanley Tucci in Conclave. Tucci plays the arch-liberal Bellini There is oodles of it in Conclave. The old Pope has died and as the time-honoured ritual begins to elect his successor, the Vatican positively thrums with conspiracy and chicanery. Fiennes plays the British cleric Thomas Lawrence, wryly witty but upright dean of the College of Cardinals, whose job is to oversee the appointment of the next supreme pontiff. He is a reluctant contender himself, although he favours the arch-liberal Bellini (Stanley Tucci). Neither of them want the fiercely conservative Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto) and have some qualms, too, about the other fancied runners, Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati) and Tremblay (John Lithgow). A less likely contender also emerges in the form of Vincent Benitez (Carlos Diehz), mild-mannered Archbishop of Kabul, quietly promoted by the late Holy Father with no other cardinals even knowing of his existence until now. Those who have read Robert Harriss excellent novel of the same title will know where all this is going. Those who havent will wonder at the start whether the thriller element concerns the death of the Pope; whether he has perhaps been bumped off? Either way, like every classy adaptation of a quality novel, the film enhances rather than diminishes the story. Berger uses mod cons such as phones and iPads as a visual counterpoint to all the centuries of tradition enshrined in the conclave process, and there is a sense (stronger than in the book) that the sequestering of the cardinals, as they are cut off from the outside world for the duration of the voting, is a kind of metaphor for the Church itself being out of touch. Fiennes plays the British cleric Thomas Lawrence, wryly witty but upright dean of the College of Cardinals, whose job is to oversee the appointment of the next supreme pontiff So hats or even zucchetti off, not only to Berger (whose last film was 2022s garlanded All Quiet On The Western Front) but also to the writer, Peter Straughan, composer Volker Bertelmann (who uses strings to tremendous effect) and cinematographer Stephane Fontaine. Most of the credit for the look of the Sistine Chapel should probably go to dear old Michelangelo, but Fontaine certainly does his bit. Conclave is gorgeous on the eye. Really, its a film about light, both spiritual and physical. Shafts of sunlight illuminate Michelangelos Last Judgment as the cardinals gather to cast their ballots, and the composition of frame after frame reminded me of Renaissance painting, except for one startling overhead shot of all the clerics walking under white umbrellas, which is more evocative of a Busby Berkeley musical. As for the spiritual dimension, it drives the narrative forward as scandals break and swirl, contenders for the coveted throne of the Holy See drop out, and various cardinals are forced into mostly losing battles with their own consciences. Throughout it all, Fiennes is immaculate. It cant be that easy to play a man of unequivocal goodness but he does it beautifully, and gets heavyweight support from Tucci, Lithgow and everyone else, including Isabella Rossellini as Sister Agnes, the Vatican housekeeper (who, like all cinematic housekeepers, has the measure of everyone). Moana 2 (PG, 100mins) Verdict: Contrived Sequel Rating: From religious to cultural iconography, Moana 2 has big sandals to fill, at least according to one of the films producers, who introduced this weeks screening by telling us that the 2016 original changed the way the Pacific islands were perceived around the world. Moana 2 has big sandals to fill, at least according to one of the films producers, who introduced this weeks screening by telling us that the 2016 original changed the way the Pacific islands were perceived around the world Thats a robust claim for an animated movie for any movie but Moana was a huge global hit. Unfortunately, this follow-up, a little like Gladiator II, suffers from sequel-itis, straining to contrive the magic of the first film by more or less replicating the story. The animation is truly magnificent but the plot feels about as humdrum as any plot can in which villainy is represented by a giant evil clam. Both films are in cinemas now. Fans will lap up this famous footage of the Fab Four Beatles '64 (106mins) Rating: Anyone who loves The Beatles will assume that theres nothing they dont know or havent seen relating to the bands tumultuous first visit to America in February 1964. Its certainly true that Beatles 64, produced by Paul McCartneys exact contemporary Martin Scorsese, doesnt offer much that is new. But it does very evocatively set the trip in the context of the era, suggesting that the four Liverpool wags were exactly what was needed in a country still traumatised by JFKs assassination. Anyone who loves The Beatles will assume that theres nothing they dont know or havent seen relating to the bands tumultuous first visit to America in February 1964. Its certainly true that Beatles 64 doesnt offer much that is new That might be overstating the therapeutic power of The Beatles somewhat. Nonetheless, fans will lap this up, however familiar they are with the famous footage shot by documentarists David and Albert Maysles, used by director David Tedeschi to complement all the talking heads, including Smokey Robinson and the late Ronnie Spector (who recalls spiriting John, Paul, George and Ringo out of the besieged Plaza Hotel and up to Harlem for an unrecognised night on the town). That Christmas (PG, 91mins) Rating: That Christmas is a jaunty childrens animation written by Richard Curtis, with an illustrious voice cast led by Brian Cox (as Santa), plus Bill Nighy, Jodie Whittaker and Fiona Shaw. Although it is set in a small Suffolk seaside town, there are more than a few bittersweet narrative overlaps with Curtiss Love Actually, a film some of us prefer to forget at this time of year. But it bowls along enjoyably enough, and if you can summon up any festive spirit this far away from Christmas, then use it to forgive Curtis for a somewhat obsequious reference in the script to his paymasters, Netflix. That Christmas is on Netflix. Beatles 64 is on Disney+. Khloe Kardashian has ignited a fresh wave of plastic surgery rumors after sharing a slew of glamorous new Instagram selfies showcasing her recent hair transformation. After returning to her brunette roots, the 40-year-old TV personality was immediately met with speculation that she underwent cosmetic surgery to enhance her appearance. In response to the pictures, Reddit users theorized that the Good American founder got work done to her face. One wrote: 'At this point, shes less Keeping Up with the Kardashians and more Catching Up with the Surgeon. Ta-tas and transformations galore. A second wrote: 'She looks different in every single picture. I cant keep up with her face at this point.' A third penned: ''Lmao the fact that its so edited that isnt even her face anymore!' Khloe Kardashian has ignited a fresh wave of plastic surgery rumors after sharing a slew of glamorous new Instagram selfies showcasing her recent hair transformation The reality star has previously admitted to getting a nose job, injections and some Botox, but not much since she claims to respond 'horribly' to it Still, some of her fans defended the reality star as they insisted that they loved her brunette hair. 'This color for your hair suit you khloe [heart eyes emoji] gorgeous,' one wrote under Kardashian's post while another pleaded with her to keep 'the color.' DailyMail.com has reached out to the star's rep for comment, but has yet to hear back. Over the years, Kardashian has been slammed for using filters, editing applications, like FaceApp and getting various plastic surgery. Back in 2021, Kardashian finally confessed to undergoing a nose job after years of speculation from fans about her ever-changing appearance. A year later, she even took to Instagram to thank her plastic surgeon, Dr. Kanodia, for her 'perfect nose.' Her plastic surgeon calls himself the 'king of closed scarless rhinoplasty' and is based in Beverly Hills, conveniently close for the Kardashian family who all live nearby. At the time, Kardashian opened up about the procedure saying she 'always wanted' to get a nose job, and 'finally got the courage' to do so. Speaking to Robin Roberts during an ABC special on The Kardashians, she said: 'My whole life I would say - I've always wanted my nose done, forever.' Adding: 'But it's in the middle of your face and it's scary to think about. But I finally got the courage, and I did it, and I love it.' The reality star has previously admitted to getting a nose job, injections and some Botox, but not much since she claims to respond 'horribly' to it Back in 2018, Kardashian spoke about wanting a nose job back in 2018 - which matches her timeline of when she claims she had the procedure done Khloe's looks have also changed drastically over the years as she has lost over 30lbs thanks to daily workouts, which she documented in her book Strong Looks Better Naked (seen in 2008) In 2020 Khloe's filter fail was exposed when she was called out on X for heavily altering a selfie after original look is finally revealed on Keeping Up with the Kardashians This picture of Khloe was posted by the reality star in May 2020 -prompting a lot of debate among fans - with the caption, 'under bitches skiiiinnnnn' The famous family have undergone huge transformations over their decade in the spotlight - pictured 2011 Khloe, Kylie Jenner, Kris Jenner, Kourtney Kardashian, Kim Kardashian, and Kendall Jenner The family are seen with their glamorous present-day looks Many fans took this as Khloe admitting to having a nose job for the first time, but she corrected them on Twitter after the interview aired writing: 'Yes! I spoke about it at the [June 2021 Keeping Up with the Kardashians] reunion with Andy Cohen as well.' During her interview with Cohen, she expressed frustration that critics were always accusing her of being on her 'third face transplant.' 'I've had one nose job, [with] Dr. Raj Kanodia,' she insisted. 'You're the first person in an interview that's ever asked me about my nose.' The mother-of-two added that she's also done 'injections' and a little Botox, but not much since she claims to respond 'horribly' to it. Back in 2018, Kardashian spoke about wanting a nose job back in 2018 - which matches her timeline of when she claims she had the procedure done. 'One day I think I'll get one because I think about it everyday. But I'm scared so for now it's all about contour,' she told her Instagram followers. Amid constant criticism over her looks, the reality star admitted on the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast to feeling 'offended' by trolls accusing her of '12 face transplants' and thinks the constant hate is 'crazy.' The star confirmed again that she has had only one plastic surgery operation, her nose job, and she added during the podcast that she 'loves it.' The author said that she has been very upfront about her nose job and that is why it is so bothered when people have accused her of lying about other work. 'It did use to bother me when people were [saying] I've had 12 face transplants,' shared the mother of one. 'I'm like, "Oh, my God, I have?" I was like, "That's crazy."' And the claims put her off: 'It didn't bother me. It offended me. I just couldn't figure out why people thought that.' Khloe's looks have also changed drastically over the years as she has lost over 30lbs thanks to daily workouts, which she documented in her book Strong Looks Better Naked. In May 2020 the star caused a huge commotion when she posted a selfie looking totally unrecognizable, leaving her fans startled by her noticeably different appearance. Khloe was called out over the image again three months later, as her original look appeared to emerge in a scene from Keeping Up with the Kardashians, suggesting the reality star had overdosed on the filters, with some accusing her of using the video editing application FaceApp. Her visage was once again trending as the two pictures quickly went viral, after an X user posted the side-by-side shots, simply captioning them, 'khloe... girl...' leading to thousands of comments, likes and re-tweets. 'When you move too fast and the filter drops,' one fan wrote, kicking off the criticism over how different the reality star appears. 'Khloe Kardashian in 2020 looks like someone tried to draw Khloe Kardashian in 2019,' another user wrote, alongside the two images. However, some fans came to her defense, saying that the KUWTK star had no need to change her appearance. 'She looks so hot in the second one anyway. I dont know why she would photoshop herself so much,' one fan wrote. Gregg Wallace made a shocking remark to a female contestant on last week's episode of MasterChef. The TV star, 60, quit the BBC One cooking show on Thursday while an investigation into inappropriate behaviour is carried out by TV chiefs. The BBC has revealed that 13 people, including Kirsty Wark, have complained about his conduct while working with him over a 17-year period across five shows, from 2005 to 2022. On last week's MasterChef, Gregg raised eyebrows after he told a female contestant he would 'smash the living daylights out of' her pudding. Sous-chef Chiara made a barley and fermented koji rice pudding with a blackcurrant compote, apple marigold oil and a blackcurrant leaf yogurt ice cream. After tasting the yogurt she made, Gregg said: 'I really like the flavours, it's slightly oaty, slightly nutty, slightly sweet. Gregg Wallace made a shocking remark to a female contestant on last week's episode of MasterChef On last week's MasterChef, Gregg raised eyebrows after he told a female contestant he would ' smash the living daylights out of' her pudding 'Oh, I'll smash the living daylights out of that yogurt ice cream. It's got sourness, slight bit of sweetness, and it's almost got a blackcurrant apple finish. It's really quite delightful.' Gregg is currently being investigated by BBC chiefs over a series of allegations which were made against the former greengrocer, accusing him of in appropriate sexual behaviour. The TV chef allegedly wandered into the MasterChef studio 'completely naked' apart from a 'sock pulled over his penis' before throwing himself into a 'silly dance', a report claims. Gregg is also accused mimicking a sex act in front of a member of the show's production staff who was kneeling down to clean his trousers during filming, according to the lurid and so-far unsubstantiated allegations. The Daily Telegraph says it has spoken to a witness who claims to have seen both these alleged incidents. Gregg was also 'very touchy feely', the newspaper quotes the witness as saying. The grocer turned presenter is also accused of making 'disgusting sex-related jokes', including one about an 'aunt' while tasting a contestant's dish during the show. Gregg has also been accused of taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to 'give her a fashion show' and talking about his sex life to others. On one occasion he allegedly told a junior female colleague he wasn't wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans. He said: 'Oh, I'll smash the living daylights out of that yogurt ice cream. It's got sourness, slight bit of sweetness, and it's almost got a blackcurrant apple finish. It's really quite delightful' The BBC has revealed that 13 people, including Kirsty Wark, have complained about his conduct while working with him over a 17-year period across five shows, from 2005 to 2022. Kirsty claims that on two occasions Gregg told stories and jokes of a 'sexualised nature' in front of contestants and crew while filming Celebrity MasterChef in 2011. She said his gags and comments were 'really, really in the wrong place'. 'There were two occasions in particular where he used sexualised language in front of a number of people and it wasn't as if anyone engaged with this. It was completely one-way traffic. But I think people were uncomfortable and something that I really did not expect to happen', she said. Gregg is currently being investigated by BBC chiefs over a series of allegations which were made against the former greengrocer, accusing him of in appropriate sexual behaviour On Thursday, Scottish broadcaster Aasmah Mir shared a picture of herself during the 2017 Celebrity MasterChef series with the cryptic message: 'Always keep your receipts'. It is not yet known if she has also complained. What has Gregg Wallace been accused of? 13 people who have told the BBC of what they consider inappropriate sexual comments made by Wallace across a range of shows over a 17-year period. These include: Kirsty Wark says that on two occasions Wallace relayed stories and jokes of a 'sexualised nature' in front of contestants on Celebrity MasterChef and crew and that she felt they were 'really, really in the wrong place'. Talking openly about his sex life on set Taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to 'give her a fashion show' Telling a junior female colleague he was not wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans' Advertisement The BBC claims that Gregg walked away from MasterChef today after BBC News sent a letter to his agent on Tuesday, setting out allegations from 13 people and giving him a right of reply. They say he was warned after a complaint was raised in 2018, but new historical claims emerged over the summer of 2024. Gregg is 'committed to fully cooperating throughout the process', the show's production company Banijay UK said. Gregg will be on BBC One as usual on Thursday night because MasterChef: The Professionals, which is already recorded, will transmit as planned and into December. MasterChef's Christmas specials will also still be broadcast. The chef is yet to comment today - but at the time of the announcement this afternoon he did take to Instagram to share his recipe for prawn tacos with pineapple salsa. But in October Gregg vehemently denied that he had made inappropriate sexual comments towards women, declaring that he would never 'flirt with' or 'hit on' another woman and saying: 'I didn't say anything sexual'. BBC News said it had been told of other allegations, including the presenter 'talking openly about his sex life, taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to 'give her a fashion show', and telling a junior female colleague he was not wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans'. Banijay has not revealed the nature of the allegations. In a statement to the PA news agency Banijay UK said: 'This week the BBC received complaints from individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct while working with presenter Gregg Wallace on one of our shows. 'Whilst these complainants have not raised the allegations directly with our show producers or parent company Banijay UK, we feel that it is appropriate to conduct an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate. The BBC has revealed that 13 people, including Kirsty Wark, have complained about his conduct while working with him over a 17-year period across five shows, from 2005 to 2022 (Gregg pictured with his co-presenter John Torode, right) 'While this review is underway, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully cooperating throughout the process. 'Banijay UK's duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behaviour are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set. 'Whilst these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met, are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately.' The statement added: 'If anyone would like to talk to us or raise any issues or concerns, then they can contact speakup@banijayuk.com in confidence.' The BBC has said it takes any issues that are raised with it 'seriously'. Millie Mackintosh and Hugo Taylor put on a very classy display as they arrived at Zoe Law: Legends photography exhibition At the National Portrait Gallery in London on Thursday. The former Made In Chelsea star, 35, who has been keeping busy doing up her new home with her husband Hugo, 38, took a break from their hard work renovations and got dressed up for the evening. For the glitzy eve, Millie put on a leggy display in a crushed velvet black gown which featured a daringly high slit up the right leg. She added inches to her statuesque frame as she slipped into a pair of towering black shiny stilettos. To accessorise, Millie finished her look with a pair of bold, silver and blue dangly earrings which hovered over her shoulders. Finishing her elegant ensemble, she slicked her lose blonde tresses in to a loose middle-parted updo. Millie Mackintosh and Hugo Taylor put on a very classy display as they arrived at Zoe Law: Legends photography exhibition At the National Portrait Gallery in London on Thursday The former Made In Chelsea star, 35, who has been keeping busy doing up her new home with her husband Hugo , 38, took a break from their hard work renovations and got dressed up for the evening Looking equally charming, Hugo looked incredible as he arrived in a well-tailored, light grey, two-piece suit. He layered his blazer over a crisp white shirt, a thin black satin tie and shiny black suit shoes. Millie and Hugo's outing comes just hours after she showcased her latest lavish home renovation as she revealed her latest jaw-dropping transformation. She looked happier than ever with the progress so far as she took to Instagram to share her latest project. The TV personality wowed her fans as she converted a kitchen into a snuggle movie room complete with a large corner couch and flat-screen TV. Sharing an album of snaps to Instagram, Millie shared her old-fashioned look kitchen fitted with worn-out cupboards and grubby finishings. Millie then gave a glimpse into the progression and hardwork it took to complete the transformation as she shared a few snaps of the kitchen being torn apart to make way for her movie room. But all the graft appeared to have paid off as Millie shared a snap appearing happy as ever sat in a lavish blue movie room, which featured midnight blue panneling. For the glitzy eve, Millie put on a leggy display in a crushed velvet black gown which featured a daringly high slit up the right leg She added inches to her statuesque frame as she slipped into a pair of towering black shiny stilettos Millie and Hugo's outing comes just hours after she showcased her latest lavish home renovation as she revealed her latest jaw-dropping transformation Pictured: Millie's kitchen after they ripped out their kitchen And Millie looked happier than ever with the progress so far as she took to Instagram to share her latest project The TV personality wowed her fans as she converted a kitchen into a snuggle movie room complete with a large corner couch and flat-screen TV Sharing an album of snaps to Instagram, Millie shared her old-fashioned look kitchen fitted with worn-out cupboards and grubby finishings Millie then gave a glimpse into the progression and hardwork it took to complete the transformation as she shared a few snaps of the kitchen being torn apart to make way for her movie room But all the graft appeared to have paid off as Millie shared a snap appearing happy as ever sat in a lavish blue movie room, which featured midnight blue panneling The walls were filled with colourful novels and mood lighting which neatly stacked around a swanky flat screen TV Millie's kitchen before changing the room into a movie room for her, her husband Hugo and her children Sienna and Aurelia The walls were filled with colourful novels and mood lighting which neatly stacked around a swanky flat screen TV. In the snaps, Millie looked cozy as she sank into her new corner couch while relaxing in her lounge wear. She penned: ''Our snug before and after! Theres something special about creating a little sanctuary in your home, and our tv room has truly become just that. It was originally the kitchen and tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the house, its our go-to for slowing down and switching off in the evenings. Whether its curling up under a blanket with a gripping book, indulging in a cosy movie night, or simply soaking up the stillness, this room surrounds you and feels like a big, warm hug. worked their magic with the most stunning bespoke joinery, transforming this room into a true haven. From smart storage solutions to the light-up shelves, every detail adds to the cosy, calming vibe. The corner sofa is @andrewmartin_int, and our bespoke rug from Layla Homes brings the whole room together beautifully. And can we talk about the lighting? The glow from @pookylights lamps is just chefs kiss for those snug evening vibes. The walls and joinery are painted in the colour renew from my @coatpaints collab' James Van Der Beek shared his gratitude for family and friends this Thanksgiving, following his shock cancer diagnosis. The Dawson's Creek star, 47, penned an emotional Instagram post on Thursday, where he praised his 'super human wife' Kimberly Van Der Beek, 42, for her 'unconditional love.' The actor, who recently revealed that he's been battling colorectal cancer, also thanked their six children for keeping him 'present, active, and inspired.' Additionally, James shared a touching image of him with Kimberly and their children, daughters Olivia, 14, Annabel, 10, Emilia, eight, and Gwendolyn, six, and sons Joshua, 12, and Jeremiah, two, which was shot by Claiborne Swanson Frank. 'Its been a tough year and Im thankful for all of it. For the giant life re-direct cancer has placed in my path,' he shared in his caption. 'For the gift of knowing what it feels like to have friends come through on such a profound level, and in ways I never would have been able to ask for had I not been going through it.' James Van Der Beek, 47, shared his gratitude for his 'super human wife' Kimberly, 42, and their six kids this Thanksgiving, following his shock cancer diagnosis He went on, adding, 'Im grateful for this new relationship I have to my body, and what I feed it.' James shared that he was 'grateful to each and every one of you who has reached out and sent good vibes and prayers. It all lands and makes a difference.' He then thanked Kimberly, to whom he's been married since 2010. 'And Im more grateful than ever to my super human wife who has shown up on levels I never knew possible. Who has shown me what unconditional love is and the magic that comes from that. I am in awe of you, @vanderkimberly.' Lastly, he thanked his kids, writing, 'of course, Im beyond thankful the little blond army of hearts who keep me present, active, and inspired just by being you. I love you guys beyond.' The serene image he posted featured his whole family posing in a lush green field, with James in the center, a broad smile on his face. James' marriage to Kimberly is his second, after he was married to the actress Heather Ann McComb from 2003 to 2009. The Connecticut native who underwent a vasectomy before learning of his stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis and Kimberly married in August of 2010 in Israel, and they welcomed the first of their six children just a month after wedding. Following his diagnosis, the entertainer who moved away from Los Angeles four years earlier to start a new life with his family in Texas has kept working. He recently looked dashing at the FOX Winter Press Day red carpet in Los Angeles last week. The Dawson's Creek star penned an emotional Instagram post on Thursday, where he praised his 'super human wife' Kimberly Van Der Beek, 42, for her 'unconditional love' 'I am in awe of you,' James, who recently revealed that he's been battling stage 3 colorectal cancer, wrote, adding he is 'more grateful than ever' for her; the pair seen in September The actor also thanked their six children daughters Olivia, 14, Annabel, 10, Emilia, eight, and Gwendolyn, six, and sons Joshua, 12, and Jeremiah, two for keeping him 'present, active, and inspired' James who's been married to Kimberly since 2010 admitted that it's been a 'tough year' but said he's 'thankful for all of it' Most recently, he appeared on an episode of Walker and is next set to star in Sidelined: The QB and Me, which comes out later this month. Earlier this month he also shared the first symptom that lead to his cancer diagnosis - and recalled the devastating moment he found out he had the disease. He told People that he was 'in amazing cardiovascular shape' and always 'tried to eat healthy,' so he never expected to get cancer. 'Id always associated cancer with age and with unhealthy, sedentary lifestyles,' he added. The actor revealed that he endured a 'change in his bowel movements' last summer, but still didn't think it was something serious. 'I thought maybe I needed to stop coffee, or maybe not put cream in the coffee,' he continued. 'But when I cut that out and it didnt improve, I thought, "All right, I better get this checked out."' He then underwent a colonoscopy, and received the heartbreaking news that he had stage 3 colorectal cancer. James told the outlet that he was undergoing treatment but didn't divulge any details on it. He added that he's 'cautiously optimistic' during this 'place of healing,' and insisted that his 'energy levels are great.' Following his diagnosis, the entertainer has kept working. He recently looked dashing at the FOX Winter Press Day red carpet in Los Angeles on November 18 (pictured) James told People that he was undergoing treatment for his cancer, but didn't divulge any details on it. He added that he's 'cautiously optimistic' He first announced his diagnosis on Instagram at the beginning of November. At the time he wrote that he was 'in a good place and feeling strong' When asked what the hardest part was, James said all of the 'unknowns.' 'As someone who likes answers, not knowing is one of the hardest things,' he explained. 'This has been a crash course in the mastery of mind, body, and spirit. 'I thought, "This is either going to take me out of the body, or its going to teach me how to truly live in it."' The Rules of Attraction alum shared the news that he had been diagnosed with cancer via Instagram. At the time, he said he'd been told that a tabloid was planning to publish a story about it, so he was forced to share it online sooner than he would have liked to have gone public with it. '"It is cancer." Each year, approximately two billion people around the world receive this diagnosis. And Im one of them,' he wrote. 'Theres no playbook for how to announce these things, but Id planned on talking about it at length with People magazine at some point soon to raise awareness and tell my story on my own terms. 'But that plan had to be altered early this morning when I was informed that a tabloid was going to run with the news.' The father-of-six added that he had been 'getting treatment' in private, and apologized to the people 'in his life' who had to find out through the post. James is best known for starring as Dawson Leery alongside Katie Holmes in the TV series Dawson's Creek, which aired for six seasons, from 1998 to 2003; seen in a 1998 still with Katie 'Ive been dealing with this privately until now, getting treatment and dialing in my overall health with greater focus than ever before,' he continued. 'Im in a good place and feeling strong. Its been quite the initiation, and Ill tell you more when Im ready.' 'Apologies to all the people in my life who Id planned on telling myself. Nothing about this process has occurred on my preferred timeline' 'But we roll with it, taking each surprise as a signpost, pointing us toward a greater destiny than we would have discovered without divine intervention.' James is best known for starring as Dawson Leery alongside Katie Holmes in the TV series Dawson's Creek, which aired for six seasons, from 1998 to 2003. MBABANE As there are mounting concerns over public safety, there has been a staggering 59.1 per cent surge in drug trafficking alongside a 15 per cent overall increase in crime. National Commissioner (NATCOM) of Police Vusi Manoma Masango did not mince his words when he shared the statistics on the state of crime in the country. He said this at an event held at Matsanjeni South, marking the end of the years National Crime Prevention and Road Accident Prevention Campaign. The event was attended by the Prime Minister (PM), Russell Dlamini, who is also the Minister responsible for police affairs, the Minister for Public Works and Transport, Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe, Cabinet Principal Secretary Bertram Stewart, senior government officials along with police officers. It was also attended by the Shiselweni Regional Administrator, Bantfwabenkhosi, chiefs and other traditional leaders. Also present were Members of Parliament (MPs) and the business community. Communities Masango said: Crime continues to instil fear in our communities. It affects the quality of life and threatens the success and sustainability of our countrys socio-economic environment. The NATCOM, who in his five months in office has been seen at different instances rolling up his sleeves and being on the ground, said the overall crime statistics for the period January 2024 to date stand at 48 452 compared to 42 209 during the same period in 2023. This, he said, reflects a 15 per cent increase in reported crimes. Masango said serious crimes have risen by 2 per cent, which highlighted the urgent need for effective strategies to tackle persistent crimes such as murder, rape, stock theft and copper theft. We must acknowledge ongoing challenges, such as stock theft, which has increased by 3 per cent and drug trafficking, which has surged by 59.1 per cent compared to 2023, he said. Also, the NATCOM said road accidents significantly impacted Eswatinis economy, with 5 434 crashes recorded between January and October 2024, compared to 5 706 in 2023. He said fatal accidents decreased from 152 to 122, while serious accidents dropped slightly from 401 to 379. Masango said road deaths also saw a reduction, with 134 fatalities this year compared to 184 last year (-0.28 per cent). Men and women, crucial to the countrys economy, remain the primary victims, he said.Despite the gloomy picture painted by the hike in some crimes, Masango called upon the nation to celebrate progress in the Shiselweni Region, which he said, has made commendable strides in homicides. The NATCOM said the homicides were reduced by 31 per cent and rape cases dropped by 6.8 per cent in the Shiselweni Region. Despite these reductions in certain crimes, Masango said police must confront the reality of violent crimes such as murder, gender-based violence (GBV), armed robberies and rape, which continue to plague the nation. Masango said another major issue is copper theft, which has become a severe economic burden. He said this crime does not just impact the companies involved, but affects other sectors of the economy as well. I appeal to community members and scrap yard owners; if you notice any suspicious activities, please report them to the police immediately. The NATCOM said sexual and GBV crimes were also a thorn in the flesh of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS). These incidents, he said, occurred far too frequently, resulting in alarmingly high figures. Masango pleaded with families and communities to report these cases without hesitation. He said the law cannot take its course if such cases are hidden. Now, more than ever, emaSwati must unite with the police to fight this scourge of crime. It is not just the polices responsibilityit is the responsibility of every one of us. Criminals live among us. We see them; we know them. Let us refuse to be silent. Report crimes! Work together with us, he pleaded. Masango said community vigilance is key and there is a need for a culture of neighbourhood watch. He urged communities to report suspicious activities and to refuse to buy stolen goods. The NATCOM appealed to communities and the police to hold each other accountable. Bluey had an unfortunate near miss when the Aussie icon made an unexpected appearance during Macy's Thanksgiving parade in New York on Thursday. The globally beloved children's cartoon character, who is hugely popular in the United States, joined in the Thanksgiving fun in the form of an enormous balloon float. However, the massive Bluey tribute balloon almost missed out on the parade altogether when it sprung a leak just moments before the big event. The 16-metre long balloon was left collapsed in a heap on the ground after Bluey popped a hole in one of its paws, with teams dashing to fix the gaffe. According to the New York Post, onlookers heard a loud noise followed by the sound of 'gushing air' from the puncture as the balloon began deflating. Thankfully, the tragedy was averted when the Bluey balloon was able to be successfully repaired just in time for the popular parade through Manhattan. Bluey had an unfortunate near miss when the Aussie icon made an unexpected appearance during Macy's Thanksgiving parade in New York on Thursday The globally beloved children's cartoon character, who is hugely popular in the United States, joined in the Thanksgiving fun in the form of an enormous balloon float (pictured) 'Hey all, the balloons are ready and Im glad to report that Bluey is recovering!,' NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell posted to X - formerly known as Twitter - on Wednesday. Bluey made her debut as a balloon float in New York's famed Macy's Thanksgiving Parade in 2022 and has been a fan favourite addition ever since. Bluey is hugely popular with American audiences and became the most streamed TV series across the country this year in an impressive feat. The world-famous ABC Kids series has been watched among US viewers for 35billion minutes this year, according to Nielsen Media Research. 'Bluey's now the number one most watched show (of all) in America for 2024. How incredible, with 35 billion minutes watched this year,' executive producer Daley Pearson wrote on Instagram of the achievement. The US Embassy in Australia then commented on Pearson's post to congratulate his team on their success. They penned: 'All our kids love it (and now use the word dunny)! Congratulations!' Bluey, which streams on Disney+ in America, narrowly beat the competition, including House of the Dragon, Grey's Anatomy and Family Guy. However, the massive Bluey tribute balloon almost missed out on the parade altogether when it sprung a leak just moments before the big event, with workers dashing to repair it Bluey made her debut as a balloon float in New York's famed Macy's Thanksgiving Parade in 2022 (pictured) The Aussie cartoon was also the second most streamed show in America in 2023, coming in just behind the legal drama Suits. Children in the US are reportedly beginning to speak with an unmistakable Australian twang after tuning in to Bluey, which follows a lovable Aussie family of blue heelers. The cartoon has become wildly popular in the US after premiering on the Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney+ in September 2019. In 2020, The New York Times described the show as 'the biggest Australian export since The Wiggles' - the country's most famous children's band. The cartoon stays true to its true-blue roots and is packed with 'g'day' greetings and unmistakably Aussie phrases like 'show us your thongs, muffin'. Bluey is also the top dog on Australian television, setting new viewership records for ABC and ABC Iview alike. In April, more than 3.4 million fans tuned in to watch the last three episodes of the global hit across the five major metro centres and regional areas via broadcast TV. TV Blackbox reported that the Total TV National Reach - which includes viewers from all platforms as well as broadcast TV - for the penultimate episode The Sign was 4.4million viewers. Bluey also triumphed on the ABC's Iview kids channel, drawing a monumental 50.3million minutes viewed. Sharon Osbourne made it clear that she has better things to do than spend Thanksgiving in the kitchen this year. When asked about her plans for the American holiday which is also celebrated in Canada, but earlier in October Sharon gave a characteristically foul-mouthed response while chatting with TMZ. When asked if she would be cooking on Thursday, the 72-year-old wife of Ozzy Osbourne bluntly responded: 'F*** no!' The former co-host of The Talk was spotted out after a last-minute run to a grocery store in Los Angeles ahead of the holiday. She also clarified that she prefers to celebrate Thanksgiving at her own home, rather than having someone else host. Sharon may have given up on doing the holiday cooking after getting some bad reviews from her husband Ozzy. Sharon Osbourne made it clear that she has better things to do than spend Thanksgiving in the kitchen this year. When asked about her plans for the American holiday Sharon gave a characteristically foul-mouthed response while chatting with TMZ When asked if she would be cooking on Thursday, the 72-year-old wife of Ozzy Osbourne bluntly responded: 'F*** no!' while doing last-minute shopping on Wednesday; seen in 2020 with husband Ozzy and daughter Kelly During a 2005 episode of Gordon Ramsey's reality series The F Word, the Black Sabbath frontman shared in an interview that he considers his longtime wife the 'worst cook on the face of the Earth.' He joked that Sharon 'couldn't even make a piece of toast without burning it.' In the episode, Sharon admitted that she had to keep the instructions for her home oven 'taped to the side of it' because she used it so rarely. She also joked that Ozzy would 'hide his booze' in the oven at the height of his struggles with substance use because he knew she was unlikely to ever open it. Ramsey showed Sharon how to cook a tasty lamb chop with mint a favorite of Ozzy's and when she asked for a solid side dish to accompany it he suggested mashed potatoes. When the celebrity chef asked Sharon if she knew how to make the simple dish, she jokingly responded: 'Yeah, you get powder and you pour boiling water in it.' Shannon looked particularly gaunt on the outing, which comes after she revealed in December that she had lost 42 pounds via the weight-loss medicine Ozempic. Sharon's trip out comes days after she displayed a notably taut visage and raised brows during a recent shopping trip, three years after undergoing a disastrous 'Cyclops' facelift. She added that she prefers to have Thanksgiving at her own home; seen in 2020 Sharon's trip out comes days after she displayed a notably taut visage and raised brows during a recent shopping trip, three years after undergoing a disastrous 'Cyclops' facelift; pictured in April 2022, six months after the surgery In December 2023 Sharon revealed her 2021 facelift is the 'worst thing she ever did' in a candid new interview. The reality star who previously revealed the procedure left her looking like 'Quasimodo', told The Times: 'I looked like Cyclops. I had one eye here and one eye there and my mouth was all skewiff. 'And then I had to wait for that to heal before I could go back and have it corrected.' Sharon has been open about her fondness for getting plastic surgery over the years, but hasn't denied having regrets. She revealed that she last went under the knife in order to fix a previous operation that left her looking like the deformed protagonist in Victor Hugo's novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. The Daily Star quotes Sharon as saying: 'Theres not one part of my body that I haven't had twisted, lifted, elongated, whatever. 'Ive been messed up many times. This last one was a kind of fix-it job from the guy that did it before. 'I looked like Quasimodo, because I had one eye here, one eye there. It was wicked.' She has been open about her fondness for getting plastic surgery over the years, but hasn't denied having regrets; pictured in 2003 The mother-of-three has previously opened up about the disastrous facelift, which took place in October 2021 and took five and a half hours; pictured March 2022 The mother-of-three has previously opened up about the disastrous facelift, which took place in October 2021 and took five and a half hours. Speaking to The Sunday Times, she said: 'Im telling you, it was horrendous. Im, like [to the surgeon], "Youve got to be f*****g joking." 'One eye was different to the other. I looked like a f*****g cyclops. Im, like, "All I need is a hunchback".' Sharon added: 'I looked like one of those f*****g mummies that they wrap [with bandages]. It hurt like hell. You have no idea.' She later claimed that the botched procedure had scared her off getting anymore cosmetic surgery done. Sharon has also said another facelift in 2019 left her looking like Elvis doing his trademark snarl, as it involved lifting her mouth. 1999 saw her lose over 100 pounds through a gastric band operation and she revealed she had spent $120,000 on a facelift, tummy tuck, eye lift, abdominoplasty, liposuction and Botox as well at the time. Sharon also admitted in 2007 that she had spent approximately 300,000 - which at the time equated to about $530,000 US on cosmetic surgeries and enhancements. The TV host has had various tummy tucks, a breast reduction, vaginal cosmetic surgery and got a double mastectomy in 2012 after learning about her risk of developing breast cancer. Rumours have been rife about who will take over from beloved ABC radio star Sarah Macdonald after she confirmed she was axed from the network. The ABC702 Mornings host announced last week that she had been let go from the Sydney program after more than three decades working with the national broadcaster. Now, Hamish Macdonald has been tipped to be the top contender to take over the popular morning breakfast show, according to news.com.au. Insiders have claimed the broadcast journalist, 43, has the blessing of ABC boss Kim Williams, who succeeded Ita Buttrose as the national broadcaster's chair in March. Hamish is arguably best known for being a presenter on Network 10's The Project and working on ABC Radio National's RN Breakfast show. Daily Mail Australia has contacted ABC for comment. Rumours have been rife about who will take over from beloved ABC radio star Sarah Macdonald after she confirmed she was axed from the network Now, Hamish Macdonald has been tipped to be the top contender to take over the popular morning breakfast show and insiders claimed he has backing from the top bosses Sarah's axing from ABC's airwaves sparked an uproar from fans, and the talented presenter is said to be 'devastated' to have been let go amid a huge hosting shake-up at the network. However, ABC boss Williams has since said he fully supported Sarah's exit as the ABC looks to revitalise its radio division under audio director Ben Latimer. 'Changes in media are part of life,' he told the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday. 'They are part of the programming fabric of all organisations.' ABC staffers were shocked by the move when it was announced alongside a raft of sweeping changes at the taxpayer-funded service, greeting the news with a round of boos in their Sydney headquarters. However, Williams was adamant Sarah, who is well-liked and highly regarded throughout the industry, was not fired - just that her job has been given to someone else. 'It's inaccurate to say that Sarah Macdonald has been sacked,' he said. 'Her role has not been renewed. They are different conceptually. 'In a similar way, management has determined that it wishes to take that service in a different direction. Sarah's axing from airwaves sparked an uproar from fans, but ABC chair Kim Williams (pictured) has since said he fully supported the decision as the ABC looks to revitalise its radio division 'That decision is a management decision, and I fully support our management in making relevant decisions as to the direction and content of the services that the ABC provides. 'So, yes, I do support that decision, I do support the notion of refreshment in the various services that the ABC offers.' The ABC has reportedly been inundated with complaints since Sarah revealed she had been given the boot live on-air on her show last week. 'Well, here's the news from me in terms of disappointment,' she told her listeners. 'I'm not going to be on the radio with you next year, the ABC has decided not to renew my contract here at Mornings. I am proud of what I've done. The ratings are up.' She is not the only ABC radio star who has been given the boot in recent days as Simon Marnie also confirmed he has been sacked from his long-running weekend show. He took to Instagram on Thursday morning to share the 'shock' news that the network is cutting his role presenting the NSW Weekend Mornings programs. The announcement has come as a huge surprise to his fans as he has worked with the national broadcaster for more than 25 years. Sarah is not the only ABC radio star who has been given the boot in recent days as Simon Marnie also confirmed he has been sacked from his long-running weekend show Simon is a fan favourite on the ABC's Sydney weekend airwaves and fronts the Saturday morning slot from 6am until 12pm, as well as the Sunday show from 10am until 12pm. Confirming his axing, he wrote in an emotional message: 'After a week or so of speculation I can confirm that the ABC has looked at its Weekend Structure in 2025 and informed me they do not have a role for me in that structure. 'This came as a shock and I am still processing what it means for me. 'If you're in Sydney on Sunday I'd love you to join me one last time for the Weekend Show Christmas Picnic Outside Broadcast at Jazz @ The House on the grounds of Government House. 'Please come along. Sunday 1st Dec 10 - midday the broadcast. Jazz at the House all day.' Kate Beckinsale shared an emotional Thanksgiving post, in which she reflected on losing her stepfather Roy Battersby and beloved cat Clive. In a video, uploaded to her Instagram on Thursday, the actress, 51, can be seen holding what appeared to be a vigil in her hallway for her lost loved ones. 'Gratitude for the mighty men, both two and four legged I have loved and been loved by, all of whom I watched die,' she captioned the footage. 'And for my warrior mother and warrior daughter.' The Serendipity continued: 'Dont feel bad if Thanksgiving makes you more aware of what you have lost and fear losing and if you have it in you, maybe try to glimpse the absolute gratitude and joy to have and have had these beings in life.' The performer explained that 'its hard sometimes to feel gratitude for what and who you lose' when other people tell you to 'feel grateful to have your memories.' Still, she expressed that it is important to her to honor those that have passed away and are fighting. Kate Beckinsale shared an emotional Thanksgiving post, in which she reflected on losing her stepfather Roy Battersby and beloved cat Clive 'Thank you my mama for sending me these beautiful flowers despite all you are going through and to my daughter for making me so proud my breath catches in my throat,' she concluded. 'Happy day of being thankful and dont beat yourself up if you dont feel grateful. Its in there.' In July, Beckinsale revealed that her dramatic weight loss was a result of the 'stress and grief' of the death of her stepfather and her mother's cancer diagnosis. After seeing cruel comments about her skinny appearance, the star opened up about her changed figure and six-week hospital stint. 'I watched my stepfather die quite shockingly, my mother has stage 4 cancer and I lost a lot of eight from stress and grief,' she wrote on Instagram. 'Quite quickly and then I was in hospital for six weeks because the grief had burned a hole in my oesophagus, which made me vomit copious amounts of blood, and I found eating very hard.' She went on to say: 'And I just worked very very hard on a movie that was actually quite triggering because it also involved the theme of the death of my father so I'm not really concerned about what you think about my a**.' Kate's stepdad Roy Battersby died in January after suffering 'a massive stroke' while battling two forms of cancer, which he was diagnosed with the summer before. Shortly after his death, Kate also revealed that her mother Judy Loe had also been told she has stage four cancer. Another person asked: 'How's your health Katie? You look like you have lost some weight?', to which she responded: 'It's great now thanks'. In a video, uploaded to her Instagram on Thursday, the actress, 51, can be seen holding what appeared to be a vigil in her hallway for her lost loved ones 'Gratitude for the mighty men, both two and four legged I have loved and been loved by, all of whom I watched die,' she captioned the footage. 'And for my warrior mother and warrior daughter' One other replied underneath: 'I posted basically the same thing, she looks unhealthy' and another person said: 'Someone seems upset.' Kate quipped: 'I don't think you look upset. I think you look like maybe your rictus grim is concealing years of bitterness but I wouldn't call it upset necessarily.' In several posts, Nicole claimed that she knew the people behind some of the comments, who she said were hiding behind fake profiles. In response to someone who asked 'Kate, you're getting everyone so rattled are they ok?', 'Are they okay hun? Are they okay? Actually? I know who quite a few of them are and they are really not okay.' Replying to a person who had said 'so weird how the head keeps growing but the body shrinks. They turn into gnomes', Kate said: 'the LOL of your bio picture being an actual gnome living its best life in the forest has given me so much life. I can't tell you please go gather some more nuts and berries.' As well as replying to some of the negative comments, Kate also took the time to reply to some of her fans who had wished her well. Kate's stepdad Roy Battersby died in January following a 'brief illness' after being diagnosed with two forms of cancer the summer before (pictured left with her mother Judy right) One said: 'You have more true fans who appreciate you than haters. Always know this [smiley face emoji]'. Kate replied: 'Oh I love my followers I really do - some of them are such incredible decent, supportive brilliant souls of me and of each other. 'I actually have a problem with two people who keep making multiple accounts so don't be fooled. A lot of this is them.' Kate's original post was of her joking about people who said she hasn't been acting her age on social media. The model playfully put a hairnet over her head and joked that she needed to take up knitting in order to be more 'age appropriate' for her fanbase. She captioned the video: 'Let's have a toast for the douche bags. Let's have a toast for the a**holes. Let's have a toast for the scumbags.' In March, Kate revealed she had been hospitalized after sparking concern among her fans with tearful selfies In March, Kate revealed she had been hospitalized after sparking concern among her fans with tearful selfies. She later explained the reason behind her hospital stint in a now-deleted Instagram post, writing: 'I spent six weeks in hospital due to copiously vomiting blood from a Mallory Weiss tear caused by the stress of a whole year ripping a hole between my oesophagus [sic] and stomach.' 'That's what I am prepared to disclose that has contributed to some weight loss. What you think of my appearance and how I should look, independently of any circumstances in my life and my family's is not important.' In recent months, Kate had been caring for her mother and late stepmother after flying them out from the UK to stay with her in Los Angeles. 'Kate has been caring for her parents, who both have serious illnesses, for most of the year,' a source exclusively revealed to DailyMail.com late last year. 'She brought them to her home in LA and has made looking after them her number one priority.' Madeline Holtznagel appeared to be in jovial spirits as she stepped out with her partner Justin Hemmes following their baby news. It was revealed last week that billionaire Merivale boss Justin, 52, is set to welcome his first child with model Madeline, 27. The couple have been keeping things low-key since their exciting news was confirmed, but they were spotted arriving in Sydney via private jet on Tuesday. Madeline appeared to be in jovial spirits as she flashed a huge smile while enjoying some quality time with Justin as they both arrived home after a mystery trip away. The younger sister of Simone Holtznagel looked effortlessly stylish in a fitted black halter neck top and wide leg blue jeans. She shielded her eyes with a pair of dark shades and swept her golden tresses back into a bun as she smiled and waved at passersby after touching down. Pregnant Madeline Holtznagel appeared to be in jovial spirits as she stepped out with her partner Justin Hemmes just days after their baby news was revealed The couple have been keeping things low-key since their news was confirmed, but they were spotted arriving in Sydney via private jet on Tuesday Madeline was joined by her partner Justin, who cut a smart figure in a light blue shirt as he gazed lovingly at his pregnant partner during the outing. The couple, who have been in a relationship for five years, are due to welcome their first child together, with the news emerging last week. A source confirmed the exciting news to Daily Mail Australia and revealed a friend of Justin's recently moved out of his Vaucluse mansion to make room for their growing family. It will be Madeline's first child but Justin already shares two daughters - Alexa, nine, and Saachi, eight - with his model ex Kate Fowler - the sister of Georgia Fowler. Justin and Madeline's representatives told Daily Mail Australia the couple will not be making an official comment. It has been baby bliss for the Holtznagel clan after Madeline's model sister Simone welcomed her first child, a daughter called Gia, in March with her now-ex-boyfriend Jono Castano. Justin and Madeline quietly began seeing each other in 2019, a year after his debut on the Financial Review Rich List with an estimated net worth of $951million - which has since risen to $1.39billion. Though they generally keep their romance under wraps, the couple are often seen disembarking from his sea plane after enjoying luxurious family holidays with his two daughters. Madeline, the younger sister of Simone Holtznagel, looked effortlessly stylish in a fitted black halter neck top and wide leg blue jeans Madeline was joined by her partner Justin, who cut a smart figure in a light blue shirt as he gazed lovingly at his pregnant partner during the outing In August, Madeline also made a rare public post about Justin as she took to Instagram to mark his 52nd birthday. She shared a series of romantic selfies of them both and gushed over her partner in the caption. In one picture, Madeline flashed a huge smile as she sat on Justin's lap while he lovingly gazed at her. Another showed the pair cuddling up to one another as they relaxed on a yacht. 'Happy birthday my love,' she wrote in a caption along with rose emoji. Earlier this year, Madeleine celebrated her 27th birthday party with a lavish bash at Justin's sprawling $100million Vaucluse family estate - where they will raise their child. The property has been in the Hemmes family for more than 40 years and is widely regarded as one of the finest homes in the Harbour City. Following the festivities, she revealed that her doting partner had bought her two llamas as a sign of his love. It has been baby bliss for the Holtznagel clan after Madeline's sister Simone (pictured) welcomed her first child, a daughter called Gia, in March with her now-ex-boyfriend Jono Castano Justin and Madeline have been dating for five years. He already has two daughters with his ex Kate Fowler The couple have gone from strength-to-strength since going public in 2019 and even sparked engagement rumours last June. Eagle-eyed fans noticed Madeline was wearing a ring on her wedding finger as they questioned whether Justin had popped the question. A picture showed her sporting the jewellery as she cuddled up to Justin while enjoying a bowl of Udon noodles together at a restaurant in Japan. But the bling appeared to be an emerald and diamond promise ring, and another photograph showed her wearing a different ring on the same finger as she posed for a selfie. Justin was previously in a relationship with Kate Fowler and the pair remain on good terms, often jetting off on holidays together with their daughters Alexa and Saachi. Just last month, Justin and Madeline were joined by Kate and her new boyfriend David Oettle as they took Alexa and Saachi to Queenstown, New Zealand. Justin and Kate dated for three years before going their separate ways in early 2018, with Justin issuing a statement about their split at the time. The couple sparked engagement rumours last June when eagle-eyed fans noticed Madeline was wearing a ring on her wedding finger during a trip to Japan (pictured) 'Kate and I have the utmost love and respect for each other,' he said in a statement given to the Sydney Morning Herald. 'At the beginning of 2018, Kate and I decided our friendship and respect for family life would become the focus of our relationship. 'We love our children dearly and for now continue to live together happily in our family home.' 'Kate is a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful woman. As for what the future holds I am not sure,' he added. Justin is considered Australia's hospitality king, with more than 80 venues and billions in assets with names like the Ivy, Queen Chow and Establishment under his purview as CEO of Merivale. He is the only son of Merivale Group founder and nightclub mogul John Hemmes and Justin took over the business after his father's death in 2015. Khloe Kardashian's family went all out for Thanksgiving this year, and she displayed some of the elegant decorations on social media on Thursday. The 40-year-old reality star posted photos of her holiday celebration, which was held at a house resembling the Palm Springs homes owned by her mother Kris Jenner and sister Kourtney Kardashian. Also making a cute appearance in her photos were her children: daughter True, six, and son Tatum, two. Khloe's photos revealed place settings for around 18 guests at long dining table, though she may have also had other tables set up for children or additional guests. One photo highlighted the fall foliage in the form of what looked like dried leaves that were placed atop each person's napkin. They were served on cute Thanksgiving-themed plates with illustrations of turkeys decorating them, while larger plates underneath had plaid designs with appropriately dark fall colors. Khloe Kardashian's family went all out for Thanksgiving this year, and she displayed some of the elegant decorations on social media on Thursday The 40-year-old reality star posted photos of her holiday celebration, which was held at a house resembling the Palm Springs homes owned by her mother Kris Jenner and sister Kourtney Kardashian The center of the dining table was decorated with lovely flowers in shades of crimson, pale pink and burnt orange, along with vibrant candy-colored turkey figurines. The Kardashians added another playful element to the display by getting mounds of butter that had been molded into the shape of turkeys. She added some elegant lighting to her holiday display thanks to tall, thick candles. The Kardashians star included additional snaps of some of the house's decorations, including tall glass encased candles that were in an atrium on the way out to the home's pool. Her youngest son Tatum looked adorable in a short video she posted to her Instagram Stories. He appeared to be watching an animated movie with rapt attention while wearing a cute white button-up shirt. Another photos showed his big sister True holding him while they were both bathed in blue light. 'Thankful,' Khloe captioned the photo while adding a teary-eyed emoji. The long table included settings for at least 18 people, and it was decoratd with tasteful flowers and dried leaves placed on napkins The table was also decorated with colorful turkeys and butter humorously molded into the shape of the birds The Kardashians star included additional snaps of some of the house's decorations, including tall glass encased candles They were located in an atrium on the way out to the home's pool Her youngest son Tatum looked adorable in a short video she posted to her Instagram Stories. He appeared to be watching an animated movie with rapt attention while wearing a cute white button-up shirt Another photos showed his big sister True holding him while they were both bathed in blue light. 'Thankful,' Khloe captioned the photo while adding a teary-eyed emoji Her sister Kendall shared a photo of a buffet display set up that appeared to be at the same celebration Khloe didn't post any photos of herself at the Thanksgiving feast. She recently came under fire from fans after posting a series of photos that appeared to be heavily filtered, which set off speculation that she might have had more plastic surgery or other cosmetic procedures recently Khloe shares both of her children with her former serial-cheater partner Tristan Thompson. She and the Cleveland Cavaliers player welcomed True in 2018, during a period Khloe was living with him in Ohio. The couple, who split due to Tristan's repeated, documented infidelities, later reunited, and they decided to have a second child via surrogate. Unfortunately, Tristan was revealed to be expecting a child with another woman after he and Khloe were already expecting their second child. Despite their ups and downs, the exes have managed to remain committed co-parents to their two children. Notably, Khloe didn't post any photos of herself at the Thanksgiving feast. She recently came under fire from fans after posting a series of photos that appeared to be heavily filtered, which set off speculation that she might have had more plastic surgery or other cosmetic procedures recently. The Block star Elyse Knowles is just days away from welcoming her third child into the world. And the blonde beauty was enjoying a relaxing day at the beach in Byron Bay on Friday, getting some 'me time' in before the big day. Elyse is preparing to welcome her third child with fiance Josh Barker, with the couple already sharing two sons Sunny, three, and Zali, one. Elyse, 32, took to her Instagram story on Friday to share a photo that showed her happily sunning herself on the sand amid a gorgeous looking Byron Bay afternoon. The image showed Elyse on what appeared to be a solo beach date, happily enjoying the day in a skimpy black bikini. The barely there swimwear showed off Elyse's fit-to-pop baby belly as she sat on the sand. A heavilly pregnant Elyse Knowles was enjoying a relaxing day at the beach in Byron Bay on Friday, getting some 'me time' in before the big day. Elyse is pictured with her two sons Sunny, three, and Zali, one Elyse showed off her fit-to-pop baby bump as she relaxed on the sand in a skimpy black two-piece bikini. Her burgeoning baby bump even obscured Elyse's bikini bottoms, something she was quick to point out in a self-effacing comment on the photo. 'I have no idea where my bottoms are,' she jokingly wrote. Elyse had previously revealed that she was suffering from painful varicose veins during the pregnancy, but there were no signs of the condition as she happily sat on the sand. It appeared that Elyse had just come in from a dip in the crystal clear water with her hair displaying a decided wet look. Josh and Elyse, who rose to fame when they were crowned winners of The Block in 2017, welcomed Sunny in February 2021. They announced the birth of their first child shortly after revealing they had secretly become engaged. The former reality stars moved from Melbourne to Byron Bay in 2019 seeking a quieter life. In May 2020, they purchased a $2.3million beach house in the New South Wales coastal town, which they renovated. Her burgeoning baby bump even obscured Elyse's bikini bottoms, something she was quick to point out in a self-effacing comment on the photo. 'I have no idea where my bottoms are,' she jokingly wrote. Elyse is pictured with Sunny, Zali and iance Josh Barker Elyse had previously revealed that she was suffering from painful varicose veins during the pregnancy, but there were no signs of the condition as she happily sat on the sand Elyse revealed to Stellar magazine that she was crippled by anxiety following the birth of her son, Sunny. 'I got quite anxious leaving home for the first time. My heart was racing. I didn't know if I could do it,' she told the publication. 'Having [Sunny], having our dogs and getting out there... And Sunny was screaming in the car and it made me quite scared.' 'I found it hard to breathe and I had to tell myself, "It's fine, what could go wrong? Everyone has babies... you just have to go for it," she added. 'It took a couple of times to feel confident. But I'm not going to lie, it was hard at the start.' She also told Body+Soul Magazine that she and Josh avoid using mobile phones around Sunny. 'I don't want him picking it up. I don't want him playing on it at all,' the media personality said. Josh and Elyse have been together for nine years, and engaged for two, but are yet to marry. The reality star shared the exciting announcement that she was expecting for the third time in June, sharing a series of snaps from a recent family holiday in Fiji. Elyse displayed her growing baby bump in a series of bikini photos with her two sons. 'Omg Wowowow. You do it so effortlessly!' MAFS star Martha Kalifatidis added. Another follower wrote: 'Such a beautiful growing tribe you are!!! Happy for you guys.' 'I cannot wait for another little human to join the fammmmm,' one fan mentioned Charlotte Crosby branded Gregg Wallace 'extremely unpleasant' on Instagram on Thursday as she joined celebrities slamming the BBC star amid a misconduct probe. Gregg, 60, stepped away from MasterChef after 13 people accused him of 'wrong' and inappropriate 'sexualised' behaviour during filming, prompting an investigation by production company Banijay UK. Geordie Shore star Charlotte joins a number of other accusers who publicly claim to have been on the receiving end of, or witnessed, toxic behaviour from the former greengrocer. Among those to have gone public are musician Rod Stewart, whose wife Penny Lancaster appeared on Celebrity Masterchef, journalist Kirsty Wark and presenter Ulrika Jonsson, who said Gregg had made a rape joke to another female contestant on the celebrity show. Wallace has previously denied making sexual comments towards women after it was reported he was investigated over remarks made while filming Impossible Celebrities in 2018. He is yet to comment after stepping back from the cookery show yesterday - but did break his silence on social media to thank fans for their 'support'. Banijay said Gregg is co-operating with the investigation, while his lawyers maintain that it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour that is sexually harassing in nature. Charlotte Crosby branded Gregg Wallace as 'extremely unpleasant' on Thursday as she joined celebrities slamming the BBC star amid misconduct probe A teary Charlotte Crosby in Celebrity Masterchef earlier this year. She said one round of the show had been a 'really long day' Charlotte Crosby and Gregg Wallace in an episode of the most recent series of Celebrity Masterchef. She has since said Gregg was 'extremely unpleasant' Gregg, 60, stepped away from MasterChef after 13 people, including Newsnight host Kirsty Wark , accused him of 'wrong' and inappropriate 'sexualised' behaviour during filming, it was revealed yesterday. Taking to social media, Geordie Shore star Charlotte, who starred on Celebrity MasterChef earlier this year, said: 'He [Gregg] was extremely unpleasant to me when I was on Master Chef' Charlotte, who starred on Celebrity MasterChef earlier this year, shared her own allegation about the TV host on Instagram last night. She wrote: 'He [Gregg] was extremely unpleasant to me when I was on MasterChef'. It came as other celebrities, including some at the BBC, appeared to throw shade at the fitness fanatic after news of the Banijay probe broke. What are the allegations against Gregg Wallace? Gregg Wallace is alleged to have made inappropriate sexual comments towards 13 women who worked with him on a variety of television programmes in a 17-year period. BBC News contacted the star's representatives on Tuesday outlining the full range of allegations. Gregg is alleged to have told 'sexualised' stories and jokes while on the MasterChef set, and openly spoken about his sex life in front of colleagues. He is also alleged to have taken his top off in front of a female colleague saying he wanted to 'give her a fashion show', and to have told another junior worker he wasn't wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans. Further to this, BBC News reported claims Gregg: Showed topless photos of himself to a MasterChef worker and asked for massages Told a female worker on Channel 5's Gregg Wallace's Big Weekends he was fascinated by the fact she dated women and spoke about sex and spanking Showed another worker on the 5 show photos of a woman in her underwear Stared at a female colleague's chest at the BBC Good Food Show in 2010 Openly spoke about his sex life, including how often he was having sex and his ability as a lover, on the show Impossible Celebrities Allegedly told an Eat Well for Less colleague: 'You can come to my car but can you handle the fact everyone will think you got off with a celebrity?' After receiving the letter, Gregg said he would step back from presenting MasterChef while Banijay UK said the presenter was co-operating with its own internal investigation. Advertisement Greg James dropped Wallace from his usual opening gambit as he kicked off his BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show on Friday morning. The radio host typically opens the programme with a sound bite of Gregg saying: 'Fire 'em up, let's go!' But today, he instead played a clip of Daniel Craig from US late night show Saturday Night Live, as the Bond star says: 'Ladies and gentlemen: the weekend.' The BBC declined to comment on the Radio 1 broadcast. Charlotte previously revealed she was reduced to tears while on the BBC show and that 'she was wrong to be so confident' going on the programme. Speaking on The One Show alongside co-star Edith Bowman earlier this year, Charlotte explained: 'There's something about that space and that studio you feel like a little kid again. 'It's horrible, all the lights are on you. The pressure - it's really scary. There was a lot of emotion!' Edith then confessed: 'We both cried!' It comes hours after Sir Rod Stewart issued a furious rant at Gregg calling him a 'tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully' for 'humiliating' his wife Penny Lancaster when she appeared on Celebrity MasterChef in 2021. Fans of the show will remember Penny exiting in tears in 2021, after Gregg told her off with the 'serious' delay of her food and then refused to eat it. Following Gregg's departure, Rod wrote: 'So Greg [sic] Wallace gets fired from Master Chef. 'Good riddance Wallace... You humiliated my wife when she was on the show, but you had that bit cut out didn't you? 'You're a tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully. Karma got ya. Sir Rod Stewart'. As chaos filled the kitchen during her stint on the show, Gregg told Penny: Mate, we cant be 10 minutes late, calling her delay 'serious'. Following Penny's eviction from the kitchen in 2021, she shared a cryptic post on Instagram hinting at 'a person's behaviour'. She wrote on Instagram: 'When you finally learn that a person's behaviour has more to do with their own struggle than it ever did with you, you learn grace'. MailOnline has contacted the BBC for a comment. Last night, TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson claimed Gregg had left a fellow female contestant on Celebrity Masterchef 'really distressed' after he allegedly told her a joke about rape. Ulrika told the Telegraph that the contestant then relayed the joke to her - before they then spoke to a producer about what had happened. Greg James appeared to throw shade at Gregg Wallace as he opened this morning's BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show - swapping a sound clip of the MasterChef presenter for one featuring Daniel Craig (file picture) It comes hours after Sir Rod Stewart issued a furious rant at Gregg calling him a 'tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully' for 'humiliating' his wife Penny Lancaster when she appeared on Celebrity MasterChef in 2021 Following Gregg's departure, Rod wrote: 'So Greg Wallace gets fired from Master Chef. Good riddance Wallace... You humiliated my wife when she was on the show, but you had that bit cut out didn't you? You're a tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully. Karma got ya. Sir Rod Stewart' Rod and wife Penny pictured together in 2019, two years before she went on Celebrity MasterChef The newspaper reports Gregg then came out to apologise; Ulrika claimed he had 'tears in his eyes' as he said sorry following the incident, alleged to have happened in 2017. She said: 'The apology should have been to everyone. It felt like, you know, "dont make the joke in the first place".' Gregg has been accused of taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to 'give her a fashion show' and talking about his sex life to others. On one occasion he allegedly told a junior female colleague he wasn't wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans. Further claims reported Friday by the BBC included that Gregg was 'fascinated' by a female colleague who dated women and asked her about the 'logistics' of how it worked, and talked about spanking and threesomes in front of crew. The BBC has revealed that 13 people, including Kirsty Wark, have complained about his conduct while working with him over a 17-year period across five shows, from 2005 to 2022. Kirsty claims that on two occasions Gregg told stories and jokes of a 'sexualised nature' in front of contestants and crew while filming Celebrity MasterChef in 2011. She said his gags and comments were 'really, really in the wrong place'. 'There were two occasions in particular where he used sexualised language in front of a number of people and it wasn't as if anyone engaged with this. It was completely one-way traffic. But I think people were uncomfortable and something that I really did not expect to happen', she said. On Thursday, Scottish broadcaster Aasmah Mir shared a picture of herself during the 2017 Celebrity MasterChef series with the cryptic message: 'Always keep your receipts'. It is not yet known if she has also complained. The BBC claims that Gregg walked away from MasterChef after BBC News sent a letter to his agent on Tuesday, setting out allegations from 13 people and giving him a right of reply. They say he was warned after a complaint was raised in 2018, but new historical claims emerged over the summer of 2024. Gregg is 'committed to fully cooperating throughout the process', the show's production company Banijay UK said. Allegations were also raised about Wallace's conduct on Channel 5 show Gregg Wallace's Big Weekends, in that he is said to have asked a female worker who dated women about the 'logistics' of her dating life. Channel 5 says it has asked production company Rumpus to investigate the claims; Rumpus says it does not tolerate inappropriate behaviour, adding that it had 'comprehensive duty of care processes' in place on set. Gregg will be on BBC One as usual on Thursday night because MasterChef: The Professionals, which is already recorded, will transmit as planned and into December. MasterChef's Christmas specials will also still be broadcast. Fans of the show will remember Penny leaving Celebrity MasterChef in tears in 2021, after Gregg refused to eat her food BBC News said it had been told of other allegations, including the presenter 'talking openly about his sex life, taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to 'give her a fashion show', and telling a junior female colleague he was not wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans' The chef is yet to comment today - but at the time of the announcement this afternoon he did take to Instagram to share his recipe for prawn tacos with pineapple salsa. But in October Gregg vehemently denied that he had made inappropriate sexual comments towards women, declaring that he would never 'flirt with' or 'hit on' another woman and saying: 'I didn't say anything sexual'. BBC News said it had been told of other allegations, including the presenter 'talking openly about his sex life, taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to 'give her a fashion show', and telling a junior female colleague he was not wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans'. Banijay has not revealed the nature of the allegations. In a statement to the PA news agency Banijay UK said: 'This week the BBC received complaints from individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct while working with presenter Gregg Wallace on one of our shows. 'Whilst these complainants have not raised the allegations directly with our show producers or parent company Banijay UK, we feel that it is appropriate to conduct an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate. 'While this review is underway, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully cooperating throughout the process. 'Banijay UK's duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behaviour are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set. 'Whilst these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met, are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately.' The statement added: 'If anyone would like to talk to us or raise any issues or concerns, then they can contact speakup@banijayuk.com in confidence.' The BBC has said it takes any issues that are raised with it 'seriously'. A corporation spokesperson said yesterday: 'We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them. 'We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated. 'Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them.' In October, Gregg admitted he was feeling stressed amid allegations he made inappropriate sexual comments towards women - and his fellow judge John Torode's wife alleged he 'repeatedly told rude jokes' on set. Gregg took to Instagram with a live video as he offered tips on healthy eating while also alluding to new allegations made against him this week. He told viewers he was 'a little bit distracted at the moment', but said he 'wanted to check in and say hello'. His social media riposte came as it emerged his MasterChef co-host John Torode's wife Lisa Faulkner would think, 'I don't want to hear this', as he apparently delivered punchlines to crew of the BBC's flagship cookery show. Lisa, 52, appeared on the series in 2010 where she went on to win the Celebrity MasterChef trophy - and has opened up about her time on the show. Gregg filmed a live video message admitting he was feeling some 'stress' as newly-emerged allegations were made against him in October Actress Lisa Faulkner (centre) has said Gregg Wallace (left) repeatedly made rude jokes to MasterChef crew members - she is married to his co-host John Torode (right) Gregg said in another Instagram video message that he has always been true to his wife Anne-Marie Sterpini - the couple are pictured here at the wedding of Lisa Faulkner and John Torode in Banbury, Oxfordshire, in October 2019 Brookside and Holby City star Lisa told the Cheltenham Literature Festival how she would overhear the former greengrocer's jokes as she was prepping her dishes. She said: 'Gregg was telling I'm probably not allowed to say thisGregg just told rude joke after rude joke to the crew. 'You're just sitting there and if you're on the front bench just chopping away thinking, 'I've got ten minutes left', and he's saying, 'So this girl walked into a bar' 'And I'm going, 'Please, I don't want to hear this joke'.' Her husband John, 59, who was also on stage with her to promote their new book, told her: 'It's changed quite a lot really' Gregg absolutely denied claims he boasted about his sex life to a younger female BBC employee and took his top off in front of her while filming a game show - saying he would never 'flirt with' or 'hit on' another woman. Bosses at the corporation are said to have hauled the MasterChef co-host into a meeting in 2018 following allegations of 'inappropriate sexual comments' and told him to 'change his behaviour'. An insider claims Gregg brushed it off as 'just banter', having been reported for making 'consistent inappropriate comments' to the member of the production team while working on game show Impossible Celebrities. Lisa Faulkner has said Gregg Wallace would tell 'rude joke after rude joke' on MasterChef But taking to Instagram, Gregg hit back at the allegations in an emotional video saying he was 'madly in love' with his wife Anna. He said: 'The story that's hitting the newspapers was investigated promptly when it happened six years ago by the BBC. 'And the outcome of that was that I hadn't said anything sexual. I'll need to repeat this again. I didn't say anything sexual. 'Despite what the newspapers are suggesting nobody six years ago accused me of flirting with anybody or hitting on anybody. 'And the reason I say this is because of my wife Anna. I have always been true to my wife Anna and have never flirted or hit on anybody in the 12 years [since] I met her and fell in love with her. 'And it's important that, so that people don't misunderstand that, that I am true to my wife.' Gregg, who has previously spoken of losing 5st with an exercise regime, told viewers: 'I've had a fair bit of stress over the last few days, but my healthy lifestyle choices have stayed the same because that's my lifestyle. That's what I do without thinking'. 'Does that make sense to people? I really, really hope it does. I'm a little bit distracted at the moment, you can probably tell.' Gregg went on to say: 'There are so many benefits of upping your levels of activity, so many healthy benefits. 'I'm not going to mention the newspapers at the moment I've got that coming at me left, right and centre.' He also responded to commenters including one who spoke of loving chocolate buttons, with Wallace saying: 'Chocolate buttons are lovely right now, that sugar hit, I get it. I understand.' But he added: 'I really like a mango. I really like a pineapple. I really like a bowl of blueberries. And fruit isn't full of sugar and fat. Here's the saying love food that loves you back.' The TV presenter then signed off by saying: 'I've got a really, really busy day I wanted to check in and say hello. 'If you want to make a difference to your life, really consider the choices you make.' The allegations of inappropriate comments have only now emerged as the BBC this week launched a probe into workplace culture as bosses aim to crack down on the 'abuse of power'. Bosses at the corporation are said to have hauled the MasterChef co-host into a meeting in 2018 following allegations of 'inappropriate sexual comments' and told him to 'change his behaviour' Gregg hit back at the latest allegations in a response on Instagram, saying he was 'madly in love' with his wife Anna Wallace quit BBC show Inside The Factory in March last year after allegations that he had been 'rude towards staff' and spoke to them in a 'derogatory manner, especially to women' The insider who made the claims against Gregg, which his team says are 'inaccurate', raised questions as to why he was allowed to continue presenting MasterChef. They told the Sun: 'He is said to have been boasting about his sex life with his partner at the time. At one point, Gregg was also accused of taking his top off in front of the woman which felt inappropriate. The team working on the show were said to have gone to BBC bosses to complain after being left 'mortified' by Wallace's alleged behaviour. A spokesman for the BBC told The Sun: 'Whilst we do not comment on individuals, if issues are raised they are dealt with swiftly and appropriately at the time. 'We do not tolerate any form of inappropriate behaviour and have robust processes in place.' It was previously reported by the Times back in May last year that he had allegedly offended female staff members at the Nestle UK factory in York with comments about their weight during a 'friendly' conversation. Gregg then denied that he left the BBC show Inside The Factory in March that year due to inappropriate comments made towards female staff. Appearing on Good Morning Britain in August 2023, the called the claims 'inaccurate'. The newspaper had quoted a source as saying: 'He was rude towards staff and continued to talk in a derogatory manner, especially to women.' The comments were reportedly non-sexual but deemed 'inappropriate' and a complaint was lodged with Voltage TV, the production company responsible for developing the show. Gregg was accompanied by his wife Anne-Marie Sterpini when he received an MBE honour for services to food and charity, at Windsor Castle in February 2022 Gregg (left) and John Torode (right) have co-presented MasterChef since 2005 When asked on GMB by Richard Madeley about his departure from the programme, Wallace responded by saying: 'There was an argument inside the factory, the reporting isn't accurate. 'There was an issue and I thought this is the perfect time to come out.' 'Offending people? No, no - if you look at the headlines, you can't see a story that matches those headlines.' Gregg also revealed that he also wanted to leave to help care for his son Sid, born in 2019, who is autistic. Explaining his home situation, he said: 'I've got a little boy called Sid who at the moment is non-verbal, he is still in nappies, he's got learning difficulties. Mum needed help there.' He revealed that the demanding nature of the filming around the different factories across the country meant that it made sense to give it up. Gregg added: 'It's completely inaccurate, I didn't challenge it. There was an issue, I don't want to discuss the issue but it wasn't what the papers said it was. 'There was nothing offensive to anybody that's just people guessing. It was a decent time to come out, I think.' Gregg wed Anne-Marie Sterpini, 22 years younger than him, at Hever Castle in Kent in August 2016, having met three years earlier. Johnny Depp has been single since the end of his brief but serious romance with lawyer Joelle Rich but tongues are wagging over apparent links with a Dior influencer half his age. Spanish beauty Jess Bordiu has interests in music, film, fashion, travel and photography and one of the closest members of Depp's team follows her on Instagram. The influencer also seems to be very interested in the actor, posting a video of herself dancing on his birthday writing: Happy birthday Johnny Depp. Bordiu often writes about the Pirates of the Caribbean star and is apparently a fan, even dressing up as Willy Wonka for a post earlier this year. Meanwhile one photo on Twitter last year looks as if it was taken from the stage while the star was performing. Jess also - perhaps by pure chance happened to be in Seville when Johnny was there for a film festival earlier this month. Johnny Depp, 61, has sparked romance rumours with Spanish Instagram star half his age - all the signs the pair are dating REVEALED (pictured in Seville in November) Spanish beauty Jess Bordiu has made no effort to hide her interest in Depp interests in music, film, fashion, travel and photography and one of the closest members of Depps team follows her on Instagram She also happened to be in San Sebastian when he was there in September and her Instagram suggests that she is now in London, where Johnny is living. The pair also both work for Dior, as Jess has been seen posting paid content for the fashion and fragrance house, while Depp is the face of Diors Eau Sauvage. Meanwhile Depp's source shut down the rumours as they told The Mail's Alison Boshoff: She was not travelling with us in Seville or in San Sebastian. She doesnt have a connection to Johnny. Hes enjoying the single life, not dating anyone. Johnny previously enjoyed a romance with London lawyer Joelle Rich which supposedly began during the court battle with his ex-wife Amber Heard back in 2022. It was said that they enjoyed off the scale chemistry however in November of that year their relationship was said to have fizzled out. A friend of Depps said at the time: Are they still an item? We are not talking about a normal couple here. Its not a big, stable, committed love affair and Im not sure that it ever was. I dont know if they are together in any way at this point. Certainly I dont believe it is a serious romantic relationship, or even an exclusive one. The source added: Firstly, he has just come out of a massive legal battle [with ex-wife Amber Heard], so who would want to commit after that? It has been an extremely traumatic period for him. Bordiu often writes about the Pirates of the Caribbean star and is apparently a fan, even dressing up as Willy Wonka for a post earlier this year (pictured) Willy Wonka is one of the actor's best known roles after he starred in the Tim Burton adaptation back in 2005 Johnny previously enjoyed a romance with London lawyer Joelle Rich which supposedly began during the court battle with his ex-wife Amber Heard back in 2022 (pictured in May 2022) Jess also happened to be in San Sebastian when he was there in September (pictured) and her Instagram suggests that she is now in London, where Johnny is living Secondly, hes Johnny Depp and I dont think a standard committed relationship is going to be his thing. Meanwhile Johnny is about to travel to Riyadh for the Red Sea Film Festival where his film Modi will appear. It was made with Saudi money. He also went to the Red Sea Film Festival last year with Jeanne du Barry, which was also partly funded by Saudi money. Depps return to Hollywood has just been announced in a movie called Day Drinker, alongside friend and frequent co-star Penelope Cruz. She will play a bartender on a cruise ship while he is her enigmatic day-drinking client. The movie, which is being made by Lionsgate, is an action thriller as the pair will find themselves entangled with organised crime. The cameras will roll from February in the Canary Islands. Depp stepped away from acting for a period when he went through two libel cases one in the UK and one in the US centring on allegations that he had beaten former wife Amber Heard. He lost in the UK but won damages from Amber in the US in 2022. She has now retired from acting and is now living in Madrid with her daughter Oonagh. Michael Barrymore was mobbed by fansas he shared a glimpse into his first week living in Barcelona on Instagram on Friday. The comedian, 72, was all smiles as he was stopped in the streets by fans to pet his beloved puppy Lara, who he revealed he had bought in September. Fans were all smiles as Michael happily stopped to also pose for photos with them during his daily dog walk around the city. Michael carried the whippet under his arm in the streets before putting her on a bright yellow leash while on the beach. In another snap, the presenter looked in good spirits as he enjoyed a huge chocolate milkshake, croissants and a coffee in a cafe. Michael Barrymore was mobbed by fans during a dog walk as he shared a glimpse into his first week living in Barcelona on Instagram on Friday The comedian, 72, was all smiles as he was stopped in the streets by fans to pet his beloved puppy Lara, who he revealed he had bought in September He penned: 'BARCELONA week 1: ' Michael recently revealed his plans to move to Spain 'to change his life for the better' in a TikTok video. He put his London home on the market before heading to Spain, according to reports in July. Michael was previously one of the UK's top stars but his decades long career ended after the death of Stuart Lubbock in 2001 following a party at his Essex home. On his recent personal TikTok account Michael titled a video with his puppy 'Our new life in Spain'. A second video posted was called 'Week 1 in Barcelona' and Michael told the camera: 'I said I was homesick but I realise now I was just fearful. 'What I really want is for our new life to work out. I've got into a bit of a routine now which is helping me to settle, I take Lara (his dog) for a walk to the beach every morning and then we find somewhere to have something to eat, a coffee or go for a walk around the town. Captioning his post, he wrote: 'Never be afraid to change your life for the better #michaelbarrymore #movingabroad'. Fans were all smiles as Michael happily stopped to also pose for photos with them during his daily dog walk around the city Michael carried the whippet under his arm in the streets before putting her on a yellow lead In another snap, the presenter looked in good spirits as he enjoyed a huge chocolate milkshake, croissants and a coffee in a cafe Michael shared a sweet snap of himself and the puppy relaxing at home Explaining why he decided to move ship, Michael said: 'Hey guys, yes I am moving to Barcelona. 'I'm 72 now and I realise that quality of life is more important to me than anything, so I'm going to Spain. 'I love the place. It's not the Spain that I grew up with, there's all the package resorts that we all know, this is the mainland Spain, It's amazing. 'The culture there and the people and just the art and everything. I started looking around Girona and the Catalonia area for houses back in March. 'I've flown out a couple of times already to look for places and see what I like. Once I decide which villa I like, I probably maybe around Lloret de Mar, of course I'm gonna take Dave with me and of course I'm going to take you guys with me. 'So don't worry, I'm going to vlog everything and you're going to join me all the way through this entire story. 'Until I find the villa of my dreams, I'm going to find out as much as I can about it, download Duolingo, learn the language. I can't wait.' The move to Spain comes more than 20 years after a young man was found dead in his swimming pool following a house party and Michael practically disappeared from public life. The TV presenter lost his job at ITV shortly afterwards in 2003, and he was rarely seen again until he appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in January 2006 - managing to finish in second place. A series of career revival attempts followed but they were often overshadowed by the ongoing investigation into the death of Stuart Lubbock. Between that year and 2019, Barrymore and others were arrested and questioned on multiple occasions. The comedian lay on the beach with his dog He was all smiles as he beamed for a selfie on a bridge Fans stopped to stroke the whippet Barrymore's decades long career ended after the death of Stuart Lubbock in 2001 following a party at his Essex home (pictured on his show Strike it Lucky in 1986) Stuart Lubbock (pictured) was found dead in Barrymore's swimming pool more than 20 years ago Michael has become Gen Z's unlikely hero by reinventing himself as a TikTok star two decades after the pool tragedy halted his career No charges were ever filed and the star ultimately sued Essex Police for wrongful arrest, although he dropped his compensation claim of 2.4m after a court ruled he was due 'nominal' damages. But the TV personality has been taking his career back into his own hands by building a loyal fan base on the social media app TikTok. He is no stranger to the stage, having performed sell-out shows before his career collapsed in 2001 when Lubbock, 31, was found dead in the swimming pool of his Essex mansion after the star hosted a late-night party. He has always denied any knowledge of what happened. The performer has now amassed 3.1 million followers on the social media platform, where his bio reads: 'This is a very happy place to be' Barrymore posts multiple videos per day and his followers often leave him messages of love and support. 'You really are living your best life right now and clearly loving it,' wrote one admirer under his videos, 'So happy for you.' Another said: 'You'll always be the funniest man... we love you mister Barrymore, I wish you all the happiness in the world.' Barrymore repeatedly shares old clips from his television shows Kids Say The Funniest Things and Strike It Rich, which aired on ITV between 1998 and 2000 and from 1996 to 1999 respectively. He has also expressed his love of the video battle royale game Fortnite , beloved by the Gen Z crowd. Beirut, Nov 29 (UNI) Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Thursday urged pressure on Israel to stop its violations of the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah, according to a statement by the Council of Ministers, Lebanon's cabinet. Mikati made the remarks during a phone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, during which they discussed the current situation in Lebanon after the ceasefire took effect early Wednesday. During their conversation, Mikati expressed gratitude to Macron for his assistance in "stopping the Israeli aggression and reaching an understanding in this regard." He noted that the Lebanese army has begun missions in the south, the Bekaa, and Beirut's southern suburbs, with plans to bolster its deployment in the southern Litani sector. Mikati said Thursday's violations of the ceasefire agreement resulted in injuries and significant damage. In the first breach of the agreement, an Israeli airstrike on a car in the southeastern village of Markaba injured two Lebanese, according to Lebanon's National News Agency. Later, an Israeli drone raid on a gathering in the village of Taybeh injured four more people, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. Earlier on Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that it conducted a drone strike in southern Lebanon in the morning, describing it as a warning shot. The IDF said several "suspects," some with vehicles, entered areas in southern Lebanon, violating the ceasefire agreement. In response, the Israeli military said it fired a warning shot near a vehicle in the Markaba area, aiming to deter it without causing casualties. Israel's security cabinet on Tuesday night approved a ceasefire deal with Lebanon, paving the way for an end to a nearly 14-month conflict. According to the ceasefire deal, the Lebanese army will take control of its territory over the next 60 days; Israel will gradually withdraw, and civilians will return home. UNI/XINHUA ARN Pete Wicks has illustrated the depth of his feelings towards former flame Maura Higgins, as he publicly voiced his support for her on I'm A Celebrity - despite growing close to his Strictly partner Jowita Przystal. The TV personality, 36, had confirmed a romance with the former Love Islander, 33, when they were seen kissing, but Maura insisted that she is single when she entered the jungle. However, Pete proved she's still on his mind when he re-shared a post urging fans to vote to keep Maura on the reality show after writing 'what a woman' about her on a previous post. As the first elimination looms on Friday night, fans have the chance to decide who they want to leave the jungle and Maura's pals created a meme to convince people to vote to save her. Her friends and family - who are running her account while she's Down Under - created a version of the iconic WW2 'We Can Do It!' poster, with Maura's face superimposed on top of Rosie the Riveter's and surrounded by a host of critters. Sharing the picture to his Stories, Pete also added a personal message of support, writing: 'There she is! My winner... Vote Maura!' Pete Wicks has illustrated the depth of his feelings towards rumoured flame Maura Higgins, when he publicly voiced his support for her on I'm A Celebrity The TV personality, 36, had confirmed a romance with the former Love Islander, 33, when they were seen kissing, but Maura insisted that she is single when she entered the jungle However, Pete took to his Instagram on Thursday to re-share a post urging fans to vote to keep Maura on the reality show - despite growing close to his Strictly dance partner Jowita Przystal It comes amid mounting speculation that Pete had been 'secretly seeing' Jowita. The pair sent fans wild with their chemistry during their latest dance on Saturday night, dancing fierce Tango to Easy Lover by Philip Bailey and Phil Collins, and scoring 29 out of 40. Fans rushed to social media to share their thoughts, penning: 'Pete and Jowita are definitely in lurve'; 'You can't deny, Pete & Jowita are so cute together'; 'pete and jowita i am OBSESSED'. The pair have been competing on Strictly together since September, and in recent days, sources have claimed they have been secretly seeing each other away from the show and have been spotted looking cosy on car rides together. With Sam Thompson in Australia hosting I'm A Celebrity: Unpacked, Jowita stepped as the co-host for the latest episode of Pete's podcast. After the episode was uploaded on YouTube on Friday, fans were quick to show their appreciation for the pair, calling for Jowita to become a permanent part of the team. Others were also quick to clock the pair's 'unreal' chemistry, as they prepared to take to the floor to dance the Tango. Comments included: 'I'm so glad Pete decided to do Strictly. If not, I'm not sure these two beautiful people would have ever crossed paths in life; Her friends and family - who are running her account while she's Down Under - created a version of the iconic WW2 'We Can Do It!' poster, with Maura's face superimposed on top of Rosie the Riveter's and surrounded by a host of critters It comes amid mounting speculation that Pete had been 'secretly seeing' his Strictly Come Dancing partner Jowita Przystal (pictured together on Saturday) The pair sent fans wild with their chemistry during their latest dance on Saturday night, dancing fierce Tango to Easy Lover by Philip Bailey and Phil Collins , and scoring 29 out of 40 'OMG the chemistry between you and Jowita is electrifying. You're relationship goals. Jowita has tamed you Pete in a really nice way. All you needed was someone who believes in you 100%. It's a beautiful thing to watch; 'Love these two together; I love their chemistry on this podcast; 'Their chemistry is unreal! Just wife her already! Lol'. 'Oh gosh you guys. Jowita is wifey, Pete!! They're so captivating to listen/watch due to their amazing chemistry, something to the final!' Meanwhile, on Thursday, sources claimed 'something has changed' between the reality star and the professional dancer in recent weeks and they have been secretly seeing each other away from the show. At the beginning of the series, they were said to have 'sent tongues wagging' between the cast and crew due to their sizzling chemistry, with viewers even spotting their close connection. 'The chemistry between them has been pretty clear since the moment they met but the last few weeks something has changed and theyve started seeing each other away from the show,' a source told The Sun. 'Theyve tried to keep it low-key but they often travel together rather than getting separate cars to different locations. 'And theyre so tactile backstage it has become pretty obvious something is going on. Everyone is talking about the fact they seem closer than ever.' The pair have been competing on Strictly together since September, and in recent days, sources have claimed they have been secretly seeing each other away from the show and have been spotted looking cosy on car rides together At the beginning of the series, they were said to have 'sent tongues wagging' between the cast and crew due to their sizzling chemistry, with viewers even spotting their close connection Jowita stepped as the co-host for the latest episode of Pete's podcast and fans were quick to show their appreciation for the pair, calling for he to become a permanent part of the team. Back in October, Pete shut down rumours of a romance between him and Jowita during a joint appearance on This Morning. Host Alison Hammond began their interview, by asking: 'Do you actually listen to the judges or are you just in your own little world?' Pete admitted: 'I'm just in my own little world, we're in a bit of a bubble when we dance!' causing Alison to jump to the opportunity to probe them about their rumoured relationship, cheekily asking: 'Is it a love bubble?' However, Pete insisted: 'It's not a love bubble unfortunately...' before poking fun at Alison, saying: 'I mean you came in early, that was about 30 seconds before you went in with it!' Alison laughed and confessed: 'I was straight in there!' as Pete continued: 'You were straight in there! No, it's not a love bubble, we have great chemistry because we've become such good friends.' Gesturing to Jowita, he gushed: 'She's one of the most amazing people I've ever met, genuinely, not just in the dancing side of things but outside of that and I think that helps us with the whole dancing thing.' Alison asked if the pair found the constant speculation about the nature of their relationship tiresome, to which Pete admitted: 'Yeah, it's always the same, I'm used to it.' Back in October, Pete shut down rumours of a romance between him and Jowita during a joint appearance on This Morning (pictured) Pete was also linked to Love Island star Maura, but in an exclusive interview with MailOnline ahead of her jungle stint, she insisted that she is 'single' Pete was also linked to Love Island star Maura, but in an exclusive interview with MailOnline ahead of her jungle stint, she insisted that she is 'single'. When asked if she is in a relationship with Pete, Maura said: 'I'm not. I've been on dates with many people. I mean, I date, but I'm very much single. Everyone goes on dates.' She added: 'It is quite scary going in later. They have all met and got to know each other. 'It's never easy being the newbie, but I am not a shy person, so I feel like I will be fine. It will be nice to bring some energy to the camp. 'I am single at the moment, but honestly no-one is going to fancy me in the jungle. Trust me!' She also insisted that Pete will not be flying to Australia to meet her across the famous I'm A Celeb bridge when her time on the show comes to an end. Maura shared: 'I know nothing, he's not said that to me anyway.' The pair were spotted kissing at numerous red carpet events such as the Pride of Britain Awards, with Maura previously speaking about how the pair have been friends for many years. Penny Lancaster is prepared to go to 'authorities' to discuss what happened during cut scenes with MasterChef's Gregg Wallace after the host stepped down from the BBC show amid a series of misconduct claims. Fans will remember Penny, 53, leaving Celebrity MasterChef in tears in 2021, after Gregg, 60, told her off with the 'serious' delay of her food and then refused to eat what she served. A spokesperson for Penny Lancaster told MailOnline: 'While Penny is happy to talk to the appropriate authorities should they feel she has anything useful to add, she will not be discussing the matter with any broadcaster or newspaper at this time.' Penny's husband Rod Stewart accused Gregg of humiliating Penny and then having the footage cut from the show on Instagram on Thursday, although the production company is yet to comment on the incident. The moment when Gregg refused to eat Penny's tartar sauce - blasting her for using 'whole eggs instead of egg yolks' - re-emerged after her husband Rod branded him a 'tubby bully'. Gregg also chastised Penny - who is a volunteer special police constable - for being late serving her food to critics in the quarter finals, leaving her in tears. Penny Lancaster is prepared to go to authorities to discuss what happened during cut scenes with MasterChef's Gregg Wallace after the host stepped down amid misconduct claims The BBC has since revealed that 13 people, including Kirsty Wark , have complained about his conduct while working with him over a 17-year period across five shows, from 2005 to 2022. Following Gregg's departure, Rod Stewart released a statement to Instagram branding him a 'tubby bully' Gregg, stepped away from MasterChef amid accusations of 'sexualised' behaviour during filming of the hit BBC show. Following the announcement, Sir Rod wrote: 'Good riddance Wallace... You humiliated my wife when she was on the show, but you had that bit cut out didn't you? You're a tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully. Karma got ya'. The BBC has revealed 13 people, including Kirsty Wark, have complained about his conduct while working with him over a 17-year period across five shows, from 2005 to 2022. Kirsty alleges Gregg told stories and jokes of a 'sexualised nature' in front of contestants and crew while filming Celebrity MasterChef in 2011 on two occasions and added his gags and comments were 'really, really in the wrong place'. 'There were two occasions in particular where he used sexualised language in front of a number of people and it wasn't as if anyone engaged with this. It was completely one-way traffic. But I think people were uncomfortable and something that I really did not expect to happen', she said. The BBC and MasterChef's production company, Banijay, declined to comment. In a resurfaced clip from Penny's time on the show, the former model was humiliated when her fried calamari and homemade tartar sauce went awry, with the judges refusing to taste what was brandied a 'raw egg/oil milkshake'. When initially tasked with making her own tartar sauce the former Loose Woman star seemed to believe she was getting off to a promising start, beaming with confidence. She quipped to the camera: 'I'm doing surprisingly well compared to what I imagined how I'd be doing. I don't want to slip up now.' But she spoke too soon as her sauce quickly went wrong as John delivered the devastating blow of declaring the sauce inedible. Fans of the show will remember Penny, 53, leaving Celebrity MasterChef in tears in 2021, after Gregg, 60, told her off with the 'serious' delay of her food and then refused to eat her food As chaos filled the kitchen during her stint on the show, Gregg told Penny: Mate, we cant be 10 minutes late, calling her delay 'serious' Fellow judge John Torode branded it a 'raw egg/oil milkshake' as Wallace informed her she had used whole eggs instead of egg yolks When she served, Penny said: 'That tartar sauce doesn't look like the tartar sauce I'd normally have', as Gregg informed her: 'You used whole eggs instead of egg yolks'. 'What I've got in here is a raw egg/oil milkshake. Unfortunately, I can't eat that,' co-judge John Torode added. However all wasn't lost for Penny as she received compliments on her calamari from the duo and later wowed the hosts with her chicken and coconut curry, green papaya chutney, grated apple, turnip and carrot salad as well as the coconut rice. Gregg showered her with praise at the time branding her 'a stand out cook', adding: 'I found myself going from bowl to bowl to bowl and finding it difficult to stop, you have had what we call in the industry and very good day.' However another clip showed a tense moment between Penny and Gregg as chaos ensued in the kitchen. In the episode where the model was later eliminated, Gregg told Penny: Mate, we cant be 10 minutes late, calling her delay 'serious'. Penny admitted she was so emotional: 'Everything piled on top of me. I just hope the wait was worth it,' she said. But unfortunately she was knocked out of the show. Post-results, a choked Penny said: 'It wouldve been incredible to get through to the semi finals but it wasnt meant to be. Absolutely no regrets whatsoever. Ive always loved to eat food, never loved to cook - and now I love both.' Rod and wife Penny pictured together in 2019 Penny is a volunteer special police constable BBC News said it had been told of other allegations, including the presenter 'talking openly about his sex life among others What has Gregg Wallace been accused of? 13 people who have told the BBC of what they consider inappropriate sexual comments made by Wallace across a range of shows over a 17-year period. These include: Kirsty Wark says that on two occasions Wallace relayed stories and jokes of a 'sexualised nature' in front of contestants on Celebrity MasterChef and crew and that she felt they were 'really, really in the wrong place'. Gregg would allegedly openly talk about his sex life on set Taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to 'give her a fashion show' Telling a junior female colleague he was not wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans' Allegedly entering the studio naked with his genitals covered with a sock and doing a 'silly dance' Mimicking a sex act close to a member of production staff He told 'disgusting sex-related jokes', including one while tasting a contestant's unusual dish; Advertisement Following Penny's eviction from the kitchen in 2021, she shared a cryptic post on Instagram hinting at 'a person's behaviour'. She wrote on Instagram: 'When you finally learn that a person's behaviour has more to do with their own struggle than it ever did with you, you learn grace'. On Thursday, Scottish broadcaster Aasmah Mir shared a picture of herself during the 2017 Celebrity MasterChef series - also with a cryptic message. It read: 'Always keep your receipts'. It is not yet known if she has also complained. The BBC claims Gregg walked away from MasterChef after BBC News sent a letter to his agent on Tuesday, setting out allegations from 13 people and giving him a right of reply. They say he was warned after a complaint was raised in 2018, but new historical claims emerged over the summer of 2024. Gregg is 'committed to fully cooperating throughout the process', the show's production company Banijay UK said. Gregg will be on BBC One as usual on Thursday night because MasterChef: The Professionals, which is already recorded, will transmit as planned and into December. MasterChef's Christmas specials will also still be broadcast. The chef has since thanked people for their support following accusations he mimicked a sex act and wandered into the MasterChef studio 'completely naked' apart from a 'sock covering his penis'. Gregg is accused mimicking a sex act in front of a member of the show's production staff who was kneeling down to clean his trousers during filming, according to the lurid and so-far unsubstantiated allegations. The grocer turned presenter is also accused of making 'disgusting sex-related jokes', including one about an 'aunt' while tasting a contestant's dish during the show. In a video posted on Instagram on Wednesday, he said: 'I would like to thank all the people getting in touch, reach out and showing their support. 'That's good of you, thank you very much.' The Daily Telegraph says it has spoken to a witness who claims to have seen both these alleged incidents. Gregg was also 'very touchy feely', the newspaper quotes the witness as saying. MailOnline has asked Gregg to comment on the claims, which if proven would likely end the BBC career of one its biggest names in yet another sex-related crisis to grip the corporation. Greg was at home in Kent on Thursday as it emerged he was under investigation The BBC has revealed 13 people, including Kirsty Wark (pictured in 2011), have complained about his conduct while working with him over a 17-year period across five shows Gregg, pictured with wife Anne-Marie Sterpini in October, has stepped away from MasterChef while he is investigated In October, Gregg denied claims he boasted about his sex life to a younger female BBC employee and took his top off in front of her while filming a game show John Torode failed to address his MasterChef co-host Gregg's exit from the show as she brushed off his announcement by posting a sweaty selfie Hours after the news broke that Gregg was stepping down from his position on the show, the TV presenter, 59, posted to his Instagram Stories on Thursday Banijay has not revealed the nature of the allegations, but last month it was claimed the grocer turned TV star had boasted about his sex life to a younger female BBC employee and took his top off in front of her. In a statement to the PA news agency Banijay UK said: 'This week the BBC received complaints from individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct while working with presenter Gregg Wallace on one of our shows. 'Whilst these complainants have not raised the allegations directly with our show producers or parent company Banijay UK, we feel that it is appropriate to conduct an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate. 'While this review is under way, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully cooperating throughout the process. 'Banijay UK's duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behaviour are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set. 'Whilst these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met, are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately.' The statement added: 'If anyone would like to talk to us or raise any issues or concerns, then they can contact speakup@banijayuk.com in confidence.' The BBC has said it takes any issues that are raised with it 'seriously'. A BBC spokesperson said: 'We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them. 'We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated. 'Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them.' In October, Gregg admitted he was feeling stressed amid allegations he made inappropriate sexual comments towards women - and his fellow judge John Torode's wife Lisa Faulkner alleged he 'repeatedly told rude jokes' on set. Lisa, 52, appeared on the series in 2010 where she went on to win the Celebrity MasterChef trophy - and opened up about her time on the show. Brookside and Holby City star Lisa told the Cheltenham Literature Festival how she would overhear the former greengrocer's jokes as she was prepping her dishes. She said: 'Gregg was telling I'm probably not allowed to say thisGregg just told rude joke after rude joke to the crew. 'You're just sitting there and if you're on the front bench just chopping away thinking, 'I've got ten minutes left', and he's saying, 'So this girl walked into a bar' 'And I'm going, 'Please, I don't want to hear this joke'.' Her husband John, 59, who was also on stage with her to promote their new book, told her: 'It's changed quite a lot really' MasterChef co-presenter Gregg Wallace filmed a live video message admitting he was feeling some 'stress' as newly-emerged allegations were made against him in October Actress Lisa Faulkner (centre) said Gregg (left) repeatedly made rude jokes to MasterChef crew members - she is married to his co-host John (right) Gregg has said in another Instagram video message that he has always been true to his wife Anne-Marie Sterpini - the couple are pictured in October 2019 Lisa said Gregg would tell 'rude joke after rude joke' on MasterChef John Torode failed to address his MasterChef co-host Gregg Wallace 's exit from the show as she brushed off his announcement by posting a sweaty selfie. Hours after the news broke that Gregg was stepping down from his position on the show, the TV presenter, 59, posted to his Instagram Stories on Thursday. But rather than sharing a statement about Gregg's exit, Torode instead posted a picture after a spin class at his local David Lloyd club. Torode, who was wearing a white T-shirt and with a grey towel thrown over his shoulder, smiled for the camera as he posed just moments after the gym session. He wrote: 'Another bloody great class... thank you!' It was previously reported by The Times back in May last year that he had allegedly offended female staff members at the Nestle UK factory in York with comments about their weight during a 'friendly' conversation. Wallace then denied that he left the BBC show Inside The Factory in March that year due to inappropriate comments made towards female staff. Appearing on Good Morning Britain in August 2023, he called the claims 'inaccurate'. The newspaper had quoted a source as saying: 'He was rude towards staff and continued to talk in a derogatory manner, especially to women.' The comments were reportedly non-sexual but deemed 'inappropriate' and a complaint was lodged with Voltage TV, the production company responsible for developing the show. Gregg quit BBC show Inside The Factory in March last year after allegations that he had been 'rude towards staff' and spoke to them in a 'derogatory manner, especially to women' Gregg was accompanied by his wife Anne-Marie Sterpini when he received an MBE honour for services to food and charity, at Windsor Castle in February 2022 When asked on GMB by Richard Madeley about his departure from the programme, Wallace responded by saying: 'There was an argument inside the factory, the reporting isn't accurate. 'There was an issue and I thought this is the perfect time to come out.' 'Offending people? No, no - if you look at the headlines, you can't see a story that matches those headlines.' Gregg also revealed that he also wanted to leave to help care for his son Sid, born in 2019, who is autistic. Explaining his home situation, he said: 'I've got a little boy called Sid who at the moment is non-verbal, he is still in nappies, he's got learning difficulties. Mum needed help there.' Following Penny's eviction from the kitchen in 2021, she shared a cryptic post on Instagram hinting at 'a person's behaviour' He revealed the demanding nature of the filming around the different factories across the country meant it made sense to give it up. Gregg added: 'It's completely inaccurate, I didn't challenge it. There was an issue, I don't want to discuss the issue but it wasn't what the papers said it was. 'There was nothing offensive to anybody that's just people guessing. It was a decent time to come out, I think.' Gregg wed Anne-Marie Sterpini, 22 years younger than him, at Hever Castle in Kent in August 2016, having met three years earlier. In October Gregg vehemently denied that he had made inappropriate sexual comments towards women, declaring that he would never 'flirt with' or 'hit on' another woman and saying: 'I didn't say anything sexual'. The stars were out in force to celebrate Diablo Wines' new sponsorship of The Devil Wears Prada Musical on Thursday. Leading the way were Made In Chelsea's Paris Smith and Strictly's Layton Williams, who attended Diablo's soiree at Londons Mandrake Hotel. Paris, 26, showcased her incredible figure in a sheer black dress that featured floral detailing and was layered over a slip. She added to the look with a myriad of silver jewellery while she infused a pop of colour with a slick of red lipstick. Layton, 30, caught the eye in a shaggy red jacket that he paired with black leather look trousers and brogues. The guests had a theme for the evening - dressing to match one of Diablos wines - with clothes provided by River Island. Made In Chelsea's Paris Smith (right) and Strictly's Layton Williams attended a soiree at Londons Mandrake Hotel to to celebrate Diablo Wines' new sponsorship of The Devil Wears Prada Musical The group started at the Mandrake before heading to a performance of The Devil Wears Prada The Musical where they watched on from the front row The Devil Wears Prada musical is based on Lauren Weisberger's best-selling 2003 novel and the 2006 blockbuster film that went on to gross $326.7 million worldwide against a budget of $35-41 million, on route to receiving two Academy Award nominations. The stage version stars Vanessa Williams as terrifying editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly, the role Meryl Streep made famous. The Desperate Housewives and Ugly Betty star has appeared several times on Broadway including a Tony-nominated performance in Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods in 2002 and Horton Foote's in 2013. Georgie Buckland as aspiring journalist Andy, first played by Anne Hathaway. Amy Di Bartolomeo takes on the role of assistant Emily, played by Emily Blunt. The show has its gala night at the Dominion Theatre on December 1, World Aids Day, with Sir Elton John, who wrote the music, and his husband David Furnish set to attend. The musical debuted in Chicago in 2022, and the cast are hoping it will next enjoy a New York run. 'Fresh out of college, aspiring journalist Andy scores a job at the prestigious Runway magazine working for fashion's most powerful and terrifying icon editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly,' the synopsis reads on the musical's website. 'Sacrificing her personal life to meet Miranda's impossible demands, Andy finds herself seduced by the glamorous world she once despised.'# Paris, 26, showcased her incredible figure in a sheer black dress that featured floral detailing and was layered over a slip (pictured with Sebastian O'Reilly) West End star and actor Layton, 30, caught the eye in a shaggy red jacket that he paired with black leather look trousers and brogues Olympian Perri Shakes Drayton exuded glamour in a red gown with voluminous sleeves The group started at the Mandrake before heading to a performance of The Devil Wears Prada The Musical where they watched on from the front row (L to R) Diana Gomez, Julia Hurley, Simon Atkins, Pips Taylor, Warren Atkins, Jules Cameron, Erica Bergsmeds and Perri It continues: 'How far will she go to succeed... and will it be worth selling her soul to get what shes always wanted?' 'Hilariously fun and fabulously stylish, The Devil Wears Prada tells an inspiring story about discovering what kind of person you truly want to be.' The new production is directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell with set design by Tim Hatley, costume design by Gregg Barnes, lighting design by Bruno Poet, sound design by Gareth Owen, and casting by Jill Green CDG. The musical features an original score by Elton John, lyrics by Shaina Taub, and book by Kate Wetherhead. The guests posed alongside the cast on the stage which includes Vanessa Williams (centre) as Miranda Priestly Tom Hardy was spotted being made camera ready on Friday, as he prepared to film scenes for Guy Ritchie's upcoming TV series, The Associate, in London - just days after the set was robbed for the second time. And while the Hollywood star, 47, is known for his dashing good looks, the crew were on hand to make sure his makeup and costume were perfect before calling action. Tom could be seen getting into character for the big-budget gangster series, while the wardrobe team helped him into a green zip-up jacket. The actor was then surrounded by the makeup and hair team, who worked to quickly powder his face and top up his lip balm. While director Guy soon made his way over to chat to his star before the scene, and give him some last-minute notes and direction. The Associate marks the second collaboration between the director and the Venom star, after the pair previously worked together for 2008 crime thriller RocknRolla. Tom Hardy was spotted being made camera ready on Friday, as he prepared to film scenes for Guy Ritchie's upcoming TV series, The Associate, in London - just days after the set was robbed for the second time And while the Hollywood star, 47, is known for his dashing good looks, the crew were on hand to make sure his makeup and costume were perfect before calling action Tom could be seen getting into character for the big-budget gangster series, while the wardrobe team helped him into a green zip-up jacket Tom has also signed on to executive producer the Paramount+ show alongside Guy, Jez Butterworth and Kris Thykier. As well as Tom, the star-studded cast also includes Oscar winning actress Helen Mirren and former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan. They play married couple Maeve and Conrad Harrigan, who together head one of the most successful organised Irish crime families in London. While Tom plays Harry Da Souza, a dangerous 'fixer' who is also on call for the Harrigans to help them clear up any problems. The synopsis of the show describes it as the story of 'two warring families based in London whose enterprises stretch all corners of the globe and the fiercely loyal fixer charged with protecting one of them at all costs.' However, production has got off to a rocky start with the London set being robbed twice in the past week, with thieves said to have made off with 1million worth of camera kit. The first robbery took place last week, while production crew and security were on site, as two men in Toyota Prius supposedly distracted people by asking for directions before speeding off with the expensive equipment. Speaking about the incident, a source told The Sun: 'Their questions distracted people and at that moment, the other bloke jumped out and grabbed a bag of camera equipment that was on the side of the road. The actor was then surrounded by the makeup and hair team, who worked to quickly to powder his face and top up his lip balm While director Guy soon made his way over to chat to his star before the scene, and give him some last-minute notes and direction The Associate marks the second collaboration between the director and the Venom star, after the pair previously worked together for 2008 crime thriller RocknRolla Tom has also signed on to executive producer the Paramount+ show alongside Guy, Jez Butterworth and Kris Thykier The star-studded cast also includes Oscar winning actress Helen Mirren (left) and former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan (right) playing married couple Maeve and Conrad Harrigan, who together head one of the most successful organised Irish crime families in London. While Tom plays Harry Da Souza, a dangerous 'fixer' who is also on call for the Harrigans to help them clear up any problems 'He jumped back in the car and they sped off. The security guards started going bananas because they'd basically been robbed in broad daylight. It was pretty embarrassing and a costly mistake. The kit on those films isn't cheap.' Guy reportedly brought in different security to 'tighten things up' after sacking the previous firm, to ensure there would be no more break-ins. However, the Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels director is said to to be furious after the thieves returned and once again succeeded in stealing thousands worth of expensive equipment. An insider told The Sun: 'These guys are scum and after the first robbery they came back and did it all over again. The second time around they made off with camera lenses and some kit that was worth massive money. 'They'll be making a lot of cash if they can somehow sell it on. The fact the production has been caught out twice makes a total mockery of the security firm and they have been given their marching orders. 'The Associate is being filmed in and around the city streets and naturally there are risks, but this is hugely embarrassing. Guy is confident it won't throw filming off but it's been a hard lesson for everyone involved.' MailOnline contacted representatives for Guy Ritchie for comment. The Snatch filmmaker will be counting on the show to be a hit following the success of his drama The Gentleman, which was released earlier this year. Back in July, the hit series broke record views on Netflix after it reached 44 million views in just four weeks. Production has got off to a rocky start with the London set being robbed twice in the past week, with thieves said to have made off with 1million worth of camera kit Guy reportedly brought in different security to 'tighten things up' after sacking the previous firm, and is said to to be furious after the thieves returned and once again succeeded in stealing thousands worth of expensive equipment It seems Netflix bosses are eager to bring a sequel to screens - potentially reuniting the main stars which include Theo James, Kaya Scodelario, Ray Winstone, as well as Daniel Ings and Vinnie Jones. The action comedy show is reportedly 'already in talks to deliver a second series' - as 'Netflix chiefs are keen for a sequel'. 'It's going to be quite a challenge getting the same actors back together, but Netflix chiefs are keen for a sequel,' a source told The Sun. 'Another hurdle will be securing Guy for the series as he already has several movie projects in the pipeline this year. But the success of series one has already convinced them there's huge potential for a follow-up.' Jesse Tyler Ferguson revealed that he rushed one of his sons to the hospital on Thanksgiving. On Thursday, the Modern Family actor, 49, took to Instagram to post a photo of himself sitting in a hospital bed with one of his sons who lay ill on his chest. The father-son duo were surrounded by medical equipment and covered by a blanket. He did not specify if it was son Beckett Mercer, 4, or Sullivan Sully Louis, 2 who he shares with husband Justin Mikita that needed emergency medical attention. Luckily, the youngster is 'fine' now and out of the New York City hospital. The star also explained that his Modern Family costar Julie Bowen also made a trip to the medical center for her own son to receive care. 'I have received a lot of parenting wisdom from @itsjuliebowen so seeing I wasn't the only one with a kid in the ER on Thanksgiving was comforting. (He's also fine.),' he penned in the caption. 'Thank you to the kind folks at Lennox Health. NYC really DOES have the best healthcare.' Jesse Tyler Ferguson revealed that he rushed one of his sons to the hospital on Thanksgiving, he did not specify if it was son Beckett Mercer, 4, or Sullivan Sully Louis, 2 In her own post, Bowen shared an impressive snap of one of her teenage sons standing in the fog as the word 'Emergency' glowed in a fluorescent red light. 'Its not a holiday without a trip to the ER. (Hes fine, btw) HAPPY THANKSGIVING,' she wrote below the snap. The actress shares Oliver, 17, John 15, and Gustav, 15, with her ex-husband Scott Phillips. Ferguson's post earned a like from his costar Sofia Vergara who wrote 'Oh no' in the comments section. And fans rushed to the comments to pen their support for the doting father and express their well wishes for his youngster, wishing him a speedy recovery from the undisclosed illness. 'Sending love this difficult week. Hope your son has a speedy recovery ,' one wrote. Another chimed in, 'Oh my goodness! This is so much! So glad he is ok. Hope you are too. .' On Black Friday, the Missoula, Montana native also took to his Instagram Story to share a photo of his four-year-old dressed in a suit while peering our of a window. 'Thankful for friends who are helping us build memories for our kids,' he penned above the snap. Ferguson and Mikita welcomed both of their sons via surrogacy Beckett Mercer was born in July 2020 and Sullivan Louis in November 2022. Back in April, the actor told People: 'We had a wonderful surrogate who carried both Beckett and Sullivan. We are so grateful for her and her family. We became friends with her and her husband.' The pair previously revealed that they were raising their sons as feminists. On Black Friday, the Missoula, Montana native also took to his Instagram Story to share a photo of his four-year-old dressed in a suit while peering our of a window Bowen shared an impressive snap of one of her teenage sons standing in the fog as the word 'Emergency' glowed in a fluorescent red light. On Thursday, the actor revealed that his mother had passed away earlier this week on the 25th, sharing a throwback photo of the two when Ferguson was a young child He shared a brief tribute to his mother but did not disclose the cause of her death; seen in November Ferguson and Mikita welcomed both of their sons via surrogacy Beckett Mercer was born in July 2020 and Sullivan Louis in November 2022; seen in November On Thursday, the actor revealed that his mother had passed away earlier this week on the 25th, sharing a throwback photo of the two when Ferguson was a young child. He shared a brief tribute to his mother but did not disclose the cause of her death. Ferguson recalled: 'This photo of me taking my first steps away from my mom's opened arms is one of my favorite pictures. In recent days I helped my mom take some of her last steps. We said goodbye to her on Tuesday November 25. 'Today I give thanks that I was able to be with her in her final moments on this earth. You only get one mom and I'm glad she was mine. My arms will always be open for you. RIP Mom.' Her first child, Natasha, was just 11 when her mom tragically passed away aged 43 Natalie Wood's daughter has opened up about the impact of her mother's death and why she thinks people still feel protective of her despite it being more than 40 years since her tragic passing. The actress was just 43 years old when she drowned to death after falling from a yacht off Catalina Island during Thanksgiving weekend in 1981, and just this week an author has begged the Los Angeles' District Attorney to reopen the investigation into her death. In an interview with People, Natasha Gregson Wagner - who was just 11 years old when her mom died on November 29, 1981 - said that she was 'proud' of her mother for having such an 'impact on people.' 'Its just unbelievable that there's a relevancy to her all these years later,' Natasha said. 'And that people really feel that they knew her or that they feel this protectiveness toward her. 'Maybe it was all meant to be in some weird way. Maybe her ability to touch people is larger with her not being here on earth.' Explaining why she thinks fans feel such a connection to her mother, Natasha continued: 'I think it's that they knew her since she was a little girl. 'I think that so many of her characters, she embodied so much humanity. So maybe people feel almost like I feel about her, almost parental. I feel maternal about my mom. Natalie, who married Robert Wagner twice, started acting at the age of four and was given a costarring role when she was eight in the 1947 movie Miracle on 34th Street. Natalie Wood's daughter has opened up about why she thinks people still feel protective of her despite it being more than 40 years since her death Natasha Gregson Wagner (left) said she's 'proud' of her mother for having such an 'impact on people.' Pictured right with her mom in 1970 Referring to some of her mother's most memorable roles in films such as Rebel Without a Cause, Splendor in the Grass, and West Side Story, Natasha said: 'Some of these movies have changed people's lives.' Natasha's biological father is Natalie's second husband the late British producer Richard Gregson, but after her mother's death, she was raised by Robert Wagner - who Natalie had remarried in July 1972. Speaking about Robert getting older, Natasha said: 'I'm more aware that my dad is going to be 95, and he will be my last parent to lose because I lost my Daddy Gregson in 2019. 'I think when you live longer than your parent, all of it continually shifts,' she continued, before referencing her own 12-year-old daughter Clover, whom she shares with her husband, Barry Watson. Natasha is teaching her only child about 'Grandma Natalie' and said: 'It's just really amazing for me to help Clover understand, help myself understand, and to turn my grief into something positive.' Her comments come just days after writer Marti Rulli said bombshell new accounts given to her by eyewitnesses allegedly point the finger at Natalie's spouse Robert, 94. Marti claims that witnesses said that Natalie was screaming for her life whilst hurling accusations at her notoriously hot-headed husband in the hours before her death. 'The case will remain open as long as Robert Wagner is alive because he is the suspect,' Marti told RadarOnline.com. Natalie pictured here with her husband Robert Wagner in the seventies. The pair married twice, once in 1957 and then again in 1972 Natashan seen here in 1999 with Robert, who raised her following her mother's tragic death 'I still hold hope the Los Angeles DA will see fit to let the strong previous evidence, and the new evidence I have gathered, bring justice for Natalie's murder.' The author plans to disclose the new evidence in a forthcoming book called Natalie Wood and the Devil She Knew. She explained that the witnesses, who include a teenager who was among the last to see the actress alive, came forward after the investigation into her death was reopened in 2011. In 2012, Natalie's cause of death was changed from 'accidental drowning' to 'drowning and other undetermined factors' - decades after cops cut Robert loose as a suspect. Jacob Elordi has sparked backlash from fans after stepping out with new facial hair. The Australian actor, 27, debuted his bushy beard at the Marrakech International Film Festival on Friday. After red carpet photos from the event hit social media, fans weren't afraid to express their thoughts on Elordi's new look. 'Shave that!' shrieked one fan on X, formerly Twitter, while another wrote, 'TRIM IT TRIM IT TRIM IT!' A third questioned, 'How did his hair grow so long so quickly?' Another wrote, 'This better be for a movie role because WTF is that??!' It's unclear whether Elordi's new look is for an acting role or not, but he does have several films on the horizon. Elordi was recently revealed to have been cast in the upcoming adaptation of Emily Bronte's classic, Wuthering Heights. Jacob Elordi sparked backlash from fans after stepping out with new facial hair at the Marrakech International Film Festival on Friday The Australian actor is pictured with his usual fresh-faced look in 2023 He will take on the leading role of Heathcliff while Margot Robbie will portray the character of Catherine Earnshaw. However, shortly after the casting of Emerald Fennell's upcoming adaptation was announced, fans slammed the decision. Some took to social media over the 'whitewashing' of the leading role of Heathcliff - who is described as 'dark skinned' in the novel. One wrote, 'Guys I can ONLY assume that Emerald Fennell isn't actually adapting Wuthering Heights...' 'She's just using it as inspiration and it's loosely based on and the only similarities are the characters' names and it's set in this time period and it's a different story entirely right?' Another added, 'Truly the worst casting I've ever perceived, I'm gagged by how Emerald Fennell is committed to never serving.' One social media user penned, 'So what we've learned is that emerald fennell has not read wuthering heights.' Earlier this month, Jacob deactivated his Instagram, leaving fans speculating that he might be cast in the American Psycho remake. 'Shave that!' shrieked one fan on X, while another wrote, 'TRIM IT TRIM IT TRIM IT!' In October, Italian director Luca Guadagnino announced he would be making a new take on the 1991 novel of the same name written by Bret Easton Ellis. The book was previously adapted to film in 2000 by Mary Harron and starred Christian Bale in the lead role. Soon after the new film was announced, the 27-year-old actor deleted his social media account, leading to rumours he may play the lead of Patrick Bateman. Fans seemed quite taken with the idea of the Melbourne-born actor playing the yuppy serial killer. 'He's going to play the lead in American psycho isn't he?' wrote one fan on X. Others chimed in to agree, with one writing, 'that's what I expect lol.' 'Perfect role for him,' said another. Jacob's Instagram account deactivation has been 'surprising' for many of his fans since he is often very active on the social media platform. 'That's surprising! Jacob Elordi has such a strong presence on social media. I wonder what prompted the decision,' another fan on X commented. Costco shoppers are about to see an entire section disappear from all stores. From January, the wholesale retailer will stop stocking books all year round. The company announced the change in June, throwing in the towel in its long-running battle with Amazon over book selling. The retailer had been in a battle with the tech giant since it began selling books online in 1995. It means that after the holidays, shoppers will see the layout off stores redesigned without a dedicated book section. Books have already been removed from the shelves of stores in Alaska and Hawaii, with other states following suit come January. The retailer will now only stock books during the holiday period from September to December, with occasional sales in the remainder of the year. Costco claimed the move away from books is due to the cost of staffing required to stock them, according to executives. From January, the wholesale retailer will stop stocking books all year round (Pictured: A book section in an Illinois store) The extra labor compared to other products comes from the time it takes to lay out books every Tuesday as new ones are released, as well as return unsold copies to publishing houses. Given its scale, Costco would often order tens of thousands of copies of a book it was stocking. For major best sellers, it could stock hundreds of thousands of copies per title. The move comes as a blow to publishers who are battling stagnant sales while increasing numbers of customers are buying books online from sites such as Amazon. 'Costco across the country was a big outlet for books,' Robert Gottlieb, chair of Trident Media Group, told The New York Times earlier this year. 'There are now fewer and fewer places to buy books in a retail environment,' he explained. 'It's an easy place to just grab the latest in a series you're reading or pick up a book for your kid,' Brenna Connor, the director of US books at Circana told the outlet. Given its scale, Costco would often order tens of thousands of copies of a book it was stocking (Pictured: A book section in a California store) The retailer had been in a battle with Amazon since the tech giant began selling books online in 1995 This comes as Costco has begun cracking down on its membership policy and enforcing a card scan with identification before being allowed entry. The retailer announced earlier this year that scanning devices will be placed in all warehouses, and they have already been spotted in a number of locations. 'Additionally, if your membership card does not have a photo, please be prepared to show your valid photo ID. We encourage you to stop by the membership counter to have a photo taken to have on your card,' a statement from Costco read. Those hoping to shop will now need to be accompanied by a member instead of simply holding the card - meaning parents could no longer send their kids on a Costco run on their own. Previously, customers walking into their local Costco weren't necessarily stopped by an employee to check if they were a member. The wholesale retailer also upped its membership prices in September for the first time in seven years. The standard membership increased by $5, taking it from $60 to $65 a year. Encroachments on migration corridors, poaching and deadly interactions with humans and infrastructure are creating a precarious future for these gentle giants According to the report, The Status of Elephants in India 2022-23, there has been a nearly 20 per cent decline in Indias elephant population between 2017 and 2022. Authorities have dubbed the printed version, compiled by the Wildlife Institute of India, which is under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, as an interim report because census data from the countrys north-eastern part have yet to be completed. The final report will be released by the end of June, 2025. The final figures from the northeastern part are unlikely to make a significant difference to the percentage of decline. This is because of the pattern of development in the region where, according to the report, elephant populations are scattered in a mosaic dominated by human habitations, tea plantations, mines, oil refineries and linear infrastructure (roads and railway lines), which makes their movements and lives precarious. Poaching for ivory as another menace. More or less the same causes account for the challenges elephants face in other parts of the country. Not only are their habitats encroached upon, the 88 elephant corridors, through which the behemoths migrate for food and water, are encroached upon by human settlements and have railway lines and roads running across them. While efforts have been made to ensure safe passage by building over-bridges for elephants to cross railway lines, most elephants do not use them and cross roads and railway lines on foot. Not surprisingly, over 200 of them have perished in train accidents over the last 10 years. Their habitats being encroached upon, and movements under pressure, elephants are migrating to new areas abutting human settlements. Human- elephant conflicts have consequently increased steeply, with the number of people killed increasing from 457 in 2018-19 to 605 in 2022-23. Three hundred elephants have been killed in the last three years. They also suffer casualties as offshoots of wider human-animal conflict. The killings are often done with appalling cruelty. On August 15, 2024, a cow elephant died in agony in Jhargram, West Bengal, after being pierced by a flaming spear by a band of about 35 men forming a hulla (loud noise) partythe nomenclature given to groups, armed with mashaals (flaming torches) and tasked by state forest departments with driving wild elephants away from human habitations. In this case, the party was reportedly mobilised by West Bengals Forest department to chase away a herd of six elephants which had entered a human habitation and killed a senior citizen. The cow elephant continued to be hit even after she was wounded. Moving forward, dragging her hind feet and writhing in agony, she finally collapsed and died eight hours later despite the forest departments efforts to treat her. A report by Jayashree Nandi and Joydeep Thakur in The Hindustan Times datelined August 20, 2024, quoted a representative of the Human & Environment Alliance League (HEAL), a Kolkata-based non-profit organisation, as saying, Hulla drives happen in mob situations The elephants suffer emotional trauma because of these invasive measures, in addition to physical distress. There is an urgent need to completely stop the use of mashaals by state authorities to drive [out] elephants. The report quoted an environmentalist, who had asked not to be named, as saying, that the whole idea behind having a hulla party was to chase elephants away by using light. We know that animals are instinctively scared of fire. But we have seen in the past that hulla groups, employed by the forest department, are in [an] inebriated condition and resort to all kinds of horrific torture. Locals are extremely disturbed about this. Moreover, all corridors that can help these elephants escape are now encroached upon so conflict is rising. Sometime, death is a collateral development. On May 27, 2020, a pregnant elephant collapsed in Velliyar river in Keralas Palakkad district and died, after having stood there since May 25. According to the post-mortem report on the tragedy, the immediate cause of her death was drowning. On May 12, 2020, she had tried to eat a coconut that had been stuffed with explosives to kill wild boars that ate up crops. The result was serious, incapacitating wounds in her oral cavity. This, the post-mortem report continued, resulted in excruciating pain and distress in the region and prevented the animal from taking food and water for nearly two weeks. Severe debility and weakness, in turn, resulted in a final collapse in water that led to drowning. According to a report by Sujit Bisoyi in The Indian Express (datelined November 18, 2024,) , three elephants, including a calf, died after falling into an electrified trap, laid by poachers for killing wild boars, in Odishas Sambalpur district. The question is: should wild boars be killed in this terrible way? The human-animal conflict is making demons out of people. Meanwhile, there is good news from across the border. Under the auspices of Four Paws, a global animal welfare organisation, Madhubala, an African elephant, was shifted on November 26, 2024, from the Karachi Zoo to Karachi Safari Park, to join her two sisters, Malika and Sonia, in open air. One hopes, brought from Africa when young, they live happily hereafter. (The author is Consulting Editor, The Pioneer; the views expressed are personal) As alliances between Eastern nations grow stronger, the American-led global order faces an existential challengeone that could redefine the worlds balance of power What if everything youve been told about global conflicts is a carefully crafted narrative, designed to obscure the true motives behind the wars shaping our world? What if the West, in its pursuit of global dominance, has been engineering not only conflicts but also economic crises to maintain an order that ensures its supremacy? From secret military operations to covert sabotage of vital infrastructure, the unsettling reality is far darker and more strategic than were led to believe. Take, for example, the US Space Forces secret X-37B spacecraft, a classified project performing manoeuvres unknown to the public. Officially seen as a technological marvel for testing new military systems, the X-37B reveals the Wests obsession with space as the final frontier of warfarea new realm for control, surveillance, and preparation for conflict beyond terrestrial borders. In Europe, Germany is quietly preparing for a war that might never be fought, but whose consequences will be felt across generations. The German government has begun drawing up plans for the construction and expansion of bunkers, turning buildingsmetro stations, and underground car parksinto fortified shelters in case of conflict. The reasons for these preparations are not openly discussed, but anyone with a cursory knowledge of geopolitics can understand the strategic intent. At the heart of this is the fear of Russia, a fear that has taken root despite decades of diplomatic agreements and economic cooperation. But the true motive behind these moves, hidden beneath the veil of defence, is not just survival. Its about keeping Europe within the American orbitcontrolling the narrative and preventing the rise of any bloc that might dare to challenge the order established in the aftermath of the Cold War. As the West tightens its grip on the war in Ukraine, a much larger game is unfoldingone rooted in economic sabotage, echoing dark chapters from WWI and WWII. During WWI, the British naval blockade led to over 750,000 German deaths from starvation, while in WWII, both Axis and Allied powers exploited occupied economies. The US used sanctions and trade embargoes to cripple Germany, Japan, and Italy, before later pushing the Marshall Plan to prevent Soviet expansion. WWIIs hidden agenda was to establish a new global economic order, cemented by institutions like the IMF and World Bank. Today, the destruction of the Nord Stream pipelines, a symbol of the Wests desperation, exemplifies the lengths to which the West will go to control European energy resources. While it harms the German public and European markets, the US and its allies benefit from the uncertainty and dependence on their energy exports. This isnt a mere accident; its economic warfare to weaken Russia and prevent Germany from growing too independent. A fragmented Europe is far easier to control than a self-sufficient one.But the true target of the Wests fear is not merely Russia. It is the potential unity between China, India and Russia. These nations, once seen as geopolitical rivals, are now forging alliances that threaten to upend the balance of power in a way that the West cannot tolerate. The prospect of India, the worlds most populous country, rising to become the third-largest economy in the world in the next few years is a nightmare for the West. India, with its growing manufacturing sector, burgeoning technological innovation, and rapidly expanding middle class, represents an existential threat to the economic order that has been so carefully crafted by the West over the last century. But theres something even more dangerous: the potential for India, China, and Russia to align themselves strategically, creating a bloc that could challenge the very foundations of the American-led global system. This is not mere conjecture. The relationship between these nations is growing stronger by the day, driven by mutual interests in trade, energy, and security. Indias role as a bridge between the East and West has already made it a key player in the global economy, and its rise is inevitableunless, of course, the West can sabotage it. From the ongoing conflict with Pakistan to the subtle manoeuvring within Indias border countries, the Wests tactics are clear: prevent India from becoming too powerful, too independent. The rise of India would disrupt the existing order, unseating the US dollars global dominance, challenging the Wests monopoly over technological innovation, and upsetting the very structure of global trade. For years, the West has maintained a delicate balance by keeping China, India, and Russia in a state of disunity, playing them off each other whenever possible. This disunity has been the foundation of Western power in the modern world, preventing the rise of any one nation that could unite the East and threaten the Wests economic hegemony. The more these nations grow closer, the more the West fears losing its control over global affairs. A united East is the ultimate nightmare, and the West will stop at nothing to ensure it never happens. Economic sanctions, covert operations, and political manipulation are but tools in the Wests arsenal, deployed to divide and conquer, ensuring that peace between China, Russia, and India remains an unthinkable prospect. But what if India, China, and Russia do unite? What if they form a powerful bloc, in addition to BRICS but similar to Five Eyes or AUKUS, one that can rival the economic and military might of the West? The very notion of peace in this regionthe idea that these nations could cooperate, trade, and build mutual truststrikes at the heart of Western strategy. Peace in the East is the Wests greatest fear, and the possibility of such a peace emerging in the wake of current geopolitical turmoil is something the West cannot allow. It is the very foundation of the Western empire that stands on the brink of collapse, should this unity ever come to pass. If unity is ensured, the East may finally break free from the chains of Western manipulation, and the world may look very different from how it does today. The question remains: can the West survive in a world where it no longer controls the narrative, the economy, or the very fate of nations? Only time will tell, but the signs are already clearif the West doesnt change its course, it will be its actions that lead to its downfall. (The writer is a journalist and author; Views expressed are personal) A new Oxford University chancellor has been elected recently, months after the controversial exit of its former Vice-Chancellor. The 800-year old title is now passed on to William Hague, who previously led the Conservative Party in the UK. He was elected through an online vote conducted by staff and alumni of the prestigious university. Hague will take over Chris Patten, who took the position in 2003 and was the last British governor of Hong Kong. Both are considered politically powerful by looking at their political parties before their seat. For now, Patten is still the Oxford Chancellor as Hague will formally assume the position next year to start his 10-year term. Oxford University Chancellor Title According to US News, the chancellor position at Oxford University is more than just a title. It was the earliest role, dating to the 13th century, in the history of universities. Hague's appointment is important not only due to his strong political background, but because of the respect he earned from Oxford's staff and alumni, defeating other high-profile contenders like Peter Mandelson and Elish Angiolini. His election highlights the trust the university community places in his leadership. To add to his credentials, Hague himself is an Oxford graduate and began his political career at the university and later became the leader of the Conservative Party at just 36 years old. Hague expressed deep gratitude, calling this role "the greatest honor of my life." Hague underlined the importance for Oxford's future: that what happens in the coming decade will be crucial for success in the UK. As an upcoming new chancellor of Oxford University, Hague will now assume a ceremonial role, which means he will be responsible for overseeing major events, including graduation ceremonies and will also assist in the election of the vice-chancellor who is in charge of daily university operations. His re-election is set to influence US immigration, trade and foreign policies while creating ripple effects across the globe Donald Trump has been re-elected as President of the United States, defeating Kamala Harris in a closely watched election. His return to power has sparked global speculation about potential shifts in US economic and social policies. Trumps previous tenure was marked by transformative changes, and his America First doctrine remains central to his administration. The Rise of Nationalism Globally, nationalism is surging amid challenges like globalisation, terrorism, religious extremism and economic upheaval. Trumps victory reflects this trend. During his first term, Trump emphasised reviving American manufacturing, limiting Chinese imports, and reforming immigration policies to protect American jobs. His proposal to build a US-Mexico border wall became symbolic of his immigration stance. Trump also advocated reducing costly military interventions abroad and fostered a controversial friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, breaking traditional US-Russia dynamics. These policies resonated with a significant portion of the electorate, reinforcing Trumps popularity. Nationalism is also gaining traction in Europe. Post-World War II liberalism and globalisation have given way to a nationalist wave, driven by economic concerns and fears of societal erosion. Britains Brexit epitomised this shift, and several European nations, including Italy, Finland and Hungary, now have nationalist governments. Even traditionally liberal countries like Germany and France are witnessing growing influence from nationalist parties. Rising extremism, as seen in recent violent incidents in France and England, has further fueled public discontent with liberal immigration policies, reinforcing nationalist sentiments. Implications of victory of Nationalism Trumps win represents a significant setback for liberal ideologies, including Wokeism and leftist movements. His administrations emphasis on American nationalism underscores a rejection of policies perceived as prioritising minority appeasement or extremism. While Trump has praised the contributions of Hindus in America, he has also vowed to take a hardline stance against extremism, including deporting Muslim immigrants linked to groups like Hamas. The Biden administrations perceived support for liberal and leftist ideologies contrasts with Trumps firm nationalist agenda. His America First slogan signifies a broader rejection of extremism and a commitment to protecting US interests. This ideological divide is emblematic of a global realignment favoring nationalism. Elon Musks Role Elon Musk, a billionaire industrialist, played a pivotal role in the elections. Musk, a former critic of Trump, became a vocal supporter due to his personal experiences with Wokeism, particularly involving his family. Californias Woke-influenced education policies led to a gender transition for Musks son, causing a rift within his family. Disillusioned, Musk resolved to challenge Wokeism. After acquiring Twitter (now X), Musk reinstated Trumps account and actively supported his campaign. Musks actions symbolise a broader cultural battle against Woke ideologies, aligning with Trumps nationalist narrative. Trumps Victory and Its Impact on India Trumps presidency has significant implications for India. His tough stance on China aligns with Indias interests, potentially encouraging global firms to view India as a manufacturing alternative. This could bolster Indias Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. However, Trumps protectionist policies, such as potential tariff hikes and restrictions on H-1B visas, might pose challenges for Indian exporters and IT firms. Trumps administration may also bring geopolitical benefits for India. Strengthening ties with both the US and Russia could enhance Indias global positioning. While Trumps climate change stance might hinder global environmental goals, his leadership could contribute to reducing extremism and terrorism, fostering stability. Conclusion Trumps re-election reflects a global shift toward nationalism, driven by dissatisfaction with liberal policies and rising concerns about extremism. His presidency promises significant changes in US domestic and foreign policies, emphasising economic protectionism, immigration reform, and geopolitical realignments. For India, Trumps leadership presents both opportunities and challenges, shaping its role in the evolving global landscape. (The author is Professor, PGDAV College, University of Delhi; views are personal) The arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh underscores the persistent challenges faced by its religious minorities The recent arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a prominent Hindu monk and spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote, has spotlighted the precarious situation of religious minorities in Bangladesh. Das, known for his advocacy on behalf of Hindu communities, was apprehended on sedition charges after a religious flag was reportedly hoisted above the Bangladeshi national flag during a rally in Chittagong. This incident has sparked heated debates, both domestically and internationally, about the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh and its implications for regional stability. Chinmoy Krishna Das, a senior figure within ISKCON and leader of the Sanatan Jagaran Mancha, has been vocal about the rights of Hindus in Bangladesh. His arrest follows an incident on October 25, when the ISKCON flag was placed above the Bangladeshi national flag at a protest. The act, perceived by authorities as a threat to national sovereignty, led to sedition charges under Bangladeshi law. While the government views the flag incident as an affront to national integrity, critics argue that the charges are politically motivated, aiming to suppress minority voices. Das and the Sanatan Jagaran Mancha have articulated an eight-point agenda, emphasising structural reforms to protect minorities in Bangladesh. They are demanding a dedicated ministry for minority affairs and establishment of a tribunal to expedite justice for crimes against minorities and other safeguards for preserving their identity. Their demands reflect a long-standing plea for systemic changes to safeguard minority communities, which constitute approximately 10 per cent of Bangladeshs population.The arrest has triggered widespread criticism. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina condemned the governments action, calling for the monks immediate release and emphasising the importance of religious freedom. The incident also drew attention to recent waves of violence against minorities, including the burning of a Hindu temple in Chittagong and attacks on other religious groups. This episode has exposed the interim governments struggle to maintain law and order, with opposition leaders accusing it of targeting minorities to divert attention from economic mismanagement and political instability. While New Delhi often raises concerns about the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh, it must tread cautiously to avoid exacerbating tensions. Indias position must be consistent. While advocating for minority rights abroad, India must also reflect on its domestic challenges. Rising incidents of communal violence and rhetoric against minorities in India undermine its credibility on the global stage. By ensuring that its own minorities feel secure and respected, India can lead by example and strengthen its moral authority when engaging with Bangladesh. For Bangladesh, the way forward lies in embracing its pluralistic heritage and ensuring that all its citizens, regardless of faith, feel safe and valued. Only then can it achieve sustainable stability and international respect it deserves. External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Friday said the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government is responsible for protecting Bangladesh citizens, including its minorities. He made this assertion in a statement in response to a question in the Lok Sabha about violence against minorities, including Hindus, in Bangladesh. Jaishankar said the government has seen several reports of incidents of violence against Hindus and other minorities since August 2024, when Sheikh Hasina was forced to flee Bangladesh. He added that reports of attacks on temples and puja mandaps also emerged during the recent Durga Puja festival in Bangladesh. Government have taken a serious note of these incidents and shared its concerns with the Government of Bangladesh, Jaishankar said in his reply. The minister also said that the High Commission of India in Dhaka continues to monitor the situation related to the minorities in Bangladesh closely. The primary responsibility for the protection of life and liberty of all citizens of Bangladesh, including minorities, rests with the Government of Bangladesh," he pointed out. This statement comes amid protests and unrest in Bangladesh over the arrest of former priest of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Bangladesh Chinmoy Krishna Das on sedition charges. Das is accused of hoisting a saffron flag above the Bangladesh national flag during a rally in October. Several political leaders in India, including those in the opposition, have voiced concern over the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das and issued an appeal to the Indian government to intervene in the matter. Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina also backed Hindu monk, Chinmoy Krishna Das, saying he was "unjustly arrested" and must immediately be released. Hasina has also called upon the Bangladesh government to protect religious and ethnic minorities that have braved violence since her ouster from power in August. Meanwhile, India on Friday said the interim government in Bangladesh must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities as it expressed serious concern over the "surge" of extremist rhetoric and increasing incidents of violence in the neighbouring country. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India has consistently and strongly raised with the Bangladeshi government the threats and "targeted attacks" on Hindus and other minorities. "Our position on the matter is clear -- the interim government must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities," he said. Jaiswal was replying to a question on the situation at his weekly media briefing. "We are concerned at the surge of extremist rhetoric, increasing incidents of violence and provocation. These developments cannot be dismissed only as media exaggeration," he said. "We once again call upon Bangladesh to take all steps for the protection of minorities," he added. On the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das by Bangladeshi authorities, Jaiswal said India has noted that the legal process in the case is underway. As far as cases against individuals are concerned, we have noted that legal processes are underway," he said. We expect that these processes will deal with the case in a just, fair and transparent manner, ensuring full respect for the legal rights of all concerned," he added. Setting the tone for the upcoming high-octane Delhi Assembly polls, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government during a Assembly session. He called the city a gangster capital, blaming the deteriorating law and order situation. The first day of the session ended with AAP supremo slamming Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the increasing instances of extortion related firing at businessmen in the capital. Kejriwal expressed grave concern over the safety of Delhiites. What is Amit Shah doing? Shootouts are happening openly on a daily basis. It feels like Delhi is run by gangs, he said while speaking during a discussion on the rising crime rates and the law and order situation. Earlier, Speaker Ram Niwas Goel marshaled out Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta who launched an offensive against Kejriwal during the discussion. The remaining BJP MLAs followed Gupta and walked out of the House. Business people live in fear of extortion calls, followed by violent attacks on their shops or showrooms, he said, while reading out the various instances of such firing happening across various areas of Delhi. Kejriwal also questioned the activities of notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, currently lodged in Sabarmati jail in Delhi, who is allegedly operating extortion rackets in Delhi and beyond. Who is Lawrence Bishnoi and is he protected by the BJP? Otherwise, how is he running these extortion rackets? he asked, demanding accountability from the central government. The AAP leader accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of neglecting his responsibilities and warned that Delhi residents are losing faith in the authorities. Amit Shah should wake up, otherwise, the people of Delhi will be left with no one to turn to for safety, he added. He also highlighted that the various crime cases, including the murder of a young constable of Delhi Police, is happening few kilometers away from Shahs residence. He stated that while half of Delhis governance is under the Delhi government, the responsibility for safety and security lies with the central government. This is the responsibility of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. But law and order in Delhi has completely deteriorated, especially after Amit Shah became the Union Home Minister in 2019, the AAP chief added. Kejriwals address on the first day of the last session of the five-year tenure of the Delhi Assembly on Friday comes amid heightened tensions following a low-intensity bomb blast in Rohini on Thursday. Panic gripped students and parents of a private school in Delhis Rohini, a day after a low intensity blast occurred in an area located within one kilometre of the school, as it received a bomb threat via email on Friday morning. While the threat later turned out to be a hoax after a search was initiated on the school campus, the psychological impact on the public was visible as the area has been gripped in bomb blasts for over a month. Following the threat in Venkateshwar Global School in Rohini, school authorities sprung into action while informing the parents for early dispersal of the students and requested them to pick up their wards by 11 am. While some were sent in school buses, parents of the others rushed to pick their children, who waited anxiously in a designated area. A mother, Rati Awasthi, whose 12-year-old daughter studies in class VII, expressed her concerns regarding the safety of her children in light of the recent blasts in the city. We are deeply concerned about the current situation in the city. How can we feel confident about our childrens safety? she questioned, adding that just a day before, a bomb blast occurred in Prashant Vihar, barely 1 kilometers away from the school, and today, the school itself has received a bomb threat. As soon as I received the message from the school regarding the bomb threat, I went blank and immediately reached there, she said. She further said that she will be in constant fear even after sending her child to the school. I cannot put his studies on hold but then such news scares me, Awasthi said. Police have launched an investigation into the matter, the officer said. According to Delhi Fire Service (DFS), a bomb related call was received at around 11 am about an email threat from Venkateshwar Global School in Rohini, upon which a team of the DFS immediately reached the spot. A fire brigade was dispatched to the spot along with a rescue team. The school administration evacuated the school premises as a precautionary measure and nothing suspicious was found, an official of DFS added. Police, bomb disposal squad, dog squad, along with DFS personnel checked and searched the entire premises of the school. It was a hoax. The source of the bomb threat is still being verified, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rohini) Amit Goel. No suspicious object was found and the threat was declared a hoax, the officer added. School authorities Dear parents, because of an emergency (a threat email received by the school) there is an early dispersal of students being done. The buses and self-dispersal students will be allowed to leave the school at 11. The situation is well under control. Theres no need to panic, the statement read. Principal of VGS, Dr Namita Singhal said that the school received a bomb threat in its official email. After we received the email, we dispersed all the students and staff, she said. The threat came a day after a low-intensity explosion took place on Thursday morning in Rohinis Prashanth Vihar area, leaving one person injured and triggering panic among residents. The blast took place in front of a sweet shop near a park, just around 500 metres away from a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) school where another high-intensity explosion, which remains unsolved, took place nearly 40 days ago. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has registered an FIR regarding the explosion that took place on Thursday near a cinema hall in Rohini, officials said. The low-intensity blast that occurred nearly 40 days after an explosion that took place at a CRPF school in the same area left one person injured and triggered panic among residents. A case under section 326(g) (mischief with severe consequences to public safety) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, section 4 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and section 3 of the Explosive Substance Act has been registered at the Prashant Vihar police station, police said. The case has been registered against unidentified people and efforts are underway to arrest the accused who dumped or planted the explosive material at the site, they said. In a swift response to the recent violence in Sambhal, the Uttar Pradesh government has constituted a three-member judicial commission to investigate the incident. The decision was made on Thursday night, hours before the issue came up for in the Supreme Court. The commission will be chaired by retired High Court Judge DK Arora, with retired IAS officer Amit Mohan and retired IPS officer Arvind Kumar Jain serving as members. The team has been tasked with examining whether the violence was premeditated or a spontaneous occurrence. The inquiry will also delve into the role of individuals or groups suspected of instigating the unrest. In addition, the commission will scrutinise the actions taken by the police and local administration during and after the incident. The judicial panel has been directed to submit its findings within two months from the date of the notification, and will seek to uncover the reasons behind the violence. Should an extension to this period be required, it will need approval from the state government. Alongside identifying the causes of the violence, the commission will provide recommendations to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future. In a notification issued on November 28, the Governor highlighted the importance of a thorough and transparent investigation into the matter. This will ensure the publics trust in the judicial process and serve the greater interest of justice. The inquiry is set to explore multiple facets of the incident, including the preparedness of local law enforcement and administrative bodies in handling the situation. Tensions in Sambhal had been mounting since November 19, when a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid was carried out following claims that a Harihar temple had once stood at the same location. On November 24, the protests escalated, leading to stone pelting, arson, and violent clashes with security forces. The outcome of this inquiry is anticipated to bring clarity and aid in maintaining peace in the area moving forward, as well as provide crucial recommendations for the future. Meanwhile, Friday prayers at the mosque concluded peacefully, with no reports of disturbances from any part of Uttar Pradesh. Extensive security arrangements ensured calm, marking a significant moment after last weeks violence in the region. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Moradabad Range, Muniraj, was present in Sambhal to oversee the situation. Police personnel monitored the area from rooftops to preempt any disruptions during the Friday prayers. Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak assured strict enforcement of law and order. The government respects the directives of the Supreme Court. A fair investigation will be conducted, and anyone found guilty of disturbing the peace will face stern action, he said. Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya criticised the Samajwadi Party (SP), accusing it of fueling unrest. We will not tolerate any attempt to disrupt harmony. If SP continues its tactics, it will lead to their downfall, he remarked. The Friday prayers at the Shahi Jama Masjid saw participation from prominent local leaders, including Samajwadi Party MP Ziaur Rahman Birks father and community leader Zafar Ali. Ali emphasized the importance of maintaining harmony. We are committed to ensuring peace so that prayers can be offered without fear, he said. This marked the first Friday prayer since the violent clashes on November 24, which erupted following a court-ordered survey of the mosque. The governments prompt action, coupled with strict judicial oversight, is expected to ease tensions and pave the way for a fair resolution of the dispute. When everything appeared to be hunky-dory in the run-up to the formation of a new government in Maharashtra, things suddenly turned topsy-turvy in the state capital on Friday as Shiv Sena leader and caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, on his return from New Delhi, headed straight to his native place in Satara district, prompting the Bharatiya Janata Party-led MahaYuti to cancel a crucial meeting of its three leaders called to decide on the contours of the new government. On a day when the political situation became fluid resulting in the unexplained delay in the government formation in the state, the ruling BJP, which heads the MahaYuti that scored a landslide victory in the just-concluded Maharashtra Assembly, found itself in a limbo not knowing how to deal with Shinde and also with the emerging scenario within the party over the chief ministerial choice. Shinde, who had sprung a nasty surprise on the then Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) by splitting the ruling Shiv Sena and teaming up with the BJP to form a new government in the State in June 2022, set the cat among the pigeons by heading to his native village amid the efforts by the MahaYuti to form a new government in the State. Though it was not officially known as to what transpired at the joint meeting of the MahaYuti leaders, Fadnavis of the BJP, Shinde of the Shiv Sena (ES) and Ajit Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-AP) that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had convened at his New Delhi residence to formalise details of the government formation in the state, Mumbai experienced political tremors sparking speculations of all kind. While there was no official word as to why Shinde cancelled all his appointments after his return from the National Capital and left for his native village Dare in Satara district in western Maharashtra, it was also confirmed that he would take up the post of deputy chief ministers in the new government. However, informed sources within the BJP said that Shinde was not averse to accepting the DCMs post provided the BJP gave him the all-important State Home Ministry, a portfolio that Fadnavis held in the previous MahaYuti government. Knowing Shindes nuisance value, the BJP is not ready to give the Home portfolio to the Shiv Sena (ES) president. Maybe, the reason behind Shindes sudden departure to his native place is to express his sulk over the denial of Home and a few other crucial portfolios in the State Cabinet, a senior Shinde Sena leader said. The swearing-ceremony of the MahaYuti government, which in the normal course was to take on December 2 (Monday) is understood to have been postponed to December 5, because of the sudden turbulence within the MahaYuti - caused by Shindes sulk over denial of the Chief Ministers post and leadership issues that have surfaced within the BJP. Meanwhile, the delay in the election of BJPs Legislature Party (BJPLP) leader has surprised many within the State political circles. In the normal course, Devendra Fadnavis, who was all along touted as the front-runner for the chief ministers post, should have been elected as the BJPLP leader by now. Though six days have passed since it led the MahaYuti to a historic victory in the polls, the BJPLP meeting has not taken place yet. Sources in the BJP attributed the delay to the holding of BJPLP meeting to the delay in the arrival of partys central observers in Mumbai. They said that the observers were arriving in Mumbai on Sunday. The delay has sparked speculation in the State political circles whether the JP Nadda-led party would spring a surprise like the one it did recently in Madhya Pradesh where it anointed Mohan Yadav, a leader from the Yadav OBC community, as the chief minister of that state in place of Shivraj Chauhan, more than two weeks after the Assembly poll outcome there. Throughout the day, there was speculation within the state political circles that both Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were averse to making Fadnavis as the chief minister of Maharashtra once again. The names of Nitin Gadkari and Vinod Tawde were being discussed as possible replacements for Fadnavis, whom it was said would be made the BJPs next national president. The stock of Tawde, owing to reported manoeuvrings within the BJP, went down markedly, after he was allegedly found himself in a controversy over the alleged distribution of money in Vasai-Virar area a day prior to the State Assembly polls. Given the prevailing political situation within the ruling MahaYuti, it will take some more days before the formation of a new government. While it is more or less settled that there would be a chief minister and two deputy chief ministers, the MahaYuti will have to work hard on the division of ministerial berths and portfolio allocations in the new government. Jolted by the recent Assembly poll outcomes for the party, Congress leaders on Friday huddled up on its electoral defeats during which party chief Mallikarjun Kharge asserted that tough decisions will have to be taken to strengthen the organisation from the grassroots, accountability has to be fixed, and urged leaders to remain united and not speak publicly against each other. In his address at the Congress Working Committee meeting at the AICC headquarters, Kharge said he believes that the EVMs have made the electoral process suspect and stressed that it is the constitutional responsibility of the Election Commission to ensure free and fair elections in the country. Kharge said that due to the Congress' repeated defeats, fascist forces are making their roots deeper. One by one they are also taking over the institutions of the state, he added. The meeting was chaired by Kharge and attended by former party chief Rahul Gandhi and AICC general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, K C Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh, among others. While the Maha Vikas Aghadi, of which the Congress is a part, was decimated in the polls in Maharashtra, the party's alliance led by the JMM scored a victory in Jharkhand. In Haryana, the Congress had suffered a shock defeat at the hands of the BJP. Kharge also hit out at internal bickering in the party, asserting that the lack of unity and statements against own party leaders harms the party a lot. Unless we fight elections unitedly and stop making statements against each other, how will we be able to defeat our opponents politically? the Congress president said. He also called for removing shortcomings in the party by learning lessons from the election results and said the party would have to evolve a strategy to effectively counter the propaganda and misinformation by its rivals. Therefore, it is important that we strictly follow discipline. We have to remain united under all circumstances. The party also has the weapon of disciplining. But we do not want to put our workers in any bondage. Therefore, everyone needs to think that a victory of the Congress party is our victory and a defeat is our defeat. Our strength lies in the strength of the party, the Congress president said while urging workers not to get dejected with poll results. He said the party will have to effect changes from the grassroots level to the All India Congress Committee (AICC) to strengthen the party. The AICC is the central decision-making Assembly of the party. Speaking on the Maharashtra and Haryana polls, Kharge said the Assembly poll results after a good outcome in Lok Sabha elections jolted the party. He said some tough decisions will have to be taken due to the below expectation performance in state elections. Riding on its performance in the Lok Sabha polls, the Congress went into Assembly polls with new enthusiasm but the election results were not as per the party's expectations, the Congress chief said. INDIA parties formed the government in 2 out of 4 states. But our performance was below expectations. This is a challenge for us in terms of the future, he said. We need to immediately learn from the election results and correct all our weaknesses and shortcomings at the organisational level. These results are a message for us, he said. He noted that the mood was in the Congress' favour during the elections but pointed out that just the atmosphere being in its favour does not guarantee victory. Noting that times have changed, Kharge said the ways of contesting elections have changed and the party will have to make its micro-communication strategy better than its opponents. Kharge also asserted that the party cannot achieve success by following old methods. You have to see what your political opponent is doing on a daily basis. We have to take decisions on time. Accountability has to be fixed, he said The first day of Delhi assembly saw high voltage drama on Friday with the BJP MLAs walking out of the session on Friday within minutes after the start of the Winter Session after raising slogans against the ruling party. The BJP MLAs led by Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta walked out of the House after Speaker Ram Niwas Goel declared the issues to be raised under Rule 280 to be deemed read by the listed members. The opposition leaders also protested that no Question Hour was provided in the three days session so that the MLAs could question the government. Gupta also alleged that his speech was interrupted as his microphone was switched off while the AAP MLAs began creating a ruckus. He added that when he protested the act of silencing him, Gupta was expelled from the assembly by marshals. In solidarity, other BJP MLAs staged a walkout from the session, he said. Speaking to the media outside the assembly, the LoP and other BJP legislators condemned the incident, calling it deeply unfortunate. He said that silencing the voice of the Leader of Opposition in a democratic institution is unacceptable. The AAP government is "suppressing" the voice of the opposition by not allowing them to speak in the Delhi Assembly under Rule 280 despite accepting their notices, the LoP charged in a statement. The BJP leader said the opposition wanted to discuss several critical issues, including the extravagant expenditure on former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's bungalow, issuance of voter ID cards allegedly to Rohingyas and inclusion of their names in the voters lists, and reports of CAG yet to be tabled in the Assembly. "The opposition sought accountability from the government on these matters, but their voice was stifled and they were not allowed to speak on these pressing issues," he charged. Gupta accused the AAP of shirking its responsibilities and noted that the current assembly session did not include any provision for a Question Hour. None of the assembly sessions held this year had the Question Hour, which is a violation of the constitutional rights of the MLAs, he said. He added that the opposition had urged the government to include short-duration discussions and calling attention motion proposals in the assembly proceedings to ensure the participation of the MLAs but these demands were outrightly rejected. The people of Delhi have recognized the "malpractices" of the so-called "honest" government of the AAP and have made up their minds to teach them a lesson by voting them out of power in the next assembly elections, he added. He further accused the AAP government of being directly responsible for the crimes in Delhi, as its own leaders are busy shielding Rohingyas and criminals. He also criticized the Delhi government for failing to utilize the substantial funds provided by the Central Government under the Nirbhaya Fund for womens safety and demanded the immediate implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Delhi to identify and deport Rohingyas and Bangladeshis involved in criminal activities. The Kids International Play School hosted a vibrant Fancy Dress Competition on 29 November 2024, showcasing the incredible creativity and talent of its young students. The event featured a colorful array of costumes based on various themes, with children dressing up as popular cartoon characters, Walt Disney figures, characters from The Jungle Book, electrical appliances, community helpers, flowers, and even Harry Potter characters, among others. The competition was a delightful spectacle, highlighting not only the children's imagination but also the hard work and dedication of the parents who contributed significantly to making the event a memorable success. The energy and enthusiasm of the little participants brought the event to life, as they confidently showcased their costumes and talents on stage. Principal Rukhsar Ayesha expressed her appreciation for the efforts of both the teachers and the parents, thanking them for their support in making the event a grand success. She acknowledged the role of the schools staff in organizing such events, which play a crucial role in fostering creativity and building confidence in young learners. Syed Rashid Zafar, the School Director, emphasized the importance of activities like the Fancy Dress Competition that contribute to the 360-degree development of children. He highlighted the schools integrated curriculum, which balances academics with co-curricular activities designed to enhance cognitive and sensory development. According to Zafar, such events not only nurture creativity but also promote the overall growth of children in a fun and engaging way. China opposes any visit by leader of Taiwan authorities to U.S.: spokesperson Xinhua) 11:13, November 29, 2024 BEIJING, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- China opposes any visit by the leader of the Taiwan authorities to the United States in any name or under whatever pretext, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Thursday. Mao made the remarks at a regular press briefing when asked to comment on Lai Ching-te's plan to make a stopover in Hawaii and Guam during his trip to the Pacific. Stressing that the one-China principle is a basic norm of international relations and a prevailing international consensus, Mao said the Lai Ching-te authorities' political manipulation and separatist provocations by visiting countries having so-called "diplomatic ties" with Taiwan will lead nowhere. It will not shake the solid and strong international commitment to the one-China principle or stop the overriding historical trend towards China's reunification, said Mao. Mao noted that China has always opposed official interactions between the United States and the Taiwan region, opposed any visit by the leader of the Taiwan authorities to the United States in any name or under whatever pretext, and opposed any form of U.S. connivance and support for "Taiwan independence" separatists and their separatist activities in any form. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has written to Chief Minister Atishi, expressing concern over the delay in tabling the pending Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) reports in the assembly. He accused the state government of deliberately withholding the reports to avoid public scrutiny. In a strongly worded letter, Saxena said the CAG office had sent several reminders, urging prompt action. The 12 audit reports of Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) received since June 2022 are yet to be laid before the Delhi Assembly. The reports include State Finances Audit, Prevention of Vehicular Air Pollution, Public Health Infrastructure and Services, Regulation and Supply of Liquor as well as Finance Accounts and Appropriation Accounts, among others. The Lieutenant Governor had earlier written to then Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Speaker earlier. The principal accounts (PA) office of the Delhi government has also written to Chief Minister Atishi for laying of 12 pending CAG reports in the Assembly It is unfortunate that the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi has consciously chosen not to adhere to this Constitutional norm, thereby avoiding disclosure and public scrutiny of the performance of the government. CAG is mandated to conduct not just an exercise in plain accounting for ensuring financial propriety, but also to evaluate the efficacy of outcome of public expenditure. I had raised this issue with your predecessor, Arvind Kejriwal on several occasions and flagged the gross Constitutional impropriety of the government in this regard. The office of CAG has sent several reminders to my office requesting urgent action in this regard, read the letter. Earlier this month, Saxena had praised Atishi at an event, calling her "a thousand times better than her predecessor" Kejriwal. I had underscored the importance of this issue to the then Hon'ble Chief Minister on 22.02.24 and also to Hon'ble Speaker also on 09.08.2024. Apart from this, the LG Secretariat has sent several communications to the Chief Secretary in this regard. Even as the Assembly reconvenes today- presumably for the last time before the elections, the agenda and list of businesses so far does not reflect the laying/tabling of CAG Reports pertaining to government departments. You are also personally holding the portfolio of finance department and I am sure you are conscious of your Constitutional obligation, it said. Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati has called a meeting in the party office here on Saturday to review the reasons for the crushing defeat of the party in the Uttar Pradesh assembly by-elections. In the meeting, divisional coordinators, district presidents of BSP and All India Backward and Minority Communities Employees Federation (BAMCEF) hailing from Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have been called along with state office-bearers. It is expected that in this meeting, there will be discussion on the slipping support base of the party as well as strengthening the organisation up to the booth level. It is also believed that after this meeting, some big office-bearers can also be fired. The BSP, which has formed government four times in Uttar Pradesh, is currently going through its worst phase. The party contested the by-elections on all nine assembly seats this time. Compared to other elections, BSPs performance in this by-election was quite disappointing. In western Uttar Pradesh, Azad Samaj Party performed better than the BSP. This is like a warning bell for BSP. Azad Samaj Party becoming stronger means Dalit vote bank going with it. The BSP supremo is very worried about this. Immediately after the by-elections, she announced not to contest any bypoll in future. She has also changed the coordinators of most of the divisions in the state. An official spokesman of the party confirmed that the BSP supremo has called an important meeting at the state party office on November 30. Earlier, after the BSP failed to win a single seat in the by-elections held on nine assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati had alleged irregularities in voting and said that her party would not contest bypolls in future unless the Election Commission takes action. On the occasion of the oath ceremony of the newly elected Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs in the recent bypolls, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath urged the legislators to unitedly pledge their commitment to the resolution of Nation First. The MLAs expressed their support for the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi, pledging to work for the nations progress and prosperity. Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana administered the oath to the newly elected MLAs. The swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected MLAs took place on Friday at the Tilak Hall of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. Chief Minister Yogi congratulated the winning candidates, calling the victory a resounding endorsement of the states progress and the faith of the people. Notably, the Bharatiya Janata Party and its ally Rashtriya Lok Dal recorded a historic win in the recent by-elections in Uttar Pradesh, securing seven out of nine seats. This remarkable victory was seen as a reflection of the states development and the publics unwavering trust in the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Following the ceremony, Speaker Mahana addressed the new members of the House, highlighting the honour of serving in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly. He urged the MLAs to stay closely connected with the public, stressing that the work done by Chief Minister Yogi should be taken to the grassroots level. You have two and a half years to serve the people. Make your presence felt both in the assembly and in the public. Your efforts will resonate through your activism, Mahana said. Among the newly elected members are RLDs Mithlesh Pal from Meerapur, and BJPs Ramveer Singh from Kundarki, Deepak Patel from Phulpur, Surendra Singh from Khair, Sanjeev Sharma from Ghaziabad, Dharmaraj Nishad from Katehari and Suchismita Maurya from Majhawan. Each of these MLAs expressed gratitude to the people for their support and pledged to prioritise the development of their respective constituencies. Besides Speaker Satish Mahana, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, BJP state president Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary, along with ministers and MLAs, were present on this occasion. It is noteworthy that there has been a strong focus on law and order, infrastructure development and transparent administration under Chief Minister Yogis leadership, His governments people-friendly schemes like the Ujjwala Yojana, Mukhyamnatri Samuhik Vivah Yojana, and rural electricity and road projects have strengthened public trust. Additionally, efforts to control crime and restore religious sites have further boosted publics trust in Chief Minister Yogis governance. As a result, the BJP and its ally RLDs outstanding performance in the Uttar Pradesh by-elections has greatly energised the party. Suresh Gopi, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Tourism, Government of India, on Friday reviewed the Transformation of Aspirational District Program (TADP) under the Aspirational District Program in the meeting room of the District Council Office. In the meeting, the indicators set under the Aspirational District were reviewed and instructions were given to all the concerned departments to achieve 100 percent achievement. Under the topic of health and nutrition, points like prenatal checkup, anemia, sickle cell test, cleanliness, clean drinking water etc. were discussed. Also said that use of clean water is necessary to stay healthy. In case of delivery at home, instructions were given to have it under the supervision of a skilled birth attendant. Instructions were given to make better arrangements in community health centres. Under health and nutrition, topics like sex ratio, institutional delivery, hemoglobin testing, breastfeeding by newborn, identification of TB patients etc. were discussed and instructions were given. On the subject of education, the transition of students from primary to secondary was discussed and instructions were given to take better initiatives for this, provision of girls toilet, drinking water, running water, electricity in schools, provision of textbooks at the beginning of the session. The system was also reviewed. Children were instructed to use less sugar in Ragi Laddus in schools. Under the subject of Agriculture and Water Resources, the status of Micro Irrigation, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, FPO in the district was reviewed. Instructions were given to LDM and District Agriculture Officer to provide KCC loan to the farmers. After the meeting, the Minister of State inspected the Industrial Sewing Center in Kisko block. Thereafter, under the dialogue programme, he interacted with the women at the sewing center and observed the products made by various agricultural product groups. The mobile mini hospital was also inspected by the Minister of State. Deputy Commissioner Dr Waghmare Prasad Krishna, Deputy Development Commissioner Dilip Pratap Singh Shekhawat, all district level officials and others were present in the programme. Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Jammu Zone, Anand Jain, warned that people harbouring anti-national intentions or supporting terrorists will face severe consequences. He urged citizens to remain vigilant and cooperate with law enforcement agencies by reporting any suspicious activity. "Those harboring anti-national intentions or providing any support to terrorists will face severe consequences," Jain said. He said that citizens must remain vigilant and cooperate with law enforcement agencies by reporting any suspicious activity. Expressing the resolve of the J&K Police to safeguard the regions peace by cracking down on the terror ecosystem and networks, Jain emphasized the importance of attaching the properties of those involved. He further disclosed that the properties of 29 additional absconding terrorists have been identified. "The process for their attachment is underway and will be completed shortly, further tightening the noose around terror operatives," the ADGP added. He said that this robust action reflects the unwavering resolve of the J&K Police to safeguard the regions peace and uphold the sovereignty and integrity of the nation. A key Mahayuti meeting scheduled on Friday was put off and likely to take place on Sunday now as outgoing Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde headed to his native village, delaying government formation a week after poll results. The ruling alliance's meeting was expected to be convened in Mumbai on Sunday, said sources in the Shiv Sena, which is headed by Shinde. Leaders of the BJP, the largest Mahayuti constituent, said they were awaiting arrival of central observers for the legislature party meeting. The swearing-in of the new government is expected to take place next week, the sources said. Shinde, speaking to reporters in New Delhi on Thursday night, had said talks with Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah on government formation were positive and the next round of discussions will be held in Mumbai on Friday. However, BJP sources maintained no gathering of Mahayuti leaders was scheduled for Friday. During his Delhi trip, Shinde had met Shah and discussed formation of the next government in the state. His deputies in the outgoing state cabinet Devendra Fadnavis (BJP) and Ajit Pawar (NCP) had also met the senior BJP leader. Shinde returned to Mumbai on Friday morning and according to Shiv Sena sources, he left for his native village Dare in Satara district in western Maharashtra in the evening. Shinde was at the Chief Minister's official residence 'Varsha' in South Mumbai where he met a stream of visitors, including party leaders and MLAs. The Shiv Sena leader has repeatedly said he would not be an obstacle in the government formation and abide by the decisions taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah on the next chief minister. Different viewpoints are emerging in the Shiv Sena over Shinde's place in the next government after the BJP-led Mahayuti posted a thumping win in the just-held assembly polls. Many leaders in the Shiv Sena are asking Shinde to accept deputy CM's post if offered by the BJP. However, another section feels it wouldn't be right for him to accept No. 2 position after serving as CM for more than two-and-a-half years, the sources said. BJP MLAs haven't got any intimation about a legislature party meeting, where they will elect their leader. Fadnavis also returned to Mumbai on Friday after meeting Shah in Delhi over government formation. State BJP leaders held informal discussions and sources said the state unit was awaiting arrival of central observers. Shinde, Fadnavis and Pawar had also met BJP president J P Nadda and Shah on late Thursday to thrash out a power-sharing pact for the next government in Maharashtra. In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat said if Shinde doesnt accept the deputy CM's post in the new government, then it will be given to someone from their party. Talking to reporters, Shirsat said Shinde will certainly not go to the Centre as a Union minister. "If Shinde does not accept the deputy CMs post, then some other leader from our party will get it. He (Shinde) will take a call on this by evening, said Shirsat, who retained his Aurangabad assembly West seat. Shirsats party colleague Shamburaj Desai said their MLA-elects and party workers strongly feel that Shinde should be a part of the new government. Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar said he hoped that if Fadnavis returns as chief minister, he will erase the tag of doing "politics of revenge" he had been associated with. "He will have a free hand (as CM) as crutches will be dependent on him and not vice-versa. I hope (as CM) he works for Vidarbha as he is son of the soil (Fadnavis is an MLA from Nagpur)," he said. "Politics is an ideological fight and not a personal battle," the Congress leader asserted. In the just-held polls to the 288-member assembly, the BJP won 132 seats, followed by its allies Shiv Sena (57) and NCP (41). Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Amit Shah are scheduled to visit Odisha for three days from Friday, during which they will attend the All India DGP/IGP Conference starting here later in the day. While Shah will arrive in the Odisha state capital earlier, Modi is scheduled to reach the Biju Patnaik International Airport here at about 4.20 pm, according to the official programme. Keeping in view the traffic arrangements made for the programme, the state government declared closure of all schools at 1 PM in the jurisdiction of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation jurisdiction on Friday, an official release said. As per the schedule, PM Modi will arrive at the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar at about 4.20 pm. He is scheduled to attend a felicitation programme at the airport. Modi will then head to Raj Bhavan at 5 pm. He is scheduled to chair a party meeting at the BJP office from 6 pm to 8.30 pm. He will then head back to Raj Bhavan, where he will stay the night. On Saturday, the PM is scheduled to arrive at the state secretariat Lok Seva Bhavan at 8.30 am for the all-India DGP/IGP conference being held for the first time in Odisha. He will be there till 8 pm. The next day, Modi will leave Raj Bhavan for the Lok Seva Bhavan at 8 am to attend the conference and remain there till 4.30 pm before returning to New Delhi. PM Modi is visiting the state for the third time after the Lok Sabha elections. He had come to the state on his birthday on September 17 to launch the Subhadra Yojana, a flagship women empowerment scheme in the state. He had also visited Odisha on June 12 to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister Mohan Majhi. Meanwhile, DGPs of all the states and Union Territories and chiefs of various security agencies have already reached the Odisha state capital for the conference. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the all India conference of director generals/inspector generals of police in Bhubaneswar for two days starting Saturday. The Prime Minister's Office said the three-day conference, which begins on Friday, will include deliberations on critical components of national security, including counter terrorism, Left Wing Extremism, coastal security, new criminal laws and narcotics. The conference, it said, will provide an interactive platform for senior police professionals and security administrators in the country to freely discuss and debate diverse national security-related issues besides various operational, infrastructural and welfare-related problems faced by police. Its deliberations will include formulation and sharing of professional practices and processes in tackling challenges relating to crime control, and law and order management, besides internal security threats. The statement noted Modi has encouraged organising the annual conference across the country since he assumed the office in 2014. The conference has so far been held in Guwahati (Assam), Rann of Kachchh (Gujarat), Hyderabad (Telangana), Tekanpur (Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh), Statue of Unity (Kevadiya, Gujarat), Pune (Maharashtra), Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), New Delhi and Jaipur (Rajasthan), with its latest edition being held in the Odisha capital. The President's Police Medal for distinguished service will also be awarded during the conference. Modi, the statement said, has always demonstrated a deep interest in the DGP Conference. It said, "The prime minister not only listens attentively to all contributions but also fosters an environment of open and informal discussions, allowing for the emergence of new ideas. This year, some unique features have also been added to the conference. The entire day is being effectively utilised starting from Yoga session, business session, break-out sessions and thematic dining tables." This will also provide senior police officials with a valuable opportunity to present their perspectives and suggestions to Modi on critical policing and internal security matters that impact the country, it said. The conference will also be attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Principal Secretary to PM P K Mishra, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, DGP of states and UTs and chiefs of central police organisations among others. Friday prayers at the Shahi Jama Masjid and other places in this district passed off peacefully amid tight security while Internet services were restored here, days after a violent protest against a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era mosque claimed four lives. The district has been put under a tight security blanket with drones in the air, additional police personnel on the ground and CCTV cameras installed near the disputed mosque for proper surveillance. The administration has also imposed prohibitory orders in the district, stopping the entry of outsiders till Saturday. Ahead of the prayers on Friday, district authorities appealed to the locals to offer their prayers in the nearest mosques rather than gathering at the Shahi Jama Masjid. "Internet services were restored in Sambhal at 4 pm on Friday," said District Information Officer Brijesh Kumar. A 15-member delegation of the Samajwadi Party will visit Sambhal on Saturday to gather information about the violence that broke out last Sunday. A report on the matter would be submitted to party president Akhilesh Yadav. A Congress delegation will visit the district on December 2. The Supreme Court's order for the Sambhal trial court to halt proceedings in the case and its survey at Chandausi was welcomed by both parties to the case -- the Hindu litigants who claimed that a temple stood at the site and the masjid committee that opposed it. Earlier in the day, a court here directed the court-appointed commissioner to submit within 10 days the survey report on the mosque and fixed January 8 as the next date of the hearing. The Divisional Commissioner of Moradabad, Aunjaneya Kumar Singh, said security measures have been reinforced at sensitive religious sites in the area and around the court in Chandausi. Tension has been brewing in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal since November 19 when the court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid was carried out following claims that a Harihar temple previously stood at the site. Violence erupted on November 24 as protesters gathered near the mosque and clashed with security personnel, leading to stone pelting and arson. Four people died and several others were injured in the violence. Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel has announced the formation of a three-member judicial inquiry commission to probe the November 24 violence in Sambhal. It has been directed to complete its inquiry within two months from the date of the notification. As the dust settles after the violence, residents hope for peace and stability even amid a future that portends more court hearings and occasional flare-ups. Zafar Ali, the head of Jama Masjid, said, "I had issued a video, appealing for peace and order. Today, everyone came to offer namaz peacefully, and the prayers were completed without any untoward incident. It is our endeavour that peace prevails in the days to come." Shane Rab, who lives close to the Jama Masjid, said, "Sambhal is getting fed up with such incidents. These events are a stain on our town and everyone wants peace. I believe peace will soon return." The business community rued the immense losses they suffered due to the unrest. "Business was down for the past few days. People come in the morning and leave empty-handed. But now, after today's peaceful prayers, I believe peace will return and business will pick up again," said Mushahid Hussain, a spare parts shopkeeper. The area worst hit by the violence was the local jewellery market, around half a kilometre from the Shahi Jama Masjid. Ajay Kumar Gupta, a trader in the area, said, "Our sales have dropped drastically despite this being the wedding season. In the last four days, only three customers visited my shop. "The losses are in the crores for many shop owners." Kushanawaz, an electronics shop owner said, adding, "We've been sitting idle, struggling to make ends meet. The violence has hurt us badly." Vikas Verma, a teacher, said, "The people of Sambhal are deeply saddened by these incidents. We want peace and tranquillity to prevail. After these troubling times, we are all committed to working together to restore harmony. Soon, Sambhal will be back on the path to progress." The Samajwadi Party's state chief Shyamlal Pal said the party's 15-member delegation that would visit Sambhal on Saturday include him as well as the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Mata Prasad Pandey, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Lal Bihari Yadav, and MPs Ziaur Rahman Barq, Harendra Malik, Ruchi Veera, Iqra Hasan and Neeraj Maurya. Samajwadi party MLAs Kamal Akhtar, Ravidas Mehrotra, Nawab Iqbal Mahmood and Pinky Singh Yadav will also be part of the delegation, he said. Meanwhile, Bareilly's Circle Officer (First) Pankaj Kumar Srivastava told reporters that Ittehad-e-Millat Council president Maulana Tauqeer Raza and 15 people have been detained in Bareilly district and stopped from going to Sambhal. Philippine police officials on Wednesday filed criminal complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte and her security staff for allegedly assaulting and disobeying orders from authorities in a recent altercation in Congress. The criminal complaints filed by the Quezon City police were separate from any legal action may arise after she publicly threatened to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife and the House of Representatives speaker assassinated if she were killed herself in an unspecified plot. She has not provided details of that plot. The Marcos administrations legal offensive against Duterte, her father and their allies is a critical juncture in a conflict that has seethed in the last two years between the two most powerful families in the Philippines. The Department of Justice said it was also looking into potentially seditious remarks by Marcoss successor and the vice presidents father, Rodrigo Duterte, who said in a news conference that the civilian government would only listen if the military would voice concerns about corruption and irregularities under the Marcos administration. There is a fractured governance It is only the military who can correct it, the former president told a news conference Monday night. He said he was not agitating the military to rise against Marcos but only reaffirming the real situation in the Philippines. Still, justice officials said an investigation into the former presidents remarks would proceed. The criminal complaints for assaulting, disobeying and grave coercion against police authorities were filed against the vice president and her security and other aides before state prosecutors, a police statement said. Such crimes are punishable by a jail term and a fine. The complaints were set off by a chaotic squabble over the weekend in the House of Representatives where the vice presidents chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, has been temporarily detained. Lopez has been accused by legislators of obstructing and not cooperating with a congressional inquiry into alleged misuse of confidential and intelligence funds by the offices of the vice president and education secretary when Sara Duterte headed it under the Marcos administration. At one point, authorities were ordered to transfer Lopez to a womens prison outside Congress, causing her to become agitated. The vice president and her staff intervened to oppose the order and Lopez was eventually moved to a government hospital, where she remains confined. The rule of law is fundamental to our democratic system. No one, regardless of their position, should be above accountability, national police chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said of the criminal complaints against the vice president and her aides. The national police remain committed to ensuring the proper execution of lawful orders and protecting public order. Resistance and disobedience to a person in authority not only violates the law but also undermines public trust, Marbil said. In a separate case, Philippine authorities handed a subpoena to the vice presidents office Tuesday, inviting her to answer investigators questions about the threats she made over the weekend. Duterte said she was not making a direct threat but was expressing concerns for her own safety. Marcos told a televised public address that the vice presidents threats against him, his wife Liza Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, were a criminal plot and vowed to fight it and uphold the rule of law. Marcos ran with Sara Duterte as his vice-presidential running mate in 2022 elections and both won landslide victories on a campaign call of national unity. In the Philippines, a president and vice president are elected separately and that has resulted in rival politicians assuming the top political posts in a country with deep political and social divisions. The two leaders and their camps have since fallen out over key differences, including in their approaches to Chinas aggressive territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea and views on ex-President Dutertes deadly anti-drugs crackdown that left thousands of mostly poor suspect dead. Duterte resigned from the Marcos Cabinet in June as education secretary and head of an anti-insurgency body and became one of the most vocal critics of the president, his wife and Romualdez, the presidents cousin who heads a congress thats dominated by their allies. A family member of a Bloody Sunday victim has spoken about the disgraceful comments of Micheal Martin about the Troubles. Tony Doherty wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, in response to the comments made by Micheal Martin on The Big Interview about the Troubles and Sinn Fein ahead of the Irish General Election. The outgoing Tanaiste of Ireland said: I have issues about how Sinn Fein consistently endeavoured to rewrite history to triumphalise what was a terrible conflict and a terrible war. Imposed by the Provisional IRA. I think I would be careful of saying both sides too. There were wrongs committed on behalf of the state, the British state in particular, but nothing justified and Canovas report recently, the report into collusion. He nails it, John Boucher, when he says that the war of the Provisional IRA was on its own people. Tony Doherty, son of Patrick Doherty, the son of one of the 14 victims on Bloody Sunday, and Chairperson of Bloody Sunday Trust posted a response on X. He said: This is disgraceful and factually wrong, but that doesnt matter because theres an election on and apparently anything goes, even mad cack like this. Frankly, Ireland deserves better than this lickspittle politics. Time for change! This is disgraceful and factually wrong, but that doesnt matter because theres an election on and apparently anything goes, even mad cack like this. Frankly, Ireland deserves better than this lickspittle politics. Time for change! https://t.co/K7uKEeKU0l Tony Doherty (@tonydutchdoc) November 28, 2024 Joe Brolly, All Ireland winner with Derry in 1993 and columnist, also posted his thoughts on Micheal Martins comments. He said: Micheal Martin in Derry for the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, smiling and pretending to support the families. The paratroop regiment gleefully opened fire on a civil rights march, murdering 14 people and wounding many more. Micheal now says they brought it on themselves. A new programme has been launched by Derry City and Strabane District Council to create a more joined-up approach to delivering employability support locally. The Succeed in Enterprise programme is led by the Derry and Strabane Labour Market Partnership (DSLMP) and is being delivered as part of a province-wide approach developed by the Department for Communities (DfC). Funded by the DfC, Labour Market Partnerships (LMP) create targeted employment action plans for council areas, allowing for collaboration at local and regional level to support people towards and into work. The LMP programme aims to address employment and training issues by pooling local resources and providing a joined up and flexible approach to employability support. The Council, along with the other ten local authorities, has established a local labour market partnership and action plan tailored to the needs of each individual council area. The Succeed in Enterprise programme is a key element and will be delivered in partnership with Enterprise North West and Strabane Enterprise Agency, drawing on their expertise in delivering successful core business development programmes. Speaking ahead of the launch, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District, Cllr Lilian Seenoi Barr, said it would provide much needed support for new entrepreneurs and anyone wishing to explore the self-employment route. I am delighted that the Succeed in Enterprise Programme is now and that prospective entrepreneurs in our Council area will have access to more support and guidance to turn their business idea into a sustainable reality. The programme will guide people through the challenging start-up phase of their business and allow them to access expert knowledge and support to develop their business plan and get their idea off the ground. I hope this initiative gives more local people the confidence to consider the self-employment route by starting their own business and I look forward to seeing more business ideas coming to fruition through the programme." A key priority for the Derry and Strabane Labour Market Partnership is to improve employability outcomes and labour market conditions locally. The Succeed in Enterprise programme aims to support local people who want to start a business but face a number of barriers to progressing through mainstream channels due to personal circumstances, as explained by the Council's Labour Market Partnership Manager, Nicky Gilleece. "Succeed in Enterprise will help develop both business and personal skills and address structural and personal barriers, building skills, confidence and self-esteem," she said. "It will also help participants to explore business concepts, leading to the development of business plans, testing of business ideas and the creation of new businesses. "The programme will help to bridge this gap for individuals who may need additional support to progress their business ambitions." Caolan Campbell, Programme Manager for the Succeed in Enterprise programme at Enterprise North West, said they were delighted to be working with the Council to deliver the programme. "Enterprise North West and our partner Strabane Enterprise Agency are delighted to be able to provide this much needed support to local aspiring entrepreneurs," he said. "In our experience, the combination of one-to-one specialist mentoring, workshops and financial support offered by Succeed in Enterprise is the best way to help new businesses get off the ground." To find out more about the Succeed in Enterprise programme and how you can benefit, email info@enterprisenw.com or call 028 71352693. PICTURED ABOVE: The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Lilian Seenoi-Barr pictured at the Guildhall on Thursday evening for the launch of the Succeed Enterprise Programme which is led by the Derry and Strabane Labour Market Partnership (DSLMP) and will be delivered as part of a province-wide approach developed by the Department for Communities (DfC) Included from left are Brian O'Neill, Director of Development and Enterprise (ENW), Caolan Campbell, Head of Business Programmes, (ENW), Shonagh Higgenbotham, Employment Support Officer, (LMP), DCSDC and Beth Maxwell, Business Mentor, Strabane Enterprise. (Photo: Jim McCafferty Photograpy) Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. 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Low-Power AIoT Innovation iCatch Technology GM, Weber Hsu, stated: "Our battery-powered video surveillance solution, Vi57, integrates iCatch's core imaging technology with AI learning capabilities, delivering smarter video and audio processing for our customers while achieving exceptional performance in low power consumption and real-time processing." Looking ahead, iCatch will continue to invest more resources in developing advanced AI technologies to create new products with low power consumption, high integration, and robust data security. The company is committed to providing customers with a broader range of intelligent video processing solutions that are both diverse and cost-effective. For more information about iCatch Technology products, visit www.icatchtek.com. For inquiries, please contact iCatch Technology's sales representatives at www.icatchtek.com/Requests. Irish premier Simon Harris has said he expects a fascinating couple of days after he cast his vote in the General Election minutes after polling stations opened. The Taoiseach said that where transfer votes would go a key part of Irelands proportional representation with a single transferrable vote system (PR-STV) would decide the make-up and stability of the next government. The Fine Gael leader arrived at the polling station at Delgany National School in Co Wicklow just before 7.30am with his wife Caoimhe and their children, Saoirse, five, and Cillian, three. Im feeling really hopeful, hopeful in terms of the election, but hopeful for the future of our country, he said. I wanted to vote early because I now want to head across our country today, continuing to encourage everyone to get out and have their say in this election. The three largest parties were virtually neck-and-neck heading into the vote, with one party leader describing the race as too close to call. The latest poll, a Red C-Business Post survey, shows support for Fianna Fail unchanged at 21%, only slightly ahead of its coalition partner, Fine Gael, which is down two percentage points at 20% and now tied with the largest opposition party, Sinn Fein, which has gained two. Asked whether he was glad the election campaign was over, he said he enjoyed the campaign and enjoyed making a pitch for his vision for the countrys future. He said he would be working up until polls close and is expected to travel to counties Carlow, Laois, Monaghan and Tipperary as well as the Irish capital. The polls opened at 7am and will close at 10pm, with a total of 174 seats in the countrys parliament to be filled more than ever before. More than three million registered voters will pick their representatives across 43 constituencies, in a campaign that has focused on the countrys housing crisis, the response to a dramatic increase in immigration, and economic management for the cost of living as well as potential future trade shocks. After the 2020 general election delivered an inconclusive result, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, two parties forged from opposing sides of Irelands Civil War of the 1920s, agreed to set aside almost a century of animosity and share power. Sinn Fein won the popular vote in 2020 but a failure to run enough candidates meant it did not secure sufficient seats in the Dail to give it a realistic chance of forming a government. This time around, party leader Mary Lou McDonald fielded many more candidates in a vow not to repeat past mistakes, as she urged voters to elect a government of change without Fine Gael or Fianna Fail. An exit poll at 10pm will provide the first sense of what Irelands next government may look like. The arithmetic to form a majority could prove tricky, though, with the countrys several smaller parties and many independents potentially jockeying for a place in government. It will end a lacklustre three-week campaign that seemed to fail to ignite a surge of enthusiasm among the public, after the election was officially called by Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris on November 7. That decision was ultimately his prerogative, and occurred while Fine Gael was enjoying a lift in the polls after he took over as leader from Leo Varadkar earlier this year. It also came at a time when Sinn Fein was beset by a string of controversies in the preceding weeks including former party members writing job references for a colleague who was later convicted of child sex crimes. However, opinions polls suggest the parties fortunes have since shifted, with the opposition party making gains as Fine Gael suffered a slide. One key flashpoint in the campaign arose out of Donald Trumps presidential election victory in the US, which brought heightened concern around what his proposals for corporation tax and tariffs could mean for Ireland. As such, the scale of Sinn Feins spending proposals have been dubbed as irresponsible by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, who have argued that Ireland needs to prepare for potential trade shocks with more prudent financial management. However, the campaigning tactic has been derided as project fear and desperate scaremongering by critics. At the same time, a Sinn Fein pledge to instigate an independent review into Irish national broadcaster RTEs coverage of Gaza and other international conflicts was met with criticism by the partys opponents, and the National Union of Journalists. Mr Harris described the proposal as chilling, with others noting that several party figures, including Ms McDonald, have taken legal actions against journalists and media outlets. Meanwhile, Fine Gaels campaign has been plagued with several controversies which the Taoiseach has been unable to shake. Mr Harris has repeatedly apologised for a much-criticised encounter in which he was accused of dismissing the concerns of a disability care worker at a supermarket, which had been filmed by RTE. It later emerged that a member of the Fine Gael team contacted RTE about the interaction prior to publication. Ms McDonald took her opportunity to use Mr Harriss own words against him, characterising the development as chilling. The Fine Gael campaign has also been dogged by footage entering the public domain which showed a candidate engaged in a fight outside a pub. John McGahon had been found not guilty in a criminal case around the incident, but was ordered to pay damages in a civil case. Mr Harris notably did not canvass with the candidate in his high-profile tour of the country. Elsewhere, an endorsement of a Fine Gael candidate from outspoken Ryanair boss Michael OLeary was welcomed by senior party figures, albeit in a qualified nature after he suggested teachers should not run the country. One former teacher in the campaign is Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin. Mr Martins partys platform also faced criticism over its proposals to decriminalise cannabis for personal use. It formed part of a wider row on handling the justice portfolio, which has come into sharp relief in the context of 2023s Dublin riots and a perception that the capital is unsafe. Some Fianna Fail figures have been accused of sexism over their criticisms of the Justice Minister Helen McEntee, Fine Gaels deputy leader. After the 2020 election, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail relied on the Green Party as junior partner to secure the coalitions majority. Green leader Roderic OGorman has said it looks likely his Government partners will be returned to power, but cautioned they could seek an easier life over the next five years. He said this could result in right-wing independents or small populist parties padding out the numbers. The final results will immediately kick-start government formation speculation amid the possibility that more than three parties will be needed to get over the line. The protracted process of counting ballots by hand will begin on Saturday. As Ireland uses a system of proportional representation where candidates are ranked by preference, the voting slips need to be counted several times an undertaking which can last for days. The leaders of the three largest parties in Ireland have voted in a close-fought General Election that could see one of them become the countrys next premier. Current Taoiseach Simon Harris said he expects a fascinating couple of days after he submitted his ballot minutes after polling stations opened. Political leaders stepped out in driving rain on Friday to vote, with the exception of Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns who gave birth to a baby girl on polling day. The Cork South-West candidate posted a picture of her cradling her daughter on Instagram with the caption shes here. Friday also saw key monthly figures on the level of homelessness published as people voted. They showed another record high of 14,966 people, including 4,645 children, were housed in emergency accommodation last month, according to the Department of Housing tally. Speaking after voting on Friday, Mr Harris said that the make-up and stability of the next government could be decided by where transfer votes go a key part of Irelands complex electoral system of proportional representation with a single transferable vote (PR-STV). The Fine Gael leader arrived at the polling station at Delgany National School in Co Wicklow just before 7.30am with his wife Caoimhe and their children, Saoirse, five, and Cillian, three. Im feeling really hopeful, hopeful in terms of the election, but hopeful for the future of our country, he said as he called on people to use your voice, use your vote. In an election which has seen several opinion polls put the three main parties Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and opposition party Sinn Fein within touching distance of one another, turnout is expected to be another crucial factor. Irelands deputy premier Micheal Martin urged people to brave the wet and windy weather and to use their vote. I encourage people to vote its a key part of our democracy. The weather notwithstanding, we encourage people to come out to vote but yes, it is a pity that its such a wet morning, he told reporters in Cork City. The Tanaiste attended his polling station at St Anthonys Boys National School in Ballinlough, with his wife Mary, his daughter Aoibhe, and his sons Micheal Aodh and Cillian. The Fianna Fail leader said his party had run a positive campaign in a close-fought race as he argued for the formation of a coherent, stable government. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said it was decision day after she voted in Cabra, Dublin. She said it was a particularly significant election for younger people as she urged people to vote. I just want to encourage everybody to come out and make their mark on what can be, in my belief, a really significant, in fact, a historic day where we can elect a new government for change, she said. Irish president Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina cast their votes at their local polling station in the Phoenix Park as the leaders of smaller parties also came out early to vote. Labour leader Ivana Bacik voted at a polling station on Pleasant Street in Dublin, Green Party leader Roderic OGorman voted in Blanchardstown and co-leader of Independent Ireland Michael Collins voted in Schull, Co Cork. Aontu leader Peadar Toibin voted in Johnstown, Navan; People Before Profit leader Richard Boyd Barrett voted in Glasthule, Dublin; while Social Democrats deputy leader Cian OCallaghan voted in Scoil Mhuire in Howth. The three largest parties were virtually neck-and-neck heading into polling day, with one party leader describing the race as too close to call. The latest poll, a Red C-Business Post survey, shows support for Fianna Fail unchanged at 21%, only slightly ahead of its coalition partner, Fine Gael, which is down two percentage points at 20% and now tied with the largest opposition party, Sinn Fein, which has gained two. The polls opened at 7am and will close at 10pm, with a total of 174 seats in the countrys parliament to be filled more than ever before. More than three million registered voters will pick their representatives across 43 constituencies, in a campaign that has focused on the countrys housing crisis, the response to a dramatic increase in immigration, and economic management for the cost of living as well as potential future trade shocks. After the 2020 general election delivered an inconclusive result, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, two parties forged from opposing sides of Irelands Civil War of the 1920s, agreed to set aside almost a century of animosity and share power. Sinn Fein won the popular vote in 2020 but a failure to run enough candidates meant it did not secure sufficient seats in the Dail to give it a realistic chance of forming a government. This time around, Ms McDonald fielded many more candidates in a vow not to repeat past mistakes, as she urged voters to elect a government of change without Fine Gael or Fianna Fail. An exit poll at 10pm will provide the first sense of what Irelands next government may look like. The arithmetic to form a majority could prove tricky though, with the countrys several smaller parties and many independents potentially jockeying for a place in government. It will end a lacklustre three-week campaign that seemed to fail to ignite a surge of enthusiasm among the public, after the election was officially called by Mr Harris on November 8. That decision was ultimately his prerogative, and occurred while Fine Gael was enjoying a lift in the polls after he took over as leader from Leo Varadkar earlier this year. It also came at a time when Sinn Fein was beset by a string of controversies in the preceding weeks including former party members writing job references for a colleague who was later convicted of child sex crimes. But opinions polls suggest the parties fortunes have since shifted, with the opposition party making gains as Fine Gael suffered a slide. One key flashpoint in the campaign arose out of Donald Trumps presidential election victory in the US, which brought heightened concern around what his proposals for corporation tax and tariffs could mean for Ireland. As such, the scale of Sinn Feins spending proposals have been dubbed as irresponsible by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, who have argued that Ireland needs to prepare for potential trade shocks with more prudent financial management. But the campaigning tactic has been derided as project fear and desperate scaremongering by critics. At the same time, a Sinn Fein pledge to instigate an independent review into Irish national broadcaster RTEs coverage of Gaza and other international conflicts was met with criticism by the partys opponents, and the National Union of Journalists. Mr Harris described the proposal as chilling, with others noting that several party figures, including Ms McDonald, had taken legal actions against journalists and media outlets. Meanwhile, Fine Gaels campaign has been plagued with several controversies which the Taoiseach has been unable to shake. Mr Harris has repeatedly apologised for a much-criticised encounter in which he was accused of dismissing the concerns of a disability care worker at a supermarket, which had been filmed by RTE. It later emerged that a member of the Fine Gael team contacted RTE about the interaction prior to publication. Ms McDonald took her opportunity to use Mr Harriss own words against him, characterising the development as chilling. The Fine Gael campaign has also been dogged by footage entering the public domain which showed a candidate engaged in a fight outside a pub. John McGahon had been found not guilty in a criminal case around the incident, but was ordered to pay damages in a civil case. Mr Harris notably did not canvass with the candidate in his high-profile tour of the country. Elsewhere, an endorsement of a Fine Gael candidate from outspoken Ryanair boss Michael OLeary was welcomed by senior party figures, albeit in a qualified nature after he suggested teachers should not run the country. One such teacher in government is Mr Martin. His partys platform also faced criticism over its proposals to decriminalise cannabis for personal use. It formed part of a wider row on handling the justice portfolio, which has come into sharp relief in the context of 2023s Dublin riots and a perception that the capital is unsafe. Some Fianna Fail figures have been accused of sexism over their criticisms of the Justice Minister Helen McEntee, Fine Gaels deputy leader. After the 2020 election, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail relied on the Green Party as a junior partner to secure the coalitions majority. Green leader Roderic OGorman has said it looks likely his government partners will be returned to power, but cautioned they could seek an easier life over the next five years. He said this could result in right-wing independents or small populist parties padding out the numbers. The final results will immediately kick-start government formation speculation amid the possibility that more than three parties will be needed to get over the line. The protracted process of counting ballots by hand will begin on Saturday. As Ireland uses a system of proportional representation where candidates are ranked by preference, the voting slips need to be counted several times an undertaking which can last days. TFI Local Link Louth Meath Fingal is set to introduce a new route 177 bus service, operating between Kells and Ardee and launching on Monday, 9th of December 2024. The new route is part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, a major national public transport initiative developed and funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA) as part of the Transport for Ireland (TFI) Network. Route 177 will operate five daily return services, enhancing connectivity in the areas of Kells, Carlanstown, Moynalty, Kilmainhamwood, Nobber, Drumconrath and Ardee. The service will also operate in the evening and at peak-times to provide improved links to regional bus services, Kells Primary Care Centre, Kilmainhamwood Nursing Home, Nobber Library, OCarolan College and the Ardee Bypass. The Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan is a major public transport initiative developed by the National Transport Authority (NTA) with the aim of increasing connectivity, particularly for people living outside our major towns and cities. The plan aims to improve mobility in rural areas by providing frequent and affordable transport services that offer freedom to travel and sustainable transport connections. Read Next: PICTURES: This stunning four-bedroom family home in Ardee could be yours for 510,000 A TFI spokesperson said: As part of the Connecting Ireland Plan, the NTA completed a comprehensive assessment of the existing network of regular public transport services operating across the country on a county-by-county basis. This has given us a clear understanding of how well the public transport network currently serves our towns and villages in terms of service levels at certain times of the day and days of the week. It has also helped us to clearly identify the issues such as gaps in the network where the option to use public transport is not available. This year on the 180 anniversary of the SVP in Ireland, the annual appeal is focused on providing help and hope to struggling individuals and families in the Dundalk area and across Ireland. Dundalk Area President Helen Grant said: The calls for help to our regional office and local conferences continue to increase. Help with food and energy continues to be the main reason for these. Our theme for this year, ''The Wonder of Christmas', reflects the questions our volunteers face most regularly in the run-up to Christmas: I wonder, will I have enough for food and toys? I wonder do the kids know we are struggling. I wonder how it is affecting them. I wonder how we got into this situation. I wonder if we will ever get out of it. I wonder if you can help. She went on to say that despite the one-off payments made by the Government coming through this month, there are many people who will continue to struggle to meet basic family expenses, particularly on special occasions such as Christmas. "Those hardest hit will include families, low-income workers, households on fixed social welfare incomes, low-income households in rural areas, and people with disabilities, and their careers. That is why we are seeking donations to help families pay for food, heat their homes and ensure their children get a decent Christmas" Ms Grant continued. Ms Grant said the public and corporate response to SVP has been magnificent in the past and they are hopeful of another very positive reaction this year. Dundalk Area raised 202K last Christmas, which was crucial in supporting those in need. During Christmas, they distributed 173K in vouchers and various forms of assistance to families. Additionally, they provided over 300k to support individuals and families throughout the year. Ms Grant added: "Unfortunately for too many people, it can still take just one small problem to tip someone into crisis and poverty, such as an unexpected illness or bill coupled with the current enormous cost of living increases, "But we know that a little help at the right time can stop a domino effect leading to a family experiencing prolonged hardship. Coming up to Christmas and into the New Year SVP expect there to be an increasing demand on their services particularly this year when, as everyone knows the cost of all our basic items such as food and fuel has increased greatly. "By supporting SVP annual appeal, you can help a family through the winter. You can get them back on their feet and give them a brighter future and save them from falling into a life of poverty." This year SVP are holding their annual church collection on Saturday 30th November and Sunday 1st December. SVP would urge anyone in genuine need to please contact them. Your contact with SVP will be treated with the strictest confidence. (1800 67 77 77) Ways to donate: By Cheque: Cheques made payable to Society of St. Vincent de Paul, address, Area Treasurer Dundalk, SVP, 21 Jocelyn Street Dundalk, Co. Louth Online: svp.ie and nominate your local area By phone: 0818 176 176 (ROI) By post: Cheques made payable to Society of St. Vincent de Paul-regional office, SVP, Tiernan House, Fair Green Drogheda, Co Louth, A92 TF3P Blue envelopes: Keep an eye out for special blue envelopes in newspapers and churches Gardai have issued a warning over the dangers of driving with worn tyres as they shared a picture of a truck stopped in Co Louth recently. The lorry was pulled in Drogheda recently by an Garda Siochana who noticed the wheels on the vehicle were dangerously worn-down. Would you drive on tyres that look like this? Our roads policing unit in Drogheda pulled over a lorry with these dangerously worn-down wheels recently. When the treads start looking this rough, you run the risk of blowing a tyre at any time. That's not a risk worth taking. pic.twitter.com/lwSAQK3uJb An Garda Siochana (@GardaTraffic) November 29, 2024 Their post with the picture of the threadbare tyres added: "When the treads start looking this rough, you run the risk of blowing a tyre at any time. That's not a risk worth taking." According to the Road Safety Authority [RSA], the dangers of driving with incorrect or poor quality tyres include less control of your vehicle, increased braking distance, tyres losing grip on roads in wet conditions and the high risk of blow-outs. READ NEXT: Alert: Black Friday blow for customers of Irish bank as technical issue impacts payments "Based on our analysis of road traffic collision reports we estimate that defective tyres could be a contributory factor in as many as one in ten fatal collisions annually, resulting in approximately 14 deaths each year," according to an Garda Siochana. There are over 50 different fixed charge penalty notices for various offences relating to tyres. "They all carry a fine of 80 and 2 penalty points. If you are convicted of the offence of driving with dangerous tyres, you could be fined up to 5000, or receive a 3 month prison sentence, or both. You will also have 5 penalty points on your licence upon conviction," according to an Garda Siochana. It is always good to have some basic knowledge about a place before you travel there. Having some background information will help you relate to the places you visit and you will enjoy your experiences even more when you are there as well. In fact, you can ask for more information regarding Tuscanys history during your stay at Tuscany villa rentals. While enjoying the sites and feeling glamorous in a beautiful country, youll learn that Tuscany, which is one of the twenty Italian regions, has a rich and intriguing history. First of all, the name of the region has been originated from an Etruscan tribe. This tribe settled in the area around 1000 BC. The area that later became known as Tuscany was ruled by a number of rulers like Ostrogoths, Herulians and many more and emerged as a distinct political entity with its separate set of rulers. The invasions by various rulers led Italy into poverty. Then the Lombards came to Italy in 568 AD from the Northeast and gained control over areas which are now known as Tuscany, Piedmont, Liguria, Venice, and Lombardy. The king that was ruling Lombardy conquered the Byzantine capital in 751 AD pushing the borders of his area towards Rome. To save themselves, Rome asked the French Carolingians to take them under their rule. Pepin was the king of the Franks. Charlemagne, his son, captured northern Italy and named it theThese political struggles caused a fragmentation that lasted until the late 19century. However, the Italian cities were allowed to govern themselves in spite of the political rifts. As the struggles settled a bit, trade flourished throughout Italy encouraging the growth of skilled artisans and tradesmen. Around the 12th century, Italy gradually became more wealthy and consequently, more independent as republics with time. As wealth and autonomy increased in Italy, it gave way to Renaissance and helped the region leave behind the negative impact of the Middle Ages. This phase gave rise to a kind of despotism known as signoria. The Medici family, due to their wealth and growing power, found themselves dominating the region. Later in 1737, when this dynasty ended, Tuscany became a part of the French Empire under Napoleon for a brief period. Tuscany then came under the new unified Italy in 1860. However, the on going political turmoil and clashes between different merchants, landowners and workers led to violence which grew as a result of the conflicting ideologies that included anarchism, fascism and communism. In 1922, Italy came under Fascist rule till 1943. After that, as World War II began, Tuscany became the frontline of war which consequently damaged many Tuscan cities like Livorno, Pisa and Florence. Tuscany played a major part during the world war in the Resistance movement. After the war ended, the region began reconstructing itself and reviving back its lost artistic legacies and culture. Today, Tuscany is well established and flourishing. Its also very glamorous and well. Go there in style and enjoy your stay there it is rich in culture and history! Paige One writes about a variety of topics, from fashion to travel. Did you know all this info about Tuscany before? Stay gorgeous everyone! A couple of years ago, during the time I started this blog, every 2nd day of April is the World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD). I am so excited to announce that our allies in the world are now shifting from autism awareness campaign to autism acceptance this year 2013. In line with this the Autism Acceptance Month Website was launched where Autism Acceptance is explained thoroughly it provides fact sheets and resources about autism for autistic people, family members, educators, and the general public. This site will also serve as a central location for posting and sharing information about autism acceptance-themed events occurring across the United State for the entire month (but everyone from anywhere in the world can join!) Im from the Philippines and I am part of the network. You can also sign the pledge that will look like this: Earth Rullan Earth Rullan I pledge to only attend, speak at or otherwise participate in autism panels, conferences and events that meaningfully involve Autistic people. I choose not to give my business or my time to settings that fail to include Autistic voices in conversations about autism. Metro Manila Philippines, 0 What is autism acceptance? Autism acceptance means embracing and valuing autistic people as autistic people instead of being afraid of us, having low expectations, or trying to find a way to make us not autistic. Why should I accept autistic people? The Americans With Disabilities Act of says disability is a natural part of the human experience. Autism is a natural part of the human experience, and autistic people are members of our community, citizens, friends, family members, and fellow humans. Accepting autistic people is about honoring human diversity and making sure that everyone and is included, valued, and contributing in our society. Why should I care about autism acceptance? What does acceptance look like? Autism acceptance looks different to different people in different contexts. At its heart, autism acceptance is about accepting autistic people, instead of being afraid of us, having low April is Autism Acceptance Month. Acceptance is an action. expectations, or trying to find a way to make us not autistic. That might look like inclusive education helping your child or your friend learn to use their AAC device fighting stigma and stereotypes about autism and autistic people hiring an autistic person to work for you at the same wage as a comparable non-autistic person snapping your fingers instead of clapping for applause so your autistic coworker isnt hurt by the noise or making sure autistic people are included and respected in your community and that your community is accessible to us. Acceptance is not passive tolerance. Acceptance is an action. Doesnt acceptance mean no therapies, no education, no intervention, just letting my kid stay where they are forever? Isnt acceptance passive? No! Acceptance is not passive. Acceptance is an action. Acceptance means doing everything you can so that your autistic child will grow up into the best autistic adult they can be, supporting your autistic friends in a world that is not designed for us, and working to make our world a better, more inclusive, safer place for autistic people of all. Thats my daugher, she has Autism, from afar she looks like a perfect sweet beautiful average girl, but shes not shes very special, she has Autism! I know people are already aware now, now is the time for acceptance and sign the pledge . I just want to share I still cant get over that past experience I had at an event I attended just recently ( event of a a clothing brand from Japan who launched their new game app event) where this girl blogger gave my daughter a piercing look like what the hell is she doing here and why is she like that. Have I no self control I would have poked that girls eye with the barbecue stick I was holding. Those who have seen my daughter with me know she is very sweet and not distracting. It was the first time a blogger gave my daughter this kind of look. I dont know this blogger in person it was my first time to see her. Whoever you are I think you know who you are because you look me in the eye and look at my daughter with a very disgusting and piecing look from head-to-foot. And we were seated behind you and you just have to turn your head a couple of times to look at us. Yes, there are still ignorant people like her. Anyway, I hope you will all join me into making this cause real. Stay gorgeous everyone! You may want to read about HPV (human papilloma virus) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in both men and women which causes cervical cancer. According to the World Health Organization, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer afflicting women worldwide with about 500,000 new cases and 250,000 deaths each year. In the Philippines, an estimated 12 Filipino women die due to cervical cancer each day. Because of that, the DOH and MSD, along with medical societies Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS), Society of Gynecologic Oncologists of the Philippines (SGOP) and Philippine Society of Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (PSCPC), continued their partnership to give FREE cervical cancer screening to women aged 30-40 years old in 58 DOH-retained hospitals nationwide. The free cervical screening will be available for the whole month of May. The Cervical Cancer Awareness Month campaign is now on its 6th year with this years theme as Babae, Mahalaga Ka! Screening, either through Pap smear or visual inspection using acetic acid (VIA), should be done on women who are sexually active or had history of sexual contact. This service is being offered for free every May in government hospitals, to help detect cervical cancer in its early stage, while it is still treatable and curable, said The good news is that early this year, PhilHealth included the treatment for cervical cancer in the Z Benefit Package program. The benefit package includes cervical cancer chemoradiation with cobalt or primary surgery worth Php120,000 or cervical cancer chemoradiation with linear accelerator for Php175,000 depending on what is needed by the patient, imparts DOH Secretary Enrique Ona. Apart from free screenings nationwide, MSD in partnership with DOH will be providing free quadrivalent HPV vaccinations to 9,000 girls aged 13 years old this coming school year. Our mission is not only to discover and develop medicines and vaccines for unmet medical needs but we would also like to make these accessible to people who can benefit from them. This initiative would help demonstrate how to implement a school-based vaccination program which can serve as a model for a national program, shares Sanjiv Navangul, President and Managing Director of MSD in the Philippines. Aside from cervical cancer, the quadrivalent HPV vaccine can also prevent vulvar and vaginal cancer, as well as genital warts. It is important to note that HPV is implicated in various diseases aside from cervical cancer such as cancers of the vulva, vagina, anus, penis, head and neck, and genital warts. It is the most common sexually transmitted infection in both men and women. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have stated that HPV is so common that nearly all sexually-active men and women get it at some point in their lives. You may contact the Department of Health on the list of the nearest DOH-retained hospitals near you. Or you can read last years Free Cervical Cancer Screening post for the details on what they will do at the screenings, a link of the list of DOH retained hospitals is there. Here is a MAP of DOH Retained hospital from the health departments database. Do avail of this free cervical cancer screening as it can save your life. You can bring your moms for screening or go with your mom together and have a screening. This will lessen your fears if you have one. Stay gorgeous everyone. Im still afraid that there might be another storm. But we are more prepared now, Mary Jane Suco, one of the beneficiaries of a Shelter Repair Kit from Habitat for Humanity. Mary Janes house was totally wrecked by Yolanda, but Thank God she did not lose a family member. She went from hopeless to just wanting her family to survive so even if releif operation were taking slow to reach them, her husband was able to make them a trmporary shelter beside the rubbles of their destroyed home. They slept in there for months until finally Habitat for Humanity was able to give them a Shelter Repair Kit. The Shelter Repair kit is composed of construction materials and tools to rebuild homes destroyed by Typhoon Hayan a.k.a. Yolanda. As soon as the deatruction happened Habitat for Humanity was one of the fastest to respond with the relief and rebuild operations a year ago in Philippine history (November 8, 2014). She explained that, with the Shelter Repair Kit, they were able to build an underground shelter they can escape to, in case another Yolanda happens. Even in the midst of doubt, Mary Jane said that being provided a Shelter Repair Kit means theyve not only had a new house built, and an escape route in case of another typhoon, but most of all, it helped ease her familys trauma. We are so grateful to Habitat for Humanity for giving us the materials we needed Now we can at least sleep more soundly at night. But that isnt all Mary Jane is doing to help her family cope and move on. My children used to be really scared. So I went to a nearby protestant church and borrowed some educational flashcards from the pastor It helps the children get over the trauma. With one year on from the day Yolanda struck the Philippines, it was through this perseverance that allowed Mary Jane to begin again. It was her determination that permitted her to overlook the uncertainty, trauma and fear, and plant seeds in her familys life for a fresh start; another chance for the seeds of her familys life to grow and bloom. Mary Jane was one of the lucky ones. But there are thousands more in poor living condition. Most are still living in the tent cities and are now being asked to leave the area because the land owner want their lot now for use. Land aquisition is one of the major challenges faced by Habitat for Humanity Philippines especially in Yolanda affected areas. But they are overcoming such with a lot of help from private entities. Habitat plans to build 33,000 core houses for the next 2 years and they dont plan to leave Typhoon Haiyan victims alone. With that said, we need your help. I am appealing on you personally to help us raise more funds. You can sponsor a typhoon resilient home under your name or company or brand name . Or co-sponsor with others. Or donate funds for build projects mobilization or emergency kits. I have created sponsors/donor packages outlining where the funds will go and your mileage getting the packages ( such as but not limited to: free feature/ blog post for x months, social media promotions, feature on Facebook pages etc.) If interested please email me at earthlingorgeous@gmail.com Or if you want to remain anonymous you may send donations at Earthlingorgeous Give to Habitat page. This project is until June 2015. Please click here to donate! Thank you so much! Donate via Paypal Why a catsup museum? If you didnt know yet, Banana Ketchup is originally made in the Philippines by a Filipino food techician Maria Orosa. This is the reason why NutriAsia decided to create the first ever Catsup Museum, to pay homage to an original Filipino condiment. I was fortunate to be invited to experience this quirky and educational Catsup Museum during its opening at the NutriAsia grounds in Cabuyao, Laguna. The Catsup Museum was curated by Mind Museum so expect interactive, fun and educational installations to tickle your mind. Being one of the first to be there let me enumerate the things to expect at the first Catsup museum not just in the Philippines but the world. The museum is divided into four halls: History of Banana Hall where you will be taken back in time to learn where Banana comes from and hey it is not a tree! What is it? Visit the catsup museum to know more! How? Will tell you at the end of this posts. Maria Orosa Hall to honor Maria Orosa, he food technologist who invented Banana Ketchup! Manufacturing Hall where you get to see in a very interactive and educational manner the step-by-step production of the commercial banana ketsup brands we love. Tasha love this part of the museum! Then finally, the Banaquet Hall where you can find buffet tables with giant food installations, these foods are food we love to use banana ketchup. How many food/dishes can you think ofthat banana ketchup is used? Watch my vlog to see how many, it is more than 10 dishes and food and not just fried dishes or spaghetti or lumpia and fried chicken and eggs! The Catsup Museum does not only promote education and Philippine history in an entertaining manner, but a means to encourage and advocate the importance of science in food manufacturing. How to visit the firat Catsup Museum? At the moment the museum is open by appointment only to schools within the province of Laguna. For those outside the province or anything else you may send your inquiries at thecatsupmuseum@nutriasia.com or find it on social media @thecatsupmuseum. NutriAsia is the powerhouse behind the most iconic Filipino food brands that includes Silver Swan, Datu Puti, Mang Tomas, UFC, Papa, Jufran and Golden Fiesta. If given the chance would you viait the museum? Comment below. Stay gorgeous everyone! Ten years ago, Trevor Ryan and Frank Mackey were given the blessing by the then CEO of Cork Opera House, Mary Hickson, to write the next pantomime for the venue, following the death of the much-missed director Bryan Flynn. The pair have been doing it ever since, and approach the annual gig with enthusiasm allied with a lot of hard work. Tomorrow, when the curtain goes up on their latest creation, Cinderella, they will be celebrating a decade of making panto magic together. When I spoke to Trevor and Frank during rehearsals in the Lough Community Centre recently, they were working on their 23rd draft of the Cinderella panto, and they pointed out it will probably have further changes. Naturally, the bike shed in Leinster House, costing a vast sum of money, is referenced in the script, and any other daft stories in the news will be grist to the mill for the two writers. (Enoch Burke was referenced last year and may pop up again. Donald Trump will of course get a look-in.) Trevor also directs the panto, while Frank plays the larger-than-life Dame, Nanny Nellie. The duo say they dont stray too far from the original fairytale which has enchanted children down through the years. We both want the magic to happen, says Frank, a Cork-born actor and writer based in Dublin. We know from West End shows to take bits from them and see if we can afford to put them in. But all the aesthetics in the world, the best special effects, the best costumes and lighting wont hold the audience if the writing isnt strong. Trevor says that their script isnt formulaic at all, adding: Its very different every year. This is the second time were doing Cinderella. The last time was nine years ago. But if there are five lines that are repeated, thats as much. Its a fresh new script. Recalling past pantomimes, Trevor says the most technical one to date they worked on was Peter Pan, staged at Cork Opera House in 2019. That was a huge challenge for us. It hadnt ever been done on the Cork Opera House stage as a panto. There was a lot of flying in it. Franks favourite panto that he and Trevor worked on was Aladdin in 2018. We got it right. Its a story that changes quickly. There was great energy around it. (And judging from a peek at rehearsals, where the ensemble danced with vigour, this years panto promises to be as polished as ever.) Frank models his Dame on an old aunt from West Cork, so Nanny Nellie borders between Cork and West Cork. She went to a country school. Ive honed in on her character very tightly. When you look back ten years ago, she is now a completely different character. She has become warmer and more endearing. She is also cheeky, honest and true. When the kids come to see me, Im not just a dame to them. Im the aunt or the nanny. I take on a persona that is very real to them. The writers always make sure to impart a positive message to the children in the audience. Its about being kind to each other. Thats very important now because of the world we live in. Then, once the kids get excited, let the magic happen. Asked if it is difficult to commandeer the attention of young audiences, given the competing modern attractions of phone screens, Trevor says: The audience is in for two-and-a-half hours. There are no tablets, no screens, no phones, just laughing; and its the same with the parents and grandparents. The panto is part of the Cork Christmas, like spiced beef. Its the most wonderful magical form of theatre. I have been involved in panto for about 27 Christmases, a time when I havent been around my family. It takes up the month of December and most of January (not to mention rehearsals in November). Pantomime, far from being the poor relation of theatre, is very much coveted by actors for the steady work it provides for three months. Trevor casts the panto with the producer (Rory Murphy) and the choreographer and musical director. We try to cast locally as much as we can, he says, But if we dont find the right people here, we go to London or Dublin. Cinderella is played by Dubliner, Megan Pottinger. She played Jill last year in Jack And The Beanstalk. Its rare that we repeat the lead. She is so talented with the most sublime voice. Her acting is true, theres great sincerity there and a great sense of comedy. Corks own Alison McCormack and Julie Maguire are the all-singing, all-dancing wicked stepsisters while Michael Grennell returns to the Cork Opera House as Cinderellas menacing stepmother, Baroness Melania Hardup. Cinderellas prince is played by Paul Wilkins. Her sidekick, Buttons, is played by Brian O Muiri. From Blarney, he recently finished his run in the West End production of The Book Of Mormon. When young actors and dancers go off to work in the UK, they want to come home to the Opera House to work on the panto because the standard is so high, says Frank. Trevors six-year-old daughter, Anabel, is one of six children rotating on different nights as the young Cinderella in a flashback sequence. Anabel goes to musical theatre classes. For these children in the panto, its all movement and no dialogue or singing. But Anabel is finding it a bit stressful. I tell her that she has got to do it, she has got to follow through, says Trevor. Spoken like a true professional! Cinderella is at the Cork Opera House from November 30-January 19. See www.corkoperahouse.ie A former psychotherapist turned novelist, Anise Eden has a new book out, the third in the Things Unseen Trilogy entitled Dead Late. It is Anises sixth book. Having been diagnosed late in life with ADHD, she weaves in themes around mental health in her novels to raise awareness and reduce stigma. Mallow-based Anise is American, originally from Maryland. It took a Cork man to bring her to Ireland in a brave chatting-up gambit. When I was living in New York City, I was on my own in a Chinese restaurant in Manhattan one time. Ken (Kelleher) was also on his own. He worked up the courage to ask me if I was dining alone. Normally in New York City, if a stranger asks if they can join you, the answer is no. But there was something about his energy and I said yeah. It also happened that I had a huge book with me on the druids so that was a conversation starter. I wanted reputable information about them so I asked Ken if he knew anything about the author. He said yes, the writer was well respected. A few weeks later, Ken told Anise that he had been bluffing about the book on the druids. At that point, we had fallen for each other. That was in 2002. We moved over here in 2018. Kens father had passed away so we moved to Mallow to be closer to his family. I had been to Ireland a few times before that and I loved it. As far as I was concerned, we were at a point in our lives when we could take on a new adventure. Thats what it felt like to me. In the US, Anise had practised as a psychotherapist and was a clinical social worker. She worked in a number of mental health-related social work roles. I absolutely loved the work. It could be emotionally demanding and stressful, depending on the circumstances youre working in. I tended to work with very high-risk populations. But it was very fulfilling and wonderful to see people improve. When I arrived in Ireland, I learned that practising as a psychotherapist here requires a different set of qualifications. At the time, I was thinking about shifting the focus of my career anyway. Eventually I got a job at UCC as a part-time assistant lecturer and tutor in social work. But there was also Anises strong creative side. She had been writing poetry all her life as a hobby. Some of her poems were published in literary magazines. But it would be very hard to make a career out of poetry, she says, laughing. However, Anise, with time on her hands, says that her writing came flooding back. I had an urge to write. Thats how I started my first novel. I had never attempted a novel before. I felt this impulse to write a novel. The plot and characters landed in my head and I was off to the races! It took me about three weeks to write the first draft and another three years to edit it. I wrote my latest book in fits and starts over the course of nine months. While some writers plot and plan their novels, Anise is not that kind of writer. My brain sort of percolates the plot in the back of my head. As Im writing, it emerges. I dont know how exactly a novel is going to work out. Its almost like the book reveals itself to me as Im writing it. Dead Late is set in Cork, where American psychotherapist, Neve Keane and Irish doctor, Cornelius OBrien find themselves ensnared in a deadly race against time. Cornelius has brought his new girlfriend, Neve, to Ireland for a romantic getaway. Theres just one task they must first undertake, a personal favour for the (fictional) president of the US. His goddaughter is struggling with a strange medical/psychological problem while studying in Cork. They have been asked to check on her. But with every step, Neve and Cornelius find themselves first slipping, then plummeting towards a terrifying clandestine world at the abyss of human suffering. Anise Eden, has a new book out, the third in the Things Unseen Trilogy entitled Dead Late. Cornelius must make a terrible choice; violate the Hippocratic Oath or put Neve in imminent danger. Neve faces her own dilemma. She has to either honour her promise to Cornelius or act quickly to keep an innocent young woman out of the hands of vicious murderers. With the patient prepped, the clock is ticking. While Anise says there are moments of humour interspersed with romance in the novel, it is basically a thriller. It includes scenes at Shandon Bells and Patrick Street, and there is a hotel based on the Hayfield Manor. Anises late dog, Polo, who died earlier this year, has been immortalised in the thriller. He had been her constant companion while she wrote. A portion of the proceeds from Dead Late will be donated to the Homeless Animal Rescue Team, near Doneraile. Having struggled with ADHD until she got a diagnosis around the time of her perimenopause, Anise had brain fog and had trouble staying organised and motivated. I had never really been able to stay on top of things. It was always a struggle but it got really difficult. I started to research these symptoms online. It seemed that the issues I had were signs of ADHD. I got an official diagnosis. "ADHD is something you have your whole life. Ive had it since childhood. I became very good at masking (the condition), appearing normal, managing the symptoms without too much of a fuss. Having the diagnosis really helps me because I no longer blame myself as much as I did when struggling with something. A lot of the shame has been taken away. As part of that, I have been participating with ADHD Ireland as a contributor to some of their podcasts. That has been really empowering in learning a lot about ADHD and having a community of other people who struggle with it. Dead Late is published by Tangled Tree Publishing. A Cork charity which provides support for 2,800 people with intellectual disability or autism across more than 70 locations around the city and county has launched a rebrand to reflect its ambitious outlook for its clients. Known up to now as the Cope Foundation, the 67 year old care provider will be known as Horizons following the unveiling of its new name, branding and logo today. While the name is different, the mission remains the same, the charity has emphasised stating that the "ongoing mission of the organisation is to provide a range of rights-based, accessible, high quality, person-centred, community-based, self-directed services and supports". The rebrand was conducted following extensive consultation with stakeholders including people it supports, parents and the wider community and takes effect from today. Marguerite OBrien, acting chief executive officer said the organisation was aiming "to change peoples understanding of intellectual disabilities and ensure that people are valued, equal, and contributing to society with full control over their choices and lives". Noreen ODriscoll, member of the Advocacy Council said a great deal of work was being done to promote disability rights and more equality but "a lot more" needed to be done. In the past, people like me were invisible, we had little choice in our daily lives. We faced lots of judgement from people and we still do today, which is a pity," she said. This is why we need to change peoples understanding of intellectual disabilities and autism. We need to help the community to understand that we are just like them, everyone needs support sometimes. It is only fair that we get the same opportunities as everyone else. Our horizons are filled with hope and understanding as we move forward with this positive change. Further information is available on its website, www.horizonscork.ie. A Lithuanian man with an elaborate cannabis grow-house in Ballyhooly was released after several months in jail to return home within a fortnight. Igoris Kolesnikovas faced sentencing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to cultivation of the illegal drug. Garda Roy Mythen gave evidence in the case where Judge Dermot Sheehan imposed a sentence backdated to when the accused went into custody and suspended it from now on condition that he would return to Lithuania. The defendant affirmed in the circuit court the plea of guilty that he had entered at district court level to the charge of cultivating cannabis plants. A search was carried out at the rented home of the 39-year-old back on April 13, 2022. Some 79 cannabis plants were discovered with a potential street value of over 63,200. To cater for elaborate ventilation and electrical supply systems, numerous walls had been damaged. It was essentially a cannabis farm. He was not present at the time of the search, but his fingerprint was found on a cup in [the] kitchen, Gda Mythen said. Interviewed later, he admitted cultivation of cannabis. He said he was put under pressure by other individuals. The accused left the jurisdiction following the 2022 raid at his home in Cork, but by February of this year he was arrested in Germany on a European arrest warrant and was brought back to Cork. He had been in Ireland for about two months when the cannabis farm was detected. Defence barrister Alan ODwyer said of the accused: He voluntarily admitted watering the plants and that was his role in the cultivation of plants and that he was under threat from another man. Judge Sheehan said: This was a growhouse of tremendous sophistication in Ballyhooly in Cork, detected in a garda operation to detect such factories. He came under the influence of another person with a criminal connection and was under pressure to become involved in watering these plants. The judge imposed a sentence of three years, backdated to June, but he suspended the balance of the sentence on condition that Kolesnikovas would leave the jurisdiction and remain out of the jurisdiction for seven years. The many posters erected by candidates of all political parties and none at election time are either part of the furniture of democracy or a visual clutter to be consigned to approach roads to our towns and villages. Candidates were up bright and early on the morning that the election was declared to put up their posters, even as Taoiseach Simon Harris was on his way to Aras an Uachtarain to get President Michael D Higgins approval for the dissolution of the Dail. The posters are as much a part of the tradition of elections as any of the legal formalities. In past years, however, many of them have remained in place for far too long afterwards, to become unsightly and weather-beaten. That unwelcome part of the tradition was one of the reasons why well-intentioned Tidy Towns committees asked politicians not to erect posters within the 50km limits, which led to a huge falling-off in the number of posters being put up. Not every politician adheres to the policy, but most do. Its a policy, however, and not a law. The law is that it is permitted to put up posters in towns and villages and along main roads during the campaign, but theres a deadline by which they must be taken down after polling day. If theyre not down within that period, the local authority can impose a fine. The posters had been put up in my local village of Baile Mhuirne by the Sunday following that first Friday. They were for local Fianna Fail candidate Aindrias Moynihan. Because its a gaeltacht area, he had gone to the trouble of having the posters in Irish, with his name spelled as Gaeilge. A good reason, in my opinion, to allow his posters to remain aloft. In other parts of Cork North West, the posters referred to his name in English. By Monday morning, however, the posters were gone. I posted a message on the Ballyvourney Noticeboard, asking why they had been taken down. Indeed, had they ever been there? There was a response from the Ballyvourney Tidy Towns committee to the effect that they had been removed by the candidate, in co-operation of the request for the village to remain poster-free within the 50km limits, as many villages and towns are requesting. While I respect the work done by Tidy Towns committees and the many volunteers, I consider this a matter of democracy. The law is perfectly adequate to deal with election posters. Further restriction outside these parameters is not needed. Previously, posters were made of cardboard and they degraded over time and could not be used again. Nowadays, theyre made of sterner stuff and can last for years. I saw an Independent candidate in Limerick, Richard ODonoghue, sticking an up-to-date picture of his face on an older poster Putting an old head on young shoulders is how he described it. While these posters may represent visual clutter to some, to others they are vital aids to the election process. Analysis carried out after the last general election, in 2020, found that there was a turnout dip in areas where there was a poster ban. Research Political scientist Luke Field, formerly of University College Cork and now of the University of Iceland, carried out his research on the 2019 local elections and the 2020 general election. There was a dip of 8.8% in poster-less areas in Cork during the local election and a reduction, on average, of 3.6% in the turnout at boxes impacted by poster bans, he says. At a time when democracy is under threat, due to misinformation and disinformation online along with voter apathy, is such a dip in turnout an acceptable price to pay for less visual clutter? While we put up with a rash of online advertising by politicians, not everyone is on social media all day and some. Also, there are some that may not be able to tell real political information from the fake stuff. The problem is that politicians have been vilified to such an extent that theyre yielding meekly. Theyre being told that they are visual clutter and their posters are destined for landfill. Theyre untidy. They should remove themselves from public view. Other posters, for events and circuses and the like, stay up for long periods of time and no action is taken. But maybe these poster-exclusion zones, which push posters out to the countryside, are not the answer. Have we thought of solutions like community notice boards, similiar to those Ive seen in France and other mainland European countries? France is a good example: They value democracy because they had a revolution to fight for it. We also fought for democracy here in Ireland; we shouldnt discard its furniture like rubbish. I will express my views on politicians at the ballot box. Irrespective of what preference I give any politician, and for whatever reason, I will respect them for putting themselves forward for leadership positions in our communities. Given the apathy toward public representatives, it is little wonder that more and more senior politicians, who have done the State some service, are retiring and fewer young people are interested in a life in politics. Perhaps they have brought this upon themselves: We can all be angry about things like the 330k bike shed or the 1.4m security hut or the 2bn+ childrens hospital. We have our vote and posters are part of the political furniture, there for a short time only to help us inform ourselves of who our politicians are and, broadly, what they stand for. That is the only way we should elect or reject our representatives. Cork city and countys returning officers has shared updated voter turnout figures as of 8pm, with turnout getting closer to 2020s figures ahead of the polls closing at 10pm. Cork North West has the highest turnout, with 57.4% of the population there having voted, while the figure is 55.4% in South West and just 50.3% in Cork East. In Cork City South Central, the turnout is around 54%, varied between polling stations as low as 43% in some and as high as 65% in others. In North Central, the turnout is at around 50%, and similarly wide-ranging with stations having seen between 40% and 60% of the electorate vote by 8pm. 5pm Less than half of the country had cast their votes in the general election as of 5pm, with polling stations expected to get a lot busier as people finish work. The area with the highest voter turnout so far is Cork South West, where 38% of people have cast their votes, followed closely by 37.9% in Cork North West, while 32.9% have voted in Cork East. In the city, turnout as of 5pm is between 33% to 48% across the Cork South Central polling stations, and between 34% to 39% in North Central. 3pm Polls opened this morning for voters to decide who will form Irelands next government, with 20 seats across five Cork constituencies being contested. Turnout in Cork North and South Central was reportedly running at around 12% as of 12 noon. In the county at the same time, Cork North West had the highest voter turnout, with 15.5% of the electorate having cast their votes, followed by 13.1% in Cork South West and 12.4% in Cork East. Polls opened at 7am, but there was a slow start to voting, possibly down to the bad weather, with turnout below 3% in all three constituencies as of 8.30am. Another turnout update is expected at 5pm, with voting numbers set to increase significantly as people across the county finish work. Councillor Padraig Rice, general election candidate for the Social Democrats in Cork South Central voting in Morning Star Primary School in Ballyphehane, Cork. In the 2020 general election, there was a 62.6% turnout across Cork Cork North West had the highest turnout at 65.4%, followed by South West at 64.6%, South Central at 63.2%, East at 61.1% and North Central at 59.7%. Sinn Fein TD for Cork North Central Thomas Gould told The Echo: the weather could have a big part to play on voter turnout. We know from the past that low turnouts suits the government parties, but we got a really positive response on the doors, so hopefully those people will all get out and vote. Micheal Martin urged people to brave the wet and windy weather and to use their vote. I encourage people to vote its a key part of our democracy. The weather notwithstanding, we encourage people to come out to vote but yes, it is a pity that its such a wet morning, he told reporters in Cork City. The Tanaiste attended his polling station at St Anthonys Boys National School in Ballinlough, with his wife Mary, his daughter Aoibhe, and his sons Micheal Aodh and Cillian. The vote will close at 10pm with counting expected to start on Saturday morning. A new community media centre has been launched in Cork city as part of a festival celebrating community television. The Cork Community Media Hub, which is located in Hollyhill, was launched by the Lord Mayor of Cork, Green Party councillor Dan Boyle. The launch took place during the annual Community Television Festival, which began on Friday, November 22, with a special ceremony at City Hall. Speaking at the festival, Mr Boyle said it celebrated the key role of community television in local democracy, adding that the new media hub would be an invaluable addition to the social infrastructure of the city. Theres never been a better time for community media to give us whats needed, and protect what needs to be protected in terms of truth itself, and I think its the responsibility of local government and national government to make sure that we do cherish it and support it, Mr Boyle said. Emma Bowell, co-ordinator of Cork Community Media Hub, said the new premises on the northside would give local communities the opportunity to create media content. Its been a long journey to get here but were absolutely delighted that Cork Community Media Hub is now open and we can get on with the important work of working with groups around the city to tell their stories Ms Bowell said. She added that the Cork Community Media Hub would be a new social enterprise in the city where community organisations could be facilitated to make media content for broadcast on Cork Community TV, or for use on social media platforms, including video production and podcasting. Community television stations currently exist in Cork, Dublin, and Belfast, offering a platform to show content produced by their local communities. They are not-for-profit channels that are regulated by Coimisiun na Mean. Amazon workers across the world have gone on strike for Black Friday, according to the labor advocacy group UNI Global Union . The protests, dubbed Make Amazon Pay, are scheduled to last until December 2 . Strikes are happening everywhere, from the US to Australia and Nepal . There are also demonstrations happening in more than 20 countries over labor abuses, environmental degradation and threats to democracy. The demonstrators are petitioning the company, which is worth around $2.2 trillion, for increased wages, better working conditions and the permission to form unions. Amazon doesnt particularly care for unions . #MakeAmazonPay sagen diese Woche Gewerkschaftsaktive aus weltweit mehr als 20 Landern zum #BlackFriday der auf dem Rucken der Arbeiter:innen ausgetragen wird. #Solidaritat gibt es dafur auch von den starken @_verdi Vertrauensleuten aus dem Hamburger Hafen der @HHLA_Group pic.twitter.com/O8MptYXrdh ver.di Amazon Niedersachsen-Bremen (@verdiAmazon_NDS) November 29, 2024 This includes thousands of workers in Germany, across several cities, and hundreds in New Delhi. Employees from Indias capital city are protesting after the company allegedly mistreated workers during a massive heat wave earlier this year, in which people reportedly began fainting due to heat stroke. However, Amazon sent a statement after that saying that it complies with Indian law and that theres nothing more important than the safety and well being of the workers." #MakeAmazonPay Day begins! Amazon workers in Jantar Mantar, Delhi rally to demand minimum pay, decent working conditions & recognition of Amazon workers union @AiwaInd pic.twitter.com/rBUKd7DV9Z UNI Global Union (@uniglobalunion) November 29, 2024 The Association for the Taxation of Financial Transactions and Citizen's Action will also hold protests in multiple cities across France and garment workers are demonstrating in Bangladesh. The strikes and associated protests could slow down holiday deliveries a bit, according to ABC News . This is, of course, the entire point of a strike. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement This is the fifth straight year of Make Amazon Pay actions, which always start on Black Friday. The aim of the movement is to hold Amazon accountable around the world by targeting the busiest holiday shopping weekend. To that end, Amazon represented nearly 20 percent of worldwide Black Friday transactions in 2023, with more than $170 billion in holiday sales. While billionaire Bezos tours the world on his $500m yacht, Amazon workers in 20+ countries are rising up this Black Friday to demand fair wages, union rights & climate action. Amazon must pay its fair share & respect workers. I stand with #MakeAmazonPay https://t.co/NmX1Sc1F66 Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) November 27, 2024 "Amazon's relentless pursuit of profit comes at a cost to workers, the environment and democracy," said Christy Hoffman, general secretary of UNI Global Union. We stand united in demanding that Amazon treat its workers fairly, respect fundamental rights and stop undermining the systems meant to protect us all. Amazon has a different take on things, writing in a statement that the organizers are being intentionally misleading and continuing to promote a false narrative. The company also crowed that it has created more than 1.5 million jobs around the world and that it provides a modern, safe and engaging workplace. Modern and safe? Amazon was responsible for more than half of all serious warehouse injuries in the US in 2022. Let me state that again. Amazon accounted for more than half of these incidents and every other company combined accounted for the remaining 47 percent. This was reported more than a year after the company promised to spend $300 million on improving workplace safety. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement However, Amazon recently announced a major investment, to the tune of $2.2 billion , to increase pay for fulfillment and transportation employees in the US. Thats good news, but is only around one quarter of what the company spent on major investments in the AI company Anthropic . Amazon has invested a total of $8 billion in Anthropic. https://t.co/k2vM7Ozbc2 Observer (@observer) November 22, 2024 Make Amazon Pay was originally launched in 2020 by the aforementioned UNI Global Union and Progressive International. The organizations say it has steadily grown each year, with this year's protests drawing support from over 30 unions, environmental organizations and civil society groups. Amazon wont need to pay the European Union 250 million ($263 million) in back taxes. On Wednesday, the blocs executive branch said it was closing three separate state aid investigations, including one involving Amazon. The decision ends one of the companys longest-running legal sagas. In 2017, the European Commission found that, from 2006 to 2014, Amazon had used an operating company in Luxembourg to pay substantially less tax to the European Union. The shell company had no offices or staff, and was, according to the Commission, used solely by Amazon to lower its tax bill. By the Commissions estimate, the e-commerce giant avoided taxation on three quarters of all the profit it made from online sales in the EU during that period. In 2021, however, Amazon won an appeal against the ruling. Although the company changed its tax structure following the investigation, it argued at the time that the Commissions decision was full of "methodological errors. It also said the payments were legal per international tax principles, an argument Europes second-highest court agreed with after finding Amazons structure didnt confer it an advantage over other companies. Subsequently, the court ordered the Commissions decision annulled. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement With this weeks announcement, the Commission said it was taking into account the guidance of the EU Courts in closing the case against Amazon. Amazon did not immediately respond to Engadgets comment request. While the end of its case against Amazon is a setback for the European Commission, earlier this year the body won a decisive victory against Apple. In September, Europes highest court ordered the tech giant to pay back a 13 billion ($14.4 billion) tax break from Ireland that was found to be illegal in 2016. Update 11/29 7:50am ET: An Amazon spokesperson shared the following comment: We welcome the Courts ruling, which confirms that Amazon followed all applicable laws and received no special treatment. We look forward to continuing to focus on delivering for our customers across Europe. One of the worlds most notorious hackers could finally be in custody. Bleeping Computer reports that ransomware affiliate Mikhail Pavlovich Matveev also known as Wazawaka, Uhodiransomwar, m1x and Boriselcin has been arrested. Prosecutors have not confirmed if Matveev is under arrest, but reports indicate that Matveev may be the hacker in Russian custody. The Russian state news agency (translated on BlueSky by the Center for Strategic Researchs Oleg Shakirov ) reported that the Kaliningrad Interior Ministry and Russian prosecutors sent a case of a programmer accused of creating a malicious program to court. An anonymous source with knowledge of the matter confirms that Matveev is the programmer. Matveev is also wanted on charges in the US for launching attacks on US law enforcement agencies and healthcare organizations as far back as 2020. The US State Department is offered a $10 million reward for information leading to his capture in May of last year when the Department of Justice filed criminal charges against him. If hes in Russian custody, the US may not get a chance to prosecute him. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Matveev, a Russian national, has links to ransomware hacking groups such as Hive, LockBit and Babuk. Hes linked to a number of attacks including an April 2021 lockout attack on the systems of the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department. More than a year later, he allegedly helped launch a Hive ransomware attack on a healthcare NGO in New Jersey. Justin Combs, son of disgraced music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, is currently facing a rental ban. According to the New York Post on November 27, Combs was reportedly banned from renting luxury mansions in Los Angeles, which he borrowed for throwing parties. The outlet shared that the ban was implemented since Combs' parties had allegedly led to "wrecking" and property damage. The Southern California-based mansion broker alleged that the company they are working for had rented houses to Diddy's son. The source also added that Combs would say that a total of 20 people would be invited to his parties, but would soon turn around 200 attendees, and cause damage to the mansion. The facilitator continued, "It's gotten to the point where nobody will rent to him. He called me to rent, and I said no." The ban also reached the awareness of Combs' legal representative, Jeffrey Lichtman. The lawyer said in a brief statement that Combs was neither criminally charged nor civilly sued due to these allegations. "He did nothing wrong," the lawyer added. Read more: Diddy Could Spend Christmas Out of Jail Combs is also active on social media and netizens are fully aware of how much the young man loves to party. Numerous posts also featured Combs holding various alcoholic drinks and attending other social gatherings. --Originally appeared on 'Music Times.' U.S. coffee giant Starbucks on Friday opened a shop at a South Korean observatory near the border with rival North Korea, where customers after passing a military checkpoint could drink beverages in the view of a quiet North Korean mountain village. Friday, November 29, 2024 Commentary by crisis management expert Edward Segal, author of Crisis Ahead: 101 Ways to Pprepre for and Bounce Back from Disasters, Scandals, and Other Emergencies Rebranding campaigns are meant to generate favorable awareness and positive press coverage about products. But in the case of Jaguar, its efforts to rebrand the iconic British car created the wrong kind of attention, including a headline-making controversy, criticism, and detractors. "A promotional video for a rebrand of British luxury car brand Jaguar is being criticized online for showing models in brightly colored outfitsand no car," the Associated Press reported. "It drew ire online, with people complaining about the lack of a car and the confusing message. X owner Elon Musk wrote on X, 'Do you sell cars?' People also complained about the new, stylized, logo. The 'leaper' jaguar image has also been reimagined," according to the wire service. Jaguar Defends Rebranding "Our brand relaunch for Jaguar is a bold and imaginative reinvention and as expected it has attracted attention and debate," Jaguar Land Rover spokesperson Joseph Stauble said in a statement to Forbes, defending the rebrand from backlash. Stauble said the company 'preserved iconic symbols while taking a dramatic leap forward' and said the company will share 'more on Jaguar's transformation in the coming days and weeks.' Brand and public relations experts weighed in about the company's rebranding crisis, and how it and other businesses can recover from or avoid a similar situation. 'The Rebrand Feels Like A Misstep' "From a branding perspective, the rebrand feels like a misstep. The video, featuring androgynous models in gender-neutral or gender-bending attire, risks alienating traditional customers in a climate where numerous brands have recently faced backlash for their perceived political stances," Bruno Benedini, founder of Taillight Branding, observed via email. Disconnected "More importantly, the campaign appears disconnected from the very traits Jaguar spent decades building. Gone are the understated elegance, performance nods, and any clear connection to British heritageFor a car company to launch a rebrand video without a single reference to its carsits core productis simply mind-boggling," he pointed out. Rebranding efforts should not stray from what people believe or are comfortable with. "The ad was bold and seems to be, at first glance, parallel to what failed Anheuser Busch and the marketing of its Bud Light line, in that the ad is far removed from what the majority of its consumer base likely believes. Culturally, [it is] dangerous to operate on the fringes of socially accepted norms," Michael Toebe, a trust, risk management, communications and reputation specialist at Reputation Intelligence - Reputation Quality, warned via email. Going Too Far "When a rebrand gives the consumer whiplash, it can either be a nice unexpected surprise like a roller coaster or it can be a trip to the ER," Reilly Newman, a brand strategist and founder of Motif Brands, and commented via email. In an effort to stand out from the competition, it is possible to try too hard. "Unfortunately, it appears Jaguar went too far in its attempt to be bold. The rebrand has created a crisis because they have successfully denounced what the brand has become known for and respected. This challenge is hard for humans because its a 'redefining' moment where they have thrown out the preexisting 'meaning' assigned to the perception of the automaker and then told the same audience a new 'meaning' that lacks substance and appears to be progress for the sake of progress," he noted. Out Of Touch "Jaguar's rebranding misstep stems from its loss of touch with its core identity, [thus] creating a credibility crisis by alienating loyalists and confusing new audiences., Adrienne Uthe, founder and strategic advisor for Kronus Communications, a public relations firm that specializes in strategic communications, media relations, and risk management, noted in an email interview. Double Down On Transparency "Jaguar needs to double down on transparency, acknowledge missteps, clarify the vision, and reignite emotional connections with its base to recover. Business leaders should note that rebranding isn't about chasing trends but evolution that honors the company legacy while staying relevant," she advised. Opportunity "Jaguar has an opportunity to save the rebranding and connect with a new audience without alienating their current customers," Cristy Stewart-Harfmann, an adjunct professor of digital marketing at Florida Atlantic University, counseled via email. She listed the 3 Ts of online reputation management business leaders should follow when responding to a branding or other crisis: "Timeliness. They need to act now. They should address the concerns and criticism of their core audience and share that they are still committed to the brand's legacy." "Transparency. They must be honest with everyone about what happened and share the strategic reasons behind the rebrand." "Training. They must refine their messaging and balance heritage and innovation. Then, they can reintroduce the cars and make this experience part of their onboarding for new markers or agencies." Rebranding Lessons "A rebrand does not need to wipe out all of its heritage,"and business leaders should balance the brand's history against innovation, Harfmann recommended. When rebranding products, be sure to put the customer first. "Don't forget about your core audience during a rebrand," she advised. Finally, ensure that the reasons for the rebranding are clearly communicated. "Consistent messaging on all platforms will help eliminate confusion and maintain brand identity," Harfmann concluded. Sometimes a rebrand can help end criticism about the names of products and companies. Aunt Jemima That was the case the when Aunt Jemima, which had been criticized for years because of its name and likeness were associated with racist imagery, changed its name to Pearl Milling Company, which created the pancake mix. The New York Times noted that the change was initiated "after the killing of George Floyd set off protests over racial injustice and a nationwide reckoning over symbols of the Old South and their meaning." Facebook In 2021, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that the company changed its name to Meta Greek for "beyond." The rebranding was an example of a tactic that is used divert attention from an organization that has received negative publicity and is confronting a crisis situation. Efforts to refresh or re-craft a product's brand should be done carefully and strategically so they will not create a controversy or crisis. But if done the wrong way, they will. That's why business leaders should account for rebranding-related crisis scenarios in their crisis management plans. And practice responding to those scenarios when testing the plans, ##### World Trade Organization chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is expected to be reappointed Friday for a second term, in the shadow of the coming return of Donald Trump and his disdain for international trade rules. Okonjo-Iweala, the first woman and the first African to head the WTO, is the only candidate in the race, paving the way for the body's 166 members to re-elect the 70-year-old Nigerian at a closed-door meeting. "It's not so much that everyone loves Ngozi," a source close to the discussions told AFP. Rather, members were "worried that if she doesn't get reinstated, then it's possible that the administration in Washington would slow things (or) block other contenders", leaving a void at the top, the source said. "The alternative of no one leading the organisation is unacceptable to them." Directors-general are typically chosen by consensus. This made it possible in 2020 for Trump to block Okonjo-Iweala's appointment for months, forcing her to wait to take the reins until after President Joe Biden entered the White House in early 2021. Her term ends in August 2025, and the appointment process expected to lead to her next term had initially been scheduled to take months. But once it became clear that Okonjo-Iweala was the sole candidate, the discussions chair determined there was backing for a proposal by African states to bring forward the appointment. - Tensions - The unstated objective is to "accelerate the process, because they did not want Trump's team to come in and veto her as they did four years ago", said Keith Rockwell, a senior research fellow at the Hinrich Foundation. Rockwell, a former WTO spokesman, said that speeding up Okonjo-Iweala's reappointment "creates tensions in the relationship with the United States, for sure -- tensions which would probably have been there under any circumstances, but now this raises the stakes". During Trump's first term, the WTO also faced relentless attacks from his administration, which crippled the organisation's dispute settlement appeal system, and threatened to pull the United States out of the organisation altogether. Trump has already signalled he is preparing to launch all-out trade wars, threatening to unleash a flurry of tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico on his first day in office on January 20. "The festival of tariffs announced to date shows that he has no intention of following any rules," said Elvire Fabry, a researcher at the Institut Jacques Delors think-tank. "The United States would not even need to withdraw from the WTO," she told AFP. "They are freeing themselves from the WTO rules". In this context, the WTO chief will have "a firefighter role", she said. - 'Very difficult' - It will be a question of "saving what can be saved, and making the case that there is no real alternative to the WTO rules", said another source close to the discussions on speeding up Okonjo-Iweala's reappointment. "It will be a very difficult mandate, with little certainty about what will happen." Rockwell noted that the WTO's problems were not solely linked to Washington. "It is a time right now in which application of the WTO rules has deteriorated," he said. "You can't blame all of this on the United States. That's true of many other members as well." Dmitry Grozoubinski, author of the book "Why Politicians Lie about Trade", agreed. "Governments are increasingly turning to trade measures to address issues like national security, environmental competition, and re-industrialisation, and policymakers aren't as moved as they once were by arguments that their ideas violate the letter or spirit of WTO commitments," he told AFP. "If president-elect Trump makes destroying the WTO a priority," he said, the organisation's "options will be limited as the institution is not built to withstand overt demolition from within its membership". Since taking the WTO reins, Okonjo-Iweala has tried to breathe new life into the fragile organisation, pushing for fresh focus on areas like climate change and health. But pressure is growing for WTO reform, in particular of the moribund appeals portion of its dispute settlement system, which collapsed during the first Trump presidency as Washington blocked the appointment of judges. apo/nl/rjm/js Fairfield, MT (59436) Today Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. High 44F. Winds SSW at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low 28F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. A campaign has launched inviting farmers to engage in a UK-wide discussion on precision bred crops and their potential impact on farming. The #ProbityPledge campaign aims to provide farmers with accurate information and a platform to voice their opinions. The launch of it comes as the government continues to move forward with legislation to support precision breeding. Precision-bred crops can be created through gene editing, a widely used technology that enables scientists to make changes to plant DNA. Proponents of the technology say that gene editing speeds up the process of breeding more productive, nutritional and sustainable crop varieties. The campaign is being coordinated by the British On-Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN) which leads the three-year Probity project. Launched in August, it is bringing precision-bred cereal varieties onto commercial farms for the first time across Europe. An integral part of the project is the creation of an open and transparent forum to discuss the creation, production, processing and use of precision-bred crops. The campaign asks farmers to pledge a minimum of one hour in the next six months to learn about precision breeding and share views via the Sequence Circle online forum. Tom Allen-Stevens, Oxfordshire farmer and founder of BOFIN, said it was a topic which will have an 'enormous impact' on food and farming, and it was 'important to make time to discuss it'. As farmers we are the gatekeepers of precision-breeding technology and must lead the discussion on how it is introduced to create a trusted pathway for food manufacturers to deliver its potential benefits to consumers." He added: The campaign asks farmers to commit at least one hour to equip themselves with knowledge of this technology and how it could impact them and their businesses. "We want to hear diverse views what do you think, what are your hopes and fears are for precision breeding, and what questions do you have about gene editing? Our Sequence Circle community hosted on The Farming Forum includes some incredible scientists who are well placed to help answer those questions. The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 has allowed for the release and marketing of certain gene-edited plants. This makes England currently the only country in Europe where this novel material can be grown in farmers fields. Fourteen new strong-yielding pea and bean varieties have been added to next year's Descriptive List for pulses. The Processors and Growers Research Organisation (PGRO) has added the varieties following trials earlier this year. New varieties sit at the top of the spring bean list, as well as at the summit of the marrowfat, green and yellow categories of the combining pea list. Launched at the CropTec event, the 2025 list features debuts for nine peas, one winter bean and four spring beans. Funded by the pulse levy, Descriptive List trials use a five-year rolling data set with varieties having to complete three years of trials before being eligible for inclusion. PGRO senior technical officer, Dr Chris Judge said: The five-year control yield for peas, spring beans and winter beans are broadly similar to those for the 2024 Descriptive List. The pea yield decreased due to losing the high-yielding year of 2019 from the analysis, and a strong year for beans in 2024 increased the bean control slightly beans seemed to perform well in 2024 due to the summer having fewer extreme weather events. He said there were two main themes emerging from this years work: The performance of the new pea and bean varieties is the first thing to note - they have performed excellently. The second is that lots of new yellow peas are being tested for the UK - yellows are very popular in continental Europe but have always been a relatively smaller crop area in the UK. "But with increasing interest in home-grown protein, there is room for the yellow pea growing area to expand," Dr Judge explained. The Descriptive List gives growers the opportunity to compare different varieties and evaluate which will suit their situation. Promising new material from plant breeders is regularly submitted and those which suit the market and have traits of interest are likely to be supported and available for purchase in the future. Seven yellow combining peas were added to the list KWS Bram (KWS), Marler (Cope Seeds & Grain), NOS Blondie (Elsoms), Captur (Agrovista), Bellair (IARA), LG Corvet (Limagrain), and Bonham (Senova). A new green pea variety made this years list Pangea (NPZ), which is the highest yielding green pea on the 2025 list yielding 114% of controls. New variety Midori (NPZ) becomes the top yielding marrowfat with a yield of 103%. Miro (Senova), an early maturing variety, is a new addition to the 2025 winter bean list. Its yield is above average at 101% and it has the joint highest chocolate spot rating on the list with 7. In 2024 many winter bean trials struggled with drilling due to persistent wet weather last autumn. Two trials planned for the list had to be abandoned as one had no dry opportunity for drilling and another was waterlogged for most of the winter. Four new spring beans have been added to the list Notilus (Senova), LG Eagle, (Limagrain UK), Ketu and Loki (NPZ). The list remains a similar size to previous seasons due to varieties leaving the list after discussion with the plant breeders. Beans present on the 2024 list that havent been listed in 2025 include Victus, Vertigo, and the early variety Yukon. Over 1,000 farmers from across Scotland rallied in Edinburgh to call on the Scottish government to deliver a budget that secures the future of farming. The protest, which took place on Thursday (28 November), saw a huge turnout from the entire industry, united in calling for a funding boost. Between 1,200 and 1,300 farmers and crofters made the case for increased investment in agriculture and rural development in Scotland. The Scottish government is set to unveil its budget on 4 December, following the UK government's budget on 30 October which saw controversial changes to farm inheritance tax. NFU Scotland, which organised the Holyrood rally, said the autumn budget had 'sent shock waves' throughout the entire agricultural industry. The rally at Holyrood also recognised that funding responsibilities for agricultural and rural policy are now entirely devolved to the Scottish government. For the 2025-26 fiscal year, the Scottish government will receive a significantly increased block grant from Westminster, including the 620m previously ring-fenced for the Agriculture and Rural Economy (ARE) portfolio. While the 620 million has been rolled over, it is no longer ring-fenced, leaving its allocation entirely at the discretion of Scottish government. (Photo: NFU Scotland) NFU Scotland is calling for an increase in the ARE budget in addition to the promised return of 46m previously deferred from agricultural funding. It is also urging the Scottish government to back its repeated statements that the industry will not face a funding cliff edge. Speaking at the rally, the union's president Martin Kennedy said farmers, crofters and the whole agricultural supply chain had sent an 'unequivocable message'. He warned that the unintended consequences of the government getting this wrong would 'collapse the rural economy' and that the environment 'will suffer'. Farmers and crofters deserve a budget from Scottish government that recognises their indispensable role in the rural and wider economy," Mr Kennedy said. "Yes, we can and will do more, but we cannot do that if the rug is pulled from under our feet by a poor budget announcement next week. Scottish parliament politicians will decide out future and that is why we are here in strength as a whole industry to make our voice heard. A modest increase in agricultural spending will future proof our industry and send out a positive message to the next generation of food producers." The Holyrood rally came just days after more than 100 tractors took part in a go-slow protest through Dover as farmers displayed their anger and concern over inheritance tax changes. Last week, thousands of farmers gathered at a protest in Westminster, while the Welsh Labour Party conference was picketed the weekend before. Elsewhere in the UK, farmers in Northern Ireland gathered at a rally to oppose the inheritance tax changes at the Eikon Exhibition Centre in Lisburn. A hotel on Barry Island has changed its name to 'What's Occur-Inn' - to celebrate the last-ever 'Gavin and Stacey' episode. A Premier Inn on Barry Island has changed its name to What's Occur-Inn in honour of Gavin and Stacey The Premier Inn branch on the Welsh island where the hit show was set and filmed, has been renamed in honour of the programmes iconic catchphrase, made famous by Ruth Jones character Nessa, as fans gear up for the sitcom's finale on Christmas Day (25.12.24). The Whats Occur-inn was opened by Knock-Off Nessa, who was also seen working in the hotel. She said: "As a Barry local myself, its been great to be involved in this opening. "Ever since the final episode was announced, the town has come alive with the Gavin and Stacey buzz. "It has been very exciting, especially when the filming started in September, so this is the cherry on top of a LUSH year." A spokesperson for Premier Inn added: "The last ever episode of 'Gavin and Stacey' is a hotly-anticipated national event and as the UKs biggest hotel company here to help people rest easy this Christmas, we hope our tribute to this beloved sitcom will make people smile. "People visit our Barry Island hotel from as far and wide as China and even Hawaii, swapping Sunset Beach for Barry Beach to get a taste of what the Island is really like. "With bookings at the hotel seeing an increase with guests flocking to the area to get a glimpse of the stars, so we thought this name change was very apt "Christmas is a time when people are often travelling great distances to stay with friends and family dont compromise on quality sleep by risking a cramped spare room or sofa and definitely dont even dream about a camping trip why not book with us. "Whether youre visiting Billericay, Barry or anywhere in between theres somewhere perfect for you." Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner reunited for Thanksgiving. Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner and Midnight Mission CEO David Prentice (c) Instagram The former couple - who split in 2015 after 10 years of marriage - teamed up to support The Midnight Mission on Thursday (28.11.24), joining the organisation to serve holiday meals to those in need in the Skid Row neighbourhood of Los Angeles. The Midnight Mission - which works to help homeless people and families in Southern California - shared a photo of the former couple in matching aprons alongside CEO David Prentice on Instagram. It was captioned: Today, we were honoured to have Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner join us at The Midnight Mission for Thanksgiving. "Their kindness, warmth, and dedication brought so much joy to our Skid Row community. The pair were also joined by their three children Violet, 18, Seraphina, 15, and 12-year-old Samuel, while Sarah Paulson was also among the volunteers. Ben and Jennifer - who has been in a relationship with John Miller since 2018 - have stayed on amicable terms for the sake of their kids since their separation. The 'Accountant' actor, who is in the midst of divorcing Jennifer Lopez, previously told People magazine: "When you have children with somebody, youre connected to them forever. And Im very lucky she is the mother of my children. The 52-year-old star has also spoken of the "positive and rewarding" experience of working with The Midnight Mission. He told People: "I found that I get a lot out of giving a little bit of my time to other people. I dont know that it helps them or not, but I know its helpful to me. "Its easy to sort of throw up your hands and say theres nothing you can do. But the truth is there are people who want to make their lives better, who are struggling, who need help and who you can benefit by even doing a little bit, giving a little bit of money or a little bit of time. Its just a really powerful thing to do to be able to connect with people." Iskra Lawrence was "really scared" by the rise of Ozempic. Iskra Lawrence was 'really scared' by the rise of Ozempic The 34-year-old model previously suffered from an eating disorder so had massive reserves over the controversial Hollywood drug - which was initially intended as a treatment for diabetes but has a side effect of weight loss - and became concerned when the whole thing became shrouded in mystery over whether certain public figures had or hadn't used it. She told Us Weekly: "You know what Ive always said, and Ill stick to it, Your body, your business. I was terrified when I first heard about Ozempic and then started realising that whether they were direct about it or secretive about it, it did seem like my peers or people that I looked up to in the industry had potentially been taking it or you dont know and youre questioning it. "I was really scared coming from an eating disorder background that it was just going to emphasize this obsession with thinness. I also was really worried because it can cost money [and] then going to divide and create this disparity of people with lower income who didnt have access to this drug and people who did and feeding into this really divisive, classist fatphobia" The catwalk star "didn't know how to feel" about the drug at first but did acknowledge that it has been "life-changing" for some of her friends. She said: "There were so many thoughts. I didnt really know how to feel about it. However, Ive had multiple close friends who were not online, just mom friends from women that I know in Austin and in the business, and they have found it life-changing. Either they felt demotivated or felt like theyve tried things in the past that never seemed to really move the needle for them in the sense of a healthy lifestyle change." Keira Knightley thinks there's "an inherent rage to actors". Keira Knightley has revealed what inspires her performances The 39-year-old movie star has observed that some actors and actresses, including herself, often lean into their anger in order to inspire their on-screen performances. Keira told the Guardian newspaper: "I think theres an inherent rage to actors. I see that quite a lot. Masked brilliantly but easy to access. "Not that people behave badly, because generally they dont. But theres a well of anger that opens very quickly. It comes from this being such a subjective industry where it is very public when things go wrong. And its an industry of people searching for a truth that by its very nature they cant find because its fiction. Maybe that creates the coiled spring, which is where some performances come from." READ MORE: Barbra Banda named BBC Womens Footballer of the Year for 2024 Asked if she has a well of anger inside herself, Keira replied: "Sure! Its what I use. You use whats in you. You bring it out of yourself and then you just kind of ... ta-da!" Keira previously admitted that she's always craved "adventures". The Hollywood star explained that she never wanted to just be seen as the "pretty girl in the corner or the mum being lovable and supportive". Keira - who previously stared in 'Bend It Like Beckham' and the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' film franchise - told the Guardian newspaper: "I wanted to be Al Pacino and that's where I was heading. The great parts are the guys' parts. "You don't want to be the pretty girl in the corner or the mum being lovable and supportive. Of course, when you grow up you are, but you still want to have the adventures." Paris Hilton is "overflowing with gratitude" on Thanksgiving. Paris Hilton is 'overflowing with gratitude' this Thanksgiving The 43-year-old heiress - who is married to Carter Reum, also 43, and has Phoenix, 22 months, as well as 12-month-old London with him -took to social media during the US holiday on Thursday (29.11.24) to acknowledge how much "love, happiness and laughter" she shares with her family on a daily basis. She wrote on Instagram: "This Thanksgiving, my heart is overflowing with gratitude Im so thankful for my beautiful family and my precious babies who bring endless love, happiness and laughter into my life every day. Heres to celebrating love, togetherness, and all the things were grateful for this year. Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours." The 'Paris in Love' star - whose family owns the famous hotel brand - shot to fame in her teenage years as a socialite on the Hollywood scene and was frequently seen with peers such as Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears in the early 2000s, but would recently admitted that she would not necessarily want the same sort of life for her own children. Gushing over life as a mother of two, she told WHO magazine: "Every day is amazing. Just waking up and seeing my kids smile makes my life feel so complete. I just want to be with them every second." At the time, she noted that her experience of motherhood so far has been like a dream because her son and daughter are "angels". Asked what it's like having two children under the age of two, she said: "I'm lucky because they are both so good and so quiet. They are just the best. They don't cry. They sleep fine. They are just angels. I am totally 'sliving' being a mum! " I just want them to be happy and, if they do grow up and want to be in this business, I'm still going to be super protective. And, of course, I am going to support anything that they want to do." The European Commission recently presented the first European Semester Autumn Package since the comprehensive reform of the European Unions (EU) new economic governance framework entered into force in April this year. It is a key step in delivering on the objectives of the reform to make the framework simpler, more transparent and effective, with greater national ownership, a release from the Commission said. The European Commission recently presented the first European Semester Autumn Package since the comprehensive reform of the EU's new economic governance framework entered into force in April. The framework supports members in achieving macroeconomic stability, growth and fiscal sustainability. The European Council and the Eurogroup will now discuss the Package's fiscal part. The new framework supports member states in achieving macroeconomic stability, growth and fiscal sustainability, which are critical for the EU's economic strength in today's challenging global environment. It also encourages reforms and investments that will lay the foundations for long-term economic stability and sustainable growth. Ultimately, it helps build a more resilient, fair, competitive and secure EU economy for the benefit of citizens, said the release. The EU economy is returning to modest growth after a prolonged period of stagnation. While member states pursue fiscal adjustment where needed, public investment is expected to increase in 2025 in almost all member states, with a significant contribution from NextGenerationEU's Recovery and Resilience Facility and EU funds in several member states. The European Council and the Eurogroup will now discuss the elements presented in the Packages fiscal part. Once the medium-term plans have been endorsed by the Council, the Commission will monitor whether member states respect the commitments contained within those plans for the whole period covered by the plan. Member states will present annual progress reports to facilitate the effective monitoring and enforcement. The Commission will present the second part of the European Semester Autumn Package, including the Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy, the euro area recommendation, the Alert Mechanism Report and the proposal for a Joint Employment Report, in the coming weeks. The new economic governance framework establishes simpler, and more transparent fiscal rules. It uses a single operational indicator, namely the member state's multi-annual net expenditure path, facilitating the tracking of compliance. The framework also introduces risk-based surveillance tailored to each member state's individual fiscal situation and allows for more gradual fiscal adjustment if underpinned by specific reforms and investments. Under the new framework, all member states include reforms and investments in their medium term plans addressing common EU priorities and challenges identified in country-specific recommendations in the context of the European Semester. These include the green and digital transitions, social and economic resilience, energy security and the build-up of defence capabilities. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) Measured in current US dollars, G20 merchandise trade expanded in the third quarter (Q3) this year, following mixed performance in Q2, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). While G20 exports grew by 0.4 per cent quarter on quarter (QoQ) in Q3 2024, imports increased by 1.5 per cent, largely driven by trade growth in North America and Europe. Merchandise trade in the United States grew significantly for both exports (2.5 per cent QoQ) and imports (3.1 per cent QoQ), fuelled by strong trade in capital goods. Measured in current US dollars, G20 merchandise trade expanded in Q3 2024, following mixed performance in Q2, according to OECD. While G20 exports grew by 0.4 per cent quarter on quarter (QoQ) in the quarter, imports rose by 1.5 per cent. US exports grew by 2.5 per cent QoQ and imports by 3.1 per cent QoQ in the quarter, while European Union exports expanded by 1.8 per cent QoQ. Canadas exports rose by 0.9 per cent QoQ in the quarter, driven by higher sales of mineral products and consumer goods. The European Union saw merchandise exports expand by 1.8 per cent QoQ in Q3 2024 after several quarters of weak growth, with key contributions from Germany and Italy (apparel and food articles). Germanys imports surged by 3.3 per cent QoQ, led by demand for electrical machinery, apparel and organic chemicals. In Asia, Japan experienced export growth of 4.9 per cent QoQ in the quarter, while imports increased by 3.4 per cent, driven partly by apparel and telecommunications equipment. South Korea recorded modest export growth of 0.1 per cent QoQ, while imports rose by 1.9 per cent QoQ, primarily due to energy products, an OECD release said. China faced a contraction, with exports declining by 3.4 per cent QoQ in the quarter, largely due to weaker demand for furniture and plastics, while imports fell by 2 per cent QoQ, mainly due to reduced purchases of crude petroleum. Indonesias merchandise exports increased by 3.5 per cent QoQ in the quarter, while imports surged by 11.8 per cent QoQ. Australias exports rose by 0.7 per cent QoQ in Q3 2024, while imports fell by 0.5 per cent QoQ. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) MBT fires at mock targets China Military Online) 11:20, November 29, 2024 Armored vehicles attached to a brigade under the Chinese PLA 71st Group Army maneuver towards the designated area during a live-fire training exercise on October 25, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Huang Zhenyu) A ZBD-04A infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) attached to a brigade under the Chinese PLA 71st Group Army rumbles through smokes during a live-fire training exercise on October 25, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Huang Zhenyu) A 96A main battle tank (MBT) attached to a brigade under the Chinese PLA 71st Group Army fires at mock targets during a live-fire training exercise on October 25, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Huang Zhenyu) (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) Miami, Florida and Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 28, 2024) - Sekur Private Data Ltd. (OTCQB: SWISF) (CSE: SKUR) (FSE: GDT0) ("Sekur" or the "Company"), a leading Swiss hosted cybersecurity and privacy communications platform, is pleased to announce that further to its news releases dated August 26, 2024 and September 12, 2024, the Company has closed a second tranche of its non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") for gross proceeds of CA$433,588.98. The Company issued 12,752,617 units at a price of CA$0.034 (the "Units") for gross proceeds of CA$433,588.98 Each Unit is comprised of one common share (each a "Common Share") in the share capital of the Company and one full common share purchase warrant (each a "Warrant"). Each full Warrant entitles its holder to purchase one additional common share at a price of CA$0.055 for a period of 24 months following the closing. Finders' fees of CA$32,214.90 were paid in cash in conjunction with this financing. No warrants or shares were issued. The total units sold for the first and second tranche equals 41,042,733 units at a price of $0.034 for gross proceeds of $1,395,452.92. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Private Placement for the marketing of its Sekur privacy communications solutions in the United States, and for general purposes. To find out more about Sekur's privacy communications solutions visit: https://sekur.com For more company information, please visit: https://sekurprivatedata.com For sales brochure on our enterprise security solutions, or partnership opportunities, contact partners@sekur.com About Sekur Private Data Ltd. Sekur Private Data Ltd. is a cybersecurity and Internet privacy provider of Swiss hosted solutions for secure and private communications. The Company distributes a suite of encrypted e-mails, secure messengers and secure communication tools. Sekur sells its products through its own website, https://www.sekur.com, approved distributors and telecommunications companies worldwide. Sekur serves consumers and businesses worldwide. Follow Sekur on X @sekurprivate LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sekurprivatedata-ltd Forward-Looking Information This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "achieve", "could", "believe", "plan", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "outlook", "expect", "project" and similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes or that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they do not guarantee future performance. Sekur cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond Sekur's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the future of the Company's business; the success of marketing and sales efforts of the Company; the projections prepared in house and projections delivered by channel partners; the Company's ability to complete the necessary software updates; increases in sales as a result of investments software development technology; consumer interest in the Products; future sales plans and strategies; reliance on large channel partners and expectations of renewals to ongoing agreements with these partners; anticipated events and trends; the economy and other future conditions; and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in Sekur's prospectus dated May 8, 2019, filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available on www.sedarplus.ca. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Sekur undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231860 SOURCE: Sekur Private Data Ltd. ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / November 28, 2024 / Barton Gold Holdings Limited (ASX:BGD) (Barton or the Company) advises that the attached presentation is due to be presented today at the South Australia Exploration & Mining Conference. Authorised by the Managing Director of Barton Gold Holdings Limited. For further information, please contact: Alexander Scanlon Managing Director a.scanlon@bartongold.com.au +61 425 226 649 Shannon Coates Company Secretary cosec@bartongold.com.au +61 8 9322 1587 About Barton Gold Barton Gold is an ASX, OTCQB and Frankfurt Stock Exchange listed Australian gold developer targeting future gold production of 150,000oz annually, with ~1.6Moz Au JORC Mineral Resources (52.3Mt @ 0.94 g/t Au), multiple advanced exploration projects and brownfield mines, and 100% ownership of the only regional gold mill in the renowned central Gawler Craton of South Australia. * Competent Persons Statement & Previously Reported Information The information in this announcement that relates to the historic Exploration Results and Mineral Resources as listed in the table below is based on, and fairly represents, information and supporting documentation prepared by the Competent Person whose name appears in the same row, who is an employee of or independent consultant to the Company and is a Member or Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM), Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG) or a Recognised Professional Organisation (RPO). Each person named in the table below has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and types of deposits under consideration and to the activity which he has undertaken to quality as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code 2012 (JORC). Activity Competent Person Membership Status Tarcoola Mineral Resource (Stockpiles) Dr Andrew Fowler (Consultant) AusIMM Member Tarcoola Mineral Resource (Perseverance Mine) Mr Ian Taylor (Consultant) AusIMM Fellow Tarcoola Exploration Results (until 15 Nov 2021) Mr Colin Skidmore (Consultant) AIG Member Tarcoola Exploration Results (after 15 Nov 2021) Mr Marc Twining (Employee) AusIMM Member Tunkillia Exploration Results (until 15 Nov 2021) Mr Colin Skidmore (Consultant) AIG Member Tunkillia Exploration Results (after 15 Nov 2021) Mr Marc Twining (Employee) AusIMM Member Tunkillia Mineral Resource Mr Ian Taylor (Consultant) AusIMM Fellow Challenger Mineral Resource Mr Dale Sims (Consultant) AusIMM / AIG Fellow / Member The information relating to historic Exploration Results and Mineral Resources in this announcement is extracted from the Company's Prospectus dated 14 May 2021 or as otherwise noted in this announcement, available from the Company's website at www.bartongold.com.au or on the ASX website www.asx.com.au. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the Exploration Results and Mineral Resource information included in previous announcements and, in the case of estimates of Mineral Resources, that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates, and any production targets and forecast financial information derived from the production targets, continue to apply and have not materially changed. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the applicable Competent Persons' findings are presented have not been materially modified from the previous announcements. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This document may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "expect", "target" and "intend" and statements than an event or result "may", "will", "should", "would", "could", or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. Forward-looking information is subject to business, legal and economic risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among other things, risks relating to property interests, the global economic climate, commodity prices, sovereign and legal risks, and environmental risks. Forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and opinions at the date the statements are made. Barton undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements for events or circumstances that occur subsequent to such dates or to update or keep current any of the information contained herein. Any estimates or projections as to events that may occur in the future (including projections of revenue, expense, net income and performance) are based upon the best judgment of Barton from information available as of the date of this document. There is no guarantee that any of these estimates or projections will be achieved. Actual results will vary from the projections and such variations may be material. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied upon as, a promise or representation as to the past or future. Any reliance placed by the reader on this document, or on any forward-looking statement contained in or referred to in this document will be solely at the readers own risk, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. * Refer to Barton Prospectus dated 14 May 2021 and ASX announcements dated 4 March and 16 July 2024. Total Barton JORC (2012) Mineral Resources include 833koz Au (26.9Mt @ 0.96 g/t Au) in Indicated and 754koz Au (25.4Mt @ 0.92 g/t Au) in Inferred categories. SOURCE: Barton Gold Holdings Limited 27bgdbarton-gold-presentation-saemc-29-november-2024 View the original press release on accesswire.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 28, 2024) - Doubleview Gold Corp. (TSXV: DBG) (OTCQB: DBLVF) (FSE: 1D4) (the "Company or "Doubleview") is pleased to announce that it closed its private placement for aggregate proceeds of $76,000 comprised of 200,000 Units. Each Unit shall consist of one common share of the Company (a "Share") and one common share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant") at a price of $0.38 per Unit. Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Company (a "Warrant Share") at an exercise price of $0.48 per Warrant Share for a period of 6 months following the closing date and thereafter at an exercise price of $0.55 per Warrant Share for a period of 18 months. The Warrants are subject to early termination if the underlying shares trade at a volume weighted average price equal to or greater than $0.65 for 5 consecutive days in the 24 month period from the date of issuance. The proceeds of the sale of the shares will be used for contribution and maintenance of the Company's exploration work on its BC projects, particularly for the polymetallic Hat Project, located in northwestern BC. This work includes drilling, geological advisory and analytical services as well as other development work and general working capital purposes. In connection with this private placement, no finder's fees were paid, and no finder's warrants were issued. Pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws and in accordance with the Exchange policies, all securities issued under this Private Placement will be subject to applicable resale restrictions under applicable securities laws and to the Exchange hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance. The closing of the Offering is subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals including the TSX Venture Exchange. About Doubleview Gold Corp Doubleview is a mineral resource exploration and development company that is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is publicly traded on the TSX-Venture Exchange (TSXV: DBG), (OTCQB: DBLVF), (WKN: LA1W038), and (FSE: 1D4). Doubleview focuses on identifying, acquiring, and financing precious and base metal exploration projects across North America, with a strong emphasis on British Columbia. The company enhances shareholder value through the acquisition and exploration of high-quality gold, copper, cobalt, scandium, and silver projects-collectively critical minerals-utilizing cutting-edge exploration techniques. Doubleview's success is deeply rooted in the unwavering support of its long-term shareholders, supporters, and institutional investors. Their ongoing commitment has been instrumental in advancing the company's strategic initiatives. Doubleview looks forward to further collaborative growth and development, and continues to welcome active participation from its valued stakeholders as the company expands its portfolio and strengthens its position in the critical minerals sector. About the Hat Polymetallic Deposit The Company's flagship Hat Deposit, located in northwestern British Columbia, is a polymetallic porphyry project with major resources of copper, gold, cobalt, and the potential for scandium. As one of the region's significant sources of critical minerals, the Hat Deposit has undergone targeted exploration and development. The 0.2% CuEq cut-off resource estimate, of the recently completed Mineral Resource Estimate, which was announced in the Company's July 25, 2024, news release, is summarized below: Average Grade Metal Content Open Pit Model Hat Resource Category Tonnage CuEq Cu Co Au Ag CuEq Cu Co Au Ag Mt % % % g/t g/t million lb million lb million lb thousand oz thousand oz In Pit Indicated 150 0.408 0.221 0.008 0.19 0.42 1,353 733 28 929 2,045 Inferred 477 0.344 0.185 0.009 0.15 0.49 3,619 1,945 91 2,328 7,575 The Scandium potential for the Hat Deposit is estimated to be 300 to 500 million tonnes at an average grade of 40 ppm (0.004%) Sc2O3. For further details, please refer to the Company's July 25, 2024 news release. Qualified Person: Erik Ostensoe, P. Geo., a consulting geologist, and Doubleview's Qualified Person with respect to the Hat Project as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed, and approved the written technical disclosure contained in the news release. He is not independent of Doubleview as he is a shareholder in the company. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Farshad Shirvani, President & Chief Executive Officer For further information please contact: NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. Certain of the statements made and information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information." In particular references to the private placement and future work programs or expectations on the quality or results of such work programs are subject to risks associated with operations on the property, exploration activity generally, equipment limitations and availability, as well as other risks that we may not be currently aware of. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231862 SOURCE: Doubleview Gold Corp. Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - November 28, 2024) - Vuzola, an online retailer blending luxury with everyday functionality, has expanded its product offerings with the addition of a new Italian espresso maker to its growing gadget portfolio. The move reflects the company's ongoing efforts to strengthen its presence in the highly competitive high-end home appliance market and meet the rising demand for premium, yet functional, gadgets. Made for Modern Professionals and Home Enthusiasts As part of its strategic growth plan, the company continues to diversify its product range, catering to both modern professionals and home enthusiasts who seek devices without compromising on style or performance. This new Italian espresso maker joins a series of carefully curated gadgets designed for everyday living through precision craftsmanship and innovative technology. Below are the features of the newest gadget addition: Compact Design: The device is sized to accommodate various kitchen spaces. User-Friendly Operation: Features a simple, semi-automatic process suitable for beginners. Certifications: Meets industry standards for safety and reliability. The Italian espresso maker adds to the growing demand for high-end gadgets that combine performance with ease of use. This expansion is also a key component of the company's plans to compete in an increasingly crowded market, where consumers are seeking products that provide both functionality and sophistication. Enhancing the Shopping Experience Along with the new product launch, the company has updated its website to make shopping easier and more transparent. Changes include clearer product descriptions that highlight key features, verified customer reviews for more trust, and helpful shopping guides to support decision-making. The website now also has better navigation, faster load times, and a simpler checkout process. The company also offers dedicated customer support to answer questions, showing its commitment to providing a smooth, easy, and reliable online shopping experience. To learn more about Vuzola's newest product, visit https://vuzola.com. About Vuzola Vuzola is a premium lifestyle brand dedicated to making luxury accessible. Offering a curated selection of high-quality essentials sourced across tech, fashion, home, and outdoor categories, Vuzola focuses on providing products that balance practicality and design. The company is committed to empowering its customers with products that enhance their lives, backed by exceptional customer service. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231742 SOURCE: Brand Featured Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 28, 2024) - Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Inc. (TSXV: DWS) ("Diamond Estates" or "the Company") today announced its financial results of position for the three and six months ended September 30, 2024 ("Q2 2025 and "YTD 2025" respectively). Q2 2025 Summary: Revenue for Q2 2025 was $7.7 million, a decrease of $0.1 million from $7.8 million in Q2 2024. The Winery division experienced an increase in sales of $2.4 million while the Agency division experienced a decrease of $2.4 million. The increase in sales in the Winery division is largely attributable to $0.9 from DPTB, $0.5 million increase of all other brands and the remainder is from the VQA wine support program. The increase in sales is a direct result of the Ontario's government announcement to expand the marketplace to convenience, grocery and big-box stores. The decrease in the Agency division was primarily driven by the loss of a key supplier in the prior year in the amount of $2.1 million and the sale of Western Canada operations to Renaissance in August, 2024; Gross margin 1 as a percentage of revenue grew to 53.9% for Q2 2025 compared to 39.6% in Q2 2024 and gross margin increased $1.1 million, from $3.1 million in Q2 2024 to $4.2 million for Q2 2025. The Winery division experienced an increase of $1.5 million while the Agency declined by $0.4 million. The gross margin in the Winery division increased from 43.7% in Q2 2024 to 51.0% in Q2 2025 as a result of the VQA Wine support program and general margin increases across various skus. The gross margin at the Agency increased from 33.9% in Q2 2024 to 76.4% in Q2 2025 with the sale of Western Canada operations to Renaissance in August, 2024 and the increase in commissions sales compared to third party wines and spirits; EBITDA1 increased by $2.0 million to positive $1.0 million in Q2 2025 from a negative $1.0 million in Q2 2024. Adjusted EBITDA1 increased by $1.3 million to positive $0.5 million in Q2 2025 from a negative $0.8 million in Q2 2024. Both EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA increases are attributed to improving gross margins in the Winery division and an overall decrease in SG&A expenses of $0.2 million compared to the prior year; and Net income was $0.2 million, compared to a net loss of $2.3 million in Q2 2024. Subsequent Events: In October, 2024, the Company signed an agreement to receive the $841,000 under the Winery Sector Support program, none of which has been accrued as of September 30, 2024; In October, 2024, the Company closed on the acquisition of certain assets from the Perigon Beverage Group ("Perigon"). More specifically, Diamond has purchased the agency and supplier contracts, the intellectual property, and other intangible assets of Perigon and its agency business, such as its website, customer lists, business names and inventory. The purchase price is $1.8 million based on Perigon's latest financial results and will be satisfied by the issuance of common shares of Diamond over the next eighteen months; On November 11, 2024, the Company replaced the $4.759 million of 2023 Replacement Debentures with new debentures (the "2024 Replacement Debentures"). The material terms of the 2024 Replacement Debentures are the same as the 2023 Replacement Debentures, other than (i) the conversion price, which is now $0.24, and (ii) the maturity date, which is now November 9, 2025; and In November, 2024, the Company entered into a further amendment to its Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the "SARCA") with Bank of Montreal ("BMO"), the notable terms of which were (i) the establishment of a non-revolving credit facility in the amount of $2,500,000 ("Demand NRT Facility") (ii) The non-revolving term credit facility previously available in the amount of $8.7 million has been reduced to $3.0 million, and (iii) a limited recourse guarantee granted by Lassonde Industries Inc. in favour of BMO on the Demand NRT Facility. President's Message "The enhanced VQA Wine Support Program, the D'Ont Poke the Bear partnership and the changes to the Ontario alcohol landscape has had a dramatic impact on our Winery Results this quarter. It is an exciting time to be in this industry as we will expect to see a continuation of these positive changes in the months to come. With dramatic and quick changes in the Retail landscape in Ontario; our company has moved nimbly to respond to the opportunities and to speed our improving results. " said Andrew Howard, President and CEO "We are also excited to see the financial impact of the significant changes made at the Company as they come to fruition. We expect to see further improvements in our Agency Business as the purchase of Perigon, new business wins and growth of our current businesses impacts our Q3 and beyond business results." 2RL Agreement The Company has engaged 2RL Capital Inc. to provide financial advisory and investment banking services. Services under this agreement, in the anticipated amount of $150,000, will be paid in common shares of the Company, in three installments occurring every six months, based on detailed invoices provided by 2RL Capital. The number of shares to be issued per installment will be calculated at the time they are issued based on a share price that is the greater of: (i) the minimum price permissible under the rules of the TSX Venture Exchange, and; (ii) the average trading price over the thirty (30) days prior to the respective payment dates. About Diamond Estates Wines and Spirits Inc. Diamond Estates Wines and Spirits Inc. is a producer of high-quality wines and ciders as well as a sales agent for over 120 beverage alcohol brands across Canada. The Company operates four production facilities, three in Ontario and one in British Columbia, that produce predominantly VQA wines under such well-known brand names as 20 Bees, Creekside, D'Ont Poke the Bear, EastDell, Lakeview Cellars, Mindful, Shiny Apple Cider, Fresh Wines, Red Tractor, Seasons, Serenity and Backyard Vineyards. Through its commercial division, Trajectory Beverage Partners, the Company is the sales agent for many leading international brands in all regions of the country as well as being a distributor in the western provinces. These recognizable brands include Fat Bastard, Meffre, Pierre Chavin and Andre Lurton wines from France, Brimincourt Champagne from France, Merlet and Larsen Cognacs from France, Kaiken wines from Argentina, Blue Nun and Erben wines from Germany, Calabria Family Estate Wines and McWilliams Wines from Australia, Saint Clair Family Estate Wines and Yealands Family Wines from New Zealand, Storywood and Cofradia Tequilas from Mexico, Maverick Distillery spirits (including Tag Vodka and Barnburner Whisky) from Ontario, Talamonti and Cielo wines from Italy, Catedral and Cabeca de Toiro wines from Portugal, Edinburgh Gin, Tamdhu, Glengoyne and Smokehead single-malt Scotch whiskies from Scotland, Islay Mist, Grand MacNish and Waterproof whiskies from Scotland, C. Mondavi & Family wines including C.K Mondavi & Charles Krug from Napa and Hounds Vodka from Canada, Bols Vodka from Amsterdam, Koyle Family Wines from Chile, Pearse Lyons whiskies and gins from Ireland and McCormick Distilling International including Tequila Rose Strawberry Cream, Five Farms Irish Cream Liqueur, Broker's Gin, Hussong's Tequila, Tarantula Tequila, 360 Vodka and Holliday Bourbon. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Diamond Estates Wines and Spirits Inc. to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to: the economy generally; consumer interest in the services and products of the Company; financing; competition; and anticipated and unanticipated costs. While the Company acknowledges that subsequent events and developments may cause its views to change, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the views of the Company as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Non IFRS Financial Measure Management uses net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) as presented in the unaudited interim condensed consolidated statements of net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) as well as "gross margin", "EBITDA" and "Adjusted EBITDA" as a measure to assess performance of the Company. The Company defines "gross margin" as gross profit excluding depreciation. EBITDA and "Adjusted EBITDA" are other financial measures and are reconciled to net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) below under "Results of Operations". EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are supplemental financial measures to further assist readers in assessing the Company's ability to generate income from operations before considering the Company's financing decisions, depreciation of property, plant and equipment and amortization of intangible assets. EBITDA comprises gross margin less operating costs before financial expenses, depreciation and amortization, non-cash expenses such as share-based compensation, one-time and other unusual items, and income tax. Adjusted EBITDA comprises EBITDA before non- recurring expenses including cost of sales adjustments related to inventory acquired in business combinations, EWG transaction costs expensed, government funding under CEWS and CERS programs, and other non-recurring adjustments included in the calculation of EBITDA. Gross margin is defined as gross profit excluding depreciation on property, plant and equipment used in production. Operating expenses exclude interest, depreciation on property, plant and equipment used in selling and administration, and amortization of intangible assets. For more information, please contact: Andrew Howard President & CEO, Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Inc. ahoward@diamondwines.com Ryan Conte, CPA, CA, CBV CFO, Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Inc. rconte@diamondwines.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. _________________________ 1 See definition of selected terms under the heading "Non-IFRS Financial Measures" To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231854 SOURCE: Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Inc. Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. SHANGHAI, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from portuguese.shanghai.gov.cn Shanghai presented its annual Magnolia Silver Award to 50 outstanding expats from 18 countries on Nov 23, recognizing their significant contributions to the city's development and international exchanges. The ceremony took place at the Grand Halls on the northern end of the Bund, with Kong Fu'an, director-general of the Foreign Affairs Office of Shanghai Municipal People's Government, conferring the medals and certificates to the recipients. In his address, Kong emphasized Shanghai's status as an international, innovative, and inclusive city that has taken the lead in achieving Chinese-style modernization. He highlighted the vital roles that expats, foreign-invested enterprises, and foreign institutions play in the city, noting that they have been "not only witnesses, but also active participants and contributors." This year's award recipients come from diverse fields such as trade, finance, technology, shipping, healthcare, education, culture, sports, and agriculture. Among those honored was Pietro Brambilla from Italy, North Asia chief financial officer at L'Oreal China. Brambilla has spearheaded L'Oreal's investment and development in Shanghai, helping the Chinese market become the company's largest globally. He has also contributed to creating a market-oriented, law-based, and international business environment in the city. Professor Marc Delpech from France, a representative of the awardees, shared his experiences contributing to Sino-French medical cooperation over three decades. As the coordinator of the French-language training program for medical students at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and currently vice-dean of the Sino-French School of Medicine at the university, Delpech emphasized the enduring and expanding friendship between China and France. He noted that his predecessor, Professor Guy Vincendon, received the Shanghai Magnolia Silver Award in 2003, highlighting the continuity and strength of their bilateral medical and educational relationship. Another awardee, Carlo D'Andrea, chief representative of Studio Legale DAndrea, has helped many foreign companies settle in China, particularly in Shanghai. The Italian lawyer praised Shanghai as "the best location to do business in China", especially in the fields of new technology and high tech. He highlighted Shanghai's commitment to deepening reform and opening-up, which gives the city "a lot of potentials to be unleashed". D'Andrea valued the direct access to the city's leadership, noting that each year, the Shanghai mayor meets with international business leaders to seek advice, feedback, and ideas for better development of the city. "I had the opportunity to meet many times with the mayor and the vice-mayor to discuss how we can attract more European investment into Shanghai," he said. "I like this kind of opportunities where you have direct access to the leadership, because the exchange of ideas and exchange of opinion is the best way in order to have a better future together." Shanghai began awarding the Magnolia Silver Award to expats in 1989, later introducing the Magnolia Gold Award and Honorary Citizenship in 1992 and 1997, respectively. Over the past 35 years, 1,877 expats have received these honors, underscoring the city's appreciation for their contributions. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/shanghai-honors-50-expats-with-magnolia-silver-awards-302318490.html COURBEVOIE (dpa-AFX) - Saint-Gobain's Board of Directors has proposed the renewal of Benoit Bazin's mandate as Chairman and Chief Executive officer. Additionally, the Board has nominated three new independent directors to be appointed at the General Shareholders' Meeting on June 5, 2025.The new director nominees are Maya Hari, Chief Executive Officer of Terrascope, Antoine de Saint-Affrique, Chief Executive Officer of Danone and Hans Sohlstrom, President and Chief Executive Officer of Stora Enso. If approved the appointments, the proportion of independent directors will be increased from 82% to 93%, excluding Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.The appointments follow the departures of Pamela Knapp, Gilles Schnepp, and Agnes Lemarchand from the board. If approved by shareholders, the Board will consist of 45% women and 45% international directors.The company noted that Jean-Francois Cirelli will continue to act as Lead Independent Director and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors, with the same enhanced powers and resources that have been granted to him since June 2024.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Shanghai, China--(Newsfile Corp. - November 28, 2024) - On November 26th, the bauma CHINA 2024, themed "Pursuing Light and Encountering Brilliance," opened at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. More than 3,400 exhibitors from 32 countries and regions, along with over 200,000 visitors from more than 130 countries and regions, attended this grand event, showcasing tens of thousands of new products and technologies. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8722/231586_58a4d2f2f4588b2b_001full.jpg Adhering to the philosophy of "professionalism, efficiency, and creating value for customers," Eddie Precision showcased a range of new products and integrated solutions, including the heavy-duty silence hydraulic breakers, pure hydraulic breakers, automatic frequency hammers, hydraulic compactor, demolition grapple, eagle shears, hydraulic pulverizers, as well as large-displacement plunger pumps, high-speed pumps, swing motors, final drive, electronic control valves as well as Electric Motors & Controllers. These exciting products allowed customers to feel the manufacturing strength of Eddie Precision. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8722/231586_58a4d2f2f4588b2b_002full.jpg EDDIE Pure Hydraulic Breakers feature a wrapped shell and a unique shock-absorption module design, reducing noise and providing better driving experience. Its unique hydraulic system ensures more stable piston movement, lower maintenance costs, and a longer service life. Under the appropriate flow rate, the pure hydraulic hammer has a faster striking frequency, making it suitable for secondary breaking and other working conditions. The new FCS60 Eagle Shear is equipped with a high-flow acceleration valve for efficient energy regeneration, effectively improving opening and closing efficiency. Its high-strength two-way support provides strong support for shearing large components. The new FHP70A High-Speed Pump is suitable for electric excavators within 45 tons. It can reach a working speed of 6000 rpm, with a maximum displacement of 70cc/rev. The structure is more compact, effectively reducing operating costs. As a comprehensive high-end equipment manufacturing enterprise, Eddie Precision also brought more than 100 products including the full series of hydraulic breakers, attachments, hydraulic parts, reducers, motors, batteries, etc., to this exhibition, fully demonstrating its comprehensive strength in intelligent manufacturing. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8722/231586_58a4d2f2f4588b2b_003full.jpg To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8722/231586_58a4d2f2f4588b2b_004full.jpg This participation further deepened Eddie Precision's commitment to providing comprehensive solutions for global customers. As a leading player in the industry of construction machinery attachment tool and hydraulic parts, Eddie Precision will remain steadfast in the pursuit of innovation, intelligence and sustainability, making efforts to the development of the construction machinery industry. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231586 SOURCE: Global News Volkswagen is executing a significant strategic shift in China by selling its production facilities in the Xinjiang region to state-owned enterprise SMVIC. This move comes as the automotive giant's stock trades around 80, substantially below its 52-week high of 128.60. The transaction includes the transfer of the Urumqi plant, which has been dormant since 2019, along with test tracks in Turpan and Anting. This strategic realignment demonstrates Volkswagen's responsiveness to market dynamics while maintaining its commitment to the Chinese market, as evidenced by the extension of its partnership with SAIC until 2040. Ambitious Growth Strategy Looking ahead, Volkswagen has outlined an aggressive expansion plan for the Chinese market, targeting a 15% market share by 2030 with annual sales of four million vehicles. The company is set to launch a comprehensive product offensive beginning in 2026, introducing 18 new models specifically designed for Chinese consumers. This strategic initiative places particular emphasis on electric mobility, positioning Volkswagen to compete more effectively in China's rapidly evolving automotive landscape. Ad Fresh Volkswagen information released. What's the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends. Read our updated Volkswagen analysis... DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- e-Corner market size is projected to grow from 128 thousand units in 2024 to 3,109 thousand units by 2035, at a CAGR of 33.7%, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. e-Corner Market is driven by advancements in modular skateboard chassis that allows OEMs to incorporate the e-corner system into its EV platforms. Also, growth factors such as the need for Modular designs and independent control of steering, propulsion & braking, demand for autonomous & flexible mobility, increasing demand for the cornering features such as crabwalk, diagonal driving parallel parking and adoption of autonomous vehicle are drivers for the growth of e-corner market. Download an Illustrative overview: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=115661093 Browse in-depth TOC on "e-Corner Market" 100 - Tables 75 - Figures 160 - Pages Light Commercial Vehicle will be the largest market growing segment in North America during the forecast period. North America is leading the e-corner system market for the light commercial vehicles, with home to leading OEMs such as Tesla, GM, and Rivian among others, and is also a strong operational base for e-corner module manufacturers such as REE. These OEMs incorporate e-Corner Module in their light commercial vehicles such as GMC Hummer EV, Tesla Cybertruck, Rivian R1T with quad-motor configurations. One of the local OEMs, Rivian plans to integrate its electric vehicle design intellectual property (IP) into new models such as R1T (quad-motor variant) and other upcoming models, which are likely to boost the sales of this vehicle lineup. Apart from Light commercial vehicles these e-Corner module manufacturers are also exploring the opportunities in heavy commercial vehicles. REE is expanding their regional integration centres and manufacturing units. For instance, In July 2024, REE Automotive continued its regional expansion in North America, securing a USD 45.35 million funding round and a strategic manufacturing agreement with Motherson Group. This development, alongside the launch of production in Michigan and Maryland, positioned REE to meet the increasing demand for software-defined electric trucks. Europe will grow at fastest CAGR during the forecast period. The region is home to the leading electric corner module manufacturers, such as Schaeffler AG, Continental AG, REE and ZF Friedrichshafen AG among others. These manufacturers are investing heavily on R&D to incorporate e-Corner module in the EV platforms. For instance, in March 2021, REE Automotive launched five advanced REEcorner architectures and EV platforms for commercial EVs in the region. In November 2021, REE launched its first European Integration Centre in Coventry, UK, to advance commercial production of its P7 electric platform for commercial vehicles. Germany leads the e-corner system market due to investments in infrastructure by companies like Volkswagen in R&D expansion and partnerships with technology providers such as Deepdrive. Market players such as Continental, DeepDrive, and REE are partnering with local technology providers to co-develop electric corner modules, revolutionizing vehicle electrification through investments in infrastructure. For instance, in October 2023, Continental and Munich-based DeepDrive formed a strategic partnership to develop an innovative electric vehicle drive-brake system. The collaboration focused on integrating a dual-rotor electric motor with brake technology directly mounted on vehicle wheels, enhancing efficiency, and reducing space requirements. Key Market Players e-Corner Industry: Prominent players in the e-Corner Market include as Schaeffler AG (Germany), Protean (UK), Hyundai Mobis (South Korea), REE (Israel), Continental AG (Germany), and Elaphe LTD (Slovenia) among others. And leading OEMs incorporating e-Corner modules are BYD (China), Tesla (US), and Hyundai Motor Company (South Korea). Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=115661093 This report provides insights on: Technology Analysis: Insights on current and upcoming technologies, future investments, and critical OEMs strategies. Covered major electric components, technological trends such as the platformization, and market players providing these. Market Landscape by vehicle type (Passenger Car and Commercial Vehicle), by motor configuration (Tri-motor and Quad-motor), by region (Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America). Case Studies and Prototype Analysis: The report analyses case studies, and prototype analysis and product offerings of leading players. It also helps stakeholders understand the strategy of the electric corner module manufacturers and provides information on their recent developments and investments in the market. Related Reports: Electric Light Commercial Vehicle Market Electric Commercial Vehicle Market Electric Vehicle Market Wireless Charging Market Get access to the latest updates on e-Corner Companies and e-Corner Industry Growth About MarketsandMarkets: MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Rohan Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets Inc. 1615 South Congress Ave. Suite 103, Delray Beach, FL 33445 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1951202/4609423/MarketsandMarkets.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/e-corner-market-worth-3-109-thousand-units-by-2035--marketsandmarkets-302318582.html Iris Financial PO Box 10240 Harbour Place, 103 South Church Street Grand Cayman KY1-1002 Amsterdam, the Netherlands - 29 November 2024 Iris Financial - Convenes Extraordinary General Meeting in connection with the migration to Luxembourg and preparation of the closing of the business combination with Younited S.A. Iris Financial (the "Company") announces that it has called an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders ("EGM") to be held on 12 December 2024 before the Luxembourg civil law notary in Luxembourg. The purpose of the EGM is for the shareholders to approve the transfer of the registered office, central administration and effective seat of management of the Company from the Cayman Islands to Luxembourg and matters in preparation for the closing of the business combination with Younited S.A. (the "Business Combination") (which remains subject to the satisfaction of regulatory and customary closing conditions). All the proposals on the agenda and additional information regarding the EGM are included in the notice for the EGM (the "Notice"). The Notice is available on the Company's website, accessible via the following link: http://www.irisfinancial.co. In addition, the Company has published a shareholders' letter on its website in order to update investors on progresses made with respect to the procedure relating to the authorization by the European Central Bank ("ECB") and the French Banking Authority ("ACPR") of the acquisition of Younited. On 26 November 2024, the ACPR deemed the application submitted by the Company to be complete. Separately, the Company expects to receive from the ACPR an exemption from the requirement to be approved as a financial holding company, with the ACPR requiring the Company to be comprised within the same prudential consolidation perimeter as Younited. In addition, there are ongoing discussions between Younited and the ACPR regarding requirements that the ACPR may impose on Younited's banking license to ensure that its funding sources are diversified, and that its liquidity position is satisfactory. Furthermore, Company and Younited S.A. agreed to amend the business combination agreement, dated 7 October 2024 (the "BCA") to reflect certain technicalities required to finalize the deal. The amendment agreement to the BCA will be made available on the Company's website. Shareholders will be entitled to attend and vote at the EGM, provided they are registered as a shareholder on today's date (29 November 2024) at 17:30 CET, after the processing of all settlements. About Iris Financial More information about the Company, including the Company's initial public offering prospectus dated 26 April 2022, which was approved by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (Stichting Autoriteit Financiele Markten, the "AFM"), can be found on the Company's website http://www.irisfinancial.co. DISCLAIMER This announcement contains information that qualifies, or may have qualified, as inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 on market abuse. This announcement may include forward-looking statements, which are based on the Company's current expectations and projections regarding a business combination, the business, the economy and other future conditions of the Company and speak only as of the date hereof. These forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes", "aims", "forecasts", "continues", "estimates", "plans", "projects", "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "may", "will" or "should" or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy plans, objectives, goals, future events, or intentions. Forward-looking statements may and often do differ materially from actual results. Any forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current view with respect to future events and are subject to risks relating to future events and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the Company's business, results of operations, financial position, liquidity, prospects, growth or strategies. Forward-looking statements speak only as at the date at which they are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements. ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: xW1vZMhrlmmUl55uZJaamWZqm5mTx2HJm2WYxWdpZ8idmp+VmJeVa8WeZnFpnmdn - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-88921-iris-financial-press-release-convocation-luxembourg-migration-egm-29-november-2024.pdf CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. dollar weakened against other major currencies in the Asian session on Friday.The U.S. dollar fell to nearly a 1-1/2-month low of 149.76 against the U.S. dollar and more than a 2-week low of 1.2720 against the pound, from yesterday's closing quotes of 151.44 and 1.2687, respectively.Against the euro and the Swiss franc, the greenback dropped to 2-day lows of 1.0577 and 0.8801 from Thursday's closing quotes of 1.0553 and 0.8828, respectively.Against Australia, the New Zealand and the Canadian dollars, the greenback slid to a 4-day low of 0.6524, a 9-day low of 0.5919 and a 3-day low of 1.3981 from yesterday's closing quotes of 0.6499, 0.5888 and 1.4011, respectively.If the greenback extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 144.00 against the yen, 1.30 against the pound, 1.10 against the euro, 0.86 against the franc, 0.66 against the aussie, 0.60 against the kiwi and 1.38 against the loonie.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Original-Research: ASMALLWORLD AG - from NuWays AG 29.11.2024 / 09:00 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Research, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this research. The result of this research does not constitute investment advice or an invitation to conclude certain stock exchange transactions. Classification of NuWays AG to ASMALLWORLD AG Company Name: ASMALLWORLD AG ISIN: CH0404880129 Reason for the research: Update Recommendation: Buy from: 29.11.2024 Target price: CHF 4.00 Target price on sight of: 12 months Last rating change: Analyst: Henry Wendisch Free membership and rebranding launched; chg. est & PT Topic: On Wednesday, ASW announced the much expected rebranding, but more importantly opened its social network to a broader audience by introducing a free membership option. In detail: New visual identity and logo: Following nearly two decades of an unchanged logo, ASW's rebranding (see p. 2) highlights the stronger positioning as the go-to brand for luxury travel. Moreover, the slogan 'Travel - Discover - Belong' is introduced, which also textually combines the ASW community ('belong') with the anciallary offered services for travel ('travel', 'discover'). Free membership model to drive member base: Simultanously, ASW introduced a fourth, free membership option which comes in with 90% of functions of the premium membership. The paid options (Premium, Signature & Prestige) remain broadly unchanged, however existing members now have the option to downgrade to the free version, which could impact sales negatively in the short-term. However, a potential downgrade comes with a loss of functions and benefits which are liked by the members. More importantly, the reduced entry barriers should ultimately drive member growth and with an upselling options. In order to protect against scammers, bots and a potential loss of 'community quality', ASW implemented safety measures such as member verification. Increasing monetization: next to a broader user base with the potential to upsell to a premium membership, further upselling potential to ASW's services (e.g. ASW collection, ASW Private, etc.) should ultimately offset the potential sales decline from membership downgrades. Moreover, attractive third-party products (e.g. creditcard or cruise ship companies) offered exclusively to ASW members should yield additional sales. All in all, the aforementioned business model change should impact sales and profitability (due to P&L effective pre-investments) in the short-term, but ultimately offers the business model more operating leverage with diversified and more profitable revenue streams thereafter. While this does not happen over night, we expect the full effect by early 2026e, explaining a FY'25e still below historical figures. Nevertheless, the stock is attractive at current levels, offering a 8.5% FCFY'25e (19% FCFY'26e). Against this backdrop, we reiterate our BUY recommendation with lower PT of CHF 4.00 (old: CHF 4.30), based on DCF. You can download the research here: http://www.more-ir.de/d/31445.pdf For additional information visit our website: www.nuways-ag.com/research Contact for questions: NuWays AG - Equity Research Web: www.nuways-ag.com Email: research@nuways-ag.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nuwaysag Adresse: Mittelweg 16-17, 20148 Hamburg, Germany ++++++++++ Diese Meldung ist keine Anlageberatung oder Aufforderung zum Abschluss bestimmter Borsengeschafte. Offenlegung moglicher Interessenskonflikte nach 85 WpHG beim oben analysierten Unternehmen befinden sich in der vollstandigen Analyse. ++++++++++ The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.eqs-news.com 2040829 29.11.2024 CET/CEST MADRID (dpa-AFX) - GeoPark Limited (GPRK), an oil and gas exploration and production company, Friday announced that it has signed a deal to acquire certain Repsol assets in Columbia for about $530 million including debt.The deal signed with Repsol Exploracion S.A. and Repsol E&P S.A.R.L includes acquisition of Repsol upstream oil and gas assets in Colombia.'The agreements include the acquisition of 100% of Repsol Colombia O&G Limited, which owns a 45% non-operated working interest in the CPO-9 Block in Meta Department (operated by Ecopetrol with a 55% WI), and Repsol's 25% interest in SierraCol Energy Arauca LLC ('Llanos Norte') in Arauca Department. Together, these assets produced approximately 16,000 boepd net 1 to Repsol as of September 2024,' GeoPark said in a statement.This acquisition aligns with GeoPark's 'North Star' growth strategy. The goal is to secure high-value assets in large, proven oil and gas regions to create a profitable and sustainable portfolio across Latin America.Wednesday, GPRK had closed 0.44 cents or 5.09% higher at $9.08. Thursday, REPYY had closed 0.03 cents or 0.24% lesser at $12.42.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. 24 new, science-based start-ups were awarded at the EIT Jumpstarter Grand Final: 49 teams from 21 countries competed in 9 categories, collectively winning prizes worth 150,000 It was the culmination of this year's edition of pre-acceleration programme EIT Jumpstarter - an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, a body of the European Union, which aims to train and convert innovative ideas into budding businesses The programme has trained 1,180 participants so far, leading to the establishment of 124 new start-ups in emerging countries and contributing to the creation of 2,100 new jobs. These start-ups collectively attracted 150 million in external investment up until now Plans for 2025 include additional support for talent from Ukraine, the Western Balkan, the Mediterranean, and EU outermost regions innovators WARSAW, Poland, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This year's final of the EIT Jumpstarter programme was held on 28 November in Budapest, Hungary, along with the EIT Community conference "The next decade of innovation for the future of Europe. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the EIT Regional Innovation Scheme". "The pipeline of start-ups established in non-Western countries through programmes like EIT Jumpstarter is growing every year, and many ventures from previous editions have now reached multimillion valuations. This is particularly important to close the funding gap in the European innovation ecosystem. The programme helps create new jobs, brings new skills, and stimulates entrepreneurship in the region," says Piotr Boulange, representing the EIT Jumpstarter programme. "Considering that every euro invested in the programme generates 30 euros in external funding for newly built start-ups, EIT Jumpstarter truly serves as a springboard for talented founders," he adds. Throughout the seven-month programme,participants identified and validated the best business model for their science-based innovative ideas, to turn them into market-ready start-ups. In each of the categories, three awardees were selected, and these were ranked 1st: NEAMO from Latvia (EIT Food), BIOCHIP-PATHFINDER from Portugal (EIT Health), StoreNow from Portugal (EIT InnoEnergy), Yapar3D from Turkey (EIT Manufacturing), Total Energy from Croatia (EIT RawMaterials), Urbix Hub from Bulgaria (EIT Urban Mobility), POWAR STEAM from Spain (New European Bauhaus), Drone NonDestructiveTesting from Ukraine (Rebuild Ukraine), WellscanPro from Kosovo for the Western Balkans special award, and the Most Outstanding EIT Jumpstarter Alumni statuette went to Lightly from Czechia. The next edition of the programme will be opened in January, but pre-registration is already available. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2569468/EIT_Jumpstarter_grand_final.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/eit-jumpstarter-launches-innovative-start-ups-tackling-societys-most-urgent-challenges-302318405.html Since the creation of the portfolio in May 2021, it has grown from two assets with 1,500 beds to 12 assets with 4,100 beds Transaction marks the first sale of EQT Exeter's living assets in Spain, a market experiencing continued growth potential Azora reenters the Spanish purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) market, a sector it first pioneered over a decade ago Azora plans to leverage the acquisition to develop a larger Southern European portfolio aiming for approximately 10,000 beds STOCKHOLM, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- EQT Exeter, a leading global real estate investment manager, is pleased to announce that the EQT Real Estate II fund ("EQT Exeter") has closed the sale of a portfolio comprising 12 student housing assets in nine cities across Spain to an Azora PBSA managed vehicle. In May 2021, EQT Exeter entered a joint venture with developer Grupo Moraval to create a premier portfolio of purpose-built student accommodation assets across Spain, totaling approximately 1,500 beds. The portfolio was designed to target a primarily domestic student profile, with a high level of service and amenity offering at an affordable price point. Since then, leveraging the expertise of its local team, EQT Exeter has expanded the portfolio to include 12 assets with approximately 4,100 beds across major cities, including Madrid and Barcelona, as well as in key secondary higher education hubs such as Seville, Malaga and Granada. It became the fourth largest student housing portfolio in Spain just two years into the joint venture. The portfolio is characterized by its high standards, with several buildings having achieved LEED1 Platinum, the first student assets in Europe to receive this certification. Tom Livelli, Partner and Head of Living Strategies, Europe, EQT Exeter, said: "This transaction underscores the strong and growing demand for high-quality student housing in Europe, supported by robust fundamentals and resilient market dynamics. Spain remains a top investment destination, with strong economic growth and a structural undersupply of student housing. This exceptional portfolio showcases EQT's integrated investment, development, and operational expertise, and we remain committed to expanding our presence in the European living sector." Carlos Molero Sanchez de la Blanca, Managing Director, EQT Exeter, said, "We are excited to have completed the sale of our first living assets in Spain, an excellent example of EQT Exeter's 'local with locals' approach to investing in thematic trends. Our selective aggregation strategy, combined with a deep understanding of the specific needs of students and a focus on the operational and design aspects of each building, have allowed us to achieve significant scale and deliver a highly resilient, downside-protected portfolio with a high social impact." Alvaro Soto de Scals, CEO, Grupo Moraval, commented: "It has been a pleasure to have contributed to the success of our JV with EQT Exeter, having sourced and managed the build-out of this platform as planned. The portfolio is built with state-of-the-art technology and quality; with sustainability a core element for both Group Moraval and EQT Exeter." Jose Alonso, Partner, Azora, added: "After closely monitoring the market for several years, we believe now is the ideal time to reenter the PBSA sector in order to provide solutions to the current shortage of student housing in Spain and other Southern European countries. The platform established by EQT Exeter and Grupo Moraval aligns with the high standards of our PBSA vehicle and will serve as the foundation for our expansion in Southern Europe." The acquisition signifies Azora's return to the student housing sector, a market it led over a decade ago by establishing the largest PBSA portfolio in continental Europe, which was sold in 2017. Azora intends to use this newly acquired platform as a foundation to expand its new PBSA vehicle, targeting approximately 10,000 beds in key Southern European locations. EQT Exeter was advised by Linklaters and Azora was advised by CBRE Investment Bank and Garrigues. 1Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design EQT contact For Spanish press, Sofia Garcia, sgarcia@grupoalbion.net, +34915312388 For international press, EQT Press Office, press@eqtpartners.com Azora (Spain) contact Nacho Miquel, nacho.miquel@irazustacomunicacion.com Alberto Rodriguez, alberto.rodriguez@irazustacomunicacion.com +34915634179 Azora (Europe) contact Richard Sunderland / James McEwan / Ellie Smith, Azora@FTIConsulting.com +442037271000 This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com. https://news.cision.com/eqt/r/eqt-exeter-completes-spanish-student-housing-portfolio-sale-to-azora,c4073309 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/87/4073309/3141865.pdf PRESS RELEASE EQT Exeter completes Spanish student housing portfolio sale to Azora https://news.cision.com/eqt/i/spanish-student-housing-portfolio,c3356290 Spanish student housing portfolio View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/eqt-exeter-completes-spanish-student-housing-portfolio-sale-to-azora-302318674.html RUEIL-MALMAISON, FRANCE / ACCESSWIRE / November 29, 2024 / Schneider Electric - For a quarter-century, the Schneider Electric Foundation has been a catalyst for positive change, empowering young people worldwide to address pressing social issues. At the occasion of its 25th anniversary, the Foundation remains steadfast in its mission to foster a more equitable and sustainable future. The '25 Years Young' Campaign was more than a milestone; it was the occasion to honor the youth by recognizing 25 most impactful youth-serving NGOs, championing the field of Just transition, across five continents. In addition, the "Tomorrow Rising" web series, now in its second season, will continue to share powerful testimonies from young people in Mexico, Peru, Egypt, Indonesia & France. The upcoming season, set to be released in 2025, is a testament to the global impact of the Foundation around the world. A Legacy of Impact Over the past 25 years, the Foundation has achieved significant milestones: Empowering Youth: Providing educational opportunities and vocational training to young people through the Youth Education & Entrepreneurship program, with over 760,000 people trained since 2009. Promoting Just Transition: Raising awareness about social issues and fostering sustainable practices. Mobilizing Employee Volunteers: Inspiring over 28,000 employees to dedicate 66,000+ volunteer days to community initiatives since 2017. Tomorrow Rising Web Series : Showcasing the inspiring stories of young impact makers. Tomorrow Rising Funds: Acts as a relay and amplifies the mobilizations of local Schneider Electric entities following natural disasters or emergency situations. This Giving Season, the next 25 years begin The past 25 years have established a solid groundwork, and the Foundation is excited to expand upon this legacy. Together, with the incredible team of volunteers, partners, and leaders, they rest assured that the next 25 years will be full of positive impact, one mentoring session at a time, one new access to energy at a time. The Schneider Electric Foundation remains committed in its vision of a future where the next generation of leaders and innovators are inspired and empowered to drive a Just Transition. The Giving Season offers an opportunity to reflect on this commitment and to encourage others to join in the effort to create positive change. As the Foundation enters its next 25 years, it looks forward to continuing its legacy of giving and sharing, inspiring more change and touching more lives. Related resources: '25 Years Young' Campaign Tomorrow Rising Web Series About Schneider Electric In a world where social and environmental challenges are more widespread and more urgent than ever, the Schneider Electric Foundation supports innovative and forward-looking initiatives to give as many people as possible the energy they need to succeed. Always forward-looking and optimistic, the goal of the Schneider Electric Foundation is to play a part in creating a fairer, less carbon-intensive society that gives future generations the tools to transform our world. About Schneider Electric Schneider's purpose is to create Impact by empowering all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability. At Schneider, we call this Life Is On. Our mission is to be the trusted partner in Sustainability and Efficiency. We are a global industrial technology leader bringing world-leading expertise in electrification, automation and digitization to smart industries, resilient infrastructure, future-proof data centers, intelligent buildings, and intuitive homes. Anchored by our deep domain expertise, we provide integrated end-to-end lifecycle AI enabled Industrial IoT solutions with connected products, automation, software and services, delivering digital twins to enable profitable growth for our customers. We are a people company with an ecosystem of 150,000 colleagues and more than a million partners operating in over 100 countries to ensure proximity to our customers and stakeholders. We embrace diversity and inclusion in everything we do, guided by our meaningful purpose of a sustainable future for all. www.se.com Discover the newest perspectives shaping sustainability, electricity 4.0, and next-generation automation on Schneider Electric Insights. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Schneider Electric on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Schneider Electric Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/schneider-electric Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Schneider Electric View the original press release on accesswire.com TOKYO, Nov 29, 2024 - (JCN Newswire) - Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. (JAL) and NEC Corporation (NEC) have jointly conducted a trial of the "NEC Baggage Counting Solution"(1), which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to automatically analyze the quantity and types of carry-on baggage at boarding gates. The solution, a world first(2), enables measures to be taken for carry-on baggage, which is one of the causes of flight delays, aiming to improve on-time performance and ensure smooth boarding.Based on the results of this trial, JAL is exploring methods for implementing the solution in the future.BackgroundExcess cabin baggage can lead to congestion in the aisles as passengers spend extra time storing their items in the overhead bins. It may also result in baggage being transferred to the cargo compartment after boarding has commenced, thereby increasing boarding time and potentially causing flight delays.Overview of the trialConducted from April to September 2024 at Boarding Gate 13 in Terminal 1 of Tokyo International Airport (Haneda), the trial involved evaluating the solution's analysis accuracy (detection and classification accuracy) and its alert timing for exceeding overhead storage limits to determine its effectiveness.Trial details:1. Cameras installed at the boarding gate capture footage, which is analyzed using AI to detect cabin baggage carried by passengers.2. Detected baggage is classified into predefined categories, and the space each item would occupy in overhead bins is estimated in real time.3. An alert is triggered when the estimated storage capacity reaches a preset threshold.Results and future prospectsThe solution enabled the collection and analysis of data on baggage amounts and alert frequency. This data can be used to develop concrete measures to prevent departure delays due to baggage storage and the reloading of baggage in the cargo compartment.Going forward, JAL will continue utilizing digital technology to ensure smoother boarding, improve punctuality, and optimize the overall customer experience. NEC provides end-to-end services for this kind of digital transformation (DX) through the "NEC BluStellar" value-delivery model. NEC BluStellar transforms business models to address social and business challenges by applying diverse industry insights and world-leading technological expertise to the entire DX process, from customer strategy consultation through implementation.(1)Patent pending.(2)According to NEC research as of November 2024.ShareAbout NEC CorporationNEC Corporation has established itself as a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies while promoting the brand statement of "Orchestrating a brighter world." NEC enables businesses and communities to adapt to rapid changes taking place in both society and the market as it provides for the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. For more information, visit NEC at www.nec.com.Source: NEC CorporationCopyright 2024 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. ISTANBUL, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Turkiye's first private ground handling company, Celebi Aviation, has expanded its global services through a new partnership with Turkish Airlines. From 1 December 2024, Celebi Aviation will provide ground handling and passenger services for 9 weekly Turkish Airlines flights at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. With more than 65 years of ground handling experience on three continents, in six countries and at 70 stations across the world, Celebi Aviation will undertake its largest operation in Africa through this cooperation. Having added Tanzania to its global network in 2021, Celebi Aviation continues to take significant steps in its international growth. This agreement with Turkish Airlines is a key milestone in its African expansion, providing ground and passenger services for Turkish Airlines' operations in Dar Es Salaam. "Our efficiency in Tanzania will increase notably" Highlighting the importance of this collaboration in Africa, Dave Dorner, Celebi Aviation Group CEO, stated, "We are delighted to launch our partnership with Turkish Airlines in Dar Es Salaam. This operation is an important part of our growth strategy in Africa and an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to operational excellence. This agreement will be a significant increase in our operational efficiency in Tanzania. We will continue to provide our customers with high quality service through our comprehensive services and strong infrastructure. This partnership is part of a larger strategy that will strengthen Celebi Aviation's operations in Africa, not just in Tanzania." First scheduled wide-body operation in Africa Known for its commitment to service quality and operational excellence, Celebi Aviation's growth in Tanzania contributes to the company's expansion goals within the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region. The operation at Julius Nyerere International Airport also marks Celebi Aviation's first scheduled wide-body flight in Africa, reinforcing its ambition to become a leading ground handling provider on the continent. Celebi Aviation focuses on digitalisation and sustainability to improve the quality of its passenger services, , ramp handling, aircraft interior cleaning, aircraft guidance and load control, general aviation services, meet & assist services, lounge and VIP services. In this regard, the company is reducing its carbon footprint by applying its technological expertise to its services, using digital tools, electric ground equipment and energy-efficient technologies. About Celebi Aviation: Founded in 1958, Celebi is a global leader in aviation services, offering comprehensive ground handling, cargo, and warehouse management. Operating at 70 stations worldwide, Celebi is committed to delivering top-tier service quality and innovative solutions. Celebi's services include passenger handling, ramp services, load control, flight operations, and aircraft cleaning. The company invests continuously in advanced technology and rigorous training, adhering to international safety and quality standards. With a presence in several countries, including Turkiye, India, Hungary, Germany, Tanzania and Indonesia, Celebi employs over 15,000 people and provides services to more than 300 airline customers. Driven by values of integrity, customer focus, teamwork, and innovation, Celebi aims to exceed customer expectations and enhance the efficiency and safety of the aviation industry. For more information, visit www.celebiaviation.com. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2569859/Celebi_Aviation_Turkish_Airlines.jpg Contact Information: Selcan Cirisoglu Weber Shandwick scirisoglu@webershandwick.com +90 530 156 10 02 Pelin Sacu Weber Shandwick psacu@webershandwick.com +90 551 599 39 35 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/celebi-aviation-and-turkish-airlines-join-forces-in-africa-302318681.html TOKYO, Nov 29, 2024 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) and Hokuetsu Corporation, one of Japan's leading paper manufacturers, launched a CO2 capture demonstration test at Niigata Mill (Niigata City), in November. This demonstration test aims to capture CO2 from a chemical recovery boiler that produces the steam and electricity needed for paper manufacturing, by using MHI's "CO2MPACT Mobile(Note)", a compact CO2 capture system. This is the first case in which MHI's CO2 capture technology is being applied to the pulp and paper industry. This demonstration test will allow MHI to analyze and evaluate data for commercial application and accelerate decarbonization in this industry.Chemical recovery boilers use "black liquor" as their main fuel, which is generated as a by-product in the pulp production process, the raw material for paper. The wood chips are dissolved in a sodium-containing solvent known as "white liquor" to extract the pulp, and the white liquor component is recovered from the black liquor residue that remains after combustion and is re-circulated for reuse.As the need for decarbonization grows around the world, Japan is also actively engaged in decarbonization efforts in various industrial sectors. And the pulp and paper industry is one of them. This demonstration test is expected to provide the pulp and paper industry with a solution that contributes to further global environmental measures by directly capturing CO2 emissions in the production process.MHI Group has formally declared its intent to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040, and the Company is now working strategically to decarbonize both the energy demand and supply sides. A core element of the Company's "Energy Transition," which targets decarbonization on the energy supply side, is the development of a CCUS value chain integrating diverse sources of carbon emissions with modes for carbon storage and utilization. Going forward, MHI Group will continue to proactively promote its CCUS business worldwide, applying its proprietary CO2 capture technologies, contributing as a solutions provider to reducing greenhouse gas emissions on a global scale, and developing further solutions that contribute to environmental protection.For details of the "CO2MPACT" series, see the following press release: www.mhi.com/news/240919.htmlAbout MHI Group's CO2 capture technologiesMHI Group has been developing the KM CDR Process (Kansai Mitsubishi Carbon Dioxide Recovery Process) and the Advanced KM CDR Process in collaboration with the Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. since 1990. As of November 2024, the Company has delivered 18 plants adopting these processes. The Advanced KM CDR Process adopts the KS-21 solvent, which incorporates technological improvements over the amine-based KS-1 and offers superior regeneration efficiency and lower deterioration than the KS-1, and it has been verified to provide excellent energy saving performance, reduce operation costs, and result in low amine emissions.For further information on MHI Group's CO2 capture plants: www.mhi.com/products/engineering/co2plants.htmlAbout MHI GroupMitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world's leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com.Source: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Copyright 2024 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. SHANGHAI, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CHINT brought the whole industrial chain solution of electric power and new energy to the 2nd China International Supply Chain Expo. With the theme of "Connecting the World for a Shared Future", this year's Chain Expo held more than 300 activities such as special forums and new product releases around six major chains and supply chain services, including advanced manufacturing chains and clean energy chains, attracting about 700 enterprises from nearly 70 countries and regions to participate. In the exhibition area of clean energy chain, many well-known energy enterprises showed their technological achievements in scientific and technological innovation, green development, brand building and high-quality development. CHINT focused on the latest practices and achievements of new energy sources, including photovoltaic modules, energy storage systems, smart power innovation products and other whole industry chain solutions. At the same time, as a full-chain system solution provider that can provide the integration of components, energy storage, high, medium and low voltage transmission and distribution equipment, operation and maintenance software and services required by photovoltaic power plants, CHINT demonstrated the global supply chain network resource allocation and integration capabilities at this Chain Expo. International customers from Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Africa expressed their interest and intention in cooperation at CHINT's booth, hoping to carry out more extensive exchanges and cooperation with CHINT in the fields of clean energy and a series of solutions in the future. And delegation from China Energy International Group also visited CHINT booth to exchange views on relevant cooperation. With the continuous deepening of economic globalization, global industrial chain cooperation has become a key driver to promote economic growth. Enterprises integrate into the global supply chain system has become a key factor for development and growth. CHINT continues to build a digital, intelligent and localized industrial chain, and gradually builds industrial clusters such as electrical equipment and photovoltaic module factories overseas. CHINT's global resource allocation and management capabilities help energy transformation with the global resource network. CHINT constantly relies on its own brand, technology, channels and the advantages of system integration in the whole industry chain to invest in the construction of new energy photovoltaic power plants and integrate the concepts of innovation, green and openness into international projects. Over the years, CHINT has actively put the green concept through the whole process of R&D, design, procurement, production, logistics and sales, and extended to upstream suppliers and downstream customers externally, and formed an effective green supply chain system. Besides, CHINT helps upstream and downstream enterprises in the supply chain to jointly decarbonize through the green carbon reduction actions of the whole chain business, such as power generation, electricity storage, transmission, substation, distribution and electricity consumption. Guangfu Luan, the Rotating President of CHINT Group, said that CHINT ensured the sustainable development of the supply chain by setting up a rigorous supplier screening and evaluation mechanism, building a green supplier evaluation system, promoting the green transformation of logistics and transportation, and developing a series of emission reduction measures such as the carbon management platform. CHINT has always focused on the main business of electric power and energy, constantly strengthened the coordinated development ability of industrial chains, and realized the leap-forward development from product to system and from manufacturing to service. In the future, CHINT will continue to empower the whole industrial chain with greening, digitalization & intelligence, and create a more intelligent, environmental friendly new energy ecosystem for a clean and beautiful world. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2569855/image_5019413_32981805.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/chint-attended-the-2nd-china-international-supply-chain-expo-302318693.html Artemis Alpha Trust Plc - Result of 2[nd] General Meeting and Scheme Entitlements PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, November 29 Artemis Alpha Trust plc Legal Entity Identifier: 549300MQXY2QXEIL3756 Results of Second General Meeting & Scheme Entitlements In connection with the proposals for a combination of the assets of Artemis Alpha Trust plc (the "Company" or "ATS") with Aurora Investment Trust plc ("Aurora") by means of a scheme of reconstruction and winding up of the Company under section 110 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (the "Scheme"), the Board is pleased to announce the result of the Second General Meeting and the Scheme entitlements. Defined terms used in this announcement have the meanings given in the Company's circular to Shareholders dated 24 October 2024 (the "Circular") unless the context otherwise requires. The Circular is available for viewing at the National Storage Mechanism which can be located at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism and on the Company's website at www.artemisfunds.com. Result of Second General Meeting The Company announces that the special resolution to place the Company into members' voluntary liquidation was voted on and approved by Shareholders at the Second General Meeting held earlier today. Accordingly, Richard Peter Barker and Derek Neil Hyslop (together the "Liquidators"), both of Ernst & Young LLP of 1 More London Place, London, SE1 2AF have been appointed as joint liquidators of the Company. Details of the number of votes cast for, against and withheld in respect of the resolution, which was held on a poll, is set out below and will also be published on the Company's website at www.artemisfunds.com. Resolution Votes for (including discretionary) % Votes against % Total votes cast Votes cast (excl. votes withheld)1 Votes withheld To place the Company into members' voluntary liquidation and appoint the Liquidators 13,464,800 99.89 15,379 0.11 13,480,179 41.21 0 1 As a percentage of total voting rights For the purposes of section 341 of the Companies Act 2006, the votes validly cast are expressed in the table above as a percentage of the Company's total voting rights, being 32,713,152 as at 27 November 2024, being the time at which a shareholder had to be registered in the Register of Members in order to vote at the Second General Meeting. A vote "withheld" is not a vote in law and has not been counted as a vote "for" or "against" a resolution. The number of Shares in issue at the date of this announcement is 37,260,474. There are 4,547,322 Shares held in treasury. Therefore, as at the date of this announcement the number of voting rights in the Company are 32,713,152. The full text of the special resolution can be found in the notice of Second General Meeting contained in the Circular. Suspension and Cancellation of Reclassified Shares The Company's Reclassified Shares were suspended from listing on the Official List of the Financial Conduct Authority and from trading on the London Stock Exchange at 7.30 a.m. this morning, 29 November 2024, in anticipation of the Second General Meeting. The Company, through its advisers, has notified the Financial Conduct Authority and the London Stock Exchange of the Company's intention to cancel the Company's admission of the Reclassified Shares to listing and trading at 8:00 a.m. on 2 December 2024. Scheme Entitlements As at the Calculation Date the entitlements calculated in accordance with the terms of the Scheme were as follows: ATS Rollover FAV per Share: 410.640393 pence ATS Cash Pool FAV per Share: 395.972183 pence Aurora FAV per Share: 262.578373 pence Therefore, Shareholders will receive the following cash and/or number of New Aurora Shares: For Shareholders that elected (or are deemed to have elected) to receive New Aurora Shares, Each Reclassified Share with "A" rights attached to it will receive 1.563877 New Aurora Shares. Fractional entitlements to New Aurora Shares will not be issued under the Scheme and entitlements will be rounded down to the nearest whole number. No cash payment will be made or returned in respect of any fractional entitlements, which will be retained for the benefit of Aurora. For Shareholders that elected for the Cash Option: Each Reclassified Share with "B" rights attached to it will receive 395.972183 pence in cash. As noted in the Circular, the Directors have set aside sufficient assets in the Liquidation Pool to meet all estimated liabilities and contingencies, including the costs of the winding up of the Company and the costs of implementing the Scheme. The Directors have also provided in the Liquidation Pool for a retention of 100,000 which they, together with the Liquidators, consider sufficient to meet any unknown or unascertained liabilities of the Company. The Liquidation Pool will be applied by the Liquidators in discharging all current and future actual and contingent liabilities of the Company. Any balance remaining after discharging such liabilities from the Liquidation Pool will in due course be distributed to Shareholders pro rata to their respective holdings of Shares in accordance with the terms of the Scheme. In accordance with the Circular, Shareholders who elected, or were deemed to have elected, for the Rollover Option will receive their New Aurora Shares via CREST on 2 December 2024 and, in relation to certificated Shareholders, share certificates in respect of New Aurora Shares will be despatched on 13 December 2024. Shareholders who elected, or were deemed to have elected, for the Cash Option will have their entitlements despatched by no later than 13 December 2024 via CREST and/or cheque. Following the appointment of the Liquidators, all further enquiries regarding the Company should be made to the Liquidators, whose contact details are below. TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / November 29, 2024 / Forward Water Technologies Corp. (TSXV:FWTC) (the "Company" or "FWTC")) is pleased to announce that it has filed its condensed consolidated interim financial statements and related management's discussion and analysis for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. Copies of these financial statements and related management's discussion and analysis can be found on the Company's issuer profile at www.sedarplus.ca. All financial information in this news release is reported in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise indicated. Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 Financial Highlights On September 30, 2024, FWTC announced the successful closing of the business combination with Fraser Mackenzie Accelerator Corp. ("FMAC") and that the combined company will continue to conduct the business operated by FWTC. Pursuant to the transaction a wholly-owned subsidiary of FWTC amalgamated with FMAC and all of the issued and outstanding common shares of FMAC ("FMAC Shares") were exchanged for common shares of FWTC (post its 10 for 1 consolidation) at an exchange ratio of 0.95 FWTC shares for each FMAC Share (the "Exchange Ratio"). In addition, each outstanding option and warrant to purchase a FMAC Share was adjusted to entitle the holders thereof to purchase FWTC shares based on the Exchange Ratio. Upon completion of the transaction, the amalgamated corporation became a wholly owned subsidiary of FWTC. As the former shareholders of FMAC control FWTC following the transaction, the transaction was accounted for as a reverse acquisition where FMAC is deemed to be the acquirer for accounting purposes. As a result, the condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 represent the continuance of FMAC and reflect the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed of FWTC at fair value. The results of operations of FWTC have not been included in the consolidated statements of loss as the transaction occurred on September 30, 2024. If the Transaction had occurred on January 1, 2024, management estimates that the consolidated revenue and net loss would have been $157,119 and $1,839,835 respectively for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. Management Commentary C. Howie Honeyman, Forward Water's CEO and President said, "The completion of the transaction with FMAC enables FWTC to accelerate its commercial efforts and lean into the developing sectors, especially as related to lithium brine processing. Further, the incoming board members provides FWTC with additional capital market expertise and strong financial leadership for the future." Statement of Comprehensive Loss Statement of Financial Position Statement of Cash Flows About Forward Water Technologies Corp. Forward Water Technologies Corp. is a publicly traded Canadian company dedicated to saving the earth's water supply using its patented Forward Osmosis technology. The Company was founded by GreenCentre Canada, a leading technology innovation centre supported by the government of Canada. The Company's technology allows for the reduction of challenging waste streams simultaneously returning fresh water for re-use or surface release. The Company's mandate is to focus on the large-scale implementation of its technology in multiple sectors, including industrial wastewater, oil and gas, mining, agriculture and ultimately municipal water supply and re-use market sectors. In addition, the Company has initiated early stage R&D for the treatment of food and beverage process streams. For more information, please visit www.forwardwater.com. For more information or interview requests, please contact: C. Howie Honeyman - Chief Executive Officer howie.honeyman@forwardwater.com 416-451-8155 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws including statements regarding expansion and uptake of the Company's technology and the ability for the Company to achieve its growth strategy and business plan. Forward-looking information is based on plans, expectations and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and is subject to certain factors and assumptions, including, the ability to scale the technology and the adoption of the technology by potential customers. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause plans, estimates and actual results to vary materially from those projected in such forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the impacts from the coronavirus or other epidemics, general economic conditions in Canada, the United States and globally; unanticipated operating events; the availability of capital on acceptable terms; the need to obtain required approvals from regulatory authorities; stock market volatility as well as the other risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company as set forth in the Company's continuous disclosure filings filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable law. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. SOURCE: Forward Water Technologies Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com EQS Newswire / 29/11/2024 / 12:00 CET/CEST Recognition Highlights Leadership Balancing Business Success and Community Impact PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 29 November 2024 - Neak Oknha Chen Zhi , Chairman of Prince Holding Group, received the prestigious "Best Contributions Towards Socio-Economic Development - Cambodia" award at the International Finance Awards. This accolade recognizes Chairman Chen Zhi's visionary leadership and steadfast commitment to fostering sustainable growth and development across Cambodia. Neak Oknha Chen Zhi, Chairman of Prince Holding Group, received the 'Best Contributions Towards Socio-Economic Development - Cambodia' award at the International Finance Awards, showcasing his visionary leadership in advancing Cambodia's economic and social progress. The award highlights Chairman Chen Zhi's commitment in driving economic advancement while enhancing community well-being. Through Prince Holding Group's diverse ventures and the strategic initiatives of its philanthropic arm, Prince Foundation, Chen Zhi has made significant strides in education, healthcare, and economic empowerment in Cambodia. "This recognition reflects Chairman Chen Zhi's dedication to shaping a brighter future for Cambodia through innovative business strategies and meaningful community initiatives," said Gabriel Tan, Chief Communications Officer of Prince Holding Group. "His leadership demonstrates how businesses can play a pivotal role in driving socio-economic progress and delivering meaningful change." Under Chen Zhi's stewardship, Prince Holding Group has emerged as a key driver of Cambodia's economic growth. Its investments span critical sectors, including real estate , financial services , and consumer goods, contributing to job creation and strengthening economic resilience. Through Prince Foundation, Chen Zhi has spearheaded philanthropic projects addressing pressing social challenges. Notable initiatives include the Chen Zhi Scholarship Program, a seven-year pledge to support 400 Cambodian students through financial aid, mentorship, and career opportunities. Additionally, the Prince Horology Vocational Training Center reflects Chen Zhi's passion for skill development, offering specialized training in watchmaking to aspiring professionals. Since its inception, the Prince Foundation has implemented over 250 impactful initiatives, reaching more than 1.3 million beneficiaries and contributing over $16 million to community causes. These efforts align with Cambodia's national development goals, reflecting Prince Holding Group's long-term commitment to sustainable development progress. "Chairman Chen Zhi's leadership is a testament to how businesses can balance economic growth with social responsibility," added Tan. "This award not only recognizes his achievements but also celebrates the positive changes his vision has brought to Cambodia." The International Finance Awards celebrate exceptional leadership, talent, and contributions to global industry growth. Chen Zhi's recognition places him among a distinguished group of leaders shaping the socio-economic future of their regions. Hashtag: ChenZhi PrinceHoldingGroup PrinceFoundation VisionaryLeadership ChenZhiScholarship The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Prince Holding Group Prince Holding Group is one of Cambodia's largest business groups, spanning across real estate development, financial services, and consumer services. Prince Holding Group's key business units in Cambodia include Prince Real Estate Group, Prince Huan Yu Real Estate Group, Prince Bank, and Awesome Global Investment Group. Via its subsidiaries, Prince Holding Group has over 100 businesses in Cambodia operating in real estate development, banking, finance, tourism, logistics, technology, food and beverages, lifestyle sectors, etc. Leveraging a network of industrial, business, and financial professionals across Asia, Prince Holding Group is firmly committed to the long-term development of Cambodia. Moving forward, Prince Holding Group will continue to seek out opportunities to play an important role in Cambodia through partnerships or direct investments into key industries for the betterment of Cambodians and the local economy. News Source: Prince Holding Group 29/11/2024 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Media archive at www.todayir.com Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 29, 2024) - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: HBFGF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company"), a leading consolidator of emerging food brands is excited to announce the grand opening of Rosie's Burgers' first location in Calgary, Alberta! Located at 1509 8th Street Southwest, Rosie's is a boutique QSR restaurant brand serving up its signature smash burgers, poutine, onion rings, milkshakes, and more. Rosie's 1 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6625/231889_f6b1733374d7e80a_002full.jpg "Opening our first location in Alberta for Rosie's is a huge step in planting the flag for our smash burger brand. This is just the start of our contractually committed 20 units for the province of Alberta. Many more still to come as we continue to leverage our franchising experience to accelerate our growth and secure prime real estate locations for our franchisees across Canada," said Sean Black, Chief Executive Officer of Happy Belly. "Seeing the team work side by side with our franchisee reinforces how we respect and support everyone that is part of the Happy Belly family. We are actively engaged in discussions with various groups across Canada to accelerate the growth of Rosie's along side our brand portfolio. As we organically expand Happy Belly's presence in the QSR space, numerous opportunities are emerging. We are excited to share updates on newly secured locations for our brands as we continue to drive growth through our asset-light franchise model." Rosie's 2 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6625/231889_f6b1733374d7e80a_003full.jpg "The area of 1509 8th Street Southwest is a prime location for a Rosie's to thrive being situated in the heart of Calgary's Beltline district. This location benefits from heavy pedestrian traffic, including professionals, residents, and visitors exploring the vibrant area. The dynamic atmosphere creates a consistent demand for quick, delicious food options. The Beltline is known for its eclectic mix of young professionals, students, and families, all of whom appreciate quality, convenient dining options. A smash burger brand with its appeal to comfort food enthusiasts and trendy food seekers fits perfectly. Not to mention being surrounded by bars, lounges, and cultural hubs. A smash burger spot would attract patrons looking for a quick bite before or after their activities. We anticipate this location will expand Rosie's customer base in a densely populated area that matches the brand's demographics. This presents substantial opportunities both in-store and through delivery services." Rosie's 3 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6625/231889_f6b1733374d7e80a_004full.jpg "This marks another step forward in our mission to become a predictable and disciplined growth company. We currently have 421 contractually committed retail locations from area developers across all emerging brands in the Happy Belly Portfolio - whether in development, under construction, or already open. As we open new stores, the Happy Belly footprint continues to grow." We are just getting started. For franchising inquiries please see www.happybellyfg.com/franchise-with-us/ or contact us at hello@happybellyfg.com. About Rosie's Burgers Deliciously handcrafted smashed burgers, golden fries, and classic milkshakes. Rosie's is your neighbourhood burger shop serving up nostalgic flavours you know, love, and crave. From our Smashburger's and French fries to strawberry shakes and onion rings - we're all about keeping things simple and perfecting tradition. Because the classics were made classic for a reason, right? About Happy Belly Food Group Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: HBFGF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company") is a leading consolidator of emerging food brands. Happy Belly Food Group To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6625/231889_f6b1733374d7e80a_005full.jpg Happy Belly Food Group Sean Black Chief Executive Officer Shawn Moniz Chief Operating Officer Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release, which has been prepared by management. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-Looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur and include the future performance of Happy Belly and her subsidiaries. Forward-Looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the business plans for Happy Belly described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are posted on www.sedarplus.ca. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231889 SOURCE: Happy Belly Food Group Inc. EQS-News: PlusPlus Capital Financial S.a.r.l. / Key word(s): Personnel PlusPlus Capital Announces Changes in Management 29.11.2024 / 12:15 CET/CEST The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. PlusPlus Capital Announces Changes in Management Tallinn, Estonia, 29 November 2024. PlusPlus Capital ("PPC"), a leading pan-Baltic and Finnish technology-driven receivables management group, has implemented changes in Company's management within the context of the Extraordinary General Meeting held on 30 October 2024. Following the resignations of Supervisory Board members Viljar Kahari and Mirje Trumsi, four new members were elected to the Supervisory Board: Sacha Verveckken , a key member of the investor group that recently acquired a majority stake in the company, was also appointed Chairman of the Supervisory Board. , a key member of the investor group that recently acquired a majority stake in the company, was also appointed Chairman of the Supervisory Board. Armand Reinmaa , an experienced attorney at law and partner at Reinmaa & Partnerid, brings extensive expertise in civil, administrative, and criminal law. , an experienced attorney at law and partner at Reinmaa & Partnerid, brings extensive expertise in civil, administrative, and criminal law. Jaanus Laidvee , Country Manager for PPC's Estonian operations, with over 20 years experience in debt management, has previously served as Managing Director and Board Member for several leading companies in the industry. , Country Manager for PPC's Estonian operations, with over 20 years experience in debt management, has previously served as Managing Director and Board Member for several leading companies in the industry. Karl Mitt, with over two decades of experience in the debt collection industry, who has previously held various positions within PlusPlus Capital Group and other leading companies within the industry. Rasmus Pikkani will continue as a member of the Supervisory Board. As part of the planned transition under the new ownership, it has been mutually agreed that Peeter Piho will step down from his role as the member of the Management Board and CEO. Previous member of the Management Board Linda Visocka will continue as Country Manager of the Latvian operations. Kaarel Raik will continue to serve as a member of the Management Board. PlusPlus Capital expresses its sincere gratitude to Peeter Piho for his long-standing commitment and contribution to the Company's growth and success. To lead the Company into its next phase of development, the Supervisory Board has appointed Reimo Tomingas as new member of the Management Board and CEO. Reimo Tomingas has been with PlusPlus Capital Group since 2019 and is Chairman of the Board of PlusPlus Capital OY, which manages the Group's Finnish operations. Prior to joining PPC, he spent over a decade as Country Manager and CEO of Creditreform Eesti OU, part of Creditreform International Group, being responsible for establishing and managing operations as part of the Group. Previously he has also managed a licensed consumer finance company. The new shareholders express their confidence in Mr. Tomingas and wish him success in his new role. They believe that his leadership, combined with the expertise of the newly constituted Supervisory Board, positions the Company to effectively implement its ongoing reorganization plan, restore stability, and unlock new growth opportunities. Contact: PlusPlus Capital Kaarel Raik, Member of the Management Board Email: kaarel.raik@plusplus.ee Phone: +372 56 606 148 About PlusPlus Capital: PlusPlus is a pan-Baltic and Finnish technology-driven receivables management company with offices in Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius, and Helsinki. The Company acquires overdue loans and other non-performing exposures from financial institutions and non-financial sector merchants. With its core competence in handling claims against private individuals, PlusPlus prefers diversified portfolios balanced by geography, portfolio type, and other metrics. Since its inception in 2010, PlusPlus has bought over 120 thousand claims with nominal value of approximately EUR 270 million. The Company offers its clients affordable recovery solutions and aims to avoid litigious scenarios. In doing so, PlusPlus pursues win-win solutions that allow sellers to focus on their core business, provide affordable solutions for borrowers, and ensure adequate returns for investors. PlusPlus is a transparent and socially responsible company set to assist people in resolving problems connected with their insufficient solvency. The ambition of PlusPlus is to increase its market share and further strengthen its position as a leading player in its regional market. pluspluscapital.eu 29.11.2024 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.eqs-news.com Amazon has secured a significant victory in Europe as the European Commission officially terminated its long-standing investigation into alleged tax advantages in Luxembourg. This decision follows a European Court of Justice ruling that overturned the Commission's 2017 assessment, which had initially claimed the e-commerce giant received unfair tax benefits. This landmark resolution could fundamentally reshape how international trading companies' tax arrangements are evaluated across Europe, potentially setting a precedent for similar cases involving other major corporations in the region. Black Friday Operations Face Disruption The company's European operations face immediate challenges as labor unions call for strikes at German facilities during Black Friday, traditionally one of the year's most crucial sales periods. The German trade union Verdi has organized walkouts to protest against Amazon's business practices, potentially affecting order fulfillment during this peak shopping season. These labor actions could significantly impact the company's performance during a critical revenue-generating period, as Black Friday traditionally contributes substantially to annual retail sales figures. Ad Fresh Amazon information released. What's the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends. Read our updated Amazon analysis... LONDON (dpa-AFX) - The United Kingdom has unveiled an ambitious plan to welcome to the country 50 million international visitors per year by 2030.In a keynote speech at the Tourism Alliance conference in London, Tourism Minister Sir Chris Bryant set out the government's plans for the country to remain one of the most visited worldwide, driving economic growth.A new Visitor Economy Advisory Council, co-chaired by the Minister, will create a National Visitor Economy Strategy, which will be launched next autumn and map out plans to support the growth of the tourism industry.Growth in the tourism industry beyond London will be at the heart of this strategy. While the British capital attracts tens of millions of visitors each year, the strategy aims to focus on the vast potential for increasing visits to other cities and regions in the country.'We all know that London is great - one of the best cities in the world. But too many visitors only go to London - in fact when asked by VisitBritain, 57 per cent of visitors could not imagine what there was in the UK outside of London,' Bryant said.In addition to focusing on inbound and domestic tourism, the Visitor Economy Advisory Council will also look at outbound travel, including the rollout of the EU Entry Exit scheme and eGate access for BritONs at European airports.The UK attracted 38 million visitors last year. Before the pandemic in 2019 that figure was 41 million.Tourism is an essential part of the U.K. economy, worth 74 billion, or $94 billion, and 4 per cent of GVA.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX LUGANO, Switzerland, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- During COP29, BE OPEN announced a commitment in regard to its operations for the year 2025 and on, that is to make sure all of its programmes and projects prioritize sustainability. Founder Elena Baturina explains: "For 12 years now, BE OPEN has been working to support innovation and creative vision in various areas of human activity, in order to achieve a better world. It is obvious now that a scaled up approach is needed for the achievement of the SDGs in the foreseeable future. Therefore the foundation announces a number of additions to its existing strands of work." In 2025, BE OPEN Art online gallery will continue providing support to emerging artists worldwide in order to help them gain visibility and find their place in the creative community. The art committee will maintain focus on artwork that emphasizes social consciousness and artistic solutions to the wrongs of the contemporary world. BE OPEN will expand the regional competition to four new regions over 2025 to offer publicity to wider circles of emerging artists who represent their regional and ethnic artistic identities, and to increase the versatility of featured talent. By introducing such initiatives as 'Artists for Artists' that offer useful and applicable content by the more to less successful artists the foundation facilitates a healthy supportive community rooted in BE OPEN Art. Same with the Community Support Fund, the non-profit initiative the gallery launched in 2024 with the hope to build a mechanism of mutual financial support. It rewards the monthly winners with cash grants derived from art sales of selected work over the course of a year. Additional resources will support emerging artists in their continued pursuit of a successful career in the arts. BE OPEN wants to empower artists to follow their creative paths while involving the audiences in buying art not purely for purposes of collecting and possession, but also playing a philanthropic part in other artists' future. BE OPEN will also tailor a section of the gallery for sustainable and inclusive art and artists, supported by the "Art Limitless" online competition, lectures, master-classes and other sources of knowledge and guidance on sustainability in arts. BE OPEN Academy continues to offer an all-around picture of the creative education landscape to young people who aspire to build professional careers in creative disciplines, or wish to expand their knowledge and skill set with additional education. This comes enriched with space for expert opinion, mentoring, and special projects. For 2025, BE OPEN will continue this work with particular focus for the Academy's content that is the Futures Studies and Education for Sustainable Development. BE OPEN will interact with educational institutions to create a database of courses and recommendations that will cater for the needs of both teachers and students, to facilitate incorporating topics like climate change, poverty reduction, and biodiversity into various curricula, and using teaching methods that encourage students to take sustainable action. As for the global student design competitions, BE OPEN will continue building the challenges around the involvement of younger people into solving actual and urgent issues of the world of today formulated by the United Nations' SDG. With the ongoing Designing Futures 2050, BE OPEN continues to support and award younger creatives for developing the solutions aimed at contributing to how we transform systems and create better conditions for an equitable and environmentally prosperous world. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2569868/BE_OPEN_Elena_Baturina.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/be-open-aims-for-sustainability-as-a-universal-principle-of-the-foundations-work-302318722.html The December editions of Technology and Data Centre Magazines include interviews with leading experts and executives from Kyndryl, Munters & Ark Datacentres LONDON, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BizClik, the UK's fastest-growing publishing company, has launched the latest editions of Technology and Data Centre Magazines. These publications are highly regarded within the technology, and Cloud sectors for their in-depth reports and interviews with prominent figures in the respective industries. Technology Magazine This month's edition features an in depth lead report on Jensen Huang's NVIDIA. "Generative AI is the defining technology of our time" - Jensen Huang. The edition also contains extensive interviews with key thought leaders from Kyndryl, Munters, Cornerstone OnDemand and more, along with the Top 10: Chief Technology Officers. Data Centre Magazine This month's edition includes an extensive cover feature with executives from Vertiv, KPMG, atNorth and more on how to design and build a Data Centre for the AI era. "Data centres now need to accommodate increasingly dense IT loads, making optimised power and cooling management even more critical" - Alex Brew, Regional Director, Northern Europe at Vertiv. The edition also contains extensive interviews with key thought leaders from Ark Data Centres, ESR and more. Plus the Top 10: Data Centre Uses. You can visit Technology Magazine and Data Centre Magazine for daily news and analysis of the ever-changing tech & telco industry. About BizClik BizClik is one of the fastest-growing digital media companies in the UK, host to a growing portfolio of industry-leading global brands and communities. BizClik's expanding portfolio includes Technology, AI, FinTech, InsurTech, Supply Chain, Procurement, Energy, Mining, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Mobile, Data Centre, Cyber, and Sustainability. For more information, please visit https://www.bizclikmedia.com/. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/bizclik-media-launches-december-editions-of-technology--data-centre-magazines-302318729.html DEKA, a pioneer and leader in laser solutions, is proud to announce the expansion of its offices and product portfolio from France to North Africa, further strengthening its role as a key player in the aesthetic and surgical sector. With its focus on innovation and customer satisfaction, DEKA, which is part of the multinational El.En. group, listed on the Euronext Star segment of the Italian Stock Exchange, continues to transform the laser application landscape in several sectors, including aesthetic medicine, surgery and the restoration of works of art. Since 1981, El.En. Group has been a global leader in optoelectronics, photonics and laser engineering capabilities. The group founded its French subsidiary DEKA Sarl in 1996. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241128165258/en/ Deka France Team and Dr. Pineau. (Photo: Business Wire) DEKA and its French subsidiary have built up a solid reputation in France and North Africa, owing to their unrivalled expertise in developing and marketing state-of-the-art laser technologies. Whether it's the famous MonaLisa Touch, the MOVEO technology, or the latest platforms of the "PRO" range, Deka has always met the complex challenges of modern professionals with unique and exclusive solutions. More recently, the company has developed technologies based on artificial intelligence (for example, its Lipo AI for the lipolysis laser and the laser-assisted liposuction, and the nano and picosecond TORO hybrid system). These innovations further differentiate the brand from the global technological panorama and have fostered a fruitful history marked by strategic partnerships and continuous research. The entire DEKA France team were on hand to celebrate the opening of the new offices. Numerous doctors from all regions of France, Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria, as well as a large delegation from Italy, led by the president Ing. Andrea Cangioli, DEKA CEO Ing. Paolo Salvadeo, International Sales Director Dr. Giustino Gallo, and Davide Zotta, Global Marketing Director on behalf of the parent company, were also present. "Today, DEKA is proud to inaugurate its new premises in Lyon, which is designed to ensure a solid expansion of our business in France and throughout the Maghreb region, and to showcase the company's latest range of medical devices, including micro-ablative and sub-ablative CO2 laser systems which ensure a minimal amount of time off for patients, as well as cutting-edge devices for tattoo removal, body contouring and melasma treatment. These innovative solutions have been designed to optimize results, in complete safety, while guaranteeing the best possible return on investment for our customers", stated Emmanuel Maroselli, General Manager, DEKA Sarl "Our CO2 laser solutions are recognized across the world. The CoolPeel procedure, currently launched in the United States, is the leading rejuvenation treatment, which can be performed even during a lunch break, enabling patients to resume their daily lives, including their professional lives, without any time off. These platforms deliver outstanding results in applications ranging from dermatology and otolaryngology to gynecological and proctological surgery, with a maximum level of precision and selectivity. Our laser solutions guarantee superior treatment quality and long-lasting results. The opening of our new offices is proof of this excellence, marking a new era for DEKA in France and North Africa. As Managing Director of El.En. Group and CEO of DEKA, I'm proud to see the growth of our subsidiary in France. This is the result of extensive investment and teamwork", Paolo Salvadeo, CEO of DEKA DEKA offers a complete range to satisfy all the needs of doctors and patients. "In the field of tattoo removal, DEKA has developed innovative laser solutions using the latest ultra-short-pulse technologies, including picoseconds, on new-generation platforms: the latest addition is the "TORO" laser, a versatile concentrate also used for pigmented lesions, rejuvenation and other treatments. But that's not all, DEKA is also proud of its innovative exosomes, which deliver information and nutrients to cells, guaranteeing even more synergistic results with our energy-based devices," stated Giustino Gallo, DEKA's Director of International Sales "At DEKA, we firmly believe that every customer is unique and deserves customized solutions tailored to their particular needs. Our clinical and customer service teams work in harmony with our partners to understand their challenges and goals, providing advice, training and technical support to maximize the effectiveness of our technologies. It has been an honor to collaborate with leading physicians in a variety of fields; their feedback attests to our commitment to excellence.", confirmed Benjamin Martinent, Sales Manager France DEKA Sarl Information about DEKA Sarl DEKA Sarl is the French subsidiary of the multinational EL.EN. group, recognized as a leader in laser technologies for over 40 years. The Florence-based El.En Group is rooted in a culture characterized by a constant quest for excellence. Drawing on its rich cultural heritage and unique history, DEKA's mission is to transform every scientific discovery into a tangible benefit for doctors and patients, as well as to ensure every technological innovation becomes a lever for the continuous improvement of its products and services, with the aim of enhancing everyone's quality of life. The original source-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the source-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241128165258/en/ Contacts: DEKA Sarl Press Office Alexia Guillen +33 607312596 Marketing@deka.fr DUSSELDORF, Germany, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tuya Smart (NYSE: TUYA, HKEX: 2391), the global cloud platform service provider, celebrated the official upgrade and launch of its European headquarters in Dusseldorf. This milestone underscores Tuya's strategic commitment to the European market, signaling an intensified focus on strengthening its brand presence and expanding its footprint within Europe and the global smart technology landscape. Since establishing its headquarters in Dusseldorf in 2019, Tuya has deeply engaged with the European market, building a fully localized team. Leveraging its forward-thinking market insights and technological capabilities, Tuya has partnered with leading European brands such as Schneider, Philips, Hama, Denver, and Calex. Together, they are integrating smart products into various online and offline consumer electronics channels, creating an innovative smart living experience for European consumers. As the European smart market experiences rapid growth and increasing demand for localized smart solutions, Tuya has upgraded its Dusseldorf headquarters to better meet the evolving needs of its customers and provide more tailored services across the region. The event commenced with Astrid Becker, General Manager for Asia and Australia at NRW Global Business, who delivered an address welcoming the enhanced engagement of Tuya in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and Dusseldorf. She highlighted the vast business opportunities for smart solutions within local communities, underscoring the potential for collaboration and innovation in the region. Annette Klerks, acting Head of the Office of Economic Development for the City of Dusseldorf, also delivered welcome remarks, stating that Dusseldorf actively fosters business innovation and cooperation and is very pleased to see an innovative company like Tuya, which is already very active in local networks, expanding its presence. "From a municipal perspective, optimizing energy use is a crucial technology for achieving our goals in climate protection and carbon neutrality. Tuya's innovative smart solutions empower individuals and businesses to contribute effectively to these objectives." Tina Yu, General Manager of Eurasia at Tuya Smart, reflected on the company's progress in Europe and outlined its future vision for the smart living sector. "After six years of dedication, Tuya has become a trusted brand in Europe, transforming how consumers interact with smart technology in their daily lives," Yu stated. "With the upgrade of our European headquarters, we remain committed to advancing energy conservation, safety, and efficiency, while bringing more intelligent and sustainable smart solutions to European consumers and businesses." Following the ceremony, attendees toured the newly upgraded headquarters, experiencing Tuya's latest innovations in smart home technology and AIoT solutions. The exhibition showcased cutting-edge applications in energy management, home security, smart buildings, and green transportation, reflecting Tuya's technological expertise and its unwavering pursuit of shaping future lifestyles through smart living solutions. During the Q&A session, Tuya's industry experts engaged in insightful discussions with attendees, addressing key topics such as the future of the European market, the quality assurance of localized services, and the promotion of green and smart living solutions. This exchange highlighted Tuya's deep market understanding and strategic approach to driving innovation in Europe. The upgraded headquarters in Dusseldorf marks a significant step in Tuya's continued commitment to the European market. Looking ahead, Tuya will leverage this new phase of expansion to accelerate technological innovation, strengthen partnerships with European customers, and contribute to the evolution of smart living and business across the region. Tuya invites companies interested in exploring smart solutions and collaboration opportunities to visit its Dusseldorf headquarters for further discussions and exchanges, exploring the transformative potential of intelligent technology together. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/tuya-smart-unveils-upgraded-european-headquarters-accelerating-regional-expansion-302318739.html -Infineon wins prestigious award in the category "Electrical Engineering and Electronics". -The company makes significant progress in implementing its ambitious sustainability strategy. -German Sustainability Award is Europe's largest award for ecological and social commitment. MUNICH and DUESSELDORF, Germany, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Infineon Technologies AG -- has won the German Sustainability Award in the "Electrical Engineering and Electronics" category. "The jury is of the opinion that Infineon has assumed a leading role in the field of sustainability and serves the sector as a 'beacon' for successful transformation," the judges said in their statement. The German Sustainability Award recognizes companies which make effective and exemplary contributions to transformation and which function as role models within their industry. "We are particularly honored and delighted to win the German Sustainability Award," said Elke Reichart, Member of the Management Board and Chief Digital and Sustainability Officer at Infineon, who accepted the award in Duesseldorf. "We at Infineon work hard to drive decarbonization and digitalization and to create a more sustainable future. This award is recognition, as well as an incentive to be a role model in sustainability and to continue rigorously implementing our ambitious sustainability strategy - together with our employees, customers and partners." Infineon is pursuing a comprehensive and ambitious decarbonization strategy. The company is making good progress towards the goal it defined in 2020: achieving climate neutrality by 2030. Since then, emissions have been reduced by more than two thirds while revenue has almost doubled. Moreover, Infineon is intensifying its collaboration along the entire supply chain. As a pioneer in its industry, Infineon this year began reporting emissions at the individual product level, referred to as the Product Carbon Footprint. The data is already available for half of all Infineon products today. Infineon's semiconductors are decisive in making the generation, transmission, storage and use of energy more efficient. A recent example of sustainable product innovation by Infineon is a new type of energy-saving silicon carbide (SiC) module, whose developers were nominated for the 2024 Deutscher Zukunftspreis. The solution increases the energy efficiency of existing high-performance electrical applications such as solar and wind power plants and train drives. Among other things, the module also facilitates the efficient electrification of large drives such as those found in agricultural and construction machinery, ships and aircraft. In concrete terms, a single electric locomotive equipped with the new drive system saves around 300 megawatt hours per year, which corresponds to the annual energy requirements of 100 single-family homes. The German Sustainability Award is Europe's largest award for ecological and social commitment. The jury of the German Sustainability Award (DNP) selected winners in 100 different sectors from among around 2000 competing companies. The German Sustainability Award works together with the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), WWF Germany, PwC Germany, Leuphana University Luneburg (CSM Luneburg) and numerous other industry associations to design and implement the competition. Learn more about the 2024 Sustainability Report of Infineon here. Picture is available at AP About Infineon Infineon Technologies AG is a global semiconductor leader in power systems and IoT. Infineon drives decarbonization and digitalization with its products and solutions. The Company had around 58,060 employees worldwide (end of September 2024) and generated revenue of about 15 billion in the 2024 fiscal year (ending 30 September). Infineon is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: IFX) and in the USA on the OTCQX International over-the-counter market (ticker symbol: IFNNY). Further information is available at https://www.infineon.com/ Follow us: X - Facebook - LinkedIn Press contact: Diana Kaaserer diana.kaaserer@infineon.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/infineon-wins-german-sustainability-award-2025-302318763.html The Bulgarian authorities awarded BGN 526 million ($284 million) to 397 renewable energy projects in the country's latest procurement exercise. The Bulgarian Ministry of Energy has announced the final results of the country's first renewable energy auction. The government allocated BGN 526 million in funds to 397 projects in the procurement exercise. The government has set aside BGN 107. 5 million for projects between 200 kW and 2 MW, and BGN 427. 5 million for projects over 2 MW. The first group contracted 435 MW of generating capacity and 176 MW of storage, while the second group secured 2. ... Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 29, 2024) - Velocity Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: VLC) (OTCQB: VLCJF) ("Velocity" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update regarding the sale of the Rozino gold project and the Company's other Bulgarian assets for USD $59.0 million cash (the "Transaction"), as previously announced on October 1, 2024. Turkerler Insaat Turizm Madencilik Enerji Uretim Ticaret ve Sanayi A.S. ("Turkerler") has delivered confirmation to the Company that it has completed its legal, financial, technical and geological due diligence and desires to proceed with the Transaction. Pursuant to the terms of the binding letter agreement entered into by the Company with Turkerler, Turkerler and the Company have selected an escrow agent and are finalizing arrangements for the payment into escrow of the USD $2.95 million break fee by Turkerler, which will be held in escrow pending the occurrence of certain events. The Company has begun working on the share purchase agreement and associated documentation for the Transaction, as well as materials for Velocity's special meeting of shareholders (the "Meeting"). The Meeting is scheduled for January 17, 2025 and the record date will be December 9, 2024. Closing of the Transaction continues to be scheduled for on or before January 31, 2025, and will be subject to customary conditions precedent, including, without limitation, receipt of all necessary shareholder, board and regulatory (including TSXV) consents and approvals. On Behalf of the Board of Directors "Keith Henderson" President & CEO Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding the completion of the Transaction, the completion of the conditions precedent to the Transaction, the holding of the Meeting to approve the Transaction, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Often, but not always, forward looking information can be identified by words such as "pro forma", "plans", "expects", "may", "will", "should", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "potential" or variations of such words including negative variations thereof, and phrases that refer to certain actions, events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that market fundamentals will result in sustained precious metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the Transaction in a timely manner, the availability of financing on suitable terms for the continued operation of the Company's business, and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development and mine development activities at the Company's properties, estimation or realization of mineral reserves and mineral resources, requirements for additional capital, future prices of precious metals and copper, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates, possible failures of plants, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays or the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required, including TSX Venture Exchange acceptance of the Transaction, financing or other planned activities, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, currency fluctuations, title disputes or claims limitations on insurance coverage and the timing and possible outcome of pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, risks relating to epidemics or pandemics such as COVID-19, including the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's business, risks related to joint venture operations, and risks related to the integration of acquisitions, as well as those factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's latest Management Discussion and Analysis and other filings of the Company with the Canadian Securities Authorities, copies of which can be found under the Company's profile on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements. Except as otherwise required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking information in this news release or incorporated by reference herein. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231870 SOURCE: Velocity Minerals Ltd. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Competition Bureau Canada has filed a legal action against Alphabet Inc.'s Google with the Competition Tribunal for its anti-competitive conduct in online advertising technology services in Canada. The Bureau found during their thorough investigation that Google used its dominant position through conduct intended to ensure that it would maintain and establish its market power.The regulator says Google's actions have prevented rivals from competing on merits, inhibited innovation, inflated advertising costs and reduced publishers' revenues. This has had serious consequences for Canadian publishers, advertisers, rivals, and consumers, resulting in a substantial prevention and lessening of competition.Publishers generally count on digital ad revenue to support their activities and reach. Online web advertising consists of ads shown to users when they visit websites. Digital ad inventory is often purchased and sold through automated auctions using sophisticated individual platforms, which are known as ad tech tools.Google owns four of the largest online advertising technology services used in Canada - DoubleClick for Publishers (DFP), AdX, Display & Video 360 and Google Ads. These are collectively known as the ad tech stack. Google uses the entire stack throughout the buy and sell process in an auction.Google holds an estimated market share of 90% in publisher ad servers, 70% in advertiser networks, 60% in demand-side platforms and 50% in ad exchanges.The investigators found that Google, the largest provider across the ad tech stack for web advertising, abused its dominant position and its conduct locked market participants into using its own ad tech tools, excluding competitors.This prevented rivals from being able to compete on the merits of their offering, and otherwise distorted the competitive process. There are over 200 billion Canadian web ad transactions flowing through Google's ad tech tools in 2022.The Bureau found that Google unlawfully tied its various ad tech tools together to maintain its market dominance. It also used its dominant position across these ad tech tools to distort auction dynamics by giving its own tools preferential access to ad inventory. It also dictated the terms on which its own publisher customers could transact with rival ad tech tools.The Bureau is seeking an order from the Tribunal that will require Google to sell two of its ad tech tools, its publisher ad server DFP and its ad exchange AdX.It also sought to require Google to pay an administrative monetary penalty equal to three times the value of the benefit derived from these practices or 3 percent of Google's worldwide gross revenues. Further, it seeks to prohibit Google from continuing to engage in anticompetitive conduct and practices.In early March, the Federal Court of Canada allowed the Competition Bureau to expand its ongoing investigations into the online advertising practices of Google in Canada. The Bureau has been investigating Google since October 2021.The Bureau also investigated Google in 2016 for alleged anti-competitive conduct relating to online search, search advertising and displaying advertising.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA / ACCESSWIRE / November 29, 2024 / NOA Lithium Brines Inc. (TSXV:NOAL) ("NOA" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that further to the Company's press release dated October 15, 2024, the Company has received final approval from the TSX Venture Exchange (" TSXV ") to extend the term of certain outstanding common shares purchase warrants. The TSXV has approved the term extension for the following common share purchase warrants: 36,817,300 warrants issued in connection with the reverse take-over and Qualifying Transaction (as defined by the TSXV) of the Company that closed on March 3, 2023, and are currently exercisable at $0.20 per common share and that had an expiry date of March 3, 2025 have been extended to have a new expiry date of March 3, 2026 , with all other terms of these warrants remaining the same; 12,257,140 warrants issued in connection with the reverse take-over and Qualifying Transaction (as defined by the TSXV) of the Company that closed on March 3, 2023 and are currently exercisable at $0.50 per common share and that had an expiry date of March 3, 2025 have been extended to have a new expiry date of March 3, 2026 , with all other terms of these warrants remaining the same; 18,795,867 warrants issued in connection with private placements of units that closed on January 25, 2023, February 17, 2023 and March 1, 2023 and are currently exercisable at $0.50 per common share and that had an expiry date of September 3, 2025 have been extended to have a new expiry date of March 3, 2026 , with all other terms of these warrants remaining the same. Note that 181,848 finder warrants issued pursuant to this unit offering were not extended due to TSXV Policies and still have a expiry date of September 3, 2025. Furthermore, 1,083,333 warrants issued in connection with a finder's fee as part of the reverse take-over and Qualifying Transaction (as defined by the TSXV) of the Company that closed on March 3, 2023 and are currently exercisable at $0.50 per common share and that have an expiry date of September 3, 2025, were not extended due to TSXV Policies. Renegotiated Property Agreements and Payments The Company is also pleased to announce that it has renegotiated terms on certain property option agreements for claims in the Company's Arizaro and Salines Grandes projects. The applicable amendments to these agreements are set forth below. ARIZARO PROJECT ALBA X Property ( "Alba X Claim" ) NOA and the property owner of this claim have agreed to amend the final property payment of US $270,000 in cash and US $135,000 in common shares to only US $200,000 in cash. NOA has now made payment of this US $200,000 in cash, as part of this final property payment of the Alba X Claim, which is within NOA's 78,000 hectares Arizaro Project, located in the Salta Province. All other commercial terms of this property agreement remain unchanged. With this payment, the Alba X property is fully owned by Company and this property is in the process of being registered in the name of a local wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. Nevasca Property ( "Chaschas Norte Claim" ) NOA and CDN Maverick Capital Corp., the property owner of this claim, have agreed to amend the final property payment of US $500,000 in cash and US $500,000 in common shares to only US $500,000 in cash. Additionally, the re-purchase price of the 3% net smelter royalty of US $1,000,000 with an expiration date in June 2025 is amended to US $500,000 in cash and with a new expiration date in September 2027. NOA has now made payment of this US $500,000 in cash, as part of this final property payment of the Chaschas Norte Claim, which is within NOA's 78,000 hectares Arizaro Project, located in the Salta Province. All other commercial terms of this property agreement remain unchanged. With this payment, Chaschas Norte Claim is fully owned by Company and this property is in the process of being registered in the name of a local wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. Hilario i and Francisco V Properties ( "Hilario and Francisco Claims" ) NOA and the property owner of these 100% claims in 6,487 hectares in the Arizaro Salar, have agreed to amend the final property payment of US $1,241,000 in cash and US $1,241,000 in common shares to US $100,000 in cash and US $200,000 in common shares at a price of $0.30 per common share. Additionally, a 1% net smelter royalty has been agreed with a re-purchase price of US $500,000 and an expiration date in November 2027. NOA has now made payment of this US $100,000 in cash and has issued 932,066 common shares at a price of $0.30 per common share to this said property owner, as part of this final property payment of the Hilario and Francisco Claims, which are within NOA's 78,000 hectares Arizaro Project, located in the Salta Province. All other commercial terms of this property agreement remain unchanged. With this payment, Hilario and Francisco Claims are fully (100%) owned by Company and this property is in the process of being registered in the name of a local wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. No finder's fees were paid as part of this transaction. Issuance of the aforementioned common shares have a four month hold from the date of issuance, pursuant to applicable securities laws, and this transaction is subject to approval by the TSX Venture Exchange. SALINAS GRANDES PROJECT Toy, Aurora, Salinita V, Salinita V bis, Salinita VIII, Tody and Matias,Properties ( "Salinas Grandes Claims" ) NOA and the property owner of these claims have agreed to amend the two final property payments of US $900,000 in cash which was due in October 2024 and US $1,000,000 in cash due in March 2025 to the following schedule of payments: US $100,000 October 30, 2024, US $300,000 March 9, 2025, US $500,000 March 9, 2026 and US $1,000,000 September 9, 2027. NOA has now made payment of US $100,000 in cash, as part of this revised property payment schedule for these Salinas Grandes Claims, which are within NOA's 10,000 hectares Salinas Grandes Project, located in the province of Salta. All other commercial terms of this property agreement remain unchanged. Yacones Salinas V Properties ( "Yacones Salinas V Claim" ) NOA and the property owner of these claims have agreed to amend the final property payments of US $388,000 in cash which was due in October 2024 to the following schedule of payments: US $50,000 in October 15, 2024, US $50,000 in January 15, 2025, and US $150,000 in October 31, 2025. NOA has now made payment of US $50,000 in cash, as part of this revised property payment schedule for the Yacones Salinas V Claim, which are within NOA's 10,000 hectares Salinas Grandes Project, located in the province of Salta. All other commercial terms of this property agreement remain unchanged. Gabriel Rubacha, Chief Executive Officer and Director of NOA, stated, "The amendments agreed to reflect the recent changes in the lithium market. The properties that have now received final payments are being registered as owned by NOA, which will add to the existing land package already owned by the Company. Closing of the Clean Elements investment is anticipated shortly after the accompanying shareholders meeting on December 4, 2024 and a plan is already in motion to continue the development of our Flagship Rio Grande Project thereafter. The Arizaro and Salinas Grandes projects will provide NOA an enormous potential upside once we start the exploration in these two projects, unlocking more value to our shareholders". Hernan Zaballa, Executive Chairman, stated, " NOA is grateful to the property owners of the Arizaro and Salinas Grandes properties for their understanding of the current lithium market conditions. Their willingness to amend the agreements, reducing and deferring payments will allow NOA to preserve cash for the development of Rio Grande while we consolidate the Arizaro and Salinas Grandes projects to be developed following our flagship." About NOA Lithium Brines Inc. NOA is a lithium exploration and development company formed to acquire assets with significant resource potential. All NOA's projects are located in the heart of the prolific Lithium Triangle, in the mining-friendly province of Salta, Argentina, near a multitude of projects and operations owned by some of the largest players in the lithium industry. NOA has rapidly consolidated one of the largest lithium brine claim portfolios in this region that is not owned by a producing company, with key positions on three prospective salars, being Rio Grande, Arizaro, Salinas Grandes, and totalling over 140,000 hectares. On Behalf of the Board of Directors, Gabriel Rubacha Chief Executive Officer and Director For Further Information On The Company Website: www.noalithium.com Email: info@noalithium.com Telephone: +54-9-11-5060-4709 Alternative Telephone: +1-403-571-8013 Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the completion of the Clean Elements private placement, , the use of proceeds of this private placement, the operations of the Company, approval by the TSXV and any other regulatory bodies and shareholder approval. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the Company. Although such statements are based on reasonable assumptions of the Company's management, there can be no assurance that any conclusions or forecasts will prove to be accurate. While the Company considers these statements to be reasonable based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include market risks and the demand for securities of the Company, risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined, risks relating to variations in grade or recovery rates, risks relating to changes in mineral prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of minerals, risks related to increased competition and current global financial conditions, access and supply risks, reliance on key personnel, operational risks, and regulatory risks, including risks relating to the acquisition of the necessary licenses and permits, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company is not obligated, and does not undertake, to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OR RELEASE. SOURCE: NOA Lithium Brines Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com London Finance & Investment Group Plc - AGM Statement PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, November 29 London Finance & Investment Group PLC (Incorporated in England with registered number 201151) LSE code: LFI JSE code: LNF ISIN: GB0002994001 ("the Company") Results of Annual General Meeting London Finance & Investment Group PLC (LSE: LFI, JSE: LNF) is pleased to announce that at its 2024 Annual General Meeting (the "Meeting") held yesterday, all resolutions put to the Meeting were passed by the required majority. The resolutions were as set out in the Notice of Annual General Meeting, and filed with the National Storage Mechanism https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/natioalstoragemechanism and are also available on the Company's website, www.city-group.com/london-finance-and-investment-group-plc. All votes on the resolutions were held by poll vote to include all the votes of proxies received. The total number of the Company's ordinary shares in issue is 31,207,479. Proxy appointments were received from holders of 8,447,367 ordinary shares amounting to 27.07% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital. On a poll vote taken at the Meeting, the poll votes, including proxy votes (8,447,367) and votes from shareholders in attendance at the meeting (13,078,093), were as follows: Resolution For Against Withheld Abstained Number % of votes cast Number Number Number 1 21,520,435 99.98 0 5,000 25 2 21,520,460 99.98 0 5,000 0 3 21,520.460 99.98 0 5,000 0 6 21,520,435 99.98 0 5,000 25 7 21,520,435 99.98 0 5,000 25 8 21,520,435 99.98 25 5,000 0 9 21,520,460 99.98 0 5,000 0 10* 21,520,435 99.98 25 5,000 0 *Special Resolution Resolutions 4 and 5, relating to the re-election of the Independent Directors, were carried on a poll. In accordance with Listing Rule 6.2.8, the re-election of each of the Independent Directors was approved by: (i) the Company's Shareholders and (ii) the Company's Independent Shareholders. The results of the voting by the Company's Shareholders were as follows: Resolution For Against Withheld Abstained Number % of all votes Number Number Number 4 21,520,435 99.98 0 5,000 25 5 21,520,435 99.98 0 5,000 25 The results of the voting by the Company's Independent Shareholders were as follows: Resolution For Against Withheld Abstained Number % of all votes Number Number Number 4 8,629,742 40.09 0 5,000 25 5 8,629,742 40.09 0 5,000 25 In accordance with Listing Rule 6.4.2, copies of the resolutions (if any) passed at the meeting that do not constitute ordinary business will be submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and will be available for inspection at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/natioalstoragemechanism Notes: (a) The votes "for" include those votes giving the Chairman discretion. (b) A vote "withheld" is not counted towards the votes cast "for" or "against" a resolution. The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement. LEI: 213800BV1J4DJE2SY849 Enquiries to: London Finance & Investment Group PLC 020 3709 8741 United Kingdom 29 November 2024 JSE Sponsor to London Finance & Investment Group PLC Questco Corporate Advisory Proprietary Limited French agrivoltaics company Sun'Agri says that two of its facilities increased grape yields by 20% to 60% in 2024, compared to areas without solar panels. The PV modules helped regulate temperature fluctuations, reducing summer heat peaks and winter temperature declines. From pv magazine France Sun'Agri, a French agrivoltaics specialist, has shared the results of its 2024 harvests at two pilot agrivoltaic sites in southern France. The sites in Domaine de Nidoleres in the Pyrenees Orientales tested three grape varieties. The results showed that grape yields under solar panels were 20% to 60% ... Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Canadian consumer research from LoopMe, a leading technology company that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to improve brand advertising performance, reveals that women aged 35-64 are 26% more likely to shop for the holiday season than those aged 18-34, and overall women are 31% more likely to spend between $500 and $1,000 compared to men-making them a priority audience for advertisers during the festive period. The survey also found that early shoppers are taking advantage of the multiple discount opportunities this season, stating that they are 76% more likely to spend over $500. Younger consumers (18-44) are 55% more likely to be influenced by ads than older shoppers, and those who say ads and deals will impact their purchases are 25% more likely to spend over $500 this year. These insights highlight the opportunity for retailers to maximize purchase intent by delivering timely, tailored messaging to different audience segments-such as high spenders, early shoppers, or those heavily influenced by ads and deals-to drive stronger results. "Real-time measurement and first-party data collection is crucial for campaign agility during the holiday season," said Phil Schlatter, Director of Sales, Canada, LoopMe. "By integrating these capabilities, brands can continuously optimize their ads, track how deals influence purchase decisions, and pivot based on emerging trends. With younger consumers (18-44) 55% more likely to be swayed by ads than older shoppers, targeted ad placement is critical to driving conversion. It's no longer enough to rely on traditional KPIs-real-time, actionable insights and personalized, dynamic content are now what will drive success in this competitive landscape." LoopMe surveyed 14,605 Canadian consumers between May 6th to May 10th, 2024 to gauge consumer shopping habits ahead of the upcoming December holiday season. About LoopMe LoopMe is a technology company that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to improve brand advertising performance and outcomes. LoopMe was the first to apply AI to brand advertising and its Intelligent Marketplace, finding solutions to industry challenges that haven't previously been solved. With consumer insights and AI at its core, LoopMe makes brand advertising better, outperforming industry benchmarks for leading global brands. Our vision is to change advertising for the better, by building technology that will redefine brand advertising. LoopMe was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in the UK, with global offices across New York, Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Toronto, Singapore, Sydney, Dnipro, Krakow and Hong Kong. For more information, please visit www.loopme.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241129444085/en/ Contacts: loopme@teamgingermay.com 020 3642 1124 BEIJING, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This is a report from China.org.cn: Hotpot, a beloved Chinese cuisine, is set to make a global impact as industry insiders and ingredient suppliers convened this week at the 2nd China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing to explore the future of the hotpot industry. According to Huang Li, president of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Sichuan Council, the Sichuan-Chongqing Hotpot Industry Supply Chain Expo under CISCE's Green Agriculture section gathered 11 hotpot enterprises from Chongqing and 63 from Sichuan province. "We want to highlight the achievements of the Sichuan-Chongqing hotpot industry and its supply chain. Our goal is to promote this culinary brand, which represents not only Sichuan and Chongqing but also China on the global stage. This initiative will further the overseas expansion of the hotpot industry and introduce international ingredients and spices to Sichuan and Chongqing, encouraging collaborative development within the industry," she said. The hotpot expo, the only themed exhibition at CISCE, spans 4,000 square meters and showcases the complete Sichuan-Chongqing hotpot industry chain, including product brands, supply chain enterprises and international suppliers. It features a variety of products, including condiments and ingredients at the beginning of the supply chain, base products and brands in the middle, and technologies for converting kitchen waste oil into biodiesel and bio-aviation fuel at the end. Sichuan-Chongqing hotpot is expanding globally as a hallmark of China's culinary culture. According to Frost & Sullivan, hotpot is a highly popular Chinese cuisine, with the international market size estimated at $41.4 billion this year and projections to reach $46.5 billion by 2026. "The characteristics of hotpot - openness, inclusiveness and participation - make it ideal for global expansion and the universal values it represents," said Tang Qingshun, vice president of the Presidium of the China Cuisine Association. Zuo Yongxiang, vice governor of Sichuan province, recognized the broader implications of the hotpot industry. "Hotpot, celebrated worldwide for its cultural allure and social appeal, drives a multi-channel supply of raw materials due to its diverse flavors and ingredients. Its quick cooking methods and varied consumption options facilitate rapid industrial deployment," he said. "Therefore, collaboration within the hotpot industry chain is crucial, influencing both economic growth and people's well-being, and serving as a striking microcosm of global industrial and supply chain cooperation." China's spicy hotpot sets its sights on global market http://www.china.org.cn/business/2024-11/29/content_117577082.htm View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/chinas-spicy-hotpot-sets-its-sights-on-global-market-302318817.html HONG KONG, Nov 29, 2024 - (ACN Newswire) - The Hong Kong Institute of Directors ("HKIoD") announced the winners of its Award Series for Director Excellence (the "Awards") - comprising the long-established Directors of the Year Awards ("DYA" and the inaugural Climate Governance Awards ("CGA"), at its Annual Dinner yesterday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.The event began with an opening speech by Dr Christopher To, Chairman of the HKIoD. Dr The Hon Moses Cheng Mo Chi, Non-official Member of the Executive Council of HKSARG, Mr Xu Wei Gang, Director General, Department of Economic Affairs, Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in HKSAR, Ms Salina Yan, JP, Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services), and Dr Kelvin Wong, Chairman, Securities and Futures Commission ("SFC") and Chairman, Accounting and Financial Reporting Council ("AFRC") were invited as guests of honour.The response to the Awards submissions was overwhelmingly positive. After a lively discussion among the judges, this year's 19 winners, including directors and boards, were selected - all embodying the theme "Leading with Agility in an Era of Innovation". The awardees have demonstrated not only agility, but also the vision, courage and wisdom to lead against the backdrop of a demanding economic environment and prevailing geopolitical tensions. Moreover, they highlight the importance of having directors who can guide their companies in identifying the risks and opportunities associated with climate change, which are vital for ensuring the sustainability of the world and humanity.The Awardees of HKIoD Award Series* for Director Excellence 2024 are listed below:*Two series of Awards:- "DYA", acronym for "Directors Of The Year Awards"- "CGA", acronym for "Climate Governance Awards"In alphabetical order of names within categoryListed Companies CategoriesExecutive DirectorsDYA Mr Chan Wai Ming Town Ray Holdings LimitedCGA Ms Clara Chan Yuen-shan Lee Kee Holdings LimitedDYA Mr Fu Fan China Pacific Insurance (Group) Co., LtdCGA Mr Li Wai Leung Hengan Internationals Group Company Limited Mr Peter Wong Wai-Yee The Hong Kong and China Gas Company LimitedDYA & CGA Mr Yan Jianguo JP China Overseas Land & Investment LimitedNon-Executive DirectorsDYADr Chung Shui Ming Timpson China Railway Group LimitedDr Tseng Shieng-chang Carter TCL Electronics Holdings LimitedProf Wang Yijiang TCL Electronics Holdings LimitedBoardsDYA & CGA China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company LimitedCGA Hong Kong and China Gas Company LimitedDYA & CGA Ping An Insurance (Group)Company of China, LtdCGA United Company RUSAL, international public joint-stock companyNon-listed Companies CategoriesExecutive DirectorsDYA Ms Michelle Chan AS Watson IndustriesCGAIr Prof Daniel M.Cheng Dunwell Technology (Holdings) Limited) (Dunwell Group)Ir Dr Cheng Sai Yau, Vincent Arup Fellow and Director of Climate and Sustainability in East AsiaDYA Mr Orr Ka-yeung Kevin Winner Medical (Hong Kong) LtdStatutory/ Non-profit-distributing Organisations CategoriesBoardsDYAHong Kong Tourism Board *In addition: recognition of Excellence in Board DiversityThe Institute of Internal Auditors Hong Kong *In addition: recognition of Excellence in Board DiversityThe guests of honour, special guests and officials to join the group photos together with the awardees (2nd row).About "HKIoD Award Series for Director Excellence"The HKIoD Award Series for Director Excellence is a project organised by The Hong Kong Institute of Directors ("HKIoD") and consists of two series of Awards.The first series, Directors Of The Year Awards, was inaugurated in 2001 as the first ever such Awards organised in Asia. As directors are ultimately responsible for corporate governance and leading the company in prosperity and integrity, the objectives of the Awards are to recognise outstanding boards and directors and to promote good practices in corporate governance and director professionalism. The Awards have become an annual project of impact in the community organised by HKIoD together with over 100 Project Partners. To date, 255 Awardees have been recognised for their achievements in demonstrating exemplary high standards in corporate governance and director practice.Inaugurated in 2024, Climate Governance Awards constitute the second series of HKIoD Awards with the objectives to recognise and inspire exemplary achievements in climate governance and to advocate climate action by directors. There are 10 awardees who have been acknowledged in the inaugural edition of the awards. It is critical time now for directors to address the risks and opportunities of climate change in board agendas and their governance role.Candidates are open to public nomination, with data processed in well-defined and stringent procedures, followed by interviews with independent consultants in utmost due diligence and finally selected by independent judges with high standards and fair judgment. Awards are presented by company categories, viz Listed Companies, Non-listed Companies and Statutory/Non-profit-distributing Organisations, and by capacities, viz Executive Directors, Non-Executive Directors and Boards.About The Hong Kong Institute of Directors ("HKIoD")The Hong Kong Institute of Directors ("HKIoD") is Hong Kong's premier body representing directors working together to advance corporate sustainability in creating long-term value for companies, their owners, stakeholders, humankind and Planet Earth through advocacy and standards-setting in corporate governance and director professionalism.Led by Founder Chairman Dr The Hon Moses Cheng, HKIoD was founded in 1997. Throughout the years, HKIoD is honoured to have the Chief Executive of HKSAR as the Institute's Patron. Membership of HKIoD comprises of directors from diverse industries and corporate types and includes Executive Directors, Non-Executive Directors and Independent Non-Executive Directors. With multi-culturalism and international perspectives, HKIoD organises activities that cover director training, seminars and forums, collective director voice, guideline establishment, public education, Award Series for Director Excellence, assessment of Corporate Governance Scorecard for listed companies etc.As a member body of the Global Network of Director Institutes ("GNDI"), HKIoD is committed to global collaboration in promoting good corporate governance and director professionalism. HKIoD is the appointed Host of the Hong Kong Chapter of Climate Governance Initiative, a global network that collaborates with the World Economic Forum in actively promoting directors' address of the risks and opportunities of climate change.For details please visit: http://www.hkiod.com | http://www.gndi.org | https://climate-governance.org/Media Enquiries:Strategic Public Relations Group LimitedBrenda Chan+852 2114 4396/ brenda.chan@sprg.com.hkAward Series for Director Excellence:The Hong Kong Institute of DirectorsOdessa So +852 2889 4988/ odessa.so@hkiod.comSource: The Hong Kong Institute of Directors (HKIoD)Copyright 2024 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 29, 2024) - Alfredo Cornejo, Governor of Mendoza, joined Guillaume Legare, Head, South America, Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), to open the market to celebrate the The Sustainable Mining Summit 2024 in Mendoza, Argentina. Cannot view this video? Visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJbDJJO9tr8 The Sustainable Mining Summit aims to strengthen the strategic direction that the province of Mendoza has taken in developing a modern, sustainable, and regulated mining industry, positioning itself as a key player in the energy transition with proactive measures for environmental protection. Mendoza will develop its geological potential, leveraging human and technological capacities as well as its industrial experience and tradition, to make a leap toward prosperity through modern mining development, boosting the economy and creating quality jobs. This will always prioritize an environment of respect for current national and provincial laws, safety, and progress for workers and communities directly connected to the projects. As with other industries, the goal is to promote mining while respecting citizen participation and caring for the environment. Incorporating mining into the province's economic framework will enhance economic, social, harmonious, and equitable development around a modern and sustainable mining industry. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231906 SOURCE: Toronto Stock Exchange Lviv, Ukraine--(Newsfile Corp. - November 29, 2024) - Relevant Software, a globally recognized product development company, has achieved HIPAA compliance, affirming its ability to deliver secure, regulatory-compliant digital products. HIPAA Compliance To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8871/231779_real_58b120fa-800d-447f-8fd3-59c79b43ccea.jpeg Compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is far more than a regulatory requirement. It involves adherence to strict protocols for securing electronic PHI, such as encryption, access controls, and audit mechanisms. For Relevant Software, HIPAA compliance confirms the ability to handle protected health information (PHI) with the security, confidentiality, and precision required by U.S. regulations. For clients, it means confidence in a partner who treats data security as a fundamental responsibility rather than an afterthought. Andrew Burak, CEO of Relevant Software, explained the importance of this achievement: "When clients come to us, they're looking for more than just technical execution - they need a partner who truly understands the risks, the rules, and the opportunities. Achieving HIPAA compliance sends a strong message to our clients that we've done the work to be that partner, and we're ready to help them succeed in a regulated space without compromising on security or quality." The Advantages of HIPAA Compliance HIPAA compliance is designed to guarantee that software solutions can handle protected health information (PHI) securely, a requirement for healthcare providers, insurers, and tech companies entering the health sector. Relevant Software's compliance reassures its partners that their digital platforms - whether patient portals, telehealth solutions, or clinical data systems - are built to comply with these critical standards. Anna Dziuba, VP of Delivery at Relevant Software, explained: "Every solution we build is designed with the end-user in mind - whether it's a patient logging into a portal or a provider accessing critical clinical data. Our goal is to create tools that enhance care delivery while protecting what matters most: patient trust and privacy. Here's how this milestone enhances our capabilities and your success." For Clients Confidence in Security: HIPAA compliance ensures sensitive health data is managed with the highest security standards. HIPAA compliance ensures sensitive health data is managed with the highest security standards. Seamless Regulatory Compliance: With a HIPAA-compliant partner, clients can focus on their core business without worrying about navigating complex regulations. The Company's expertise simplifies the process, aiming to ensure digital tools meet industry standards from day one. With a HIPAA-compliant partner, clients can focus on their core business without worrying about navigating complex regulations. The Company's expertise simplifies the process, aiming to ensure digital tools meet industry standards from day one. Future-Proof Solutions: By embedding security and compliance into every stage of development, the Company delivers solutions that adapt to evolving regulations and technological advancements, aiming to reduce long-term risks and costs. By embedding security and compliance into every stage of development, the Company delivers solutions that adapt to evolving regulations and technological advancements, aiming to reduce long-term risks and costs. Enhanced Patient Trust: Patients care deeply about the safety of their personal information. With HIPAA-compliant systems, the client's organization builds confidence and trust, aiming to improve patient engagement and satisfaction. For Relevant Software Strengthened Reputation: Achieving HIPAA compliance reinforces the Company's standing as a trusted partner for regulated industries. It demonstrates their commitment to excellence, security, and innovation. Achieving HIPAA compliance reinforces the Company's standing as a trusted partner for regulated industries. It demonstrates their commitment to excellence, security, and innovation. Expanded Capabilities: HIPAA certification enables Relevant Software to take on more complex and sensitive projects, broadening the Company's portfolio and opening doors to collaborations with top-tier healthcare organizations. HIPAA certification enables Relevant Software to take on more complex and sensitive projects, broadening the Company's portfolio and opening doors to collaborations with top-tier healthcare organizations. Proven Expertise in Secure Development: Certification validates the robust processes, tools, and methodologies the Company uses to create secure, high-performing solutions, reinforcing credibility in delivering for industries that demand precision. Certification validates the robust processes, tools, and methodologies the Company uses to create secure, high-performing solutions, reinforcing credibility in delivering for industries that demand precision. Commitment to Long-Term Partnerships: The Company's compliance reflects not just a milestone but an ongoing commitment to helping clients meet their goals securely, fostering stronger, more collaborative relationships. The Company's compliance reflects not just a milestone but an ongoing commitment to helping clients meet their goals securely, fostering stronger, more collaborative relationships. Enhanced Internal Practices: Achieving and maintaining HIPAA compliance requires ongoing refinement of internal policies, aiming to ensure that the team operates with the highest levels of discipline, security awareness, and accountability. About Relevant Software Relevant Software, founded in 2014 and based in Lviv, Ukraine, specializes in crafting innovative digital solutions for clients worldwide. With a focus on building custom software tailored to unique business needs, the company addresses challenges across healthcare, finance, and enterprise technology. By pairing deep technical expertise with a thorough understanding of industry demands, Relevant Software consistently delivers solutions that are cutting-edge, reliable, and aligned with critical regulations. Secure Innovations Start Here Collaborate with experts in secure product development. Learn more about how the Company supports healthcare innovators at Relevant Software. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231779 SOURCE: PRNews OU Manchester, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - November 29, 2024) - CX Technology Specialist, Acceleraate, announced today that it has been named EMEA Zoom Contact Center Partner of the Year 2024 by Zoom Video Communications, Inc., commending the company's impactful achievements and innovation. Matt Cowell, CRO Acceleraate To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11005/231900_zoom_pr_image.jpg The award was presented to Acceleraate at Zoomtopia Partner Connect EMEA 2024 in London, UK. Zoomtopia Partner Connect EMEA is Zoom's partner-focused annual event in Europe to inform and inspire partners on Zoom's vision and enable them to elevate their Zoom practice, take advantage of new program updates, and celebrate their successes. The award program recognises partners that have collaboratively developed impactful business strategies with Zoom, resulting in increased alignment and distinguished sales and marketing accomplishments. "The commitment and support of our partner ecosystem are crucial to Zoom's success which is why it's an honour to recognise all of this year's award recipients - we couldn't have done it without them," said Steve Rafferty, Head of EMEA at Zoom. "These partners are integral in delivering our AI-first solutions, including Zoom Workplace, Zoom Contact Center, Zoom Phone, Zoom Rooms, Workivo, and more to customers around the globe, helping them to reimagine teamwork, enable more connection, and boost productivity." Acceleraate is a leading CX technology specialist, based in the UK and operating globally. It was the UK's first Zoom CX partner in 2022 and also holds the Zoom CX Competency Partner accreditation. Acceleraate's go-to-market strategy centres on the Zoom CX proposition including Zoom Contact Center and Zoom Virtual Agent. The company has also developed an integration acceleration platform - IntegrationHub for Zoom - which expedites client adoption of Zoom's innovative technologies. "Being recognised as EMEA Zoom Contact Center Partner of the Year, is a huge honour for us and testament to the continued hard work and commitment of our team", said Matt Cowell, Co-founder of Acceleraate. "Zoom offers us a lot more than just a transactional partner relationship; from the very start we have considered them an extension of our own team and vice-versa. We'd like to personally thank everybody at Zoom and Acceleraate who made this possible and look forward to our continued mutual success." About Acceleraate Founded in 2022, we are the CX Technology Specialists, revolutionising how businesses connect and communicate with their customers through smart thinking and cutting-edge cloud technology. We focus on solving problems by uniting cloud technology with smart and straightforward thinking. With over two decades of hands-on experience designing, implementing, and managing cloud contact centres and AI solutions for some of the UK's best-known businesses and brands, Acceleraate delivers CX strategy, implementation, system integration, bespoke development, and managed services for business. Acceleraate is a Zoom Authorised Reseller, and an accredited Zoom CX Competency Partner. Find out more at www.acceleraate.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231900 SOURCE: xpandly Limited MontyPay has been awarded the "Payment Innovation of the Year" accolade at the eCommerce Expo 2024, held in London. MontyPay has been contributing to the payment landscape with cutting-edge solutions that meet the ever-evolving needs of global businesses, which culminated in this prestigious recognition. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241129117995/en/ MontyPay GM Noel Moukhaiber with his team accepting the award (Photo: AETOSWire) The eCommerce Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in the online retail space. Independently judged by industry leaders, these awards recognize commitment, creativity, and innovation across organizations of all sizes and geography. "Winning the 'Payment Innovation of the Year' award reflects our team's hard work and our relentless pursuit of excellence in payment solutions", commented Noel Moukheiber, General Manager of MontyPay. "At MontyPay, our services go beyond payment processing, they offer tools for growth. Our real-time insights, coupled with our loyalty and lending programs, empower merchants financially and operationally." MontyPay started with its Payment Gateway solution and has expanded its portfolio to offer a comprehensive suite of payment services, dedicated to merchant success. Its state-of-the-art features include payment links, online mobile checkout, smart routing, 24/7 customer support, merchant mobile app, real-time analytics, and AI-powered fraud management. MontyPay's development has been driven by close collaboration with merchants, resulting in innovative solutions like a unified platform for online and in-store sales, Soft Smart POS systems, self-service checkout solutions, and eCommerce web development services. The company has also introduced a point-based loyalty program and lending services that benefit merchants and customers alike. On the company's position in the market, Moukheiber stated: "What truly differentiates MontyPay is our commitment to providing a unified solution with global reach. Our customers benefit from a single dashboard that offers real-time insights into all transactions, whether online or in-store, accessible via web and mobile devices." MontyPay's effectiveness is evident in its impressive growth metrics. From 2023 to 2024, the company increased its merchant base by 53% and grew its transaction volume by 92%. The company continues to innovate, with recent launches including the Soft POS solution in September 2024, available in the UK, US, and Europe, which transforms smartphones into tap-to-pay terminals. MontyPay is also finalizing the integration of its QCheck self-service checkout solution with various restaurant management systems, aiming to provide a full end-to-end solution for the F&B sector. For more information, please visit MontyPay's website *Source: AETOSWire View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241129117995/en/ Contacts: Jessy Abi Khattar jessy@cachoeira.me The API market is primarily driven by the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, increasing demand for generic drugs, and advancements in drug manufacturing technologies. The growing adoption of biopharmaceuticals, supportive government policies, and an expanding aging population further bolster market growth. However, challenges such as stringent regulatory requirements, high manufacturing costs, and issues related to patent expirations act as significant restraints. LEWES, Del., Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.23% from 2024 to 2030, according to a new report published by Verified Market Reports. The report reveals that the market was valued at USD 233.36 Billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 328.95 Billion by the end of the forecast period. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/download-sample/?rid=125142 Browse in-depth TOC on Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Market 202 - Pages 126 - Tables 37 - Figures Scope of The Report REPORT ATTRIBUTES DETAILS STUDY PERIOD 2021-2030 BASE YEAR 2023 FORECAST PERIOD 2024-2030 HISTORICAL PERIOD 2021-2022 UNIT Value (USD Billion) KEY COMPANIES PROFILED Teva, Mylan, DSM, Aurobindo Pharma, Aspen, Novartis, BASF, Pfizer, Huahai Pharmaceutical, Hisun Pharmaceutical, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Zhejiang Medicine, Dr. Reddys Laboratories SEGMENTS COVERED By Type, By Application, By Geography CUSTOMIZATION SCOPE Free report customization (equivalent to up to 4 analyst working days) with purchase. Addition or alteration to country, regional & segment scope Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Market Overview Market Drivers Fueling Growth in the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Market Rising Prevalence of Chronic Diseases The increasing global burden of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer is significantly driving the demand for APIs. With a growing aging population and sedentary lifestyles, these conditions are becoming more prevalent, necessitating continuous pharmaceutical interventions. APIs are critical components in the formulation of effective drugs to manage and treat these diseases. Governments and healthcare organizations are investing heavily in chronic disease management programs, further fueling demand. This trend is particularly pronounced in emerging economies, where healthcare infrastructure is rapidly developing. As a result, the need for high-quality APIs is growing at an unprecedented rate. Technological Advancements in API Manufacturing Innovations in manufacturing processes, such as biocatalysis and continuous manufacturing, are transforming the API landscape. These advancements enhance production efficiency, reduce costs, and improve the quality of APIs. Moreover, the development of novel APIs for complex conditions, including biologics and targeted therapies, is opening new growth avenues. The integration of AI and automation in production processes also ensures compliance with stringent regulatory standards. Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly adopting green chemistry practices, reducing environmental impact and aligning with sustainability goals. Such technological progress is pivotal in meeting the rising demand for APIs while ensuring cost-effectiveness and regulatory compliance. Expanding Generics and Biosimilars Market The growing acceptance of generic drugs and biosimilars is a key driver for API market growth. As patents for blockbuster drugs expire, generic manufacturers are stepping in to provide affordable alternatives, necessitating large-scale API production. Biosimilars, which offer cost-effective solutions for biologics, are also gaining traction, particularly in regions with strained healthcare budgets. Favorable government policies and regulatory frameworks promoting the use of generics and biosimilars further boost this trend. Additionally, the rising focus on improving access to essential medicines in low- and middle-income countries amplifies demand. This expansion underscores the critical role of APIs in the global pharmaceutical supply chain. To Purchase a Comprehensive Report Analysis: https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/download-sample/?rid=125142 Market Restraints Limiting Expansion in the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Market Stringent Regulatory Requirements The API market is heavily regulated, with strict standards imposed by agencies such as the FDA, EMA, and other regional authorities. These regulations ensure product safety and efficacy but create significant compliance challenges for manufacturers. Adhering to these standards often requires substantial investments in quality control systems, documentation, and audits. Smaller manufacturers, in particular, struggle to meet these demands, limiting their market participation. Delays in regulatory approvals and frequent updates to compliance frameworks further disrupt operations. These barriers not only slow down market expansion but also increase operational costs for industry players. High Manufacturing Costs and Complex Processes API production involves complex chemical synthesis and purification processes that demand significant technical expertise and advanced infrastructure. The costs of raw materials, energy consumption, and skilled labor are consistently high, making it challenging for manufacturers to maintain profitability. Additionally, environmental regulations on waste management and emissions further increase production expenses. For highly potent or biologic APIs, specialized facilities and containment measures add to the complexity and cost. These financial burdens often deter new entrants and constrain the scalability of existing manufacturers, creating a bottleneck in market growth. Supply Chain Disruptions and Dependency on Imports The API industry faces vulnerabilities due to its dependence on a concentrated supply chain, particularly from regions like China and India. Geopolitical tensions, trade restrictions, and natural disasters can disrupt the availability of raw materials and finished APIs. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted these risks, causing significant supply chain bottlenecks and price volatility. Manufacturers in other regions often struggle to secure a stable supply of inputs, delaying drug production timelines. This over-reliance on specific geographies exposes the market to risks that limit its overall expansion and stability, emphasizing the need for diversified supply chains. Geographic Dominance The Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) market demonstrates substantial geographic diversity, with North America, Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Rest of the World playing pivotal roles. North America leads in innovation and high-value API production, driven by robust R&D investments and advanced manufacturing facilities. Asia, particularly India and China, dominates as a global manufacturing hub, offering cost-effective production and a vast supply of generic APIs. Europe, with its stringent regulatory standards and strong biopharmaceutical sector, focuses on high-quality and specialized APIs. Africa is an emerging market, increasingly investing in local API production to reduce dependency on imports and improve medicine accessibility. The Rest of the World, including Latin America, contributes through regional manufacturing and growing demand for APIs. This geographic interplay reflects a dynamic global ecosystem, shaped by economic strengths, regulatory landscapes, and evolving healthcare needs. Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Market Key Players Shaping the Future Major players, including Teva, Mylan, DSM, Aurobindo Pharma, Aspen, Novartis, BASF, Pfizer, Huahai Pharmaceutical, Hisun Pharmaceutical, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Zhejiang Medicine, Dr. Reddys Laboratories, Zhejiang NHU, Bayer, NCPC, AbbVie, Shandong Xinhua Pharmaceutical, Northeast Pharm, Harbin Pharmaceutical, LKPC and more, play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Market. Financial statements, product benchmarking, and SWOT analysis provide valuable insights into the industry's key players. Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Market Segment Analysis Based on the research, Verified Market Reports has segmented the global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Market into Type, Application and Geography. Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Market, By Type Synthetic APIs Biotech APIs Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Market, By Application CNS Cardiovascular Genitourinary/Hormonal Drugs Respiratory Rheumatology Diabetes Oncology Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Market, By Geography North America U.S Canada Mexico Europe Germany France U.K Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India Rest of Asia Pacific ROW Middle East & Africa Latin America Browse Related Reports: Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) CDMO Market By Type (Macromolecular API, Small Molecule API), By Application (Clinical, Commercial), By Geographic Scope And Forecast Global Pharmaceutical Chemicals Market By Type (Solvents, Reagents/Catalysts), By Application (Medical Raw Materials, Beauty Products), By Geographic Scope And Forecast Global Cephalosporin API Market By Type (First Generation Cephalosporin, Second Generation Cephalosporin), By Application (Oral, Injection), By Geographic Scope And Forecast Global Antipyretic and Analgesic API Market By Type (Ibuprofen, Aspirin), By Application (Tablet, Capsule), By Geographic Scope And Forecast Global Propranolol Hydrochloride API Market By Type (Purity=99%, Purity<99%), By Application (Tablet, Injection), By Geographic Scope And Forecast About Us Verified Market Reports stands at the forefront as a global leader in Research and Consulting, offering unparalleled analytical research solutions that empower organizations with the insights needed for critical business decisions. Celebrating 10+ years of service, Verified Market Reports has been instrumental in providing founders and companies with precise, up-to-date research data. With a team of 500+ Analysts and subject matter experts, Verified Market Reports leverages internationally recognized research methodologies for data collection and analyses, covering over 15,000 high impact and niche markets. This robust team ensures data integrity and offers insights that are both informative and actionable, tailored to the strategic needs of businesses across various industries. Verified Market Reports' domain expertise is recognized across 14 key industries, including Semiconductor & Electronics, Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Energy, Technology, Automobiles, Defense, Mining, Manufacturing, Retail, and Agriculture & Food. In-depth market analysis cover over 52 countries, with advanced data collection methods and sophisticated research techniques being utilized. 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Contact Us Mr. Edwyne Fernandes Verified Market Reports US: +1 (650)-781-4080 US Toll Free: +1 (800)-782-1768 Email: sales@verifiedmarketreports.com Web: https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/ Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2486715/VM_Reports.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/active-pharmaceutical-ingredient-market-surges-to-usd-328-95-billion-by-2030--propelled-by-7-23-cagr---verified-market-reports-302318750.html Recognition highlights the bank's steadfast commitment to advancing career opportunities for veterans, service members and military spouses. By Evelyn Mitchell | November 12, 2024 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / November 29, 2024 / Regions Bank announced it has been designated as a 2025 Military Friendly Employer by Military Friendly, an organization that measures the commitment of companies to support the military community. Regions Bank is designated among Silver 2025 Military Friendly Employers. Only a select group of companies achieve this honor. Details are available at this profile. "At Regions, we appreciate the service and expertise of military veterans, service members, and military spouses. They bring unique perspectives and experiences to their work serving customers and communities," said Chief Administrative and Human Resources Officer Dave Keenan. "We continue to build a culture that supports professional growth for these leaders and are proud to be recognized, once again, by Military Friendly." Regions Bank has several ways it supports military friendly career opportunities. Those include: Regions established a career transition program called BRAVE - Building Regions Associate Veteran Experience - specifically for the purpose of supporting veterans and military spouses during their transitions to the civilian workforce. The bank is a member of the Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP), a Department of Defense career program connecting military spouses with hundreds of member employers who commit to recruit, hire, promote and retain military spouses. More details are available on Regions Bank's Military Friendly Awards profile. "Organizations earning the Military Friendly Employers designation have wholeheartedly invested in comprehensive and impactful initiatives that bring about positive, life-changing results for our valued service members, dedicated military spouses, and esteemed veterans within their ranks," said Kayla Lopez, Senior Director of Military Partnerships at Military Friendly. "We salute these exemplary employers who raise the bar and understand that hiring military personnel is not merely an act of goodwill but a testament to a standard that truly embodies sound business wisdom. Their steadfast commitment to integrating military personnel into their workforce not only reflects their compassion but also underscores their business acumen." "At Regions, we appreciate the service and expertise of military veterans, service members, and military spouses. They bring unique perspectives and experiences to their work serving customers and communities." Dave Keenan, Regions Chief Administrative and Human Resources Officer Regions Bank will be showcased in the 2025 Military Friendly Employers recognition in the winter issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and on MilitaryFriendly.com. About Regions Financial Corporation Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF), with $157 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation's largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank, operates approximately 1,250 banking offices and more than 2,000 ATMs. Regions Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at www.regions.com. About Military Friendly Military Friendly is the standard that measures an organization's commitment, effort, and success in creating sustainable and meaningful benefits for the military community. From its inception in 2003, Military Friendly has grown from recognizing 15 organizations to over 4,500 today. Military Friendly ratings are produced by Viqtory, Inc., a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business founded in 2001. The methodology and data calculations, evaluated for completeness and accuracy by a third-party external firm and can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com/mfcguide/. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Regions Bank on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Regions Bank Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/regions-bank Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Regions Bank View the original press release on accesswire.com NEWTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / November 29, 2024 / It takes a village to raise a child, and working parents need all the villagers they can find! Parents in the Seattle area have access to resources ranging from financial assistance to learning materials, all designed to make caring for kids easier. Explore some of the resources below for finding daycare in Bellevue and other parts of the state. Help Me Grow This network of nonprofits, regional health organizations, and state agencies works to ensure families have everything they need to care for their kids. Use their Parent123 Resource Finder to help find support with basic needs like child care, parenting classes and education, early learning, and more. Washington state residents can also call a hotline (1-800-322-2588) for information on child development screenings, mental and behavioral health resources, and support for kids with special health or developmental needs. WA Child Care Financial Assistance Program The Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families offers the Working Connections Child Care program to help parents pay for daycare. Eligible families can have the state pay a portion of their childcare costs. Parents may still be responsible for a copayment, but it enables them to secure child care subsidies ranging from 15% to 100% depending on their income and family size. This program has income limits and requires parents to be employed, self-employed, or in education. Families can apply online at washingtonconnection.org or call 1-844-626-8687. The Program for Early Parent Support (PEPS) The Program for Early Parent Support (PEPS) is a nonprofit to help new parents get the peer support they often need as they tackle parenting babies. PEPS focuses on wellness, parent education, and community building. The early months of parenthood can be isolating; PEPS helps parents connect with others in the same situation for valuable social support. Connecting with other working parents can be a great way to share tips, get insights, and learn from the experiences of others. PEPS also offers flexible pricing and financial support for program fees. To learn more, visit peps.org. Child Care Aware of Washington Child Care Aware helps families find appropriate child care services for infants, toddlers, and adolescents. They offer a database of providers by region, type of care, and special needs accommodation that makes it easier for working parents to find the perfect fit. For instance, if you're looking for a daycare in Seattle, all you do is submit their short form providing details about your child care needs. Child Care Aware will send a list of options in your area to your email inbox. They also offer information on how to choose good quality child care services, information about your eligibility for the Working Connections Child Care subsidy, and a host of other resources for working parents. Contact Information: Name: Sonakshi Murze Email: Sonakshi.murze@iquanti.com Job Title: Manager SOURCE: Bright Horizon View the original press release on accesswire.com In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that November proved challenging for solar energy across most of the US and Canada, as persistent cloud cover reduced solar irradiance. November proved challenging for solar energy across most of the US and Canada, as persistent cloud cover reduced solar irradiance, according to analysis using the Solcast API. Intense low-pressure systems over the Pacific and moist tropical air masses brought extensive cloud cover to much of the continent. While most regions saw irradiance fall well below average, southern Texas, Florida, ... Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. China Coal Energy Group (China Coal) has ordered 4 GW of solar modules from JinkoSolar, Tongwei, JA Solar, and DAS Solar at $0. 10/W, including 3 GW of tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) panels and 1 GW of passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) products. China Coal has disclosed the winners of its first centralized round of PV module procurement for 2024. It awarded contracts to JinkoSolar, Tongwei Solar, JA Solar, and Das Solar. The procurement round included 3 GW of n-type TOPCon modules (2. 7 GW bifacial, 0. 3 GW single-side) at an average price of CNY 0. 755 ($0. 100)/W, and 1 GW of ... Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Beverly, Massachusetts and Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 29, 2024) - Hamilton Thorne Ltd (TSX: HTL) ("Hamilton Thorne" or the "Company"), a leading provider of precision instruments, consumables, software, and services to the Assisted Reproductive Technologies ("ART"), research, and the cell biology fields, today announced the closing of its going private transaction (the "Transaction") in accordance with an Arrangement Agreement (the "Arrangement Agreement") with Cradle Acquisition ULC (the "Purchaser"), an acquisition vehicle managed by Astorg, pursuant to which the Purchaser acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company at a price of C$2.25 per share, other than certain shares held by Daniel Thorne and FAX Capital Corp. (the "Shares"). In connection with the closing of the Transaction, the Shares will be delisted from the TSX and the Company will apply to cease to be a reporting issuer in each of the applicable jurisdictions in Canada. Registered shareholders of the Company who have not already done so, are reminded to submit a duly completed letter of transmittal, and, as applicable, the certificate(s) representing their common shares, to Computershare Investor Services Inc. ("Computershare"). Registered shareholders who have questions or require assistance can contact Computershare at 1-800-564-6253 (toll-free within North America) or by email at corporateactions@computershare.com. Piper Sandler & Co. served as exclusive financial advisor to the Company. Stifel Nicolaus Canada Inc. served as financial advisor to the Company's special committee. Dentons Canada LLP and Rich May, P.C. acted as legal advisors to the Company. For more information on the Transaction, please refer to the Company's Management Information Circular and the appended Arrangement Agreement, which are available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under Hamilton Thorne's issuer profile. About Hamilton Thorne Hamilton Thorne is a leading global provider of precision instruments, consumables, software and services that reduce cost, increase productivity, improve results and enable breakthroughs in Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART), research, and the cell biology fields. Hamilton Thorne markets its products and services under the Hamilton Thorne, Gynemed, Planer, IVFtech, Embryotech Laboratories, Tek-Event, and Gynetics brands, through its growing sales force and distributors worldwide. Hamilton Thorne customer base consists of fertility clinics, university research centers, animal breeding facilities, pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, and other commercial and academic research establishments. For more information about Hamilton Thorne: https://www.hamiltonthorne.ltd/ About Astorg Astorg is a leading pan-European private equity firm with over 23 billion of assets under management. Astorg works with entrepreneurs and management teams to acquire market leading global companies headquartered in Europe or the US, providing them with the strategic guidance, governance and capital they need to achieve their growth goals. Enjoying a distinct entrepreneurial culture, a long-term shareholder perspective and a lean decision-making body, Astorg has valuable industry expertise in healthcare, software, technology, business services and technology-based industrial companies. Headquartered in Luxembourg, Astorg has offices in London, Paris, New York, Frankfurt, and Milan. For more information about Astorg: https://www.astorg.com/. Follow Astorg on LinkedIn. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking information or statements ("FLS") are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Any such FLS may be identified by words such as "proposed", "expects", "intends", "may", "will", and similar expressions. FLS contained or referred to in this press release includes, but is not limited to, the delisting of the Shares from the TSX and the submission of an application to cease to be a reporting issuer in each of the applicable jurisdictions in Canada. FLS is based on a number of factors and assumptions which have been used to develop such statements and information, but which may prove to be incorrect. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such FLS are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on FLS because the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such FLS include, without limitation, the identified risk factors included in the Company's public disclosure, including the annual information form dated March 27, 2024, which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if the assumptions underlying the FLS prove incorrect, actual results or future events might vary materially from those anticipated in the FLS. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in FLS, there may be other risk factors not presently known to the Company or that the Company presently believes are not material that could also cause actual results or future events to differ materially from those expressed in such FLS. The FLS in this press release reflect the current expectations, assumptions, judgements and/or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company and are subject to change without notice. Any FLS speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any FLS, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities laws. The FLS contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. For more information on the Company, please review the Company's continuous disclosure filings that are available at www.sedarplus.ca. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. The TSX accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231796 SOURCE: Hamilton Thorne Ltd. "Internet of Water" is marketed through AIoT4All, a Tec de Monterrey startup focused on developing IoT products with artificial intelligence. The interchangeable sensors can measure a wide range of parameters and variables in freshwater bodies. The project originated with the goal of monitoring Rio Grande de Santiago, a river in Jalisco, known for being the most polluted in Mexico. The Center for Innovation, Technological Development, and Applications in the Internet of Things (CIIoT) at Tec de Monterrey, Mexico's top university in engineering and technology according to the QS World Ranking 2025, has developed "Internet of Water," a technology platform based on IoT (Internet of Things) that monitors water quality in rivers, lakes, lagoons, and streams by measuring contaminant levels. Internet of Water - Conceptual Illustration Investigations and projects carried out by the Tec de Monterrey's CIIoT are highly relevant due to Mexico's severe water pollution issues: 60% of potable water is contaminated. According to the National Network for Water Quality Measurement (RENAMECA), 59.1% of surface water bodies such as rivers, streams, lakes, and coastal areas present some level of pollution, while only 40.9% meet quality standards that ensure effective access to potable water. The CIIoT has integrated into "Internet of Water" sensors specifically designed to measure various substances in water, making it a sophisticated monitoring system with a LoRa communication gateway that sends data to antennas for transmission to a database, solar panels that power low-energy lithium batteries, and buoys that keep the device afloat. Currently, "Internet of Water" is marketed through AIoT4All, a Tec de Monterrey startup focused on developing IoT products with artificial intelligence. The university has contributed seed capital funding and provides research and operational spaces. The specialized team was developed with funds from ITESM and the Government of the State of Jalisco. According to Alfredo Figarola, these developments are now at level 7 on the TRL scale (Technology Readiness Level), meaning that the technology has been tested in real-world environments and is ready for commercialization. "This floating platform features sensors that measure various parameters to determine water quality, currently evaluating 25 parameters with eight different variables," explained Alfredo Figarola, professor at Tec de Monterrey's Guadalajara Campus and leader of the CIIoT. The sensors analyze parameters such as dissolved oxygen, turbidity, pH, temperature, dissolved solids, and conductivity, as well as pollutants like lead, cadmium, phosphates, and values such as chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand (BOD), among many others. The platform can also detect deviations in a river's flow or illegal water extraction in lakes and springs. Moreover, it can identify illegal wastewater discharges. "IoT technology enables continuous monitoring, and when a variation is detected, warnings are issued to prompt necessary action," said Figarola. "Internet of Water" has extended its reach to a growing number of environments, including water treatment plants, aquaculture farms, etc. This solution is a clear example of Tec de Monterrey's commitment to research and technological innovation, as well as to preserving vital resources like water. Contact Information Source: AIoT4All at Escuela de Ingenieria y Ciencias of Tec de Monterrey SEATTLE (dpa-AFX) - Coffee retail giant Starbucks (SBUX) has opened a new outlet near the South Korean border, offering customers a unique opportunity to enjoy a cup of coffee while catching a glimpse of the heavily militarized border with North Korea.On Friday, November 29, the coffee chain opened its new location in Aegibong Peace Ecopark in Gimpo, South Korea, where its customers enjoy views of North Korea's Songaksan mountain and a nearby village in Kaephung county.The store is close to the demilitarized zone (DMZ), which separates the two war-divided Koreas and is about 31 miles northwest of Seoul, according to Reuters.A three-year conflict between South and North Korea ended in a 1953 armistice, but a peace treaty was never signed.Visitors must pass through a military checkpoint on the way to the Starbucks outlet, although it is in a lesser known and less militarised area than more popular tourist spots along the border such as the Panmunjom truce village.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. The abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds (NYSE:ASGI)(NYSE:THQ), (the "Funds" or individually the "Fund"), today announced that the Funds paid the distributions noted in the table below on November 29, 2024, on a per share basis to all shareholders of record as of November 21, 2024 (ex-dividend date November 21, 2024). Ticker Exchange Fund Amount ASGI NYSE abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund $0.2100 THQ NYSE abrdn Healthcare Opportunities Fund $0.1800 Each Fund has adopted a distribution policy to provide investors with a stable distribution out of current income, supplemented by realized capital gains and, to the extent necessary, paid-in capital. Under applicable U.S. tax rules, the amount and character of distributable income for each Fund's fiscal year can be finally determined only as of the end of the Fund's fiscal year. However, under Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") and related rules, the Funds may be required to indicate to shareholders the estimated source of certain distributions to shareholders. The following tables set forth the estimated amounts of the sources of the distributions for purposes of Section 19 of the 1940 Act and the rules adopted thereunder. The tables have been computed based on generally accepted accounting principles. The tables include estimated amounts and percentages for the current distributions paid this month as well as for the cumulative distributions paid relating to fiscal year to date, from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short-term capital gains; net realized long-term capital gains; and return of capital. The estimated compositions of the distributions may vary because the estimated composition may be impacted by future income, expenses and realized gains and losses on securities and currencies. The Funds' estimated sources of the current distribution paid this month and for its current fiscal year to date are as follows: Estimated Amounts of Current Distribution per Share Fund Distribution Amount Net Investment Income Net Realized Short-Term Gains** Net Realized Long-Term Gains Return of Capital ASGI $0.2100 $0.0126 6% - - $0.0168 8% $0.1806 86% THQ $0.1800 - - $0.0270 15% - - $0.1530 85% Estimated Amounts of Current Distribution per Share Fund Distribution Amount Net Investment Income Net Realized Short-Term Gains** Net Realized Long-Term Gains Return of Capital ASGI $0.2100 $0.0126 6% - - $0.0168 8% $0.1806 86% THQ $0.1800 - - $0.0270 15% - - $0.1530 85% * ASGI, and THQ have a 9/30 fiscal year end. **includes currency gains Where the estimated amounts above show a portion of the distribution to be a "Return of Capital," it means that Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur for example, when some or all the money that you invested in a Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income." The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The final determination of the source of all distributions for the current year will only be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of the fiscal year and may be subject to change based on tax regulations. After the end of each calendar year, a Form 1099-DIV will be sent to shareholders for the prior calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes. The following tables provide the Funds' total return performance based on net asset value (NAV) over various time periods compared to the Funds' annualized and cumulative distribution rates. Fund Performance and Distribution Rate Information Fund Average Annual Total Return on NAV for the 5 Year Period Ending 10/31/2024 Current Fiscal Period's Annualized Distribution Rate on NAV Cumulative Total Return on NAV Cumulative Distribution Rate on NAV ASGI 8.46% 3 12.50% -3.67% 1.04% THQ 9.55% 10.00% -4.58% 0.83% 1 Return data is net of all Fund expenses and fees and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan. 2 Based on the Fund's NAV as of October 31, 2024. 3 The Fund launched within the past 5 years; the performance and distribution rate information presented reflects data from inception (July 29, 2020) through October 31, 2024. Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about a Fund's investment performance from the amount of the Fund's current distributions or from the terms of the distribution policy (the "Distribution Policy"). While NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund's investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market. Pursuant to an exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Funds may distribute any long-term capital gains more frequently than the limits provided in Section 19(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 thereunder. Therefore, distributions paid by the Funds during the year may include net income, short-term capital gains, long-term capital gains and/or a return of capital. Net income dividends and short-term capital gain dividends, while generally taxable at ordinary income rates, may be eligible, to the extent of qualified dividend income earned by the Funds, to be taxed at a lower rate not to exceed the maximum rate applicable to your long-term capital gains. Distributions made in any calendar year in excess of investment company taxable income and net capital gain are treated as taxable ordinary dividends to the extent of undistributed earnings and profits, and then as a return of capital that reduces the adjusted basis in the shares held. To the extent return of capital distributions exceed the adjusted basis in the shares held, capital gain is recognized with a holding period based on the period the shares have been held at the date such amount is received. The payment of distributions in accordance with the Distribution Policy may result in a decrease in the Fund's net assets. A decrease in the Fund's net assets may cause an increase in the Fund's annual operating expense ratio and a decrease in the Fund's market price per share to the extent the market price correlates closely to the Fund's net asset value per share. The Distribution Policy may also negatively affect the Fund's investment activities to the extent that the Fund is required to hold larger cash positions than it typically would hold or to the extent that the Fund must liquidate securities that it would not have sold, for the purpose of paying the distribution. Each Fund's Board has the right to amend, suspend or terminate the Distribution Policy at any time. The amendment, suspension or termination of the Distribution Policy may affect the Fund's market price per share. Investors should consult their tax advisor regarding federal, state, and local tax considerations that may be applicable in their particular circumstances. Circular 230 disclosure : To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the U.S. Treasury, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein. In the United States, abrdn is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: abrdn Inc., abrdn Investments Limited, and abrdn Asia Limited. Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. A Fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results. abrdn.com/en-us/cefinvestorcenter ### For More Information Contact: abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds Investor Relations 1-800-522-5465 Investor.Relations@abrdn.com SOURCE: abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds View the original press release on accesswire.com Burlington, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 29, 2024) - Evertz Technologies Limited (TSX: ET) will release its second quarter 2024 financial results on December 10, 2024 at approximately 4:00 p.m. (EDT). The Company will hold a conference call with financial analysts to discuss the results on December 10, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. (EDT). Media and other interested parties are invited to join the conference call in listen-only mode. The conference call may be accessed by dialing 1-289-514-5100 or Toll-Free (North America) 1-800-717-1738. For those unable to listen to the live call, a rebroadcast will also be available until January 10, 2025. The rebroadcast can be accessed at 1-289-819-1325 or Toll-Free 1-888-660-6264. The pass code for the rebroadcast is 27731. About Evertz Evertz Technologies Limited (TSX: ET) designs, manufactures and markets video and audio infrastructure solutions for the television, telecommunications and new-media industries. The Company's solutions are purchased by content creators, broadcasters, specialty channels and television service providers to support their increasingly complex multi-channel digital, and high and ultra-high definition television ("HDTV" and "UHD") and next generation high bandwidth low latency IP network environments and by telecommunications and new-media companies. The Company's products allow its customers to generate additional revenue while reducing costs through efficient signal routing, distribution, monitoring and management of content as well as the automation and orchestration of more streamlined and agile workflow processes on premise and in the "Cloud". To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231984 SOURCE: Evertz Technologies Limited Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 29, 2024) - Glow Lifetech Corp. (CSE: GLOW) (OTCQB: GLWLF) (FSE: 9DO) ("Glow" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed a non-brokered private placement offering (the "Offering") of 18,000,000 units ("Units") at a price of $0.05 per Unit, for total gross proceeds of $900,000, and has issued 11,820,000 common shares ( "Shares") in settlement of $591,000 in debt at a deemed price of $0.05 per Share (the "Debt Settlement"). Each Unit issued under the Offering consists of one Share and one half of one common share purchase warrant ("Warrant"). Each full Warrant is exercisable to acquire one Share ("Warrant Share") for a period of eighteen months following the closing of the Offering, at an exercise price of $0.07 per Warrant Share. The Company intends to use the proceeds of the Offering for general working capital purposes. In addition, the board of directors of the Company determined that it was in the best interests of the Company to settle outstanding debts through the issuance of the Shares in order to preserve the Company's cash for working capital. All securities issued in connection with the Offering and the Debt Settlement will be subject to a four month and one day hold as required under applicable securities laws. Insiders of the Company acquired an aggregate of 5,430,000 Units under the Offering. As such, this participation constitutes a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61- 101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company has relied on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in Sections 5.5(b) and 5.7(1)(a), respectively, of MI 61-101 in respect of such insider participation. The Company did not file a material change report 21 days prior to the closing date of the Offering as details of the respective participation of such insiders in the Offering was unknown at such time. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) except pursuant to an available exemption under the 1933 Act and compliance with, or exemption from, applicable U.S. state securities laws. Early Warning Reporting Pursuant to the Offering, Nova Capital Corp. ("Nova") acquired 3,000,000 Shares and 1,500,000 Warrants. Immediately prior to the completion of the Offering, Nova owned or exercised control or direction over 24,036,167 Shares and 23,666,667 Common Share purchase warrants, representing 19.78% and 32.86% of the outstanding Shares of the Company on an undiluted and partially diluted basis, respectively. After completion of the Offering, Nova owns or exercise control or direction over 27,036,167 Shares and 25,166,667 Common Share purchase warrants, representing 17.86% and 29.57% of the outstanding Shares of the Company on an undiluted and partially diluted basis, respectively. The acquisition of the securities described above was completed for investment purposes. Depending on market and other conditions, Nova may from time to time in the future increase or decrease the ownership, control or direction over securities of the Company, through market transactions, private agreements, or otherwise. In satisfaction of the requirements of Multilateral Instrument 62-104 - Take-Over Bids and Issuer Bids and National Instrument 62-103 - The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues, an early warning report regarding the acquisition of securities by Nova will be filed under the Company's SEDAR+ Profile at www.sedarplus.ca. To obtain a copy of the early warning report filed by Nova, please contact Nova at 855-442-4569 or refer to the Company's SEDAR+ Profile at www.sedarplus.ca. The Company is located in 65 International Blvd, Suite 103, Etobicoke, Ontario, M9W 6L9, Canada SUBSCRIBE: For more information on Glow or to subscribe to the Company's mail list visit: https://www.glowlifetech.com/news About Glow Lifetech Corp Glow Lifetech is a Canadian-based biotechnology company focused on producing nutraceutical and cannabinoid-based products with dramatically enhanced bioavailability, absorption and effectiveness. Glow has a groundbreaking, plant-based MyCell Technology delivery system, which transforms poorly absorbed natural compounds into enhanced water-compatible concentrates that unlock the full healing potential of the valuable compounds. Website: www.glowlifetech.com Forward-looking Information Cautionary Statement Except for statements of historic fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements with respect to the use of proceeds under the Offering. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the Offering and Debt Settlement described in this news release will be completed on the terms described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedarplus.ca. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR THROUGH U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231977 SOURCE: Glow LifeTech Corp. Las Vegas, Nevada and Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 29, 2024) - Body and Mind Inc. (CSE: BAMM) (OTC Pink: BMMJ) (the "Company" or "BaM") wishes to announce that its annual financial statements for the year ended July 31, 2024, including the related management discussion and analysis, and certifications of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (collectively, the "2024 Annual Financial Filings") will not be filed as required under Canadian securities legislation by the required filing deadline of November 28, 2024. In discussion with its auditors, the Company has determined that it is not able to meet the November 28, 2024 filing deadline (the "Filing Deadline") under Canadian securities legislation for the 2024 Annual Financial Filings. Although the audit process is substantially complete, the additional financial procedures include (i) final approval of an external accounting memorandum for the auditor, (ii) application of additional audit procedures (as needed) to assess independent conclusions, and (iii) final internal QC sign-off from the auditor. Therefore, the Company is not able to meet the Filing Deadline for the 2024 Annual Financial Filings. The Company is in the process of engaging an external accounting consultant to add to the Company's resources in order to achieve future filing deadlines. The Company has applied to the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities and received a management cease trade order related to the Company's securities to be imposed against the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company to trade securities of the Company. The management cease trade order will be in effect until the 2024 Annual Financial Filings are filed, and requires that the 2024 Annual Financial Filings be filed on or around December 9, 2024. Until the 2024 Annual Financial Filings are filed, the Company intends to provide information in accordance with National Policy 12-203 Management Cease Trade Orders. About Body and Mind Inc. BaM is an operations-focused cannabis company which operates retail cannabis dispensaries in California and Illinois, and pending retail operations in Illinois and New Jersey. We work daily to increase our market share through delighting customers while also continuing to hone our operational efficiencies to drive profits. We are primarily guided by the metric of return on investment. Currently, we believe the most significant return on investment projects in front of us are successful retail cannabis store launches in Illinois and New Jersey, which augment our existing retail footprint. Please visit www.bodyandmind.com for more information. Twitter: @bodyandmindBaM Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Safe Harbor Statement Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian laws. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management, a well as the timing for preparation and filing of the 2024 Annual Financial Filings, and the timing and duration of the management cease trade order under National Policy 12-203. Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans, "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the actual results of activities, variations in the underlying assumptions associated with the estimation of activities, the availability of capital to fund programs and the resulting dilution caused by the raising of capital through the sale of shares, accidents, labor disputes and other risks. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this news release and in any document referred to in this news release. Certain matters discussed in this news release and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company may constitute forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Many of these factors are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and that could impact the Company and the statements contained in this news release can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/232009 SOURCE: Body and Mind Inc. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 29, 2024) - Defence Therapeutics Inc. (CSE: DTC) (OTCQB: DTCFF) (FSE: DTC) ("Defence" or the "Company"), a Canadian biopharmaceutical company developing radiopharmaceuticals and ADC products using its proprietary platform and drug delivery technologies in addition to novel immune-oncology vaccines, is pleased to announce its plan to license its proprietary Accum technology to pharma and biotech companies developing Antibody Drug Conjugates ("ADCs") to amplifying their ADC potency and potentially reducing the dosing. Defence operates on an innovative business model centered around its proprietary Accum technology, a platform designed to significantly enhance the delivery and efficacy of biologics, including ADCs, radiopharmaceuticals, vaccines, and protein therapeutics. The Accum technology optimizes intracellular delivery of therapeutic agents by overcoming endosomal entrapment, a common limitation in drug delivery systems. This enhancement can increase the potency and effectiveness of therapies, particularly in oncology and immunotherapy applications. By partnering with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, Defence positions itself as a key player in improving the therapeutic index of existing and developmental drugs, accelerating their journey to clinical success. Defence plans to generate revenue by licensing its proprietary Accum technology to companies developing ADCs, which are highly targeted cancer therapies. This strategy provides a dual benefit: it allows the Company to secure immediate revenue streams while establishing its technology as an industry standard in the ADC development process. Longer-term growth will be driven by expanding the applications of Accum into other therapeutic areas, such as radiopharmaceuticals, vaccines and protein-based treatments, as well as pursuing proprietary drug development programs. This balanced approach ensures a sustainable revenue model, combining near-term potential profitability with long-term innovation and market expansion. The Company wishes also to announce that, further to the 1st tranche closing on October 30th, 2024 of its previously announced non-brokered private placement of units of the Company at a price of $0.50 per Unit (the "Units"), the Company has closed the remaining subscription and issued 50,000 Units for gross proceeds of $25,000. Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant is exercisable to acquire one additional common share at an exercise price of $1.00 per share for a period of 24 months from the date of the issue. The Company intends to use the net proceeds to advance its preclinical and clinical programs and for general working capital. All securities issued of the Units are subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day from their date of issue in accordance with applicable securities legislation. The Company announces an amendment to the terms of 1,497,780 Class A Common share purchase warrants (the "Warrant") originally issued as part of a non-brokered private placement of the Company that closed on November 16, 2022. The Warrants were subsequently amended on April 5, 2024. The exercise price of the Warrants will be repriced at $0.75 per Class A Common share, as follows: Number of Warrants: Previous Exercise Price of Warrants: New Exercise Price of Warrants: 1,497,780 $1.75 $0.75 All other terms of the Warrants will remain unchanged and are subject to the terms and conditions as outlined in the corresponding certificate of Warrant and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange. About Defence: Defence Therapeutics is a publicly-traded clinical-stage biotechnology company developing and engineering the next generation of radio-immuno-conjugate and ADC products using its proprietary platform in addition to novel immune-oncology vaccines. The core of Defence Therapeutics platform is the ACCUM technology, which enables precision delivery of radio-immuno-conjugates or ADCs in their intact form to target cells, and vaccine antigens. As a result, increased efficacy and potency can be reached against catastrophic illness such as cancer and infectious diseases. Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information Neither the CSE nor its market regulator, as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE, accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/232003 SOURCE: Defence Therapeutics Inc. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 29, 2024) - Wedgemount Resources Corp. (CSE: WDGY) ("Wedgemount" or the "Company"), announces that its annual financial statements for the year ended July 31, 2024, the related management discussion and analysis, certifications of the Chief Executive Officer (the "CEO") and the Chief Financial Officer (the "CFO"), and the annual oil and gas filings required under Part 2 of National Instrument 51-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities for the year ended July 31, 2024 (collectively, the "Annual Filings"), will not be filed by the required filing deadline of November 28, 2024 (the "Annual Filing Deadline") due to delays in receiving certain financial information regarding the Company's reserves data. The Company is working diligently with its auditors to complete the Annual Filings and expects to be able to file the Annual Filings on or before January 27, 2025. The Company has applied to the applicable securities regulatory authorities and received a management cease trade order ("MCTO") imposed against the CEO and CFO of the Company precluding them from trading securities of the Company. The MCTO will be in effect until the Annual Filings are filed, and requires that they be filed on or before January 27, 2025. Until the Annual Filings are filed, the Company intends to satisfy the provisions of the Alternative Information Guidelines set out in National Policy 12-203 - Management Cease Trade Orders. The Company confirms that there is no other material information relating to its affairs that has not been generally disclosed. About Wedgemount Resources Corp. Wedgemount Resources is a junior oil & gas company focused on maximizing shareholder value through the acquisition, development and exploitation of natural resource projects in the southern USA. On behalf of the Board of Directors, WEDGEMOUNT RESOURCES CORP. Mark Vanry, CEO Reader Advisory This news release may contain statements which constitute "forward-looking information", including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements made in this news release include the anticipated filing date of the Annual Filings. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, availability of funds, personnel and other resources necessary to conduct exploration or development programs, successes of the Company's exploration efforts, availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such information will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231980 SOURCE: Wedgemount Resources Corp. KoRo, a Berlin, Germany-based snacking brand, raised 35M in Series C funding. The round was led by Coefficient Capital, with participation from existing investors Five Seasons Ventures, HV Capital, Partech, Haub Legacy Ventures and SevenVentures, among others. The company intends to use the funds to further accelerate its profitable growth strategy, enhance its product innovation pipeline, and expand its European footprint, particularly in France, Italy, and Benelux. Founded in Germany in 2014, and built up by Constantinos Calios and Piran Asci, KoRo offers a wide range of products, which extends from natural foods, such as nut butters and dried fruit, to clean label snacks and functional foods. An ongoing commitment to transparency and product innovation drives the company to explore new food frontiers, with a singular goal of offering products to the conscious eater that are convenient, enjoyable, and, as always, better and different. Florian Schwenkert (CEO) and Dr Daniel Kundt (CFO) joined the management team in 2020 and 2022, respectively. The company, which employs more than 300 people, now counts over 2 million customers across Europe, and has more than 13,000 points of sale across major European chains like Edeka, Rewe, and Albert Heijn. FinSMEs 29/11/2024 SatVu, a London, UK-based climate technology company, raised 20M in strategic funding, comprising a 10M equity funding. The equity was led by Adara Ventures and Molten Ventures, with participation from existing investors NOA, Lockheed Martin, Seraphim, Ridgeline and Stellar Ventures. The company intends to use the funds to launch HotSat-2 and HotSat-3, which are both expected to ship for launch in 2025. Led by CEO Anthony Baker, SatVu specializes in climate technology developing thermal imaging capabilities. Its HotSat constellation, led by the launch of HotSat-1 in June 2023, has redefined how people monitor its planet by capturing 3.5m resolution thermal data, improving new levels of insight into global carbon emissions and energy activity. HotSat-2 and HotSat-3 will provide critical, near real-time thermal data, essential for understanding energy transition, monitoring infrastructure and economic activity, and driving targeted action towards climate mitigation and resilience, contributing to vital decision-making as the world progresses toward net-zero. FinSMEs 29/11/2024 India and the Philippines share warm and friendly relations, which have provided a firm basis for expanding bilateral cooperation read more The Philippines and India celebrated 75 years of diplomatic relations and their rapidly growing cooperation on November 13 at a magnificent reception held by the Embassy of the Philippines at the ITC Maurya Hotel, attended by none other than External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. India and the Philippines share warm and friendly relations, which have provided a firm basis for expanding bilateral cooperation, ranging from political exchanges, trade and investment, defence and security, healthcare and medicine, agriculture, development partnership, engagement in new technologies, to tourism, culture, and people-to-people exchanges. Advertisement The 75th anniversary celebrations coincide with the completion of a decade of Indias Act East Policy. Several special commemorative events and activities are being planned to foster greater cooperation, including under the ASEAN Framework, between India and the Philippines. Ambassador Josel F Ignacio, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, and DOT Undersecretary Maria Rica C Bueno presided over the high-profile event, attended by over 300 guests from the government, the diplomatic corps, and a wide range of sectors and partners. To commemorate this special occasion, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to India, H.E. Josel F Ignacio, unveiled and launched a joint logo in the presence of Undersecretary (Vice Minister) of Tourism of the Republic of the Philippines, H.E. Maria Rica C Bueno. The joint logo incorporates elements from both the Indian and Philippine national flags, including the Ashok Chakra and the Sun, and features the national birds of both countriesthe Peacock and the Eagle. The placement of these elements symbolizes the enduring friendship, cultural bonds, and shared values between the two countries. This logo symbolises the enduring friendship, cultural exchange, and shared values between the two nations. The design integrates elements representing both countries while incorporating symbolism that signifies the milestone of 75 years. The minister paid the highest tribute to the relationship, stating: Our ties are rooted in democratic values, pluralistic ethos, and economic commonalities, which are now poised to move to a higher orbit. Advertisement Ambassador Ignacio extolled the ties as far transformed and crossing over into a more strategic era. Undersecretary Bueno highlighted the rising reciprocal tourism and people-to-people exchanges. The Embassy of the Philippines in New Delhi also launched the commemorative coffee table book, A Journey of Soaring and Enduring Partnership. It tracks the story of this remarkable transformation. Through the pages of this coffee table book, one can trace the wondrous journey of Philippine-Indian relations and celebrate their many milestones and achievements. From cultural exchanges that have allowed people to revel in our civilizational linkages as well as our diverse heritages, to collaborative economic ventures that have spurred innovation and growth, to political and security cooperation that secures an environment where our nations can flourisheach narrative is a testament to the depth of our connection. Advertisement The evening was a festive celebration of both cultures cuisine, music, and dances and ushered in a year-long commemoration of Philippines-India ties in both countries. Australia has approved a social media ban for children aged under 16 after an emotive debate gripped the nation. The landmark law threatens stiff fines against companies that fail to comply. From France to China, several other countries have tried to clean up social media through policies like strict privacy laws and prohibitions for minors read more Two school students pose with their mobile showing social media applications in Melbourne, Australia. Reuters Australia approved a social media ban for children aged under 16 after an emotive debate that has gripped the nation. The landmark law threatens stiff fines against companies that fail to comply. Similar to Australia, several other countries have tried to clean up social media through policies like strict privacy laws and prohibitions for minors. Social media platforms like Facebook, X (previously Twitter), Snapchat, and TikTok were once hailed as ways to stay informed and connected, but reports of election manipulation, the spread of illegal content and fake news, and cyberbullying have since tainted them. Advertisement Heres a look at various attempts by countries to regulate social media policies for children. Australia The Social Media Minimum Age bill forces giants from Instagram and Facebook owner Meta to TikTok to stop minors from logging in or face fines of up to $32 million. A trial of methods to enforce it will start in January, with the ban taking effect in a year. France A law mandating social media companies to verify users ages and secure parental consent for those under 15 was passed in France in June 2023. According to the law, social networks that violate the rules face fines of up to one per cent of their global revenue. However, because the European Commission has not yet verified that the law complies with EU law, it has not taken effect for more than a year. A high school student poses with his mobile phone showing his social media applications in Melbourne, Australia. Reuters Germany According to the countrys rules, children between the ages of 13 and 16 are only permitted to use social media with parental permission. As of right now, there are no intentions to proceed. Advocates for child protection, however, argue that controls are insufficient and demand that current laws be properly enforced. Belgium In 2018, Belgium enacted a law requiring children to be at least 13 years old to create a social media account without parental permission. Norway In Norway, 13 is the minimum age required to access social networks. However, data indicates that the vast majority of 12-year-olds and more than half of nine-year-olds are active on social media. The government intends to establish a minimum age of 15 and is looking for an efficient way to do so in light of the current regulations failure to be applied. Netherlands Although there is no age limit for using social media in the Netherlands, the government did outlaw mobile devices in classrooms starting in January 2024 in an effort to cut down on distractions. Exceptions apply for digital lessons, medical needs or disabilities. Spain In June, Spain also introduced a bill that would prohibit minors under the age of 16 from using social media. However, no date has been established for the texts examination, and it has not yet made clear how age verification works. Advertisement Italy In Italy, children under the age of 14 need parental consent to sign up for social media accounts, while no consent is required from that age upwards. South Korea The Cinderella law, which was passed in South Korea in 2011, prohibited children under the age of 15 from playing online games between the hours of midnight and six in the morning. The action was taken in part to reduce school fatigue. However, a decade later, the government overturned the decision and instituted a choice permit system that gave parents the authority to determine when their children might play. Only a tiny fraction have ever used the system. In August this year, lawmakers proposed a bill aimed at regulating the use of social media by under-16s. In response, more than a dozen youth organisations slammed the bill as a discriminatory attempt to control young people similar to the Cinderella law. China Since the internet is already strictly regulated by the government, it presents fewer obstacles to prevent the youngest members of the population or any other group for that matter from using social media in authoritarian regimes. China is a good example, having implemented access restrictions for minors since 2021. Douyin, the Chinese equivalent of TikTok, has a daily limit of 40 minutes for users under the age of 14, and children are not allowed to play games online for longer than that. Advertisement Young users, younger tech Pressure to block minors from parts of the internet has been around since pornography and gambling websites overran the early global web. It has taken on a new urgency since a Meta whistleblower leaked internal emails in 2021 purportedly showing knowledge its products were harmful to young users. Meta, in turn, has said the documents were misinterpreted. Rising demand has spurred technological development, but no product yet is foolproof when it comes to combining accuracy, privacy, security and user-friendliness, Tony Allen, CEO of the Age Check Certification Scheme, which will test products for Australia on those criteria, told Reuters. Adding to the challenge, many people in the age range targeted by bans do not have common identifying documents such as a drivers license or credit card. Advertisement That helps the case for age-checking technology involving analysis of a persons features, such as facial wrinkles or their hand. With inputs from AFP and Reuters A local court in Ajmer on Wednesday admitted a petition seeking a physical survey of the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, the shrine of the revered Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. The petition was filed by Hindu Sena chief Vishnu Gupta, who claimed that the renowned dargah was originally a Lord Shiva temple read more Vishnu Gupta and his group have also been the subject of numerous controversies and FIRs, many of which are connected to incidents like assaults, vandalism, and the spread of misleading information. Image Courtesy: @VishnuGupta_HS/X A local court in Ajmer on Wednesday admitted a petition seeking a physical survey of the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, the shrine of the revered Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. In the petition, Hindu Sena chief Vishnu Gupta claimed that the renowned dargah was originally a Lord Shiva temple. The court issued notices to the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and the Ajmer Dargah Committee, and listed the matter for December 20. Advertisement Heres all we know about Vishnu Gupta. About Vishnu Gupta Born in Etah, Uttar Pradesh, Vishnu Gupta, 40, moved to Delhi when he was young. Influenced by militant Hindu nationalism, he joined the Shiv Senas youth wing as a student and later the Bajrang Dal, according to Indian Express. Gupta and a few others founded the Hindu Sena in 2011, which he says currently has lakhs of members with branches in almost all parts of India. The organisation has no affiliation with the Sangh Parivar, the Shiv Sena, or any of its connected groups. According to the outfits website, it aims to oppose Islamisation in any form, Sharia law implementation, love jihad and Islamic extremism in India." It claims to highlight and protest and take legal action against any person/entity causing harm to the sovereignty of India and Sanatana Dharma. In addition, Gupta and his group made headlines for numerous reasons, including vandalism, assault and even organising a havan in honour of Trumps win in the 2016 US presidential election. Hindu Sena chief Vishnu Gupta cutting a cake to celebrate the birthday of US President Donald Trump at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. PTI The outfit accused actor-politician Kamal Haasan of offending religious sentiments in May 2019 by calling Mahatma Gandhis assassin, Nathuram Godse, a Hindu terrorist. The complaint was filed in Delhis Patiala court. Guptas organisation has backed the Balochistan freedom struggle in Pakistan over the years and, more recently, has demonstrated in favour of Hindus in Bangladesh, according to the report. His controversies Vishnu Gupta and his group have also been the subject of numerous controversies and FIRs, many of which are connected to incidents like assaults, vandalism, and the spread of misleading information. Delhi Police arrested Gupta in October 2011 after he allegedly assaulted Supreme Court attorney Prashant Bhushan in the court. The 40-year-old was detained in October 2015 for allegedly making a false complaint that beef was being served at the Kerala House canteen in New Delhi. In January 2016, he was also arrested for vandalising the Pakistan International Airliness Delhi office. Advertisement The group was in the news in June 2022 for swords distribution in Delhis Rajouri in support of Nupur Sharma after she was suspended by the BJP for hate speech and objectionable remarks on Prophet Mohammad. The next year, they organised a Mahapanchayat at Jantar Mantar, but were stopped for alleged inflammatory speeches related to Haryanas Nuh communal violence. In May 2022, Gupta filed an intervention application in Supreme Court seeking to dismiss the petition challenging the videographic survey of the Gyanvapi Mosque complex in Varanasi. However, a bench led by former CJI DY Chandrachud rejected the application. Similarly, in February 2023, the groups petition seeking a ban on the BBC documentary about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the 2002 Gujarat riots was dismissed. Advertisement The Delhi High Court, earlier this year, rejected Hindu Senas plea seeking the removal of then-Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal after he was arrested in the Delhi liquor policy scam case. The latest petition Vishnu Gupta and his organisation have filed a case claiming the presence of a Lord Shiva temple within Ajmers Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Dargah shrine and have sought a physical survey of the renowned Dargah. In his petition, Gupta also demanded that the Ajmer Dargah be declared the Sankat Mochan Mahadev Temple and called for Hindu worship to be reinstated at the site, according to India Today. He and his lawyer, Yogesh Siroja, backed the claim by referring to a 1910 book by Har Bilas Sarda, an Ajmer-based judge-turned-politician. Gupta alleged that Sarda wrote about the presence of a Hindu temple beneath the Dargah. The court has now admitted their case and a hearing will be held on December 20. Advertisement It has also issued notices to the Dargah Committee, the Ministry of Minority Affairs, and the Archaeological Survey Department. For those uninitiated, the petition comes on the heels of violence that broke out on November 24 during a court-ordered survey of a Sambhal mosque. The violence resulted in the death of four people and many others, including policemen, were injured. Political debate The courts decision to hear a petition has sparked intense political debate. Some BJP leaders have stated that it is fair to investigate the existence of temples under disputed structures, despite opposition claiming that it is only a government tactic to divert attention from important matters. A court has ordered a survey in Ajmer. What is the problem if court has ordered a survey? said Union Minister Giriraj Singh, according to NDTV. Advertisement This is a truth that when Mughals came to India, they demolished our temples. The Congress government has only done appeasement till now. If (Jawaharlal) Nehru would have stopped it in 1947 itself, there would have been no need to approach the court today, he added. Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal wrote on X, Worrisome. The latest claim: Shiv Temple at Ajmer Dargah. Where are we taking this country? And why? For political dividends! Syed Naserudding Chishty, of the All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council, criticised the rise in incidents where various groups are staking claim to mosques and dargahs. Today India is becoming a global power Till when will we remain stuck in the temple and mosque controversy? he said, according to ANI. He further urged the intervention of the Central Government into the matter, adding that a law should be made and guidelines should be issued so that no one claims religious organisations such as these. With inputs from agencies Russias systematic strikes on Ukraines energy grid have plunged millions into darkness, weaponising winter to erode morale and resilience. With temperatures dropping to -20 degrees Celsius, power cuts lasting up to 20 hours, and relentless air attacks, Ukraine faces a dire humanitarian crisis read more A worker warms himself near a wood stove as he fixes a thermal power plant damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, at an undisclosed location in Ukraine, November 28, 2024. File Image/Reuters As winter tightens its grip on Ukraine, Russia has intensified its strategy of targeting the nations critical infrastructure. By systematically dismantling Ukraines energy grid, Moscow is using the harsh winter as a weapon to break the countrys resilience and attempt to force political concessions, and prolong the conflict. Russia has launched some of its most extensive attacks on Ukraines energy systems in recent weeks. On Thursday, over 91 missiles and 97 drones were unleashed across nine regions, targeting power facilities, fuel depots, and civilian infrastructure. Advertisement Ukraines air force confirmed that while 79 missiles and 35 drones were intercepted, 12 missiles managed to hit key targets, resulting in widespread blackouts. Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed the attacks were in retaliation for Ukraines use of US-supplied ATACMS missiles against Russian territory. He warned of further strikes on Kyivs decision-making centers if Ukraine continued to escalate. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks as a despicable escalation, accusing Russia of deploying cruise missiles equipped with cluster munitions. He has engaged Western allies, including Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, to forge a coordinated response. Now is the time to strengthen our positionsboth Ukraines and our partners, Zelenskyy said during a nightly address. The Commander of the Air Force, along with the Ministers of Internal Affairs and Energy, provided reports regarding the aftermath of the latest Russian strike targeting our energy infrastructure. In total, approximately 100 strike drones and over 90 missiles of various types were pic.twitter.com/gClYnks7or Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) November 28, 2024 Over one million Ukrainians were left without power in the immediate aftermath, with rolling blackouts intensified for millions more. Entire regions, including Lviv, Volyn, and Rivne, saw half a million residents each plunged into darkness. Advertisement Ukraines state grid operator, Ukrenergo, announced emergency measures, warning some areas would face outages lasting 12 hours or more. How is winter in war-torn Ukraine? Winter in Ukraine, with temperatures often plunging to under -20 degrees Celsius, poses a grave challenge for a population already battered by war. The destruction of nearly half the nations power generation capacity since the conflict began has left millions vulnerable to extreme cold. Rolling blackouts disrupt heating and water supplies, creating a life-threatening situation for many. A girl stands next to her house damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russias attack on Ukraine, on the outskirts of Odesa, Ukraine, November 28, 2024. File Image/Reuters The elderly are particularly at risk, especially in frontline regions like Kherson, Sumy, and Kharkiv. Many elderly residents are confined to their homes, unable to seek warmth or aid. Communication outages further exacerbate the crisis, leaving families uncertain about the welfare of their loved ones. Humanitarian groups estimate that 3.4 million people in Ukraine are internally displaced, many living in collective shelters ill-equipped for the brutal winter. If the energy system collapses, it will be disastrous, Ukrainian analyst Alexey Kovzhun told The Media Line. Advertisement The sound of generators has become the sound of war. How is Ukraine keeping its lights on? Ukraines energy engineers, working under relentless pressure, are engaged in a near-impossible task of repairing damaged infrastructure faster than it is destroyed. At one unidentified power station, engineers laboured in freezing conditions, warming their hands over makeshift fires and covering machinery with plastic sheets to protect against snow and rain. The conditions are tough, said Oleksandr, one of the engineers, told BBC. We dont even have time to restore the main equipment, let alone the roof and walls. Everything gets destroyed again from one strike to the next. Workers fix at a thermal power plant damaged by Russian missile strike, amid Russias attack on Ukraine, in an undisclosed location of Ukraine, November 28, 2024. File Image/Reuters The toll on Ukraines energy system is staggering. Since March, Russia has conducted at least 11 major attacks, forcing power plants offline and severely damaging distribution networks. Before the November strikes, Ukraine had already lost 9GW of generation capacity roughly half of what is needed to meet peak winter demand. In Kyivs 25-story Pozniaky neighborhood, residents pooled resources to install a basement generator capable of powering a single elevator and providing hot water. Across the country, small businesses, schools, and hospitals have turned to diesel generators to maintain essential services. Advertisement However, this reliance on backup systems comes at a cost. Diesel fumes have worsened urban air quality, and the noise of generators has become an oppressive constant. What is Russias intent? Russias focus on Ukraines energy infrastructure is more than tactical; it is deeply strategic. By depriving millions of heat, light, and water, Moscow aims to erode civilian morale and weaken military capacity. Military analyst David Sharp called the recent wave of strikes one of the most complex operations to date. The attack was one of the most combined weve seen, Sharp told The Media Line, citing the use of Shahed-136 and Shahed-131 drones, KH-101 cruise missiles, and Kinzhal hypersonic missiles. He added that decoy drones with nonexplosive warheads were likely deployed to distract Ukrainian defences. Ukraines air force reported that Russia is increasingly using radar and thermal decoys and employing electronic warfare to bypass Soviet-era defence systems. While Western-provided systems are more effective, Ukraine does not yet have enough to protect all critical infrastructure. Advertisement Putin does not want peace. We must force him into peace through strength, stated Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, reiterating Kyivs need for advanced weaponry from its allies. How are Ukraines allies helping Kyiv? Ukraines Western allies have stepped up efforts to mitigate the damage. The European Commission and the US government have provided $113 million to DTEK, Ukraines largest private energy company, to repair damaged facilities and protect them from the elements. US President Joe Biden condemned the Russian strikes as outrageous, calling for greater support to Ukraine. Nato and European leaders echoed his sentiments, pledging additional military and humanitarian aid. Allies reaffirmed their support for Ukraine in a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council following Russias launch of intermediate-range ballistic missile. Tap below to learn more about the meeting NATO (@NATO) November 27, 2024 Despite this assistance, challenges persist. Over 14 million Ukrainians still require urgent humanitarian aid, with conditions expected to worsen as winter progresses. The International Rescue Committee highlighted the dire situation in eastern Ukraine, where solid fuel shortages and skyrocketing prices have left families unable to heat their homes. As Ukraine faces its third winter since the full-scale invasion, the resilience of its people remains steadfast. Yet, the stakes have never been higher. With inputs from agencies A new report claims that Russias President Vladimir Putin has an illegitimate daughter working as a DJ in France. Elizaveta Krivonogikh, 21, is said to be living under a pseudonym in Paris. But who is she? And what do we know about Putins other children and what they are doing? read more Russian President Vladimir Putin officially has two daughters with his first wife. Reuters Does Russias President Vladimir Putins have an illegitimate daughter in France? Elizaveta Krivonogikh, 21, is reportedly working as a DJ and living under a pseudonym in Paris. But what do we know about her? And what about Putins other children? Who are they? Where are they? What are they up to? Lets take a closer look: Elizaveta Krivonogikh According to The Telegraph, the 21-year-old lives under the name Luiza Rozova or Elizaveta Olegovna Rudnova. Ukrainian TV channel TSN tracked Elizaveta down via leaked airline manifests. Advertisement Elizaveta is thought to be the result of an affair between Putin and Svetlana Krivonogikh. Krivonogikh, a former cleaner, is one of Russias richest women. She owns assets worth around $105 million, including several houses in Monte Carlo and a yacht. Krivonogikh has been called Putins acquaintance by the state media. She is thought to have met Putin and developed a romantic relationship with him when he was deputy mayor of her hometown St. Petersburg, as per Daily Mail. As per Hindustan Times, Elizaveta has been in Paris under an assumed name since the Ukraine war began. She is claiming to be a relative of Oleg Rudnov a late associate of Vladimir Putin. According to The Telegraph, Rudnov passed away in 2015. The report indicates that she has taken on this pseudonym to keep her real identity a secret. According to Elizavetas birth certificate, she was born on March 3, 2003. The fathers name was not mentioned on the birth certificate. Elizaveta Krivonogikh is claiming to be a relative of Oleg Rudnov a late associate of Vladimir Putin. Image courtesy: X However, her patronymic name was given as Vladimirovna. Putins daughters, under Russias traditional naming conventions, would indeed take such a name. According to Daily Mail, Elizaveta was a student at the Paris School of Management and Arts. Advertisement She was active on social media a couple of years ago regularly posting images of herself at parties, spending time with friends from wealthy families and jet-setting around the world. However, Elizaveta deactivated her accounts after the Ukraine war began. In a Clubhouse interview in 2021, Elizaveta denied any link to Putin. Listen, judging by his young photos, probably, yes, it looks similar. But, as it turned out, there are a lot of people who look like Vladimir Vladimirovich, she said, using his formal name. I watch, you know, fashion shows, I buy Vogue magazine. I like to go to a nearby restaurant and eat delicious pasta, discuss the latest gossip investigations with friends, she added. Advertisement She, prior to the war, also said she loved being in the limelight. My life was so stagnant, I am very grateful for the chance to be in the limelight, that people heard about my account. Im not trying and never have to popularise myself. I am feeling very well indeed, dont worry about me. My life goes on, and all is well, she said, as per Daily Mail. The Kremlin denounced this report as being from the gutter press, according to the Daily Beast. Maria and Katerina Officially, Putin has Maria Vorontsova and Katerina Tikhonova. Their mother, Lyudmila Aleksandrovna Ocheretnaya, was Putins first wife. Advertisement As per CNN, They met when she was a flight attendant and he was serving as a KGB officer. The couple divorced in 2013 after almost 30 years of marriage. As per BBC, Vorontsova, the older sister was born in 1985. She studied biology at St Petersburg University and later medicine at Moscow State University. Vladimir Putins daughters Katerina Tikhonova and Maria Vorontsova recently addressed the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. AFP According to CNN, Tikhonova is a tech executive while Vorontsova is an endocrinologist and is listed as a member of the Russian Association for the Promotion of Science. Vorontsova co-wrote a book on stunted growth in children and is also a businesswoman. Both women appeared at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum earlier this year. Advertisement Vorontsova is reportedly married to a Dutch businessman though they are thought to have separated. The couple is said to have a $3.3 million apartment in the Netherlands. Tikhonova reportedly once tried to pursue a career in acrobatic rock and roll. She is thought to have a multimillion-dollar, eight-bedroom villa in Frances Biarritz purchased by her former husband Kirill Shamalov. Putin has said his daughters work in science and education. He has said that they are not involved in politics and want to lead normal lives, as per CNN. Putin has not spoken about his daughters at any length publicly My daughters live in Russia and studied only in Russia, I am proud of them, Putin was quoted as saying by the outlet. They speak three foreign languages fluently. I never discuss my family with anyone. Every person has a right for their fate, they live their own life and do it with dignity, he added. As per BBC, both women were sanctioned by the US in 2022. We believe that many of Putins assets are hidden with family members, and thats why were targeting them, a US official told the outlet. Ivan and Vladimir Jr Putin is also thought to have two sons with Olympic gymnast Alina Kabaeva known as the uncrowned queen of Russia. Kabaeva and Putin are thought to have begun their affair in 2008, as per Economic Times. Putin, at the time, would have still been married to Lyudmila. According to Forbes, the children Ivan and Vladimir Jr, are nine and five respectively. They are said to live in a heavily-guarded house near Lake Valdai north-west of Moscow. Forbes quoted the Russian investigative group The Dossier Centre as providing the information. Ivan is thought to have been born in a maternity clinic in Lugano, Switzerland. Vladimir Jr was born in Moscow in 2019. Russian President Vladimir Putin is said to have two sons with Russian gymnast Alina Kabaeva. Reuters The Russian-born gynaecologist who delivered the boys died in 2003 under mysterious circumstances. The Dossier Centre quoted unnamed sources as saying the children lived a life of luxury outside the public eye. The boys live a solitary existence away from the spotlight and seldom see their parents, the report stated. They are kept safe by the Kremlins Federal Protective Service and have a squad of nannies, governesses, and personal trainers. They have never been to school. Instead, they are given private tutoring. They live a life of luxury isolated from the world, with minimal opportunities for social interaction, as per the report. Putin has long denied claims of an affair with Kabaeva. With inputs from agencies After a devastating fire in 2019, Notre-Dame Cathedral has risen from the ashes in a stunning restoration hailed as the project of the century. Combining medieval craftsmanship with modern innovation, the rebuilt Gothic masterpiece, brighter and more radiant than ever, prepares to welcome millions of visitors once again read more Sparks fill the air as Paris Fire brigade members spray water to extinguish flames as the Notre Dame Cathedral burns in Paris, France, April 15, 2019. File Image/Reuters The Notre-Dame de Paris, one of the most treasured symbols of French culture and faith, has risen from the devastation of a catastrophic fire in 2019. After an ambitious five-and-a-half-year restoration effort, the iconic cathedral is set to reopen This Gothic masterpiece stands renewed, blending its medieval magnificence with careful modern updates. Its reconstruction captivated the world and became a testament to human resilience and ingenuity. The night of April 15, 2019 In the early evening of April 15, 2019, disaster struck the heart of Paris. A fire erupted under the roof of the Notre-Dame, a structure constructed largely from ancient oak. Within minutes, flames engulfed the iconic wooden spire, causing it to collapse in a fiery spectacle that shocked onlookers around the globe. Smoke billows as fire engulfs the spire of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, April 15, 2019. File Image/Reuters As emergency services battled the inferno, the fate of the cathedral seemed grim. Yet, against all odds, the bell towers and facade were spared, thanks to heroic firefighters who risked everything to save them. Advertisement The tragedy was a poignant reminder of the cathedrals centrality to French identity. President Emmanuel Macron declared the tragedy a national wound, calling for its restoration to be more beautiful than ever. Smoke billows as fire engulfs the spire of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, April 15, 2019. File Image/Reuters The fire, which may have been caused by an electrical fault or a burning cigarette, destroyed much of the structure but miraculously spared sacred relics, including Saint Denis and Saint Genevieves remains and a fragment of Christs Crown of Thorns. These were rescued by emergency workers in a human chain and later restored to their place in the new spires rooster. How Notre-Dame de Paris was rebuilt Restoring Notre-Dame was no ordinary construction project. It required a blend of historical reverence, cutting-edge technology, and skilled craftsmanship to address the complex damage. The French government set an ambitious timeline: the cathedral would reopen by December 2024. Despite initial scepticism, the project remained on schedule, thanks to the tireless efforts of over 1,000 artisans, engineers, and conservationists. Smoke rises around the altar in front of the cross inside the Notre Dame Cathedral as a fire continues to burn in Paris, France, April 16, 2019. File Image/Reuters The first two years were dedicated solely to stabilising the fragile remains of the cathedral. This included erecting a protective scaffolding to prevent further collapse and meticulously removing debris. Engineers reinforced the stone walls while preserving as much of the original structure as possible. Every detail was painstakingly documented, ensuring the restoration would stay true to Notre-Dames original design. Advertisement Cranes are seen around the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral as restoration works continue before its reopening, in Paris, France, October 23, 2024. File Image/Reuters The restoration effort mobilised a network of nearly 250 workshops across France, employing specialists in traditional crafts. These included carpenters, stonemasons, glassmakers, sculptors, scaffolders, and even organ builders. Their task was not only to repair but to replicate the artistry of centuries past. A view of the nave, the western Rose window and the organ of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral in Paris, on November 29, 2024. File Image/Reuters Reuters quoted Stone-carver Samir Abbas who reflected on the scale of the project, describing it as an exceptional renovation project. Stonemasons laboured to restore the cathedrals flying buttresses, rib vaulting, and iconic gargoyles. Gilders painstakingly reapplied gold leaf to decorations, ensuring they shone as brightly as they did in the 13th century. A view shows the altar of the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, which was ravaged by a fire in 2019, as restoration works continue before the cathedrals reopening, in Paris, France, November 29, 2024. File Image/Reuters A centerpiece of the restoration was the reconstruction of the 19th-century spire designed by Eugene Viollet-le-Duc. Following Macrons vision, the spire was rebuilt exactly as it had stood before the fire, with modern enhancements discreetly incorporated. Advertisement French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron during a visit to Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral in Paris, France, 29 November 2024. File Image/Reuters Inside the new spire, a golden rooster contains relics saved from the original: fragments of Saint Denis and Saint Genevieves remains and a piece of Christs Crown of Thorns. In tribute to the late General Jean-Louis Georgelin, who oversaw the project until his untimely death in 2023, his name was engraved in the wood of the new spire, alongside a sealed document listing the 2,000 individuals who worked on the restoration. A view of a memorial stele for the former French army chief in charge of restoring Pariss Notre-Dame Cathedral, outside Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral in Paris, on November 29, 2024. File Image/Reuters Notre-Dames famed organ, the largest in France with 8,000 pipes and 115 stops, posed its own set of challenges. Each pipe was disassembled, cleaned, and meticulously reassembled, a process that took years. The organ will once again fill the cathedral with its majestic sound during the reopening ceremonies. Advertisement One of the most transformative aspects of the restoration has been the cleaning of the cathedrals interior. Layers of soot and grime, accumulated over centuries, were removed from the stone walls, sculptures, and stained-glass windows. The result is a brighter and more vibrant space, revealing details unseen in living memory. A view of windows inside Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral in Paris, on November 29, 2024. File Image/Reuters The restoration also addressed the side chapels, transforming them into a coherent narrative of the Catholic faith. These chapels will guide visitors through the Old Testament, the life of Christ, and the lives of saints, with explanations available via a multilingual smartphone app. While the restoration adhered strictly to historical accuracy, it also embraced modernity. Macron commissioned contemporary artists to redesign six stained-glass windows on the southern side of the cathedral, ensuring that the 21st century would leave its mark on this historic structure. Advertisement A view of paintings inside Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral in Paris, on November 29, 2024. File Image/Reuters The restoration of Notre-Dame was made possible by an outpouring of global support. More than 846 million euros ($928 million) were raised from 340,000 donors across 150 countries. Wealthy patrons, including Francois-Henri Pinault and the Arnault family, contributed significant sums. Remarkably, the donations exceeded the projects estimated cost of 700 million euros ($767 million), leaving funds for future investments in the cathedral. A new chapter for Notre-Dame The reconstruction of Notre-Dame goes beyond repairing a building; it celebrates the resilience of a cultural icon. As Macron noted during a soft-opening on Friday, Never before have we seen such a construction site. You all had your share in the project of the century. A view of the inside of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral in Paris, on November 29, 2024. File Image/Reuters The cathedrals reopening will feature a ceremony on December 7, 2024, with Macron, Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, and other dignitaries in attendance. The event will include the traditional knocking on the cathedral doors, a blessing of the organ, and an inaugural Mass. Notre-Dame is expected to welcome 14 to 15 million visitors annually. While admission remains free, visitors will need to book tickets online to manage the anticipated demand. Religious groups and guided tourist groups will gain access starting in early 2025. People stand outside the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral as restoration works continue before its reopening, in Paris, France, November 29, 2024. File Image/Reuters The cathedral has witnessed eight centuries of French history. As Parisians prepare to welcome the world back to Notre-Dame, Archbishop Ulrich said in a message: We are very eager to welcome the whole world under the roof of our cathedral. Workers who have participated in the restoration of the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, which was ravaged by a fire in 2019, gesture after a speech by French President Emmanuel Macron (not pictured) in the nave during his visit, as restoration works continue before the cathedrals reopening, in Paris, France, November 29, 2024. File Image/Reuters With inputs from agencies Romanias top court has ordered a recount in the first round of the presidential elections after Calin Georgescu a little-known, far-right candidate who had been polling in single digits surged into first place while Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu was knocked out of the contest. But what does the Chinese-owned social media platform TikTok have to do with it? read more Calin Georgescu, running as an Independent candidate for president, topped the first round of voting in what came as a shock to many. AP Romania is in chaos and TikTok is right in the middle of it. The countrys top court has ordered a recount in the first round of presidential elections after a little-known far-right candidate surged into first place after the first round of polling. The development came amid Romanias top security body blaming the social media platform for boosting the candidacy of Calin Georgescu who had been polling in single digits prior to the vote. Advertisement But what happened? What do we know? Lets take a closer look: What happened? Calin Georgescu, an independent candidate, pulled out a shock victory in the first round of Romanias presidential election. As per BBC, Georgescu netted 23 per cent of the vote in the first round, while opposition candidate Elena Lasconi of the Save Romania Union came second. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, of the Social Democrat party, was knocked out of the race after coming in third. This raised eyebrows for many as Georgescu never polled above five per cent prior to the vote, as per The Guardian. Georgescu has previously praised 1930s Romanian fascist politicians as national heroes and martyrs. He has also been critical of NATO and Romanias stance on Ukraine. He and has said the country should engage, not challenge Russia and that it would benefit from Russian wisdom. Georgescu ran his campaign entirely on TikTok the app owned by Chinese technology giant ByteDance. Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has been knocked out of the race. Reuters As per BBC, the 62-year-old, who had just 30,000 followers weeks ago, now has over 330,000 followers. His posts have racked up over four million likes. The budget of this campaign was zero I had a very small team - a maximum of 10 people, no more. But we had millions of people behind [us], Georgescu told the outlet. Advertisement Im not different - the Romanian people are different. Romanian people need freedom. Real democracy means spirituality. God. Our land. Our property. Our soul. Our family. Georgescus shock victory has led the countrys Constitutional Court to unanimously ordered the re-verification and recounting of the voting ballots for the November 24 presidential election. The decision adds to the turmoil surrounding the electoral process in Romania, which is scheduled to hold three ballots in as many weeks, votes which are crucial to the direction of a country that has been pro-Western and a staunch ally of Ukraine. The decision to call for a recount was made after conservative presidential candidate Cristian Terhes, who got 1 per cent of the votes on Sunday, challenged the ballots result. Advertisement Terhes has asked that the Court annul the election outcome, alleging that Lasconi got votes transferred to her from another candidate who had withdrawn from the race but still appeared on the ballots. Terhes and another candidate Sebastian Popescu have also asked the court to void the results as Georgescu did not declare any campaign funding sources, as per The Guardian. The court postponed a ruling for November 29 and asked for a recount. The court will only provide the reasoning for its decision in a statement at a later date. By law, the top court needs to validate the first round result by November 29 for the run-off vote to happen on December 8 as scheduled. Advertisement But the head of the countrys election authority said recounting 9.46 million votes currently in archives at courthouses across Romania would take days. Why are authorities blaming TikTok? Romanian authorities have accused the platform of giving Georgescu preferential treatment and massive exposure. Georgescu gained many votes from young voters and Romanians living abroad. A presidential candidate benefited from massive exposure through preferential treatment given to him by the TikTok platform by not labelling him as a political candidate and not asking him to label electoral content, Romanias Supreme Defence Council said in a statement. The countrys top security body which includes the president and prime minister alongside relevant defence institutions, also said on Thursday it had evidence of cyberattacks meant to influence the electoral process. Advertisement It said that Romania was a key target for hostile actions by state and non-state actors, especially the Russian Federation. The council said there is a growing interest on the part of Russia to influence the public agenda in Romanian society. According to Politico, Pavel Popescu, vice president of the National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications of Romania (ANCOM), has said he would begin the process of blocking the platform in Romania. I request, starting 28.11.2024, the suspension of the TikTok platform on the territory of Romania, until the completion of the investigation by the state institutions regarding the manipulation of the electoral process, Popescu wrote on Facebook. His account was later deactivated. As per Politico, Popescu claimed thousands of accounts on TikTok sponsored by sources external to the Romanian state worked to raise Georgescus profile. Unfortunately, they led to this outcome that we see today, he added, saying the platform had ignored ANCOMs worries ahead of the vote and turned its back on communications with the institutions of the Romanian state. On Wednesday, the European Commission said it had received a request from Romanias media regulator to open a formal investigation into TikToks role in the Romanian elections under the EUs Digital Services Act (DSA). If the Commission suspects a breach it can open proceedings to look into TikToks compliance with the DSA obligations, it said in a statement. But TikTok is defending itself. The social media platform has claimed that Georgescus account on TikTok was labelled as a political account and treated like any other, the online platform said on Thursday, adding that it had acted on videos flagged by authorities. It is categorically false to claim his account was treated differently to any other candidate, TikTok said in an emailed statement. When Romanian authorities contacted us to flag a number of videos that lacked identifiers, we took action on those videos within 24 hrs. Authorities are claiming TikTok gave Calin Georgescu preferential treatment and boosted his profile. AP To date, we have found no evidence of a Covert Influence Operation on our platform within the last several weeks for the ongoing presidential election in Romania, nor evidence of foreign influence, the platform wrote in a letter obtained by Politico. What happens next? Georgescu is now set to face centrist candidate Elena Lasconi in a run-off on December 8. Under Romanian law, an election can be annulled if fraud of such a nature as to alter the allocation of the mandate or the order of the candidates eligible to participate in the second round of voting is discovered. Its an unprecedented situation since the fall of communism and the transition to democracy in 1989, former Constitutional Court judge Augustin Zegrean told Romanian channel Digi24. Things can take a very bad and unfavourable turn. But the court has already rejected a separate request by another presidential candidate to annul the first round of the vote, saying the request was filed too late. It is due to reconvene today (29 November). Lasconi, who entered the runoff by a narrow margin of around 2,700 votes, denounced the recount announcement. Extremism is fought by voting, not backstage games, Lasconi was quoted as saying by BBC. I call on the Central Election Bureau to handle the vote recount wisely. The law must be the same for all, not interpreted differently for some. The Constitutional Court is playing with national security, she said in a statement, adding that what it was now trying to do is absolutely appalling for a democratic country. Georgescu also rejected the claims of election interference, saying in a statement that opponents are trying to eliminate the Romanian peoples ability to think and choose according to their own moral, Christian and democratic principles. Attempts are being made to attribute a real election result to any institution, including TikTok, but none of the media and current politicians attribute real credibility to the Romanian people. As per BBC, a number of people have hit the streets of Bucharest as well as other cities to protest against Georgescu. Georgescu has asked his followers to stay home with friends and family. The development comes as a parliamentary election is slated for Sunday. Analysts expect Georgescus victory in the first round of the presidential election to boost the far-right in the parliamentary election. On Thursday, an AtlasIntel poll obtained by the HotNews website showed the radical right Alliance for Uniting Romanians (AUR) in first place with 22.4 per cent of the vote, followed by the Social Democrats (PSD) on 21.4 per cent. There was no immediate comment from Russian authorities but Moscow has previously denied interfering in foreign elections. According to Politico, representatives of TikTok, the Romanian government and European Union officials are set to meet in Brussels. A top EU lawmaker has also demanded that the TikTok CEO appear before the parliament and explain the role the platform played. We call on the CEO of TikTok to come to speak in this house and to ensure his platform conducted to no infringement under the DSA, Valerie Hayer, head of the liberal Renew Europe group, said as per the website. With inputs from agencies The United Kingdom is set to debate a controversial bill that will allow assisted dying for terminally ill patients. But it is not the first one to do so. Here is a list of European countries that allow assisted dying read more A small demonstration by people advocating assisted dying hold a protest outside the Houses of Parliament as a bill to legalise assisted dying is to be put before lawmakers in London. File image/AP The United Kingdom like many other nations have laws in place to protect people from ending their life. But things might change if a new bill is approved that allows assisted death of terminally ill people in England and Wales. British lawmakers are set to debate the controversial Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill that will change the fate of many suffering from chronic illnesses and have less than six months to live. This will be the first parliamentary debate on the issue since 2015. Advertisement But did you know some countries in the world allow assisted death? The majority of these countries are in Europe where terminally ill people receive help to end their lives. Here are some of them. Netherlands - the first country to legalise assisted dying The Dutch country became the first one to approve and permit active euthanasia in 2002. Under this, doctors used lethal drugs in considerable doses for those suffering from incurable illnesses. Further, it legalised assisted suicide under which patients received help to take their own life voluntarily. The Dutch law said the patient must have unbearable suffering with no prospect of improvement and must have requested to die in a way that is voluntary, well-considered and with full conviction. In 2012, the Netherlands expanded the law to authorise euthanasia for over-12s in great suffering, provided they have parental consent and in 2020 to patients with severe dementia if the patient had requested the procedure while still mentally competent. The Dutch government in 2023 also approved euthanasia for children under 12 after years of debate, permitting mercy deaths for young minors suffering unbearably and without hope. Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal Following in the footsteps of the Netherlands, countries like Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain and Portugal also allowed assisted death. Belgium was the second country to adopt this law for its terminally ill patients. This was not all, in 2014 it went a step further by allowing terminally ill children of all ages to also request the procedure, with the consent of their parents. Luxembourg decriminalised euthanasia and assisted dying in 2009. Spain in 2021 authorised euthanasia and medically assisted suicide for people with a serious and incurable illness, followed by Portugal in 2023. In the latter case, the law is not yet in force. Advertisement Switzerland, Austria and Italy join the bandwagon Switzerland prohibits euthanasia,. However, it allows assisted suicide. This has made it the go-to destination for decades for patients across Europe looking for assistance to end their suffering. People travelled to Switzerland for this procedure so much that Swiss authorities decided to put an end to suicide tourism and restricted the practice in 2011. Also Read: Who are death doulas, those who assist at the end of peoples lives? Neighbouring Austria, a staunchly Catholic nation, also legalised assisted suicide in 2022 after its constitutional court ruled the country was violating citizens fundamental rights with the prohibition. In Italy, where assisted dying is against the law, the constitutional court allowed an exception in 2019. The court ruled it should not always be punishable to help someone with intolerable physical or psychological suffering to commit suicide. Advertisement With inputs from AFP UK MPs will debate and vote on proposed legislation that could make assisted dying legal in the country. Labours Kim Leadbeater, who introduced the bill, seeks to provide dignity to those who are dying. But why has this left the country and its top leadership divided? read more A small demonstration by people advocating assisted dying hold a protest outside the Parliament as a bill to legalise assisted dying is to be put before lawmakers in London, England. AP Today, November 29 is a big day for the United Kingdom. MPs are due to debate and vote on proposed legislation that could make assisted dying legal in the UK. If passed, the UK will join a list of countries, which include the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, and Luxembourg that allow assisted dying. But what exactly is assisted dying? How does it differ from euthanasia? What does the proposed law in the UK state? Advertisement We get you the answers. What does assisted dying mean? Theres a lot of confusion over what is assisted dying and how it differs from euthanasia. The act of assisted dying refers to a person who is terminally ill receiving lethal drugs from a medical practitioner, which they administer themselves. Meanwhile, euthanasia is the act of deliberately ending a persons life to relieve suffering in which a lethal drug is administered by a physician. Patients may not be terminally ill. There are two types: voluntary euthanasia, where a patient consents; and non-voluntary, where they cannot because, for example, they are in a coma. As Richard Huxtable, professor of medical ethics and law at the University of Bristol, told The Guardian, The main difference is who performs the final, fatal act. Activists argue that assisted dying allows a person with a terminal condition the choice to control their death if they decide their suffering is unbearable. They state that along with good care, dying people who are terminally ill and mentally competent adults deserve the choice to control the timing and manner of their death. Some experts note that assisted dying can be used to mean both euthanasia and assisted suicide; however, some campaign groups use it to refer only to assisted suicide of terminally ill people. A Tube passenger walks past an assisted-dying rights billboard ahead of the parliamentary debate on Friday, in London, Britain. Reuters Where is assisted dying and its variants allowed? While the UK will debate on the law of assisted dying today, there are already some countries that permit it. According to the Dignity in Dying campaign group, more than 200 million people around the world have legal access to some form of assisted dying. The Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalise active euthanasia in 2002, whereby doctors administered lethal doses of drugs to patients suffering from an incurable condition. The Dutch nation also legalised assisted suicide, where patients can receive help to take their own life voluntarily. Belgium was the second country to adopt euthanasia and assisted suicide in 2002. Countries such as Luxembourg and Spain also allow for it. Advertisement Today, the Alpine nation of Switzerland is the go-to destination for patients from around Europe looking for assistance to end their suffering. It allowed for assisted suicide since 1942. In the US, 11 states Oregon, California, New Mexico, Colorado, Washington, Hawaii, New Jersey, Vermont, Maine and Washington DC allow physician-assisted dying. In Canada, voluntary euthanasia, which is called medical assistance in dying is legal. The North American country mandates that it can be provided by a doctor or nurse practitioner, either in person or through the prescription of drugs for self-administration. What is the current situation in the UK? In the UK, euthanasia and assisted suicide are illegal. Euthanasia can lead to a murder charge and assisted suicide could result in a sentence of up to 14 years in prison. However, interestingly, King George V died by euthanasia, it is reported. The royals health was on the decline and in 1936 it emerged that he was close to dying, with his chief doctor, Lord Dawson saying that the kings death was imminent. Advertisement Decades later, when Dawsons personal notes were revealed by his biographer Francis Watson, it emerged that King George Vs death was engineered by Dawson when he gave the monarch a lethal mix of morphine and cocaine to hasten his death. Hours of waiting just for the mechanical end when all that is really life has departed only exhausts the onlookers and keeps them so strained that they cannot avail themselves of the solace of thought, communion or prayer. I therefore decided to determine the end, he wrote. Kim Leadbeater gestures during an interview about the Assisted Dying Bill in Westminster, London, Britain. Reuters What is the UKs proposed law on assisted dying now? Today, the UK will debate backbench Labour MP Kim Leadbeaters Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which could change the legal position on the matter in the country. The proposed legislation states that anyone who wants to end their life has to meet some conditions: the person must be over 18 and live in England, Wales, and be registered with a GP for at least 12 months the person must have the mental capacity to make the choice the person should be expected to die within six months two independent doctors have to sign off on this assessment Advertisement The legislation further states that a high court judge will have to rule on the request and a patient will have to wait 14 days before acting. The law also mentions that a doctor would prepare the substance to end the persons life but the person would administer it themselves. Kim Leadbeater, the MP who introduced the bill, said the country needs this kind of legislation because some people have a horrible, harrowing death. An opponent to a bill legalising assisted dying shouts slogans outside Parliament in Westminster. Reuters What are the arguments for and against assisted dying? The issue of assisted dying has been hotly debated in the UK as well as the world. Leadbeaters legislation has found support from campaigners and some British MPs. David Cameron, the former British PM, supports the bill. Some activists support the bill, saying that people with terminal illnesses should be granted the ability to choose how and when they die what they call a dignified death. Advertisement However, other former PMs Liz Truss, Boris Johnson and Theresa May and Gordon Brown and other MPs have spoken out against the bill. They argue that the legislation would have a negative effect on vulnerable people. Wes Streeting, UKs health secretary, also argued that assisted dying would be another financial burden on the National Health Service (NHS). He told T_imes Radio:_ There would be resource implications for making assisted dying legal. And those choices would come at the expense of other choices. With inputs from agencies In December 1996, six-year-old beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey was found murdered in her familys Boulder, Colorado home, sparking a decades-long mystery. A chilling ransom note, a botched police investigation, and DNA evidence pointing to an unknown male left more questions than answers. Now Netflix documentary Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey revisits the killing read more A lone protestor is recorded by a television cameraman outside the Boulder County courthouse as the grand jurors in the JonBenet Ramsey murder case were meeting, October 12, 1999. File Image/Reuters In December 1996, the horrifying murder of 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey shook the United States to its core. The gruesome details of her death, combined with her status as a child beauty queen, made it one of the most notorious cold cases in American history. Decades later, Netflixs three-part documentary series, Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey, revisits this infamous mystery with new perspectives, hoping to uncover the truth behind this unsolved crime. What happened in 1996? JonBenet Ramsey, crowned titles such as Little Miss Colorado and Americas Royale Miss, was a local celebrity in Boulder, Colorado. On December 25, 1996, she and her family returned from a Christmas dinner at a friends house. Patsy Ramsey, JonBenets mother, tucked her into bed, never imagining the nightmare that would unfold the following morning. Advertisement Former home of the Ramsey family is seen in Boulder, Colorado, August 16, 2006. File Image/Reuters At dawn on December 26, Patsy found a chilling ransom note on the staircase demanding $118,000 the exact amount her husband, John Ramsey, had recently received as a bonus from his employer, Access Graphics. Believing JonBenet had been kidnapped, Patsy immediately called 911. Hours later, her body was found in the basement of the family home by her father. JonBenet was there. I saw her immediately, John Ramsey told CNN in 2016. And it was a rush of relief. I thought, God, I found my child. And then I pretty quickly realized that she may not be alive. JonBenet had been strangled with a garrote fashioned from a broken paintbrush and suffered a severe 8.5-inch skull fracture. A lone rose lays at the gravesite of JonBenet Ramsey in Marietta, Georgia, August 17, 2006. File Image/Reuters The coroner reported evidence of possible sexual assault. Despite the gruesome circumstances, questions lingered why was there a ransom note if JonBenets body was never removed from the home? How was the investigation misdirected? From the onset, law enforcement faced criticism for their mishandling of the case. Former Colorado police chief Mark Beckner later admitted that initial errors including failure to secure the crime scene and allowing friends to freely enter the Ramsey home compromised crucial evidence. John Ramsey echoed this frustration: We knew they were totally focused on Patsy and I, and we were aghast, he told CNN. But I said to them, OK, great. Lets work through that and then dont stop there. Well, they did stop there. And our big frustration with the police all along has been that theyve refused help from the outside that could have helped. Advertisement Forensic testing revealed DNA from an unknown male on JonBenets clothing, excluding her parents and brother Burke as suspects. In 2008, Boulder Countys district attorney formally cleared the Ramseys of any involvement in their daughters murder, citing these findings. However, for years, the family endured public suspicion and media scrutiny. So who killed JonBenet Ramsey? Over nearly three decades, the case has yielded over 21,000 tips, interviews with more than 1,000 individuals, and countless theories. In 1999, a grand jury voted to indict John and Patsy Ramsey for child abuse resulting in death, but then-District Attorney Alex Hunter declined to press charges, citing insufficient evidence. Only one arrest has been made: in 2006, John Mark Karr, a teacher in Thailand, falsely confessed to the murder. DNA testing later cleared him. John Mark Karr, an American primary school teacher, is escorted from a news conference in Bangkok, August 17, 2006. File Image/Reuters Whoever committed this offense must have pulled down her long johns but then they pulled them back up, forensic scientist Angela Williamson told CNN. DNA evidence from both JonBenets underwear and long johns pointed to the same unidentified male. Advertisement The Boulder Police Department insists they remain committed to solving the case. In 2023, they convened a Cold Case Review Team to explore advanced DNA technology and investigative techniques. The assertion that there is viable evidence and leads we are not pursuing to include DNA testing is completely false, Boulder police said. Documentary Director Joe Berlinger expressed hope that investigative genetic genealogy a method used to solve cases like the Golden State Killer might finally identify JonBenets killer. John and Patsy Ramsey appear on CNNs Burden of Proof in Washington, US, April 28, 1996. File Image/Reuters Patsy Ramsey succumbed to ovarian cancer in 2006, never seeing her name cleared. Today, John Ramsey, 80, continues to advocate for justice. Advertisement This has not gone away from our lives for 28 years, he said. I dont think Ive ever watched any of the broadcasts that Ive participated in over the years its hard to watch that stuff, he told CNN. With inputs from agencies In the early hours of November 26, a ceasefire deal came into effect between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hezbollah. Hezbollah says it defeated the Israeli military in Lebanon, while Israel has claimed the right to respond to violations and warned Lebanese citizens to stay away from frontline areas. But can the peace last? Heres what experts say read more Men gesture in front of buildings damaged in Israeli strikes in Beirut's southern suburbs, after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect. Reuters A ceasefire deal came into effect between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hezbollah in the early hours of November 26, bringing two months of hostilities in Lebanon to an end. The countrys main roads have since then been jammed as people rush back to what remains of their homes in the south. The outgoing US president, Joe Biden, said the agreement is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities. He added: What is left of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations will not be allowed will I emphasise will not be allowed to threaten the security of Israel again. But what are the prospects of the deal actually holding? Advertisement Hezbollah continues to claim that it defeated the Israeli military in Lebanon and says its forces will ensure that the IDF adheres to the ceasefire. Israel, in a similar fashion, has claimed the right to respond to violations and has warned Lebanese citizens that they should stay away from frontline areas for now. We will attack Hours before the deal came into effect, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: If Hezbollah violates the agreement and tries to arm itself, we will attack. If it tries to rebuild terrorist infrastructure near the border, we will attack. If it launches a rocket, if it digs a tunnel, if it brings in a truck carrying rockets, we will attack. Indeed, Israeli tanks opened fire on suspects arriving with vehicles in a number of areas in southern Lebanon on Thursday. But, while fragile, the truce may well last. John Strawson, an expert in Middle Eastern politics at the University of East London, says Israels military has inflicted immense damage on the groups military organisation. The fact that Hezbollah has entered a ceasefire with Israel at all, he argues, highlights its diminished capacity to take the fight to Israel. Vanessa Newby of Leiden University in the Netherlands and Chiara Ruffa of Sciences Po in France have examined the specific details of the ceasefire deal. They explain that, despite superficially resembling previous arrangements in southern Lebanon, the new ceasefire agreement contains some critical differences. Lebanons caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati meets with members of his cabinet in Beirut on November 27, 2024, to discuss the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. AFP Israel has managed to obtain a letter of guarantee from the US, recognising Israeli freedom of action on Lebanese soil in the event of any attempt to strengthen Hezbollah. And eight Nato states (Canada, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK and the US) will be involved in a new initiative that aims to reinforce the capacity and mobility of the Lebanese armed forces. Advertisement Newby and Ruffa write that the new ceasefire agreement promises a precarious peace in region, while simultaneously drawing Nato countries more deeply into the conflict. This is not a viewed shared by Marika Sosnowski, a legal expert who studies the terms of ceasefires at the University of Melboune in Australia. She argues that the terms of the ceasefire provide no details on what will happen at the end of the 60-day period. And limiting Hezbollahs ability to rearm during the ceasefire by, for example, demanding the closure of weapons production facilities in southern Lebanon, could even expand the conflict. Sosnowski explains that, since the start of the ceasefire, Israel has targeted sites on Lebanons border with Syria. This is a route that Hezbollahs main backer, Iran, uses to channel weapons to the group. Advertisement Irrespective of whether the ceasefire in Lebanon holds, Strawson says that Netanyahus major achievement with the deal has been detaching the war in Gaza from the Lebanese front. Hamas may now have to accept the new reality that it is on its own, which leaves Netanyahus options in Gaza more open. He has already said the ceasefire will enable Israel to focus its efforts on Hamas fighters there. Bear criminal responsibility Support for Israels actions in Gaza has dropped off over the course of the war. Palestinian health officials say the death toll has now surpassed 44,000, with over 100,000 more wounded. Around 90 per cent of the population have been displaced, and hundreds of thousands of people are living in tent camps with little food, water or basic services. Advertisement Palestinian officials and rights groups have consistently accused Israeli forces of war crimes and crimes against humanity, a view that is shared by judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Following a long delay, the court last week issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military commander, Mohammed Deif. Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. AP File The judges found reasonable grounds to believe that they bear criminal responsibility for the war crime of intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population. The decision marks the first time a leader of a western country has been charged by the ICC. But, according to Catherine Gegout of the University of Nottingham, there is little chance that Netanyahu will appear at the Hague. Russias Vladimir Putin and Sudans Omar al-Bashir, who are also wanted for war crimes, have managed to evade the courts grasp despite travelling to states that are party to the ICC. Advertisement When peace will come to the Middle East, and what it will take to achieve it, remains anyones guess. The fighting in Gaza over the past 12 months has already caused an immense amount of damage. The IDF has reduced much of the Gaza Strip to rubble, with nearly three-quarters of buildings in Gaza City estimated to have been damaged or destroyed. This has, unfortunately, included many of the enclaves heritage sites. Researchers Michael Fradley, Bill Finlayson and Andrew Peterson of Oxford and Bradford universities have been developing a comprehensive inventory of these sites across Gaza. The war has, by their own assessment, damaged around 50 per cent of them, with many structures nearly demolished. This conflict will not eradicate the rich heritage of Gaza, they write. These buildings have been repeatedly restored and rebuilt over more than a century since the area was first devastated by modern warfare. And they will be again. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. India on Friday expressed deep concern over the escalating violence and targeted attacks against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh and called upon the Muhammad Yunus-led government to live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities read more India on Friday expressed deep concern over the escalating violence and targeted attacks against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh and called upon the Muhammad Yunus-led government to live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities. Addressing the weekly briefing on Friday, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, India has consistently and strongly raised with the Bangladesh government the threats and targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities The interim government must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities. Advertisement #WATCH | Delhi: On Bangladesh situation, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "India has consistently and strongly raised with the Bangladesh government the threats and targetted attacks on Hindus and other minorities... The interim government must live up to its responsibility pic.twitter.com/Z9hHp6g6U1 ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2024 He said India is concerned about the surge of extremist rhetoric in the neighbouring country. Increasing incidents of violence and provocation cannot be dismissed merely as media exaggerations. We call upon Bangladesh to take steps for the protection of minorities, he added. Jaiswal said India has reiterated its strong stance on the situation of Hindus and other minority communities in Bangladesh. We made our position very clear as far as the situation of Hindus and minorities in Bangladesh is concerned. We have raised this matter with Bangladesh that they must take responsibility for protecting the minorities and safeguarding their interests, safeguarding, and providing for their safety and security, he added. Advertisement On the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Bangladesh, Jaiswal said India has already made its stance on the issue known. #WATCH | Delhi: On the arrest and imprisonment of Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "We see ISKCON as a globally well-regarded organisation with a strong record of social service. As far as the arrest of Chinmoy Das is concerned, we have pic.twitter.com/gJHKEN3RW3 ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2024 We see ISKCON as a globally well-regarded organisation with a strong record of social service. As far as the arrest of Chinmoy Das is concerned, we have made our statement on that Cases against individuals and legal processes are underway. We hope and expect that these processes will be dealt with in a fair, just and transparent manner ensuring full respect for these individuals and all those who are concerned, said the MEA spokesperson. Das has been charged with sedition for allegedly hoisting a saffron flag above Bangladeshs national flag in Chittagong on October 25. As Das continues to remain in a Bangladesh jail, protests have erupted in various parts of the country against him and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISCKON). Advertisement On Friday, after prayers, protesters linked to the Hefazat-e-Islam gathered outside the Bitul Mukarram Mosque in Dhaka calling for a ban on ISCKON. The protesters were seen with flags and were also seen sloganeering even as a large contingent of Police personnel kept watch. The protests were held at the north gate of the mosque.The situation has been tense after a lawyer was killed during clashes between police and alleged followers of Das in the Chattogram Court Building area on November 27. Even though ISKCONs Bangladesh unit has rejected allegations linking the religious organisation to the killing of lawyer in Chattogram, protests continue in the country. Advertisement India also confirmed that the supply of commodities to Bangladesh continues without disruption. The supply of commodities from India to Bangladesh continues. And likewise, the trade between Bangladesh and India continues in both directions, said Jaiswal. With inputs from agencies The way things have turned out for ICC in the last two decades since its formation, it is high time that it takes stock of its actual position in the bigger scheme of things read more First set up in 1998 with just 60 countries that signed onto the Rome Statute, the ICC today has 124 member countries and is headquartered in The Hague, Image: REUTERS The modern state, as it emerged in the sixteenth century, has remained to this day the primary unit of international politics. Celebrated scholar of International Relations Hans J Morgenthau had given this quote in his much-acclaimed book Politics among Nations: The struggle for power and peace. Although Morgenthaus book was first published in the year 1948, the primacy of states as the basic unit of international relations remains true even today. Despite there being a push for liberal institutionalism in the last century as well as in the current century, nation-states continue to be the key driver of international politics. In fact, the recent years have been the greatest testament to this phenomenon where a waning West is holding on to fragile institutions in order to assert its hegemony while countries such as China and Russia are challenging them each passing day. Advertisement In such a scenario, the International Criminal Court comes across as a particularly weak institution, especially with the way it is issuing indiscriminate arrest warrants against sitting heads of state. In the last year, it has charged Russian President Vladimir Putin, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Myanmars military chief Min Aung Hlaing with war crimes and has moved forward to prosecute them. In fact, Putin has been facing an arrest warrant since March 2023, now with all the ICC member countries obliged to arrest him in case he travels to their country. Recently the court has also initiated a process to convict the military chief of Myanmar for committing humanitarian crimes against Rohingya Muslims. If the Myanmar junta chiefs arrest warrant is also approved by the jury, then he will also face a fate similar to Putins, obliging the member countries to arrest him. First set up in 1998 with just 60 countries that signed onto the Rome Statute, the ICC today has 124 member countries and is headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands. Despite boasting of a large membership, the truth is that the powers that matter are not even functional members of the organisation, with some big players, such as China, the United States, India, and Russia, either keeping out from the founding treaty or not ratifying the treaty in their national legislatures after signing it. The court still maintains jurisdiction over four categories of international crimes, including genocide, breach of international customary laws and conventions regarding war, crimes against humanity, and crimes of aggression by a political or military leader against another state. Since its inception, the ICC has issued arrest warrants against many heads of state, including Putin and Netanyahu, as well as Omar al-Bashir, former president of Sudan, and former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi as well. Against Bashir, the arrest warrant was issued way back in 2009, and since then, 15 years have passed, but there has been no headway in the case. Advertisement Meanwhile, Bashir has travelled to multiple countries, including ICC member states, as well, but he has not been arrested to date. In fact, in 2015, Bashir had travelled to South Africa, an ICC member country, but not only did he attend the African Union summit without any punitive action, but he also successfully left the country after wrapping up his commitments. He also travelled with much impunity to other countries such as Egypt, South Africa, and Syria as well. In fact, in Syria, he even endorsed the repressive measures taken by the Bashar al-Assad regime against its rebellious people. At that time, ICC had come under attack for being a paper tiger from the human rights groups who questioned its lack of effectiveness and credibility, but the body failed to come up with any satisfactory response. Advertisement While the heads of state have often made news when the ICC prosecutes them, the truth is that there is a long list of individuals, especially from the African continent, who have been charged with serious crimes by the ICC, and yet hardly anyones case has reached a logical conclusion. What weakens ICCs position to ensure action and deter crimes at the international level is its limited membership. There are more than 190 countries that are officially recognised by the UN, but not all of them, especially the important ones, are party to the Rome Statute. Any rule of law requires hard power to back it, which the ICC has none to boast. Then there is also an issue of UN Security Council referrals, which many states consider partial given the fact that the UNSC itself needs urgent reforms. In view of its general lack of effectiveness, there have been many calls to dissolve the organisation in the past, but that doesnt prevent the ICC from acting like it can actually make a difference. Advertisement The problem with ICC is that it is operating in a world where tangible power matters the most. Unlike national courts that have a robust internal police to implement the rule of law, the ICC has no enforcement mechanism of its own. It has to rely on states and international organisations to implement its decisions where states have been inconsistent in their behaviour and have not cooperated with the ICC on many occasions. Some of them have been quite vocal in pointing out how ICC impinges on their territorial integrity and sovereignty, not knowing where to draw a reasonable line. In fact, Israel used this ploy just recently when Benjamin Netanyahu was charged by the ICC, and he referred to Israels right to defend itself against terrorism. Some major great powers, such as the United States and China, have also straight away denied cooperation with the legal body, citing similar reasons. Advertisement Clearly, the way things have turned out for ICC in the last two decades since its formation, it is high time that it takes stock of its actual position in the bigger scheme of things. The world is only moving towards more use of force than rule of law, with key states such as Russia and even the US demonstrating more willingness to back individual state action than any vague notion of institutionalism. The instances of powerful countries undermining the international court may become more frequent now. This means that there is a need for the ICC to reinvent itself and align with the current trend. It can use its influence to signal lawful behaviour to nation-states, but the way it is issuing arrest warrants that lead to no real-world conviction and punitive action would only make it more irrelevant. The author is a New Delhi-based commentator on geopolitics and foreign policy. She holds a PhD from the Department of International Relations, South Asian University. She tweets @TrulyMonica. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Despite the cessation, the future remains fraught with peril. Israel is unlikely to tolerate Hezbollahs inevitable rearmament, as evidenced by the sporadic strikes on arms convoys and weapons depots that continued even during negotiations read more The Lebanese people are frustrated with Hezbollah, often perceived as dragging Lebanon into unwinnable conflicts, further undermining the groups position. Image: REUTERS The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, brokered amidst escalating violence, is less a truce of mutual agreement than a grudging pause by two battle-worn adversaries. Both sides are claiming victory, yet their divergent motivations and precarious positions reveal a fragile peace whose endurance is far from assured. A Buffer Zone Restored For Israel, the ceasefire marks a critical achievement: Hezbollahs retreat across the Litani River, re-establishing a buffer zone north of the border. This echoes the conditions of the 2006 ceasefire but with one crucial distinction: Israels advantage this time lies in its superior technological and human intelligence capabilities. Advertisement Precision strikes have targeted Hezbollahs command structure, reportedly eliminating key operatives and severely impairing its leadership. The war in 2006, characterised by rocket barrages and ambiguous outcomes, has given way to a more asymmetrical conflict where Israels capabilities have left Hezbollah on the back foot. Yet Israels calculus is not purely tactical. A weary populace, burdened by the constant threat of war, has pushed for some semblance of normalcy. Closing this front allows the Israeli government to focus on the volatile situation in Gaza and buy some time. Hezbollahs Costly Overreach For Hezbollah, the ceasefire was less a choice than a necessity. The group, which once prided itself on its resilience, found itself facing an untenable scenario. Its gamble to escalate tensions alongside the Hamas-Israel conflict overplayed its hand. Israels response, far more devastating than in past confrontations, inflicted heavy losses on Hezbollahs rank and file. Moreover, the spectre of direct US involvement post-Trump 2.0 is a risk that Hezbollah simply cant afford. The Iranian support has been hamstrung with supply lines choked in Syria and by the sea. The Lebanese people are frustrated with Hezbollah, often perceived as dragging Lebanon into unwinnable conflicts, further undermining the groups position. Uncertain Roads Ahead Despite the cessation, the future remains fraught with peril. Israel is unlikely to tolerate Hezbollahs inevitable rearmament, as evidenced by the sporadic strikes on arms convoys and weapons depots that continued even during negotiations. Preemptive attacks by Israel could yet derail the fragile peace. Meanwhile, the dynamics in Gaza and the return of Donald Trump to the White House with a likely harder stance on groups like Hamas and Hezbollah increase the risks for those who challenge Israels security. Hamas, in particular, will have to think if it can afford holding US hostages, which was not a problem for Democrats but will be a red rag for Trump. Hamas may call for a truce too. Advertisement Israel will keep peace only on its own terms. That makes this a fleeting peace in a region sadly embedded by war. The writer is a senior journalist with expertise in defence. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. A displaced boy covers his head with a pan as he runs from the rain past building rubble at the Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on November 24, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas militant group. Image- AFP Indias approach to the Israel-Palestine conflict is a reflection of its broader foreign policy stance, which seeks to balance historical values with emerging geopolitical realities. While maintaining its longstanding support for Palestinian self-determination, India has also cultivated deepening ties with Israel, especially in defence, technology, and trade. This dual commitment represents the complexity of Indias diplomatic posturea balancing act that seeks to navigate the longstanding regional conflict while safeguarding its national interests. Advertisement The question of lasting peace in the Middle East remains as pressing as ever, and Indias vision for a two-state solution provides a nuanced approach to this deeply entrenched geopolitical struggle. Indias Diplomatic Evolution Indias position on the Israel-Palestine conflict is rooted in its nationalist struggle and its historical stance towards Jewish political aspirations in Palestine. During the early years of Indias independence, the leadership under Mahatma Gandhi was largely critical of the idea of a Jewish state in Palestine, seeing it through the lens of colonial oppression and imperial interests. Gandhis views reflected a strong belief in nonviolent resistance and peaceful coexistence, even in the face of ideological and political divisions. His commitment to nonviolence in global conflictsmost notably, his calls for peaceful resistance against Adolf Hitler during World War IIshaped Indias broader ethical framework in foreign diplomacy. Indias early stance on the Israel-Palestine issue, under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, reflected a cautious approach. In the wake of Israels formation in 1948, India, like many newly independent nations, chose to maintain neutrality, distancing itself from both Israel and Palestine. While Prime Minister Nehru recognised the geopolitical significance of Israel, India refrained from extending formal recognition, largely due to its support for Palestinian Arab claims to the land. In 1952, Nehru articulated a position of supporting Palestinian rights while also offering assurances of normalised relations with Israelwithout, however, formalising diplomatic recognition; this was the period of informal recognition. Advertisement This reluctance to recognise Israel persisted until the early 1990s, when Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao reversed the policy and established full diplomatic relations with Israel in 1992, signalling a shift toward more pragmatic, strategic engagement. This marked a major turning point in Indias foreign policy, as it acknowledged the growing significance of Israel, particularly in terms of security, technology, and defence cooperation. Two-State Solution: Indias Consistent Advocacy Despite its evolving relationship with Israel, India has consistently supported the idea of a two-state solution, where both Israel and Palestine coexist peacefully within recognised borders. This policy remains central to Indias vision of lasting peace in the region. Indias support for Palestinian self-determination has been a cornerstone of its foreign policy for decades. In line with this, India has consistently advocated for a negotiated settlement, underlining the importance of dialogue between the two parties and the need for an international framework that respects both Palestinian and Israeli rights. Advertisement Indias commitment to the two-state solution was underscored in recent diplomatic actions, such as its humanitarian contributions to Palestine. In 2024, India made a significant contribution of $2.5 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). This gesture exemplifies Indias dedication to Palestinian welfare and its moral support for the Palestinian cause. Indias contribution not only highlights its role as a humanitarian actor in the region but also serves as a testament to its continued advocacy for Palestinian rights, even as its relations with Israel have deepened. Additionally, India has played an active role in addressing the humanitarian needs of Palestinians, particularly in times of crisis. In response to the ongoing conflict, India has sent shipments of medical supplies, including essential medicines and anti-cancer drugs, to Palestine. These actions, though humanitarian, align with Indias longstanding position on the Israel-Palestine issue: a commitment to Palestinian welfare coupled with a recognition of Israels security concerns. Advertisement Strategic Diplomacy While India has remained firm in its support for the two-state solution, it has also cultivated a strong strategic relationship with Israel, especially in the domains of defence, intelligence, and technology. Indias defence cooperation with Israel has significantly expanded over the years, with Israel becoming one of Indias largest arms suppliers. The two countries have also deepened ties in sectors such as cybersecurity, agriculture, and space technology. In recent years, Indias diplomatic manoeuvring has reflected this complex balancing act. In September 2024, India abstained from voting on a United Nations General Assembly resolution that called for the end of Israels occupation of Gaza and the West Bank within one year. Advertisement This abstention signalled Indias careful positioning, acknowledging the importance of its growing defence and trade relationship with Israel while still maintaining its historical support for Palestinian sovereignty. This nuanced stance underscores Indias pragmatic approach to foreign policy: it seeks to safeguard its national interests and security while adhering to its moral commitments. Indias abstention was also an illustration of its desire to maintain a position of diplomatic flexibility, where it does not alienate one side at the expense of the other. It represents Indias approach of seeking constructive engagement with both Israel and Palestine, ensuring that its interests and ethical considerations are balanced in a highly polarised geopolitical context. Gandhian Legacy Indias approach to the Israel-Palestine conflict is deeply informed by the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhis principles of nonviolence and dialogue remain central to Indias diplomatic approach, particularly in the context of seemingly intractable conflicts. Gandhis views on the Israel-Palestine issue were complex; while he was critical of the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine, he advocated for peaceful coexistence and nonviolent resistance as tools for resolving conflicts. This ideological framework continues to shape Indias diplomatic approach today. Gandhis call for nonviolent resistance in the face of aggression was not a call for passivity but a belief in the transformative power of dialogue, empathy, and peaceful engagement. His approach was not about rigidly adhering to one side of a conflict but about fostering an environment where dialogue could flourish. In the context of the Israel-Palestine issue, India continues to hold firm to these principles. While it supports Palestinian self-determination, it also advocates for peaceful coexistence and dialogue between Israel and Palestine. Challenges and Prospects for Peace The two-state solution remains a central element of Indias policy on the Israel-Palestine conflict, yet its realisation faces significant challenges. Expanding Israeli settlements, the fragmentation of Palestinian leadership, and entrenched political divisions have undermined the feasibility of this solution. As scholars like Padraig OMalley argue, the facts on the ground make it increasingly difficult to achieve a lasting peace. Nevertheless, India remains a staunch advocate for a negotiated settlement that upholds the rights of both Palestinians and Israelis. Indias approach is rooted in its commitment to multilateral diplomacy and fairness, emphasising that peace must be achieved through dialogue and recognition of both peoples rights. While India continues to support Palestinian self-determination, its growing strategic partnership with Israel in defence and technology reflects the pragmatic realities of modern geopolitics. India navigates this complex relationship by promoting balanced engagement and maintaining its historical support for Palestine while strengthening ties with Israel. Beyond the two-state solution, India envisions a Middle East where all nations coexist peacefully. Influenced by Gandhian principles of nonviolence and justice, Indias approach transcends territorial disputes, focusing on fostering long-term cooperation and mutual recognition. Its efforts in providing humanitarian aid to Palestine reinforce its commitment to alleviating suffering and contributing to regional stability. Indias policy, shaped by its history of nonalignment, positions it as a unique actor in the region, able to engage with both Israel and Arab nations constructively. By promoting peacebuilding and regional cooperation, India remains an advocate for lasting peace, offering a pragmatic, ethical framework for resolving the Israel-Palestine conflict in a complex geopolitical landscape. Amal Chandra is an author, political analyst and columnist. Prashanto Bagchi is an International Relations scholar at the JNU, New Delhi. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Canadas Competition Bureaus investigation alleges that Google favours its own tools in accessing online ad inventory, effectively sidelining competitors. The complaint also accuses the company of manipulating terms for customers to restrict their ability to work with rival platforms read more Google has denied the accusations, arguing that its advertising tools support a competitive marketplace. The company claimed the Competition Bureaus case disregards the intense competition in the sector, where advertisers and publishers have plenty of options. Image Credit: AFP Canadas Competition Bureau has taken a bold step against Google, filing a lawsuit to dismantle the companys advertising technology operations. The announcement, made on Thursday during the US Thanksgiving holiday, follows an extensive investigation into Googles dominance in programmatic web advertising. The watchdog claims the tech giant has misused its market power to stifle competition and maintain its leading position. The Bureaus investigation alleges that Google favours its own tools in accessing online ad inventory, effectively sidelining competitors. The complaint also accuses the company of manipulating terms for customers to restrict their ability to work with rival ad tech platforms and even taking financial losses in some deals to undermine competition. Advertisement Seeking remedies for alleged market manipulation To address these concerns, the Competition Bureau is pushing for Google to divest two of its advertising technology tools. Additionally, it has called for financial penalties to be imposed on the company for its alleged anticompetitive behaviour. The watchdog argues that Googles actions have harmed advertisers, publishers, and consumers by limiting choice and distorting the advertising ecosystem. Matthew Boswell, Canadas Commissioner of Competition, stated that Googles conduct has prevented fair competition, locking advertisers and publishers into its ecosystem at the expense of rivals. He emphasised that the case aims to halt these practices and address their harmful effects on Canadas digital advertising landscape. Google denies allegations, promises to fight back Google has denied the accusations, arguing that its advertising tools support a competitive marketplace. The company, in a statement to Reuters, claimed the Competition Bureaus case disregards the intense competition in the sector, where advertisers and publishers have plenty of options. Dan Taylor, Googles Vice-President of Global Ads, separately defended the companys tools, stating they empower businesses to reach customers effectively while helping websites and apps sustain their content. Google has pledged to contest the case in court, asserting that its practices benefit the broader digital ecosystem rather than harm it. The companys legal team is preparing to counter the Bureaus allegations. An international spotlight on Googles Ad business This legal challenge comes as Google faces a similar battle in the United States. The US Department of Justice recently concluded its trial to dismantle Googles advertising business, with a ruling expected soon. The Canadian case adds to mounting pressure on the tech giant as global regulators scrutinise its advertising dominance. As Canadas Competition Bureau pursues its lawsuit, the outcome could have far-reaching implications for the digital advertising industry, potentially reshaping how tech giants operate in global markets. This high-profile case coincides with ByteDances aggressive expansion in AI development. The companys chatbot, Doubao, launched in August 2023, has already become the leading AI chatbot in China, boasting 51 million monthly active users by October read more ByteDance has accused Tian, the intern of malicious interference with its AI model training, alleging unauthorised code manipulation and sabotage. Image Credit: Reuters Chinese tech giant ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has filed a lawsuit against a former intern, accusing them of deliberately sabotaging its artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. The company is seeking 8 million yuan (approximately $1.1 million) in damages, a significant amount for a legal case involving an intern. The Haidian District Peoples Court in Beijing has accepted the lawsuit, which has become a focal point in Chinas ongoing AI race. Advertisement The intern, identified as Tian Keyu, was dismissed in August 2023 for allegedly tampering with the code of ByteDances large language model (LLM) training project. ByteDance claims Tians actions caused significant disruption and waste of resources, though the company has denied rumours suggesting losses involving thousands of GPUs or millions of dollars, calling such claims seriously exaggerated. ByteDances c harges against the former intern ByteDance has accused Tian of malicious interference with its AI model training, alleging unauthorised code manipulation and sabotage. The company stated that these actions disrupted a critical research project and wasted valuable resources. ByteDance reported Tians behaviour to professional ethics organisations, including the Trust and Integrity Enterprise Alliance, as well as to Tians university. Despite these measures, Tian has consistently denied the allegations. The case has attracted attention due to the relatively large sum of damages sought and the growing significance of AI technology. ByteDances legal action is viewed as an effort to protect its investments in cutting-edge AI initiatives, which play a central role in its business strategy. ByteDances AI ambitions and competitive landscape This high-profile case coincides with ByteDances aggressive expansion in AI development. The companys chatbot, Doubao, launched in August 2023, has already become the leading AI chatbot in China, boasting 51 million monthly active users by October. Doubao has outperformed rivals such as Baidus Wenxiaoyan and Alibaba-backed Kimi, reflecting ByteDances dominance in the sector. ByteDances success in AI mirrors a broader trend among Chinese tech giants, including Alibaba and Meituan, which are investing heavily in AI research and development. However, these companies face challenges from international restrictions, such as limited access to NVIDIAs advanced AI chips, which are crucial for building state-of-the-art models. A case that highlights AI stakes The lawsuit underscores the challenges of safeguarding intellectual property and ensuring internal security in the competitive AI industry. As ByteDance ramps up its efforts in generative AI, such disruptions pose risks not only to its operations but also to its reputation as a global tech leader. This legal action serves as a clear message about the seriousness with which ByteDance approaches the integrity of its projects. The case also reflects the growing importance of AI as a key competitive area for Chinese tech firms. With ByteDance at the forefront of this race, the outcome of this lawsuit could have implications far beyond the courtroom, shaping how tech companies address internal breaches in the future. North Korean hacking groups use sophisticated methods to infiltrate targets. One group, dubbed Sapphire Sleet by Microsoft, impersonates venture capitalists and recruiters read more North Koreas hackers operate under minimal risk due to existing sanctions, which limit the countrys exposure to further penalties. Groups like "Ruby Sleet" target aerospace and defence companies to steal technology that advances the regimes weaponry. Image Credit: Reuters A new wave of cybercrime linked to North Korea has emerged, with hackers posing as venture capitalists, recruiters, and remote IT workers to steal cryptocurrency and corporate secrets. At Cyberwarcon, a Washington DC conference on cybersecurity threats, researchers revealed that these tactics have helped fund North Koreas weapons program while bypassing international sanctions. The regimes hackers have stolen billions in cryptocurrency over the last decade, all while dodging detection through carefully constructed fake identities. Advertisement The Tactics: Fake VCs, recruiters, and IT workers North Korean hacking groups use sophisticated methods to infiltrate targets. One group, dubbed Sapphire Sleet by Microsoft, impersonates venture capitalists and recruiters. After luring victims into virtual meetings, they trick them into downloading malware disguised as tools to fix technical glitches or complete skills assessments. Once installed, the malware provides access to sensitive data, including cryptocurrency wallets. In just six months, these tactics netted at least $10 million in stolen funds. More troubling is the infiltration of global organisations by hackers posing as remote IT workers. These individuals create convincing online profiles, complete with AI-generated images and resumes, to land jobs at major companies. Once hired, they leverage facilitators based in the US to handle company-issued laptops and earnings, bypassing sanctions. Facilitators set up farms of these laptops, allowing North Korean hackers to remotely access systems while hiding their true locations. How they got caught Despite their elaborate setups, North Korean hackers have made mistakes that exposed their operations. Microsoft uncovered a treasure trove of internal documents from a publicly accessible repository belonging to one of the hackers. These files included detailed guides, false identities, and records of stolen funds, providing a blueprint for the operation. Other slip-ups were uncovered by researchers like Hoi Myong and SttyK, who engaged directly with suspected North Korean operatives. In one instance, a hacker posing as Japanese made linguistic errors and had a mismatched digital footprint, with an IP address in Russia but claims of a Chinese bank account. Such inconsistencies have helped security teams identify and dismantle fake profiles. Crypto theft funding weapons programs North Koreas hackers operate under minimal risk due to existing sanctions, which limit the countrys exposure to further penalties. Groups like Ruby Sleet target aerospace and defence companies to steal technology that advances the regimes weaponry. Meanwhile, IT worker schemes provide a triple threat: generating revenue, stealing intellectual property, and extorting companies. The US and its allies have taken action, levying sanctions and prosecuting individuals running laptop farms. However, researchers warn that organisations must improve their employee vetting processes. AI-generated deepfakes, stolen identities, and evolving tactics make North Koreas hackers a persistent and dangerous threat. Theyre not going away, Microsofts James Elliott cautioned, underscoring the need for vigilance as these operations grow increasingly sophisticated. Winzos claims that Google, through its Play Store, imposes unreasonable terms on app developers via its Developer Distribution Agreement and Developer Program Policies. These policies create a one-sided relationship that limit developers ability to operate fairly in the market read more This investigation is not Googles first brush with Indias competition watchdog. The company has faced several probes over alleged anti-competitive practices in the past, including those related to Androids dominance in the mobile operating system market. Image Credit: Reuters The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has launched a fresh investigation into Google following a complaint from online gaming company Winzo. The probe centres around allegations that Googles app store policies breach antitrust regulations and unfairly restrict the operations of gaming apps offering real money games. The CCI has directed its director general to complete the investigation and submit a consolidated report within 60 days. The order suggests that Googles practices may violate multiple provisions under Section 4 of the Competition Act, which addresses the abuse of a dominant market position. Advertisement Allegations of restrictive practices Winzos complaint claims that Google, through its Play Store, imposes unreasonable terms on app developers via its Developer Distribution Agreement and Developer Program Policies. These policies allegedly create a one-sided relationship, forcing developers to comply with terms that limit their ability to operate fairly in the market. The crux of the issue lies in Googles restriction of apps offering real money games from being hosted on the Play Store. Winzo asserts that this policy forces gaming companies like itself to rely on sideloadinga process where users download apps directly from the companys website rather than through the Play Store. Winzo claims this sideloading process is hampered by warnings displayed on Android devices, which it alleges are misleading, damaging its reputation and discouraging potential users. Googles alleged abuse of dominance The CCI order highlights Winzos argument that Googles policies represent an abuse of its dominant position in the app distribution ecosystem. By restricting the hosting of real money gaming apps, Google allegedly stifles competition and hampers the growth of this segment in India. The warnings displayed during sideloading, which Winzo describes as baseless and illegal, further add to the challenges faced by gaming companies. Winzo argues that these actions not only mislead users but also tarnish its market reputation and result in significant business losses. The gaming company views these practices as a deliberate attempt by Google to limit competition while consolidating its own control over app distribution on Android devices. A broader pattern of regulatory scrutiny This investigation is not Googles first brush with Indias competition watchdog. The company has faced several probes over alleged anti-competitive practices in the past, including those related to Androids dominance in the mobile operating system market. The fresh inquiry adds to Googles regulatory troubles, not just in India but globally, as antitrust authorities examine its policies and business practices. The outcome of this investigation could have wide-reaching implications for app developers, particularly those in the gaming industry, as they navigate the challenges posed by dominant tech platforms. With the CCIs 60-day timeline for a report, all eyes are now on the regulator to determine whether Googles policies warrant corrective action. Intel, the largest recipient of CHIPS Act funding, is facing mounting scrutiny over its ability to deliver on its commitments, particularly as it navigates financial struggles and extended project timelines read more Intel remains the only US-based logic chip manufacturer, a factor that has led US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo to encourage collaboration between Intel and tech giants like Apple, NVIDIA, and AMD. Image Credit: Reuters The Biden administration has reduced Intels funding under the CHIPS Act from $8.5 billion to $7.85 billion, a significant cut attributed to the companys recent $3 billion military contract. Intel, the largest recipient of CHIPS Act funding, faces mounting scrutiny over its ability to deliver on its commitments, particularly as it navigates financial struggles and extended project timelines. Delays and financial strains raise concerns Intel recently posted its largest quarterly loss in history, following the announcement of 15,000 people being laid off earlier this year. Additionally, reports surfaced that some of Intels planned plant openings may not meet the governments 2030 deadlines. While the Commerce Department has maintained that the funding reduction is unrelated to these delays, the companys financial difficulties have reportedly raised concerns among officials about its role as a cornerstone of the CHIPS Act initiative. Intel has committed to investing $90 billion in US manufacturing by the end of the decade, a revision from its earlier goal of $100 billion in five years. The company plans projects in Arizona, Oregon, Ohio, and New Mexico, with each state receiving significant investment. However, Intels funding agreements include restrictions, such as retaining majority ownership in its manufacturing subsidiary, Intel Foundry, to ensure continued eligibility for subsidies. Advertisement CHIPS Act faces political challenges The CHIPS Act, a landmark initiative of the outgoing administration, is designed to bolster US semiconductor manufacturing, create over 125,000 jobs, and reduce reliance on foreign chip makers. While President-elect Trump criticised the act during his campaign, analysts believe the legislation will likely survive, despite some Republican opposition. House Speaker Mike Johnson initially suggested the act might be repealed but later softened his stance. With a new administration set to take office in January, the Commerce Department has been working to finalise awards quickly. Earlier this month, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) became the first to secure a grant, receiving $6.6 billion for three plants in Arizona. These facilities are projected to create tens of thousands of jobs by 2030. Strategic tensions highlight semiconductor importance Intel remains the only US-based logic chip manufacturer, a factor that has led US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo to encourage collaboration between Intel and tech giants like Apple, NVIDIA, and AMD. However, many companies have reportedly resisted due to concerns over Intels lagging manufacturing technologies compared to TSMC. The Biden administrations push for domestic semiconductor production stems partly from geopolitical concerns. Taiwan, home to TSMC, remains under threat from China, which has conducted military exercises near the island. As tensions rise, US reliance on Taiwanese chips is seen as increasingly risky, underscoring the urgency of the CHIPS Acts goals to secure a robust domestic semiconductor industry. Reddits has seen remarkable growth, with a 47 per cent increase in users compared to May 2023. The platform now sits behind YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok in the UKs social media standings read more While Reddits user base grew, X experienced an 8 per cent decline in UK users over the same period. The platform has faced criticism since Elon Musks takeover in 2022. Image Credit: Reuters Reddit, the popular online discussion platform, has climbed the ranks to become the fifth most-used social media platform in the UK, overtaking X (formerly Twitter). According to the UKs communications regulator Ofcom, Reddit attracted 22.9 million adult visitors in May 2024, edging past X, which had 22.1 million users during the same period. This milestone highlights Reddits remarkable growth, with a 47 per cent increase in users compared to May 2023. The platform now sits behind YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok in the UKs social media standings. Notably, YouTube surpassed Facebook to claim the top spot, with over 44 million users. Advertisement Factors driving Reddits rapid rise Several factors seem to have contributed to Reddits surge in popularity. A significant boost came from Googles search algorithm updates earlier this year, which increased Reddits visibility in organic search results. Experts believe this change played a crucial role in driving more traffic to the platform. Ofcom also suggested that modifications to how third-party apps interact with Reddits content may have pushed users to rely more on its website and official app. Publicity around Reddits stock market flotation in March 2024 might have further amplified its profile, drawing new users to its communities. X faces declining popularity amidst challenges While Reddits user base grew, X experienced an 8 per cent decline in UK users over the same period. The platform has faced criticism since Elon Musks takeover in 2022, with concerns over its content moderation standards. Additionally, it has struggled to retain its user base in the face of competition from Metas Threads, launched in July 2023 as a direct rival. Xs challenges are reflective of broader shifts in the digital landscape, with users seeking platforms that better cater to their needs and expectations. Misinformation and AI concerns dominate UKs digital trends Ofcoms annual report into digital habits also highlighted the increasing prevalence of misinformation online. Four in ten UK adults reported encountering misinformation or deepfakes, with many struggling to discern authentic content from that generated by artificial intelligence. Around one-third admitted to lacking confidence in identifying AI-manipulated media. The survey also revealed that belief in conspiracy theories persists, with three in ten adults subscribing to the idea of a powerful group controlling global events and similar numbers believing in electoral fraud in the UK. As digital platforms evolve, these findings underscore the need for stronger media literacy and transparency to help users navigate the complexities of the online world. The decision to develop an in-house chipset aligns with Xiaomis long-term strategy of reducing its dependence on third-party suppliers. The company aims to optimise costs, enhance performance, and secure a foothold in the high-stakes semiconductor market read more Xiaomis interest in chip development isnt new. Back in 2021, the company introduced its first AI chip, the Surge S1, powering the Mi 5C smartphone. While not revolutionary, the Surge S1 laid the groundwork for Xiaomis deeper dive into the semiconductor industry. Image Credit: Reuters Xiaomi is reportedly gearing up to unveil its first self-developed chipset in 2025, a move that could significantly reshape the companys position in the tech world. This ambitious step signals Xiaomis intent to compete directly with industry giants like Apple, Samsung, and Qualcomm by gaining greater control over its devices performance and design. The decision to develop an in-house chipset aligns with Xiaomis long-term strategy of reducing its dependence on third-party suppliers. By taking chip production into its own hands, the company aims to optimise costs, enhance performance, and secure a foothold in the high-stakes semiconductor market. Advertisement Building on previous innovations Xiaomis interest in chip development isnt new. Back in 2021, the company introduced its first AI chip, the Surge S1, powering the Mi 5C smartphone. While not revolutionary, the Surge S1 laid the groundwork for Xiaomis deeper dive into the semiconductor industry. Since then, the company has significantly increased its investment in research and development, assembling a dedicated team of engineers to focus on advanced chip designs. By developing its own chips, Xiaomi hopes to streamline the integration of AI and 5G technologies into its devices, strengthening its position in a competitive market. The companys goal is to power not just smartphones but also tablets and potentially smart home devices with its custom-built processors. Advanced technology for a competitive edge Industry insiders suggest that Xiaomis upcoming chipset could utilise advanced manufacturing techniques from Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), with cutting-edge 5nm or 3nm fabrication processes on the table. If true, this would place Xiaomis chips on par with those used by leading brands in terms of processing power, energy efficiency, and AI capabilities. A successful launch of these chips could reduce Xiaomis reliance on suppliers like Qualcomm and MediaTek. This independence would allow the company to fine-tune its hardware and software integration, potentially enhancing device performance and providing greater flexibility in design. For Xiaomi, this is a critical move as it seeks to carve out a stronger presence in the premium smartphone market. An ambitious move with big stakes The development of in-house chipsets marks a pivotal moment in Xiaomis evolution. If the venture succeeds, it could position the company as a formidable player in the high-end smartphone market, where innovation and differentiation are paramount. However, creating chips that can rival established players like Apples A-series or Qualcomms Snapdragon processors is no small feat. As the smartphone industry grows increasingly competitive, Xiaomis foray into chip development is a bold bet on its future. With the first chipset expected in 2025, all eyes will be on Xiaomi to see if it can turn this ambitious project into a game-changing success. Polling stations will close at 10 p.m. local time (2200 GMT) on Friday, after which an exit poll will offer an early indication of the likely outcome. Ballot counting will commence on Saturday morning, with the complete results expected to take several days to finalize read more Irish election posters hang from lampposts in Dublin City centre, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, ahead of Ireland's election on Friday. AP Ireland is all set to vote on Friday to choose its next government. The Irish voters have two options: to kick out the incumbent centre-right coalition and join the global trend or vote to power the left-leaning coalition. Polls opened at 7 a.m. (0700GMT), and Irelands 3.8 million voters are selecting 174 lawmakers to sit in the Dail, the lower house of parliament. Ireland employs a proportional representation system known as the single transferable vote (PR-STV), enabling voters to rank candidates in order of preference. This approach allows second-preference votes to play a crucial role in securing Dail seats. Advertisement Polling stations will close at 10 p.m. local time (2200 GMT) on Friday, after which an exit poll will offer an early indication of the likely outcome. Ballot counting will commence on Saturday morning, with the complete results expected to take several days to finalize. The process of forming a government could then extend for days or even weeks afterwards. Here are five things to know about the 2024 Ireland elections: The contest is between the outgoing coalition government formed of two main political parties of Ireland: Fine Gael and Fianna Fail. Up against is the Opposition party Sinn Fein After the 2020 election ended in a virtual dead heat they formed a coalition, agreeing to share Cabinet posts and take turns as taoiseach, or prime minister Voters are choosing the next government to improve the cost of living, a housing crisis and growing homelessness. Tangled up with the housing issue is immigration, a fairly recent challenge to a country long defined by emigration Opinion polls suggest voters support is split into five roughly even chunks for Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein, several smaller parties and an assortment of independents Meanwhile, analysts have predicted another term for the Fine Gael-Fianna Fail coalition. Its just a question of which minor group is going to be the group that supports the government this time, said Eoin OMalley, a political scientist at Dublin City University With inputs from AP Iran-backed Hezbollahs chief, Naim Qassem, said that the resistance will be ready to prevent the enemy from taking advantage of Lebanons weakness along with our partners first and foremost the army. read more Naim Qassem, the head of Hezbollah, on Friday (November 29) vowed to coordinate closely with Lebanons military to implement the ceasefire deal struck with Israel. We will work to strengthen Lebanons defensive capacities, Qassem said in his first address since the ceasefire came into effect and halted over a year of hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah. He added that the resistance will be ready to prevent the enemy from taking advantage of Lebanons weakness along with our partners first and foremost the army. Advertisement The coordination between the resistance and the Lebanese army will be at a high level to implement the commitments of the agreement, Qassem continued, adding that no one is betting on problems or disagreements with the army. The Lebanese army has already sent additional troops to the south but is preparing a detailed deployment plan to share with Lebanons cabinet, Reuters cited security sources and officials as saying. Qassem hails Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire Qassem said the Iran-backed Hezbollah, he said, had approved the deal, with the resistance strong in the battlefield, and our heads held high with our right to defend (ourselves). We won because we prevented the enemy from destroying Hezbollah (and) from annihilating or weakening the resistance. Hezbollah had begun attacking Israel to support Hamas and the Palestinians in Gaza. Qassem vowed that our support for Palestine will not stop and will continue through different means. The ceasefire halted cross-border fire that decimated swathes of Lebanon (where Hezbollah is based) and killed 4,000 people including hundreds of women and children. The ceasefire stipulates that Hezbollah will withdraw from areas south of the Litani river, which runs some 30 km (20 miles) north of the border with Israel, and that the Lebanese army will deploy troops there as Israeli ground troops withdraw. With inputs from agencies Germany, a key financial and military backer of Ukraine in its fight against Russias invasion, has faced an uptick in aggressive behaviour from the Kremlin, BfV chief Thomas Haldenwang said last month read more German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for snap elections days after a coalition helmed by his party fell apart. Image- Reuters Germanys domestic intelligence agency, the BfV, has set up a task force to counter potential foreign interference in the upcoming federal election. The agency warned that disinformation, cyberattacks, espionage, and sabotage could target the snap election scheduled for February 23. The move follows heightened concerns over Russian-sponsored espionage and sabotage. The German snap elections come after the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholzs coalition government earlier this month. What is Russias incentive? Against the backdrop of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, Russia likely has the greatest and most obvious interest in influencing the election in its own favour, the BfV said in a statement, adding that it was monitoring other potential foreign actors as well. Germany, a key financial and military backer of Ukraine in its fight against Russias invasion, has faced an uptick in aggressive behaviour from the Kremlin, BfV chief Thomas Haldenwang said last month. Advertisement Recent incidents include parcel explosions at logistics depots in Europe, which Western security officials linked to a Russian test run for a plot to trigger explosions on cargo flights to the US. The BfV said sabotage could inflict psychological damage on voters and political decision-makers, in addition to physical harm. Disinformation campaigns, particularly pro-Russian and anti-Western narratives, have been on the rise, the agency said. The aim of such narratives is to divide German society and weaken support for Ukraine. Cyberattacks, including hack-and-leak operations, and deepfake videos created using artificial intelligence are also significant threats, it added. In context of the elections, the agency pointed towards risks of foreign powers actively supporting certain candidates or parties, discrediting others, or undermining the democratic process. Support for Russia-friendly parties, such as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the far-left Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, has grown recently, with both parties performing strongly in eastern German elections in September. In April, an AfD official denied allegations that he received funding from a pro-Russian media outlet. With inputs from Reuters In Canada, which has allowed assisted dying since 2016, as many as 4% of all deaths were a result of assisted dying, according to government figures read more The British parliament is set to vote on a bill for assisted dying amid a polarising debate on the subject. (Photo: Reuters) Even as the British parliament is set to vote on the assisted dying bill that has split public opinion, the practice is prevalent in several countries. Canada, Switzerland, Netherlands, Australia, and at least 11 US states are among places where assisted dying is legal partially or completely. In Canada, assistant dying is governed by Medical Assistance in Dying (Maid) law. Canada issued regulations for the same in 2018 after the law was made in 2016. Government figures show that a total of 44,958 people opted to die under Maid provisions during 2016-22. Advertisement In the annual report in 2022, Canada reported that 4.1 per cent of all deaths in the country were assisted deaths. It is not just the percentage of deaths thats high but the annual growth as well. The report said that the assisted deaths grew 31.2 per cent year-on-year. Eight of 10 provinces in Canada saw a year-on-rise in assisted deaths. Who can avail medically-assisted death in Canada? People with underlying health conditions who have a foreseeable natural death in the near future as well as those without such conditions can avail medically-assisted death under the Canadian law. A person can avail medically-assisted death upon meeting the following criteria in Canada: Adult with decision-making capacity Eligible for public healthcare The request should be voluntary without pressure with informed consent The person should have serious and incurable illness, disease, or disability mental illness remains excluded until March 2027 The person should be in an advanced state of irreversible decline in capability The person should have enduring and intolerable physical or psychological suffering that cannot be alleviated under conditions the person considers acceptable Most Maid deaths among older men, cancer patients: Data The Maid 2022 report shows that most of those who opted to die under the Maid programme (51.4 per cent) were men. The findings were in line with previous four years where more men than women opted to die under the Maids programme. Among reasons for dying under the Maid programme, cancer (63 per cent) was the most common underlying medical condition in 2022, which was an increase from the previous year (65.6 per cent). Cancer was followed by cardiovascular conditions (18.8 per cent), other conditions (14.9 per cent), respiratory conditions (13.2 per cent), and neurological conditions (12.6 per cent). The average age of those dying under the Maid scheme was 77 for 2022. Of those who died under the Maid provisions, 3.5 per cent of people did not have reasonably foreseeable natural deaths in 2022. Among such people who opted to die without a foreseeable natural death out of a health condition, such as cancer, neurological conditions (50.0 per cent) were most common, followed by other conditions (37.1% per cent), and multiple comorbidities (23.5 per cent), which is similar to 2021 results, according to the report. The cause of the accident has yet to be determined. Factors such as turbulence, the boat striking an underwater snag or the poor condition of the vessel could be responsible read more A ferry carrying dozens of passengers capsized Friday (November 29) on the Niger River near Dambo in Kogi State, killing at least 27 people and leaving many others unaccounted for, officials said. The boat overturned at a point where the Niger, West Africas largest river, stretches more than 600 meters across. Emergency responders said the exact number of passengers remains unclear, as operators typically do not keep formal records. Sandra Musa, spokesperson for Kogi States emergency management agency, said 27 bodies have been recovered so far. Its unclear how many people were on board, people dont usually keep a record of passengers, Musa said. Advertisement Search and rescue is still ongoing for survivors and possible bodies. Preliminary reports indicate the boat may have been carrying over 50 people. Abubakar Abdullahi, a spokesman for the Red Cross in Kogi State, said many of the passengers were women, petty traders, and artisans traveling for work or trade. Villagers downstream have been asked to watch for bodies that may have drifted with the rivers current. What caused the accident? The cause of the accident has yet to be determined. Musa noted potential factors such as turbulence or the boat striking an underwater snag. She also highlighted the poor condition of many vessels operating on Nigerias rivers. The age of the boat might have played a role. Usually the lifespan of boat is between five and ten years, but you see boats aged 20 years, Musa said, adding that none of the recovered bodies had life jackets, a common issue in the region. Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo expressed his sorrow over the loss of life in a statement. He urged private boat operators to prioritize safety and called on local authorities to enforce stricter regulations to prevent future tragedies. A repeating tragedy The accident is part of a broader pattern of deadly incidents along Nigerias waterways. In October, a boat carrying 300 passengers to a Muslim festival capsized in Niger State, leaving around 100 feared dead. The month prior, more than 40 farmers died when an overloaded vessel sank on the Gummi River in Zamfara State. Earlier this year, one of the countrys worst waterway disasters in recent memory claimed over 100 lives in Kwara State. Nigerias rivers, vital for commerce and transportation, have become perilous for the communities relying on them. Many accidents are attributed to a lack of enforcement of safety protocols, including overcrowding and inadequate maintenance of vessels. Advertisement With inputs from agencies Bangladesh is facing existential threat as interim ruler Mohammed Yunus is failing to provide security to the nations minorities, said Johnnie Moore, who served as the US Commissioner for International Religious Freedom during the first Trump administration read more Johnnie Moore served as the US Commissioner for International Religious Freedom during the first Trump administration. (Photo: X/Johnnie Moore) Johnnie Moore, an advisor to US President-elect Donald Trump during his first term (2017-21), has said that Bangladesh is in existential crisis. Moore said that Bangladesh interim ruler, Mohammed Yunus, has failed in his fundamental duties to protect safety to the countrys minorities. The comments come amid ongoing nationwide violence against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh since the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after weekslong protests. After Hasina fled Bangladesh for her life, the agitating groups and the military propped an unelected regime of Yunus as an interim administration to the run the nation, which has since failed to contain the violence against religious minorities. Advertisement In an interview with ANI days after the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, Moore said that the message that the Yunus regime is sending appears to be that if they can get him, they can get anyone in the nation. I think the perception is if theyll go after him, theyll go after any of us, said Moore, who served as the US Commissioner for International Religious Freedom during the first Trump administration. Moore further said, When Muhammad Yunus came in as the interim leader of the country, he made promises related to democracy, the rule of law, and all of these values that are cherished by the West and our international institutions. This is a moment of existential threat not only for the minorities of Bangladesh but for the entire country. It is a call to advocate for human rights and religious freedom to speak up. Moore further said that he was astonished to see the response to the situation from Yunus, who he said has failed in his basic duty to provide security to people. This is unbelievable. I was astonished by the response of Mr Yunus in the Bangladeshi government. They are saying this is exaggerated. Theyre saying that this isnt as big a deal as it seems, said Yunus. Moore is the latest from Trumps camp to comment on the current situation in Bangladesh. Previously, Trump himself had mentioned the situation in the country in his message to the Hindu community on Diwali and said such a situation would not have arisen if he were in office. Advertisement I strongly condemn the barbaric violence against Hindus, Christians, and other minorities who are getting attacked and looted by mobs in Bangladesh, which remains in a total state of chaos. It would have never happened on my watch. Kamala and Joe have ignored Hindus across the world and in America, said Trump at the time. Moore asserted that Bangladesh is not just a nation for Muslims and there are several minority communities in the country and there isnt a minority in the country that doesnt feel under threat right now. Moore also flagged the tendency among the human rights organisations and religious freedom groups to overlook the violence against Hindus. Advertisement Human rights organisations and religious freedom organisations sought to raise their voices every second right. I think that a lot of times the Hindu community, when they are persecuted around the world, unfortunately, fewer people speak up about it. Im committing to doing the exact opposite. Im calling for the worlds human rights and religious freedom organisations to do the same, said Moore. Since Hasinas ouster, the Yunus regime has sought to downplay the violence against Hindus and has said that accounts in media reports and social media posts are often exaggerated. The violence against Hindus in Bangladesh along with the patronage of Islamists, which is seen in the prominence that pro-Pakistan Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Islamist Jamaat-i-Islami have found under Yunus, has also led to a unease between Bangladesh and India. Since being propped as the unelected leader of Bangladesh, Yunus has also released Islamist leaders and radicals from jail, such as terrorist leader Jashimuddin Rahmani Hafi of an Al-Qaeda affiliate. Advertisement Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus press secretary Shafikul Islam said Bangladesh witnessed violence in the initial few days and that the situation is under control now read more Bangladeshi Hindu leader Krishna Das Prabhu shows a victory sign as he is taken in a police van after a court denied him bail. Protests have gripped the country over the last two days. AP The press secretary to Bangladeshs Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus on Friday said that Hindus are safe in the country and that the situation is under control. Talking to CNN-News18, Yunus press secretary Shafikul Islam said, An industrial-level disinformation campaign is going on. Hindus are safe in Bangladesh. He claimed that Bangladesh witnessed violence in the initial few days and that the situation is under control now. Indias neighbour has been rocked by violent protests led by minorities after the Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested earlier this week on sedition charges and was denied bail. Advertisement We will make sure Das gets a fair trial, Islam said. Iskcon will not be banned The press secretary said that the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) will not be banned in Bangladesh. A High Court in Bangladesh on Thursday refused to pass an order to ban ISKCON in the country after it came to know that authorities have taken necessary actions to address the matter. A Supreme Court lawyer Md Monir Uddin presented newspaper reports before a high court bench and urged to issue a suo motu (voluntary) ban on ISKCONs activities in Bangladesh. The petition alleges that ISKCON has been involved in radical activities that threaten national security and stir communal violence, according to a report by Dhaka Tribune. Islam said that the Indian government should not be involved in Bangladeshs internal matter after the Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement on the arrest of Das. The Indian government should not have issued a statement it is our internal matter. We never comment on what happens in India, he said. This incident follows the multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh. It is unfortunate that while the perpetrators of these incidents remain at large, charges should be pressed against a religious leader presenting legitimate demands through peaceful gatherings, MEA said in a statement earlier this week. Chad has ended its defence cooperation agreement with France to redefine its sovereignty and strategic partnerships, signalling a shift away from French influence read more Chadian President Mahamat Deby Itno participates in his inauguration ceremony in N'djamena, Chad, Thursday, May 23, 2024. (Photo: AP) Chads government said it is ending a defence cooperation agreement with France, its former colonial ruler, to redefine the nations sovereignty. The decision marks a historic turning point since the Central African nation gained independence more than six decades ago, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abderaman Koulamallah said in a statement Thursday. It said the decision to end the agreement would allow Chad to redefine its strategic partnerships in line with national priorities. There was no immediate response from Frances government. Advertisement Chad was one of the last countries in the region in which France maintained a large military presence, having been ousted in recent years from Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso after years of fighting Islamic extremists alongside regional troops. Those countries have inched closer to Russia, which has mercenaries deployed across the Sahel, the vast expanse below the Sahara desert. Chads interim president, Mahamat Deby Itno, seized power after his father, who ran the country for more than three decades, was killed fighting rebels in 2021. Last year, the government announced it was extending the 18-month transition for two more years, which led to protests across the country. Analysts say Deby has mistrusted France for a while, and the decision creates an opportunity for other nations, notably Russia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. Deby has been seeking to diversify its security partnerships away from exclusive deals. He doesnt trust (French President Emmanuel) Macron. He can also not ignore widespread anti-French sentiment, said Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at Konrad Adenauer foundation in Mali. France has maintained about 1,000 troops in Chad, and the statement didnt specify when they had to leave. Chad said the decision in no way calls into question the countries historical ties and that it wants to maintain relations in other areas of common interest. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.) Advertisement China has eased visa restrictions for Shenzhen residents, allowing multiple entries into Hong Kong per year starting December 1, while also relaxing rules for Zhuhai residents visiting Macao read more China has eased visa restrictions for Shenzhen residents visiting Hong Kong, allowing multiple entries into Hong Kong per year beginning from Dec. 1, Xinhua reported on Friday. Each stay is for up to seven days, the official news agency said, with the multiple-entry visas valid for one year at a time. The announcement reinstates a multiple-entry policy from 2009 that was tightened in 2015 when China began allowing Shenzhen residents to go Hong Kong only once a week. Advertisement The stricter policy was aimed at quelling anger in Hong Kong over traders making trips up to several times a day to take advantage of lower taxes by buying goods for resale in the mainland. Hong Kong said the resumption of the more lenient entry policy is expected to benefit a number of tourism-related industries such as retail and catering. Hong Kong leader John Lee had proposed further enhancements to Beijing on mainland residents tourism visits to Hong Kong in a policy address last month pledging measures to boost the citys economy. Visa rules for residents in Zhuhai, another city in southern Guangdong province, were also eased, allowing once-a-week entry to Macao for trips of not more than seven days. This would take effect on Jan. 1, Xinhua said. Zhuhai residents were previously allowed entry to Macao once every two months. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.) Veteran Chinese journalist Dong Yuyu has been sentenced to seven years in prison for espionage, a family member told news agency Reuters. Dong was detained while having lunch with a Japanese diplomat in Beijing in 2022. read more A Beijing court sentenced veteran Chinese state media journalist Dong Yuyu on Friday to seven years in prison for espionage, a family member told Reuters. Former Guangming Daily editor and journalist Dong Yuyu, 62, was detained by police in Beijing in February 2022 while having lunch with a Japanese diplomat, according to a statement from the US National Press Club, and later charged with espionage. There was a heavy police presence outside Beijings No. 2 Intermediate Peoples Court, with at least 7 police cars parked nearby. Reuters journalists were asked to leave the area. Advertisement A US diplomat told Reuters that they had been barred from attending the hearing. Dong has been detained in a Beijing prison awaiting the verdict since a closed-court hearing in July 2023, the press club said in September. He regularly had in-person exchanges with foreign diplomats from various embassies and journalists. The Japanese diplomat he met was also detained for several hours, triggering a strong complaint from the Japanese foreign ministry. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said at the time that the diplomat was engaged in activities inconsistent with their capacity in China. The diplomat was later released. Dong participated in the prestigious Harvard Nieman Fellowship and was a visiting scholar and visiting professor at Keio University and Hokkaido University in Japan, according to a family statement in April 2023. He joined the Communist Party-affiliated Guangming Daily in 1987 after graduating from Peking University law school, and was the deputy editor of its commentary section. He had written opinion articles in Chinese media and liberal academic journals on topics from legal reforms to social issues, and co-edited a book promoting the rule of law in China. His articles advocated moderate reforms while avoiding direct criticism of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Advertisement His family had initially kept news of his detention private in the hope that charges could be reduced or dropped but were notified in March 2023 that his case would be sent to trial, their statement said. Multiple press freedom non-government organisations (NGO) have called for his release. An online petition for his release has collected over 700 signatures from journalists, academics and NGO workers. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.) China is expected to use its dominant position in supply chains to respond forcefully with a supply chain war to tariff war that US President-elect Donald Trump is expected to wage on China read more US President-elect Donald Trump waves next to Chinese President Xi Jinping after attending a business event at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 9, 2017, during his first term. (Photo: AP) China appears to have prepared a strategy to deal with US President-elect Donald Trumps trade strategy. Throughout the campaign trail, Trump had promised to raise tariffs to the tune of 60 per cent or higher on China on the top of levies currently in place. He has already pledged to hike the tariffs by 10 per cent for Chinas role in the fentanyl epidemic in the United States. Even though Chinese economy is in a poorer shape than it was the last time it faced Trump and tariffs can definitely harm Chinese economy, the Chinese regime has been working on a strategy to face Trump for a while now. For Trumps tariff war, Chinas response would be supply chain war. Advertisement In recent years, China has not just come to dominate the world in manufacturing but also the supply of critical components for manufacturing, which means that China has a critical place in several industrial supply chains. If and when Trump would mount his tariff war, China would flex its supply chain centrality. How China can choke worlds supply chains China has come to dominate the manufacturing as well as supply chains of several industries, such as batteries (used in electric vehicles, drones, and a host of other things), critical minerals, metals, renewable energy, etc. In addition to being a manufacturing hub and a key source of supplies, China is also a huge market. As the biggest market for chips, China has the ability to arm-twist or punish Western chip-makers by blocking market access. It can of course be a double-edged sword as China would also be starved of chips but it can be a key leverage nonetheless when employed with other tools in Chinas kitty. For the past year, China has been slowly showing how it may choke supply chains if the United States ramps up trade conflict. China produces around 80 per cent of worlds gallium and 60 per cent of germanium, which are required to make chips and other products like solar panels. Last year, China restricted the export of these minerals and introduced a strict licence regime. China also controls 80 per cent of tungsten and 90 per cent of magnesium supplies and similar export restrictions are expected in coming months, according to Semafor. In recent weeks, China blocked US drone major Skydios access to batteries made in China which crippled the companys drone production, affecting its supply to various customers, including the US military. Advertisement Similarly, China has punished Western chip-makers as well. Currently, a Chinese think tank has called for a review of Intel over purported practices harming Chinese security and interests. The last company to face such a review, chip-maker Micron, was subsequently banned from Chinese market. Similarly, Calvin Klein- and Tommy Hilfiger-owner PVH is being punished by China for cutting Xinjiang from its supply chains over human rights violation of Uyghur Muslims there by the Chinese regime. Such practices are a signal that China is now willing to dish out pain in response to US decisions, said Jude Blanchette, a China scholar at the Center for Strategic and International Studies to The New York Times. Advertisement During Trade War 1.0, Beijing was fairly careful to meet the tariffs that the US put in place. Now they are signaling their tolerance for accepting and dishing out pain. Its clear for political reasons that Beijing is not willing to stand by and watch as significant new waves of tariffs come in, said Blanchette. Separately, Andrew Gilholm, a China expert at consultancy Control Risks, indicated that such an approach is not aimed at removing Western companies from China but at negotiating better terms in trade conflict. They have this dilemma where they want to signal to the US government but they dont want to scare foreign investors and companies too much. They want companies to know that there is a cost to being too enthusiastic about complying with US and other regulations, said Gilholm to The Times. Advertisement Feature: "The Story of China" captivates Bulgaria with culture, opera, and poetry Xinhua) 13:04, November 29, 2024 Bulgarian audience react during a traditional Chinese culture event in Sofia, Bulgaria, Nov. 24, 2024. (Photo by Marian Draganov/Xinhua) SOFIA, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- It is hard to imagine that someone living on the other side of the world could be interested in your culture, inspired by just a handful of encounters. However, a series of activities in Bulgaria, titled "The Story of China -- How and Why," is proving this possible. Held from Nov. 7 to Nov. 29, the program aims to enhance Bulgarians' understanding of traditional Chinese culture and strengthen ties between the two nations. Eleven prominent Chinese experts have traveled to Bulgarian cities like Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo, and Plovdiv to share insights into Chinese civilization through philosophy, history, literature, and art. Seminars, open to the public, explore the evolution of Chinese culture and compare Eastern and Western traditions. Topics include Chinese philosophy, traditional medicine, ancient architecture, and classical poetry, all of which have drawn significant interest from local audiences. One highlight was a lecture titled "What is the Quintessence of Chinese Culture -- On the Charm of Peking Opera," led by Zhang Peng and Chen Pingyi. Attendees even tried playing the Jinghu, a traditional Peking Opera instrument. Zhang, a seasoned performer and researcher, said he was thrilled by Bulgarians' enthusiasm. "Things here exceeded my expectations," he said. Audience member Miglena Tzenova, who tried the Jinghu, called the experience "beyond description." Despite her background as a pianist, it was her first time playing a string instrument. "I really like Chinese music, culture, and especially traditional opera," she said. Chen, a renowned Jinghu teacher, highlighted an audience question about whether children in China still study Peking Opera. He explained that specialized schools in Beijing and Shanghai begin training students as young as 11. Gong Baorong, another expert, was surprised by the audience's knowledge of Chinese opera. "I didn't realize so many Bulgarians are interested in Chinese culture," he said. University students Kalina Gerginova and Mihaela Parvanova, both with study experience in China, said the events deepened their understanding. Parvanova, who once found Chinese opera incomprehensible, said meeting performers in person made it more accessible. "It's one thing to see it on stage, but another to engage directly with practitioners," she explained. Beyond Peking Opera, other events included a meeting with Chinese poet Yu Jian, where attendees discussed his work and explored new perspectives on his poetry. In Targovishte, lectures on Chinese philosophy and medicine were also well-received, with audiences particularly fascinated by health care methods. Sponsored by China's Ministry of Commerce and organized by Shandong Foreign Trade Vocational College, the program has successfully bridged cultures, sparking deeper interest and understanding among Bulgarians. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Syria was taken by surprise after members of a jihadist group stormed across the country and launched a surprise attack against Bashar al-Assad. The death toll in the clashes between insurgents and Syrian forces reached the 200-mark read more Smoke billows as opposition and government forces clash on the outskirts of the city of Saraqib, Aleppo province, just off the highway between Damascus and Aleppo. AFP As the insurgent fighters stormed into Syria, they cut off a road between Damascus and Aleppo in an offensive that killed around 200 people. On Wednesday, the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied factions launched a surprise attack on government-held areas of northern Aleppo province. This triggered the fiercest clashes Syria saw in years. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the toll in the ongoing battle rose to 182, which includes 102 fighters from the HTS and 19 from the allied forces. Meanwhile, 61 soldiers working for the Syrian regime died in the attacks. Amid the chaos, Rami Abdulrahman, who heads the observatory, noted that Russian airstrikes on the Aleppo countryside killed 19 civilians on Thursday, and another civilian had been killed in Syrian army shelling a day earlier. Advertisement It is pertinent to note that Russia is a close ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. It was also the first country to intervene when the Syrian civil war broke out in 2015, helping the president establish his control over a fifth of the country. Insurgent forces cut crucial roads According to the Syrian Observatory, the HTS and its allied factions, including groups backed by neighbouring Turkey, cut off the Damascus-Aleppo international M5 highway in addition to controlling the junction between the M4 and M5 highways. The highway has now been put out of service after it was reopened by regime forces years ago, said the monitor, which has a network of sources inside Syria. It is important to note that the junction of the M5 and M4 highways connects the capital and the regimes coastal stronghold Latakia with the second city of Aleppo. The clashes erupted in the area straddling Idlib and Aleppo provinces, some of them less than 6 miles (10km) southwest of the outskirts of Aleppo city. This operation aims to repel the sources of fire of the criminal enemy from the frontlines, said Mohamed Bashir, who heads HTSs so-called salvation government, AFP reported. Meanwhile, during the Thursday fighting, a general from Irans Revolutionary Guards was killed in Syria. Iran has been an ardent supporter of Assad as well. Interestingly, the Syrian jihadists and their allies launched their attack the day the Lebanon-Israel truce came into effect. According to AFP, HTS is led by al-Qaedas former Syria branch and controls swathes of the northwest Idlib area as well as small parts of neighbouring Aleppo, Hama, and Latakia provinces. The tussle between the Syrian regime and the jihadist fighters has been ongoing since Assad crushed anti-government protests in 2011. Advertisement The animosities between the two factions eventually drew in foreign armies and jihadists and killed more than 500,000 people. The region of Idlib is subject to a ceasefire, which has been repeatedly violated but has largely been held. Turkey and Russia brokered the ceasefire deal in question after a Syrian government offensive in March 2020. With inputs from agencies. While shared economic interests could lead to closer ties, underlying issues such as market access, intellectual property rights, EUs concerns over Chinese dumping, and geopolitical tensions may hinder a robust alliance read more The start of Donald Trumps second term is right around the corner. He has promised four years of America First policies. That includes protectionism and tariffs against adversaries like China and allies like Canada and the European Union. In the face of potential trade tensions or worse, trade wars some unlikely partnerships might be forming. One of these alliances could be between the EU and China. Beijing and the bloc are already negotiating to find an alternative solution to replace the newly imposed import levies on Chinas electric vehicles (EVs). Advertisement While there are conflicting reports on progress in the talks, with some suggesting an agreement is near and others indicating little change, both sides grapple with increasing tensions. The EU has imposed tariffs on Chinese EVs, citing concerns over subsidies and market distortions, while China has retaliated with its own investigations into European exports, including dairy, pork, and luxury goods. A shared concern between EU, China Still, there is a strong incentive for EU and China to work together, even if that alliance is uneasy. Half of our export profile now is in Asia. If we can secure our trade with Europe, this makes up nearly 70 per cent of our exports, South China Morning Post quoted He Weiwen, a senior fellow at the Beijing-based Centre for China and Globalisation think tank, as saying. So even if we face volatility from the US, we can be less affected. To show that we want to pursue a better trade relationship, we should also import more from Europe. For EU, the calculations are different. Their top priority appears to be appeasing the US. Strategies under consideration include increasing imports of US liquefied natural gas and military equipment to appease the US administration. European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde advocates for negotiation over retaliation to prevent a global GDP downturn. But in case that does not work, the bloc will have to consider diversifying. Advertisement SCMP quoted a Beijing-based economist who has advised Chinas State Council on foreign trade relations as saying that he at least sees a possibility of working with the EU, since both had friction with the US in Trumps first term. It was exactly why the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) was able to come to an initial agreement after seven years of negotiations, the economist said. It wont be easy, though. Not an easy path While shared economic interests could lead to closer ties, underlying issues such as market access, intellectual property rights, EUs concerns over Chinese dumping, and geopolitical tensions, especially surrounding Chinas alleged support for Russias war efforts in Ukraine, may hinder a robust alliance. Analysts, such as Joerg Wuttke, the president emeritus of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, believe that even if Trumps second term presents more challenges for both China and the EU, it will not be sufficient to mend the deteriorating relationship between the two. Advertisement That was the overall belief, but it didnt happen under Trumps first term, and it will not happen now, for many reasons, Wuttke said. In that context, if the China-EU negotiations over EV tariffs are successful, it is likely to serve as precedent to open up other avenues of cooperation. Whether that happens, remains to be seen. With inputs from agencies The head of the intensive care unit of the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza was killed in an airstrike on Friday. It is one of the three functional hospitals on the northern edge of the Gaza Strip read more People check the site on an Israeli strike at a house in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip on November 22, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas militant group. Image- AFP file At least 40 Palestinians died on Friday after Israel launched an overnight strike targeting the Gaza Strip. Medics in Gaza said that Israeli tanks pulled back from the region following the attack. Till now, 19 bodies have been recovered from the camp which is one of the enclaves eight long-standing refugee bases. Another strike in a house in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza killed 10 people, healthcare workers reported. Others were killed in the northern and southern areas of the Gaza Strip, medics added. There was no fresh statement by the Israeli military on Friday, but on Thursday it said its forces were continuing to strike terror targets as part of the operational activity in the Gaza Strip. Advertisement The Israeli tanks, which were deployed in northern and western areas of Nuseirat on Thursday, were seen withdrawing from the area later but the military remained active there. The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service said teams were unable to respond to distress calls from residents trapped in their homes. Dozens of Palestinians returned on Friday to areas where the army had retreated to check on damage to their homes. The head of the intensive care unit of the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza was killed in an airstrike on Friday. It is one of the three functional hospitals on the northern edge of the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, the Israeli military would stay stationed in Gaza for years to come, a cabinet minister said on Friday. I think that we are going to stay in Gaza for a long time. I think most people understand that [Israel] will be years in some kind of West Bank situation where you go in and out and maybe you remain along Netzarim [corridor], Avi Dichter, Israels minister for food security said. The Israeli militarys prolonged presence in Gaza will ensure to thwarting of Hamas fresh recruits and streamline food and aid transfer in the region, Dichter said. With inputs from Reuters After the death of hardliner leader Yahya Sinwar and a series of setbacks, Hamas now appears to be willing to making key concessions to secure a ceasefire with Israel in the Gaza Strip read more Hamas appears to be open to the idea of giving up control of a key strip of land in the Gaza Strip to secure a ceasefire with Israel, according to a report. While indirect talks between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire and the release of hostages have been stalled for a while, there are indications that Hamas is willing to be more flexible now. This is the result of military pressure that Hamas and its allies are under. Advertisement In recent months, Israel has eliminated most of the senior leaders of Hamas, including former chiefs Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar, and has devastated the biggest armed group in the region, the Lebanon-based Hezbollah, which has seen much of its leadership, including longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah, and a large chunk of its war-waging capacities eliminated. As Hamas primary supporter, Iran, has shown that it is no mood for a direct confrontation with Israel, Hamas appears to be increasingly isolated in the war with Israel. Such an isolation has only increased after Israel and Hezbollah arrived at a ceasefire this week. Even before the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, The New York Times reported that Palestinian and US officials said they believed that Hamas leadership was ready to make a deal and abandon the strategy formulated by its deceased leader Sinwar. Proposals discussed inside the group included letting Israel control the strip of land along the Gaza-Egypt border, the Philadelphi Corridor, in lieu of a ceasefire, which had been a key demand of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to the newspaper. Even though Hamas now appears to be deliberately giving up the control of the Philadelphi Corridor, the issue was previously the main sticking point in the realisation of a ceasefire deal. The control of the Gaza-Egypt border was one of the demands inserted by Netanyahu into the original proposal he had endorsed earlier this year. Advertisement After Sinwars death, reality started to sink in: Report Sinwar, the architect of the Hamas-led October 7 attack on Israel, had hoped to drag Israel into a broader regional conflict with Hezbollah and Iran and he succeeded to a great extent. He had hoped to drag the conflict for as long as necessary to batter Israel and rely on the Palestinians suffering to isolate Israel internationally and he succeeded in that as well to a great extent. The longer it lasts, the closer we get to liberation. Prepare yourselves for a long war of attrition against this occupation, senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan quoted Sinwar as saying two weeks before his killing last week, according to The Times. However, after Sinwars death, the reality started to sink in and Hamas began to shift its position, according to the newspaper. Such a shift included making compromises even on the extent of Israeli presence within Gaza after ceasefire, as per the newspaper. Officials told the newspaper that Qatari and Turkish officials who spoke with top Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya recently were left with the impression that the group was willing to be more flexible for a ceasefire. Advertisement Highlighting the reasons for such flexibility, an analyst aligned with the group told the newspaper while commanders can be replaced, the absence of a centralised structure at the moment makes Hamas vulnerable. The solution to Hamass military losses is simpler theres a pyramid of command and each commander or soldier can be replaced, but on the political level, things are far more complicated. There will ultimately need to be elections. There are different factions and balances of power. All this makes it hard to predict, Salah al-Din al-Awawdeh, an analyst close to the Hamas leadership and a member of the group, told the newspaper. Advertisement I have decided to declare officially and clearly that we are facing a great victory that surpasses that of July 2006, said Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem in a televised address read more Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem delivers an address from an unknown location, on Friday, in this still image from video. Reuters In his first speech since a ceasefire went into effect in Lebanon, Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem on Friday declared that the group scored a great victory against Israel even greater than that declared after the two foes last fought in 2006. I have decided to declare officially and clearly that we are facing a great victory that surpasses that of July 2006, AFP quoted Qassem as saying in a televised address. We won because we prevented the enemy from destroying Hezbollah (and) from annihilating or weakening the resistance, added Qassem. Advertisement This was Qassems first speech since a ceasefire was reached earlier this week, bringing an end to over a year of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The fighting devastated large parts of southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as the suburbs of Beirut, while Israeli airstrikes significantly weakened Hezbollahs leadership. Hezbollah also stepped back from its previous condition that a ceasefire would only be agreed upon once fighting in Gaza had ended. Qassem vowed to coordinate at a high level with the Lebanese army to implement the terms of a ceasefire with Israel that began two days earlier. The coordination between the resistance and the Lebanese army will be at a high level to implement the commitments of the agreement, Qassem was quoted as saying, adding that no one is betting on problems or disagreements with the army. A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah began at 4am (02:00 GMT) on Wednesday amid concerns about whether it would hold and lead to the permanent end of fighting between Israels military and Hezbollah forces. As part of the ceasefire agreement, Israel will gradually withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon over the next 60 days, and the Lebanese army will deploy to the territory. Advertisement The truce ended a conflict that began the day after Hamass unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, when Hezbollah began a low-intensity exchange of cross-border fire in solidarity with their Palestinian allies. In late September, Israel intensified its campaign against Hezbollah, launching fierce air strikes and later sending in ground troops. Lebanons health ministry said at least 3,961 people have been killed in the country since October 2023 as a result of the conflict, most of them in recent weeks, while 16,520 were wounded. On the Israeli side, the hostilities with Hezbollah killed at least 82 soldiers and 47 civilians, authorities there say. Advertisement With inputs from agencies The ban was reportedly imposed in a letter issued by Iskcons CPT in the UK on October 6 last year. The organisation maintained that the ban has not been lifted as of now. read more Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu leader associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon), who faces several charges, is escorted by the police at the Chattogram Metropolitan Magistrate Court, in Chattogram, Bangladesh, November 26, 2024. Reuters Bangladeshs Iskcon has imposed a ban on its former leader Chandan Kumar Dhar, also known as Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, over a child sexual abuse allegation. Chinmoy stirred major controversy after he was sent to jail by Chattogram court in a case filed in charge of disrespecting the national flag. He was the spokesperson of the Sanatan Jagaran Mancha. He also was heading an Iskcon-operated religious site named Pundarik Dham in Chattogram. He was detained by the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday at 4:30 pm (local time). Advertisement Allegations of Chinmoy being involved in child abuse dates back to before he was behind the bar. In the wake of the allegation, ICOCP imposed a ban on Chinmoy. According to Daily Bangladesh, the ban was imposed in a letter issued by Iskcons CPT in the UK on October 6 last year. The organisation maintained that the ban has not been lifted as of now. The organisation was investigating the matter It is pertinent to note that in the recent case, Chinmoy was charged with sedition after he and 18 others allegedly hoisted a saffron flag above Bangladeshs national flag at the New Market intersection in Chittagong on October 25. According to Daily Bangladesh, the letter, which was dated last year, was signed by CPT Director Kamlesh Krishna Das. The ban meant that Chinmoy was not allowed to hold any leadership or management position within Iskcon. He was also not allowed to demonstrate any kirtan, take classes, or participate in the public worship of Srila Prabhupada. He was barred from communicating with anyone under the age of 18 and was not allowed to spend the night on any of the Iskcon property except for a person from the Iskcon Core Committee of Bangladesh and an office-bearer of the CPT. While speaking to Daily Bangladesh, Kamlesh Krishna Das, another member of Iskcon, confirmed the authenticity of the letter. He said that the organisation received a complaint about Chinmoy and the body was investigating the matter. However, due to certain limitations including his cooperation, the matter has not been resolved yet, he added. Advertisement On Friday, Iskcon expressed solidarity with the priest. The Iskcon emphasised that while it clarified that Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu was not an official member of the organisation, it did not attempt to distance itself from him, The Dhaka Tribune reported. Iskcon has not, and does not distance itself from supporting Chinmoy Krishna Dass rights and freedom for peacefully calling for protecting Hindus and their places of worship, the group stated. With inputs from agencies. Israel and Lebanon have exchanged accusations of violating the fragile ceasefire deal as thousands struggle to recover from a long-drawn conflict read more Israel and Lebanon traded accusations of breaching the fragile ceasefire agreement which was imposed in the region earlier this week. While accusing Lebanons Hezbollah of breaching the deal, the Israeli military said it attacked the Iran-backed groups facilities in southern Lebanon. According to Al Jazeera, the Thursday attack came after the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said that it had fired on people in several areas in southern Lebanon, claiming that they were violating the terms of the ceasefire. The attacks took place hours after Hezbollah vowed to continue with its resistance, in the groups first statement after the ceasefire deal. Advertisement Following the Israeli attacks, the Lebanese army accused the Jewish nation of violating the ceasefire several times on Wednesday and Thursday. Under the deal which was brokered by France and the United States, Israel and Hezbollah were supposed to withdraw from south Lebanon in 60 days gradually. The countrys army and the UN peacekeepers were then asked to take control of the region. Netanyahu asks his army to prepare for war if ceasefire deal falls apart It is pertinent to note that Israels air strike in the region was the first attack since the ceasefire came into effect on Wednesday. A source close to the Lebanese military told Al Jazeera that the attack took place near Baysariyah, north of the Litani River. While the deal stated that Hezbollah facilities be dismantled south of the Litani River, it does not mention facilities north of the river. Shortly after the attack, Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he had directed the countrys army to prepare for war if the ceasefire is violated. Thousands return to rubble which they once called home Over 1.2 million people have been displaced since Israel unleashed extensive bombardment across Lebanon in September and launched a ground operation in October. Hence, after the ceasefire was announced, many displaced people attempted to return to their homes. However, the Israeli army renewed curfews in the region, restricting the movement of residents in southern Lebanon between 5 pm (local time) and 7 am (local time). Not only this, many of those who came back to their homes, saw the region filled with rubble, with little to no clue of where to go next. In the southern coastal city of Tyre, residents who returned to their houses saw the extent of Israels damage. I wasnt expecting such damage. We saw the pictures, but the reality is harder, resident Dunia Najdeh, 33, told Al Jazeera. Tyre and Lebanon dont deserve what happened but God will compensate us, and Tyre will be even better than it was before, Najdehs father-in-law, Sleiman Najdeh, 60, averred, adding that the Israeli strikes have taken out water and electricity in the city as well. Meanwhile, Lebanons parliamentary speaker said that the countrys parliament will meet on January 9, 2025, to elect a president, a post which has been vacant since 2022. With inputs from agencies. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has promised to revitalise depressed rural regions and to address the quiet emergency of Japans shrinking population, the worlds second-oldest read more Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba arrives to deliver a policy address during a plenary session of the Japanese National Diet's lower house in Tokyo on November 29, 2024. AFP Japans unpopular minority government approved on Friday an extra budget to help pay for a massive stimulus package after the ruling coalitions worst election result in 15 years. The hoped-for lift to the economy is also aimed at boosting Prime Minister Shigeru Ishibas popularity after a gaffe-riddled start including an embarrassing video of him eating. The extra budget approved by the cabinet is worth 13.9 trillion yen ($92 billion) and is expected to be approved in parliament by the end of the year. It will be partly funded by issuing bonds worth over 6.6 trillion yen. It includes 1.5 trillion yen to boost Japans chip and AI sectors, part of a 10-trillion-yen push over the coming years previously announced. Advertisement Last week Ishibas cabinet approved a 21.9-trillion-yen stimulus drive, with the overall impact expected to be worth 39 trillion yen. It includes handouts of around 30,000 yen for low-income households, fuel and energy subsidies, and assistance to small businesses. Ishiba, 67, took office on October 1 following the resignation of unpopular predecessor Fumio Kishida and called snap elections soon afterwards. But the move backfired, with voters angry over corruption within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) which has governed almost non-stop for decades and price rises. The ruling coalition of the LDP and the smaller Komeito party were deprived of a majority in the lower house of parliament for the first time since 2009. Ishiba has promised to revitalise depressed rural regions and to address the quiet emergency of Japans shrinking population, the worlds second-oldest. A poll in the Mainichi Shimbun daily on Sunday put the cabinets approval rating at 31 percent, down 15 points from early October. The disapproval score was 50 percent. Ishiba drew ridicule after being snapped apparently napping in parliament this month, and for failing to stand up to greet other world leaders at a gathering in South America. Worse was a video that emerged of Ishiba eating an onigiri rice ball a popular snack whole and munching on it without closing his mouth. Advertisement He eats like a three-year-old, one user said on X. How could he have risen to the top with these manners? asked another. Jihadists and their Turkish-backed allies reached Syrias second city of Aleppo Friday, as they pressed a lightning offensive against forces of the Iranian- and Russian-backed government read more Syrian opposition fighters stand in formation after entering the village of Anjara, western outskirts of Aleppo, Syria, on Thursday, part of their major offensive on government-controlled areas in the country's northwestern Syria. AP Jihadists and their Turkish-backed allies reached Syrias second city of Aleppo Friday, as they pressed a lightning offensive against forces of the Iranian- and Russian-backed government. The fighting is some of the deadliest in years, with 255 people killed, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Most of the dead have been combatants but the toll also includes 24 civilians, most killed in Russian air strikes. The offensive began on Wednesday, the same day that a fragile ceasefire took effect in neighbouring Lebanon between Israel and Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. Advertisement By Friday, the jihadists and their allies had wrested control of more than 50 towns and villages in the north, according to the Britain-based Observatory, in the governments biggest loss of territory in years. They then entered western districts of Aleppo, a city of some two million people that was Syrias pre-war manufacturing hub. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied factions were able to enter the outskirts of the Al-Hamdaniya and New Aleppo neighbourhoods after carrying out twin suicide attacks with two booby-trapped cars, the war monitor said. HTS, a jihadist alliance led by Al-Qaedas former Syria branch, shelled a student residence in the city, killing four civilians, state media reported. Syrian and Russian warplanes launched intense air strikes on the rebel enclave around Idlib, where the jihadists are based, carrying out 23 raids, according to the Observatory. Army reinforcements have arrived in Aleppo, a Syrian security official told AFP, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. An army statement said troops had repelled the assault on the city and retaken some positions. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said more than 14,000 people - nearly half are children have been displaced by the violence. Advertisement Aleppo resident Sarmad, 51, told AFP he could hear the sounds of missiles and artillery shelling around the clock. Were scared that war will break out and well be displaced from our homes again, he said. Nasser Hamdo, 36, who works in a pastry shop, said he had been glued to the news since hostilities began. On Thursday, the jihadists and their allies cut the highway linking Aleppo to the capital Damascus, some 300 kilometres (185 miles) south, the Observatory said. Were worried that roads getting blocked could cause fuel prices to soar and prevent goods from reaching the city, Hamdo said. International players Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday described the situation in Aleppo as an infringement on the sovereignty of Syria. He expressed support for the government of Syria to quickly restore order in this district. Advertisement Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi pledged continued support for the government, nation and army of Syria, in a phone call with his Syrian counterpart Bassam al-Sabbagh, according to a statement. The Idlib area has been subject to a Turkish- and Russian-brokered truce since 2020. The ceasefire has been repeatedly violated but had largely held. An AFP correspondent in the rebel enclave saw jihadists advancing in tanks as intense exchanges of fire took place in an area just seven kilometres (a little over four miles) from Aleppo. AFP images showed abandoned army tanks and other military vehicles. The correspondent said the jihadists and their Turkey-backed allies took orders from a joint operations command. Advertisement Analyst Nick Heras, of the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy, said the fighters were trying to preempt the possibility of a Syrian military campaign in the region of Aleppo. According to Heras, the Syrian government and its key backer Russia had been preparing for such a campaign. Russia intervened in Syria in 2015, turning the tide of the civil war which broke out four years earlier in favour of the government, whose forces at the time had lost control of most of country. Totally unprepared Other interests are also at stake. As well as Russia, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been propped up by Iran and allied militant groups, including Lebanons Hezbollah. Advertisement Iran-backed militias have a heavy presence in the Aleppo region after providing crucial ground support to the army in its recapture of rebel-held areas of the city in 2016. Heras said anti-government forces are in a better position to take and seize villages than Russian-backed Syrian government forces, while the Iranians are focused on Lebanon. Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said government forces were totally unprepared for the attack. It is strange to see regime forces being dealt such big blows despite Russian air cover and early signs that HTS was going to launch this operation, Abdel Rahman said. Were they depending on Hezbollah, which is now busy in Lebanon? French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday reaffirmed his support for Ukraine and condemned the intensifying Russian attacks in a phone call with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to a report read more French President Emmanuel Macron shakes hands with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as he arrives for a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on October 10, 2024. Reuters File French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday reaffirmed his support for Ukraine and condemned the intensifying Russian attacks in a phone call with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. According to a Reuters report, Macrons office stated that during the call on Friday, he strongly denounced Russias indiscriminate strikes on towns, civilian populations, and Ukraines energy infrastructure. In a separate statement on Telegram, Zelenskyy highlighted to Macron the significance of receiving a Nato invitation for Ukraine. I had a productive telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron. I thanked him for Frances readiness to help with generally strengthening Ukraines air defence capabilities and for general support and speeding up the transfer of Mirage aircraft, Reuters quoted Zelenskyy as saying. Advertisement The nearly three-year Ukraine-Russia war has seen a sharp escalation in recent days, with Moscow pummelling Ukraines energy infrastructure ahead of the winter. On Friday, Russia launched more than a hundred drones at Ukraine overnight and early Friday, killing one person and wounding eight others. The drone barrage came a day after Russia launched around 90 missiles on the war-torn country, cutting power to over a million people. The latest strikes come as Ukraine enters a tough winter, with Russian forces stepping up aerial attacks and advancing on the eastern front. Moscow said Friday it had seized the village of Rozdolne in the southern part of Ukraines Donbas region, where it has made a string of territorial gains in recent months. With inputs from agencies Malaysias Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Friday barred his cabinet members from going on leave, after the displacement this week of more than 90,000 people in a growing flood disaster that officials fear could be countrys worst in a decade read more Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaks during the closing ceremony of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits and Handing Over of the ASEAN Chairmanship to Malaysia, at the National Convention Centre, in Vientiane, Laos, on October 11, 2024. Reuters Malaysias Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Friday barred his cabinet members from going on leave, after the displacement this week of more than 90,000 people in a growing flood disaster that officials fear could be countrys worst in a decade. All ministers have been asked to continue their duties and go down to the ground now, Anwar told reporters, according to a video posted online by state broadcaster Bernama TV. Yes, Anwar replied when asked if ministers leave had been frozen. Advertisement Floods are common on the east coast of peninsular Malaysia during the monsoon period between October and March, but this weeks torrential rain has led to mass evacuations, mostly in the northeastern state of Kelantan that borders Thailand. Three people have died and 94,778 people had been evacuated to 527 temporary shelters in nine states, with Kelantan and neighbouring Terengganu the worst hit, according to the National Disaster Command Centre. It did not provide further details on the deaths. Videos posted on social media showed overflowing rivers, submerged cars, and houses inundated by flood waters. The Meteorological Department said heavy showers were expected in eight states until Saturday, with dangerous levels of rain forecast for multiple districts in Kelantan and Terengganu. Malaysias Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said this week that the floods were expected to be more severe than in 2014, when nearly a quarter of a million people were forced from their homes. The government has deployed more than 82,000 security personnel as well as rescue boats, four-wheel drive vehicles and helicopters, Ahmad Zahid said. Advertisement The flood has also impacted seven provinces in southern Thailand, with four fatalities so far and more than 240,000 households affected, according to its interior ministry. Waving EU and Georgian flags, thousands rallied outside parliament, blocking traffic on the Georgian capitals main road in the latest of a series of protests in the country read more Police block protesters gathered in a street during a rally to demand new parliamentary elections in the country, near the Parliaments building in Tbilisi, Georgia, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. AP Georgian riot police on Friday deployed tear gas and water cannons against demonstrators protesting a government decision to delay asking for European Union accession, AFP reporters witnessed. Thousands rallied in the capital Tbilisi and cities across Georgia after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced the decision amid a post-election crisis that saw the countrys president challenge the legitimacy of the newly elected parliament and government. Waving EU and Georgian flags, thousands rallied outside parliament, blocking traffic on the Georgian capitals main road in the latest of a series of protests in the country. Advertisement Shortly after midnight, riot police deployed tear gas and water cannon against the demonstrators. The prime ministers announcement came hours after the European Parliament adopted a non-binding resolution rejecting the results of Georgias October 26 parliamentary elections, alleging significant irregularities. The resolution called for new elections within a year under international supervision and for sanctions to be imposed on top Georgian officials, including Kobakhidze. Accusing the European Parliament and some European politicians of blackmail, Kobakhidze said: We have decided not to bring up the issue of joining the European Union on the agenda until the end of 2028. But he pledged to continue implementing reforms, asserting that by 2028, Georgia will be more prepared than any other candidate country to open accession talks with Brussels and become a member state in 2030. The former Soviet country officially gained EU candidate status in December 2023. But Brussels has frozen Georgias accession process until Tbilisi takes concrete steps to address what it calls democratic backsliding. Opposition lawmakers are boycotting the new parliament, alleging fraud in the October elections, in which the ruling Georgian Dream party gained a new majority. Advertisement Pro-Western President Salome Zurabishvili at loggerheads with Georgian Dream has declared the ballot unconstitutional and is seeking to annul the election results through the Constitutional Court. Coup Following Kobakhidzes statement, street protests erupted in Tbilisi and several other cities. Georgian Dream didnt win the elections, it staged a coup. There is no legitimate parliament or government in Georgia, said 20-year-old demonstrator Shota Sabashvili. We will not let this self-proclaimed prime minister destroy our European future. In the western city of Kutaisi, police detained several demonstrators, the independent Pirveli TV station reported. The Interior ministry said protesters physically confronted police in Tbilisi, resulting in injuries to three officers, two of whom have been hospitalised. To de-escalate the situation, the police have employed measures permitted by law, including the use of special means, it said of the use of tear gas. Advertisement Zurabishvili held an emergency meeting with foreign diplomats, her office said. Today marks a significant point, or rather, the conclusion of the constitutional coup that has been unfolding for several weeks, she told a news conference alongside opposition leaders. Today, this non-existent and illegitimate government declared war on its own people, she added, calling herself the countrys sole legitimate representative. Existential crisis Dozens of Georgian diplomats issued a joint statement protesting Kobakhidzes announcement. They said the decision doesnt align with the countrys strategic interests, contradicts Georgian constitution and would lead Georgia into international isolation. Without the support of Western partners, Georgia will face heightened threats, particularly in the context of current developments in the international security environment. On Thursday, Georgian Dream MPs voted unanimously for Kobakhidze to continue as prime minister. Advertisement But constitutional law experts have said any decisions made by the new parliament are invalid, because it approved its own credentials in violation of a legal requirement to await a court ruling on Zurabishvilis bid to annul the election results. One author of Georgias constitution, Vakhtang Khmaladze, said: From the legal point of view, a head of government approved by an illegitimate parliament is equally illegitimate. With democratic state institutions no more, Georgias statehood faces an existential crisis, he told AFP. Georgian Dream, which has been accused of moving Tbilisi away from Europe and closer to Moscow, denies allegations of electoral fraud. The partys nomination of Kobakhidze for prime minister in February raised eyebrows in the West because of his claims European countries and the United States were trying to drag Georgia into the Russia-Ukraine war. Advertisement After the October vote, a group of Georgias leading election monitors said they had evidence of a complex scheme of large-scale electoral fraud that swayed results in favour of Georgian Dream. The goal of EU membership is enshrined in Georgias constitution and supported by 80 percent of the countrys population, according to opinion polls. Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam, who won an election this month, has expressed doubts about the agreement. He told parliament on Thursday his new cabinet would be able to consider the outcome of the review read more The New prime minister of Mauritius, Navin Ramgoolam, poses for a photograph with former Prime Minister and leader of the Mouvement Militant Mauricien (MMM) Paul Berenger after his swearing-in ceremony in Reduit, Mauritius on November 13, 2024. Reuters File Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam said on Friday he has asked for an independent review of a confidential draft agreement with Britain over the future of the Chagos Islands. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Thursday he was confident that the deal to secure the future of a US-British military base on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia would be ratified. Starmer wants to finalise an October political agreement that hands Mauritius sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, while securing a 99-year lease on the base. Advertisement The deal still needs to be ratified by both sides. Ramgoolam, who won an election this month, has expressed doubts about the agreement. He told parliament on Thursday his new cabinet would be able to consider the outcome of the review. Britains foreign ministry and Starmers Downing Street office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Mexicos Senate has passed a reform to abolish autonomous regulatory bodies, sparking opposition over concerns of reduced transparency and accountability. The bill had been passed by the lower house last week. read more Mexicos Senate on Thursday passed a measure to abolish the autonomous bodies that regulate some economic sectors and ensure government transparency, a reform that has sparked outcry from the opposition and industry. Lawmakers in the upper chamber voted on the proposals general terms with 86 in favour and 42 against, with nearly the same tally coming in for the bills particular terms. It had passed in the lower house last week. The reform proposes scrapping autonomous agencies such as antitrust watchdog Cofece, telecoms regulator IFT, energy regulator CRE, hydrocarbon regulator CNH and public information and data protection office INAI. Advertisement Their functions would be taken over by other government bodies such as the official statistics office, the electoral authority and government ministries. The head of the Senate constitutional committee, Oscar Canton of the ruling Morena party, said that the proposal represents the administrations commitment to an austere, efficient government focused on the needs of its people. The measure is among the constitutional reforms presented in February by former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and backed by current President Claudia Sheinbaum, aimed at cutting public spending by centralising the state apparatus. Opposition lawmakers and analysts, however, allege that the reform threatens democracy and that it will impede accountability against government wrongdoings. Morena and their allies are looking for total opacity, the elimination of any counterweight to the power they covet, opposition senator Agustin Dorantes said in the session. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.) Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum rejected the idea of a potential tariff war with the US after she claimed that she had a very good phone call. The two leaders discussed the issue of immigration and fentanyl addiction read more Mexicos President Claudia Sheinbaum said that there will not be a potential tariff war with the United States after she held a very kind telephonic conversation with US President-elect Donald Trump. In the call which took place on Wednesday, the two leaders discussed the immigration and the fentanyl crisis that have engulfed both nations. The proclamation from the Mexican president came while she was speaking to reporters, a day after the phone call. The two leaders had talks after Trump threatened to apply a 25 per cent tariff against Mexico and Canada, and an additional 10 per cent tariff against China, when he takes office in January. The Republican firebrand argued that his administration would be imposing higher tariffs if the countries did not stop all illegal immigration and fentanyl smuggling into the US. Advertisement After the call on Wednesday, Trump took to Truth Social, claiming that during the call, Sheinbaum had agreed to stop Migration through Mexico, and into the United States, effectively closing our Southern Border. After clarifying it on X, formerly known as Twitter, Sheinbaum reiterated that she did not agree to shut down the Mexican border with the United States. Sheinbaum maintains an optimistic stance While she cleared up her stance, the Mexican president did not slam the upcoming American leaders comments over the matter. Each person has their own way of communicating, Sheinbaum said. But I can assure you, I guarantee you, that we never additionally, we would be incapable of doing so proposed that we would close the border in the north [of Mexico], or in the south of the United States. It has never been our idea and, of course, we are not in agreement with that," she added. She went on to state that the two leaders did not discuss tariffs, however, she emphasised that the conversation had reassured her that no tit-for-tat tariff battle would be needed in the future. On Monday, Trump said that Mexico and Canada should use their power to address drug trafficking and migration and, until they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price! The very next day, Sheinbaum mentioned that Mexico would retaliate with tariffs of its own. In the phone call with Trump, Sheinbaum told the American president-elect of the various migration initiatives her government has undertaken, including providing resources and support to Central American countries and migrants arriving in Mexico. Potential immigrants will not reach the northern border, because Mexico has a strategy, Sheinbaum explained. She also said that Trump expressed interest in the government-driven programs to address fentanyl addiction and overdoses in Mexico. She also raised the issue of American-made weapons entering Mexico from the US to be used by drug cartels. Advertisement What I base myself on is the conversation the two conversations that I had with President Trump, and then, at the moment, the communication we will have with his work team and when he takes office, Sheinbaum said. We will always defend our sovereignty. Mexico is a free, independent, sovereign country and that is above everything else, she concluded. With inputs from agencies. The chaotic election process on Wednesday, which saw some voters waiting for over 12 hours in line, has heightened tensions in Namibia, a country known for its stability in southern Africa read more Nambians queue to vote in the National and Presidential elections in Windhoek, Namibia, November 27, 2024. The polling had to be redone due to disruptions. Reuters Namibians returned to the polls Friday (November 29) after technical failures and logistical issues disrupted voting earlier this week, sparking outrage from opposition parties seeking to challenge the ruling South West Africa Peoples Organisation (SWAPO) partys decades-long hold on power. Election officials extended voting after Wednesdays (November 27) delays, which saw some of the 1.5 million registered voters waiting in line for up to 12 hours or leaving without casting their ballots. Advertisement Opposition leaders criticised the process as a sham. Why was the Namibian election disrupted? The disruptions were attributed to overheating electronic tablets used for voter registration and shortages of ballot papers, according to the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN). Extreme heat in some areas added to voters frustrations, with many abandoning long lines. Confusion grew as the ECN poorly communicated its decision to allow some polling stations to stay open overnight while others began counting ballots, African Union election observers said. The African Centre for Governance observer mission reported Thursday (November 28) that repeated technical failures slowed the process and deterred voters. Protests, tensions over election rescheduling Around 30 people with placards reading Namibian elections are not free and fair and Fire ECN demonstrated in front of the hotel where the observers met the media. We condemn the election process, we reject it, said Ivan Skrywer, coordinator of the Landless Peoples Movement. We dont trust these observer missions anymore, he added. Look at their composition, its government officials, retired politicians. The chaotic election has heightened tensions in Namibia, a country known for its stability in southern Africa. The ruling SWAPO faces mounting discontent from younger voters who are frustrated by high unemployment and persistent inequality. This marks a significant challenge for the party, which has governed since independence in 1990. With around 42 per cent of registered voters under 35, opposition parties are hoping to capitalize on shifting demographics and diminishing loyalty to liberation-era political movements. The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), one of SWAPOs main challengers, accused the ECN of attempting to frustrate voters and called Thursday for the electoral process to be halted. Advertisement With inputs from AFP Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Moscow would use Oreshnik missiles again if Ukraine continued with its aggression. He went on to laud US President-elect Donald Trump, calling him intelligent read more Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened Kyiv with Oreshnik missiles if Ukraine continues to remain aggressive. The intermediate-range Russian weapon was used in the city of Dnipro last week, stirring a major storm across the world. The warning from Putin came during his press conference in Kazakhstan on Thursday. We do not rule out the use of Oreshnik against the military, military-industrial facilities or decision-making centres, including in Kyiv, the Russian leader said in a statement. He went on to state that the weapon was comparable in strength to a nuclear strike if used several times in one location, The Guardian reported. Advertisement The kinetic impact is powerful, like a meteorite falling, Putin said. We know in history what meteorites have fallen where, and what the consequences were. Sometimes it was enough for whole lakes to form. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy slammed his Russian counterpart and accused him of despicable escalation of the ongoing conflict. Putin prepares for Trumps presidency During the press conference, the Russian leader lauded President-elect Donald Trump, calling him intelligent. Many believed that Putins comments were designed to make a positive impression on the president-elect and Russia is looking at winning Trumps favour after he assumes power next year. He also expressed his shock over the multiple assassination attempts on him. In my opinion, he is not safe now, Putin said. Unfortunately, in the history of the United States, various incidents have happened. I think he [Trump] is intelligent and I hope hes cautious and understands this. During the press briefing, Putin suggested that US President Joe Bidens decision to allow the use of long-range weapons could either be a ploy to help Trump by giving him a future bargaining chip or an attempt to make Trumps relations with Russia more difficult. Either way, he claimed that Trump would find the solution to the Ukraine war, insisting that Moscow is ready for a dialogue. Russia leaves Ukraine in disarray On Thursday morning, Russia targeted Ukraine with missiles and drones, focusing on the countrys energy infrastructure. The attack left more than 1 million households without power. This is not the first time Moscow has attacked Ukraines critical infrastructure. About half of Ukraines energy capacity has been destroyed in the last three years, and recently Ukrainian officials warned that Russia may be stockpiling missiles in order to launch coordinated strikes on the power infrastructure and make winter miserable for millions, The Guardian reported. Meanwhile, Biden condemned the Thursday attack, reiterating his administrations support for Ukraine. This attack is outrageous and serves as yet another reminder of the urgency and importance of supporting the Ukrainian people in their defence against Russian aggression, Biden said. On this day, my message to the Ukrainian people is clear: the United States stands with you, added Biden, who has tried to shore up US support for Ukraine in his final weeks in the White House. However, Ukraine is currently bracing itself for the upcoming Trump administration. Advertisement On Wednesday, Trump named the retired army general Keith Kellogg as his envoy for Russia and Ukraine. While the 80-year-old retired general has not espoused the pro-Russia rhetoric common to some in Trumps orbit, he has previously talked about a plan to leverage military aid by increasing it while pushing for peace talks. If Ukraine doesnt want to negotiate, fine, but then accept the fact that you can have enormous losses in your cities and accept the fact that you will have your children killed, accept the fact that you dont have 130,000 dead, you will have 230,000 [to] 250,000, Kellogg told Voice of America at the Republican party convention in July. Advertisement With inputs from agencies. This is the second time Qatar has helped the countries reach an exchange where children are allowed to be close to their families. Earlier this year, 22 children were returned to their families in Ukraine after Qatars intervention read more Qatar has successfully mediated a humanitarian deal between Ukraine and Russia which will see the return of nine children from both countries to their respective families. In a statement, Qatar said that its role in brokering the deal between the two warring parties is an extension of its approach to mediation and conflict resolution through peaceful means, in accordance with the principles of international law. This is the second time Qatar has helped the countries reach an exchange where children are allowed to be close to their families. Earlier this year, 22 children were returned to their families in Ukraine after Qatars intervention. Advertisement #_ pic.twitter.com/wqfZFBumwp (@MofaQatar_AR) November 28, 2024 Who will be exchanged this time? Maria Lvova-Belova, Russias Commissioner for Childrens Rights, announced on Thursday that seven children, ranging in age from six to 16, will be returned to Ukraine to live with close family members. She added that these children have been living in Russia under varying circumstances with most living with their grandparents. However, a 16-year-old boy part of the exchange has been living in a Russian orphanage. She stated that two boys, aged seven and nine, who had been living in Ukraine for several years with a parent, would also be sent back to Russia. Has Russia abducted Ukrainian kids? Kyiv says about 20,000 children have been taken to Russia or Russian-occupied territory without the consent of family or guardians since the war began, calling the abductions a war crime that meets the UN treaty definition of genocide. Moscow, on the other hand, has denied the claim and says it has protected vulnerable children from the war zone. In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued warrants for the arrest of President Vladimir Putin and Lvova-Belova on war crimes charges related to the abduction of Ukrainian children. Russia denounced the warrants as outrageous and unacceptable. Lvova-Belova rejected the accusations as false. Advertisement With inputs from agencies Russia will share submarine technology with China to bridge the gap in underwater capabilities with the United States, said US Indo-Pacific Commander Admiral Sam Paparo read more A top US Navy commander has warned that Russia will share submarine technology with China to mount a joint challenge to the United States. The remarks come amid ever-increasing convergence of Russia and China against the United States and the West. The two countries have effectively woven a bloc along with Iran and North Korea to undermine the West and create a new world order. At a time when Russia has plunged Europe in the worst security crisis since the World War II and China has bared its hegemonic designs for the Indo-Pacific region with near-daily military aggression, US Indo-Pacific Commander Admiral Sam Paparo has said that the two nations are set to collaborate to boost underwater capabilities to bridge the gap with the United States. Advertisement I expect Russia to provide submarine technology to the PRC [Peoples Republic of China] that has the potential of closing American undersea dominance to the PRC, said Paparo at a security conference in Canada, according to Washington Times. Paparos remarks come days undersea communication cables were found damaged in the Baltic Sea. A Chinese ship is suspected of having deliberately damaging cables at the behest of Russia. For more than a year, Russia is believed to be sabotaging undersea cables in Europe as part of its shadow war against Europe. The United States is currently the dominant power when it comes to submarines, but China is catching up fast on the back of a robust military-industrial complex. Instead of building more submarines than the United States, China appears to be making more modern submarines with the idea of detecting US attack submarines which would be critical to any confrontation between the two sides. This becomes important in the context of Taiwan which China has vowed to unify with the mainland even with the use of force leading to fears that an invasion may be on the cards in coming years. As land-based assets can be struck in aerial bombardment, the real edge in any confrontation would be with nuclear-powered submarines which patrol the oceans quietly and are very hard to detect. Advertisement Paparo also warned that Russia is expected to provide military technology to North Korea in exchange for support in the war on Ukraine. Currently, there are up to 10,000 North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia in the war on Ukraine. I expect Russia to provide missile technology and submarine technology to North Korea, said Paparo, according to Washington Times. Western officials have also said that North Korea has provided missiles and ammunition to Russia for the war on Ukraine. The increasing partnership between the two nations would boost North Korean Supreme Leader King Jong-Un and destabilise the region, warned Paparo. North Korea is redefining the North Korean state in KJUs image. Hes making enormous changes to the border, eliminating communications lines between north and south, said Paparo. Advertisement As a result of the growing synergy between Russia, China, and North Korea, the United States are regional allies are sharing real-time intelligence within military and command networks which is fed into an integrated ballistic missile defence network, said Paparo. As for the idea of driving a wedge between these three regimes union, Paparo said it would be a fantasy. Relations between Russia and North Korea have reached new heights ever since South Korea revealed that Pyongyang has sent thousands of troops to Russia to fight the war, a fact that has been confirmed by the US read more Russian defence minister, Andrei Belousov, is welcomed by North Korean defence minister, No Kwang Chol, during a ceremony upon his arrival at Pyongyang airport on Friday. Reuters Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov on Friday said that the countrys ties with North Korea are expanding in all areas during his trip to Pyongyang. In announcing the visit, Russias Defense Ministry didnt say whom Belousov would meet or the purpose of the talks. Friendly ties between Russia and North Korea are actively expanding in all areas, including military cooperation, he was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying during a visit to the country. Advertisement Relations between Russia and North Korea have reached new heights ever since South Korea revealed that Pyongyang has sent thousands of troops to Russia to fight the war, a fact that has been confirmed by the US. During his visit, Belousov applauded a strategic partnership agreement signed by Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un following their June meeting in Pyongyang, which he said is aimed at reducing tensions by maintaining a balance of power in the region and lowering the risk of war, including with nuclear weapons. North Korean Defense Minister No, similarly, hailed the growing cooperation between the two countries and reiterated North Koreas support for Russias war in Ukraine. Belousovs Pyongyang visit comes at a time when South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol concluded a meeting with Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov in Seoul and called for the two countries to formulate countermeasures in response to North Koreas dispatch of thousands of troops to Russia to help its fight against Ukraine. North Korea has also been accused of supplying artillery systems, missiles and other military equipment to Russia that may help Putin further extend an almost three-year war. There are also concerns in Seoul that North Korea, in exchange for its troops and arms supplies, could receive Russian technology transfers that could improve its nuclear weapons and missile programs. Advertisement With inputs from agencies Most tech giants have said they will comply with the ban as the government has imposed a fine of up to $50m if they fail to do so read more The Australian governments ban on social media for teens has caused an uproar not only among users but also among tech companies including Meta that has accused the administration of passing the law without considering young peoples voice. The legislation, approved by parliament on Thursday, orders social media firms to take reasonable steps to prevent young teens from having accounts. It is due to come into effect after a year. We are concerned about the process which rushed the legislation through while failing to properly consider the evidence, what industry already does to ensure age-appropriate experiences, and the voices of young people, a spokesperson from Meta said. Advertisement Meanwhile, most tech giants have said they will comply with the ban as the government has imposed a fine of up to $50m if they fail to do so. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese thinks the on sites like Facebook, Instagram and X would lead to better outcomes and less harm for young Australians. Other tech companies react Other social media companies joined Metas cohort to criticise the ban. A Snapchat spokesperson said the company had raised serious concerns about the law and that many unanswered questions remained about how it would work. But the company said it would engage closely with the government to develop an approach balancing privacy, safety and practicality. TikTok said it was disappointed in the law, accusing the government of ignoring mental health, online safety and youth experts who had opposed the ban. Its entirely likely the ban could see young people pushed to darker corners of the internet where no community guidelines, safety tools, or protections exist, a TikTok spokesperson said. Ban will push kids to unregulated online spaces Meanwhile, the UN and UNICEF Australia have flagged concerns over the ban and said it would do more harm than good for young people. This ban risks pushing children into increasingly covert and unregulated online spaces as well as preventing them from accessing aspects of the online world essential to their wellbeing, UNICEF Australia policy chief Katie Maskiell said. With inputs from AFP The US and its allies are working together to stand up to Chinas actions in the South China Sea read more The South China Sea remains a major area of geopolitical tension, as China faces mounting pressure from the US and its Indo-Pacific allies. With the return of President-elect Donald Trump to the White House in January next year, the situation could become even more complicated, given his previously tough stance toward China. A recent key development was the first-ever five-way meeting of defence ministers in Laos, which included representatives from the US, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea and Australia. Held alongside the Asean Defence Ministers Meeting-Plus (ADDM-Plus), this meeting marked an important step in strengthening alliances aimed at countering Chinas growing control over the region. Advertisement Pentagon and Indo-Pacific commitment During the Laos meeting, the Pentagon highlighted the strong commitment of the five nations to maintain a free, open, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific where international law and sovereignty are respected. As the Biden administration continues to bolster security and defence cooperation across the region, it is evident that the US and its allies are focussed on limiting Chinas expanding influence, particularly in contested areas like the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. Uncertainty surrounding a Trump presidency While President Bidens administration has made progress in strengthening alliances in the region, the return of President-elect Trump in January brings uncertainty about the USs future commitment to its Indo-Pacific allies. Trumps America First policy might lead to less US involvement in global matters, raising concerns about ongoing support for international partnerships. His approach to China in a second term could become more aggressive, especially on trade, security and technology. This uncertainty also affects the future of Aukus, the security pact between the US, UK and Australia, as it may change depending on Trumps foreign policy. Aukus and its expanding alliances Aukus, created in 2021 to counter Chinas growing military strength, has become a key part of military cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. According to a South China Morning Post report, Aukus is now looking to share defence technologies with more countries, such as Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and Canada. The first part of Aukus, which focusses on giving Australia nuclear-powered submarines, is important for improving combat readiness and stealth, especially with Chinas powerful navy. The second part of Aukus aims to increase cooperation in areas like artificial intelligence, hypersonic weapons and electronic warfare. These technologies are seen as crucial for staying ahead of China in key areas like the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. The Philippines and South China Sea disputes The Philippines, a long-time ally of the US, has become an important part of the South China Sea dispute. Tensions between Manila and Beijing have increased due to several clashes in the disputed waters. One key issue is the Philippines military presence on Second Thomas Shoal, an area that China claims as its own. In response, the US has increased its support for the Philippines, including plans to send advanced missile systems to both Japan and the Philippines. This move is part of the USs bigger plan to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, where Chinas military activities are a major challenge. Advertisement According to Reuters, as tensions in the South China Sea grow, the US has also stepped up its help for the Philippines maritime operations. The US has sent Task Force Ayungin to assist the Philippines in the disputed waters. This task force will help improve coordination between US and Philippine forces and support activities like intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. This is part of the USs larger effort to counter Chinas increasing influence in the region, especially in the South China Sea. Chinas aggressive actions, like ramming Philippine ships and using water cannons to stop resupply missions to troops on Second Thomas Shoal, have raised concerns about security in the region. The US has said it is committed to keeping the peace and ensuring freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, which is a key route for global trade. Advertisement Vietnam and Malaysia team up Beyond US-led efforts, Southeast Asia is seeing big changes in its diplomatic ties. Vietnam and Malaysia have recently upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. This change comes as tensions with China grow over maritime issues in the South China Sea. The agreement, announced during a visit by Vietnams Communist Party chief To Lam to Malaysia, shows both countries commitment to peace, security and freedom of navigation in the region. A Reuters report said the stronger partnership between Hanoi and Kuala Lumpur is part of a wider shift in Southeast Asia, where many countries are becoming more worried about Chinas territorial ambitions. Advertisement The joint statement from both countries stresses the need for self-restraint in the South China Sea and supports resolving disputes peacefully. Both nations have also agreed to work towards a South China Sea Code of Conduct (CC) that follows international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. While the COC has been under discussion since the 1990s, progress has been slow because of disagreements within Asean and competing territorial claims among its members. A more unified Asean response to China The stronger ties between Vietnam and Malaysia might be the start of a more united Asean response to Chinas actions in the South China Sea. According to the South China Morning Post, Indonesia and Singapore might soon follow Malaysias example and strengthen their ties with Vietnam. This change could lead to a more coordinated effort in addressing the maritime dispute with China though its unlikely to lead to immediate changes on the ground. Advertisement A rising tide of tensions and alliances As tensions in the South China Sea escalate, the upcoming return of President-elect Trump in January adds uncertainty to the regions future. Trumps America First approach, which advocates for a tougher stance on China, could intensify the already strained relationship between the US and China, particularly regarding maritime issues. The growing military presence of the Pentagon in the Indo-Pacific including initiatives like Task Force Ayungin and strengthened partnerships with countries such as Japan, Philippines and Australia, signals a heightened focus on security concerns in the region. Several companies received major backlash for ordering employees to keep working despite the red alert issued by the national weather agency during the October 29 catastrophe in Spain read more Volunteers help firefighters remove mud from a basement, in the aftermath of floods caused by heavy rains, in Alfafar, near Valencia, Spain, November 3, 2024. File Image/Reuters A month after the devastating floods that killed over 200 people, Spains government has approved paid climate leaves for up to four days to allow workers to avoid travelling during weather emergencies. Several companies received major backlash for ordering employees to keep working despite the red alert issued by the national weather agency during the October 29 catastrophe. At that time, the firms argued that the authorities failed to inform them sufficiently and was too late in sending the telephone alert about the poor weather conditions. While announcing the latest move, Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz told public broadcaster RTVE that the new measure aims to regulate in accordance with the climate emergency so that no worker must run risks. Advertisement Diaz emphasised that if emergency authorities raised an alarm about treacherous weather conditions, the worker must refrain from going to work. They can also resort to reduced working days if they crossed the four-day period. In the face of climate denialism from the right, the Spanish government is committed to green policies, the labour minister averred. A law implemented in Canada This is not the first time a country is allowing employees to take paid climate leave. The legislation was inspired by similar laws in Canada, RTVE reported. Meanwhile, Spains economy minister Carlos Cuerpo warned the cost of extreme weather events could double by 2050 as the government confirmed 2.3bn of fresh aid for flood victims. Over the years, multiple experts warned that extreme rainfall is more common and more intense because of human-caused climate breakdown across most of the world, particularly in Europe, most of Asia, central and eastern North America, and parts of South America, Africa and Australia. Since warmer air can hold more water vapour, flooding has most likely become more frequent and severe in these locations. But the weather conditions can be also affected by human factors such as the existence of flood defences and land use. Experts said that all but eight of the flood deaths were in Valencia, happened because the system was simply overwhelmed. It is important to note that while conservative regional president Carlos Mazon has conceded mistakes were made, he refused calls to step down from his office. Not only this, torrential rains hit parts of Spain again two weeks after the floods, forcing 3,000 people to evacuate their homes in Malaga. With inputs from AFP. Sweden has made a formal request to China to bring Yi Peng Three back to Swedish waters so that the authorities could investigate whether the vessel severed the two cables in the Baltic Sea read more Amid the brewing tensions in the Baltic region, Sweden has formally asked China to cooperate with an investigation into the damage of two cables in the Baltic Sea. The authorities linked a Chinese ship to the incident. The two cables one linking Sweden to Lithuania, the other linking Finland to Germany 00 were damaged on November 17 and 18 respectively. The authorities claim that a Chinese ship named the Yi Peng Three was believed to have been in the area at the time of the incidents. However, the vessel in question has now anchored to the international waters off Denmark. Meanwhile, China has already denied any sort of involvement in the incident. Advertisement According to BBC, the Yi Peng Three left the Russian port of Ust-Luga, west of St Petersburg, on November 15. On 17, the Arelion cable between Sweden and Lithuania was damaged. The following day, the C-Lion 1 cable between the Finnish capital Helsinki and the German port of Rostock was severed. All eyes are now on the Chinese ship According to the authorities, the data ship tracking website suggested that the Yi Peng Three sailed over the cables at around the same time each of the cables was damaged. Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal, reported that investigators involved in the case suspect that the ship deliberately damaged the cable, by dropping and dragging the anchor along the sea bed. The ship is currently sailing in the Kattegat Strait - a passage between Sweden and Denmark that connects the Baltic Sea to the North Sea. It has been in the region since November 19 and has been closely monitored by the Danish Navy. While speaking about the incident, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said that nobody believes that these cables were cut accidentally, though he did not specify who he believed was responsible. Meanwhile, Russia has already rejected its involvement in the case calling any such claims absurd and laughable. Swedens PM makes a formal request to China Amid the chaos, on Thursday, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told a press conference that his government had sent a formal request to China to co-operate with Swedish authorities to create clarity on what has happened. We think its extremely important to find out exactly what happened and, of course, we expect also China to comply with the request we have sent, he said. The premier of the Nordic nation went on to reiterate that an earlier request for the ship to be moved back into Swedish waters was made to the Chinese authorities. While Kristersson insisted that he was not making accusations of any sort, he insisted that if the Chinese ship comes back to the Swedish waters, the local authorities would be able to investigate it. The Baltic Sea has witnessed all sorts of turbulence ever since the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war started. In September 2022, a series of explosions blew holes in the two Nord Stream gas pipelines between western Europe and Russia, and in October 2023 damage was done to an undersea telecoms cable between Estonia and Sweden. Advertisement With inputs from agencies. British lawmakers approved an assisted-dying bill for England and Wales on Friday, advancing the legislation to the next stage of parliamentary review read more Pro legal assisted dying supporters demonstrate in front of Parliament in London, on Friday. AP British lawmakers approved an assisted-dying bill for England and Wales on Friday, advancing the legislation to the next stage of parliamentary review. According to AFP, in the first House of Commons vote on the topic in nearly a decade, MPs supported legalised euthanasia with a vote of 330 to 275. The vote marks lawmakers initial approval of the bill, advancing it for further parliamentary review. A similar bill failed to clear this stage in 2015. Advertisement The vote followed a tense, emotional debate covering ethics, grief, law, faith, crime, and cost, drawing hundreds of supporters and opponents outside Parliament. Proponents argued the law would grant dignity to the dying and prevent suffering while ensuring safeguards against coercion. Opponents raised concerns about vulnerable individuals being pressured to end their lives to avoid being a burden. Supporters shared poignant stories of loved ones who endured severe pain in their final months or resorted to secret suicides, noting that assisting someone to die is currently a crime. Lets be clear, were not talking about a choice between life or death, we are talking about giving dying people a choice about how to die, The Associated Press quoted the bills main sponsor Kim Leadbeater as saying in the opening speech in a packed chamber. She conceded that its not an easy decision for lawmakers but that if any of us wanted an easy life, theyre in the wrong place. Opponents expressed concerns that vulnerable, elderly, and disabled individuals might be pressured into choosing assisted dying to reduce costs or lessen the burden on their families. Some advocates called for enhanced palliative care as a better way to alleviate suffering. Danny Kruger, who led the opposition, argued that Parliament should aim to provide more support for terminally ill patients than simply creating a state suicide service, emphasising that lawmakers have a duty to protect the most vulnerable. We are the safeguard, this place, this Parliament, you and me, Kruger was quoted as saying. We are the people who protect the most vulnerable in society from harm and yet we stand on the brink of abandoning that role, Kruger added. Advertisement The bill, proposed by a member of the ruling center-left Labour Party, sparked an open vote that united political opponents. If passed, it would permit adults over 18 with less than six months to live to request assistance in dying, provided strict safeguards are met. The individual must be capable of self-administering the lethal drugs. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who supports assisted dying, said the government would remain neutral and declined to disclose his stance. While some cabinet members voiced support, others opposed the bill. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch confirmed she would vote against it. Assisted suicide is legal in countries such as Australia, Belgium, Canada, and certain US states, with eligibility varying by region. Over 500 Britons have traveled to Switzerland, where assisted dying is allowed for non-residents. Advertisement Its important to note that assisted suicide differs from euthanasia, which is permitted in the Netherlands and Canada, where medical practitioners administer a lethal injection at the patients request under specific conditions. With inputs from agencies Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has called on Nato allies to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the military alliance during their meeting in Brussels next week, according to a report, citing a letter on Friday read more Ukraines Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha speaks at a joint press conference with his Czech counterpart Jan Lipavsky (not pictured), amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, on November 22, 2024. Reuters File Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has called on Nato allies to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the military alliance during their meeting in Brussels next week, according to a Reuters report, citing a letter on Friday. The appeal marks a renewed effort by Kyiv to secure Nato membership, part of President Volodymyr Zelenskyys victory plan announced last month to end the war following Russias 2022 invasion. While Ukraine acknowledges it cannot join Nato until the conflict concludes, receiving an invitation now would send a strong message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, demonstrating that one of his key objectives blocking Ukraines NATO membership has failed. Advertisement Nato has declared that Ukraine will eventually join the alliance and is on an irreversible path to membership, though no formal invitation or timeline has been established. According to Nato diplomats, there is currently no agreement among member countries to extend an invitation to Ukraine. Such a decision would need the approval of all 32 member nations. In his letter, written in English, Sybiha contended that now is the right time to issue an invitation. We believe that the invitation should be extended at this stage, Reuters quoted him as saying in the letter. It will become the Allies adequate response to Russias constant escalation of the war it has unleashed, the latest demonstration of which is the involvement of tens of thousands of North Korean troops and the use of Ukraine as a testing ground for new weapons, Sybiha added. I urge you to endorse the decision to invite Ukraine to join the Alliance as one of the outcomes of the Nato Foreign Ministerial Meeting on 3-4 December 2024, he wrote. With inputs from agencies Ahead of US President-elect Donald Trumps return to White House in January, European and Iranian diplomats are exploring whether they can have serious talks over the Islamic Republics nuclear programme read more Rewriting the rules of engagement is challenging, but undoubtedly both Iran and Israel have made a symbolic statement and managed the escalation cycle wherein they have played to the gallery as far as their domestic audience is concerned (Photo: AFP) European and Iranian diplomats met on Friday to discuss whether they can engage in serious talks, including over Irans disputed nuclear programme, before Donald Trump returns to the White House in January. The meetings in Geneva, the first since the U.S. election, come after Tehran was angered by a European-backed resolution last week that criticised Irans cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog. Trump, who during his last term in office abandoned a nuclear deal with Iran and pursued a maximum pressure policy that sought to wreck Irans economy, is staffing his new administration with noted hawks on Iran. Advertisement European and regional diplomats expect him to take a hard line when he returns to power in January. The European countries have also taken a firm stance lately, limiting opportunities for progress in talks in the weeks before Trumps return. Irans deputy foreign minister and senior nuclear negotiator Majid Takhtravanchi met the EUs coordinator Enrique Mora on Thursday evening. He held talks on Friday with top diplomats from Britain, Germany and France, known as the E3. Mora said the exchange was frank and focused on Irans military support for Russia, the situation in the Middle East and the nuclear dossier. The level of distrust between both sides was highlighted when the E3 on Nov. 21 pushed ahead with a resolution by the board of governors of the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, which criticised Iran. Tehran reacted to the resolution by informing the IAEA that it plans to install more uranium-enriching centrifuges at its enrichment plants, a confidential report by the watchdog said on Thursday. From Irans perspective, this meeting is serious and not merely a diplomatic show of strength, a senior Iranian official involved in the talks told Reuters of Fridays meeting. Advertisement Kazem Gharibabadi, Irans former envoy to the IAEA, said on X after meeting Mora that Europe should not project its own problems and mistakes onto others, including with regard to the conflict in Ukraine. The E3, the European parties to the 2015 nuclear deal that Trump abandoned, have adopted a tougher stance on Iran in recent months, notably since Tehran ramped up its military support to Russia. However, they have always insisted that they wanted to maintain a policy of pressure and dialogue. Three Iranian officials said Tehrans primary objective will be finding ways to secure lifting of sanctions imposed since Trump reneged on the 2015 nuclear deal. Advertisement Good faith Since Trump abandoned the nuclear deal in 2018, Iran has accelerated its nuclear programme while limiting the IAEAs ability to monitor it. There isnt going to be an agreement until Trump takes office or any serious talks about the contours of a deal, said Kelsey Davenport, director of non-proliferation policy at the Arms Control Association advocacy group. A European official said the primary aim was to try to agree a calendar timeline and framework to embark on good faith talks so that there was a clear commitment from Iranians to begin negotiating something concrete before Trump arrives. The talks also come as fears linger that tensions between Iran and arch-rival Israel could ignite an all-out war, despite a ceasefire in Lebanon between Israel and Irans Hezbollah allies. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday he wanted to turn Israels focus to Iran. Advertisement While Trumps return to power leaves many questions open, four European diplomats said the E3 countries felt it was vital to engage now because time was running out. The European powers hope Iran will decide to begin negotiating new restrictions on its nuclear activities, albeit less far-reaching ones than those agreed in 2015, with a view to having a deal by the summer. That would give enough time to implement new limits on Irans programme and lift sanctions before the accord ends in October 2025. It is not clear whether Trump would back negotiations. If no new deal is agreed, the E3 could trigger the so-called snapback, a process under the 2015 deal where the issue is sent to the UN Security Council and sanctions lifted under the deal can be reimposed. Advertisement Iran, which has long said its nuclear programme is peaceful, has warned that it would review its nuclear doctrine if that happened. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.) The aftermath of Hurricane Helene has devastated the famed North Carolinas Christmas tree industry in the US with farmers struggling to salvage crops and cope with long-term supply disruptions read more As millions of Americans prepare to purchase live Christmas trees this holiday season, the industry finds itself grappling with unprecedented challenges that have tested its resilience. North Carolina, which is the second-largest producer of Christmas trees in the US after Oregon, has faced some of its most difficult years yet. The problems worsened after Hurricane Helene caused severe damage, making it even harder for this important industry to recover. An industry weathering the storm Advertisement The Christmas tree industry in North Carolina is facing a mix of problems such as rising prices, not having enough workers and a growing issue with root rot. Hurricane Helene made things worse, causing floods that killed 95 people and damaged farms in western North Carolina. According to a Wall Street Journal report, tree farmer Waightstill Avery III of Trinity Tree Company lost 60,000 treesone-third of his stockalong with barns, equipment and roads. These losses show just how fragile the industry is as it relies on long-term planning and steady growth. To cope with the aftermath, many farmers like Avery have had to improvise. Damaged trees have been cut into smaller sizes and salvaged for greenery used in wreaths and garlands. The National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA) reports that approximately 21.6 million real trees were sold last year at a median price of $75. However, with Thanksgiving falling late this year, growers are under additional pressure as the shortened selling season leaves little room for adjustments. Even growers who have their farms at high altitude had to face significant setbacks, mostly logistical, due to Hurricane Helene. Floodwaters blocked transportation routes to farms, making it even harder to recover from the damage. The Wall Street Journal also reported that Barr Evergreens, a family-owned nursery, lost more than 200,000 seedlings worth $500,000 because of the storm. The long growth cycle of Fraser fir treesup to 10 yearsmakes these losses even worse as it will take many years to fully recover. Labour woes North Carolinas reliance on the H-2A visa programme for agricultural labour has added another layer of strain on growers. Many growers employ dozens of foreign workers during the busy holiday season. However, the costs associated with securing H-2A workers have increased in recent years coupled with regulatory hurdles. According to The Wall Street Journal, local communities often lack the workforce needed to handle the peak-season demands of this highly specialised industry. Advertisement Natural vs artificial trees According to a piece in The Conversation, the natural Christmas tree market has been shrinking for decades. US Department of Agriculture (USDA) data reveals that the number of harvested trees has fallen by 30 per cent since 2002, even as the population grew by 16 per cent. Rising costs and supply chain disruptions have led some growers to reduce their output while others have opted to leave the business entirely. Meanwhile, artificial trees continue to gain market share. According to Introspective Market Research, artificial tree importsprimarily from Chinasurpassed 20 million units in 2022. These trees, which are often pre-lit and scented to mimic real evergreens, appeal to consumers seeking convenience and durability. However, natural tree advocates argue that the environmental benefits of real trees, which are biodegradable and contribute to carbon sequestration, make them a better choice. Advertisement Interestingly, Canada has stepped in to fill part of the supply gap for real trees. USDA data shows that nearly 3 million natural trees were imported from Canada in 2022, providing a lifeline for US markets experiencing shortages. Economic outlook and growth prospects Despite the challenges, the global Christmas tree market continues to grow. Valued at $5.91 billion in 2023, the market is projected to reach $8.89 billion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.64 per cent, according to Introspective Market Research. This growth reflects the enduring popularity of Christmas trees as a holiday staple, even as the industry adapts to changing consumer preferences and market conditions. Advertisement History and a global connect The tradition of decorating a Christmas tree has deep historical roots that span continents and cultures. Evergreen plants symbolised eternal life in ancient pagan traditions, particularly during the winter solstice. The Egyptians, for example, adorned their homes with green palm fronds in honour of Ra, the sun god, while Romans celebrated Saturnalia with boughs of evergreen. By the 16th century, Christians in Germany began decorating fir trees with candles, cookies and ornaments, practices often attributed to Martin Luther, who reportedly added candles to a tree to mimic the beauty of starlight. The tradition eventually spread to North America in the 18th century, where it became a cornerstone of the holiday season. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, today, the modern Christmas tree is a global phenomenon reflecting both cultural heritage and contemporary aesthetics. Advertisement For many families, purchasing a Christmas tree is more than a transactionits a cherished holiday tradition. In the face of adversity, the Christmas tree remains a symbol of hope, resilience and a connection to age-old traditions. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning announces: At the invitation of Premier of the State Council Li Qiang, Prime Minister of Nepal KP Sharma Oli will pay an official visit to China from December 2 to 5. Samsung India today inaugurated its largest premium experience store in South Delhis upscale South Extension (Part II). The flagship store is designed to provide a unique experience, combining advanced technology with personalized services for both tech enthusiasts and everyday consumers. Store Features and Layout Spanning 3,400 sq. ft., the Samsung Experience Store includes dedicated zones showcasing smartphones, tablets, laptops, audio devices, and the SmartThings ecosystem. Visitors can explore how Samsungs connected devices simplify and enhance daily life. Experience Store Offerings Omnichannel Shopping Experience: Customers can enjoy a seamless omnichannel shopping journey with the Samsung Store+ platform. Shoppers can browse over 1,200 Samsung products in-store and have them delivered directly to their homes. Workshops and Local Engagement: The store will host the Learn @ Samsung initiative, offering workshops to empower millennials and Gen Z with technology skills. By focusing on local culture, these sessions aim to strengthen Samsungs connection with the community. After-Sales Service and Support: Customers can access Samsung Care+ plans for extended device support. The store also provides after-sales services, including convenient bookings for home service calls, emphasizing customer satisfaction. Exclusive Launch Offers and Discounts This new store is Samsungs fourth premium experience center in New Delhi, following outlets in Vasant Kunj, Connaught Place, and Saket. To mark the launch, customers can purchase the Galaxy Fit3 for Rs. 1,499. Additionally, buyers of select Galaxy devices can enjoy Paytm First membership benefits, offering rewards worth Rs. 1,00,000. Speaking about the new launch, Sumit Walia, Vice President, D2C Business, Samsung India, said, The Australian Parliament has passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024, mandating that certain social media platforms restrict access for children under 16. The law is one of the strictest globally and aims to improve online safety for minors by requiring platforms to take reasonable steps to verify users ages. Key Highlights of the New Law Purpose and Scope: The bill amends the Online Safety Act 2021, requiring platforms such as Meta, Snapchat, TikTok, Reddit, and X (formerly Twitter) to prevent children under 16 from creating accounts. The law excludes platforms with educational purposes, such as YouTube, and messaging apps like WhatsApp. Enforcement and Penalties: Social media companies have 12 months to comply, with enforcement led by the eSafety Commissioner. Companies failing to meet the standards face fines of up to A$50 million (approximately US$32 million). However, the law does not require users to upload government IDs for verification. Public and Political Support: The bill, introduced by Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses Labor government, passed with overwhelming support: 102 votes in favor and 13 against. It enjoys bipartisan support and public approval, with a recent YouGov survey showing 77% of Australians back the measure. Implementation and Challenges Age Verification: The bill requires platforms to adopt age-verification measures, leaving specifics to the eSafety Commissioner. Trials may include technologies like biometrics or government-issued IDs. However, platforms cannot compel users to provide personal documents such as passports. Senate Review: The Senate will discuss the bill, aiming for final approval by year-end. The Senate committee has recommended further youth engagement to ensure the law balances protection with digital access rights. Teen Concerns and Opposition Youth Voices: Many teenagers worry that the law could disrupt social and familial connections. Youth advocates argue that banning social media is not the solution, stressing the need for safe online engagement instead of restrictions. Industry Resistance: Tech giants, including Google and Meta, oppose the law, citing concerns about the lack of clarity around enforcement. They have requested delays until an ongoing age-verification trial concludes in mid-2025. Elon Musk, owner of X, criticized the law as a potential backdoor to broader internet control. Global Interest and Concerns Over Youth Social Media Access Reports from Australian media say that international interest in regulating youth access to social media is rising, with similar proposals being explored in Norway and Florida. However, critics, including the Australian Human Rights Commission, argue that such laws may infringe on childrens rights to self-expression. Advocacy groups urge a more balanced approach that considers the varied needs of young users. Whats Next? If the Senate passes the bill, social media companies will have until late 2025 to fully implement the age-verification measures. Prime Minister Albanese has framed the law as part of a broader effort to improve childrens mental health and online safety. Source SIRIA: Rebel groups launch attacks on Syrias Aleppo city Syrias army says its forces continue to repel the major offensive launched by armed terrorist groups on Aleppo city. At least four people have been killed as rebel groups launched attacks on Aleppo for the first time in years, Syrian state media reported, as the rebel forces ramped up their assault on government-held positions in the countrys northwest. The rebels launched a ground attack on the city of Aleppo after blowing up two car bombs on Friday, and were clashing with government forces on the citys western edge, according to a Syria war monitor and fighters. Keep reading US military strikes Iranian-backed fighters in Syria for a second day At least 36 killed in Israeli attack on Syrias Palmyra: State media Dozens killed as armed groups attack Syrian military in northern Aleppo The Turkish state news agency Anadolu reported that the armed groups had entered Aleppo city centre, without providing further details. The Syrian army said on Friday it repelled a major offensive on the city. Our forces continue to repel the major offensive launched by armed terrorist groups, the army said in a statement, adding that it was able to retake control of certain positions. Earlier, four civilians including two students were killed when rebel groups shelled a building housing university students on Friday, the state news agency SANA reported. Rebels led by the Hayet Tahrir al-Shams armed group on Wednesday launched an offensive, capturing a dozen towns and villages in the northwestern province of Aleppo. The assault is the most intense fighting in northwestern Syria since 2020, when government forces seized areas previously controlled by opposition fighters, and has come after weeks of low-simmering violence. Russian and Syrian warplanes bombed rebel-held areas northwest Syria near the border with Turkiye on Thursday to try to push back the offensive that had captured territory for the first time in years, Syrian army and rebel sources said. Reporting from Hatay, Turkiye, Al Jazeeras Sinem Koseoglu said that opposition sources say they have seized control of more than 47 villages. They have taken control of the countryside of Western Aleppo. But of course, they are close to the city centre of Aleppo Also the opposition factions took control of the M5 highway which is a very strong logistics and military transfer route, she said. Given the situation in southern Lebanon, the opposition saw an opportunity to gain back these places from the Syrian government, she added. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said more than 14,000 people nearly half are children have been displaced by the violence. Colin Clarke, senior research fellow at The Soufan Center, told Al Jazeera that this violence is just really a reflection of how divided Syria is right now. He said he doesnt expect the rebel fighters to push past north west Syria. Theyre contained to kind of control Idlib, Aleppo I think they have their hands full in governing the current territory. I wouldnt expect them to push much more beyond North Western Syria at the moment, he said. Aleppo resident Sarmad, 51, told AFP he could hear the sounds of missiles and artillery shelling around the clock. Were scared that war will break out and well be displaced from our homes again, he said. Syrias civil war began when President Bashar al-Assads forces cracked down in 2011 on pro-democracy protests. Over the years, the conflict has morphed into a complex war drawing in foreign powers, including al-Assads allies Russia, Iran and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stressed Irans continued support for the government, nation and army of Syria in their fight against terrorism, during a phone call with his Syrian counterpart Bassam al-Sabbagh, according to a statement on Friday. The Iranians are overwhelmed. You know what once was this grand project, put forth by Suleimaniyou know this axis of resistance, this desire to establish a so called Shia crescent, has now crumbled over the past yearso in Tehran there is a lot of concern over the geopolitical developments, Clark noted. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the situation in Aleppo as an infringement on the sovereignty of Syria. He expressed support for the government of Syria to quickly restore order in this district and restore the constitutional order. Asked about unconfirmed Russian Telegram reports that al-Assad had flown into Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Peskov said he had nothing to say on the matter. To read the original news, please click HERE Russo-Ukraine War - 27 November 2024 - Day 1008 Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. "To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal] The UK Ministry of Defence reported that Russian independent Astra news reported on 14 November 2024 that dozens of injured Russian soldiers rioted in Novosibirsk, south central Russia, due to inadequate medical care. The soldiers, from the 41st Combined Arms Army, Central Military District, reportedly complained of mistreatment by their unit commander and did not want to return to the frontlines without adequate medical treatment. They are said to have smashed windows and damaged the barracks, with 10 fleeing the compound. Shortages of armoured vehicles and the persistent Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle threat result in significant delays to evacuation of wounded Russian soldiers. This almost certainly increases the likelihood of more serious injuries and higher rates of mortality for those who are eventually evacuated through the medical system. According to the Ukrainian General Staff, Russia has suffered over 700,000 casualties since February 2022, of which approximately 500,000 Russian service personnel were wounded. It is almost certain this scale of casualties continues to strain the Russian Military Medical System at all levels of medical care, causing significant logistic problems and resulting in a shortage of medical personnel. These problems will likely persist for at least the next three months. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that So far, 150 combat clashes have taken place. The hottest today is the situation in Pokrovsky and Kurakhiv directions, also the Russian enemy is active in Kupiansky and Vremivsky directions. For today, the Russian opponent has caused 11 aviation strikes on the territory of Ukraine, dropping 22 kab, used to impress 648 kamikadze drones. Made almost 4000 shelling of the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements. In the Kharkiv direction, Russian forces attacked five times the vicinity of vovchans ka and tihogo. One confrontation is still going on. For today, the Russian enemy has lost 77 soldiers killed and wounded in this direction, Ukrainian soldiers destroyed two artillery systems, a car, 13 BPLAs and f Ukrainian special equipment units of the enemy, also damaged a combat armored car, six cars and f Ukrainian special equipment unit. In the kupans komu direction Russian forces during the day 17 times tried to advance to Ukrainian positions near kolisnikivki, zagrizovogo, green grove and kruglyakivki. All attacks of the opponent were repelled by the Defense Forces. In the limans komu direction, Russian forces attacked f Ukrainian times in the areas of grekivka, novoegorivki and tors kogo. Ukrainian warriors stopped all efforts of the enemy. Also the aviation of the occupiers struck kabama on Ivanivka and Torsky. In the kramators komu direction Russian forces was active in the area of the white mountain. Ukrainian units repelled one assault of zagarbnikiv. Under the hits of Russian air bombs were vasyukivka, nkyforivka and markove. In the Toretsky direction, the Russian enemy, supported by aviation, carried out offensive actions six times at the position of Ukrainian troops. All attacks are repelled by Ukrainian soldiers. Since the beginning of the day, the Russian enemy has tried 35 times to infiltrate Ukrainian defense in the Pokrovsky direction in the areas of the settlements of Mirolyubivka, Rumin, Lisivka, Dachensk, Zhovte and Chumakke. Ukrainian units have repelled twenty-six attacks, the battles are ongoing, the Russian losses are being specified. In the Kurakhiv direction, Russian forces attacked Ukrainian positions 36 times. The greatest activity was shown in the area of Soncivka, Berestkiv, Kurakhovogo, Dalnogo, Elizavetivka, Antonivka and Hanivka, where Ukrainian defenders repelled 30 attacks, six fighting are still ongoing. In the Vremivs .komu direction, Ukrainian troops repelled fourteen Russian attacks near Trudovoye, Konstantinopolsky, Rozlivu, Rozdolny, Dry Yaliv and Novodarivka, f Ukrainian more confrontations continue so far. The occupiers actively applied aviation: dropped the CAB on Novosilka, also hit unkekorovani missiles on the Great Novosilka. In the Pridnipro direction, the Russian enemy does not abandon trying to knock out Ukrainian units from occupied positions, where during a day he carried out six unsuccessful assaults of positions of Ukrainian soldiers. In Kur ini Ukrainian defenders repelled 16 Russian attacks, fighting continues. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kharkov direction, the Sever Group of Forces hit formations of the 92nd Air Assault Brigade of the AFU and 5th Border Detachment of the Ukrainian border police near Liptsy, Kazachya Lopan, and Slatino (Kharkov region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 60 troops, four motor vehicles, and a 122-mm D-30 howitzer. One ammunition depot was wiped out. The Zapad Group of Forces improved the tactical situation and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of 43rd, 53rd, 60th, 63rd, 67th mechanised brigades of the AFU, and 119th Territorial Defence Brigade near Novoosinovo, Bezmyatezhnoye (Kharkov region), Kirovsk, Ivanovka, Krasny Liman (Donetsk People's Republic), and Serebryansky forestry. Russian units repelled four counter-attacks launched by assault groups of the 14th, 116th mechanised brigades, 3rd Tank Brigade of the AFU, and 1st National Guard Brigade. The AFU losses amounted to up to 450 troops, three U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers, a Kozak armoured fighting vehicle, four motor vehicles, a 155-mm M198 howitzer and a 105-mm M119 gun made in the USA. Two Anklav-N electronic warfare stations and four ammunition depots were eliminated. The Yug Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front line and hit formations of the 28th, 54th mechanised brigades, 56th Motorised Infantry Brigade of the AFU, and 37th Marine Brigade near Konstantinovka, Kramatorsk, Andreyevka, and Slavyansk (Donetsk People's Republic). Three counter-attacks launched by units of the AFU 24th Mechanised Brigade and 76th Air Assault Brigade were repelled. The AFU losses amounted to more than 400 troops, two motor vehicles, and two U.S.-made 105-mm M119 guns. One missile and artillery depot was destroyed. As a result of successful actions, the Tsentr Group of Forces liberated Novoya Ilinka (Donetsk People's Republic) and defeated manpower and hardware of the 151st Mechanised Brigade of the AFU, 38th Marine Brigade, and 132nd Territorial Defence Brigade near Dzerzhinsk, Shcherbinovka, Leonidovka, and Dimitrov (Donetsk People's Republic). Russian units repelled ten counter-attacks launched by assault groups of the 53rd, 100th, 151st mechanised brigades, 59th Motorised Infantry Brigade, 25th Airborne Brigade, 49th Assault Battalion of the AFU, 35th Marine Brigade, and Lyut Assault Brigade of the National Police of Ukraine. The enemy lost up to 415 troops, seven motor vehicles, a 152-mm D-20 gun, and a 122-mm D-30 howitzer. The Vostok Group of Forces continued advancing to the depth of the enemy's defences and inflicted losses on formations of the 32nd Mechanised Brigade, 128th Mountain Assault Brigade of the AFU, and 241st Territorial Defence Brigade near Volnoye Pole, Komar (Donetsk People's Republic), and Temirovka (Zaporozhye region). Three counter-attacks launched by assault groups of the 23rd Mechanised Brigade and 110th Territorial Defence Brigade were repelled. The AFU losses amounted to up to 145 troops, two tanks, a U.S.-made MaxxPro armoured fighting vehicle, three motor vehicles, and a 152-mm Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system. The Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the 110th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU and 118th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Novoyakovlevka and Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 65 troops, three motor vehicles, and a 122-mm D-30 howitzer. A Bukovel-AD electronic warfare station was eliminated. Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces delivered strikes at infrastructure of military airfields, as well as engaged clusters of enemy manpower and military hardware in 144 areas. Air defence units shot down 54 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles. In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 649 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 36,773 unmanned aerial vehicles, 586 anti-aircraft missile systems, 19,515 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,492 MLRS combat vehicles, 18,631 field artillery guns and mortars, and 28,762 units of support military vehicles have been neutralised. Over the past 24 hours, Energodar and surrounding areas of the Zaporozhye NPP were attacked six times by copter-type unmanned aerial vehicles and shelled twice by tube artillery. All unmanned aerial vehicles were either destroyed by air defence units or suppressed by electronic warfare assets. As a result of the provocation, there are no casualties and damage. At the moment, the staff of the Zaporozhye NPP continues to work as usual, the radiological level around the NPP's facilities is normal. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 28 November 2024 - Day 1009 Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. "To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal] The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Defense Forces of Ukraine continue to withhold the pressure of the Russian occupation troops. The situation in the Pokrovsk and Kurakhivsk directions remains tense - the Russian enemy is focusing the main offensive efforts there. In addition, the occupiers are actively attacking the Kupyansky direction today. So far, 188 combat clashes have taken place. Today, Russia carried out two missile strikes using 97 missiles, 23 air strikes, dropping 44 cab. In addition, the Russian zombies launched for strikes over seven hundred kamikaze drones and carried out about 3,900 shells at the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements. In the Kharkiv direction, Russian terrorists 11 times stormed the positions of Ukrainian units in the areas of Vovchansk, Pacific and Deep. In addition, the aviation of the Russian occupiers struck the settlements of Liptsi and Neskuchne, using f Ukrainian air bombs. Twenty-f Ukrainian times Russian forces attacked Ukrainian positions in the Kupyansky direction near Figolivka, Kolisnikivka, Zagrizovoy, Golubivka, Kindrashivka, Green Grove, Rajgorodka, Lozova and Kruglyakivka. Three Russian attacks are ongoing so far. In the Lyman direction for today, Russian troops seven times attacked Ukrainian defenders in the areas of Tverdohlibovoye, Grekivka, Pershotravnevoye, Torsky, Yampolivka and Terniv. In the Kramators komu direction, Ukrainian warriors repelled five attempts of Russian zagarbnikiv to move forward in the areas of Time Yar, White Mountain and Stupochok. In the Torec 'komu direction, Ukrainian troops repelled five attacks of the Russian opponent in the area of Torec and Diliivka. Throughout the day on the pokrovskomu direction Russian occupiers 50 times attacked Ukrainian positions in the areas of mirolubivka, ray, fox, cool yaru, dachens kogo, yellow, milky, new labor and desert. There are 18 clashes so far. According to the available information, the casualties of the Russian occupying occupiers to date are 442 people killed and wounded, in addition two armored fighting vehicles, one mortar, two units of vehicles have been destroyed, and one car and an armored vehicle were also damaged. Today in the Kurakhiv direction, Russian forces made 42 attempts to advance. Mainly fighting take place near the settlements of Soncivka, Berestka, Novodmitrivka, Kurakhove, Dalne, Elizabethtivka, Romanivka, Antonivka, Uspenivka and Dachne. In this direction, 63 Russian occupiers were killed and 74 wounded, one tank, three battle armored vehicles destroyed, in addition two tanks and five battle armored vehicles damaged. In the Vremivsky direction today, Russian forces stormed the front edge of Ukrainian defense 20 times in the area of settlements Trudove, Vesely Gai, Konstantinopil, Novopil, Rozliv, Rozdolne, Dry Yala and Novodarivka. Russian forces did not carry out active actions in the orihiv and gulyajpils komu directions. In the Pridniprovsk direction, Russian forces carried out three unsuccessful assaults of the positions of Ukrainian units. Defense Forces of Ukraine continue operations in the Kursk direction. Russian opponent's aviation today caused 12 aviation strikes on Kur inih with the application of 22 cab. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kharkov direction, units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted losses on formations of the 92nd Air Assault Brigade of the AFU and 5th Border Detachment of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine near Liptsy, Kazachaya Lopan, and Slatino (Kharkov region). One counter-attack launched by an AFU assault detachment was repelled. The AFU losses amounted to up to 60 troops, two motor vehicles, and three 122-mm D-30 howitzers. One ammunition depot was wiped out. Units of the Zapad Group of Forces took new lines and positions. Losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of the 14th, 116th, 63rd, 67th mechanised brigades of the AFU, 119th Territorial Defence Brigade, and 1st National Guard Brigade near Kucherovka, Dvurechnoye, Zagryzovo (Kharkov region), Kirovsk, Ivanovka, and Seversk (Donetsk People's Republic). Three counter-attacks launched by AFU assault detachments were repelled. The AFU losses amounted to up to 480 troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, one UK-made 155-mm FH-70 howitzer, one 152-mm Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, and one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 gun. Two Anklav-N electronic warfare stations and three ammunition depots were wiped out. Units of the Yug Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front line. Losses were inflicted on formations of the 33rd Mechanised Brigade, 79th Air Assault Brigade, and 46th Airmobile Brigade of the AFU near Kurakhovo and Dachnoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses amounted to up to 330 troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, and two motor vehicles. Two ammunition depots were wiped out. As a result of active efforts, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the 100th Mechanised Brigade, 59th Motorised Infantry Brigade, 142nd Infantry Brigade of the AFU, 35th, 38th marine brigades, 14th National Guard Brigade and Lyut Assault Brigade of the National Police of Ukraine near Dzerzhinsk, Dimitrov, Grodovka, Krasnoye, Petrovka, Nikolayevka, Novoekonomicheskoye, and Lysovka (Donetsk People's Republic). Six counter-attacks launched by AFU assault detachments were repelled. The AFU losses amounted to up to 415 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, five motor vehicles, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, three 122-mm D-30 howitzers, one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 gun, and one 100-mm Rapira anti-tank gun. Units of the Vostok Group of Forces continued advancing to the depth of the AFU defences. Losses were inflicted on formations of the 23rd Mechanised Brigade of the AFU and 120th Territorial Defence Brigade near Razliv and Novoselka (Donetsk People's Republic). One counter-attack launched by an AFU assault detachment was repelled. The AFU losses amounted to up to 145 troops, four motor vehicles, two U.S.-made 155-mm M198 howitzers, one 152-mm D-20 gun, and one Bukovel-AD electronic warfare station. Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the 110th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU and 118th Territorial Defence Brigade near Novoyakovlevka and Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 75 troops, five motor vehicles, and one 152-mm D-20 gun. Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces struck infrastructure of military airfields, as well as engaged clusters of enemy manpower and military hardware in 146 areas. Air defence units shot down one Neptune guided missile and 49 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles. In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 649 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 36,882 unmanned aerial vehicles, 586 anti-aircraft missile systems, 19,520 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,492 MLRS combat vehicles, 18,647 field artillery guns and mortars, and 28,783 units of support military vehicles have been neutralised. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation also reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the operation to neutralise an enemy group, which broke into the territory of Kursk region. Units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted losses on formations of the 21st, 41st, 44th, 47th mechanised brigades, 17th Heavy Mechanised Brigade, 5th Tank Brigade, 80th, 82nd, 95th air assault brigades, 36th Marine Brigade, 112th, 116th, 117th, and 129th territorial defence brigades of the AFU near Aleksandriya, Viktorovka, Daryino, Kurilovka, Lebedevka, Leonidovka, Martynovka, Nizhny Klin, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Nikolsky, Novoivanovka, Plyokhovo, and Sverdlikovo. Operational-Tactical and Army aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the enemy near Ivashkovsky, Pervy Knyazhy, Kruglenkoye, Kurilovka, Lebedevka, Leonidovo, Malaya Loknya, Martynovka, Makhnovka, Nizhny Klin, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Nikolsky, Novaya Sorochina, Novoivanovka, Plyokhovo, Sverdlikovo, Cherkasskoye Porechnoye as well as Basovka, Belovody, Vorozhba, Zhuravka, Malaya Rybitsa, and Pavlovka in Sumy region. Over the past 24 hours, the AFU losses amounted to more than 250 troops. One infantry fighting vehicle, one armoured fighting vehicle, six motor vehicles, and five mortars were destroyed. One AFU serviceman surrendered. Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the AFU losses amounted to more than 36,260 troops, 223 tanks, 158 infantry fighting vehicles, 122 armoured personnel carriers, 1,200 armoured fighting vehicles, 1,044 motor vehicles, 304 artillery guns, 40 MLRS launchers, including 11 of HIMARS and six of MLRS made by the USA, 13 anti-aircraft missile launchers, seven transport-loading vehicles, 70 EW stations, 13 counter-battery warfare radars, four air defence radars, 27 units of engineering and other materiel, including 13 counterobstacle vehicles, one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, six armoured recovery vehicles, and one command post vehicle The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address MEDSIR, a leader in independent clinical research in oncology, strengthens its commitment to international collaboration and the exchange of scientific knowledge. Dr. Antonio Llombart-Cussac, Senior Scientific Lead at MEDSIR, delivered the lecture "Clinical Practice and Future Management of HR+/HER2- Breast Cancer," focusing on the challenges and advances in personalized treatment for this condition. Shanghai SIMOS 2024, whose seventh edition took place this week, is one of the most influential conferences in the field of oncology and clinical research in Asia. It is supported by the Shanghai Anti-Cancer Association and organized by the Cancer Hospital affiliated with Fudan University. BARCELONA, Spain, Nov. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MEDSIR, a leading company dedicated to advancing independent clinical research in oncology on an international level, participated in the 7th Shanghai International Medical Oncology Symposium (SIMOS) in China, one of the most prestigious academic events in the global oncology field. Through this, the company reaffirms its commitment to scientific advancement, improving breast cancer treatments worldwide, and fostering the exchange of knowledge across regions. The congress brought together prominent national and international experts, featuring special reports and in-depth discussions addressing the most pressing topics in modern oncology: including targeted therapies, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, combination treatments, and strategies for managing adverse drug reactions. During the event, Dr. Antonio Llombart-Cussac, Senior Scientific Lead at MEDSIR, presented on "Clinical Practice and Future Management of HR+/HER2- Breast Cancer." His presentation highlighted the most effective strategies for personalized treatments in this cancer subtype and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to optimize patient outcomes. Participating in this congress has been a great opportunity to share the advances we are achieving in Europe with the Chinese scientific community while learning from their innovative approaches. International collaboration is essential to bring knowledge to new markets, accelerate personalized treatment development, and ultimately provide more effective solutions for patients worldwide, said Dr. Javier Cortes, Senior Scientific Lead at MEDSIR. During the congress, Dr. Cortes visited Taizhou Hospital, where he shared insights into the latest innovations in clinical trials and underscored the importance of international collaboration. The event demonstrated how medical oncology is moving towards a more integrated and personalized approach to cancer treatment, promoting therapeutic strategies that combine precision, standardization, and adaptability. The congress, held from November 21 to 24, was sponsored by the Shanghai Anti-Cancer Association and organized by the Cancer Hospital affiliated with Fudan University. It also received support from entities such as the Committee of Multiple Primary and Unknown Tumors, the Committee for Tumor Heterogeneity and Individualized Treatment under the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association (CACA), and leading scientific publications, including Chinese Cancer Magazine, Tumor Imaging, and Anti-Cancer. MEDSIRs participation in international conferences like the 7th SIMOS reinforces its presence in key markets such as China and consolidates its position as a global leader in oncology research, strengthening its commitment to scientific innovation and the development of advanced cutting-edge cancer treatments. About MEDSIR Founded in 2012, MEDICA SCIENTIA INNOVATION RESEARCH S.L.(MEDSIR) stands out for its close collaboration with strategic partners to drive innovation in oncology research. Headquartered in Spain and the United States, the company manages clinical trials end-to-end, from study design to publication, leveraging a global network of experts and integrated technology to streamline the process. MEDSIR offers support for proof-of-concept studies and strategic approaches, allowing research partners to benefit from the best of both industry-led and investigator-initiated clinical research. With the aim of promoting independent research globally, MEDSIR has established a strategic alliance with Oncoclinicas, Brazil's leading oncology group with significant research potential in South America. For more information: www.medsir.org About Dr. Antonio Llombart-Cussac Dr. Antonio Llombart-Cussac is Senior Scientific Leader and co-founder of MEDSIR. He is also the Head of Medical Oncology at Arnau de Vilanova Hospital in Valencia, Spain. About Dr. Javier Cortes Dr. Javier Cortes is the worlds leading expert in HER2+ breast cancer and the fourth leading expert in breast cancer overall. He is Senior Scientific Lead in MEDSIR and founder and director of the International Breast Cancer Center (IBCC) in Barcelone. Dr. Cortes has authored over 400 publications. Press Contacts Global Brand Communication MEDSIR Sergio Aguilar, Global Brand & Communication Director +34 674 82 87 24 | sergio.aguilar@medsir.org +34 674 82 87 24 | sergio.aguilar@medsir.org Eduardo Martin Espallargas, Global Communication Manager +34 634 835 389 | eduardo.martin@medsir.org +34 634 835 389 | eduardo.martin@medsir.org Carles Berloso, International PR & Communications +34 677 49 75 23 | carles.berloso@medsir.org A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0a75c8b0-baca-41d2-a27d-b95c15603482 TORONTO, Nov. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clear Blue Technologies International Inc. (TSXV: CBLU) (FRANKFURT: OYA), the Smart Off-Grid Company, announces its financial results for the third quarter of 2024 (Q3 2024) ending September 30, 2024. A complete set of Financial Statements and Managements Discussion & Analysis (MD&A) has been filed at www.sedarplus.ca. All dollar amounts are denominated in Canadian dollars. The Company also provides a Corporate Update on the impact of delayed R&D grant payments. On a Trailing Four Quarter (TFQ) basis: Revenue was $4,308,920, a 24% increase from $3,466,183 in the corresponding previous period. Recurring revenue was $751,396 a 5% increase from $713,264 in the corresponding previous period. Gross Profit increased to $1,971,704 compared to $1,321,021 in the comparable period, a 49% increase. Gross margin percentage was 46% an increase over 37% with the comparative TFQ period. Non-IFRS Adjusted EBITDA for the period was ($2,576,228) as compared to ($2,618,881) for the previous period, a 2% improvement. For Q3 F2024: Revenue was $369,297, an 84% decrease from $2,273,377 in Q3 2023. Recurring revenue comprised $102,686 of the quarters revenue compared to $195,315 in Q3 2023, a 47% increase. Gross Profit for Q2 2024 was $169,323 compared to $850,588 for Q3 2023, an 80% decrease. Gross Margin percentage for the quarter was 46%. Non-IFRS Adjusted EBITDA was ($857,230) versus ($33,187) in Q3 2023. As of June 30, 2024, bookings increased to $3,154,015, an increase of 28%, when compared to $2,469,846 as of December 31, 2023. Corporate Update & Financial Outlook On October 28, 2024, Clear Blue announced that it had been advised that a large grant funding payment, which the company depends upon to fund its R&D program, was delayed and there was no assurance of a payment date. This issue impacted a number of additional short-term activities which the company had been working towards for funding. As a result, the Company is experiencing material cash flow difficulties and may be unable to make certain payments on time. Since this notification, the Company began attempting to find alternative sources of funding and to also undertake certain restructuring steps designed to improve the Company's cash position. This activity remains ongoing and while there have been numerous positive conversations, these actions are not yet concluded. In working with our secured and unsecured creditors, as well as with all our stakeholders in the company, management has a plan which, if concluded, would resolve the short- and medium-term cash flow pressures. Management believes that this plan will allow the Company to move forward in a positive way with solid cash flow, strong growth and future prospects. However, at this time, there can be no assurances yet that the restructuring goals will be fully achieved, and as a result the Company may not be able to continue as a going concern. The Company will provide updates to the progress around this as things become more definitive. Said Miriam Tuerk, CEO of Clear Blue, We will be very glad to see 2024 behind us. This year alone, government filibusters, satellite blow ups and Red Sea missiles were some of the events that affected our business negatively. There can be no other description other than to say our Q3 2024 results were extremely disappointing. We are working with all stakeholders and our sole focus now is to reorganize the Company such that we set the Company up for a very strong and positive 2025. And we plan to start off with strong first half. Please join our earnings call Friday morning at 11:00 am EDT to hear more. Registration Link https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_id0a_9DmTVWw-GEFlxl7Sg For more information, contact: Miriam Tuerk, Co-Founder and CEO +1 416 433 3952 miriam@clearbluetechnologies.com www.clearbluetechnologies.com/en/investors About Clear Blue Technologies International Clear Blue Technologies International, the Smart Off-Grid company, was founded on a vision of delivering clean, managed, wireless power to meet the global need for reliable, low-cost, solar and hybrid power for lighting, telecom, security, Internet of Things devices, and other mission-critical systems. Today, Clear Blue has thousands of systems under management across 37 countries, including the U.S. and Canada. (TSXV: CBLU) (FRA: 0YA) (OTCQB: CBUTF) Legal Disclaimer Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described in this news release. Such securities have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or any state securities laws, and, accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of persons in the United States or U.S. Persons, as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act, unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirements. Forward-Looking Statement This press release contains certain "forward-looking information" and/or "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only Clear Blues beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of Clear Blue's control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved". 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NEWARK, Del, Nov. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The acrylic acid market is witnessing significant growth owing to its widespread application in producing various industrial and consumer products. As a key raw material for manufacturing polymers, coatings, adhesives, and paints, acrylic acid has become indispensable for multiple end-use industries, including automotive, construction, and healthcare. The growing preference for superabsorbent polymers in hygiene products, such as diapers and sanitary napkins, has been a significant driver for the market. Additionally, advancements in adhesives and sealants, coupled with the increasing use of acrylic-based products in coatings and paints, continue to fuel market expansion. Global environmental concerns have also led to the development of bio-based acrylic acid, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional petrochemical derivatives. This innovation is creating new opportunities and reshaping the competitive dynamics in the industry. Increasing Demand for Water Treatment Polymers to Boost Growth Polymer derived from acrylic acid, such as polyacrylamide is used as a flocculent in the water treatment process, mineral processing, and detergents. Growing urbanization, coupled with the increasing emphasis of government towards water cleaning, is likely to propel the acrylic acid market due to the usage of acrylic acid to treat/recycle wastewater. Moreover, due to the government regulations, manufacturers are bound to treat the effluent before releasing it into sea and oceans, which leads to increase in demand for polyacrylamide, which indirectly creates a positive impact on the acrylic acid market. Adoption of Advanced Acrylic-based Polymers in Major End-use Industries Acrylic acid-based polymers have replaced conventionally used materials in major end-use industries, such as automotive, building and construction, electronics, and others. Acrylic acid-based elastomers such as AEM (Ethylene Acrylic Elastomers), are used as an alternative to synthetic rubber in various applications, such as an automotive gasket, hoses, and others. In addition, owing to the improved properties of AEM, such as strength, and resistance, among others, there is an increasing demand for acrylic acid from the polymer industry during the forecast period. Additionally, the rise in demand for methacrylate-based polymers for the manufacturing of lighting fixtures, glazing, automotive rear lights, and electronic displays has witnessed significant growth, which in turn, represents prominent growth in the acrylic acid market over the analysis period. Access the Complete Report for a Comprehensive Overview! https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/acrylic-acid-market Demand Analysis Adhesives and Sealants: Rising demand in construction and automotive sectors. Rising demand in construction and automotive sectors. Superabsorbent Polymers: Increased use in personal care and hygiene products. Increased use in personal care and hygiene products. Coatings and Paints: Growing applications in automotive and building infrastructure. Growing applications in automotive and building infrastructure. Bio-based Acrylic Acid: Emerging as a sustainable alternative, gaining traction. "The shift towards bio-based acrylic acid is a game-changer for the market, offering both environmental and economic advantages. Coupled with growing demand for superabsorbent polymers, the acrylic acid market is poised for steady growth over the next decade," says Nikhil Kaitwade, Associate Vice President at Future Market Insights (FMI) Increasing Demand for Super Absorbent Polymers (SAP) in Sanitary Pads Application Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) are desirable for sanitary products and diapers. They can often absorb their weight in liquid, making them ideal for use in water-absorbing applications, such as baby diapers, adult incontinence pads, absorbent medical dressings, and controlled release drugs. SAPs account for approximately 30% of the total acrylic acid demand in the global scenario. Superabsorbent polymers are prepared using acrylic acid and sodium hydroxide as raw materials to form polyacrylic acid. The feminine hygiene market, which includes tampons, sanitary napkins, menstrual cups, and vaginal health products, makes up a significant share of the superabsorbent polymers market. For instance, around USD 23.63 billion worth of sanitary napkins were sold globally in 2021. Governments in several countries, in collaboration with various non-profit organizations (NGOs), are undertaking initiatives to spread awareness among women about feminine hygiene, particularly in developing economies. Thus, increased sales of sanitary napkins are likely to fuel the market for acrylic acid. Overall, the increasing awareness about hygiene among all population groups is expected to promote the usage of superabsorbent polymers (diapers, pads, and sanitary napkins), which may augment the consumption of acrylic acid during the forecast period. Key Takeaways from Acrylic Acid Market Study The global acrylic acid market size is estimated to grow from USD 11,983 million in 2024 to USD 18,203.4 million by 2034 , at a CAGR of 4.3% during the forecast period. size is estimated to grow from to , at a during the forecast period. Asia-Pacific leads the market, driven by robust industrial growth in China, India, and Southeast Asia. leads the market, driven by robust industrial growth in China, India, and Southeast Asia. Superabsorbent polymers remain the dominant application segment, accounting for over 40% of the market share. remain the dominant application segment, accounting for over 40% of the market share. The adoption of bio-based acrylic acid is gaining momentum, driven by stringent environmental regulations. is gaining momentum, driven by stringent environmental regulations. Key players are investing in capacity expansions and R&D initiatives to meet growing demand. Acrylic Acid Market Trends and Restraints Assessment Market Trends Rising Adoption of Bio-based Alternatives: Increased focus on sustainability has led to the development and commercialization of bio-based acrylic acid, providing eco-friendly solutions for end-use industries. Growth in Hygiene Sector: Superabsorbent polymers, a key application of acrylic acid, are witnessing higher demand due to rising awareness about hygiene products globally. Infrastructure Development: The construction sector's expansion is driving the use of acrylic-based adhesives and paints. Market Restraints Volatility in Raw Material Prices: Fluctuations in the prices of crude oil and petrochemical derivatives impact the overall cost structure. Environmental Concerns: Traditional acrylic acid manufacturing processes are associated with carbon emissions, prompting regulatory pressures. Competitive Landscape in the Acrylic Acid Market Key players in the Acrylic Acid Market are actively focusing on capacity expansions, product innovation, and strategic collaborations to strengthen their market position. Major players include: Key Players of acrylic acid Industry BASF SE Arkema S.A. The Dow Chemical Company LG Chem Ltd. Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd. Evonik Industries AG Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation Sasol Limited Formosa Plastics Corporation Hexion Inc. SIBUR Holding Wanhua Chemical Group Co., Ltd. Shanghai Huayi Acrylic Acid Co., Ltd. Zhejiang Satellite Petrochemical Co., Ltd. Shandong Kaitai Petrochemical Co., Ltd. Jiangsu Sanmu Group Co., Ltd. Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. Reliance Industries Limited Saudi Acrylic Acid Company American Acryl L.P. Momentive Specialty Chemicals Inc. Rohm and Haas Company Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. These companies are investing in sustainable technologies and exploring partnerships to enhance their product portfolios and meet growing demand. Recent Developments BASF SE announced the expansion of its acrylic acid production facility in Ludwigshafen, Germany, to cater to the rising demand for hygiene products. Arkema Group launched bio-based acrylic acid derived from renewable feedstocks, emphasizing sustainability and reduced carbon footprint. Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd. invested in new production lines to increase its manufacturing capacity in Southeast Asia. LG Chem Ltd. entered into a strategic partnership to develop advanced superabsorbent polymers for next-generation hygiene applications. Acrylic Acid Market Report Scope and Regional Analysis Region 2024 Market Value (USD Million) 2034 Market Value (USD Million) CAGR (2024-2034) North America 3,124 4,567 3.8 % Europe 2,895 4,305 4.0 % Asia-Pacific 5,102 8,764 5.5 % Rest of the World 862 1,332 4.6 % Key Segments of Acrylic Acid Industry By Derivative: In terms of Derivative, the industry is divided into Acrylic Esters, Acrylic Polymers, and Other Derivatives. The Acrylic Esters segment is further divided into Methyl Acrylate, Ethyl Acrylate, Butyl Acrylate, and 2-Ethylhexyl Acrylate. The Acrylic Polymers segment is further divided into Superabsorbent Polymers (SAP), Water Treatment Polymers, and Acrylic Elastomers. By Acid Type: In terms of Acid Type, the industry is divided into Crude Acrylic Acid (CAA), and Glacial Acrylic Acid (GAA). By Source: In terms of Source, the industry is divided into Petroleum-based Acrylic Acid, and Bio-based Acrylic Acid. By Application: In terms of Derivative, the industry is divided into Construction Materials, Paints and Coatings, Water Treatment, Textiles, Detergents and Cleaning Agents, Personal Care Products, Diapers and Hygiene Products, Cosmetics, and Agricultural Chemicals. The Construction Materials segment is further divided into Pressure-sensitive Adhesives, and Construction Adhesives & Coatings. The Paints and Coatings Materials segment is further divided into Architectural Coatings, and Industrial Coatings. The Water Treatment Materials segment is further divided into Municipal Water Treatment, and Industrial Water Treatment. By Region: Key countries of North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, East Asia, South Asia, Middle East and Africa (MEA), have been covered in the report. Old Source: Acrylic Acid Market to Reach USD 22.6 Billion by 2032 - Future Market Insights, Inc. French Translation - Le marche de l'acide acrylique connait une croissance significative en raison de son application generalisee dans la production de divers produits industriels et de consommation. En tant que matiere premiere essentielle pour la fabrication de polymeres, de revetements, d'adhesifs et de peintures, l'acide acrylique est devenu indispensable pour de nombreuses industries d'utilisation finale, notamment l'automobile, la construction et la sante. La preference croissante pour les polymeres superabsorbants dans les produits d'hygiene, tels que les couches et les serviettes hygieniques, a ete un moteur important de l'expansion du marche. En outre, les progres realises dans le domaine des adhesifs et des produits d'etancheite, associes a l'utilisation croissante de produits a base d'acrylique dans les revetements et les peintures, continuent de stimuler l'expansion du marche. Les preoccupations environnementales mondiales ont egalement conduit au developpement dacide acrylique biosource, offrant une alternative durable aux derives petrochimiques traditionnels. Cette innovation cree de nouvelles opportunites et remodele la dynamique concurrentielle du secteur. Analyse de la demande Adhesifs et produits d'etancheite : une demande croissante dans les secteurs de la construction et de l'automobile. une demande croissante dans les secteurs de la construction et de l'automobile. Polymeres superabsorbants : utilisation accrue dans les produits de soins personnels et dhygiene. utilisation accrue dans les produits de soins personnels et dhygiene. Revetements et peintures : des applications croissantes dans les infrastructures automobiles et du batiment. des applications croissantes dans les infrastructures automobiles et du batiment. Acide acrylique biosource : une alternative durable qui gagne du terrain. Le passage a l'acide acrylique biosource change la donne pour le marche, offrant des avantages a la fois environnementaux et economiques. Associe a la demande croissante de polymeres superabsorbants, le marche de l'acide acrylique est sur le point de connaitre une croissance reguliere au cours de la prochaine decennie , declare Nikhil Kaitwade , vice-president associe chez Future Market Insights (FMI) Principaux points a retenir de letude de marche sur lacide acrylique La taille du marche mondial de l'acide acrylique devrait passer de 11 983 millions USD en 2024 a 18 203,4 millions USD en 2034 , a un TCAC de 4,3 % au cours de la periode de prevision. de l'acide acrylique devrait passer de a , a un au cours de la periode de prevision. LAsie-Pacifique est en tete du marche, tiree par une forte croissance industrielle en Chine, en Inde et en Asie du Sud-Est. est en tete du marche, tiree par une forte croissance industrielle en Chine, en Inde et en Asie du Sud-Est. Les polymeres superabsorbants restent le segment dapplication dominant, representant plus de 40 % des parts de marche. restent le segment dapplication dominant, representant plus de 40 % des parts de marche. Ladoption de lacide acrylique biosource prend de lampleur, poussee par des reglementations environnementales strictes. prend de lampleur, poussee par des reglementations environnementales strictes. Les principaux acteurs investissent dans lexpansion des capacites et dans des initiatives de R&D pour repondre a la demande croissante. Evaluation des tendances et des contraintes du marche de l'acide acrylique Tendances du marche Adoption croissante dalternatives biosourcees : Laccent accru mis sur la durabilite a conduit au developpement et a la commercialisation dacide acrylique biosource, offrant des solutions ecologiques pour les industries dutilisation finale. Croissance dans le secteur de l'hygiene : les polymeres superabsorbants , une application cle de l'acide acrylique, connaissent une demande accrue en raison de la sensibilisation croissante aux produits d'hygiene a l'echelle mondiale. Developpement des infrastructures : Lexpansion du secteur de la construction entraine lutilisation dadhesifs et de peintures a base dacrylique. Restrictions du marche Volatilite des prix des matieres premieres : Les fluctuations des prix du petrole brut et des derives petrochimiques ont un impact sur la structure globale des couts. Preoccupations environnementales : Les procedes traditionnels de fabrication dacide acrylique sont associes a des emissions de carbone, ce qui entraine des pressions reglementaires. Paysage concurrentiel sur le marche de l'acide acrylique Les principaux acteurs du marche de l'acide acrylique se concentrent activement sur l'expansion des capacites, l'innovation des produits et les collaborations strategiques pour renforcer leur position sur le marche. Les principaux acteurs comprennent : Principaux acteurs de l'industrie de l'acide acrylique BASF SE Arkema SA La societe Dow Chemical LG Chem Ltd. Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd. Evonik Industries AG Societe de portefeuille chimique Mitsubishi Sasol Limitee Societe Formosa Plastics Hexion Inc. Societe de portefeuille SIBUR Groupe chimique Wanhua Co., Ltd. Acide acrylique Shanghai Huayi Co., Ltd. Zhejiang Satellite Petrochimie Co., Ltd. Shandong Kaitai Petrochimique Co., Ltd. Jiangsu Sanmu Groupe Co., Ltd. Societe petroliere indienne Ltd. Reliance Industries Limited Societe saoudienne d'acide acrylique LP americain en acrylique Produits chimiques specialises Momentive Inc. Societe Rohm and Haas Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. Ces entreprises investissent dans des technologies durables et explorent des partenariats pour ameliorer leurs portefeuilles de produits et repondre a la demande croissante. Developpements recents BASF SE a annonce l'extension de son usine de production d'acide acrylique a Ludwigshafen, en Allemagne, pour repondre a la demande croissante de produits d'hygiene. Le groupe Arkema a lance un acide acrylique biosource issu de matieres premieres renouvelables, mettant l'accent sur la durabilite et la reduction de l'empreinte carbone. Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd. a investi dans de nouvelles lignes de production pour augmenter sa capacite de fabrication en Asie du Sud-Est. LG Chem Ltd. a conclu un partenariat strategique pour developper des polymeres superabsorbants avances pour des applications d'hygiene de nouvelle generation. Rapport sur le marche de l'acide acrylique Portee et analyse regionale Region Valeur marchande 2024 (en millions USD) Valeur marchande 2034 (en millions USD) TCAC (2024-2034) Amerique du Nord 3 124 4 567 3,8 % Europe 2 895 4 305 4,0 % Asie-Pacifique 5 102 8 764 5,5 % Reste du monde 862 1 332 4,6 % Principaux segments de l'industrie de l'acide acrylique Par derive : En termes de produits derives, l'industrie est divisee en esters acryliques, polymeres acryliques et autres derives. Le segment des esters acryliques est en outre divise en acrylate de methyle, acrylate d'ethyle, acrylate de butyle et acrylate de 2-ethylhexyle. Le segment des polymeres acryliques est divise en polymeres superabsorbants (SAP), polymeres de traitement de l'eau et elastomeres acryliques. Par type d'acide : En termes de type dacide, lindustrie est divisee en acide acrylique brut (CAA) et acide acrylique glacial (GAA). Par source : En termes de source, lindustrie est divisee en acide acrylique a base de petrole et en acide acrylique a base biologique. Par application : En termes de produits derives, l'industrie est divisee en materiaux de construction, peintures et revetements, traitement de l'eau, textiles, detergents et agents de nettoyage, produits de soins personnels, couches et produits d'hygiene, cosmetiques et produits chimiques agricoles. Le segment des materiaux de construction est divise en adhesifs sensibles a la pression et en adhesifs et revetements de construction. Le segment des peintures et des materiaux de revetement est subdivise en revetements architecturaux et en revetements industriels. Le segment des materiaux de traitement de l'eau est subdivise en traitement des eaux municipales et en traitement des eaux industrielles. Par region : Les principaux pays dAmerique du Nord, dAmerique latine, dEurope occidentale, dEurope de lEst, dAsie de lEst, dAsie du Sud, du Moyen-Orient et dAfrique (MEA) ont ete couverts dans le rapport. Authored By Nikhil Kaitwade (Associate Vice President at Future Market Insights, Inc.) has over a decade of experience in market research and business consulting. He has successfully delivered 1500+ client assignments, predominantly in Automotive, Chemicals, Industrial Equipment, Oil & Gas, and Service industries. His core competency circles around developing research methodology, creating a unique analysis framework, statistical data models for pricing analysis, competition mapping, and market feasibility analysis. His expertise also extends wide and beyond analysis, advising clients on identifying growth potential in established and niche market segments, investment/divestment decisions, and market entry decision-making. Nikhil holds an MBA degree in Marketing and IT and a Graduate in Mechanical Engineering. Nikhil has authored several publications and quoted in journals like EMS Now, EPR Magazine, and EE Times. Have a Look at Related Research Reports of Chemicals & Materials According to the Future Market Research analysis, the global dimethylolpropionic acid market will reach a valuation of USD 524.0 million by the end of the year 2023 and will register a significant growth rate of 6.4% CAGR during the projection period of 2023 to 2033. The market for Glacial Methacrylic Acid is anticipated to reach USD 1.94 billion by the end of 2032, up from USD 1.30 billion in 2022, rising at a CAGR of 4.53%. The global bio-based levulinic acid market is projected to have an average-paced CAGR of 9.78% during the forecast period. The current valuation of the market is USD 28.93 million in 2022. The global monochlorobenzene market is slated to reach USD 1,915.1 million in 2023 and is expected to accumulate a market value of USD 2,701.5 million by registering a CAGR of 3.5% in the forecast period 2023 to 2033. Electronic Grade Hydrofluoric Acid Market is anticipated to attain a value pool of USD 1.7 Billion by 2023-end. Global demand for Electronic Grade Hydrofluoric Acid is expected to rise at a CAGR of 7.5% to USD 3.5 Billion in 2033. The global acid-proof lining market size is projected to reach a valuation of USD 12,313.08 million in 2033 and exhibit growth at a CAGR of 6.2% in the forecast period. The market is anticipated to reach USD 6,747.17 million by the end of 2023. The worldwide lining market size is estimated to reach USD 4975.8 million in 2024. The industry is further set to grow at a CAGR of 4% through the forecast period. The sector is projected to attain a value of USD 7365.4 million by 2034. Sales of acid chlorides are projected to rise at 4.9% CAGR between 2022 and 2032, totaling a market valuation of USD 3,903 Million by the end of 2032. The thionyl chloride market size is projected to be worth USD 518.7 million in 2024 and USD 829.9 million by 2034. The industry is expected to experience revenue growth at a moderate CAGR of 4.8% during the forecast period. The acid dyes market is anticipated to attain a value pool of USD 1.5 billion by 2023-end. Global demand for acid dyes is expected to rise at a CAGR of 5.7% to USD 2.6 billion in 2033 About Future Market Insights (FMI) Future Market Insights, Inc. (ESOMAR certified, recipient of the Stevie Award, and a member of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce) offers profound insights into the driving factors that are boosting demand in the market. FMI stands as the leading global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, consulting, and events for the Packaging, Food and Beverage, Consumer Technology, Healthcare, Industrial, and Chemicals markets. With a vast team of over 400 analysts worldwide, FMI provides global, regional, and local expertise on diverse domains and industry trends across more than 110 countries. Join us as we commemorate 10 years of delivering trusted market insights. Reflecting on a decade of achievements, we continue to lead with integrity, innovation, and expertise. Contact Us: Future Market Insights Inc. Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive, Suite 401, Newark, Delaware - 19713, USA T: +1-347-918-3531 For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Website: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com LinkedIn| Twitter| Blogs | YouTube CALGARY, Alberta, Nov. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acceleware Ltd. (Acceleware or the Company) (TSX-V: AXE), a leading innovator of transformative technologies targeting the decarbonization of industrial process heat, today announced the pending departure of Ms. Tracy Grierson, its Chief Financial Officer, to pursue other career opportunities, after nearly six years of dedicated service with the Company. Ms. Grierson has served as Accelewares fractional CFO since 2019. She will assist the Company to ensure minimal disruption and a successful transition of her duties prior to her departure, slated for mid-December. Acceleware President and CEO, Geoff Clark, stated, Tracy has been a rock-solid performer as CFO and a great asset to the Company. She will be missed by her fellow employees and Executive team members. Board Chair Bohdan Romaniuk added that the Board was likewise sad to hear of Ms. Griersons planned departure from the Company, but is very grateful to have benefited from her contributions to the team over these past several years. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors. Said Ms. Grierson, I am proud of what we have accomplished in my years here, and this was not an easy decision to make. It has been an absolute pleasure working at Acceleware. I will miss working with the team, and wish the Company all the best. If the Company is unable to find a replacement for Ms. Grierson prior to her departure, then Accelewares Chief Operating Officer, Mike Tourigny, will assume the CFOs duties on an interim and temporary basis until a new CFO is hired. Mr. Tourigny, a 30-year veteran of the ICT industry, holds an MBA from the University of Calgary and a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from the University of British Columbia. Mr. Tourigny is financially literate, as defined in National Instrument 52-110 Audit Committees and required by TSXV Policy 3.1. About Acceleware Acceleware is an advanced electromagnetic (EM) heating company with highly scalable EM solutions for large industrial applications. The Companys solutions provide an opportunity to economically electrify and decarbonize industrial process heat applications previously considered difficult to abate, which could have a significant impact on global GHG emissions. Acceleware is piloting RF XL, its patented low-cost, low-carbon EM thermal production technology for heavy oil and oil sands that is materially different from any heavy oil recovery technique used today. The Company is also working with a consortium of world-class potash partners on a pilot project using its patented and field proven Clean Tech Inverter (CTI) to decarbonize drying of potash ore and other minerals. Acceleware is actively developing partnerships for EM heating of other industrial applications in mining, steel, agriculture, cement, hydrogen and other clean fuels. Acceleware and Saa Dene Group (co-founded by Jim Boucher) have created Acceleware | Kisastwew to raise the profile, adoption, and value of Acceleware technologies. The partnership is intended to improve the environmental and economic performance of industry by supporting ideals that are important to Indigenous peoples, including respect for land, water, and clean air. Acceleware is a public company listed on Canadas TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol AXE. Disclaimers This news release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as expects, anticipates, plans, continues, budget, scheduled, forecasts, estimates, believes or intends or variations or negatives of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results may or could, would, might, shall or will be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, statements relating to the departure date of the CFO. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the Company. The material facts and assumptions include projected departure date. Actual results may vary from the forward-looking information in this news release due to certain material risk factors. The Company cautions the reader that the above list of risk factors is not exhaustive and additional risk factors risk factors are described in detail in Accelewares continuous disclosure documents, which are filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Due to the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For further information: Geoff Clark, CEO Tel: +1 (403) 249-9099 geoff.clark@acceleware.com Vancouver, BC, Nov. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Demesne Resources Ltd. (CSE:DEME) (OTCQB:DEMRF) (Demesne or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has completed the first tranche (the First Tranche) of its previously announced non-brokered private placement financing (the Offering). Pursuant to the First Tranche, the Company issued 1,146,000 common shares of the Company (Common Shares), at a price of $0.25 per Common Share for gross proceeds of $286,500. The Company plans to complete a second tranche of the Offering, for gross proceeds of up to $1,713,500 in December 2024. In connection with the First Tranche of the Offering, the Company paid finders fees to eligible finders consisting of $8,680 in cash and 34,720 Common Share purchase warrants (the Finders Warrants). Each Finders Warrant is exercisable to acquire one Common Share of capital of the Company at an exercise price of $0.25 per Common Share for a period of 12-months. Closing of the Offering is subject to a number of conditions, including receipt of all necessary corporate and regulatory approvals, including the Canadian Securities Exchange (the CSE). Closing of the Offering is also conditional upon the Company and IMA-1, LLC (the Optionor) entering into an option agreement (the Option Agreement), further to the letter of intent entered between the Company and the Optionor as announced in the Companys news release of October 22, 2024. On November 6, 2024, the Company announced that it had entered into the Option Agreement with the Optionor. Pursuant to the Option Agreement, the Optionor will grant to the Company an option to acquire 100% interest in the IMA Mine Project located in East-Central Idaho, USA (the IMA Property). Please refer to the Companys news releases dated October 22, 2024 and November 6, 2024 for additional details regarding the Option Agreement and the IMA Property. The Company will use the net proceeds from the Offering to fund certain payments pursuant to the Option Agreement with the IMA Mine Project, certain payments pursuant to an option agreement in connection with the Star Project, work program related expenses, and for general working capital purposes. All securities issued in connection with the First Tranche are subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities legislation. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. ABOUT DEMESNE RESOURCES LTD. Demesne Resources Ltd. is a British Columbia based company involved in the acquisition and exploration of magnetite mineral properties. The Company's sole property is the Star Project, consisting of five contiguous mineral titles covering an area of approximately 4,615.75 hectares located in the Skeena Mining Division, British Columbia, Canada. The Company has entered into an option agreement pursuant to which it is entitled to earn an undivided 100% interest in the Star Project. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Murray Nye CEO For further information, please contact: Murray Nye, CEO Email: ir@demesneresources.com Phone: +1 (416) 300-7398 Social Media Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/demesneresources/ X: https://x.com/demesneresource Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DemesneResources Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/demesneresources/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@demesneresources The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. This press release includes "forward-looking information" that is subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Such statements represent the Companys current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations. SEOUL, KOREA, Nov. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HEROWORKS (https://www.heroworks.co.kr), a specialist in hospitality technology, has announced that it is entering a collaborative phase with a global hotel IT company that provides various solutions, including PMS (Property Management System), CMS (Channel Management System), and booking engines. - Enhancing Competitive Edge through Systematic Acquisition and Management of Global Hotel Data - Advancing HEROWORKS' Revenue Management System (RMS) through Integrated Systems Partnership This collaboration focuses on securing a competitive advantage in hotel data management and enhancing operational efficiency through the integration of both companies' systems. Through this partnership, HEROWORKS plans to expand the scope of data collection, analysis, and processing to include international hotel data, thereby reinforcing its position as a data-centric company. By integrating systems with the global IT partner, HEROWORKS anticipates significantly enhancing its Revenue Management System (RMS) functionalities, substantially improving hotel operational efficiency. Meanwhile, the global hotel IT company intends to enter the Korean market actively based on this collaboration. They plan to build customized systems that reflect the specific needs of the Korean hotel industry, aiming to expand their market share accordingly. A representative from HEROWORKS commented, This collaboration will serve as a catalyst for accelerating the digital transformation of the hotel industry by combining our technical expertise and professional capabilities. We aim to develop a mutually growth-oriented model in Korea and the global market. Meanwhile, HEROWORKS is recognized for providing specialized solutions in hotel revenue management, including AI-based room pricing management systems and review management systems, driving digital innovation within the lodging industry. In addition, HEROWORKS supplies customized data to companies, educational institutions, research institutes, and local governments that require tourism and lodging data. By providing data to platforms such as the Korea Tourism Data Lab operated by the Korea Tourism Organization and the Korea Maritime Institute, HEROWORKS actively supports domestic tourism and lodging-related businesses in building digital infrastructures and enhancing their competitiveness. Social Links YouTube: https://youtu.be/e1kOthMDeUo?feature=shared Blog: https://blog.naver.com/datamenity Media Contact Brand: HEROWORKS Contact: Planning & Marketing Team Email: help@heroworks.co.kr Website: https://www.heroworks.co.kr MANILA, Philippines, Nov. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Web3GP (WGPX) unleashes the " Ultimate Web3GP Manila Challenge, combining adrenaline-fueled sim racing, rewarding gameplay and a high-tech gadget giveaway, all in one epic event. Running from Dec 1st to 14th , Ultimate Web3GP takes place both onsite and online, catering to sim racers, gamers as well as general web3 enthusiasts. The event competition features an attractive prize pool of $2,000 USDT, 10 million LICX tokens and 5 high-performance DePIN XForge smartphones. Race-to-Earn Manila Ultimate Web3GP is hosted at Formula One-themed Monza Barcade in Metro Manila, known for its state-of-the-art racing simulation gear. The premier Web3 sim racing competition welcomes racers of all skill levels, featuring Rookie, Intermediate and Expert categories. The event culminates in a showdown on December 14 when the Top 16 drivers in each category vie for $2,000 USDT, 5 million LICX tokens and 3 high-performance DePIN smartphones. Tap-to-Earn or Join-to-Win for Even More Rewards For Web3 gamers and communities, Ultimate Web3GP offers up 2 more categories to earn or win. Tap-to-Earn Telegram game LICX.IO provides an additional 5 million LICX tokens for top scorers and active participants. Referrals will also earn extra token bonuses and rewards. The XForge Giveaway is a lucky draw that features DePIN smartphone prizes. Packed with cutting-edge features like an Octa-Core CPU, 5000mAh battery, and 8GB RAM, XForge smartphones are the first high-performance DePIN node-operated phones that allow users to mine and earn tokens, poised to be a fan favorite amongst Web3 communities. Event Details Date : December 114, 2024 : December 114, 2024 Venue : Onsite: Monza Barcade, The View Deck, Arcovia, Pasig, Metro Manila, Philippines Online: LICX.IO Telegram Game and XForge Giveaway : Registration: https://web3gp.io/WPGPX Ultimate Web3GP Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCdEbSAUgoc&feature=youtu.be About Web3GP (WGPX) Web3 GP was launched in 2024 as a groundbreaking supercar sim racing game that leverages Play-to-Earn GameFi technology. By bringing sim racing into Web3, WGPX paves the way for a new era of accessible, global motorsports that anyone can be a part of. Sim Racers earn $WGPX inscriptions representing in-game assets as rewards. Official Links Web3GP Website: https://web3gp.io/ Web3GP on X: https://x.com/WGPX_Racing Web3GP Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@WGPX Web3GP Telegram Channel: https://t.me/+hrQGKYBQj0kwODk9 Media Contact pr@yourPRstrategist.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e8f64ce0-d6ee-4e07-ad91-6af65c32b30c KHANH HOA, Vietnam, Nov. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nexif Ratch Energy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Khanh Hoa Department of Planning and Investment to collaborate for the development of the 102MW Nexif Energy Khanh Hoa 1 Wind Power Project. Nexif Ratch Energy obtained a survey license in May 2021, installed 2 on-site met masts in January 2022 and March 2023, and completed a bankable energy yield assessment. The project is now ready for the next stage of development. It will be the first wind power project in Khanh Hoa province. This along with 9 solar projects in operation, will significantly improve the provinces energy mix from renewable resources. With an estimated investment of USD 155 million, the Project is expected to generate 312,500 MWh of clean energy annually. Upon completion, it will provide significant benefits to local industries and residents, including the creation of over 100 jobs and substantial tax revenues during the construction and operational phases. The MoU highlights Khanh Hoa Province's ambition to become a leading economic hub by 2030, with a strong focus on development of sustainable infrastructure and Nexif Ratch Energy's commitment to expanding its renewable projects in Vietnam building on a proven track record. Cyril Dissescou, CEO of Nexif Ratch Energy, stated, We look forward to fostering a cooperative relationship in supporting the research, investment, and permitting processes for the Nexif Energy Khanh Hoa 1 Wind Power Project. The MoU reflects our continued commitment to expanding our renewable energy portfolio in Vietnam, with Khanh Hoa remaining a key focus for future investments. Matthew Bartley, Chairman of the Development Committee of Nexif Ratch Energy, added This partnership marks a significant milestone in the provinces energy transformation. The Nexif Energy Khanh Hoa 1 Wind Power Project aligns our strategic vision to enhance energy security through renewable sources and the provinces objectives to drive economic growth while advancing environmental agenda. Nexif Ratch Energy is a leading Independent Power Producer, specializing in renewable energy, with a strong presence in Vietnam and the Philippines. In Vietnam, the Company owns and operates two hydroelectric power projects and has a sizeable pipeline of onshore wind projects and solar projects. This positions the Company to benefit from the upcoming regulatory framework for renewable energy projects, which is expected to be issued by the Vietnam Government. This new framework will provide greater clarity for independent developers after a prolonged period of provisional arrangements. The Company is confident in Vietnams renewable energy sector prospect and sustained growth. About Nexif Ratch Energy: Nexif Ratch Energy is a renewable energy company that originates, acquires, develops, constructs, and operates clean-energy power projects in the Asia Pacific region. Headquartered in Singapore with regional offices across Southeast Asia, the Company has a 378 MW portfolio of operating, under construction and shovel ready hydro, solar and wind assets and a development pipeline of wind, solar, and energy storage totaling 3.6 GW. Nexif Ratch Energy is owned 51% by Nexif Energy (Singapore) and 49% by RATCH Group (Thailand). Chariya Poopisit Nexif Ratch Energy communications@nexifratch.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e9b58703-454f-464a-876d-a23e67f77ec4 Pluxee acquires Beneficio Facil in Brazil and reinforces its employee mobility offer Pluxee to reinforce its strong position in Brazil by acquiring 100% of Beneficio Facil, a Brazilian provider of employee mobility benefits Transaction accretive to Recurring EBITDA margin at Group level from the first year Operation to be fully funded from existing financial resources Paris: November 29, 2024 // Pluxee (the Group), a global player in Employee Benefits and Engagement, today announces that it has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of Beneficio Facil, a provider of mobility solutions for public transport in Brazil, a growing and underpenetrated market in which mobility benefits for employees are mandatory. The agreement is subject to approval from the Central Bank of Brazil (BACEN). With this new acquisition, Pluxee continues to deliver on its strategic growth plan, expanding in the mobility sector and enhancing its comprehensive suite of employee benefits in a key market. This acquisition follows a long-standing partnership between both companies. Together, Pluxee and Beneficio Facil will further leverage the existing transport operators network and expand the penetration of mobility benefits in Brazil, especially in the small and medium enterprises segment. Beneficio Facil is a top-rated platform that provides essential transport services to Brazilian employees, addressing an available market valued at over 20 billion. Founded in Sao Paulo in 2004 as a technology company dedicated to providing commuter benefits, it integrates transportation and third-party food benefits into a comprehensive solution for Human resources managers. With over 7.1 million consumers, Pluxee is one of the leading providers of Employee Benefits and Engagement in Brazil. The Group expects to achieve substantial growth synergies from the integration of Beneficio Facil, identifying a strong opportunity to drive additional revenues through cross selling to its existing client base. The transaction will be entirely financed through existing financial resources, ensuring minimal effect on leverage. Aurelien Sonet, CEO of Pluxee, commented: Pluxee has strong development ambitions in the Brazilian Employee Benefits market. The acquisition of Beneficio Facil will allow us to seamlessly integrate the mandatory mobility benefit into our comprehensive suite of solutions. By addressing the growing demand for innovative transport solutions, this operation will contribute to foster client retention and increase cross-selling opportunities. We expect the transaction to be accretive on the EBITDA margin from the first year. After many years of successful collaboration, we look forward to officially welcoming Beneficio Facil to Pluxee. About Pluxee Pluxee is a global player in employee benefits and engagement that operates in 29 countries. Pluxee helps companies attract, engage, and retain talent thanks to a broad range of solutions across Meal & Food, Wellbeing, Lifestyle, Reward & Recognition, and Public Benefits. Powered by leading technology and more than 5,000 engaged team members, Pluxee acts as a trusted partner within a highly interconnected B2B2C ecosystem made up of more than 500,000 clients, 36 million consumers and 1.7 million merchants. Conducting business for more than 45 years, Pluxee is committed to creating a positive impact on local communities, supporting wellbeing at work for employees and protecting the planet. About Beneficio Facil Founded in 2004, Beneficio Facil offers a top-rated platform for commuter benefits (Vale Transport, or VT), integrating transport and third-party food & meal benefits into a one-stop-shop solution for HR managers. Beneficio Facil simplifies the acquisition and management of VT through a technology-driven approach that removes barriers and streamlines processes, making benefits management as effortless as possible for companies. Beneficio Facil ranks among the largest companies in the community benefit industry in Brazil, with a dedicated team of approximately 100 employees. For more information: www.pluxeegroup.com Contacts Media Cecilia de Pierrebourg +33 6 03 30 46 98 cecilia.depierrebourg@pluxeegroup.com Analysts and Investors Pauline Bireaud + 33 6 22 58 83 51 pauline.bireaud@pluxeegroup.com Forward-looking statements This press release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the Group's intentions, current beliefs, expectations and assumptions, including, without limitation, assumptions regarding the Group's future business strategies and the environment in which the Group operates, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors beyond the Group's control, which may cause the Group's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include those discussed in Pluxee's Fiscal 2024 Annual Report, filed on October 31, 2024 with the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (Autoriteit Financiele Markten, AFM) and the French Autorite des Marches Financiers, and available in the 'Investors Financial Results and Publications' section of the Group website: www.pluxeegroup.com. Accordingly, readers of this press release are cautioned on relying on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and Pluxee Group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements included in this press release to reflect any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based. Disclaimer This press release does not contain or constitute an offer of securities for sale or an invitation or inducement to invest in securities in France, the United States, or any other jurisdiction. Attachment Albus Health Device Detects Early Warning Signs of Child Asthma Attacks Up To Five Days Before Onset Research presented at British Thoracic Society Winter Meeting demonstrates potential for revolutionary shift in respiratory care Technology set to transform respiratory clinical trials: single device delivers continuous endpoint data across multiple parameters with minimal patient burden OXFORD, UK; November 29, 2024 -- Albus Health, the healthcare technology company pioneering monitoring of nocturnal health parameters including cough and breathing patterns, announces results from a clinical study at the British Thoracic Society Winter Meeting 2024 this week. The data revealed that Albus Home, the companys AI-powered, innovative non-contact monitoring device with advanced algorithms, can detect warning signs of asthma attacks in children up to five days before they occur, potentially transforming how respiratory conditions are managed globally. The groundbreaking study, conducted at Birmingham Children's Hospital and Royal Brompton Hospital, demonstrated that the Albus Home device successfully identified significant changes in children's respiratory health days before they required emergency steroid treatment for asthma attacks. This early warning window could provide crucial time for medical intervention, potentially preventing emergency hospitalisations and improving patient outcomes. "For the first time, we have technology that can reliably monitor children while they sleep, without any disruption to their normal routine," said Dr. Prasad Nagakumar, Director for Research at Birmingham Children's Hospital and lead researcher on the study. "The device's ability to detect changes up to five days before an attack represents a potential paradigm shift in asthma management, offering a window of opportunity for early intervention that simply hasn't existed before." Night-time symptoms are crucial early warning signs of respiratory disease deterioration, yet until now, healthcare providers have remained blind to at-home symptoms while patients and carers often identify deterioration too late. The Childhood Home Asthma Monitoring Project (CHAMP) study recruited 100 children with asthma. The researchers analysed 47 asthma attacks across 28 children, finding that nocturnal cough frequency and respiratory rate began increasing five days before attacks occurred. In earlier studies, the device achieved clinical-grade accuracy, with 98.3% accuracy in respiratory rate measurement and 99% correlation in cough detection against gold standards. Following insights from the study and feedback from participants and carers, Albus has developed a next-generation device that also measures heart rate, sleep parameters and air quality metrics. The devices unique set of sensors, along with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular connectivity, unlocks unprecedented opportunities in remote patient monitoring. "This study validates our mission to revolutionise respiratory care through passive monitoring and early detection," said Mikesh Udani, CEO of Albus Health. "Our technology has the potential to transform both patient care and clinical trials for several chronic diseases. By providing objective, continuous monitoring data, we can help pharmaceutical companies demonstrate response to treatment more efficiently while generating valuable insights for future drug development." The ability to detect and measure these subtle respiratory changes with such precision represents a major advance for both patient care and drug development. While current clinical trials rely heavily on subjective symptom reporting and limited spot-checks of respiratory function, the Albus Home device provides continuous, real-world data throughout the night exactly when respiratory symptoms typically worsen. This has significant implications for respiratory drug development, where poor quality data collection and unreliable symptom reporting often necessitate larger, longer, and more expensive clinical trials. The Albus Home device offers pharmaceutical companies the ability to capture objective respiratory and sleep endpoints continuously, which can be used to bring new classes of therapies to asthma patients, monitor patient outcomes for post approval studies, and expand indications and labels for existing drugs. Albus Home has already been deployed commercially to collect real world evidence on treatment response in a US-based Phase IV trial by a major pharmaceutical company. Albus is in advanced negotiations with several additional partners, highlighting strong industry confidence in the technology's potential to transform both patient care and clinical research. Albus is now focused on expanding its clinical evidence base and set of parameters monitored, while scaling its platform to address the growing global burden of respiratory disease. For more information about Albus Health and its unique respiratory monitoring technology, visit www.albushealth.com. This study was funded through The Artificial Intelligence in Health and Care Award, one of the NHS AI Lab programmes. The competitive award scheme is run by DHSC. The AI Award has made funding available to accelerate the testing and evaluation of artificial intelligence technologies which meet the aims set out in the NHS Long Term Plan. In addition to Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital and the Royal Brompton Hospital, partners include Imperial College London, Asthma + Lung UK, and Health Innovation Oxford. About Albus Health Albus Health, a spin-off from the University of Oxford, is pioneering nocturnal respiratory insights through its advanced non-contact monitoring system. The company has developed a revolutionary technology that addresses significant unmet needs in both clinical trials and respiratory care, where the inability to reliably monitor patients whilst they are in bed leads to missed early warnings of severe attacks and compromised clinical development data. The company's bedside device combines proprietary hardware with advanced AI algorithms to deliver automated, clinical-grade insights with unprecedented accuracy in real-world settings. With its first pharmaceutical contract secured and multiple trials underway at leading institutions, Albus Health is positioned to transform respiratory care from reactive to predictive, while significantly enhancing the efficiency of global respiratory clinical trials. The company's initial focus on respiratory conditions provides a clear path to commercial success, with potential for expansion into other chronic conditions through its established hardware and software platforms. For Media enquires: Sukaina Virji, Kate Hall Albus@icrhealthcare.com Dublin, Nov. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Smart Crop Scouting and Smart Spraying Market - A Global and Regional Analysis: Focus on Market by Application, Product, and Region - Analysis and Forecast, 2024-2034" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global smart crop scouting and smart spraying market, initially valued at $5.33 billion in 2024, is poised for substantial growth, projected to surge to $19.55 billion by 2034, marking a remarkable compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.86% over the period from 2024 to 2034. This growth has been driven by farmers' increasing demand for precision farming techniques that enhance sustainability and maximize crop yields. By integrating advanced technologies such as sensors, drones, and artificial intelligence, smart crop scouting and smart spraying enable farmers to manage their fields more efficiently and precisely. The impact of the smart crop scouting and smart spraying market on the agricultural industry is transformative, reshaping how farming operations are managed and executed. These technologies are driving significant improvements in efficiency, sustainability, and profitability, with far-reaching implications for farmers, agribusinesses, and the broader food supply chain. One of the most notable impacts is the optimization of crop management practices. By utilizing advanced tools such as drones, sensors, and data analytics, farmers can now monitor crop health with greater accuracy and respond proactively to issues such as pests, diseases, and nutrient deficiencies. This real-time, data-driven approach reduces the guesswork traditionally associated with scouting, enabling more precise interventions and ultimately leading to higher crop yields. Smart spraying technologies are having a similarly profound impact by revolutionizing how chemicals, such as pesticides and herbicides, are applied. Rather than using blanket treatments across entire fields, farmers can now use targeted spraying solutions that minimize the use of inputs, lowering costs and reducing environmental harm. This shift toward precision application is critical in addressing both economic and ecological challenges facing modern agriculture, helping to protect natural resources while maintaining productivity. The widespread adoption of these technologies is also leading to a greater degree of automation in farming. As systems for crop monitoring and spraying become more advanced, farmers are increasingly being able to automate routine tasks, freeing up time and labor for other essential activities. This trend is expected to reduce labor costs and increase operational efficiency, making farming more scalable and sustainable in the long term. Moreover, the smart crop scouting and smart spraying market is catalyzing the development of a new ecosystem of agricultural services. From predictive analytics platforms to autonomous machinery, a growing number of technology providers are emerging to support the evolving needs of the farming community. This has opened opportunities for agribusinesses to diversify their offerings, integrate new technologies into their existing portfolios, and create value-added services for farmers. On a broader level, these advancements are helping to enhance food security by improving the productivity and resilience of farming systems. In the face of global challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, and rising demand for food, smart technologies offer a viable solution to produce more with less, supporting sustainable farming practices that are better suited to the changing environment. Market Segmentation Segmentation by Application Smart Crop Scouting Market: Weed Detection, Disease and Damage Detection, Pest Detection, Nutrient Analysis, and Others Smart Spraying Market: Nutrient Application, Crop Protection Chemical Application, and Herbicide Application The pest detection segment is one of the prominent application segments in the global smart crop scouting market, and the crop protection chemical application segment is one of the prominent application segments in the global smart spraying market. Segmentation by Product Smart Crop Scouting Market: Equipment, Software Smart Spraying Market: Tractor Mounted and Self-Propelled Sprayers, Robotic Sprayers, and Drone Sprayers The global smart crop scouting market is estimated to be led by software in terms of product in 2033, and the global smart spraying market is estimated to be led by drone sprayers in terms of product in 2033. Recent Developments in the Global Smart Crop Scouting and Smart Spraying Market In May 2024, Case IH, a U.S.-based agricultural machinery manufacturer, made a notable entry into the agricultural drone sector with the launch of two new drone models, developing its presence in the smart spraying market. These drones are designed to improve the precision and efficiency of crop management, particularly in spraying applications. By integrating advanced technology, Case IH aims to offer farmers more effective tools for crop monitoring and pesticide application, reflecting the growing importance of drones in modern agriculture. In April 2023, Bosch BASF Smart Farming, in collaboration with AGCO Corporation, announced to introduce smart spraying technology in North America by December 2024, providing 24/7 precision spraying capabilities and integrated digital tools for better farm management and efficiency. These technologies, integrated with Fendt Rogator sprayers (leading sprayer brand of AGCO), will offer advanced herbicide savings and precision weed control, which is increasingly important for optimizing crop yields and sustainability. Demand - Drivers and Limitations The following are the demand drivers for the global smart crop scouting and smart spraying market: Necessity for Advancements in Agricultural Methods Strategic Impact of Global Trade and Market Integration on Agricultural Technology Adoption Rising Need to Increase Crop Production The market is expected to face some limitations as well due to the following challenges: High Costs Hindering Widespread Adoption of Advanced Farming Technologies Compatibility with Existing Equipment Key Market Players and Competition Synopsis The companies profiled have been selected based on inputs gathered from primary experts, analyzing company coverage, product portfolio, and market penetration. The global smart crop scouting and smart spraying market has been studied and analyzed with a multi-faceted approach as it broadly covers two distinct markets, i.e., smart crop scouting market and smart spraying market. The objective of augmenting both markets is to provide clarity on how smart spraying activity is considered in response to smart crop scouting. The report aims to bring clarity to the minds of crop growers, especially about how both smart crop scouting and smart spraying go hand in hand. The global smart crop scouting and smart spraying market has been segmented by different applications and products. Some of the prominent established names in the Smart Crop Scouting and Smart Spraying market are: Semios Bushel Climate LLC (Bayer AG) Cropin Technology Solutions Private Limited BASF Corteva DJI Trimble Inc. AGCO Deere & Company AGRIVI Robert Bosch AG Leader Technology Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 167 Forecast Period 2024 - 2034 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $5.33 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2034 $19.55 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 13.8% Regions Covered Global Key Topics Covered: 1 Markets 1.1 Trends: Current and Future Impact Assessment 1.1.1 Trends: Overview 1.1.2 Technological Advancements and Increasing Adoption Rate for Precision Farming 1.1.3 Drones Revolutionizing Precision Farming: Enhancing Efficiency, Sustainability, and Reducing Costs in Smart Agriculture 1.1.4 Emerging Imaging and Data Collection Technologies 1.2 Supply Chain Overview 1.3 Research and Development Review 1.4 Stakeholder Analysis 1.5 Startup Landscape 1.6 Market Dynamics Overview 2 Application 2.1 Application Segmentation 2.2 Application Summary 2.3 Smart Crop Scouting and Smart Spraying Market (by Application) 2.4 Smart Crop Scouting Market (by Application) 2.4.1 Weed Detection 2.4.2 Disease and Damage Detection 2.4.3 Pest Detection 2.4.4 Nutrient Analysis 2.4.5 Others (Crop Health Monitoring, Soil Moisture Assessment) 2.5 Smart Spraying Market (by Application) 2.5.1 Nutrient Application 2.5.2 Crop Protection Chemical Application 2.5.3 Herbicides 3 Products 3.1 Product Segmentation 3.2 Product Summary 3.2.1 Smart Crop Scouting Market (by Product) 3.2.2 Smart Spraying Market (by Product) 3.3 Smart Crop Scouting and Smart Spraying Market (by Product) 3.4 Smart Crop Scouting Market (by Product) 3.4.1 Equipment Scouting 3.4.1.1 Robots 3.4.1.2 Drones/UAVs 3.4.1.3 Sensors 3.4.2 Software Scouting 3.4.2.1 Geographic Information System (GIS) Software 3.4.2.2 Remote Sensing Software 3.4.2.3 Crop Management Software 3.5 Smart Spraying Market (by Product) 3.5.1 Tractor Mounted and Self-Propelled Sprayers 3.5.2 Robotic Sprayers 3.5.3 Drone Sprayers 4 Regions 5 Markets - Competitive Benchmarking & Company Profiles Semios Bushel Climate LLC Cropin Technology Solutions BASF SE Corteva DJI Trimble AGCO Deere & Company KUBOTA AGRIVI Robert Bosch AG Leader Technology CNH Industrial For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/faz0k0 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Dublin, Nov. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Recreational Boat Engine Seals Market Size, Share, Trend, Forecast, Competitive Analysis, and Growth Opportunity: 2024-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global recreational boat engine seals market size was US$ 99 million in 2023 and is forecast to grow at a healthy CAGR of 2.2% in the long run to reach US$ 114 million in 2030. The rising popularity of outdoor leisure activities, growing demand for seals for replacement, and the implementation of stringent government policies like emission control across different regions are compelling the market growth. Moreover, manufacturers, such as Mercury Marine and Yamaha, are integrating advanced fuel injection systems into their latest outboard motors, and along with innovations in materials science and engineering are driving the development of high-performance seals for recreational boat engines. By Application Type The global recreational boat engine seals market is segmented into outdoor engines, PWC engines, inboard engines, and jetboat engines. Outboard engine application is expected to remain dominant and the PWC engine is anticipated to be the fastest-growing application in the market during the forecast period. In an outboard engine, there are more than about 45 seals present, out of which O-rings hold the major share. Increasing usage in beach tourism, as well as the development of artificial and man-made beaches in landlocked cities (water and theme parks) and urban areas. By Product Type The market is segmented into O-rings, Oil Seals, Gaskets, and Others. O-rings are expected to remain the dominant and oil seals are the fastest-growing product in the market during the forecast period. Key advantages of these products include excellent resistance to abrasion, temperature extremes, and chemical exposure, ensuring long-term reliability in marine environments. The majority of O-rings are manufactured using elastomers, such as EPDM and NBR. By Material Type The market is segmented into elastomer seals, thermoplastic seals, and metal seals. Elastomer Seals is expected to remain the dominant and thermoplastic seals is anticipated to be the fastest-growing material type in the market during the forecast period. Marine environments pose challenges with saltwater, UV rays, and extreme temperatures. Elastomers offer exceptional durability and reliability in these harsh conditions. By Motion Type The market is segmented into static applications and dynamic applications. Static application is expected to remain dominant in the market during the forecast period. O-rings and gaskets are crucial for sealing non-moving parts in engines, especially those found in PWCs and jet boats, which drive the demand for these static seals. By End-User Type The market is segmented into OE and Aftermarket. Aftermarket is expected to remain the dominant in the market during the forecast period. Owing to wear and tear over time due to exposure to water, weather conditions, and mechanical stress seals need to be replaced after their shelf life, which drives the aftermarket demand. Regional Analysis In terms of region, North America is expected to remain the largest market for recreational boat engine seals during the forecast period. North America is the dominant region due to the presence of many key players in this region and the presence of a huge fleet of recreational boats. Huge dominance of the USA in the region, well supported by Canada, the second-largest market in the world. Asia-Pacific is poised to emerge as the fastest-growing market owing to increasing marine tourism among various countries in the region which drives the demand for recreational boat engine seals. Recreational boating is gaining traction, particularly in countries, such as Australia, Japan, and South Korea. These markets continue driving the demand. Key Players The market is low to moderately concentrated with the presence of a huge number of players across regions The majority of companies provide seals for recreational boat engines. The following are the key players in the recreational boat engine seals market: Top Players in the Recreational Boat Engine Seals Market include: Engineered Marine Products GLM Products Recambios Marinos Group SIERRA International Dobson Gaskets Duramax Marine Kemp Propulsion Systems Trim-Lok Report Features This report provides market intelligence most comprehensively. The report structure has been kept such that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights into market dynamics and will enable strategic decision-making for existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market. The following are the key features of the report: Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis. Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porter's five forces analysis, SWOT analysis. Market trend and forecast analysis. Market segment trend and forecast. Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, Service portfolio, New Product Launches, etc. COVID-19 impact and its recovery curve. Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities. Emerging trends. Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players. Key success factors. Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary: A Bird's Eye View of the Market 2. Market Environment Analysis: Study of Factors Affecting the Market Dynamics 2.1. Supply Chain Analysis (Identification of Key Players/Thickness across the Value Chain) 2.2. PEST Analysis (List of All Factors Directly or Indirectly Affecting the Market Demand) 2.3. Industry Life Cycle Analysis (Current and Future Lifecycle Stage of the Market) 2.4. Key Trends (Key Industry as well as Market Trends Shaping the Market Dynamics) 2.5. Market Drivers (Study of Drivers and their Short- and Long-Term Impacts) 2.6. Market Challenges (Study of Factors Hindrance the Adoption/Growth) 3. Global Recreational Boat Engine Seals Market Assessment (2018-2030) (US$ Million) 3.1. Global Recreational Boat Engine Seals Market Trend and Forecast (US$ Million) 3.2. Market Scenario Analysis: Growth Trajectories in Different Market Conditions 3.3. COVID-19 Impact Assessment and Expected Recovery Curve 4. Global Recreational Boat Engine Seals Market Segments' Analysis (2018-2030) (US$ Million) 4.1. Application-Type Analysis 4.1.1. Outboard Engines 4.1.2. PWC Engines 4.1.3. Inboard Engines 4.1.4. Jetboat Engines 4.2. Product-Type Analysis 4.2.1. O-Rings 4.2.2. Oil Seals 4.2.3. Gaskets 4.2.4. Others 4.3. Material-Type Analysis 4.3.1. Elastomer Seals 4.3.2. Thermoplastic Seals 4.3.3. Metal Seals 4.4. Motion-Type Analysis 4.4.1. Static Application 4.4.2. Dynamic Applications 4.5. End-User-Type Analysis 4.5.1. OE 4.5.2. Aftermarket 4.6. Regional Analysis 5. Competitive Analysis 5.1. Degree of Competition (Current Stage of Competition based on Market Consolidation) 5.2. Competitive Landscape (Benchmarking of Key Players in Crucial Parameters) 5.3. Market Share Analysis (Key Players and their Respective Shares) 5.4. Product Portfolio Mapping (Map their Presence in Different Market Categories) 5.5. Geographical Presence (Map their Geographical Presence) 5.6. Key Target Areas for Product Development (Understand the Industry Focus while Development) 5.7. M&A's, JVs, Collaborations, Strategic Alliances, etc. (Map All the Major M&As and JVs) 5.8. Porter's Five Forces Analysis (A Bird's Eye View of the Overall Competitive Landscape) 6. Strategic Growth Opportunities 6.1. Market Attractiveness Analysis 6.2. Emerging Trends (Key Trends that May Shape the Market Dynamics in the Future) 6.3. Key Strategic Implications (Changing Market Dynamics and their Key Implications) 6.4. Key Success Factors (KSFs) (Identifying Some Factors that May Help Companies to Gain Business) 7. Company Profile of Key Players Dobson Gaskets Duramax Marine Engineered Marine Products GLM Products Inc. Kemp Propulsion Systems Recambios Marinos SIERRA International Trim-Lok For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/sq8447 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Dublin, Nov. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Gene Editing Market by Product (Kits, Reagents, Libraries, Software), Services (GRNA Synthesis & Vector Construction), Technique, Technology (CRISPR, ZFN, TALEN), Application (Genome Editing, Drug Discovery) - Global Forecast to 2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The gene editing market is expected to reach USD 7.59 billion in 2029 from USD 4.66 billion in 2024, at a CAGR of 10.2% during the forecast period. Factors such as advancements in gene editing technologies, and the expanding range of gene editing applications are driving the growth of the gene editing market. However, the market faces several challenges due to off-target effects of gene editing, along with difficulties in scalability and manufacturing, pose significant hurdles. The product segment accounted for the largest share by offerings segment in the gene editing market in 2023 By offerings, the gene editing market is segmented into products and services. The products segment held the largest share in 2023. The demand for products in gene editing process including experimentation and research for cell line development and drug development & discovery make them an indispensable part of the gene market. Gene editing products as reagents & consumables and Software & systems like gene editing kits, gene editing reagents and gene editing libraries are utilized by pharmaceutican & biotechnology companies and academic & research institutes in various gene editing workflow. Services held the second highest share of the gene editing market in 2023. The CRISPR technology held the highest market share of the gene editing products market by technology in 2023 By Technology, the gene editing products market is segmented into CRISPR, TALEN, ZFN, Base editing, Antisense, RNAi and other technologies which include piggybac and prime editing among others. The CRISPR segment held the highest share of the gene editing products by technology market in 2023 driven by advancements in CRISPR technology leading to large scale adoption of this technology in gene editing. Gene editing products are used in a large range of CRISPR applications including reagents like Cas-9, vectors, libraries for screening and target identification and CRISPR based gene editing kits. Still, TALEN segment held the second largest share of the market in 2023. The Asia Pacific region is growing at the highest CAGR in the gene editing market from 2024 to 2029. The Asia Pacific is estimated to be the fastest-growing segment of the market owing to the a significant focus on R&D activities, funding by government and private players in gene editing research, and rising adoption of gene editing technologies in drug discovery & development. Further, the rising prevalence of rare and genetic diseases is attributed to the aging population of countries such as Japan, and China. This is supporting the adoption of gene editing technologies in healthcare management and treatment driving the market growth. However, North America held the largest share of gene editing market in 2023. Research Coverage: This research report categorizes the gene editing market by offerings (products and services), products by type (reagnets & consumables, and software & systems), reagents & consumables by Technique (knock-out, knock-in, gene silencing, and other techniques), products by technology (CRISPR, TALEN, ZFN, Base editing, Antisense, RNAi and other technologies), products by application (cell line engineering, genome editing/genetic engineering, drug discovery & development, and other applications), products by end user (pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, academic & research institutes, CROs & CDMOs, and other end users), services by type (cell line engineering, gRNA synthesis & vector construction, library construction & screening, and other types), services by application (cell line development & engineering, genome editing/genetic engineering, drug discovery & development, and other applications), services by end user (pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, academic & research institutes, and other end users) and by region. The scope of the report covers detailed information regarding the major factors, such as drivers, challenges, opportunities, and restraints influencing the growth of the genomics market. A detailed analysis of the key industry players has been done to provide insights into their business overview, product & service portfolio, key strategies such as product & service launches, collaborations, partnerships, expansions, agreements, and recent developments associated with the gene editing market. Competitive analysis of top players and upcoming startups in the gene editing market ecosystem is covered in this report. The report provides insights on the following: Analysis of key drivers (Increasing demand for personalized medicine, Favorable government funding investments for gene editing projects, Expanding applications of gene editing), restraints (Off-Target Effects and Safety Concerns), opportunities (Technological advancements in Prime editing and bridge RNA, Rising burden of congenital disorders), and challenges (Issues with scalability of gene editing workflows. High equipment and facility costs) influencing the growth of the market. Product Development/Innovation: Detailed insights on newly launched product/services of the gene editing market Market Development: Comprehensive information about lucrative markets - the report analyses the market across varied regions. Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new products & services, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the gene editing market Competitive Assessment: Thermo Fisher Scientific, Merck, GenScript, Agilent Technologies, Revvity, Lonza, Tecan Trading, Sangamo therapeutics, Precision BioSciences, Cellectis, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, AMSBIO, Creative Biogene, Synthego, Takara Bio, Bio-Techne, Caribou Biosciences, Bioneer corporation and REPROCELL. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 498 Forecast Period 2024 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $4.66 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $7.59 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 10.2% Regions Covered Global Key Topics Covered: Premium Insights Gene Editing Market Overview North America: Gene Editing Market, by Type and Country (2023) Gene Editing Market: Geographic Growth Opportunities Market Dynamics Drivers Increasing Demand for Personalized Medicine Favorable Government Funding Investments for Gene Editing Projects Expanding Applications of Gene Editing Restraints Off-Target Effects and Safety Concerns Opportunities Rising Technological Advancements in Prime Editing and Bridge RNA Increasing Burden of Congenital Disorders Challenges Issues Associated with Scalability of Gene Editing Workflows High Equipment & Manufacturing Costs Case Study Analysis Enhanced Gene Knock-In Efficiency Using Hybrid SSDNA HDR Templates in Primary Human T-Cells Gene Editing Efficiency in Cancer Cell Lines and T-Cells Using Truecut Cas9 Protein V2 and Trueguide SGRNA Development & Specificity Optimization of Puredit Crispr Cas9 RNP System Evaluation of Sureguide Cas9 Programmable Nuclease Kit for Efficient in Vitro Gene Editing Gene Editing for Sickle-Cell Disease Using Zinc Finger Nuclease-Modified Hematopoietic Stem Cells Gene Editing Market, by Offering Products - Expanding Applications of Gene Modification Techniques to Drive Market Services - High Uptake by Pharma Companies for Drug Discovery & Development to Propel Market Gene Editing Products Market, by Type Reagents & Consumables Gene Editing Kits Increasing Demand for Mutation & Screening Kits in Clinical Settings to Propel Market Gene Editing Libraries Genetic Screening for Cancer Research to Fuel Uptake Gene Editing Reagents Ability to Create Animal Models to Support Market Growth Software & Systems - Integration of Cloud-based Platforms for NGS to Drive Market Gene Editing Reagents & Consumables Market, by Technique Knock-Out - Modification of Crispr-Cas9 and Talens to Propel Market Knock-In - Utilization of Donor DNA Templates and HDR Pathways to Drive Market Gene Silencing - Advancements in Rnai Technology and Antisense Therapy to Support Market Growth Gene Editing Products Market, by Technology Crispr - Advancements in Cas9 Proteins to Fuel Uptake Talens -Increasing Demand for Therapeutic Development to Drive Market ZFN -Provision of Customized Design and Targeted Edits to Boost Demand Base Editing -Growing Applications in Functional Genomics to Fuel Market Antisense -Innovations in Oligonucleotide Therapies to Support Market Growth Rnai - Wide Applications in Drug Discovery to Fuel Uptake Gene Editing Products Market, by Application Cell Line Engineering - Ability to Provide Precise Gene Modifications for Validation to Drive Market Genome Editing -Growing Applications in Biotechnology to Boost Demand Drug Discovery & Development - Uptake of Crispr-based Systems for Disease Profiling to Drive Market Gene Editing Products Market, by End-user Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies - Increasing Product Approvals and Robust Clinical Pipeline to Propel Market Academic & Research Institutes -Favorable Funding for Genomic Projects to Drive Market CROs & CDMOs -Provision of Specialized Expertise for Clinical Trials to Drive Market Gene Editing Services Market, by Type Cell Line Development & Engineering - Growing Demand for Biologics and Biosimilars to Drive Market GRNA Synthesis & Vector Construction -Advancements in Gene Editing Technologies and Demand for Precise Targeting to Drive Market Library Construction & Screening -Increasing Focus on High-Throughput Screening to Propel Market Other Services -Other Services Include Off-Target Analysis and Mutagenesis Services. Gene Editing Services Market, by Application Cell Line Engineering - High Uptake in R&D for Therapeutic Bioproduction to Drive Market Genome Editing - Growing Focus on Synthetic Genomics to Boost Demand Drug Discovery & Development -Growing Demand for Pharmaceutical Development to Fuel Uptake Company Profiles Key Players Thermo Fisher Scientific Merck KGaA Genscript Agilent Technologies Revvity Lonza Tecan Trading Sangamo Therapeutics Precision Biosciences Cellectis Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Amsbio Creative Biogene Synthego Takara Bio Bio-Techne Caribou Biosciences Bioneer Reprocell Other Players Alstem New England Biolabs Inscripta Biocat Integrated DNA Technologies Cobo Technologies Aps Genecopoeia Hera Biolabs Stemcell Technologies Axol Bioscience Cellecta Applied Stemcell For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/6illkp About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Dublin, Nov. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Middle East & Africa BIPV Glass Market Forecast to 2031 - Regional Analysis - by Material, Glazing Type, Component Type, and End Use" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Middle East & Africa BIPV glass market was valued at US$ 315.58 million in 2023 and is expected to reach US$ 910.03 million by 2031; it is estimated to register a CAGR of 14.2% from 2023 to 2031. The rapid expansion of commercial facilities such as office buildings, shopping centers, and industrial complexes propels the demand for sustainable building materials and energy-efficient solutions. Manufacturing plants, warehouses, and other industrial facilities require substantial energy consumption for their operations. As businesses seek to optimize energy efficiency and reduce operational costs, BIPV glass emerges as a viable solution to offset electricity consumption and harness renewable energy directly on-site. The versatility and aesthetic appeal of BIPV glass contribute to its growing demand in industrial and commercial applications. BIPV glass offers a dual-purpose solution by serving as a building material and a renewable energy generator. This integration aligns with the sustainability goals of many commercial projects, allowing them to reduce their carbon footprint and energy costs simultaneously. Countries such as Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are also undergoing economic development, leading to rising investments in infrastructure and urban development, including the construction of roads, bridges, residential complexes, and industrial facilities. The aesthetic appeal of BIPV glass complements modern architectural designs, making it an attractive option for commercial developers seeking functionality and visual appeal. Furthermore, the Department of Energy of the US has expressed interest in better understanding the relationship between builders, roofing companies, and solar PV installers. As businesses increasingly prioritize sustainability and energy efficiency, BIPV glass emerges as a key solution for integrating renewable energy generation into commercial buildings. With ongoing innovations in BIPV technology and continued government support, the demand for BIPV glass is rising steadily. Middle East & Africa BIPV Glass Market Overview In the Middle East & Africa, the market for BIPV glass is driven by factors such as the growing demand for energy-efficient buildings and the growth of the building & construction industry in the region. The UAE is one of the major markets for BIPV glass in the Middle East & Africa. The demand for sustainable and energy-efficient buildings has risen from end users and contractors in the Middle East & Africa. Countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE aim to reach their net-zero emissions targets by 2060 and 2050, respectively. The growing demand for energy-efficient buildings boosts the adoption of BIPV glasses, as BIPV glass promotes energy-efficient building design by reducing the building's reliance on external sources of electricity. Countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman are building commercial and residential projects as they are focusing on diversifying their economies. Thus, the rapidly growing building & construction industry in the Middle East & Africa drives the BIPV glass market growth in the country. Middle East & Africa BIPV Glass Market Segmentation The Middle East & Africa BIPV glass market is categorized into material, glazing type, component type, end use, and country. Based on material, the Middle East & Africa BIPV glass market is segmented into crystalline silicone, amorphous silicone, and others. The crystalline silicone segment held the largest share of Middle East & Africa BIPV glass market share in 2023. In terms of glazing type, the Middle East & Africa BIPV glass market is bifurcated into single module and double module. The double module segment held a larger share of Middle East & Africa BIPV glass market in 2023. By component type, the Middle East & Africa BIPV glass market is divided into BIPV glass roofs, BIPV glass facades, and others (windows and floors). The BIPV glass roofs segment held the largest share of Middle East & Africa BIPV glass market in 2023. Based on end use, the Middle East & Africa BIPV glass market is categorized into residential, commercial, industrial, and others. The commercial segment held the largest share of Middle East & Africa BIPV glass market in 2023. By country, the Middle East & Africa BIPV glass market is segmented into South Africa, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the Rest of Middle East & Africa. Saudi Arabia dominated the Middle East & Africa BIPV glass market share in 2023. Koch Industries, AGC, Vitro, S.A.B, Onyx Solar Group and Hanergy Holding Group are some of the leading companies operating in the Middle East & Africa BIPV glass market. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 79 Forecast Period 2023 - 2031 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $315.58 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2031 $910.03 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 14.2% Regions Covered Africa, Middle East Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 1.1 Report Guidance 1.2 Market Segmentation 2. Executive Summary 2.1 Key Insights 2.2 Market Attractiveness 3. Research Methodology 4. BIPV Glass Market Landscapes 4.1 Overview 4.2 PORTER's Five Forces Analysis 4.3 Ecosystem Analysis 4.3.1 Raw Material Suppliers 4.3.2 BIPV Glass Manufacturers 4.3.3 Original Equipment Manufacturers 4.3.4 Distributors/Suppliers 4.3.5 End-Use Industry 4.3.6 List of Vendors in the Value Chain 5. Middle East & Africa BIPV Glass Market - Key Market Dynamics 5.1 Market Drivers 5.1.1 Growing Commercial Construction Sector 5.1.2 Rising Popularity of Solar Energy 5.2 Market Restraints 5.2.1 High Initial Investment Cost and Less Energy Efficiency for BIPV System 5.3 Market Opportunities 5.3.1 Increasing Demand for Green Buildings 5.4 Future Trends 5.4.1 Rising Adoption Rate of Renewable Energy Solutions in Emerging Economies 5.4.2 Smart Building Integration: 5.5 Impact of Drivers and Restraints: 6. BIPV Glass Market - Middle East & Africa Analysis 6.1 Overview 6.2 BIPV Glass Market Revenue (US$ Million), 2021-2031 6.3 BIPV Glass Market Forecast Analysis 7. Middle East & Africa BIPV Glass Market Analysis - by Material 7.1 Crystalline Silicone 7.2 Amorphous Silicone 7.3 Others 8. Middle East & Africa BIPV Glass Market Analysis - by Glazing Type 8.1 Single Module 8.2 Double Module 9. Middle East & Africa BIPV Glass Market Analysis - by Component Type 9.1 BIPV Glass Roofs 9.2 BIPV Glass Facades 10. Middle East & Africa BIPV Glass Market Analysis - by End Use 10.1 Residential 10.2 Commercial 10.3 Industrial 11. Middle East & Africa BIPV Glass Market - Country Analysis 12. Competitive Landscape 12.1 Heat Map Analysis by Key Players 12.2 Company Positioning & Concentration 13. Industry Landscape 13.1 Overview 13.2 Market Initiative 13.3 Product News & Company News 14. Company Profiles Koch Industries Inc AGC Inc Vitro, S.A.B. de C.V. Onyx Solar Group LLC. Hanergy Holding Group Ltd For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/8kxis5 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Dublin, Nov. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Thick Film Devices Market by Type, End-user Industry - Global Forecast 2025-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Thick Film Devices Market grew from USD 83.07 billion in 2023 to USD 88.08 billion in 2024. It is expected to continue growing at a CAGR of 5.98%, reaching USD 124.75 billion by 2030. Penetration in the automotive and renewable energy sectors, driven by a shift towards electric vehicles and sustainable energy sources, significantly influences the market. Another factor propelling growth is the increasing demand for miniaturization in electronics that still require robust performance standards. However, the market faces challenges such as high initial setup costs and the complexity of technological integration into existing systems. Regulatory compliance issues might also impede rapid market adaptation. Moreover, geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions can impact raw material availability and pricing, causing market volatility. Opportunities lie in innovations like the development of thick film materials with superior functionalities, such as improved thermal performance and environmental stability. Advances in nanotechnology could offer pathways to create more efficient thick film technologies. Research should thus focus on sustainable material sourcing and enhancing the scalability of production processes. The market is characterized by rapid technological advancements and fierce competition among established players seeking to expand their global footprint. Collaboration with research institutions for developing advanced applications could yield competitive advantages. Focus areas for innovation include energy-efficient solutions and internet-of-things (IoT) integration, enhancing device connectivity and applications breadth. Overall, by addressing these challenges and capitalizing on emerging opportunities and existing strong demand vectors, businesses can significantly thrive. It is crucial, however, for companies to maintain agility in technological advancements and market dynamics to sustain their competitive edge. Key Company Profiles The report delves into recent significant developments in the Thick Film Devices Market, highlighting leading vendors and their innovative profiles. These include Aragonesa de Componentes Pasivos SA, Bourns, Inc., Caddock Electronics Inc, Chromalox, Inc., Datec Coating Corporation, Elektronische Bauelemente GmbH, Ferro Techniek BV, KOA Speer Electronics, Inc., KYOCERA AVX Components Corporation, Midas Microelectronics Corp., Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Ohmite Mfg Co., Panasonic Corporation, Rohm Semiconductor GmbH, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., TE Connectivity Corporation, Tempco Electric Heater Corporation, Thermo Heating Elements LLC, TT Electronics Plc, Viking Tech Corporation, Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., Walsin Technology Corporation, Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company, Wurth Elektronik GmbH & Co. KG, and Yageo Corporation. The report provides a detailed overview of the market, exploring several key areas: Market Penetration: A thorough examination of the current market landscape, featuring comprehensive data from leading industry players and analyzing their reach and influence across the market. Market Development: The report identifies significant growth opportunities in emerging markets and assesses expansion potential within established segments, providing a roadmap for future development. Market Diversification: In-depth coverage of recent product launches, untapped geographic regions, significant industry developments, and strategic investments reshaping the market landscape. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: A detailed analysis of the competitive landscape, covering market share, business strategies, product portfolios, certifications, regulatory approvals, patent trends, technological advancements, and innovations in manufacturing by key market players. Product Development & Innovation: Insight into groundbreaking technologies, R&D efforts, and product innovations that will drive the market in future. Additionally, the report addresses key questions to assist stakeholders in making informed decisions: What is the current size of the market, and how is it expected to grow? Which products, segments, and regions present the most attractive investment opportunities? What are the prevailing technology trends and regulatory factors influencing the market? How do top vendors rank regarding market share and competitive positioning? What revenue sources and strategic opportunities guide vendors' market entry or exit decisions? Key Attributes Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 199 Forecast Period 2024-2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $88.08 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $124.75 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 5.9% Regions Covered Global Key Topics Covered 1. Preface 2. Research Methodology 2.1. Define: Research Objective 2.2. Determine: Research Design 2.3. Prepare: Research Instrument 2.4. Collect: Data Source 2.5. Analyze: Data Interpretation 2.6. Formulate: Data Verification 2.7. Publish: Research Report 2.8. Repeat: Report Update 3. Executive Summary 4. Market Overview 5. Market Insights 5.1. Market Dynamics 5.1.1. Drivers 5.1.1.1. Growing demand for smaller, lightweight, and more compact electronic devices 5.1.1.2. The rapid proliferation of thick film devices in the automotive and medical sector 5.1.1.3. Increasing demand for faster and more accessible prototyping 5.1.2. Restraints 5.1.2.1. Limited performance in high-frequency applications coupled with process complexity 5.1.3. Opportunities 5.1.3.1. Technological advancements in thick film devices 5.1.3.2. Growing investment in renewable energy for power conversion and monitoring 5.1.4. Challenges 5.1.4.1. Lack of standardization and quality control 5.2. Market Segmentation Analysis 5.3. Porter's Five Forces Analysis 5.3.1. Threat of New Entrants 5.3.2. Threat of Substitutes 5.3.3. Bargaining Power of Customers 5.3.4. Bargaining Power of Suppliers 5.3.5. Industry Rivalry 5.4. PESTLE Analysis 5.4.1. Political 5.4.2. Economic 5.4.3. Social 5.4.4. Technological 5.4.5. Legal 5.4.6. Environmental 6. Thick Film Devices Market, by Type 6.1. Introduction 6.2. Capacitors 6.3. Heaters 6.4. Hybrid Integrated Circuits (ICs) 6.5. Photovoltaic cells 6.6. Resistors 6.7. Sensors 6.8. Thick Film Piezoelectric Devices 7. Thick Film Devices Market, by End-user Industry 7.1. Introduction 7.2. Automotive 7.3. Consumer Electronics 7.4. Healthcare 7.5. Infrastructure 8. Americas Thick Film Devices Market 8.1. Introduction 8.2. Argentina 8.3. Brazil 8.4. Canada 8.5. Mexico 8.6. United States 9. Asia-Pacific Thick Film Devices Market 9.1. Introduction 9.2. Australia 9.3. China 9.4. India 9.5. Indonesia 9.6. Japan 9.7. Malaysia 9.8. Philippines 9.9. Singapore 9.10. South Korea 9.11. Taiwan 9.12. Thailand 9.13. Vietnam 10. Europe, Middle East & Africa Thick Film Devices Market 10.1. Introduction 10.2. Denmark 10.3. Egypt 10.4. Finland 10.5. France 10.6. Germany 10.7. Israel 10.8. Italy 10.9. Netherlands 10.10. Nigeria 10.11. Norway 10.12. Poland 10.13. Qatar 10.14. Russia 10.15. Saudi Arabia 10.16. South Africa 10.17. Spain 10.18. Sweden 10.19. Switzerland 10.20. Turkey 10.21. United Arab Emirates 10.22. United Kingdom 11. Competitive Landscape 11.1. Market Share Analysis, 2023 11.2. FPNV Positioning Matrix, 2023 11.3. Competitive Scenario Analysis 11.4. Strategy Analysis & Recommendations For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/o4kqe2 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Dublin, Nov. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Book Publishing Market by Books Type, Sales Channel - Global Forecast 2025-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Book Publishing Market grew from USD 83.41 billion in 2023 to USD 87.18 billion in 2024. It is expected to continue growing at a CAGR of 4.52%, reaching USD 113.69 billion by 2030. Key growth influencers include the ongoing digitization of reading materials, with e-books and audiobooks expanding access globally. The current trend leans towards personalized and interactive content, driving demand for innovative digital features. Opportunities exist in embracing artificial intelligence to enhance content personalization and in exploring new territories, such as the burgeoning markets of Asia and Africa, which are becoming increasingly literate and technologically savvy. However, challenges persist in the form of piracy, the dominance of large-scale platforms like Amazon, and the volatile dynamics of global economies affecting consumer spending. Limitations also arise from the saturation of content and the declining rates of physical book readership in several developed markets. For innovation, areas such as immersive storytelling and the integration of augmented reality in educational content offer promising avenues. Research into consumer data for predictive analytics can also guide better decision-making processes. The nature of the market, inherently fragmented and competitive, requires agility and innovation for sustained growth. It is vital for publishers to strike a balance between traditional content delivery and harnessing new technologies to captivate modern readers and maintain market relevance. Key Company Profiles The report delves into recent significant developments in the Book Publishing Market, highlighting leading vendors and their innovative profiles. These include Amazon.com, Inc., Apple Inc., Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA, Blue Rose Publishers, Book Rivers, China South Publishing & Media Group Co., Ltd., Clever Fox Publishing, Emerald Publishing Limited, Globe Business Publishing Limited, Hachette Book Group, Idea and Design Works LLC, Ingenta, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Macmillan Publishers International Limited, Mehta Publishing House, Morris Publishing, Penguin Random House India, PLANETA CORPORACION, S.R.L., Routledge, Sage Group PLC, Scholastic Inc., Springer-Verlag GmbH, and Vervante. Market Segmentation & Coverage This research report categorizes the Book Publishing Market to forecast the revenues and analyze trends in each of the following sub-markets: Books Type Cookbooks Fiction History Mystery Religion & Inspiration Romance Science Friction & Fantasy Sales Channel Offline Online Region Americas Argentina Brazil Canada Mexico United States California Florida Illinois New York Ohio Pennsylvania Texas Asia-Pacific Australia China India Indonesia Japan Malaysia Philippines Singapore South Korea Taiwan Thailand Vietnam Europe, Middle East & Africa Denmark Egypt Finland France Germany Israel Italy Netherlands Nigeria Norway Poland Qatar Russia Saudi Arabia South Africa Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey United Arab Emirates United Kingdom The report provides a detailed overview of the market, exploring several key areas: Market Penetration: A thorough examination of the current market landscape, featuring comprehensive data from leading industry players and analyzing their reach and influence across the market. Market Development: The report identifies significant growth opportunities in emerging markets and assesses expansion potential within established segments, providing a roadmap for future development. Market Diversification: In-depth coverage of recent product launches, untapped geographic regions, significant industry developments, and strategic investments reshaping the market landscape. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: A detailed analysis of the competitive landscape, covering market share, business strategies, product portfolios, certifications, regulatory approvals, patent trends, technological advancements, and innovations in manufacturing by key market players. Product Development & Innovation: Insight into groundbreaking technologies, R&D efforts, and product innovations that will drive the market in future. Additionally, the report addresses key questions to assist stakeholders in making informed decisions: What is the current size of the market, and how is it expected to grow? Which products, segments, and regions present the most attractive investment opportunities? What are the prevailing technology trends and regulatory factors influencing the market? How do top vendors rank regarding market share and competitive positioning? What revenue sources and strategic opportunities guide vendors' market entry or exit decisions? Key Attributes Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 190 Forecast Period 2024-2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $87.18 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $113.69 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 4.5% Regions Covered Global Book Publishing Market Dynamics Summarized Market Drivers Growing interest of consumers in reading and writing research articles Availability of digital book publishing solutions Government initiatives to encourage book publishing activities Market Restraints High cost associated with book publishing Market Opportunities Introduction of innovative multi-lingual format on book publishing platforms Emergence of eBooks and the ongoing trend of eLearning Market Challenges Legal and ethical issues in book publishing For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/75ywue About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment LAS VEGAS, Nov. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hyperscale Data, Inc. (NYSE American: GPUS), a diversified holding company (Hyperscale Data, or the Company), today announced that it has mined 640 Bitcoin year to date through November 26, 2024. Of this total, approximately 380 were mined at the Companys facility in Michigan, with the remaining approximately 260 Bitcoin from mining machines previously hosted by Core Scientific, Inc. William B. Horne, CEO of Hyperscale Data, stated, While the Company is transitioning to a pure play artificial intelligence data center business, we remain pleased with our past and current Bitcoin mining operations. We are committed to keeping our stockholders informed as we make the transition into a pure play data center business. For more information on Hyperscale Data and its subsidiaries, Hyperscale Data recommends that stockholders, investors, and any other interested parties read Hyperscale Datas public filings and press releases available under the Investor Relations section at https://hyperscaledata.com/ or available at www.sec.gov . About Hyperscale Data, Inc. Hyperscale Data is a diversified holding company pursuing growth by acquiring undervalued businesses and disruptive technologies with a global impact. Through its wholly and majority-owned subsidiaries and strategic investments, Hyperscale Data owns and operates a data center at which it mines Bitcoin and offers colocation and hosting services for the emerging artificial intelligence ecosystems and other industries. It also provides mission-critical products that support a diverse range of industries, including a social gaming platform, equipment rental services, defense/aerospace, industrial, automotive, medical/biopharma, hotel operations and textiles. In addition, Hyperscale Data is actively engaged in private credit and structured finance through a licensed lending subsidiary. Hyperscale Datas headquarters are located at 11411 Southern Highlands Parkway, Suite 240, Las Vegas, NV 89141; Hyperscale Data, Inc. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as believes, plans, anticipates, projects, estimates, expects, intends, strategy, future, opportunity, may, will, should, could, potential, or similar expressions. Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any of them publicly in light of new information or future events. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors. More information, including potential risk factors, that could affect the Companys business and financial results are included in the Companys filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the Companys Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8- K. All filings are available at www.sec.gov and on the Companys website at www.hyperscaledata.com . Hyperscale Data Investor Contact: IR@hyperscaledata.com or 1-888-753-2235 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9a9dde8d-6a9a-4855-968b-585be58411fc SINGAPORE, Nov. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BrilliA Inc (BRIA or the Company) today announced the closing of its previously announced initial public offering of an aggregate of 2,500,000 Class A Ordinary Shares (the Offering) at an offering price of $4.00 per share to the public, for a total of $10,000,000 in gross proceeds to the Company, before deducting underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses. The shares began trading on the NYSE American stock exchange on November 27, 2024, under the ticker symbol "BRIA." In addition, the Company has granted the underwriters an option, exercisable within 45 days from the closing date of the Offering, to purchase up to an additional 375,000 Class A Ordinary Shares at the Offering Price, representing 15% of the Class A Ordinary Shares sold in the Offering. The net proceeds from the initial public offering are expected to be used for development of the digital marketing platform, research and development, expansion of existing B2B business, and general working capital and corporate purposes. The offering was conducted on a firm commitment basis. A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners (A.G.P.) was the sole Book-Running manager for the offering. Mourant Ozannes LLP acted as Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands legal counsel and Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP acted as U.S. legal counsel, respectively, to the Company, and Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP acted as U.S. legal counsel to A.G.P. for the Offering. The Offering was conducted pursuant to the Companys Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-282056) previously filed with and subsequently declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on November 19, 2024. The Offering was made only by means of a prospectus, forming a part of the registration statement. Electronic copies of the final prospectus relating to the Offering may be obtained for free by visiting EDGAR on the SECs Website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, copies of the prospectus relating to the Offering may be obtained, when available, from A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners, 590 Madison Avenue, 28th Floor, New York, NY 10022, by phone at +1 (212) 624-2060, or by email at prospecuts@allianceg.com. This press release has been prepared for informational purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, and no sale of these securities may be made in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements as defined under the federal securities laws, including, but not limited to, the Companys expectations regarding the completion, timing and size of the proposed Offering and statements regarding the use of proceeds from the sale of the Companys shares in the Offering. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Companys current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs, including the expectation that the Offering will be successfully completed. Investors can find many (but not all) of these statements by the use of words such as believe, plan, expect, intend, should, seek, estimate, will, aim and anticipate, or other similar expressions in this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Companys registration statement and other filings with the SEC. About BrilliA Inc BrilliA has evolved from an Original Design Manufacturer into a comprehensive one-stop service cross-border solution provider for ladies' intimate apparel brands, managing sales and customer relationships with major clients like Fruit of the Loom, Hanes Brands Inc and H&M, with the expertise in handling sourcing, design, prototyping, supply chain to logistic management as well as quality control of products manufactured by independent third party manufacturing facilities for their customers worldwide. For further information, please contact: BrilliA Inc Contact: 220 Orchard Road, Unit 05-01, Midpoint Orchard Singapore 238852 (+65) 6235 3388 Email: info@brilliaincorporated.com Underwriter Inquiries: A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners 590 Madison Avenue, 28th Floor New York, NY 10022 Email: prospectus@allianceg.com Investor Relations Inquiries: Skyline Corporate Communications Group, LLC Scott Powell, President 1177 Avenue of the Americas, 5th Floor New York, New York 10036 Office: (646) 893-5835 Email: info@skylineccg.com Dublin, Nov. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Marine Propulsion Engine Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2019-2029F" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Marine Propulsion Engine market is experiencing a significant uptick, with projections indicating an increase from USD 20.67 Billion in 2023 to USD 25.22 Billion by 2029, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 3.22%. This growth trajectory is fueled by the intensifying demands of maritime trade, technological innovations in the propulsion engine landscape, and rigorous environmental mandates necessitating cleaner and more efficient engines. Technological enhancements in propulsion engines that augment fuel efficiency and minimize emissions are a primary catalyst for market growth. The industry is transitioning towards eco-friendly alternatives, such as hybrid and electric propulsion systems, to address the stringent environmental guidelines initiated by regulatory agencies like the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Furthermore, the proliferation of digital technologies facilitates engine performance optimizations and predictive maintenance, contributing significantly to operational efficiencies. Maritime Trade and Globalization Drive Market Expansion With globalization and the expansion of maritime trade, the demand for maritime transportation and therefore, marine propulsion systems, continues to surge. The reliance on marine vessels for the transcontinental movement of goods accentuates the need for advanced and reliable propulsion technologies. The Marine Propulsion Engine market is propelled by the growing emphasis on larger, more fuel-efficient ships capable of covering vast distances, which in turn necessitates the adoption of cutting-edge engines. Challenges in Regulatory Compliance and Environmental Constraints While the market showcases robust growth, it is concurrently contending with challenges in regulatory compliance and the complexities of environmental conservation. Adapting to the stringent IMO emission standards imposes financial and logistical demands on engine manufacturers and ship operators alike. The market is also grappling with barriers to the widespread adoption of alternative propulsion technologies, primarily due to the significant costs associated with infrastructure development. APAC Dominates Market Share; Diesel Engines Remain Prevalent Geographically, the Asia-Pacific region dominates the market share, bolstered by an extensive maritime infrastructure and a burgeoning shipping industry. The Diesel engine segment continues to lead primarily due to its proven performance, efficiency, and the established global infrastructure for diesel fuel and engine maintenance services. Key Players in a Transformative Market Prominent players in the global Marine Propulsion Engine market, such as ABB Limited, Siemens AG, and Cummins Inc., are innovating and forging strategic partnerships to cater to the dynamic needs of the maritime sector. With environmental concerns becoming increasingly pivotal and trade volumes on the rise, the market is poised for continual evolution and growth. The Marine Propulsion Engine market is characterized by its commitment to technological advancements and environmental stewardship, setting the stage for a sustainable and efficient maritime transportation future. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 189 Forecast Period 2023 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $20.67 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $25.22 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 3.2% Regions Covered Global Some of the key companies profiled in this Marine Propulsion Engine Market report include: ABB Limited Siemens AG Cummins Inc. Rolls-Royce plc Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. Caterpillar Inc. General Electric Company Wartsila Corporation Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/61m29g About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Abu Dhabi, UAE, Nov. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Visionary entrepreneur Charlie Rothkopf is assembling an elite team of industry leaders to launch CZR Exchange. Dubbed "The Avengers of Crypto," this powerhouse group of innovators is setting up operations in Abu Dhabi, a global hub for blockchain innovation and regulation. CZR Exchange is not just another trading platformits a bridge between decentralized and traditional finance. Designed for institutions, traders, and crypto newcomers, the platform prioritizes accessibility, security, and transparency. Were not just building a crypto exchange, said Rothkopf. Were building the future of finance, and that requires the best minds in the world working together. To achieve his ambitious vision, Rothkopf has brought together top talent from across the industry: Tech Experts from Ethereum, Solana, and Polygon to deliver unparalleled scalability and speed. from Ethereum, Solana, and Polygon to deliver unparalleled scalability and speed. Cybersecurity Veterans from Chainalysis and CertiK to create a secure trading environment. from Chainalysis and CertiK to create a secure trading environment. Regulatory Authorities including former SEC advisors to ensure compliance. including former SEC advisors to ensure compliance. Visionary Backers with institutional investors fueling global expansion. With its advanced regulatory framework under the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the emirate offers an ideal launchpad for CZR Exchange. Abu Dhabis commitment to blockchain innovation aligns perfectly with our vision, Rothkopf commented. With its launch slated for early 2025, CZR Exchange is set to revolutionize the cryptocurrency market. Under Rothkopfs visionary leadership and the unparalleled expertise of his team, the exchange is poised to lead a new era in digital finance. About CZR Exchange CZR Exchange, founded by industry innovator Charlie Rothkopf, is a cutting-edge cryptocurrency trading platform designed to redefine the digital asset trading experience through a focus on security, transparency, and accessibility. Catering to both novice and experienced traders, CZR offers a diverse range of cryptocurrencies, including major assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum, all within a user-friendly interface that prioritizes low trading fees and robust security measures, such as biometric authentication and AI-driven fraud detection. Beyond trading, CZR Exchange is committed to fostering financial literacy in the crypto community by providing educational resources and tools, empowering users to make informed decisions while driving the adoption of decentralized finance (DeFi) and creating a more inclusive financial ecosystem for all. Media Contact Robert Penington robert@thronepr.com The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of KISS PR or its partners. This content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. KISS PR makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, correctness, suitability, or validity of any information in this article and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis. SUDBURY, Nov. 28, 2024 - Frontier Lithium Inc. (TSX-V: FL) (FRA: HL2) (OTCQX: LITOF) ("Frontier" or the "Company") has reported financial results for the six months ended September 30, 2024. The financial statements and the related management's discussion and analysis have been filed on SEDAR+ and can be viewed under the Company's profile at (www.sedarplus.ca) and on the Company's website at www.frontierlithium.com The Company continues to advance its PAK Lithium Project and assess the viability of constructing and operating a fully-integrated lithium mine and chemicals processing facility to deliver battery-grade lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide for the burgeoning lithium-ion battery market in North America. Highlights for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2024, and Recent Developments Financial On September 30, 2024, the company had cash and cash equivalents of $25.5 million, leaving it well positioned to meet corporate and administrative expenses and to further execute on its core business objectives. Exploration and Development The Company's Phase XIV drilling program included three condemnation diamond drill holes on proposed stockpile sites for the definitive feasibility study ("DFS") and an inaugural drill hole on the Ember Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum ("LCT") pegmatite, located 1 kilometre west-northwest of the Spark deposit. As disclosed on the November 19th press release,the Ember drill hole intersected 18.8 metres of pegmatite between 42.7 and 61.4 metres, with an average grade of 1.43% lithium oxide (LiO), extending the surface LCT pegmatite zone to at least 40 metres in depth. In addition to drilling, a small-scale regional exploration program was completed. Field mapping and prospecting on claim blocks north of the mining leases identified target areas requiring further investigation, including detailed mapping and channel sampling. Phase 1 of the DFS for the mine and mill commenced in November 2023 and is expected to be completed within 12-18 months. The DFS team has finalized the resource update, site layout, and mine and mill design. Infrastructure Frontier is collaborating with the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, and local Indigenous partners to upgrade and construct northern all-season road infrastructure, ensuring the Company can efficiently bring its lithium products to market. In April 2024, the Federal government allocated $89 million in its budget for road construction in remote First Nations communities, including allocating funding for the Berens River Bridge and Road Project in Ontario. This initiative was further supported by an August 2024 announcement from the Ontario government, which formalized its partnership with the Federal government and the Pikangikum First Nation to fund the construction of the Berens River Bridge, with an anticipated start date in 2025. In October 2024, Frontier secured $6.1 million in conditional Federal funding under the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund (see October 7, 2024 press release). This funding will play a pivotal role in advancing progress on the all-season road and electricity infrastructure to the PAK Lithium Project, including engineering, engagement and consultation and environmental activities. Environment and Permitting Multi-year environmental baseline studies focused on the Company's mine and mill were concluded in November 2024 with final reports set for release by the end of 2024. These baseline studies support permitting efforts which are under way and ramping up in the coming months as we work with First Nations communities to create a stronger understanding about the project through engagement and consultation efforts. Seasonal environmental baseline data collection continued throughout the remainder of the year. Information collected to date is currently being used for different modeling scenarios which will influence design and permitting. Over the reporting period, Stage 2 Archaeology field investigation were completed by a licenced archaeologist with local First Nation community participation. Due Diligence All scientific and technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Garth Drever, P.Geo., the qualified person ("QP") under the definitions established by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Under Frontier's QA/QC procedures, all drilling was completed by Chenier Drilling Ltd. of Val Caron, Ontario using NQ drill rods for the geotechnical drill holes; thin walled BTW drill rods (4.2 cm core diameter) for all other holes and a Reflex ACT III oriented core system. Using the Reflex system, the drill core was oriented and marked as it was retrieved at the drill. A Reflex GYRO Sprint-IQ survey instrument was used every 50 metres downhole and again at the end of each hole when rods were pulled out. A Reflex North Finder APS unit was utilized to complete accurate positioning and orientation of the drill collar upon setup. The core was boxed and delivered to the Frontier core shack where it was examined, geologically logged, and marked for sampling. The core was photographed prior to sampling. Using a rock saw, the marked sample intervals were halved with one-half bagged for analysis. Sample blanks along with lithium certified reference material was routinely inserted into the sample stream in accordance with industry recommended practices. Field duplicate samples were also taken in accordance with industry recommended practices. The samples were placed in poly sample bags and transported to AGAT Laboratories Ltd. (AGAT) in Thunder Bay, Ontario for sample preparation and to Calgary, Alberta for processing and quantitative multi-element analysis. AGAT is an ISO accredited laboratory. The core is stored on site at the Company's Knox exploration camp. About Frontier Lithium Frontier Lithium Inc. is a pre-production business with an objective to become a strategic and integrated domestic supplier of premium spodumene concentrates as well as battery-grade lithium hydroxide and other chemicals to the growing electric vehicle and energy storage markets in North America. The Company's PAK Lithium project maintains the largest land position and resource in a premium lithium mineral district located in Ontario's Great Lakes region. About the PAK Lithium Project The PAK Lithium Project contains North America's highest-grade lithium reserves and is the largest in Ontario by size. The project encompasses close to 27,000 hectares and remains largely unexplored. Since 2013, the company has delineated two premium spodumene-bearing lithium deposits (PAK and Spark), located 2.3 kilometres apart. Exploration is continuing on the project through two other spodumene-bearing discoveries: the Bolt pegmatite (located between the PAK and Spark deposits), as well as the Pennock pegmatite (25 kilometres northwest of PAK deposit within the project claims). A 2023 Pre-Feasibility Study titled "National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report PFS PAK Lithium Project" prepared by BBA E&C Inc., delivered a 24-year project life, delivering a post-tax net present value (8%) of US$1.74 billion and an internal rate of return of 24.1% as per the Company's press release disseminated on May 31, 2023, and which was filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) Forward-looking Statements This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact constitute forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements contained in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: estimated mineral resources, estimated capital costs to construct mine facilities, estimated operating costs, the duration of payback periods, estimated amounts of future production, estimated cash flows, net present value, the PFS and DFS and statements that address future production, resource and reserve potential, exploration drilling, exploitation activities and events or developments that the Company expects. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include: market prices for commodities, increases in capital or operating costs, construction risks, availability of infrastructure including roads, regulatory and permitting risks, exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing, financing costs, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and those actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on the Company, please review the Company's public filings available at www.sedarplus.ca. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE Frontier Lithium Inc. Vancouver, Nov. 29, 2024 - Cascade Copper Corp. (CSE: "CASC") ("Cascade" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its board of directors has approved the amendment to the Option Agreement to acquire 100% of the 869 hectare portion of the entire 2,503 hectare Centrefire Copper Property, located in the Dryden - Sioux Lookout area of Northwestern Ontario. The Company agreed to amend the Centrefire Property Option Agreement by replacing the $10,000 cash payable on the first anniversary of the option, with $5,000 cash payment and an issuance of the remaining $5,000 in the Company's common shares valued at $0.05. On exchange approval, the Company will issue 75,000 common shares which are issuable to the Centrefire optionor pursuant to the initial Option Agreements, and will issue an additional 100,000 shares pursuant to the amended Option Agreement. About Cascade Copper The Corporation is an exploration stage natural resource company engaged in the evaluation, acquisition, and exploration of mineral resource properties with the intention, if warranted, of placing them into production. Cascade is focused on exploration, development, and acquisition of quality exploration properties. More specifically, Cascade's objective is to conduct an exploration program on its flagship Rogers Creek Property located in the Coast Mountain Belt of British Columbia about 90 kilometres northeast of Vancouver, in the Southwest Mining Region. Cascade currently now has five projects, including the Centrefire Copper Project, the Copper Plateau Copper-Moly Project, Fire Mountain Copper-Gold Project, the Bendor Gold Project, and the flagship Rogers Creek Copper-Gold Project. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: CASCADE COPPER CORP. Jeffrey S. Ackert, President and CEO 820-1130 West Pender St. Vancouver, BC V6E 4A4 Telephone: 1 613 851 7699 E-Mail: info@cascadecopper.com Web: www.cascadecopper.com Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. DISCLAIMER & FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" which are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, and by their very nature involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on currently available information, Cascade Copper Corp. provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Factors which cause results to differ materially are set out in the Company's documents filed on SEDAR. Undue reliance should not be placed on "forward looking statements." Vancouver - Westward Gold Inc. (CSE: WG, OTCQB: WGLIF, FSE: IM50) ("Westward" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of up to 10,000,000 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of C$0.08 per Unit, for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of up to C$800,000. Each Unit will be comprised of one common share of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one common share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share of the Company at a price of C$0.12 for a period of 24 months following the closing date of the Offering. The net proceeds from the Offering will be used primarily for (i) pre-drilling activities at the Company's flagship Toiyabe Hills Project, including: permitting studies, advanced targeting and planning, data analysis, and earthworks, and (ii) general working capital purposes. Closing of the Offering is subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including from the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE"). The Common Shares and Warrants issued in relation to the Offering will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day, in accordance with applicable securities laws. Certain finder's fees may also be payable to qualifying parties in accordance with the policies of the CSE. Certain insiders of the Company intend to acquire Units in the Offering, for an estimated aggregate total of approximately 2,500,000 Units and gross proceeds of $200,000. The participation by such insiders in the Offering will constitute a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). Such participation is expected to be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101, based on the fact that neither the anticipated fair market value of the Units subscribed for by the insiders, nor the consideration for the Units to be paid by such insiders, will exceed 25% of the Company's current market capitalization. The securities being offered have not, nor will they be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons in the absence of U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. About Westward Gold Westward Gold is a mineral exploration company focused on developing the consolidated Toiyabe Hills Project located in the Cortez Hills area of Lander County, Nevada, and the Coyote and Rossi Projects located along the Carlin Trend in Elko County, Nevada. From time to time, the Company may also evaluate the acquisition of other mineral exploration assets and opportunities. For further information contact: Andrew Nelson Chief Financial Officer Westward Gold Inc. +1 (604) 828-7027 andrew@westwardgold.com www.westwardgold.com The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This news release contains or incorporates by reference "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" as defined under applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes, or developments that the Company expects to occur are, or may be deemed, to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally, but not always, identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expect", "believe", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "potential", "on track", "forecast", "budget", "target", "outlook", "continue", "plan" or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved or the negative connotation of such terms. Such statements include, but may not be limited to, information as to strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance, such as the Company's expansion plans, project timelines, expected drilling targets, and other statements that express management's expectations or estimates of future plans and performance. Forward-looking statements or information are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or information, including, without limitation, the need for additional capital by the Company through financings, and the risk that such funds may not be raised; the speculative nature of exploration and the stages of the Company's properties; the effect of changes in commodity prices; regulatory risks that development of the Company's material properties will not be acceptable for social, environmental or other reasons, availability of equipment (including drills) and personnel to carry out work programs, that each stage of work will be completed within expected time frames, that current geological models and interpretations prove correct, the results of ongoing work programs may lead to a change of exploration priorities, and the efforts and abilities of the senior management team. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements or information. These and other factors may cause the Company to change its exploration and work programs, not proceed with work programs, or change the timing or order of planned work programs. Additional risk factors and details with respect to risk factors that may affect the Company's ability to achieve the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are set out in the Company's latest management discussion and analysis under "Risks and Uncertainties", which is available under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company's forward-looking statements and information are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations, and opinions of management as of the date of this press release, and other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements and information if circumstances or management's assumptions, beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, or changes in any other events affecting such statements or information. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION, DISTRIBUTION, RELEASE, OR PUBLICATION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. Vancouver, November 29, 2024 - Lexston Mining Corp. (the "Company" or "Lexston") (CSE: LEXT) (OTCQB: LEXTF) (Frankfurt: W5G) wishes to announce that the date of its Annual General and Special Meeting (the "Meeting") has been rescheduled due to the ongoing Canada Post strike. The new date of the Meeting is January 23, 2025. The Company's annual and interim financial statements and related management's discussion and analysis have been filed and are available on SEDAR+ under the profile of Lexston Mining Corporation. The Meeting materials and the financial statements request card will be mailed to shareholders once the Canada Post strike is resolved. Lexston remains committed to timely and transparent communication with its shareholders. We appreciate your understanding and patience during this time. About Lexston Mining Corporation The Company is a Canadian mineral exploration company, focused on the acquisition and development of mineral projects, with the objective to enhance value to all its stakeholders. The Company has mineral exploration projects in British Columbia and Nunavut, Canada. The Company (OTCQB: LEXTF) trades on the OTCQB Venture Market for early stage and developing U.S. and international companies. Companies are current in their reporting and undergo an annual verification and management certification process. Investors can find Real-Time quotes and market information for the company on www.otcmarkets.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors LEXSTON MINING CORPORATION Jagdip Bal Chief Executive Officer Telephone: (604) 928-8913 Email: info@lexston.ca The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release. Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. VANCOUVER, Nov. 29, 2024 - Further to the press release dated November 7, 2024, which announced the engagement of MarketSmart for IR services, the Company is providing more information about MarketSmart. MarketSmart is at arms length to Giga Metals. At November 7, MarketSmart owned no securities in the Company. As of today's date, MarketSmart has accumulated 125,000 shares of Giga Metals in the secondary market. Giga is paying for MarketSmart's IR services out of general working capital. MarketSmart is a Vancouver, British Columbia-based corporate communications service provider, built over the last two decades, who benefit from a deep industry knowledge in venture capital and small cap investing. MarketSmart was established in 2002 and has worked with many TSX Venture listed companies in assisting them in developing their corporate profile within the investment community. MarketSmart Communications is owned by Maria Da Silva. MarketSmart's principal place of business and contact information is as follows: 614 - 409 Granville Street Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 1T2, Canada Attn: Adrian Sydenham, President Telephone: (604) 261-4466 Email: info@marketsmart.ca The services to be provided by MarketSmart under the Agreement will include shareholder and investor communication services, disseminating the Company's news releases and disclosing all pertinent information related to the Company to MarketSmart's investor database. MarketSmart will also post all corporate information related to the Company on MarketSmart's website (www.marketsmart.ca) and social media feeds, provide the Company with the opportunity to broaden its national and international reach and raise capital by way of introductions to brokerage houses and other investors, and offer industry specific financial and media interviews. The services provided will be facilitated by numerous digital venues such as programmatic digital marketing, social media marketing on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email marketing, direct one on one communications, and content creation. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Giga Metals Corp. "Mark Jarvis" MARK JARVIS, CEO Contact Information Office Phone: +1 (604) 681-2300 Investor Inquiries: info@gigametals.com Company Website: www.gigametals.com Contact: MarketSmart Communications - 877-261-4466 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Suite 203 - 700 West Pender St., Vancouver, BC, Canada V6C 1G8 The Christian New Life Association (CNLA, ), an evangelical drug rehabilitation ministry in Hong Kong, held its 23rd anniversary dinner on November 23. They are now looking forward to the upgraded and reprovisioned residential care home on Lantau Island, which is set to finish renovations and be opened in 2026. The new property will provide facilities for total care and a comprehensive rehabilitation service. Commemorating CNLAs great impact over the years, patrons and participants in the program gathered in support of the nights fundraising events, which featured Jingdezhen blue-and-white ceramics. Established in 2001 by Rev. Chun-wah Cheng (), CNLA devotes itself to helping former drug addicts rehabilitate and rebuild their lives by focusing on their relationship with Christ and practical training. In 2021, the government relocated the Lantau School of Social Development and signed the 120,000 square feet land to CNLA to be repurposed for its new Rehab Village. The property is currently under construction and will include a medical unit, a dormitory, and a chapel, amongst other facilities to provide holistic care for the body, mind, spirit, and social identity of each patient. The Rehab Village will be completed in the second quarter of 2026. During the anniversary dinner, Cheng gave a speech thanking all the sponsors from different sectors and looked back on his 23 years of serving. Many guests also shared their testimony of collaborating with CNLA, affirming its contributions in helping former drug-addicts. Dr. Loey Mak: Holistic Healing for Drug Rehabilitation Through Body, Mind, and Spirit Dr. Loey Mak (), named among the 2024 Ten Outstanding Young Persons Selection of Hong Kong, shared her experience of collaborating with Rev. Cheng over the past six years. Starting with a simple intention to help participants of the program receive treatment for liver diseases, she never anticipated how profoundly this ministry would impact their lives. Starting with liver treatment is not just getting medical intervention, said Dr. Mak. For many, it is the first step to a transformed life. She shared a moving story of a patient who, after being treated, encouraged others to join the rehab program. One of the people evangelized in this way then grew to become a staff at CNLA. Through this program, I saw many people encouraged by this, and they were able to see that there are many people who want to help them be healthy again, whether thats physically or emotionally, said Dr. mak. Looking ahead, Dr. Mak shared plans which will extend her medical services to prisons where they will be able to reach more individuals in need. She thanked Rev. Chengs support and recommendation for the honor of Ten Outstandings. I will continue to work my hardest, and I look forward to the continuous collaboration with Rev. Cheng to help those in need, she said. Narcotics Commissioner Keeshun Lee: Space Oil to be Officially Listed as a Drug In a pre-recorded video, commissioner for the Narcotics Division of the Hong Kong Security Bureau, Keeshun Lee (), congradulated CNLA on its 23rd anniversary. He emphasized that combating drug abuse requires joint efforts from all sectors of society. Lee praised the associations contributions over the past 23 years, recognizing it as a model for the community and commending its success in rescuing many individuals from addiction, helping them rebuild their lives. Lee highlighted the significant progress made in relocating the associations drug rehabilitation village, thanks to the collaboration of Rev. Cheng, the government, and various social partners. He expressed anticipation for the opening of the new rehabilitation center, believing it will provide much-needed support for more individuals struggling with addiction. He also mentioned the governments plans to expedite the classification of space oil (a dangerous inhalant) as a controlled drug to address the escalating drug problem. Lee urged the public to remain vigilant, watching for signs of space oil abuse among those around them. He stressed the severe dangers of space oil, equating its use to consuming illicit drugs. In closing, Commissioner Li pledged that the Narcotics Division will continue to work closely with CNLA to assist individuals in reclaiming drug-free lives. He called on the community to support anti-drug initiatives and work together to create a healthy, drug-free environment Former Addict Coixi Testifies: Not by Drugs, Only by Jesus! A former patient in CNLA's program, Coixi () shared how she overcame her drug addiction and living nightmare by the grace of God. I came from a broken family, I never had love or a sense of security, my mother was absent, and I grew up constantly moving from place to place. When she was nine, Coixi was admitted to a girls home shelter, where she first started using drugs. In the twenty years that followed, she sunk deeper and deeper under the curse of drug abuse. First, it was meth, then ketamine and cocaine. I tried to get clean like five or six times, but I never succeeded. My life was so dark, I tried to kill myself, she said. After she got married, she had two daughters, but she continued to take drugs and sell drugs while she was pregnant, bringing further discord to her life. Once a doctor found out about her substance abuse, the hospital contacted the authorities and took her first daughter away, admitting her to Po Leung Kuk, a social service organization that provides support for orphaned children. Soon, her second daughter was taken away under similar circumstances. That is when I finally had the determination to get sober, so I went to New Life where Rev. Cheng was. We had morning and evening devotionals, and I had peace in my heart. I saw that all the others could successfully come clean, so I really set apart everything to just rely only on Jesus. In this process, even my father was changed, said Coixi. She believed that: Through this experience, I saw how God is real and how He is faithful. She confessed that she is a completely different person now than when she was on drugs. CNLA not only helped her quit drugs, they also taught her how to be human again. Before, she was cared for by the social workers, but now she can care for others. Her two daughters were also returned to her. Her husband used to make a living dealing drugs, but he was able to find a job and leave his former circle of friends after coming through CNLA too. Coixi firmly believes in sobriety not by drugs, only by Jesus! Pharmacist Oilan Pong: Professional Skills Helping Patients Reintegrate into Society Oilan Pong (), a pharmacist and appointed member of the Sha Tin District Council, shared her testimony about the efforts of CNLA. She emphasized that these efforts not only transform lives but also equip patients with valuable skills to reintegrate into society successfully. As a pharmacist, Pong contributed to the association by providing physical therapy equipment to help improve participants health. Some of these individuals have since become fitness trainers, teaching exercise classes and conducting health assessments in her office. This not only enhanced their professional expertise but also boosted their confidence, empowering them to find their place in society. Rev. Puitak Pak: Continue Supporting the Rehab Ministry Rev. Puitak Pal, a professor at the Divinity School of Chung Chi College, Chinese University of Hong Kong, and a long-time minister to individuals in rehab, affirmed the dedicated efforts of Rev. Cheng and CNLA over the past 23 years. He shared great hope for the associations future. Pastor Pak shared his personal experience visiting the newly relocated rehabilitation center on Lantau Island, remarking that its beautiful scenery makes it an ideal spot for hiking. He thanked the government for approving the land use for the rehab facilities project, which will provide a better living and recovery environment for patients. He highlighted how CNLA's commitment to helping those struggling with addiction has transformed countless lives and called on everyone to continue supporting its ministry to bring hope and renewal to more souls. Video Introducing the Rehab Village Renovations Plan A short video made by the Gospel Herald titled Soaring Sparks introduced CNLA and its plans to renovate the Lantau property. An interview with Rev. Cheng showed his hopes for the future of CNLA. Since CNLA secured government approval to repurpose the original special needs school facilities for drug rehabilitation, they have also received a grant of HK$120 million. However, to ensure successful completion, CNLA must raise an additional HK$6 million. To raise the necessary funds, CNLA hosted a charity auction during the dinner banquet. Auctioned items included a luxury watch and two exquisite blue-and-white ceramic vases from Jingdezhen, China's renowned ceramics hub. These artworks not only hold high collectible value but also embody the rich cultural heritage of Chinese craftsmanship. Fifth-Generation Ceramics Master: God's Masterpiece Yashou Yu, a fifth-generation heir of a renowned porcelain family from Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province, described Jingdezhen ceramics as a precious gift from God to China, with a history spanning thousands of years that exemplifies the enduring craftsmanship of the Chinese people. Yu highlighted the defining characteristics of Chinese ceramics: "white as jade, thin as paper, bright as a mirror, and resonant as a chime." He emphasized that all human art is inherently connected to God's creation, showcasing His greatness while underscoring humanity's smallness in comparison. Lakeside Autumn Scenery and White-headed Wagtail: Showcasing Jingdezhens Exquisite Craftsmanship Shuping Wang from Wuyuan Church contributed two exquisite blue-and-white porcelain vases to support CNLA fundraiser. Named Lakeside Autumn Scenery and White-headed Wagtail, these masterpieces highlight the exceptional artistry and deep cultural heritage of Jingdezhen ceramics. Wang explained that Lakeside Autumn Scenery captures the serene beauty of autumn in Jingdezhen, while White-headed Wagtail symbolizes prosperity and longevity. She remarked, Each piece was meticulously hand-painted, fired at 1300 degrees Celsius, and completed through 72 painstaking steps, exemplifying the precision and dedication of Jingdezhen craftsmanship. With this compelling promotion, the blue-and-white porcelain vases and other fine items were successfully auctioned, raising vital funds for the associations relocation project. The evening concluded with everyone singing the hymn God Is Here, bringing the event to a graceful and uplifting end. Cadillac new team fee is not high enough says Marko Cadillac F1, the new-for-2026 Formula 1 team project, will reportedly need to pay $450 million alone in the form of an anti-dilution fee. Dr, Helmut Marko, Las Vegas GP 2024 Red Bull After the original FIA-approved Andretti-Cadillac bid was blocked by F1 owner Liberty Media, a new deal involving the dropping of the Andretti brand and increased involvement from General Motors means 'Cadillac F1' will debut in 2026. Michael Andretti has stepped back from the project, but the cars will be designed at the new Andretti Global facility at Silverstone, with Andretti's legendary father Mario Andretti involved as a non-executive advisor. When asked by NBC News if Mario's role will be like Niki Lauda's at Mercedes, the 1978 confirmed: "Basically that. I don't want a specific job per se, where I have to punch in every day. I don't need and want that, said Mario. But I welcome the opportunity to definitely be part of a lot of key decisions. This is my rodeo. Initially, in 2026 and 2027 but perhaps also in 2028 as well, Cadillac F1 will need to use customer engines before a works GM power unit is ready. There were rumours the customer unit could be supplied by Honda, but 84-year-old Andretti says the objective is actually a deal with Ferrari. That's not definite yet, but that's the objective. And that's the preference, he said. And although his son Michael has stepped back from direct involvement, Mario confirmed that the Cadillac F1 cars will be designed and built by Andretti Global. The team is all in, and a lot of work has already been done, believe it or not, he said. Many believed the project was on the verge of total collapse, and that F1 were forced into a compromise deal because of US government investigations. I could go back and bring up events and so forth, but some of it was not very pleasant, and I don't really want to talk about any of that, said Andretti. "All of that is behind us. Everyone is happy, including my son. That's the most important part. No one is diminished or suffered. He admitted Colton Herta is an early favourite to represent America from the cockpit, and acknowledged that Valtteri Bottas and Liam Lawson enthused in Las Vegas that two extra seats in F1 is very good news. They said it all, said Andretti. "There are more drivers available than teams at the moment. Ten teams seems a lot, but there's a lot more drivers, lot more talent out there. From our standpoint, I think the play at the beginning would be to have one experienced driver - nationality doesn't matter - and then a young American talent. These are the objectives at the moment. Originally, the new team fee in Formula 1 was $200 million, but the existing teams - backed by F1 - have argued that it needs to be much higher in Cadillac's case to compensate for the diluted prize money pool. The BBC reports that Cadillac will need to stump up a whopping $450 million. Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko told Osterreich newspaper: The payment that Cadillac is making is nowhere near enough to compensate for what we have invested a lot of money in over ten years. However, Marko made clear that he is otherwise not opposed to the eleventh team. Even if the existing teams don't benefit much from it at first, a name like Cadillac with General Motors in the background is certainly an advantage, he said. (GMM) Indycar stars not good enough for Cadillac says Schumacher Ralf Schumacher doubts an Indycar driver is good enough to fill one of the new Cadillac F1 race seats from 2026. Start, Las Vegas GP 2024 Alpine Team advisor and Formula 1 legend Mario Andretti revealed this week that Colton Herta, who already drives for Mario's son Michael Andretti in Indycar, is definitely in the running for a Cadillac F1 seat. From our standpoint, I think the play at the beginning would be to have one experienced driver - nationality doesn't matter - and then a young American talent, 1978 world champion Andretti told NBC News. Ralf Schumacher, uncle of the seat-hunting former Haas driver Mick, agrees that it at least makes sense for Cadillac to prefer to field American drivers. On the other hand, he told Sky Deutschland, "the Indycar level is not the same as the Formula 1 level. We've seen that on numerous occasions when they test. But maybe there is some super-talent lurking over there that no one has found yet, former F1 driver Schumacher added. Not surprisingly, he thinks Mick Schumacher would be a safer pick for Cadillac. I assume that they will get a proven element in the car to give them a starting point, Ralf said. "They're starting from scratch with everything and that is extremely difficult. That's why in that case you have to have someone who you know can do it and who you can rely on. Apart from the driver question, Schumacher does expect Cadillac to eventually succeed in Formula 1. It will of course take some time before GM comes on board as an engine manufacturer, although it's a huge corporation, and whatever they tackle will work in the end, said the German. "All of this is important for Formula 1, because it sends a strong signal when such a global player wants to get into the premier class of racing. "Formula 1 is continuing to grow. I'm looking forward to there being eleven teams, because that means two more places for young drivers. We know how difficult it is at the moment with only 20 cars. In 2026 we will have ten percent more seats available. (GMM) School rather than F1 return for Sebastian Vettel Once linked this year with a potential return to Formula 1 or Le Mans, Sebastian Vettel ultimately decided to go back to school. Sebastian Vettel, Abu Dhabi GP 2022 Aston Martin Racing While Max Verstappen also became a quadruple world champion at the weekend in Las Vegas, the retired Vettel was at an awards ceremony in Braunschweig, Germany, where he was asked what his next steps in life will be. I am actually going to school, the German smiled to RTL. I am doing an apprenticeship in agriculture. When asked if he will be a fully-qualified farmer by the end, Vettel answered: "Not quite. It is basically a condensed form of it. After that, I can run my own business. This area fascinates me, added the former Ferrari and Aston Martin driver, who lives with his wife and young family in a farmhouse in Switzerland. It is well known that Vettel is interested in nature, sustainability and the environment. "I find it extremely exciting when it comes to the future of agriculture. The training I'm doing is not full time. With the three kids there is enough to do anyway. But my life is much quieter than it used to be. I don't travel as much anymore. He has also become more interested in politics, indicating that he supports Green Party candidate Robert Habeck in the snap federal election early in 2025. I believe he has a very healthy worldview, said Vettel. He is trying to make Germany better and is really motivated to do so. As always, when you try to do everything right or make everything better, you don't always succeed. I think that's human. But I think we should look to the future. As for his opinion about US president-elect Donald Trump, Vettel admitted: I think he is a bad person. And what about motor racing? I'm not returning to Formula 1, the winner of 53 career wins admits. But Le Mans could be an option. (GMM) Toyota not ruling out future F1 engine project Toyota is not ruling out eventually expanding its new involvement in Formula 1 beyond a mere technical partnership with Haas. Nico Hulkenberg, Las Vegas GP 2024 Haas The Japanese carmaker, via its Toyota Gazoo Racing offshoot, is helping Ferrari-powered Haas with parts manufacture, technical resources, and simulation. But Masaya Kaji, Toyota Gazoo director, says he's also interested in F1 power unit development. Morizo has told us, 'It's been 15 years since we were in Formula 1, so you need to learn', Kaji, referring to Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda, told as-web.jp. I think we need to understand a little more about various things and then consider this as the next step. Specialist publications like Auto Motor und Sport believe it's possible Formula 1 will welcome a twelfth team to the grid in the coming years - especially if it's Toyota. The technical regulations are changing completely for 2026, including power unit rules that dramatically ramp up the electrical component of the engine. When asked if Toyota is interested in the rules, Kaji admitted: Of course, I'm looking at everything there is to see. I think it will become a system that is easier to use in a variety of ways than it is now. However, for now, Toyota is excluded from the detailed discussions and meetings with F1, the FIA and the other engine manufacturers about the 2026 engines. I think it would be good to participate in the meetings in order to learn, but to participate, you need to be registered as a manufacturer with F1. (GMM) Verstappen puzzled over FIA staff replacements Max Verstappen admits he has some concerns about the continuing staff exodus at Formula 1's governing body, the FIA. Max Verstappen, Las Vegas GP 2024 Red Bull Hot on the heels of race director Niels Wittich's ousting by controversial FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the next sudden departures are senior steward Tim Mayer, and fellow top official Janette Tan. I'm in disbelief, Mayer is quoted as saying by L'Equipe. At some point, the FIA is going to run out of competent people. The sudden situation means that in Qatar, Wittich's race director successor Rui Marquez is overlooking both Formula 1 and Formula 2 this weekend. I'm sure whatever comes out of this weekend, if it doesn't allow him to be at F1 standard, I'm sure there will be changes in the future, said Alpine driver Pierre Gasly. Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Michael Schmidt wrote: "The exodus at the FIA continues and nobody knows what is behind it. There is no official explanation. What happens if Marquez gets sick and is unable to work? There is no longer a replacement for the replacement. An FIA source told Auto Motor und Sport anonymously: We were not informed and therefore we do not know what's going on. When asked what he knows about the situation, quadruple world champion Verstappen said: "I know that more people have left, but I do not know who or why. But I don't think it is ideal for the FIA that people leave. It just depends on who you get to replace them. Who is going to take over all those tasks? On the bright side, the drivers are at least happy with new F1 race director Marquez so far. After a meeting of the GPDA in Qatar, the drivers with collectively propose a tweak to the driver guidelines, although it's not clear yet if it will be implemented immediately or for 2025. There's a rule now where the driver on the inside has to leave room for the driver on the outside between the apex and the exit. That's now being thrown in the bin, said George Russell, senior director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association. (GMM) Macao inaugurates cultural heritage preservation center of Palace Museum Xinhua) 13:14, November 29, 2024 MACAO, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Center of Preservation and Transmission for Cultural Heritage of the Palace Museum in Macao was inaugurated on Thursday, with a plaque unveiling ceremony co-hosted by Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Ho Iat Seng and Director of the Palace Museum Wang Xudong. In 2019, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism signed an agreement on cooperation with the Macao SAR government to establish the center, with the Palace Museum providing professional advice and technical support for the restoration of Macao's cultural heritages. Located on the ground floor of the Macao Museum of Art, the center covers a total area of nearly 900 square meters and is equipped with specialized laboratories for the restoration of cultural heritages and has spaces for exhibitions. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Previous article: Longitude 0 at Somanya - Where the world crosses the Prime Meridian from East to West Ghana Election 2024: Bawumia, Mahama sign peace pact - 10 other candidates concur Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson Nov - 29 - 2024 , 09:37 5 minutes read The two leading candidates in the December 7 presidential election, Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and former President John Dramani Mahama have signed a pact declaring their commitment to promote peace during and after the elections. Also signing the peace pact were the other 10 presidential candidates or their representatives. The signing of the peace pact by the presidential candidates or their representatives supervised by the Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, yesterday served as an undertaking by the presidential candidates to uphold and promote peace. All 12 presidential candidates were present to sign the peace pact. They are Mahamudu Bawumia (NPP), Daniel Augustus Lartey (GCPP), Christian Kwabena Andrews (GUM), Kofi Akpaloo (LPG), Mohammed Frimpong (NDP), Nana Akosua Frimpomaa Kumankuma (CPP), John Dramani Mahama (NDC), Hassan Ayariga (APC), Kofi Koranteng (Independent), George Twum-Barima-Adu (independent), Nana Kwame Bediako (Independent) and Alan John Kwadwo Kyeremateng (Independent) Advertisement Dr Bawumia, the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), before signing the pact, expressed his commitment to conduct his affairs in a manner that respected the laws of the country. I wholeheartedly pledge my commitment to work within the rules and collaborate with all to ensure a peaceful election. I am full of hope that all of us leaders and our followers will live up to the peace pact, he said. Former President Mahama, who is the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), said, he would collaborate with all stakeholders to promote peace. Let us pledge to promote peace. Let us work together to create an environment that is conducive to free, fair and peaceful elections. We owe it to ourselves and future generations to preserve the peace that we have enjoyed for so long, he said. Peace pact The Presidential Election Peace Pact, organised under the auspices of the National Peace Council (NPC) and the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), was on the theme: Pursuing Peaceful Elections, Non-Violence and Justice. Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia (right) exchanging pleasantries with some flag bearers of political parties at the signing of the Peace Pact in Accra. Pictures: SAMUEL TEI ADANO This is the fourth time the NPC and IDEG have organised the signing of the Presidential Peace Pact after similar ones were held in 2020, 2016 and 2012. Notable personalities who attended the event included the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa; the Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare; the Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, and the African Union High Representative for Silencing the Guns, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas. Bedrock of progress Dr Bawumia described peace as the bedrock of development and national progress, adding that as a shining example of democracy in the sub-region, there was a need for the country to continue to maintain its peace to sustain and enhance democracy. He said despite the competitive nature of elections and major differences, the country had always stood tall, rising above the differences as a united entity. The stakes in every general election are always high but we have never turned our backs to democracy because that is the path we have chosen, which is the right way to go, he said. Vacuum Former President Mahama, while endorsing peace and encouraging all to embrace peace, however, said peace could not be achieved in a vacuum or through mere talk but through a consistent effort to ensure fairness, transparency and accountability. Former President John Dramani Mahama (right) exchanging pleasantries with some flag bearers of political parties at the signing of the Peace Pact in Accra. It is all well and good for us to commit to peace and recite beautiful platitudes. All efforts at building peace before, during and after the 2024 elections will be undermined if there is mistrust and insincerity. There is reason to be concerned that the signing of this pact, though well-intentioned, will amount to nothing if it is not followed by concrete action by the stakeholders and government, he said. He said events such as the violence that characterised the Ayawaso Wuogon by-election in 2019 and the killing of some people during the 2020 elections left much to be desired when it came to peace. The refusal by the government to act on the Emile Short Committees Report does not inspire confidence that the government truly believed in peace, he added. Assurances The event was also used by critical stakeholders such as the EC, the judiciary and the police to assure the nation of their commitment to work towards promoting peace in the country. The Chief Justice said the Judiciary was committed to the stability of the country and the protection of the democratic process. I wish to assure all political parties that to the best of the ability of the justice sector and within the requisite constitutional directions, substantive rules on electoral disputes, the rules of court and the laws of evidence, the Judiciary will administer all processes of dispute management with efficiency and effectiveness and discharge our constitutional obligations to the good people of Ghana, Justice Torkornoo said. With regard to the EC, the Chairperson, Mrs Jean Mensa, said the commission, in the processes leading up to the elections, had always employed the cardinal principles of transparency, responsiveness and inclusiveness. The approach, she said, had gone a long way to reduce the tension in the country and build confidence in the electoral process. As a Commission, we will continue to apply the ingredients of transparency, responsiveness and inclusiveness in all our activities through to the election day and beyond, she said. For his part, the IGP said the Police Service had developed a blueprint for election security, which included comprehensive security arrangements during and after elections and beyond the inauguration of a new President. Writers email: emma.hawkson@graphic.com.gh Avoid acts of violence in December elections - Chief advises Zango youth Haruna Yussif Wunpini Nov - 29 - 2024 , 08:57 3 minutes read The Chief of Dagombas in the Eastern Region, Naa Usumanu Adams, has advised the youth, especially Muslims living in Zango communities not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to cause violence in this years general election. He also admonished them to pursue their education diligently and work hard towards securing their future rather than being conduits for disturbances. Naa Adams said the elections should not be seen as a do-or-die affair and, therefore, entreated political parties to go about their campaign activities peacefully devoid of physical attacks and the use of abusive or provocative language. He gave the advice during the celebration of the 2024 Damba Festival held at the Koforidua Zango. Dagombas from various towns in the region such as Suhum, Akwatia, Akim Oda, Akosombo, Tema, Nsawam, Kpong, Accra, Yendi and Tamale, among others, participated in the event. Advertisement Also present were other tribal chiefs representatives of Mamprusis, Mossis, Hausas, Frafras, Grushies, Wallas, Kotokolis, Grumas, Sisaalas and Chokosis, among others. The celebrants, including children, were spotted in their neat and intricately woven smocks (Fugu) of different colours and shapes who showcased their dancing skills in tune with the gong, gong beats to the admiration of all. Damba festival The Damba festival is celebrated by the Dagombas, Nanumbas, Mamprusis and Gonjas, among others, to mark the birth and naming of Prophet Mohammed. The occasion is also used to celebrate and glorify the institution of chieftaincy. The festival, which is also used for family meetings, is heralded by the performance of some rites, presided over by the Overlord of Dagbon, Ya-Na Abukari, at Yendi, the traditional seat of the Dagomba Kingdom in the Northern Region. It is replicated in various towns and communities in the country where Dagombas are domiciled. Ballot snatching Speaking to the Daily Graphic on how to ensure a peaceful 2024 election, the chief said the snatching and picking of ballot boxes during elections had almost become the preserve of the youth and, therefore, asked them to stay away from such negative acts which could mar the peaceful conduct of the polls. He said it behoved the youth to think about their future rather than expending energies for their paymasters, adding that violence would not do them any good. And with a few days to this years elections, the chief urged the youth wing of various political parties to lead their members to engage in peace-building within the political space. That, he said, would help consolidate the country's democratic governance. "As young people with good future, let us remember that Ghana must remain Ghana, an enviable and peaceful country after the December 7 polls. "It is very important for young people in this region and the country as a whole who are politically active to know that election period is not time for the beating of war drums or making provocative statements against other political opponents," Naa Adams said. Appreciation For his part, the chairman of the regional Damba planning committee, Alhaji Baba Dawuni, expressed appreciation for the high turnout and impressive display of Dagbon culture. He commended all Dagombas and other ethnic groups in the region for the display of unity and purpose, adding that as brothers and sisters, they must continue to be each others keeper. Writer's email: haruna.wunpini@graphic.com.gh Election security task force engages UTAG Daily Graphic Nov - 29 - 2024 , 12:57 4 minutes read The National Election Security Task Force has engaged the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) in Accra to deliberate on issues of relevance. It forms part of ongoing stakeholder engagements to ensure a peaceful 2024 general election. The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and Chairman of the Security Task Force, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, said the meeting was to inform the association about the work the task force had undertaken and the preparations made so far, particularly for D-Day and post-D-Day situations. He explained that the goal of last Wednesdays meeting was to present the overall plan to the association, providing them with the opportunity to apply their critical mindsets by reviewing and offering constructive feedback on the security plans for the elections. Advertisement The IGP also stated that the meeting was to give the association a platform to express members concerns and to offer advice, ensuring that any fears they might have held were addressed and allayed. While urging the association to actively participate in the election process, Dr Dampare encouraged the members to serve as vessels of peace within both the academic and traditional communities by helping to spread the message of peaceful elections. The IGP stressed the importance of not only advocating peace but also embodying it through actions, ensuring that the message of peace, security, orderliness and love for the country reached everyone who mattered. By doing so, Dr Dampare stated, all stakeholders could be confident that they had played their part in securing a peaceful election period. Peace ambassadors The IGP further assured Ghanaians that peace would be demonstrated not just through words but through actions. The IGP highlighted the countrys current peaceful electioneering atmosphere, made possible through the collaboration of all relevant stakeholders, and expressed his trust that the momentum would continue. He emphasised that the collective effort was driven by the love for the nation's forebears and, more importantly, for future generations who would inherit the country. Reassuring the public about the preparations for the elections, Dr Dampare confirmed that all necessary structures and arrangements were in place. Special Voting The IGP affirmed that the special voting would take place on Monday, followed by the general election on December 7, 2024, with security firmly in order. Dr Dampare also highlighted the presence of intelligence officers across the country, working day and night, to ensure that the election period remained peaceful. He warned that trouble causers would see the inside of the police cells and, therefore, urged the public not to entertain thoughts of disrupting the peace. In addition, the IGP announced the implementation of an informant reward system and encouraged individuals to share information with the security services to help maintain peace during the election period and beyond. He gave an assurance that the identity of informants would remain confidential and that regional, divisional and district commanders were available to handle that information. The reward system offers incentives ranging from GH1,000 to GH20,000. The IGP also provided a toll-free number, 0800311311, for those who may find it difficult to reach the commanders in person. Dr Dampare commended the political parties and their members for their conduct during the campaign period and urged them to carry the same level of comportment into the elections. Critical point The UTAG President, Professor Mamudu A. Akudugu, thanked the National Elections Security Task Force for the invitation to engage with them at this critical point in the country's electioneering. He stated that it was the first time in the countrys history that the association had been invited to collaborate with the security forces to ensure a peaceful election. The heads of the other security services, who are members of the task force, took the opportunity to reiterate their commitment to ensuring peaceful elections, assuring Ghanaians that their efforts would continue to safeguard the electoral process. FirstBank champions resilience, customer trust at banking conference Daily Graphic Nov - 29 - 2024 , 09:57 3 minutes read The Head of Compliance at FirstBank Ghana, Francis Nyamekye, has emphasised the importance of diversifying revenue streams to minimise vulnerabilities during economic challenges. Financial institutions must reduce reliance on single revenue sources to mitigate vulnerabilities during economic downturns, he said. He was contributing to a panel discussion as part of the 28th Annual National Banking and Ethics Conference in Accra on Thursday, November 21. The panel discussion was on the theme: Resilience in the Financial System: Navigating Horizon Risks, Strategies for Financial Institutions. Advertisement The event which was organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIB), Ghana, also provided a platform for the panellists to address the critical challenges and opportunities in the sector. The panel discussion, which was moderated by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CIB Ghana, Robert Dzato, featured leading figures in the banking sector. Other members of the panel were Head of Risk Management at GCB Bank, Theophilus Aryee; Chief Risk Officer at Fidelity Bank Ghana, Dr David Animante, and the Head of Compliance at Ecobank Ghana, Rolland Djang Jnr. Mr Nyamekye, who focused his presentation on balancing short-term profitability with long-term sustainability and building customer trust during financial uncertainty, added that FirstBank prioritised innovation and diversification to ensure a stable and resilient financial ecosystem. Strategies FirstBank Ghanas Head of Compliance highlighted the banks proactive strategies in addressing emerging risks and its unwavering commitment to customer-centricity. Mr Nyamekye underscored the importance of integrating long-term strategies into financial decision-making, stating, At FirstBank Ghana, achieving short-term profitability is not an isolated goal. It must align with long-term resilience and sustainability. Our strategy incorporates robust risk management frameworks, the adoption of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, and investments in technology to drive sustainable growth while managing emerging risks. Confidence On maintaining customer confidence during uncertain times, he stressed the role of transparency and responsiveness. Customer trust is the cornerstone of financial resilience. At FirstBank Ghana, we prioritise transparent communication, ensuring our customers are well informed about market conditions and the measures we take to safeguard their interests, Mr Nyamekye said. In line with that, he elaborated on how FirstBank Ghana provides tailored solutions to support customers during challenging periods. We offer customer-centric solutions such as loan restructuring, flexible repayment plans and financial literacy programmes to address their unique challenges. By understanding and addressing their needs, we reinforce trust and strengthen our relationships, he added. Mr Nyamekye highlighted digital innovation and community engagement as critical components of the banks strategy. First Bank Ghana continues to enhance the security and functionality of our digital platforms; ensuring customers can rely on seamless and secure transactions. Additionally, our community outreach initiatives reflect our commitment to supporting societal well-being, which further bolsters confidence in our brand, he said. Mr Nyamekye said FirstBank Ghana continued to set the standard in the financial services sector, renowned for its innovative solutions, customer-first approach and dedication to sustainability. The bank, he said, remained a key player in fostering resilience and trust within the industry, driving its vision of sustainable growth and customer satisfaction. The other panellists brought unique perspectives to the discussion. Mr Aryee focused on robust risk management strategies, while Dr Animante stressed the role of data analytics in identifying and mitigating risks. Mr Djang, on the other hand, discussed compliance innovations in response to changing regulatory demands. Next article: College of Physicians and Surgeons admits new fellows, members Graphic National Development Series: Catholic bishops call for sustenance of democratic governance Emmanuel Bonney Nov - 29 - 2024 , 09:57 3 minutes read The Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference (GCBC) has said sustaining a civic and democratic governance system in the country requires the collective effort of all stakeholders. It, therefore, urged citizens not to only take an active interest in the governance of the nation but also to participate in the democratic process by demanding transparency and accountability from leaders. We must acknowledge that democratic deficits and governance challenges persist in many countries, and Ghana is no exception. It is, therefore, imperative that we work together to address those challenges, promote civic education and foster a culture of accountability and transparency, the President of the GCBC, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, said in a message read on his behalf at the Graphic National Development Series (GNDS) at the British Council Hall in Accra last Wednesday. Advertisement It was read by the Secretary-General of the GCBC, Very Rev. Fr Clement Kwasi Adjei. Event The event, which was the fourth in the series, was on the theme: Sustaining civic & democratic governance system for development, mandate of all citizens. Ato Afful (2nd from left), MD, GCGL, in a chat with Prof. Baffour Agyeman Duah (right) and Dr Emmanuel Akwetey (2nd from right) after the forum. With them is Gabriel Bosompem, member of the NMC The GNDS is a platform offered by the nations foremost media organisation, Graphic Communications Group Ltd (GCGL), to discuss issues of national interest and also propose solutions for accelerated development. It focuses on strategic issues of national character, ultimately influencing policy and mindsets of the people. Role of NCCE Most Rev. Gyamfi said the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) played a vital role in promoting civic education and awareness among citizens. Dr Emmanuel Akwetey (left), Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Governance, addressing participants in the forum. Pictures: EDNA SALVO KOTEY However, it is essential we recognise that sustaining civic and democratic governance systems requires a collective effort from all stakeholders, including religious organisations, civil society organisations, traditional leaders and government institutions. We must also recognise that our individual actions no matter how small, contribute to the larger narrative of our nation's development, he said. The president of GCBC charged the countrys leaders to prioritise the needs of the most vulnerable and marginalised in society. As a nation, Most Rev. Gyamfi said: We must work together to address the challenges of poverty, inequality and injustice. As people of faith, he said the church believed that sustaining civic and democratic governance systems was not only a civic duty but also a moral imperative. We must work together to build a more just, equitable and peaceful society where every citizen can thrive and reach their full potential. No one must be left behind, he added. Commendation Most Rev. Gyamfi commended the Graphic Communications Group Ltd for its foresight in organising the programme aimed at deepening democracy in the country for accelerated development. As a nation, we find ourselves at a critical juncture in our democratic journey. The Catholic Church through its social doctrine, emphasises the importance of promoting the dignity of the human being through the principles of common good, participation, solidarity, justice and peace, he said. Most Rev. Gyamfi further said that the church was committed to supporting efforts that fostered a culture of accountability, transparency and civic engagement for growth. He said the church also recognised the inherent dignity and worth of every human person and, for that matter, anybody created in the image and likeness of God. Therefore, we believe that every citizen has a fundamental right to participate in the democratic process and to hold their leaders accountable. Longitude 0 at Somanya - Where the world crosses the Prime Meridian from East to West Ezekiel E. Sottie Nov - 29 - 2024 , 09:57 5 minutes read The Prime Meridian Line, technically referred to as Longitude 0, which divides the world into two equal parts, passes through Somanya in the Yilo Krobo Municipality in the Eastern Region. The Prime Meridian Line is located opposite the Somanya main cemetery, known as Awudome, on the main Somanya to Akuse Junction road. It bears a monument with the inscription: To the Glory of God, this monument was donated by the Land Surveying Division of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors under the chairmanship of Surveyor John Christian Acquah (FGHIS) to commemorate the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the institution on August 27, 2019. The monument of the Prime Meridian Line was commissioned by the then Eastern Regional Minister, Eric Kwakye Darfour, assisted by the President of the Ghana Institute of Surveyors, Maame Ama Edumadze Acquah. Advertisement The other members of the Ghana Institute of Surveyors include Kingsley K.O. Boateng, Michael K. Ntiamoah Adu, Benjamin Benyi Acquah, Phyllis Owusu-Ensaw, Robert Hackman Antwi, Felix Odum Boadu, Beatrice Kom, Vincent Tetteh Anim, Stephen Tetteh Djaba and Amos Koranteng Oman, the Assemblyman for the Okornya Electoral Area. Meridian Line In an interview with a member of the Ghana Institute of Surveyors, Stephen Tetteh Djaba, who also hails from Somanya, said, We as Ghanaians and the people of Somanya are fortunate to be part of the Meridian Line that divides the world into two parts, either East or West. A signpost welcoming visitor to the place He said their organisation was very much interested in the issue of the Meridian Line which makes Ghana almost the centre of the world, hence the monument erected at Somanya. He said that just as the one in London was named Greenwich Meridian, that of Somanya would be named Somanya Meridian. Mr Djaba said the Ghana Institute of Surveyors had in mind to make the place one of the tourist centres in the country and it would be developed to that level, adding, This is the first part of it. Caretaker According to a 52-year-old farmer, Thomas Katako, who is a voluntary caretaker of the place, since the commissioning of the monument in 2019, the place has become a tourist centre on almost a daily basis, especially on weekends. He said his efforts had however not been rewarded by anybody, especially the authorities in the Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly in Somanya. Mr Katako said if the assembly took proper care of the place, it would generate income internally for the assembly rather than the way the monument was now. Since 2019 when the monument was erected, I have been buying agriculture chemicals to spray to make the place look neat so that when the visitors come, the place will be nice and attractive to them, but I have not received any reward from anyone. I can say on authority that the place has become a tourist attraction and a centre which attracts a lot of tourists from all over the country including foreigners. The tourists come to the place almost every day most especially on public holidays. I dont know what the Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly is waiting for to develop the place for their own internally generated funds, the caretaker queried. He said during the commissioning of the place in 2019, it was announced by the officials that day that the monument at Somanya was the main centre of the Prime Meridian Longitude 0 which needed to be treated as such. Streetlights A member of a family very close to the monument, Bernard Nertey, 29, was very worried about the way the Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly was handling the facility. He explained that the place looked very dark in the night, which made the location very scary, and as such nobody would like to risk getting near the facility in the evenings. He, therefore, called for street lights at the place. He further explained that the municipal assembly needed to erect either sheds, summer huts or pavilions there to make the place attractive, even though because of its location near the main road, the place was attracting people. He concluded that if the assembly developed the place, it could create jobs for the youth, as people would be selling water and other food items to the tourists, adding This can reduce the unemployment we are talking about day in and day out. Two other occupants of the house, Gifty Teiko Anim and Gifty Tawiah who also spoke to the Daily Graphic shared the same sentiments, saying We are more or less caretakers of the place and we know the number of visitors to the place daily and the assembly must be serious. Assemblys response A member of the Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly who spoke to the Daily Graphic on condition of anonymity said Our assembly is not serious with revenue generation. The person explained that the assembly was aware of the revenue that would be generated if it had developed the facility, but it was careless; meanwhile, it needed money for its activities as a municipality. The Municipal Chief Executive, Eric Tetteh, when contacted said some private individuals have expressed interest in the project. No unauthorised structures at Obetsebi Lamptey Interchange will be tolerated Titus Glover Beatrice Laryea Nov - 29 - 2024 , 13:01 1 minute read The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus Glover, has issued a stern reminder to residents and business owners in Accra to keep the newly inaugurated Obetsebi Lamptey Interchange free from unauthorized structures such as kiosks, wooden shops, and mechanic workshops. Speaking at the launch of Phase II of the Obetsebi Lamptey Interchange on Friday, November 29, the minister stressed the importance of maintaining the aesthetics and functionality of the infrastructure as a priority for city planners. Last week Tuesday, during the commissioning of the Flower Pot Interchange, I did say and let me repeat that we dont want any kiosks, we dont want any mechanics around the shoulders of this interchange," he said. Immediately after I gave the warning last week, a coconut seller and a banana seller tested my resolve. Let us not put anything here. Let us allow the ambience and the beauty of the place to continue," he added. Advertisement This reminder follows his previous stance on similar issues at the Flower Pot Interchange, where informal businesses have begun to encroach on newly completed infrastructure. The minister expressed concern over the tendency for new infrastructural projects in Accra to be quickly overtaken by informal businesses. He cited a recent incident where, despite a clear warning during the Flower Pot Interchange inauguration, vendors selling coconut and bananas set up their tables under the flyover. He appealed to residents to respect the government's efforts to improve the citys infrastructure and help maintain its beauty for the benefit of all. US commends Ghanas Presidential candidates for signing peace pact GraphicOnline Nov - 29 - 2024 , 14:34 2 minutes read The United States has lauded Ghanas presidential candidates for signing the 4th Presidential Elections Peace Pact ahead of the countrys December 7 elections. The commendation, delivered via a press release by the US Embassy in Ghana, also praised the National Peace Council (NPC) and the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) for their dedication to fostering peace through this significant initiative. The United States commends the presidential candidates for signing the 4th Presidential Elections Peace Pact and congratulates the National Peace Council and the Institute of Democratic Governance for their tireless stewardship of this important initiative, said Rolf A. Olson, Charge dAffaires, a.i. He emphasised the importance of upholding the democratic will of Ghanaians, stating: The will of the Ghanaian people must not be thwarted by the threat of violence before, during, or after the upcoming elections. The United States wishes Ghana a peaceful, transparent, and credible electoral process on December 7. Advertisement Candidates reaffirm commitment to peace The peace pact, signed by Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), former President John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and 10 other presidential candidates or their representatives on November 28 serves as a pledge to ensure a peaceful electoral process. Dr. Bawumia reiterated his resolve to uphold Ghanas laws and ensure peace, stating: I wholeheartedly pledge my commitment to work within the rules and collaborate with all to ensure a peaceful election. Former President Mahama echoed this commitment, urging collaborative efforts to maintain stability: Let us pledge to promote peace. Let us work together to create an environment that is conducive to free, fair, and peaceful elections. Building on tradition Organised by the NPC and IDEG, this years peace pact is themed Pursuing Peaceful Elections, Non-Violence and Justice. It marks the fourth consecutive peace pact ahead of Ghanas elections, following similar events in 2012, 2016, and 2020. The event in Accra was graced by prominent figures, including Electoral Commission Chairperson Jean Mensa, Inspector General of Police Dr George Akuffo Dampare, Chief Imam Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, and African Union High Representative for Silencing the Guns, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas. Bawumia pledges collaborative efforts with Ga Mantse to address challenges in Ga State GraphicOnline Politics Nov - 29 - 2024 , 12:25 2 minutes read The Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has assured the Ga Mantse and the Ga Traditional Council of his commitment to work closely with them to address the unique challenges facing the Ga State and Ghana at large. During a courtesy visit to the Ga Mantse as part of his campaign activities, Dr Bawumia expressed gratitude for the counsel he has received and outlined his policies to tackle key issues affecting the region. Highlighting the peculiar challenges stemming from hosting Ghanas capital city, he said he would prioritise resolving land disputes, improving access to education and jobs, and addressing the decline of the Ga language. The Ga State hosts the capital of Ghana. Because of that, the rest of Ghana is here, which has implications for the Ga State, which we have to take account of in policy, Dr. Bawumia stated. He noted that the demand for land in Accra has made it difficult for indigenes to secure affordable property, describing it as a major issue we have to deal with. Advertisement Dr. Bawumia also underscored the strain on educational opportunities and job availability due to the citys cosmopolitan nature, saying, Because everybody is here, the schools have limited places for the people and limited jobs too. In addition, the Vice President raised concerns about the diminishing use of the Ga language, emphasising the need for targeted interventions. Most of us who are here can survive without speaking Ga. So that leads to a decline in the language. We have to make sure that Ga is taught in our schools to protect the language. Otherwise, it is going to be very costly, he explained. Dr. Bawumia assured the Ga Mantse that he would engage directly with the Traditional Council to resolve land disputes between the Ga State and the government. I am promising you that as President, Ill sit down with you, and we will resolve these issues, he pledged, adding that hosting the capital should not be to your disadvantage. The Ga Mantse welcomed Dr. Bawumias proposals, acknowledging their alignment with the councils vision for the region. Dr Bawumia also presented plans to amend the Chieftaincy Act to restore more authority to traditional rulers. Ghana Election 2024: NPP must fall on December 7 Valerie Sawyerr Kester Aburam Korankye Politics Nov - 29 - 2024 , 06:57 3 minutes read A former senior policy advisor to former President John Mahama, Dr Valerie Sawyerr, has urged the Electoral Commission (EC) and the security agencies to ensure a free, fair and transparent election on December 7 to consolidate the countrys democratic gains. She accused the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) of perpetrating violence, corruption and economic mismanagement during its eight-year tenure. In an article for publication in the Daily Graphic, Dr Sawyerr said Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, had been "sloppy, incompetent and lacklustre" during the NPPs eight-year tenure and did not deserve the support of Ghanaians for another term in the upcoming election. She invoked the iconic Bob Marley song "Small Axe" to symbolise the opposition National Democratic Congress' (NDC) determination to challenge the ruling party. Advertisement "If you are the big tree, we are the small axe, sharpened to cut you down," she quoted. Vigilance The former Deputy Chief of Staff under the John Atta Mills administration urged members of the NDC to remain focused and vigilant. "We must be vigilant! We must man the polls with distinct alertness and quickened minds. We must not allow any man, woman or hermaphrodite to apply any means whatsoever to manipulate the system," she cautioned. She cited the example of the unwavering determination of Radio Gold, a pro-opposition radio station, in the 2008 elections as it acted as a channel of accurate and timely information to direct the NDC to victory. She applauded the strength that the NDC displayed in the fight for victory. Dr Sawyerr rallied NDC members, supporters and sympathisers to rise up and finish the fight to cut down the big tree (NPP) even though the NDC might seem to be the small axe. Dr Sawyerr urged all Ghanaians to remain vigilant and to demand a free, fair and transparent election. "Let us refuse to sink into dungeons where we devour one another. Let us reject a future of civil war, chopping off arms and legs, eradication of infrastructure and further destruction of an already destroyed economy," she said. Impartiality Dr Sawyerr called on security agencies to remain impartial and professional and to avoid any actions that could be perceived as biased or partisan. "We do not want soldiers at the polling stations! No soldiers at polling stations! No soldiers at polling stations!" she emphasised. Dr Sawyerr challenged the EC to conduct the election in a free and fair manner and refuse to be cowered into submission by a slave master. There is an enormous weight on your shoulders and you must execute to perfection so that when you are no longer at the post, you would have left behind a slither of a legacy, she said. Mahama Dr Sawyerr expressed utmost confidence in the NDC's Presidential Candidate, John Dramani Mahama, saying he was a man of truth and a leader who would bring development to all parts of the country. "He is a man who extends developmental projects to all corners of the country regardless of religious, ethnic or political affiliation," she said. Voting is civic responsibility - First-time voters told Daniel Akwasi Nuako Politics Nov - 29 - 2024 , 08:57 2 minutes read The Assistant Programme Officer of Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), Bright Ayivi, has urged the youth, especially first-time voters and qualified students, to actively participate in the upcoming 2024 general election. He said their participation was a vital part of the democratic process as every vote had the potential to bring about change. Voters engagement He was speaking at an engagement with first-time voters from the Bibiani Senior High School and College of Health and Allied Sciences at Sefwi Anhwiaso in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai municipality in the Western North Region. It was organised by the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), in partnership with the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) with funding support from the US Embassy in Ghana. Advertisement The engagement sought to equip first-time voters to achieve free, fair, accountable, transparent and inclusive electoral process in the 2024 General Election. Dubbed: "Youth Voice:" Activating First-Time Voters for Ghana's General Election, it brought together more than 5,000 students from the two schools. Integrity Mr Ayivi tasked the first-time voters not to allow themselves to be influenced by any political party leaders. He entreated first-time voters to vote with integrity to ensure the right people were elected into office. For his part, the Electoral Commission Officer of the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Municipal Assembly, Prince Amoako Baah, took the students through the electoral process, particularly when voting started and ended, the importance of voting and how to vote in order to reduce rejected and spoilt ballots. He admonished them to vote based on critical issues on December 7 to ensure resources were equitably distributed. Mr Baah urged the first-time voters to vote based on policies and development such as health care, education, infrastructure development and graduate unemployment. He said voting was their civic responsibility and that they should not shy away on election day. Next article: Akyem Oda NPP targets 90 per cent votes for Dr Bawumia Previous article: Bawumia pledges collaborative efforts with Ga Mantse to address challenges in Ga State Mahama reaffirms pledge to boost representation of traditional leaders in decentralised structures Kester Aburam Korankye Politics Nov - 29 - 2024 , 11:59 1 minute read The National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama was warmly welcomed at the Ga Mantse's palace on Thursday as part of his ongoing #Mahama4Change2024 campaign in the Greater Accra Region. During his visit, the former president met with the Ga Traditional Council, expressing his appreciation to King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, the chiefs, queen mothers, wulomei, and opinion leaders for their hospitality. Mr. Mahama emphasized the importance of building strong relationships with traditional authorities, recognizing their critical role in Ghanaian society. He also discussed his commitment to collaborating with traditional leaders to promote the countrys heritage festivals. These festivals, he noted, present opportunities to strengthen local economies, foster cultural tourism, and showcase Ghanas heritage on the global stage. Advertisement The NDC leader reaffirmed his pledge to enhance the representation of traditional authorities within Ghana's decentralized structures. He believes this initiative will help create a more inclusive and effective governance system that respects Ghana's cultural heritage. Since announcing his intention to return to the presidency, Mr Mahama has consistently highlighted the importance of empowering traditional leaders to play a more active role in governance. He reiterated his commitment to strengthening ties with chiefs and traditional authorities across the country, acknowledging their role as custodians of Ghana's traditions and essential partners in the nations development. Next article: Microsoft 365 under attack how to bulletproof your business against cyber threats This is why Namibia has ordered Elon Musks Starlink to cease operations Graphic Online Technology Nov - 29 - 2024 , 08:28 2 minutes read Namibia has directed Elon Musks satellite-internet service, Starlink Inc., to halt all operations within the country, citing a lack of the required telecommunications license. In a strongly worded statement, the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) announced, The public is hereby advised not to purchase Starlink terminal equipment or subscribe to its services, as such activities are illegal. The regulator confirmed that investigators have already confiscated unauthorised terminals from users and filed criminal cases with the Namibian police. The licensing issue While Starlink has submitted an application for a telecommunications service license, CRAN stated that the review process is ongoing. Until the license is granted, any importation or use of Starlink equipment within Namibia contravenes the countrys laws. The regulator highlighted that the service is scheduled to officially launch in Namibia in 2025, according to Starlinks website. Advertisement Illegal demand and confiscations Starlinks appeal lies in its ability to provide fast internet to remote areas, particularly in regions where local operators struggle to deliver reliable connectivity. However, this demand has also led to illegal trading and activation of Starlink terminals in parts of sub-Saharan Africa. In Namibia, the confiscation of unauthorised terminals underscores the government's determination to regulate the sector. Regional context and rising popularity Starlinks expansion in Africa has seen mixed responses. While authorities in Zimbabwe granted Starlink operating rights in Octoberwhere its terminals sold out in the capital within two monthsNamibia joins a growing list of countries enforcing strict regulations. Discussions between Starlink and authorities in South Africa, Angola, and Kenya are ongoing, as nations evaluate the balance between technological innovation and regulatory compliance. CRANs warning serves as a reminder of the challenges tech giants face when entering highly regulated markets. SpaceX, Starlinks parent company, has yet to comment on Namibias directive. Prutehi Litekyan: Save Ritidian and the Center for Biological Diversity have put the blame on the militarys limestone forest clearing and construction of a machine gun range at Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz for the death of the last mature specimen of the critically endangered Serianthes nelsonii tree, or hayun lagu. Camp Blaz last week announced that the last mature hayun lagu has died, more than a year after major damage from Typhoon Mawar. But while the Ritidian mother tree died, protection of the young trees that originated from it continues, the statement from Camp Blaz added. In a joint statement to the media late Thursday night, Prutehi Litekyan: Save Ritidian and the Center for Biological Diversity said the mature tree was killed by the clearing of some of the last best limestone forest on the island for a machine gun range. This left the tree exposed to powerful and destructive wind from typhoons that were bound to come, the groups said in their statement. Hayun lagu is a tree species found only on Guam and Rota. The loss of this mother tree is a clear sign of the devastation that the U.S. military has wrought on the Native people and species of Guam, said Maxx Phillips, attorney and Pacific Islands director for the Center for Biological Diversity. Im absolutely heartbroken by the death of this beautiful tree because it means the species may now be extinct there. The groups said the military has been raising and planting seedlings of the species, but none have yet reached maturity and begun reproducing. Its unclear if they ever will, as many have died, they added. Camp Blaz said leading up to Typhoon Mawar in May 2023, the Ritidian tree was already in very poor condition due to a split trunk that led to heart rot a type of fungal infection that worsened over two decades and had insect infestations. Mawar, the strongest typhoon in about 20 years on Guam, snapped the mature trees boughs and left only the leafless trunk of the tree standing as of May 2023. The Center for Biological Diversity is currently suing the Marines over the harm that the new base, Camp Blaz, is doing to more than a dozen endangered and threatened species. The lawsuit was filed on June 17, 2023, seeking to protect endangered species from the construction and operation of Camp Blaz on Guam. The groups cited a 2016 letter to the editor in the Pacific Daily News by Joni Kerr and Linda Tatreau, who highlighted the risks associated with the clearing of prime pristine limestone forest to make way for the live-fire training range complex on the northern tip of Guam, known as Ritidian Point. Their letter included a call to action that led to establishing the group, Prutehi Litekyan Save Ritidian, now being renamed Prutehi Guahan. They said the complex includes a multi-purpose machine gun range that resulted in clearing the forest adjacent to the last hayun lagu tree, with only a 100-foot buffer, making it more vulnerable to heavy winds, disease, invasive species, and more. The fact that Guams last hayun lagu occurs on this cliff line is not surprising as this forest is uniquely pristine and harbors a variety of Guams rare species, Kerr and Tatreau wrote in 2016. We are writing to the people of Guam to remind them of just how precious this forest is and how catastrophic it would be to lose this gem. It contains endemic species that are found nowhere else on Earth, and are already in trouble from habitat loss and invasive species. In that same letter, Kerr and Tatreau wrote that in addition to hayun lagu, the firing range could wipe out one of the last and largest populations of the Mariana eight-spot butterfly, or Hypolimnas octocula, a species extinct on Saipan and now known only from Guam. The list goes on: thousands of fadang (Cycas micronesica) would be cleared and at least five other plants listed under the Endangered Species Act, or ESA, would be affected, they added. Call to action Various community groups have organized a gathering this Saturday to honor the last mature hayun lagu, which died. The Nov. 30 memorial is from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Ritidian Overlook. May our grief and rage mobilize us in defense of our islands to protect all we hold sacred. May this loss reconnect us to the land and ancestors. Prutehi yan Difendi, Goggue yan Adahi! Hita Lamon! Prutehi posted on social media. Prutehi members said they continue their call to action. The Marine Base and the live-fire training range complex essentially guaranteed the death of the last mature Hayun Lagu, the devastation of endangered species, the vulnerability of our aquifer, the desecration of ancestral burials and sacred sites, and contamination of air, soil, and water, Joni Kerr, now a Prutehi board member, said in a statement from Thursday night. Kerr said the clearing of land and loss of access will also harm cultural ecological knowledge and the survival of Indigenous healing practices. We are grateful for the work of Attorney Maxx Phillips and the Center for Biological Diversity as we continue to pursue the lawsuit, Kerr added. Jessica Nangauta, Prutehi board chair, in the same joint statement, said the U.S. military is the worlds largest consumer of fossil fuel, exacerbating the climate crisis in war and war preparations. That makes typhoons more frequent and dangerous. The clearing of this land made the tree even more vulnerable to the typhoon. This is a direct result of military activity. We must demand diplomacy, disarmament, and Genuine Security now, Nangauta added. Haiti - Cooperation : Monitoring of achievements financed by the European Development Fund This week, at the Office of the National Authorizing Officer of the European Development Fund (BONFED), an important presentation was made to Raphael Hosty, Minister of Public Works, by Charles Jean Jacques, National Authorizing Officer of the EDF. This presentation highlighted the progress of projects financed by the 10th and 11th EDFs, contributing significantly to the development of the road network and the improvement of urban governance in Haiti. Notable among others : Works on the RN3 : Rehabilitation of 44 km of roads, construction of urban bypasses (Hinche and Saint-Raphael) and engineering structures (bridges and culverts) reaching a progress rate of 95%. URBAYITI Project : Development of development plans for several cities and construction of drainage works, public spaces and urban facilities to strengthen local resilience and governance. Institutional strengthening : Provision of equipment to the Ministry of Public Works, training courses for engineers and topographers and launch of an archiving, documentation and training center. These achievements demonstrate the commitment of BONFED and its partners to the progress and modernization of Haitian infrastructure, while laying the foundations for better governance and a promising future for Haiti. Thumbnail image : on the right Minister Raphael Hosty, on the left EDF Authorizing Officer Charles Jean Jacques.. HL/ HaitiLibre Apple is known for including numerous accessibility features as standard in its operating systems and constantly expanding its range. During an appearance at the "Web Summit" in Lisbon in the middle of last month, the manager responsible for this area, Sarah Herrlinger, further explained the strategy behind this, as reported by the Portuguese portal ifeed. According to the Senior Director for Global Accessibility Policy & Initiatives, the iPhone and Mac manufacturer has been thinking about this issue since the Mac was introduced in the mid-1980s. Anzeige Accessibility for all According to Apple, it has recognized that accessibility is not only useful for people with disabilities. It is not only "a human right", but also leads to more innovation. One example of this is the double tap on the Apple Watch. The feature was once intended to help people with limited ability to use the watch screen. It is now used by all users to confirm functions without using a second hand, answer phone calls and much more. The same applies to AI functions. For example, Apple has implemented eye tracking in iOS and iPadOS, which is not only suitable for people with disabilities. Sound recognition on the HomePod or other devices is also useful for more than just accessibility. For example, it informs hearing-impaired people when the doorbell rings or a fire alarm sounds. But this is precisely what can help all users, whether they have a disability or not, for example when HomeKit informs them remotely that someone is ringing the doorbell. Fighting social stigma Herrlinger sees Apple's holistic approach to hardware and software as a clear advantage over the competition, as it means that accessibility can always be taken into account. It is also helpful to break the social stigma of disability through the topic of "accessibility for all". Thanks to a firmware update, the AirPods Pro 2 can now also be used as a hearing aid for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. Apple also includes a hearing test function to help people who have not yet been diagnosed with a hearing impairment. Technology should be used to meet the needs of all people, no matter how unique they are, according to the head of accessibility. Anzeige Empfohlener redaktioneller Inhalt Mit Ihrer Zustimmung wird hier ein externer Preisvergleich (heise Preisvergleich) geladen. Preisvergleiche immer laden Preisvergleich jetzt laden (bsc) Last Monday, heise online reported that statements from the US company Masimo suggest that its consumer division Sound United with brands such as Denon, Marantz and Bowers & Wilkins could be discontinued at the beginning of 2025 and asked the company for a statement. This has not yet been forthcoming, but Masimo's Vice President EU Commercial Operations, Jason Dear, addressed the Group's European authorized dealers in a letter to heise online yesterday, Wednesday. Anzeige In the letter, Dear first addresses the presentation of the last quarterly report at the beginning of November, which was also mentioned by heise online. It reads: "Masimo indicated that if the Board does not pursue the spin-off of the consumer audio business into a publicly traded company, the consumer business should be treated as a discontinued operation." (all translation by heise online). According to the VP, it has been recognized that this has led to some confusion, which is why they now want to clarify this point. The classification as a "discontinued operation" therefore "merely reflects an accounting adjustment in connection with the inclusion of the Consumer business in Masimo's consolidated financial statements. It has no impact on the day-to-day operations of the consumer audio business, our products or our service level." The focus would remain on ensuring the company's commercial success: "We are committed to you to continue to develop and deliver innovative, best-in-class consumer audio solutions while strengthening the positioning of our brands in the marketplace," said Dear What's not in the letter The letter comes from Masimo's office in Eindhoven (Netherlands), where the company has recently concentrated its local operations. Dear does not mention in his letter to retailers that the company has closed or is closing its offices in France, Finland, Switzerland and Germany. Masimo's current Product Line Manager Electronics will leave the company at the end of the year. (Image: Roland Kruger @ Xing) heise online has also learned that Roland Kruger, the current manager of the Electronics product line for Denon, Marantz and Classe Audio worldwide, will be leaving Masimo on December 31. Kruger is considered a veteran in the industry with over 20 years of experience and has been the face of Denon and Marantz at trade fairs and other events, as well as a discussion partner and presenter in webinars and numerous social media videos from dealers and influencers. Kruger started out as a product manager at Denon and was later Product Support Manager for the D+M Group (Denon and Marantz) and (following its acquisition) Sound United for Europe. From January 2019, he was Head of Technical Marketing for the DACH region. As Kruger was involved in the product development and launch of new products including their documentation , he was considered the most important contact for many dealers and press representatives when it came to features and problems with the devices. His successor is not yet known. Anzeige Reports of offers The letter also omits the possibility of spinning off the consumer audio business into a listed company. In fact, starting in mid-July, there were reports in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that Masimo and an unnamed third party had entered into a non-binding agreement to sell a majority stake in the company's consumer audio and consumer health business. The third party is said to have offered to acquire a stake in Masimo's consumer business for a purchase price of USD 850 to 950 million in cash and free of debt. The condition is said to have been the successful completion of a six-week due diligence process. Masimo granted an exclusivity agreement in relation to the potential joint venture until mid-August. On August 16, Masimo then notified the SEC (PDF) that this exclusivity period had expired and that Masimo and the potential JV partner were actively continuing their discussions and negotiations regarding the potential joint venture without exclusivity. Masimo has also received separate unsolicited inquiries from other potential (also unnamed) acquirers of its consumer audio business. The company intends to enter into discussions with these companies through its financial advisor Morgan Stanley. Masimo concluded at the time that its board would "seek and evaluate the optimal, value-maximizing structure for the separation of Masimo's consumer business". Among the alternatives Masimo mentioned were joint ventures, a spin-off of the consumer business into a new public company or the complete sale of the consumer audio business, either with or without the consumer health business. (nij) The initiative was announced on X on Wednesday by Henri Vanhanen , a foreign policy expert who is set to join the staff of MEP Mika Aaltola (NCP) in 2025. A GROUP of lawmakers and prominent foreign policy experts has launched a citizens initiative urging Finland to opt out of the Ottawa Convention, an international agreement banning anti-personnel landmines. Alongside Aaltola and Vanhanen, the authors of the initiative include ex-Minister of Defence Jussi Niinisto, ex-Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces Juhani Kaskeala and former diplomats Hannu Himanen, Jaakko Iloniemi and Pasi Patokallio. They argued that withdrawing from the agreement is warranted due to a substantial change in the security environment of Finland. A war instigated by Russia is raging in Europe, where Russia is ruthlessly using anti-personnel landmines against Ukraine. Today Finland is defending Natos longest land border with Russia. These are key changes also in regards to international treaty law, the initiative reads. The collection of signatures for the initiative will start on Independence Day, 6 December. The initiative was announced as national debate about the re-introduction of anti-personnel landmines to the defence arsenal was heating up, in the wake of remarks by Janne Jaakkola, the commander of the Finnish Defence Forces and US President Joe Bidens controversial decision to approve the supply of anti-personnel landmines to Ukraine in November. Joining to the convention and the substitute procurements reflected the global events of that time. Now the security environment is completely different, Jaakkola said on MTV Uutisextra on Saturday. The convention prohibiting the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel landmines was adopted because the weapons continue to kill and wound civilians and by-standers long after the conflict has ended. Since entering into force on 1 March 1999, the convention has led to a virtual halt in global production of anti-personnel mines and a drastic reduction in their deployment, according to the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs. Finland signed the convention in 2012. Minister of Defence Antti Hakkanen (NCP) declined to comment on whether he was supportive of withdrawing from the convention in an interview with Helsingin Sanomat on Monday. He added, though, that he asked the defence administration last summer to evaluate the need for anti-personnel landmines in light of lessons learnt from the war in Ukraine. The evaluation will be completed during the winter months and will be followed by a political debate not only within the ruling coalition, but also with the president and parliament. The issue is therefore unlikely to feature in the defence policy report the government will present to parliament in December. Hakkanen clarified to Helsingin Sanomat that the Finnish Defence Forces will evaluate the explosive device only from the perspective of national defence and security. Any questions about possible implications for foreign policy or international law, he added, should be weighed up by other arms of the administration. Finland has traditionally had the kind of geography scattered lakes, narrow passages that is very suitable and relevant for anti-personnel and anti-vehicle landmines. In Finland, mines have traditionally been a very effective defensive weapon. This is the basis for the evaluation, he said. Finland, he also insisted, has the expertise and technology to ensure anti-personnel mines do not cause any risk for civilians. First of all, Finland is the most responsible out of the worlds countries and, you could say, has the best expertise in laying mines, he argued. [The mines] are dangerous only for the party attacking the country. [I]f we introduced [anti-personnel] landmines, itd be absolutely certain that our mine-laying practice, which is the worlds most responsible, would rather be an example to others than a risk for civilians, he reiterated. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) stated to Iltalehti on Sunday similarly that the issue will be discussed by the ruling coalition, with the president and all parliamentary parties. YLE on Monday revealed that the Centre, Christian Democrats, Finns Party and Movement Now are in favour of re-introducing anti-personnel landmines to the arsenal. Both the National Coalition, Social Democrats and Swedish Peoples Party indicated that they are ready to consider and debate the issue, while the Left Alliance indicated that it would welcome the debate in the current geopolitical situation. The Green League was the only party to strongly reject the idea of opting out of the Ottawa Convention. [Signing the convention] was an act that hurt national security and parliament has to undo it as soon as possible. Russia is our neighbour, and its behaving how its behaving, Jani Makela, the chairperson of the Finns Party Parliamentary Group, said to the public broadcasting company. Aino-Kaisa Pekonen, the chairperson of the Left Alliance Parliamentary Group, reminded Helsingin Sanomat on Monday that withdrawing from the convention would be a significant change globally, adding that it would certainly not be good if Finland opted out as the only country in the EU. My thinking is that we cant do this based on the shouting match thats ongoing. This is a big and serious issue, she said. Aleksi Teivainen HT There's a $30 billion hole in Helene recovery funding Without question, Tropical Storm Helene generated historic costs for North Carolina in terms of structural damages, disruptions to government operations and loss of life. Calculating just how expensive the storm was and also figuring out who is footing the bill is a trickier equation to solve for state officials. More than half of the estimated costs associated with Helene, upwards of $30 billion, have yet to be funded by either the state or federal government. A preliminary damage and needs assessment published by the Office of the State Budget and Management on Oct. 23 estimated $48.8 billion in direct or induced damages from the storm, and recommends investing another $4.8 billion for strengthening and mitigation efforts for a total cost of $53.6 billion. That number dwarfs the expenses incurred by Hurricane Florence in 2018 and Hurricane Matthew in 2016, which cost about $17 billion and $5 billion respectively. The total bill for Helene will likely increase once the complete damage and needs assessment is released by OSBME. The preliminary report, for example, did not include any estimates for the costs to tribal and federal lands because field assessments were still ongoing when it was published. The preliminary report projected Nov. 19 as the publication date of the final assessment, but governors office spokesperson Jordan Monaghan told Carolina Public Press on Monday that it will be released in the coming weeks. Preliminary report reveals details of Helene costs The Oct. 23 report estimated $12.2 billion in damages to residential housing in the 27 counties included in the federally declared disaster area. That number may be adjusted as data from FEMA individual assistance claims, FEMA public assistance claims and insurance claims are made available. Individuals can submit individual assistance claims to FEMA until Wednesday, Nov. 27. According to the report, nonagricultural businesses and nonprofit organizations suffered $2.8 billion in physical damages to structures, equipment and vehicles. The storm also caused an estimated $13.1 billion in economic losses as a result of business disruptions. As for North Carolina farms, Helene caused $2.6 billion in crop losses and another $557 million in expenses for land restoration, debris removal and repair to agricultural infrastructure, the report says. Other notable items from the report include: $1.4 billion in damages to electrical infrastructure $3.7 billion in damages to water and sewer systems and distribution pipes $6 billion in damages to state highways and bridges $1.7 billion in damages to municipal roads and bridges $1.4 billion in costs for government operations and recovery efforts $844 million in costs for public education facilities and operations $724 million in costs for health care facilities and other health and human services needs According to the report, North Carolina expects to receive at least $13.6 billion in federal support and another $6.3 billion in aid from the private sector and other sources to help pay for its recovery. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, in his capacity as the state budget director, requested that the state invest $3.9 billion in recovery efforts. The Republican-dominated state legislature must appropriate and allocate all state spending, and up to this point it has provided only around $900 million in relief via three spending bills. That means more than $30 billion in estimated costs from the hurricane have no funding source, and no clear answers are in sight for how that deficiency will be made up. Political battle over recovery costs Last week, as the state legislature debated over a $227 million relief bill that included a controversial overhaul of the state board of elections, Gov. Cooper was in Washington petitioning President Joe Biden and other federal officials for an additional $25.6 billion in aid for the state. Hurricane Helene was the deadliest and most damaging storm our state has ever faced, and Western North Carolina needs our help to rebuild, a press release from Cooper read. There is a long, complex and expensive recovery ahead that will be difficult to accomplish without significant and immediate funding from federal and state governments. The press release went on to criticize the states General Assembly both for its seemingly inadequate hurricane relief bills and also its recent veto override of a bill that expanded funding for private school vouchers. The state legislature has failed to approve meaningful funding for Western North Carolina while making plans to lock in billions of dollars for taxpayer-funded vouchers for unaccountable, unregulated private schools in the near future, the press release read. Its uncertain whether the state legislature will appropriate more money for hurricane relief anytime soon. The most recent bill, titled the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 Part III, was criticized by some as a power grab that takes powers away from Council of State positions that will soon be filled by recently elected Democrats. Although included in the relief bill, the measures are not related to recovery efforts. State Rep. Lindsay Prather, D-Buncombe, was one of the lawmakers who spoke out against the bill on the house floor. When the time comes for so many of you to visit your favorite mountain restaurant or rent your favorite cabin for a summer weekend, theres a good chance its not gonna be there anymore, and youre gonna wish that youd done more today, Prather said. Western North Carolina needs your help now. This is a transparent power grab pushed through by a supermajority thats not happy with the recent election results, and youre calling it a disaster relief bill. This is shameful, and Western North Carolina isnt going to stand for it. Helene-related death count Unfortunately, another measure of costs cannot be value in dollars, the loss of human lives. Helene was the deadliest tropical system to hit North Carolina since 1857, killing at least 103 people. Below is the latest tabulation of county-by-county fatalities, as confirmed by the state Department of Health and Human Services as of Nov. 21. China injects positive energy into multilateral climate governance process 15:01, November 28, 2024 By He Yin ( People's Daily The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) concluded on Nov. 24, overrunning by some 30 hours. A package of climate agreements was reached, including decisions on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for climate financing and issues relating to the global carbon market mechanism under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Photo shows the Suki Kinari Hydropower project in Pakistan, invested and constructed by a Chinese company. (Photo/Deng Hailong) The arrangement is expected to lay the groundwork for developing countries to undertake climate action and submit a new round of nationally determined contributions next year. It further consolidated the general trend of global green and low-carbon transition. This once again proved that humankind is a community with a shared future, and we must unite together and jointly cope with climate challenges. Multilateralism is the fundamental principle and the ultimate solution for global climate action. China firmly upholds multilateralism, always safeguarding the international system with the UN at the core and supporting the role of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as the primary platform for global climate governance. No matter how the international landscape may evolve, there will be no change in China's determination or efforts to actively address climate change. China is resolutely implementing a national strategy of actively responding to climate change, staying committed to green development, and providing crucial momentum for the global green transition. From actively advancing climate negotiations to officially launching the International Zero-Carbon Island Cooperation Initiative, and from establishing a "China Pavilion" to showcase its climate action experience to organizing a series of side events, China demonstrated its commitment to practical action during the COP29. By working in solidarity with all parties, China has infused positive energy into the multilateral process of global climate governance, firmly practicing true multilateralism. Photo shows a 100MW solar project in Karawang, Indonesia, constructed by a Chinese company. It is the country's largest land-based solar project in terms of the installed capacity. (People's Daily/Cao Shiyun) Ana Toni, national secretary for Climate Change at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Brazil, noted that the series of events hosted by China during the conference reflected its strong commitment to tackling climate change and its willingness to share development experiences, exemplifying the responsibilities of a major country. Under the framework of South-South cooperation on climate change, China has consistently provided support and assistance to other developing countries. Since 2016, China has provided and mobilized more than 177 billion yuan ($24.5 billion) financial support to bolster climate initiatives in other developing countries. China has signed 53 memoranda of understanding with 42 developing countries and has organized 58 South-South cooperation training sessions on climate change. These sessions have trained more than 2,400 professionals in the field, offering tangible support to nations striving to tackle climate challenges. Jeffrey Sachs, president of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and professor at Columbia University, remarked that China has become a leader in the global energy transition and an indispensable force in the fight against climate change. Addressing climate change is a shared mission for all humanity and requires collaboration among major countries. China and the United States have previously set an example by being among the first to ratify the Paris Agreement and jointly submitting their ratification documents to the UN Secretary-General. They also led the way in completing the peer review of fossil fuel subsidies under the G20 framework, making significant contributions to the global effort against this challenge. Photo shows a 220 MWac solar plant constructed by a Chinese company in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. (Photo/Zhu Bo) In November last year, the Chinese and U.S. Presidents held a successful meeting in San Francisco, where advancing climate cooperation was one of the key outcomes. Guided by the leaders of both nations, the two sides have actively implemented the Sunnylands Statement on Enhancing Cooperation to Address the Climate Crisis and officially launched a Working Group on Enhancing Climate Action in the 2020s. During the COP29, a China-U.S. joint research report on circular economy (2024) and other research outcomes on circular economy were unveiled for the first time, aiming to promote circular economy development and support global climate goals. On the basis of mutual respect, reciprocity, and consideration of each other's concerns, China and the United States have strengthened dialogue and communication in the climate domain, explored mutually beneficial cooperation, and fostered a favorable "macro climate" for joint efforts to combat climate change. The earth is the shared home of humanity, and a clean and beautiful world with bluer skies, greener mountains, and clearer waters is the common aspiration of everyone in this global village. China will continue to work with all parties, uphold the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, and advance the multilateral process and international cooperation on climate change, so as to promote harmony between humanity and nature, and make the planet cleaner and more beautiful. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun) SW China's Chongqing transforms into manufacturing, investment hotspot People's Daily Online) 15:45, November 29, 2024 With an extensive transportation network, a booming manufacturing industry and policies favorable to foreign investment, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality has transformed from China's inland "mountain city" into a key hub driving development in the country's inland regions. Upgraded transportation network At Tuanjie Village Central Station in Chongqing's International Logistics Hub Park, trucks and cranes buzz with activity as trains arrive and depart frequently. This station is the starting point for China-Europe freight trains and the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, which connects global ports via rail, sea and road. Goods from across China converge at Tuanjie village before heading worldwide, while international imports are distributed throughout the country from here. Photo shows a freight train passing under a gantry crane at Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. (People's Daily Online/Liu Yi) During the past 13 years, the Yuxinou (Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe) railway, which was China's first Europe-bound freight route, saw the frequency of China-Europe freight train services grow from one trip a month to 10 trips per day. Additionally, its cargo has diversified from a single product to over 1,000 types of goods. Jiang Tong, who drove the first Yuxinou train from Chongqing to Europe in 2011, has seen the railway network expand over his 13 years operating the route. The Yuxinou railway had covered 110 cities in nearly 40 countries and regions as of May 2024. Jiang's apprentice, Lyu Sixiang, has also seen major changes in Chongqing's transport network. In 2017, Lyu became one of the first drivers on the "southbound corridor" when Chongqing launched regular freight trains on the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. The rail-sea intermodal service on the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor has cut shipping time from Chongqing to ASEAN countries from 32 to about 18 days. As transportation volume has continued to grow, Lyu's team has expanded from 100 to over 300 drivers. Jiang and Lyu operate trains on different routes, carrying exports west and south from Chongqing, and returning with imports to the city's International Logistics Hub Park. As of May 2024, the park had operated 62 international rail routes serving 514 ports in 123 countries, according to Han Chao, deputy general manager of the park's operating company. On April 30, China's State Council approved a comprehensive bonded zone at the park. This zone is expected to address the limitations of the park's original bonded logistics center and provide wide-ranging services for the city's export-oriented industries. The new bonded zone aims to link global and domestic markets via cross-border railways, boosting Chongqing's open economy. This supports the city's goal to become a hub that facilitates the opening up of the countrys interior. Modern manufacturing clusters Chongqing has made continuous efforts to transform its transportation advantages into industrial advantages and has actively promoted the high-quality development of its manufacturing industry. The city is iteratively upgrading its industrial structure and cultivating new quality productive forces. The city is focusing on three key industrial clusters: intelligent connected new energy vehicles (NEVs), next-gen electronic information manufacturing, and advanced materials. Chongqing's auto industry is shifting from traditional fuel vehicles to electric, intelligent and digital models. The municipality produced 997,000 vehicles from January to May 2024. "Chongqing is the ideal city for automotive designers," said Klaus Zyciora, vice president of Chinese automaker Changan Automobile. Photo shows robotic arms in a Changan Automobile factory in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. (People's Daily Online/Liu Yi) This renowned German automotive designer saw great potential in China's auto industry and decided to "switch teams" from Germany to China. Calling Chongqing "a place where anything can happen," he joined Changan Automobile in October 2023 to lead the company's global design efforts. Panasonic Appliances Vacuum Insulation Devices (Chongqing) Co., Ltd., or PAPVDCQ, was Panasonic's first investment in western China. It has since become a key global research and manufacturing base for vacuum insulation panels. "Our buildings were rentals when our factory was established in 2015. Now we have bought our own workshops. This is how we have rooted ourselves in Chongqing," said Gu Ruifei, general manager of PAPVDCQ. Magnet for high-quality foreign investment Chongqing's improved business climate has attracted numerous multinational companies. Corning Inc., a global leader in materials science, established Corning Display Technologies (Chongqing) Co. in 2015, impressed by the city's investment environment. The subsidiary expanded its factory in 2021. To date, Corning has invested over $1.5 billion in Chongqing. "The government provides convenient services and policies for foreign companies, including tax incentives, policy guidance, guaranteed power supply, and support for innovation," said Daniel Tseng, president and general manager of Corning Display Technologies China. Tseng credits Chongqing's business-friendly policies for Corning's expanding investment and improving supply chain in the city. Paul Knutson (center), former Expansion Project Director, Display Technology at Corning, enjoys a hot pot with colleagues on Nanbin Road, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality.(People's Daily Online/Su Yingxiang) "I came to China in 2018 and came to Chongqing in 2021. Now Chongqing is my home," said Paul Knutson, former Expansion Project Director, Display Technology at Corning. Knutson, the American executive, who came to Chongqing for the factory's expansion, has integrated into local life, considering Chongqing his second home. Carlsberg Group, a multinational brewer, ranks among the earliest Danish companies to invest in China and is one of Denmark's largest investors in the country. To date, Carlsberg has invested more than 20 billion yuan ($2.81 billion) in China. The global brewery has acquired a 60 percent majority stake in Chongqing Brewery Co., Ltd. through multiple equity purchases. In 2020, Carlsberg consolidated its Chinese beer assets under Chongqing Brewery, making it the company's sole operational platform in China. Photo shows a ring-pull can production line at Chongqing Brewerys packaging workshop in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. (People's Daily Online/Hu Hong) Xie Yi, vice president of Chongqing Brewery, said Chongqing is the foundation of Carlsberg's China business. "Chongqing is a vibrant consumer center. Enjoying hot pot and drinking Chongqing beer is part of the city's lifestyle and an authentic experience," Xie said, noting its unique appeal for a beer company. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Wu Chengliang) President Joe Biden on Thursday warned against damaging relations with Canada and Mexico, after Donald Trump threatened to slap tariffs on both US neighbors when he takes office in January. "I think it's a counterproductive thing to do," Biden told reporters when asked about his successor's plan. "The last thing we need to do is begin to screw up those relationships. I think we got them in a good place," he said during a visit to a fire department in Nantucket, Massachusetts, where he is spending his last Thanksgiving holiday as president. Trump sent jitters through global markets on Monday when he announced on social media that one of his first presidential actions would be to impose 25-percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada -- which share a free trade pact with the United States -- and add a 10-percent tariff on China. Pledging that tariffs would only be removed from the US neighbors when illegal immigration and drug trafficking stop, he reaffirmed his intent to use trade as a cudgel against allies and rivals alike. After expressing opposition to Trump's threats in a letter, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke by phone with the Republican president-elect on Wednesday. Both leaders described the call positively, though there was disagreement in what had actually been discussed. Trump claimed that Sheinbaum had agreed to "stop migration through Mexico, and into the United States, effectively closing our Southern Border." The Mexican president quickly pointed out that she had only explained Mexico's current "comprehensive strategy" on migration. "Thanks to this, migrants and caravans are attended to before they reach the border," she said on X. "We reiterate that Mexico's position is not to close borders but to build bridges between government and peoples," she added. When asked about the dispute at her daily press conference on Thursday, Sheinbaum said: "I can assure you... that we would never -- we would not be capable -- of proposing that we were going to close the border." The Mexican government had warned that Trump's tariffs would be met with retaliation, potentially endangering American jobs, with Sheinbaum's economy minister saying it would be "a shot in the foot." Sheinbaum said Thursday that after her talks with Trump, "there is not going to be a potential tariff war." "The important thing was to address the approach he made," she said, adding that she believed dialogue with Trump would be constructive. Biden on Thursday also talked about the importance of maintaining a working relationship with China. "We've set up a hotline between President Xi and myself, as well as our military, a direct line," Biden said, adding he was "confident" that his Chinese counterpart "doesn't want to make a mistake." "I'm not saying that he is our best buddy, but he understands what's at stake." As the Russia-Ukraine war continues to gain momentum, Kyiv faces a big threat from within its own country. According to the Associated Press, desertion is severely depleting the Ukrainian military's manpower. This comes at a critical point in the ongoing war with Russia as Vladimir Putin threatened to target decision-making centers in Ukraine's capital using the country's newly developed ballistic missile. This crisis could also place Kyiv at a significant disadvantage during any potential ceasefire negotiations. "We do not rule out the use of Oreshnik against the military, military-industrial facilities or decision-making centers, including in Kyiv," Putin said at a press conference in Kazakhstan on Thursday. He said the weapon was "comparable in strength to a nuclear strike" if used several times on one location. "The kinetic impact is powerful, like a meteorite falling," Putin said. "We know in history what meteorites have fallen where, and what the consequences were. Sometimes it was enough for whole lakes to form." Amidst extreme shortages, tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiersexhausted and demoralizedhave deserted their front-line positions, slipping into anonymity, as reported by soldiers, legal experts, and Ukrainian officials, the AP reported Friday. Entire units have fled their posts, weakening defensive lines and contributing to further territorial losses, according to military leaders and personnel. Some troops take medical leave and never return, burdened by the psychological scars of war and disheartened by grim chances of victory. Others engage in conflicts with commanders, refusing to follow orders, even during active combat. "This problem is critical," said Oleksandr Kovalenko, a Kyiv-based military analyst, told AP. "This is the third year of war, and this problem will only grow." Since Russia's invasion in February 2022, more than 100,000 soldiers have been charged under Ukraine's desertion laws, according to the General Prosecutor's Office. Nearly half of these desertions have occurred in the past year, following Kyiv's aggressive and controversial mobilization effort, which government officials and military commanders admit has largely been ineffective. Meanwhile, Russia launched over 100 drones at Ukraine overnight into Friday, resulting in one fatality and injuring eight others, Agence France Presse reported, citing officials. This drone attack followed a missile strike the previous day, in which approximately 90 missiles were fired at Ukraine, leaving over a million people without power. Project evokes the glamour and charm of hotel's illustrious past with modern luxury. The iconic Omni Severin Hotel in the heart of downtown Indianapolis has completed its $24 million renovation, honoring its original architecture and art deco roots. A mainstay of Indianapolis since it was built in 1913, the hotel's renovation revives the luxury of the past with modern conveniences. Indianapolis has been the crossroads of America since well before the country's interstate highway system. When rail travel was at its height at the turn of the 20th century, Indianapolis Union Station was the obligatory point of arrival and departure for travelers crossing to and from the eastern and western United States. By 1913, over 300 trains and 25,000 passengers converged at Union Station. Across the street, the Severin Hotel was there to graciously greet them. Invoking the glamor and charm of its former Art Deco glory with modern touches through the layering of textures, materials, colors and thoughtful details, the Omni Severin's newly redesigned spaces juxtapose timeless sophistication with contemporary amenities. From valet to reception, visitors will experience approachable luxury and personalized service. Guests can choose from 424 elegantly appointed hotel rooms, all of which draw inspiration from the bygone era of train travel, adding subtle nods that create a harmonious fusion of eclectic and tranquil elements. The hotel offers 36 impressive suites with a variety of features, such as lofts, floor-to-ceiling windows and private balconies with captivating views of the city skyline. The reimagined hotel lobby acts as a central gathering space and leads to the reception desk featuring a mural that artfully depicts the billowing smoke from a train engine, connecting the dining offerings on either side. Bar Cardinale can be found on the left, offering dinner and specialty drinks in an inviting atmosphere. The bar features cardinals throughout the design, a nod to the days when guests would arrive on the premier Cardinal train line across the street, welcomed to the city by Indiana's state bird resting along the train line. The newly opened 8th Notch Cafe & Market occupies the right side of the lobby. The cafe is inspired by a high speed train - an ode to the neighboring Union Station, which was built as a first-of-its-kind in Indianapolis in 1853. In the style of a 1900s corner diner, 8th Notch serves local Hubbard and Cravens coffee, full chef curated-meals, grab-and-go food items and local goods. The hotel's renovation is part of Omni's broader reinvestment strategy to enhance its portfolio of over 50 properties nationwide. The hotel is one block from the Indiana Convention Center and connected via overhead skywalks by way of the Circle Centre Mall. A short walk from Georgia Street, guests can conveniently catch a game or concert at Lucas Oil Stadium and Gainbridge Fieldhouse. To learn more or book a guest room at Omni Severin Hotel, click here or follow the hotel on Facebook and Instagram. About Omni Severin Hotel For over a century, the Omni Severin Hotel has stood as the premier destination in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. This historic landmark seamlessly blends timeless sophistication with a unique mix of classic and modern elements, providing the perfect backdrop for leisure, corporate, or group stays. The 424 guest rooms and suites capture the charm of vintage train travel while offering contemporary comforts. Enjoy year-round relaxation at our heated indoor pool or dine at the 8th Notch Cafe and Market or Bar Cardinale. Our hotel features elegant and historic ballrooms and versatile meeting spaces, ideal for corporate events and weddings. One block from the Indianapolis Convention Center it is also connected by overhead skywalks via Circle Centre Mall, we're also just a short walk from Lucas Oil Stadium and Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where you can catch a Colts or Pacers game. Whether you're visiting for business or pleasure, experience the unmatched hospitality and iconic elegance of the Omni Severin Hotel. Each stay here celebrates Indy's rich heritage and reflects our dedication to surpassing your expectations. Hotel website easyHotel, the great value low-carbon hotel brand, has announced its appointment of Anja Bachmann as Head of Development in Germany and the Netherlands, as the Group looks to grow its network of hotels across the Netherlands and expand into new German markets. This is a newly created role, with Anja using her extensive experience in hospitality to identify strategic acquisitions in primary and secondary cities for owned and leased, and franchise opportunities. While easyHotel already has a strong presence in the Netherlands, with seven locations, Germany is an untapped market with only one hotel in Berlin, offering significant growth potential for the Group. easyHotel also benefits from being part of the easy family of brands, with sister brands including easyJet, who have been flying to Germany for over 20-years. There is huge opportunity for growth, with branded budget hotels currently comprising 25% of the market in Germany compared to 45% in the UK. Anja joins easyHotel from THE EMBASSIES, a global, intergenerational hospitality network of residences, clubs and public spaces, where she was Vice President, leading strategic growth initiatives and managing project development in Europe. Prior to this, Anja has also worked at MEININGER Hotels and GBI, a real estate project developer in Germany and Austria. In recognition of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and in line with our spirit of care, we shine a light on initiatives and partnerships, that Accor teams have developed around the world, to champion gender equality, combat violence and empower women. Empowering Women, Fostering Change Accor continuously demonstrates its commitment to gender equality and diversity through global and local initiatives aimed at protecting and empowering women. Whether were combating gender-based violence, addressing domestic violence or tackling sexual harassment and workplace sexism, we are focused on driving genuine change and making a positive impact. On the world stage, the Group has actively participated in the gender discussion as co-leader of UN Womens Generation Equality Action Coalition on Gender-based Violence since 2021, and as a member of OneInThreeWomen, Europes first corporate network fighting violence against women. With grassroots programs and partnerships worldwide, Accor works every day to ensure equality, safety and empowerment, staying true to our DNA of welcoming and caring for all. Leading the Way: Anne-Sophie Beraud and Ghada Hatem Discuss Accors Partnership with Maison des femmes Restart Since 2021, Accor has been a proud supporter of Maisons des femmes Restart, an organization established by Dr. Ghada Hatem in 2016. Its comprehensive and holistic services help women in difficult situations and victims of violence. As part of its 5-year commitment, Accor has supported the original Maison des femmes in Saint-Denis and funded five additional houses across France, with a sixth opening today in Nice, moving closer to the goal of establishing ten houses nationwide by 2025. The organizations Restart project, currently underway, aims to expand into a total of 25 homes across France, extending this vital public service. The Group further contributes by covering the organizations costs for seminars, training sessions, and practice evaluations aimed at addressing vicarious trauma - initiatives that drive impactful and sustainable change. A Global Commitment: Impactful Initiatives Around the World Entre Mujeres in Spain: Over the past several years, Accor has partnered with Entre Mujeres, a Spanish non-profit organization founded in 2000, to help women who have survived violence or forced migration integrate into society. Since 2000, the organization has provided material and emotional support to these women and launched sewing and art workshops with Soulem, a social enterprise that helps women regain independence and dignity. ACOLHE in Brazil: In collaboration with the Avon Institute, Accor co-created the ACOLHE program to support female victims of violence. Since 2020, it has provided temporary accommodation, meals, psychological support and job training through the Accor Academy. Over 9,053 stays have been provided to 1,794 women and children. An internal hotline available since 2021, Canal da Mulher, has already provided more than 167 female Accor employees who have faced domestic violence with legal, psychological and social services. La Fondation des Femmes in France: Accor and La Fondation des Femmes launched the WEDA platform in 2022, offering emergency accommodation in over 300 hotels. To date, 1,253 women and children victims of domestic violence have been housed, totaling 11,038 overnight stays. This initiative is in alignment with the Groups mission of responsible hospitality, creating positive impact in local communities. Soieries du Mekong in Cambodia: For years, Accor Heartist Solidarity has supported Enfants du Mekongs Soieries du Mekong project, protecting traditional silk-weaving while combating gender-based violence in Banteay Chhmar. The women of this isolated village near the Thai border, often migrate to Thailand for work, where they face exploitation. To prevent this, the project established a silk-weaving training and production center, empowering over 100 women with sustainable livelihoods and financial independence. Lila.help Across the Globe: Accor supports Lila.help, a global directory of support services for victims of domestic and sexual violence. This accessible platform connects users to helplines, shelters and crisis centers worldwide, in partnership with organizations like UN Women and Global Network of Womens Shelters (GNWS). About Accor, a world-leading hospitality group Accor is a world leading hospitality group offering experiences across more than 110 countries, with over 5,600 properties, 10,000 food & beverage venues, wellness facilities or flexible workspaces. The Group has one of the industry's most diverse hospitality ecosystems, encompassing more than 45 hotel brands from luxury to economy, as well as Lifestyle with Ennismore. Accor is focused on driving positive action through business ethics, responsible tourism, environmental sustainability, community engagement, diversity, and inclusivity. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France and publicly listed on Euronext Paris (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACCYY) in the United States. For more information, please visit group.accor.com or follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok. Radisson Hotel Group announces an important new dual signing in Phuket that will introduce Radisson and Radisson Blu branded resorts to Layan Beach, a beautiful stretch of sand on this idyllic islands sunset coast. The launch of Radisson Resort Layan Phuket and Radisson Blu Resort, Layan Phuket will introduce a total of 812 rooms & suites and fantastic facilities to this tropical paradise under two distinct brands, reaffirming the Groups commitment to the future of Thailands hospitality industry. One of Asias most popular resort destinations, Phuket is expected to exceed 14 million international arrivals in 2024. The majority of visitors are attracted to the islands spectacular west coast, which is lined with a string of crescent-shaped sandy bays and gently lapped by the azure Andaman Sea. Nestled at the northern end of Bangtao Bay, close to Sirinat National Park, surrounded by a wealth of activities and attractions, and only 30 minutes' drive from Phuket International Airport, Layan Beach is at the heart of Phukets tourism boom. Set to open by Q4 2026, Radisson Resort Layan Phuket will empower guests to enjoy Simply Delightful stays, in line with this iconic upscale brands philosophy. Perfectly positioned just seven minutes walk from the beach, the hotel will offer 500 bright and contemporary rooms & suites, including options with two or three bedrooms, making it ideal for couples, families and friends alike. Holidaymakers will be able to unwind in two outdoor swimming pools, including a kids pool, work out at the gym, shop at a retail outlet, dine at a choice of two restaurants, or chill out at the pool bar. The 312-key Radisson Blu Resort, Layan Phuket will make its debut by Q1 2025. Discerning travellers will be able to Feel the Difference with a choice of 281 stylish rooms and 31 spacious two or three bedroom suites. Premium facilities will include two restaurants, three bars (including a swim-up pool bar), a spa, fitness centre, kids club, and a 230-square metre meeting room. Situated adjacent to Radisson Resort Layan Phuket, this resort will also be just seven minutes walk from the soft sands of Layan Beach. Both of these exceptional hotels will be underpinned by the brand promise that Every Moment Matters and signature Yes I Can! service philosophy. The +20 million members of the Radisson Rewards loyalty program will be able to enjoy a range of benefits and the opportunity to earn points, and all guests can rest assured that Radisson Hotel Group is fully committed to sustainability, with the overarching goal of achieving net zero operations by 2050. As a significant participant in the development of Thailands hospitality industry, JWP Group is delighted to partner with Radisson Hotel Group to bring the Radisson Blu and Radisson brands to Layan Beach in Phuket. We firmly believe that with Radisson Hotel Groups exceptional brand strength, international operational standards, and Every Moment Matters service commitment, these resorts will not only provide guests with extraordinary stays but also inject new vitality into the sustainable development of Phukets tourism industry. This partnership reflects our shared vision for the development of high-quality hotels, and we look forward to seeing Radissons outstanding resorts become iconic destinations in Layan Beach and across Phuket. Mr Wang Jing, Chairman, JWP Group We are delighted to announce the signing of these two resorts in Phuket, one of Asias most desirable destinations. With its warm, year-round climate, breath-taking natural beauty and world-class infrastructure, it is no surprise that international travellers are flocking to this island paradise. By introducing two more outstanding hotels, comprising 812 keys under two of our industry-leading brands upscale Radisson and upper-upscale Radisson Blu we will be contributing to the bright and sustainable future of Phukets tourism industry. Ramzy Fenianos, Chief Development Officer, Asia Pacific, Radisson Hotel Group Radisson Resort Layan Phuket and Radisson Blu Resort, Layan Phuket will complement Radisson Hotel Groups existing portfolio of three properties in Phuket: Radisson Resort & Suites Phuket, Radisson RED Phuket Patong Beach, and Radisson Resort Phuket Mai Khao Beach. They will also bolster the Groups nationwide portfolio in Thailand, which currently comprises nine hotels and resorts in Bangkok, Phuket, Hua Hin and Pattaya plus further openings including Radisson Hotel Phuket Kata and Andaman Riviera, a member of Radisson Individuals. For more information about Radisson Hotel Group, please visit https://www.radissonhotels.com . 1. https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-arrivals-to-top-14mn-touts-governor-94202.php About Radisson Hotel Group Radisson Hotel Group is one of the world's largest hotel groups with nine distinctive hotel brands, and more than 1,600 hotels in operation and under development in 120 countries. The Group's overarching brand promise is Every Moment Matters with a signature Yes I Can! service ethos. The Radisson Hotel Group portfolio includes Radisson Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson RED, Radisson Individuals, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson, Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, and prizeotel brought together under one commercial umbrella brand Radisson Hotels. Radisson Rewards is our international rewards program that delivers unique and personalized ways to create memorable moments that matter to our guests. Radisson Rewards offers an exceptional experience for our guests, meeting planners, and travel agents at over 550 hotels in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Radisson Meetings provides tailored solutions for any event or meeting, including hybrid solutions placing guests and their needs at the heart of its offer. Radisson Meetings is built around three strong service commitments: Personal, Professional and Memorable, while delivering on the brilliant basics and being uniquely 100% Carbon Neutral. The health and safety of guests and team members remain a top priority for Radisson Hotel Group. All properties across the Group's portfolio are subject to stringent health and safety requirements, as outlined in the Radisson Hotels Safety Protocol. More than 100,000 team members work at Radisson Hotel Group and at the hotels licensed to operate in its systems. For more information, visit our corporate website. Or connect with Radisson Hotels on: LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube Following the success of HSMAI Europe Fall Curate on The Commercialisation of Sustainability, which took place in London on November 7, we are delighted to share two key resources: Full Write-Up of the Curate Presentation: The Commercialisation of Sustainability: How Do We Achieve It?, by Hoang N. Nguyen, Co-Owner and COO at d2o, and Tord Moe Laeskogen, Owner of Sundvolden Hotel, Norway. *All Curate attendees will get the presentation sent to their inbox tomorrow, if you dont receive it, please reach out to us at [email protected] . If you did not attend and you would like to have it, please kindly send us a request and we will forward it to d2o for approval. The Curate has set the foundation for future discussions and initiatives in 2025 while building on three years of HSMAI Europes commitment to championing sustainability, overcoming challenges such as initial some industry hesitation to embrace its importance. Recognition is due to the HSMAI Europe Board of Directors, which in 2022, made the pivotal decision to position sustainability at the core of the association's efforts. By evolving its vision, HSMAI Europe aims to be a leading influencer, trailblazer, and the go-to resource for professional development, commercial strategies, and sustainability within the hospitality, travel, and tourism industries. HSMAI EUROPES SUSTAINABILITY JOURNEY AT A GLANCE 2022 Board of Directors integrates sustainability into HSMAI Europes vision , despite some industry resistance to the importance of the topic , despite some industry resistance to the importance of the topic HSMAI Europe DACH stages Sustainability Stammtisch Walk the Talk event in Munich 2023 New HSMAI Europe Sustainability Award , sponsored by d2o, introduced at HSMAI Europe Awards 2022 , sponsored by d2o, introduced at HSMAI Europe Awards 2022 Launch of the Sustainability Guide for Hospitality e-book, packed with tools, tips, and best practices to help travel, tourism and hotel companies make a positive impact on people, planet and profit 2024 Second year of HSMAI Europe Sustainability Award HSMAI Europe invited Glenn Mandzuik, CEO of the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (WSHA) as a speaker at the HSMAI Europe ROC 2024 Sustainability discussions took place in London between Glenn Mandzuik, Bob Gilbert, the late HSMAI America & Global, President & CEO and Ingunn Hofseth, President & CEO, HSMAI Europe where all parties agreed to explore a way to move forward with collaboration globally. Launched the first HSMAI Europe sustainability podcast , with Glenn Mandzuik, CEO of the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (WSHA) This marked the launch of a collaboration/partnership between HSMAI Europe and WSHA , with Glenn Mandzuik, CEO of the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (WSHA) HSMAI Europe took sustainability discussions to new heights with hospitality leaders exploring strategies to accelerate the commercialisation of sustainability at the HSMAI Europe Fall Curate WHATS NEXT FOR 2025? Sustainability will be a focus again at Januarys Commercial Strategy Week in London January will mark the third year of the HSMAI Europe Sustainability Award Plans to roll out sustainability think tanks , starting in London and eventually, globally, with support from WSHA. , starting in London and eventually, globally, with support from WSHA. HSMAI Europe Sustainability Guide for Hospitality e-book to be updated and translated into several languages e-book to be into several languages New sustainability podcasts to continue the conversation to continue the conversation A new meeting with WSHA will take place with the new HSMAI America & Global President & CEO, Brian Hicks We look forward to working with you in 2025 to break down barriers, advance sustainability, and drive positive change. Operating responsibly caring for people and the planet is not only a moral imperative but also a commercial advantage and together we can chart a path to achieving both. As always, we welcome your feedback. Warm regards, The HSMAI Europe team HSMAI Europes sustainability resources: About HSMAI Europe HSMAI Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International is a global organisation founded in the US in 1927. HSMAI Region Europe is the European arm of the organisation. HSMAI Europe aims to be a key influencer, pioneer and the go-to industry resource for professional development, commercial strategies and sustainability in the hospitality, travel and tourism industry. With a strong focus on education, HSMAI has become the industry champion in identifying and communicating trends in the hospitality industry while operating as a leading voice for both hospitality and sales, marketing, and revenue management disciplines. Read More HSMAI Europe HSMAI Europe Officer Nick Dabrowski, Lucas, Lucas' father Scott and mother Jen, and his brother, Christopher, stand with Police Chief Scott Kelley and Keven Calnan of Cops for Kids with Cancer. Cops for Kids with Cancer Gives Adams Boy A Boost Lucas is given a bag of gifts that included a very huggable stuffed puppy. ADAMS, Mass. Lucas Solak, an 8-year-old boy battling leukemia, received a $5,000 check from Cops for Kids with Cancer on Tuesday, bringing support to his family during a challenging time. "We feel incredibly blessed and incredibly lucky, and it has been across the board. We have had so much support," said his mother Jen Solak. "We're just incredibly grateful because we are traveling across the state like four times a month. Eight times this coming month." She said the entire community has rallied around Lucas with support from the AYJ Fund, PopCares, Palliative Care of the Berkshires, and a Hoosac Valley Elementary fundraiser where anyone at the school could throw a pie at various teachers and administrators' faces. This fundraiser was organized by Police Officer Nick Dabrowski who was the one who contacted Cops for Kids with Cancer. "This is why we became police officers, to help people," Dabrowski said. "My wife is going through cancer, and I got a call asking if I could sponsor this kid. I did not have to do anything beyond that. I am honored to help them. They are a great family." And now, Cops for Kids with Cancer has stepped in to offer some more support. "The idea that it's law enforcement is protecting and serving everywhere," said Kevin Calnan, a retired officer and representative with Cops for Kids with Cancer. "We try to show the good side of law enforcement." The organization originated with the Boston Police Department and the Irish An Garda Siochana raising money for families with children struggling with cancer. They officially became a charity in 2002 and eventually expanded to all of New England He said 99 percent of the money donated goes back to children. "Everyone is a volunteer. There's only two people on payroll and that's the accountant and the webmaster," he said. He said typically social workers from hospitals recommend children to them. Sometimes local police officers recommend children as well. The general strike has begun, called by Cgil and Uil, to demand changes to the budget law, increase salaries and pensions, fund healthcare, education, public services, and invest in industrial policies. An 8-hour stoppage for all private and public sectors, except for transport where it is 4 hours: for buses and subways from 9 am to 1 pm, as well as for maritime transport, for flights from 10 am to 2 pm. Trains are excluded from the stoppage. The march begins in Naples The march organized by Cgil and Uil has just started from Piazza Mancini in Naples, on the occasion of the general strike scheduled for today by the two trade unions. Workers will reach Piazza Matteotti after crossing Corso Umberto and via Guglielmo Sanfelice. The final rally will be led by Nicola Ricci, general secretary of Cgil Naples and Campania, and Pierpaolo Bombardieri, general secretary of Uil. Leading the march is the banner of the two trade unions that called the strike with the words "Change the budget law." The demonstrations in Naples and Bologna A mobilization taking place in 43 squares across the country, called to counter "the unfair and wrong choices of the government." The general secretaries, Maurizio Landini and Pierpaolo Bombardieri, will conclude the demonstrations in Bologna (march at 9:30 am, from Porta Lame to Piazza Maggiore) and Naples (march at 9:30 am, from Piazza Mancini to Piazza Matteotti), respectively. Simultaneously, in some cities, rallies will be concluded by the national secretariats' union leaders of Cgil and Uil. Naples march, Bombardieri's first words "It seems that Salvini has been generous with insults, telling us that we are extremists, calling us ridiculous, and those insults are perhaps directed at these people filling 40 squares in this beautiful country, who only ask to be heard, to modify the choices made so far," said Pierpaolo Bombardieri in Naples. "Meanwhile, it seems - added Bombardieri - that not all of the government has made the same assessments. This is a peaceful, democratic protest, and it's strange that a deputy prime minister attacks a right recognized by the Constitution in this way. We respond with these squares, we respond with democracy, with peaceful, democratic demonstrations, asking for changes." "The injunction jeopardizes a constitutional right recognized to people and exercised through trade unions. The sensation is that there is a political attack on the right to strike because the injunctions only come when there is a Uil and Cgil strike. Regardless of this, the best response is this one coming from 50 squares full of people asking democratically and peacefully for answers, to make changes." Protest numbers At least 30,000 are present in the square, according to the estimate of Cgil Naples and Campania. "We will not allow anyone to design a future for Campania without factories, made of forced emigration, welfare, and inequalities. The South is also industry, production, technology, innovation, skills, craftsmanship. With 5 billion and 300 million euros less for the Mezzogiorno, as Svimez reminds us, the financial effects of the budget will be devastating. This Government is about to decide that all corporate crises, for companies with fewer than 250 employees, will be offloaded onto the Regions, washing their hands and leaving the search for solutions to the territory, which only the Government must find. We are still waiting for solutions for Jabil, Dema, IIA, Softlab, Conbipel, Gesco, Beco, Nuroll, TTA, for the temporary workers of the Police Headquarters and Prefectures, for school and research staff, and for the many who no longer have social safety nets and income support," says general secretary Nicola Ricci, previewing for journalists the content of the speech he will give at Piazza Matteotti at the end of the march. Friday 29 November 2024, 18:16 Dogs and cats are taking the place of children. After repeated warnings from the Pope, who criticized the evident trend of replacing children with pets, Italian bishops are now also raising their voices in a document prepared for the celebration of the 47th National Day for Life, which will be celebrated on February 2, 2025. "In our country, as in many others in the West and around the world, there has been a constant decline in births for years, which is concerning due to the long-term social and economic repercussions; some surveys also record a significant decline in the desire for parenthood among young generations, who are inclined to imagine their future as a couple regardless of having children. Other studies highlight a worrying process of 'substitution': the exponential increase in pets, which require commitment and economic resources, and are sometimes seen as an emotional surrogate that is very reductive compared to the incomparable value of a relationship with children." EMPTY CRADLES A growing phenomenon that the Church considers alarming due to the cultural roots identified at the base of this attitude. "All this is primarily the result of a profound lack of trust, which instead constitutes the fundamental ingredient for the development of the person and the community; it is prejudiced by anxiety for the future and distrust toward people and institutions," adds the CEI. "The 'loss of the desire to transmit life' also has other causes: 'frantic life rhythms, fears about the future, lack of job guarantees and adequate social protections, social models where the agenda is dictated by the pursuit of profit rather than the care of relationships.'" POPE Pope Francis, provocatively, once said: "We must beat Italy a little!" On that occasion, the pontiff was speaking to a group of young economists, emphasizing the importance of a change in the world of economics, not only through achieving positions of power or prestige but above all through love and evangelical values. "The world of economics needs a change. You will not change it only by becoming ministers, or Nobel laureates, or great economists; you will change it above all by loving it, in the light of God, injecting into it the values and strength of good." Births, new negative record: in 2023 there are 13,000 fewer Among these values, he included the propensity to defend life and cultivate everything that can lead to conditions for having trust in the future. If in past eras the decrease in births was attributable to unpredictable factors like famines, diseases, or wars, today it seems to be a conscious choice. Italy holds the negative record for births (1.2 children per woman), while Germany (1.54 in 2019) and France (1.86), practically the European country with the highest number thanks to various policies designed to favor parenthood (tax measures attentive to families, aid to working women, inexpensive and flexible childcare, ad hoc corporate policies). However, the Catholic economist Leonardo Becchetti has repeatedly emphasized that only the economic aspect of the demographic winter does not tell the whole story. The lack of births also remains an indicator of a crisis of generativity, of the ability and desire to build relationships and plan for the future. "To use economic terms, such a culture considers relationships as consumer goods, to be scrapped and progressively replaced, and not investment goods on which to build a lasting project." Luxembourg, Pope: have more children, in Italy I say more children, fewer dogs The Italian Church has been hammering on the issue of empty cradles for over two decades. Three crucial aspects have been identified at the base of the phenomenon: the inadequacy of welfare policies, but also "a society that tends to be non-generative and a world full of imbalances and pockets of absolute poverty." China-made modules depart for "artificial sun" in France Xinhua) 16:07, November 29, 2024 GUANGZHOU, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Forty-eight blanket shield block modules departed from China on Friday, heading to France for the construction of the world's largest experimental tokamak nuclear fusion reactor. Departing from the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, the components are the first of their kind destined for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project in southern France. The facility, sometimes referred to as "artificial sun," is being built by China, the European Union, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and the United States to test the feasibility of fusion as a large-scale and clean source of energy. The ITER tokamak uses a magnetic cage to confine, shape and control the super-hot plasmas to make fusion reactions possible. The blanket shield block modules are critical vacuum components that provide neutron shielding and heat conduction under high thermal loads. They protect the vacuum chamber, external equipment, and personnel from radiation, ensuring the reactor's stable operation. China and the ROK are each responsible for the manufacturing of 220 blanket shield block modules. The first 48 modules were produced by Dongfang Electric Corporation. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) During her stand-off with Alfred Hitchcock on the set of Marnie (1964), Tippi Hedren hit the director where it hurt him the most right in the midriff. She [Hedren] did what no one is permitted to do. She referred to my weight, the English filmmaker, still smarting about her insults many years later, complained to biographer John Russell Taylor. From that moment on, neither would speak directly to the other. He began referring to her as the girl. Another biographer gave a very different account of why relations broke down so badly between the director and his 34-year-old star. Hitchcock had become hopelessly and pathetically obsessed with her. She was under contract to him, and he was trying to control every aspect of her life both on and off screen. There was a three-decade age gap between them. He was deeply repressed, but that didnt stop him from disgracing himself. Hitchcock finally lost any remnant of dignity and discretion. Alone with Hedren in her trailer after the days work, he made an overt sexual proposition that she could neither ignore nor answer casually, as she could his previous gestures, Donald Spoto claimed in his book The Dark Side of Genius: The Life of Alfred Hitchcock. Whatever its cause, the breakdown of the relationship between Hedren and Hitchcock overshadowed Marnie even before the film was released. Loosely based on a novel by Poldark writer Winston Graham, this is the story of a disturbed young woman who steals from her employers and continually changes identity. One of her bosses, the upper-class American businessman Mark Rutland (played by Sean Connery in the first flush of his 007 celebrity), falls in love with her. The film is sad and disquieting, both reflective of its directors morbid obsessions and far more honest about sexual neurosis than many of his earlier, more openly escapist movies. Its protagonists are damaged figures. Marnie herself is a kleptomaniac, revolted by men (I just never wanted anybody to touch me!). Connerys character, meanwhile, has a pathological fix on her precisely because she is a thief. He forces her into marriage, rapes her on their cruise ship honeymoon, and yet still portrays himself as her saviour. Critics were understandably uncomfortable about the films seamy subject matter. They also complained about its technical roughness (all that crude back projection for the riding and driving scenes), and the amateurish script. In the 60 years since Marnie premiered, its themes and the psychodrama playing out off camera have become intertwined in the publics mind. Both are now regarded as prime evidence against Hitchcock. In Julian Jarrolds TV-movie The Girl (2012), starring Sienna Miller as Hedren and Toby Jones as Hitch, the revered English auteur is portrayed openly as a dangerous sex ogre. In 2021, the stars granddaughter Dakota Johnson accused Hitchcock of terrorising Hedren because she wouldnt sleep with him, and of ruining her career. Even so, in Marnie, Hedren gives an exceptional performance in an almost impossible role. She was playing a character being preyed on by a man who claims to have her best interests at heart. Of course, by her own account, she was in exactly that predicament herself. Hitchcock delves into very dark territory. That, in itself, wasnt a surprise. From the stabbing in Blackmail to Norman Batess unhealthy mother fixation in Psycho, the director had been exploring the murderous and macabre throughout his career and cranking up the suspense as he did so. The difference here was that Marnie was a psychological drama, not a crime thriller. In its more lurid and gothic moments, the movie resembles one of Angela Carters adult fairytales. Whenever the heroine sees the colour red or hears lightning, she is thrown into a blind, feral panic. If you want to reduce Marnie to its lowest common denominator, it is the story of the prince and the beggar girl, Hitchcock told his fellow director Francois Truffaut. open image in gallery Marnie gave Sean Connery a chance to reiterate his Bond credentials ( Universal ) The occasional attempts at humour (Connery poring over books with titles such as Sexual Aberrations of the Criminal Female, or Hedren joking about a failed suicide attempt) seem tasteless and incongruous. The film, though, still boasts some memorably disorienting scenes. The opening, showing Hedren, her usually blonde hair dyed jet black, walking along a completely empty railway platform with a yellow bag under her arm, has a warped, dream-like atmosphere similar to that found in Maya Derens 1943 avant-garde classic Meshes of the Afternoon. To be the object of someones obsession is horrible Tippi Hedren I interviewed Hedren in 2012, when she came to Britain to introduce an evening of clips and music from Hitchcocks films at a venue in Croydon. It was striking then how ambivalently she still spoke about her old tormentor. She both excoriated him and praised him. To be the object of someones obsession is horrible, she told me. Any woman who has had that kind of situation will certainly agree with me. I demanded to get out of the contract, but when I did that he said: Well, you cant. Youve got your daughter to raise and your parents are getting older. I said: No, I want to get out. The people who love me do not want me in this situation. Youd think Hedren would want Hitchcock cancelled (to use contemporary parlance). Instead, she was coming to Fairfield Halls for an evening in his honour. He was, as she wrote in her autobiography a few years later, a man I look back on with admiration, gratitude and utmost disgust. It wasnt as if the former model embarked on Marnie from a position of ignorance. When she made The Birds (1963), her first film with him, a year before, she had already begun to experience the more sinister side of his behaviour. It was almost like stalking, she later said of how he would stare at her all the time. He notoriously forced her to shoot take after take of the scenes where she was pecked at by live birds. open image in gallery Avian nightmare: Tippi Hedren in The Birds ( Universal ) Nonetheless, after Grace Kelly turned the role down, Hedren agreed to play Marnie. She was under contract to the filmmaker so had limited scope to reject the role but still admitted she was excited to take it. One of Hitchcocks most infamous quotes was that all actors should be treated like cattle. In Hedrens case, he tried to control what she wore, and what she ate, and (as Spoto points out) even insisted that the name Tippi should appear in single quotation marks (she had been baptised Nathalie). Hedren appreciated that her very own Professor Henry Higgins was providing an instant education in cinema that would otherwise have taken many years to acquire. Nonetheless, her performance in Marnie was still her own. Its absurd to suggest that the English director was somehow able to create her characters mix of rage, terror, trauma, inhibition and furtive cunning simply through clever editing and camerawork. She had thrown herself into her role, spending long hours with psychologists who could give her insights into the characters neuroses and vulnerabilities. She refused to play Marnie as a victim. Only during her breakdown, when she relives her experiences as a five-year-old girl, does the character become an object of pity. Connery is also surprisingly sympathetic in a role that calls for him to behave with brutality towards Marnie one moment and with the utmost sensitivity the next. In the early scenes, he has the same sadistic swagger he displays in his first Bond pictures but when she finds his charm and machismo all too easy to resist, he begins to look very lost. open image in gallery Obsessive auteur: Hitchcock and Hedren in 1963 ( Getty ) Marnie absolutely defies attempts to dismiss it as an exercise in misogynistic self-gratification on behalf of its director. Its a messy, uncomfortable and uneven affair and that is its fascination. It is a very flawed movie, for which I have to take a lot of the responsibility, screenwriter Jay Presson Allen later acknowledged. The flaws, though, are precisely what make it so unsettling. There is no glib resolution here, no criminal to be killed or villain apprehended; no clever final-reel plot twist, or melodramatic climax with the heroine falling off a bell tower. Instead, the film ends simply with an acknowledgement of long-buried childhood trauma. The heart-wrenching monologue by Marnies mother (impeccably delivered by Louise Latham), when she finally acknowledges what happened when Marnie was five years old, is one of the rawest, most moving moments youll find in any Hitchcock movie. Marnie remains (as John Russell Taylor called it) probably the most controversial of Hitchs works a movie that, for some, will always be tainted, and that for many others marks the beginning of the directors decline. It remains far less feted than Psycho, Vertigo, The Birds or North By Northwest. Little fanfare was made about the films 60th anniversary. The director himself seemed to lose interest in it after his falling out with Hedren. Seen today, though, Marnie emerges as one of Hitchcocks richest, strangest and most revealing films. Anyone interested in understanding just what made him tick would be well advised to start here. Marnie, celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, is available on Prime Video Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Cynthia Erivo has shared her thoughts about proper theater etiquette for fans when they go to see Wicked: Part One. During an interview with Todays hosts at Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade, the 37-year-old actor spoke candidly about playing Elphaba alongside Ariana Grande who stars as Glinda in the hit film. TV host Hoda Kotb specifically asked Erivo if she thinks its appropriate to sing in the theaters during the movie musical, noting that a lot of fans had already done this. In response, Erivo said that she actually thought it was good that people were singing in their seats. Im OK with it, she explained. We spent this long singing it ourselves. Its time for everyone else to join in. Its wonderful. Cythia Erivo says she thinks its wonderful when fans sing along to Wicked in theaters ( Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. ) In the theme of the holiday, Erivo then shared that she has so much to be thankful for this year, including celebrating the recent release of Wicked. This has been a dream come true, to be able to share it with my family and friends., she said. People sharing their own experiences and feeling different. And them being comfortable enough to share that with me. Im really thankful for that. Earlier in the conversation, she described how she felt now that the Wicked was out, after years of working on it. Its the most wonderful, unbelievable experience ever, she said. This is such a wonderful thing to be able to share with everyone. Weve been keeping it to ourselves, and now everyone else can watch it! Im so pleased. Im so overwhelmed by the wonderful reactions weve been getting. Before Erivo showed her approval of fans singing during the Wicked, some theaters previously urged viewers not to do this. In a short Wicked-themed preshow advisory video, AMC Theaters tells movie-goers they arent allowed to sing along tosongs at any point during the film. Speaking to IndyStar, AMC spokesperson Ryan Noonan previously explained that the no-singing rule has always been a part of the theaters long-standing policy, to prevent disruptive behavior. However, the company wanted to emphasize these rules before the musical debuted in theaters with time-honored songs like Defying Gravity and Popular. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free When Wicked hit theaters on November 22, fans also urged each other to stop taking pictures and videos of scenes from the film, to prevent spoilers from popping up on social media. On X/Twitter, one person shared a photo of the opening credits and asked others to show ur wicked part 1 photosss, prompting a debate over movie theater etiquette. Wicked: Part One brought in $114 million at U.S. and Canadian theaters within the first weekend. The first part of the Universal Pictures film grossed $50.2 million in international markets, for a combined global total of $164.2 million. The film also became the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation, as Into the Woods, which opened to $31 million in 2014, was the previous record holder. However, the double premiere of Wicked and Gladiator 2 failed to surpass the success of Barbenheimer last summers dual release of Barbie and Oppenheimer on opening weekend, coming in at $169.5 million domestically compared to $244 million. Sign up to Roisin OConnors free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Get our Now Hear This email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Sir Rod Stewart has hit out at bully Gregg Wallace for allegedly humiliating his wife when she was on MasterChef. The musicians claims arrive after it was announced Wallace had stepped down from the BBC cookery competition following allegations of inappropriate sexual comments over several years. In the wake of the news that the BBC was investigating Wallaces behaviour, Stewart shared a post in which he claimed the host treated Penny Lancaster in a nasty manner when she was on the show in 2021. He wrote: So Gregg Wallace gets fired from Masterchef. Good riddance Wallace. You humiliated my wife when she was on the celebrity version of the show, but you had that bit cut out didnt you? Youre a tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully. Karma got ya. Sir Rod Stewart. While Wallace, 60, has not addressed the scandal directly, he thanked his fans who have been :showing their support in a video shared on Instagram. He said: Thats good of you, thank you very much. open image in gallery Rod Stewart has accused Gregg Wallace of humiliating his wife on MasterChef ( Getty images / BBC ) BBC News has said that the allegations of inappropriate sexual comments have come from 13 people across a range of shows over a 17-year period. Another star who has accused Wallace of inappropriate comments is former BBC Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark, who said Wallace told sexualised jokes during filming of a Celebrity Masterchef episode in 2011. There were two occasions in particular where he used sexualised language in front of a number of people and it wasnt as if anyone engaged with this, she said. It was completely one-way traffic. But I think people were uncomfortable and something that I really did not expect to happen. Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up Banijay UK, the production company behind Masterchef, has launched an investigation and said that Wallace is cooperating. The company said in a statement: Whilst these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met, are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately. open image in gallery Rod Stewart hits out at bully Gregg Wallace ( Instagram ) A BBC spokesperson said: We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them. We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated. Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Actor Julien Arnold has died while performing A Christmas Carol on stage. Arnold, 60, suffered a medical emergency while the play was taking place at Citadel Theatre in Edmonton, Canada on 24 November. He was playing Marley, Mr Fezziwig and Banjo in a production of the Charles Dickens classic. According to reports, emergency services arrived at the premises around 8.28pm but, despite multiple resuscitation attempts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. A cause of death is yet to be revealed. It is with heavy hearts we share the news of the sudden passing of Julien Arnold, a beloved actor and dear friend of the Citadel Theatre, the company announced in a statement. A cherished member of the Edmonton theatre community, Julien was a gifted performer whose charisma and talent graced our stage in countless productions, including A Christmas Carol. Juliens passing is a profound loss to his family, friends, fellow Carol company members, Citadel staff and the Edmonton community he loved so dearly. It continued: His presence brought joy, heart and depth to every role, and his artistic contributions - and big hugs - will be deeply missed. In his honor, this seasons run of A Christmas Carol is dedicated to his memory. We kindly ask for respect for his familys privacy during this difficult time. Your love, support, and well wishes are deeply appreciated. A GoFundMe campaign was launched in support of his wife Sheiny Satanove, who is the managing director of The Punctuate Theatre. open image in gallery Arnold is said to have died doing what he loved most ( The Citadel Theatre ) The page aims to raise $75,000 (42,000) to assist Satanove with costs related to his passing, including funeral costs, rent, groceries, and time off work to grieve. It reads: A cherished member of the Edmonton theatre community, Julien left us doing what he loved most. Over $55,000 (31,000) has been raised so far. Satanoves Punctuate Theatre also paid tribute to the star in a statement that read, Julien was a cherished member of the Edmonton theatre community whose warmth, talent, and generosity touched so many lives he left us as he lived immersed in his passion for theatre. According to IMDB, Arnolds other credits include the TV series Mentors (1998) and the movie White Coats (2005). Get Nadine White's Race Report newsletter for a fresh perspective on the week's news Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Television has been responsible for some of the biggest cultural shifts in history. It has the ability to change how we see celebrities, or discuss subjects that were previously deemed taboo. It can launch careers and also end them. Here are 10 of the most controversial TV moments of all time... Sansa rape scene in Game of Thrones open image in gallery High Sparrow: Proceedings enter implausible realms even by the fantasy series' standards Game of Thrones was already infamous for its graphic scenes of sex, torture and murder by the time the fifth season aired on HBO in 2015. But even so, fans were left reeling at the horrific moment that the evil Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon) rapes his new bride, Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner), while Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) is forced to watch. Many critics reviewing the episode condemned showrunners David Benioff and DB Weiss, saying it undermined Sansas character development. Others questioned why there was more uproar over this particular scene than the many previous sexual assaults against other characters. Some viewers, including then-US senator Claire McCaskill, claimed they would stop watching the show because of the scene. Ok, I'm done Game of Thrones, she tweeted. Gratuitous rape scene disgusting and unacceptable. Celebrity Big Brother, punchgate Celebrity Big Brother 2018: The moment Ryan Thomas 'punches' fellow housemate Roxanne Pallett Celebrity Big Brother received a massive 25,327 complaints regarding its 2018 scandal, which was dubbed punchgate. During an episode, a tearful Roxanne Pallett accused her housemate and fellow soap actor Ryan Thomas of physically assaulting her. She then accused him of lying and manipulating the other housemates when he denied intentionally hurting her. Replays of the incident later revealed that Pallett had heavily exaggerated the incident, and it was in fact a playfight. After a national uproar, Pallett was removed from the house and Thomas ended up winning the competition. The incident became the most-complained about TV moment of the decade. Seinfeld insulting Puerto Ricans Aired in 1998, one of the final episodes of Seinfeld managed to mire itself in controversy. Titled The Puerto Rican Day, the episode sees the shows characters stuck in traffic due to the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade. At one point, Kramer sets a Puerto Rican flag on fire then stomps on it. The episode sparked a major backlash and anger from the then-president of the National Puerto Rican Coalition. Broadcaster NBC was forced to apologise, and the episode was banned for several years. Ellen coming out The Ellen DeGeneres Show is currently in the midst of its own controversy, due to allegations of bullying and harassment behind the scenes. But Ellen DeGeneres made history in 1997 on her sitcom The Ellen Show, when her character also called Ellen and based on herself came out on national TV. While DeGeneres herself had come out publicly a few days before, in Time magazine, gay characters on scripted shows were still rare. There were reports that the show lost some of its sponsors as a result, while DeGeneres and her co-star Laura Dern experienced career setbacks. Spike tries to rape Buffy open image in gallery Sadly, the titular slayer herself was unable to attend In 2002, Buffy the Vampire Slayer upset many fans with a scene that showed main character Spike, a vampire, try to rape the show's hero, Buffy. In the scene, Spike tells Buffy how he feels about her, shortly after she ended their relationship. After insisting that shes hiding her true feelings for him, he violently attacks her and tries to rape her. Buffy manages to free herself and yells at him, telling him this was why she cannot trust him. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free While the episode as a whole was considered important for Spikes character, as he seeks to find a way to make himself a man worthy of Buffy, it caused considerable controversy and debate among fans, and still does to this day. Actor James Marsters, who played Spike, said shooting the scene was the hardest day of his professional life. Mister Rogers talking about the Cold War Mister Rogers Neighbourhood tackled myriad issues in a way that made them easy for the shows young audience to understand and process. However, presenter Fred Rogers, or Mister Rogers, broached a major hot-button topic when he decided to tackle nuclear war. He believed there was growing concern among his young fans over Cold War headlines, and so came up with a five-episode plot for the summer of 1983. This show gives us a chance to talk about war, and about how its essential that people learn to deal with their feelings and to talk about things and resolve conflicts, Rogers said in the episodes, which addressed bombs, war, and air-raid drills. Due to the controversial subject, the episodes were removed from syndicated airings. Two of the episodes resurfaced in 2017, around the time that US president Donald Trump was planning to increase military spending. Lois gets an abortion in Family Guy open image in gallery Fox won't allow episodes to be shifted to iPlayer Like Game of Thrones, Family Guy was already known for being controversial when it aired this 2010 episode in which Lois gets an abortion. During the show, Lois agrees to be a surrogate for a couple who are later killed in a car accident, and then has to decide whether to keep or abort the baby. Peter tries to persuade her to keep it after being swayed by anti-abortion activists, but Lois decides to get the abortion. While critics reacted favourably to the plot, it was banned from airing on the Fox Broadcasting Company. Jimmy Fallon ruffling Trumps hair open image in gallery Jimmy Fallon musses Donald Trump's hair in his controversial 2016 interview ( YouTube/screengrab ) During the run-up to the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump was doing the rounds on a number of talk shows, including Jimmy Fallon. Many expected that Fallon would use the opportunity to mock Trump, who was already causing concern with his extreme views. However, Fallon was criticised for what was deemed a softball interview, in which he asked the now-president for permission to ruffle his hair. While he later said in 2018 that he regretted the way he handled the interview, Fallon also defended himself and said the shows interviews had always been conducted in that style. Trump himself was furious at Fallons backtracking, and tweeted a demand that he be a man. The Simpsons Rio episode The Simpsons, typically less controversial than other animated sitcoms such as South Park and Family Guy, was accused of depicting a distorted vision of Brazilian reality by then-president Fernando Henrique Cardoso. The offending episode, which aired in 2002, followed the family as they experienced a number of ordeals in Rio, including Homer being kidnapped, and he and Bart being mugged by children. The shows executive producer, James L Brooks, later issued an apology, albeit a tongue-in-cheek one. Tom Cruise sofa jumping incident Few TV moments are more memorable than Tom Cruise declaring his love for Katie Holmes on the set of Oprah. In 2005, it became one of YouTubes first hits, after a clip of the incident was uploaded to the then-new website. Cruise, one of the worlds biggest film stars, was scheduled on the show to discuss his new movie, War of the Worlds. Things went awry when he started gushing about his new girlfriend, instead, and abruptly jumped onto Oprahs sofa, prompting screams from the live audience and stunning his host. The moment was so huge that it was parodied on Sesame Street, and galvanised the gossip press at a time when celebrity culture was undergoing a drastic shift. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Day of the Jackal viewers have been left stunned by the shock ending of the latest episode of the Eddie Redmayne thriller. The series seesThe Danish Girl actor take a rare turn as a villainous assassin tasked with killing tech CEOs and influential people across Europe. Redmaynes Jackal utilises a wide variety of disguises and aliases using prosthetics to keep himself hidden from the authorities, but he soon finds out that MI6 agent Bianca Pullman (Lashana Lynch) is determined to catch him after one of his assassinations is traced to a British gunmaker. The series is currently on its eighth episode, which has a jaw-dropping ending that pieces together the puzzle about how the Jackal faked his own death as an army sniper and was able to reinvent himself as a millionaire assassin. *Warning: spoilers for the latest episode of Day of the Jackal are below*. Throughout the series, Pullman and her team are trying to uncover the real identity of the Jackal. They get a tip-off from a veteran who revealed that the only known sniper recorded to shoot a target within the distance of 3,815 meters was Alexander Duggan, a former military sniper who died in Afghanistan (3,815 meters is the distance of the Jackals first shot in the series). Pullman isnt convinced Duggan is dead and gets permission from the foreign secretary to see his classified documents, which state that he died when his entire division was blown up years prior. open image in gallery Eddie Redmayne in the Day of the Jackal series ( Marcell Piti/Sky ) In the middle of the episode, viewers see a flashback to when Duggan (AKA the Jackal) was serving in a special forces group in Afghanistan. While visiting Croatia on a holiday, Duggan and his spotter are approached by a henchman for a powerful politician, who offers them 20,000 to assassinate a powerful newspaper owner. But when Duggan and his spotter complete the job for the sizable sum, they dont accept another because they both have to serve the rest of their time in the army. At the end of the episode, Duggan seems disillusioned with continuing to serve in the army when he could be making thousands as a private assassin and wants to find a way out. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free While travelling with his divisions convoy in Afghanistan, he nominates himself to go and walk ahead to check for landmines. He asks his close friend and accomplice to spot him, and when they get far enough from the vehicles, Duggan pulls out a remote and sets off a bomb that he planted earlier, killing everyone in their division, apart from the two of them. open image in gallery Lashana Lynch as Bianca Pullman in The Day of the Jackal ( 2023 Carnival Film & Television Limited ) The episode ends after the explosion, with Duggan telling his accomplice that they need to get out of the region without being seen. Its assumed that the British army then reported them as dead with the rest of their crew, revealing that Duggan used this event to fake his own death to become a millionaire assassin. Viewers were left shocked by the twist, and the Jackals ruthless decision to kill a dozen of his fellow soldiers for his own benefit. That was a brutal episode of The Day Of The Jackal, said one person on X/Twitter. Another added: That ending in the latest day of the jackal is some crazy s*** son. Another fantastic episode, probably the finest work British tele has done for a while. One person said the episode had made them anxious while another simply said: damn. So I am going to wait another Thursday for The Day of the Jackal episode eight? Arghhhh, said another exasperated viewer who will have to wait until next Thursday to find out what happens next. The series, which has new episodes streaming weekly on Sky and Now TV, is based on Frederick Forsyths 1971 novel of the same name, which has been turned into two films, The Day of the Jackal (1973) and The Jackal (1997). In The Independents annual ranking of the best series released in 2024,The Day of the Jackal came in 10th place, out of 20 shows. TV critic Nick Hilton ranked Netflixs Baby Reindeer as the best series of the year, with Shogun and Mr and Mrs Smith following in second and third place. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy NBC appeared to mistakingly identify a young Sesame Street actor as Broadway icon Lea Salonga during its live broadcast of the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade. During the networks annual holiday event on Thursday, co-anchors Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie introduced Sesame Streets float, where Tony Award-winning actor Lea Salonga was performing alongside the cast of the PBS staple. However, when the cameras panned to the side of the float where young child actor Olivia Perez was singing and dancing a title card for Salonga appeared. open image in gallery Sesame Street child star Olivia Perez sings during Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade ( NBC ) Salonga, 53, was later shown singing at the front of the float with the correct title card identifying her. Several viewers have since responded to the telecasts flub, making light of the situation. Oh god. Lea Salonga took The Substance, one person tweeted in reference to Demi Moores latest sci-fi thriller, which sees her character inject herself with a substance to youthify herself. Do do they think this is Lea Salonga?! a second asked in disbelief, while a third wrote: Someone tell the cameraman that that little girl isnt Lea Salonga. Cannot get over NBC disrespecting Lea Salonga by mislabeling some random other person on the float as her, another added. open image in gallery Lea Salonga performs during rehearsals for Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade ( Getty Images for Macy's ) The Independent has contacted NBC for comment. Salonga is best known for her Tony-winning portrayal of Kim in Broadways 1991 production of Miss Saigon. The Filipino actor previously originated the role of Kim in West Ends production in 1989, for which she earned an Olivier Award. She became the first Asian actor to star as Eponine in Les Miserables on Broadway in 1993. She later returned for the 2006 revival in the role of Fantine. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Salongas gone on to portray lead characters in other musicals, including Grizabella in the 2010 Phillippines tour of Cats and Aurora Aquino in Broadways 2023 run of Here Lies Love. This years Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade, which was backdropped by rainy weather, featured several other performances from the likes of Australian pop star Kylie Minogue, country star Dasha, indie-pop artist Bishop Briggs and rapper T-Pain. Meanwhile, Jennifer Hudson closed out the event by ringing in the holiday season with performances of Jingle Bells, Let There Be Joy and The Gift of Love from her debut Christmas album. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy China says it has discovered the worlds largest known deposit of gold, estimated to be worth over $80bn (63bn). The deposit at the Wangu goldfield in central China could yield more than 1,000 tonnes of gold, the Geological Bureau of Hunan was quoted as saying by Chinese state media. The bureau announced the detection of 40 gold veins, which are long and narrow openings in rocks filled with the metal, around a mile deep in Hunan provinces Pingjiang county. These rocks alone may have 300 tonnes of gold and there could be more reserves at deeper layers, geologists said. Many drilled rock cores showed visible gold, Chen Rulin, a geologist and ore prospector at the bureau, said. Test drills near the sites peripheral areas found more gold, suggesting that the deposit could be even larger. In all, there could be over 1,000 metric tonnes of the precious metal at the site which, at current prices, would bring in more than 600 billion yuan, or about $83bn (65bn). China Gold Mines Global gold prices rose after the discovery was announced, but the long-term trajectory remained uncertain due to geopolitical tensions around the world. The demand for the precious metal has increased in China amid global uncertainties. And the latest find, according to the Hunan Provincial Geological Institute, could be significant in helping safeguard the countrys resource security. The Wangu goldfield is one of Chinas most critical mining hubs and the country has invested nearly 100 million yuan for mineral exploration in the area. China produced about a tenth of the worlds gold as of 2023. The nation is a global leader in mining, dominating the production of precious metals used to make new generations of batteries and electronics. It also leads the world in the export of technology for mining, developing new ways to reduce carbon emissions in the process. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A Beijing court has sentenced former Guangming Daily journalist Dong Yuyu to seven years in prison on espionage charges, his family confirmed on Friday. Dong, 62, was detained in February 2022 while dining with a Japanese diplomat. Press freedom groups condemned his conviction as baseless and deeply unjust. "Yuyu is being persecuted for the independence he has demonstrated during a lifetime spent as a journalist," his family said in a statement quoted by NPR. They called Dongs sentencing a grave injustice, not only to him and his family but to the broader community of freethinking Chinese citizens and journalists. "Sentencing Yuyu to seven years in prison on no evidence declares to the world the bankruptcy of the justice system in China," the family said in a statement to Reuters. open image in gallery A pedestrian walks past the Beijing court where former journalist Dong Yuyu received his sentence ( Reuters ) According to court records, the Japanese diplomat Dong was found dining with had been identified as a member of an "espionage organisation. A spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry said the diplomat had been involved in activities "inconsistent with their capacity" while in the country, the Strait Times reported. The diplomat was subsequently released. Dongs family warned that his conviction would set a chilling precedent as Chinese citizens could now be accused of espionage for maintaining international ties. The trial was held behind closed doors in July 2023 and journalists were barred by police from entering the court on the day of his sentencing. An American diplomat attempting to observe the proceedings was also denied entry. Dongs lawyers and family were allowed to attend the sentencing judgment which was pronounced in court. They were not given the written order, however, NPR reported. open image in gallery Dong Yuyu stands at the gate of the Nieman Foundation in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 2017 ( Reuters ) Dongs case has drawn international criticism. Beh Lih Yi, Asia programme manager for the Committee to Protect Journalists, called for immediate action. Chinese authorities must reverse this unjust verdict, and protect the right of journalists to work freely and safely in China. Dong Yuyu should be reunited with his family immediately. Dong, former Nieman Fellow at Harvard University and visiting scholar at Japans Keio and Hokkaido universities, spent decades in journalism. He joined Guangming Daily in 1987 and rose to become the deputy editor of its commentary section, where he wrote about legal reforms and social issues. While advocating for moderate changes, he avoided direct criticism of president Xi Jinping. His family initially kept his detention private, hoping for leniency, but went public after learning in March 2023 that he would face trial. More than 700 journalists, academics and NGO workers have since signed a petition for his release. Ann Marie Lipinski, curator of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism, expressed admiration for his contributions, stating: "Dong Yuyu is a talented reporter and author whose work has long been respected by colleagues. We stand with many in hoping for his release and return to his family." The Washington-based advocacy group National Press Club called Dong the epitome of people-to-people exchanges China has fostered for 30 years. Dongs case has drawn comparisons to other recent convictions on espionage charges in China. Australian writer Yang Hengjun received a suspended death sentence on similar charges earlier this year. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Sweden has sent a formal request for China to cooperate with its investigations into the severing of two undersea data cables on the Baltic Sea bed. The cables were severed on 17 and 18 November when a Chinese ship, Yi Peng Three, was speculated to be sailing in the area. China, responding to Swedens request, said it stands ready to uncover the truth while denying any involvement in suspected sabotage. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said it will work with the concerned nations to find out how the two undersea cables were damaged. Swedish president Ulf Kristersson said on Thursday that Stockholm is seeking clarity from Beijing on how the two fibre optic cables were damaged. Today I can tell you that we have additionally sent a formal request to work together with Swedish authorities to get clarity about what has happened, he said during a press conference after a security meeting of government leaders of the Baltic Sea region. We expect China will choose to work together as we have requested. open image in gallery China willing to maintain communication on submarine infrastructure security ( REUTERS ) The two cables in question are the Arelion cable, linking Sweden to Lithuania, and the C-Lion 1 cable that runs between Finland and Germany. They are part of network infrastructure that facilitates international communication by providing high-speed data connections. According to data from ship tracking websites, theYi Peng Three disembarked from Ust-Luga post, west of St Petersburg in Russia, on 15 November. The vessel was tracked sailing over the cables around the time the cables were severed on 17 and 18 November. open image in gallery Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng Three is anchored near the city of Granaa in Jutland, Denmark, on 20 November 2024 ( AP ) The next day the ship was anchored in the Kattegat Strait, a passage between Sweden and Denmark, and was being monitored by multiple vessels, including from the Danish navy. According to a Wall Street Journal report, it is suspected the crew on the Chinese ship deliberately severed the cables by dragging its anchor through the seabed for more than 100 miles. Polish prime minister Donald Tusk expressed full solidarity and full support for Sweden as it acts in the interest of all countries in the Baltic region. Finnish, Swedish and German authorities have launched investigations into the rupture of the two cables. Germanys defence minister claimed the damage appeared to have been an act of sabotage, although there is no evidence thus far. The cable between Sweden and Lithuania, which is owned by a Swedish company, was damaged on 17 November, a Swedish prosecutor said. The cable between Finland and Germany, located south of the Sweden-Lithuania cable, was damaged a number of hours later. Both damage sites are located within the Swedish economic zone. Tensions have escalated in the Baltic Sea since Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The period of war has seen a number of incidents involving damage to undersea infrastructure costing billions of euros to countries in the region. Seven months into the invasion in 2020, undersea explosions damaged Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines which carried natural gas from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea. One investigation into the explosions reported in August that they were carried out by a Ukrainian sabotage team, but Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky denied the accusation. In October 2023, an undersea telecommunications cable between Estonia and Sweden was damaged. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Russian defence minister Andrey Belousov arrived in North Korea for a meeting with his counterpart on Friday, deepening concerns about their expanding strategic and military cooperation in the backdrop of the war in Ukraine. Mr Belousov was received at the Pyongyang airport by defence minister No Kwang-chol and greeted him with a ceremony featuring a military band. Photos showed North Korean military officials clapping as a banner in the background read: "Complete support and solidarity with the fighting Russian army and people." The visit, kept under the wraps until the last minute, coincided with South Korea scrambling fighter aircraft to intercept six Russian and five Chinese warplanes. Today, friendly ties between Russia and North Korea are expanding across all areas, including military collaboration. We are committed to implementing all agreements reached at the highest level, Mr Belousov told Mr No during their meeting, news agency Tass reported. "We look forward to close and fruitful cooperation with our Korean comrades," the Russian minister said. "Todays discussions will further strengthen the Russian-Korean strategic partnership in the defence industry. open image in gallery Andrei Belousov with No Kwang-chol during their meeting in Pyongyang ( EPA ) Strategic analysts said the visit was meant to signal that Russian president Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had deepened their partnership to break out of isolation and strengthen their international footing. The US, Ukraine and South Korea have accused Pyongyang of sending more than 10,000 soldiers to aid Russias war in Ukraine as well as artillery systems, missiles and other military equipment. open image in gallery Andrei Belousov and No Kwang-chol during their meeting in Pyongyang on 29 November 2024 ( EPA ) The Russian defence minister doesnt visit North Korea just to celebrate bilateral ties, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. This visit indicates Putin and Kims military cooperation in violation of international law is about to increase further. Mr Belousov praised the strategic partnership agreement signed by Mr Putin and Mr Kim in June. The agreement underlined the highest level of mutual trust between the two leaders, the Russian minister said, and also the mutual desire of our countries to further expand mutually beneficial cooperation in a complex international environment. open image in gallery Andrei Belousov inspects the guard of honour upon his arrival in Pyongyang on 29 November 2024 ( Getty ) Mr No praised the expanding military cooperation between the two countries and reiterated North Koreas support for Russias war in Ukraine, describing it as a just struggle to protect the countrys sovereign rights and security interests. The Russian ministers visit came soon after South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol met with Ukrainian defence minister Rustem Umerov in Seoul. Mr Yoon pushed for responding to North Koreas support of Russia by formulating countermeasures. South Koreas military said on Friday that it launched warplanes after 11 Chinese and Russian military jets entered its air defence identification zone. The aircraft lingered for a period of four hours before leaving without incident. Chinese state media said Chinese and Russian militaries organised and carried out the ninth joint strategic air patrol in relevant airspace over the Sea of Japan. Additional reporting by agencies. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Lai Ching-te is set to make his first overseas trip as Taiwans president to Guam and Hawaii in a move that has prompted China to warn the US to exercise utmost caution. Mr Lai, who is considered a separatist by China, is leaving for a week-long Pacific tour on Saturday. After a stopover in Hawaii, US, he will travel to the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau, three of the dozen countries that have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan. He will also stop over on the US territory of Guam. China opposes any foreign interaction or visit by the self-governed islands leaders, especially with the US. Beijing regards Taiwan as its territory that it can bring under control by force if required. If the US wants to maintain peace in the Taiwan Straits, its crucial for it to recognise the independence nature of Lai Ching-te and the Democratic Progressive Party authorities," Mao Ning, a spokesperson for Chinas foreign ministry, said. The spokesperson reiterated the comments made by Chinese president Xi Jinping to US counterpart Joe Biden at the Asia Pacific summit in Peru this month that "separatist acts" were incompatible with peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Washington must handle the Taiwan issue with utmost caution, unequivocally oppose the independence of Taiwan, and support the peaceful reunification of China, Ms Mao said at a daily press briefing in Beijing. She said China opposed any "scurrying to the United States" of Taiwans leaders or any American support for separatist activities. Chinas determination to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity and oppose interference in its internal affairs by external forces is unwavering," she said. The Taiwanese president and his government reject Chinas claims of sovereignty over the island. Mr Lai said he was looking forward to meeting Taiwans three Pacific allies. He would also keep deepening Taipeis partnership with other countries and keep Taiwan going out into the world", according to a statement by his office that excluded mention of the US stopovers. His foreign minister, Lin Chia-lung, told lawmakers on Thursday that China could launch military drills near Taiwan in the coming days in response to Mr Lais Pacific tour. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Wildlife camera traps and drones in one of Indias best-known forest reserves are being misused to spy on women, researchers say. Forest rangers in Jim Corbett National Park in the northern state of Uttarakhand intentionally fly drones over local women to intimidate them and prevent them from collecting natural resources to which they have a legal right, a research paper, published in the journal Environment and Planning F, warned. The patriarchal gaze of the society has extended into the forest because of these cameras, Trishant Simlai, a researcher at the University of Cambridges Department of Sociology and lead author of a report detailing these findings, told The Independent. Nobody could have realised that camera traps put in the Indian forest to monitor mammals actually have a profoundly negative impact on the mental health of local women who use these spaces, Mr Simlai said. Officials from Corbett Tiger Reserve, part of the wider national park, called the allegations that forest officers were misusing wildlife cameras absurd. Nonetheless, they said an investigation had been set up to look into the studys claims. Researchers conducted a 14-month study interviewing 270 locals in the villages around Corbett Tiger Reserve and found that this intentional snooping of women by misusing technology was aimed at controlling and restricting womens access to the forest. The women go there to collect firewood or to relieve themselves. These cameras, these drones, theyre taking pictures of people as well (besides the wildlife). So what happens to these pictures? India has one of the worst data protection laws. What is the accountability? What is the transparency here? What do they do with these pictures? They are not asking for consent of people, Mr Simlai says. The researchers also found that women now venture deeper into the woods to avoid surveillance and put themselves at greater risk of wildlife attacks. The study, titled The gendered forest: Digital surveillance technologies for conservation and gender-environment relationships, also claimed that women, especially from marginalised communities, are being controlled by these surveillance methods, with some men even encouraging their use to prevent women from straying or wasting time in the forest. open image in gallery This picture taken on 11 May 2022 shows Indian elephants in the Jim Corbett National Park at Ramnagar in Indias Uttarakhand state ( AFP via Getty Images ) These findings have caused quite a stir amongst the conservation community. Its very common for projects to use these technologies to monitor wildlife, but this highlights that we really need to be sure theyre not causing unintended harm, Prof Chris Sandbrook, director of the University of Cambridge Masters in Conservation Leadership programme, who was also involved in the report, said in a statement. Surveillance technologies that are supposed to be tracking animals can easily be used to watch people instead invading their privacy and altering the way they behave, he added. Uttarakhand has a recorded forest area of 38,000 square kilometres, making up 71.05 per cent of the states total area. Forests play a crucial role for women, particularly in rural areas, by supplying vital resources such as firewood and fodder for cattle. The researchers highlighted an incident from 2017 when a photograph of an autistic woman in Corbett Tiger Reserve with a total area of 1288.31sq km went viral after being taken by a wildlife camera trap. Local men circulated the image to shame and control the marginalised community she belonged to. A photograph of a woman going to the toilet in the forest captured on a camera trap supposedly for wildlife monitoring was circulated on local Facebook and WhatsApp groups as a means of deliberate harassment, Mr Simlai said. I discovered that local women form strong bonds while working together in the forest, and they sing while collecting firewood to deter attacks by elephants and tigers. When they see camera traps they feel inhibited because they dont know whos watching or listening to them and as a result, they behave differently often being much quieter, which puts them in danger, he said. Accidents happen when tigers get surprised by our presence, we sing loudly before entering the forest and while collecting firewood, to let them know that we are here, a local woman told researchers. Munish Kumar, a local social activist with a rights organisation called Samajwadi Lokmanch, told The Independent that camera traps have been used to invade the privacy of women in the forest. Women call the forest their home. Sometimes they also relieve themselves in the forest as people in the villages relieve themselves in the open. When a camera trap captures their pictures, it is an invasion of their privacy. Mr Kumar said there were ethical concerns surrounding the use of surveillance technology in forests. When women go to a forest to collect resources like firewood where cameras are set up, but they are not informed about their presence, it is an invasion. Mr Simlai said the use of drones for surveillance in villages near the Corbett Tiger Reserve also reflects the entrenched caste dynamics and social inequities in the state. The drone team (of the forest department) would first call the headman of a village and take permission from him before flying a drone if it is a village dominated by the landed elite or the upper caste. But when it comes to a 100 per cent Dalit village, no permission is taken. They drive straight into the village, fly the drone wherever they want, and be very brazen about it, he alleges. Indias 200 million Dalits, formerly untouchables, are placed on the lowest rung of a caste hierarchy and remain subject to widespread discrimination, despite the fact India abolished untouchability in 1955. open image in gallery Representative. A research study raises concerns about privacy invasion, as women in rural Uttarakhand face unwanted surveillance while performing daily tasks in the forest ( Parth Kansara/DPOTY ) Saket Badola, the field director for Corbett Tiger Reserve, told The Independent: These are absurd allegations. The intention of using these technologies is never to snoop on women. These cameras are put up in forest areas for wildlife monitoring, conducting wildlife censuses, and mitigating human-wildlife conflict. When asked about the allegations of forest rangers intentionally flying drones over local women to intimidate them, as alleged by the Cambridge researchers, Mr Badola said: Drones are primarily used for rescue operations and to track wildlife movements, especially when animals are approaching villages. The purpose is entirely wildlife management. The Independent asked him whether there were any avenues available for villagers to report misuse of surveillance technology by forest officials. Mr Badola responded: If these claims were true, dont you think people would have brought them to our attention? There has been no such reporting to the administration. He added: If people felt something was wrong or objectionable, they could have directly approached our staff, officers, the district administration, or even the police. These avenues are always available to them. He says that camera traps have been in use since 2006. Over all these years, no such allegations or complaints have been brought to us by villagers. open image in gallery Accidents happen when tigers get surprised by womens presence in the forests and the drones inhibit their usual defence mechanism singing ( Sachin Rai/Remembering Tigers ) If there is any substantiated evidence, we will investigate further. We will take action if anything is found. Rajiv Bhartari, a former director of the Corbett Tiger Reserve and former principal chief conservator of forests in Uttarakhand, urged officials to look into the researchers findings. He told The Independent: I dont think that any camera traps have been put ever with design to capture images of people or restrict their movement. Its not a part of the design, but misuse of images is always a possibility. Any progressive management should welcome research and the findings of the research because this knowledge is meant to improve conservation practice and make it more just. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Authorities in Laos have reportedly banned the sale and consumption of a vodka and whisky brand after six tourists died from suspected methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng earlier this month. An Australia travel advisory published on Friday said the Southeast Asian country has banned Tiger Vodka and Tiger Whisky. Lao authorities have issued an order prohibiting the sale and consumption of Tiger Vodka and Tiger Whisky due to concerns about these products being a health risk, the advisory said. Be alert to the potential risks, particularly with spirit-based drinks including cocktails. The English-language state media of Laos has not reported on the apparent ban so far. Advisories about the potentially deadly risk of drinking tainted alcohol following the poisonings have been issued by foreign governments to their citizens, rather than by Lao authorities. The Laos government earlier said it was profoundly saddened by the deaths of the foreign tourists from alleged methanol poisoning and pledged to prosecute those responsible. Australians Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both 19; Danes Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Frela Vennervald Sorensen, 21; American James Louis Hutson, 57; and British lawyer Simone White, 28, died after consuming alcohol in Vang Vieng. The manager of the Nana Backpacker Hostel who allegedly gave free shots of Lao vodka to about 100 guests has been detained, though he has denied the alcohol was contaminated, according to the Associated Press. Methanol is a toxic alcohol that is used industrially as a solvent, pesticide, and alternative fuel source, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It can cause serious illness if consumed. Several countries, including Australia and the UK, have issued warnings to travellers about the dangers of consuming unlicensed alcohol in Laos. The UK has advised tourists to consume alcoholic beverages only from licenced stores and exercise caution with drinks offered for free or when purchasing spirit-based beverages. According to CNN, Tiger Vodka and Tiger Whisky are locally produced Lao spirits, known for their low cost and frequent use in mixed drinks and cocktails. The brand does not seem to have a public website, and the vodka label states it is distilled, blended, and bottled in Laos. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The crypto entrepreneur who bought a banana duct-taped to a wall for $6.2 million last week has eaten it. Justin Sun knew he wasnt meant to eat the banana when he originally purchased it. Yet, in a room filled with media personnel at a hotel in Hong Kong, the 34-year-old TRON cryptocurrency founder swallowed the banana like it was any other. Before taking a bite, Sun sang the praises of Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, arguing conceptual art was similar to cryptocurrency as he described the banana as iconic. Its much better than other bananas, Sun proclaimed. Its really quite good. Cattelan, 64, debuted the artwork at Art Basel in Miami, Florida, in 2019, titling it Comedian. The banana, which was regarded as the most expensive piece of fruit in the world, was sold to Cattelan for 35 cents from a vendor outside the Sothebys auction house in New York where Sun bid on it. open image in gallery Justin Sun bought the $6.2 million banana at a Sothebys auction in New York ( X/Justin Sun ) Upon hearing how much Sun bought the fruit for, the vendor, Shah Alam, was in disbelief. Sun then promised to buy 100,000 more bananas from Alam, or $25,000 worth of produce, in a series of posts on X/Twitter. As the owner of a fruit stand in Manhattans Upper East Side, Mr. Shah Alam inadvertently became a crucial contributor to a groundbreaking piece of art. This banana, far from being an ordinary piece of fruit, has taken on profound cultural and artistic significance, he wrote on Thursday (November 28). open image in gallery Justin Sun vows to buy 100,000 more bananas from the vendor who sold the fruit to the artist ( X/Justin Sun ) To thank Mr. Shah Alam, Ive decided to buy 100,000 bananas from his stand in New Yorks Upper East Side. These bananas will be distributed free worldwide through his stand. Show a valid ID to claim one banana, while supplies last, Sun continued. open image in gallery ( X/Justin Sun ) He added: This is not just a unique event but also a celebration of the beautiful connection between everyday life and art. I hope this gesture will help share the meaning of this special art story with more people. However, the 74-year-old vendor wasnt thrilled by Suns promise. Speaking with The New York Times, Alam outlined the realities of fulfilling Suns enormous order. He said procuring tens of thousands of bananas from the Bronx wholesale market would cost him thousands, not to mention the practical difficulties of moving the boxes each containing 100 bananas. Theres not any profit in selling bananas, Alam told the outlet before noting his net profit would only be $6,000 and because he only makes $12 an hour, working 12-hour shifts, he would have to forfeit the money to the stand owner. The 53-year-old stand owner, Mohammad R. Islam, told The New York Times hes split the profit evenly between himself, Alam, and his six other employees. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Bruce Willis has been seen in a rare photograph with his family as he lives with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The 69-year-old retired Die Hard actor was seen smiling at his daughter Scout, 33, as they sat together on the sofa, while his daughter Tallulah, 30, looked up at him from where she was seated on the floor. In a second picture, Willis is seen touching noses with Scout while holding a plaque that reads Best Dad Ever. Tallulah simply captioned the post: Grateful. In February 2023, Williss family revealed the Hollywood action star had been diagnosed with FTD, calling the condition a cruel disease. It came shortly after Willis had retired from acting due to a brain disorder known as aphasia a condition that affects speech and language abilities. FTD is a rare type of dementia that causes problems with behaviour and language, according to the NHS. It affects the front and sides of the brain (the frontal and temporal lobes) and tends to develop slowly and gradually worsen over several years. Last month, Williss wife Emma Heming, opened up about how the disease has affected Willis in his daily life, such as his ability to walk and make decisions. For Bruce, it started in his temporal lobes and then has spread to the frontal part of his brain. It attacks and destroys a persons ability to walk, think, make decisions, she explained. open image in gallery Bruce Willis with daughters Tallulah (left) and Scott Laurel on Thanksgiving ( Instagram ) Heming said that Williss pre-existing stutter meant that it was difficult for doctors to detect early signs of the disease. As his language started changing, it [seemed like it] was just a part of a stutter, it was just Bruce, she said. Never in a million years would I think it would be a form of dementia for someone so young. open image in gallery The actor was seen with two of his daughters from ex-wife Demi Moore ( Instagram ) I say that FTD whispers, it doesnt shout, she continued. Its hard for me to say, This is where Bruce ended, and this is where his disease started to take over. He was diagnosed two years ago, but a year prior, we had a loose diagnosis of aphasia, which is a symptom of a disease but is not the disease. Willis married 46-year-old Heming in 2009, and the pair share two daughters: Mabel, 12, and Evelyn, 10. The actor shares Scout, Tallulah and eldest daughter Rumer, 36, with his ex-wife The Substance actor Demi Moore. open image in gallery Willis with his wife Emma Heming, daughter Tallulah and ex-wife Demi Moore at a film premiere in 2008 ( Getty Images ) Heming told Town & Country last month that she doesnt hide aspects of Williss condition from their children Mabel and Evelyn. Ive never tried to sugarcoat anything for them. Theyve grown up with Bruce declining over the years. Im not trying to shield them from it, she said, adding that the children know that Daddys not going to get better. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Gregg Wallace will step away from presenting MasterChef while new complaints made by individuals about historical allegations of misconduct are investigated. The presenter, 60, known for his colourful on-camera quips was previously accused of making sexually inappropriate comments to a female BBC colleague in 2018, and was forced to quit Inside the Factory over inappropriate remarks allegedly made to female staff last year, which he denies. Wallace, who among other complaints has been accused by former Newsnight host Kirsty Wark of making jokes of a sexualised nature when she was competing on Celebrity MasterChef in 2011, has previously said he resents any insinuation he was flirting with someone who is not his wife Anna, 37. I say this for my wife Anna, who Ive been true to and madly in love with since the day I met her, he told his Instagram followers in October. I dont want anybody to misunderstand this and make it look like I was flirting with somebody. Nobody accused me of that and I never have. Wallace met his fourth wife, real name Anne-Marie Sterpini, when she tweeted him a question about rhubarb in 2013. I just looked at Annas photo and thought wow. Shes pretty, the former greengrocer told Hello! of the encounter. So yes, rhubarb, which was considered an aphrodisiac in medieval times, brought us together, he said. After a flurry of messages on X/Twitter, Wallace gave Anna his number and they met in London for dinner. The couple got engaged in December 2014 and married at Hever Castle, Kent, with Wallaces fellow MasterChef judge John Torode as best man. Five years later, they welcomed a baby boy called Sid, who has autism and is non-verbal. Sid is not Wallaces only child. The former MasterChef host welcomed Tom, now 29, and Libby, now 26, with his second wife Denise Lovall, whom he married in 1999. Lovall, who died in 2017 after a battle with alcoholism, divorced Wallace in 2004 having discovered he allegedly had an affair with one of his employees. Wallaces separation from Lovall marked his second failed marriage. Aged 24 he met his first wife Christine in a greengrocer and married her in an impromptu ceremony followed by dinner at a pie and mash shop. The marriage lasted six weeks before Christine walked out on Wallace. Like his current wife Anna, Wallace met his third wife, Heidi Brown, on X/Twitter in 2009. The third one was a huge mistake, the presenter later confessed of his marriage to the biology teacher, which lasted just 14 months. Probably the unhappiest I have ever been in my life, he reflected on the relationship, which ended in 2012 and was followed by a sea of brief romances with beautiful women. Wallace then entered therapy and was told by his practitioner he would never find happiness if he kept picking women like he picked cars, per the MailOnline. Its an absolute game of chance, he told the publication of his approach to dating. What are the chances of finding somebody who youre not only attracted to and [who] makes you feel comfortable and happy, but is actually looking for what you have to offer? open image in gallery Wallace and his third wife Heidi in 2011 ( PA ) But just a year later, Anna slid into Wallaces DMs, which the MasterChef judge described as like winning the lottery. The caterer, who is 22 years his junior, made it clear she wanted to get married and have children. If thats not what you want, then dont mess me about, she told Wallace, who admitted he didnt want to become a dad again prior to welcoming miracle baby Sid in 2019 but agreed to try for a baby to make his wife happy with some conditions. I had two conditions, he recalled last year. I said, I am not happy swapping my young, fun, sexy girlfriend for an exhausted mum, but if thats what you want I want to get help in. The other condition was, I want to have a fortnights holiday with you every year without a baby. In order to meet Wallaces terms, the couple moved Annas parents into their 1m Kent home to help with their son. Due to being a similar age to Annas mum Rena, who is four years older than Wallace, the TV presenter said he and his mother in law have bonded over Seventies music. We were singing Boney M at breakfast this morning and Anna has no idea, he told The Sun. Wallace revealed his wifes parents take care of all the house stuff and at one point even had Sid sleep in their room for half the week so he and Anna can have a break. The TV presenter, who is the sole means of income for the household, previously told The Daily Star: Anna cant leave me because mum would have to leave as well. For an insecure old man with a younger woman, thats good news. open image in gallery Wallace and his wife Anna with their son Sid ( PA ) Wallace is now facing allegations of misconduct from 13 people who worked with him on shows over a 17-year period. In light of an investigation into his conduct, Former MasterChef contestant Ulrika Jonsson, accused him of making a rape joke that distressed contestants. Meanwhile, an unnamed lesbian colleague claims Wallace asked her about the logistics of her sex life in a string of highly inappropriate comments. The presenters lawyers have denied all allegations. Following the claims, Wallace thanked all the people getting in touch, reaching out and showing their support as the investigations into his conduct continue. Thats good of you, thank you very much, he said. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Jennifer Garner has made an emotional announcement on social media ahead of Thanksgiving. The 13 Going on 30 actor, 52, announced the death of her dog, a golden retriever named Birdie, who she welcomed into her life just after her break up from Ben Affleck in 2015. Garner admitted she thought it seemed nuts to mourn a pet given the world but wanted to share Birdies passing with her followers and she had always posted about their life online. Birdie let us know on Thursday that she wasnt feeling herself (a renowned foodie, Birdie never missed a meal), she wrote. We were surprised to learn that, not only was she very ill, she was at the end of her life. The news came shortly after Garners daughter Violet, who she shares with Affleck, returned from college for the Thanksgiving break. The vet told us that dogs often hang on until their person comes home from college, Garner explained. We believe Birdie did just that, so that we could pet her soft ears together and thank her for being the worlds best dog. Birdie had trained as a therapy dog in order to visit the Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles. Speaking of her pets gentle temperament, Garner added: Birdie loved to read. You knew just how to give people what they neededShe lived a happy dog life and is now in the role she was born to play: angel girl. Its a gift to love and be loved by such a creature as Birdie the Doggie. Fans rushed to offer their condolences to Garner in the comments. Dont apologize for your grief. Our fur babies are our family, one person wrote in response to the stars caption. Thank you for sharing Birdie with us. Losing a pet is tough. Sorry for your loss, another follower added in support. So hard losing your best friend, a third person said. Sending so much strength your way. Garner welcomed Birdie when she separated from Affleck in 2015 after ten years together before officially divorcing in 2018. At the time, many people criticised Affleck after he partially blamed his struggles with alcoholism on his marriage to Garner when speaking on The Howard Stern Show in 2021. We had a marriage that didnt work, Affleck told Stern. This happens. It was somebody I love and respect but to whom I shouldnt be married any longer... what I did was [I] drank a bottle of scotch and fell asleep on the couch, which turned out not to be the solution. Part of why I started drinking alcohol was because I felt trapped, he added, although Affleck later clarified in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that his behavior was his responsibility. Ben Affleck and Garner in 2014 ( Getty Images ) Garner remained offline as the media storm erupted around her split from Affleck. A year later, she told Vanity Fair the Mutant star was the love of her life. Hes the most brilliant person in any room, the most charismatic, the most generous, she said. Hes just a complicated guy. I always say, When his sun shines on you, you feel it. But when the sun is shining elsewhere, its cold. He can cast quite a shadow. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Steve Irwins son Robert was left visibly emotional as he attended the unveiling of his new waxwork at Madame Tussauds Sydney. The 20-year-old has followed in his late fathers footsteps as a conservationist and zookeeper and was left visibly emotional at seeing his dads likeness in the same room. Steve, an Australian television personality and wildlife expert, died at the age of 44 on September 4 2006, when a stingray hit him in the chest with its barbed tail, piercing his heart. He had been shooting a documentary called Oceans Deadliest. Robert was two-years-old at the time. That is amazing. Its the first time in a long time that hes not just a picture, he said, fighting back tears in the video posted by news.com.au. The TV personality was attending the unveiling of his own waxwork, which will be displayed in the same room as his fathers. According to Sunrise, he is the youngest Australian celebrity to be featured in Madame Tussauds Sydney. It was the first time Id ever gotten to see my dads wax figure. Id seen pictures of it, but Id never seen it in real life, he told the channel. I was overcome with emotion. And I didnt think that was going to happen, but I was actually quite emotional seeing it. open image in gallery Robert was left visibly emotional ( Instagram: newscomauhq ) Dad, for the last 17 years of my life, has been pictures and video, and to actually see him kind of just standing there, it was a lot. It was actually a lot to take in. He also explained why he picked a Woma python to be a part of the display, This is actually a special snake and actually one of my very favourite animals, he began. open image in gallery The 20-year-old zookeeper is the youngest to appear Madame Tussauds Sydney ( Madame Tussauds ) I absolutely love these guys and it seemed very fitting, with this section that weve got here, this display because this is an animal that was my dads favourite. And he actually went out and secured an area of about 118,000 acres of land that he set aside as a natural preserve for Woma pythons, because theyre endangered in a lot of their range. And that actually started our journey with buying up conservation land, this was way back in the Nineties. Social media users were left moved as one page wrote, Whos cutting onions? For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Desertion is starving the Ukrainian army of desperately needed manpower and crippling its battle plans at a crucial time in its war with Russia, which could put Kyiv at a clear disadvantage in future ceasefire talks. Facing every imaginable shortage, tens of thousands of Ukrainian troops, tired and bereft, have walked away from combat and front-line positions to slide into anonymity, according to soldiers, lawyers and Ukrainian officials. Entire units have abandoned their posts, leaving defensive lines vulnerable and accelerating territorial losses, according to military commanders and soldiers. Some take medical leave and never return, haunted by the traumas of war and demoralized by bleak prospects for victory. Others clash with commanders and refuse to carry out orders, sometimes in the middle of firefights. This problem is critical, said Oleksandr Kovalenko, a Kyiv-based military analyst. This is the third year of war, and this problem will only grow. Although Moscow has also been dealing with desertions, Ukrainians going AWOL have laid bare deeply rooted problems bedeviling their military and how Kyiv is managing the war, from the flawed mobilization drive to the overstretching and hollowing out of front-line units. It comes as the U.S. urges Ukraine to draft more troops, and allow for the conscription of those as young as 18. The Associated Press spoke to two deserters, three lawyers, and a dozen Ukrainian officials and military commanders. Officials and commanders spoke on condition of anonymity to divulge classified information, while one deserter did so because he feared prosecution. It is clear that now, frankly speaking, we have already squeezed the maximum out of our people, said an officer with the 72nd Brigade, who noted that desertion was one of the main reasons Ukraine lost the town of Vuhledar in October. The troops who walk away More than 100,000 soldiers have been charged under Ukraines desertion laws since Russia invaded in February 2022, according to the countrys General Prosecutors Office. Nearly half have gone AWOL in the last year alone, after Kyiv launched an aggressive and controversial mobilization drive that government officials and military commanders concede has largely failed. It's a staggeringly high number by any measure, as there were an estimated 300,000 Ukrainian soldiers engaged in combat before the mobilization drive began. And the actual number of deserters may be much higher. One lawmaker with knowledge of military matters estimated it could be as high as 200,000. Many deserters don't return after being granted medical leave. Bone-tired by the constancy of war, they are psychologically and emotionally scarred. They feel guilt about being unable to summon the will to fight, anger over how the war effort is being led, and frustration that it seems unwinnable. Being quiet about a huge problem only harms our country, said Serhii Hnezdilov, one of few soldiers to speak publicly about his choice to desert. He was charged shortly after the AP interviewed him in September. Another deserter said he initially left his infantry unit with permission because he needed surgery. By the time his leave was up, he couldnt bring himself to return. He still has nightmares about the comrades he saw get killed. The best way to explain it is imagining you are sitting under incoming fire and from their (Russian) side, its 50 shells coming toward you, while from our side, its just one. Then you see how your friends are getting torn to pieces, and you realize that any second, it can happen to you, he said. Meanwhile guys (Ukrainian soldiers) 10 kilometers (6 miles) away order you on the radio: Go on, brace yourselves. Everything will be fine, he said. Hnezdilov also left to seek medical help. Before undergoing surgery, he announced he was deserting. He said after five years of military service, he saw no hope of ever being demobilized, despite earlier promises by the countrys leadership. If theres no end term (to military service), it turns into a prison it becomes psychologically hard to find reasons to defend this country, Hnezdilov said. A growing problem for Kyiv Desertion has turned battle plans into sand that slips through military commanders' fingertips. The AP learned of cases in which defensive lines were severely compromised because entire units defied orders and abandoned their positions. Because of a lack of political will and poor management of troops, especially in the infantry, we certainly are not moving in a direction to properly defend the territories that we control now, Hnezdilov said. Ukraines military recorded a deficit of 4,000 troops on the front in September owing largely to deaths, injuries and desertions, according to a lawmaker. Most deserters were among recent recruits. The head of one brigades legal service who is in charge of processing desertion cases and forwarding them to law enforcement said he's had many of them. The main thing is that they leave combat positions during hostilities and their comrades die because of it. We had several situations when units fled, small or large. They exposed their flanks, and the enemy came to these flanks and killed their brothers in arms, because those who stood on the positions did not know that there was no one else around, the official said. That is how Vuhledar, a hilltop town that Ukraine defended for two years, was lost in a matter of weeks in October, said the 72nd Brigade officer, who was among the very last to withdraw. The 72nd was already stretched thin in the weeks before Vuhledar fell. Only one line battalion and two rifle battalions held the town near the end, and military leaders even began pulling units from them to support the flanks, the officer said. There should have been 120 men in each of the battalions companies, but some companies' ranks dropped to only 10 due to deaths, injuries and desertions, he said. About 20% of the soldiers missing from those companies had gone AWOL. The percentage has grown exponentially every month, he added. Reinforcements were sent once Russia wised up to Ukraine's weakened position and attacked. But then the reinforcements also left, the officer said. Because of this, when one of the 72nd Brigade battalions withdrew, its members were gunned down because they didn't know no one was covering them, he said. Still, the officer harbors no ill will toward deserters. At this stage, I do not condemn any of the soldiers from my battalion and others. Because everyone is just really tired, he said. Charging deserters Prosecutors and the military would rather not press charges against AWOL soldiers and do so only if they fail to persuade them to return, according to three military officers and a spokesperson for Ukraines State Investigative Bureau. Some deserters return, only to leave again. Ukraine's General Staff said soldiers are given psychological support, but it didn't respond to emailed questions about the toll desertions are having on the battlefield. Once soldiers are charged, defending them is tricky, said two lawyers who take such cases. They focus on their clients' psychological state when they left. People cannot psychologically cope with the situation they are in, and they are not provided with psychological help, said attorney Tetyana Ivanova. Soldiers acquitted of desertion due to psychological reasons set a dangerous precedent because then almost everyone is justified (to leave), because there are almost no healthy people left (in the infantry), she said. Soldiers considering deserting have sought her advice. Several were being sent to fight near Vuhledar. They would not have taken the territory, they would not have conquered anything, but no one would have returned, she said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Every Wednesday, retiree Zhang Zhili travels an hour by bus to an education center, drawn by the pulsing rhythms of the African drum she plays there in a classroom filled with fellow retirees whose hands move in unison, every beat lifting her spirits. Zhang, 71, has found joy and new friends at the elderly university in Beijing. Besides African drums, the former primary school teacher joins social dance classes, paying about 2,000 yuan ($280) for two courses this semester. Seeing herself standing tall in dance class boosts her confidence. After class, she hangs out with her friends. When we get old, what do we need?" she said. To love ourselves. Many older Chinese are looking beyond traditional nursing homes, afraid of abandonment by their families and quality issues. That's driving a boom in universities, home care services, and communities catering to older adults. Though some providers struggle to turn a profit, they persist because they see promise in the growing market. China has a rapidly aging population. Last year, about 297 million people were aged 60 or above, over one-fifth of the population. By 2035, this number is forecast to exceed 400 million, or over 30% of all Chinese. That's fueling growth in services and products aimed at older adults in what Beijing calls the silver economy, which is projected to balloon from about 7 trillion yuan (about $982 billion) currently to approximately 30 trillion yuan (about $4.2 trillion) in 2035, raising its share in the economy from about 6% to roughly 10%, Hu Zuquan, a researcher at the State Information Center, a public institution affiliated with China's main planning agency, told state media. Du Peng, dean of the school of population and health at Beijing's Renmin University, said the government is expanding basic care services to all older people who need them, moving beyond its traditional focus on those without family support. Last year, officials compiled a list of basic care services they aim to make available nationwide, including providing ability assessments for those over 65 and care training subsidies for family members of those who are disabled. Filial piety runs deep in China and most older people prefer aging at home with family after they retire, typically when they're 50 to 60 years old, one of the youngest retirement ages among the worlds major economies. Many help care for their grandchildren, and for some, nursing homes are seen as a kind of abandonment, except in cases of serious disability. In January, Beijing issued new guidelines calling for expanding home care services and meal deliveries and more clothing, food and tech products tailored for older adults. They include enriching their lives through education. Home-based services offer a more affordable alternative to nursing homes, alleviating accommodation costs, Du said. Most older Chinese are relatively healthy, and these able people perhaps need richer cultural lives rather than disability care, he said. Cai Guixia, 60, said she has found fulfillment in African drumming and modeling classes. She thinks she would feel forsaken in a conventional nursing home, preferring to hire a domestic helper. Liu Xiuqin, an owner of two care homes, saw business opportunities in meeting those needs. She invested more than 800,000 yuan (about $112,000) to open a school in Beijing. Cai and Zhang are among its 150 students attending classes in dance, singing, yoga and modeling training for about 1,000 yuan ($140) per course each semester. Outside the classroom, her team organizes gatherings where students can socialize. Liu expects to break even in another year and is prepared for the wait. She believes in the market's future, given that the generation born in the 1960s and later values quality of life and health more than their parents did. Its not about making quick money, she said. It requires persistence. Turning a profit is proving challenging for some silver economy businesses. In the southern city of Guangzhou, Wu Tang co-founded a school last year after his geotechnical investigation and surveying business was hit by the downturn in Chinas property market. His school offers courses to help people achieve some of their childhood dreams, but he has yet to cover his costs. He also faces competition from cheaper government-run courses. And there's Cui Yang, who runs a care station in Beijing, sending helpers zigzagging across the district to provide 30 yuan ($4.20) haircuts at home; accompanying people on hospital visits for 50 yuan ($7) per hour and other services. Even with government subsidies including free rent, Cui is losing money. Without the subsidies, the business would fail, she said. The struggles arent limited to small operators. Wu Wenjing heads the home care department of a healthcare subsidiary of state-owned financial conglomerate China Everbright Group in southwest China's Chongqing. It has been in the red for 13 straight years, spending 5 million yuan (about $702,000) annually and still losing 1 million (about $140,000) a year, she said. Wu's business employs 70 workers who visit homes as caregivers, rehabilitation therapists and psychotherapists. The industry is competitive and it has a high turnover rate given the difficulties of working alone in clients homes. Wu hopes to break even in five years, and is delighted about the government's efforts to grow the silver economy. "The spring of Chinas elderly care business has finally come, she said. Various companies are looking to grab a slice of this government-backed market. Property developers like Vanke Co. and Sino-Ocean Group and insurance companies such as Taikang Insurance Group have built high-end communities for older adults with amenities such as movie-screening and mahjong rooms and dining services. China's also working to tackle the problem of dementia, providing cognitive screening tests and training staff who work in memory clinics or as social workers. Several Chinese pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are working on drugs targeting Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia. Some vacant schools and kindergartens -- casualties of the countrys declining birthrate -- are meanwhile being transformed into care facilities for older people. Government efforts to back the silver economy are paying off: official data showed the country had 410,000 care facilities by June, double the number in 2019. Still, questions remain about the spending power of many older Chinese. A 2021 national survey co-conducted by China's Civil Affairs Ministry found older adults had a median annual income of 11,400 yuan ($1,574). In rural areas it was less than half of that. More than one in 10 older Chinese are living in poverty, with living standards much lower in rural areas and western China, according to data from surveys conducted by Beijing University. China's silver economy is still in its infancy, said Gary Ng, a senior economist at Natixis Corporate and Investment Banking. If they lack enough insurance to cover medical and other expenses, many older Chinese must set aside funds for such costs, limiting their spending capacity, he said, and it takes time to build industries producing senior-focused products and people trained to provide such services. Tax incentives and investments in training a skilled workforce would help, he said. There are prospects here, but it seems there's still much that needs to be done, he said. ___ Associated Press researcher Yu Bing and video producers Caroline Chen and Wayne Zhang in Beijing contributed to this report. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thousands of people made the crossing back into Lebanon from Syria on the second day of a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, after nearly 14 months of fighting. At the Jousieh border crossing in the Qusair area of Syrias Homs province, on Lebanons northeastern border, bumper-to-bumper cars lined up on Thursday waiting to be cleared for crossing. All four lanes were taken up by cars making their way into Lebanon, while those waiting to cross into Syria had to use an offroad. Of the six border crossings between Lebanon and Syria, two remain functional after Israeli airstrikes forced the others shut. The two countries share a border 375 kilometers (233 miles) long. Over 600,000 people fleeing Lebanon poured into Syria in the past year, most of them after the war between Israel and Hezbollah escalated in mid-September. The cross-border flow was a striking reversal in fortunes given that Lebanon is still hosting more than 1 million Syrian refugees who fled the war in their country that began in 2011. As the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took hold early Wednesday, thousands of people began their return to Lebanon. Families packed into vehicles with suitcases, mattresses and blankets, while children clutched backpacks, some wrapped in blankets, as they made their way back to Lebanon Thursday. The mood was mixed with relief and sorrow as many returnees faced the grim reality of returning to their homes that might be destroyed. We have been in Syria since Sept. 23, we had to leave our jobs, our homes and our loved ones because of the war, said Hasan Fliti, a 54-year-old dairy shop owner who is returning to Lebanon with his wife and two children. I am happy that there is a ceasefire and there is no more destruction. You are not afraid anymore of the airstrikes to hit. On the first day of the ceasefire, more than 2,000 people crossed into Lebanon, a Syrian security official at the Jousieh border told The Associated Press. On Thursday, more than 4,000 crossed back into Lebanon and the number continues to rise. The hall at the border was filled with families waiting to get their passports or IDs stamped. Some smoked, others sat on their luggage, waiting for clearance as the flow of returnees steadily increased. Among them was 37-year-old Wafa Wehbe, who had sought refuge with her family in Syria for more than a month. My house is gone, but it is an indescribable feeling to go back, she said. Theres a tragic sensation for the martyrs who had to die. The children are mourning. Wehbes home in Khiyam, located in an area still under Israeli control, was destroyed, but she said she will now stay at her sisters. I am also going back to mourn our martyrs. They died fighting at the frontlines. Ghinwa Arzouni, who had sought refuge in Homs from southern Lebanon, said the journey home is both a relief and a challenge. Were excited to go back, but I am afraid of the trip, its a long way back, she said. "Our house in the south is okay, it might have broken glass but will have to get there first to inspect for ourselves. We hope to return to Syria as tourists and not displaced. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The government has been urged to reconsider resentencing thousands of prisoners trapped under abolished indefinite jail terms. The justice select committee said ministers have misunderstood their advice after the government refused to establish an expert committee on resentencing those languishing under Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) jail terms. This will leave more than 2,600 languishing under torture sentences with no release date, including James Lawrence, who is still in prison 18 years after he was handed an eight-month jail term; Thomas White, who set himself alight in his cell after serving 12 years for stealing a phone; and Abdullahi Suleman, who is still inside 19 years after he was jailed for a laptop robbery. The cross-party committee of MPs warned the government has not adequately explored the issue in a letter to prisons minister Lord Timpson. open image in gallery The justice committee has urged prisons minister Lord Timpson to look again their proposals for IPP prisoners The intervention comes after the justice committee first urged the then-Tory government to resentence IPP prisoners in 2022, arguing it is the only way to address the unique injustice of the jail terms, which were abolished in 2012. Their recommendation was refused by the then justice secretary Dominic Raab. The Labour government this month revealed they will also not consider resentencing the prisoners, despite repeated calls from the UN and at least and at least 90 suicides in prison. Their plight has been compared to high-profile scandals involving the Post Office Horizon software, Windrush, and infected blood products by peer Lord Woodley, who has tabled a private members bill for resentencing. However Lord Timpson said the government will not support the move because it would result in IPP prisoners being released automatically without licenced supervision. This was dismissed as scaremongering by campaigners, who insist the government could legislate for whatever safeguards, supervision or staggered approach to resentencing they deem necessary. In the new letter signed by chair of the justice committee Andy Slaughter, he also challenged whether the government may have misunderstood their recommendation. He said their advice to establish an expert panel was carefully calibrated and would not result in the automatic release of all IPP prisoners. To summarise, the Justice Committees recommendation deliberately refrained from prescribing the precise terms of any resentencing exercise or the legislation that would enable it to take place, he said. Instead, the Committee suggested that an expert committee be appointed to devise a scheme for resentencing that respects certain core principles, including the protection of the public. open image in gallery Shocking injustices facing IPP prisoners Thomas White, James Lawrence, Abdullahi Suleman and Yusuf Ali have been highlighted by The Independent ( Handout ) If accepted, the committees recommendation would require several stages and resentencing would only occur once the expert panel has drafted a scheme that the Government is willing to support. The letter added: In our view, the potential for a resentencing exercise that avoids the problems identified in the letter is yet to be adequately explored. We would therefore encourage the Government to consider again the establishment of an expert committee to explore the options for resentencing those serving IPP sentences, as recommended by our predecessor committee. The indefinite jail terms, which saw offenders handed a minimum term but no maximum, were introduced by New Labour in 2005 in a bid to be tough on crime. They were abolished in light of human rights concerns in 2012, but not retrospectively, leaving thousands languishing in prison until they can prove to the Parole Board that they are safe for release. The system has left thousands of IPP prisoners including many who were jailed for minor crimes trapped as their mental health deteriorates, under a sentencing protocol that was branded psychological torture by the UN. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: It is right that IPP sentences were abolished. We recently terminated the lifetime licences of more than 1,700 rehabilitated offenders, and are improving the rehabilitation and mental health support for those still in prison. Every two years, the Parole Board considers the case of each IPP prisoner, judging whether they are safe for release. We consider this an important safeguard for the publics protection. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A father-of-four has been jailed for life for murdering his brother-in-law and attempting to kill three other people during a shooting spree in the Scottish Highlands. Finlay MacDonald, 41, went on a violent rampage after seeing flirty messages on his wifes phone in which she told her boss she was planning to leave him. He stabbed his wife Rowena nine times, puncturing her lungs, before he killed his brother-in-law John MacKinnon with a shotgun in the attack on the Isle of Skye on 10 August 2022. MacDonald then drove to the mainland village of Dornie, Wester Ross, and shot married couple Fay and John MacKenzie. Judge Lady Drummond sentenced the father to life imprisonment and ordered him to spend a minimum of 28 years behind bars after a jury found him guilty of carrying out the spree. She said his crimes were brutal and mindlessly violent and perpetrated on victims in their own homes, where they had no opportunity to escape. Giving evidence during the trial at the High Court in Edinburgh, Mrs MacDonald said the frenzied attack in their family home in the village of Tarskavaig, on Skyes Sleat peninsula, punctured both her lungs and left her squelching blood with every breath she took. Afterwards, he got into his car with a pump-action shotgun, a couple of hundred cartridges and a machete-type knife, and drove to his brother-in-laws house in the nearby village of Teangue. Mr MacKinnons sister, who was outside on the driveway, told the court she saw MacDonald with the gun as he walked into the house and heard bangs as he fired a number of times. A GP who lived nearby attempted to save Mr MacKinnon, who suffered fatal injuries, but he died at the scene. The court heard MacDonald had borne a grudge against his brother-in-law since the pair had a violent falling out in 2013. open image in gallery Finlay MacDonald has been found guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh ( PA Archive ) MacDonald then drove to an address in Dornie in Wester Ross, on the mainland, where his osteopath John MacKenzie lived with his wife Fay. He claimed Mr MacKenzie had previously given him a treatment session which he said ruined his life. After arriving, MacDonald shot Mrs MacKenzie in the face through the windows and then shot Mr MacKenzie twice, in his front and side, before being tasered and arrested by police who had trailed him to the property. Mrs MacDonald, Mrs MacKenzie and Mr MacKenzie all survived their injuries, and gave evidence in court during the trial. In a police interview the following day MacDonald said he stabbed his wife in a moment of madness and he then felt a total darkness come over me. However he denied murdering his brother-in-law and attempting to murder to his wife and the Mackenzies, insisting he was suffering from an abnormality of mind. His lawyer argued he should be convicted of the lesser offence of culpable homicide. On Friday, a jury returned a guilty verdict after three-and-a-half hours of deliberation. He was convicted of one count of murder, three counts of attempted murder, and one count of possession of a shotgun with intent thereof to endanger life. The judge said all the surviving victims could have died from their wounds and she praised their actions and those of the emergency services. Lady Drummond said Mrs MacDonald had suffered devastating physical and psychological harm, including six weeks in hospital, while Mr MacKenzie also spent six weeks in hospital, including in a critical condition, and needed to have a kidney removed. The court heard MacDonald has been diagnosed with autism, however prosecutor Liam Ewing KC told the jury he was fully in control of and able to determine his actions. Mr Ewing said the accused was not significantly impaired by any psychological condition on the day he carried out the attacks. This was shown, he said, by the targeted, controlled behaviour he displayed after stabbing his wife. Mr Ewing told the jury that MacDonald had been able to get into a car with a shotgun and 400 cartridges, drive to two different houses some miles apart and select his victims. Defending, solicitor advocate Shahid Latif said of MacDonald: He is sorry for what he did that day. He wishes he could undo and go back in time to try and stop himself. In particular he indicates he has failed his children. He wants them to know he is sorry. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A man has been accused of attempted murder after an eight-year-old girl and her father were injured when a gunman opened fire into their car in west London. Jazz Reid, 32, was charged with two counts of attempted murder and possession of a firearm and ammunition following the double shooting in Ladbroke Grove on Sunday. The child had surgery on Monday and was said to be in a stable condition, while her 34-year-old father has been left with potentially life-changing injuries. open image in gallery The pair were in the car with the girls two-year-old sibling and 32-year-old mother, who were both unhurt, at the time of the attack in Southern Row ( PA Wire ) The pair were in the car with the girls two-year-old sibling and 32-year-old mother, who were both unhurt, at the time of the attack in Southern Row. Local residents told of their shock in the aftermath of the incident, which happened at around 5.30pm. The Metropolitan Police said Reid, of Kensington in west London, will appear at Thames Magistrates Court on Friday. Detectives from the Mets Specialist Crime Command are leading the investigation and continue to ask anyone with information that may assist to come forward. They can call 101, quoting 5238/24NOV24, or contact independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The world is at its most dangerous point for 40 years, the head of MI6 has warned, accusing Russia of waging a staggeringly reckless campaign of sabotage in Europe to undermine support for Ukraine. Sir Richard Moore also said the West could face a reckoning as potential terrorists are radicalised over war in the Middle East. In 37 years in the intelligence profession Ive never seen the world in a more dangerous state. And the impact on Europe, our shared European home, could hardly be more serious, Sir Richard said, adding that if Putin is allowed to succeed in reducing Ukraine to a vassal state he will not stop there. Sir Richard said MI6 cherishes our heritage of covert action, which we keep alive today with British spies working to stop the consequences of Russias invasion of Ukraine. He warned that a victory for Mr Putin in Ukraine would jeapordise both European and transatlantic security, in what appeared a message to president-elect Donald Trump, with the incoming US leader having repeatedly complained about the amount of money and military aid Washington is sending to help Kyiv. We have recently uncovered a staggeringly reckless campaign of Russian sabotage in Europe, even as Putin and his acolytes resort to nuclear sabre-rattling to sow fear about the consequences of aiding Ukraine, he said. The cost of supporting Ukraine is well known but the cost of not doing so would be infinitely higher. If Putin succeeds China would weigh the implications, North Korea would be emboldened and Iran would become still more dangerous, he added. Our security British, French, European and transatlantic will be jeopardised, Sir Richard said during an event with his French counterpart to mark 120 years since the Entente Cordiale, the Anglo-French diplomatic agreement, was first signed. The spymaster said his agency and its French counterpart, run by Nicolas Lerner, were working together to prevent a dangerous escalation by calibrating the risk and informing the decisions of our respective governments in response to President Putins mix of bluster and aggression. Vladimir Putin is waging a staggeringly reckless sabotage campaign, Richard Moore warns ( Sputnik ) Western officials have linked Moscow to several planned attacks in Europe in recent months, including an alleged plot to burn down Ukrainian-owned businesses in London, and to incendiary devices in packages on cargo planes. In July, one caught fire at a courier hub in Germany and another ignited in a warehouse in England. Moscow has denied responsibility for all such incidents. Sir Richards remarks come after Ken McCallum, the head of the UKs domestic intelligence service MI5, warned last month that Russian spies were on a sustained mission to generate mayhem on British and European streets including arson, sabotage and more dangerous actions conducted with increasing recklessness. Describing British intelligence officials as facing a hell of a job, Mr McCallum said both Russia and Iran had turned to employing private intelligence officers and criminals from both the UK and third countries. Speaking on Friday, Mr Lerner, head of Frances foreign spy agency DGSE, said that Britains experience in the wake of recent attacks like the Salisbury novichok poisoning in 2018 was invaluable to French intelligence officers seeking to defuse Russian actions. Britain and France have been among Ukrainian allies most willing to allow Kyiv to use weapons they supply to hit certain targets inside Russia, after US president Joe Biden this month eased its long-held opposition to US-made ATACMS missiles being used to do so. Since then, Russia has bombarded Ukraines energy infrastructure with hundreds of missiles and drones, fired and threatened the West with a new intermediate-range ballistic missile, and altered Russias nuclear doctrine to lower the threshold for using such weapons. A power plant in Ukraine severely damaged by a Russian airstrike ( AP ) While Mr Trumps stance on Ukraine has raised concerns among some UK officials, Sir Richard who has been mentioned as a possible choice for the UKs ambassador to Washington said he was confident the transatlantic bond remained strong. For decades the US-UK intelligence alliance has made our societies safer, he said. I worked successfully with the first Trump administration to advance our shared security and look forward to doing so again. Sir Richard also directly addressed defence spending, with Mr Trump having called on Nato nations to spend more during his first term in the White House. We know that we all need to do more, he said. Thats why the British government has committed to spending 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence. However, the MI6 chief said Europe and North America already have many times Russias GDP and defence budget, adding: We should never doubt that our alliance has strength in numbers, both economic and military, and our unity of purpose makes that count. Trump and Putin in Helsinksi in 2018 ( AFP ) Turning his attention to the war in Gaza, Sir Richard said: We have yet to have a full reckoning with the radicalising impact of the fighting and terrible loss of innocent life in the Middle East after the horrors of 7 October. The war in Gaza along with cross-border fire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon was triggered on 7 October last year, when Hamas launched an attack inside Israel. The militant group killed around 1,200 people and took some 250 hostages into Gaza. In response, Israel launched a devastating air and ground offensive against Hamas, and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to keep fighting until all of the hostages are freed. Some 100 hostages remain, although about a third of those are believed to be dead. More than 44,000 Palestinians have been killed in the largely devastated Gaza Strip, according to local health officials, while around 90 per cent of the population of around 2.3 million have been forced from their homes. The former head of MI6, Sir John Sawers, warned last month that police and intelligence agencies in Britain should be on their toes as the assassination of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders by Israel could trigger attacks on British soil. Additional reporting by agencies Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Its destruction triggered outcry and sadness across the nation but now, over a year on from the felling of the Sycamore Gap, the National Trust has revealed where the trees saplings will spring up across the UK. Custodians of the much-photographed and visited sycamore say they hope the venture, which was announced exactly a year after the tree was chopped down, will create a new chapter of hope in its legacy. The National Trust grew seedlings from the tree and 49 of them one for each foot of the sycamores height are being given away as part of the project. A tree will be planted at Hexham Abbey, Northumberland, in memory of Holly Newton, who was murdered aged just 15 by her ex-boyfriend. Her mother Micala Trussler said: Knowing that we are going to have one of the Sycamore Gap saplings to help remember our daughter means a lot. This Tree of Hope will be a symbol for everyone that knew her, to reflect and to remember how amazing she was. The Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease at Seacroft Hospital, Leeds, will also receive a sapling following almost 500 applications. The much-loved tree beside Hadrians Wall, in Northumberland, was a long-standing feature of the British landscape before it was illegally cut down in September 2023. Early reports at the time suggested it had been brought down by a storm, but it quickly emerged that the iconic tree had been chopped down. open image in gallery Holly Newton was stalked and murdered by her ex-boyfriend, Logan MacPhail, when he refused to accept their relationship was over ( PA Media ) Two men charged with criminal damage over the felling of the tree will face trial in December. They have denied the charges. Andrew Poad, general manager for the National Trusts Hadrian Wall properties, said: The tree meant so much to so many and through the Trees of Hope initiative we are helping reach people across the nation, for generations to come. Each sapling will carry a message of hope with it as they start a new chapter not just for the tree but for all the 49 people and communities that will receive a sapling next year. open image in gallery Seeds were picked up from the stricken tree to create saplings which will be given out across the UK ( James Dobson/National Trust Images/PA Wire ) The applications were judged by experts, led by arboriculture specialist Catherine Nuttgens. She added: The loss of any tree can evoke strong emotions none more so than the Sycamore Gap tree. Its destruction felt utterly senseless, destroying the simple joy it brought to so many people for so many reasons. But the Trees of Hope initiative has kept that sense of joy and hope alive, and it has been truly humbling to read through so many applications but a difficult task to select the final 49 recipients. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Parliament will vote on an assisted dying bill tomorrow for the first time in nearly a decade. Labour MP Kim Leadbeater proposed the Private Members Bill in mid-October, which will legalise assisted death under certain conditions for terminally ill adults in England and Wales. The bill would apply to those who are over 18 years old, have mental capacity, and have six months left to live, with the consent of two medical professionals. The bill has generated strong opinions from both sides of the assisted dying movement, while even some of those in favour have voiced concerns over the lack of safeguarding in the bill. A group of MPs have also pushed an amendment which may stop the bill from progressing to a vote this week. The Independent analysed public statements from all 650 MPs, in addition to news reports and other available information, to find which MPs will likely vote for or against the assisted dying bill this week. The analysis will be updated as more MPs come forward. The bill is open to a free vote, meaning that the party whips will not dictate whether to support or oppose the bill. Individual MPs are free to vote based on their own values and opinions of their constituents, regardless of whether they are Labour, Tory, or otherwise. Note: the voting intention of MPs is not final until the votes have been cast on Friday. As this is a sensitive issue, many MPs are still deciding and some could change their mind from previous positions. Our updated analysis has found that at least 104 MPs are likely to vote in favour of the bill, while at least 97 are likely to vote against it. Dozens of MPs have come out in the last few days alone in support or criticism of the bill, as political heavyweights on either side of the debate have published their thoughts in the papers. Some 477 MPs have either not made their opinion on assisted dying public, said they are still weighing up both possibilities or said they will abstain from the vote. Taking this into consideration, it will be difficult to say exactly whether the vote will pass. There is a significant degree of unknown, particularly among first-time MPs who are facing the issue for the first time. When including assumptions of how MPs might vote based on positions in the 2015 bill and previous statements, approximately 212 MPs may support the bill and 209 may vote against it, with the rest unknown. Meanwhile, when also including voting intentions shared privately off-record, The Times reports that 265 MPs are planning to vote for the assisted dying bill, and 217 plan to vote against it. Both our analysis and The Times analysis indicate that slightly more MPs are leaning in favour of the assisted dying bill than not. Within the parties, our analysis found MPs are divided between voting for and against the bill, according to public declarations, reports, and working group memberships. Labour MPs are more likely than Tories to lean towards supporting the assisted dying bill, which was proposed by a fellow Labour MP. However, influential Labour figure Gordon Brown penned an op-ed in opposition of assisted dying, which has been shared by several Labour MPs. At present, an estimated 66 Labour MPs will support the bill, while 55 will vote against it. Among those against the bill are some of Labours most prominent members, including health secretary Wes Streeting, and long-standing MP Diane Abbott. open image in gallery Health secretary Wes Streeting has spoken out against the assisted dying bill ( Lucy North/PA ) Conservative MPs are more likely to vote against the bill, while only a third (at least 12 MPs) so far are likely to support assisted dying, including Kit Malthouse and former medical practitioner Neil Shastri-Hurst. In the final hour, both former Tory PM David Cameron and former health secretary Matt Hancock have come out in support of assisted dying legislation, as revealed by The Independent, and urged other MPs to join in support. Lib Dem leader Ed Davey, whose son was born severely disabled and whose wife has MS, has said he will not back the assisted dying bill. Meanwhile, 19 of his fellow party members are likely to vote in favour. Even in smaller parties like Reform, the decision is highly individual. While leader Nigel Farage is against assisted dying, saying it gives him the shivers, deputy leader Richard Tice has come out strongly in favour, an Rupert Lowe said he will vote in favour following a mock referendum of constituents. We should be brave enough to try assisted dying, Mr Tice said on Jeremy Kyle earlier this month. open image in gallery Justice secretary Shabana Mahmood warned assisted dying could lead to a slippery slope towards death on demand ( PA Wire ) Several MPs voting against assisted dying have said they will do so due to the bill feeling rushed, and lack of adequate consultation over safeguarding. Others have warned of possible coercion as a reason they will not support the bill, including North Northumberland MP David Smith. In addition, some have cited moral or religious reasons as part of their decision, such as Muslim MP and justice secretary Shabana Mahmood and Christian MP Rachael Maskell. Lord Falconer has come under fire for criticising Ms Mahmood, saying that her religious beliefs shouldnt be imposed on everybody else. Meanwhile, Tory MP Danny Kruger an evangelical Christian who has been a vocal campaigner against assisted dying is under investigation for his role in a parliamentary group called Dying Well, which received 55,000 from lobbyists. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy MPs are debating the divisive issue of assisted dying for the first time in almost a decade ahead of a historic vote this afternoon. Kim Leadbeater, the MP behind the bill, has argued her colleagues have a chance to correct injustice and reduce human suffering, while opposition campaigners have warned of inevitable abuse, pressure, coercion and mistakes. Five hours have been set aside for MPs to air their views on the controversial Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in the Commons on Friday. A vote must be called before 2.30pm otherwise the bill is highly unlikely to make any further progress through parliament, with Ms Leadbeater saying she is hopeful this major social reform will pass this first stage in the process of becoming law. The debate comes after the issue was voted down by MPs in 2015, with MPs split over the new proposed legislation. Encouraging or assisting suicide is against the law in England and Wales, with a maximum jail sentence of 14 years. open image in gallery Kim Leadbeater opening the debate in favour of her Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in the Commons on Friday ( House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA ) Ms Leadbeater has said the current law is not fit for purpose and her proposals would allow terminally ill adults in the two nations with less than six months to live to end their lives, subject to the approval of two doctors and a High Court judge. The bill has led to impassioned debate. Below, The Independent takes a look at the five key arguments on each side: For People who are dying deserve the right to die with dignity Supporters of the bill argue that people who are dying deserve the right to die with dignity. Pro-change campaigners Dignity in Dying are among those who argue that, along with good care, dying people who are terminally ill and mentally competent adults deserve the choice to control the timing and manner of their death. Terminally people should be allowed to end their suffering Ms Leadbeater has argued that her bill would reduce human suffering. Patients can still suffer extreme physical or mental pain in the final days of their life despite good palliative care, with supporters saying people should be allowed to avoid this. open image in gallery People take part in a demonstration organised by campaign group Dignity in Dying outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London, in support of the bill on Friday ( Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire ) Majority of public appears to support assisted dying Research by the Policy Institute and the Complex Life and Death Decisions group at Kings College London (KCL) in September suggested 63 per cent of just over 2,000 adults surveyed in England and Wales want assisted dying to be legalised for terminally ill adults in the next five years, while a fifth (20 per cent) said they do not. More recent polling from More in Common this month found 65 per cent if around 2,000 people across Great Britain support the principle of assisted dying while 13 per cent oppose it and the rest are unsure. Legislation contains enough safeguards to allay concerns Ms Leadbeater argued that her legislation would feature the strictest protections of any similar bill in the world. The terminally ill person must make two separate declarations, witnessed and signed, about their wish to die. The process must involve two independent doctors being satisfied the person is eligible and the medics can consult a specialist in the persons condition and get an assessment from an expert in mental capacity if deemed necessary. A High Court judge must hear from at least one of the doctors regarding the application and can also question the dying person as well as anyone else they consider appropriate. It would be illegal for someone to pressure, coerce or use dishonesty to get someone to make a declaration that they wish to end their life or to induce someone to self-administer an approved substance. If someone is found guilty of either of these actions, they could face a jail sentence of up to 14 years. The dying person must also take the medication themselves, with no doctor or anyone else able to administer it. open image in gallery Ms Leadbeater argued that her legislation would feature the strictest protections of any similar bill in the world ( PA Wire ) Current law is not working Ms Leadbeater has argued her proposed law would correct injustice and bring major social reform, with the current law no longer fit for purpose. Britons who are able to afford it can still travel abroad to end their life. However, this can happen prematurely because the patient needs to be well enough to travel. Furthermore, family members or friends often do not travel with them for fear of prosection upon their return to the UK. Also, doctors fearing legal consequences can dodge patients questions about assisted dying. Against Focus should be on improving palliative care The campaign group Care Not Killing is among those that use the terms assisted suicide and euthanasia, and who argue that the focus should be on promoting more and better palliative care rather than any law change. open image in gallery Members of Distant Voices, Christian Concern, the Christian Medical Fellowship and SPUC gather in Westminster to campaign against the proposed legislation ( PA Wire ) Fears vulnerable will be forced to end life early Care Not Killing also says legalising assisted dying could place pressure on vulnerable people to end their lives for fear of being a financial, emotional or care burden upon others and argue the disabled, elderly, sick or depressed could be especially at risk. Bill is a slippery slope Opposition campaigners have raised fears of a slippery slope to wider legislation taking in more people. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood shared her belief the law change could lead to death on demand when she made clear her opposition. Becoming the first former UK prime minister to support the bid to legalise assisted dying, Lord David Cameron countered that thin end of the wedge arguments can be used against almost every proposal for social change. open image in gallery Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood shared her belief the law change could lead to death on demand when she made clear her opposition ( PA Wire ) Legislation has been rushed The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which said it is neutral on assisted dying, warned that as it stands there has been insufficiently detailed analysis of human rights considerations regarding the bill. In a briefing sent to MPs, the watchdog noted there has been no equality impact statement and that, as it is a private members bill, there is no requirement for a minister to declare its compatibility with human rights. The regulator also said parliament will need adequate time, expertise and the supporting materials required to effectively scrutinise the bill, which would go to a committee if it passed Fridays vote. Some MPs and campaigners have raised concerns that the Bill has been rushed and will not get the scrutiny it requires an argument rejected by Ms Leadbeater who insisted it is likely to be subject to more scrutiny because of the level of public debate on the divisive issue. Concern over impact on disabled people and their rights The regulator also said the Bill could particularly impact disabled people, pointing out there is not always a clear line between terminal illness and disability. Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson warned that disabled people are really worried about a bill she described as very loose in terms of safeguards. The former athlete, who would have a vote on the bill if it passed through to the Lords, said she does not believe there are safeguards that can guarantee protection for vulnerable people. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy MPs have taken a historic step towards legalising assisted dying in England and Wales, by voting in favour of a bill that would support terminally ill adults with a life expectancy of six months or less to end their lives. After five hours of intense and heartfelt debate, in which some members of parliament were brought to tears, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was passed in the House of Commons with 330 voting in favour and 275 against. The result was a bigger majority than many were predicting, after similar legislation was roundly defeated in 2015. Under the terms of the bill, a terminally ill adult with a life expectancy of six months or less could seek assistance to end their life, provided that two doctors and a High Court judge approve their decision. open image in gallery Kim Leadbeater opens the debate for the second reading ( UK Parliament ) MPs were given a free vote on the issue, meaning they could vote according to their conscience and were not bound to follow a party line. While Sir Keir Starmer backed the bill, his government was split, with both of the cabinet ministers who would ultimately be responsible for implementing the legislation health secretary Wes Streeting and justice secretary Shabana Mahmood voting against. The bill has some way to go before it becomes law, with more than 200 amendments already tabled in the Commons and the House of Lords, meaning it will be subject to intense scrutiny. Added to that, a number of MPs only gave qualified support at the second reading, with the proviso that they would not vote for it without significant amendment at its third reading. Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP who put forward the bill, said it would give society a much better approach towards end of life, whereas Tory MP Danny Kruger argued that it would pave the way for a state suicide service. Mr Kruger, who led opposition to the bill, said following the vote that a lot of people are very worried about the lack of safeguards. He said there will be further opportunities to improve the bill, and if thats not possible, to reject it. Campaigners in favour of assisted dying hailed the outcome, saying: Thousands of people will be heartened by this result. But campaigners who had been fighting against it promised: This is not over. open image in gallery MPs gather to hear the result of the vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill ( PA Wire ) The bill will now go to the committee stage, where MPs can table amendments, before facing further votes in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Dame Esther Rantzen said she was absolutely thrilled at the result, but that it was unlikely to have an impact on her own life. The broadcaster, who is terminally ill, said minutes after the historic vote: Its going to take probably almost two years for it to change the law, and Id be astonished if the drug Im on manages to extend my life that far. open image in gallery The broadcaster Esther Rantzen, who is terminally ill, has been a strong advocate of changing the law to allow dying adults to take their own lives in limited circumstances ( PA Media ) Trevor Moore, chair of the campaign group My Death, My Decision, said: Thousands of people will be heartened by this result. Every day, 20 people in the UK are suffering unbearable pain at the end of their lives, despite receiving the best possible care. For them, the choices are stark and harrowing: travel to Switzerland, and end their life by suicide, stop eating or drinking, or face an agonising natural death. These people deserve better. They deserve the dignity of choice at the end of their lives, and we are relieved to see MPs acknowledge this. Patricia Donoghue, 70, who is in favour of assisted dying after seeing her husband Kevans painful death in 2015, told The Independent that the result of the vote was amazing news. She added: Im a bit surprised but Im relieved. Im hopeful that it will become law and that people will have a choice. Its not for everybody, but for those who would like to have that choice it is an amazing day. Bryan Grayson, who saw his father-in-law refuse food and water at the age of 102 and wants a change to the law, said the vote was a significant first step. However, Merv Kenward, who has campaigned against assisted dying with his wife Nikki, said he was really disappointed. He added: Weve lost this particular battle, but the war certainly isnt over. His wife became a campaigner against assisted dying after being suddenly paralysed by Guillain-Barre syndrome aged 36. The Church of Englands lead bishop for healthcare, Dame Sarah Mullally, said that safeguarding the vulnerable must now be our priority. Bishop John Sherrington of the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales called on Catholics to pray that members of parliament will have the wisdom to reject this bill at a later stage. Andrea Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern, said that today was a very Black Friday for the vulnerable in this country. In a five-hour debate in the Commons, MPs agonised over the pros and cons of such a dramatic change to the law, which former minister Robert Jenrick described as a cliff edge with no return. Veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott has suggested that a better bill on assisted dying could come forward in the future, as she said she could not vote for legislation when she had doubts about the safeguards contained in it. She reminded the House that in 1969, MPs abolished the death penalty because they did not think the state should be responsible for ending peoples lives. Sir David Davis revealed that he would be backing the assisted dying bill at its second reading, but urged the government to give MPs more time to debate it in future. Sir David said he had changed his mind on assisted dying, describing himself as a believer in the sanctity of life but also in freedom from torture and misery, and confirmed he would support its continuation through parliament. In a direct message to Labour ministers, he said: This bill is more important than most of the bills in your manifesto. Former Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has warned that NHS trusts in areas with the weakest palliative care provision will have the highest uptake if the bill becomes law. The MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale warned of the potential for self-coercion and said: My opposition to this bill is grounded in compassion. open image in gallery Campaigners react on hearing the result ( Getty ) A Labour MP who has lived with a disability all her life said she would support the assisted dying bill, but described the decision as one of the hardest that I have had to make. Marie Tidball, the MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, told the Commons: In my career in disability law and policy, I chose not to focus on debates about whether disabled people should be born, or whether we should die. Instead I focused on enabling disabled people to live better, more fulfilling lives. Today I find myself voting in a way that I thought I never would: I will be voting in favour of moving the bill to the next stage of the legislative process. But Conservative former minister Sir John Hayes warned: This bill changes the relationship between clinicians and patients for ever. It says to the NHS, your job is not only to protect and preserve life, it is sometimes to take life. While some, including Mr Streeting and former prime minister Gordon Brown, have argued that palliative care should be improved before assisted dying is legalised, Dr Simon Opher, a GP and the Labour MP for Stroud, suggested assisted dying is a tool in palliative care. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy British troops should be sent to guard Ukraines border under any future ceasefire with Russia, Boris Johnson has said. The former prime minister has said responsibility for keeping any deal intact should fall to a group of European peace-keeping forces. Ahead of Donald Trumps return to the White House, which is expected to spark talks to end the conflict, Mr Johnson said British troops should be sent to Ukraine to maintain a ceasefire. open image in gallery Vladimir Putin praised Donald Trump as an intelligent man ( AFP via Getty Images ) Speaking to The Telegraphs Ukraine: The Latest podcast, he said: I dont think we should be sending in combat troops to take on the Russians. But I think as part of the solution, as part of the end state, youre going to want to have multinational European peace-keeping forces monitoring the border [and] helping the Ukrainians. I cannot see that such a European operation could possibly happen without the British. The former PM said Western countries should ensure Russia cannot simply re-arm and launch another attack on Ukraine down the line by making clear what security guarantees are on offer. Foreign secretary David Lammy has said Ukraine is on an irreversible pathway to Nato membership once its war with Russia ends. Many countries in the military alliance are wary of Ukraines calls to be immediately invited to join. Mr Johnsons proposal would likely see Natos Article 5, which states that an attack on one member is an attack against all members, triggered if Western troops acting as part of a UN peacekeeping force were attacked. In the podcast, Mr Johnson said: We need to be spelling out what kind of security guarantees we think are appropriate. The only thing that really works is a Nato Article 5 guarantee that has kept the peace in Europe for 80 years. Its the reason the Baltic states are in Nato. Its the reason that the Poles, Hungarians, Czechs, Finns and the Swedes are now in Nato. Ultimately the former PM said the only long-term solution is to give Ukraine Nato membership, after three years of abominable cruelty and carnage. His intervention comes after Vladimir Putin praised the incoming US president as intelligent and said he will find a solution to the conflict. And on Thursday the Russian president threatened to strike Kyiv with Moscows new ballistic missile Oreshnik, which he claimed is comparable to a nuclear weapon in terms of its destructive power. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The new Mauritian government has ordered an independent review of the Chagos Islands agreement, The Independent understands, throwing the future of Sir Keir Starmers deal into even greater uncertainty. The new administration in Mauritius, which took over after elections last month, has previously expressed doubts about the terms of the agreement, with the UKs national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, travelling to the country in an attempt to smooth over any issues. But sources in Mauritius have since said the new government feels it was kept in the dark over the agreement. In a statement to the Mauritian parliament on Friday, the countrys new prime minister, Navin Ramgoolam, said the details of the deal were unknown to the new government throughout the two years of negotiations. As first reported in The Independent, Mr Ramgoolam announced the government would now be conducting an independent review into the terms of the agreement, the findings of which will be considered by the cabinet. The prime minister also said he has consulted external legal advisers over the deal. It comes just one day after Downing Street said there is no discussion around renegotiating the deal. open image in gallery The government announced last month it had reached a political agreement to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius ( DoD/AFP/Getty ) There are discussions to engage with the new administration on the detail of the deal, but as I say, theres been an exchange of equity noting respective commitments to progressing the agreement, the prime ministers official spokesperson said on Thursday. Closing his statement to parliament, the prime minister said: I will keep the house informed of the next steps in the negotiations after cabinet will have had the opportunity to consider the outcome of the review exercise. Mr Ramgoolam held his first cabinet meeting on Friday morning, with the UK-Mauritius agreement understood to have been on the agenda. Even if Mauritius does agree to stick with the agreement, the deal could be vetoed elsewhere, with president-elect Donald Trumps team hardening their opposition to what they consider to be a major security risk for the West. The Independent revealed this week that the Trump team has been seeking assurances that Sir Keir would not try to accelerate the deal to get it completed before his inauguration in January. Joe Bidens outgoing administration backed the deal but following an intervention from Nigel Farage and legal advice sent by Brexiteers to Mr Trump, the incoming president has been looking for a way to veto it without embarrassing Sir Keir. The government announced last month it had reached a political agreement to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius following negotiations which began in 2022. The prime minister and his foreign secretary David Lammy have insisted they had no choice but to hand over the islands, including Diego Garcia where the UK and US have their major air base, because of a ruling by the International Court of Justice. Mr Lammy has doubled down claiming that the deal is a good one guaranteeing the use of the airbase for the next 99 years. But the government has refused to publish details and costs of the deal. The foreign secretary told MPs on the foreign affairs select committee that he was confident the deal would be agreed but conceded the new Mauritian government needed time to study it. Asked about the incoming Trump administrations opposition, he noted: The national security agencies in the United States think this is a good deal. The State Department think this is a good deal. Most important, the Pentagon and White House think this is a good deal. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has been contacted for comment. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Sir Keir Starmer has accused the former Tory government of running a one-nation experiment in open borders, while Kemi Badenoch admitted her party did not deliver on immigration. A total of 1.2 million people arrived in the UK in the year up to June 2024, according to the latest ONS figures released today. Net migration - the above figure, minus those who left the UK - stands at 728,000 for the year up to June 2024. This would have been in line with existing estimates of the previous year, ending June 2023, but the ONS issued a revision, substantially increasing last years figures from 740,000 to 906,000. The revised figures, which mark a new record-high in net migration, were partially attributed to missing numbers of Ukraine visas, and adjustments to predicting long-term migrants. In light of these changes, net migration in the year to June 2024 is down 20 per cent from the previous year. An increasingly high proportion of those arriving are non-EU nationals, who outnumber EU immigrants around seven times over. What the numbers say on migration It is clear that net migration is still soaring. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has taken a swipe at the previous government, saying he has had enough of the lies, of the deceptions, weve had years and years of it. Since Britain left the EU, immigration to the UK has gone up, and has not come close to pre-Brexit levels. Free movement ended in January 2021 and Brexit immigration rules came into force. Since June 2021, at least 3.6 million immigrants have entered the UK. Net migration is at 2.3 million over that period. Latest data up in the year up to June 2024 shows that non-EU nationals make up 86 percent of total immigration into the UK. The country with the highest number of people entering the UK is India, followed by Nigeria. The Independents social affairs correspondent Holly Bancroft reported that the number of Vietnamese nationals entering the UK by small boat has risen by 177 percent. This is linked to a new agreement between Vietnam and Hungary, which is enabling easier access to other European countries. Most immigration is for work or study In a time when the NHS and social care sectors are facing major staffing shortages, visas for health and care workers from abroad have dropped by 62 per cent. The NHS has more than 31,000 reported vacancies, while 131,000 posts are vacant in social care, with a total shortage of 162,000 across the two fields. Just 50,591 health and care worker visas were granted up to June 2024, which the government attributed to a drop in applicants. New tighter regulation introduced in December 2023 stopped allowing overseas care workers to bring their dependants, which is a likely factor. However, work and study both remain the highest reasons for immigration in the UK, with asylum and humanitarian reasons making up around 15 per cent of immigration in total. Up to June this year, there was a fall in the number of study dependants entering the UK. The same rule changes above mean that most international students can no longer bring family members with them. Sanctuary drops for Ukraine and Hong Kong Since 2021 and 2022 respectively, the UK has been granting sanctuary to citizens of Hong Kong and Ukraine. Yet numbers of sanctuary granted for both groups have dropped significantly in the year up to June 2024. In June 2020, China passed the Hong Kong national security law, which significantly limited freedom of speech and protest. Since 2021, some 165,000 Hongkongers have moved to the UK. ( Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Just half the number of sanctuary visas have been granted to Ukranians compared to last year, dropping by 53 per cent to 29,506 grants. Meanwhile, sanctuary grants to those from Hong Kong has dropped by nearly a quarter (to 30,000). The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), which was opened in 2022, has seen a sharp uptick this year but is still below 10,000 grants annually. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Growing support for Nigel Farage and Reform UK is the only reason Keir Starmer and his besieged Labour government remain at the top of the opinion polls, a leading pollster has claimed. As the government woke up this morning to the shock resignation of transport secretary Louise Haigh over a historic fraud conviction, the latest Techne UK tracker poll for The Independent put Labour at a one-point lead over the Tories. With 28 per cent for Labour compared to 27 per cent for the Conservatives, Sir Keir has stayed on top despite fury over the governments Budget regarding national insurance rises and the so-called family farm tax, as well as a series of scandals involving freebies and ministerial conduct. The findings appear to confirm the initial bounce enjoyed by the Tories after Kemi Badenoch became leader has ended, with the party polling the same percentage for a third week in a row. Sir Keir Starmer lost Louise Haigh from his ministerial team on Friday ( PA Archive ) However, for the first time in three months, Reform UKs share has risen by a point to 18 per cent in a week where Nigel Farage welcomed former Tory MP Andrea Jenkyns to his party as their candidate for mayor of Lincolnshire. Meanwhile, Sir Ed Daveys Lib Dems are up one point to 13 per cent in the week where he announced his bid to top the Christmas pop charts, and the Green Party is down one to six per cent. Michela Morizzo, chief executive of Techne UK, pointed out that the centre-right vote in the UK now accounts for 45 per cent in the poll with Labour struggling. She said: Our regular tracker poll of Westminster voting intention reverts this week to the ongoing pattern of Labour Party struggles. Whilst Badenoch and Farage and their respective parties remain at distance to one another all commentators will take note that together the centre-right political spectrum parties hold some 45 per cent of the national vote share. As such, these are dangerous times for Labour but at the same time how the opposition might come together, particularly in key areas of national debate, is still not clear and not easy at all. Further to this, less than a third (31 per cent) of the public say they trust the government to do the right thing. Additionally, a quarter of Labour voters in the 2024 election have since abandoned the party. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy All pensioners in Scotland will receive a winter fuel payment once again from next year, the Scottish government has announced. The Westminster and Scottish governments earlier this year both scrapped the universal payment, making it means-tested instead, so only people on pension credit or similar benefits qualify. But Scotlands social justice secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville told the Scottish parliament on Thursday: This Scottish government is determined to stay true to our values. We will not abandon older people this winter, or indeed any winter, and we will continue to protect our pensioners from the harsh reality of a UK Labour government. If the plan is passed in Holyrood, the universal winter fuel payment is expected to be revived by next winter and will help around 900,000 people north of the border who are not getting it this winter. Ms Somerville said every pensioner in Scotland would receive it. Those on pension credit would receive 200 or 300 depending on their age, and wealthier pensioners would receive 100. Chancellor Rachel Reeves blamed a 22bn black hole in government finances for scrapping the universal fuel payment, saying the measure would save around 1.4bn this financial year. The decision prompted widespread concern and anger. open image in gallery Shirley-Anne Somerville announced the move on Thursday (Jane Barlow/PA) ( PA Wire ) The payment is a devolved matter in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Ms Somerville also announced an extra 20m in welfare funding for councils in this financial year, as well as an additional 20m for the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme. There will also be 1m for social landlords and the third sector for homelessness-prevention work. She said: The measures I have announced today will go some way to allay the fears of pensioners in Scotland ahead of next winter, but the Scottish government recognises that more must be done. Ahead of next winter I will bring forward regulations to introduce universal pension age winter heating payments in winter 2025-26 for Scottish pensioners. This universal benefit, providing much needed support not available anywhere else in the UK, will deliver support for all pensioner households as we had always intended to do before the UK government decision to means-test winter fuel payments cut the funding available to support our new benefit in Scotland this winter by 147m. Prescriptions, personal care and university tuition are all free in Scotland but not England. Since Ms Reeves announcement, pensioners have been racing to secure the winter fuel payment, new statistics show. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Amazon workers are planning to strike from Black Friday through Cyber Monday to hold the company accountable for labor abuses, environmental degradation and threats to democracy, organizers say. The Make Amazon Pay protest, organized by UNI Global Union and Progressive International, will take place in 20 different countries and major cities in the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, Japan and Brazil. Amazon is everywhere, but so are we. By uniting our movements across borders, we can not only force Amazon to change its ways but lay the foundations of a world that prioritizes human dignity, not Jeff Bezos bank balance. said Varsha Gandikota-Nellutia Progressive International Co-General Coordinator. The event could impact the biggest shopping weekend of the year, though its not clear how many Amazon workers would be participating. Thousands are thought to be going on strike in Germany alone. Unions and allied tax justice, anti-poverty and garment worker rights groups will be part of the protest. A spokesperson for Amazon told ABC News: This group is being intentionally misleading and continues to promote a false narrative...The fact is at Amazon we provide great pay, great benefits, and great opportunities. Jeff Bezos is founder and executive chairman of Amazon ( AFP via Getty Images ) Amazon spokesperson Eileen Hards told Fox News: The fact is, at Amazon we provide great pay, great benefits, and great opportunities all from day one. Weve created more than 1.5 million jobs around the world, and counting, and we provide a modern, safe, and engaging workplace whether you work in an office or at one of our operations buildings. Its the fifth year the organizers have held the Make Amazon Pay campaign. The group took issue with Amazons work in the political arena. Amazon underreported its lobbying expenditures across Europe by millions, the group said, adding Amazon refused to participate in public hearings, prompting the European Parliament to ban the companys lobbyists. In the US, organizers worry Amazons challenging the constitutionality of the National Labor Relations Board will threaten protections for American workers. In Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom, Amazon has been accused of intimidating workers to prevent unionization efforts. Amazons relentless pursuit of profit comes at a cost to workers, the environment and democracy, said Christy Hoffman, General Secretary of UNI Global Union. Bezoss company has spent untold millions to stop workers from organizing, but the strikes and protests happening around the world show that workers desire for justice for union representation cant be stopped. We stand united in demanding that Amazon treat its workers fairly, respect fundamental rights, and stop undermining the systems meant to protect us all. Make Amazon Pay Day is becoming a global act of resistance against Amazons abuse of power. The Independent has asked Amazon for comment. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A California art teacher has died from rabies after she was bitten by a bat inside her school classroom. Leah Seneng, a 60-year-old teacher at Bryant Middle School in Dos Palos, Merced County, had spotted the wild bat in her classroom sometime in mid-October, her close friend Laura Splotch told ABC30. When she tried to pick it up and take it outside, the bat bit her, Splotch said. I dont know if she thought it was dead or what caused it to lie around her classroom and she was trying to scoop it up and take it outside, she said. She didnt wanna harm it. But thats when, I guess it woke up or saw the light or whatever it swooped around a bit and it took off." In the days that followed, Seneng reportedly showed no signs or symptoms of rabies. But around a month later, the 60-year-old mother became unwell. open image in gallery California art teacher Leah Seneng (pictured) died after being bitten by a bat ( Sourced ) Her daughter took her to hospital where she was immediately induced into a coma, reported the local outlet. She died four days later. The California Department of Public Health confirmed that a Fresno County resident was bitten by a presumably rabid bat in Merced County and warned other residents to remain cautious. The Fresno County Department of Public Health (FCDPH) and the Merced County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) worked with CDPH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to investigate rabies as a possible cause of the patients illness in mid-November, the agency said in a statement. Samples collected at the hospital where the patient was being cared for were submitted to the states Viral and Rickettsial Disease Laboratory (VRDL) where evidence of rabies was confirmed. The agency urged Californians to seek medical attention if they believe they may have been exposed to rabies by being bitten by wild animals, in particular bats and skunks. Bats are the most common source of human rabies in the US. CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Tomas J. Aragon said: It is always safest to leave wild animals alone. Do not approach, touch, or try to feed any animals that you dont know. A GoFundMe has been organized by Splotch to support Senengs family. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A longtime former California mayor has died in a horror car crash while he and his wife were on their way to visit family ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. Mike Morgan, 77, was driving with his wife Donna Morgan to visit their children in Reno, Nevada, Tuesday when the crash unfolded, Camarillo city councilman Kevin Kildee told VC Star. The father-of-two and six-term mayor of Camarillo died while his wife suffered severe injuries, he said. The city of Camarillo posted a statement on X on Wednesday paying tribute to the former mayor. We are saddened to learn of a tragic vehicle accident yesterday, resulting in the death of former City Council member and Mayor Mike Morgan and severe injuries to his wife Donna, it read. Morgan spent 38 years working for Camarillo as both an elected official and through his involvement in multiple non-profit and church-related ventures, the city said. open image in gallery Former Mayor Mike Morgan, 77, (pictured) has died in a car accident while traveling to Reno, Nevada, to visit his children ( Bryan Chan/Los Angeles Times/Getty ) Morgan was born in Vernon, Texas, in 1947 before moving to Camarillo in 1961, his official biography states. He graduated from Camarillo High School in 1965 before attending Ventura College at California State University where he studied psychology. After completing his Bachelors degree, Morgan then took a Masters degree in public administration at the University of Southern California. He then worked for the U.S. Probation Department and as a consultant in both housing and foreign trade before running for mayor. The Independent has contacted the Reno Police Department and Camarillo Police Department for further information. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A police officer who once received a Deputy of the Year award has been arrested for DUI after he allegedly directed non-existent traffic while drunk outside a school in Georgia. Garrison Page, a Houston County Sheriffs Office deputy, was arrested on November 19 near Skyview Elementary School in Lizella, Georgia, reported WGXA. According to authorities, Page was dressed in civilian clothing, was slurring and appeared unsteady in the road. Witnesses said that Page had been waving down non-existent traffic, reported WGXA. A deputy arrived on the scene and noticed that Page smelled of alcohol and was trying to avoid him, authorities said. When Page noticed my presence, he immediately began walking away from the scene and entered the oncoming turning lane of the roadway, the deputy wrote in an incident report, according to 41NBC. When asked if he needed medical attention or if he had taken any medication, Page allegedly told an officer: None of your business. A search of his patrol car then revealed an open can of Mikes Hard Lemonade which contains 5 percent of alcohol a few bottles of Sprite and an unopened can of beer, reported WGXA. open image in gallery Garrison Page was arrested for DUI after he allegedly directed non-existent traffic while drunk ( Bibb County Sheriffs Office ) When asked to take a breathalyzer test, Page allegedly refused. He was arrested and taken to Bibb County Jail where he allegedly also refused to take a blood test. A judge granted a warrant for investigators to take a blood test, 41NBC reported. It is not clear if Page has been charged. However, he was fired from Houston County Sheriffs Office after only a week on the job, according to WGXA. Prior to joining Houston County, Page worked as a deputy for Bibb County Sheriffs Office where he won a Deputy of the Year award in December 2019. The Independent contacted Bibb County Police Department and Houston County Sheriffs Office for information. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The life of every member of the Ramsey clan changed forever when 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey was found viciously killed in the basement the day after Christmas in 1996. But the life of an investigator and subsequently the rest of his family was about to change, too; Lou Smit just didnt know it yet as he drove to Boulder from Colorado Springs in the months immediately after the murder. The retired veteran detective had been called in by Boulders district attorney to advise as local police grappled with media chaos and infighting while attempting to investigate a sensational murder an almost unheard-of crime in the well-heeled, leafy community. Smit, however, already had more than 200 murder cases under his belt. Hed also helped score high-profile convictions, including after the investigation into the 1975 killing of Karen Grammer, sister of Frasier actor Kelsey, and the murder of a woman whose killer later confessed to taking 47 other lives. Smit a married father of four and grandfather known for his habit of perennially carrying a toothpick in his mouth threw himself into the investigation. He applied the same dedication that had earned him near legendary status among his colleagues, even agreeing to take on the case despite difficult family circumstances. open image in gallery Lou Smit, a detective who worked in Colorado Springs law enforcement for decades, came out of retirement at the request of Boulder authorities after the 1996 murder of JonBenet Ramsey ( Cindy Marra ) A week or two after he started, he moved to Boulder, Smits daughter, Cindy Marra, tells The Independent, detailing how a local couple let him use a spare room as his base during the week. We had to all get together as a family, because my mom had been dealing with cancer, and so we had to have some kind of a plan to take care of her. Despite her illness, Smits wife, Barbara, also lent a hand. We have his journal; he dictated into a recorder every day, and my mom would then transcribe it, Cindy says. And within the first couple of days, in that journal, he already said: Something is not right. Something is not right. Here I see evidence of an intruder. Cindy caught up with her dad by phone when he finally could come up for some air as he pored over the case. I remember just saying to him: So, who did it? The mom or the dad? Because thats what we had been fed by the media, she tells The Independent. He goes, Well, I dont think it was either. I dont think it is a family member. I think an intruder broke into that home and killed her. So that was really surprising to me. Smit, who at the time had grandchildren of similar ages to JonBenet, became convinced that the perpetrator entered the home through a basement window. He proved it was possible by climbing into and out of the window himself. Smit believed the killer used a stun gun on JonBenet, pointing to marks on her body as evidence. open image in gallery Smit, posing with his four children, was devoted to finding JonBenets killer and asked his family and friends to continue the investigation after his 2010 death ( Cindy Marra ) In accordance with the investigative transfer theory that a killer brings or leaves something to a crime scene he posited that JonBenets attacker brought with him duct tape, cordage and a stun gun as part of a kidnap kit, then left with the evidence. Smit also pointed to DNA collected from under the childs fingernails and on her underwear that was ruled by a lab report from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to be foreign and male, excluding JonBenets parents and nine-year-old brother, who were home at the time. All of this put him at odds with Boulder police, who seemed dead-set on their theory that someone within the Ramsey family was responsible. (Within four years of JonBenets murder, one former Boulder detective went on national television to claim she feared for her life when she looked into John Ramseys eyes after he discovered his daughters body in the basement; another detective wrote a book placing blame squarely on Patsy, hypothesizing she killed her daughter in anger over a bedwetting incident.) Eighteen months after he joined the JonBenet investigation, Smit resigned, writing in his September 1998 letter that the Ramseys did not do it. There is substantial, credible evidence of an intruder and a lack of evidence that the parents are involved, he wrote. Smits friends and family note the toll the case took on him as he hit repeated obstacles with Boulder authorities. He had to fight to present evidence to a grand jury looking into JonBenets murder. Years after Smits 2010 death, it emerged that the grand jury had voted to indict the parents on child abuse charges, but its important to note that grand juries only hear arguments and evidence hand-picked by prosecutors. There is no defense. It was just hard for him to think that people were just proactively trying to thwart his investigation or his observations, Cindy says. It always made us angry, because we knew he didnt deserve it. We knew these people just were on their own page. open image in gallery Smits friend and former law enforcement colleague, John Wesley Anderson, published a book last year about the detectives quest to get justice for JonBenet; he is among the group working to continue Smits effort to solve the case ( WildBlue Press ) Calling him a delusional old man or anything like that was just so off. It just was so wrong. Smit had dedicated his life to family, faith and the force, applying in 1966 to the department where his cousin, Bill, already served as a police officer. The problem was the 5-foot, 9-inch minimum height requirement Lou was only five feet 8 inches, writes John Wesley Anderson, a fellow Colorado Springs detective who asked Smit to be his best man at his 1997 wedding, in Lou and JonBenet: A Legendary Lawmans Quest to Solve a Child Beauty Queens Murder. Lou really wanted to be a police officer and told Bill to whack him over the head with his nightstick. Later, at his medical exam, Lou measured exactly 5-feet 9- inches tall, including the bump on his head. Within a decade of joining the department, Smit proudly brought his children to the trial of Freddie Glenn, who was convicted in 1976 of the murder of Karen Grammer and two other victims. Glenn later confessed to dozens more. We didnt know who Kelsey Grammer was at all, but I just remember going to that trial and being just so impressed, Cindy says, who calls her father my hero. Filmmaker Joe Berlinger, whose three-part documentary Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet premieres on Netflix Monday and lays out much of Smits work, uses the same word to describe the detective. open image in gallery Smits wife, Barbara, was suffering from cancer at the time he agreed to help with the JonBenet investigation; Barb assisted in the effort, too, transcribing notes he dictated into a recorder ( Cindy Marra ) Smit was a total hero a really smart cop who became personally attached to this case who was horribly mistreated by the Boulder police, Berlinger tells The Independent, adding that he believed the then-Boulder DA did the smart thing: hired a well-regarded investigator, somebody who had tremendous respect. And the Boulder police were okay with it, until he came up with the wrong conclusion for them, and then they smeared him and said hes like a delusional old man looking for fame and fortune, Berlinger continues. The opposite was true. I wish Id had the pleasure to meet him in person he struck me as somebody who was deeply dedicated to his craft and deeply dedicated to the truth. Smit is described in the documentary by law enforcement friends in similar terms; one compares him to a modern-day Sherlock Holmes. He continued to work the case on his own and with the Ramseys; as he was dying of colon cancer, he enlisted help. He was trying to get the evidence in front of more and more people, but he just ran out of time, his friend Anderson tells The Independent. Anderson is among a group of family and friends carrying on Smits mission in his memory after the detectives death 14 years ago at the age of 75. Weeks before Smit entered hospice, while he was still in the hospital, Cindy recalls her father reiterating his hope that the investigation go on after his death. open image in gallery A new Netflix documentary puts forth much of the investigative work done by Smit, who was known for perennially carrying a toothpick in his mouth ( Cindy Marra ) My husband and I were in the room at that time, and he again, just said, Just make sure that somebody continues to follow up on this. And he said, Get a pen, get a pencil and paper and write this down, she says. And he gave me a name, and he goes, Start there. That was his number one person of interest at the time, Cindy says; following her fathers death, she convened a dedicated group that did exactly what her father asked, and theyve been working their way through his list of likely culprits ever since going to so far as to obtain DNA from individuals across the country. They have a GoFundMe to help defray the costs; in the days before the release of the Netflix documentary, donations totalled nearly $64,000. It speaks to the impact that my dad had on not only his children and grandchildren, but on the people that he worked with, because we have just been on a mission to fulfill his dying wish and I think that, if he wasnt who he was to all of us, we would have given up a long time ago, Cindy says. Anderson, who says he served as an advisor for the new Netflix documentary, considers whether Smit would find the continuing efforts to solve JonBenets murder bittersweet . Having known Lou most of my life, Im sure he would be from a professional perspective very thankful that theres so much attention to the investigation, to the facts of the case and keeping the case alive, he says. He had a wonderful quote, and he would often say, on cold cases that we had or cases that were waiting to be solved, he said: If nothing else, you have to stir the pot. To me, what that always meant was, if nothing else, lets go re-interview some witnesses, lets do something we havent done, lets keep that pot from growing cold on the stove. And I think, with this Netflix documentary, its really a big spoon to stir that pot. I think its going to have kind of a ripple effect where other people will say, I thought that was solved, or Ive been waiting to share this information or I thought it was the mother, but now its not so were hoping that more significant leads will come out. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A former Democratic megadonor believes Donald Trumps youngest son is a lot smarter than the Harris campaign because he pushed his father to go on popular podcasts like The Joe Rogan Experience. John Morgan, an attorney and now critic of the Democratic Party, said had Vice President Kamala Harris taken Barron Trumps advice she may have fared better during the 2024 presidential election. Look, if Im running, Im going on Joe Rogan, Im living on Fox. Thats how you change minds, Morgan told Fox News on Thursday evening. open image in gallery John Morgan (right) told Fox News he believes Barron Trump was smarter than the Harris campaign for recommending his father go on podcasts ( Fox News ) It turns out, Barron Trump, who looks like a runway model, was telling his father You need to go on podcasts, you need to go on Joe Rogan, Morgan added. The former Democratic donor said Barron is a lot smarter than everybody in the Harris campaign for offering his father that advice. Trump courted young men during his campaign, in part by speaking with internet streamers and podcast hosts who have cultivated an audience of young men. A recent Time report claimed Barron helped his fathers campaign by approving a list of podcasts to appear on. That included influencer Adin Ross, YouTubers the Nelk Boys, comedian Theo Von, YouTuber Logan Paul and Rogans show. open image in gallery Barron Trump is winning praise for contributing to his fathers successful election campaign ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) It is unclear if it was Barrons idea to have Trump appear on Rogans podcast, the most popular podcast in the world. However, Rogan said he invited both Trump and Harris to appear on his show but that the Harris campaign was more difficult to coordinate with. Throughout her short campaign, Harris was subject to criticism about her lack of media appearances. Toward the end of the election cycle, Harris participated in a media blitz appearing on television shows like The View, radio shows like The Breakfast Club as well as popular podcasts like Call Her Daddy. But by avoiding popular podcasts and shows, especially those having to do with YouTubers and streamers, Harris missed out on appealing to young men otherwise known as the bro vote. open image in gallery Donald Trump appearing on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast ( Joe Rogan Experience/YouTube ) In an attempt to court moderate conservative voters, the vice president did sit down for a tense interview with Fox News host Brett Baier. But Harris mostly focused on appealing to young women and people of color, hoping the vote would pull for her the same way it did for Biden in 2020. However, those same voters and many others are disgruntled with the current direction of the country, especially the economy. Given her proximity to Biden, no matter what podcast Harris went on, she was going to have a harder time appealing to them than Trump, who offered something new. Morgan, who left the Democratic Party in 2018 to become an Independent, harshly criticized Harris for failing to expand her campaign to different voters claiming she has no talent and should never run for president again. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Six narco subs filled with cocaine and other drugs were found en route to Australia by a team of international authorities led by Colombia. A team of more than 60 countries, including the US, Brazil, Spain and the Netherlands, worked together to find the submarines that departed from Colombia. Altogether, the subs contained more than 1,400 tons of illicit drugs, including 225 tons of cocaine and 128 tons of marijuana, CBS News reports. This is perhaps the largest seizure of cocaine in transit made by Colombia in history, Colombian President Gustavo Petro said. Operation Orion was carried out between October 1 and November 14, said Vice Admiral Orlando Enrique Grisales, chief of naval operations staff for the Colombian Navy. The subs used are increasingly sophisticated and can travel 10,000 miles without refueling, CBS News reports. The operation has helped authorities learn of a new route in the Pacific from South America to Australia, according to CBS News. Authorities say this seizure will cause drug cartels to lose more than $8.4 billion. open image in gallery Authorities seized more than 1,400 metric tons of illicit drugs, including 225 tons of cocaine and 128 tons of marijuana ( Colombia National Navy/AFP ) Officials also seized a semisubmersible on its way to Australia with five tons of cocaine from Colombia. The vessel was made of wood and fiberglass. "It is a route that is becoming increasingly profitable because prices are much higher in Australia," a security expert said, according to CBS News. "Initially, these boats were used mainly to take the drugs out of the country and move them off the coast of Colombia and then transfer them to ships," they added. "It has been found that these semisubmersibles, sometimes even submersibles, are now increasingly sophisticated, with very fine engineering." Australian authorities say theyre concerned about drug cartels increasingly targeting the country, CNN reports. Australia has seen a surge in cocaine use, along with record-high prices which may be driving the upward trend, according to CNN. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A group of New Yorkers hosted what appeared to be a lavish Thanksgiving dinner in the middle of a subway car in the city Thursday. Footage of the unsual dinner somewhere in midtown Manhattan (of course) made the rounds on social media. Five people attended, sitting in metal chairs around a table with a patterned tablecloth and covered with dishes of food inside a subway car, which was captured on a video posted on TikTok. One guest at the end of the table carved the turkey as others sat around and ate what appeared to be potatoes, corn and other Thanksgiving staples. Salivating fellow commuters looked on, with some taking photographs and videos of the spectacle. The TikTok user who posted the video captioned it: When your NYC [apartment] isnt big enough to host a Thanksgiving dinner. open image in gallery New Yorkers set up a table and ate a full Thanksgiving meal inside a train car on Thursday ( @akritimakes/TikTok ) Turns out that the Thanksgiving dinner was being filmed as an advertisement for cannabis dispensary Sweetlife NYC. A spokesperson for the company told The Independent the feast leftovers were handed out to MTA workers and others nearby once filming was completed. The companys TikTok account, @body_388, later posted an ad using footage from the dinner. open image in gallery Their Thanksgiving dinner included turkey, potatoes, corn and other staples ( @akritimakes/TikTok ) This isnt the first time a Thanksgiving feast has been served on a New York City subway. Last November, organizers set up a table of food in a train car and passed out plates to hungry commuters. Similarly, in 2022 New York City restaurant Beas Kitchen supplied full Thanksgiving meals that were handed out to commuters, CBS News reported. This weeks video, viewed over 300,000 times on TikTok, garnered mixed reactions. This has to be performance art, one user said. The one where they had Thanksgiving on the subway, another user commented, referencing the hit sitcom Friends, which takes place in the Big Apple. open image in gallery New Yorkers have hosted Thanksgiving dinners in train cars before, often handing out food to other commuters ( @akritimakes/TikTok ) Legit question: are there actually no rules on the NYC subway? another posted. Eating isnt mentioned in the Metropolitan Transit Authoritys Rules of Conduct and Fines. The table had a lit candle in the center, which the MTA does not allow, though the Sweetlife NYC spokesperson told The Independent the flame was artifical. Other TikTok users had questions for the organizers. What happens when it becomes the last stop and they have to leave but they havent finished the food? one user asked How does one achieve this? another wondered. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy At least five Democratic members of Congress who were targeted with bomb threats and swatting attempts on Thanksgiving received messages signed with MAGA, according to the office of House Leader Hakeem Jeffries. US Capitol Police and state and local police cleared the threats, which followed a series of similar incidents targeting several of Donald Trumps Cabinet nominees. Bomb threats were reported on Thursday at the homes of Senator Chris Murphy as well as Reps. Jahana Hayes, Joe Courtney, John Larson and Jim Himes, the top-ranking Democratic member of the House Intelligence Committee, according to their offices. All represent the state of Connecticut. open image in gallery Senator Chris Murphy was one of the targeted Democrats ( AFP via Getty Images ) These incidents ranged from detailed threats of a pipe bomb placed in mailboxes to swatting, all signed with MAGA at the conclusion of the message, a spokesperson for Jeffries said in a statement on Friday, referencing Trumps Make America Great Again acronym. America is a democracy, the statement added. Threats of violence against elected officials are unacceptable, unconscionable and have no place in a civilized society. All perpetrators of political violence directed at any party must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. On Friday, Democratic Rep. Seth Magaziner of Rhode Island reported a bomb threat at his home. No evidence of a device was discovered, according to a statement from his office. The office of Senator Sheldon Whitehouse also said the senator received a similar threat to the ones made against other Democratic officials on Thanksgiving. A spokesperson for Senator Murphys office told The Independent that the threat against his home appears to be part of a coordinated effort involving multiple members of Congress and public figures. Police quickly responded and determined there was no real threat, according to Murphys office. Law enforcement agencies did not recover any bombs or devices at the other congressmembers homes. open image in gallery A number of Donald Trumps cabinet picks were also sent threats, including Pete Hegseth ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) House Democrats will not be deterred or intimidated from serving the people by violent threats, according to the statement from Jeffriess office. We have been in close communication with the Sergeant at Arms office and it is imperative that Congress provide maximum protection for all Members and their families moving forward. A Capitol Police spokesperson declined to provide The Independent with additional details on the incidents to protect ongoing investigations and to minimize the risk of copy-cats. On Wednesday, several nominees for Trumps administration reported receiving similar threats, including Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Matt Gaetz, Pete Hegseth, Elise Stefanik and Lee Zeldin. President Trump and the Transition are focused on doing the work of uniting our nation by ensuring a safe and prosperous future, campaign spokesperson and incoming White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. With President Trump as our example, dangerous acts of intimidation and violence will not deter us. The FBI confirmed the incidents involving Trumps nominees. We take all potential threats seriously and, as always, encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement, the agency said in a statement. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson called the threats to Trumps incoming team dangerous and unhinged and demanded President Joe Biden and Democratic leadership condemn the incidents. Asked for his reaction to the threats, Biden told reporters staged in Nantucket on Friday that were working that hard, the FBI. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Elon Musk received an exuberant standing ovation at President-elect Donald Trumps Thanksgiving celebration at Mar-a-Lago. The billionaire spent the evening Thursday beside his mother, Maye Musk, and the president-elect for the holiday dinner at the club. Trumps youngest son, Barron, and wife Melania Trump shared the same table. Musk and his mom waved to the crowd as holiday celebrants at the club stood and cheered for the tech billionaire, which was captured in footage shared on social media. Later clips showed the Trumps and Musk seated at the table and listening to Y.M.C.A., the president-elects signature song. Musk and Trump swayed to the song, as other attendees stood up, danced and filmed the action. Earlier this week, Musk re-posted a message on X claiming he and Trump are basically best friends. The original post included a clip of Musks mother praising her sons relationship with the president-elect, describing them as friends who have fun together. open image in gallery Elon Musk and Donald Trump listen to Y.M.C.A at the Mar-a-Lago Thanksgiving celebration ( ALX/X ) Of course, Ive seen them together, but very shortly, she told Fox Business. I live in New York, and theyre in Mar-a-Lago or [at a] SpaceX launch, and they just seem to be having fun a lot of fun. She added: Its nice for both of them to have fun, and [Elon] really respects him a lot and is really happy that theres a future for America now. Maye Musk also claimed in the interview its degrading for people to call her son, the richest man in the world, wealthy. I dont like the word wealthy or billionaire or things like that because I think its degrading, she added. I think hes the genius of the world, and people are loving him for that! They love him because of what he does, and they respect him. And Im very proud of him. Musk is considered the president-elects first buddy and the soon-to-be first lady enjoys having the billionaire around, a source close to Trump told Page Six last week. open image in gallery Elon Musk has been by the president-elects side since he won the White House earlier this month ( Getty Images ) But other insiders have hinted that Musks tight relationship with the Trump may not last. Veteran tech journalist Kara Swisher told CNN earlier this month that Trump insiders described Musks growing influence and apparently warm ties to the president-elect odd. But hes not going anywhere until Trump throws him out, Swisher conceded. Which could happen, because theyre both really strong personalities who like to be at the center of attention. The president-elect has also repeatedly quipped he cant get Musk to leave. Elon, what a job, what a job he does, Trump said earlier this month during his first major speech after winning the White House. Hes great, he happens to be a really good guy. You know, he likes this place. I cant get him out of here. The previous day, Trump made virtually the same joke during a meeting with House Republicans: "Elon wont go home. I cant get rid of him, at least until I dont like him. Trump has chosen Musk to co-chair the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, which will operate outside of the government, alongside former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Musk is already identifying specific government employees with fake jobs as he recommends mass firings once Trump takes office in January. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin revoked the authority of the official running the war court at Guantanamo Bay to reach settlements, the latest legal twist tied to a long-running drama over the fate of the alleged 9/11 plotters who are detained there. In a memo dated Monday, obtained by The New York Times, Austin removed Susan K. Escalliers ability to reach settlements in two separate cases, the U.S.S. Cole and Bali bombings, effective immediately. The move was meant to ensure we arent surprised by anything for the remainder of the term, a senior Defense Department official told the paper. The controversy dates back to July 31, when military prosecutors reached an agreement with alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and two alleged accomplices ahead of their capital trial. The men would plead guilty in exchange for receiving a life sentence. Two days later, Austin sought to revoke the agreements. By November, a military judge ruled that the Defense Secretary had acted too late and the deals were valid. Military prosecutors have suggested they will appeal the decision. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin sought to cancel the 9/11 plotter plea deals, but was rebuffed by a military court ( AP ) Two-thirds of the 30 remaining detainees in the controversial prison have not been convicted or charged with a crime, while 16 among this group have been approved for transfer to other countries pending security arrangements. The 9/11 case has been in pre-trial status since 2012, as attorneys wrestle with issues tied to CIAs torture of the alleged plotters. As The Independent has reported, decades after the beginning of the War on Terror, the CIA still has not disclosed the full extent of its influence and activities at Guantanamo, prompting a lawsuit from Ammar al-Baluchi, a separate 9/11 detainee not include in the original plea deal. His lawyers argue the CIA wrongly dodged a records requests about Guantanamos mysterious Camp 7, where detainees who had been held in secret CIA black site prisons and torture sites around the world were deposited ahead of further interrogations. The Trump administration hasnt publicly signalled its stance on the 9/11 plotter plea deals. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Russian President Vladimir Putin has heaped praised on Donald Trump and suggested the incoming administration will find a solution to end Russias war in Ukraine. As far as I can imagine, the newly elected president is an intelligent and already quite experienced person. I think he will find a solution, Putin said on Thursday. Putin also commended the president-elect as a real man after an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in July. open image in gallery Vladimir Putin praised Donald Trump and suggested retaliatory missile strikes in Kyiv during a press conference in Kazakhstan on November 28 ( AP ) He behaved, in my opinion, in a very correct way, courageously, like a real man, Putin said from remarks in Kazakhstan on Thursday. I take this opportunity to congratulate him on his election. Putin claimed that uncivilized means of struggle were used against Trump more than once and does not believe the president-elect is currently safe as he criticized the humiliating, unfounded judicial procedures to which Trump was subjected to throughout his 2024 campaign, including civil judgments and criminal verdicts and investigations. His remarks are in stark contrast to warnings from President Joe Bidens administration surrounding Putins regime, which has launched a major ground assault with an estimated 50,000 soldiers, including North Korean troops, with a goal to retake Russian territory seized by Ukraine this summer. The Biden administration has also authorized Ukraines use of US-supplied long-range missiles inside of Russia. Domestically, federal law enforcement agencies have accused Russian intelligence operations and Kremlin-backed groups of attempting to interfere with American elections with long-running, coordinated disinformation campaigns. open image in gallery Trump, meeting Putin in 2018, has since repeatedly promised to end Russias war in Ukraine within 24 hours but has not publicly offered any plans ( AFP via Getty Images ) The escalation, at every turn, at every step, is coming from Russia, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters last week. Theyre the ones who are escalating this. Theyre the ones who started this war. It is because of their aggression into a sovereign territory: Ukraine. And this war can end today, and you hear us say this over and over again if Russia would stop, the war would stop, what theyre doing with their aggression. Putin has accused the Biden administration itself of escalating the war, but he also threatened to launch more medium-range ballistic missiles that were used in Ukraines Dnipro region last week. Those Oreshnik missiles, which are capable of firing multiple warheads at once, are also capable of delivering nuclear payloads. We will use the means at our disposal, he warned. We do not exclude the use of Oreshnik against [Ukraines] military, against military-industrial facilities, or against decision-making centers, including in Kyiv, bearing in mind that the Kyiv authorities today continue to attempt to strike our vital facilities. open image in gallery Trumps nominated US special envoy Keith Kellogg has warned we are on the precipice of World War 3 ( screengrab ) Asked whether those decision-making facilities are political, Putin replied: You know, in Soviet times there was a joke about weather forecasts? Heres the forecast: today, during the day, anything is possible. Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi called Putins remarks blackmail aimed at discouraging Kyivs partners while testing Trump. We expect those countries that have urged everyone to avert the expansion of the war to react to the statements voiced by Putin today, Tykhyi said. Trump has repeatedly claimed that he would bring peace to Ukraine within 24 hours of his election and that the United States would be thrust into a third World War if his Democratic rival Kamala Harris defeated him. He has not yet revealed any details of his plan to end the war but has suggested Ukraine would be forced to make significant concessions to Russian aggression. I do not know what is going to happen now. I have no clue, Putin said on Thursday. Putins remarks follow Trumps announcement that General Keith Kellogg is nominated for a US special envoy to the warring countries. Together, we will secure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, and Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN! Trump announced on Wednesday. Asked whether he would have a response if Trump requested a meeting, Putin said he was ready to resume discussions with the president-elect. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy First Buddy Elon Musk joined Donald Trump and his family at Mar-a-Lago for Thanksgiving with footage showing a seemingly embarrassed Barron looking on while the two men danced to YMCA. The president-elect was surrounded by friends, family and the now ever-present tech billionaire at his Palm Beach, Florida, resort on Thursday evening. Video reshared by Musk online shows Trump sitting between his 18-year-old son and Musk, with his wife Melania next to Barron, in the ballroom. In the video, Trumps campaign anthem is heard blaring in the background, prompting an in-the-seat jig from both Musk and Trump. The incoming head of the Department of Government Efficiency is seen gently nodding his head while Trump belts out bam, bam, bam and smacks the table in tandem. open image in gallery Trump taps Musk on the shoulder as YMCA plays at his Thanksgiving party at Mar-a-Lago ( ALX/X ) After spotting Musks more measured moves, the president-elect gave him a few taps on the shoulder prompting the Tesla boss to thrust his arms into the air. Barron appears to look on awkwardly as his dad turns to him and laughs. Social media users were quick to comment that Barron looked uncomfortable and embarrassed during the encounter. open image in gallery Musk responds by thrusting his arms in the air leaving Trump grinning ( ALX/X ) Wow. Elon Musk couldnt get a single family member to spend Thanksgiving with him other than his mom who relies in him, one X user wrote. And Trump paid his 3rd wife to join. Even Barron looks embarrassed for them. What LOSERS. Another person posted on X: Barron looks uncomfortable. The body language of everyone at that table is weird. Barrons like Okay have we had enough of this song yet father, a third person chimed in. open image in gallery Barron Trump appears to flash an awkward smile as his father and Elon Musk dance to the Village People hit ( ALX/X ) Elons been adopted by the Trump family, added another. Trumps daughter Tiffany, son Eric, daughter-in-law Lara and Musks mother Maye also joined the Trumps for Thanksgiving. Hollywood actor Sylvester Stallone who recently called Trump the second Founding Father and likened him to George Washington was also seen at the holiday party, speaking to Trump and Musk. Musk has become a fixture at Mar-a-Lago in the weeks since the election, with even the president-elect joking that he cant get him out of his Florida home. The tech billionaire has joined Trump on phone calls to foreign leaders, while the president-elect accompanied Musk to his SpaceX Starship rocket launch in Texas. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A California Walmart worker who covered a coworker's shift wound up walking out of the store $1 million richer thanks to a lucky lotto purchase. Rebeca Gonzalez was enjoying her Labor Day weekend when she got a phone call from the City of Industry Walmart where she works as the store was short staffed during the busy holiday and needed an extra hand. No one wants to be called in on a weekend, but Gonzalez went in to do her job. She told the Los Angeles Times that she had planned to buy a scratch-off lotto ticket during her lunch break, but the rush of customers was so great that she had to put off the purchase until the end of her shift. She almost left without buying the ticket her family was having a holiday barbecue and she wanted to get home but remembered at the last moment and went back to pick up a scratcher. Gonzalez had been buying two scratchers a month just to see if she could wring a little extra money out of the state's lottery, but the most she'd ever won was $50. That day was different; that day, she won a million dollars. open image in gallery A last-minute shift ended up being life changing for one Walmart employee. ( Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Ive only told one person at work, and it was the manager who wanted me to stay late on a holiday, she said. He couldnt believe it. She started buying scratch-offs because her father kept the same twice a month habit, she told the Times. Gonzalez never expected to win big it was just a fun game of chance to her, something to bring a little harmless excitement and suspense to her life. Gonzalez was fully ready to skip out on the ticket, but found a $10 bill in her pocket left over from a shaved ice that her daughter had bought. That was the bill she used to buy her scratcher. The change from a shaved ice changed her life. She's put in her two week notice at work to focus on her schooling to become a radiologist, and has put in a bid on a five-bedroom home for her and her family. Gonzalez also used some of her winnings to help clear most of her debts. While the Walmart that sold the winning ticket will be losing a worker when Gonzalez leaves, the store also got a cut of the prize, earning $5,000 for selling the winning ticket. When she told her family about her win, she said they began to cry. Security footage captured the moment that the state's lottery commission verified her win. Once she knew for sure that the dream was real and wouldn't be yanked out from under her at the last moment, she began jumping up and down outside a local liquor store where the win was verified. She said she broke out into celebration and thanked God, "because this is a blessing." For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Australia has enacted a law banning children under 16 from social media, putting in place one of the worlds strictest measures against internet use for minors. The new legislation has sparked a fierce discussion in the country over possible impacts on child safety, online freedom, censorship and tech policies. The Social Media Minimum Age Bill, cleared after a heated debate in parliament, requires platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook to block under-16 users or risk fines of up to $49.5m AUD (25.7m). A trial of enforcement methods is set for January, with the ban coming into full force within a year. The law was championed by the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, who presented it as a necessary measure to protect children from the harmful effects of excessive social media use. Platforms now have a social responsibility to ensure the safety of our kids is a priority for them, he said. Were making sure that mums and dads can have that different conversation today and in future days. The ban is absolute, unlike similar measures in EU countries where minors may still access social media with parental permission. Critics claim the law was rushed without due scrutiny, but proponents see it as a critical step towards safeguarding young people. open image in gallery A student poses with her mobile showing her social media applications in Melbourne ( Reuters ) Why the ban? There is growing evidence linking social media use to declining mental health, particularly among teenagers. Pushing for the law, Mr Albanese highlighted specific risks such as body image issues for girls and exposure to misogynistic content for boys. The campaign leading up to the introduction of the bill saw testimonies from parents who have lost children to bullying driven by social media, strengthening public support. A national survey indicated that 77 per cent of Australians backed the legislation. Media platforms, including Rupert Murdochs News Corp, ran campaigns like Let Them Be Kids to galvanise support for the law. But public reaction to the passage of the law has been deeply divided. Some Australians see the new law as a much-needed intervention. I think thats a great idea because social media for kids is not really appropriate, Sydney resident Francesca Sambas said, they can look at things they shouldnt. But many regard it as an overreach. I am feeling very angry. I feel that this government has taken democracy and thrown it out the window, Shon Klose, 58, another Sydney resident, said. Social media companies have criticised the Australian ban arguing that it may push children towards online spaces that are far less regulated. A TikTok spokesperson said the rushed legislation ignored the advice of experts. Its entirely likely the ban could see young people pushed to darker corners of the internet where no community guidelines, safety tools, or protections exist, they said. open image in gallery Australia Senate committee backs bill to ban social media for children ( Reuters ) How does the Australian law compare globally? United Kingdom has no plan currently to introduce similar restrictions, but digital minister Peter Kyle has said that everything is on the table when it comes to ensuring online safety. He has commissioned a study to examine the impact of smartphone and social media use, particularly on children. Mr Kyle has also highlighted that Ofcom, the UKs communications regulator, must prioritise government concerns like safety by design, transparency, and accountability while enforcing the Online Safety Act starting next year. The law, passed in 2023, sets stricter standards for social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and TikTok, including the enforcement of age-appropriate restrictions. Norway has proposed raising the age at which children can independently consent to social media terms from 13 to 15. The government has also announced a plan to introduce a legal minimum age for social media use. It is not clear when such a law might be presented to the parliament. Government data shows that half of Norways nine-year-olds use some form of social media. EU legislation mandates that parental consent is required for tech companies to process personal data of children under the age of 16. Member states have the discretion to lower this limit to 13. France passed legislation last year requiring social media platforms to secure parental consent before allowing children under 15 to create accounts online, but technical challenges have delayed its enforcement. Earlier this year, a panel commissioned by president Emmanuel Macron recommended stricter measures like banning mobiles for children under 11 and internet-enabled devices for those under 13. It remains unclear when or if the recommendations will be adopted. Germany allows children aged 13 to 16 to use social media only with parental consent. There is no plan for further restrictions, even though child protection advocates argue that existing rules need better enforcement. Belgium enacted a law in 2018 requiring children to be at least 13 years old to create social media accounts without parental permission. The Netherlands does not have legislation setting a minimum age for social media use. However, mobile devices will be banned in classrooms from January 2024 to minimise distractions. Exceptions apply for digital lessons, disabilities, or medical needs. does not have legislation setting a minimum age for social media use. However, mobile devices will be banned in classrooms from January 2024 to minimise distractions. Exceptions apply for digital lessons, disabilities, or medical needs. Italy requires children under 14 to have parental consent for creating social media accounts. No parental consent is required after the children turn 14. open image in gallery Anthony Albanese gestures during a press conference in Canberra on 29 November 2024 ( AP ) Implications for privacy, freedom and tech scrutiny The legislation has drawn criticism from privacy advocates who warn of heightened data collection risks. The Australian Human Rights Commission raised concerns about potential infringement on young peoples rights to participate in society. Platforms may require users to upload identification documents, paving the way for digital surveillance, cautioned Sunita Bose, managing director of Digital Industry Group, which represents major social media firms. A last-minute amendment now requires platforms to provide alternative verification methods. Internationally, the ban could strain Australias relations with the US, where Elon Musk, owner of X, called it a backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians. Challenges in enforcement Implementing the ban poses significant hurdles. Critics argue that the government has yet to clarify how platforms should verify users ages without compromising privacy. The exemption of platforms like YouTube, widely used in schools, further complicates enforcement. Some experts fear tech-savvy teens will bypass restrictions. It will only create a generation of young people who will be more technologically literate in bypassing these walls, said Sydney student Enie Lam, 16. Parental hopes and concerns Parents groups have largely applauded the initiative, with anti-bullying advocate Ali Halkic stating, Putting an age limit and giving control back to the parents is a starting point. But many young Australians worry about losing their vital online communities. LGBTQIA and migrant teenagers, in particular, depend on social media for support and self-expression. Critics warn that the ban could inadvertently isolate these vulnerable groups. Additional reporting by agencies For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A navy ship crashed into a reef, caught fire and then sank due to human error, an inquiry has found. The crash led to the first loss of a New Zealand ship since World War II. The ship was one of only nine in New Zealands navy. According to the preliminary findings of a military Court of Inquiry into the disaster released on Friday a series of human errors caused the ship to plough into a reef off the coast of Samoa. In the days after the sinking, New Zealands Defense Minister Judith Collins gave stinging rebukes of misogynistic online commenters who directed abusive comments at the ships captain because she was a woman. She issued stinging rebukes of what she said were vile online remarks by armchair admirals. Seriously, its 2024, Collins told reporters. What the hells going on here? After days of comments on social media directed at the gender of Commander Yvonne Gray, Collins urged the public to be better. open image in gallery , New Zealand's Defense Minister Judith Collins speaks at Auckland's Whenuapai Air Force Bas ( Crown Copyright, New Zealand Defence Force Licenced under Creative Commons BY4.0 Some Rights Reserved. ) The ships crew did not realize autopilot was engaged, believed something else had gone wrong with the ship, and did not check the HMNZS Manawanui was under manual control as it maintained course towards land, a summary of the inquirys first report published on Friday said. The full report has not been made public. All 75 people on board the vessel evacuated safely as the boat foundered about a mile off the coast of Upolu, Samoa, in October. open image in gallery A diver surveys the HMNZS Manawanui ( Crown Copyright 2024, New Zealand Defence Force. Licenced under Creative Commons BY 4.0. ) Officials did not know the cause of the sinking at the time and Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Garin Golding ordered a Court of Inquiry to investigate. The direct cause of the grounding has been determined as a series of human errors which meant the ships autopilot was not disengaged when it should have been, Golding said in a statement on Friday. open image in gallery HMNZS Manawanui arrives in Funafuti Lagoon ( New Zealand Defence Force ) The crew "mistakenly believed its failure to respond to direction changes was the result of a thruster control failure, he said. A number of contributing factors were identified, Golding said, although he did not say what they were. The Court of Inquiry is expected to continue until the first quarter of next year. Golding said given human error was identified as the cause, a separate disciplinary process will begin after the inquiry. I want to reassure the public of New Zealand that we will learn from this situation and that it is on me, as the Chief of Navy, to earn back your trust," Golding said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The French president Emmanuel Macron has praised the more than 1,000 craftspeople who helped with the project of the century: rebuilding Pariss Notre-Dame Cathedral after it was gutted by a devastating fire. Five and a half years after the blaze, the Gothic masterpiece, one of the French capitals most beloved and visited monuments, will reopen its doors to tourists and the Catholic faithful next week. Never before have we seen such a construction site. You all had your share in the project of the century, Mr Macron told a gathering on Friday, which included carpenters, stonemasons, art restorers, firefighters and donors. The burning of Notre-Dame was a national wound and you were its remedy, [restoring it] through determination, hard work and commitment. open image in gallery The nave of Notre-Dame Cathedral following its extensive restoration ( Stephane de Sakutin/AP ) The workers, who included members of the elite Compagnons du Devoir, a centuries-old guild of artisans considered to be Frances finest, burst into joyful applause when Mr Macron concluded his address with a final Thank you. The reconstruction work restored the 12th-century cathedrals spire, its rib vaulting, flying buttresses, stained-glass windows and carved stone gargoyles to their past glory, with the white stone and gold decorations shining brighter than ever. open image in gallery French president Emmanuel Macron (second left) and his wife Brigitte (left) visit the restored 12th-century cathedral ( Christophe Petit Tesson/AP ) It is a far cry from the evening of 15 April 2019, when TV viewers in France and worldwide watched with horror as the cathedrals roof and spire burst into flames and collapsed in a raging fire that also threatened the main bell towers, which only narrowly avoided destruction. On his visit to the site, Mr Macron seemed deeply impressed as light poured into the nave through the renewed windows. open image in gallery On his visit to the site, Macron seemed deeply impressed as light poured into the nave through the renewed windows ( Christophe Petit Tesson/AP ) This is overwhelming, he said as he toured the cathedral with his wife Brigitte, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, and other senior officials. Relieved at having finished on schedule, stone-carver Samir Abbas, 38, said: It was an exceptional renovation project. open image in gallery The French president delivers a speech to construction workers inside the newly restored Gothic masterpiece ( Stephane de Sakutin/AP ) An opening ceremony to which celebrities and heads of state have been invited is planned for the evening of 7 December, followed by days of special masses to celebrate the reopening and to thank those who helped save and rebuild the cathedral. So much money poured in for the renovation from all over the world more than 840m (698m), according to the presidents office that there are still funds left over for further investment in the building. open image in gallery So much money poured in for the renovation from all over the world that there are still funds left over for further investment in the building ( Christophe Petit Tesson/AP ) The Catholic Church now expects the cathedral to welcome some 15 million visitors annually. We are very eager to welcome the whole world under the roof of our cathedral, Pariss Archbishop Laurent Ulrich said in a message on the cathedrals website, expressing the Churchs gratitude to all those who helped to save it. open image in gallery A view of part of a bas-relief outside Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris ( Stephane de Sakutin/AP ) On the night of 15 April, hundreds of thousands of people committed themselves to what then seemed an impossible bet: to restore the cathedral and give it back its splendour within the unprecedented deadline of five years. The guest list for the reopening ceremony has not yet been published, but one source familiar with the planning said US president Joe Bidens wife Jill would come, while president-elect Donald Trump had not yet confirmed his attendance. open image in gallery The altar of the cathedral is one of the French capitals most beloved and visited monuments ( AFP/Getty ) Parisians expressed excitement and relief at the prospect of the cathedral reopening. Im so happy, said 50-year-old architect Sebastien Truchot, who lives nearby. Whether you believe in God or not, Notre-Dame is a universal symbol, and its amazing to have it back and to rediscover it. Albert Abid, a bookseller whose stall stands on the quay, was shocked to see it burn five years ago. He said: Its a relief. Finally, Notre-Dame is restored. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The head of Britains foreign intelligence service said Friday that Russia is conducting a staggeringly reckless sabotage campaign against Ukraine's Western allies, and that his spies are working to stop the consequences from spiraling out of control. MI6 chief Richard Moore said his agency and its French counterpart were working together to prevent a dangerous escalation by calibrating the risk and informing the decisions of our respective governments in response to President Vladimir Putins mix of bluster and aggression. We have recently uncovered a staggeringly reckless campaign of Russian sabotage in Europe, even as Putin and his acolytes resort to nuclear saber-rattling, to sow fear about the consequences of aiding Ukraine, Moore said during a speech to diplomats and intelligence officials in France. Such activity and rhetoric is dangerous and beyond irresponsible, he said. Moore spoke alongside Nicolas Lerner, head of Frances external intelligence agency, the DGSE at an event marking 120 years of the Entente Cordiale, a pact between Britain and France that bound the age-old rivals together as military and diplomatic allies. Western security officials suspect that Russian intelligence is trying to destabilize Ukraines allies through disinformation, sabotage and arson. Moscow has been linked by Western officials to several planned attacks in Europe, including an alleged plot to burn down Ukrainian-owned businesses in London, and to incendiary devices in packages on cargo planes. In July one caught fire at a courier hub in Germany and another ignited in a warehouse in England. Lerner agreed that the collective security of the whole of Europe is at stake in Ukraine. He said Britains experience tackling Russia in the wake of recent attacks like the 2018 Salisbury Novichok poisoning, was invaluable to French intelligence seeking to defuse Russian actions. Britain and France have been among Ukrainian allies most willing to allow Kyiv to use weapons they supply especially missiles known as Scalp in France and Storm Shadow in Britain to hit targets inside Russia. The Biden administration recently eased its long-held opposition to U.S.-made missiles being used to strike Russia. Ukraine said last week it had used the American ATACM missiles to target Russia for the first time in the war. Since then, Russia has pounded Ukraines energy infrastructure with hundreds of missiles and drones, in what Putin said was a response to the firing of the American missiles against Russian soil. Russia also fired a new intermediate-range ballistic missile, called Oreshnik, and Putin threatened to use it against decision-making centers in Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital. In a warning to allies wavering in support for Ukraine, Moore said that the cost of supporting Ukraine is well-known, but the cost of not doing so would be infinitely higher. He said that if Russia wins, Iran and China which so far support Moscow as a transaction" would draw closer to Russia. If Putin succeeds, China would weigh the implications, North Korea would be emboldened and Iran would become yet more dangerous, Moore said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Russia has unleashed another massive attack against Ukraine's energy infrastructure, firing nearly 200 missiles and drones and leaving more than a million households without power, Ukrainian officials said. Explosions were heard across the country as damage to the energy and other critical infrastructure was reported by officials in cities in the west, south and centre of the country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia used cruise missiles with cluster munitions in Thursday's attack, calling it a vile escalation. Energy infrastructure is once again targeted by the enemys massive strike, Ukrainian energy minister Herman Halushchenko said on Facebook. Follow live updates on Russias war in Ukraine here Russia had knocked out about half of Ukraines available generating capacity, damaged the distribution system and forced long blackouts. It is Russia's second major aerial attack on Ukraine's power grid in less than two weeks as well as the 11th major strike on the Ukrainian energy system since March. Below, The Independent takes a look at why Russia is launching so many strikes and the likely impact of them on Ukraine. open image in gallery Ukrainian rescuers work to extinguish a fire at an energy infrastructure facility following a missile attack in Lutsk, Volyn region, on Thursday ( UKRAINIAN EMERGENCY SERVICE/AFP ) Why is Russia launching the attacks? To hit Ukraines energy system ahead of winter with view to cripple morale As has been the case every year since it invaded Ukraine in 2022, Russia has started hitting power stations and other sites with force before winter sets in, bringing with it plunging temperatures. The latest attack on Ukraines energy infrastructure on Thursday the second big one this month has further amplified fears that the Kremlin again aims to cripple the countrys power generation capacity, bringing long power cuts during the winter months as temperatures across Ukraine hover around zero and below. Professor Mark Galeotti, academic and author of more than 20 books on Russia, suggested the strikes are all part of the same pattern intended to impact Ukrainians morale to the extent that they submit to Moscow. Putins strategy is to make the Ukrainians miserable enough to give up. The Russians are trying to systematically break apart Ukraines power grid because it could face a rough winter, he told The Independent. Once we get into October, temperatures tend to plummet. Thats when you suddenly get a lot more load on the grid and the problems will become clear. Ukrainians will at best have rationed power. open image in gallery People take shelter inside a metro station during a Russian military strike in Kyiv on Thursday ( REUTERS ) Quest for revenge and winning information war after Kyiv struck Russian territory with advanced Western weapons The latest strike comes just days after Kyiv struck Russian territory with long-range US and UK-supplied missiles. Moscow says Ukraine fired US ATACMS ballistic missiles into western Russia for the first time on 19 November and UK Storm Shadow missiles later that week, prompting the Kremlin to respond firing the Oreshnik, a new experimental intermediate-range missile, at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Since then, Russia says Ukraine fired more ATACMS at its Kursk region on 23 and 25 November. Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russias overnight barrage of 90 missiles and 100 drones on Ukraine was launched in response to the ATACMS strikes, Marcel Plichta, former analyst at the US Department of Defense, told The Independent: These strikes usually come after some kind of Ukrainian success story. They are part of an information war. It is an attempt by the Kremlin to get back a narrative that shows Russia as the big strong actor in this war and Ukraine as weak and vulnerable. They are petty strikes and are about retribution. The targets have not had military value. They have hit apartment buildings or grain silos. It is an attack on the Ukrainian people, not Kyivs ability to wage war. open image in gallery Local residents take shelter in a metro station during an air strike alarm in Kyiv on Thursday ( AFP via Getty Images ) What likely impact will the strikes have on Ukraine? At least one million people in the west, south, and centre of Ukraine were left without power in Russias latest strike on the country, Ukrainian officials have said. Damage to the energy and other critical infrastructure was reported by officials in Lviv, Volyn, Rivne and Khmelnytskyi regions in the west, the Mykolayiv and Kherson regions in the south, and Zhytomyr region in the centre. A source in the energy sector source said Ukraine disconnected several nuclear power units from the network amid the Russian attack. Ukraine relies on nuclear generation for more than 50 per cent of its electricity supplies. Lviv governor Maksym Kozytskyi said Thursday's strikes cut off electricity to about 523,000 people in the western region on Ukraine's border with Poland. Power supplies were also cut to nearly 500,000 people in the Volyn and Rivne regions, the governors said. Electricity supplies were also disrupted in Khmelnytskyi and Zhytomyr regions, officials said. open image in gallery Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia used cruise missiles with cluster munitions in Thursday's attack, calling it a vile escalation ( PA Wire ) Regional officials across the country said they were turning on generators to ensure emergency heat and water supplies to hospitals, schools and other critical facilities during bitter winter weather. The loud hum of generators was also heard in Kyiv city as many Ukrainian small and medium businesses rely on generators for their electricity supplies during the blackouts. However, Ukrainian air defence managed to shoot down 79 out of 91 Russian missiles and downed 35 drones, the air force said. And the capital Kyiv was targeted but all missiles or drones were downed, officials said. But Mr Plichta said: The biggest worry is the affect on the energy grid. If it is damaged enough, it might not be viable for Ukrainians to stay in big cities. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Russia has suffered more than 2,000 casualties in a single day, Ukraines military has claimed, in what would mark one of the heaviest toll of losses inflicted on Vladimir Putins forces at any point in the war so far. Russia appears to be ramping up its push for territory with the Kremlin potentially anticipating that Donald Trump could seek to follow through on his presidential election campaign claim that he would rapidly end Moscows invasion with a peace deal once he re-enters the White House in January. As Moscow focuses its efforts in Ukraines eastern Donbas made up of the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk and in trying to push Ukraines forces from Russias Kursk region, war analysts say that Russia is seizing more territory than at any point since the early days of its February 2022 invasion. But Russian losses have for weeks been consistently among the highest of the war so far, with around 1,500 casualties each day, Ukrainian and Western military chiefs have said. In their daily update, the general staff of Ukraines armed forces claimed on Friday morning that more than 200 combat clashes had taken place in the past 24 hours, in which Russia had suffered 2,030 losses. Ukraine does not distinguish between those killed and wounded. That figure appears to be broadly in line with Western intelligence estimates, which also put the wars overall casualty toll at more than 1 million. Russian military leaders claimed in July to have inflicted 700,000 irrecoverable losses on Ukraine. However, the Wall Street Journal has since carried claims that a confidential Ukrainian estimate put the number of Ukrainian fatalities at 80,000, with 400,000 wounded. open image in gallery Ukrainian defences in the eastern Donetsk region have struggled against the sheer power of Russian forces in recent months ( Reuters ) While the exact toll may never be known, Russias relative willingness to expend its troops lives in a costly war of attrition for the sake of incremental gains witnessed repeatedly over the past 33 months means its losses are indeed likely greater than those of Ukraine. As clashes were reported across frontline areas of Ukraine on Friday, Kyivs military said Russian attackers had launched 93 airstrikes using nearly 180 missiles, as well as firing more than 4,800 artillery shells in the past 24 hours. The heaviest fighting came in Donetsk, near Povrovsk, where Ukraine claimed to repel more than 60 attacks, and close to Kurakhove, where Russia tried 43 times to breach Ukraines defences, the general staff said. Following visits to units stationed close to both Povrovsk and Kurakhove, Ukraines army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi vowed on Friday that he would strengthen troops deployed on the eastern front with reserves, ammunition and equipment. open image in gallery Donald Trump claims he can end the war in a single day in remarks that have alarmed some in Kyiv ( AFP ) Based on the results of the work, all necessary decisions have been made to strengthen the units with reserves, additional ammunition, weapons, and military equipment, he said on Telegram. We continue to restrain the enemy and inflict heavy losses in terms of their manpower and equipment. Away from the frontlines, Mr Putins crackdown on domestic criticism of its war continued apace, as jailed critic Alexei Gorinov was handed a further three-year sentence over accusations of justifying terrorism in conversations with cellmates about Ukraines Azov battalion and the 2022 explosion on Crimeas Kerch bridge. Mr Gorinov, 63, a former councillor, who denies the allegations, is reported to have been the first person convicted under new censorship laws ushered in days after Russias invasion, after allegedly saying that every day children are dying in Ukraine during a city council meeting. Photos from the courtroom, published by independent outlet Mediazona, showed a weary Mr Gorinov in the defendants cage, with a hand-drawn peace symbol on a piece of paper covering his prison badge. He held a hand-written placard saying: Stop killing. Lets stop the war. open image in gallery Imprisoned Kremlin critic Alexei Gorinov was further convicted on Friday ( AP ) He had part of a lung removed before prison and struggles with respiratory illnesses behind bars. In his closing statement in court on Friday, Mr Gorinov remained defiant and once again condemned the Russian authorities for the war in Ukraine. My guilt is that I, as a citizen of my country, allowed this war to happen and could not stop it, Mediazona quoted him as saying. But I would like my guilt and responsibility to be shared with me by the organisers, participants, supporters of the war, as well as the persecutors of those who advocate peace. I continue to live with the hope that this will happen someday. In the meantime, I ask those who live in Ukraine and my fellow citizens who suffered from the war to forgive me. According to OVD-Info, a prominent rights group that tracks political arrests, some 1,100 people have been implicated in criminal cases over their anti-war stance since February 2022. A total of 340 are currently behind bars or have been involuntarily committed to medical institutions. Additional reporting by agencies For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thousands of opposition forces took control of Syrias second city and its airport in a shock assault that marked their largest advance and the biggest challenge facing Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in years. The extraordinary push on Aleppo that started on Friday was met with a wave of airstrikes by Russian and Syrian jets. The assault on the city was led by commanders of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist group once aligned with al-Qaeda, who said they intended to force the army of the autocratic leader out. Later, they said they faced almost no opposition from government forces as they expanded the operation, seizing multiple towns and villages in the neighbouring province of northern Hama. It represents a devastating threat to Mr Assads rule. It comes at a time when the Syrian regimes two biggest allies Iran-backed Hezbollah and Russia have been severely weakened. Firstly by Israel and then the costly war in Ukraine. Moscow said its fighter aircraft launched a wave of strikes on opposition troops, command posts, depots and artillery positions in retaliation, according to the state-run Russian Centre for the Reconciliation of the Enemy Parties in Syria. open image in gallery Anti-government fighters hold an opposition flag as they pose for a picture at the entrance of the citadel in Aleppo ( Getty ) Thousands of Syrian insurgents were deployed across the city in armoured vehicles on Saturday, to landmarks such as the old citadel, residents said, as the rebels claimed to seize control of Aleppo airport and senior diplomats in Russia, Iran and Turkey held phone calls to discuss the situation. Speaking from the city, Abd Alghani Al-Aryan, a journalist from Idlib, that joined the forces as they swept into Aleppo, the first time he had entered the city in 13 years, said the regime is collapsing dramatically. It feels like a dream, I cant even describe it, he told The Independent from inside the city. The regimes return is out of the question, especially if they accept the current reality in the region. He added: Especially after losing its most critical element that was protecting it: Russian airpower, followed by the Iranian and Lebanese militias, particularly Hezbollah. Friday marked the first time Aleppo has been attacked by opposition forces since 2016, when Syrian government forces were ousted from the citys eastern neighbourhoods following a gruelling military campaign in which they were backed by Russia, Iran, and allied groups. Turkeys state-run Anadolu Agency reported that the insurgents had entered Aleppos city centre on Friday and seized control of approximately 70 locations in the provinces of Aleppo and Idlib, as residents fled neighbourhoods on the citys western edge due to missiles and exchanges of fire. The Syrian military sought to insist on Saturday that the insurgents had not been able to establish fixed positions in Aleppo due to the armys continued bombardment of their positions. Yet the army later said it had conducted a temporary troop withdrawal in Aleppo to prepare for a counteroffensive. open image in gallery Opposition forces take control of areas outside Aleppo ( AP ) In addition to Russian airstrikes, Syrian military sources told Reuters on Saturday that Damascus expected new Russian military hardware to start arriving at Moscows Khmeimim airbase, near Syrias coastal city of Latakia, in the next 72 hours. The main fear for Syrians inside and out of the country was concerning the retaliation from Russia, said Ibrahim Olabi, a native of Aleppo who has family there and is on the board of the Syrian British Consortium. He said many are worried whether Russia and Iran will [up] their game. People are cautiously hopeful. What this has shown is the regime is unable to have any international legitimacy or domestic diplomacy. This demonstrated that its all a facade. The fear is the reaction will the regime retaliate? The death toll from the latest conflict is not yet known. open image in gallery A ripped poster of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad was seen in Aleppo ( Reuters ) An insurgent commander posted a recorded message on social media calling on the citys residents to cooperate with the advancing forces. Fighters also advanced on the town of Saraqab in the northwestern Idlib province, a strategic area that would secure supply lines to Aleppo. As the fighting continued on Saturday, the BBC reported that the insurgents had imposed a curfew in Aleppo until Sunday. And sources among the insurgents said they had also captured the city of Maraat al Numan, bringing all of Idlib province under their control, in what would be another significant blow to Mr Assad. Irans foreign ministry condemned on Saturday what it called aggression by terrorist elements against its consulate in Aleppo but said its diplomats were safe, Iranian state media reported. Tehrans foreign minister Abbas Araqchi will travel to Damascus on Sunday, before visiting Turkey on Monday, the ministry said. This weeks advances come after weeks of low-level, simmering violence. It is the most intense fighting in northwestern Syria since 2020, when government forces seized areas previously controlled by opposition fighters. The 2016 battle for Aleppo was a turning point in the conflict between Syrian government forces and opposition forces that began when the 2011 protests against Mr Assads rule turned into all-out war. Russia, Iran, and allied groups helped Syrian government forces to reclaim control of all of Aleppo that year, after a gruelling military campaign and a siege that lasted for weeks. open image in gallery Fighters burn a picture of Assad in front of a building that was seized by jihadists in Zarbah, near Aleppo ( AFP/Getty ) Warning that the United Nations was deeply alarmed by the situation, David Carden, the UNs deputy regional humanitarian coordinator for the Syria crisis, said on Friday that civilians and children as young as eight had been killed in relentless attacks. Civilians and civilian infrastructure are not targets, and must be protected under international humanitarian law, said Mr Carden. Russian and Syrian warplanes bombed the area near the border with Turkey on Thursday to try to push back the offensive. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov said Moscow regarded the rebel attack as a violation of Syrias sovereignty and wanted the authorities to act fast to regain control. We are in favour of the Syrian authorities bringing order to the area and restoring constitutional order as soon as possible, said Mr Peskov. Asked about unconfirmed Russian Telegram reports that Mr Assad had flown in to Moscow for talks with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Mr Peskov said he had nothing to say on the matter. Additional reporting by Ragaai Bourhan Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The friend of two Britons rescued from the sunken diving yacht in the Red Sea says there is absolutely no reason why survivors should have been trapped for 30 hours during search efforts by the Egyptian authorities. Diver Tom Postin said Colin Sharratt, 65, and Sally Jones, 58, were among the 33 people who have so far been rescued following the sinking of the Sea Story vessel, while the employer of another Briton, Tarig Sinada, said he was one of seven people still missing. Mr Postin said Ms Jones and Mr Sharratt were both experienced sailors. I got the impression that theyd know what to do and they would survive. Theyre survivors, he said. open image in gallery Colin Sharratt and Sally Jones are believed to have been on the Sea Story yacht ( Facebook ) open image in gallery Tom Postin, right, is joined by his son on a scuba diving trip ( Facebook/Tom Postin ) The 44-metre yacht sank within minutes in the early hours of Monday, less than 24 hours into a five-day diving excursion. It capsized after being struck by a large wave, according to witness statements via the Egyptian authorities. Mr Sharratt and Ms Jones were two of the 28 people rescued on Monday during a search led by Egyptian naval forces and the Red Sea Governorate. But five other survivors were left stranded in a boat cabin overnight, using a small air pocket to stay alive for around 30 hours before they were rescued on Tuesday morning, a survivor told The Times. Four bodies were recovered that same day. open image in gallery Survivors are wrapped in blankets after being rescued by Egyptian emergency services ( AFP/Getty ) open image in gallery A survivor is helped onboard the rescue vessel ( AFP/Getty ) Mr Postin, a keen diver and a friend of the British pair, was critical of the time it took to get to the five survivors. This happened at 5:30am in the morning: that boat has sunk and it was lying on its side, with all the boats around it, he told The Independent. Theres absolutely no reason why no one would have gone in and tried to rescue [the others]. Those people actually waited 30 hours before they got rescued. This tragedy thats happened is an accident, but its an accident that could have been avoided. Mr Postin, who comes from the Black Country and now lives in Brisbane, Australia, met Mr Sharratt and Ms Jones in Tonga during a scuba diving and sailing trip. He said they were extremely good sailors now travelling the world in their retirement. Ms Jones, from Birmingham, is set to return home in the next few days, Mr Postin added. He described her as capable, intelligent, sensible kind of person that is extremely approachable and that she has a lot of life experience. open image in gallery Amr Hanafi, the Red Sea Governor, speaks to survivors (Egyptian Press Centre/AP) ( AP ) He described Mr Sharratt as sedate and easy-going. Hes a smart guy, theres no doubt about that, hes a very capable person, Mr Postin said. In June 2023, three Britons died after a boat caught fire while on a diving trip in the Red Sea. In October this year, another diving liveaboard sank, but the 18 passengers were rescued. Sea Story is owned by operator Dive Pro Liveaboard, based in Hurghada, Egypt. The company, which has not commented on the incident and has taken down the page which showed the specifications of the vessel, charges punters 1,220 (just over 1,000) for a weeks voyage. The search for the seven passengers still missing is now in its fifth day. Tarig Sinada, who works for a consultancy firm and has previously worked as a scuba diving instructor, is among those unaccounted for. His employer said in a statement that their thoughts are with Tarigs family and they hope for his safe return. According to some reports, there is another Briton still missing.The Independent has contacted the Red Sea Governorate and Dive Pro Liveaboard for comment. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy King Charless decades old celebration of traditional architecture, arts and handicrafts is being embraced by the Arab world, now keen to promote their own arts and crafts in similar fashion. This week an agreement effectively uniting the commitment of two kingdoms was signed in Riyadh. The co-operation agreement commits The Kings Foundation to participate in Saudi Arabias Year of Handicrafts 2025 initiative through the Foundations School of Traditional Arts. The signing ceremony on Wednesday was attended by Prince Bader bin Farhan, minister of culture, at the Saudi International Handicrafts Week Exhibition in Riyadh. Khaled Omar Azzam, director of the traditional arts school at The Kings Foundation, and Hamed Fayez, deputy minister of culture, also attended the signing of the agreement, which aims to revive and promote handicrafts in Saudi Arabia throughout 2025. open image in gallery Khaled Omar Azzam, director of the traditional arts school at The Kings Foundation, and Hamed Fayez, Saudi deputy minister of culture, sign the agreement ( Saudi Ministry of Culture ) The collaboration will involve training programmes in crafts in Saudi Arabia, and the launch of the Regeneration of the Crafts of Saudi Arabia programme. For that, King Charless Foundations School of Traditional Arts will develop customised programmes. Central to the whole initiative is King Charless longstanding commitment to traditional arts, architecture and crafts. It goes back a long way. The King has made headlines over the years with his criticism of modern architecture, once famously criticising a proposed extension to the National Gallery as a monstrous carbuncle. Charless vision was to take physical form in his endorsement of Poundbury in 1993, an experimental town near Dorchester, based on traditional architecture. open image in gallery The then Prince of Wales speaks with artist Dana Awartani as he looks at her artwork during a visit to The Princes School of Traditional Arts Degree Show in London ( PA ) This and his public statements made the present King a beacon for traditionalism in the arts. Most significantly, in 1986 he had set up a Foundation, now known a s The Kings Foundation, which has been at the forefront in the education of traditional arts, heritage and craft skills, alongside urban design and traditional architecture, much of it taking place at Charless country residence, Highgrove in Gloucestershire. A key component of the courses is placing people and communities involved at the centre of the design process. He has urged communities not to lose the dwindling skills that shaped the built environment and prevent specialist trades from disappearing at an alarming rate. He has also said, in what is effectively a mission statement when he brought his relevant charities together to be based at Dumfries House: My hope is that by creating a place where we can teach building, design, textile and Stem [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] skills alongside food and farming education programmes, we can begin not only to create the vocational capacity to protect, regenerate and re-use our historic heritage, but also to create our future heritage, and to inspire a new generation to adopt healthier and more sustainable ways of living in their communities. open image in gallery Graduate Anjali Khanna with the then Prince of Wales as he attends the Degree Show at The Princes School of Traditional Arts, London ( PA ) The Saudis appear to share King Charless vision of protecting, promoting and developing traditional arts and crafts. A spokesman for the Saudi ministry of Culture said after the signing this week: The primary goal is to regenerate and renew Saudi craft traditions across different regions of The Kingdom. The agreement between the Saudi Ministry of Culture and The Kings Foundation school is part of the national culture strategy under the umbrella of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to transform the Saudi economy and diversify its social and cultural life. In the middle of 2008, a room full of celebrities and socialites gathered in a room for cocktails, clutching plastic tubes filled with saliva. It was New York Fashion Week, and the attendees were some of the first to take part in a very new sort of socialising: a spit party. Connotations aside, it was a clever start for a relatively unknown genetics testing company. 23andMe made headlines around the world, kicking off a journey to personalise genetic healthcare that would culminate in a business worth $6bn (4.7bn) at its peak in 2021, and a global conversation around one important question: who really owns your data? Now, 16 years on, 23andMe is back in the headlines and this time, its not so rosy. A huge data breach, which began in April 2023 and lasted for five months, affected almost half of its 14.1 million customers; the resulting US lawsuit cost the company $30m to settle in September this year. The same month, its board unanimously rejected the strategic direction of its founder and CEO, Anne Wojcicki. All seven resigned. Now, the genetics testing company is in disarray: orders for its 159 spit kits are substantially dropping, as is its value down to less than $150m. I believe in the company. I believe in the long-term mission, Wojcicki said in an interview with US talk show CBS Mornings this week. But I believe its essential for us to restructure. This month, more than 40 per cent of 23andMes workforce was made redundant. In 2025, Wojcicki insisted, the company will be growing and thriving in its mission to transform health care in the next five years. Wojcickis ambition has not wavered, it seems, despite the companys knocks its in her genes. Her sister, Susan Wojcicki, former long-term CEO of YouTube, helped enable the creation of Google in 1998 when she rented out a garage to its founders one of whom, Sergey Brin, would become Annes husband as well as one of 23andMes first backers. Her consumer-friendly genetic test also attracted early, token financial backing from the likes of Wendi Murdoch and Harvey Weinstein, but really, it was her clever marketing, and the human trait it targeted curiosity, and especially curiosity about ourselves that would make the company soar. The test was initially sold as a way to social network, according to the press at the time. Your DNA might connect you with communities who have psoriasis, or a voracious sweet tooth, or who are also susceptible to bowel cancer. Once posted off, the 89 genetic markers might also reveal intriguing or life-changing information about your family. Perhaps youre not one-quarter Irish, as your Grandma insisted; perhaps you were adopted all along. The novelty of collecting your own stories was, and still is to many, beguiling. Its also a warning story that defines a generation that blindly walked into the internet. Now, the consequences of those actions of throwing our most personal, sensitive information into the unknown are beginning to appear. Before its more recent challenges, 23andMe had been continually looking to expand its remit while the curiosity boom worked for a while, selling one-time kits eventually became a financial cul-de-sac. Subscription models wouldnt cut it, either: Wojcicki saw the companys future in drug discovery. 23andMes Pharma Deals Have Been the Plan All Along, one Wired headline read in 2018 it had just signed an exclusive contract with GlaxoSmithKline, who invested $300m. The plan was to use genetics to change and influence healthcare scale. It saw some success: one drug the company developed, 23ME-00610 a monoclonal antibody that, very simply put, works by reactivating the immune systems response to tumours has shown early signs of success. open image in gallery Anne Wojcicki speaks during an event in November 2015 ( Getty ) 23andMe maintained that transparency is a core tenet of the company, the report said proper guidelines around reusing the data collected by those who purchased at-home tests were followed. But tension grew the company had always been positioned as a consumer-first, healthcare aid, yet its practices became more meaningfully big tech. Customers were informed of how their data might be used elsewhere in medical research, and they retained the power to opt out at any time, but some began to feel betrayed and, perhaps for the first time, to question where their data was going. The thing is, who reads the small print? Those implicated in 23andMes significant data breach might give it a go now. According to Reuters, the hacker accessed 5.5 million DNA Relatives profiles, which let customers share information with each other, and accessed information for another 1.4 million customers who used a feature called Family Tree. The settlement case that ensued also resolved accusations that 23andMe did not tell customers with Chinese and Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry that the hacker appeared to have specifically targeted them and posted their information for sale on the dark web. The company informed their customers of the breach in a blog post. In June, the UKs information commissioner John Edwards and Canadas privacy commissioner Philippe Dufresne agreed to begin a joint investigation into the 23andMe breach, in order to examine the scope of information exposed and whether the company had adequate safeguards and had made appropriate notification to regulators when the breach occurred. open image in gallery The genetic testing company has seen its value drop significantly ( AFP/Getty ) But the size of 23andMe meant it was always going to be at risk when it comes to data, says Jake Moore, global cybersecurity adviser at ESET. When you've got such a huge user base, you paint a target on your back, he explains. Because all youve got to do as a criminal hacker is to find that one vulnerability, which, lets face it, is clearly going to be somewhere. If they can exploit that, then they have access to huge amounts of data, with the possible chance of extorting people dramatically. Even just the threat of that is hefty enough. Moore says that, during the early 2000s Millennial tech boom, data protection and regulation were less of a priority than they are now. For most companies back then, The focus was making money, he says. It was this new age of using social media, using celebrities this idea of big or go home. Most never even expected to be [data] breached. If a hacker is able to look into peoples medical histories, they can start to put a profile on them, Moore explains. If a name, an address or other sensitive information is also attached, it adds to the risk of identity theft, too. It just opens up this huge can of worms. And what weve learned from previous data breaches is that once your data is out there once the can is opened it never gets put back. Its always going to be there, whether its on the dark web, the open web, or just circulating on lists that are sold on by even legitimate companies. You never get to put it back. Now, 23andMe, with Wojcicki still at the helm, is hoping to turn its luck around. Its future remains to be seen certainly, the genetics-at-home bubble appears to have been dramatically burst. For the rest of us, the message is clear: long gone are the days when we innocently uploaded hundreds of photos to Facebook weekly, or thoughtlessly popped our most precious data, our DNA, in the postbox. Who owns our data? Who knows. But its time to read the small print. Eir has agreed to pay a fine of 2.8m, after accepting that it did not allow other companies proper access to its infrastructure records. The penalty follows a five-year process which began in August 2019 when the telecommunications regulator ComReg launched an investigation into whether the company was meeting its obligations to provide the access. The company and the regulator have had a flinty relationship, clashing over a range of issues. Last May the company pleaded guilty to 12 counts of not complying with legal requirements relating to its complaint-handling processes, and paid a 7,500 fine. But Eir also claimed ComReg had taken its training manual out of context and claimed its interpretation was incorrect, regrettable and deeply concerning. In September 2023, chief executive Oliver Loomes wrote to Communications Minister Eamon Ryan to claim the regulator was guilty of bias, poor decision-making and structural deficiencies, and said it needed institutional reform. In a newspaper interview in July 2023, Mr Loomes claimed Eir was being hampered from competing, and called on the Government to launch an independent review of ComReg. The latest case concerns Eirs obligation to make the ducts, poles and chambers used to convey copper and fibre optic cables available to other operators, allowing them to deploy their own cables if they chose. The company is obliged to open up its Passive Access Records (PAR), which document the location, physical characteristics and utilisation of infrastructure. Access to this is needed by any operators that want to use Eirs infrastructure, giving them details of location and available capacity when planning their own network roll-out. ComReg has said it would consider any failure by Eir to provide full access to PAR as a significant concern. Its investigation resulted in findings of non-compliance against the company, which was informed in March 2021, with the full decision being issued a year later. ComReg ruled that Eir failed to comply with access and non-discrimination obligations regarding PAR, and with obligations to make its infrastructure build plan available. The regulator applied to the High Court in August 2022 to confirm its findings of non-compliance and to seek the imposition of a financial penalty. The case was settled yesterday with Eir agreeing to pay a fine of 2.8m, and to make a contribution of 200,000 to ComRegs costs in the proceedings. According to the regulator, the company also acknowledged that it failed to provide full access to PAR during the period May 2019 to November 2021. It also accepted failing to provide the infrastructure build plan containing the minimum information required ComReg said: Eircom [its legal name] acknowledged that its implementation of substantial remediation on 1 November 2021 fell short of full compliance and that Eircom remained in breach of the relevant obligations following implementation of the remediation on 1 November 2021. ComReg acknowledged that Eirs implementation of the remaining remediation measures identified to it in March 2023 were addressed to its satisfaction, amounting to full remediation. In a statement the company said: Eir acknowledges the conclusion of a longstanding compliance case with ComReg regarding access to infrastructure records for other operators relating to a 2018 market analysis. This case, initiated in 2019, addressed regulatory obligations, all of which have since been met. "We welcome the resolution of this matter and reaffirm our commitment to regulatory compliance and industry cooperation for the benefit of all stakeholders. Homelessness reached a new record in Ireland last month, according to figures released today by the Department of Housing. They show that a total of 14,966 people had used emergency accommodation services in the last week of October, including 4,645 children in 2,161 families. The total was up 206 on the previous month. There were 10,321 adults using emergency services, 7,388 of them in Dublin. Of the total number of adults, 6,733 or almost two out of three were single. The adult figure was up 122 on the October data. There were 2,161 families, 1,245 of them single-parent. The publication of the data by the department comes at a somewhat inopportune time for the Government parties, with about half of all voters still to cast their ballot in the general election. Eoin OBroin, the Sinn Fein housing spokesperson, tweeted: "Homelessness up again. Another record high. Darragh OBrien, the Housing Minister, had faced criticism for not publishing the October figures on emergency accommodation before polling day, however. While the statistics are traditionally produced on the last Friday of the month, there had been calls for this to change in November in order to give the electorate maximum information before going to the polls today. The minister said the statistical process was independent of him, and declined to give even indicative figures, saying the data has to be independently verified. The figures compiled by his department show the number of people who have used emergency accommodation services in the last week of the preceding month. David Carroll, chief executive of Depaul, said it was calling on any new government to take radical action as homelessness numbers hit the record levels. Behind these numbers are men, women and children living without a home and the impact on them is devastating, he said. "The time has passed for inaction or indecision we are now faced with levels of homelessness we have never witnessed before. Where once 10,000 was thought to be unacceptable it is hard to understand why we are now accepting this new level of 14,966. Little seems to be cutting through or making it high up on the list of priorities but the future of 4,645 children trapped in the cycle of homelessness is now in the hands of any new government and they must adopt a swift and radical approach to addressing this national crisis." Housing has been a key issue in the general election campaign, although it did not dominate as much as in the last contest, in 2020. The Government parties were able to point to a pick-up in housing commencements this year, with the department publishing the latest statistics during the campaign. These show that 4,249 homes were commenced last month, bringing the total for the year to date to 53,256. Figures for September also saw homelessness reach a new record, totalling 14,760 people, including 4,561 children in 2,133 families. There were 10,199 adults accessing emergency accommodation, of whom 6,681 were alone and without children. Those figures represented a 15pc increase in a year, including a 17pc increase in child homelessness since the previous September. The Contractor of the Year Award went to Sisk The best in leadership, innovation and sustainability in the Irish property sector have been recognised at Irelands Property Industry Excellence Awards 2024. This years winners included Todd Architects, housing agency Respond and Limerick County Council. Speaking at last nights awards Jim Clery, Partner and Head of Real Estate at KPMG, said this years winners demonstrate tremendous achievements across a spectrum of categories. From redefining urban landscapes to preserving historic landmarks and delivering inclusive housing solutions, these projects exemplify the transformative potential of our vital sector, Mr Clery said. This years Contractor of the Year Award went to Sisk, honoured for its scale, expertise, and innovative approach to delivering complex projects across Ireland and Europe. The KPMG Irish Independent Property Industry Excellence Awards is Ireland's premier platform for recognising and celebrating excellence across the entire property sector. Established in 2015, the awards are endorsed by professional institutes, representative bodies, and government agencies, reflecting their significance and credibility. A High Court judge has urged parties in a dispute relating to an attempt to wind up a company over an alleged disputed debt of 126,000 to put their heads together and resolve the matter. Mr Justice Mark Sanfey made the comment on Thursday in a case in which Allpro Security Services Ireland Ltd was granted a temporary order on Tuesday restraining Top Security Ltd from publishing a petition seeking to wind up Allpro. Allpro provides security staff for the former Dundrum Mental Hospital in Dublin, which are sourced through Top. The court heard on Tuesday that Allpro was in a robust financial position. When the case returned on Thursday yesterday, the judge was told by Tomas Keys BL, for Allpro, that Top had agreed not to advertise the winding-up petition until the next adjourned date but his client did not want the matter to be listed in the High Court winding-up petitions list on December 9. Louis McEntagart SC, for Top, said his sides view was that the reality of this case may dissipate as it was his [counsels] view there was no substance in what has been put before the court. However, he said, he was in the courts hands in relation to that. Mr McEntagart said given the nature of what is before the court, minds may be applied in a week to a methodology about how this entire matter could be resolved. If heads can be knocked together, it would also seem worthwhile giving the parties liberty to apply to the court before December 9 to have it dealt with, he said. The judge said it seems crazy that there would be a three-day trial over 126,000. He said the parties seemed to be taking the prudent way of dealing with it. I would certainly urge the parties to put their heads together because it makes no sense otherwise, he said. He vacated the December 9 winding-up date for presenting the petition and adjourned the matter to next week, with liberty to the parties to apply to the court before then in the event sanity breaks out. Allpro has been contracted by the Department of Integration to supply security staff for the former Dundrum Mental Hospital which was being used to provide temporary accommodation for asylum-seekers. Allpro in turn engaged Top to provide the staff but a dispute developed about payment related to what Allpro claimed was clocking on and clocking off by the security staff and the subsequent presentation by Top of invoices for that work. Sales of vape products by tobacco firm PJ Carroll & Company last year contributed to company pre-tax profits increasing by 23pc to 6.18m. New accounts show that net revenues at PJ Carroll & Company Ltd last year increased by 7pc, from 28.48m to 30.53m. According to the directors report, the 2023 performance was driven by combustible and vapour brand portfolios, as well as the launch of the Velo nicotine pouches in June 2023 as the business entered the modern oral nicotine pouch category. The directors said that in an extremely competitive vapour market, driven mainly by disposables, PJ Carrolls vapour products delivered 22pc of its total revenue for 2023. They said illicit trade in vaping products has created a challenging trading environment in Ireland, with non-compliant product being imported from Northern Ireland and the UK. On the risk facing the companys vape business, the directors point to the lack of enforcement by the Government on the sale of non-compliant product and the sale to under-18s. The directors of the British American Tobacco (BAT) subsidiary said the announcement of a vapour excise of 50c per ml of e-liquid, effective from the second half of 2025, will increase the price of all brands within the category and will drive consumers to illicit products and potentially back to combustible products. The directors said that despite a 13pc drop in sales of PJ Carroll combustible volumes in 2023, the manufacturers price increase in March contributed to overall growth in combustible revenues and accounted for 75pc of total revenues. The companys overall gross revenues for the year totalled 181.32m, which included duty excise and other taxes of 150.79m. The directors said a successful launch of Velo nicotine pouches in June 2023 contributed to 3pc of overall revenues. They said this was an over-performance in volumes, demonstrating strong band and competitiveness of the Velo brand on the market. The directors said that illicit trade and non-Irish duty paid (NIDP) products continue to be the biggest challenge facing the business. They stated that combined, illicit trade and NIDP make up 34pc of the total market in combustibles, with illicit cigarettes accounting for 19pc of the market and NIDP accounting for 15pc. The High Court has not found any legal flaw in a decision to refuse to extend planning permission for the construction of 15 homes on a site in Dalkey, south Co Dublin, on which a developer has so far carried out some 1.125m worth of works. Mr Justice David Holland dismissed a request by developer Grassridge Limited to overturn Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Councils refusal to extend planning permission granted in 2018 and valid for six years. He said his decision to dismiss was not without appreciable sympathy for Grassridges position. Grassridge wanted a two-year planning permission extension and claimed the pandemic and high construction tenders had delayed it in commencing works on the site of a former nursing home on Ardbrugh Road. Work began in April of this year five months before the permissions expiry with site preparation, levelling and demolition of the nursing home costing some 1.125m, Grassridge said. The council said it was obliged to refuse Grassridges extension application as it was not satisfied substantial works had yet been carried out. In its High Court challenge, the company alleged the council misinterpreted the meaning of substantial works. Mr Justice Holland rejected this ground after concluding that the phrase is a relative rather than an absolute concept. He noted the council interpreted the phrase as connoting a substantial proportion of the overall works. Noting the works done are in excess of 1m, the judge said he did not find or rule out that the council could have found that the works were substantial. He accepted there is a strong case for arguing the works are substantial. However, this was a matter for the council, rather than the court, to decide. Once a council determined works were not substantial, it has no discretion to refrain from refusing an extension, he said. Grassridge also claimed the refusal was disproportionate as the council knew about the expiry date when it accepted significant sums and a notice of intention to begin building last April. The council denied disproportionality and submitted that its acceptance of the developers commencement notice falls under Building Control Regulations, which are entirely separate from the planning code. Mr Justice Holland dismissed the claims, finding there was no lack of fair procedures or proportionality. He dismissed Grassridges other complaints, including alleging the decision contained legal and factual errors. Cost of 10-year debt for Ireland now close to Germanys and significantly cheaper than what France would pay The Government plans to borrow between 6bn and 10bn next year despite an expected budget surplus again in 2025 and a huge cash pile heading out of this year. The National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), which borrows on behalf of the State, has said it will borrow between 6bn and 10bn over the course of 2025 in an end-of-year update to investors. Budget surpluses mean the requirement for new borrowing is low. The NTMA expects the State will have a cash balance of 30bn at the end of this year thanks to record tax collection topped up by the first of the Apple tax billions. Even so, continuing to issue new bonds, especially as existing debt falls due, is regarded as important in maintaining long-term relations with investors. The NTMAs plans to issue 6bn to 10bn of debt, including at least one syndicated bond deal in 2025, fits with that theory. The NTMA said it is not expecting to issue any Treasury Bills, a type of very short-term debt that is repaid in just months, next year. The NTMA raised 6bn on the markets in 2024, at the bottom of the funding range set out at the end of last year. That money was less than the volume of debt redeemed this year, including 8.1bn and 800m of bailout loans from the European Financial Stabilisation Mechanism (EFSM). The Irish Governments borrowing costs for new debt in 2024 hovered around 2.5pc a year for 10-year bonds, well above the zero and even negative rates seen during the Covid era but relatively cheap compared with historic norms. The yield on Irish 10-year bonds on Thursday was 2.44pc, significantly lower than France would have to pay to borrow. Irish government bonds are now regarded as core in EU terms. The cost of borrowing for the Irish State is close to Germanys 2.131pc for 10-year debt and significantly cheaper than the 2.952pc France would be charged to issue a 10-year bond. French debt costs have widened in recent days on concerns the still relatively new administration of prime minister Michel Barnier could collapse over opposition to budget-tightening plans. French bond yields, a proxy for the cost of borrowing, moved past Greeces at one point on Wednesday. French bonds got a boost when Mr Barnier told Le Figaro that his government will not raise taxes on electricity a critical sign he is seeking a compromise on the budget. That helped 10-year yields solidify their recovery below 3pc, and put the spread over German bunds on course for its biggest narrowing since July. Barring any more political headlines, the next big risk event for France comes on Friday , when S&P Global Ratings is scheduled to update its assessment of the country. Both Fitch and Moodys gave France a negative outlook last month. Meanwhile, Irelands financial cushion means the NTMA is facing into a more benign borrowing environment next year. Memorial: The Story of HIV/Aids in Ireland is a new RTE documentary which shows how many people were devastated by the spread of HIV in the 1980s and 1990s Archivist, historian and campaigner Tonie Walsh is still angry about the Governments inaction after HIV/Aids started spreading during the 80s in Ireland. Photo: RTE If todays generation of young people watch Memorial: The Story of HIV/Aids in Ireland (RTE One, Thursday November 29, 10.15pm), theyll see the Ireland of the 1980s, a period that might as well be ancient history to them. Condoms were illegal up until 1987. Even after decriminalisation, only people over 18 could purchase them from pharmacies half of which flatly refused to stock them. Many young people didnt know how to use them properly. It took Gay Byrne, on a famously heated edition of The Late Late Show, to explain in detail, and with the help of an instructional video, the right way to put one on. The centrepiece of Jonathan de Burca Butler and Graham Seelys documentary is the memorial of the title: Embraced Loop, the beautiful monument to Irelands HIV/AIDS victims by artists Anaisa Franco and Michael R DiCarlo that now stands in the Phoenix Park. It was unveiled last December by Leo Varadkar, the countrys first gay Taoiseach who, in a sense, is a living, breathing symbol of how much the country has changed in four decades. Around the story of its design and construction by Brian Arkins steel fabrication company are the stories of those who survived, who carry with them the stories of those who didnt. For those of us who vividly remember the early years of HIV/Aids, which found this small island with almost zero sex education (many school principals refused to allow even rudimentary sex education pollute their classrooms) the ideal place to rampage, the film can still move us to tears and just as easily to anger. Tonie Walsh, the archivist, historian and campaigner, likens that time to being in a war. There was a relentless quality to the destruction and death around us, he says. In the 80s, Breda Gahan, a global health and HIV advisor, was a young nurse working with HIV/Aids patients in St Jamess Hospital, which she says was a privilege and a misfortune. She wasnt used to seeing people like her, in their 20s, dying. But one by one, every patient in her unit did die. We really needed counselling ourselves, she says. It was hard to take. Campaigner Liz Martin was a young mother of four. Shed met her partner, who was volatile and violent, when she was 15 and he was 16. When both of them were diagnosed HIV positive, she fled to a village in Galway to get away from him. Compassion there was in short supply. Her house was egged, her kids were spat on and locals told her to go back to Dublin where she belonged. When I look at specific examples of how the Government let us down, I have to temper my anger Every day, Tonie Walsh thinks about the friends he lost. Dublin is alive with ghosts, he says. One of those ghosts is Thom McGinty, the celebrated street performer known as The Diceman, a lovely man I had the pleasure of interviewing in the 80s. Thom was diagnosed in 1990; he died in 1994, having used what time he had left to get the message out. Someone had to. As so often in this countrys history, many newspapers were on the wrong side. They spread fear and hysteria; their tone was hostile. Colm Walshs sibling received contaminated plasma. Photo: Daragh Mc Sweeney/Provision The thinking was that nobody cared about gay people or drug users. But haemophiliacs were also contracting HIV, as well as hepatitis C, from plasma drawn from a vast pool of global blood donors. Brian OMahony, CEO of the Irish Haematology Society, says that if one or two donors had HIV or hep C, it became a lottery of death. Colm Walsh is a severe factor IX haemophiliac. So was his brother Brendan, who died after receiving contaminated plasma. It was 1986 before plasma exclusively from traceable Irish donors was introduced. In Ireland in the 80s, everything happened too late. The Government of the day dragged its feet intervening. It censored access to information, took four years to produce a leaflet and was slow to provide funding. When I look at specific examples of how the Government let us down, I have to temper my anger, says Tonie Walsh. Its a hard thing to do, even after all these years. A superb documentary that should be required viewing in schools. Memorial - The Story of HIV/AIDS in Ireland, 10.15pm, RTE One and on RTE Player Latest | Hutch gang member James Mago Gately and partner given four months to leave family home High Court had said house in north Dublin was found to overwhelmingly derive from proceeds of crime James 'Mago' Gately Tim Healy Fri 29 Nov 2024 at 17:59 Leading Hutch gang member James Mago Gately and his partner have been given four months to vacate their family home, which the High Court has found to overwhelmingly derive from proceeds of crime. In the Cork South Central jungle, only one political 'big beast' will contest a seat in the 34th Dail. Current TDs (four seats) Micheal Martin (FF), Michael McGrath (FF), Simon Coveney (FG) and Donnchadh O'Laoghaire (SF). Fianna Fail leader and former Taoiseach Micheal Martin will contest his ninth general election - all of which he has won since 1989 - as his two major constituency colleagues/rivals, Michael McGrath and Simon Coveney, depart the local political scene. Mr Coveney, a former Tanaiste and Fine Gael leadership challenger, is retiring from national politics while Michael McGrath, a Dail deputy since 2007 and former Finance Minister, is Ireland's new EU Commissioner. If the departure of both 'big beasts' from the constituency wasn't drama enough, Cork South Central will revert back to being a five seat constituency having had four Dail berths since 2016. Both developments open the door for new political careers - and potentially smaller political parties. Apart from Mr Martin, the only TD defending his seat in the constituency is Sinn Fein's Donnchadh O'Laoghaire. First elected in 2016, he boasts a strong local organisation and should easily defy the difficulties Sinn Fein has found itself mired in to secure a place in the 34th Dail. The party are running a two-candidate ticket with Michelle Cowhey Shahid, a Sinn Fein regional secretary, contesting her first Dail election. For Fianna Fail, Michael McGrath's brother, Councillor Seamus McGrath, will attempt to retain the party's second seat in a three-candidate ticket alongside Margaret Kenneally, a Bishopstown-based businesswoman and first time election candidate. The McGraths operate a formidable political machine in the Cork harbour area and, in the 2016 General Election, Michael McGrath even managed to out-poll his party leader by 449 votes. For Fine Gael, the retirement of Mr Coveney heralds the birth of new political careers - or the renaissance of older campaigners. Councillor Shane O'Callaghan and Councillor Una McCarthy will attempt to retain a Cork South Central Dail berth that has variously been held over the years by such party heavyweights as Peter Barry, Hugh Coveney, Deirdre Clune and Simon Coveney. Senator Jerry Buttimer - who came second in voting at the local FG selection convention - was subsequently added to the ticket to form a three-candidate strategy for FG. The fact that Bishopstown, his traditional base, has been returned to the constituency is a key asset to Sen Buttimer who lost his Dail berth at the 2016 General Election. In last June's Local Government Election, Councillor O'Callaghan's 1,870 first preferences in Cork City Council's South Central ward was not only the best by his party in Cork but one of their major bright spots nationally. A strong challenge is expected from Independents with former Lord Mayor Mick Finn tipped to poll well. Where are the potential gains? The key question arising is who will benefit from the extra Dail seat as the constituency returns to a five seater thanks to the addition of territory from Cork North Central? Traditionally, the constituency provided a three-two split between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael before Labour, the Progressive Democrats, Greens and finally Sinn Fein made breakthroughs. Fine Gael lost their second seat in 2016. Now, parties outside the 'Big Three' will be hoping to make a breakthrough or reclaim a Dail berth they once held. Labour, Greens, Social Democrats, Socialist/People Before Profit, Aontu and even independents will be targeting the extra fifth seat. Labour held a seat here until 2016 and will be hoping Councillor Laura Harmon mirrors the strong performance she delivered in the Local Government elections when she garnered 1,240 first preference votes. The Green Party - who also enjoyed a breakthrough here thanks to current Lord Mayor Councillor Dan Boyle in 2002 - will run Dr Monica Oikeh, a GP in the Carrigaline and Douglas area. Social Democrats enjoyed unexpected gains in Cork last June and will see Padraig Rice contest Cork South Central. For the various independent challengers, there is hope of a repeat of Kathy Sinnott's stunning performance at the 2002 General Election when she narrowly missed out on a seat, after several recounts, by just six votes to Fianna Fail's John Dennehy. Any boundary changes? The constituency reverts back to a five-seater for the first time since 2016 after gaining portions of former Cork North Central territory and to recognise local population growth. The territorial gains are primarily in the Bishopstown area. Independent candidate Dr Ilse-Maria Nolan has a wide range of interests as the director of a medical company to being a private pilot, and now she has thrown her hat in the ring for one of three seats in the Wicklow Wexford constituency. Originally from Cabinteely in Dublin, her home is very close to the Wicklow border and she says she has spent a lot of time in Wicklow and Wexford throughout her life as she has many family and friends in both places. Despite this, running in the general election was a last minute decision for her. "Two weeks ago, this wasnt in my diary. Ive never been involved in an election before but I decided to run so I looked at the constituencies and I saw that Wicklow-Wexford was a new constituency and I thought this was a new opportunity and new energy. At that time, there was only two or three candidates so it looked like it would be good odds basically, said Ilse-Maria. Ilse-Maria has a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Microbiology and a Doctorate in Cancer Research in UCD. Furthermore, she also enjoys reading, hiking and shooting and obtained her private pilot licence in 2016. Three recent events spurred on her decision to run in the election, from the Hate Offenses Legislation, the Taoiseach signing Ireland up to the United Nations pact for the Future and Donald Trumps election. As a result, she felt compelled to run in the upcoming general election because shes very concerned by the Governments performance over the last two years. It has failed to deliver the promises of the 2020 election campaign and I fundamentally disagree with Irish Government policy and the direction theyre taking the country. I believe the Government is out of touch with the Irish people, has utterly failed Ireland and is really unprepared for the challenges ahead, said Ilse-Maria. Ilse-Maria is a businesswoman and has worked for 20 years in private industry and now runs her own company. If elected, she aims to bring her business perspective to the Government. Many of her family members also have a business background and she has spoken to SMEs about a scheme to make it more cost effective to buy and rent. Ilse-Maria believes the role of the stay at home mum s arguably the most important in society and that its important to support pensioners. Its really to do with the referendum that the Irish Government ran in March this year where they were proposing to remove recognition of the woman in the household from the Irish constitution. "The country said a resounding no to that and what I want to do is to recognise and double down on that and reward the role of stay at home Mum because its such difficult times and the early years for a child are so important for their development. I think its so important that we enable stay at home Moms to continue their vital work, said Ilse-Maria. Her idea is to have a salary for mothers which is bench marked to the minimum wage. In terms of pensioners, shes spoken to people on doorsteps and seen how many elderly people are struggling. She proposes that the pension is also benchmarked to the minimum wage. Additionally, she believes Ireland should not have a two-tier health system and everyone should have equal access to health services. To rectify the current housing crisis and immediately house people she is proposing the introduction a non-profit state fund which supplies low interest mortgages based on a mortgage term of up to 100 years with an option to pay it off sooner, zero VAT instead of 23 per cent and interest fixed at 3 per cent for initial term of approximately 10 years. Shes been canvassing in both south Wicklow and north Wexford recently. "People have been generally very receptive when I say Im an independent candidate, that was very noticeable. I was in Arklow over the weekend and when I flagged that I noticed people were a lot more receptive. The feedback that Ive had, people seem a lot more interested in the housing scheme. A lot of them told me, oh yes they have that in Switzerland and France so Ive gotten good feedback on that. People seem to understand it and that it will spread out the cost and make it much more affordable. Its a good solution and its an alternative to all the other parties that are just saying the same thing. With other parties, the worrying thing is how are they coming up with different figures for houses, surely they should all be working on the same population or source data, whatever theyre basing it on but theyre coming up with different figures which is worrying, said Ilse-Maria. Speaking on the biggest challenges of her campaign, Ilse-Maria said, in terms of my chances, Id say theyre slim because I havent had a big campaign like other parties who are a lot more prepared. My policies are different and people can see that, if I can get my messaging out there it would have a good chance, said Ilse-Maria. Hindsight is supposedly 20/20, but the Irish electorate may be about to prove the same applies to foresight. Before a vote has even been cast, sights are set on voters giving 20pc each, give or take, to Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein and Fine Gael. That, of course, is if the opinion polls are to be believed. More than 3.6 million people are registered to vote today. Second-guessing how people may vote seldom pays off. However, the expected fragmentation of the result does tell us no party has grounds for feeling overconfident. The only thing experienced poll-watchers are prepared to commit to is that its game on. But what game? Thats the question party leaders may be asking themselves. If Taoiseach Simon Harris was buoyant and upbeat at the outset, boosted by the Harris hop, his expectations are probably more moderate after a sobering campaign. He signed off with a call for voters to transfer to centrist parties and named Fianna Fail and Labour, an appeal that Labour said smacked of desperation. The old political truism that holds that people vote their resentment, not their appreciation may be coming into play. Fianna Fail leader and Tanaiste Micheal Martin has said he would be hoping to form a coherent and stable government that would last the next four-and-a-half years, but he was oh so careful to stress that it was a matter for the people. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald was equally deferential. She tailored her message for those who traditionally stayed away from her party, appealing to them to lend us your vote. Whats inside the ballot boxes for the 174 seats, spread over 43 constituencies, remains to be seen. But it says much about the tone of political life when, according to RTE, many candidates were spooked by the degree of politeness demonstrated to them on the nations doorsteps. They are so unaccustomed to being so treated that they felt uneasy, as if punters were hiding something. Theyll know soon enough. Mr Martin seemed bemused when asked if his party would back his stance on ruling out a coalition with Sinn Fein. He speculated it might be raised for mischievous reasons. But it would be more remarkable had he not been asked, given the closeness of the race. The smaller parties and Independents may also have a part to play in the next government, given the splintering of the vote. This election may well be remembered as the one in which billions replaced millions in the price of promises. Edmund Burke once cautioned: When the leaders choose to make themselves bidders at an auction of popularity, their talents, in the construction of the State, will be of no service. Time will tell. Yet only you get to decide whether the direction of our country will be to the left, right or centre. So be sure to vote. Sinn Fein's Cathy Bennett elected in Cavan-Monaghan Ms Bennett joins running mate Matt Carthy and Fine Gael's David Maxwell on the ticket, with just two seats in the constituency, and the country, left to be filled. It was elation once again for Sinn Fein as first time candidate Cathy Bennett won a seat to Dail Eireann amid wild celebrations in the Cavan Leisure when she was elected. Her supporters sang 'Oro Se Do Bheatha Abhaile' at full pitch this evening. Cathy Bennett got 3,281 votes from Matt Carthys transfers putting her on 13,383 and giving her a surplus of 1,841 to be distributed between Fianna Fails Brendan Smith and Niamh Smyth and Aontus Sarah OReilly. Niamh Smyth is on 10,856 after getting 73 from Carthys surplus while Brendan Smith got 94 pushing him to 10,616. Aontus Sara OReilly got 131 from Carthys surplus and is on 9,129 and looks like she will finish in sixth place. But, there was a heavy feeling of inevitability on the 13th count as Cathy Bennett, Brendan Smith, and Niamh Smyth relaxed with their families and friends so you had none of the quaintly manic nail biting of other elections where a delicious sense of hope and wonder filled the air. Smith and Smyth are sitting TDs and Fianna Fails vote has increased by around 600 votes while Sinn Feins overall vote is down around 2000 votes while Fine Gaels vote is down around 5,000 votes. But they will be happy to have held the seat that ex Minister Heather Humphreys worked so hard to win and first timer David Maxwell has big shoes to fill. But for those who won, it was all worth the trudging of the winding roads of Cavan and Monaghan in the deep winter was all worthwhile. But with one more count to go, Brendan Smith and Niamh Smyth look set be elected. Gerry McLaughlin Ellen Coyne: A celebrity name alone is not always enough to win a Dail seat even for the most famous candidates Parties are courting celebrities more and more, but the power of name recognition in an election can be limited Former TV presenter Cynthia Ni Mhurchu was elected as an MEP earlier this year. Photo: Steve Humphreys Ellen Coyne Fri 29 Nov 2024 at 03:30 Ben Griffin was doing well. In 2011, researchers at Vanderbilt University found that the entirely fictitious candidate was performing strongly in a local race, purely because those asked had been exposed to posters with his name on them. Video endorsing party in Ireland was paid for and circulated by European political party Independent Ireland has pulled a paid ad for its general election campaign amid question marks over whether it was paid for out of EU money. Political advertisement by EU groupings in a domestic election is strictly prohibited. The social media video for Independent Ireland says it was Paid for by PDE-EDP Patri Democratic europeen - a European political party in receipt of EU funds. The sponsored videos are running on the European Democrats social media accounts. The videos featured MEP Ciaran Mullooly, a former RTE journalist. If you want real change in Ireland, remember, vote Independent Ireland: this is the special message from our MEP Ciaran Mullooly, the ad says. In the sponsored video, paid for out of EU funds, Mr Mullooly specifically names Independent Ireland candidates If you vote for Independent Ireland candidates, youll get common sense decision making. I can assure you of that. What that means is you get people in the Dail who are not afraid to stand up for their own rural community, who wont be controlled by a party whip or told what to do. Theyll make decisions on a case-by-case basis. Yes, we will agree on a budget when the time comes, but it will reflect our priorities, your priorities, and be part of a government programme that serves you. My message to you from the European Parliament this week is very simple. Sometimes its important in life to stand up and be counted. I did it for Independent Ireland and Im doing it here in Europe. This Friday Im asking you to stand up and be counted too. Support Michael Fitzmaurice, Michael Collins, Richard ODonoghue and their team of over 30 candidates all over the country please. Give them your number one in the general election on Friday. If you want real change, remember, vote Independent Ireland, he says. The video closes with the Independent Ireland logo and says Vote No 1. The video is still online but is no longer sponsored so it not being pushed to a targeted audience. Independent Ireland says the video is no longer a paid-for ad. I have received confirmation from the EDP that the video on their page was produced by Ciaran himself and did not cost anything, a spokesperson said. There was a spend of 14,07 by the EDP on ad, which they say that can do as we are not a parliamentary group, but a European political party and we are free to do things like this. To be safe, I have requested that the ad spend be stopped and the ad is now turned off. Rules on EU funding for political parties are clear as the money cannot be spent on campaign costs elections or funding of national parties election candidates. Political parties, before a vote is cast, declaring who they will not form a coalition with are denying a voice to upwards of 60pc of the electorate. Our politicians are showing they are not able to co-operate in the interest of the citizens. They are trying to sway voting by fearmongering. Maybe its time to form a national government after the election in the national interest? Hugh McDermott, Dromahair, Co Leitrim Ive run the polling station gauntlet before, and its quite the endurance test Down the years, I worked as a clerk in various polling stations. One has to be in situ by 6.30am and, of course, you are there until close of business at 10pm. Completing your paperwork then takes around 20 minutes. Its a long day, and of course one gets paid and is allowed meal breaks. However, the day is naturally a fair old test of endurance. I hung up my pencil some time ago, but let me propose a vote of thanks to all those still doing the stations. Tom Gilsenan, Beaumont, Dublin 9 Sinn Feins base attempt to whitewash history wont ring true with older voters Sinn Feins hollow new mantra bemoaning 100 years of Fine Gael/Fianna Fail government conveniently omits a few salient facts. For the vast majority of this period, Sinn Fein rejected the legitimacy of the Irish State and refused to take its seats in Dail Eireann. Instead, it chose to support the killing of innocent civilians in various bombing campaigns undertaken by multiple versions of the IRA, in addition to the shooting of Irish soldiers and gardai, supposedly in pursuit of an Irish Republic. Meanwhile, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, despite their serious differences, set about the task of actually creating a real Republic, supported by the ordinary, decent people of Ireland; the same people who soundly rejected Sinn Fein in free, democratic elections over many decades another uncomfortable truth ignored in Sinn Feins dubious narrative. The partys attempt to whitewash its violent past is dangerous to democracy and needs to be recognised by a new generation of voters too young to remember the daily killings of the 1970s and 1980s. The majority of Irish people who believe in democracy and lived through those times have not forgotten. Sinn Fein would do well to remember that these same people the Irish people havent gone away you know. Henry Cruise, Celbridge, Co Kildare Showband documentary made a fun part of our past unnecessarily negative The documentary on RTE about the showband era was very interesting, up to a point. It was ruined somewhat by the false background narrative that Ireland was a dark/grim place back then. Maybe for some people, but certainly not for all. Your reviewer, Pat Stacey, was spot on. Way too earnest. Made a fun subject pompous. As usual, Diarmaid Ferriter (the go-to historian) sucked the fun out of it. My parents and older siblings experienced some of that era. Their reminiscences and experiences dont correlate at all with the negative spin of the programme. Before the showbands, most towns had brass bands and traditional bands. Ireland had a healthy amateur dramatics history, and most reasonably-sized towns had one or two cinemas. Dublin had more theatres than all other UK cities, apart from London. Of course, things werent perfect (they never are), but on a comparing and contrasting basis, we have nothing to be ashamed of. Eric Conway, Navan, Co Meath Life is precious, but adults should have the right to make euthanasia choice Mary Haran (Election candidates ought to be asked about stance on euthanasia, Letters, November 28) makes a good point about legalised euthanasia and the excellent hospice care in Ireland. However, speaking for myself, I would welcome and prefer the option of legal euthanasia if I were so ill and unable to successfully complete the task myself. Life is precious, but the option of euthanasia should be adults right, provided two doctors are in agreement. Ms Haran cant make those judgment calls for others. I hope assisted euthanasia becomes available in law in the UK in the near future. Dominic Shelmerdine, London Hezbollah-Israel truce can hold, but the fate of Gaza and its people still bleak The Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire is likely to hold, but it is unlikely to be a harbinger of a wider peace in the Middle East. A generation of Palestinian children has been traumatised by Israels war on Gaza. Their future has been permanently crippled. Israel has made Gaza uninhabitable. It has engaged in actions that not only resulted in mass death, collective punishment, desolation, desperation, famine and rampant diseases, but resulted also in the wholesale destruction of ecosystems, ensuring that all remaining life in Gaza is irreparably ravaged. Dr Munjed Farid Al Qutob, London Zappones inclusivity call is welcome, but dissenting voices are also needed I am writing in response to Katherine Zappones opinion piece, (Dublin riots remind us we need to hear all voices in the national conversation, Irish Independent, November 28). While her call for inclusivity in discourse is commendable, it is important to address an underlying implication that dissenting views, particularly those critical of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or public policy, are contributing to societal unrest. We live in a democracy, and one of its cornerstones is the right to scrutinise and raise concerns about institutions, including NGOs. NGOs wield significant influence on public policy and societal narratives, often operating with public funding. It is not divisive to hold them accountable; rather, it is an essential function of a healthy democracy. This is especially pertinent, given that in 2020, many NGOs, including the National Womens Council of Ireland (NWCI), signed a letter calling for women who believe in the reality of biological sex to lose their right to political and media representation. Inclusivity requires openness to diverse perspectives, even those that challenge institutional orthodoxy. Sarah Holmes, Newcastle, Co Wicklow Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin speaking to the media as he casts his vote at St Anthony's Boys' School, Beechwood Park, Ballinlough, Cork, as voters go to polls the for the 2024 General Election in Ireland. Jacob King/PA Wire Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin speaking to the media as he casts his vote at St Anthony's Boys' School, Beechwood Park, Ballinlough, Cork, as voters go to polls the for the 2024 General Election in Ireland. Jacob King/PA Wire Ireland's Tanaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) and leader of Fianna Fail, Micheal Martin speaks to the media after voting at a polling station in St. Anthony's Boys National school, during Ireland's general election, in Cork, Ireland, November 29, 2024. REUTERS/Damien Eagers Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin speaking to the media as he casts his vote at St Anthony's Boys' School, Beechwood Park, Ballinlough, Cork, as voters go to polls the for the 2024 General Election in Ireland. Jacob King/PA Wire Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, accompanied by his family, casts his vote at St Anthony's Boys' School, Beechwood Park, Ballinlough, Cork, as voters go to the polls for the 2024 General Election in Ireland. Jacob King/PA Wire Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, accompanied by his family, casts his vote at St Anthony's Boys' School, Beechwood Park, Ballinlough, Cork, as voters go to the polls for the 2024 General Election in Ireland. Jacob King/PA Wire Tanaiste Micheal Martin insisted he felt "very hopeful" about Fianna Fail's General Election prospects as he acknowledged concerns that the poor weather today could hit voter turnout. Mr Martin was speaking as he voted with his family at St Anthony's Boys National School in Ballinlough, Cork. The Tanaiste voted alongside his wife, Mary, and his children with his sons who are both past pupils of St Anthony's. "It is a great pity (about the weather)," he admitted. "It is not a good weather day but we have had this before in different elections." Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin speaking to the media as he casts his vote at St Anthony's Boys' School, Beechwood Park, Ballinlough, Cork, as voters go to polls the for the 2024 General Election in Ireland. Jacob King/PA Wire "People still turn out to vote and as we came in this morning it was clear that people were making the effort to vote - and I would encourage people to vote. "It is a very key part of our democracy. The weather, notwithstanding, we would urge people to go out and vote. (But) it is a pity that it is such a wet morning." Ireland's Tanaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) and leader of Fianna Fail, Micheal Martin speaks to the media after voting at a polling station in St. Anthony's Boys National school, during Ireland's general election, in Cork, Ireland, November 29, 2024. REUTERS/Damien Eagers Mr Martin insisted that he has been campaigning to be Taoiseach after General Election 2024 - and nothing else. "I am fighting to be Taoiseach - I am campaigning to be Taoiseach after the election. But nothing is certain until every vote is counted. There is the aftermath of an election in terms of what happens in Dail Eireann itself." Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin speaking to the media as he casts his vote at St Anthony's Boys' School, Beechwood Park, Ballinlough, Cork, as voters go to polls the for the 2024 General Election in Ireland. Jacob King/PA Wire Mr Martin refused to comment on the prospect of another rotating Taoiseach agreement with Fine Gael. "I am not getting into that today - the people are voting today so lets have respect for the people. I think it is far, far too premature to be speculating about anything other than our objective which is to maximise the number of Fianna Fail votes and the number of Fianna Fail seats. We will take it from there once the count is over." He continued; "I am very clear that I don't want to be overly prescriptive to the person who is voting. We are seeking to maximise the Fianna Fail vote for Fianna Fail candidates. What we are saying in the aftermath of the general election in terms of the formation of a Government is that we will align with parties that agree with the macro-fundamental principles of an enterprise economy of a positive pro-EU position, parties that are democratic in terms of how they conduct their affairs, parties that favour home ownership and that is very important." But he said he was very hopeful of the party's electoral prospects. "So there is a lot of hard work ahead. But certainly I did have a very good feeling in the last two to three days in terms of the response I was getting after the debates." Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin speaking to the media as he casts his vote at St Anthony's Boys' School, Beechwood Park, Ballinlough, Cork, as voters go to polls the for the 2024 General Election in Ireland. Jacob King/PA Wire "I received a very warm response in Louth, Wexford and Wicklow yesterday. We are in a good frame going into this election. It is now in the hands of the people, we fought a positive campaign and we feel that. "The sense from all of the constituencies in the past 24 hours has been very positive from our candidates and people sending messages to me. We are hopeful of a good result but we are taking nothing for granted. "We have a long day ahead of us. The focus for the party is to get our supporters, friends and families and the vote out. Irrespective of the weather." He warned that Ireland needed stable Government - and no one wanted to see such instability that another general election was on the horizon. Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, accompanied by his family, casts his vote at St Anthony's Boys' School, Beechwood Park, Ballinlough, Cork, as voters go to the polls for the 2024 General Election in Ireland. Jacob King/PA Wire "That is something we do not want...it is clearly in the hands of the people. Political parties can offer stability and our political system is such that it will reflect a diverse range of public opinion. That is good. But on the other hand we need a Government to emerge from this election that can take decisive action and that can last a full term to allow those decisions to be made. "From a Fianna Fail perspective we have fought a very positive campaign and a very engaging campaign. I want to thank everyone who engaged with our candidates and for their courtesy. "We are cautiously hopeful about the outcome of this. "But it will be a close fought race. I think it is important that we are in a position to form a coherent and stable Government after this election that can meet the very serious challenges that face this country. "We (FF) really are competitive in all constituencies. We have a stronger candidate selection right across the country (then in 2020). The Local Government Elections were good for us in that respect. We had newer candidates coming through so there is a broad diversity there." Mr Martin admitted he follows the same ritual for every General Election count - with officials from all parties warned to leave him alone until lunchtime after the conclusion of an exhausting and intense election campaign. The Tanaiste revealed he will enjoy a late breakfast on Saturday morning before undertaking some shopping at a farmer's market and a coffee with family and friends before returning to electoral mode and querying developments at the Nemo Rangers GAA count centre. Nemo is the count centre for both Cork North Central and Cork South Central constituencies. "I take it easy (on count days)," he said. "Ill have a very good breakfast (on Saturday) morning and I tell everyone not to come near me until about midday. "I don't want to hear a tally from the 44th box - there is no point. I can go over all that later. "Actually, I am very relaxed on count day and the only challenge is to make sure that I can keep the noise out." Mr Martin said he has evolved his own routine for relaxing before heading to the count centre. "Probably going into town and do a few things - go to Douglas (Farmers) Market maybe and then in around maybe midday or 1pm, maybe, depending on when the tally will be finished, head to the count centre, he said. "It is very familiar ground for me in Nemo Rangers and I'll enjoy that - and maybe that will be a good omen. "Personally, yes, Ive always had good results in Nemo." Mr Martin also stressed that he won't be bothered by worries about how the election will transpire for Fianna Fail. "I am a good sleeper and will sleep tonight, no bother, he said. Taoiseach Simon Harris has said not canvassing in Co Louth where Senator John McGahon is a candidate, was an "intentional decision" and that his time was directed to candidates "who deserved that time". Throughout the three week campaign, the Fine Gael leader has visited almost every constituency across the country, except for two, which has included Co Louth. The conduct of Mr McGahon has received significant focus in the lead-up to election day, after video emerged of Mr McGahons assault on a man, which he was later found 65pc liable for in civil court. Mr Harris said while he wanted people to know there was a second candidate in the Louth constituency, he said Mr McGahon did not have a criminal conviction. Asked how many constituencies he had not visited, Mr Harris confirmed it was two. "I've had to direct my time and attention to areas, to candidates who deserve that time," Mr Harris said on The Last Word with Matt Cooper. "I think the answer is two [constituencies not visited]. But I'm being clear, that was an intentional decision of mine," he added. Mr Harris said the candidacy of Mr McGahon was something he has thought about "long and hard" because of the level of questioning he has received. He added that the senator being found not guilty of a crime had "to count for something" but that Mr McGahon was "rightly fined" over behaviour that was "utterly inappropriate". "I think what people will do is, they will view him in the round and I've been making the point consistently that he is one of two Fine Gael candidates that are running [in the constituency]," Mr Harris said. The two presenters have confirmed that an election special tomorrow night will be their last time hosting the flagship show. THE two presenters of Virgin Medias Tonight Show are to leave the station after this weekends election coverage. Ciara Doherty and Claire Brock both confirmed that tomorrow night will be their last time fronting the late night politics programme. The move comes after Virgin Media reduced the number of episodes per week from four to two on the eve of the general election being called. Ms Doherty, who has been with the broadcaster for 14 years, said she has decided to move on from late nights and early mornings to begin a new adventure. She was previously a presenter on the stations flagship breakfast show Ireland AM. Ms Brock said: This weekend I will present my last Tonight Show, as Ive made the decision to move on from the role, and from Virgin Media Television. Its been a privilege to work alongside brilliant colleagues and friends over many years in Ballymount. Both women thanked the teams who worked with them as well as viewers. Their last night in the Tonight Show studio will be tomorrow night when they front a show on the fallout from the general election. It is expected that temporary hosts will be put in place for the coming weeks. At the end of October Virgin Media told staff that it was reducing its current affairs output, partly blaming government decisions around funding for rivals RTE. Managing Director Aine Ni Chaoindealbhain said at the time: Virgin Media Television remains committed to public service broadcasting and will continue to invest in our news and current affairs output. However, due to challenging market conditions and the fact that our ask of government to financially support our public service content has not been met, we have been forced to make the difficult decision to reduce The Tonight Show weekly output. Claire Brock and Ciara Doherty Election 2024 daily update: Friday 29th of November 2024 Posting on Instagram, Ms Doherty thanks her incredible colleagues and friends as well as the guests and viewers who joined me along the way. Before I depart theres the small matter of an election. See you all tonight at 10.35pm for our election special. In a post which appeared at the same time on her social media, Ms Brock also thanked the viewers who watched and supported us. Now is the time for fresh opportunities, few late nights and Im genuinely looking forward to whats ahead. Before that, an election! Tanaiste and Fianna Fail Leader Micheal Martin plays basketball as he canvasses with local candidate Catherine Ardagh at St Seton's Secondary School in Ballyfermot, Dublin, ahead of the General Election on November 29. Picture date: Tuesday November 26, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story IRISH Election. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire One of the most recent polls found that the majority of people who watched the final debate believed that Taoiseach Simon Harris lost. Photo: PA Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald speaks with local activists as she campaigns for the final day, ahead of an Ireland's general election, in Loughlinstown, Ireland November 28, 2024. REUTERS/Toby Melville Voters will decide today if Ireland should continue to be run by the main two parties in the current government or if responsibility for the State should be passed to a radical new coalition. A total of 687 candidates across 43 constituencies are asking for voters first preferences when they mark their ballots in local polling stations. But with public support for the three main political parties Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Sinn Fein deadlocked, vote transfers will be more important than ever to the candidates vying for one of the record number of 174 Dail seats to be filled. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have run separate campaigns, but are very much asking voters to return them to Government Buildings to continue the work of the Coalition they formed with the Green Party. However, the Labour Party emerged as the preferred choice of coalition for Fianna Fail and Fine Gael as the campaign progressed. Sinn Fein has borrowed a more-than-a decade-old line from Fine Gael grandee Phil Hogan in asking people to lend the party their vote and give them a chance to take the reins of power. Mary Lou McDonald echoed this line, but is also urging Sinn Fein voters to transfer to the Social Democrats and hard-left People Before Profit. In a bid to shore up voter support for five more years of the so-called grand coalition, Taoiseach Simon Harris is urging people to vote for his party and transfer to other centre-ground parties. After a difficult campaign, Mr Harris has been forced to lean heavily on Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe, who has strong public support. In a last-minute intervention, Mr Donohoe published a statement warning not all change is safe as he urged voters to reconsider supporting Sinn Fein or Independent candidates. Fine Gael has also sought to sow the seeds of concern over Fianna Fail entering into a coalition with Sinn Fein rather than Fine Gael after people vote. The party has targeted a number of Fianna Fail TDs who in the past said they were open to coalescing with Sinn Fein in government. However, on the final day of the campaign yesterday, Tanaiste Micheal Martin branded Fine Gaels strategy as mischievous and said it was an attempt to undermine his party. General Election 2024 party leaders Mini manifestos: What the main three parties promise on health The Fianna Fail leader doubled down on his stance of ruling out a coalition with Sinn Fein, saying its core principles do not align with his party. Throughout the campaign, Mr Martin has sought to paint Sinn Fein as an anti-enterprise party that does not support the European Union. However, Sinn Fein is undoubtedly the party with the most momentum behind it. This is mostly down to Ms McDonalds party making marginal gains coming from a low base after the local and European elections. Just over a year ago, Sinn Fein looked destined to be the lead party after this general election, but a number of political mis-steps saw public support plummet. This included supporting the ill-fated referendums on carers and the family, along with targeting Justice Minister Helen McEntee and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris following the Dublin riots. Sinn Fein sparked backlash among its working-class base due to its support for the Governments immigration policies, which ultimately led to a U-turn on its stance on both hate-speech laws and supports for refugees and asylum-seekers. Nonetheless, Ms McDonald has appeared comfortable when canvassing or when faced with media scrutiny. She has also somehow managed to shake off the controversies that engulfed Sinn Fein in the run-up to the election. Although, they may still be fresh in voters minds. Among the smaller parties, Aontu has made the most ground over the last three weeks. The party is practically a one-man show, with Peadar Toibin doing the heavy lifting. But it is running candidates in every constituency and its increasing popularity could see its Dail seat count increase beyond Mr Toibin. The Social Democrats also appear to be making ground, even with their leader Holly Cairns largely absent from the campaign because she is heavily pregnant. The Green Party will struggle to return with as many seats as it has now, but Roderic OGorman has performed strongly in debates. The fledgling political party Independent Ireland could also make gains and add to the three seats it currently holds. People Before Profit will hope its radical positions on the economy can ensure it holds its own too. Polling centres open at 7am this morning and will close at 10pm. An RTE, Irish Times and Trinity College exit poll will give the first indications of what the country decided shortly after the polls close. Social media was also cited as a cause of anxiety. Photo: PA Concerns about body image, substance abuse and inadequate physical exercise are among some of the reasons cited by people who believe the mental health of younger people has deteriorated, according to a new poll. The RED C poll also found that one in five blamed pressure from parents and more than a third suggested poor sleep, with a similar number naming academic stress, including the Leaving Cert. The poll was commissioned by the youth mental health organisation Spunout. Overall, more than six in 10 people believe the mental health of young people in Ireland has got worse over the past five years. A similar number believe the incidence of anxiety and depression in young people has increased during the same period. Social media and cyber bullying were seen as top drivers, with 49pc saying it was the housing crisis and 47pc blaming the fallout from the pandemic. All political parties have promised in general election manifestos to prioritise mental health services if in the next government, but services have suffered from under-funding and a lack of specialist staff over the years. A total of 79pc of those polled said mental health should be a high priority in the next government, with half of Irish adults believing it should be an extremely high priority. Parents of teenagers in particular were more likely to believe young peoples mental health had declined in the last five years. Most supported the need for early intervention. More than half said mental health services for children and young people are inadequate, while almost half said access to services has worsened over the past five years. A similar number personally know a young person who has had trouble accessing a service when experiencing a mental health difficulty. Ian Power, chief executive of Spunout, said: Younger people and their families are a large constituency of voters, but the campaign has yet to focus on their needs and ambitions for the future. This generation of young people will be the first to be worse off than that of their parents, according to the ESRI, and its not clear the main parties have a plan to reverse this breakdown in the social contract. Mental health difficulties are the most common health issue experienced by children and young people. Weve seen a number of very recent scandals in relation to children and young peoples mental health services, and yet weve seen very little evidence of reform or investment proposals in manifestos or in the campaign itself. This poll highlights overwhelming public support for the next government to focus on reforming and investing in youth mental health services, with a heavy focus on investing in prevention and early intervention and primary care. He called on the party leaders to prioritise youth mental health by setting out how they will improve the accessibility and quality of youth mental health services if they are to form a government following todays general election. Irish language rap trio Kneecap has won its legal challenge over a decision by former Conservative minister Kemi Badenoch to refuse them a 14,250 funding award after the UK government conceded it was unlawful. The outspoken band had launched the legal action claiming the decision to refuse the grant discriminated against them on grounds of nationality and political opinion. During a brief hearing at Belfast High Court on Friday, Mr Justice Scoffield said he was glad that the two sides in the case had reached agreement. Reading an agreed statement, barrister for Kneecap Ronan Lavery KC said: It is declared that the decision is unlawful, procedurally unfair, took into account immaterial considerations and failed to take into account relevant factors. It was agreed that the sum of 14,250 would be paid by the UK government to the group. The west Belfast hip-hop artists had applied for a grant allocated to support UK-registered artists in global markets. Their application to the Music Export Growth Scheme had been approved by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). Former business secretary Kemi Badenoch had refused the funding for Kneecap (Ben Whitley/PA) However, the grant scheme is overseen by the UKs Department for Business and Trade, and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport at Westminster, and then UK Business Secretary Ms Badenoch, now the Conservative Party leader, decided to refuse the funding in February. At the time a UK government spokesperson said it fully supported freedom of speech, but that it was hardly surprising that it did not want to hand out UK taxpayers money to those opposed to the United Kingdom. Kneecap, formed in 2017 by three friends who perform under the stage names Mo Chara, Moglai Bap and DJ Provai, openly court controversy with their provocative lyrics and merchandise. The group had said its views in favour of Irish unity, and particularly a provocative poster for their 2019 Farewell to the Union tour, had angered the Conservative Party. Today's News in 90 seconds - 29th November 2024 Following the agreement, the band said it would donate the grant to two youth organisations in Belfast one from a nationalist and one from a unionist area. A statement from the band said: For us, this action was never about 14,250; it could have been 50 pence. The motivation was equality. This was an attack on artistic culture, an attack on the Good Friday Agreement itself and an attack on Kneecap and our way of expressing ourselves. The statement added: The former secretary of state Kemi Badenoch and her department acted unlawfully; this is now a fact. They dont like that we oppose British rule, that we dont believe that England serves anyone in Ireland and the working classes on both sides of the community deserve better; deserve funding, deserve appropriate mental health services, deserve to celebrate music and art and deserve the freedom to express our culture. They broke their own laws in trying to silence Kneecap. They added: They have tried to silence us and they have failed. Solicitor for Kneecap Darragh Mackin said his clients had been vindicated by the judgment (Niall Carson/PA) The bands lawyer, Darragh Mackin from Phoenix Law, said: A court has exonerated our clients and declared this decision unlawful in every sense of the word. Today is not only a victory for Kneecap, but a victory for the arts, for culture, for the freedom of expression. Kneecap continue to lead by example in practising what they preach. A statement from the UK Department for Business and Trade said: This Governments priority is to try and reduce costs and help protect the taxpayer from further expense, so we will not continue to contest Kneecaps challenge as we do not believe it in the public interest. The music industry is the heart and soul of our economy and are committed to helping acts continue to thrive and break into new markets, including through our MEGS programme which has helped around 400 artists tour the globe. Twenty years on from the killing of John Frog Ward by farmer Padraig Nally the tragic events of that day still cast a shadow over the lives of many Padraig Nally, the Mayo farmer who was acquitted of the killing of John Frog Ward 20 years ago, has died following a long illness. Mr Nally (81) shot Ward, who he found trespassing at his isolated farmhouse in Cross on October 14, 2004. In November 2005, Mr Nally was sentenced to six years imprisonment for manslaughter. His conviction was later quashed and after a retrial in December 2006, he was found not guilty of manslaughter. Mr Justice Paul Carney, who tried the first trial, described it as undoubtedly the most socially divisive case Ive had to try and the most difficult case Ive had to sentence. There was a huge national groundswell of support for Mr Nally at the time. However, many in the Travelling community were left feeling further marginalised and isolated. The Irish Independent recently travelled to Cross, spoke with several neighbours, and called to Mr Nallys home. His sister Maureen answered the door and politely declined to comment, preferring to leave the past in the past. Paddy Rock, a supporter of Mr Nally, said he feels the media at the time created a furore. It wasnt about the Travelling community, it was about the individuals involved, he said. The support Mr Nally received was huge, he added. While he was in Portlaoise Prison, Padraig received around 10,000 cards and letters, Mr Rock said. But the governor wouldnt give him the Christmas cards because they were a fire hazard. Every time I went up to the prison I was sent home with three or four sacks full of cards. The incident is vividly remembered in the area today and has left its mark on the Constitution. The Criminal Law (Defence and the Dwelling) Act 2011 was introduced in the aftermath of the case, following pressure from rural interest groups. After his conviction was quashed, Mr Nally continued to farm his land and went quietly about his business. One neighbour said the past had haunted Mr Nally. He was never the same man. It shattered his peace of mind, said the neighbour. People in support of and opposing the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Stefan Rousseau/PA) It may be open to people from Ireland to apply for assisted dying if it is legalised in England and Wales but they would have to be resident there for at least a year, it emerged today. A majority of MPs in the UK parliament voted in favour of allowing assisted dying to be legalised in England and Wales. The Bill allows terminally ill adults with a life expectancy of less than six months to end their lives. MPs gathered to hear the result of the vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (House of Commons/UK Parliament) It still has to go through committee stage when amendments will be made and it is likely to be two years before it would be in place. The proposed UK legislation - as currently drafted allows for someone who is over 18 and living in England and Wales for at least a year, registered with a GP and with mental capacity to understand the decision and weigh up the pros and cons to apply to be given permission for assisted dying. They must be likely to die within six months, have a clear, settled and informed wish to end their life and not have been pressured into making a decision. The move in the UK is expected to put pressure on the next Government in this country to come to a decision on whether to legislate for assisted dying in Ireland. A special Oireachtas committee which examined the emotive issue over many months voted by a majority to allow for assisted dying in very limited circumstances. Last month, the Dail voted by 76 to 53 to accept the Oireachtas committees report after the three Coalition parties allowed a free or conscience vote when it came before TDS. A number of Government TDs opposed the legislation but support from Sinn Fein, People Before Profit which has led on the issue - as well as Labour and the Social Democrats meant the report was accepted. Former minister Simon Coveney, who is not standing for election today, opposed it while Government Ministers Peter Burke and Norma Foley were also among those who rejected the report. The final report, issued in March with 38 recommendations, favours legislating for assisted dying in certain restricted circumstances and is similar to the Bill in the UK. Evidence by various groups to the Oireachtas committee highlighted deeply opposing views with psychiatrists and palliative care doctors among those who object to it being introduced here. The report said that anyone who coerces a person into assisted dying would be guilty of a criminal offence. It recommended the Government introduce legislation allowing for assisted dying in restricted circumstances limiting its application to those with six months to live in most instances, or 12 months where they are suffering from a neurodegenerative condition. It also recommended that within the legislation an offence be created where someone can be found to have coerced another individual into assisted dying, and that doctors and healthcare workers involved in assisted dying be trained to identify coercion. Encouraging or assisting suicide is currently against the law in England and Wales, with a maximum jail sentence of 14 years. MPs voted 330 to 275, majority 55, to approve MP Kim Leadbeaters Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill at second reading. Opposition and pro-change campaigners had gathered outside Parliament from early on today. There were at-times emotional scenes in the House of Commons as politicians on both sides of the debate made impassioned arguments for and against what has been described as a major social reform. Ms Leadbetter insisted the approach was not that assisted dying would be a substitute for palliative care, but that when it cannot meet the needs of a dying person the choice of an assisted death should be one component of a holistic approach to end-of-life care. The Bill will next go to committee stage where MPs can table amendments, before facing further scrutiny and votes in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, meaning any change in the law would not be agreed until next year at the earliest. Two independent doctors must be satisfied the person applying for assisted dying meets the criteria and there must be at least seven days between the doctors making the assessments. If both doctors agree, the person must go the High Court for approval for their request and if it is agreed, there must be a 14 day reflection period or 48 hours if death is imminent. After this, the person must make a second declaration which would have to be signed and witnessed by one doctor and another person. If the person meets all criteria they are given an "approved substance" which would be lethal and self-administered which they would take. The Bill only allows for physician assisted suicide and is different from voluntary euthanasia where a health professional would administer the drug. Experiments conducted in space are directly relevant to peoples day-to-day lives on Earth, Irish astronaut Rosemary Coogan has said. The European Space Agency astronaut from Belfast has just started a new phase in her training, when she will spend six months at Nasa centres in the US. The training will prepare her for space walks and include learning about the parts of the International Space Station (ISS) and how to repair it. Ms Coogan has not yet been assigned a mission, but the aim is for her to visit the ISS by 2030. One of the things she is looking forward to is taking part in the science that happens on board the station. An astronaut will, on average, get involved with hundreds of different experiments, she said. One of the areas Im interested in is the human science, or the biological sciences side of things. Having an astronaut going into space, of course were the hands and eyes in space, but also we have our bodies in microgravity, and thats a great test bed for looking into lots of medical research. Ms Coogan said one of the things to look at is how microgravity affects bone and muscle loss in space, something that is important to understand because of the ageing population on Earth. Theres a lot of medical research as well, which I find really interesting. It has this kind of basis in physics, she said. Exploration and inspiration is a huge part of what space travel is about, she added, saying that as well as seeing where technology can take us, experiments in space can help tackle issues on Earth. Technology can take us off the Earth, to explore our surroundings, to put us in this bigger picture of where we came from, but I think we look at the International Space Station that really is a laboratory, its science, she said. And that science is not obscure. Its things that people on Earth want to know about, and the fact you can do it in space is giving those answers. Its directly relevant to our day-to-day lives, and I think that is sometimes lost. 20 of the best pubs around Ireland for a pint and a toastie It is a quintessential Irish pub experience but who does it best? Author and pints guru Ali Dunworth shares some of the countrys top spots to enjoy this iconic pub pairing Best pubs for a pint and a toastie Ali Dunworth Fri 29 Nov 2024 at 03:30 A pint and a toastie is one of the quintessential Irish pub experiences. So much so that when I wrote my book, A Compendium of Irish Pints, it was one of only three foods I included. I gave crisps their own chapter, of course, and oysters got an honourable mention, but really, its the toastie that reigns supreme as the pints perfect partner. Solo travel as part of a group tour? Heres how I got on hiking in Spains Sierra Nevada A growing number of solo travellers are joining escorted group holidays, mixing alone time with shared activities. Heres how our writer got on... A group trekking expedition through the pathways of the Sierra Nevada Adrianna Wrona Fri 29 Nov 2024 at 03:30 When autumn arrived in Ireland, I escaped for a week in the sun in Andalucia. But it didnt involve any beach time. It was my first solo hiking trip on an escorted tour. There are 30 days until the new year rings in hotlists of upcoming ones-to-watch. But there are plenty of bright new Irish audio series to behold this side of 2025. The Horgans as in Bad Sisters Sharon and her rugby union/pundit brother Shane demonstrate yet more overachieving genes with their oldest sister Maria, whose Galway Film Fleadh-winning documentary Housewife of the Year was recently released, and youngest brother Mark, a producer, editor and Second Captains co-director who, following in the success of his true crime podcast Wheres George Gibney? now has Stakeknife (Apple, BBC Sounds, Spotify). Three years in the making, this 10-parter tightens the net around double agent Freddie Scappaticci whose roles as senior member of the IRA and spy for the British Army earned him the Stakeknife codename and a wide circle of silence, Scappaticci having been an enforcer in the Nutting Squad notorious for torture and executions. Horgan though has coaxed interviews with families of alleged informers murdered by the IRAs internal security unit, and with ex-British intelligence handlers, interwoven with covert and archival recordings. (Scappaticci denied being a double agent until his death in 2023.) Pat Sheedy wrote 'A Hundred to One' about his struggles with gambling. Photo: Mark Condren An enigmatic figure of a very different kind in The Gambler (Apple, Spotify; goloudplayer.com), a new eight-part true crime series hosted by Nicola Tallant and Ian Maleney. Limericks Pat Sheedy is convicted fraudster who masterminded cons to fund his gambling addiction. Sheedys story was laid bare in his memoir A Hundred to One released earlier this year. Tallant and Maleneys 18-month investigation goes deeper still; while including Sheedy himself it also interviews his victims and has input from experts to shine a stark light of how gambling happens in the first place and can spiral into criminality and how redemption can appear in unexpected ways and places. It might seem counterintuitive in these times of doom to choose Ten Apocalypses (Apple, Spotify; citeogpodcasts.com) but it really does offer real-world escapism. Its an anthology series of sorts from the same Citeog Podcasts stable as the immersive historical-fiction horror This House Will Devour You. Fans of small but perfectly formed stories, radio dramas and BBC TVs Inside Number 9 will enjoy these 10 time-hopping episodes set in Ireland and England, each one reframing end-of-days peril, from an asteroid on course to crash into the Earth in 1931 to a botanical body horror circa 1998 when a man wakes up to find lethal fungi growing underneath his fingernails. Wickedly inventive. Cork North-West continues to have the highest turnout at the polls in Cork County, with over 15% of voters in the constituency having cast their ballots. The most recent report from the county returning office indicates that 15.5% of voters in Cork North-West had turned out by 12pm. Almost three per cent (2.9) of voters in the constituency had cast their ballots by 8.30am. In Cork South-West, 13.1% of voters had turned out by lunchtime, while the turnout was at 2.7% in the morning figures. Cork East recorded a turnout of 12.4% by 12pm, increasing from the 2.5% of voters who had attended the polls by 8.30am. Polling stations opened at 7am and will close at 10pm. The late Sliabh Luachra box player Jimmy Doyle who died on Sunday, January 8, 2023. Photograph by John Reidy The renowned traditional musician Jimmy Doyle, who died in January 2023, is remembered in the 21st issue of the Sliabh Luachra Journal. One of his proteges, former Young Musician of the Year Bryan OLeary, has written a personal reflection of Jimmy and his music. Jimmy was one of the finest exponents of Sliabh Luachra music on the button accordion and has left behind a lasting legacy in his native tradition, says OLeary. Born in Maulykevane, Gneeveguilla, in 1944, Mr Doyle led the popular Sunday afternoon sessions in the Arbutus Hotel, Killarney, for many years and up to a short time before his passing. Brian OLeary, grandson of music legend Johnny OLeary, recalls attending these sessions with his parents from the age of ten years. During his first attendance at a session there, Jimmy asked him to play a tune on his accordion. That very much summed up Jimmy as a man who was always encouraging other musicians, writes Mr OLeary. The 112-page local history publication contains a wide range of articles from the Kerry/Cork border area on traditional music, folk life, sport, poetry and the general heritage of the storied district. How Allied soldiers fighting in France during World War One were in the habit of coming to Ireland and visiting places like Killarney whilst on leave is also recalled. A member of the Australian Army, George Nolan, some of whose ancestors hailed from Sliabh Luachra, enjoyed his trip to Killarney, in 1917. We got ponies there (Kate Kearneys Cottage) and rode about seven miles through the Gap of Dunloe to the upper end of the lakes. A boat met us there and we rowed down through the three lakes, returning home about 8.30pm, he noted in a letter home. I enjoyed the trip thoroughly, for we had a perfect day and everything was looking grand. It is a pretty spot around the lakes and I could have stopped there for a couple of months. The journal was launched officially in Gneeveguilla GAA Club last weekend by Rathmore-born radio and television presenter and film-maker Donal Dineen. He said the 20 existing issues of the journal were an invaluable resource to him while researching material for his just-released film, Dance to Remember, based on his relationship with his late father through the prism of music. The historical detail in the many brilliant articles about Sliabh Luachra music and musicians was very helpful to me in establishing the factual foundations for the film, Dineen went on. More importantly, the way that the journal in general acts like a compendium of the voices of Sliabh Luachra, past and present, afforded me the chance to tune into the spirit of the area and find the essence of the story. Pictured at the 2024 Asia Matters Awards at the Radisson Blu Hotel. Accepting the Special Award as a Regional Investor in Ireland presented to Astellas were Seamus OConnell, Astellas, Caroline Mullins, Astellas, Emily Ging, Astellas, Yui Shimazu, Director, Asia Matters, Louis Collins, Astellas, Keely OGrady 2024 Rose of Tralee, H.E. Norio Maruyama Ambassador of Japan to Ireland, Samantha Hobbs, Director of Corporate Affairs, Asia Matters and Martin Murray, Executive Director, Asia Matters. Astellas receiving its reward. Grainne Seoige, MC, Mary Buckley, Executive Director, IDA Ireland, Alan Dukes, Chairman, Asia Matters, Louis Collins, Astellas, H.E. Norio Maruyama, Ambassador of Japan to Ireland and Yui Shimazu Director Asia Matters. The commitment of Astellas over the past 35 years through its operations in Kerry and Dublin has earned it a special award as the best regional investor at the recent Asia Matters Business Awards in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Dublin. The Asia Matters Business Awards recognise Irish companies who have achieved strategic success in Asia and Asian companies making a unique contribution to Ireland. With a heritage in Ireland spanning more than 35 years, Astellas operations have a significant local impact and global reach. The company currently employs more than 650 people in Ireland in two facilities in Killorglin and Mulhuddart, and supplies medicines to 133 countries worldwide. In September 2023, Astellas Pharma Inc. announced further investment in Kerry with the construction of a 330 million state-of-the-art facility in Tralee. The new endeavour marks a pivotal achievement for the company as it continues to expand its global manufacturing footprint. Over 600 people are expected to be employed in the construction of the Tralee facility and, once operational, it is expected to create over 100 additional highly specialised science, engineering, and technology roles, with potential for continued growth. The founder of financial services giant Fexco Brian McCarthy, has become the latest recipient of the prestigious Order of Inisfallen award. Pictured here with Brian are joint Presidents of Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce, Johnny McGuire and Padraig Treacy. Photo by Valerie O'Sullivan. The founder of financial services giant Fexco Brian McCarthy, has become the latest recipient of the prestigious Order of Inisfallen award. Board of Trustee of Muckross House, Geraldine Rosney delivers the citation, at the Order of Inisfallen investiture at Muckross House, Killarney. Photo by Valerie O'Sullivan The founder of financial services giant Fexco Brian McCarthy, has become the latest recipient of the prestigious Order of Inisfallen award. Brian is joined by his wife Mary, and incoming Chairperson of Board of Trustee Muckross House, Bernadette Randles. Photo by Valerie O'Sullivan. The founder of financial services giant Fexco Brian McCarthy, has become the latest recipient of the prestigious Order of Inisfallen award. Brian is pictured here with Monsignor Dan O'Riordan. Photo by Valerie O'Sullivan. The founder of financial services giant Fexco Brian McCarthy, has become the latest recipient of the prestigious Order of Inisfallen award. Mr McCarthy was formally presented with the award a special pin and framed scroll by Cathaoirelach Killarney Municipal District , Cllr Maura Healy-Rae, and Co-President Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce, Johnny McGuire. Photo by Valerie O'Sullivan. The founder of financial services giant Fexco Brian McCarthy, has become the latest recipient of the prestigious Order of Inisfallen award. Enjoying the Christmas tree decorations were three of Brian McCarthy's Grandchildren, Maeve, Isabella and Sophia. Photo by Valerie O'Sullivan. The founder of financial services giant Fexco Brian McCarthy, has become the latest recipient of the prestigious Order of Inisfallen awar. He was joined by his family, wife, Mary, sons, Denis and John and daughters, Susan, Ruth and Liz and all his grandchildren for the occasion. Photo by Valerie O'Sullivan. The founder of financial services giant Fexco Brian McCarthy, has become the latest recipient of the prestigious Order of Inisfallen award. Enjoyng one of Brian's stories, his Wife Mary and Son John McCarthy. Photo by Valerie O'Sullivan The founder of financial services giant Fexco Brian McCarthy, has become the latest recipient of the prestigious Order of Inisfallen award. At the Order of Inisfallen investiture at Muckross House, Killarney, Mr McCarthy was formally presented with the award a special pin and framed scroll by Cathaoirelach Killarney Municipal District , Cllr Maura Healy-Rae, and Co-President Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce, Johnny McGuire, also included is Brian's wife, Mary McCarthy, and Conor Hennigan, Order of Inisfallen Chair. Photo by Valerie O'Sullivan. Receiving major national and international awards, in recognition of his remarkable achievements in business, has been part and parcel of Brian McCarthys busy life but the latest honour, bestowed on him in Killarney on Thursday afternoon, is one he said he will really cherish. The founder of financial services giant Fexco has become the latest recipient of the prestigious Order of Inisfallen award which recognises outstanding contributions to the economic development of Killarney, Kerry and its tourism industry. Mr McCarthy worked with AIB in Killorglin until 1981 before circumstances in the form of a bank strike saw him identify a huge opening in foreign exchange. That initial very small scale operation, catering for the currency swap needs of visitors on the streets of Killorglin, quickly grew to great heights and it led to the foundation of a dynamic financial services company that now employs more than 2,800 people worldwide. At the Order of Inisfallen investiture at Muckross House, Mr McCarthy was formally presented with the award a special pin and framed scroll by Mayor of Killarney, Cllr Maura Healy-Rae, who pointed out that it is the most prestigious honour Killarney can bestow. There is no more deserving recipient of the Order of Inisfallen that Brian McCarthy who is acknowledged worldwide as a prominent, dynamic and successful business leader, she said. The mayor said he has demonstrated incredible professional and entrepreneurial abilities, instilled confidence within Ireland's business community and played a pivotal role in fostering job growth and economic progress in Kerry and in the country. The most impressive thing of all is that, despite the incredible success, Brian McCarthy is still the same humble, genuine and compassionate man today that he was all those years ago when he first dipped his toe into the mainly unchartered territory that was the foreign exchange business. Success hasnt changed him one iota and thats the true sign of a great man, Mayor Healy-Rae said. The Order of Inisfallen awards scheme is a joint initiative between Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce and Kerry County Council. It was established in 2005 to recognise outstanding contributions by people to the economic development of the town, the county and its tourism industry. Those selected for the honour are invested as Members of the Order of Inisfallen. The 17 previous recipients include Charles, the King of England, former Taoiseach Enda Kenny, actor Michael Fassbender, entertainer Daniel ODonnell, industrialist Isolde Liebherr and business personalities Margaret ODonoghue, Donal Ring and Micheal ODonoghue. Other speakers at the award presentation, at which businesswoman Geraldine Rosney was the MC, included the outgoing Chairman of the Muckross House Trustees, Marcus Treacy, and Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce Co-President, Johnny McGuire, who described Brian McCarthy as one of the greatest entrepreneurs and innovators this country has ever produced. Brian is very deserving of this recognition and those of us that have watched his remarkable entrepreneurial spirit come to the fore over the past four decades and more know how worthy he is of every success that comes his way, Mr McGuire remarked. A 30-year-old binman who collided with cars and then failed to stop until he crashed into another vehicle has been given an opportunity to prove he can continue to hold down a job. Dean McKenna, The Park, Oldbridge Manor, Drogheda, pleaded guilty to 22 charges arising out of what occurred on May 4 last which prompted Judge Nicola Jane Andrews to remark that it was a catalogue of the most egregious type of offending under the Road Traffic Act. The defendant, who has previous convictions, admitted five counts of dangerous driving at Marian Park, James Street, Donore Road and Platin Road (2). He pleaded guilty to refusing to give a breath test and refusing to allow a doctor to take a blood sample from him at Drogheda Garda Station. Mr McKenna also admitted driving with neither insurance nor a driving licence and hit and run charges in respect of material damage collisions. Sgt John OHehir said that at 10.45pm on May 4, 2024, a car collided with three other cars outside a chip shop in James Street. This vehicle was subsequently driven at high speed and failed to stop as it continued through the town and residential areas. It eventually collided with another vehicle at a red light on Platin Road. Mr McKenna fled and was caught by gardai. Solicitor Dermot Monahan said that his client had extensive previous convictions and an addiction. He was making an effort and for the last year has been working as a binman to provide for his son. Mr Monahan said he had told him that this deserves jail but was asking the court to adjourn the case for 12 months to see if Mr McKenna continued to work and if he did to impose a suspended sentence to incentivise him. At times he found it hard to admit that he had done wrong but had written a letter to the court. He had broken up with his girlfriend before their baby was born. They got back together, and he was there for the birth. Putting the matter back to December 1, 2025, Judge Andrews warned the defendant of the consequences if he wanders through that door. She congratulated him on becoming a father, adding that the court bowed down to people like him who managed to hold down a job in the teeth of an addiction. With the passing of Joseph (Joe) Meehan on 19th April 2024 the curtain came down on a life of a man who had a deep love of the arts, in particular theatre and acting. Joe dedicated much of his life to the promotion of drama in Sligo and the surrounding areas through his whole-hearted but discreet involvement in organising and directing stage productions and as an actor in his own right. Joe was born in Sligo in 1934, the son of Michael & Mary (Mai) Meehan nee Gilligan. His fathers family came from Kincullew near Riverstown and his mother from Carrownagark, Riverstown After completing his secondary education in Rockwell College, Tipperary, he then spent three years in Dublin serving his time with Gorevans of Camden St., a prominent clothes and drapery shop, no doubt learning the ins and outs of the mens and ladies retail trade in preparation to take over the running of his fathers shop - Meehan Bros in the Market Cross, Sligo. Although Joe worked most of his life in the family shop at Market Cross, one of the leading clothing stores of the time in the town, his true passion was in drama and the theatre. On returning from Dublin Joe joined Sligo Drama Circle and served in many roles within the group down through the years both behind the scenes and on stage. During the 1970s Joe was deeply involved in trying to establish a full-time theatre in Sligo as part of the Drama Circle and travelled around Sligo town and the surrounding areas collecting donations for its construction and campaigning for the opening of a permanent theatre in Sligo. In 1974 the Sligo Drama Circle managed to persuade the then Bishop, Dr Dominic Conway to grant them a plot of land on Temple Street, where the Hawks Well theatre was subsequently built and opened by the President Patrick Hilary in 1982. Joe served on the board of the Hawks Well theatre for many years and was central in bringing many theatrical companies to Sligo to put on plays and other stage works in the Hawks Well. Joe was also instrumental, along with Mary McDonagh, in the establishment of the Sligo Fun Company in 1983. In the early 2000s Joseph organised and directed the Passion Play in Sligo Cathedral over several years. With a cast of almost 40, this was a significant undertaking but under Joes direction, the staging of the play was highly successful and he was awarded a Papal medal in recognition of his service to the Catholic Church. In May 2012 at the age of 77 when most of us would be taking it easy, Joe undertook one of his most memorable acting roles when he played the leading role in John Kavanaghs one-man play Resurrection in the Factory Performance Space in Quay Street, Sligo. This was probably the pinnacle of his acting career and was possibly Joes finest performance as an actor, highlighting his outstanding ability to bring to life the role of Ben, the aging and fading patriarch. Apart from drama and theatre Joe was also a captivating and engrossing conversationalist over a wide range of topics. He had a remarkable knowledge of Sligo town and county history and its characters and wrote many varied and noteworthy articles for the Corran Herald. He was also very interested in genealogy and had an encyclopaedic knowledge of his own family history on both his parents sides and extended families. In the later years of his life Joe took up painting and he turned his house into a working studio where his watercolours and other paintings could be viewed. He also stayed in touch with his love of drama and theatre by listening to the recordings of plays on his trusted cassette player. One of the last plays he listened to was The Weir written by Conor McPherson. Joe had seen the first production of this play in London in 1997 and had very fond memories of it. In the last 20 years or so of his life Joseph lived in Rock Valley in Dromahair where he became a fully adopted son of the village and enjoyed the benefits of having great neighbours and friends who looked after him so well in his later years But although no longer in Sligo, Joe still managed to attend stage performances in the locality and further afield including London, Dublin and Galway. His love of amateur drama and theatre was a lifelong interest and remained with him to his final days. Joe certainly played his part in the history of Sligo theatre and stage. Go dtuga se suaimhneas do -LMcG Now in its 5th year, the Irish Dresser Calendar has become part of the fixtures and fittings of many homes in Ireland and abroad since Michael Fortune first published it in 2020. Sadly, this year will be his last year producing the calendar as he is currently working on a new publication called The Irish Dresser which will be launched in 2025. Like before, the 2025 calendar is designed and printed in Ireland and features 14 new dressers from counties Galway, Mayo, Tipperary, Wexford, Donegal, Waterford and Kilkenny. It also features QR codes which you scan with your phone and they'll take you to interviews with their owners. Last year Michael used these QR codes for the first time and was not sure how people would react to them. However, he changed his mind when a woman texted him during the year to tell him that her 85-year-old mother was at the kitchen table with her phone, scanning the codes and listening to the interviews with the dresser owners on YouTube! He started work on The Irish Dresser Project back in 2015 and ever since then he has been in hundreds of homes, recording, documenting these pieces of furniture and the stories behind them. He never set out with a specific goal in mind and this project, like a country road, has been a bendy and windy but enjoyable journey. During this time he has documented 100s of dressers and recorded their stories but more so he has, unannounced to himself, built up an understanding of their designs and features. For example he says he can now "spot designs particular to the south east where some old dressers have little slots in the shelves where spoons and forks were hung" and one such dresser features in this year's calendar, which belongs to Tommy Delaney in Courtnacuddy, Co Wexford. Tommy Delaney, Courtnacuddy, Co Wexford. He also says he'd "know the differences between north and south Wexford pieces due to a middle support bracket popular in northern dressers and as one maker copies the style of another and a pattern emerges in one geographical area". This year's calendar features three dressers from Co. Wexford; Pat Boggan's dresser in Ballycadden, Tommy Delaney's dresser in Courtnacuddy and the dresser of husband and wife Kay and Sean Donohoe from Askamore. Sadly, Sean passed away recently so this photo is that bit more poignant for his family, neighbours and friends. This year's calendar features other dressers from shores of south Kilkenny to the wilds of Connemara and from the hills of Donegal to the fields of Tipperary. There is something for everyone plus there are over 100 Irish folklore dates pencilled into the calendar from full moon dates to little Irish folklore verses to do with the months and seasons. He says that "this is more than just any calendar, its a piece of art, created with passion and love and something that will guide you through the calendar year from a uniquely Irish perspective". It is also the last year he will be producing it, so grab yourself a piece of history when you can. The calendars cost 15, with free postage in Ireland. You can order copies online at www.thedresserproject.ie or www.folklore.ie or they are available to buy in most bookshops in Wexford such as Easons, Red Books, Hubb 16, Selskar Bookshop, Readers Paradise, Peter Steemers and a host of outlets. Call Michael Fortune on 087 6470247 if you have any questions. The South Kilkenny Historical Society began its night of reminiscing on January 29, 2015 when Kitty Foskin, Jamsie Murphy, and the late Paddy Egan and Denis Buckley reminisced about their lives, local traditions, characters and the way of life in bygone years. Since 2015, guests have included Richard Behal, Dick Cody (RIP), John Daly, Robbie Doherty, Jo Doyle (RIP), Michael Fortune, Marion Fossett, Andy Kane (RIP), Eddie Lenihan, John OConnor and Peter Walsh. The event has proved to be a very popular one and this years event will take place in the Rhu Glenn Hotel, on Friday December 6, starting at 7 p.m. This years guest speaker is Seamus McGrath, Carrick-on-Suir. Seamus derives great pleasure from learning the lore of Carrick-on-Suir and its hinterland, listening to people, and recalling their exploits and stories. Although born and reared in the town, he became very familiar with its hinterland, and in particular the south Kilkenny area. On his bicycle he travelled extensively throughout the area known as The Welsh Mountains, where he met and had conversations with people who became lifelong friends. Of course he also carries the lore of the town of Carrick, the stories of the lanes and of the River Suir, the fishermen, and the boats. Seamus loves everything Irish and has has composed a number of songs, some of which have been published, and along with his great friend the late Michael Coady, who attended Writers Week at Listowel every year without fail over a long period. Seamus would suggest that he is just an ordinary man, but behind an unassuming manner is a man of great knowledge and life experience, and his story is worth hearing. Follow Independent Kilkenny on Facebook His talk, to the South Kilkenny Historical Society, can only convey a fraction of his list of life experiences, but it can be expected that it will be on to enjoy and to recall with pleasure. The event begins, at 7pm, with food (bacon and cabbage or chicken supreme; dessert; and tea or coffee). The cost including food is 25 and all are welcome. Booking and further information from: Brigid Barron, Blossom Hill, Kilmacow (087 9507295, brigidbarron@hotmail.com); Katherine Grant, Curraghmore, Slieverue (086 1954616, katherinegrant@gmail.com); or Mary Ryan, 'Gort Glas', Carrigeen (086 3790655, maryearyan@gmail.com). The Palestinian flag flying outside of Wexford County Council Headquarters for the International Day of Solidarity with Palestine. As a Palestinian flag fluttered in the breeze next to the tricolour at Wexford County Council headquarters to mark the International Day of Solidarity with Palestine, it was a particular source of pride for Sinn Fein councillor Tom Forde. Going back years, the Wexford councillor has sought the local authority to express solidarity with Palestine, at times facing significant opposition. A previous Chief Executive stated that it would be unwise to make political statements, despite the Ukrainian flag having flown outside the same building in the past, while another councillor, Michael Sheehan, had suggested that the building be lit up in the colours of Israel as a counter to Cllr Fordes motion. A lot of blood has been shed in Gaza in the interim. Thousands of men, women and children have been killed, while the International Criminal Court last week issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant. Up early to see the flag finally fly in Wexford, Cllr Forde was buoyed by a small gesture of support. "I suppose I've been looking for this for over two years now," he said. Im really happy to see the Palestinian flag fly alongside our national flag. I believe there's a shared struggle between Palestine and Ireland over the years and I had repeatedly called upon members to show solidarity with a people who are currently being subjected to a genocide. "I might not be much, but I know the Palestinian people really appreciate these small gestures of solidarity and I hope well continue to fly the flag every year on this day. Cllr Forde said that it was frustrating in some ways that it had taken so long. "It has been a long time coming amid some opposition from some councillors, one of whom even suggested lighting the building in the Israeli colours. "Really though, Im just glad this has finally happened and Im glad that a lot of people finally seem aware of exactly what is going on in Palestine for decades. Pictured at the National Opera House are L-R: Karen OConnor, General Manager, Datapac, and Randall Shannon, Executive Director, Wexford Festival Opera. Datapac is announcing that it is renewing its sponsorship with the National Opera House in a deal valued at 150,000 over the next four years. Pictured at the National Opera House are L-R: Karen OConnor, General Manager, Datapac, and Randall Shannon, Executive Director, Wexford Festival Opera. Datapac is announcing that it is renewing its sponsorship with the National Opera House in a deal valued at 150,000 over the next four years. Enniscorthy-based IT services provider Datapac has confirmed it will be renewing its sponsorship of the National Opera House in a deal valued at 150,000 over the next four years. As the official ICT sponsor to the National Opera House, Datapacs proactive support enables the National Opera House to roll out its extensive programme of events to citizens and international visitors annually. This includes the Wexford Festival Opera, which welcomes patrons from over 20 countries each year. Ahead of the new sponsorship deal, Datapac engaged with all relevant stakeholders to gain a deep understanding of their respective goals. It then designed and developed an enhanced and future-proofed technology infrastructure which meets all of their evolving needs. The deal advances the National Opera Houses technology strategy to boost collaboration, communication, cybersecurity, and connectivity for the venue. In turn, Datapacs solution will empower employees to continue to deliver a top-tier variety of performances for patrons across opera, theatre, dance, and music. Karen OConnor, General Manager, Datapac, said: We are thrilled to extend our partnership with the National Opera House and build on our valued relationship. We will work closely with the team to guide the technology strategy, ensuring that, as a world-class venue, it aligns with international best practices." "In a digital landscape thats ever-changing, we ensure that the venue can seamlessly deliver its year-round programme of events and the highly anticipated Wexford Festival Opera. All the worlds a stage, and we are delighted to support the National Opera House which makes an invaluable contribution to arts, culture, and the economy in Wexford and across the South East, she added. With Datapacs solution in place, the National Opera House is becoming a more digitally managed organisation, which is helping it to meet its sustainability goals as part of its climate action plan. In addition, the technology supports the venue in delivering its Education and Community Programme which aims to engage local schools and the wider community with the arts. Established in 2008, the venue is Irelands only custom-built opera house and was designated as Irelands National Opera House by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht 10 years ago. An estimated two million people have passed through its doors to date. Randall Shannon, Executive Director, Wexford Festival Opera, said: Every aspect of the work we do is supported by the Datapac team. Datapacs proactive support gives us the confidence to innovate and expand, and this evolution of our strategy will ensure that we can provide an enhanced service for our valued patrons. As an important economic generator for the region, we greatly appreciate Datapacs commitment to our sustainable future. We look forward to continuing to work with the team over the next number of years. Arklow Coast Care was one of the big winners announced at An Taisces Clean Coasts Programme hosted the Ocean Hero Awards Ceremony at the Gibson Hotel, Dublin. The awards ceremony celebrated and gave thanks to the dedicated groups, individuals, communities, and businesses who have gone above and beyond to protect their local coastline and its surrounding environment over the past year. As of 2024 there are over 2,000 Clean Coasts groups and over 40,000 volunteers who are actively engaging with the programme and who are integral to their coastal communities nationwide. Arklow Coast Care came first place in the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award Category of the 2024 Ocean Hero Awards. Established in 2006, Arklow Coast Care has a group of core committed members who are active at cleaning up around Arklow South Beach. Their highlight this year has been working towards their Green Flag, which they achieved in time for the 2024 bathing season. Recently, they have participated in a project with 402 Collective, a local art collective, on the Synthetic Sea Project. This project centres around an art installation created using found items from local waterways and beaches in an attempt to bring awareness to the issue of plastic litter in the area. It is on display in Bridgewater Shopping Centre Arklow, and members of the public are invited to leave a sustainability focused pledge on the noticeboards by the installation. Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the heart of what Arklow Coast Care does. They have fought hard to make the beach accessible to all by installing a sand ladder so individuals of all mobilities can enjoy the beach. The group has set up a borrow box and library containing beach toys and books kindly donated from people in the community. They regularly link in for events with local community groups such as Sunbeam House Services and Autism Initiatives, who are regular attendees of their beach cleans. Other groups they have collaborated with this year are The National Learning Network, Tiglin, International Volunteers, Arklow Tidy Towns, Servier, Elevon and all of the local schools. Speaking at the ceremony, environment and planning manager at Failte Ireland Shane Dineen, said: Failte Ireland has been proudly supporting An Taisce's Clean Coasts programme for over a decade. "The Ocean Hero Awards recognise the unwavering dedication, hard work, and commitment of individuals, volunteers, groups, and the broader community in safeguarding the future of our coastline and oceans. It is fantastic to see such a wide variety of entries across all award categories and the outstanding initiatives from across the country. "The Clean Coasts groups are making an outstanding contribution to Irelands coastal environment through their conservation work which protects and enhances our extensive coastline and is highly valued by local communities and visitors alike. Xi's speech on ethnic unity, progress published in ethnic minority languages Xinhua) 16:09, November 29, 2024 BEIJING, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- A speech delivered by Chinese President Xi Jinping at a national conference held on Sept. 27 to commend role models for ethnic unity and progress, has been published as booklets in five ethnic minority languages. The speech by Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, was published in the languages of Mongolian, Tibetan, Uygur, Kazak and Korean ethnic minority groups by the Ethnic Publishing House, according to an official statement issued Friday. The booklets are available at Xinhua Bookstores across the country. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) The Byrne family had reason to celebrate while attending the recent ShelfLife National C-Store Awards 2024, where they received the Silver Award for the Convenience Store of the Year (Mini) category. Now in their 24th year, the C-Store Awards are recognised as amongst the most prestigious business accolades for the convenience store sector and attracted Irelands top retailers and brands to the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire to attend the ceremony. Byrnes Londis Aughrim recently celebrated 90 years of serving the local community. The family-owned store first opened its doors in 1934 and is now co-managed by sisters Caoimhe Byrne and Siobhan Byrne, who took over the day-to-day running of the store from their parents, James and Teresa Byrne. Hosted by returning master of ceremonies Marty Whelan, the 2024 awards were attended by over 380 guests from across the retail industry coming together to celebrate the sectors achievements. Conor Hayes, Londis sales director, said: The Byrne family have been serving the people of Aughrim for 90 years and it is wonderful to see them receive this recognition on a national stage. They are a wonderful example of just how vital Londis retailers are to communities throughout Ireland and I am delighted for them that they have received this deserving national recognition. Deirdre Doyle, of The Cool Food School in Greystones, was among the female entrepreneurs marking 10 years of Acorns, the development programme for businesswomen in rural Ireland. Deirdre joined other female entrepreneurs from across the south east at the event in Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey, County Wexford recently. The gathering is one of a series of regional events designed by Acorns to help former participants network with peers from different cycles. The meetings aim to help participants broaden their networks, do business with each other, focus on their development goals and exchange ideas on overcoming business challenges. The invitation was open to former Acorns participants from the region and leading the discussion was director Paula Fitzsimons and one of the programmes voluntary lead entrepreneurs Mary B Walsh, founder and managing director of Ire Wel Pallets, Irelands leading timber packaging supplier. Acorns is a free initiative for early-stage female entrepreneurs based in rural Ireland. It has been running since 2014 and is funded through the Rural Innovation and Development Fund by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM). Acorns 10 is now underway and some 56 female entrepreneurs living in rural Ireland have been selected to participate. The Cool Food School aims to promote healthy eating in a fun and interactive environment for kids of all ages, by travelling to schools, preschools, libraries and events nationwide to teach children about food through a range of fun cooking workshops. AgriKids and Irish Rural Link are calling on Wicklow communities to register their interest in a new farm safety education manual designed to support primary school teachers, and members of their local farming communities, to co-deliver an effective farm safety education programme in the classroom. Irish Rural link was established in 1991 to represent the interests of locally based rural groups in disadvantaged and marginalised rural areas at local, National and EU Level. The manual, funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine with additional funding from Flogas, includes information on how teachers and members of the community can work together to co-deliver the programme; ideas for topics which can be covered; tips for making the information accessible for children; and much more. Irish Rural Link board member Billy Murphy, said: I am delighted that Irish Rural Link are working together with AgriKids in this initiative. Getting children engaged in farm safety early on can help prevent the simplest of accidents from happening on the farm. Having as many people from the community involved in educating children about the dangers on the farm will send a stronger message to the wider community also. It is just one of several new learning supports in development under the Engage, Educate and Empower pilot, a community-led learning initiative in farm safety education. As well as the creation of the manual on community-led learning, a farm safety gaming app and a video animation to the farm safety song, When Youre Working on the Farm, are also in development and due for release later this month. The community led learning strategy has been collated with input from an advisory panel made up of members of An Garda Siochana, teachers, farmers, community development officers and farm accident survivors, all of which have been involved in or participated in farm safety events in the past. AgriKids founder, Alma Jordan said, When it comes to farm safety the saying it takes a village is so apt. The fact is no one teacher, school or individual can deliver the farm safety message alone. We need our communities to come together to make sure that the message gets home and is relevant." "I get so many requests to visit schools and all too often I must refuse as its simply not possible to visit them all. By adopting a more community led approach we can not only encourage education of farm safety in schools, but also support people in the area who may be invited to schools to deliver talks and make sure they feel confident and assured while doing so, she added. Schools who wish to find out more about AgriKids and their existing suite of supported learning programmes can do so on the official AgriKids website. Minister Stephen Donnelly chatting to Patricia Byrne and Anne Pierce about their memories of the funeral of Erskine Hamilton Childers. Grand daughters of Erskine Hamilton Childers, Claire Matthews and Sioban Heron by his grave at Derrylossary Church. The 50th anniversary commemoration of President Erskine Childers took place at Derralossary Cemetery, Roundwood, where Minister Stephen Donnelly, representing the government, delivered a moving speech. Erskine Hamilton Childers served as the fourth president of Ireland from June 1973 to November 1974. He is the only Irish president to have died in office. The respectful and poignant commemoration highlighted the achievements of the former Irish President. Unfortunately, his daughter Neassa was unwell and was unable to attend, but his grandchildren Claire and Siobhan were both present representing the Childers family, and were very moved by the large number of people who gathered at Derralossary to commemorate their grandfather. The Defence Forces carried out a colour party and their piper, drummer and bugler provided a fitting tribute to President Childers. Following the laying of a wreath, kindly donated by Bracken Fern Floristry, there was a minute silence and the last post and national anthem was played. Mervyn Taylor coordinated the whole event and was MC on the day, assisted by the members of the Roundwood and District Historical and Folklore Society, the United Friends of Derralossary and the Roundwood and District Community Council. Refreshments were served afterwards at Roundwood Parish Hall and Centre. It was very much a community-led event, with Sean Byrne shuttling people to the car parks, Tommy Healy Sand and Gravel donated loads of Ballylusk stone, and Terry Kavanagh transported the stone and repaired the Barton family gravestones. The story behind Australias social media ban for kids and how it started with a politician's wife Australia passes nationwide social media ban for under-16sBan sparked by state leader's quest after wife urged him to actRupert Murdoch's News Corp media campaign backed banSurvey shows 77pc of Australians support social media ban The Australian Senate passed a social media ban for young children that will soon become a world-first law (PA) Byron Kaye Fri 29 Nov 2024 at 08:43 Since Meta META.O whistleblower Frances Haugen aired internal emails in 2021 showing the tech giant knew of social media's mental health impacts on teenagers, world leaders have agonised over how to curb the technology's addictive pull on young minds. Long overdue debate on assisted dying under way in British parliament Five hours have been set aside for MPs to air their views on the Bill People take part in a demonstration organised by campaign group Dignity in Dying outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London, in support of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire Aine Fox, Rhiannon James, Will Durrant, David Lynch and Richard Wheeler Fri 29 Nov 2024 at 11:20 The first assisted dying debate in the House of Commons in almost a decade is long overdue, the MP behind the Bill has said as she appealed for respect and compassion in Parliament on the controversial issue. US president Joe Biden has criticised Donald Trumps plan to hit Americans with massive import taxes on goods from Mexico and Canada as unhelpful and said he hoped Trump would walk back the proposal. Asked about the president-elects plan to increase the cost of Mexican and Canadian products by 25pc via executive order if both countries did not take steps to curb what he described as unacceptable flows of drugs and migrants into the US, Mr Biden told reporters: I hope he rethinks it. I think its a counterproductive thing to do. CAPTION: M&M refutes The Indian Express reports of penalties for violating emission norms. Photo courtesy: World Economic Forum via Wikimedia Commons Mumbai/IBNS: Mahindra & Mahindra has refuted reports claiming it faces penalties for not meeting emission norms during the 2022-23 financial year. In a statement to stock exchanges, the automaker clarified that no penalties have been imposed and emphasised that it does not anticipate any significant financial liability. The company's response came after a report by The Indian Express suggested that Mahindra, along with other carmakers like Hyundai, Kia, and Honda, exceeded fleet emission limits. The article claimed that the total penalties for these companies could amount to Rs 7,300 crore. Mahindra swiftly denied these allegations, asserting, Any reference in the news article about a penalty imposed on the company is factually incorrect. The controversy revolves around compliance with the Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) norms, which regulate vehicle emissions. Mahindra explained that the assessment period for FY2023 covered April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023. In December 2022, the Energy Conservation Act (EC Act) was amended to include penalties for non-compliance with CAFE norms. However, these penalties only took effect on January 1, 2023. Mahindra argued that applying these penalties retroactively to the entire financial year would be unjust. Applying the amended penalty under the EC Act for the full period of FY2023 would mean the penalty is being applied retrospectively, which is incorrect. Hence, the company doesnt expect any material liability for FY2023, Mahindra explained. The CAFE norms, which were introduced in 2017 under the Energy Conservation Act, aim to reduce CO2 emissions and decrease oil dependency. These standards set limits on average CO2 emissions for vehicles sold within a financial year, depending on their weight. The second phase of CAFE norms, effective from FY2023, reduced permissible emissions to 113 grams per kilometre, down from 130 g/km. Manufacturers who fail to comply face significant penalties, which encourages the adoption of fuel-efficient technologies. Compliance with these norms is monitored by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), under the Ministry of Power. With its statement, Mahindra sought to dispel concerns about any immediate financial impact arising from the emission norm assessments. The incentive initially focussed on Tesla's entry, now looks to support other, new and existing EV manufacturers in India. (Photo courtesy: Unsplash) New Delhi: India is planning to broaden its electric vehicle (EV) incentive program to include automakers producing EVs at existing factories, rather than restricting the benefits to those building new plants, Reuters reported, citing a source familiar with the matter. The EV policy, still under development, was initially designed to attract Tesla to manufacture locally. However, Tesla shelved those plans earlier this year. Other global automakers have expressed interest in producing EVs in India, both at existing and new facilities, according to minutes from a meeting with Indias Ministry of Heavy Industries reviewed by Reuters. The changes aim to encourage investment from companies like Toyota and Hyundai, the source added. Under the policy introduced in March, automakers investing at least $500 million to manufacture EVs in India and sourcing 50% of components locally can benefit from a substantial reduction in import taxesfrom as high as 100% to 15%on up to 8,000 EVs annually. The proposed revisions will also allow investments in existing plants producing gasoline and hybrid vehicles, provided EVs are manufactured on a dedicated production line and meet local sourcing requirements, the source explained. For new factories, investment in machinery and tools for EV production will count fully toward the $500 million threshold, even if the equipment is shared with other vehicle types. To ensure fair treatment, the government plans to set a minimum revenue target from EV production for plants or lines seeking to qualify under the scheme. The policy is expected to be finalized by March, the source said. During discussions with the Ministry of Heavy Industries, Toyota officials sought clarification on whether investing in a separate assembly line within a multi-powertrain plant would qualify under the policy and if costs related to installing charging stations could count toward the $500 million investment requirement. Meanwhile, Hyundai inquired whether research and development expenses could be included in the investment calculation, but the source clarified that such expenses would not qualify. A Hyundai spokesperson stated the company is awaiting final policy guidelines. Volkswagen's India unit sought greater flexibility in the investment timeline, proposing that 75% of the $500 million be spent within the first three years of the five-year scheme, rather than the full amount. The company also asked if supplier investments could be included. Volkswagen told Reuters that it is closely reviewing the policy and will decide on its next steps accordingly. Toyota and the Ministry of Heavy Industries did not respond to requests for comment, Reuters reported. Adani Group has vowed to take all possible legal recourse against US bribery allegations. (Photo Courtesy: File image) Mumbai: Dismissing allegations of a $265 million bribery scheme by U.S. authorities against the Adani Group's executives, including Chairman Gautam Adani,conglomerate's Chief Financial Officer Jugeshinder Singh Friday stated that the individuals implicated would respond to the claims within 10 days, Reuters reported. "We reject all of this strongly on behalf of the individuals," Singh said at an event in Mumbai, according to Reuters. "We believe it is not warranted; we know for sure 100% that nothing of this sort happened. If we were paying that amount of cash to someone, I would certainly know, so we know nothing happened." U.S. authorities have accused Gautam Adani, his nephew and executive director Sagar Adani, and Adani Green's managing director Vneet S. Jaain of orchestrating bribes to secure Indian solar power contracts and misleading U.S. investors during fundraising. Adani Group has previously labeled the charges as "baseless" and pledged to pursue "all possible legal recourse." Singh reiterated that while the group itself would not take any action regarding the indictment, the individuals named would address the allegations. The indictment has triggered significant fallout: Adani Group shares plunged last week, one Indian state announced a review of its power deal with the conglomerate, political debates disrupted Indian Parliament, and TotalEnergies decided to halt further investments in the group. Indias Ministry of External Affairs, providing the government's first official reaction, characterized the allegations as a legal matter involving private companies and the U.S. Department of Justice. The ministry stated that it has not received any formal communication from Washington regarding the case. Devendra Fadnavis (L) with Amit Shah (C) and Eknath Shinde (R) | Photo courtesy: Devendra Fadnavis X handle New Delhi/IBNS: The suspense over who would become the next Maharashtra Chief Minister lingered even after the first meeting of the Mahayuti top leaders was held in the national capital Delhi on Thursday night. Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Devendra Fadnavis and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)'s Ajit Pawar met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday. BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda was also present in the meeting. Fadnavis, a former Maharashtra Chief Minister, posted on X, "Expressed my gratitude to Hon Union Minister Shri Amitbhai Shah, for his huge support on the battlefield during the important Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha Elections 2024 and for the way he greatly inspired and motivated the karykartas. "On this occasion, our BJP National President JP Nadda ji, Eknath Shinde ji, Ajitdada Pawar, #MahaYuti leaders, colleagues were present too, in New Delhi." Expressed my gratitude to Hon Union Minister Shri Amitbhai Shah, for his huge support on the battlefield during the important Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha Elections 2024 and for the way he greatly inspired and motivated the karykartas. On this occasion, our BJP National President JP pic.twitter.com/KAd341ANtw Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) November 28, 2024 Shinde said as quoted by Hindustan Times, "The meeting was good and positive. This was the first meeting. We discussed with Amit Shah and JP Nadda...There will be another meeting of the Mahayuti. "In this meeting, a decision will be taken about who will be the Chief Minister. The meeting will be held in Mumbai." The next meeting is likely to be held on Sunday. Shinde, who is in the race for the top post in Maharashtra, on Wednesday said he has left the decision to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. If media reports are to be believed, the politically crucial state of Maharashtra will have a BJP face as its next chief minister. Mahayuti's alliance partners will have deputy CMs from Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Shinde said: "I have told PM Modi that I would not be an obstacle. We would go with whatever he decides." He also added that "no one is upset" and that he is "not greedy for any position". The suspense over the CM's post started after the Mahayuti decimated the Maha Vikas Aghadi in the November 20 assembly elections. Out of 230, the BJP dominated with a tremendous strike rate, winning 132, the highest ever by the saffron party in the state. Soon after the results were declared, Shinde, as per reports, remained firm in continuing as the Chief Minister. BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, however, denied any tussle within the coalition over the post and said the Mahayuti leaders would take a call on the matter. Fadnavis, who remained the Chief Minister from 2014-2019, served as Shinde's deputy in the Mahayuti government. Indian, Sri Lankan Navies conduct joint operation to seize narcotics from fishing vessels in Arabian Sea. Photo Courtesy: PIB Based on information received from the Sri Lankan Navy regarding probable narcotics smuggling by 'Sri Lankan flagged' fishing vessels in the Arabian Sea, the Indian Navy responded through a coordinated operation to localise and intercept the boats to seize 500 kg of narcotics (Crystal Meth). "Extensive surveillance was undertaken by Indian Naval Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft and Remotely Piloted Aircraft, based on inputs from the Information Fusion Centre (Indian Ocean Region), Gurugram, and an Indian Naval ship was deployed to augment efforts," read a statement issued by the Indian government on the operation. Two boats were identified based on continuous inputs from the Sri Lankan Navy and aerial surveillance by IN aircraft. "Subsequently, in a closely coordinated operation between the ship and the aerial assets, both boats were boarded by the ships boarding team on 24 and 25 Nov 24, leading to the seizure of approximately 500 kg of narcotics (Crystal Meth)," the statement said. One additional IN ship was also tasked to augment the force level for the conduct of anti-narcotics operations. The two boats, along with crew and seized narcotics, are being handed over to Sri Lankan authorities for further legal action. The operation reaffirms the close partnership and bonds developed between the two countries and navies. It also symbolizes the combined resolve of both navies to address regional maritime challenges, and ensure safety and security in the Indian Ocean Region. ISKCON members protest in Kolkata against the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das. Photo Courtesy: Rupak De Chaudhuri/IBNS Members of ISKCON held a protest kirtan in Kolkata's Albert Road centre for the second consecutive day on Friday demanding the release of their leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh after he was arrested on sedition charges on Monday amid an ongoing persecution of Hindus. The ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) chanted kirtans and held placards which read: "We are not terrorists." Another protester was seen holding a poster that read: "Protect our temples in Bangladesh." They also expressed concern over the persecution of religious minorities, especially Hindus, in Bangladesh. Speaking to the media, ISKCON Kolkata spokesperson Radharamn Das said: "We were surprised that the demand to ban ISKCON was raised in Bangladesh?" The Dhaka High Court, meanwhile, refused to pass a suo moto order to ban the ISKCON in Bangladesh. Reacting to the court's order, Das said: "The court has dismissed the petition to ban ISKCON. It is a great relief. This is a welcome step." He said threatening ISKCON members in Bangladesh should be stopped. The Hindu minorities in Bangladesh have been protesting against the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, an incident which has triggered tension in the South Asian nation which has been witnessing political turmoil ever since former PM Sheikh Hasina-led government was ousted following violent agitations against her regime over a job quota row. Hasina fled from Bangladesh on August 5, ending her latest tenure prematurely, amid suspicion that there might be foreign hands like the USA playing a major role in orchestrating the unrest and planning her ouster. She had returned to power in January after winning the general polls. After Hasina fled, Muhammad Yunus and his interim government took charge of the country. Yunus, known for his closeness to the US Democrats, also proudly accepted later at an event in America that there was design and conspiracy" involved in the ouster of Sheikh Hasina. Local media reports and social media posts claimed there was a spike in attacks on Hindu houses and temples following her ouster from Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), a wing of the country's central bank, has directed banks to freeze the accounts of 17 individuals associated with the ISKCON Bangladesh, including Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, for 30 days. The other people are Kartik Chandra Dey, Anik Pal, Soroj Roy, Sushanta Das, Biswha Kumar Singha, Chandidas Bala, Jaydev Karmakar, Lipi Rani Karmakar, Sudhama Gaur Das, Lakkhan Kanti Das, Priyatosh Das, Rupan Das, Rupan Kumar Dhar, Ashish Purohit, Jagadish Chandra Adhikari and Sajal Das, reported The Daily Star. The development came just days after the Hindu monk was arrested over sedition charges from Dhaka airport on November 25 sparking fresh violence and protests in Bangladesh. He is accused of hoisting a saffron flag above the Bangladeshi national flag in October when he participated in a rally. One of the highly anticipated prequel series of this year, Dexter: Original Sin is all set to be released soon. The show will be released in parts and follow a weekly release pattern with new episodes coming out every week until February 14, 2025. Wondering when the first episode will come out? The show will be available on Paramount+ starting December 13. For the Indian audiences, the show is expected to be available on the OTT platform JioCinema, but there is no information about the OTT release date. Plot The upcoming season of the show will be a 10-episode prequel that will revolve around Dexters early years, set in the 1990s. The series will show Dexter's transition from a student with violent urges to the vigilante serial killer that is known by all. The show will also feature the showrunner, Clyde Phillips, who will return after helming the first four seasons of the original show. Dexter: Original Sin will basically get into Dexter's inner conflict with his bloodthirsty urges. The show will be all about his journey toward developing the "code" taught by his father, Harry Morgan, guiding him to kill only those who truly deserve it. Cast and crew The show will have Patrick Gibson as young Dexter. Then there will be Michael C. Hall, who will reprise his role as Dexters inner voice. The series will also have Christian Slater, who will be playing Dexters father. The cast of the series will also have actors like Harry Morgan, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Patrick Dempsey, and Molly Brown. Excited about the series to be released on December 13? Stay tuned for more updates. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. A documentary on South Indian Cinema's fan culture titled Fanatics is all set to release on OTT. The show will be available on the OTT platform DocuBay starting December 7. Here's everything you need to know about the show's concept and more: Plot The documentary will revolve around the stories of fandom in South India, where actors are idolised to the extent of being treated as deities. As per the trailer released by the makers, actor Kiccha Sudeep is shown talking about his own experience, where he can be heard saying, He owns you he believes he owns you and you belong to him, capturing the essence of this extreme loyalty. The trailer also shows fans performing rituals such as 'milk abhishekas' on life-sized cutouts of their favourite stars. The upcoming series will basically show the psychological aspects behind obsessive fandom, with insights from experts on the matter. Fanatics will show intense devotion of South Indian cinema fans and explore their struggles with extreme loyalty and even self-harm. Cast and crew The show has been directed by Aryan D Roy. It is produced by Arpita Chatterjee. Fanatics, which will be a reality show, will feature celebrated actors like Kiccha Sudeep, Vijay Sethupathi, and Allu Arjun. The show also has insights from South Indian film industry experts and other health professionals. If you are excited about the psyche behind South Indian cinema's fan culture and its impact on society, be ready to watch the DocuBay Original show, Fanatics, which will be available on the platform from December 7. Stay tuned for more updates on OTT releases. The wedding festivities of South stars Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala have started with a bang. Pictures from early celebrations of one of the highly anticipated weddings of this year have come out, and they are crazy. Pictures from the haldi ceremony were released on social media platforms. It was held today in Hyderabad. The event marked the start of the celebs' wedding celebrations. The couple was surrounded by close friends and family. Naga Chaitanya was seen in a yellow kurta. Sobhita Dhulipala, on the other hand, also looked beautiful in a yellow saree and some traditional jewellery. When is the wedding? The big day is on December 4, 2024. Adding to the buzz on the internet, a photo of the actors' wedding invitation also surfaced a few days ago. Ma Anna marriage #NagaChaithanya weds #SobhitaDhulipala pic.twitter.com/2wh5kXMYy0 Wondering what the venue is? It is Annapurna Studios. The venue holds importance in Naga Chaitanya's family as it was founded by his grandfather, Akkineni Nageswara Rao. Annapurna Studios is a historic spot of the Telugu film industry. The couple got engaged in August this year after dating for more than a year. Here are the engagement pictures: Nagarjuna Akkineni (@iamnagarjuna) August 8, 2024 Naga Chaitanya and his ex-wife Samantha Ruth Prabhu announced their divorce in the year 2021 after getting married in 2017. The actors have said in different statements that the separation decision was mutual, but there are also rumours that one of them cheated in the marriage. But the rumours were never really confirmed by any of the parties. With the haldi ceremony pictures going viral, fans are now getting excited for more glimpses expected from the actors' wedding festivities. Stay tuned for more updates on this wedding and everything related to the couple. A Delhi couple has been arrested by the Nagpur Police for allegedly stealing 38 laptops from a city-based businessman. The duo, identified as Pawan Kumar Bir Singh and Anita Sharma, were arrested from a train near Bodh Gaya in Bihar last week. How Delhi couple duped a Nagpur businessman According to Sandeep Rane, a resident of Nagpur, the couple approached him seeking to rent a commercial space in Bajaj Nagar. They introduced themselves as representatives of TAWC, a Delhi-based company. CREDIT: UNSPLASH Claiming that they were planning to expand their business operations into Nagpur, the duo rented office space and sought Rane's help in procuring 70 used but fully functional laptops. Purchased 38 laptops without payment The unsuspecting victim then introduced them to another businessman, Ajay Mate, who ran an electronics and hardware shop. On October 18, the couple purchased eight old and two new laptops from him, promising immediate payment. Despite their failure to make the first payment, the couple convinced the businessman to sell them 28 more new laptops. Arrested from Bihar Mate approached the police after the couple fled Nagpur with the laptops. According to the police, the couple had been on the run until they were traced to Bodh Gaya. They were arrested with the help of the Railway Police while trying to flee on a train. CREDIT: ISTOCK Similar crimes in Delhi During the investigation, the cops learned that the couple had committed similar crimes in Noida and Delhi as well. According to the police, the couple has stolen more than 100 laptops so far and sold them in underground markets in the national capital. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Over the past few weeks, tourism in Goa, or the lack of it, has been a hotly debated topic on social media. Many have argued that the beach paradise has become unaffordable while foreign destinations have become cheaper. Others have also pointed fingers at taxi and resort mafias and unwelcoming locals for the decline in tourism in Goa. CREDIT: BCCL 'We don't want tourists' As the debate continues online, Alysha Maria Lobo, a Goan-origin entrepreneur, has shed light on the other side of the argument. "We dont want tourists period," she wrote on X, while responding to a user complaining about the local population's unwelcoming and at times hostile attitude towards tourists. Goan in the house here! We dont want tourists period! Were sick and tired of the unruly behavior, drunken driving and fights, disturbing the peace of neighborhoods, making women tourists and locals feel unsafe Yea we dont want this! Sure please head off to other AML (@alysha_lobo) November 28, 2024 'Unruly tourists make Goa unsafe' "Were sick and tired of the unruly behaviour, drunken driving and fights, disturbing the peace of neighbourhoods, making women tourists and locals feel unsafe," Lobo wrote. CREDIT: BCCL "Yeah, we dont want this! Sure, please head off to other destinations we want people who value our culture, natural beauty, and heritage not ones who come for cheap thrills and alcohol," she added. 'Goa is being Delhified' She also accused tourists of Delhifing Goa and ruining its natural beauty so that outsiders can have their winter homes by the beach. "Youve threatened and harmed the locals, been outright disrespectful and you expect a red carpet?," she asked further. Youll are the very people that have Delhified Goa and ruined it! From destroying natural beauty so youll can have your winter homes by the beach or in Assagoa to your Delhi food served here instead of our local cuisines. Youll have threatened and harmed the locals, AML (@alysha_lobo) November 28, 2024 What about Goa's economy? Udit Bhandari, to whose post Lobo responded, agreed with her that locals don't want Indian tourists but warned that "a tourist-dependent state not wanting tourists is economic suicide". Youll are the very people that have Delhified Goa and ruined it! From destroying natural beauty so youll can have your winter homes by the beach or in Assagoa to your Delhi food served here instead of our local cuisines. Youll have threatened and harmed the locals, AML (@alysha_lobo) November 28, 2024 When another user pointed out that "Goan economy will die if tourism continuously takes a hit," Lobo responded by saying, "We survived 450 years of Portuguese colonialism; we can survive you not giving us your business." Dont care! We survived 450 of Portuguese colonialism we can survive youll not giving us your business AML (@alysha_lobo) November 28, 2024 When minister wanted to make Goa expensive for Indians While the online debate may be a recent development, Goa preferring foreign tourists over domestic visitors is not a new thing. Also read: Minister Wants To Make It So Expensive So That Only Foreigners Can Visit CREDIT: BCCL In 2018, Vijai Sardesai, the then Minister for Agriculture, Town and Country Planning, had suggested that the state should reorient its tourism policy towards high-end foreign tourists while seeking ways to discourage tourists who come in buses and do not contribute to the state's economy. He had even suggested that Goa should become so expensive that Indian tourists should say that it is not worth it. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. India has lodged a protest with the Justin Trudeau government over alleged surveillance of Indian diplomats in Canada, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has said. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh on Thursday informed the Rajya Sabha that consular officials at the Indian Consulate in Vancouver were informed by the Canadian authorities that they have been, and continue to be, under audio and video surveillance and that their private communications have also been intercepted. CREDIT: AP India registers protest with Canada The minister was responding to a question on whether there are any instances of cyber surveillance or other forms of surveillance targeting Indian diplomats in Canada. According to the minister, the Canadian actions were a flagrant violation of all diplomatic provisions, and a strong protest was registered with the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi on 2 November. Safety of Indian diplomats in Canada On the question of steps taken to ensure the safety of Indian diplomats in Canada, the minister said the Government of India is continuously engaging with the Canadian side to ensure that adequate protection is offered to our diplomatic personnel and properties. CREDIT: AP The safety and alleged surveillance of Indian diplomats in Canada became a matter of concern following the murder of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023, for which Canadian authorities have blamed agents of the Indian government. Following the killing of Nijjar, Khalistani groups in Canada had released a hit-list of Indian diplomats, whom they claimed were behind the murder. Did Canada intercept commutation of Indian diplomats The surveillance of diplomats surfaced after Canadian officials, who blamed agents of the Indian government for the killing of Nijjar, claimed that they had intercepts from the communication between Indian officials to link them to the murder. CREDIT: AP India has denied involvement in the killing of Nijjar, and the diplomatic ties between the two countries have been at an all-time low since. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Delhi University Announces Placement and Internship 2024: Delhi University (DU) is preparing to organize a job and internship campaign for its students on December 4 and 5. This project seeks to provide students with excellent possibilities to launch their careers by connecting them with top corporations and organizations. The drive, which is open to students from all courses and streams, promises a platform for them to exhibit their abilities and earn placements or internships that will help them advance their careers. With a diverse spectrum of sectors represented, the event exemplifies DU's dedication to preparing its students for a better future. Mark your calendars for this exciting step toward professional development! Where is the DU placement and internship fair taking place? The Central Placement Cell (CPC) under the Dean of Students' Welfare is organizing a Placement and Internship Drive at the University of Delhi (DU) on December 4 and 5. The event will take place at the Conference Centre, located near the Botany Department at Gate Number 4, DU. The initiative is open to all regular students enrolled in any UG or PG program at DU and provides opportunities for placements and internships in a variety of areas. According to the CPC website, students who register will receive placement aid, employment advice, and support for self- and social entrepreneurship. The CPC provides comprehensive logistical support to visiting employers and admission to university infrastructure throughout the placement process. The CPC serves as a courtship between industry and students, assisting students in examining career alternatives and coordinating with corporate institutions to provide relevant job and internship opportunities to DU graduates. When is the last date of registration? Please keep in mind that the deadline for student registration is November 30, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Guideline for the DU placement and internship fair Credit: Canva Applications are open to students enrolled in the University of Delhi's standard undergraduate and graduate programs. NCWEB and SOL students are not permitted to apply. Once 5,000 students have registered, registration will automatically close. Students can attend the Job Mela 2024 without paying any registration fees to CPC. Students are asked to provide several hard copies of their CVs or resumes. Additionally, students are asked to bring four to five passport-sized photos and their college ID cards. DU job fair reporting time for students is 9 A.M. How to register in the DU job mela 2024-25? Go to Delhi University website Click on the 'Placement' section Click on the Delhi University job Mela 2024 registration link A Google form will open Fill in the required details, and click on Submit Take a printout of the confirmation page for future need To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending. K-pop girl group NewJeans on November 28 officially announced their departure from label ADOR. This news came after months of tensions and turmoil between former CEO Min Hee-Jin and ADOR's parent company, HYBE. The five membersMinji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyeinheld an emergency press conference in Samseong-dong, Seoul, to address this issue and confirmed that their exclusive contract with ADOR would officially terminate at midnight KST on November 29. During the conference, the members shared their experiences and outlined the group's future. They revealed that they had sent ADOR a letter on November 13 demanding the correction of significant contract breaches within 14 days. They had warned that failure to do so would lead to termination. However, ADOR, in response to the press conference maintained that their contract with NewJeans remains valid, claiming no terms have been violated. Bunnies show strong support: In the midst of the conflict, NewJeans' fanbase, known as Bunnies, has stood firmly behind the group. Fans have trended hashtags like "NewJeans Never Die" and expressed pride in the girls' decision, applauding their courage to leave after facing alleged mistreatment. i have nothing but love for newjeans and i hope they get to continue doing what they love to do. newjeans never die <3 pic.twitter.com/4ntvqvv3xo (@ningvinyl) November 28, 2024 Credits to Min Heejin for giving NewJeans an insanely humane contract especially under HYBE. The fact that failing to complete one simple act can lead to contract termination, does show that original ADOR were so confident that they would never harm NewJeans, it's a shame. pic.twitter.com/Jo1tkjww5b odessa (@hyeindolls) November 28, 2024 NEWJEANS IS NOT A HYBE GROUP ANYMOREE WE ARE FREE pic.twitter.com/dTd3Ajjax2 (@_hannibunch) November 28, 2024 "newjeans never die" well the name might die...but can't kill the newjeans inside these gurlsss go gurlies...get them https://t.co/XtD7vberLv Real Me (@RealMeForXIN) November 29, 2024 K-pop fans remain divided: On the other hand, K-pop fans in general have been divided. Some are indifferent to the situation, while others, particularly fans of other agencies, have expressed satisfaction at seeing HYBE's challenges. Many, however, are questioning whether NewJeans left ADOR merely to follow Min Hee-Jin, who has her own controversial reputation. Some fans worry that the group may be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire and fear for their future careers. We terminated our contract because Ador failed to meet their obligation. The obligation: put Mhj back as the ceo https://t.co/W2bjBeaXFx wonni (@wonnisluv) November 29, 2024 Let's be for real whether ADOR met the requests or not, NewJeans would have found a reason to leave regardless. They made their decision the moment MHJ was demoted from her CEO position. https://t.co/OgmkM5qEFR (@beehybe7) November 29, 2024 "we have been hurt and shocked by numerous amounts of media play based on false information" Oh yeah? Just like those 3 groups which your "mother you can't live without aka Min Heejin" dragged them into a problem where they had nothing to do with by mentioning them https://t.co/XmoC58jgbM party (@runbtsmates) November 29, 2024 yeah you can't just say something is a breach and have that stick so leaving won't be as easy as articulated here. they might have to go to court where both sides defend their claim especially since ADOR is incentivised to keep them going as their only & most successful group https://t.co/8G5QJIRsUZ barbie (@sakcore18) November 29, 2024 What the future holds for the five-member girl group and whether they will be able to re-debut under a new agency remains to be seen. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. A fruit vendor in New York City recently found himself at the center of an art-world controversy. Shah Alam, a 74-year-old Bangladeshi immigrant, unknowingly provided a banana for a conceptual art piece titled 'Comedian' by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan that went on to sell for an astounding $6.2 million at a Sotheby's auction and now, he isn't too happy. 'Comedian' first gained notoriety at Art Basel Miami in 2019, where it was exhibited as a banana duct-taped to a wall. The piece is a critique of the art market's excesses, with its value tied to the hype and money it attracts. The recent sale at Sotheby's saw the taped banana fetch $5.2 million, with an additional $1 million in auction fees. The buyer? A Chinese cryptocurrency entrepreneur named Justin Sun. "This is not just an artwork; it represents a cultural phenomenon that bridges the worlds of art, memes, and the cryptocurrency community. I believe this piece will inspire more thought and discussion in the future and will become a part of history," he wrote on X. I'm thrilled to announce that I've bought the banana !!! @SpaceX @Sothebys I am Justin Sun, and I'm excited to share that I have successfully acquired Maurizio Cattelan's iconic work, Comedian for $6.2 million. This is not just an artwork; it represents a cultural phenomenon pic.twitter.com/lAj1RE6y0C H.E. Justin Sun (@justinsuntron) November 21, 2024 Cattelan explained the deeper meaning of the piece to The Times: "The higher the price, the more it reinforces its original concept." The banana must be replaced regularly to maintain the artwork's appearance. Banana seller is devastated Alam, who sells fruit outside Sotheby's for $12 an hour, was unaware of the banana's newfound fame until a journalist informed him. The news left him in tears. "I am a poor man," he said, struggling to comprehend how a 35-cent banana could sell for millions. The New York Post reports that Alam lives in a cramped basement in the Bronx and supports himself with long hours at his fruit stand, enduring all weather conditions. Despite the public outcry over Alam's situation, Cattelan expressed empathy but stopped short of offering assistance. "Art, by its nature, does not solve problemsif it did, it would be politics," he stated. But later, Sun took to X to share that he will be buying 100,000 bananas from Shah Alam to express his gratitude. To thank Mr. Shah Alam, I've decided to buy 100,000 bananas from his stand in New York's Upper East Side. These bananas will be distributed free worldwide through his stand. Show a valid ID to claim one banana, while supplies last. https://t.co/jbCnh0u3JI H.E. Justin Sun (@justinsuntron) November 28, 2024 "These bananas will be distributed free worldwide through his stand. Show a valid ID to claim one banana, while supplies last." To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending. As the United States celebrated Thanksgiving, President-elect Donald Trump had even more reasons to give thanks this year, after being elected to serve a second term after a decisive win. And now, a video from the Thanksgiving celebration of the powerful duo, Trump and Elon Musk, is going viral online. Barron Trump, the rising social media star, makes a cameo as well! Check out the video here: NEW: Donald Trump spotted dancing to YMCA with Elon Musk at Mar-a-Lago for Thanksgiving. The pair was sitting with Elons mother Maye Musk along with Barron and Melania Trump. pic.twitter.com/hB0InqRwn3 Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 29, 2024 The video, that's quickly going viral, shows Donald Trump and Elon Musk dancing to YMCA at Mar-a-Lago during Thanksgiving celebrations. The iconic resort in Palm Beach, Florida, is owned by Trump since 1985 and has been Trump's primary residence. In the footage, the two are joined at the table by Elon's mother, Maye Musk, along with Barron and Melania Trump. Musk even joined in with Trump's signature fist-thumping move to the classic song, a staple from Trump's rally playlists. Also read: Donald Trump's dance moves go viral, Elon Musk responds to tutorial video This lighthearted moment comes close on the heels of an AI-generated Thanksgiving video shared by Trump, which parodied the 1989 movie Christmas Vacation and hilariously mocked Democrats like Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and Nancy Pelosianother viral hit. How did people respond? Fans of Donald Trump and Elon Musk are loving this behind-the-scenes Thanksgiving video, capturing the dynamic duo's interaction. One fan shared, "They're living their best lives and deserve to be happy. What they've been through is unimaginable." Theyre living their best lives and deserve to be happy. What theyve been through is unimaginable. God is good. Paul A. Szypula (@Bubblebathgirl) November 29, 2024 Others praised their authenticity, saying, "This is the type of unity the country needs. Not some staged photo op," and "America is so back." This is the type of unity the country needs. Not some staged photo op. Authenticity. One Bad Dude (@OneBadDude_) November 29, 2024 Cant believe people voted against this America is so back Phantom Platypus (@PhantomPlatypus) November 29, 2024 Meanwhile, others couldn't help but label them the "inseparable power couple," celebrating their shared joy and camaraderie. Power couple, they have been inseparable Happy Bull Trader (@HappyBullTrader) November 29, 2024 Just another reason to love Trump. spreading joy and showing that winning isnt just about politics. OneXOneY (@OneXOneY) November 29, 2024 Only the best for the American people! Remnantee (@HuffmanRobb) November 29, 2024 To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending. Theodoros Karypidis didn't hesitate to threaten the government and ministers with hooligan violence at the Thessaloniki metro MPs of the 3 major parties condemn his actions Former chief of the Hellenic Armed Forces Evangelos Apostolakis has announced his resignation from Syriza, marking another significant blow to the embattled leftist party. The retired admiral stated that he would remain in Parliament as an independent , adding to the growing list of deputies leaving Syriza in recent weeks. Mr. Apostolakis, who was elected on Syrizas state deputies list in the July 2024 general election, is the first MP elected in this manner to quit the party while retaining his parliamentary seat. Known for his ties to ousted Syriza president Stefanos Kasselakis, Mr. Apostolakis made no mention of plans to join Mr. Kasselakis newly formed political party, which was unveiled in a high-profile event last weekend. The former defense ministers departure leaves Syriza with 27 deputies in Greeces 300-seat legislature and raises the count of independent MPs to 23. Syrizas approval ratings have been plummeting since its internal strife erupted, most notably following Mr. Kasselakis ousting. Mr. Apostolakis, a rare military figure within Syriza, served as defense minister in the partys coalition government prior to 2019. His decision prompted a scathing response from Syriza, which accused him of a shameful defection and implied that his departure was premeditated. Earlier, another Syriza MP, Yannis Sarakiotis, also resigned from the party, exacerbating its ongoing leadership and identity crisis. These developments come as Syriza struggles to maintain its relevance amid significant internal divisions and declining public support. iefimerida.gr Despite progress across Europe in reducing exposure to second-hand smoke, Greece remains at the bottom of the rankings for smoke-free homes, according to a new study. The TackSHS survey, conducted in 2017-2018 and published this week, revealed that only 44.4% of Greek households are smoke-free. This falls significantly below the European average of 70.2%. Worryingly, even among non-smokers in Greece, only 60.1% of households are completely smoke-free. This contrasts sharply with countries like Portugal, where 96.4% of non-smoking households have banned smoking indoors. The study found a correlation between higher education levels and smoke-free homes, suggesting that awareness and education play a crucial role in changing habits. Wealthier countries and those in Northern Europe also reported a higher prevalence of smoke-free homes. While the percentage of smokers in Greece has decreased to 28% in 2023, the study highlights the need for greater efforts to promote smoke-free environments, especially within homes. This includes public awareness campaigns and initiatives to encourage smokers to protect the health of their families and guests. iefimerida.gr I am referring to the complaints that Deputy Minister Tachiaos made publicly, after having previously visited the Prosecutor of Appeals. Keywords The European Investment Banks global arm (EIB Global) has signed a loan of up to 236 million with Armenia to co-finance the construction of the Sisian-Kajaran road, a crucial segment of the north-south transport corridor. This project is set to become a gamechanger for Armenia and the South Caucasus region, significantly improving transport connectivity between the European Union, Middle East and Asia This climate-resilient piece of infrastructure will contribute to climate change mitigation by reducing travel distances, vehicle operating costs and road accidents. Enhanced road safety is another key feature of the project, which will offer safer and faster routes for travellers and goods. The project will facilitate access to both domestic and international markets, and contribute to the sustainable socioeconomic development of the less well-connected Syunik province in the south of the country. This transformative project will become a major artery in the regions transport network, providing Armenia with better access to global markets and helping to shape a more interconnected, resilient future, said EIB Vice-President Teresa Czerwinska, who is responsible for EIB operations in Armenia. This is the largest ever finance contract between the EIB and Armenia. We are pleased to be supporting this project that will promote sustainability, boost economic resilience and strengthen connectivity between Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia Ambassador Vassilis Maragos said, This project is another example of Team Europe support under the EUs Economic and Investment Plan (EIP) for Armenia. Further mobilisation of funding under the EIP for sustainable investments with due care of climate change and road safety targets will be key as we prepare the ambitious new EU-Armenia Partnership Agenda. Republic of Armenia Minister of Finance Vahe Hovhannisyan said, Construction of the Sisian-Kajaran road will be a major boost to Armenias economic growth, strengthen both regional and international connectivity, improve transportation safety and efficiency, and play a crucial part in the countrys broader infrastructure development objectives. Republic of Armenia Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan expressed his gratitude to the EIB for its participation in the construction of the Sisian-Kajaran road. This road is an integral part of the Government of Armenias Crossroads of Peace Project, which aims to ensure sustainable connectivity and, consequently, cooperation and stability in the wider region. As a flagship project of the EU Global Gateway initiative and the EU Economic and Investment Plan for the Eastern Partnership, the construction of the Sisian-Kajaran road will bolster economic growth, regional security and environmental resilience. It will also be a key link in the Trans-European Transport Network corridor. (EIB) EIB Global signs 236 million loan to finance construction of Sisian-Kajaran road Metaforespress. Amnesty International has released a report detailing the Nigerian governments violent crackdown on the #EndBadGovernance protests, which resulted in the deaths of at least 24 protesters and the arrest of over 1,200. The protests, which took place from August 1 to 10, were a response to the widespread hardship and corruption in the country. However, the demonstrations turned violent in some areas, with police firing live ammunition and teargas at protesters and journalists. Amnesty International has found that Nigerian authorities killed at least 24 protesters and arrested 1,200 hundreds of protesters during the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests between 1-10 August, the report said, according to Isa Sanusi, Amnesty Internationals country director. Advertisement READ ALSO: Over 30 Minors Jailed For Taking Part In #EndBadGovernance Protest, Denied Legal Rights Amnesty International People in Nigeria witnessed unbelievable lawlessness as security personnel fired live ammunition at peaceful protests. The death toll could be higher than 24 because of the authorities desperate efforts to cover up the atrocities, the report added. Sanusi also stated that the Nigerian authorities must investigate the allegations of human rights violations and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice in fair trials. President Bola Tinubu and his government must conduct prompt, thorough, independent, impartial, transparent and effective investigations into the allegations of human rights violations during the #EndBadGovernance protests, he said. The report also highlights the Nigerian authorities failure to respect and facilitate the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The organization is calling on the Federal Government to reverse the recurrent cycle of impunity and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable. The Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB), Ibaka, Akwa Ibom, has seized a large cache of illicit substances and detained three suspected drug dealers. Capt. Uche Aneke, the Bases Commanding Officer, said this on Thursday while handing over the illegal substances and industrial chemicals to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigeria Customs Service. Aneke stated that the suspects were apprehended on a boat on Monday at approximately 11:50 a.m. during a routine patrol of the Bendero and Uta Uyata areas. Advertisement The boat was laden with over 125 sacks of industrial chemicals (crystalline ammonia) and 62 cartons of different brands of contraband drugs. These included 820 tubes of Pethidine (containing opium) and 24,800 bottles of Codeine syrup, en route to Nigeria from the Republic of Cameroon with the intention of smuggling the controlled substances into Nigeria, Aneke said. He cautioned people and groups seeking to participate in any type of illicit activity in Nigerian seas to stop or face the consequences. READ MORE: NAF Destroys Terrorists Gun Truck, Neutralizes Dozens In Borno Airstrikes Aneke stated that under the current leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, the FOB Ibaka remains committed to effectively eradicating marine crimes in Akwa Iboms coastal districts. Mr Monday Jatau, the NDLEAs Deputy State Commander in Charge of Operations and Training in Akwa Ibom, received the suspects and contraband narcotics and stated that the agency would prosecute the accused following further investigation. Mr Abdulkadir Abubakar, a Deputy Superintendent, also received the industrial chemicals on behalf of NCS and praised the Nigerian Navy for their ongoing assistance in the battle against crime. Fisayo Soyombo, founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), has been detained by the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt. According to a post on FIJs X page, Soyombos devices have been seized, and the organization is demanding that the army preserve his evidence and truth. The post reads, The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt has been detaining our founder @fisayosoyombo 3 days running. Advertisement READ ALSO: Customs Only Intercepts Goods Of Smugglers Who Dont Bribe Them Soyombo Journalism is not a crime! #FreeFisayoNow. Meanwhile, the Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Danjuma, confirming the arrest explained that the operation leading to Soyombos detention followed intelligence regarding a notorious gang of oil thieves involved in pipeline sabotage and illegal oil connection. According to Danjuma, the suspects arrested at the site, including Soyombo, are currently undergoing preliminary investigations to determine their level of involvement. The statement read: You will recall that the Division has intensified its anti-illegal oil bunkering operations, achieving significant operational successes. Recently, intelligence revealed the presence of a notorious gang of oil thieves known for pipeline sabotage and illegal oil connections. In a targeted operation, troops traced the criminals to an illegal oil bunkering site. During the operation, arrests were made, including that of Fisayo Soyombo, who was also detained at the scene. The suspects are currently undergoing preliminary investigations to assess their involvement. Therefore, Soyombos arrest is linked to the activities of these oil thieves in the region. It is important for media outlets to ensure the accuracy of the information they publish. The Division reassures the public of its commitment to curbing criminal activities, particularly oil theft, in the region, which will ultimately help increase oil and gas production in the country, Danjuma concluded. Soyombo has been a vocal critic of corruption in Nigeria, particularly in the customs service. On November 18, 2024, he released a series of videos to back his smuggling allegations. In 2019, he went undercover in Ikoyi Prison for eight days, exposing corruption by prison officials. The Federal High Court in Abuja has declined the Economic and Financial Crimes Commissions (EFCC) request to arraign Yahaya Bello, former Governor of Kogi, over an alleged N80 billion fraud. The courts decision was due to the absence of Bellos lawyers. Bello was brought to court on Friday, but when the case was called, Emeka Nwite, the trial judge, asked Bello why his lawyers were not present. Advertisement He explained that he was only informed of the sitting late Thursday night and could not contact his lawyers to come with him. Kemi Pinheiro, counsel to the EFCC, insisted that the defendants plea be taken, arguing that the law requires the presence of the defendant for trial, not the lawyers. However, the trial judge disagreed, stating that the matter was initially adjourned to January 21, 2025. READ ALSO: Alleged Fraud: Court Remands Former Kogi Gov, Yahaya Bello In EFCC Custody Nwite said, From the statement of the defendant, his lawyers are not aware of todays date. In the interest of fair hearing, I will not proceed for arraignment. The Judge also instructed the prosecution to serve the defendants lawyer with the application for abridgment of time. The case has however been adjourned to December 13 for possible arraignment. Additionally, the EFCC counsel requested that the defendant remain in the custody of the EFCC, which the judge granted. This development comes as the EFCC is pursuing two separate cases against Bello. The EFCC had on Wednesday, arraigned Bello on a 16-count charge, bordering on alleged money laundering to the tune of N110 billion, which the former governor pleaded not guilty. The House of Representatives has disclosed plans to hold a special session on the tax reform bills next Tuesday. This decision was made known by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu during Thursdays plenary session, following a two-hour executive session. According to Kalu, the lawmakers discussed the tax reform bills during the closed-door meeting, describing it as an ongoing conversation. We will have a special session over the tax bill on Tuesday. Advertisement This conversation is going to continue from now till Tuesday when we will invite these resource persons to be here to engage us. Thereafter we will decide which way to go, he said. READ ALSO: Senate Passes Controversial Tax Reform Bills For Second Reading The proposed legislation, which includes the Nigeria tax bill, the tax administration bill, and the joint revenue board establishment bill, has faced opposition, particularly from the north. Despite this, the bills passed second reading at the senate on Thursday. President Bola Tinubu had initially asked the National Assembly to consider and pass four tax reform bills on October 3. However, the Northern States Governors Forum opposed the bills, citing concerns that they would harm the regions interests. The National Economic Council also requested that Tinubu withdraw the bills to allow for further consultations. Nevertheless, Tinubu insisted that the bills would not be withdrawn, emphasizing that they were designed to improve the lives of Nigerians and optimize existing tax frameworks. At least three adult males, whose identities have not yet been confirmed, were injured to varying extents in a collision between four trucks along the Sagamu-Benin Expressway on Thursday. According to a traffic update from Seni Ogunyemi, the Commandant General of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, the accident took place around 7:30 a.m. on the Babcock Hill inbound Odogbolu section of the expressway, as reported by PUNCH Metro. Ogunyemi stated that the accident occurred when one of the trucks attempted to avoid a pothole on the expressway, but another truck following it crashed with it, culminating in a collision with two other trucks. Advertisement He further stated that six individuals were involved in the accident, with three sustaining injuries. READ MORE: Three Persons Abducted At Innoson Motorcycle Showroom In Anambra They were promptly taken to the Babcock University Teaching Hospital for treatment, while the damaged vehicles were cleared from the expressway to ensure the smooth flow of traffic. He said, There is a serious RTA/RTC at Babcock Hill inbound Odogbolu on the Sagamu-Benin Expressway. Preliminary police investigation revealed a truck in front was trying to avoid a pothole, and the vehicle behind was driving recklessly with excessive speed and rammed into the vehicle ahead. Six adult males were involved. Three adult males were injured while no death was recorded. The accident victims were taken to the Babcock University Teaching Hospital Ilisan by the FRSC. The accident vehicles were towed to the MTD Ikenne. Ogunyemi identified the vehicles involved in the accident as a Mack truck without a number plate, two Man Diesel trucks with the number plates AAA 540 YH and RVC 38 YD, and a Howo truck with the number plate T-4173 LA. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has told foreign investors that his government is creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, and the countrys security is now getting better. Tinubu made this known on Thursday during a joint briefing with French President, Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace. He added that Nigeria is working on diversifying its economy away from fossil fuels and believes France can help play a vital role in that move. Advertisement Tinubu said: Weve been working on stabilizing the security system in Nigeria and we are getting closer and closer. We are doing better now in the area of security. I can assure all the investors that Nigeria is open for business. We assure you of a free market economy; easy in, easy out; no hindrance. We have a vibrant youth population that is well educated, skilled, and ready to be trained for the development of our economy. This, I will emphasize, is why we need the French experts and investors to do more in this area to help develop our youth population. READ MORE: Theres Nepotism In Tinubus Govt, Peter Obi Wouldve Performed Better Sen. Abaribe We have the potential to diversify our economy from fossil fuels. In Lagos, for example, we have tamed the Atlantic Ocean so far and we are still promoting marine and blue economy. Fishery is an important aspect of our economic potential. President Tinubu thanked French government for providing stability for Nigerian businesses in the European country. Former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has emphasized that protests alone are not enough to bring about lasting change in developing countries. According to Osinbajo, political participation is necessary for achieving the kind of holistic change required in such societies. Osinbajo made this statement during the technology, new media, citizens and governance conference in Lagos on Thursday. Advertisement READ ALSO: Gov Okpebholo Recovers 30 Official Vehicles From Obasekis Cabinet Members In a democratic society where the objective of political action is to make substantial and structural change, this may only be possible within the context of partisan politics, he said. He further stated that maintaining a puritan stance of not getting involved in politics would not achieve change at the scale required. If we take the position of dont get your hands dirty or dont get into politics, we cant achieve change at the scale that is required, especially in our society, he said. The Senator representing Borno South at the senate, Ali Ndume, has expressed displeasure over recent passage of the tax reform bills by lawmakers. Ndume noted that the hurry by the presidency and some of his colleagues to pass the bills looks suspicious. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the tax reform bills which passed for second reading at the Senate, have triggered controversies since it was sent to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu. Advertisement Mr. Ndume, while speaking on Channels Televisions Politics Today on Thursday, insisted that it is better for the Presidency to take the advice of the National Economic Council to withdraw the bill. READ MORE: Senate Passes Controversial Tax Reform Bills For Second Reading He said: It is not that I am totally saying that we should throw away the baby with the bath water, but since the governors who are our leaders, the National Economic Council and many individuals have said that it is not that we should throw away the bills, no. Withdraw the bill, do more consultations and then bring the bill again. Why are they in a hurry. I disagree with the timing because Nigerians are struggling to survive. Our forefathers were paying tax, in the North we pay taxes. So, it is not like we are running away from tax, we pay taxes, every responsible Nigerian will want to pay tax, but the timing is wrong. President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administrations commitment to reducing the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria. Speaking during a Thursday dialogue with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palais des Elysees, Tinubu emphasized the need for innovative return-to-class initiatives, skills development programs, and a supportive framework to prioritize education for Nigerian children. According to UNESCO, there were 20 million out-of-school children in Nigeria as of September 2022. However, the World Bank reported in June 2024, that the number decreased to 11 million, based on the national education data survey. Advertisement Tinubu stated, In order to bridge the gap for some who are of age and have been out of school for a while, we will encourage skills development. READ ALSO: Tinubu Seeks IMFs Support To Keep Children In School He also acknowledged the challenges posed by insecurity in some parts of the country, saying, The insecurity in some parts of the country makes it hard for children to return to school, but we are gradually repopulating the classrooms. And we need skills development to bridge the gaps. The President also highlighted the progress made in enhancing security across Nigeria, citing kinetic strategies as part of the peace-building process. With some more effort, we will be able to get some level of stability. We had a very good harvest this year. And as soon as more farmers can go back to the farm, we will have more stability in harvest and supply, he said. In response, President Macron acknowledged Nigerias vast growth potential and the importance of investing in educational initiatives. He reflected on his formative experiences during a six-month internship at the French embassy in Nigeria, including visits to Lagos and Kano. As officials from Philadelphias Department of Labor prepare to head into talks with the citys police union over a new contract, members of City Council said theres one thing thats nonnegotiable. City labor leaders, they said, must persuade the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 to allow the Citizens Police Oversight Commission (CPOC), the civilian-led agency the city has pumped millions of dollars into, to conduct independent investigations of officers accused of misconduct. Advertisement There are some things we will die standing on ten toes behind, said Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr., who represents parts of Northwest Philadelphia. Dont come back here without that. Jones, who sponsored the legislation that created the commission, was adamant at a recent Council hearing about the need for it to have expanded power to investigate and address wrongdoing by police officers. But the FOP is not likely to give in and potentially for good reason, said the citys Chief Public Safety Director Adam Geer. The independent investigation is one that is going to be a difficult conversation, Geer said at the hearing, citing what he described as complications involving custody of evidence and potentially duplicative interviews with witnesses. Its going to be difficult to achieve. Independent investigations is a steep hill. Still, Geer said, labor officials are preparing plans for how to broach the issue, and will push for the change. The police union feels so strongly that the agency should not have expanded access to internal police investigations of alleged misconduct that it has vowed legal action to try to block it. FOP President Roosevelt Poplar has said the departments internal affairs unit already investigates complaints against police, and he sees no need for outside oversight. State law requires labor negotiations to address discipline and how it is administered, so the looming contract talks provide an opening for the city to seek expanded authority for the police oversight commission. The agency, created in 2020 amid nationwide calls for police accountability after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, has yet to conduct any investigations into allegations of police misconduct. It has spent more than $3 million in taxpayers money on its more than two years of work, which so far has consisted of auditing internal affairs reports prepared by the police department, sitting in on police disciplinary hearings, and holding community meetings. CPOCs executive director, Tonya McClary, says the commission cant perform its central mission, to independently investigate allegations of police misconduct, without having that authority added to the police contract. The current police contract expires in June 2025, and the city and the union must submit their term sheets for negotiations by Dec. 31. The commission sees this moment, the first time the city is negotiating a police contract since the agencys debut, as the opportunity to give it the ability to do what it was created to do, she said. The city of Philadelphia deserves transparent and fair investigations that keep all residents, police officers and communities safe, McClary said. To fulfill this mandate, CPOC must be able to independently investigate by conducting our own interviews and gathering analysis relevant to evidence of police misconduct. The commissions investigative unit would conduct their own inquiries into police complaints from start to finish, including taking their own statements, she said, and the agencys inquiries would avoid duplicate investigations. Community groups and police accountability organizations have said they support expanded authority for the police oversight commission. Charito Morales, cofounder and organizer of the grassroots organization Philly Boricuas, said the communitys trust in city police has eroded in recent years. She cited the fatal police shooting of Eddie Irizarry, who was shot as he sat in his car on a one-way street in Kensington after a traffic stop. Police initially said he had lunged at officers with a knife, but later revised that account after police reviewed body camera video that showed Irizarry was seated in his car when an officer shot him. The case, she said, underscored the need for an objective third party to investigate such incidents. Theyre supposed to build trust in the community and integrate with the people, Morales said. They lie, they cover up. If we want somebody to investigate, we need to have an outsider, a third eye. The espresso martini with parmigiano-reggiano garnish is photographed at Bar 1010 in the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphia on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023. Read more The espresso martini has become a favorite among Gen Zers, who can often be seen with the elegant elixir in hand. If it were an outfit, it would be a tailored suit with a loosened tie chic, but approachable. Its just a trendy cocktail, said Jared Ridgeway, the beverage manager at the Dandelion. People love coffee and people love alcohol. When you put the two together, youre going to have a huge crowd. It looks good in a glass, it catches the eye, and for restaurants, its pretty easy to execute. Advertisement Whether you prefer the classic recipe or a modern remix, Philly offers plenty of spots to sip on this caffeinated cocktail. The best espresso martinis in Philly? In Northern Liberties booming cocktail scene, Bar 1010 reigns supreme with its cafe tini offerings all variations on the classic vodka, coffee liqueur, and espresso cocktail. For the Classic Parmigiano, the restaurant takes a classic espresso martini ($14) and adds a sprinkling of 16-month aged Parmigianoo Reggiano a surprisingly good combo complete with a dose of rich umami flavor. Other cafe tini offerings include pumpkin spice, topped with cold foam ($16), salted caramel ($15), and dirty chai ($15). 701 N. Second St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19123, 267-930-8486, bar1010.com After establishing the Rival Bros. Coffee empire, award-winning chef Jonathan Adams and master coffee roaster Damien Pileggi decided to collaborate again on Enswell, a day-and-night cafe and cocktail bar near Rittenhouse Square. And the partnership was tailor-made to be an espresso martini destination. Among the many standouts on Enswells drink menu, which includes an orange espresso tonic, the whiskey-based haymaker ($18) is a real knockout. The drink is made with Rival Bros. Whistle & Cuss espresso roast, house-made orgeat, Liberty Belle coffee liqueur, Moscatel cask whiskey, instant coffee cream, and a drizzle of flaky Maldon sea salt. 1528 Spruce St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19102, 215-398-5919, enswellphilly.com With the holiday season in full swing, cozy up with Rouges pumpkin-spiced espresso martini ($18). This seasonal cocktail is made with Holla vodka, spiced chai, infused pumpkin flavor, Kahlua, espresso, vanilla, and fall spices. 205 S. 18th St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19103, 215-732-6622, rouge98.com The Elephant, Philadelphias inaugural espresso martini bar, has evolved from a seasonal pop-up into a permanent establishment. Its menu features inventive variations of the classic cocktail. From fruit-infused tinis to dessert-inspired twists like banana cream pudding ($15) martini and the brulee all day ($15), made with Absolut vodka, espresso, creme brulee cold foam, and Southern Tier creme brulee stout. 1500 Locust St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19102, 267-761-5582, The Elephant Bar Instagram Charlie was a sinner is known for its vegan delights and sleek environs, but the sultry after-hour hangs old-school espresso martini ($17) is top of the line. The smooth, medium roast-infused martini can contend with the best the bustling stretch of Midtown Village eateries has to offer. The drink is elevated by house-made creme liqueur and naturally sweet Nizza espresso. 131 S. 13th St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19107, 267-758-5372 charliewasasinner.com Its no secret: Blind Barber one of Phillys most luxurious speakeasies offers an impressive cinnamon cream-flavored espresso martini ($16) with choice of vodka or tequila. This Center City escape also has an espresso martini-leaning shot called the basic baddie, consisting of espresso-infused vodka, amaretto, house cold brew, and demerara sugar. 1325 Sansom St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19107, 215-528-9485, blindbarber.com Fishtowns R&D Cocktail Bar isnt afraid to go venti. It cocktail list rotates every few months, but a mainstay is the classic espresso martini ($15). If youre joined by a group of espresso enthusiasts, you can level up to a shareable venti ($55) that serves four people. 1206 Frankford Ave., Philadelphia, Pa., 19125, 215-515-3452, rdphilly.com Char & Stave, with locations in Chestnut Hill and Ardmore, transitions from a refined coffee shop by day to a sophisticated whiskey bar by night. While it doesnt offer a traditional espresso martini, the Hot Dirty Pirate ($13.50) is a unique twist. This cocktail combines barrel-aged espresso, whiskey caramel, dark rum, and oat milk, resulting in a rich blend of roasted oat and caramel flavors. 8441 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, Pa., 19118, and 21 Rittenhouse Place, Ardmore, Pa., 19003, charandstave.com The Dandelion is an elevated pub that pays homage to traditional British cuisine, with favorites like rabbit pie, deviled eggs, fish and chips, and English-style stouts on its menu. Given the espresso martini is said to have been invented in London in the 1980s, the Stephen Starr-owned eatery serves a classic one ($15) made with Smirnoff vanilla vodka, fresh espresso, Kahlua, and a touch of simple syrup for a well-balanced sip. 124 S. 18th St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19103, 215-558-2500, thedandelionpub.com Easily one of the citys prettiest cocktails is from Banh Mi and Bottles. The Vietnamese restaurants signature espresso martini ($16) features natural shades of purple from ube, which gives it a mild nutty flavor. This lavender-tinged indulgence is made from an espresso blend infused blanco tequila, ube condensed milk, and a whole egg. 714 South St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19147, banhmiandbottles.com. Rex at the Royal, a Southern-inspired restaurant housed in the historic Royal Theater, offers an espresso martini that reflects its elegant ambience. The Royal Espresso Martini ($19) features vanilla bean-infused Stateside vodka, NOLA coffee liqueur, and Green Street espresso, delivering a rich and sophisticated flavor profile. 1524 South St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19146, 267-319-1366, rexphl.com How to make an espresso martini? If theres one takeaway from the espresso martinis popularity, its that theres no single way to make it. However, the classic ingredients remain simple: 2 oz. vodka 0.5 oz. coffee liqueur (Kahlua is a classic choice) 1 oz. freshly brewed or cold espresso 0.25 oz. simple syrup Three coffee beans for garnish While some bartenders stick with the original, others experiment with sweeteners, infused spirits, or unique garnishes to elevate the cocktail. However you take it, an espresso martini is a guaranteed way to energize your night out. In the throes of one of the worst crises of her life, Deborah Menzies remembers wondering if she was going to find a place to park her car. Menzies, then 55, took great pride in her years as a legal secretary, a career punctuated by occasional bouts of severe depression. In August 2018, a problem at the Northern California law firm where she worked caused me to go off the deep end, she said. Advertisement Menzies told her family she was going to work but instead drove an hour south to San Franciscos Golden Gate Bridge. She intended to jump and end her life. She managed to park and was counting backward from 10 when her plan was foiled by a bridge patrol officer. Menzies was taken to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital where psychiatrists plumbed her medical history, which was marked by seizures that began in elementary school. A few weeks into her lengthy stay at the public hospital, doctors unmasked the underlying cause of the illness that had plagued Menzies for more than 45 years. That discovery led to successful treatment that eradicated what had been a lifelong source of shame and heartache. At least I got the treatment I needed, said Menzies, now 61. Thats what matters. Seizures and guilt The episodes her family called spells or fits started when Menzies was about 8. The youngest of six children raised in a mill town outside Portland, Maine, Menzies said she was told that during the spells, which lasted at most a few minutes, she made odd noises and picked at her clothes. I dont remember anything except that I had these really weird feelings and couldnt talk, Menzies said. It was like I was in a fog. There was one constant: Each attack was preceded by a zapping sensation in her head known as an aura. Menzies would then smile or laugh briefly for no reason. When the behavior escalated in frequency and became impossible to ignore, her mother took her to a doctor who diagnosed epilepsy, a neurological disorder that causes recurring unprovoked seizures, which result from excess electrical activity in the brain. He prescribed Dilantin, a common epilepsy drug, which caused gum disease. When it failed to control her seizures he kept increasing the dose, which didnt help. Epilepsy has long been stigmatized; for centuries it was seen as a sign of demonic possession or a curse that afflicted a family. Doctors didnt explain the disease to her and Menziess family made it clear it wasnt to be discussed at home. My parents did not appreciate having to deal with this kind of thing, she said. It made me self-conscious. I felt guilty for having seizures. She was acutely embarrassed by the involuntary outbursts of inappropriate laughter that made her the butt of jokes at school. When she got older, she recalled, Id go to the library and read about it. As a teenager she saw a neurologist in Portland. He prescribed a second drug that initially proved to be effective, but grew less so after several years. Menzies said her first year in secretarial college went well, but the second year was a disaster as her seizures flared. Years later would she learn that the involuntary laughing episodes were gelastic seizures, a rare type. Classes were very hard, and I couldnt memorize anything, she said. She redoubled her efforts but found that studying harder was pointless because she couldnt retain what she had just read. I was exhausted, panic-stricken, and scared to death of the possibility that I would be the first kid in my family to flunk out of college, she recalled. Seeing no way out, Menzies, then 19, took an overdose of epilepsy medication. She was hospitalized for a week, dropped out of school and returned home to a glacial reception. Her parents were enraged by her attempted suicide. I still remember the look in her eyes, Menzies said of her mother. She told me, This is it. I cannot believe you did this. I am done with you. Her father, she said, didnt talk. Menzies moved out, got a job at a Portland law firm, and later began seeing a therapist, which she said proved invaluable. She consulted a new neurologist who switched her epilepsy medication, but the new regimen was only partly effective. I got really good at knowing if I was going to have a seizure and be unable to talk or begin to laugh, she said. I would pretend to yawn or make sure people didnt see my face. In 1990, she moved to Northern California to marry a man she had met several years earlier. For about a dozen years, Menzies, who gave birth to a son, said she experienced no mental health problems. Everything was great, she said. Everything but the seizures. By then Menzies had developed atonic seizures, also known as drop attacks, characterized by a sudden loss of muscle control that results in a fall. One occurred at work when she suddenly fell forward and broke her glasses. She also developed occasional grand mal or tonic-clonic seizures, one of the most disabling types, which result in convulsions and a loss of consciousness. Cross-country moves In 2002, Menzies, her husband John, and son moved back to Maine, which Menzies said she missed. But by 2008 the gelastic seizures, which were occurring multiple times a day, were unabated and causing her great distress. She became suicidally depressed and was hospitalized for a second time. Studies have repeatedly found that the prevalence of psychiatric problems, particularly depression and anxiety, among people with epilepsy is significantly higher than among the general population. Physiological factors, stigma, and the side effects of antiseizure medications are all believed to play a role. After weeks of treatment, Menziess depression lifted, and she went back to work. In 2013, the couple returned to California to be closer to family. Five years later, Menziess third psychiatric hospitalization was precipitated by a critical email from a lawyer at her firm. Distraught, Menzies said she walked out of the office and drove an hour south to San Franciscos Ocean Beach where she waded into the surf and planned to drown herself. Unsuccessful, she returned home to discover that her husband had called the police. Several days later, after assuring her family that she was feeling better, Menzies drove to the Golden Gate Bridge. A pivotal question At the hospital, Menzies first saw a team of psychiatrists affiliated with the University of California at San Francisco. She said she remembers telling each of them about the aura and the laughing seizures, which she found deeply upsetting. Because of her epilepsy Menzies had a documented seizure in the hospital while on medication psychiatrists asked a neurologist to see her. About two weeks into her 68-day hospitalization, records show that she saw a neurologist, although Menzies says she has no memory of the encounter. His strong suspicion, based in large part on her medical history, was that Menziess depression, memory problems, and uncontrolled seizures might be the result of a benign growth buried deep in her brain. Known as a hypothalamic hamartoma (HH), the tumorlike growth is estimated to occur once every 100,000 to 200,000 births. It is found in the hypothalamus, the almond-size structure located at the base of the brain, which regulates an array of functions including mood, memory, and the release of hormones. Gelastic seizures are a hallmark symptom of HH; drop attacks also occur. Memory problems, cognitive difficulties, and mood disorders, especially depression, are common, as are unprovoked outbursts of rage. About half of people with HH experience early puberty. Menzies had told the neurologist she had undergone puberty around age 10 and that she had angry outbursts as a child. Her depression, memory lapses, and cognitive difficulties were well documented. The neurologist recommended that Menzies undergo a specialized scan known as a high field epilepsy brain MRI. The scan, performed the following week, confirmed his hypothesis, revealing a 5 millimeter growth, roughly the size of a pencil eraser. It was Menziess first MRI; in the past she had undergone numerous electroencephalograms, a noninvasive procedure that measures brain waves, and other more common tests for epilepsy, which rarely detect such a tumor. The result, Menzies recalled, was shocking and vindicating. I had spent my whole life thinking I was a nutcase. After learning the result of the MRI, Menzies said she vividly remembers walking to the wall phone in the middle of the psych unit, calling her husband, and saying, You are not going to believe this. In early October she met with a second UCSF neurologist, Paul Garcia, an epilepsy specialist. The tumor might have been seen on an MRI if one had been done earlier, Garcia said. But one of the reasons its possible to miss it is that its not in an area that usually causes seizures. Sign me up From the moment she learned what was wrong, Menzies said she was eager to undergo brain surgery for the tumor. Until relatively recently it had been regarded as inoperable because of its location. Surgery, often performed in childhood, has become a mainstay treatment. One of the newest approaches, laser thermal ablation, is a minimally invasive procedure that uses heat from a laser to obliterate the tumor. Other procedures include a craniotomy in which part of the skull is removed to access the HH, and gamma knife surgery, which involves targeted beams of intense doses of radiation. Doctors informed her of possible complications of treatment stroke, meningitis, memory loss and told Menzies that her mental health difficulties might not be resolved by surgery and might get worse. Menzies was unmoved. I said, Sign me up, she remembers telling her doctors. It wasnt that simple. The operation was delayed first by her depression, which took weeks to control, and later by her insurance status. At the time Menzies was admitted to the hospital, she was uninsured. Later she was covered through Medi-Cal, Californias Medicaid program. In early 2019 Garcia and other neurology specialists met to discuss her treatment and recommended laser thermal ablation. The procedure was performed in April by neurosurgeon Edward Chang, who is currently chair of UCSFs neurosurgery department. Menzies spent one night in the hospital. She was thrilled to discover that the seizures that had plagued her for decades stopped immediately and have not returned. The first six months after surgery were somewhat rocky, Garcia said. Menzies had problems with her memory and with her bodys electrolyte levels, which help regulate nerve and muscle function; both improved. The operation, she said, transformed her life. Menzies said it vanquished her depression, although her emotional reactions to certain situations remain heightened. Several years ago, she stopped taking psychiatric medication. Shes doing great, Garcia said. Shes a very grateful patient and very happy with how things turned out. Although belated diagnosis of HH is not uncommon, a nearly 50-year delay is unusual, Garcia noted. If a person continues to have seizures that are bothering them, that does deserve a second look, he said. Menzies said the HH diagnosis shocked her extended family. Her father lived long enough to learn about it; her mother had died years earlier. Although detection has dramatically improved some cases are now diagnosed prenatally Menzies said she hopes her story helps others whose tumor might have escaped detection. She continues to grapple with the legacy of an illness that left permanent emotional scars. It affected [nearly] 50 years of my life, she said. I thought if I can help one kid get diagnosed in a timely manner Ive got to talk about it. The author on Roosevelt Boulevard near Rising Sun Avenue in August. Read more Last week, I attended the virtual Roosevelt Boulevard Reimagined briefing, organized for community stakeholders, registered community organizations, nonprofits, and advocacy groups by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDot). The meeting served as a platform to discuss the transformative potential of reimagining Roosevelt Boulevard and the opportunity to look at different transit alternatives, including the long-awaited Roosevelt Boulevard subway. But what the meeting highlighted was a serious shortcoming in PennDots thinking its high cost projections based on an unwillingness to adopt modern construction techniques. Advertisement While the federal Environmental Impact Statement process aims to streamline projects within a two-year time frame, PennDots proposed construction schedule pushing completion to 2040 feels deeply out of step with the urgency of the situation. Northeast Philadelphia deserves safer roads, a modern subway line, and a clear, actionable plan to achieve progress, rather than being mired in perpetual delays. For Northeast Philadelphia, the stakes are high. This corridor has endured 111 years of unmet promises for a subway. The cost discrepancies among alternatives raise serious questions about efficiency and feasibility. For example, according to numbers presented by PennDot at the stakeholder meeting of Nov. 18, the Neighborhood Boulevard subway option, which offers the highest ridership potential at 62,000 daily trips, is estimated to cost $11 billion. Meanwhile, the most expensive alternative, a capped expressway with a subway, reaches a staggering $15.3 billion. In stark contrast, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) alternatives, at $1.8 billion, deliver ridership ranging from 31,000 to 38,500, while Light Rail Transit (LRT) options, costing $5.4 billion to $9.5 billion, attract a projected ridership of 36,500 to 56,400. While subways offer unparalleled capacity and connectivity, these inflated costs threaten the Roosevelt Boulevard subways feasibility. However, one critical limitation of the BRT and LRT options is that they fail to provide one-seat rides to Center City or the stadiums in South Philadelphia. Riders using these systems would need to transfer to other transit modes, adding inconvenience, time, and complexity to their commutes. READ MORE: What I wish for in 2024: The Roosevelt Boulevard subway | Opinion In contrast, the Roosevelt Boulevard subway would deliver seamless, direct access to these critical destinations because it would connect to the Broad Street Lines Express Tracks, making it a far more appealing option for commuters, event-goers, and travelers along the Roosevelt Boulevard corridor. This one-seat ride capability is essential for attracting and sustaining high ridership, directly impacting the overall user experience. A key factor driving up the estimated costs of the subway alternatives is PennDots reliance on tunneling with tunnel-boring machines. While effective in densely developed urban areas or for minimizing surface disruptions, this method is unnecessarily expensive for Roosevelt Boulevards 80-foot median, which is ideally suited for cut-and-cover subway construction. Prefabrication methods which have been successfully implemented in Changchun, China provide a compelling case for reconsidering construction techniques. Using modular components fabricated off-site and assembled on-site, Changchun built six prefabricated metro stations efficiently, reducing construction time, labor costs, and environmental impacts. These techniques have also been applied in Europe, Japan, and South Korea, demonstrating their global viability and effectiveness in urban rail projects. The funding and technical tools exist; whats lacking is political resolve and urgency to pressure PennDot to pick up the pace. Internationally, cut-and-cover methods have been used to construct high-capacity subway systems in wide boulevards or open spaces. The method involves excavating a trench, building the subway structure, and then covering it back over, which allows for more straightforward construction and minimizes reliance on costly machinery like tunnel-boring machines. Paired with prefabricated modules, this approach dramatically reduces the time and cost of building underground transit systems. For Roosevelt Boulevard, prefabrication and cut-and-cover could make subway construction far more attainable, offering Philadelphia a chance to develop world-class infrastructure at a fraction of PennDots estimated costs. READ MORE: Philadelphians have waited over a century for the Roosevelt Boulevard subway | Opinion For Northeast Philadelphia, the stakes are high. This corridor has endured 111 years of unmet promises for a subway. The funding and technical tools exist; whats lacking is political resolve and urgency to pressure PennDot to pick up the pace. Philadelphia must lead with visionary planning, leveraging lessons from other cities, embracing innovative construction methods, and aligning the project with the communitys needs. The Roosevelt Boulevard Reimagined plan is more than a transit initiative its a test of Philadelphias ability to deliver transformative infrastructure. By addressing cost inefficiencies, diversifying funding, and adopting modern construction techniques, we can make the subway alternative viable. Northeast Philadelphia has waited long enough. Its time to deliver. Jay Arzu began his doctorate in city and regional planning at the University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design in fall 2021. Arzu is the cofounder of the Collective Form, a walkable urbanism and community engagement platform. We are parents of students who attend schools in Philadelphia, and signatories of the Parents of Philadelphia Students Against Center City 76 Place Arena Petition that is now circulating which includes the parents of children who attend more than 50 public and charter schools across the 15 learning networks of the School District of Philadelphia in all 10 City Council districts. The nearly 600 of us who have signed the petition oppose the proposed 76 Place arena in its current location. At a time when several of our Philadelphia district schools are at risk of closure, and many require significant repairs and basic needs, such as electrical and plumbing upgrades, air-conditioning, and asbestos removal, it is irresponsible for our city government to abdicate its obligations and consider what amounts to a $1 billion tax break to billionaires who do not even live in Philadelphia. Ten years ago, City Hall shut down schools and caused irreparable harm and hardship to families across the city. We urge elected officials to avoid repeating the same mistakes and to focus on the priorities of students and the resident families who are tax-paying constituents. Advertisement READ MORE: An arena destroyed D.C.s Chinatown. Dont make the same mistake in Philly. | Opinion If City Hall approves the construction of 76 Place arena, residents of Center City and beyond would be severely impacted by years of demolition and construction. This means extended exposure to toxic air and pollution, potentially leading to chronic and acute medical conditions. It means years of road closures and disruptions to traffic and SEPTA services for students, families, and residents going to and from schools and their jobs. Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. has said that 55,000 Philadelphia students depend on SEPTA to get to and from school daily. The proposed construction site would disrupt a major transit hub used by students, parents, and teachers, encompassing Jefferson Station, the 11th Street El station, and the 45 and 23 bus routes. At a time when critical transit infrastructure is crumbling from a lack of public funding and drastic budget cuts, city government proposes to siphon off possible revenue to offer billionaires tax cuts. The Sixers propose to make $50 million in Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) instead of over $400 million in property taxes, taking advantage of a program that was primarily enacted for nonprofit organizations and which has proven to be a financial disaster for the city and school district. Instead of demonstrating good citizenship by supporting the city and the school district, the arena community benefits agreement offers the school district what amounts to an insulting $1.50 per student while burdening them with all the detrimental impacts of the proposed 76 Place. And those burdens are significant. The proposed arena location is on the doorstep of two historically marginalized communities: Chinatown and the Gayborhood. Our historic Chinatown is the only Chinatown in the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and is home to families from across the Asian diaspora. Both neighborhoods provide vulnerable communities especially our youth a safe haven from bullying, racism, xenophobia, homophobia, and transphobia. The proposed 76 Place arena would irrevocably harm and likely decimate these neighborhoods, a terrible loss to a city that claims it is inclusive, welcoming, and a place where historical heritage is celebrated and honored. The proposed 76 Place arena will also detrimentally impact access to Wills Eye Hospital, Pennsylvania Hospital, and Jefferson Hospital, which is the only Level 1 trauma center in Center City. By extension, those impacts will be disproportionately borne by residents who live in and around Center City and whose access to critical health care will be delayed or obstructed. READ MORE: Arena studies are window dressing to obscure who the main beneficiaries of 76 Place will be | Opinion The school board which recently removed from its tax rolls the property on which the arena would be built and City Hall have shown a shocking lack of transparency on the real impacts proposed by the 76 Place arena. They have failed to participate in equitable community engagement with the families, students, and residents of Philadelphia. Our taxes are meant to fund childrens education and public infrastructure for the residents of Philadelphia, not to line the pockets of billionaires. We urge our City Council members to put our youth and our communities first vote no on the 76 Place arena. May Low is a resident of South Philadelphia and the parent of students at Folk Arts-Cultural Treasures Charter School and Childrens Village. Marya Camilleri is a resident of West Philadelphia and the parent of a student at Folk Arts-Cultural Treasures Charter School. Talia Young is a resident of Center City and the parent of students at Folk Arts-Cultural Treasures Charter School and Kids on 12th. Maybe they helped each other. Maybe they ran from each other. Maybe they ignored each other. Its long been known that multiple species of ancient humans lived in the same hot, lush lakeshore area of East Africa. Yet skeletal remains have made that difficult to prove. Advertisement Now, a team of researchers say they have unearthed 1.5 million-year-old footprints from two sets of hominins, or extinct human ancestors, that show the species were present at the same time at Koobi Fora around the shore of Lake Turkana in Kenya. The discovery was published on Thursday in Science. The team included Kevin Hatala, the studys first author and an associate professor of biology at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, and Craig Feibel, a geology professor at Rutgers University. The papers authors say the footprints offer solid evidence that different hominin species overlapped as they might have run from predators, sought food, or possibly even cooperated or competed. This is the first time that two different species of hominins have been recognized from footprints in the same surface, said Feibel, who has studied fossils in Kenya since the 1980s. Its an exciting demonstration of using footprints as evidence. The research is a result of a project run by paleontologist Louise Leakey. Her grandparents, famed paleoanthropologists Louis and Mary Leakey, made the family renowned for finds at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania. Louise Leakeys parents, Richard and Meave, continued the tradition and performed notable research at the Turkana Basin. Kenyans working for Louise Leakey made the discovery. Early humans Using advanced dating techniques, the papers authors placed the footprints of Homo erectus and Paranthropus boisei together during the Pleistocene, suggesting some level of coexistence. The Pleistocene Epoch lasted from 2.5 million years ago to 11,000 years ago and includes the ice age. Both Homo erectus and Paranthropus boisei are hominins, a relatively new term in anthropology that refers to subdivisions of the larger category known as hominids. All species of hominins, extinct or alive, are considered to be within the human lineage that emerged after splitting from ancestors of great apes about 6 million to 7 million years ago. Homo sapiens modern human beings are the only hominins that now exist. The footprints suggest two completely different species of hominins may have scavenged for food at the same time on a savannah with bountiful wildlife. Neanderthals also lived with modern humans for thousands of years, but that was in Europe and much more recently. The two species interbred outside of Africa, proven by traces of Neanderthal DNA found in modern humans. Neanderthals disappeared by about 40,000 years ago. But the footprints discovery released this week in Science, a peer-reviewed academic journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, sets the timeline far earlier for hominin coexistence. The problem with bones Feibel said bones have been found at various sites suggesting different species of humans have coexisted. However, he said, bones can be moved by floods, animals, and even people. So finding sets of bones near each other is not necessarily an indication different types of humans lived together. And its difficult to place the bones at the same location at the same time. You might find one species that commonly occurs alongside the bones of, say, a warthog or something like that. That tells you its out in the open grasslands. But it always run back to this problem of the bones are not necessarily where the animals live, and so it isnt, in essence, proof. But with the footprints, theres no question that they were both there in that spot at the edge of the lake. In this case, Feibel explained, a Kenyan crew working for Leakey was in search of fossils when they came across a footprint buried under soil. They carefully began removing the layer of soil, only to find more and more footprints, all at the same level. That depth told researchers that the footprints occurred at, or very near, the same time. The proof is in the footprint The footprints allowed Hatala, the Chatham University professor, to use new analytical techniques to establish different walking patterns, gaits, and foot anatomy. The separate patterns were seen on the same surfaces and across multiple locations. The scientists said that this analysis presented direct evidence that the two different hominins repeatedly crossed paths, possibly within hours or days along the sandy, silty trails. Scientists looked at how walking is shaped by the motion of feet, such as heel-sole-toe rollover. Humans have a relatively high arch and follow a distinctive pattern and depth. The team was able to determine that two different species that were different from modern humans or chimpanzees. The team preserved five likely track surfaces where the ancient humans walked. Bones were also found nearby. The hominins used the same paths as birds that left tracks as big as 11 inches wide. Its known giant Leptoptilos storks as big as a human once inhabited the area. Authors wrote that the isolated tracks and those of other mammals and birds on the surface were geologically instantaneous and that it is clear that hominins were repeatedly visiting lake margin habitats, walking on wet substrates, wading into shallow water, and potentially interacting with other animals frequenting these environments. Feibel said the new way to analyze footprints can be used by other scientists. Now we know that we can discriminate between different species on the basis of footprints at other sites, Feibel said. So it has expanded our understanding of what we can learn. 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Having a reliable, secure phone is a critical piece of the puzzle for those re-establishing their lives following domestic violence. His strong relationships across the United States and Asia, and his intimate understanding of these respective markets, will greatly support our international growth ambitions and particularly our buildout in North America, he said. Bringing aboard the industrys best talent with deep-rooted connections and specialist market expertise is central to Millers continued growth, and were delighted to have welcomed Guy to the team. What does this mean for re/insurers? The militarization and professionalization of cyber threats are reshaping risk assessment for the re/insurance market. Ransomware, now used as a geopolitical weapon, is pressuring insurers to adapt policy language and coverage terms. Traditional exclusions, such as those for acts of war, are increasingly difficult to enforce in the context of hybrid criminal-state attacks. On Nov. 25, Abacus Life completed an oversubscribed public offering, selling 12.5 million shares of common stock at $8 per share. The company raised approximately $100 million in gross proceeds, which included $80 million from the offering and an additional $20 million from the sale of 2.5 million shares by existing stockholders. Additionally, Davies launched two Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) in 2024: the Womens Network, which supports women across the company, and Eco Davies, where employees can promote sustainable practices. Each ERG has a dedicated budget and an online platform for collaboration and updates. The coverage, often referred to as "organized crime cover", is being purchased for assets such as factories, industrial sites, warehouses, and toll roads. This type of insurance provides protection against property damage and business interruption caused by cartel-related violence, risks that are typically excluded under standard Property Damage and Business Interruption (PDBI) policies. Polis stated that privatizing Pinnacol would enable the company to expand its operations, access a larger multistate risk pool, and implement other enhancements. These changes, he explained, could allow the insurer to increase profits, achieve economies of scale, and maintain competitive rates while continuing its role as an insurer of last resort. Ireland's consumer watchdog has launched court proceedings against a number of countrywide retailers for breaking sales pricing laws, with the first cases to come before the courts in January. The traders are active in a number of sectors including electrical, cosmetics, furniture, and clothing and footwear, with the prosecutions relating to a sweep carried out a year ago examining pricing and consumer practices during the Black Friday and January sales. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) conducted the sweeps over the 2023-2024 winter sales season. Alongside the current prosecutions, a number of other traders have been interviewed under caution, and further prosecutions are expected to follow. The CCPC said the sweep identified significant and widespread breaches of the law. They included misleading pricing and fake discounts. The enforcement actions by the CCPC are criminal prosecutions and under this law, the court can impose a Class A fine of up to 5,000. The watchdog confirmed the prosecutions today, Black Friday, viewed as a key date in retailers' calendars. The CCPC said its officers will also be inspecting the discounts on offer to consumers this Black Friday to ensure they are genuine. CCPC Chair Brian McHugh said the large number of sales pricing inspections last year looked at both online and in-store pricing. "Our inspectors saw many excellent examples of accurate sales pricing and sales communications, however, we also identified retailers where there was significant and widespread breaches of the law. Those traders are now being prosecuted by the CCPC, with the first wave of cases due before the courts in January," he said. Ultimately, misleading sale discounts harm consumers and harm competition. Businesses need to able to compete for consumers openly and honestly on price. This Black Friday, the CCPC is calling on both consumers and business owners to report any suspected fake discounts or misleading pricing to the CCPC. Regulations passed in November 2022 require retailers now to show discounts compared to the prior price. This prior price must be the lowest price the product was on sale for in the previous 30 days. Last week, the CCPC released new research indicating low levels of consumer trust in discounts, with less than a third (30%) of consumers trusting discounts displayed by businesses are genuine. About two in three of all consumers reported being aware of the rules for the display of discount information. Trust in the discounts on offer is low, with just 30% of people saying they trust sale prices displayed by businesses are genuine. Almost 80% of Black Friday shoppers plan to research the advertised discount of items before buying, with those aged over 45 most likely to do some research. The watchdog said young people were more likely to shop in the sales and were more likely to trust advertised discounts, and were less likely to do research about prices, which may make them vulnerable to fake discounts. His job as one of West Corks best-known wedding videographers has helped Colin Hickey hone his craft as a filmmaker. Filming a couples treasured day as it unfolds in real time, says Hickey, sharpened his skills when it came to other film projects. Now his latest feature makes its big-screen debut. Shot in black and white and without the use of dialogue, Perennial Light centres on a boy who is haunted by a friends death as he himself navigates the journey from childhood to adulthood. He embarks on a quest for healing and redemption. A lot of the scenes in Perennial Light were shot in real time, says Hickey. Where you see the lads on the pier, or where you see the fishermen coming in at night, and sometimes with the actors, I would allow it to unfold as it happens, he says, adding that there was no second take in a lot of those scenes. Where did I learn this? A wedding unfolds in real time. You know the structure of the day, you know the bride's going to be here, and then we're going to go there, but it unfolds in real time. A photographer can ask them to pause. A video man, you don't get a second take. Over time, I learned to be able to work in that process of allowing an event to happen, whether it's a person, a bride, walking down a hill, or whether it's a boat coming in at night, and being able to instinctively figure out how to get the best angles, how to get the best out of what's in front of you, whether it be an actor or a bride and groom at a wedding. A scene from Perennial Light. Perennial Light is special and unique, and Hickeys unconventional approach to his third feature is getting strong word of mouth from audiences and critics. For Hickey, getting it released into cinemas is the win. Six weeks ago, the film was sitting at home on my computer, says Hickey, adding that the Arts Council-backed film generated buzz on the festival circuit, encouraging him to endeavour to release it in cinemas. When we screened at the Dublin International Film Festival last year, I wanted to get it to festivals but I didn't really think about a release date. I thought that was too ambitious. From the response at DIFF, from some of the online reviews we got, I think that's helped the film to find a small theatrical release. I really couldn't be happier. Originally from Ballincollig and based in Baltimore for the past 15 years, Hickey studied film at St Johns in Cork and later in London, as he wondered whether he could focus on it as a career. Not that I was put off by the business, but the people I met over the next number of years, not all of them - but a lot of them - were kind of disappointed by the outcome of their films. By the time it got to the filming, and by the time it got to the final edit, it wasn't what they imagined in their head. Along with his own creative ambitions, it led him to think about the traditional structures of filmmaking and how he could adapt. If I do it, how do I do it without being disappointed, the feeling that things didn't work out? he says. Hickey was living in South America when he made a short film in Spanish. He started toying with the idea of a different approach. I thought: Well, maybe I'll film the scenes with dialogue, and I'll film them without dialogue. So now you have to stylise the scene more. You might have to change the location. You have to change the lighting. I work with natural light only, so there's no artificial lighting. And so when we got to the editing process, I realised that I started to cut out a lot of the dialogue, and I relied on imagery. Another still from Perennial Light. On returning to Ireland with his family, Hickey set up his wedding-video business and moved to West Cork for peace and quiet. While driving the many corners of the county for his wedding work, he would stop at a striking location and train his camera on the place. I had this instinct, I wanted to make films. So I started filming in these locations, random places, any landscape shots from the side of a road, or if I saw a location, a house or a building, I would get out and film it. And then bit by bit, I started piecing together shots. Over a number of years, that led to his first feature film, Evening Redness in the South, which was set around building sites that were left idle in Cork. A couple of years later, he took a similar filmmaking approach for his second feature, Where the Merrows Roam. I spent two years working on that, filming with my kids and locally, with people that I knew. The key thing to my approach is that I use what's available to me. If a boat yard is available, I'll film on a boat yard. If a pier is available, I'll film on a pier. A lot of the actors are neighbours of mine, my nephew's in Perennial Light. I just go out and part of the joy of it, what's satisfying, is finding the movie as you go along. It avoids disappointment in a way, and I think that was one of the main reasons why I started doing it this way - lots of other reasons as well, but that's one of them. A scene from Perennial Light. His work also comes from a personal place, and Hickey recalls a teenage memory that he kept thinking upon while making Perennial Light and the themes it explores. I had a very brief moment when I was a teenager, where I met someone who was sick and was terminally ill. We weren't close, but I would have known of the person. I was walking by the house, and I was invited in by one of their parents. It was the first time that I ever came across anyone who was sick and was dying young. When you're young, you assume everyone grows old. You see parents. You see grandparents. I think it must have made an impression. Over the years, whenever someone would pass away, or I'd hear about a young person die, I would remember that one incident. And so it sort of found its way into the film. Its funny how these things work. Many of us are guilty of being chained to our desk chairs during the day and to the sofa during the evenings, but what impact could this have on our health later down the line? The cold and dark weather dramatically decreases the appeal of exercise this time of year, however gentle movements little and often could do wonders for our health. Here, we look at the risks of sitting down too much. What signs might indicate you are sitting down too much? Signs that we are sitting too much might include joint pain and stiffness, particularly in the back and neck, and muscular pain and tightness, particularly in the shoulders, at the back of the knees and muscles at the front of the hips, says physiotherapist Laura Mould. Low energy levels, fatigue and difficulty concentrating can also be related to inactivity. Sitting down for too long may also exacerbate symptoms from existing conditions. People with long-term health conditions such as arthritis, breathing conditions or circulation problems might find that sitting increases symptoms such as joint stiffness, breathlessness and leg swelling, adds Mould. How does sitting down too much impact our bones and muscles? Bones: Sitting can make your bones weaker and eventually lead to osteoporosis and risk of fracture, says Clara Kervyn, physiotherapist from the joint and muscle care specialists Deep Heat and Deep Freeze. Sitting puts significant stress on the spine and can lead to compression of the discs in the spine. Spinal issues can cause significant pain and eventually immobility. Being sedentary can also have a negative impact on our posture. When we sit we often have bad posture as we tend to slouch, so make sure you sit right, advises Kervyn. Stop slouching and sit upright with feet flat on the floor and screens at eye level. Muscles: Sitting can cause the large muscles in your legs and glutes to weaken and waste away, warns Kervyn. These muscles are essential for walking, keeping your balance and generally stabilising your body. Sitting can also tighten hip flexors, which can lead to problems with your hip joints. Is it OK to sit down more as we age? Moving your body regularly during retirement can help keep you healthy, mobile and independent. We lose muscle much faster as we age and weakening muscles exacerbated by sitting down can lead to sarcopenia, highlights Kervyn. Eventually, an old person may have difficulty getting out of bed and out of a chair, potentially leading to the need for carers sooner. How often should we move our body throughout the day? Little and often is the key if you have a sedentary lifestyle or find yourself stuck at your desk, advises physiotherapist Laura Stocks. Getting up from the desk and taking a little walk around can really help to reduce stiff joints and tight muscles. Movement is key to musculoskeletal health and it is very important we exercise to maintain this part of health as we age. Three gentle exercises you can do during the day: 1. Ankle rotations: While seated, lift your feet off the ground and rotate your ankles in circular motions in the same direction, five times one way and the same the other way, advises personal trainer Olly Banks. Repeat this motion three times. This exercise helps to stimulate blood flow in your lower legs and feet, preventing stiffness and promoting circulation. 2. Leg extensions: Extend one leg out in front of you and flex your foot, then bring it back down, says Banks. Repeat with the other leg and keep going back and forth a few times. Leg extensions are a simple move that can prevent annoying stiffness in your legs, particularly if youve been sitting for long periods of time. 3. Fast feet: Lift your heels off the floor so youre on the balls of your feet, then quickly alternate between tapping your heels up and down, like youre running on the spot, says Banks. Do this for 10 seconds before resting for 5 seconds and repeating 10 times. This rapid movement helps to activate your calf muscles and pump blood back up towards your heart, giving your circulation a boost. We all know that our drinking culture starts young in Ireland. Its teen discos and Junior Cert celebrations. Obviously, youre well below legal drinking age when all of this starts. But someones always got an older cousin willing to supply the 13-year-olds with alcohol. Or you figure out whose parents are most laid-back about drinking. Its sort of intriguing at first, because youre certain this is how youll have a good time. Since coming to college, Ive seen how our culture of excessive drinking is carried onto our campuses. But the notion that drinking is how we have fun isnt so glamorous in practice. Of course, going out and drinking is a normal part of the college experience. The college bar is where our socialising happens. Its where we make friends outside of our course. Its where we have post-lecture pints. Many fledgling relationships are set alight on those sticky floors. So, its all wholesome. Until its not. Because if youre only having a drink or two, youre no craic. But its no wonder people get carried away. It can seem like you have to be a drink ahead of the rest, if you want to be the life of the party. Dont get me wrong, I love a night out as much as anyone. But if youve been around enough college students drinking, youll know what I mean when I say that our attitude towards alcohol is far from healthy. Youll hear everyone spinning the narrative that were young and just having fun. Were supposed to let loose. Sure, youre only 20 once. Jane Cowan: "Of course, going out and drinking is a normal part of the college experience. The college bar is where our socialising happens. Its where we make friends outside of our course. Its where we have post-lecture pints. Many fledgling relationships are set alight on those sticky floors. So, its all wholesome. Until its not." The excessive drinking most nights of the week is what college is all about. In many ways, I agree. It is a unique time in your life where your responsibilities are few. Secondary school is so structured; its great to experience the breathing room that college gives you. Skipping a few lectures the day after a night out is no big deal. I have spent my share of 9am lectures sleeping off a pounding head. But the problem isnt really the missed classes. Its that Ive never been on a night out where someone hasnt had to be brought home early in a taxi, because they didnt pace their drinks. Theres almost always someone that never makes it out of the house after pre-drinks, because it would be unsafe for them to go out. And theres no way a bouncer would let them into a nightclub in the first place. Everyone laughs about it and shrugs it off in the moment. Because were all so certain that this kind of thing is totally fine during college. I actually find it a bit dull sometimes. It feels like every social interaction has to revolve around alcohol. I know this isnt exclusive to college, but it is where a lot of people form the habit of needing to drink to be around groups of people. If were seeing our friends, drink will always be central. And its rarely just one or two. Jane Cowan: "When youre in college, everythings new, youre talking to people youve never met, youre out of your comfort zone. Its easy to use alcohol to smoothen everything out. It's all in the name of fun. But a room of people that need a drink before they can relax isnt actually all that fun." I totally get it. Particularly when youre first getting to know people, alcohol bridges the gap of awkwardness that you might feel. And when youre in college, everythings new, youre talking to people youve never met, youre out of your comfort zone. Its easy to use alcohol to smoothen everything out. It's all in the name of fun. But a room of people that need a drink before they can relax isnt actually all that fun. Neither is putting your friend to bed because they arent fit to get themselves home safely. This doesnt happen in a void. Very early on we all pick up on the message that alcohol is the ticket to fun. We have a clear idea of what is a healthy relationship with alcohol looks like, once youre out of college and working full time. But why does that only come in once weve gotten our undergrad degree? Selling young people on the idea that were supposed to be drinking heavily most nights of the week, in order to be doing college right, puts people under pressure to drink before they can enjoy themselves. The conflation of drunkenness and fun ruins the college experience for so many people. They either think theyre doing college wrong, or they that they have to keep up with the drinking habits of other people. Neither is a pleasant place to be. And neither is true. Crawling on all fours onto the summit of Mount Elbrus in Russia, winds whipping so viciously they would blow him to his death if he stood up, Derek Mahon caught the mountaineering bug. The conditions were horrendous. Once you got to cloud level it was a constant snowstorm with very high winds. You couldnt see anything. And it was about -20c," he said. But when you achieve something like that it gives you enormous satisfaction to continue to push the barriers. On Sunday, Mr Mahon will leave for Antarctica to set the record to become the 15th Irish person and the oldest Irish person ever to summit the seven highest peaks on the worlds seven continents. In 2012, he summited 5,642m Mount Elbrus; in 2014 he climbed the 8,848m Mount Everest; in 2017 it was Kilimanjaro at 5,895m; followed by Aconcagua at 6,961m in 2019. Irishman Derek Mahon will celebrate his 63rd birthday while climbing in Antarctica. He climbed Denali at 6,192m in 2022 and Mount Kosciuszko at 2,228m this year. Next month, he will climb Mount Vinson at 4,892m. Mountaineering has taken him through remote villages in Tibet and along the Russia-Georgia border at times of tension, looking down on Georgian military patrols from the mountains. He will turn 63 when he climbs Mount Vision Massif and he will become one of fewer than 500 people internationally to complete the seven-summit challenge. Although it is approaching summer in Antarctica, Mr Mahon expects temperatures of -20c to -30c in the continents balmy summer, with temperatures potentially dropping as low as -50c with wind-chill. Everything is about survival. Youre fighting the cold all the time, he said. Showers of tiny ice crystals can explode in unwelcome bursts inside the tent whenever the tent walls are even slightly disturbed as condensation quickly turns to ice and coats the inside of the high-performance tents. Only about 100 people go to Antarctica every year, and most of them are scientists," Mr Mahon said. No animals live there, there are no birds inland. There is no sound apart from the occasional little avalanche or rock slide. There's no noise pollution whatsoever. Theres 24-hour light; 2am is the same as 2pm. It's just so peaceful. It's what you would anticipate heaven would be like. Previously, he spent eight weeks travelling to and climbing Everest, aged 52. He reached the summit at 6.30am with near-perfect visibility. I just stood on the summit and I tried to stay in the moment and realise at that particular point I was the highest human being standing on the highest mountain in the world. And being conscious of looking around and looking at the Himalayas and just trying to take it in. It was just so, so special. A talk by respected mountaineer the late Noel Hanna, who summited Everest 10 times but died last year aged 56 after summiting Annapurna in Nepal, inspired him to begin mountaineering. He said, 'mountaineering is 80% mental and 20% physical'. Ive held that phrase in all of my journeys through all of the mountains. Age should not be a barrier to people pushing themselves and pursuing their dreams, he said. 'There are no limits with a positive mental attitude and proper preparation,' says Derek Mahon. The youngest person to summit Mount Everest was 13 years old; the oldest was an 80-year-old. So I don't think there is an age limit. If you think you can do it, nothing should stand in your way of succeeding. There are no limits with a positive mental attitude and proper preparation. There's really nothing to stop us but ourselves. Age to me is not the barrier. I have conditioned myself for this climb to an ultra-fit level. I'm nearly 63 and I'm running 5ks in just under 21 minutes. If we can sometimes only get out of our own way we would succeed so much more." Mr Mahon, a father-of-three from Naul, Co Meath, leaves on Sunday to complete the last of his climbs of the seven summits. An Post pensioners protested in the rain in Cork City on Friday morning to demand the scrapping of a pension cap following their decade of sacrifice. The Post Office Pensioners United group, which represents about 700 retirees, some in their late 80s and early 90s, demonstrated outside the citys GPO to highlight how their pension increases have been capped under the terms of a decade-long deal, introduced in 2013, to help save the company's pension fund, which was in serious deficit at the time. That deal has expired but the pensioners have accused An Post and its group of unions, the Communication Workers Union in particular, of ignoring their plight and of throwing them under the bus. We feel deeply let down by the company and the unions, protest organiser, Paul Moreland, said. Most of the pensioners were civil servants who were transferred to An Post in 1984 under the terms of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983 that guaranteed them not less favourable conditions in their pensions than would be the case if they had remained in the civil service. Nicky Byrne and John Ahern at the protest. Increases in their pensions were paid over the 30-year period up to January 2014 under the pay-pension parity basis that has operated in the civil service since the early 1970s which meant pensioners received the same level of increases as current employees. Financial crash But when the An Post pension scheme ran into a deficit after the 2008 financial crash, a pension accord was introduced in 2013 which capped pension increases at 2%, or the consumer price index, whichever was the lower. At the same time, the company reduced its contribution to the pension fund from 14.4% to just 8%. Sources say contribution is one of the lowest in the commercial semi-State sector. The pension fund recovered and now has a surplus of some 500m. In 2024, An Post staff got a 4% pay increase, but pensioners only got 2% because of the accord. Increases offered by An Post must be approved by the minister for communications and the minister for public expenditure a very complex approval process which took eight months last year and nine months this year resulting in the increase due from January 1, 2024, only being paid last week. Protestors at the GPO on Oliver Plunkett Street on Friday morning. An Post has been asked for comment, and a response is awaited. However, it has previously claimed increases are discretionary, that it is not operating in contravention of the not less favourable guarantee in the 1983 act, and that it has adopted a new policy in how it exercises that discretion. But one pensioner, Matt Moran, said the figures involved equate to the figures in the accord, and this coincidence was too blatant to be credible. The accord, with its redefinition of salary, was a very cute move to undermine and circumvent Section 46(4) of the 1983 act that was intended by the Oireachtas as a copper-fastening of pension conditions after we transferred out of the civil service, he said. It is an immoral device being used by a State company that has received incredible loyalty from staff since its foundation. Mr Moreland said the bottom line was the pension accord must be terminated. Since its introduction, retirees have willingly borne significant sacrifices, and these have been acknowledged by An Posts CEO David McRedmond, the unions, and trustees, he said. Pensioners made this sacrifice because they understood that the pension fund was, at the time of the accord, seriously underfunded and having a deficit approaching half a billion euro. Now there is a healthy surplus of over 500m, an amount which comfortably exceeds the legislated minimum reserves." However, retired pensioners have no direct representation in decisions regarding their pensions, and any potential increases are subjected to a bureaucratic approval process." Many elderly pensioners have been unable to benefit from pension increases due to these lengthy delays. Given the current robust state of the pension fund and the hardships endured by pensioners, we urgently call on all parties to end the pension accord and streamline the process for pension increases to ensure fair and timely adjustments for retired members. 'Meaningful increases' In a statement, the CWU said a key objective of its negotiations on pay in all its pay talks had been the delivery of meaningful increases to pensions for An Post pensioners. This has delivered increases of 12.5% in pensionable pay since January 1, 2022, a spokesman said. Furthermore, an actuarial review of the pension scheme will be conducted during the first half of 2025. It will examine the funds performance for the three years up to December 31, 2024, and its ability to meet future pension liabilities." Shay O'Callaghan from Dublin and Brendan Sweeney, who travelled from Wicklow to join the protest. Because of the support which workers provided under the An Post pension accord, and the support of the union and careful oversight by its trustees, the scheme is now in a strong position. Arising out of this actuarial review, the union has also stated its objective is to secure agreement on further increases in pensions to be paid in 2025. We agree that ministerial approval [which is a requirement of the scheme] creates unacceptable delays in processing increases in pensions that have already been agreed. We always exert the maximum pressure we can to ensure that pensions increases are paid promptly. The highest number of people reoffending after being freed from prison on probation is in the Cork-Kerry region, where 31% of individuals committed crimes after their release. The CSO has also revealed almost one probationer in two will commit, and be convicted of, an offence within three years of their release. Just over a quarter of offenders who were placed on probation in 2020 had reoffended within a year, a rise of 2% on the same figure for 2019, the CSO said in its latest release on recidivism. 2020 is the most recent year for which statistics as at least three years worth of data is required to establish reoffending rates one year to total the number of re-offences committed, and a further two years to establish adjusted re-conviction rates. The biggest cohort of probationers by type of crime was those convicted of drug offences 605 out of 3,478 people with just over a fifth of those being convicted of a further offence within a year of their release. The vast majority of probation-breaches just under two thirds, or 65% occurred under just three categories of crime: drugs, public order offences, and theft. The highest levels of such reoffending were seen among adult males aged under 25, who had a 37% rate of reoffending, with the same figure for young females at 25%. Conversely, however, males over 45 years had a reoffending-within-one-year rate of just 15%, whereas females in that age bracket had a 21% recidivist rate. County breakdown While the highest geographic rate of reoffending was seen in Cork and Kerry, the levels of people breaching their probation in Dublin where the vast majority, about a third, of such offenders live was 27%. Reoffending rates vary greatly by region with just 21% of offenders in the west and midlands reoffending within one year of release, versus the 31% seen in Cork and Kerry. By county, Donegal and Wicklow 10% and 12% respectively had the lowest rates of reoffending, with Monaghan posting the worst figure of 35%. The CSO said that over a longer timeframe of three years, nearly half of the people placed on probation 45% had committed at least once offence for which they received a conviction. However, those figures are actually a marked improvement albeit from a smaller sample size on the three-year rates seen in 2017 47% - and particularly on the stats recorded a decade previously in 2008, when the same rate was 55%. The 2020 figures for probationers are slightly skewed as there were significantly less 35% probation orders issued that year due to the onset of covid-19. A man who was surrounded and assaulted during a violent incident in Cork city centre was able to punch one of his assailants nine times into the face, and kick him three times in the head. This man, Shane Purcell, aged 27, of St Vincents Hostel, was found guilty by a jury that, on May 23, 2021, he assaulted the other man causing him harm. Sergeant Vincent McCarthy reminded Judge Helen Boyle of the circumstances of the case as a sentence of three-and-a-half years with the last year suspended was imposed on Purcell. Judge Boyle said: This involved a brawl on the street. The assault by Mr Purcell consisted of nine blows to the face and head, and three kicks to the head rendering him unconscious. I accept you were struck yourself six times in the face and head, and you were not the one who struck the first blow. The injured party, in fact, struck you the first blow. It happened in a busy shopping area. There was a toddler at the scene picked up by their mother just seconds before the brawl, and this was captured on the CCTV. There was no complaint made by the injured party and no victim impact statement. The prosecution was effectively brought on the basis of the evidence in the video coverage of what happened on Paul Street in daylight on that busy day. Defence barrister Elaine Audley said Shane Purcell was punched by the injured party in the first instance. He has suffered addiction issues. One of his brothers died at the age of four, when the accused was six, and minding his brother, and a coal truck rolled over him. Another brother died in a house fire at the age of 13, Ms Audley said. Against this traumatic background with a significant amount of grief and loss, the defendant has achieved an awful lot during his time in custody and extensive documentation and certification showed this, Ms Audley said. There is a huge, remarkable amount of documentation. He qualified as a mediator. He received a Gaisce Presidents award on May 24. And he has done courses in psychology and alternatives to violence. He has psychology certificates in dealing with grief and anxiety. He is hopeful never to darken the court doors again. He is making good on his promise to re-educate himself and turn his life around. He was out-numbered and surrounded at various times in the CCTV-covered incident, sometimes three to one, sometimes five to one, Ms Audley submitted at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. 9:55pm All 174 seats in the next Dail have been filled following the election of Fianna Fail's Niamh Smyth and Brendan Smith in Cavan-Monaghan. Both TDs have been returned to the Dail without reaching the quota in what was a marathon count. It brings to an end over 60 hours of counting in the General Election 2024. Fianna Fail has emerged as the largest party, winning 48 seats, which is 10 more than Fine Gael. Sinn Fein took 39 seats, and Fine Gael followed closely with 38. Labour and the Social Democrats both took 11 seats; People Before Profit-Solidarity took three; Aontu took two; and the Green Party retained only one of its 12 seats. Independents and others took 21 seats. 8pm First time Sinn Fein candidate Cathy Bennett has been elected on count 13 in Cavan-Monaghan. That is two Sinn Fein TDs returned to the five-seater constituency. Now three candidates remain to battle it out for the final two seats. 6pm They're through the 12th count in Cavan-Monaghan, the only constituency still counting. Sinn Feins Matt Carthy retains his seat and is elected. The 47-year-old was elected on count 12 after picking up more than 4,000 transfers from running mate and former TD, Pauline Tully. Mr Carthys votes totalled 15,140. Four candidates remain in the race for three seats. Mr Carthys other running mate, first-time candidate Cathy Bennett, is likely to be returned in the next count when she will benefit from his surplus of more than 3,500 votes. Two Fianna Fail incumbents, Brendan Smith and Niamh Smyth, along with Aontus Sarah OReilly, are the other three remaining candidates. 5.10pm And then there was one! Mick Barry has conceded in Cork meaning Labour's Eoghan Kenny has taken the last seat in Cork North Central and the counting in Louth has finished. It means that the only constituency left counting is Cavan-Monaghan. 4.45pm Alan Kelly and Ryan OMeara have been elected to Tipperary North. The former Labour Party leader was elected after he passed the quota, while the 29-year-old Fianna Fail newcomer was elected despite not reaching it. However, by the end of the 10th count, he had the next highest number of votes after Mr Kelly and so won the third and final seat. Mr Kelly repeatedly broke down in tears both before and after the result which he had earlier dedicated to his father Tom who is seriously ill in hospital. He struggled to compose himself as he was congratulated by well-wishers and by members of his family who were also in tears. The count had been delayed by a call for a full recount last night after the ninth count but this was withdrawn earlier today. 3.05pm Outgoing Sinn Fein TD Pauline Tully has lost her Cavan-Monaghan seat in the five-seater constituency on Monday afternoon. The former teacher is the most high-profile casualty of the race so far, having served one term in office. Fresh counting got underway at lunchtime at Cavan Leisure Centre. Only one candidate has been elected, Fine Gaels David Maxwell, when he became the first to exceed the 11,541 quota shortly after 4am on Monday. 3pm Alan Kelly, who is expected to be elected today in Tipperary North after a full recount was called off, has said the Labour Party should not be scared of going into government, regardless of how many times smaller parties take a hit for working alongside bigger ones. I know the whole criticism about small parties getting hit when they go into government, he said. But some party is going to change that someday, and I believe that should be us. I think we should be very firm on what we want, the red lines, and if they're not met, the government would fall. Simple as that." 2.55pm And the count is complete in Kildare North! Sinn Fein's Reada Cronin has exceeded the quota of 9,505 on the 12th count Fianna Fail's Naoise O Cearuil and Fine Gael's Joe Neville, who are set to becoming first-time TDs, have been elected without reaching the quota. Bernard Durkan of Fine Gael has missed out on a seat after 42 consecutive years as a TD. Bernard Durkan of Fine Gael has missed out on a seat after 42 consecutive years as a TD. Picture: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie 1.52pm The full recount of Tipperary North has been cancelled. The last of four unelected candidates has conceded defeat and accepted he will be eliminated. The recount had been called after independent Jim Ryan disputed the distribution of votes between himself and Fianna Fail's Michael Smith. But just 10 minutes ago, Waterford County Council councillor Smith conceded. It means that Labour's Alan Kelly and Fianna Fail's Ryan O'Meara will be the next TDs elected to the three-seat constituency. 10.33am A recount is underway in the Cork count centre in Nemo Rangers where the fight for the fifth and final seat in Cork North Central looks set to be a nailbiter. To follow the action in Rbele County live, head to our Cork election liveblog. Monday, 6.30am: Here's what happened over night at the count centres 5.25am Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has lost his Dail seat after being eliminated in Wicklow. Taoiseach Simon Harriss running mate Edward Timmins was deemed elected without reaching the quota, securing a second seat for Fine Gael. Donnelly, ultimately, was unable to narrow a gap with Timmins who benefited from a huge surplus from Harris after topping the poll with more than 5,000 votes to spare. The announcement was made following a marathon count at the Wicklow count centre in Greystones, Co Wicklow, which concluded at 5.25am on Monday morning. Earlier in the day Donnelly said a combination of a strong Government vote for Mr Harris and the loss of a seat from the four-seat constituency had dented his chances. We knew Simon would take a huge vote a Government vote, if you like in the constituency. It was strong actually, but when youre sharing a constituency and a hometown with a Taoiseach and moving from a five-seater to a four-seater when you put those two things together, it obviously creates a lot of pressure, he said. We all knew it would come down to the final seat, to transfers. Well see what happens in the coming hours. It's a remarkable reversal in electoral fortunes for Donnelly who surged to a poll-topping performance in Wicklow as a member of the Social Democrats in 2016, gaining some 21% of the vote However, shortly after the election, he left the party after a series of disagreements with the co-leaders. At the time he favoured going into coalition government with the Fine Gael-led administration, but this was ruled out by other party figures. He controversially joined Fianna Fail in 2017, which led to widespread criticism, though he defended the move at the time insisting that it was important not to remain on the margins. The move, along with local party tensions, dented his vote in the 2020 election, though he ended up getting elected on the 15th and last count. 4.20am In the Longford-Westmeath count centre, Fianna Fail's Robert Troy has been deemed elected after the distribution of Independent Ireland's Paul Hogans votes in the fifteenth and final count pushed him beyond the quota. Fine Gael's Micheal Carrigy was also elected despite not reaching the quota as there were no votes left to distribute and the next nearest candidate, Fianna Fail's Joe Flaherty had a smaller amount of votes. This ends the count in Athlone for the Longford-Westmeath constituency with Flaherty losing his seat, and Fine Gael gaining a seat through Micheal Carrigy and the Independent candidate Kevin Boxer Moran returning to the national political scene. 2.32am 100% Redress candidate Charles Ward and Fianna Fail's Charlie McConalogue take last two seats in Donegal. They join Sinn Fein's Pearse Doherty and Padraig Mac Lochlainn as well as Pat the Cope Gallagher in this five seater. 2.10am A visceral roar erupted in the bowls of the John McCormack Centre, TUS Athlone heralding the return of Kevin Boxer Moran to Dail Eireann. The Athlone based representative received 195 votes from the surplus of Sinn Fein's Sorca Clarke, which pushed him over the quota of 10,315 votes by 135 votes. As the remaining 135 votes of Clarkes surplus, which were yet to be distributed, cannot elect the highest remaining candidate, Fianna Fail's Robert Troy or save Paul Hogan from exclusion, the Independent Ireland candidate has been eliminated. Hogans votes are now being distributed amongst the remaining candidates. Minister Norma Foley with her husband Denis McGuire. Picture : Domnick Walsh Eye Focus LTD . 1.35am In Galway West, Fine Gael's Hildegarde Naughton has been elected for the third term in a row. Her Fine Gael colleague Sean Kyne announced his resignation from politics after failing to regain his seat for the second election in a row. 1am Counting in Louth has been suspended until 10am on Monday morning, after the 18th count. No candidate reached the quota on this count. Fine Gael's John McGahon was eliminated and his 4,587 votes are to be distributed at the next count tomorrow. 12.58am Three new TDs have been elected to Dublin Bay North following the retirement of Fine Gaels Richard Bruton and Fianna Fail TD Sean Haughey, and the election of Labours Aodhan O Riordain to the European parliament. Fine Gaels Naoise O Muiri won the third seat while Independent Cllr Barry Heneghan, protege of former minister of state Finian McGrath, took the fourth seat ahead of Fianna Fails Tom Brabazon who secured the fifth. All three were elected on the 14th and final count without reaching the quota. Asked would he support a Fianna Fail/ Fine Gael government the new Independent TD said he would discuss it with the kitchen Cabinet. The three newly elected TDs join poll topper Social Democrats TD Cian OCallaghan and Sinn Fein TD Denise Mitchell who were comfortably returned. 12.55am In Donegal, another elected official and it's a familiar face making a return to the Dail. Pat the Cope Gallagher has been elected on the 15th count. The Fianna Fail candidate had lost his seat in 2020 but has regained it four years later. While in Sligo-Letrim, the count has concluded with the election of Fianna Fails Eamon Scanlon and Independent Marian Harkin to the final two of four seats. 12.40am We're still going in some count centres. Dublin Bay North has finished up though and three more TDs have beene elected on the 14th count. They are Naoise O Muiri of Fine Gael, Tom Brabazon of Fianna Fail and Independent candidate Barry Heneghan. In Longford/Westmeath, Sinn Feins Sorcha Clarke has taken the second seat. She received a remarkable 2,353 votes from her running mate Barry Campion 12.10am It's a Sinn Fein 'one-two' in Louth. In the 17th count, Joanna Byrne is the second TD elected in the five seater constituency, after her fellow SF Ruairi O Murchu was elected and his surplus votes redistributed 12am Jennifer Whitmore, the Social Democrats TD and childcare spokeswoman, has retained her seat in Wicklow. She was elected on the ninth count on the back of transfers from the Green Party's outgoing TD Steven Matthews, who was eliminated. 11.50pm Movement in Kildare North! Aidan Farrelly has been elected on the tenth count for the Social Democrats. He succeeds Catherine Murphy to retain the seat for the party - who are now up to 10 seats so far in this election. There are still three seats to fill in the five-seat constituency, with Fianna Fail's James Lawless already home and hosed. The returning officer agreed to suspend counting until 9am on Monday 11.25pm Another constituency has wrapped up. Meath East has returned incumbent TD Thomas Byrne of Fianna Fail after reaching the quota. Independent Gillian Toole has taken the final seat there despite not reaching the quota. The constituency was previously a three-seater but received an extra seat in this election. 10.50pm Another Sinn Fein candidate has won his seat - this time it's Martin Kenny in Sligo-Leitrim. He takes the second of four available seats after Fine Gael's Frank Feighan. 10.45pm Fine Gael is increasingly confident they will take a second seat in Wicklow at the expense of Fianna Fail Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly. The partys west Wicklow councillor Edward Timmins has kept a gap of almost 1,300 votes on Donnelly after the eighth count. Local party campaigners say Timmins has a much clearer path to taking the final spot in the four-seat constituency on the back of transfers from the remaining candidates. He is likely to do better from Shay Cullen, a former Fine Gael councillor based in Newtownmountkennedy, while Donnellys only hope is to gain more transfers from former Fianna Fail TD Joe Behan and outgoing Green Party TD Steven Mathews, who is based in Donnellys hometown of Greystones. Matthews was officially eliminated from the contest on the eight count and his 3,000-plus votes are currently being redistributed. 10.37pm Louth has elected its first TD! The smallest county in Ireland had the longest ballot paper in the country of 24 candidates but Sinn Fein's Ruairi O Murchu has secured the first of five available seats in the constituency. 10.05pm Another outgoing Minister has retained their seat. This time it's Education Minister Norma Foley for Fianna Fail. She exceeded the quota in Kerry of 13,654 on the 13th count. Michael Cahill of Fianna Fail was also elected having not reached the count to take the fifth and final seat. Earlier, Danny Healy-Rae spoke to the Irish Examiner after his election. 9.45pm In Dublin South-Central, we're finished up too. Jen Cummins of the Social Democrats has taken another seat in the capital for the party. She has been joined by Aengus O'Snodaigh and Maire Devine of Sinn Fein to complete the four-seater constituency after Fianna Fail's Catherine Ardagh took the first stea. 9.40pm We have a full recount being called in Tipperary North. It arose after the ninth count when the two lowest candidates - Independent Jim Ryan and Fianna Fail's Michael Smith - were separated by just seven votes. A re-check of the votes of Phyll Bugler of Fine Gael was undertaken and found Mr Smith to be ahead by just one vote. A second re-check left the gap at two votes. As a result, a full recount has been called, it will begin at 11am on Monday. 9pm Conor Sheehan of Labour has been confirmed as the 4th and final TD for Limerick City. Limerick County has also elected another TD - Niall Collins of Fianna Fail on the 13th count to finish off the constituency. On the flip side, Carlow-Kilkenny has just elected its first TD on the 11th count. Fianna Fail's John McGuinness has gotten over the line there. 8.55pm Denise Mitchell of Sinn Fein has been elected in Dublin Bay North on the 11th count. She joins Cian O'Callaghan of the Social Democrats in the 34th Dail for the region. Also in the capital, Fianna Fails Catherine Ardagh has taken the first seat in Fianna Fails Catherine Ardagh has taken the first seat in Dublin South Central. In Galway West, Sinn Fein's Mairead Farrell and Independent Catherine Connolly have also been elected on the 11th count there. 11 seems to be the magic number for electing TDs, as Fine Gaels Frank Feighan became the first elected Sligo-Leitrim TD in an eleventh count You can read a full recap of day two here Why are second, third and fourth preferences so important in the election? It has to do with the Irish voting system a process called proportional representation single transferable vote or PR-STV. Deputy political editor Paul Hosford enlisted the help of a few friends to explain how it all works. 1. Battle of the Eoins There's a new Eoin O Broin in town. Yes, Sinn Fein TD Eoin O Broin is sharing not only the same name as a Social Democrats candidate but also the same constituency. Thankfully, the candidate photos and party logos should clear up any confusion for voters tomorrow. But, there was still the question of which one of them would appear first on the ballot. O Broin (the SF one) gave us the details and according to him, the two names were put in a silver bowl - with the party name included to differentiate - and picked out. And the bowl has decreed that the incumbent O Broin will be listed first. 2. Gelato with a side of heckling One of the more bizarre encounters of the campaign took place on Thursday, as Tanaiste Micheal Martin canvassed in Greystones alongside Stephen Donnelly. The Wicklow town is the turf of Fine Gael leader Simon Harris, with Fianna Fail working to retain Mr Donnellys seat. As the two TDs strolled into a Ginos Gelato in the town, a commotion erupted, with a woman jumping forward and calling for the Fianna Fail leader to be voted out of office. Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin during canvassing at Pettitts SuperValu store in Arklow, Co Wicklow, on the last day of campaigning ahead of the General Election on Friday. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Might this be a Sinn Fein voter? A People Before Profit voter? Not so. This was a Fine Gaeler, who wanted Simon Harris to be returned to the Taoiseachs office in the days ahead. Shona Flynn, a Fine Gael member, was emphatic. She wanted Fianna Fail out of office, describing that all they care about is money. Ms Flynn disagreed that the most likely government would be Fine Gael alongside Fianna Fail. Well, not really though. Not with Fianna Fail. He [Harris] wont be with Fianna Fail, she insisted. 3. Desperate times call for desperate measures? A push by Fine Gael leader Simon Harris for voters to transfer among centrist parties like Fianna Fail and Labour has been lambasted as desperation by Ivana Bacik. The Labour Party leader criticised Mr Harris for the comments, setting out that she would first engage with other centre-left political parties to form a common negotiating bloc. In an interview with the Irish Examiner, Mr Harris said: "I'm asking people to vote Fine Gael in the election... But then I am asking people to transfer to other centrist parties. He particularly highlighted both Fianna Fail and Labour, saying that Fine Gael had worked well with both parties in the past. Ivana Bacik with her party, outside the Wolftone statue, Dublin speaking to the media. Picture: Sam Boal/Collin Photos Hitting out, Ms Bacik said: I saw the Taoiseachs comments today and frankly I think they smack of desperation in the last few days of this campaign. She said any negotiating bloc must have Labour and green values, "because we want to ensure that that vision and those values will shape the next government. 4. High Fidelity Mary Lou McDonald has said she is not making eyes at any party when it comes to considering potential coalition partners. "I believe in absolute fidelity to my cause," the Sinn Fein leader said this morning as she headed out on the final day of canvassing. "We're not at that flirtatious stage quite yet. We have to get to first base before we pass!" For the first time, Ms McDonald signalled that Sinn Fein would be interested in working with the Social Democrats and People Before Profit as she urged party supporters to transfer left. A confident Mary Lou McDonald smiles at photographers as she leaves Government Buildings on the last day of canvassing. Picture: Eamonn Farrell/ RollingNews.ie Ms McDonald was in high spirits as she set off to try and win some last minute votes around Dublin where she pulled pints in Grogans pub and enjoyed a song by Mary Coughlan. She finished out her campaign by calling the numbers in her local bingo hall where she is apparently a regular. 5. R-E-S-P-E-C-T While out and about in Dublin, Simon Harris ran into some DCU students enjoying their Christmas Day celebrations. The two young lads, dressed in the requisite Christmas jumpers, spotted Mr Harris and decided to say hello. In a show of respect for the outgoing Taoiseach, one of the students told him: I came across and I thought I would show some respect and hide the wine." A good plan in theory but if you are trying to hide something it's probably not the best idea to nod to where it is sitting in plain sight on the ground beside you. The effort was appreciated though as Mr Harris laughed along and told them to enjoy their festivities. 6. Richard Bruton eat your heart out As Richard Bruton bids farewell to Dail life, Fine Gael needed to find someone to fill his shoes when it comes to shirtless election campaign videos. Mr Bruton sent X into a tizzy on more than one occasion when he bared his abs in an effort to attract some votes and now it seems Cork candidate Mark Stanton has volunteered as tribute. Watch @markstanton_fg brave the Atlantic Ocean to explain Fine Gaels plan to protect our environment and our climate. Tomorrow, vote No.1 Fine Gael. pic.twitter.com/WI6eaC9dRP Fine Gael (@FineGael) November 28, 2024 This afternoon, a video of Mr Stanton was posted on the party's X account showing Mr Stanton braving the chilly November waters as he stripped off and jumped into the Atlantic Ocean while explaining Fine Gael's plan for the climate and the environment. Holding up cards and explaining the policy, he has a group of fellow sea swimmers cheering him on in the background. Thankfully, Mr Stanton is wrapped up in a coat and scarf by the end of the video. In the old courtrooms, in the round hall of the Four Courts, the accused sits on the end of a bench, removed from the general body of the court. The dock as a concept has long been abolished, but the accused in a criminal trial usually sits alone, opposite the jury. Throughout the Padraig Nally manslaughter trial, his sister Maureen sat beside him. That was highly unusual. A tourist entering Court 3 on a casual basis might conclude that the man and woman were both on trial for killing a burglar. Early on in the trial, a number of Nally's supporters slipped onto the far end of the bench. Judge Kevin O'Higgins requested that they vacate the seat. Visually, such a vista could be loaded. In the trial of the People versus Padraig Nally, it might be confusing as to where the people's allegiance lay. During breaks in the proceedings, new friends and complete strangers approached Nally in the Round Hall to wish him well. Each day, when he and his supporters made the short trip across the Liffey to lunch, hands reached out to shake his. Since his release from prison in October, the reception for him in rural circles has been even more voracious. At times over the last few weeks, it appeared as if the system, and not Nally, was on trial. Padraig Nally outside the Four Courts in Dublin in 2006 after he was found not guilty of the manslaughter of John Ward of Carrowbrowne Halting Site, Headford Rd, Galway, in October 2004. Picture: Chris Maddaloni/Collins He had the cut of a man who was enjoying the celebrity, whatever about its provenance. The farmer from a rural outpost in south Co Mayo, who lived with his parents until their respective demise when he was in his 50s, was now the focus of affection and admiration from people who got to know him, literally, through the barrel of a shotgun. The bereaved family of the man Nally killed on October 14, 2004 was nowhere to be seen at the trial. The only one of the late John Ward's 11 children to show up was Tom, who was with his father on the day he died. Tom Ward was brought to the court from his place of detention to give evidence against Nally. The 20-year-old traveller is serving an 11-month sentence for theft offences. He told the court that his father's killing has driven him to attempt suicide on a number of occasions. Neither his plight, nor that of his family, has attracted much sympathy. In killing John Ward, as the traveller limped, possibly crawled away, Nally, in the eyes of many, became a victim. First of criminal travellers, then of the system. The evidence By October 2004, Padraig Nally was living in fear. "The man was demented with fear," his neighbour Michael Varley told the court. "I cried last Sunday after my sister left, " Nally told the guards on the day of the killing. "I said that there would be changes when you come back. I had a premonition." The rational basis for his fear is highly suspect. Nine months before the killing, in February 2004, a chainsaw was stolen. Drawers in the house were ransacked. Understandably, the sense of violation traumatised him. Charging the jury, Justice Kevin O'Higgins said: 'A man with 80 previous convictions [as Ward had] is entitled to the same degree of protection as the lord mayor of Dublin.' Between that time and the killing, he wasn't raided. Now and then, strange cars came by, and he noted down the registration. Others in the rural community did likewise as a precaution. Three weeks before the fateful day, two travellers in a car stopped and asked Nally directions to the nearby lake. He suspected, quite reasonably, that they were up to no good. But he wasn't raided. The incidence of burglary in the area wasn't particularly high, at a time when the overall incidence had fallen nationally since the 1990s. Nally's neighbour Varley, the father of three small children, told the court that he wasn't afraid. Yet Nally was "demented". His primitive shotgun was held together with a bicycle tube. He moved it from his bedroom to a shed lest raiders would come in, overpower him and shoot him. The 62-year-old farmer spent long hours at night in the shed with the gun, watching over his stead, waiting for them to come. "About an hour I slept last night thinking it was going to happen, " he told guards after the shooting. He lived alone through the week while his sister was away teaching in Ballina. He didn't have a telephone in the house. He never married. All he had was his farm, that which defined him, and plenty of time alone, long hours in which the imagination can draw a dark veil over all thoughts. There was no evidence in the trial that his sister or friends had any concern for the level of fear he expressed and whether or not it was rooted in reality. John 'Frog' Warde. Picture: Peter Wilcock And fear was what Nally said was the impetus for the killing of John Ward, as he limped, or crawled, down the road, fleeing for his life, after a failed attempt to rob the farmer. Nally had feared attack, yet it was he who shot Ward on sight when he saw the traveller trying to gain entry to his house. Fear drove him to beat Ward with an ash plant, inflicting serious head wounds, to ensure that he himself wasn't killed. And when Ward limped or crawled away, fear that he might return drove Nally after him. The farmer reloaded, and put another three cartridges in his pocket. Prosecuting counsel Paul O'Higgins told the court: It was done with a degree of coolness. He had taken three cartridges out with him. He was ready for action again. Ward was moving down the road when Nally came up behind him. He shot the traveller from a range of not more than five yards. The trajectory of the fatal shot was downwards, which suggests Ward was crouched, or maybe crawling. He may even have begged for his life. "I said to myself he wasn't going again, " Nally told the cops afterwards. "I've so long been raided, this was going to be the last time." He was raided once, nine months before, but in his mind the raids may have multiplied and thus justified him in shooting dead a man who resembled the burglar that haunted his waking hours. Nally didn't take the stand in his manslaughter trial, as was his right. In the original murder trial in Castlebar, he did give evidence. Back then, he had much to gain by personally appealing to a jury. Padraig Nally and his supporters returning to court after lunch through the Mall in Castlebar where his first trial was heard. Picture: Peter Wilcock This time the jury members would have been aware of his plight unless they had just arrived from Mars. To give evidence might have been to expose himself to the harsh glare of cross-examination, so he declined, as do most defendants in his position. The respective summing up of the case by O'Higgins and defending counsel Brendan Grehan illustrated the crux of the issue. O'Higgins delved into the law and the facts. Grehan, for the most part, appealed to emotions. In the best traditions of advocacy, he made the most of what he had, telling the jury that "trouble came looking for him [Nally]", and "a greater contrast between two individuals you will not find than between Mr Nally and John Ward". And in reference to the one burglary that did occur: "When they stole his chainsaw, they stole his peace of mind." He also tapped into the debate being conducted beyond the confines of the court. "Maybe the law has lagged behind community standards and maybe the impetus should be to change the law." Judge O'Higgins also made references to the debate. Charging the jury, he held up a copy of the recent Law Reform Commission document on defending the home. "They're thinking about that, " he said, of the commission. "And maybe they even are in Leinster House." But, he told the jury, they were obliged to concentrate only on the facts of the case. Judge O'Higgins told the jury: The law in this country protects nice people and not so nice people. A man with 80 previous convictions [as Ward had] is entitled to the same degree of protection as the lord mayor of Dublin. After nearly 16 hours deliberation, over three days, the jury decided that Nally had acted reasonably in following Ward out onto the road that day and shooting him dead. The world outside The eight men and four women were charged to consider only the facts of the case, but it must have taken a huge effort to keep the world outside from seeping into the jury room. When Nally was sentenced to six years for manslaughter after the first trial, all hell broke loose. A law that would send a man to jail for defending himself and his property was decried. The facts were conveniently overlooked, as there was capital to be made on the killing, and the jailing of a man of impeccable character. There had to be "rebalancing of the law", a political term currently in vogue. Nobody said that Nally should have been protected by the law in his actions, but that subtext informed the debate. Some grubby politicians suggested that homeowners would now be in fear of defending themselves or their property in their home. Then the Law Reform Commission produced the paper referred to by the judge. Cue more fire and brimstone, more waffle about "rebalancing" and ludicrous suggestions that this was the homeowner fighting back. The reality was that the Commission merely clarified what "reasonable force" entailed. Legislation following on from the recommendations won't change the amount of force permissible, but will clarify it in respect of homeowners. It always has been legal to use a reasonable amount of force. (Ironically, if such clarity had been in the law at the time of the killing, Nally might have found it more difficult to defend his position in court). John Ward's widow Marie Ward and their youngest son Jerry (4) at Padraig Nally's trial. Picture: Peter Wilcock Against this backdrop of heightened fear, the retrial was conducted. Then as the evidence closed, and deliberations began, another element of crime exploded. The recent gun murders sparked further debate. The court system was called into question once more. In the battle against crime, the system is being portrayed as protecting the criminal rather than society. That such an analysis is top-of-the-head stuff, purveyed by vested interests, is glossed over. The desired message is getting though. And in the Nally trial, a large section of the public mind had the dead man cast as the criminal, the accused as victim. To some, convicting Nally would once more be playing into the hands of criminals. Against this backdrop, the jury raked over the killing of John Ward. Charged to consider only the facts, their long spell deliberating indicates they did that in some detail. Any suggestion that the world outside seeped into their collective sub-consciousness can only be speculation. The aftermath Nally said afterwards that he was "surprised" at the verdict. So were his supporters. So was almost anybody who sat through the trial. Now, he will return to his farm outside Cross in Co Mayo and attempt to rebuild his life. Few would wish him ill luck. Prior to Ward's attempt to rob him, Nally led a blameless life. Ward's widow Marie reacted to the verdict with dismay. Earlier this year she married a Ghanaian asylum seeker and now lives in Longford. The court heard that she intends to pursue a civil action against Nally. She and the wider travelling community see the outcome in stark terms. For them, we may all be equal before the law, but some are more equal than others. Do you ever walk away from a seemingly nice encounter feeling smaller? You dont know why or how it happened, but you feel it a change in your body, your mood has shifted down a gear, your shoulders hang lower than before. Well, Im beginning to pay more attention to these conversations. What Im noticing is this: sometimes, people are not just chatting; they are selling themselves to you. They are no longer connecting; they are advertising, promoting and that creates a kind of competition that usually leaves one person (me, in this case) feeling worse than before. Its like Ive lost a contest I didnt even know Id entered. Listen out for it next time youre socialising how some people present curated impressions of themselves in their chat. Trust me, there are walking, talking, three-dimensional humans, chatting in pubs and shops right now, but the content of their chat is identical to their Instagram feed. Its a performance, a fantasy designed to elevate themselves above the dross of reality, and yes, the dross of you the listener. Its not even a soft sell any more. There is no effort whatsoever to camouflage the self-promotion. Its hard, unapologetic, and exhausting. I met a man at an event recently who, within 10 minutes, had made me very aware of a recent conundrum he faced. The poor soul had been forced to choose between two highly prestigious and lucrative jobs. Another person, a few hours before, had managed to assure me within minutes that he came from a very wealthy family indeed, and that he was finding considerable fame and recognition in another country. One of them, in an impressively executed slight, humbled himself to ask me a question. Ten years ago, his choice of question would have cut my ego in half. Self-promotion That said, I dont think either was out to hurt or offend me. Not at all. Their entire focus was grounded in self-promotion. I may as well have been a cardboard cut-out. Ive noticed also how adept Ive become at handling these LinkedIn profile feeds in human form. Im far from proud of my survival tactics because, if anything, they perpetuate the problem. Depending on my mood, I sometimes opt for over-praise. Its a way to calm the performing person down a bit. I mean, I drown them in the stuff, commenting on how awe-inspiring their achievements are to the world at large. I provide the verbal equivalent of a celebrating emoji all bells and whistles and party hats. It doesnt stop them, far from it. In fact, theyll often talk over my praise to continue in their own flow of self-adoration. My praise is superfluous it seems an interruption. The whole thing is yucky. It feels dirty to feed the beast rather than starve it. And of course, a part of me feels bad for the next poor shmuck pinned by them at the next event. Ive also tried a counterattack by shoehorning in some achievement I would usually keep to myself. It never works. Its recognised straightaway as a counterattack. Their boasts get bigger and again, I walk away as the loser, often feeling even crappier than before for having engaged in their not-so-subtle ego war. And yes, call it hyperbolic, but war is appropriate here. Fragile egos are terribly dangerous another column for another day. The question is this: have people always been so self-promoting? Has the world always been so plagued with insufferable boasting or is it, at least partly, a modern phenomenon? Im old enough to remember the chat before social media, and egotists, or deeply insecure people, have always existed. That said, I believe peoples eagerness to sell themselves is partly tied to a fear of the online world. We observe how quickly someone can be crucified for making a single mistake in a conversation. So, we have developed a reflex action you know, to sound as good as possible, as quickly as possible, thereby avoiding similar ridicule. Put simply were paranoid. Social media has made us hyper-aware of the impressions we make on people. Elon Musk tells us traditional news is dead because we all get to tell it, create it, share it on multiple platforms, and, sadly, we do. One false move and we could be taken down online, spied upon, laughed at, or even cancelled. So, we put up our defences in how we present ourselves as nothing less than perfect. Is the art of unself-conscious conversation dead? So Is the art of genuinely private, unself-conscious conversation dead? Has online communication killed it? Two hundred years ago in Cork, news was hard to come by. It was old by the time it got to us. People would travel from Berehaven over two days to reach Cork by horse and cart, stopping in Bantry on the way. A few days later, theyd return home with the Cork Weekly Examiner. The paper would be read aloud to a gathering by the old pump near Murphys shop. That was it, and then the everyday chat would start up again. Nowadays, news is as immediate as it is relentless. Who hasnt viewed Simon Harriss catastrophically poor interaction with disability worker Charlotte Fallon by now? The political world has been this way for some time. Simon Harriss disaster recalls another brief yet explosive conversation, or the aftermath of one. There are walking, talking, three-dimensional humans, chatting in pubs and shops right now, but the content of their chat is identical to their Instagram feed. Bigotgate, almost forgotten, was coined when, in his 2010 pre-election campaign, Gordon Brown forgot to remove his microphone having ended a conversation with Gillian Duffy. His bigot comment uttered from inside a car torpedoed his own campaign. Will Simon Harriss gaffe prove as harmful to the Fine Gael campaign, one offering a new energy? We will see. And to a degree, its fair game. Simon Harris is a politician, a man in the public eye, who invited cameras to follow him in his interactions. Most people are not Simon Harris. Cant we afford to chill out a bit in our chats? But watching the impact of his gaffe, within the endless storm of immediate and intense news coverage, possibly has an impact on us nonetheless. It makes us all more insecure, and sadly, more prone to an aggressive, attacking self-promotion. Beyond these public put-downs, were also spending more time online, where peoples lives are curated, made perfect by filters. The language of the online world is possibly seeping into our offline interactions, making boasts sound reasonable. Well, for anyone who cares, if we ever do get to chat, please, no matter how great your achievement, dont sell yourself to me because I am not buying. Im a fan of chat that is what it should be simple chat. You dont need to talk about yourself in the most glowing terms. I dont mind a gaffe. Im not voting for you. Ill forgive it. My relationship with social media is timid at best. In my world at least, chats are meant to be about connecting with other humans in a physical place and time. They should be more of an exchange than a transaction, and nobody should feel smaller walking away. I enjoy a pina colada and walks in the rain. I also enjoy self-deprecation, sincerity, vulnerability, dark humour, debate, silliness, and connection. Of course, I want to know you, and how you spend your time but please, dont feel you have to present a perfect package with strings and bows and flourishes. The picture you paint of yourself need not be perfect honestly, honesty is good enough. Your vote matters, be sure to use it on Friday. Dont be put off by naysayers who claim that it doesnt matter who you vote for, the same people get elected every time. There have been loads of these assertions over the last three weeks on vox pops, podcasts, radio shows and on social media. Indeed, research from the National Election and Democracy Study in June showed that among those that did not vote, 11% believed my vote doesnt matter. It simply is not true. The Irish political system is one of the most democratic in the world. It guarantees that a diverse array of political views are represented in the Dail and that these closely reflect the preferences of voters. The new Dail will have 174 seats, an increase of 14 on the outgoing Dail. Under the Constitution, the size of the Dail is connected to population figures and the large jump in the population since 2020 brought a related increase in the number of TDs. There is also a constitutional requirement that ensures the ratio of TDs to population must be broadly even throughout the country. Whether urban, suburban or rural, there is roughly the same ratio of TDs to constituents. Every vote is equal, in every constituency. Compare that to the recent presidential election in the US when all attention was focused on swing states and their potential to be decisive in shaping the final outcome. There, some voters matter much more than others. Ireland's voting system PR-STV is one of the most voter-friendly electoral systems. It gives voters enormous choice. Twice, voters were asked to change the electoral system, and twice they said no in referendums in 1959 and 1968. Under PR-STV, voters can express a first preference (number 1) for just one candidate, or they can express a preference for a few candidates on the ballot paper (1,2,3,4 .) or they can express a preference for each candidate on the ballot. Every voter is sovereign, you decide how many, or how few preferences, you want to express. PR-STV also allows voters to choose across parties, within parties and for non-party or independent candidates. Someone could vote number one for a candidate from party A, then vote number 2 for an independent candidate and then number 3 for a candidate from party B, and so on. This ability to express preferences across parties and candidates is what makes PR-STV so unique. Most of our European neighbours have list systems which provide much more restricted choices for voters. And every preference matters. The last count to finish at the June local elections was in Kildare. At one stage, there were just two votes separating the candidates. Small margins are not unusual, a great many councillors and TDs have been elected with just a handful of votes separating them from their opponent. Candidate numbers in Ireland It would be great to see the number of TDs elected from each constituency increase because this would make the final outcome of elections even more proportional and fair but even as it currently stands, the electoral system greatly empowers voters. More than 680 candidates are contesting the election, an increase of at least 150 on the 2020 general election. More women than ever are running. Voters in Louth will have the widest choice with 24 candidates on the ballot. The new constituency of Wicklow-Wexford has the lowest number at just 10 candidates but this still provides a wide array of parties and independents for voters to choose from. The number of political parties registering in Ireland has increased sharply in recent years and voters also have a wide array of non-party (independent) candidates on the ballot. Most European countries do not have any independents in national politics. The parties are spread across the economic ideological spectrum from left to right and there is also good diversity on the social spectrum from conservative to liberal. And ultimately there will be a lot of new TDs in the next Dail. Twenty-nine TDs announced that they were retiring from politics before the election. There were a further six resignations in the last year, one due to illness and the other five triggered by the election of TDs to the European Parliament and the appointment of Michael McGrath as Irelands new EU commissioner. They will all be replaced in the election on Friday, 14 new TDs will be elected and a few incumbent TDs, possibly more than a few, will lose their seats. Voters are choosing a new and likely quite different set of TDs. Some people dont like the choices that the electorate have made since the foundation of the State, and thats fair enough, but that doesnt mean that the system of electing people to Dail Eireann isnt fair and effective. It is. There are few countries around the world that share our powerful and enduing democratic legacy, it is one of the great privileges of being Irish. Use your vote. Now that the election campaign is nearly over and all the shouting, finger-pointing, back-stabbing, and bickering is winding down, it is worth considering the importance of what comes next. Friday is an opportunity for the people of Ireland to voice their opinions on our political leaders and their parties not to mention their policies and express their preferences as to the make-up of the next government. The political system in this country is such right now that the prospect of any single party forming a government on its own is a virtual impossibility and makes the votes cast, especially down the ballot paper, a hugely important factor in deciding who will assume the reins of power in the next administration. Speculation as to who that might be has engaged us since the election was called three weeks ago and will undoubtedly continue to do so not only until the voting papers are counted, but right up until the smoke clears and the parties sit down to discuss and agree a workable programme for government. All that being the case, the single most significant role Irish people can play in the process is to vote. Far too many nations around the world do not afford their populations the right to vote and, for a small democratic republic like ours, that right is a very precious thing indeed. It is worth reminding ourselves that not only here in Ireland, but all over the globe, people have fought and died to establish that right and it is not something to be dismissed out of hand. It is something priceless and should be valued as such. It is incumbent on each of us therefore to exercise our franchise, go to the polling station and express our views. Those who do not will have no moral grounds for complaint about either the process or the result. So, enjoy going out to make your views known and take pride in the fact that your opinion will play a part in a process which is a cornerstone of democratic governance. All citizens cannot make a direct contribution in every decision made in a democracy, but they can decide who is making the decisions and that is where we, the people, come in. Do your bit. Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire: Gratuitous war must be halted Now that the Israel and Hezbollah ceasefire has taken root and appears to be holding, the focus of the world must be on attaining the same result in Gaza. The ceasefire in Lebanon is long overdue, but must be followed by Hamas coming to the table and Israel bringing a halt to this gratuitous war it has waged on Gaza that has seen children bear a large brunt of the death and misery inflicted there rather than Hamas operatives. Neither Israel nor Hezbollah has any legitimate reason to declare any type of victory with this ceasefire. Initial examination of the situation suggests that while there are no winners, Israel has certainly inflicted strategic damage on Iran, as one of its main proxies has now agreed to a ceasefire. It also indicates that Hezbollah has abandoned Irans Gaza-based proxy, Hamas. Whether this will bring Hamas to negotiate a ceasefire too is still in question. Also now in question is what will become of the war crime charges against Israels leaders and if the International Criminal Court will pursue prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant, as well as Hamas military chief Mohammad Deif. The hope now is that the deal between Israel and Hezbollah will hold, at the very least, and that a similar ceasefire can be agreed between the Israelis and Hamas. After that, media being allowed unfettered access to Gaza and a thorough interrogation and prosecution of any and all war crimes committed, the ordinary people of Palestine, Israel, and the wider Middle East need a plan for a lasting peace. Band Aid still relevant today Derided by many as a cheap sop to their overblown rock n roll egos and wallets, and a patronising insult to the hundreds of thousands of people then dying of starvation in Ethiopia, the Bob Geldof/Midge Ure-helmed Band Aid single "Do They Know Its Christmas?" remains one of the greatest charity efforts of all time. Some 40 years after it was first recorded at Sarm West Studios in Notting Hill, London, the song has raised 22.8m alone in record sales, inspired the USA For Africa and Live Aid concerts (which themselves generated 142.4m), and spawned lucrative re-releases every decade since. The then Boomtown Rats frontman, Geldof, and Ultravox band member Ure were shocked after seeing coverage of the famine on BBC news and got the idea of writing a song, to be sung by contemporary stars, to raise cash to aid relief in Ethiopia. Influenced by the reporting of Michael Buerk from Ethiopia, Geldof and his then partner, the late Paula Yates, decided to put together a smorgasbord of rock talent to try and raise cashGeldof wrote the words and Ure put them to music. The rest is history, and while the duo raised a phenomenal amount of money, they also came under fire for making a cosmetic spectacle of world hunger, as well as creating what Morrissey described as the most self-righteous platform ever in the history of popular music. Geldof was then and remains now defiant in his defence of what he created and maintains it created an important part of modern political discourse, as well as having saved millions of lives. That the record is still provoking controversy Ed Sheerans recent comments about the 40th anniversary reissue being the most recent illustrates just how relevant it was then and remains now. Never mind the taste, is there anything to beat the velvety dark fragrance of mulled wine at Christmas? Distinct for its seasonal melting layers of spices, fruit and fresh festive flavour, left to softly hubble-bubble on the stove or in the slow cooker, it enfolds family and visitors in a sensory yuletide hit even as they fall through the door shaking off the rain. Many of us have brought a longing for the sweet, treacly comfort of vin-chaud from trips to France. Scandinavian glug from a trip to the Nordic countries, and German gluhwein, back from winter trips to the slopes is generously imbibed as we rub our shins and compare bruises apres-ski. Hot, spiced wine thickened with fresh and dried fruits, has been part of viticulture since the 2nd century AD. Today, you can enjoy both non-alcoholic and seriously boozy hot and fruity favourites. Here are just a few of my regular mulled and magnificent, happily tested down the years in a cheap slow cooker. Mrs Beeton's punch Mrs Beeton in her Book of Household Management from the 1860s advises: The spices usually used for mulled wine are cloves, grated nutmeg, and cinnamon or mace. Any kind of wine may be mulled, but port and claret are those usually selected for the purpose, and the latter requires a very large proportion of sugar. Im afraid, I make use of the cheapest hoary old bull-bodied red from the supermarket, and honey rather than excessive sugar. The results seem to be very close to Beetons classic after a few hours of hocus-pocus in the family cauldron, and for some reason, the second cup tastes better than the first or second. Odd that. There are also other spices outside her iconic beverage that you can dial up and down according to taste including fennel seed, star anise, cardamom, and ginger. Its worth experimenting well before Christmas week arrives. Keep in mind that mulled wine, like all fruit punch-style confections, is dangerously easy to drink take it easy. The essential trick with mulling is taking time, not boiling the mixture and introducing the wine and spices in a heated embrace first, before adding the fruit. Boiling up alcohol will cause it to evaporate. If you buy spiced wine ready-made, always heat it very slowly, or it will spoil. As honest mulling demands hours, we dont want the fruit to break down into indistinguishable mush. After 24 hours mulled wines will start to ferment dont chance it, sip them up. I prefer a slow process, but there are alternatives if you just dont have the time or prefer a lighter, brighter texture and taste. The fragrance of hours of mulling floating out from the kitchen is unique. Basic brew For a good basic, fully mulled wine, take two standard bottles of red wine, a little glass of Cointreau (any clear spirit with a fruity base is fine), the juice and zest of three citrus fruit (I stick to three oranges but you can replace one orange with a lemon for pique), around 100g -30g of demerara sugar depending on taste, a couple of cinnamon sticks, star anise, and a pinch of cloves. Put all the ingredients in a slow cooker and set to four to five hours on Low or two to two-and-a-half on high. If you find this mixture just too heady, you can add up to 250ml of water without it suffering. Now, I like to slide in some fresh orange slices halfway through the burble (dont rip off the slow-cooker lid as this could take an hour to cook), but you can use fresh orange or lemon to dress the drink too. Fresh or mulled citrus slices are highly decorative and can be scooped out and floated into a glass or heavy stoneware mug to serve. They are really beautiful and very delicious tinted with the wine soup. Ensure you strain out the cloves and smaller gritty spices that will otherwise decorate your front teeth at that elegant dinner party. A soup ladle and tea strainer are ideal. With this base recipe, you will find a combination of spices and suggested wine varieties. Not everyone uses long times to make their hot wine. Once the sugar is dissolved, you can allow it to infuse with the spice, and then drink it up in about 20 minutes, its just not as dark and flavoursome. Theres a fashion at the moment for adding gin (sloe or damson gin are traditional Christmas choices) before rewarming and serving the infused or mulled wine. Around 100ml of gin per bottle of wine seems about right. Ive found dropping a bay leaf into the mixture at the very start of the mulling process adds a certain earthy, herby mystery, but dont use more than one of these powerful little cuttings. Maple syrup rather than just sugar, and a few peppercorns will give your wine another, slightly Medieval nuance. Swedish glogg If you want a try at Swedish glogg, there are just a couple of twists, and Ive found the quick recipe offered by Bronte Aurell on BBC Food (infused rather than mulled technique) to be very tasty and lip-licking, recalling my happy year living in Eslov. Create your wine using a classic recipe ensuring you include cardamon and root ginger, but at the end serve it up with flaked almonds, raisins in the base of the glass, and a splash of either vodka, aquavit, rum or cognac. Cooled and bottled, glogg will keep for about a week, so its perfect as a doorstep gift when visiting friends and family. For the driver Mulled wine is like a very special sweet tea when made without alcohol, and you can replace the wine with an equally fruity volume of non-alcoholic wine, pomegranate or cranberry juice. Its best made quickly, so were just infusing the mixture rather than fully mulling it over. Its great for whipping up in a half hour for an evening treat for the whole family. If you just cant be bothered (and its Christmas, its exhausting, who can blame you), pick up a bottle of vegan-friendly Eisberg Mulled Alcohol-Free Wine. Created to an intense spice and dried fruit aroma with touches of orange peel, just warm it through, float on some fruit and enjoy; 3, Tesco. WHOA! Prepare to be dazzled. Fully-baked eclectic maximalism is the order of the day at No 6 An Cliathain, a deliciously capricious home that strenuously thumbs its nose at any notion of less being more. Its the more, the merrier, at this playful Carrigtwohill duplex where its owners, husband-and-wife duo Michelle OConnell and Stephen OSullivan, take their inspiration from the likes of Margaret and Corey Bienert, a US couple whose passion for photographing kitsch hotels has spawned a viral TV travel series. The more, the merrier at No 6 Michelle, who describes her style as eclectic maximalism or dopamine decor has a natural theatricality that shapes her approach to home decor, all of which is informed by a great deal of research and meticulous attention to detail. Hotel Kitsch, by the Bienerts, is in her coffee table book collection and the 2022 US reality TV series documenting the transformation of the Trixie Motel in Californias Palm Springs by drag queen Trixie Mattel fed into her own creativity when she set about decorating 20-year-old No 6, which the couple bought in late 2021. Through the Bienerts and Trixie Motel, I got very interested in eclectic maximalism and the idea of every room having its own theme and colour, she says. When it comes to picking up vintage bits, shes a big fan of flea markets, such as Mother Jones on York Street in Cork city, but shes also open to buying from more conventional stores such as Homesense or Ikea, or The Range in nearby Little Island, where she says shes on first name terms with the staff. If I see an idea that I like, I spend hours researching it, she says. No 6 is a duplex The polar opposite of RTEs Home of the Year judge, Amanda Bone, for whom more is mess, thoughts of monochrome greys and beiges give Michelle the heebee jeebees. Im a millennial and I feel like a lot of my peers go for beige and grey with a pop of sage green. Its not for me. I wanted to use as much colour as possible in the house, everything from the doors to the architraves. Michelle has a useful tip too for anyone undertaking the tricky job of painting a staircase. Zany stairway gives a whole new meaning to zebra crossing Get a tanning mitt. It was my dads idea. He used it in another house before we tried it in my house and it worked out quite well, she says. The feedback she gets from guests to their home is that it feels like a cool hotel. In line with her Hotel Kitsch style, there are neon signs scattered about, including in the couples bedroom where the neon above the bed reads Till Death do us Party. Marriage vows Her husband, a software engineer, made it for their wedding and they held onto it for their bedroom at No 6. Stephen, a big comic book fan, and a lover of board games, has a home office in the second bedroom. Comics in the frame Weve a pull-out bed that we use when guests stay, but its mainly his home office, Michelle says. Guests love their bathroom, where the orange walls are hung with photos of famous bathroom scenes from well-known movies. Bathroom scene People like to guess which movies they are from, she says. The toilet roll holder is a replica of the vintage Polaroid Land Camera, delivering up loo roll instead of instant prints. In the can Another talking point is the flamboyant zebra stair carpet, which Michelle spotted as a stair runner on Amazon. I got onto the company that supplies Amazon and asked them if they could add a few extra feet to the runner to fit the staircase, so they did, she says. When she spots ideas that she likes, she banks them until the time is right. For instance the theatrical masks that function as door knobs on her kitchen units were inspired by brooches made by one of her favourite designers, Italian fashion house, Maison Schiaperelli. New look for Italian brooches Those Schiaperelli brooches cost around 11,000, so I took a picture for wholesalers in China and asked them to recreate them as a door handle, although not a total copy (to avoid copyright infringement), Michelle says. The units themselves are painted in industrial strength Farrow & Ball, she adds. The era of TikTok has been a godsend for ideas, says Michelle, although she admits that some things didnt work. If you dont like it, all you have to do is re-paint it, she says. This was the can-do attitude behind the couples decision to buy the two-bedroom duplex in the first place. A lot of people overlooked this property when it came on the market. They just saw the magnolia walls and dark kitchen. But I could see there was lots to play with: a good B2 energy rating and a good location, just an eight minute walk from the train station in Carrigtwohill. As Michelle, who works in social housing, travels regularly into Cork city and upto Dublin for work, convenience to the train station was ideal. Herself and Stephen are only moving on because they feel under pressure for space, as both of them do remote working. My parents are from Kerry and when they stay over, they have to be up and out of the room early as its also Stephens home office. Plus I have so many handbags, they would fill a room by themselves, she laughs. Theyll miss No 6. It was a great starter home, it was the home we were in when we got engaged, got married and started in new jobs. And at 915 sq ft, its not a bad size. As a consolation prize for leaving it behind, the couple intend to take their long awaited honeymoon in Ibiza next year, staying in hotels recommended by the Bienerts, whose latest series focuses on kitsch lodgings on the Spanish island. James Colbert of Colbert & Co is selling No 6 and he says its one of the most interesting houses we have brought to market in recent years. I have two days of viewings booked in and they are choc-a-block. Theres terrifics interest,he says, adding that theres Ducon concrete flooring for the prevention of noise between the two floors and that the house is fitted for 6G internet and has Alexa remote control lights. In a well-established residential neighbourhood in Carrigtwohills Cul Ard, its adjacent to the N25 Cork to Waterford route, as well as close to schools and to Carrigtwohill village. It comes to market at the starter home guide price of 235,000. VERDICT: Hold your breath, make a wish, count to three, its a world of pure imagination. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she is confident that a tariff war with the United States can be averted. Her statement on Thursday the day after she held a phone call with US President-elect Donald Trump did not make clear who had offered what. There will be no potential tariff war, Ms Sheinbaum said flatly when asked about the issue at her daily morning news briefing. On Wednesday, Mr Trump wrote that Ms Sheinbaum had agreed to stop unauthorised migration across the border into the United States. President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with the House Republican Conference (Allison Robbert/Pool via AP) She wrote on her social media accounts the same day that migrants and caravans are taken care of before they reach the border. But whether that constituted a promise, a pledge or a simple statement of reality remains unclear. In recent years, migrants who have been unable to obtain permission to cross Mexico have joined together in caravans to walk or hitchhike north toward the US border, seeking safety in numbers. In fact, apart from the first caravans in 2018 and 2019 which were provided buses to ride part of the way north no caravan has ever reached the border walking or hitchhiking in any cohesive way. For years, migrant caravans have often been blocked, harassed or prevented from hitching rides by Mexican police and migration agents. They have also frequently been rounded up or returned to areas near the Guatemalan border. So, Ms Sheinbaums statement appears to reflect a reality that has been true for some time. President Joe Biden speaks in the Rose Garden at the White House (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP) US President Joe Biden on Thursday said he hoped Mr Trump would rethink his plan to impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada, saying it could screw up relationships with close allies. I hope he rethinks it. I think its a counterproductive thing to do, he told reporters in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Mr Trump had earlier threatened to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada until those countries satisfactorily stop illegal immigration and the flow of illegal drugs such as fentanyl into the United States. He also said Chinese imports would face additional tariffs of 10% until Beijing cracks down on the production of materials used in making fentanyl. A series of human errors caused a New Zealand navy ship to plough into a reef off the coast of Samoa, where it caught fire and sank, according to the preliminary findings of a military Court of Inquiry into the disaster released on Friday. The ships crew did not realise autopilot was engaged, believed something else had gone wrong with the ship, and did not check the HMNZS Manawanui was under manual control as it maintained course towards land, a summary of the inquirys first report published on Friday said. The full report has not been made public. All 75 people on board the vessel evacuated safely as the boat foundered about a mile off the coast of Upolu, Samoa, in October. The ship was one of only nine in New Zealands navy and was the first the country lost at sea since the Second World War. Officials did not know the cause of the sinking at the time and Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Garin Golding ordered a Court of Inquiry to investigate. In an image released by the New Zealand Defence Force, HMNZS Manawanui arrives in Funafuti Lagoon, Tuvalu, in September 2022 (PO Christopher Weissenborn/NZDF/AP) The direct cause of the grounding has been determined as a series of human errors which meant the ships autopilot was not disengaged when it should have been, he said in a statement on Friday. The crew mistakenly believed its failure to respond to direction changes was the result of a thruster control failure, he said. Several contributing factors were identified, he added, although he did not say what they were. The Court of Inquiry is expected to continue until the first quarter of next year. Rear Admiral Golding said that given human error was identified as the cause, a separate disciplinary process would begin after the inquiry. I want to reassure the public of New Zealand that we will learn from this situation and that it is on me, as the Chief of Navy, to earn back your trust, Rear Admiral Golding said. In the days after the sinking, New Zealands defence minister Judith Collins gave stinging rebukes of misogynistic online commenters who directed abusive comments at the ships captain because she was a woman. Russian defence minister Andrei Belousov arrived in North Korea on Friday for talks with North Korean military and political leaders, the ministry said. The TASS news agency report citing the ministry did not specify who Mr Belousov would be meeting or the purpose of the talks. North Korean state media did not immediately confirm the visit. Mr Belousov, a former economist, replaced Sergei Shoigu as defence minister in May after Russian president Vladimir Putin started a fifth term in power. MrBelousov, right on the red carpet, is welcomed by No Kwang Chol upon his arrival at Pyongyang International Airport (Russian Defence Press Service via AP) The visit came days after South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol met with a Ukrainian delegation led by defence minister Rustem Umerov and called for the two countries to formulate unspecified countermeasures in response to North Koreas dispatch of thousands of troops to Russia in support of its war against Ukraine. The United States and its allies have said that North Korea has sent more than 10,000 soldiers to Russia in recent weeks and that some of those troops have already begun engaging in combat. North Korea has also been accused of supplying artillery systems, missiles and other military equipment to Russia that may help Mr Belousov Putin further extend an almost three-year war. There are also concerns in Seoul that North Korea in exchange for its troops and arms supplies could receive Russian technology transfers that could potentially advance the threat posed by leader Kim Jong Uns nuclear weapons and missile program. Police and protesters have clashed in Georgia after the countrys ruling party suspended negotiations to join the European Union until 2028. Police used water cannons, pepper spray and tear gas to disperse protesters who took to the streets following the announcement by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of the ruling Georgian Dream party. Georgian Dream claimed victory in last months parliamentary election that the opposition dismissed as fraudulent and that has been condemned by European officials. The election on October 26 was widely seen as a referendum on the countrys aspirations to join the EU and the ruling party had indicated to voters that it would continue to seek membership of the bloc. The interior ministry said it detained 43 people during the protests. Protesters hold an EU flag during a rally outside the parliament building in Tbilisi, Georgia (Zurab Tsertsvadze/AP) President Salome Zourabichvili said the government declared war on its own people and confronted riot police at the protest, asking them whether they served Russia or Georgia. The Georgian president, who has a largely ceremonial role, previously said the ruling party rigged the election with the help of Russia, which previously ruled Georgia from Moscow when it was part of the Soviet Union. She said the decision to suspend EU membership marked the conclusion of the constitutional coup which has been unfolding for several weeks. The governments announcement that it was suspending negotiations to join the EU came hours after the European Parliament adopted a resolution that condemned last months vote as neither free nor fair, representing yet another manifestation of the continued democratic backsliding for which the ruling Georgian Dream party is fully responsible. European election observers said Octobers vote took place in a divisive atmosphere marked by instances of bribery, double voting and physical violence. The EU granted Georgia candidate status in December 2023 on condition that it meet the blocs recommendations, but put its accession on hold and cut financial support earlier this year after the passage of a foreign influence law widely seen as a blow to democratic freedoms. Protesters poured onto the streets of Tbilisi following the announcement (Zurab Tsertsvadze/AP) EU politicians urged a re-run of the parliamentary vote within a year under thorough international supervision and by an independent election administration. They also called on the EU to impose sanctions and limit formal contacts with the Georgian government. The Georgian prime minister fired back, denouncing what he described as a cascade of insults from EU politicians and declaring that the ill-wishers of our country have turned the European Parliament into a blunt weapon of blackmail against Georgia, which is a great disgrace for the European Union. We will continue on our path towards the European Union; however, we will not allow anyone to keep us in a constant state of blackmail and manipulation, which is utterly disrespectful to our country and society, Mr Kobakhidze said. We must clearly show certain European politicians and bureaucrats, who are completely devoid of European values, that they must speak to Georgia with dignity, not through blackmail and insults. Mr Kobakhidze also said Georgia would reject any budgetary grants from the EU until the end of 2028. Thousands of teachers, healthcare workers, rubbish collectors and others have walked off their jobs across Italy to protest against a decline in spending power, persistently low salaries and government policies they say have weakened public services. Italys most powerful trade unions called the eight-hour strike and mobilised marches in cities across the country to target premier Giorgia Melonis latest budget that they say penalises schools, healthcare and other services. They also are pressing for a more equitable distribution of profits from private companies to workers. These protests dont just speak to the government, Maurizio Landini, head of the powerful CGIL conglomerate, told reporters in Bologna. They speak also to entrepreneurs, managers and businesses, who in these years have made profits like never before. Demonstrators marched along streets in Rome (Gregorio Borgia/AP) The strike forced ITA airlines to cancel dozens of domestic and international flights, and hit schools, hospitals and local transport. Unions called for an eight-hour strike but transport minister Matteo Salvini imposed an injunction limiting the strike in the transport sector to four hours. It was the first general strike since last November. Unions faced possible sanctions for involving the healthcare and justice sectors, which have staged strikes recently. The Italian railway, which also has been the target of recent labour actions, was exempted. Italys healthcare sector has been suffering staffing shortages that has forced the hiring of nurses from abroad, with care in the poorer south particularly lagging that in the more prosperous north. A quiet subway station in Milan during the general strike in Italy (Claudio Furlan/LaPresse via AP) There are many people who go abroad because the salaries are too low, said Anna Salsa, a member of the UIL healthcare union, at the demonstration in Rome. We are forced to do double shifts to give the minimal levels of essential care. Protesters also cited persistent increases in the cost of basic necessities. While starting salaries in Italy are aligned with the rest of Europe, pay increases do not keep pace, said Maurizio Del Conte, a labour law expert at Milans Bocconi University. As a result, Italys gross median salary of 35,000 euros a year is at the low end of European averages, well behind its G7 partners in France and Germany. Australia is progressing towards implementing a groundbreaking ban on social media access for individuals aged 16 and below. The legislation, titled the "Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024," has already passed the Senate and awaits further refinement in the House of Representatives before becoming law. However, the proposed age verification mechanisms and the absence of a requirement for identification have sparked significant debate. Legislative Progress The Australian Senate recently approved the social media ban bill through a decisive vote of 34 in favor and 19 against. This follows a strong endorsement from the House of Representatives earlier, with a 102-13 vote. While the bill moves closer to becoming law, it must return to the lower house for final deliberations and amendments. The bill focuses on regulating access to social media platforms for minors under 17, excluding platforms related to gaming, health, education, or messaging services. However, officials have yet to confirm which social media platforms will be impacted by the ban, as the bill does not specify them. Verification System and Concerns The legislation mandates that social media platforms implement age verification systems to ensure users are at least 17 years old. Despite this, Australia's communication commissioner, Michelle Rowland, has clarified that platforms will not be required to collect official identification from users. This approach has drawn criticism, with many questioning its effectiveness in preventing underage access. Non-compliance with the law could lead to hefty fines, amounting to $32.1 million (49.5 million AUD) for violating platforms. Rationale Behind the Ban The proposed ban reflects growing concerns over the adverse effects of social media on young users, including increased risks of depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. Studies and expert testimonies have highlighted these issues, prompting global discussions on improving online safety for minors. Notably, several social media platforms, including Snapchat and Instagram, have introduced features designed specifically for teenagers. These versions prioritize enhanced safety measures and curated algorithms to mitigate harm while maintaining access. International Comparisons Australia's efforts align with broader global trends to address the impact of social media on youth. The United Kingdom and European Union, under the European Commission, have implemented or proposed similar regulations. In the United States, certain states have sought to introduce restrictions, though enforcement remains a challenge due to false age declarations by users. Despite such initiatives, Australia's proposed outright ban for under-17s is among the most stringent globally, drawing both support and skepticism, particularly regarding its execution and long-term viability. Potential Implications Australia's move to ban social media for teenagers under 17 signals a significant shift in online safety regulations. While the initiative addresses critical concerns regarding youth mental health, the absence of stringent identification requirements may undermine its objectives. As the bill progresses through legislative processes, its final form and impact remain to be seen. An Australian law enforcement officer has been convicted of the manslaughter of a 95-year-old woman, who succumbed to injuries inflicted when he tasered her during an incident at a nursing home. Senior constable Kristian White was summoned to the nursing home in May 2023 as Clare Nowland, who showed signs of dementia, was slowly wandering the halls with a steak knife. After repeatedly urging an increasingly agitated Ms. Nowland to drop the knife, White remarked bugger it and deployed his stun gun, as detailed in the New South Wales Supreme Court. The elderly great grandmother fell backward, struck her head, and later died in the hospital a week afterward due to a brain bleed. At the time, Ms. Nowland was reported to weigh under 50 kilograms, and police later characterized her as frail. A jury found 34-year-old White guilty of manslaughter after three days of deliberation, according to a court official. White maintained his not guilty plea, asserting that he had taken appropriate measures to address a potential threat. Police denied allegations that they attempted to conceal the incident by removing terms such as taser from the initial statement. Residents of Lebanon are currently forbidden from traveling south to a line of villages and their adjacent areas until further notice, as stated by Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee. Yesterday, Israel reported firing upon what it referred to as suspects in vehicles approaching multiple locations in the south, claiming it was a violation of the truce established with the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah, which came into effect on Wednesday. In response, Hezbollah politician Hassan Fadlallah accused Israel of breaching the agreement. The Israeli enemy is assaulting those who are returning to the border villages, Mr. Fadlallah told reporters, further noting, Israel is committing violations today, even in this manner. Latest stories from the Middle East In a recent update on X, Mr. Adraee urged Lebanese residents to refrain from returning to over 60 southern villages, warning that anyone who crosses the designated line places themselves in danger. Earlier, the Lebanese army accused Israel of breaching the ceasefire multiple times yesterday and on Wednesday. This exchange of accusations underscores the vulnerability of the ceasefire, which was negotiated by the United States and France to resolve the conflict occurring alongside the Gaza war. The truce is set to last for 60 days, with the aim of achieving a lasting end to the hostilities. Chongqing-Ningbo river-sea direct route opens to traffic Ecns.cn) 16:12, November 29, 2024 The "Innovation 5" vessel sets sail from Chongqing Port, Nov. 28, 2024. (Photo: China News Service/He Penglei) The vessel, loaded with 5,000 metric tonnes of adipic acid, headed for Zhoushan Port in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province via the Chongqing-Zhoushan river-sea direct route on Wednesday. The new route links Chongqing in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River with the sea. The "Innovation 5" vessel prepares to leave Chongqing Port, Nov. 28, 2024. (Photo: China News Service/He Penglei) The "Innovation 5" vessel sets sail from Chongqing Port, Nov. 28, 2024. (Photo: China News Service/He Penglei) The "Innovation 5" vessel sets sail from Chongqing Port, Nov. 28, 2024. (Photo: China News Service/He Penglei) (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) Operators have announced the repair of two telecommunications cables in the Baltic Sea, which were damaged within Swedish territorial waters, amidst an investigation involving a Chinese vessel in the vicinity. The undersea telecom cable that links Finland and Germany, severed on 18 November, has been restored and is fully operational, according to Finnish network operator Cinia. The repair was completed slightly ahead of schedule, stated Cinia CEO Ari-Jussi Knaapila. The Arelion cable, connecting the Swedish island of Gotland to Lithuania, also sustained damage on 17 November. The telecommunications cable being laid in the Baltic Sea off the shore of Helsinki in Finland in 2015 Authorities from Finland, Sweden, and Lithuania have formed a collaborative task force to investigate the damaged cables, with support from Eurojust, the European Unions agency for criminal justice cooperation. Attention has turned to a Chinese vessel the Yi Peng 3 which ship tracking data indicated passed over the cables around the time of the incidents; however, there is no evidence linking it to the damage. Since 19 November, the Yi Peng 3 has remained docked in the Kattegat Strait, located between Sweden and Denmark. China has expressed its willingness to cooperate with the ongoing investigation. European officials suspect that the incidents may be acts of sabotage connected to Russias invasion of Ukraine. Russia, however, has dismissed these allegations as absurd and laughable. A senior lawyer who represented a jailed journalist in a prominent case has been sentenced to seven years in prison in Russia for criticizing Moscows military operations in Ukraine on social media. Dmitry Talantov, aged 64, was detained in July 2022 after he characterized the actions of the Russian army in the Ukrainian cities of Mariupol and Bucha as reminiscent of Nazi practices. For many years, Talantov was the president of the Udmurtia lawyer association and served as the defense attorney for Ivan Safronov in 2021, a journalist focused on military issues whose arrest sent shockwaves through Russias media landscape. Safronov is currently serving a 22-year prison sentence on treason charges. During a heartfelt address in court, Talantov expressed concern that he might not survive his prison sentence but reaffirmed his beliefs. At 64, its difficult for me to envision emerging from prison alive, Talantov remarked, as heard in an audio recording of his speech shared by the rights organization Perviy Otdel. He has spent two and a half years in pre-trial detention, including two years in solitary confinement, where he reported that the Russian national anthem plays in the evening and at dawn, followed by a strongly pro-Kremlin radio program. I am longing for words of peace. They have yet to arrive, he stated. Talantov likened his confinement conditions to a Middle Ages cell with just a (toilet) hole and a tap, remarking that time erodes a persons spirit in isolation. With his voice trembling, he addressed his wife, saying: Olga, forgive me, I love you. In a letter sent to Perviy Otdel, Talantov revealed that he was arrested while at his summer residence in the summer of 2022. At that time, over 300 lawyers signed a petition demanding his release. ( Middle East Monitor ) As soon as the arrest warrant was issued against the head of the Occupation government, the Occupation went mad, between shock and thinking of ways to appeal the decision, reject it or harming the ICC, as a whole. In the meantime, Netanyahus political and field missiles continued to bombard Palestine, the Palestinians, Lebanon and the Lebanese, in a bold attempt to confirm that the arrest warrants will be of no use on the ground, as they did not stop the war, nor did they alleviate the impact of the Zionist fire and gunpowder on the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples. Indifference is the position that Netanyahu pretended to take shortly after the arrest warrants were issued, armed with the Biden administrations rejection of them, and the position of some of Netanyahus supporters, such as the Prime Minister of Hungary. There was also the reluctance of others to reveal their position on the warrant, such as Germany, the Czech Republic and others. Relying on the idea that the best defence is a good offense, Netanyahu intensified his forces progression towards Beit Lahia, Jabalia and Gaza City, in addition to their difficult advancement towards the Litani River. Meanwhile, his forces continued to prevent aid from entering the Gaza Strip, leaving the displaced Palestinians prey to the wind, cold and rain, without shelter or mercy, amidst the insistence to evacuate the depths of the Shujaiyya and Zeitoun areas. This came at a time when his forces bombed Kamal Adwan Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip, along with ramping up the number of arrests of Palestinians, specifically in Gaza. It reached the point that Israel felt no embarrassment in admitting that more than a quarter of the Palestinian prisoners have scabies because they have been deprived of treatment and care, as well as the basics of life. This situation completely overlapped with the escalation of the situation in the West Bank. However, Netanyahus ambitions did not end with confronting an attack with an attack, but rather by silently searching for a way out of his growing predicament through a ceasefire deal in Lebanon, by agreeing to give France the opportunity to return to the negotiations for the Lebanon deal and gain the honour of announcing a ceasefire. According to Israels Channel 13, this ceasefire seems to be in exchange for the French President using what is known as personal immunity to prevent Netanyahus arrest and suspend the arrest warrant on French soil. International Criminal Court Martyred, Digital, Midjourney / Clip2Comic, 2024 However, the price of accepting the deal with Lebanon was not limited to this, but rather included the US Presidents agreement to lift the ban on a new shipment of heavy weapons to the Occupying state, according to Kan news channel, as well as giving the green light to his coalition partner, the far right Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, who said that half of Gazas population will emigrate within two years, and that Israel has the right to annex some of the Strips territory. A few hours before the Courts decision, the US used its veto in the Security Council against the ceasefire draft bill in Gaza in order to provide Netanyahu with leverage in a way that enables him to prolong the war, which he needs to last so he can remain in power, according to Lapid and Lieberman, who are opposed to Netanyahu himself. All this comes in the context of an attempt to stop the storm caused by the ICC decision, but some believe that its timing provides Netanyahu with a pretext to annex the West Bank as a retaliatory step against it, and he would thus have achieved his goal. Whatever their position, no one can deny the importance of the ICC decision, and its role in changing the course of the current holocaust in one way or another, either negatively or positively. Will the political and field realities witness dramatic changes in the coming days, or will destroying everything continue in order to meet Netanyahus ambitions? We will wait and see! This article appeared in Arabic in Al-Quds on 26 November, 2024. The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor or Informed Comment. Via Middle East Monitor By Heidi Matthews, York University, Canada; Fatima Ahdash, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, and Priya Gupta, McGill University (The Conversation) The International Criminal Court (ICC) recently issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant and Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif for war crimes and crimes against humanity. A pre-trial chamber of the ICC found that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant intentionally deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity. This is not the first attempt to seek legal accountability for Israels actions in the Gaza Strip. In December 2023, South Africa brought a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of committing genocide. In January of this year, the ICJ found there was a real and imminent risk that Israel was committing or would commit acts of genocide in Gaza. Nine months later, a United Nations Independent Commission of Inquiry reported: Israel has implemented a concerted policy to destroy the health-care system of Gaza. Israeli security forces have deliberately killed, wounded, arrested, detained, mistreated and tortured medical personnel and targeted medical vehicles, constituting the war crimes of willful killing and mistreatment and the crime against humanity of extermination. As the world witnesses the ongoing destruction of Gaza, universities in the West have become critical sites of examination, debate and protest. They have also become sites of suppression that shrink, rather than facilitate, the open exchange and analysis of ideas. Universities are indispensable to supporting the free inquiry needed to do the work of addressing atrocity crimes. However, Western universities are increasingly prioritizing ideas of neutrality over a principled commitment to free speech and the pursuit of truth. The indispensible role of the university In an essay on education and neoliberalism, Canadian-American cultural studies scholar Henry Giroux emphasized the importance of the universitys role in leading social change. He said the university is: one of the few public spaces left where students can learn the power of questioning authority, recover the ideals of engaged citizenship, reaffirm the importance of the public good, and expand their capacities to make a difference. Understanding and ultimately preventing genocide and other atrocity crimes requires an interdisciplinary approach that incorporates insights from a multitude of areas of expertise including law, history, politics, hard and applied sciences, psychology, journalism and others. Universities are crucial to supporting the evidence-based research needed to do this essential work. The chances for truth to prevail in public, as Hannah Arendt argued, are greatly improved by the mere existence of universities and by the organization of independent, supposedly disinterested scholars associated with them. Palestine Exception, Digital, Midjourney, 2024 Academic freedom should always be highly valued and steadfastly protected. As the Canadian Association of University Teachers stated in November 2023, academic freedom, like all expressive freedoms, is particularly vulnerable during periods of war, conflict, and social unrest. Unfortunately, many have responded to political and donor pressure by repressing discussions of Palestine in the classroom and on campus grounds. These moves curtail the academic freedom of scholars working on Palestine. When universities become less free, the health of our democracies declines. The importance of student protest Over the past year, students across North America, Europe and elsewhere established encampments on campuses to bring attention to Israels crimes and to call on their institutions to divest from companies and industries associated with Israels assault on Gaza and occupation of Palestinian land. However, many encampments were violently dismantled, with universities collaborating with authorities to shut down dissent and protest on campus. Some universities have targeted students and faculty who support Palestinian freedom with surveillance, reprisals and expulsions. They have enacted a range of new policies designed to discourage or otherwise police speech on campus, which disproportionately target speech on Palestine. Such actions violate the expressive and assembly rights of students and faculty and transform the university into places where people are fearful of speaking out. In October, the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, Gina Romero, criticized these policies and practices, urging universities to change course. Romero observed that the brutal repression of the university-based protest movement is posing a profound threat to democratic systems and institutions. Erasure of Palestinian history and culture Teaching Palestinian history on campuses is essential work, especially as schools and universities in Gaza are facing scholasticide. Scholasticide refers to the systemic obliteration of education through the arrest, detention or killing of teachers, students and staff and the destruction of educational infrastructure. Histories of the Nakba the violent displacement of over 750,000 Palestinians during the founding of Israel have been actively denied in Israel and in Western education and public discourse. The destruction of education is a method of genocide, as education is essential to the continuation of the Palestinian people as a distinct national and cultural group. This destructive erasure is underscored in a recent report by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Francesca Albanese. A false neutrality Instead of providing spaces for knowledge and discussion related to Palestine, Western universities are increasingly asserting that they have a responsibility to remain neutral regarding so-called controversial geopolitical issues. However, such commitments to neutrality are, in practice, often false. Institutional neutrality serves to flatten politics and silence scholarly debate. It obscures the fact that virtually every activity conducted in universities is political, from decisions regarding who is permitted to enrol to which research gets funding to policies on holding events and putting up posters. Small and large decisions by university administrators inevitably involve political choices. Claiming to remain apolitical in effect relieves universities of their responsibility to support the freedom of scholars to document, discuss and educate about political violence. Individual faculty members and students wishing to do so must navigate a bureaucracy of political suppression on campus. Activism is a form of education and argumentation. Campus activism has long been central to both instigating and consolidating social progress. Restricting dissent on campus is a classic authoritarian tactic. Universities should be places were we oppose unlawful killing, maiming and destruction, wherever this violence occurs. Universities should be spaces where Palestine is no longer treated as an exception. They should be places that actively support displaced students and faculty and work with Palestinian colleagues to rebuild institutions of learning in Gaza. Finally, universities should be places where students and scholars can freely examine and debate the political, legal and social dimensions of Israels actions in Gaza and throughout the Palestinian territory, Lebanon and the broader region. Heidi Matthews, Assistant Professor of Law, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, Canada; Fatima Ahdash, Assistant Professor of Law,, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, and Priya Gupta, Associate Professor of Law, McGill University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- K92 Mining Inc. (K92 or the Company) (TSX: KNT; OTCQX: KNTNF) announces that it has filed a technical report (the Technical Report) containing an Updated Integrated Development Plan (IDP) for its Kainantu Gold Mine Project (the Kainantu Project) in Papua New Guinea. The Technical Report, titled, Independent Technical Report, Kainantu Gold Mine, Updated Integrated Development Plan, Kainantu Project, Papua New Guinea dated November 28, 2024, with an effective date of January 1, 2024, was prepared by Qualified Persons, Andrew Kohler BAppSc (Geol), PGCert (Geostatistics), MAIG; Simon Tear BSc (Hons), EurGeol, PGeo (IGI); Brendan Mulvihill MAusIMM (CP Met), RPEQ; Daniel Donald BEng (Hons) (Mining), MBA, FAusIMM, MSME; Dr. Evan Kirby BSc (Hons), FSAIMM; Isaac Ahmed P.Eng; Ralph Holding CPEng, FIEAust; and Nicholas Currey MAusIMM. Refer to the Companys news release dated October 16, 2024, for a summary of the key results, assumptions and estimates contained in the Technical Report. The Technical Report was prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and is available under the Companys SEDAR+ profile (www.sedarplus.ca), and on the K92 website at www.k92mining.com. About K92 K92 Mining Inc. is engaged in the production of gold, copper and silver at the Kainantu Gold Mine in the Eastern Highlands province of Papua New Guinea, as well as exploration and development of mineral deposits in the immediate vicinity of the mine. The Company declared commercial production from Kainantu in February 2018, is in a strong financial position and is working to become a Tier 1, mid-tier producer through ongoing expansions. A maiden resource estimate on the Blue Lake copper-gold porphyry project was completed in August 2022. K92 is operated by a team of mining company professionals with extensive international mine-building and operational experience. On Behalf of the Company, John Lewins, Chief Executive Officer and Director For further information, please contact David Medilek, P.Eng., CFA, President and Chief Operating Officer at +1-604-416-4445 CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This news release includes certain forward-looking statements under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation: (i) the results of the Kainantu Mine Definitive Feasibility Study, and the Kainantu Preliminary Economic Assessment, including the Stage 3 Expansion, a new standalone 1.2 mtpa process plant and supporting infrastructure; (ii) statements regarding the expansion of the mine and development of any of the deposits; (iii) the Kainantu Stage 4 Expansion, operating two standalone process plants, larger surface infrastructure and mining throughputs; and (iv) the potential extended life of the Kainantu Mine. All statements in this news release that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, although not always, identified by words such as expect, plan, anticipate, project, target, potential, schedule, forecast, budget, estimate, intend or believe and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions will, would, may, could, should or might occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our ability to control, that may cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, without limitation, Public Health Crises, including the COVID-19 virus; changes in the price of gold, silver, copper and other metals in the world markets; fluctuations in the price and availability of infrastructure and energy and other commodities; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; volatility in price of our common shares; inherent risks associated with the mining industry, including problems related to weather and climate in remote areas in which certain of the Companys operations are located; failure to achieve production, cost and other estimates; risks and uncertainties associated with exploration and development; uncertainties relating to estimates of mineral resources including uncertainty that mineral resources may never be converted into mineral reserves; the Companys ability to carry on current and future operations, including development and exploration activities at the Arakompa, Kora, Judd and other projects; the timing, extent, duration and economic viability of such operations, including any mineral resources or reserves identified thereby; the accuracy and reliability of estimates, projections, forecasts, studies and assessments; the Companys ability to meet or achieve estimates, projections and forecasts; the availability and cost of inputs; the availability and costs of achieving the Stage 3 Expansion or the Stage 4 Expansion; the ability of the Company to achieve the inputs the price and market for outputs, including gold, silver and copper; failures of information systems or information security threats; political, economic and other risks associated with the Companys foreign operations; geopolitical events and other uncertainties, such as the conflicts in Ukraine, Israel and Palestine; compliance with various laws and regulatory requirements to which the Company is subject to, including taxation; the ability to obtain timely financing on reasonable terms when required; the current and future social, economic and political conditions, including relationship with the communities in Papua New Guinea and other jurisdictions it operates; other assumptions and factors generally associated with the mining industry; and the risks, uncertainties and other factors referred to in the Companys Annual Information Form under the heading Risk Factors. Estimates of mineral resources are also forward-looking statements because they constitute projections, based on certain estimates and assumptions, regarding the amount of minerals that may be encountered in the future and/or the anticipated economics of production. The estimation of mineral resources and mineral reserves is inherently uncertain and involves subjective judgments about many relevant factors. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The accuracy of any such estimates is a function of the quantity and quality of available data, and of the assumptions made and judgments used in engineering and geological interpretation, Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance, and actual results and future events could materially differ from those anticipated in such statements. Although we have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actual results to differ materially from those that are anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 28, 2024) - Aftermath Silver Ltd. (TSXV: AAG) (OTCQX: AAGFF) (FSE: FLM1) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") whereby the Company completed the issuance of 22,222,222 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.45 per Unit for gross proceeds of $10,000,000. Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one-half of one transferable Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant is exercisable by the holder thereof to acquire one additional Common Share (a "Warrant Share") for a period of 36 months from the date of issuance at a price of $0.70 per Warrant Share. The Company intends to use the net proceeds to complete geological, metallurgical and engineering studies at the Company's Berenguela Silver-Copper-Manganese project in southern Peru ("Berenguela") and for general working capital purposes. All securities issued pursuant to Private Placement are subject to a hold period expiring on March 29, 2025. In connection with the Private Placement, the Company paid an aggregate cash commission of $300,000 to certain finders. None of the securities sold in connection with the Private Placement have been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and no such securities may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in the United States or any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Mr. Eric Sprott, through 2176423 Ontario Ltd., a corporation which is beneficially owned by him, acquired all 22,222,222 Units for $0.45 per Unit or a total consideration of $10,000,000. The acquisition of 22,222,222 Units resulted in an increase of holdings of approximately 7.2% of the outstanding Common Shares on a partially diluted basis (assuming exercise of all 2176423 Ontario Ltd.'s Warrants) from what was reported in 2176423 Ontario Ltd.'s last early warning report. Prior to the Private Placement, Mr. Sprott beneficially owned and controlled 49,745,408 Shares and 9,142,857 Warrants representing approximately 18.7% of the outstanding Shares on a non-diluted basis and 21.5% on a partially diluted basis assuming the exercise of such Warrants. Following the completion of the Private Placement, Mr. Sprott beneficially owns and controls 71,967,630 Shares and 20,253,968 Warrants representing approximately 25.0% of the outstanding Shares on a non-diluted basis and 30.0% on a partially diluted basis assuming the exercise of such Warrants. The Units were acquired by Sprott for investment purposes. Mr. Sprott has a long-term view of the investment and may acquire additional securities of the Company including on the open market or through private acquisitions or sell securities of the Company including on the open market or through private dispositions in the future depending on market conditions, reformulation of plans and/or other relevant factors. The participation by 2176423 Ontario Ltd. is considered a related party transaction within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company has relied on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of the securities issued to 2176423 Ontario Ltd. nor the consideration for such securities will exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. A copy of Mr. Sprott's early warning report will appear on Aftermath Silver's profile on SEDAR+ and may also be obtained by calling Mr. Sprott's office at (416) 945-3294 (1106-7 King Street East, Toronto, ON, M5C 3C5). Berenguela Project: Background The Company has an option to acquire a 100% interest in Berenguela through a binding agreement with SSR Mining. Berenguela hosts a potentially open- pittable silver-copper-manganese Mineral Resource close to Santa Lucia in Puno province, southern Peru. Silver, copper and manganese have crucial industrial applications in the clean energy and battery spaces. Copper and manganese have been designated critical metals by the US government and the European Union. The project is less than 6km from road, rail and power lines and 4 hours from Arequipa by sealed road. Aftermath published a resource estimate in March 2023 based on over 300 core and RC holes. Metallurgical test work is underway adding to historic work, with the goal of producing silver and copper metal and a commercial battery-grade or fertilizer-grade manganese product. Qualified person Michael Parker, a fellow of the AusIMM and a non-independent director of Aftermath, is a non-independent qualified person, as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Parker has reviewed the technical content of this news release and consents to the information provided in the form and context in which it appears. About Aftermath Silver Ltd. Aftermath Silver Ltd. is a leading Canadian junior exploration company focused on silver, and aims to deliver shareholder value through the discovery, acquisition and development of quality silver projects in stable jurisdictions. Aftermath has developed a pipeline of projects at various stages of advancement. The Company's projects have been selected based on growth and development potential. Challacollo Silver-Gold project. The Company owns a 100% interest in the Challacollo silver-gold project. A NI 43-101 Mineral Resource was released on December 15, 2020 (available on SEDAR+ and the Company's web page). The Company is currently completing environmental permitting in anticipation of an upcoming drill program. Cachinal Silver-Gold project. The Company owns a 100% interest in the Cachinal Ag-Au project, located 2.5 hours south of Antofagasta. On September 16, 2020, the Company released a CIM compliant Mineral Resource and accompanying NI 43-101 Technical Report (available on SEDAR+ and on the Company's web page). ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS "Ralph Rushton" Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including the completion and anticipated results of planned exploration activities and the anticipated use of proceeds from the Private Placement. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connation thereof. Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that the Company will use the proceeds of the Private Placement as anticipated. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's plans or expectations include the risk that the Company will not use the proceeds of the Private Placement as anticipated, risks relating to the actual results of current exploration activities, availability of capital and financing, general economic, market or business conditions, and regulatory changes. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. (All dollar amounts expressed in US dollars unless otherwise noted) VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 28, 2024 / Silver X Mining Corp. (TSXV:AGX) (OTCQB:AGXPF) (F:AGX) ("Silver X" or the "Company") is pleased to report its financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 for the Nueva Recuperada Project (the "Project") in Central Peru. Q3 2024 Financial Highlights Revenues of $5.0 million (3Q24) vs. $2.1 million (3Q23), an increase of $2.9 million. Significant EBITDA improvement: Adjusted EBITDA of negative $0.1M (3Q24) vs. Adjusted EBITDA of negative $1.0M (3Q23). Cash costs of $21.5 per AgEq ounce produced and AISC of $26.2 per AgEq ounce produced, reflective of the sustaining capital expenditure invested in the development of the Tangana mining unit ($1.0 million adding $3.9 per AgEq ounce produced to the AISC). (1)(2) Cash cost per tonne was $100 in 3Q24 compared to $148 per tonne in 3Q23, a reduction of 32.3%. Jose Garcia, Silver X Mining's CEO, commented: "I am pleased to see our mine developing in the right way, accessing new ore-shoots, expanding the orebody both horizontally and at depth, and opening up the terrific potential of our Tangana veins. The team is making significant improvements at the operation and despite some of our challenges, we manage to compete with much larger operations. This is especially notable when comparing year-to-date results with the same period last year. We are convinced our performance will improve substantially in 2025." Notes: Cash costs per Silver Equivalent ounce (AgEq) ounce produced and All-In-Sustaining Cost (AISC) per AgEq ounce produced are non-IFRS financial ratios. These are based on non- IFRS financial measures that do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to other issuers. Please refer to the "Non-IFRS Measures" section of this news release for further information. AgEq ounce produced was calculated using the average sales prices of each metal for each month, and revenues from concentrate sales does not consider metallurgical recoveries in the calculations as the metal recoveries are built into the sales amounts. Summary of Selected Financial Results The information provided below are excerpts from the Company's unaudited interim Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A"), which can be found on the Company's website at www.silverxmining.com/investor#report or on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Note: EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA per share are non-IFRS ratios with no standardized meaning under IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. For further information, including detailed reconciliations to the most directly comparable IFRS measures, see "Non-IFRS Measures" in this news release and the MD&A. Three months ended September 30, 2024 vs. 2023 For the three months ended September 30, 2024, the Company recorded: Net loss before tax of $1.9M, compared to a net loss before tax of $2.3M in the three months ended September 30, 2023. EBITDA loss of $0.5M, compared to an EBITDA loss of $1.7M in the three months ended September 30, 2023. Adjusted EBITDA loss of $0.09M, compared to an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $1.0M in the three months ended September 30, 2023. The decrease in losses in the current period was primarily due to increased operating revenues from the sale of mineral production of $5.0M compared to $2.1M in the prior period (increase of $2.9M), decrease in foreign exchange losses of $0.2M compared to $0.8M in the same period last year (decrease of $0.5M), and partially offset with the increase in of cost of sales of $5.7M compared to $2.9M in the prior period (increase of $2.8M). Nine months ended September 30, 2024 vs. 2023 For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company recorded: Net loss before tax of $2.5M, compared to a net loss before tax of $4.2M in the nine months ended September 30, 2023, a $1.7M improvement. EBITDA income of $1.7M, compared to an EBITDA loss of $2.9M in the nine months ended September 30, 2023, a $4.6M improvement. Adjusted EBITDA income of $1.1M, compared to an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $2.5M in the nine months ended September 30, 2023, a $3.6M improvement. The increase in income in the current period was primarily due to increased operating revenues from the sale of mineral production of $16.0M compared to $11.3M in the prior period (increase of $4.7M), and gain on debt settlement of $1.1M compared to $Nil in the prior period, net with increase of cost of sales of $16.2M compared to $12.9M in the prior period (increase of $3.3M). The following table reconciles the Net Loss to the EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA: Financial Position The available cash during the period decreased by $0.2 million due to the outflow from the continuing development of the Tangana mine unit partially offset by the completed non-brokered private placement in April 2024. Operational Results Notes: Average Realized Price, production cost per tonne processed, AgEq sold, cash cost per AgEq ounce produced and AISC per AgEq ounce produced are non-IFRS ratios with no standardized meaning under IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. For further information, including detailed reconciliations to the most directly comparable IFRS measures, see "Non-IFRS Measures" in this news release and the MD&A. AgEq ounces processed and produced were calculated based on all metals processed and produced using the average sales prices of each metal for each month during the period. Revenues from concentrate sales does not consider metallurgical recoveries in the calculations as the metal recoveries are built into the sales amounts. Average realized price corresponds to the average prices for each metal on the following month after delivery, used to calculate the final value of the concentrate delivered in a given month before any deductions. Non-IFRS Measures The Company has included certain non-IFRS financial measures and ratios in this news release, as discussed below. The Company believes that these measures, in addition to measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, provide investors an improved ability to evaluate the underlying performance of the Company. The non-IFRS measures and ratios are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. These financial measures and ratios do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to other issuers. Cash Costs, All-In Sustaining Cost, EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA The Company uses cash costs, cash cost per AgEq ounce produced, AISC, AISC per AgEq ounce produced, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to manage and evaluate its operating performance in addition to IFRS measure because the Company believes that conventional measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS do not fully illustrate the ability of its operations to generate cash flows. The Company understands that certain investors use these measures to determine the Company's ability to generate earnings and cash flows for use in investing and other activities. Management and certain investors also use this information to evaluate the Company's performance relative to peers who present this measure on a similar basis. Cash costs is calculated by starting with cost of sales, and then adding treatment and refining charges, and changes in depreciation and amortization. Total cash production costs include cost of sales, changes in concentrate inventory, changes in amortization, less transportation and other selling costs and royalties. Cash costs per AgEq ounce produced is calculated by dividing cash costs by the AgEq ounces produced. AISC and AISC per AgEq ounce produced are calculated based on guidance published by the World Gold Council (and used as a standard of the Silver Institute). The Company presents AISC on the basis of AgEq ounces produced. AISC is calculated by taking the cash costs and adding sustaining costs. Sustaining costs are defined as capital expenditures and other expenditures that are necessary to maintain current production. Management has exercised judgment in making this determination. The following table reconciles cash costs, cash costs per AgEq ounce, AISC and AISC per AgEq ounce produced to cost of sales, the most directly comparable IFRS measure: The following table shows the calculation of the cash costs and AISC per AgEq ounce produced: To improve the accuracy and presentation of AISC calculations, Silver X refined the composition of General & Administrative Expense in sustaining cost, excluding discretionary costs for business development, investor relations and share-based compensation. For comparative purposes the prior period were also recalculated based on the revised methodology, resulting in AISC of $26.2 for the three months period ending September 30, 2024, compared to $37.9 for the same period in 2023 (30.7% decrease) and $23.0 for the nine months period ending September 30, 2024, compared to $28.2 for the same period in 2023 (18.4% decrease). Production Cost Per Tonne Processed A reconciliation between production cost per tonne (excluding amortization and changes in inventories) and the cost of sales is provided below. Changes in inventories are excluded from the calculation of Production Cost per Tonne Processed. Changes in inventories reflect the net cost of concentrate inventory (i) sold during the current period but produced in a previous period or (ii) produced but not sold in the current period. The Company uses Production Cost Per Tonne Processed to evaluate its operating performance in addition to IFRS measure because Company believes that conventional measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS do not fully illustrate the ability of its operations to generate cash flows. Management and certain investors also use this information to evaluate the Company's performance relative to peers who present this measure on a similar basis. During the period, cash cost per tonne decreased with the increase of the level of tonnage of ore processed, amounting to 46,624 tonnes for 3Q24 compared to 15,716 tonnes for 3Q23. Overall operating efficiencies improved resulting in a lower production cash cost per tonne of $100 in 3Q24 compared to $148 per tonne in 3Q23, a reduction of 32.3%. The capital expenditure deployed in the development of the Tangana mining unit during the period was the main cost contributor to AISC. Investment in sustainable CAPEX will enable the Company to access new production fronts and transition to higher head-grade areas. Average Realized Price Average realized price is a non-IFRS financial measure. The Company uses "average realized price per ounce of silver", "average realized price per ounce of gold", "average realized price per ounce of zinc" and "average realized price per ounce of lead" because it understands that in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, certain investors and analysts use this information to evaluate the Company's performance as compared with "average market prices" of metals for the period. Average realized metal prices represent the sale price of the metal. Average realized price corresponds to the average prices for each metal on the following month after delivery, used to calculate the final value of the concentrate delivered in a given month before any deductions: Non-IFRS Measures Cash costs ($ per Oz sold) and AISC ($ per Oz sold) are non-IFRS financial measures and non-IFRS ratios in this press release. These measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to other issuers. Please refer to the Non-IFRS Measures section of the Company's most recently filed Management's Discussion and Analysis which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca for full details on these measures, which is incorporated by reference into this press release. Please see "Cautionary Note regarding Production without Mineral Reserves" at the end of this news release. Qualified Person Mr. A. David Heyl, B.Sc., C.P.G who is a qualified person under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release for Silver X. Heyl is a consultant for Silver X. Cautionary Note regarding Production without Mineral Reserves The decision to commence production at the Nueva Recuperada Project and the Company's ongoing mining operations as referenced herein (the "Production Decision and Operations") are based on economic models prepared by the Company in conjunction with management's knowledge of the property and the existing estimate of mineral resources on the property. The Production Decision and Operations are not based on a preliminary economic assessment, a pre-feasibility study or a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability. Accordingly, there is increased uncertainty and economic and technical risks of failure associated with the Production Decision and Operations, in particular: the risk that mineral grades will be lower than expected; the risk that additional construction or ongoing mining operations are more difficult or more expensive than expected; and production and economic variables may vary considerably, due to the absence of a detailed economic and technical analysis in accordance with NI 43-101. About Silver X Silver X is a rapidly expanding silver producer and developer. The Company owns the 20,472-hectare Nueva Recuperada Silver Project in Central Peru and produces silver, gold, lead and zinc from its Tangana Mining Unit. We are building a premier silver company that aims to deliver outstanding value to all stakeholders, consolidating and developing undervalued assets, adding resources, and increasing production while aspiring to sustain the communities that support us and stewarding the environment. Current production, paired with immediate development and brownfield expansion opportunities, presents investors with the opportunity to invest in the early stages of a silver producer with strong growth prospects. For more information visit our website at www.silverxmining.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Jose M. Garcia, CEO and Director For further information, please contact: Susan Xu Investor Relations This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. +1 778 323 0959 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation ("forward-looking information"). Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain acts, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". All information contained in this press release, other than statements of current and historical fact, is forward-looking information. Forward-looking information contained in this press release may include, without limitation, exploration plans, results of operations, expected performance at the Project, the Company's belief that the Tangana system will provide considerable resource expansion potential, that the Company will be able to mine the Tangana Mining Unit in an economic manner, and the expected financial performance of the Company. The following are some of the assumptions upon which forward-looking information is based: that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner; demand for, and stable or improving price for the commodities we produce; receipt of regulatory and governmental approvals, permits and renewals in a timely manner; that the Company will not experience any material accident, labourdispute or failure of plant or equipment or other material disruption in the Company's operations at the Project and Nueva Recuperada Plant; the availability of financing for operations and development; the Company's ability to procure equipment and operating supplies in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis; that the estimates of the resources at the Project and the geological, operational and price assumptions on which these and the Company's operations are based are within reasonable bounds of accuracy (including with respect to size, grade and recovery); the Company's ability to attract and retain skilled personnel and directors; and the ability of management to execute strategic goals. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to those risks described in the Company's annual and interim MD&As and in its public documents filed on www.sedarplus.ca from time to time. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / November 28, 2024 / Lahontan Gold Corp. (TSXV:LG) (OTCQB:LGCXF) (the "Company" or "Lahontan") is pleased to announce that the Company has filed on SEDAR+ an independent Technical Report and updated Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") titled "Santa Fe Project Technical Report," effective October 9, 2024, and dated November 27, 2024, for Lahontan's Santa Fe Mine gold and silver project, Santa Fe District, Mineral County, Nevada. The Technical Report was prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 -- Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and supports the disclosure made by the Company in its October 15, 2024, news release announcing the updated Mineral Resource Estimate. There are no material differences in the Technical Report from the information disclosed in the October 15, 2024, news release. The Technical Report is available for download under the company's profile on SEDAR+ and is also available on the company's website: www.lahontangoldcorp.com. The Company expects to release the results of its Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") of the Santa Fe Mine project, utilizing the updated MRE, in December 2024. About Lahontan Gold Corp. Lahontan Gold Corp. is a Canadian mine development and mineral exploration company that holds, through its US subsidiaries, four top-tier gold and silver exploration properties in the Walker Lane of mining friendly Nevada. Lahontan's flagship property, the 26.4km2 Santa Fe Mine project, had past production of 356,000 ounces of gold and 784,000 ounces of silver between 1988 and 1995 from open pit mines utilizing heap-leach processing (Nevada Division of Minerals, www.ndomdata.com). The Santa Fe Mine has a Canadian National Instrument 43-101 compliant Indicated Mineral Resource of 1,539,000 oz Au Eq(grading 0.99 g/t Au Eq) and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 411,000 oz Au Eq (grading 0.76 g/t Au Eq), all pit constrained (Au Eq is inclusive of recovery, please see Santa Fe Project Technical Report*). For more information, please visit our website: www.lahontangoldcorp.com * Please see the Santa Fe Project Technical Report, Authors: Trevor Rabb, P. Geo, Darcy Baker, PhD, P. Geo., and Kenji Umeno, P. Eng., Effective Date: October 9, 2024, Report Date: November 27, 2024. The Technical Report is available on the Company's website and SEDAR+. On behalf of the Board of Directors Kimberly Ann Founder, CEO, President, and Director FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Lahontan Gold Corp. Kimberly Ann Founder, Chief Executive Officer, President, Director Phone: 1-530-414-4400 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Website: www.lahontangoldcorp.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the TSXV. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com France's foreign minister on Thursday called on foreign nations to stop helping the warring sides in famine-stricken Sudan's civil war as he visited refugee camps in neighbouring Chad. Sudan has been mired since April 2023 in conflict between the army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by his former deputy, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. Both sides face accusations of war crimes, including targeting civilians, shelling residential areas, and blocking or looting aid. The conflict has killed tens of thousands and forced over 11 million people out of their homes, with 2.1 million fleeing the country. The United Nations estimates that more than 25 million people -- over half the population -- facing acute hunger. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called on "the foreign powers that are allied with the belligerents to stop adding fuel to the fire", without naming specific countries. Al Burhan's government has accused Chad of meddling in the war by helping to deliver weapons from the United Arab Emirates to the RSF paramilitary forces, which Chad and the UAE have denied. Mutual finger-pointing has also seen Chad blaming Sudan for allegedly arming and financing rebel groups on its territory. Barrot also denounced the attitude of Russia, which vetoed a UN resolution last week that urged a ceasefire and the protection of civilians in Sudan. Russia has "abandonned the Sudanese" and "unveiled its relationship with Africa, a relationship based on greed, cynicism and hyprocrisy", the minister said. Around 1.5 million Sudanese refugees have fled to Chad, a country of 20 million people. - 'Strictly neutral' - Barrot urged the Sudanese armed forces to "keep the Adre crossing open and lift all bureaucratic impediments to the delivery of humanitarian aid". Adre, leading into Chad, is the only access point to famine-stricken Darfur in western Sudan. He urged the RSF to "cease looting, racketeering and the diversion of humanitarian convoys to allow them to arrive at their destination". Chad's Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah, who was with Barrot said that Chad "remains strictly neutral in the conflict". "We have an interest in bringing peace back to Sudan and remaining as neutral as possible in this war," he added. Barrot pledged an additional seven million euros ($7.4 million) in aid to support efforts to fight cholera and help women and children in Chad. Paris had already vowed to donate $110 million in April. Several nations have promised more than $2 billion for Sudan, but voiced concern about getting the aid to the population. A special international court on Friday ordered a former Kosovo rebel commander to pay $220,000 euros in damages to victims of abuses suffered in 1999 during the Serbian province's struggle for independence. Pjeter Shala, 61, also known as "Commander Wolf", was sentenced to 18 years behind bars in July for war crimes committed during the tiny country's 1998-99 independence conflict, when separatist KLA rebels fought forces loyal to then Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic. The judges "set the total reparation award for which Mr Shala is liable at 208,000 euros" ($220,000)", Judge Mappie Veldt-Foglia told the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague. "Mr Shala is ordered to pay (damages) as compensation for the harm inflicted" on eight victims, she said. The total amount comprised individual payments to the eight victims ranging from 8,000 to 100,000 euros, as well as a collective sum of 50,000 euros, the judge said. Although the "responsibility to pay the compensation lies exclusively with Mr Shala"" the judge said, "he does not appear to have the means to comply with the order". Kosovo's current Crime Victim Compensation Program "could be one way to execute the Reparation Order", Veldt-Foglia suggested. However, the maximum sums per victim awarded by the programme would be lower than those awarded by the court, she said. Shala faced charges of murder, torture, arbitrary detention and cruel treatment of at least 18 civilian detainees accused of working as spies or collaborating with opposing Serb forces in mid-1999. The judges acquitted him of cruel treatment and he was sentenced on the other three counts. The judges said Shala was part of a group of KLA soldiers who severely mistreated detainees at a metal factory serving as a KLA headquarters in Kukes, northeastern Albania, at the time. Shala was tried before the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, a court located in The Hague to prosecute mainly former KLA fighters for war crimes. They included former KLA political commander Hashim Thaci, who dominated Kosovo's politics after it declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and rose to become president of the tiny country. Thaci resigned in 2020 to face war crimes and crimes against humanity charges, and has pleaded not guilty. Friday, November 29, 2024 - In a disturbing turn of events, Justin Siocha, the whistleblower who exposed the embezzlement of Ksh 19.7 million from the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) by Woman Representative Dorice Donya, has reportedly been abducted by individuals claiming to be DCI officers from Nairobi. Witnesses in Kisii reported seeing Siocha being forcibly taken into a car by men who identified themselves as officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). The incident has raised alarm about Siocha's safety and the potential misuse of authority to silence whistleblowers. Siocha recently brought to light the alleged misappropriation of substantial NGAAF funds, accusing Woman Representative Dorice Donya of being involved in the embezzlement. His revelations have led to increased scrutiny and calls for accountability within the government. Local authorities and human rights organizations have expressed their concern and are demanding immediate action to locate Siocha and ensure his safety. The Kisii County Police have confirmed receiving reports of the abduction and have launched an investigation. However, they have not yet verified the identities of the individuals involved or their affiliation with the DCI. The police have urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward to assist with the investigation. In a statement, Siocha's family expressed their anguish and pleaded for his safe return. "Justin has been a courageous voice against corruption, and we are devastated by his abduction. We hope and pray for his safety and urge the authorities to act swiftly," the statement read. This incident has sparked outrage and highlighted the dangers faced by whistleblowers in the fight against corruption. Advocacy groups are calling for stronger protections and assurances for individuals who come forward with critical information on malpractices within the government. As the investigation unfolds, the public remains on high alert, hoping for the safe return of Justin Siocha and seeking justice for the wrongdoings he courageously exposed. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Friday, November 29, 2024 - Controversial city car dealer Khalif Kairo has reportedly been arrested in connection with fraud after local police in conjunction with Interpol officers conducted investigations and linked him with an international gang involved in card fraud. Reports indicate that Kairo was picked up by detectives at his car yard along Kiambu Road and taken to Gigiri police station, where he is being locked up. Asamoh, a popular X personality, shared the news about Kairos arrest on X. News of his arrest has caused a buzz on social media because he was fond of bragging and parading his lavish lifestyle on the App. Kairos arrest comes amid a crackdown on cybercrime operations across Africa orchestrated by Interpol and Afripol. The crackdown, dubbed Operation Serengeti, targeted cybercriminals across 19 African countries and resulted in the arrest of over 1,000 suspects linked to online fraud schemes. In Kenya, officers uncovered a major case of online credit card fraud, where cybercriminals had stolen USD 8.6 million (approx. Sh1.1 billion). The Kenyan DAILY POST. Friday, November 29, 2024 Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua may have staged his own assassination attempt in Limuru yesterday. This is after his friend and Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang'wa was summoned by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) over the incident in which an assassination attempt was made on Gachaguas life after hired goons invaded a burial ceremony and attacked the former DP in broad daylight forcing him to run for his dear life. In a summon letter, Thang'wa was required to appear before the Nyeri Regional Criminal Investigations Officer (RCIO) today at 10:00 a.m. According to the letter, the senator was summoned in regards to the chaos witnessed at a funeral in Limuru, where former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was in attendance. However, in responding to the summons, Thang'wa claimed that he won't be intimidated but confirmed that he would honour the summons. "They refuse to meet us at the CID headquarters on Kiambu Road but shamelessly summon us to Nyeri over an incident that occurred in Limuru. This intimidation will neither intimidate nor silence us. See you in Nyeri tomorrow at 10 a.m.," Thang'wa remarked. Meanwhile, reacting to the events in Limuru, the senator claimed that it was an assassination attempt on the former deputy president "We are here to say that it was an attempted assassination of Rigathi Gachagua and this is being done in Mt. Kenya only," Thang'wa claimed. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, November 29, 2024 - Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is lucky to be alive. This is after he was attacked by goons and chased away from a burial ceremony in Limuru, Kiambu County. Breaking his silence after the ordeal, Gachagua revealed that the goons approached him while heading to his car and subsequently stoned it and hit it with iron bars. "I was at a funeral service in Limuru for a young man called Erastus Nduati. "While we were preparing to lay the young man to rest goons attacked us and the other mourners who were present, including children," Gachagua stated. Here is Gachaguas full statement;- As Kenyans are well aware earlier this week the government withdrew the final aspects of my security that was in place after the impeachment process we are contesting. However, we did not raise an issue with this decision by the government although expectations were that any Kenyan who has served at the level of government that I was privileged to serve at, would be secured by the government even after leaving office. However, it now looks like the decision to withdraw my security was to leave me exposed to the kind of attack we have witnessed today. Today, I was at a funeral service in Limuru for a young man called Erastus Nduati. While we were preparing to lay the young man to rest goons attacked us & the other mourners who were present, including children. The gangsters were armed with stones, machetes, iron bars, and sticks. They descended randomly on mourners present and attacked them using the weapons they had. A specific group followed me as I went to my car, which they proceeded to attack with stones and iron bars. We literally drove out of the venue under a hail of rocks! This is very sad state of affairs and a major low for the state, who were clearly complicit in these actions. We just especially remember the family that had a loved one in a casket, who had to run to safety despite their profound grief. We will not be scared away from standing with Kenyans who need us to support them in their moments of need. We just expect such a terrible moment of shame will not be repeated. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, November 29, 2024 The attack and alleged assassination attempt on former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua yesterday at a funeral in Limuru, Kiambu County, has taken a new twist. This is after it emerged that President William Rutos ally was behind the attack on Gachagua. Kiambu residents pointed an accusing finger at Limuru Member of Parliament John Kiragu for the assassination attempt on Gachagua. Kiragu, a staunch supporter of President William Ruto, reportedly avoided the VIP tent and instead chose to sit among the commoners. Speaking to the press after the incident, the locals speculated that his actions were intentional with some hinting that Kiragu might have anticipated the commotion. He came and declined to sit in the VIP section and sat in the wrong tent. We became suspicious and knew there would be a possible commotion during the burial ceremony, said one of the locals. According to the locals, the well-orchestrated attack was a scheme by Ruto allies to undermine Gachaguas growing influence in the Mt Kenya region. However, in his defence, Kiragu dismissed the allegations, stating that he was also attacked during the melee. According to Kiragu, if he had intended to plot the attack against the former Deputy President, he would not have attended the ceremony. He further added that his vehicle also sustained damage during the incident. If I had plotted the attack then I could have easily defended myself. I was beaten and my vehicle and property were destroyed, Kiragu explained. Meanwhile, politicians close to Gachagua have since pointed an accusing finger at Rutos allies for orchestrating the violence. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, November 29, 2024 - Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo has cautioned government officials and politicians who were involved in the Adani deal prior to its cancellation by President William Ruto to watch their backs because Adani is coming for them. According to Maanzo, Gautam Adani, the founder of Adani Group, is a bitter man following the cancellation of the Adani deals with Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and KETRACO. He attributed this to a leaked call that went viral on the internet between Adani and a senior government official. In the call, the angry Adani demanded to know why the deal was being delayed yet he had made some payments. Adani is a very bitter businessman. Some of these fellows who have stolen from Adani here in Kenya, they better watch out as they travel the world, he cautioned. Maanzo faulted the government for contracting Adani in Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) shrouded in secrecy and lack of transparency. He said the country has enough expertise locally that handle the upgrades of the airport. We have enough capacity, what is happening is that these deals include a lot of bribery, paid to the brokers and some of the merchants trading with the government. That is why Adani was very bitter about some of his money which was taken away. There has to be a procurement process in this country, Adani was a private entrepreneur getting into partnership with the government but there were a number of laws which conflicted and which were not followed, he pointed out. Maanzo noted that Kenyans had already raised alarm over Adani's bid to take over JKIA with some launching legal suits in court. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, November 29, 2024 - Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said it is President William Rutos government that organized chaos that rocked a burial ceremony in Limuru on Thursday. The chaos occurred during the burial of Erastus Nduati at Ngarariga where the former DP was in attendance. The chaos forced mourners, including Gachagua and his allies, to flee for safety. Vehicles were stoned, tents were uprooted, and seats were broken, leaving several people injured and property destroyed. Speaking after the incident, Gachagua blamed President William Ruto for organizing the chaos through his proxies. They descended randomly on mourners present and attacked them using the weapons they had, as well as using the plastic seats available, he stated. He added that earlier this week, the government withdrew the final aspects of his security that were in place after the impeachment process. "However, we did not raise issue with this decision by the government, although expectations were that any Kenyan who has served at the level of government that I was privileged to serve at, would be secured by the government even after leaving office, he said. He went on to allege that the decision to withdraw his security was to leave him exposed to the kind of attack witnessed on Thursday. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, November 29, 2024 - Nyandarua Senator John Methu has sensationally claimed that President William Ruto's government plans to assassinate former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Senator John Methu, an ally of Rigathi Gachagua, claimed the goons who disrupted a burial in Limuru on Thursday intended to assassinate Gachagua. Methu, who was among those attacked and chased from the ceremony, alleged the attack targeted Gachagua directly. I will not say Rigathi Gachagua is okay, I would say he is lucky to be alive today. "If you look at the young men who followed him to his vehicle, had he not been evacuated using the right hand of the back seat, had he sat on the ordinary left side of his car, he certainly would have been hurt badly. "I have talked to him and you can feel he is not very okay, Methu told Citizen TV During the pandemonium, Gachaguas vehicles were damaged, indicating that he was the target. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, November 29, 2024 - Narc Kenya Chairperson Martha Karua has blamed President William Ruto for the chaos at a Limuru burial on Thursday, where several people were injured. During Erastus Nduati's chaotic burial, hired goons vandalized chairs and smashed the windows of vehicles belonging to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his allies. Reacting to the incident, Karua blamed Ruto for the chaos and castigated him for not respecting the dead and the bereaved family members. She also stated that Ruto's government withdrew Gachagua's security detail this week, knowing what they had planned for him. Karua also urged the government to provide Gachagua with security, emphasizing that, like any citizen, he must be protected at all times. The barbaric attack on @rigathimembers of parliament and mourners in Limuru today is unacceptable and should not occur in a civilized society. "This coming after the withdrawal of his security must be wholly blamed on the Ruto regime. "Like all citizens he deserves to be free and secure at all times, Karua wrote on X on Thursday. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, November 29, 2024 - Muranga Woman Representative Betty Maina has stated that the Mt. Kenya electorate has no excuse not to re-elect President William Ruto in 2027. Betty argued that since Ruto supported former President Uhuru Kenyatta for two terms, Mt. Kenya should repay the favor by re-electing him in 2027. Kikuyus must re-elect President Ruto to repay their debt over his support for Uhuru. We do not back out of promises," Betty said. Betty spoke amid claims that the Mt. Kenya region has abandoned Ruto following his role in the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. During the last election, 47 percent of the votes that propelled Ruto to State House came from the Mt Kenya region. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, November 29, 2024 President William Ruto may be in for a rude shock come 2027 if the statement by ODM Chairperson Gladys Wanga is anything to by. This is after Wanga, who is also the Homa Bay Governor, hinted at what ODM is planning behind President William Rutos back despite forming a broad-based government with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Speaking in Rangwe, Wanga revealed that ODM is preparing to capture power in the 2027 General Elections and therefore will not support anybody else, including Ruto, as earlier perceived, especially after the thunderous reception the President received in Babas bedroom recently. She lauded the party for how it conducted its grassroots elections, stating that a party eyeing power must be organized and vibrant. "That is what, that is what we were looking for. I want to say that with these grassroots elections, ODM is preparing to capture power in 2027 because the purpose of any political party is to capture power. For us to capture power we have to be organized and vibrant at the very grassroots level where we come from," she said. Wanga mentioned that ODM is the only party able to carry out peaceful grassroots elections, adding that it is also the only party that respects the Constitution. "ODM is the only party that is able to carry out this kind of election, other parties are not able to do this. The Registrar of Political Parties also said that ODM is the only party that is fully following the Constitution of Kenya," she added. This comes slightly a month after Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o expressed confidence that the ODM party is destined to lead Kenya. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, November 29, 2024 - President William Ruto may have lost the entire Mt Kenya region going by the way his close advisors are being treated in the vote-rich region. On Friday, Rutos economic advisor, Moses Kuria, held a meeting in Embu that resembled a cattle dip gathering, with attendees appearing to have been forced to participate. Ruto is using Moses Kuria to win back Mt. Kenya residents who abandoned him after the October impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Here are photos of Moses Kurias cold photos in Embu on Friday. Friday, November 29, 2024 - Kiambu Senator Karungo Wa Thangwa has assured Kenyans that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is fine following yesterdays attack at a funeral in Limuru, Kiambu County. Speaking earlier today, the Senator revealed he had a phone conversation with Gachagua moments after the attack in which goons attempted to assassinate him in broad daylight. He noted that the former DP informed him about an invitation to attend another burial ceremony in Muranga. According to Karungo, despite yesterdays attack that left several people injured, Gachagua assured him that he would attend the burial event scheduled to take place in Muranga on Friday, November 29. While opining on Gachaguas current security crisis, the Senator disclosed a plan to compel President William Rutos administration to offer him (Gachagua) much-needed protection. I talked to him and he is alright... he told me he had been invited to a burial event in Muranga and would be attending the event, said Karungo Wa Thangwa. The Senator further said he would be appearing at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Nyeri to detail yesterday's incident that led to damage of property. The lawmaker revealed that he had been summoned by the DCI officers to shed light on the commotion that happened in Limuru yesterday in which Gachagua was attacked. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, November 29, 2024 - Kiambu County Senator, Karungo Wa Thangwa has been summoned by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) over Thursday's chaos in a burial in Limuru that was attended by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Several mourners were injured when suspected state-hired goons disrupted the event forcing those in attendance to scamper for their safety. Police said they are investigating the matter. The team based at Nyeri Regional Criminal Investigations offices summoned Thangwa to appear there on Friday, November 29 without fail. "They refuse to meet us at the CID headquarters on Kiambu Road but summon us to Nyeri over an incident that occurred in Limuru. "This intimidation will neither intimidate nor silence us. See you in Nyeri tomorrow at 10 am," Thangwa said. Police are investigating claims of malicious damage to property and injury to persons. The incident happened on November 28 at the Bibirioni Boys High School playground. Thangwa, along with other leaders allied to Gachagua, visited the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters on Kiambu Road Thursday evening to demand a swift probe into the chaos during the Limuru burial. They said the chaos witnessed at a burial event seemed well planned. Thangwa and his Nyandarua counterpart John Methu said the chaos was a direct attempt on the life of the former DP. They added that ex-Limuru Member of Parliament Peter Mwathi was arrested by police officers in the process. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, November 29, 2024 - Kiambu Senator Karungo Thangwa has sensationally claimed that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachaguas life is in grave danger. This is after he was attacked by goons and chased from a burial ceremony in Limuru, forcing Gachagua to scamper for safety. However, Thangwa assured the country that Gachagua was safe and sound following the incident in Limuru. In a statement released some hours after the incident, Thang'wa downplayed some fears that the former DP might have suffered injuries following the incident. ''It was an assassination attempt. But the people's Deputy President is safe. Thank you so much people of Limuru for ensuring our safety. We will not be intimidated or silencednow we know!'' Thang'wa stated. The senator's statement, however, suggested a hidden attempt on the life of the former DP. In the incident that happened at midday on Thursday, Gachagua's security detail was forced to whisk him to safety after the hostile youths went rowdy. He later managed to get his way to his motorcade which was equally destroyed in the melee, leaving windscreens and emergency exits of the cars damaged. According to reports, several people also sustained critical injuries with the photos of the event further showing plastic chairs scattered on the ground. However, authorities are yet to issue an update on what resulted in the fracas even as the political temperatures within the larger Mt Kenya region continue to simmer following the impeachment of the former DP. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, November 29, 2024 - There was drama after angry residents of Syokimau/Mlolomgo Ward forced their Member of County Assembly (MCA) to wade through muddy roads in a bid to show the deplorable state of the estate. In videos shared on social media, the area residents mostly composed of boda boda riders - can be seen forcing their MCA Daniel Mutinda, who is in a suit and official shoes, to also tread the same paths and witness their frustrations first-hand. Syokimau/Mlolongo Ward MCA Daniel Mutinda confronted by angry residents over the deplorable state of roads and deteriorating living standards in the area. pic.twitter.com/uxD09IcKC0 Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@C_NyaKundiH) November 28, 2024 Mutinda was forced to seek help from the police after the situation escalated. In the video, the embattled MCA can been promising to deliver his promises as police guard him. We will walk together through this journey and I will deliver my promises to you, the MCA is heard saying while sandwiched between police officers. The Mlolongo MCA had to call the Police for protection! pic.twitter.com/CthKaE21Mx The Kenyan Vigilante (@KenyanSays) November 28, 2024 The Kenyan DAILY POST. Friday, November 29, 2024 - Polo Kimani, a popular X user, has sparked reactions after sending a message to middle-class Kenyans who take their kids to international schools they cannot afford, hoping they will make useful connections. This is what he posted, sparking a lot of reactions online. The Kenyan DAILY POST. James Cox Verification on Twitter used to be a sign of legitimacy, but since Elon Musk purchased the site, now X, anyone can purchase it. This creates an issue where users can share divisive content online with unearned credibility to unsuspecting readers. Over the general election camapign, parties and users alike shared content in the attempt to win votes and spread ideologies. New research 'Echo Chamber Formation Sharpened by Priority Users', from Munster Technological University, suggests that Xs verification model can intensify the polarisation on people's opinions and create echo chambers online. Co author of the report, Assistant Lecturer Kleber Andrade, told BreakingNews.ie: "What we did was computer simulations to try to reproduce the feature on the platform. The ideal thing would be to take the data and analyse, but they have restricted the collection of data. "What we found is prioritisation as we call it, basically someone being given increased reach, we found it can be used in unexpected ways. In some scenarious we have what we call an 'opinion model'. It doesn't allow for different voices, for a certain issue people can be either against or in favour. It goes from one extreme to the other." Many of the far-right accounts on X that spread misinformation around issues like immigration, and direct abuse at elected officials and journalists, are verified, and Mr Andrade said verified accounts are "tipping the system". Echo chambers "In scenarios where the issues are very polarised, we see the formation of echo chambers. This new feature that increases reach for some users, has seen a committed minority which has increased reach, tipping the system into polarised situations faster than what you'd expect. "Even though X's data is now restriced, it does not mean our model is completely theoretical, because there was data before so we used the model, and people also validated it against emprirical data. "We think this is a reason to be very concerned about X. "This committed minority of people have tipped the entire system. This idea also taps into a sociological theory that you can change a cultural norm once you reach a critical mass of people. "This propogates across the entire system in collective behaviour." Mr Andrade cited immigration as a key issue where polarisation and echo chambers occur. Immigration "This is how we would turn from the numbers into something practical. Immigraiton in particular can be a very polarising topic, so a lot of people have a very negative attitue towards it and other less so. "During this particular time, with referendums or the general election, typically what would happen is the platform would start to be asked 'what are you doing around the election?' If you'd expect interference, you need to keep an extra eye. "This is often the case in Ireland, even though the picture may be different from country to country with the likes of the US." Overall, he said Elon Musk's impact on the platform has been unprecedented. "His political views are very publicly known. Once he took over the platform, it's well known he was frustrated with his level of engagement, so he asked his employees and engineers to boost only his profile. "If he injected his views to the platform, which are biased to one side, will help these to spread. Even with his posts focusing on the electoral process of the US, I would expect it to have some impact on the Irish election." 'Echo Chamber Formation Sharpened by Priority Users' was co-authored by Kleber Andrade, Dr Henrique Ferraz de Arruda, currently based at George Mason University in the US and Prof Yamir Moreno, from University of Zaragoza, Spain. Widespread confusion is being experienced in polling stations along the new constituency border, today, as former Carlow-Kilkenny voters are being asked to cast a ballot in the new North Tipperary - North West Kilkenny area. Rural voters don't know where to go to cast their vote, one Kilkenny councillor said this morning. "It's crazy stuff," Cllr Michael Delaney said, sharing the situation in the parish of Tullaroan. For the first time ever the parish has been split for an election. Where there was once just one polling booth there are now two - and they are in different buildings. "We never had this before," Cllr Delaney explained. Tipperary voters are being asked to cast their ballots in the community hall, while Carlow-Kilkenny voters are on the register at the local school. Adding to the confusion is the fact not everyone received a polling card. Voters are reminded to check the card, if they got one, to see where they are voting. If you don't have a polling card don't worry, just bring along photo ID like a driving licence. Cllr Delaney expressed a concern that voters finding they are now casting a ballot in a different constituency will not know or recognise the candidates on the ballot, with the exception of one or two national figures. There are several parishes along the border affected. Cllr Mary Hilda Cavanagh is one of the Kilkenny residents now being asked to vote in the North Tipp - North West Kilkenny constituency for the general election, despite voting and being elected to the county council in Kilkenny. She voted in Galmoy today, where there is one polling booth in the local school. There has been a steady flow of people to the polling station there this morning (Friday) but, she said, people "are not happy being in North Tipp- North West Kilkenny." Keep up to date with every development from the Carlow-Kilkenny and North Tipp - North West Kilkenny counts on the Kilkenny Live live blog all weekend - starting from the opening of the first boxes tomorrow morning (Saturday) until all the seats are filled. Click here for the live blog. Over 200 people turned out for an amazing Palestinian Food Night at St Canices Neighbourhood Hall earlier this month. The event was organised by the Kilkenny Community Palestine Solidarity Group. The hall was decorated with Palestinian, Lebanese and Irish flags and colourful bunting. Four volunteer chefs worked all day to cook a superb feast of Palestinian dishes for people to sample, supplemented by a speciality cake and couscous. Contributions on the night more than covered costs allowing a donation of over 1,000 to be sent to UNWRA, the official UN relief agency for Palestine, to which a collection taken at the Kilkenny Islamic Centre contributed. Local musician Eamonn Wallace played his own violin composition Lament for Palestine. Short addresses were given by Katharine Larkin of the KCPS group, by local Palestinian resident, Wesam Akram, by Kevin Shore and by Mary Lyng of the Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign SE branch. There was loud applause for the four volunteer chefs - Baker, Reem, Bassam and Hana who had prepared a range of Palestinian delicacies. Vigil Kevin Shore of People Before Profit and Kilkenny Palestine Solidarity Group spoke movingly of the mounting death toll of tens of thousands of Palestinian men, women and children suffering bombardment and hunger and the struggle of tens of thousands of women who have given birth to their babies in the last year displaced from their homes by the Israeli Defence Forces and deprived of any medical help. Mary Lyng of the Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign SE branch urged all to boycott Israeli goods to bring an end to apartheid, destruction and loss of life. All were invited to join in the weekly vigil for Palestine held at the Town Hall, Wednesday, from 5.30 to 6pm and to join the KCPSG. The rest of the evening was spent mingling, in discussion and enjoying the wonderful Palestinian food. Food and equipment were kindly provided by Crann Nua vegetables of Kilkenny Market, Stephanie McDermott, Helen Finnegan of Knockdrinna foods, and Gladys Lydon of Living and Growing Nursery is by Recharge. KPSG has produced a small booklet of Palestinian Recipes to mark the occasion and copies can be obtained at the weekly vigil. American climatologist Dr. Chris Funk, recipient of the International Excellence Award of Kit (private photo) Dr. Chris Funk, Director of the Climate Hazards Center (CHC) at the University of California, Santa Barbara, is the winner of this years International Excellence Award of KIT and the Fellowship of SCHROFF Foundation. With these awards, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) honors the prominent scientist and his interdisciplinary work on climate change, extreme weather and food security. The awards include a research stay of up to six months at KIT. Funks research is dedicated to optimizing the remote sensing methods used to monitor droughts, extreme precipitation events and heat waves in tropical regions. Funk played a key role in developing a method for estimating precipitation. Because of its high quality, the method has been used in hundreds of studies on climate change adaptation. He has a special focus on Africa and has developed innovative methods for predicting rainy periods in the Horn of Africa. These methods have significantly improved early warnings in recent years for the people of eastern Africa. International Climate Research Cooperation For his work, Funk is receiving the International Excellence Award of KIT and the Fellowship of SCHROFF Foundation, and an invitation for a six-month stay at KIT next year. KIT can send an important signal with its International Excellence Award. Were very pleased to award it to Chris Funk, a dedicated climatologist of international repute, and to welcome him here at KIT, said Professor Jan S. Hesthaven, President of KIT. In climate research, international cooperation is the key to studying and understanding the complex effects of climate change. With the International Excellence Award, were highlighting for the second time the attractive research environment at KIT, which provides outstanding opportunities for cooperation among researchers from all over the world, said Professor Thomas Hirth, KITs Vice President for Transfer and International Affairs. Im especially pleased that we can promote scientific dialogue with Africa this time. Not only will this open up new avenues for the transfer of research findings, it will also enable us to work together on solutions for global challenges. Research Alliances with Africa In addition to the research stay, the prize includes several months funding for an accompanying junior researcher from Funks group and up to EUR 50,000 for equipment for a research project to be conducted at the host institute of KIT. We aim to blend Chris Funks expertise as a global leader in the field of the climate systems long-range effects on Africa with KITs expertise on African weather systems, for example to improve our understanding of the increasing aridity in eastern Africa so that we can provide better precipitation forecasts and early warnings, said Professor Andreas Fink, who heads the tropical meteorology working group at KITs Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research. Awarding the prize to Funk underscores a current strategic initiative at KIT to strengthen and expand research alliances with Africa; this effort will benefit from Funks extensive network in Africa. International Excellence Grants at KIT The award is part of the International Excellence Grants (IEG) initiative in KITs successful University of Excellence concept and is aimed at promoting international collaboration in top-level research and attracting international researchers to KIT. More information Being The Research University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 10,000 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,800 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Showers early then continued cloudy and windy in the afternoon. High 48F. Winds NW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low 23F. Winds NNW at 15 to 25 mph. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. A teenager uses his mobile phone to access social media, in Sydney, Australia, on November 13. Agency confirms NewJeans contract through 2029, plans to find new producer By Lee Gyu-lee Ador responded to NewJeans' press conference Thursday announcing the group's decision to terminate its contract with the agency, calling it "regrettable," adding that the contract remains valid until July 2029. We feel regrettable on (NewJeans) planning and proceeding with the press conference about terminating the exclusive contract without sufficient review and before receiving our response to their certification of content, the agency said in a release sent out shortly after the press conference. Ador has not violated the contract, and merely claiming that trust has been unilaterally broken cannot be grounds for termination. The exclusive contract between Ador and NewJeans members remains valid. Therefore, we request that (the group's future activities) continue to be carried out with Ador as before. The agency also expressed its hopes to settle the issue through dialogue. Our company has requested meetings with the artists multiple times, but these have not been successful, it said. We hope that even now, they can open their hearts, meet and have a sincere conversation. Ador will do its utmost to support NewJeans' activities and help them grow into global artists. The five-piece act held a press conference on Thursday evening to announce that the group will terminate its contract with Ador and its parent label HYBE, stating that Ador has failed to meet its requests. Earlier this month, the group issued a legal notice to the agency with a list of demands, including the reinstatement of former CEO Min Hee-jin, an apology for alleged bullying and actions against controversial internal reports. It asserted that the notice was an ultimatum and would terminate the members contracts if the demands were not met. The deadline for the requests weve addressed is midnight tonight. But despite being after business hours, HYBE and Ador show no willingness to address our demands or make improvements, the group said during the press conference held in Gangnam District, Seoul. We are heading to Japan and coming back next week for schedules and were particularly worried about HYBE and Ador potentially manipulating the narrative ... so we decided to hold an urgent press conference to clearly express our positions. The group stated that the decision was reached after extensive discussions among its members and emphasized that it had no reason to abide by the contract because the agency breached the trust. (Ador) argues its not obligated to terminate the exclusive contract as HYBE is at fault, not Ador. But HYBE and Ador are essentially one. The existing board members were suddenly dismissed. Ador, which has been altered to HYBE's liking, broke the relationship with a director weve been working with and undermined our trust. So we no longer have an obligation to continue the exclusive contract, the group said. The group noted that Ador failed in its obligations to protect its artists, leading the members to want to leave due to emotional distress. The reason for leaving Ador is very simple: NewJeans is Adors artist, and Ador has the responsibility to protect (us), but Ador has no will or the capability to do so. We believe continuing with Ador would be a waste of time and would only prolong our mental distress, it said. In response to Adors statement after the press conference, NewJeans shared the 26-page document it received from the agency on Thursday afternoon as a reply to the groups earlier demands. Ador also released summaries of the document. The document gave answers to each of the groups demands, stating that the agency has been doing its best to support the artists. Ador has consistently strived to gather board members' perspectives and work toward rational problem resolution whenever issues arise. However, simply because these efforts may not have aligned with the artist's specifically desired approach or failed to meet subjective expectations does not constitute a violation of the exclusive contract, Ador said in the document. It added many of the members claims for contract violations were related to third parties, over whom the agency has no legal rights to make them comply with the artists demands, such as a personal apology or reaching a specific agreement. The agency denied neglecting the artists and vowed to fully support the group. It said it planned various schedules for next year, including fan events, a full-length album release and a world tour. As per the request to reinstate Min as its CEO, the agency noted that management positions are for the board of directors to decide, adding it made an effort to bring Min back as the producer but she has declined the offer. The company has made its utmost effort to respect the artists' wishes and continue working with former director Min as the chief producer. Unfortunately, this was not something achievable through the company's intentions alone, it said. We are in the process of recruiting new producers who can support the artists in maintaining their unique identity and carrying out their desired music and stage performances Regarding these preparation details, we are willing to meet with the artists at any time to provide a comprehensive explanation and listen to their preferred direction and feedback. By Lee Kyung-min A power struggle between the countrys two main parties is expected to intensify, as indicated by the main opposition railroading a revision that no longer automatically tables government-drafted annual budget proposals at the Assembly plenary session once the Nov.30 deadline lapses, observers said Friday. The Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) say the previous system remained in place at the expense of the principle of checks and balances, as evidenced by only around 1 percentage point revisions made to the finance ministry-drafted proposals. This essentially bypassed and undercut the opposition partys role, reinforcing the policy initiatives of the government and the ruling People Power Party (PPP), it says. However, the ruling party maintains the unilateral revision politicizes the budget review. It reverts a decade of efforts to minimize the Assembly gridlock, often characterized by embarrassing physical confrontation among lawmakers over specifics of the budget and the resulting delays in passage. The extent of escalation in partisan conflict will be determined by the President Yoon Suk Yeol's veto of the revision, as recommended by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok. I am deeply concerned and cannot accept the development, Choi said soon after the revision passed the Assembly, Thursday. I will recommend that President Yoon exercise veto to prevent the resumption of chronic delays in budget review, a source of diminished reputation with investors from within the country and abroad. The revision can be constitutionally challenged, Choi said. The Assembly must approve the budget by Dec. 2 for prompt government implementation. However, the opposition party can now disregard this legal deadline, citing the revision. The revision allows a continued review of the budget long after Nov. 30 when Assembly standing committees and the Special Committee on Budget and Account are removed from the decision-making process, he said. Also threatened will be the guarantee of time to prepare for a thorough review of the budget. The government revised the related law in 2014 to mandate the submission of the budget a month earlier to secure enough time for a thorough review at the Assembly. However, the revision will remove the 30-day clause, certain to cause an extended deadlock every year. Subsequently delayed will be government social welfare spending for vulnerable low-income groups and state-run infrastructure projects. Social welfare and infrastructure expenditures need to be finalized by the end of December, before the beginning of the fiscal year, he said. Delays in the Assembly's approval of the budget over the past few years led to failures in timely assistance for the underprivileged. KCGF-led statement stresses protecting shareholders as cornerstone of corporate system By Jun Ji-hye The Korean Corporate Governance Forum (KCGF), an organization that monitors transparency in business management, issued a statement urging the National Assembly to amend the Commercial Act. The proposed amendment would expand corporate directors' fiduciary duties to include responsibility toward shareholders. The KCGF said, Friday, that the statement, announced the previous day, received endorsements from 109 domestic and foreign investors, academics and journalists, including high-level officials at global asset management firms such as Fidelity Management and Research, Wellington Management and Schroders Asset Management. Among the 109 supporters of the statement also include Yoon Jong-ha, a partner at MBK Partners, the largest private equity firm in Northeast Asia. The signatories emphasized that the Korean economy and its capital market are facing a severe crisis. They stressed the urgent need to amend the law to prevent harm to shareholder interests and to resolve the so-called Korea discount. Domestic investors are increasingly diversifying their portfolios away from Korea to the U.S. and Japan, while foreign investors are being advised to reduce their exposure to Korea. Furthermore, promising companies like Coupang and Toss are increasingly opting to list on U.S. stock exchanges in search of higher valuations, the statement read. The Korean market is steadily losing the attention of the public. The most significant culprit contributing to the crisis in Koreas capital market and economy is the systemic failure of basic corporate governance principles. Discussions on revising the act have been gaining momentum at the Assembly since Rep. Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, announced the partys willingness to pass a related bill within the year. The party said the revision will shield minority shareholders from what it describes as unfair practices by companies run by large, family-owned business conglomerates whose stocks are publicly traded. However, the business community, the ruling People Power Party and the government are opposed, raising concerns that the revision could leave Korean companies vulnerable to attempts to wrest control of their management. The KCGF highlighted that the fiduciary duty of directors to protect the interests of all shareholders is the most basic and fundamental cornerstone of a functioning corporate system. Unfortunately, in Korea, this principle has existed only in textbooks, it said, noting that ongoing discussions on amending the law are a significant breakthrough. The KCFG said now is the perfect time to push for the amendment, as the majority party in the Assembly has adopted it as an official stance, and the Supreme Court has also expressed clear support. In response to opposition from the business community, the KCGF argued that protecting the rights and interests of all shareholders who are the true owners of a company should not be viewed as an excessive regulation on corporations. We must not allow the countrys future to be sacrificed by a small, privileged minority who still cling to the outdated ideologies of the developmental dictatorship era in the 1970s, the statement read. We must urgently return to the fundamentals of corporate governance. By doing so, we can resolve the Korea discount in the capital market, which is one of the key steps to solving numerous social and economic issues such as extreme crowding into real estate assets, soaring cost of housing, falling birth rates and aging population. The KCGF explained that the 109 supporters participated in the statement in their personal capacity. The statement was announced after 16 top executives of Koreas major conglomerates, including Samsung Electronics and SK Supex Council, issued a joint statement, Nov. 21, protesting the revision plan, arguing that the amendment will undermine corporate growth momentum. Ruling party leader stresses necessity as means to eliminate unfair transactions By Jun Ji-hye Attention is now on whether delayed legislation for security token offerings (STO) will gain traction, following comments from the ruling party leader who recently emphasized the need for regulatory improvements during his participation in a related meeting. STO emerged as a new growth area for the securities and banking industries after financial authorities released related guidelines in February last year. However, the lack of legislative progress in the previous 21st National Assembly has delayed their integration into the institutional framework. Han Dong-hoon, chairman of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), stated that the time for debating whether to allow tokenized securities has passed. He made the remark during a breakfast meeting at the National Assembly discussing the STO legislation, Thursday. We must thoroughly prepare and establish the system without delay to eliminate unfair trading and user inconveniences, he said. The United States and Singapore have already released STO guidelines, and Japan has incorporated STO into the institutional framework through amendments to its financial instruments and exchange act. The meeting was jointly hosted by Rep. Kim Jae-sub of the PPP, who had submitted a bill aiming to establish the legal foundation for security tokens and draw up measures for investor protection. Kim said, Although STO-related bills were introduced in the 21st Assembly, they were discarded. I have introduced the bill in the 22nd Assembly, and I will work diligently to ensure that legal preparations for STO are completed in this session. In February last year, the financial authorities officially announced that they would allow the issuance and distribution of tokenized securities. The authorities said at the time that, unlike general virtual assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, tokenized securities are rearded as equity, even though they are issued in digital asset form. They emphasized that tokenized securities fall under the regulation of the Capital Market Act and promised their integration into the institutional framework. In response, securities firms and banks have quickly established dedicated teams for STO and expanded their workforce. Many of them have also actively collaborated with blockchain companies to complete the infrastructure necessary for STO operations. These firms have already invested tens of billions of won, but are now facing significant challenges, as the legislation for STO has yet to be realized despite the authorities announcement nearly two years ago. This highlights the urgent need for institutionalization. Securities firms have made significant preparations and investments. It is crucial that the STO bill is passed quickly and the legislation is implemented without delay, Rye Ji-hae, a senior official at Mirae Asset Securities, said. By KTimes The global popularity of Korean content, from dramas to music, is propelling Korean cuisine into the spotlight as a cultural powerhouse, highlighted by actor Ryu Su-young's recent lecture at Stanford University. On an episode of KBS2s Stars' Top Recipe at Fun-Staurant, Ryu visited a Korean language village in the U.S. at the invitation of a professor, where he shared spicy braised short ribs with local teenagers. The broadcast highlighted how deeply the youth were immersed in Korean culture, from K-dramas to K-pop, and Ryu was visibly moved by the heightened global status of Korean culture. Once considered a barren land for Korean cuisine, the U.S. has now become a passionate hub for Korean food lovers. Traditional staples like doenjang (fermented soybean paste), gochujang (red chili paste) and ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste) are enjoyed without translation, preserving the authenticity of Korean flavors. The term mukbang (a portmanteau of the Korean words for eating and broadcast) has even been added to the Oxford English Dictionary, reflecting the global appetite for Korean food and its culture. Foreign fans are also reinterpreting Korean food in creative ways, marking a golden era for K-food. This popularity owes much to the influence of K-content. Iconic examples include jjapaguri (a mix of two different instant noodles, Chapagetti and Neoguri) from Parasite and the instant noodles featured in Squid Game, which have spurred interest in Korean cuisine. Rather than rejecting unfamiliar flavors, international food lovers eagerly explore local Korean eateries to experience the culture firsthand. BTS member Jimins love for tteokbokki (a dish of chewy rice cakes simmered in red chili paste) has even inspired global fans to travel to Korea to try the dish, paving the way for the expansion of Korean street food to Southeast Asia. Indirect advertising, or product placement, has further boosted this phenomenon. According to GS25, a Korean convenience store chain, desserts launched in collaboration with Netflix generated over 2 billion won ($1.5 million) in sales. CU, another major convenience store, saw a 30 to 40 percent sales increase in chestnut tiramisu products, with 150,000 sold during the preorder period alone a record for the fastest and highest sales. With demand for Korean instant noodles surging globally, South Korean instant noodle manufacturers have ramped up production to meet demand from the U.S. and Southeast Asia, contributing to a cumulative instant noodle export total of $800 million. The hit show Culinary Class Wars has also played a pivotal role in raising the profile of Korean cuisine, prompting the government to strengthen its support for the industry. A recent government meeting announced plans to enhance competitiveness in the Korean food sector and expand its global reach. Signature dishes from K-dramas and movies are also driving the growth of the Korean food industry. Gimbap, frequently featured in Extraordinary Attorney Woo, has gained popularity worldwide, leading to the rapid expansion of related industries. Meanwhile, hearty dishes like "gukbap" (soup with rice) are emerging as the next trend. India has not been immune to this wave. Indian media outlet Times Now highlighted the growing love for Korean dishes like kimchi and tteokbokki, attributing the trend to the influence of K-pop groups like BTS and Blackpink, as well as K-dramas. These artists and shows not only entertain but also offer a gateway to Korean culture, the outlet noted. As a result, Indians are naturally becoming curious about Korean cuisine. The Korean wave, or hallyu, is no longer just a trend but a dominant cultural force. Beyond dramas and music, Korean food, cosmetics and more are becoming mainstream worldwide. With the global success of shows like Culinary Class Wars, Koreas government has doubled down on its efforts to bolster the food industry. As new food-centric variety shows, such as JTBC's Please Take Care of My Refrigerator Season 2, hit the airwaves, the Korean food industry is set to reach new heights, driven by the success of K-content. This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times. Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov said Friday during his visit to Pyongyang that Russia's cooperation with North Korea is "expanding" in various areas, including in the military field. His remarks came as Russia and North Korea have been deepening military cooperation under a mutual defense treaty signed in June, with more than 10,000 North Korean troops deployed to fight alongside Russia in its war against Ukraine. "Today, friendly ties between Russia and North Korea are expanding across all areas, including military collaboration," Russia's TASS news agency quoted Belousov as saying in a meeting with North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang-chol in Pyongyang. The Russian news agency reported the Russian defense chief arrived in North Korea earlier in the day for a number of "high-level" talks with senior military officials and politicians. "We are committed to implementing all agreements reached at the highest level," Belousov said. "We look forward to close and fruitful cooperation with our Korean comrades," Belousov also noted, expressing confidence that their discussion will "further strengthen the Russian-Korean strategic partnership in the defense industry." North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty in Pyongyang in June, which commits the two nations to providing military aid to each other in the event of war. The visit also follows North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui's trip to Russia a month ago, during which she had a surprise meeting with Putin. South Korea's intelligence agency assessed that Choe may have had a "very sensitive" discussion with Putin during the meeting, and raised the possibility of Kim traveling to Russia for talks with Putin. The Russian defense minister is expected to discuss a potential increase in Russia-North Korea military cooperation in connection with Moscow's war against Ukraine. Some of the North's soldiers have already entered combat in Russia's western Kursk border region, according to the National Intelligence Service, Seoul's spy agency. Russia has provided North Korea with anti-air missiles and air defense equipment in return for its troop deployment in support of Moscow's war, South Korea's top security adviser said last week. (Yonhap) Korea's health ministry said Friday it will ban remote prescribing of weight loss medications, including Wegovy, released in the country in October, to prevent potential abuse. The decision to ban remote prescribing of weight loss medications will take effect Monday, with a two-week grace period, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The move comes amid growing concerns over the abuse and illegal sales of such medications, particularly due to the growing popularity of Wegovy, which was developed by Denmark-based Novo Nordisk. The government also plans to establish guidelines for telemedicine consultations regarding such medications within the first half of 2025, the health ministry added. South Korea has been temporarily allowing telemedicine consultations amid the ongoing walkout by trainee doctors at general hospitals, which began in February. (Yonhap) South Korea and Japan held a joint meeting of senior diplomats and defense officials Friday and reaffirmed the importance of their security cooperation, Seoul's foreign ministry said, despite a controversy over Japan's memorial ceremony for Korean wartime forced labor victims. In the director general-level policy consultations held in Tokyo, both sides shared assessments of the regional security environment and exchanged views on bilateral security cooperation as well as their trilateral cooperation, also involving the United States, the ministry said in a release. "Both sides concurred that bilateral security cooperation is indispensable in responding to the stern regional and international political situation, prompted by North Korea's troop deployment to Russia," the ministry said. They also agreed to advance the cooperation based on a "mutual understanding" of each other's defense and security policies, it added. The talks were seen as apparent efforts to seek collaboration as strategic partners amid North Korea's military threats and deepening military cooperation with Russia. Friday's meeting came amid a controversy over a memorial ceremony honoring Korean victims of wartime forced labor at the UNESCO-listed Sado mine complex in Japan. Seoul boycotted the first memorial service held on Sunday, citing a lack of sincerity from Japan in properly honoring Korean victims. The director general-level policy consultations, launched in 1998, have taken place on and off, depending on bilateral ties. The previous meeting took place in Seoul in April last year, resuming after a five-hear hiatus as bilateral ties soured over historic disputes. (Yonhap) South Korea has completed the development of a homegrown Long-range Surface-to-Air Missile (L-SAM) system, the defense ministry said Friday, in a feat that will help bolster the military's air defense capabilities against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. A ceremony marking the completion of the L-SAM, designed to shoot down incoming targets at altitudes of above 40 kilometers, took place at the Agency for Defense Development in Daejeon, about 140 km southeast of Seoul, according to the ministry. While the ministry did not elaborate on the precise altitude the new system covers, it is known to shoot down targets at altitudes of 50 to 60 km, working in a multi-layered missile defense system, along with the U.S. Patriot Advanced Capability-3 and M-SAM II air defense systems that intercept targets at altitudes of 40 km or below. For targets at higher altitudes, the country relies on the U.S. Forces Korea's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system that can defend against upper-tier threats at altitudes of 40-150 km. In a congratulatory message sent for the ceremony, President Yoon Suk Yeol hailed the completion as "groundbreaking progress" in responding to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who attended the ceremony, warned the North against carrying out such provocations. "Even if North Korea attempts a missile provocation, the North cannot penetrate our military's sturdy defense system," Kim said in his congratulatory address during the ceremony. "It will have to pay a price, the 'end of its regime,' which is bigger than what it gets through provocation." With the completion of the development, South Korea is expected to begin production of the L-SAM next year and deploy it to the military during the mid-to-late 2020s. Once deployed, the L-SAM is expected to play a central role in the country's multilayered missile shield, called the Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD). KAMD is a pillar of the country's three-axis deterrence structure that also includes the Kill Chain preemptive strike platform and the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR) system. "KAMD is a system that defends our territory while the other two systems are more focused on the offensive," a ministry official said. "The development of L-SAM is meaningful as we get another opportunity for interception at a higher altitude. This enhances the level of defense for our territory." The military is currently developing a Block-II version of the L-SAM designed to intercept targets at altitudes higher than the current one. (Yonhap) Five Chinese and six Russian military aircraft entered South Korea's air defense identification zone (KADIZ) over the seas off the eastern and southern coasts without notice on Friday, prompting the South to send its fighter jets in response, the South Korean military said. Between 9:35 a.m. and 1:53 p.m., the Chinese and Russian military planes entered the KADIZ consecutively over the East Sea and the waters off the southern coast, according to an official at the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The Chinese planes reportedly entered the KADIZ near Ieodo Island off the southern coast and flew northward over the waters between South Korea and Japan, while the Russian aircraft approached from the northeast. They met and flew side by side over waters south of the easternmost islets of Dokdo before retreating. The aircraft, reportedly including bombers and fighter jets, did not violate South Korea's air space, officials said. The air defense zone is not territorial airspace but is delineated to call on foreign planes to identify themselves so as to prevent accidental clashes. The South Korean military detected the planes before they entered the KADIZ and took "tactical" measures by mobilizing Air Force fighter jets in preparation for a potential emergency, the JCS said. The JCS assessed that the flight was part of a joint air exercise between China and Russia. Seoul lodged a "stern" complaint against the move, expressing regret and calling for efforts to prevent such actions going forward in separate phone calls with both sides, the defense ministry said. "The defense ministry strongly requested for an appropriate measure to prevent the recurrence of such actions, which can unnecessarily cause regional tension," the ministry said in a release. Since 2019, the two countries have sent their military planes into the KADIZ once or twice a year during joint exercises, without prior notice. Military planes from both China and Russia last entered the KADIZ together in December last year, when they said they were conducting a joint air patrol. (Yonhap) South Korea's new defense cost-sharing deal with the United States for hosting American troops in the South in the 2026-2030 period formally took effect Friday, Seoul's foreign ministry said. On Thursday, the National Assembly ratified the five-year Special Measures Agreement (SMA), enabling Seoul and Washington to exchange official letters confirming the completion of necessary domestic procedures for the agreement's implementation. No congressional approval is required in the U.S. Last month, Seoul and Washington inked the new agreement on determining Seoul's share of its cost for the upkeep of the 28,500-strong U.S. Forces Korea, just days before the U.S. held its presidential election on Nov. 5. Under the 12th SMA, South Korea will pay 1.52 trillion won ($1.09 billion) in 2026, up 8.3 percent from 1.4 trillion won in 2025. The deal came amid speculation that South Korea was seeking to strike an early deal to apparently avoid tough negotiations if former President Donald Trump returns to office. Trump had demanded a hefty rise in Seoul's share to as much as $50 billion during his term, calling the ally a free rider on U.S. military power. (Yonhap) Former President Moon Jae-in's daughter was referred to the prosecution without detention on Friday on suspicions of illegally operating house sharing businesses in Seoul, police said. The Seoul Yeongdeungpo Police Station said it sent the case of Moon Da-hye to the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors Office for further investigation and a possible indictment. She is suspected of running an Airbnb business at a studio apartment in Seoul's Yeongdeungpo district without official declaration in violation of the Public Health Control Act. Da-hye is also accused of running an Airbnb business at another apartment in Yeongdeungpo she had previously owned before moving to Thailand. Police have secured testimony from guests who stayed at her apartments and questioned her on Nov. 23. In addition, the Jeju District Prosecutors Office is now investigating Da-hye on suspicion of running an Airbnb business at a house on the southern Jeju Island. Separately, Da-hye has been referred to the Seoul Western District Prosecutors Office for alleged drunk driving after her car collided with a taxi in Seoul's Itaewon district in early October. (Yonhap) By Jung Min-ho Konkuk University will accept 1,364 new students for the academic year of 2025 through its regular admissions, which are based primarily on the results of the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT). According to officials at the Seoul-based school on Thursday, the number includes 145 spots allocated to applicants under special circumstances 63 for those from low-income families, 80 from rural regions and two for graduates from vocational schools. Of them, 60 would be undecided major students, who would be allowed to choose majors after freely attending classes during their first year. Another 60 engineering college students would also be given one year before choosing what they want to focus on in that college. The introduction of this system is one of the most significant changes for the university this year, officials said. In Korea, most students are given specific majors when they are accepted into certain universities. But in recent years, many universities have increased the portion of undecided major students as they try to give students more time and freedom to think about what they want to study further before settling on their majors. In addition, there have been structural changes to some college departments. For example, the department of mechanical and aerospace engineering will be divided next year into two the department of mechanical, robot and automobile engineering and the department of aerospace and mobility engineering. Another notable change is the consideration of bullying records during the evaluation process. Records of using violence toward other students in high school or middle school could negatively affect the applicant's chances of being accepted. The school will begin accepting applications between Dec. 31 and Jan. 2. The announcement of successful applicants will be made at 2 p.m. on Feb. 6. Seventy-six artificial intelligence-based digital textbooks have been certified for classroom use for the first time, covering elementary to high school students, the education ministry said Friday. The textbooks, which were listed in the official gazette, are for the subjects of math, English and information for elementary school grades 3 and 4, middle school grade 1 and high school grade 1. The 76 were chosen from 146 textbooks submitted for certification. The certified textbooks will be displayed at schools starting Monday, and each school will choose from among them to use in classrooms starting in the new school year in March, alongside existing paper course books. The education ministry has said the digital textbooks will help provide tailored education to students in a way that matches their abilities and levels. (Yonhap) By Jung Da-hyun The government will introduce artificial intelligence (AI) textbooks for English, mathematics and information technology classes starting next year, despite concerns about the effectiveness of digital learning and the potential for increased digital dependency among teenagers, the Ministry of Education said Friday. AI textbooks will be rolled out as planned in March next year for the three subjects, targeting third and fourth graders in elementary school, as well as first-year students in middle and high school. "The new digital textbooks are designed to support personalized learning by tailoring content to each student's level and pace. Teachers will also have access to data-driven insights, enabling more customized educational plans," Education Minister Lee Ju-ho said during a press briefing. However, the ministry announced adjustment plans that will be applied from 2026. Digital textbooks will not be used in Korean and home economics, while the rollout for social studies and science will be delayed until 2027. These adjustment plans came in response to a request from the National Council of Governors of Education to slow the pace of the initiative, including delaying the introduction of AI textbooks for certain subjects. The request to adjust the pace stemmed from concerns that the AI textbooks could aggravate excessive dependence on digital devices among children, while teachers have not been fully prepared for the new teaching tools, and schools have yet to receive the necessary budgets. "The ministry has been engaging with parents and teachers through various channels, actively listening to their feedback," Lee said. "We have carefully monitored the concerns raised during these discussions and have been reviewing policy alternatives since the development of AI digital textbooks." The education ministry completed its review of AI-powered digital textbooks, approving 76 out of 146 that applied for certification. Starting Monday, the certified textbooks will be displayed at schools, which will choose the ones to use in classrooms starting in the upcoming school year, alongside existing print books. However, some warn that AI textbooks may face significant hurdles, with only three months remaining until the new semester. The relevant bill, passed by the National Assemblys education committee, Thursday, classifies digital textbooks as educational materials rather than official textbooks. Unlike textbooks, which must be adopted by all schools, educational materials are optional and can be used at the discretion of school principals. Regarding this, Lee expressed concerns that if the bill is passed by the Assembly's plenary session and confirmed as it is, it could not only deprive students of equal educational opportunities and hinder educational reforms, but also widen the existing educational gap. "If the bill is applied, it will cause significant confusion in schools that have been preparing to implement these resources," the minister said. By KTimes A group of 1,466 Catholic priests, including five high-ranking clergy members, issued a declaration calling for President Yoon Suk Yeols resignation. The statement released Thursday criticized the president for failing his constitutional duties and accused him of fostering division and undermining public trust. The priests, including Archbishop Ok Hyun-jin of the Gwangju Archdiocese and four other bishops, said, We are no longer surprised by what President Yoon does. We ask, how can a person act in such a manner? They accused Yoon of being a man of falsehoods, who denies what exists and claims what does not. The declaration continued, Unable to ignore the fierce outcry of the people, we join this public statement to demand his removal. President Yoon has failed to uphold the Constitution, protect the nation, promote peaceful unification, and enhance the welfare of the people. It is time to hold him accountable and declare his dismissal. The priests went on to describe Yoon as a man of violence who governs recklessly without discerning what is good or bad for the people. He doesnt seem to know who he is or what he is doing, acting as a puppet of private interests who has handed over the authority entrusted to him by the people to others, they said. He is a peculiar leader who fattens an already privileged few while driving everyone else into ruin. The statement concluded with a call to action: As sovereign citizens, we have not only the right to elect but also to remove. Let us act decisively before its too late, exercising love and mercy to restore a sense of humanity. The declaration, signed by priests and bishops across the country, marks a significant moment of collective dissent from the Catholic Church in Korea. The president has not yet commented on the matter. This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times. Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung said Friday the possibility of dialogue between North Korea and the United States seems to be high under the incoming Donald Trump administration, calling on the government to come up with a strategy to prevent South Korea from being bypassed. Lee, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), made the remarks at a supreme council meeting at the National Assembly, noting media reports that Trump's transition team is considering direct talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. "The government should come up with a detailed strategy to keep pace with the rapidly changing global situation and prevent the 'Korea passing' from becoming a reality," he said, stressing that the likelihood of dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang has increased. Lee expressed hopes that the second Trump administration will "complete the unfinished Hanoi talks" to create a new turning point in resolving the crisis on the Korean Peninsula. Trump and Kim held rare summits in Singapore in 2018 and Vietnam in 2019, but the Hanoi talks ended without a deal due to a failure to narrow differences over the scope of North Korea's denuclearization steps and sanctions relief by Washington. Lee also pointed out that a unilateral and hard-line stance toward the North, including that of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, could be inappropriate, considering such changes in the international dynamics. (Yonhap) President Yoon Suk Yeol's approval rating slid to 19 percent from the previous week, a poll showed Friday. Positive assessment of Yoon fell by 1 percentage point from a week earlier, while negative assessment stayed the same at 72 percent, according to the poll conducted on 1,001 people aged 18 or older between Tuesday and Thursday by Gallup Korea. Yoon's approval rating has stayed between the late 10 percent and the early 20 percent range in Gallup polls after hitting a record low of 17 percent in the first week of November. His handling of the economy, diplomacy and first lady Kim Keon Hee's allegations were cited as reasons for negative assessment. The approval rating of the ruling People Power Party came to 32 percent, up 4 percentage points from a week earlier, while support for the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) fell 1 percentage point to 33 percent. In the same survey, 41 percent of the respondents said the court made the right decision in acquitting DPK leader Lee Jae-myung of charges of suborning a former mayoral secretary to make false court testimony in his favor, while 39 percent said it was a wrong decision. Lee had been accused of suborning a secretary to former Seongnam Mayor Kim Byung-ryang to give false testimony during a 2019 trial on his alleged election law violations. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level. (Yonhap) DPK to propose impeachment motion against state auditor chief on Monday By Kwak Yeon-soo The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) attempt to impeach the state auditor chief and prosecutors is drawing backlash from ruling party lawmakers and political commentators, who say that the DPK is exploiting its majority to play party politics, according to political pundits Friday. The DPK, which holds 170 of the 300 Assembly seats, said it would propose an impeachment motion against Board of Audit and Inspection Chair Cho Jae-hae and three prosecutors, including Lee Chang-soo, chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office (SCDPO), during a plenary session of the National Assembly on Monday. By law, an impeachment motion must be put to a plenary vote within 24 to 72 hours after being reported to the first general Assembly session following its proposal. The grounds for the impeachment include the controversy over Choes audit of the presidential residence relocation and alleged violation of the Act on Testimony and Appraisal Before the National Assembly, such as failing to submit requested materials during the parliamentary hearings, Rep. Noh Jong-myun, spokesperson for the DPK, said. The oppositions push to impeach prosecutors came after the prosecution's decision not to indict first lady Kim Keon Hee over her alleged involvement in a stock manipulation scheme. Choe, addressing the DPK, said he will not resign. I express deep regret over the opposition partys impeachment attempt, which is deemed political and undermines the constitutional order. I have no intention of resigning, he told reporters Friday. Deputy chief prosecutors from the SCDPO issued a joint statement Friday, urging the DPK to stop the abusive attempts to impeach prosecutors. The main oppositions attempt to impeach prosecutors simply because the investigation results are not to their liking may set a wrong precedent that abuses the democratic legitimacy, the statement said. If the impeachment motion passes the National Assembly, Choe will be suspended from duty until the Constitutional Court decides whether to endorse or reject the motion, a process that usually takes a few months. Political commentators said a court ruling on Monday that cleared DPK Chairman Rep. Lee Jae-myung of charges that he forced a former mayoral secretary to commit perjury boosted the partys confidence to intensify its anti-government campaigns. However, they said the DPKs move seems unlikely to woo moderates. The DPKs move comes under the notion that the ruling People Power Party (PPP) holds greater power and responsibility. It believes that the public will blame the PPP more than the DPK and thinks that pushing for impeachments wont worsen public opinion. Although its efforts to impeach prosecutors and a high-profile agency head can unite the DPKs hard-core supporters, moderate voters may move away from the party, political commentator Kim Sang-il said. In a democracy, procedures are important. If you go beyond procedures just because you have power, it is highly likely that it will lead to abuse of power. Impeachment must be the last resort, he added. The PPP accused the DPK of being "addicted to impeachment." The DPKs attempt to shake up the government has gone too far, PPP floor leader Rep. Choo Kyung-ho said during the party's Supreme Council meeting Friday. The DPK is pushing for the impeachment of the head of the state audit agency. This is the 17th impeachment prosecution under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration and the 10th impeachment in six months since the 22nd National Assembly began. This is a reckless rampage. The presidential office also condemned the DPKs impeachment attempts. A senior presidential official said, "The oppositions push to impeach chief state auditor damages constitutional order. Its attempt to impeach prosecutor is to paralyze the court system and protect the opposition party." The presidential office blasted the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) on Friday for pushing to impeach three top prosecutors and the chief state auditor over issues related to first lady Kim Keon Hee and the relocation of the presidential office. The DPK, which holds a majority in parliament, plans to introduce motions next week to impeach three prosecutors, including the chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office, for failing to indict the first lady following an investigation into her alleged involvement in a stock manipulation scheme. Also next week, the DPK plans to introduce an impeachment motion against Board of Audit and Inspection Chair Choe Jae-hae for refusing to comply with a parliamentary request to submit documents related to an audit of the presidential office relocation, which took place in 2022 in line with a campaign pledge of President Yoon Suk Yeol. "It is unprecedented in our constitutional history and damages the foundation of the constitutional order," presidential spokesperson Jeong Hye-jeon said during a press briefing, referring to the push to impeach Choe. On impeaching the prosecutors, she said, "It is clearly revenge impeachment to impeach the command of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office just because the results of the investigation were not what the opposition party wanted." Jeong said impeaching the prosecutors can only be interpreted as an attempt to halt various investigations and trials involving the opposition party. Among other trials, DPK leader Lee Jae-myung has been charged in five cases, including one in which he has been sentenced to a suspended one-year prison term for making false statements as a candidate during the 2022 presidential campaign. (Yonhap) The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) pushed ahead with a budget proposal that only reflects reductions in a parliamentary budget committee session Friday, prompting ruling party lawmakers to boycott the vote and leave in protest. The proposal railroaded by the DP during a plenary session of the parliamentary special committee on budget and accounts puts next year's budget at 677.4 trillion won ($485.3 billion), down 4.1 trillion won from the initial plan proposed by the government. The cut affects the whole amount flagged for special activity expenses of the presidential office's secretariat and national security office, as well as those of the prosecution, the state audit agency and the police. It also halves the government's 4.8 trillion-won reserve fund to 2.4 trillion won. Under the Constitution, the National Assembly needs government consent to raise or add new budget items but can carry out cuts on its own. The ruling People Power Party denounced the move as "neutralizing the functions of the prosecution, the police and the state audit agency" by cutting such budgets, claiming such a vote is only aimed at shielding DP leader Lee Jae-myung who faces several trials. Lee is standing trial in four cases, including those on alleged subornation and allegations of involvement in an illegal cash transfer of US$8 million to North Korea and embezzlement of funds from the Gyeonggi provincial government. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok expressed "deep regret" over the vote, voicing concerns that the budget cut proposal will affect government functions, such as responding to natural disasters and conducting probes and audits. "The main opposition's sole passage of the reduced budget proposal will result in paralyzing the nation's fundamental functions," Choi said in a statement. The statutory deadline for approving the national budget is Dec. 2, but the National Assembly has managed to meet it only twice in the past two decades. (Yonhap) A former chairman of a major dairy company has been arrested on charges of breach of trust and false advertising related to a yogurt product's benefits against COVID-19. Hong Won-sik, former chairman of Namyang Dairy Products , was arrested late Thursday night following the issuance of an arrest warrant by the Seoul Central District Court, which cited concerns he will destroy evidence. Hong is accused of inflicting losses of some 10 billion won ($7.16 million) on the company by needlessly involving businesses run by his family members in deals. He is also accused of taking billions of won from suppliers in exchange for securing deals and using corporate cards for personal use. Prosecutors also charged Hong with involvement in a false advertising campaign related to the benefits of Namyang's Bulgaris yogurts in preventing COVID-19. (Yonhap) By Park Jae-hyuk Hyundai Elevator Choir of Disabled People won a prize at a national-level competition. According to the elevator maker, the choir, comprised of its disabled employees, received the silver prize at the 32nd National Choral Festival with the Disabled at Kangwon National Universitys Baeckryung Art Center in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province on Nov. 14. The award ceremony will take place at the Eliena Hotel in Seoul on Dec. 4. It was meaningful for us to win a prize in a nation-level competition within a year after our foundation, the choirs official said. We will take a leap for the local communitys growth and for disabled people to be self-reliant. The choir was one of the 15 teams that qualified for the final after preliminaries in each region. Hyundai Elevator launched the choir in March, after signing a memorandum of understanding with the Korea Employment Agency for Persons with Disabilities (KEAD) earlier this year to expand employment opportunities for the disabled. Following a two-month recruitment process, the company hired 20 people. Additionally, a conductor, an assistant conductor, an accompanist and a social worker were employed to support the choir. Five caregivers belonging to the KEADs North Chungcheong Provincial office have also assisted the choir, according to the elevator firm headquartered in the provinces city of Chungju. We have operated a commuter bus for the convenience of the members living in various parts of Chungju, a Hyundai Elevator official said. We have also provided them with the same level of welfare benefits offered to our other employees. A Korean court again ordered Japanese companies on Friday to provide compensation to victims of Japan's wartime forced labor. The Seoul Central District Court ruled that Nippon Steel must pay 100 million won ($71,740) each to two Koreans forced into wartime labor in Japan, who are surnamed Choi and Kim, respectively. In Choi's case, he has already died so his bereaved family will receive the compensation, the court said. Choi was forcibly taken to work for Kamaishi steel plant from January 1941 to September 1944, while Kim was forced to work at Yahata steel plant from April 1944 to September 1945. The same court also ordered Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to pay 100 million won to a forced labor victim surnamed Yang, who was forcibly taken to the company's aircraft manufacturing plant in Nagoya in July 1943. Korean courts nationwide have issued numerous compensation rulings in favor of forced labor victims and their families in cases brought against Japanese companies after the Supreme Court upheld two relevant rulings in 2018. (Yonhap) Executive promotions drop for 4th year amid chip slump By Lee Min-hyung Samsung Electronics carried out its year-end executive reshuffle, placing a strong emphasis on a generational shift to broaden the pool of potential candidates for the companys future leadership as it navigates ongoing management challenges, the company said Friday. The electronics giant prioritized promoting younger officials to executive-level positions, seeking to inject new energy and drive growth while addressing its uncertain outlook for management. A total of 137 officials were promoted to executive positions under Samsung's merit-based evaluation system. However, this marks a 4.2 percent decrease compared to 2023, continuing a downward trend for the fourth consecutive year. In 2021, Samsung promoted 214 officials to executive positions, but this number steadily decreased in the following years. The company chose to reduce the number of promotions this year in response to declining revenues at its core semiconductor business, which has been a key driver of profits. Ha Ji-hoon, 39, made headlines as the youngest official promoted to vice president. Ha is a software engineer at the firms device experience division. The company also named eight executive vice presidents in their 40s. We placed a strategic focus on selecting talented officials, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), sixth-generation network and next-generation chip technologies, so we can tackle the uncertain management environment with a bold and challenging spirit, an official at the company said. The firm also promoted 35 vice presidents to executive vice presidents during the latest reshuffle. Park Jeong-ho, the new executive vice president at the firm, was recognized for driving his leadership in software development at the device experience division. He is a telecommunication expert, having driven key projects by using AI-powered next-generation network technologies. Kim Sang-ha, who led generative AI and neural machine translation projects at the company, was promoted to vice president. He was recognized for his role in helping Samsung launch the worlds first AI-powered smartphone, the Galaxy S24, this year. The flagship model achieved significant success, securing a spot on the list of the top 10 best-selling smartphones globally for three consecutive quarters a first since 2018, according to data from market tracker Counterpoint Research. Samsung Electronics also ramped up its efforts to build a more innovative and horizontal organizational structure by appointing a group of women and foreign executives regardless of gender and nationality, according to the company. They include Sitthichoke Nopchinabutr, the new vice president in charge of handling sales in Thailand and Southeast Asia. Former Samsung Electronics Executive Vice President Yoon Jang-hyun was also appointed as Samsung Venture Investments next CEO during the latest reshuffle. Yoon joined Samsung Electronics in 2003 and has since handled key tasks in the firms mobile and software teams. Samsung Electronics is expected to ensure the sustainable growth of our key businesses and bolster next-generation growth engines through the latest promotion of executives, the Samsung official said. U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday said he hoped President-elect Donald Trump would rethink his plan to impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada, saying it could "screw up" relationships with close allies. "I hope he rethinks it. I think it's a counterproductive thing to do," Biden told reporters in Nantucket, Massachusetts, where he is spending the Thanksgiving Day holiday with his family. "We have a unusual situation in America - we're surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and two allies: Mexico and Canada. And the last thing we need to do is begin to screw up those relationships." Trump on Monday said he would impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico until they clamped down on drugs and migrants crossing the border, in a move that would appear to violate the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free-trade deal. Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Thursday she did not specifically discuss tariffs in a call she held with Trump on Wednesday, adding the two had agreed there would be good relations between the two nations. Following the call, Trump said Sheinbaum had "agreed to stop migration through Mexico, and into the United States, effectively closing our Southern Border." Sheinbaum, however, said she had laid out a strategy that "attended to" migrants before they reached the U.S. border. Biden, who met with Trump at the White House earlier this month, reiterated that he wanted the transition between his outgoing administration and the president-elect's incoming one to go smoothly. "And all the talk about what he's going to do or not do, I think there may be a little bit of internal reckoning on his ... part," Biden said. Biden spoke to reporters while visiting a fire station in Nantucket and delivering pumpkin pies with his wife, first lady Jill Biden. Asked what he was thankful for on the holiday, Biden said he was thankful that his administration, with some good luck, would make more progress in the Middle East, noting the recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. Biden said he had spoken to the three Americans who were recently released after being detained in China. "I'm really happy they're home," he said. Trump has threatened new tariffs on China as well. Biden noted that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping had established a hotline between the two leaders and a direct line of communication between their two militaries. "One thing I'm confident about Xi is he doesn't want to make a mistake," Biden said. "He understands what's at stake." (Reuters) European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde has warned against taking retaliatory measures in response to potential new tariffs imposed by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, in an interview to the Financial Times newspaper published on Thursday. "We could offer to buy certain things from the United States and signal that we are prepared to sit at the table and see how we can work together," Lagarde said, according to a transcript of her interview published by the ECB. She argued that such a "check book strategy" was preferable to a purely retaliatory approach. Lagarde reiterated warnings about the consequences of a possible trade war with the U.S. By offering to purchase goods from the U.S., the Europeans could signal their readiness to negotiate and explore possibilities for cooperation. A trade war would be "in nobody's interest, neither for the United States nor for Europe, or anyone for that matter," the ECB chief added. The interview was conducted on Monday, before Trump announced his intention on Tuesday to impose tariffs of 25 percent on all imports from Mexico and Canada on his first day back in office. Trump's inauguration is due to take place on Jan. 20. Throughout his election campaign, Trump had generally announced far-reaching tariffs, arguing that this would lead U.S. companies to increase domestic production and thereby create jobs. (DPA) Amazon staff in India have joined strike action calling for better wages and working conditions as the company prepares for one of the busiest shopping periods of the year. About 200 warehouse workers and delivery drivers rallied in the capital, New Delhi, under a "Make Amazon Pay banner. Some donned masks of Amazon chief Jeff Bezos and joined hands against the Seattle-based companys practices. The walkout on Black Friday , which starts one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year, was repeated at Amazon warehouses in other countries as workers called for higher wages, better working conditions, and union rights. "Our basic salary is 10,000 rupees ($120), which should be at least 25,000 rupees ($295)," said Manish Kumar, 25, a warehouse worker who joined the New Dehli protest. "And the environment there is to work under pressure, he added. Nitesh Das, a union leader, said the workers took to the streets because they wanted the government to take up their cause. Amazon, in a statement issued in India, accused the workers of "intentionally misleading and continuing to promote a false narrative." "Our facilities are industry-leading and provide competitive pay, comfortable working conditions, and specially designed infrastructure to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for all, the company said. "Weve created more than 1.5 million jobs around the world, and counting, and we provide a modern, safe, and engaging workplace whether you work in an office or at one of our operations buildings.'' A statement from the Amazon India Workers Union said similar protests are planned in other parts of India and in other countries, including the United States, Germany, Japan, and Brazil. The demonstrations will call on Amazon to pay its workers fairly, respect their right to join unions, and commit to environmental sustainability, it said. The union said it would submit a memorandum highlighting its demands to Indias Labor Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. The gig economy has become huge in India due to its fast economic growth, but workers face low wages and difficult working conditions. Indias National Human Rights Commission sent a notice to Amazon in June 2023 after local media reports that workers were being made to work without breaks during the peak hot summer season. Amazon India denied the charge. (AP) After NewJeans terminated their contracts with ADOR, the quintet comforted their fans Bunnies by opening up on the group's future. On November 28, the five members Hanni, Haerin, Minji, Hyein, and Danielle held an emergency press conference in Seoul to announce their departure from ADOR, saying: "We would like to inform you that NewJeans will be terminating its exclusive contracts with ADOR at midnight on the 29th." They then explained what led them to this decision. "The reason we are leaving ADOR is very simple. NewJeans is an artist under ADOR, and they have a duty to protect our group. However, ADOR has neither the will nor the ability to protect NewJeans." The "Attention" hitmakers continued to open up about the mental hurt that they got from the label, realizing that they were not gaining anything work-wise and that they were only "wasting their time" under the company. Following their departure, NewJeans attested to their fandom, Bunnies, that they will not disband, and they also affirmed ambassadorships and brand deals that they will proceed with their activities as scheduled. NewJeans also hinted that they plan to hold hands with their former CEO Min Hee Jin. "We want to continue working with CEO Min Hee Jin." READ ALSO: NewJeans to Deliver Special Stage at 2024 KGMA Awards + Include Themes of Freedom, Liberation On this day, the quintet departed from South Korea to complete their schedules in Japan and will be returning next week. However, ADOR insisted that NewJeans is still an artist under the group, as the contract can't be terminated with "broken trust" as a reason. The company then requested a face-to-face meeting with the members to resolve this matter. RELATED ARTICLE: NewJeans Haerin to Give Up on College to Focus on Career K-Netz React U.S. restrictions on chip sales violate free trade principles 13:20, November 29, 2024 By Chen Zi ( People's Daily Online Cartoon by Ma Hongliang In recent years, the U.S. has intensified its efforts to undermine China's semiconductor industry. Alongside its own petty tactics, the U.S. is pressuring its allies to restrict exports to China, employing various means to hinder the development of China's semiconductor sector. Recently, the U.S. Department of Commerce sent a letter to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC), imposing restrictions on the sale of certain advanced chips with designs of 7 nanometers or more intended for the mainland market, which are crucial for AI accelerators and graphics processing units. This action represents a blatant violation of international trade rules and a serious interference with free trade. The U.S. has repeatedly invoked "national security" as a pretext to intentionally suppress the advancement of China's chip industry. However, this rhetoric has little to do with national security; rather, it reflects unilateral bullying tactics that disregard fundamental principles. The U.S.'s misuse of export control measures and long-arm jurisdiction will ultimately harm the interests of all parties, stifle global technological exchanges, and obstruct economic cooperation. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Michael Bolton A carer has spoken out on the difficulties that she and her colleagues face and how people with disabilities have been let down by services. Jaimie Williams, from Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, is a carer for her husband and two children, one of whom has complex needs. Her experiences with the system has led her to lead a public protest in the town and to co-found The Phoenix Rising Network. Jaimie's child was guided away from the Assessment of Need (AoN) process and towards Child Disability Network Teams (CDNT), as it was promoted to vulnerable families as a faster, more efficient route to therapies. "We basically started the entire process of asking for an initial assessment when he was about three and-a-half, and he was assessed by the doctor when he was four and-a-half. "We wanted to make the best choice for our child, we wanted to take the advice. After years of waiting, Ms Williams' son finally received an appointment with a psychologist. However, following the appointment, they were left traumatised. Ms Williams doesn't blame the doctor, but says there must be better training. "You have a certain expectation for a disability service. This is not a reflection on frontline workers who are doing their best in a really terrible position. This is a reflection on how it is being managed, which is a failure. "You would expect, at a bare minimum for a disability service, that they would have the proper training in dealing with disabilities. It is the smallest ask that you could have for a disability team, and it wasn't there, and it was very apparent all through the assessment process for my son. "You have an entire generation of children who are going through a failure of a system. They are not receiving services, they are not receiving therapies that are critical to their ability to thrive. "They graduate out of the system having never received a single therapy, and they are put into a failure of a housing system, so you have young people who are being put into nursing homes and other inappropriate settings like hospital wards. It is just not right. "It is failure, after failure, after failure. All you can think is what happens when I am not here to fight for this?" There are over 13,000 children waiting for first contact from CDNT, 444 of whom are in Enniscorthy. Contributing to this is the number of job vacancies in the system, with 19 vacancies in the Wexford town, where 23 positions are allocated. As citizens go to the polls in the General Election many carers are critical of how they have been treated by the outgoing government. While many of the political parties have campaign promises for people with disabilities, Ms Williams says a dedicated Minister for Disability is needed, along with abolishing means-testing for carers. "The means test needs to go for caring and disability. "Being forced into poverty should not be happening for one of the wealthiest country in the EU. "Investing in people with disabilities and education, that is another thing that is an absolute must. We need to be investing in our people, and these people who have been left to rot." One of the most controversial moments of this election campaign was the encounter between Fine Gael leader Simon Harris and Charlotte Fallon, a disability worker with St Josephs Foundation. In a clip that went viral, footage shows Mr Harris on a canvass in Kanturk when Ms Fallon tells the Taoiseach carers were ignored and the Government has done nothing for us. Mr Harris responds by saying no, not at all and thats not true several times before shaking her hand. Ms Williams says that is typically how care workers are treated. "The only reason that he apologised is because he was caught on camera. That is my instant reaction to that because carers are treated that way every day by the structure of the system. "We are kept under the thumb, we are kept under the poverty threshold, and expected to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the entirety of our lives." Olivia Kelleher Tanaiste Micheal Martin said he was fighting to be Taoiseach as he cast his vote at St Anthonys Boys National School in Ballinlough in Cork alongside his wife Mary, their sons Micheal Aodh and Cillian and daughter Aoibhe. The Fianna Fail leader was casting his vote on a dark and wet morning in Leeside. Mr Martin said the weather was unfortunate. "It is a great pity [about the weather]. It is not a good weather day but we have had this before in different elections. "People still turn out to vote and as we came in this morning it was clear that people were making the effort to vote - and I would encourage people to vote. "It is a very key part of our democracy. The weather, notwithstanding, we would urge people to go out and vote. (But) it is a pity that it is such a wet morning." Mr Martin said he was campaigning to be Taoiseach after the election. "But nothing is certain until every vote is counted. There is the aftermath of an election in terms of what happens in Dail Eireann itself." "I think it is far, far too premature to be speculating about anything other than our objective which is to maximise the number of Fianna Fail votes and the number of Fianna Fail seats. We will take it from there once the count is over." Mr Martin said he didnt want to be overly prescriptive to voters. We are seeking to maximise the Fianna Fail vote for Fianna Fail candidates. What we are saying in the aftermath of the general election in terms of the formation of a Government is that we will align with parties that agree with the macro-fundamental principles of an enterprise economy of a positive pro-EU position, parties that are democratic in terms of how they conduct their affairs, parties that favour home ownership and that is very important. "So there is a lot of hard work ahead. But certainly I did have a very good feeling in the last two to three days in terms of the response I was getting after the debates." "The sense from all of the constituencies in the past 24 hours has been very positive from our candidates and people sending messages to me. We are hopeful of a good result but we are taking nothing for granted." The Tanaiste said Ireland needs a Government which can take decisive action and last a full term. "From a Fianna Fail perspective we have fought a very positive campaign and a very engaging campaign. I want to thank everyone who engaged with our candidates and for their courtesy. We are cautiously hopeful about the outcome of this. "But it will be a close fought race. I think it is important that we are in a position to form a coherent and stable Government after this election that can meet the very serious challenges that face this country. "[Fianna Fail] really are competitive in all constituencies. We have a stronger candidate selection right across the country (then in 2020). "The local government elections were good for us in that respect. We had newer candidates coming through so there is a broad diversity there." By Cillian Sherlock, PA Voting is under way in a general election that will set the political landscape for the next five years. The three largest parties were virtually neck-and-neck heading into the vote, with one party leader describing the race as too close to call. The latest poll, a Red C-Business Post survey, shows support for Fianna Fail unchanged at 21 per cent, only slightly ahead of its coalition partner, Fine Gael, which is down two percentage points at 20 per cent and now tied with the largest opposition party, Sinn Fein, which has gained two. Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris on a canvass in Dublin. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA. The polls opened at 7am and will close at 10pm, with a total of 174 seats in the Dail to be filled more than ever before. More than three million registered voters will pick their representatives across 43 constituencies, in a campaign that has focused on the countrys housing crisis, the response to a dramatic increase in immigration, and economic management for the cost of living as well as potential future trade shocks. After the 2020 general election delivered an inconclusive result, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, two parties forged from opposing sides of Irelands Civil War of the 1920s, agreed to set aside almost a century of animosity and share power. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA. Sinn Fein won the popular vote in 2020 but a failure to run enough candidates meant it did not secure sufficient seats in the Dail to give it a realistic chance of forming a government. This time around, party leader Mary Lou McDonald fielded many more candidates in a vow not to repeat past mistakes, as she urged voters to elect a government of change without Fine Gael or Fianna Fail. An exit poll at 10pm will provide the first sense of what Irelands next government may look like. The arithmetic to form a majority could prove tricky, though, with the countrys several smaller parties and many independents potentially jockeying for a place in government. It will end a lacklustre three-week campaign that seemed to fail to ignite a surge of enthusiasm among the public, after the election was officially called by Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris on November 7. Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA. That decision was ultimately his prerogative, and occurred while Fine Gael was enjoying a lift in the polls after he took over as leader from Leo Varadkar earlier this year. It also came at a time when Sinn Fein were beset by a string of controversies in the preceding weeks including former party members writing job references for a colleague who was later convicted of child sex crimes. However, opinions polls suggest the parties fortunes have since shifted, with the opposition party making gains as Fine Gael suffered a slide. One key flashpoint in the campaign arose out of Donald Trumps presidential election victory in the US, which brought heightened concern around what his proposals for corporation tax and tariffs could mean for Ireland. Mr Martin, Ms McDonald and Mr Harris during the final leaders debate (Niall Carson/PA) As such, the scale of Sinn Feins spending proposals have been dubbed as irresponsible by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, who have argued that Ireland needs to prepare for potential trade shocks with more prudent financial management. However, the campaigning tactic has been derided as project fear and desperate scaremongering by critics. At the same time, a Sinn Fein pledge to instigate an independent review into Irish national broadcaster RTEs coverage of Gaza and other international conflicts was met with criticism by the partys opponents, and the National Union of Journalists. Mr Harris described the proposal as chilling, with others noting that several party figures, including Ms McDonald, have taken legal actions against journalists and media outlets. Green party leader Roderic OGorman. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA. Meanwhile, Fine Gaels campaign has been plagued with several controversies which the Taoiseach has been unable to shake. Mr Harris has repeatedly apologised for a much-criticised encounter in which he was accused of dismissing the concerns of a disability care worker at a supermarket, which had been filmed by RTE. It later emerged that a member of the Fine Gael team contacted RTE about the interaction prior to publication. Ms McDonald took her opportunity to echo Mr Harris, characterising the development as chilling. The Fine Gael campaign has also been dogged by footage entering the public domain which showed a candidate engaged in a fight outside a pub. John McGahon (left). Photo: Fergal Phillips/Fine Gael. John McGahon had been found not guilty in a criminal case around the incident, but was ordered to pay damages in a civil case. Mr Harris notably did not canvass with the candidate in his high-profile tour of the country. Elsewhere, an endorsement of a Fine Gael candidate from outspoken Ryanair boss Michael OLeary was welcomed by senior party figures, albeit in a qualified nature after he suggested teachers should not run the country. One former teacher in the campaign is Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin. Mr Martins partys platform also faced criticism over its proposals to decriminalise cannabis for personal use. It formed part of a wider row on handling the justice portfolio, which has come into sharp relief in the context of 2023s Dublin riots and a perception that the capital is unsafe. Mr OGorman, Mr Harris and Mr Martin. Photo: Clodagh Kilcoyne/PA. Some Fianna Fail figures have been accused of sexism over their criticisms of the Justice Minister Helen McEntee, Fine Gaels deputy leader. After the 2020 election, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail relied on the Green Party as junior partner to secure the coalitions majority. Green leader Roderic OGorman has said it looks likely his Government partners will be returned to power, but cautioned they could seek an easier life over the next five years. He said this could result in right-wing independents or small populist parties padding out the numbers. The final results will immediately kick-start government formation speculation amid the possibility that more than three parties will be needed to get over the line. The protracted process of counting ballots by hand will begin on Saturday. As Ireland uses a system of proportional representation where candidates are ranked by preference, the voting slips need to be counted several times an undertaking which can last for days. General Election day dominates the front pages of Friday's papers, as the country goes to the polls. The Irish Times leads with a surge of voter registrations ahead of Friday's election adds to the uncerain outcome of the election. The Irish Examiner leads with a woman jailed for causing the death of her best friend by drink driving. The Echo also leads with this tragic collision, as the judge says the crash was avoidable. The Irish Independent leads with the general election, with a picture of the leaders of the three biggest political parties. The Irish Daily Mail says there is infighting in Fine Gael after a bumpy general election campaign. The Irish Daily Star leads with further calls to boycott Conor McGregor's pub, as further retailers ditch his products. The Herald leads with a prisoner who was convicted for the murder of a fellow inmate in Mountjoy. British papers A scandal engulfing MasterChef star Greg Wallace dominates Fridays headlines. The Daily Telegraph, the Daily Mirror and Metro report the popular broadcaster stepped back from the program after 13 people came forward with allegations of inappropriate and sexualised behaviour during filming. Meanwhile, The Sun and the Daily Star both splash on comments from Sir Rod Stewart, who said Mr Wallace was a bully who humiliated his wife. In political news, the i leads on a new poll revealing more than 54% of UK adults back plans to legalise assisted dying. Kim Leadbeater, the MP behind the assisted dying bill, said passing the law is a once in a decade opportunity, according to The Guardian. The Daily Express reports Dame Esther Rantzen is also calling on MPs to support the bill to ensure those battling terminal illness can look forward with confidence to a good death. The Daily Mail reveals Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has admitted to a fraud conviction for misleading police over a stolen mobile phone. The Prime Minister has promised to tighten rules around migration after saying figures showing net migration had reached more than one million last year should shock all of us, The Times reports. The Independent leads on Sir Keir Starmer blaming Tories and an experiment in open borders on high migration figures. Lastly, the Financial Times writes that the president of the European Central Bank has urged political leaders to cooperate with Donald Trump regarding proposed tariffs. Dhaka, November 29: Three Hindu temples were vandalised by a slogan-shouting mob on Friday in Bangladesh's Chattogram which has witnessed protests and violence since a former ISKCON member was booked under sedition charges. The attack took place around 2:30 pm in the port city's Harish Chandra Munsef Lane, where the Shantaneshwari Matri Temple, the nearby Shoni Temple, and the Shantaneshwari Kalibari Temple were targeted, news portal BDNews24.com reported. "A group of several hundred slogan-shouting people threw brickbats at the temples, damaging the Shoni Temple and the gates of the other two temples," the news portal quoted temple authorities as saying. Kotwali Police Station chief Abdul Karim confirmed the attack, saying that assailants attempted to damage the temples. Police, however, said the damage to the temples was minimal after the confrontation between the two sides, with both groups throwing brickbats at each other, it added. 'Industrial Scale Misinformation Campaign': Bangladesh Accuses India of Double Standards on Protection of Minorities Amid Row Over Arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das. Tapan Das, a permanent member of the Shantineshwari Main Temple management committee, told bdnews24.com: A procession of hundreds arrived after the Juma prayers. They started shouting anti-Hindu and anti-ISKCON slogans. We did not obstruct the attackers. When the situation worsened, we called the army, who arrived quickly and helped restore order. All the temple gates were closed before noon. The miscreants arrived unprovoked and carried out the attack," BDNews24.com said further quoting him. Spiritual leader Chinmoy Krishna Das, a former member of International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) of Bangladesh, was arrested in connection with a sedition case on Monday and denied bail on Tuesday. It triggered protests by Hindu community members in various locations in Bangladesh, including in the capital Dhaka and Chattogram. On October 30, a sedition case was filed against 19 people, including Das, at Chattogram's Kotwali Police Station, accusing them of disrespecting Bangladesh's national flag in Chattogram's New Market area during a rally of the Hindu community. On Tuesday, New Delhi expressed concern over the leader's arrest and denial of bail, and asked Bangladesh to ensure the safety of Hindus and other minorities. The week's anti-Hindu incidents have led to a diplomatic row between the two South Asian neighbours. India on Friday said the interim government in Bangladesh must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities as it expressed serious concern over the surge of extremist rhetoric and increasing incidents of violence against Hindus as well as attacks on temples. Bangladesh Must Protect All Minorities: India Says Interim Government Must Live up to Its Responsibility of Protecting Hindus and Other Minorities Amid Increasing Violence. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told Parliament that India has taken serious note of incidents of violence against minorities in Bangladesh and that it is the primary responsibility of Dhaka to protect the life and liberty of all the citizens, including minorities. On the other hand, Bangladesh on Friday expressed deep concern over the violent protest at the Deputy High Commission in Kolkata and urged New Delhi to ensure the safety of all its diplomatic missions in India. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Srinagar, Nov 29 (PTI) Srinagar Lok Sabha member Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on Friday said the response of the Centre to his question in Parliament over the "harassment" of people on the national highway during the convoy movement of the security forces was "full of blatant lies". "I asked government of India to stop the harassment of people and blockading of traffic, including ambulances on Srinagar-Jammu national highway during the convoy movement of the security forces This is their response -- full of blatant lies," Mehdi said in a post on X. Also Read | Gondia Road Accident: 12 Killed, 15 Others Injured As MSRTC Bus Trying To Avoid Ramming Biker Topples on Gondia-Kohmara Road; PM Narendra Modi Mourns. He posted the Centre's response to his questions as well as some photos and videos purportedly showing ambulances being stopped during the convoy movement on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway. "Also sharing some video evidence in the thread to expose their lies," he said. Also Read | Manipur: Mobile Internet Suspended for 2 More Days in 9 Districts Including Jiribam As Precautionary Measure. The MP had asked the defence minister to state whether it is a fact that the traffic on the highway is stopped multiple times at multiple places at every few kilometres for the Army or paramilitary movement on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway. He had asked whether it is also a fact that not only normal traffic but the ambulances are also stopped by the security forces. The Srinagar MP also asked the minister what steps were taken or were proposed to be taken by the government to stop this "humiliating practice" which also "violates" the human rights. In the written answer, Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Sethi said as part of drill, regular movement of conveys takes place between Jammu and Srinagar for various operational as well as administrative reasons. "The Indian Army follows detailed procedures for the movement of convoys with due emphasis on friendly move of the populace. Owing to security reasons and to thwart incidents like attack/ambush of convey in past, Road Opening Parties are sent out prior to the movement of any Security Forces Convoy," the minister said. The government said traffic is regulated, temporarily, particularly at points where laterals meet the NH 44 and at U-turn during the movement of the Army or Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) convoys. "The Indian Army does not harass or stop any civil movement on the National Highway. The charter of civilian traffic regulation is of the state authorities or Jammu and Kashmir Police. "Ambulances are always accorded priority for movement and they are not stopped anywhere by the Security Forces," the minister added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], November 29 (ANI): On the fourth day of the Parliament winter session, Congress MP Manickam Tagore filed an adjournment notice in Lok Sabha on Friday to discuss the Adani indictment in the lower house. Congress MPs have continuously sought to discuss the Adani indictment in the Lok Sabha since the start of the winter session on November 25. Justifying the public adjournment motion in the letter submitted to the Lok Sabha Secretary General, Tagore wrote that the issue is of "public importance," and "strikes at the core of public trust in India's governance and regulatory framework." Also Read | Sambhal Mosque ASI Survey: Supreme Court To Hear Plea Seeking Stay on Shahi Jama Masjid Survey Today. "I hereby seek leave to move an adjournment motion to discuss a matter of urgent public importance, namely the recent allegations of corruption, bribery and securities fraud involving the Adani Group and its leadership," read the motion by Manickam Tagore. Detailing the various allegations levied by the United States Department of Justice, he also mentioned that the Andhra Pradesh government also had initiated a review of solar power agreements, and alleged that there has been "government inaction" on this matter. Also Read | Udaipur Palace Gates Reopen After 4 Days As Mewar Family Dispute Ends, Vishvaraj Singh Thanks Government and Administration. "Despite mounting evidence and international scrutiny, the Indian government has not initiated a probe into the Adani Group. This inaction raises serious question about the government's commitment to transparency, justice and its independence from corporate influence," Tagore wrote in the motion. While mentioning the Andhra Pradesh government's review of its solar project, he said that they have "uncovered a Rs 1,750 crore bribery allegation." "The Andhra Pradesh Government has initiated a review of solar power agreements, reportedly uncovering a Rs 1,750 crore bribery allegation linked to the Adani Group. These allegations deepen public suspicion about systemic corruption involving prominent business entities," he wrote. "The US Department of Justice has indicted Azure Power Global, a US based company and its employees under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) for corruption charges amounting to over 265 million dollars. While Azure is directly implicated, credible evidence implicates the Adani Group in facilitating the alleged bribery schemes," Tagore wrote Saying that since FCPA could not be applied to foreign nationals, Indian agencies should investigate Adani under Indian laws. "However as the FCPA cannot be applied to foreign nationals like Gautam Adani and his associates, it is imperative that the Indian Authorities act on the evidence and investigate under domestic laws," he added. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], November 29 (ANI): Amid the ongoing tensions between India and Bangladesh, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed concern over the situation in the neighbouring country in the aftermath of the arrest of spiritual leader Chinmoy Krishna Das. He also said that the committee on external affairs has called a meeting on the situation in Bangladesh on December 11. The committee is currently headed by MP Shashi Tharoor. Also Read | Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Parliament: Congress MP Interacts With Opposition Leaders in Lok Sabha, a Day After Taking Oath; Joins Protests Over Sambhal Violence and Adani Issue. "...If the government has something to say on behalf of the Foreign Ministry, it would be good if (External Affairs Minister) S Jaishankar comes to Parliament and tells us. We have called a meeting of the External Affairs Committee on December 11 to know the details about Bangladesh. We are concerned about whatever is going on in Bangladesh...All minorities should get democratic rights in their country,"he said. "But it would not be appropriate to talk too much as this matter does not concern our country," Shashi Tharoor added. Also Read | Bangladesh Continues To Target Hindus, Freezes Bank Accounts of Chinmoy Krishna Das and 16 Others Associated With ISKCON. The arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das has sparked widespread outrage, with many calling for his immediate release. Uddhanand Das, Kalaburagi (Karnataka), ISKCON branch Pracharak termed the interim government in Bangladesh as "anti-Hindu." "Our goal is to condemn the anti-Hindu government in Bangladesh...We should unitedly come together and support Hindus...," Das told ANI. ISKCON) on Thursday expressed solidarity with priest Chinmoy Krishna Das. In a post on X, ISKCON, Inc. stated, "ISKCON, Inc. stands with Chinmoy Krishna Das. Our prayers to Lord Krishna for the protection of all these devotees." Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was arrested on charges of sedition for allegedly raising a flag on a stand displaying Bangladesh's national flag. He was presented before a Chittagong court on November 25. The court denied his bail plea and sent him to custody. The arrest has further strained relations between the Bangladesh government and ISKCON, fuelling protests and unrest. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Dibrugarh (Assam) [India], November 29 (ANI): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a chargesheet against accused Ranjit Kakoty before the Special CBI Court, Guwahati in another Dibrugarh investment scam case. The case involves fraud amounting to Rs 260 crore and affecting approximately 1.5 lakh investors, the CBI said in a release on Friday. Also Read | Cyclone Fengal Update: Cyclonic Storm Is Likely to Landfall on Coast of Tamil Nadu on Nocember 30, Red Alert Issued in Southern States, Says IMD. Despite the complexities of the investigation, the CBI completed its probe against accused Ranjit Kakoty within 90 days of his arrest, culminating in the filing of this chargesheet. "During the investigation, CBI employed advanced forensic tools to identify the majority of the investors who were victims of the fraudulent scheme perpetrated by the accused through the online platform www.tradingfx.live," it said. Also Read | Delhi Weather Update: November Warmest in 5 Years, Temperature Dip Likely Next Week. The accused, Ranjit Kakoty, and his co-conspirators deceived investors through misleading plan documents, false promises, and other fraudulent practices, subsequently misappropriating their hard-earned money for personal enrichment. "This is one of the 41 Assam Investment Scam cases which are being investigated by CBI on the request of Government of Assam. The instant case was also earlier registered at Police Station, Dibrugarh on a complaint alleging that accused Ranjit Kakoty promised the complainant and other investors a threefold return on their investment within 18 months through an investment scheme under name TradingFX. The accused later stopped returning the promised funds and became unresponsive," the CBI said. Since taking over the investigation of the Assam Investment Scam cases, CBI has accelerated its probe, conducting fresh searches across 93 locations in five states /UT. These searches have led to the seizure of mobile phones, desktops, hard drives, and laptops. During the investigation, CBI has successfully traced databases containing details of depositors who were deceived into investing in these unregulated deposit schemes, it said. Further investigation in various other cases is also continuing, it added. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kolkata, Nov 29 (PTI) Starting December 27, low cost carrier IndiGo will begin operating daily direct flights between Kolkata-Phuket, the airline said on Friday. This will be IndiGo's second direct flight to Phuket, following Delhi. Also Read | DGP-IGP Conference 2024 in Bhubaneswar: Amit Shah, NSA Ajit Doval Attends 3-Day Conference in Odisha (Watch Video). The new route will expand IndiGo's global network and cater to the growing number of tourists from India to Thailand, the airline said in a statement. "We are pleased to further expand our network into Thailand, from Kolkata, now adding a daily flight to Phuket in addition to the existing 11 weekly flights to Bangkok. With this new route, IndiGo will now operate 93 weekly flights between India and Thailand," the statement quoted Vinay Malhotra, head of global sales at IndiGo, as saying. Also Read | 'Offer Cigarettes to Lord Kaal Bhairav, Will Fulfil Your Wishes': MP Youth Offers Cigarette to Kaal Bhairav's Idol at Temple in Jabalpur, Video Surfaces. "Phuket, Thailand's largest island, is known for its serene beaches and cultural diversity, and the country's visa-free policy for Indian citizens is expected to drive even greater demand. IndiGo remains committed to providing an affordable, on-time, courteous, and hassle-free travel experience across our extensive network," he said. According to the statement, the addition of this new route will enhance accessibility for tourists to Phuket from the eastern part of the country. The route will strengthen trade, commerce and tourism between India and Southeast Asia. Kolkata, India's first metropolitan city and a regional hub for Indian tourists, is rapidly enhancing its overall infrastructure to meet the growing demand for travel from the region to Southeast Asia, it said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jammu, Nov 29 (PTI) Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Jammu Zone, Anand Jain, warned that people harbouring anti-national intentions or supporting terrorists will face severe consequences. He urged citizens to remain vigilant and cooperate with law enforcement agencies by reporting any suspicious activity. Also Read | Tamil Nadu Rains: Schools, Colleges Shut In Chennai; Red Alert Issued in Coastal Districts As Cyclone Fengal Nears TN Coasts. "Those harboring anti-national intentions or providing any support to terrorists will face severe consequences," Jain said. He said that citizens must remain vigilant and cooperate with law enforcement agencies by reporting any suspicious activity. Also Read | 'The Delhi Model': Penguin India Announces Jasmine Shah's Book on 13th AAP Foundation Day; Book To Be Launched on December 15. Expressing the resolve of the J&K Police to safeguard the region's peace by cracking down on the terror ecosystem and networks, Jain emphasized the importance of attaching the properties of those involved. He further disclosed that the properties of 29 additional absconding terrorists have been identified. "The process for their attachment is underway and will be completed shortly, further tightening the noose around terror operatives," the ADGP added. He said that this robust action reflects the unwavering resolve of the J&K Police to safeguard the region's peace and uphold the sovereignty and integrity of the nation. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jammu, Nov 29 (PTI) The lieutenant governor's administration on Friday terminated the services of two government employees in Jammu and Kashmir, citing their involvement in terror activities as a threat to state security. The decision was taken under Article 311 (2)(c) of the Indian Constitution following an investigation that confirmed their links to terror organizations, officials said. Also Read | Delhi Bus Marshal Row: Will Campaign for BJP's LoP Vijender Gupta if He Helps Bus Marshals Get Back Job, Says CM Atishi. Those dismissed from services include Zahir Abbas, a government teacher from Kishtwar, and Abdul Rehman Naika, a pharmacist in the Health department, they said. One of the dismissed employees, Naika, was found to have links with Hizbul Mujahideen, the officials said. Also Read | Saroj Rai Neutralized in Encounter: Wanted Gangster Shot Dead After Gunfight With Police in Gurugram. Naika, a resident of Devsar, Kulgam, played a role in the 2021 killing of nationalist political figure Ghulam Hassan Lone, whose sons serve in the security forces, according to law enforcement sources. Naika was involved in plotting Lone's assassination to spread fear among patriotic citizens, a source said. The investigations revealed Naika's activities as an overground worker (OGW), including reconnaissance for attacks, facilitating safe passage for terrorists and nurturing a pro-terror ecosystem in Kulgam and neighbouring districts. Naika, who was arrested with grenades and AK-47 ammunition, confessed to planning attacks under directions from Pakistani handlers. He misused his position as a government employee to aid terrorists while being paid with taxpayer money, sources said. In a recent security review meeting, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had vowed to wipe out terrorists, their supporters and those aiding and abetting them inside the system, they said. Zahir Abbas, a government teacher from Kishtwar, was also dismissed, they said. Abbas, who holds a degree from the Aligarh Muslim University, was arrested in 2020 for sheltering Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists. He reportedly provided logistical support, including arms and ammunition, and shared intelligence on the security forces' movements with handlers in Pakistan. Zahir betrayed his role as an educator by aiding terror outfits and even posed a risk of radicalizing students, officials revealed. Even in jail, Abbas is believed to engage in radical activities, according to intelligence inputs. These cases highlight how terror groups infiltrate government systems to secure funding and operational support. We are committed to removing such elements and ensuring they face the law, Lieutenant Governor Sinha stated during a recent security review. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], November 29 (ANI): Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, NCP chief Ajit Pawar and other Mahayuti leaders met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda in Delhi on Thursday The leaders gathered to deliberate on the formation of the new government in Maharashtra. Also Read | Mumbai Scam: Senior Manager Tricked Into Transferring INR 95 Lakh by Fraudsters Posing As Company Director on WhatsApp; Case Registered. Earlier in the day, Eknath Shinde reiterated that there were no obstacles regarding the Chief Minister post and that 'Ladla Bhai' is a designation higher than anything else for him. "I cleared my role in the press conference yesterday that there are no obstacles regarding the Chief Minister of Mahayuti. This 'ladla bhai' has arrived in Delhi and the 'ladla bhai' is a designation higher than anything else for me," Shinde told the meeting. Also Read | Bomb Hoax Calls: Airlines Got 999 Hoax Bomb Threats Till November 14 This Year; 256 FIRs Filed, Says Government. Shinde had said on Wednesday that he would accept any decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the CM face for the state. "I have told the Prime Minister that if my presence creates any obstacle in forming the government in Maharashtra, there should be no hesitation in making a decision. Whatever decision you take will be acceptable to me," Shinde said during a press conference in Mumbai. BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis also asserted that the Mahayuti alliance had no internal differences and that a decision on the Chief Minister would be made soon after consulting the leaders. Speaking to the media, Fadnavis said, "In our Mahayuti alliance, there has never been a difference of opinion. We have always made decisions collectively. Before the elections, we announced that the decision regarding the Chief Minister's post would be taken collectively after the results. A few people had doubts, but Eknath Shinde ji has clarified those today. We will soon meet our leaders and finalise the decision." The Maharashtra Assembly election results were declared on November 23, but the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance has yet to finalise its choice for Chief Minister. The BJP emerged as the largest party with 132 seats in the 280-member Maharashtra Assembly, while its allies--the Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, and the NCP, led by Ajit Pawar--won 57 and 41 seats, respectively. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhubaneswar, Nov 29 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Amit Shah are scheduled to visit Odisha for three days from Friday, during which they will attend the All India DGP/IGP Conference starting here later in the day. While Shah will arrive in the Odisha state capital earlier, Modi is scheduled to reach the Biju Patnaik International Airport here at about 4.20 pm, according to the official programme. Also Read | 'The Delhi Model': Penguin India Announces Jasmine Shah's Book on 13th AAP Foundation Day; Book To Be Launched on December 15. Keeping in view the traffic arrangements made for the programme, the state government declared closure of all schools at 1 PM in the jurisdiction of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation jurisdiction on Friday, an official release said. As per the schedule, PM Modi will arrive at the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar at about 4.20 pm. He is scheduled to attend a felicitation programme at the airport. Also Read | Dating Scam in Thane: Man Duped of INR 39,000 After He Takes Bumble Date to Glitte The Super Club in Manpada, Woman Flees After Victim Forced To Pay Inflated Bill. Modi will then head to Raj Bhavan at 5 pm. He is scheduled to chair a party meeting at the BJP office from 6 pm to 8.30 pm. He will then head back to Raj Bhavan, where he will stay the night. On Saturday, the PM is scheduled to arrive at the state secretariat Lok Seva Bhavan at 8.30 am for the all-India DGP/IGP conference being held for the first time in Odisha. He will be there till 8 pm. The next day, Modi will leave Raj Bhavan for the Lok Seva Bhavan at 8 am to attend the conference and remain there till 4.30 pm before returning to New Delhi. PM Modi is visiting the state for the third time after the Lok Sabha elections. He had come to the state on his birthday on September 17 to launch the Subhadra Yojana, a flagship women empowerment scheme in the state. He had also visited Odisha on June 12 to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister Mohan Majhi. Meanwhile, DGPs of all the states and Union Territories and chiefs of various security agencies have already reached the Odisha state capital for the conference. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Nov 29 (PTI) The nationwide rollout of U-WIN, a digital platform for digitalisation of all vaccination services provided under the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP), has been completed, the government informed Parliament on Friday. U-WIN is a digital platform for digitalisation of all vaccination services provided under the UIP to ensure timely administration of life-saving vaccines to pregnant women and children (from birth to 16 years) against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases, Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel said in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha. Also Read | Delhi Bus Marshal Row: Will Campaign for BJP's LoP Vijender Gupta if He Helps Bus Marshals Get Back Job, Says CM Atishi. The annual target of the UIP is around 2.9 crore pregnant women and 2.6 crore infants (0-1 year). "The nationwide rollout of U-WIN has been completed," Patel said. Also Read | Saroj Rai Neutralized in Encounter: Wanted Gangster Shot Dead After Gunfight With Police in Gurugram. The key features of the platform include "Anytime Access" and "Anywhere' vaccination services, generation of Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) and Child ABHA, citizen module, automated SMS alerts, QR-based e-vaccination certificates and offline mode for data entry by vaccinators, the minister added. A pilot of U-WIN was conducted across 63 districts in 35 states and Union territories, followed by its nationwide rollout, she said. As on November 25, 7.43 crore beneficiaries were registered, 1.26 crore vaccination sessions held and 27.77 crore administered vaccine doses recorded on U-WIN, Patel said. The increased daily usage of the platform has further created awareness and ready access of immunisation services among both citizens and frontline workers, she added. The U-WIN digital platform also has a mobile application for both citizens and vaccinators for ease of use and accessibility. This mobile application is available for download from Google Playstore at the click of a button. Listing the steps taken by the government for creating public awareness and facilitating citizen access to vaccination, Patel said an extensive social media communication campaign for promoting awareness about U-WIN is done through the ministry's social media handles on various platforms. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are available in 11 Indian languages on the U-WIN website for guiding both citizens and frontline workers regarding its key features and utilisation of the platform, such as for registration, appointment booking, national immunisation schedule etc., Patel said. The U-WIN platform enables automated SMS alerts for registration confirmation, acknowledgment of the vaccine doses administered and reminder text messages for upcoming doses (three days prior to the due date of vaccination), she added. The offline mode of U-WIN allows health workers to record vaccination services in areas without internet connectivity. Awareness among the public, especially pregnant women, is raised through an extensive nationwide social media campaign, the minister said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], November 29 (ANI): Amid the row over the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, the Indian Secular Front (ISF) staged a protest on Friday over the alleged atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh. ISF leader and MLA Naushad Siddiqui, speaking to ANI, emphasized the need to protect Hindu minorities in Bangladesh and called for respect for the Indian flag. Also Read | Manipur: Mobile Internet Suspended for 2 More Days in 9 Districts Including Jiribam As Precautionary Measure. "The safety of minorities in Bangladesh, especially Hindus, should be ensured. The Indian flag should not be disrespected in Bangladesh. It should be stopped," Siddiqui said. Pointing towards the Bangladesh flag, Siddiqui added, "You can see the Bangladesh flag waving here. We have not done anything. Confront me if you have any enmity towards me. Why are you (showing disrespect) towards the flag of my country?" Also Read | 'Stabbed Lover': Arrested Boyfriend Turned Killer in Vlogger Maya Gogoi's Murder Case. The controversy centers on Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, who has been charged with sedition for allegedly hoisting a saffron flag above Bangladesh's national flag in Chittagong on October 25. Tensions escalated after a lawyer was killed during clashes between police and alleged followers of Das at the Chattogram Court Building on November 27. ISKCON's Bangladesh unit has rejected allegations linking the religious organisation to the killing of a lawyer in Chattogram, protests continue in the country. ISKCON had earlier expressed solidarity with Chinmoy Krishna Das. "ISKCON, Inc. stands with Chinmoy Krishna Das. Our prayers to Lord Krishna for the protection of all these devotees," ISKCON, Inc. had said in a post on X. Chinmoy Krishna Das remains in a Bangladesh jail after a Chittagong court denied him bail on Tuesday. His arrest has strained relations between the Bangladesh government and ISKCON, fueling protests and unrest. Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday that India has consistently and strongly raised the issue of targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities with the Bangladesh government. While addressing a weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal urged Bangladesh's interim government to take steps for the protection of minorities. On the situation of minorities in Bangladesh, Jaiswal said, "India has consistently and strongly raised with the Bangladesh government the threats and targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities. We made our position very clear as far as the situation of Hindus and minorities in Bangladesh is concerned. The interim government must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities." "We are concerned about the surge of extremist rhetoric, increasing incidents of violence and provocation. These developments cannot be dismissed only as media exaggerations. We once again call upon Bangladesh to take all steps for the protection of minorities and safeguarding their interests," he added. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Puri (Odisha) [India], November 29 (ANI): Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Amit Shah's visit to Odisha on Friday for the three-day All-India Director General-Inspector General of Police (DG-IGP) Conference, which is to be held in Bhubaneshwar, sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik made a sand art welcoming the ministers. Earlier on November 25, Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandran had confirmed the visit of both ministers. Also Read | Sambhal Unrest: Heavy Police Deployment Around Shahi Jama Masjid Ahead of Friday Prayers, Supreme Court Hearing; Internet Services Remain Suspended (Watch Video). Speaking to ANI, Harichandan said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are indeed expected to attend the three-day 'DGP Conference' in Bhubaneswar, scheduled from November 29 to December 1." The conference will focus on evaluating state performances, addressing law and order issues, and exploring measures to improve the country's law and order system. Also Read | Pune Shocker: Man Hacked to Death With Machete, His Friend Critically Injured After Scuffle Breaks Out With Hotel Owner Over Past Rivalry in Maval; Accused Arrested. "The event will begin with Home Minister Amit Shah attending the inaugural ceremony on November 29. PM Modi will join the conference on November 30 and December 1," Harichandan added. Underlining the importance of the event, Harichandan stated, "This is a significant honour for Odisha, marking the first time the state will host the DGP and IG Conference in Bhubaneswar. It is evident that PM Modi is placing importance on Odisha, and this event will provide a platform for in-depth discussions on law and order and strategies for systemic improvement." The conference is expected to gather senior police officials from across the country. Earlier on November 28, Odisha's Chief Minister Mohan Charan Manjhi had joined for the Welcome function for the All -India Director General-Inspector General of Police (DG-IGP) Conference at the IPS Mess, Chandrasekharpur. "Joined the Welcome Function for the All India Conference of Directors General and Inspectors General of Police at the IPS Mess, Chandrasekharpur," he stated. "Tomorrow, Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah Ji, National Security Adviser (NSA) Shri Ajit Doval Ji, along with DGs and IGPs from across the nation, will grace this prestigious event. Odisha is fully prepared to extend a warm and gracious welcome to them," CM Majhi added. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nov 29 (PTI) A case has been registered against six doctors of a private hospital in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar for allegedly misleading the father of a child who died under their care, police said on Friday. The accused doctors also allegedly tampered with the evidence, they said. Also Read | PM Modi's Odisha Visit: Renowned Artist Sudarsan Pattnaik Makes Sand Sculpture of PM Narendra Modi at Puri Beach Ahead of His 3-Day Visit to State (Watch Video). According to a release by the police, a 5-year-old kid was admitted to Vedant Hospital in the city's Sutgirni area on April 26. The boy underwent a surgery at the hospital the same day. The child died on May 6 after being under treatment for nearly 10 days. Also Read | Sambhal Unrest: Heavy Police Deployment Around Shahi Jama Masjid Ahead of Friday Prayers, Supreme Court Hearing; Internet Services Remain Suspended (Watch Video). The boy's father Avinash Aghav has alleged that his son died due to wrong treatment at the hospital. He also claimed that evidence was destroyed and papers related to the treatment were not given to him, the release said. The complainant has accused the hospital of tampering with the CCTV footage of the premises from April 26 to April 28, the release said. The doctors Arjun Pawar, Shaikh Ilyas, Ajay Kale, Abhijit Deshmukh, Tushar Chavhan and Nitin Adhane were booked on Wednesday for causing death by negligence and destruction of evidence under the Indian Penal Code, the release added. The police release did not explain the time gap between the death of the child and the registration of the case against the doctors. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], November 29 (ANI): Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha did not transact any major business for the third successive day on Thursday following adjournments over opposition demands for discussion on the Adani issue, Sambhal violence and Manipur situation. The two Houses were first adjourned till 12 noon and later for the day. Also Read | Mumbai Scam: Senior Manager Tricked Into Transferring INR 95 Lakh by Fraudsters Posing As Company Director on WhatsApp; Case Registered. The Lok Sabha adopted a motion, moved by Jagdambika Pal, chairman of Joint Parliamentary Committee on Waqf Bill, for presenting the report by the last day of Budget Session next year. Opposition members had been seeking an extension of the tenure of the committee. The motion said that the House extends time for the presentation of the report of the Joint Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, up to the last day of Budget Session 2025. Also Read | Bomb Hoax Calls: Airlines Got 999 Hoax Bomb Threats Till November 14 This Year; 256 FIRs Filed, Says Government. The motion was adopted amid din in the House. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, seeks to introduce sweeping reforms, including digitisation, stricter audits, greater transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties. Earlier, Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi and Ravindra Vasantrao Chavan took oath as Members of Parliament in the Lok Sabha on Thursday. Opposition members have been continuously pushing to have a discussion on the floor on the Adani issue, Sambhal violence and the Manipur situation, raising slogans in the Parliament. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju slammed the opposition saying they were encroaching on rights of members who want the House to function. Speaker Om Birla had also urged opposition members to not protest over their demands and not disrupt proceedings. Amid disruptions in Parliament over opposition's demands, Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar said that parliamentary disruption is not a remedy but a malady and urged the members to engage in the "traditional thoughtful discussion" and embrace the spirit of meaningful dialogue. "Parliamentary disruption is not a remedy, it's a malady. It weakens our foundation. It slides parliament into irrelevance. We must continue to have our relevance. When we engage in this kind of conduct, we deviate from constitutional ordainment. We show our back to our duties. If parliament strays from its constitutional duty to represent people's hopes and aspirations, it is our duty to nurture nationalism, further democracy. I urge you all to embrace the spirit of meaningful dialogue. Let us return to traditional thoughtful discussion," the Vice President said. Dhankhar, who is Rajya Sabha Chairman, said that 75th National Constitution Day on November 26 was a moment for parliamentarians to send a message of hope to 1.4 billion people. "Yesterday marked a historic milestone - the beginning of the final quarter-century before our Constitution turns 100. This was a moment for our House of Elders, guided by the spirit of nationalism, to send a powerful message of hope to 1.4 billion people, reaffirming our commitment to their dreams and aspirations and our journey towards Vikshit Bharat at 2047. It is with deep concern, I must say we missed this historic opportunity where there should have been productive dialogue, constructive engagement, echoing the collective aspirations of our people, we fell short of their expectations," he said. He said parliament is a platform for productive discussion. "I plead with you, I request you for cooperation. Allow me to take agenda of the day. Be assured, you shall have opportunity to raise all issues. Parliament is a platform for productive discussion. Question hour is important. I have already taken a call.... I cannot allow this house to get into irrelevance. We should not dishonour the spirit of those who gave us this Constitution," he said. Dhankhar earlier said that everyone in the Parliament should have the highest regard for conforming to the rules of the House, as any such deviation in tantamount to being sacrilegious to the "temple of democracy." "If we start having our practice my way or no way, that is not only not democratic, that will pose a great challenge to the very existence of this sacred theatre. I have no doubt any deviation from the rules is virtually sacrileging this temple,"he said. The two Houses of Parliament have been witnessing adjournments since the commencement of winter session of Parliament on June 25. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Lucknow, Nov 29 (PTI) The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Thursday stayed the suspension of Dr Ashwani Kumar Singh, Registrar of the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU) here in an alleged corruption case. The court also stayed the inquiry instituted against him by the university's acting vice-chancellor (VC). Also Read | Congress Expresses Firm Commitment to Places of Worship Act Amid Row Over Claims on Mosque in Sambhal and Ajmer Sharif Dargah, Says BJP 'Violating' It. The court ordered the central government and the BBAU to file their counter affidavits within four weeks. A single bench of Justice Abdul Moin passed the order on Singh's petition. Also Read | Gautam Adani Indictment: India Has Not Received Any Communication on 'Legal Matter Involving Private Firms and Individuals', Says MEA. The petitioner has challenged his suspension order passed on November 18 and the order of a departmental inquiry against him issued on November 22. Both the above orders were passed by the acting VC of the university. The petitioner pleaded the VC did not have the jurisdiction to pass these orders against him under the relevant rules. Opposing the petition, it was submitted on behalf of the BBAU that the VC has the power to take action against the employees of the university. The court said that employees and officers have been defined separately under the provisions of the university rules and the registrar has been considered an officer. The court further said the VC has the power to take action against employees but not against officers, so prima facie both the orders issued by the VC appear to have been passed outside his jurisdiction. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Dhaka, November 29: Bangladesh on Friday claimed India followed "double standards" on protection of minority communities and accused the neighbouring country's media of conducting an "industrial scale misinformation campaign" against Dhaka. Amid a row over the arrest of Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das on sedition charges, Bangladesh interim government's Law Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul in a Facebook post said India's unwarranted concern for Bangladesh continues. In India, numerous incidents of brutality on minority Muslim community is going on. But they don't have any remorse or embarrassment (over those incidents). This double standard of India is condemnable and objectionable, Nazrul wrote. Citing a survey by Voice of America Bangla, Nazrul wrote: "The majority of Bangladeshis (64.1%) believe that the interim government has been able to provide better security to the country's minority communities compared to the previous Awami League government." Bangladesh Must Protect All Minorities: India Says Interim Government Must Live up to Its Responsibility of Protecting Hindus and Other Minorities Amid Increasing Violence. Meanwhile, Bangladesh interim government of Muhammad Yunus urged the country's journalists to counter misinformation in Indian media with truth. Chief Adviser Yunus's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said, We must tell our stories our way else they (Indian media) will set our narrative according to their liking. Alam, a former journalist, said in a Facebook post that several Bangladeshi journalists now realised it was time to confront an "industrial scale misinformation campaign" coming from some Indian media outlets and their social media platforms. He said Indians should know that smart people also live on its eastern border and a few months back these people ousted a "brutal dictatorship" in one of the finest revolutions in human history. Alam said some may think Indians are smarter people. "But believe me if you are empowered by truth, no misinformation campaign can stop you". His comments came as a group of students staged a demonstration at the Dhaka University campus calling for resisting India's alleged interference in Bangladesh's internal affairs. They also demanded the extradition of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who had fled to India in August amid massive student-led protests, and a ban on International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Bangladesh. The students accused India of "border killings", religious persecution and attempts to instigate communal strife in Bangladesh. They also accused the Indian government of inciting communal tensions in Bangladesh and exploiting religious differences to destabilise the country. Bangladesh Arrests Chinmoy Krishna Das Assistant Adipurush Shyamdas, Another ISKCON Devotee Ranganath Das Without Warrant Amid Row. "India is killing people on our border every week. Minorities in their own country are being persecuted daily. Recently, several Muslims were killed in an incident centred around a mosque, president of the Student Rights Council, Bin Yamin Molla, alleged. Molla said that Bangladesh cannot consider India a friendly nation. The protesters also demanded a review of agreements signed with India in the last 16 years and assurance of fair water-sharing from common rivers. India on Friday said the interim government in Bangladesh must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities as it expressed serious concern over the "surge" of extremist rhetoric and increasing incidents of violence in the neighbouring country. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India has consistently and strongly raised with the Bangladeshi government the threats and "targeted attacks" on Hindus and other minorities. On October 30, a sedition case was filed against 19 people, including Das, at Chattogram's Kotwali Police Station, accusing them of disrespecting Bangladesh's national flag in Chattogram's New Market area during a rally of the Hindu community. Das, a spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, was arrested from Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday for alleged sedition. He was denied bail and sent to jail by a Chattogram court on Tuesday, triggering protests by his supporters. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, November 29: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, has terminated two government employees having 'terror links' from the service in the interest of the security of the state, top sources said. The two employees have been identified as Ab Rehman Naika and Zahir Abbas. According to top sources in the law enforcement agencies in the Union Territory, the LG invoked 311(2)(c) of the Constitution after painstaking investigation by law enforcement and intelligence agencies clearly established their terror links. Ab Rehman Naika, a pharmacist in the health department, and a resident of Devsar, Kulgam, was appointed as a medical assistant in 1992. His links with Hizbul Mujahideen were unearthed when police officials started investigating the killing of a political person, namely Ghulam Hassan Lone of Devsar. Ghulam Hassan Lone was a staunch nationalist, and all his 3 sons are serving in the security forces. He was killed by terrorists in August 2021. Investigation revealed that Ab Rehman Naika was one of the plotters of killing Ghulam Lone to create terror and a situation of insecurity among the patriotic people. LG Sinha Reviews Tawi Riverfront, Announces Phase -1 Completion by January 2025. "Investigation further revealed that Ab Rehman Naika played a pivotal role in nourishing, strengthening, and proliferating conducive ecosystems for secessionism and terrorism, not only in his local area of Kulgam but also in the neighbouring districts of Shopian and Anantnag," sources in law enforcement agencies said. After Ghulam Hassan Lone's killing, the police investigation tracked the footprints of Over Ground Workers (OGW) who were providing logistical support to terrorists. Ab Rehman Naika and associates were finally nabbed with a hand grenade and AK 47 ammunition. During the interrogation, Ab Rehman Naika confessed he had received direction from his handlers in Pakistan to carry out a terrorist attack in Kulgam by lobbing grenades at security forces and political persons. He also admitted that, as an overground worker, his job was to conduct reconnaissance of targets. In the killing of Ghulam Hassan Lone, Ab Rehman Naika and his associates had kept a watch on his movements, and on the day of the killing, he mounted surveillance of the area so that terrorists get a safe passage without getting identified or intercepted. Sources said during further investigation, we unearthed his role and acts for Hizbul Mujahideen and how he facilitated attacks on police personnel. Zahir Abbas, the other employee terminated by LG Sinha, was a resident of Badhat Saroor, Kishtwar, and a school teacher. Zahir, a graduate of Aligarh Muslim University, was appointed as a teacher in 2012 and posted at Government High School, Bugrana. He was arrested in September 2020 for harbouring three active terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen (Mohd Amin, Reyaz Ahmad, and Mudasir Ahmad) in Kishtwar. He is currently lodged in Central Jail, Kot Bhalwal. Jammu and Kashmir: LG Manoj Sinha Lashes Out at Rahul Gandhi Over His Raja Remark, Says Will Resign if Public Disagrees on Welfare Work Done in Last 5 Years. "During the investigation of terror activities in Kishtwar, the role of Zahir as hardcore OGW came to light. As a teacher, he was expected to serve the nation, but he betrayed his country, aligned with Pakistani terrorists, and provided arms, ammunition, and logistical support to terror outfits, in particular Hizbul Mujahideen. He turned against the same country, which provided him and his family with a livelihood and a life of dignity. After his arrest, Zahir gave the inputs on hideouts where arms and ammunition were stored and also identified two other OGWs, namely Gulzar Ahmad and Mohd Hanief," sources in the law enforcement agencies further revealed. A top security official said Zahir Abbas was also providing critical information about security forces movements to his handlers in Pakistan. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Nov 29 (PTI) Shares of all 11 listed Adani Group firms rallied in morning trade on Friday, with Adani Green Energy surging nearly 15 per cent. The stock of Adani Green Energy jumped 14.64 per cent, Adani Energy Solutions zoomed 13.54 per cent, Adani Total Gas climbed 7.33 per cent, Adani Power surged 4.90 per cent and NDTV soared 4.54 per cent on the BSE. Also Read | Kolkata Fatafat Result Today: Kolkata FF Result for November 29, 2024 Declared, Check Winning Numbers and Result Chart of Satta Matka-Type Lottery Game. Shares of Ambuja Cements went up by 2.90 per cent, Sanghi Industries (2.44 per cent), Adani Ports (2.25 per cent), Adani Wilmar (2.24 per cent), Adani Enterprises (2.11 per cent) and ACC (1.34 per cent). The BSE benchmark Sensex traded 688.31 points higher at 79,732.05 and the NSE Nifty jumped 192.65 points to 24,106.80. Also Read | Shillong Teer Results Today, November 29 2024: Winning Numbers, Result Chart for Shillong Morning Teer, Shillong Night Teer, Khanapara Teer, Juwai Teer and Jowai Ladrymbai. Abu Dhabi's International Holding Company (IHC), one of the largest sovereign funds that manages assets close to USD 100 billion, has reaffirmed its support to the Adani Group, saying its outlook on investments in the group remains unchanged despite the US indictment of the conglomerate's founder chairman Gautam Adani. "Our partnership with the Adani Group reflects our confidence in their contributions to the green energy and sustainability sectors," IHC, one of Adani group's key foreign investors, said in a statement. "As with all our investments, our team continues to evaluate relevant information and developments. At this time, our outlook on these investments remains unchanged." The IHC statement comes soon after Adani group emphasised that its chairman and his aides have not been charged under the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act but faced three other charges, including securities and wire fraud that are punishable with monetary fines. The US Department of Justice's (US DoJ) indictment filed in a New York Court last week does not mention Gautam Adani, founder chairman of the ports-to-energy conglomerate, his nephew Sagar or Vneet Jaain in any count related to conspiracy to violate the FCPA, AGEL - the firm at the heart of allegation of USD 265 million bribes allegedly being paid to Indian officials to secure solar power sale contracts that could benefit bring in USD 2 billion of profits over 20 year period to the firm, had said in a filing to the stock exchange. Adani Group last week denied all allegations as baseless and said it would seek legal recourse to defend itself. Meanwhile, other international partners have also expressed their continued support. The Sri Lanka Ports Authority has expressed its ongoing confidence in its partnership with Adani, as the Indian group plays a vital role in expanding the country's port infrastructure. Also, the Tanzanian government has reaffirmed its commitment to its agreements with Adani Ports, as it feels that there are no concerns regarding the ongoing projects and that all contracts fully comply with Tanzanian law. In May 2024, Tanzania and Adani Ports finalised a 30-year concession agreement to operate Container Terminal 2 at Dar es Salaam port. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kochi, Nov 29 (PTI) The Kerala High Court on Friday rejected the bail pleas of seven PFI members, accused in the 2022 murder of RSS leader Srinivasan in the state's Palakkad district. The accused are also facing trial for allegedly inciting communal violence in the state and other parts of the country. Also Read | RRB RPF SI Admit Card 2024: Hall Ticket for Sub-Inspector December 2 Examination Released at rrbapply.gov.in, Know Steps To Download. A bench of justices A K Jayasankaran Nambiar and K V Jayakumar said that on careful consideration of the materials on record, it was of the view that the prosecution has succeeded in showing the allegations against the seven accused "are prima facie true". The High Court noted that, according to the records, one of the seven accused had arranged the motorcycle used by the assailants "to conduct a recce for locating the target (Srinivasan) and carrying out the terrorist act." Also Read | CAT 2024 Response Sheet and Answer Key Released At iimcat.ac.in, Know Steps to Download. The court also noted that the records indicated two of the seven accused had conducted a recce of the target on April 15, 2022. Additionally, several documents, notices, magazines, and other items seized from the house of another accused included the controversial question paper linked to the "hand chopping case." The "hand chopping case" refers to the 2010 incident in Idukki district, where Professor T J Joseph's palm was chopped off after he was accused of insulting Prophet Mohammed in a question paper for an internal examination. In light of these factors, the HC ruled the seven accused "are not entitled to be released on bail." The decision followed the accused person's plea challenging the NIA special court's refusal to grant them bail. Initially, 51 persons were named as accused in connection with the murder of Srinivasan on April 16, 2022. One of the arrested suspects died, and seven others remain absconding. Chargesheets for the remaining accused were filed in two phases, in July and December 2022. During the investigation into the murder, the Centre received intelligence suggesting that office-bearers and members of the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its affiliates in Kerala had conspired to instigate communal violence and radicalise their cadre to carry out terrorist acts in Kerala and other parts of the country, the high court said. In September 2022, the Centre directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to take over the investigation of the case against the accused. On September 28, 2022, the Centre declared the Popular Front of India (PFI) a banned organisation. The NIA filed its chargesheets in 2023, after which the accused filed their bail pleas before the special court. In June this year, the court granted bail to 17 of the accused in the same case but denied relief to nine others. S K Srinivasan, a former district leader and office-bearer of the RSS, was attacked by a six-member gang at his motorbike shop in Melamuri, Palakkad, less than 24 hours after a PFI leader, Subair, was allegedly killed by BJP workers in a nearby village. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Nov 29 (PTI) State-owned NHPC has signed an agreement with Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) to promote clean energy solutions in green hydrogen and sustainable financing space. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the GGGI was signed between officials of both sides in Faridabad on Thursday, the Ministry of Power said in a statement. Also Read | RRB RPF SI Admit Card 2024: Hall Ticket for Sub-Inspector December 2 Examination Released at rrbapply.gov.in, Know Steps To Download. The collaboration aims to promote innovative clean energy solutions, focusing on agrivoltaics, green hydrogen, and sustainable financing strategies, the ministry said. "NHPC and GGGI will work together to explore cutting-edge technologies, integrate renewable energy solutions with agricultural practices, and drive investments in green projects. The initiative also aligns with India's broader climate goals and commitment to renewable energy under the Paris Agreement," it said. Also Read | CAT 2024 Response Sheet and Answer Key Released At iimcat.ac.in, Know Steps to Download. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, Nov 29 (PTI) Tata Group's jewellery retailer Tanishq on Friday said it will set up De Beers machines at its stores on a pilot basis to help customers validate the quality of diamonds. "We are planning to establish equipment by De Beers that will be something like a diamond clinic or a diamond lab, which will enable customers to be able to validate the quality of their diamonds, in a phased manner," Ajoy Chawla, CEO, Jewellery Division, Titan Company told reporters. Also Read | RRB RPF SI Admit Card 2024: Hall Ticket for Sub-Inspector December 2 Examination Released at rrbapply.gov.in, Know Steps To Download. "These equipment are the SynthDetect XL Plus, engineered to test both mounted jewellery and loose stones for synthetics and DiamondProof - a consumer-friendly device designed to provide confidence and education in diamond verification at the retail counter," he added. Chawla said the goal is to give consumer confidence and also to grow the diamond market. Also Read | CAT 2024 Response Sheet and Answer Key Released At iimcat.ac.in, Know Steps to Download. "Currently, gold has 100 per cent penetration and diamond-studded is only about 8-10 per cent penetration. Our only one single objective is to give confidence to the customer. Through consumer awareness and education, we want to ensure that diamond penetration grows. We want to give consumers the choice to decide what they want to buy," he added. De Beers India Managing Director Amit Pratihari, also present on the occasion, said, "We estimate (diamond jewellery market) at around USD 8.5 billion and it is expected to grow to almost USD 20-22 billion in next 7-8 years. We see the growth momentum going further with organised retailers like Tanishq." Most Indian customers and most Asian customers see precious jewellery as something which holds value over time, he added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, November 29: Shares of nine of the 11 listed Adani Group firms ended higher on Friday, with Adani Green Energy surging almost 22 per cent and Adani Energy climbing nearly 16 per cent. The stock of Adani Green Energy zoomed 21.72 per cent, Adani Energy Solutions surged 15.56 per cent, Ambuja Cements jumped 3.73 per cent, Adani Ports climbed 1.94 per cent, ACC went up 1.59 per cent, Adani Total Gas (1.03 per cent), Adani Enterprises (1.02 per cent), NDTV (0.60 per cent) and Adani Wilmar (0.05 per cent) on the BSE. However, shares of Adani Power declined 1.01 per cent and Sanghi Industries dipped 0.45 per cent. The BSE benchmark Sensex jumped 759.05 points, or 0.96 per cent, to settle at 79,802.79 and the NSE Nifty climbed 216.95 points, or 0.91 per cent, to 24,131.10. Abu Dhabi's International Holding Company (IHC), one of the largest sovereign funds that manages assets close to USD 100 billion, has reaffirmed its support to the Adani Group, saying its outlook on investments in the group remains unchanged despite the US indictment of the conglomerate's founder chairman Gautam Adani. Adani Group Share Price Today, November 29: Check Share Prices of Adani Power, Adani Ports, Adani Enterprises, Adani Green Energy on NSE and BSE. "Our partnership with the Adani Group reflects our confidence in their contributions to the green energy and sustainability sectors," IHC, one of Adani group's key foreign investors, said in a statement. "As with all our investments, our team continues to evaluate relevant information and developments. At this time, our outlook on these investments remains unchanged." The IHC statement comes soon after the Adani group emphasised that its chairman and his aides have not been charged under the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act but faced three other charges, including securities and wire fraud that are punishable with monetary fines. The US Department of Justice's (US DOJ) indictment filed in a New York Court last week does not mention Gautam Adani, founder chairman of the ports-to-energy conglomerate, his nephew Sagar, or Vneet Jaain in any count related to conspiracy to violate the FCPA, AGEL had said in a filing to the stock exchange. AGEL is at the heart of allegations of USD 265 million bribes allegedly being paid to Indian officials to secure solar power sale contracts that could benefit bring in USD 2 billion of profits over 20-year period to the firm. The Adani Group last week denied all allegations as baseless and said it would seek legal recourse to defend itself. Meanwhile, other international partners have also expressed their continued support. The Sri Lanka Ports Authority has expressed its ongoing confidence in its partnership with Adani, as the Indian group plays a vital role in expanding the country's port infrastructure. Also, the Tanzanian government has reaffirmed its commitment to its agreements with Adani Ports, as it feels that there are no concerns regarding the ongoing projects and that all contracts fully comply with Tanzanian law. Reliance Industries Share Price Today, November 29: Check Share Price of NSE:Reliance Industries on NSE and BSE. In May 2024, Tanzania and Adani Ports finalised a 30-year concession agreement to operate Container Terminal 2 at Dar es Salaam port. Backing embattled Adani Group, rating agency CRISIL Ratings on Friday said the conglomerate has sufficient liquidity and operational cash flows to meet debt obligations and committed capex and that there has been no negative actions so far by lenders and investors following the US indictment of group founder-chairman. Dakar (Senegal), Nov 29 (AP) Chad's government is ending a defence cooperation agreement with France, its former colonial ruler, to redefine the nation's sovereignty. The decision marks a historic turning point after the Central African nation gained independence more than six decades ago, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abderaman Koulamallah said in a statement on Thursday. Also Read | 'Bangladesh Must Protect All Minorities': India Says Interim Government Must Live up to Its Responsibility of Protecting Hindus and Other Minorities Amid Increasing Violence. It said the decision to end the agreement would allow Chad to redefine its strategic partnerships in line with national priorities. There was no immediate response from France's government. Also Read | Bangladesh Continues To Target Hindus, Freezes Bank Accounts of Chinmoy Krishna Das and 16 Others Associated With ISKCON. Chad was one of the last countries in the region in which France maintained a large military presence, having been ousted in recent years from Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso after years of fighting Islamic extremists alongside regional troops. Those countries have inched closer to Russia, which has mercenaries deployed across the Sahel, the vast expanse below the Sahara desert. Chad's interim president, Mahamat Deby Itno, seized power after his father, who ran the country for more than three decades, was killed fighting rebels in 2021. Last year, the government announced it was extending the 18-month transition for two more years, which led to protests across the country. Analysts say Deby has mistrusted France for a while, and the decision creates an opportunity for other nations, notably Russia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. Deby has been seeking to diversify its security partnerships away from exclusive deals. He doesn't trust (French President Emmanuel) Macron. ... He can also not ignore widespread anti-French sentiment, said Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel programme at Konrad Adenauer foundation in Mali. France has maintained about 1,000 troops in Chad, and the statement didn't specify when they have to leave. Chad said the decision in no way calls into question the countries' historical ties and that it wants to maintain relations in other areas of common interest. France still has 350 troops in Senegal, another former colony, which remains a security partner in the region. But the French military presence there also appears to be under threat. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal said that it was obvious that soon there won't be any French soldiers on Senegalese soil, in an interview with Le Monde which was published hours after the declaration by Chadian authorities. Faye added that the relationship with the former colonizer had to be redefined. It's not because the French have been there since the slavery period that it's impossible to do otherwise, he said. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], November 29 (ANI): Indian Foreign Service Officer VSDL Surendra has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Gabonese Republic. The announcement was made by the Ministry of External Affairs in a press release on Thursday. India and Gabon have traditionally enjoyed warm and friendly relations dating back to the pre-independence era of Gabon. Also Read | Israel Launches First Airstrike on Lebanon Since Ceasefire, Accusing Hezbollah of Breaching Truce. The Gabonese embassy in India was established in New Delhi in 2008,as noted by the Ministry of External Affairs in the press statement. Gabon has collaborated with India in international forums and has regularly supported India's candidatures whenever required. It was one of the first countries to sign and ratify the International Solar Alliance (ISA) framework agreement. Also Read | Attacks on Minorities in Bangladesh: India Has Called To Ensure Safety of Hindus, MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh Tells Parliament. It is important to note that both India and Gabon supported each other's bid for non-permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for India in 2021-22 and Gabon in 2022-23. Around 1,000-1,200 Indians reside in Gabon, with most of them involved in infrastructure projects, trading, export of timber and metal scrap, manganese mining, travel and tourism, among other activities. Notably, during Prime Minister Modi's third term, India announced the opening of new Indian missions in various countries, including Gabon, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. In recent times, India has taken several initiatives to bring together members from the global south. While speaking at the third edition of the 'Voice of the Global South' Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the need for countries of the Global South to unite, stand together with one voice, and become one another's strength. "Let's learn from one another's experiences, share our capabilities, and together transform our resolutions into success," he had said. "I believe that our strength lies in our unity, and with the strength of this unity, we will move towards a new direction," the PM had added. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bavaria [Germany], November 29 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav delivered remarks on Thursday during an interactive session in Germany, discussing investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh. He said, "We want a new kind of partnership with Germany, a partnership that is not restricted to just trade. We want German companies with their advanced technologies, to invest in Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh is a complete investment destination today, it is a big market that is a golden opportunity for investors". Also Read | Israel Launches First Airstrike on Lebanon Since Ceasefire, Accusing Hezbollah of Breaching Truce. The Chief Minister commented on the rich and historic relations between the two countries and said that his journey through Germany is a step towards strengthening these relations. Highlighting the incentives that Madhya Pradesh offers to investors, CM Yadav said, "I want a new kind of partnership with Germany. A partnership that is not limited to just trade. I want Germany's companies to invest in Madhya Pradesh with their advanced technology." Also Read | Attacks on Minorities in Bangladesh: India Has Called To Ensure Safety of Hindus, MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh Tells Parliament. He stressed that Madhya Pradesh is "a huge market, which is also a great opportunity for the investors. When I talk about the capabilities of Madhya Pradesh, the figures speak for themselves. Our economy has increased threefold in the last decade. Our economic conditions have increased threefold in the last decade. We are a power surplus state. Madhya Pradesh is the second largest state in the country in terms of the region". He further highlighted that in terms of green energy, Madhya Pradesh is a leading state in India, utilizing green energy while meeting international standards. CM Yadav remarked that the steps for starting businesses have been simplified in the state, calling these changes "revolutionary." He mentioned that the process of starting a business has been streamlined, with approvals granted from the necessary departments within a short time span of thirty days. "We have either eliminated or simplified more than 2000 processes. We have eliminated the principles of many laws that were a hindrance in business," he stated. He also noted that Madhya Pradesh has repeatedly been awarded by the Indian government for its efforts in emerging as a leading destination for investors. "Our special team in the Chief Minister's office is dedicated to the investors. We say that the investors are not guests but a part of the family. I monitor every project myself. Take a decision today and start your plan from tomorrow," he said while concluding his remarks. CM Yadav also invited investors to come to Bhopal in 2025 for the Global Investors Summit. CM Yadav is currently on a visit to Germany from November 28 to November 29, following his three-day visit to the UK. During his visit, he will attend several events in Munich and Stuttgart. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bengaluru, November 29: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his office in New Delhi on Friday. While thanking him for giving time to meet him at short notice, CM Siddaramaiah submitted a memorandum demanding central assistance and cooperation on some issues. The CM has requested to rectify a "severe" cut in the NABARD loan to the state, to allocate Rs 5,300 crore for the Upper Bhadra Project as announced in the Union Budget, to help the state to get clearances for the Mekedatu and Mahadayi projects. He also demanded funds for the development of Bengaluru city. The memorandum stated, Dear Prime Minister Narendra Modiji, at the outset let me thank you for giving me time to meet you at short notice. I wish to raise some critical issues of paramount importance for our state. Firstly, the issue of severe cuts in the Short Term Agricultural Credit Limit to Karnataka by NABARD has created serious alarm among the farmers of the state. As against Rs 5,600 crore of limit sanctioned during 2023-24, NABARD has sanctioned only Rs 2, 340 crore for the current year (2024-25), which is a steep cut of 58 per cent, CM pointed out. This will seriously impact the cost of finance for farmers unless the state steps in to provide additional interest subvention which will severely impact our finances. I have met the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in this regard and apprised her of our concerns. I request you to look into this and direct the Finance Ministry to rectify this situation so that farmers in Karnataka continue to receive soft agricultural loans, he stated. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Meets PM Narendra Modi, Seeks Special Attention for State in Upcoming Budget. Secondly, as I have requested of you earlier, the promise made by the Union Finance Minister in the Union budget of 2023-24 to provide Rs 5,300 crore for the Upper Bhadra Project remains to be fulfilled. I understand a Cabinet note has been moved to provide this assistance under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme. I would request you to give approval to this proposal at your earliest convenience, as the Upper Bhadra project provides irrigation to the parched farm-lands of central Karnataka, CM urged. "Thirdly, Karnataka is an arid state and desperately needs development of irrigation potential. This task has been carried out largely by the state from its own resources. However, pending project clearances by the Jal Shakti Ministry as well as by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change are delaying our projects," he emphasized. PM Narendra Modi Is Master of Lies and Exploits People Emotionally, Says Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah. "Two projects need your urgent attention, viz., the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir on the Cauvery River and the Kalasa Banduri project on the Mahadayi River. The former needs approval from the Jal Shakti Ministry as well as environmental clearance. The latter is at an advanced stage for wildlife clearance. Kindly direct the two ministries to expedite clearances for these projects," CM Siddaramaiah demanded. "Fourthly, Bengaluru has emerged as the Tech and Innovation Capital of the country and is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. The city is among the top three contributors to the countrys GDP. The city needs major infrastructure investment. Our government has major plans to improve the infrastructure, de-congest the city and upgrade the living standards of the city for all its citizens. In my letter of June 29, 2024, which I had the opportunity of meeting and handing over to you, I had outlined our vision and a series of projects that we are taking up, he stated. I request you to direct the Ministry of Urban Development, the Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Road Transport to look into our requests favourably and provide special assistance to the city so as to enable us to invest in urban transport and public transport for the city, he stated. Further, Karnataka is fast urbanizing and we have 13 city corporations which are Tier-2 cities that need massive investment, he said. The Government of Karnataka has a programme called Mahatma Gandhi Nagar Vikas Yojana under which we have dedicated Rs.2,000 crore over the next three years. However, this is woefully inadequate to meet the infrastructure to these cities. I request you to direct the Ministry of Urban Development to provide Rs.10,000 crore for these cities under AMRUT or any other schemes., CM Siddaramaiah requested. Finally, we have been raising the issue of Karnataka receiving a raw deal at the hands of the 15th Finance Commission. It is our firm belief that the Ministry of Finance could have set the right anomalies in the recommendations that lowered our share in the divisible pool of taxes by 1 per cent, he stated. "At the very least, the Ministry could have accepted the recommendations made by the Finance Commission to give two kinds of special grants to the state: one, Rs 5,495 crore to compensate for the reduction in our share, two, a special grant of Rs 6,000 crore for Peripheral Ring Road and for rejuvenation of water bodies, he claimed. Since we are still in the period of the 15th Finance Commission, I would again request you to direct the Ministry of Finance to provide additional grants, he stressed. "Further, together with the 16th Finance Commission the Ministry of Finance must make sure that in the future states contributing a larger share to the central taxes are not punished by severe cuts in the share of those central taxes," he demanded. I do hope our requests receive favourable consideration from you, CM Siddaramaiah stated. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 29, 2024 02:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi, November 29: AAP MP Raghav Chadha on Friday raised a crucial issue in the Rajya Sabha, calling for the suspension of the Houses proceedings to discuss the ongoing atrocities against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh and the recent arrest of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) priest Chinmoy Krishna Das. Chadha introduced a Suspension of Business notice, demanding immediate attention to these pressing concerns. Today in Rajya Sabha, I gave a notice for adjournment of proceedings and requested that the House discuss the atrocities against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh and the illegal arrest of ISKCONs Chinmoy Krishna Das, said Chadha. Congress Continues to Seek Discussion on Adani on 4th Day of Parliament Winter Session. He further urged the government to provide clarity on the steps being taken to safeguard the Hindu community in Bangladesh, especially in light of recent events following the coup. Chadha also called for a united resolution from the House condemning the illegal detention of Chinmoy Krishna Das. Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested on charges of sedition for allegedly raising a flag on a stand displaying Bangladesh's national flag. He was presented before a Chittagong court on November 25. The court denied his bail plea and sent him to custody. Parliament Winter Session 2024: Government Open To Discuss All Issues, Says Union Minister Kiren Rijiju. The issue has garnered significant attention from political leaders and the public. Earlier, Senior AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Saurabh Bharadwaj also met with Vrajendra Nandan Das, ISKCON's Communications Director, in Delhi to express solidarity. Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia voiced grave concerns over the developments in Bangladesh. What is happening with ISKCON in Bangladesh is deeply worrying. ISKCON has always preached love and harmony, and such allegations against them cannot be accepted, stated Manish Sisodia. He further urged the Indian government to take swift action in securing the release of Chinmoy Krishna Das and addressing the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh. On Friday, ISKCON expressed solidarity with Chinmoy Krishna Das, who was arrested on charges of sedition in Bangladesh. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 29, 2024 03:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi, November 29: The Supreme Court is set to hear on Friday a plea filed by the Sambhal Shahi Jama Masjid Committee seeking a stay on a district court-ordered survey of the mosque to verify if the disputed structure was originally the Harihar temple. As per the causelist published on the website of the apex court, a bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Sanjay Kumar will take up the mosque committees plea for hearing on November 29. In its special leave petition filed before the Supreme Court, Sambhal Shahi Jama Masjid Committee has sought an ad-interim and ex-parte stay on the operation of the impugned decision passed by Chandausis Civil Judge on November 19. Further, it demanded that the report of the survey commissioner be kept in a sealed cover and the status quo be maintained until the issue is determined by the Supreme Court. Sambhal Communal Violence Probe: 1 More Arrested in Connection With Clashes That Broke Out in Uttar Pradesh Over Mosque Survey, Internet Services Remain Suspended. The petition also sought directions to the effect that surveys should not be ordered and executed as a matter of course in cases involving disputes over places of worship without hearing all parties and allowing sufficient time for the aggrieved persons to seek judicial remedies against the order of survey. Tensions mounted in Sambhal on November 24 during the second survey of the Mughal-era Jama Masjid after locals pelted stones at the police team. A second survey, as part of a court-ordered examination into the disputed site, began around 7 a.m. and a crowd began gathering at the spot. At first, the crowd just shouted slogans, and then, some people started pelting stones at the police and survey team, according to the police. Sambhal: Heavy Police Force Deployed Ahead of Friday Prayers at Shahi Jama Masjid After Stone Pelting Incident Over Mosque Survey (Watch Video). The attackers also vandalised and set afire vehicles, and firing broke out in which four men were killed and several policemen and officials injured. Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh government has ordered a judicial inquiry into the recent incident of violence in Sambhal in which at least four persons lost their lives. As per the order of the Uttar Pradesh Home Department, a three-member committee headed by retired High Court judge Justice Devendra Kumar Arora has been handed the responsibility of conducting an investigation into the matter. The two other members of the committee are retired IAS officer Amit Mohan Prasad and former IPS officer Arvind Kumar Jain. The order to constitute the committee was issued by the Home Department of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday and the panel had been directed to submit its report within two months. "It is necessary to investigate in the public interest whether the incident of violence that took place on November 24, 2024, during the survey ordered by the Court in the Jama Masjid vs Harihar Mandir dispute was a pre-planned conspiracy or a normal criminal incident, due to which several police personnel were injured, four persons died and property was also damaged," said the order. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 29, 2024 09:06 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi, November 29: Amid the row over claims on a mosque in Sambhal and Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti's shrine in Ajmer, the Congress on Friday reiterated its "firmest commitment" to the letter and spirit of the Places of Worship Act, 1991, which, it said, was being "violated brazenly" by the BJP. The opposition party made the assertion in a resolution passed by the Congress Working Committee during its over four-hour-long meeting at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters here. "After reiterating its firmest commitment to the letter and spirit of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which is being violated brazenly by the BJP, the CWC discussed the challenges faced by the Indian National Congress following the results of the four Vidhan Sabha elections," the CWC resolution read. The party's commitment to the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 assumes significance as it comes days after a violent protest against a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era mosque in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal claimed four lives. Shahi Jama Masjid Survey: Supreme Court Asks Trial Court Not To Proceed in Suit Against Sambhal Mosque, Orders To Keep Advocate Commissioner's Report Confidential. Also, a local court in Ajmer, known the world over as home of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti's dargah visited by thousands of devotees cutting across religious divides every day, has issued notices to the dargah committee, the Ministry of Minority Affairs and the Archaeological Survey of India on the plea seeking to declare the shrine a temple. The Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act prohibits change of character of religious places as they existed as on August 15, 1947. However, the Supreme Court had noted that it had earlier dealt with the Act in its 2019 Ayodhya verdict and one of the law's provisions, Section 3, did not expressly bar ascertaining the religious character of the place of worship. 'Narendra Modi and All Other PMs Have Offered Chadar': Asaduddin Owaisi Blames RSS, BJP for Ajmer Sharif Dargah Row. The Congress Working Committee meeting was chaired by party president Mallikarjun Kharge and attended by former party chief Rahul Gandhi and AICC general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, K C Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh, among others. Eric Gutierrez is an occasional contributor to Calendar Somewhere over India, in the middle of the night, in the middle of the 80s, George Miller suddenly woke up. Flying to London, having just wrapped his third Mad Max feature, Beyond Thunderdome, the exhausted director-writer-producer inexplicably tuned in the planes childrens audio channel. A woman was reading from Dick King-Smiths 80-page childrens book The Sheep-Pig. She lost control, just started to laugh this rich, genuine laugh, he explains delightedly in a smoother version of an Australian ocker. What tickled her fancy? I wondered. As soon as I landed in London I bought the book first thing, went to the hotel and read it. I never thought of adapting it. I just needed a good laugh. But that good laugh captured Millers imagination and wouldnt let go. And like Farmer Hoggett, Miller has learned that those little ideas that nibble and persist should never be ignored, because in them lie the seeds of destiny. Advertisement * A decade and a hemisphere later, Miller, 51, sits in what used to be the balcony of the cavernous Art Deco Metro Theatre, half a block away from the neon and burlesque of Kings Cross, Sydneys red-light district. Open-faced, with an unstudied charm that would be truly disarming in Hollywood, Miller is more like your favorite philosophy professor, too cool to care about tenure, than a producer whose picture boasts seven Oscar nominations, including those for best picture, best director for Chris Noonan and best screenplay adaptation for Miller and Noonan. While his assistant makes arrangements on the phone for his trip to the Academy Awards, Miller greets his guest with the calm good humor of a man easy in his own skin, actually curious about whats going on around him, just the sort of bloke who would spend 10 years with a talking pig. Advertisement For a man who came to Hollywoods attention with the apocalyptic visions of the Mad Max trilogy, Millers evolution as a filmmaker has been almost mystical. I see filmmaking as a strange journey, he says, relaxing over coffee. In mythology, the trickster leads you into the forest. Film is, to me, the trickster. I think I can be around a thousand years and never understand the process. Below us, in the old auditorium, the last play closed decades ago. Until 15 years ago it served as a supermarket before becoming the de facto mini-studio for Kennedy Miller Productions. Babe got a little post-production mileage in what used to be canned goods. Not at all the techno shrine one would expect after witnessing the films state-of-the-art effects. In fact, Miller says, it took so long to bring Babe to the screen because the technology simply hadnt existed. Advertisement I traveled everywhere, America, Japan, looking for the technology, Miller says. The first time we budgeted it out, it came to $100 million. Fortunately, the technology advances quickly. Kennedy Miller Productions wont confirm or deny it, but reports put the budget at $35 million, an astounding sum by Australian film standards, making Babe the most expensive Australian production ever. But its not gizmos or zeros that captured critics awards and audiences hearts, turning a British childrens fable into a Hollywood crossover fairy tale. To Miller, its the power of an unprejudiced heart. Thats the real point of the film, he offers with a smile. Its an anti-prejudice piece. The farm animals are frozen in their beliefs, theres institutionalized prejudice and here comes the innocent heart that breaks it all down. Miller, who is a vegetarian, hates to disappoint the vegans who say that Babe is to carnivorism what Gentlemans Agreement was to anti-Semitism. Nonetheless, he insists that the other primary issue of the film is not vegetarianism but one he finds personally most powerful: the moment when a child finally loses his innocence. When Babe learns the truth about pigs, that they exist for the boss to eat, will he be crushed or go forward? he asks. Advertisement How do you confront a terrible truth in a courageous way? Is it possible to grow up and still keep an unprejudiced heart? These are the questions, hilariously put, that have turned Babe into an international and intergenerational hit. In fact, aside from possibly the Pork Council, adults have embraced the little piggy like a nice honey glaze. Miller, however, hesitates to say how Babe became one of the few non-Disney kid flicks ever to strike a chord with grown-ups. I dont think you can tell why a film works or doesnt until a long time later, Miller says. Its taken me 10 years to see why Mad Max worked. He pauses thoughtfully, adding, Babe invites children to deal with adult issues and adults to see like children again. Someone who writes more eloquently than me said it invites adults and children into the audience as equals. His eyes smile, as if the analysis is beside the point. I can answer more accurately in 10 years. Miller is a man with the long view. He began his career as a doctor. In 1972, while still an intern at St. Vincents Hospital in Sydney, he and best friend Byron Kennedy (who died in 1982) made a $1,500 short, Violence in the Cinema, Part One. The film won awards and thrust Miller into the vanguard of Australian filmmakers with other 70s wunderkinder like Peter Weir (Picnic at Hanging Rock, Dead Poets Society), Gillian Armstrong (My Brilliant Career, Little Women), Bruce Beresford (The Fringe Dwellers, Driving Miss Daisy) and Fred Schepisi (The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, Six Degrees of Separation). Along with Mad Max, the short film is part of the New York Museum of Modern Art retrospective Strictly Oz: A History of Australian Film that was recently staged in Los Angeles and will be moving to Atlanta in time for the Olympics. Advertisement As with Millers contemporaries, early success in films brought him big-ticket Hollywood assignments. And big Hollywood headaches. Working with [Peter] Guber and [Jon] Peters on The Witches of Eastwick was a very unhappy, dysfunctional experience, he says simply. Although it was glorious working with Susan Sarandon, Jack Nicholson and Michelle Pfeiffer, its a wonder half a film came out the other end. As a self-taught filmmaker, I prefer to put all my energies into making the film, and too much else in Hollywood goes on that gets in the way of filmmaking. I find I cant do things by committee. Miller is full of compliments, however, when it comes to Universal, the studio behind Babe and Lorenzos Oil, for which he received his first Oscar nomination, for original screenplay with Nick Enright. Universal left us alone with Babe, he says. They said, We trust you, youve made lots of films, go do it your way. Thats music to my ears, so you want to honor it the best you can. Still, Miller turned the directors chair on Babe over to Chris Noonan, who had won awards for directing documentaries and Miller-produced television dramas but had never made a feature film. Characteristically generous, Miller doesnt covet Noonans best director nomination. I didnt direct Babe, for very good reasons, he says, smiling, as if wondering how much to reveal. Im very obsessive as a director. I would have got too caught up in which way the duck was looking. Babe was a pre-planned military exercise--every animal movement was trained into them months ahead. Nothing was spontaneous. If I was on set every day, I would have lost the big picture. As producer, I got to sit back and take a more Olympian view. Even then, I drove everyone crazy. Advertisement Its hard to imagine any serious Hollywood player less crazy-making than Miller, although he claims to know how to use the tactical tantrum to his advantage. Every director knows that. It was not required on Babe. The project that started with a laugh may have required perseverance, patience and NATO-like logistics but was always a labor of love. We were infected by the spirit of the book, Miller recalls. We were middle-aged men earnest about what we were doing. We felt it was valuable to do and treated the material seriously but always had great fun. So much fun that there will be a sequel? I dont know what happens to me in showers, johns and airplanes, Miller says laughing, but I was flying somewhere thinking of Babe and a story came up, so Ill sit and write the idea up and see if somethings there. The trickster always leads you into the forest, though. The merry trickster does indeed work in mysterious ways, taking Miller from nuclear Armageddon to Hoggett farm. He seems to be the only one unfazed by the journey. I dont see Babe and Mad Max as very different, he explains philosophically. Theyre both individuals wandering in unknown landscapes trying to find meaning, overcome a number of obstacles, reach the moment their essence is tested and through courage effect change in the world they inhabit. Its essentially the hero story told again. Advertisement Depending on your point of view, the chaos at the turn of the millennium is either the new dawn or the apocalypse. Mad Max is one, Babe the other, sunnier side. Miller looks a little surprised, then his eyes do that laughing thing again when asked about his own personal evolution. Lets face it, Joseph Campbell aside, Max and the pig are not exactly soul mates. I have to recognize Ive gone to the much more optimistic view of the world, Miller acknowledges with what seems like pleasure and relief. Humankind is extraordinary. Were a tiny planet in a vast universe, sorrowful and joyous, exhilarating and terrifying. Whatever happens, its a scary ride, but still, its a fabulous adventure. As Australians cheer favorite sons Miller and Noonan and adopted Yank Mel Gibson toward little gold statuettes, Miller dismisses any expectations about his big night at the Music Center. Theres a strange mystique to Oscar, he confesses, but without false modesty, Id be a complete fool to be disappointed if we didnt win any, because its all totally unexpected. Besides, theres only one moment of truth in filmmaking--when you sit in the theater with a paying audience for the first time. Theyve paid the baby-sitter, parked the car, bought the tickets and theyre waiting for magic on the screen. Thats the moment. Everything else is secondary to that. Advertisement Then he smiles, like a trickster at play or a man hearing laughter high in the midnight Indian sky. Nearly 50 years after his death, Walt Disney remains a divisive figure. That 20-foot berm separating Disneyland visitors from the messy realities of the outside world might as well be the wall that divides the true believers in Disneys innovative magic and those who find his creative output the movies, the theme parks, the merchandising, that damn mouse to be mainstream, cornball and sanitized. Increasingly, though, theres a third group a younger generation unaware that Disney actually existed as a flesh-and-blood historical figure. You talk to teenagers and they think Walt Disneys a brand, like Apple, says Neal Gabler, author of the 2007 biography Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination. As time passes, the company has become more and more disassociated from the human being who created this empire. Advertisement FULL COVERAGE: Fall TV Guide That may be one reason that PBS long-running documentary series American Experience finally realized its ambition to make a movie about one of the 20th centurys most significant figures. American Experience: Walt Disney, a two-part, four-hour documentary airing Monday and Tuesday, offers a comprehensive look at Disneys life and the ways his work continues to influence worldwide culture. Its a balanced portrait, lauding Disneys achievements while also acknowledging his missteps clashes with labor unions and his animators as well as a profound lack of social awareness. The projects makers American Experience executive producer Mark Samels and director Sarah Colt remain, on the eve of its release, somewhat in awe at winning consent from the Walt Disney Co. to make the movie. Weve been thinking about it for a long time, but the more lawsuits and restrictions you heard about you cant have Mickey Mouse on a T-shirt, you cant do this, you cant do that the more we felt stymied, Samels says. Adds Colt: Its a visual medium. If you cant use archives, you cant make a documentary. Advertisement Samels negotiated with Disney representatives for nearly a year, telling them that Disney possessed the same historical importance as the numerous presidents and innovators like Henry Ford that American Experience had profiled. He also took the hard line that Disney could have no editorial input into the project. Samels believes that his unyielding stance ultimately led to the projects approval, as it absolved everyone up and down the Disney corporate chain of responsibility over the content. Days before airing, no one from Disney has seen the documentary. They want it, Colt says. Weve just been very clear we cant let them see it before it airs. What theyll see, along with the rest of viewers, is a bevy of striking images and footage, much of it rare, that illuminates Disneys life visually. For instance, making the contrast between the fun-loving young Disney and his withholding, imperious father, Elias, come alive is a home movie of Walt interviewing his parents on their wedding anniversary. Their exchanges are painfully awkward. So when Disney is quoted saying about his father, Im going to be everything he isnt, theres a vivid frame of reference for the stern figure who motivated the adult Disney to yearn for all the whimsical things he didnt receive as a child. Advertisement Like most American Experience docs, the Disney project was originally conceived as a two-hour film that would have followed Disney starting with his Missouri childhood and continuing through his move west with his brother Roy and their success in forming the studio. But it quickly became clear that such a streamlined approach wouldnt work as there wouldnt be time to do justice to the celebrated run of animated movies from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs through Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo and Bambi, much less the creation of Disneyland. So the decision was made to break the movie into two parts, with the 1941 Disney animators strike being the turning point splitting the two halves. Again, Colt came across a key archival find a recording of Disney addressing his employees, oblivious to their complaints about unfair pay and crippling workloads telling them they didnt need a union because he already gave them everything they needed. The audio exists because Disney, so sure he was in the right, didnt want to be misquoted. It really plays out, that family image of Disney thinking hes the dad and hes going to say, Kids, youre misbehaving. And I know when I tell you why you cant do these things, youll understand, Colt says. And it just backfired. The first part of the documentary ends with footage of Disney standing in an office doorway at his Burbank studio with a forlorn look of distaste and dejection on his face as he watches his striking animators picketing the lot. Its a picture worth a thousand words. Walt never talked about the strike, Richard Sherman tells The Times. Sherman, who with his brother Robert wrote songs for Disney movies like Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book and the Winnie the Pooh featurettes, adds: Some of the old-timers at the studio would say, He was warm and open with everybody before the strike. But then he felt like his family had betrayed him. He was deeply hurt, I know that. The documentary repeatedly asserts that Disney remains a potent Rorschach test in popular culture. Tom Hanks portrayed Disney two years ago in Saving Mr. Banks, a Disney-produced movie about the making of Mary Poppins that, for some, came across as a piece of upbeat, revisionist history. Shortly after its release, Meryl Streep presented an award to Emma Thompson, who portrayed Mary Poppins author P.L. Travers in the film. Streep used the occasion to attack Disney, calling him a gender bigot, alleging he had racist proclivities and that he formed and supported an anti-Semitic industry lobby. Advertisement None of those allegations are addressed in American Experience: Walt Disney, though not because Colt didnt look into them. I asked that question to everyone I interviewed, Colt says, referring, specifically, to anti-Semitism charges. But we didnt bring it up because it was not supported by the record. It needed to be asked, but it didnt have a place in the film. Adds Gabler: The enmity toward Walt is not generated by him being an anti-Semite. Him allegedly being an anti-Semite is generated by the enmity toward Walt. There are plenty of reasons to dislike Walt Disney, particularly politically, but they dont have much to do with anti-Semitism. Was he a gender bigot? Like almost everyone in that generation, he was. Maybe you could blame him for not being a progressive, but nobody was a progressive then. Gabler, whose 851-page book remains the definitive Disney biography, participated in the American Experience documentary and lauds it as a visual education. Still, he wonders if it will change the opinions of anyone familiar with the man. I dont think people will watch with an open mind, Gabler says. If you worship Walt Disney, youll probably feel that the film is not worshipful enough. And If you demonize Walt Disney, you will probably feel that the film does not villainize him enough. But you cant get at the man when youre dealing with those polarities. Theres truth in both of them, and I think thats what makes this movie work. You see the man as a whole. glenn.whipp@latimes.com MOVIES Bouncing Cats This lively documentary, which was featured in the second season of the LA New Wave International Film Festival, tells the inspiring story of one mans attempt to create a better life for the children of Uganda using the unlikely tool of hip-hop with a focus on b-boy culture and break dancing. Featuring narration by Common and interviews with Mos Def, will.i.am and Knaan. The Grammy Museum, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., downtown. 7:30 p.m. Free. RSVP required. (213) 765-6800. https://www.grammymuseum.org. EVENTS Dalai Lama UCLA, home to the largest Buddhist studies program in the Western world, welcomes Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, to campus, where the Tibetan spiritual leader will deliver a talk and participate in a public symposium on Buddhism and neuroscience. The talk, What Is True Wisdom? will be followed by the symposium Buddhism and Neuroscience: A Discussion on Attention, Mental Flexibility and Compassion. UCLAs Royce Hall, 340 Royce Drive. 10-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m. https://dalailama.ucla.edu/ MUSIC Battles This uncategorizable band may have lost the services of frontman Tyondai Braxton, but that blow should mean less to Battles than most bands. Battles sound is built on strafing runs of lead guitars, groaning industrial noise and samurai drumming that add up to a strangely anthemic kind of deconstructed rock-band ethic. New album Gloss Drop sports an ace collaboration with fellow travelers the Boredoms. (A.B.) Echoplex, 1154 Glendale Blvd., L.A. 8:30 p.m. $17. attheecho.com. Advertisement White Arrows The local indie-rock sextet will kick off its Monday night residency at the Bootleg Theater, promising a month of synth-laced, lo-fi psychedelia. The sunny San Diego-based band Lesands and the experimental rock group Vanaprasta will also perform. Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd., L.A. 8 p.m. Free. https://www.bootlegtheater.org A district judge threw out three homicide by vehicle charges Monday, exonerating a New Jersey man accused of killing a family of three in a crash on Route 33 in Bushkill Township. Northampton County District Attorney Stephen Baratta said Tuesday he plans to refile the charges, however. Defense attorney Ted Skaarup said Tuesday the Robinson familys vehicle had stopped on Route 33 and Nelson Segura was driving 15 to 20 mph under the speed limit when he crashed his box truck into the rear of their Toyota RAV4. Theres no evidence that Nelson acted with anything approaching recklessness, Skaarup said, adding, Its tragic, but the case was very clear. Segura, 34, of Oak Ridge, crashed the box truck into the SUV driven by 39-year-old Alexis Robinson at 1:25 a.m. March 24, 2022, on Route 33 northbound at mile marker 11.9, police said. The crash killed Robinson, her husband, Darrell Robinson, 42; and their daughter, Tahlia Robinson, 16, police said. The family lived in Tobyhanna Township in the Poconos, police said. Skaarup said its not clear why the Robinsons car was stopped on Route 33. He said computers connected to air bags in the car indicated it was stopped for at least five seconds before the airbags deployed. Three charges of homicide by vehicle were dismissed Monday at a preliminary hearing by District Judge Jan Vislosky. Shes filling in for District Judge Douglas Schlegel. Segura remains charged with two counts of driving under the influence. Police said he had metabolites of marijuana in his system at the time of the crash. Hes also charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, careless driving, operating a vehicle without insurance and violating restrictions on alcoholic beverages. These misdemeanor and summary charges were bound over for trial by Vislosky. Baratta said Tuesday he disputes the judges decision. At this point, I am looking into refiling the charges. I do not believe that the decision from the senior (magisterial district judge) from Bucks County was supported by the law, he said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. A Laois architect has come up with clever ways to turn a local river from a flood risk to a natural attraction, and revitalise the town it flows through. Joseph Mackey from Abbeyleix has his practice Joseph Mackey Architects at the BloomHQ business and community hub in Mountrath. His pitch for Reimagine Mountrath won one of three annual 10,000 Irish Architecture Foundation's Reimagine burseries. The results of his plans are now on display in BloomHQ for the community to see, and they are getting warm feedback. Like many Irish towns, Mountrath is built on a river that brings increased floods due to climate change, land drainage and development built on its natural flood plains. The Whitehorse flows down directly from the Slieve Bloom mountains, often bringing a deluge to the town after heavy rains. In the 17th century it served as a delivery route for Mountrath's industrial products. It was also an amenity for locals to swim, fish, boat and play. It has Special Area of Conservation (SAC) status because it feeds the Nore, home to a unique form of the endangered Freshwater Pearl Mussel, Ireland's longest living animal. The Whitehorse has flooded parts of the town in the recent past, affecting the girls' primary school, the playground and homes on Shannon Street. Joseph explained the innovative ideas that he and his staff imagined, hoping to solve that flood risk while creating an amenity. "The Town Team and the Laois County Council Regeneration Officer Denise Rainey asked me to submit a proposal to the IAF for a piece of research. I was delighted to be asked. "We started public consultation last February including a meet and greet here in the chapel in BloomHQ, hearing ideas from individuals and groups including scouts, the drama group and Tidy Towns. Our discussion was always around the river. People shared their special memories, worries and opportunities," he said. The team then made a series of drawings, chiefly a 'birds eye view' line drawing of the town with their ideas in cyan. "There is a stone wall on the bridge, you can't see the water. Historically it had a railing, if you can't see it, you can't value it so we propose to drop it the whole way on both sides. "There was a market hall in the square, so we created a civic space like a new town hall or market area, on the footprint of the 'roundabout'. It would reinforce the street flow. "There is still a laneway leading to the river so we propose new pavillions along it with seating. "We asked ourselves what would the river want, almost like a client. It wants to swell, to break its banks. We can see that flooding is a big issue," Joseph said. A key design is to lower the level of a parish owned field beside the river to allow a safe space for flood water, with a raised bank to keep silt from reentering the river. The team consulted with hydrology experts from the Nore Vision project. "The field is a natural depression and it would make a wonderful wetland. It would bring back native flora and fauna and invertibrates and then water birds. The beauty is the wetland would act as a sponge. It naturally would have flooded but the land was raised. "Our solution is subtle and natural, with a raised boardwalk and seats, and canoe storage and a tea room area. it could connect visitors to Castletown and the Slieve Blooms. "This could go hand in hand with Laois County Council's flood alleviation plans," the architect said. "It might not go ahead for a long time but I hope we've planted the seed. We're just dreaming about what it could be. Our role is to suggest ideas, create debate and that might drive opportunities," Joseph Mackey said. Locals gave their reaction to the Leinster Express / Laois Live. John Duffy and his son Rossa O'Dufaigh, architectural student were among the visitors. "It's very interesting, it would be wonderful if it ever came to fruition. Mountrath is such a great town, it's buzzing with great shops and shopfronts," John said. "If it works out it will attract a lot of local visitors and be good for community spirit. It's suiting the town, making the most of its natural resources, it would be nice to see it go ahead," Rossa said. John Duffy and son Rossa O'Dufaigh in BloomHQ. Photo: Leinster Express Michael Osborne said he learned to fish in the river in town. "Years back there were summercamps and boats on the river as part of that, we would canoe from the playground to the hurling field. "It was a nightmare years ago, it would flood out from St Brigid's school to the hurling field, the whole park would flood. There's an underground stream under Shannon Street I can remember sitting on the back of an old fire jeep and in a boat, getting rescued. The last time it flooded here it rose so quickly we had to shimmy out along the wall," he said. Michael Osborne viewing the Reimagine Mountrath plans. Martin Meade is chair of Mountrath Community Forum. "This is intended to showcase Mountrath and its potential, really shine a light on it, and bring Mountrath to a level where it is a nice place to live in and visit and do business. We are designing it for its future. "We are looking at providing more housing for our elderly as well, and creating a motorhome serviced aire beside the river. Our focus is on business too, we are seeing a huge turnaround on vacant shops, about 10 are coming back into use next year with the help of Laois County Council as we approach owners directly," Mr Meade said. Reimagine Mountrath will be on display in Laois County Council foyer for the first week of December, and in Mountrath Library for the following week. It will be archived for permanent accessibility on www.josephmackey.ie The outcome of the Laois General Election race looked like it was going to be one of the most predictable in Ireland until Saturday night October 12. Before that date the most interesting thing about the new three-seat constituency was the departure of Charlie Flanagan from the political stage as Fine Gael's TD. His party had taken the careful step of selecting long-sitting Portlaoise representative Cllr Willie Aird to run in his stead. There was a little bit of intrigue in Fine Gael who it would select as Cllr Conor Bergin had mounted a big campaign to win the party's nomination but this fizzled out at the Fine Gael convention when Cllr Bergin withdrew in his nomination speech. With Sean Fleming on the ticket again for Fianna Fail, the only question to be answered was in what order would the three experienced politicians get elected after voters went to the polls. However, at 9.41pm on October 12, Brian Stanley lobbed a political grenade that would blow this prediction out of the water. A statement would send Sinn Fein's opponents into a tizzy of excitement nationally and turn the Laois election race on its head with his former party scrambling in panic. MORE BELOW PICTURE. Brian Stanley and Mary Lou McDonald when both were in the Sinn Fein Party on a visit to Portlaoise. After 40 years of service to Sinn Fein, he announced he would quit the party and continue to work as a 'Independent Republican TD' on behalf of constituents, who he said 'have always treated me in a fair and respectful manner'. He would later go on to accuse Sinn Fein of character assination and operating a kangaroo court. It would also be revealed that the outgoing Laois Offaly TD was the subject of a provisional finding of gross misconduct following actions deemed as constituting "sexual harassment". The Gardai were called in and is still understood to be reviewing the matter after Sinn Fein passed on a file. Initially, on the surface, the controversy presented a scenario that would culminate in both Mr Stanley and Sinn Fein suffering. A political carcass always attracts attention and there are always those who will see an opportunity to seize an opportunity from another politician's possible demise. That political drama and arguably, soap opera, is playing out in Laois at this General Election. When Laois was last a stand alone constituency there were just six candidates and the outcome was known before the votes were counted. It was a dreary campaign which saw Fleming, Flanagan and Stanley easily returned. Prior to Brian Stanley's resignation, the Laois race was shaping up to be similar with the only change being Aird for Flanagan. But the Sinn Fein crisis has inflated the field with candidates entering the race at the last minute. If nothing else, Sinn Fein and Mr Stanley are to be thanked for injecting a degree of unpredictability into the race that has made it a much healthier democratic process where all the candidates are fighting hard for votes. This competition also puts voters in a much more powerful position with the candidates, especially the favourites. All this being said, there are frontrunners who will be involved at the business end of the Election Count in Portlaoise after polling day on November 29. Sean Fleming enters the race for Fianna Fail as one of the favourites to retain his seat in Leinster House. He contested his first General Election in 1997 and never lost his seat even on the bad days for his party. The only intrigue around Fianna Fail was whether they would run a second candidate to seize on the Sinn Fein / Stanley row. In the end, HQ added Austin Stack to the ticket but his selection just three weeks out leaves him with little chance to cause a shock. As discussed earlier, Cllr Willie Aird is a safe bet for Fine Gael. It would be a seismic political shift if the Portlaoise-based farmer did not win the seat on his first attempt. Fine Gael is strong in Laois and Cllr Aird is popular in rural and urban areas. So with two seats called, what fate will befall Mr Stanley? Ultimately and not unpredictably, the outgoing TD has the edge on survival. After all he has built a political career around defying the odds and his opponents. The biggest threat to him is the success of Sinn Fein nationally and how its candidate Maria McCormack fares. The party has steadied in the polls since hitting the headlines over Dep Stanley and other controversies. Mary Lou McDonald has visited Laois twice to help her win votes and. If Ms McCormack takes some of his old Sinn Fein votes, he could be in trouble. Ironically, Sinn Fein might not benefit in Laois if this comes to pass. The field contains an independent who could squeeze through the gap. MORE BELOW PICTURE. Mary Lou McDonald at the Sinn Fein General election in Portlaoise with Laois candidate Maria McCormack. Cllr Aisling Moran is contesting her first General Election. The former Fine Gael councillor fits the bill of many independents running in the General Election. They are outspoken on spending of public money and promise to speak freely for their constituents not restrained by party rules. Cllr Moran has already carved out a reputation for this on Laois County Council where she has drawn ire especially from former party colleagues in Fine Gael. Oddly enough, it could be Fine Gael votes that could give her a chance to unseat Dep Stanley. It would be a result that would not displease her former party colleagues. If she did make it to the Dail and Fine Gael needed independent TDs to form a Government it's almost certain she would be on their shortlist. There are others in the field that deserve a mention. MORE BELOW PICTURE. With the Green Party unpopular with farmers, candidate Rosie Palmer is facing an uphill struggle in a rural county like Laois. However, she has gathered electoral experience at the local elections and worked as parliamentary assistant to Minister of State Pippa Hackett so is familiar with the political system and how it can deliver for voters. Ms Hackett is showing no signs of leaving politics and could be a friend to Laois if the Greens make it back to Government. Elaine Mullaly has run a big canvas but remains relatively unknown outside Portarlington though is popular on social media for sometimes controversial views on vaccines and other matters. Mary Hande of Aontu's late arrival on the scene will not help her cause though she's likely poll respectably due to the performance of Aontu leader Peadar Toibin. Ken Mooney of People Before Profit has run a low profile campaign and is not a serious contender. Two last-minute candidates to enter the field were former Fianna Fail General Election candidate Pauline Flanagan and Jason Lynch. Ms Flanagan has fallen out with Fianna Fail over local election candidate selection. A former county councillor and community activist in Portlaoise she has contested two local elections and one general election. It is difficult to see her contesting for one of the seats in this campaign. Mr Lynch is a Portlaoise native who was born in St Brigid's. A paramedic, he hopes voters will help him cause a shock. Success for him might be a respectable vote in Portlaoise that might be the foundation of a tilt at the next local election. Ireland's Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) says it has agreed consumer rights commitments with Homebase liquidators for customers of its branches in Portlaoise and elsewhere. The CCPC says it contacted the liquidators following media and consumer reports to its helpline. The Commission says liquidators have agreed to ensure that where existing orders for kitchens and bathrooms can be fulfilled, they will be honoured, and if not, refunded. The CCPC also advises consumers to spend Homebase gift vouchers immediately. Following reports of unfulfilled orders and confusion around consumer rights in Homebase stores in Ireland, the CCPC says it acted to ensure consumers are protected and their rights upheld. The CCPC says Homebase liquidators committed on November 29 to accept gift vouchers during the provisional liquidation phase and the UK administrators have committed to the liquidators to honour outstanding orders, following engagement with the CCPC. CCPC Chair Brian McHugh said: Consumer calls and emails to our helpline raised concerns for CCPC consumer protection officers. We contacted Homebases liquidators late last week to ensure consumers continue to be protected while stores are operating. The CCPC is advising any consumers who have vouchers for Homebase to use them this weekend or risk being left out of pocket. Meanwhile, consumers who have outstanding orders for kitchens and other installations should be contacted by Homebase early next week. The CCPC says liquidators have advised az follows: The UK Administrators will shortly give instructions to Homebase employees and logistics partners to commence the process of booking in delivery slots for certain kitchen orders. These employees will have specific details of orders, any elements that cannot be fulfilled and alternative arrangements for any parts which are currently unavailable...[W]e expect customers will begin to receive calls from Monday 2 December 2024 in respect of their orders. The CCPC consumer helpline (01 402 5555, Monday to Friday 9-6, or ask@ccpc.ie) received reports from consumers who were concerned about their outstanding orders from Homebase. Homebase have 8 stores in Ireland, located in Drogheda, Letterkenny, Navan, Portlaoise, Sligo, Waterford, and Nutgrove and Santry in Dublin. Homebase in Laois has been confirmed as one of the company's Irish stores now bought up by The Range UK homeware retail chain. Show quoted text Millions of euros worth of cocaine has been seized and two people have been arrested by gardai. It comes after an operation involving personnel from the National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau on Wednesday. Gardai stopped two vehicles in the Swords area of north Co Dublin and also carried out a search of a house in Shankill. Thirty-eight kilos of cocaine with an estimated street sale value of 2.6 million euros, 66,000 euros in cash, a cocaine press, money counters and other drug distribution paraphernalia were recovered. A 28-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of facilitating and enhancing drug distribution activities for an organised crime group. They are currently detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007, at a garda station in the Dublin region and can be held for up to seven days. Commenting on the operation, Assistant Commissioner Angela Willis of Organised and Serious Crime said: This is another significant seizure of cocaine which we believe was destined for the Christmas social scene in particular. An Garda Siochana and our law enforcement partners are continuing to play our part in tackling drug-related organised crime and intimidation. Think before you use this coming holiday season, as consumption fuels supply and demand in this harmful illicit industry. We all have a part to play. Investigations are ongoing. Padraig Nally, who was jailed after shooting dead a man who arrived at his property, has died. The Mayo farmer hit the headlines in October, 2004, when he shot John Frog Ward after he arrived at his property. The bachelor then handed himself into gardai following the incident and spent eleven months in prison for manslaughter after being acquitted of murder. Mr Nally had pleaded not guilty to all charges. His conviction was later quashed and after a retrial in December 2006, Mr Nally was found not guilty of manslaughter. The incident sparked a national debate over the right to defend ones property and eventually led to changes in the laws concerning self-defence. READ NEXT: Met Eireann pinpoint return of subzero weather blast amid u-turn forecast He had long been fearful that someone would rob his property and would often spend hours waiting in his shed with his gun. Mr Nally, who was 81, said he still feared for his safety long after the incident. His funeral details have yet to be announced. The endless care and hard work of a Laois mother of four boys has won her the title of the Netwatch Family Carer of the Year 2024. Family Carers Ireland has chosen Sarah Dooley, from Debbicot, Mountmellick for their highest annual honour. Sarah, a mother of four boys - John and Patrick (5), Cathail (7), and Eoin (9) - has shown extraordinary strength and dedication in caring for her children, overcoming immense challenges to ensure they receive the love and support they need. Her youngest boys, twins John and Patrick, are autistic and non-verbal, while Cathail has been undergoing treatment for leukaemia for the past three years, requiring constant hospital visits. Despite these significant demands, Sarah fought tirelessly to secure school placements for John and Patrick and has put her career on hold to care for her children full-time. The charity says that her commitment and resilience embody the spirit of family carers across Ireland. Sarah spoke to the Leinster Express / Laois Live after the ceremony. "I couldn't believe it, I was shocked. When you hear what all the other people go through, and what they do, really anyone who is a carer deserves an award. As a mother, you just do it with your whole heart," she said. She has good news on Cathail's treatment. Family Carers Ireland patrons, Miriam O'Callaghan and Netwatch Brand Ambassador and Irish rugby legend Mick Galwey with Netwatch National Family Carer of the Year, Sarah Dooley (3rd from left) and, from left, Connacht and Galway Family Carer of the Year Maura Fahy from Renmore, Co. Galway, Ulster and Donegal Family Carer of the Year Cathy Kelly from Carndonagh, Co. Donegal, and Munster and Limerick Family Carer of the Year Joe OLoughlin from Athea, Co. Limerick. PHOTO: Mark Stedman "Cathail rang the bell in Crumlin hospital recently because he has finished all his treatment. He got his hicman line out after it being in for three years and four months, it's healed so well, he can swim now and take baths, the things you take for granted. Now he just needs regular checkups," she said. Her twins are settling into school at Borris-in-Ossory, after Sarah's huge effort to find an ASD unit in Laois to take them. "I applied to 19 schools, so I sent 38 letters. They are settling in brilliant, it's doing them the world of good. They go in happy and come home happy on the bus. Their teacher sends me videos and pics on an app as the boys can't tell me how their day went. "It has been a very tough few years, but it's lovely to get the acknowledgement and the award. I couldn't have done without the help of my partner Cathail and from day one, our family support on both sides was amazing. The community's support was too, when Cathail got sick. The Rock GAA did a big fundraiser cycle. "People say how do you manage to be in such good form, but I say we are blessed, there are people out there a million times worse off. Yes in the thick of it it's tough but you have to be positive," Sarah said. She attended the awards with Cathail's mother Ann Gorman and Beth from Family Carers Ireland, having been first notified that she won the Laois carer of the year, and then the Leinster title. With the election a day after the awards, she has a message for the next Government. "I know the carer's means test is an issue, but for me it is school places for children with additional needs. It was absolutely soul destroying trying to get a place. I only got them because I fought so hard. There are 10 or 11 ASD units 15 minutes drive from my home but they were all full. I really feel for people applying for places. It's not the schools' fault. The boys really should be in their local school and community like the other boys," Sarah Dooley said. Catherine Cox, Head of Communications and Policy with Family Carers Ireland, praised Sarahs exceptional dedication. Sarah exemplifies the incredible work of family carers across the country. Every day, family carers provide critical support, often with limited recognition or resources. They deserve more than acknowledgmentthey need meaningful support, including appropriate financial compensation, respite, and access to vital therapies. With tomorrows election, it is crucial that all parties prioritise family carers and commit to tangible, meaningful support. The next government must take decisive action to address their urgent needs and fully recognise their vital role in society. Throughout this campaign, family carers have voiced their frustration with empty promises and inactionthis election must be the moment for real, lasting change. The Charity Ambassador and awards host is Miriam OCallaghan. Sarahs story is one of incredible determination and love. Family carers like her play a vital role in our communities, ensuring the most vulnerable among us receive the care they need. Its an honour to help shine a spotlight on her incredible work and the contributions of family carers across the country. Netwatch's Brand Ambassador is Irish rugby legend Mick Galwey. Sarahs dedication is truly remarkable. She represents the strength, compassion, and perseverance shown by family carers every day. Its a privilege to celebrate her and highlight the importance of the work family carers do in shaping a more caring society, he said. The Netwatch Family Carer of the Year Awards, now in their 17th year, celebrate the extraordinary efforts of Irelands 500,000 family carers, who provide 19 million hours of unpaid care every week. Their contribution is invaluable, supporting loved ones with additional needs, chronic illnesses, disabilities, or mental health challenges, and saving the State an estimated 20 billion annually. Sarah Dooleys story, alongside those of the young carer recipients, underscores the critical role family carers play in society and the pressing need for the State to provide adequate financial support, access to therapies, and much-needed respite services. This years awards also celebrated the outstanding contributions of five young carers from across Ireland. These remarkable young people have stepped up to support their families in extraordinary ways, balancing their own lives while caring for siblings and parents with additional needs. Their stories highlight the dedication, compassion, and maturity they bring to their roles, often providing vital support and comfort to their loved ones. Leinster: Shannon Egan (16), Athlone, Co. WestmeathShannon is a dedicated carer for her sister Alanna (24), who has Koolen de Vries Syndrome and requires daily assistance. Described by their mum as her "right hand woman," Shannon is Alannas biggest advocate and helps with many tasks, ensuring her sisters comfort and wellbeing. Inspired by her experience, Shannon aspires to become a genetic counsellor to support other families with rare conditions. Munster: Ellen Gannon (11), Newcastle West, Co. Limerick Ellen provides loving care for her twin brothers Andrew and James (9), who are non-verbal and attend a special school. She assists with daily tasks such as bathing, toileting, and cleaning, while also engaging them through play, dancing, and teaching. Ellen is described as a patient and gentle soul who is adored by her brothers. Despite her responsibilities, Ellen excels in sports, enjoys art, and brings joy to everyone around her. Connacht: Sarah Conway (11), Ballycroy, Co. Mayo Sarah supports her autistic and non-verbal brother Mick (10) with compassion and maturity. A leukaemia survivor herself, Sarah has always shown resilience, helping her parents care for Mick by being an extra pair of hands and a source of emotional support. Her selflessness and kind heart make her an invaluable part of her family. Ulster: Lucy Connor (14), Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan Lucy, described as her familys little rock, helps care for her autistic brother, her mum, and recently has been helping to support her dad due the sudden onset of a long-term illness. She has a unique bond with her brother, understanding his needs and calming him during difficult moments. Lucys caring nature and empathy shine through in all she does, and her family is grateful for her unwavering support. Dublin: Senan Vaughan (12), Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin Senan cares for his siblings Abby (10), who has a chromosomal disorder and autism, and Eoghan (7), who is autistic and non-speaking. He assists with daily routines, helps Abby prepare for school, reads her bedtime stories, and ensures her safety in public. Senan also provides comfort and support for Eoghan, showing patience and kindness. His mum says that while Senan carries a huge amount of responsibility, he is very proud of his siblings. Gardai have arrested a man and a woman in their 20s and have seized up to 2.5million worth of cocaine that "was destined for the Christmas social scene" during an operation in Dublin this Wednesday. On Wednesday, November 27, as a result of ongoing investigations targeting organised crime activity under Operation TARA, personnel attached to the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau intercepted two vehicles shortly after 8.30 pm in the Swords area of North County Dublin. They also conducted a search of a residential premises in Shankill, Co. Dublin. During the course of this operation, 38 kilos of cocaine with an estimated street sale value of 2.6 million (subject to analysis), 66,000 in cash, a cocaine press, money counters and other drug distribution paraphernalia were recovered. One (1) male aged 28 and one (1) female aged 22 years were arrested pursuant to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006 on suspicion of facilitating and enhancing drug distribution activities for an organised crime group. They are currently detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007, at a Garda Station in the Dublin region and can be held for up to seven days. Read Also: Wine and beer worth 1million seized by Revenue Investigations are ongoing, according to a statement from An Garda Siochana. Commenting on the operation, Assistant Commissioner Angela Willis of Organised and Serious Crime called the operation "another significant seizure of cocaine which we believe was destined for the Christmas social scene in particular". "An Garda Siochana and our law enforcement partners are continuing to play our part in tackling drug-related organised crime and intimidation. "Think before you use this coming holiday season, as consumption fuels supply and demand in this harmful illicit industry," she continued. "We all have a part to play. Irish Visual Artists for Gaza, a Kildare based collective of over 100 Irish artists, designers, and makers, has already raised more than 85,000 for life-saving aid. This Christmas, they aim to surpass 100,000 with their Christmas Bonanza draw, featuring an incredible range of prizes donated by artists from across Ireland. The group have been blown away by the response to their nationwide call-out for prize donations. Among the artwork up for grabs are work by painter Ciara ONeill, fashion designers Helen Steele and Claire Garvey, Laura Chambers Cashmere, The Costume Room Dublin, Peelo, Lillian Ecock, Mary Nagle, Rasher, Eoin OConnor and many many more! Kildare at the Heart of Compassion The Irish Visual Artists for Gaza initiative began earlier this year when Celbridge trio - art teacher Dee Conneely, HR professional Aoife Neasy, and human rights worker Leigh Brady - combined their skills to organise art draws for families displaced by the genocide. Leigh, who lived in Palestine for over five years, was deeply affected by the stories she heard from families in Gaza who had lost everything, and working with Aoife and Dee, they decided to organise a fundraiser. Ive always believed in the power of art to connect and inspire, Dee Conneely explained. Through this initiative, were not only raising funds but also showing solidarity with those enduring such hardship. Since their formation the group has been met with heartwarming support form local artists around Kildare such as Sam agus Neasa and artists from Gather in Kildare town Sarah McEvoy, Boldlines Jewellery, Pickled Pom Pom, and Laura Jayne Halton all of whom have contributed pieces to the various fundraisers. Another Kildare artist providing ongoing support to the group is Anne-Marie Farrell. Together they have been working on a collaboration with art shop Jam Art Factory. The Maynooth-based illustrator has illustrated dozens of portraits of Gazans over the past year, focusing on journalists, mothers, and children. A limited edition of one of her portraits will soon be on sale with all proceeds going to support families in Gaza. One of the top prizes included in the Christmas bonanza is a contribution from renowned Naas artist Niamh Moran - a stunning illustration entitled Moonlight at Sea. From Connemara to Lake Erie. On-going initiatives Aoife Neasy said, We recently sold 14 exquisite stained-glass sunbirds, created by artist Amanda Waite, to honour children who lost their lives in Gaza over the past year. The proceeds will go to Ahmed Wishah, a 23-year-old Gazan displaced himself multiple times, who is leading a winter project to replace worn tents for families in Central Gaza. Donations can be made via the Irish Visual Artists for Gaza Instagram page." In addition to the Christmas Bonanza Draw, Irish Visual Artists for Gaza has partnered with Gaza Go Bragh, an Irish-Palestinian collective, to directly aid displaced families. Through the Families in Focus initiative, nearly 10,000 has been raised by spotlighting individual families each week and organizing art and design prize draws. The group has also hosted creative fundraisers, including live auctions, raffles, and the memorable Gig for Gaza in Dublin, which featured live music and art sales. You can help support Gazas most vulnerable families by purchasing tickets for the Christmas Bonanza draw. Buy your tickets HERE today. Every ticket sold brings us one step closer to the 100,000 goal, providing essential aid. The draw will take place live on Instagram on Wednesday 18 December and Thursday, December 19. Visit @irish_visual_artists_for_gaza on Instagram for more information and to see the full list of prizes. Global Times: Indonesia supports China hosting APEC 2026, to advocate broader interests of Global South with China after joining BRICS, says Indonesian ambassador BEIJING, Nov. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On November 10, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto concluded his inaugural overseas trip to China following his appointment as president in March of this year. This visit marked his first official state trip to China, underscoring the significant importance Indonesia places on its bilateral relations with the country. At the recently held APEC and G20 leaders' summits, Indonesia, as a key member, expressed its commitment to collaborating with China and other developing nations to advance the vision of peace and development for the Global South. In a recent interview with Global Times (GT) reporters Hu Yuwei and Xie Wenting, Indonesian Ambassador to China Djauhari Oratmangun (Oratmangun) shared his insights on the outcomes of the president's visit, Indonesia's aspirations to join BRICS, his perspective on the three major global initiatives proposed by the Chinese leaders, and his expectations for the future of bilateral relations. In his view, Indonesia's development vision aligns closely with China's development philosophy and logic. He looks forward to continuing the friendship and strengthening cooperation between China and Indonesia under the leadership of the new generation of the Indonesian government, working together to contribute wisdom and efforts to the prosperity of the Global South. GT: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto chose China as his first overseas destination after taking office. What signals does this send? What outcomes of this visit impressed you most? Oratmangun: China has been Indonesia's top trading partner for over 10 consecutive years. Progress in our bilateral cooperation has been great, particularly these past few years. China is Indonesia's largest trade partner and the second-largest investment partner. Based on data from General Administration of Customs of China, our trade volume in 2023 reached $139.41 billion. Meanwhile, China's investment in Indonesia last year amounted to $7.4 billion. We are optimistic that under the new administration, Indonesia and China relations will continue to grow stronger, fostering cooperation that benefits both our nations in areas such as trade, investment, infrastructure, and people-to-people exchanges. GT: What's your interpretation of the significance of the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI)? How do you assess their synergies with President Prabowo's development strategy for Indonesia? Oratmangun: The Joint Statement Between the Republic of Indonesia and the People's Republic of China on Advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the China-Indonesia Community with a Shared Future presents us with new enthusiasm for the GSI and GCI, as well as the GDI. Indonesia has been willing to support the GDI because of the benefits that it has presented to our region's economic recovery post-COVID. Meanwhile, the GSI and GCI are in line with Indonesia's vision for a peaceful international order which places emphasis on sovereignty, independence, equality under international law, and peaceful resolution of conflicts through multilateral and international cooperation. The synergy with Indonesia's current development strategy is obvious. GT: President Prabowo said that China is a great country. Indonesia and China have a 1,000-year history of friendly exchanges, and bilateral relations have maintained a sound momentum of development. How President Prabowo's deeper understanding of China can further promote mutual understanding between the two countries? Oratmangun: At the Indonesia-China Business Forum held on November 10 in Beijing, President Prabowo conveyed an ancient Chinese philosophy "A thousand friends are too few, one enemy is too many." He has often expressed this philosophy on several previous occasions. As President Prabowo has expressed many times, China is not only a great global power but also a great civilization. Indonesia and Southeast Asia desire to work together in collaboration and synergy with China. Prabowo Subianto expressed deep respect for the Chinese people's historical civilization, which has endured for thousands of years, and for studying their culture. In his remarks after being inaugurated as president on October 20, President Prabowo stated that Indonesia will pursue a foreign policy as a country that wants to be a good neighbor. Indonesia believes that in this increasingly interconnected world, collaboration, cooperation, compromise, and respect for national interests and the core concerns of others are crucial for achieving peace, security, stability, and prosperity. We are convinced that only dialogue and cooperation can be effective tools to achieve these goals. On our planet, which is becoming increasingly interconnected, collaboration is the only path to prosperity and harmony. Indonesia remains firmly committed to fostering inclusive dialogue, promoting concrete collaboration, and upholding international laws - especially the respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations, as enshrined in the United Nations Charter. Appreciation for Chinese culture and history could indeed foster stronger mutual understanding between Indonesia and China. Indonesia could serve as a bridge in diplomacy, making it easier to identify mutually beneficial paths forward. This cultural awareness also signals respect, which can help in building trust and goodwill between the two nations. However, building on this foundation will require more than just understanding. It will need to translate into tangible ways that reflect Indonesia's national interests while recognizing the perspectives and aspirations of its counterpart. In a diplomatic context, this can lead to a more cooperative and productive relationship. GT: In what areas do you think China and Indonesia can further enhance cooperation, especially in the field of improving people's livelihoods in Indonesia? Oratmangun: Cooperation on housing, nutritious lunch for school-aged kids, and poverty alleviation has been discussed between the two heads of state. Building upon China's investment in Indonesia, I think these areas are a new opportunity for investment, such as in fisheries, agriculture and infrastructure. Infrastructure is not only about transportation, like high-speed train, but also to enhance connectivity to remote areas, building public facilities as well as housing facilities to improve people's livelihoods especially in remote areas. Our government will also continue downstream industrial policy, not only on nickel, but also other minerals like tin and copper. We hope China can continue support our downstream industrial policy. GT: The APEC and G20 summits have just concluded. What do you think APEC and G20 can do to inject momentum into the economic growth of Global South countries and provide direction for improving global economic governance? China will host APEC summit in 2026. What are your expectations on it? Oratmangun: The G20 plays a vital role in encouraging dialogue, cooperation, and coordination of policy responses for global economic recovery. Indonesia, as the largest economy in Southeast Asia, focuses on advocating for the interests of emerging markets and developing nations. Its presidency of the G20 in 2022 showcased its leadership in addressing post-pandemic recovery, digital economy development, and green energy transitions that provided direction and market confidence for future economic prospects and financial system stability. During the G20 in Brazil, Indonesian President Prabowo emphasized the importance of global collaboration to address the challenges of poverty, hunger, and climate change, as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the green energy transition. Those challenges impact Global South countries, their sustainable development, and their energy transition agendas. The G20 must produce concrete actions to help achieve the SDGs. And regarding APEC, President Prabowo has affirmed that the forum should serve as a bridge for an inclusive future amid these increasingly complex global challenges. APEC could play a positive and pivotal role in building broader consensus and deliver more tangible results for regional connectivity and a more balanced, sustainable, and inclusive growth of Asia-Pacific and beyond. Indonesia therefore strongly supports China's APEC Chairmanship and looks forward to a successful APEC 2026. We will support APEC in achieving Putrajaya Vision 2040 of an open, dynamic, resilient, and peaceful Asia-Pacific community. GT: Indonesia has officially submitted an application to join the BRICS. What motivated Indonesia to join BRICS? Oratmangun: Indonesia sees BRICS as an attractive platform due to its commitment to providing an independent, multilateral space where emerging economies and developing nations can pursue greater economic collaboration, and address shared global challenges. Joining BRICS aligns well with Indonesia's foreign policy goals, as the country seeks to diversify its partnerships, reduce economic vulnerabilities, and play a more active role in shaping the global economic order. This forum of developing nations is making significant strides toward its goal of becoming an independent multilateral platform within the global economy. Given its long-term potential, BRICS offers Indonesia an ideal platform to amplify its global influence, serving as a bridge between the interests of developing and developed nations, much as it has done in other multilateral settings. Amid this increasingly polarized global landscape, Indonesia's diplomacy is transforming, engaging a diverse array of international actors, and enhancing its influence as an emerging power. Indonesia is prepared to take on a more prominent role on the world stage. In alignment with its free and active foreign policy, Indonesia seeks to engage across multiple platforms to protect and promote its national interests. By joining BRICS, Indonesia seeks not only to advance its national interests but also to support the broader interests of the Global South, striving to create a more balanced global economy where the voices of developing countries carry greater weight. SOURCE Global Times 28 november 2024 at 21:40 News published onand distributed by: Manulife Investment Management Announces Estimated Cash Distributions for Manulife Exchange Traded Funds and ETF Series of Manulife Funds C$ unless otherwise stated TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK: 945 TORONTO, Nov. 29, 2024 /CNW/ - Manulife Investment Management today announced the December 2024 cash distribution estimates for Manulife Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and ETF series of Manulife Mutual Funds, including of Manulife Alternative Mutual Funds (Manulife Funds). Please note that these are estimated amounts only as of November 1, 2024, and reflect forward-looking information which may cause these estimates to change. Unitholders of record at the close of business on December 30, 2024 will receive cash distributions payable on January 14, 2025. Details of the estimated distribution per unit amounts are as follows: Manulife ETF/ Fund Name Ticker Distribution Amount (per unit) ($) Distribution Frequency Manulife Smart Short-Term Bond ETF TERM 0.015829 Monthly Manulife Smart Core Bond ETF BSKT 0.013683 Monthly Manulife Smart Corporate Bond ETF CBND 0.017744 Monthly Manulife Smart Global Bond ETF GBND 0.018655 Monthly Manulife Smart Enhanced Yield ETF CYLD 0.000000 Monthly Manulife Smart U.S. Enhanced Yield ETF - Unhedged UYLD.B 0.000000 Monthly Manulife Smart U.S. Enhanced Yield ETF - US Dollar UYLD.U 0.000000* Monthly Manulife Smart U.S. Enhanced Yield ETF - Hedged UYLD 0.000000 Monthly Manulife Strategic Income Fund - ETF Series STRT 0.032414 Monthly Manulife Alternative Opportunities Fund - ETF Series OPPS 0.051229 Monthly Manulife Strategic Income Plus Fund - ETF Series PLUS 0.050470 Monthly Manulife Smart Dividend ETF CDIV 0.100125 Quarterly Manulife Smart U.S. Dividend ETF ? Unhedged Units UDIV.B 0.052883 Quarterly Manulife Smart U.S. Dividend ETF ? Hedged Units UDIV 0.046084 Quarterly Manulife Smart U.S. Dividend ETF ? USD Units UDIV.U 0.036818 * Quarterly Manulife Smart International Dividend ETF ? Unhedged Units IDIV.B 0.062182 Quarterly Manulife Smart Global Dividend ETF Portfolio GDIV 0.000000 Quarterly Manulife Multifactor Canadian Large Cap Index ETF MCLC 0.443171 Semi-Annually Manulife Multifactor U.S. Large Cap Index ETF ? Unhedged Units MULC.B 0.189683 Semi-Annually Manulife Multifactor U.S. Large Cap Index ETF ? Hedged Units MULC 0.159351 Semi-Annually Manulife Multifactor U.S. Mid Cap Index ETF ? Unhedged Units MUMC.B 0.168724 Semi-Annually Manulife Multifactor U.S. Mid Cap Index ETF ? Hedged Units MUMC 0.138941 Semi-Annually Manulife Multifactor Developed International Index ETF ? Unhedged Units MINT.B 0.249577 Semi-Annually Manulife Multifactor Developed International Index ETF ? Hedged Units MINT 0.117671 Semi-Annually Manulife Multifactor Canadian SMID Cap Index ETF MCSM 0.387220 Semi-Annually Manulife Multifactor U.S. Small Cap Index ETF ? Unhedged Units MUSC.B 0.224965 Semi-Annually Manulife Multifactor U.S. Small Cap Index ETF ? Hedged Units MUSC 0.180203 Semi-Annually Manulife Multifactor Emerging Markets Index ETF ? Unhedged Units MEME.B 0.386615 Semi-Annually Manulife Smart Defensive Equity ETF CDEF 0.138248 Semi-Annually Manulife Smart U.S. Defensive Equity ETF ? Unhedged Units UDEF.B 0.052864 Semi-Annually Manulife Smart U.S. Defensive Equity ETF ? Hedged Units UDEF 0.044439 Semi-Annually Manulife Smart U.S. Defensive Equity ETF ? USD Units UDEF.U 0.056002 * Semi-Annually Manulife Smart International Defensive Equity ETF ? Unhedged Units IDEF.B 0.117218 Semi-Annually *Distribution amount ($) in USD for UYLD.U, UDIV.U and UDEF.U. Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with exchange traded funds (ETFs) and ETF series. Please read the ETF Facts and prospectus before investing. ETFs and ETF series are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated. Manulife ETFs and ETF series of Manulife Funds are managed by Manulife Investment Management. Manulife Investment Management is a trade name of Manulife Investment Management Limited. Manulife Alternative Mutual Funds have the ability to invest in asset classes or use investment strategies that are not permitted for conventional mutual funds. The specific strategies that differentiate these alternative mutual funds from conventional mutual funds may include the increased use of derivatives for hedging and non-hedging purposes, the increased ability to sell securities short and the ability to borrow cash to use for investment purposes. If undertaken, these strategies will be used in accordance with the funds' objectives and strategies, and during certain market conditions, may accelerate the pace at which the funds decrease in value. About Manulife Wealth & Asset Management As part of Manulife Financial Corporation, Manulife Wealth & Asset Management provides global investment, financial advice, and retirement plan services to 19 million individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Our mission is to make decisions easier and lives better by empowering people today to invest for a better tomorrow. As a committed partner to our clients and as a responsible steward of investor capital, we offer a heritage of risk management, deep expertise across public and private markets, and comprehensive retirement plan services. We seek to provide better investment and impact outcomes and to help people confidently save and invest for a more secure financial future. 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For additional information, please visit manulife.com. SOURCE Manulife Investment Management 29 november 2024 at 07:30 News published onand distributed by: Lithium Argentina to Establish Corporate Domicile in Switzerland VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lithium Americas (Argentina) Corp. ("Lithium Argentina" or the "Company") (TSX: LAAC) (NYSE: LAAC) today announced its intention to establish corporate domicile in Switzerland under the new name, Lithium Argentina AG. The move, which requires shareholder, stock exchange and court approval, is expected to occur in early 2025. Lithium Argentina has performed an extensive review of its businesses and corporate structure. Switzerland, was determined to be the best jurisdiction from a strategic, commercial and legal perspective. The move is expected to provide expanded financing flexibility and support the Company's current business and long-term growth plans through access to various markets, proximity to European customers and an attractive framework for existing shareholders and future investment. The redomiciling of the Company is proposed to be effected by way of plan of arrangement whereby the Company will be continued from the Province of British Columbia, Canada into the jurisdiction of the Canton of Zug, Switzerland. The operational headquarters of the Lithium Argentina group of companies will become Buenos Aires, Argentina. Lithium Argentina does not anticipate any material change to its operations or financial results as a result of the change of domicile. As part of the new corporate domicile, the Company plans to change its name to Lithium Argentina AG and continue the listing of its common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") and the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the new symbol "LAR", which will continue to provide shareholders with the convenience of owning North American listed stock and avoids any disruption related to changing the listing to other capital markets. By continuing to trade on North American markets, the Company will continue to be subject to the public company reporting requirements under Canadian and U.S. securities laws. The Company's partner in the Cauchari-Olaroz project, GFL International Co. Ltd. ("Ganfeng"), has entered into a three year standstill agreement with Lithium Argentina pursuant to which Ganfeng has agreed that it will not, directly or indirectly, acquire or facilitate the acquisition of a controlling interest in the Company (subject to customary exceptions). The continuation is subject to administrative approvals and the Company is planning to call and hold a special meeting of shareholders on January 17, 2025 to approve the continuation and ancillary matters. A management information circular along with other meeting materials containing detailed information with respect to the continuation transaction will be made available to shareholders and filed on SEDAR+ and EDGAR in December. ABOUT LITHIUM ARGENTINA Lithium Argentina is an emerging producer of lithium carbonate for use primarily in lithium-ion batteries and electric vehicles. The Company, in partnership with Ganfeng is ramping up production of the Cauchari-Olaroz lithium brine operation in Argentina and advancing development of additional lithium resources in the region. Lithium Argentina currently trades on the TSX and on the NYSE. For further information contact: Investor Relations Telephone: +1 778-653-8092 Email: [email protected] Website: www.lithium-argentina.com FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking information"). These statements relate to future events or the Company's future performance. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, may be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information generally can be identified by the use of words such as "seek," "anticipate," "plan," "continue," "estimate," "expect," "may," "will," "project," "predict," "propose," "potential," "targeting," "intend," "could," "might," "should," "believe" and similar expressions. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information, including, without limitation, with respect to the following matters or the Company's expectations relating to matters such as the intention to establish corporate domicile in Switzerland, the anticipated benefits of the redomicile, the approval of the redomicile, the holding of a special meeting of shareholders, trading of our shares on the TSX and the NYSE, impacts on operations and financial results, impacts on day-to-day operations and the continued conduct of our business. Forward-looking information does not take into account the effect of transactions or other items announced or occurring after the statements are made. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based upon a number of expectations and assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those related to: uncertainties with respect to obtaining all applicable shareholder, court and regulatory approvals or satisfying other requirements necessity or desirability of permitting or facilitating the completion of the transaction; the continued listing on the TSX and NYSE, being subject to satisfying all conditions prescribed by the exchanges; there being no guarantee that the redomiciling will procure the anticipated benefits nor that the expected impacts will materialize as expected; potential adverse tax consequences resulting from the transaction; discretion of the Company to implement the redomicile or not; risks associated with the Company being governed under a different corporate legal regime post continuation; change in the rights of shareholders as a result of the continuation; unforeseen events that could prevent, delay in or increase in cost of completing the continuation; uncertainties inherent to feasibility studies and mineral resource and reserve estimates; global financial markets, general economic conditions, competitive business environments, and other factors that may negatively impact the Company's financial condition; the inability of the Company to secure sufficient additional financing to develop the Company's mineral projects; and all the other risk factors identified herein and in the Company's latest annual information form and in other continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR+ and EDGAR. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this press release and, except as required by applicable law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers are cautioned that the actual results achieved will vary from the information provided herein and that such variations may be material. Consequently, there are no representations by the Company that actual results achieved will be the same in whole or in part as those set out in the forward-looking statements. This press release does not constitute a solicitation of any proxy nor the offering of any securities of the Company. 29 november 2024 at 08:00 News published onand distributed by: DEEP FINE wins at CES Innovation Awards 2025 with XR spatial information construction solution DSC - DEEP FINE wins CES Innovation Award in the XR Technology & Accessories Category and Gears Up for January Exhibition - DSC can create real spaces in 3D without expensive equipment or personnel, can even create and deploy AR content - "Building digital twins with DSC can cut costs by up to 80%. We will focus on lowering the entry barriers to industrial DX" LAS VEGAS and SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- XR spatial computing platform developer DEEP FINE (CEO Kim Hyun-bae, https://www.deepfine.com) announced on November 27 that it had won the Innovation Awards Honoree at the CES Innovation Awards for its XR spatial information construction solution DSC (DEEP.FINE Spatial Crafter) ahead of CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2025, to be held in Las Vegas, USA, in January of next year. CES, the world's largest consumer electronics show, presents innovation awards every November to the top technologies or products that will shine at the next year's CES. DEEP FINE's XR solution DSC, which can create real-world spaces in 3D, received an innovation awards in the XR Technologies & Accessories category in recognition of its technological excellence and innovation. DEEP FINE plans to showcase DSC to participators from around the world at CES 2025 next January in order to develop overseas markets. With its patented "3D map creation and method system that reduces production complexity and difficulty," DSC allows anyone to easily create digital spaces using mobile devices, just like taking videos, without the need for expensive LiDAR equipment or engineers. It is also possible to create and place 2D and 3D AR content within the platform. In addition, DEEP FINE completed a patent registration this year for its "Augmented Content Processing System" which allows for the placement of augmented reality content. The core technology of DSC is DEEP FINE's proprietary visual positioning system (VPS), which enables more detailed augmented reality. Unlike GPS, which cannot be used where satellite signals are limited, DSC operates reliably in complex indoor environments such as event venues, museums, and large shopping malls because it determines the user's location through images. The constructed spatial data is provided through a cloud, allowing multiple users to share it in real-time, which enhances work efficiency. DEEP FINE participated in the AR-based Indoor Positioning Navigation Pilot Project conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Korea Land and Geospatial Informatix Corporation (LX) through DSC, and built a digital space of approximately 50,000 square meters in the Gwanghwamun area. The company has also utilized DSC for an AR docent feature that introduces exhibits in the exhibition halls of Seoul City Libraries, mainly using AR content created in house. Kim Hyun-bae, CEO of DEEP FINE, said, "The digital transformation in various industries such as manufacturing, construction, energy, and logistics has been steadily progressing. However, small and medium-sized enterprises and public institutions have faced challenges in adopting digital technologies due to the high costs." "While digital transformation is reshaping industries such as manufacturing, construction, energy, and logistics, the prohibitively high costs often act as a significant barrier, preventing SMEs and public institutions from adopting these groundbreaking innovations." He added, "DEEP FINE has continued to develop technology to solve the problem of relying on specialized personnel when building digital twins and to reduce costs by up to 80%, thereby lowering the entry barrier to the digital transformation. Our consistent efforts have led to the CES Innovation awards." SOURCE DEEP FINE 29 november 2024 at 08:00 News published onand distributed by: VOTING in the General Election across Limerick's two constituencies has concluded with polling stations closing at 10pm. It comes as an exit poll, published on the stroke of the polls closing, shows that Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein are almost neck-and-neck in terms of vote share. According to the information, Fianna Fail is at 19.5%, Sinn Fein is at 21.1% and Fine Gael at 21%. Elsewhere, the Green Party's vote share is at 4%, the exit poll predicts, Labour is at 5%, and the Social Democrats have landed at 5.8%. People Before Profit are on 3%, Aontu are on 3.6% and Independent candidates are at 12.7%, the poll suggests. Independent Ireland's support stands at 2.2% based on the exit poll, with other candidates at 1.9%. This is based on the first preference votes people have expressed. The data, gathered by Ipsos B&A is based on interviews with around 5,000 people across 253 locations across Ireland immediately after they voted. The margin of error of the poll is 1.3%, but it will not necessarily reflect the number of seats each party will get, with preferences and local issues all important in terms of filling seats. Commissioned by RTE, The Irish Times, TG4, Trinity College Dublin, it is the earliest reflection of voting patterns from the 2024 General Election. Back in Limerick, a huge logistical operation will now kick into gear to transport the 282 ballot boxes from polling stations from all four corners of the county to the Limerick Racecourse. READ MORE: Controversy in Limerick: Alphabetical blunder on ballot raises validity concerns Security will be tight at the venue, with a garda presence over the night. The building containing the ballot boxes will be sealed. Once again, the venue just outside Patrickswell is playing host to the count for the Limerick City constituency where there are four seats up for grabs, and the Limerick County constituency, where three TDs will be returned. Voters in Limerick County had a choice of 15 candidates, with the electorate in Limerick City picking from a field of 17. Boxes will begin to be opened from 9am. Limerick Live will bring you all the updates from the Count Centre over the weekend. A live blog reporting all the day's events will begin on Saturday morning. COUNCILLORS have decided to not increase the commercial rate in a boost to businesses across Limerick city and county. After a nine-hour long meeting at County Hall in Dooradoyle this Friday, members approved John Moran's first budget as Limerick's directly elected mayor. Initially, the mayor had proposed to increase the rate - a charge levied on business owners based on the size of the premises they operate from - by four per cent. But councillors fought back against this, and after a number of adjournments, they agreed a deal which means the rate is kept the same for 2025. On Thursday, Limerick Chamber chief executive Michelle Gallagher urged a change of tack. She said that a rise in commercial rates would risk undermining Limerick's competitiveness and may discourage future investments. As part of the budget, the total spend will be 923.6m for 2025. It reflects an increase of 20m and a cut in spend on the Housing Assistance Payment shared services centre which Limerick runs on behalf of Ireland's local authorities. The amount of the decrease is now being funded from elsewhere. Councillors have approved an increase in a number of other budget areas like housing and roads maintenance plus increased grants allocation for the elderly and vulnerable. A report on the programme of capital projects proposed between 2025 and 2029 which is subject to funding availability was also considered at the budget meeting. Some of the main projects identified is Mayor Moran's flahship plans for Smart housing - modular homes in other words - the second phase of the Limerick to Foynes rail line, the Adare bypass and flood proofing of homes across Limerick. Mayor Moran said: "This budget is not just a financial plan. It symbolises the trust and co-operation between the office of Mayor and the council, essential for driving Limerick's development and improving the quality of life for its residents. We have a shared commitment to making Limerick a better place for all its residents. Together, we are laying the foundation for a brighter future, addressing key issues such as housing, infrastructure, and community well-being. I look forward to continuing our work together to implement the 'More for Limerick' programme and drive meaningful progress for our city." A PROMINENT Limerick solicitor has seen a big rise in recent weeks of deportation orders concerning foreign nationals with long work histories in Ireland. Sarah Ryan has received an increase in calls from worried employers, with one staff member being arrested at a building site and transported to Limerick Prison. Two business owners, who spoke to the Leader, asked why foreign nationals that are working and paying taxes are being targeted, compared to those who have criminal records or live off benefits. They say that the employees are paid through the books, contribute to the economy and that they find it very difficult to get Irish staff. One of the employers is in the construction industry, the other in hospitality. Ms Ryan (pictured) said one construction worker was detained by gardai from the immigration office, while he was pouring concrete, and lodged in Limerick Prison. The immediate imprisonment, without notice of someone working in a small business causes upheaval for the business owner, and work of the business, and is exceptionally distressing for the person detained. Business owners talk about the reality for their staff, whom they know, trust and rely on, and the survival of their businesses where a key member of staff is removed, and lodged in a prison, said Ms Ryan, who has noticed the crackdown in recent weeks. She said the Department of Justice has issued deportation orders for people who are not involved in criminality, and have long work records in Ireland. It is possible to be lodged in a prison only because the Department of Justice has signed a deportation order, and this can happen even where the person was given a permission to work while the application was going on. The gardai with the immigration office cannot be faulted for their work as they are subject to the directions of the Department of Justice. In some cases the person with the permission to work is an experienced labourer in their line of work, and a good worker but now is in Limerick Prison, said Ms Ryan, who is endeavouring to fight these cases. The boss of the man taken to prison spoke to the Leader. He is one of the nicest men you'd ever meet. He has worked on my house and my wife was in tears last night at the poor man sitting in a jail cell in Limerick. I would vouch for him 100%. All he wants to do is work, said the man, who runs a groundworks company employing around 17/18 people. He accepted that his employee did have a deportation order but doesnt know why as he has a clean record, is working and paying taxes. If he had committed a crime then fair enough but all he wants to do is work and earn money. Here is (persons name) who wants to work and he was taken off to prison. Its not right, said the employer, who adds that he will be lost without him. One of the owners of a restaurant in Limerick said one of their chefs has received a deportation order. I applied for a work permit for him because he is a really decent guy, never in trouble and a very good worker. They refused the application. We advertise non-stop for bar staff, waitresses, kitchen staff but have got no responses. Then there is our chef who is working hard, paying tax, and they want to deport him. There is something wrong, they said. Both employers spoke of the detrimental effects of losing key personnel to their small to medium businesses and said they are far from alone. READ MORE: Talks to be held on opening up bus lane in Limerick city centre The Leader contacted the Department of Justice with their concerns. A spokesperson said they cannot comment on individual cases and does not comment in detail on operational procedures regarding the removal of persons from the State. Ireland supports the entry of migrants through legal pathways, to facilitate legal migration into the State and individuals must follow the established legal processes to live and work here. These include arrangements for various categories of persons, including those that wish to work legally in the State. In order to work in Ireland a non-EEA National must hold a valid Employment Permit unless granted an immigration permission which permits employment. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is responsible for the administration of the Employment Permits system, said the spokesperson, A deportation order is a legal order to leave the State, and is issued following an assessment of the persons circumstances, they said. Any person who has been ordered to leave the State and fails to do so is committing a criminal offence, and can be arrested without warrant by An Garda Siochana. While there are circumstances in which the Minister may revoke a deportation order, this is considered on a case by case basis and obtaining an offer of employment and making an application for a work permit does not impact the effect or validity of the order. Any person who is subject to a deportation order does not have permission to be in the State and is not permitted to engage in employment. If a person has been ordered to leave the State and fails to do so is committing a criminal offence, and can be arrested without warrant by An Garda Siochana, concluded the spokesperson. COMMENTING on the lineup for the ICMSA AGM to be held on Monday, December 2 in the Radisson Blu Hotel on the Ennis Road, Denis Drennan said that the message they were getting back strongly from members attending meetings was the need to focus strongly on core farmer concerns. Mr Drennan, ICMSA president, said that with that feedback in mind, the agenda and tone of the AGM was going to be for farmers, by farmers with political and non-farming input to be kept to a minimum for 2024. Its time that we heard from those individuals and organisations charged with directly developing and strategising for the Irish farm sector and the wider agri-food sector. "Conor Galvin, chief executive of Ornua, will speak on the dairy market outlook and whether well see the recent rally carry through to peak production in 2025 and beyond. "We also expect to hear what Ornuas plans are in the event of the introduction of the tariffs threatened by the incoming Trump administration, said Mr Drennan. READ MORE: Historic red brick building in Charleville changes hands He said Brendan Gleeson, secretary general of the Department of Agriculture, has kindly accepted their invitation to speak to the AGM and his theme is Key Farm Policy Issues to 2030?, where he will outline what the department believe will be the key policy changes facing Irish farmers over the next six years. "Its also fair to say that theres a lot of farmers with questions about the efficacy and relevance of Bord Bias schemes and we are confident that Jim OToole, Bord Bia chief executive, will be able to field those and throw some light on some of the more controversial areas. "Theres so much to get through and we greatly value our tradition of robust and businesslike Q & A of speakers while extending to them all the respect and welcome that they deserve. The venue is excellent, and Id urge our great Limerick members to travel if possible and join us and participate in what promises to be another great ICMSA event," said Mr Drennan. Ring 061-314677 or email info@icmsa.ie to ensure a place. POLLS have opened across Limerick as voting kicks off in the 2024 General Election. Some 282 polling stations across the city and county opened at seven o'clock this Friday morning and will remain open until 10pm. A total of 152,753 people are eligible to vote across the two Limerick constituencies - 77,735 in the City and 75,018 in the County. READ MORE: Liam Neeson rumours abound as filming of major movie to begin in Limerick Seventeen candidates are battling it out for four seats in the Limerick City constituency. This area covers the city and its suburbs, and areas of north-east Limerick out to the Tipperary border. In the rural Limerick County constituency - which covers the remainder of the county - there's 15 candidates chasing three seats. Separately, voters in Shannon Banks, Westbury, and elsewhere in South East Clare will be electing members to the Clare constituency. The electorate in Birdhill, Newport, Ballina and its surrounds will vote for candidates in Tipperary North. Voters presenting to polling stations are advised to bring their polling card, which was issued in the post. If this is not available, and youre registered to vote, you should bring along photographic ID. Following the closing of the polls, a major operation will kick-in to bring the ballot boxes for the two Limerick constituencies to the count centre at Limerick Racecourse, Patrickswell. The sorting of votes will commence on Saturday morning. At this time, tallies will take place which may give a good indication of which way the polls have gone locally. Results are expected to trickle in throughout Saturday evening and into Sunday. A full picture of how Limerick has voted is expected by Sunday. As with every other election in Ireland, voters will use the Proportional Representation-Single Transferable Vote method. It means voters will number their candidates in order of preference. Candidates are chasing a quota, which is 50% of the valid vote, plus one. Once a candidate passes this quota, and is deemed elected, the extra votes they have recorded will then be transferred to other candidates based on people's preferences as expressed on the ballot paper. Conversely, as candidates with the lowest totals are eliminated, the additional preferences from their votes are transferred over to candidates who are still in the race. If a voter only puts one preference on their ballot, their vote is deemed non-transferable. Limerick Live will be providing extensive coverage online from Saturday morning, including a dedicated live blog on our web site, www.limericklive.ie LIMERICK CITY (FOUR SEATS) Esther Aherne, Independent Ireland Cllr Sarah Beasley, Aontu Senator Maria Byrne, Fine Gael Melanie Cleary, Mid-West Hospital Campaign Cllr Frankie Daly, Independent Ruairi Fahy, People Before Profit-Solidarity Senator Paul Gavan, Sinn Fein Michelle Hayes, Independent Deputy Brian Leddin, Green Party Dean Lillis, Independent Deputy Willie ODea, Fianna Fail Deputy Kieran ODonnell, Fine Gael Cllr Elisa ODonovan, Social Democrats Deputy Maurice Quinlivan, Sinn Fein Dean Quinn, National Alliance Dee Ryan, Fianna Fail Cllr Conor Sheehan, Labour LIMERICK COUNTY (THREE SEATS) Jim Barrett, Independent Cllr Bridie Collins Fianna Fail Joanne Collins Sinn Fein Deputy Niall Collins Fianna Fail Richie Crehan Independent Laura Fahy, People Before Profit Rob ODonnell, Green Party Deputy Richard ODonoghue, Independent Ireland Deputy Patrick ODonovan Fine Gael Donna OLoughlin, Irish Freedom Party Lorraine OSullivan, National Alliance Michael Ryan, Aontu April Sheehan Corkery Independent Cllr Noreen Stokes Fine Gael Gerben Uunk, Irish Animal Welfare party VOTER turnout for the 2024 General Election has improved from a slow start as polling enters its final hours. Despite rainy weather in the city, turnout had topped 50% in the polling station at John F Kennedy national school in the Ennis Road on the city's northside at around 7pm. There was a 53% turnout at one boxes in St Brigid's National School at Childers Road in the city. At Gaelscoil an Raithin, polling officers reported it as being "steadily busy" with a consistent flow of people through the station, which is located in Mungret. READ MORE: Irish Dresden is back in business in Dromcollogher Cllr Daniel Butler, who represents the area, wrote on X, formerly Twitter that four booths at Mungret National School were averaging a 43% turnout as of 6.50pm. In the city centre, at St Michael's National School in Barrigton Street, there was a high of 40% in terms of turnout by 7pm. Elsewhere in the county, attendance at the polling station at Scoil Mocheallog in Kilmallock was described as "steady" this Friday afternoon. As of 5.30pm, there was, on average, 40% turnout in the town. Just after 6pm, RTE News reported that the average figure for turnout across Limerick city and county is in the low 30s. As it stands, overall turnout is set to fall on the last General Election, held in February 2020. But polling stations in Limerick, and across Ireland remain open until 10pm, so a late surge could change all of that. CONTROVERSY has erupted in Limerick City after voters noticed the ballot paper before them this Friday deviated from alphabetical order, casting doubts over the validity of the election process. Eagle-eyed voters at polling stations across the city have voiced concerns after spotting that Maurice Quinlivan of Sinn Fein and Dean Quinn of The Irish People party are listed ahead of Willie ODea of Fianna Fail and the Social Democrats Elisa ODonovan, whose names should be listed higher on the ballot sheet due to their order in the alphabet. The Electoral Commission website states that The ballot paper will show a list of names, in alphabetical order, party emblems and photos of each candidate. "I did notice it when I went in and I wondered to myself how it happened and if it would make any difference to the outcome. In politics, it is dog eat dog and small margins matter bigtime given the work that goes in on the ground and what's at stake," one voter told Limerick Live this Friday evening. A seasoned political observer stated that "there could be a challenge to the result depending on who gets elected. If there is a seat won by a very narrow margin, someone may challenge it in the court. But a judge would probably rule that because there are coloured photographs on the ballot paper, it would mean that people would know who they are voting for except in a very tiny minority which would make no difference to the end result. If they were to challenge it in court, I would bet any money they would say that while it wasn't desirable the alphabetical order wasn't maintained properly, because good clear photographs provided by the candidates are on the ballot paper, and we look at someone's photograph, and sometimes we don't read their name, they'd say no material advantage was gained by any particular candidate. READ MORE: Turnout rises across Limerick after slow start in voting for General Election 2024 In response to the controversy, one social media user commented: "I will heavily hold it against any candidate who wants to make anyone go out and vote again tbh. Polling stations close at 10pm this Friday night after which the results of exit polls will be released. In a fresh turn of events in the Kalyani family dispute, Gaurishankar Kalyani has submitted documents in a Pune court to back his claim that a Kalyani Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) exists contrary to elder brother Baba Kalyani's claims a move that may imply that all members of the Kalyani family are entitled to a share of the billionaire family's assets. The over 6,000-page filing, which the Pune court took on record about two weeks ago, cites evidence such as tax returns and investments in group companies to prove the existence of the HUF. Mint has reviewed a copy of the documents filed. The documents claim that Bharat Forge chief Baba Kalyanis contention that there is no Kalyani HUF and that he single-handedly built Bharat Forge, the flagship, and other group companies are false. This may weaken Baba Kalyani's key argument that the court should not allow the partition of the Kalyani family assets. At stake are the Kalyani familys holdings in Bharat Forge, Kalyani Steels, BF Investments, BF Utilities, Kalyani Investments, and Automotive Axles, companies with a collective market capitalisation exceeding 91,000 crore. They include promoter shareholdings of 3,335 crore in Kalyani Steels and 61,851 crore in Bharat Forge. Gaurishankar Kalyani's daughter, Sheetal Kalyani, had filed a suit in 2014 seeking a share of the family wealth. The situation worsened when Sulochana Kalyani, the wife of Neelakanth Rao Kalyani and mother of Baba, Gaurishankar and Sugandha, passed away in 2023. The Pune court was scheduled to hear the suit on Friday. Separately, the brothers were embroiled in a legal dispute with the children of their sister Sugandha Hiremath, who went to court in March 2024 to demand one-ninth of the Kalyani familys assets, estimated at 65,000 crore to 70,000 crore. It was in this case that Baba Kalyani filed an affidavit asserting that Sugandhas children Sameer and Pallavi were not part of the Kalyani joint family because they lacked a common male ancestor. No individual effort In the affidavit, Baba Kalyani stated that there was no Kalyani family HUF and that property acquired by his grandfather, Annappa N. Kalyani (ANK), was not part of any HUF. Baba Kalyani further claimed that ANK was never the Karta of an HUF, and there was no HUF during his lifetime. The Karta of an HUF is usually the eldest male member of the family who manages the familys earnings and expenses, including joint family properties. The documents that Gaurishankar submitted seek to prove that the Kalyani familys wealth stemmed from assets managed under the Kalyani HUF, including investments in companies such as Bharat Forge. He argued that the wealth and businesses under the Kalyani name were not the result of any individual entrepreneurial effort, as Baba Kalyani claimed, but derived from a family pool of assets controlled by the Kalyani HUF. Gaurishankar Kalyani, his wife Rohini Kalyani, Baba Kalyani and Bharat Forge did not respond to queries emailed by Mint. Gaurishankar's filing pointed out that ANK was a moneylender, as substantiated by the wealth tax returns of the ANK HUF. The existence of the ANK HUF was also supported by the income tax returns filed over the years. It shows that the ANK HUF held shares in companies such as Bharat Forge and Kalyani Investment Company. The documents highlight that the ANK HUF continued until 1991, when its assets were merged into the HUF of ANKs son and the brothers grandfather Neelkanth Annappa Kalyani (NAK). NAK, in his capacity as the Karta of the NAK HUF, allegedly received significant assets from the ANK HUF. Gaurishankar claimed that the funds invested in Bharat Forge by the NAK HUF originated from both the ANK HUF and NAK HUF, not from NAKs personal funds. In 1971, he noted, the income tax department considered taxing NAKs income individually, but legal opinion confirmed that the income derived from the shares in Bharat Forge was HUF income. Moreover, the NAK HUF also invested in the holding companies of Kalyani Steel, which remain part of its assets. Gaurishankar alleged that Baba Kalyani pressured NAK in 1992 to transfer control of Bharat Forge and Kalyani Steel to him. However, these share transfers were deemed invalid, and they remain with the NAK HUF. Gaurishankar contended that Baba Kalyani should not act as the Karta of the NAK HUF. Anirudh Laskar contributed to the story Citigroup is nearing an important milestone in efforts to spin off its Mexican consumer bank, an important part of chief executive Jane Frasers turnaround strategy. The bank said it would complete a split next week of the systems that underpin Banamex from the rest of its operations in Mexico. That is a precursor to its plan to list Banamex on U.S. and Mexican exchanges in late 2025 or after. Citi plans to unload a slice of its stake through an initial public offering, then continue to sell the rest of its holdings over time. Banamex, with nearly 20 million customers and revenue of more than $4.7 billion in the first nine months of this year, is the biggest of 14 international consumer-banking businesses Fraser is shedding. In doing so, she plans to simplify the banks structure and focus on multinational companies and wealthy individuals. Fraser hopes that deepening ties to these core clients will help pull Citi out of a 15-year slump. Citis share price has badly trailed peers and is still more than 80% below its record high. The spinoff will free up capital to reinvest in some businesses that generate higher returns," Citi finance chief Mark Mason said. Does Banamex fit the strategy? Its a great business, but no. We look at it as the further simplification of the company. Simpler model, less to focus on." Shedding Banamex has proved more complicated than Fraser and her team bargained for. After Citi announced plans to sell it, Mexicos then-President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the buyer would have to be Mexican, protect employees from job cuts, pay taxes on the sale and keep Citis prized collection of Mexican artwork in the country. As Citi closed in on a deal, Lopez Obrador seized part of a railroad controlled by the would-be buyer, German Larreas Grupo Mexico, and suggested his government might bid for Banamex. When a potential agreement with Grupo Mexico fell through, Citi said in May 2023 that it would focus on the IPO. About a year later, Fraser traveled to Mexico to meet with Lopez Obradors successor, Claudia Sheinbaum, before the then-president-elect took office. Fraser reinforced Citis commitment to remaining in Mexico through its corporate-banking and wealth-management businesses. And the art collection, which includes works by Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, isnt going anywhere, Citi executives have said. Banamex is one of Mexicos largest banks, helping differentiate Citi from its domestic peers as a global financial institution. Frasers predecessors considered the unit the crown jewel in the strategy and resisted the urge to sell it, even in the depths of the 2008-09 financial crisis. Banamex remained a stalwart contributor to Citis bottom line for years even as other parts of the company struggled. Banamex accounted for about 8% of Citis total revenue in the first nine months of 2024, not far off the $4.96 billion Citis entire corporate- and investment-banking business produced in the same period. Fraser and her team determined that Banamex and the other international consumer businesses didnt help Citi deepen ties to the large global companies most of its other divisions serve. Apart from addressing its regulators demands for modernizing its internal systems and data management, there is no bigger priority for Frasers turnaround plan than hitting the target she set for lifting Citis return on tangible common equity to 11% to 12% by the end of 2026. Citi has lagged behind most of its biggest peers on this score, which measures how efficiently banks earn their profits. For the first nine months of 2024, Citi returned 7.2%. By shifting the $3 billion to $4 billion in capital that is supporting Banamex to higher-returning businessessuch as transaction services, credit cards and wealth managementCiti said it should lift its overall returns. Buying back its own shares would have a similar effect. Because investors tend to assign a higher value to companies that generate higher returns, the same steps should raise its stock price. Mason said Citi remained open to selling Banamex outright, or finding an anchor investor to take a stake. If thats something that comes up, well examine it," he said, adding that it is too early to say how the Mexican government might respond. Citi expects to sell 15% to 20% of its Banamex stake in the IPO, depending on market conditions. Write to Justin Baer at justin.baer@wsj.com Canada's antitrust watchdog said Thursday it is suing Google over alleged anticompetitive conduct in the tech giant's online advertising business and wants the company to sell off two of its ad tech services and pay a penalty. The Competition Bureau said that such action is necessary because an investigation into Google found that the company "unlawfully" tied together its ad tech tools to maintain its dominant market position. The matter is now headed for the Competition Tribunal, a quasi-judicial body that hears cases brought forward by the competition commissioner about non-compliance with the Competition Act. The bureau is asking the tribunal to order Google to sell its publisher ad server, DoubleClick for Publishers, and its ad exchange, AdX. It estimates Google holds a market share of 90 per cent in publisher ad servers, 70 per cent in advertiser networks, 60 per cent in demand-side platforms and 50 per cent in ad exchanges. This dominance, the bureau said, has discouraged competition from rivals, inhibited innovation, inflated advertising costs and reduced publisher revenues. "Google has abused its dominant position in online advertising in Canada by engaging in conduct that locks market participants into using its own ad tech tools, excluding competitors, and distorting the competitive process," Matthew Boswell, Commissioner of Competition, said in a statement. Google, however, maintains the online advertising market is a highly competitive sector. Dan Taylor, Google's vice president of global ads, said in a statement that the bureau's complaint "ignores the intense competition where ad buyers and sellers have plenty of choice." The statement added that Google intends to defend itself against the allegation. Also Read | COP kicks the climate can down the road, again US regulators want a federal judge to break up Google to prevent the company from continuing to squash competition through its dominant search engine after a court found it had maintained an abusive monopoly over the past decade. The proposed breakup, floated in a 23-page document filed this month by the US Department of Justice, calls for sweeping punishments that would include a sale of Google's industry-leading Chrome web browser and impose restrictions to prevent Android from favouring its own search engine. (AP) (Corrects metric in paragraph 2 to stock move since announcement, not average share price; removes first bullet point on average price) * Terms of the deal are not finalised, sources say * ESR shares down over 60% from their 2021 peak By Kane Wu and Julie Zhu HONG KONG, Nov 28 (Reuters) - A consortium including Starwood Capital Group and Warburg Pincus aims to finalise a deal to take ESR Group private in the coming weeks, valuing the Hong Kong-listed real estate fund manager at over $7 billion, said two sources. The consortium, according to ESR, also includes its founders and a unit of sovereign wealth fund Qatar Investment Authority. Since the offer the shares of the company are up 14.4% from the closing price on the last trading day before the first take-private announcement, LSEG data showed. The sources, who have knowledge of the matter, declined to be named as the information was confidential. Representatives for the consortium and Warburg declined to comment, while ESR did not respond to requests for comment. Warburg Pincus, ESR's top shareholder with a 14% stake, plans to roll over its holdings into the future private company, rather than cash out, said the two sources and two other people with knowledge of the matter. Terms of the deal, including the offer price, are not finalised, however, and can still change, the sources said. ESR said in May it had received an initial proposal from a consortium led by Starwood Capital Group, Sixth Street Partners and SSW Partners, aiming to take the company private. It said that proposal, received on April 25, would allow its shareholders to choose between receiving cash and rolling their shares into the new company, subject to the terms of the final roll-over arrangements. The consortium subsequently expanded to include Warburg Pincus and others. The deal comes as ESR shares have fallen in the last couple of years amid China's property market slump. The stock is down over 60% from a 2021 peak, while the Hang Seng benchmark has fallen about a third during the period. ESR manages a range of property-focused funds and its own property investments. It went public in Hong Kong in 2019 after pricing its initial public offering (IPO) at HK$16.8 per share, raising $1.6 billion. In June, the group said it had received approval from China's securities regulator to list its logistics real estate firm in the country and expected to raise around 2.44 billion yuan ($336 million) from the listing. That listing has yet to happen. ESR was co-founded by its executives and private equity firm Warburg Pincus in Shanghai in 2011 and has expanded over the years via a string of acquisitions. (Bloomberg) -- European lawmakers have called for fresh sanctions on Hong Kong and Chinese officials over the prosecution of former media mogul Jimmy Lai, as the trial of the citys top security law target enters its final stage. Members of European Parliament wrote that Hong Kong authorities should immediately and unconditionally release all pro-democracy politicians. They added in a resolution that was posted to their website Thursday sanctions should be imposed for human rights violations. Lai is taking the stand to defend himself against national security charges that could jail the 76-year-old for the rest of his life. That case has attracted international attention with US President-elect Donald Trump vowing to free Lai, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer bringing up the case in a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. A Hong Kong court earlier this month sentenced former democracy advocate Benny Tai to 10 years in prison, the longest sentence ever meted out using a China-imposed security law. His punishment was handed down in a mass trial that jailed a total of 45 defendants, including student activist Joshua Wong, over organizing unofficial primary polls in 2020. Hong Kong authorities hit back at the European lawmakers criticism, calling accusations of humans rights abuses groundless. We strongly condemn any suggestion of imposing unilateral sanctions on any officials, a government spokesperson said in a statement late Thursday. Officials will not be threatened by such barbaric and despicable acts. The former British colonys alleged role in helping Russia, Iran and North Korea evade global sanctions through financial services was also condemned in the lawmakers statement. European lawmakers called for Hong Kongs favorable customs treatment to be revoked and the status of its economic trade office in Brussels to be reviewed. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com Mahindra & Mahindra has denied claims that it faces penalties for failing to meet emission norms during the financial year 2022-23. In a statement to stock exchanges, the automaker clarified that no penalties have been imposed and that it does not expect any material financial liability. The company was responding to a report by The Indian Express, which alleged that eight carmakers, including Mahindra, Hyundai, Kia, and Honda, exceeded fleet emission limits. The report suggested penalties for these companies could total 7,300 crore. Mahindra dismissed the claims, stating, Any reference in the news article about penalty imposed on the company is factually incorrect. The controversy is linked to compliance with the Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) norms regulating vehicle emissions. According to Mahindra, the assessment period for FY2023 was from April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023. What did company say? The company explained that the Energy Conservation Act (EC Act) was amended in December 2022 to include penalties for failing to meet CAFE norms. However, this amendment took effect on January 1, 2023. Applying these penalties retroactively to the entire financial year, Mahindra argued, would be improper. Applying the amended penalty under the EC Act for the full period of FY2023 would mean the penalty is being applied retrospectively, which is incorrect. Hence, the company doesnt expect any material liability for FY2023, Mahindra clarified. The CAFE norms, introduced in 2017 under the Energy Conservation Act, aim to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and curb oil dependency. These standards set limits on average CO2 emissions for vehicles sold in a financial year, based on their weight. Also Read | Cyclone Fengal LIVE: Indian Coast Guard evacuates 6 stranded fishermen The second phase of CAFE norms came into effect in FY2023, lowering permissible emissions to 113 grams per kilometer from the earlier 130 g/km. Non-compliance can result in steep penalties, pressuring manufacturers to adopt fuel-efficient technologies. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), under the Ministry of Power, monitors compliance with these norms. (Bloomberg) -- Mexicos Senate on Thursday approved contentious legislation that would eliminate autonomous government watchdogs, including two regulating antitrust issues and the nations energy industry, with their functions absorbed by existing ministries in the federal government. Earlier this month, the lower house of Congress passed legislation proposed by former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, turning the Senate into the last major hurdle for the initiative. Lopez Obrador presented the proposal as part of an effort to slim down the federal government and deliver on the ruling partys austerity pledge. The legislation has met with pushback because of the perception it could undercut regulators independence and their role in checking government power. The bill would eliminate the transparency institute (INAI), the antitrust regulator (Cofece), the telecommunications watchdog (IFT), the energy regulator (CRE), the hydrocarbon regulator (CNH), the commission for oversight of education (Mejoredu) and the council to evaluate social policies (Coneval). Antitrust efforts would be overseen by a decentralized agency in the Economy Ministry. President Claudia Sheinbaum and the ruling Morena party pushed for the reform, as part of a slate of changes the former president proposed before leaving office. The party holds the vast majority of seats in state legislatures, which all but guarantees that the bill will be passed into law in the coming days. Economy Ministry officials have stated the legislation would not violate the North America free trade agreement, known as USMCA. They insist that the oversight body that acts against monopolistic practices will operate with independence under government auspices. The Energy Ministry and Agency for Digital Transformation and Telecommunications will take on some of the tasks. The proposals include having a competition entity that corresponds with the trade agreement, that resembles the United States and that above all guarantees good competition, said Vidal Llerenas, undersecretary of industry and trade in Mexicos Economy Ministry. The free trade agreement is scheduled for review in 2026 but that process is already mired in uncertainty because of President-elect Donald Trumps threats to impose tariffs. Economy minister Marcelo Ebrard said earlier this week that the announced tariffs would cost the US economy 400,000 jobs and mainly hit US automotive companies operating in Mexico. Mexico is preparing a defense with a group of national businesspeople as it also looks to strengthen relations with the European Union and Brazil. The Morena Party has called for less US intervention in Mexican affairs, but the trade pact that is the basis for Mexicos exports with the US its top trade partner can be turned into an easy cudgel. Morenas lawmakers have argued the changes will reduce public spending and help weed out corruption. Critics have said that the changes would and cast uncertainty over how the private sector will partner with Mexicos large state energy firms and raises doubts about the governments true transparency. Transparency has to be there and its one of the substantive obligations of government: accountability, transparency and the protection of personal data. What wont happen is that therell be billion pesos set aside to do it, said Sheinbaum at her daily press briefing on Nov. 21 at the National Palace. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com (Bloomberg Opinion) -- There are at least two possible outcomes to the fragile Lebanon cease-fire that began this week. One, expressed by the countrys caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, is that it becomes the first step in turning a new page on the strife thats exploded across the region since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The other is both far less peaceful and more likely.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already said he sees the cease-fire as a pause in which to increase pressure on Hamas in Gaza and to rearm, while focusing on the threat from Iran. Key to his signing the deal was a US offer of $680 million worth of small-diameter bombs and J-dam kits, which turn gravity bombs into guided missiles. These weapons have been core to Israels continuing war with Hamas in Gaza.This would be a huge missed opportunity and one that I suspect would, in the long term, prove disastrous for Israel, let alone the Palestinians, Lebanese and other populations of the region.Seen from Netanyahus point of view, the calculation is clear enough. First, though negotiated by the outgoing Biden administration, this is a valuable gift to US President-elect Donald Trump, who has set himself up as both an avid supporter of Israel and the man who will bring wars to an end.The second part of the calculation is that, unlike in Gaza, this cease-fire deal is possible for Netanyahu to drive through without collapsing his government and exposing himself to potential jail terms from ongoing fraud cases. Lastly, Israel has identified this war as a multifront fight with Iran. This is largely correct. Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis of Yemen and militias in Syria and Iraq are all acting in loose concert with Iran. They are armed and funded by Tehran. But if that is true, its also correct that eliminating the threats from Hamas and Hezbollah would require defeating Iran militarily. Unlike the debacle with Hamas on Oct. 7, when a relatively weak force was able to catch Israels security forces napping and leave a trail of slaughter through Kibbutzes and a music festival, the operation against Hezbollah in Lebanon has been an extraordinary intelligence success. It has led to the decapitation of the Shiite militias leadership, disruption of its communication systems and the destruction of much its large armory of missiles and their launchers. The bigger point here is that Hezbollah was armed and nurtured by Iran precisely to create a threat to Israel, as well as a deterrent against any attack on the Iranian homeland or its nuclear program. That deterrent has for now been rendered ineffectual. Hamas, for its part, is no longer capable of posing any significant military threat to Israel, even if it will still be able to conduct terrorist attacks. On top of this, Netanyahu has twice this year ordered precision strikes against Iran in a tit-for-tat exchange unwisely begun by Tehran, after Israel targeted the generals coordinating what the Islamic Republic calls the axis of resistance, from its consulate in the Syrian capital of Damascus. If reports in Israeli media attributed to unnamed Israeli officials prove accurate, all four of the S-300 air-defense systems Iran received from Russia have now been destroyed.In brief, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameneis strategy of enveloping Israel in a crescent of proxy militias has been set back severely, while Iran itself has been rendered largely defenseless against air attack. This is a genuine opportunity for Israel; the question is what to do with it.The road apparently favored by Netanyahu is to park the war in Lebanon while attempting to exploit the weaknesses of Hamas and Iran to the end. There may never be a better chance to bomb Irans uranium enrichment sites. However, given the way some of the most important of these have been buried under mountains, this would need US participation and might still only delay the program by a few years; its much harder to destroy technical know-how than the centrifuges used to enrich uranium. President Joe Biden, who also described the Lebanon cease-fire as a chance to deescalate more widely in the region, isnt interested. Come January, Trump might be.The argument for pushing on has support in the Israeli public. Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran are all likely to regroup and rearm when the fighting stops. In the case of Khamenei, the argument for acquiring a nuclear deterrent has never been stronger, and indeed there have been open calls to do so in the official Iranian media. In five years, the so-called axis of resistance could return stronger than ever.However, continuing the war in Gaza, refusing the Palestinians any path to a reasonable settlement and carrying out further, much larger airstrikes that amount to an open declaration of war on Iran a nation of 84 million is a plan with no feasible path to success. It is, on the contrary, a recipe for perpetual war. The worlds only Jewish state would likely become not just a pariah in the Muslim world, but globally. As strong as it is today, thats a position Israel can ill-afford.This war, unlike the Russian invasion of Ukraine, is one Trump could end in a day (or close to it). The US has leverage over the main deciding party, which is Netanyahu, if the White House is ready to use it. Iran appears to be signaling its open to a deal, no doubt as a result of the pummeling it has taken.This again seems an unlikely path for Trump, given the appointments hes made and his position on Israel. But as Ive written before, that could change as he finds the world much altered from his last term in office. His friends in the Arab Gulf are no longer as aligned with Israeli interests as they were when he produced the Abraham Accords.Trump may need to choose between Netanyahus desire to go on fighting and the political need of Gulf leaders to see an end to the war in Gaza their populations can accept. To go down in history as the man who ended forever wars, this would be the place to start.More From Bloomberg Opinion: (Bloomberg) -- Indias central bank has stepped up dialogue with traders at treasury desks this week about cash conditions in the banking system, according to people with knowledge of the matter, spurring speculation it may announce some measures to boost liquidity at the policy review on Dec. 6. While Reserve Bank of India officials routinely call traders to check on various issues, the focus of the recent engagements has been on how the liquidity situation is panning out amid large foreign outflows from stocks and bonds, the people said, asking not to be identified as the deliberations were private. Banks turned net borrowers from the central bank this week compared with a surplus of about 3 trillion rupees ($35 billion) in early November and the situation may worsen due to year-end tax payments. The cash shortage may prompt RBI to turn to measures such as bond purchases or cutting the cash-reserve ratio for banks to stabilize the liquidity situation, said Shrisha Acharya, Vice President - Treasury, Anand Rathi Global Finance. The cash shortfall pushed up the interbank weighted average call rate a benchmark for overnight borrowing costs to near the highest levels since June early this week. Higher overnight rates may make it more expensive for banks and companies to raise funds through short-term debt instruments, and hurt an already slowing economy. Prior to this weeks tightening, banking system liquidity was in surplus for two months. When Donald Trumps victory in the US elections early November sparked a wave of dollar strength, the RBI likely stepped up its dollar sales to shield the rupee from excessive volatility. That has sucked up liquidity from the local banking system. Liquidity conditions are expected to tighten through the rest of the fiscal year due to RBIs intervention to cap rupee volatility and seasonal leakage in currency in circulation due to the ongoing wedding season, Upasna Bhardwaj, chief economist at Kotak Mahindra Bank, wrote in a note. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com The Supreme Court on Friday directed Aakash Educational Services, a subsidiary of struggling edtech firm Byjus, not to implement a resolution to amend its Articles of Association (AoA) that was passed at its extraordinary general meeting. The proposed amendments allegedly sought to dilute the rights of minority shareholders, including Singapore VII Topco I Pte Ltd, owned by Blackstone, which holds a 6.97% stake in Aakash. Blackstone had alleged that its rights and interests were being violated. A two-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar directed Aakash to approach the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) within seven days. The stay on implementing the EGM resolution will remain in effect until the NCLAT hears the appeal. The order follows Blackstones appeal against a Karnataka High Court ruling on 25 November that allowed Aakash to proceed with the amendments despite opposition from minority shareholders. The Supreme Court clarified that the Karnataka High Courts order would not interfere with the NCLATs decision-making process. Aakash assured the Supreme Court it would not pursue a writ petition in the Karnataka High Court challenging an earlier National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) order. Case history The dispute revolves around proposed amendments to Aakashs AoA, first raised during an EGM. Minority shareholders including Blackstone filed a mismanagement and oppression petition with the NCLT, claiming the amendments violated their rights under a prior merger framework agreement (MFA). The investors argued that the proposed changes were aimed at diluting their stake in Aakash, a profitable entity that Byjus acquired in 2021 for $1 billion. They contended that the struggling Byjus relies heavily on Aakash for valuation and operational stability. They also raised concerns about the decision to allow Byjus founder Byju Raveendran to represent Think & Learn, Byjus parent company, on Aakashs board. Aakash countered these claims, arguing that the shareholders received their stakes as part of the MFA, which failed to materialise as planned, leaving the investors without any substantive rights in the company. It also said Think & Learn had initiated arbitration proceedings at the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) over the issue. On 20 November, the NCLT had restrained Aakash from implementing the proposed amendments, citing potential dilution of minority shareholder rights. However, Aakash challenged this order in the Karnataka High Court, which stayed the NCLT order and allowed the amendments to proceed. This prompted minority shareholders to approach the Supreme Court. While Byjus is grappling with financial challenges and currently under insolvency, Aakash has reportedly remained profitable due to its extensive network of physical outlets. Share swap fell through In April 2021, Byjus acquired Aakash in a deal comprising 70% cash and 30% equity. Under the agreement, Aakashs promotersthe Chaudhry familyand Blackstone were to receive shares of Think & Learn. However, the share-swap component faced obstacles as the Chaudhry family refused to swap their remaining stake, citing governance concerns, prompting Byjus to issue a legal notice to Aakashs founders. Bengaluru-based financing startup Klub laid off about 60-70 employees in September and paused its commerce operations, according to multiple people aware of the developments. The company has been trying to raise capital and has restructured workforce and operations because of funding challenges, according to a person in the know. Its employee strength has come down from over 100 to about 45 employees. Klub offers flexible funding to businesses, letting them repay based on future revenue instead of fixed schedules or giving up equity. The companys core offering is its capital business, and it started the cross-border commerce enablement business about a year ago. The commerce division helps brands expand their e-commerce presence internationally, managing logistics, payments, and onboarding to various marketplaces. Two employees of the company told Mint that the company has laid off most of the team in the companys Ahmedabad office that was working on the companys commerce-enablement business. There has been no new inventory procurement for the last three months and one of the directors when informing about the layoff said that the company is in the process of clearing the remaining inventory post which they will close the commerce vertical," one of the two employees said. It is also believed that the company is scaling down its commerce business. While the company did not comment on the reduction in workforce, its cofounder and CEO Anurakt Jain said that the cross-border commerce business is live and revenue-generating. We continue to build it and are partnering with selective, high-potential brands," he added. Like most startups, over the last 18 months, Klub has derived operational efficiencies through performance improvement, technology investments, AI-based advances, and outsourcing of non-core activities. Our revenue remains strong, and our operating economics have improved substantially with the core business nearing operational profitability," Jain said. Funding efforts The company has started the process of raising capital, on the back of these efficiencies, he said. Klub is in active conversations and carrying out due diligence with multiple investors after which there will be a formal announcement after the round is completed, he added. Another person with knowledge of the companys affairs also told Mint that the company hasnt paid certain brands that were using Klubs services, for the last three months. Two companies, on condition of anonymity, told Mint that there has been a delay in payment with no clarification from the companys end. The point of contact keeps on changing since last month as people are leaving and there is no communication with regards to that. There is no clarity about the payment for our sold inventory or our current inventory that is with the company," the brand of one company said, adding that Klub has stopped placing orders for new stocks for about a month and a half. Jain, however, said there was no delay in payments. Our cross-border commerce enablement contracts are as per standard industry practice: brands generate revenue as and when sales happen. No payments to any brand partners are overdue. We strictly adhere to contract terms, releasing payments on pre-agreed frequencies as sales happen," he said. Venturing into commerce enablement seems to be a move to diversify from its core financing business but it has its challenges. The revenue financing market in India is estimated to be about $82 million, according to Cognitive Market Research. In the case of companies moving into commerce, the need for expertise in logistics, inventory management, and customer service becomes criticalall areas which fall completely outside of company's original business model, according to Appalla Saikiran, founder & CEO, SCOPE. "Without a unique advantage or significant investment in these domains, the move into such a competitive market could be more complex than anticipated," he said. "Investors usually tend to judge such diversifications negatively, cognizant of the fact that they contribute towards diluting focus, stretching resources, and adversely influencing profitability. Therefore, scaling back such ventures and refocusing on core strengths often proves to be the more prudent approach. It reinforces the point that diversification needs to be in consonance with strategy and should not be risky," he said. Klubs revenue increased to 31 crore in FY24 from 24 crore in FY23, even as its losses decreased to 4 crore from 8 crore, according to data sourced from Tofler. Founded in 2019 by Jain and Ishita Verma, the startup has raised a total capital of about $22 million from investors like Peak XVs Surge, Trifecta Capital, Northern Arc Capital, US-based Alter Global and Japan-based GMO VenturePartners, among others. Klub competes with Mumbai-based revenue financing platform GetVantage and Bengaluru-based Velocity, among others. You may sense that governments are not as competent as they once were. Upon entering the White House in 2021, President Joe Biden promised to revitalise American infrastructure. In fact, spending on things like roads and rail has fallen. A flagship plan to expand access to fast broadband for rural Americans has so far helped precisely no one. Britains National Health Service soaks up ever more money, and provides ever worse care. Germany mothballed its last three nuclear plants last year, despite uncertain energy supplies. The countrys trains, once a source of national pride, are now often late. You may also have noticed that governments are bigger than they once were. Whereas in 1960 state spending across the rich world was equal to 30% of GDP, now it is above 40%. In some countries growth in the states economic power has been still more dramatic. Since the mid-1990s Britains government spending has risen by six percentage points of GDP, while South Koreas has risen by ten points. All of which raises a paradox: if governments are so big, why are they so ineffective? The answer is that they have turned into what can be called Lumbering Leviathans". In recent decades governments have overseen an enormous expansion in spending on entitlements. Because there has not been a commensurate increase in taxes, redistribution is crowding out spending on other functions of government. This, in turn, is damaging the quality of public services and bureaucracies. The phenomenon may help explain why people across the rich world have such little faith in politicians. It may also help explain why economic growth across the rich world is weak by historical standards. View Full Image Graphic: The Economist America, which has some of the best fiscal data, shows how one government became a Lumbering Leviathan. In the early 1950s we estimate that state spending on public services, including everything from paying teachers salaries to building hospitals, equalled 25% of the countrys GDP (see chart 1). At the same time, entitlements spending, broadly defined, was a small line item, with outlays on both pensions and other sorts of welfare equivalent to about 3% of GDP. Today the situation is very different. The American governments outlays on entitlements have swelled and spending on public services has crashed. Both now equal around 15% of GDP. Other countries have followed a similar path. We have examined long-run GDP data, looking at how much governments spend each year on social benefits and transfers. This includes standard entitlements, such as pensions and tax credits, but also the provision of transfers in kind", such as discounts on health insurance and help with housing. Both types have become a lot bigger. On average across the OECD, social expenditure in countries with available data rose from 14% of GDP in 1980 to 21% in 2022 (see chart 2). View Full Image Graphic: The Economist Moreover, conventional statistics understate the scale of the change. Governments have accumulated mind-boggling off-balance-sheet obligations to dole out money in the future. Adapting work by James Hamilton of the University of California, San Diego, we estimate that Americas federal government has made pledges of compensation to different groups worth, in aggregate, six times Americas GDP (see chart 3). In addition to reported public debt, Uncle Sam guarantees peoples bank deposits, health-care payouts and mortgages. He will also need to make good on promises to future retirees. In the history of the modern state, this represents a uniquely large financial commitment. Some of the growth in entitlement spending has been unavoidable. In 2022 there were 33m people over the age of 85 in the rich world, representing 2.4% of the total populationa huge rise on the 5m, representing 0.5% of the total population, around in 1970. Governments have not helped themselves by failing to raise the retirement age: the average person in the rich world currently retires at age 64, no older than in the late 1970s.But it would have been hard (and unwise) to have stopped pension spending from growing. View Full Image Graphic: The Economist Because entitlements for the old tend to be universalEuropean countries, for example, have little private pension provisionmore cheques are going to the well-heeled. We estimate that in the oecd between a fifth and a third of entitlements spending, broadly defined, goes to the richest 20% of households. The American government spends about $400bn, or roughly half the budget of the Department of Defence, on transfers for the top income quintile. In 2019 an average household in the top 1% received $16,000 in transfers from Uncle Sam, including from things such as Social Security and Medicare. Transfers to the working-age population have increased even faster, making the system more redistributive. In 1980 the bottom fifth of American earners received means-tested transfers equal to a third of their gross earnings. By the late 2010s the figure had doubled, before the covid-19 pandemic sent it higher still (see chart 4). A similar pattern is evident in Canada and Finland, two other countries with good data. Spending often follows a ratchet effect. For instance, since the 1970s the share of Americans on food stamps has doubled, to one in eight people. In recessions the number of recipients rises like a rocket; thereafter it falls like a feather. Across the board, governments have become more generous in times of trouble. During the pandemic they shovelled money to affected workers and companies, as well as to many that were carrying on largely as normal. Throughout the energy crisis of 2022, lots of governments threw caution to the wind. Even the German government, historically among the more tight-fisted, allocated 4.4% of GDP to measures shielding households and firms from its effects. More recently, some have lost the plot. In Italy a project to encourage homeowners to make their homes greener has spiralled out of control, with the government so far disbursing support worth more than 200bn (or 10% of GDP). Nordic nirvana A rise in entitlement spending is not necessarily a problem if governments are able to adequately and efficiently fund themselves. Textbook economics says that the societal cost of redistribution comes from the distorted incentives tax and welfare spending can create. These cannot be judged merely by the size of redistributionthe design of the system is what matters most. Indeed, Scandinavian countries have long sustained big states alongside thriving market economies, in part by funding redistribution with high rates of VAT, one of the least-distorting taxes, and by keeping down taxes on capital, which are particularly harmful to growth. But in recent years politicians have preferred to act as if extra spending can happen with little more taxation of any kind. From the 1960s to the 1990s the tax take, as a share of rich-world GDP, rose steadily. Since the 2000s it has hardly grown. A database of tax reforms maintained by the IMF, and last updated in 2018, suggests that whereas in the 1970s and 1980s reforms were evenly split between revenue-raisers and revenue-cutters, more recent ones have focused on cutting taxes. By 2022 some 85% of reforms to rich countries personal-income-tax bases caused them to narrow, while just 15% broadened them. The biggest reform of the past decade was President Donald Trumps enormous tax cut in 2017. Neither Mr Trump nor Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, promise sober fiscal stewardship in the years to come. To the extent that todays governments implement measures to raise revenue, they tend to take the form of crafty workarounds. According to our calculations, in 2022 American federal, state and local governments raised $80bn from fines, fees, penalty taxes and settlementsnearly three times as much, relative to GDP, as in the 1960s and 1970s. Politicians who fail to raise revenues face two choices. One is to run large fiscal deficits: this year rich-world governments will run an aggregate deficit of 4.4% of GDP, even with the global economy in decent shape. Another is to fund more generous entitlements by making cuts elsewhere. Demand for public services has grown hugely. Yet in 2022 the median rich country spent 24% of GDP on them, the same as in 1992. Public-sector employment, as a share of the total, has drifted down since the late 1990s. Everything from state-provided health care to education and public safety has suffered. Another historical role of governmentnow waningwas to provide an efficient bureaucracy. It is tough to measure this quantitatively, but researchers have had a go. Data produced by the Berggruen Institute, a think-tank, and the University of California, Los Angeles, combine objective measures, such as tax revenue, and subjective measures, such as perceptions of corruption, to devise a cross-country measure of state capacity". In the G7 group of advanced economies this measure is falling. The same is true of the rigorous and impartial public-administration index", produced by V-Dem, another think-tank, which illustrates the extent to which public officials respect the law. The effects of declining state capacity show up everywhere. Some are small-bore. In America the time lag between a residential project being granted permission to build and construction beginning has doubled since the 1990s. Builders face long waiting times as they form-fill and box-tick. In Britain employment tribunals are facing huge delays owing to a shortage of judges, with hearings on everything from unfair dismissal to racial discrimination now scheduled as far ahead as 2026. Five years ago the website of Australias passport office said that the processing time for an application was three weeks"; two years ago it said up to six weeks"; by last year it said minimum of six weeks". View Full Image Graphic: The Economist Governments also seem less willing and able to pull off big projects. It is just about impossible to imagine that the Empire State Building could be built in a yearand yet, in the 1930s, it was. Moreover, throughout the 20th century governments invested both money and intellect in science and R&D, seeking to shift economic growth into a higher gear. Initiatives like DARPA, undertaken in America to devise and spread groundbreaking technologies, hinted at the scale of governments ambitions. In the 1950s and 1960s governments, including Germanys and Japans, built millions of units of public housing and millions of miles of road and rail. Now politicians just want to get from one day to the next. Spending on short-term fixes takes precedence over difficult, long-term projects. Mr Biden talks up his industrial policy, which is supposed to revive manufacturing jobs and reduce Americas dependence on China. In practice, the fiscal outlays associated with the policy are trivial. Elsewhere in the rich world public investment is well down, while governments have slashed r&d departments. Across the OECD the state now accounts for less than 10% of total R&D spending, a sharp change from the post-war norm (see chart 5). Governments are no longer hotbeds of innovation. Almost all of the recent artificial-intelligence developments have emerged from the private sector. When it comes to growth-boosting reform, such as tweaks to labour laws, governments have almost entirely lost interest. A paper published in 2020 by Alberto Alesina of Harvard University, and colleagues at the IMF and Georgetown University, measured structural reforms, such as changes to regulations, over time. In the 1980s and 1990s politicians in advanced economies implemented lots of reforms. By the 2010s, however, they had ground to a halt. According to our analysis of data from the Manifesto Project, political-party manifestos in the OECD are about half as focused on growth as in the early 1980s. Leviathans may not remain lumbering for ever. Running large deficits in order to fund transfer payments will, eventually, become too expensiveas countries such as Greece and Italy discovered in the 2010s. At some point populations, fed up with weak economic growth and poor services, may demand that politicians make some difficult choices. Then again, Lumbering Leviathans are formidable. Interest groups are entrenched, familiar incentives apply and it is easier to live for the short term. The system has a life of its own. Correction (September 25th 2024): This article previously said that the Golden Gate Bridge was built in a year, rather than the Empire State Building. Sorry. For more expert analysis of the biggest stories in economics,finance and markets, sign up to Money Talks, our weekly subscriber-only newsletter. 2024, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com The Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) are set to witness a scramble for talent beginning Sunday, as some of the world's top artificial intelligence and algo trading firms arrive to snap up their best and brightest. Some of the top offers this year are close to a couple of crores, placement cell executives said, as the older IITs get ready to kick off their annual placement season. With the AI excitement sweeping over the technology landscape, interest in conventional roles such as product manager and regular engineers appears to have ebbed. According to placement executives at the IITs, some of the top demands are for experts in cognitive science, data scientists, quantitative strategists and developers, and AI-focused developers, researchers and application engineers. The race for AI talent stands out in a curious job description from Palo Alto-based Turing: The candidate must be able to frame a multiple-choice question paper that Google and ChatGPT can't solve. The successful candidate could join with the option to work from home, a student who saw the job description said. "We are excited about the talent from IITs," said an executive from US-based Abacus AI, which is looking to hire during the IIT placements. "We think these engineers can completely take AI to the next level and create AI agents and engineers that, in turn, can create applied AI systems," the official said. The Abacus executive did not address the planned compensation, but students in two of older IITs said the firm would offer students trained in machine learning and Gen AI 60 lakh. Also read | IIT graduates flock to edtech: A new career frontier with high salaries Out of India's 23 IITs, the first-generation IITs including Madras, Bombay, Delhi, Kharagpur, Roorkee and Kanpur start the placement season on 1 December. The second- and third-generation IITs, along with the National Institutes of Technology (NITs), begin earlier in August-September to get a headstart. A placement executive said high-frequency trading (HFT) firm Graviton Research Capital is offering around 90 lakh for India-based roles. The compensation for HFTs can touch up to 2 crore and can be crore plus for global ones. While Da Vinci is offering 2.2 crore for international roles, placement executives said. In the batch of 2024, some of the top offers were as high as 1.4 crore. However, pre-placement offers (PPOs) that are given to shortlisted students may have been higher. Japan's Sony Corp. has more than 10 roles on offer, including that of an AI engineer, with salaries up to 95,33,840 yen ( 53 lakh). Honda Motor Corp.'s R&D unit will hire an AI research engineer at 88,72,000 yen ( 49 lakh). IT and consulting firm Accenture and credit card giant American Express are offering around 21 lakh for AI specialists. "Both in the internships and final placements this year, the number of companies is higher than last year. Placements are yet to start, and the number of students is in the thousands, but it definitely looks better than last year," the placement team coordinator at one of the older IITs said. Hedge fund World Quant is offering around 92 lakh, while algo trading firms Databricks ( 45 lakh), NK Securities ( 80 lakh) and Squarepoint Capital ( 66 lakh) are targeting students with similar skills. Also read | Mint Primer IIT hiring: Will it be a rocky one for the batch of 25? Other top jobs on offer include roles at Goldman Sachs ( 50 lakh) and Boston Consulting Global ( 20-23 lakh), and at Microsoft's Hyderabad and Bengaluru offices ( 51 lakh). Flipkart is looking for software developers and associate product managers for 26-32 lakh, while Samsung may pay 24-69 lakh for multiple profiles including those based in South Korea. Goldman Sachs declined to comment, while Microsoft declined to share specific details. A Databricks spokesperson was unavailable to comment. Queries sent to the IITs and other potential recruiters remained unanswered. To be sure, early placement days are no guarantee of how thousands of IIT students will eventually bag a job. In fact, placement teams at Indias top technology schools are chasing potential recruiters early to avoid a repeat of last years struggle to land jobs for their graduates. A number of 2024 batch IIT graduates were not selected by the end of the placement season in May-June. While that reflected uncertainty in the global economy, many firms also had enough graduates from the pandemic hiring frenzy. The institutes then reached out to their alumni and startups, accepting lower-than-usual compensation. Last year, an unlikely recruiter at IIT Bombay was Bhavish Aggarwal-led Ola, offering 27-45 lakh for its ride hailing and electric vehicle businesses. According to another IIT student, the firm is hiring for a position in the founder's office this year. And read | IITs chase recruiters to avoid a repeat of last year's scramble Maharashtra's caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who attended a key meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah late on Thursday, is now travelling to his native village, Dare, in the Satara district in western Maharashtra. Shinde visited Delhi on Thursday to meet Amit Shah to discuss the formation of the next government in the state. His deputies in the outgoing state cabinet Bharatiya Janata Party leader Devendra Fadnavis and Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar also met the senior BJP leader. Also Read | Maharashtra CM LIVE: Eknath Shinde cancels Mahayuti meeting in Mumbai Talking to reporters in the national capital after the meeting, Shinde called the discussion good and positive. Shinde, Fadnavis and Pawar had also met BJP president JP Nadda. Meanwhile, Shinde told The Hindu, "The talks were positive. Now, the BJP will first hold its meeting. Then, there will be a Mahayuti meeting." Shinde returned to Mumbai early Friday. Another key meet delayed Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde said in Delhi late on Thursday night that the next meeting of the Mahayuti alliance on government formation will be held in Mumbai on Friday, news agency PTI reported. However, sources told PTI that Shinde is travelling to his native village and the meeting is now expected to take place on Sunday. Who will be the Maharashtra CM? While BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis is expected to become the chief minister, a confirmation is awaited on the same. The fight for the CM post is between Fadnavis and Shinde. The Shiv Sena leader has repeatedly said he would not be an obstacle in the government formation. He said at a press conference on Wednesday that he would accept and support the decisions taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the next chief minister. What is this new scheme all about? It aims to promote chemical-free farming. Natural farming involves local sourcing of inputs such as livestock manure and preparing biopesticides from herbs. It relies on traditional knowledge and seeks to improve soil health and push farmers to diversify the crop basket. With an outlay of 2,481 crore, the mission targets to reach 10 million farmers and cover 750,000 hectares in two years. To support farmers in 15,000 clusters, 10,000 bio input resource centres will be set up. Farmers will receive hands-on training at model farms and 30,000 krishi sakhis will be deployed as community resource persons. Also read | Why are banks issuing fewer credit cards? How do natural and organic farming differ? In principle, the two forms of farming are the same. But organic farming follows stringent procedures and third-party certification, and requires a minimum conversion period of two to three years to shift from chemical to bio inputs. In natural farming, growers can decide on the pace to transition away from chemical fertilizers and pesticides, ensuring no sudden drop in yields. This offers farmers flexibility and allows them to experiment with local inputs. On the flip side, while certified organic produce fetches a premium price, produce from non-certified natural farms may be difficult to market. Also read | PM asks farmers to eye global markets via natural farming How do natural and organic farming differ? In principle, the two forms of farming are the same. But organic farming follows stringent procedures and third-party certification, and requires a minimum conversion period of two to three years to shift from chemical to bio inputs. In natural farming, growers can decide on the pace to transition away from chemical fertilizers and pesticides, ensuring no sudden drop in yields. This offers farmers flexibility and allows them to experiment with local inputs. On the flip side, while certified organic produce fetches a premium price, produce from non-certified natural farms may be difficult to market. Will a shift to natural farming lower yields? A 2023 study by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research conducted in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka found crop yields to be higher with use of farm yard manure (decomposed cow dung, urine, and fodder) compared with conventional farming. In Andhra, paddy yield under natural farming was 4% higher, while costs were about 5% lower. Farmers also received a small price premium. However, yields were lower for sugarcane and black gram. The study called for more scientific evidence. Also read | What happens when rebel robots take charge Whats the science of natural farming? It works on the principle that there is no shortage of nutrients in soil, air and water and a healthy soil biology can unlock these nutrients. A bio-stimulant is prepared by fermenting dung with cow urine, jaggery and pulses flour. This solution increases the microbial count in the soil, supplying plants with essential nutrients, besides making it porous and airy, improving its water-holding capacity. Crop residues also prevent weeds. And multiple crops in the same field improve soil fertility. Fitch Ratings has said the Indian telecom sector is improving on the back of rational competition and moderating capex, and that it expects telecom companies to now focus on profitability and 5G monetisation to boost free cash flow. The shift from hyper-competition and a rapid transition to 5G networks will aid in deleveraging, the agency added in a note on Friday. This could lead to merger and acquisitions in areas that complement carriers existing services. "As leverage and financial flexibility improves for Jio and Bharti, there is a greater likelihood that they will pursue M&A opportunities, which could have a negative impact on their credit metrics if substantial and debt-funded. We believe potential opportunities could arise in areas which are complementary to their core mobile, enterprise and broadband businesses. This could include acquisitions in digital TV, data centres and technology," the agency said. The American rating firm forecast that Ebitda for Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio would grow by around 10% in 2025, driven by an about 8% increase in monthly average revenue per user due to higher data consumption. A higher ARPU will also support an expansion in the average Ebitda margin, Fitch said. "We expect Bharti Airtel Limiteds (BBB-/Stable) leverage to continue to improve, driven by tariff hikes and lower 5G-related capex," the agency said. It noted that the average monthly data usage across the Indian telecom market has risen by around 15% over the past year to 21.3 GB a month as of June 2024. This is among the highest data usage across the Asia-Pacific region. Capex expected to decline Fitch forecast that capex as a proportion of total revenue would continue to decline for Bharti and Jio as a significant portion of their investments into 5G have already taken place. The two carriers have together spent more than 3 trillion to buy spectrum and set up 5G networks across India over the past two years. Carriers have said their capex on network rollout will taper from 2025 onwards. The rating agency said some of the decline in 5G-related capex would be offset by higher spectrum repayments, which it includes in capex, and continued investments in fibre. "We believe Vodafone Idea will aim to ramp up capex into its network to remain competitive, but its capacity to invest will be contingent on its ability to raise additional capital." Vodafone Idea is the only private carrier that is yet to launch 5G services in India, but has laid out a plan to invest 50,000-55,000 crore in rolling out a 5G network and beefing up its 4G network. 5G pricing Indian telcos currently have no differentiated pricing between 5G and 4G plans, but in their tariff hikes in June, Airtel and Jio priced their unlimited 5G usage plans higher than limited usage plans in an effort to raise the ARPU. Fitch noted, however, that capex may rise if telcos speed up their rollout of fibre-to-home services, given the low fixed-broadband penetration rate. "ARPU growth will be driven organically as customers shift from pre-paid to postpaid plans and upgrade to higher-priced data plans. We believe competition will remain rational, with the two largest market participants Jio and Bharti focused increasingly on raising profitability and return on investment," it added. Also read: India has a chance to shape global telecom standards As for Asia-Pacific markets beyond India, the agency said Indonesia remains on a deteriorating trajectory, having postponed its 5G spectrum auction to 2025, and with the potential for increased leverage following the purchase of 5G spectrum and network rollouts. A wave of IPO lock-in expiries is set to hit the market, with NTPC Green Energy, Swiggy, Sagility, and 47 other companies slated to have their pre-listing shareholder lock-ins lifted, according to a report released by Nuvama Alternative & Quantitative Research. This is likely to result in the freeing up of shares amounting to $13.9 billion in the secondary market between November 28 and January 31. According to Nuvama Alternative & Quantitative Research, these shares represent holdings previously restricted from trading due to mandatory lock-in agreements. However, "not all of these shares will come for sale as a sizable portion of these shares are held by Promoter & Group," the report clarifies. The lock-in period for an IPO is a set time when certain investors cannot sell their shares. This rule helps keep the stock price stable and gives the company time to settle into the market after going public. The lock-in period differs for promoters, anchor investors, and other shareholders. Recent IPOs with lock-in period openings Month-wise breakdown of IPOs as per the report: One-month share lock-in opening Afcons Infrastructure, ACME Solar Holdings, Niva Bupa Health Insurance, NTPC Green Energy, Sagility India, Swiggy and Zinka Logistics will see one-month lock-in expiry of shares. Some 65 million shares (3% of outstanding equity) of Swiggy will exit the pre-IPO lock on December 11, shows the report. Also Read | Awfis flags insider trading violation; audit committee to decide action Three-month share lock-in opening A total of 24 companies will see their three-month IPO lock-in expiry. These include Premier Energies, Ecos (India) Mobility, Baazar Style, Gala Precision, Shree Tirupati Balajee, Kross, Bajaj Housing Finance, Tolins Tyres, P N Gadgil Jewellers, Northern Arc Capital, Western Carriers, Arkade Developers, Manba Finance, KRN Heat Exchanger, Diffusion Engineers, Garuda Construction and Engg, Hyundai Motor India, Deepak Builders & Engineers, Waaree Energies, Godavari Biorefineries, Afcons Infrastructure and Swiggy. Five & Six-month share lock-in opening Awfis Space Solutions, Kronox Lab Sciences, Le Travenues Technology, DEE Development Engineers, Stanley Lifestyles, Akme Fintrade, Allied Blenders and Distillers, Vraj Iron and Steel, Bansal Wire Industries, Emcure Pharmaceuticals and Sanstar Limited will see their five-month or six-month IPO lock-in opening over next two months. 1 year & above share lock-in opening Five companies, namely Flair Writing Inds, DOMS Industries, Happy Forging, Azad Engineering and Epack Durables will see a one-year lock-in expiry for their IPO shares. Additionally, Vintage Coffee And Beverages, Cyient DLM, ideaForge Technology, HMA Agro Inds, Senco Gold, Utkarsh Small Fin and Netweb Tech will see 1.5 years and beyond share lock-in opening. Suraksha Diagnostics IPO: The initial public offering (IPO) of Suraksha Diagnostics Limited is all set to hit the Indian primary market. The public issue will remain open until December 3, 2024. The medical consultancy services company has fixed Suraksha Diagnostics IPO price band at 420 to 441 per equity share. The company aims to raise 846.25 crore from this initial offer, which is entirely Offer for Sale (OFS). So, Suraksha Diagnostics IPO size is 846.25 crore, but not a single rupee would come into the company's balance sheet. The net proceeds will go to the pockets of promoters who are offloading their stake in the company. Meanwhile, on Suraksha Diagnostics IPO opening date, company shares are trading at par in the grey market today. Suraksha Diagnostics IPO subscription status By 3:36 PM on day 1 of bidding, the public issue had been subscribed 0.10 times, the retail portion had been booked 0.18 times, and the NII segment had been subscribed 0.04 times. Suraksha Diagnostics IPO details 1] Suraksha Diagnostics IPO GMP: According to stock market observers, the company's shares are trading neither at a premium nor a discount in today's grey market. 2] Suraksha Diagnostics IPO price band: The medical consultancy services company has fixed the issue price at 420 to 441 apiece. 3] Suraksha Diagnostics IPO date: The book build issue has opened today and will remain open until December 3, 2024. 4] Suraksha Diagnostics IPO size: The company aims to raise 846.25 crore from this initial public offering (OFS), which is the entire OFS. Photo: Courtesy mintgenie 5] Suraksha Diagnostics IPO lot size: Bidders can apply in lots, and one lot comprises 34 company shares. 6] Suraksha Diagnostics IPO allotment date: The most likely date for finalising share allocation is December 4, 2024. 7] Suraksha Diagnostics IPO registrar: KFin Technologies has been appointed official registrar of the book build issue. 8] Suraksha Diagnostics IPO Lead Managers: ICICI Securities, Nuvama Wealth Management, and SBI Capital Markets have appointed public issue lead managers. 9] Suraksha Diagnostics IPO listing date: The public issue is proposed for listing on the BSE and the NSE. The most likely Suraksha Diagnostics IPO listing date is December 6, 2024. Suraksha Diagnostics IPO: Apply or not? 10] Suraksha Diagnostics IPO review: Reviewing the financials of the company and valuations of the public issue, Prathamesh Masdekar, Research Analyst at StoxBox, said, Suraksha Diagnostic offers a comprehensive solution for pathology and radiology testing solution and medical consultation services, operating through an extensive network with a central reference laboratory and eight satellite laboratories. The company provides comprehensive and high-quality diagnostic services in India through the operational network consisting of a flagship central reference laboratory, satellite laboratories and customer touchpoints, including diagnostic and sample collection centres. Some of the companys centres also house polyclinics hosting specialized doctors for patient convenience. Suraksha Diagnostic has implemented a cluster-based hub and spoke model, whereby samples are collected from multiple locations within a cluster for delivery to laboratories for diagnostic testing. "The company also focuses on a customer-centric approach to delivering our services, leading to high customer satisfaction and increasing customer retention. On the financial front, the company has delivered a Revenue CAGR growth of 20.9% between FY2022-24. As of FY24, Suraksha garnered a market share of ~1.15%-1.30% in its core eastern India market and aims to expand its presence in the northeastern markets further. The company provides pathology and radiology testing services, with revenue primarily concentrated in West Bengal. Its financial performance has been inconsistent, with a setback in FY23, but it has recently shown signs of recovery. At the upper price band of 441, Suraksha Diagnostic is valued at FY24 P/E multiple of 96.1x, which is highly valued compared to its peers," the StoxBoz expert said. Anand Rathi has assigned an 'avoid' tag to the public issue, saying, At the upper band, the company is valuing at 99.3x its FY24 earnings along with being valued at 75.0x if we annualize FY25 earnings. Following the issuance of equity shares, the company's market capitalization stands at 22,967.6 million, with a market cap-to-sales ratio of 10.5 based on its FY24 earnings. The diagnostic sector in which the company operates is highly competitive. Moreover, the company's operations are confined to eastern India, limiting its market scope. We believe the issue is richly priced and recommend an Avoid rating for the IPO. Stock Market today: Adani group companies saw their share price gain up to 14% for third day in a row. Adani Green Energy Ltd share price led the gains rising up to 14% in the morning trades on Friday. Adani Total Energy Solutions Ltd share price also gained up to 12%. Adani Total Gas share price saw rise of up to 5% closely followed by Adani Power share price seeing similar gains Among others Adani Enterprises, Adani Ports and Special and Special Economic Zone, and Adani Wilmar share prices also gained up to 3%. New Delhi Televisions Ltd (NDTV) was another prominent gained among other group companies. NDTV share price gained up to 5% while Ambuja Cements Ltd, ACC Ltd share prices saw gains of up to 3% Also Read | LIC share price rise over 5% post clarification on acquisition buzz Adani Group shares have been rising post the Adani Green issued clarification and refuted bribery charges against group chairman Gautam Adani and other officials in the US Various groups have also maintained outlook and backed Adani group. The second significant investor after CQG Partners to reaffirm their faith in the Adani group was the International Holding Company (IHC), the investment arm of Abu Dhabi's ruling family, following the indictment of Gautam Adani and others by US federal authorities for allegedly bribing Indian government officials. Sri Lankan Port Authority and Tanzania also have reaffirmed support to the Adani group, as per news reports. Meanwhile various corporate developments also have been supportive for the Adani group shares. Adani Green Energy Ltd informed the exchanges that Adani Saur Urja (KA) Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, has incorporated a Wholly-owned subsidiary, namely, Adani Hydro Energy One Limited on November 27, 2024, certificate of incorporation of which was received on November 28, 2024. Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Adani Enetrprises also has completed the contemplated acquisition of 74% stake of Cococart Ventures Private Limited (CVPL) K-pop superstars NewJeans pulled the plug on their partnership with Hybe Co., escalating an unprecedented uprising thats transfixed South Korea, wiping out as much as 7% of the studios value on Friday. The chart-topping girl group called a surprise conference Thursday night and declared an immediate termination of an exclusive and money-spinning contract with Hybe-affiliate label ADOR. Its one of the more dramatic actions in the history of an industry whose biggest stars are often locked into demanding, multi-year pacts and are typically reluctant to protest publicly. Hybe, best known for catapulting the careers of global sensation BTS, has lost more than $1 billion of its market value since April, when longtime NewJeans manager Min Hee-jin was sidelined by an internal company dispute. The groups members threatened in September to walk out unless Min was reinstated a threat theyve since repeated and now made good on. The action is likely to trigger a legal battle between the artists and Hybe, South Koreas largest and most influential music company. We are well aware that from today we may not be able to use our current name NewJeans, NewJeans member Danielle said during the Youtube stream. However, that doesnt mean that we are giving up on the name at all. We will continue to fight for new dreams regardless of our name. Just remember that NewJeans never dies. In response, ADOR expressed regret over the groups decision and claimed the company has not violated the contract. With a few years left on their original agreement, that objection from the management company may result in legal actions that could drag on for months or years. The exclusive agreement between ADOR and the NewJeans members remains in full effect, ADOR said in a statement via Hybe representatives. Therefore, we respectfully request that the group continue its collaboration with ADOR on upcoming activities, as has been the practice to date. A representative for NewJeans said the group may go through legal proceedings if necessary once they hire a lawyer. It is unclear how the group can continue their activities, whether through a new entity or with another record label. The internal strife was sparked when Hybe accused Min of attempting to seize control of the label. She refuted the allegation and publicly denounced the studio. Min, who owns an 18% stake in ADOR, was ordered by its board to step down from the top management role, while remaining a board member and producer. Thats when NewJeans sent their ultimatum to Hybe, demanding the firm reinstate their ousted producer. Instead, Min stepped down from the board and left the company last week, warning of legal action. NewJeans debuted in 2022 as a five-member act and quickly became one of the most popular K-pop bands globally, with hits like Attention and Super Shy. The group helped the music label generate about 110 billion won of revenue last year, contributing to about 5% of Hybes consolidated sales. We would certainly love to continue working with Min if we can, said another member, Minji. With assistance from Denny Thomas. Stock Market Today: The benchmark Nifty-50 index, after consolidating for three days, corrected sharply 1.5% to 23,914.15 on Thursday, which happened to be expiry day, too. The S&P BSE Sensex ended with similar cuts at 79,043.74. Bank Nifty closed at 51,906.85, 0.76% lower, though IT and auto consumer durables saw steeper losers. Broader indices outperformed slightly, providing a respite. Trade Setup for Friday After showing a narrow range movement in the last few sessions, Nifty slipped into sharp weakness. The present weakness is expected to be a buy-on-dips opportunity between 23900-23600 levels (around the recent up gap and 200-day EMA support zone), said Nagaraj Shetti, Senior Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities. Bank Nifty is holding on to its crucial hourly moving averages of 51800. Also, the gap area in zone 51200 51800 shall act as a crucial support zone from short term perspective, said Jatin Gedia Technical Research Analyst at Mirae Asset Sharekhan Global Markets and Adani shares in focus Asian Market were a mixed bag though European market traded in positive zone. The overnight sell-off in the US market, driven by renewed uncertainty about the rate cut trajectory and rising geopolitical tension, led to a correction in heavyweight IT and consumer discretionary stocks, said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services. Conversely, the broader market outperformed the frontline index due to a shift in the stance of FIIs and investors seeking opportunities in undervalued stocks." Stocks to buy today Sumeet Bagadia, Executive Director at Choice Broking, has recommended two stock picks for today. Ganesh Dongre, Senior Manager of Technical Research at Anand Rathi has suggested three stock ideas. Sumeet Bagadia's stocks to buy today 1.Kirloskar Pneumatic Co.Ltd- Bagadia recommends buying Kirloskar Pneumatic at 1742.1keping Stoploss at 1675 for a target of 1875 Kirloskar Pneumatic is currently trading at 1742.1. After a period of small falls and sideways consolidation, the stock has lately broken the neckline levels of 1666 and is rising quickly on the upside with substantial volume... There are expectations of further upward movement, potentially reaching 1875 levels. On the downside, substantial support is evident near 1675. 2.Computer Age Management Services Ltd (CAMS)- Bagadia recommends buying Computer Age Management Service at 4893.35 keeping Stoploss at 4750 for a target price of 5222 CAMS is exhibiting strong bullish momentum, the daily chart analysis reveals a notable shift in market dynamics, transitioning from a period of minor declines and sideways consolidation to a promising upside bounce. This breakout has been accompanied by a consolidation of the upward movement, characterized by Higher High and Higher Low Pattern. The strong bullish sentiment is further validated by a noticeable surge in trading volume. Ganesh Dongre's stocks to buy today 3. Canara Bank- Dongre recommends buying Canara Bank at 102 keeping Stoploss at 97 for a target price of 108. In the recent short-term trend analysis of the stock, a notable bullish reversal pattern has emerged. This technical pattern suggests the possibility of a temporary retracement in the stock's price, potentially reaching around 108. The stock is currently maintaining a crucial support level at 97. Given the current market price of 102 a buying opportunity is emerging. This suggests that investors might consider purchasing the stock at its current price, anticipating a rise towards the identified target of 108. 4.PVR Inox Ltd - Dongre recommends buying PVR Inox at 1520 keping Stoploss at 1480 for a target price of 1555 In the recent short-term trend analysis of the stock, a notable bullish reversal pattern has emerged. This technical pattern suggests the possibility of a temporary retracement in the stock's price, potentially reaching around Rs1555. At present, the stock is maintaining a crucial support level at 1480. Given the current market price of 1520, a buying opportunity is emerging. This suggests that investors might consider purchasing the stock at its current price, anticipating a rise towards the identified target of 1555. 5. Cipla Ltd- Dongre recommends buying Cipla Ltd at 1493 keeping Stoploss at 1475 for a target price of 1530. In the recent short-term trend analysis of the stock, a notable bullish reversal pattern has emerged. This technical pattern suggests the possibility of a temporary retracement in the stock's price, potentially reaching around 1530. At present, the stock is maintaining a crucial support level at Rs.1475. Given the current market price of 1493, a buying opportunity is emerging. This suggests that investors might consider purchasing the stock at its current price, anticipating a rise towards the identified target of 1530. Vodafone Idea Share Price Today on 29-11-2024: At 29 Nov 11:29 today, Vodafone Idea shares are trading at price 8.23, -1.67% down from the previous closing price. Sensex is trading at 79807.89, up by 0.97%. The stock has hit a high of 8.47 and a low of 8.2 during the day. On the technical front, the stock is trading above the 5,10,20 days SMA & lower than the 50,100,300 day SMA. The stock will have support at 5,10,20 days SMA & face resistance at 50,100,300 days SMA The SMA values for the stock are given below : Days Simple Moving Average 5 7.04 10 7.27 20 7.66 50 9.12 100 12.48 300 13.40 The classic pivot level analysis shows that on a daily time frame, the stock has key resistances at 8.6, 8.87, & 9.06, whereas it has key support levels at 8.14, 7.95, & 7.68. Vodafone Idea Share Price Today Till 11 AM today, the volume traded on NSE & BSE for Vodafone Idea was -13.38% lower than the previous trading session. Volume traded is an important indicator along with price to study trends. Positive price movement with higher volume suggests a sustainable upmove, and negative price movement with higher volume might be an indication of further decline in prices. Overall, as per Mint technical analysis, The stock is indicating a trend reversal after a strong downtrend.. The median 1-year forecasted upside in this share is at 2.79% with a target price of 8.00. The company has a 0.00% promoter holding, 4.10% MF holding, & 12.69% FII holding as per filings in the september quarter. The MF holding has decreased from 6.12% in june to 4.10% in the september quarter. The FII holding has decreased from 12.78% in june to 12.69% in the september quarter. As a food writer, I am often asked what my favourite restaurant is. Over the course of my career, Ive had the good fortune of dining at Michelin-starred restaurants and experiencing the finest cuisine. However, the restaurants I keep returning to are not solely for the food, but for the feeling of delight I experience due to the friendly and thoughtful service. One of my earliest experiences with attentive service was at the canteen in St Xaviers College in Mumbai. The canteen manager and server, whose name was Uday Shetty but was known as Anna, had an uncanny ability to interpret students food orders, whether it was a crisis-level request for cheese Maggi at 7am or a celebratory order for Egg Burma" (a double omelette on toast). He also knew when to discreetly look away from feuding couples or send over a comforting double chai to mend a broken heart. Even though Anna retired in 2018, just before the colleges 150th anniversary, he is still fondly remembered as an essential part of the Xaviers College experience. To this day, I recall his warmth and attention to detail. Very often, when we talk about great restaurants, the conversation centres on the food. Yet, when we step out to dine, we find ourselves drawn back to familiar haunts, enchanted by the service they provide. Its the manager who welcomes you by name and ushers you in, the server who remembers what you like and brings you an extra portion, the bartender who remembers you like your martinis with gin and not vodka. Service is the last mile in a restaurants experience chain. Its also, in my opinion, one of the most invisible aspects of a restaurant. Sure, the food is important, but how lovely is it when someone notices that youre feeling cold and turns down the air conditioning a notch? Or realises you dont have anywhere to place your bags and brings you another chair? Think about it: the tuna flown in from Japan thats fired up on an expensive robata grill could fall flat if the person serving doesnt smile, or isnt friendly. For example, years ago when I was dining with friends at Foo in Mumbais Lower Parel, we asked our server to recommend some dishes. He rattled off a list of his favourite menu items, pausing midway to swallow because his mouth was watering as he described the dishes. We ended up ordering nearly everything he suggested, and the meal was superbthe servers clear passion for the food was infectious and enhanced our dining experience. Similarly, when I visited the new bar Boilermaker in Goas Siolim last month, the bartender Mac chatted with me as I waited for my friends, and made sure to keep my water glass refreshed as I sampled the cocktail menu. The next morning, I was pleasantly surprised to find I had no hangovera testament to Macs attentive service. And at Bonnies, a Cantonese American diner in Brooklyn, US, that I visited in May, our server brought over a few extra dishes from their new menu for us to try. I had a feeling youd enjoy these based on what you ordered," she said, as I savoured the velvety, buttery crispy sticky rice with funky mushrooms. Her intuition proved spot-on. Ive enthusiastically recommend Bonnies to anyone travelling to New York City since then. Similarly, at Porzana in Minneapolis, our server Trevor provided personalised, attentive service that enhanced our meal. He guided us through the wine list, recommended dessert, and even shared a bit about his own life, telling us about a big date he had that week. This intimate, friendly service made our dining experience all the more memorable. Once, when I was dining at Mumbais O Pedro, our server noticed my mother-in-law gesturing how the music was a little loud for her. Within five minutes and without us asking, the music went down in our section. It was the smallest thing, but it left a big impression. If restaurants are places we go to see, then its the service that makes us feel seen. Will Guidara, the former restaurateur at NYCs Eleven Madison Park and author of Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect (2022), sums it up nicely in his book: Getting the right plate to the right person at the right table is service. But genuinely engaging with the person youre serving, so you can make an authentic connectionthats hospitality." A few months ago, when I was shadowing chef Alex Sanchez of Americano, Mumbai, for a story, during a team briefing, I overheard him stressing the importance of making eye contact with a table. Smile and make eye contact, so you know when youre needed." One of my pet peeves while dining at a restaurant is trying to get the attention of a server on a busy night. At some places, it almost feels like our servers are avoiding us. And at other spots, the service borders on over attentiveness. Being interrupted mid-sentence when your server asks you how the food is, is simply annoying. Good service is knowing when to dip in but also when to pull back, and give a table space. Your servers are constantly doing this dance night after night. Years ago, when I interviewed chef Rahul Akerkar, he made an insightful observation about service in India. In India, service often equals servitude. Many diners expect service at a restaurant to be almost subservient." Ive witnessed this first-hand, where class and caste privilege can lead some guests to treat servers as mere order-takers rather than as professionals contributing to the dining experience. Its disheartening to see servers treated this way. A little appreciation and mutual respect can go a long waywhen we see service as a shared experience, it enhances not just our meals, but the overall atmosphere of the restaurant. As we dive into whats historically the busiest time for the restaurant industry, Id love for us diners to take a moment to appreciate the unsung heroes who make our dining experiences so special: the servers, bartenders and hospitality professionals who work tirelessly to ensure we feel welcomed, cared for and delighted. Their thoughtful gestures and friendly service are the secret ingredients that could transform your next meal into an unforgettable moment. Word of Mouth is a monthly column on dining out and dining well. Smitha Menon is a food journalist and the host of the Big Food Energy podcast. She posts @smitha.men on Instagram. Warren Buffett wants you to talk to your family about your will. The legendary stock picker, 94, shared his strategy this past week for how to pass wealth on to the next generation while minimizing family conflicts. His advice is applicable, he says, even if you arent a billionaire like he is. In comments released Monday to shareholders of his company, Berkshire Hathaway, Buffett offered a simple but often overlooked estate-planning suggestion for parents: When your children are mature, have them read your will before you sign it," he wrote. Be sure each child understands both the logic for your decisions and the responsibilities they will encounter upon your death." You dont want your children asking Why? in respect to testamentary decisions when you are no longer able to respond," Buffett wrote in the letter, which also announced a gift of about $1.15 billion of his Berkshire shares to four family foundations. Buffett, who has been donating big chunks of his fortune to those foundations and other charities for years, is currently worth about $150 billion. Discussing the contents of your will is a tactic that is heartily endorsed by estate planners and financial advisers. Buffetts letter, said Sean Maher, an estate planner in Audubon, Penn., is a call to action to be very transparent and not have surprises in your will." Sharing and discussing the contents of a will can be emotionally difficult for parents and adult children. Many feel uncomfortable talking about money and death. And parents often fear disclosure could create conflict among their children. But if you keep your wishes under wraps until youre gone, those conflicts are likely to surface anyway, estate planners say. When parents are transparent about their wishes, they can often help their children manage any conflicts and reach an understanding, if not forge closer ties and greater respect for one another, said Maher, co-author of The Greatest Gift: 9 Principles for the Transfer of Your Legacy Along with Your Wealth." A no-surprises policy also avoids creating upset at a time when beneficiaries are grieving and prone to strong emotions, estate specialists say. It allows adult children to ask a parent to clarify their intent. Especially in extreme situations, such as when a child is written out of a will, disclosing the terms yourself is the greatest gift you can give your heirs," who might otherwise become the target of a disappointed siblings anger, said Maher. It is a conversation many American families arent having. According to a survey of 2,200 individuals last year, 35% said they have no plans to discuss the transfer of wealth from one generation of their family to another. Nearly 40% said they hope to do so eventually. Only about one-quarter have had such a discussion, according to the survey from financial advisory firm Edward Jones, consultant Next360 Partners and research firm Morning Consult. Ideally, families should have more than one conversation, said Joseph Coughlin, director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology AgeLab and senior adviser to Next360 Partners. Emotion is going to guide and frame the conversation and decisions about the division of wealth," he said. The only way to keep people from being stressed, surprised, and angered is to have those conversations in small bits over time." With many families living far apart, you have to make a real effort," he added. When Nicole Luna asked her father, Clifford Glade, if he would invest some of her money earlier this year, he used it as an opportunity to start talking about her inheritance. In bits and pieces, the 73-year-old veterinarian, who lives in the Florida Keys, filled her in on the details of his real estate and investments. He discussed his veterinary practice and another small healthcare company he owns. He introduced her to his accountant. Luna described it as a series of minor conversations. The last time I came to visit, he told me the combination to the safe," she said. Luna is an editor and doesnt want to run his companies, so they are discussing what to do with them. He said he hopes the conversations convey something deeper: I want you to understand that youre financially free, but at the same time you need to have a purpose." Many wealthy families seek over time to build a culture that facilitates communication about goals for their money. Buffett in his letter said that since the death of his first wife, Susan Thompson Buffett, his three childrens philanthropic activities have dramatically increased, giving him a chance to observe them managing teams of workers. That has made him comfortable giving them full responsibility for distributing all of his Berkshire holdings, which comprise 99.5% of his wealth, he said. They have different views in many cases from both me and their siblings but have common values that are unwavering," including helping others and not being preoccupied by wealth, he wrote in his letter. Not sharing your will with your adult children can leave them unprepared to handle a windfall. When Ebonee Moores father died in 2017, she didnt know there was money left behind for her until her aunt discovered a stack of financial documents. He lived so modestly, I never thought to ask about a will or inheritance," said Moore, 41. Moores father had multiple life-insurance policies, retirement accounts, and annuities for Moore and her two sisters. The roughly $200,000 inheritance allowed Moore to put $6,000 down on her first home, giving her seven children room to spread out. But she believes understanding her inheritance earlier would have given her a chance to learn more about investing and financial planning. She used some of the money to pay off student loans that werent accruing interest, which she now regrets. Coughlin said the best time to have a discussion is when the family can get together without stress. Maher recommends giving adult children a summary of your will before a family meeting. Wills can be complicated, so ask your lawyer or estate planner to attend the meeting to explain the details and answer questions. Follow-up with children individually, especially those who are quiet in the group session. Buffett said he has received questions or commentary from all three of his children, now in their 60s and 70s, and has often adopted their suggestions in revisions to his will. There is nothing wrong with my having to defend my thoughts," he wrote. (He declined to comment for this article. His children, Susie, Howard and Peter Buffett, didnt respond to requests for comment.) Buffett said he revises his will every couple of years, often only in very minor ways." That underscores that these conversations arent one and done," said Coughlin, who notes that families change over time, with births, deaths, divorces and marriages. Lauren Gadkowski Lindsay, an adviser in Houston, recommends following Buffetts example by writing a letter to your beneficiaries that outlines your values in plain English. She also said to write down who you wish to inherit your possessions, which can have sentimental, if not monetary, value. Lindsay said her mother has done so with her antiques, sharing stories that make it clear why she chose the recipient. Maher says the only thing he disagrees with Buffett about is the advice to postpone signing your will until your adult children have read it. While that is a nice way to signal an openness to making changes, those who delay signing risk dying without the document in place. In a worst-case scenario, that might leave assets to be divided according to state rules. He said it makes more sense to sign the will and then revise it later if you want to make changes after consulting with family. Ben Eisen contributed to this article Write to Anne Tergesen at anne.tergesen@wsj.com and Dalvin Brown at dalvin.brown@wsj.com The caretakers of Ajmer Sharif Dargah in Rajashthan have condemned the ongoing controversy surrounding the shrine saying that the petitions are filed for publicity and personal interest. Even Prime Ministers, including Prime Minister Modi, have revered the shrine of Moinuddin Chishti, the 13th-century Sufi saint. The comments come after a Rajasthan court accepted a petition submitted by the Hindu Sena, claiming that Ajmer Sharif Dargah is Lord Shiva's temple. Also Read | SC to hear Sambhal Mosque Committees challenge against survey order tomorrow "...Anyone can go to the court. And the court will entertain it (petition). There will be proper evidence, and the proof will be submitted. Then the final verdict will be passed. There is a long way to go," Syed Zainul Abidin Ali Khan, the Sajjada Nasheen ( main care taker) of the Ajmet Sharif shrine told news agency ANI. Khan cited the example of recent incident about Sambhal Mosque in Uttar Pradesh where stone-pelting following a court-ordered survey led to the death of four people. A local court in Ajmer on November 27 directed that notice be issued to three parties in a civil suit that claims that there is a Shiva temple in the dargah of Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer, the plaintiff's advocate said. Advocate Yogesh Siroja told reporters in Ajmer that the suit was heard in the court of Civil Judge Manmohan Chandel. Vishnu Gupta, President of the National Hindu Army who filed a case claiming there is a Lord Shiva temple within Ajmer's Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Dargah shrine. Syed Afsan Chishty, one of the caretakers said the followers of Khawaja Garib Nawaz are spread across the world, and they come from not only Islam but every religion. Moinuddin Chishti is popularly known as Garib Nawaz - kind to the poor. PM Modi offers chadar "I say this with great sadness and surprise that the court has accepted a claim that has no substance. Whoever is doing all this to impact the peace of India should be deterred from this. The communal harmony of our country should not be affected in any manner.. Garib Nawaz's followers are spread across the world. His followers are not only in Islam but in every religion. Even PM Narendra Modi sends chadar on His Urs every year. The Prime Ministers before him also did the same," he said. Also Read | Parliament Winter Session adjourned for third straight day over Adani row The dargah management prepared and distribute 4,000 kg of vegetarian "Langar" food to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 74th birthday on September 17, 2024. Chishty further urged the intervention of the Centre and PM Modi in such matters adding that the people involved should be probed. I say this with great sadness and surprise that the court has accepted a claim that has no substance. "Dragging the Dargah into controversies is hurting the belief of everyone. I condemn this strongly. I urge the Centre and PM Narendra Modi to intervene in such matters and rein them in. We suspect that such people (petitioners) are colluding with enemies of India...These people should be probed," Chishty said. In the Air India pilot suicide case, the police said that the accused is hiding information and has been sent to police custody till Monday, a NDTV report cited The deceased, 25-year-old Air India pilot identified as Srishti Tuli, was found dead on Monday at her rented apartment in Mumbai's Andheri region. Her family blamed her 27-year-old boyfriend, Aditya Pandit, for abetment of suicide and insulting her for consuming non-veg food at an event. Tuli's relative, Vivek Kumar Tuli, filed a complaint, leading to the registration of an FIR under Section 108 of the Indian Penal Code. Subsequently, the accused was arrested and remanded to police custody for four days. Police revealed, Tuli had video-called Pandit moments before her alleged death by suicide on Monday Srishti and Aditya reportedly had a disagreement, leading to Adityas departure for Delhi. Srishti is said to have requested him to stay with her a few more days, but he declined. Allegedly, she threatened self-harm, and when Aditya remained firm in his decision, Srishti reportedly video-called him, showing her intent to harm herself, according to sources. Additionally, Aditya Pandit has allegedly deleted some of his messages with Srishti. According to the police, initial investigations reveal that the accused, a native of Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, has no prior criminal record. Commenting on the incident, ACP Pradeep Mirale said, "Srishti Tuli's body was brought to Seven Hills Hospital on November 25. Upon receiving the information, Powai officers investigated the scene and sent the body for a postmortem examination by a panel of expert doctors. Also Read | Bengaluru police officer on radar for allegedly abetting suicide "Following a complaint by her relative, Vivek Kumar Tuli, an FIR was registered under Section 108 of the IPC, naming Aditya Pandit as the accused. We arrested him on November 25, and the court has ordered his custody until November 29," the ACP added. As many as 11 passengers died and over 30 others were injured after a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation bus overturned in the Gondia district of Maharashtra on Friday. Gondia Collector Prajit Nair said, "...Around 40 people were on the bus. 34 of them were injured...11 people have died. Treatment of others is underway...One of the deceased belonged to Nagpur, another from Chandrapur, a few of them belonged to Bhandara and a few others from Gondia..." The state transport bus met with the accident after it lost control and overturned near Bindravana Tola village in Gondia district. The bus was on its way from Nagpur to Gondia. An official told news agency ANI that the injured were shifted to the Gondia District Hospital, adding that the death toll could increase. Also Read | UP news: Road accident claims lives of four doctors and lab technician According to information from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has ordered the transport administration to provide immediate assistance of 10 lakh to the victims. "A state transport Shivshahi bus overturned in a horrific accident. Eight bodies have been recovered from the site of the incident, and the death toll is expected to increase. Information about the situation was taken from the local administration. Instructions have been issued for immediate and proper treatment of the injured," said the CMO. Also Read | US hunting gun accident: Telangana student tragically killed on his birthday Devendra Fadnavis assures assistance Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis offered his condolences to the bereaved family members. Taking to his official handle on X, Fadnavis posted, It is very unfortunate that a Shivshahi bus met with an unfortunate accident near Sadak Arjun in Gondia district in which some passengers died. I pay my heartfelt respects to the deceased. We share the grief of their families. Fadnavis said direction had been given that the injured passengers could be treated at private hospitals if necessary. "The people who were injured in this incident may immediately receive treatment in a private hospital if necessary. I have also told the Collector of Gondia to make arrangements to shift them to Nagpur if required. Senior administration officials have reached the spot and are coordinating relief efforts. I pray to God for the speedy recovery of the injured in this incident," posted Fadnavis on X. PM Modi reacts Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given 50,000 PM Modi posted on X, Distressed by the loss of lives in the bus mishap in Gondia, Maharashtra. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected." Schools and colleges in Manipur's Imphal Valley districts and Jiribham will reopen on Friday, November 29, amid massive protests in the region after the dead bodies of three women and three children in Jiribam were recovered a few days back. Also Read | Manipur News: NIA reopens 3 cases as hunt for Jiribam culprits intensifies The government educational institutions or government-aided colleges under the Higher and Technical Education Department, including state universities, will reopen with effect from Friday, according to an order. The schools and colleges in Manipur have been closed since November 16 after protests erupted. An order issued by the Directorate of EducationSchools said, Normal classes will resume for all state, government, government-aided, private, and central schools from November 29. Manipur violence Situations between Meitei and the Kuki community continue to remain tense in Manipur. Violence escalated after three women and three children of the Meitei community went missing from a relief camp in Jiribam. They were missing after a gunfight between security forces and suspected Kuki-Zo militants resulted in the deaths of 10 insurgents on November 11. Bodies of those six were later found Tensions in Manipur continue to simmer after violent clashes broke between Kuki and Meitei community in May last year. More than 250 people have been killed and thousands were rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kuki-Zo groups since May last year. Curfew in Manipur regions Due to widespread protests over the report of the recovery of bodies, the state authorities imposed a curfew in the valley districts on November 16, reported Hindustan Times. "Due to the developing law and orders situation in the district, there is a need to relax restrictions on the movement of people to facilitate the public to purchase essential items, including medicines and food items. Restriction of movement of people outside their residences is hereby lifted for Friday from 5 am to 4 pm" according to a government order. Also Read | Parliament Winter Session adjourned till Wednesday as INDIA bloc protests "The relaxation, however, shall not include any gathering/ sit-in protest/ rally without obtaining approval through competent authority" the order read. Rally against AFSPA in Manipur Amid ongoing violence in the state, people are demanding the removal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from Manipur. Thousands of demonstrators defied the imposed curfew on Thursday and staged a rally in Imphal East district against AFSPA. The rally began at Nongada in Lamlai constituency, with the protesters raising slogans as they marched towards Yorbung, covering a distance of 4.5 km. "The rally was organised by Meira Paibis and local clubs in Lamlai constituency. We have reiterated time and again that AFSPA is a tool of oppression. The people of Imphal valley and Naga areas have suffered the most under AFSPA, but the government has never acknowledged their suffering," Y Leima, a woman protester, told PTI. SMPL Noida (Uttar Pradesh) [India], November 29: Ushering in a transformative phase in real estate, ManuBhoomi has officially launched operations. The purpose of the company is to redefine land investment opportunities across the country. Based in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, the company is on a mission to offer premium land options in high-growth regions, beginning with Ayodhya, Corbett, Goa, and Dholera. Revolutionizing Land Investment ManuBhoomi has been created to meet the increasing demand for reliable, transparent, and strategic land investment solutions. By leveraging deep market insights and placing customers at the centre of its operations, the company empowers investors and buyers to make informed, confident decisions. The company is co-founded by Prakash Rawat, a well-known name in the region for his integrity and customer-first approach. In his 15 years in the sector, he has helped scores of customers build enormous wealth through land investments. Speaking at the launch conference, ManuBhoomi Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer Prakash Rawat said: "ManuBhoomi has been established with a vision to offer secure and strategic land investment opportunities to ambitious, aspirational and growth-oriented investors and homebuyers. We prioritise trust, transparency, and value in every project, with the goal of making a meaningful impact in the real estate landscape." Strategic Locations with High Growth Potential ManuBhoomi's debut portfolio features land opportunities in some of India's most promising regions, selected for their economic, cultural, and lifestyle appeal: * Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh): A rapidly evolving city steeped in religious and cultural significance. * Corbett (Uttarakhand): A prime location for eco-tourism and nature-inspired developments. * Goa: A top-tier destination for luxury living and leisure-focused investments. * Dholera (Gujarat): India's pioneering smart city, offering unparalleled opportunities in industrial, commercial, and residential real estate. A Vision Rooted in Growth and Sustainability ManuBhoomi is poised for expansion, with plans to explore opportunities in other emerging cities across India. The company is dedicated to sustainability, transparency, and creating exceptional value for its clients. ManuBhoomi aspires to set new standards in real estate by harmonizing trust, innovation, and growth potential. ManuBhoomi's launch signifies a pivotal moment in addressing the dynamic needs of today's investors and homebuyers. The company promises to deliver unparalleled opportunities and lasting value in India's evolving real estate landscape. For more information, please visit - https://manubhoomi.com/ PNN Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 29: Dr. Bharat Agravat (https://www.drbharat.agravat.com), renowned dentist and implantologist along with being an award-winning medical entrepreneur, is set to launch its flagship OLI Therapy services for the treatment of Oral Submucous Fibrosis in Mumbai soon at OSMF Clinic. His son, Dr. Kartavya Agravat, CEO of Dr. Agravat Healthcare Ltd, will assist him in this service. With the original chamber being in Ahmedabad, residents will now be at great advantage in receiving advanced oral care right there in Mumbai from the very hands of one of India's best dentists. Best Dental Implants Surgeon Available Consultation in Mumbai | OLI Therapy | OSMF Kit | Dr Bharat AgravatVideo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EMNfC-RwDQ OSMF Clinic would likely be a specialized clinic could therefore combine medical, therapeutic, and rehabilitative treatments with advanced, patient-centric care to help individuals regain mouth function and prevent further complications like Oral Cancer. It has been decided for now that the father and son duo will visit Mumbai on the second Saturday of each month. However, if the need arises, the visits can be increased to twice a month. Apart from OLI Therapy, Mumbai residents will also be able to receive multiple other oral care treatments like Fix Teeth, Fix Dentures, All on 4 Dental Implants, OSMF Mouth Opening Kit Treatment (https://osmfmouthopeningkit.com) and Quit Smoking Gutkha QSG Kit (https://quitsmokinggutkha.com) Treatment.OSMF Clinic would likely be a specialized clinic could therefore combine medical, therapeutic, and rehabilitative treatments with advanced, patient-centric care to help individuals regain mouth function and prevent further complications like Oral Cancer. Having been in the field for over two and half decades, Dr. Bharat Agravat has changed the landscape with his approaches towards the methods of treatment, including the conventional ones. In fact, the OLI Therapy treatment that he has developed to heal Oral Submucous Fibrosis or OSMF, is one of the more unconventional ones in the fact that it is completely non-invasive and non-surgical. "Science is never static, so it stands to reason for us medical professionals to keep challenging existing knowledge systems in order to get to a better one that benefits more and more patients", quipped Dr. Agravat. To book for consultation, patients can contact the given phone number -- 7575-00-8686. About Dr. Bharat Agravat is India's leading and award-winning dental implantologist, innovator and founder of OSMF Clinic who has transformed lives with his cutting-edge and advanced yet low-cost treatment methods. His ingenious treatment OLI Therapy, OSMF Kit and QSG Kit has improved the lives of thousands and helped tremendously with addiction management. Contact OSMF Clinic C/O OSMF Kart Dadar West, Mumbai Address - Upper First Floor. Office No 2, Shri Shivaji Mandir, C/o Dr. Kadam Dental Clinic, N C. Kelkar Marg, near Plaza Cinema, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400028 The Enforcement Directorate, on Friday morning conducted raids at properties connected to Raj Kundra, husband of actress Shilpa Shetty, and several others, as part of a money laundering investigation. The probe centers around the production and distribution of pornographic content via mobile applications, reported PTI. Raj Kundra's legal battles are not new. In June 2021, Shilpa Shetty's husband, was arrested on charges of allegedly producing pornographic films. He was granted bail in September 2021, after spending two months in jail. According to Mumbai police, Kundra was the primary conspirator in the case. When the pornography case came to light The current case in question dates back to February 2021, when the Mumbai police uncovered the network involved in the pornography racket. It led to five arrests, and several other arrests followed over time. The Mumbai police resumed its probe in the case in June following multiple setbacks. That is when the involvement of HotShots, an app owned by Raj Kundra's company came into light. A search operation was conducted subsequently, and the officials said adult content was found on servers seized. Also Read | Raj Kundra linked to Bitcoin Ponzi scam: All you need to know The app allegedly attracted aspiring actors under the guise of web series auditions. However, the actors were reportedly pressured into filming semi-nude or nude scenes against their will, stated multiple reports. Police also claimed that Kundra's phone contained WhatsApp chats had discussions pertaining to the sale of 119 adult films for 1.2 million dollars. In addition to Kundra and officials from Raj Kundra Films, actors Poonam Pandey, Sherlyn Chopra, and Umesh Kamat were also named as accused in the case. Sambhal case: The Supreme Court, while hearing a plea challenging a court order that allowed the survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal on Friday, directed the petitioners to approach the High Court for resolution of the matter. We want peace and harmony in Sambhal, the Chief Justice, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, said, according to Live Law. The apex court also said that any petition related to this matter would be listed within three days of being filed. Also Read | 4 dead amid tensions over Jama Masjid survey and temple claims in Sambhal The Bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar was hearing a plea seeking an ex-parte ad-interim stay on the operation of the trial court's November 19 order. What is the Sambhal mosque case about Sambhal has been plagued by violence over the past few days after a survey team visited the mosque. On the second day of the survey, four people had died of gunshot wounds metres away from the mosque after violence escalated. Also Read | Sambhal violence: UP Police release photos of accused involved in stone pelting The case stems from Supreme Court lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain's petition, claiming that a Harihar temple once stood at the site of the mosque. Jain had earlier said the Court of Civil Judges (Senior Division) ordered the constitution of an advocate commission to survey the mosque. On Sunday, he urged the Archaeological Survey of India to take control of the temple. What was the need of a second survey Several politicians held myriad views regarding the Sambhal mosque case. Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad said the committee aimed to divert public attention. So many people are injured, Police fired shots...what was the need of a second survey?...the Police and district administration there are fully responsible for this, Prasad said, according to ANI. Mahindra Group chairperson Anand Mahindra on Friday hailed India's nuclear prowess following the successful test-fire of a 3,500 km-range K4 nuclear-capable ballistic missile from INS Arighaat. The K-4 nuclear capable ballistic missile fired from a submarine platform. Deterrence. Making us safer in an unsafe world, wrote Anand Mahindra in a post on X. The recent test fire of the ballistic missile is a significant boost to India's nuclear deterrence and strategic capabilities, reported Press Trust of India, citing sources. The development has upgraded India's position among a few nations having the ability to fire a nuclear missile from land, air and undersea. About K4 missile test-fire The nuclear-capable ballistic missile INS Arighaat was test-fired from the submarine off the coast of Vishakapatnam on Wednesday. Its range is approximately 3,5000 kilometres. After the successful test of the K4 missile, the Indian Navy is likely to conduct more tests of the missile system in the coming months. Also Read | 13 Indians, 3 Sri Lankans missing after oil tanker capsizes off Oman Why is the K4 missile test-fire important for India? The recent test of the missile will boost India's defence capability as now the nation can launch a nuclear attack on the enemy from a submarine inside the water. It was the first test of the submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from a submarine, sources told PTI. The solid-fuelled missile was tested at least five times in the last few years from submersible platforms. Sources said the missile was tested for almost its complete range. Also Read | Indian Navy rescues oil tanker with 30 crew members from Houthi missile attack About INS Arighaat The second Arihant-class submarine, INS Arighaat, was commissioned into the Indian Navy on August 29 to strengthen India's nuclear deterrence. It has the distinction of having indigenous systems and equipment that were conceptualised, designed, manufactured and integrated by Indian scientists, industry and naval personnel. Germany's new documentary titled Prince Harry - The Lost Prince is set to premiere soon which would provide viewers an in-depth look at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's life in the Montecito. It will also focus on their efforts to maintain relevance after stepping back from royal duties in January 2020. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Ulrike Grunewald, the documentary provides insight into the couple's life with their children while also examining the mixed public opinions following their departure from the royal family. It is also set to focus on Prince Harry's "ongoing search for a meaningful role and the broader impact of this on the British monarchy," as quoted by the Express UK. As per ZDF, The Royal Family has to deal with difficult developments and regroup after 'Megxit', the death of the Queen and Charles and Kate's cancer. What role will Harry play in the future? Also Read | Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to stay in California despite deportation threat Moreover, Filmmaker Ulrike told Express that the documentary will also examine Meghan's reputation. "She [Meghan] might be embarrassed about the amount of criticism she now gets even in communities that used to back her after the decision to leave the Royal Family as a working member," he said as quoted by Express. Giving details on the documentary, Lynn Carratt from Press Box PR told The Mirror, "From my understanding of the new TV documentary, Harry and Meghan are not part of it. [Instead], it's interviews with people who live near them who've perhaps worked with them previously. Not Harry and Meghan, giving their insight into their own lives or own opinions. Also Read | Chennai weather today: Tamil Nadu braces for heavy rain ahead of Cyclone Fengal A royal expert has suggested that a disagreement over a wedding tiara set a negative tone for Prince Harry and Meghan Markles relationship with the Royal Family. The issue reportedly arose during preparations for their 2018 wedding, involving Queen Marys Bandeau Tiara. Richard Eden, a royal commentator from the Daily Mail, shared insights on a recent episode of Reading the Royals. He mentioned that selecting Meghans tiara had been challenging and hinted at tensions between Meghan and Angela Kelly, the late Queen Elizabeths trusted jewellery aide. According to Eden, Harry later confirmed in his memoir, Spare, that there had been disagreements regarding the tiara arrangements. Also Read | Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to stay in California despite deportation threat Harry felt that Meghan wasn't being treated as she should. That, you know, everyone should show her great respect and here was, you know, a servant, as he saw it, who was just being quite difficult and obstructive. And it was one of those things that really, sort of, set a bad tone for the marriage and their relationship with the Royal Family," Eden said. Eden claimed that Harry felt Angela Kelly was being uncooperative by delaying appointments for Meghan to view the jewellery. Harry reportedly believed this showed Meghan wasnt being treated with the respect she deserved. Eden explained that such incidents contributed to early friction between the couple and the Royal Family. The chosen headpiece, Queen Marys Bandeau Tiara, is an exquisite piece valued at approximately 2 million (nearly 21.5 crore), featuring diamonds and a detachable brooch. Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara Reports suggest that Meghan initially wanted to wear the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara but was allegedly refused due to its unclear origins. Maxwell Stone from Steven Stone Jewellers later clarified that the tiara, thought to have Russian links, had entered the royal collection through uncertain means. Princess Eugenie later wore this same tiara at her wedding. Russian President Vladimir Putin denied using his black labrador, Koni, to intimidate German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a 2007 meeting. In her memoir Freedom, Merkel revealed she was afraid of dogs and had asked Putins team in 2006 not to bring Koni near her. Putin honored the request but gave her a large stuffed dog, joking that it wouldn't bite. But the next year during a meeting in Sochi, the large dog loitered around the room and also went up to Merkel, which made German Chancellor uncomfortable. When asked about the incident, Putin said he was not aware of Merkel's phobia and also apologised for the incident. "Frankly - I've already told Merkel, I didn't know she was afraid of dogs. If I'd known, I would never have done it. On the contrary I wanted to create a relaxed, pleasant atmosphere," he said. Later he issued a fulsome new apology to Merkel saying he "absolutely won't do it again". "I appeal to her again and say: Angela, please forgive me. I didn't want to cause you any distress," he said. Meanwhile, in her book, she mentioned "I tried to ignore the dog, even though he was moving more or less right next to me. I interpreted Putin's facial expressions as him enjoying the situation." "Did he just want to see how a person reacts in distress? Was it a small demonstration of power? I just thought: stay calm, concentrate on the photographers, it will pass." Putin threatens Ukraine Putin on Thursday threatened to strike "decision-making centres" in Kyiv with Russia's new hypersonic missile, hours after Moscow pummelled Ukraine's energy grid in an attack that left a million people without power. Russia fired more than 90 missiles and around 100 drones during the barrage, according to Kyiv, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urging his allies to respond firmly to what he dubbed Russian "blackmail". Putin said the fresh bombardment was a "response" to Ukrainian strikes on his territory with Western missiles. The nearly three-year war has seen a sharp escalation in recent days, with both sides deploying new weapons in a bid to gain the upper hand before US president-elect Donald Trump takes office in January. Also Read | Putin Says Russia May Use New Missile Again After Attack on Ukraine "We do not rule out the use of Oreshnik against the military, military-industrial or decision-making centres, including in Kyiv," Putin told a press conference in the Kazakh capital Astana, referring to the hypersonic missile. Kyiv's government district -- an area of the capital where multiple government buildings are located -- is protected with intense security, but fears for it have risen over the last week. Russia tested its new Oreshnik ballistic missile on Ukraine last week, and Putin boasted on Thursday that firing several of the weapons at once would have the equivalent force of a nuclear strike, or a "meteorite" hit. NABATIEH, LebanonExhausted Hezbollah fighters filed past a throng of civilians through this small Lebanese city on Thursday, withdrawing northward a day after a cease-fire aimed at halting more than a year of fighting between the Iranian-backed militant group and Israel. As they pulled back, ordinary residents flowed south, past mountains of rubble, returning to homes they had fled as intensifying fighting engulfed the towns and villages of Lebanons south. In Nabatieh some stopped to look at the ruins of the citys century-old marketplace. The Hezbollah men said the fighting had been hard since Israeli ground troops pushed into Lebanon in September. One militant said his unit had been on the front for weeks without reinforcements and at times cut off from contact with commanders after Israeli attacks hobbled internal communications. I didnt know if you were alive," said one fighter as he embraced a comrade. Im going home to shower. Its been three months," said another. Hezbollahs withdrawal from areas along the Israeli bordercoupled with a pullback of Israeli troopsover the next 60 days is central to the U.S.-brokered cease-fire agreement. The U.S., France and United Nations peacekeepers are charged with monitoring adherence to the terms of the truce. The cease-fire brought relief to millions of Lebanese after months of airstrikes that Israel said targeted Hezbollah leaders, equipment and installations. The Israeli government hopes it will allow tens of thousands of civilians to return home as well after more than a year of Hezbollah missile and rocket attacks. Hezbollah, a Shiite militia and political party that the U.S. has designated a terrorist organization, started firing on Israel the day after Palestinian militant group Hamass Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people. Hamas and Hezbollah receive funding and weapons from Iran. Under the terms of a 2006 U.N. resolution, Hezbollah, the worlds most well-armed nonstate force, was supposed to withdraw military units and weaponry from southern Lebanon, but it didnt comply, and neither the U.N. nor the Lebanese government was able to make it do so. Back-and-forth strikes between Hezbollah and Israel in September turned into an intensified conflict as Israel moved to push Hezbollah away from border areas so that its citizens would feel safe returning to homes in northern Israel. Israeli airstrikes that wiped out many of the militias top leaders also uprooted hundreds of thousands of Lebanese people from their homes. The fighting killed more than 3,700 people in Lebanon, most of them since the September offensive, according to the Lebanese health ministry. Dozens of Israeli soldiers and civilians have also been killed in the fighting. After months of refusing to accept a cease-fire without an end to Israels war against Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah quietly accepted a delinking of the two conflicts, paving the way for this weeks truce. The Hezbollah commander who had been fighting on the front said the group planned to withdraw its heavy weapons and fighters from the south, with the exception of those who live in the south, who would remain with light arms. Those who are not from the villages themselves will have to pull back, but you will always have those that are from the same villages," he said, adding that much would depend on how the two-month implementation period unfolds. Things will become clearer in the next 60 days," he said. Just outside of Nabatieh, a flatbed truck carrying a rocket launcher could be seen driving north away from the border. Lebanese military armored personnel carriers and trucks carrying bulldozers rumbled south along the coastal highway. Israel launched several strikes in Lebanon on Thursday, hitting what it said were advancing militants and launching an airstrike on a facility storing rockets. Lebanese authorities said the latter strike hit near the city of Sidon, just south of Beirut and north of the area where Hezbollah is prohibited from stationing its military forces under the terms of the ceasefire. The strike pointed to another key test for the cease-firethe conduct of Israeli forces now in a strip of southern Lebanon. The Israeli military said it was acting to enforce violations of the cease-fire agreement." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel maintains full freedom of military action," claiming a broad mandate to strike Hezbollah in response to threats or efforts by the group to rearm even after the signing of the cease-fire deal. The statement came in connection with what officials familiar with the talks said were security guarantees given to Israel by the U.S. separate from the agreement. In comments to Israeli television on Thursday, Netanyahu said he told the Israel Defense Forces, If there is a massive violation of the agreement, I instructed the IDF to prepare for an intensive war." After the airstrike on Thursday, the Lebanese army accused Israel of violating the cease-fire agreement by breaching Lebanese airspace and striking Lebanese territory. Much of Nabatieh, a wealthy commercial hub and one of the largest population centers in southern Lebanon, was in ruins on Thursday. In the center of the Shiite-majority city, childrens notebooks and shoes lay on top of one pile of rubble across from Nabatiehs Ottoman-era souk. I just wanted to gaze, to see, in order to get closure, because maybe Im never going to see this city again," said Ahmed Ghossein, a Lebanese filmmaker who attended high school in Nabatieh, who stood by the ruins on Thursday. He said he expected Hezbollah to complete the expected military withdrawal. They dont have a choice." The citizens of Nabatieh, like Lebanon as a whole, are taking stock of a future fraught with uncertainty. After years of misrule and corruption, Lebanon was shaken by one of the worlds worst economic contractions in the last century beginning in 2019, depriving it of funds it needs for a reconstruction. Nabateans are also split over the role that Hezbollah will take in the future of their country. Ahmed Sabbagh, 53, a money changer who said he doesnt support Hezbollah, sat with a cat in his lap in front of his shop that he reopened Thursday morning. He watched as a few of Hezbollahs civilian supporters drove past waving the groups yellow flags. Each party in the conflict feels they accomplished something, so Im optimistic that the cease-fire wont collapse," he said. Im hopeful that these are the birth pains of something better." Najiba Mroueh, 49, sat outside her apartment building with her two sons. A self-identified communist, she said she isnt a Hezbollah supporter, but respected their role as a military force. They were the only ones who stood with us," she said. Write to Jared Malsin at jared.malsin@wsj.com In the latest development of Chinmoy Krishna Das case, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) on Thursday expressed solidarity with the priest. Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was arrested for sedition after allegedly placing a flag on a stand showing Bangladesh's national flag. On Tuesday, a Chittagong court rejected his bail request and sent him to custody. The arrest has caused widespread anger, with many calling for his immediate release. Check the latest development here: The Serbian government ended visa-free entry for Indian citizens on January 1, 2023, implementing stricter rules in line with the European Union's recommendations. Accordingly, the Indian Embassy now advises Indian nationals planning to visit Serbia to secure a visa from the Serbian Embassy in New Delhi or their country of residence. Prior to these changes, Indian travellers holding a passport or other travel documents were not required to apply for a visa to enter Serbia for up to 30 days within a period of one year. You can still travel to Serbia visa-free here's how However, you can still travel to Serbia without a visa for up to 90 days in case you have a valid Schengen, UK or US visa. While announcing stricter regulations, a statement from the Serbian government made the rules clear. Also, it may be noted that holders of Indian passports having a valid Schengen, UK visa, or visa of the United States of America, or residence permit of these countries may enter visa-free to the Republic of Serbia up to 90 days during a six-month period, and within the validity of said visas or residence permits, it noted. Why did Serbia stop visa-free travel for Indians? Serbia has experienced a surge in the number of refugees from different countries, especially Cubans, as their numbers went from 36 to 339. However, the surge noticed in Turk arrivals beat all other numbers from 1,653 to 6,186, which alarmed both Serbia and the European Union. Moreover, arrivals from India also soared dramatically during this time, from 557 to 4,469, which indicated that the authorities had to take some action to prevent the country from becoming a migration gate. Also Read | India raises concern as Australia increases student visa fee by over 100% The idea of small government has long held totemic appeal on the American Right, especially after Ronald Reagan ran a charm offensive in the 1980s to reposition government as a problem rather than solution. But could it be in for huuuge action, to borrow a favourite word of Donald Trump, once US leadership goes Republican again in 2025? It was typical of Trump, whos set to take charge as US president on 20 January, to give his downsizing agenda the sound and fury of an atomic explosion. A proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), co-led by billionaire Elon Musk and biotech success Vivek Ramaswamy, is expected to help dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures and restructure federal agencies" in what Trump called the Manhattan Project of our time, citing Musk as saying itll send shockwaves through the system." This comparison with Americas 1940s scramble for nukes may seem over-the-top, but where this scale-back of the state leads the US would be of interest to policymakers around the globe. Especially in India, where the ideal size of government remains an unsettled debate. In Musks view, $2 trillion can be shaven off the US federal budget, estimated at $6.8 trillion for the year till 30 September. Can it? Even though DOGE wants to hire super-high-IQ small-government revolutionaries," it looks like a pie-in-the-sky ambitiona Mars-shot of sorts. After all, Americas welfare outlay of nearly $3 trillion can hardly be squeezed without a social upheaval, $950 billion must go into debt pay-backs, and the restthe discretionary partincludes $850 billion for Uncle Sams defence, which enjoys exalted status too. Many expenses will prove hard to cut without leaving the US government wobbly. As for staff layoffs, a wage bill of $384 billion is not large enough to save much. Yet, government bloat is a universal problem and some expenses have outlived their utility. If DOGE slashes even $1 trillion, Trump could plausibly ease taxes without worsening the US fiscal deficit. At 6.4% of GDP, this gap is too wide even for a country that can borrow cheaply from the rest of us. The more impactful part, though, might be DOGEs drive to deregulate markets. And here, Musks role will be watched for any whiff of oligarchy. Its awkward enough to have business tycoons invested in sectors like AI, space tech, social media and biotech judging how much regulation is too much. All these are fields in obvious need of oversight. Also read: The Indian economy also has much to thank the Constitution for Under-regulation has its risks. Should Musks shockwaves flatten even the minimal framework of rules needed, it could lay America low. But if the project lives up to its hype, which may take years to determine, wed have seen a live example of how an economy can be boosted by giving market forces more space. If the US emerges better served by shrinking the state, should India follow suit? Measured by the money it spends, our government is smaller. New Delhi spends just 14.6% of Indian GDP, while Washingtons budget is a bulky 23.6% of US outputwhich is 7.5 times larger in dollar terms. While this may suggest Indias set-up hasnt bloated the way Americas has, its hard to claim with a straight face that our sarkari use of public funds is low on waste and high on efficiency. Theres clearly scope for a scale-backjust to stay fit. Success or failure would pivot on the fitness plan. Get it right, and the future brightens. Get too radically rightist, and big-bang reforms could end in a whimper. Parliament Winter Session: Both the houses of Parliament were adjourned for the fourth straight day on Friday amid protest and sloganeering by the opposition over host of issues including Adani bribery charges. The sessions in both houses will now reconvene next week on December 2. The sessions in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha began as usual at 11 am. Opposition MP's in both the houses staged protest against the rejection of adjournment notices for a discussion on allegations against the Adani Group, and the violence in Manipur and Sambhal. Also Read | Parliament Winter Session adjourned for third straight day over Adani row Amid continuous sloganeering in Rajya Sabha, House Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said this cannot be appreciated. We are creating a very bad precedent. Our actions are not public-centric. We are getting into irrelevance We have virtually become a laughing stock, Dhankhar said adjourning the session till Monday, December 2. Similar scenes were witnessed in Lok Sabha where Speaker Om Birla adjourned the house until 12 noon. When the house resumed proceedings, the slogans continued, and Dilip Saikia, the Presiding Officer, adjourned the house until Monday. The Winter Session of Parliament began on Monday. The proceedings were adjourned as opposition started protesting in both houses. There was no business on Tuesday on account of Constitution Day. The proceedings were adjourned in both bouses on Wednesday too for the same reason. Protest continued on Thursday and returned on Friday, too. The Congress and other opposition parties are demanding a discussion on Manipur violence and bribery charges against the Adani Group. The INDIA bloc is demanding a JPC Probe into allegations against the Adani group. Opposition MPs in both Houses of Parliament raised slogans inside the Parliament. Congress questions Modi govt's silence The Congress accused the government of facilitating the aggression of the INDIA parties especially on the Adani issue. Congress general secretary in-charge, communications, Jairam Ramesh said the government has much to feel defensive and apologetic about. "Yet another day of a washout in the Parliament on the Modani issue. Both Houses adjourned today after only a few minutes. The big mystery is why the government is not resisting the adjournments," Ramesh said in a post on X. Also Read | No Waqf Bill in Parliament Winter Session, JPC to seek more time We are creating a very bad precedent. Our actions are not public-centric. We have virtually become a laughing stock. Yet another day of a washout in the Parliament on the Modani issue. The big mystery is why the government is not resisting the adjournments. Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union government has listed 16 bills, for the for the session, which ends on December 20. Five bills have been listed for introduction, consideration and passage, while 10 are for consideration and passage, according to the bulletin of the Lok Sabha. In an unfortunate incident of yet another 'digital arrest' scam, a 90-year-old man in Surat, Gujarat, was defrauded of his entire life savings of over 1 crore. The elderly victim, a stock market trader, was duped by fraudsters posing as officers from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), who alleged his involvement in a drug trafficking and money laundering racket, reported NDTV. According to the publication, the conmen, part of a gang operating in collaboration with associates in China, initiated the scam through a WhatsApp call. Claiming to be CBI officers, they falsely accused the victim of being linked to a parcel allegedly couriered in his name from Mumbai to China, which purportedly contained 400 grams of MD drugs. Under the pretext of interrogation, the scammers placed the victim under a so-called 'digital arrest' for 15 days, using threats of legal action and imprisonment against him and his family to instil fear, added the report. The publication said that during this period, the scammers deceitfully extracted sensitive information and transferred 1.15 crore from the elderly mans bank accounts. Notably, the victims family became aware of the fraud and reported the matter to the Surat Cyber Cell on 29 October. Reportedly, the Surat Crime Branch has since apprehended five suspects: Ramesh Surana, Umesh Jinjala, Naresh Surana, Rajesh Deora, and Gaurang Rakholiya. The report added that the investigations revealed the gangs use of 46 debit cards, 23 cheque books, nine mobile phones, 28 SIM cards, and rubber stamps of multiple firms to facilitate their operations. However, the alleged mastermind, Parth Gopani, remains at large and is believed to be in Cambodia. Authorities have released a sketch of Gopani in an effort to locate him. A young man who had all the signs of a money mule after he unfathomably gave his bank account details to a third party will return before Longford Circuit Court in January. Anis Lawal (20) of 31 Yeats Hall, Prospect Woods, Longford faces a charge that on dates between May 24 and May 25, 2022 he engaged in handling property which was the proceeds of criminal conduct, to wit 19,180 credited to a Permanent TSB account in the name of Terrance O'Dowd, knowing it was the proceeds of criminal conduct. Witness for the State, Detective Garda Clive Glancy, outlined details of the investigation that brought the defendant before the court. Gardai were contacted by victim Terrance O'Dowd, a retired firefighter, who was the victim of a smishing scam. Smishing scams use fake mobile text messages to trick people into sharing sensitive information or sending money to cybercriminals. The injured party received a text message purporting to be from his bank warning him of unusual activity on his account. When Mr O'Dowd clicked the link he was directed to enter three of the digits of his verification code. The victim was then directed to another page, which had all the appearances of his bank's webpage that asked him to input the remaining digits. In a short period of time three transactions removed 19,180 from the injured party's account. Also Read: Housing and cost of living emerge as biggest issues in LongfordLive.ie polls Detective Garda Glancy told the court that the money was transferred to the bank account of Mr Lawal. The defendant made a series of withdrawals from the Longford and Mullingar branch of his bank, made a number of electronic purchases and also transferred money into a digital current account called Money Jar. Gardai executed a warrant to investigate the transactions following the money from Mr O'Dowd's account. A search warrant was also executed on the home of Mr Lawal. Gardai found no trappings of wealth, but a mobile phone and a Money Jar card were seized. In an interview the defendant said he was contacted just after his 18th birthday on Snapchat by a person he had known when he was in primary school. Mr Lawal said they asked him for his bank account details. He said although there were no direct threats, there was a veiled threat with the other party telling him they knew his address. The defendant told Gardai that he was sacred for his mother and younger brother. Having given the other party his account details, money was lodged in his account. Also Read: Crucial that voters put Longford #1 on Friday He claimed that men drove down from Dublin and brought him to banks in Longford and Mullingar and waited as he withdrew the money. In the interview Mr Lawal said the other party parked away from the banks so they could not be seen on CCTV. The defendant told the officers when he went in to make a withdrawal and was not allowed to make any more money from the bank account they got impatient and were giving out and yelling at him. He said he took a video of the interaction, but the Gardai never found it in the course of their investigation. Judge Connolly was told Mr Lawal had provided a name and that person is under investigation, with the matter at an advanced stage. The defendant was cooperative at all times. He had provided passwords for his phone, email and Snapchat account and had allowed a search of his bedroom. Also Read: Voice of the people in Longford Town Detective Garda Glancy said the defendant showed all the signs of a money mule and said there was no indication he got any financial benefit from the fraud, beyond 840 he had spent in shops. The victim impact statement from retired firefighter Terrance O'Dowd told how he felt sickened and foolish as a result of the fraud. He said he was too embarrassed to tell friends and family. The bank did reimburse the funds, but Mr O'Dowd checked his account every day and no longer trusts any message he gets about money. He spoke of feeling empty and vulnerable and concluded by saying: The person who did this probably never done a hard day's work in their lives. The court was told the defendant had no previous convictions. Originally from Nigeria the defendant lives with his mother and little brother, and his father passed away in 2012. Mr Lawal has a heart condition and will be taking medication for life. A full time student the defendant also works part time as a bar man to pay his way through college. He had 2,000 in court as a tangible token of remorse and had penned a letter of apology to the victim. Also Read: Longford Senator welcomes progress on historic Granard Motte tourism project Judge Connolly said it was very difficult to reconcile Mr Lawal's actions: It's unfathomable that you would hand over your bank account details to someone you only somewhat know. The defendant was initially remanded in custody to the following Wednesday, and when the matter returned Judge Connolly said: It's a crying shame he has brought this on his family and I hope he is suitably ashamed. The judge highlighted the lessons for the general public arising from the smishing case: The injured party was asked in disguised stages to give his information and I think the message has to go out that, just because you're not putting in your PAC or your pin number in one transaction, doesn't mean you're not doing it in a number of disguised transactions. This was an excellent Garda investigation, which brought one of the cogs in this criminality - albeit a small cog - to justice. With regard to sentencing Judge Connolly said: The probation report is not beneficial. He denies any real understanding of what was happening. It appeared he was holding back information during any offence-based discussion. He claimed naivety and presented himself as a wholly innocent, naive character who was duped into handing over his bank account details. I think he did it to make a quick euro and now he's learning that there is no such thing and he's suffering the consequences. Also Read: Longford's Hazel McVeigh presented with Equine Judge certification Remanding Mr Lawal on bail to the January sitting of Longford Circuit Court to assess his suitability for the restorative justice programme the judge said the programme could help Mr Lawal understand the consequences of his actions by meeting with the victim and hearing from them how the offending has affected them. Judge Connolly directed the defendant pay the sum of 450 to Permanent TSB. He was admitted to bail on an own bond of 500 to keep the peace and be of good behaviour until the determination of sentence. Mr Lawal will also be under the supervision of the probation service and the probation service has been directed to consider his suitability for the Restorative Justice Programme. He was remanded on bail to January 16 for a further sentence hearing. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: November 29 2024 The Heather McNamara Leadership and Blood Donation Advocacy Scholarship recognizes excellence and outstanding community service to New York Blood Center. New York Blood Center (NYBC) is honored to announce the launch of The Heather McNamara Leadership and Blood Donation Advocacy Scholarship, which recognizes excellence and outstanding community service to the organization. Heather McNamara was a lifelong friend of NYBC and a tireless advocate for blood donations. She often attended NYBC events and spoke with local media to share her story as a blood recipient who relied on transfusions throughout her courageous battle with cancer. This $2,500 annual scholarship will honor Heathers memory by recognizing individuals who have shown exceptional leadership and dedication to saving lives by promoting the importance of blood donation through personal advocacy or organizing impactful community service initiatives. Two scholarships totaling $5,000 will be bestowed in this inaugural year, the second announced in spring 2025. In keeping with Heather and the McNamara familys tradition of giving back to the community, the scholarship will be launched, and the first recipient will be recognized at a press event and blood drive in Heathers honor at the Islip Terrace Fire Department on December 3 at 12:30 p.m. Heather relied on blood transfusions throughout her cancer diagnosis, starting with her historic surgery, and continued to require transfusions throughout the endless follow-up surgeries and hospitalizations she endured over the years. The blood drive and scholarship announcement coincide with Giving Tuesday and Heathers birthday month. The family is asking the community to donate blood and to pay it forward to help save 3 lives with your donation. It is NYBCs privilege to establish this annual scholarship to honor Heathers enormous impact and enduring legacy, said Andrea Cefarelli, Senior Vice President at New York Blood Center. Heather was a faithful partner to NYBC in our mission to save lives; she understood the importance of blood donation and carried out this mission through her work as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Heather was always the first to help someone in need, added Doreen Fiscina, Business Development Manager at New York Blood Center and longtime friend of the McNamara family. Our community is at a great loss, but Heathers memory will continue to live on, not only through all that she did throughout her life but also through what her family continues to do in her memory. She will be forever remembered at NYBC and in the New York community as a difference maker, a lifesaver, a courageous leader, and a fierce advocate for blood donation. Invited media will be able to capture remarks from Heathers family, the first scholarship recipient, NYBC representatives and Islip Terrace Fire Department officials. There will also be opportunities to secure interviews and film donor activities at the drive. WHO: Michele Lariviere, NYBC Senior Director of Donor Recruitment Yadira Navarro, NYBC Director of Community and Stakeholder Relations Doreen Fiscina, NYBC Business Development Manager Members of the Islip Terrace Fire Department Joe and Tina McNamara, Heathers parents Stephanie McNamara, Heathers sister WHEN: Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at 12:30 pm (Drive runs from 12 noon to 9 pm) WHERE: Islip Terrace Fire Department, 264 Beaver Dam Road-Main Meeting Room, Islip Terrace, NY 11752 WHY: To celebrate the launch of NYBCEs Heather McNamara Leadership and Blood Donation Advocacy Scholarship and to pay it forward in memory of Heather. It only takes one hour to donate blood, and a single donation can save multiple lives. Roughly one in seven hospital admissions requires a blood transfusion. Those in need include cancer patients, accident, burn, or trauma victims, newborn babies and their mothers, transplant recipients, surgery patients, chronically transfused patients suffering from sickle cell disease or thalassemia, and many more. Blood donors can give every 56 days, and platelet donors can give twice per month. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently lifted several blood donor eligibility restrictions. To view current eligibility guidelines, visit nybc.org or call 800.688.0900. For more information and to make an appointment for this drive, donors can call 1-800-933-2566 or visit nybc.org. Cant donate blood? You can still support NYBCs mission by texting NYBC to 20222 to give $25. For more information about The Heather McNamara Leadership and Blood Donation Advocacy Scholarship, including eligibility criteria and how to contribute, visit: Donate to Giving Tuesday - The Heather McNamara Leadership and Blood Donation Advocacy Scholarship About New York Blood Center Founded in 1964, New York Blood Center (NYBC) has served the tri-state area for more than 60 years, delivering 500,000 lifesaving blood products annually to 150+ hospitals, EMS and healthcare partners. NYBC is part of New York Blood Center Enterprises (NYBCe), which spans 17+ states and delivers one million blood products to 400+ U.S. hospitals annually. NYBCe additionally delivers cellular therapies, specialty pharmacy, and medical services to 200+ research, academic and biomedical organizations. NYBCes Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute is a leader in hematology and transfusion medicine research, dedicated to the study, prevention, treatment and cure of bloodborne and blood-related diseases. NYBC serves as a vital community lifeline dedicated to helping patients and advancing global public health. To learn more, visit nybc.org. Connect with us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Black Friday is the biggest shopping event of the year, but Cyber Monday is often the best time to get a good deal on a new iPhone, accessories, or other Apple gear. We check prices on iPhone models all year round, so at any point you can check out our best iPhone deals article for up-to-date info on the top deals. We have separate advice for readers looking to buy an iPhone 16 in the U.S. and the U.K. In fact, if you want one of the latest iPhone 16 models you can already save money with the U.K. Cyber Monday deals, see below for details. You can find all the best Cyber Monday deals below, as well as some advice on where to look and what to look out for. Well be updating this page imminently, as the discounts come in. If youre looking for other Apple products, check out our mega roundup of the best Cyber Monday Apple deals. iPhone deals for Cyber Monday 2024: Our advice Apples newest iPhones are the iPhone 16 ($799/799), 16 Plus ($899/899), 16 Pro ($999/999), and 16 Pro Max ($1,199/1,199). It is unlikely that we will see large discounts on these new iPhones over Black Friday, but any saving is worth having. The iPhone 15 ($699/699) and 15 Plus ($799/799) and 14 ($599/599) and 14 Plus ($699/699) are still offered for sale, as well as the iPhone SE ($429/419). It is likely that most of the deals will be on these older iPhone handsets. You can save some money by buying an older iPhone, but youll be giving up some newer features, most notably Apple Intelligence. The only phones capable of Apple Intelligence are the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and the set of iPhone 16 handsets. This might not matter to you now, but it may do in the future, so just keep this in mind when making your purchase. If you see an offer on the iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max we recommend buying one. These were great phones, capable of Apple Intelligence. The leap from the iPhone 15 Pro to the iPhone 16 Pro is not nearly as big as that from the iPhone 15 to iPhone 16. We dont recommend buying an iPhone SE even if its free through a carrier as its several years old and is due to get an update in early 2025. iPhone deals in the U.S. for Cyber Monday 2024 Its very rare to find a deal on an unlocked iPhone 16, but there are some discounts on previous models: iPhone deals in the U.K. for Cyber Monday 2024 In the U.K. and many countries it is easy to buy an unlocked iPhone and resellers often offer discounts. Here is our pick of the best U.K. iPhone deals this Black Friday. For the latest deals on specific models, check the automated price comparison tables at the bottom of this article. iPhone deals from U.S. carriers for Cyber Monday 2024 In the U.S., the only big iPhone deals you can find come from carriers, and have a lot of strings attached. Typically, you have to buy a phone on a multi-year installment plan and get your discount in the form of monthly bill credits. These might change over Black Friday, but the offers are likely to still have strings attached. These are the deals that are available from the three major U.S. carriers. Conditions always apply hereyou may need to have a specific plan, open a new line, or trade in a device. Most U.S. carrier deals require you to buy the phone on an installment plan, and then you get the discount as bill credits toward your monthly payment. AT&T: Get up to $1,000 in bill credits when you buy a new iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max and trade in your old phone, with a qualifying unlimited plan. T-Mobile: Get up to $830 in bill credits toward the purchase of any iPhone 16 model when you trade in your old phone and join the Go5G plan. Verizon: Get up to $100 in bill credits toward any iPhone 16 Pro model with a trade-in and the activation of a new line on the Ultimate Unlimited plan. Amazon: Amazon has partnered with Boost Infinite, a new carrier owned by Dish that primarily uses T-Mobile and AT&T towers for now. $65/mo gets you a free iPhone 16 Pro and unlimited talk, text, and data. Restrictions apply. iPhone accessories deals for Cyber Monday 2024 Many of the best deals are going to be on iPhone accessoriescases, chargers, cables, and the like. There are way too many such products to keep track of, and many small discounts come and go throughout the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale. We highlight only the most interesting bargains; products that are rarely discounted or exceptionally good prices on accessories we recommend. U.S. U.K. You can also find more Apple accessory Black Friday deals. Also check out our round-up of the Best iPhone 16 cases and the Best iPhone 15 cases. You might also find some deals among our best earbuds for iPhones and best over-ear headphones. And dont forget to look at our best AirPods Cyber Monday deals. Does Apple discount iPhones for Cyber Monday? Rather than discount its products, every year Apple holds a shopping event from Black Friday (November 29) to Cyber Monday (December 2). Apples Black Friday deal takes the form of gift card offers, rather than actual savings. We can confirm what Apple is doing for Black Friday 2024: if you buy an iPhone 15 from Apple you can get a voucher for $75/60, buy an iPhone 14 and get a $50/40 Apple Gift Card, but an iPhone SE and get a $25/20 Apple Gift Card. Just note that these handsets are not compatible with Apples new Apple Intelligence features, which may or may not matter to you now, but might do in the future. Plenty of resellers and carriers do have Black Friday offers on iPhones. Below you will find the best ones weve seen as well as advice on what to look out for so that you can get the best deal. Is Apples Cyber Monday deal any good? Rather than discount its products, every year offers gift card offers rather than actual savings. For 2024 the gift card amounts are $75/60 for the iPhone 15. This is a decent saving If you want to buy one of these phones. You could use your $75 voucher to buy a case or something else from the Apple Store, or even credit it to your account to pay for subscriptions for a few months. 2024 2023 2022 iPhone 15 $75 n/a iPhone 14 $50 $75 iPhone 13 n/a $50 $50 iPhone SE $25 $25 $50 Below are up-to-date tables that show the best offers right now on the various Apple iPhones. iPhone 16 deals iPhone 16: From $799/799 iPhone 16 Plus: From $899/899 iPhone 16 Pro: From $999/999 iPhone 16 Pro Max: From $1,199/1,199 iPhone 15 deals iPhone 15: From $799/799 iPhone 15 Plus: From $899/899 iPhone 15 Pro: was from $999/999 iPhone 15 Pro Max: was from $1,199/1,199 Retailer Price 1479 View Deal Product Price iPhone SE (third-generation) deals iPhone SE: from $429/429 Retailer Price 559 View Deal Macway FR 576 View Deal Product Price Cyber Monday 2024: Best deals for Apple products Check out these roundups for the best Apple deals: December is going to be an exciting month for Apple releases for one reason only: Apple Intelligence. We got our first taste of it in iOS/iPadOS 18.1 and macOS 15.1, but it was limited. As we have mentioned before, Apple Intelligence is a gradual rollout, and some of the most exciting features are coming in the iOS/iPadOS 18.2 and macOS 15.2 releases in December. Well get ChatGPT integration, image generation features, Visual Intelligence on iPhone 16, Mail categories, and an expansion to additional markets. Heres what Apple has on the way in December. New hardware Apple rarely releases any new hardware in December. Its not unprecedented for a surprise new product to arriveApple launched the AirPods Max in 2020 as a surprise dropbut were not hearing any rumors about anything that could pop up in December. Also Apple doesnt have any announced products that havent released yet (like the iMac Pro in 2017) so it should be a quiet month as far as hardware is concerned. Its anything but quiet for software, however. More Apple Intelligence is on the way in the big December OS updates, along with a host of other tweaks and improvements. iOS/iPadOS 18.2: Adds Image Playground, Genmoji, Image Wand in Notes, and Visual Intelligence (on iPhone 16). Plus auto-categories in the Mail app and ChatGPT integration in Siri and writing tools, AF/AE lock for the iPhone 16 Camera Control, sharing AirTag locations, and more. Apple Intelligence expands to English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK with this release. macOS 15.2: Adds all the same features as iOS 18.2, except for those specific to the iPhone 16 (Visual Intelligence and Camera Control changes). Services Apple TV+ Here are the shows, series, and movies we expect to release on Apple TV+ in TK. If you want to know whats coming later, check our full guide to upcoming Apple TV+ content. Fly Me to the Moon: The Channing Tatum / Scarlett Johansson film finally comes to Apple TV+, almost six months after its theatrical release. December 6 Wonder Pets in the City: An animated series for kids about a trio of classroom pets. December 13 The Secret Lives of Animals: Discover the clever and creative ways animals navigate lifes most extraordinary challenges, from leaving home to finding a partner. Narrated by Hugh Bonneville. December 18 Apple Arcade Apple releases most Apple Arcade games on the first Friday of each month. Check our Apple Arcade FAQ for a full list of Apple Arcade games and more details on the service. Occasionally, games are released with no forewarning, but youll usually see next months releases listed in the Coming Soon section. Talking Tom Blast Park: A family-friendly runner/shooter in the Talking Tom series. December 5 Hot Wheels: Race Off+: Race Hot Wheels cars on a huge variety of crazy tracks. December 5 Boggle: Arcade Edition: The classic word-making board game comes to your iPhone. December 5 PAC-MAC 256+: One of the best mobile games of 2015, now in Apple Arcade. December 5 Barbie Color Creations: A dynamic Barbie-themed coloring book. December 5 Final Fantasy IV (3D Remake): The updated, 3D-graphics version of this classic 1991 RPG. December 9 FF IV: The After Years+: Similar to the main Final Fantasy IV 3D remake, this continues the story and was first released in 2008. December 9 Boston businesses and shoppers can take advantage of a winter Open Newbury Street for the very first time. Open Newbury: Holiday Stroll will occur on Sunday, Dec. 1 and Sunday, Dec. 8. A rain/weather date is set for Sunday, Dec. 15. The event is meant to encourage holiday shopping in the Back Bay, Mayor Michelle Wu said in a May press release. During the event, Newbury Street businesses are encouraged to set up shop outdoors with various activities and activations. I am thrilled to present the holiday edition of Open Newbury to Back Bay this winter for all of our residents to enjoy, Wu said in a November press release. The tradition of Open Newbury that we enjoy during the summer brings so much opportunity for community gathering and economic growth for our small businesses. I am looking forward to seeing the city gather together again for Open Newbury this holiday season. The route will be the same mile-long, eight-block stretch as the summer Open Newbury series, which started in 2016. Newbury Street will be car-free from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Berkeley Street to Massachusetts Avenue on Dec. 1 and 8. As a result, parking will be restricted on Newbury Street and adjacent streets starting at 6 a.m., and signs will be posted enforcing the restrictions. People can drive and park, use public transportation or bike to shop on Newbury Street during Open Newbury. More information about Open Newbury: Holiday Stroll can be found online. Offices are a lot emptier than they used to be. New lab buildings are just empty, period. Even industrial warehouses a bright spot this decade for Greater Bostons commercial real estate industry are seeing increasing vacancies. If you had told investors immediately after COVID-19s arrival that retail would be the most stable type of commercial real estate in 2025, they would not have believed you. Everyone was shopping online. Amazon was ascendant. But against the odds, thats what has happened. The regions 2.2% retail vacancy rate this past quarter is the lowest in decades, according to data provided by JLL. University of Massachusetts Amherst is warning all students and staff who are traveling internationally over the winter break to plan to return to the United States before President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2025. In a message posted on the university website, members of the Office of Global Affairs wrote that all international students, scholars, faculty and staff under UMass immigration sponsorship should consider adjusting their travel plans if necessary. The school emphasized that the recommendation is not a requirement or mandate and is not based on any current governmental policy, but that travel bans enacted during the first Trump administration indicate caution may be necessary. The Office of Global Affairs is making this advisory out of an abundance of caution to hopefully prevent any possible travel disruption to members of our international community, they wrote. We are not able to speculate on what a travel ban will look like if enacted, nor can we speculate on what particular countries or regions of the world may or may not be affected. They noted that the new president could enact new policies on his first day in office. Shortly after Trump took office in January 2017, he enacted a ban on travel to the U.S. from several majority-Muslim countries. The ban had immediate effect, trapping many travelers, including permanent U.S. residents, in other countries, and was widely criticized as unfairly targeting Muslim communities. UMass Amherst undergraduate international students living on campus will be allowed to move back in early if needed to accommodate changing travel plans. Anyone who needs to do so should contact the Residential Life Assignments Office at 413-545-2100. Info/News: Renouvellement du permis doperation pour les pharmacies priveesLes prochaines rencontres de football de la MFAMeteo du 6 janvier 2025Modoki La Nina dans le PacifiqueZone pluvio-orageuse au Nord-Nord Ouest de MauriceTrois Jumbo Express ferment leurs portesDeces de Lady Nancy Ah-ChuenSpace42s Thuraya 4 Satellite successfully launched into orbit[Video news] Baby John au Sirsa[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 4 janvier 2025Sanjiv Ranjan is the new Secretary-General of the IORA SecretariatLettre ouverte au Premier ministre du PakistanLettre ouverte a lAmbassadeur des Etats Unis a MauriceIPLOOK Networks 2024 RecapThe Best-Performing CEOs in Africa in 2024iHerb Debuts Digital Wellness HubHinen to showcase advanced energy storage technologyContribution decisive des Nouveaux Democrates dans la victoire du 10 Novembre 2024DTOS Group lance une initiative innovante pour renforcer les relations intergenerationnelles en entreprise[Video News] La 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votre chanson de lannee sur R1Homelie de Mgr Durhone a loccasion de la messe de Noel a la prison de Melrose147.8 mm a Riche en eau en 24 heuresTrois zones perturbees dans le nord de la region[Document] Export and Import Price Indices for 3rd Quarter 2024Deces de Jimmy CarterFin de la Veille de fortes pluies pour MauriceDeux zones perturbees et une perturbation tropicaleOrages dans lOuestSoft Robotics to debut at CES 2025Bulletin meteo special pour AgalegaPremiere cohorte de femmes certifiee en gestion de pepiniere au sein de lAgri-Hub de la Vallee de FerneyLegend Hill ouvre son paradis panoramique aux Mauriciens en mars 2025Communique du National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Centre ( 29/12/2024)30.2 mm de pluie en trois heures a Riche en Eau[Document] 50 mm de pluie pour les premiers 15 jours de decembre 2024[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 28 decembre 2024[Video News] Dawood Rawat a rencontre les investisseurs dans la BAIBulletin de Veille 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solutions and sustainable livingDepression tropicale a lEst-Nord-est[Document] Debats parlementaires du 20 decembre 2024[Document] The Special Allowance Act 2024[Document] The Employment Relations (Amendment) Act 2024Maurice et lAfrique du Sud veulent renforcer leurs liens culturels en 2025[Video News] Message de Noel de Mgr Jean-Michael Durhone[Video News] Message de Noel de Mgr Stelio Andre[Video News] Message de Noel de Dharambeer Gokhool[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto et Loto Plus du 25 decembre 2024 Irish language rap trio Kneecap has won its discrimination challenge over a decision by former business secretary Kemi Badenoch to refuse them a 14,250 funding award after the UK Government conceded it was unlawful. The outspoken band had launched legal action claiming the decision to refuse the grant discriminated against them on grounds of nationality and political opinion. During a brief hearing at Belfast High Court on Friday, Mr Justice Scoffield said he was glad that the two sides in the case had reached agreement. Reading an agreed statement into the record, barrister for Kneecap Ronan Lavery KC said: It is declared that the decision is unlawful, procedurally unfair, took into account immaterial considerations and failed to take into account relevant factors. It was agreed that the sum of 14,250 would be paid by the Government to the group. The west Belfast hip-hop artists had applied for a grant allocated to support UK-registered artists in global markets. Their application to the Music Export Growth Scheme had been approved by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). However, the grant scheme is overseen by the Department for Business and Trade and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport at Westminster, and the then UK business secretary Mrs Badenoch, who is now the Conservative Party leader, decided to refuse the funding in February. At the time, a government spokesperson said it fully supported freedom of speech, but that it was hardly surprising that it did not want to hand out UK taxpayers money to those opposed to the United Kingdom. Kneecap, formed in 2017 by three friends who perform under the stage names Mo Chara, Moglai Bap and DJ Provai, openly court controversy with their provocative lyrics and merchandise. The group had said its views in favour of Irish unity, and particularly a provocative poster for their 2019 Farewell to the Union tour, had angered the Conservative Party. Band member DJ Provai arrived at court on Friday in an old Land Rover, styled to look like a police vehicle, which was bearing the Irish tricolour and Palestinian flags and blaring loud music. He was wearing his usual Irish tricolour balaclava, which he removed to enter the court building. After the agreement was read, barrister Mr Lavery said he was sorry he could not read it in Irish, to which Mr Justice Scoffield replied: Go raibh maith agat, which means thank you in Irish. The band said it would donate the grant to two youth organisations in Belfast one from a nationalist and one from a unionist area. Speaking outside court afterwards, DJ Provai said: For us, this action was never about 14,250; it could have been 50p. The motivation was equality. This was an attack on artistic culture, an attack on the Good Friday Agreement itself and an attack on Kneecap and our way of expressing ourselves. Read Also: Smyths Toys issue urgent Christmas shopping warning to parents on Black Friday He added: The former secretary of state Kemi Badenoch and her department acted unlawfully; this is now a fact. They dont like that we oppose British rule, that we dont believe that England serves anyone in Ireland and the working classes on both sides of the community deserve better; deserve funding, deserve appropriate mental health services, deserve to celebrate music and art and deserve the freedom to express our culture. They broke their own laws in trying to silence Kneecap. He added: They have tried to silence us and they have failed. Asked what his message was for Mrs Badenoch, DJ Provai said: Good effort Kemi, hard lines in the elections. Onwards and upwards. The bands lawyer, Darragh Mackin from Phoenix Law, said the unlawfulness of the decision in February by the government was as clear as the nose on your face. He added: A court has exonerated our clients and declared this decision unlawful in every sense of the word. Today is not only a victory for Kneecap but a victory for the arts, for culture, for the freedom of expression. Kneecap continue to lead by example in practising what they preach. DJ Provai posed for photographs outside the court after the short hearing before going back to the Land Rover, where a small crowd had gathered, and was driven off. A statement from the Department for Business and Trade said: This Governments priority is to try and reduce costs and help protect the taxpayer from further expense, so we will not continue to contest Kneecaps challenge as we do not believe it in the public interest. The music industry is the heart and soul of our economy and are committed to helping acts continue to thrive and break into new markets, including through our MEGS programme which has helped around 400 artists tour the globe. TOM Fadian, a stalwart of the Mayo Irish Farmers Association, is to be laid to rest in his native Achill. Mr Fadian, who hailed from Slievemore, was synonymous with the Mayo IFA for numerous decades and was a long-time advocate for sheep farmers. He passed away surrounded by his family in the care of Mayo Hospice earlier this week. Mayo IFA Chairman John Lynskey, who knew Mr Fadian for several years, told The Mayo News that he was dedicated to the work of the organisation, Members of the IFA are to hold a guard of honour at his funeral service this evening (Friday). He always kept the hill sheep farmers to the forefront. We worked together on a lot of issues, said Mr Lynskey, who served as Chairman of the IFAs National Sheep Committee from 2014 to 2018. Mr Fadian was active in his local community and served as a board member of the local community development company Comhlacht Forbartha Aitiuil Acla, until last year. Tom was very proactive, progressive and passionate about all things Achill, especially regarding creating employment opportunities, advocating for our youth and the Achill-Cleveland Twinning, read a tribute from the board and staff of Comhlacht Forbartha Aitiuil Acla and the Achill Experience Toms passing leaves a huge void in our parish. He was a go-to man for history, and for advice on agricultural matters. He represented Achills farming community at local, county and national level through his involvement with the IFA. He was a very patient man and was very generous with his time and his consul. You will be sorely missed Tom. Rest in Peace. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam uasal. Tom Fadian is survived by his wife Fiona, children, Stephen, John, Cora, Sarah, Conor and Roisin, daughters-in-law Diana, Jayne, and Neda, son-in-law Adam, eleven grandchildren, his sister Mary and brother John, Aunt Mary, sisters-in-law Ann, Brenda and Mary-Jo, brothers-in-law Rory and Vince, nieces, nephews and his many relatives, neighbours and friends. He will be reposing in Lavelles Funeral Home, Cashel, Achill (F28 YO H9) on this evening (Friday) from 4.30pm until 6.30pm with removal to the Church of the Assumption, Dookinella, arriving at 7pm. His Funeral Mass will take place on Saturday morning at 11am with burial afterwards in Slievemore Cemetery. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam. Castlebar Rotary club hosted the regional finals of this years prestigious Rotary Youth Leadership Development Competition, in Breaffy house hotel, located in Castlebar, Co Mayo. Rotary is one of the worlds leading membership and humanitarian service organisations, with 1.2 million members globally. Members of Rotary volunteer their time to make a difference in their local communities and around the world through projects which support education, fight disease, provide clean water, and much more. Rotary Ireland is an all-island body with 72 clubs and 1,700 members. The competition is broken into three stages, with stage one involving completing an application form and then attending an interview with Rotary members. Interview questions were based on the application, and also on leadership, Rotary, their knowledge of EU, their involvement in their local community, current affairs. Stage two saw the winners of the previous round attend another interview to determine the overall winner. Similar questions were asked, but it was expected that students would display a deeper knowledge of the topics. Stage three then moves into the zone final, which again, saw students attend an interview. The interview panel at this stage are non-Rotarians. They are experts in the field of leadership, working with young people, and in adjudication. After the interviews, three students were selected as zone winner. Students from three clubs, Castlebar, Sligo, and Galway Salthill took part in the finals. Briain Cullinan, a transition year student in Summerhill College, Sligo, was announced as the regional winner last week. READ MORE: All to play for in crowded Mayo election race The competition is one of Rotary Irelands longest running youth projects, rewards young people with clear leadership potential based on their extra-curricular activities. It is run in conjunction with the EU Parliament office in Dublin and Euroscola in Strasbourg. Briain impressed the judges with his knowledge of many topics ranging from European, local and community issues, to leadership and Rotary, and with his articulate and fluent presentation. His success came after he was selected to represent his school in the final of the Sligo Youth Leadership Development Competition club final where 12 schools took part. As a result of his win, Brian will now enjoy an all-expenses paid trip to Strasbourg, Belfast, and Dublin, in January with fellow zone winners from all around the island of Ireland. Briain said, "I am thrilled to have won this competition and to have this great opportunity. I am looking forward to meeting up with fellow students from countries all over Europe." John Mulroy, President of Castlebar Rotary Club who hosted this years final congratulated Brian on his wonderful achievement and praised all the students who took part and entered the competition. The standard of contestants was excellent this year and great credit is due to all our finalists and indeed everyone who took part in earlier rounds. We hope everyone enjoyed the experience and benefited from taking part. The competition is continuing to go from strength to strength but of course this would not be possible without the invaluable support which teachers, parents and club members give to students. Sincere thanks for their support. I would also like to thank the Rotary club members from Castlebar who helped to organise this years final, the Judging panel who carried out the interviews and Breaffy House Hotel for the excellent facilities and arrangements. The Rotary Youth Leadership Development Competition is open to 16- and 17-year-olds who are living on the island of Ireland. The National Museum of Ireland at Turlough Park, Castlebar, is inviting people to escape the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations with a series of three festive Sunday afternoons in December. The programme starts on Sunday, 8 December 8, with a Christmas Crafternoon with Isolde Dingerkus making Cosy Christmas Crafts and Lindsay McConnell delivering a wreath-making workshop at 2pm and 3pm. All workshops are suitable for family audiences. Admission is free but booking is required for each session. The following weekend, on Sunday, December 15, there will be a Christmas market in the Courtyard of Turlough Park House from 1pm to 5pm as well as a live crib with Kiltimagh Pet Farm and some festive storytelling sessions. The Christmas market will feature a range of beautiful crafts from local and regional makers and artists, including candles, calligraphy, art, cards, textiles and more. Three festive storytelling sessions are taking place in the exhibition galleries with Fiona Dowling at 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm. The storytelling sessions are suitable for families with children aged five years plus and no booking is required. On Sunday, December 22, visitors can enjoy an atmospheric afternoon of Christmas carols in the galleries; the return of the live crib with Kiltimagh Pet Farm; and a traditional toys demonstration with a museum curator. The Cill Aodain Choral Society will perform at 2.15pm under the direction of Finola Higgins-Cosgrove followed at 3pm by The Mayo Male Voice Choir under the direction of Deirdre Lee. Kiltimagh Pet Farm are back with the live crib display in the Courtyard from 1pm to 5pm. Curator Tiernan Gaffney will be in the exhibition galleries from 1pm to 3pm with a pop-up display on homemade toys in the Irish Folklife Collection. Christmas Tree Crafts will be delivered by Carmel Balfe at 2pm and 3pm. These are free workshops suitable for families, but places are limited so booking is required. Throughout the month of December, there is a fun Decoration Hunt activity in the museum galleries. This is a self-guided trail - meaning visitors can pick up an activity sheet at any time during Museum opening hours and enjoy the trail at your own pace. Young visitors can use the clues to explore three floors of exhibition galleries and find 12 decorations hanging in the displays. Further details on all events and activities are available from www.museum.ie. For bookings, email BookingsCountryLife@museum.ie or telephone (094) 90 31751. Admission to the National Museum of Ireland at Turlough Park is free. The exhibition galleries are open Tuesday to Saturday, from 10am to 5pm, and Sunday to Monday from 1pm to 5pm. The museum is open as normal throughout the holiday period with the exception of Christmas Day and St Stephens Day. Front Desk Receptionist, CART Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo Company Profile: Management Systems International (MSI), a Tetra Tech Company, is a Washington, D.C. metro area management consultancy with a 40-year history of delivering results for our clients. Our expertise is in the fields of monitoring and evaluation; democracy and governance; peace and stability; rule of law and accountability; education; gender and inclusion; strategic communications; and leadership and organizational development. MSI has implemented projects in 90 countries around the world such as Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria and Ukraine, and works domestically. We support clients ranging from the U.S. Government (e.g., the U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Departments of State and Labor, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation) to large bilateral and multilateral donors (e.g., the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program). We also work with national and local governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), think tanks, foundations, and universities. For more information, please visit our website at www.msiworldwide.com. Project Summary: The Central Africa Regional Third-Party Monitoring (CART) project establishes independent, impartial, timely, responsive, contextualized, and forward-looking third-party monitoring (TPM), verification, outcome monitoring and learning services for the United States Agency for International Developments (USAID) Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA). These services increase USAID/BHAs and its implementing partners (IP) understanding of the outputs, outcomes, progress, challenges, successes, results, and lessons learned for both emergency and non-emergency activities within the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Central Africa Republic (CAR), and Republic of Congo (ROC). This project seeks to improve BHAs capability to utilize humanitarian assistance resources to ameliorate the drivers of poverty and malnutrition characterized by complex emergencies within the region. **Please note: Only Congolese (DRC) citizens are eligible for this position** Position Summary: The Front Desk Receptionist, based in Kinshasa, will support the smooth operations of the CART project, assisting with administrative tasks and covering Front Desk/Receptionist responsibilities. This position will report to the Director of Finance and Administration. Responsibilities: Play the role of visitors first point of contact, welcome and guide them while ensuring security directives/office policies are followed regarding access to office buildings/workspaces. Ensure the visitor information including log is completed, signed and kept up to date. Receive external communications including incoming and outgoing correspondence and record their movements, phone calls and transfer to the appropriate person when necessary. Manage the use of the office meeting room, ensuring that all equipment is ready for use at all time. Support the organization of meetings at Kinshasa office and workshops or training in Kinshasa. Support with notetaking during meetings, prepare and submit meeting reports on time. Oversee the daily tasks of cleaners and contribute to maintaining a pleasant working environment and atmosphere by ensuring the office's neatness. Assist the administrative tasks with secretariat, scanning, filing, and archiving project documents per MSI directives. Assist the logistics tasks on travel arrangements including flight and hotel reservations, draft, and submission of mission orders, and stock management. Perform other related duties as needed to support the organization overall operations. Qualifications: Bachelors degree in administration, secretariat, management, or similar discipline is required. Minimum three years of experience in administration, secretariat, logistics and/or operational management required, preferably in an international organization. Experience working on USG funded contracts preferred. Experience working with a security team on tasks related to office security is an asset. Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite programs, including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, is required. Ability to prioritize, implement, and manage tasks proactively and independently while working within a team is required. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while remaining flexible, positive, and approachable required. Ability to work collaboratively and build effective working relationships with clients, subcontractors, partners, vendors, and colleagues required. Strong organizational skills required. Fluency in written and oral French required. Proficiency in English is preferred. MSI is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. We strive to develop and maintain a culture that honors the perspectives and identities of our employees, our communities and those impacted by our work. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. In accordance with applicable law, we provide reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees religious practices and beliefs, as well as any mental health or physical disability needs. MSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities/Veterans Employer. Reasonable Accommodations: MSI is dedicated to hiring an inclusive workforce. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations during the application process, please visit Tetra Techs Disability Assistance Page. Our recruitment team looks forward to engaging in an interactive process to provide reasonable accommodations for candidates. Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please. To apply: Please visit our website, Front Desk Receptionist, CART - Tetra Tech Careers Please submit your application by December 8, 2024 ----------------------- VERSION FRANCAISE Front Desk Receptionist, CART Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo Profile de la Compagnie : Management Systems International (MSI), une compagnie Tetra Tech, est une societe de conseil en gestion dans la region metropolitaine de Washington, DC, avec une histoire de 40 ans dans la fourniture de resultats a nos clients. Notre expertise principale se situe dans les domaines du suivi et de l'evaluation (S&E), democratie et gouvernance ; paix et stabilite ; etat de droit et responsabilite ; education ; genre et inclusion ; communication strategique ; et le leadership et le developpement organisationnel. MSI a mis en uvre les projets dans 90 pays a travers le monde, dont la Colombie, lIndonesie, la Jordanie, le Kenya, le Mexique, le Nigeria, le Pakistan, la Syrie et lUkraine, et travaille au niveau national. Nous soutenons des clients allant du gouvernement americain (par exemple, lUSAID, le Departement de Defense, le Departements d'Etat et du Travail, et la Millennium Challenge Corporation) aux grands donateurs bilateraux et multilateraux (par exemple, la Banque mondiale et le Programme des Nations Unies pour le developpement). Nous travaillons egalement avec des gouvernements nationaux et locaux, des organisations non gouvernementales (ONG), des groupes de reflexion, des fondations et des universites. Pour plus d'informations, veuillez visiter notre site web a l'adresse www.msiworldwide.com. Resume du Projet : Le projet Central Africa Regional Third-Party Monitoring (CART) etablit et met en uvre un mecanisme de suivi par tier qui est independant, impartial, reactif, contextualise et prospective avec des services ,verification et de suivi des resultats, et d'apprentissage pour le Bureau de lUSAID en charge de lAssistance Humanitaire (BHA) de mieux comprendre les realisations, les resultats, les progres, les defis, les succes, les resultats et les lecons apprises pour les projets d'urgence et non-urgence en Republique Democratique du Congo (RDC), Republique Centrafricaine (RCA) et la Republique du Congo (RC). Le projet CART vise a ameliorer la capacite de lUSAID BHA a utiliser les ressources destinees a l'assistance humanitaire pour attenuer les facteurs de pauvrete et de malnutrition caracterises par des situations durgence complexes dans la region. **Remarque : Seuls les citoyens de la Republique Democratique du Congo (RDC) peuvent pretendre a ce poste** Resume du Poste : Le (la) Front Desk Receptionist, base (e) a Kinshasa, participera au bon fonctionnement du projet CART, en aidant aux taches administratives et en couvrant les responsabilites de receptionniste. Ce poste relevera de la supervision du Directeur Administratif et Financier. Responsabilites : Jouer le role de premier point de contact des visiteurs, les accueillir et les guider tout en veillant au respect des directives de securite et des politiques du bureau concernant l'acces a lenceinte des bureaux et aux espaces de travail. S'assurer que les informations sur les visiteurs, y compris le registre, sont remplies, signees et tenues a jour Gerer les communications externes, y compris les correspondance entrantes et sortantes, enregistrer les mouvements, les appels telephoniques et les transferer a la personne appropriee si necessaire Gerer l'utilisation de la salle de reunion du bureau, en s'assurant que tout l'equipement est pret a l'emploi a tout moment Appuyer l'organisation des reunions et ateliers de formation prevus dans lenceinte bureau de Kinshasa Aider a la prise de notes pendant les reunions, preparer et soumettre les rapports de reunion a temps Superviser les taches quotidiennes des agents de nettoyage et contribuer au maintien d'un environnement et d'une atmosphere de travail agreables en veillant a la proprete du bureau. Aider aux taches administratives y compris le secretariat, la numerisation, le classement et l'archivage des documents de projet conformement aux directives MSI. Aider aux taches logistiques lies a l'organisation des voyages, y compris les reservations de vols et d'hotels, la redaction et la soumission des ordres de mission, et la gestion des stocks. Effectuer d'autres taches connexes au besoin pour soutenir les operations globales de l'organisation. Qualifications: Diplome national detudes superieures de niveau Bac + 3 en administration, secretariat, gestion ou dans une discipline similaire est exigee. Minimum trois annees d'experience dans l'administration, le secretariat, la logistique et/ou la gestion operationnelle, de preference dans une organisation internationale est requise. Experience de travail sur des contrats finances par le gouvernement des Etats-Unis est preferable. Experience de travail avec une equipe de securite sur des taches liees a la securite de bureau est un atout. Connaissance des programmes de Microsoft Office Suite, y compris Word, PowerPoint et Excel, requise. Capacite a hierarchiser, mettre en uvre et gerer les taches de maniere proactive et independante tout en travaillant au sein dune equipe est requise. Capacite a travailler dans un environnement en evolution rapide tout en restant flexible, positif et accessible est requise. Ability to work collaboratively and build effective working relationships with clients, subcontractors, partners, vendors, and colleagues required. Capacite a travailler en collaboration et a etablir des relations de travail efficaces avec les clients, les sous-traitants, les partenaires, les fournisseurs et les collegues requise. Solides competences organisationnelles requises. Maitrise du francais ecrit et oral requise. La maitrise professionnelle de langlais est preferee. MSI est un employeur garantissant l'egalite des chances qui valorise la diversite et l'inclusion. Nous nous efforcons de developper et de maintenir une culture qui honore les perspectives et les identites de nos employes, de nos communautes et de ceux qui sont touches par notre travail. Nous ne faisons aucune discrimination sur la base d'attributs proteges, y compris la race, la religion, la couleur, l'origine nationale, le sexe, l'orientation sexuelle, l'identite de genre, l'expression de genre, l'age, l'etat matrimonial ou de veteran, la grossesse ou le handicap, ou toute autre base protegee en vertu de loi applicable. Conformement a la loi en vigueur, nous faisons des amenagements raisonnables pour les pratiques et croyances religieuses des candidats et des employes, ainsi que pour tout besoin de sante mentale ou de handicap physique. MSI est un employeur soucieux de l'egalite des chances, de l'action positive, des Americains handicapes et des veterans. Amenagements Raisonnables : MSI est dedie a lembauche dune main-duvre inclusive. Si vous souhaitez demander des mesures dadaption raisonnables pendant le processus de soumission, veuillez visiter, priere de visiter Tetra Techs Disability Assistance Page. Notre equipe de recrutement se rejouit a lidee de sengager dans un processus interactif afin doffrir des mesures dadaptation raisonnables aux candidats. Seuls les candidats selectionnes pour un entretien seront contactes. Nous vous remercions de ne pas nous contacter par telephone. Pour postuler : accedez a notre site web, Front Desk Receptionist, CART - Tetra Tech Careers Veuillez soumettre votre candidature au plus tard le 8 decembre 2024 by Ray Schultz , November 28, 2024 A federal court has denied a motion by OpenAI to force The New York Times to disclose its own Gen AI usage as part of discovery in its lawsuit against OpenAI. U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang wrote last week that OpenAI asserts that this outstanding discovery is relevant to their fair use defense. Specifically, OpenAI seeks to compel production of: (1) the Timess use of nonparties generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) tools; (2) the Timess creation and use of its own Gen AI products; and (3) the Timess position regarding Gen AI (e.g., positions expressed outside of litigation, knowledge about the training of third-party Gen AI tools using the Times works), Wang continued. But the judge did not see the relevance to the case at hand. This case is about whether Defendant trained their LLMs using Plainiffs copyrighted material, and whether that use constitutes copyright infringement. It is not a referendum on the benefits of Gen AI, on Plaintiffs business practices, or about whether any of Plaintiffs employees use Gen AI at work," Wang said. T"he broad scope of document production sought here is simply not relevant to Defendants purported fair use defense. advertisement advertisement Wang concluded, Because Defendant has not demonstrated the relevance of the information sought, their motion to compel is DENIED." Microsoft had earlier asked the court to order disclosure by the Times of its efforts to develop generative AI tools. The letter states, Any failed efforts by The Times to develop its own Generative AI system using its works would undermine its claims of harm. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, November 29, 2024 Canadas Competition Tribunal, the Competition Bureau watchdog, said it seeks to end Googles dominance and anticompetitive practice, and restore competition in the countrys online advertising marketplace. The notice, filed Thursday, asks the tribunal to force Google to sell two crucial pieces of advertising-market software and pay a fine of as much as 3% of the companys global revenue. Through a series of calculated decisions, taken over the course of multiple years, Google has excluded competitors and entrenched itself at the center of online advertising, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing the Competition Bureaus notice. Googles near-total control of the ad-tech was premeditated, the notice stated, rather than superior competitive performance or happenstance. advertisement advertisement The Canadian lawsuit is the latest legal antitrust challenge for Google. The company is struggling with a U.S. federal judges ruling last August that the company engaged in illegal practices to preserve its search-engine monopoly. It could be forced to sell its browser Chrome and operating system Android, and pay a fine. Google Vice President of Global Advertising Dan Taylor told the WSJ that the complaint filed by Canadas antitrust watchdog ignores the intense competition where ad buyers and sellers have plenty of choice, and that the company looks forward to making its case in court. The Competition Bureau estimates Google holds a 90% market share in publisher ad servers, 70% in advertiser networks, 60% in demand-side platforms (DSP) and about 50% in advertisement exchanges. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, November 29, 2024 A federal judge who threw out X Corp's lawsuit against Israeli analytics company Bright Data said this week that he will allow X to amend some of its claims and bring them again. The ruling, issued by U.S. District Court Judge William Alsup in the Northern District of California, comes in a lawsuit brought in July 2023 by X Corp., which accused Bright Data of using automated tools to collect data about tweets, and also selling both the scraped data and data-scraping tools. The complaint included claims that Bright Data violated X Corp.'s terms of service, and that it misappropriated X Corp's data. Alsup said in an opinion issued in May that he was dismissing claims relating to scraping data because X Corp.'s allegations, even if proven true, wouldn't show how the company was harmed by the alleged scraping. He also ruled that federal copyright law overrode X Corp's claims relating to Bright Data's alleged sale of data that had been publicly posted by users. X Corp. then proposed amending its complaint by claiming that the alleged scraping harmed the company in several ways -- including by causing a glitchy experience for users. advertisement advertisement Alsup essentially said in a 21-page ruling issued Tuesday that those new allegations warranted further proceedings. X Corp. newly alleges that scrapers traverse the X service in patterns markedly different from humans or authorized machines, that scrapers thus use underlying server capacity in abnormal proportions, and that this results in intermittent, isolated server failures and a 'glitchy, lagged user experience' for Xs human users, Alsup wrote. He added that X Corp. also alleged that if it hadn't purchased millions of dollars of server capacity, the alleged scraping would have resulted in catastrophic system failures. With those allegations, X Corp.s proposed complaint now sufficiently alleges server impairment from scrapers accessing its service, Alsup wrote. At the same time Alsup refused to allow X Corp. to revive claims that Bright Data misappropriated users' tweets. Instead, he reiterated his prior holding that claims regarding the misappropriation and sale of data were overridden by federal copyright law. Earlier this year, U.S. District Court Judge Edward Chen in the Northern District of California sided with Bright Data in a lawsuit over scraping brought by Meta Platforms. Chen ruled in that matter that Bright Data didn't violate Meta's terms of service by scraping publicly available data from Instagram and Facebook because Bright Data wasn't logged in when it gathered the data. After the stupendous success of his penultimate film The Greatest of All Time aka GOAT, Thalapathy Vijay is busy with his final film the yet-untitled Thalapathy 69. Directed by H Vinoth, the film also stars Pooja Hegde and Bobby Deol and ever since its announcement, there have been speculations about its plot. There have been several rumours about the film being a remake rather than an original. Now, a new report has claimed that Thalapathy 69 is an official remake of the 2023 Telugu hit Bhagavanth Kesari starring Nandamuri Balakrishna, Kajal Aggarwal, Sreeleela and Arjun Rampal. While the rumours were already rife about it being a remake of Bhagavanth Kesari, a Track Tollywood report claimed that the producers behind Thalapathy 69 have actually bought the remake rights of the Nandamuri Balakrishna starrer. BEIRUT (AP) Hours after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire to end the war between Israel and Hezbollah went into effect, Lebanon woke up to the sound of celebratory gunfire instead of Israeli airstrikes and drones buzzing overhead. It was a rare moment of respite for Lebanon, as bombs stopped falling after a year of war. Thousands of displaced people joyfully drove back to their towns and villages in southern and eastern Lebanon. But the realization of what lies ahead quickly sank in. Town after town in the south and east as well as parts of Beirut have been destroyed, entire border villages leveled to the ground, and thousands of buildings damaged. The World Bank estimates losses amounting to some $8.5 billion. For the tiny and broken Mediterranean country, which has dealt with compounded calamities for over half a decade, the ceasefire deal has brought more questions than answers. Among them, who will foot the bill for rebuilding? Will Hezbollah fully remove its fighters and arsenals from the south, relocating north of the Litani River and how will the Lebanese army ensure that it does so? And will Israel ultimately accept the militants being pushed back, battered but not destroyed? Meanwhile, Lebanons political paralysis between groups allied and opposed to Hezbollah has only worsened during the war raising the possibility of instability that could rattle the ceasefire. Anger has grown among some over that they see as the Iran-backed groups decision to provoke another disastrous war with Israel. Temporary calm or a step toward long-term security? During the 60-day first phase of the ceasefire deal, based on Security Council Resolution 1701, Hezbollah and Israeli forces are to withdraw from south Lebanon, and the Lebanese military is to step in. The Lebanese troops are to ensure that Hezbollah dismantles its facilities and military positions and that it doesnt try to rebuild. Thats a major point of tension, potentially putting the army in a dangerous confrontation with the more powerful militant group. The army, largely funded by the United States and other Western governments, is a rare point of unity in Lebanons tense sectarian power-balancing political system. But it's always tried to avoid friction with Hezbollah, which is backed by a large constituency among Lebanon's Shiite Muslims. Hassan Fadlallah, a Hezbollah lawmaker, told reporters Thursday that the group will cooperate with the army to implement the ceasefire. But he also said the military doesnt have the capability to defend Lebanon against Israel a role Hezbollah has long claimed. He said the group would continue in that role. Can anyone say if Israel attacks, we watch? Fadlallah said. When Israel attacks our country, we will fight and resist. This is our right. Mike Azar, a Lebanese commentator, said the army is in an impossible position. To suggest that it can disarm or dismantle Hezbollahs infrastructure is, frankly, absurd, he said in an online post. A Lebanese military official told The Associated Press that troops deployment will be gradual into areas of the south, including those from which Israeli troops withdraw. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of not being cleared to speak to the media. The U.S. and France will also be involved in a monitoring mechanism to make sure Resolution 1701 is implemented. Its viability is really being put to the test if there really is going to be that commitment by all sides, said Salman Shaikh, who served as political adviser to the U.N. special envoy for Lebanon during the 2006 war, when the resolution was passed. He now runs The Shaikh Group, a mediation and conflict resolution organization. Critics of the deal fear the pressure is far greater on Lebanon, and Israel has more space to attack Hezbollah which it has vowed to do if it believes Hezbollah isn't abiding by its terms. With U.S. support, Israel has given itself almost total freedom to determine when it needs or wants to attack Lebanon again for whatever reason, said Matt Duss, executive vice president of The Center for International Policy, a Washington-based think tank. Cash-strapped Lebanon needs support for its military and battered country Lebanon since late 2019 has been mired in a crippling financial crisis that pushed millions into poverty, destroyed its banking system, and limited the country to just a few hours of state electricity daily. The Lebanese military has suffered as well, with troops quitting or working second jobs to pay the bills. Yet, the aim of the agreement is for Lebanon to recruit more and deploy an additional 10,000 troops south of the Litani River. Without significant funding, this would be impossible especially with the huge rebuilding costs Lebanon now faces. The international community in a donor conference in Paris last month pledged $1 billion dollars for Lebanon, including $800 million for humanitarian assistance and $200 million to support the army. But aid groups say none of that funding has materialized yet. Mercy Corps says Lebanons gross domestic product shrunk by 6.4% some $1.15 billion just in the last two months of the war. The organization is scrambling to secure housing and services for displaced people ahead of the winter. The worst civilian impacts could still be ahead, Laila Al Amine, Mercy Corps' Lebanon country director, said in a statement. A looming question is who will foot the bill. Iran has offered to help, but it's cash-strapped and under Western sanctions. Oil-rich Gulf Arab states, who helped rebuild after the 2006 war, are weary of Lebanons political class and not inclined to step in. Growing tensions over Hezbollah at home Even before the war, Hezbollah and its arsenal were a point of contention in Lebanon. Its allies say Hezbollahs militants are crucial in protecting Lebanon, while critics say its weaponry violates state sovereignty and is used to pressure political opponents. They have long demanded Hezbollah be disarmed. Senior parliamentarian Alain Aoun said Lebanon has a long list of urgent matters to address, including electing a president after over two years of vacuum, securing reconstruction funding and resolving a host of neglected economic issues. There are a number of challenges awaiting us, Aoun told the AP. Hezbollah's opponents were also angered over its decision to unilaterally start firing rockets into northern Israel on Oct. 8, 2023. The group said it was acting in solidarity with its ally Hamas in the Gaza Strip and vowed not to stop until a ceasefire there was reached. Critics say it dragged Lebanon into war and brought Israels destructive bombardment. Even some of its allies expressed frustration. Lawmaker Gebran Bassil, who heads a party that for years was Hezbollahs main Christian ally in government, said in a video posted on X that Hezbollah should be at the service of the state, not the other way around. Hezbollah's top ally Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who spearheaded negotiation efforts, has long pushed for Hezbollah to decouple its campaign against Israel from the war in Gaza. Now he is calling for parliament to vote for a president in January in order to ease Lebanons political gridlock a move that could put Hezbollah's political power to the test. This is where international funding and political support would also be crucial, says Shaikh. The international community, he said, needs to help the Lebanese sort out their issues, which still persist and which are not exclusively just to do with the Israeli actions against them. Title: Unleash Your Creativity: Mastering Google Docs Word Count Features (Viewing Word Count in Google Docs: Instant Tips) In todays digital age, managing paperwork has become increasingly crucial for businesses and individuals alike. As the world becomes more interconnected through online communication channels, it is essential to stay organized and efficient in your work processes. One such tool that can help you achieve this is Google Docs. Google Docs offers a comprehensive suite of features that can streamline your document creation process and make your work easier. One of the key benefits of using Google Docs is its ability to track word count. Whether youre working on a research paper or a business proposal, having a clear understanding of how much time youve spent on each section can help you manage your workload more effectively. In this blog post, well delve into some top tips for using Google Docs word count feature to improve your productivity. 1. Start by going to the File menu and selecting Open. This will open the current project in Google Docs. 2. If you havent already, create a new document in Google Docs. To do this, click on the + icon in the upper right corner of the screen, select New Document, and choose the desired template. 3. Once the document is created, youll see a summary of its content at the top of the page. Click on the word count button located next to the summary. This will reveal the number of words in each section of your document. 4. By viewing the word count, you can quickly identify which sections are taking up the most time and where additional effort might be needed. This information can help you prioritize your tasks and make strategic decisions to optimize your workflow. 5. To adjust the word count settings, simply click on the word count button again and select the desired changes. You can increase the word count for sections that require more attention, decrease it for sections that can be skipped, or even delete certain sections altogether if theyre not essential to your work. 6. Google Docs also offers various formatting options to customize the look and feel of your documents. Use these features to ensure your text is easy to read and visually appealing. For example, use bold or italicized formatting to emphasize important points, add borders or outlines to define headings and subheadings, or use images to break up blocks of text. 7. Another useful feature of Google Docs is its built-in spell-check and grammar checker. These tools can catch errors in your writing and suggest corrections, saving you time and effort from manually correcting them later. 8. To ensure consistency across multiple documents, you can set document styles. This allows you to apply pre-defined templates or formatting rules to each document. For example, you can create a professional-looking letterhead format that applies consistently throughout your entire organization. 9. Additionally, consider adding tables and diagrams to your documents to visualize complex data or concepts. This can help your readers better understand and retain the information presented. 10. To collaborate with others on a document, Google Docs provides built-in version control features. Share your document with other users, and they can leave comments, suggested edits, or revisions directly within the document. This helps maintain quality control and ensures everyone is working towards the same goals. (Viewing Word Count in Google Docs: Instant Tips) By mastering the basic functions of Google Docs word count feature, youll be able to optimize your document creation process and keep your workflow running smoothly. Remember to take advantage of these features to improve your efficiency, productivity, and overall satisfaction with your document management efforts. So, why wait? Give it a try today and start harnessing the power of Google Docs to revolutionize the way you work! Inquiry us if you want to want to know more, please feel free to contact us. ([email protected]) Numerous MLB teams have expressed interest in free agent outfielder Socrates Brito, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Heymans report did not specify which teams might be interested. Brito has spent the last three seasons with the Kia Tigers of the KBO. Brito, now 32, was once a well-regarded prospect in the Diamondbacks system. He was chosen as the organizations minor league Minor League Player of the Year in 2015, and most sources considered him one of the teams top 10 prospects entering the 2016 season. However, he was never able to translate his minor league success to the majors. Over 99 MLB games with the D-backs and Blue Jays from 2015-19, Brito slashed .176/.216/.309 in 218 trips to the plate. Despite his elite sprint speed and solid outfield defense, he produced -0.6 FanGraphs WAR. After a rough year at Triple-A with the Yankees in 2021, Brito signed a contract with the Kia Tigers and packed his bags for Korea. It turned out to be the right decision. He was named a KBO All-Star in each of his first two seasons with the Tigers. While he did not make the All-Star team in 2024, he set new career highs in home runs, runs scored, and RBI. He also helped his club win the Korean Series for the 12th time in franchise history and the first time since 2017. All told, Brito has slashed .302/.352/.491 with 63 home runs, 40 stolen bases, and an .843 OPS over three seasons in the KBO. Heymans report does not necessarily suggest that Brito is planning (or even trying) to return to affiliated ball. He has enjoyed a successful career so far in Korea, in terms of individual accolades, team accomplishments, and financial compensation. His contract for the 2024 season guaranteed him $800K and contained an additional $400K in incentives. If he can land a similar deal from the Kia Tigers for 2025, one can see why he wouldnt be interested in returning to North America for anything less than a guaranteed contract. Despite his excellent performance in the KBO, his uninspiring MLB track record could scare off potential suitors from offering such a guarantee. Right-handed pitcher William Cuevas is coming back for another year with the KT Wiz of the KBO. His contract, announced by the team and relayed over X by Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.net and Jiheon Pae, is worth $1.5MM in US dollars. The 2025 season will be the rightys seventh with the club. Cuevas, now 34, originally signed with the Red Sox as an 18-year-old international free agent in 2009. He would eventually bounce from the Red Sox, to the Tigers, to the Marlins, and back to the Red Sox, appearing in big league games for Boston and Detroit. He pitched to an 8.06 ERA and 4.92 SIERA in 22 1/3 MLB innings. After the 2018 season, the Red Sox released Cuevas so he could pursue an opportunity in the KBO. From 2019-22, he pitched for the Wiz on a series of one-year contracts. However, he was released early in the 2022 season after suffering an elbow injury. Fortunately for Cuevas, the issue proved not to be too serious. He was able to make an appearance for the Diablos Rojos del Mexico of the Mexican League later that year. Cuevas returned to affiliated ball the following season, signing a minor league contract with the Dodgers in April 2023. He pitched 44 innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City, striking out 43, walking 20, and giving up 13 home runs, resulting in a 6.14 ERA and 7.47 FIP. On June 8, the Dodgers released Cuevas, allowing him to re-sign with the Wiz the next day. While his performance at Triple-A wasnt exactly impressive, he clearly did enough to prove to his former club that his elbow was back to full strength. Indeed, he put up a 2.60 ERA and 2.79 FIP in 114 1/3 IP over the remainder of the KBO season. Fresh off his successful 2023 campaign, Cuevas earned another contract from the Wiz. He didnt look nearly as sharp in 2024 as he did the year before, producing a 4.10 ERA and 4.39 FIP. Still, he was durable and reliable, giving the team 31 starts and 173 1/3 IP. Only two KBO pitchers threw more innings this past season, and only one made more starts. Thus, it comes as little surprise that the Wiz have welcomed Cuevas back once again for 2025. DETROIT How the tables have turned: this time it was the Lions opponent making a boneheaded late-game move to lose a football game. The Lions held on to beat the Bears, 23-20, on Thursday at Ford Field, winning their 10th straight game to complete the best 12-game start (11-1) in franchise history. They won thanks to a Bears clock management gaffe, as they allowed time to run out on an incomplete pass with the ball on the Lions 41-yard-line instead of attempting a potential game-tying field goal. Heres whats being said nationally after the win: Lions extend win streak to 10 games, hold off Bears for 23-20 victory Associated Press Man I feel for you Bears fans. That was just brutal. Literal coaching malpractice JJ Watt Detroit Lions set franchise record after beating Bears on Thanksgiving Sporting News Thanksgiving game a wake-up call for Detroit Lions Bleacher Report The Lions are thankful for the Bears coaching staff. Andrew Brandt NFL Week 13 Recap: Detroit Lions 23, Chicago Bears 20 Pro Football Focus The @Lions are 11-1, their best start to a season in franchise history.#OnePride pic.twitter.com/MczuSxDBA4 Detroit Lions PR (@LionsPR) November 28, 2024 The @Lions have won 10-straight games, tying their single-season franchise record-long streak set in 1934.#OnePride pic.twitter.com/uyBQFOvxZv Detroit Lions PR (@LionsPR) November 28, 2024 HOLLAND, MI Downtown Holland is encouraging shoppers to skip the big-box stores on Black Friday and instead keep their money local for Small Business Saturday. Downtown shoppers on Saturday, Nov. 30, will have the chance to enjoy a full day of promotions, such as discounts and giveaways, from 65 businesses and restaurants. Promotions vary by business. American Express launched Small Business Saturday in 2010 as a response to Black Friday, with the goal of increasing holiday shopping at small businesses. Downtown Holland first started hosting Small Business Saturday as an official holiday promotion in 2015. Small Business Saturday has always been an important event for us in downtown Holland, as were widely recognized for the number of locally owned businesses in our shopping and dining district, Downtown Holland Marketing Coordinator Kara de Alvare said in a release. On Small Business Saturday, its important for us to raise awareness of the important role that small businesses play in their local communities. And in downtown Holland, its also a perfect opportunity for our shops and restaurants to thank the entire community for shopping small this holiday season and throughout the year by making Small Business Saturday a fun-filled day to shop. The Curragh Irish Pub at 73 E Eighth St. is participating by giving away winter coupon packages that can be used during January and February and feature discounts such as buy-one-get-one entree and kids eat free. Were just trying to spread as much community cheer and goodness as we can, so we figured participating in as many things and letting people know that were here is the best way to go, Carly Civici, Curragh general manager, told MLive. In addition to discounts and giveaways at participating businesses, customers can win a $100 gift card to their favorite downtown Holland shop or restaurant by participating in the annual Small Business Saturday Selfie Contest. To enter the contest, customers just need to snap a photo of themselves in downtown Holland on Saturday, Nov. 30, and share it on the downtown Holland Facebook page. A gift card winner will be selected at random on Monday, Dec. 2. Participants must be 18 or older to enter. Small Business Saturday participating businesses Apothecary Gift Shop Blu Veranda Borrs Shoes & Accessories Bowermans on 8th Brick + Ivy Market Bubs' and Bettys Cakabakery on 8th Canterbury Cottage Interiors Carolyn Stich Studio Cento Anni Home Essentials Cherry Republic Clovier Cotton Bay Culture Cheese Shop Curragh Irish Pub DesignWorks Interiors Downtown Antiques & Home Furnishings Dutch Village Downtown Estella Rose Fashion Family Central Bookstore Fatface Frances Jaye Fris Supply Shop Fustinis GarenHuis Yarn Studio Garsnett Beacon Candle Co. Gazelle Sports Gezellig Home & Garden Gliks Boutique Gliks Mens Harbor Wear Holland Museum HOM By Benchmark Hops at 84 East jb and me Jean Maries Lake Effect Gallery Laurel & Jack Le Bon Macaron Lokers Shoes Merle Norman Cosmetics New Holland Brewing Sidecar Oak + Leather Onalees Peachwave Frozen Yogurt & Gelato Postcards from Paradise Pretties Intimate Apparel Readers World Silver Fox II Jewelry Spring Sweet Studio K. Clothing Co. The Bridge The Flower House The Poppy Peach, LLC. The Seasoned Home Thomas A. Davis TIKAL Tip Toes Warner Vineyards of Holland Waverly Stone White House Black Market Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter. GRAND RAPIDS, MI A Grand Rapids Fire Department truck was involved in a multi-vehicle crash on Thanksgiving, but no firefighters were seriously injured, officials said. Fire department officials shared an image of the Grand Rapids Fire Department Engine Co. 4 vehicle damaged in a pile of crashed vehicles on snow- and ice-slicked roads on the departments Facebook page. It was one of many updates about the Thursday, Nov. 28, crash reported via traditional and social media channels. The 15-vehicle pileup shut down northbound US-131 between 28th Street and Burton Ave. from 11 p.m. Thursday to 2:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 29, 13 On Your Side TV news reported. While several people were transported to local hospitals, no individuals were seriously injured in the crashes, which occurred as a winter storm blanketed the streets with snow and ice, the news report stated. As you head out this morning, please take extra time and be prepared for slow traffic, Grand Rapids Fire Department officials posted on its Facebook page. Stay alert and drive safely, lets keep the roads safe for everyone. National Weather Service offices across Michigan have released snowfall forecast maps showing how much accumulation residents could expect to get over the next few days. A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect for much of West Michigan. NWS forecasts state residents should expect a widespread accumulation of up to 4 inches of snow by Saturday morning, though some areas could see more than 7 inches. Some of the largest snowfall amounts are expected in the Cadillac area, and in southern Kent County stretching down to Kalamazoo County. GRAND RAPIDS, MI As a grade school student, Jes Gutowski-Slaydon recalls planting flowers along the Bridge Street corridor and getting catcalled all the time. It was just a very different, gritty vibe, Gutowski-Slaydon described of the area but she said shes always loved it. Ive always felt very safe and comfortable on Bridge Street. While Bridge Street is now regarded by many as a top corridor for West Michigan nightlife, that wasnt always the case. An assortment of what once was consignment shops and sex stores began to be replaced in the mid-2010s, with the addition of New Holland Brewing in 2014 as part of a $17 million mixed-use development with housing on top of the brewery. Over the past two decades, development groups like Rockford Construction have worked alongside families like Gutowski-Slaydons to continue the revitalization of Bridge Street using their Bridge Street Band, creating area running clubs and refurbishing neon signs. RELATED: Bridge Street is booming: How it became one of Grand Rapids' hottest nightspots The vision for revitalizing Bridge Street This photo taken Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013 shows Bridge Street before developers purchased properties with the plan of re-establishing the corridor as a gateway to downtown Grand Rapids, Mich. (Chris Clark | MLive.com) MLive.comMLive.com Growing up, Gutowski-Slaydons parents owned and operated Swift Printing, a long-time family business located on Bridge Street. But in the 1980s, her father Walt Gutowski Jr. also began buying up other properties on the block, including the buildings where two relatively new bars Drip Drop Cocktail Room and General Wood Shop are now housed. Gutowski-Slaydon said it was because her family really believed in the street and wanted to see it returned to its former glory. Gutowski Jr., a former Grand Rapids city commissioner, said he wanted to revitalize the area of the city where his parents met and hung out. My vision is to really just bring back Bridge Street to the glory that it once had, he said. It already has the bones, and so my vision is really a journey back in time to what it was, where everyone came together on Bridge Street. Josh Lunger, vice president of government affairs for the Grand Rapids Chamber, said he can attribute part of the success of corridors like Bridge Street to families like Gutowskis. I think our community benefits in a lot of ways from folks that might not get the headlines all the time, but theyre consistently working to say, How can I make my neighborhood or my street better? The Gutowski family refurbished a Red Lion neon sign in 2022, installing it in the parking lot they own across the street from New Holland Brewing. RELATED: Historic Red Lion sign returning to Bridge Street in Grand Rapids in time for ArtPrize Gutowski Jr. said the sign is one of the oldest porcelain neon signs in the country, and it represents the old Red Lion restaurant he said showcased the welcoming culture of Bridge Street. In addition to fixing up properties and planting flowers, Gutowski-Slaydon said her family has really worked to transform the culture of Bridge Street, something theyve accomplished largely through live music with their own Bridge Street Band. From Amways band to Bridge Street Band Walt Gutowski performs with his Bridge Street Band. Photo courtesy of Paul Soltysiak.Paul Soltysiak The six-person Bridge Street Band was started by Gutowski Jr. when he was in high school, and was originally called Sundaze. When the Amway Grand Plaza opened, Gutowski said his band, specializing in jazz music, was selected to play at hotel events. As Gutowski and his wife focused their attention on Bridge Street, the band changed with them and was renamed The Bridge Street Band. Gutowski-Slaydon said the band, which has since expanded to include her vocals, is a diverse mix from all walks of life. At one point, Gutowski Jr. said Bridge Street was one of the best places to hear jazz in the country, with the Mousetrap Cocktail Lounge boasting live music until a fire on Feb. 13, 1985, claimed the building and killing six residents. All the great musicians that came through Grand Rapids going between Detroit and Chicago played there, he said. Now, Gutowski Jr. said Bridge Street is again becoming a place where people can come together, listen to music and enjoy each others company. Everyone is welcome here, he said. People gather outside General Wood Shop on Bridge Street in Grand Rapids on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. Joel Bissell | MLive.com Bridge Street now Now that Bridge Street continues to expand and draw patrons from across the city, Gutowski-Slaydon said its exciting to see others finally understand the hype. So many milestones of my life have happened on Bridge Street, she said. So I am here for the party. She feels like a big part of Bridge Streets success thus far is the commitment from business owners in the area. It appears that a lot of people here on Bridge Street are really thinking about the long term, and want to see the legacy continue, Gutowski-Slaydon said. Theyre thinking generations out, because a lot of them are family businesses as well. 79 1 / 79 Nightlife on Bridge Street in Grand Rapids Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter. Archisha Yadav USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. 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I Accept How China can hit back at Trump: Target US firms, turn to India, Africa Manjiri Patil USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Ashwin Mohan is Editor (Deals) at Moneycontrol and leads the M&A, private equity and equity capital market transactions coverage. He anchors the video show 'Deal Central ' and tweets at @ashwinmohansays. He has previously worked with ET NOW, CNBC TV-18 and The Times of India. Arindam Roy USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. 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I Accept Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Tushar Goenka USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept November 29, 2024 / 22:12 IST As top Congress leaders met on Friday to deliberate on its electoral defeats in Maharashtra and Haryana, party chief Mallikarjun Kharge asserted that "tough decisions" will have to be taken, accountability be fixed and shortcomings removed by learning lessons from the election results. In his opening remarks at the Congress Working Committee meeting at the AICC headquarters here, Kharge said he believes that the EVMs have made the electoral process "suspect" and stressed that it is the constitutional responsibility of the Election Commission to ensure free and fair elections in the country. Kharge also hit out at internal bickering in the party, asserting that the lack of unity and statements against own party leaders harms the party a lot as he urged leaders to remain united and not speak publicly against each other. "Unless we fight elections unitedly and stop making statements against each other, how will we be able to defeat our opponents politically?" the Congress president said. Eknath Shinde holds positive talks with Amit Shah, JP Nadda, decision on next Maharashtra CM 'in a day or two' 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. 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I Accept Smriti Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Maharashtra CM News: Maharashtras outgoing Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, returned to Mumbai from New Delhi on Friday morning amidst ongoing uncertainty over his successor. Shinde, who has been leading the Shiv Sena, is set to travel to his native village, Dare, in Satara district, as the political drama continues following the assembly poll results. Late on Thursday, Shinde informed reporters in New Delhi that a crucial meeting of the Mahayuti alliance, which is responsible for the government formation, would be held in Mumbai on Friday. However, sources indicated that the meeting will now be postponed to Sunday, as the caretaker CM heads back to his home village. Shinde has reiterated that he will not obstruct the government formation process and will respect the decisions made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the next Chief Minister. RS Chairman expresses concern over indiscriminate use of Rule 267: What is it? 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I Accept What is Places of Worship Act and why has it taken centrestage amid Sambhal mosque dispute Armaan Bhatnagar USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept In this editing of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: Indian banks gearing for change in new year, how the trading cycle will fare in 2024... Forcing Google to sell Chrome is not going to take away its dominance USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept C Uday Bhaskar is Director, Society for Policy Studies, New Delhi. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. Namrata Agarwal USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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Namrata Agarwal USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Samsung is killing this feature with One UI 7 update: All the details Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Shaurya Shubham USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Priyanka Roshan USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept By Lambert Strether of Corrente. Readers, I hope you all had an excellent Thanksgivng and are looking forward to the weekend to come! lambert Bird Song of the Day Northern Mockingbird, Jamaica Bay Wildlife RefugeWest Pond. Queens, New York, United States. * * * In Case You Might Miss * * * Politics So many of the social reactions that strike us as psychological are in fact a rational management of symbolic capital. Pierre Bourdieu, Classification Struggles * * * Trump Transition The Local Sheriffs Gearing Up to Help Trump Carry Out Mass Deportations [Wall Street Journal]. Adding to the complexity, a patchwork of state laws means sheriffs in some blue states legally cant cooperate with ICE, while those in some red states must, said Jonathan Thompson, the executive director of the nonpartisan National Sheriffs Association, whose members include about 70% of the countrys 3,081 sheriffs Trumps advisers intend to penalize so-called sanctuary cities by cutting off what could amount to billions of dollars in federal grants to them, according to people familiar with their plans. During the Nullification Crisis, Andrew Jackson won, and John C. Calhoun lost. More: Thompson said his group plans to meet soon with members of Trumps transition team, hoping to learn more about the scope, cost and duration of his deportation plan. In Thompsons view, it is clear the influx of migrants in recent years has created an enormous amount of pressure on local law enforcement, state law enforcement agencies, across the country, not just along the border. Its created havoc in many, many communities. He added state and local law enforcement, and in particular sheriffs will be critical to Trumps plans. Many conservative sheriffs across the U.S., from Texas to California to redder swaths of the northeast, now stand ready to be force multipliers for ICE and its 6,000 agents. Asked if he supports mass deportation, GOP Sheriff Richard Jones of Butler County, Ohio, replied: Sure, I do. And so do the American people. People are tired of this.' Comedy interlude. Florida Has a Weird Political Culture. Its About to Take Over the White House [Politico]. No other state will have that level of concentrated influence in the next administration. With Florida personalities playing such a central role, its important to understand just what constitutes Florida political culture. As much as any other state, Florida has been defined by its migrants and its immigrants basically everyone is from somewhere else, be it from some other state or some other country.. And now, the rest of America could become a little more like Florida. Trumps pick to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, former Florida Rep. Dave Weldon, is a vaccine safety skeptic; Rubio is a traditional hawk with a from-the-cradle hatred of communism but a desire to negotiate a quick end to the Ukraine war; Bondi wants to go after bad prosecutors much like DeSantis did with two state attorneys. They have the potential to being much more than Florida vibes to the country and could reshape the country in the image of the Sunshine State. My impression of DeSantis is that he wasnt ready for the national stage (even if he had not been confronting the Colossus of Mar-a-Lago). So I wonder if these Florida players will do better than he did (Susie Wiles, meanwhile, is ready for the national backstage. 2024 Post Mortem Al Sharptons acceptance of Kamala Harris campaigns $500K donation a bridge too far for MSNBC colleagues [New York Post]. Harris sat down for a friendly interview on Oct. 20 with Sharpton, an open supporter of Harris and the Democratic Party. Following Harris defeat by former President Donald Trump, FEC filings revealed the Harris campaign gave two $250,000 donations to Sharptons nonprofit organization in September and October. However, the MSNBC weekend host did not disclose to viewers the apparent conflict of interest before or after the interview. Neither did he disclose the donations to his bosses at the network, according to the Free Beacon. What. The #Resistance Blue States Will Find Fighting Trump Is No Simple Proposition [Governing]. Can Newsom and the other Democratic governors who have vowed to join him really Trump-proof their states? If they fail, would that mean a huge crack in the foundation of federalism? And if they succeed, just how united would the United States be?.. Not all Democratic governors have agreed on the pitched-battle strategy. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has deliberately stood back from Newsoms confrontational approach and said she wanted to find some shared priorities with Trump [who is the head of a fascist movement, let us remember] Weve worked with a Trump administration before, she said, and thought theyd figure out how to do it again. Josh Shapiro, the Pennsylvania governor who nearly became Kamala Harris running mate, said twice in his post-election statement that he wanted to get things done.' And: [T]heres a limit to how effectively they can resist Trumps policies. If as president Trump decided to sit on disaster aid or refuse to approve waivers for environmental or health-care plans, Democratic governors could find themselves long on rhetoric but short on results. And if the states decide to fight Trump in court, as California often did successfully in the first Trump administration, the battle will be much harder this time. The first time around, California successfully fought many of its judicial battles in the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Trump, however, named 10 of the 29 judges on the circuit. That means California will now have to pick its battles much more carefully, with an eye especially on which cases to file in which courts. Fully Trump-proofing their states, therefore, is more than Democratic governors can accomplish. Why Didnt They Riot? [Tom Klingenstein]. For many the downbeat response to Trumps victory seemed out of place, given the feverish severity of how Democrats had articulated the stakes of this election. In her final month The surface explanation, of course, is that the Democrats didnt really believe any of it Even if the leadership of the Democratic Party and its surrogates in the media were simply generating outrage, millions of Americans in their audiences now believe, with conviction, that the long night of fascism has finally descended on America.. In short, we didnt see post-election violence or mass protests because the scale of Trumps victory meant that such rioting would appear at least temporarily as the angry self-indulgence of a minority that had been legitimately beaten at the ballot box. But the riots will come soon enough, and Antifa will menace the streets once again. Hmmm. Women engage in mass primal scream in wake of Trump victory: Release our pain' [FOX}. Remarkable footage shows Wisconsin women screaming in unison towards Lake Michigan in the wake of Vice President Harriss Nov. 5 loss to President-elect Trump. The footage, which recently went viral on social media, was originally posted by a Facebook user named Tamara Gibbs. The event took place at Klode Park in Whitefish Bay on Nov. 9. The extraordinary video shows around two dozen adult women screeching at the water. The screams eventually reach a crescendo, as video shows the shrieks getting gradually louder and louder until the group stopped. We need to start organizing We have the opportunity to, in-state, in two years, take back the legislature, one woman said to roaring applause. Oh. Realignment and Legitimacy The Four Freedoms might be a good place to start, but Sanders has form; he is not the one to do the starting (not that I see anybody else): This time of year, I am always reminded of the Thanksgiving scene painted by one of my favorite artists, Norman Rockwell. Many people dont know this, but Rockwell actually lived for a time in Arlington, Vermont, and painted some of his most well-known pieces there, including his pic.twitter.com/SpJjmFnlDL Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) November 28, 2024 If we must have fours, I prefer the Bearded Ones, though I admit they are negatives (yin) to FDRs positives (yang). Good stuff, but as I said. How come we don't talk about class in America? Because when you talk about class, you risk working people coming together and taking back power from the top 1% of our society. pic.twitter.com/jPcfyHfHIt Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) November 27, 2024 Syndemics I am in earnest I will not equivocate I will not excuse I will not retreat a single inch AND I WILL BE HEARD. William Lloyd Garrison * * * Covid Resources, United States (National): Transmission (CDC); Wastewater (CDC, Biobot ; includes many counties; Wastewater Scan, includes drilldown by zip); Variants (CDC; Walgreens); Iowa COVID-19 Tracker (in IA, but national data). Infection Control, Emergency Management, Safety, and General Thoughts (especially on hospitalization by city). Lambert here: Readers, thanks for the collective effort. To update any entry, do feel free to contact me at the address given with the plants. Please put COVID in the subject line. Thank you! Resources, United States (Local): AK (dashboard); AL (dashboard); AR (dashboard); AZ (dashboard); CA (dashboard; Marin, dashboard; Stanford, wastewater; Oakland, wastewater); CO (dashboard; wastewater); CT (dashboard); DE (dashboard); FL (wastewater); GA (wastewater); HI (dashboard); IA (wastewater reports); ID (dashboard, Boise; dashboard, wastewater, Central Idaho; wastewater, Coeur dAlene; dashboard, Spokane County); IL (wastewater); IN (dashboard); KS (dashboard; wastewater, Lawrence); KY (dashboard, Louisville); LA (dashboard); MA (wastewater); MD (dashboard); ME (dashboard); MI (wastewater; wastewater); MN (dashboard); MO (wastewater); MS (dashboard); MT (dashboard) ; NC (dashboard); ND (dashboard; wastewater); NE (dashboard); NH (wastewater); NJ (dashboard); NM (dashboard); NV (dashboard; wastewater, Southern NV); NY (dashboard); OH (dashboard); OK (dashboard); OR (dashboard) ; PA (dashboard); RI (dashboard); SC (dashboard); SD (dashboard); TN (dashboard); TX (dashboard); UT (wastewater); VA (wastewater); VT (dashboard); WA (dashboard; dashboard); WI (wastewater); WV ( wastewater ); WY ( wastewater ). Resources, Canada (National): Wastewater (Government of Canada). Resources, Canada (Provincial): ON (wastewater); QC (les eaux usees); BC (wastewater); BC, Vancouver (wastewater). Hat tips to helpful readers: Alexis, anon (2), Art_DogCT, B24S, CanCyn, ChiGal, Chuck L, Festoonic, FM, FreeMarketApologist (4), Gumbo, hop2it, JB, JEHR, JF, JL Joe, John, JM (10), JustAnotherVolunteer, JW, KatieBird, KF, KidDoc, LL, Michael King, KF, LaRuse, mrsyk, MT, MT_Wild, otisyves, Petal (6), RK (2), RL, RM, Rod, square coats (11), tennesseewaltzer, Tom B., Utah, Bob White (3). Stay safe out there! Maskstravaganza Testing and Masking Policies and Hospital-Onset Respiratory Viral Infections [JAMA]. Most hospitals have stopped testing all patients for SARS-CoV-2 upon admission and requiring masking. Ten hospitals in the Mass General Brigham hospital system ended both these precautions simultaneously in May 2023 but restarted masking for health care workers in January 2024 during a winter respiratory viral surge. In this study, stopping universal masking and SARS-CoV-2 testing was associated with a significant increase in hospital-onset respiratory viral infections relative to community infections. Restarting the masking of health care workers was associated with a significant decrease. And: Nosocomial respiratory viral infections remain associated with increased length of stay and higher mortality in hospitalized populations. Increased length of stay = profit. Hilariously, Smile Nazi Erica Shenoy is Associate Chief of the Infection Control Unit at Mass General Brigham, and is fighting universal use of respirators in hospitals tooth and nail at HICPAC. One can only wonder what her motivation might be. Sometimes speaking up helps: Thanks image changed with revision note https://t.co/TS2qTo43Ld pic.twitter.com/9eZrirFX0H News Medical (@NewsMedical) May 28, 2024 Hopefully this issue landed on the Art Directors desk, and policy was changed. And Kudos to @NewsMedical. Immune Dysregulation The identification of a SARs-CoV2 S1 protein derived peptide with super-antigen-like stimulatory properties on T-cells (preprint) [bioRxiv]. From the Abstract: Severe COVID-19 can trigger a cytokine storm, leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with similarities to superantigen-induced toxic shock syndrome. An outstanding question is whether SARS-CoV-2 protein sequences can directly induce inflammatory responses. In this study, we identify a region in the SARS-CoV-2 S1 spike protein with sequence homology to bacterial super-antigens (termed P3). In vivo experiments in mice revealed that the administration of P3 led to a significant upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-. While the clinical significance of P3 in COVID-19 remains unclear, its homology to other mammalian proteins suggests a potential role for this peptide family in human inflammation and autoimmunity. Leonardi (see here) does a happy dance: The superantigen has been found despite many attempts to delegitimize the hypothesis and disparage me. I will be going around to collect dues in an arrogant and vindicated manner The evidence was there immunologically of a super antigenic effect, and the people who denied it https://t.co/ZFmGD1AKmD pic.twitter.com/0d9osdsQkE AJ Leonardi, MBBS, PhD (@fitterhappierAJ) November 28, 2024 Others resist: Testing and Tracking: Wastewater I assume the dairies are dumping infected milk into the sewers, under cover of darkness? Just a mild coincidence that the largest Raw Milk dairy, @Raw_Farm, in the world is having multiple recalls, @RickABright @KinCONN @0bFuSc8 at the same time waste water is popping off. Move along, folks. https://t.co/MMLhMPYxPc pic.twitter.com/wOXWSxysS2 Lazarus Long (@LazarusLong13) November 28, 2024 Note that would be the optimistic scenario. * * * TABLE 1: Daily Covid Charts Lambert here: Even though the Covid numbers seem low, please remember that the data is not nearly as good as it once was, that it lags, and that the downside risks of catching Covid are considerable. For those who have developed their own personal protocols, I wouldnt relax them. Maybe next year. It is a question of having access to all the services of the State without having a computer, smartphone or tablet. As the world becomes steadily digitised, it is getting harder and harder to do even the simplest of tasks offline, while surveillance, control and censorship of the online world is growing. Access to essential services is increasingly restricted to a specific platform or app that is often linked to Big Tech platforms and services. At the same time, many of those same apps and tech platforms are undergoing a process of rapid enshittification (or as we call it round these parts, crapification) so much so that Macquarie Dictionary has crowned the Cory Doctorow-coined term as its word of the year. Heres how the Australian dictionary defines enshittification: The gradual deterioration of a service or product brought about by a reduction in the quality of service provided, especially of an online platform, and as a consequence of profit-seeking. App-Controlled Lockers and Car Park Meters Just yesterday, my wife and I tried to rent a luggage locker at a Mexico City bus station for a couple of hours to avoid having to lug our luggage around with us before catching our connecting journey, only to find that doing so required downloading an app and sharing our personal data and bank details with the app company all to pay one dollar fifty in storage fees. Needless to say, we declined. In Germany, the logistics giant DHL has introduced new, lean parcel lockers where customers can only collect parcels if they use the companys Post & DHL App on their smartphones. As the European Digital Rights network (EDRi) reports, anyone who is unable to receive a parcel at home may be redirected to one of these lockers: in this case, the only way to receive parcels without the app is to request a second delivery to the original address an option that is time-limited and well-hidden on DHLs website. Another example Ive noticed during my recent visits to the UK is parking. For decades motorists using a car park in my home town had fed coins into a meter and got a ticket. Then, about ten years ago, a new meter was introduced offering a card alternative to cash, which seemed like a good idea at the time. Some years later a parking app was included. Yet more choice! Then a new meter was unveiled payment by card or app only. Within a year, the meter had disappeared altogether. In its place stood a sign instructing customers to pay by app only. The assumption was clear: every driver wishing to park their car has a smart phone and knows how to download and operate apps, and is quite happy to share their personal data and bank account information with an obscure, probably foreign-based app company. To cap things off, the mobile coverage was poor and the price of parking had gone up to include an extra fee for the app company. Worse still, in many parts of the UK enterprising fraudsters have begun placing QR code stickers on top of the parking apps QR codes, directing unsuspecting carpark users to fake websites designed to extract their bank card or account details. Victims of these scams end up losing far more than the price of a couple of hours parking. The ultimate insult: many get fined for not buying a parking ticket. So, what had begun as a process of broadening customer choice had ended up narrowing it to the point at which the only way for customers to pay for their parking was with a smart phone. And instead of costs going down, they were going up, so that the app company a new 21st century middleman could turn a tidy profit. Rather than being quicker and more convenient, this new system is making life more difficult for many customers, and is even making some easy prey for fraudsters. As the Sheffield Star reports, customers are not happy: Anne Middleton, of High Green, said: Im not to keen on that idea actually. I quite like to put my cash in. Im not good with the apps, I always get it wrong. She said she had used apps and had one or two on her phone. But she added: Generally they go wrong, so we end up not bothering or we find one that takes cash. Briony Salter, from Wincobank, agreed parking companies only allowing apps was unacceptable. She said: I wish they would do parking meters its easier if people have got change. Not everyone has a smart phone so I think its a very new generation thing. There are a lot of older people who may not be very handy with a phone. Maybe just going back to old payment systems is a lot easier than it is currently. Sara and Ian Hobson, from Woodhouse, both felt app-only was unacceptable. Ian said: Most people dont know how to do it with an app. You have to download the app, then you have to pay. Its easier just to get some coins out and put them in. Digital Coercion Unfortunately, governments, banks and businesses in many countries are doing everything they can to drive out the use of cash for basic services like public transport and parking, and replace them with purely digital payment means. They are also making it increasingly difficult to interact with government and receive state benefits without using smart phone apps. Ukraines Diia digital ID and governance platform, launched in February 2020, offers a perfect template, according to USAID, the European Union and the United Nations Development Program. Digital coercion a term I learnt from the German financial journalist and digital rights activist, Norbert Haring is on the rise just about everywhere. As Haring reported in September, this should hardly come as a surprise given that one of the main organisations pushing for the rapid rollout of digital public infrastructure (digital ID, digital health passes, instant payment systems, central bank digital currency) is the corporate-controlled, WEF-partnered United Nations. In September, a Global Digital Pact was quietly adopted at the UN Future Summit. According to Haring, neither the UN nor the German government, which was significantly involved in the preparation of the summit, made serious efforts to inform the public about what is planned, or even to have it discussed in parliaments and the media: It has also not been disclosed which corporations, foundations and hand-picked representatives of so-called civil society are allowed to sit at the negotiating table. In the text of the treaty, we learn by way of introduction that digital technologies offer immense potential benefits for human welfare and the progress of societies and that we must therefore eliminate any digital divide between countries and within countries. The declared goal is a digital future for everyone. What is important is what is not in the contract. The word voluntary occurs only in connection with the signing of the contract. For the citizens, however, there is no right to choose a future for themselves other than a completely digitised one. After all, that would open up a digital divide that must no longer exist. There is no provision for a right to settle many of ones affairs in the traditional way in dealing with other people instead of computers. No one should be allowed to choose that their children are taught by teachers instead of computers, or that conversations with the doctor and treatments remain a secret instead of being packed into the servers of the IT companies. Nothing in the treaty indicates that such a right was even considered. But digital coercion may soon be less of a problem for the residents of the Swiss canton of Neuchatel. A few days ago, an overwhelming majority of citizens (91%) voted by referendum to adopt a constitutional amendment that guarantees its citizens a right to digital integrity. As Haring notes, the new constitutional law offers sweeping digital protections (machine translated): This includes the right to protection against abusive data processing, to security in the digital realm, to an offline life so that the state cannot impose digital relationships, and to be forgotten online. The right to live offline is intended to ensure that people are not forced to operate exclusively in the digital world. The canton also undertakes to offer access to human contacts in the administration. Well worth imitating. The cantonal government now faces the challenge of protecting these new rights. As RTS reported last week, the central government sees the right to digital integrity as primarily symbolic since the scope of its application is limited to relations between the State and citizens. This would seem to suggest that the cantonal government cannot force private companies to comply with the rules. The risk of such a symbolic provision, of very limited scope, is to create disproportionate expectations among the public that ultimately may not be met, said Crystel Graf, the State Councillor in charge of digital affairs. That said, it is usually local or central government departments or state-owned companies that are pushing digital-only options for public services. As such, making sure that government services can be accessed through non-digital means is a step in the right direction. Neuchatel is not the first canton to take this step, nor is it likely to be the last, with similar projects under consideration in the cantons of Vaud and Jura. Last year, the people of Geneva voted overwhelmingly (94%) to enshrine digital integrity within the cantons constitution. According to the RTS article, a year later, the results are not yet visible to the general public, but they are taking shape behind the scenes (machine translated): For example, all cantonal laws have been scrutinised with one objective: to ensure that they respect digital integrity. It is a question of having access to all the services of the State without having a computer, smartphone or tablet or, conversely, of ensuring the security of our data if we wish to go digital. According to the spokesperson for the Geneva Department of Digital Affairs, it is difficult to draw a quantitative assessment following this vote. He specifies that this new article of law has the merit of creating a new fundamental right to be respected in any new action or decision of the State. It will be interesting to see if this trend travels beyond Swiss borders. Earlier this year, Digitalcourage, a German privacy rights and digital rights organisation, launched a petition calling for a new fundamental law: the right to access basic services without being forced to use a digital solution. As governments in both the West and the Rest of the World, including all five of the founding BRICS nations, herd their populaces toward a Big Tech-controlled Digital Gulag, a bill of digital rights is needed more than ever before. U.S. farm industry groups urge Trump to exempt illegal immigrant agricultural workers from mass deportation orders Farm industry groups are appealing to President-elect Donald Trump to make exemptions for businesses in the agricultural sector from his promises of ordering the mass deportation of illegal immigrants. In his first major interview with NBC News after winning the presidency, Trump confirmed that he will implement the largest deportation of undocumented immigrants in American history regardless of logistical and financial implications when he takes office in January. Meaning, the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants will have no exemptions. "It's not a question of a price tag," Trump said during the phone interview on Thursday, Nov. 7. "It's not really, we have no choice. When people have been killed and murdered, when drug lords have destroyed countries, and now they're going to go back to those countries because they're not staying here. There is no price tag." However, agricultural experts warned that such measures could disrupt the country's food supply chain, which is heavily reliant on immigrant labor, a large portion of which comes from undocumented immigrants. According to the Department of Labor and Department of Agriculture (USDA), nearly half of America's approximately two million farm workers, including dairy and meatpacking workers, lack legal status. In turn, the USDA disclosed that the agricultural sector alone contributed $1.5 trillion or 5.6 percent to the United States' gross domestic product in 2023. David Ortega, a professor of food economics and policy at Michigan State University, warned that deporting farm workers could "shock the food supply chain," which could lead to increased prices and economic strain. Ortega also disclosed that illegal immigrants in the agricultural sector "are filling critical roles that many U.S.-born workers are either unable or unwilling to perform." Rep. John Duarte (R-CA), a fourth-generation farmer from California's agriculture-rich Central Valley region, echoed a similar statement. He suggested that the administration should grant leniency to long-term immigrant workers without criminal records and explore pathways to permanent legal status, because if not, small towns would collapse if these workers were deported. Trump would prioritize mass deportation of criminals, but did not disclose if farm workers would be affected During Trump's first term, he had made assurances to the farming sector that food industry workers would not be the focus of his deportation efforts. However, the administration still carried out raids at some agricultural worksites, including poultry processing plants in Mississippi and produce facilities in Nebraska. Meanwhile, Trump's incoming "border czar" Tom Homan and other Republican immigration hardliners, disclosed that the second Trump administration would prioritize criminals and people with final deportation orders. Homan even said in a Fox News phone interview on Nov. 11 that enforcement against businesses employing undocumented workers, but has not specifically addressed the agriculture sector. (Related: Haitian illegals departing Springfield, Ohio over fears of Trump's MASS DEPORTATION policies.) Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt echoed a similar statement, but did not directly address the farm industry's concerns: "The American people re-elected President Trump by a resounding margin giving him a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail, like deporting migrant criminals and restoring our economic greatness. He will deliver." In response, Dave Puglia, president and CEO of Western Growers, which represents produce farmers, clarified that their group definitely supports deportation of criminals and those with final deportation orders, but is also concerned about its impacts to the agricultural sector. Head over to Trump.news for more stories about mass deportations of illegals under the second Trump administration. Listen to a Springfield resident named Mark telling the Health Ranger Mike Adams that weaponized migration is economic warfare against American citizens in this clip. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Oklahoma governor pledges to help Trump with mass deportation of illegals. Texas offering Trump 1,400 acres to construct "mass deportation" camp to process illegals. POLL: Majority of Americans support the mass deportation of illegal immigrants. Trump confirms a national emergency is coming so he can carry out mass deportations with the help of the U.S. military. Trump says there's no other choice: mass deportations must happen swiftly. Sources include: YourNews.com Newsmax.com Brighteon.com France declares non-compliance with ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu The French government announced on 27 November that it will not comply with the arrest warrants issued against Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by the International Criminal Court (ICC) last week. (Article republished from TheCradle.co) Frances Foreign Ministry said in a statement, Such immunities apply to Prime Minister Netanyahu and other relevant ministers and will need to be taken into consideration should the ICC request their arrest and surrender. By that, Paris affirmed its commitment to international law but said that Netanyahu is covered by immunity regulations that apply to governments that are not party to the ICC, such as Israel and the US. The statement came a day after Italy said there were many doubts about the ICC arrest warrants. Netanyahu would never go to a country where he can be arrested. The arrest of Netanyahu is unfeasible, at least as long as he is prime minister, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on 26 November at a press conference following a two-day G7 foreign ministers meeting hosted by Rome. The G7 countries failed to reach a common position on the issue. The matter has triggered disputes within Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government. Italys Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said Rome would have to arrest Netanyahu if he entered Italy, while the leader of the League party in Melonis coalition, Matteo Salvini, said the Israeli premier would be welcome. Austria has criticized the ICC for its decision. The German government has also rejected the warrants, as has most prominently Washington. However, Turkiye, Arab countries, and several European states, including the UK and Spain, have welcomed the decision and promised to uphold their legal obligations. EU Foreign Policy chief Josep Borrell urged the importance of adhering to the ICC warrant and said it was judicial, not political, adding: Its decisions are legally binding: there is no pick and choose. The ICC issued the arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defense minister Yoav Gallant on 21 November. Chief Prosecutor of the ICC Karim Khan announced in late May that the court had applied for arrest warrants against the two Israeli officials. The applications also included warrants for Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar and Mohammad Deif. Prior to the application for the warrants, it was announced that US lawmakers were preparing legislation to target the ICC for going after the Israeli leaders. Three days after the application for the warrants was announced, Mike Johnson, Republican speaker of the US House of Representatives, said that Washington should punish the ICC and put Karim Khan back in his place. Read more at: TheCradle.co Matt Gaetz will not join 119th Congress after withdrawing from AG bid but vows to support Trumps 2nd term After withdrawing from his bid to lead the Department of Justice as President-elect Donald Trump's next attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) announced that he will not be joining the 119th Congress despite the validity of his seat "I'm still going to be in the fight, but it's going to be from a new perch," Gaetz said. "I do not intend to join the 119th Congress." Gaetz almost immediately resigned his seat in the outgoing 118th Congress when Trump nominated him to be attorney general. (Related: Matt Gaetz WITHDRAWS his name as potential U.S. attorney general nominee.) "I think that eight years is probably enough time in the United States Congress," he said. He also said that now is "pretty poetic time" to allow Florida's first congressional district to have new representation. During an interview with conservative commentator Charlie Kirk on his radio talk show, the Trump supporter said that his commitment to "America First" remains steadfast. Gaetz also clarified he is still going to be "fighting for President Trump." "I'm going to be doing whatever he asks of me, as I always have," Gaetz said. "We need a leadership structure under President Trump that's going to allow for the durability of our movement and the ability to continue this great realignment of our politics. So, I'll play a part in that. I plan to be a big voice." While he waits for Trump's second term to start, he seems to be enjoying some downtime fishing, spending time with his wife, Ginger, and filming personalized video messages for supporters on the website Cameo. The Hill's Emily Brooks also pointed out that Gaetz's decision to not return to Congress keeps him out of the jurisdiction of the House Ethics Committee. Since his resignation, the committee has been reportedly wrestling with whether to release the report resulting from its years-long investigation of him on allegations of sexual misconduct, illicit drug use and more. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing. Last week, the Ethics panel declined to release its report, with the committee's Republicans voting against doing so, but left open the possibility of opting to release it at a later date. Apart from the allegations, four Republican senators, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), moderate Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Senator-elect John Curtis of Utah, have been vocally expressing their disapproval of Gaetz's nomination to be attorney general, saying it will be highly unlikely that they vote for his appointment. Gaetz accused Curtis on the campaign trail of "weakness" and a "willingness to prioritize foreign interests abroad" and "special interests in the halls of Washington." Gaetz shows interest to be Ron DeSantis' successor as Florida governor Reports are going viral that Gaetz appears to have his sights set on another big career move. During the weekend, Lake County, Florida Commissioner Anthony Sabatini posted on X his prediction that the former congressman would be the next governor of the Sunshine State. In the same thread, Gaetz responded to Sabatini with a gif of the Florida state flag. Gaetz was accused of having a sexual encounter with a 17-year-old at a party in 2017. Though he denied the allegations, he still withdrew himself from consideration for the attorney general post. "While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance transition," Gaetz wrote on X on Thursday, Nov. 21. After Gaetz withdrew, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he appreciated Gaetz's "efforts." "He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the administration, for which he has much respect," Trump wrote. "Matt has a wonderful future and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!" Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' tenure as governor ends in 2026, and term limits prevent him from seeking another term. Florida has had a continuous slate of Republican governors since Jeb Bush won his gubernatorial race in 1998. Head over to Trump.news to read updates on the status of the composition of the key positions in the next administration. Watch the video below that talks about Gaetz' dropping out of the Trump AG list. This video is from Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: We need to take a wrecking ball to the DOJ. Matt Gaetz is just the man for the job. Gaetz appointment as U.S. attorney general triggers PANIC in the Washington D.C. swamp. Gaetz introduces legislation that would no longer tax-exempt NGOs/nonprofits that are assisting border invasion. Sources include: TheNationalPulse.com TheHill.com Yahoo.com Brighteon.com Health Ranger Report: Author Germar Rudolf asks skeptical questions about popular Holocaust narratives Author Germar Rudolf recently joined the Health Ranger Mike Adams on the "Health Ranger Report" to talk about the questionable narratives regarding the Holocaust Rudolf started out as a chemist doing forensic research, touching on whether the Zyklon B poison gas used at the Auschwitz concentration camp would have left any traces stable enough to be detected until today. According to him, an American expert on execution technologies raised the issue in the late 1980s. The German author of the book "Holocaust Encyclopedia" then went out and worked on his report titled "The Rudolf Report," which claimed that the gassings at the Auschwitz and Majdanek concentration camps never happened. But Rudolf was persecuted for his efforts and even sentenced to 44 months in prison. Rudolf also cited the book of a French socialist who was a resistance fighter during World War II. The French author who also survived a stint at a German concentration camp questioned the twisted, exaggerated and invented mainstream narrative regarding the camps. "I know that almost all people in the Western world who have been exposed all of their life to this one-sided narrative, and to the inculcation of 'feel guilty if you doubt.' You cannot, you are not allowed to doubt," he told Adams. "And that doubt made me feel guilty indeed because I was doubting. I felt guilty, and I realized that I felt guilty just for doubting, I got angry." Rudolf clarified that while doubting is understandable, there is something wrong in a society that raises and educates people to feel guilty just for doubting. "This is what made me angry, and this is what I said: 'This is not right, something's wrong here.' They have to have to hide some skeletons in the closet, or else they wouldn't go to that great length to suppress doubt" Rudolf: Several "mainstream" Holocaust accounts are actually invented The Health Ranger then asked his guest if people were really being told the entire truth and whether the accounts regarding the Holocaust was not exaggerated. Rudolf answered in the negative, adding that there are a number of 'mainstream' accounts which have been accepted that are actually invented. There are several cliches about the Holocaust circulating, including letters repeated by many witnesses that other people know cannot be true. He also cited the questionable testimonies of Holocaust survivors who supposedly witnessed the mass extermination of people in the gas chambers as well as the incineration of bodies. (Related: HOLOCAUST DISTORTION: "Warsaw concentration camp" where Polish nationals were allegedly gassed NEVER EXISTED.) Rudolf also questioned the "flaming chimneys" narrative about the crematoriums of the concentration camps. The flaming chimneys claim is false, given that the concentration camps didn't have morbidly obese people. In contrast, most of the prisoners were emaciated. A little bit of knowledge in technology, engineering or common sense would enable people to quickly realize that this can't be true, he continued. Such narratives are merely propaganda being repeated by witnesses because the mainstream media expect them to tell a certain story. Moreover, the author pointed out that the mainstream narrative regarding the number of Jews who died during the Holocaust is currently incorrect. He indicated a statistical analysis of how many Jews lived in the countries who later came under the influence of Nazi Germany before the war and after the war. He subtracted the number of Jews post-war from the pre-war number, and the answer yielded six million. The German researcher and author also noted the mass immigration that happened between the last census they had before the war and the first several years after the war. Rudolf said this mass immigration ultimately led to the establishment of State of Israel, but also immigration to the U.S. and other countries around the world. Follow RealHistory.news for more news about the Holocaust. Watch the full conversation between Germar Rudolf and the Health Ranger Mike Adams about the questionable Holocaust narratives below. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: The forgotten holocaust: 20 million Christians SLAUGHTERED by Bolsheviks of former Soviet Union, many of whom were JEWS. Anti-Zionist Jewish group says Israel is "perpetrating a holocaust" in Gaza. Holocaust survivor implores Westerners to 'wake up' and 'resist' ongoing tyranny in alleged 'democratic' countries. Sources include: Brighteon.com GermarRudolf.com ITS OFFICIAL: All J6 charges against Trump to be DROPPED, as requested by Special Counsel Jack Smith As many anticipated might happen, the entire January 6 legal case against President-elect Donald Trump accusing him of conspiring to "interfere" with the 2020 election results is being dropped at the request of Special Counsel Jack Smith. U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan granted Smith's motion to drop all J6 charges against Trump concerning his federal case to overturn the 2020 election results to grant himself a win over Joe Biden. Smith has already taken steps to wind down two separate federal cases against Trump that he is currently overseeing now that Trump is president-elect. Trump is now the first-ever convicted felon to win the U.S. presidency. The Department of Justice (DOJ) is working with Smith to figure out how to end the D.C. case, especially after the recent Supreme Court presidential immunity ruling. The judge will now have to determine how much of that case, if any, can still proceed. Illegitimate Special Counsel finally drops illegitimate charges ?? pic.twitter.com/NnEg92fsfl Heritage Foundation (@Heritage) November 25, 2024 (Related: Did you know that Smith, at one point, demanded private information about Americans who "favorited or retweeted" Trump's tweets?) Will they go after Trump later? Just hours after Smith filed his motion to drop the case, Judge Chutkan did so without prejudice, meaning it could still be reopened in the future. Smith's filing states that prosecutors have not changed their mind concerning Trump's alleged crimes. It is simply a matter of the circumstances surrounding is looming trial that have changed they apparently thought Kamala Harris was a shoe-in. Trump's victory, Smith wrote, "sets at odds two fundamental and compelling national interests," Smith's motion reads, highlighting the constitutional requirement that a sitting president should not be "unduly encumbered" but committed to the rule of law. The DOJ has had a longstanding policy in place that a sitting president cannot be prosecuted. Now that Trump is about to be a sitting president for a second time, the matter has changed substantially. "This outcome is not based on the merits or strength of the case against the defendant," Smith further clarified, emphasizing once again that he still, apparently, sees Trump as guilty. The same day as the other filing, Smith also requested that the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals dismiss his appeal in Trump's classified documents case, which was dismissed back in the summer by Judge Aileen Cannon. Another appeal involving two other defendants in the case, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, will still continue as planned. Back in August, Smith filed what one media outlet described as "a slimmed-down superseding indictment" in the federal J6 case after SCOTUS ruled in favor of presidential immunity for "official acts." Trump's four charges conspiracy to defraud the U.S.; conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding; and conspiracy against rights all remain the same, though Smith's document was pared down due to the SCOTUS ruling. Now that Trump is slated to reenter the Oval Office in January, Smith is basically having to drop everything, at least for now, which Trump spokesman Steven Cheung celebrated as "a major victory for the rule of law." "These cases, like all of the other cases I have been forced to go through, are empty and lawless, and should never have been brought," Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform. On X / Twitter, someone suggested that perhaps it is time for Smith himself to be investigated, charged, found guilty, and jailed, along with "all his cohorts." "It was a sham from day one," wrote another. "How many tax dollars were wasted on this? Jack Smith should be sued personally by the U.S. taxpayers." The latest news about Trump and the changes coming to America during his second term can be found at Trump.news. Sources for this article include: X.com NaturalNews.com NATO considering PREEMPTIVE precision strikes on Russia as West shifts from defense to offense against Russia Things are heating up on the war front as Adm. Rob Bauer, the head of NATO's military committee, has revealed that as it concerns Russia and the war in Ukraine, the West is now shifting from defense to offense mode. In a recent speech watch below Bauer explained how NATO will conduct "precision strikes" on Russia as necessary to protect its interests, regardless of what Vladimir Putin says against such actions. Bauer says it is also smart for NATO to start attacking Russia's military systems in order to stop them from being used to make any further advances in and through Ukraine. "If Russia attacks us, you need to have a combination of the precision strike with which you can take out the weapon systems that are used to attack us," Bauer said. "And, of course, because we're a defensive alliance, we will have to take the first blow." "So, if Russia will start the conflict because we are not going to attack Russia out of nothing we will need more air defense. That's one of the lessons from Ukraine. And at the same time, we are going to invest in the deep precision strike." Admiral #RobBauer, head of #NATO's Military Committee, says NATO may consider preemptive "precision strikes" on #Russian territory in case of conflict. He notes that the alliance is shifting from a defensive to a proactive approach, targeting Russian launchers if attacked. pic.twitter.com/BHiP1rElIi Ivan Kircanski (@KircanskiIvan) November 25, 2024 (Related: Western officials are considering sending nuclear weapons to Ukraine in a desperate bid to stop Russia from winning the war.) A whole new NATO based on offensive aggression These are big words that some say will only further enrage Putin since as Bauer explained, NATO is supposed to be a defensive operation, not an offensive one. "Pretty stupid to openly talk about preemptively striking your enemy on the world's largest social media," wrote someone on X / Twitter about Bauer's public admissions. "What a bunch of globalist boneheads." The user who shared the above video, Ivan Kircanski (@KircanskiIvan), agreed, emphasizing the fact that NATO by its very existence is simply supposed to defend, not offend. "Broadcasting preemptive strike plans on such a platform is reckless. Not only does it escalate tensions unnecessarily, but it also undermines NATO's claims of being a defensive alliance. Strategic ambiguity seems like a smarter play, no?" "Shifting NATO's stance from defensive to proactive has a way of stirring the pot," added another. Bauer "bluntly stated" that "to achieve the goals of protecting and defending the member countries of the North Atlantic Alliance, it is necessary to preemptively strike at those targets in the Russian Federation that, in NATO's opinion, could pose a threat." Russia is responding to Bauer's words with condemnation. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that what Bauer is proposing requires that NATO "takes the first blow," and for "all decency" to have "already been discarded" by the alliance. "Mr. Bauer is either a fool or a provocateur perhaps both at once," commented Russian MP Sergey Mironov, leader of the "A Just Russia" political party. Should he follow through, Russia could simply launch "a hypersonic weapon from which no one has protection" and be done with it. What Bauer said, though, does show his "true intentions" rather than the smokescreen that NATO normally provides, Lavrov further suggested. "Throughout the war, every single decision has been calibrated by the Biden administration and its allies with a goal of slowing the slippery slide towards a direct conflict between two nuclear-armed states," warns Andrew Payne, foreign policy and security senior lecturer at City St. George's, University of London. "The interesting dynamic here is that, were it not for the U.S. election, the Biden administration would probably be more concerned about the escalatory implications of its decisions than it currently appears to be." The latest news about the Russia-Ukraine war can be found at WWIII.news. Sources for this article include: X.com NaturalNews.com Newsweek.com NATO, U.S. considering sending troops and NUKES to Ukraine The United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are considering putting military boots on the ground in Ukraine and possibly even nuclear weapons. Leading NATO nations the United Kingdom and France are determined to send troops to Kyiv to deter any future conquests by Russia and President Vladimir Putin. London and Paris want to make a "core of allies in Europe" as fears increase that President-elect Donald Trump could withdraw military support for Ukraine. (Related: European leaders conspire to SABOTAGE Trumps plan to end Ukraine war.) America's allies in Europe are making it clear that they plan to proceed with the war no matter what Trump chooses to do once he is inaugurated again in office and British and French troops could be among the first European allies deployed to Ukraine to deter any large-scale Russian attacks. Officially, the talks are only discussing training Ukrainian forces, but this could pave the way for NATO soldiers to, in the near future, be stationed on the frontlines as combat troops. "Discussions are underway between the U.K. and France regarding defense cooperation, particularly with the aim of creating a core of allies in Europe, focused on Ukraine and broader European security," said one British military source who spoke with French newspaper Le Monde. A top NATO military official also warned that Europeans may have to make sacrifices in order to keep supporting Ukraine if Trump decreases or completely pulls out American military aid for the conflict. This was according to Royal Netherlands Navy Adm. Rob Bauer, chair of the NATO Military Committee, who said in a recent speech that Europe must be prepared to sacrifice some "luxuries" to pay to support Ukraine and prevent a "wartime scenario" coming to Europe, one that the nations of Europe are reportedly not ready for. Bauer also pressed businesses to be ready to adjust their production and distribution lines for war to be less vulnerable to blackmail from countries like Russia and China. "If we can make sure that all crucial services and goods can be delivered no matter what, then that is a key part of our deterrence," said Bauer. Biden has talked about providing nuclear weapons to Ukraine Meanwhile, the New York Times reported that the administration of outgoing President Joe Biden has talked about providing nuclear weapons to Ukraine. The discussion was made under the context of Trump's desire to withdraw taxpayer-funded military aid and to bring about a quick end to the conflict by enforcing some kind of peace deal. Several officials within Biden's government suggested that the president could provide Ukraine with the nuclear weapons that it lost during its independence after the fall of the Soviet Union. While this would definitely be considered an instant and massive deterrent against Russia, such a step would be severely escalatory and could have grave consequences, and could make the Kremlin even more desperate to end the conflict on its terms. Follow WWIII.news for more of the latest news about the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict. Watch the video below about NATO warning businesses to prepare for future "wartime scenarios." This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com. More related stories: France declares WAR on Russia: There are no red lines so just do whatever you want, French official tells Zelensky. Russian ambassador to the U.K. says Britain is now at war with Russia. Report: Ukraine could construct plutonium-made "nuclear bombs" within months if Trump halts military aid. Ukraine war going GLOBAL after West launches long-range missiles into Russia, crossing Putins red line. ITS COMING: Russia initiates NUCLEAR drills simulating retaliatory strikes on West. Sources include: EndOfTheAmericanDream.com Express.co.uk Breitbart.com NYTimes.com Brighteon.com Public school in NYC slammed for GENDER IDENTITY course targeting kindergarten students A public school in a New York City (NYC) suburb has come under fire for its "gender identity" course designed for kindergarten students Breitbart News reported that the Hillside Elementary School, which is under the Hastings-on-Hudson Union Free School District (HOHUFSD), was responsible for the course. The school's "gender curriculum" course seeks to promote "inclusion" among kindergarten students. It also teaches them terms including cisgender, transgender and nonbinary. A copy of the course made the rounds on social media, with Fox News managing to acquire a copy of it. The kindergarten-level course description read: "Our gender curriculum focuses on Hillside's core value of respect and aims to center discussions on gender identity. The students will learn and discuss that there is a lot you can't tell about a person by simply looking at them." "The 'identity' being taught to children includes discussing 'gender and the pronouns that you use,' and that 'as we learn and grow, the words we use to describe our gender identity can grow too,'" the outlet continued. In response to a comment on the curriculum, the HOHUFSD's communication team told Fox News that the lessons have been in place for several years. The lessons were also rooted in the elementary school's "core values of respect and fostering dignity for all students." HOHUFSD Superintendent William McKersie wrote in a message to faculty and parents that the gender identity lessons "have been created in alignment with the [New York State] Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education Framework." He continued: "One 30-minute gender lesson is taught in each class one time per year. The classes are led by a certified educator, following a specific set of lessons designed to help students value the full diversity of their classmates." The school noted that the lessons do not address sex education or sexuality. While the courses are posted online on the school's website for the public to see, the lesson description for the gender identity course has been removed since it went viral. Incensed users call out Hillside Elementary School for GROOMING kids Several users took to social media to call out the New York elementary school over the gender identity lesson. Foremost among them was the Libs of TikTok account on X, who shared a copy of the course description. "Public schools are trying to groom your children," the wrote on Friday, Nov. 22. (Related: GROOMING MEANS PERVERTING: Dangerous trans indoctrination of children in schools is turning America into a nationwide Nazi youth training camp.) NYC Councilwoman Vickie Paladino, a Republican, also reposted the course description on social media. "Our kids can't read, write or even possess a basic understanding of history, yet the gender communism indoctrination of kindergartners continues unabated. This won't stop until these people face real consequences," she wrote. "This is not education, this is indoctrination. The [Department of Education] can't be shut down soon enough," one user wrote. Another user remarked: "I miss when we [didn't] know anything about a teacher's sexuality and kids were taught reading, writing, math, science and civics." A third user meanwhile wrote: "If my kindergartner came home talking about transgenders, that school would hear from me. No [five-year-old] needs to know about this." Kemberlee Kaye, managing editor of the Critical Race Training in Education (CRTIE) database, called on others to "get your kids out of government schools." CRTIE allows viewers to see which schools in their state teach critical race theory to children. Watch this clip that teaches parents how to find out if their children's books in public school espouse gender-related themes. This video is from THE LIGHT BULB INITIATIVE channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: LGBT CRIMES: America's largest teachers' union tells educators to DESTROY ALL EVIDENCE of student gender identity surveys. Biden-appointed judge rules parents can't opt children out of school lessons promoting LGBT ideology. Appeals court REJECTS request by Maryland parents to allow kids to opt out of reading LGBT BOOKS. Parents blast woke private school in Maryland over "invasive" GENDER IDENTITY survey. Court blocks school district from enforcing ludicrous gender identity policies. Sources include: Breitbart.com FoxNews.com Brighteon.com Russia now barreling through Ukraine at fastest pace since the early days of the 2022 invasion As America settles in for another holiday season, Russia is now moving at its fastest pace through Ukraine since the start of the war in early 2022. The reason why the outgoing Joe Biden regime gave Ukraine the green light to use long-range missiles and even nuclear weapons against Russia in defiance of President Putin's warnings is because the establishment basically has no choice. If the powers that be (TPTB) stop supplying Kiev with cash and weapons, Putin will finish the job of dethroning the West from, in many ways, controlling the world via the proxy state of Ukraine. We know that the Ukrainian landscape is littered with bioweapons factories that were placed there by Western interests. We also know that there are a lot of Western secrets hiding in Ukraine that Russia is uncovering to the detriment of the deep state. Now that it is clear Russia is moving through Ukraine at the fastest pace "since the early days of the 2022 invasion," to quote one source, panic is rising about the prospect of Ukraine, and thus the West, losing the war. (Related: Did you know that officials both in the U.S. and Europe are conspiring to send nuclear weapons to Ukraine?) Most Ukrainians want war to end as soon as possible In the past month, Russia has taken over land in Ukraine amounting to about half the size of London. The front line had moved forward, but was then pushed back. Reuters says the front line has been "largely static for two years" until Putin started using smaller-scale advances back in July. The most dangerous phase of the Russia-Ukraine war could be the present, some officials say, now that the West is forging on in violating every "red line" Putin has established. "Russia has set new weekly and monthly records for the size of the occupied territory in Ukraine," claims the independent Russian media group Agentstvo. Over the past week, Russia captured another 91 square miles of Ukraine, this being a weekly record for 2024. In November, Russia has thus far captured 232 square miles. "The war has reached its most challenging phase with conditions on the frontlines now even more difficult than in the spring of 2022," tweeted Rochan Consulting's Konrad Muzyka. "Reasons: a lack of personnel, insufficient training, and issues with motivation linked to professionalism and trust within the military hierarchy." "Winter will not bring a significant slowdown in fighting. While adverse weather limits vehicle mobility, Russian infantry tactics will remain unchanged, relying on small groups advancing short distances. For Ukraine, the winter presents unique challenges, particularly for drone operations." North Korea is also now involved in the war fighting alongside Russia, which on the troop front is not as concerning to the West as is North Korea's strong defense industrial base. So, as Ukraine struggles to keep up recruitment and morale among its military ranks, Russia seems to be getting stronger. There is also overwhelming support among the Ukrainian people for a ceasefire. Most of them, according to a recent Gallup poll, want their government to "seek to negotiate an ending to the war as soon as possible." Ukraine would also do well to tone down the "overly positive propaganda," according to top Ukrainian military commander Andrii Biletskyi, who warns that it risks eroding public trust. I very much recommend this interview with the commander of the 3rd Assault Brigade. Here are some key points he made. https://t.co/RbE8eJAhHT 1. The war has reached its most challenging phase with conditions on the frontlines now even more difficult than in the spring of 2022. Konrad Muzyka - Rochan Consulting (@konrad_muzyka) November 26, 2024 As things escalate between Russia and Ukraine, we will keep you informed about the latest at WWIII.news. Sources for this article include: InformationLiberation.com NaturalNews.com Extremist Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich calls for occupation of Gaza and thinning of Palestinian population Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for Israelis to occupy the Gaza Strip and "thin" out its population by half in two years. The extremist Smotrich, who also serves as the de facto occupation governor of the West Bank, made the comments Tuesday, Nov. 26. He spoke at a conference that day organized by the Yesha Council, an umbrella group representing municipalities of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. According to The Cradle, Smotrich himself is a leader of a settler group. "It is possible to create a situation where Gaza's population will be reduced to half its current size in two years," he remarked. "Occupying Gaza is not a dirty word. We can occupy Gaza and thin the population by half within two years [by means of] voluntary emigration." Smotrich continued that the move "won't cost too much money," noting that Israelis "should not be afraid to pay for it." "It is the only way. If the cost of security control is five billion shekels [$1.37 billion], I will accept it with open arms," Smotrich added. "If that is what it takes to ensure the security of Israel, then so be it." According to the Times of Israel, Smotrich isn't the only fan of "voluntary emigration" Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, another extremist, also espouses it. Critics of the policy have also pointed out that "voluntary emigration" is a "euphemism for forced displacement a war crime." "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly denied that Israel intends to resettle the [Gaza] Strip, despite members from his own Likud party being outspokenly in favor of the idea," the Times of Israel continued. "While Netanyahu has also rejected the idea of Israel permanently occupying the Strip, his failure to advance a viable alternative to Hamas rule has made the scenario increasingly likely, critics say." Smotrich: Gaza policy could be applied to the West Bank Smotrich said during the conference that if the "encouraged migration" turns out successful in Gaza, it could be repeated in the West Bank home to three million Palestinians. True enough, The Cradle said participants at the summit met to strategize how to expand Jewish settlement in the West Bank and Gaza under the incoming second administration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. (Related: Israel declares major LAND GRAB in West Bank.) According to the Times of Israel, the finance minister who also chairs the Mafdal-Religious Zionism Party in the Knesset (Israel's parliament) has long spoken in favor of annexing large parts of the West Bank. He declared earlier this month that Trump's election victory offers an opportunity to see that vision through. "This is a possibility that opens up with the new [Trump] administration. The less we talk about it, the more we can do," said Smotrich. "As in Judea and Samaria [the West Bank], there is an inverse relationship between declarations and statements, and practice." He further proposed that the Israeli Ground Forces (IGF) should be responsible for managing the civilian affairs of Palestinians in Gaza under a military occupation government. The IGF should also establish a civil administration to rule Gaza in the way it did before 2005. Under a disengagement plan that year overseen by former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Tel Aviv withdraw its forces and Jewish settlements from Gaza. Since then, Israel has asserted its control through blockades and sieges on the Strip. Smotrich also called for Tel Aviv to allow for the collapse of the Palestinian National Authority (PA), which would open the door further for direct Israeli military rule. While Hamas rules the Gaza Strip, the PA under its President Mahmoud Abbas rules the West Bank. The Cradle mentioned that the Israel Defense Forces has been implementing the so-called "Generals' Plan" since October to forcibly displace Palestinians from the whole of northern Gaza. Under the plan, forced evacuation orders are issued to residents of the area before the IDF lays siege to the region. Those who refused to heed the orders face starvation and death as Israeli forces cut off food and aid. Head over to IsraelCollapse.com for similar stories. Watch this clip of Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich calling for the annexation of the West Bank and claiming Palestine doesn't exist. This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Israeli leader celebrates Trump victory, says Israel now has "opportunity" to annex occupied West Bank. Israeli finance minister claims letting Palestinians starve to death is "justified and moral." Israel's settler movement makes "real estate" plans while Gaza burns to the ground. Sources include: TheCradle.co TimesOfIsrael.com Brighteon.com Trumps FCC chairman pick vows to dismantle leftist disinformation cartel President-elect Donald Trump has made a big move that could finally put an end to the practice of censoring conservatives online by choosing Brendan Carr to head up the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Carr, who is currently a senior Republican commissioner at the FCC, has already said that fighting censorship will be his top priority. In announcing his pick, Trump called Carr a warrior for free speech, and has fought against the regulatory Lawfare that stifled Americans Freedoms and held back our economy. He added that he will end the regulatory onslaught that has been crippling Americas Job Creators and Innovators. Speaking to FOX Businesss Maria Bartiromo, he explained that he is working hard to fully understand Trumps agenda so he can act accordingly given the fact that the American people voted for Trump and his agenda. He outlined his top three priorities for his new position, and the first one was fighting censorship. Americans have lived under an unprecedented surge in censorship over the last couple of years, and we have to work together to smash the censorship cartel," he said. Those who have been profiting from the disinformation industry are already unsettled by what Trumps presidency will mean for them, with one professor telling the Financial Times anonymously: Im pretty fucking scared. If this stuff happens, I will be on a plane [out of America]. Another professor told the publication that many universities were holding internal discussions about how to prepare for Trumps presidency, saying: Its an existential threat to my livelihood and [our] research funding. Carr wants to hold Big Tech accountable Before his nomination was announced, Carr posted on X that the CEOs of companies like Microsoft, Google and Meta played central roles in the censorship cartel via their collaboration with NewsGuard, the for-profit fact checkers who give news sites ratings for quality and trustworthiness and give their highest ratings to liberal sites. He sent letters to the Big Tech execs dated November 13 instructing them to submit information about their dealings with NewsGuard to the FCC by December 10. He accused Big Tech firms and media monitors of working together to defund, demonetize, and otherwise put out of business news outlets and organizations that dared to deviate from an approved narrative. In August, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg admitted to the House Judiciary Committee that senior officials in the Biden administration had pressured his company repeatedly to censor coronavirus-related content in 2021. Carr also said hell be taking a very hard look at a deal that would see 200 radio stations being given to a group that is backed by liberal megadonor and globalist George Soros. Carr explained: For too long in this government, particularly over the last couple of years, your last name dictated how the government treated you. If your last name was Soros, well, the commission bent over backwards and gave you a special, unprecedented commission-level shortcut to buy 200 radio stations. If your last name was Musk, well then you lost $800 million contracts that you lawfully got. Everybody now is going to get a fair shake going forward, he added. Carr has also promised to scrutinize telecommunication networks that are linked to communist China to protect national security. Lets hope hell deliver on his promises, and we can finally put an end to conservatives being punished for expressing opinions or sharing facts that go against liberal narratives. Sources for this article include: Revolver.news FoxBusiness.com FT.com Report: Biden administration to let migrants skip ICE check-ins in New York City to enter the U.S. illegally. President Joe Biden's administration is "silently" rushing to roll out new policies that would make it easier for migrants A report in the New York Post indicated that the outgoing administration intends to launch an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) portal app starting in early December in New York City that will allow migrants to bypass in-person check-ins to their local ICE office. Insiders raised concerns and warned that the move is a "half-baked" plan that will lead more asylum seekers to abscond. The app, which is set to be launched soon in the form of a pilot program in select cities, will allow the millions of illegal migrants released into the U.S. to await their asylum proceedings and check in with immigration officials on a phone or computer, two sources familiar with the app revealed. Department of Homeland Security sources told The Post that the app will make it easier for migrants to flee authorities in part because the software has proven to be glitchy and unreliable. Even when it's working correctly, the new app doesn't check for past arrests or outstanding warrants something the current system tied to in-person appointments does, sources said. That's just one of a handful of initiatives being pushed through before inauguration day including allowing migrants to contest government orders to undergo electronic tracking while they await their immigration appointments. The Biden admin is also working to make changes that allow migrants to stay in the United States. In yet another move, while the illegal immigrants wait to plead their asylum cases in immigration courts, they will no longer be required to check in with their local ICE field office every few months. Critics of the illegal border policies of Biden note that under his presidency the number of migrants illegally crossing the southern border exploded, leading to massive lines and backlogs at ICE field offices. And causing many of the problems that systems are encountering today. CBP commissioner slams Biden's last-minute move Former acting Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Mark Morgan slammed the Biden administration's last-minute moves as "the opposite of a peaceful transition of power." "This is an obstructionist transition," said Morgan. "What they're trying to do in the last final day, they're going to try to put up as many roadblocks and obstacles and throw as many grenades as they can on their way out." Trump's move to abolish the new Biden policies could be slowed down by court challenges Morgan said. He added that he believes that these were effective in blunting Trump's immigration policies in his first administration. As of early last year, the ICE office was already "fully booked through October 2032" for appointments to process migrants released into the U.S., according to an official document previously reviewed by The Post. A report from City Hall records there have been more than 223,000 migrants have come to the city since the migrant crisis began and more than 58,000 are still being cared for by taxpayers in city-funded shelters. Meanwhile, the new border czar of President-elect Trump is giving better instructions on exactly how the military will be used to aid in the mass deportations of illegal immigrants that the incoming administration has promised. Tom Homan, who served as the ICE acting director during Trump's first term, debunked frenzied speculation from some liberals that the military could be deployed to arrest people on U.S. streets saying that service members would be used for "non-enforcement" duties. (Related: Trump's new border czar will prioritize finding 300,000 missing migrant children who could be trafficking victims.) Visit InvasionUSA.news for more stories like this. Watch the video below that talks about Biden administration's handling of illegal immigration. This video is from the Trending News channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Ramaswamy: DOGE will scrap ENTIRE AGENCIES within the federal government if necessary. Stephen Miller, the incoming White House deputy chief of staff, promises "a new golden era" under Trump. House Speaker Johnson orders outgoing Biden administration to preserve all records and documents. Los Angeles City Council unanimously approves ordinance turning L.A. into a sanctuary city. POLL: Majority of Americans support the mass deportation of illegal immigrants. Sources include: NYPost.com 1 NYPost.com 2 Brighteon.com BURPS, FARTS AND TAXES: Denmark becomes the first country to tax farm animals methane emissions Denmark has just passed the first tax in the world on animal belches and flatulence in a bid to protect the environment. The tax has been under negotiation for several years and was just passed by the Danish parliament. The measure, which will go into effect in 2030, will see farmers assessed a charge of 300 Danish kroner (roughly $43) for each ton of carbon dioxide equivalent produced by their operations. This tax will more than double within five years, hitting 750 kroner (or around $106 right now) by 2035. However, farmers will receive a 60% rebate because the technology does not yet exist to get rid of flatulence completely. The rebates will go up for farmers who take steps like sending their pigs manure to machines that can pipe the methane to the gas grid or use additives in cows that will reduce the methane in their burps. Of course, one has to wonder what chemicals that can change an animals body chemistry enough to reduce the methane in their burps could do to the health of the people who consume them. The governments green transition minister, Jeppe Bruus, said in a statement: "We will do what it takes to reach our climate goals. [It is a] huge, huge task that is now underway: to transform large parts of our land from agricultural production to forestry, to natural spaces, to ensure that we can bring life back to our coastlines." Denmark has five times as many cows and pigs as it does people, and almost two thirds of the countrys land is used for farming. As a result, agriculture contributes more to pollution than any other industry, putting it in green politicians crosshairs. Arla Foods, the biggest dairy cooperative in Europe, is in favor of the move. Although they dont necessarily support a tax, they believe that the compromise is a reasonable solution to the environmental concerns associated with dairy farming. The companys CEO, Peder Tuborgh, said: They understand they need to do it; they want to do it. They know it is protecting their reputation, and theyre still producing. A dairy farmer who supplies Arla Foods, Jens Christian Sorensen, said he is trying to understand what the tax will mean for him as he has 300 milking cows along with a further 360 calves who are not yet producing any milk but are producing methane. Hes investing in sensors that can tip him off when his cows are sick, and he is tracking their food consumption and milk production as well. Meanwhile, demand for Danish dairy is rising as global dairy consumption increases. Two thirds of Danish butter and half of its milk powder is exported. Denmark also plans to convert 15% of its farmland into forests This isnt the only big move Denmark has made recently in the name of the environment. The country also announced last week that they will convert 15% of their farmland into natural habitats and forests as a way of decreasing their fertilizer use and its impact on marine life. The government has set aside $6.1 billion to acquire land from farmers throughout the next two decades. They also plan to plant a billion trees on farmland during the same time period. Sources for this article include: Technocracy.news NYTimes.com Reuters.com Election judge in Minnesota sued for allowing unregistered people to vote An election judge from Minnesota has been sued over allegations that he allowed people not properly registered to vote in the 2024 elections. Timothy Michael Scouton, the head election judge for Badoura Township Precinct in Hubbard County, has been charged and arrested by the Hubbard County Sheriff's Office for allegedly accepting votes from unregistered individuals and neglecting his duties as an election official. On election night, an election auditor notified authorities that at least 11 voters were permitted to cast their votes despite not completing the required registration forms to verify their identities. Another judge informed the police that she was not aware of the proper forms and that Scouton instructed her to bypass the proper registration procedures. Meanwhile, local officials, including the Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, have expressed concern over the allegations. Simon's office described the charges as "very serious," emphasizing the importance of all election judges adhering to election laws. "These allegations are extremely serious and must be fully and thoroughly investigated," Simon's office said in a statement. "Election judges take an oath to administer elections under the law, a deliberate failure to do so is unlawful and a betrayal of the public trust. Minnesotas elections rely on the dedication and public service of 30,000 people and they are required to conduct their work fairly, impartially, and within the letter of the law. The Hubbard County Auditor took prompt and correct action in notifying local authorities of the uncovered discrepancies so they could investigate." Voter fraud and election integrity were major issues during the 2024 presidential race, with states purging many ineligible voters leading up to the vote. According to the National Pulse, North Carolina announced it purged over 747,000 ineligible voters in September, which included nearly 200,000 deceased people. Similarly, Texas, removed over a million voters from the state rolls, including illegal aliens. The Department of Justice (DOJ) issued guidelines for state and local officials that one former DOJ attorney said were tantamount to political intimidation. Gene Hamilton, a former attorney with the DOJ and Department of Homeland Security, stated that the guidelines discourage officials from effectively ensuring that only eligible voters can participate in the election. Missouri county clerks turned away many unregistered voters Meanwhile, in Springfield, Missouri, county clerks said they turned away people at the polls because they were not registered to vote. One person tells "On Your Side," a local show on a local network, that they were registered but did not get a ballot. "Some of the amendments affect me personally," said Mia Thimesch, a 20-year-old first-time voter from Christian County. "It was my first time. It's just sad." She said in an interview that she registered last year at the state's Department of Motor Vehicles handled by the state's Department of Revenue. She did not get to vote when she went to her polling place with her driver's license. "I dont know if it's a system error or something else happened," she said. A spokesperson from the Revenue Department said that Thimesch declined to register when she got her license. However, Thimesch said she had a voter ID card but tore it up and threw it away because "whats the point of this if I cant even vote? she asked. Meanwhile, Christian County Clerk Paula Brumfield reported that they had about 2,300 phone calls on the election day. "We don't want to turn a voter away, but if they're not in the system in the state of Missouri, then we can't find them," she said. "You have to be registered to vote four weeks in advance," said Jay Ashcroft, Missouri Secretary of State. "We had people that were calling up saying hey I just registered, where do I vote? They can vote in the future, but we need to do the process that you are who you say you are." (Related: Supreme Court blocks attempt to restore names of around 1,600 non-citizens to Virginia voter rolls.) Head over to VoteFraud.news to read more stories like this. Watch the video below where InfoWars' Alex Jones reports that illegal aliens were allowed to vote in the 2024 elections in several states. This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: RED WAVE: Voter registration data in Pennsylvania shows influential shift favoring Republican Party. Michigan's bloated voter rolls list nearly 500,000 names more than the total eligible voting population. Voters in eight states approve ballot measures banning noncitizens from voting in federal, state or local elections. CLEANING HOUSE: Ohio removes nearly 155,000 names from voter rolls due to inactive or expired registrations. Sources include: TheNationalPulse.com FoxNews.com KY3.com Brighteon.com Freezing temperatures expected in tent cities across Helene-ravaged North Carolina FEMA assistance still lacking A major cold front is expected to hit Western North Carolina next week, worsening an already dire situation for thousands of families left homeless after Hurricane Helene. With an early Winter setting in, at least a thousand people, including children, are at risk. Many are still living in makeshift shelters such as tents, cars and campers. The looming cold front could threaten their lives again, further highlighting the failures of Bidens Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) nearly two months after Helene's devastation. Early winter weather hits NC, and communities are still at risk Meteorologist Joe Bastardis weather models predict a sharp drop in temperatures across Asheville and other parts of the region. With lows expected to dip below freezing, the crisis there could escalate further, putting already vulnerable residents at even greater risk. On social media, Bastardi expressed frustration with the federal governments response, calling for immediate action to ensure that people are properly sheltered in the coming days. Attention Joe Biden or whoever is running this country it's 24/7 all hands-on deck this week for Helene-ravaged areas to make sure people are sheltered properly for the coming cold. The blundering so far has been inexcusable. You have a chance to finish strong here, Bastardi wrote on X. In Swannanoa, a town near Asheville, "tent cities" now dot the landscape, populated by families struggling to survive the elements. Local media reports paint a grim picture, with WLOS reporting that "hundreds of local families are left with nowhere to go." In Buncombe County alone, officials from the Family Resource Center have identified over 1,150 homeless children some of whom are living in tents or cars. As of the latest figures, nearly 900 new homeless students have been identified in the area since the storm. FEMAs continued apathy toward this region has led to widespread accusations of mismanagement and malfeasance, with many questioning the prioritization of resources and the nefarious political motivations of the current regime. The federal government has failed to provide adequate shelter to American victims. Instead, they've allocated those funds to house illegal immigrants in hotels, and continue to write blank checks to prop up a war in Ukraine. Shawn Hendrix, a survival expert, first responder and community advocate, has been leading efforts on the ground through Operation Shelter. Hendrix, who has been working tirelessly to deliver aid to affected families, expressed disbelief at the lack of FEMA presence. "Whole families are living in tents. These people need help. It's a disgrace that theyre being left to freeze while FEMA does nothing," Hendrix said. Since Helene, citizens across the United States have responded with humanitarian aid, allowing thousands of displaced individuals a fighting chance to survive and retain their land. But many are still homeless, vulnerable to a suspiciously-early winter, with temperatures dropping fast. FEMAs political motivations arouse further conspiracy theories The issue of neglect is compounded by recent political revelations at FEMA. A senior FEMA official was caught in a leaked message saying FEMA workers were instructed to avoid helping Trump supporters. Another fired FEMA supervisor claimed that this political bias was widespread within the agency. These revelations have led to a firestorm of criticism, with Americans accusing FEMA of prioritizing divisive political agendas over disaster relief. To make matters worse, reports show that FEMAs budget has already been strained by international aid spending. Moreover, the agency has been accused of squandering taxpayer money on "equity" programs and laundering money for housing illegal immigrants, with $640 million recently allocated to assist migrants, including luxury hotel accommodations and meals. With these America-last policies still in place two months after Hurricane Helene, and with no reconciliation in FEMAs priorities, many are wondering if there is a more nefarious plot against American citizens. Is the weather being modified and weaponized to push people out of the region, so the land can be confiscated? Is the corrupt Biden regime selling out Americans to benefit from multinational mining operations or other global industrial pursuits? Is the complete disregard for rural conservative communities part of a grander political war, where federal agencies are weaponized for political purposes? Sources include: Zerohedge.com CBSNews.com X.com NaturalNews.com Georgia appeals court cancels hearing to disqualify Fani Willis from Trump RICO case The Dec. 5 hearing to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from the RICO case against President-elect Donald Trump has been canceled. In a one-line order with no further explanation, the appeals court said that the hearing "is hereby canceled until further order of this Court." Willis is still on the case, thanks to a ruling earlier this year from Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee. In Aug. 2023, Trump was indicted along with 18 others for allegedly participating in a sprawling scheme to illegally try to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. Four defendants have pleaded guilty after reaching deals with prosecutors, but Trump and the others have pleaded not guilty. Trump and the other defendants filed the appeal, requesting to get Willis and her office removed from the case and to have the case dismissed. They cited her romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade as a conflict of interest. In March, McAfee found that no conflict of interest existed that should force Willis off the case. He granted a request from Trump and the other defendants to seek an appeal of his ruling from the Court of Appeals. McAfee wrote that "reasonable questions" over whether Willis and Wade had testified truthfully about the timing of their relationship "further underpin the finding of an appearance of impropriety and the need to make proportional efforts to cure it." Also, the allegations that Willis had improperly benefited from her romance with Wade resulted in a tumultuous couple of months in the case as intimate details of Willis and Wade's personal lives were aired in court in mid-February. The special prosecutor submitted his resignation hours later. POTUS is immune from criminal and civil actions Analysts weighed in on the possible scenarios concerning Trump's criminal and civil cases following his victory in the recently concluded presidential election. Syracuse University law professor Gregory Germain followed all these cases and provided the status of his indictments. According to Germain, the Department of Justice has issued two detailed memorandum opinions, one in 1973 and another in 2000, discussing a sitting president's scope of immunity from criminal and civil actions. This means that a sitting president cannot be indicted, prosecuted or jailed for a criminal claim while in office. "So, it is clear that the federal prosecutions brought by Jack Smith will not continue, even if Trump did not pardon himself or cause Smith to be removed from office and replaced with a loyal alternative," the professor said of Special Legal Counsel Jack Smith's case on federal election interference. He added that the Supreme Court's immunity ruling stated that a president's pardon power is unlimited, even suggesting that the corrupt sale of pardons would not affect their validity. "I have no doubt that the Supreme Court majority would uphold a self-pardon. So there seems little doubt that the federal cases brought by Jack Smith will be terminated," he concluded. Meanwhile, the president-elect's ongoing civil cases include his Manhattan defamation case where E. Jean Carroll claimed Trump sexually attacked her in a department store in the 1990s. She also said Trump's denials and attacks constituted defamation. Trump posted a bond and obtained a stay pending appeal, and the case is currently being appealed. Another is his New York financial statement fraud case. Attorney General Letitia James brought civil claims against Trump for disgorgement of gains realized using an inflated personal financial statement. (Related: Trump lawyer Mike Davis fires warning shot at NY AG Letitia James: Continue your lawfare against Trump, and "we will put your fat *ss in prison.") State Court Judge Arthur F. Engoron awarded James $363,800,000 in damages, which now amounts to over $450,000,000 with interest. The court also barred Trump and other executives from being officers of a New York corporation and appointed a receiver to liquidate Trump's company. Trump.news has more stories related to this. Watch the video below that talks about the cancelation of the oral arguments to disqualify Fani Willis from Trump's RICO case. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: IT WAS ALL POLITICAL: DOJ to fire Jack Smith, drop all legal cases against Trump before inauguration. Biden-Harris DOJ now trying to find a way to DROP charges against Trump. Bill Barr: All cases against Trump must be dropped IMMEDIATELY. Sources include: 100PercentFedUp.com TheGatewayPundit.com News.Syr.edu Brighteon.com Human Rights Watch denounces Israeli airstrike in Lebanon that killed journalists as WAR CRIME Human Rights Watch (HRW) has denounced an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon from late October that killed three journalists and injured four others as a war crime. According to the group, the Oct. 25 airstrike fell under the definition of a war crime as it was a deliberate attack on civilians. It happened early in the morning at the Hasbaya Village Club Resort in southern Lebanon, where over a dozen journalists had been staying for weeks. HRW found no evidence of military activity or forces in the area at the time. Initially, Israel claimed it has struck a building used by "terrorists" but later said the incident was "under review." This, despite the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) allegedly being aware of the journalists' presence in the building. (Related: Israel conducted 106 airstrikes on Lebanon in 24 hours, killing 17 and displacing thousands amid escalating conflict.) HRW conducted its own investigation on the matter, interviewing eight people including three injured journalists and the resort's owner and visiting the site. Footage and satellite image corroborated its findings. Almost three weeks later on Nov. 14, HRW sent letters to the Israeli military and Lebanese authorities requesting clarification, but received no response. The attack killed three journalists: Al Mayadeen cameraman Ghassan Najjar and Al Mayadeen satellite broadcast engineer Mohammed Reda. Wissam Kassem, a cameraman for the Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar TV channel, was also killed. Several others were seriously injured including Hassan Hoteit, a cameraman for satellite service provider ISOL for Broadcast, and Al Jazeera camera operator Ali Mortada. The journalists had been reporting in the region since Oct. 1 following their evacuation under Israeli orders. Mortada recalled waking up to the blast and being injured by falling pieces of concrete. He also recounted finding the bodies of his colleagues and body parts in the rubble. Since the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah began last October, Israeli forces have repeatedly targeted journalists and media outlets, including Al Mayadeen. HRW documented an attack in October 2023 that killed Issam Abdallah of Reuters and injured six others. The following month, two Al Mayadeen journalists were killed in an Israeli airstrike. Munition with U.S.-made upgrade was used for Hasbaya airstrike According to HRW, the IDF used an air-dropped bomb equipped with a U.S.-made Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kit. The upgraded munition struck the building where the journalists were staying and detonated upon impact. The group's investigation confirmed that the remnants of the munition used in the Oct. 25 airstrike were consistent with a JDAM guidance kit manufactured by American aerospace company Boeing. The JDAM kit uses satellite coordinates to accurately guide bombs to their targets, indicating that the strike was deliberate and not accidental. HRW wrote to Boeing and Woodard, another U.S. company making components for JDAM systems, but did not receive a response. The group has also previously documented other incidents where Israel used U.S.-supplied weapons against civilians. Given this, HRW called on Washington to suspend arms transfers to Tel Aviv. "The Israeli military's history of deadly attacks on journalists, without accountability, offers little hope for justice in this and future violations," said HRW Senior Researcher for Crisis, Conflict and Arms Richard Weir. "Israel's use of U.S. arms to unlawfully target and kill journalists far from any military objective tarnishes both Israel and the United States." "As evidence mounts of Israels unlawful use of U.S. weapons, including in apparent war crimes, U.S. officials need to decide whether they will uphold U.S. and international law by halting arms sales to Israel or risk being found legally complicit in serious violations." Visit IsraelCollapse.com for similar stories. Watch this short clip of Israeli bombs equipped with U.S.-made JDAM munition guidance systems, similar to the ones used in the Oct. 25 Hasbaya airstrike in Lebanon that killed journalists. This video is from the channel Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Four Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza airstrike, death toll of journalists reaches 182. REPORT: Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon kill six medics, frustrating potential ceasefire talks. U.S. ambassador to Lebanon calls for "internal uprising" in Lebanon to help Israel destroy Hezbollah: Allies need to "do their part," she insists. Sources include: News.Antiwar.com HRW.org Brighteon.com Kentucky fights ACLUs attempt to overturn states near-total abortion ban Kentucky's government is fighting back against a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) that could overturn the state's near-total ban on abortion The state's Human Life Protection Act was passed in 2019 and took effect in 2022 immediately after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in its Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision. It criminalizes all abortions in the state except those deemed necessary to protect the life of the mother. Since it went into effect, abortions in the state have dropped to nearly zero. The ACLU challenged the law on behalf of a state resident using the pseudonym Mary Poe, claiming that abortion is a "critical component of reproductive healthcare and crucial to the ability of Kentuckians to control their lives." The lawsuit is seeking to restore the right to an abortion in the state. The suit, filed in the state court in Louisville, claims that Kentucky laws blocking abortions violate the plaintiff's constitutional rights to privacy and self-determination. It asks that both state laws be struck down by a judge in Jefferson County Circuit Court. (Related: Trump says NO to federal abortion ban: States should decide the issue for themselves.) The suit notes that, at the time of filing, Poe is about seven weeks pregnant. She wants to terminate her pregnancy, but Kentucky is not allowing her to legally do so. The decision about whether to become or remain pregnant is among the "most personal and consequential decisions a person will make in their lifetime," the suit said. "Without the ability to decide whether to continue a pregnancy, Kentuckians have lost the right to make critical decisions about their health, bodies, lives and futures." Mary Poe claims getting an abortion is the best decision for her and her family In a statement made public by Poe's ACLU lawyers, she said that ending her pregnancy is the best decision for her and her family. "I feel overwhelmed and frustrated that I cannot access abortion care here in my own state, and I have started the difficult process of arranging to get care in another state where it's legal," she said. "This involves trying to take time off work and securing child care, all of which place an enormous burden on me." Despite already having at least one other child and already having aborted her baby out of state, Poe has maintained her lawsuit, claiming that being forced to travel to get an abortion was far too costly. Defendants in the lawsuit include Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman, whose main duty is to uphold state law and the state constitution. "It's the attorney general's responsibility to defend the laws passed by the General Assembly, and we will zealously work to uphold these laws in court," Coleman, a Republican, said in a statement. The lawsuit was heavily criticized by pro-life organizations, including The Family Foundation in Kentucky. David Walls, the group's executive director, said in a statement: "The ACLU's suggestion that the Kentucky Constitution somehow secretly contains a hidden right to terminate the life and stop the beating heart of an unborn human being, despite Kentucky's clear 150-year pro-life history, is absolutely absurd." Visit Abortions.news for more stories like this. Watch this episode of "The Breanna Morello Show" as she discusses how, for liberal women, abortion was the top issue for this year's election. This video is from the MyPodcastDropped2320 channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Constitutional lawyer: New York pro-abortion ballot measure would also establish voting rights of non-citizens. Texas AG Ken Paxton sues Biden HHS over proposed rule that would hide abortion info from criminal investigations. Florida ballot measures to legalize recreational weed and expand abortion rights FAIL. Fulton County judge defies Georgia Supreme Court, strikes down states six-week abortion ban. South Carolina judge upholds six-week heartbeat abortion ban. Sources include: LifeSiteNews.com APNews.com Brighteon.com Your private call and text data was just stolen by China because it hacked US governments illegal surveillance tool that spies on us all The political establishment is in an uproar over a recent telecommunications industry security breach that was supposedly caused by a hacking group tied to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, claims a hacking group called "Salt Typhoon" is responsible for unleashing the "worst telecom hack in our nation's history." The stolen data was intended for U.S. law enforcement agencies to use, but instead ended up in the hands of officials in Beijing, we are told. Salt Typhoon reportedly obtained access to cables that allowed them to listen live to audio calls, some of which were routed through multiple telecom networks via "trust" connections that were exploited. Less than 150 people were directly affected by the breach, most of them in the nation's capital. However, potentially "millions" of people had their call and text records hacked by the group, which could use information therein to target Americans for surveillance. (Related: Back in the summer, one of the world's largest IT providers that services the U.S. military-industrial complex suffered a major cybersecurity breach that put the U.S. government's most sensitive files at risk of being publicly leaked.) Chinese hackers also went after Trump, Vance Washington is really upset about this whole thing because it and only it is allowed to spy on Americans like this. The fact that China allegedly joined in on the fun as well has the U.S. political elite fuming mad. The telecom industry has known about the cyberattack since at least September, which is when it started notifying the government that something illicit was taking place. According to Warner, what Salt Typhoon did makes the Colonial Pipeline and SolarWinds hacks "look like child's play" and the intruders, he says, are still active. Washington is calling the breach an espionage operation, not a prelude to infrastructure sabotage like some believe. Time will tell, of course, which scenario ends up being true. Hackers from Salt Typhoon have apparently broken into a government system that archives U.S. law enforcement's criminal wiretap requests so individuals of interest can be identified by the authorities. As far as is being reported, the hackers did not compromise the actual wiretapping system used to listen in on people's calls. Washington considers its wiretapping system to be a "lawful intercept" mechanism, but not when China uses it. The system contains unencrypted communications including text messages that were captured in the breach, though all end-to-end encrypted communications such as the kind used on Signal are said to remain secure. Very little is known beyond that as the Joe Biden regime is keeping the matter close to the chest. The FBI and CISA issued a joint statement claiming that the perpetrators have been identified. We also now know that the telecom firms affected include AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. "This is an ongoing effort by China to infiltrate telecom systems around the world to exfiltrate huge amounts of data," Warner claims about the purpose behind the attack. The media is also reporting that President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance were also hacked by China, as were other key political figures including folks from the campaign of Kamala Harris as well as from the State Department. This latest intrusion was not directly election-related, just to be clear. The hacking occurred months before Election Day with some incidents having happened more than a year ago before the October 7 events in Israel. Beijing, meanwhile, denies any knowledge of the attack. Officials there claim they do not employ anyone to infiltrate foreign computer systems and that this cyberattack must have been perpetrated by someone else. The latest news about communist China can be found at Communism.news. Sources for this article include: IBTimes.com NaturalNews.com A rare whale sighting in New York City's East River captivated residents on Monday, prompting excitement and curiosity. The US Coast Guard confirmed receiving reports of the whale near the iconic Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges, though the exact species remains unidentified. Experts believe it could be either a humpback whale or the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. The whale's presence, witnessed by onlookers at sunset, was described as extraordinary, with some locals capturing footage of the marine mammal spouting water near the Williamsburg bridge. According to MailOnline, the sighting drew comparisons to a humpback whale seen in the Hudson River in 2020, another rare event for the bustling waterways of New York. Danielle Brown, research director at the marine life organization Gotham Whale, acknowledged the unusual nature of the encounter. "It's somewhat uncommon to spot a whale in such a busy area," she shared. READ MORE : Greenhouse Gases Turned Into Clean Energy Through Breakthrough US Technology Rare Urban Whale Sightings Highlight Need for Caution and Respectful Observation Brown noted that while dozens of humpback whales are currently near the coasts of New York and New Jersey, sightings in urban waterways are infrequent due to heavy boat traffic. The Coast Guard issued safety alerts to boaters in the area, urging caution to avoid accidental collisions with the whale. "Marine mammals are not rare in New York Harbor, but sightings like this are less frequent," explained a Coast Guard spokesperson, said Gothamist. While the whale's current location is unknown, Gotham Whale emphasized the need for respectful observation. "Keep at least 100 feet away from all whales, and give extra space to mothers and calves," the group advised. Manila, Nov 29 : The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said that it has signed an $820-million-loan with Gulf Renewable Energy Company Limited, a subsidiary of Gulf Energy Development Public Company Limited (Gulf), to fund the construction of renewable energy projects in Thailand. The portfolio comprises eight ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) plants with contracted capacity of 393 megawatts (MW) and four ground-mounted solar PV plants with battery energy storage with contracted capacity of 256 MW and 396 MW-hours of energy storage, Xinhua news agency reported. "This portfolio of projects significantly enhances solar energy and solar energy with battery storage in Thailand, marking a major step forward in the country's goal of achieving carbon neutrality," said ADB Director General for Private Sector Operations Suzanne Gaboury. "It also offers a compelling model that can be replicated throughout the region." Established in 2011, Gulf is a leading power generation company in Thailand. The company's core businesses are in the energy, infrastructure utilities and digital sectors. Beirut, Nov 29 : Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati urged pressure on Israel to stop its violations of the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah, according to a statement by the Council of Ministers, Lebanon's cabinet. Mikati made the remarks during a phone conversation on Thursday with French President Emmanuel Macron, during which they discussed the current situation in Lebanon after the ceasefire took effect early Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported. During their conversation, Mikati expressed gratitude to Macron for his assistance in "stopping the Israeli aggression and reaching an understanding in this regard." He noted that the Lebanese army has begun missions in the south, the Bekaa, and Beirut's southern suburbs, with plans to bolster its deployment in the southern Litani sector. Mikati said Thursday's violations of the ceasefire agreement resulted in injuries and significant damage. In the first breach of the agreement, an Israeli airstrike on a car in the southeastern village of Markaba injured two Lebanese, according to Lebanon's National News Agency. Later, an Israeli drone raid on a gathering in the village of Taybeh injured four more people, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. Earlier on Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that it conducted a drone strike in southern Lebanon in the morning, describing it as a warning shot. The IDF said several "suspects," some with vehicles, entered areas in southern Lebanon, violating the ceasefire agreement. In response, the Israeli military said it fired a warning shot near a vehicle in the Markaba area, aiming to deter it without causing casualties. Israel's security cabinet on Tuesday night approved a ceasefire deal with Lebanon, paving the way for an end to a nearly 14-month conflict. According to the ceasefire deal, the Lebanese army will take control of its territory over the next 60 days; Israel will gradually withdraw, and civilians will return home. Mumbai, Nov 29 : The Indian stock market opened in green on Friday as buying was seen in the Media and Pharma sector in early trade. At around 09.44 a.m., the Sensex was trading at 79,369.57 after gaining 325.83 points or 0.41 per cent, while the Nifty was trading at 24,019 after rising 104.85 points or 0.44 per cent. The market trend remained positive. On the National Stock Exchange (NSE), 1345 stocks were trading in the green, while 876 stocks were in the red. Nifty Bank was up 224.45 points or 0.43 per cent at 52,131.30. Nifty Midcap 100 index was trading at 56,397.95 after gaining 97.20 points or 0.17 per cent. Nifty Smallcap 100 index was at 18,585.40 after gaining 73.85 points or 0.40 per cent. According to market experts, "It is better for investors to wait and watch. Lots of stock-specific actions are likely starting today in response to the inclusion of 45 new stocks to the F&O list." Buy on dips strategy may not yield short-term gains in this market. However, this strategy can be applied by investors with a medium to long-term time horizon. Large Caps in financials, IT, capital goods and telecom are ideal for accumulation from a medium to long-term perspective," they said. In the Sensex pack, Sun Pharma, Adani Ports, M&M, Bharti Airtel, L&T, Bajaj Finance, Titan and HCL Tech were the top gainers. Power Grid, ITC, TCS, Maruti, Tata Steel and Tech Mahindra were the top losers. In Asian markets, the markets of China and Hong Kong were trading in green. Whereas, the markets of Bangkok, Jakarta, Seoul and Japan were trading in red. The US stock markets closed in red on the previous trading day. Mandar Bhojane, Research Analyst of Choice Broking said, "In the Nifty 50, the daily chart shows a bearish candle, reflecting profit booking after a pullback from key support levels. Immediate support is placed at 23,800 and 23,680, which align with strong Fibonacci levels. These zones could act as potential reversal points, offering a buying opportunity if confirmed by price action. On the upside, 24350 serves as immediate resistance. A sustained move above this level could propel the index toward 24,800 and 25,000, unlocking significant upside potential," he said. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were net sellers, offloading equities worth Rs 11,756 crore on November 28, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) were net buyers, purchasing equities worth Rs 8,718 crore. Bengaluru, Nov 29 : Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his office in New Delhi on Friday. While thanking him for giving time to meet him at short notice, CM Siddaramaiah submitted a memorandum demanding central assistance and cooperation on some issues. The CM has requested to rectify a "severe" cut in the NABARD loan to the state, to allocate Rs 5,300 crore for the Upper Bhadra Project as announced in the Union Budget, to help the state to get clearances for the Mekedatu and Mahadayi projects. He also demanded funds for the development of Bengaluru city. The memorandum stated, Dear Prime Minister Narendra Modiji, at the outset let me thank you for giving me time to meet you at short notice. I wish to raise some critical issues of paramount importance for our state. Firstly, the issue of severe cuts in the Short Term Agricultural Credit Limit to Karnataka by NABARD has created serious alarm among the farmers of the state. As against Rs 5,600 crore of limit sanctioned during 2023-24, NABARD has sanctioned only Rs 2, 340 crore for the current year (2024-25), which is a steep cut of 58 per cent, CM pointed out. This will seriously impact the cost of finance for farmers unless the state steps in to provide additional interest subvention which will severely impact our finances. I have met the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in this regard and apprised her of our concerns. I request you to look into this and direct the Finance Ministry to rectify this situation so that farmers in Karnataka continue to receive soft agricultural loans, he stated. Secondly, as I have requested of you earlier, the promise made by the Union Finance Minister in the Union budget of 2023-24 to provide Rs 5,300 crore for the Upper Bhadra Project remains to be fulfilled. I understand a Cabinet note has been moved to provide this assistance under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme. I would request you to give approval to this proposal at your earliest convenience, as the Upper Bhadra project provides irrigation to the parched farm-lands of central Karnataka, CM urged. "Thirdly, Karnataka is an arid state and desperately needs development of irrigation potential. This task has been carried out largely by the state from its own resources. However, pending project clearances by the Jal Shakti Ministry as well as by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change are delaying our projects," he emphasized. "Two projects need your urgent attention, viz., the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir on the Cauvery River and the Kalasa Banduri project on the Mahadayi River. The former needs approval from the Jal Shakti Ministry as well as environmental clearance. The latter is at an advanced stage for wildlife clearance. Kindly direct the two ministries to expedite clearances for these projects," CM Siddaramaiah demanded. "Fourthly, Bengaluru has emerged as the Tech and Innovation Capital of the country and is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. The city is among the top three contributors to the countrys GDP. The city needs major infrastructure investment. Our government has major plans to improve the infrastructure, de-congest the city and upgrade the living standards of the city for all its citizens. In my letter of June 29, 2024, which I had the opportunity of meeting and handing over to you, I had outlined our vision and a series of projects that we are taking up, he stated. I request you to direct the Ministry of Urban Development, the Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Road Transport to look into our requests favourably and provide special assistance to the city so as to enable us to invest in urban transport and public transport for the city, he stated. Further, Karnataka is fast urbanizing and we have 13 city corporations which are Tier-2 cities that need massive investment, he said. The Government of Karnataka has a programme called Mahatma Gandhi Nagar Vikas Yojana under which we have dedicated Rs.2,000 crore over the next three years. However, this is woefully inadequate to meet the infrastructure to these cities. I request you to direct the Ministry of Urban Development to provide Rs.10,000 crore for these cities under AMRUT or any other schemes., CM Siddaramaiah requested. Finally, we have been raising the issue of Karnataka receiving a raw deal at the hands of the 15th Finance Commission. It is our firm belief that the Ministry of Finance could have set the right anomalies in the recommendations that lowered our share in the divisible pool of taxes by 1 per cent, he stated. "At the very least, the Ministry could have accepted the recommendations made by the Finance Commission to give two kinds of special grants to the state: one, Rs 5,495 crore to compensate for the reduction in our share, two, a special grant of Rs 6,000 crore for Peripheral Ring Road and for rejuvenation of water bodies, he claimed. Since we are still in the period of the 15th Finance Commission, I would again request you to direct the Ministry of Finance to provide additional grants, he stressed. "Further, together with the 16th Finance Commission the Ministry of Finance must make sure that in the future states contributing a larger share to the central taxes are not punished by severe cuts in the share of those central taxes," he demanded. I do hope our requests receive favourable consideration from you, CM Siddaramaiah stated. Patna, Nov 29 : Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrived in Patna on Friday for a two-day visit with the aim to focus on boosting rural banking, entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion in the eastern region. FM Sitharaman will assess the financial performance of eight rural banks from the eastern zone in Patna. The banks involved include representatives from Bihar (two banks), Odisha (two banks), Jharkhand (one bank), and West Bengal (three banks) who will participate in the meeting chaired by the Union Finance Minister. FM Sitharaman will evaluate the extent of bad loans and strategies for reducing NPAs in rural banks. She will also examine the loan disbursement process and its impact on rural development. She will also explore the measures to enhance the digital capabilities of rural banks, improving accessibility and efficiency for customers. Following the meeting in Patna, she will go to Darbhanga to participate in the Entrepreneurship Development Promotion Program. During that event, 26 banks will collectively disburse loans worth 1,300 crore. Beneficiaries include small entrepreneurs, agriculture-based industries, and 45,000 youths of the eastern region. An event will be organised in Raj Maidan Darbhanga. The objective of the event is to promote self-reliance, boost local economies, and support agriculture and small industries. These measures aim to strengthen rural banking infrastructure and facilitate economic growth in eastern India. Promoting entrepreneurship and youth engagement through financial support aligns with the governments initiatives like Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) and rural development programs. The FMs visit to Darbhanga highlights the Union government's commitment to the economic and social development of the Mithilanchal region, as emphasised by Darbhanga MP Gopal Thakur. After the loan distribution event, FM Sitharaman will address a public meeting at the same venue. The speech is expected to emphasise the government's development priorities for Mithilanchal region, support for small industries and self-reliance initiatives, and updates on recent financial and infrastructure programs aimed at uplifting the region. Darbhanga MP Gopal Thakur noted that the back-to-back visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the FM to Darbhanga within a month underline the Centres focus on the progress of Mithilanchal. These high-profile visits signify the government's intent to prioritise development in Bihar and its commitment to empowering rural and semi-urban areas through financial interventions, Thakur said. Mumbai, Nov 29 : Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala celebrated their Haldi ceremony on Friday in Hyderabad. Pictures from the couples vibrant Haldi are circulating widely on social media. Naga and Sobhitas pre-wedding celebrations began with this ritual, attended by their close family members. A video collage featuring the couple dressed in traditional attire for their haldi is doing the rounds on social media. In the clip, the two are seen sitting side by side as their family members joyfully showered them with flowers. Sobhita looked radiant in a red saree paired with a matching blouse and traditional jewellery, while Chaitanya donned a white kurta and pajamas. The couple could be seen smiling throughout the heartwarming moment. Sobhita is also seen participating in various other rituals with her loved ones. Bride-to-be stunned in two different outfits during her Haldi ceremony. For her first look, she opted for a red saree accessorized with a choker and a maang tikka. Her second look saw her embracing the character of Vanathi from "Ponniyin Selvan" as she wore a traditional yellow ensemble for the ceremony. Sobhita recently took to Instagram to share pictures from her Pasupu Danchadam ceremony. For the ceremony, she wore a saree with a gold and green border. Sharing the images, she wrote, Godhuma Raayi Pasupu Danchadam And so it begins. Pasupu Danchadam is a traditional Telugu pre-wedding ritual that marks the start of wedding celebrations. In August of this year, Naga and Sobhita got engaged in an intimate ceremony in Hyderabad, attended by close family and friends. The exciting news was shared by actor Nagarjuna Akkineni, who posted pictures of the couple from their engagement on his X (formerly Twitter) account. The couple will tie the knot on December 4 in Hyderabad. Naga Chaitanya was previously married to actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu. They announced their separation in October 2021 through a joint statement on social media. More than a million years ago, on a hot savannah teeming with wildlife near the shore of what would someday become Lake Turkana in Kenya, two completely different species of hominins may have passed each other as they scavenged for food. Scientists know this because they have examined 1.5-million-year-old fossils they unearthed and have concluded they represent the first example of two sets of hominin footprints made about the same time on an ancient lake shore. The discovery will provide more insight into human evolution and how species cooperated and competed with one another, the scientists said. "Hominin" is a newer term that describes a subdivision of the larger category known as hominids. Hominins includes all organisms, extinct and alive, considered to be within the human lineage that emerged after the split from the ancestors of the great apes. This is believed to have occurred about 6 million to 7 million years ago. The discovery, published today in Science offers hard proof that different hominin species lived contemporaneously in time and space, overlapping as they evaded predators and weathered the challenges of safely securing food in the ancient African landscape. Hominins belonging to the species Homo erectus and Paranthropus boisei, the two most common living human species of the Pleistocene Epoch, made the tracks, the researchers said. Their presence on the same surface, made closely together in time, places the two species at the lake margin, using the same habitat." Craig Feibel, author of the study and professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and Department of Anthropology, Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences Feibel, who has conducted research since 1981 in that area of northern Kenya, a rich fossil site, applied his expertise in stratigraphy and dating to demonstrate the geological antiquity of the fossils at 1.5 million years ago. He also interpreted the depositional setting of the footprint surface, narrowing down the passage of the track makers to a few hours, and showing they were formed at the very spot of soft sediments where they were found. If the hominins didn't cross paths, they traversed the shore within hours of each other, Feibel said. While skeletal fossils have long provided the primary evidence for studying human evolution, new data from fossil footprints are revealing fascinating details about the evolution of human anatomy and locomotion, and giving further clues about ancient human behaviors and environments, according to Kevin Hatala, the study's first author, and an associate professor of biology at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pa. "Fossil footprints are exciting because they provide vivid snapshots that bring our fossil relatives to life," said Hatala, who has been investigating hominin footprints since 2012. "With these kinds of data, we can see how living individuals, millions of years ago, were moving around their environments and potentially interacting with each other, or even with other animals. That's something that we can't really get from bones or stone tools." Hatala, an expert in foot anatomy, found the species' footprints reflected different patterns of anatomy and locomotion. He and several co-authors distinguished one set of footprints from another using new methods they recently developed to enable them to conduct a 3D analysis. "In biological anthropology, we're always interested in finding new ways to extract behavior from the fossil record, and this is a great example," said Rebecca Ferrell, a program director at the National Science Foundation who helped fund this portion of the research. "The team used cutting-edge 3D imaging technologies to create an entirely new way to look at footprints, which helps us understand human evolution and the roles of cooperation and competition in shaping our evolutionary journey." Feibel described the discovery as "a bit of serendipity." The researchers uncovered the fossil footprints in 2021 when a team organized by Louise Leakey, a third-generation paleontologist who is the granddaughter of Louis Leakey and daughter of Richard Leakey, discovered fossil bones at the site. The field team, led by Cyprian Nyete, mainly consists of a group of highly trained Kenyans who live locally and scour the landscape after heavy rains. They noticed fossils on the surface and were excavating to try and find the source. While cleaning the top layer of a bed, Richard Loki, one of the excavators, noticed some giant bird tracks, then spotted the first hominin footprint. Leakey coordinated a team in response that excavated the footprint surface in July 2022. Feibel noted it has long been hypothesized that these fossil human species coexisted. According to fossil records, Homo erectus, a direct ancestor of humans, persisted for 1 million years more. Paranthropus boisei, however, went extinct within the next few hundred thousand years. Scientists don't know why. Both species possessed upright postures, bipedalism and were highly agile. Little is yet known about how these coexisting species interacted, both culturally and reproductively. The footprints are significant, Feibel said, because they fall into the category of "trace fossils" which can include footprints, nests and burrows. Trace fossils are not part of an organism but offer evidence of behavior. Body fossils, such as bones and teeth, are evidence of past life, but are easily moved by water or a predator. Trace fossils cannot be moved, Feibel said. "This proves beyond any question that not only one, but two different hominins were walking on the same surface, literally within hours of each other," Feibel said. "The idea that they lived contemporaneously may not be a surprise. But this is the first time demonstrating it. I think that's really huge." IIT Bombay-HSBC India Green Hydrogen Programme Shortlists 6 Projects From Top Institutes For Incubation Published By : PTI Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 19:02 IST The IIT Bombay and HSBC India Green Hydrogen programme is aimed at accelerating the development and deployment of green hydrogen technologies. IIT Bombay has partnered with HSBC to pursue technological advancements towards making green hydrogen production more efficient and cost-effective. Six projects for innovation in green hydrogen technology from top educational institutions have been shortlisted for incubation under the IIT Bombay and HSBC India Green Hydrogen programme, a release said on Friday. The IIT Bombay and HSBC India Green Hydrogen programme, aimed at accelerating the development and deployment of green hydrogen technologies, saw a large number of innovative project proposals received from 6 IITs, the National Institute of Technology and Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research, the release said. related stories Out of these, six projects have been shortlisted for incubation at IIT Bombay, through a stringent process by a Steering committee comprising industry experts and senior faculty from the institute," it said. These technologies and solutions presented by researchers, scientists, and students from institutions across India address key challenges in green hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and utilization. They range from developing indigenous hydrogen storage systems that will help reduce significant carbon emissions from commercial vehicles to cost effective and sustainable hydrogen generators and alternative burners which will improve air quality that has been an alarming issue in most metros in India. These solutions will be incubated at the IIT incubation centre, nurtured, and refined for commercial readiness by the end of the programme period and comprehensively supported to build scale and enhance reach, the release said. We look forward to working with IIT Bombay to nurture these six innovations to make Green Hydrogen a cost-effective, scalable, and sustainable proposition," said Hitendra Dave, CEO, HSBC India. IIT Bombay has partnered with HSBC to pursue technological advancements towards making green hydrogen production more efficient, cost-effective, and scalable. Unveiled by Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman in 2023, the 3-year project aims to develop innovative projects to position green hydrogen as a strategic alternative fuel that has application across industries and create a strong green hydrogen economy to help India achieve energy independence and support the governments mission to provide policy support for a global green hydrogen transition. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all This collaboration underscores our firm commitment to supporting the Indian governments visionary National Green Hydrogen Mission which positions green hydrogen not just as a sustainable fuel, but as a cornerstone of the countrys future energy landscape," said Shireesh Kedare, Director, IIT Bombay. The Indian government has committed to promoting green hydrogen under its National Green Hydrogen Mission, highlighting its potential as a future fuel alternative. It envisions developing a green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 million metric tonnes per year by 2030. First Published: November 29, 2024, 19:02 IST PAN-Aadhaar Linking: Here's How To Check Status Online And Pay Penalty For Missing Deadline Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 09:01 IST As per Section 139AA of the Income Tax Act, 1961, linking the PAN with Aadhaar is mandatory for every taxpayer in India. The taxpayers can pay a late fee of Rs 1,000 and link PAN with Aadhaar. The deadline for linking the Permanent Account Number (PAN) with Aadhaar has already passed and now the government has started imposing a penalty on the defaulters. The deadline to link the PAN with Aadhaar was June 30, 2023. The PANs that were not linked to Aadhaar numbers became inoperative from July 1 last year. Those who missed the deadline are liable to pay a penalty of Rs 1,000. related stories In February, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary informed the Parliament that the number of PANs not linked to Aadhaar stood at 11.48 crore, as of January 29, 2024. The government had collected nearly Rs 600 crore as a penalty from the defaulters. As per Section 139AA of the Income Tax Act, 1961, linking the PAN with Aadhaar is mandatory for every taxpayer in India. Otherwise, they may not be able to file their income tax returns (ITRs). Initially, the I-T Department had declared that the last date for the PAN-Aadhaar link was March 31, 2022. The deadline was later extended to June 30, 2023. Those who completed the PAN-Aadhaar linking from July 1, 2023, onwards were liable to pay a fine of Rs 1,000. Taxpayers can now link their PANs with Aadhaar through the e-filing Portal of the Income Tax Department by paying the required late fine which is mandatory under Section 234H of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Heres how to pay penalty and link PAN-Aadhaar online Visit the e-filing Portal and click on Link Aadhaar from the Quick Links section on the homepage. You can also log in to the e-filing portal and click on Link Aadhaar in the Profile section. 1. Key in your PAN and Aadhaar Number in designated boxes 2. Click on Continue to Pay Through e-Pay Tax" 3. Enter your PAN and confirm it. You will receive an OTP on the registered mobile number. 4. Once the OTP verification is done. The e-Pay Tax page will appear on the screen. 5. Click on Proceed on the Income Tax button and select the relevant Assessment Year and Type of Payment as Other Receipts (500). 6. Click on Continue to get the applicable amount to be pre-filled. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all 7. A challan will be generated. Once the payment is completed, Aadhaar can be linked with PAN from the e-filing Portal. Once everything is done, you can see the status of PAN-Aadhaar linking by clicking the link Aadhaar Status" available on the homepage of the e-filing portal. First Published: November 29, 2024, 09:01 IST 'Eknath Shinde To Take Big Decision Today': Shiv Sena Leader Draws Hint From His Village Visit Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 30, 2024, 00:04 IST The Shiv Sena leader said Eknath Shinde will not take any position in the Union cabinet as his interest lies in Maharashtra politics. Eknath Shinde resigned as Maharashtra Chief Minister on Tuesday, November 26. (Image: PTI) Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat on Friday said that the suspense over the Maharashtra Chief Ministers face will end soon as caretaker CM Eknath Shinde will take a big decision in the next 24 hours. He further stated that whenever Sinde has to make an important decision, he goes to his native village. The Shiv Sena leader also asserted that the name of the Maharashtra CM will be declared by midnight and the oath-taking will take place on December 2. Shirsat further added that Shinde will not take any position in the Union cabinet as his interest lies in Maharashtra politics. related stories The leaders of Maharashtra met at the residence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday. The decision on the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra will be taken by PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah," Shirsat was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. The name of the Maharashtra CM should be declared by today midnight. I have the information that the oath-taking ceremony will be on December 2. Eknath Shinde will not go to Delhi. He is more interested in Maharashtra politics than Delhi politics," he added. Shinde To Take Big Decision Tomorrow: Sanjay Shirsat Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat drew a big hint from Shindes visit to his native village and stated that the caretaker Chief Minister of Maharashtra will take a big decision by Saturday evening. Whenever Eknath Shinde thinks that he needs some time to think he goes to his native villageWhen he has to make a big decision he goes to his village. By Saturday evening Shinde will take a very big decision," he said. #WATCH | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat says, Whenever Eknath Shinde thinks that he needs some time to think he goes to his native villageWhen he (Eknath Shinde) has to make a big decision he goes to his native village. By tomorrow pic.twitter.com/cEb5akzWrM ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2024 Shinde Heads For His Village top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Amid ongoing speculations over Maharashtra government formation, Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde left for his native village in Satara on Friday. Shinde left for his native village after arriving from Delhi earlier in the morning. Describing the Delhi meeting as good and positive", Shindes sudden departure halted the talks causing the key Mahayuti meet to be called off. First Published: November 29, 2024, 23:55 IST Why US Universities Are Asking Students To Return To Campuses Before January 20 Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht Last Updated: December 27, 2024, 11:08 IST Cornell Universitys Office of Global Learning has advised students who are travelling abroad to return before the January 21 start of the spring semester. 'A travel ban is likely to go into effect soon after inauguration,' the university warned Trump in his post also said the United States was subsidizing Canada to the tune of over $1,000,000,000 a year. Makes no sense!(Reuters File Photo) Donald Trumps inauguration is on January 20. And universities and colleges in the US are making frantic calls to their international students to return to the campus before Trumps ceremony. Reason? The mass deportation and visa changes that could be introduced by the incoming government. Trump has pledged to enact the largest deportation operation in US history, and use the military to help. related stories There were more than 1.1 million international students in the US during the academic year 2023, according to a survey of nearly 3,000 colleges and universities conducted by the Institute of International Education (IIE) and sponsored by the US State Department. But experts warn that the increase in international enrollment could be threatened under the new Trump administration, which upended the lives of many students during his first presidency. Let us look at what have the universities advised to the foreign students, what are the challenges faced by the students and what were the restrictions during Trumps first term. What Universities Have Told Foreign Students A number of universities have been emailing international students asking them to return to campus before the presidential inauguration, according to a report by BBC. Cornell Universitys Office of Global Learning advised students who are travelling abroad to return before the January 21 start of the spring semester or to communicate with an advisor about your travel plans and be prepared for delays." A travel ban is likely to go into effect soon after inauguration," the university warned students late last month, as reported by CNN. The ban is likely to include citizens of the countries targeted in the first Trump administration: Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Myanmar, Sudan, Tanzania, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen, and Somalia. New countries could be added to this list, particularly China and India." The University of Massachusetts Amherst has sent a travel advisory to its international students and called on them to strongly consider" returning to the US prior to the inauguration, as per Huffington Post. The school, which has over 5,000 students, said it is exercising caution as Trump had previously ordered travel bans. Given that a new presidential administration can enact new policies on their first day in office (January 20), and based on previous experience with travel bans that were enacted in the first Trump Administration in 2016, the Office of Global Affairs is making this advisory out of an abundance of caution to hopefully prevent any possible travel disruption to members of our international community," the UMass office said in a statement. While theres no certainty such orders will be issued, the safest way to avoid any challenges is to be physically present in the U.S. before the Spring semester begins on January 13, 2025," said the USC Office of International Service, according to a report in the student-led media site. The University of Southern California, which had more than 17,000 international students during the last academic year, has urged foreign students in an email to return to the US one week before Trumps White House inauguration, saying that one or more executive orders impacting travel and visa processing" may be issued. USC has the largest number of international students in California. While theres no certainty such orders will be issued, the safest way to avoid any challenges is to be physically present in the US before the Spring semester begins on January 13, 2025," said the USC Office of International Service, according to a report in the student-led media site. Not just the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has also issued a similar advisory. The MIT has said Trumps executive orders could hamper travel and visa processing times. At Yale University, the Office of International Students and Scholars hosted a webinar in November, fielding concerns from students about potential immigration policy shifts, the student newspaper reported. What Are The Challenges Faced By Foreign Students In The US? The undocumented 400,000 students in the US are enrolled at institutes of higher learning, according to the Higher Ed Immigration Portal. Many undocumented students are protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programme, which has shielded individuals who arrived in the US as children from deportation. However, Trump has previously attempted to end DACA and pledged to enact the largest deportation operation in US history. With total international students being more than 1.1 million, total admissions increased by 7%, according to the data from the National Center for Education Statistics. Most students were from India and China 29% and 25% respectively. India has sent over 331,600 students to the US in 2023-2024 the most students of any country and the first time since 2009, according to a report by Hindustan Times. All international students are worried right now," University of Colorado Denver professor Chloe East told the BBC. A lot of students have concerns about their visas and whether theyll be allowed to continue their education." What Were The Restrictions During Trumps First Term? When Trump took over office in 2017, the number of international students fell every year. But experts say international enrollment has fluctuated throughout the years, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact cause for the change in numbers. The first initiatives Trump had introduced was a travel ban on several majority-Muslim countries, North Korea, and Venezuela. He also proposed reducing student visa durations from four years to two. The policy was challenged in courts, but led to students being detained at airports or forced to return to their home countries. It was later reversed by President Joe Biden on his first day in office. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Chinese students faced heightened scrutiny for their visas amid an increase in US-China trade war. That meant extra screenings, shorter stays, or even cancellations for at least hundreds of students. And in 2020, the Trump administration denied visas to foreign college students whose classes were shifted to online, prompting a lawsuit by Harvard and MIT. The policy was eventually rescinded. First Published: December 27, 2024, 10:55 IST 11 Killed, Several Injured After Bus Overturns In Maharashtra's Gondiya Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 19:30 IST The incident took place in Bindravana Tola village on the Gondia-Arjuni road in the Gondia district. The incident took place in Bindravana Tola village on the Gondia-Arjuni road in the Gondia district. (News18) At least 11 people were killed and 23 were injured after a bus going from Maharashtras Nagpur to Gondia lost control and overturned on Friday. Gondia Collector Prajit Nair said that around 40 people were onboard among which 23 were injured and 11 were killed. he said that the injured passengers were shifted to different hospitals related stories Treatment of others is underwayOne of the deceased belonged to Nagpur, another from Chandrapur, a few of them belonged to Bhandara and a few others from Gondia," he said. #WATCH | UPDATE | Gondia, Maharashtra: Gondia Collector Prajit Nair says, Around 40 people were on the bus. 34 of them were injured11 people have died. Treatment of others is underwayOne of the deceased belonged to Nagpur, another from Chandrapur, a few of them belonged https://t.co/1qeXaORoC3 pic.twitter.com/IW45RMvWXw ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2024 The deceased included a 32-year-old woman police personnel, identified as Smita Suryavanshi from Morgaon in Gondia, police said. Of the 11 deceased passengers, nine have been identified so far, while the identity of two others in their 50s is yet to be ascertained, he said. As per the visuals of the accident site shared by the news agency PTI, a huge crowd was gathered around the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus. Police vans, ambulances and cranes have also been deployed to assist those injured. VIDEO | Maharashtra: 10 dead and several injured after a bus going from Bhandara to Gondia suddenly lost control and overturned earlier today. More details awaited.(Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/IiiO5V3M93 Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 29, 2024 The incident took place in Bindravana Tola village on the Gondia-Arjuni road in the Gondia district took place at around 12.30 pm. MSRTCs Shiv Shahi bus was carrying 40 passengers and heading to Gondia when it overturned while trying to overtake another vehicle, according to the news agency. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modis Office has expressed grief over the incident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to next of kin of the deceased. Additionally, Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the family of those killed in the accident. Distressed by the loss of lives in the bus mishap in Gondia, Maharashtra. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected.An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 29, 2024 , @mieknathshinde . CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) November 29, 2024 A State transport Shivshahi bus overturned in a horrific accident. Eight bodies have been recovered from the site of the incident, and the death toll is expected to increase. Information about the situation was taken from the local administration. Instructions have been issued for immediate and proper treatment of the injured," said a CMO statement. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all State BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis also expressed grief and offered his condolences over the tragic accident. It is very unfortunate that a Shivshahi bus met with an unfortunate accident near Sadak Arjun in Gondia district in which some passengers died. I pay my heartfelt respects to the deceased. We share the grief of their families. The people who were injured in this incident may immediately receive treatment in a private hospital if necessary. I have also told the Collector of Gondia to make arrangements to shift them to Nagpur if required. Senior administration officials have reached the spot and are coordinating relief efforts. I pray to God for the speedy recovery of the injured in this incident," he said in a post on X. Location : Gondiya, India First Published: November 29, 2024, 15:30 IST 90-Year-Old Man In Gujarat Loses Rs 1 Crore To Fraudsters Posing As CBI Officers Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 21:56 IST The scammers told the elderly man that a parcel containing drugs had been sent in his name from Mumbai to China, and he was under investigation for money laundering According to the Surat Crime Branch, the fraudsters, in collaboration with a gang in China, placed the man under digital arrest for 15 days. (Representative image) A 90-year-old man in Gujarats Surat lost his entire life savings of over Rs 1 crore after fraudsters posing as CBI officers tricked him into a digital arrest for 15 days. The scammers told the elderly man that a parcel containing drugs had been sent in his name from Mumbai to China, and he was under investigation for money laundering. related stories According to the Surat Crime Branch, the fraudsters, in collaboration with a gang in China, placed the man under digital arrest for 15 days, during which they transferred Rs 1.15 crore from his bank account, NDTV reported. So far, the police have arrested five people in connection with the scam, but the mastermind, Parth Gopani, is still on the run and is suspected to be in Cambodia. According to the police, the incident unfolded when the victim, a stock market trader, received a WhatsApp call from one of the scammers, who introduced himself as a CBI officer. The conmen claimed that 400 grams of MD drugs were found in a parcel sent in his name, and they threatened to arrest him and his family unless he cooperated. They also accused him of money laundering and placed him under digital arrest, instructing him to disclose details about his financial transactions. During this fake interrogation, the scammers transferred large sums of money from his bank accounts. The elderly man, unaware of the fraud, complied with their demands, believing he was under genuine investigation. On October 29, after realising he had been scammed, the victims family filed a complaint with the Surat Cyber Cell, leading to the arrest of five individuals by the police. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Police also seized numerous items during the arrests, including 46 debit cards, 23 cheque books, multiple mobile phones, and rubber stamps from four different firms. Digital arrest is a new cyber fraud in which scammers pose as law enforcement officials, such as CBI or customs officers, and threaten victims with arrest through video calls, claiming involvement in fake international parcels containing banned drugs. Location : Surat, India First Published: November 29, 2024, 21:52 IST A Month Before Arrests, ED Letter Warned Himachal Govt Of Mining Scam, But No Action Taken | Exclusive Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: November 30, 2024, 01:00 IST The directorate, in a letter dated October 11 to the chief secretary of the Himachal Pradesh, explained the situation in the region caused by the illegal mining, the allegations, and their findings in detail, urging the state to initiate action and register FIRs. The state,... Read More The directorate wrote that its investigation uncovered that Rs 1.80 crore in proceeds from illegal mining by Jai Maa Jawala Stone Crusher was used to acquire Garhwal Stone Crusher in Bartha, Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Partners in the venture, including Gian Chand (75%), Sanjay Dhiman (8%), Dharmendra Singh, and Sanjay Sharma, are under scrutiny. Representational image/PTI The ongoing investigation by the Enforcement Directorate into the illegal stone and sand mining case in Himachal Pradeshs Beas Riveracross Una and Kangra districtshas unearthed a web of alleged bribery, shady deals, nighttime operations, and money launderingactivities that experts feel may have fuelled some of the recent natural disasters in the region. With search operations leading to the arrests of Gian Chand and Sanjay Dhiman last week, the investigation has now cracked open a Pandoras box. It has prompted the agency to cast a wider net and probe into the alleged links between the accused Gian Chand, and the chief ministers office, along with some senior Congress leaders. The directorate informed the state government about the alleged illegal mining operations and the bribery nexus through letters in October. related stories The directorate, in a letter dated October 11 to the chief secretary of the state, explained the situation in the region caused by the illegal mining, the allegations, and their findings in detail, urging the state to initiate action and register FIRs. The state, however, did not take action against the accused persons. The ED arrested Gian Chand a month after the letter was sent. Based on an ECIR (Enforcement Case Information Report) registered this year combining six FIRs recorded in Himachal Pradesh in Kangra and Una districts and two FIRs recorded in Uttar Pradeshs Saharanpur and Behat, ED initiated its investigation, following which the directorate stumbled upon a massive trail of illegal mining, an alleged government officers-miners nexus, and hundreds of crores of laundered cash". EDs tell-all letter In the letter, accessed by News 18, the directorate wrote, This (ED) office is conducting a money laundering investigation based on various FIRs registered by different police stations relating to illegal mining in the districts of Kangra and Una in Himachal Pradesh. In these FIRs, it has been alleged that certain tippers, poclains, JCBs and tractors are actively engaged in illegal mining in Una to Kangra districts of Himachal Pradesh." It added that these vehicles were involved in illegally extracting minerals and consequently unlawfully transporting these minerals to stone crushers by overloaded vehicles, thereby generating the proceeds of crime. The said investigation is being conducted by ED in light of the recent increase in natural disasters in Himachal Pradesh and various observations of Honble NGT and other courts," the letter added. The directorate further mentioned that following the recent increase in natural disasters in Himachal Pradesh, a multi-sectoral expert committee was established in September 2023, based on the issue by the Government of Himachal Pradesh under the Disaster Management Act. The objective was to protect the environment and prevent disasters in the Beas river ecosystem, as there is a clear link between these natural disasters and unscientific activities, particularly stone crushers and associated mining operations," ED stated in its letter. Explaining the involvement of Gian Chand in the case, the directorate wrote, The multi-sector committee evaluated the environmental impact of stone crushers and illegal mining activities in various districts of Himachal Pradesh, with a specific focus on the consequences for the riverine ecology of the Beas River and its tributaries. Investigation by ED indicated that multiple entities and particularly M/s Jai Maa Jawala Stone Crusher, owned by Shri Gian Chand, located in Adhwani village, Kangra District is engaged in illegal sand and mineral mining at various places in Kangra and Hamirpur districts including the Beas riverbed." Details about Gian Chands operation In the letter, the directorate provided the government with details of Gian Chands operation, the findings of the central agency, and the documents seized after search operations, urging the state to initiate a case against the accused persons. The directorate wrote that its investigation uncovered that Rs 1.80 crore in proceeds from illegal mining by Jai Maa Jawala Stone Crusher was used to acquire Garhwal Stone Crusher in Bartha, Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Partners in the venture, including Gian Chand (75%), Sanjay Dhiman (8%), Dharmendra Singh, and Sanjay Sharma, are under scrutiny. The agency further stated that their searches, conducted at Garhwal Stone Crusher on October 26, 2024, revealed 7,182 cubic metres (24,822 quintals) of illegally mined crushed material, confirmed by a joint inspection involving ED officials and a local mining inspector. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Seized records show unaccounted transactions of illegally sourced minerals, indicating that Garhwal Stone Crusher was processing illicit riverbed minerals into products like sand, bajri, boulders, and stone dust. These operations were conducted off the books, bypassing mandatory regulations and forms (C-form and EMM-11) of Uttar Pradeshs mining department, ED wrote. News 18 reached out to Himachal Pradeshs Jal Shakti minister Mukesh Agnihotri through calls and text messages. While the minister is yet to respond, Naresh Chauhan, principal media adviser of the states chief minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, told News 18, We are not aware of the particular allegations and the case. We have to collect information and get back." First Published: November 29, 2024, 06:00 IST After Rajasthans 25 Paise Reward, Indore Police Announces 'One Rupee' Bounty For Criminals Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 21:05 IST The two criminals in question, Tabrez Ali and Saurabh alias Bittu, are listed criminals in the Indore police records. The police announced 'one rupee' for each of the two criminals. After a quirky incident from Rajasthan where the police announced a reward of just 25 paise for a wanted criminal, a similar story has emerged from Indore, Madhya Pradesh. This time, the police have announced a reward of one rupee for information leading to the capture of two criminals, and the announcement is quickly going viral on social media. The unusual reward sparked a mix of reactions online, with many finding the situation both puzzling and humourous. The two criminals in question, Tabrez Ali and Saurabh alias Bittu, are listed criminals in the Indore police records and are suspected of committing petty crimes on a regular basis before fleeing the scene. Despite efforts to track them down, the police have been unable to locate them. related stories Indores Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Vinod Meena specifically announced the reward of Re 1 each for information on the whereabouts of the two suspects. According to the police, whoever provides credible information that leads to the arrest of either Tabrez Ali or Bittu will be rewarded with Rs 2 in total one rupee for each criminal. The police are actively seeking help from informers, as they currently have no leads on the suspects locations. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all This move from Indore follows a similar but even more peculiar development in Rajasthans Bharatpur district where the police had announced a reward of 25 paise for information on a wanted criminal, Khubi Ram Jat. The announcement drew attention because the 25 paise coin is no longer in circulation. The police explained that the tiny reward was symbolic, meant to highlight the criminals status rather than the value of the amount itself. Jat, who is wanted for multiple serious charges, including attempted murder and assault, has been evading arrest despite a police case filed against him earlier this year. Location : Indore, India First Published: November 29, 2024, 21:05 IST Alert And Aware: How This Kanpur Couple Got Rs 11 Lakh Back After Losing Money To Cyber Crime Written By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 18:16 IST To initiate the process in the bank, a dispute form was mandatory to submit. The bank then checked the suspicious activity and blocked the account. Pooja and Madhav Mathur from Kanpur fell prey to an online scam, losing a whopping Rs 11 lakh. Digital arrests, online scams have become common and several people have been seen falling prey to them, losing their hard-earned money. However, if you stay vigilant and attentive, you can save your money from fraudsters, just like this Kanpur couple did. Pooja and Madhav Mathur from Kanpur fell prey to an online scam, losing a whopping Rs 11 lakh. The couple received a text message of a bank OTP, notifying a transaction of Rs 50,000 in the wee hours of the morning. Following this, two more similar text message came with different amounts. related stories How The Mathurs Got Their Money Back On checking, the couple realised that the login details of their current bank account in ICICI bank were compromised. After changing the password immediately, they noticed that the transactions were still happening. The scammer not only had access to their bank details but also to the required OTPs. Pooja and Madhav then connected with the bank and informed about the scam. I never open any suspicious link or website on my phone, I dont know how the scammer got my private details," said Madhav. To initiate the process in the bank, a dispute form was mandatory to submit. The bank then checked the suspicious activity and blocked the account. By the time the account got blocked, they had received five OTPs for a total amount of Rs 10.59 lakh. After alerting the bank, they connected with the cyber crime cell-1930, which assisted them in filing a report in the nearest cyber police station with required documents such as order reference numbers, Bank details etc. The scammer strategically spent the money on two mega e-commerce websites, making huge orders ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh, taking the total amount to Rs 11 lakh. The e-commerce websites were contacted and alerted about the scam. The orders were traced via reference numbers, but the source was untraceable. As soon as the orders of expensive gadgets and appliances were blocked, the process of refund was initiated. The complete amount was refunded to the couple within 4-5 working days. This could only happen because the incident was reported immediately as the orders were meant for same day delivery. The cyber cell police informed that the scammer had the best membership of the website and he/she was eligible for same day delivery. The cyber police also said that this scam was well planned as it happened on the bypolls day in the city (November 20) when all the banks were closed and the police forces were busy in election duty. What To Do If You Fall Victim To Such Scams This case is an eye opener for many who can fall prey to such scams. Heres what you should do if you get entangled in such a scam: 1. Contact Your Bank or Card Company: If financial information was compromised, contact the bank to stop payments or freeze accounts. To initiate the action, you must fill a dispute form which is provided by the bank. 2. Report to Authorities: Report the scam to cyber crime cell immediately. 1930 is the central number, then they connect you with the required zone. 112 is the Emergency response number in India 3. Change Passwords and Monitor Accounts: top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Advise the victim to change passwords immediately and monitor financial or online accounts for any unauthorised activity. The key to get yourself out of such scams is not to panic and staying alert. If you are quick to report the scam with required details, tracing can be started immediately. Be alert and be safe. First Published: November 29, 2024, 10:43 IST Bangladesh, Myanmar, China To Be Discussed At DGP-IG Conference Starting Today Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 13:21 IST The conference will be attended by the home minister, principal secretary to the PM, national security adviser, ministers of state (home affairs), DGPs of states/UTs and chiefs of central police organisations, among others As per sources, the session will start with the awarding of the three best police stations in the country by home minister Amit Shah, followed by the declaration of the 10 best police stations. (File) Emerging challenges from Bangladesh and Myanmar, Chinas growing presence in South Asia, and issues related to neighbouring countries will be among the key topics discussed by Indias top security officials during the annual conference of DGsP/IGsP of states/UTs and the heads of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and central police organisations which begins on Friday. Minorities are facing attacks in Bangladesh and Myanmar terror groups are fuelling attacks in Manipur. These two issues would be discussed on priority. related stories The conference will be attended by the home minister, principal secretary to the PM, national security adviser, ministers of state (home affairs), DGPs of states/UTs and chiefs of central police organisations, among others. As per sources, the session will start with the awarding of the three best police stations in the country by home minister Amit Shah, followed by the declaration of the 10 best police stations. The first session will focus on Emerging Security Challenges and Countermeasures Along International Borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar, followed by a discussion. The next session will cover Immigration Issues Role and Response of States, also followed by a discussion. The conference will start at 2 pm and will continue through Sunday in Bhubaneswar. As in previous years, the conference will be held in a hybrid format, with DGPs of states/UTs and heads of CAPFs/CPOs attending in person at the venue in Bhubaneswar, while other senior and cutting-edge level officers will participate virtually. Shah will inaugurate the event, and, as in the past, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend and address the conference on Saturday. Importantly, yoga sessions will also be organised at the venue every day. On Saturday, top security officials will discuss an Overview of the National Security Scenario, which will include a presentation followed by a session on Counter-Terrorism: Changing Contexts and Emerging Contours. On the final day, discussions will focus on Chinas Growing Presence in South Asia: Implications for India and The Security Situation in Our Neighbourhood: Impact on India. The Conference will provide an interactive platform for senior police professionals and security administrators in the country to freely discuss and debate diverse national security-related issues, as well as various operational, infrastructural, and welfare-related problems faced by the police in India. Its deliberations will include the formulation and sharing of professional practices and processes for tackling challenges related to crime control, law and order management, and internal security threats," the MHA said in a press release. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The ministry also said that the PM not only listens attentively to all contributions, but also fosters an environment of open and informal discussions, allowing for the emergence of new ideas. This year, some unique features have also been added to the conference. The entire day is being effectively utilised starting from the yoga session, business session, break-out sessions and thematic dining tables," the press release says. The PM has encouraged the annual DGsP/IGsP Conference to be organised all across the country, since 2014. The conference has been held in Guwahati (Assam), Rann of Kachchh (Gujarat), Hyderabad (Telangana), Tekanpur (Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh), Statue of Unity (Kevadiya, Gujarat), Pune (Maharashtra), Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), New Delhi and Jaipur (Rajasthan). Continuing with this tradition, the 59th DGsP/IGsP Conference 2024 is being organised in Bhubaneswar (Odisha). First Published: November 29, 2024, 13:19 IST 'Broken Relationships' Don't Automatically Amount To Abetment Of Suicide, Says Supreme Court Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 19:12 IST A Supreme Court bench said broken relationships were emotionally distressing, but did not automatically amount to criminal offences. The Supreme Court overturned the Karnataka HC conviction of Kamaruddin Sanadi, who was charged with cheating, rape and abetment to suicide. (File) Broken relationships, while emotionally distressing, do not automatically amount to abetment of suicide in the absence of intention leading to the criminal offence, the Supreme Court on Friday said. The observations came from a bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and Ujjal Bhuyan in a judgement, which overturned the conviction of one Kamaruddin Dastagir Sanadi by the Karnataka High Court for the offences of cheating and abetment of suicide under the IPC. related stories This is a case of a broken relationship, not criminal conduct," the judgment said. Sanadi was initially charged under Sections 417 (cheating), 306 (abetment of suicide), and 376 (rape) of the IPC. While the trial court acquitted him of all the charges, the Karnataka High Court, on the states appeal, convicted him of cheating and abetment of suicide, sentencing him to five years imprisonment and imposing Rs 25,000 in fine. According to the FIR registered at the mothers instance, her 21-year-old daughter was in love with the accused for the past eight years and died by suicide in August, 2007, after he refused to keep his promise to marry. Writing a 17-page judgement, Justice Mithal analysed the two dying declarations of the woman and noted that neither was there any allegation of a physical relationship between the couple nor there was any intentional act leading to the suicide. The judgement therefore underlined broken relationships were emotionally distressing, but did not automatically amount to criminal offences. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Even in cases where the victim dies by suicide, which may be as a result of cruelty meted out to her, the courts have always held that discord and differences in domestic life are quite common in society and that the commission of such an offence largely depends upon the mental state of the victim," said the apex court. The court further said, Surely, until and unless some guilty intention on the part of the accused is established, it is ordinarily not possible to convict him for an offence under Section 306 IPC." The judgement said there was no evidence to suggest that the man instigated or provoked the woman to die by suicide and underscored a mere refusal to marry, even after a long relationship, did not constitute abetment. First Published: November 29, 2024, 19:09 IST Women Under Surveillance Through Drones, Cameras At Corbett Tiger Reserve: Study Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 10:15 IST A Cambridge study has revealed that surveillance tools like drones and camera traps at Uttarakhand's Corbett Tiger Reserve are being misused to monitor women without consent. Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand (Photo: AP) Sound recorders, camera traps and drones are being used to keep watch on women without their consent at Uttarakhands Corbett Tiger Reserve, researchers at Cambridge University have found. According to the report, Cambridge researcher Dr Trishant Simlai spent 14 months interviewing 270 locals living around the reserve and found that forest rangers in the national park deliberately fly drones over local women to frighten them out of the forest. related stories In some cases, this was also being done to stop them from collecting natural resources. During his research, women told Simlai that they felt being watched and inhibited by cameras and hence talk and sing much softly, the report stated. In one instance, an autistic woman who had gone to relieve herself was captured by camera traps. Her video was uploaded on social media and shared via WhatsApp, the report stated. Another woman, according to the report, told Simlai that she could not walk in front of the cameras or sit in the area because she was afraid that she could get photographed or recorded in a wrong way. The study also revealed many women and others were being recorded without their knowledge. Following his research, Simlai told news agency AFP, For women living in villages around the reserve, the forest has long been a space for freedom and expression away from the men in a heavily conservative and patriarchal society." Meanwhile, the study also quoted a forest ranger revealing that a camera once pictured a couple involved in objectionable activities in the forest, which was then immediately reported to the police. It was also reported that many women, to escape being recorded, were roaming farther into the forest range, which has the highest density of tigers in the world. JIM CORBETT NATIONAL PARK The Jim Corbett National Park is a part of the largest Corbett Tiger Reserve in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. The majestic landscape of Corbett is well-known for its tiger richness. Established in the year 1936 as Hailey National Park, Corbett has the glory of being Indias oldest and most prestigious National Park. It was also honoured as the place where Project Tiger was first launched in the year 1973. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Jim Corbett National Park is also a popular tourist destination for those who love exploring jungles and wildlife. The park has been divided into six major tourism zones Bijrani Safari Zone, Jhirna Safari Zone, Dhela Safari Zone, Dhikala Zone, Durga Devi Zone, and Sitabani Buffer Zone, which are the manifested core or buffer areas of the park. First Published: November 29, 2024, 07:46 IST Cyclone Fengal: Red Alert Issued For Tamil Nadu, Puducherry; Landfall Likely Today Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 30, 2024, 00:12 IST Fengal Cyclone Updates: The cyclonic storm, named 'Fengal', is likely to make a landfall on November 30 afternoon close to Puducherry with a wind speed, gusting upto 90 kmph. Fishermen move a boat away from the sea amidst an advisory issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) not to venture into the sea (PTI) The deep depression brewing over the Southwest Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm Fengal on Friday afternoon as it nears the northern Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts, said India Meteorological Department (IMD). As per the weather agency, the storm is likely to make a landfall on Saturday afternoon, close to Puducherry, with wind speed upto 90 kmph. The storm is likely to move west-northwestwards and cross north Tamil Nadu Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram close to Puducherry as a cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph by Saturday afternoon. related stories Follow Cyclone Fengal LIVE Updates IMD Issues Red Alert The IMD also issued a red alert predicting very heavy rain to extremely heavy rain at one or two places in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Villuppuram, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore districts and Puducherry on Saturday. It further predicted heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places over Ranipet, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam districts and Karaikal area. The Cyclonic Storm FENGAL" [pronounced as FEINJAL] over Southwest Bay of Bengal moved northwestwards with a speed of 15 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centred at 1730 hours IST of today, the 29th November 2024 over the same region near latitude 11.5N and longitude 81.9E, pic.twitter.com/La3VSSE6Uw India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) November 29, 2024 According to the weather agency, the system is expected to cross the north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram region as a cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 70-80 kmph, gusting to 90 kmph during November 30 afternoon. The Puducherry Port further raised storm warning signal number 7 as the strom is set to make landfall tomorrow evening as per the IMD. According to an IMD update as of 8.40 pm on Friday, Fengal was about 240 km east-northeast of Nagappattinam, 230 km east-southeast of Puducherry and 250 km southeast of Chennai. It is likely to move west-northwestwards and cross north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram close to Puducherry as a cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph during the afternoon 30th November." On December 1, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in interior Tamil Nadu, and on December 2 and 3, heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in the state. Meanwhile, in wake of the cyclonic storm, President Droupadi Murmus visit to Tiruvarur Central University has been cancelled. At Least 13 Flights Cancelled As many as 13 flights to and from Chennai were cancelled on Friday, citing bad weather and operational reasons. After the formation of cyclonic storm was confirmed by the IMD, two more IndiGo flights one from Chennai to Mangaluru and another from Chennai to Trichy were cancelled, as reported by TOI. Balachandran, Chennai Regional Meteorological Head, said, The system lies about 350 km southeast of Puducherry and is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm in the next few hours. It is expected to cross between Karaikal and Puducherry by noon on November 30. We expect wind speeds of 70-80 mph, with gusts reaching 90-100 kmph at the time of crossing." Cyclonic Storm Fengal over Southwest Bay of Bengal: Cyclone warning for NorthTamil Nadu-Puducherry and adjoining South Andhra Pradesh Coasts:Red Message pic.twitter.com/5MpKDoLAPP Tamilnadu Weather-IMD (@ChennaiRmc) November 29, 2024 Fishermen Issued Advisory In Wake Of Fengals Landfall The system is projected to make landfall between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram, near Puducherry, by the morning of November 30. Upon landfall, the system will bring strong winds, along with heavy rainfall in the coastal regions. Authorities have issued warnings for fishermen and coastal residents to remain cautious. Coastal districts in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, especially around Karaikal and Puducherry, are expected to experience rainfall, strong winds, and rough seas as the system approaches. #CycloneFengal | The Cyclone is currently situated in the Bay of Bengal, is expected to move west-northwest and cross the coast near Puducherry tomorrow (30.11.2024) around noon. During this time, wind speeds are expected to reach 70-80 km/h, with gusts of up to 90 km/h: ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2024 Schools, Colleges Shut In Tamil Nadu, Puducherry Meanwhile, the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) has announced that all schools and colleges in Chennai, Thiruvallur, Kanchipuram, and Chengalpattu districts will remain closed on Saturday due to the ongoing weather conditions. Additionally, it has instructed that no special classes or examinations are to be held during this period. The Tamil Nadu Revenue and Disaster Management Department has set up 2,229 relief centers in areas under heavy rain warning. As of now, a total of 471 people belonging to 164 families have been accommodated in six relief centres in Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts. Complying with an advisory, 4,153 boats have returned to the shore and 2,229 relief camps were ready for use if needed, the state government said. Work-From-Home Advisory For IT Companies The Department of Information and Public Relations has issued a statement in which IT companies have been urged to allow their employees to work from home on Saturday. Public transport services on the East Coast Road (ECR) and Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) will be temporarily suspended in the afternoon on Saturday as the cyclone makes landfall," it said. Earlier on Thursday, Cyclone Fengal caused significant damage to paddy crops in Tamil Nadus Nagapattinam district, where over 800 acres of crops were submerged, causing distress to farmers. Affected areas include Kamashwaram, Virundhamavadi, Pudupalli, Vedrappu, Vanamadevi, Vallapallam, Kallimedu, Eeravayal, and Chemboadi. A senior IMD official mentioned that moderate rainfall is expected to spread across most parts of Tamil Nadu, with fairly widespread rainfall anticipated. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Indian Navy has activated a comprehensive disaster response plan in preparation for Cyclone Fengals intensification. The Eastern Naval Command, in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Naval Area (HQTN&P), has implemented a robust disaster response strategy, focusing on humanitarian assistance, disaster relief (HADR), and search and rescue (SAR) operations. Naval personnel are working closely with state and civil authorities to ensure rapid response capabilities. Relief materials, including food, water, and medicines, are being dispatched, and specialized Flood Relief Teams (FRTs) are being deployed in vulnerable areas. (With inputs from agencies) First Published: November 29, 2024, 10:53 IST Delhi Residents To Face Heavy Penalties As Traffic Police Crack Down On Illegal Parking, Speeding Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 14:37 IST Official figures reveal that the Delhi Traffic Police has issued over 4.79 lakh challans for illegal parking this year. Thousands of motorists will soon face heavy financial penalties for their disregard of traffic laws. The Delhi Police has ramped up efforts to maintain order on the citys roads, addressing key traffic violations such as illegal parking, wrong-way driving, speeding, violating railway signals. Despite extensive awareness campaigns and repeated warnings, many Delhi residents continue to flout traffic rules, leading to a significant increase in fines and penalties. As a result, thousands of motorists will soon face heavy financial penalties for their disregard of traffic laws. Over 4.7 Lakh Challans Issued for Illegal Parking related stories Official figures reveal that the Delhi Traffic Police has issued over 4.79 lakh challans for illegal parking this year. In addition, more than 10 lakh notices have been sent out regarding improper parking. Between October 1 and November 22 alone, 62,042 challans and over one lakh notices were issued for parking violations. The fine for illegal parking is 500 per offence, meaning that the total amount to be collected from these violations is expected to exceed Rs 24 crore. Crackdown on Wrong-Way Driving and Lane Violations The Delhi Police has also taken strong action against motorists violating lane discipline. So far, 4,634 vehicles have been penalised for not following the designated lanes. The fines for these violations are Rs 1,000 for private vehicles and Rs 10,000 for commercial vehicles. Additionally, the police have issued 98,929 challans for driving in the wrong direction, with each offence attracting a hefty fine of Rs 5,000. Towing and Additional Penalties for Parking Violations To further enforce traffic regulations, the Delhi Police has towed away 1.73 lakh vehicles this year due to illegal parking. Two-wheelers face a towing fee of Rs 200, while cars and jeeps are charged Rs 400. In addition to parking violations, 1.29 lakh vehicles, including commercial and passenger vehicles, have been penalised for breaching no-entry and restricted time rules, with fines of up to Rs 20,000 per vehicle. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A Stark Reminder: Pay the Price for Traffic Offences As the Delhi Police continues its crackdown on traffic violators, the financial consequences for those breaking the law are becoming clearer. With millions of fines and notices already issued, the police are set to recover a substantial sum. Delhiites are now facing a hard lesson: ignoring traffic rules will not only disrupt the flow of the citys roads but also come at a significant cost. First Published: November 29, 2024, 14:37 IST Lord Ram's Wedding Procession To Arrive In Janakpur On This Day; 40 Pandits To Perform Ceremony Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 16:04 IST Ram Vivah: In a unique celebration, 40 Vedic Brahmins from Tirupati have been invited to perform the sacred marriage of Sita and Ram in Janakpur Dham, making this event even more special This is the first time such a grand celebration of Lord Ram and Mata Sita's wedding is being held, after the Pran Pratishtha at Ayodhya's Ram Temple. (Local18) There is a lot of buzz around Lord Ram and Mata Sitas wedding from Uttar Pradeshs Ayodhya to Janakpur in Nepal. Every year, on the fifth day of the Margashirsha month, devotees celebrate Vivah Panchami, the day of the divine wedding. Thousands of temples across the nation celebrate this day with great devotion. The Barat of Lord Ram has departed for Janakpur to marry Goddess Sita, with great pomp and show. Around 500 devotees from Ayodhya, who have come from various corners of the country, have set out for Janakpur Dham as baraatis in the wedding of Lord Ram. The wedding procession is expected to reach Janakpur Dham on December 3, where the people of Janakpur will also welcome the procession. related stories This is the first time such a grand celebration of Lord Ram and Mata Sitas wedding is being held, after the Pran Pratishtha at Ayodhyas Ram Temple. Forty Vedic Brahmins from Tirupati will be performing the marriage of Sita-Ram in Janakpur Dham. These Vedic Brahmins will directly reach Janakpur to conduct the marriage rituals. The preparations for the marriage from Ayodhya to Janakpur are such magical that they evoke memories of the Ram Barat from the Treta Yuga. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Rajendra Singh Pankaj, Central Minister of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, shared that for the marriage of Lord Ram, the procession has left for Janakpur Dham from Ayodhya on four chariots. Lord Shri Ram and his brothers will travel on two chariots, while another chariot will carry water from 51 major pilgrimage sites across India and Nepal. After the wedding, Lord Sita-Ram will be anointed with this sacred water. According to reports, 111,111 laddus have also arrived in Ayodhya from the Mahakaleshwar temple in Madhya Pradesh, sent by the Chief Minister of the state. These laddus will be distributed among the devotees as prasad after the marriage of Lord Sita-Ram. Additionally, about 40 Vedic Brahmins from Tirupati will perform the marriage ceremony in Janakpur Dham. Location : Ayodhya, India First Published: November 29, 2024, 16:04 IST Man Kills Vlogger Girlfriend In Bengaluru, Then Spends 2 Days With The Body; Arrested Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 18:12 IST The accused boyfriend was held outside Karnataka, indicating that he fled from the state after killing his girlfriend. Maya Gogoi's body was found in the service apartment, which she had reportedly booked with her boyfriend, Aarav Harni. (File) The Bengaluru Police on Friday arrested the suspect boyfriend Aarav Hanoy, who allegedly stabbed his Assamese girlfriend to death and spent two days with the corpse in the rented apartment in Bengaluru earlier this week. We have secured the accused, and he has been brought to Bengaluru. We are currently interrogating him," D Devaraja, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru (East) said. As per the police, the accused boyfriend was held outside Karnataka, indicating that he fled from the state after killing his girlfriend. related stories A young woman, Maya Gogoi, a native of Assam, was found dead in a service apartment in Bengalurus Indiranagar locality on Tuesday. The decomposed body the woman was found in the apartment which she had reportedly booked with her boyfriend. The police suspect that Hanoy, a native of Keralas Kannur, had killed Maya on November 24 by stabbing her multiple times and stayed with the body for two days before walking out of the rented apartment. The police probe revealed that most of the time he was just smoking cigarettes while sitting in front of the corpse. The accused after boarding a taxi from the service apartment, had reached the Majestic area located in the Central Business District of Bengaluru and turned off his phone after that. a senior police officer stated, Both of them entered the lodge (service apartment) on November 23 at 12.28 pm. The suspect left the lodge on Tuesday, November 26, at 8.19 am." After leaving the apartment, Hanoy went to a nearby area and turned off his mobile phone, the official said. A case under sections 103 (murder) and 238 (causing disappearance of evidence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been registered, police added. The probe further revealed that the accused stabbed the victim on the chest with an old knife, and had even purchased a nylon rope online to asphyxiate her, suggesting that the decision to kill her was pre-planned. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Gogoi was working as a counsellor for a private company and lived in the HSR Layout area in the metropolis. She had joined the private firm in Jayanagar about 20 days ago had come to Bengaluru six months ago. Since then, she had been living with her sister and a friend at an apartment in Whitefield area. The police had formed two teams to nab the accused. First Published: November 29, 2024, 17:29 IST 'Concerned Over Surge In Extremist Rhetoric': India On Violence In Bangladesh Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 16:42 IST The Ministry of External Affairs said the rise in extremist rhetoric and violence cannot be dismissed as media exaggeration. Protests have erupted in Bangladesh over the arrest of Hindu priest Krishna Prabhu Das. (AP/File) The Ministry of External Affairs expressed concern over the ongoing violence against the Hindu community in Bangladesh and stressed that the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities. Responding to a question, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, India has consistently and strongly raised with the Bangladesh government the threats and targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities. Our position on the matter is clear the interim government must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities." related stories #WATCH | Delhi: On Bangladesh situation, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, India has consistently and strongly raised with the Bangladesh government the threats and targetted attacks on Hindus and other minorities The interim government must live up to its responsibility pic.twitter.com/Z9hHp6g6U1 ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2024 Jaiswal further said that the increasing violent incidents and provocation cannot be dismissed only as media exaggeration. His remarks came after ISKCON Priest Chinmoy Krishna, also known as Krishna Prabhu Das, was taken into custody on charges of sedition for allegedly raising a flag on a stand displaying Bangladeshs national flag. The arrest has sparked widespread outrage. ISKCON Is Globally Well-Regarded Organisation: MEA The ministry further said the ISKCON is a globally well-regarded organisation with a strong record of social service" and called upon Bangladesh to take all steps for the protection of minorities. Regarding the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna, Jaiswal said all legal processes are underway. We expect that these processes will deal with the case in a just, fair and transparent manner, ensuring full respect for the legal rights of all concerned," he added. The External Affairs Ministry also said the supply of commodities from India to Bangladesh continues despite the ongoing violence appearing to impact bilateral relations, which have already strained following Sheikh Hasinas ouster. Jaiswal said India continues to raise the matter of protecting the minorities with Bangladeshs interim government. Jaishankars Written Reply To Parliament Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar submitted a written reply in the Lok Sabha, where he stressed that the responsibility for the protection of life and liberty of all citizens of Bangladesh, including minorities, rests with the Government of Bangladesh. Government have seen several reports of incidents of violence against Hindus and other minorities, their homes and business establishments and of attacks on temples/ religious places, including in the month of August 2024, across Bangladesh. Government have taken serious note of these incidents and shared its concerns with the Government of Bangladesh," he said in his reply. Jaishankar said India had expressed serious concerns over an attack on a Puja mandap in Dhaka and a theft at another temple in Satkhira during Durga Puja, following which Bangladesh issued instructions for providing special security to ensure peaceful celebrations of Durga Puja. EAM S Jaishankar tells Lok Sabha :Government have seen several reports of incidents of violence against Hindus and other minorities, their homes and business establishments and of attacks on temples/ religious places, including in the month of August 2024, across Bangladesh. pic.twitter.com/OwvoWmjXwC ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2024 The High Commission of India in Dhaka continues to monitor the situation related to the minorities in Bangladesh closely. The primary 3 responsibility for the protection of life and liberty of all citizens of Bangladesh, including minorities, rests with the Government of Bangladesh," he added. Jaishankar will soon address a parliamentary panel on Indias neighbours, including Bangladesh. Whats Happening In Bangladesh? The recent arrest of the ISKCON priest has sparked global outrage, with foreign diplomats condemning the attacks on Hindus. The situation worsened when Saiful Islam Alif, a lawyer, was hacked to death as thousands protested against Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhus arrest, who was later denied bail. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Moreover, a petition was filed to ban ISKCON from Bangladesh, saying it was a radical organisation" which promoted communal hatred. The petition was rejected by the Bangladesh High Court, saying the government authorities have taken necessary measures. Despite this, protests calling for a ban on the ISKCON continued as people linked to the Hefazat-e-Islam gathered outside the Bitul Mukarram Mosque in Dhaka on Friday and sloganeered amid police presence. The Hindu community has repeatedly suffered incidents of vandalism, looting, arson, land grabbing, and threats to leave the country since the student protests against the Hasina regime and particularly after the interim government was sworn in on August 8 under the leadership of Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus. First Published: November 29, 2024, 15:57 IST Mother Kills 2-Year-Old In UP After Toddler Becomes An Obstacle To Her Illicit Affair Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 19:14 IST Police learned that Anam had been involved in an illicit relationship with another man, and the child had become an obstacle to her affair. A mother was arrested for murdering her toddler. (Image for representation) In a heart-wrenching and disturbing incident, a mother in Uttar Pradeshs Bareilly was arrested for the brutal killing of her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter. The shocking revelation, which unfolded over several days, left the community reeling. The tragic event took place on November 21, but the true nature of the incident only came to light five days later. Initially, the childs father, Murshid, believed that his daughter had accidentally slipped and fallen from a height. However, the shocking truth emerged after Murshid reviewed CCTV footage of the area on November 26. The footage revealed that the childs death was no accident. In the video, the mother, identified as Anam, was seen throwing her daughter from a height, leading to the childs fatal injuries. This horrifying discovery prompted Murshid to file a police complaint, leading to a murder case being registered against Anam. related stories Further investigation uncovered a grim motive behind the crime. The police learned that Anam had been involved in an illicit relationship with another man, and the child had become an obstacle to her affair. In a tragic turn of events, Anam allegedly took drastic action to eliminate what she saw as an inconvenience in her personal life. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Although the childs body had already been buried, following Anams arrest, authorities decided to exhume the body to conduct a proper investigation. This action was taken to ensure that all forensic evidence could be gathered to support the ongoing case. The incident shocked the local community, with many grappling with the brutality of a mothers actions. As the investigation continues, the authorities are working to uncover all details surrounding this tragic event and bring justice to the innocent child. Location : Bareilly, India First Published: November 29, 2024, 19:14 IST 'Quarrels Alone Dont Prove Mental Cruelty': Allahabad High Court Denies Divorce Reported By : LawBeat Last Updated: November 30, 2024, 00:20 IST The court held that the husband had failed to demonstrate that he could no longer live with his wife due to acute emotional distress The court concluded that the husband had not demonstrated sufficient grounds to justify the dissolution of the marriage and, accordingly, dismissed the husband's appeal. (File image/Getty) The Allahabad High Court recently rejected a husbands plea for divorce, stating that allegations of his wife quarrelling without reason were insufficient to establish the mental pain, agony, and suffering required to justify the dissolution of marriage. The court held that the husband had failed to demonstrate that he could no longer live with his wife due to acute emotional distress. related stories The case involved a husbands appeal against a family courts rejection of his petition under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. The appellant, a government doctor, sought to divorce his wife, citing both mental and physical cruelty. He claimed that their marriage, which took place in 2015, was conducted under duress, and after the wedding, he faced numerous accusations from his wife, including defamatory claims of immoral conduct. The husband also alleged physical abuse and blackmail, accusing his wife of manipulating images to extort him. However, the High Court found that the husbands claims were not substantial enough to meet the legal threshold for cruelty. A bench comprising Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Om Prakash Shukla stated that the appellants allegations were nothing more than the normal wear and tear in married life". The court emphasised that accusations of quarrelling without reason and other minor disputes do not qualify as mental cruelty. The allegations that she was quarrelling with him without any reason, in the considered view of this Court, are not sufficient to form an opinion that the appellant/husband is undergoing acute mental pain, agony, suffering, disappointment and frustration and therefore it is not possible for him to live in the company of the respondent/wife," said the bench. The appellants plea was further undermined as the court found that his allegations were vague and lacked the necessary evidence to prove that his wifes actions caused him severe mental anguish. The court noted that his complaints, such as being restricted from meeting his parents and friends, and the accusation of his wife lodging frivolous police complaints, were not serious enough to constitute cruelty. The couple lived together for around six years and the appellant-husband could not bring on record specific instances of mental harassment to enable this Court to adjudicate the case of mental cruelty in favour of the appellant/husband," said the court. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The High Court also took issue with the appellants failure to prove that the complaints filed by his wife were false or malicious, which is a critical component in proving cruelty under the law. The court concluded that the husband had not demonstrated sufficient grounds to justify the dissolution of the marriage and, accordingly, dismissed the husbands appeal. First Published: November 30, 2024, 00:20 IST Rs 1 Lakh Fake Visa Scandal Uncovered At Delhi Airport, 2 Arrested Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 13:27 IST In preparation for his flight, Kanwaljit had removed the fake visa from his passport, which led to his detention. Immigration officers at Delhi airport noticed something unusual on Kanwaljit's passport. (Representative/File Photo) A seemingly innocent trip to Bangkok turned into a major scandal at Delhis Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, after a suspicious passport caught the attention of immigration officials. What started as a simple travel plan quickly spiraled into a complex web of deception, fake visas, and a Rs 1 lakh deal that ultimately led to multiple arrests. The plot began when Kanwaljit, the man at the centre of this story, was promised a trip to Greece for Rs 1 lakh. The mastermind behind this scheme was Rahul Arora, a resident of Amritsar in Punjab, who had a well-laid plan to send Kanwaljit abroad. According to the arrangement, Kanwaljit was instructed to first travel to Bangkok, where he would stay for a few days before continuing on to Greece. The deal seemed straightforward and was set into motion with Kanwaljits booking on a SpiceJet flight (SG-087) to Bangkok on the evening of November 20. related stories With Bangkok offering visa-on-arrival facilities, Kanwaljit faced no visa-related issues initially. However, fate took a sharp turn when he reached the Bureau of Immigration counter at IGI Airport, ready for his flight to Thailand. A Suspicious Passport Reveals the Scam While going through document scrutiny, immigration officers noticed something unusual on page 11 of Kanwaljits passport. The page appeared to have marks of glue residue, suggesting that a visa sticker had been deliberately removed. Upon closer inspection, it became clear that this was no ordinary wear and tear it seemed like a Greece visa had been tampered with, possibly removed in a deliberate act. When questioned by the immigration officer about the damaged page, Kanwaljit failed to provide a satisfactory explanation. His inability to clarify the issue raised suspicion, and he was immediately detained for further investigation. As the investigation unfolded, Kanwaljit revealed that he had been introduced to Rahul through his cousin. Rahul had promised him a ticket to Greece in exchange for Rs 1 lakh and had arranged a fake Greece visa, which he had initially pasted into Kanwaljits passport. However, when it was discovered that the Greece visa was counterfeit, Rahul restructured the plan, suggesting a new route via Bangkok before ultimately reaching Greece. In preparation for his flight, Kanwaljit had removed the fake visa from his passport, which led to his detention. Based on Kanwaljits confession, the IGI Airport Police registered a case under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Passport Act, including Section 318(4), 336(3), and 340(2). Authorities then launched a manhunt for Rahul Arora, the key figure behind this fake visa racket. A team led by SHO Sushil Goyal, including sub-inspector Pratima and constable Pradeep, was dispatched to Amritsar to track down Rahul. After an extensive search, Rahul Arora was arrested from his hometown. During questioning, Rahul admitted to his involvement in the fake visa and ticket racket. He revealed that he had been in the business for several years, having first encountered agents dealing in counterfeit visas. Lured by the promise of quick money, Rahul had become a part of the illicit trade. A Network of Fake Visas top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Further investigations suggested that Rahul Arora had been running an extensive operation, arranging fake visas and air tickets for individuals willing to pay for fraudulent travel documents. The arrested mans involvement in the racket highlights a growing trend of illegal activities at airports, particularly concerning the use of forged visas. As the investigation continues, authorities are working to uncover the full scale of the network involved in the fake visa trade, aiming to put a stop to such criminal activities that undermine the integrity of travel systems. First Published: November 29, 2024, 13:27 IST 'We've To Be Neutral': Supreme Court Sends Sambhal Case To HC, Pauses Trial Court Proceedings Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 14:19 IST The Supreme Court has urged the trial court to halt the survey of Sambhal's Shahi Jama Masjid until the Allahabad High Court issues appropriate orders. RAF personnel guard in a violence-hit area a day after clashes and stone pelting incidents over the survey of the Jama mosque, in Sambhal (Photo: PTI) The Supreme Court on Friday paused trial court proceedings in connection with the survey of Sambhals Shahi Jama Masjid until January 8 and said it hoped and trusted that the trial court will not proceed with the survey until appropriate orders are passed by the Allahabad High Court. The courts order came a day after the management committee of Sambhals Shahi Jama Masjid moved the Supreme Court on Thursday, challenging the November 19 order of a district court, which directed a survey of the Mughal-era mosque. related stories We hope and trust the trial court will not further proceed till the High Court passes appropriate orders," the court said. Till the matter is listed before the High Court, any further proceedings will be in terms of the order passed. We have not expressed any opinion on the merits of the matter. Parties may move the application if required," the order by a bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar stated. We dont want to say anything at this stage. We will keep it pending. But please see that peace and harmony is maintained. We have to be absolutely neutral," the bench added. Disallowing the trial court to take any steps until January 8, the court said, No further steps in the suit without the permission of the High Court. The trial court will not take any steps until January 8." Meanwhile, a video shared by news agency ANI showed devotees gathering at Shahi Jama Masjid to offer Friday prayers. #WATCH | Sambhal, UP | Devotees begin to gather at Shahi Jama Masjid to offer Friday prayers.Supreme Court today asked the Sambhal trial court not to proceed in the suit against the Shahi Jama Masjid, till the petition filed by the Masjid Committee against the survey order is pic.twitter.com/Cv2HFuMpRV ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2024 SAMBHAL CASE: WHAT DID THE PLEA MENTION? The plea in the Sambhal mosque survey case sought an ex-parte stay on the operation of the November 19 order passed by the civil judge. The hot haste in which the survey was allowed and conducted all within a day and suddenly another survey was conducted with a notice of barely six hours has given rise to widespread communal tensions and threatens the secular and democratic fabric of the nation," the plea mentioned. It claimed that the manner in which the survey was ordered in this and many other cases will have an immediate impact on the number of cases recently filed across the country concerning places of worship where such orders will have a tendency to inflame communal passions, cause law and order problems and damage the secular fabric of the country. It also sought a direction that the report of the survey commissioner be kept in a sealed cover and the status quo be maintained in the Sambhal mosque until the matter is decided. The plea sought the apex courts direction to the effect that surveys should not be ordered and executed as a matter of course in cases involving disputes over places of worship without hearing all parties, and allowing sufficient time for the aggrieved persons to seek judicial remedies against the order of survey. It mentioned that the Shahi Jama Masjid at Chandausi in Sambhal has been standing since the 16th century and has been in continuous use by the Muslims as a place of worship. LEADERS REACT On the Supreme Court asking the Uttar Pradesh government to maintain peace and harmony in Sambhal, Deputy Chief Minister KP Maurya says, The government follows the orders given by the Supreme Court." Samajwadi Party does the work to violate the Supreme Court orders. I advise goons and rioters of the Samajwadi Party to not disturb the atmosphere else their party will sink," he said. #WATCH | On SC asking UP govt to maintain peace and harmony in Sambhal, UP Dy CM KP Maurya says, The government follows the orders given by the Supreme Court. Samajwadi Party does the work to violate the SC orders. I advise goons and rioters of the Samajwadi Party to not disturb pic.twitter.com/NZru0Zcvct ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2024 The other Deputy Chief Minister, Brajesh Pathak said, We respect the Supreme Court order and work accordingly. We will not let anyone take the law into their hands, maintain law and order and conduct an unbiased investigation." #WATCH | Delhi | On SC asking UP govt to maintain peace and harmony in Sambhal, UP Dy CM Brajesh Pathak says, We respect the Supreme Court order and work accordingly. We will not let anyone take the law into their hands, maintain law and order and conduct an unbiased pic.twitter.com/PPK1XGAzV4 ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2024 Talking to the media, Samajwadi Party MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq said, We appreciate the decision given by the Supreme Court. It (proceedings) has been postponed and the report has been asked to be kept in a sealed cover. We will file a petition in the Supreme Court that the investigation (into Sambhal violence) should be done under the supervision of a sitting Supreme Court judge. The officers should be removed and suspended." Party MP Awadesh Prasad said, The Supreme Court has given a good decision in the interest of the nation. The people of the nation should welcome it." WHAT HAPPENED IN SAMBHAL? Tension has been brewing in Uttar Pradeshs Sambhal since November 19 when the court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid was carried out following claims that a Harihar temple previously stood at the site. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Violence erupted on November 24 as protesters gathered near the mosque and clashed with security personnel, leading to stone pelting and arson. Five people died and several others were injured in the violence. First Published: November 29, 2024, 12:34 IST Security Agencies Should Focus On Emerging Challenges Along Eastern Border: Amit Shah Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 22:57 IST Home minister's statement bears significance as India's eastern neighbour Bangladesh has seen unrest following the ouster of its then prime minister Sheikh Hasina Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah. (PTI file photo) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said security agencies should focus on emerging security challenges along the eastern border, immigration and trends in urban policing. Inaugurating the annual DGPs/IGPs conference here, which will discuss a host of emerging national security challenges, including counter-terrorism and left-wing extremism, Shah also congratulated the police leadership for the smooth conduct of the 2024 general elections and the seamless rollout of the three new criminal laws. related stories The focus should be on emerging security challenges along the eastern border, immigration and trends in urban policing, Shah was quoted as saying in an official release. The home ministers statement bears significance as Indias eastern neighbour Bangladesh has seen unrest following the ouster of its then prime minister Sheikh Hasina and an interim administration taking charge in August. There have been reports of attacks on Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh, an issue New Delhi has raised strongly with Dhaka. Shah expressed satisfaction at the significant achievements leading to improvement in the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the northeast and states affected by left-wing extremism. The home minister said the three new criminal laws have transformed the ethos of the countrys criminal justice system from punishment-oriented to justice-oriented. He emphasised that the spirit of the new laws is rooted in Indian tradition. Shah also called for taking the initiative towards a zero-tolerance strategy against terrorism. Under the leadership of PM Modi, Bharat is building its police force as an apparatus capable of both securing the nation against new-age challenges and addressing the root causes of crime and terrorism. The DGPs/IGPs conference serves as a knowledge-sharing platform to fortify policing in every state through collaboration," he said. The 59th three-day DGPs/IGPs conference will also be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and provide a platform for senior police officers to freely discuss and debate diverse national security-related issues besides various operational, infrastructural and welfare-related problems faced by the police. In the next two days of the conference, the top brass of police leadership would chalk out a roadmap to counter existing and emerging national security challenges, including left-wing extremism, coastal security, narcotics, cybercrime and economic security. The Prime Ministers Office said the three-day conference will include deliberations on critical components of national security, including counter-terrorism, left-wing extremism, coastal security, new criminal laws and narcotics. Its deliberations will include formulation and sharing of professional practices and processes in tackling challenges relating to crime control and law-and-order management, besides internal security threats. The prime minister not only listens attentively to all contributions but also fosters an environment of open and informal discussions, allowing for the emergence of new ideas. This year, some unique features have also been added to the conference. The entire day is being effectively utilised starting from a yoga session, business session, break-out sessions and thematic dining tables," the PMO said in a statement. This will also provide senior police officials with a valuable opportunity to present their perspectives and suggestions to PM Modi on critical policing and internal security matters that impact the country, it added. The prime minister will be present for the remaining two days of the conference and deliver the concluding address on Sunday. Around 250 officers in the rank of DGP and IGP will physically attend the conference while more than 200 others are participating in it virtually. Sources said many officers have been tasked with delivering presentations on specific subjects such as counter-terrorism, online fraud, cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, activities of pro-Khalistani groups and left-wing extremism, among others. The conference also provides an opportunity to identify tangible action points and monitor their progress, which are presented before the prime minister every year. The event is the culmination of extensive deliberations involving police and intelligence officers from district, state and national levels on identified themes, sources said. Best practices from states and Union territories under each of the themes will be presented at the conference so that states can learn from each other. Since 2014, the prime minister has taken a keen interest in the DGP conference. Free-flowing thematic discussions over breakfast, lunch and dinner have also been planned for this years conference. This will provide an opportunity for senior police officials to share their views and recommendations on key policing and internal security issues affecting the country with the prime minister. Till 2013, the annual meet was held in New Delhi. The following year, after Modi came to power, a decision was taken to organise the event, organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Intelligence Bureau, outside the national capital. Accordingly, the conference was organised at Guwahati in 2014, Dhordo in the Rann of Kutch in 2015, National Police Academy in Hyderabad in 2016, BSF Academy in Tekanpur in 2017, Kevadiya in 2018, IISER, Pune in 2019, at police headquarters, Lucknow, in 2021, at the National Agricultural Science Complex, Pusa, Delhi in 2023, and Jaipur in January 2024. Before 2014, the deliberations largely focused on national security matters. Since 2014, these conferences have a twin focus on national security as well as core policing issues, including prevention and detection of crime, community policing, law and order and improving the polices image, among others. Earlier, the conference was Delhi-centric with officers coming together only for the meet. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Residing on the same premises over two to three days has served to build a heightened sense of unity among officers of all cadres and organisations since 2014, an official added. Direct interaction of the polices top brass with the head of government has resulted in a convergence of views on crucial challenges faced by the country and the emergence of doable recommendations, sources said. Location : Bhubaneswar, India First Published: November 29, 2024, 22:56 IST Unfortunate: MEA On Rahul Gandhi's 'Memory Loss' Jibe At PM Modi, Joe Biden Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 17:34 IST Rahul Gandhi had said that PM Modi was beginning to show signs of memory loss, drawing a comparison to Biden, who frequently makes headlines for his verbal gaffes and missteps. The Congress leader made the headlines while addressing a poll rally in Maharashtras Amravati on November 16 while attacking PM Modi. (File image) The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday condemned Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhis alleged disparaging remarks on the cognitive abilities of United States (US) President Joe Biden, saying that such remarks are unfortunate and are not in keeping with government friendly ties with the US. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during the weekly briefing said, You know, that India shares multifaceted partnership with the United States, and this partnership has been built over years of perseverance, togetherness, mutual respect and commitment by both sides. We see such reports as remarks as unfortunate, and theyre not in keeping with government friendly ties with the United States." related stories What Rahul Gandhi Had Said? The Congress leader made the headlines while addressing a poll rally in Maharashtras Amravati on November 16 while attacking PM Modi. He said that the latter was beginning to show signs of memory loss, drawing a comparison to Biden, who frequently makes headlines for his verbal gaffes and missteps. The Raebareli MP recalled an incident where Biden had mistakenly introduced Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Russian President Vladimir Putin at an event. #WATCH | Amravati, Maharashtra: Congress MP and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi says, My sister was telling me that she heard Modi jis speech. And in that speech, whatever we say, Modi ji is saying the same thing these days. I dont know, maybe he has lost his memory. The former pic.twitter.com/bsF0wQ0KpO ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2024 My sister was telling me that she heard Modi jis speech. And in that speech, whatever we say, Modi ji is saying the same thing these days. I dont know, maybe he has lost his memory." He added, The former President of America used to forget; he had to be reminded from behind. The President of Ukraine came, and the President of America said that Russian President Putin has come. He had lost his memory, similarly, our Prime Minister is losing his memory," he had said. BJP Hits Back The BJP had slammed the Lok Sabha LoP for his absurd remarks. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla had launched a scathing critique, calling Gandhi nafrat ke bhaijaan" (brother of enmity/hate) for his personal attacks on PM Modi. Medics Group Seeks Rahuls Apology Additionally, a group of medical practitioners had demanded a public apology from the Congress leader, saying that the remarks suggested a lack of sensitivity. In a letter to former Congress chief and Rahul Gandhis mother Sonia Gandhi, All India President of the National Medicos Organisation Bharat (NMO-Bharat) C B Tripathi had said that Rahul Gandhis comments have perpetuated harmful stereotypes about ageing and cognitive health. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all We are writing this letter as concerned members of the medical fraternity, deeply troubled by the recent remarks attributed to Mr. Rahul Gandhi, which appeared to disparage the cognitive abilities of the President of the United States, Joe Biden," PTI quoted the letter. The medical practitioners said that such remarks are also unbecoming" of a Leader of Opposition and suggest a lack of understanding and sensitivity." First Published: November 29, 2024, 16:48 IST UP Nurse Gang-Raped, Tortured With Chilli Powder In Her Private Parts; 2 Detained Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 20:28 IST According to the victim, four men allegedly held her down and inserted a stick and chilli powder into her private parts. The accused allegedly subjected her to a horrific gang-rape and torture. (Image for representation) In a shocking incident, a 30-year-old nurse working at a primary health centre in Jalaun, Uttar Pradesh, was allegedly gang-raped and assaulted by four men. The incident occurred while she was commuting to work on her scooter. The accused allegedly subjected her to a horrific gang-rape and torture. According to the victim, she was waylaid near Musmaria turn, adjacent to Suhakhar Kheda, in a secluded area and assaulted. Four men allegedly held her down while two others raped her. They also allegedly inserted a stick and chilli powder into her private parts. The victim was found unconscious and rushed to a local hospital, where she is currently undergoing treatment. related stories The police registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and are investigating the matter. Two suspects have been detained and are being interrogated. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all However, Superintendent of Police Pradeep Verma said that the victim was having an illicit relationship with a man, whose family members beat her up. The incident sparked outrage and protests, with many demanding justice for the victim and stricter laws to prevent such crimes. Location : Uttar Pradesh, India First Published: November 29, 2024, 20:28 IST UP Police Raid Hospital Basement, Doctor Caught Performing Illegal Sex Determination Test Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 15:08 IST Dr Shukla had been conducting gender tests for monetary gain and even offering illegal abortions for Rs 30,000. After undergoing the ultrasound, the doctor informed the woman that she was carrying a girl child. (Representational Image) In a shocking incident in Uttar Pradeshs Shamli district, a female doctor was caught red-handed by a joint team of Haryanas health department and Uttar Pradesh police for conducting illegal gender tests at a hospital in Shamli. The team, acting on a tip-off, raided the Maa Savitri Hospital on Budhana Road, where Dr Neelam Shukla, a BAMS graduate, was performing unauthorised fetal sex determination tests. The raid unfolded when a woman, posing as a patient, was sent to Dr Shuklas clinic. After undergoing the ultrasound, the doctor informed the woman that she was carrying a girl child, and charged her Rs 30,000 for the procedure. At the time of the raid, Dr Shukla was found in the hospitals basement along with a woman and a young man. All three were arrested on the spot. related stories The health department team also seized the ultrasound machine and recovered cash from the scene. Dr Shukla was running the ultrasound centre at the hospital, although she was not licenced to perform such procedures. The documents for a radiology doctor had been posted at the centre, but that doctor had died three months prior. Further investigations revealed that Dr Shukla had been conducting gender tests for monetary gain and even offering illegal abortions for Rs 30,000. The identities of two individuals present at the time were also uncovered. An FIR has been filed at the Sadar Kotwali police station in Shamli, and both Dr Shukla and the accomplices are now facing legal action. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Dr Vishwajeet Rathi, nodal officer of the Haryana health department team, explained that the operation began when a pregnant woman, contacted by a midwife, was lured from Gohana, Haryana, to Shamli. The team followed them and conducted the raid, apprehending Dr Shukla while she was performing the gender test. This incident highlights the ongoing battle against illegal gender determination practices, which remain a serious issue despite being banned under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act. Location : Shamli, India First Published: November 29, 2024, 15:08 IST Vowing To Go After Terror Sympathisers And OGWs, L-G Manoj Sinha Terminates 2 J&K Govt Workers Reported By : CNN-News18 Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 22:46 IST According to top sources, Sinha terminated the services of two government employees over terror links in the interest of the security of the union territory J&K L-G Manoj Sinha. File photo Acting tough against the terror ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir, lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha on Friday terminated the services of two government employees over terror links. According to top sources, Sinha has terminated the services of two government employees in the interest of security of the union territory. According to top sources in the law enforcement agencies of J&K, The lieutenant governor invoked 311 (2) (c) of the Constitution of India to axe Ab Rehman Naika and Zahir Abbas after painstaking investigation by law enforcement and intelligence agencies clearly established their terror links." related stories As per the dossier, a copy of which has been obtained by News18, Ab Rehman Naika (pharmacist in health department), a resident of Devsar, Kulgam, was appointed as a medical assistant in 1992. His links with Hizbul Mujahideen were unearthed when police officials started investigating the killing of a political person, Ghulam Hassan Lone of Devsar. Lone was a staunch nationalist, and all his three sons are serving in security forces. He was killed by terrorists in August 2021. Investigations revealed that Ab Rehman Naika was one of the plotters of the killing of Ghulam Lone to create terror and a situation of insecurity among patriotic people. Investigation further revealed that Ab Rehman Naika played a pivotal role in nourishing, strengthening and proliferating a conducive ecosystem for secessionism and terrorism, not only in his local area of Kulgam but also in the neighbouring districts of Shopian and Anantnag," sources in law enforcement agencies said. After Ghulam Hassan Lones killing, the police investigation tracked the footprints of overground workers (OGWs) who were providing logistical support to terrorists. Ab Rehman Naika and associates were finally nabbed with hand grenades and AK 47 ammunition. During the interrogation, Ab Rehman Naika confessed he had received direction from his handlers in Pakistan to carry out a terrorist attack in Kulgam by lobbing grenades at security forces and political persons. He also admitted that, as an overground worker, his job was to conduct reconnaissance of targets. In the killing of Ghulam Hassan Lone, Ab Rehman Naika and his associates had kept a watch on his movements, and, on the day of the killing, he mounted surveillance of the area so that terrorists could get a safe passage without getting identified or intercepted. A source said, During further investigation, we unearthed his role and acts for Hizbul Mujahideen and how he facilitated attacks on police personnel. He has been a rabid OGW and hardcore terror associate for various outfits, in particular Hizbul Mujahideen. He had a free run for a very long time. He undermined and sabotaged the very system from which he derived livelihood. Moreover, he used his privilege as a government employee to target people, police, and political leaders. It is so unfortunate that money of Indian taxpayers was used to pay salary to the terrorist like Ab Rehman Naika." Sources added that, in a recent security review meeting, L-G Manoj Sinha had vowed to wipe out terrorists, their supporters, and those aiding and abetting them inside the system. The second government employee whose services have been terminated has been identified as Zahir Abbas, a teacher in the school education department. Abbas, a resident of Badhat Saroor, Kishtwar, is the second employee whose services have been terminated by Sinha on Friday. Zahir, a graduate from Aligarh Muslim University, was appointed as a teacher in 2012 and posted at Government High School, Bugrana. He was arrested in September 2020 for harbouring three active terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen (Mohd Amin, Reyaz Ahmad, and Mudasir Ahmad) in Kishtwar. He is currently lodged in Central Jail, Kot Bhalwal. During the investigation of terror activities in Kishtwar, the role of Zahir as a hardcore OGW came to light. As a teacher, he was expected to serve the nation, but he betrayed his country, aligned with Pakistani terrorists and provided arms, ammunition and logistical support to terror outfits, in particular Hizbul Mujahideen. He turned against the same country which provided him and his family livelihood and a life of dignity. After his arrest, Zahir gave the inputs on hideouts where arms and ammunition were stored and also identified two other OGWs, namely Gulzar Ahmad and Mohd Hanief," a law enforcement agency source revealed. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A top security official said Zahir Abbas was also providing critical information about security forces movements to his handlers in Pakistan. He was also helping terrorists on the ground with food, shelter, arms and also enabling them to evade capture and plan attacks. Careful analysis of the tactics used and the targets chosen by Zahir Abbas provided valuable insight into the modus operandi of terror groups. His presence in a school, where he had the potential to influence, indoctrinate, and radicalise students, fundamentally contradicts the principles of education and poses a direct threat to the stability and security of the nation. Even today, discreetly obtained intelligence input suggests that Zahir Abbas continues to indulge in radical activities in jail," a source said. Sources added that these two cases are clear examples of Pakistan ISI and Pak-based terror outfits deep infiltration into the system, and it also reveals terror outfits sinister strategy to sustain terror activities and secure finances from the Indian exchequer while subverting the system from within. First Published: November 29, 2024, 22:44 IST History TV18 Presents 'Bay of Blood: The Bangladesh Genocide': Documentary on A Forgotten Chapter in History Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 12:31 IST This documentary offers an unflinching look at the horrors of 1971 and the birth of Bangladesh, premieres 3rd December, Tuesday at 10 PM. Bay of Blood: The Bangladesh Genocide tells the unsung tales of bravery and selflessness. History TV18 brings to screens an extraordinary account of the Bangladesh Liberation War with Bay of Blood: The Bangladesh Genocide. This groundbreaking documentary unravels the untold horrors of 1971, as the Pakistani Army unleashed a brutal genocide on the unarmed civilians of East Pakistan. The innocents fight for independence came at an unimaginable cost, with an estimated three million people killed, ten million displaced to India as refugees, and four lakh women and girls subjected to unspeakable violence. Premiering on Tuesday, 3rd December, at 10 PM, the film sheds light on one of the darkest chapters of human history. Amidst geopolitics and global apathy, a new nation, Bangladesh, was forged in blood and resilience. Directed and produced by Krishnendu Bose, an acclaimed Indian filmmaker known for his award-winning documentaries on wildlife conservation and environmental justice, this documentary captures the harrowing atrocities of a genocide that claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands while highlighting the resilience and courage of those who fought for freedom. Combining rare archive footage, expert commentary, and powerful survivor accounts, Bay of Blood offers a gripping narrative of survival, sacrifice, and the pursuit of justice in the midst of an unimaginable tragedy. related stories View this post on Instagram A post shared by HISTORY TV18 (@historytv18) Speaking about the project, Krishnendu Bose said, I am proud to partner with History TV18 to present Bay of Blood: The Bangladesh Genocide. It documents one of the most defining chapters in South Asian historythe massacre by the state of its own people and their resistance and sacrifice to create a new nation. This theatre of life and death plays out in the backdrop of the geopolitical complexities of the Cold War era. By examining the pivotal role of the United States, the film nudges us to draw striking parallels to current global political events. It leaves us with compelling thoughts on tolerance, diversity, and the human cost of conflict." The film delves into the aid India provided to its neighbours, along with the systemic violence and political tensions that marked the conflict, from the devastating Operation Searchlight to the rise of the Mukti Bahini resistance. Featuring voices like Meghna Guhathakurta, Salil Tripathi, and Shuja Nawaz, it explores the personal and collective impact of the genocide, unveiling the stories of individuals who lived through unspeakable atrocities. It pays homage to the resilience of the Bangladeshi people and sheds light on the enduring lessons of history. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all This timely documentary calls for reflection on the past to build a more compassionate and equitable future. Blending vivid storytelling with stunning visuals, Bay of Blood serves as a tribute to the indomitable spirit of humanity and a poignant reminder of the need to confront history to prevent its repetition. Bay of Blood: The Bangladesh Genocide Premieres Tuesday, 3rd December at 10 PM Only on History TV18. First Published: November 29, 2024, 12:29 IST Thailand In Talks With Neighbouring Countries To Implement Schengen-style Visa Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 11:04 IST According to a report, discussions are in progress with their neighbouring countries like Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar and Vietnam regarding this initiative. A Schengen visa allows travellers to freely visit European countries like Austria, Portugal, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Greece. (Representative/File Photo) Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is pushing for the implementation of a Schengen-style visa scheme to attract high-spending tourists to Thailand. According to a Bloomberg report, discussions are in progress with their neighbouring countries like Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar and Vietnam regarding this initiative. Reportedly, these Asian countries collectively welcomed approximately 70 million tourists in 2023, while Thailand and Malaysia contributed the maximum in terms of revenue, generating almost $48 billion. Thavisins goal is to simplify tourist entry by introducing a single visa for these six nations, aiming to increase traveller number and revenue per traveller. This proposal targets wealthy tourists so that they can boost Thailands attractions while also strengthening its aviation sectors. related stories Meanwhile, Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, a former Thai Hotels Association president, reportedly suggested that they should also extend the visa validity from 30 to 90 days, to make the offer more appealing. For those not aware, a Schengen visa allows travellers to freely visit European countries like Austria, Portugal, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Greece. They can explore these nations without the hassle of applying for multiple visas. Surprisingly, the single visa concept has garnered positive reactions from most leaders. PM Srettha Thavisins team has ambitious plans to attract 80 million tourists by 2027. In the past seven months, the government has taken a few major steps, including signing a joint visa waiver agreement with China and offering temporary visa waivers for travellers from India, Taiwan and Kazakhstan. Additionally, there are discussions about introducing casinos and event-based tourism to boost profits. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all According to Bill Barnett, managing director of hospitality and property consultancy C9 Hotelworks, the process will not only benefit tourists, itll also be useful for business travellers and boost trade opportunities. Barnett added, Country by country seems to be the best way to do it. Bilateral agreements, where governments are leading the way for this type of thing, make a lot of sense as they are looking outward and not inward." Meanwhile, tourism plays a crucial role in Thailands economy, as close to 20% of its population works in the tourism industry and 12% of the nations USD 500 billion economy comes from tourists. Currently, Indian travellers can enjoy visa-free entry to Thailand until May 2024. Other countries offer either visa-on-arrival facilities or require tourists to submit e-visa applications before arrival. First Published: May 04, 2024, 07:30 IST Greenland Opens Its First International Airport In Nuuk, Know Top 5 Things About The Island Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 14:10 IST Greenland has opened its first international airport in Nuuk. This will connect the capital city with the island for tourists and residents. Most towns in Greenland do not have roads. Known for its vast tundra and giant glaciers, Greenland has seen a rise in the number of tourists who visit the country. The worlds largest island is all set to see an influx of tourists this winter to witness the Northern Lights in its full glory. As the country expects double the number of tourists, Greenland has opened a new international airport in its capital city, Nuuk. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Visit Nuuk (@visitnuuk) related stories As reported by CNN, the 2.2 kilometer (1.4 mile) runway was approved on Wednesday after a series of test flights. It was formally opened on Thursday. The Nuuk International Airport serves not just tourists but also citizens as no roads lead out of the city. The airport will help larger planes enter the Arctic country. Reports mention that airlines will announce direct flights from Newark, New York, Copenhagen, and Keflavik, among others. Previously, all international flights to Iceland landed in the secluded town of Kangerlussuaq which is located in the north of the country. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In case you are planning to visit Greenland, here are the top five things that you should know. 1. Greenland is sparsely populated and only a few roads connect the towns. The best way to explore the island is via ferries, helicopters, or planes. Public transport options are limited. 2. Only 20% of Greenland is ice-free. The climate varies from Arctic in the north to subarctic in the south. Summer temperatures range between 5C (41F) to 15C (59F), while winter temperatures can go below the freezing point. 3. You can witness the Midnight Sun (when the sun does not set for weeks) in summer or the Polar Nights (when the sun does not rise for weeks) in winter. It all depends on when you are travelling to the island. 4. For an authentic Arctic experience, one should try dog sledding which is a historic way of transport in Greenland. 5. The island does not have traffic lights because of its low population density. Location : Delhi, India First Published: November 29, 2024, 14:10 IST Aishwarya Rai Has Amitabh Bachchan's Photo With Aaradhya As Her Phone Wallpaper? Watch Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 12:01 IST This comes at a time when rumours of trouble in Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rais married life have been making headlines. Earlier this year, Aishwarya Rai also shared a heartwarming birthday post for Amitabh Bachchan. Aishwarya Rai recently returned from Dubai after attending the Global Womens Forum event. Recently, a video of the actress surfaced on social media in which she was seen walking out of the Mumbai airport. She looked gorgeous in black as she smiled for the cameras. While walking towards her car, Aishwarya was also holding her phone in her hand. Soon after the video surfaced on social media, fans noticed Aishwaryas phone wallpaper and it instantly became the talk of the town. Netizens noticed that it had Aishwaryas daughter Aaradhyas photo with somebody else. A large section of social media users argued that it was Aaradhya with her grandfather, Amitabh Bachchan. A few also opined that it might be Aishwaryas late father Krishnaraj Rai. related stories Interestingly, this comes at a time when rumours of trouble in Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rais married life have been making headlines. Speculations intensified after the couple appeared separately for the media at the Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchants wedding earlier this year. Besides this, Aishwarya recently shared photos from daughter Aaradhyas birthday bash which did not feature any of the Bachchan family members, including Abhishek. This had also left netizens wondering if all is not well between the two actors. While Abhishek and Aishwarya have been tight-lipped about the rumours, Amitabh had recently shared a post seemingly addressing speculations surrounding their familys personal affairs. I rarely say much about family, because that is my domain and its privacy is maintained by me .. Speculations are speculations .. they are speculated untruths , without verifications .. Verifications are sought by the seekers to authenticate their business and commercials of the profession they be in .. I shall not challenge their desire to be in the profession of their choice .. and I shall appreciate their effort in serving society .. But untruths .. or selected question marked information can be a legal safeguard for them that inform .. but the seed of suspected belief is sown with this most used emblem .. the question mark ..?" he said. First Published: November 29, 2024, 11:55 IST ED Raids Properties Of Raj Kundra, Others In Porn Racket Case Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 16:55 IST Kundra was arrested in July 2021 after four women complained that they were forced to shoot pornographic content after being promised an acting job in web series Businessman Raj Kundra outside the Enforcement Directorate office in Mumbai. (PTI file photo) Financial probe agency Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday raided spots linked to Raj Kundra, husband of actress Shilpa Shetty, along with several others, as part of a money laundering investigation related to the production and distribution of pornographic content through mobile applications. Around 15 locations in Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh are being searched, the sources told news agency PTI. related stories ED officials later questioned Kundra regarding the money laundering case. Earlier this year, Raj Kundra was caught in the ED net after it attached his assets, including a residential flat in Juhu, Mumbai, a bungalow in Pune, and equity shares, worth Rs 98 crore, as part of a money laundering investigation linked to the Gain Bitcoin Ponzi Scam. The legal trouble stemmed from a probe initiated by the ED in 2018, when they began probing Amit Bharadwaj for his involvement in a Ponzi scheme. While Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra were not initially named as suspects, they were notified in April 2024 that their assets were being provisionally attached as part of the case. Both Raj and Shilpa maintained their innocence, claiming they have cooperated fully with the EDs investigation. Raj has attended multiple summons in person, and Shilpa has provided documentation via her authorised representatives. Later, the couple challenged the EDs notice to vacate their properties, including their Mumbai residence in Juhu and a farmhouse near Pune and the Bombay High Court provided interim relief by pausing the eviction order. Kundra was arrested in July 2021 by the Mumbai Police after four women complained that they were forced to shoot pornographic content after being promised an acting job in a web series. He was released from Arthur Jail in September. Shilpa Shettys Lawyers Claims Reports Of Her Involvement Misleading Responding to the reports claiming the involvement of actress Shilpa Shetty in connection to the money laundering case, her lawyer Advocate Prashant Patil issued a statement saying that the reports stating that the Enforcement Directorate has raided his client Shilpa Shetty Kundra are not true and are misleading". There is no Enforcement Directorate raid on Shilpa Shetty Kundra as she has nothing to do with any offence of whatsoever nature," said Shettys lawyer, adding, However, the case in question is an ongoing investigation regarding her husband Raj Kundra and he is cooperating with the investigation for the truth to come out." He then requested the electronic and print media to refrain from using the videos, pictures and name of Shilpa Shetty Kundra as she has nothing to do with the case. He added that strict cognisance shall be taken against irresponsible journalism wherein the pictures or videos of Shilpa Shetty Kundra are shared on this matter. First Published: November 29, 2024, 11:06 IST Happy Birthday, Ramya: A Look At The Actress 5 Best Films Curated By : Local News Desk Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 19:11 IST One of the standout films in Ramya's illustrious career was Sanju Weds Geetha, directed by Nagasekhar. Ramyas films are still loved and frequently watched on television. Ramya, a famous Kannada actress, is known for her outstanding acting and memorable roles. She starred in many films that resonate with audiences to this day. Her films are still loved and frequently watched on television. Ramya remains a well-known figure in Kannada films. Here are her 5 most memorable films that left an indelible mark on the industry. related stories Sanju Weds Geetha: One of the standout films in Ramyas illustrious career was Sanju Weds Geetha, directed by Nagasekhar. This poignant story of love and loss has become a timeless classic in Kannada cinema. Jassi Gifts captivating narration is paired with his soulful music. The movie is still attracting viewers as Ramyas performance was nothing but special. Her on-screen chemistry with Srinagar Kitty received widespread praise. Their performance elevated the film to another level. Years later, the troubling and haunting story of Sanju Weds Geetha is still etched in the minds of moviegoers. Amrithadhare: Nagathihalli is a testament to Ramyas extraordinary versatility as an actor in directorial films. Chandrashekhars Amritadhare, the emotional journey of a married couple is tenderly portrayed. It explores the highs and lows of their relationship with honesty and depth. Paired with actor Dhyan, Ramya brought warmth and authenticity to her role. This makes their love story resonate with viewers on a personal level. It is still one of the most beloved romantic dramas fondly remembered for its emotional depth and connection. Abhi: Ramya made a remarkable debut in a Kannada film with Abhi. As he stars opposite late actor Puneeth Rajkumar, directed by Dinesh Babu and inspired by Hublis real life story, the film showcases Ramya as a Muslim girl who falls into the love of a Hindu boy. Her debut performance was characterised by emotional depth and believability, which immediately attracted the audience. With a heartwarming story and Ramyas charming portrayal Abhi becomes one of the favourite movies of the fans and has firmly established herself as a rising star in Sandalwood. Ranga (SSLC): Ramyas partnership with Kiccha Sudeep in Ranga SSLC, directed by Yograj Bhat, was a significant milestone in her career. The film, which explores the love and aspirations of young people, features Ramya as Padma, a role she brings to life with both charm and emotional depth. Her performance adds warmth and balance to the story, making it one of her most memorable roles. Ranga SSLC not only showcased her versatility as an actress, but also became one of the most beloved films in her impressive career. Excuse Me: Ramyas second film, Excuse Me, directed by Prem, was pivotal in establishing her as a prominent actress in Kannada cinema. Playing the role of Madhu, a strong yet endearing character, she won the hearts of audiences alongside Sunil Rao and Ajay Rao. The films captivating storyline, combined with Ramyas exceptional performance, made it a success and solidified her reputation as a versatile actress early in her career. Excuse Me remains a beloved film in her body of work. Though Ramya has stepped away from acting, she continues to make an impact in the industry as a producer under her banner, AppleBox Studios. One of her recent productions, Swathi Muthina Male Haniye, received widespread acclaim for its compelling narrative and execution. Despite her absence from the screen, Ramya remains a significant figure in Kannada cinema, actively supporting projects that contribute to the growth of the industry. Ramyas remarkable performances and deep connection with audiences have firmly established her as one of Sandalwoods most beloved actresses. Her ability to bring characters to life with authenticity and emotion has earned her the admiration of both fans and critics alike. Whether in powerful dramatic roles or graceful romantic portrayals, Ramya has carved out a unique and lasting legacy in Kannada cinema. Even though she is no longer acting, her films continue to resonate, ensuring her place as the Queen of Sandalwood. First Published: November 29, 2024, 19:11 IST Jennifer Hudson Talks About Working With Boyfriend Common, Calls Him Genius But A Bit Bossy Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 15:12 IST Hudson was quick to point out that the creative process with her boyfriend isn't always smooth. Hudson was quick to point out that the creative process with her boyfriend isn't always smooth. (Photo Credits: Instagram) Jennifer Hudson is opening up about her working experience with her boyfriend Common, revealing the ups and downs of their creative partnership. During an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers on November 27, Hudson discussed her new holiday album, The Gift of Love, which includes a special collaboration with Common. The track, Almost Christmas, marks a fusion of their Chicago roots and love for music. Were both very musical," Hudson shared with host Seth Meyers, as she explained how the collaboration came about. Two Chicagoans and I was like, Wheres the poetry and the storytelling in the holiday albums? And who better to do it than him? To do, like, spoken-word poetry for the holidays? And so thats where the song came from," adds Hudson. related stories As with any partnership, Hudson was quick to point out that their creative process isnt always smooth sailing. Hes a bit bossy when it comes to being Common," Hudson admitted. Common and Rashid are two different people musically, but hes a musical genius, so its an honour to be able to work from him, work for him, work with him, and on his album and my album," she explained. She playfully acknowledged that while there may be some occasional friction, the magic of their collaboration is undeniable. Along with their holiday collaboration, Hudson and Common also teamed up on the track A GOD (There Is) from Commons album The Auditorium Vol. 1., released this past July. Their musical chemistry continues to shine and Common has expressed his admiration for Hudsons vocal talent. He previously told People Magazine that hearing her sing on the track made his musician friends sit up and take notice. When I played it to musician friends, they were like, Who is that singing? Im like, Thats Jennifer! It doesnt sound like things youve heard from her before," he said. I love that we were able to utilise her gifts in a new space. She brought it, man," he added. The couple first sparked dating rumors in 2022, following the announcement of their movie Breathe. Their relationship was confirmed earlier this year when Common made a heartfelt appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show. Im in a relationship with one of the most beautiful people I ever met in life. Shes smart, she loves God, she has something real down-to-earth about her, shes talented," Common shared, reflecting on his love for Hudson. First Published: November 29, 2024, 15:12 IST Nayanthara Drops Cryptic Note Amid Legal Battle With Dhanush: 'When You Destroy Someones Life...' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 14:03 IST Lady Superstar Nayanthara has taken to Instagram with a cryptic post amidst the ongoing legal tussle with actor Dhanush. Nayanthara and Dhanush are in the middle of a legal tussle. Lady Superstar Nayanthara has taken to Instagram with a cryptic post amidst the ongoing legal tussle with actor Dhanush. The post, which seems to be aimed at the current controversy, reads: When you destroy someones life with lies, take it as a loan, it will come back to you with interest." The phrase take it as a loan" is notably underlined, digitally, in green. This comes as Dhanush has filed a civil suit in the Madras High Court against Nayanthara, her husband Vignesh Shivan, and Netflix against the unauthorised footage in the couples Netflix documentary from Naanum Rowdy Dhaan that he produced. While neither Nayanthara nor Vignesh Shivan has issued an official statement after Dhanush sued them but fans are wondering if this Instagram post is a subtle way of addressing the issue. related stories According to The Hindu, the lawsuit was filed in the Madras High Court and names both Nayanthara and her husband, filmmaker Vignesh Sivan, as defendants. Wunderbar Films has filed an application with the Madras High Court requesting permission, under Clause 12 of the Letters Patent, to include Los Gatos Production Services India LLP in their lawsuit. The company, through which Netflix reports its content investments in India, is based in Mumbai. Wunderbar Films seeks to sue Los Gatos along with the other defendants within the jurisdiction of the Madras High Court. Nayanthara has reportedly been asked to respond to the suit by the next hearing. After hearing both sides, the judge approved the application to allow the case to proceed, without commenting on the main issue. The judge noted that Nayanthara, Vignesh Sivan, and Rowdy Pictures are based in the Madras High Courts jurisdiction, and that most of the issue happened here. On November 16, Nayanthara lashed out at Dhanush for sending her a legal notice and demanding Rs 10 crore. On Saturday, the actress took to her Instagram handle and issued a long statement. She mentioned that during the making of her recently released Netflix documentary, Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairytale, she had asked for permission from Dhanush to use visuals from their 2015 movie Naanum Rowdy Dhaan. However, Dhanush refused to grant her permission and instead sent her a legal notice for using behind-the-scenes visuals from the sets of the movie. First Published: November 29, 2024, 14:02 IST Samantha Ruth Prabhu Joins Varun Dhawan, Dances To 'Nain Matakka' At Citadel Success Party | Watch Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 09:22 IST In the clip, Samantha Ruth Prabhu can be seen grooving to Varun Dhawan's recently released song 'Nain Matakka' from his upcoming movie Baby John. Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Varun Dhawan dance their hearts out in this video. Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Varun Dhawan recently held a grand party in Mumbai to celebrate the success of their Prime Video series, Citadel: Honey Bunny. The bash, held at Virat Kohlis restaurant One8 Commune, was a star-studded event and was attended by several celebrities including Avneet Kaur, Nimrat Kaur, Wamiqa Gabbi, and Gulshan Devaiah among others. While several videos and photos from the celebration are going viral on social media, a new video shows Samantha dancing her heart out with Varun Dhawan. The two can be seen grooving to Dhawans recently released song Nain Matakka from his upcoming movie Baby John. The original music video features Varun with Keerthy Suresh. related stories Meanwhile, Samantha also took to her Instagram handle recently to share moments from the Citadel success party. In one video, Varun was seen feeding cake to Samantha. In another photo, the two stars were seen posing together. A beautiful evening spent with the loveliest people, my heart overflowing with gratitude," Samantha wrote in the caption. Both, Samantha and Varun have been receiving praises from critics for their performances in Citadel: Honey Bunny. However, the actress has been candid about the challenges she faced while working on the series, particularly after being diagnosed with myositis, an autoimmune disorder that weakens muscles. In an interview with Galatta India, she revealed that at one point, she requested the directors, Raj and DK, to replace her due to her health struggles. I was absolutely fine when I got the opportunity to play Honey. I was overjoyed. But a few months later, I was the same person who requested Raj and DK to please choose another heroine to play Honey," Samantha shared. She even suggested other actresses like Kiara Advani and Kriti Sanon, believing they would be better suited for the action-packed role. However, Raj and DK reassured her, saying, Yeah, we know them, you dont have to introduce us." First Published: November 29, 2024, 09:14 IST Shilpa Shettys Lawyer Reacts To ED Raid On Raj Kundras Premises: She Has Nothing To Do With Any Offence Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 17:23 IST Shilpa Shettys lawyer, Advocate Prashant Patil, has shared an official statement, refuting media reports that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at her residence. Shilpa Shetty's lawyer clarifies actress has nothing to do with any offence, A few hours ago, it was reported that the financial probe agency Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided spots linked to businessman Raj Kundra, along with several others, as part of a money laundering investigation. Now, Shilpa Shettys lawyer, Advocate Prashant Patil has issued an official statement, refuting media reports that have linked her to the investigation. Her lawyer clarified that reports about Shilpa Shettys residence being raided by the ED are false and misleading and that the actress has nothing to do with any offence of whatsoever nature. The statement shared by Shilpa Shetty Kundras lawyer Advocate Prashant Patil read, There have been reports in the media saying that my client Mrs Shilpa Shetty Kundra has been raided by the Enforcement Directorate . These reports are not true and are misleading. As per my instructions, there is no Enforcement Directorate raid on Mrs Shilpa Shetty Kundra as she has nothing to do with any offence of whatsoever nature." related stories He further added that the case in question is an ongoing probe regarding Shilpas husband Raj Kundra, and that he has been co-operating with the investigation for the truth to come out. However, the case in question is an ongoing investigation regarding Mr Raj Kundra and he is cooperating with the investigation for truth to come out . Would request the electronic and print media to refrain from using the videos , pictures and name of Mrs Shilpa Shetty Kundra as she has nothing to do with the case . Strict cognisance shall be taken against irresponsible journalism wherein the pictures or videos of Mrs Shilpa Shetty Kundra are shared on this matter," he concluded. According to a report in Hindustan Times, the ED on Friday conducted searches at the premises of multiple individuals including Raj Kundra. Around 15 locations in Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh were reportedly being searched. The search operations are reportedly linked to a money-laundering investigation about the allegations surrounding the production and distribution of pornographic content through mobile applications. First Published: November 29, 2024, 17:13 IST Opinion | Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire: A Cautious Beginning Written By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 14:30 IST Whether it is Trumps diktat to Bibi to finish the job before re-entering the White House or Biden-Blinken persistence that finally paid offthe fact is that peace should always be a more desirable enterprise than starting a factory of war Displaced residents return to Dahiyeh, in Beirut, Lebanon, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that went into effect, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein) Finally, effective from November 27 at 4 am onwards, a ceasefire deal, much sought after by the Biden Administration to partially redeem itself, was worked out and announced between Israel, Hezbollah, and Lebanon with the support of France. This occurred under the shadow of increased bombings and missile barrages from both sides in the past few weeks. Lebanon reported over 3,500 killed and thousands injured as Israel mounted its strikes to decimate the Hezbollah threat so that more than 70,000 displaced Israelis could return to their homes. By eliminating Hezbollah leader Nasrallah and a large number of political and military leaders in precision strikes against the most powerful proxy and partner of Iran in the Axis of Resistance, Netanyahu may have redeemed himself and his powerful forces and intelligence outfits from the humiliation of the October 7 terror attacks by Hamas, to some extent. However, by making the commanders incommunicado due to targeted strikes and decapitating others, Tel Aviv bought more trouble for itself. This became evident as individual Hezbollah commanders, armed with high-precision weaponry and projectiles, got the better of Israel, hitting targets all around, including Netanyahus house. related stories This would be yet another unwinnable situation. Hence, despite much opposition from his ultra-right ministers like Ben Gvir and Smotrich, who were baying for more blood, Netanyahu, under pressure from Biden/Trump, made the right decision to agree to a ceasefire deal that, if it holds, could eventually lead to a reasonable outcome. But there are too many ifs and buts, and fingers must be kept crossed. US Special Envoy Amos Hochstein worked overtime, as did the father-in-law of Trumps daughter Tiffany, who is of Lebanese origin. French President Macron has been engaged, discharging his historic responsibility to bring some normalcy to a beleaguered country caught between a rock and a hard place. President Biden tweeted that he had spoken to the Prime Ministers of Israel and Lebanon, stating, Under the deal reached today, the fighting across the Lebanon-Israel border will end tomorrow. Lasting security for the people of Israel and Lebanon cannot be achieved solely on the battlefieldthats why I directed my team to work with the governments of Lebanon and Israel to forge a ceasefire." Netanyahu has retained his right to resume hostilities and retaliate if he determines that a violation has taken place or a threat has been posed against Israel. This was the key selling point to his ultra-right-wing colleagues and supporters. He secured this carte blanche through a separate guarantee letter from the Americans. He was also able to decouple Gaza from Lebanon, which had been one of Hezbollahs key conditions since October 8, 2023, when they engaged in a low-key war in support of Hamas and the Palestinian cause. However, before the acceptance of the ceasefire, both sides intensified attacks, further escalating destruction and casualties as if there were no tomorrow. This smacks of their non-seriousness and doubtful intent, even as the international community breathes a sigh of relief. The ceasefire, initially for a period of sixty days, entails the withdrawal of Israeli forces back to their borders. Hezbollah outfits will be dismantled and moved north of the Litani River or the Blue Line. All external actors and stakeholders have called for the full implementation of UNSC Resolution 1701. Both Macron and Biden, in a joint statement, claimed that the agreement would create the conditions to restore lasting calm and allow residents in both countries to return safely to their homes on both sides of the Blue Line. The US and France will work with Israel and Lebanon to ensure that the arrangement is fully implemented and enforced. They also agreed to lead and support international efforts for the capacity building of the Lebanese Armed Forces, as well as for economic development throughout Lebanon, to advance stability and prosperity in the region. This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities. As they say, Inshallah time will tell. Netanyahu has already announced, The length of the ceasefire depends on what happens in Lebanon. We will respond forcefully to any violation"acting as both jury and judge. Hezbollah survives under the arrangement and will hopefully stay on the other side of the Litani River, as an afflicted Lebanon finds some relief from misery and destruction. Iran also gets some relief, as efforts are being made to restart talks to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas. As most of Hamass leadership recently relocated to Turkiye, it appears that Ronen Brar, the Shin Bet Chief, visited to secure their assistance, despite the two sides likely having the lowest level of diplomatic confidence and relationship. Even Biden has claimed that he would like to secure that deal as well. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Whether it is Trumps diktat to Bibi to finish the job before re-entering the White House, Biden-Blinken persistence that finally paid off, or the internal dynamics and constraints within Israels domestic politythe fact remains that peace should always be a more desirable enterprise than starting a factory of war. The author is the former Indian Ambassador to Jordan, Libya and Malta and is currently a Distinguished Fellow with Vivekananda International Foundation. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: November 29, 2024, 14:30 IST Opinion | The Constitution At 75: A Time For Reflection And Renewal Written By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 17:29 IST The truth is that protecting the Constitution is a serious business on a daily basis, and only vigilant citizens can do that job A self-willed executive will always use the letter of the Constitution to erode its spirit. (Image: AFP) November 26 was celebrated as Constitution Day. I was part of several media debates on the importance of this commemoration. As expected, the debates mostly reduced themselves to a mud-slinging fest between the BJP and the Congress. This year, the rivalry had a new salience, because the Congress party has made the threat to the Constitution one of its principal campaign agendas. The BJPs strongest argument, of course, is citing the Emergency of 1975-77, when the Constitution was stupendously misused, and all freedoms guaranteed by it brazenly asphyxiated. Fortunately, though, such a scenario has not been repeated. However, the real question is: has the threat to the sanctity of the Constitution truly disappeared since then? related stories My own view is that in a competitive democracy, where the pursuit of power seems to have finessed all ethical restraints, the intent and spirit of the Constitution are perennially under threat, even if not as overtly as during the Emergency. A self-willed executive will always use the letter of the Constitution to erode its spirit. This tendency is applicable to all political parties when they are in power, and there are umpteen examples to prove it. Democracy is a basic structure of the Constitution, as laid down by the Supreme Court (SC) in the pathbreaking Kesavanand Bharti case of 1973. To ensure this, the Samvidhan outlines an elaborate system of checks and balances between the three main pillars of governance: the executive, legislature and judiciary. In the case of the executive, a pivotal element is the bureaucracy, which Sardar Patel referred to as the steel frame of India. Bureaucrats are mandated to be apolitical, and provide impartial and fearless advice to their political masters. Unfortunately, over the years, most bureaucrats have lost both their spine and conscience, becoming accessories to and collaborators with the politicians who rule them. This allows political leaders to use the very bureaucracy that is supposed to keep their powers in check, as collaborators. Parliament makes laws. But such law-making, under the Constitution, was intended to be debated, examined and discussed in the House with a vigilant Opposition, and scrutinised, where necessary, by parliamentary committees. However, in situationsboth now and in the pastwhere the ruling party holds an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha and a managed or actual majority in the Rajya Sabha, laws are passed without adequate discussion or reference to the extent necessary to parliamentary committees. The functioning of the House has also regrettably reduced itself to a fish market, where there are almost daily disruptions and adjournments, leaving no scope for serious discussion. Although the treasury benches are supposed to be responsible for running the House, the Opposition cannot avoid blame for this sad state of affairs. Moreover, undemocratic methods such as denoting proposed laws as Money Bills so that the concurrence of the Rajya Sabha can be dispensed with, have also been resorted to. The judiciary is required to act as a check to arbitrary law making which is violative of the Constitution. This requires an independent judiciary, but all governments seek a more pliant one, for the simple reason that the government is the single biggest litigator in courts. To retain their independence, the SC ended the earlier practice under Congress governments of the executive appointing judges. India is the only country where judges appoint judges, whose desirability itself is a matter of debate. However, the government can always subvert even this process by indefinitely delaying its concurrence to the names recommended by the SC. The result is that inconvenient names very often never get the chance to become judges. Rewarding retired SC judges to cushy tribunals and governors of states or members of the Rajya Sabha is another abominable practice of influencing the judiciary. The government has also resorted to the undemocratic practice of reinstituting laws rejected by even a full bench of the SC, through the route of an ordinance. This has been done by both the Congress and the BJP. Independent institutions, which are non-negotiable aspects of the Constitution, stand deeply eroded today. Governors of states take an oath on the Constitution to be bi-partisan. However, Congress governments were notorious for misusing Article 356 of the Constitution to topple legitimate governments through the use of partisan governors. Even today, governors of Opposition-ruled states act as agents of the ruling party at the Centre. In several Opposition states, governors have sat for years on laws passed by state assemblies, or referred them to the President, provoking the SC to pass serious strictures on their unconstitutional conduct. The perceived impartiality of the Election Commission of India (ECI) today is a far cry from what it used to be under impartial, hard taskmasters such as Chief Election Commissioner T.N. Seshan. When a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court, in March 2023, intervened to rectify the process by which the triumvirate of Election Commissioners are appointed, the current government, disinclined to see its influence over their appointments diluted, overruled it through an ordinance. Why? Similarly, independent investigative agencies like the CBI and the ED now seem to act more as extensions of the ruling party, thereby undermining the level playing field of democracy. Finally, a fourth pillar for the protection of the Constitution is the media. Again, all governments seek to control it, and many members of the fourth estate succumb to that pressure. Dissent and criticism, such an important part of the spirit of the Constitution, are sought to be controlled by draconian laws, such as UAPA and PMLA, where anyone can be arrested without providing reasons and without the option of bail. The process of obtaining justice then becomes the punishment, with prisoners languishing in jail for years before their case even comes up for bail. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Congress leaders wave copies of the Constitution in rallies. BJP leaders profess their innocence on all matters citing the Congress promulgated Emergency. The truth is that protecting the Constitution is a serious business on a daily basis, and only vigilant citizens can do that job. The author is a former diplomat, an author and a politician. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: November 29, 2024, 17:29 IST Opinion | The Kundarki Syndrome: How Minority Politics Is Undergoing A Sea-Change Written By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 17:20 IST Politics in the name of minorities is shifting in India. Support is coming for, and being taken away from, surprising places and parties The erosion of the minority vote is not just in Maharashtra. (Representative/PTI File) For a long time, politics in the name of religion had very straitjacketed pathways in India. Some political parties were always painted as heroes, others as villains. But things are changing. You can call it the Kundarki syndrome after the assembly seat in Uttar Pradesh where the BJP recently won after 30 years where its Hindu candidate beat 11 Muslim candidates in a Muslim-majority constituency to win. related stories Something similar transpired in the grand Mahayuti victory in Maharashtra, and is transpiring, in the reverse way, in Telangana. In fact, Heres how: the Maharashtra election has produced a historic mandate for the BJP-led Mahayuti, putting Devendra Fadnavis back in the chief ministers chair. While the winning alliance spruces itself to take the reins of the state again, the Congress or at least its well-wishers and supporters are struggling to come to terms with the Maharashtra mandate. The expectation with which the election was fought, that the MVA had an edge, has been thoroughly annihilated. All data points emerging from analyses after the result point to the fact that the MVA has been successful in giving something across the lines of community, caste and religion to get their vote. The CSDS-Lokniti survey, seen as the most reliable for understanding election results, shows this very clearly in cold numbers. It says that the trend of Marathas and OBCs putting their weight behind the BJP, which started in 2014, has only solidified, reversing the result of the 2024 general election where the Congress made major gains. The CSDS data shows that the only communities that voted for the Congress-led MVA more than for the Mahayuti were the Adivasis and the Muslims. The Muslim vote in Maharashtra was assumed both by the Congress and observers to belong to the MVA. But look at what the numbers say. In the 2024 GE, MVAs Muslim vote was 50 per cent. In the assembly election that declined by a massive 14 per cent to 35.4 per cent. There are 31 seats in the assembly that are considered Muslim-dominated, which means more than 20 per cent Muslim population, largely in the Mumbai-Thane area and relatively well-off. Of that the Mahayuti won as many as 18, leaving only 12 for the MVA. If the Lok Sabha seats here are broken down to assembly constituencies, it shows a loss of 12 seats for the MVA from the general election. Now, it can be argued that the Shiv Sena-UBT has more of a hold in the area, but the Congress was very much part of the alliance and is always seen as the traditional keeper of the Muslim vote. This erosion of the minority vote is not just in Maharashtra. If that loss has not woken up the Congress yet, it really needs to shake off its slumber because Muslim disaffection is beginning to show itself quite visibly in a state that the party has fought hard to win: Telangana, which also shares a border with Maharashtra. There was every expectation that benefits for Muslims would rise significantly after the victory of the Congress in Telangana but this has not happened which has now led to significant discomfort and angst in the state. The main sore point of several Muslim organisations and political players is that there is still no minister in the states cabinet from the community. For context, more than 12 per cent of Telanganas population is Muslim, with half of them in Hyderabad. While the Congress leadership says that there are no Muslim MLAs in the state assembly, analysts point out that there is an option to appoint a Muslim MLC and make that person a minister. They point out that the previous BRS governments home minister and deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali was one such case. It is also being pointed out that the state government led by Revanth Reddy is yet to fulfil several of its manifesto promises, including a hike in the minority welfare budget and a subsidy scheme for minority youth. A flashpoint was also created when the state government reportedly altered the states official emblem to remove the iconic Charminar, which is Hyderabads biggest cultural identity and an enduring image of the state. The move has now been shelved. Another major issue that has created an issue within the community is the development of the Musi Riverfront, which will end up demolishing thousands of homes. Muslim organisations claim that most of them belong to the minority community. The opposition BRS has made this an issue, saying it will give free legal aid to those being displaced. There are several other allegations that are being made against the state government, including going soft on several communal incidents targeting minorities. Though the Telangana elections are still some way off, given the fact that the BJP will leave no stone unturned to take the state away from the Congress, minority unhappiness is something that the ruling dispensation simply cant afford. The threat is not just from the BJP but also the wounded BRS, which claims to have done far more for Muslims than the present government is doing. If there are no corrective steps taken to calm these fears and concerns, the Congress could again be looking at a key vote bloc abandoning it, much like in Maharashtra. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all So, this is the Kundarki syndrome: minority politics is going through a sea-change and there are no sureties or guarantees about which way votes will go anymore. The writer is a multiple award-winning historian and author. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: November 29, 2024, 17:20 IST BJP Files Complaint Against Maharashtra Congress MLC Over 'Dog' Remark On Election Commission Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 30, 2024, 11:39 IST Congress leader's "dog" remark on the Election Commission stoked massive political controversy, drawing sharp reactions from BJP. Senior Congress leader and Member of Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) Ashok Jagtap, alias Bhai Jagtap (IANS) After Congress MLC Bhai Jagtap refused to apologise for his dog" remark against the Election Commission, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday took a strong objection to it and filed a complaint for abusing" the poll body. I filled complaint with Election Commission & Police Commissioner Mumbai to take action against Congress Bhai Jagtap for abusing Election Commission," BJP leader Kirit Somaiya posted on X. related stories I filled complaint with Election Commission & Police Commissioner Mumbai to take action against Congress Bhai Jagtap for abusing Election Commission pic.twitter.com/TZpyfN4jLy Kirit Somaiya (@KiritSomaiya) November 30, 2024 This comes after Bhai Jagtap stoked a massive political row on Friday after he alleged that the ECI was working under pressure from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He later refused to apologise for his remarks stating that he stands by his statement. I will not apologise at all, not even a bitIf they are working under pressure from the PM and other ministers then what I have said is right. I will not apologiseElection Commission exists to further strengthen the democracy of the country, and not to serve someone. I stand by what I said. Election Commission should work like T.N. SeshanDemocracy is being disreputed because of you," he said. #WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra: On his kutta" remark for Election Commission, Congress leader Bhai Jagtap says, I will not apologise at all, not even a bitIf they are working under pressure from the PM and other ministers then what I have said is right. I will not pic.twitter.com/xmJ9cfUgas ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2024 Bhai Jagtaps Controversial Remark On ECI Upset with the Maharashtra assembly election results, senior Congress leader and Member of Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) Ashok Jagtap, alias Bhai Jagtap, on Friday triggered a row by dubbing Election Commission of India (ECI) as a dog" who sits outside the bungalow of PM Modi. The deputy leader of opposition in the legislative council compared the countrys poll body to a canine sitting outside the PMs residence acting as their pet. He further alleged irregularities in the recently held assembly elections and claimed that the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance won the election because of EVM Tampering. This is an unexpected (polls) verdict. We cannot believe it People in the state were totally against the (ruling) MahaYuti regime, but the entire credit for it goes to the EVMs. Yes EVMs tampered I will say hacked at some places," news agency IANS quoted Jagtap as saying. He went on to claim that several agencies be it CBI, ED, or Election Commission, have been working as puppets under the influence of the BJP-led Centre. Mumbai: Congress leader and MLC Bhai Jagtap on Maharashtra Election results says, (Election Commission toh Kutta hai) The Election Commission is like a dog, acting as a dog, sitting outside Narendra Modi jis bungalow. All the agencies that were created to strengthen our pic.twitter.com/EMgFlX6jJm IANS (@ians_india) November 29, 2024 Election Commission toh Kutta hai (Election Commission is like a dog, acting as a dog), sitting outside Narendra Modijis bungalow. All the agencies that were created to strengthen our democracy have now become puppets, acting under the influence of Narendra Modi ji. These agencies, which were meant to safeguard our democracy, are unfortunately being misused. The ongoing incidents in Maharashtra and across the country show how the system is being manipulated" he added. Shiv Sena Slams Jagtap Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) soon reacted to Jagtaps absurd comments on the poll body and said that the Congress leader could opt for the random EVM checking if he feels that the EVMs were tampered. Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant said, He should not make such statementsIf he thinks that there is some problem with the EVMs, he should opt for random EVM checking. The truth will come outAction should be taken against such statements" #WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra: On Congress leader Bhai Jagtaps reported objectionable statement on Election Commission, Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant says, He should not make such statementsIf he thinks that there is some problem with the EVMs, he should opt for random EVM pic.twitter.com/3YbajRkSSX ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2024 Former Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha condemned the remark stating that the Opposition is rattled by the poll loss in Maharashtra. It is unfortunate that this kind of language is being used in politics" he said. Congress Urges ECIs Clarification On Poll Results After the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance won a landslide victory in the Maharashtra assembly elections, shattering the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadis dream to wrest power, voices of EVM tampering started coming up from the opposition camp. Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole submitted a memorandum to the State Election Commission CEO on Friday raising several questions on the sudden spurt in the November 20 Assembly elections voting figures. Doubts are being raised at various levels on the 7.83 per cent increase in votes after the close of voting hours. Judging by the ECIs figures, there should have been long queues outside polling stations after 5 p.m. that (November 20) day. Public sentiments are strong as there is a huge scam in this," said Patole in the letter. He demanded to know in how many constituencies of the total 288 were there long voters queues after 5 p.m., sought the release of evidence on this including video footage, etc. Earlier, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge voiced his opinion to bring back the traditional voting system alleging tampering with the voting machines. We dont want elections through EVMs. We want elections through ballot papers. Just like we had carried out the Bharat Jodo Yatra, we will run a nationwide campaign for elections using ballot papers," he said. The BJP won the highest ever 132 seats for the party, while the Shiv Sena led by Shinde bagged 57 seats and NCP won 41 seats to take the Mahayuti total to 230 seats. Congress as part of MVA won just 16 seats. SC Dismisses Plea Seeking Polls Via Ballot Paper Earlier this week, the Supreme Court had junked a petition seeking to revert to traditional ballot paper voting process in the elections in the country. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and PB Varale while dismissing the petition remarked, What happens is, when you win the election, EVMs (electronic voting machine) are not tampered. When you lose the election, EVMs are tampered (with)." (With inputs from agencies) First Published: November 29, 2024, 20:38 IST Maharashtra Cabinet Shake-Up: Speculation Of Young Faces Strategy Raises Anxiety Among Senior MLAs Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 08:45 IST There are chances that the new Cabinet which will be formed soon will have names of new faces from all three parties and a few seniors will be given rest and asked to work for the alliance. Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde (Source: X/@mieknathshinde) As Maharashtra waits for clarity on its Chief Minister and cabinet formation, a new strategy by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is creating ripples in political circles. Sources suggest that senior leaders may face exclusion in favour of younger MLAs in the upcoming cabinet of Mahayuti. This move is part of the BJPs plan to infuse fresh energy into the government and prepare for future elections. After the discussion for CM post candidate, the trio (Devendra Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde) is likely to discuss the names of cabinet ministers from their parties who will take oath along with CM and Deputy CM. Post Lok Sabha elections, the BJP central leadership had presented a report to the trio and had expressed the need to change them. But considering the debacle in Lok Sabha polls, it was not done. Sources have said that in this list, the names of a few senior leaders were also included. Hence, there are chances that the new Cabinet which will be formed soon will have names of new faces from all three parties and a few seniors will be given rest and asked to work for the alliance or for their respected parties by their leaders. related stories Reports indicate that the BJP is considering a policy to prioritise MLAs under the age of 50 for ministerial positions. This move is reportedly aimed at aligning the government with the aspirations of younger voters while ensuring a strong performance in the next election. This development has created anxiety among senior MLAs, many of whom fear losing their ministerial berths. Political insiders suggest that BJP plans to leverage this new approach to build a more dynamic Cabinet, balancing experience with youthful energy. Ajit Pawar has already arrived in Delhi, while Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde are expected to reach by late afternoon. The meeting will discuss the Chief Ministers position, cabinet portfolio distribution, and the formula for power-sharing among the BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), and Ajit Pawars NCP. According to preliminary discussions, the Mahayuti alliances cabinet distribution formula could follow a 21-12-10 split. The BJP is expected to claim 20-25 ministerial positions, followed by 10-12 for the Shinde faction, and 7-9 for the Ajit Pawar camp. The uncertainty around cabinet formation has led to a flurry of activity at the official residence of Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai. Over the past two days, several MLAs from the Mahayuti alliance have visited Fadnavis to lobby for ministerial berths. Intense competition is reportedly underway, with many vying for coveted portfolios. On Thursday, a few leaders of NCP had also visited Delhi and met Ajit Pawar to lobby for themselves. Newly elected MLAs of Shiv Sena are also consciously coming to meet Eknath Shinde at his residence in Thane. The MLAs anxiety has heightened with speculation that a significant number of senior leaders could be excluded from the Cabinet. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all BJPs focus on younger faces is viewed as a strategic shift aimed at fostering new leadership while consolidating voter support among younger demographics. Political analysts believe the BJPs decision to prioritise younger leaders reflects a calculated strategy to secure a stronger foothold in Maharashtras political landscape. By giving greater representation to MLAs under 50, the party aims to project a progressive image and prepare for long-term electoral gains. The final decision on the Chief Minister and cabinet composition is expected to be announced after tonights meeting. The state is watching closely as this high-stakes negotiation unfolds in Delhi. First Published: November 29, 2024, 08:45 IST Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 22:21 IST Maharashtra New CM Updates: Six days after the election results in Maharashtra, Mahayuti leaders have held several meetings in Mumbai and New Delhi, but the suspense over who will be the next chief minister of the state continues. The alliance secured a resounding victory in last weeks assembly elections. Sources told CNN-News18 that the crucial Mahayuti leaders meeting at Union Home Minister Amit Shahs residence in New Delhi on Thursday night mostly focused on cabinet berth allocations. While BJP has been trying to retain the plum posts, caretaker CM and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, who has been offered the deputy CMs post, is eyeing the home and urban portfolios. Sources also said that key Mahayuti leaders, Eknath Shinde, former CM and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, NCP leader Ajit Pawar will finalise the list of cabinet ministers and later fly to Delhi on Monday for another meeting with the BJP top brass before making any announcement. They said that the oath-taking ceremony for the new Maharashtra CM and his minister will likely be organised on December 5, said sources. BJP Set To Get Maharashtra CM Post, Shinde Not Keen On Deputy Role As Mahayuti Talks Continue Today Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 13:27 IST Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said a meeting of Mahayuti would happen in Mumbai today for a final decision on the CM's face. Mahayuti leaders met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah at latter's New Delhi residence on Thursday night | Image/PTI Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a crucial meeting on Thursday night with Mahayuti leaders to end the deadlock over Maharashtras Chief Minister post, which sources said has been allocated to the BJP. Amid the suspense over who would assume the states top post, sources told CNN-News18 that Thursdays meeting primarily witnessed discussions around cabinet berth allocations, with Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde demanding at least 12 key ministerial berths in the new cabinet for Shiv Sena. related stories BJP President JP Nadda and Mahayuti leaders including Devendra Fadnavis and NCPs Ajit Pawar were also part of the meeting, which Shinde described as good and positive." He confirmed that another meeting would happen in Mumbai today for a final decision on the CMs face. The meeting was good and positive. This was the first meeting. We had a discussion with Amit Shah and JP NaddaThere will be another meeting of the Mahayuti. In this meeting, a decision will be taken about who will be the Chief Minister. The meeting will be held in Mumbai," said Shinde. Delhi | Maharashtra caretaker CM Eknath Shinde says, The meeting was good and positive. This was the first meeting. We had a discussion with Amit Shah and JP NaddaThere will be another meeting of the Mahayuti. In this meeting, a decision will be taken about who will be the pic.twitter.com/xps8yknhT8 ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2024 Sources said that the Mahayuti leaders will hold a second round of discussion next week in Delhi to lay the roadmap for government formation. Who Wants What: All You Need To Know As the BJP has almost decided to continue with the formula of two Deputy CMs, with Devendra Fadnavis almost set to come back as CM, sources said that Shinde is pushing for his son, Shrikant, to be appointed as the Deputy CM. Shinde, who has been offered the Deputy CMs role, reportedly declined the offer while batting for his son for the role. He further sought the Home and Urban Development portfolios for Shiv Sena. Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar is likely to get the Deputy CMs post along with key Finance, Minority Affairs, Women and Child Development portfolios. On the other hand, the BJP, which is standing firm on keeping the Chief Ministers post, has pitched for the Revenue Ministry, sources said, adding that a final decision will be taken after a meeting between all three parties later today. Sources said that the new government formation in Maharashtra is unlikely to take place before December 7, with the swearing-in ceremony of the newly-elected Chief Minister and his deputies being scheduled in the second week. Shinde Leaves CM Decision With BJP Shinde, who resigned from the Maharashtra Chief Ministers post on Tuesday but continues in his caretaker role, had expressed his willingness to accept the BJPs decision for the states top post. I have told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that I would not be an obstacle. We will go with whatever he decides," Shinde said at a press conference in Thane on Wednesday. He also assured PM Modi of his unwavering support in the formation of the new government. Speculations are rife that Fadnavis, who has been credited for Mahayutis hit show in Maharashtra elections, will return as Chief Minister, given the BJPs dominant performance in the polls. However, an official decision is yet to be made, with Mahayuti leaders expected to finalise the matter today. The Mahayuti alliance, led by the BJP, secured a thumping victory in the Maharashtra state assembly elections, bagging 230 seats in the 288-member assembly. The BJP alone claimed 132 constituencies, its highest-ever tally in the state, while its allies Shindes Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawars NCP also performed strongly, winning 57 and 41 seats, respectively. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all First Published: November 29, 2024, 07:41 IST Shinde Leaves For His Village, Mahayuti Meet Cancelled As Maharashtra CM Suspense Continues Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 17:38 IST BJP's Devendra Fadnavis, Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde and NCP's Ajit Pawar will finalise a list of ministers and fly to Delhi on Monday to meet with the BJP top brass Maharashtra caretaker CM Eknath Shinde with Mahayuti leaders. (PTI) The suspense over Maharashtra government formation is set to last at least two more days as a key Mahayuti meeting in Mumbai has been cancelled and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde has left for his native village in Satara. Responding to the latest developments, Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant said the Maharashtra caretaker CM was not upset over anything and had gone to his village for personal reasons. related stories The Mahayuti alliance, comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), emerged victorious the Maharashtra assembly election results six days ago and a new chief minister and his team of ministers are yet to take charge. Sources have said that the key alliance leaders, BJPs Devendra Fadnavis, Shiv Senas Eknath Shinde and NCPs Ajit Pawar will finalise a list and fly to Delhi on Monday to meet with the BJP top brass before making an announcement. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Here are the top developments in the story: The oath-taking ceremony of the Mahayuti government is likely to take place on December 5. Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant said the BJP will appoint its legislative party leader in the next two days, which will make it easier for the Mahayuti allies to decide on the next course of action. Shiv Senas deputy leader in Lok Sabha, Dhairyasheel Sambhajirao Mane, said Eknath Shinde would prefer to stay back in Maharashtra. Mane said Eknath Shinde was likely to push for his son, Shrikant, for a cabinet berth at the Centre. We hope well get some clarity over the next two days," he added. Shiv Sena MP and senior leader Naresh Mhaske emphasised that Eknath Shinde would remain in Maharashtra as he was an MLA, adding that top party leaders will finalise wholl get the Cabinet post at the Centre. Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a crucial meeting in New Delhi on Thursday night with Mahayuti leaders to end the deadlock over Maharashtras Chief Minister post, which sources said has been allocated to the BJP. Amid the suspense over who would assume the states top post, sources told CNN-News18 that Thursdays meeting primarily witnessed discussions around cabinet berth allocations, with Eknath Shinde demanding at least 12 key ministerial berths in the new cabinet for Shiv Sena. BJP President JP Nadda and Mahayuti leaders including Devendra Fadnavis and NCPs Ajit Pawar were also part of the meeting, which Shinde described as good and positive." He confirmed that another meeting would happen in Mumbai today for a final decision on the CMs face. First Published: November 29, 2024, 15:31 IST 'Clarity In Next 2 Days': Eknath Shinde's Camp Drops Clues Amid Maharashtra CM Suspense Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Poulami Kundu Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 15:33 IST Maharashtra CM: Sources said during the crucial Mahayuti leaders meeting in New Delhi, Maharashtras caretaker CM Shinde sought 12 ministerial berths for Shiv Sena Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde with Shiv Sena candidate Skrikant Shinde at a roadshow. (PTI file photo) Its been six days since the Maharashtra assembly election results were declared and the Mahayuti alliance emerged victorious, but suspense over the new head of the state and fresh cabinet ministers is not over yet. Sources have said that the key alliance leaders will finalise a list and fly to Delhi on Monday to meet with the BJP top brass before making an announcement. Sources said during the crucial Mahayuti leaders meeting at Union Home Minister Amit Shahs residence in New Delhi on Thursday night, Maharashtras caretaker Chief Minister and Shiv Sena Leader Eknath Shinde sought 12 ministerial berths for his party. They said though he was offered the deputy chief ministers position, he wanted the home and urban development portfolios. related stories Speaking to CNN-News18 about Shiv Senas representation at the Cabinet in New Delhi, the partys deputy leader in Lok Sabha, Dhairyasheel Sambhajirao Mane, said Eknath Shinde would prefer to stay back in Maharashtra. Mane said Eknath Shinde was likely to push for his son, Shrikant, for a cabinet berth at the Centre. Mane said there are important portfolios in the state and discussions are being held between the Mahayuti allies (BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP). We hope well get some clarity over the next two days," he added. Speaking to CNN-News18, Shiv Sena MP and senior leader Naresh Mhaske reiterated what Mane said. He said PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have assured full support to uplift Maharashtra. He emphasised that Eknath Shinde would remain in Maharashtra as he was an MLA, adding that top party leaders will finalise wholl get the Cabinet post at the Centre. Mahayuti Mumbai Meet Cancelled, Shinde Leaves For His Village top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Meanwhile, the Mahayuti leaders meeting in Mumbai scheduled for today (Friday) has been cancelled and Eknath Shinde has left for his native village in Satara. Responding to the latest developments, Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant said Shinde was not upset over anything and had gone to his village for personal reasons. He added that the BJP will appoint its legislative party leader in the next two days, which will make it easier for the Mahayuti allies to decide on the next course of action. First Published: November 29, 2024, 13:28 IST Opposition Spreading Propaganda Against NDA, Crushing Spirit Of Constitution: PM Modi Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 22:37 IST PM Modi, addressing party workers in Bhubaneswar, also said that the opposition has only one aim, to somehow capture power by misleading people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a gathering during an event, in Bhubaneswar (PTI) Slamming opposition parties for propaganda against the BJP-led NDA, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asserted that they have crushed" the spirit of the Constitution and rejected all norms of democracy. Modi, addressing party workers in Bhubaneswar, also said that the opposition has only one aim, to somehow capture power by misleading people". related stories Those who consider power as their birthright have not been in power at the Centre for the last decade The spirit of the Constitution is crushed (by them), all the norms of democracy are rejected," he said in an apparent dig at the opposition. The prime minister said it is quite natural that there would be ideological differences among political parties on different issues, and that they have the right to express their views and resort to agitations. But now, one can feel, there has been a big change as attempts are being made to tarnish the image of our democracy and the Constitution," said Modi. Denied of power for the last decade, such parties are now filled with so much anger that they do not hesitate to conspire against the country and its people. They are misleading people with lies and rumours," he said. Modi noted that such false propaganda is a big challenge for people of India, and BJP workers and those who love the country and respect the Constitution should foil such attempts and expose the lies". The PM said the BJP dedicatedly worked for the development of Odisha, even when the party was not in power in the eastern state. The Odisha poll results surprised many big political experts, who had completely rejected the idea of BJP forming government in the state BJPs election success in Odisha, Haryana and Maharashtra shows the strength of our party workers," Modi asserted. The BJP respects and gives priority to the rich culture and tradition of Odisha, he said. I am happy that due to the efforts of the BJP, Odishas tribal daughter Droupadi Murmu ji is the President of the country today. This has boosted the confidence of daughters from all sections of society. Her journey will inspire many generations to come," the PM said. PM Modi Visits Odisha BJP Headquarters The Prime Minister later visited the partys state office headquarters and interacted with the party workers. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Went to the @BJP4Odisha HQ and interacted with Party leaders and Karyakartas. We discussed how to keep strengthening the Party across the state and ways to keep working towards improving the lives of people. pic.twitter.com/H2OKjLz9OS Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 29, 2024 Went to the @BJP4Odisha HQ and interacted with Party leaders and Karyakartas. We discussed how to keep strengthening the Party across the state and ways to keep working towards improving the lives of people," PM Modi said in a post on X. Location : Bhubaneswar, India First Published: November 29, 2024, 19:37 IST 'Our Biggest Weakness Is...': Congress Critiques Its Maharashtra Misadventure At CWC Meet Reported By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Pathikrit Sen Gupta Last Updated: November 30, 2024, 09:08 IST Just before the event began, the Congress also released a memorandum to the Election Commission, asking for a personal meeting to share 'evidence' that EVMs were indeed compromised The Congress understands the need to be seen as battle-ready and equipped. (File photo: News18) In the first Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting held after this months Maharashtra poll debacle, there was some tough and candid talk from the party president. In his opening speech, Mallikarjun Kharge rebuked party leaders, saying their infighting cost the Congress a victory. The biggest weakness is that we are not united, and public comments against each other hurt us. We have ways to ensure discipline, but we dont want to be harsh with our party colleagues," he said. This is the usual story for the party. In fact, sources say, Rahul Gandhi too echoed Kharges thoughts. Reiterating what he said before, Rahul stated, Whats more important for some is position than the party, and this is what hurts us always." related stories For example, the Haryana polls were lost because of many factors, but the open fight between the Hoodas and Kumari Selja was seen as one of the main reasons for the setback. Despite the Gandhis stepping in to placate, the bitterness was too deep for any patch-up. In Maharashtra, Congress leaders were openly fighting for the chief ministers post, which made the Maha Vikas Aghadi look weak. But the most key decision was on electoral and EVM issues. Just before the CWC event began, the Congress released a memorandum to the Election Commission, asking for a personal meeting to share evidence" that EVMs were indeed compromised. The Congress president referred to this in his speech, saying this defeated the purpose of a fight against the fascist BJP". The Congress has planned a yatra to awaken" people about the need to return to the earlier system of ballot papers. However, top sources say that some leaders present said that just blaming the EVMs was not the correct assessment. The failure to understand the impact of the Ladki Bahin Yojana and the RSS and BJPs groundwork were also key causes. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Congress understands the need to be seen as battle-ready and equipped. Unfortunately, many issues raised by the party, like the caste census and a threat to the Constitution, have failed to bring in votes. The party has yet to read the writing on the wall: that it needs to be battle-ready. Despite Kharge saying the party organisation needs to be strengthened, not much happens on the ground. Multiple egos and confused strategies repeatedly led the grand old party to lose. The next big challenge will be the 2025 Delhi elections. But here again, the Congress looks confused. First Published: November 29, 2024, 21:48 IST Thanking Ladki Bahins For Poll Support: Mahayuti May Get 4 Women Ministers In Cabinet Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 12:36 IST The names of NCP Ajit Pawar's Aditi Tatkare, BJP MLAs Devyani Farande and Shweta Mahale are among those being discusses, say sources The Mahayuti governments focus on increasing the number of women ministers aligns with its larger strategy of promoting womens leadership. (PTI File) To acknowledge the support shown by women voters in the Maharashtra assembly elections and fulfil their promise of empowerment of women, the Mahayuti alliance, amid the deliberations on the top posts and key portfolios, is taking steps to enhance womens representation in the cabinet. Sources reveal that at least four women MLAs are likely to be inducted into the new cabinet. This marks a significant move from the previous Mahayuti government, where only one woman held a ministerial position. related stories The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which won 14 seats with women candidates in this election, is expected to play a leading role in increasing the number of women ministers. These MLAs have demonstrated their competence and loyalty, with many of them being re-elected from their constituencies. To ensure the best candidates are selected, the profiles of these women MLAs have reportedly been sent to Delhi for a detailed review and final approval. Among the names being discussed is Aditi Tatkare from the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Tatkare, who previously served as the minister for women and child development, is known for her administrative experience and leadership skills. BJP MLAs Devyani Farande from Nashik Central and Shweta Mahale from Chikhli are also strong contenders for cabinet positions. Additionally, the Shinde Sena is expected to push for at least one of its women MLAs to secure a ministerial berth. The Mahayuti governments focus on increasing the number of women ministers aligns with its larger strategy of promoting womens leadership. The alliance had already garnered significant support from women voters through the implementation of the Ladki Bahin scheme, which resonated strongly in rural and urban areas. The decision to induct more women leaders into the cabinet is being seen as a continuation of this effort to address womens issues and include them in governance at the highest levels. . . pic.twitter.com/EMFGrw1L2R Aditi S Tatkare (@iAditiTatkare) November 28, 2024 KEY WOMEN MLAS OF THE THREE ALLIES The BJP leads the Mahayuti alliance in terms of women representation, with 14 women MLAs elected in this term. These include experienced leaders namely Shweta Mahale, Meghna Bordikar from Jintur, Devyani Farande, and Manda Mhatre from Belapur. Other prominent names include Seema Hire from Nashik West, Vidya Thakur from Goregaon, and Manisha Chaudhary from Dahisar. New faces like Shrijaya Chavan from Bhokar and Sneha Pandit from Vasai have also brought fresh energy to the BJPs legislative team. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Ajit Pawar-led faction of the NCP also has strong contenders among its four elected women MLAs. Aditi Tatkare has emerged as a frontrunner, given her previous ministerial experience. Saroj Ahire from Deolali and Sana Malik from Anushaktinagar are also likely candidates. Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) is banking on its two women MLAs, Manjula Gavit from Sakri and Sanjana Jadhav from Kannad, to secure a place in the cabinet. The final decision on the cabinet composition will only be made after the chief minister is announced. However, sources suggest that the Mahayuti leadership is keen on aligning its cabinet appointments with long-term political strategies. Giving women MLAs a more prominent role not only enhances representation but also strengthens the alliances outreach to women voters ahead of future elections. First Published: November 29, 2024, 12:33 IST Huaweis New Mobile OS Runs Without Google And Android Apps Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 08:30 IST Huawei is now using hardware and software made in its home region and doesn't have any US-based components. Huawei is offering thousands of apps for its new OS Huawei has been talking about its plans to make an Android-free mobile OS that will have its own apps and features. Well, that day is finally here with the new HarmonyOS version launching with the Huawei Mate 70 smartphone this week. The company isnt getting a wide range of apps for these devices from day one, but it does plan to launch more devices with the platform, which could surely push the number beyond 15,000 in quick time. related stories Huawei has been cut off from most parts of the world as it became a victim of the US-China trade war a few years back. The US Shackles Are Off In fact, Huawei was unable to source components from the US tech giants, including Google, which offers Android. The company has gradually moved to in-house hardware and now the software evolution completes the transition which shows its ability to withstand the US chip ban. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Huaweis power to make this happen gives it Apple-like control on the ecosystem, which means you get features that are only possible with such a support. The company showcased its own camera tricks to capture moving objects and convert them into stills. There was also this unique file transfer option which works via gestures by moving your hands in the air. The demo of these features have got netizens excited this week and Huawei can add a lot more to its armoury in the next few years. The company is already known for its focus on innovation and the freedom to operate with its own hardware will allow them to spread their wings and show the world what they are missing out on because of these conflicts. First Published: November 29, 2024, 08:30 IST Chhattisgarh Couple Exchanges Helmets During Engagement To Raise Awareness About Road Safety Curated By : Local News Desk Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 10:36 IST Birendra Sahu, a Jarwahi village resident in Dongargarh tehsil, got engaged to 24-year-old Jyoti Sahu. The grooms father died in a road accident. An engagement ceremony in the Rajnandgaon district of Chattisgarh is in the headlines due to a noble initiative undertaken by the bride and groom. According to Local 18 Chhattisgarh, at this wedding, both partners gifted helmets to each other, thus encouraging the importance of road safety norms. In this ceremony, Birendra Sahu, a Jarwahi village resident in Dongargarh tehsil, got engaged to 24-year-old Jyoti Sahu. Jyoti is a resident of Kariatola village in Dongargaon town. After all the engagement rituals were finished, the couple gave an awareness message about road safety to the guests present at the wedding. This was a unique wedding ritual for the guests. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all related stories Birendra Sahu, the groom, talked about what encouraged him to perform this custom at his wedding. According to him, his father Panchram Sahu was the secretary of Gram Panchayat Kalkasa. Birendra remembered that one day, his father was returning home by bike after work. His father suffered a serious head injury because of not wearing a helmet when he was hit by an unknown vehicle. Due to this wound, his father died in January 2022. Since the demise of Panchram Sahu, his family members have made it a point to make people aware of the importance of wearing helmets. To make their initiative reach a large number of people, they also wore helmets in their engagement and wedding ceremonies. Birendra Sahu and his family members have also started a campaign by the name of Helmet Sangwari (Helmet Friend). Under this campaign, the people are given and taught the importance of wearing helmets. Till now, they have distributed helmets to more than 1000 people. Birendra Sahus brother Dharmendra Sahu has distributed these helmets to the people for free. According to a report, the insurance amount that Panchram Sahus family got after his demise was used to purchase and distribute helmets to the people. Dharmendra said in the interview that he and his brothers have decided to contribute 20 percent toward spreading awareness and distributing helmets to the people in their community. He wants to ensure that there are no more deaths due to the injuries in the road accidents. Location : Delhi, India First Published: November 29, 2024, 10:36 IST Chinese Man Brings Home Surrogate Baby To Claim Deceased Wifes Property Curated By : Local News Desk Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 11:25 IST The couples joint property included two flats in Shanghai and bank savings, the exact amount of which was not disclosed in the news report. The wife, surnamed Qiu, passed away in 2021. A man in China took a baby home a year after his wife died, claiming it was born through surrogacy with her consent to claim a share of her property. The case, handled by a Shanghai court, is currently garnering public attention. The wife, surnamed Qiu, passed away in 2021 from an unidentified connective tissue illness and cancer. She and her husband, identified as Lin, did not have any children before her passing, according to the reports. The couples joint property included two flats in Shanghai and bank savings, the exact amount of which was not disclosed in the news report. According to the law, Qius estate should be divided between Lin and her octogenarian parents. Her parents are her foster parents, as they were unable to have biological children due to their health issues. related stories In 2022, Lin informed Qius foster mother that part of his wifes inheritance should be allocated to a surrogate baby, whose gender has not been revealed. He claimed that he and Qiu had previously contacted an overseas agency in hopes of having a baby through surrogacy. Qius mother rejected the claim regarding the baby and expressed doubts about its identity. She stated that medical documents indicated Lin was the biological father of the baby, but no evidence confirmed the identity of the mother. As per Qius foster mother, her daughter was not a suitable candidate for an egg extraction procedure due to multiple health conditions and long-term medication use. Additionally, the mother had never heard her daughter discuss preparations for such a procedure. China prohibits any surrogacy-related activities within its borders. However, children born through surrogacy have the same inheritance rights as those conceived naturally. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The court that heard the case this year stated it could not verify the biological relationship between the baby and the deceased, as Qius parents are not her biological relatives and her body was cremated after her death. The court also found Lins statements to be riddled with contradictions. He claimed that Qiu travelled to Thailand for egg extraction in 2016, but border authorities had no record of her travelling there that year. The court concluded that Qiu is not the biological mother of the baby, and therefore the infant is not entitled to inherit her estate. Location : Delhi, India First Published: November 29, 2024, 11:25 IST Himachal Goat Thieves, Caught Red-handed, Confess To Multiple Crimes Curated By : Local News Desk Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 10:41 IST Both accused were arrested on Sunday and presented in the Dehra court on Monday. The diligent efforts of the police helped solve this unusual case. If you are a livestock owner, you need to be cautious, as your animals might be at risk of being stolen. This isnt just speculation as recent incidents suggest that even animals are no longer safe from thieves. A strange case has emerged from Khundian in Kangra district, where thieves stole three goats and fled. The matter eventually reached the police. Surinder Kumar, the head constable of Khundian Police, was investigating the case. According to the police, the accused were found in possession of three goats and one nanny goat. Station in-charge Ranjit Singh Parmar informed that two suspects have been arrested in this case. The accused are identified as Deepak Kumar (24) from Gajroda village, Balkarupi post office, Jaisinghpur and Gaurav Singh (23) from Uttarapur village, Jaisinghpur. related stories Both accused were arrested on Sunday and presented in the Dehra court on Monday, where they were remanded to police custody for three days. On Tuesday, the accused were taken to the crime scene in Jhaula. During this visit, the police recovered a motorcycle used in the theft, a broken lock, an iron chisel, a hacksaw blade, a torch and an iron sickle used to commit the theft. During questioning, the accused admitted to stealing 7 to 8 goats in the Bhawarna and Lambagaon areas as well. The diligent efforts of the police helped solve this unusual case, shedding light on a concerning trend of livestock thefts in the area. In another incident, Police have arrested three persons, including a BJP youth wing secretary in Karur on charges of stealing goats in a car. Police recovered a goat and a car in September. The three in the police net were V Ranjithkumar, 35, P Sathishkumar, 25 and M Sivakumar, 22. Ranjithkumar is the union secretary of BJPs Kodaikanal youth wing. He is a resident of NGO Colony near Uzhavar Sandhai in Dindigul district, said Aravakuruchi police. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Sathishkumar belongs to Kannivadi and Sivakumar is of Kasavanapatti, both in Athur taluk of Dindigul district. Police recovered a car with a TN registration the thieves were using. Earlier, the police received complaints from the residents of Thennilai, Paramathi and Aravakuruchi that a gang arrived in a car and stole 16 goats on the night of September 27. Location : Delhi, India First Published: November 29, 2024, 10:41 IST Lucknow Bride In A Banarasi Bikini? Heres The Truth Behind The Viral Claim Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 13:41 IST A photo has been going viral online with the claim that a bride from Lucknow wore a Banarasi bikini on her wedding day. Read on to find out the truth behind the picture. Fact-check: Did a bride in Lucknow wear a Banarasi bikini on her wedding day? (Screengrab) A picture of a woman wearing a yellow Banarasi bikini" has gone viral on social media, with claims that she defied stereotypes by choosing the outfit for her wedding day. However, after investigating the claim, News18.com found it to be false. The image, which was circulating with the claim that it showed a bride from Lucknow, is actually AI-generated and not from a real setting. Lucknow bride breaks stereotype by wearing Banarasi bikini in marriage ceremony. Internet split in two halves," reads the text on the viral picture. related stories The image shows a woman in a yellow bikini and a veil holding a varmala, with a groom standing in front of her wearing a sherwani. The bride is also adorned with jewellery and is wearing henna on her hands and legs. Heres the viral post: Wtf is a BANARASI BIKINI ??????? pic.twitter.com/mxI53Ynqd2 Simmi_ (@hi_samie) November 28, 2024 After the post swiftly went viral online, we ran a reverse image search on the photo and it directed us to a Reddit post where it was originally posted with the caption, Marriage season." The post on the platforms DesiAdultfusion" community, has an NSFW" tag, indicating it is explicit and suitable only for those above the age of 18. When we went through the description of the Reddit page, we found that it posts AI-generated artwork. The description of the page reads, DesiAdultfusion is a subreddit dedicated to showcasing AI-generated artwork related to desi culture. From traditional to contemporary, our community welcomes all forms of desi-inspired art created using artificial intelligence. Share your unique creations and explore the work of others who share your passion for all things desi." Take a look at the original post here: One user even posted the viral screenshot and wrote that people have been misusing their AI-generated images". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all We also analyzed the image using the deepfake detection tool TrueMedia.org, which confirmed that the image was AI-generated. The platform indicated substantial evidence of image manipulation and suggested that it might have been created using tools like Stable Diffusion, MidJourney, or DALL-E 2". First Published: November 29, 2024, 13:11 IST Man Carries 20-Foot Crocodile On Shoulders In Daring UP Rescue Operation Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 10:40 IST A viral video captures a man carrying a massive crocodile on his shoulders during a rescue operation in Puthiya Khurd village, Uttar Pradesh. The crocodile was reportedly 20 feet long and weighed 150 kg. (Photo Credits: X) A video of a young man carrying a massive crocodile on his shoulders in Uttar Pradeshs Hamirpur district has gained significant attention online. It left viewers amazed at his courage and strength as he carried the terrifying predator. According to reports, the crocodile was 20 feet long and weighed 150 kg. The man carried the enormous reptile to the Yamuna River where it was released safely. The brave act has drawn praise from viewers who admired his courage in handling such a dangerous animal. In the footage, which was shared on X, the crocodile is seen tied up and resting on the mans shoulders as he carries it. According to the reports, the reptile had been spotted in a pond in Puthiya Khurd village over a month ago and created panic in the area. Locals avoided the pond out of fear of an attack. The crocodile stayed in the pond for weeks. It left terrified villagers with no choice but to finally report the situation to the forest department for help. related stories Upon receiving the complaint, the forest department team arrived in the village to investigate. Officials and the villagers worked together for several days to capture the crocodile. It was eventually caught after a lengthy rescue operation. The team secured the animal by tying it to ensure it could not escape or harm anyone. The man in the viral video is part of the forest department team. He was given the responsibility of transporting the crocodile to its natural habitat. The post shared two clips, one of which showed the forest official carrying the tied crocodile on his shoulders with its eyes covered. The other one showed the forest team holding it down in a trap during the rescue. The forest official safely released the crocodile into the Yamuna River. The caption accompanying the two clips reads: The video of a young man carrying a crocodile on his shoulder is rapidly going viral on social media!! A giant crocodile had been terrorizing the village for the past three weeks!! After three weeks of close monitoring, the forest department team and experts caught the crocodile!! Viral video of Hamirpur." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all This isnt the first time a crocodile has caused panic in a village in Uttar Pradesh. A few months ago, a crocodile was spotted in the Lakhimpur Kheri district. This left villagers terrified but the forest department team successfully rescued the reptile and took it into their care. Location : Delhi, India First Published: November 29, 2024, 10:40 IST Musician Uses Skeleton Of His Late Uncle To Craft Guitar, Names It 'Skelecaster' Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 15:45 IST Uncle Filip lost his life in a motorcycle accident at the age of 28 in Greece. For Prince, Skelecaster serves as a fond memory of Uncle Filip. (Photo Credits: YouTube) A musician from Florida paid a unique tribute to his late uncle who wanted him to become a rockstar. The Tampa-based artist who goes by the name Midnight Prince on YouTube crafted a guitar using the skeleton of his Uncle Filip who passed away in the 1990s. His decision, however, was not only fuelled by emotions. Prince revealed the backstory in a 2021 interview. During an interaction with HuffPost, Prince shared that Uncle Filip lost his life in a motorcycle accident at the age of 28 in Greece in the year 1996. His skeleton was initially donated to a local medical college. It was kept there for research for almost two decades. related stories Eventually, the college had to return the skeleton as using real bones for educational purposes was later banned in Greece. Thats when Princes family decided to store Uncle Filips remains in a nearby cemetery. They, however, were struggling to afford the rent. After 20 years, he ended up in a cemetery my family had to pay rent on. Like, literally in a wooden box," Midnight told HuffPost. Its a big problem in Greece because the Orthodox religion doesnt want people cremated," Prince told HuffPost. The emerging musician then decided to take things into his own hands. He shifted his uncles bones to the US with the help of a local funeral home. When he took the skeleton, his family had no idea what Prince would do with it. He refused to buy a cemetery plot for his deceased uncle. Prince Midnight then decided to design a guitar with the remains of Uncle Filip. He sought assistance from some of his friends who doubted that the instrument would sound like a traditional guitar. Despite the speculations, Prince had already made up his mind. It was no doubt a challenging task to turn the skeleton into a functional guitar. To connect the neck to the skeleton, Prince first had to connect a metal rod to the spine. Further, to allow the strings to ring freely, he needed to ensure that the neck and bridge were precisely parallel. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Additionally, he inserted a wire jack into Uncle Filips hip bone. Once the ghoulish guitar became ready to use, Prince nicknamed it Skelecaster." Talking about his familys reaction, he shared that his mother never supported his unconventional project. At first, she said it was sacrilegious and the work of the devil you know how moms are. But I asked her, Uncle Filip was the biggest metalhead of anybody. Where would he rather be? In the ground or shredding?" Prince said. The musician believes his Skelecaster" will always serve as a fond memory of his beloved Uncle Filip. He has been spotted playing the instrument in several YouTube videos. Location : Delhi, India First Published: November 29, 2024, 15:45 IST Pune Man Leaves One-Star Review For Gym After Girlfriend Cheats On Him Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 11:27 IST A man from Pune claimed that another gym-goer broke their "bro code" by "stealing" his girlfriend, which he cited as the reason for giving the gym a one-star review. Pune man left this harsh review for gym after his girlfriend cheated on him. (Image: X/@king26_sk) A man from Pune left a scathing one-star rating for a gym on Google after his girlfriend cheated on him with a fellow gym member. The man, who used to work out at the Cult gym in Punes Kalyani Nagar with his girlfriend, claimed that the other gym-goer broke their bro code" by stealing" his girlfriend, even after he had shared his protein shake with him. Now, a screenshot of his review has been swiftly going viral on social media, prompting many to leave their thoughts in the comments. In the now-viral review, the man said, I joined the classes a few months back with my girlfriend. The place is nice, people are good." related stories However, he gave it a one-star rating, stating, [I am giving] one-star because my girlfriend Shruti cheated on me with a guy named Abhishek at the centre." Read| Kolkata Is The Dirtiest City In India: Vizag Man Gives Scathing Review to West Bengal Capital The man further explained that at first, he thought they were just friends, but things eventually got serious. I even shared my protein shake with Abhishek but he betrayed me. Now, they do workout together and I am alone." An X (formerly known as Twitter) user shared the screenshot of the review he came across and wrote, Was looking for a good gym in my area and saw this review." Take a look at the review that the man shared here: was looking for a good gym in my area and saw this review pic.twitter.com/L7lnNZ38eO Soham (@king26_sk) November 28, 2024 After reading the review, many flocked to the comments section to share their thoughts. An individual quipped, This gym didnt work-out for him." Letting someone in on your protein is crazy," added another. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A third commented, I heard gym bros who share protein are friends forever without any tag." Cant tell if bro is more sad about protein shake or his girlfriend," joked a fourth. First Published: November 29, 2024, 11:16 IST Why Green Bank In The US Is Ultimate Digital Detox Destination Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 14:00 IST This town is home to the Green Bank Telescope, known for its ability to detect faint signals from space. Green Bank is the quietest town in America. (Photo Credits: YouTube) Green Bank is a very small town located in West Virginia that has attracted significant attention from the public since it falls within the National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ). It is a federally mandated area in which broadcasts are prohibited to keep the Green Bank Observatorys operations covert. This facility is the home of the Green Bank Telescope (GBT) one of the largest and most sensitive radio telescopes capable of picking faint signals from space. Established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1958, the NRQZ covers roughly 13,000 square miles of West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland. The purpose of this zone is mainly to reduce radio frequency interference (RFI) that interferes with astronomical observation. In this area, radio frequency devices like mobile phones, Wi-Fi routers, and even microwave ovens are heavily restricted, as per the magazine Washingtonian. They are most stringent inside a ten-square-mile radius of the observatory. related stories The NRQZ is operated by the Green Bank Interference Protection Group to ensure all activities observe requisite radio silence. This includes dividing the area into zones for different levels of restriction. For example, Zone 1 and Zone 2 are within observatory ground real estate, in which nearly all electromagnetic apparatuses are prohibited. However, in Zone 4, the regulations can be eased as one moves further from the observatory. Life in Green Bank The lack of communication technology has turned Green Bank into a haven for electrosensitive people those who experience health problems due to exposure to electromagnetic fields. Many individuals have moved to Green Bank to escape an ailment they associate with technology in bigger cities, Washingtonian notes. Consequently, there are many electro-sensitives in the town, and Crime Reads estimates their number at around 10% of residents. Living in Green Bank is different from living in the majority of towns in the U.S. The population can live a technology-free life enjoying the simplicity of nature and interpersonal communications. There are several locations for outdoor activities such as hiking, allowing one to spend time without the distractions of electronic equipment. However, this lifestyle raises concerns about the culture clash that long-time residents of that area have with newcomers who do not understand or are unwilling to deal with the constraints posed by the area, a Washingtonian report says. The Green Bank Observatory top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all It is not merely an efficient science research laboratory, the Green Bank Observatory is also a vital cog in this quiet community. This place contains several radio telescopes which need an extraordinarily low electromagnetic environment to operate. The GBT itself is actually extremely sensitive and can detect radio signals equal to one snowflake falling to the ground. Reference Links Location : Delhi, India First Published: November 29, 2024, 14:00 IST 'Angela, Forgive Me': Putin Denies Intentionally Scaring Merkel With Dog Published By : AFP Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 08:34 IST Merkel, who has a well-documented fear of the animals, recalled the tense encounter in her memoir released Tuesday, accusing Putin of inviting the pet as a "demonstration of power" and taking glee in her discomfort Putin is known to be fond of dogs and has received them from visiting dignitaries on multiple occasions. (Photo: X/@creepydotorg) Russian President Vladimir Putin apologised to former German chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday, saying he did not mean to scare her when he brought his pet Labrador to a meeting with her in 2007. Merkel, who has a well-documented fear of the animals, recalled the tense encounter in her memoir released Tuesday, accusing Putin of inviting the pet as a demonstration of power" and taking glee in her discomfort. related stories I did not know that she was afraid of dogs," the Kremlin chief said Thursday at a press conference in the Kazakh capital Astana. I once again appeal to her via the media and say: Angela, please forgive me, I did not want to cause you any heartache. On the contrary, I wanted to create a favourable atmosphere for our conversation," he added. If you ever I realise it is unlikely come again, I will not do it under any circumstances," Putin said. Images from their 2007 meeting in the Russian city of Sochi showed Putins black Labrador Retriever Konni sniffing around while the German leader sat in her chair, smiling nervously. Merkel said of the 2007 encounter in her memoir: I could tell from Putins facial expressions that he was enjoying the situation." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Putin is known to be fond of dogs and has received them from visiting dignitaries on multiple occasions. He received Konni as a gift from Sergei Shoigu, who later became his defence minister. Location : Moscow, Russia First Published: November 29, 2024, 08:34 IST Australia Shocker: Woman Butchers Husband With Power Saw, Dumps Body In 30 Plastic Bags Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 18:35 IST Nirmeen Noufl, 53, was charged with murder and desecrating a body after allegedly killing her husband to escape an abusive marriage. Chilling details of the murder emerged during a Supreme Court hearing in Australia on Thursday. (Representational Image) In a shocking case from Australia, a woman allegedly butchered her husband with a power saw to escape an abusive marriage, then placed his remains in 30 plastic bags and dumped them in several places across south-west Sydney, a court heard recently. Nirmeen Noufl, 53, was denied bail by the Supreme Court on Thursday over the alleged murder of the 62-year-old Mamdouh Emad" Noufl. Chilling details of the murder emerged as Noufl fought charges of murder and desecration of a body, while she was supported by a dozen family members and friends. related stories Police accused Noufl of slashing her husband with knives and a power saw during an altercation at their family home in Greenacre on May 3 last year, reported The Sydney Morning Herald. She allegedly disposed of the body parts in residential and commercial bins across several suburbs in Sydney. Accused Motivated By Husbands Extramarital Affair The Supreme Court on Thursday heard testimonies from Witness A" who allegedly saw Noufl carrying out callous" actions on the night of the murder, while another witness reported hearing statements from the accused that seemingly implicated her in the act of killing her husband. The police fact sheet alleged that Noufl was motivated by previous abuse as well as frustrations over her husbands extramarital affair with another woman in Egypt, with whom he had become engaged to whole wanting to stay married to his wife. Noufl was arrested last month when she checked herself into a mental health hospital based on strong circumstantial evidence while her husbands remains are yet to be found. Crown Prosecutor William Sit alleged Noufl killed her husband to escape an unhappy and abusive marriage, citing police reports of multiple domestic violence incidents, including one where her now-deceased husband drew a knife on her. Sit said the couple had travelled to the Egyptian consulate to formally grant her a power of attorney regarding properties in Egypt on the day of Mamdouh Noufls murder. The prosecutor submitted that the victim allegedly went to visit a friend and was never seen again. The Crown submits that in that time-frame between 9 pm and when witness A attended the home, thats when the killing happened. We say it was intentional as the opportunity arose circumstantially," he said. Police also said the couple allegedly had a fight over Mamdouh Noufls fiancee in Egypt on the night of the murder. After killing her husband, Nirmeen Noufl travelled to Egypt to act on the power of attorney, sold the properties and returned to Australia with $200,000, the prosecutor said. She also contacted her husbands fiancee and asked her for money that was owed to him. Defence Claims Mental Health Problems Of Accused Nirmeen Noufls lawyer argued in the Supreme Court that his client suffered from mental illnesses including depression, PTSD and a psychotic illness. He said that after checking herself into the hospital in October, she had reported hearing voices of angels" and kept a blanket over her head. James said her physical and mental health resulted in jail conditions that impeded her ability to take part in a proper trial. He also cited previous abuse by the husband, saying she was observed with injuries to her face consistent of violence being made to her" after the event. Issues of mental health in all its manifestations, issues of provocation, self-defence, an unlawful and dangerous act as opposed to intentional killing are all on the cards," the lawyer argued. However, Sit argued that Noufls behaviour was consistent with someone who had intentionally killed her husband. The Crown Prosecutor highlighted what he considered as evidence that she used her husbands phone and social media accounts after the alleged murder in Australia till she travelled to Egypt. Sit said she used language that was apparently inconsistent that of the deceased and had plans to live overseas. What Did The Court Say? top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Supreme Court Judge Deborah Sweeney said the Crowns case that Noufl dismembered her husbands body, placed it in 20 to 30 bags and disposed of them in separate residential and industrial bins" appeared strong and denied her bail on Thursday. She accepted that the victim suffered from depression, complex PTSD as a result of her abusive parents and late husband and a possible psychotic illness, but said she could be treated in custody. Noufl will face the court again on December 11. Location : Canberra, Australia First Published: November 29, 2024, 18:35 IST 'Better Than Other Bananas': Crypto Mogul Eats Banana Artwork He Bought For $6.2 Million Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 20:42 IST Video shows Sun taking a bite of the banana after delivering a speech in which he described the artwork as "iconic" and compared conceptual art to cryptocurrency Chinese-born crypto founder Justin Sun eats a banana artwork composed of a fresh banana stuck to a wall with duct tape, in Hong Kong on November 29. (AFP photo) Crypto mogul Justin Sun on Friday made headlines once again after he ate the $6.2 million banana artwork he purchased just days earlier. The piece, titled Comedian," features a banana duct-taped to a wall, created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan. Sun, who bought the artwork at a Sothebys auction in New York, fulfilled his promise to eat the banana in front of a crowd at one of Hong Kongs most expensive hotels. related stories The video from the event shows Sun taking a bite of the banana after delivering a speech in which he described the artwork as iconic" and compared conceptual art to cryptocurrency. Its much better than other bananas," Sun said after taking his first bite. Its really quite good." Suns purchase of the banana art stirred considerable attention worldwide, with many questioning whether a simple fruit could be considered art. The piece had previously sparked controversy when it debuted at Art Basel in Miami Beach in 2019. Critics were divided over the value and meaning of the piece, which has now become a symbol of modern conceptual art. Reflecting on his own reaction to winning the bid for the banana, Sun admitted he felt a moment of disbelief" in the first few seconds after the auction ended. But then I realised, this could become something big," he said. It was in that moment that Sun made the decision to eat the banana at a press conference, considering it a unique way to add to the artworks history. Eating it at a press conference can also become a part of the artworks history," he explained. Sun also drew comparisons between the nature of conceptual art and the world of cryptocurrency and NFTs, which, like Comedian," exist primarily as intellectual property rather than physical objects. Most of its objects and ideas exist as (intellectual property) and on the internet, as opposed to something physical," he noted, drawing a parallel between art and blockchain technology. The banana, which garnered worldwide attention when it was sold for $6.2 million, has become a symbol of the growing influence of conceptual art and the sometimes absurd nature of high-priced art in the modern world. For Sun, it also serves as another example of his flair for the dramatic, following his high-profile ventures in the cryptocurrency space. Sun, known for his entrepreneurial ventures and flamboyant lifestyle, is the founder of the cryptocurrency platform Tron and the CEO of BitTorrent. With an estimated net worth of $1.43 billion, Sun is a significant player in the crypto world and often attracts attention with his bold investments and public statements. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all ALSO READ: Who Is Justin Sun Who Bought Duct-Taped Banana Artwork For $6 Million? (With inputs from agencies) First Published: November 29, 2024, 20:40 IST 'Runaway Bride' Cons Scores Of Men With 'Flash Weddings,' Rakes In A Fortune Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 11:43 IST A woman in China defrauded men seeking marriage, earning over Rs 35 lakh through "flash weddings" facilitated by matchmaking agencies that concealed her divorce status. Matchmaking companies in China defrauding people (File photo/AP) Marriage and dating frauds have become common nowadays as more people are turning to online means to find a suitable partner for themselves. However, a woman in China made over Rs 35 lakh in three months by defrauding people in the name of finding them a match. She was exposed after the firm she was associated with, along with some other matchmaking companies, came under scrutiny. related stories According to a report with South China Morning Post, a court in Chinas Guiyang was told in September that a local police station had received as many as 180 similar complaints since March last year. The staff members at one of the companies used to actively look out for men seeking partners, the report stated. They then introduced them to women from their own companies, acting as clients. As the male clients agreed to marry, they were made to sign a contract and were asked to pay hundreds of thousands of yuan as a bride price. These marriages are referred to as flash weddings" because the brides would often flee, vanish, or pressure the men into divorce through various means, including frequent conflicts after a brief period together, the report stated. The woman who earned 300,000 yuan (approximately Rs 35,48,933) in three months reportedly engaged in multiple such flash marriages and would draw her partners to file for a divorce shortly after, on various grounds. In one instance, according to the report, the woman registered for marriage with a client in December last year and filed for a divorce. Thereafter, she did not return the 170,000 yuan bride price to the man and even took some shared property, including a car he had bought for her. She continued meeting men for such flash weddings as the company concealed her divorce status. Sharing his experience on Red Star News, one of the victims of the scams, who identified himself as Liao, said he travelled to Guiyang from his hometown in central Hubei province to meet a woman introduced by an agency. The report stated Liao registered for marriage just two days later and paid a cash gift of 118,000 yuan to the brides family. In the two months following their wedding, Liao said his wife frequently left their hometown to return to Guiyang. She requested that he buy her a home and a car and often quarrelled with him. Liao later discovered that she had concealed the fact that she had given birth to five children previously. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all When Liao sought a refund from the agency in Guiyang, he found that the company had been shut down due to a police investigation. Meanwhile, as the crackdown on such companies in China intensified, many organisations shifted their base to nearby Yunnan province, according to the report. First Published: November 29, 2024, 09:03 IST China Wants To Officially Recognise Taliban: Inside Details Of Meeting | Exclusive Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 18:10 IST Yue Xiayong, special Chinese representative for Afghanistan, told his Talibani counterpart the security of their citizens is key for China. Taliban asked for Chinese weapons against the US The Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, His Excellency Mawlavi Abdul Kabir, met Chinas Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Yue Xiaoyong, the Chinese Ambassador to Kabul, Zhao Xing, and their accompanying delegation. (X) China wants to officially recognise Taliban and is ready to mediate in the region, according to the inside details of the meeting between Mohammad Nabi Omari, Aghanistans first deputy minister of foreign affairs, and Yue Xiayong, special Chinese representative for Afghanistan. Yue told his Talibani counterpart the security of their citizens is key for China. It is being challenged by the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) and some other terrorist group, and we ask you to take firm steps against them. This issue can be an opportunity for our best cooperation with you," Yue said, according to sources. related stories It is a very good meeting which helps us to proceed how best to continue help Afghanistan for its reconstruction and develop friendly and mutual beneficial ties. https://t.co/AjqkUFM76M Dr. Yue XiaoyongYueh Hsiaoyung) (@stuartyueh) November 23, 2024 Another Chinese concern was the United Statess alleged attempts trying to make the region insecure and possibility of their entry. Regarding America, Omari said, I dont think America will be willing to come back to Afghanistan. If it makes such a mistake again, we will be forced to fight against them." The special envoy promised to stand with Afghanistan against America. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Asking China to help with defence equipment and weapons against the US, Omari promised that ETIM and other groups will be taken care of. We agreed in the Doha Agreement that we would not allow any group to use Afghan soil against other countries. We stand by that commitment, and perhaps it has been proven to you in the past three years," he said. Taliban categorically told them its not possible to treat ETIM like ISIS. Its very difficult and it makes ISIS stronger. I repeat that we do not help any countrys opponents because we are tired of war. But unfortunately our neighbours have given shelter to our opponents and they are supporting them against us," Omari said. First Published: November 29, 2024, 18:10 IST 'Return To Campus': US Universities Warn Foreign Students Amid Trump's Immigration Plans Fears Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 13:30 IST US universities are urging international students and staff to return before President-elect Donald Trump's second term amid fears of stricter immigration policies and mass deportations. Donald Trump to impose tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, China. (Photo: AFP) Universities across the United States have sent an email to their international students and staff, advising them to return to campus before President-elect Donald Trump begins his second term at the White House, in January 2025. According to a report with BBC, the email comes in the wake of concerns arising over Trumps plan for mass deportation, which may affect thousands of foreign students. related stories Quoting a professor at the University of Colorado, the report stated that all international students are worried, as more than four lakh undocumented students enrolled for higher education in the US. In November, the University of Massachusetts issued a travel advisory to its international students and faculty, encouraging them to strongly consider" returning to campus from winter break before Trump takes office in January next year. Based on previous experience with travel bans that were enacted in the first Trump Administration in 2016, the Office of Global Affairs is making this advisory out of an abundance of caution," the advisory mentioned. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Wesleyan University have also issued travel advisories, urging students and staff to return to the US before inauguration day. At Yale University, the Office of International Students and Scholars hosted a webinar this month fielding concerns from students about potential immigration policy shifts, the report quoted a newspaper. This includes foreign-born students who are protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, it added. DONALD TRUMPs PLANS FOR MASS DEPORTATION In 2017, Trump signed an executive order in the White House banning nationals of several predominantly Muslim nations, as well as North Korea and Venezuela, from visiting the US. During his first presidency he also proposed some limitations on student visas. Trump is expected to mobilise agencies across the US government to help him deport record numbers of immigrants, building on efforts in his first term to tap all available resources and pressure so-called sanctuary" jurisdictions to cooperate, news agency Reuters quoted six former Trump officials and allies as saying. Trump backers including some who could enter his second administration anticipate the Republican president-elect will call on everyone from the US military to diplomats overseas to turn his campaign promise of mass deportations into a reality. The effort would include cooperation with Republican-led states and use federal funding as leverage against resistant jurisdictions. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Immigrant advocates have warned that Trumps deportation effort would be costly, divisive and inhumane, leading to family separations and devastating communities, Reuters reported. According to BBC, officials in Trumps incoming administration have suggested they will build vast holding facilities for undocumented immigrants on the deportation list. His incoming border tsar Tom Homan has said violent criminals and national security threats will take priority for removal from the country. However, that has not allayed concerns in higher education. First Published: November 29, 2024, 13:28 IST Freedom Of Religion Must Be Preserved: UK MP Over Attacks On Hindus in Bangladesh Curated By : IANS Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 07:10 IST Chinmoy Krishna, also known as Krishna Prabhu Das, was taken into custody by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday at 4:30 pm Bangladesh Hindus participating in a rally to demand that an interim govt withdraw all cases against their leaders and protect them from attacks and harassment in Chattogram Nov. 1. (AP) The U.K. Conservative MP Bob Blackman lashed out at the Bangladeshi interim government over the attacks on the Hindu community in Bangladesh following the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August this year. I condemned the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh and the imprisonment of Chinmoy Krishna Das. Freedom of religion must be preserved globally," the MP wrote on X. related stories He added, I am also concerned by the attempt in their High Court to rule that #ISKCON should be banned from the country." He added that there was an attempt made in the Bangladesh court to ban the ISKCON which is a direct threat to minorities in the country. We have fought for the freedom of Bangladeshi and we cannot allow any government there to persecute minorities there," the MP said. Chinmoy Krishna, also known as Krishna Prabhu Das, was taken into custody by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday at 4:30 pm. Chinmoy Krishna Das was taken into custody by Dhaka Metropolitan Police on Monday. Chinmoy Krishna was not only associated with the Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajot (BJHM), a grand national alliance of 23 religious organisations in the country but also with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). As the news about Chinmoy Krishnas arrest spread on social media, several protests broke out in Chittagong, demanding his immediate release. It was reported that protesters marched and rallied at the Cheragi intersection in the city, chanting slogans and demanding his release. Several videos that went viral on social media late Monday evening showed Bangladeshi policemen targeting the protestors who were marching towards the Cheragi intersection. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The incidents of vandalism, looting, arson, land grabbing, and threats to leave the country have been repeatedly inflicted on the Hindu community after the interim government was sworn in on August 8 under the leadership of Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus. The Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Oikya Parishad had earlier sent an open letter to Yunus, expressing profound sorrow and concern" over a particular groups unprecedented violence" against the minorities. Location : London, United Kingdom (UK) First Published: November 29, 2024, 07:10 IST Hindus Safe In Bangladesh, No Plan To Ban ISKCON: Yunuss Press Secretary To News18 Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: November 30, 2024, 10:12 IST After Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das's arrest, Shafikul Alam, press secretary to Bangladeshs Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus said that India should not have issued a statement on the internal matter Prominent Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das had recently raised concerns about the safety of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh following a regime change. (IMAGE: X) Shafikul Alam, press secretary to Bangladeshs Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, on Friday said that Hindus were safe" in the country and there were no plans to ban International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). He, however, added that India should not have issued a statement on the internal matter". Talking to CNN-News18, Alam said, Hindus are safe in Bangladesh. An industrial level disinformation campaign is going on. I request you to come and cover on groundBangladesh witnessed violence in the initial few days and the situation is now under control." related stories The country has seen violent protests led by minorities after Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested earlier this week on sedition charges and was denied bail. DAS WILL GET FAIR TRIAL We will make sure Das gets a fair trial," Alam said. A High Court in Bangladesh on Thursday refused to pass an order to ban ISKCON in the country after it came to know that authorities have taken necessary actions to address the matter. A Supreme Court lawyer Md Monir Uddin had presented newspaper reports before a high court bench and urged to issue a suo motu (voluntary) ban on ISKCONs activities in Bangladesh. The petition alleges that ISKCON has been involved in radical activities" that threaten" national security and stir communal violence, according to a report by Dhaka Tribune. I dont know about the case trial but ISKCON will not be banned in Bangladesh. COMMUNAL TENSION Alam admitted there was tension in Chattogarh. The chief adviser visited temples and spoke to Hindu leaders." When asked about US President-elect Donald Trumps stance, Alam said, What Trump said must be the Hindu diaspora group told him when he will become president he would get the real picture from embassy in Dhaka." During his campaigning, Trump had raised concerns on the state of minorities in Bangladesh. Former US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Commissioner Johnnie Moore, in a recent interview to ANI, described the plight of minorities in Bangladesh as an existential threat" not only for the countrys minorities but also for the nation itself. Donald Trump is coming to town in Washington DC and hes coming to town with an incredible team of advocates for American values, that view countries like India as indispensable allies in shaping the future of the world," he added. ON INDIA Alam, however, said that India should not have issued a statement on the incident. The Indian government should not have issued a statement. It is our internal matter. We never comment on what happens in India." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all India had expressed deep concern" on the arrest and denial of bail to Das, who is also the spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote. This incident follows the multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh. There are several documented cases of arson and looting of minorities homes and business establishments, as well as theft and vandalism and desecration of deities and temples. It is unfortunate that while the perpetrators of these incidents remain at large, charges should be pressed against a religious leader presenting legitimate demands through peaceful gatherings. We also note with concern the attacks on minorities protesting peacefully against the arrest of Shri Das. We urge Bangladesh authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right of freedom of peaceful assembly and expression," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said in a statement. First Published: November 29, 2024, 20:00 IST Netanyahu Threatens 'Intensive War' If Hezbollah Breaches Fragile Truce With Israel Curated By : AFP Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 07:15 IST Hours before, the Israeli military said it struck a Hezbollah weapons facility in south Lebanon, where it said "terrorist activity was identified". Earlier it opened fire on people it said were in breach of the truce The ceasefire, which came into effect before dawn on Wednesday, seeks to end a war that has killed thousands in Lebanon and sparked mass displacements in both Lebanon and Israel. (IMAGE: AFP file) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened Hezbollah Thursday with an intensive war" if it breaches a fragile Lebanon ceasefire, which on its second day is straining under pressure from both sides. Hours before, the Israeli military said it struck a Hezbollah weapons facility in south Lebanon, where it said terrorist activity was identified". Earlier it opened fire on people it said were in breach of the truce. related stories The ceasefire, which came into effect before dawn on Wednesday, seeks to end a war that has killed thousands in Lebanon and sparked mass displacements in both Lebanon and Israel. If necessary, I gave a directive to the (Israeli army)" to wage an intensive war" in the event of any breach of the truce, Netanyahu said in an interview with Israeli broadcaster Channel 14. Earlier, the Israeli military had said terrorist activity was identified in a facility used by Hezbollah to store mid-range rockets in southern Lebanon," adding that the threat was thwarted" by its air force. Nazih Eid, mayor of Baysariyeh in south Lebanon, told AFP a strike had hit an area of his town. They targeted a forested area not accessible to civilians," he said. The deal to end the war in Lebanon was brokered by Israels top ally the United States and France. Under the agreement, Israeli troops will hold their positions but a 60-day period will commence in which the Lebanese military and security forces will begin their deployment towards the south", a US official told reporters on condition of anonymity. Then, Israel should begin a phased withdrawal without a vacuum forming that Hezbollah or others could rush into, the official said. On Thursday, the Lebanese army deployed across the south, where Hezbollah has long held sway and only the army and UN peacekeepers are to maintain an armed presence under the terms of the ceasefire. The Israeli and Lebanese militaries have both called on residents of frontline villages to avoid returning home immediately. Earlier on Thursday, Israeli fire wounded two people in a border village, according to Lebanons state-run National News Agency. The Israeli army said that over the past hour, several suspects were identified arriving with vehicles to a number of areas in southern Lebanon, breaching the conditions of the ceasefire". The army opened fire toward them", the statement said, adding that the Israeli military remains in southern Lebanon and will actively enforce violations of the ceasefire agreement". For the most part, however, the ceasefire appeared to be holding. A Lebanese army source said its forces were conducting patrols and setting up checkpoints" south of the Litani River, without advancing into areas where Israeli forces were still present. The Israeli army on Thursday announced a nighttime curfew for areas south of the river, some 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border. While there was joy around Lebanon that the war has ended, the country faces a long recovery. Tens of thousands of Lebanese who fled their homes during the war have headed back to their towns and villages only to find them devastated. Despite all the destruction and the sorrow, we are happy to be back," said Umm Mohammed Bzeih, a widow who fled the southern village of Zibqin with her four children two months ago. I feel as if our souls have returned," she said, visibly exhausted as she swept up the shattered glass and rubble that carpeted the floor. In the border village of Qlayaa, residents threw rice and flowers to celebrate the arrival of Lebanese soldiers. The majority-Christian village is nestled in an area that is home mostly to Shiite Muslim communities. Lebanon is deeply divided along political and sectarian lines, with Hezbollah long dominant among the Shiite population. We only want the Lebanese army," chanted residents of Qlayaa, as they clapped and cheered for the troops and waved the Lebanese flag. Even before the conflict, Lebanon had been wracked for years by political and economic crises, with World Bank figures from earlier this year indicating poverty had tripled in a decade. On Thursday, there was a glimmer of hope as the NNA reported parliament would meet to elect a president on January 9, ending a two-year vacuum. On Wednesday, in its first statement after the ceasefire, Hezbollah said its fighters would remain in total readiness to deal with the Israeli enemys ambitions and its attacks". Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah told AFP his group was cooperating in the armys deployment to the south, adding the group had no visible weapons or bases" in the area. In northern Israel, which has come under steady attack from Hezbollah for more than a year, there was hope tinged with scepticism over whether the truce might last. Nissim Ravivo, a 70-year-old in the coastal city of Nahariya near the border with Lebanon, voiced disappointment. Its a shame, we should have continued for at least another two months and finished the job," he said. We still dont feel safe and we are not happy about it." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Lebanon says at least 3,961 people have been killed in the country since October 2023, most of them in recent weeks. On the Israeli side, the hostilities with Hezbollah killed at least 82 soldiers and 47 civilians, authorities there say. Location : Israel First Published: November 29, 2024, 07:15 IST Putin's 'Secret' Daughter, Born From Alleged Affair With Cleaner, Hiding In Paris: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 20:09 IST Putin's daughter is believed to be born from his affair with Svetlana Krivonogikh, an ex-cleaner who is now one of the richest women in Russia. Putin's alleged daughter has reportedly ditched her patronymic name 'Vladimirovna' while living in Paris. (Image: X) Russian President Vladimir Putins alleged illegitimate daughter, who was born from his brief affair with a former cleaner, has been living in France since the Ukraine conflict broke out under a different alias and works as a DJ, according to Ukrainian media reports. The 21-year-old, who goes by the name of Luiza Rozova or Elizaveta Olegovna Rudnova, was tracked down in Paris by a Ukrainian TV channel using leaked airline records. The false names are linked to Putin as Olegovna" is believed to be connected to Oleg Rudnov, a close friend of the Russian President who passed away in 2015. related stories Rozova has apparently ditched her patronymic name Vladimirovna"- a name all daughters of Putin would take under the Russian naming convention. Ukrainian reporters published photos and videos from Rozovas now-deleted social media accounts, which she closed after the Ukraine war broke out in 2022. Putins Affair With Former Cleaner Rozova is claimed to be a love child from a brief affair between Putin and Svetlana Krivonogikh, a former cleaner who surprisingly rose to become one of Russias richest women. Krivonogikh is reportedly worth 83 million pounds ($87.6 million), and owns several houses in Monte Carlo and a yacht, The Telegraph reported. She also owns a stake in the Igora Ski Resort in Finland and is a director of the National Media Group which is used by the Kremlin to regulate its key propaganda channels. She is also a board member of Bank Rossiya, used by Russias elite to shift money around. According to a 2020 investigation by the Russian investigative group Proekt, Putin and Krivonogikh entered into a relationship in the 1990s before he became President and when he was still married to Lyudmila Shkrebneva. In 2003, she gave birth to a girl, with no father listed in official records. The Kremlin had previously dismissed the report. The Pandora Papers leak showed that Krivonogikh was the owner of an offshore company that bought a $4 million Monaco apartment in 2003. Krivonogikh has previously been referred to in the media as Putins acquaintance". Rozova is believed to have been born on March 3, 2003, and her fathers name was not given on her birth certificate. The Ukrainian investigation showed she was once a student at the Paris School of Management and Arts. Rozova On Resemblance To Putin Rozova deleted her social media accounts after receiving online backlash for showing photos of her lavish lifestyle in Russia, where people commented with Ukrainian flag emojis and accused her of hiding during Russias invasion of Ukraine. In an audio conversation with the Clubhouse social media channel in 2021, Rozova denied any likeness to Putin. Listen, judging by his young photos, probably, yes, it looks similar. But, as it turned out, there are a lot of people who look like Vladimir Vladimirovich," she said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all She also described her obscure life in Russia, saying she deliberately lived in a bubble" and did not follow the news. I watch, you know, fashion shows, I buy Vogue magazine. I like to go to a nearby restaurant and eat delicious pasta, discuss the latest gossip investigations with friends," she was quoted as saying. Putin has publicly acknowledged two daughters Maria and Katerina from his first marriage with Lyudmila Shkrebneva, whom he divorced in 2013. However, there has long been speculation over Putins secret relationships and children. He is alleged to have two sons with Olympic gymnast with Alina Kabaeva, although he has denied any romantic affair. Location : Paris, France First Published: November 29, 2024, 20:03 IST This Country Offers 'Wives On Rent'; Rental Contracts State Duration And Payment Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 11:59 IST This controversial new industry has become a key income source, especially for young individuals struggling to secure a living wage through conventional employment methods These women primarily encounter tourists in bars and nightclubs. (Representative/Shutterstock) The concept of pleasure marriage" has sparked considerable debate in Indonesia recently. Meanwhile, a growing trend in Thailand, particularly concerning rental wives" sometimes referred to as black pearls" has garnered significant attention. This practice has become so prevalent that it was the subject of a widely discussed book recently published. The concept of a wife on hire" is controversial in Thailands Pattaya. This temporary arrangement, often called a temporary marriage", typically involves women from impoverished rural areas becoming companions to foreign tourists. This practice is prevalent in the bars and nightclubs of Pattayas red-light district. related stories A recently published book titled Thai Taboo: The Rise of Wife Rental in Modern Society: Exploring Love, Commerce, and Controversy in Thailands Wife Rental Phenomenon", authored by Lavert A Emmanuel, explores the controversial practice of wife rental in Thailand. The book reveals how this practice, historically present yet concealed, is experiencing a resurgence in modern Thai society. This new and controversial industry has emerged as a significant source of income, particularly for young people struggling to earn a living wage through traditional employment. It revolves around services like offering temporary companionship and affection for a fee. These arrangements function as informal agreements lasting from a few days to several months. These women primarily encounter tourists in bars and nightclubs. Their roles vary, encompassing companionship or acting as informal tour guides. What is the price of a rental wife The time duration of keeping a wife on rent depends on the contract. The money is decided based on the womans beauty, education and age. The amount can range from $1,600 to $116,000. At times, when the relationship develops over time, some women eventually marry their clients or keep earning money by acting as their partner for a long time. How are they contacted? The rental wife trend has taken the form of a business in Thailand. Foreign tourists visiting Pattaya and other Thai cities often contact these women directly at venues such as bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. If there is mutual interest, a conversation then takes place to determine the terms of the companionship. Is there any law regulating this practice? Although there are no formal protections or rules governing these arrangements, the government of Thailand accepts that such a practice is going on in the country and there are no laws to control it. The concept of rental girlfriend" or rental wife" is mainly inspired by countries like Japan and South Korea, where such services have already been popular. There are several social and economic reasons behind the growth of this business in Thailand. Loneliness has risen in Thailand, driven by urbanisation and demanding lifestyles. Busy lives often leave individuals with limited time for cultivating lasting relationships, leading some to seek temporary companionship. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Thailands popularity as a tourist destination attracts numerous single foreign visitors seeking travel adventures and shared experiences with local companions. Services like rental wife" cater to this demand. Thailands cultural context embraces a more flexible approach to relationships and personal freedom. Consequently, such services encounter fewer societal constraints compared to other countries. Location : Thailand First Published: November 29, 2024, 11:59 IST Trump Posts AI-Generated Thanksgiving Clip Mocking Biden, Kamala | Watch Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 09:44 IST The video depicts President Joe Biden engaging in conversation with other Democrats at what appears to be a Thanksgiving dinner. US President-elect Donald Trump shares AI-generated video mocking President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris | Image/X@RealDonaldTrump US President-elect Donald Trump on Friday shared an AI-generated video from the movie National Lampoons Christmas Vacation, mocking President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. In the 36-second video clip taken from the classic holiday movie, Trump swapped the actors faces with democratic party members Biden, Harris, former Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. related stories The altered sequence depicts President Joe Biden engaging in conversation with other Democrats at what appears to be a Thanksgiving dinner. As Biden begins carving Turkey, Donald Trump unexpectedly enters, performing his signature YMCA dance moves, leaving the dinner guests visibly startled. Internet Brims With Reaction As soon as Trump posted the video, netizens flooded the reply section with their view on the Thanksgiving video," mocking both Biden and Harris. How thankful I am Trump is my President," a user said. While another one said, This is epic. Happy Thanksgiving! I love it!" How thankful I am Trump is my President pic.twitter.com/Vob6OWcwLi TONY (@TONYxTWO) November 28, 2024 This follows Trumps earlier Thanksgiving message, in which he criticised radical left lunatics." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Happy Thanksgiving to all, including to the Radical Left Lunatics who have worked so hard to destroy our Country, but who have miserably failed, and will always fail, because their ideas and policies are so hopelessly bad that the great people of our Nation just gave a landslide victory to those who want to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" Trump wrote in an X post. Dont worry," Trump wrote, seeking to reassure his supporters about his vision for the nation. Our country will soon be respected, productive, fair, and strong, and you will be prouder than ever to be an American!" he added. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: November 29, 2024, 08:53 IST UFO Sighted Over US Capitol Hill? Mysterious Lights Spark Fears In Washington DC Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 10:21 IST The fear was amplified by the fact that the sighting occurred just weeks after similarly focussed Congress hearing. Mysterious lights sighted over Capitol Hill | Image/X Mysterious lights sighted above the US Capitol building this week have sparked speculation and fear about the potential Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs), with some shutting down the claims by calling them gleaming lights. A viral snapshot taken by US Air Force veteran and licensed tour guide Dennis Diggins shows four bright lights hovering just above the Statue of Freedom, which is stationed atop the Capitol dome. related stories A separate video taken from a different angle sparked fear among the netizens, leading them to question how these bright lights came out of nowhere. The fear was amplified by the fact that the sighting occurred just weeks after Congress held a hearing discussing alleged secret government programs related to alien" spacecraft. UFO lights over Capitol Hill sparking panic in DC. Do you think its aliens?pic.twitter.com/XJim0jfijj DramaAlert (@DramaAlert) November 29, 2024 X User Fact-Checks Claims While some settled for the rumour, others came to the fore to debunk the purported UFO sighting, with one X user linking the mysterious lights" to reflections in the night sky. The lights at the U.S. Capitol building have been causing UFO sightings in the camera lens for decades & decades," John Greenewald, Jr., a researcher and Ufologist, said on X. (Just lens flares, but interesting someone is passing them around, again, and more so interesting people are buying it. New photo, same lens flare phenomenon)" he added. The lights at the U.S. Capitol building have been causing UFO sightings" in the camera lens for decades & decades.(Just lens flares, but interesting someone is passing them around, again, and more so interesting people are buying it. New photo, same lens flare phenomenon.) https://t.co/nhm2pxvawf pic.twitter.com/WGrTS543mY John Greenewald, Jr. (@blackvaultcom) November 27, 2024 top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The reported UFO sighting follows recent hearings in the US Senate and House of Representatives, where witnesses discussed alleged secret retrieval programs, communication with non-human intelligence, and government efforts to intimidate whistleblowers. This hearing took place after the Pentagon released a report in March stating that it had found no evidence of extraterrestrial spacecraft. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: November 29, 2024, 10:19 IST UK MPs Back Historic Bill Allowing Terminally Ill Adults To Request Assisted Dying Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 22:56 IST The issue had deeply divided MPs, who were given a free vote without being constrained by party lines when deciding on this significant new legislation A demonstration by people advocating assisted dying hold a protest outside the Hoses of Parliament as a bill to legalise assisted dying is to be put before lawmakers in London. (AP file photo) Members of Parliament in the House of Commons on Friday voted in favour of a historic bill that could pave the way for terminally ill adults in England and Wales with just six months left to live to request medical assistance to end their lives. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill tabled as a private members bill by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater attracted 330 votes in favour as opposed to 275 against clearing its second reading stage by a majority of 55. related stories This means the legislation can now progress through a lengthy process of amendments and scrutiny by the House of Lords before it can become law. The issue had deeply divided MPs, who were given a free vote without being constrained by party lines when deciding on this significant new legislation. People across the country will be paying extremely close attention to todays vote, but this is a matter of conscience," said a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who voted in favour of the bill. It is for Parliament to decide changes to the law and the Prime Minister is on record as saying hes not going to say or do anything that will put pressure on other people in relation to their vote. Every MP will have to make his or her mind up and decide what they want to do when that vote comes," the spokesperson said. Leadbeater, who has been actively campaigning on the issue for many weeks now, has insisted her bill contains the most robust safeguards" of any assisted dying legislation in the world. This includes two independent doctors having to approve the decision, followed by a high-court judge, with the person having to administer the drugs themselves. The legislation also includes a maximum 14-year prison sentence for anyone who coerces someone into requesting assisted dying or taking lethal medicine. We are not talking about a choice between life or death we are talking about giving people a choice about how to die," she told MPs during a five-hour debate in the Commons. In the days leading up to the vote on Friday, the bill had attracted some high-profile support from the likes of former prime minister David Cameron who argued that people in agony facing imminent death should be given the choice to shorten their suffering. However, those opposed to the bill argued that such a law could pose a risk of vulnerable people being coerced into choosing assisted dying. The vote this week marked a major turnaround from the last time such a bill was debated in the UK Parliament, overwhelmingly defeated at a similar second reading stage back in 2015. Among those backing the bill this week was recently elected British Indian Conservative MP Neil Shastri-Hurst, who has worked as a surgeon and medical barrister and argued that people should be able to have access to the death they deserve". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Former prime minister Rishi Sunak and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy were among the other British-Indian MPs voting in favour of the bill. Meanwhile, shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel and former home secretary Suella Braverman were among those voting against. Location : United Kingdom (UK) First Published: November 29, 2024, 22:51 IST 'Will Do Everything...' Netanyahu Warns Iran After Top Diplomat Talks Of Revising Nuclear Doctrine Published By : AFP Last Updated: November 29, 2024, 08:04 IST The renewed war of words between the Middle East foes came as Iran prepares to hold key nuclear talks with European governments on Friday which have been overshadowed by their joining with Washington to have Tehran censured by the UN atomic watchdog Netanyahu said Tuesday that the ceasefire that went into effect in Lebanon the following day would allow Israel to focus on Iran. He did not elaborate on what action he envisaged. (Image: X) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel would do everything" to stop Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon after Irans top diplomat warned it could end its ban on developing one if Western sanctions are reimposed. The renewed war of words between the Middle East foes came as Iran prepares to hold key nuclear talks with European governments on Friday which have been overshadowed by their joining with Washington to have Tehran censured by the UN atomic watchdog. related stories I will do everything to prevent it from becoming a nuclear (power), I will use all the resources that can be used," Netanyahu told Israeli broadcaster Channel 14 in an interview. Israel is the regions sole, if undeclared, nuclear-armed state. It has long made preventing any rival from matching it its top defence priority. Netanyahu said Tuesday that the ceasefire that went into effect in Lebanon the following day would allow Israel to focus on Iran. He did not elaborate on what action he envisaged. Iran launched two missile barrages at Israel over the past year in retaliation for the killing of leaders from Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as an Iranian general. Israel responded both times with limited attacks on Iran, most recently bombing several military sites on October 26. Last weeks chiding at the International Atomic Energy Agency prompted a defiant response from Tehran, but its officials have since signalled willingness to engage with others ahead of the return of US president-elect Donald Trump, whose last administration pursued a policy of maximum pressure" against Iran. Iran insists on its right to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, but according to the IAEA, it is the only non-nuclear-weapon state enriching uranium to 60 percent. In an interview with The Guardian newspaper, published on the eve of Irans talks with Britain, France and Germany, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that frustration in Tehran over unmet commitments, such as lifting sanctions, was fuelling debate over whether the country should alter its nuclear policy. We have no intention to go further than 60 percent for the time being, and this is our determination right now," he told the British daily. But, he added, there is this debate going on in Iran, and mostly among the elites whether we should change our nuclear doctrine" as so far it has proven to be insufficient in practice". A 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and major powers aimed to give Iran relief from crippling Western sanctions in exchange for limiting its nuclear programme to prevent it from developing a weapons capability. Tehran has consistently denied any such ambition. Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final authority in Irans decision-making, has issued a religious decree, or fatwa, prohibiting atomic weapons. Tehrans willingness to sit down with the three European governments so soon after the censure comes just weeks before Trump is set to return to the White House. During his first term, Trump focused on reimposing heavy sanctions on Iran following his administrations unilateral withdrawal from the 2015 deal three years after it was agreed. In retaliation for the US withdrawal, Tehran reduced its compliance with the deal, raising its uranium enrichment levels to 60 percent closer to the 90 percent required for a nuclear bomb. Under the 2015 accord which will expire in October 2025 Irans enrichment was capped at 3.67 percent. Iranian diplomat Majid Takht-Ravanchi, who serves as the political deputy to Araghchi, is scheduled to represent Iran in Fridays talks. On Thursday he and deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs Kazem Gharibabadi met with Enrique Mora, deputy secretary general of the European Unions foreign affairs arm. Mora said on X that they held a frank exchange on Irans military support to Russia that has to stop, the nuclear issue that needs a diplomatic solution, regional tensions (important to avoid further escalation from all sides) and human rights". Last week, the 35-nation board of governors of the IAEA adopted a resolution proposed by Britain, France, Germany and the United States condemning Iran for its lack of cooperation on nuclear issues. Iran described the move as politically motivated" and in response announced the launch of new advanced centrifuges" designed to increase its stockpile of enriched uranium. For Tehran, the goal of the talks on Friday is to avoid a double disaster" scenario, in which it would face renewed pressures from both Trump and European governments, according to political analyst Mostafa Shirmohammadi. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He noted that Irans support among European governments had been eroded by allegations it offered military assistance for Russias invasion of Ukraine. Iran has denied these accusations and hopes to mend relations with Europe, while also maintaining a firm stance. Location : Israel First Published: November 29, 2024, 08:04 IST Syrian armed groups have intensified attacks on government-held areas in Western Aleppo, initiating intense clashes for a second consecutive day. Led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which dominates much of northwest Syria, the offensive breaches a previously agreed de-escalation arrangement, according to Syrian armed forces on Thursday. The military reported that the conflict is ongoing, with multiple villages and military bases under threat. Opposition factions began the offensive on Wednesday and announced via social media they have seized over 15 villages, captured a military base along with significant equipment, and taken several soldiers hostage. The Associated Press has not independently verified these claims. Opposition forces argue their campaign will enable the return of thousands displaced by recent government offensives. This latest escalation comes amidst reports of increased bombardment by government forces and their Russian allies on the remaining opposition strongholds. Iran-linked groups that have supported Syrian government forces are diverted by domestic conflicts, as tensions have increased between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, contributing to heightened instability. A ceasefire in their ongoing conflict was declared on the same day the Syrian opposition launched its new offensive. Israel has amplified its assaults on Hezbollah and targets connected to Iran within Syria over the past 70 days. Meanwhile, Turkey is closely monitoring developments in northern Syria, with its defense ministry asserting the implementation of necessary measures to safeguard its troops stationed in the region. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP) Former British soldier Daniel Khalife, 23, was found guilty of espionage for Iran, following a dramatic escape from a London prison that highlighted vulnerabilities in the UK's correctional system. Convicted by a jury at Woolwich Crown Court, Khalife was accused of providing sensitive information to Iranian intelligence, including the identities of special forces officers. Despite his defense claiming his actions were misguided attempts at double agency inspired by television, prosecutors argued he "played a cynical game" by delivering a significant volume of restricted material. Khalife's espionage case gained notoriety after his escape in September 2023 from Wandsworth Prison, where he worked in the kitchen. His bold evasion involved strapping himself to the bottom of a delivery truck, triggering a widespread three-day manhunt until his capture on a canal path. Although Khalife pleaded guilty to the escape, he denied allegations of passing classified information, maintaining his intentions were to aid British intelligence. The escape has spurred an inquiry into the nation's prison system, revealing concerns over its aged infrastructure. Khalife revealed he started communicating with Iranian handlers as a teenager and ultimately offered to work as a double agent for MI6, Britain's foreign intelligence agency. His actions involved accessing and distributing classified military documents, which, according to prosecutors, posed a substantial threat to UK security and military personnel. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP) A market in the oldest part of London is getting the chop after more than 850 years as a place where meat and animals were bought and sold. A livestock market was established at the site in 1133, and the nearby Cowcross Junction marks where cattle used to be driven through city streets to Smithfield Market, the Guardian reports. The current meat market building, completed in the 1860s, "is a marvel of Victorian engineering, with a cavernous roof and train tracks running underneath it," per the New York Times . But the City of London Corporation, a governing body even older than the market, has decided to close it down by 2028. The corporation had originally planned to move the meat market and Billingsgate fish market, a centuries-old market that was relocated to east London in 1982, to a new site on the outskirts of London. But after rising construction costs brought the project's cost well over $1 billion, the corporation voted this week to close down both markets and offer traders compensation and help finding new locations, the BBC reports. Traders said they were shocked by the move. "My dad was a butcher here in the 1960s. I was here as a little baby," a Smithfield trader called Pat told the Guardian. "Many of the people here are local. They've only known market life. It's the end of the work life I know." Both sites are now likely to be converted to offices, apartments, and retail space. Since supermarket chains now get their meat directly from processing plants, "a wholesale meat market in the heart of London makes little sense," the Times notes, though critics of the move said the city's food security could be affected. The Evening Standard called closing the markets a "shameful abdication of duty." London "is at its best when it marries past with future. It is a Roman city fit for the 21st century," the newspaper's editors wrote. "The corporation ought to remember its unique role as custodian, and do better for the city, its traditions, and traders." (More London stories.) At least five Democratic members of Congress from Connecticut were targeted by bomb threats on their homes Thursday, the lawmakers or their offices said. Sen. Chris Murphy and Reps. Jim Himes, Joe Courtney, John Larson, and Jahana Hayes all reported being the subject of such threats, per the AP . Police who responded said they found no evidence of explosives on the lawmakers' properties. There was no immediate word whether Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the fifth Democratic House member from the state, or Connecticut's other Dem senator received threats. The bomb threats against Dems happened a day after a number of President-elect Donald Trump's most prominent Cabinet picks and appointees reported that they'd received such threats, as well as "swatting attacks," in which perpetrators initiate an emergency law enforcement response against a victim under false pretenses. Murphy's office said his Hartford home was the target of a bomb threat, "which appears to be part of a coordinated effort involving multiple members of Congress and public figures." Hartford police and US Capitol Police determined there was no threat. Hayes said the Wolcott Police Department informed her Thursday morning that it had received "a threatening email stating a pipe bomb had been placed in the mailbox at my home." State police, US Capitol Police, and the House sergeant-at-arms were notified, Wolcott and state police responded, "and no bomb or explosive materials were discovered." Courtney's Vernon home received a bomb threat while his wife and children were there, his office said. Himes said he was told of the threat against his home during a Thanksgiving celebration with his family. The US Capitol Police and Greenwich and Stamford police departments responded. story continues below Larson also said Thursday that East Hartford Police responded to a bomb threat against his home. The FBI declined to give details on the latest episodes, except to say it's investigating them in partnership with other agencies. Among those who received threats Wednesday were New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's pick to serve as the next ambassador to the United Nations; Matt Gaetz, Trump's initial pick to serve as attorney general; Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, whom Trump chose to lead the Department of Labor; and former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin, who has been tapped to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Echoing other lawmakers who were threatened, Himes noted, "There is no place for political violence in this country, and I hope that we may all continue through the holiday season with peace and civility." (More bomb threat stories.) A worker in Wellesley, Massachusetts was almost killed while hanging Christmas lights on a tree Wednesday. Police say the 22-year-old contractor hired by a resident was using a pole to hang the lights on a large tree when he was electrocuted, reports CBS News . "The pole he was using was about 34 feet long, and it came in either close proximity or actually touched a primary line that was only a few feet from the tree," Wellesley Police Officer Tim Gover tells NBC News . "And he got zapped from that." In a news release, the town said a 911 caller was given instructions on how to perform CPR until help arrived. The town said police and firefighters continued CPR and gave the man shocks from an Automatic External Defibrillator. "The last shock administered to the victim by the AED appeared to revive him as he regained a pulse," the town said. The man, who suffered burn injuries as well as cardiac arrest, was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition. He was later transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital. "He'll be pretty lucky if he survives," Gover says. "He took a big hit." Local authorities and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating. (More Christmas lights stories.) A Weather Channel report this week warned how drought is adversely affecting Christmas tree farms in the Northeast. Turns out that's not the only struggle these farms are facing, with growers "having to overcome historic challenges," per the Wall Street Journal . Those challenges include not only abnormally dry weather in some parts of the country, but also inflation, competition from overseas, and a shorter selling season, as tree sales typically kick off after Thanksgiving, which took place late this year. Storm season in North Carolina, which the Journal notes produces more Christmas trees than any state except Oregon, has also caused major chaos within the industry, due to massive flooding from Hurricane Helene. Because it takes a full decade to grow a Fraser fir, and many of the decimated trees were in the middle stages of their growth, the impact of the hurricane will be felt for some time. "It's the hardest year ever in North Carolina agriculture," says Lee Wicker of the North Carolina Growers Association. "The damage from Helene had a compounding effect. It wasn't one single thing, it was all these things that happened." Labor shortages have also been an issue, and some farmers are nervous about how the incoming Trump administration's immigration stance will affect local agriculture, especially if legal immigrants are somehow affected. "We live in a community that's mostly older people and retired people, and the labor force goes from 700 workers to 2,500 workers at harvest," says Rusty Barr of North Carolina's Barr Evergreens. "We couldn't do it without [migrants]." Some say that the entire concept of a Christmas tree farm is based in "inherent absurdity," per the Telegraph. "It's one of the most stupid business models out there, if you think about it," says Sadie Lynes, founder of UK Christmas tree wholesaler Jadecliff. "You grow this thing for 10 years. It has a four-week lifespan. And then it's worth nothing." More here. (More Christmas trees stories.) It's Black Friday or, as the UNI Global Union calls it, " Make Amazon Pay Day ." For the last four years, Amazon workers in various countries have walked off the job on Black Friday to protest labor conditions and environmental harms. And this year they're doing the same. Workers in more than 20 countries, including the US, walked off the job Friday as part of the "Make Amazon Pay days of resistance," to last until Cyber Monday, stretching across one of the busiest holiday shopping weekends of the year, per ABC News . Last year, Amazon counted $170 billion in total holiday sales on Black Friday, representing 18% of worldwide sales, the outlet notes. "Amazon's relentless pursuit of profit comes at a cost to workers, the environment and democracy," says Christy Hoffman, general secretary of UNI Global Union, a leader in the demonstrations, representing more than 20 million workers in service sector industries in 150 countries, per UPI. She says Amazon has spent millions of dollars "to stop workers from organizing." These days of protest "show that workers' desire for justicefor union representationcan't be stopped," she adds. "We stand united in demanding that Amazon treat its workers fairly, respect fundamental rights, and stop undermining the systems meant to protect us all." In a Thursday statement, Amazon rep Eileen Hards said the union "is being intentionally misleading and continues to promote a false narrative," stressing that "we provide great pay, great benefits, and great opportunitiesall from day one." This comes shortly after the National Labor Relations Board ruled Amazon violated federal labor law protections in forcing union-backing employees to attend anti-union meetings at a Staten Island facility in 2022, per UPI. Thousands of workers in Germany are expected to join the weekend strike, as well as some workers in the US, UK, India, Brazil, Japan, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Amazon deliveries could be delayed as a result. (More Amazon stories.) Insurgents on Friday launched a significant offensive on Aleppo, Syria's second-largest city, sparking the first major attack on the city by opposition forces since 2016, per a Syrian war monitor. The assault began with two car bombs on Aleppo's western edge and has prompted intense clashes with government forces, who claim to have destroyed several insurgent drones and heavy weapons. Thousands of insurgents, reportedly led by the opposition faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, have advanced since Wednesday, capturing about 70 positions across Aleppo and Idlib provinces. The renewed fighting has displaced thousands of families and disrupted public services in the region. Syrian government forces, meanwhile, accuse insurgents of violating a 2019 de-escalation agreement. Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency reported that opposition fighters breached defenses, advancing rapidly and even seizing military assets such as helicopters. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights noted the use of drones by insurgents, a new development in the conflict. The offensive coincides with the shifting focus of Iran-linked groups, who had supported Syrian government forces, as they deal with internal challenges at home. Hezbollah, a key ally of the Syrian government, is currently engaged in hostilities with Israel, complicating the military landscape. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, expects its worst monsoon flooding in a decade, as torrential rains have already claimed three lives and forced the displacement of over 90,000 people. According to the National Disaster Command Center, 94,778 individuals from more than 28,000 families across nine states have sought refuge in 527 temporary shelters. Kelantan, the northeastern state bordering Thailand, is most impacted, with 63,761 residents evacuated. In response, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has canceled Cabinet ministers' vacations and assigned them to assist in affected areas. "All ministers have been told to go to the ground. Yes, leave has been frozen for them," he emphasized, as reported by Bernama news agency. Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who leads disaster response operations, warned that this year's floods could surpass the devastation of 2014, noting predictions of intensified rainfall next month threatening additional states. A decade ago, 21 people died and more than a quarter-million were displaced. Preparations to tackle the impending disaster are underway, with Zahid asserting that 83,000 personnel and numerous rescue boats, vehicles, and helicopters stand ready. He highlighted the establishment of 8,481 evacuation centers, capable of accommodating over two million individuals nationwide. Flooding is a recurrent issue in Malaysia during the monsoon season, which runs from November to March; per the Meteorological Department, between five and seven instances of heavy rain are anticipated. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP) We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. TORONTO, Nov. 28, 2024 /CNW/ - Emily Chung, a Centennial College alumnus and owner of AutoNiche Inc., has received a Premier's Award for the impact she has made in the skilled trades as an automotive service technician. From operating her own repair shop to training up the next generation, Chung is a leader and teacher in the field. Emily Chung, a Centennial College alumnus and owner of AutoNiche Inc., has received a Premiers Award for the impact she has made in the skilled trades (CNW Group/Centennial College) Emily Chung and Dr. Craig Stephenson, President and CEO, Centennial College, take a moment to mark Chung's recognition at the Premier's Awards. (CNW Group/Centennial College) Run in partnership by Colleges Ontario and the province, the annual awards honour the achievements of college graduates. Winners are selected in seven categories from an overall field of more than 100 nominees. Chung got the top nod in the skilled trades category at the 2024 awards ceremony, which took place Nov. 25 at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel. Chung graduated from the Automotive Service Technician Pre-Apprenticeship program at Centennial College in 2006. By 2013, she had completed Automotive Service Technician - Apprenticeship Training. In between, while juggling motherhood and school, she launched AutoNiche Inc., her Markham-based automotive repair business. Today, her business has been running strong for 15 years and she is a Red Seal-certified (310S) Automotive Service Technician who hires and mentors apprentices. "Emily's journey is a pretty remarkable one. From the time of juggling her studies while raising a family to building her own incredibly successful business and giving back to the community, Emily has personified Centennial's vision at every turn; transforming lives and communities through learning," said Dr. Craig Stephenson, President and CEO, Centennial College. "Myself, the Board and colleagues couldn't be prouder of this highly accomplished, pioneering business leader, who serves as an inspiration and model to all those considering a rewarding and fulfilling career in the trades." Chung was also recently recognized with a 2024 Centennial College Alumni of Distinction Award. She was nominated by Alan McClelland, who recently retired from his long-time post as Dean of the School of Transportation. "Thank you to Alan McClelland and his team at Centennial College for the nomination!" said Chung. "I'm truly honoured to represent the automotive sector and hope my journey inspires others to pursue a career in skilled trades. It has been my privilege to hire many talented Centennial grads into my shop who have taken the same career path." Chung remains connected to Centennial College to this day, supporting a recent Jill of All Trades event as a keynote speaker. That's just a snapshot of the work she does promoting careers in the skilled trades, from speaking at high schools to taking on co-op students. "We need more people entering the skilled trades right now, and Emily is encouraging and supporting aspiring automotive service technicians to answer this call," said Dave Weatherhead, Associate Dean, School of Transportation, Centennial College. "Centennial College's School of Transportation is lucky to have engaged alumni like Emily giving students guidance and opportunities as they embark on their careers." Chung is an advocate of continuing education in the industry and currently serves as a part-time faculty member in Georgian College's Automotive Business School of Canada. In addition to running her shop and teaching, she regularly shares her expertise and knowledge through articles and media interviews. About Centennial College Centennial College, founded in 1966, is Ontario's first public college. Anchored primarily in the eastern part of the Greater Toronto Area, the college boasts five campuses and two satellite locations. Renowned for its outstanding teaching, creative curriculum, and robust network of partnerships, Centennial annually welcomes over 40,000 full-time and part-time students from over 130 countries. These students pursue their education in over 400 diploma, certificate, and degree programs across various fields, including business, media, arts, community and consumer services, engineering technology, health care, and transportation. SOURCE Centennial College Media contact: Michelle Ervin, Media Relations Manager, Centennial College, 647-633-2092, [email protected] Company Reports Record Q3 Revenue and Second Consecutive Quarter Of Positive Adjusted EBITDA* TORONTO, MUMBAI, India and LOS ANGELES, Nov. 29, 2024 /CNW/ - QYOU Media Inc., (TSXV: QYOU) (OTCQB: QYOUF) a company operating in India and the United States producing and distributing content created by social media stars and digital content creators, is reporting financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. Highlights include as follows: YOY Revenue Growth : The company recorded Q3 quarterly revenue of $7,718,514 , representing the highest revenue recorded in any third quarter in company history. The revenue mark was particularly noteworthy given strong strategic realignment of resources and investments enacted to drive positive Adjusted EBITDA. Revenue continued to be primarily driven by strong results for the QYOU USA and Chtrbox India Influencer Marketing business units. Revenue on a YOY basis increased by $438,640 or 6%. : The company recorded Q3 quarterly revenue of , representing the highest revenue recorded in any third quarter in company history. The revenue mark was particularly noteworthy given strong strategic realignment of resources and investments enacted to drive positive Adjusted EBITDA. Revenue continued to be primarily driven by strong results for the QYOU and Chtrbox India Influencer Marketing business units. Revenue on a YOY basis increased by or 6%. Positive Adjusted EBITDA* : For the three months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the same prior year period, Adjusted EBITDA significantly improved by 105% or $956,517 to become positive at $46,010 . This represented the second consecutive quarter with positive Adjusted EBITDA, marking another record in company history. This was driven by consistent revenue growth along with a meaningful realignment of investment activities, all directed towards achieving positive operating results. : For the three months ended compared to the same prior year period, Adjusted EBITDA significantly improved by 105% or to become positive at . This represented the second consecutive quarter with positive Adjusted EBITDA, marking another record in company history. This was driven by consistent revenue growth along with a meaningful realignment of investment activities, all directed towards achieving positive operating results. Improved Net Loss : For the three months ended September 30, 2024 , net loss improved by $1,101,257 or 57% compared to the same prior year period. : For the three months ended , net loss improved by or 57% compared to the same prior year period. Cash Balance: The company ended the three months ended September 30, 2024 with cash of $874,367 . QYOU Media CEO and Co-Founder, Curt Marvis commented, "Q3 2024 marks another quarter where we focused our strategic emphasis on our cash positive business units and a strategic mandate to drive positive Adjusted EBITDA. We continue our work on several strategic initiatives designed to reinvigorate stronger revenue growth and stronger overall results in 2025. Our Influencer Marketing business units continue to display strong financial momentum which we intend to focus on moving forward. We expect more announcements to be made on a number of these initiatives before the end of 2024. Two consecutive quarters of positive Adjusted EBITDA is a great foundation for us to build on heading into 2025." In addition to announcing Q3 2024 financial results, the company announced that they have secured a strategic investment from an India based institutional investor for a minority stake in Chatterbox Technologies Private Limited. More commentary on the Q3 results and the Chatterbox Technologies investment will be provided by CEO and Co-Founder Curt Marvis along with India Group CEO Raj Mishra on the next "First Thursday" video published to the company YouTube channel on Thursday December 5th at 8 AM PST available when you CLICK HERE . Please submit any questions to the QYOU Investor email address by Sunday December 1st when you CLICK HERE . *Note on Adjusted EBITDA: To supplement our consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), we present Earnings Before Interest Tax Depreciation and Amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA") which is a non-IFRS financial measure. The presentation of non-IFRS financial measurement are not intended to be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, or superior to, operating loss or net income (loss) or any other performance measures derived in accordance with IFRS or as an alternative to net cash provided by operating activities or any other measures of cash flows or liquidity. We define earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA") as revenue minus operating expenses excluding non-cash and or non-recurring operating expenses including but not limited to stock-based compensation, marketing credits, depreciation and amortization (interest and taxes are not included in the Company's operating expenses). Adjusted EBITDA is used as an internal measure to evaluate the performance of our operating segments. We believe that information about this non-IFRS financial measure assists investors by allowing them to evaluate changes in operating results of our business separate from non-operational factors that affect operating income (loss) and net income (loss), thus providing insights into both operations and other factors that affect reported results. A limitation of the use of Adjusted EBITDA as a performance measure is that it does not reflect the periodic costs of certain amortizing assets used in generating revenue in our business. Furthermore, this measure may vary among companies; thus Adjusted EBITDA as presented herein may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Words such as "expects'', "anticipates" and "intends" or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained herein may include, but are not limited to, information concerning the completion of future investments, the approval of the Exchange of the investments, the approval of the Reserve Bank of India of future investments, the expected use of proceeds from the investment, and statements relating to the business and future activities of QYOU. These forward-looking statements are based on QYOU's current projections and expectations about future events and other factors management believes are appropriate. Although QYOU believes that the assumptions underlying these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect, and readers cannot be assured that the offering and the closing thereof will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors, including certain risk factors, many of which are beyond QYOU's control. Additional risks and uncertainties regarding QYOU are described in its publicly-available disclosure documents, filed by QYOU on SEDAR ( www.sedar.com ) except as updated herein. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent QYOU's expectations as of the date of this news release, or as of the date they are otherwise stated to be made, and subsequent events may cause these expectations to change. QYOU undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. About QYOU Media One of the fastest growing creator-media companies, QYOU Media operates in India and the United States producing, distributing and monetizing content created by social media influencers and digital content stars. In India, under our flagship brand, The Q and on connected TV, via channels Q Kahaniyan, Q GameX, Q Comedistaan & Sadhguru TV, QToonz and RDCMovies we curate, produce and distribute premium content across television networks, VOD and OTT platforms, mobile phones, smart TV's and app-based platforms. In addition, QYOU has numerous additional content destinations, apps and gaming platforms engaging over 115 million Indian households weekly. Our influencer marketing company, Chtrbox, has been a pioneer in India's creator economy, leveraging data to connect brands to the right social media influencers. QGamesMela is a recently launched casual gaming business leveraging access to the large audience enjoyed by Q India products. In the United States, we power major film studios, game publishers and brands to create content and market via creators and influencers. Founded and created by industry veterans from Lionsgate, MTV, Disney and Sony, QYOU Media's millennial and Gen Z-focused content reaches more than one billion consumers around the world every month. Experience our work at www.qyoumedia.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE QYOU Media Inc. Doug Barker, 213-564-0007 Gold production totaled 6,639 AuEq ounces in Q3-2024 and 20,565 AuEq ounces in the nine months ended September 30, 2024 (compared to 25,106 AuEq ounces in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 . (compared to 25,106 AuEq ounces in the nine months ended . Cordero Operations reported attributable cash costs per ounce of gold sold (1) of US$1,261 of Income from mining operations was $17.0 million . . EBITDA (1) of $22.7 million , with adjusted EBITDA (1) of $23.0 million . of , with adjusted EBITDA of . Income for the period was $1.2 million or $0.01 per share. or per share. EBITDA(1) per share of $0.25 . Outlook for the Remainder of 2024 Expand exploration beyond the 18,000 m for 2024 ( 14,000 m completed YTD) by contracting additional rigs and focusing on multiple high-priority targets on the Company's concessions along the Otu fault to increase resources and identify the next mine on the Company's Antioquia properties. for 2024 ( completed YTD) by contracting additional rigs and focusing on multiple high-priority targets on the Company's concessions along the Otu fault to increase resources and identify the next mine on the Company's Antioquia properties. Complete development work access high-grade zones at Upper Cordero and the Venus Gap, as highlighted in the July 16, 2024 and November 1th, 2024 news releases. and news releases. Complete Phase 1 of the road-building project as agreed with the local community Finalize the restoration, cleaning and permitting of the Machuca mine, with production set to begin in Q4. The explosives permit has been issued, and the first shipment is expected in Q4. Finalize the mine plan and permit application for the Nechi mine to increase feed for the El Limon and El Bagre mills. Mining operations at Nechi are expected to commence by 2026. Complete the formalization process for two small-scale miners operating on the Company's concessions, aiming to increase Soma's total gold production by 10% in 2025. Continue the underground drilling program to confirm the extension of the Cordero deposit at depth. Geoff Hampson, Soma's President and CEO, states, "We are pleased with the financial performance this quarter, which remained on budget. Cash resources are growing as capital-intensive projects wind down, although gold production was lower than expected due to external and operational factors. The blockade in Q3 by the local community, which stemmed from frustration over the pace of road improvements promised by the Municipality of Zaragoza in cooperation with Soma, restricted access to the Company's Cordero Mine and El Bagre Mill. The issue was resolved, and the blockade was lifted after eight days. The shutdown halted both operations, reducing gold output by approximately 750 ounces. In addition to the lost production, the average head grade was lower than expected due to narrower and fragmented veins causing higher dilution and a lower-than-historical average grade. The unplanned development work required to access the higher-grade zones in Upper Cordero and the Venus Gap (as detailed in Soma's news releases dated July 16, 2024, and November 12, 2024) also added to costs and increased waste. This development work is now largely complete, and production from these areas is expected to begin in Q1 2025." Hampson further states, "Our exploration efforts continue to improve our interpretation of the geological structures in the Otu Valley, enabling us to identify and verify high-priority exploration targets through mapping, soil sampling, stream sediment analysis and channel sampling inside several of the small mines along the trend. We have contracted a drilling company to increase the number of DDH holes and to accelerate the establishment of additional mineral resources." Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024, and 2023 - Financial and Operating Highlights RESTRUCTURING OF SUBORDINATED NOTE TERMS During Q3-2024, the Company amended the terms of its subordinated note with Conex Services Inc., a company owned by a director. Under the amended agreement, the full amount of the principal and interest will be due and payable at the end of the ten-year term, on July 31, 3030. There is no penalty for pre-payment in full or in part at any time during the term. The delayed payment terms will allow Soma to accelerate exploration and development work on its Colombian land package. Geoff Hampson, the Company's CEO states, "We are pleased that Conex Services agreed that prioritizing increased exploration and resource expansion will better position the company to re-pay the loans at a later but near-term date. Having the ability to repay the loans in full or in part at any time gives the Company great flexibility in managing its balance sheet." ABOUT SOMA GOLD Soma Gold Corp. (TSXV: SOMA) is a mining company focused on gold production and exploration. The Company owns two adjacent mining properties in Antioquia, Colombia, with a combined milling capacity of 675 TPD. (Permitted for 1,400 TPD). The El Bagre Mill is currently operating and producing. Internally generated funds are being used to finance a regional exploration program. With a solid commitment to sustainability and community engagement, Soma Gold Corp. is dedicated to achieving excellence in all aspects of its operations. The Company also owns an exploration property near Tucuma, Para State, Brazil that is currently under option to Ero Copper Corp. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Geoff Hampson" Chief Executive Officer and President Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. (1) This news release refers to certain financial measures, such as EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, average realized price per ounce of gold sold, and total cash costs per ounce of gold sold which are not measures recognized under IFRS and do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. These measures may differ from those made by other companies and accordingly may not be directly comparable to such measures as reported by other companies. These measures have been derived from the Company's financial statements because the Company believes that they are of benefit in understanding the Company's results. For a complete explanation of these measures, please refer to Non-IFRS Financial Performance Measures disclosure included in the Company's MD&A for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 which can be accessed at www.sedarplus.ca. All statements, analysis and other information contained in this press release about anticipated future events or results constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are subject to business and economic risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results of operations to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the date the statements are made. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements even if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable laws. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. SOURCE Soma Gold Corp. For further information, please contact Andrea Laird, telephone: +1-604-259-0302 It is not often that we at CA get to write about far-flung finds from such countries as Korea, Sweden, and Syria (though we love reading about them in the pages of our sister-magazine Current World Archaeology). However, in this months cover feature, which draws on the British Museums new Silk Roads exhibition, we explore how people, goods, and ideas travelled vast distances between AD 500 and 1000 to influence and inspire the inhabitants of early medieval Britain and Ireland. We then turn to the Moors at Arne in Dorset. Rising sea levels are threatening important wildlife habitats around Poole Harbour, and so the Environment Agency, RSPB, and Natural England are working to adapt c.150ha into a new wetland environment. Archaeological work associated with this undertaking has revealed a wealth of illuminating finds, including one of the oldest and most complete wooden tools ever discovered in Britain. Environmental matters feature in our third feature, too, which highlights a joint Welsh and Irish venture that is working to assess the impact of climate change on diverse archaeological sites from promontory forts and castles to shipwrecks and drowned forests along the Irish Sea coast. Finally, we return to a subject discussed just two months ago: the origins of Stonehenges enigmatic Altar Stone. In CA 415, we reported on research suggesting that the slabs source lay hundreds of miles from Salisbury Plain, in the Orcadian Basin of north-east Scotland but geological understanding has already moved on. Our final feature reveals why thinking has changed, how scientists have further narrowed their search, and what recent fieldwork in Orkney has added to our understanding. In This Issue: FEATURES FROM SAMARKAND TO SUTTON HOO Exploring the impact of the Silk Roads on early medieval Britain and Ireland A new exhibition at the British Museum reveals the diverse objects, materials, ideas, and people that travelled thousands of miles along vast networks of connections between AD 500 and 1000. SECRETS OF THE DORSET MARSH Excavating Bronze Age remains and one of Britains oldest wooden tools Over the last two years, archaeological investigations on wetlands near Poole Harbour have revealed traces of unusual Bronze Age activity including one of the oldest and most complete wooden tools ever found in Britain. ARCHAEOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE Cherishing heritage sites in the face of environmental challenges We explore the methods and findings of an innovative project investigating the impact of climate change on archaeological sites on both sides of and under the Irish Sea. SEEKING A SCOTTISH SOURCE Updating the story of Stonehenges Altar Stone Two months ago, we described research linking the Altar Stone at Stonehenge to the Orcadian Basin, far to the north. What has recent fieldwork in Orkney itself added to this picture? NEWS Previously unrecorded medieval buildings found at Huttons Ambo; Early medieval metalworking on Islay; Rare early medieval longhouse and Roman remains found at Wrexham; Dorsets mystery Pin Wreck identified; Continued exploration of Govan Old Church reveals early medieval building; Science Notes; Lindisfarne bones connected with monastery chapel; Finds tray NEWS FOCUS The CARD Fund, a community radiocarbon-dating grant, is celebrating its 100th funded date after nine years in operation SPECIAL REPORT The Peebles Hoard: investigating one of Scotlands most significant hoards COMMENT Joe Flatman excavates the CA archive CONTEXT Beached: the Sanday Shipwreck, Orkney REVIEWS Stonehenge: sighting the sun; Exploring the Antonine Wall with Terrestrial Remote Sensing; The Gravity of Feathers: fame, fortune, and the story of St Kilda; Churches of Gloucestershire; Finis Britanniae; 50 Early Medieval Finds MUSEUM A unique coin hoard from the aftermath of the Norman Conquest has been acquired for the nation EXHIBITION Worthing Museum & Art Gallery: A New Roman Landscape in Sussex MUSEUM NEWS The latest on acquisitions, exhibitions, and key decisions LISTINGS Our selection of exhibitions and events, as well as historical, archaeological, and cultural resources from around the world that are available online SHERDS Chris Catlings irreverent take on heritage issues ODD SOCS The Edward Thomas Fellowship Have all this delivered directly to your door every month click here to find out more about subscribing to Current Archaeology, the UKs favourite archaeology magazine. Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost. If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below. The Marigny Opera Ballet opens its season on Dec. 6 with Here, a program premiering two short contemporary ballets set to electronic-based music. The Marigny Opera House itself was the inspiration, or leaping off point, for the works, which explore how echoes of the past reverberate into the present and future. While the company returns with many familiar faces, there is a renewal in leadership and vision for the companys 11th season. Marigny Opera House founder Dave Hurlbert came out of retirement to resume duties as executive director. And Diogo de Lima, whos been choreographing works at the space since before the company was founded in 2014, became the Marigny Opera Ballets new artistic director in summer. De Lima opted not to do the companys original Jazz Nutcracker to open this season. Instead, he wanted to do an original program grounded in the Opera Houses past. The building was constructed as the Holy Trinity Church in 1852 to serve the German immigrant community in the neighborhood. But De Lima took a contemporary approach to his work by enlisting Ted Joyner and choreographer Christian Denice. Joyner is a co-founder of the locally based electronic music group Generationals. He composed the music for Here, and will perform it live with the Delachaise Ensemble and other musicians. Diogo started with the idea of here and now at the Opera House and its history, Hurlbert says. But as Ted composed the music and Christian began working on the choreography, the concept evolved. Here features two pieces, including De Limas Put a Light On, which takes its name from a song Joyner wrote for the show. De Lima was one of the ballet companys three original choreographers, and he choreographed full-length pieces including A Streetcar Named Desire, Orfeo and more. He enlisted Denice to choreograph the other piece. Denice is based in Los Angeles, but arrived in New Orleans from Greece, where he has been choreographing work for a company there. De Lima followed his work online and liked his fluid motions and lyricism, Hurlbert says. His piece is titled Echoes. We all aspire to be echoes, Hurlbert says. We hope to leave something behind some remembrance or glimmer. All of us are influenced by echoes of the past, from our families, our relationships, our own actions. The ballet is about the relationship between memories of the past and their relationship to today. Comedian Donnell Rawlings performs at Joy Theater Dec. 8 'Its our job to make fun of the things that are troubling the world,' Rawlings says. Denice worked with Joyner virtually before coming to New Orleans. Ted and I got interested in the idea of time and how we feel time, Denice says. That became the pathway for me to represent time physically. I started physically creating how time can be felt. I started doing things in slow motion or faster paced. There are moments that flash by in the blink of an eye and things that drag on. The ghosts of the past are the idea of echoes. We never really leave them behind; they come with us. Thats what we want. We want to make an impact so it creates an echo for the future. In its first decade, the Marigny Opera Ballet has almost exclusively featured live music for its performances, much of it commissioned for productions. For this show, Joyner will sing and play synthesizers. Hes joined by the Delachaise Ensemble string quartet, musician and composer Jeff Pagano and Brian Danos, who uses electronic synthesizers, samplers and sequencers. The company features three returning dancers, including Edward Spots, Joshua Bell and Lauren Guynes, and new dancers. Here is at 8 p.m. Dec. 6-8 and 1315 at the Marigny Opera House. Tickets $40-$75 via eventbrite.com. Over 135,000 Aboriginal cultural items are held in collections overseas. One of them is about to be returned home. The dhulu was handed back to the Gamilaraay people on Thursday. Source: Museum der Kulturen Basel/Omar Lemke An ancient, carved tree will be returned to Australia around a century after it was cut down and shipped to Europe. It was one of several dhulu stolen from a Gamilaraay ceremonial site beside a creek in northeast NSW in 1917. The tree had been kept inside a vault at Switzerlands Basel Museum of Cultures after it was purchased from a museum by a collector in 1939. Negotiations to return the item have taken years, with Yahoo News first reporting the discovery of the item by Monash University and the mission to return it to the Gamilaraay (Kamilaroi) community in 2022. A year later, the government-funded Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) became involved, bringing to the table expertise and much-needed funds each return event costs upwards of $100,000. Its CEO Leonard Hill spoke to Yahoo News from Paris, as he prepared to secure its return at a handover ceremony that took place on Thursday (local time). This is the first time under this program that a dhulu has been returned. So that's extra special in itself, he said. ADVERTISEMENT Returning of cultural heritage material supports communities in revitalising their culture. It is an important part of working towards reconciliation, and strengthening the transfer of knowledge within communities that enables truth-telling and healing from one generation to the next, he added. The dhulu had been kept in a vault at the museum (left). But it was handed back to the community on Thursday. Source: Supplied/Museum der Kulturen Basel/Omar Lemke How many cultural items are held in overseas collections? Thousands of stolen Indigenous cultural items are held in overseas collections. This year, AIATSIS wrote to over 380 institutions calling for negotiations to begin so they can be returned. We have about 115 overseas institutions that have agreed to actively work with us on the return of material. From their catalogue records, we estimate that's something like 135,000 items that are held overseas, Hill said. From our estimations though, that number is vastly under-representative of really how much material is held overseas. ADVERTISEMENT Ahead of the dhulus return, Gamilaraay elder Greg Bulingha Griffiths and Gamilaraay representative Wayne Griffiths Jnr issued a statement saying the item was deeply significant to the community. It represents more than just an artefact coming back; its a reconnection to our ancestral heritage and the teachings that have sustained our community for thousands of generations. The dhulu carries the stories, values, and wisdom of our ancestors, they said. The museum's Dr Anna Schmid said negotiations showed openness, mutual respect and a sense of humour. "This collaboration showed us once again that museums are not only teaching but also learning institutions and there is truly a lot to learn," she said. The dhulu were used during the initiation ceremony of boys and the carved markings tell the stories of specific families. As part of the handover ceremony, the Basel Museum of Cultures was handed a newly carved dhulu by the Gamilaraay. ADVERTISEMENT Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy welcomed the items return, saying safeguarding Indigenous cultural heritage ensures the stories of our ancestors are passed on and shared for generations to come. Gamilaraay Elder Greg Bulingha Griffiths travelled to Switzerland for the handover of the dhulu. Source: Museum der Kulturen Basel/Omar Lemke Gamilaraay continues fight against dispossession Indigenous communities had their land and cultural items stolen from them following the arrival of European settlers. According to many in the Gamilaraay community, the fight to safeguard culture is far from over. This year, it began action in the Federal Court to oppose a Federal Government-backed plan to allow energy giant Santos to drill their land for methane gas. Gamilaraay elder Polly Cutmore accused the Federal Government of handing them an olive branch by helping facilitate the return of the dhulu, while simultaneously continuing their cultural theft of land, resources and heritage. ADVERTISEMENT Cutmore is one of 62 Indigenous community leaders who have declared Resources Minister Madeleine King not welcome on their land, accusing her of snubbing them in negotiations with the gas industry that will expand operations in Australia. Speaking to Yahoo News on Friday she said her people must be given control of their lands, much of which they cant access because of resource extraction and farming. Were kept off our land, we cant go back there. You cant shake our hands whilst continuing with colonial ways, she said. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. A cicada expert is on a mission to discover new species during what is shaping up to be a bumper year for cicadas. Theres a sound echoing across Australia thats more iconic than Cold Chisel, Tame Impala or even Kylie Minogue. Cicadas have woken from their slumber and the noise is deafening. I had to cover my ears if I wanted to sit outside because of how piercing the sound was, one NSW Central Coast resident told Yahoo News. The masses of green grocer cicadas were expected because they emerge from underground every seven years. They were seen in huge numbers in September across the NSW Blue Mountains. Since then, surprisingly high numbers of other species of all shapes, sizes and colours have appeared and added to the chorus. University of Sydney insect and parasite expert Professor David Emery has just returned from a six-day trip hunting for cicadas. Hes been searching for specimens of an undescribed species from the Yoyetta genus during his travels around the NSW Northern Tablelands and Mid North Coast. There was a cacophony of sound. I had to try and find this new one amongst a huge emergence of all these big ones Cherrynose cicadas, razor grinders, and double drummers, he told Yahoo News. ADVERTISEMENT It was absolutely deafening its been an amazing year. Need more stories from our weird and wonderful world? Subscribe to our newsletter. Australia's amazing cicadas come in different shapes and sizes Masked Devil (Cyclochila australasiae). Source: Dr. Nathan Emery Sad reason driving expert's cicada field trips This year in the United States, the highest numbers of cicadas emerged in over two centuries. Trillions were reported across the country after the periodic cycles of three abundant species aligned. These cycles have been intricately studied in the United States, but less is known about what causes cicadas to emerge in Australia. Good winter rains and an early start to the spring are believed to have instigated this years event. While the numbers this year are exciting, theres a sad reason driving Emerys field trips. Hes trying to describe species before theyre driven to extinction by climate change and habitat destruction. ADVERTISEMENT Related: Christmas beetles and Bogong moths: Call to protect Australia's changing landscape We collect the specimens and describe them before we ruin their environment. Once we know what they are we put them in museums for future reference, he said. Emery has planned his trip around records uploaded to iNaturalist, an app that allows people around the world to upload pictures and descriptions of the animals, insects and plants they encounter. Im describing them like crazy as fast as I can. I try to describe four every year, he said. But we just havent got enough people on the ground looking for them. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. Great Western Railway (GWR) has warned passengers of significant changes to services this weekend due to ongoing engineering works and expected high demand on certain routes. No early-morning trains will operate between London Paddington and Reading on Sunday, 1 December, as Network Rail carries out essential upgrades. Trains will not run to or from London Paddington until 10.30am. Passengers can travel between Reading and Ealing Broadway, where connections to London Underground services will be available. Once services resume after 10.30 am, the number of trains running between Paddington and Reading will be reduced, with only two of the usual four tracks in operation. Crew shortages may also cause further cancellations and last-minute changes, particularly affecting routes between London Paddington and Bristol, South Wales, and the West Country. GWR anticipates busy trains throughout Saturday, 30 November, particularly during late morning and early evening. Christmas markets and major sporting events in Exeter, Bath, and Bristol are expected to attract high passenger numbers. Key routes likely to be affected include: Local services in the Exeter area Trains between Cardiff and Bath/Bristol Services connecting Swindon, Bath, and Bristol Travellers are encouraged to plan their journeys outside peak times for a more comfortable experience. GWR is urging customers to consider delaying travel to Monday, 2 December, if possible, as tickets for Sunday journeys will be valid on that day. Rachel Geliamassi, GWR Customer Services Director, explained: The impact weather can have on the smooth running of trains has been only too evident over the past week or so, and work like this is vital to improving the resilience and reliability of train services. Due to the engineering work and crew availability, trains on Sunday will, however, be significantly reduced and we would urge people to travel the day after where possible, freeing up space for those who must travel on the Sunday. We have altered tickets to allow people to do so. Network Rail Western Route Director, Marcus Jones, added: These upgrades are essential to our goal of reducing disruption and improving the resilience of this stretch of line into the future. Id like to thank passengers in advance for their patience. Theres never a good time to close the line, however, we do try to ensure that any disruption takes place when fewer people are using the railway, such as at weekends. Travellers are advised to check for updates before heading to the station and consider altering their plans to avoid the busiest periods. S/ Onodera Itsunori, Head, LDP committee on security strategies / As Prime Minister Ishiba has said, issues such as an Asian NATO and revision of the Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement are tasks that cannot be completed overnight. It is important to first build up solid discussions. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party launched a special mission committee to discuss Japan's security strategies on November 28. Heading the new committee is LDP Policy Research Council Chairperson Onodera Itsunori, who was Japanese defense minister when US President-elect Donald Trump served his first term as the leader of the United States. Topics include the concept of a collective security arrangement in Asia similar to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, that is proposed by Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru. At the committee meeting, Onodera said Japan will reinforce cooperation with various countries, with the Japan-US alliance at the center, and heighten its response and de-terrent capabilities. Committee members confirmed their recognition of the importance of preventing the East Asian region from becoming a security vacuum. The special mission committee is set to engage in activities including exchanging views with experts before submitting recommendations to Ishiba. Further restrictions will come into place from next week as Noosa Council looks to crackdown on the problem of camping in car parks. Parking restrictions will soon be in place at Noosa Spit car park in a bid to stop illegal camping. Source: Noosa Council/Suzanne King via Sunshine Coast News As illegal camping continues to create tension at tourist hotspots around Australia, one Queensland council has introduced yet another parking restriction in a bid to stamp out the contentious problem. Four-hour parking restrictions will soon be in place at the popular Noosa Spit car park to "prevent the monopolising" of car park bays, with council getting rid of the previous unlimited parking between 4 am and 10 pm to "give everyone a fair go". Noosa Shire Council parking officers will enforce the limit and signage will be installed from December 3, commencing a six-month trial. It's the latest move by local authorities to crackdown on illegal camping in the area which is popular with foreign backpackers and domestic nomads. "The trial is about giving more residents and visitors a reasonable opportunity to find a car park in this area to enjoy the beaches," Clint Irwin, from the Noosa Council said. ADVERTISEMENT The rise in illegal camping has not only made it increasingly more difficult to find a park but long-stay visitors have also caused "damage to the environment" which council says is being taken seriously. Latest move on illegal camping causes stir among locals The decision has sparked a debate among locals, with many praising the change by council. "There's no need for a trial, this initiative will free up spaces so we can all enjoy the spit without being greedy and hogging spots overnight," one person wrote online, while many others pushed for even stricter parking limits of two hours. However others expressed concerns over the council's ability to enforce another restriction and questioned whether resources would be stretched. "Why introduce new limits when you can't even manage what is already in place?" one Noosa resident questioned. Noosa Council is continuing its illegal camping crackdown against tourists. Source: Facebook/Noosa Council Councils continue to push hard against illegal camping Noosa Shire Council continues to grapple with illegal camping as the area has been overrun with tourists parking overnight in campervans. The council increased parking fines to $309 last August in a bid to deter the behaviour and have threatened to tow vehicles caught regularly breaking the rules. ADVERTISEMENT Elsewhere in Queensland, Logan City Council, just south of Brisbane, recently closed off public bathrooms at an overpopulated park which had become a go-to for the homeless as well as travellers and van lifers. The problem has reared it's head in other parts of the country too, with the Town of Cambridge council in Perth controversially turning off the hot water at beach showers for three weeks to deter illegal campers using the facilities. The popular resort town of Exmouth on Western Australia's North West Coast announced it would inject $200,000 in a bold new plan to build a new campground as illegal camping has impacted vegetation growth in the area. Illegal camping by the numbers: Victoria: 2,936 reports New South Wales 2,048 reports Queensland with 1,610 reports Western Australia 636 reports South Australia 136 reports Tasmania 34 reports (reported via the Snap Send Solve app) Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. 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United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe A week after a Chinese cryptocurrency entrepreneur bought an artwork composed of a fresh banana stuck to a wall with duct tape for $6.2 million at auction, the man, Justin Sun, announced a grand gesture on X. He said he planned on purchasing 100,000 bananas or $25,000 worth of the produce from the Manhattan stand where the original fruit was sold for 25 cents. But at the stand at East 72nd Street and York Avenue, outside the Sothebys auction house where the conceptual artwork was sold, the offer landed with a thud against the realities of a New York City street vendors life. It would cost thousands of dollars to procure that many bananas from a Bronx wholesale market, said Shah Alam, the 74-year-old employee from Bangladesh who sold the original banana used in Comedian, an absurdist commentary on the art world by the Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan. And, it wouldnt be easy to transport that many bananas, which come in boxes of about 100. And then there is the math: The net profit from the purchase of 100,000 bananas by Mr. Sun who once bought an NFT of a pet rock for more than $600,000 would be about $6,000. In the former view, we are born into a world of institutions families, schools, professions, the structures of our government. We are formed by these institutions. People develop good character as they live up to the standards of excellence passed down in their institutions by displaying the civic virtues required by our Constitution, by living up to what it means to be a good teacher or nurse or, if they are Christians, by imitating the self-emptying love of Christ. Over the course of our lives, we inherit institutions, steward them and try to pass them along in better shape to the next generation. We know our institutions have flaws and need reform, but we regard them as fundamentally legitimate. MAGA morality is likely to regard people like me as lemmings. We climbed our way up through the meritocracy by shape shifting ourselves into whatever teachers, bosses and the system wanted us to be. Worse, we serve and preserve systems that are fundamentally corrupt and illegitimate the financial institutions that created the financial crisis, the health authorities who closed schools during Covid, the mainstream media and federal bureaucracy that has led the nation to ruin. What does heroism look like according to the MAGA morality? It looks like the sort of people whom Trump has picked to be in his cabinet. The virtuous man in this morality is self-assertive, combative, transgressive and vengeful. Hes not afraid to break the rules and come to his own conclusions. He has contempt for institutions and is happy to be a battering force to bring them down. He is unbothered by elite scorn but, in fact, revels in it and goes out of his way to generate it. In this mind-set, if the establishment regards you as a sleazeball, you must be doing something right. If the legal system indicts you, you must be a virtuous man. In this morality, the fact that a presidential nominee is accused of sexual assault is a feature, not a bug. Its a sign that this nominee is a manly man. Manly men go after what they want. They assert themselves and smash propriety including grabbing women by the pussy if they feel like it. The Italian designer Enrico Marone Cinzano took a circuitous route to his current occupation. He started his career working in finance, then in 2001 co-founded the fashion line Project Alabama. After experiencing a severe injury to his spine in 2007, he sold the company and traveled around the world to seek out healers and alternative medicine practitioners. During that time, Marone Cinzano says he learned how to cook, make candles and scents and grow medicinal plants. Thats also when I started to make furniture, he says. When he builds a collection, Marone Cinzano often begins with material thats discarded or broken. Hes used parts of an old motorcycle and leftover stone fragments that he sourced from a mason in Jaipur, India. I might choose a piece of white agate and from that make a lamp, he says. In his first solo exhibition for Friedman Benda, which opened earlier this month at the gallerys Chelsea location, Marone Cinzano is presenting a new series of flat-pack chairs made of stone offcuts and lamps created from car headlights and rose quartz. Marone Cinzano said the title of the show came from his interactions with the makers with whom he collaborated; every time one of them had a query about a design, he would respond with an answer inspired by the environment. One day, an artisan commented, You really are obsessed by nature, arent you? recalled Marone Cinzano. He replied, Yes, I am. Obsessed by Nature is on view through Dec. 14, friedmanbenda.com. Consider This A Silent Retreat Held in Californias Natural Hot Springs But in The Sticky, she is the star of the series, first on the call sheet. Martindale plays Ruth Landry, a reluctant maple syrup farmer who plots to steal millions of dollars of syrup from the bureaucrats who are trying to seize her farm. (Landry is an invented character, but the series is based very loosely on actual events.) To hear her tell it, Martindale approached this lead the same as she would any of her character parts all acting should be character work, she said. Raised in East Texas, the baby of an all-American family (her older brothers played football; she was a cheerleader and a Miss Jacksonville High School), she studied theater at a two-year college before transferring to the University of Michigan and beginning a professional career before she graduated. She spent a decade and a half in theater, supporting herself as a spa consultant and briefly, a private investigator. In her mid 30s, her role in the original stage production of Steel Magnolias she was Truvy, the gossipy salon owner later played by Dolly Parton in the film caught the eyes of Hollywood casting directors. She had small roles in prestigious movies like The Rocketeer, The Firm, Lorenzos Oil and Nobodys Fool. But nobody really knew to ask for her by name until her turn as the main characters grifty mother in the 2004 Clint Eastwood boxing weepie Million Dollar Baby. She had already made one series, Sidney Lumets little watched 100 Center Street. But in the 2010s her television career began to flourish, beginning with her role as Mags Bennett, a villain in the FX series Justified. It took a while for Kimmerer to discover the connections between her Indigenous roots and her interest in plants. When she enrolled in graduate school for botany at the University of Wisconsin in 1975, she was one of the few women in the forestry school, and the only Indigenous person. She went on to get her Ph.D. in plant ecology; in a letter of recommendation, her adviser wrote that she had done remarkably well for an Indian girl. She later distinguished herself as a bryologist an expert on moss. But at times, she was so immersed in gathering data that she almost lost touch with the way plants enchanted her as a child. As a graduate student in Wisconsin, Kimmerer was invited to a small gathering of Native elders, where she met a Navajo woman who introduced her the native names of the plants in her valley, along with their medicinal properties and origin stories. She realized there was a vast body of traditional knowledge that would deepen her understanding of plants. Later, she decided to study the language her ancestors spoke. She was astonished to learn that in Potawatomi, a plant or animal is referred to as who rather than it, giving them agency and individuality as living beings. A cease-fire in Lebanon appears to hold After months of fighter jets and rockets in the skies and explosions erupting on the ground, quiet reigned over much of Lebanon and northern Israel yesterday. The uneasy truce between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah largely held through its second day in Lebanon, though Israel conducted an airstrike near the border that it said was aimed at militants violating terms of the cease-fire deal. Still, neither Israel nor Hezbollah seemed keen to immediately return to full-scale fighting. Lebanons army said that it had moved troops into Hezbollahs strongholds outside Beirut and in the countrys south and east, in accordance with the cease-fire. The Lebanese Parliament also extended the term of Joseph Aoun, the militarys top commander, for another year. Joy and tears: Many Lebanese returned to their towns and villages to find homes that would require costly repairs to be livable again. We did not win, one resident said. Read more about their journey home. Keely Cat-Wells said she was 'traumatised' after she was strip-searched at Sydney Airport last week. Source: Instagram/keely_cat_wells A tourist was utterly devastated when security workers at Sydney Airport strip-searched her after she went through the security scanner, adamant the process was necessary if she wanted to fly. Keely Cats-Wells, 28, often travels internationally for work, and her ileostomy bag, which is attached to her abdomen, has never been an issue. Not until last Thursday when she was going through security with her mum. "As soon as I went under the scanner and I mentioned that I had an ileostomy, they said I needed to show it to them, that they needed to physically see it," the British woman who now lives in the US told Yahoo News. "They were incredibly insistent that the only way for me to get through security and go into the airport was for them to physically see it." Security guards asked Cats-Wells to expose her ileostomy while a long queue of people waited behind her and others watched on while waiting for their bags. Despite desperately saying this wasn't standard procedure, workers persisted. ADVERTISEMENT "They escorted me to another room and said take down your pants," she said, explaining the blind panic she felt at one point when she thought the female security worker tried to reach out and touch her ileostomy. "I don't know what she was trying to do, but at one point I thought she was going to touch it... it felt dehumanising," Cats-Wells said. Sydney Airport apologises to tourist for security search Cats-Wells, who is a disability rights activist in the US, reached out to Sydney Airport to notify them of her "traumatising experience" and said they were "very apologetic". ADVERTISEMENT This sentiment was echoed by a Sydney Airport spokesperson who told Yahoo News they "are sorry for any distress that was caused as a result of this incident". "From our initial assessment it appears that, although the correct procedures were followed, there were shortcomings in terms of communication and customer service," the spokesperson said. Keely Cat-Wells, left, met US President Joe Biden while campaigning for more accessible transport in the USA. Source: Supplied After sharing her experience with others in the disabled community, many shared with Cats-Wells "this is the reason why" they don't travel themselves, as they fear they too might experience an upsetting situation like this. "There's so much irony in my work... one week I'm advocating to President Biden about accessible transport in the US, and then here I am having an awful experience," she said. "I can't wait until we can just live and not have to continuously advocate." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. I think its the consumer being mindful about how theyre using their dollar and purchasing power, knowing they have so many choices, said Michelle Meyer, chief economist at the Mastercard Economics Institute. She said that in-store spending had been strong going into the holiday weekend, but on Black Friday itself, it was sluggish. These numbers offer an early look at how the holiday shopping season has gone so far. The National Retail Federation is set to update its figures next week, and those numbers will give a fuller accounting. Ahead of the holiday weekend, as retailers issued forecasts for the coming months, they painted a picture of shoppers who have grown choosy, holding off on large purchases after years of faster-than-usual price increases and with interest rates still high. Consumers have been waiting all of 2024 for this moment to buy the goods they want and need at a lower price, and they seem to be pleased with the discounts theyre seeing this week, said Caila Schwartz, the director of consumer insights at Salesforce, which also tracks spending data. According to real-time data from Shopify, a provider of software to retail businesses, the top product categories by volume among its clients on Friday included items like T-shirts, skin care and makeup products, while purchases of electronics were more muted. Covids rampage through the countrys nursing homes killed more than 172,000 residents and spurred the biggest industry reform in decades: a mandate that homes employ a minimum number of nurses. But with President-elect Donald Trumps return to the White House, the industry is ramping up pressure to kill that requirement before it takes effect, leaving thousands of residents in homes too short-staffed to provide proper care. The nursing home industry has been marshaling opposition for months among congressional Republicans and even some Democrats to overrule the Biden administrations mandate. Two industry groups, the American Health Care Association and LeadingAge, have sued to overturn the regulation, and 20 Republican state attorneys general have filed their own challenge. Consumer advocates, industry officials and independent researchers agree that the incoming administration is likely to rescind the rule, given the first Trump administrations patients over paperwork campaign to remove unnecessary, obsolete, or excessively burdensome health regulations on hospitals and other healthcare providers. Among other things, Mr. Trump aided the industry by easing fines against homes that had been cited for poor care. 100 Yards Buy or rent on most major platforms. Few films this year are as elegantly shot as Haofeng Xu and Junfeng Xus poetically violent martial arts street epic 100 Yards. The Chinese film, set in 1920s Tianjin, begins with the sudden death of a martial arts master who leaves his academy to his ruthless apprentice, Qi Quan (Andy On), rather than his son, Shen An (Jacky Heung). A jilted An and a territorial Quan engage in a duel that escalates into a fight to the death for control of the academy and for the loyalty of the schools gang of martial students. Though Heung and On are both balletic, arresting actors, each brandishing steely stares for an unquestionable sense of cool, its the camera in this film that is the true star. These filmmakers use elaborate tracks and incredible pullbacks and push-ins beginning with wide shots that ease into close-ups and vice versa to give the incredible swordplay scenes an abundance of high-flying wonder. Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End Stream it on Amazon Prime Video. The proliferation of documentaries on streaming services makes it difficult to choose what to watch. Each month, well select three nonfiction films classics, overlooked recent docs and more that will reward your time. The Look of Silence (2015) Stream it on Freevee and Netflix. Rent it on Apple TV. The director Joshua Oppenheimer, whose first fiction feature, The End, opens in December, grabbed the film worlds attention with The Act of Killing (2013), in which he invited self-proclaimed gangsters who had slaughtered opponents of Indonesias military regime in the mid-1960s to restage their murders. The killers participate in the re-enactments with apparent glee, leaving viewers with a disturbing picture of how readily brutality can be rationalized and repressed. Arguably a flaw in the movie is that it never fully acknowledges how the conceit might have encouraged the gangsters showboating. Were supposed to be appalled at how openly they brag about torture and strangulation, but the presence of a camera and of sets and makeup cant be ignored as factors in how they comport themselves. Oppenheimers superior follow-up, The Look of Silence, plays things straighter, and in some ways poses the more haunting question: Because supporters of the violence still hold political power in Indonesia, families of the victims and families of the killers live side by side. How do you grapple with the knowledge that your neighbors are former executioners? After Iman gets a job in Tehrans revolutionary court, tensions begin to rise with his family members, who have differing opinions of the government. The director, Mohammad Rasoulof, made the film in secret and was sentenced to eight years in prison because of Irans strict censorship laws. From our review: This story unfolds slowly and methodically, mostly contained in the familys apartment no wonder, given the film was shot in secret. But the small-scale family drama feels like a model of the full country in miniature. As the members of the family become more suspicious, they turn on one another. Home begins to feel like a prison of its own. In theaters. Read the full review. You might want to keep the gift receipt. Patrick Healy, the deputy Opinion editor, hosted an online conversation with the Times Opinion columnists Maureen Dowd, Tressie McMillan Cottom and Lydia Polgreen about the new movie Wicked. Patrick Healy: I have a confession to make. While I love The Wizard of Oz and I love theater, I was never interested in the Broadway musical Wicked. I had assumed it was for teenage girls and saw it only because of my job (when I was the Times theater reporter). I remember enjoying its two biggest songs, Defying Gravity and Popular. But I didnt feel very invested in the two main characters: Elphaba, who later becomes the Wicked Witch of the West, and her frenemy, Glinda. So I am genuinely surprised to report that the new movie Wicked melted me. I was swept up in Cynthia Erivos performance as Elphaba and found myself crying almost every time her character cried. I felt righteous anger when Elphaba fought against a roundup of talking animals by the authorities and rescued a scared lion cub locked in a cage. A big-budget Wicked movie with a strong antifascist message? I did not expect that. What surprised you most about your experience with the movie? Lydia Polgreen: I came to Wicked completely cold. The Wizard of Oz was not part of my childhood, nor was musical theater. My knowledge of the Oz story is entirely shaped by my wifes exuberant enthusiasm for The Wiz. When Patrick asked me to join this conversation, I decided not to read or watch anything about the musical or movie and thereby play the straight man, as it were. So I had low expectations: Why would I be drawn in by a back story to a classic tale that never resonated for me? I guess my surprise was mostly that I loved this movie? It is a sly illustration of one of my favorite modes of creativity: using one form of art to remake and redefine an existing one. The perfect musical version of this for me prior to seeing Wicked was Fun Home, the wondrous Alison Bechdel graphic-memoir-turned-musical. Musical theater does seem to be an ideal medium for such reinterpretations, and this is a particularly impressive one. Quick! Which 17th-century female artist fought her way into the male-dominated art world, prevailed in a rape trial and alchemized her struggles into revolutionary art? If the name Artemisia Gentileschi doesnt leap to ones lips, Kate Hamills play The Light and the Dark at 59E59 Theaters offers a generous introduction. Heavy emphasis on introduction. Much of the information in the plays 145 minutes will be familiar to anyone who has spent time reading Gentileschis Wikipedia page or has seen other recent plays inspired by her life. There are two Artemisias in the show: the historical Baroque painter and a docent-like narrator. Both are played by Hamill, who has unwisely asked the narrator to ride shotgun to the artist. Under the slack direction of Jade King Carroll, The Light and the Dark often feels more like an art history lecture than a play. The first act, especially, hews much too closely to biographical exposition. Standing next to a blank canvas on a set that evokes of an artists studio, Artemisia talks to us about the art of composition before taking us back in time to her youth. As a child, she idolizes first the work of her father, Orazio (Wynn Harmon, posed like an off-duty Greek statue), then Caravaggio, whose works of fleshy realism crack the world open for her. The entrance of Agostino Tassi (Matthew Saldivar), a papal painter who frequents Orazios studio, spells trouble. He contrives to spend more time alone with Artemisia; during one of his visits, after he has bribed the Gentileschis serving woman (a versatile Joey Parsons) to vacate the room, he rapes Artemisia. But mostly what I remember on this trip was my mother on a lounge chair doing needlepoint in a green-and-white floppy hat. I carried my Kodak Brownie everywhere, capturing images of seemingly everyone. But I didnt take any of my mother. Something about her appearance just didnt seem right, and I was reluctant to document her. I regret that to this day. A few months after that trip, my mother had a hysterectomy. I wasnt told any details, and I didnt ask. In the early 70s, lots of mothers were having their uteri and ovaries removed, just like kids getting their tonsils out. In no time, she was back to car-pooling and mahjong and all the things I had come to expect from her. Or so I thought. That summer I was shipped off to Israel, no doubt to be spared watching my mother experience the pain and nausea associated with chemo and her new diagnosis of ovarian cancer, a term my father strategically avoided verbalizing. Later, she was hospitalized at Sloan-Kettering, where I visited her every day. Sometimes I crawled into her twin-size hospital bed and we had talking time. But mostly she slept. I stared at her chest as it rose and fell, and I soothed her cracked lips with glycerin swabs. She came home on Thanksgiving Day, 30 pounds thinner, with her ribs visible through her gray wool sweater dress. I remember how hauntingly beautiful she looked and how proud I was that she was mine. Two months later, and 13 months after I had seen her on St. Thomas in that swimsuit with the skirt, she was dead, at 48. I was 16. I remember lying on the chintz coverlet on Mommys big king bed and listening as my father told everyone who called that I was fine. J. Stanley Pottinger, who as a high-ranking figure in the Department of Justice during the 1970s was probably the only person in government to figure out the identity of Deep Throat, the pseudonymous man who provided critical information to reporters in the Watergate scandal, died on Wednesday in Princeton, N.J. He was 84. His son Matt said he died from cancer in a hospital. Mr. Pottinger, who went on to become a best-selling novelist, lived in South Salem, N.Y., but was in Princeton to be near the home of his daughter, Katie Pottinger. Mr. Pottinger (pronounced POT-in-jer) served as the top civil rights official in the Department of Health, Education and Welfare and in the Department of Justice under Presidents Richard M. Nixon and Gerald R. Ford. In early 1977, Jimmy Carter, the incoming president, asked him to stay on to lead a grand jury investigation into illegal break-ins by the F.B.I. During the testimony of W. Mark Felt, who had been the bureaus deputy director in the Nixon administration, a juror asked him, offhand, if he was the one who had guided the journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein in their investigation into White House ties to a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate complex in Washington. As dozens of people applauded and cheered for him, Vito, a young pug, looked around, his four paws on the blue carpet. Did he know he had just won best in show at the National Dog Show? Hes very smug I do think he knows, Michael Scott, Vitos handler, told the NBC broadcaster Mary Carillo after the competition. Vito had just beaten out nearly 2,000 other dogs, representing more than 200 breeds, to become the first pug to win the National Dog Show. He became a sensation on Thursday, when the competition, which was held in Oaks, Pa., northwest of Philadelphia, on Nov. 16 and 17, was broadcast on NBC after the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade. What makes Vito so special? He has a beautiful head and expression, Mr. Scott said, adding that Vito is a compact dog who has wonderful movement. Suspected to have hitched a ride in drought fodder back in 1922, there's now a fear the plant will contaminate our milk and meat if eaten by livestock. Australians are being warned over a roadside 'menace' that could taint the taste of milk and meat from livestock. Source: SA Arid Lands Landscape Board Experts are sounding the alarm over a "menacing" species of plant "contaminating" properties in the country's south. Farmers in particular are being warned that if the invasive weed is eaten by their livestock, it can taint the taste of meat and milk products. Taking to social media, South Australia's Arid Lands Landscape Board this week warned residents of the Calomba daisy (oncosiphon suffruticosum) an "unpalatable annual herb that impacts pastures and crops" which can grow up to one metre tall. "With grey, finely-divided leaves and small, yellow flower heads, the Calomba daisy also smells a little like camomile," it said. "Keep an eye out for this one, because it could contaminate your stock feed. As a declared weed, if you find it on your property you should quarantine the area and are required to take reasonable steps to kill the plants and prevent their spread." Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Invasive Species Council Principal Policy Analyst Dr Carol Booth confirmed the weed could cause big problems for farmers. Calomba daisies are illegal to sell and transport in South Australia. Source: SA Arid Lands Landscape Board She said it is "suspected to have hitched a ride in drought fodder back in 1922" and in recent decades, has been "causing a stir" in South Australia's semi-arid grazing lands in particular. ADVERTISEMENT "Spreading across grazing properties in South Australia and Western Australia, this weed thrives in degraded vegetation, posing a growing challenge for farmers," Booth told Yahoo. "With no nutritional value for livestock and a knack for tainting meat and milk if consumed, this daisy is a menace to both pastures and production. It is also potentially of environmental concern in some coastal areas. Farmers can fight back against this weed with targeted action hoeing and spot spraying and by maintaining their pastures with light grazing." Why are Calomba daisies a problem in Australia? In the state, the Calomba daisy must not be sold and must not be transported on a public road due its invasive nature. Pictures show it has popped up along the Stuart Highway in the Gawler Ranges/Kingoonya area near the turnoff to Pimba and Roxby Downs. ADVERTISEMENT The plant is also known to invade degraded areas and can outcompete native vegetation, including coastal and samphire communities. This disrupts local ecosystems and reduces biodiversity. The daisy produces numerous seeds that remain viable for years, germinating after rain and spreading through contaminated fodder, water, or machinery. Its ability to regenerate after grazing or rain makes it challenging to control. In South Australia, the Calomba daisy is a declared weed under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019, requiring landowners to control its presence and prohibiting its sale and transport. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. A lake-effect storm continued to blanket parts of the Great Lakes region with snow on Saturday, closing highways on one of the biggest travel weekends of the year and prompting Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York to declare a state of emergency on Friday in 11 counties. The snowstorm, which is expected to last through Tuesday, is forecast to bring more than 40 inches to some parts of New York, the National Weather Service said early Saturday. Up to six feet of snow could bury counties east of Lake Erie before the storm passes, forecasters said, warning that some counties could be brought to a standstill. The heaviest snow totals on Saturday morning were on the southern and northeastern shores of Lake Erie and east of Lake Ontario, where intense snow bands could continue to bring up to three inches an hour. When I was growing up, we had a family tradition that I didnt know was weird. For regular meals, we folded our paper napkins in half in a rectangular shape. But for holiday dinners, we folded them diagonally which, for reasons that have never been made clear, my parents viewed as more formal. I think about this quirky little tradition every holiday. Our Thanksgiving table has changed a bit over the years, but the napkins were still neat triangles this year, as always. It warmed my heart, for some reason, and it always comforts me to hear about other peoples holiday rituals, too. One friend of mine, a New Yorker, celebrates what she calls Greenland New Years Eve. I can never make it to midnight, she told me. So I ring in the New Year at 9 p.m. Eastern time, when its midnight in Greenland. Then I go to bed. Another friend always attends Yo La Tengos annual 8 Nights of Hanukkah concert residency in New York City. (As he put it, Gifts for the kids; a show for me.) ABUJA, Nigeria At least 27 people were killed and more than 100, mostly women, were missing on Friday after a boat transporting them to a food market capsized along the River Niger in northern Nigeria, the authorities said. About 200 passengers were on the boat traveling from the state of Kogi to the neighboring state of Niger when it capsized, said Ibrahim Audu, a spokesman for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency. Rescuers had managed to pull 27 bodies from the river by Friday evening, while divers were still searching for survivors, according to Sandra Musa, a spokeswoman for the Kogi state emergency services. The authorities have not confirmed the cause of the sinking, but local news outlets suggested the boat might have been overloaded. Overcrowding on boats is common in remote parts of Nigeria, where the lack of good roads leaves many with no alternative routes. A Chinese court sentenced a high-ranking editor and columnist for a major Communist Party newspaper to seven years in prison on espionage charges on Friday. His family said it was punishment for past writings that were critical of the government, as well as a warning to Chinese citizens against engaging with foreigners. The journalist, Dong Yuyu, 62, was arrested in Beijing in 2022 while having lunch with a Japanese diplomat, who was also briefly detained. As part of his job, Mr. Dong had met regularly with foreign diplomats and journalists. He was also a prolific writer, expressing support for the rule of law and constitutional democracy, ideas that the ruling Communist Party says it supports but in reality has suppressed. Some of his writing criticized the partys selective version of Chinese history, which downplays its role in dark periods like the Cultural Revolution. Such critiques were once common among Chinese intellectuals. But since Chinas current leader, Xi Jinping, took power in 2012, the party has eliminated virtually all space for dissenting views and urged suspicion of foreigners, in the name of national security. France lost one of its staunchest military allies in the volatile Sahel region of Africa this week as Chad ended its longstanding defense partnership with the country, the latest blow to French efforts to maintain sway on the continent it once colonized. France has some 1,000 troops in Chad who will likely now have to leave. Analysts suggested that could further open the door to influence of the Russian military, already present in Chads neighbors. The surprise decision was announced late Thursday by Chads foreign minister, Abderaman Koulamallah. It is time for Chad to assert its sovereignty, he said in a statement, calling the decision a historic turning point. The move appeared to have surprised the French government. Late Friday a French foreign ministry spokesman said Chadian authorities had made known their desire to see the security and defense partnership evolve and that France had taken note. Thousands of people demonstrated in front of the Parliament building in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, for a second day on Friday after the government announced that the country had suspended its bid to join the European Union for four years. The announcement has further deepened the conflict between the countrys opposition, which wants closer ties with the West, and the governing Georgian Dream party, which has been pivoting Georgia away from Europe toward Russia and China. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Thursday said that the country was putting the process of accession into the European Union on hold until 2028. Mr. Kobakhidze also said that Georgia would decline all grants from the European Union, which has allocated more than $500 million to the country since 2019. Thousands of protesters poured onto the streets outside the Parliament building on Thursday night but were dispersed by riot police using water cannons and tear gas. On Friday night, protesters returned, blocking a long stretch of Tbilisis main Rustaveli Avenue and the surrounding streets. Some protesters threw stones at police officers and tried to blind them with green laser pointers. The police responded with stun grenades and water cannons. But the Russian shellfire intensified after the first week, soldiers in infantry units that followed up on the initial assault said. Serhii, a 41-year-old father of three, said his unit fought for six hours to advance just 80 yards. The unit was so pinned down that they could not evacuate the wounded for four days, he said. The medic bled out and died, Serhii said. He was lightly wounded but he died. Others described nearly drowning in the river, weighed down by their weapons and kit when their boats were sunk. Rybak, 41, who ran a small angling company before the war, was thrown in the water when his boat hit a mine. Unable to move his legs he later discovered his back was broken he managed to paddle to the riverbank. He said he hid among the corpses of fallen comrades for six hours, slipping in and out of consciousness, clinging to the bank by digging two commando knives into the grass. He was later rescued by a passing boat but only by chance. Through October fighting was at close quarters, house to house, with Russian soldiers in one building and Ukrainians in the next, Serhii said. The men sheltered in basements. Neither side could go out to recover the dead. Follow the latest news on the cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon. The Israeli military issued new warnings to residents on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border on Friday, telling them not to return to their homes, as the fragile U.S.-brokered cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah appeared to largely hold despite another Israeli strike in southern Lebanon. The military released a list of more than 60 towns in southern Lebanon that it said remained off-limits to civilians, including large centers like Bint Jbeil, Marjeyoun and Naqoura, the home of the U.N. peacekeeping force in the country. The countrys hard-hit south has been the focal point of the war. The Israeli military does not intend to target you and therefore you are prohibited at this stage from returning to your homes, said Avichay Adraee, a military spokesman, in a statement posted online directed at residents of the towns. Anyone who moves south of this line puts himself in danger. It is not clear when hundreds of thousands of displaced Lebanese will be able to return to their homes in the south. Under the cease-fire agreement that took effect on Wednesday, Israeli forces will gradually withdraw from southern Lebanon over 60 days. Syrian rebels breached the major city of Aleppo on Friday, according to the fighters and a war monitor, reigniting the countrys long-running civil war with an intensity not seen in years. The rebels, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, took control of more than half of Aleppo within hours on Friday without resistance from Syrian government forces, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitoring group based in Britain. Independent Syrian media shared images and videos of rebels in Aleppo neighborhoods and at well-known roundabouts, celebrating. But Syrian state media challenged this narrative, reporting that the Syrian military had captured groups of terrorists who were filming inside several Aleppo neighborhoods in order to prove that they had taken control of them. (Since the early days of the uprising, the government has characterized all opposition as terrorists.) What does the bill say? The bill that was approved on Friday applies to those who are at least 18 years old, have received a terminal diagnosis and have no more than six months to live. Two doctors and a judge are required to give their approval, and fatal drugs would have to be self-administered. Parliament overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to allow assisted dying in 2015. But since then, as other European countries have slowly approved assisted suicide, pressure has mounted on British lawmakers to establish their own policy, especially as it has become more common for terminally ill Britons to travel abroad to die on their own terms. The debate over assisted dying practices was reignited in December, when the British broadcaster Esther Rantzen said she would consider traveling abroad to end her life, given her diagnosis of terminal lung cancer. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he promised Ms. Rantzen before the July general election that if his Labour Party won, the government would allow a debate and a vote on the subject. What is the current law in Britain? It is illegal to assist someone in the act of killing themselves in Britain. The new legislation covers only England and Wales, but a similar bill is being considered by Scotlands Parliament. Still, it is difficult to convict someone in these kinds of cases. According to the Crown Prosecution Service, the public prosecutor for England and Wales, 187 cases of assisted suicide have been referred to courts in the last 15 years; only four have been successfully prosecuted. Osaka-based showerhead maker Science Co. has developed a cutting-edge washing machine for humans aptly named Mirai Ningen Sentakuki (Human Washing Machine of the Future). At the 1970 Osaka Kansai Expo, Japanese tech giant Sanyo Electric Co., now Panasonic Holdings Corp., launched the worlds first-ever human washing machine. Its futuristic egg shape and bubble technology captured peoples imagination and drew huge crowds to the manufacturers booth. Yasuaki Aoyama was one of the many people who got to see Sanyos washing machine in action. He was only a curious fourth-grader at the time, but the feeling of awe stuck with him all through adulthood, and today, as the chairman of Science Co., a company specializing in bathtubs and showerheads, he is preparing to launch his very own modern washing machine for humans. We will offer a new human washing machine as a legacy from the 1970 expo, Aoyama recently told Japanese reporters, adding that the updated model will be showcased during the Osaka Kansai Expo in April 2025. The original human washing machine used ultrasounds created by large air bubbles to clean the user and released plastic balls as a way to massage them. The Human Washing Machine of the Future, on the other hand, uses small, microscopic air bubbles that are much more efficient when it comes to cleaning the body, as well as state-of-the-art sensors that measure the persons pulse and other biological data in order to heat the water just right, and an AI system that determines whether the user is calm or excited and the projects images on the transparent cover of the washing machine to get them in the right mood. We have yet to see Science Co.s human washing machine in action, but the company says that the cockpit-shaped device partially fills with hot water when the bather sits in the central seat, and then millions of microscopic bubbles are released to clean the users body. Yasuaki Aoyama said that his company hopes to allow up to 1,000 people to use the innovative washing machine during next years Osaka Expo. Science Co. has been working on its human washing machine for a few years now. We first wrote about it in 2022, and while the design of the original prototype has changed considerably, its worth mentioning that the company respected its original launch target of 2025. A 33-year-old Japanese man has been getting a lot of attention for his ingenious way of putting a roof over his head asking total strangers to let him sleep over. Shuraf Ishida has slept in over 500 different homes over the last five years. After quitting his job, he decided to sell all his belongings except for a few essentials that fit into his backpack and travel around Japan using his savings. Normally, accommodation would have ranked highest on his list of expenses, but the 33-year-old man found an ingenious way of putting a roof over his head for free. Every day, Ishida stands in crowded areas sometimes for hours at a time, holding up a sign that reads Please Let Me Stay Over Tonight! As weird as it sounds, he almost always finds someone willing to take him in, mostly lonely homeowners in need of someone to talk to. Most people who pass by Shuraf Ishida at train stations or busy interactions simply ignore the expressionless man holding up a sign asking anyone to let him sleep in their home, but its very rare that he doesnt find anyone willing to take him in. On those rare occasions, he simply contacts one of the people who let him crash on previous occasions. Some even consider him a friend now, after sharing several nights in his company, confiding their secrets to him, even though he coldly refers to all the people who opened up their doors to him as homeowners. Its exciting, like casting a fishing line and waiting for a fish, Shuraf Ishida says about the experience of standing motionless with his sign until someone approaches him. However, the most exciting part of the experience is listening to the homeowners life stories, which he claims feels like reading a different novel every night, never boring. Ishida said that he used to be a very shy, reclusive person, but everything changed during his university days when he went to Taiwan, where he met people and was treated to delicious meals. He became obsessed with traveling, so after graduating from university, he got a job at a Japanese corporation with the goal of saving up money to travel around the world. He quit at age 28 and has been traveling ever since. Although his savings are dwindling, he has no intention of going back to work, instead trying to save as much money as possible to keep his unique lifestyle going. Ishida says that many of the homeowners he interacts with open up to him, sharing secrets and hardships that they have had to endure, but he never shows empathy and doesnt offer words of encouragement. Instead, he just listens to them and asks direct questions, which most of them seem to enjoy, because it makes the interaction more genuine. I think of it as content. I really enjoy listening to it, Ishida told Japanese news outlet FNN, adding that he never feels like he owes the homeowners anything for allowing him to spend the night in their homes. It may sound arrogant, but I just want to have a bit of fun. Ishidas attitude has received a lot of criticism on social media from people accusing him of relying on the kindness of others instead of working, but the homeowners welcoming him in their homes find his presence good value for money. Over ninety percent of them are single homeowners, mostly men, who feel lonely and enjoy having someone to talk to. He offers them an escape from painful loneliness, and all they have to do is let him sleep over. On nights when I feel like I cant get through it, I often end up spending a lot of money or drinking until I throw up, and its not very productive, one woman in her 20s said. But when I was with him, he helped me get through it. I just lent him my house. So I thought it was really good value for money. Shuraf Ishidas story recently went viral in Japan, catapulting him to celebrity status. He has been getting requests from people looking to welcome them into their homes, and from news outlets wanting to interview him. But the 33-year-old man said that no matter how famous he becomes, he intends to keep sleeping in strangers homes. His main concern right now is wanting to revisit many homes he has spent the night in and having trouble fitting them into his busy schedule. Attempts by state legislatures across the country to put the brakes on responsible investing are meeting strong headwinds, according to a new report from business consulting firm Pleiades Strategy. So far this year, the firms 2024 Statehouse Report says, out of 161 active bills and resolutions that have aimed to prohibit pension boards, state and municipal governments, and the private sector from considering such factors as a companys effect on the climate or its treatment of employees in their investment decisions, only six have passed. Thats a sharp drop from 2023, when 23 anti-ESG laws were approved. The anti-ESG movement is employing a range of strategies. One of those claims that using ESG criteria as part of investment decisions constitutes denial of financial services, while another labels ESG efforts as boycotts or discrimination The Pleiades study cites reasons for the pushback to these state measures. The main one is the high cost of implementing the laws that have already been enacted. Such laws already have cost residents in states like Texas and Oklahoma hundreds of millions of dollars, the study says. Opposition to anti-ESG legislation is uniting groups that often find themselves on different sides in legislative battles, including business groups, financial officers, investors, labor unions, racial justice advocates and environmentalists. Even bills that do make their way through the legislative process are affected by this trend. Most anti-ESG laws that passed in 2023 and 2024 were significantly watered down before passage, according to Pleiades. That weakening is usually achieved through escape clauses that limit a bills effect. The study cautions that the efforts promoting anti-ESG legislation are still highly active and well-funded. It notes that the Heritage Foundations Project 2025 initiative has made anti-ESG campaigns a central part of its policy. Pleiades, which advises mission-oriented organizations on strategic planning, policy research and design, and program management is headed by Frances Sawyer, who previously served as deputy director of external affairs to California Governor Jerry Brown. A cursory glance at the Offaly constituency in the General Election would tell you that there are three clear favourites who are most likely to get elected when the dust settles on the election count over the weekend. Fianna Fail is running two candidates and should top the poll with Tullamore Councillor Tony McCormack likely to be the first past the post. He is stepping into the breach left by Barry Cowen's departure to Europe but the party's vote is strong in Offaly and in the Tullamore Area in particular he should be the beneficiary. Carol Nolan is the only sitting TD on the ballot paper and she has been elected twice, once as a Sinn Fein TD when Offaly was rolled in with parts of North Tipperary in 2016 and again in 2020 when Laois Offaly was brought back together for what now looks like the last time. She has strong support in the county and you would think she should be back for stint three in the Dail. And despite Marcella Corcoran Kennedy losing her seat in 2020, Fine Gael's performance in the local elections this year suggests there is still strong support for the party in Offaly meaning John Clendennen should also be taking a seat in the Dail when it sits after the election. And if it were all that easy, there'd be no need for the 65,000 voters in Offaly to cast their ballots today. But we are casting our votes and, if we've learned nothing else over the years, we know that elections are about as predictable as the Irish weather. Whether it be geography, political leanings or the direction of the wind, we voters are an unpredictable lot and a significant number of us don't make up our minds until the pen is in our hand and the ballot paper is sitting there in front of us. One major difference between this election and 2020 is the Offaly candidates in the field and where they are located. In 2020, John Leahy and the late Ken Smollen proved to be significant vote getters. Between them they accounted for over 6,000 first preference votes which are now up for grabs. Those votes are likely to account for more than half a quota this time around. Looking at transfers in 2020, the vast majority of their votes eventually ended up with Carol Nolan and ultimately propelled her well over the finish line with a thousand votes to spare. Will they go to the Independent TD as first preferences this time around? If they do, she will be in an even stronger position to get elected but while that might go in Carol Nolan's favour, what might work against her is a new Sinn Fein candidate in the field in Aoife Masterson. After their vote collapsed in Offaly in the 2019 Local Elections, Sinn Fein came back strongly this year claiming three seats, one in each Local Electoral Area. How much of that vote went to Carol Nolan in the 2020 General Election when there was no Sinn Fein candidate in Offaly is impossible to tell but the re-emergence of Sinn Fein in the county could cut into the sitting TD's votes. It's also worth noting that then Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley topped the poll in some areas of Offaly in 2020 which could bode well for Aoife Masterson. She performed very strongly in a packed field in the Tullamore Electoral Area in the Local Elections earlier this year and the wider support for the party in the county could see her getting right into the hunt. Another key factor in the election in Offaly is the geographical split of the candidates which is helpful for some but will be detrimental to others. We will start in North Offaly where the people of the area have been crying out for a local TD for many years. John Foley, Eddie Fitzpatrick and Pippa Hackett have all come close in the past but the last TD elected in North Offaly was the late Ger Connolly and the wait for a TD in the area has now gone on since 1997. In 2020, there was only one candidate from the North Offaly area on the ballot paper in Pippa Hackett but this time there are four to choose from and that ultimately could leave the area once again without a TD. After not being selected by Fianna Fail for the General Election, Eddie Fitpatrick decided to run as an Independent this time having previously run as an Independent (2011) and for Fianna Fail (2016). He is a strong vote getter and received just shy of 2,000 votes in the Local Elections this year. Fianna Fail instead selected first time councillor Claire Murray to run in the General Election and she should benefit from a strong party vote in the county. Fianna Fail returned eight County Councillors in the Local Elections, narrowly missing out on another, and that strong vote across the county could see the party return two TDs. Fergus McDonnell is running for Independent Ireland and as the only Edenderry candidate on the ballot paper, he should receive a large number of votes in the town. Pippa Hackett finished sixth in a five seat Laois Offaly constituency in 2020 but the poor performance of the Green Party in the Local Elections would suggest that vote has lessened. Whoever is the last one standing of these four candidates in North Offaly after the elimintations begin, assuming transfers stay in the area, could be in with a shout but this looks more like a case of too many candidates pulling from the one pool again crushing any hope people in the area have of electing a TD. The field is not so packed in South Offaly this time around but in a strange quirk, the two leading candidates in Carol Nolan and John Clendennen are just a couple of miles apart. Will this hurt them? Only time will tell but between them they will be hoping to take the majority of votes available from Moneygall to the Blue Ball. Mike Boylan is also in the field in South Offaly and will do well in his native Banagher but he only received 483 first preference votes in the Local Election so his chances would have to be described as slim. In 2020, there was a bigger field of heavy hitters running in South Offaly with Carol Nolan, Peter Ormond, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy and John Leahy all running. While the population is lower in this area, there are more than enough votes available for both to make a strong showing. John Clendennen will also be hoping to retain the huge vote received by Neil Fieghery in the Tullamore Area and by Noel Cribbin and Liam Quiinn in the Edenderry Area in the Local Election After years of not having a TD, Tullamore could potentially elect two this time around. Tullamore has not elected a TD from the town since Pat Gallagher in 1992 but that will change this year and, like buses, after waiting around for ages for one, two could arrive together for the town in Tony McCormack and Aoife Masterson. Another Tullamore name on the ballot is Maureen Ward who is running for Aontu and it will be interesting to see how she fares on her first time seeking election. Having said all of the above, the more likely outcome after a close battle at times is Tony McCormack, Carol Nolan and John Clendennen being elected to represent Offaly but there could be a real fight for the last seat with Aoife Masterson, Eddie Fitzpatrick and Claire Murray in particular likely to be very much in the hunt. China contributes to global intellectual property rights governance 16:28, November 28, 2024 By Li Jiabao ( People's Daily This year marks the 30th anniversary of China's entry into the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). In 1994, patent applications via PCT from China were only 98; by 2023, the number increased to nearly 70,000, ranking first in the world for five consecutive years. Over the past three decades, China has emerged as the world's largest patent filer and is advancing toward becoming an intellectual property powerhouse, becoming a crucial player in the global innovation landscape. Photo shows a lunar rover tire during the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, November 6, 2024. (People's Daily Online/Tang Ke) A series of impressive data underscore China's vibrant innovation ecosystem. According to World Intellectual Property Indicators 2024 released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), innovators in China filed around 1.64 million patent applications worldwide in 2023, far exceeding other countries and regions. In 2024, China moved up one spot to 11th place in the ranking of the world's most innovative economies, remaining the only middle-income economy in the top 30. In recent years, China's green and digital economy has been gaining strong momentum, with cutting-edge technologies continuously fostering new industries, new models, and new growth drivers. Sustained scientific and technological innovation continues to empower new quality productive forces. According to China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), in 2023, the number of invention patents approved in China's core industries of digital economy reached 406,000, a year-on-year increase of 21.2 percent, accounting for 44.1 percent of the total number of granted invention patents in the country. As of the end of 2023, China had 243,000 valid green and low-carbon patents. Ding Minglei, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development, said that China's intellectual property protection is becoming increasingly advanced. The country stands at the forefront of global high-tech innovation and patent applications, highlighting its strong innovative vitality and significant influence in global technological innovation, Ding added. A staff member tests equipment in a laboratory of Anhui Duobang Honing Technology Co., Ltd. in Ma'anshan, east China's Anhui province. (People's Daily Online/Wang Wensheng) During the recently concluded seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE), many new technologies and products met the public for the first time, demonstrating the vibrant charm of cutting-edge technology. Among the standout exhibits are the world's first intelligent powered shoes that allow wearers to walk at running speed, an airless tire for lunar rovers that can withstand the moon's extremely harsh conditions, and a foldable handheld cleaning machine. Since its inception in 2018, the CIIE has served as an "accelerator" driving the entry of new products worldwide into the Chinese market. The favorable atmosphere of intellectual property protection and the law-based business environment are key factors that encourage global enterprises to launch their products and invest in China. During the seventh CIIE, the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Justice took the lead in establishing a foreign-related legal service center and a legal service volunteer team, providing global exhibitors with one-stop legal consulting services ranging from intellectual property administrative law enforcement, intellectual property right protection, and dispute resolution. Ding said that in recent years, China has created a more fair and transparent business environment for foreign investors by improving laws and regulations, and strengthening law enforcement and judicial efficiency. These measures have effectively reduced costs incurred by technology transfer for foreign investors, increased their market profit expectations, and promoted the continuous inflow of high-quality foreign investment. The number of applications, authorizations and holdings of intellectual patents of foreign companies in China has increased rapidly year by year. By June this year, the numbers of effective invention patents owned by foreign applicants and valid trademark registrations by foreign applications in China had reached 919,000 and 2.135 million respectively. This speaks to foreign investors' full confidence in China's intellectual property protection. Photo shows the world's first intelligent powered shoes that allow wearers to walk at running speed exhibited at the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, November 8, 2024. (People's Daily Online/Wang Chu) In recent years, China has actively promoted international cooperation in intellectual property rights. It has established stable cooperative relations with over 80 countries and regions, with over 200 intellectual property cooperation agreements currently being implemented. In addition, the number of Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) partners with China has increased to 33, covering 84 countries, providing strong support for Chinese companies' overseas intellectual property layout. Intellectual property cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as China-Central Asia cooperation mechanism, China-ASEAN cooperation mechanism, BRICS, China-Mongolia-Russia cooperation mechanism, China-Africa cooperation mechanism, and China-Latin America cooperation mechanism has also made significant progress. Furthermore, China actively participates in negotiations and discussions at the WIPO Assemblies and professional committees to improve international intellectual property rules. In May this year, China facilitated the conclusion of the WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge, ending 25 years of negotiations and achieving a historical breakthrough. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun) Beijing (Gasgoo)- On November 28, FAW-Volkswagen celebrated a historic milestone with its 20 millionth vehicle under the Volkswagen brand, an all-new TAYRON L, rolling off the production line at its Tianjin factory. Photo credit: FAW-Volkswagen Since its debut, the TAYRON family has achieved cumulative sales of over 850,000 units. The new TAYRON L introduces a refreshed design philosophy, emphasizing a dynamic and avant-garde aesthetic. Inside, it offers a fully upgraded interior, designed to serve as a versatile and intelligent "third space" for passengers. Equipped to tackle China's complex road conditions, the TAYRON L features advanced L2+ IQ.Pilot driving assistance technology, IQ.360 panoramic camera view, IPA intelligent parking assist, and a range of active and passive safety features. FAW-Volkswagen highlighted its journey over the past 33 years: from the rollout of its first JETTA A2 sedan to reaching the 20 million units production milestone for Volkswagen-branded vehicles; from operating a single plant in Changchun to establishing five strategically located production bases; and from producing one model to offering a diverse portfolio that covers all market segments. The company has built a comprehensive system for R&D, manufacturing, delivery, and service to meet user needs throughout the entire journey, underscoring its commitment to delivering high-quality vehicles and services in China. Beijing (Gasgoo)- Under the framework of China's Belt and Road Initiative, Great Wall Motor (GWM) is strengthening its foothold in Brazil through extensive collaboration with local government bodies, supply chains, and other stakeholders. GWM's Brazil team; photo credit: GWM On November 26, GWM's president of overseas business Shi Qingke met with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to discuss the development of the new energy vehicle (NEV) industry and future cooperation. President Lula assured full support for GWM's growth plans, while Mr. Shi announced that GWM's Brazil plant is set to begin production by mid-2025. Days earlier, Mr. Shi also held discussions with Sao Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas and Secretary of Economic Development Jorge Lima, focusing on factory operations and localization strategies. Governor Freitas pledged to support the plant and surrounding industries, emphasizing Sao Paulo's strategic role in advancing the NEV sector. Mr. Shi highlighted plans to enhance the local supply chain and create over 700 jobs in the region. GWM's first Brazilian dealership; photo credit: GWM Since entering Brazil in 2022, GWM has expanded its dealer network to 88 outlets, covering key cities and regions. It has committed to invest over 10 billion BRL (approximately 11.5 billion RMB) over the next decade to deepen local industry ties, specifically in the electrification and intelligent fields, and cement its leadership in the Brazilian NEV market. GWM is also upgrading its Iracemapolis plant to become Brazil's first NEV-focused complete vehicle factory. Once completed, the smart, digitized factory will deliver high-quality NEVs tailored to the local market. Additionally, GWM plans to launch over 10 NEV models in Brazil under its Haval, Tank, and Ora brands, further diversifying its product offerings. Dear friend: Please read, act, and share We have little sleep and we think of the ongoing genocide and what we can say or do to make a difference while traveling for Palestine. Words fail us. But we are honored to be with dedicated activists everywhere we go for hospitality, support, love, and knowledge exchange. Please help publicize the rest of the program in Ireland and then the US. The tour, while stressful helps us to meet people and give tailored talks to suit audience (University students, Churches, Rotary club members., environmental groups, museums, scientists etc) to be able to gain long term partnership and support for a) Palestine, b) (secondary) to our institute (palestinenature.org see this short video.) In my talks, I explain that the whole planet needs decolonization, not just Palestine. That is because the colonizer mentality and actions are against biological and human diversity, against sustainability, against peace. I argue that the path engaged by imperialists, colonizers, and their lackeys are leading us to a cataclysmic end (by either climate collapse or nuclear war or both). The US is funding more weapons to Israel to continue genocide, ecocide, medicide, scholasticide, and verriticide (killing the truth). We must not rest until we end racism and apartheid and colonialism (globally). Those with greed getting rich off of our misery cannot be allowed to destroy humanity! New Publication Allombert, Ch. And MB Qumsiyeh. Israel designation of "Nature Reserves": A tool of colonization. International Review of Contemporary Law 6(4):9-14. Dr. Tanya STRUGGLES TO DESCRIBE WHAT SHE WITNESSED as a medical doctor in Gaza. Poet Mosab Anu Toha, concludes this post 'Whereas the International Criminal Court issues arrest warrants for criminals Netanyahu and Gallant and also for Deif, leader who was presumably killed months ago, the USA vetoes a UN Security Council ceasefire resolution. We know more than ever who is the enemy of humanity.' A picture of farming in Gaza. Gaza food production decimated. Forensic architecture on systematic destruction. Loot: How Israel stole Palestinian property. Poisoning Gaza soil. As the genocide continues using US weapons, the US will replenish supplies of genocidal weapons to the Zionist regime. (Taxpayers foot the bill). UK actions. (Poignant) Francesca Albanese and Eyal Weizman Onward Stay Humane and keep Palestine/hope alive Mazin Qumsiyeh A bedouin in cyberspace, a villager at home Professor, Founder, and (volunteer) Director Palestine Museum of Natural History Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability Bethlehem University Occupied Palestine facebook pages Personal Institute French Council of Boards of School Education (COBSE) gave membership to BOSSE. This membership will enhance the credibility of the BOSSE degree and certification and also encourage the pursuit of knowledge through a constructive and employment-oriented curriculum. Gangtok, 5 January 2023: Council of Boards of School Education (COBSE) gave membership to the Board of Open Schooling & Skill Education (BOSSE). This is another feat achieved by BOSSE that will enhance its Plain City, Ohio - Elastostar Rubber Corporation proudly announces its latest advancements in the manufacturing of high-quality silicone rubber gaskets and seals and rubber die-cut gaskets. These products, known for their superior performance and versatility, are now available to meet a wide array of industry needs. Silicone rubber gaskets and seals from Elastostar are engineered to deliver exceptional durability, flexibility, and resistance to extreme temperatures and harsh environments. These properties make Last Thursday, amidst an atmosphere of excitement and significance, Beau Monde Traveller celebrated its grand launch in London's iconic Notting Hill. The exclusive event attracted an illustrious gathering of representatives from some of London's leading public relations agencies, luxury brands, renowned media outlets, and esteemed travel writers. The evening firmly established Beau Monde Traveller as an innovative and bold voice in luxury travel publishing. A Showcase of Style and Innovation The unveiling Coimbatore, 29/11/2024 - Kasadara Technology Solutions, a leading multi-service IT consulting firm, proudly announces the launch of its innovative asset management software, Faciliteasy. Designed to streamline complex asset management processes, Faciliteasy empowers businesses to efficiently manage their assets across various industries, ensuring optimal performance and cost savings. As industries grow, asset management has become increasingly complex. Enterprises face challenges like tracking asset lifecycles, minimizing downtime, and ensuring regulatory compliance. Faciliteasy addresses In March, newly installed Social Security chief Martin OMalley criticized agency injustices that shock our shared sense of equity and good conscience as Americans. He promised to overhaul the Social Security Administrations often heavy-handed efforts to claw back money that millions of recipients including people who are living in poverty, are elderly, or have disabilities were allegedly overpaid, as described by a KFF Health News and Cox Media Group investigation last year. Innocent people can be badly hurt, OMalley said at the time. Nearly eight months since he appeared before Congress and announced a series of policy changes, and with two months left in his term, OMalleys effort to fix the system has made inroads but remains a work in progress. For instance, one change, moving away from withholding 100% of peoples monthly Social Security benefits to recover alleged overpayments, has been a major improvement, say advocates for beneficiaries. It is a tremendous change, said Kate Lang of Justice in Aging, who called it life-changing for many people. The number of people from whom the Social Security Administration was withholding full monthly benefits to recoup money declined sharply from about 46,000 in January to about 7,000 in September, the agency said. Asked to clarify whether those numbers and others provided for this article covered all programs administered by the agency, the SSA press office did not respond. Another potentially significant change relieving beneficiaries of having to prove that an overpayment was not their fault has not been implemented. The agency said it is working on that. Meanwhile, the agency seems to be looking to Congress to take the lead on a change some observers see as crucial: limiting how far back the government can reach to recover an alleged overpayment. Barbara Hubbell of Watkins Glen, New York, called the absence of a statute of limitations despicable. Hubbell said her mother was held liable for $43,000 because of an SSA error going back 19 years. In what universe is that even legal? Hubbell said. Paying down the overpayment balance left her mother essentially penniless, she added. In response to questions for this article, Social Security spokesperson Mark Hinkle said legislation is the best and fastest way to set a time limit. Establishing a statute of limitations was not among the policy changes OMalley announced in his March congressional testimony. In an interview at the time, he said he expected an announcement on it within the next couple few months. It could probably be done by regulation, without an act of Congress, he said. Speaking generally, Hinkle said the agency has made substantial progress on overpayments, reducing the hardship they cause, and continues to work diligently to update policies. The agency is underfunded, he added, is at a near 50-year low in staffing, and could do better with more employees. The SSA did not respond to requests for an interview with OMalley. OMalley announced the policy changes after KFF Health News and Cox Media Group jointly published and broadcast investigative reporting on the damage overpayments and clawbacks have done to millions of beneficiaries. When OMalley, a former Democratic governor of Maryland, presented his plans to three congressional committees in March, lawmakers greeted him with rare bipartisan praise. But the past several months have shown how hard it can be to turn around a federal bureaucracy that is massive, complex, deeply dysfunctional, and, as it says, understaffed. Now OMalleys time may be running out. Lang of Justice in Aging, among the advocacy groups that have been meeting with OMalley and other Social Security officials, said she appreciates how much the commissioner has achieved in a short time. But she added that OMalley has not been interested in hearing about our feelings that things have fallen short. One long-standing policy OMalley set out to change involves the burden of proof. When the Social Security Administration alleges someone has been overpaid and demands the money back, the burden is on the beneficiary to prove they were not at fault. Cecilia Malone, 24, a beneficiary in Lithonia, Georgia, said she and her parents spent hundreds of hours trying to get errors corrected. Why is the burden on us to prove we werent overpaid? Malone said. It can be exceedingly difficult for beneficiaries to appeal a decision. The alleged overpayments, which can reach tens of thousands of dollars or more, often span years. And people struggling just to survive may have extra difficulty producing financial records from long ago. Whats more, in letters demanding repayment, the government does not typically spell out its case against the beneficiary making it hard to mount a defense. Testifying before House and Senate committees in March, OMalley promised to shift the burden of proof. That should be on the agency, he said. The agency expects to finalize guidance on the subject in the coming months, Hinkle said. The agency points to reduced wait times and other improvements in a phone system known to leave beneficiaries on hold. In September, we answered calls to our national 800 number in an average of 11 minutes a tremendous improvement from 42 minutes one year ago, Hinkle said. Still, in response to a nonrepresentative survey by KFF Health News and Cox Media Group focused on overpayments, about half of respondents who said they contacted the agency by phone since April rated that experience as poor, and few rated it good or excellent. The survey was sent to about 600 people who had contacted KFF Health News to share their overpayment stories since September 2023. Almost 200 people answered the survey in September and October of this year. Most of those who said they contacted the agency by mail since April rated their experience as poor. Jennifer Campbell, 60, a beneficiary in Nelsonville, Ohio, said in late October that she was still waiting for someone at the agency to follow up as described during a phone call in May. VERY POOR customer service!!!!! Campbell wrote. Nearly impossible to get a hold of someone, wrote Kathryn Duff of Colorado Springs, Colorado, who has been helping a disabled family member. Letters from SSA have left Duff mystified. One was postmarked July 9, 2024, but dated more than two years earlier. Another, dated Aug. 18, 2024, said her family member was overpaid $31,635.80 in benefits from the Supplemental Security Income program, which provides money to people with little or no income or other resources who are disabled, blind, or at least 65. But Duff said her relative never received SSI benefits. Whats more, for the dates in question, payments listed in the letter to back up the agencys math didnt come close to $31,635.80; they totaled about a quarter of that amount. Regarding the 100% clawbacks, OMalley in March said its unconscionable that someone would find themselves facing homelessness or unable to pay bills, because Social Security withheld their entire payment for recovery of an overpayment. He said that, starting March 25, if a beneficiary doesnt respond to a new overpayment notice, the agency would default to withholding 10%. The agency warned of a short transition period. That change wasnt automated until June 25, Hinkle said. The number of people newly placed in full withholding plummeted from 6,771 in February to 51 in September, according to data the agency provided. SSA said it would notify recipients they could request reduced withholding if it was already clawing back more than 10% of their monthly checks. Nonetheless, dozens of beneficiaries or their family members told KFF Health News and Cox Media Group they hadnt heard they could request reduced withholding. Among those who did ask, roughly half said their requests were approved. According to the SSA, there has been almost a 20% decline in the number of people facing clawbacks of more than 10% but less than 100% of their monthly checks from 141,316 as of March 8 to 114,950 as of Oct. 25, agency spokesperson Nicole Tiggemann said. Meanwhile, the number of people from whom the agency was withholding exactly 10% soared more than fortyfold from just over 5,000 to well over 200,000. And the number of beneficiaries having any partial benefits withheld to recover an overpayment increased from almost 600,000 to almost 785,000, according to data Tiggemann provided. Lorraine Anne Davis, 72, of Houston, said she hasnt received her monthly Social Security payment since June due to an alleged overpayment. Her Medicare premium was being deducted from her monthly benefit, so shes been left to pay that out-of-pocket. Davis said shes going to need a kidney transplant and had been trying to save money for when shed be unable to work. A letter from the SSA dated April 8, 2024, two weeks after the new 10% withholding policy was slated to take effect, said it had overpaid her $13,538 and demanded she pay it back within 30 days. Apparently, the SSA hadnt accounted for a pension Davis receives from overseas; Davis said she disclosed it when she filed for benefits. In a letter to her dated June 29, the agency said that, under its new policy, it would change the withholding to only 10% if she asked. Davis said she asked by phone repeatedly, and to no avail. Nobody seems to know whats going on and no one seems to be able to help you, Davis said. Youre just held captive. In October, the agency said shed receive a payment in March 2025. ____ Marley Presiado, a research assistant on the Public Opinion and Survey Research team at KFF, contributed to this report. ___ (KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs of KFF the independent source for health policy research, polling and journalism.) 2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Beijing (Gasgoo)- On November 27, Chinese commercial vehicle maker Foton Motor celebrated the completion of its Thailand factory. At the event, the automaker saw an all-electric heavy-duty truck roll off the production line at the Thai facility, which represents the 1 millionth vehicle produced for Foton Motor's overseas business (including export and local production outside of China). Inauguration of Thai factory; photo credit: Foton Motor The Thailand factory is operated by CP FOTON, a joint venture established by Foton Motor and CP Group in 2019. The venture aims to position Foton Motor among the top three commercial vehicle brands in Thailand and serve as a manufacturing hub for the ASEAN region. Photo credit: Foton Motor Spanning approximately 37,000 square meters, the facility produces a wide range of commercial vehicles, including medium- and heavy-duty trucks, light-duty trucks, small trucks, and buses. Foton Motor is of the few Chinese commercial vehicle manufacturers to establish a truck plant in Thailand. Aligned with Thailand's environmental goals and the shift toward vehicle electrification, Foton Motor plans to introduce a full lineup of new energy commercial vehicles to the facility, providing cleaner and more sustainable solutions for Thailand and neighboring markets. Foton Motor has already developed a robust industrial cluster in Thailand and aims to further expand into Indonesia, Vietnam, and other Asia-Pacific markets. Globally, its localization strategy includes ongoing projects such as the Brazil manufacturing initiative, which is set to commence production in 2025. A 12-year-old drove 161 miles across the Cascade Mountains to Eastern Washington before he was spotted by deputies and led them on a chase. Police in Issaquah, Wash., notified the Grant County Sheriffs Office that the boy had stolen his grandfathers car and might be headed to Moses Lake. Deputies spotted the stolen car parked on the curb on the 900 block of Lowry Street in Moses Lake about 10:20 a.m. Wednesday, according to the sheriffs office. The boy led deputies on a short chase that ended when a deputy used a PIT, or precision immobilization technique, maneuver, causing the 12-year-old to lose control and stop the car when it abruptly turned sideways. Nobody was hurt and vehicle damages were minimal, according to the sheriffs office. The boy was arrested and taken to the Chelan County Juvenile Justice Center on suspicion of possessing a stolen vehicle and felony eluding. ___ (c)2024 Tri-City Herald (Kennewick, Wash.) Visit Tri-City Herald (Kennewick, Wash.) at www.tri-cityherald.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Two people were injured in a Hillsboro traffic collision Thursday that sent a car careening into a pedestrian and an ice cream shop, police said. One driver and the pedestrian were taken to a hospital, Hillsboro Police spokesperson Officer Jim Ruiz said in an email, with non-life-threatening injuries. The car also crashed into the corner of Jims Ice Cream at 658 S.E. 10th Ave. in Hillsboro, causing significant structural damage. Ruiz said Hillsboro Fire Department stabilized the building, but the shops owners said in a post on Facebook that the damage will close the shop for the foreseeable future. No one was inside at the time of the crash. Ruiz said the cause of the two-vehicle collision was still under investigation. Elliot Njus edits business and economy news for The Oregonian/OregonLive. He can be reached at enjus@oregonian.com. When shopping for toys, parents often want to find fun and affordable options for their kids. This is especially true today when the cost of living and housing is high. Websites like Temu and Shein sell toys that can seem like great deals. In fact, they offer a wide range of colorful and exciting toys at low prices. But before you add toys to your cart, it's important to think about safety. Not all toys meet the same safety standards. Here's everything parents need to know before ordering from these online platforms. What is Temu and Shein? Temu and Shein are popular e-commerce and online shopping websites that sell many different products at affordable prices. Many items on the platforms are priced under $50. That, in addition to constant promotions, discounts, and flash deals, makes Temu and Shein some of the top go-to platforms for parents and individuals looking for cheap items. These websites ship items from different countries and often carry everything from stuffed animals to puzzles and art supplies. Why Should Parents Be Wary of Imported Toys? A new report from the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) indicated that toys purchased online are often shipped directly to the buyer from the seller. This means the contents of the package are unlikely to get inspected before it reaches your doorstep. This, in turn, means the toys may not meet safety standards. In fact, a recent investigation by an Australian consumer advocacy organization tested 15 toys and novelty items sold by Temu. All products failed to meet at least one Australian safety standard requirement. They also had unsafe battery compartments that failed to secure button and coin batteries, which can cause severe injuries or death if ingested by children. There have also been reports of lead and cadmium in baby clothes, pacifiers, and toys sold on Shein. Additionally, toys sold by online retailers are not subject to the same laws as those offered in brick-and-mortar stores. Furthermore, online retailers can sell recalled toys online, per a separate report. "There's a reason those companies sell a toy for $4 when the exact same toy would cost $25 in the United States," Deirdre Cummings, consumer program director for MASSPIRG Education Fund, told Parents. Cyber Monday Chromebook deals are here, and some of them are truly excellent. Lets shop! Ive listed our official recommendations for the best Cyber Monday Chromebook deals below, which weve separated out into budget picks, mid-range choices, and premium offerings. More importantly, Ill tell you why its a good deal. If you dont want to wade through it all, thats fine: the very best Chromebook deal for your money right now is Costcos $199.99 Chromebook Plus, followed by the $279 Acer Chromebook Plus 515 and the $119.00 Lenovo IdeaPad 3i. If you need more guidance when shopping for Cyber Monday Chromebook sales, scroll down to the FAQ at the end where I explain what prices to look for, the specs we prefer, and more. Our list of the best Chromebooks also contains updated pricing. Updated Dec. 2 at 9:19 AM PT. Best Cyber Monday budget Chromebook deals Budget Chromebooks are all about the tradeoffs. In this case, there is just a single deal (the HP Chromebook) with 8GB of RAM, which is what Id prefer. Still, I look for budget Chromebooks to be in the neighborhood of $100, and the top four options deliver. The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i, the Asus Chromebook CX1 and the Acer Chromebook 315 give you the most for your money, including a nice big display and a relatively modern processor. The Intel Celeron N4500 is faster at single-threaded tasks than the Arm-based MediaTek Kompanio with slightly less battery life. Ive prioritized the Lenovo IdeaPad 3i and the Acer Chromebook 315 because they have slightly larger screens, and the prices are slightly better and cheaper. The Asus Chromebook CX1 is a pretty great deal, though. Its more of a midrange Chromebook (8 GB RAM, a nice big 15.6-inch 1080p screen) at a budget price. Its also one of the few Chromebooks on Amazon worth mentioning. There are some solid Black Friday deals on now! I look for both 8GB of RAM (which allows more tabs and applications to be open) as well as a 1080p display. Lenovos IdeaPad 3i is tops on the list because of the price, but youll notice that it has 4GB of RAM. Its rare that I see a budget offering with 8GB of RAM, as HPs Chromebook offers. However, the 768p display may be a little grainy for some eyes, though the 250-nit brightness is just fine. The HP Chromebook does not include an external display connection, so just make sure to use it within the return window if this is a concern. Amazon doesnt always have great Chromebook deals, but the retailer has upped its game just in time. Im not convinced you need 128GB of storage. If you do, you can swap the Asus CX1 listed here for another Asus Chromebook CX1, priced at $159.99 at Walmart. I dont think were going to see anything decent in this space on Cyber Monday for less than $100, but $109-$139 is actually as good or better than previous sales. Just be careful of merchants reselling products: this $77 Asus Chromebook listing at Walmart is full of people complaining that the merchant is reselling used, subpar merchandise. All of my recommendations are sold brand new. Best Cyber Monday mid-range Chromebook deals Thanks to fellow deal-hunter Alaina Yee for discovering the Acer Chromebook Plus deal at Costco, which ticks all the boxes. Costco usually requires a membership, but Alaina reports that its available, even to non-members. (Non-members pay 5 percent more on this item, or $210.) With 8GB of RAM, a solid 1080p screen and a battery-sipping processor, this Chromebook Plus becomes our top Chromebook deal. Acers Chromebook Plus 514 will likely offer the fastest performance, if that matters, with its Ryzen 3 processor. AMDs Ryzen typically trades faster performance for lower battery life, but the recent Ryzens are top-notch. The HP 14-inch 2-in-1 offers a versatile 2-in-1 form factor and a touch-enabled display, making it a solid choice if you want to swap between laptop and tablet styles. The Intel Core i3-N305 CPU should be fast enough for day-to-day tasks and the 14-inch 19201080 screen should produce crisp-looking visuals. Adorama offered a similar deal earlier, but it was substantially more expensive than this new deal added on Black Friday at Best Buy. Best Cyber Monday premium Chromebook deals Google thinks youll want to buy a Chromebook Plus laptop (whats that?) to achieve the very best Chromebook experience. Do you need one? The experience is undoubtedly smoother and more powerful, without the caveats that typically accompany cheaper Chromebook hardware. Thats why we recommend the Acer Chromebook Plus 515, as it comes with a zippy processor as well as a roomy display. As noted above, the Acer 515 and the Lenovo Flex 5i are the best all-around choices. Id bet that the Lenovo will prove to have the longer battery life, based upon the (lower-power though less powerful) Pentium chip inside. Just think about whether it will always be plugged in or not. Dont forget these crucial accessories! Picking up a Chromebook during Cyber Monday sales can save you hundreds. But why stop there? You can save even more money by accessorizing your Chromebook with the extra things it needs while these sales last. Weve detailed must-have laptop accessories here, but heres a cheat sheet with three especially crucial items: USB hub: Get a USB hub to expand the number and kinds of ports available for your Chromebook. Hiearcools USB-C hub is an affordable and capable USB-C hub with myriad ports, including 2 x USB-A ports, microSD and SD card slots, and an HDMI port. Get it on Amazon. Get a USB hub to expand the number and kinds of ports available for your Chromebook. Hiearcools USB-C hub is an affordable and capable USB-C hub with myriad ports, including 2 x USB-A ports, microSD and SD card slots, and an HDMI port. Get it on Amazon. Mouse: Using a mouse instead of your Chromebooks trackpad can speed up productivity if your Chromebook is mainly used for work, and its crucial if you plan on doing any gaming. A mouse you can rely on for all your needs, and one that feels oh-so-comfortable in your hand, is the Razer DeathAdder V2 X HyperSpeed. Get it on Amazon. Using a mouse instead of your Chromebooks trackpad can speed up productivity if your Chromebook is mainly used for work, and its crucial if you plan on doing any gaming. A mouse you can rely on for all your needs, and one that feels oh-so-comfortable in your hand, is the Razer DeathAdder V2 X HyperSpeed. Get it on Amazon. Laptop sleeve: A good quality sleeve will protect your Chromebook from the inevitable bumps, scratches, and drops that happen over time. Amazons choice for laptop sleeve is the BOOEUDI, which is shockproof and made from neoprene. Browse sizes at Amazon. FAQ 1. When is Black Friday? Officially, this years Black Friday takes place on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. Cyber Monday is the following Monday, or Dec. 2, 2024. 2. What should you pay for a Cyber Monday Chromebook deal? Budget Chromebooks could be about $150 or so, perhaps less but that can mean compromising on some of the features we think youll like. We try to include some of these models, though, in case youre just looking for absolute bottom prices. (Refurbished models can cost even less, but we arent including them.) Good mainstream Chromebooks now cost about $250 to $350, as noted above thats the floor for a Chromebook wed recommend. A Black Friday or Cyber Monday steal could push prices down even further. 3. What features should I look for in a Cyber Monday Chromebook? We still prioritize three things when looking for a Chromebook deal: memory, the size and resolution of the screen, and the CPU. Theres also one big wrinkle for this Cyber Monday and thats the Chromebook support window. You will still find retailers trying to unload Chromebooks with 4GB of RAM, a 768p screen, and an ancient processor. We will still list products with those specs, if justified, as budget Chromebooks. But we really feel that you deserve a Chromebook with 8GB of RAM, a 1080p screen or better (with screen sizes above 13 inches if possible), and a relatively modern CPU. We dont put a lot of weight on the CPU, if only because a Chromebook doesnt need a lot of horsepower behind it. Be aware that HD does not mean 1080p! It basically means 768p, which is going to be a bit hard on your eyes. Full HD or FHD equates to the 1080p display you should get. Our recommended CPUs include Intel Celerons, Intel Pentiums, Intels Core chips, AMDs Ryzen processors, and Arm chips from Mediatek or Qualcomm. All of those have their pros and cons, though the performance differences probably wont matter as much as additional memory. More memory (8GB rather 4GB of RAM) will allow for more browser tabs and a smoother browser experience. A 1080p screen will offer a comfortable laptop-like viewing experience. Onboard storage really doesnt matter all that much, though an SSD of at least 32GB is preferable for storing apps, screenshots, and the like. If youre familiar with our lengthy laptops versus Chromebooks explainer, you know that one of the potential gotchas is buying a Chromebook whose support window expires soon. Google now supports new Chromebooks for up to 10 years, so this is less of a concern. We think this might push prices down, but for very old hardware. Were trying to watch this. 4. Which Chromebooks does PCWorld rate highest? Our editors regularly review Chromebooks, so make sure to check our rankings of the best Chromebooks. We recommend a wide range of price points, and the article offers a great primer on Chromebook shopping. Whats more, some of our top picks will likely go on sale before or during Black Friday. Cyber Monday: The best PC deals around Check out our roundups for the best PC-related deals in a wide variety of categories! With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information. NIO opens first NIO House in MENA region On November 28, NIO announced the opening of its first NIO House in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The new facility is located on Al Maryah Island. Photo credit: NIO ONTIME granted Class B qualification for navigation map production Guangzhou Chenqi Mobility Technology Co., Ltd. ("ONTIME"), the mobility technology and service company under GAC Group, recently received approval to expand its Class B surveying and mapping qualification. The company, previously certified in geographic information systems engineering and internet mapping services, has now added navigation electronic map production to its capabilities. BYD launches SEALION 7 model at Thailand Motor Expo On November 28, the Thailand International Motor Expo 2024 opened in Bangkok, featuring the debut of BYD's SEALION 7 all-electric SUV. Besides, BYD also showcased a range of new energy vehicle (NEV) models, including the BYD ATTO 3, BYD DOLPHIN, BYD SEAL, BYD M6, the BYD SHARK 6 pickup, and several premium models from DENZA, such as the N7 SUV, the Z9 GT sedan, and the D9 flagship MPV. ZEEKR's 500th store globally opens for business On November 28, ZEEKR opened its 500th store globally, which is located in Singapore, according to a post on the company's WeChat account. Currently, it operates 447 stores in China and 53 stores overseas, with plans to reach a total of 520 stores worldwide by the end of this year. XPENG's 10,000th P7+ vehicle rolls off assembly line after 20 days on market On November 28, XPENG announced that there have been 10,000 P7+ vehicles rolling off the assembly line only 20 days after the model hit the market. The model went on sales on November 7, with three variants offered: the P7+ Long Range Max, the Ultra Long Range Max, and the Limited Edition Max, priced at 186,800 yuan, 198,800 yuan, and 218,800 yuan, respectively. AICC completes A+ financing round On November 29, Automotive Intelligence and Control of China Co., Ltd (AlCC) announced the completion of its A+ financing round, which raised for the company hundreds of millions of yuan. BAIC BJEV steps up cooperation with HARMAN to boost ARCFOX's onboard experience On November 28, BAIC BJEV and HARMAN held a signing ceremony at BAIC BJEV's headquarters to deepen their collaboration, focusing on innovative upgrades for in-car displays and audio systems. The partnership aims to deliver an exceptional driving and riding experience for ARCFOX users. Foton Motor inaugurates Thailand plant On November 27, Chinese commercial vehicle maker Foton Motor celebrated the completion of its Thailand factory. At the event, the automaker saw an all-electric heavy-duty truck roll off the production line at the Thai facility, which represents the 1 millionth vehicle produced for Foton Motor's overseas business (including export and local production outside of China). China achieves highest-ever monthly new energy passenger vehicle registrations in Oct. 2024 In October 2024, the registration volume of domestically produced passenger vehicles (PVs) in the Chinese Mainland reached 2,296,336 units, marking a year-on-year (YoY) jump of 20.32% and a month-on-month (MoM) growth of 7.85%, setting a new monthly high for the year, according to the data compiled by the Gasgoo Auto Research Institute ("GARI"). Of all PVs registered in October, 1,179,912 units were new energy vehicles (NEVs), achieving a penetration rate of 51.38% and hitting another record high for monthly registrations. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On November 28, ZEEKR opened its 500th store globally, which is located in Singapore, according to a post on the company's WeChat account. Currently, it operates 447 stores in China and 53 stores overseas, with plans to reach a total of 520 stores worldwide by the end of this year. ZEEKR 009; photo credit: ZEEKR ZEEKR has begun selling the ZEEKR 009 model in Singapore, starting at SGD 409,999 (approximately 2.21 million RMB). Notably, the all-new ZEEKR 009 was put onto China's market on July 19, with three trim levels, starting at 439,000 RMB. On August 1, the ZEEKR X model went on sale in Singapore on August 1, marking the brand's entry into Singapores premium automobile market. To be specific, the ZEEKR X Standard version was priced from SGD 199,999 (approximately 1.083 million RMB), while the Flagship version started at SGD 214,999 (approximately 1.17 million RMB). Entering 2024, ZEEKR has accelerated its overseas business expansion. To date, it has made presence in over 40 major global markets, including Sweden, Australia, the UAE, Mexico, and Egypt across Europe, Asia, Oceania, Latin America, and Africa. In the African market, ZEEKR announced in October that it had signed a cooperation agreement with Egypt International Motors (EIM) to jointly establish a sales and service network in Egypt. ZEEKR X; photo credit: ZEEKR ZEEKR plans to introduce the ZEEKR 001 and ZEEKR X flagship models first to Egypt and gradually introduce other models to cater to the diverse needs of local consumers. Besides, the company is set to open its first store in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, by the end of 2024, offering comprehensive and one-stop after-sales services to Egyptian customers. By the end of 2024, ZEEKR is expected to enter over 50 mainstream global markets in Asia, Oceania and Latin America, according to ZEEKR's earlier statement. By Aubrey Whelan, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS) PHILADELPHIA When University of Pennsylvania researcher Christina Roberto set out to study Philadelphias soda tax, she wasnt convinced she would find much health impact. We know that it is really hard to shift a persons weight and keep that weight off, and its a really tall order to ask a policy like this to produce a health effect, she said. Indeed, Robertos study, published this month in The Lancet, found that average BMI, a measure of a persons body fat based on their height and weight, is still increasing in Philadelphia. But compared to control groups outside the city, BMIs in Philadelphia are rising at a slower rate. The study found limited evidence that BMIs and the prevalence of obesity decreased in the city three years after the implementation of the 2017 tax, its authors wrote. Frequently drinking sugary drinks is associated with weight gain, obesity and other conditions like diabetes. Philadelphias soda tax, the first in a major American city, aims to curb sales by adding 1.5 cents per ounce to distributors costs for sodas, energy drinks, mixers, and other sugary beverages. The increased costs are mostly passed on to consumers who are charged higher prices. The tax, which is sent to the citys general fund, partially funds pre-kindergarten education and improvements to parks and community centers. BMI alone is often not a good predictor of an individual persons health, and peoples body shapes and compositions can vary depending on their race, gender, and age, according to the American Medical Association. The AMA recommends that clinicians working with individual patients use BMI alongside other measures to look at weight and body fat and determine a course of care. But to research health across large populations, the BMI measurement is generally regarded as a more accurate data point, according to the AMA and other scientists. BMI is probably the best we can do, Iliya Gutin, then a program officer at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, told the New York Times last year, when the AMA recommended doctors avoid using BMI alone to assess a patients health. While the soda taxs impact on average BMI in Philadelphia is small, its significant for researchers. Were not seeing giant reductions. Its the fact that were seeing reductions at all thats surprising, Roberto said. Increasing research on the soda taxs impact Philadelphias soda tax was controversial when instituted in 2017, and the American Beverage Association spent millions lobbying against it. Detractors said that the tax would hurt local businesses and customers and would not achieve its public health goals. But the uproar has died down over the years, with the beverage industry focusing instead on preventing the implementation of similar taxes elsewhere, and scientific research is now beginning to examine the taxs impact. Another study published earlier this year in JAMA Health Forum found that Philadelphia had seen some of the biggest decreases in sugary beverage sales among cities that enacted similar taxes. Sales here dropped by nearly half in the years after the tax was implemented. Robertos study looked at electronic health records from Penn Medicine, comparing Penn patients from Philadelphia and the citys collar counties in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, where beverage taxes were not implemented. More research is needed on how beverage taxes affect health, Roberto said, but shes been encouraged by research showing similar benefits in other cities and countries that have implemented taxes. When you conduct one study, its hard to be confident about having the definitive answer, she said. But Im starting to get more confident that the taxes may actually be improving health. A clear no-brainer Even small improvements in BMI or just a decrease in soda sales and consumption points to the efficacy of the tax, Roberto said. To me, this policy is a clear no-brainer. We know from lots of data that sugary drinks arent good for our health, and we tax other things, like tobacco, that we know are not good for our health, she said. Even if we didnt see a BMI effect, getting people to drink fewer sugary drinks is a good thing. And, because the tax funds pre-K programs and good education is another good predictor of overall health it might also be impacting public health in other ways, Roberto noted. Roberto said shes hopeful that the findings in Philadelphia will influence other cities considering implementing a beverage tax. Philly can serve as an example with the more data we accumulate. You might get more cities and states to do this, and that might improve the health of Americans across the whole country, she said. By Sarah el Deeb, The Associated Press BEIRUT Insurgents breached Syrias largest city Friday and clashed with government forces for the first time since 2016, according to a war monitor and fighters, in a surprise attack that sent residents fleeing and added fresh uncertainty to a region reeling from multiple wars. The advance on Aleppo followed a shock offensive launched by insurgents Wednesday, as thousands of fighters swept through villages and towns in Syrias northwestern countryside. Residents fled neighborhoods on the citys edge because of missiles and gunfire, according to witnesses in Aleppo. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the countrys unresolved civil war, said dozens of fighters from both sides were killed. The attack injected new violence into a region experiencing dual wars in Gaza and Lebanon involving Israel, and other conflicts, including the Syrian civil war that began in 2011. Aleppo has not been attacked by opposition forces since they were ousted from eastern neighborhoods in 2016 following a grueling military campaign in which Syrian government forces were backed by Russia, Iran and its allied groups. But this time, there was no sign of a significant pushback from government forces or their allies. Instead, reports emerged of government forces melting away in the face of advances, and insurgents posted messages on social media calling on troops to surrender. Robert Ford, who was the last U.S. ambassador to Syria, said the attack showed that Syrian government forces are extremely weak. In some cases, he said, they appear to have almost been routed. This weeks advances were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, and represent the most intense fighting in northwestern Syria since 2020, when government forces seized areas previously controlled by the opposition. The offensive came as Iran-linked groups, primarily Lebanons Hezbollah, which has backed Syrian government forces since 2015, have been preoccupied with their own battles at home. A ceasefire in Hezbollahs two-month war with Israel took effect Wednesday, the day the Syrian opposition factions announced their offensive. Israel has also escalated its attacks against Hezbollah and Iran-linked targets in Syria during the last 70 days. Opposition forces take control of areas outside Aleppo, Syria, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed) AP Dareen Khalifa, a senior adviser with the International Crisis Group and an expert on Syrian groups, said the insurgents have signaled for a while that they were ready for an offensive. But no one expected the swift advance of the forces toward Aleppo. Its not only that the Russians are distracted and bogged down in Ukraine, but also the Iranians are distracted and bogged down elsewhere. Hezbollahs distracted and bogged down elsewhere, and the regime is absolutely cornered, she said. But the surprise element comes in with how quickly the regime crumbled. The attack on Aleppo followed weeks of simmering low-level violence, including government attacks on opposition-held areas. Turkey, which has backed Syrian opposition groups, failed in its diplomatic efforts to prevent the government attacks, which were seen as a violation of a 2019 agreement sponsored by Russia, Turkey and Iran to freeze the line of the conflict. Turkish security officials said Thursday that Syrian opposition groups initially launched a long-planned limited offensive toward Aleppo, where attacks targeting civilians originated. However, the offensive expanded as Syrian government forces began retreating from their positions, the officials said. The aim of the offensive was to reestablish the boundaries of the de-escalation zone, according to Turkish officials. The 2016 battle for Aleppo was a turning point in the war between Syrian government forces and rebel fighters after 2011 protests against Bashar Assads rule turned into an all-out war. Russia and Iran and its allied groups helped Syrian government forces reclaim control of the city that year after a grueling military campaign and a siege that lasted for weeks. Besides backing opposition forces, Turkey has also established a military presence in Syria, sending troops into parts of the northwest. Separately and largely in the east of Syria, the United States has supported Syrian Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State militants. The Syrian government did not comment on insurgents breaching Aleppo city limits. The Kremlin said Friday that it considered the attack an encroachment on Syrias sovereignty and that it supported the quickest possible establishment of constitutional order in the region. Of course, this is a violation of Syrias sovereignty in this region, Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told a press briefing. Syrias armed forces said in a statement Friday that they clashed with insurgents in the countryside around Aleppo and Idlib, destroying drones and heavy weaponry. They vowed to repel the attack and accused the insurgents of spreading false information about their advances. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the insurgents detonated two car bombs Friday at the western edge of Aleppo. The war monitor said insurgents were also able to seize control of Saraqeb, south of Aleppo, a town at the strategic intersection of the highways linking Aleppo with Damascus and the coast. Syrian government authorities diverted traffic from that highway Thursday. An insurgent commander posted a recorded message on social media calling on Aleppo residents to cooperate with the advancing forces. Turkeys state-run Anadolu Agency reported that the insurgents entered the city center Friday and now control about 70 locations in Aleppo and Idlib provinces. Syrias state media reported that projectiles from insurgents landed in student accommodations at Aleppos university in the city center, killing four people, including two students. Syrian armed forces said the insurgents are violating a 2019 agreement that de-escalated fighting in the area, the last remaining opposition stronghold for years. Hezbollah was the main force in the governments control of Aleppo, said Rami Abdurrahman, head of the Observatory. In a phone call with his Syrian counterpart, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the insurgent attacks in Syria as a plot orchestrated by the U.S. and the Zionist regime following the regimes defeat in Lebanon and Palestine. A damaged vehicle belonging to the Syrian Government troops, seen in Kafr Halab, Aleppo countryside, Syria, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)AP Insurgents posted videos online showing they were using drones, a new weapon for them. It was not clear to what extent the drones were used on the battleground. Insurgents attacked a military airbase southeast of Aleppo with drones early Friday, destroying a helicopter, the Anadolu Agency reported. The opposition groups also seized heavy weapons and military vehicles belonging to the government forces, the agency said. Associated Press writers Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, and Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria, contributed to this report. By Thomas Fitzgerald, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS) Oh, Leslie S. Richards had plans when she walked into SEPTA headquarters in January 2020 as CEO and general manager lists and lists full of them. But barely two months later, a killer virus took hold. The region shut down. Ridership on buses, trolleys, the subway, the El and Regional Rail combined plunged 92%. That was a crazy time, trust me. I was barely standing, Richards said as she prepared to depart after four years and 11 months at the helm of the countrys sixth-largest transit agency. Her last day is Friday. Survival, and then recovery, dominated SEPTAs to-do list. The system has bounced back in some ways, with nearly 800,000 average weekday riders as of Sept. 30. Thats short of the 1 million daily passengers in 2019, but on par with other recent years. At the same time, a number of Richards' ambitious initiatives were realized or are in progress. But Richards, 57, abruptly announced her resignation Oct. 24 in a late afternoon statement. She championed changes to modernize SEPTA management and reorient services to better adapt the system for riders' changing needs. Among them: a Bus Revolution to streamline routes and make buses more frequent and reliable and a modernization of the trolley network, with new, ADA-accessible vehicles and fixed stations. Key Advantage allows employers to purchase go-anywhere rail passes at a discount and provide them free to employees. Work has begun on a Reimagining Regional Rail program. The bus reorganization and changes to Regional Rail have been postponed as SEPTA continues to face financial uncertainty, despite a $153 million lifeline from Gov. Josh Shapiros flexing of federal highway funds to the transit system, announced Nov. 22. Two long-sought vehicle procurements will proceed, however, because both are fully funded, SEPTA says: a $714 million contract to replace SEPTAs Reagan-era trolley fleet, and up to $864 million to purchase more than 200 rail cars for the Market- Frankford Line, as replacements for a fleet prone to breakdowns. The MFL project involved winning a $317 million federal grant, SEPTAs largest. Richards, a former Montgomery County commissioner, chair of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and PennDot secretary, was a departure in chief executives for SEPTA, which traditionally has promoted internal candidates. Admirers credit Richards with diversifying leadership ranks and trying to open up a top-down organization via listening sessions and consultations with employees. Richards made some missteps. She steered about $40 million of pandemic relief funds, designed to keep transit running, toward design and engineering for the King of Prussia rail extension in 2021. Two years later, the federal government declined a capital grant needed for construction, and it was canceled. The KOP project had anemic ridership projections and costs had risen from $500 million when it was proposed in 2012 to $3 billion. Police respond to a deadly shooting on a SEPTA bus in South Philadelphia on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. A passenger shot aboard the bus has died from his wounds, marking the third time in three days that someone was killed while riding, entering or leaving a SEPTA bus. (Heather Khalifa/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)AP The general manager also took a hit when the Federal Transit Administration ordered the transit agency to make improvements to safety procedures, citing a deteriorating safety record in operations. In a wide-ranging conversation with The Inquirer, Richards discussed her accomplishments, as well as disappointments and frustrations. Biggest frustration Going to Harrisburg each year. Fighting for funding, going to our local counties as well. Always, always fighting for funding, always having to make the argument what a good investment transit is. Buffeted by rising costs and the disappearance of federal pandemic operating aid for transit, SEPTA faced a $240 million budget deficit going into the current fiscal year last July. Gov. Josh Shapiro described the recently announced $153 million for SEPTA as a bridge to give the legislature more time to negotiate a stable way to raise new transit money, possibly including a megadeal that would also dedicate new funds for roads and bridges, as Senate Republicans want. The move averted, for now, a 29% increase in fares and deep service cuts that SEPTA said would cripple the agency. The funding shortfall returns in six months if nothing changes. Im an optimist who worries a lot, Richards told Philadelphia Magazine after she was selected one of the regions 150 most-influential people of 2024 (No. 7), a quote attributed to former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. State Sen. Frank Farry (center) spoke at a May news conference to support more funding for SEPTA.Commonwealth Media Services Crime and grime Weve been able to decrease crime rates that were out of control, Richards said. Violent crimes have declined 35% on SEPTA over last year, compared to a 19% decline on the Washington Metro system, 10% on Northern Californias BART, and 5.4% in New York. SEPTA says it now has about 250 sworn transit police officers, including patrol supervisors and has added 100 new workers to clean stations, vehicles and tracks, for $72 million. Cleaning is now its own department. It never came under one person to oversee and measure everything, Richards said. They didnt all work together. Diversity and culture My own senior leadership team has reached 55% women and 36% minority representation compared to the first day I got here when my team consisted of 7% women and zero minorities, she said. At lower rungs of management, the number of women increased by 15% and minority representation grew by about 10%, per SEPTA. Richards believes that organized efforts to consult employees more, including an effort to brainstorm money-saving ideas, have paid dividends. Its been wonderful to hear that employees have felt they have a voice. Weve got a long way to go but were laying a groundwork. Bigger role for planning When I got here, the top planning position at SEPTA the title was assistant treasurer was in the finance division, Richards said. She made planning its own division with a director in the C-suite to give planners a voice in decisions, traditionally dominated by the engineering and construction divisions. Weve been able to get big, impactful projects done, such as the new bus network and a wayfinding redo that is being implemented, using colors, letters and directional signs to make the system easier to navigate. Planners have also worked closely with operations employees to prioritize infrastructure repairs. Im a nerd at heart. I go into the weeds, Richards said. Leslie S. Richards, the CEO and general manager of SEPTA, in her corner office at 1234 Market St. overlooking City Hall. She brought a professional urban and regional planner's sensibility to the agency.TNS Parting words I feel like weve put in a lot of good things, and we have a wonderful team here, Richards said. And now its time for the next group of employees to take it from here. She will be increasing her role as a lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania Weitzman School of Design, which includes urban and regional planning graduate degrees. And yep, Richards, who lives in Center City, plans to commute by SEPTA. Im just, you know, popping up a few stops on the Market- Frankford Line and get off at 31st or 34th Street, she said. I can take the 21 or the 42 bus routes up Walnut or the trolleys over to 33rd. (c)2024 The Philadelphia Inquirer Visit The Philadelphia Inquirer at www.inquirer.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. By Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun (TNS) Soon to be 65, T. R. Robinette has been raising cattle in the fields of Western Maryland practically his whole life. And this year featured the worst drought he can remember. Starting in late May and early June, pastures went dry, and cattle farmers like Robinette were forced to use bales of hay, usually reserved for the winter, to feed cows and calves, he said. We had cows that had calves on their sides, and thats when we need good pasture to make a lot of milk for them cows, so those calves can nurse and grow efficiently, Robinette said. We had to feed a lot of our winters supply of hay to get us through. By the time he weaned the calves from their mothers this year, many were 50 to 75 pounds lighter than normal, said Robinette, whose farm is located in Flintstone, east of Cumberland. During a year when lengthy dry spells climbed into the record books, coupled in the summertime with stretches of extreme heat, Maryland farmers endured crop loss, impacts to livestock and equipment fires, and theyve turned to federal aid programs to make up for the damage. And amid climate change, many are bracing for more years like 2024. Recent rainstorms have provided some hope that cover crops planted in autumn to slow erosion of farm fields through the winter will sprout in time after weeks without precipitation, said Steve Connelly, deputy secretary of the Maryland Department of Agriculture. But even a bit of late-season luck wouldnt undo the hardship of the growing season. Our hearts go out to the farmers, Connelly said. Because its been a tough year for them. Maryland saw different effects Conditions varied around the state. Pockets of Maryland, including Garrett County, a chunk of southern Maryland and the lower Eastern Shore, have seen 8 or fewer inches of rainfall than normal so far this year, said Jeremy Geiger, a hydrologist at the National Weather Service office in Sterling, Virginia. But the other areas were near, or even above, normal, Geiger said. Final harvest numbers arent fully tallied yet, but the years harvest for local agriculture, including key products like corn, wheat and barley, seems variable too, said Shannon Dill, principal agent at the University of Maryland Extension in Talbot County. It was all about timing when in the growing cycle that dry spells hit, she said. We have seen some OK yields, and weve seen some very, very bad yields, she said. State officials havent set any mandatory water restrictions, but much of the state is operating under a drought watch or warning, and Oakland in Garrett Countyhas instituted restrictions due to dangerously low levels in the lake that provides its water supply. The problem this year, in many cases, was extended dry periods, even if the rest of the year was fairly wet, Geiger said. In Baltimore, a run of 38 days without any measurable precipitation ending on Nov. 9 set a new record, eclipsing the previous record of 32, set in 1963. At the NWS monitoring station out west in Hagerstown, the run was 27 days in November, tied for 5th place on the all-time list. Such dry conditions during the summer werent as record-setting, but were even more dangerous, starving plants like corn and soybeans of hydration when they need it the most. Some parts of Maryland experienced whats known as flash droughts, with a quick switch to extremely hot and dry conditions in the early summer. States drought severity triggered federal funding Of Marylands 24 counties, 18 received a secretarial disaster declaration for drought from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said Kimberly Graham, assistant deputy administrator at the USDAs Farm Service Agency. The designation opens up aid programs such as emergency loans, she said. This year, more than a quarter of Maryland counties reached D3 status, as determined by the U.S. Drought Monitor, which categorizes droughts from D0 to D4, with D4 being the most severe. The designation automatically unlocked aid funding specific to livestock for affected counties back in July, namely Allegany, Garrett, Washington and Frederickcounties. The Maryland office of the federal Farm Services Agency, an arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has given out about $900,000 through the Livestock Forage Disaster Program. That program compensates farmers for lost grazing opportunities and increased feed costs amid drought conditions, said Russ Clanton, deputy state executive director for the office. The office has also received a few claims for noninsured crops and livestock deaths, Clanton said. We had a few people in the Western Maryland counties who have never participated with us before, who came in and signed up, Clanton said. We did a lot of outreach. Several Maryland counties reached the D3 designation in November, including Kent, Queen Annes and Caroline, Clanton said. But for a few of those counties Cecil and Harford cattle grazing season had already ended by that time, meaning the livestock forage program wont be open to farmers in those jurisdictions. Farmers there can, however, apply for emergency loans, Clanton said. Hans Schmitt, assistant secretary for resource conservation at the Maryland Department of Agriculture, was one of the Maryland farmers who had to repair his combine after it caught fire during harvest time this year. The incidents arent terribly uncommon, with dry chaff capable of clogging air intakes and other machinery, but they are particularly dangerous during a drought and amid high winds, Schmitt said. Driving through his fields, Schmitt saw the effects of dry soil, clouding the air with dust. It was so dry and so dusty, it was sometimes hard to see where you were going, Schmitt said, adding that hes grateful his combine has an auto-steering feature. Schmitt who farms corn, soybeans and wheat, alongside wine grapes, green beans and lima beans near Queen Annes Countys Sudlersville said the fire on his combine was quickly extinguished and the damage was repaired by replacing its wiring harness. But he isnt sure other farmers were so lucky, and combines are among the most expensive equipment many farmers own, Schmitt said. Schmitt said he expects his crop yields for the year will be below average, but hes thankful that the damage wasnt more severe. It could be because of advancements in drought-resistant varieties of several of his crops, he said. Considering the conditions of what the summer went through, we were very fortunate, he said. Strategies made drought less painful in some places Other farmers were able to mitigate the effects of the drought using irrigation systems, and paying to run them at key times, Schmitt said. Some opted to run the systems this fall after planting cover crops, which is rarely if ever necessary. But it was this year, he said. Thats definitely what we need, but we need more. Schmitt said. Gentle rains spread out over a long period of time, thats the ticket. Amid changing climate conditions, which are expected to bring higher temperatures and more severe and sustained droughts, some Maryland farmers are working to adapt. A 2019 study from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, for instance, estimated that by 2080, Marylands climate will more closely resemble Mississippis. Nadine Burton, a farm management specialist at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Extension, encourages farmers to embrace alternative techniques and produce. At her farm in Princess Anne, called Tallawah Farms, she grows a diverse array of plants from other parts of the world, some of which are more accustomed to warm weather, including okra, bok choy and the Caribbean leafy vegetable callaloo, often using hoop houses to grow indoors. Strategies like this help farmers be more resilient against bad weather years, but they also require upfront capital, Burton said. Through the UMES Extension program, she aims to spread the word, and connect farmers to funding programs that pay some of the cost upfront, she said. If we diversify our crop offering, we will be in a better situation, said Burton, who hails from Jamaica. And not only to weather the storm, but well be filling the gap, or creating niche markets, to make us more economically viable. For Robinette, this year meant that many of his familys side businesses, which usually bring in extra profits to sustain the cattle raising, ground to a halt. The roadside stand that usually featured fresh cut flowers and pumpkins was sometimes empty, he said. Luckily, this year, he did get a little help from the federal government, thanks to payments from the livestock forage program. But he, and many of the farmers he knows, are pressing on. In his case, thats what his family has been doing for generations. We do it because we love to do it, he said. We try to break even, and if we can make a dollar, thats great. If we cant, we just keep going at it again the next year. Were pretty resilient. We dont let a little thing like that stop us, he said. Have a news tip? Contact Christine Condon at chcondon@baltsun.com, 667-256-6883 and @CChristine19 on X. 2024 Baltimore Sun. Visit baltimoresun.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. By Ford Turner, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (TNS) When Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro threw the Philadelphia regions public transit system a $153 million lifeline last week, some of the federal money he used was previously earmarked for an upcoming repaving project on I-70 in Washington County. Mr. Shapiro also tapped the federal funding stream for six other projects across the state to help SEPTA, which has a $240 million budget deficit and had planned a 29% fare increase. The move described by the administration as a not-uncommon flexing of federal highway capital funds surprised and irritated Republicans. But a well-informed observer in the industry said it appeared Mr. Shapiro did what he had to do in a tight spot. Thats why he was elected. Hes got to make the call, said Charles Goodhart, executive director of the Pennsylvania Asphalt Pavers Association. And Robert Latham, executive director of Associated Pennsylvania Constructors, put a positive spin on recent back-and-forth in Harrisburg that led to Mr. Shapiros announcement and the negative Republican reaction. The governor and legislators have pivoted away from a transit-only discussion to a transit-and-transportation discussion, and we are happy about that, said Mr. Latham, whose trade association includes hundreds of contractors, engineers, suppliers and other tied to the state road and bridge industry. Mr. Shapiros appearance in a chilly SEPTA building on Nov. 22 was yet another inflection point in a year where state leaders were unable to devise a combined solution to money challenges in both public transit and road-and-bridge work. The divided Legislature the governor must work with will return to Harrisburg in January to face the same challenge. In a written statement, Rep. Ed Neilson, D- Philadelphia and chairman of the House Transportation Committee, thanked Mr. Shapiro for his leadership. I was hopeful that we would not be in todays position and that the House and Senate could come together and reach an agreement before the end of the year, he said. Unfortunately, that did not happen. Rep. Jim Struzzi, an Indiana County Republican and incoming minority chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said the planned I-70 project in Washington County is for $10.5 million. It is to involve pavement preservation between Bentleyville and Route 519. The other projects whose funding pipeline is affected are in Jefferson, Mercer, Columbia, Philadelphia and York counties. Mr. Struzzi said he understood why Mr. Shapiro made the move. At the same time, Mr. Struzzi said, the one-time transfer is a Band-Aid. He asked of SEPTA, What are we doing to fix the issues long-term? Mr. Shapiro said the planned highway projects are so far off, they have not even been put out to bid. There is no reason to keep that money on our balance sheet in the state when we can invest it in SEPTA right now, he said. He also said he believed the seven projects would end up getting finished on time. Republicans and Mr. Goodhart questioned that. The net effect, Mr. Goodhart said, would likely be putting off the projects for one year meaning ones scheduled for 2026 might now take place in 2027. We are concerned, Mr. Goodhart said. What we would like to see happen is the governor and the Legislature come together. Mr. Struzzi worked at PennDOT for 14 years prior to becoming a lawmaker. At the very least, you are deferring the start of these projects, he said in an interview. Sen.-elect Dawn Keefer, currently in her final days as a Republican House member from York County, said some of the money would be taken from an I-83 project in her district. Motorists there, she concluded, will have to spend money on highway pothole-induced tire replacements so the metropolitan area doesnt have to spend more money. She questioned how federal money intended for capital projects like road work could be used for operating costs at a public transit agency. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Scott Martin, R- Lancaster, also called the move a Band-Aid and said it diverted money from critical infrastructure needs that were mostly in Republican districts. Mr. Shapiro had plenty of support among Democrats. Among others who appeared with him on Friday were House Speaker Joanna McClinton of Philadelphia, Majority Leader Matt Bradford of Montgomery County and Sen. Vincent Hughes of Philadelphia. State Sen. Frank Farry (center) spoke at a May news conference to support more funding for SEPTA.Commonwealth Media Services This is great leadership, Mr. Hughes said, standing with Mr. Shapiro. Early this year, the governors proposed budget included $283 million for transit agencies around the state, including $39 million for Pittsburgh Regional Transit. The final budget that was signed in July, however, included only a fraction of that amount, with $11 million for PRT. Mr. Latham was convinced that the new year will bring full discussion of the combined, transit-roads-bridges funding issue. It has kind of bubbled to the top, he said. (c)2024 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Visit the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at www.post-gazette.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Our nation and commonwealth are heading into a new political era. In Pennsylvania, both the Democratic and Republican parties are doing some serious soul-searching to determine how and why they failed voters in the 2024 elections. Republican House leader Bryan Cutler, R-100, took the blame for his partys failure to take back the chamber, although it clearly cant be all his fault. And Republicans have a lot to celebrate in a clean sweep of auditor general, attorney general, state treasurer, Congress and the Senate. MONTREALNew movie release Fit & Hung, from Mile High Medias gay banner Noir Male, is now available on all formats through distributor Mile High Media. Gay stars Liam Cyber and Zario Travezz share the cover and a scene in the new release that features four bareback scenes. The cast includes Remy Cruze, DeAngelo Jackson, Tyler Roberts, Adrian Hart, Alam Wernik and Zeno Rey. We are pleased to present the opening chapter of this new series that celebrates the passion and chemistry of ripped young guys looking for the ultimate workout, Mile High vice president Jon Blitt said. Popular stars Liam Cyber and Zario Travezz open the action with an intense scene that perfectly exemplifies the energy and unique connection between the movies incredibly fit and well-endowed performers. The first scene is titled Escort Mixup, with Cyber and Travezz, followed by Gym Rat, with Cruz and Roberts. The third scene is titled A Quick Break, with Rey and Hart, and a final scene called Insomnia features Jackson and Wernik. Shot in 4K ultra high definition, the movie is accompanied on the DVD by a slide show, animated chapter index and more. For the latest information, follow Noir Male on X at www.x.com/NoirMaleXXX and Instagram @OfficialNoirMale. For Noir Male sales and distribution, email [email protected] or call (800) 363-0133. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images The MLB offseason is officially underway and there isnt a bigger story in the sport than Juan Sotos free agency. And the four-time All-Stars recruitment took quite the twist this week, with multiple reports linking the New York Yankees outfielder to the rival Boston Red Sox. One such report came from self-proclaimed MLB insider Mike Rodriguez, who based on his social media activity appears to have multiple ties to Soto. On Thursday, Rodriguez reported that the 26-year-old slugger spent an hour on the phone with Red Sox outfielder Rafael Devers and that Boston was offering Soto a 12-year contract with an average annual value of $50 million. Hector Gomez followed up on Rodriguezs report, adding that he had heard that Boston is offering Soto a 13-year, $625 million contract. Im hearing a 13-year, $625 million offer. https://t.co/ex4JR6YYDy Hector Gomez (@hgomez27) November 28, 2024 Factor in a post from another social media account claiming Soto to Boston was already a done deal that gained traction on Wednesday morning and there was clearly plenty of smoke regarding the potential blockbuster signing on Thanksgiving Day. That was, however, until ESPNs Jeff Passan showed up with his fire extinguisher, shooting down unnamed reports regarding Soto and the Red Sox. I am thankful for reporters who dont make up stories, Passan posted at 3:50 p.m. ET on Thursday. I am also thankful that Juan Soto has not agreed to any contract, which means you can get off Twitter and go spend the holiday with your family. Happy Thanksgiving. I am thankful for reporters who dont make up stories. I am also thankful that Juan Soto has not agreed to any contract, which means you can get off Twitter and go spend the holiday with your family. Happy Thanksgiving. Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 28, 2024 Passan didnt specify which reports or reports he was referencing, but it seems informative that his post came less than an hour after Rodriguezs and mere minutes after Gomezs. But considering that he specifically mentioned Soto having yet to agree to any contract which neither Rodriguez nor Gomez claimed Passans post appears to be targeted at more than just their reports. Please enable JavaScript to view the poll powered by Disqus. In any event, the rampant reports on Thanksgiving did seem to create a sense that a deal between Soto and the Redo Sox was imminent. Yet come Black Friday, such a deal has yet to be announced just as Passan said would be the case. [Jeff Passan on X] Reporter Carl Dawson covers education for the Aiken Standard. An Aiken County resident since 1990, his work has appeared in the Charleston News & Courier, the Tampa Tribune, the Atlanta Constitution and the Augusta Chronicle. He holds a B.A. in English from the University of South Carolina. Dominick Marquis Archield stood outside Charleston's courthouse doors with hints of graying hair. For more than four years, he asked for a trial at this very building after North Charleston police accused him of killing a transgender woman in 2019 and then shooting a man the following year while out on bail. A trial never came. One case had evidence issues, the local top prosecutor said. The other fell apart because police didn't notice a daylight savings time change. Archield, 39, missed five Thanksgivings since 2019 but not this year. Prosecutors dismissed his charges this week after he spent four consecutive years inside the county jail. Surrounded by his family on Nov. 29 outside the Charleston County Courthouse, he said he was just glad to be home. "It feels great that love is still around. I had a big support team and I appreciate everybody that stood by me," Archield told The Post and Courier. Prosecutors outlined in a nine-page memo filed Nov. 27 that the case against Archield, which was built on circumstantial evidence, was flawed, or weak, from the beginning. Among a litany of missteps, oversights and failures by North Charleston police was the fact that investigators failed to recognize that a daylight savings time change made it "physically impossible" for Archield to be present for the attempted murder of Deanglo Spann in 2020, according to a memo from Ninth Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson and Assistant Solicitor Jordan Norvell. Still, Archield spent more than four years in the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center on the charges when judge after judge denied him another pretrial release. Archield, his family and James Johnson, president of the Racial Justice Network, spoke to The Post and Courier outside the courthouse. They called on Wilson to take immediate action to address a "growing crisis of prolonged detentions" that they believe Archield's case represented. MOUNT PLEASANT A month after celebrating the completion of a major intersection project designed in part to make pedestrians safer, officials have released details about the recent death of woman killed in the crosswalk during broad daylight. According to the police's collision report, 61-year-old Mercedes Sykora was walking Nov. 18 on West Coleman Boulevard where it crosses with Magrath Darby Boulevard, in part of what is known as the Patriots Point Gateway intersection. Witnesses said that she dropped something in the crosswalk and bent over to pick it up in front of a waiting Ram pickup truck. The light turned green and the truck's driver stepped on the gas, hitting Sykora, police reported. She was transported to the Medical University of South Carolina with serious injuries. She died early Nov. 19. Sykora was a lifelong Charleston area resident with long ties to the local arts and sailing communities. Police redacted the name of the driver, saying he did not contribute to the collision. No charges have been filed against him. The collision occurred nearly a month after crews completed renovations to the intersection, which is located at the base of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge and includes Coleman and Magrath Darby boulevards along with Patriots Point Road. It is unclear which direction Sykora was walking, though the truck was headed to the bridge, according to a diagram provided by police. In a video posted to the town's YouTube channel, Mayor Will Haynie and other officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the junction on Oct. 23. COLUMBIA For years in the S.C. Statehouse, long-touted efforts to slash the state's income tax rates currently ranked among the highest in the Southeast have remained a key but elusive priority for Republican leadership. At the start of his first term in office in 2018, Gov. Henry McMaster used his state of the state address to push the Legislature to implement several billion dollars in tax cuts at a time when the rate was still 7 percent. The ultimate goal? An income tax of 6 percent. We're still not there. Despite a multi-year effort to lower resident taxes, the state's top marginal income tax rate still sits at 6.2 percent, several points higher than nearby states like North Carolina and Alabama. Now, some are starting to believe that 6 percent target may not be ambitious enough. In a sitdown with reporters this month, House Republican leadership said their top priority this coming session for the 2025 session is to deliver cuts even deeper than originally anticipated. "Number one for me is going to be tax relief," said House Speaker Murrell Smith, R-Sumter. "This is something I've been acutely aware of from having to go to conferences and being with speakers from the other states. They all are engaging in monumental tax reform and bringing down their marginal rates." "The plan is to reduce the tax rate," he later added. "That's absolutely the plan." How low can you go? How deep the cuts will be is still a guess. While new tax revenues from the state's booming residential and economic growth have bolstered the state's operating budgets, it still has not been enough in recent budgets for some analysts to give the green light to more drastic reductions in the state's income tax rates. Meanwhile, other states that have pursued sizable income tax rates, like Louisiana earlier this month, paid for reductions to their already low-income tax rates with bumps in their state's sales taxes, a move some argued would disproportionately benefit upper- and middle-class residents while negatively impacting lower income earners. DUBAI, UAE, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- 2Rivers Group ("2Rivers") continues to solidify its commitment to transparency and compliance with international laws and regulations through the launch of an extensive new compliance training program. Throughout November 2024, all employees are required to participate in a comprehensive series of training sessions conducted by a leading third-party compliance expert. This initiative underscores 2Rivers' proactive approach to ensuring that its business practices not only meet but exceed international standards for transparency and accountability. The training program covers a wide range of topics including sanction overview, risk of non-compliance, specific sanctions programs with a deep dive in deceptive shipping practices (AIS, spoofing, disabling, high risk port calls and STS), Price Cap Policies, as well as secondary sanctions. We have also integrated in the presentation to staff the latest updated Best Practices developed by the Price Cap Coalition Advisory (Oct 21st-2024). "Compliance and integrity are at the core of everything we do," said Ahmed Kerim, a director of 2Rivers Group. "By partnering with a third-party expert, we are equipping our employees with the latest tools and knowledge to navigate the complex regulatory landscape and uphold the highest ethical standards." The company's compliance framework includes regular audits, third-party verifications, and regular employee training. These measures ensure that 2Rivers maintains its strong governance practices and transparent operational structure, fostering trust among stakeholders and counterparties. 2Rivers Group has consistently demonstrated its commitment to ethical business practices. Through continuous engagement with international regulatory bodies and external auditors, 2Rivers remains dedicated to promoting compliance and accountability across the global energy industry. About 2Rivers Group 2Rivers Group is a leading energy company specializing in the trading and distribution of energy commodities. With a solid commitment to operational excellence, 2Rivers Group serves a diverse portfolio of clients around the world. The company's experienced team and innovative approach drive its mission to deliver reliable energy solutions. SOURCE 2Rivers Group NEW YORK, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report on how AI is driving market transformation - The global biostimulants market size is estimated to grow by USD 1.74 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of over 11.21% during the forecast period. Increasing demand for biostimulants in the agricultural industry is driving market growth, with a trend towards reduction in arable land. However, rise in demand for fertilizers poses a challenge.Key market players include ADAMA Ltd., Atlantica Agricola, Bayer AG, Bioiberica S.A.U., Biolchim Spa, Biostadt India Ltd., Biovert SL, Crop Demetra Ltd., FMC Corp., Haifa Negev technologies Ltd., Idai Nature S.L, Italpollina Spa, Koppert, Micromix Plant Health Ltd., Novozymes AS, OMEX, RAG Stiftung, SEIPASA SA, SICIT Group Spa, and UPL Ltd.. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global biostimulants market 2024-2028 AI-Powered Market Evolution Insights. Our comprehensive market report ready with the latest trends, growth opportunities, and strategic analysis- View Free Sample Report PDF Forecast period 2024-2028 Base Year 2023 Historic Data 2018 - 2022 Segment Covered Product (Acid-based, Extract-based, and Microbial amendments and others), Application (Foliar, Soil, and Seed), Type (Row crops and cereals, Fruits and vegetables, Turfs and ornaments, and Others), and Geography (Europe, APAC, North America, South America, and Middle East and Africa) Region Covered Europe, APAC, North America, South America, and Middle East and Africa Key companies profiled ADAMA Ltd., Atlantica Agricola, Bayer AG, Bioiberica S.A.U., Biolchim Spa, Biostadt India Ltd., Biovert SL, Crop Demetra Ltd., FMC Corp., Haifa Negev technologies Ltd., Idai Nature S.L, Italpollina Spa, Koppert, Micromix Plant Health Ltd., Novozymes AS, OMEX, RAG Stiftung, SEIPASA SA, SICIT Group Spa, and UPL Ltd. Key Market Trends Fueling Growth The Biostimulants market is experiencing significant growth due to increasing population and climate change, leading to a greater demand for sustainable agriculture. Biostimulants, including protein hydrolysates, humic substances, kelp extracts, and microbial-derived enzymes, improve soil condition, plant growth, and crop yield. These products enhance crop production by increasing water irrigation efficiency, promoting germination, and providing nutrients like nitrates, phosphite, silicon, and amino acids. Primary and secondary metabolites, such as amino acids, betaines, peptides, proteins, sugars, and lipids, contribute to crop improvement and abiotic stress resistance. Foliar treatments and seed treatments are popular applications. The fruits & vegetables segment is a major consumer due to its high value and short shelf-life. Government bodies are focusing on soil reclamation and aeration to address soil degradation and environmental concerns. The industry outlook is positive, with a focus on natural resources and biodiversity loss mitigation. The Agriculture sector, including oilseeds and pulses, durum wheat, and podded crops, is adopting biostimulants for improved crop water efficiency, PH level, and microbial capability. The global arable land has been decreasing due to urbanization, industrialization, and population growth. This trend began in the 1950s, with arable land exceeding the global food demand. Since then, the situation has changed drastically. For instance, China lost nearly 15 million hectares of arable land between 1979 and 1995. Developing nations, such as China and India, are projected to need an additional 120 million hectares of land to meet food demand by 2030. These developments underscore the urgent need for effective agricultural solutions, such as biostimulants, to enhance crop productivity and improve soil health on existing arable land. Biostimulants are organic or mineral substances that promote plant growth by improving soil structure, increasing nutrient availability, and enhancing resistance to stress. Their use can help mitigate the negative impacts of shrinking arable land and ensure food security for the growing population. Insights on how AI is driving innovation, efficiency, and market growth- Request Sample! Market Challenges The Biostimulants Market faces several challenges in the Agriculture sector. Population growth and climate change put pressure on natural resources and biodiversity loss. Soil condition and crop quality are crucial for plant growth and yield. Synthetic chemical fertilizers, such as nitrates, face regulatory restrictions under the Nitrates Directive. Biostimulants, including protein hydrolysates, humic substances, kelp extracts, and microbial-derived enzymes, offer solutions. They enhance crop production by improving soil aeration, water retention, and microbial capability. Crop water efficiency is essential in climatic scenarios, and biostimulants can help plants cope with abiotic stress. Fruits & vegetables segment benefits from longer shelf-life and higher farm yield. Foliar sprays and seed treatments are popular applications. Arable lands face soil degradation, and biostimulants aid in soil reclamation. Environmental concerns call for eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic fertilizers. Industry outlook is positive, with growing demand for plant biostimulants in oilseeds and pulses, durum wheat, podded crops, and other crops. Primary and secondary metabolites, amino acids, betaines, peptides, proteins, sugars, and other plant chemicals contribute to crop improvement. Government bodies promote research and development in this area. Micronutrients, such as zinc, iron, phosphorus, and magnesium, are essential elements for plant growth, although they are required in small quantities. A deficiency of these micronutrients can hinder crucial plant functions, leading to reduced crop yield and growth abnormalities. These nutrients play vital roles at different growth stages of plants. For instance, zinc is essential for seed germination, while iron is crucial for photosynthesis. Horticultural crops, including fruits and vegetables, benefit significantly from the application of micronutrients. These nutrients enhance the nutritional value of the produce, making them more nutritious for consumers. Furthermore, micronutrients are essential components of fertilizers, which are widely used to improve soil fertility and optimize plant growth. By addressing micronutrient deficiencies, farmers can improve crop quality, yield, and overall productivity. Insights into how AI is reshaping industries and driving growth- Download a Sample Report Segment Overview This biostimulants market report extensively covers market segmentation by Product 1.1 Acid-based 1.2 Extract-based 1.3 Microbial amendments and others Application 2.1 Foliar 2.2 Soil 2.3 Seed Type 3.1 Row crops and cereals 3.2 Fruits and vegetables 3.3 Turfs and ornaments 3.4 Others Geography 4.1 Europe 4.2 APAC 4.3 North America 4.4 South America 4.5 Middle East and Africa 1.1 Acid-based- Acid-based biostimulants, derived from the decomposition of plants, animals, and microbial residues, and soil microbes, are highly preferred in agriculture due to their superior soil physicochemical properties and ability to enhance root nutrient uptake and lateral root development. Humic and fulvic acids are common acid-based biostimulants, while amino acids, derived from plant, animal, and microbial proteins, are also gaining popularity for their crop yield-enhancing properties. The market for acid-based biostimulants faced challenges in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including labor unavailability, market access issues, and raw material scarcity. However, some manufacturers, such as SICIT Group and Syngenta, adopted collaborations and safety measures to mitigate the negative impact on sales. The use of amino acids as biostimulants is expected to boost demand for acid-based biostimulants, driving market growth during the forecast period. Download complimentary Sample Report to gain insights into AI's impact on market dynamics, emerging trends, and future opportunities- including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2018 - 2022) Research Analysis Biostimulants are organic or mineral substances that enhance plant growth and crop production by improving soil condition, water irrigation, and nutrient availability. They include protein hydrolysates, beneficial microorganisms, and humic substances. The agriculture sector is witnessing a shift from synthetic chemical fertilizers towards biostimulants due to growing concerns over population growth, climate change, natural resource depletion, and biodiversity loss. Biostimulants help improve crop quality, plant growth, and crop yield, making agriculture more sustainable and resilient. They also enhance crop water efficiency and help mitigate the effects of abiotic stress and climatic scenarios. Plants such as Oilseeds and pulses, Vegetables, and Food products, particularly those grown under stressful conditions, benefit significantly from biostimulant application. Biostimulants play a crucial role in soil reclamation and crop improvement, ensuring food security and sustainable agriculture. Market Research Overview Biostimulants are organic or mineral substances that enhance plant growth and crop production by improving soil condition, water retention, and nutrient availability. They include protein hydrolysates, synthetic chemical fertilizers, humic substances, kelp extracts, biopolymers, microbial-derived enzymes, phosphite, silicon, and foliar treatments, among others. Population growth, climate change, and biodiversity loss have increased the demand for biostimulants to improve crop quality and yield on arable lands. These products boost crop water efficiency, protect against abiotic stress, and enhance germination. The agriculture sector uses biostimulants in various crops, including oilseeds and pulses, durum wheat, podded crops, and fruits & vegetables. The industry outlook is positive, with government bodies promoting their use for soil reclamation and crop improvement. Biostimulants contain primary and secondary metabolites, such as amino acids, betaines, peptides, proteins, sugars, aminopolysaccharides, lipids, vitamins, nucleotides, nucleosides, humic chemicals, and beneficial microorganisms. Foliar sprays and seed treatments are common application methods. However, environmental concerns, such as the Nitrates Directive, and the high cost of some biostimulants are challenges to their widespread adoption. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Product Acid-based Extract-based Microbial Amendments And Others Application Foliar Soil Seed Type Row Crops And Cereals Fruits And Vegetables Turfs And Ornaments Others Geography Europe APAC North America South America Middle East And Africa 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Company Landscape 11 Company Analysis 12 Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio Q3 Revenue improves 3.5% Year-over-Year to $26.1 million Delivers $7.5 million in Adjusted EBITDA, representing 29% margin Generates $9.6 million in Positive Cash Flow from Operations TAMPA, fLA., Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Cansortium Inc. (CSE: TIUM.U) (OTCQB: CNTMF) ("Cansortium" or the "Company"), a vertically-integrated, multi-state cannabis company operating under the FLUENT brand, today announced its financial and operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. Unless otherwise indicated, all financial results are presented in U.S. dollars. "We completed the third quarter by delivering our 12th consecutive quarter of positive cash flow from operations as well as steady year over year revenue growth," said CEO Robert Beasley. "Our focus on continuous improvement and gaining efficiencies has continued to be a positive contributor to our solid performance." Mr. Beasley added, "In Florida, we have increased our cultivation canopy to remain in balance with strong medical market demand and anticipate adding four new stores in 2025 while expanding our brand and product portfolio. Fortunately, our growth strategy did not depend on the outcome of Amendment 3 passing in Florida and we have made no financial commitments which depended on the adult use measure. FLUENT remains committed to the mission of serving the medical cannabis patients of Florida." Mr. Beasley concluded, "Looking ahead, with our primary loan refinancing completed and our business combination with RIV Capital set to close by year end, our business is exceptionally well positioned heading into 2025. We have already commenced integration activities and are looking forward to leveraging the combined talent of both teams to scale our market share in the state of New York. Additionally, we also continue to seek out opportunities to drive revenue growth in both Pennsylvania and Texas." Q3 2024 Financial Highlights (vs. Q3 2023) Revenue increased 3.5% to $26.1 million compared to $25.3 million . compared to . Florida revenue increased 3.6% to $22.0 million compared to $21.3 million . revenue increased 3.6% to compared to . Gross profit before fair value adjustments 1 was $14.3 million or 54.6% of revenue, compared to $13.7 million or 54.0% of revenue. was or 54.6% of revenue, compared to or 54.0% of revenue. Adjusted EBITDA was $7.5 million compared to $7.7 million , with the decrease primarily driven by higher general and administrative expenses. compared to , with the decrease primarily driven by higher general and administrative expenses. Cash flow from operations for the three months ending September 30, 2024 , was $9.6 million compared to $7.1 million in the prior year primarily. , was compared to in the prior year primarily. On September 30, 2024 , the Company had approximately $8.9 million of cash and cash equivalents and $74.1 million of total debt outstanding, with approximately 303 million shares outstanding. Recent Operational Highlights In Florida , Cansortium currently operates 35 stores and anticipates opening 4 new stores by the end of 2025. , Cansortium currently operates 35 stores and anticipates opening 4 new stores by the end of 2025. The Ruskin, FL Facility is now operational and Cansortium completed its first harvest in June 2024 , adding approximately 14,000 sq ft of cultivation canopy. Facility is now operational and Cansortium completed its first harvest in , adding approximately 14,000 sq ft of cultivation canopy. The Rosa, FL Facility is under construction, and the Company anticipates it will complete its first harvest by Q2 2025, adding another 7,000 sq ft of canopy to Cansortium's Florida footprint. footprint. There was no major damage to the Company's facilities or retail locations as a result of the hurricane's which impacted Florida in 2024. in 2024. Subsequent to quarter end, the Company completed a new senior secured credit agreement of up to $96,500,000 with Chicago Atlantic Admin, LLC, refinancing its existing $71,000,000 senior secured term loan that was set to mature May 29, 2025 . RIV Transaction Update and Conference call The Company has continued its integration activities with RIV Capital Inc. ("RIV Capital") and, with all required regulatory approval obtained, expects to complete the business combination in early December 2024. In connection with the closing, the Company expects to host a conference call to discuss the proforma business as well as its financial and operating results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024. Details will be announced upon completion of the RIV Capital transaction. ___________________________ 1 Gross profit before fair value adjustments is a non-IFRS financial measure that does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. The Company calculates gross profit before fair value adjustments from gross profit plus (minus) the changes in fair value of biological assets, as presented in the consolidated statement of operations. About Cansortium Inc. Cansortium is a vertically-integrated cannabis company with licenses and operations in Florida, Pennsylvania and Texas. The Company operates under the Fluent brand and is dedicated to being one of the highest quality cannabis companies for the communities it serves. This is driven by Cansortium's unrelenting commitment to operational excellence in cultivation, production, distribution and retail. The Company is headquartered in Tampa, Florida. Cansortium Inc.'s Common Shares trade on the CSE under the symbol "TIUM.U" and on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol "CNTMF". For more information about the Company, please visit www.getFLUENT.com. Forward-Looking Information Certain information in this news release may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "targets", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "an opportunity exists", "is positioned", "estimates", "intends", "assumes", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent the Company's expectations, estimates, and projections regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on many opinions, assumptions, and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of this news release, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to the factors described in the public documents of the Company available at www.sedar.com. These factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect the Company; however, these factors should be considered carefully. There can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements containing any forward-looking information, or the factors or assumptions underlying them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. For further information: www.getFLUENT.com. Company Contact Robert Beasley, CEO (850) 972-8077 investors.getFLUENT.com Investor Relations Contact [email protected] Cansortium Inc. Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (unaudited) As of September 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023 (Amounts expressed in thousands of United States Dollars unless otherwise stated) September 30, December 31, 2024 2023 Assets Current assets Cash $ 8,932 $ 10,521 Trade receivable 51 215 Inventory, net Note 3 13,419 9,244 Biological assets Note 4 2,951 331 Prepaid expenses and other current assets Note 5 2,794 1,882 Total current assets 28,147 22,193 Property and equipment, net Note 6 31,476 27,642 Intangible assets, net Note 7 94,714 93,593 Right-of-use assets, net Note 12 32,692 31,943 Goodwill Note 8 1,525 1,525 Other assets 1,373 907 Total assets $ 189,927 $ 177,803 Liabilities Current liabilities Trade payable $ 8,035 $ 5,525 Accrued liabilities 5,425 9,779 Income taxes payable 3,337 22,009 Derivative liabilities Note 10 817 9,109 Current portion of notes payable, net Note 11 63,989 213 Current portion of lease liabilities Note 12 3,178 2,872 Total current liabilities 84,781 49,507 Notes payable, net Note 11 7,414 61,189 Lease liabilities Note 12 38,924 37,242 Deferred tax liability 22,303 17,398 Uncertain tax position 38,816 - Other long-term liabilities Note 21 3,447 3,882 Total liabilities 195,685 169,218 Shareholders' equity Share capital Note 13 183,690 183,690 Share-based compensation reserve 7,158 6,739 Equity conversion feature 6,914 6,677 Warrants Notes 13 29,634 29,634 Accumulated deficit (232,820) (217,821) Foreign currency translation reserve (334) (334) Total shareholders' equity (5,758) 8,585 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 189,927 $ 177,803 Cansortium Inc. Statement of Operations (unaudited) For the three- and nine-months ending September 30, 2024 and 2023 (Amounts expressed in thousands of United States Dollars unless otherwise stated) For the three months ended For the nine months ended September 30, 2024 September 30, 2023 September 30, 2024 September 30, 2023 Revenue, net of discounts $ 26,147 $ 25,260 $ 78,643 $ 71,746 Cost of goods sold 11,859 11,607 38,315 34,882 Gross profit before fair value adjustments 14,288 13,653 40,328 36,864 Fair value adjustments on inventory sold (2,099) 4,492 (2,259) 9,044 Unrealized gain (loss) on changes ccccin fair value of biological assets Note 4 (611) (3,627) 8,704 (11,719) Gross profit 11,578 14,518 46,773 34,189 Expenses General and administrative Note 14 3,913 2,705 12,483 7,588 Sales and marketing Note 14 5,846 5,354 17,298 14,928 Depreciation and amortization 1,737 2,003 5,247 5,780 Share-based compensation 228 228 419 643 Total expenses 11,724 10,290 35,447 28,939 Income from operations (146) 4,228 11,326 5,250 Other expense (income) Finance costs, net Note 19 5,154 4,562 14,700 13,135 Loss (gain) on change in fair value of ccccderivative liability Notes 10 (898) 426 (8,292) 262 Gain on debt settlement - (116) - (116) Loss on disposal of assets - - 212 70 Loss from termination of a contract - 2 5 6 Other miscellaneous income - - - 67 Total other (income) expense 4,256 4,874 6,625 13,424 Income (loss) before income taxes (4,402) (646) 4,701 (8,174) Income tax expense Note 9 7,379 4,662 19,700 9,867 Net comprehensive loss $ (11,781) $ (5,308) $ (14,999) $ (18,041) Net loss per share Basic and diluted - continuing operations $ (0.04) $ (0.02) $ (0.05) $ (0.06) Weighted average number of shares Basic number of shares 300,522,916 298,963,366 299,617,665 290,693,488 Diluted number of shares 341,807,051 358,650,277 341,616,139 345,906,048 Cansortium Inc. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow (unaudited) For the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 (Amounts expressed in thousands of United States Dollars unless otherwise stated) For the nine months ended September 30, 2024 September 30, 2023 Operating activities Net loss from continuing operations $ (14,999) $ (18,041) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: Unrealized loss (gain) on changes in fair value of biological assets (8,704) 11,719 Realized loss (gain) on changes in fair value of biological assets 2,259 (9,044) Share-based compensation 419 644 Depreciation and amortization 11,366 10,961 Accretion and interest of convertible debentures 426 400 Accretion and interest of term loan 10,372 9,534 Interest of equipment loan - 37 Interest on cultivation facility loan 61 - Interest on insurance financing 9 - Interest on convertible promissory note 224 - Loss on disposal of assets 212 70 Change in fair market value of derivative (8,292) 262 Interest on lease liabilities 3,588 3,041 Deferred tax expense 4,835 (1,003) Uncertain tax position 38,816 - Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Trade receivable 164 (20) Inventory 10,944 11,339 Biological assets (11,294) (12,609) Prepaid expenses and other current assets 960 (497) Right of Use Assets/Liabilities (3,520) 455 Other assets (466) (66) Trade payable 2,510 (3,275) Accrued liabilities (4,354) (205) Other long-term liabilities (435) 2,531 Income taxes payable (18,672) 10,872 Net cash provided by operating activities 16,429 17,105 Investing activities Purchases of property and equipment (10,543) (4,500) Purchase of intangible assets (1,332) - Net cash used in investing activities (11,875) (4,500) Financing activities Net proceeds from issuance of shares and warrants - 2,993 Net proceeds from insurance financing - 800 Net proceeds from convertible note 3,983 - Payment of lease obligations (2,126) (4,800) Net proceeds from auto and equipment loan 48 - Principal repayments of notes payable (8,048) (7,852) Net cash used in financing activities (6,143) (8,859) Net increase (decrease) in cash (1,589) 3,746 Cash, beginning of period 10,521 8,359 Cash, end of period $ 8,932 $ 12,105 Cansortium Inc. Adjusted EBITDA Calculation (unaudited) (Amounts expressed in thousands of United States Dollars unless otherwise stated) Three months ended September 30, 2024 September 30, 2023 Variance Net loss $ (11,781) $ (5,308) $ (6,473) Finance costs, net 5,154 4,562 592 Income taxes 7,379 4,662 2,717 Depreciation and amortization 3,801 3,829 (28) EBITDA $ 4,553 $ 7,745 $ (3,192) Three months ended September 30, 2024 September 30, 2023 Variance EBITDA $ 4,553 $ 7,745 $ (3,192) Change in fair value of biological assets 2,710 (865) 3,575 Change in fair market value of derivative (898) 426 (1,324) Professional fees(1) 529 - 529 One-time employee costs(2) 162 - 162 Loss on debt settlement - (116) 116 Share-based compensation 228 228 - Other non-recurring expense(3) 243 263 (20) Adjusted EBITDA $ 7,527 $ 7,681 $ (154) Nine months ended September 30, 2024 September 30, 2023 Variance Net loss $ (14,999) $ (18,041) $ 3,042 Finance costs, net 14,700 13,135 1,565 Income taxes 19,700 9,867 9,833 Depreciation and amortization 11,274 11,490 (216) EBITDA $ 30,675 $ 16,451 $ 14,224 Nine months ended September 30, 2024 September 30, 2023 Variance EBITDA $ 30,675 $ 16,451 $ 14,224 Change in fair value of biological assets (6,445) 2,675 (9,120) Change in fair market value of derivative (8,292) 262 (8,554) Loss on termination of contract - 6 (6) Loss on debt settlement - (116) 116 Professional fees(1) 4,170 - 4,170 One-time employee costs(2) 776 - 776 Share-based compensation 419 643 (224) Loss on disposal of assets 212 70 142 Other non-recurring expense(3) 486 327 159 Adjusted EBITDA $ 22,001 $ 20,318 $ 1,683 (1) Legal and professional fees associated with potential transactions and professional fees associated with prior periods. (2) Severance and relocation costs. (3) One-time costs incurred during the period related. SOURCE Cansortium Inc. BEIJING, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This is a report from China.org.cn: Hotpot, a beloved Chinese cuisine, is set to make a global impact as industry insiders and ingredient suppliers convened this week at the 2nd China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing to explore the future of the hotpot industry. According to Huang Li, president of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Sichuan Council, the Sichuan-Chongqing Hotpot Industry Supply Chain Expo under CISCE's Green Agriculture section gathered 11 hotpot enterprises from Chongqing and 63 from Sichuan province. "We want to highlight the achievements of the Sichuan-Chongqing hotpot industry and its supply chain. Our goal is to promote this culinary brand, which represents not only Sichuan and Chongqing but also China on the global stage. This initiative will further the overseas expansion of the hotpot industry and introduce international ingredients and spices to Sichuan and Chongqing, encouraging collaborative development within the industry," she said. The hotpot expo, the only themed exhibition at CISCE, spans 4,000 square meters and showcases the complete Sichuan-Chongqing hotpot industry chain, including product brands, supply chain enterprises and international suppliers. It features a variety of products, including condiments and ingredients at the beginning of the supply chain, base products and brands in the middle, and technologies for converting kitchen waste oil into biodiesel and bio-aviation fuel at the end. Sichuan-Chongqing hotpot is expanding globally as a hallmark of China's culinary culture. According to Frost & Sullivan, hotpot is a highly popular Chinese cuisine, with the international market size estimated at $41.4 billion this year and projections to reach $46.5 billion by 2026. "The characteristics of hotpot openness, inclusiveness and participation make it ideal for global expansion and the universal values it represents," said Tang Qingshun, vice president of the Presidium of the China Cuisine Association. Zuo Yongxiang, vice governor of Sichuan province, recognized the broader implications of the hotpot industry. "Hotpot, celebrated worldwide for its cultural allure and social appeal, drives a multi-channel supply of raw materials due to its diverse flavors and ingredients. Its quick cooking methods and varied consumption options facilitate rapid industrial deployment," he said. "Therefore, collaboration within the hotpot industry chain is crucial, influencing both economic growth and people's well-being, and serving as a striking microcosm of global industrial and supply chain cooperation." China's spicy hotpot sets its sights on global market http://www.china.org.cn/business/2024-11/29/content_117577082.htm SOURCE China.org.cn RADNOR, Pa., Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (www.ktmc.com) informs investors that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed against Visa Inc. ("Visa") (NYSE: V) on behalf of those who purchased or otherwise acquired Visa securities between November 16, 2023, and September 23, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"). The lead plaintiff deadline is January 21, 2025. CONTACT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLP: If you suffered Visa losses, you may CLICK HERE or go to: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/visa-inc?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=v&mktm=r You can also contact attorney Jonathan Naji, Esq. by calling (484) 270-1453 or by email at [email protected]. DEFENDANTS' ALLEGED MISCONDUCT: The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Visa was not in compliance with federal antitrust laws; (2) Visa did not have effective internal programs and policies to assess and control compliance with federal antitrust laws; and (3) as a result, Defendants' public statements were materially false and/or misleading at all relevant times. Please CLICK HERE to view our video or copy and paste this link into your browser: https://youtu.be/8n9Stj-T6K8 THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: Visa investors may, no later than January 21, 2025, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country and around the world. The firm has developed a global reputation for excellence and has recovered billions of dollars for victims of fraud and other corporate misconduct. All of our work is driven by a common goal: to protect investors, consumers, employees and others from fraud, abuse, misconduct and negligence by businesses and fiduciaries. The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP please visit www.ktmc.com. CONTACT: Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP Jonathan Naji, Esq. (484) 270-1453 280 King of Prussia Road Radnor, PA 19087 [email protected] May be considered attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. SOURCE Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP FAIRBANKS, Alaska, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Contango ORE, Inc. ("Contango" or the "Company") (NYSE American: CTGO) announced guidance today for its 30% interest in the Peak Gold JV, including reaffirmation of anticipated 2025 gold production and updated anticipated all-in sustaining costs ("AISC") for the mine and 2025 cash distributions from the Peak Gold JV. In addition, the Company provided an update on its credit facility (the "Facility") and related hedge contracts. The Company anticipates that its share of 2025 gold production from the Manh Choh mine will be approximately 60,000 ounces ("oz") of gold. The estimated AISC for the life-of-mine ("LOM") is projected to increase to approximately $1,400 per oz of gold equivalent ("AuEq") sold compared to $1,116 per oz of AuEq sold, as estimated in the Manh Choh Technical Report Summary1 (the "TRS"), while the estimated AISC for 2025 on a standalone basis is expected to be approximately $1,625 per oz of AuEq sold. A main factor leading to the AISC increase relates to recent weight restrictions on the Chena Flood Plain Bridge, a bridge along the Manh Choh ore haul route, as well as higher than anticipated moisture content in the Manh Choh ore, which limits the overall amount of ore being transported annually by approximately 20% compared to what was originally projected in the TRS. In addition, the AISC is being impacted by higher processing costs. At current hauling rates, the Company expects the LOM to be four to five years. At assumed spot gold prices of $2,500 per oz, Contango projects that the 2025 cash distributions from the Peak Gold JV to Contango will be approximately $50 million ("M"). The Company is working with its lenders to restructure a portion of the Facility principal repayments and related hedge contracts to better match the production schedule of the Manh Choh production campaigns. _______________________________ 1 See press release announcing TRS: https://www.contangoore.com/press-release/contango-ore-announces-completion-of-s-k-1300-technical-report-summary-for-its-manh-choh-project-in-alaska. To view a copy of the TRS, see: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5fc5d36fd44fd675102e4420/6470afdaf94d2ac9f93d93e0_SIMS%20Contango%20Manh%20Choh%20Project%20S-K%201300%20TRS%20FINAL%2020230524%20(1)-compressed.pdf. The information contained in, or otherwise accessible through, the links are not part of, and are not incorporated by reference into this release. Gold Production Guidance (Estimates) Contango's Share (30% basis) 2025 Gold Production 60,000 oz 2025 AISC $ 1,625 oz AuEq LOM AISC $ 1,400 oz AuEq 2025 Cash Distribution from Peak Gold JV $ $50 M Rick Van Nieuwenhuyse, the Company's President and CEO commented, "Overall, we are very pleased with the ramp up of Manh Choh production, expecting to produce 38,500 ounces of gold on Contango's account for 2024 and 60,000 ounces of gold for 2025. While we are disappointed with these new weight restrictions impacting Manh Choh trucking operations, which has an impact on AISC, the Manh Choh Project is expected to be very profitable over its current four to five year mine life, generating significant free cash flow to Contango. As a Company, our focus remains steadfast on continuing to pay down our credit facility, with our next objective of advancing the Lucky Shot and Johnson Tract projects forward, to further demonstrate the success of the direct ship ore (DSO) model. We will continue to provide updates as more information is made available." WEBINAR If you have any questions regarding this news release, please join CEO, Rick Van Nieuwenhuyse, for a live webinar today at 3:00pm EST / 12:00pm PST: https://6ix.com/event/contango-ore-corporate-update-1 . Mr. Van Nieuwenhuyse will be available to take live questions following a brief discussion. ABOUT CONTANGO Contango is a NYSE American listed company that engages in exploration for gold and associated minerals in Alaska. Contango holds a 30% interest in the Peak Gold JV, which leases approximately 675,000 acres of land for exploration and development on the Manh Choh project, with the remaining 70% owned by KG Mining (Alaska), Inc., an indirect subsidiary of Kinross Gold Corporation, operator of the Peak Gold JV. The Company and its subsidiaries also have (i) a lease on the Johnson Tract project from the underlying owner, CIRI Native Corporation, (ii) a lease on the Lucky Shot project from the underlying owner, Alaska Hardrock Inc., (iii) 100% ownership of approximately 8,600 acres of peripheral State of Alaska mining claims and (iv) a 100% interest in approximately 145,000 acres of State of Alaska mining claims that give Contango the exclusive right to explore and develop minerals on these lands. Additional information can be found on our web page at www.contangoore.com. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding Contango that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor for "forward-looking statements" provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, based on Contango's current expectations and includes statements regarding future results of operations, quality and nature of the asset base, the assumptions upon which estimates are based and other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, strategies or statements about future events or performance (often, but not always, using words such as "expects", "projects", "anticipates", "plans", "estimates", "potential", "possible", "probable", or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "will", "should", or "could" be taken, occur or be achieved). Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those, reflected in the statements. These risks include, but are not limited to: the risks of the exploration and the mining industry (for example, operational risks in exploring for and developing mineral reserves; risks and uncertainties involving geology; the speculative nature of the mining industry; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to future production, costs and expenses; the volatility of natural resources prices, including prices of gold and associated minerals; the existence and extent of commercially exploitable minerals in properties acquired by Contango or the Peak Gold JV; ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the Peak Gold JV; potential delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the interpretation of exploration results and the estimation of mineral resources; the loss of key employees or consultants; health, safety and environmental risks and risks related to weather and other natural disasters); uncertainties as to the availability and cost of financing; Contango's inability to retain or maintain its relative ownership interest in the Peak Gold JV; inability to realize expected value from acquisitions; inability of our management team to execute its plans to meet its goals; the extent of disruptions caused by an outbreak of disease, such as the COVID-19 pandemic; and the possibility that government policies may change, political developments may occur or governmental approvals may be delayed or withheld, including as a result of presidential and congressional elections in the U.S. or the inability to obtain mining permits. Additional information on these and other factors which could affect Contango's exploration program or financial results are included in Contango's other reports on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors are cautioned that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from the projections in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management at the time the statements are made. Contango does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances or management's estimates or opinions change. SOURCE Contango Ore SYDNEY and NEW YORK, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- First Sentier Investors, a leading global investment manager, is pleased to announce two key leadership appointments, effective Jan. 1, 2025. Harry Moore, currently the Global Head of Distribution, Marketing, and Communications is appointed to the newly created role of Chief Commercial Officer; and Lauren Prendiville, currently the Regional Managing Director and Head of Distribution for APAC is appointed as the new Global Head of Distribution and Marketing. Moore has been with First Sentier Investors since June 2010. In May 2020, he was appointed Global Head of Distribution and relocated from Sydney to London. Prior to this role, he served as Managing Director for Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, where he was responsible for business development and client service across these key markets. In his new position, Moore will play a vital role in collaborating with all of First Sentier Investors' investment teams to advance their growth plans, ensuring their interests are represented within the broader First Sentier Investors business. He will also oversee responsible investment, product management, investments business management, and the First Sentier Investors' branded investment teams based in Australia and Asia. Moore who is based in London, will return to Sydney during Q1 2025. Prendiville is based in Singapore and brings over 25 years of asset management experience, with a strong focus on client service. During her decade at First Sentier Investors, she has been instrumental in delivering exceptional service to the firm's clients. Before joining First Sentier, Prendiville served as Executive Director of Institutional Business Development at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, where she worked in both London and Singapore. Her extensive background also includes roles at Morgan Stanley Investment Management and Investec Asset Management, where she successfully managed relationships with a diverse range of clients, including pension funds, central banks, sovereign wealth funds, endowments, and private clients. Both Moore and Prendiville will continue to report to Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mark Steinberg, and will be integral members of the First Sentier Investors Executive Committee. Mark Steinberg, CEO commented, "Harry's extensive experience in business development and client service, combined with his deep understanding of the investment landscape, makes him an excellent fit for this role. Lauren's comprehensive experience, both prior to and within First Sentier Investors, positions her exceptionally well to understand and meet our clients' evolving needs. We look forward to their leadership in driving our strategic initiatives and enhancing our commitment to delivering value to our clients." Media inquiries Margaret Kirch Cohen Partner, Newton Park PR E: [email protected] M: +1 847 507 2229 Richard Chimberg Partner, Newton Park PR E: [email protected] M: +1 617 312 4281 About First Sentier Investors First Sentier Investors is a global asset management group providing high quality, differentiated and relevant investment capabilities to deliver exceptional investment performance for our clients. Today, across the First Sentier Investors Group, we manage US$157.2 billion* in assets across global and regional equities, cash and regional fixed income, infrastructure and property, and alternative credit. We are home to investment teams and brands such as AlbaCore Capital Group, FSSA Investment Managers, Igneo Infrastructure Partners, RQI Investors, and Stewart Investors. All investment teams operate with discrete investment autonomy, according to their investment philosophies and based on responsible investment principles. Our organization was acquired by Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc in August 2019. We operate as a standalone global investment management business with offices across Europe, the Americas, and Asia Pacific. We are a globally Certified B Corporation and signatory to the UK Stewardship Code. *N.B. First Sentier Investors' gross AUM, inclusive of associated strategic partnership with AlbaCore Capital Group, as of 30 September 2024. For more information, visit www.firstsentierinvestors.com This press release is intended for information only, aimed solely at the media and should not be further distributed to individual and/or corporate investors, and financial advisers and/or distributors. The information included within this document and any supplemental documentation provided should not be copied, reproduced or redistributed without the prior written consent of First Sentier Investors. SOURCE First Sentier Investors BEIJING, Nov. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Namibia and China are highly aligned in green transformation and there is a great potential for both sides to explore future cooperation in this field, Elia George Kaiyamo, the Namibian ambassador to China, told the Global Times in an exclusive interview. Namibia, a country in southern Africa, is heavily dependent on electricity imports, with about 50 percent of its electricity currently sourced from neighboring countries, a challenge the ambassador emphasized must be addressed. "We aim to continue strengthening our cooperation, attracting more Chinese businesses, and fostering partnerships in key industries as such," he said, giving examples of new energy vehicles (NEVs) in which Chinese companies have competitive advantages, particularly in cost-effectiveness. "In fact, many people in Namibia already drive Chinese cars... but we're now looking into bringing Chinese NEVs to Namibia," the ambassador said, noting that this could involve establishing plants and supply chains locally. In addition to the NEVs, Namibia plans to become a regional hub for hydrogen production in southern Africa, according to media reports, as part of the country's efforts to facilitate green transformation and energy supply. "We hope Chinese companies will support us in advancing hydrogen production... We aim to improve our energy sector and achieve energy independence, and collaborating with Chinese companies will be critical in achieving this goal," Kaiyamo said. Kaiyamo is not the only official of the African country who extended the invitation to Chinese companies for collaboration. In a recent interview with Kornelia Shilunga, deputy minister of Mines and Energy of Namibia, she also told the Global Times that Namibia welcomes Chinese companies to take part in the development of renewable energy of the country as it seeks economic development and green transition. "We have also had good partnerships in the relevant field and some mining and energy projects that have been done by Chinese companies," Shilunga said. Namibia is also looking into the potential to collaborate with Chinese companies on building a nuclear power plant, Shilunga said, noting that this remains in the early stages of discussion, with initial meetings already underway. The southern African country has already had landmark projects with the cooperation of Chinese companies in the green field. Noticeably, in September, Namibia's state-owned power utility NamPower signed a contract with two Chinese firms to start building the country's largest solar power plant, according to media reports. The southern African country is a net importer of electricity, relying on neighboring Zambia and South Africa for power, but the plant will add 100 megawatts to its current total installed power capacity of roughly 500 MW, according to the Reuters report. The plant will help stabilize future electricity tariff increases, support Namibia's economic growth, and promote environmental sustainability, the report said, citing a statement made by Kahenge Haulofu, NamPower managing director. In extending appreciation for all the support from the Chinese side, Shilunga told the Global Times "We want our economy to grow, but we cannot do it alone. We need and we welcome cooperation from countries like China." A reliable partner The cooperation in green fields highlights the strength of bilateral ties. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1990, relations between the two countries have developed smoothly with frequent high-level exchanges. In March 2018, the two countries established the China-Namibia comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation, and the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Cooperation, ushering in a new era of bilateral cooperation. "Namibia sees a bright future in its cooperation with China under the BRI... Participating in the joint initiative has brought significant benefits to Namibia, such as improved infrastructure, including roads and bridges," Kaiyamo said. For instance, a road project between the airport and the country's capital is nearing completion. Constructed by a Chinese company, this project will significantly reduce travel time between the airport and the capital from the current 1-2 hours to less than just 45 minutes, the ambassador said. This road project is just one example, with more Chinese investments expected to flow into Namibia in the near future. In an open speech in October, the Chinese ambassador to Namibia Zhao Weiping said that "In the next 5 to 10 years, we may expect a big expansion of Chinese investment in Namibia." Chinese companies will invest in extensive areas such as oil and gas, green hydrogen, agriculture, education, infrastructure, and information technology, Zhao said. Kaiyamo said that China focuses on mutual trust and long-term partnerships, proving itself a reliable and invaluable partner. "China understands our financial struggles and works with us patiently," Kaiyamo said. He gives the example of when Namibia faced challenges completing certain projects, China extended timelines and provided flexible terms. This cooperative and brotherly relationship shows China's genuine commitment to Africa's development, Kaiyamo said. SOURCE Global Times BEIJING, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Prior to China's Baiheliang inscriptions gaining widespread attention in recent years due to its joint World Heritage application with Egypt's Rawda Island Nilometer, this hydrological heritage that submerges 40 meters beneath the Yangtze River in Fuling district, Chongqing, had already begun to reveal its mysteries since 2009. In 2009, a design called the "pressure-free cabin" started operating at the Underwater Museum of Baiheliang. This cabin, resembling an immovable submarine, was remarkably ahead of its time and was innovated by China. It epitomizes the country's scientific ingenuity and its tradition of safeguarding cultural heritage. Immovable submarine "Baiheliang," literally meaning the "white crane ridge," was originally a natural stone ridge that has a history of 1,200 years. It measures 1,600 meters long and is located in the middle of the Yangtze River. The ridge was engraved with more than 160 inscriptions, which showcase ancient hydrological data, particularly the Yangtze River's low water levels for continuous 72 years starting from the Tang Dynasty (618-907). "Baiheliang is unique because the ridge's hydrological data is complete and uninterrupted over time. Such a reference has inspired modern projects like the Gezhouba Hydropower Station," Jiang Rui, the museum's director, told the Global Times. Aiming at preserving the Baiheliang records beneath the river, a total of seven conservation plans have been offered by Chinese scientific teams in early 2000s. Some of these proposals recommend pulling out the stone ridge from water to land, others too costly, but the "pressure-free cabin" that was proposed by rock mechanics expert Ge Xiurun stood out as the most suitable and pioneering. "Pressure-free cabin" involves constructing a protective cabin covering the original Baiheliang ridge. It equips with water-cleaning and pressure-evening systems to filter and channel Yangtze River water in and out, maintaining balanced pressure inside and outside of the cabin. The whole cabin connects two 90-meter-long elevators that can send visitors down into the water. It looks like a futuristic submarine with a silver corridor. Ancient inscriptions are only few meters away when one looks out from circular windows on the wall. The implementation of the "pressure-free cabin" plan has made the Baiheliang site the only underwater heritage museum in the world accessible without diving. "The underwater scenes are beyond imaginable. The inscriptions are still so clear and they made me appreciate the richness of ancient Chinese culture," Grace, a visitor from Kenya, told the Global Times. Noting the device operates like a "never-stopping machine," Liu Bin, head of the museum's equipment division, said that inside the cabin, there are more intricate systems designed for lighting, gas supply and relics cleaning. Although the "submarine" can no longer undergo major rebuilt, its facilities have been improved over the years to offer better experiences to visitors. Taking the circular window as an example, the current window glass has been updated to the same kind of material used on the J-20 stealth fighter. To reduce the growth of underwater organisms on the ridge, the lighting system has been updated. Jiang, the director, said that the team is now incubating a latest lighting plan, to make the ridge "become a stage-like and major inscriptions will be highlighted." "It is because of such scientific preservation measures, the humanistic value of Baiheliang inscriptions can be recognized by the world," Jiang emphasized. A visitor observes stone fish inscriptions at the Underwater Museum of Baiheliang. Photo: IC 'Romantic spirit' Although Baiheliang inscriptions were used documenting water data, many legacies on the ridge actually hold artistic details; revealing how ancient Chinese people expressed their sentiments through connecting with nature. On one of the stone steles, Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) intellectual and calligrapher Huang Tingjian inscribed on the ridge to express his reluctance to leaving Fuling. On another stele, Huang Shou, the ancient governor of Fuling district during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), engraved a poem on Baiheliang. Huang Shou used the classic stone fish pattern on the ridge as a symbolic representation to express his will of being an honest governor. Not far from Huang Shou's underwater poetry is the museum's pearl, the stone fish inscriptions. This group of stone fish inscriptions were created in two different dynasties of the Tang and Qing. By observing the position of those fishes' eyes and fins, the ancient people were able to accurately track the river's low-water data. Compared to many hydrological heritage sites such as the Rawda Island Nilometer that is focused on pragmatism, the Baiheliang's poetry and calligraphic legacies have made it a good representation of "ancient China's unique romantic spirit," Jiang said. "When I walked underwater and saw these inscriptions, I felt the unique ways how ancient Chinese people expressed themselves. China is an ancient civilization, so it possesses many cultural heritage sites. These treasures belong to China, but they offer inspiration to people around the world," Nicolas Deschamps, a French documentary director at the museum, told the Global Times. In 2023, China and Egypt reached an official agreement to launch a joint World Heritage application featuring the Baiheliang inscriptions and the Nilometer at the Rawda Island. This application is now at a stage of discussing core issues such as "their similarities" as well as conducting an "comparative analysis" between the two sites. Jiang revealed to the Global Times that by the end of 2024, China and Egypt will sign a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate more details. "Our collaboration with Egypt enhances the developing countries' discourse power in interpreting their importance in protecting cultural heritages worldwide," Jiang emphasized. SOURCE Global Times BOSTON, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund (NYSE: PDT) (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC and subadvised by Manulife Investment Management (US) LLC, announced today sources of its monthly distribution of $0.0825 per share paid to all shareholders of record as of November 12, 2024, pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan. This press release is issued as required by an exemptive order granted to the Fund by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Notification of Sources of Distribution This notice provides shareholders of the John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund (NYSE: PDT) with important information concerning the distribution declared on November 1, 2024, and payable on November 29, 2024. No action is required on your part. Distribution Period: November 2024 Distribution Amount Per Common Share: $0.0825 The following table sets forth the estimated sources of the current distribution, payable November 29, 2024, and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year to date from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short term capital gains; net realized long term capital gains; and return of capital or other capital source. All amounts are expressed on a per common share basis and as a percentage of the distribution amount. For the period 11/1/2024-11/30/2024 For the fiscal year-to-date period 11/1/2024-11/30/2024 1 Source Current Distribution ($) % Breakdown of the Current Distribution Total Cumulative Distributions ($) % Breakdown of the Total Cumulative Distributions Net Investment Income 0.0672 81 % 0.0672 81 % Net Realized Short- Term Capital Gains 0.0038 5 % 0.0038 5 % Net Realized Long- Term Capital Gains 0.0115 14 % 0.0115 14 % Return of Capital or Other Capital Source 0.0000 0 % 0.0000 0 % Total per common share 0.0825 100 % 0.0825 100 % Average annual total return (in relation to NAV) for the 5 years ended on October 31, 2024 5.76 % Annualized current distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of October 31, 2024 7.28 % Cumulative total return (in relation to NAV) for the fiscal year through October 31, 2024 39.63 % Cumulative fiscal year-to-date distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of October 31, 2024 0.61 % ________________ 1 The Fund's current fiscal year began on November 1, 2024 and will end on October 31, 2025. You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's managed distribution plan. The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes. The Fund has declared the November 2024 distribution pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan (the "Plan"). Under the Plan, the Fund makes fixed monthly distributions in the amount of $0.0825 per share, which will continue to be paid monthly until further notice. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact your financial professional or call the John Hancock Investment Management Closed-End Fund Information Line at 1-800-843-0090, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time. Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Fund's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. An investor should consider a Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. About John Hancock Investment Management A company of Manulife Investment Management, we serve investors through a unique multimanager approach, complementing our extensive in-house capabilities with an unrivaled network of specialized asset managers, backed by some of the most rigorous investment oversight in the industry. The result is a diverse lineup of time-tested investments from a premier asset manager with a heritage of financial stewardship. About Manulife Investment Management Manulife Investment Management is the global brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 18 geographies. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com. SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management BOSTON, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund (NYSE: HTD) (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC and subadvised by Manulife Investment Management (US) LLC, announced today sources of its monthly distribution of $0.1380 per share paid to all shareholders of record as of November 12, 2024, pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan. This press release is issued as required by an exemptive order granted to the Fund by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Notification of Sources of Distribution This notice provides shareholders of the John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund (NYSE: HTD) with important information concerning the distribution declared on November 1, 2024, and payable on November 29, 2024. No action is required on your part. Distribution Period: November 2024 Distribution Amount Per Common Share: $0.1380 The following table sets forth the estimated sources of the current distribution, payable November 29, 2024, and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year to date from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short term capital gains; net realized long term capital gains; and return of capital or other capital source. All amounts are expressed on a per common share basis and as a percentage of the distribution amount. For the period 11/1/2024-11/30/2024 For the fiscal year-to-date period 11/1/2024-11/30/2024 1 Source Current Distribution ($) % Breakdown of the Current Distribution Total Cumulative Distributions ($) % Breakdown of the Total Cumulative Distributions Net Investment Income 0.1368 99 % 0.1368 99 % Net Realized Short- Term Capital Gains 0.0012 1 % 0.0012 1 % Net Realized Long- Term Capital Gains 0.0000 0 % 0.0000 0 % Return of Capital or Other Capital Source 0.0000 0 % 0.0000 0 % Total per common share 0.1380 100 % 0.1380 100 % Average annual total return (in relation to NAV) for the 5 years ended on October 31, 2024 6.17 % Annualized current distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of October 31, 2024 6.70 % Cumulative total return (in relation to NAV) for the fiscal year through October 31, 2024 40.98 % Cumulative fiscal year-to-date distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of October 31, 2024 0.56 % _______________________ 1 The Fund's current fiscal year began on November 1, 2024 and will end on October 31, 2025. You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's managed distribution plan. The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes. The Fund has declared the November 2024 distribution pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan (the "Plan"). Under the Plan, the Fund makes fixed monthly distributions in the amount of $0.1380 per share, which will continue to be paid monthly until further notice. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact your financial professional or call the John Hancock Investment Management Closed-End Fund Information Line at 1-800-843-0090, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time. Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Fund's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. An investor should consider a Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. About John Hancock Investment Management A company of Manulife Investment Management, we serve investors through a unique multimanager approach, complementing our extensive in-house capabilities with an unrivaled network of specialized asset managers, backed by some of the most rigorous investment oversight in the industry. The result is a diverse lineup of time-tested investments from a premier asset manager with a heritage of financial stewardship. About Manulife Investment Management Manulife Investment Management is the global brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 18 geographies. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com. SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management What are the global health food trends? 'Botanical' and 'Energy' CERRITOS, Calif., Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, JungKwanJang, a global comprehensive health brand and Korea's No. 1 red ginseng brand, added two new products to Sprouts Farmers Market: 'Everytime Immune Support' and 'Korean Red Ginseng Extract Vital Tonic'. 'Everytime Immune Support' is a stick-type red ginseng product that is good for boosting immunity, and it is a product developed for the US by focusing on 'Everytime' immunity. This product is mainly made up of Korean Red Ginseng, which helps boost immunity, and contains elderberry and pear concentrate, so you can take care of your health deliciously. JungKwanJang products at Sprouts Farmers Market 'Korean Red Ginseng Extract Vital Tonic' is a healthy energy shot product containing red ginseng and vitamins to improve metabolism and energy, and is popular as a steady seller for all age groups including 2030 in Korea. It is easy to carry and consume with its light ampoule formulation, so you can easily take care of your health anytime, anywhere. JungKwanJang will hold a discount promotion for popular JungKwanJang products on Amazon, direct stores, etc. from November 21 to December 2 to celebrate BFCM (Black Friday & Cyber Monday). 'HongSamWon', which has entered Costco, is receiving positive responses from consumers as a caffeine-free red ginseng functional drink, and the 'Everytime 2000mg' product is gaining popularity on Amazon. Meanwhile, at its R&D center in Fullerton near LA, JungKwanJang is working with local research teams to conduct scientific research on the efficacy and safety of key ingredients such as red ginseng and to develop new health ingredients. JungKwanJang ranked first in the global 'herbal health supplement' retail market compiled by Euromonitor International, a global market research firm, and ranked first in the 'global ginseng retail market' for 10 consecutive years, with a 46.6% share last year. Recently, plant-based natural ingredients are gaining popularity among consumers as their efficacy and safety are recognized. In fact, the global health food trends in 2024 are 'plant-based raw materials' and 'energy functionality'. According to Innova Market Insights in 2023, approximately 48% of US consumers believe that plant-based ingredients are effective. (*Innova Market Insights, February 2023, related article) Adaptogenic herbs such as 'ginseng' and 'ashwagandha' are also known to help maintain body balance. In particular, 'red ginseng' made from ginseng has been scientifically proven to have effects such as 'Boost Immune System', 'Building Stamina', and 'Support Blood Circulation'.(related article about Adaptogenic herbs 1, 2, 3 / related article about red ginseng 4) In fact, red ginseng has been officially recognized by the KFDA as helping to enhance immunity, improve blood circulation, improve fatigue, antioxidants, improve memory, menopausal women's health, and control blood sugar levels.(related article 1 - 66p, 3) Prerequisite for the health functional food part, (1) Health Claim) (related article 2 blood sugar) In addition, it has been scientifically proven by researchers at Georgia State University in the United States and Sungkyunkwan University in Korea that when red ginseng is consumed with vaccines, the effect of virus immunity is enhanced and immune cells are activated. (related article) Meanwhile, in July 2024, JungKwanJang launched three Asian best-selling 'Everytime' series products beyond Amazon to Sprouts Farmers Market. ("Everytime 2000mg," "Everytime Powerful Deer Antler," and "Everytime Energy Boost," under the concept of "Rev Your Energy Flow.") SOURCE KGC (Korea Ginseng Corp.) SHANGHAI, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Minghui Pharmaceutical, a late-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing transformative medicines in immunology and oncology, today announced positive topline results from its phase trial of MH004 (tofacitinib etocomil) ointment 1.0%, a twice-daily pan-Jak inhibitor, in adolescents (ages 12 years and older) and adults with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis (AD). This multicenter, double-blind, randomized, vehicle-controlled phase clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of MH004 1.0% in adolescents and adults with mild to moderate AD. A total of 377 participants were randomized 2:1 to receive either MH004 1.0% or Vehicle BID with an 8-week treatment period, followed by 44-week open-label extension for long-term safety. The primary endpoints were the proportion of participants achieving IGA-TS (Investigator Global Assessment (IGA) of 'clear' or 'almost clear' with a 2-grade improvement) at Week 4 and the proportion achieving a 75% improvement in Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI-75) at Week 4. Key efficacy results are as follows: IGA-TS at Week 4 41.0% of individuals treated with MH004 1.0% achieving IGA-TS at Week 4 compared to 10.3% treated with vehicle (P<0.0001). EASI-75 at Week 4 58.2% of individuals treated with MH004 1.0% achieving EASI-75 at Week 4 compared to 19.8% treated with vehicle (P<0.0001). Additionally, the key secondary endpoints, including IGA-TS and EASI-75 at week 8, as well as the proportion of participants with a 4-point improvement in Itch Numerical Rating Scale (NRS4) score at week 8, were successfully met. MH004 1.0% demonstrated statistically significant improvements across all these parameters compared to the vehicle. MH004 1.0% was well-tolerated, with a safety profile consistent with findings from the previous Phase II study. All TRAEs were mild to moderate (grade 1 or 2) in severity. No drug-related serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported. "We are thrilled with the positive topline results from the Phase study. MH004 showed significant symptom improvement in patients with atopic dermatitis and was well-tolerated." said Guoqing Cao, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Minghui Pharmaceutical. "The rapid onset of action observed with MH004 is particularly valuable for patients. These findings reinforce MH004's potential as a meaningful addition to current treatment options for atopic dermatitis, addressing both safety and efficacy needs. Moreover, MH004's benefits may extend to other inflammatory skin diseases as well. In our ongoing phase for vitiligo, we have seen convincing PoC, and the preliminary efficacy data looks highly encouraging." Dr. Cao continued, "I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all the patients who participated in the trial, as well as to the physicians and staff for their dedicated work. Their contributions were essential to the success of this trial. We look forward to working with regulators to make this treatment available to patients as soon as possible." "Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory condition, particularly prevalent in children, underscoring the urgent need for effective, fast-acting topical therapies beyond corticosteroids." said Jianzhong Zhang, M.D., lead investigator in the Phase 3 trial and Professor of Peking University People's Hospital. "While corticosteroids are reasonably effective, their long-term use is often limited due to local side effects and safety concerns. MH004 demonstrated superior clinical efficacy in this pivotal phase study, achieving the co-primary endpoints of IGA-TS and EASI-75. The treatment also exhibited a favorable safety profile, and as the leading PI of this study, I am highly encouraged by these results and optimistic about MH004's potential to advance AD care." About Minghui Pharmaceutical Minghui Pharmaceutical, established in 2018, is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to developing innovative therapies for unmet medical needs in oncology and autoimmune diseases. Leveraging expertise in medical science and proprietary technology platforms, the company is advancing a robust clinical-stage pipeline that features a range of first-in-class or best-in-class product candidates. For more information, please visit www.minghuipharma.com. About MH004 Ointment MH004 (tofacitinib etocomil) ointment is a topical product containing a JAK inhibitor that was designed and formulated with Minghui's proprietary technologies. MH004 is expected to have much improved skin permeability to achieve extensive target inhibition in local skin tissues without systemic toxicities that have been widely reported for oral JAK inhibitors. MH004 is intended to be used for the treatment of multiple dermatologic autoimmune diseases. Forward-Looking Statements This press release provided by Minghui Pharmaceutical Inc. (the "Company") contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which may be accompanied by such words as "aim," "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "possible," "predict," "should," "will," "would" or words of similar meaning. These statements are based on the Company's current beliefs and expectations and subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements herein. Risks and uncertainties include but not limited to: general industry conditions and competition; changes in economic and financial conditions of the Company's and the collaborators' businesses; the risk that clinical trials are discontinued or delayed for any reasons, including for efficacy, safety, enrollment, or manufacturing; the risk that success in early stage clinical trials may not be predictive of results in later stage trials or trials of other potential indications; the risk that positive results in a clinical trial may not be replicated in subsequent or confirmatory trials; expectations for regulatory approvals; challenges to obtain, maintain and enforce patents and other intellectual property protection for the Company's product(s) and product candidate(s). These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are posted to this website, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein. SOURCE Minghui Pharmaceutical, Inc. WASHINGTON, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Following is a statement from Emily Wilkins 117th President of the National Press Club on news of the verdict in the national security trial of journalist and Nieman fellow Dong Yuyu. Dong Yuyu "Our hearts go out to the family of Dong Yuyu, a journalist who received an outrageous verdict in his national security case from Beijing's No. 2 Intermediate People's Court. According to court he was found guilty and sentenced to 7 years in prison. With time served this means he will spend 4.5 more years in prison. The threshold for evidence under Chinese law is quite high and simply could not have been met in this case despite the verdict. Dong Yuyu is a journalist. And journalism is not a crime. He rose to the rank of managing editor at Guangming Daily, one of China's major daily newspapers. This is a position of great responsibility and he was well vetted before being promoted to such a position. He worked at the paper for more than 30 years. The kinds of activities Dong Yuyu is accused of include talking to diplomats from the Japanese Embassy in Beijing and having lunch with them in public places. These are normal activities of journalists and Dong has engaged with Western diplomats for many years without complaint. We call on the Government of Japan to immediately rebut these unsubstantiated accusations against their professional diplomats and the Embassy where they work. We understand individual diplomats may be named in the court documents. We also call on Japan to clarify in a public and transparent way, their years long relationship with Dong, a working journalist. This case appears to have all the characteristics of an arbitrary detention. We are exploring the possibility of filing a case with the United Nations Working Group for Arbitrary Detention on behalf of Dong Yuyu. This work would be done through our newly launched Press Freedom Center at the National Press Club." Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the World's leading professional organization for journalists. With 2,500 members representing nearly every major news organization, the Club, through its Press Freedom Center at the National Press Club, is a leading voice for journalists at risk in the U.S. and worldwide. Contact: Bill McCarren, 202-662-7534, [email protected] SOURCE National Press Club NEW YORK, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund Inc. (NYSE American: NHS) (the "Fund") has announced a distribution declaration of $0.0905 per share of common stock. The distribution announced today is payable on December 31, 2024, has a record date of December 16, 2024, and has an ex-date of December 16, 2024. Under its level distribution policy, the Fund anticipates that it will make regular monthly distributions, subject to market conditions, of $0.0905 per share of common stock, unless further action is taken to determine another amount. The Fund's ability to maintain its current distribution rate will depend on a number of factors, including the amount and stability of income received from its investments, the cost of leverage and the level of other Fund fees and expenses. There is no assurance that the Fund will always be able to pay a distribution of any particular amount or that a distribution will consist only of net investment income. Due to an effort to maintain a stable distribution amount, the distribution announced today, as well as future distributions, may consist of net investment income, net realized capital gains and return of capital. In compliance with Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, a notice would be provided for any distribution that does not consist solely of net investment income. The notice would be for informational purposes and not for tax reporting purposes, and would disclose, among other things, estimated portions of the distribution, if any, consisting of net investment income, capital gains and return of capital. The final determination of the source and tax characteristics of all distributions paid in 2024 will be made after the end of the year. About Neuberger Berman Neuberger Berman is an employee-owned, private, independent investment manager founded in 1939 with over 2,800 employees in 26 countries. The firm manages $509 billion of equities, fixed income, private equity, real estate and hedge fund portfolios for global institutions, advisors and individuals. Neuberger Berman's investment philosophy is founded on active management, fundamental research and engaged ownership. The PRI identified the firm as part of the Leader's Group, a designation awarded to fewer than 1% of investment firms for excellence in environmental, social and governance practices. Neuberger Berman has been named by Pensions & Investments as the #1 or #2 Best Place to Work in Money Management for each of the last ten years (firms with more than 1,000 employees). Visit www.nb.com for more information. Data as of September 30, 2024. Statements made in this release that look forward in time involve risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the adverse effect from a decline in the securities markets or a decline in the Fund's performance, a general downturn in the economy, competition from other closed end investment companies, changes in government policy or regulation, inability of the Fund's investment adviser to attract or retain key employees, inability of the Fund to implement its investment strategy, inability of the Fund to manage rapid expansion and unforeseen costs and other effects related to legal proceedings or investigations of governmental and self-regulatory organizations. Contact: Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC Investor Information (877) 461-1899 SOURCE Neuberger Berman VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - New Pacific Metals Corp. ("New Pacific" or the "Company") (TSX: NUAG) (NYSE American: NEWP) today reported that all matters submitted for approval at New Pacific's annual meeting of shareholders ("AGM") held today as set out in the Company's Notice of Meeting and Management Information Circular, both dated October 23, 2024, were approved by the requisite majority of votes cast at the AGM. A total of 130,978,159 common shares, representing 76.37% of the votes attached to all outstanding shares as at the record date for the meeting, were represented at the AGM. The details of the voting results for the election of directors are set out below: Votes For Withheld Director Number Percentage Number Percentage Andrew Williams 104,724,758 99.33 % 705,699 0.67 % Dickson Hall 102,816,082 97.52 % 2,614,375 2.48 % Martin Wafforn 104,739,436 99.34 % 691,021 0.66 % Maria Tang 104,676,192 99.28 % 754,265 0.72 % Dr. Peter Megaw 104,636,052 99.25 % 794,405 0.75 % Paul Simpson 99,577,308 94.45 % 5,853,149 5.55 % Myles Gao 105,140,583 99.73 % 289,874 0.27 % Shareholders also approved the re-appointment of Deloitte LLP as auditors of the Company for the ensuing year. Final results for all matters voted on at the AGM will be filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, on EDGAR at www.sec.gov and on the Company's website at www.newpacificmetals.com. About New Pacific Metals New Pacific is a Canadian exploration and development company with three precious metal projects in Bolivia. The Company's flagship Silver Sand project has the potential to be developed into one of the world's largest silver mines. The Company is also advancing its robust, high-margin silver-lead-zinc Carangas project with strong economics. Additionally, a discovery drill program was completed at Silverstrike in 2022. On behalf of New Pacific Metals Corp. Andrew Williams CEO and Director For Further Information New Pacific Metals Corp. Phone: (604) 6331368 Ext. 223 U.S. & Canada toll-free: 1-877-631-0593 E-mail: [email protected] For additional information and to receive company news by e-mail, please register using New Pacific's website at www.newpacificmetals.com. SOURCE New Pacific Metals Corp. The event, a cherished tradition, transformed Plaza Auto Mall into a hub of generosity and community spirit. Families from across Brooklyn were greeted with friendly smiles and helping hands as Plaza Auto Mall's staff, local leaders, and volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure every family left with the centerpiece of their Thanksgiving table. "This event reflects the spirit of Brooklyncoming together to support our community," said Adam Rosatti, General Manager of Plaza Auto Mall. "We're thankful to our partners for helping us make a difference each year." This year's outreach didn't stop at the dealership. After the official giveaway, Plaza Auto Mall's team personally delivered additional turkeys to families in nearby neighborhoods, going above and beyond to meet the needs of the community. By the Numbers: 600+ turkeys distributed during the event. distributed during the event. Additional door-to-door deliveries reaching even more families in need. reaching even more families in need. Partnership with elected officials, community leaders, and law enforcement, amplifying the event's impact. Plaza Auto Mall's turkey giveaway is a cornerstone of its broader mission to uplift Brooklyn through consistent community outreach. Whether it's back-to-school backpack drives or neighborhood improvement projects, the dealership's dedication to building a stronger, more connected Brooklyn shines through year-round. About Plaza Auto Mall Plaza Auto Mall has served Brooklyn since 1975, offering exceptional automotive services and prioritizing community engagement. As a trusted local partner, Plaza Auto Mall is dedicated to driving positive change and creating meaningful connections through events like the annual Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway. For additional information, please contact Plaza Auto Mall's Marketing Department at [email protected] or (347) 554-6000. Contact: Plaza Auto Mall Marketing Dept. 2740 Nostrand Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11210 [email protected] (347) 554-6000 SOURCE Plaza Auto Mall WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED Company Reports Record Q3 Revenue and Second Consecutive Quarter Of Positive Adjusted EBITDA* TORONTO, MUMBAI, India and LOS ANGELES, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - QYOU Media Inc., (TSXV: QYOU) (OTCQB: QYOUF) a company operating in India and the United States producing and distributing content created by social media stars and digital content creators, is reporting financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. Highlights include as follows: YOY Revenue Growth : The company recorded Q3 quarterly revenue of $7,718,514 , representing the highest revenue recorded in any third quarter in company history. The revenue mark was particularly noteworthy given strong strategic realignment of resources and investments enacted to drive positive Adjusted EBITDA. Revenue continued to be primarily driven by strong results for the QYOU USA and Chtrbox India Influencer Marketing business units. Revenue on a YOY basis increased by $438,640 or 6%. : The company recorded Q3 quarterly revenue of , representing the highest revenue recorded in any third quarter in company history. The revenue mark was particularly noteworthy given strong strategic realignment of resources and investments enacted to drive positive Adjusted EBITDA. Revenue continued to be primarily driven by strong results for the QYOU and Chtrbox India Influencer Marketing business units. Revenue on a YOY basis increased by or 6%. Positive Adjusted EBITDA* : For the three months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the same prior year period, Adjusted EBITDA significantly improved by 105% or $956,517 to become positive at $46,010 . This represented the second consecutive quarter with positive Adjusted EBITDA, marking another record in company history. This was driven by consistent revenue growth along with a meaningful realignment of investment activities, all directed towards achieving positive operating results. : For the three months ended compared to the same prior year period, Adjusted EBITDA significantly improved by 105% or to become positive at . This represented the second consecutive quarter with positive Adjusted EBITDA, marking another record in company history. This was driven by consistent revenue growth along with a meaningful realignment of investment activities, all directed towards achieving positive operating results. Improved Net Loss : For the three months ended September 30, 2024 , net loss improved by $1,101,257 or 57% compared to the same prior year period. : For the three months ended , net loss improved by or 57% compared to the same prior year period. Cash Balance: The company ended the three months ended September 30, 2024 with cash of $874,367 . QYOU Media CEO and Co-Founder, Curt Marvis commented, "Q3 2024 marks another quarter where we focused our strategic emphasis on our cash positive business units and a strategic mandate to drive positive Adjusted EBITDA. We continue our work on several strategic initiatives designed to reinvigorate stronger revenue growth and stronger overall results in 2025. Our Influencer Marketing business units continue to display strong financial momentum which we intend to focus on moving forward. We expect more announcements to be made on a number of these initiatives before the end of 2024. Two consecutive quarters of positive Adjusted EBITDA is a great foundation for us to build on heading into 2025." In addition to announcing Q3 2024 financial results, the company announced that they have secured a strategic investment from an India based institutional investor for a minority stake in Chatterbox Technologies Private Limited. More commentary on the Q3 results and the Chatterbox Technologies investment will be provided by CEO and Co-Founder Curt Marvis along with India Group CEO Raj Mishra on the next "First Thursday" video published to the company YouTube channel on Thursday December 5th at 8 AM PST available when you CLICK HERE . Please submit any questions to the QYOU Investor email address by Sunday December 1st when you CLICK HERE . *Note on Adjusted EBITDA: To supplement our consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), we present Earnings Before Interest Tax Depreciation and Amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA") which is a non-IFRS financial measure. The presentation of non-IFRS financial measurement are not intended to be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, or superior to, operating loss or net income (loss) or any other performance measures derived in accordance with IFRS or as an alternative to net cash provided by operating activities or any other measures of cash flows or liquidity. We define earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA") as revenue minus operating expenses excluding non-cash and or non-recurring operating expenses including but not limited to stock-based compensation, marketing credits, depreciation and amortization (interest and taxes are not included in the Company's operating expenses). Adjusted EBITDA is used as an internal measure to evaluate the performance of our operating segments. We believe that information about this non-IFRS financial measure assists investors by allowing them to evaluate changes in operating results of our business separate from non-operational factors that affect operating income (loss) and net income (loss), thus providing insights into both operations and other factors that affect reported results. A limitation of the use of Adjusted EBITDA as a performance measure is that it does not reflect the periodic costs of certain amortizing assets used in generating revenue in our business. Furthermore, this measure may vary among companies; thus Adjusted EBITDA as presented herein may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Words such as "expects'', "anticipates" and "intends" or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained herein may include, but are not limited to, information concerning the completion of future investments, the approval of the Exchange of the investments, the approval of the Reserve Bank of India of future investments, the expected use of proceeds from the investment, and statements relating to the business and future activities of QYOU. These forward-looking statements are based on QYOU's current projections and expectations about future events and other factors management believes are appropriate. Although QYOU believes that the assumptions underlying these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect, and readers cannot be assured that the offering and the closing thereof will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors, including certain risk factors, many of which are beyond QYOU's control. Additional risks and uncertainties regarding QYOU are described in its publicly-available disclosure documents, filed by QYOU on SEDAR ( www.sedar.com ) except as updated herein. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent QYOU's expectations as of the date of this news release, or as of the date they are otherwise stated to be made, and subsequent events may cause these expectations to change. QYOU undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. About QYOU Media One of the fastest growing creator-media companies, QYOU Media operates in India and the United States producing, distributing and monetizing content created by social media influencers and digital content stars. In India, under our flagship brand, The Q and on connected TV, via channels Q Kahaniyan, Q GameX, Q Comedistaan & Sadhguru TV, QToonz and RDCMovies we curate, produce and distribute premium content across television networks, VOD and OTT platforms, mobile phones, smart TV's and app-based platforms. In addition, QYOU has numerous additional content destinations, apps and gaming platforms engaging over 115 million Indian households weekly. Our influencer marketing company, Chtrbox, has been a pioneer in India's creator economy, leveraging data to connect brands to the right social media influencers. QGamesMela is a recently launched casual gaming business leveraging access to the large audience enjoyed by Q India products. In the United States, we power major film studios, game publishers and brands to create content and market via creators and influencers. Founded and created by industry veterans from Lionsgate, MTV, Disney and Sony, QYOU Media's millennial and Gen Z-focused content reaches more than one billion consumers around the world every month. Experience our work at www.qyoumedia.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE QYOU Media Inc. LONG BEACH, Calif., Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Larissa Duron is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Professional Member Inner Circle of Excellence for her contributions to Electrical Systems Engineering and Prototype Manufacturing. Larissa Duron is an accomplished professional with over 25 years of experience in technology and 15 years in electrical systems engineering and manufacturing. She founded Duron Industries LLC, specializing in engineering services, prototype manufacturing solutions, and electrical products. Larissa Duron Ms. Duron holds a Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communications Engineering from ITT Technical Institute and an Associate of Science in Visual Communications in Multimedia Design from Collins College with additional experience and certifications in Project Management, Electric Vehicles, Counterintelligence Training, Electrical Safety Training, and Radio Frequency. As a Woman-Owned, Veteran-Owned, Minority-Owned, LGBT-Owned, and Disadvantaged Small Business, Duron Industries prioritizes supplier diversity to acknowledge and provide opportunities to struggling communities. Ms. Duron understands the challenges of operating a small, disadvantaged business and is now ready to take it a step further while planning to announce her new launch of business growth services to guide companies with resources toward success. Duron Industries also aligns with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the entire executive team contributes to community service efforts in the areas of veteran assistance, child advocacy, and small business growth volunteer work. Before starting her career, Ms. Duron proved her dedication to the United States by serving as an E-4 Specialist in the United States Army Signal Corps, during that time she was deployed to South Korea to support the 1st Signal Brigade Yongsan Garrison. She operated, maintained, and installed military telephones in addition to handling the COMSEC equipment for the President of the United States, AFKN radio, and AM/FM transmission systems. Throughout her service, Ms. Duron was also deployed to Fort Lewis, Washington for combat communications with the 29th Signal Battalion in support of the I Corps 7th Infantry Division. She was also invited to collaborate with an industry-leading astronaut in prototype manufacturing. Additionally, she assisted in aerospace antenna testing for the Mars Rover Parachute. After her service, she served as a Senior Electrical Systems Engineer at KLA Corporation where she led product development and hardware integration services for electrical distribution systems. Her experience in electrical engineering also includes significant roles at Kuryakyn, Applied Minds LLC, and Nearfield Systems Inc., enhancing her skills in manufacturing, product development, and leadership. Diligently devoted to her industry, Ms. Duron continues her dedication to embracing resilience and maintaining a learner's mindset while navigating the challenges and opportunities in the engineering and manufacturing industries. As she continues to lead her company towards innovative horizons, she remains committed to her vision of helping society by making impactful technological advancements. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE The Inner Circle The first overseas office of Taiwan's government-backed startup initiative plays a key role in promoting new business collaborations between Japan and Taiwan TOKYO, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tokyo-based global media agency Pacific Bridge Media and Consulting Inc. (PBMC) is pleased to announce that its CEO, Toshi Maeda, has been appointed as co-representative of Startup Island TAIWAN Tokyo Hub. Opened in September, the Tokyo Hub is the first overseas branch of Startup Island TAIWAN, Taiwan's startup support initiative backed by its National Development Council. The Tokyo Hub serves as a critical link in fostering innovation and economic growth by supporting startups and businesses in both Taiwan and Japan. As Taiwan's first international startup support office, the hub's mission is to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystems of both countries through various initiatives. It provides assistance to Taiwanese startups seeking to expand into the Japanese market and offers guidance to Japanese companies interested in entering Taiwan. By leveraging its Tokyo presence, the hub aims to provide strategic resources, networking opportunities, and local support to entrepreneurs navigating the complexities of cross-border expansion. Looking beyond Japan, Startup Island TAIWAN plans to continue its international outreach, with a new office set to open in Silicon Valley in January 2025. Future expansions into Southeast Asia are also on the horizon, all designed to establish a robust global network that propels Taiwanese startups into international markets and strengthens cross-regional collaboration. Comments from Toshi Maeda, CEO of PBMC: "Pacific Bridge Media and Consulting has been supporting Startup Island TAIWAN in various ways, such as through our media platform J-Stories, which was selected as a media partner for the 2024 Japan-Taiwan Innovation Summit held in Tokyo this September. We also created a dedicated page to promote the summit. "I understand that my appointment as co-representative is a recognition of our ongoing support for Startup Island TAIWAN, and I am deeply honored. I look forward to continuing to support bilateral business development between Japan and Taiwan, such as helping Taiwanese startups expand into Japan and assisting Japanese companies entering Taiwan. I hope to contribute to the economic growth of both countries and the creation of innovative businesses." Comments from Amanda Liu, Managing Director of Startup Island TAIWAN: "Known as a tech island, Taiwan has a strong advantage in supply chains, particularly in semiconductors. Additionally, Taiwan has a long history of success in original equipment manufacturing (OEM) business and is skilled in forming close partnerships with other countries and companies. Japan, on the other hand, has a solid reputation and reliable technological expertise built over decades in the manufacturing industry. Given the similarities in our industrial structures, I believe there are many complementary aspects between our two nations. As the executive editor of J-Stories, which focuses on startups in Japan and Asia, Mr. Maeda has extensive knowledge and experience in supporting startup communities. I am very confident in his leadership as a co-representative in Japan. "Going forward, with the establishment of the Startup Island TAIWAN Tokyo Hub, we aim to build long-term collaborations in the Japanese market and win the trust of local partners." About Pacific Bridge Media and Consulting, Inc. Founded in 2010 by experienced international journalist Toshi Maeda with the mission to "connect the world with trusted content and foster a prosperous and just human society," PBMC specializes in creating diverse multilingual content that combines video, language, and technology. The company provides comprehensive services for enterprises looking to share information globally, including planning and producing articles, visual content such as videos and photos, CGI, website creation, and multilingual live event broadcasting. PBMC has a strong track record working with a wide range of clients from major domestic and international corporations and media to startups and government agencies establishing itself as a highly regarded international multimedia content provider. Overview Main Fields of Business : Multilingual content strategy-building, production and distribution; cross-border public, media and investor relations; multilingual event planning and hosting, including technical and editorial support; live-streaming and news/event conference support; news and media release production and distribution worldwide; startup and corporate media platform management, including content production : Multilingual content strategy-building, production and distribution; cross-border public, media and investor relations; multilingual event planning and hosting, including technical and editorial support; live-streaming and news/event conference support; news and media release production and distribution worldwide; startup and corporate media platform management, including content production Headquarters : 22nd Floor, Shiroyama Trust Tower, 4-3-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo : 22nd Floor, Shiroyama Trust Tower, 4-3-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, CEO : Toshi Maeda : Founded : June 30, 2010 : URL: https://pacificbridge.jp About J-Stories J-Stories is a solutions-focused media platform dedicated to introducing Japan-originated innovations that address global challenges such as environmental issues and food shortages. Since its launch in April 2022, J-Stories has published over 500 articles and has been widely disseminating innovations and ideas from Japanese startups, NGOs, and university research institutions through articles and videos. J-Stories URLs: English: https://jstories.media Japanese: https://jstories.media/jp About Startup Island TAIWAN Tokyo Hub Startup Island TAIWAN Tokyo Hub is the first overseas office of Startup Island TAIWAN, a government-backed startup support organization from Taiwan. Established in September 2024, the Hub is dedicated to supporting business development between Japan and Taiwan. The main activities of the Hub include: Assisting Taiwanese startups with entering the Japanese market Supporting Japanese companies expanding into Taiwan Promoting Taiwanese businesses to Japanese companies and organizations Facilitating matchmaking between Japanese companies and Taiwanese startups Through these initiatives, the Hub aims to contribute to the economic development and creation of innovative businesses in both countries. Overview Headquarters : 9th Floor, Matsunaga Building, 2-1-17 Hamamatsucho, Minato-ku, Tokyo : 9th Floor, Matsunaga Building, Hamamatsucho, Minato-ku, Opened : Sept. 17, 2024 : URL: https://tokyo.startupisland.tw/ CONTACT: PACIFIC BRIDGE MEDIA AND CONSULTING Editorial departmentToshi Maeda (Executive Editor)Takanori Isshiki (Deputy Executive Editor)Anita De Michele (Editorial Coordinator) Email[email protected] Phone+81- 50-5527-0955 SOURCE PACIFIC BRIDGE MEDIA AND CONSULTING SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The National AIDS Memorial commemorates the 36th anniversary of World AIDS Day with a series of impactful events and conversations, including bicoastal observances in San Francisco and Washington, D.C. These events honor the lives lost, celebrate the progress made, and inspire continued action to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic. "As we commemorate World AIDS Day, our bi-coastal observances highlight the collective strength and shared commitment to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic," says John Cunningham, Chief Executive Officer of the National AIDS Memorial. "From the heart of San Francisco to the nation's capital, these events honor the history, celebrate the resilience, and inspire the continued fight for a more equitable and just future." The National AIDS Memorial commemorates the 36th anniversary of World AIDS Day with bicoastal observances. Post this In San Francisco, the commemoration will be held at the federally recognized National AIDS Memorial Grove (the Grove) in Golden Gate Park. The observances begin with Light in the Grove (LITG) on November 30 from 6 - 9:30 PM (PST), a serene evening of remembrance featuring a stunning light display in the heart of the Grove and intimate reflections, surrounded by carefully curated AIDS Memorial Quilt blocks. Proceeds from LITG support the National AIDS Memorial's mission and year-round programs. Highlights include: Dan Bernal , UCSF's Vice Chancellor for Community and Government Relations and former San Francisco District Chief of Staff for Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi , will share insights on advancing health equity and supporting public health initiatives in underserved communities. Dan will be honored with the Lifetime of Commitment Award. , UCSF's Vice Chancellor for Community and Government Relations and former District Chief of Staff for Speaker , will share insights on advancing health equity and supporting public health initiatives in underserved communities. Dan will be honored with the Lifetime of Commitment Award. Sister Roma , "The Most Photographed Nun in the World," a member of the iconic Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, will reflect on using art, humor, and activism to combat HIV/AIDS stigma and promote inclusivity. , "The Most Photographed Nun in the World," a member of the iconic Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, will reflect on using art, humor, and activism to combat HIV/AIDS stigma and promote inclusivity. Thomas Kurtz , educator, researcher, arts administrator, and performing artist, has carefully curated a music journey commemorating the lives of people with AIDS. On December 1st from 11:30 - 1:30 PM (PST), the World AIDS Day National Observance will feature a diverse lineup of speakers, cultural performances, and community discussions. Highlights include: Dedication of Dandelion Boulder, Recognizing a community touched by HIV, "Dandelions" are individuals who acquired HIV at birth or when they were young children. Too often, Dandelions are overlooked in the context of the HIV/AIDS crisis and face challenges unique to others impacted by HIV/AIDS. We are honored to recognize Dandelions and dedicate a boulder to them on World AIDS Day. Recognizing a community touched by HIV, "Dandelions" are individuals who acquired HIV at birth or when they were young children. Too often, Dandelions are overlooked in the context of the HIV/AIDS crisis and face challenges unique to others impacted by HIV/AIDS. We are honored to recognize Dandelions and dedicate a boulder to them on World AIDS Day. Dan Ashley , acclaimed journalist and ABC-7 San Francisco Bay Area News anchor, will serve as the emcee for World AIDS Day. Honored with a park bench in the National AIDS Memorial Grove for his decades of unwavering support to the HIV/AIDS community, Ashley brings his deep connection to the cause to this meaningful event. , acclaimed journalist and ABC-7 San Francisco Bay Area News anchor, will serve as the emcee for World AIDS Day. Honored with a park bench in the National AIDS Memorial Grove for his decades of unwavering support to the HIV/AIDS community, Ashley brings his deep connection to the cause to this meaningful event. Vince Crisostomo , Director of Aging Services at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF) and a leader in supporting long-term HIV survivors, will speak about the importance of community care and intergenerational solidarity in addressing the unique challenges of aging with HIV. Vince will be honored with the Thom Weyand Unsung Hero Award. , Director of Aging Services at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF) and a leader in supporting long-term HIV survivors, will speak about the importance of community care and intergenerational solidarity in addressing the unique challenges of aging with HIV. Vince will be honored with the Thom Weyand Unsung Hero Award. A posthumous tribute to Hydeia Broadbent , an HIV/AIDS activist who began her advocacy as a child, raising awareness about living with HIV and breaking down stigma. Hydeia's powerful voice and trailblazing legacy inspire action and education globally. Hydeia will be honored posthumously with the National Leadership Recognition Award. , an HIV/AIDS activist who began her advocacy as a child, raising awareness about living with HIV and breaking down stigma. Hydeia's powerful voice and trailblazing legacy inspire action and education globally. Hydeia will be honored posthumously with the National Leadership Recognition Award. An intergenerational panel moderated by Larkin Callahan , a global health and infectious disease expert specializing in advocacy, and featuring Thom Weyand Unsung Hero award recipient Vince Crisostomo , along with Percy Vermut , a freshman student at Carleton College in Minnesota who came out as trans at the age of 14 and has worked as a mentor with BreakthroughSF, and Kim Canady , the founder of Conversations with Kim addressing critical issues related to HIV/AIDS and sexual health. This discussion will delve into the complexities of how individuals of different generations and backgrounds experience HIV and its associated stigma. Simultaneously, on Sunday, December 1st, Mike Smith, co-founder of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, will represent the National AIDS Memorial at a historic White House event commemorating World AIDS Day. Joined by the President and First Lady, survivors, families, and advocates will honor the lives lost to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, highlight President Biden's historic efforts to combat the epidemic at home and abroad, and reaffirm the nation's commitment to the 1.2 million people living with HIV in the United States. Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi echoed this commitment, stating: "On World AIDS Day, we honor the millions of beautiful souls stolen by this vicious virus, we salute the extraordinary resilience of those living with HIV and AIDS, and we remember the work that remains in the fight to achieve our shared dream of an AIDS-free generation," Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi said. "Despite our remarkable progress, our nation still loses 13,000 Americans every year to AIDS a toll that breaks our hearts and continues to demand urgent action. Today and every day let us renew our pledge to finally send HIV/AIDS to the dustbin of history, once and for all." As part of this momentous occasion, over 1,200 panels of the AIDS Memorial Quilt will be displayed on the South Lawnthe first-ever display of this scale at the White House. The Quilt, a poignant symbol of the public health crisis, honors over 105,000 lives lost through nearly 50,000 handcrafted panels. Displayed annually across the U.S. and worldwide, it serves as a tool for education and remembrance, inspiring action and fostering dialogue on health equity and social justice. Its enduring legacy continues to empower Americans in the fight for a more just and equitable future. The World AIDS Day commemorations will continue through December 2nd with the Library of Congress unveiling a groundbreaking online collection of the National AIDS Memorial Quilt Records. This historic digitized archive, comprising more than 125,000 items, will make one of the most poignant symbols of the AIDS epidemic accessible to a global audience. The collection includes letters, diaries, photographs, and other materials that document the lives memorialized in the Quilt, bringing their stories to life. By sharing these powerful narratives, the collection aims to humanize the struggle, foster education and awareness, and combat the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS. Gilead Sciences is the presenting sponsor for World AIDS Day. "Every year on World AIDS Day, we reflect on where we stand in the global fight against HIV. This year, we have more potential than ever, with new opportunities on the horizon for long-acting HIV prevention. Success depends on a continued holistic approach that combines breakthrough science, accessible medical care, and increased education and advocacy," said Daniel O'Day, Chairman and CEO of Gilead Sciences. "The National AIDS Memorial plays a vital role in raising awareness, preserving the stories of different generations and backgrounds, and inspiring action around the globe. We are proud to partner with them as we work together to end the HIV epidemic for everyone, everywhere." About the National AIDS Memorial The National AIDS Memorial stewards our nation's two most notable AIDS memorials - the federally designated National AIDS Memorial Grove and the globally recognized AIDS Memorial Quilt. These two treasures, coupled with compelling community engagement programming, use their artful nature and unique storytelling qualities to reveal the humanity behind the statistics, invoke compassion, and dispel discrimination and stigma. The National AIDS Memorial Grove is a 10-acre living memorial located in San Francisco's historic Golden Gate Park dedicated to lives touched by AIDS. It is where millions have gatheredand continue to gather for healing, hope, remembrance, and historical information about AIDS and the HIV/AIDS movement for more than three decades. The AIDS Memorial Quilt is an epic, 54-ton tapestry that includes over 50,000 panels dedicated to more than 110,000 individuals who died from AIDS. The largest community folk art project in the world, the Quilt is recognized under the Save America's Treasures Program Act as an American Treasure; it was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize and is the preeminent global symbol for the human response to HIV/AIDS. Our high-impact national and international programming around storytelling, youth education, scholarship, and community engagement opens hearts, changes minds, and motivates citizen activists to action. The National AIDS Memorial stands as a beacon of hope, remembrance, and education in the fight against HIV/AIDS and related health and social injustices that share the core causes of lack of power, access, and equity. Our mission to leverage the lessons of the HIV/AIDS movement aims to dismantle stigma, discrimination, and othering, thereby creating a more healthy, equitable, and inclusive society. Through impactful programming, storytelling, and community engagement, we inspire new generations to carry forward the legacy of activism and compassion. Together, we can transform the pain and loss of the past into a powerful movement for a just and healthy future for all. For more information, visit www.aidsmemorial.org . SOURCE National AIDS Memorial BEIJING, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- For Muhammad Salman Hameed, a Pakistani researcher, his six years of experience in China have been highly rewarding. He has not only refined his research techniques and expanded his professional network, but also built cross-cultural relationships that have enriched both his career and personal life. Supportive research environment Pakistani researcher Muhammad Salman Hameed, currently working as an assistant professor at Central China Normal University, inspires students through his dedication to research and discovery. "China is more advanced in academic and research facilities compared to Pakistan," Hameed told Science and Technology Daily (S&T Daily). This motivated him to pursue his PhD in Agriculture Entomology in Institute of Applied Ecology at Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU) from 2014 to 2018, attracted by the excellent research opportunities in Applied Ecology. Hameed said the learning experience significantly impacted his personal growth and future career development, equipping him with valuable research skills, a global perspective, and a strong academic network. His four years in China also instilled a deep affection for the country. After working in his home country for a while, he chose to return to China, attracted by its supportive research environment. China's technological advancements in agriculture have been remarkable, driven by substantial investments in research and development, a robust innovation ecosystem and strategic government policies, Hameed said. In March 2023, his education background and professional expertise led to an opportunity to work as an assistant researcher in a lab at the Central China Normal University (CCNU) under the supervision of Professor Ren Yanliang. Ren was seeking for international talents with expertise in molecular biology techniques like gene cloning and silencing (RNA interference). "Hameed was the ideal candidate," Ren told S&T Daily. At the CCNU, Hameed is impressed by the modern and advanced research facilities. The lab is equipped with a comprehensive range of instruments covering areas such as chemical biology, genetic engineering, crystallography and cell biology. "The state-of-the-art instruments are invaluable to researchers, saving time and yielding high-quality results," he said. Hameed describes China's research and development (R&D) environment as collaborative, innovative and well-resourced. No pain, no gain According to Ren, the lab focuses on R&D of innovative chemical drugs with one of its goals being to address the environmental problems caused by the excessive proliferation of blue-green algae in water bodies. This phenomenon leads to eutrophication, which deteriorates water quality. "Hameed plays a crucial role in our laboratory. He is the only one capable of conducting experiments in genetic engineering," Ren said. Genetic engineering research is demanding with a long payback period and a substantial workload. It involves multiple experimental steps, each closely interconnected with the next. A mistake in any one step can require restarting the entire process from the beginning. Therefore, Hameed must exercise great patience and perseverance to tackle unexpected difficulties. He mentioned that his Chinese researchers are very hard-working and their dedication clearly pays off in their research work. Like them, Hameed's own commitment was rewarded when he made a pivotal breakthrough in gene knockout and the overexpression of essential gene in blue-green algae. During the process, Hameed faced technical challenges. "However, my colleagues provided valuable technical advice and laboratory resources which helped me to overcome these challenges," he said. He is not hesitant to ask questions and seek assistance when needed, which is a crucial trait for overcoming research challenges. His research experience in China has been immensely beneficial, fostering a disciplined approach to scientific inquiry and a strong work ethic. The baton of friendship Hameed mentioned that he was particularly impressed by his Chinese colleagues' teamwork and their openness in sharing knowledge. While he had expertise in plant biology, Ren's lab focuses on the blue-green algae. There are significant differences in cellular structures, experimental methods and the instruments used in both fields, but Ren helped him adapt to the new research environment. In return, the Chinese researchers learned writing and oral communication skills from Hameed. Working with him also sparked their interest in international collaboration. "Sci-tech exchanges are essential for mutual growth, knowledge sharing, and addressing global challenges," Hameed said. Ren also emphasized that international cooperation is crucial for scientific research. The innovative drug research encompasses a wide range of disciplines, including molecular design, chemical biology, drug synthesis, structural biology, cellular experiments and medical research. Over the years, Ren's lab has collaborated with institutions in South Africa and Bulgaria, offering Hameed further international exposure. "International collaboration allow us to pool expertise and resources from various fields, advancing research for the benefit of humanity," Ren said. In recent years, Ren noted a significant increase in applications from Pakistani undergraduate students seeking to pursue their master's in China. "The number of applications has risen two to threefold compared to previous years, reflecting China's growing international recognition in science and technology," Ren said. According to a joint statement issued by China and Pakistan in October, both sides agreed to align China's eight major steps for supporting Belt and Road cooperation with Pakistan's 5Es framework, which focuses on exports, e-Pakistan, environment, energy, and equity & empowerment. The two countries also committed to strengthening their practical cooperation in areas such as crop cultivation, animal husbandry, epidemic prevention and control in plants and animals, and agricultural mechanization. They will leverage local resources and organize training programs to cultivate talents in agriculture, science and information technology. As the interactions between the two nations deepen, the bond of China-Pakistan friendship will continue to be passed down from generation to generation. This article is written in cooperation with the China Science and Technology Exchange Center (CSTEC). SOURCE Science and Technology Daily GLOBALink | Business leaders advocate barrier-free trade at China Int'l Supply Chain Expo Pub Date:24-11-29 09:27 Source:Xinhua Executives from foreign companies attending the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing have called for the elimination of trade barriers. #GLOBALink Editor:Qin Shuying Related News Foreign R&D centers in Beijing log surging... Economy&Life | Smart greenhouses applied i... Economy&Life | Trade of flowers for Lunar ... 'We could not do what we do without them,'... Tbilisi, Nov 29 : Georgia's new government led by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze won a vote of confidence in the parliament. The government will have three new ministers: Maka Bochorishvili as the minister of foreign affairs, Anri Okhanashvili as the minister of justice, and Davit Songuashvili as the minister of environment and agriculture, Xinhua news agency reported. The parliament also approved the government's program that says Georgia has two main goals: restoration of territorial integrity peacefully and complete eradication of poverty. The program includes several main areas of state policy: democratic development, economic development, social policy, human capital development, foreign policy and defence. According to Georgia's constitution, the new government will take office after winning a vote of confidence in the parliament. Helsinki, Nov 29 : Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and visiting Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk signed in Harpsund, Sweden, a new strategic partnership between the two countries. According to a press release published by Kristersson's office, the new partnership includes the two countries strengthening their cooperation within security and defence, innovation and competitiveness, Xinhua news agency reported. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said that closer cooperation on security and defence in a broad sense is the foundation of the renewed strategic partnership between Sweden and Poland. Prior to the signing, the two heads of government conducted bilateral talks over Poland's presidency of the European Union in the first half of 2025 and pressing security concerns, the press release said. Business representatives also joined the discussions, focusing on strengthening European competitiveness, particularly in the defense industry, green transformation, and digital innovation. Jerusalem, Nov 29 : An Israeli fighter jet launched an airstrike in southern Lebanon, said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in a statement, claiming the attack aimed to "thwart a threat." This is reportedly the first strike of its kind took place on Thursday since the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon took effect early Wednesday morning, Xinhua news agency reported. The IDF statement said that "terrorist activities were identified in a facility used by Hezbollah to store mid-range rockets in southern Lebanon," adding, "The IDF troops are deployed in southern Lebanon, operating to prevent any violation of the ceasefire." Earlier on Thursday, the IDF confirmed that it conducted a drone strike in southern Lebanon in the morning, describing it as a warning shot. The IDF said several "suspects," some with vehicles, entered areas in southern Lebanon, violating the ceasefire agreement. In response, the military fired a warning shot near a vehicle in the Markaba area, aiming to deter it without causing casualties. However, Lebanese military sources reported that at least two individuals were injured due to the strike. Meanwhile, unnamed official and military sources in Lebanon reported four additional injuries in a series of Israeli attacks on the village of Taybeh in southern Lebanon, accusing the Israeli army of breaching the truce. They added that more such attacks took place in the towns of Al-Bissariye, Shebaa, and Khiam, as well as in the villages of Kfarchouba, Halta, Tayr Harfa, Mays al-Jabal, Kafr Kila, and Aitaroun. Although a cautious calm prevailed across the border areas in southern Lebanon since the entry into force of a ceasefire between Hezbollah and the Israeli army at 4:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, the two sides have been trading accusations of ceasefire violations. Nairobi, Nov 29 : Kenyan President William Ruto called on African nations to integrate special economic zones (SEZs) into a continental transformation strategy to drive growth. Speaking at the official opening of the ninth African Economic Zones Organization's annual meeting in Nairobi, Kenya's capital, Ruto said that SEZs are vital for attracting investment, creating jobs, and driving technological advancements, all of which are critical to building a competitive and inclusive economy, Xinhua news agency reported. Ruto called on African countries to explore collaborative opportunities to enhance the role of SEZs as catalysts for economic renaissance and collective transformation across the continent. "That is why special economic zones are indispensable engines of growth," he said, noting that Kenya is committed to advancing collaborative frameworks with all African nations and partnerships in Africa's SEZs align with the shared vision of harnessing the potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area. "The African Continental Free Trade Area represents a historic opportunity to create a tariff-free Africa, boost intra-African trade and investment, drive industrialisation, and generate meaningful employment for our youth," he said. He stressed the need for Africa to reduce dependence on external support by building a self-reliant, pan-African economic area rooted in integration, innovation, and enhanced collaboration. He said the continent must seek ways of utilising its abundant natural resources and human capital to drive inclusive economic growth. "It is imperative that we transition swiftly from dependence on raw material production to competitive export production and value addition through industrialisation," he said. Ruto said his government has introduced reforms to enhance the operational environment for SEZs, adding that the enactment of SEZ laws in 2015 laid the groundwork for significant progress in sectors such as manufacturing, technology and agriculture. Starting from Wednesday, the three-day meeting organised by the African Union (AU) was held under the theme "Building Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Economies: The Role of African SEZs in Attracting Impactful Investments and Redefining Competitiveness." More than 300 participants, including policymakers, operators, financial institutions, and United Nations officials, convened at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi to address challenges faced by SEZs. Tehran, Nov 29 : Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and his Lebanese counterpart Abdallah Bou Habib discussed Lebanon's latest situation following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. According to a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, in a phone conversation on Thursday, Araghchi welcomed the ceasefire, which he said was achieved through the "indescribable" resistance of the Lebanese people, struggles of resistance fighters on the battlefield, and efforts made by the Lebanese government, Xinhua news agency reported . He also emphasised Iran's unwavering support for Lebanon's government, people, and army, as well as their resistance, while warning that Lebanon should remain "seriously" vigilant as the ceasefire could be fragile. Bou Habib, for his part, briefed Araghchi on the latest situation in Lebanon after the entry into force of the ceasefire since early Wednesday. He also praised Iran for its constant support for Lebanon. A cautious calm has prevailed in southern Lebanon as the Israeli army and Hezbollah recently agreed to a 60-day pause in their yearlong conflict. --IANS int/rs Jerusalem, Nov 29 : The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the immediate lifting of gathering restrictions in central Israel, including Tel Aviv and its suburbs. The decision, taken by the IDF's Home Front Command, followed the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon that went into effect early Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported. The command previously limited gathering to up to 2,000 people in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, as well as in other areas of central Israel, following the launch of projectiles by Hezbollah from Lebanon. In northern Israel, gathering restrictions remain in effect, with a maximum of 10, 100, 350, or 2,000 people, depending on their proximity to the Lebanese border. Guwahati, Nov 29 : Five newly elected MLAs who secured victories in the recently concluded byelections in Assam will take the oath of legislators on Friday. Three MLAs are from the BJP while one each is from the ruling party's two allies -- Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United People's Party Liberal (UPPL). Congress drew a blank in the bypolls despite contesting all five seats that went to byelections. The opposition party lost its bastion in the Samaguri Assembly constituency as Congress heavyweight and Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain's son Tanzil Hussain was defeated by BJP's Diplu Ranjan Sarmah. Rakibul Hussain alleged that the BJP conducted wide-scale rigging in the byelection in Samaguri Assembly seat. Hussain has been representing Samaguri in the Assembly since 2001 and he vacated this seat after winning Lok Sabha polls this year. Rakibul Hussain said, "Votes were rigged in numerous polling booths under Samaguri Assembly constituency. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma used administrative machinery to ensure the defeat of my son in the by-election." Five Assembly seats in Assam -- Dholai, Behali, Samaguri, Bongaigaon, and Sidli went to bypolls as the legislators in these seats were elected to the Lok Sabha in the general elections this year. Except for Samaguri, the other four constituencies were held by the BJP and its allies -- AGP and UPPL. The BJP has retained two constituencies -- Dholai and Behali with Nihar Ranjan Das and Diganta Ghatowal comfortably winning these two constituencies in the byelection. The ruling party breached Congress bastion in Samaguri with the win of Diplu Ranjan Sarmah here. The AGP also won the Bongaigaon seat by a margin of 35,164 votes. Diptimayee Choudhury won on the AGP's ticket. Her husband and now a Lok Sabha MP from Barpeta -- Phanibhusan Choudhury was a six-time MLA from the Bongaigaon seat. Another ally of the BJP, UPPL also won the byelection in the Sidli Assembly constituency defeating his nearest candidate by 37,016 votes. Yaounde, Nov 29 : At least 20 people were killed after a boat capsized in Cameroon's Far North region, according to witnesses and security sources. The boat capsized on Thursday as it was transporting passengers from Darak island in the Logone-et-Chari division of region, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the witnesses. Local media reported that more casualties are expected, as rescuers search for more victims. Security sources said that a formal investigation has been opened to determine the cause of the accident. As investigation is underway, further details are awaited. Boat accidents are common in the region often caused by overloading, faulty operations and severe weather. Patna, Nov 29 : The last day of the winter session of the Bihar Assembly may again witness stormy scenes with the opposition seeking disruption on various issues. The session will begin with the Question Hour with questions from various departments being addressed by the respective ministers or ministers-in-charge. The departments involved include energy, disaster management, tourism, planning and development, parliamentary affairs, health and law. Members will pose their queries during this segment, and the government is expected to provide direct answers. Following the Question Hour, members will raise pressing and urgent matters in Zero Hour. These issues are expected to demand immediate government attention, setting the tone for the discussions ahead. During this segment, the government will provide detailed responses to issues highlighted by the members earlier in the day. A significant portion of the proceedings in the second half will be dedicated to discussing non-official resolutions. A total of 97 resolutions are listed for deliberation. These resolutions, proposed by individual members rather than the government, often cover a wide range of local and policy issues. In addition to the above, the government will address other critical matters requiring Assembly approval or discussion. The peaceful conduct of the Question Hour, in the presence of both Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav, marks a rare and notable moment. However, the overall atmosphere of the session remains charged, with the government and the ruling party facing tough questions from the opposition. The members of opposition parties strongly raised questions related to the Waqf Board, Prepaid Smart Meters, 65 per cent reservation and the seating arrangement of rebel RJD and Congress MLAs toward the ruling side have led to uproars. At least seven MLAs, five of the RJD and two of Congress had crossed over to the NDA in the budget session. The symbolic protest of RJD MLA Bhai Virendra, who reached the Chief Minister's chair in the Bihar Assembly followed by Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav giving a strong warning, were the highlights of the last four day's proceedings. New Delhi, Nov 29 : Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande on Friday, predicted a split of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, citing growing internal dissent. Speaking to IANS on the political scenario in Maharashtra, she remarked, "There is no doubt that the Maha Vikas Aghadi is likely to break. Those who were quietly speaking against Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) are now openly expressing their discontent... even those holding positions like Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council are saying this... many people are eager to join Eknath Shinde..." On the topic of government formation in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena leader assured that announcements regarding the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister would be made soon. "Discussions and negotiations are progressing rapidly. A strong and efficient government will be formed, and the announcement of ministers will follow. Eknath Shinde has clarified the situation from his residence, and all decisions have been entrusted to PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah as the Shiv Sena remains an important part of the NDA, and we expect all announcements within a day or two," she stated. Kayande also dismissed opposition remarks about delays in government formation despite the NDA's majority, asserting there was no realistic chance for the MVA to form a government. "There was no possibility of their government coming to power. Even if it had accidentally happened, they would have spent a month fighting. During seat-sharing talks before the election, their internal conflicts were evident as they tried to sabotage each other's candidates," she remarked. The Shiv Sena leader further claimed that for the past three months, Uddhav Thackeray was eager to be declared the Chief Ministerial candidate, but it didn't happen. "Nana Patole, who barely won by 200 votes, was ready to take the oath, but nothing came of it. Those rejected by the public won't even secure the Leader of Opposition position. It's better not to discuss such people," she added. Earlier on Wednesday, Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister and Shiv Sena Chief Leader Eknath Shinde said that the decision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the post of the chief minister will be final. New Delhi, Nov 29 : Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has wants the same Australia XI for Adelaide Test against India as the first match and suggested an aggressive mindset against the world-class Indian bowling line-up to bounce back in the series. India registered a monumental 295-run victory in the first Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy in Perth to go 1-0 up in the five-Test series as Jasprit Bumrah-led side dined out on a struggling Aussie batting line-up. While Ponting acknowledged Australia was well below their best in the first Test, the former skipper wants no team changes made for the pink-ball contest in Adelaide. "I'd be sticking with the same side. I think you have to show faith in champion players and a lot of the guys that we're talking about in this team have been champion players. Maybe not for a little while, but they have proven their ability on the big stage," Ponting declared on the most recent episode of The ICC Review. Former No.1 ranked Test batter Marnus Labuschagne, in particular, has faced scrutiny for his performance in the first Test. The right-hander's made just 2 and 3, respectively, in the first Test loss to India, and afterward calls for Labuschagne to be dropped have emerged. "He's really got to find a way to turn it around. Marnus looked the most tentative out of all the batters in Perth. Yes, it was high-quality bowling on a difficult wicket, but he needs to find a way to turn it around," Ponting said of Labuschagne. Ponting further stressed the importance of adopting an aggressive mindset, particularly against world-class bowlers like Bumrah, who tore apart the Australian line-up with an important five-wicket haul in the first innings. "You have to find a way to take risks and put it back on those guys because you know Bumrahs of the world they're not going to give you too many easy scoring opportunities and when they do you've got to be ready to pounce on it and put it away and try and put some pressure back on them," Ponting explained. Ponting cited Virat Kohli's second-innings century in Perth as a prime example of this approach. After being dismissed for just five in the first innings, Kohli came back to register his 30th Test century in the second dig to help India set a massive target of 534 for Australia. The Aussie pointed to Virat Kohli's century in the second innings in Perth as a prime example of aggressive approach. After being out for only five runs in the first innings, Kohli responded with his 30th Test century in the second innings, playing a key role in helping India set Australia a daunting target of 534. "Virat went back to trusting his game and he looked like a different player in the second innings than he did in the first innings. He got away from trying to combat the opposition and focused on his strengths. That's what Marnus and (Steve) Smith need to do - find their own way and show great intent," Ponting said. Ponting believes that a shift in mindset could be the key to unlocking Australia's potential on the pink ball Test. "Think about scoring runs first and not think about getting out first. That's always a challenge for a batter, especially when you're not in great form. There's only one way to change it and that is to be positive and show great intent," Ponting concluded. The second Test, which is a day-night match, is scheduled to take place from December 6 to 10 in Adelaide. New Delhi, Nov 29 : In no immediate relief to the banned Popular Front of India's (PFI) former Chairman Erappungal Abubacker, the Supreme Court on Friday adjourned hearing on his plea seeking bail on humanitarian and medical grounds. A Bench headed by Justice M.M. Sundresh decided to fix the matter for hearing post December vacations after Additional Solicitor General (ASG), SV Raju, submitted that the medical report from AIIMS Delhi has not come. It clarified that the pendency of Abubackeras present proceedings before the apex court would not bar the High Court from determining his bail plea on medical grounds in the money laundering case lodged under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). In the previous hearing, the Bench, also comprising Justice Aravind Kumar, directed a panel of doctors in AIIMS Delhi to medically examine Abubacker. It had ordered that the former PFI chief be taken to AIIMS Delhi, where a panel of doctors would conduct his detailed examination as in-patient and it would consider the question of grant of bail on the basis of the medical report. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the National Investigation Agency (NIA), had said that Abubacker was not an ordinary criminal and there was evidence to indicate that he was tutoring several individuals for terrorist activities. SG Tushar Mehta added that he refused to give consent for treatment when he was taken to hospital in the past. In May this year, the Delhi High Court did not find any "compelling reason" to release him on the basis of his medical condition. "As per the report received from Medical Officer Incharge, Central Jail Dispensary, he was, though, referred to AIIMS Hospital for admission, but he did not choose to go there," said a Division Bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Manoj Jain. It added that allegations and averments appearing in the charge sheet coupled with the statements made by the witnesses, including the protected witnesses, leave no element of uncertainty about the fact that the case of the prosecution, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), is prima facie true. Dismissing Abubackeras plea, the Delhi HC said: "There is nothing before us which may suggest infringement of his fundamental rights. As regards, his medical complications, learned trial court has already given the requisite directions, which we also feel to be very appropriate." Abubacker was arrested by the NIA on September 22, 2022, and charged under the provisions of the UAPA. He has been in judicial custody since October 6, 2022. He was active in organisations like the Ideal Students League, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). According to Abubacker, he is suffering from multiple ailments, including a rare type of oesophagus cancer, Parkinson's Disease, hypertension, diabetes, and loss of vision. The PFI, described as an extremist Islamic organisation spreading its ideologies, was banned by the Union government in September 2022 under the UAPA. --IANS PDS/rad New Delhi, Nov 29 : BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Vijender Gupta, on Friday accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of shielding illegal immigrants to secure their votes. He alleged that the AAP was neglecting pressing matters like pollution, water quality and illegal immigrants while engaging in political theatrics. Accusing the party of sheltering illegal immigrants and compromising law and order in the national Capital, the BJP leader remarked, "On one hand, they shield criminals, and on the other, they claim to uphold law and order. The AAP is allegedly creating fake voter IDs for Rohingyas and Bangladeshi infiltrators to secure their votes and maintain power in Delhi. This is a grave concern for the city's security." The BJP leader demanded the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Delhi to identify and expel illegal immigrants. "To make Delhi crime-free, it is essential to identify and deport Bangladeshi infiltrators and Rohingyas. We will not allow Delhi to become another Bangladesh," Gupta asserted. "We want to ask the AAP directly, why does it avoid discussing subjects related to public welfare in the Delhi Assembly? Pollution is at alarming levels, people are suffering, and yet the government remains silent. The state of civic amenities is deplorable sewers are broken, households are receiving contaminated water, and cleanliness systems have completely collapsed," the BJP leader claimed. He further claimed that the government chooses to evade real issues concerning the people. In addition to raising concerns over illegal immigration, Gupta demanded transparency from the AAP government. "We insist that the Comptroller and Auditor General's (CAG) report on Delhi's finances be tabled in the Assembly. We have already consulted the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court and are seeking a directive to ensure the report is made public," he stated. Vijendra Gupta concluded by saying that the BJP's commitment was to hold the AAP government accountable. "AAP's conspiracies will not succeed. We will continue to fight for transparency and public welfare in Delhi," he affirmed. Hyderabad, Nov 29 : In some relief to former BRS MLA Patnam Narender Reddy, the Telangana High Court on Friday quashed two of the three FIRs registered against him in connection with the recent attack on the government officials in Vikarabad district. The court, which had reserved its orders on the petition by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaderas wife on November 20, pronounced the same on Friday. Mahender Reddyas wife Shurthi questioned the registration of three First Information Reports (FIRs) in the same case. Justice K. Lakshman agreed with the arguments put forward by the former MLAas counsel and quashed two FIRs. A local court in Kodangal in Vikarabad district on Thursday (November 28) extended the judicial remand of Narender Reddy till December 11, in connection with the attack on the Vikarabad collector and other revenue officers at Lagacharla. The former MLA from Kodangal constituency is accused number one in the cases registered by the Vikarabad police in connection with the villagers attacking Vikarabad collector Prateek Jain on November 11 during a public hearing on land acquisition to set up an industrial park. The police have arrested 20 persons, including Narender Reddy. During the hearing, the court found fault with the police for the manner in which it arrested the former MLA. Narender Reddyas counsel told the court that the police arrested him like a terrorist when he was on a morning walk at KBR Park in Hyderabad. Bomraspet police station had registered a case against Narender Reddy for allegedly provoking farmers to violently resist land acquisition. Following separate complaints from the Mandal Revenue Officer (MRO) and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), two more FIRs were registered. Narender Reddy, currently lodged in Cherlapally prison, has filed another petition in the High Court, seeking direction not to arrest him in another case registered at Bomraspet Police Station. This case was registered on a complaint by a police constable stating that on October 25, the Congress president of Dudyal Mandal, Avuti Shekhar, was confined in a panchayat office by farmers. His car was also damaged by the villagers, who held him responsible for land acquisition. Vikarabad District Collector and some other officials were attacked by a mob at Lagacharla village during a public hearing on November 11. The incident in Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddyas Assembly constituency Kodangal had triggered a political slugfest between the ruling Congress and the main opposition BRS with the former blaming BRS leaders for the violence. Police on November 13 arrested Narender Reddy in Hyderabad and the same day a court sent him to judicial custody for 14 days. The judicial remand has been further extended to December 11. Bengaluru, Nov 29 : Karnataka Police slapped an FIR on Friday against Vokkaliga seer Kumara Chandrashekaranatha Swami for his controversial remark demanding disenfranchisement of Muslims in India. The Upparpet police in Bengaluru lodged the FIR following a complaint in this regard under Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The complaint stated that the statement by the seer was provocative and threatens to disturb communal harmony in society. Kumara Chandrashekaranatha Swami's statement on Tuesday demanding disenfranchisement of Muslims in India had stirred a controversy in Karnataka. He heads the Vishwa Vokkaligara Mahasamsthana Mutt and the statements were made at a protest on Tuesday in Bengaluru, organised by the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, a farmers' organisation linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to condemn the Waqf Board's notices to farmers. The seer had stated, "Politicians indulge in vote bank politics and appeasement of Muslims. Hence, Muslims should be deprived of exercising their voting powers. This should be done and the end of vote bank politics would help the progress of the country." The Swami said that in Pakistan, people of other religions, barring the Muslim majority, do not have the power to vote and added that if this is adopted in India, Muslims will keep to themselves and there will be peace in the country. "Everyone can live in peace," he stated. The seer's remarks went viral and led to a furore in the state. On Thursday the seer regretted his remarks and stated that Muslims were Indian citizens and do not belong to any other country. The seer backtracked from his statement alleging a "slip of the tongue." "The forum was about addressing the woes of farmers who are troubled by the Waqf Board. Against this backdrop, I made the remarks. It was a slip of the tongue. I should not have made the statements. Muslims are Indian citizens and they do not belong to other countries. I request you to end the matter at this stage and do not drag it further," the seer told media persons. New Delhi, Nov 29 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said the All India Conference of Director Generals/Inspector Generals of Police 2024 in Odisha will focus on enhancing internal security and public safety. The three-day conference, being held from November 29 to December 1, will include deliberations on critical components of national security, including Counter Terrorism, Left Wing Extremism, Coastal Security, New Criminal Laws, and Narcotics among others. The President's Police Medal for distinguished service will also be awarded during the Conference. PM Modi in a post on X on Friday said, "Over the next two days, I will be in Bhubaneswar for the DGP/IGP conference. Senior police officers from all over India will take part in this conference. There will be extensive deliberations on enhancing India's internal security apparatus. Different aspects relating to policing and improving public safety will be discussed." The Conference will provide an interactive platform for senior police professionals and security administrators in the country to freely discuss and debate diverse national security-related issues, as well as various operational, infrastructural and welfare-related problems. Its deliberations will include formulation and sharing of professional practices and processes in tackling challenges relating to crime control and law and order management, besides Internal Security threats. "This afternoon, I will also be addressing a programme organised by the BJP in Bhubaneswar. Since assuming office in June this year, the BJP Government in Odisha has been at the forefront of boosting the state's growth trajectory. The state government is taking many measures to improve the lives of the poor and marginalised communities," PM Modi said further. Prime Minister has always demonstrated a deep interest in the DGP Conference. The Prime Minister not only listens attentively to all contributions but also fosters an environment of open and informal discussions, allowing for the emergence of new ideas. This year, some unique features have also been added to the conference. The entire day is being effectively utilized starting from Yoga sessions, business sessions, break-out sessions and thematic dining tables. This will also provide senior police officials with a valuable opportunity to present their perspectives and suggestions to the Prime Minister on critical policing and internal security matters that impact the country. The Prime Minister has encouraged the annual DGs/IGs Conference to be organised all across the country, since 2014. The conference has been held in Guwahati (Assam), Rann of Kachchh (Gujarat), Hyderabad (Telangana), Tekanpur (Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh), Statue of Unity (Kevadiya, Gujarat), Pune (Maharashtra), Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), New Delhi and Jaipur (Rajasthan). Continuing with this tradition, the conference is being organised in Bhubaneswar this time. The conference will be attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Principal Secretary to PM Modi, National Security Adviser (NSA), Ministers of State (Home Affairs), DGP of States/UTs and Chiefs of Central Police Organisations among others. Elaborate security arrangements have been made for PM Modi's visit. Police commissioner of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissionerate S. Dev Datta Singh said that strict vigil has been kept on any potential threat from all anti-national elements during the DG and IGP Conference-2024. More than 70 platoons of police force have been deployed for the three-day event. Singh further added that Bhubaneswar has been placed under a robust security blanket of officials and personnel belonging to Odisha Police, Central Armed Police Forces, etc, for the event. Seoul, Nov 29 : South Korean Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung said on Friday the possibility of dialogue between North Korea and the US seems to be high under the incoming Donald Trump administration, calling on the government to come up with a strategy to prevent South Korea from being bypassed. Lee, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), made the remarks at a supreme council meeting at the National Assembly, noting media reports that Trump's transition team is considering direct talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Yonhap news agency reported. "The government should come up with a detailed strategy to keep pace with the rapidly changing global situation and prevent the 'Korea passing' from becoming a reality," he said, stressing that the likelihood of dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang has increased. Lee expressed hopes that the second Trump administration will "complete the unfinished Hanoi talks" to create a new turning point in resolving the crisis on the Korean Peninsula. Trump and Kim held rare summits in Singapore in 2018 and Vietnam in 2019, but the Hanoi talks ended without a deal due to a failure to narrow differences over the scope of North Korea's denuclearisation steps and sanctions relief by Washington. Lee also pointed out that a unilateral and hard-line stance toward the North, including that of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, could be inappropriate, considering such changes in the international dynamics. Neveah Crary, a freshman business major at the University at Buffalo, wanted to work with kids. She loved tutoring third and fourth graders last year as a senior at Wayne Central near Rochester, but she thought finding something similar at UB might be difficult because she did not have a car on campus. Shes grateful the universitys Brainy Bulls one-to-one tutor-mentoring program eliminated that barrier and held open the door to an equally powerful opportunity. I dont really have to do anything, Crary said. Just log on. Ease of entry is part of the beauty of Brainy Bulls virtual, Zoom-based component that connects grade school students in Western New York with vetted UB undergrads and graduate students to receive help in English, math, science or social studies on Zoom, the online video platform. Building relationships between the two populations is the mission of Wil Green, assistant dean of outreach and community engagement at UBs Graduate School of Education, who started Brainy Bulls as a pilot last school year and has seen it soar in 2024-25. Green has about 50 tutors now, and the program has served roughly 100 grade school students. I see so much potential in young people, Green said, and thats not just for the students that are receiving the supports and being tutored, but its also for our tutors. How Brainy Bulls works Brainy Bulls Zoom room opens from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. Tutor-mentors, a diverse group of UB students that spans departments, ethnic backgrounds and college experiences, may have prescheduled, 40-minute appointments with grade school students. Anywhere between 25 and 40 tutors are on at a given time, Green said, and they can work from wherever they feel comfortable. Theres a drop-in opportunity for kids, too. UBs health equity AI project moves forward in funding competition A University at Buffalo-led artificial intelligence for Health Equity project is one of five statewide teams to advance to the next round of the National Science Foundations Innovation Engines program competition. Sometimes its like, Hey, Mom, I have a test tomorrow. And [the parent is] like, What? Green said. UB seeks to fill the gap where parents may seek academic support for their child but may not know the material or fully understand how students learn a certain subject. Or, parents who have the will but not the skill to help their students, said Green, a Buffalo Public Schools graduate who taught previously in Rochester. Fifth through 12th grade students in Buffalo district and charter schools, as well as Erie I BOCES sites, are eligible for the program, but expect fewer restrictions soon, Green said. Theres no charge to students being tutored. Larger devices such as laptops are preferred, but students often join on smartphones. Appointments can be made at ed.buffalo.edu/tutoring and students or parents may choose their tutor, a process Crary, the UB freshman, has relished so far. Theyre all amazing and so sweet, Crary said of the students she has helped. None of them have been mean to me. Green said UB students in Brainy Bulls main Zoom room create a welcoming, affirming environment, as students seeking tutors may be shy, intimidated or not even there on their own accord. Breakout rooms for scheduled sessions are created in advance, and its common for pairings to jell after a few meetings. Crary, for instance, learned quickly a high school freshman wrestling with algebra just needed a boost in confidence and some empathy. I could relate to her algebra, why are there numbers and letters in my math right now? she said. Their bond strengthened over weekly meetings, joking about UB students riding their bikes inside, bemoaning how they were sick at the same time and chatting about holiday plans. This kind of mentoring happens organically, Green said. Green also realizes not all tandems work well, so theres flexibility for parents and students to choose a new tutor, as well as reviews that may indicate a different tutor could have more success. Thats OK, Green said, because thats a real-world experience. Not everybody is going to click. Green monitors the sessions by reading the Zoom closed-captioning transcripts, and tutors must turn in a brief summary of each session to get paid. Literacy Buffalo Niagara seeks to keep changing lives, one at a time Literacy Buffalo Niagara has more than 200 students representing nearly 34 countries and speaking almost 42 different languages. Executive Director Tara Schafer said the organization has about 34 students on the waiting list, but not enough tutors. Green assured parents and teachers that UBs tutor-mentors are, with help from New York State Mentoring, screened and fingerprinted prior to hiring, take a culturally responsive training and engage in monthly training sessions during the year. He hopes to eventually add 20 more tutors, but theres plenty of room for grade school students seeking academic help. Right now, were not even at 50% capacity as far as students coming through and taking advantage of tutors, Green said. How is it paid for? The inspiration for Brainy Bulls was a federal mentoring initiative through the National Partnership for Student Success that sought to connect college students with K-12 students struggling to catch up academically after Covid-19 closures. UBs tutor-mentors are paid about $16 per hour, Green said, and funding sources include federal work-study money, Empire State Service Corps. and UBs Here to Career employment program. What I enjoy about it most is the collaborative approach, Green said of Brainy Bulls. Different pools of funding, different community partners and different departments on UBs campus coming together to provide this opportunity for students. I think all they need is the opportunity. Two more pillars While the virtual tutor-mentoring is the most robust part of Brainy Bulls, there are two other key pieces to the program. Buffalo schools implementing 'science of reading' training for teachers, mentors Buffalo schools have invested close to $1 million in Orton-Gillingham training programs to not only curb learning loss but serve as a building block for the future. High-dosage, in-person tutoring in math and English, coordinated by UB Graduate School English professors John Z. Strong and Blythe E. Anderson, has existed for a few years, Green said, but falls for the first time under the Brainy Bulls umbrella. Green helps coordinate elementary school partners, and the professors work with graduate students to deliver science of reading instruction for second and third graders learning to read. A similar math branch is run by Anne Izydorczak, administrator in the schools Gifted Math program, who works with sixth grade students using evidence-based strategies. In both the reading and math programs, which begin again in January, UB students travel to grade school sites three days each week for multiple hours. Canisius University's future includes new Student Success Center, business school building Canisius University President Steve Stoutes goals include building a new Student Success Center in the schools Andrew L. Bouwhuis Library, constructing a free-standing building to house the Wehle School of Business and adding more graduate degrees and certifications for adult learners as the population of graduating high schoolers declines. The third pillar is tutoring beginning this spring in-person at three UB sites: North Campus, South Campus and the Jacobs School of Medicine, Green said. Regardless of the environment virtual, at grade school sites or at UB Brainy Bulls is able to accomplish the same thing. The best things coming out of this are things we cant necessarily plan for, Green said. It is just that human interaction between two individuals who are working together collaboratively. Great things start to happen when youre in that space. New Delhi, Nov 29 : Online brokerage firm Zerodha's co-founder and CEO Nithin Kamath on Friday asked people to safeguard themselves, even as financial frauds are rising in the country. "The past 9 months alone have had scams worth 11000 crores!' Kamath shared in a post on X, along with the news of a Bengaluru-based techie who lost nearly Rs 91 lakh in a stock market scam. "The trend of these frauds is increasing," he noted. Further, Kamath said this is expected to increase significantly when fraudsters begin using artificial intelligence (AI). "I dread to think what it will be like once the fraudsters use AI." He also shared a small but crucial step that can prevent people from falling prey to such scams. He advised people to spot and avoid scam groups by changing privacy settings on popular messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram. "One thing you can do to protect yourself is change the settings on your WhatsApp and Telegram so strangers can't add you to groups," Kamath said. He also shared step-by-step guidance on how to implement the changes. By changing the setting WhatsApp users can ensure only their contacts can add them to WhatsApp groups. Till September this year, Indians have suffered cyber fraud losses amounting to Rs 11,333 crore in the first nine months of 2024, according to a recent report from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), a division of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Of these, stock trading scams accounted for the highest losses (Rs. 4,636 crore), followed by investment-related scams (Rs. 3,216 crore). India has also recently witnessed a spike in "digital arrest" frauds. The report showed that it led to losses of Rs. 1,616 crore. Financial fraud complaints can be reported through helpline number 1930 or on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal. Jammu, Nov 29 : Jammu and Kashmir Police said on Friday that with the arrest of two hybrid terrorists in Poonch district, the mystery behind multiple grenade attacks in the district during the last year has been solved. Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Jammu range, Anand Jain said at a press conference that two terrorists have been arrested in the district from whose possession arms and ammunition were recovered. "When interrogated, the two terrorists have revealed the links of a larger terror plot. You know for the last one year there have been grenade attacks at temples, hospitals, Gurdwaras, Army locations and other places and these terrorists have been responsible for all those attacks," he said. "In addition, they have confessed to having pasted anti-national posters at various places. The aim of this large conspiracy has been to disturb the peace and communal harmony in Poonch district...In the past, we have dealt with Pakistani terrorists, but both these two terrorists are locals. The arrest of these terrorists is a big success for the police, army and the CRPF as it targets the terrorist efforts to recruit local boys," the ADGP said. He said the investigation is on to find the funding links of these terrorists. He also said that the police have started an aggressive campaign against terrorists over-ground workers (OGWs) and sympathisers. "We have arrested many OGWs. We are attaching the properties of OGWs and terror sympathisers. Our campaign against OGWs and helpers of terrorists has been continuing for long and we are going to increase our effort in this direction in the coming days. "A similar campaign is continuing in both Poonch and Rajouri districts at the moment," the officer said. Speaking about the peaceful conduct of Budha Amarnath Temple Yatra (in Poonch) and the elections in the division, Anand Jain said, "It was the result of hard work and very close synergy and coordination between police, army and the security forces that made the peaceful conduct of the Yatra and the elections possible". Ulan Bator, Nov 29 : Mongolia will provide full support for measures aimed at improving the well-being of its citizens with disabilities, President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh said here on Friday. "We will fully support all policies, decisions, proposals, initiatives, and actions that promote the well-being of people with disabilities and improve their quality of life," Khurelsukh said at the opening ceremony of the 'Development and Participation of People with Disabilities 2024' conference, Xinhua news agency reported. Ensuring the rights, development, protection, and participation of people with disabilities is a priority in decision-making by the president and the government, he said. There are over 110,000 people with disabilities in Mongolia, with 84 per cent being of working age. However, only 13.5 per cent are currently employed, according to the president. Khurelsukh emphasised the importance of public and private organisations fulfilling their legal obligations to provide jobs, improve incomes and livelihoods, and ensure access to quality and inclusive social security, education, and health services for people with disabilities. Hyderabad, Nov 29 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists on Friday tried to lay siege to Damodaram Sanjeevaiah Sankshema Bhavan here to protest against the food contamination at government-run residential schools and hostels. Leaders and workers of BJP OBC Morcha and Mahila Morcha tried to assemble outside the building which houses the offices of various welfare departments. Police tried to stop the protesters, leading to an argument between both sides. The protest led to a tense situation around the building in the Masab Tank area. Police arrested the protesting leaders and activists and physically lifted them to police vehicles. They included OBC Morcha president Anand Goud and Mahila Morcha president Shilpa Reddy. They were shifted to Goshamahal Stadium. The BJP leaders held the Congress government responsible for the incidents of food poisoning in government-run schools, hostels and residential schools run by different departments for the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and the Backward Classes. The state government on Thursday constituted a Task Force to check food contamination in government-run schools, welfare hostels and hospitals. The three-member Task Force committee for each institution will comprise the Commissioner, Food Safety or food safety officer, the head of the department of the concerned institution and district level officer of the concerned institution. The Task Force committees will be constituted for each school, welfare hostel, residential school, Anganwadi centre and hospital to ensure food safety and develop an institutional mechanism. The Scheduled Caste Development Department issued a separate order to constitute an institution-level food safety committee to oversee the implementation of cooking and serving food in various institutions to prevent food contamination and food-borne illnesses. Each committee will consist of the head of the institution and two other staff members working in the institution. As per the order, the committee shall inspect the store room and kitchen before cooking every meal and ensure the quality of provisions and hygiene in the kitchen room. The committee members should taste the food after every meal preparation to check food quality and then only it should be served to all children. The orders were issued after Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed his ire over a series of food poisoning incidents at government-run residential schools and hostels. He warned that the officials found negligent would be dismissed from service. After the Telangana High Court pulled up the government over the incidents, the Chief Minister directed the District Collectors to take action against officials found negligent. Patna, Nov 29 : Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrived in Patna on Friday for a two-day visit with the aim to focus on boosting rural banking, entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion in the eastern region. FM Sitharaman will assess the financial performance of eight rural banks from the eastern zone in Patna. The banks involved include representatives from Bihar (two banks), Odisha (two banks), Jharkhand (one bank), and West Bengal (three banks) who will participate in the meeting chaired by the Union Finance Minister. FM Sitharaman will evaluate the extent of bad loans and strategies for reducing NPAs in rural banks. She will also examine the loan disbursement process and its impact on rural development. She will also explore the measures to enhance the digital capabilities of rural banks, improving accessibility and efficiency for customers. Following the meeting in Patna, she will go to Darbhanga to participate in the Entrepreneurship Development Promotion Program. During that event, 26 banks will collectively disburse loans worth 1,300 crore. Beneficiaries include small entrepreneurs, agriculture-based industries, and 45,000 youths of the eastern region. An event will be organised in Raj Maidan Darbhanga. The objective of the event is to promote self-reliance, boost local economies, and support agriculture and small industries. These measures aim to strengthen rural banking infrastructure and facilitate economic growth in eastern India. Promoting entrepreneurship and youth engagement through financial support aligns with the government's initiatives like 'Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India)' and rural development programs. The FM's visit to Darbhanga highlights the Union government's commitment to the economic and social development of the Mithilanchal region, as emphasised by Darbhanga MP Gopal Thakur. After the loan distribution event, FM Sitharaman will address a public meeting at the same venue. The speech is expected to emphasise the government's development priorities for Mithilanchal region, support for small industries and self-reliance initiatives, and updates on recent financial and infrastructure programs aimed at uplifting the region. Darbhanga MP Gopal Thakur noted that the back-to-back visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the FM to Darbhanga within a month underline the Centre's focus on the progress of Mithilanchal. "These high-profile visits signify the government's intent to prioritise development in Bihar and its commitment to empowering rural and semi-urban areas through financial interventions," Thakur said. Guwahati, Nov 29 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Friday that the Central government has approved Rs 200 crore to develop two iconic tourist places in the state- Rang Ghar and State Zoo. Chief Minister Sarma also expressed gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the approval of the special assistance to Assam. Taking to social media platform X, he wrote: "Heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister @narendramodi ji for approving close to Rs 200 cr to develop Assam's two iconic tourist sites- Rang Ghar and State Zoo under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment." Meanwhile, in an endeavour to elevate the artistic, cultural, and handicraft traditions of the Northeast, while simultaneously fostering the growth of the region's tourism sector, the 12th edition of the International Tourism Mart (ITM) was inaugurated on Wednesday in Kaziranga by Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, in presence of Chief Minister Sarma and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, officials said. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sarma said it was an immense honour to host the International Tourism Mart for a third time in the region. He expressed that this edition of the Mart would serve as a vibrant platform for the display of the Northeast's multifaceted heritage - its culture, folk traditions, and the rich panorama of its historical narratives. The Chief Minister alluded to the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who, having spent a night at Kaziranga, bore witness to the parkas remarkable biodiversity, particularly its famed one-horned rhinoceros population. He mentioned other dignitaries, such as President Droupadi Murmu and former President Ram Nath Kovind, who too were captivated by Kaziranga's natural beauty. CM Sarma noted with pride the recent recognition of Charaideo Maidam as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attributing this achievement to the concerted efforts of both the Prime Minister and the Union Minister of Culture and Tourism. He emphasised Charaideo's historical significance, particularly during the six centuries of Ahom rule, which contributed to Assam's remarkable advancements in myriad fields during that time. The Chief Minister hailed this as a monumental success for the people of Assam, one that attests to the enduring legacy of the region. New Delhi, Nov 29 : The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to the suspended youth Trinamool Congress leader, Kuntal Ghosh, in connection with the cash-for-school job case lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Taking into consideration the delay in commencement of the trial, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan said that continued incarceration of Kuntal Ghosh would not be in conformity with the settled principles of criminal justice of speedy and fair trial. Kuntal Ghosh will be released on conditions as may be fixed by the trial court. He will deposit his passport and will not leave the state of West Bengal without prior permission, as per the SC order. The apex court added that bail conditions in the ED case will also apply to the CBI case. Last week, the Calcutta High Court granted conditional bail to Kuntal Ghosh in the money laundering case registered against him by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the school job case. However, Kuntal Ghosh remained behind bars since his other bail plea in the case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was then pending before the apex court. In the ED case, the Calcutta HC had ordered Kuntal Ghosh to submit his passport and mobile number to the court, adding that the mobile number submitted cannot be altered. It also directed Kuntal Ghosh to present himself before the trial court regularly and not make any attempt to influence the witnesses. Kuntal had initially approached the Supreme Court with his bail petition in the ED case. However, the apex court referred the matter back to the Calcutta High Court. ED claimed before the Calcutta High Court that hefty amounts totalling over Rs 1.5 crore had been credited to the bank account of Kuntal Ghosh just a few days after his arrest on January 11, 2023. Kuntal Ghosh, the former youth leader of Trinamool Congress, has serious charges against him, which include collecting hefty amounts to the tune of Rs 19 crore from various ineligible candidates for illegal selection for teaching and non-teaching jobs in different state-run schools in West Bengal. Days after his arrest Trinamool Congress suspended him from the party. Mexico City, Nov 29 : Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has urged US President-elect Donald Trump to rethink his country's trade embargo against Cuba and sanctions policy against Venezuela, arguing that the punitive measures have a direct impact on citizens and fuel mass migration. At her regular press conference, Sheinbaum said she made the request when she spoke with Trump on the phone on Wednesday, with immigration being a main topic, Xinhua news agency reported. The Mexican president made several proposals, including "ending the blockades against Cuba and Venezuela" because they cause the people to suffer and cause phenomena like migration. She recommended the strategy Mexico's government used to tackle mass migration, saying it has led to a decline in migrants heading north. The comprehensive strategy aims to address the root causes of migration, such as a lack of jobs and opportunities at home, by investing in development programs in countries such as El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, said Sheinbaum. The phone call came a day after Sheinbaum sent a letter to Trump, responding to his threats to impose a 25-per cent tariff on Mexican imports and carry out mass deportations of undocumented migrants once he takes office in January 2025. Hubballi : , Nov 29 (IANS) Just days after the Karnataka Congress' thumping victory in the bypolls, senior Congress MLA B.R. Patil stated on Friday that it is not certain whether Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would complete his full term. The statements have assumed importance as B.R. Patil is also advisor to CM Siddaramaiah and hints at changes being afoot in the party. CM Siddaramaiah is in New Delhi to meet the party's top leadership as is Karnataka Congress President and Deputy CM, D.K. Shivakumar. Speaking to reporters in Hubballi, MLA Patil stated, "I don't know whether Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will be in power for a five-year term even though we wish that he would remain in power for five years. At the same time, we do not know what would be the decision of the high command." "What can we do, if the high command takes a decision otherwise? The high command might give a bigger role and responsibility to CM Siddaramaiah. One thing is clear, no legislator wants CM Siddaramaiah to be replaced," MLA Patil maintained. CM Siddaramaiah will ensure that the poll guarantees won't be a financial burden in the state's budget, he added. "We knew about the expenditures beforehand. All states are undergoing financial stress. There are problems and it is causing a little strain. Whenever one addresses a bigger problem, there will be some amount of burden. We are dreaming about a welfare state. Everyone has equal rights and equal share. "All five guarantees were implemented successfully by us and they are proving to be politically beneficial as well. Our guarantees were copied by the BJP. The guarantees won't stop for any reason. There shall not be any doubt," he stated. "The issue of cancellation of BPL cards is a fear that the BJP wanted to create among the people. We will resolve the issue," MLA Patil assured. He further stated that the people had given befitting answers for criticisms against the Congress government in the bypolls to the three Assembly constituencies as all alleged scams were just creations. "Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will come out clean of all the allegations in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case. The BJP government also had given notices to farmers claiming the ownership of their lands by the Waqf Board. The issue has been highlighted with an intention to bring disrepute to the Congress government by the BJP. However, the BJP itself has internal issues and they can't harm us," MLA Patil stated. New Delhi, Nov 29 : AAP MP Raghav Chadha on Friday raised a crucial issue in the Rajya Sabha, calling for the suspension of the House's proceedings to discuss the ongoing atrocities against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh and the recent arrest of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) priest Chinmoy Krishna Das. Chadha introduced a Suspension of Business notice, demanding immediate attention to these pressing concerns. "Today in Rajya Sabha, I gave a notice for adjournment of proceedings and requested that the House discuss the atrocities against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh and the illegal arrest of ISKCON's Chinmoy Krishna Das," said Chadha. He further urged the government to provide clarity on the steps being taken to safeguard the Hindu community in Bangladesh, especially in light of recent events following the coup. Chadha also called for a united resolution from the House condemning the illegal detention of Chinmoy Krishna Das. Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested on charges of sedition for allegedly raising a flag on a stand displaying Bangladesh's national flag. He was presented before a Chittagong court on November 25. The court denied his bail plea and sent him to custody. The issue has garnered significant attention from political leaders and the public. Earlier, Senior AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Saurabh Bharadwaj also met with Vrajendra Nandan Das, ISKCON's Communications Director, in Delhi to express solidarity. Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia voiced grave concerns over the developments in Bangladesh. "What is happening with ISKCON in Bangladesh is deeply worrying. ISKCON has always preached love and harmony, and such allegations against them cannot be accepted," stated Manish Sisodia. He further urged the Indian government to take swift action in securing the release of Chinmoy Krishna Das and addressing the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh. On Friday, ISKCON expressed solidarity with Chinmoy Krishna Das, who was arrested on charges of sedition in Bangladesh. Bengaluru, Nov 29 : After the death of five women post-delivery in two government hospitals in Ballary City, Karnataka BJP has demanded the resignations of the Health and Medical Education Minister and urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to act without delay. Senior BJP leader R. Ashoka stated on Friday, "Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao and Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil must take moral responsibility and resign immediately." Ashoka further demanded that a fair and impartial investigation be conducted into this incident, and legal action should be taken against those responsible. "In the past 10 days, five maternal deaths have occurred at the Ballary District Hospital and VIMS (Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences) hospital. However, the report submitted by an expert committee investigating these deaths has been kept confidential by the Congress government, raising numerous suspicions," Ashoka stated. Following these tragic deaths, on November 16, the Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation issued a circular instructing that Ringer Lactate Infusion, supplied by a private company, should not be used, he noted. Ashoka questioned, "Is there any connection between the deaths of the mothers in Ballari and this circular? Who is responsible for supplying and using these substandard medicines? By keeping the report confidential, whom is the government trying to protect?" "Despite this shocking incident that has shaken the entire state of Karnataka, neither CM Siddaramaiah nor Dy CM D.K. Shivakumar has taken any action or even expressed condolences. Moreover, the district in-charge Minister, Zameer Ahmad Khan, has not even visited the district so far, Ashoka slammed. The people in Karnataka's Ballary and neighbouring Vijayanagar district expressed outrage against the authorities following the death of five women in a span of 10 to 15 days. The women were admitted to the District Government Hospital in Ballary city, and Vijaynagar Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS). It has been alleged that the deaths occurred due to negligence of the hospital authorities. Among the five deceased women, four had undergone cesarean delivery at the Ballary District hospital. The families, relatives and people are questioning the absence of Minister for Waqf and Housing Zameer Ahmed Khan, who is the District In-Charge Minister for Ballary. They are also questioning the silence of representatives from the Ballary region. District In-Charge Minister Zameer Ahmad Khan has stated that he will seek information regarding the deaths of pregnant women from the officials first and not be bothered to initiate proactive measures. Four women in their post-pregnancy phase succumbed in 10-15 days at the Ballary Government District Hospital. Mahalaxmi, 20, is the latest victim. Mahalaxmi, a resident of CS Pura in neighbouring Vijayapura district, was admitted to VIMS after she experienced labour pain. She gave birth to a child through the normal delivery procedure on Sunday. However, Mahalaxmi allegedly succumbed to severe bleeding and infection on Wednesday. The parents of the deceased claimed the negligence of doctors was the reason for the death of their daughter and demanded action. BIMS Director Dr Gangadhar Gowda said Mahalaxmi was suffering from anaemia. She was earlier treated at a hospital in Kudligi and later was admitted to the BIMS. She was not stable at the time of the admission and the family was informed of the risk ahead of the delivery. "We have done our best and Mahalaxmi succumbed to health ailments," he stated. However, Mahalaxmi's parents maintained that their daughter was healthy and everything was normal. She suffered severe blood loss after the delivery of the child, and she was given 18 bottles of blood. All this indicates negligence on the part of the doctors, they stated. At Ballary District Hospital on November 9, cesarean surgery was conducted on 14 pregnant women. Among them, seven developed health complications and in a week, four of them succumbed. The deceased were identified as Lalitamma, Rojamma, Nandini and Muskaan. The series of deaths has raised concern among economically weaker sections of society who can't afford private hospitals and depend on government-run hospitals. The hospital authorities are claiming that the deaths are due to health complications of the pregnant women and washed off their hands. Gurugram, Nov 29 : A wanted gangster was shot dead in an encounter by a joint team comprising a special task force (STF) from Bihar Police and a Crime Branch team of the Gurugram Police, during the early hours on Friday. The encounter was executed during the early hours of Friday. The gangster Saroj Rai hailing from Sitamarhi in Bihar faced three dozen cases involving serious crimes like murder, arms act, and extortion, among others, and was carrying a reward of Rs 2 lakh, police said. According to police, the accused was asked to surrender by police teams who tracked him down, but he opened fire instead. "Today, during a joint operation of Bihar STF and a crime branch team of the Gurugram Police, an encounter ensued with the criminal in Bar Gurjar Police Chowki area near Manesar in which the criminal was shot dead while a constable from Bihar Police also received a bullet injury," said a senior police officer of the Gurugram Police. The officer said that "police teams chased the accused" after he opened fire, and, "in retaliatory fire, he fell to bullets, while his accomplice fled." During the encounter, the accused was severely injured and sent to a hospital for treatment where he was declared dead. Efforts are underway to locate the accomplice of the accused who managed to escape, said a police officer from Gurugram Police. More details on the matter are awaited. Further investigation is underway, police said. New Delhi, Nov 29 : Shiv Sena leader Shambhuraj Desai dismissed claims of internal discord within the MahaYuti regarding the Chief Minister's position in Maharashtra and expressed confidence in the alliance's unity. Speaking to IANS, the Shiv Sena leader remarked, "There is no infighting in the MahaYuti. Eknath Shinde has fulfilled his role effectively. I firmly believe there is no internal war in our alliance." Following a crucial meeting in Delhi involving top leaders of the MahaYuti (Grand Alliance), Desai stated, "Our senior leaders held discussions yesterday, and everything will become clear in the next two days. A decision is expected either today or tomorrow." On the recent allegations made by MP Sanjay Raut, Desai clarified the necessity of involving the central leadership in critical decisions. "The Shiv Sena is part of the NDA, and the BJP is the leading party. When such significant decisions need to be taken, going to Delhi is part of the process. What is wrong with that? Instructions are discussed and decided accordingly," he explained. Sanjay Raut took a swipe at the process, remarking, "All decisions related to Maharashtra will now be made in Delhi. Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar will have to repeatedly travel to Delhi to present their case and listen to PM Modi and Amit Shah." The comment regarding the Chief Minister's position comes after a meeting on Thursday in Delhi involving Home Minister Amit Shah and the three top MahaYuti leaders Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar. Meanwhile, Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister and Shiv Sena Chief Leader Eknath Shinde said that the decision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the post of the chief minister would be final. "I spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday and thanked them for their solid support during my two-and-half-year tenure as the Chief Minister. I have told them that I won't be a hurdle or speed breaker in the formation of the new MahaYuti government but will extend full support to the BJP's candidate for the Chief Minister's post," said Shinde while addressing a press conference on Wednesday. Mumbai, Nov 29 : Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala celebrated their Haldi ceremony on Friday in Hyderabad. Pictures from the couple's vibrant Haldi are circulating widely on social media. Naga and Sobhita's pre-wedding celebrations began with this ritual, attended by their close family members. A video collage featuring the couple dressed in traditional attire for their haldi is doing the rounds on social media. In the clip, the two are seen sitting side by side as their family members joyfully showered them with flowers. Sobhita looked radiant in a red saree paired with a matching blouse and traditional jewellery, while Chaitanya donned a white kurta and pajamas. The couple could be seen smiling throughout the heartwarming moment. Sobhita is also seen participating in various other rituals with her loved ones. Bride-to-be stunned in two different outfits during her Haldi ceremony. For her first look, she opted for a red saree accessorized with a choker and a maang tikka. Her second look saw her embracing the character of Vanathi from "Ponniyin Selvan" as she wore a traditional yellow ensemble for the ceremony. Sobhita recently took to Instagram to share pictures from her Pasupu Danchadam ceremony. For the ceremony, she wore a saree with a gold and green border. Sharing the images, she wrote, "Godhuma Raayi Pasupu Danchadam And so it begins." Pasupu Danchadam is a traditional Telugu pre-wedding ritual that marks the start of wedding celebrations. In August of this year, Naga and Sobhita got engaged in an intimate ceremony in Hyderabad, attended by close family and friends. The exciting news was shared by actor Nagarjuna Akkineni, who posted pictures of the couple from their engagement on his X (formerly Twitter) account. The couple will tie the knot on December 4 in Hyderabad. Naga Chaitanya was previously married to actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu. They announced their separation in October 2021 through a joint statement on social media. Dhaka, Nov 29 : In spite of facing a severe backlash from Hindus all over the world over the shocking arrest and jailing of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, the Bangladesh government headed by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has reportedly ordered the country's banks to freeze accounts of 17 people with "interests associated" with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Bangladesh. Local media in Dhaka reported on Friday that the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has ordered the freezing of bank accounts belonging to 17 individuals associated with Iskcon Bangladesh, including its jailed leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, for 30 days. Reports indicated that the government directive to suspend all transactions from the accounts for one month has been sent to several banks and financial institutions in the country. Besides Das, who was taken into custody by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday and jailed a day later, the other 16 Hindus targeted by the Bangladeshi government are Kartik Chandra De, Anik Pal, Saroj Roy, Sushanta Das, Biswa Kumar Singha, Chandidas Bala, Jaydev Karmakar, Lipi Rani Karmakar, Sudhama Gaur Das, Laxman Kanti Das, Priyatosh Das, Rupan Das, Rupan Kumar Dhar, Ashish Purohit, Jagadish Chandra Adhikari, and Sajal Das. "BFIU's letter said, under the powers conferred by Section 23(1)(c) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act-2012, orders to suspend for 30 days the transactions of accounts (other than accounts of import and export companies) maintained in the name of ISKCON and its related parties and entities owned by them. given At the same time, BFIU has asked to send the accounting related information of all the accounts, such as account opening form, KYC form, up-to-date transaction statement etc., within the next three working days," reported Prothom Alo, a leading Bengali newspaper in Bangladesh. Chinmoy Krishna Das, spokesperson for the Sanatan Jagaran Jote, has been accused of sedition by the Bangladeshi authorities for allegedly disrespecting the country's flag by hoisting a saffron flag above it in Chittagong, last month. As Bangladeshi Hindus in the country took to the streets, Das was produced in a Chittagong court on Tuesday and sent to jail subsequently. At the same time, violence broke out in the court building, leading to the death of a 32-year-old advocate Saiful Islam Alif. Radicals in Bangladesh are now blaming supporters of Das for the lawyer's death even though Iskcon and other Hindu organisations have made it clear that no Hindus were involved in the ruckus that took place in the court premises on the given day. Several leaders of the interim government and others, including Hasnat Abdullah and Sarjis Alam, who led the so-called 'Anti-Discrimination Student Movement' that eventually resulted in the fall of government headed by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August - continue to orchestrate a disinformation campaign against Hindus and the leading spiritual organisation in the country, accusing Iskcon Bangladesh of "inciting unrest" and calling for its immediate ban. "Iskcon is acting as an agent of the Awami League, attempting to destabilise the country. This extremist organisation is behind the brutal killing of lawyer Saiful Islam," said Hasnat Abdullah in a vicious hate speech in Chittagong on Wednesday. On Thursday, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had strongly condemned the "tortures" inflicted on common people by the interim government in Bangladesh and called for "immediate release" of the Hindu priest. "A top leader of the Sanatan religious community has been unjustly arrested, he must be released immediately," said Hasina. The Bangladesh Awami League (AL) president and daughter of the 'Father of the Nation' Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman also spotlighted several incidents of persecution of members of minority communities that have been reported from across 52 districts in Bangladesh since her resignation on August 5, this year. "A temple has been burnt in Chittagong. Previously, mosques, shrines, churches, monasteries and houses of the Ahmadiyya community were attacked, vandalized and looted and set on fire. Religious freedom and security of life and property of people of all communities should be ensured," she stated. "After the killing of innumerable Awami League leaders and workers, students and members of the law and order forces, harassment is going on through assaults and arrests. I strongly condemn and protest against these anarchist activities," Hasina added. Earlier this week, India had highlighted that the latest incident follows multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh. "Documented cases of arson, looting of minority homes and businesses, theft, vandalism, and desecration of deities and temples are deeply troubling... It is unfortunate that while the perpetrators of these incidents remain at large, charges should be pressed against a religious leader presenting legitimate demands through peaceful gatherings. We also note with concern the attacks on minorities protesting peacefully against the arrest of Shri Das," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated after the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das. Mumbai, Nov 29 : The wait is getting longer for the formation of a new government in Maharashtra as the meeting among the MahaYuti allies, which was to take place on Friday, has been cancelled as Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has left for his native village Dare in Satara district. The meeting was slated to discuss details with regard to the government formation, especially on the allocation of cabinet berths, distribution of portfolios and appointment of district guardian ministers. The meeting was scheduled after the two-and-half-hour-long meeting chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday night in New Delhi where Fadnavisa name was reportedly finalised as the Maharashtra Chief Minister. Shinde after the MahaYutias meeting with the Home Minister had said that the three partners would meet on Friday to finalise the government formation and sort out related issues. aThe MahaYutias meeting will be held in Mumbai on Friday and the allies will arrive at a final decision on government formation. Our meeting in Delhi was positive. We had a discussion with Amit Shah and JP Nadda. I have announced my stand. As Shiv Sena, I have supported the name of the Chief Minister of the Grand Alliance. The deadlock is over. Everything is fine. I am a caretaker Chief Minister, I am taking care of everyone," said Shinde. Although Shinde on Wednesday said he would abide by Prime Minister Narendra Modias decision on the chief ministeras post. Shinde is reluctant to join as the deputy chief minister in the new government but pressure is mounting from leaders and cadres that he should become part of the government and continue to head the Shiv Sena. Shindeas bargaining power seems to have reduced after NCP president and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar on last Sunday announced his partyas support to Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis for the chief ministeras post. Ajit Pawar did not stop there but further added that he would continue to hold the strategically important planning and finance departments. Shinde camp is insisting on the allocation of home and urban development departments. However, the BJP has already rejected its proposal as the home department will remain within its quota. Despite BJPas refusal, Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Shirsat on Friday said that the home department should be given to Eknath Shinde who is quite capable of maintaining the law and order situation in the state. Shiv Sena focuses on urban development, education, cultural affairs, water supply, health, transport, and state excise departments. NCP has made a pitch for the allocation of departments including planning and finance, cooperation, women and child welfare, food and civil supply, minority affairs, medical education and tribal development. BJP sources said that the party will keep key departments including home, revenue, energy, housing, rural development, water resources, forest, OBC welfare, tourism and general administration. Bengaluru/New Delhi, Nov 29 : Expressing disapproval over statements in connection with his replacement as Karnataka Congress President, D.K. Shivakumar, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister of the state, said on Friday that it was not good for leaders to discuss politics in the media. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi on Friday, Dy CM Shivakumar made the statement when asked about Minister for Cooperation, K.N. Rajanna, a close confidante of CM Siddaramaiah stating that he would be replaced as the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President. He remarked with a grin, "Politics can't be carried out through the media. It is not good for leaders and any party to discuss issues in front of the media." When asked about the possibility of a Cabinet reshuffle, Dy CM Shivakumar stated, "There is no such circumstance of expanding the Cabinet." Asked about a letter to the AICC on the CM Siddaramaiah camp planning to organise events to highlight his leadership, undermining the party, Dy CM Shivakumar stated, "I do not know about the letter. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has informed me about the programmes organised by his supporters. He has brought it to my knowledge. The party's presence is going to be there all the time." Sources revealed that the conventions that Siddaramaiah's supporters have planned have been done in such a manner that they are becoming the CM's conventions and do not benefit the party. The letter further claims that the conventions do not look like a party event and Congress symbols won't be used. When asked about his meeting with Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge, Dy CM Shivakumar stated, the meeting was regarding celebration of the completion of 100 years after Mahatma Gandhi took over the leadership of the Congress party. "I had discussed the matter with the national general secretaries and brought it to the notice of President Kharge," he stated. "President Kharge will discuss it in the Congress Working Committee as 300 leaders of the party will have to come down to Karnataka for the event. Our proposal is to hold the event in Belagavi. He will take a final call and let me know," Dy CM Shivakumar stated. New Delhi, Nov 29 : The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to examine a plea seeking an in-depth, thorough and time-bound investigation by a SIT into alleged "illegalities" of Indiabulls Housing Finance Limited (IHFL). New Delhi, Nov 29 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to examine a plea seeking an in-depth, thorough and time-bound investigation by a SIT into alleged "illegalities" of Indiabulls Housing Finance Limited (IHFL). A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and AG Masih issued notice on the petition filed by Citizens Whistle Blower Forum (CWBF) and sought responses from IHFL, now renamed as Sammaan Capital Ltd, and others in the matter. The plea before the apex court said that based on public records, ROC documents and financial statements, the IHFL had been extending huge loans to various companies and these companies in turn have been routing a substantial part of the money as investment in companies belonging to the key-shareholders/promoters of IBHFL, including Sameer Gehlaut, the founder and the then Chairman of IBHFL. "In other words, borrowing companies bestow huge benefits to the key shareholders and Chairman of the IBHFL for the favour they get in the form of loans from IBHFL," it added. Further, it said that since the funds with IBHFL are essentially its borrowings from public sector and private sector banks and investments of its depositors, "thousands of crores of public money seem to have been siphoned out by the company in order to financially benefit its promoters". Earlier in February this year, the Delhi High Court had rejected CWBF's plea seeking direction for an SIT investigation into various serious illegalities including round-tripping of funds, violations of provisions of the Companies Act, and siphoning of funds committed by the promoters of IHFL, its subsidiaries and their promoters. The special leave petition (SLP) filed before the apex court said that the Delhi HC failed to appreciate that many of the companies to which IBHFL has extended these loans have a small paid-up capital, do not have any fixed assets and are not even engaged in any business activities. "The directors and office addresses of many of these companies are also common. A majority of these borrower companies have also failed to file charge with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). That merely because the borrowing companies have paid back some of the dubious loans advanced to it, does not imply that the promoters of Indiabulls did not benefit from the same," contended the SLP filed through advocate Neha Rathi. It added that mere repayment of loans does not absolve a company and its promoters from criminal liability and investigation, especially when such a company has further taken various loans, possibly to show repayment in its book of accounts. The plea contended that IHFL and its promoters are in violation of various statutes and policies like evasion of Income Tax, violation of rules and regulations of Reserve Bank of India (RBI), SEBI, National Housing Bank and other laws but none of the authorities have taken any action. The petitioner said that the "instant scam" follows close to the heels of scams such as those perpetrated by ICICI Bank, IL&FS and Dewan Housing Finance Limited and illustrates how promoters and persons in charge of large NBFCs have looted public monies invested in them and diverted them to their own companies using a web of shell companies. Indiabulls, a leading finance company and now an NBFC, was founded by Sameer Gehlaut in 1999 and went public with listing on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in 2004. Suspecting tax evasion by Indiabulls, the Income Tax Department carried out massive raids at 20 premises of the company in Mumbai and Delhi. Thereafter, in June 2019, the Income Tax Settlement Commission issued an order directing Indiabulls to pay Rs 300 crore as tax and interest charges on the undisclosed income detected during the IT raid on the company, said the petition. New Delhi, Nov 29 : Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief and Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary on Friday termed the recent violence in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal in which four youths died, as a sensitive issue, urging that no misleading statements should be made to confuse the public by the Opposition leaders. Earlier, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav while condemning the violence in Sambhal that erupted during a mosque survey, accused the ruling BJP of being behind the incident. Yadav alleged that the BJP was orchestrating the violence to divert public attention from its electoral malpractices. Congress MP Imran Masood also accused the local police of being directly involved in the unrest that left four people dead and many others, including cops injured. Speaking to IANS, Chaudhary emphasised the need for peace and trust in the law. "The atmosphere should remain calm, and we must work to maintain peace. The state government must ensure security for all law-abiding citizens," he said. He further stated that the matter should be left to the Supreme Court, which will make the final decisions on any legal issues arising from the violence. Chaudhary also criticised those making inflammatory remarks and stressed the importance of upholding law and order in sensitive situations. "The country functions on the rule of law, and it is the state's responsibility to maintain peace and security," he added. In a separate issue, Chaudhary addressed the controversy surrounding the non-implementation of the PM Vishwakarma Yojana in Tamil Nadu. The scheme, which aims to support artisans and craftsmen, has been in place for over a year, with 2.5 crore registrations across the country and more than 10 lakh beneficiaries. Chaudhary responded to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin's opposition to the scheme, stating that there was no caste-based discrimination in the scheme. "The scheme is run by the central government, and there is no burden on the state government," he explained. Chaudhary further pointed out that 76 per cent of the beneficiaries in Tamil Nadu were women, and more than half were from the OBC category, debunking claims that the scheme favoured a specific caste. He accused Stalin of playing politics with the issue and urged him to reconsider his stance for the benefit of the state's people. "I appeal to the Tamil Nadu government to take a positive initiative and support the 8.5 lakh beneficiaries in the state," he concluded. This dispute comes after CM Stalin informed Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi that the Tamil Nadu government could not implement the PM Vishwakarma Yojana in its current form. Ghaziabad, Nov 29 : The heartwarming story of a man's return to his family after 31 years has left not only his family but also the entire neighborhood teary-eyed, here in Ghaziabad. The incredible tale of Raju's rescue and reunion unfolds like the plot of a gripping movie, with a mysterious truck driver emerging as a divine saviour. Raju, who was kidnapped as a child in 1993 while returning from school, endured years of unimaginable torment. He was taken to Rajasthan, where he was held captive in a hut, forced to graze goats, and subjected to continuous abuse. Despite the hardships, Raju clung to his faith in Bajrangbali, believing that divine intervention would one day free him, which ultimately happened. That intervention came in the form of an anonymous truck driver, who saw Raju in poor condition in what is now believed to be the Jaisalmer area of Rajasthan. Overwhelmed with compassion, the truck driver freed Raju from his shackles and brought him to Khoda police station in Ghaziabad. However, the truck driver's actions were accompanied by a request for complete anonymity. He left behind no name, no address, only a letter to the police urging them to reunite Raju with his family. There was already a missing complaint registered with the police for Raju. Raju's sister recounted the emotional ordeal to IANS, saying, "The truck driver not only saved my brother, but also brought hope back to our family. He is truly a messenger of God." She revealed that the driver had learnt of Raju's origins through their conversations and took it upon himself to reunite him with his family. The family believes the truck driver's arrival was a divine act, crediting Bajrangbali for sending him. "We consider the truck driver a messenger sent by God," Raju's sister added, emphasising the miraculous nature of her brother's return. Today, Raju is reunited with his parents and siblings, reliving the warmth of a family and home he last saw three decades ago. So far as the mysterious truck driver is concerned, he remains an unsung hero, a symbol of hope and humanity in an extraordinary tale of faith and resilience. Bhubaneswar, Nov 29 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah reached Bhubaneswar on Friday to attend the three-day DG/IGP Conference. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Tribal affairs Minister Jual Oram, Deputy Chief Ministers KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida along with other senior leaders welcomed Shah after his arrival at the Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar. Later, the Union Home Minister in a carcade headed to Lok Seva Bhawan here in Bhubaneswar to participate in the conference attended by police chiefs from various states, union territories, and security agencies attending the event. He also inaugurated in conference. Before leaving for Bhubaneswar, Shah noted that the conference will hold discussions on various aspects to tackle emerging internal security related challenges. "Leaving for Bhubaneswar (Odisha) to attend the three-day DGP/IGP Conference. The conference to be presided over by PM Shri @narendramodi Ji will delve into the aspects of further bolstering Bharat's security in the face of emerging challenges. Keenly looking forward to attending the program," Shah posted on his official X handle. The three-day conference, being held from November 29 to December 1, will include deliberations on critical components of national security, including Counter Terrorism, Left Wing Extremism, Coastal Security, New Criminal Laws, and Narcotics among others. The President's Police Medal for distinguished service will also be awarded during the Conference. The conference has earlier been held in Guwahati (Assam), Rann of Kachchh (Gujarat), Hyderabad (Telangana), Tekanpur (Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh), Statue of Unity (Kevadiya, Gujarat), Pune (Maharashtra), Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), New Delhi and Jaipur (Rajasthan). Odisha is hosting this conference for the first time. The conference will be attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Principal Secretary to PM Modi, National Security Adviser (NSA), Ministers of State (Home Affairs), DGP of States/UTs and Chiefs of Central Police Organisations among others. Elaborate security arrangements have been made for three-day event. More than 70 platoons of police force have been deployed to keep strict vigil. Mumbai, Nov 29 : Veteran Bollywood actress Asha Parekha took a trip down memory lane as she recalled working with late star Shammi Kapoor and said that he was more like family to her as she called him "chachu" (uncle). Mumbai, Nov 29 (IANS) Veteran Bollywood actress Asha Parekha took a trip down memory lane as she recalled working with late star Shammi Kapoor and said that he was more like family to her as she called him "chachu" (uncle). Talking about Shammi Kapoor, whom she worked with in the 1966 film "Teesri Manzil", Asha said: "It is difficult to pick a favorite co-star, but working with Shammi Ji was always a unique experience. He was more than just a colleague; he was like family to me, as I fondly called him 'Chachu.'" "Naturally, our rapport made working together much easier. His style was so distinctive and the best part was that when a song was being picturised, it felt as if music coursed through his entire body." She recalled how they had to choreograph everything themselves. "We didn't have a dance master for our sequences at all; we choreographed everything ourselves. He would say, 'You do this,' and I would respond, 'I'll do that,' and the steps would just flow seamlessly. His energy was infectious, and that made our performances truly memorable." Talking about "Teesri Manzil", a musical mystery film directed by Vijay Anand. The film also stars Helen, Premnath, Iftekhar and Prem Chopra in supporting roles. The actress was seen as a guest in the show "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa" and A contestant Maharshi Sanat Pandya paid tribute to the golden era of Bollywood by performing the timeless classics "Teri Aankhon Ke Siva" and "Tumne Mujhe Dekha Hokar Meherban". The contestant left an impact on the actress. "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa" airs on Zee TV. Talking about Asha Parekh, she has worked in more than 85 films in a career spanning more than four-decades. She made her debut as a child artist with "Maa" in 1952. The actress was later seen in film such as "Dil Deke Dekho", "Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai", "Bharosa", "Love In Tokyo", "Do Badan", "Kati Patang", "Upkar", "Caravan", "Aan Milo Sajna" and "Kaalia". Amaravati, Nov 29 : Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Friday visited Kakinada Port and expressed his ire over the port authorities and local MLA for failing to check the smuggling of the rice meant for the Public Distribution System. Pawan Kalyan along with Civil Supplies Minister Nandendla Manohar visited the port and spoke to officials and local public representatives. The Jana Sena leader pulled up port officials and Kakinada MLA Vanamadi Venkateswara Rao of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in the presence of a large number of people. The Deputy Chief Minister's visit came two days after the seizure of 640 tonnes of PDS rice at the anchorage port. The rice was being exported to West Africa by a ship. "I came to Kakinada port to check the smuggling of PDS rice. A scam that became rampant in the last regime was continuing. This port looks like free for all. No accountability," posted Pawan Kalyan on the social media platform 'X'. Pawan Kalyan, who holds the portfolios of Panchayat Raj, Rural Development and Rural Water Supply, Environment, Forests, Science & Technology, intervened in an issue pertaining to the portfolio of his party colleague Nadendla Manohar. Stating that rice was being illegally exported from the port, Manohar said action would be taken against officials involved. He told media persons that PDS rice stored in mills and warehouses was being seized. However, how the actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan admonished the TDP MLA surprised everyone. This is the second instance of Pawan Kalyan expressing his displeasure publicly over the working of a leader belonging to his ally TDP, which is heading the coalition government. On November 5, Pawan Kalyan had warned Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha that he would take over her portfolio. Voicing concern over a spike in crimes against women and children in the state, Pawan Kalyan had criticised Anitha of "incompetence" and warned he would take over her portfolio if the law and order in the state did not improve. Pawan Kalyan also visited the lands of a company owned by former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy in Palnadu district and ordered an inquiry into alleged irregularities in land acquisition. The Deputy Chief Minister ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the acquisition of 1,043.75 acres of patta (private) land, 75 acres of dotted lands, and 24 acres of assigned land acquired by Saraswati Power and Industries Private Limited project in Vemavaram village of Machavaram Mandal. New Delhi, Nov 29 : MP Manoj Tiwari on Friday criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and accused it of copying the BJP and promising Rs 1,000 per month financial sops to the women of Delhi on the lines of the 'Ladli Behna' scheme of the party in states ruled by it and said that the AAP's time in Delhi is over and now it's the BJP's turn to deliver . New Delhi, Nov 29 (IANS) MP Manoj Tiwari on Friday criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and accused it of copying the BJP and promising Rs 1,000 per month financial sops to the women of Delhi on the lines of the aLadli Behnaa scheme of the party in states ruled by it and said that the AAPas time in Delhi is over and now it's the BJP's turn to deliver . Speaking with IANS, Tiwari questioned why the AAP government had not provided similar support during its 10 years in power in the national Capital. "For 10 years, the AAP was in power. Could they not give money to women then? Now that the BJP is doing it in other states they are following suit," he said, citing similar schemes for financial aid to women in states like Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana, where women receive direct financial benefits in their bank accounts from the state government. Tiwari stated that the BJPas upcoming manifesto would include significant initiatives for women, contrasting it with the AAP's alleged failure to deliver on promises during their tenure. "The AAPas time is over; now it's the BJP's turn to deliver," he said. The aLadli Behna Yojanaa was initially launched by former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan months before the Assembly elections held in November last year. For the first few months, the state government used to give Rs. 1000 per month to women, which was later increased to Rs 1250. aLadli Behna Yojanaa, was an extension of Chouhanas another flagship a" aLadli Laxmi Yojanaa for newborn girl children. The BJP had announced this scheme at the time when it was facing high anti-incumbency against nearly two decades of its rule in Madhya Pradesh. However, when the results of the Assembly elections were out, the BJP returned with an absolute majority. Political observers and even the Opposition Congress had stated that the aLadli Behna Yojanaa proved a game changer for the BJP. Since then the party has repeated the scheme in different states, including in the just-concluded Maharashtra Assembly polls where the resounding victory of the MahaYuti is being credited in part to the incentive scheme for women of the state. Remarking on the protest staged by the AAP in Parliamentas premises over the escalating crimes in the national Capital, he accused the AAP government of emboldening criminals in Delhi. The protest highlighting the worsening law and order situation in Delhi was led by AAP leaders, including Sanjay Singh, Raghav Chadha, and Sandeep Pathak, Tiwari told IANS, "The AAP is doing the work of spoiling law and order in Delhi. The morale of criminals is increasing." Seoul, Nov 29 : South Korea's health ministry on Friday said it will ban remote prescribing of weight loss medications, including Wegovy, released in the country in October, to prevent potential abuse. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the decision to ban remote prescribing of weight loss medications will take effect Monday, with a two-week grace period, Yonhap news agency reported. The move comes amid growing concerns over the abuse and illegal sales of such medications, particularly due to the growing popularity of Wegovy, which was developed by Denmark-based Novo Nordisk. The government also plans to establish guidelines for telemedicine consultations regarding such medications within the first half of 2025, the health ministry added. South Korea has been temporarily allowing telemedicine consultations amid the ongoing walkout by trainee doctors at general hospitals, which began in February. Wegovy was launched in South Korea on November 15. It is a weight management medication that can treat obesity and has gained international attention as a "miracle weight loss drug". The Health Ministry stressed that medical institutions should "avoid promoting the drug in ways that might lead patients to believe it can be easily prescribed for general weight loss purposes" and "take special precautions to prevent misuse when prescribing through telemedicine." As per the current regulations, Wegovy must only be prescribed to patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. Adults with a BMI between 27 and 30 who have conditions such as hypertension or dyslipidemia can also be prescribed the drug. The Health Ministry has also requested medical institutions to comply with the Food and Drug Safety Administration's approval conditions. Before prescribing the medication, patients must be informed about potential side effects, which include gallbladder disease and pancreatitis, it said. Lucknow, Nov 29 : Following the recent violence over the Shahi Jama Masjid survey in Sambhal in which four people were killed, Uttar Pradesh remained on high alert during Friday prayers in the state. A large number of worshippers gathered at the mosque in Sambhal, where prayers were conducted peacefully under stringent security arrangements. Across the state, authorities intensified vigilance to maintain peace. Police conducted flag marches in every district of the state, and additional forces were deployed in sensitive areas. Sambhal District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya confirmed that the situation was under control. "There is peace everywhere, and security measures are robust. Everyone is cooperating. Prayers were held peacefully. Police took all measures to see that everything goes peacefully," he stated. In Varanasi, a significant number of people attended Friday prayers at UP College amid tight security. Imam Ghulam Rasool of the local mosque mentioned that large gatherings during Friday prayers are routine. "There was no issue today, as always," he said. He also referred to ongoing disputes involving the Waqf Board and land records, noting the mosque's historical significance. Similarly, heightened security was observed in Amroha, where drones and CCTV cameras were installed for surveillance. Police officers in civil dress monitored the area closely. In Bahraich, Superintendent of Police Vrinda Shukla led a large-scale route march with the PAC and RRF, while drone monitoring continued in sensitive areas. Firozabad witnessed senior officers and Intelligence teams working on the ground to prevent potential unrest. Drone cameras were used to scan sensitive locations, and SP City personally oversaw operations. In Kanpur and other districts, similar precautions were taken, with a special focus on monitoring areas prone to disturbances. Meanwhile, in Bareilly, IMC chief Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan attempted to travel to Sambhal after Friday prayers but was stopped by the police in C.B. Ganj. Authorities took him to the police station, where he insisted on continuing his journey and going to Sambhal. Earlier, Maulana Tauqeer accused the authorities of targeting Muslims amid broader political conflicts. On the other hand, the Supreme Court, on Friday, also intervened, directing lower courts to refrain from hearing the Sambhal Jama Masjid case. It instructed the petitioner to approach the High Court, emphasising that further actions must follow High Court directives. The Supreme Court also called upon the administration to strengthen law and order. New Delhi, Nov 29 : India on Friday once again urged the interim Bangladesh government headed by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, asserting that New Delhi remains concerned with the increasing extremist rhetoric, incidents of violence and violence in the country. "India has consistently and strongly raised with the Bangladesh government the threats and targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities. Our position on the matter is very clear. The interim government must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at the weekly media briefing. The MEA's strong reaction came on a day when Bangladesh's Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) ordered the freezing of bank accounts belonging to 17 Hindus, including jailed Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Bangladesh, for 30 days. Das, a spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote, was taken into custody by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on November 25 and sent to jail by a Chittagong court a day later on charges of sedition. Hindus all over the world have been shocked by the latest incident that follows multiple attacks on the community and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh. "We are concerned about the surge in extremist rhetoric, increasing incidents of violence, and provocations. These developments cannot be dismissed only as media exaggerations. We once again call upon Bangladesh to take all steps for protection of all minorities," the MEA spokesperson said on Friday. Several leaders of the Bangladesh's interim government and others, including Hasnat Abdullah and Sarjis Alam, who led the so-called 'Anti-Discrimination Student Movement' that eventually resulted in the fall of government headed by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August - continue to orchestrate a disinformation campaign against Hindus and spiritual organisation Iskcon, calling it as an "agent of the Awami League" that should be banned in the country immediately. "We see Iskcon as a globally well-regarded organisation with a strong record of social service. Regarding the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, we expect that the legal processes are being followed and it will be handled in a fair, just, and transparent manner," remarked Jaiswal. Earlier this week, after the arrest and denial of bail to Chinmoy Krishna Das, the MEA had spotlighted that there are several documented cases of arson and looting of minorities' homes and business establishments, as well as theft and vandalism and desecration of deities and temples, reported from Bangladesh. "It is unfortunate that while the perpetrators of these incidents remain at large, charges should be pressed against a religious leader presenting legitimate demands through peaceful gatherings. We also note with concern the attacks on minorities protesting peacefully against the arrest of Shri Das. We urge Bangladesh authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right of freedom of peaceful assembly and expression," the MEA stated. Not just India but many prominent Bangladesh leaders have also raised an alarm on the fast-deteriorating security situation in Bangladesh, especially for the minorities. On Thursday, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had strongly condemned the "tortures" inflicted on common people by the interim government in Bangladesh and called for "immediate release" of the Hindu priest. "A top leader of the Sanatan religious community has been unjustly arrested, he must be released immediately," said Hasina. The Bangladesh Awami League (AL) president and daughter of the 'Father of the Nation' Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman also spotlighted several incidents of persecution of members of minority communities that have been reported from across 52 districts in Bangladesh since her resignation on August 5, this year. "A temple has been burnt in Chittagong. Previously, mosques, shrines, churches, monasteries and houses of the Ahmadiyya community were attacked, vandalized and looted and set on fire. Religious freedom and security of life and property of people of all communities should be ensured," she stated. "After the killing of innumerable Awami League leaders and workers, students and members of the law and order forces, harassment is going on through assaults and arrests. I strongly condemn and protest against these anarchist activities," Hasina added. Yaounde, Nov 29 : Chad has formally ended a security and defence cooperation accord with France, said Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah. The decision was made after an 'in-depth analysis,' which marked a 'historic' turning point, Koulamallah said in a statement, Xinhua news agency reported. It is time for Chad to assert its full sovereignty and redefine its strategic partners according to national priorities, Koulamallah said, adding that Chad will respect the terms of the termination, including required deadlines. Chad will continue to maintain 'constructive' relations with France in other areas of common interest, he added. Yangon, Nov 29 : Myanmar hosted the 7th tourism ministers' meeting of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV) in Yangon on Friday. The meeting focused on joint tourism promotion and marketing, including setting up a joint CLMV tourism website or information database, hosting and participating in international tourism events, travel fairs and exhibitions, and leveraging cost-effective joint digital marketing and promotion campaigns through social media platforms, Xinhua news agency reported. During the meeting, Myanmar's Union Minister for Hotels and Tourism Thet Thet Khine urged CLMV countries to enhance tourism cooperation within the region. The meeting noted the recovery of international visitor arrivals to CLMV countries, which reached 7.5 million in 2022 and 22.8 million in 2023. Preliminary data showed that international visitor arrivals to CLMV countries from January to September 2024 reached 21.3 million. The 8th meeting will be held in Vietnam in 2026. New Delhi, Nov 29 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday condoled the loss of lives in a road accident in Maharashtra's Gondia district. He extended condolences to the bereaved family and wished speedy recovery for the injured. PM Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured. In a post on social media platform X, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said: "Distressed by the loss of lives in the bus mishap in Gondia, Maharashtra. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected." "An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000," the PMO's post read. Caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has directed the district authorities to extend all medical help to the injured and inform the families of the victims. He also announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased in the tragedy. At least 11 passengers were killed and another 15 injured when a state transport bus overturned while attempting to avoid hitting a biker. The incident occurred around 12.30 p.m. when the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus was speeding along the Gondia-Kohmara Road near Khajri village. Eyewitnesses said that to avoid hitting the motorbike, the bus driver swerved sharply at the high speed, lost control and the heavy vehicle flipped over to one side, skidding for several metres before coming to a screeching halt. The injured passengers, who got trapped in the bus as the door of the bus was jammed, were pulled out and rushed to nearby hospitals in Gorgoan and Sadak Arjuni. New Delhi, Nov 29 : Taking note of media reports, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has questioned Telangana Police over the allegations of harassment of women under the garb of promoting surrogacy facilities. The NHRC said in a notice that it would like to know from the police authorities if there were any complaints from the people regarding harassment of women in the name of surrogacy in the state. The notice was issued by the NHRC while it took suo motu cognisance of a media report about a married woman committing suicide alleging sexual harassment by a man in the Raidurgam area of Hyderabad in Telangana on November 27. The 25-year-old victim from Odisha was purportedly brought to the city through middlemen for surrogacy under a deal of Rs 10 lakh with her husband. She was made to stay in a separate flat alone away from her husband in the city. The Commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of the human rights of the victim woman. It has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, Telangana calling for a detailed report including the status of the FIR registered in the matter in two weeks. The Commission said in the notice that it would also like to know from the police authorities if there were any complaints from other people regarding harassment of women in the name of surrogacy in the state. According to the media report, carried on November 28, the victim woman from Odisha committed suicide allegedly to escape sexual harassment. The husband of the victim stayed nearby at a different accommodation along with their four-year-old son. Reportedly, the woman had called up her husband over the phone on November 26 stating that she did not want to stay there and would end her life as the man was subjecting her to sexual harassment. New Delhi, Nov 29 : Former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday hit out at the Central government for its inability to control crime in the national Capital, citing frequent shootouts, extortion and kidnappings, during a debate in Delhi Assembly. The Friday session of the Delhi Assembly also witnessed the marshalling out of Leader of Opposition (LoP) Vijender Gupta and a walkout by BJP legislators. "Stop crime, don't stop me from meeting victims of crime," said Kejriwal, sending a message to the Union Home Ministry which controls Delhi Police. The Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) National Convener asked the Central government to explain if its ministers had given protection to gangster Lawrence Bishnoi who was openly extorting money through his henchmen in Delhi. "Businessmen have shut down their family businesses and shifted to other states," Kejriwal said, highlighting the menace of extortion calls. Kidnappings in Delhi have increased 40 per cent and extortions have grown by 55 per cent over the past one year, Kejriwal said, citing data of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Naming almost a dozen gangs operating extortion rackets in Delhi, Kejriwal said criminals have no fear of Delhi Police whose own Constable was recently stabbed to death in Govindpuri. Kejriwal urged the Central government and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to focus on controlling crime in Delhi and prevent it from becoming the 'Crime Capital' of the nation. Earlier, former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia alleged that three rape cases were being registered daily in the city. Attacking BJP MLAs for showcasing the incident-free conduct of G-20 Summit as a reflection of good law and order in Delhi, Sisodia said law and order is not a political issue in the national Capital but it concerns every citizen. LoP Gupta of the BJP countered by accusing the AAP government of laxity but his remarks were expunged by Speaker Ram Niwas Goel. Gupta was also ordered to be marshalled out of the House by the Speaker, prompting all BJP MLAs to walk out of the Assembly in protest. Sisodia complained that cyber frauds were going on unchecked in the city. Two bomb explosions have taken place in the Rohini Assembly constituency of LoP Gupta but he is not putting pressure on the BJP-led Central government to punish the culprits and control crime, Sisodia said. "I have never ever seen such a bad law and order situation in the city," said Sisodia, highlighting that shootouts are taking place freely in the city. Sisodia said in the last 10 days, seven shootouts have taken place in Delhi. The AAP leader alleged the crime rate has risen because the Central government is misusing Delhi Police for keeping an eye on AAP legislators and plotting to stop Arvind Kejriwal from winning the next election. Former Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain, who was attending his maiden Assembly session after stepping out of prison where he was sent in an alleged money laundering case, claimed that the Central government was using police to shadow AAP MLAs and not control criminals. Srinagar, Nov 29 : J&K Police on Friday said that the Cyber Cell has solved a Rs 21 lakh digital fraud case after arresting three non-locals and recovering Rs 4.13 lakhs from them. SSP Srinagar told a media conference that a senior citizen lodged a formal complaint with the local cyber crime prevention cell, saying that he had been defrauded by cyber criminals, who posed as officials of the CBI and the TRAI. "The fraudsters accused the victim of being involved in a fabricated money laundering case amounting to Rs 6.8 crores. To intimidate him, they issued fake arrest warrants and penalties declaring the conversations a national secret and instructing the victim to lock his house and avoid any communication with others," he said. SSP Srinagar added that under pressure, the victim prematurely closed his fixed deposits and transferred Rs 21 lakh to a fraudulent HDFC Bank account, who assured him that the funds would be refunded within hours. "FIR number 26/2024 was registered and detailed investigation using advanced technical tools was started. Teams were dispatched to Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Punjab, leading to the arrest of Gaurav Kumar from Shamli (UP), Gurpreet Singh from Patiala (Punjab), and Ujjawal Chauhan, also from Patiala," the SSP said. He said during the operation, the police seized four mobile phones, a MacBook, 13 SIM cards, 24 debit cards, 20 chequebooks, 10 passbooks, and other incriminating materials. An amount of Rs 4.13 lakh has already been released back to the complainant's account. SSP Srinagar said that further investigations are ongoing to uncover other conspirators and dismantle the larger network behind this scam. The police have issued a public advisory urging citizens to exercise caution while sharing sensitive financial information and warned against falling prey to such schemes. "Legitimate government agencies will never demand payments, conduct investigations over phone calls, or request sensitive data online. Citizens are advised to verify the authenticity of such claims and report suspicious activities immediately to the nearest Cyber Police station or helpline", the SSP advised. Bengaluru, Nov 29 : A team led by Karnataka Lokayukta Justice B.S. Patil conducted a surprise raid on the government-run K.C. General Hospital in Bengaluru's Malleshwaram locality on Friday, following numerous complaints about rampant corruption and staff negligence filed with the Lokayukta. Upalokayuktas Justice K.N. Phaneendra and Justice B. Veerappa were also part of the operation. The hospital was inspected by three teams led by Lokayukta Justice Patil and Upalokayuktas Justices Phaneendra and Veerappa, who simultaneously covered different sections of the facility. They visited wards, met patients, and inquired about the availability of services and facilities. "Patients have complained that D Group workers and nurses demand bribes. Many doctors are absent from duty. Out of five doctors, only one is present. Notices will be issued to the absent doctors," said Justice Patil. He added, "We received several complaints, and during the raid, people directly corroborated these issues. If money is not paid, patients are not attended to. Where should the poor go? This situation will be taken seriously, and the responsible officers will be served notices. We will also investigate the shortage of staff." Justice Patil described poor hygiene and infrastructure, saying, "There is no flush in the toilets, and water is unavailable. Where are patients supposed to go? We will take this matter seriously." He noted the unavailability of wheelchairs, old and torn cots and beds, dust accumulation throughout the hospital, and improper cleaning routines. "The system is in disarray, and a case will be lodged. The staff claim they prepare facilities only when a patient arrives. This is unacceptable," he remarked. Upalokayukta Justice Phaneendra, who inspected the postnatal ward, stated: "There is no water supply for the mothers. Drinking water and hot water are not provided. Bed sheets, which should be changed daily, are evidently not replaced. Many staff members are on prolonged leave, and entry logs are not maintained properly." The medical superintendent was instructed to take immediate action. Justice Phaneendra added, "While there are no allegations against the doctors in the postnatal ward, the special delivery ward is empty, and the beds are dusty. The old building is covered in algae. Toilets are poorly maintained, with doors in disrepair, and cleaning is done for the sake of it. No equipment is available to monitor gas formation in newborns, so babies are taken outside for treatment. We have gathered information from the doctors and will submit a report to the government." Upalokayukta Justice Veerappa, who inspected other sections of the hospital, remarked that the facility "resembles a haunted bungalow." --IANS mka/dan New Delhi, Nov 29 : Seeking early reinstatement of 10,000 bus marshals, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on Friday sought support from BJP's Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta on the issue and proposed not to field AAP candidates against him or campaign for him in Rohini constituency as a gesture of gratitude. During a debate in the Delhi Assembly, CM Atishi said the matter of reinstatement of bus marshals is before Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena, and requested Gupta to push Raj Niwas to clear the file quickly so that poor men and women, earlier working as bus marshals, get back their employment. "In return, I assure you that AAP will not field a candidate against you or I will myself seek votes for you in Rohini constituency," CM Atishi told Gupta while seeking BJP's support for early reinstatement of bus marshals or civil defence volunteers. She shared her personal experience of harassment during travel in public transport buses and complimented the then Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for understanding women and girls' problems and introducing bus marshals in 2015. CM Atishi accused the BJP of not caring for the safety of women travellers in public buses and, through the L-G and his team of officials, stopped the salaries of 10,000 bus marshals from March 2023 and removed them in October 2023. "The scheme had been functioning smoothly from 2015 to 2023 but it was discontinued by the L-G," she said, adding that Kejriwal had in October requested the L-G not to remove bus marshals but his request was rejected. CM Atishi also accused the L-G of not reinstating bus marshals despite her repeated requests. Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj accused the L-G and officials reporting to them of removing thousands of contract employees who were recruited by former CM Kejriwal. He cited examples of the discontinuation of services of civil defence volunteers or bus marshals, data entry operators, sweeper cum-guards, and nursing orderlies in hospitals. Bhardwaj said the BJP-led Central government has manipulated the system in such a way that the process of handing over appointment letters is controlled by the L-G. He said the L-G recently handed over appointment letters to 629 government employees and 47 anti-Sikh riot victims, claiming that even bus marshals' reinstatement lies in Saxena's domain. He alleged that the appointment procedure and letters are controlled by the L-G but the salaries of employees are given by the elected government. Bhardwaj said the Delhi Assembly approved Rs 280 crore for salaries of bus marshals in 2023 but from January 2024 L-G-controlled officials have started questioning the bus marshal scheme. Earlier, the House was adjourned for about an hour when LoP Gupta sought a debate on alleged financial wrongdoings in the renovation of the official residence of former CM Kejriwal in north Delhi. Gurugram, Nov 29 : A wanted gangster was shot dead in an encounter by a joint team comprising a special task force (STF) from Bihar Police and a Crime Branch team of the Gurugram Police during the early hours on Friday. The accused had also demanded extortion from Janata Dal (United) MLA Pankaj Mishra and a case was registered against him in this regard at the Sitamarhi Police Station in Bihar, police said. The police team recovered three pistols, four live cartridges, 17 empty shells, one bullet, a motorcycle and other items from the accused. According to the police, the encounter was executed during the early hours of Friday. The gangster Saroj Rai, hailing from Sitamarhi in Bihar, faced 33 cases involving serious crimes like murder, arms act, and extortion, among others registered against him in Bihar and other states and was carrying a reward of Rs 2 lakh announced by the Bihar Police. According to the police, a crime branch team received specific inputs about the presence of the accused carrying illegal weapons with him and roaming on a motorcycle in places like Mewat and Sohna, Tauru and coming towards Gurugram to execute a crime in the city. Following this, a special team was formed headed by Varun Dahiya, ACP (crime) to nab the accused. The police team reached the spot and installed barricades to nab the accused. "During this, a motorcycle was seen coming from Tauru Road near Bar Gurjar Chowki area at a very high speed. The police teams blocked the entire road with their vehicles and signalled the motorcyclist to stop with the help of reflectors, but he could not stop and turned his motorcycle towards the hill area. The accused motorcycle slipped and fell. They then started running towards the hill while firing indiscriminately at the police team. The police repeatedly warned both the accused to stop and surrender, but both of them kept firing continuously," Varun Dahiya said. During this firing, two bullets hit the bulletproof jackets of police officers, and one bullet hit the left hand of a Bihar Police constable. The police team fired warning shots at the accused to control them. The bullet hit Saroj Rai and he fell to the ground, the ACP added. Meanwhile, another accused took advantage of the situation and managed to escape through the bushes. The injured policeman and accused Saroj Rai, were taken to the hospital for treatment, where Saroj was declared dead while the constable was undergoing treatment. "Based on the evidence obtained from the crime scene in this matter, a case under Sections 121(1), 132, 221, 109, 111, 3(5) BNS & 25(1-B)a, 27 ARMS ACT was registered at the Kherki Daula Police Station in Gurugram. New Delhi, Nov 29 : The Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna on Friday recommended that Justice Chandra Dhari Singh of the Delhi High Court be repatriated to the Allahabad High Court. "The Supreme Court Collegium in its meetings held on 28th and 29th November 2024 has recommended repatriation of Mr. Justice Chandra Dhari Singh, Judge, High Court of Delhi, to his parent High Court i.e. the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad," said a statement uploaded on the website of the apex court. Before elevation, Justice Singh practised in the Supreme Court as an "Advocate-on Record", apart from dealing in original side, civil and criminal matters in Allahabad High Court, Delhi High Court and other High Courts, trial courts, tribunals and commissions. He dealt in service law, labour laws, electricity laws, excise and Custom related matters, contractual obligation, suits, complaint cases under Negotiable Instrument Act, arbitration cases, educational matters and other corporate and industry related matters as counsel. He graduated in law from Delhi University in 1993 and enrolled as an advocate in July 1994. He was appointed as Additional Advocate General for the state of Chhattisgarh, Standing Counsel for the state of Madhya Pradesh, Standing Counsel for the state of Uttar Pradesh, Standing Counsel for the state of Jharkhand, Senior Panel Counsel for Union of India, Counsel for the University of Lucknow, Counsel for Steel Authority of India Ltd, etc. A day before, the Supreme Court Collegium on Thursday recommended the name of Delhi High Court's Chief Justice Manmohan for elevation as a judge of the top court. Justice Manmohan stands at serial number 2 in the combined all-India seniority of High Court Judges and he is the senior-most Judge in the Delhi High Court. "The Supreme Court Collegium in its meeting held on 28th November 2024 deliberated on and discussed the names of Chief Justices and senior puisne Judges of the High Courts eligible for appointment to the Supreme Court. [T]he Supreme Court Collegium has unanimously recommended that Mr. Justice Manmohan be appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India," the SC Collegium said. Mumbai, Nov 29 : A Congress leader likened the Election Commission of India (ECI) to a 'dog' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi while the state party unit submitted a memorandum to the State Election Commission CEO on alleged irregularities in the recent Assembly elections here, on Friday. Congress's MLC and Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Ashok A. Jagtap, alias Bhai Jagtap created a flutter when he compared the ECI to a canine sitting outside the PM's residence with all agencies being misused. "This is an unexpected (polls) verdict. We cannot believe it People in the state were totally against the (ruling) MahaYuti regime, but the entire credit for it goes to the EVMs. Yes EVMs tampered I will say hacked at some places," said Jagtap. Simultaneously, the state Congress President Nana F. Patole has shot off a letter to the SEC CEO S. Chokalingam, raising several questions on the sudden spurt in the November 20 Assembly elections voting figures. "Doubts are being raised at various levels on the 7.83 per cent increase in votes after the close of voting hours. Judging by the ECI's figures, there should have been long queues outside polling stations after 5 p.m. that (November 20) day. Public sentiments are strong as there is a huge scam in this," said Patole in the letter. He demanded to know in how many constituencies of the total 288 were there long voters' queues after 5 p.m., sought the release of evidence on this including video footage, etc. Patole reiterated that as per official data of ECI, 65.2 per cent voting took place till 11.30 p.m. on November 20, but the next day (November 21), at 3 p.m., the figure went up to 66.05 per cent. "From where has the 1.03 percentage discrepancy in the figures, that were officially released by ECI itself, come from? How did a whopping 999,359 votes increase in just one day? This is very serious and worrying, plus created suspicions in public minds, so it is the ECI's duty to clarify all this," urged Patole. He called upon the ECI itself to step forward and throw light on the situation supported with other relevant evidence and provide satisfactory answers to help dispel the misgivings among the masses. New Delhi, Nov 29 : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chadha on Friday raised a notice in the Rajya Sabha, urging the suspension of scheduled proceedings to discuss an urgent and significant issue on Friday, seeking debate on atrocities against Hindus. The issue of suspension of work pertains to the atrocities, attacks, and injustices being committed against Hindus in Bangladesh, as well as the recent unjust arrest of Iskcon priest Chinmoy Krishna Das, who was arrested on charges of sedition in Bangladesh. In a media interaction, Rajya Sabha MP Chadha said: "Today, I gave a notice in the Rajya Sabha to suspend proceedings and demanded that the scheduled business for the day be set aside to discuss an important issue. This issue pertains to the atrocities, attacks, and injustices being committed against Hindus in Bangladesh. Additionally, I raised the matter of the recent unjust arrest of ISKCON's saint, Chinmoy Das-ji." The AAP Rajya Sabha MP further said: "I requested that a discussion be held in the House on this matter and urged the External Affairs Minister to inform the House about the steps taken by the Indian government in its dialogue with the Bangladeshi authorities. Specifically, I asked: What outcomes or results have been achieved so far? Is the Hindu community in Bangladesh now safe? Will Chinmoy Das-ji be released soon?" He also emphasised the importance of accountability and a strong parliamentary stance on such issues. "I also demanded that the government provide answers in the House on all these points and bring a resolution in the Rajya Sabha to condemn these incidents. This resolution should be unanimously passed by all parties, sending a strong message not only to the Bangladeshi government but also to the entire world. It is the responsibility of India's Parliament to take such a stand," Chadha added. ISKCON has dismissed the claims that it has distanced itself from Das, the Hindu monk, and affirmed its support for him and called for the protection of the rights of Hindus in the country. "ISKCON has not, and does not distance itself from supporting Chinmoy Krishna Das's rights and freedom for peacefully calling for protecting Hindus and their places of worship," the organisation said in a statement. Kolkata, Nov 29 : A special court here on Friday permitted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take custody of Sujay Krishna Bhadra, a prime accused in the multi-crore cash-for-school job case in West Bengal currently lodged at the Presidency Central Correctional Home in south Kolkata. The judge of the special court gave permission to CBI to take custody following his absence from court for the second consecutive day on Friday. Medical grounds were cited as the reason for his absence. After Bhadra failed to physically turn up in court on Thursday, the judge fixed 12 noon on Friday as the deadline for his physical appearance. However, he did not turn up even on Friday and instead the correctional home authorities forwarded his medical report to the court. Bhadra has been in judicial custody since he was arrested last year in the matter by the officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is conducting a parallel probe in the school jobs case. The CBI had also moved a plea for conducting the voice-sampling test of Bhadra, which had already been conducted by the ED official earlier this year. The probe agency had also sought the permission of the court to conduct the voice-sampling test of Santanu Bandopadhyay, a former youth Trinamool Congress leader. However, the special court had rejected CBI's plea for conducting their voice-sampling tests of Bhadra and Bandopadhyay by taking them into custody for a day. Instead, the judge of the special court had advised the central agency to collect their voice-samples at the correction home in the presence of a judicial magistrate. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Friday granted conditional bail to the suspended Trinamool Congress leader Kuntal Ghosh in the same school-job case. Taking into consideration the delay in commencement of the trial, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan said that continued incarceration of Kuntal Ghosh would not be in conformity with the settled principles of criminal justice of speedy and fair trial. Kuntal Ghosh will be released on conditions as may be fixed by the trial court. He will deposit his passport and will not leave the state of West Bengal without prior permission, as per the SC order. The apex court added that bail conditions in the ED case will also apply to the CBI case. News / Local by Staff reporter The Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (Zimsec) has announced the release of the 2023 Grade 7 examination results, with students able to access their results on the Zimsec online portal starting today. School heads will be able to collect the results from their respective regional offices beginning Monday.Zimsec chairperson, Eddie Mwenje, revealed that a total of 372,603 candidates sat for one to six subjects in the 2023 examinations, reflecting a 7.89% increase in candidature compared to the 343,169 candidates recorded in 2022.Mwenje noted a significant improvement in the national pass rate."The 2023 Grade 7 examinations session has recorded a national pass rate of 45.57%, an increase of 5.48% from last year's pass rate of 40.09%," he stated.The improvement in performance has been attributed to the return of a normal school calendar following disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Mwenje also credited interventions by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in enhancing teaching and learning outcomes.The results also revealed a gender disparity in performance, with female candidates achieving a pass rate of 49.59% compared to 41.21% for male candidates.For the 357 special needs learners who sat for the exams, results showed notable participation and performance. Of these, 194 candidates wrote six subjects, while 113 candidates with hearing impairments wrote five subjects. The average pass rate for all special needs learners was 42.99%.The release of the results marks a crucial milestone for both students and schools as they prepare for the transition to secondary education. Parents and guardians are encouraged to use the online portal to access the results promptly, while schools are expected to distribute physical copies once collected from regional offices.The improved pass rate is seen as a positive sign of recovery in Zimbabwe's education sector, with stakeholders expressing optimism about continued advancements in academic performance. Bengaluru, Nov 29 : The filing of an FIR against Vokkaliga seer Kumara Chandrashekaranatha Swami has taken a serious political turn with a Karnataka BJP delegation visiting him on Friday and warning of serious consequences if he was booked by the police. Karnataka Police slapped an FIR on Friday against Swami for his controversial remark demanding disenfranchisement of Muslims in India. The Upparpet police in Bengaluru lodged the FIR following a complaint in this regard under Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The complaint stated that the statement by the seer was provocative and threatens to disturb communal harmony in society. Kumara Chandrashekaranatha Swami's statement on Tuesday demanding disenfranchisement of Muslims in India had stirred a political controversy in Karnataka. The BJP delegation's visit to the powerful Vokkaliga seer was headed by Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka and former Deputy CM and BJP MLA C.N. Ashwath Narayan. They discussed the development at his mutt near Kengeri on the outskirts of Bengaluru. Opposition leader R. Ashoka issued a strong warning to the Karnataka government stating that, "The Congress party's hatred toward Vokkaligas is disgraceful. If the government dares to target Swamiji, the entire Vokkaliga community will rise against it. "If the Congress government attempts to take action against Vokkaliga seer Kumara Chandrashekaranatha Swami, the head of the Vishwa Vokkaliga Mahasamsthana Mutt, the entire Vokkaliga community will rise in protest." Ashoka added, "We have expressed our support to Swamiji and assured him that we stand with the Vokkaliga community." Ashoka claimed, "The Waqf Board has been encroaching upon the lands of Hindus and religious institutions. They are altering land records in every district." "Swamiji spoke out against the injustice faced by Hindus and even offered to apologise if he was wrong for his controversial remarks. Despite this, a complaint was filed against him by a person with a communal mindset. How bold is this government to take such action?" he questioned. "AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi openly threatens the nation. In Andhra Pradesh, a cleric threatens the government, and some even disregard Supreme Court orders. Karnataka Minister for Waqf and Housing Zameer Khan once said he would 'buy off' former PM H.D. Deve Gowda himself. Yet, no action has been taken against them," he underlined. He claimed that no action has been taken against those who chant slogans like 'Pakistan Zindabad.' Ashoka accused Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who hails from the Vokkaliga community, of inconsistency, saying, "At times, he speaks for Vokkaligas, and at other times, he calls terrorists 'brothers.' But the BJP has always stood firmly for Hindus." He criticised the police for issuing notices to the seer instead of addressing the issue diplomatically. "The Vokkaliga community must awaken to the bias and hatred being shown by the government. The people of this community must take note of this injustice. If Swamiji is harassed further, the BJP will take to the streets and fight," Ashoka declared. New Delhi, Nov 29 : The Supreme Court on Friday adjourned the hearing on a clutch of petitions pertaining to the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Eidgah Masjid dispute. A Bench presided over by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna decided to post the matter for further hearing on December 9, saying that the issues raised would require a detailed hearing. In an earlier hearing, the Bench, also comprising Justice Sanjay Kumar, declined to pass any interim order staying the operation of the Allahabad High Court order upholding the maintainability of civil suits filed by Hindu worshippers. The top court is examining the special leave petition filed by the Shahi Masjid Idgah Management Committee against the dismissal of their application filed under Order VII Rule 11 of the CPC (Code of Civil Procedure). It had asked the mosque management committee, to examine the preliminary objection on maintainability since the impugned judgment being passed by the single-judge bench would be appealable before a division bench of the high court. The apex court had clarified that the filing of the special leave petition before the apex court will not preclude the Allahabad High Court from hearing the suits filed by Hindu worshippers. In an order passed on August 1, the Allahabad HC had rejected the mosque committeeas contention that the suits filed were barred under various statutes such as the Places of Worship Act, 1991, the Limitation Act, the Specific Relief Act, the Waqf Act, and the CPC. A bench of Justice Mayank Kumar Jain had held that the suits involved mixed questions of facts and law regarding the religious character of the disputed property and would require further consideration after examining and appreciating the evidence filed and led by the parties. Multiple suits seeking various reliefs were filed in different courts of Mathura with a common claim that the Eidgah complex was built on the land believed to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna, where a temple had existed. The top court is also seized of a plea filed by the mosque committee challenging the transfer of suits by the High Court to itself. Chandigarh, Nov 29 : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday sought cooperation from the World Bank for infrastructure development, human resource development, besides social welfare initiatives and financial support. At a meeting with World Bank Country Director for India Auguste Tano Kouame here, the Chief Minister presented a case for financial assistance to the state. Mann highlighted the government's commitment to fiscal and institutional resilience, besides emphasising the need for financial support to drive growth, improve public services and enhance the overall quality of life for its citizens. He showcased state's strong reform agenda, focusing on fiscal prudence, improved governance and enhanced service delivery as a key factor in its quest for financial assistance. The Chief Minister said proposed financial assistance is expected to support Punjab's development priorities, including infrastructure development, human resource development and social welfare initiatives. He said with this significant development, Punjab "is poised to take a major leap forward in its journey towards prosperity and growth". Mann said environment "is the major thrust area of the government and it is giving top priority to conservation of groundwater". The Chief Minister said the government "is reviving old water resources and trying to provide canal water to maximum part of the irrigation land, thereby reducing the consumption of electricity on one hand and checking the depletion of ground water on the other". He said lining of canals, reviving of old water courses (khals) and other initiatives are being taken so that farmers can able to use maximum surface water. Mann said due to efforts of the government in the past two years groundwater level has increased by around one metre. The Chief Minister said the government has designed a programme for solar agricultural pump sets, adding it will increase the income of farmers manifold. World Bank Country Director Kouame acknowledged state's potential for growth and development and expressed their willingness to support state's endeavours, recognising the importance of a strong and resilient public financial management framework. He said that the bank is looking for cooperation areas and fiscal prudence, data sharing and services in large cities. Bhopal, Nov 29 : In a shocking incident, a youth offered a cigarette to the idol of Kaal Bhairav at a temple in Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh. A video of the incident surfaced on social media shows the incident taking place at Kaal Bhairav temple located in the Gwarighat area in Jabalpur district. The accused person not only offered the cigarette to the deity but recorded the disrespectful act on his mobile phone, making it viral. In the viral video, the youth is not only seen placing a cigarette on Kaal Bhairav's idol but could also be heard appealing to others to do the same to seek blessings. "If you offer cigarettes to Lord Kaal Bhairav, the deity will fulfil your all wishes," the accused can be heard saying. The exact date of the viral video is yet to be ascertained as the police probe is underway. Police said that they first found the video on the Facebook account with the user's name Akash Goswami. The viral video circulated widely on social media has drawn flak from the netizens, calling it "disrespectful and inappropriate". Police said upon receiving a complaint from a group of priests of the temple, a complaint has been registered at Gwarighat police station and the accused (unidentified) has been booked for hurting religious sentiments and other relevant charges. Jabalpur Additional SP Anand Kaladgi said a thorough investigation has been launched into the incident. SP Kaladgi said that they are tracing the accused through his Facebook account, and assured that strict action will be taken in the case. "A special team is investigating the case and the accused will be arrested soon," he said. He added that police personnel have been also deployed at the temple premises. It is believed that the centuries-old Kaal Bhairav temple in Jabalpur district was established during the reign of Gondwana dynasty ruler Rani Durgavati. Imphal, Nov 29 : The tripartite talks between the Centre, Manipur government and the United Naga Council (UNC), over the Naga body's demand for rollback of the 'arbitrary creation' of seven new districts in the state, remained inconclusive on Friday, officials said. An official of the Manipur Home Department said that in the tripartite meeting, held at Senapati District Headquarters, discussions focused on the creation of seven new districts by the state government on December 8, 2016, and UNC's demand for rollback of the creation of these districts. "The representatives of the Manipur government expressed inability to present a concrete proposal in view of certain difficulties. However, the UNC expressed strong exceptions over the state government's non-submission of the concrete proposal and insisted that it be submitted in the next round of talk," the official said referring to the decision of the meeting. He said that the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and it was mutually agreed that further progress would be made by engaging in a sustained manner in order to resolve the issue politically in a time-bound manner keeping in view the previous commitments. The next round of tripartite talks would be held in the last week of January at Senapati district headquarters. MHA's advisor, North East Affairs, A. K. Mishra, Manipur Home Commissioner N. Ashok Kumar, four Naga community leaders including UNC's President N.G.Lorho and General Secretary Vareiyo Shatsang attended the meeting The UNC in October first week temporarily suspended its 48-hour shutdown after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) called for a tripartite meeting to discuss the issue. The UNC organised a series of agitations demanding the rollback of the "arbitrary creation" of seven new districts in December 2016 and the reinstatement of the status quo. The UNC had on September 11 issued an ultimatum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah for redressal of the pending issue of "arbitrary creation" of seven new districts in Manipur in 2016 and warned of intense agitation if the matter was not resolved within 15 days. The UNC had said that seven new districts were created arbitrarily by bifurcating parent districts on December 8, 2016, during the Congress regime without any information, consent or knowledge of the stakeholders. It claimed that the seven new districts were created "dishonouring" the four memoranda between the government of Manipur and the Naga people besides the assurance from the Government of India in 2011. The Naga body had said that the previous talks with the governments were held on March 9, 2019, with the assurance that a concrete proposal shall be placed by the Manipur government in the next round of talks, supposedly to be held by the last week of July 2019. The UNC said that a missive had been sent to the office of the Special Secretary, Northeast, Ministry of Home Affairs, for resumption of the tripartite talks on January 22, 2024, and a prompt reminder was sent on February 23. Naga people mostly inhabited six Manipur districts -- Tamenglong, Chandel, Ukhrul, Kamjong, Noney and Senapati, which are along the Nagaland and Myanmar borders. During the 18-month-long ethnic unrest in Manipur between the non-tribal Meitei and the tribal Kuki-Zo community, Naga-inhabited areas remained peaceful. Bhopal, Nov 29 : Nine-day 'Sanatan Hindu Ekta' padyatra (foot march) led by Bageshwar Dham head priest Dhirendra Krishna Shastri concluded on Friday. With the concept of uniting Hindu people, the padyatra, which started from Bageshwar Dham Ashram in Chhatarpur district on November 21, after covering a distance of 160 km, reached Orchha's Raja Ram temple in Tikamgarh district on Friday. Local people welcomed Shastri's padyatra with flower showers and hailing Lord Ram and Hanuman. A large number of devotees and religious seers were also present on the occasion. Upon reaching Raja Ram temple, Shastri hoisted a saffron flag (dharma dhwaja) at the premises, the mark the conclusion of his padyatra. On the occasion, Shastri announced that he would start the second round of padyatra from Brindavan (Uttar Pradesh) to Delhi. "We can't sit in homes until our mother and daughter feel unsafe. This yatra concluded today, but the next yatra will be started from Brindavan to Delhi," Shastri said. Meanwhile, large number of police personnel were deployed at the temple premises and also the route earmarked for padyatra. Several VIP guests and seers will stay at a guest house in Orchha on Friday. A senior police official told media persons that adequate arrangements had been made to ensure that the devotees visiting at temple could offer their prayers. "More than 2 lakh people are expected to receive 'prasad' and to offer their prayer at Raja Ram temple. Special arrangements have been made for the VIP guests," a police official said. During nine days yatra, that passed through several districts - Chhatarpur, Niwari, Jhansi (UP) and Tikamgarh, participated by politicians from different different states, a couple of Bollywood actors and a large number of religious seers. Mumbai, Nov 29 : Priyanka Chopra Jonas celebrated a cozy Thanksgiving in London with her husband Nick Jonas and their daughter, Malti Marie. She took to her Instagram handle to share glimpses of the joyous occasion through a series of Instagram posts. PeeCee shared a series of images showcases an intimate celebration with her close family and friends. In the first image, Nick Jonas is seen lovingly kissing their daughter Malti on the forehead. The second image showcases a paper-cut glass adorned with the word "Thanksgiving." The post includes snapshots of their sumptuous Thanksgiving feast, which includes roasted turkey, apple pie, chocolate chip cookies, a tart, and an upside-down pineapple cake. One of the photos showcases personalized gift bags from little Malti, complete with her name on them, while other shots highlight a name card representing the Jonas family beautifully placed on the dinner table. Sharing these photos, Chopra wrote in the caption, "So grateful for the life we're building together. With tremendous gratitude in my heart, I'd like to thank everyone that has been in my corner all these years. It's so important for a person to have champions and I'm very lucky to have always had that. May you all be surrounded by love and loved ones. Happy thanksgiving to everyone celebrating." Meanwhile, the actress has recently wrapped up filming for season two of the Russo Brothers' "Citadel" in London. Earlier in the day, she shared a video marking the end of her shoot, giving fans a glimpse of her final moments on set. The video featured her character's name, "Nadia," displayed on her chair, along with a file labelled with her initials, "PCJ." Priyanka was also seen holding a small coffee cup, capturing a candid moment from her farewell to the set. She has an exciting lineup of projects ahead. She will star alongside John Cena and Idris Elba in "Heads of State." Additionally, she is set to lead the upcoming film "The Bluff," directed by Frank E. Flowers and co-starring Karl Urban. Bengaluru, Nov 29 : The Karnataka BJP Mahila Morcha has expressed grave concerns over the state government's 'failure' to ensure women's safety and address issues affecting their welfare. Speaking at the BJP office, Jagannath Bhavan in Bengaluru, State Mahila Morcha President K. Manjula on Friday demanded the immediate arrest of Congress state general secretary Gurappa Naidu, who has been accused of sexually harassing female teachers. She criticised the Congress-led state government for reportedly targeting the seer of the Vishwa Vokkaliga Mahasamsthana Matha for his purported remarks on the disenfranchisement of Muslims while failing to take decisive action against Gurappa Naidu despite the serious allegations of sexual harassment. Manjula alleged that Naidu had harassed teachers and blackmailed them using audio and video recordings. "The plight of women suffering under microfinance institutions is miserable in the state. In Hunsur, a woman allegedly committed suicide due to harassment by a microfinance agency. The government must intervene, conduct a thorough investigation, and take strict action against such institutions," Manjula demanded. She also expressed anguish over the deaths of seven new mothers at Ballary District Hospital within 10 days. "The government has failed to ensure accountability in the health sector. These are state-sponsored deaths. The Health Minister, Dinesh Gundu Rao, must resign," Manjula charged, adding that the families of the deceased should be compensated. A BJP Mahila Morcha delegation led by State General Secretary Suguna and State Vice President Vijayalakshmi Karur recently visited government hospitals in the Ballari region and met with the Deputy Commissioner to demand an investigation into the maternal deaths, she stated. The delegation reportedly found that the hospital faced staff shortages and lacked adequate facilities. Manjula accused the Congress government of irresponsibility and demanded immediate reforms. She also highlighted cases of women facing hardships due to bus delays, particularly in rural areas, and urged the government to act responsibly and address these issues. Manjula also condemned the harassment of lawyer Jeeva by the Karnataka police, which allegedly drove her to suicide. She expressed hope for justice through court intervention and the efforts of legal advocates. Jeeva was questioned by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with the Bhovi Development Corporation scam, which occurred during the previous BJP government. The scam, which allegedly took place in 202122, involves misappropriating large sums intended for loans under a job scheme for Bhovi community members. New Delhi, Nov 29 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 'Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav,' a three-day festival celebrating the cultural, social, and economic vibrance of the eight northeastern states, on December 6 at Bharat Mandapam, Union Minister for Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya Scindia announced on Friday. The festival will provide an unprecedented platform to highlight the region's vibrant textile industry, artisanal crafts, and unique Geographical Indication (GI) products, Scindia said. The eight northeastern states Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura, and Sikkim are often referred to as the 'Ashtalakshmi,' symbolising eight forms of prosperity, contributing to India's cultural, social, and economic fabric, he said. The event aims to foster long-term business relationships between the region's artisans and buyers, with expectations of significant on-the-spot sales and bulk orders. Additionally, investors will engage with government representatives and entrepreneurs to explore opportunities in textiles, handicrafts, agriculture, and tourism. Speaking at the curtain-raiser event for the Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav, Scindia emphasised the Northeast's critical role in India's development, aligning with Prime Minister Modi's vision. "It is the Prime Minister's vision that the Northeast should serve as the engine of India's growth. The eight avatars of Lakshmi Prosperity, Opulence, Purity, Wealth, Knowledge, Duty, Agriculture, and Animal Husbandry symbolise the essence of the Northeast," he stated. The minister also highlighted the steps being taken to empower the region's artisans and farmers. He noted that the DoNER ministry has established five task forces to analyse and improve the value chain of local products, ensuring maximum economic benefit for the region. "The possibilities in the Northeast are immensewhether in bamboo, rubber, or other local products. We are working to connect these opportunities with the rest of India and the world," he added. The festival will feature a grand inauguration that includes the launch of a commemorative postal stamp. Over the course of three days, there will be a special session where CMs of the eight states will chair a roundtable discussion on the region. Cultural programmes, buyer-seller meet, technical sessions and investment roundtables along with the unique Ashtalakshmi Gramin Haat will also be organised, the minister said. A special fashion show will highlight the fusion of contemporary design with traditional textiles, featuring Muga silk gowns and Eri silk stoles. Alappuzha, Nov 29 : The Kerala Police on Friday arrested a 12th standard schoolboy for the death of a five-month pregnant classmate. The accused has been charged under the Pocso Act. On November 22, a class 12 girl student was admitted with fever at a state-run hospital in Pathanamthitta district. As her condition deteriorated, she was admitted to Alappuzha Medical College Hospital for better treatment. On November 25, the victim girl breathed her last and the cause of death was said to be infection. However, police asked for a post-mortem report of the victim which revealed that she was five months pregnant. The police then collected the sample of the fetus and sent it for DNA testing. Police said that the parents of the girl had no clue of what had happened and on a thorough probe they (parents) were able to recover a suicide note written by the victim in which she asked her parents to forgive her for the wrongs she had committed. In her suicide note, the victim said that she was consuming tablets in large quantities. The police suspect that this has led to medical complications and since she was pregnant, the intake of tablets led to infection which caused death. An official said that the police zeroed down on the girl's classmate and after several rounds of questioning led to the arrest of the victim's batchmate with whom she was in a relationship. Police said that the accused boy has admitted to the crime but had no clue of the girl consuming tablets in large quantities. "The accused boy has admitted that they were in a relationship," police said. The police found that the boy was 18 years and six months old and the crime took place when he was over 18 years while the girl was below 18 years. So the accused was booked under the Pocso Act. The police also collected the sample of the accused boy and sent it for DNA testing. News / National by Staff reporter The High Court has sentenced Memory Marira, a woman from Ushewokunze in Harare South, to 15 years in prison after she fatally struck her husband, Lovemore Tembo, with a soft drink bottle during a domestic dispute. The incident occurred on January 20 this year, following a disagreement over Tembo's intention to go out drinking with friends.Marira, who pleaded not guilty to murder, admitted to striking her husband with the bottle but claimed she was provoked. High Court Judge Justice Lucy Mungwari convicted her after a full trial.According to the State's case, the altercation began when Tembo expressed his intention to leave the house to drink beer with friends. Marira opposed his plan and chased him in an attempt to prevent him from going out. Tembo initially returned to the house, where he taunted Marira and challenged her to strike him.The dispute escalated when Tembo later told Marira that he had changed his mind about going to the shops and decided instead to attend a traditional beer-drinking ceremony in their locality. Marira, however, refused to accept his decision, and when Tembo attempted to leave again, she struck him on the back of the head with an empty soft drink bottle. Tembo collapsed immediately.A neighbor, Richard Chitima, who was a friend of Tembo's, was called to assist in resuscitating him. However, after assessing Tembo's condition, Chitima took him to a nearby clinic, where he was referred to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital. Tembo succumbed to his injuries the following day.While Marira admitted to assaulting Tembo, she claimed that he had provoked her. Justice Mungwari, however, rejected this defense, stating that the assault was excessive and unjustifiable.In her judgment, the judge noted that the State had presented the case under mitigatory circumstances, acknowledging Marira's role as Tembo's wife and her assistance in taking him to the hospital. However, Justice Mungwari emphasized that the offense was committed in a brutal and violent manner, with the blow splitting open the deceased's skull."The blow was brutal. It split open the deceased's skull," the judge said. "There was no justification for the severity of the assault inflicted upon the deceased."Justice Mungwari further stated that while Marira was a first offender with no previous convictions and had contributed positively to her family, the crime's severity warranted a stern sentence. She also remarked that the nature of the offense, where the victim died a painful death at the hands of someone who should have been his protector, left no doubt about the brutality of the attack."The circumstances surrounding the offence leave us in no doubt that the deceased died a painful death," the judge said, noting that it was unlikely Marira would ever escape the emotional consequences of her actions.Marira was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the fatal assault, a sentence that Judge Mungwari determined was consistent with the legal guidelines for murder in the absence of aggravating circumstances. Imphal, Nov 29 : Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Friday urged the Army to undertake all out efforts to locate and rescue the 56-year-old Meitei community man who has been missing since November 25 from Kangpokpi district. The Chief Minister asked the Army to take responsibility to find out Laishram Kamalbabu Singh, 56, who was reportedly missing in and around from the 57th Mountain Division Army campus at Leimakhong in Kangpokpi district. "MLA Dingo Singh fom Sekmai along with the members of Joint Action Committee (JAC) met me and discussed the missing of Kamalbabu Singh. They also submitted a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister demanding immediate rescue of the missing person," Biren Singh told the media. The government has requested the army and the Ministry of Home Affairs to trace Kamalbabu Singh at the earliest, the Chief Minister said, adding that an FIR has been registered with the Sekmai Police Station in this regard. Kamalbabu Singh, a resident of Gossaipur under Cachar district in southern Assam and now staying at Loitang Khunou village in Imphal West district, left his residence on November 25 to go to the Leimakhong military station in Kangpokpi. He has been working as a supervisor for a contractor working with Military Engineering Services (MES) at the Leimakhong Military Station. The Chief Minister claimed that there is evidence that Kamalbabu Singh signed the register when he entered the campus. "Since Kamalbabu Singh disappeared from the army compound, the army has the major responsibility to locate him," the chief minister claimed. Defence sources said that the Indian Army along with Manipur Police personnel continued their intense search operation for the fifth day on Thursday to locate and rescue the missing Meitei community man even as tension mounted in Imphal West district, which borders the mountainous Kangpokpi district. The Defence spokesperson said that regular meetings have been held with village heads and community elders to further strengthen the search by gathering information and seeking assistance. The Army continues to provide full support to the police authorities in the ongoing investigation, reaffirming its commitment to the safety and security of the individual, a Defence release said. The Defence PRO said that on receiving the information about the missing person, the army sprung into action, immediately activating all its resources. CCTV feeds have been scanned, his co-workers were being spoken to, and an intense search operation, including sniffer dogs, has been launched. An official in Imphal said that Imphal West and Kangpokpi District Police along with Army teams under the personal supervision of GOC 57 Mountain Division are involved in the search operation. The Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed after Laishram Kamalbabu Singh went missing, has been agitating, including holding of sit-in protest at Kanto Sabal in Imphal West district. The protesters demanded the safe release or rescue of Singh at the earliest. Leimakhong military station, located 16 km away from the capital Imphal, is surrounded by Kuki-Zo tribal-dominated areas. After the ethnic violence broke out in Manipur in May last year, people belonging to the Meitei community fled the areas near Leimakhong village. Manila, Nov 29 : HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths are on the rise in the Western Pacific region, reversing years of progress in the fight against the epidemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday. New HIV infections have risen by eight per cent and AIDS-related deaths by 10 per cent since 2019, highlighting critical gaps in prevention, testing, treatment and care services, particularly for key populations, according to the WHO regional office in Manila. While 76 per cent of people living with HIV in the region have access to life-saving antiretroviral therapy. "Experts agree that these disturbing trends show that much more needs to be done to stop the spread of HIV and prevent avoidable deaths," the UN health agency said in its media release. The Western Pacific region faces significant challenges, with 2.3 million people living with HIV, 140,000 new infections and 53,000 deaths in 2023 alone, the WHO said, Xinhua news agency reported. "Every hour, 16 people are newly infected, and six people die from HIV-related causes in the Western Pacific region," it said. "The rising HIV infections and deaths in the Western Pacific region are a wake-up call. We must urgently address the barriers that prevent people, especially those in key populations and their partners, from accessing prevention, treatment, and care," said Saia Ma'u Piukala, WHO regional Director for the Western Pacific. Chandigarh, Nov 29 : Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Punjab President Aman Arora held meetings with party leaders, legislators, and ministers to discuss the elections to five municipal corporations and 42 municipal councils, saying applications for candidates will start from December 1. Arora said like the by-elections, the party would also win the municipal elections by a significant margin. "We are confident that we will achieve a significant lead in these elections as well," he said, adding, "The victory in the by-elections has boosted the morale of party workers, and this will positively impact the municipal elections too." Arora said that the state government is committed to the all-round development of Punjab's cities. He highlighted the importance of municipal elections in planning and implementing development projects for cities. Expressing hope for free and fair elections, he said that post-elections, the pace of development work in cities would accelerate. "We will pave the way for transparent and honest governance in local administration as well," he said. He said the party "is preparing separate plans for each city. Some issues are common everywhere, but every area has unique problems, and these are also being considered." Arora announced that starting December 1, the party will begin accepting applications for councillor candidates in all municipal corporations and councils. He said the selection process would prioritise merit, loyalty to the party, the social composition of the area, and the candidate's winning potential. He urged party members aspiring to contest the elections to contact their local party officials or legislators to submit their applications. "Each application will be thoroughly reviewed," he said. During the meeting, Arora announced the appointment of AAP ministers as observers for the five municipal corporations -- Amritsar, Patiala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, and Phagwara. Cabinet minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal was appointed as the observer for Amritsar, minister Harbhajan Singh ETO for Jalandhar, Barinder Goyal for Patiala, and minister Tarunpreet Singh Sondh for Ludhiana Municipal Corporation, while MP from Hoshiarpur, Raj Kumar Chabbewal, was appointed as observer for the Phagwara Municipal Corporation. Hyderabad, Nov 29 : Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) celebrated Deeksha Divas on Friday with its Working President K.T. Rama Rao accusing Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy of attacking Telangana's self-respect and identity The day marked 15th anniversary of its leader K. Chandrasekhar Rao's hunger strike to demand statehood to Telangana. It was on November 29, 2009 that BRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) had launched an indefinite hunger strike to demand separate Telangana state. This had led to the announcement by the then Congress-led UPA government at the Centre on December 9, 2009 that the process for formation of Telangana State will be initiated. To mark the occasion, KCR's son and BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao led rallies and addressed public meetings in Karimnagar and Hyderabad. The rally in Hyderabad was organised from Basvatarakam Cancer Hospital to party headquarters Telangana Bhavan in the evening. KCR's daughter and BRS MLC K. Kavitha, party MLAs and MLCs participated in the rally. KTR, as Rama Rao is popularly known, Kavitha and other leaders garlanded the statue of Telangana Talli, paid tributes to Telangana ideologue K. Jayashankar and the martyrs' memorial, reaffirming the sacrifices made for the Telangana statehood movement. Speaking on the occasion, KTR accused Chief Minister Revanth Reddy of attacking Telangana's self-respect and identity. He remarked, "Revanth Reddy's attempts to erase KCR's legacy are not just about KCRthey are about erasing Telangana's history and identity." He condemned the removal of Kakatiya architectural elements in official emblem of state and replacing Telangana Talli's statue with that of Rahul Gandhi's father, terming it a betrayal of Telangana movement and aspirations. KTR accused both the BJP and Congress of undermining Telangana's struggle while referring to Congress leaders as "Delhi's puppets". He called on Telangana people to recognize and resist these threats, saying, "Without political self-existence of Telangana people, there is no one to voice Telangana's concerns in Parliament. Telangana's voice is only BRS." KTR emphasised the importance of remembering the history of the Telangana movement, stating: "Three generations had to endure oppression. Forgetting our past struggles would be a grave mistake. We must teach future generations about self-respect and the sacrifices made to achieve Telangana." Urging the younger generation to learn from the past, KTR stated: "History teaches us who our friends and enemies are. Forgetting our struggles will make us vulnerable to future attacks on our existence." He compared Telangana's movement to India's independence struggle, drawing parallels with the resilience and leadership of figures like Gandhi and Mandela. The BRS leader said that there is need for another 'deeksha' for the sake of Telangana people. "Today is the day Telangana became a certainty when a Do or Die battle erupted. 15 years ago today is the day when KCR Garu sat on a fast unto death for Telangana statehood. His steely resolve created a formidable compulsion for the political establishment of the Nation. Telangana was not given, it was won by the people's movement under the able leadership of KCR after a protracted struggle against Congress. Thank you KCR sir for your leadership that inspires us everyday and will continue to do so for many generations to come," KTR earlier posted on X. Earlier addressing the public meeting at Alugunur in Karimnagar, he recalled that it was on the soil of Karimnagar that Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) took birth. The 'Simhagarjana' public meeting held at Karimnagar introduced KCR to the country. The BRS Working President said some forces used to ridicule the demand for Telangana state but the people of Karimnagar gave them a befitting reply by electing KCR to Lok Sabha with a majority of two lakh votes. KTR said in 2009 when TRS (now BRS) was defeated, many people passed insulting remarks saying it was the end of Telangana movement but KCR declared a do-or-die battle and finally achieved the goal. KTR said it was the Congress party that did injustice to Telangana by merging Hyderabad State with Andhra in 1956. People of Telangana raised their voices against the injustice in the form of the first Telangana movement in 1969 and this lasted till 1971. The BRS leader said 371 people laid down their lives in the first Telangana movement and it was the Congress party that suppressed the Telangana aspirations. He said KCR revived the movement in 2001 by sacrificing his post and declaring that he was ready to lay down his life. KTR said KCR fought for 14 years to achieve Telangana but some people are now trying to belittle him. "KCR is not just a name. KCR is a movement," he said. Dar Es Salaam, Nov 29 : Tanzania's ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), won a landslide victory by securing 99.01 per cent of village chairperson positions in local government elections held on Wednesday, an official has announced. Minister of State Mohamed Mchengerwa, who is in charge of the polls, said elections were conducted for 12,271 out of the 12,280 available chairperson positions. CCM secured 12,150 positions, accounting for 99.01 per cent, while the main opposition party Chadema won 97 positions, representing 0.79 per cent, Mchengerwa told a news conference. In village council elections, CCM won 229,075 out of 230,882 seats, equating to 99.31 per cent, according to Mchengerwa, Xinhua news agency reported. "These results reflect the confidence that citizens have in CCM's ability to lead and deliver on its promises," the official said. Jammu, Nov 29 : An army porter was injured on Friday when he accidentally stepped on a landmine in J&K's Poonch district. Officials said that an army porter identified as Mohammad Qasim son of Mohammad Sharief of Noonabandi village in Poonch district was injured today when he accidentally stepped on a landmine in the Shahpur sector. "The porter accidentally stepped over a landmine resulting in injuries to his left foot. He was immediately shifted to an army hospital", officials said. Poonch and neighbouring Rajouri districts of the Jammu division have witnessed a number of terrorist attacks during the last three months. The security forces and police have aggressively carried out anti-terror operations in these districts to dismantle the terror ecosystem there. On Friday, police said it had arrested two hybrid terrorists from whose possession of arms and ammunition have been recovered. Sustained interrogation of these two local terrorists has helped police solve the case of grenade attacks at a temple, Gurdwara, hospital and army location in Poonch district during the last year. Talking to reporters today, ADGP (Jammu), Anand Jain said the police are now investigating the funding channels of the hybrid terrorists. The ADGP also said that the purpose of these grenade attacks was to disturb the communal harmony in the district. He also said that these two terrorists had confessed to pasting anti-national posters at various places in Poonch district to create terror among the civilian population. Police have carried out operations against over-ground workers (OGWs) during the last four days in Kathua, Doda, Udhampur and Reasi districts. ADGP also said that police are also attaching properties of OGWs and sympathisers of terrorists. --IANS sq/dan Jaipur, Nov 29 : Ajmer Sharif Dargah Diwan Zainul Abedin said on Friday that they are well prepared with a legal reply to the plea after a court accepted the petition which claimed that "the famous Ajmer Sharif Dargah was originally a Shiva temple". Jaipur, Nov 29 (IANS) Ajmer Sharif Dargah Diwan Zainul Abedin said on Friday that they are well prepared with a legal reply to the plea after a court accepted the petition which claimed that "the famous Ajmer Sharif Dargah was originally a Shiva temple". "There are no substantial facts. We will answer it legally in the court. We also have a panel of advocates," Abedin told media persons. He also thanked the Supreme Court for the order regarding the Sambhal case. "I appeal to the people that we should maintain peace and not do anything from our side which can create controversy. We have legal rights, we should go to the court," he said. A petition has been filed in Ajmer Civil Court West, claiming that the world-famous dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti located in the Ajmer district of Rajasthan was originally a Sankat Mochan Mahadev temple. On Wednesday, November 27, the court accepted the petition and also issued notice to the concerned Ministry of Minority Affairs, Dargah Committee Ajmer and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and asked them to present their side. The court will hold the next hearing in this case on December 20. Meanwhile, Diwan Zainul Abedin said that the history of the Dargah is 800 years old and at that time it was a kachha ground. "At the time of Garib Nawaz, this place used to be an unpaved ground. The grave was inside it. The place where the grave is will obviously have been unpaved. For 150 years, the tomb remained unpaved, there was no concrete construction at all. How can a temple come under it," said Abedin. He added that the Place of Worship Act 1991 is clear, adding that on 15 August 1947, orders were given to keep all the religious places in India as they are. "If there is a case against a government body, then a notice has to be given before that, but no notice was given to us. Also, the descendants of Khwaja Saheb were not made a party," he said. The Dargah Diwan said that Khwaja Hussain Nagori, the grandson of the Badhshah of Malwa, had built the dome and Jannati Darwaza of Khwaja Saheb with money he received as a prize. Further, Anjuman Dargah Committee Secretary Sarwar Chishti also said that the dargah of Khwaja Garib Nawaz is a spiritual place. "The Places of Worship Act should be applicable everywhere. Everyone comes and files a case against any religious place which is not right," he said. Jammu, Nov 29 : J&K Lt Governor (L-G) Manoj Sinha on Friday terminated the services of two government employees for their terror links. The Lt governor has used powers under article 311 (2) (c) of the constitution to terminate the services of Zakir Abbas, a school teacher in Kishtwar district and Abdul Rehman Naika, a pharmacist with the Health Department in Kulgam district. "The action followed an investigation that confirmed their links to terrorist organisations", officials said. Abdul Rehman Naika was found to have links with terror outfit, Hizbul Mujahideen. "Naika, a resident of Devsar in Kulgam district, had played a role in the 2021 killing of nationalist political figure Ghulam Hassan Lone, whose sons serve in the security forces. Naika was involved in plotting Lone's assassination to spread fear among patriotic citizens. "Investigation revealed Naika's activities as an overground worker (OGW). He engaged in reconnaissance for terror attacks, facilitating safe passage for terrorists and nurturing a pro-terror ecosystem in Kulgam and neighbouring districts. "He was arrested with grenades and AK-47 ammunition and confessed to planning attacks under directions from Pakistani handlers. "He misused his position as a government employee to aid terrorists while being paid with taxpayer's money", officials said. Officials added that Zahir Abbas, who holds a degree from the Aligarh Muslim University, was arrested in 2020 for sheltering Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists. He provided logistical support, including arms and ammunition, and shared intelligence on the security forces' movements with handlers in Pakistan. "Zahir betrayed his role as an educator by aiding terror outfits and even posed a risk of radicalising students," officials said. Even in jail, according to intelligence agencies, Abbas engaged in radical activities. "These cases highlight how terror groups infiltrate government systems to secure funding and operational support," officials said. Moscow, Nov 29 : US President-elect Donald Trump's plan of "ending the war" in Russia - a key promise made during his election campaign - has got a major boost with the Russian President Vladmir Putin praising him as an "intelligent" and "experienced" leader. As he wrapped up his state visit to Kazakhstan on Thursday, Putin was asked if the outgoing Biden administration's authorization to hit Russia with ATACMS affect the ability to establish contacts with a future Trump administration? "It is possible that the current administration wants to create additional difficulties for the future one. This is also possible. But, as far as I can imagine, the newly elected president is an intelligent and already quite experienced person, and I think he will find a solution, especially after he has gone through such a serious test as the fight to return to the White House," said the Russian President. While asserting that Moscow is ready for dialogue with the United States, including with the future administration, Putin spotlighted Trump's struggles before his landmark election triumph, earlier this month. "You know, I think that you were also most struck not by the fact that absolutely uncivilized means of struggle were used against Trump, absolutely uncivilized, up to and including attempted murder, and more than once... By the way, in my opinion, he is not safe now. There have been all sorts of different cases in the history of the United States. I think that he is an intelligent person and, I hope, cautious, he understands all this. "But I was more struck by the fact that during the attacks on him, during the fight against him, not only was he subjected to humiliating, unfounded procedures, legal charges, and so on, but attacks were carried out on members of his family, on his children," said Putin. Analysts believe that there is some softening in Russia's stance towards Washington in the past few weeks even though the Kremlin had emphasised that it will interact with the new administration, when it comes to the White House, while firmly upholding the country's national interests and working to "achieve all the goals" of its special military operation in Ukraine. Moscow has made it clear that it will interact with the new US administration while firmly upholding its national interests. "We have no illusions regarding the President-elect, who is well known in Russia, or the new Congress, where Republicans have reportedly won control. The US ruling political elite adheres to anti-Russia principles and the policy of 'containing Moscow'. This line does not depend on changes in Americaas domestic political barometer, no matter if it is Trump and his supportersa 'America above all' or the Democratsa focus on a 'rules-based world order'," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in its first reaction after Trump's election triumph on November 6. A few days later, Russia had denied the US media reports which had claimed that the US President-elect and Putin spoke over phone after the former's win in the presidential election. "There was no conversation... This is completely untrue, it is pure fiction," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had told reporters in Moscow on November 11. The report by a leading US media publication had claimed that, during the phone call, Trump had urged Putin to avoid any escalation in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. It also added that, during the conversation, Trump expressed an interest in fostering further discussions with Moscow to de-escalate tensions and resolve the war that began in February 2022. The report detailed that Trump highlighted the significance of the substantial US military presence in Europe, suggesting that he intends to bring American influence to bear on the resolution of the Ukraine conflict. Bengaluru, Nov 27 : The Bengaluru Police have cracked the sensational murder case of a vlogger and counsellor, Maya Gogoi, from Assam and arrested her boyfriend-turned-killer from Devanahalli, in the outskirts of Bengaluru on Friday. The suspected killer is identified as Aarav Hanoy from Kerala and has confessed to the murder of Maya Gogoi, claiming that he killed her after getting enraged over a personal quarrel. "The suspected killer had confessed to the murder. We do not know whether he had planned the murder beforehand. His statements need to be verified scientifically and later we can come to a conclusion on the motive of the murder," said DCP (East) Devaraju. He added that the investigations so far revealed that the accused had reached the Bengaluru railway station after committing the crime, adding that he had gone to Madhya Pradesh and from there he had gone to Uttar Pradesh and reached Varanasi and came back to Bengaluru. "The accused was detected to be staying near Devanahalli on the outskirts of Bengaluru. He was arrested in the evening and subjected to a preliminary investigation. no one has given him shelter. Maya and Aarav had checked into the service apartment on November 23, they had a fight over personal matters. The accused had ordered a knife and nylon rope on Zepto and stabbed her to death. The next day he escaped from the scene. We will complete the arrest formalities by tomorrow and take him into the police custody," DCP stated. He said that at 8.30 AM he left the service apartment on November 26. "We had formed three teams to nab him. One team had gone to Kerala state. Another had gone to the north Karnataka region and other places and launched a hunt for him," said the DCP. The investigations so far revealed that this person had come to Bengaluru from Kerala six months ago. He was carrying out an internship in a company and receiving a Rs 15,000 salary per month. The deceased woman was working with a counselling centre in Jayanagar and HSR Layout localities in Bengaluru. They got introduced to each other six months ago through Bumble App. They exchanged their numbers and developed acquaintances. The shocking incident had come to light in Indiranagar police station limits on Nov 26. The probe revealed that Aarav Hanoy had spent two days with the body of Maya Gogoi, and most of the time he was just smoking cigarettes while sitting in front of the corpse. The deceased Maya lived with her sister in Bengaluru's HSR Layout. Maya had called her sister and informed her that she wouldn't come home as she was attending an office party on November 22. Later, she sent another message on November 23 stating that she would not come to the residence as she was partying that night as well. Maya's sister knew about the relationship. They had checked into the service apartment on November 23. The CCTV footage showed Maya walking with him into the room happily without tension. More details are yet to emerge regarding the incident. News / National by Staff reporter ZANU-PF youth members in Harare are in open rebellion against their provincial leadership, accusing them of sidelining them in key party projects, including the controversial transformation of the party's Zone 4 offices in Borrowdale into a shopping mall. The facility now reportedly houses a bar and a swimming pool, with the proceeds allegedly being pocketed by party leadership, sparking outrage among youth members.Sources within the party have revealed that the Borrowdale project, which was turned into a commercial space, was carried out without any formal party resolution, leading to accusations of mismanagement and corruption. The youths are particularly aggrieved as they no longer have a designated space to host their party meetings in the area, a move that has left many feeling excluded from key activities.At a recent Harare provincial co-ordinating committee (PCC) meeting, tempers flared as Emmanuel Mahachi, the youth chairperson, voiced his frustrations. Mahachi allegedly accused some senior members of the provincial leadership of receiving bribes of up to US$50,000 to facilitate the project. He also expressed discontent with the leadership's disregard for the youth wing, saying, "We no longer have a space to host our party meetings in Borrowdale, which is Zone 4, after the area was turned into a bar."In an exclusive interview with NewsDay, Mahachi confirmed the youth's unhappiness with the arrangement, asserting that their concerns were not being addressed. "I spoke about this during our PCC, but I was speaking on behalf of the youth as their leader. As youth, we are not happy with the arrangement and we are not happy at all. Something must be done," Mahachi said.The Borrowdale project is not the only issue troubling the youth wing. Sources also claim that they have been sidelined in other projects, including those in Mbare, further deepening frustrations within the party ranks.ZANU-PF Harare provincial vice-chairperson Ephraim Fundukwa, when contacted for comment, denied being aware of the complaints raised by the youth. "For me to comment, I should have PCC minutes first," Fundukwa said, indicating he had not been briefed on the issue.The youth wing's complaints are part of a wider sense of disillusionment with the current leadership, as members from various constituencies, including Borrowdale, Hatcliffe, Harare West, Harare East, Mt Pleasant, and Sunningdale, express growing dissatisfaction over their lack of involvement in critical party initiatives.With tensions rising, it remains to be seen how the provincial leadership will address these mounting grievances and whether the youth will receive a greater role in future projects. Gangtok, Nov 29 : A review meeting was convened on Friday at the conference hall of the Tashiling Secretariat in Gangtok to discuss the celebration of 50 years of statehood of Sikkim in the next year. The meeting was chaired by Chief Secretary Vijay Bhushan Pathak, Chief Secretary and attended by R Telang, Additional Chief Secretary, A K Singh, Director General of Police, along with Heads of Departments and officers of the state government. A senior official said, "The meeting featured an in-depth discussion on arrangements for the upcoming 50 years of Statehood Celebrations. This year-long commemoration will include a wide range of events, and officials thoroughly deliberated on various aspects, including programme scheduling and task allocation." The Chief Secretary emphasised the importance of seamless coordination among the officials to ensure the event's success, marking an important milestone in the history of the state. Additional responsibilities were handed over to various departments to facilitate a smooth and successful celebration of 50 years of Statehood of Sikkim. Earlier, Sikkim Chief Minister P.S. Tamang met with Prime Minister, Narendra Modi at the national capital to extend a formal invitation to him to be the Chief Guest on Sikkim's Statehood Day celebration The mountain state will celebrate its statehood day on May 16 next year. The upcoming Statehood Day is set to be particularly significant commemorating 50 years since Sikkim became the 22nd State of India in 1975. "This historic milestone represents the fulfilment of long-held aspirations, the opening of new avenues for the people of Sikkim, and the state's integration into the democratic framework of India. The merger has been a pivotal moment in Sikkim's development, bringing modern institutions, advancements in science and technology, and numerous opportunities for holistic progress," Tamang said in a social media post after meeting PM Modi. To honour this historic occasion, the Sikkim government has organised a year-long series of events under the theme "Sunaulo, Samridha, and Samarth Sikkim," reflecting on both the pre-and post-merger history of the state. "It is a matter of great honour and delight that the Hon'ble Prime Minister has graciously accepted the invitation. His esteemed presence will undoubtedly enhance the significance of the occasion, making it truly memorable. The event will provide a platform to showcase Sikkim's rich cultural heritage and natural beauty in the presence of the Prime Minister," said the Chief Minister. During the meeting, the Tamang conveyed his heartiest greetings and best wishes to the Prime Minister on the auspicious occasion of Janmashtami. The discussions were described as profound and productive, covering various matters of importance to the state of Sikkim. The Chief Minister has urged all the people of Sikkim to join in the grand celebration, embodying the spirit of the state with zest and fervour. Bhopal, Nov 29 : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said his ongoing visits to the UK (United Kingdom) and Germany were not only fruitful but also offered him opportunities to understand and learn. CM Yadav made this statement on the last day of his industrial sponsorship-related trip in Munich, Germany on Friday. He said the main purpose of this trip was to create new investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh. "The aim of the visit was to create employment opportunities for the state's youth, promote industrialisation, and establish Madhya Pradesh as a strong economic power both within the country and globally," Yadav said. Addressing the local press in Munich, Yadav stated that Germany has presented many proposals that offer Madhya Pradesh the opportunity to move forward with the belief that the state can use its traditional strengths along with the latest technologies. "It is significant for us that we have received positive feedback from Germany in sectors like agriculture, artificial intelligence (AI), healthcare, education, new technology, and heavy industries," he added. Meanwhile, Yadav also noted that both Germany and the UK are economically and technically advanced nations that require a skilled workforce, and India has an abundant pool of technically proficient youth. "If needed, we can overcome language barriers and work together as complementary forces to achieve our goals," Yadav said, adding that he was overwhelmed by the response received from both counties. He said that his government will no stone unturned in taking steps to implement the technological advancements and innovations occurring in industries in the UK and Germany. Mohan Yadav also congratulated the team that accompanied him during the six-day foreign visit between November 24 and 29. It was the first foreign visit after he took over charge as Chief Minister after replacing four-time former CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan in December last year. "We made the best use of our time. After the visit to Germany and the UK, I can say that this trip is opening new doors of opportunity for our tech-savvy, energetic, and talented youth," Yadav added. Hyderabad, Nov 29 : Israel has come forward to provide technical expertise for the Telangana government's Musi River rejuvenation project, state minister for industry and information technology D. Sridhar Babu said. The minister conveyed his gratitude to Israeli Ambassador Reuven Azar during a meeting at the Secretariat here. Sridhar Babu said Israel's willingness to be a part of the project would further boost mutual cooperation. He noted that Israel is recognised as a global leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cyber security, and urged for collaboration in these domains to benefit Telangana. The minister also sought Israel's support in defence, agriculture, water management, advanced technologies, and industrial development. Ambassador Reuven Azar responded positively to the minister's requests. Sridhar Babu briefed the Ambassador about the establishment of an Artificial Intelligence City spanning 200 acres near. He requested Israel's assistance in providing advanced training for trainers in AI and cyber security, besides expertise in wastewater reuse technologies. The minister told the Israeli ambassador that the state government has set up Young India Skill University. He said if any Israeli firm comes forward to set up its operations in Telangana, it will find skilled human resources ready. Israel's willingness to provide technical expertise for the Musi project comes amid the ongoing political row over the project. Opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have opposed the project as they say this would displace people living along the river. The opposition parties have threatened to resist any attempt to demolish the houses of the poor for the project. BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao has accused the Congress government of Telangana of indulging in the "biggest scam in the country" under the guise of the Musi River Project. He said the project cost has been inflated to Rs. 1.5 lakh crore. In comparison, the much larger Namami Gange project for cleaning the Ganges cost Rs 40,000 crores, he said. Imphal, Nov 29 : The Manipur government on Friday strongly criticised Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma's reported demand for imposition of President's rule in Manipur. The Manipur government said that it would not allow fragmentation of northeast India at the behest of foreign vested interests, or such secessionist interests as "openly espoused by the Mizoram CM". "Any individual, group or organisation working with such intent shall be met with the strong hands of the law. The Mizoram CM can display better statesmanship by being a good neighbour rather than stoke the fire of hatred and division," the statement said referring to Mizoram CM's interview with a newspaper. The Manipur government statement claimed that Mizoram CM had recently given a controversial speech in the US by calling for the formation of a Christian nation by carving out areas from Bangladesh, Myanmar and India. In his interview with the newspaper, the Mizoram CM revealed his democratic credentials by espousing the imposition of President's Rule in Manipur while opposing boundary fencing along the India-Myanmar international border, the statement said. According to the statement, Mizoram CM also calls for the reunification of the Zo people and he also talks about the possibility of armed militias in Manipur pointing their guns at Delhi and the need for disarming, and sincere negotiations with hill leaders. "He further questions the use of border fencing saying smuggling of guns, weapons and drugs could not be stopped along the Indo-Bangladesh border despite the existence of border fence," the Manipur government said. Noting that the ongoing crisis in Manipur is a creation of illegal immigrants from Myanmar, the state government said that in the period between 1969 till present, there has been an increase in number of villages in the districts of Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal, Chandel, Churachandpur and Pherzawl by 893, from 731 to 1624. In the remaining hill districts of Tamenglong, Noney, Senapati, Ukhrul and Kamjong, which are Naga-dominated, the increase during the same period is a figure of merely 49, up from 527 to 576, a mere 9 per cent increase, the statement said. It said that the Mizoram CM is apparently unable to fathom the reasons behind this abnormal 122 per cent increase in the mushrooming of villages, many of which are in forest areas, in the first group of hill districts, which are Kuki dominated, or which have a sizeable Kuki population. Patna, Nov 29 : The five-day winter session of the Bihar Legislative Assembly which concluded on Friday, was marked by significant activity, particularly during the Question Hour, which witnessed uninterrupted proceedings for all five days, a rare occurrence in recent times. During the winter session, a total of 809 questions were accepted, including 29 short-notice questions, of which 28 were answered. 681 starred questions were submitted, and responses were received for 664. At least 103 attention notices were brought forward, but only eight were answered in the House, with 85 receiving written responses and 10 being rejected. Besides, five bills were passed during the session. The government also approved the second supplementary budget and all four newly elected MLAs from by-elections were sworn in. The session was contentious, with debates on topics like smart meters, 65 per cent reservation, and the Waqf Board Amendment Bill. A notable controversy involved Bhai Virendra occupying the Chief Minister's seat during a discussion about rebel Grand Alliance MLAs. The ruling party celebrated the session as a success, highlighting legislative achievements and progress on development. The opposition, however, criticised the government for avoiding discussions on pressing public issues, such as health and infrastructure. Congress MLA Ajit Sharma expressed dissatisfaction with the government's answers, despite allowing the Question Hour to proceed smoothly. RJD MLA Vijay Mandal accused the government of sidestepping major public concerns. BJP MLA Hari Bhushan Thakur Bachaul praised the session as brief but impactful, citing important decisions for development. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) presented a report revealing significant deficiencies in the health sector. Unspent budget allocations from 2016 to 2022, shortages of doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff and Irregularities in the supply of medicines and ambulances were also discussed. With elections scheduled for 2025, both ruling and opposition MLAs appeared more alert and focused on addressing public concerns. Political analysts noted that the session's dynamics reflected an effort by MLAs to stay connected with their constituencies. The session concluded with mixed reactions, underscoring achievements by the government and highlighting ongoing challenges, particularly in health and governance. Agartala, Nov 29 : Ruling BJP's ally Tipra Motha Party's (TMP), youth wing on Friday staged a massive protest opposing the Tripura government's reported move to privatise the iconic Pushpabanta Palace and convert it into a five-star hotel by a private group. Hundreds of men and women of the Twipra Indigenous Students' Federation (TISF), the youth wing of the TMP, demonstrators marched through the city and later gathered in front of Chief Minister Manik Saha's residence, demanding an immediate rollback of the decision. The protest rally, which began at Swami Vivekananda Maidan Stadium, saw the protestors chanting slogans against the state government. The rally culminated at the Tourism Department office, where a delegation led by TISF in-charge James Debbarma and TMP MLA Biswajit Kaloi submitted a memorandum to the Tourism Director, urging the government to preserve the palace's historical and cultural legacy. Tensions escalated when protesters learned that Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, in a press briefing at the state's civil secretariat confirmed government plans to establish a hotel in the century-old palace. In response, protesters diverted their rally to the Chief Minister's residence, blocking important roads and raising slogans. Police intervened, and the demonstrators dispersed peacefully but threatened to intensify their protests if the decision was not reversed. TISF leaders emphasised the cultural and emotional significance of the palace for the indigenous communities of Tripura. "The government's move to commercialise a site of such historical importance is unacceptable. We will not allow the palace to be reduced to a business venture though we are not against development and so a different plot of land may be given for the proposed hotel," said TISF's James Debbarma. Meanwhile, TMP legislator Biswajit Kaloi has vowed to intensify their agitation statewide if the government proceeds with its privatisation plans, underlining the palace's deep-rooted importance in Tripura's cultural identity. Earlier this week, the TMP's youth wing, Youth TIPRA Federation (YTF) and the Tipra Students' Federation (TSF), staged protests in front of the royal palace in Agartala and urged the state government not to hand over the iconic palace to a private hotel group. Strongly opposing the government's move, Congress spokesman Prabir Chakraborty said that during his last visit to Tripura in 1926, Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore stayed at the royal mansion and composed many songs sitting on the veranda of the palace. He said that the then king Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur celebrated Tagore's 80th birthday in the important palace in 1941. After India's Independence Maharani Kanchan Prabha Devi handed over the palace to the state government in 1949, Chakraborty said adding that after President Murmu laid the foundation stone of the Pushpabanta Palace Museum during her visit to Tripura in October 2022, the government had allocated Rs 40 crore for the proposed museum. "The BJP government is trying to destroy the rich culture, traditions and history of Tripura by making the iconic palace into a business hub," the Congress spokesman said. The Pushpabanta Palace also known as Kunjaban Palace was built in 1917 by the then Tripura king Maharaja Birendra Kishore Manikya Debbarma Bahadur on 4.13 acres of land and it served as the Raj Bhavan until 2018 before the Governor's house was shifted to the Capital Complex area on the outskirts of the city. The erstwhile Left Front government planned to develop Pushpabanta Palace into a digital museum. Bhubaneswar, Nov 29 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held an extensive two-hour long meeting with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators and MPs and other party functionaries at BJP state office here on Friday evening. The senior party leaders who were present during the meeting include Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Jual Oram, Ashwini Vaishnaw, BJP state President Manmohan Samal and other party functionaries. The meeting, followed by dinner, took place at the party headquarters and reportedly focused on governance, development, and strengthening the party's grassroots presence in the state. As per reports, PM Modi took a detailed review of the state government's performance, including the status of development projects and the delivery of welfare initiatives. He had earlier lauded the state government for fulfilling promises made in the election manifesto. He urged public representatives to ensure that government schemes reach every section of society. Sources also said that the Prime Minister held discussions on strategies to fortify the BJPas presence in Odisha, with an emphasis on grassroots-level expansion, membership drives, and proactive public engagement by MLAs, MPs, and ministers. PM Modi, after dinner, left party headquarters for Raj Bhawan in a carcade. Notably, PM Modi reached Bhubaneswar on a three-day visit to the state on Friday afternoon. He was accorded a grand welcome upon arrival at the Biju Patnaik International Airport. PM Modi later in a carcade went to attend a special felicitation programme organised by Odisha BJP near the airport where he addressed the party workers. PM Modi will attend the All-India Conference of Director Generals/ Inspector Generals of Police 2024 from November 30 to December 1, at State Convention Centre, Lok Seva Bhawan here. It is pertinent here to mention that the conference was inaugurated by Union Home Minister Shah on Friday. Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, National Security Advisor, Union Ministers of State (Home), DGP of states/UTs and Chiefs of Central Police Organisations among others are participating in the conference. Patna, Nov 29 : Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan on Friday criticised RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav for questioning the functioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The former Bihar Chief Minister has recently said that EVMs should be replaced with ballot papers. Responding to the former Bihar CM's remarks, Chirag Paswan challenged the RJD to declare outright that it would boycott any election that is held by using EVMs. He criticised the tendency of some political leaders to question the credibility of EVMs only after electoral defeats while accepting them (EVMs) in victories. Chirag Paswan highlighted the inconsistency of opposition parties, saying: "Before the election, big claims are made about winning. When they lose, EVMs are questioned." He emphasised that those advocating for a return to paper ballots should avoid making electoral (results) claims in advance. Chirag Paswan also ridiculed the Grand Alliance's confidence in securing all seats in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, calling their approach contradictory. He accused the INDIA bloc of exhibiting double standards, pointing out that they accept EVM-based victories, such as in Jharkhand while questioning defeats in states like Bihar and Maharashtra. "Their double character cannot work. In states where results favour them, EVMs are fine; where results do not, EVMs are blamed," he said. Chirag Paswan also targeted INDIA bloc leaders who attended the swearing-in ceremony in Jharkhand, sarcastically noting that the elections there were also conducted using EVMs. He emphasised the need for opposition leaders to introspect, suggesting their declining credibility is due to repeated misinformation and fear-mongering. Addressing allegations that the Constitution or reservation policies are under threat, Chirag Paswan dismissed them as baseless fear tactics. "Everyone knows that no one can remove reservation or change the Constitution. They are spreading fear among people by telling lies," he said. Bhubaneswar, Nov 30 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on opposition parties during a public meeting here on Friday. The Prime Minister stated that the opposition parties are engaged in spreading propaganda and falsehood against the BJP government day in day out but the public cast their votes seeing the good works done by the BJP. PM Modi, who is in Bhubaneswar on a three-day Odisha visit to attend the all-India DG/IGP conference, addressed the party workers at a felicitation programme after his arrival at Biju Patnaik International Airport here on Friday. "Those who consider power is their birthright, they have been out of power at the centre for over the last decade. They are angry at the people for voting for someone else. The situation has filled so much anger in them that they have been conspiring against the country and started misleading people to take the country on a wrong path," said PM Modi. He said that the opposition has been running their 'jhoot aur afwah ki dukan' (shop of lies and propaganda) for the last several years. "Their shop of lies and rumours have been operating since the last ten years. They have now intensified this campaign," he said. He further noted that the activities of such people have emerged as a challenge before the alert citizens, BJP workers and those who respect the Constitution. He appealed to countrymen and BJP workers to remain alert and bring awareness among people to expose the lies being spread by the opposition parties. He also alleged that power-hungry people continue to tell lies. Targeting the opposition, the Prime Minister further said that the opposition is no longer using the 'Chowkidar chor hai' slogan. Their only aim is to capture power and loot the country by misleading people. PM Modi also lauded the Mohan Charan Majhi-led BJP government in Odisha for fulfilling all its promises made to the people. He asserted that the BJP has been giving utmost priority to Odisha without considering which party is ruling the state. He said for the first time the DGP conference is being held in Odisha. The Indian Navy is going to show its strength in the 'Operational Demonstration' going to be held at the Blue Flag Beach of Odisha on December 4. PM Modi said that the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas event will be held in Bhubaneswar from January 8 to 10. Indian-origin people from across the globe will participate in the mega event. He said people of Odisha will get the opportunity to welcome people from across the globe. He stated the event will be a major boost to the tourism sector in Odisha. After attending the felicitation programme, PM Modi went to the Raj Bhawan. Thousands of common people and many cultural troupes who came from different parts of the state welcomed PM Modi by performing various traditional cultural programmes and musical instruments on both sides of the road. PM Modi later in the evening held an important two-hour-long meeting with party MLAs, MPs and other senior leaders at the BJP state office. PM Modi will attend the All-India Conference of Director Generals/Inspector Generals of Police 2024 from 30th November to 1st December 2024 at the State Convention Centre, Lok Seva Bhawan here. News / National by Staff reporter Dzivarasekwa legislator, Edwin Mushoriwa, has called for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to be summoned to Parliament to answer pressing questions on matters of national interest. Speaking during a Parliament session on Wednesday, Mushoriwa raised concerns over the growing absence of government ministers and their deputies from parliamentary proceedings, especially during the crucial Wednesday question-and-answer sessions.Mushoriwa urged Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda to take action against ministers who have been regularly absent, emphasizing that the Head of State should be accountable to the House."We think there has been a uniform pattern of ministers that have actually decided not to come on Wednesdays, speaking of the National Assembly," Mushoriwa said. "It is our request that the Speaker makes arrangements for the Head of State and President of Zimbabwe to come before this august House so that this august House and honourable members could actually pose questions to the President."In response, Mudenda expressed his displeasure with the absenteeism of ministers, confirming that only a handful of Cabinet members attended the session that day. Nearly 30 ministers had submitted apologies for their absence, citing various reasons for not attending.Mudenda reiterated that according to Section 107(2) of the Constitution, Vice-Presidents, ministers, and their deputies are obligated to attend Parliament and parliamentary committees. He stated that the continuous absence of ministers was unacceptable and that steps would be taken to address the issue."I commiserate with you, but with a proviso, quoting the section of the Constitution which requests that His Excellency the President comes to the House; that should not link up with the absence of members of the Executive," Mudenda said, signaling his intent to take action against the absentee ministers.Mudenda warned that absenteeism would be thoroughly investigated and that those ministers who failed to provide valid reasons for their absence would face consequences. "What you do is, as you rightly say, I will analyse the absenteeism with apologies, of those ministers who were not either in the country doing national assignments or outside the country doing national assignments, and then deal with these individual members of the Cabinet accordingly," he added.The Speaker directed that the Clerk of Parliament begin an investigation into the matter immediately, and promised to take appropriate action based on the findings.Mushoriwa's call for the President's appearance in Parliament comes amid mounting frustration with the lack of accountability from key government officials. With the absence of ministers from parliamentary sessions continuing to raise concerns, the Speaker's response signals that the issue will be dealt with seriously in the coming weeks. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate Indian students are looking at destinations that offer quality education coupled with unique cultural and career experiences, often at more affordable costs, says Gaurav Batra, CEO, Infinite Group. Which countries should you consider if you want to study abroad? Ask rediffGURUS HERE. Kindly note the image has been posted only for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy K2 Production/Pexels When we talk about the 'Famous Five', we're not referencing Enid Blyton's beloved series. Instead, we mean the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Germany, which have been the top destinations for Indian students seeking a world-class education for many years now. These nations boast of robust educational systems and well-established Indian communities, offering a familiar sense of belonging when one is out of the country. However, as global education becomes more accessible and universities in newer destinations rise in reputation, Indian students are increasingly looking beyond these traditional favourites. They are exploring alternative destinations that offer quality education coupled with unique cultural and career experiences, often at more affordable costs. Recently, Canada abruptly terminated its popular Student Direct Stream (SDS) programme through which it used to grant a fast-track study permit that helped thousands of international students quickly secure visas. Among other tightening measures include tougher language and academic benchmarks for students aiming to qualify for the post-graduation work permit (PGWP), limited work permits for spouses of international students and tougher guidelines for financial proof. In the wake of these changes, students and parents are now looking at options beyond Canada to pursue higher education. These are the top 10 countries that are fast gaining popularity among Indian students, each promising distinct advantages and a fresh perspective on international education. 1. The Netherlands With its global reputation for quality education, the Netherlands has seen steady interest among Indian students. Known for its research-driven institutions and innovative programmes, Dutch universities provide students with an immersive academic experience, particularly in fields like engineering, environmental science and the liberal arts. The country's friendly visa policies and welcoming culture add to its appeal, making it an ideal choice for students looking for an academically enriching yet culturally accessible experience in Europe. 2. Ireland Ireland offers a harmonious blend of quality education and post-study work opportunities, making it a prime option for students pursuing degrees in technology, business and healthcare. The Irish government's 24-month post-study visa allows graduates to seek employment while the presence of major global companies provides a robust job market. Ireland's English-speaking environment, coupled with its vibrant cultural diversity, makes it an attractive destination for students who prioritise ease of communication and rich cultural exchange. 3. South Korea South Korea's technological advancements and innovative educational landscape have drawn Indian students interested in fields like engineering, robotics and the digital media. Many universities in South Korea offer English-taught programmes and scholarship opportunities such as the Korean government scholarship, make studying here financially viable. The chance to experience Koreas unique culture, combined with access to cutting-edge facilities, offers Indian students an education deeply integrated in modern technology. 4. New Zealand New Zealand is steadily gaining recognition for its balanced approach to education and lifestyle. Indian students are drawn to the country's emphasis on research, particularly in fields like environmental sciences and technology. The country's post-study work visa and safe, welcoming environment provide students with ample opportunities to gain work experience and explore career paths post-graduation. New Zealand's natural beauty and outdoor lifestyle also add an appealing dimension to student life. 5. Japan Japan's melange of high academic standards and advanced research facilities makes it an intriguing destination for students, particularly those specialising in science, engineering and robotics. Scholarships, including the prestigious MEXT scholarship, provide financial aid to international students. Beyond academics, Japan offers a rich cultural experience and a strong job market for skilled professionals, giving Indian students a chance to immerse themselves in a unique culture while advancing their careers in high-demand fields. 6. Sweden Sweden has earned a reputation for its progressive values and innovative teaching methods, making it an attractive destination for students pursuing degrees in sustainability, engineering and social sciences. The relatively affordable tuition fees, compared to other western nations, and Sweden's focus on post-study employment opportunities make it an appealing choice. Students also benefit from Sweden's commitment to equality, inclusivity and a safe, progressive environment. 7. Malaysia Malaysia's affordable education system, coupled with a strong emphasis on industry-relevant skills, appeals to Indian students seeking a cost-effective study option. The presence of a significant Indian community, along with Malaysia's multicultural society, provides a familiar cultural backdrop that eases the adaptation process. The country's economic growth has created demand for skilled professionals, particularly in IT and business, offering students viable career paths after graduation. 8. Singapore Singapore is celebrated for its high educational standards and is home to globally ranked institutions such as the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University. Its multicultural society and clean, safe environment are particularly appealing to Indian students. Scholarships specifically designed for international students make studying here more accessible while Singapore's thriving job market and its proximity to India make it a practical and aspirational choice for those seeking a global education close to home. 9. United Arab Emirates The UAE offers a unique educational landscape with many international institutions establishing campuses in the region. Indian students are attracted by the country's robust education system, cost-effective tuition and plentiful job opportunities due to the UAE's thriving economy. The UAE's rich cultural heritage and cosmopolitan lifestyle provide an exciting cultural immersion experience while the country's favourable visa policies offer accessible pathways to employment after graduation. 10. Turkiye Turkiye's historical and cultural richness, combined with affordable education, makes it an appealing choice for Indian students. Programmes in architecture, history and cultural studies are particularly popular, as Turkiye's educational institutions allow students to study amidst some of the world's most celebrated historical landmarks. Additionally, Turkiye's government offers scholarships for international students, enhancing its appeal as a cost-effective yet culturally enriching destination. As Indian students continue to seek out quality education beyond the 'Famous Five', these emerging destinations provide a fresh mix of academic rigour, cultural experiences and post-study opportunities. Each country offers a unique value proposition, from strong technological infrastructure to affordable education and work opportunities, highlighting a shift towards globally diverse education choices that cater to varied interests and career goals. The growing interest in these nations showcases a new era in international education, one that transcends traditional borders and embraces global possibilities. The meeting in New Delhi etc is just the BJP being nice to the man who helped it realise its dream by stabbing Uddhav in the back, notes Saisuresh Sivaswamy. IMAGE: A clearly downcast Eknath Shinde, right, looks on as Devendra Fadnavis, left, presents Amit Shah with a bouquet, November 28, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo No one really expected Eknath Shinde to continue as Maharashtra chief minister after the assembly election results were out regardless of who got how many seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party virtually announced its intent to grab the CM's post for itself when it contested the lion's share of seats -- if, despite such a clear indication, Shinde's Shiv Sena entertained the hope that they would be credited for the government's stellar electoral performance and the gaddi would be theirs, they have an amazingly rosy image of the BJP and its intent. Bihar was a stray case where the BJP has allowed a junior partner to retain the chief ministership -- because they are aware that given Nitish Kumar's ideological flexibility he would simply cross over to his former allies if pushed. However, that was not the case in Maharashtra, where Shinde has no recourse except throw in his lot with the BJP. The doors to Matoshree -- where Uddhav Thackeray lives -- are shut to him for ever, and the rest of the Opposition wouldn't let him in. Perhaps, if the numbers were not so stacked in favour of the BJP, not where it can easily jettison either the NCP or the Shiv Sena and still form a government, Shinde's options would be wider, but with the electorate plumbing in favour of the BJP like never before, he has nowhere else to go. IMAGE: This time it's Ajit Pawar's turn to present Amit Shah with a bouquet as Shinde, Fadnavis, BJP national President J P Nadda, third from left, and NCP MPs Sunil Tatkare, left, and Praful Patel, second from left, look on, November 28, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo A couple of interesting revelations if the source-based reporting by our news television channels is to be believed (there has been no official denial so far, however). One is that Amit Shah's name cropped up in the interregnum as having assured/promised Shinde that he would remain CM if the Mahayuti was voted back. Five years ago, Uddhav Thackeray had made the same claim, that the Shiv Sena was promised the CMship if their alliance came to power, but this was rebuffed by the home minister then. This time, there has been no denial. The second interesting thing was the Shiv Sena equating Maharashtra with Bihar and demanding the BJP follow a similar coalition dharma. The BJP does have a road map for Bihar, just as it had one for Maharashtra right from the time they agreed to be a junior partner to Bal Thackeray. Nitish is in the same position that the former was; it is only a matter of time before the BJP moves in to occupy his political space. This is the difference between a individual-run outfit, which is what the Congress or the Janata Dal-United really is, and a cadre-based party. In that sense the BJP is very different. Where the Congress is a junior partner to the regional major, it continues to play perpetual second fiddle. The BJP, on the other hand, merely bides its time and doesn't hesitate to strike. It can be a coup, like with Uddhav Thackeray after his father's death, or a gentle easing out, like with Eknath Shinde. The tactic may differ but the end result is the same. Did Uddhav Thackeray wisen up to the BJP's strategy only after it was too late, or did he know it all along? In the 2009 assembly elections, which was fought when Thackeray Sr was around, the BJP had overtaken the Shiv Sena's tally, cementing its long-held belief that it had the nous to rule the state on its own. By the time 2014 rolled up, two things had changed. The mild-mannered Uddhav was in charge of the Shiv Sena, and the driven Narendra Modi and Amit Shah were in charge of the BJP. The 2014 assembly elections which the quondam friends fought separately but reunited post-verdict, showed how much the BJP had overtaken the Shiv Sena on whose coattails it had clung to for so long. The Shiv Sena realised it had no option but to go along, but it also made Uddhav realise that the BJP's hug was crushing. So when a similar fractured mandate was thrown up in 2019, with no single party able to form the government, he decided to ditch the former junior ally, cross the aisle and make new alignments with the Congress and Sharad Pawar. There was no other option before him to ensure the Shiv Sena's survival. IMAGE: Shinde makes a point at a press conference at his Thane residence, November 27, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Unfortunately for him, Eknath Shinde didn't share the same view. What worked for Shinde -- and, for that matter, Ajit Pawar who ditched his uncle to move over to the BJP's side -- was the absence of historical baggage. The party was not Shinde's, nor was the ideology, and it was a marriage of convenience. With Uddhav as dahej. Shinde or Ajit Pawar would have had to prove their mettle if they had left the parent organisation and formed a new one on their own strength. Instead, with the BJP's blessing they took the easy way out by simply acquiring an existing party. The difference between Shinde and Pawar is that the NCP has a fluid ideology that can fill any gap. But the Shiv Sena was weaned on Marathi asmita vis-a-vis the outsiders who were dominating the state. Bal Thackeray, who Shinde proclaims as his mentor, projected Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as the party's icon because of his resistance to the Delhi sultanate and as a sign of the state's pride. There was no other option before him to ensure the Shiv Sena's survival. IMAGE: Shinde at the press conference at his Thane residence, November 27, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo So when Eknath Shinde, whose able governance, his Shiv Sena believes, led to the electorate's overwhelming support in the elections, is made to hang loose for four days after the verdict before holding a capitulating press conference where he announces that he will do what the bosses in Delhi wish, he has let down both his party's icons: Thackeray and Chhatrapati Shivaji. The sad fact is that the autorickshaw driver turned chief minister has no cards left to play. With Ajit Pawar's NCP quickly proclaiming its support for a BJP-led government, Shinde's 50 MLAs were made redundant. All the meetings in New Delhi etc are just the BJP being nice to the man who helped it realise its dream by stabbing Uddhav in the back. And if in the 2029 assembly elections the BJP gets a majority on its own, for which it will go all out, Shinde and his Shiv Sena will remain a footnote in the state's political history. The growth and expansion of Shinde's Shiv Sena runs counter to the BJP's plans, which include the former remaining a useful underling, not an equal. Maybe then, Shinde will realise that he was never a tiger like Thackeray Sr, only a cat's paw. 'To attribute motives to the individual election commissioner or the Election Commission as a group is very unfair.' IMAGE: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar with Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu addresses a press conference onthe Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections, October 15, 2024. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo Though we hear accusations against the Election Commission of India during and after every election, the voices became louder and stronger after the Maharashtra assembly elections. Opposition leaders have expressed their lack of faith in the current Election Commission, calling it a 'partial body'. Once again, the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) is in the news. Perhaps, after every election, you hear a clamour for going back to paper ballots. But this time, it was a PIL filed by Dr K A Paul who wanted paper ballots to be back in India. On November 26, the Supreme Court dismissed the PIL saying, 'If you win elections, EVMs are not tampered. When you lose elections, EVMs are tampered.' Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier asked former Chief Election Commissioner Taruvai Subayya Krishnamurthy if the criticism of the Election Commission is valid. Opposition parties have expressed their lack of trust in the Election Commission saying it is not fair and impartial. Generally it has been the pattern, at least in India that during the election period, the Election Commission is subject to criticism for whatever decision taken by the body. When the Election Commission takes a decision, it will be either favouring one party or the other. There is no midway at all. If the decision is questioned rationally, it is understandable. But if it is questioned without any basis, it becomes very difficult to handle. This kind of criticism is very common during the election period. When we were the Election Commission in 2004, there were, in fact both personal attacks as well as attacks on the Election Commission's decisions. I would like to particularly mention that the personal attacks were more due to prejudice than any logic. For example, when the Election Commission is a collective body, how can a particular party criticise the individual election commissioner? This happened in my own case. I was bewildered by the criticism. There have been other criticism also on the general decisions taken. For example, when we tried to bring polling officers to a particular state from the neighbouring state who knew the local language, the chief minister questioned how can you bring outsiders? Then I had to explain to him that they were not foreigners but Indians working outside the state, and that it was only to improve credibility to the election system that we brought them. The chief minister kept quiet thereafter. There are a number of such instances during my period that the election commission's decisions were questioned, or the chief election commissioner himself was accused of taking certain decisions. It is not very uncommon in India. We are used to this. The Election Commission doesn't have the contempt of court provision like in the judiciary even though the status is equivalent. So, the Election Commission has to pocket these insults and function. The question is, is it fair or unfair? I personally feel the public and the political parties have a right to criticise the decisions but to attribute motives to the individual election commissioner or the Election Commission as a group is very unfair. So, my comment will be you are most welcome to criticise the decisions taken by the Election Commission. And if you have enough evidence, certainly go to court with an election petition and challenge it. But vague allegations against the Commission or vague allegations against the individual election commissioner is not only unfair but needs to be positively condemned and criticised. IMAGE: Election Commission officials give a demonstration of the EVMs ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections in Mumbai. Photograph: ANI Photo Do you feel only those who are in the Opposition criticise the Election Commission? When we go back and look at the criticism, we see that the same political parties or leaders criticise the Election Commission when they are in Opposition, but it stops once they become the ruling party. Generally that is the pattern though I am not in a position to statistically give a response. My impression is that wherever there are complaints, it is motivated by the fear of losing the election. I will give you one instance though I don't want to mention the name. During the Bihar election, a senior leader of a particular political party rang me up at 11 at night saying that the counting of votes must be stopped. When I asked him why, he said that it was not fair to go ahead with the counting as there were reports of a lot of irregularities regarding the casting of votes. When I asked him whether he had any evidence, he said they had only heard about people complaining about it. I told him very politely that we would go ahead with the counting, and if he had any grievance about the result or the election, he could come back to me the next day and then I would consider taking action. Lo and behold! That man got elected and he didn't come back the next day! There are unfair criticisms and maybe some fair criticisms also. After all, the Election Commission is a human institution and sometimes mistakes can happen. We are not error free. But to attribute motives to these decisions, in my opinion doesn't speak of political maturity. We see ordinary people also talking about certain decisions taken by the Election Commission as favouring the ruling party. Is this kind of feeling good for democracy? It is certainly not good. The ordinary person you are referring to may actually be a proxy for political parties. In a democracy, these things are possible, and these things do happen. So, you cannot say ordinary people are criticising. My own experience is there are proxies who are willing to criticise the Election cCommission or the decision taken by the Commission on some kind of a motivation for a political party. I agree there may be some genuine criticism as well. I am not denying that. But the point is, can we go by vague criticisms of individuals or parties? We are supposed to be living in a country where the rule of law is practised. If you have genuine evidence or proof against the credibility of the Election Commission's decision, you have a legal route open to you. But without going through that, and straightaway going for street protests or condemning the Election Commission, in my opinion, doesn't augur well for the credibility of the election or the smooth functioning of the election process. IMAGE: Bharatiya Janata Party supporters celebrate the BJP-led Mahayuti's victory in the Maharashtra assembly elections at the party office in Thane, November 23, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Do you get the feeling that people are losing faith in the Election Commission? Certainly not! I do not think so. I do agree that there is more criticism than probably it was earlier. But then in a democracy, voices of protest, voices of admiration or voices of appreciation can be heard. There might have been some errors in some decisions, but you have to look at the facts before saying whether they have affected the credibility of the institution. They monitor elections in more than 10,000 polling booths. They have to depend upon outside agencies like the state police, the central paramilitary forces, etc. They have to also depend upon, for example, state officials for the polling stations. There are sometimes mistakes, there are sometimes criticisms. But I cannot agree with the view that it is affecting the credibility of the institution. When you were the chief election commissioner, did you experience any pressure from the ruling party? Never. I never had any pressure from any quarters. Not just that, the Election Commission as a collective body always took decisions unanimously. IMAGE: Voters queue to cast their vote for the Maharashtra assembly elections in Mumbai, November 20, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Once again, the debate on whether we should have paper ballots instead of EVMs has started. EVMs were first introduced in a big way in 2004 when you were the election commissioner. With complaints of discrepancies coming from so many quarters, should we go back to paper ballots? When paper ballots were vogue in India, in states like Bihar, Bengal and some other states, a lot of bogus ballots were printed and stuffed into ballot boxes. In fact, some leading political figures were involved in this manipulation. It is much more easy to manipulate election results by booth capturing and ballot capturing than EVMs. The electronic voting machine is not an Internet linked operation. It is independent by itself. And it has so many advantages. For example, it saves so much of time. Secondly, there is no invalid vote in electronic voting machines while it is possible in the manual system of voting. Thirdly, tonnes of papers are saved. If you want to suggest improvement in the use of technology, certainly, you are most welcome. The Election Commission has given ample opportunities to political parties even in my time. The Supreme Court has given more opportunities to political parties to prove the lack of credibility of these machines. But none of them has been able to prove that (the machines could be manipulated). IMAGE: T S Krishnamurthy. IMAGE: T S Krishnamurthy. Most countries in the world use paper ballots. Some even tried EVMs and went back to paper ballots... Just because other countries use ballot papers, do you want to say that it is the ideal system for India, a country where there is a huge voter population? It is certainly not a convincing argument for me. But to say that the conventional ballot paper system is superior, I am afraid, it only speaks of ignorance and misinformation. Brazil is using electronic voting machines, and there has been no complaint against it there. In fact, it has been going on for decades. Just because smaller countries with smaller populations are using paper ballots, we need not. For your information, when I was the election commissioner, many countries, particularly South Africa and Singapore, showed great interest in our electronic voting machine. All that I would say is if you want to suggest improvement in the electronic voting machine, please suggest. We will certainly improve it. But do not ever go back to ballot paper. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com At least 11 passengers were killed and 25 others injured after a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation bus overturned in Gondia district of the state on Friday afternoon, the police said. IMAGE: Rescue operation underway at the accident site after an MSRTC bus overturned killing 11 in Gondia, Maharashtra, November 29, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo The bus, operated under the service name 'Shiv Shahi', was carrying 36 passengers and heading to Gondia district from Bhandara in eastern Maharashtra when it flipped over at Khajri village in Sadak Arjuni taluka after its driver applied brakes to avoid hitting a two-wheeler that suddenly came in the front, a senior police official said. "Eleven passengers were killed and 25 others injured in the accident which took place at around 12.30 pm," he said. The injured passengers were shifted to different hospitals, the official added. Of the 11 deceased passengers, nine have been identified so far, while the identity of two others in their 50s is yet to be ascertained, he said. The deceased included a 32-year-old police woman, identified as Smita Vicky Suryavanshi from Arjuni Morgaon in the district, police said. Her husband worked in the police department and passed away a couple of years back due to some ailment. She was given a job in the department on compassionate grounds and was currently posted at the police headquarters in Gondia. She lived with her in-laws and a son, and was returning to duty after meeting her family, the police added. Caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident and announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the kin of the deceased. Shinde spoke to the Gondia collector and instructed that all the injured passengers be provided proper treatment and medical care. If needed they should be admitted to private hospitals for specialised treatment and expenses for the same will be borne by the state government, a statement quoted him as saying. Devendra Fadnavis, deputy chief minister in the outgoing government, described the bus accident as unfortunate and offered his condolences to the bereaved family members. In a post on X, Fadnavis said if needed, the injured passengers must be treated in private hospitals. "I have also told the collector of Gondia to make arrangements to shift the injured to Nagpur if required for treatment," he said. "I pray to God for speedy recovery of the injured passengers," Fadanavis added. With a fleet of around 15,000 buses, MSRTC is one of the biggest public transport corporations in the country. Daily, around 60 lakh passengers travel on the corporation buses. A Mumbai court on Friday extended till December 2 the police remand of the boyfriend of an Air India pilot, who allegedly committed suicide, after cops contended they need to retrieve deleted WhatsApp chats between the two from his mobile phone. Image used for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo Pilot Srishti Tuli (25), who lived in a rented flat in the 'Kanakia Rain Forest' building in the Marol area, allegedly committed suicide in the early hours of Monday. As per the police, she hanged herself using a data cable at her flat following which her boyfriend, Aditya Pandit (27), was arrested and charged with abetment of suicide. Pandit was produced before a magistrate's court in suburban Andheri at the end of his previous remand on Friday. Police sought further custody of Pandit from the court, saying they need to retrieve deleted WhatsApp chats between the accused and Tuli from his mobile phone. The chats may reveal crucial information related to the victim's death, they submitted. Pandit was detained on Tuesday after one of Tuli's relatives accused him of harassing, abusing her and forcing her to stop consuming non-vegetarian food, police earlier said, citing the FIR registered in the case. According to the probe agency, Tuli hailed from Uttar Pradesh and had been living in Mumbai for work since June last year. She and Pandit had met while pursuing a commercial pilot course in New Delhi two years ago and got into a relationship. Pandit was en route to Delhi in his car when Tuli called him, saying "she would end her life". Pandit rushed back to Mumbai and found the door of her flat locked from inside, an official said earlier. He got the door opened with the help of a key maker and found Tuli hanging with a data cable. She was taken to SevenHills Hospital, where doctors declared her dead. No suicide note was found in the house, he said. Based on a complaint filed by the pilot's uncle, Pandit was arrested under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita section 108 (abetment of suicide) and produced in a court which remanded him to police custody for four days. Bangladesh's financial authorities have ordered freezing for 30 days the bank accounts of 17 people associated with ISKCON, including its former member Chinmoy Krishna Das, according to media reports on Friday. IMAGE: Chinmoy Krishna Das. Photograph: ANI on X Bangladesh Bank's Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) sent these directives to different banks and financial institutions on Thursday, suspending all types of transactions in these accounts for a month, the Prothom Alo newspaper reported. The BFIU asked the banks and financial institutions to send account-related information, including updated transaction statements of all the accounts of all types of businesses owned by these 17 individuals within the next three working days, it said. Das, a spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, was arrested from Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday in a sedition case. He was denied bail and sent to jail by a Chattogram court on Tuesday. A lawyer was killed in a clash between security personnel and supporters of the Hindu leader. Das was a former spokesperson of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Bangladesh. India on Friday said the interim government in Bangladesh must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities as it expressed serious concern over the "surge" of extremist rhetoric and increasing incidents of violence against Hindus as well as attacks on temples in the neighbouring country. IMAGE: Hindu activists try to break a police barricade as they participate in a protest demanding the release of the Bangladeshi jailed Hindu monk leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, in Kolkata, November 28, 2024. Photograph: Sahiba Chawdhary/Reuters New Delhi also hoped that the case relating to Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, arrested in Bangladesh on sedition charge, will be dealt with in a just, fair and transparent manner. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told Parliament that India has taken a serious note of incidents of violence against minorities in Bangladesh and that it is the primary responsibility of Dhaka to protect the life and liberty of all the citizens, including minorities. The relations between India and Bangladesh have come under strain after the interim government headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus came to power following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August amid unrest. India has been expressing concern over attacks on minorities, especially Hindus, in that country. "The primary responsibility for the protection of life and liberty of all citizens of Bangladesh, including minorities, rests with the government of Bangladesh," Jaishankar said, adding that the Indian high commission in Dhaka continues to monitor the situation related to minorities in that country "closely". Separately, the ministry of external affairs called upon Bangladesh to take all steps for the protection of minorities and hoped that the case involving arrested Chinmoy Krishna Das will be dealt with in a just, fair and transparent manner. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India has consistently and strongly raised with the Bangladeshi government the threats and targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities. "Our position on the matter is very clear -- the interim government must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities," Jaiswal said at his weekly media briefing. "We are concerned at the surge of extremist rhetoric, increasing incidents of violence and provocation. These developments cannot be dismissed only as media exaggeration. We once again call upon Bangladesh to take all steps for the protection of minorities," he added. Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha, Jaishankar said India is concerned over incidents of violence against Hindus and other minorities, their homes and business establishments and attacks on temples and religious places. "The government has taken a serious note of these incidents and shared its concerns with the government of Bangladesh." "Reports of attacks on temples and puja mandaps also came to light during the recent Durga Puja festival in Bangladesh. The government had expressed its serious concerns regarding the attack on a puja mandap in Tantibazar, Dhaka and theft at the Jeshoreshwari Kali temple at Satkhira during Durga Puja 2024," Jaishankar said. Jaishankar said that following these attacks the Bangladeshi government had issued instructions for providing special security including deployment of Army and border guards to ensure a peaceful Durga Puja celebrations. On the arrest of Das, who was associated with the ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), Jaiswal said it is India's expectation that a fair and transparent trial will be ensured in the case. "We see ISKCON as a globally well-regarded organisation with a strong record of social service," he added. Jaiswal said India has also noted that the legal processes in the case are underway. "We hope and expect that these processes will deal with the case in a just, fair and transparent manner, ensuring full respect for the legal rights of all concerned." Das was arrested at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday in connection with a sedition case. "It is our expectation that he will get a fair and transparent trial and his legal rights will be respected," Jaiswal said. The Manipur government on Friday night hit out at Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma, asking him to show "better statesmanship" by being a "good neighbour" rather than stoking the fire of "hatred and division" through "unwarranted comments". IMAGE: Women take part in a protest demanding justice for the recent Jiribam killings, the repeal of AFSPA in six police stations, and action on the missing persons from Leimakhong Army Camp, in Imphal East, Manipur, November 28, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo In a statement, the state government said that India must be wary of the "greater agenda of carving a Kuki-Chin Christian nation" out of contiguous areas of Myanmar, India and Bangladesh, played out over decades of meticulous planning. It said it will not allow fragmentation of Northeast India at the behest of foreign vested interests, or "secessionist interests as openly espoused by the Mizoram CM". "Mizoram CM reveals his democratic credentials by espousing imposition of President's Rule in Manipur while opposing boundary fencing of the Indo-Myanmar international border. He also calls for reunification of the Zo people. He also talks about possibility of armed militias in Manipur pointing their guns at Delhi and need for disarming, and sincere negotiations with hill leaders," it said. The Manipur government's statement came in the backdrop of a recent interview given by Lalduhoma to the Hindustan Times in which he said that N Biren Singh was a liability for the state, its people and the BJP, and even President's Rule is preferable compared to his administration. "He further questions the use of border fencing saying smuggling of guns, weapons and drugs could not be stopped along Indo-Bangladesh border despite existence of border fence," the statement said. "The Mizoram Government has been steadfast in opposing the efforts of the centre to fence its open borders with neighbouring Myanmar for the purpose of curbing illegal immigration, trafficking of arms and drugs, internal security and defence," it added. The Manipur government said the ongoing crisis in the state is a creation of illegal immigrants from Myanmar whose economy, driven by the cultivation of illicit poppy, had taken a severe hit under CM Singh's 'War on Drugs'. "It is not on account of any anti-tribal policy of the State Government, as has been falsely portrayed by the Mizoram CM through fabricated narratives and history," it said. "The Mizoram CM must note that Manipur has a recorded history and a rich culture going back thousands of years unlike Mizoram which was carved out of the State of Assam only a few decades ago," it said. The statement said that Lalduhoma was "apparently unable to fathom" the reasons behind the abnormal increase in the number of villages in the hill districts, which are Kuki-dominated, or which has a sizeable Kuki population. Lalduhoma may like to recollect that the Mizoram government, in view of similar concerns of pressure on land, livelihoods and resources, had instructed Myanmar nationals not to purchase land and run businesses without prior permission, it said. From 2017 till date, the Manipur government seized or destroyed drugs worth Rs 60,000 crore under the 'War on Drugs' programme, it said. "On account of efforts of State Government and assistance of Central government agencies, the transit of drugs within the State of Manipur has come down to almost nil currently. On the other hand, Mizoram has now emerged as the favoured route for international transit of illegal arms, ammunition and drugs between India and Myanmar," it claimed. "The Mizoram CM may like to focus on the looming threat on Mizo society from the drugs trade instead of passing unwarranted comments on legally justified acts of the Government of Manipur to combat drugs trafficking by labelling these acts as 'anti-tribal'," it said. The statement said that the N Biren Singh-led government was making continuous efforts towards the restoration of peace and normalcy in the state. "The government has been providing food, clothing and shelter to over 60,000 persons staying in relief camps across the State. Combing operations to recover arms and ammunition looted from police armouries continue to be undertaken with success," it said. "India must be wary of the greater agenda of carving a Kuki-Chin Christian nation out of contiguous areas of Myanmar, India and Bangladesh, played out over decades of meticulous planning, through illegal immigration, land grabbing, displacement of original indigenous peoples, formation of Kuki-Chin dominated districts, establishment of Autonomous District Councils, upgradation of such Councils to Scheduled Areas, amalgamation of Kuki-Chin areas and finally Nationhood," it said, One must also be wary of any attempt to "push" illegal Kuki-Chin immigrants from Mizoram to Manipur for land grabbing and creation of "Greater Mizoram" as part of this process, the statement said. "The Government of Manipur will not allow fragmentation of North East India at the behest of foreign vested interests, or such secessionist interests as openly espoused by the Mizoram CM. Any individual, group or organization working with such intent shall be met with the strong hands of the law. The Mizoram CM can display better statesmanship by being a good neighbour rather than stoke fire of hatred and division," it added. The Mizoram government could not be reached immediately for a comment on the statement. SHENYANG, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- The remains of 43 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who died during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China on Thursday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). At 12:07 p.m., a Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force Y-20 transport aircraft, carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers and 495 of their personal effects, landed at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. The plane's touch down was met with a water cannon salute, as soldiers carried the caskets off the plane before a remembrance ceremony was held at the airport. Nearly 1,000 people, including representatives from central and local authorities, the military, war veterans, and relatives of CPV martyrs, attended the ceremony. Following the placement of the caskets, which were covered with the Five-star Red Flag, the participants bowed three times in dignified silence to the soldiers' remains. The remains will be laid to rest in a martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang. After the ROK handed over the martyrs' remains and belongings to the Chinese side in Incheon on Thursday morning, China held a memorial ceremony at Incheon International Airport. During the ceremony, the Chinese national anthem was played, and each casket was draped with the national flag. Attendees bowed three times to the martyrs before their remains were placed onto the plane. From 2014 to 2023, China and the ROK, in accordance with international laws and humanitarian principles, successfully completed 10 consecutive handovers involving the remains of 938 CPV martyrs in the ROK, along with related artifacts. The Korean War broke out in June 1950, eight months after the People's Republic of China was founded. At the request of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Chinese ground forces under the CPV entered the Korean Peninsula on Oct. 19, 1950. A total of 2.9 million CPV soldiers joined the war that lasted almost three years, with more than 360,000 killed or injured. WELCOME HOME The flight from Incheon to Shenyang lasted about an hour and 20 minutes, but for many of the martyrs, this journey home spanned almost seven decades. In the past a few days the city of Shenyang has been decorated with slogans that read "welcome back, our heroes". As the Y-20 military transport aircraft prepared to land at Shenyang airport, the air traffic control tower transmitted a heartfelt message: "The mountains and rivers remain intact, our country is prosperous, and our military is strong. With the utmost respect, we welcome the loyal martyrs back home." In response, captain of the Y-20, Zhou Han, acknowledged the gravity of the moment: "The people's heroes will live on forever, their names eternally etched in history." It was freezing in Shenyang on Thursday, with temperatures dipping well below zero. Standing among the waiting crowd, retired teacher Lang Qingxia struggled to hold back her tears. In August 1952, her older brother Lang Defu died in the line of duty during the Korean War; she hopes that one day he will be brought back home and laid to rest. "I have been coming for several years," she said. "Those heroes are my brother's comrade-in-arms, whom I regard as my relatives. On the other hand, I look forward to seeing my brother among these returning home." Dong Shulan's uncle went to fight in the Korean War in July 1952, and that was the last time anyone saw or heard from him. "Even though my uncle may not be coming home this time, the return of his comrades feels like he's back too," she said. "I am deeply honored to be here," said Wang Lei, who plays Qin Jiwei, a CPV army commander, in the hit TV drama Battle of Shangganling. "As an actor, I'm here to welcome the heroes home, and it feels as though the characters I've portrayed in the past are welcoming them back as well." Winter Olympic short-track speed skating champion, Wu Dajing was visibly moved by the experience. "Many of the martyrs were younger than us when they went to war. They sacrificed their lives to protect our country. It was an environment that today's youth should never experience. I hope that their spirit can be an inspiration to today's young people." The ceremony was also livestreamed online. Among the viewers were faculty and students of a primary school in Shenyang, which was named after CPV martyr Mao Anying, the son of late Chinese chairman Mao Zedong. In memory of the martyrs, the students had selected personal gifts to take to the martyr's cemetery at a later date. "My gift is a scarf," said a girl. "The soldiers braved severe cold and fought in extremely difficult situations. So I hope that it could protect our CPV soldiers from the cold wind." Another girl cooked noodles with her mom before school that morning. In north China, it is customary to welcome guests with noodles. "These noodles taste of home," she said. "The martyrs have returned home." A third child brought a model plane. "My dad is a soldier and I grew up listening to his stories about the Korean War. I brought this model so our CPV soldiers can see how strong our motherland is now." News / National by Staff reporter President Emmerson Mnangagwa walked out of the New Parliament Building in total darkness on Thursday, underscoring the severity of Zimbabwe's ongoing electricity crisis. The 82-year-old Zanu-PF leader had just attended the 2025 National Budget presentation by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube, when the entire Parliament precinct was suddenly plunged into a power outage.The unexpected blackout highlighted the nation's deepening energy crisis, with rolling power cuts affecting Zimbabweans daily. Despite this, Ncube's budget proposal allocated a mere ZiG259 million to the Ministry of Energy for the coming year, prompting further criticism from opposition legislators and citizens concerned about the lack of a comprehensive plan to resolve the crisis.Leslie Mhangwa, a legislator from the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) who represents Chinhoyi constituency, condemned the government's handling of the energy sector. He warned that Zimbabweans should expect longer periods of electricity shortages unless serious structural changes were made."It is evident that the government has abdicated the responsibility of energy to private players," Mhangwa said. "The only thing that is being done is the deferment of VAT, but the elephant in the room, which has not been addressed, is that energy should be sold in US dollars, especially for industries. This is cheaper for businesses. We are not prepared for long-term energy planning, and frankly, there's nothing to write home about. We will continue in darkness."Currently, many parts of the country are experiencing power outages lasting over 15 hours a day. The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) and the government have cited breakdowns in key power plants, including Hwange, and low water levels at the Kariba Dam as the main causes of the frequent power outages.Edwin Mushoriwa, CCC MP for Dzivarasekwa, also criticized the government's approach, particularly the budget allocation for the energy sector. Mushoriwa expressed disappointment that Ncube had failed to propose meaningful incentives to tackle the crisis, such as suspending duties on alternative energy solutions like solar power, which could provide immediate relief."The minister failed to come up with incentives that could have alleviated the energy shortages," said Mushoriwa. "We had hoped that with the suspension of duties on certain items, solar and other alternative energy mechanisms would be included, but the budget allocation for energy is just not enough."The energy crisis continues to be one of Zimbabwe's most pressing issues, with the government facing growing pressure to take decisive action to address the country's electricity shortfalls and explore sustainable solutions. Critics argue that without a long-term, multi-faceted strategy, the situation will only worsen, leaving citizens to endure prolonged periods of power outages. A private school in Delhi's Rohini, located within one kilometre of the site of a low-intensity blast in Prashant Vihar, received a bomb threat via email on Friday, Delhi Fire Service officials said. Image used for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo The threat was later declared a hoax after a thorough search in the school premises, they said. According to an official, a call was received from the Delhi Police about the bomb threat email at Venkateshwar Global School at 10.57 am. The school is located around one kilometre from the site where the low-intensity blast took place on Thursday. A team of the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) immediately reached the spot. Police, bomb disposal squad, dog squad, along with DFS personnel checked and searched the entire premises of the school, the officer said. No suspicious object was found and the threat was declared a hoax, the officer added. School authorities informed the parents for early dispersal of the students and requested them to pick up their wards by 11 am. "The situation is well under control. There's no need to panic," a message from the school sent to the parents said. Principal of VGS, Dr Namita Singhal said that the school received a bomb threat on its official email. "After we received the email, we have dispersed all the students and staff," she said. Rati Awasthi, who's 12-year-old daughter studies in class VII, said, "We are deeply concerned about the current situation in the city. How can we feel confident about our children's safety?" She said just yesterday, a bomb blast occurred in Prashant Vihar, barely 1 kilometers away from the school, and today, the school itself has received a bomb threat. "As soon as I received the message from the school regarding the bomb threat, I went blank and immediately reached there," she said. She further said that she will be in constant fear even after sending her child to the school. "I cannot put his studies on hold but then such news scares me," Awasthi said. Police have launched an investigation into the matter, the officer said. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has registered an FIR regarding the explosion that took place on Thursday near a cinema hall in Rohini, officials said. The low-intensity blast that occurred nearly 40 days after an explosion that took place at a CRPF school in the same area leaving one person injured and triggered panic among residents. A case under section 326(g) (mischief with severe consequences to public safety) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, section 4 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and section 3 of the Explosive Substance Act has been registered at the Prashant Vihar police station, police said. The case has been registered against unidentified people and efforts are underway to arrest the accused who dumped or planted the explosive material at the site, they said. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday said he had "good and positive" discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief J P Nadda on the issue of government formation in the state. IMAGE: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on November 29, 2024. Photograph: @Dev_Fadnavis/X Speaking to reporters in New Delhi before leaving for Mumbai, Shinde said the decision on the next chief minister of Maharashtra will be taken "in a day or two" in another meeting of the Mahayuti coalition in the state capital. Shinde, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, met Shah and Nadda late Thursday to thrash out a power-sharing pact for the next government in Maharashtra after the BJP-led coalition registered a thumping majority in the Assembly elections. "We will take a decision (on Maharashtra CM) in a day or two. We have held discussions, and the discussions will continue. You will get to know when we take a final decision," the outgoing chief minister said. Shinde said that he would not be an obstacle in the government formation in the state and abide by the decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah. "This 'ladka bhau' (beloved brother) designation is higher than anything else for me," he said. Shinde said the meeting with Shah and Nadda was "good and positive". "We all discussed the formation of government. There is good coordination between the allies, we are all very positive and we will honour the clear-cut mandate given to us by the people. We will form the government soon," he said. "The meeting was good and positive. This was the first meeting. There will be another meeting of the Mahayuti in Mumbai," Shinde told reporters early Friday. The Shiv Sena leader said the people of Maharashtra have re-elected them with a thumping majority and respecting the mandate is the topmost priority, not "running after posts". Recovering from its Lok Sabha elections losses, the BJP bagged 132 Assembly seats, the highest among all constituents of the Mahayuti alliance. Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP also performed well. Sena won 57 while NCP bagged 41 seats. The Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a setback with the grand old party registering one of its worst performances in the Assembly polls as it won only 16 seats. Sharad Pawar's NCP(SP) won just 10 seats, whereas Uddhav Thackeray's (UBT) won 20 seats. The Maharashtra Assembly elections were held on November 20, and the results were declared on November 23. Amid heightened security measures, Friday prayers passed off peacefully at the Shahi Jama Masjid and other places in the district which witnessed violence following survey of the Mughal era mosque. IMAGE: Police personnel install metal detectors at the entrance of Shahi Jama Masjid ahead of the congregation of devotees for Friday prayers, in Sambhal. Photograph: ANI Photo Ahead of the prayers, district authorities had issued an appeal urging residents to offer prayers in nearby mosques rather than gathering at the Jama Masjid. In addition to police personnel, extra CCTV cameras were installed around the mosque to monitor the situation. Drones were also deployed to further enhance surveillance and deter any potential disturbances, officials said. Divisional Commissioner of Moradabad, Aunjaneya Kumar Singh said security measures have been reinforced at sensitive religious sites in the area and around the court in Chandausi. Tension has been brewing in Sambhal since November 19 when the court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid was carried out following claims that a Harihar temple previously stood at the site. Violence erupted on November 24 as protesters gathered near the mosque and clashed with security personnel, leading to stone pelting and arson. Four people died and scores of others were injured in the violence. Earlier in the day, a court in Sambhal directed the court-appointed commissioner to submit within 10 days the survey report on the mosque and fixed January 8 as the next date of hearing. The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Sambhal trial court to temporarily halt proceedings in the case and its survey while directing the Uttar Pradesh government to maintain peace and harmony in the violence-hit town. On November 19, a court of civil judge (senior division) of Sambhal passed an ex-parte order for a survey of the mosque by an advocate commissioner after taking note of a plea of the Hindu side that claimed the mosque was built by Mughal emperor Babur in 1526 after demolishing a temple. In a miraculous turn of events, a seven-year-old boy who was kidnapped from Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad district more than 30 years ago has reunited with his family. IMAGE: Raju was kidnapped when he was seven-year-old from Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad district. Photograph: ANI Now 38, Raju shared his ordeal and said that after being abducted in September 1993, he was handed over to a truck driver who took him to Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. "The kidnappers kept me in a room located in the middle of a barren area, where I was forced to take care of sheep and goats. Each night, I was chained and locked in the room," he said. According to his father Tula Ram, the kidnapping took place when Raju and his sister were returning home from Deen Bandhu Public School in Sahibabad. After an argument with his sister, Raju sat by the roadside when three people arrived in a tempo and abducted him, Tula Ram, a retired Delhi government employee, said. An FIR was lodged at Sahibabad police station. Despite extensive searches, police could not recover Raju, and Tula Ram later received a ransom letter demanding Rs 8 lakh. Unable to pay the amount, Tula Ram left the matter in the hands of fate, and the investigation eventually went cold. For three decades, Tula Ram lived in uncertainty over his son's fate. But on November 27, the family's nightmare came to an end as Raju returned home. WATCH: Kidnapped boy finds family after 31 years After initial reluctance, Raju's mother and sisters identified him by a mole on his chest and a depression in his skull. Sharing his ordeal, Raju said he was given only one roti and tea as meal twice a day. However, he said he was hopeful that one day he would reunite with his family. His fate took a turn when a Sikh businessman from Delhi, who was purchasing sheep and goats in the area a few days ago, saw Raju being beaten and tied to a tree. The businessman, moved by Raju's plight, decided to help him. The businessman took Raju with him on his truck, and dropped him off at the Ghaziabad border, with a note stating that he was from Noida and had been kidnapped in 1993, police officials said. Raju eventually made his way to Khoda police station in Ghaziabad, where officers arranged food and shelter for him. After three days of intense search, Khoda police finally located Raju's family. The reunion was a moment of joy for Tula Ram. ACP Rajneesh Upadhyay said that after completing all the necessary legal formalities, police had successfully reunited Raju with his family. "The case, which had once seemed hopeless, has now brought an emotional closure for both Raju and his family after more than three decades of anguish," said the officer. India and China have implemented a pact sealed last month on patrolling in Depsang and Demchok along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh as per agreed modalities and timelines, the government said on Friday. IMAGE: President Droupadi Murmu (second from right) with Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Brigadier BD Mishra (Retd) and other dignitaries visit Siachen Base Camp, in Leh, September 27, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo The two sides reached an agreement on disengagement and patrolling in the last two friction points on October 21. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said in Lok Sabha that the terms of the disengagement agreements reached prior to the latest pact continued to hold in relevant areas in eastern Ladakh. "India and China reached agreement on patrolling arrangements along the LAC in India-China border areas in Depsang and Demchok on October 21 leading to disengagement," he said. "It has been agreed therein that patrolling activities and, wherever applicable, grazing will resume as per longstanding practice before friction started in these areas," he said. "The agreement has since been effected and implemented as per modalities and timelines agreed," Singh added. The minister was replying to a question. "The terms of the disengagement agreements reached prior to October 21 continue to hold in relevant areas in eastern Ladakh. "The terms of the agreements apply mutually to both sides and are without prejudice to India's positions on LAC or boundary lines," he said. Singh said the government continues to keep a constant watch on all developments having a bearing on India's security and takes all the necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Indian and Chinese militaries are carrying out one round of patrolling each in Depsang and Demchok, people familiar with the matter said. At the same time, they said the two sides have maintained their deployment of troops along the LAC and the focus now will be on deescalation of the overall situation. Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the LAC in the region. After India and China reached the agreement last month, Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi said the Indian military is trying to restore "trust" and both sides will have to "reassure each other" to achieve this objective. Two days after the pact was sealed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks in the Russian city of Kazan. The two leaders endorsed the agreement on patrolling and disengagement and issued directions to revive various bilateral dialogue mechanisms, signalling attempts to normalise ties. In the nearly 50-minute meeting held on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, Modi underscored the importance of properly handling differences and disputes and not allowing them to disturb peace and tranquility in border areas. The prime minister said mutual trust, mutual respect and mutual sensitivity should remain the basis of the relations. India has been maintaining that its ties with China cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border areas. The eastern Ladakh border standoff erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong lake area. The Supreme Court on Friday granted regular bail to former Trinamool Congress youth leader Kuntal Ghosh in a corruption case linked to the West Bengal primary school recruitment scam. IMAGE: ED sleuths take TMC youth leader Kuntal Ghosh to Bankshall Court in connection with a teacher recruitment scam, in Kolkata, January 21, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan said it was not likely that the trial would be completed in the foreseeable near future in the case wherein Ghosh had been in custody for the past 19 months. Ghosh will be walking out of jail after over a year as he was granted bail in the money laundering case linked to the scam on November 20. "It is too early to foresee the conclusion of the trial. In the given circumstances, the detention of the accused in custody for the indefinite period will not be in conformity with the settled position in law," the bench said. Ghosh, directed by the top court, to not leave West Bengal without the prior permission of the court or the investigation agency. It also directed Ghosh not to hold any public post or make statements in the media in relation to the merit of the investigation. "We can't stop him from holding any post in the political party," the bench observed and directed him not to influence or tamper with the evidence in the case. During the hearing, advocate MS Khan, representing Ghosh, referred to two orders of the trial court to buttress his argument that the trial won't be over in the near future as the CBI was yet to file the final chargesheet. Khan said the trial court in its order of January 16 and the one passed in July indicated the investigation was ongoing and it was not possible to commence the trial in the near future. "I have been in custody for the past 19 months and charges have not been framed yet against me. Moreover, an application has been moved for transferring the case to another court," Khan said. The bench asked the CBI counsel about the time it needed to complete the investigation and was informed that the probe agency was planning to file a supplementary chargesheet in December as it had to examine the witnesses defrauded by the accused. The counsel said the allegations against him were serious as he created a parallel website similar to the West Bengal Primary Education Board, where fake results of undeserving candidates seeking jobs were posted and crores of rupees were collected from them. The bench said owing to the nature of the allegations and the nature of evidence required to be collected by the CBI, it was natural for the agency to take time and conclude the case by filing the chargesheet, paving way for the trial. On November 20, the Calcutta High Court granted conditional bail to Ghosh, one of the prime accused in an ED case connected to the school recruitment scam. He was arrested by the ED on January 21, 2023, in the money laundering case and subsequently on February 20, 2023 by the CBI in the related corruption case. Ghosh, perceived to be a close associate of former TMC MLA Manik Bhattacharya who was removed from his position as the president of the state primary education board after the recruitment irregularities came to light and his subsequent arrest by the ED in October 2022, was accused of extracting money from teachers who failed to qualify the Teachers Eligibility Test in return for jobs in schools. Tapas Mondal, another arrested accused in the case, claimed in a statement before the investigators that Ghosh received close to Rs 20 crore from him as proceeds of crime. Ghosh is accused of being actively involved in the process of illegal selection of candidates in TET-2014 as well as the appointment of candidates as primary teachers, upper primary teachers, assistant teachers for classes 9 to 12 and Group-D staff under the West Bengal government. A key Mahayuti meeting scheduled on Friday was put off and likely to take place on Sunday now as outgoing Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde headed to his native village, delaying government formation a week after poll results. IMAGE: Maharashtra's outgoing chief minister Eknath Shinde, his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah as BJP president JP Nadda and NCP leader Praful Patel look on, New Delhi, November 28, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo The ruling alliance's meeting was expected to be convened in Mumbai on Sunday, said sources in the Shiv Sena, which is headed by Shinde. Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Pparty, the largest Mahayuti constituent, said they were awaiting the arrival of central observers for the legislature party meeting. The swearing-in of the new government is expected to take place next week, the sources said. Shinde, speaking to reporters in New Delhi on Thursday night, had said talks with Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah on government formation were positive and the next round of discussions will be held in Mumbai on Friday. However, BJP sources maintained no gathering of Mahayuti leaders was scheduled for Friday. During his Delhi trip, Shinde had met Shah and discussed formation of the next government in the state. His deputies in the outgoing state cabinet Devendra Fadnavis (BJP) and Ajit Pawar (NCP) had also met the senior BJP leader. Shinde returned to Mumbai on Friday morning and according to Shiv Sena sources, he left for his native village Dare in Satara district in western Maharashtra in the evening. Shinde was at the chief minister's official residence 'Varsha' in South Mumbai where he met a stream of visitors, including party leaders and MLAs. The Shiv Sena leader has repeatedly said he would not be an obstacle in the government formation and abide by the decisions taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah on the next chief minister. Different viewpoints are emerging in the Shiv Sena over Shinde's place in the next government after the BJP-led Mahayuti posted a thumping win in the just-held assembly polls. Many leaders in the Shiv Sena are asking Shinde to accept the deputy CM's post if offered by the BJP. However, another section feels it wouldn't be right for him to accept the No. 2 position after serving as CM for more than two-and-a-half years, the sources said. BJP MLAs haven't got any intimation about a legislature party meeting, where they will elect their leader. Fadnavis also returned to Mumbai on Friday after meeting Shah in Delhi over government formation. State BJP leaders held informal discussions and sources said the state unit was awaiting the arrival of central observers. Shinde, Fadnavis and Pawar had also met BJP president J P Nadda and Shah on late Thursday to thrash out a power-sharing pact for the next government in Maharashtra. In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat said if Shinde doesn't accept the deputy CM's post in the new government, then it will be given to someone else from their party. Talking to reporters, Shirsat said Shinde will certainly not go to the Centre as a Union minister. "If Shinde does not accept the deputy CM's post, then some other leader from our party will get it. He (Shinde) will take a call on this by evening, said Shirsat, who retained his Aurangabad assembly West seat. Shirsat's party colleague Shamburaj Desai said their MLA-elects and party workers strongly feel that Shinde should be a part of the new government. Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar said he hoped that if Fadnavis returns as chief minister, he will erase the tag of doing "politics of revenge" he had been associated with. "He will have a free hand (as CM) as crutches will be dependent on him and not vice versa. I hope (as CM) he works for Vidarbha as he is son of the soil (Fadnavis is an MLA from Nagpur)," he said. "Politics is an ideological fight and not a personal battle," the Congress leader asserted. In the just-held polls to the 288-member assembly, the BJP won 132 seats, followed by its allies Shiv Sena (57) and NCP (41). Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat said that the name of the Chief Ministerial face for Maharashtra should be announced by Friday midnight and caretaker CM Eknath Shinde, will take a big decision in the next 24 hours. IMAGE: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on November 29, 2024. Photograph: @Dev_Fadnavis/X The Shiv Sena leader also asserted that Eknath Shinde will take any position in the Union cabinet as his interest lies in Maharashtra politics. "Yesterday the leaders of Maharashtra met at the residence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah...PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will decide who will be the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra...The name of the Maharashtra CM should be declared by today midnight. I have the information that the oath-taking ceremony will be on December 2," Shirsat told ANI. "Eknath Shinde will not go to Delhi. He is more interested in Maharashtra politics than Delhi politics," he added. On Eknath Shinde heading to his native village in Satara district amid the suspense over the chief ministerial face, the Shiv Sena leader said that whenever Eknath Shinde feels that he needs some time to think, he goes to his native village. "When he (Eknath Shinde) has to make a big decision, he goes to his native village. By tomorrow evening, he (Eknath Shinde) will take a very big decision," he added. Caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis, the front runner for CM, Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar, and other Mahayuti leaders met Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda in Delhi on Thursday amid the deadlock over the chief ministerial face in the state. The Maharashtra assembly election results were declared on November 23, with BJP-led Mahayuti alliance storming back to power with a landslide majority, but the winning alliance is yet to finalise its choice for chief minister. The Bharatiya Janata Party emerged as the largest party with 132 seats in the 280-member Maharashtra assembly, while its allies--the Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, and the NCP, led by Ajit Pawar--won 57 and 41 seats, respectively. A 15-member delegation of Samajwadi Party will go to UP's Sambhal on Saturday to gather information about the violence that erupted after a court-ordered survey in the Shahi Jama Masjid complex, the party said on Friday. IMAGE: Devotees arrive at Shahi Jama Masjid to offer Friday prayers, in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, November 29,2024. Photograph: ANI Photo A senior official of the local administration, however, said that prohibitory orders bar anyone from coming into the district on Saturday. SP state president Shyam Lal Pal said a delegation will go to Sambhal on Saturday on the instructions of party chief Akhilesh Yadav. After taking detailed information about the violence, they will submit the report to the party chief, he said. Congress state president Ajay Rai told PTI that a Congress delegation will go to the city on December 2. The situation in Sambhal has been tense since the first survey of the city's Jama Masjid was conducted on November 19 on the orders of a local court. The petitioner has claimed that Jama Masjid stands on land where A Harihar temple stood before. Violence erupted on November 24 as protesters gathered near the mosque and clashed with security personnel, leading to stone pelting and arson. Four people died and scores of others, including policemen, were injured in the violence. Police have denied firing at the protesters opposing the survey. Ziaur Rahman Barq, who would be part of the party delegation, has been booked in connection with the November 24 violence for allegedly committing "provocative acts". A note by SP state chief Pal shared on 'X' said that the delegation includes Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Mata Prasad Pandey, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Lal Bihari Yadav, SP state president Shyamlal Pal, MPs Ziaur Rahman Barq, Harendra Malik, Ruchi Veera, Iqra Hasan and Neeraj Maurya. MLAs Kamal Akhtar, Ravidas Mehrotra, Nawab Iqbal Mahmood and Pinky Singh Yadav will also be part of the delegation, the note said. Earlier, the Samajwadi Party had postponed the proposed visit of its delegation after getting assurance from the director general of police of a fair investigation into the violence. Leader of Opposition in the UP assembly Mata Prasad Pandey had said in a press conference last Tuesday: "I was supposed to leave for Sambhal at 10 am today, but in the meantime I spoke to the Director General of Police. We told him that our people are being framed, even FIRs have been lodged against those who were not present there." Pandey said the DGP assured him of a fair investigation and asked them to visit Sambhal after three days. The Sambhal district administration has imposed prohibitory orders in the district and entry of outsiders is prohibited till Saturday. Moradabad Divisional Commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh, when asked about the SP delegation's visit, said the district magistrate's orders to bar any outsiders is still in force. "Give some time, let everything become normal. Right now, we are taking steps to restore trust, after that we will not stop anyone (from visiting here). What is the hurry to come? If you want to meet family members or want to talk to someone, we will not stop anyone from coming. My appeal to everyone is to give some time, after that no matter who comes, we will have no problem," Singh said. The DC added that people who were involved in the violence will be brought to book. "More than 300 people have been identified so far... Our main emphasis is on collecting evidence," he said. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat on Friday said if their party head Eknath Shinde doesn't accept the deputy chief minister's post, then it will be given to someone from their outfit. IMAGE: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde addresses a press conference at his residence, in Thane on November 27, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Talking to reporters, Shirsat said Shinde will certainly not go to the Centre as a Union minister. After the Mahayuti alliance's astounding performance in the Maharashtra polls, where it won 230 of the 288 seats, Shinde, now the caretaker chief minister, has said that he will fully support BJP leadership's decision to name the next CM and won't be a hurdle in the process. This had led to debates over the possibility of Shinde being offered the deputy CM position and whether he would accept it. If Shinde does not accept the deputy CM's post, then some other leader from our party will get it. He (Shinde) will take a call on this by evening, said Shirsat, who retained his Aurangabad assembly West seat. On Thursday, the Shiv Sena leader said Shinde was unlikely to accept the post of deputy CM in the new government in Maharashtra. Shirsat's party colleague and former minister Shamburaj Desai said their MLA-elects and party workers strongly feel that Shinde should be a part of the new government. Desai was the guardian minister of Thane, Shinde's bastion, from 2022 to 2024. Looking at Shinde's vast administrative experience, Desai said, he should be a part of the next government in Maharashtra. Shinde, ex-CM Devendra Fadnavis and NCP chief Ajit Pawar met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda late Thursday to thrash out a power-sharing pact for the next government in Maharashtra. We will take a decision (on Maharashtra CM) in a day or two. We have held discussions, and the discussions will continue. You will get to know when we take a final decision, Shinde told reporters in Delhi after the meeting. In the November 20 Maharashtra polls, whose results were announced on November 23, the BJP won 132 seats, followed by its allies Shiv Sena (57) and NCP (41). From the opposition camp, Congress got 16 seats, while its MVA partners Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) bagged only 20 and 10 seats, respectively. News / National by George Tshuma A ground-breaking ceremony for the 720MW Titan Power Plant Project is scheduled for 2 December 2024 at Hwange Power Station, marking a pivotal moment in Zimbabwe's quest for energy self- sufficiency. This ambitious project aligns with ZESA Holdings' comprehensive strategy to eradicate load-shedding by 2025 and achieve universal access to electricity nationwide by 2030, as outlined by ZESA Executive Chairman Dr Sydney Gata. Titan signed the MOU in the presence of President Mnangagwa during his Visit to FOCAC in China in September.The 720MW Titan Power Plant Project is a significant milestone in Zimbabwe's journey towards energy self-sufficiency. The project, set to be completed in the near future, will increase Zimbabwe's power generation capacity, reducing reliance on imports and mitigating the impact of load-shedding. This development is expected to bring relief to households, businesses, and industries that have been struggling with power outages.ZESA Holdings' comprehensive strategy to end load-shedding by next year and achieve universal access to electricity by 2030 is ambitious yet achievable. The strategy is built on a multi-pronged approach, including increasing power generation capacity, improving transmission and distribution infrastructure, and promoting energy efficiency. With the Titan Power Plant Project, ZESA is taking a significant step towards realizing this vision.The impact of the Titan Power Plant Project will be felt across various sectors of the economy. With a stable and reliable supply of electricity, businesses will be able to operate efficiently, increasing productivity and competitiveness. Industries in manufacturing, mining, and agriculture will also benefit from the increased power generation capacity, leading to job creation and economic growth.As Zimbabwe works towards achieving universal access to electricity, the Titan Power Plant Project serves as a beacon of hope. The project demonstrates the government's commitment to addressing the country's energy challenges and improving the lives of its citizens. With the ground-breaking ceremony set for December 2, Zimbabwe is poised to take a significant leap towards a brighter and more prosperous future.New Era for Zimbabwe's Energy Sector as Captive Power Producers Take Centre StageZimbabwe's energy landscape is poised for a significant transformation as seven Captive Power Producers (CCP), boasting a combined capacity of over 1000MW, prepare to unveil their project outlines next Monday. This milestone event will coincide with the ground-breaking ceremony of the 720MW Titan New Energy and ZESA Holdings power plant project in Hwange, which will be officiated by President Mnangagwa.The latest developments follow ZESA Holdings' recent launch of a comprehensive strategy aimed at eliminating load-shedding by next year and achieving universal access to electricity nationwide by 2030. A key pillar of this strategy involves transitioning large consumers, such as multinational corporations, particularly in the mining and smelting sectors, to self-generated power. This approach was adopted after recognizing that these sectors require substantial amounts of electricity, making it unnecessary for the Government to incur debt to build power stations to support consumers capable of generating their own power.Unpacking the CPP model ZESA Holdings Executive Chairman, Dr Sydney Gata, explained: "What we did was to decide that it was not necessary for our Government and this is true for the continent of Africa, for them to guarantee investments which benefit, in the main, the multilateral corporations which invest particularly in the mining sector."We have shifted the risk of energy supply in respect of the big companies from the Government and ZESA to the companies themselves. Bear in mind that our Government took a similar measure in another sector of energy which is the fuel sector.""When they decided that we are no longer going to be importing fuel for you, you can import your fuel, you noticed how queues evaporated overnight."In our case, the queues manifest in the backlog of maintenance, the backlog of new connections, the backlog of our operations."So, to cure that, we decided that those customers we now describe as competent customers must fend for themselves, but we are assisting them."The unveiling of the captive power producers' project outlines is a testament to the government's efforts to address the country's energy challenges. The introduction of these new power projects is expected to increase Zimbabwe's power generation capacity, reduce reliance on imports, and mitigate the impact of load shedding. Furthermore, it will enable Zimbabwe to save foreign currency by reducing reliance on imported electricity.The model will also have a positive impact on Zimbabwe's industrial sector. With a reliable power supply, industries will be able to operate efficiently, improving productivity and reducing downtime. This, in turn, will increase the competitiveness of Zimbabwean industries, enabling them to export goods and services more effectively. A reliable power supply will also make Zimbabwe a more attractive destination for foreign investment.In terms of energy security, the Captive Power Producers model will provide a reliable source of electricity, reducing the frequency and duration of power outages. This, in turn, will reduce load shedding, improving the overall quality of life for citizens. Additionally, themodel will promote energy diversity by enabling investment in renewable energy sources.The good news is that ZESA Holdings has secured a record number of significant investments, including seven Captive Power Producer (CPP) power plant projects, totalling over 1000MW, with most of these projects expected to commence by year-end.The 720MW Titan New Energy and ZESA Holdings project, in particular, is a significant milestone in Zimbabwe's energy sector. The project's ground-breaking ceremony, which will be officiated by President Mnangagwa, marks the beginning of a new era in Zimbabwe's energy landscape. The project is expected to create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and improve the overall quality of life for Zimbabweans.The involvement of private players in the energy sector is a welcome development, as it brings in much-needed investment, expertise, and innovation. The captive power producers' projects are expected to be implemented efficiently and effectively, with a focus on reliability, sustainability, and environmental responsibility.As Zimbabwe strives to achieve energy self-sufficiency, the role of captive power producers cannot be overstated. These producers have the potential to transform the country's energy landscape, providing a reliable and sustainable source of power for industries, businesses, and households. With the unveiling of their project outlines, Zimbabwe is poised to take a significant step towards a brighter energy future. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Cloudy early with peeks of sunshine expected late. High 56F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies with a few showers after midnight. Low 44F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%. US President Donald Trump said he sees a "very good chance" for peace between Ukraine and Russia after "very good and productive discussions" between US officials and Russian President Vladimir Putin. In a March 14 post on his Truth Social site, Trump also said the United States had urged Russia to spare the lives of "thousands" of Ukrainian soldiers that Putin has said have been isolated by Russian troops in Russia's Kursk region. Ukraine disputes that claim. The post came just hours after the Kremlin said it was "cautiously optimistic" following a meeting late on March 13 between Putin and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. "We had very good and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday, and there is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end," Trump wrote. Trump added that "thousands of Ukrainian troops are completely surrounded by the Russian military, and in a very bad and vulnerable position." "I have strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared," he wrote. "This would be a horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II." Putin said a day earlier that a group of Ukrainian troops were "isolated" in the Kursk region, the site of a surprise incursion by Ukrainian forces last August. Responding to Trump's plea on March 14, he said the soldiers' lives would be spared if they surrendered and urged Kyiv to order them to do so. Officials in Kyiv have said that while Ukrainian forces have been slowly withdrawing in the Kursk region under heavy pressure from Russian troops, but the armed forces general staff said on March 14 that "[r]eports of the alleged 'encirclement' of Ukrainian units...in the Kursk region are false and fabricated." "There is no threat of encirclement of our units," it said in a statement on social media. Zelenskyy Challenges Putin's Motives Earlier on March 14, Putin's spokesman said there were grounds for "cautious optimism" over Trump's 30-day cease-fire proposal, which Ukraine accepted earlier this week at talks with US officials in Saudi Arabia. Ukraine, meanwhile, questioned Moscow's sincerity in ending the war, which is now in its fourth year since Russia's full-scale invasion on February 2022. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow that Putin sent Trump a message about his cease-fire proposal after his talks with Witkoff in the Russian capital. "When Mr Witkoff brings all the information to President Trump, we will determine the timing of a conversation (between Trump and Putin). There are reasons to be cautiously optimistic," Peskov said. Putin said a day earlier that he agrees in principle with the US proposal for a temporary cease-fire with Ukraine, but added that "there are nuances," such as Western weapons deliveries to Kyiv, that he wants addressed first. The Russian leader also said any agreement should lead to long-term peace that addresses the "root" reasons for the war, an apparent reference to NATO expansion and other developments Putin claims have put Russia's security in jeopardy. In a video posted late on March 13, Zelenskyy questioned Putin's motives, saying the Russian leader was preparing to reject the proposal but was afraid to tell Trump. "That's why in Moscow they are imposing upon the idea of a cease-fire these conditions -- so that nothing happens at all, or so that it cannot happen for as long as possible," Zelenskyy said. He followed up on March 14 with a post on social media accusing the Kremlin of trying to "complicate and drag out the process." "Russia is the only party that wants the war to continue and diplomacy to break down," he said on X after a call with the Secretary of State of the Holy See, cardinal Pietro Parolin. Putin's Response To Trump's Pressure Kyiv agreed to Trump's 30-day cease-fire proposal at a meeting in Jeddah on March 11, putting the onus for peace in Moscow's lap. Putin's response threw the ball back into US hands, at least to some degree. Trump called Putin's initial reaction to peace talk developments "promising" but incomplete, though he added he hoped Russia would "do the right thing" and agree to the deal. "I think the Russians are keen not to be seen as the intransigent party as that could lead to consequences from Trump, such as sanctions. So that informed Putin's comments today," John Hardie, deputy director of the Russia Program at Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based think tank, told RFE/RL. Trump has made ending the war in Ukraine a top priority since taking office for a second term less than two months ago, and is wielding US leverage to get both Kyiv and Moscow to the table. On March 13, the US administration heightened pressure on Russia by increasing restrictions on the country's oil, gas, and banking sectors. Among the measures, the Treasury Department was allowing the expiration of a 60-day exemption put in place in January by the Biden administration that let some energy transactions involving sanctioned Russian banks continue. The move would make it more difficult for other nations, especially in Europe, to buy Russian oil. Meanwhile, the foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) -- which includes the United States, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan -- said they discussed imposing more sanctions on Russia and boosting support for Ukraine if the Kremlin does not agree to the cease-fire. Among the measures discussed during the March 13-14 meeting were caps on the price for Russian oil exports, they said in a joint statement. Western nations in late 2022 imposed a $60-a-barrel price cap on the export of Russian oil using Western ships or insurance. It is unclear if the G7 discussions touched on lowering the price cap. Russia's economy is heavily dependent on oil exports, which account for a third of federal budget revenues. In a joint statement following the meeting, the G7 said that "we reaffirmed our unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its territorial integrity and right to exist, and its freedom, sovereignty, and independence." "We welcomed ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire, and in particular the meeting on March 11 between the US and Ukraine in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," it added. Putin also said there were several unanswered questions in the proposal, such as what to do about Ukraine's incursion into Russia's Kursk region. "If we have a cease-fire, does that mean that everyone there would leave?" Putin said. "Should we release them [Ukrainian troops] after they committed crimes against the population? Or would they surrender?" Ukraine denies committing such crimes, saying it abides by humanitarian law and does not target civilians. Why Should Russia Agree To A Cease-Fire? Kyiv seized a swath of the Kursk region in a stealth incursion in August, a move seen as an effort to divert Russian forces from eastern Ukraine and use the territory as a bargaining chip in any peace talks. That strategy is now failing as Russian forces supported by North Korean troops push the Ukrainians out of Kursk. Russia has regained more than half the territory in Kursk initially captured by Ukraine. Zelenskyy told reporters on March 14 that the situation in Kursk was "obviously very difficult." Among the other concerns Putin voiced about the cease-fire proposal is whether Ukraine would use the 30-day period to mobilize and train forces or rearm with the help of the West. He also raised the question of how the nearly 2,000-kilometer front would be monitored. Zelenskyy told reporters that the front could be monitored by US satellites. Experts had warned that Putin would likely seek to drag out cease-fire talks because his forces have the upper hand on the battlefield. Aside from the advances in Kursk, Russia is gaining territory in eastern Ukraine -- albeit at high human and material costs -- due to its significant manpower advantage. However, Zelenskyy said Ukraine has stopped Russian forces at the gates of Pokrovsk, a key logistical hub in Donetsk region, after months of fighting on the outskirts of the city. Zelenskyy asserted that the incursion into Kursk forced Russia to pull forces from eastern Ukraine, giving his troops time to defend the city. Russia is seeking to capture at a minimum the entirety of the four regions of Ukraine it claims to have annexed in September 2022: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson. A cease-fire freezing the current front lines would leave them short of that goal. "One way the Russians could slow down this process without coming out directly and saying 'no', is by dragging out those technical discussions on monitoring" the cease-fire, Hardie said. "That could also give them ways to try to pin the blame back on Ukraine, by insisting on certain technical matters that Ukraine might find objectionable," he said. By Wen-Yee Lee TAIPEI (Reuters) - TSMC's founder Morris Chang asked Nvidia's Jensen Huang to consider becoming the chief executive of the Taiwanese chip giant more than a decade ago, but was turned down in just 10 minutes, Chang says in a new volume of autobiography. Huang, who has served as chief executive of the AI chipmaker since founding the company, told Chang, "I already have a job," the 93-year-old recounted in the memoir, published on Friday, that recounts his life from 1964 to 2018. The second volume of Chang's autobiography covers his 25 years at Texas Instruments and the founding of TSMC in 1987, after the first, about his early life, was published in 1998. The new volume recounts some of TSMC's dealings with major customers such as Apple and Qualcomm, as well as how Intel turned down an invitation to invest in TSMC in the 1980s before becoming a key customer. Chang also describes his friendship of more than two decades with Huang, who has turned California-based Nvidia into one of the world's most valuable companies amid a surge of interest in artificial intelligence. The two men have regularly praised each other in public over the years, with Huang crediting Chang for Nvidia's success. In the book, Chang said that while searching for a successor in 2013, he viewed Huang as an ideal candidate because of his character, professional experience, and semiconductor expertise. "I spent about 10 minutes concisely explaining my deep expectations for TSMC," Chang recalled. He said Huang listened patiently but responded, "I already have a job." A few weeks later, Chang tried again, but Huang was resolute. "Jensens response to me was honest: He 'already had a job!' That job was to elevate Nvidia to what it is today, 11 years later," wrote Chang. Nvidia did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Chang's book. Chang added that when Huang was selecting a manufacturing partner for Nvidia, he was willing to bet everything on TSMC. For its part, TSMC sent two production staff to help Nvidia in 1998 when the up-and-coming firm was short-staffed. Chang also wrote that he approached Gordon Moore, then CEO of Intel, when he was raising funds for TSMC in the 1980s. The U.S. chipmaker did not invest, but later became one of TSMCs customers, contracting to make its latest laptop chips. Chang said Intel CEO Pat Gelsigner had since 2021 set his sights on turning the company into a foundry player. While he wished the effort luck, Chang said Intel's long-standing business model, focusing on the in-house production of its own chip products, could make such a move hard, given foundries makes chips designed by other companies. Welcome back to the China In Eurasia briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter tracking China's resurgent influence from Eastern Europe to Central Asia. I'm RFE/RL's China Global Affairs Correspondent Reid Standish and here's what I'm following right now. Minding The Transatlantic Gap China is looking to capitalize on a transatlantic rift between the United States and Europe that is widening as U.S. President Donald Trump looks to quickly end the war in Ukraine. But how much of an opening is there actually for Beijing? Finding Perspective: The threat of tariffs, a war of words at the Munich Security Conference earlier this month, U.S.-Russia talks that excluded Europe and Kyiv, and a standoff at the United Nations over how to commemorate the third anniversary of the war in Ukraine have all been recent fissures between Washington and European governments. That brought new questions about relying on the United States to European capitals and left an opening for Beijing, which has been trying to woo back Europe over the past four years. On the sidelines in Munich, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held bilateral meetings with several top European officials, including EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Spain's foreign minister seems to be at least more open to the idea of keeping China closer amid tensions with the United States. Jose Manuel Albares told the Financial Times that the European Union should craft its own China policy and not follow the more confrontational line with Beijing advocated by those in the Trump administration. "Europe must take its own decisions, on its own. And we have to decide when China can be a partner and when China is a competitor," Albares told the newspaper. How We Got Here: During Trump's first term in office, Washington pushed European governments to take a harder line on China. That led to the bloc labeling China a "systemic rival" in 2019. The Chinese government's untransparent handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, trade, human rights, and supply chain concerns, and Beijing's backing of Russia throughout the war in Ukraine all saw that harder line solidify in Europe under former U.S. President Joe Biden's tenure. Now amid growing transatlantic tensions, some European governments see following Trump's tough stance on China as a way to win over Washington. Others, like the Spanish government, are arguing to preserve vital economic ties with Beijing, especially amid growing uncertainty about the United States. This has even led to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, one of Brussels's more hawkish voices on China, calling in January for a new effort to improve relations between Brussels and Beijing. A True Rift? Tensions on each side of the Atlantic are real. Following his party's victory in elections on February 23, Friedrich Merz, Germany's chancellor-in-waiting for the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), said the Trump administration "does not care much about the fate of Europe" and that the Continent needs to act accordingly. "My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can really achieve independence from the U.S.A.," he said. Talk of a seismic shift in the geopolitical order is also under way in Brussels. One EU official recently back from discussions with U.S. officials told RFE/RL that the White House's focus is on ending the war in Ukraine and that there is a "take it or leave it" attitude from Washington. The Trump administration wants to "remove the Ukraine issue from the table and move on to other issues. It is becoming clear that Trump's goal is to rule the world together with Russia and China" and work toward "strategically separating them from each other," said the official, who was granted anonymity in order to discuss sensitive matters. Why It Matters: Europe may be grappling with a realignment, but that doesn't mean China is its only option to hedge. As European leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visit Washington, von der Leyen is set to arrive in India on February 27. James Crabtree, a visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told me that "it's hard to imagine a better time to re-energize Europe's and India's historically lackluster ties" and that a focus of the trip will be technology cooperation. "A meeting of the EU-India Trade and Technology Council -- only the second since its foundation in 2023 -- offers opportunities to deepen collaboration in areas ranging from artificial intelligence to clean technologies," he said. China may also be short on opportunities, with most EU members unable to look past its support for Russia amid the war in Ukraine. The bloc's most recent sanctions package passed on February 24 once again included Chinese companies and individuals. What is likely to emerge is a more fragmented Europe when it comes to China. While some governments look to countries like India, South Korea, and Japan to balance out their foreign policy, others -- such as the current Spanish government and Hungary -- will keep courting Chinese investment and create new openings for Beijing. Three More Stories From Eurasia 1. A Reverse Nixon? China publicly backed the Trump administration's recent talks with the Kremlin, but analysts and former U.S. officials I spoke with mostly said the prospect of a U.S.-Russia reset is also making Beijing "nervous" about having less leverage over its partner. The Details: "While a complete rapprochement might not be in the cards, they're nervous because if Trump lifts sanctions on Russia, then Moscow's dependency on China decreases," Dennis Wilder, who was a top White House China adviser to former U.S. President George W. Bush, told me. One of the hallmarks of Chinese leader Xi Jinping's foreign policy has been a burgeoning strategic partnership with Russian President Vladimir Putin that's grown closer since Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Beijing has propped up the Russian economy through enhanced trade and energy purchases while fueling the Kremlin's war effort with the supply of key goods as both Xi and Putin have found common ground in wanting to challenge the West and unseat the United States. The fear of all that being derailed by a new type of U.S.-Russia relationship born out of a negotiated end to the war in Ukraine is real for Beijing. Wilder says he's had conversations with "very senior Chinese officials" since Trump's election in November who have expressed concern about a potential U.S.-Russia reset. He says they've used the phrase "Only Trump goes to Moscow," a play on the historical reference to former U.S. President Richard Nixon's landmark visit to Beijing in 1972, when he defied precedent and courted China to exploit its split with the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War. 2. But Can It Work? A grand bargain would be a major diplomatic feat, but it's something Trump administration officials have hinted at in public comments of late. What You Need To Know: The Trump administration has made clear it sees managing a long-term rivalry with China as its top foreign policy objective and may look to deprioritize regions like Europe and the Middle East in order to raise pressure on Beijing in Asia. Following the talks in Riyadh, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the possibility for future "geopolitical and economic cooperation" between Washington and Moscow was among the key points discussed. And in an interview this month with The Wall Street Journal, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Washington was prepared to reset the relationship with the Kremlin following an agreement over Ukraine as a move to end Russia's isolation and its growing dependence on China since the war began. "It's not in Putin's interest to be the little brother in a coalition with China," Vance said. The thinking is that even new cracks between the two powers may loosen Moscow's alignment with Beijing and could have a deterrent effect on China, especially if it decides to use military force to take Taiwan. Still, both Beijing and Moscow are aware of what the White House is trying to do, and Beijing has made a point to show it and Moscow are still a tandem, including a recent phone call between Putin and Xi on the third anniversary of the war in Ukraine. Steve Tsang, director of SOAS University London's China Institute, told me he believes Washington's efforts to reset its Russia ties are also not all bad news for Beijing. "Xi does not want Putin to fail in the war, and so Trump delivering a peace that mostly meets Russian conditions is a positive," he said. "Who knows who will be the next U.S. president and if there will be a reversal of U.S. posture post-Trump." 3. Taiwan Watches A New U.S. Line On Ukraine Ukrainians living in Taiwan and local supporters protested outside the de-facto Russian Embassy in Taipei on the eve of the third anniversary of Moscow's invasion. What It Means: The self-governing island has been a vocal supporter of Kyiv, which the Taiwanese government sees as a foil for its own tenuous geopolitical position where China has long threatened to invade and annex Taiwan if it refused to peacefully accept unification. Those parallels have grown since Trump's election. The United States is Taiwan's largest military backer and its support is considered vital for its survival, but Trump's global shakeup, including launching negotiations with Russia without Ukraine and threatening to cut off future aid to Kyiv, has brought anxiety to Taiwan about a similar withdrawal of American assistance. When I was in Taiwan in December, I spoke with several senior officials who said they were closely watching what happened to Kyiv on the battlefield and with the new U.S. administration. So far, the White House has reaffirmed its support for Taiwan, but Washington has also threatened tariffs on the island's semiconductor industry, which is responsible for around 60 percent of world production for microchips and 90 percent of the most-advanced ones needed for the global AI boom. Across The Supercontinent Choking Off Iranian Oil: Earlier this month, the United States brought in a new tranche of sanctions on Iranian oil, my colleague Kian Sharifi and I reported . The move is seen as an opening shot against Tehran and Beijing -- Iran's top oil customer. New Bridge Deal: The Transport Ministry of Tajikistan and the Tajik branch of the Chinese company Zhejiang Communications Construction Group (ZCCC) signed a cooperation agreement for the construction of what will be the longest road bridge in Central Asia. New Tools For Tashkent: Uzbekistan showcased on February 25 newly purchased Chinese-made air-defense systems, including the FM-90 short-range surface-to-air missile system and the KS-1C medium-to-long-range air-defense system. One Thing To Watch A Chinese-crewed cargo ship is detained in Taiwan's southern port of Tainan after a key Taiwan-Penghu Internet cable was mysteriously severed. Taiwanese prosecutors are investigating whether this was an accident or part of a broader pattern of disruptions to vital communication lines, but the country's Coast Guard released footage of them apprehending the vessel. The move comes amid growing tensions from a rise of so-called gray zone tactics, the term often used by Taiwanese officials to refer to the hybrid tactics used to intimidate the island but which remain below the threshold for war. That's all from me for now. Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you might have. Until next time, Reid Standish In an unprecedented court case that has stunned many Tajiks, eight public figures are being tried in secret in Dushanbe for allegedly seeking to overthrow authoritarian President Emomali Rahmon, who has been in power for 32 years. Among the defendants are a former foreign minister, a prominent lawmaker, and two security service colonels who -- according to prosecutors -- joined forces with banned opposition parties to organize armed groups to seize political power in Tajikistan. Prosecutor-General Yusuf Rahmon (no relation to President Rahmon) has claimed the plot involved seeking $10 million from a foreign government while the banned Muslim extremist group Jamoati Ansorulloh was enlisted to provide some 3,000 militants for the takeover, an accusation that puzzled many because the defendants are known to be staunchly secular. The closed-door trial began on November 14 in a Dushanbe detention center, with no announcement by court or government officials. Family members of the defendants, the media, and members of the public are not allowed to attend the proceedings. The exact charges against the defendants are unknown, while the relatives and defense lawyers don't speak to the media. But according to RFE/RL sources close to the matter, the charges include an attempt to seize power by force, treason, inciting hatred, and forgery. Some of the defendants have pleaded not guilty, the sources says, while pleas by most of the others are unknown due to the secrecy surrounding the cases. The events began with a shocking statement by the prosecutor-general, who asked parliament on June 14 to revoke the legislative immunity of lawmaker Saidjafar Usmonzoda, who had been arrested two days earlier. Tajikistan's top prosecutor claimed that Usmonzoda, the former chairman of the Democratic Party, had been in contact with the banned National Alliance of Tajikistan -- a Europe-based grouping that brings together several Tajik opposition movements -- to discuss a plan to "seize political power by force." According to Yusuf Rahmon, during a phone call with Usmonzoda in September 2021, the then-deputy head of the National Alliance, Sharofiddin Gadoev, had allegedly pledged that the banned opposition Islamic Renaissance Party would provide financial assistance and organize the entrance of the Jamoati Ansorulloh militants from Afghanistan into Tajikistan to help carry out the plot. Gadoev has denied the claim. The plot involved militants seizing military and police headquarters to capture weapons in various parts of the country to destabilize the situation and ultimately overthrow the government "in a short period of time," the top prosecutor told parliament. The prosecutor-general also claimed that Usmonzoda had admitted to having committed all of the allegations against him, including requesting $10 million from a "representative" of an unnamed foreign country "to persuade influential figures and organize demonstrations." Situation Ripe For Change Within days, prominent public figures -- former Foreign Minister Hamrohkhon Zarifi, former parliament speaker Akbarshoh Iskandarov, deputy head of the Democratic Party Ahmadshoh Komilzoda, and the deputy leader of the Social Democratic Party, Shokirjon Hakimov, had been detained in Dushanbe. Authorities also detained three other lesser-known officials -- former Foreign Ministry department head Abdulfaiz Atoi, and two retired colonels from the State Committee for National Security, Nuramin Ganizoda and Jamshed Boev. Prosecutors told reporters in August that all of the cases being probed were "closely related," but did not provide further details. Since then, there has been no word from the authorities, court officials, or defense lawyers about the cases. State-controlled media has largely ignored the process. In a country where free speech and criticism of the government are not tolerated, most Tajiks are reluctant to speak to the media, fearing retaliation. On condition of anonymity, a university professor in Dushanbe said that while "we don't know if the defendants are guilty as charged, some sort of attempt to change the regime is inevitably going to happen in Tajikistan sooner or later." The lecturer said many Tajiks are unhappy with the situation in Tajikistan amid widespread speculation that President Rahmon is grooming his 36-year-old son, Rustam, to be his successor. "The Tajik people at all levels are unhappy with how the president and his close circle control everything, treating the country as their own private property, giving no opportunities to anyone else," the professor said. "People dont want another 30 years with this family." In the absence of democracy and free and fair elections, some people "may consider or resort to other ways to get rid of the authoritarian regime," the professor said. "But these criminal cases could also reflect the government's lack of confidence and paranoia ahead of any plan to transfer power from the father to the son," the lecturer added. Some Tajik analysts believe the charges against the eight men are baseless, as it is unlikely that the defendants -- most of whom are in their 60s and 70s -- would risk challenging a government known for its brutal reprisals against opponents. "These defendants were not able to challenge the regime during the height of their careers when they had power, influence, and political clout, and it's almost improbable that they would try it now," said Aziz Nurulloev, a U.S.-based Tajik political-affairs analyst. But Nurulloev points out that the situation is "ripe" in Tajikistan -- an impoverished nation of some 10 million, millions of whom have to go abroad to find work -- for people to demand political change. James Cox An Irish mother whose children were abducted by their father in Egypt nearly three years ago has praised the Taoiseach for his engagement with her, saying "I had another experience of Simon Harris" after he was criticised for an interaction with a care worker in Cork. Mandy Kelly from Dundalk in Co Louth was on holiday in Egypt in 2022 when her husband Ramy Gamal Maamoun Mohamed locked her in an apartment and took the children away in a car. Three-year-old Kareem and his five-year-old brother Zayn Mohammed were both born in Ireland and have had no contact with their mother since June 2022, three months after they were kidnapped. Both the High Court of Ireland and the family courts of Egypt have awarded Ms Kelly custody. However, this "is no consolation given that my estranged husband has fled from house-to-house to avoid authorities in Egypt". After Mr Harris' interaction with care worker Charlotte Fallon in Kanturk, Co Cork went viral, leading to heavy criticism, Ms Kelly contacted BreakingNews.ie to share her experience with the Taoiseach. Speaking from Egypt, Ms Kelly said: "I have followed the news coverage of criticism of Taoiseach Simon Harris by a care worker. "I can only imagine her pain given what she faces every day. I would not blame her for her disappointment. "Still, I had another experience of Simon Harris. Despite a demanding campaign schedule, Mr Harris took time out specifically to meet with me in private, away from the cameras and glare of the media, because he was very concerned about Kareem, Zayn and I. "He pledged his support to me and I have every reason to believe him because he didnt do it publicly for votes, but privately to reassure me of Governments commitment to every Irish citizen even my two, vulnerable boys. "Simon Harris may have made a poor choice in Cork when dealing with that carer. It was unacceptable. He has said so, himself. But I have had another experience of Mr Harris one in which he took time with me privately, listened intently and pledged his support. "I look forward to him continuing his efforts on behalf of my sons, including continuing to raise their fate with the highest levels of the Egyptian government as his government has already done." Ms Kelly is returning to Ireland on election day, where she hopes to raise the issue of her sons' abduction again. Merlyn's funeral service is at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Sidney, MT with Pastor John Baseley officiating. Visitation will be on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM at Fulkerson Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Sidney, MT with a family and friends service to follow at 6:00 pm. Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home of Sidney, MT is assisting the family. Remembrances, condolences, and pictures may be shared with the family at http://www.fulkersons.com. Merlyn Dean Larson was born on September 18, 1930, to Chris and Bertha (Helmer) Larson, in Sidney, Montana. He was the youngest of the family and had two brothers, Gerald and Don. He attended school at the Brorson and McBride Country Schools and later the Sidney High School. Merlyn enlisted in the United States Navy in 1951 where he served aboard the aircraft carrier Princeton during the Korean War and was honorably discharged in February 1955. While he was in the military, he fell in love with a hometown girl and a sister of one of his friends, Rosemary "Jen" Obergfell. After a whirlwind courtship, these two were married on July 2, 1955, at the Pella Lutheran Church in Sidney, Montana. This fun-lovin' couple were married 69 years, and their legacy of love was admired by all, especially their family. Merlyn and Jen lived most of their married life in the Brorson Community, west of Sidney, Montana, and he was very proud of the fact that he was able to raise his children on the same farm where he was born and raised. He truly loved his home and community and felt so blessed to live there. Merlyn cherished his life on the farm with Jen. He loved planting crops and watching them grow, raising animals of all types and in later years, taking side-by-side rides to check all the water tanks and just enjoy nature. Merlyn also enjoyed visiting friends and neighbors and being a practical jokester. All loved to have him tell of the jokes he had pulled on his neighbors! The highlight of each day was when his kids and grandkids would stop by for a visit and their favorite beverage. Their home was the gathering place for any age group, and everyone was always welcome. Merlyn served on the Brorson School Board for many years and was so proud that 4 generations of Larsons have attended school there and 1 great-grandson is currently enrolled at Brorson. He was also on the Farmer's Elevator Board of Directors, a member of the VFW and Trinity Lutheran Church, all of Sidney. Merlyn and Jen raised five children: Sheri, Tim, Randy, Gary and Chris. Many enjoyable years were spent raising this lively bunch and attending their activities. All of their kids feel so blessed to be raised in such a hard-working, but fun-filled house full of love. They were taught to have a strong work ethic, faith in God, love and respect for this wonderful country, be good stewards of the land and to live life to the fullest. Merlyn passed away on Monday, November 25, 2024, surrounded by his family at the Sidney Health Center in Sidney, MT. Merlyn is survived by his loving wife, Rosemary "Jen" Larson; daughter, Sheri (Bill) Madison; sons, Tim (Brenda) Larson and Chris (Shelly) Larson; daughter-in-law, Teresa Larson, all of Sidney, and 12 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild and 1 more due this winter; sisters-in-law Joann Obergfell, Sidney, MT and Joanne Obergfell, Plentywood, MT; and many nieces and nephews and extended family. Merlyn was preceded in death by his parents, Chris and Bertha Larson; sons, Randall (Randy) and Gary Larson; brothers and their wives, Gerald and Hazel Larson and Don and Evelyn Larson; in-laws, Jake and Jean Obergfell and all of Jen's siblings. November 29, 2024 UPDATE A roundup of local and international news. Newsflash Newsroom, 29.11.2024, 19:42 Constitutional Court. The Constitutional Court of Romania said on Friday that it postponed for 2nd December debating a request from one of the presidential candidates to cancel the results of the first round of the presidential elections. The court is waiting for the completion of the vote recount. On Thursday, the Constitutional Court requested a recount of all ballots cast in the first round, and the process is under way. The independent candidate who won the first round, Calin Georgescu, considered almost unanimously to be a pro-Russian extremist, criticised the Courts decision and accused the ruling parties, namely the National Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party of using state institutions for their own gain. Elena Lasconi, the leader of the Save Romania Union, who ranked second in the first round, also accused the Constitutional Court of playing with national security. The Prime Minister and social-democratic leader Marcel Ciolacu, ranked third after the first round, said he did not want to comment on the decision of the Constitutional Court. The interim president of the National Liberal Party, however, Ilie Bolojan, says the Courts decision is causing tension in society, generating uncertainty and undermining trust in the state institutions. The election campaign for the second round of the presidential elections was due to get under way on 29th November, ahead of the ballot on the 8th December. Elections. More than 18 million Romanian voters are expected at the ballots on Sunday, on National Day to elect their national Parliament, made up of 300 deputies and 166 senators. More than 8,000 candidates from 31 different political parties and alliances and 19 ethnic minorities are running in these elections. Abroad, voting is held over the course of two days, on both Saturday and Sunday, in the record 950 polling stations set up abroad. According to the Permanent Electoral Authority, almost 7,000 people have registered for postal voting in Sundays elections. Defence council. The Countrys Supreme Defence Council was informed of cyber-attacks aimed at interfering with the election process in the first round of the presidential elections in Romania, held on November 24. According to the Council, hostile state and non-state players, especially Russia, have shown a growing interest in influencing the public agenda in Romania and disrupting the social cohesion. The accusations that Russia interfered in the presidential elections in Romania are unfounded, said Kremlins spokesman, Dmitri Peskov, quoted by Reuters. He said Russia is not in the habit of interfering in elections in other countries, particularly in Romania, nor does it intend to do so now. In another development, the Supreme Defence Council concluded that one of the presidential candidates, namely Calin Georgescu, who is pro-Russian, anti-NATO and anti-EU, may have benefited from massive exposure, due to preferential treatment from the social media platform TikTok. By not complying with Romanian electoral legislation, TikTok significantly increased Georgescus visibility compared with the other candidates, who were recognised as such by algorithms and whose messages were filtered. National Day. On Saturday, the general rehearsal for the military parade dedicated to Romanias National Day, December 1, takes place in Bucharest. About 2,500 soldiers and specialists from the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Romanian Intelligence Service, the Special Telecommunications Service, the Penitentiary Administration and the Romanian Customs Authority, with about 190 pieces of technical equipment and 45 aircraft, will participate in Sundays parade. They will be joined by about 240 foreign soldiers from allied and partner countries. Preparations for the National Day of Romania On December 1st, Romanians celebrate their National Day Foto: Agerpres Bogdan Matei, 29.11.2024, 13:50 This coming Sunday is going to be a busy election day in Romania, as Romanians will be electing, this time, their senators and deputies. And the Central Electoral Bureau would announce, in the evening, the result of the recount of the votes from the first round of the presidential elections, held on November 24. An unprecedented political tension in 35 years of post-communist Romanian democracy threatens to eclipse a supposed day of concord, when what is celebrated in historiography is the Great Union of all Romanians. As an apolitical institution, the Romanian Army has its own program. The rehearsal for the military parade dedicated to the National Day, December 1, initially scheduled for Thursday, was moved to Saturday the Ministry of Defense has announced. About 2,500 soldiers and specialists from the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Romanian Intelligence Service, the Special Telecommunications Service, the Penitentiary Administration and the Romanian Customs Authority, with about 190 technical equipment and 45 aircraft, will participate in the parade. Along with the Romanian soldiers, about 240 foreign soldiers will march in the military parade, as part of detachments from allied countries: Albania, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Spain, United States and Turkey. The foreign detachments include about 21 technical devices, including combat aircraft. For the first time, women from the Army of the neighboring Republic of Moldova (ex-Soviet, mostly Romanian) will parade under the Arch of Triumph in Bucharest. The foreign offices of the Romanian Cultural Institute have also scheduled special events to celebrate the National Day. The Institute in Warsaw, for example, together with the Watch Docs International Film Festival. Human Rights in Film invites the cinephile audience to a Romanian retrospective in the Large Format Documentary section, dedicated to the most important achievements of the genre. This year, the section is devoted to Romania and runs until December 1. The group of Romanian documentaries recalls some archival productions from the 60s-70s-80s of the last century, but also presents a new creation by the Romanian director Radu Jude, one of the most appreciated contemporary filmmakers in Poland, for the Polish premiere. An official holiday after the anti-communist Revolution of 1989, December 1st marks the completion, at the end of the First World War, in 1918, of the process of establishing the Romanian unitary national state. It was then that all the provinces with a majority Romanian population under the rule of the neighboring multinational empires, the Tsarist and Austro-Hungarian one, came under the authority of Bucharest: Bessarabia (east), Bucovina (northeast), Transylvania (center), Banat, Crisana and Maramures (west) . Graham Greene One of the 20th centurys greatest writers, the British novelist Graham Greene visited Romania in 1962. Stay tuned for some of his impressions from his trip and to learn more about the background of this visit with the film critic, academic and Graham Greene translator Andrei Gorzo. Voices from the Archives. Credit: RRI Cristina Mateescu, 29.11.2024, 14:00 The author of dozens of other popular books , such as The Power and the Glory , The Quiet American , Our Man in Havana, The End of the Affair and Brighton Rock, to name just a few, Graham Greene arrived in Romania at the end of August 1962, having been invited to visit country by the Romanian Writers Union, and was to spend two weeks here. Greene w as shown around the capital, Bucharest, and taken on trips out into the countryside, around Transylvania and to the Black Sea coast, where he met local writers and spoke to t he local press . He also gave a very short interview to Radio Bucharest, as the international service of Radio Romania was known back then. Caffyns Plc (CFYN.L), a British motor retailer, on Friday reported a surge in pre-tax profit for the first half, helped by an increase in revenue. For the six-month period to September 30, the company posted a pre-tax income of 0.213 million pounds, higher than 0.044 million pounds, recorded for the same period last year. Profit before tax and non-underlying items was 0.452 million pounds, compared with previous year's 0.259 million pounds. Net profit surged at 0.154 million pounds or 5.7 pence per share from last year's 0.030 million pounds or 1.1 pence per share. Underlying earnings per share were 12.2 pence per share, higher than 7 pence per share a year ago. Operating profit stood at 1.906 million pounds as against prior year's 1.502 million pounds. Underlying EBITDA was 3 million pounds, up from 2.564 million pounds in the prior year. Revenue was 137.740 million pounds, up from last year's 134.252 million pounds. This is primarily due to the transition in the period by one manufacturer from an agency sales model back to a traditional wholesale model, adding around 4 million pounds to the revenue. The company will pay an interim dividend of 5 pence per share on January 10, 2025 to shareholders on the register as of December 13. Looking ahead, Simon G M Caffyn, CEO of Caffyns, said: "We anticipate an improved used car performance in the second half, alongside significantly lower utility costs." For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Oil prices were on track for a weekly loss on Friday as a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah eased geopolitical tensions and OPEC+ delayed a key virtual meeting by four days. Benchmark Brent crude futures dipped 0.6 percent to $72.36 in European trade and were down almost 3 percent for the week. WTI crude futures were marginally higher at $68.78 amid thin trading volumes due to Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S. On Thursday, OPEC+ announced a postponement of its highly anticipated meeting to discuss production strategies. The oil cartel, which includes Saudi Arabia and Russia, has postponed the meeting from Sunday until December 5 as the oil market faces many uncertainties, around weather, demand and geopolitics. On the geopolitical front, Israel and Hezbollah have accused each other of violating the ceasefire norms that came into effect this week. Elsewhere, Russia has launched a series of strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, exacerbating the power crisis across the country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has condemned Russia's actions as a "despicable escalation," highlighting the use of Cruise missiles with cluster munition. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis [L-R] Dr Kwezi Mzilikazi (Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation, and Strategic Partnerships); Professor Sizwe Mabizela (Vice-Chancellor); Justice Lex Mpati (Chancellor); and Professor 'Mabokang Monnapula-Mapesela (Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic & Student Affairs By Siviwe Mxuma On 20 November 2024, Rhodes University marked its 120th anniversary celebrations with a prestigious Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner. The event honoured alumni who have made exceptional contributions across various fields and reaffirmed the Universitys legacy of producing leaders and innovators. The ceremony, hosted at Rhodes University, featured a distinguished roster of alumni, including Professor Stephanie Burton from the University of Pretoria, Dr Solomzi Makholiso from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Professor Alan Chalmers of the University of Warwick, Bruce Whitfield, Dr Alistair Mokoena, Fortune Sibanda, and Professor Robert ODonoghue. Several recipients attended in person, while others joined virtually. Professor Sizwe Mabizela, Vice-Chancellor of Rhodes University, commended the awardees for their contributions to their professions and broader communities. He highlighted the Universitys enduring influence, stating, These exceptional individuals represent the very best of Rhodes University. Their achievements demonstrate 120 years of academic excellence, societal impact, and the power of education to transform lives. They inspire our current and future students to pursue their aspirations with resilience and purpose. Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Strategic Partnerships, Dr Nomakwezi Mzilikazi, opened the evening by welcoming esteemed guests, including Chancellor Judge Lex Mpati, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, Professor Mabokang Monnapula-Mapesela, and the Deans of various faculties. In her address, she celebrated the significance of the milestone, This years awards are particularly special as they coincide with our 120th anniversary. A milestone reflecting Rhodes Universitys legacy of academic and professional distinction. Professor Rosa Klein, newly elected President of the Association of Old Rhodians, also addressed the gathering, expressing her pride in Rhodes Universitys alumni network. As we celebrate 120 years of this remarkable institution, we are reminded of the transformative power of education. The achievements of our alumni highlight the values instilled here: critical thinking, innovation, and a commitment to making a difference. Among the awardees, Bruce Whitfield, a renowned financial journalist, and host of The Money Show, reflected on the foundational role Rhodes University played in his career. This university didnt just teach me to be a journalist; it taught me to think critically and to be curious. Those lessons have shaped everything Ive done since. Fellow recipient, Dr Alistair Mokoena, former Google South Africa Country Director, echoed these sentiments, saying, Rhodes University gave me the confidence to dream big and the tools to turn those dreams into reality. This award is a reminder of the incredible journey that began here. The evening was a fitting tribute to Rhodes Universitys enduring legacy of excellence, celebrating not only its illustrious past but also its promising future. As the institution continues to shape global leaders, events like the Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner reaffirm its commitment to academic distinction and societal impact. Bharat Mobility Global Expo (formerly Auto Expo) provides brands an opportunity to interact directly with enthusiasts and decision-makers To improve synergies and collaborations within the automotive world, the Bharat Mobility Global Expo is held annually. The 2025 edition will take place from 17th to 22nd January. Along with mainstream automotive OEMs, the 2025 Bharat Mobility Global Expo will also cover manufacturers of tyres, batteries, bicycles and e-bikes. Automotive technology companies will also showcase their various innovations and advanced systems. Car brands at 2025 Bharat Mobility Global Expo Most of the mainstream car manufacturers will exhibit their products at 2025 Bharat Mobility Global Expo. The list includes Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Mahindra, Tata Motors, Kia, Toyota, Volkswagen, Skoda, Kia, Isuzu and JSW MG Motor India. Luxury car brands such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi will also have their stalls at the 2025 Bharat Mobility Global Expo. Among Chinese carmakers, BYD has confirmed its participation. Another interesting option to explore will be VinFast, which is expected to introduce its first electric car in India in 2025. Indias largest carmaker by volume, Maruti Suzuki, is expected to showcase its first electric car the eVX or eVitara. A compact SUV measuring 4,300 mm in length, Maruti eVitara will be utilizing an all-new born-electric platform. It will have a 61-kWh battery, with a range of around 550 km. eVitara rival, Hyundai Creta EV, is also expected to debut at 2025 Bharat Mobility Global Expo. That will be an interesting battle to watch out for. Skoda is expected to showcase the new-gen Skoda Octavia RS and the Kylaq sub-compact SUV at the 25 Bharat Mobility Global Expo. In the case of Tata Motors, the company could unveil the Harrier EV and Sierra EV. BYD is expected to reveal a new SUV, catering to the premium segment. VinFast will be looking to put up a grand show, as the company aims to attract the Indian EV buyers. In its home market, Vietnam, VinFast has emerged as the bestselling electric automotive brand. Two-wheeler brands at 2025 Bharat Mobility Global Expo Most of the leading motorcycle/scooter brands will be participating in the 2025 Bharat Mobility Global Expo. The list includes Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj, TVS, Suzuki Motorcycle India, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, Yamaha and BMW Motorrad. EV-only players include Ola Electric, Ather Energy and Greaves Electric Mobility. Enthusiasts can expect some exciting concepts. Multiple new electric two-wheelers could also be showcased at the event. More details about the new cars and bikes and concepts to be showcased at Bharat Mobility 2025 could be revealed in the coming weeks. As compared to the 2024 event, the 2025 edition will see a higher number of brands attending. There are 3 venues Bharat Mandapam (New Delhi), Yashobhoomi, Dwarka (New Delhi) and India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida. More than 9 concurrent shows will be held, across 17 halls and outdoor areas. More than 5 lakh visitors are expected at the 2025 Bharat Mobility Global Expo. According to the United Nations Population Fund website: "In 1994 the landmark International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), held in Cairo, transformed global thinking on population and development issues and defined a bold agenda, placing people's dignity and rights at the heart of sustainable development." Their page does not mention that this shift was birthed through strategic coordinated actions of the global women's movement. In 1995, Maria Suarez from the shortwave program FIRE told WINGS the exciting story of feminist media's central role in this organizing effort. Updated in advance of the 30th anniversary of the women and media section of the Beijing Platform for Action, Section J, adopted at the UN's 4th World Conference on Women. Featured speakers/guests: Maria Suarez, founding producer of Costa-Rica-based daily shortwave program Feminist International Radio Endeavour (FIRE/Radio Feminista Internacional), and author of the book Women's Voices on FIRE. There are no tracks in this playlist. UK engineer TI Fluid Systems has agreed to be taken over in a deal worth more than 1bn, it was announced on Friday. The FTSE 250 company said it had accepted a 200p per share offer from Canadian rival ABC Technologies, valuing it at 1.04bn. The firm, a specialist designer, manufacturer and supplier of fluid systems for cars, called the deal a "unique opportunity". Apollo Global Management-backed ABC was rebuffed twice before making the improved 200p offer in October. It represents a 52% premium to the share price at the time of the approach. Terry Campbell, chief executive of ABC, said: "This transaction is a transformative strategic opportunity which unlocks value for all of our stakeholders and provides a platform for further growth." Tim Cobbold, chair of TI Fluid Systems, said: "The acquisition brings together two strategically complementary businesses, creating a unique opportunity to significant accelerate TI Fluid Systems strategic development. "The combination will result in a larger, more diversified business with a broader range of products and customers, better positioned to navigate the current challenges facing the automotive industry and deliver sustainable long-term growth." The company acknowledged the "significant disruption" that was affecting the global automotive industry, which had hit its European OEM customers. The deal is expected to complete during the first half of 2025. House sales are expected to accelerate over the next four months as buyers seek to benefit from tax breaks that are due to run out in April 2025, according to the online property website Zoopla. The number of home sales increased across the UK this year, pushing up prices by 1.5% in the year to October. Next year prices are expected to rise by 2.5% and transactions will jump by 5%, the website said. Guardian UK motorists are paying more than they should for petrol and diesel even as global energy market prices have fallen in recent months, the competition watchdog has warned. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) repeated its call for the new government to take action as soon as possible to end the persistent overcharging, six months after it found that motorists paid 1.6bn more than they should have last year alone. Guardian The UKs gambling regulator is preparing to settle a 200m claim for damages brought by media baron Richard Desmond over the running of the National Lottery. The Telegraph understands that the Gambling Commission has requested a so-called mediation meeting with Mr Desmonds business, Northern and Shell, at which it will propose settling the legal claim out of court. The showdown is expected to take place in the coming weeks. Telegraph The sale of The Telegraph has been thrown into limbo after the leading bidder was handed an effective open-ended extension to takeover talks. Dovid Efune, the little-known publisher behind The New York Sun, is in exclusive discussions to buy The Telegraph from Abu Dhabi fund RedBird IMI in a deal expected to be worth 550m. Telegraph George Osborne has boosted the personal fortune he has made since leaving politics after he was one of a trio of investment bankers that shared in a 30 million pot following record profits at the City firm where he works. Accounts for Robey Warshaw, the influential advisory business the former chancellor joined in 2021, show the Mayfair-based firm enjoyed profits of 70 million in the 12 months to the end of March, up sharply from 31.8 million a year earlier. The Times A young woman in 14th-century Provence risks everything to cultivate her talents and serve her city in Eleanore of Avignon, the engrossing historical fiction debut of Elizabeth DeLozier. Eleanore Blanchet learned to be an herbalist and a midwife from her mother, who, in turn, studied under her physician father. While gathering ingredients for her remedies, an accidental meeting with Guigo de Chauliac, physician to Pope Clement VI, brings Eleanore an opportunity: she will use her knowledge of herbalism to treat the pope's ailment, and de Chauliac will take her on as an apprentice. Then Queen Joanna of Naples, accused of murdering her husband, comes to Avignon for trial. The pregnant queen insists on having Eleanore for her midwife, but with plague ravaging the city, Eleanore and de Chauliac will need to muster everything they have to find a treatment. DeLozier paints a vivid picture of life on the margins of a medieval city. Eleanore's mother, abandoned at the end of her life by those who thought her knowledge was evidence of witchcraft, stands as a sharp warning of what could happen to a woman who steps outside of her place--which is even more of a risk to an unmarried woman like Eleanore. The tension rises as the plague spreads throughout the city and religious fanatics gain power, threatening Eleanore and the Jewish colleagues of de Chauliac with whom they consult in search of a cure to protect those who could turn on them at any moment. The result is a gripping portrait of a woman's bravery in a city on the brink. --Kristen Allen-Vogel, information services librarian at Dayton Metro Library American consumers have been a subject of public scorn, political courtship, market analysis, and journalistic investigation. As a faceless demographic, their habits have seemed to mystify, and even disgust, those who study their preferences, their predictability, their pathology. But in American Bulk: Essays on Excess, Emily Mester takes a more compassionate route through the labyrinth of brand-name overabundance and the pantheon of casual dining chains. Throughout these 10 inquisitive and deeply observed pieces, Mester is frank about the privilege that raised her. Her parents and her grandparents built significant wealth through dedication and hard work, raising a banner of money over her that distorted her sense of need. In a trilogy of essays about her grandmother's home in Storm Lake, Iowa, Mester ruminates poignantly on the animosity between her lavish spender of a father and his frugal and hoarding mother, who battle like the lost souls in Dante's circle of hell dedicated to the greedy: "They think that they clash because they're opposites. But the impulses that drive them are exactly the same." Nonetheless, a product of her upbringing like many Americans, Mester's gaze through the glass seems preoccupied with neither extravagance nor miserliness, but the very impulse itself to consume. "It wasn't the things that I loved so much as the transaction, the beep of the buttons, the receipt paper smooth between my thumb and forefinger." From this vantage, American Bulk presents an affable and humble study of the senses that consumption can satisfy and the ones it can't. In a late-stage capitalism heaving with choice, Mester assumes the role of a millennial Virgil with both style and grace. --Dave Wheeler, senior editor, Shelf Awareness Barbara Taylor Bradford, who wrote 40 novels that have sold more than 91 million copies worldwide, died November 24 at age 91. Her first novel, A Woman of Substance, was published in 1979 and was an immediate hit, staying on the New York Times bestseller list for 43 weeks. The book set the style for Bradford's many blockbusters: it and six successive titles told a multi-generational saga about the intrigues of a wealthy, glamorous family, headed by a woman with a modest background who had built a retail empire. As Bradford said, "I write about mostly ordinary women who go on to achieve the extraordinary." Bradford began writing fiction at age seven and sold a short story to a magazine when was 10. At age 15, she joined the typing pool at the Yorkshire Evening Post. A year later, she became a reporter on the paper and, aged 18, its first woman's editor. Two years later, she moved to London and worked as a columnist and editor on Fleet Street. Her most recent novel, The Wonder of It All, was published in the U.S. by St. Martin's Press in December 2023. Ten of her books were made into TV films or drama series by her husband, Hollywood TV and movie producer Robert Bradford. Jennifer Enderlin, president and publisher of St. Martin's Press, said: "I have worked with Barbara Taylor Bradford as her U.S. publisher and editor for almost 25 years. She was a legend in so many ways, but chief among them was her utmost professionalism and dedication to her craft. She never missed a deadline and if she said she was going to deliver her book on a Thursday, that's when it would arrive. Before she embarked on a new novel, we would invariably have a delicious lunch at one of her favorite spots: La Grenouille or Doubles in the Sherry Netherland hotel. And there, we would discuss the plot, the 'what ifs' of the book, and the arcs of the various characters. We would always have a glass or two of champagne, as Barbara said it stimulated creativity. She truly loved writing and creating her unforgettable worlds--whether that world was Yorkshire at the turn of the 20th century, or the glamorous watering holes of London in the present day. Barbara's novels would always transport you. She was the definition of A Woman of Substance." The dark, playful, and sometimes tragic roots of Christmas traditions old and new come to light in The Dead of Winter: Beware the Krampus and Other Wicked Christmas Creatures, an entertaining and captivating investigation of the evolution of Christmas celebrations and folkloreby British historian Sarah Clegg (Women's Lore). Clegg opens with an atmospheric recounting of going out late on a "howling, windswept night" in the British countryside for a Year Walk, a Swedish tradition in which a walk before dawn on Christmas Eve can reveal who will die in the coming year. No ghostly funeral processions appear on Clegg's stroll, but she still sets an ominous mood for her exploration of customs and creatures diametrically opposed to the wholesome, respectable perception of Christmas today. Clegg traces Carnival's "wild, hierarchy-shredding freedom" back to riotous Saturnalia celebrations, delves into folktales to find the origins of the horned monster Krampus, an unsettling wassailing horse-skull costume called the Mari Lywd, and mummers' plays in which the dead return to life. "Are you sure that the darkness has been kept entirely at bay?" she asks readers. "And do you think it might be fun to let a little in?" This thoroughly researched journey across Europe in search of Christmas past entertains partly through its subject matter and partly through Clegg's engaging voice, which is filled with fascinated enthusiasm for her topic tempered with wry humor and patient research. Readers may find a new favorite tradition or two from Christmases of days long past. --Jaclyn Fulwood, blogger at Infinite Reads Lou Berney's skill for weaving dark humor into his neo-noir novels erupts in full force in Double Barrel Bluff, which brings back former getaway car driver Shake Bouchon. Shake and his wife, Gina, both of whom have checkered backgrounds, are happily retired in Bloomington, Ind., and enjoying their quiet, fairly mundane lives. Then Shake is tracked down by Armenian mobster Dikran Ghazarian, who once vowed to kill Shake. But to Shake's surprise, Dikran has come to ask for Shake's help to find Los Angeles mob boss Alexandra "Lexy" Ilandryan. Though Dikran is Lexy's "right hand," their relationship is more "like brother and sister" than employee and boss. She's also Shake's former lover. Lexy has disappeared from her annual off-the-grid trip, this year to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Dikran has lost communication with Lexy and she missed a usual check-in on a significant date. Reluctantly, Shake agrees to help find Lexy, who has been kidnapped by a former professor and ex-con who believe she is just a wealthy tourist. The clueless criminals have no idea about her true identity. Betrayal upon betrayal fuel Double Barrel Bluff. Rescuing Lexy becomes more complicated as her "new number two" sees the situation as an opportunity to seize power. The wisecracking Shake and the "mean, dumb, brutal" Dikran make uneasy allies but are determined to outmaneuver the others and save Lexy. Berney (Whiplash River; The Long and Faraway Gone) propels Double Barrel Bluff with fully realized supporting characters, a vivid depiction of Cambodia, and action that enhances the story. Berney tackles his exciting plot with both barrels. --Oline H. Cogdill, freelance reviewer Jennifer K. Morita transports readers to the beautiful islands of Hawai'i in Ghosts of Waikiki , a well-plotted murder mystery featuring a reporter who must work with her ex-boyfriend cop to catch a killer. Raised in Hawai'i, Maya Wong left the islands for graduate school in California and never looked back. But after the newspaper she writes for folds, she's in need of a new job and in no position to turn down an offer to ghostwrite the biography of Parker Hamilton, one of the biggest--and most controversial--real estate developers in Hawai'i. When Parker's wealthy father, Charles, is found dead during Maya's first interview with the family, Maya worries what she's gotten herself into. "How does a man who swam fifty laps a day drown in his own pool?" she wonders--and so do the police, including Detective Koa Yamada, Maya's long-avoided ex. As Koa and his partner investigate what appears to be the murder of the Hamilton patriarch, Maya is drawn further into the Hamiltons' scandals and further back into the life she once left an ocean behind. "The scent of plumerias drifting on cool trade winds. Backyard parties and freshly picked mangoes. Portuguese doughnuts hot from Leonard's Bakery...." Morita skillfully evokes the Hawaiian setting, transporting readers to Waikiki, with its white sand beaches and deep blue seas, long-lasting legacy of colonization and tricky relationship with tourism. As it melds the multifaceted context of an incredible place with a fast-paced whodunit, Ghosts of Waikiki explores the many ways paradise is not always as perfect as it seems. --Kerry McHugh, freelance writer In Goodbye, Hello: A Going Home Travel Adventure, author Angela H. Dale (Bus Stop) and artist Daniel Wiseman (When Your Llama Needs a Haircut) infuse a weighty topic with charm and joy: the separation and reunion of U.S. military families. On a New York City sidewalk, a mother and her two young children are ready for transit, saying goodbye to the grandparents as a yellow-cab driver begins to load their luggage: "One last hug./ Strap and click./ Airport, please./ Quick, quick, quick." A long journey awaits the trio, through the international terminal, long lines, and a "hustle, bustle" to reach their gate. Once on board, it's soon "Wheels go round./ Rumble, whoosh./ Goodbye, ground/ Cars and buildings/ shrink--goodbye./ Hello, clouds,/ sun, and sky." The family lands in Tokyo for more "hustle, bustle" through lines at immigration, baggage claim, and another shuttle. After one "last big wait" at the pier, the children spot their other parent: "Hello, Mama!/ 'Missed you so!' " Finally "we're four./ More to love." Dale's succinct, measured verses are inspired by her own experiences as a U.S. Navy spouse. Her rhythmic text, with its distinct beat, should work as both a read aloud and as practice for beginning readers. Wiseman's whimsical, vibrant digital art depicts the constant motion of all manner of airport travelers and staff, and the excited welcome-home crowds on the Navy pier. A few minute but specific details are problematic: for example, the Japanese in the Tokyo airport is inaccurate. Small quibbles aside, the standout message here is all about family being together: "Goodbye, goodbyes,/ Hello, hugs." --Terry Hong Halfway There is an emotional, inspiring graphic memoir by comic artist Christina Mari (Diary of a Tokyo Teen) about her own experience with depression while attending college in Tokyo. Christine was born in Tokyo to a Japanese mother and an American father and was called "all kinds of different things" growing up: "mixed/ half/ wasian/ halfie/ hapa/ hafu." At five, she moved to the States; at 19, she returned to Tokyo to attend college. But Christine continues to struggle with her identity--she feels "too American to be Japanese and too Japanese to be American." Even though Christine feels alone and her mental health begins to decline, her mother's mother, Baba, works to prove her love for the young woman. Christine, often apologetic for her lack of Japanese, is still comforted by Baba's loving, tender words: "Maybe you don't think I know you that well... I know you." Mari's artistic depiction of depression is stunning. The entire graphic novel is illustrated in a purple-hued grayscale that uses stark black to magnify Christine's loneliness and her all-consuming internal crisis. The author uses the book's format to enhance emotions: she fills a single page with a crowd full of people, Christine screaming at its center; on pages with panels, the boxes scatter, change shape, or shrink. Pops of red and pink are sprinkled throughout and become especially meaningful on the graphic novel's single full-color page, which depicts Christine and Baba standing by a cherry blossom tree. The cherry tree suggests the importance of understanding that moments of beauty and joy may be brief, but they will return. --Kharissa Kenner, library media specialist, Churchill School and Center Comedian Youngmi Mayer opens her memoir, I'm Laughing Because I'm Crying--equal parts rollicking and heartbreaking--with a confessional epigraph: "To Mom and Dad (Don't be mad at me)." She quickly warns, "I am comfortable saying shit that I truly should not be saying in any situation." Woven through her unfiltered memories of growing up biracial--her mother is Korean, her father white--in a dysfunctional family are crucial, smack-in-the-face observations about selfhood, inherited Korean and Irish generational trauma, gender disparity, and, most poignantly, the mother/child bond. Born in Songtan, South Korea, near a U.S. military base, Mayer's challenging childhood continued in Jeju, Saipan, and Seoul before she moved to San Francisco, Calif., at age 20 to escape an abusive boyfriend. After obtaining a refund for the unused return portion of her airline ticket, she had $700 to start her new life. Her young adulthood was defined by drugs, violence, and brief stint as a sex worker. She met and married chef Danny Bowien, with whom she shared skyrocketing fame and fortune, and also a son. She chose to be a "poor... happy" single mom and eventually found her voice as a stand-up comedian. Laughing while crying was, and is, Mayer's coping mechanism. "Do you know what happens if you laugh while crying?" her mother insisted. "Hair grows out of your butthole." Mayer laughed herself to survival: "I come from the strongest people, who have been through the worst of humanity, and the jokes were what made it possible for us to continue. I would not be here without inappropriate humor." For her lucky readers, chortles and tears prove inevitable. --Terry Hong Artist David Lester, historian and activist Marcus Rediker, and retired historian Paul Buhle reunite for a third fascinating title--after Prophet Against Slavery and Under the Banner of King Death--illuminating little-known history through graphic storytelling in Revolution by Fire: New York's Afro-Irish Uprising of 1741. The narrative opens in Boston, Mass., with two women traveling via horse-drawn carriage to New York, their progress charted by diminishing mile markers. The older woman reveals fateful events when "the impoverished, the cold, and the angry gathered in our tavern." Owned by her father, Hughson's near the Hudson River was a haven where those who were "tired o' men in ruffles runnin' everythin' " met to drink, dance, and plan revolution. Formerly enslaved John Gwin, his Irish lover, Peg Kerry, and Harriet the obeah woman all speak their own truths while the traveler shares "the common story" with her companion, whose identity is poignantly revealed near the book's end. Lester's dynamic, black-and-white art--often larger illustrations overlaid with smaller panels spotlighting facial expressions and details--impressively animates the text, which has been adapted by Lester and Rediker from a chapter of Rediker and Peter Linebaugh's 2013 book, The Many-Headed Hydra. The "uprising by a motley crew of enslaved Africans, Irish soldiers, and mixed-race Cuban sailors, all workers on the New York waterfront" fought to overthrow the power of the abusive white elite. By showcasing "history from below," Lester and Rediker judiciously reclaim agency for the "poor, working-class people who are often left out of the history books." --Terry Hong There are two pulsing questions at the heart of Spanish journalist Begona Gomez Urzaiz's The Abandoners: On Mothers and Monsters. Why did women such as Muriel Spark, Merce Rodoreda, Ingrid Bergman, and Joni Mitchell leave their young children behind? And why do their stories ignite such violent emotional reactions? In the opening chapter, Gomez Urzaiz delineates the cultural phenomenon. For mothers who abandon children, condemnation is swift, vicious, and widespread. It far exceeds that faced by fathers who do the same. While such fraught situations have no easy answers, Gomez Urzaiz deftly provides examples from history and fiction as she digs into this messy topic. In 1939, Spark separated from her husband and left her four-year-old son, Robin, at a convent in Zimbabwe, then set off for Edinburgh, Scotland, to pursue writing as a career. When Gomez Urzaiz encountered this aspect of Spark's history, she was caring for two young sons while desperately trying to carve out time to write. The tapestry she weaves by placing the details of Spark's situation alongside her own struggle with the mundanity of parenting is entertaining and enlightening. Gomez Urzaiz tells each account of abandonment, including Rodoreda leaving her only son behind when she went into exile and Mitchell placing her infant daughter for adoption, with nuance and compassion. That her book is such a gripping read reflects the intensity of the cultural snarl created by gendered expectations of parenting. The Abandoners is an essential exploration of motherhood and feminism. --Carol Caley, writer In her insightful, multilayered debut novel, The Magnificent Ruins, playwright and television executive Nayantara Roy turns her storytelling skills to a new form: the intergenerational family saga. Set in the wealthy Ballygunge neighborhood of Kolkata, Roy's narrative unfurls the story of the wealthy Lahiri family through the eyes of its American granddaughter and reluctant heiress, Lila De. Lila has just been promoted after a wealthy entrepreneur has bought the small publishing house where she's a rising-star editor. In the same week, Lila learns her grandfather has died and left her the family's massive, elegant, decaying mansion--much to the chagrin of her twin great-uncles, Rana and Hari; her beautiful and difficult mother, Maya; and other assorted relatives, most of whom live in the house. Lila takes a leave and returns to Kolkata, attempting to navigate the tangled legalities and emotions surrounding her inheritance and her family's opinions about it. Roy expertly portrays Lila's ambivalence about both the house and her mother's family: she loves them, and they her, but her Americanness clashes with their more traditional family dynamics. As well, she's the outsider suddenly forced to make decisions affecting a group of people who literally live on top of one another. When Seth, one of Lila's authors and her sometime lover, shows up unexpectedly, Lila is forced to confront her two worlds side by side: the family and culture that both grounds and frustrates her, and the fast-paced, modern but isolating New York world she has left. Sharp-eyed and vividly detailed, Roy's debut explores secrets, shifting identities, the clash between tradition and modernity, and the overwhelming gravitational pull of family. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams Among our many reading recommendations this week, two books bring into focus the nature of plenitude, both its pleasures and its pitfalls. In The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World, beloved author Robin Wall Kimmerer gently inspires readers "to embrace a sense of 'enoughness' "; while debut essayist Emily Mester "presents an affable and humble study of the senses that consumption can satisfy and the ones it can't" in American Bulk: Essays on Excess. Plus, the thrilling dystopian YA novel HappyHead by Josh Silver follows an anxious 17-year-old who enters "a questionable mental health program" to secure a sense of happiness. In The Writer's Life, Naomi Wood discusses the way little moments in her personal life have influenced her "wickedly entertaining" short fiction. Along the way, she touches on what she refers to as the "over-resilience" of women and the dynamics in which they antagonize one another over parenting methods and in the workplace. Adani Green Energys solar power project, at the heart of the controversy over US indictment against billionaire Gautam Adani for alleged bribery, has not supplied a single unit of power to Andhra Pradesh two months after the original schedule to supply 3,000 MW. The state is expected to receive one third of the promised power, or 1,000 MW, from the plant in April 2025 seven months after the original deadline. This even as Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL) has started selling power from the same project on power exchanges at a higher rate than the state-contracted tariff. Last week, the US department of justice had accused the Adani group of misleading international investors by bribing Indian officials. Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has promised action if any irregularities are found based on the allegations involving the previous Y S Jaganmohan Reddy administration. The power purchase agreement (PPA) signed between AGEL and Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) stipulated that the Gujarat-based solar power project will start supplying 3,000 MW power to Andhra Pradesh in September 2024, then follow up with another 3,000 MW in September 2025 and 1,000 MW in September 2026, at Rs 2.42 per unit. However, the project has run into delays and the entire schedule of supply has been changed. It will supply 1,000 MW in April 2025 and another 1,000 MW in January 2026. So, while the state government was promised 6,000 MW of power by September 2025, it will get only 2,000 MW of power by January 2026. However, the delays have not meant losses for AGEL. The company is selling power from the same project on exchanges at an average rate of Rs 3.5 per unit 40% higher than the price at which it would have sold this power to Andhra Pradesh. At present 25 MW solar capacity is commissioned and the generation performance since commissioning i.e. March 2024 has been better than the P90 levels despite being into stabilisation phase. The average realisation from this capacity has been Rs 3.5 per unit, the companys rating report said. AGEL said the delay in supply to Andhra Pradesh is because the Central Transmission Utility of India Ltd (CTUIL) transmission system is not fully available and that it has the requisite permission from SECI to sell power on exchanges. Scheduled completion date (SCOD) of renewable project under SECI PPAs is constrained by end-to-end evacuation, availability and readiness. In this particular case, the estimated availability of the transmission system as updated on CTUIL website is April 2025 and then in January 2026 for 1 GW each, an AGEL spokesperson said in a written response to ETs questionnaire. Recognising the above delay, SECI has extended the SCOD dates for our project to match with above timelines and we are fully committed to supply energy under the PPAs from such a new SCOD timeline, the person said. People aware of the development said Adani had written to the state government in September, stating that the company will not be able to follow the original timelines. A power transmission expert, who did not wish to be identified, told that sometimes associated transmission systems may not be ready, and the company cannot supply reliably. Here, the key word is reliable. The transmission connectivity could be effective, but it may not be reliable, the expert said. In such a scenario, SECI may allow the company to sell on the power exchanges. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) organized the 22nd National Maritime Search and Rescue (NMSAR) Board meeting, in Kochi, Kerala. It also marked the beginning of the 11th edition of the National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX-24), off the coast of Kochi. Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh formally inaugurated the event and interacted with international delegates attending the same. He appreciated the ICG efforts in providing SAR services in the Indian Search & Rescue Region, especially for support to the fishing community in the sea. He assured complete government support for upgrading ICG capabilities. The board meeting was chaired by Director General ICG & Chairperson of the NMSAR Board DG Paramesh Sivamani. In his address, he underscored the collective commitment to safeguarding lives at sea and the pivotal role of efficient maritime search & rescue operations in strengthening Indias maritime safety framework. National SAR Awards for 2023-24 were also presented during the meeting. These awards recognised the outstanding contributions to maritime safety and SAR operations. The meeting was attended by a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from the Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, ISRO, INCOIS, Airports Authority of India, Directorate General of Shipping, Customs, Coastal Police, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Shipping Corporation of India, Indian Meteorological Department, Fisheries Department, Maritime Boards, Port Authorities, Coastal States/Union Territories, Border Security Force, Central Industrial Security Force, National Disaster Management Authority and other associated entities. Interactive sessions and presentations were held, promoting cooperation and reinforcing efforts to achieve the shared goal of maritime safety. Established in 2002, the NMSAR Board convenes annually to discuss policy matters, formulate guidelines and procedures, and review the National Search and Rescue Plan. The 22nd NMSAR Board meeting focused on enhancing collaboration and coordination among stakeholders to further improve maritime safety. The meeting reaffirmed the critical importance of effective maritime search and rescue operations. It highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance Indias maritime safety framework, underscoring the dedication of all participating agencies to ensuring safer and more secure maritime operations in Indian waters. About 98 percent of Indian business leaders are planning to increase investment in IT for sustainability over the next 12 months, as the country remains a leader in AI-driven sustainability initiatives, a report said. Indian respondents believe that IT investments are critical for the following factors: not only for environment responsibility but also to gain long-term business resilience by 61 percent and to build brand reputation by 64 percent, as reflected in IBM's 'State of Sustainability Readiness Report'. "As sustainability becomes central to business growth strategies, AI is proving to be a game-changer in driving responsible growth", said Sandip Patel, Managing Director of IBM India/South Asia. Also Read - TechM, AWS Partner To Work On GenAI In Telecom Networks "India stands out as a leader in AI-driven sustainability. Business leaders across the country view sustainability as a strategic lever for transformation, and IBM is advancing AI solutions to help accelerate their sustainability goals," Patel added. Most Indian executives (96 percent) believe that AI can positively impact their sustainability goals. Most business leaders are already leveraging the power of AI, with 64 percent of Indian companies actively using AI in their sustainability efforts. Water usage was also cited as one of the top challenges, specific to Indian companies, according to the report. The chief driver of IT sustainability investments at Indian companies is, again, brand reputation (64 percent), followed closely by long-term business resilience (61 percent). business leaders and organizations to invest in AI tools that are right for them. Also Read - AI, GenAI Next Major Game Changers: NTT Exec While 81% of Indian leaders are forward-moving with climate resilience, the degree of opportunity-driven sustainability investment made by them stands at just 54%. Furthermore, 79 percent of Indian leaders reported having mature systems to track sustainability goals through data, the report said. The report suggestedin AI tools that are right for them. Generative AI can provide insights that help identify opportunities to reduce carbon emissions and create scenarios and algorithms for more sustainable business practices. This can provide the insights an organization needs to address a climate crisis and bring sustainability ambitions into action. "As top challenges to sustainability continue to evolve, organizations should collect data across their business to better understand the differences in perceptions between C-suite and lower-level decision-makers," the report noted. PwC India has signed a one-year collaboration with Masters' Union, a new-age business school, to provide students with technical skills in emerging areas such as AI, emerging technologies, ESG, and healthcare among others. This alliance seeks to provide students with relevant exposure and requisite skills, under the guidance of industry experts, to excel in a world where these critical areas are rapidly advancing and are primed for growth in the times to come. The collaboration aligns with PwC India's vision of fostering a human-led, technology-enabled environment to tackle critical issues affecting businesses, communities, and the nation. At PwC India, we are committed to investing in the young talent of our nation, who will drive Indias growth in the years to come. A key leg of that is our collaboration with institutions like Masters Union, which will bolster our mission of bridging the gap between industry and academia. PwC Indias industry expertise alongside Masters Unions focus on offering practical learning, can enable students with the skills and knowledge that they need for a smooth transition from campus to corporate life, and also to excel in an increasingly digital world. stated Sanjeev Krishan, Chairperson, PwC in India. Through this collaboration, PwC India is looking to impact the lives of more than 1,000 students through specially curated workshops, seminars, live projects, hands-on experiences led by PwC India experts, where students will gain practical insights on industries, thus bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world business challenges. In addition to this, PwC India also plans to set up an emerging tech centre at the Masters Union campus, which will be designed as a community space for students and industry professionals to come together and innovate in the space of AI and other emerging technologies. This centre of innovation will focus on practical use cases in AI, including business analytics, blockchain, and digital transformation strategies. Pratham Mittal, Founder of Masters Union, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, This collaboration with PwC India is a landmark moment for Masters Union, and will enable our students to be at the forefront of technological innovation and entrepreneurial success in the domain of Artificial Intelligence. Its an exciting opportunity for our students to engage directly with one of the most respected firms in the world, learn from their expertise, and make meaningful contributions to industry-led research. This partnership aims to be a hub of innovation and learning, bridging the gap between industry and academia. PwC India anticipates a transformative impact on students, businesses, and the broader community. The Supreme Court Collegium, led by CJI Sanjiv Khanna, unanimously recommended to the Union government the appointment of Delhi High Court Chief Justice Manmohan as a judge of the Supreme Court. Currently, the SC, with a sanctioned strength of 34 judges, including the CJI, is functioning with 32 judges. A year ago, the Delhi High Court had four representatives on the SC bench, but with the retirements of Justices S.R. Bhat, Sanjay K. Kaul, and Hima Kohli, this number has now dropped to just one, with CJI Khanna. The Collegium, also comprising Justices B R Gavai, Surya Kant, Hrishikesh Roy and A S Oka met on Thursday afternoon and agreed to recommend Justice Manmohans appointment as a judge of the SC, just 20 days before his retirement as HC judge on Dec 16, 2024. On being appointed as SC Judge, Justice Manmohan would have a tenure of little more than three years in the SC. Manmohan, who learnt his court craft as a junior of senior advocate Kapil Sibal and gradually handled bigger cases including the TADA case against actor Sanjay Dutt in the Mumbai blast case, was appointed as a judge of the Delhi HC on Mar 13, 2008. He has been functioning as chief justice of the HC since Sep 29 this year and is second in the combined all-India seniority list of judges. Justice Manmohan has been the acting CJ of Delhi HC since November 9 last year In its resolution recommending Justice Manmohans name for appointment as SC judge, the Collegium said, While recommending his name, the Collegium has taken into consideration the fact that, at present, the bench of Supreme Court is represented by only one Judge from the Delhi HC. The SC Collegium has, therefore, unanimously recommended that Justice Manmohan be appointed as a Judge of the SC. UNESCO is privileged to collaborate with China in advancing conservation. China's work is deeply aligned with UNESCO's commitment to environmental sustainability, said Shahbaz Khan, director and representative to UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, in an online address at the Global Panda Partners 2024 conference in Southwest China's Chengdu. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Calling US President-elect Donald Trump as a 'friend of India' and 'a friend of Prime Minister Narendra Modi', Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that New Delhi is looking to further strengthen the economic partnership between the two countries as soon as the new administration takes charge in Washington, next month. "Mr. Trump is a friend of India, is a friend of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and I'm sure this friendship will only continue to blossom and grow further, as is evident from the various comments he (Trump) has made so far", Goyal told reporters. Trump, who on November 19 named Howard Lutnick - Chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald - as his nominee for Secretary of Commerce with additional charge as the country's top trade negotiator, has promised to solidify the 'great partnership' with India and Prime Minister Modi in his second term. At the same time, during his election campaign, Trump had said that India was among the countries that took advantage of the US and was a 'very big abuser' in trade. He has threatened stiff tariffs on imports, especially as retribution for high tariffs imposed by other countries - a move that could affect India. However, Commerce and Industry Minister Goyal sought to allay fears over past comments. "I think we need not jump the gun and let the new government take charge and express their formal and official views. But, to the best of my understanding of the situation, and my own experience working with the Trump administration and India's past experience, I do not foresee any problem whatsoever, Goyal said at the media briefing. Despite some differences on trade, the US leader and PM Modi have developed strong personal ties over the years. In September, Trump called the Indian PM a 'fantastic man', during a town hall meeting in Michigan. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the world's most popular leader today, has managed India's international global relationships better than ever in the past. He has worked with three administrations in the US. Over this 10-year period, our relations with the United States have got better and better every single year", said Goyal. "As Mr. Trump has himself on record said 'my good friend, Mr. Modi', the confidence he has on the India relationship, India partnership, has been expressed on many occasions. I'm looking forward to working on with my counterpart in the United States once the confirmation processes are over and the new government takes charge. I'm sure we'll start discussing how to further strengthen our economic partnership", he added. India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Modi was one of the first world leaders to congratulate Trump on his victory in the US presidential elections, asserting that he is looking forward to renewing collaboration with the leader to further strengthen theand Strategic Partnership. "Had a great conversation with my friend, President Donald Trump, congratulating him on his spectacular victory. Looking forward to working closely together once again to further strengthen India-US relations across technology, defence, energy, space and several other sectors", he said after the phone conversation with the President-elect of the United States of America. It was a beloved Thanksgiving destination in Morris County for nearly 60 years, with families lining up for country-style turkey dinners. The long-closed Larisons Turkey Farm Inn site in Chester Borough has been on the market since 2022 with an asking price of $3 million, according to its owner. The inn first closed in 2001, reopened in 2002 and closed for a second time in 2005, according to the Chester Historical Society. It was revived in 2007 as the Puddingstone Inn and, in 2008, became Larisons Steakhouse before shutting down in 2009. But, the owner said he is not giving up on a restauranteur bringing dining back to the property. Wouldnt it be nice to celebrate Thanksgiving in 2025 feasting on turkey once again, said Robert Berlant, managing member of Global Acquisition Company LLC. If that happens, it would represent a remarkable turnaround for one of Morris Countys most visible locations, by Routes 206 and 24. Wide-ranging redevelopment proposals for the three-acre Larisons site and the approximately two dozen acres by it have been floated and abandoned for more than two decades, starting in 2000 with a plan to either move or demolish the restaurant and build a CVS and bank. In 2018, officials in Chester Borough agreed to a plan for a CVS, office space and 36 units of affordable housing, in addition to refurbishing Larisons. However, the plan fell apart four years later when CVS decided not to proceed, said Edward Ng, the historical societys president. A second proposal, involving Wawa and housing, was made in 2023 but remains under discussion, he said. In the meantime, Larisons is still on the market. Global Acquisitions Company LLC acquired the Larisons site and neighboring 23 acres, which is not for sale, in October 2020, Berlant said. Larisons is named for a local couple, Ruth and Willis Larison, who converted the 19th century house into a restaurant starting in 1945 and ran the business for the next three decades. Customers enjoying Thanksgiving dinner at Larison's Turkey Farm Inn in Chester, New Jersey, Nov. 23, 2000.SL Around 125 were served for the restaurants first Thanksgiving, not long after the end of World War II, according to a 1983 pamphlet from Larisons obtained by the historical society. Four decades later, a Thanksgiving crowd of 1,800 was the norm. Berlant, 59, said he was introduced to Larisons as a child and continued visiting as an adult. He recalled families waiting for two hours or longer to snag seats along the long tables inside the restaurant, with children passing the time outside on the three-acre property. The kids would run around the back and feed the turkeys. It was almost like a restaurant meets a zoo, Berlant said. While the vintage Larisons menu had a wide range of selections, including seafood and ham steaks, turkey was always the main draw. There was the hot turkey sandwich, turkey croquettes, turkey pot pie, turkey chow mein, turkey mornay served inside a casserole with broccoli and cheese sauce and turkey tetrazzini, an Italian-inspired dish served with linguini. Larisons remains most closely identified with its traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner, featuring stuffing, glazed carrots, peas with onions, coleslaw, mashed potatoes and dessert. On Thanksgiving Day in 2004, approximately 1,500 gathered at the restaurant, served by waiters dressed as pilgrims, The Star-Ledger reported at the time. The restaurant had a very social feel, Berlant said. Lets say you were a family of four or six. You didnt sit at a table of four or six. They had these really long tables. You got to meet people, Berlant said. He said there was so much to do outside that children did not mind the typically long wait to be seated. This was just one of a kind. Thats what made it very special, Berlant said. Berlant said his expectation is that a new owner would do some rebuilding while keeping a major portion of the existing structure. The town has expressed those wishes. I am honoring those wishes, Berlant said. If it does not attract a restaurant, there are other possibilities. It could be an antique shop, Berlant said. Travelers who waited until the last day to make their Thanksgiving holiday treks need to be prepared for busy highways and the most crowded day yet this week at the nations airports. The Transportation Security Administration expected to screen 2.9 million people on Wednesday and more than 3 million Sunday, when many holiday revelers plan to return home. Air travelers had reason to give thanks fewer than 50 U.S. flights had been canceled by midafternoon on the East Coast, according to FlightAware. However, more than 2,000 flights were running late, reflecting the tendency toward tardiness that is becoming normal at U.S. airlines. They were averaging more than 4,500 late flights per day since last weekend, and Wednesdays count was likely to approach or surpass that number by nightfall. Wednesday afternoon is the worst time to travel by car, according to forecasters. Drivers headed out of town will be mixing with commuters unlucky enough to be working on the day before the holiday. Accidents compounded the heavy traffic. A dump truck that struck a bridge over Interstate 95 in Delaware closed the highway for several hours, according to the Delaware Department of Transportation. People pass by a long line of taxicabs at Denver International Airport Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)AP Patience is the key Sean Spainhower of Morrison, Colorado, was at the Denver airport Tuesday, waiting for his flight east to visit family in Delaware. He advises getting to the airport early, being patient, and not being one of those passengers in a hurry. Let them be in a rush. Let them do their thing. Youre prepared, Spainhower said. Youre ready for people to push and shove and want to get to their flight because they showed up late, but you just need to be relaxed and hang out. Youre not going to get anywhere faster. The plane is not leaving any earlier. Joan Fischer of Montclair, New Jersey, and her husband flew to Chicago to visit grandchildren and were surprised at how easy the trip was. We flew out of Newark an airport notorious for delays and you wouldnt know it was a holiday, Fischer said. It was well run, and it was really not busy. Weather is a wild card An Arctic blast in the Midwest and wet weather in the Eastern U.S. could disrupt travel over the next several days. From Wednesday into early Thursday, mixed precipitation was expected to stretch from northern Arizona through the Plains and upper Midwest into Pennsylvania, New York and parts of New England, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A chilly, sloppy mix was expected to linger into Saturday in parts of the Northeast. Forecasters expect clear weather over most of the western two-thirds of the country on Thursday and Friday, but rain and possibly thunderstorms are predicted for the Southeast, which could raise the risk of flight disruptions. Travellers use kiosks to check in for flights on Southwest Airlines in Denver International Airport Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)AP Thanksgiving, by the numbers Auto club and insurance company AAA predicted that nearly 80 million Americans would venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday, with most of them will traveling by car. Drivers should get a slight break on gas prices. The nationwide average price for gasoline was $3.07 a gallon on Wednesday, down from $3.25 at this time last year. Airfares, however, are about 4.1% higher than they were a year ago, according to government figures. The Transportation Security Administration expected to screen 18.3 million people at U.S. airports during the same seven-day stretch. That would be 6% more than during the corresponding days last year but fit a pattern set throughout 2024. The TSA expects the biggest crowd on Sunday, which could break the record of 3.01 million set on the Sunday after the July Fourth holiday. FAA staffing shortage could create delays TSA Administrator David Pekoske said his agency is ready, with its highest staffing ever, but an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers at the Federal Aviation Administration could cause flight delays. FAA Administration Administrator Mike Whitaker said last week that his agency likely will use special measures to deal with shortages at some facilities. If we are short on staff, we will slow traffic as needed to keep the system safe, he said. In the last two years, similar measures have slowed down flights in New York City and Florida. The FAA has long struggled with a shortage of controllers that airline officials expect will last for years, despite the agencys lofty hiring goals. Holiday travel myths While many people believe that flight delays and cancellations are worse during the holidays, the data doesnt bear that out, online travel company Kayak said. Last year, the rate of canceled flights was about five times greater in July and August than it was during Thanksgiving and nearly three times greater than the Christmas period, according to FlightAware data. But peoples tolerance for those delays is significantly worse during the holidays, Kayak CEO Steve Hafner said. When airports struggle during the holidays, Hafner said, its often because they are busy, prone to winter storms, or subject to shortages of FAA air traffic controllers. New York meets all of those conditions, he said. Dont fly to JFK over the holidays. Celebrating the holiday overseas Some Americans are discovering that Thanksgiving can be a relatively inexpensive time to fly overseas. Airlines struggle to get people on these international flights, and they are trying to have less losses by offering some fantastic fares, Katy Nastro of the travel site Going.com said. International trips over Thanksgiving arent for everybody. I dont see a lot of young families doing this because Thanksgiving is a very familial holiday, seeing family and friends, Nastro said. Its single people, couples ... people who work remotely. Turkey on the plane TSA says its OK to bring turkey, stuffing and other favorite holiday foods through airport checkpoints, although liquids such as gravy and cranberry sauce cant exceed 3.4 ounces. Just because you can carry it on the plane doesnt mean you should. Especially when it comes to gravy, I wouldnt want that in my carry-on luggage, and I definitely wouldnt want it in my checked baggage, TSA spokesperson Lorie Dankers said. Thanksgiving brings out infrequent flyers, and they often have questions about what they can bring on the plane. The TSA app and website have lists of items that are banned or restricted. Drive time Wednesday afternoon was expected to be the worst time to travel by car before Thanksgiving, but it will be smooth sailing on highways Thursday, according to transportation analytics company INRIX. On the return trip, the least-congested times to drive will be before 1 p.m. Sunday and before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m. Monday, the company said. In metropolitan areas like Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle and Washington, traffic is expected to be more than double what it typically is on a normal day, INRIX transportation analyst Bob Pishue said. Advertisement Eating outGood Food Guide 2025 How Newcastle became one of our hottest food destinations (and nine places you must try) With big-city talent at the helm, Newcastles new Bistro Penny joins several other venues making the Steel City a cracking place to eat and drink this summer. Callan Boys November 30, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share If youve visited Newcastles east end any time over the past few months, you may have noticed new signs of life on its historic streets. Several bars and restaurants have opened in the Steel City this year, and Newcastle is swiftly becoming one of the most exciting places to eat and drink in NSW. Bistro Penny owner-chef Joel Humphreys. Kat Forrest I went to Bistro Penny last week, says Josh Di Stefano, co-owner of Newcastle bottle shop Vera Wine, and after we finished dinner, I walked outside and thought for the first time in Newcastle where am I going to go for a drink now? There were so many great options the east end has developed a real Fitzroy, Melbourne, vibe. Also, Bistro Penny was phenomenal and it was only its first week. Vera Wines and Bistro Penny join a growing cohort of Newcastle businesses (including hatted restaurants Humbug and Flotilla, Arno Deli, and new cocktail bar Roxanne) operated by hospitality professionals who spent several years learning the trade in Sydney and Melbourne. For chefs and restaurateurs looking to open their first venue, Newcastle has a much lower barrier to entry than the capital cities. Advertisement In terms of bang-for-buck when it comes to property and lifestyle, its hard to beat, says Di Stefano, who relocated from Melbourne with his partner, Florence Diffey, and their children in 2022. This morning I woke up, went for a swim at the beach, grabbed a coffee from the kiosk, and drank it while looking at dolphins. I mean, how bloody good, right? A wood-fired French-inspired spread at Bistro Penny. Kat Forrest Bistro Penny owner-chef Joel Humphreys moved to Newcastle with his small family five years ago, after working in Sydney restaurants including Rockpool and Bistro Moncur. I miss Sydney a bit, sure, but I also love it up here. And now Ive just launched the style of restaurant Ive been wanting to open since we moved up. Housed in a former bank in Newcastle East (at one time the site was also home to Newcastles first Good Food Guide hatted fine diner, Restaurant II), Bistro Penny is all about approachable French-inspired dishes cooked over fire. Advertisement The restaurant design and renovations have been going on for about a year, says Humphreys. The grill has been constructed with interchangeable levels, so we can cook anything from a scallop in the shell to a whole pig. Humphreys is joined by longtime chef friend Nic Wong as a partner in the business. Wong also leads the Lucky Prawn kitchen at Marrickvilles Bob Hawke Beer and Leisure Centre. Ive known Joel since our Rockpool days, says Wong. I was actually interested in the same site before he was, but Lucky Prawn needed my full focus at the time. When I heard Joel was looking at it too, it was like, Well, it was meant to be we should do this together. The porchetta and eggplant panino at Arno Deli, Newcastle. David Griffen Meanwhile, a few blocks away, Arno Deli was almost certainly the only sandwich shop in Australia to be awarded the highest rating of three glasses at the Wine List of the Year Awards in October. Advertisement Helmed by Will OBrien, who opened the store after cheffing in hatted Sydney restaurants for years, Arno specialises in porchetta panini, negronis, and more than two dozen Italian and Australian wines by the glass. To be honest, I did put a lot of work into that wine list, says OBrien, but winning three glasses was completely unexpected. (Sydney restaurants with a three-glass ranking include Quay, Aria and Saint Peter.) OBrien moved to the area with his family in 2012, when his partner enrolled to study at Newcastle University. Back then, Sydney was sucking all the chefs down there, mainly because there werent many great places in Newcastle to work and learn about cooking and hospitality. Now, it almost feels like the opposite is happening. A quick guide to eating and drinking in Newcastle Arno Deli179/181 King Street, Newcastle Advertisement Arnos biggest seller is the number seven panini with prosciutto cotto, mortadella and provolone, among other fixings, but OBriens go-to is the number two loaded with porchetta, eggplant and cos lettuce. It was inspired by the massive porchetta sandwich that was on the first menu at Da Orazio in Bondi, he says. Best for: a top-drawer sandwich and knockout wine. Bistro Penny 8/10 Bolton Street, Newcastle One of the most exciting restaurants to open outside of Sydney this year, with proven talent in the kitchen, a devastatingly handsome fit-out, and a full carte of wood-fired French-leaning food. Best for: Duck neck sausage and wood-grilled flounder. Fairmont Diner 34 Cowper Street, Carrington Located in the usually sleepy suburb of Carrington, the Fairmont is Newcastles hottest new brunch and cold brew hang-out. It looks like a Nashville dinner, the coffee beans are from St. Ali, and extra hot sauce is on every table. Best for: Tabasco-splashed burritos and other assorted hangover cures. Advertisement The Falcon 10 Pacific Street, Newcastle A few blocks back from the beach, this is the best small bar in Newcastle (provided youre into buffalo wings, margaritas and American dive bar vibes). Best for: cocktails and a soundtrack of The Eagles. The team from hatted Flotilla at their wine bar, Vecina. David Griffen The Flotilla 9 Albert Street, Wickham Arrive early for a martini at hatted Flotillas schmick next-door bar, Vecina, and later put your wine order in the hands of general manager Eduardo Molina. You can drink well here. Expect the tasting menu to feature finely calibrated, seasonal flavours such as wild fallow deer with beetroot and a sticky bone-marrow sauce. Best for: snapper crudo and semillon. Advertisement Humbug 87-89 Hunter Street, Newcastle A hatted neighbourhood restaurant helping to rejuvenate Hunter Street Mall. Timber finishes, comfy banquettes and vibrant prints by local artists roll out the welcome mat for a menu that makes the marriage of European and Korean flavours feel seamless. Best for: a group dinner and house-made pasta with chilli prawn butter. Jana Restaurant & Bar 185 Hunter Street, Newcastle Inside Hunter Street Malls swanky QT Hotel, Jana is a destination in its own right. The smart-casual restaurant now leans Italian, with new chef Ryan Crothers (direct from a tenure at Waverleys Passeggiata) sending out veal Milanese and market fish with pesto alla Trapanese. Best for: oysters and a bistecca steak to share. The Ship Inn 102 Hunter Street, Newcastle Advertisement Its not quite a pub, but its not a bar or a restaurant, either. The Ship is just a good ol cracking place to hang out, surrounded by dark timber, high ceilings, and footy on the telly (at least if the Knights are playing). The beer and cocktails are cold, and the food is usually ace, too. Best for: Grifter Pale Ale on tap and a fried chicken sandwich. Vera Wine Bar 67 Beaumont Street, Hamilton With only 12 seats, Vera Wine Shops new natural light-filled snacking zone might be the smallest bar in the state. Youre likely to find more natural wines on pour than spots to sit, plus a choice little menu of tinned fish, (very good) cheese and their chilled deli mates. Best for: a wedge of Ossau Iraty sheeps milk cheese and young Burgundy. Good Foods great regional wine bar road-trip (plus great places to stay) Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up The decision not to prosecute has absolutely gutted me. I think about the death every day of my life. The OSI has taken too long to do nothing and the soldiers who have stood against war crimes and the Afghan families who are still grieving deserve justice, Miller said. Loading Over the last few years, I have spent endless hours with the OSI poring over maps and giving them information about what happened. I dont doubt the OSIs integrity and thoroughness, but justice delayed is justice denied and no charges is no justice at all. The second alleged execution case that the OSI has decided not to prosecute is against another former soldier. It was exposed by the ABC and is known within special forces ranks as the village idiot killing. Miller was also one of two witnesses to this alleged war crime, which involved the suspected shooting of an unarmed disabled man as he was trying to limp away from Australian soldiers. Despite the OSI deciding not to lay charges over the Sardar and village idiot killings, its investigation into Australias most significant war crimes matters those involving disgraced war hero Ben Roberts-Smith is ongoing. While OSI investigators have privately disclosed to witnesses that they are frustrated with the delays in finalising the Roberts-Smith case, they have also signalled their intention is to charge him pending final internal and external legal advice. One witness, who spoke to this masthead on the condition of anonymity, said the OSI had told them the agency expected the Roberts-Smith case to drag through the criminal court system for years. The approach adopted by OSI detectives, largely secondees from the federal police and state police homicide squads, suggests it is seeking to not only charge Roberts-Smith with war crimes but also ancillary offences surrounding his cover-up attempts. Loading After bringing defamation proceedings against this masthead, Roberts-Smith was found by a federal court judge in 2023 to have been involved in four executions. He has appealed that judgment and a ruling by a panel of appeal judges is imminent. Roberts-Smith has kept a mostly low profile since his devastating defamation loss and recently told friends in Perth that he was moving back to Brisbane after securing a senior role for a company that manufactures outdoor equipment. The ex-soldier implicated in the death of Sardar served in a different squadron to Roberts-Smith and their alleged criminality is not related. In media interviews and testimony to the OSI, Miller described how just before his death, Sardar was in his care suffering a non-fatal gunshot wound. He had been shot through the thigh by the SAS when they first landed in his village. Miller did not witness Sardars death but believes the circumstantial evidence warranted a prosecution. Miller said the gunshot injury Sardar sustained was relatively minor, and the injuries later found on Sardars body occurred after the Afghan was removed from Millers care by his fellow Australian soldier. Dusty Miller, a member of the Special Air Service Regiment and a combat medic, served in Afghanistan in 2012 on a mission that has defined his life ever since. Credit: Evidence uncovered by the Afghan Human Rights Commission included injury marks suggesting the injured Sardar may have had his chest stomped on before his death but after he was taken from Miller. Miller was so haunted by his failure to protect Sardar that he contacted his children in Afghanistan in 2020 to apologise. I wanted to tell them that I was sorry for what happened to their father and that I should have done more, Miller said at the time. The OSI told Miller that proving that Sardars death was caused by his treatment at the hands of the soldier they suspected of murdering him, and was not caused by the original gun shot, was difficult without Sardars body being forensically examined. In a statement, the OSI said it did not comment on individuals, allegations or whether they are the subject of investigation. Australian National University international law expert, Professor Don Rothwell, said the OSIs ability to gain key evidence and testimony in Afghanistan was greatly reduced after the Taliban regained power. Rothwell said the OSI was undertaking an unprecedented investigation effort in a nation with no contemporary experience probing and prosecuting war crimes. Given the significance of the OSIs work, it is inevitable they will be adopting a conservative position as to whether they will proceed with charges given the reputational damage that would be sustained if a prosecution failed because of evidentiary weaknesses, he said. But Rothwell also said the OSI was proceeding very slowly and the public rightly expected further charges. If the work of the OSI is to ultimately encompass just one charge, that would have to be a failure, he said. Rawan Arraf, executive director of the Australian Centre for International Justice, said the decision not to prosecute the cases raised questions and concerns about the examination of war crimes allegations. The OSI must provide comprehensive reasons to the public and furnish those reasons to the courageous individuals (or their families) within the special forces who spoke up (some giving their lives in that pursuit) and Afghan victims and their communities affected by these allegations, she said. One of Merivales top VIPs is still allowed to visit its venues despite being charged with sexually touching a waitress at one of its most high-profile restaurants. Matthew Palavidis, an acoustics consultant from Darling Point in Sydneys east, is known within the Merivale hospitality empire as a whale for his prolific spending at its businesses across Sydney. Last month, the 63-year-old appeared before Waverley Local Court charged with common assault and sexually touching another person without consent. Matthew Palavidis has pleaded not guilty to common assault and sexually touching another without consent. Credit: Acoustic Logic Consultancy The court heard Palavidis tried to undo a waitresss top as she served him caviar and vodka shots at Mimis in Coogee last year. Warning: Readers might find this content distressing. One of Australias worst paedophiles has been jailed for life for hundreds of sex offences he committed over the course of 19 years while working in childcare centres. Ashley Paul Griffith, 46, returned to the dock in Brisbane District Court on Friday for the completion of his sentencing hearing. He has pleaded guilty to 28 counts of rape against girls primarily aged three to five at childcare centres in Queensland between 2007 and 2022. By the end of the sitting day on Thursday, it was all smiles for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. For the modest sum of $500 million towards social housing, he had corralled the Greens into voting with the federal government on a long list of legislation, from an overhaul of the running of the Reserve Bank to the Future Made in Australia program and changes to superannuation. The prime minister already knew that for another set of bills the inchoate social media ban for children under 16, and draconian amendments to the Migration Act he could count on the support of the opposition. Mocking its leader Peter Dutton on the floor of the House on Thursday, Albanese could be heard saying: Youre not being aggressive enough. But the two men seem to have wedged each other into a perpetual tough-guy contest. Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Forty-five pieces of legislation were passed by the end of this, the last sitting week for the year. The race to secure parliamentary assent for a range of measures before the holiday season is hardly new. But when Finance Minister Katy Gallagher told the Senate that many of the bills in question have been on the notice paper for almost a year, she highlighted troubling aspects of this weeks events in Parliament House. Melbourne Centrals 134-year-old Shot Tower has been blanketed in beer advertising without permission, prompting the heritage authority to request the removal of the banners. The massive ads appeared on the tower in recent weeks, and Heritage Victoria told The Age no permit or permit exemption had been issued for them. Melbourne Central management previously said it did not need a permit because the advertising was temporary. Founder of the Heritage Network Victoria, Adam Ford, in front of the Coops Shot Tower blanketed in a beer ad. Credit: Eddie Jim A Heritage Victoria spokesperson said: Heritage Victoria has requested that the advertising signage be removed from the Coops Shot Tower at Melbourne Central within five days. It is unclear what effect that edict will have on the banners, as the advertising campaign is due to finish on Sunday. Heritage Victoria did not respond to questions as to whether Melbourne Central would be fined. Clark, 72, was once Australias most senior Indigenous leader, but on Friday appeared via video link wearing prison greens from Hopkins Correctional Centre. In September, it was revealed Clark had been found guilty by three separate juries of 25 charges including obtaining financial advantage by deception, theft, perjury and knowingly dealing in the proceeds of crime. Geoff Clark with then-prime minister John Howard. Credit: Fairfax County Court judge Michael OConnell found Clark had carefully engaged in a calculated course of conduct over many years to divert community funds for his own purposes. A five-year investigation, codenamed Operation Omega, found Clark had taken the money to pay off personal legal fees and living expenses over more than a decade. He used Indigenous community funds to pay $460,000 to a law firm between 2000 and 2009, for work stemming from an unrelated court case and an unfair dismissal claim against the government. Loading Clark also pocketed rental money meant for community coffers and the financial benefits of an eel licence, while also using community money to pay rates and electricity bills for his properties near Warrnambool and Halls Gap. He also stole more than $400,000 from Kirrae Whurrong Aboriginal Corporation, Maar Land Council and Framlingham Aboriginal Trust, fraudulently dealing with more than $922,000 in community funds in western Victoria. All of these organisations were controlled by Clark in the 2000s. One leader of the Framlingham community wrote in a victim impact statement that Clark not just spiritually hurt our people but financially raped us. OConnell said Clark had developed a sense of entitlement and came to treat the communitys financial resources as his own. In the various ways in which these frauds were perpetrated you contrived to conflate your own personal interests with the interests of the community, the judge said. In so acting, you emphatically betrayed its trust. You stole on multiple occasions in a variety of ways to personally benefit and/or strengthen your power and influence in the community. That you did so, having otherwise achieved so much, is profoundly disappointing. OConnell noted there was a great deal of community resentment towards Clark. But he accepted the suggestion Clark had led a double life on the one hand doing good for First Nations people, while also offending over many years. It is difficult to reconcile the conflict between the good that you have done and the wrongs that you have committed. This is a particularly complex sentencing exercise, he said. OConnell said Clark had exploited the weak governance structures at the community organisations. At the same time, the court heard, the state government department meant to support and guide its running was distracted with other matters. Had the Framlingham community been provided with guidance and support that the act envisaged, things may have been different, OConnell said. Clarks son Jeremy Clark, 51, was also found guilty of being party to the theft of $230,000 in funds with his father. He also pleaded guilty to dishonestly obtaining $10,000 from the Commonwealth to convert a garage for his younger brother, Aaron Clark, into a home office in Ballarat in 2009. An earlier hearing was told that money had since been repaid. OConnell sentenced Geoff Clark to six years and two months in jail with a non-parole period of three years and nine months. Jeremy Clark who the judge said had since moved out of his fathers shadow was convicted and sentenced to two years and two months in jail, which was wholly suspended. Outside court, Framlingham community leaders including McGuinness and Clark-Ugle embraced and shed tears. Clark-Ugle said he hoped the sentence would help unite the fractured community, as many who had spoken up about Geoff Clarks misconduct had been shunned and isolated over the years. Framlingham residents Joanne McGuinness, Possum Clark-Ugle, Shirley McGuinness and Kyeema Penrith. Credit: Wayne Taylor For too long, Clark-Ugle said, people were kept in the dark about their rights and entitlement to funds due to Clarks power grabs and betrayals. We cant change what happened in the past, we can only shape the future, he said. Melbournes East End, at the top of Bourke Street, is undergoing a revival with the opening of Chris Lucas four-storey Maison Batard restaurant this week and several other venues preparing to open their doors. The precinct struggled to attract visitors since COVID lockdowns, but big-name hospitality groups are making significant investments in its revival. The OBrien Group is set to open Juliets Terrace in the former Jobs Warehouse building at 58 Bourke Street, and Sydney hospitality billionaire Justin Hemmes Merivale Group has bought Kantay House around the corner in Meyers Place. Chris Lucas on Friday on the terrace of his Bourke Street restaurant Maison Batard. Credit: Penny Stephens Merivale is planning a new venue in the building, which currently houses Argentinian restaurant San Telmo and pizzeria and speakeasy Pizza Pizza Pizza. Juliets Terrace is a $50 million development, which will span six different rooms in the heritage building that housed the Jobs Warehouse and has sat derelict since the dressmaking store closed in 2012. Its weird to me that the bloke who undertook to build a national environmental protection agency for all Australians on the eve of the last federal election just blew it all up. Labor was so close this close! to securing a deal with the Greens to establish Environment Protection Australia and a new data body called Environment Information Australia. And then, bam, Anthony Albanese kiboshed the whole deal. In the words of one insider, He wets the bed so easily and regularly. It seems like we were on the brink of securing it all we had secured it all. And hes just gone, Nope. Illustration: Dionne Gain Credit: Reminds me of another notorious and now former prime minister, Tony Abbott: Nope, nope, nope. Now Anthony Albanese is giving me Christopher Pyne vibes. I was the negotiator. I negotiate. At least thats what he told the ABCs Sarah Ferguson on Thursday night when he bluntly erased everyone elses work on getting Labors nature positive deal done. But it definitely wasnt Albanese doing the vast bulk of the negotiation. It was his younger, smarter, factional sibling Tanya Plibersek. But PMs will PM. Swoop in for five minutes and then take credit. A high-income couple would have to move an average of 43 kilometres away from the Sydney CBD to afford to buy a house without the help of the bank of mum and dad, new analysis shows. A couple earning $125,021 each would need to look to the Central Coast, Penrith, Liverpool and Campbelltown to buy a house, according to CoreLogic and Canstar data. However, they can get closer to the CBD if they compromise with a unit, in areas such as Edgecliff, Parramatta and Sutherland. The modelling assumes the couple has a combined budget of $1,553,750. It also considered buying options for workers on a low annual gross income of $75,013 and an average income of $100,017 based on ABS average weekly earnings data. It then estimates borrowing capacity and a standard deposit, comparing it to median home values for each suburb. London: It is the worry of parents worldwide, hugely popular with voters and Australias crackdown could now potentially lead to a global domino effect of teenage social media bans driven by politicians eager to please a key demographic. Governments have watched the federal governments fight against tech giants Meta, Snapchat, TikTok, Reddit and X as they strive to safeguard teens from online bullying and grooming. The world-first laws have sparked a flurry of attention around the globe, from Delhi to Moscow and Washington, with media outlets devoting column inches and hours of airtime to the debate. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wants to make social media safer for children. Credit: Michaela Pollock Tech companies have criticised the plan with Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, calling the law rushed and difficult to enforce. Snapchat has warned of unintended consequences. The fiercest opposition has come from X, whose billionaire owner Elon Musk called the law a backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians. PHILIPSBURG:--- Recent observations highlight the invaluable support provided by several organizations in St. Maarten that offer meals to individuals, particularly our senior population. I have witnessed firsthand the immense gratitude and relief our seniors express when receiving this assistance. These are the sentiments of MP WescotWilliams, an active contributor to these initiatives. The MP explained that the need for robust food programs is more pressing than ever, and strengthening our support systems is essential for the continued well-being of our senior citizens, who often rely on community assistance during challenging times. This is especially true considering the impending changes in funding for social initiatives supported by the Netherlands. I urge the Minister to take decisive action to reinforce these food programs and foster collaboration among stakeholders to ensure no one in our community is left behind. Furthermore, Wescot-Williams voiced her serious concern regarding the setbacks faced by the Social Registry Project, which is crucial for identifying and addressing the needs of our community. The MP presented critical questions for the consideration and response of the Minister of VSA. 1) Does the Minister concur that these food programs must be strengthened to ensure support for our vulnerable populations? 2) Is the Minister in favor of implementing a One-Meal-A-Day program specifically for seniors, ensuring they receive at least one nutritious meal daily? 3) Is the Minister prepared to urgently organize a stakeholders consultation to achieve these objectives, potentially starting with a one-year pilot program? 4) Can the Minister commit to providing the outcomes of these consultations to Parliament within the next 30 days? Additionally, how does the Minister propose to address the current shortcomings related to the Social Registry? I expect that there will be feedback from the Minister in time to have a discussion on this project during the 2025 budget debate, the MP concluded. SIMPSON BAY:--- Preparations for the 49th annual Caribbean Studies Association (CSA) conference in St. Martin, themed Reparations: Resistance, Resilience, Reproduction, and Rehabilitation (June 17, 2025), are gaining momentum. CSA President Dr. Rhoda Arrindell (L) and Program Committee Chair Meagan Sylvester (R), visiting from New York for stakeholder meetings early this week, relaxed post-business with St. Martin author Lasana M. Sekou (center) at Nowhere Special bar (11/19/24). CSA Vice President Dr. Donna Hope was also on-island, visiting from UWI, Jamaica, for the pre-conference site visits. We visited with stakeholders and media to work out logistics and build awareness for the conference, said Arrindell, a noted St. Martin educator currently lecturing at Howard University, Washington, D.C. The conference will feature scholarly panels, public events, an exhibition of new books by CSA members, a Literary Salon spotlighting St. Martin authors, an awards ceremony, and a closing gala. The 1,100-member-strong CSA is the primary association for scholars and practitioners working on the Caribbean region (including Central America and the Caribbean coast of South America). Its members hail from the Caribbean, North America, South America, Central America, Africa, Europe, and beyond. SIMPSON BAY, St. MartinPreparations for the 49th annual Caribbean Studies Association (CSA) conference in St. Martin, themed Reparations: Resistance, Resilience, Reproduction, and Rehabilitation (June 17, 2025), are gaining momentum. CSA President Dr. Rhoda Arrindell (L) and Program Committee Chair Meagan Sylvester (R), visiting from New York for stakeholder meetings early this week, relaxed post-business with St. Martin author Lasana M. Sekou (center) at Nowhere Special bar (11/19/24). CSA Vice President Dr. Donna Hope was also on-island, visiting from UWI, Jamaica, for the pre-conference site visits. We visited with stakeholders and media to work out logistics and build awareness for the conference, said Arrindell, a noted St. Martin educator currently lecturing at Howard University, Washington, D.C. The conference will feature scholarly panels, public events, an exhibition of new books by CSA members, a Literary Salon spotlighting St. Martin authors, an awards ceremony, and a closing gala. The 1,100-member-strong CSA is the primary association for scholars and practitioners working on the Caribbean region (including Central America and the Caribbean coast of South America). Its members hail from the Caribbean, North America, South America, Central America, Africa, Europe, and beyond. ~Join us at the Sint Maarten Library for an Enriching Book Presentation! PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sint Maarten Library is delighted to extend an invitation to the community for a special book presentation by Curacaoan author Ange Jessurun. The event will highlight her latest novel, Faya Lobi, 200 jaar vurige liefde in de diaspora /Faya Lobi: 200 Years of Fiery Love in the Diaspora, a compelling narrative rooted in true stories. This thought-provoking work intricately traces the rich history of Jessurun's family, traversing the cultural landscapes of Suriname and Curacao. Through themes of love, resilience, and cultural heritage, Faya Lobi offers an unforgettable exploration of legacy and connection. Join us for an enriching literary experience celebrating the power of storytelling and history. The event will take place on Wednesday, December 4, 2023, from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM at the Sint Maarten Library. Faya Lobi : Published in 2022, Faya Lobi traces the captivating story of Jessuruns great-grandfather, a Chinese immigrant who arrived in Paramaribo in 1865, and Emelia, a formerly enslaved woman freed in 1859. Their lineage unfolds through generations, including Antonius, who moved to Curacao during World War II, where he fell in love with Angelaa descendant of plantation owner Jan Hendrik Specht. Combining personal memories, historical documents, and true accounts, Jessurun paints a vivid picture of Surinamese-Curacaoan heritage. Ange Jessurun: Born in Curacao in 1954, Ange Jessurun is an educator, cultural advocate, and author dedicated to promoting native languages and cultural awareness. A microbiologist by training, Jessurun also studied Papiamentu, which she taught for years at Peter Stuyvesant College in Willemstad. She has co-authored numerous Papiamentu teaching methods and founded the prestigious Arte di Palabra contest for secondary students. Since 2009, she has coordinated multilingual Master of Education programs across the Caribbean. Do not miss this unique opportunity to engage with Ange Jessurun as she shares the inspiration behind her novel, her familys remarkable history, and her passion for preserving Caribbean heritage. Copies of Faya Lobi will be available for purchase, and the event will include a Q&A session with the author. Join us in celebrating a story that honors the vibrant tapestry of our shared Caribbean history. For more information about the event, please contact the Sint Maarten Library at 1721-542-2970. WILLEMSTAD - Mr. drs. E. (Edson) Hato, MBA, has announced that he will continue his career elsewhere. As of the 1st of December 2024, he will stop as the representative of the Netherlands in Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten. Mr. Hato: I have fulfilled the role of representative of the Netherlands in Aruba, Curaca,o and Sint Maarten with great passion. It was an educational and intensive period in which I worked for fruitful cooperation between the four countries in the Kingdom. Although I can agree with the ultimate objective of this cooperation - a good relationship between the countries - I have a different view on the way in which we can achieve that goal. That is why I have decided, in good consultation, to return my assignment. In the coming period, I will focus on the next steps in my career. I thank everyone for their cooperation over the past period. Mr. Lapperre, Director-General of Kingdom Relations: First of all, I would like to thank Mr. Hato for his efforts. He has dedicated himself to the Kingdom with heart and soul. I naturally respect his decision, thank him for the pleasant cooperation, and wish him all the best with the next step in his career. Mr. Hato was the Representative of the Netherlands in Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten from 1 September 2023, based in Willemstad. Canada watchdog sues Google over 'anti-competitive' ad tech Ottawa, Nov 28 (AFP) Nov 28, 2024 Canada's competition watchdog announced Thursday it was taking Google to court, accusing the company of "anti-competitive behavior" in online advertising. Ads are typically bought and sold through automated auctions and managed by businesses using ad tech -- a system that also decides which online advertisements people see when they visit websites. A Competition Bureau investigation found that Google is the largest provider of these tools in Canada. Commissioner Matthew Boswell said in a statement it "has abused its dominant position... by engaging in conduct that locks market participants into using its own ad tech tools." The watchdog accused Google of giving its own tools preferential access to ad inventory, at times selling ads at a loss to block rivals, and dictating terms for the use of others' ad tech tools. Boswell said he would ask a tribunal to level the playing field by forcing Google to sell two of its ad tech tools and pay an unspecified penalty. Google spokesman Dan Taylor said the company is prepared to fight the allegations that he said "ignore the intense competition (in this sector) where ad buyers and sellers have plenty of choice." France's competition watchdog fined Google 220 million euros in June 2021 for favoring its own services in the online advertising sector. Google's advertising practices are also subject to investigations or proceedings in Britain, the EU and the United States. The technology giant and the US government faced off in a federal court this week in a case revolving around Google's alleged unfair domination of online advertising. If the judge finds Google to be at fault, a new phase of the trial would decide how the company should comply with that conclusion. Israel PM again warns Iran after top diplomat talks of revising nuclear doctrine Jerusalem, Nov 29 (AFP) Nov 29, 2024 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel would do "everything" to stop Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon after Iran's top diplomat warned it could end its ban on developing one if Western sanctions are reimposed. The renewed war of words between the Middle East foes came as Iran prepares to hold key nuclear talks with European governments on Friday which have been overshadowed by their joining with Washington to have Tehran censured by the UN atomic watchdog. "I will do everything to prevent it from becoming a nuclear (power), I will use all the resources that can be used," Netanyahu told Israeli broadcaster Channel 14 in an interview. Israel is the region's sole, if undeclared, nuclear-armed state. It has long made preventing any rival from matching it its top defence priority. Netanyahu said Tuesday that the ceasefire that went into effect in Lebanon the following day would allow Israel to focus on Iran. He did not elaborate on what action he envisaged. Iran launched two missile barrages at Israel over the past year in retaliation for the killing of leaders from Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as an Iranian general. Israel responded both times with limited attacks on Iran, most recently bombing several military sites on October 26. Last week's chiding at the International Atomic Energy Agency prompted a defiant response from Tehran, but its officials have since signalled willingness to engage with others ahead of the return of US president-elect Donald Trump, whose last administration pursued a policy of "maximum pressure" against Iran. - Current doctrine 'insufficient' - Iran insists on its right to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, but according to the IAEA, it is the only non-nuclear-weapon state enriching uranium to 60 percent. In an interview with The Guardian newspaper, published on the eve of Iran's talks with Britain, France and Germany, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that frustration in Tehran over unmet commitments, such as lifting sanctions, was fuelling debate over whether the country should alter its nuclear policy. "We have no intention to go further than 60 percent for the time being, and this is our determination right now," he told the British daily. But, he added, "there is this debate going on in Iran, and mostly among the elites... whether we should change our nuclear doctrine" as so far it has proven to be "insufficient in practice". A 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and major powers aimed to give Iran relief from crippling Western sanctions in exchange for limiting its nuclear programme to prevent it from developing a weapons capability. Tehran has consistently denied any such ambition. Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final authority in Iran's decision-making, has issued a religious decree, or fatwa, prohibiting atomic weapons. Tehran's willingness to sit down with the three European governments so soon after the censure comes just weeks before Trump is set to return to the White House. During his first term, Trump focused on reimposing heavy sanctions on Iran following his administration's unilateral withdrawal from the 2015 deal three years after it was agreed. In retaliation for the US withdrawal, Tehran reduced its compliance with the deal, raising its uranium enrichment levels to 60 percent -- closer to the 90 percent required for a nuclear bomb. - 'Frank exchange' - Under the 2015 accord -- which will expire in October 2025 -- Iran's enrichment was capped at 3.67 percent. Iranian diplomat Majid Takht-Ravanchi, who serves as the political deputy to Araghchi, is scheduled to represent Iran in Friday's talks. On Thursday he and deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs Kazem Gharibabadi met with Enrique Mora, deputy secretary general of the European Union's foreign affairs arm. Mora said on X that they held a "frank exchange... on Iran's military support to Russia that has to stop, the nuclear issue that needs a diplomatic solution, regional tensions (important to avoid further escalation from all sides) and human rights". Last week, the 35-nation board of governors of the IAEA adopted a resolution proposed by Britain, France, Germany and the United States condemning Iran for its lack of cooperation on nuclear issues. Iran described the move as "politically motivated" and in response announced the launch of "new advanced centrifuges" designed to increase its stockpile of enriched uranium. For Tehran, the goal of the talks on Friday is to avoid a "double disaster" scenario, in which it would face renewed pressures from both Trump and European governments, according to political analyst Mostafa Shirmohammadi. He noted that Iran's support among European governments had been eroded by allegations it offered military assistance for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Iran has denied these accusations and hopes to mend relations with Europe, while also maintaining a firm stance. Chad says ending military cooperation with France N'Djamena, Nov 29 (AFP) Nov 29, 2024 Chad announced Thursday that it was ending military cooperation with former colonial power France, just hours after a visit by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. "The government of the Republic of Chad informs national and international opinion of its decision to end the accord in the field of defence signed with the French republic," foreign minister Abderaman Koulamallah said in a statement on Facebook. Chad is a key link in France's military presence in Africa, constituting Paris's last foothold in the Sahel after the forced withdrawal of its troops from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. "This is not a break with France like Niger or elsewhere," Koulamallah, whose country still hosts around a thousand French troops, told AFP. At a press briefing after a meeting between President Mahamat Idriss Deby and Barrot, Koulamallah called France "an essential partner" but added it "must now also consider that Chad has grown up, matured and is a sovereign state that is very jealous of its sovereignty". Barrot, who arrived in Ethiopia on Thursday evening, could not immediately be reached for comment. - 'Historic turning point'- Chad is the last Sahel country to host French troops. It has been led by Deby since 2021, when his father Idriss Deby Itno was killed by rebels after 30 years in power. The elder Deby frequently relied on French military support to fend off rebel offensives, including in 2008 and 2019. The landlocked nation faces a potent threat from Boko Haram and other militant groups. It borders the Central African Republic, Sudan, Libya and Niger, all of which host Russian paramilitary forces from the Wagner group. Deby has sought closer ties with Moscow in recent months, but talks to strengthen economic cooperation with Russia have yet to bear concrete results. Koulamallah called the decision to end military cooperation a "historic turning point", adding it was made after "in-depth analysis". "Chad, in accordance with the provisions of the agreement, undertakes to respect the terms laid down for its termination, including the notice period", he said in the statement, which did not give a date for the withdrawal of French troops. The announcement comes just days after Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye indicated in an interview with AFP that France should close its military bases in that country. "Senegal is an independent country, it is a sovereign country and sovereignty does not accept the presence of military bases in a sovereign country," Faye told AFP on Thursday. Taiwan says 41 Chinese military aircraft, ships detected ahead of Lai US stopover Taipei, Nov 29 (AFP) Nov 29, 2024 Taiwan said Friday it detected 41 Chinese military aircraft and ships around the island ahead of a Hawaii stopover by President Lai Ching-te, part of a Pacific tour that has sparked fury in Beijing. Beijing insists self-ruled Taiwan is part of its territory and opposes any international recognition of the island's claim to be a sovereign nation. To press its claims, China deploys fighter jets, drones and warships around Taiwan on a near-daily basis, with the number of sorties increasing in recent years. In the 24 hours to 6:00 am on Friday (2200 GMT Thursday), Taiwan's defence ministry said it had detected 33 Chinese aircraft and eight navy vessels in its airspace and waters. That included 19 aircraft that took part in China's "joint combat readiness patrol" on Thursday evening and was the highest number in more than three weeks, according to an AFP tally of figures released daily by the ministry. Taiwan also spotted a balloon -- the fourth since Sunday -- about 172 kilometres (107 miles) west of the island. "It can't be ruled out that there will be a relatively large-scale military exercise in response to Lai's visit," Su Tzu-yun, a military expert at Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research, told AFP. - 'Old friends' - Lai, an outspoken defender of Taiwan's sovereignty, departs Saturday on his first overseas trip since taking office in May. He will stop briefly in Hawaii and the US territory of Guam to meet "old friends", as he visits Taiwan's three remaining allies in the Pacific. Taiwanese government officials have previously stopped over on US soil during visits to the Pacific or Latin America, angering China, which has sometimes responded with military drills around the island. China has reacted furiously to Lai's planned trip, with a spokesperson for the defence ministry vowing Thursday to "resolutely crush" any attempts for Taiwan independence. Asked whether China's military would take countermeasures over Lai's Pacific tour, Wu Qian said: "We firmly oppose official interaction with China's Taiwan region in any form." Lin Ying-yu, a military expert at Tamkang University, said China's response would be determined by Lai's statements during the trip. "China may carry out military exercises, but they may not be large ones. It will depend on what President Lai says," Lin told AFP, adding the current weather was "not very good" for drills. Lai's visit to the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau was aimed at shoring up Taiwan's dwindling number of diplomatic allies. Only 12 countries and territories, including the Vatican, have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan after others jumped ship to China, which has deeper pockets for aid and investment. Analysts said Lai's trip was a rare opportunity for the president to represent Taiwan abroad and bolster its claim to statehood. "Even though they look kind of theatrical and performative, (these trips) actually give Taiwan a voice in the international system, they confer legitimacy, they confer the appearance of sovereignty," said Mark Harrison, a senior lecturer in Chinese studies at the University of Tasmania. Russia's defence minister arrives in North Korea for visit: state media Moscow, Nov 29 (AFP) Nov 29, 2024 Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov arrived in North Korea on Friday, Russian state news agencies reported, citing a military statement. During his official visit to Pyongyang, Belousov will hold talks with a number of North Korean "military and military-political officials", the statement said without elaborating. The Russian defence chief was welcomed in Pyongyang by his North Korean counterpart, No Kwang Chol, according to the statement. Russia and North Korea have strengthened their military ties since the start of the war in Ukraine. The two countries signed a strategic partnership treaty in June, which obligates each to provide military assistance to the other in case of an attack and to cooperate to oppose Western sanctions. The United States and South Korea have also accused the nuclear-armed North of sending more than 10,000 soldiers to help Russia fight Ukraine, with experts saying leader Kim Jong Un was eager to gain advanced technology, and battle experience for his troops, in return. North Korea and Russia are both under UN sanctions -- the former for its nuclear weapons programme and the latter for the Ukraine war. Iran holds nuclear talks with Europeans as tensions ratchet up Geneva, Nov 29 (AFP) Nov 29, 2024 Iran was to hold talks with Britain, France and Germany in Geneva on Friday over its nuclear programme, less than two months before Donald Trump returns as US president. The meeting is shrouded in discretion, with the countries' foreign ministries giving away few details on what they will discuss. Iranian diplomat Majid Takht-Ravanchi, the political deputy to Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, will represent Iran in Friday's talks, which follow on from a meeting in New York in September. Laying the groundwork on Thursday, Takht-Ravanchi and deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs Kazem Gharibabadi met with Enrique Mora, deputy secretary general of the European Union's foreign affairs arm. Mora said on X that they held a "frank exchange... on Iran's military support to Russia that has to stop, the nuclear issue that needs a diplomatic solution, regional tensions (important to avoid further escalation from all sides) and human rights". After the talks, Gharibabadi, also on X, on Friday said he and Takht-Ravanchi reaffirmed to Mora "that EU should abandon its self-centered and irresponsible behaviour" on a range of issues including the war in Ukraine and the Iranian nuclear issue. Gharibabadi added that the EU's "complicit behaviour towards the ongoing genocide in Gaza" leaves it without moral authority to "preach" on human rights. Friday's meeting takes place in the context of extreme tension in the Middle East between Israel and Iran and its allies. This week a fragile ceasefire took effect in Lebanon after a year of conflict between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel would do "everything" to stop Tehran acquiring a nuclear weapon after Araghchi warned Iran could end its ban on developing one if Western sanctions are reimposed. Israel is the region's sole, if undeclared, nuclear-armed state, and has long made preventing its arch-rival from matching it a top defence priority. The West's accusation that Iran is supplying Russia with explosive drones for its war in Ukraine is further darkening the backdrop to Friday's talks. And on January 20, Trump, who pursued a policy of "maximum pressure" against Iran during his first term, returns to the White House. - IAEA chiding - Friday's talks in Geneva have been overshadowed by the European countries teaming up with the United States to have Iran censured by the UN atomic watchdog. Last week, the 35-nation board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency adopted a resolution proposed by Britain, France, Germany and the United States condemning Iran for its lack of cooperation on nuclear issues. The chiding at the IAEA prompted a defiant response from Iran, which described the move as "politically motivated" and in response announced the launch of "new advanced centrifuges" designed to increase its stockpile of enriched uranium. However, Iranian officials have since signalled willingness to engage with others ahead of Trump's return. Iran insists on its right to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, but according to the IAEA, it is the only non-nuclear-weapon state enriching uranium to 60 percent. The IAEA said in a report that Iran planned to install thousands of new centrifuges. In an interview with The Guardian newspaper published Thursday, Araghchi warned that frustration in Tehran over unmet commitments, such as lifting sanctions, was fuelling debate over whether the country should alter its nuclear policy. "We have no intention to go further than 60 percent for the time being, and this is our determination right now," he told the British daily. But, he added, "there is this debate going on in Iran, and mostly among the elites... whether we should change our nuclear doctrine" as so far it has proven to be "insufficient in practice". A 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and major powers aimed to give Iran relief from crippling Western sanctions in exchange for limiting its nuclear programme to prevent it from developing a weapons capability. Tehran has consistently denied any such ambition. Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final authority in Iran's decision-making, has issued a religious decree, or fatwa, prohibiting atomic weapons. - 'Double disaster' - For Tehran, the goal of Friday's talks is to avoid a "double disaster" scenario of renewed pressures from both Trump and European governments, according to political analyst Mostafa Shirmohammadi. He noted that Iran's support in Europe had been eroded by allegations it offered military assistance for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Iran has denied these accusations and hopes to mend relations with Europe, while also maintaining a firm stance. burs-rjm-it/ser Taiwan detects 41 Chinese military aircraft, ships ahead of Lai US stopover Taipei, Nov 29 (AFP) Nov 29, 2024 Taiwan said Friday it detected 41 Chinese military aircraft and ships around the island ahead of a Hawaii stopover by President Lai Ching-te, part of a Pacific tour that has sparked fury in Beijing. Beijing insists self-ruled Taiwan is part of its territory and opposes any international recognition of the island and its claim to be a sovereign nation. To press its claims, China deploys fighter jets, drones and warships around Taiwan on a near-daily basis, with the number of sorties increasing in recent years. In the 24 hours to 6:00 am on Friday (2200 GMT Thursday), Taiwan's defence ministry said it had detected 33 Chinese aircraft and eight navy vessels in its airspace and waters. That included 19 aircraft that took part in China's "joint combat readiness patrol" on Thursday evening and was the highest number in more than three weeks, according to an AFP tally of figures released daily by the ministry. Taiwan also spotted a balloon -- the fourth since Sunday -- about 172 kilometres (107 miles) west of the island. "It can't be ruled out that there will be a relatively large-scale military exercise in response to Lai's visit," Su Tzu-yun, a military expert at Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research, told AFP. - 'Old friends' - Lai, an outspoken defender of Taiwan's sovereignty and whom China calls a "separatist", departs Saturday on his first overseas trip since taking office in May. He will stop briefly in Hawaii and the US territory of Guam to meet "old friends", as he visits Taiwan's three remaining allies in the Pacific. Taiwanese government officials have previously stopped over on US soil during visits to the Pacific or Latin America, angering China, which has sometimes responded with military drills around the island. China has reacted furiously to Lai's planned trip, with a spokesperson for the defence ministry vowing Thursday to "resolutely crush" any attempts for Taiwan independence. Asked whether China's military would take countermeasures over Lai's Pacific tour, Wu Qian said: "We firmly oppose official interaction with China's Taiwan region in any form." China has staged two large-scale military drills around Taiwan since Lai took office and verbally attacked him at every turn over his statements and speeches. Lin Ying-yu, a military expert at Tamkang University, said China's response would be determined by Lai's remarks during the trip. "China may carry out military exercises, but they may not be large ones. It will depend on what President Lai says," Lin told AFP, adding the current weather was "not very good" for drills. - 'Legitimacy' - The South Pacific was once seen as a bastion of support for Taiwan's claim to statehood, but China has methodically whittled this down. In the past five years, Solomon Islands, Kiribati and Nauru have all been persuaded to switch diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. The Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau are now the only Pacific island nations among Taiwan's 12 remaining diplomatic allies. Beijing's efforts to woo Taiwan's allies and expand its influence in the region have alarmed the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Switching recognition to China "opened the door to much deeper engagement between Beijing and those countries," said Mark Harrison, a senior lecturer in Chinese studies at the University of Tasmania. Lai's trip was a rare opportunity for the president to represent Taiwan abroad and bolster its claim to statehood. "Even though they kind of look theatrical and performative, (these trips) actually give Taiwan a genuine voice in the international system," Harrision told AFP. "They confer legitimacy, they confer the appearance of sovereignty and, with the international system as it is, the appearance of sovereignty is also sovereignty." South Korea scrambles jets as Chinese, Russian warplanes approach Seoul, Nov 29 (AFP) Nov 29, 2024 South Korea's military said Friday it scrambled fighter jets as five Chinese and six Russian military planes flew through its air defence zone, an area wider than the country's airspace. Five Chinese and six Russian military aircraft entered and exited the Korea Air Defence Identification Zone in the East Sea and South Sea from 9:35 am (0035 GMT) to 1:53 pm, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. But the planes crossed into the KADIZ "without violating South Korean airspace", the JCS said, adding that the military "identified the aircraft before they entered KADIZ and deployed Air Force fighter jets to take tactical measures in preparation for any contingencies". An air defence identification zone is a broader area than a country's airspace in which it tries to control aircraft for security reasons, but the concept is not defined in any international treaty. China's defence ministry called the flights "their ninth joint strategic patrol", which occurred above the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea in South Korea. It added in a post on its official social media account that the flights were held Friday "according to the annual cooperation plan between the Chinese and Russian militaries". South Korean military officials told local media that Chinese military aircraft flew towards the small Dokdo islands off South Korea's eastern coast, after passing between the Korean peninsula and Japan near the contested submerged rock of Ieodo. Russian planes also flew south towards the Dokdo islets, known as Takeshima in Japanese. Officials said the Chinese and Russian aircraft flew together over the sea south of Dokdo before departing. Since 2019, China and Russia have regularly flown military aircraft into South Korea's air defence zone without prior notice, citing joint exercises. Similar incidents occurred in June and December last year, and in May and November 2022, with Beijing and Moscow describing the flights as "joint strategic air patrols". South Korea's defence ministry on Friday "expressed regret" to China and Russia over their military aircraft entering the South's air defence zone and "flying for an extended period without prior notice", according to a statement. The ministry requested that "appropriate measures be taken to prevent a recurrence", adding that such actions could "unnecessarily heighten tensions in the region". China and Russia have expanded military and defence ties since Moscow ordered troops into Ukraine nearly three years ago. Both are also traditional allies of North Korea, Seoul's arch-foe. South Korea and the United States have accused nuclear-armed North Korea of sending thousands of soldiers to Russia to fight in Ukraine and this month Pyongyang ratified a landmark defence pact with Moscow. Taiwan detects 41 Chinese military aircraft, ships ahead of Lai US stopover Taipei, Nov 29 (AFP) Nov 29, 2024 Taiwan said Friday it detected 41 Chinese military aircraft and ships around the island ahead of a Hawaii stopover by President Lai Ching-te, part of a Pacific tour that has sparked fury in Beijing. Beijing insists self-ruled Taiwan is part of its territory and opposes any international recognition of the island and its claim to be a sovereign nation. To press its claims, China deploys fighter jets, drones and warships around Taiwan on a near-daily basis, with the number of sorties increasing in recent years. In the 24 hours to 6:00 am on Friday (2200 GMT Thursday), Taiwan's defence ministry said it had detected 33 Chinese aircraft and eight navy vessels in its airspace and waters. That included 19 aircraft that took part in China's "joint combat readiness patrol" on Thursday evening and was the highest number in more than three weeks, according to an AFP tally of figures released daily by the ministry. Taiwan also spotted a balloon -- the fourth since Sunday -- about 172 kilometres (107 miles) west of the island. "It can't be ruled out that there will be a relatively large-scale military exercise in response to Lai's visit," Su Tzu-yun, a military expert at Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research, told AFP. - 'Old friends' - Lai, an outspoken defender of Taiwan's sovereignty and whom China calls a "separatist", departs Saturday on his first overseas trip since taking office in May. He will stop briefly in Hawaii and the US territory of Guam to meet "old friends", as he visits Taiwan's three remaining allies in the Pacific. During a visit to a Taoist temple on Friday, Lai vowed to "work hard to deepen Taiwan's relations with other countries and consolidate greater strength to respond to various challenges around the world to allow Taiwan to continue to go global". Taiwanese government officials have previously stopped over on US soil during visits to the Pacific or Latin America, angering China, which has sometimes responded with military drills around the island. China has reacted furiously to Lai's planned trip, with a spokesperson for the defence ministry vowing Thursday to "resolutely crush" any attempts for Taiwan independence. Asked whether China's military would take countermeasures over Lai's Pacific tour, Wu Qian said: "We firmly oppose official interaction with China's Taiwan region in any form." China has staged two large-scale military drills around Taiwan since Lai took office and verbally attacked him at every turn over his statements and speeches. Lin Ying-yu, a military expert at Tamkang University, said China's response would be determined by Lai's remarks during the trip. "China may carry out military exercises, but they may not be large ones. It will depend on what President Lai says," Lin told AFP, adding the current weather was "not very good" for drills. - 'Legitimacy' - The South Pacific was once seen as a bastion of support for Taiwan's claim to statehood, but China has methodically whittled this down. In the past five years, Solomon Islands, Kiribati and Nauru have all been persuaded to switch diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. The Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau are now the only Pacific island nations among Taiwan's 12 remaining diplomatic allies. Beijing's efforts to woo Taiwan's allies and expand its influence in the region have alarmed the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Switching recognition to China "opened the door to much deeper engagement between Beijing and those countries," said Mark Harrison, a senior lecturer in Chinese studies at the University of Tasmania. Lai's trip was a rare opportunity for the president to represent Taiwan abroad and bolster its claim to statehood. "Even though they kind of look theatrical and performative, (these trips) actually give Taiwan a genuine voice in the international system," Harrison told AFP. "They confer legitimacy, they confer the appearance of sovereignty and, with the international system as it is, the appearance of sovereignty is also sovereignty." Lebanon's army chief Joseph Aoun, a man with a tough mission Beirut, Lebanon, Nov 29 (AFP) Nov 29, 2024 Lebanese army chief Joseph Aoun, who is being touted as a possible candidate for the presidency, is a man with a tough mission following an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire that relies heavily on his troops deploying in the south. Aoun, 60, was set to retire last January after heading the army since 2017, but has had his mandate extended twice -- the last time on Thursday. The army, widely respected and a rare source of unity in a country riven by sectarian and political divides, has held together despite periodic social strife, the latest war and a crushing five-year economic crisis. A fragile ceasefire took effect on Wednesday, ending more than a year of war between Israel and Hezbollah that has killed thousands in Lebanon and caused mass displacements on both sides of the border. Under its terms, the Lebanese army and United Nations peacekeepers are to become the only armed presence in south Lebanon, where Hezbollah enjoys strong support and had been launching attacks on Israeli troops for months, and fighting them on the ground since late September. The move averted a military power vacuum as the army, which boasts about 80,000 Lebanese servicemen, seeks to bolster its deployment in south Lebanon as part of the nascent truce. But it will be a difficult task in an area long seen as Hezbollah territory, and risks upsetting the country's already delicate social balance as tensions run high over the war's course and devastation. - 'Integrity' - Aoun "has a reputation of personal integrity", said Karim Bitar, an international relations expert at Beirut's Saint-Joseph University. The army chief came into prominence after leading the army in a battle to drive out the Islamic State group from a mountanous area along the Syrian border. "Within the Lebanese army, he is perceived as someone who is dedicated... who has the national interest at heart, and who has been trying to consolidate this institution, which is the last non-sectarian institution still on its feet in the country," he told AFP. Aoun has good relations with groups across the political spectrum, including with Hezbollah, as well as with various foreign countries. Mohanad Hage Ali from the Carnegie Middle East Center noted that "being the head of US-backed Lebanese Armed Forces, Joseph Aoun has ties to the United States". "While he maintained relations with everyone, Hezbollah-affiliated media often criticised him" for his US ties, he told AFP. Washington is the main financial backer of Lebanon's army, which also receives support from other countries including Qatar. An international conference in Paris last month raised $200 million to support the armed forces. The military has been hit hard by Lebanon's economic crisis, and at one point in 2020 said it had scrapped meat from the meals offered to on-duty soldiers due to rising food prices. Aoun has also been floated by several politicians, parties and local media as a potential candidate for Lebanon's presidency, vacant for more than two years amid deadlock between allies of Hezbollah and its opponents, who accuse the group of seeking to impose its preferred candidate. Aoun has not commented on the reports and largely refrains from making media statements. - President? - A Western diplomat told AFP that "everyone has recognised Aoun's track record at the head of the army". "But the question is, can he transform himself into a politician?" said the diplomat, requesting anonymity to discuss politically sensitive matters. Bitar said that "many, even those who respect him are opposed to his election as president, because he comes from the army mostly", noting a number of Lebanon's heads of state, including recently, were former army chiefs. Most "left a bittersweet taste", Bitar said, noting any election of Aoun could also perpetuate the idea that the army chief "systematically becomes president". This could end up weakening the military as it creates "an unhealthy relationship between political power and the army, which is supposed to remain neutral", he added. Hage Ali said that the idea of Aoun's "candidacy for the presidency did not receive much enthusiasm from the major figures in the political class, even those who are opposed to Hezbollah". Aoun, who speaks Arabic, French and English, hails from Lebanon's Christian community and has two children. By convention, the presidency goes to a Maronite Christian, the premiership is reserved for a Sunni Muslim and the post of parliament speaker goes to a Shiite Muslim. He is not related to the previous Lebanese president Michel Aoun -- also a former army chief -- although the two served together in the military. Iran nuclear ambitions 'threaten all of us': UK foreign intelligence chief Paris, Nov 29 (AFP) Nov 29, 2024 Iran's nuclear ambitions pose a major global security threat even after setbacks dealt to Hamas and Hezbollah, the UK's foreign intelligence chief said Friday. "Iran's allied militias across the Middle East have suffered serious blows," Secret Intelligence Service chief Richard Moore said in a speech in Paris. "But the regime's nuclear ambitions continue to threaten all of us." Moore added that "the Iranian regime maintains its efforts to eliminate dissidents at home and abroad". Iran was to hold talks with Britain, France and Germany in Geneva on Friday over its nuclear programme, in the context of extreme tension in the Middle East between Iran and its allies, and Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel would do "everything" to stop Tehran acquiring a nuclear weapon. The UN nuclear agency has confirmed that Iran plans to install around 6,000 new centrifuges to enrich uranium, according to a report seen by AFP Friday. Iran holds nuclear talks with Europeans as tensions ratchet up Geneva, Nov 29 (AFP) Nov 29, 2024 Iran, Britain, France and Germany were meeting in Geneva on Friday under a shroud of secrecy to discuss Tehran's nuclear programme, amid surging tensions even before Donald Trump's return to the White House. In a rare show of discretion, the countries foreign ministries were providing no details on the topics to be discussed, or even the specific time and venue for the talks or how long they were due to last. The stakes were laid bare in a warning from Britain's foreign intelligence chief that Iran's nuclear ambitions posed a major global security threat, despite its weakened position after setbacks dealt to allies Hamas and Hezbollah. "Iran's allied militias across the Middle East have suffered serious blows," Secret Intelligence Service chief Richard Moore said in a speech in Paris. "But the regime's nuclear ambitions continue to threaten all of us." Social media exchanges following a meeting in Geneva on Thursday between Iranian and European Union diplomats meanwhile hinted at the atmosphere ahead of Friday's talks. Enrique Mora, the EU's second highest-ranking diplomat, described on X a "frank exchange" with Majid Takht-Ravanchi and Kazem Gharibabadi, two deputies to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. He said the discussion had revolved around "Iran's military support to Russia that has to stop, the nuclear issue that needs a diplomatic solution, regional tensions (important to avoid further escalation from all sides) and human rights". - 'Irresponsible' - Gharibabadi also described the encounter on X as "frank", decrying that "Europe has failed to be a serious player" on the nuclear issue, after the Washington in 2018 broke off an international agreement and unilaterally reimposed sanctions on Tehran. Iran's deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs also urged the EU to "abandon its self-centred and irresponsible behaviour" on a range of issues including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Friday's meeting takes place in the context of extreme tension in the Middle East between Israel and Iran and its allies. This week a fragile ceasefire took effect in Lebanon after a year of conflict with Israel which has dealt a heavy blow to Iran-backed Hezbollah, while Hamas is reeling amid the war still raging in Gaza. And on January 20, Trump, who pursued a policy of "maximum pressure" against Iran during his first term, returns to the White House. - IAEA chiding - Iran hopes to mend relations with Europe, while also maintaining a firm stance. In an interview with The Guardian newspaper published Thursday, Araghchi warned that frustration in Tehran over unmet commitments, such as lifting sanctions, was fuelling debate over whether the country should alter its nuclear policy. Friday's talks have been overshadowed by the European countries teaming up with the United States to have Iran censured by the UN atomic watchdog for its lack of cooperation on nuclear issues. The IAEA chiding provoked a defiant response from Iran, which slammed the move as "politically motivated" and in response announced the launch of "new advanced centrifuges" designed to increase its stockpile of enriched uranium. This "is clearly going in the wrong direction", a German foreign ministry spokesman told reporters Friday. Iran insists on its right to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, but according to the IAEA, it is the only non-nuclear-weapon state enriching uranium to 60 percent. The IAEA said in a report that Iran planned to install 6,000 new centrifuges at its sites in Fordo and Natanz, aimed at up to five percent enrichment. While far lower than the current levels it is enriching at, that is higher than the 3.67 percent limit Tehran had agreed to in the landmark 2015 nuclear deal. That deal between Tehran and major powers aimed to give Iran relief from crippling Western sanctions in exchange for limiting its nuclear programme to prevent it from developing a weapons capability. Tehran adhered to the deal, but in 2018, during Trump's first presidency, Washington unilaterally pulled out of that agreement and slapped heavy sanctions back on Iran. For Tehran, the goal of Friday's talks is to avoid a "double disaster" scenario of renewed pressures from both Trump and European governments, according to political analyst Mostafa Shirmohammadi. vog-sbr-bur/nl/db Russia waging 'reckless' sabotage campaign in Europe: UK spy chief Paris, Nov 29 (AFP) Nov 29, 2024 Russia is waging a reckless campaign of sabotage in Europe, the British foreign intelligence chief warned on Friday, accusing President Vladimir Putin of showing a mixture of "bluster and aggression". In a rare public speech abroad, the head of the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS, also known as MI6), Richard Moore, also said that while Iran had been affected by the degrading of allied militias in the Middle East, its nuclear programme "threatens us all". "We have recently uncovered a staggeringly reckless campaign of Russian sabotage in Europe, even as Putin and his acolytes resort to nuclear sabre-rattling to sow fear about the consequences of aiding Ukraine and challenge Western resolve," Moore said in a speech in Paris. He did not disclose details as to the nature of the sabotage but said such "activity and rhetoric" was "dangerous and beyond irresponsible". Moore acknowledged the cost of Western support for Ukraine, which has been fighting Russia's full-scale invasion since February 2022. But he warned the "cost of not doing so would be infinitely higher". "If Putin is allowed to succeed in reducing Ukraine to a vassal state, he will not stop there," said Moore. "If Putin succeeds, China would weigh the implications, North Korea would be emboldened and Iran would become still more dangerous," he said. But, Moore continued: "We have no doubt that our Ukrainian friends have the will to win." British and French intelligence services had been "critical" in informing decisions made by their respective governments, "so they can navigate successfully Putin's mix of bluster and aggression", he said. Moore said Russia was relying on support from China, Iran and North Korea, whose military assistance for Moscow, according to the West, now extends to the deployment of troops. "Putin... is jeopardising Russia's future, pouring vast sums into his military machine and squandering tens of thousands of lives -- Russian and now North Korean -- in his catastrophic conflict," Moore said. - 'Never seen a more dangerous world' - Moore meanwhile said that Iran's nuclear ambitions posed a major global security threat even after the blows dealt by Israel to Tehran-backed militant groups Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon. "Iran's allied militias across the Middle East have suffered serious blows. But the regime's nuclear ambitions continue to threaten all of us." Western nations have long accused Iran of seeking a nuclear weapon -- a charge denied by Tehran -- and fear the upsurge in tensions with Israel over Gaza and Lebanon will only accelerate that process. After authorities in the United States and Europe warned of the risk to Iranian exiles of killings and even kidnappings, Moore said "the Iranian regime maintains its efforts to eliminate dissidents at home and abroad". Moore, a former British ambassador to Turkey, has combined a career in the secret service and diplomacy and is the first head of M16 -- a position traditionally known as "C" -- to be active on social media. "In 37 years in the intelligence profession, I have never seen the world in a more dangerous state," he commented. In the highly unusual event organised by the UK embassy in Paris to celebrate security and intelligence ties, Moore was introduced by his French counterpart, Nicolas Lerner, head of France's Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE). "The possible nuclear proliferation in Iran" constitutes "one of the threats, if not the most critical threat in the coming months", said Lerner. "The exchange of intelligence will be crucial to enable our authorities to make the right decisions and define the right strategies," the French intelligence chief added. Iran, Europeans to keep talking as tensions ratchet up Geneva, Nov 29 (AFP) Nov 29, 2024 Iran, Britain, France and Germany agreed to continue diplomatic talks following a discreet meeting Friday touching on Tehran's nuclear programme, amid surging tensions even before Donald Trump's return to the White House. Following the talks in Geneva, shrouded in an unusual level of secrecy, the parties each took to social media to say the discussions had focused on Iran's nuclear programme and sanctions, and other regional issues. The sides had "agreed to continue diplomatic dialogue in the near future", the German foreign ministry and the high-level diplomats representing France, Britain and Iran said separately on X. Providing a bit more detail, Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, described Friday's discussions as "candid". "Our preference is the path of dialogue and engagement," he wrote. The stakes were laid bare in a warning from Britain's foreign intelligence chief that Iran's nuclear ambitions posed a major global security threat, despite its weakened position after setbacks dealt to its Islamist allies Hamas and Hezbollah in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. "Iran's allied militias across the Middle East have suffered serious blows," Secret Intelligence Service chief Richard Moore said in a speech in Paris. "But the regime's nuclear ambitions continue to threaten all of us." - Trump shadow - Friday's meeting took place in the context of extreme tension in the Middle East between Israel and Iran and its allies. This week a fragile ceasefire took effect in Lebanon after a year of conflict with Israel that has dealt a heavy blow to Hezbollah -- while Hamas is reeling amid the war still raging in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel -- the region's sole, if undeclared, nuclear-armed state -- would do "everything" to stop Tehran acquiring a nuclear weapon. The West's accusation that Iran is supplying Russia with explosive drones for its war in Ukraine also darkened the backdrop to Friday's talks. And on January 20, Trump, who pursued a policy of "maximum pressure" against Iran during his first term as president of the United States, returns to the White House. Iran hopes to mend relations with Europe, while also maintaining a firm stance. In an interview with The Guardian newspaper published Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that frustration in Tehran over unmet commitments, such as lifting sanctions, was fuelling debate over whether the country should alter its nuclear policy. Friday's talks were foreshadowed by the European countries teaming up with the United States to have Iran censured by the UN atomic watchdog for its lack of cooperation on nuclear issues. The chiding from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) provoked a defiant response from Iran, which slammed the move as "politically motivated" and responded by announcing the launch of "new advanced centrifuges" designed to increase its stockpile of enriched uranium. This "is clearly going in the wrong direction", a German foreign ministry spokesman told reporters Friday. "Iran's imperative at the moment should be de-escalation." - 'Double-disaster' - Iran insists on its right to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and has consistently denied any ambition of developing weapons capability. Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final authority in Iran's decision-making, has issued a religious decree, or fatwa, prohibiting atomic weapons. But according to the IAEA, it is the only non-nuclear-weapon state enriching uranium to 60 percent purity. The IAEA said in a report that Iran planned to install 6,000 new centrifuges at its sites in Fordo and Natanz, aimed at up to five percent enrichment. While far lower than the current levels it is enriching at, that is higher than the 3.67 percent limit Tehran had agreed to in a landmark 2015 nuclear deal. That deal between Tehran and major powers aimed to give Iran relief from crippling Western sanctions in exchange for limiting its nuclear programme to prevent it from developing weapons capability. Tehran adhered to the deal, but in 2018, during Trump's first presidency, Washington unilaterally pulled out of the agreement and slapped heavy sanctions back on Iran. For Tehran, the goal of Friday's talks was to avoid a "double disaster" scenario of renewed pressures from both Trump and European governments, according to political analyst Mostafa Shirmohammadi. vog-sbr-bur/nl/rjm/jhb Rheinmetall, Lithuania pave way to building ammunition plant Vilnius, Nov 29 (AFP) Nov 29, 2024 German defence giant Rheinmetall and Lithuania on Friday signed deals to begin construction of a $190-million ammunition plant to make artillery shells in the EU and NATO member, which has been nervously eying Russia. Dubbed by Vilnius the largest defence investment in Lithuania's history, the plant is seen as a new sign of Europe re-arming to counter security threats from Moscow. Rheinmetall signed a land lease agreement and supply contract with the Lithuanian government for the procurement of 155mm ammunition. "This agreement provides maximum benefit to Lithuania, both in terms of defence and ammunition procurement," Lithuanian Economy Minister Ausrine Armonaite told reporters in Vilnius. Rheinmetall, Germany's largest military equipment maker, said it would invest 180 million euros ($190 million) in the plant, which is due to begin operations in mid-2026. Once completed, it "would be able to produce tens of thousands of 155mm calibre artillery shells per year," Rheinmetall said in a statement. The factory will be located near Baisogala, a northern Lithuanian town close to a NATO air base. Lithuania's staunch ally, Germany is its key arms supplier. Berlin has also committed to permanently stationing 5,000 troops in Lithuania by the end of 2027. Several hundred German troops are already in Lithuania. Lithuania, a former Soviet republic, is known as a top donor to Ukraine and a big defence spender, with a current budget of 2.75 percent of GDP. The Baltic state of 2.8 million people fears it could be next in Russia's crosshairs if Moscow wins its war against Ukraine, which began with an invasion in 2022. sau/mmp/jhb Chad end to French military cooperation deal leaves questions N'Djamena, Nov 29 (AFP) Nov 29, 2024 Chad's decision to end military cooperation with former colonial power France is the latest downgrade of waning French influence in the Sahel region. Chad has been a key link in France's military presence in Africa and its last foothold in the Sahel after the forced withdrawal of troops from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger after a series of military coups. That foothold looked weaker, however, after Chad chose the anniversary of its November 28, 1958 proclamation of a republic on Thursday to announce it was scrapping military cooperation with Paris, just hours after a visit by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. The announcement also came a month ahead of legislative elections on December 29 "The government of the Republic of Chad informs national and international opinion of its decision to end the accord in the field of defence signed with the French republic," Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah said in a statement. Kolulamallah insisted, that "this is not a break with France like Niger or elsewhere" with about 1,000 French troops still in the country and France remaining "an essential partner." "Chad has grown up, matured and is a sovereign state," he said. The move came as a surprise. Chad was "open to a constructive dialogue to explore new partnership forms," Kolulamallah said. "It is time for Chad to affirm its full and total sovereignty and redefine its strategic partnerships according to its national priorities," the minister went on. The timing of the announcement was striking as Barrot had just left following a meeting with Chad's President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno on the Sudanese border. There, Itno had appealed for cooperation to move beyond the traditional security aspect towards greater "diversification" of bilateral links, according to an account by Chad state television Friday. Deby's father, killed by rebels three years ago, frequently relied on French military support to fend off rebel offensives, including in 2008 and 2019. Such threats persist in a nation bordering the Central African Republic, Sudan, Libya and Niger, all of which host Russian paramilitary forces from the Wagner group. - What was suspended ? - A defence accord signed on September 5, 2019, updated a 1976 agreement which built on 1960 texts in the aftermath of independence and dealt notably with creating Chadian armed forces and the country's logistical capacity as well as building up military intelligence. - Why now? "This is a strong signal for Chad's foreign policy which the head of state is putting forward... as if to say sovereignty is henceforth total," according to Chad state television. For opposition media Tchad One, however, "the reasons behind this decision remain hazy". "Is it a populist manoeuvre by a government confronted with growing criticism over its legitimacy? (Or) pressure exerted by new strategic partners who wish to redefine geopolitical influence in the region? "Or is it .... a 'carefully considered' decision seeking to confirm Chad's independance in the realms of defence and security?" Next month's legislative polls will be Chad's first in 13 years. Opposition parties are refusing to participate, protesting at what they call a "dictatorial climate." Opposition figurehead Succes Masra sees the polls as a "masquarade" and has criticised France for backing Deby Itno. - Remaining French presence - France will now have a 1,000-strong rump of a military presence in Chad spread out across three bases at a time when Russian influence in the Sahel has risen amid closer relations with juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has also called on France this week to close its bases, also for national sovereignty reasons. yas-hpn-sof/cw/tw Ms Martin said: Hydrogen is one of Scotlands greatest industrial opportunities since oil and gas was discovered and we have the environment, skills, knowledge, and experience to become a driving force behind the growth of the hydrogen sector in Europe and beyond. The woman in her 40s was found injured in Muswell Hills St James Lane just after 8pm, suffering two stab wounds. She was rushed to hospital where her injuries were deemed non-life threatening. Portuguese national Da Silva Pires knew she lived alone as he had recently fitted a kitchen for her and even attended the address earlier that day to help her register some appliances. Officials are understood to be confident that the agreement is in both sides interests, and the Prime Ministers official spokesman said earlier this week that we have always said that we look forward to engaging with the new Mauritian government and thats exactly what were doing in order to progress the deal. I'm sorry, but ADHD has become a scam that is wildly overdiagnosed and an excuse for poor behaviour I'm sorry, but ADHD has become a scam that is wildly overdiagnosed The incoming leader has called on peace talks between Russia and Ukraine to speed up and spoke on the campaign trail about his plans to end the war in 24 hours. More than three million registered voters will pick their representatives across 43 constituencies, in a campaign that has focused on the countrys housing crisis, the response to a dramatic increase in immigration, and economic management for the cost of living as well as potential future trade shocks. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jon Savell, who is leading the policing operation, said: Ahead of the weekend we have been in regular discussions with the PSC, counter-protesters Stop the Hate, as well as faith and community groups particularly the Jewish community who we know continue to be impacted by protests residents, and businesses. How you can help 10 could provide a young person travel to meet a wellbeing mentor and have a hot meal 50 could provide travel to work or school for a month for an at-risk youth 150 could refurbish a bike for an adult refugee giving them freedom to travel independently 500 could train ten people with experience of homelessness to become homeless health advocates 1,000 could enable one of our partners to fully support a young person throughout the year To make a donation visit: comicrelief.com/winter Insurgents posted videos online showing they were using drones in their advance, a new weapon they had not had previously in the earlier stages of their confrontation with government forces. It was not clear to what extent the drones were used on the battleground. Kyiv says it accepts that it cannot join the alliance until the war is over but extending an invitation now would show Putin that he could not achieve one of his main goals - preventing Kyiv from becoming a Nato member. Satisfy your urge for a bargain with our roundup of the juiciest furniture and homeware deals available right now. If youve been looking for a chance to kit out your home or go big on renovations, Black Friday is the best time of year to do it. From decorating supplies , bed frames , sofa beds , garden furniture , dining tables , new desks for working from home more efficiently, mattresses , coffee tables and the kitchen sink itself, Black Friday is so well and widely known that it would be easier to list the UK retailers who dont take part. Luckily you have your friendly shopping team here at ES Best for that. If youre hoping to bag a big-ticket item in the sale: think corner sofas , sofa beds , bed frames , dining tables , lighting, rugs , paint and more, you need to know where and when to strike. Were not talking about the January sales or even the end-of-summer clearances - Black Friday weekend and Cyber Monday eclipse them all. I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice . Sign up for our free weekly newsletter for hot deals, best buys and expert reviews The sconce offers three levels of brightness and three colours, allowing you to tweak it to the task at hand. It can also rotate 360 which means you can turn it from a spotlight to an uplighter with a twist. Best of all, the battery is rechargeable with a USB-C port, a much greener and future-proof alternative to buying batteries. Renting is no longer an excuse for living in a poorly-lit space; not now you can get your hands on battery-operated spotlights. These LED devices can be placed anywhere you need a little extra light, adding ambience to your space that the big light just can't rival. Mirror mirror on the wall, whos the catchiest looker of them all? Also available in a red colourway. Achieve cosy mood lighting indoors or out with this portable, wireless table lamp. Made from strong yet light aluminium alloy, the waterproof lamp is dimmable and recharges through its USB-C port. It even works on heavy curtains weighing up to 15kg and operates super-quietly at 25dB. Oh, and it works with voice commands too! The future is here. Turn any pair of curtains into a digitized pair by adding this nifty gadget to the curtain rod. It uses magnets to pull and push the curtains together and can be operated by a phone app, so theres not another remote control to remember (and inevitably lose). Their first Christmas as a married couple is a landmark moment in their relationship. Make it feel even more special with this festive set from Villeroy & Boch which includes two salad plates, mugs and bowls to help December 25 get started in style. A dinner set that can be used daily yet still feels special enough to call a wedding dinner set. Portmeirion's 32-piece set includes dinner plates, salad plates, bowls and breakfast mugs, all finished with stunning illustrations of British flora and fauna. All the earthenware pieces are made in the brand's Stoke on Trent factory. Take Christmas dining to the next level with these darling plates from Anthropologie featuring a rippled trim. The set of four is also available in a navy hue. Frequent guests of Soho House hotels expect to find a Roberts Radio in their suites. Emulate the members-only feel this Black Friday for yourself - the iconic brand has marked down selected lines by up to 90. There are DAB radios, alarm clock radios and travel radios all in the mix. Elevate your walls with choice wall art. This framed canvas print of snowdrops in a garden offers chic, calming, country B&B vibes. It's pretty big at 24 x 36-inches, so ideal for filling a large empty space. Fans of tradition will love this dark dining set which comes with an extendable table so you can gather even more people around the lacquered mahogany surface. The 120cm table can grow by an additional 40cm thanks to the butterfly extension system with chunky legs offering excellent support, no matter how big your spread. Seats are designed to match with faux leather seat pads that you can make even more comfortable with seat cushions. Open up your dinner party guestlist to five of your favourite people thanks to Habitat's Barnwell dining set. The sleek modern look consists of an oak wood table with beaded legs and six chairs featuring rattan-like handwoven seats and a curved backrest to keep guests comfy through all the courses. The chair's black frame offers a nice contrast to the oak and gives you a headstart when you want to start styling it. Best of all, the whole lot is set on wheels, so you can move it around the kitchen easily. The robust wood and metal design offers storage galore with two drawers, two cupboards with an adjustable shelf, a rack for tea towels and a folding sideboard that creates 25cm of extra space if you need it. This handsome black island is perfect for medium and large kitchens, featuring a stainless steel worktop to extend your counter space. The dark rubberwood is enhanced with a walnut stain adding warmth. Curved edges and slim angled legs add to a Mid-century vibe. The look is reflected in the set of six dining chairs that come with the table with three back slats to bolster their sturdiness. Wood is a favourite for dining table sets; it looks great, whatever way the trend windsock is blowing. For big homes, this farmhouse style is a dream. Can't dig your own wine cellar? This beautifully patterned cabinet is a cheaper and chicer option. For fans of vintage furniture with nowhere near the deep pockets to sate their shopping impulses, SoHome presents this veneered console. The half-moon design is covered in beautiful marquetry and finished with brass-coloured hardware with a drawer to keep clutter out of sight. Sophisticated and utilitarian, this elegant Ottoman bed from Highgrove features ample under-mattress storage with a breathable slatted base for a cooler nights sleep. Lifes too short to put up with a bad bed. Invest in a new mattress for less thanks to Silentnights deal at Amazon. Dreaming of a four-poster? It's yours for less this Black Friday; Dunelm has this stunning dark wood as part of its sale offering. We especially like the carved detail on the headboard, adding a delightful vintage vibe. Make your bedroom feel straight out of a bouji B&B by swapping your boring old bed frame for a storage bed that comes with a TV slot. This one from Time4Sleep has a 501 discount. Add some colour to your boudoir with Oliver Bonas pink bedside table. The rattan sheet adds a distinctly seventies touch. This mid-century-inspired piece is the perfect addition to any room, offering the right amount of storage to stash away any lingering clutter that is best left unseen. The dark, mango wood gives a warmth and depth that would fit seamlessly with any colour scheme. Smarten up your living room with this solid pine sideboard. There's plenty of storage behind those grooved doors, which are also soft closing. Class, and at 50 per cent off too! It may not be an original but it sure is comfy thanks to the leather effect cushioned seat, recline and position lock features and adjustable lumbar support. This high-backed chair bears some original Eames hallmarks, like curved wood and a coordinating footstool, at a considerably reduced price. This lovely oak display cabinet is the finishing touch your living space needs, and the storage solution for all those decorative pottery pieces. La Redoute Takk 200cm Tall Solid Pine CabinetDisplay your finest china in style with this beautiful glass-fronted cabinet from La Redoute interiors. It's made from solid pine wood and sports a panelled back for extra luscious detail. Home in need of a cosy perch? Head to Urban Outfitters where you can get serious money off this pill-shaped three-seater. A statement chair that all your friends and family will be fighting to sit on, Dunelm is known for making design-focused pieces at an excellent price. This sleek seat with linen upholstery is currently 30 per cent off. With a warm rust tone and rich velvet feel, this gorgeous sofa bed looks straight out of a Soho House branch but at a much more pleasing price. With the bed open, you'll fit two adults meaning it's ideal for overnight guests. Are you sitting comfortably? You will be on this sofa in Dusk's sale. The three-seater comes with a Chesterfield-style back, adding instant class to your living space. Swyft - up to 50 per cent off until December 2 or until stock runs out La Redoute - up to 50 per cent off with extended returns Habitat - 20 per cent off all furniture for Black Friday with code FURN20 Furniture Village - up to 50 per cent off everything DUSK - up to 75 per cent off EVERYTHING B&Q - up to 40 per cent off many categories including furniture, lighting and mattresses Best of all, you can bid farewell to waiting weeks for delivery: most Swyft sofas can be at your door as speedily as the next day. All parts come in manoeuvrable cardboard boxes that can fit through tight corners and doors. While the brand claims its smaller sofas can be constructed alone, you may need a helping hand with a bigger size. Rope in a friend to help: it will take longer to polish off the reward of wine afterwards. In terms of tension, it's fairly firm but perfectly comfortable for a night or two's kip. The sofa is stylish, but the lack of a mattress (which the seat and backrest stand in for) means the upholstery is vulnerable to spills and smells. While Swyft's fabric options are anti-stain (simply rub spills with a damp microfibre cloth to clean), the second issue can be solved by adding a mattress topper or protector over the sofa when it's in bed mode. Unzip the tapered legs from their pockets and slide the seat forward until the wheels meet a marker on the sofa base. You'll be left with a small gap, soon filled by the backrest panel which swivels down flat. Et voila, guests are ready to bed down on a UK double bed you've magicked seemingly from nowhere. You'd have no idea that this 207cm-long three-seater could turn into a sofa bed, but thanks to concealed legs and small wheels under the seat, that's exactly what it becomes. Sleek with mid-century leanings, Swyft is a leader in designing seating that requires no tools to construct. Using clever locking hinges, you can slot together its sofas - and sofa beds - together in minutes. You can trust ES Bests Black Friday coverage With the notoriously expensive festive season on its way and many of us still struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, every penny counts. The ES Best team has always been dedicated to finding and shouting about the best offers for our readers. Were hardwired to sort the wheat from the chaff, sifting through the melee to find the golden nugget of deals. Our Home & Garden section has plenty of guides on everything from L-shaped sofas and the nicest bed frames to the hottest BBQs worth investing in for summer. Come Black Friday, we use this knowledge to zone in on the best products at the best prices so youre not wasting time or money. When Black Friday kicks off, well run a Live Blog broadcasting flash sales and deals of the week so you never miss out on a thing. Read more about how to win the Black Friday sales here. When is Black Friday 2024? This year the fun and discount games began on November 29. When does Black Friday end? The event always runs until the Monday afterwards, known as Cyber Monday. This year that is December 2. That said, many retailers have allowed their Black Friday sales to turn into pre-Christmas sales, sometimes running onto Boxing Day and even January. Reductions can fluctuate so if you see something you like at an agreeable price - dont wait. Why is it called Black Friday? The shopping phenomenon began across the Atlantic in the US, taking place the day after Americans gather for Thanksgiving. Its now incredibly popular here, thanks to the dates proximity to Christmas. Many consider the Black Friday sales as a warm-up to festive shopping, which makes sense - few would turn down the opportunity to stretch their budget even further. I got into this business because I told someone earlier, I just wanted to get one hit record. It is so hard to get a hit record and when I started out I said, 'that's it, I just want one'. The China Satellite Navigation System Management Office (CNSO) has reportedly revealed its roadmap to upgrade China's Beidou positioning and navigation system by 2035 by adding next-generation LEO satellites to the mix. The roadmap, released by CNSO on Thursday, calls for key technology research for the next-gen Beidou system to be wrapped up by the end of next year, after which three test satellites will be launched in 2027, according to a report from the official Xinhua News Agency. If the tests go well, launches for the actual Beidou LEO satellites will commence in 2029, with the entire constellation in place by 2035. The roadmap also outlines the establishment of an integrated ground system to ensure resource flexibility, data sharing, and continuous operations, the report said. The current generation of the Beidou constellation (known as BDS-3) features 30 satellites: 24 medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellites and three geostationary satellites, plus another three satellites in inclined geosynchronous orbits. Including the previous two generations, Beidou had a total of 44 satellites in operation as of the end of 2023. Beidous deputy chief designer Xie Jun told state media outlet Global Times that the existing constellation would serve as the core for the upgraded system featuring the new LEO satellites. Xie also said that adding LEO satellites will give Beidou faster positioning speeds and better accuracy. Neither state media report mentioned how many LEO satellites will be added to the Beidou constellation. China has been lobbying developing countries under its Belt and Road Initiative to adopt Beidou as a superior alternative to the more popular (and aging) GPS system operated by the US not least for its unique multi-orbit design and its ability to support SMS. Various state media reports claim that China has signed Beidou cooperation agreements with Russia, Pakistan, Belarus, Egypt and South Africa, among others, with recent efforts focused on Africa and the Middle East. The Global Times report claims Beidou products are currently exported to over 140 countries and regions. Meanwhile, the US has been looking to add a LEO component to its geostationary GPS constellation, primarily as a backup network. In September, the US Space Force (USSF) awarded contracts to Axient, L3 Harris Sierra Space and Astranis to develop competing designs for its Resilient Global Positioning System (R-GPS) programme, which seeks to deploy smaller and cheaper satellites to add resiliency to the existing GPS constellation. The winning designer(s) will be contracted to build an initial fleet of eight satellites scheduled for launch in 2028, according to Space News. The Christmas market in the Constitution Square opened on Friday, along with the city's festive lighting also on. "We are going through some complicated moments politically, but it was mandatory to do this for the children. They expected us to respect the date we announced, also for the foreign tourists who have already gotten used to coming to the Bucharest Christmas Market", said the general mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan. He stated that this year's edition of the Christmas Market is similar to the one in 2023, being completed with a day dedicated to children with special needs. "Last year we had 1.3 million visitors, of whom 30% were foreign tourists. It is also very important that we will have a day called 'Silent day' for children with special needs, in which we turn off the lights and sound installations that would could disturb them, depending on the disability they have", said the general mayor. The Christmas market in Constitution Square will be open until December 26, including. "As you can see, there is a carousel, two little trains, a panoramic wheel, a 30-meter-high tree, Santa's House. Until December 14, when Santa Claus arrives, his elves will be here and receive children's letters. For the artistic program we have two areas, one with traditional music, as well as a DJ area for the younger audience more and more tourists, visitors are coming", explained the director of the Center for Creation, Art and Tradition - CREART, Claudia Popa. The Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) of Romania informed it validated in its Thursday meeting the results of the referendum held on November 24 in Bucharest, as the voter turnout surpassed the 40% threshold required for all three questions. The first question, regarding whether the general mayor of Bucharest should have the authority to issue building permits across the entire city, received a valid response from 40.22% of the people registered on the permanent voter rolls, inform agerpres.ro. The second question, concerning the General Council of the Municipality of Bucharest being in charge with the distribution of income taxes and local taxes collected from Bucharest residents among the Bucharest City Hall and sectoral mayoralties, was also validated with 40.16% valid responses from registered voters. Finally, the third question, which asked if the Bucharest City Hall should finance and implement an educational programme on health and drug prevention in all schools in Bucharest, received 40.23% valid responses. The full ruling will be published in the Official Journal of Romania and can be accessed on the BEC official website. AGERPRES special correspondent Cristian Lupascu reports: The Romanian community in the Chernivtsi region (Ukraine) marked the Day of Bukovina on Thursday with a series of religious and cultural events, 106 years after the union of Bukovina with Romania. The events, organised by the Independent Journalists Association of Chernivtsi and the newspaper Zorile Bucovinei, took place in both Chernivtsi and the town of Storozhynets, with the participation of representatives from the Romanian Consulate in Chernivtsi. At the tomb of Iancu Flondor in the Storozhynets cemetery, a memorial service was held for the great Romanian politician, who is considered one of the main architects of the union. "This year, which is a significant year, as it marks 100 years since the passing into eternity of Iancu Flondor, one of the main creators of the union of Bukovina with the motherland, at the church in the Maidan neighborhood of Storozhynets, at the tomb of Iancu Flondor, a commemoration service was held for our ancestor, as well as a service in honour of the 106 years since the union of Bukovina with the motherland," journalist Vasile Bicu told AGERPRES. Writer Stefan Hostiuc, editor-in-chief of "Mesager bucovinean" magazine and member of the "Eudoxiu Hurmuzachi" Romanian Cultural Centre in Chernivtsi, highlighted the difficult times the Romanian community in Chernivtsi is going through, being neglected by the Romanian authorities and subjected to great pressures from the authorities in Kyiv. "The Day of Bukovina is an important day for the Romanians here, because it is when they felt fully entitled to their rights as Romanians, but it is also an important day for all of Romania, because the periphery is just as important for the nation as the centre. There is a dialectic between the center and the periphery, but if there were no periphery, there would be no centre. The core is stronger the better the periphery is consolidated. By consolidating the periphery, you ensure a strong core. Well, this is something the newer politicians do not understand very well. (...) If our schools and churches are taken from us, we cease to exist as a Romanian community, capable of saying something, of withstanding history, and being part of the Romanian nation. Otherwise, we disappear as part of the Romanian nation (...). At the level of high politics, too little has been done to protect this community," said Stefan Hostiuc. He also pointed out that, over the past 30 years, the number of schools with Romanian-language instruction has halved. The Day of Bukovina is a public holiday in Romania, celebrated every November 28, commemorating the decision of the General Congress of Bukovina to unite the Bukovina region with the Kingdom of Romania on November 28, 1918. On Tuesday, the European Commission announced their assessment results of the member states' fiscal plans for the 2025-2028 period as well as draft budgets for next year. The bloc's new fiscal rules aim at decreasing debt, encouraging investment and reforms. 20 EU nations' multi-annual fiscal plans pass; the Netherlands' rejected. Draft budgets: eight countries fully in line, one flagged for risk, and the Netherlands fall short. New rules aim to balance flexibility and fiscal responsibility amid economic challenges. The European Commission's budget evaluation from Tuesday comes after the bloc's debt and deficit rules were reformed earlier this year. Next to annual draft budgets which have to be submitted by the Eurozone members, all European Union capitals now have to submit multi-annual spending plans to the Commission. The goal is to make European economies more robust and public finances more sustainable. To limit government deficit and debt, the EU's fiscal rules foresee that member countries shall not produce a deficit that is higher than three percent of its gross domestic product and not surpass the threshold of 60 percent of the gross domestic product in government debt. In their Autumn Package, the Commission released the evaluation results of the medium term fiscal-structural plans (MTPs) of 21 EU member states as well as 17 assessments of draft budgets by Eurozone members which inform the MTPs of the countries. In addition, the EU executive took a look at the eight countries currently facing an excessive debt procedure, evaluating their plans to get back on track with EU rules. A facelift for fiscal rules: What is the medium-term fiscal structural plan? The medium-term fiscal structural plan is replacing the EU's stability programme and the national reform programme, standing at the core of the EU's revised economic governance framework. The EU's Stability Pact was suspended between 2020 and 2023 to avoid a collapse of the European economy following the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. It was reactivated at the start of this year, but had been given a facelift to make it more flexible and pragmatic. Budgetary trajectories are now tailored to each member state and margins for manoeuvre have been introuced for investment. They are spread over a four-year period, which can be extended to seven years to make the adjustment less abrupt, in exchange for reforms. Five countries - France, Finland, Romania, Spain and Italy - have requested and obtained such an extension. The plan needs to meet requirements concerning net expenditure, as well as general government deficits and debts. The financial penalties for non-compliance with the pact, previously unenforceable because they were too severe, have been reduced to make them easier to enforce. Once the MTP is adopted by the Council of the EU, the expenditure path becomes binding for the member state during the period covered by the document. Its implementation will be assessed by the Commission regularly. hat is the outcome of the MTP assessments? In their Tuesday publication, the Commission assessed the multi-annual plans of 21 member states who submitted their MTPs - giving passing grades to 20, failing one. The passing countries: Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. While the majority of countries' plans were accepted, the multi-annual plan of the Netherlands has been rejected. Hungary's plan is still being looked at while Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany and Lithuania have not yet submitted their plans due to general elections and the formation of new governments. In Bulgaria, the submission has been delayed due to another series of snap parliamentary elections in late October and the absence of a regular government. In an interview with Bulgarian news agency BTA, Executive Vice President of the European Commission for An Economy that Works for People, Valdis Dombrovskis, stressed the importance of Bulgaria keeping its budget deficit below three percent of the country's GDP in the context of Bulgaria's possible accession to the Euro area. How are the Eurozone countries' draft budgets for next year faring? On Tuesday, the European Commission published its regular evaluation of the budget plans for 2025, assessing the submissions of 17 out of the 20 Eurozone members. While some countries passed with flying colours, others have some work to do - and the Netherlands received another rejection. In principle, EU countries have to send their draft budget for the following year to Brussels before October 15 each year, but this year the Commission has given governments more leeway because it is the first year in which the new European rules on fiscal discipline are applied. 8 'in line': Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Slovakia, and Slovenia; 6 'not fully in line': Estonia, Germany, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta and Portugal; 1 'risk not being in line': Lithuania; 1 'not in line': the Netherlands; 1 without concluding overall assessment: Ireland hasn't received a concluding overall assessment but the Commission found that the country's net expenditure growth is 'expected to be above the ceiling'; 3 without submission: Austria, Belgium, Spain. Richer members of the bloc, including Germany and the Netherlands, are traditionally avid defenders of the strict spending limits, compared to less affluent southern member countries. Sluggish recovery from the economic fall-out of the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia's war against Ukraine, however, make usually frugal countries struggle to keep their expenditure low. Berlin's cumulative spending is expected to exceed the allowed limits, the commission said. Germany's three-party coalition government recently collapsed over differences on how to tackle the country's economic problems. It is now expected that the budget for the next year will be adopted by the new German government. France, too, is facing internal issues over money: Its belt-tightening draft budget for 2025 is at the centre of a political standoff that is threatening to topple the government in Paris. The country is one of the worst performers in Europe. With a public deficit expected to reach 6.2 percent of gross domestic product this year, it has the worst performance of the 27 member states, with the exception of Romania, and is a long way from the three percent ceiling authorised by EU rules. French Prime Minister Michel Barnier struggles to get his economic plan past opposition from the political extremes. It has drawn criticism from French far-right figurehead Marine Le Pen, who has threatened to back a no-confidence motion if the plan is pushed through. Countries with excessive deficits are watched closely Countries under an excessive deficit procedure are closely monitored by the Commission while they realign their expenditures with EU law. Since the summer, a total of eight countries is facing the EU's excessive deficit procedure, namely France, Belgium, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. Romania has been in the procedure since 2020. The European Commission warned that Austria, whose deficit is expected at 3.6 percent this year, could join them. These countries must take corrective measures to comply with the European Union's budgetary rules in the future, or face fines. Until now, the Commission has never dared to resort to financial sactions, which are considered politically explosive. But that could change. The content is based on news by agencies participating in the European Newsroom (enr, a cooperation project between news agencies from all over Europe) - in this case AFP, AGERPRES, ANSA, BTA, dpa, EFE, LUSA, HINA, STA Protests against presidential candidate Calin Georgescu continued on Thursday evening in several cities in Romania, announce agerpres.ro. CLUJ-NAPOCA Over one thousand persons gathered again before the Prefect Institution headquarters, where they demonstrated for democracy and against Calin Georgescu. Same as on Wednesday evening, when over one thousand persons participated in the protest as well, the demonstrators on Thursday evening chanted slogans such as "Love of country is not legionary," "Democracy, not tyranny," "Youth says in chorus, do not vote a dictator," "Alert, anti-fascist alert." Moreover, they bore placards and banners with messages such as "Europe," "I don't want to leave my country," "I am afraid in my country," "Educated youth do not vote for fascists and legionaries," alongside flags of Romania and the European Union. The protests were organised by the "Students for democracy" independent group. IASI Approximately 200 young people protested in the Union Square with slogans such as "Where does the legionary get his money," "Romania, do not forget, Europe is your home." Protesters came with placards with written messages reading "Democracy, not dictatorship," "Young people ask in chorus, do not vote for a dictator," "No democracy, no future," "No fascism in Parliament," "Better on the street than in a dictatorship," "Our mothers did not cut the divine thread when we were born," "I do not do it for me, I do it for my grandparents," "Parents, grandparents, do not let yourselves fooled." Protests took place for the third day in a row in Timisoara as well, but in smaller numbers than the previous days. Former UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova expressed appreciation for China's commitment to advancing ecological civilization on the sideline of the Global Panda Partners 2024 (GPP) conference, which opened on Tuesday in Chengdu, China. #GLOBALink Only son of Malaysias 6th richest billionaire Ananda Krishnan forgoes inheritance to become monk Ven Ajahn Siripanyo, the only son of Malaysian billionaire Ananda Krishnan, chose to forgo an inheritance from his fathers net worth of US$5.1 billion in order to become a monk. Malaysian billionaire Ananda Krishnan leaves for lunch at the annual Allen and Co. conference at the Sun Valley, Idaho Resort July 11, 2013. Photo by Reuters According to Hindustan Times, Ven Ajahn Siripanyo was born to Krishnan and his first wife Momwajarongse Suprinda Chakraban, who, as reported by Reuters, is a Thai princess. At the age of 18, he chose to leave behind a life of luxury to ordain as a monk after traveling to Thailand to visit his mothers family. What began as a temporary spiritual quest soon transformed into a lifelong commitment to monastic service. His father, a devout Buddhist and philanthropist, fully supported and respected his decision. DNA India reported that Ven Ajahn Siripanyo follows the Theravada Buddhist tradition. According to Nation Thailand, the Theravada tradition teaches that monks are not permitted to accumulate personal wealth, as it hinders the pursuit of nirvana. Though details about his current life are limited, the South China Morning Post reported that more than 20 years have passed, and Ven Ajahn Siripanyo is now the abbot of Dtao Dum Monastery, located along the Thailand-Myanmar border. In keeping with one of Buddhisms core principles emphasizing familial love, Ven Ajahn Siripanyo has maintained close ties with his father. He was once seen flying in a private jet to meet his father in Italy. Additionally, reports suggest that he resides in a spiritual retreat on Penang Hill, which was purchased by his father. There, he continues his monastic practices while staying connected to his family. Krishnan, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 86, was ranked as the sixth-richest person in Malaysia, with an estimated net worth of US$5.1 billion, according to Forbes. He left behind a vast business empire, including stakes in companies such as Malaysias largest telecommunications operator Maxis, satellite broadcaster Astro Malaysia, and oilfield services provider Bumi Armada. The tycoon also held interests in Indias Aircel and Sri Lankas SLTMobitel. ST. LOUIS Dont know what to get your aunt who you only see twice a year this holiday season? Ask artificial intelligence for a list of personalized gift ideas. This year, as platforms like ChatGPT and Oracle continue to gain popularity and major retailers like Amazon and Walmart integrate new AI tools online, more and more shoppers will perhaps unwittingly turn to AI for help finding gifts. The National Retail Federation has projected consumers will hit $989 billion in spending this holiday shopping season, a 3.5% increase over a record 2023. And companies across the country, from retailers to software firms, are engaged in a grand experiment: Can they use AI to personalize what shoppers search to engineer even higher spending? The companies are in the beginning stages of the AI experiment, experts say, with proof of concept software this year. These are the beta versions, the tests. But more mature models are coming. And some are already catching on. Its just a very curated experience, and I think the people that are using it really love that its just kind of a different way to shop, said Jason Long, owner of St. Louis-based retail consulting firm Eye on Retail. Younger shoppers especially find tools like ChatGPT to be more fun and entertaining than browsing for gifts on Google, he said. Software companies like Silicon Valleys Adobe and Canadas Coveo are already surveying shoppers to see how often they use or anticipate using AI for holiday shopping. Perhaps unsurprisingly, both firms say the numbers are eyebrow-raising. Adobe said 70% of 5,000 surveyed who used AI for shopping believe it enhances their experience. Coveo found that 39% of Generation Z and 44% of millennials surveyed said they would use a virtual assistant like ChatGPT for help buying gifts online. There are caveats and concerns. Right now, experts say its mostly large retailers using such AI tools; software development is too expensive for most smaller retails. And union officials are warily watching to see how AI affects job numbers as it improves. So far, workers arent complaining, said David Cook, president of Local 655 of the United Food and Commercial Workers union, which represents retail employees in Missouri and Illinois. Theyve even seen some parts of automation as a benefit: It can keep them from working long hours and bad shifts. But Cook worries theyre not seeing what AI could do to jobs down the road. Theyre not looking at the long term effect of what its doing to the career that was there before, he said. Your personal AI shopper Upon asking ChatGPT what to gift ones sister who will soon be jetting off to Singapore, the chatbot delivered two dozen gift ideas with corresponding descriptions, including, You can put together a gift box of famous Singaporean snacks, such as kaya jam, durian-flavored treats (if she likes them!), or unique teas, and, If shes into culture and history, you could gift her a pass for a popular museum like the National Museum of Singapore. When prompted, ChatGPT also recommended websites and stores where a shopper could find each product. Such programs largely use generative AI, which responds to requests almost as a human would. Retailers are also deploying their own brand-specific AI tools for shoppers this holiday season. Walmart AI personalizes product recommendations based on a shoppers previous searches. Shoppers can type phrases in the search bar like, What should I get my 15-year-old son who likes cooking? A Walmart customer support assistant, which is still in beta testing, even allows customers to have a real-life conversation, said Dru Glaze, Walmarts director of global communications. Thats what were looking for, Glaze said. How do we use technology to aid the people that were serving? Amazon also has a conversational shopping assistant, called Rufus, which rolled out earlier this year. And this month, in time for holiday shopping, Google debuted AI image recognition that can help shoppers price-match and browse user reviews. Sunny Zheng, an analyst with New York-based Coresight Research, predicts retailers using AI will indeed see stronger profits. I do think they could drive more sales and grow margins, Zheng said. AI-driven spending is likely to increase this holiday shopping season. It could really change shopping Its still early days for AI in shopping, Eye on Retails Long said, so its not radically changing the landscape yet like online shopping did two decades ago. But it might. Retailers really have to get in that game, Long said. It could really change shopping. It hasnt yet. Its just kind of poking away, but thats why you see everybody making moves like the Amazons and the Walmarts. Not all retailers need to offer AI tools for their consumers, experts say. But they should consider how the technology can make their companies more efficient internally, like with stocking inventory or predicting product demand. Ram Reddy, a chief technology officer at global consultant Nagarro, said about half of businesses are using AI for things like demand forecasting and inventory management. The financial benefits will be exponential, Reddy said, because retailers can more accurately predict what will sell and, therefore, purchase inventory more efficiently. Take a clothing manufacturer that typically buys from factories four times a year, Reddy said. This business can now buy 12 times a year because it can forecast accurately and no longer has to sell products at a discount at the end of three months. Still, shopping isnt always about efficiency, say brick-and-mortar shops. Leon Reed, store director at beloved University City record shop Vintage Vinyl, said his staff with more than 100 years in music retail can provide an experience that a computer cant. The most valuable resource that we have here is not the stuff that we carry, Reed said, but the people that interact with customers and actually connect people with what theyre looking for. For busy shoppers looking to check items off a list, Reed said that he could see why AI tools would work for them. But exploring new recommendations and having nuanced conversations about music is part of the record-shopping experience, Reed said one that Vintage Vinyl is proud of. ST. LOUIS Prosecutors dropped charges this week against two teens who were charged with shooting another 19-year-old in the city's Mark Twain neighborhood. Marshean Barnett and Dasean Barrow were charged in June 2023 with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of Derrick Johnson, 19, who was shot and killed at a home in the 4900 block of Leahy Avenue. Barnett's lawyer, Robert Taaffe, said Friday the case was based on suppositions. His client was at the house that day, but there wasn't any evidence that he was the shooter, he said. "It was the right decision the state made not to pursue the case," he said. "He did not have any involvement in the murder." A dismissal memo filed Tuesday said the state "elects not to proceed" with either case. A spokeswoman for St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore's office did not respond to a request for comment. Police said Johnson was shot on May 29, 2023, while playing video games on the second floor of the home on Leahy. Other people who were in the basement of the home told police that they heard gunshots then went upstairs and saw Barrow and Barnett running out of the house, according to court documents. Barnett told Johnson's relative, who owned the house, that he wasnt the shooter but had helped Barrow leave the scene, police said. Both of the men were set to face trial next month. A B-52H Stratofortress assigned to the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron takes off from RAF Fairford, England, on Nov. 22, 2024. The Air Force's revamped process for deploying personnel and aircraft has caused confusion across the service and been met with reluctance at some major U.S. military commands, the Government Accountability Office found. (Mary Bowers/U.S. Air Force) An Air Force overhaul of personnel and aircraft deployments was inadequately planned and could leave some wings struggling to support their home base while its units are away, according to a federal watchdog agency. Air Force Force Generation, the services new model for deployments, may have been rolled out too hastily, the Government Accountability Office says in a new report released Tuesday. The Air Force said it implemented the plan as quickly as possible to respond to a potential global conflict. The initial intent was for all major commands to follow the four-phase system over two years, but some have been reluctant to transition their subordinate units to the deployment model, the GAO found. There has been uncertainty and confusion across the service, analysts said in the report, which added that the Air Force did not account for how units and personnel in high demand may be affected. During site visits to three major commands, officials meeting with the GAO team compared the new deployment guidance to policy by PowerPoint presentations and emails, the report said. Officials described the former Air Expeditionary Force process as crowdsourcing, whereby personnel and equipment from various wings were selected to deploy together, the report said. But that method was unsustainable and problematic, Air Force officials told the GAO. Combining airmen from different wings often meant that they had never met or worked together prior to deploying, which could degrade unit cohesion, according to the report. So the Air Force switched to the new process, in which aircraft and personnel train together before the assignment and most of a wing deploys at once. The shift aligns the service with how the Army and Navy operate. Its organized into four six-month stages. Reset is the first and includes aircraft maintenance, personnel leave and basic training. During phase two, called prepare, units increase training, while during certify, the next phase, they engage in joint exercises. The final stage is the window when units are ready to deploy. But that timetable has often proved unworkable in practice, the report found. Air Mobility Command, for example, said the plan calls for 16 C-17s to be in the fourth phase at any given time, but the unit receives daily mission requests for about 40 to 50 C-17s, according to the report. Sometimes, events such as the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel lead to greater demand, and the command has to pull aircraft and personnel from other phases, the GAO said. A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III assigned to Air Mobility Command is loaded at an undisclosed location in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in March 2024. The revised way the Air Force deploys its personnel and aircraft was criticized by officials at three major U.S. military commands, according to a new watchdog agency report. (Lawrence Sena/U.S. Air Force) Officials from the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., said their personnel cannot reset for six months because they must consistently participate in nuclear deterrence and bomber mission-related tasks. A counterpart based at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, the 5th Bomb Wing, told the GAO investigators that requiring a whole unit to deploy could degrade another bomber wings ability to support its home base. The unit needs airmen certified to handle nuclear weapons, and a large-scale deployment could create personnel shortages, officials said. And a wing at Joint Base Charleston in South Carolina said that under the new Air Force deployment parameters, the base would not have enough forces to guard entrances and would therefore have to close three of seven gates. The Air Force later reduced its request for personnel. The GAO recommended that the Air Force do a service-wide assessment of minimum staffing needs and examine potential gaps and risks associated with reduced support at its bases. The Air Force agreed with those recommendations and estimated that it would have those assessments ready by January. Le Havre, France, was the site in 1874 of an exhibition by artist Claude Monet and others that spawned the term Impressionists. (iStock) A book, a film, a photo diehard travel lovers need not look far for inspiration for their next trip. So too can an artists brush be enough to set one off on a path of discovery. Once having viewed the work of a newly-discovered or firm favorite painter on the walls of a museum, follow it up by seeking out the landscape or city view that inspired the creation. Venice, Italy, with Canaletto: Giovanni Antonio Canal, popularly known as Canaletto, was an Italian painter of city views of Venice, Rome, London and other real and imagined places. Unlike other early 18th-century artists, he painted many of his works outdoors, rather than in a studio. His paintings, notable for their accuracy and attention to detail, were favorites amongst Englishmen making their way through Europe in a rite of passage known as the Grand Tour. When the number of such travelers waned due to the outbreak of war nearby, Canaletto moved to England, where he remained between 1746 and 1756. Those in Venice can visit the museum Ca Rezzonico, where two masterpieces of his early years are on view: The Grand Canal from Palazzo Balbi to Rialto and Rio dei Mendicanti. The citys Palazzo della Collezione Cini and the Accademia Gallery also house some of his works. In Londons National Gallery, six of Canalettos paintings can be seen, including those titled A Regatta on the Grand Canal and The Basin of San Marco on Ascension Day. Both paintings depict events that continue to be staged to date. Online: tinyurl.com/yx7xppun Along the Rhine with William Turner: First in 1817 and many times thereafter, the British landscape painter William Turner made his way by foot along the Rhine River, sketchbook in hand. Upon return to his London studio, his rough drawings would serve as the basis for his paintings. Considered one of the foremost Romantic painters, his works stand out for their interplay of shadow and light, atmospheric effects and choice of perspective. Today, the Tate Britain in London is home to the largest collection of Turners works, with nine rooms featuring his sketches and paintings. Thanks to a project led by the artist-historian Armin Thommes, Turners paintings can also be viewed within the context on their inspiration by means of a touristic route along the Rhine River between Bingen and Koblenz, Germany. The William Turner Route features 26 spots marked by bronze plates describing the paintings and locations, along with QR codes for pulling up additional information. Online: turner-route.de/en Le Havre, France, with Claude Monet: In the spring of 1874, some 30 artists including Claude Monet, Paul Cezanne and Edgar Degas exhibited their paintings together as a response to being shunned by the Paris Salon, the official art exhibition of the Academie des Beaux-Arts. One of the paintings exhibited, Impression, Sunrise by Claude Monet, was poorly received by visitors and critics alike. An article panning the exhibition used the title of Monets depiction of a misty harbor at dawn to label this collective of artists as Impressionists, a derisive term they instead chose to embrace. The painting Impression, Sunrise is nowadays at home at the Musee Marmottan Monet in Paris (although it is currently on loan at National Gallery of Washington until Jan. 19, 2025). The spot from which Monet painted this picture in 1872 is located in Le Havre, France. The artist rendered the painting in a single setting from his room in the no-longer-standing Hotel de lAmiraute on the Grand Quai, now known as the Quai de Southampton. Le Havre, situated at the mouth of the Seine River, was a frequent subject of not just Monet but other Impressionists as well. A walking tour of the town passes by panels placing the works and the sites where they were painted into perspective, and a three-mile biking and hiking trail along the waterfront connecting the nearby village of Sainte-Adresse reveals additional landmarks favored by the impressionists. Online: tinyurl.com/7b4vavr4 Coulliere, France, with the Fauvists: Fauvism, an art movement and style of painting led by Henri Matisse and Andre Derain, first emerged around 1904. The style, whose name means wild beasts in French, is simplified or abstract and characterized by wild brush work and the use of bold, pure colors. In 1905, Matisse soujourned in Coulliere, a small fishing village along southern Frances Catalan coast, where he was joined by Derain. So taken were the artists by the brilliance of the sky and the kaleidoscope of colors presented by the Mediterranean that they produced more than 100 paintings, watercolors and sketches between them. Although these paintings caused an uproar at an exhibition in Paris the following year, art collectors were eager to purchase them, and today, many of these works can be viewed in some of the worlds leading art museums. Back in the village where it all began, tourists can take experience the views that so inspired these artists by following the Fauvism Trail, a short but scenic walk lined with reproductions of Matisse and Derains best-known paintings, or learn more about the artists and movement through a visit to the Vitrine sur le Fauvisme, a shop and learning center adjacent to the tourist office thats open from March through October. Online: tinyurl.com/ytncekat World War II veteran Norman Jay Green prepares to cut a large cake during his 100th birthday celebration at the New Sanno Hotel in Tokyo, Nov. 22, 2024. The cake features the insignia and motto of the 326th Glider Infantry Regiment: Aspera Juvant, Latin for Difficult Delight. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes) TOKYO Members of the American military community, alongside family and friends, gathered recently to wish an early 100th birthday to a World War II veteran who served with the 326th Glider Infantry Regiment in France. Norman Jay Green, born Dec. 19, 1924, in Brooklyn, N.Y., enlisted in the U.S. Army on March 3, 1943, according to a biography read at the event. The longtime Tokyo resident deployed to France in February 1945 as part of the 13th Airborne Division, he told Stars and Stripes during his party at the Navy-run New Sanno Hotel on Nov. 22. His unit crossed the Atlantic aboard a troop ship and established itself at Camp Lucky Strike in Le Havre, a port city in the Normandy region. We were the reserve division for (Gen. George) Pattons operation crossing the Rhein, Green recalled during the celebration. World War II veteran Norman Jay Green celebrates his 100th birthday at the New Sanno Hotel in Tokyo, Nov. 22, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes) A 100th birthday celebration for World War II veteran Norman Jay Green was hosted by the New Sanno Hotel in Tokyo, Nov. 22, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes) World War II veteran Norman Jay Green watches a video message from U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanual during his 100th birthday celebration at the New Sanno Hotel in Tokyo, Nov. 22, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes) While awaiting action, he and his comrades spent their time reading Stars and Stripes and connecting with locals. Green, who acquired a barbers kit, took up cutting hair for his fellow soldiers. A lot of funny-looking guys came out of that tent, he said with a smile. Greens division arrived in Europe shortly after the Battle of the Bulge, the last major German offensive of the war. Although he missed the famous standoff at Bastogne, he later met Gen. Anthony McAuliffe the hero of Bastogne known for his defiant Nuts! reply to the Germans demand to surrender during a chance encounter on a train in 1957. Dozens of guests, including active-duty soldiers, traveled from as far as France to celebrate Greens milestone. The New Sanno ballroom was adorned with photographs from his days in uniform, and a Scottish bagpiper played as he entered in a wheelchair, greeted by cheers. Lt. Gen. Matthew McFarlane, commander of I Corps, and Maj. Gen. Dave Womack, commander of U.S. Army Japan, presented Green with commemorative coins and shared their appreciation for his service. U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel sent a video message, played on a big screen in the ballroom, in which he said Green embodied the values of duty, honor and loyalty. The legacy of sacrifice of your generation lives on in all of us today and, we never say this enough, but we owe you a great deal of gratitude, Emanuel said. World War II veteran Norman Jay Green celebrates his 100th birthday at the New Sanno Hotel in Tokyo, Nov. 22, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes) World War II veteran Norman Jay Green celebrates his 100th birthday at the New Sanno Hotel in Tokyo, Nov. 22, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes) Norman Greens son, Jesse, recounted his fathers wartime experiences, which included time spent in Sens, a town southeast of Paris. While there, Green befriended locals, including a resistance fighter who had survived the Buchenwald concentration camp. In 2017, Green returned to Sens, where he received a heros welcome. Normans military service during World War II was a testament to the courage, determination and sacrifice of the Greatest Generation, Jesse Green told the party guests. His experiences from the decision to enlist after Pearl Harbor, to the grueling training, to his time in the European theater shaped him in ways that would resonate throughout his life. Green narrowly missed deployment to the Pacific theater. After Germanys defeat, his unit was preparing to fight Japan when the war ended on Aug. 15, 1945. He was honorably discharged the following year. Green expressed admiration for the soldiers he has met in recent years. They seem to be good guys, he said. They all get training, and I think the military teaches them about discipline and friendship. The celebration concluded with Green cutting a large birthday cake featuring the insignia and motto of the 326th Glider Infantry Regiment: Aspera Juvant, Latin for Difficult Delight. Green, who moved to Japan in 1980 to work for a medical publishing company, said the support of the military community in Tokyo made the occasion especially meaningful. Marijuana possession can bring up to five years in prison under Japans Cannabis Control Act. (Pixabay) NAHA, Okinawa A Japanese court handed a U.S. Navy contractor a six-month suspended sentence for possessing a small amount of marijuana after smoking with a coworker. Tyrome Williams Jr., 28, of Urasoe, pleaded guilty Thursday in Naha District Court to violating Japans Cannabis Control Act. He was found with less than 2 grams of the drug in his wifes vehicle in the Miyagi district of Chatan town on Sept. 21. Even simple marijuana possession can bring up to five years in prison under Japans Cannabis Control Act. Williams was working as a contractor performing administrative duties for U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa at the time of his arrest, hospital spokesman Trey Savitz said by email Wednesday. When questioned by his attorney, Williams said he decided to use the drug to relieve stress. I was taking a new job, probably I passed the test for that, he said in court. It was stressful. Also, living as a foreigner here it was a kind of rough time. A coworker influenced Williams decision to obtain and use marijuana, according to the prosecutor. At the time, I was leaving soon, Williams said in his testimony. And I thought, Why not? Williams obtained approximately $133 worth of cannabis through a drug trafficker, the prosecutor said. Williams and his coworker smoked the marijuana and liquid cannabis at a park in Chatan town, the prosecutor said. They were questioned by a police patrolman after returning to the car. The officer arrested Williams after finding marijuana, liquid cannabis and rolling papers inside the vehicle. He was transferred to an Okinawa police station, where he was detained for about 10 days. If I could go back again, I would do everything differently, Williams said in his final statement. Prosecutors sought six months in prison with hard labor, while Williams attorney requested a suspended sentence. Judge Takashi Kato handed down the suspended sentence after a brief recess. Williams sentence is suspended for three years, meaning he must serve the six months in prison if he commits another offense in Japan during that time. Kato said several factors influenced his decision, including the small quantity of marijuana, Williams remorse, and his wifes commitment to supporting him in avoiding future drug use. Durian harvested in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Nam Vietnams durian exports amounted to over US$3 billion in the first 10 months of 2024, up 46% year-on-year, despite shipments to most major markets plummeting in October. China, the largest export market, slashed imports by 70% from September while shipments to Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea fell by 40-56%, according to customs data. Cambodia, which was ramping up imports of the fruit in the first nine months, did not buy at all from Vietnam in October. Exports were worth just US$212 million during the month, a 68.4% fall from September and 40% lower than a year ago, with China accounting for $190 million. Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, said the sharp decline was due to climate change affecting durian yield and quality and a supply squeeze as the Central Highlands main harvest season, which usually runs from August to October, ended prematurely. Off-season fruit harvested in some places in that region and other key growing areas such as the Mekong Delta did not meet export quality standards. Extreme weather, including prolonged rains and intense heat, prevented trees in these regions from sustaining flowers, or even producing them in some places. Only 30-50% of trees in the Mekong Delta have yielded off-season fruits so far. The low off-season output means exports might not meet the $3.5 billion target for full-year 2024, Nguyen said. Revised forecasts now have fruit and vegetable exports at $7 billion this year, with durian accounting for $3.2 billion. Vietnam has around 154,000 hectares under durian and an annual output of nearly 1.2 million tons. It shipped 500,000 tons of durian worth over $2.2 billion last year, with 90% going to China. Experts said, to achieve sustainable growth, the durian industry must not only address climate change challenges but also reduce its dependence on the Chinese market and target new markets like the U.S., Japan and South Korea. A U.S. Army AH-64 Apache shoots rockets over the Rodriguez Live Fire Complex near Pocheon, South Korea, Oct. 30, 2024. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes) SEOUL, South Korea South Koreas National Assembly has approved a new cost-sharing agreement with the United States for stationing roughly 28,500 American troops on the Korean Peninsula, clearing the way for the deal to take effect in 2026. The assembly voted 173-36 to pass the upcoming Special Measures Agreement, which establishes the financial framework for maintaining the U.S. military presence in South Korea for five years. The deal follows eight rounds of negotiations this year in Washington, Seoul and Hawaii. Under the new terms, South Korea will pay $1.1 billion initially and increase its contribution annually in line with proportional changes to its consumer price index. The deal includes a 5% cap on annual increases to shield against sharp rises during economic downturns, according to the Souths Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The current accord, which went into effect in 2021, required Seoul to pay $1 billion and gradually increase its annual contribution based on its defense budget until the end of 2025. South Koreas contributions pay for U.S. military operations, construction projects on American bases, and local workers employed by U.S. Forces Korea. Recent projects include two barracks at Camp Humphreys, the largest U.S. base overseas, which cost $67 million and began housing 600 soldiers in June. Cost-sharing negotiations have been contentious in the past. During President-elect Donald Trumps previous administration, Trump accused South Korea of not paying enough, reportedly demanding as much as $5 billion annually. Trump said in a 2019 interview with Bloomberg News that South Korea would be happy to contribute $10 billion annually for U.S. military assistance. Negotiations stalled in 2019 over disagreements, forcing South Korea to extend its contribution rate into 2020. U.S. European Command headquarters at Patch Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany, was among the targets of a spy ring that British prosecutors say passed information to Russia over a three-year span. (John Vandiver/Stars and Stripes) STUTTGART, Germany U.S. European Command headquarters was among the targets of a spy ring accused of passing information to Russia over a three-year span, according to British prosecutors trying three Bulgarian defendants. EUCOMs Patch Barracks in Stuttgart, where Ukrainian troops have spent time with U.S. forces, was surveilled along with various other sensitive locations around Europe, prosecutors said Thursday. Katrin Ivanova, 33; Vanya Gaberova, 30; and Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev, 39, are also accused of carrying out espionage in England, Austria, Spain and Montenegro, British newspaper The Independent reported. All three are based in the U.K. and deny the spying accusations. They sought to gather information for the benefit of Russia ... about various targets, both people and physical locations, information of particular interest to the Russian state, prosecutor Alison Morgan said in opening statements Thursday, according to the newspaper. Morgan told jurors at Londons Old Bailey that a five-person team of Bulgarians directed by an Austrian agent for Russia had carried out six significant operations, including one to spy on Patch Barracks in late 2022, Reuters reported. Charles Prichard, a spokesman for EUCOM, said Friday that the command is following developments in the case but directed questions about the proceedings to British authorities. As for the type of activities alleged in the case, for operational security reasons we will not discuss specific force protection measures. We continue to remain vigilant and take appropriate actions including training to ensure the safety and security of our people, Prichard said. Prichard also refuted some media reports on the case that stated Ukrainian troops were actively training at Patch Barracks. Ukrainians werent training there or any other Stuttgart bases, he said. The trial comes at a time of heightened concerns about Russian espionage and allegations of sabotage by Kremlin operatives across Europe. The U.S. Army's Patch Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany was surveilled by three Bulgarian members of a spy ring that passed information to Russia, according to British prosecutors. (Stuttgart Army garrison) Last week, U.S. authorities said American defense industry sites in Europe should step up security over elevated concerns that Russian saboteurs could target them. Meanwhile, unidentified drones have been spotted flying around military bases in England where thousands of American military personnel are based. Over the past week, several intrusions by small drones have occurred in the vicinity of and over RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, RAF Feltwell and RAF Fairford. An investigation is underway to determine who is responsible for the drone intrusions. So far, U.S. military operations and families at the bases havent been affected, officials have said. Citing operational security, EUCOM declined to say this week whether similar drone intrusions have happened at other bases in Europe where U.S. troops work. Prichard, in an earlier statement Wednesday, said that the command is prepared to defend U.S. interests if an incident is deemed a threat. While EUCOM didnt comment on what steps it could take to disable an intruding spy drone, the military has made counter-drone operations a focal point in recent years given the expanding role of unmanned aircraft. In January, German authorities complained about similar activity at bases where their soldiers were working with Ukrainian troops. A German base 60 miles west of Berlin was a particularly favorite target, with drone incursions happening on a weekly basis. The U.S. military also has been heavily involved in training Ukrainian troops at its bases in Germany, with Grafenwoehr being a main hub for conducting infantry and tank maneuvers. Meanwhile, EUCOM headquarters in Stuttgart and U.S. Army Europe and Africa headquarters in Wiesbaden have served as gathering points for higher-level military planning related to support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. People protest in the front of the Palace of the Parliament at the Victory square in Bucharest, Romania, on Nov. 27, 2024. Around 2,000 people protested in Romania's capital of Bucharest on Wednesday after far-right candidate Calin Georgescu secured an unexpected lead in the presidential election on Sunday knocking out Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. (Daniel Mihailescu/AFP via Getty Images/TNS) (Tribune News Service) Romanias top court ordered a recount after a little-known ultranationalist candidate scored a surprise victory in Sundays presidential election, as a security panel said the contest was affected by a cyber operation aimed at influencing the outcome. Romanias Constitutional Court acted Thursday on a complaint by one of the losing candidates who cited irregularities in some precincts. Later, the nations Supreme Defense Council said an analysis showed that one candidate benefited from massive exposure and preferential treatment on social media platform TikTok. That breached Romanian electoral law, the panel said. Calin Georgescu, a fringe independent who has questioned Romanias membership in NATO and praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, emerged from obscurity to win Sundays contest. The victory stunned the countrys political class, with top officials pointing the finger at the Kremlin. Georgescus campaign was buoyed by an outsize following on TikTok, propelling him to first place after hed been trailing in single digits only a week before the Nov. 24 contest. The result upended Romanian politics as voters prepare for a parliamentary election on Sunday. Theyll vote again in a presidential runoff on Dec. 8. TikTok said on Thursday that it was categorically false to claim that it treated Georgescus account differently from other candidates. When Romanian authorities contacted us to flag a number of videos that lacked identifiers that the candidates themselves were legally required to add, which was also the case across multiple other platforms, we took action on those videos within 24 hours, the spokesperson said. The court decision threw more uncertainty into the mix. Although Georgescus lead appeared irreversible, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu was eliminated from the race after he lost to opposition leader Elena Lasconi by fewer than 3,000 votes, raising the possibility that the margin could close. The court said it expects the recount to be finished by Friday at 2 p.m. in Bucharest, a timetable challenged by Romanias electoral authority. In a statement issued later on Thursday, it said it expects the vote recount to be done by 10 p.m. local time on Sunday, after voting ends in the parliamentary election. While Ciolacu said he wont comment on any court decision, Lasconi initially warned the court is playing with national security and asked the electoral commission to handle the vote recount with care. In a statement late on Thursday, Lasconi said her party will challenge the abusive decision to recount the votes in the Court of Appeals and to the Venice Commission, a panel of constitutional experts that advises the Council of Europe, which is the continents leading human rights body. The defense council, which consists of senior government and intelligence officials, explicitly pointed the finger at Russia, saying Romanian authorities registered increased interest from Moscow to influence public opinions and social cohesion. It accused TikTok of failing to label the candidates videos as election material as required by Romanian law. This preferential treatment was amplified by TikToks failure to respect the electoral bureaus rules, and contrary to what they communicated, the Chinese company didnt respect the electoral law and impacted the electoral process, the council said in the statement. It urged prosecutors and the other institutions to urgently take the necessary measures to clarify all these aspects. With assistance from Gian Volpicelli. 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. North Korean leader Kim Jong Uns bet on Russia for economic support may end up backfiring if Donald Trump manages to end Vladimir Putins war in Ukraine, according to a study released by a South Korean government-affiliated think tank. Moscow has emerged as a prominent supporter of Kims regime this year and the two nations have beefed up their economic and military exchanges. After supplying ammunitions to Russia, Pyongyang has in recent weeks dispatched troops to aid Moscows war in Ukraine, officials in Washington and Seoul have said. In return, Russia is providing money and helping North Korea increase its military capabilities. The deepening alliance with Putin has given Kim an option to turn less to Beijing for diplomatic support. But Pyongyang is still heavily dependent on China for its economic needs, according to the study led by Lee Jongkyu, a senior researcher at the Korea Development Institute. North Korea imports more than 900 different types of products, including trucks and medicine, from China, while it only buys roughly 150 items, such as oil and gas, from Russia. Investment from Russia has also proven choppy compared to that from China and tourism from Russia is unlikely to jump given most of it involves travel by air rather than land, he said. The current situation is the result of a match between the interests of Russia, which needs conventional arms and troops, and North Korea, which needs food, energy, and foreign currency, Lee said in the monthly KDI publication, adding that this relationship is expected to be strengthened as long as the war continues. If this war ends in any form, as Trump has pledged, the needs of the two for each other may change. North Koreas military industries may still benefit from cooperation with Russia, but the sector has limited spillover effects for the broader economy and may even interfere with the growth of other areas, he said. The all-in approach to Russia in the North Korean economy appears to have high opportunity costs in terms of not only quantity but also quality, he said. North Koreas true intent in cozying up to Russia may be more military than economic. North Korea wants Russian support to procure modern technologies, that it has had trouble getting, to develop ballistic missiles, submarines and fighter jets, according to Lee Sang-joon, a Kookmin University professor who took part in the study. That means if Trumps efforts to end the war drag out, Kim will buy enough time to modernize North Koreas arms industries while his troops would acquire considerable combat experience in Ukraine, the study said. Meanwhile, Russia could increase its hiring of North Korean workers to ease its labor shortage, according to the study. Joanna Hosaniak, who has followed cross-border activity as deputy director general of the Citizens Alliance for North Korean Human Rights, said theres extremely big competition between China and Russia going on right now to have economic sway over Pyongyang. Russia is exercising this influence through military production that is ongoing from North Korea, she said Friday at a press conference in Seoul, while China is exerting this influence through other means. Both of these countries were crucial in establishment of the sanctions regime, but they are openly violating this sanctions regime. Putin said earlier this week his forces could strike key sites in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv with ballistic missiles, indicating his willingness to continue the war. It remains to be seen how Trump would deal with Kim and his military support for Russia after he takes office in January. Last week Kim said past talks with the US merely confirmed Washingtons unchangeable hostility toward Pyongyang, suggesting he has no interest at this point in any potential renewal of direct diplomacy with Trump. With assistance from Soo-Hyang Choi. In June, an FBI informant met with a South Florida man who expressed his desire to join an anti-government militia and build a bomb targeting a New York City landmark, authorities say. (Dreamstime/TNS) MIAMI (Tribune News Service) In June, an FBI informant met with a South Florida man who expressed his desire to join an anti-government militia and build a bomb targeting a New York City landmark, authorities say. His plan: to plant an improvised explosive device outside the New York Stock Exchange the week before Thanksgiving, according to the FBI. Federal agents, who had been on to the suspect for months, thwarted his planned bombing attack before the target date. Harun Abdul-Malik Yener, 30, of Coral Springs, now faces an arraignment on Dec. 4 in Miami federal court on charges of attempting to use an explosive device to damage or destroy a building used in interstate commerce. Since Nov. 20, Yener has been detained at a federal lock-up in Miami after his public defender and prosecutors agreed to his detention before trial. According to a criminal complaint, the FBI started an investigation in February after receiving a tip that Yener was storing bomb-making designs in an unlocked storage unit. The following month, FBI agents contacted Yener. With his consent and a warrant, they searched the unit and found spiral notebooks, bomb-making sketches, watches with timers, circuit boards and other electronics for creating explosive devices, according to an affidavit filed with the complaint. Among the writings in his notebook: Be prepared brothers. The day for battle is near, many of our enemies are arming themselves. Soon the United States and her allies will attack. Yener described one drawing as a Bouncing Betty-style landmine, noting that, when tripped, the device expels its explosive charge into the air so the charge detonates above ground level for maximum effect, the affidavit says. Yener admitted that he had created what he described as rockets that utilized precise chemical mixtures to launch, adding that the chemical mixtures were very volatile. FBI agents also said they uncovered multiple internet searches on Yeners Google account for bomb-making information dating back to 2017. They also discovered that Yener had worked at a Coconut Creek restaurant but was fired in July 2023 after making violent threats. His supervisor at the restaurant told FBI agents that Yener was fired after he threatened to bring guns to the restaurant and target his co-workers based on Yeners belief that those co-workers had stolen [his] money, according to the affidavit. Yener told his co-workers, Im about to go Parkland shooter in this place, referring to the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas shooter who killed 17 students and faculty in 2018. After the agents questioned him, an FBI agent engaged Yener in June. He talked about his desire to join an anti-U.S. militia group and develop an explosive device, the affidavit says. Yener later met with an FBI employee who he believed to be part of a militia and identified the New York Stock Exchange as the location for deploying and detonating the improvised explosive device and his target date for carrying out the bombing was the week of November 18, 2024, the affidavit says. His stated motivation for bombing the NYSE was to attain a reboot and/or reset of the United States government. Yener said he wanted to construct a remote-trigger for the explosive device and conduct research on where to plant the bomb outside the stock exchange at 11 Wall Street. According to the affidavit, he tasked FBI undercover employees with procuring an explosive element for the device, conducting surveillance of the stock exchange, shooting photos of the building, and picking the location for detonating the bomb. According to the affidavit, Yener planned on wearing a disguise when planting the bomb outside the stock exchange. He also recorded a message to be distributed to the news media about his reasons for the attack. In the affidavit, investigators said Yener anticipated that the explosion would be like a small nuke went off and that [a]nything outside the stock exchange will be wiped out and anything inside there would be killed. The case, investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Joint Terrorism Task Force and Coral Springs Police, is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Thakur and Abbie Waxman and Justice Department trial attorney Elisa Poteat. 2024 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Masan Group was named "Business with Outstanding M&A Strategy 2023-2024" at the M&A Forum on Nov. 27. With 28 years of operation, Masan has become a key player in Vietnam's dealmaking landscape, strategically expanding its consumer-retail platform through high-impact mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Notable deals include acquiring over 98% of Vinacafe Bien Hoa, controlling stakes in Net Detergent JSC, Quang Ninh Natural Mineral Water, and Saigon Nutri-food JSC, as well as purchasing Sam Kim Co. (now Masan Nutri-Science and Masan MEATLife). Other significant acquisitions include the VinCommerce retail system (now WinCommerce) and a controlling stake in Phuc Long Coffee & Tea. Masan's representative receiving the award "Business with Outstanding M&A Strategy 2023-2024". Photo courtesy of Masan Masan's M&A strategy focuses not just on expanding its portfolio, but on integrating acquisitions that align with its broader goals. According to CEO Danny Le, the group's strategy centers on creating a comprehensive consumer-retail ecosystem under its "Point of Life" strategy, designed to meet end-user needs holistically. In 2024, Masan scaled back its M&A activities to optimize operations and deepen its core consumer-retail model. Recent deals have focused on strengthening key business resources, increasing ownership in strategic ventures, and gradually divesting from non-core assets. WinCommerce owns the largest modern retail system in the country. Photo courtesy of Masan One of the latest investments came in October 2023, when Masan secured at least $200 million from Bain Capital. By December, Bain's investment increased to $250 million. This capital injection reflects confidence in Vietnam's market and Masan's consumer-focused strategy despite challenging market conditions. The funding strengthens Masan's ability to capitalize on growth opportunities in sectors like groceries, financial services, and daily needs. Since 2007, Masan has attracted $5 billion in investments from major funds such as KKR, TPG, and SK Group. In May 2024, Masan High-Tech Materials signed a deal with Mitsubishi Materials, which included the sale of H.C. Starck Holding and a long-term offtake agreement for tungsten-based products. Masan retains a stake in Nyobolt, a U.K.-based battery technology company. Masan Group's office. Photo courtesy of Masan Masan also continues to strengthen its core operations. In September 2024, the group acquired a 7.1% stake in WinCommerce from SK Group. WinCommerce, Vietnam's largest modern retail operator, has entered a profitability phase, posting revenue of VND8.6 trillion ($338.5 million) and a positive NPAT of VND20 billion in Q3 2024, marking the first profit since the pandemic. With a clear path to profitability, Masan plans to expand WinCommerce to 4,000 locations by the end of 2024. The group remains focused on sustainable growth and leadership in Vietnam's modern trade market. Masan's M&A approach reflects a deliberate focus on creating a consumer-retail ecosystem that adapts to Vietnam's evolving market, positioning the group as a leader in the country's "golden consumption era." Judge David McHugh said Farrell knew what he was doing and knew it was wrong. The judge fined Farrell 250. A young father who let his bank account be used to launder 3,600 had just had a child and was desperate for money, a court has heard. Carl Farrell (26) had been used as a money mule, his solicitor said. Judge David McHugh said Farrell knew what he was doing and knew it was wrong. The judge fined Farrell 250. The defendant, of Wellview Avenue in Mulhuddart, admitted possessing property, namely 3,600, which was the alleged proceeds of crime. Sergeant Conor Mohan told Blanchardstown District Court the injured party contacted gardai on November 23, 2021, to say he had received a text message from Bank of Ireland. The victim replied to the text, and 3,600 was transferred out of his account and into a bank account belonging to the defendant. Sgt Mohan said the bank had refunded the victim, but the bank was at a loss. Defence solicitor Wayne Kenny said Farrell, a father of two, co-operated fully with gardai, and during interview he told them he was desperate for money as hed had a child a few months earlier, and it was just after Covid. Mr Kenny asked the judge to be lenient, saying the incident took place three years ago, and Farrell had not been the beneficiary of the money. Judge Keenan Johnson called for a task force to tackle it and educate people on the dangers of drugs A SHOP worker who made 1,500 a week dealing drugs so he could set up a tattoo business has been given a two-year suspended sentence following a cannabis seizure in Mullingar. Judge Keenan Johnson highlighted this as one of the many drug-related cases before him. He commented that it has become a national problem, prompting him to call for a task force to tackle it and educate people on the dangers of drugs. Mark Kiernan, 28, of Chestnut Drive, Mullingar, pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing drugs, cannabis and cocaine and having the cannabis for sale or supply on January 31, 2023. Garda Sergeant Andrew Corbett told Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court that he pulled over Kiernans car on Ballinderry Road; he handed over three cannabis deals worth 550. The then shop worker admitted to having them to sell and was detained at the local Garda station. At the same time, his residence was searched, resulting in a larger find: cannabis herb worth 4,688, 19 of cannabis resin, cocaine valued around 850 for personal use, and 350 in cash. The total value was about 5,560, and the court heard he admitted that he had been selling a kilogramme of cannabis a month. He had no prior criminal convictions. The defence, pleading for leniency, told the court Kiernan initially started smoking cannabis and his ambition was to set up a tattoo shop, and that is the reason he got himself involved in this activity. Sergeant Corbett confirmed that Kiernan had stated that, and he agreed the accused had not named his supplier, but that was not unusual because there could be severe consequences. He had also told the sergeant he had a drug debt because he never paid up front, and it was always on tick. Addressing the court, the accused, now a warehouse worker, said: My head space was not good at all, adding that he used cannabis to cope with anxiety and had been taking drugs every day. However, the court heard he has managed to get off drugs without assistance from a treatment centre. The judge commended his willpower and said he was impressed that Kiernan had been forthright even though he had incriminated himself when he dealt with the investigating Garda. He said the accused had a 1,500 a week income from selling cannabis and was also caught up in addiction. Sentencing, Judge Johnson ranked the offence at the lower end of the scale, and he considered Kiernans previous good record. He imposed a two-year sentence but suspended it, providing Kiernan did not re-offend for five years and paid 5,000 to the Merchant Quay Ireland, which supports drug users recovering from addiction, within 18 months. He was referred to the Probation Service to check if he was suitable for 240 hours of community service, which will be confirmed in March. James Glynn pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on November 12, 2023, at Pinewood Park, Tallaght Co. Dublin. A man transporting over 215,000 of cannabis was put under pressure by others after his 1,000 drugs debt ballooned to 26,000, a court has heard. James Glynn (33) of Claraoibhinn, Claremorris, Co. Mayo, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on November 12, 2023, at Pinewood Park, Tallaght Co. Dublin. He has no previous convictions and has not come to garda attention since this incident. Detective Garda Enda Gromley told prosecuting counsel yesterday that gardai were carrying out a surveillance operation after receiving confidential information. They observed Glynn stop his Toyota car and then engage with two other men. A Honda car driven by one of these men was reversed towards the boot of the Toyota, and a large suitcase was transferred into the boot. Gardai later stopped Glynn's car. He told them there was weed in the boot. After caution, he said two suitcases of weed were in the boot, but he didn't know the value. Det Gda Gormley said Glynn seemed shaky and alarmed at the scene but also almost happy to be caught as this would bring an end to it. He told gardai that he smoked cannabis and was made to do this as he had built up a drug debt of 27,000. 10.7kg of cannabis was found in the suitcases, with a value of 215,940. Glynn made further admissions when gardai interviewed him. He said he was the subject of extortion as he had run up a drug debt of 1,000, which he ignored for a few weeks as he was moving from Dublin back home to Mayo. When he went to deal with the debt, he was told that a tax had to be paid, and he now owed 26,000. He said he was told he could deal with the drug debt by carrying out jobs. Det Gda Gormley said Glynn was not due to profit from his involvement beyond repaying his debt. The witness agreed with Kathleen Leader SC, defending, that her client was cooperative and made admissions during interview. It was also accepted that Glynn told gardai he started to take cannabis to self-medicate arising from a childhood trauma. He also admitted to taking other drugs from time to time, including ketamine and cocaine. Det Gda Gormley agreed that Glynn said he built up a small drug debt that he did not deal with while he was moving from Dublin back to Mayo, which became a more significant debt. He agreed with Ms Leader that Glynn was subject to credible threats and accepted that the defendant did not wish to ask his family for further money to repay these debts. It was further accepted that his family are supportive, respectful and hard-working. The witness agreed Glynn is remorseful and aware of the upset caused to his family. Certain garda materials in relation to the co-accused were handed to the court, but not read aloud. One of the co-accused has already been sentenced by the courts, with the other due to be sentenced in early 2025. A probation report and a number of references were handed to the court. Ms Leader said her client is working and living a pro-social life in Mayo, where he volunteers with a local charity. She said her client suffered a childhood trauma unrelated to his family, which he didn't deal with appropriately. He is now attending counselling and a letter was handed up from his counsellor. Ms Leader asked the court to take into account that her client was subject to credible threats and was under pressure at the time but is now doing his best to live pro-socially. He no longer relies on alcohol and cannabis. Counsel said his client is aware of the devastating impact of drugs on communities and on his family. He is very remorseful and regretful. Ms. Leader submitted that there are exceptional features to this case and asked the court to consider imposing a suspended sentence in light of the mitigation. Judge Pauline Codd commended the gardai for their work on this occasion. She said the significant value of the drugs was the most aggravating factor in this case, and Glynn was actively transporting drugs. The judge said there must be deterrence because the dissemination of drugs causes misery not only for addicts and their families but also for communities. Judge Codd said it would be unjust to impose the mandatory minimum sentence in this case in light of Glynn's guilty plea, co-operation and material provided by gardai. She noted the mitigating features, including the guilty plea, Glynn's personal circumstances and that he was under threat at the time. She said it was extraordinary that a debt of 1,000 could jump to 26,000 at the whim of people higher up the drugs trade. Judge Codd said Glynn turned to maladaptive means to deal with his trauma but is now in counselling and taking steps to address the issues which underline his addiction. She noted he was a vulnerable individual who was being threatened at the time but has demonstrated insight into the impact of his offending on society and on his family. She said this case fell into the exceptional category and imposed a sentence of four and a half years, suspended in full on strict conditions, including 12-month probation supervision and that he must continue to attend counselling appointments. A woman approached and told the police how she had been in Asda when Carlisle staggered up to her and said: Youre f****** gorgeous A Co Down pervert who sexually assaulted a woman in the middle of a supermarket was jailed for 14 months today. Jailing Lee James Carlisle at Downpatrick Crown Court, Judge Geoffrey Miller KC ordered the 36-year-old to spend a further 14 months under supervised licence conditions. At an earlier hearing, Carlisle, from Mossvale Avenue in Ballygowan, entered guilty pleas to six offences, all committed on March 6 this year, including sexual assault, theft of cider, damaging a police vehicle, possessing Class A drug cocaine and two charges of assaulting police. Judge Miller outlined how police had been called to the Asda supermarket in Bangor over reports of an intoxicated male approaching a child. When they arrived, officers found a heavily intoxicated Carlisle lying bruised and bloody on the footpath due to a fall. While police were talking to him, a woman approached and told the police how she had been in Asda when Carlisle staggered up to her and said: Youre f****** gorgeous. She tried to laugh it off and put distance between them, but he continued his advance, said the judge, adding that, despite the woman telling Carlisle she was spoken for, he put his arm around her and said she was his perfect woman. Carlisle made various comments about her breasts and other parts of her anatomy as he lowered his hand towards her crotch. When he tried to kiss her, she turned away and he ended up licking the side of her face. Despite the victims total shock, she shoved him away and he fell on his backside but continued drinking from a tin of cider and swearing. Police checked CCTV and were able to ascertain Carlisle had lifted the cider from a shelf before approaching the woman. Due to his intoxication, he was taken to hospital where he became increasingly aggressive towards the police, kicking one and trying to headbutt his colleague. On his way to custody, Carlisle spat repeatedly in the back of the police vehicle and he was also found to be in possession of a small quantity of cocaine. Lodging an application for a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), prosecuting counsel Briege Gilmore had earlier told the judge this was not the first time Carlisle had sexually assaulted a woman in a supermarket. In December 2023, Carlisle approached a Tesco security guard and asked for a kiss. When she offered a hug instead, he began to rub her bottom and chest. Commenting that the two offences were strikingly similar, Ms Gilmour said the latest offence represented an escalation in the same type of behaviour, submitting that a SOPO was both necessary and proportionate. Agreeing with the Public Prosecution Service submissions, Judge Miller said that although Miller was assessed as posing a high likelihood of reoffending, he had not been assessed as posing a significant risk of harm. Highlighting that there can be no question of anything other than an immediate prison sentence, the judge imposed the 28-month term as well as a five-year SOPO. Carlisle was also ordered to sign the police sex offenders register for seven years. Gareth McGrath, of Kilmartin Drive, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the woman on two dates on July 29 and August 8, 2023 A Dublin man assaulted a former girlfriend before threatening to kill her and attempting to intimidate her into withdrawing her Garda complaint, a court has heard Gareth McGrath (35) and the woman met while they were attending residential addiction treatment and had a brief relationship after leaving the facility. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that problems soon arose in the relationship and McGrath became violent towards the woman. McGrath of Kilmartin Drive, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the woman on two dates on July 29 and August 8, 2023. He further pleaded guilty to threatening to kill her on August 8, 2023 and intimating a person assisting An Garda Siochana in the investigation of an offence between August 14 and 23, 2023. McGrath appeared for sentencing via video link from prison. He has 15 previous convictions. In her victim impact statement, the woman said they had met while they were both vulnerable and she trusted him at the start but the relationship quickly became violent and the trust disappeared. She said she suffered violent and unprovoked assaults and had no option but to contact the gardai. She said McGrath then tried to pressure her into saying she was lying. She said the offences had a huge effect on her. She suffered flashbacks and other psychological effects. I hope I never have to cross paths with him again, she said, I am terrified of Gareth. Judge Pauline Codd adjourned sentencing until early next year to allow a probation report be prepared. Garda Aaron Melinn told Jane Murphy BL, prosecuting, that on July 29, 2023 McGrath and the woman had an argument outside her apartment and he became angry as she did not want him to come inside. He punched her to the face several times and threw her to the ground, causing her to bang her head and side of her ear on the ground. Her neighbour witnessed the assault and came to her aid. A witness saw her head bang on the kerb and was concerned as she did not get up straight away. Gda Melinn said about ten days later McGrath was at the womans apartment, found her phone and became jealous of certain friends she had on Facebook. He punched her a number of times, put her to the ground and cut into her breast with a butter knife. A week later she made a complaint to gardai and said he had also threatened to kill her. She presented at the garda station with multiple bruises including a severely bruised left ear, a hearing deficit in that ear, a bump to her forehead and puncture wound to her chest. Gardai were sufficiently concerned at her condition to have her assessed by a doctor who referred her to A&E. The court heard that during her time in hospital the intimidation began with McGrath exerting pressure on her to drop the complaints. She did contact gardai to say she wished to withdraw the complaint at one point but ultimately stood over her statement. Paul Comiskey OKeeffe BL, defending, handed in testimonials and a letter of apology from McGrath. He said McGrath has been making excellent use of the educational facilities in prison. Mr Comiskey OKeeffe submitted McGraths addiction issues were linked to and clearly contributed to these offences. He said McGrath had began to abuse cannabis, cocaine and alcohol after his parents separated when he was a teenager. McGrath is now clean of drugs and had been attending treatment for alcohol dependency. He said McGraths wider family are law abiding citizens and he intends to live with his father when he is released from prison, which would be a pro-social environment. He has a positive relationship with his parents. He has worked in metal fabrication and has work available to him. Mr Comiskey OKeeffe asked for rehabilitation to be taken into account and said McGrath was a man with promise in his future. He said a place in residential treatment was available to his client. Counsel submitted McGrath was facing up to and taking responsibility for his actions. < ends > CCC.nuacht Teoranta 2024 O'Brien threatened the injured party, saying he would kill him if he didn't leave the scooter A man who stole an electric scooter in a mean-spirited theft has been jailed for two years. John O'Brien (44) with an address at Cloverhill Prison, but formerly of no fixed abode pleaded guilty to the theft of an electric scooter on Dame Street on January 31, 2022. He has 119 previous convictions including for theft, robbery and drugs offences. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the injured party went to a Centra on Dame Street around midnight, leaving his e-scooter inside the door of the shop while he went to pay. He noticed an argument between shop security, O'Brien and two other men at the door. During this altercation, O'Brien grabbed the e-scooter and took off in the direction of Trinity College. The injured party chased after O'Brien. When he caught up, he pleaded with O'Brien to return his e-scooter. O'Brien threatened the injured party, saying he would kill him if he didn't leave the scooter. While he was afraid, the injured party again asked for his e-scooter back, then grabbed it. Another men, who had been part of the argument outside the shop, punched the injured party to the back of his head. This man told the victim if he didn't let go, he would be killed. The court heard this man had shouldered the injured party in the shop to prevent him chasing O'Brien. The victim was terrified, but kept holding onto the e-scooter. Gardai were in the area and spotted O'Brien riding the e-scooter in the middle of the road. The injured party was still holding on and shouting for help. They intervened and arrested O'Brien. Nothing of evidential value was obtained during interview. O'Brien told gardai he was homeless and when shown CCTV, said he couldn't remember much. O'Brien was on bail for other offences at the time of this incident and is currently serving a sentence, the court was told. The investigating garda agreed with Luigi Rea, BL, defending, that his client left school at 14, completed training courses before succumbing to addiction issues. Mr Rea said this was a mean offence committed late at night and his client recognises what he did was wrong. O'Brien is remorseful and regrets his actions, counsel said. Mr Rea said the death of his client's father and two sisters had a profound effect on him. O'Brien now accepts he must deal with his addiction and has been taking steps while in custody. Imposing sentence today Judge Orla Crowe said this was a mean-spirited theft, but thankfully, the e-scooter was recovered in part as gardai were in the area. Judge Crowe noted that O'Brien has a chronic addiction and his life had descended into the inevitable chaos that ensues from that, but is doing well in custody. She noted the aggravating features include his previous convictions and that he was on bail at the time of the offence. The judge noted O'Brien is currently in custody, with an earliest release date in December 2027 and that certain structures had been put in place to support him when he is released. Having considered the mitigation, she imposed a two-year sentence backdated to when he pleaded guilty. Judge Crowe said this sentence would run alongside the sentence O'Brien is currently serving and the same structures will remain in place for his release. CCTV footage of the incident was shown to the court The second of two young men who assaulted a security guard after celebrating St Patricks Day has been given a suspended sentence. Adam Roe-Dwyer (25), of Johnfield Road, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of assault causing harm to a security officer at Centra, Dame Street, Dublin 2, on March 18, 2022. His co-accused, Ian Lynch (25), of Weaver Street, Dublin 18, pleaded guilty to the same charge and was given a suspended sentence earlier this year. Neither man has any previous convictions. Garda Darragh Mylod previously told Derek Cooney BL, prosecuting, that he was on duty at 3.10 am on the date in question when he was alerted to an incident at Centra on Dame Street. When he entered the shop, he found one of the security guards with a deep cut to his right eye which was bleeding heavily and swelling to his nose. The security guard said that he had been at the back of the shop, and his co-worker had been standing at the entrance when two men, Lynch and Roe-Dwyer, entered the shop. Roe-Dwyer was holding a plastic pint glass of Guinness, and the security officer told him he could not bring it into the shop. The court heard that the injured party moved from his position at the back of the shop to the entrance to help the other security officer. He said discriminatory language was used toward them. The injured party tried to stop Roe-Dwyer from entering the shop. Roe-Dwyer then struck the security officer, and soon after, Lynch began to punch the injured security officer. A third male, who has not yet been identified, also punched the security officer. CCTV footage of the incident was shown to the court. Lynch was seen leaving the shop, but Roe-Dwyer was detained by staff in the shop. He was arrested at the scene by gardai. The injured security officer went to St Jamess Hospital, where he underwent a CT scan, which confirmed he had two fractures to his nose. He later underwent surgery and was hospitalised for five days. Lynch was later identified on CCTV footage, and a search warrant for his home was issued. During the search, clothing matching what he was seen wearing on the CCTV footage was seized. A victim impact statement was read to the court by Mr Cooney, which said the injured man has lost his confidence, and when he goes outside, he is always in fear. He said that for four months, he could not breathe through his nose and that he can't describe the pain he has suffered. He said that it took him eight to nine months for his nose to recover fully. The court heard that the injured security worker was at a loss of 8,000 due to medical expenses and lack of earnings. The injured man has since moved out of Dublin. Gda Mylod agreed with Keith Spencer, BL, defending, that both men were co-operative with gardai and had no previous convictions. Mr Spencer said both men wished to offer their sincere apologies to the injured party. Lynch had 4,000 in court for the injured security worker as a token of his remorse, and he was given a two-and-a-half year suspended sentence by Judge Patricia Ryan earlier this year. Roe-Dwyer's case was adjourned to allow him to save up a similar amount, and he had 4,000 in court today. Sentencing Roe-Dwyer today, Judge Ryan said it was a very serious assault. She noted the significant injuries sustained by the injured party, and the length of time it has taken him to recover physically. She took into account a number of mitigating factors, including the fact that Roe-Dwyer has an excellent education record, no previous convictions and has not come to the attention of gardai since the assault. Judge Ryan handed down a two-and-a-half-year sentence, which she suspended in full on a number of conditions. A total of three men were assaulted by Aidan Ryan Muir, who also caused 500 worth of damage to the Monaco Bar. A 28-year-old man with more than 100 criminal convictions was today jailed for 18 months for deplorable, substance-fuelled offending in Belfast city centre. A total of three men were assaulted by Aidan Ryan Muir, who also caused 500 worth of damage to the Monaco Bar. As she handed Muir a three-year sentence, which was divided equally between prison and licence, Judge Sandra Crawford told him his behaviour had been both violent and abhorrent. Belfast Crown Court heard that all four offences admitted by Muir took place on the afternoon of February 11, 2021, in the Winecellar Entry area of the city. The violent incident started when Muir, whose address was given as no fixed abode, attacked a man in the entry. Muir pinned this injured party up against a wall with his arm then elbowed him twice in the face. As this was happening, a second man, who was friends with the male being attacked, walked past the entry, saw what was happening and intervened. Muir then launched what Judge Crawford described as an unprovoked, sustained and brutal attack on the male who came to his friends aid. During this second assault, the second victim was punched. He tried to get away but Muir caught up with him. Once this victim was on the ground, Muir kicked him in the head several times as he lay prone and unable to defend himself. This violent incident was witnessed by a third man, who observed Muir stamping on the prone males head. When this third male told Muir he was going to call the PSNI, Muir swung a blow at him which missed. Muir then picked up a beer keg and attempted to throw it at the third man, but he lost his balance and dropped the keg. CCTV also captured Muir punching the shutters of the Monaco Bar before lifting the keg and throwing it at the shutters, which damaged three panels and cost 500 to replace. Judge Crawford revealed that the second man attacked and kicked by Muir sustained severe soft-tissue injuries. Noting Muir has 108 criminal convictions, the judge highlighted several aggravating factors including his lengthy and relevant record, the fact there were three victims and that Muir was under the influence. Despite claiming to have little recollection of the incident, Muir pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two charges of common assault and one count of causing criminal damage. Defence barrister Michael Boyd accepted that his clients behaviour on the afternoon in question was horrible but said Muir has expressed remorse and shame for what he did. Mr Boyd told Judge Crawford that Muir had a settled childhood but, after starting to use drugs in his early teens, became involved in a cycle of substance misuse, offending, custody and homelessness. The barrister added: It is hoped that as the years go on, the penny will drop and he will, when offered assistance, take it and get his life back on some form of track. As she imposed the three-year sentence upon Muir, Judge Crawford told him: this was deplorable, substance-fuelled offending. A taxi overturned multiple times after crashing into a fence in Da Lat tourist city in central Vietnam on Thursday, killing a one-year-old passenger and injuring her parents. A 44-year-old driver was transporting the family of three from Hanoi on a rural road in Da Lat at around 11 a.m. The vehicle suddenly accelerated near a coffee shop, crashed into a fence, and flipped several times before landing on its roof. Taxi flips multiple times in Da Lat crash, killing 1-year-old passenger Taxi lon vong o a Lat, mot nguoi chet A taxi crashes into a fence and flips multiple times in Da Lat, Nov. 28, 2024. Video by a local resident Two motorbikes traveling in the opposite direction narrowly avoided the crash. Bystanders broke the car windows to free the trapped victims and rushed them to Lam Dong General Hospital. Hospital officials confirmed the child died before arriving at the hospital. The mother sustained severe injuries, while the father and the taxi driver suffered minor injuries. Da Lat police are investigating the cause of the crash. Raffalele Imperiale was a shareholder in AA Real Estate Development, which built luxury villas in the Emirati city-state The son of Dubais ruler owned a majority stake in a real estate firm that had been chaired by the Italian drug trafficker and Kinahan Cartel ally, Raffalele Imperiale, it has been revealed. Sheikh Marwan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, whose father is Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubais ruler since 2006, became involved with the firm after Spanish authorities issued a warrant for Imperiales arrest and extradition in 2014. A key figure in Europes super-cartel, Imperiale was this year sentenced to more than 15 years in prison by an Italian court. Dubbed the King of Narcos, Imperiale had been extradited to Italy last year from Dubai where he had been overseeing an international cocaine trafficking ring while living in luxury in the Gulf State. Gardai believe Imperiale was a close ally of Daniel Kinahan and they, along with other trafficking gangs, controlled a large portion of Europes drugs trade. The Camorra gang boss was a guest at Kinahans wedding in Dubai in 2017 where he was monitored by the USs Drug Enforcement Agency mixing with major criminal figures from across the globe. Raffaele Imperiale At the time, Imperiale, who became infamous after two paintings, including a Van Gogh stolen in 2002 in Amsterdam were found hidden in a wall in one of his villas in Naples, was one of Italys most wanted men. It has now emerged that while living freely in Dubai for years, despite being wanted for drug trafficking in Europe, Imperiale was a shareholder in AA Real Estate Development, which built luxury villas in the Emirati city-state. He left the company shortly after Spanish authorities issued a warrant for his arrest and sought his extradition. A year later, when the son of Dubais ruler received a majority stake in the company, Imperiale was there to sign the papers. According to the Organised Crime and Report Project (OCCRP) the real estate firm was just one of several Imperiale had been involved in while still a fugitive from Italian justice. As well as serving as chairman of the board of directors for AA Real Estate Development, Imperiale also owned a stake in it through a local company, along with several other Italian and Emirati citizens, OCCRP reports. But he stepped down as chairman about a month after Spanish authorities issued a warrant for Imperiales arrest and requested his extradition in August 2014, OCCRP reports. At the same time, the company through which Imperiale and his co-investors held their shares in AA Real Estate Development transferred its entire 49-per cent stake to another company managed by an Italian man named Mario Sarnataro. According to OCCRP, Imperiale later told Italian prosecutors that Sarnatero had once worked for him, and had served as his proxy in another real estate deal. The following year, that company went into business with the younger Al Maktoum, who signed a contract in November 2015 to acquire a majority stake in AA Real Estate Development. According to a copy of the signed contract obtained by OCCRP, IrpiMedia, and RTL Nieuws, the agreement was also signed by Imperiale who had been acting as a representative for a former manager at Dubais Land Department, which oversees the real estate sector, who held the other 51 per cent of the company. When Al Maktoum signed the contract in 2015, he took over these shares. Its not known how much the prince paid for the stake, or whether he was aware that Imperiale was a wanted drug trafficker at the time, OCCRP stated, adding that Al Maktoum did not respond to repeated requests for comment. For Imperiale, his days of living like a king came to an end after he was given a 15 year and eight month sentence in a court in Naples in July of this year. His right-hand man, Bruno Carbone, was also jailed for 14 years along with a 20 others also linked to his mob. Imperiale is believed to have been at the top of the super-cartel that included Kinahan, the Dutch criminal Ridouan Taghi and Bosnian drug trafficker Edin Gacanin among its leaders. Along with Taghi and Gacanin, Imperiale was one of the guests who attended Kinahans wedding at the plush Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai in 2017. However, in 2022, he was arrested by Dubai cops and ultimately extradited from Dubai after a legal battle. Following his extradition, Imperiale dumped his code of Omerta and become State witness against the Camorra, the drug mafia he was a high-ranking member of for over two decades. However, the Italians have now also reportedly made Imperiale available to European police forces for interview which has sent a ripple of fear across his former allies in Dubai. During an alcohol-fuelled Sunday outing, Thomas drank one prosecco, one mimosa, two espresso martinis, four gin and tonics and four glasses of red wine. Lilley Dunne fought back tears as she said drunk driver Jennifer Thomass reckless disregard for her mothers safety had devastating and irreversible consequences for her entire family. Thomas, a 46-year-old mother of three and former model, stood dressed entirely in black in the dock, bowed her head and sobbed as she was jailed for four years at Cork Circuit Criminal Court for dangerous driving causing the death of her friend, special needs assistant Sheila Dunne (50), last February 11. Keeping her head lowered, she wiped away tears as the court was told her decision to drive home after having 12 drinks had cost her friend her life and inflicted incredible suffering on Ms Dunnes family. During an alcohol-fuelled Sunday outing, Thomas drank one prosecco, one mimosa, two espresso martinis, four gin and tonics and four glasses of red wine. She opted to drive her commercial SUV home despite having drunk so much that she fell asleep for eight minutes while stopped at a traffic light. Sheila Dunne died in Cork University Hospital (CUH) on February 13, 2024 During a horrific journey that ended with the crash that cost Ms Dunne her life, Thomas fell asleep twice at traffic lights, narrowly missed running over a pedestrian, ran over several traffic cones, did two U-turns and drove on the wrong side of the road. Judge Helen Boyle commended people who had desperately tried to avert tragedy that evening, including one man who repeatedly knocked on the door of Thomass vehicle while she was asleep at the lights in a vain bid to persuade her to pull over and park up. Jennifer Thomas Another man followed the car in an attempt to alert gardai. Ms Dunnes children, Lilley and TJ, were left orphans by the crash caused by Thomas, as their father had died after contracting Covid three years ago. Speaking to the Irish Independent, Lilley (23) pleaded with motorists to never drink and drive. Drink driving is a choice a choice that ruins lives, she said. I stand here today to honour my moms memory and contemplate the justice served. No sentence will ever bring her back or ease the pain of losing her, but accountability is everything I carry a life sentence of love, loss and shattered lives. What happened to my mom was senseless and preventable and it haunts me every day. Ms Dunne was carer to the son she idolised as the best boy in the whole world Lilley has had to put her own future on hold as she cares for her brother, who is autistic and non-verbal. Judge Helen Boyle echoed the Dunne familys own tribute to the courage and selflessness of the young woman. Ms Dunne was carer to the son she idolised as the best boy in the whole world. Lilley said no other Irish family should have to endure what her family has been through and the awful loss. We hope this sends a powerful message actions have consequences. If our story can stop another family from suffering this kind of heartbreak, maybe it will have meant something, she said. A guilty plea does not heal wounds or acknowledge the depth of our loss. No amount of defence can change what happened to my mom. Accountability matters. A guilty plea is a step towards holding them responsible, even if it feels empty. But it is not enough. It is not the justice my mom deserves. The truth is, the system isnt always fair. And that is one of the hardest things to accept. I feel as though the victims voice is lost in the proceedings. This must change. Lilley also demanded new garda protocols and the release of timely information to protect victims families from misleading and malicious reports on social media and in the mainstream media. I had to wait weeks for the gardai to formally tell me my mother was not the driver of the car, she said. In a case like this, there should be clear guidelines for how the families are treated, how they are kept informed and how their grief is acknowledged. Thomas had told gardai that Ms Dunne was the driver as she had more control of the vehicle, but admitted after her arrest that she had been at the wheel. No toxicology test was conducted on Thomas, but she admitted to gardai that she was driving the SUV after drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. She said she had no recollection of the crash, and her alcohol consumption had to be pieced together from receipts and CCTV footage at the restaurant and pubs she visited. Jennifer Thomas (46) pleaded guilty before Cork Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving causing the death of Sheila Dunne (54). Lilley promised to defend her mothers memory and her legacy as a renowned SNA. I wont let my moms memory be confined to the outcome of this court case or the way we were treated, she said. I am standing up for her and for every victim in a system that often feels unjust. What matters now is that my words reach those who truly care about justice the courts, the judges and anyone listening. Ive shared my pain, my love for my mom and the lifelong impact this tragedy has had on myself, TJ and our family. We love you, Mom and though too short, you gave us a life full of memories that we will treasure forever. Judge Boyle jailed Thomas for five years with the final 12 months suspended as she said the level of alcohol and recklessness placed it at the higher scale of offending. The tragedy of this case is that it was entirely preventable alcohol is an aggravating factor in this case, she said. The judge said Thomas should have organised a designated driver, a taxi, bus or other means of transport home, rather than driving if she was going to drink. People were entitled to go for a social outing, but, the judge said, it was a criminal act to drink and drive. It is clear that Ms Dunne was much loved. It is clear that the loss of Ms Dunne has had an enormous impact on every aspect of the lives of her family and friends. She asked for forgiveness, but never took responsibility for her careless actions. She never said sorry Judge Boyle also paid tribute to the incredible bravery of Lilley and personally thanked her for her emotional victim-impact statement. She has been robbed of the love, support and comfort of her mother, having lost her father just a short time previously, she said. The judge noted that a number of false stories had circulated concerning the precise circumstances of the case, but said these did not factor in sentencing. I do accept that they had caused an enormous amount of grief and added to the hurt of all parties here, she said. After jailing Thomas, Judge Boyle also disqualified her from driving for 10 years. Thomas, of Oakfield View, Glanmire, Co Cork, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Sheila Dunne on the L2973 road at Sarsfield Court, Glanmire, Co Cork, last February 11. One witness at the crash scene said Thomas was in a very agitated state and kept repeating: How can I live without her? Please [Sheila] wake up. Thomas offered an apology in court to the Dunne family, but they said it was offered far too late to be accepted. She asked for forgiveness, but never took responsibility for her careless actions. She never said sorry, Lilley said. Thomas lost control of the vehicle at a sharp bend and her vehicle overturned. Ms Dunne, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was then catapulted across on to her friend, suffering serious injuries and later having a cardiac arrest that in turn resulted in a critical brain injury. She died in Cork University Hospital (CUH) on February 13. Mr Nally (81) passed away last night following a long illness. Padraig Nally, the Mayo farmer who was acquitted killing John 'Frog' Ward 20 years ago, of has died. Mr Nally (81) passed away last night following a long illness. A neighbour told the Irish Independent they wished him The bed of heaven. Mr Nally shot Ward, who he found trespassing at is isolated farmhouse on October 14, 2004. In November 2005, Mr Nally was sentenced to six years imprisonment for manslaughter. His conviction was later quashed and after a retrial in December 2006, he was found not guilty of manslaughter. Mr Justice Paul Carney, who tried the first trial, described it as undoubtedly the most socially divisive case Ive had to try and the most difficult case Ive had to sentence. John Frog Ward was a criminal with a capacity for violence and Padraig Nally was, as one friend said, an honest hard-working man of the soil. There was a huge national groundswell of support for Mr Nally. However many in the Traveller community were left feeling further marginalised and isolated. The Irish Independent recently travelled to Cross, spoke with several neighbours, and called to Mr Nallys home. His sister Maureen answered the door and politely declined to comment preferring to leave the past in the past. Paddy Rock, a supporter of Mr Nally, said he feels the media at the time created a furore. It wasnt about the Travelling community, it was about the individuals involved, he said. The support Mr Nally received was huge, he said. While he was in Portlaoise Prison Padraig received around 10,000 cards and letters, he said. But the governor wouldnt give him the Christmas cards because they were a fire hazard. Every time I went up to the prison I was sent home with three or four sacks full of cards. He still has them to this day, I think. The incident is vividly remembered in the area today and has left its mark on the Constitution. The Criminal Law (Defence and the Dwelling) Act 2011, was introduced in aftermath following pressure from rural interest groups. Life went on for Mr Nally, who continued to farm his land and went quietly about his business. But one neighbour said the past had haunted him. He was never the same man. It shattered his peace of mind, they said. Heavy rain in areas such as west Clare is likely to hinder early turnout for General Election 2024 Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald arrives to cast her vote at Deaf Village Ireland (DVI) on the Navan Road Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, accompanied by his family, casts his vote at St Anthony's Boys' School, Beechwood Park, Ballinlough, Cork, as voters go to the polls for the 2024 General Election. Photo: Jacob King/PA Wire Voter turnout at polling stations across the nation is slightly up on 2020 in many locations, early figures suggest. Dublin County has seen greater numbers early in the day compared to four years ago while many of the satellite towns such as Naas, Leixlip and other commuter belt towns are all seeing good early turnout. Polling in Shankill and Dundrum had been running at 14pc and 13pc, respectively this morning. One polling station in Tullamore has already had 15pc turnout this morning. However, heavy rain in areas such as west Clare is likely to hinder early turnout Voters are heading to the polls today for a general election that will set the political landscape in Ireland for the next five years. The three largest parties were neck-and-neck heading into the vote, with one party leader describing the race as too close to call. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald arrives to cast her vote at Deaf Village Ireland (DVI) on the Navan Road Tanaiste Micheal Martin admitted he follows the same ritual for every General Election count - with officials from all parties warned to leave him alone until lunchtime after the conclusion of an exhausting and intense election campaign. Mr Martin was speaking at he voted at St Anthony's Boys National School in Ballinlough with his wife, Mary, and his children. His two sons are both past pupils of St Anthony's. The Tanaiste revealed he will enjoy a late breakfast on Saturday morning before undertaking some shopping at a farmer's market and a coffee with family and friends before returning to electoral mode and querying developments at the Nemo Rangers GAA count centre. Nemo is the count centre for both Cork North Central and Cork South Central constituencies. "I take it easy (on count days)," he revealed. "Ill have a very good breakfast (on Saturday) morning and I tell everyone not to come near me until about midday." "I don't want to hear a tally from the 44th box - there is no point. I can go over all that later." "Actually, I am very relaxed on count day and the only challenge is to make sure that I can keep the noise out." Mr Martin said he has evolved his own routine for relaxing before heading to the count centre. "Probably going into town and do a few things - go to Douglas (Farmers) Market maybe and then in around maybe midday or 1pm, maybe, depending on when the tally will be finished, head to the count centre." "It is very familiar ground for me in Nemo Rangers and I'll enjoy that - and maybe that will be a good omen." "Personally, yes, Ive always had good results in Nemo." Mr Martin also stressed that he won't be bothered by worries about how the election will transpire for Fianna Fail. "I am a good sleeper and will sleep tonight, no bother." Outside the polling station at the Deaf Village in Cabra, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald told young voters this can be your election. She said: This is a really important election for everybody. I think it has a particular significance for younger people, because there is a generation of people for whom housing is out of reach, opportunity out of reach, and in frightening numbers now are deciding that perhaps they will leave others that are away and believe that they have no opportunity to come up. "Thats not acceptable to us, simply not acceptable. So a significant day for everyone, a particular significance for younger people, and were asking young people especially, make the effort to vote today. Please dont miss this. This can be your election. Sent from Outlook Despite the fact Bell is the only person to appear in a courtroom charged over a murder that shocked the world, it appears they may have decided to leave him out of the story. Scenes from the Disney documentary, Say Nothing, which deals with IRA abduction and murder of Jean McConville This remains the only man to ever face a charge in connection with the kidnap and murder of Jean McConville 52 years ago. Yet Ivor Bell, a self-confessed operations officer in the IRAs deadly Belfast Brigade, is conspicuous by his absence from controversial TV dramatisation, Say Nothing, which has recreated that very event in close detail. Or is he? Though theres no mention of Ivor Bell by name in the credits or in the subtitles of the Disney+ drama, there is a senior IRA man who plays a critical role in the kidnapping and interrogation of Jean McConville who has a striking resemblance to Bell right down to his trademark handlebar moustache. Veteran republican Ivor Bell In 2019 we exclusively snapped Bell sipping a pint in a west Belfast boozer as he watched the horse racing alone just days before his non-criminal trial of facts was due to start by which time he had already been deemed mentally unfit to stand trial and face a jail sentence if found guilty. But despite the fact Bell is the only person to appear in a courtroom charged over a murder that shocked the world, it appears they may have decided to leave him out of the story. In fact the only reference throughout the nine-part drama on Disney+ to Ivor Bell, who is now 87 years old and still lives in west Belfast, is the mention of his first name when Gerry Adams is told Ivor is one of several republicans to give tell-all interviews in the now infamous Boston Tapes. In those tapes Bell, under the guise of Interviewee Z, is supposed to have confessed to his role in the kidnap and murder of Jean McConville. Bell was arrested in 2014 and later charged with soliciting the murder of the mother of 10 but later he was deemed unfit to stand trial due to him being diagnosed with vascular dementia. A trial of the facts can determine whether or not there is truth in the allegations against a defendant, as opposed to their guilt or innocence. With a defendant unable to put forward a defence, there can be no guilty verdict and a sentence cannot be passed. During the hearing, the jury was played taped recordings of an interview with a man alleged to be Bell, but he was acquitted of soliciting Mrs McConvilles murder after a judge at Belfast Crown Court said the Boston Tapes were unreliable and could not be used as evidence against him. Say Nothing based on a book by Patrick Radden Keefe of the same title has been a huge hit despite the criticism levelled at the programme by some members of Jean McConvilles family. Her son, Michael McConville, released a statement to say he had no intentions of watching it but described the depiction of the shocking event as horrendous. Bell look-a-like actor The portrayal of the execution and secret burial of my mother is horrendous and unless you have lived through it, you will never understand just how cruel it is, he said. Everyone knows the story of Jean McConville: even Hillary Clinton who I met a few years ago knew my mothers story. And yet here is another telling of it that I and my family have to endure. In the drama the man who is understood to be Bell, played by actor Aidan Kelly, is the only given the name of Intruder 4 yet he plays a pivotal role in the kidnapping and appears in four episodes. He bears a striking resemblance to Bell who was a senior figure in the IRA in Belfast in 1972 so senior he was one of six Provos to meet with the British government in 1972 in secret talks alongside Gerry Adams, Daithi O Conaill, Martin McGuinness, Seamus Twomey and IRA Chief of Staff Sean Mac Stiofain. Interestingly, Intruder 4 seems to have a senior role within the IRA unit in Divis and is the only male who takes part in the kidnapping who is not wearing a mask. Scenes from the Disney documentary, Say Nothing, which deals with IRA abduction and murder of Jean McConville He takes control of the kidnapping when a distressed Michael McConville tries to stop the gang taking his mother. When Michael grabs on to his mums leg to try and stop them taking her away, the Bell look-a-like shouts aggressively, Michael! Be quiet. pivotal During the kidnapping the character who appears to look like Ivor Bell points a gun at Archie McConvilles head and tells him, F**k off or be shot as the youngster begs to be taken away in the van with his mum. In episode seven, Theater People, a grown-up Helen McConville (by then Helen McKendry) is at Mass with her kids when, during a hymn, she turns round to see Intruder 4 singing the solo in the choir. Extremely upset by the sight of this pivotal character who is never named, she has a flashback to the traumatic day when she and her nine siblings are removed by Social Services and cruelly separated into different homes. The only reference to Ivor Bell in the show though comes in the same episode when Gerry Adams is informed about the Boston Tapes and is told Dolours, Brendan Hughes and Ivor Bell are amongst the IRA members who have taken part, to which the Adams character replies: My fan club. Bell remains the only person to go on record to admit his involvement in Mrs McConvilles murder. We snapped Bell at a west Belfast boozer just a few days before his non-criminal trial got under way at Belfast Crown Court. The then 82-year-old sat alone, drinking a pint of lager while watching horse racing and playing on his phone. Bell spoke to nobody during his visit to popular watering hole McEnaneys, known locally as the Gravediggers Arms due to its proximity to Milltown Cemetery. The one-time IRA chief cut a lonely figure before leaving the pub and being picked up and taken home. The Government is backing a project to squeeze more value out of New Zealand blackcurrants, Associate Minister for Agriculture, Nicola Grigg said. Were investing in a two-year project with PharmaZen Limited to add value to our blackcurrant industry by piloting a processing facility in Canterbury which will allow growers to transform waste into a high value product, creating additional revenue streams for the industry. This high value product, known as pomace, can be extracted during juice processing and is high in anthocyanins an antioxidant that gives the berries their rich blue colour and can be used in food and health supplements." Grigg said right now, blackcurrant products such as blackcurrant concentrate and frozen fruit contribute nearly seven per cent of New Zealands total export value in processed fruit categories. By creating onshore processing capacity, this project aims to take the industry to the next level, while improving the sustainability of the sector - which is exciting for our growers, Grigg said. Blackcurrants New Zealand Inc, the industry representative body, will help PharmaZen source a reliable supply of fruit as they scale up their processing capacity. A fully scaled, expanded facility would increase processing jobs in the Canterbury region and help retain high-value regional jobs," Grigg said. Being able to process onshore will help build long-term resilience for the sector, as PharmaZen builds its international brand and experiments with developing value-added products." The Government is contributing $276,000 over two years to the $690,000 project from the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFF Futures) fund. This is just one way our Government is supporting our horticulture industry to thrive as we work towards our goal of doubling the value of exports within 10 years. Summer officially starts on Sunday, but you would be forgiven for thinking it came early yesterday as temperatures soared across the motu. By 10am, Banks Peninsula near Christchurch had recorded a temperature of 26 degrees - the warmest in the country. NIWA meteorologist Chris Brandolino told Morning Report that our hottest months are shaping up to be warmer than average. But his words come with a caveat: "Keep it in mind when we issue these outlooks, we're predicting the themes that Mother Nature will throw our way, not so much a weather forecast." Having said that, December through to February was likely to be warmer than average for all of New Zealand. The high temperatures in Canterbury and Hawke's Bay before the official start of summer were a precursor to that, he said. "Overall, the theme will be that we'll see warm days will outweigh the cool days and warm will certainly be a theme over the next three months." Next week could see "some really, really, unusually warm temperatures", he said. "There could be successive days where - particularly eastern parts of both islands, those favoured locations - could see temperatures exceed 30 degrees. "So next week looks to be a very warm, if not a hot, start to the summer season." After that, Kiwis could expect a change, with cooler temperatures for the South Island, warm in the North, and more "active" weather towards the middle of December. La Nina looks to be "favoured outcome" through the latter part of summer, he said. "We know the average impact of La Nina but every one has its own footprint, has its own personality. "It's good as a guide to understand what has happened in the past to direct the future, but in reality every La Nina event is different." Moving through January and February, the weather patterns were likely to become more La Nina-like, which would bring increased chances of more rain events. "Whenever our air comes from the northeast, or the east - the tropics - we tend to have increased odds for rain events, and sometimes big rain events. "So that looks to be a bit more likely as we head through summer - ie, the back half of summer." Asked to predict how Christmas Day was looking across the motu, Brandolino demurred. "Oh gosh... you know that's an impossible question to answer nearly a month out, but I'll have a stab at it." In the lead-up to Christmas, we should keep an eye on the tropics - "they may become active" - but could see settled weather, and extended dry periods, particularly in the South Island, he said. "I'm cautiously optimistic that the holiday itself should be OK.... but I'm not prepared to lock that in. "As we get closer to Christmas - [I'm] hopeful that we'll see a bit more of a settled pattern kick in just in time for good ol' Saint Nick." -RNZ Enquiries are ongoing into the circumstances that led to a fatal crash. Emergency services were called to the horrific scene at Piarere on State Highway 1 at 2pm on Wednesday after a bus load of foreign tourists and two other vehicles collided on a northbound passing lane. The DNZ Travel bus was carrying 11 tourists and a driver. Police said three other people were spread across two other vehicles, a black Mazda ute and a silver Mazda liftback car. The driver's side of the bus was mangled and the impact caused major damage to the fronts of the other two vehicles, with debris strewn across the highway near the intersection with Paparamu Road. One person died at the scene, two people were critically injured, and four others suffered serious injuries. Hato Hone St John said 13 injured people were transported by road and air to Waikato, Rotorua, Tauranga and Auckland hospitals. A Northern Rescue spokesperson said both Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopters airlifted a man in his 40s and a teenager to Auckland City Hospital. Police are now appealing for information to assist the investigation. "Police would like to hear from anyone who was travelling on State Highway 1 between Hamilton and Tirau between 1pm and 2pm on Wednesday who may have dashcam footage, or who witnessed incidents of dangerous driving," said a police spokesperson in a statement today. "At this time Police can confirm only that a vehicle crossed the centreline, colliding with other vehicles. "All other details about the circumstances of the crash remain under investigation." Anyone with information or dashcam footage can contact Police on 105 online quoting file number 241128/6729. Valme J. Caballero Alcala de Guadaira Friday, 29 November 2024, 17:26 Compartir It is known as the village of the bakers, of the mills although its real name is Alcala de Guadaira. In this Seville municipality, a few kilometres from city, there was a human presence 80,000 years ago. For centuries it was called Al-Qal'at and was an Arab fortress that was conquered by the Christians in the 13th century. After the reconquest, mills began to be built and were used to grind wheat and other cereals. Therefore, for centuries, baking was the main activity and is what the village has become known for; and has been a vital part of its growth. A series of factors contributed to the growth of baking in this area. These included the abundance of quality raw materials, as there was land cultivated with wheat and the water source of the Guadaira river, in the vicinity of which there has been a milling tradition since Roman times. The work around the bread was totally artisanal and it contributed to many trades such as bakers, kneaders and more. As for nowadays most of them have disappeared although the baking tradition is still maintained. Recently, one of its residents, Eulogio Gonzalez, broke into the list of the 50 best bakers in Spain. To learn about this history, visitors can go to the Harinera del Guadaira, a former flour factory which today is the museum space of the baking industry visitor centre. Zoom Alcala de Guadaira bread. turismodealcala Route of the windmills Between the 15th and 16th centuries the village popularly known as Alcala de los panaderos had 40 windmills, a number that gradually decreased. However, despite the passage of time, many are still preserved and form part of a route for nature lovers as it is a unique experience to walk beside the mills following the sound of the water along the banks of the Guadaira. Some of these buildings retain their outbuildings, such as the cellar, grinding room - with stones - and storeroom. They all have a number of characteristics that make them special. Three of the mills in Alcala de Guadaira. TURISMOALCALA & TURISMOSEVILLA Mills that can be visited 1 Mine Mill 2 Realaje Mill 3 Vadalejos Mill 4 Las Eras Mill 5 Molino de la Tapada (with frescoes on the facade) 6 Algarrobo Mill 7 Oromana Mill 8 San Juan Mill (with three mill bodies) 9 Benarosa Mill 10 Acena Mill The Dragon Bridge Zoom Head of the dragon's bridge andalucia.org Due to its design, structure, significance and legend, the Dragon Bridge, enjoys great prestige and is famous nationally and internationally, although it was built in 2007. Created by Sevillian engineer Jose Luis Manzanares, it is 123 metres long and represents a dragon emerging from the hill of the castle - which according to the oldest archaeological findings dates back to the Bronze Age (2nd millennium BC) - and crossing the Guadaira river, at the foot of one of the largest Almohad fortresses in Europe. The dragon becomes the guardian of the castle and the defender of the town, as well as welcoming visitors. The bridge is inspired by the work of Barcelona architect Antonio Gaudi. But if its appearance is interesting, its legend as to why they wanted to build it is even more so. We have to go back to the time when the Almohads ruled Andalucia and an Arab royal family lived in the castle of Alcala. The weak health of the queen had made her take refuge in the castle where she remained with her three young children, waiting for the sun, the fresh air, the pure water and the bread of the village to help cure her. The king was at war in Portugal, and on his return he brought gifts for his children. To the little boy, Yacub, he gave a dragon's egg which was said to be a magic amulet that gave strength to its bearer. One day, after caressing and caring for it, a green dragon was born and, for fear that it would be taken away, he hid it in a grotto under the castle and fed it daily with bread from Alcala. So it grew and one day, in a magical way, the prince climbed onto the dragon and flew over the area. This was repeated every night until, as the years went by, then the king decided that his sons should help him at court and leave Alcala. When they reached the Roman bridge that crossed the river, a group of bandits blocked their way. Yacub drew his sword, but the bandits were outnumbered and outmatched. As the bandit leader approached where he and his mother stood, brandishing his sword to finish them off, a giant shadow blocked out the moonlight, and a curtain of fire covered everything. It was the dragon who had come to his friend's rescue. Zoom Tail of the Dragon Bridge andalucia.org Instantly, all the bandits fled in terror. But there was another problem: the only bridge that crossed the river and led to Seville was on fire. According to Turismo de Alcala, the story goes like this: "Don't worry," said the dragon, "I will act as a bridge", and stretching out his enormous body he bridged the distance between the two banks. The party crossed calmly on his back and on the other side Yacub wanted to take his friend with them, but his mother told him that Seville was no place for him because there were no caves where the dragon could rest. "It would be better for him to stay here, in Alcala, protecting the castle and the city," his mother told him. Since then, the dragon has continued to rest in the caves and grottoes beneath the castle. It is said that helps the bakers of Alcala to keep alive the fire in the ovens where the bread is baked and that is why it is so rich, because it has the power of a dragon. Jennie Rhodes Friday, 29 November 2024, 19:36 Compartir The Centro Solar Michael Hoskin in Antequera is named after the eminent British scientist and professor of History of Science at the University of Cambridge whose research led Antequera's dolmens to be declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2016. Born in London on 27 February 1930, Hoskin began his academic career by studying Latin and Greek and went on to study Mathematics at the Universities of London and Cambridge where he read his doctoral thesis. The scientist would later spend more than a decade researching the orientations of the megalithic constructions found in the Mediterranean arch including the dolmens of Antequera. He analysed more than 3,000 sites and determined that the vast majority of them were oriented to the rising of the sun at the equinoxes and solstices. However, he discovered that there were two exceptions to this rule and both were in Antequera, where the megaliths are directed towards the landscape and not towards the sun. Hoskin's measurements determined that the Menga dolmen faces the Pena de los Enamorados (the rock that resembles a sleeping giant). Meanwhile El Romeral faces south, in the direction of El Torcal (the nature reserve with unusual rock formations). It was his discovery that led to the declaration of a World Heritage Site by Unesco on 15 July 2016. Zoom The Menga dolmen with the Pena de los Enamorados in the background. SUR Hoskin was presented with the Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts awarded by the Spanish government in 2016. Antequera town hall named a viewpoint that bears a bust of him facing the sunrise and the Pena de los Enamorados. The monument and viewpoint were inaugurated on 7 April 2017 and Hoskin, then 87, travelled to Antequera with four generations of his family for the occasion. He died at the age of 91 on 5 December 2021 at his home in Cambridge. Lebanese citizens began returning to their homes after the announcement of a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon earlier this week. The agreement, brokered by the United States and France, ends fighting in Lebanon and secures Israel from the threat of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations operating from Lebanon. It heralds a new start for Lebanon, said U.S. President Joe Biden: Over the next 60 days, the Lebanese Army and the State Security Forces will deploy and take control of their own territory once again. Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in southern Lebanon will not be allowed to be rebuilt. And over the next 60 days, Israel will gradually withdraw its remaining forces and civilians on both sides will soon be able to safely return to their communities and begin to rebuild their homes, their schools, their farms, their businesses, and their very lives. All told, said President Biden, This has been the deadliest conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in decades. Since the war with Hezbollah began, over 70,000 Israelis have been forced to live as refugees in their own country, helplessly watching their homes, their businesses, their communities as they were bombarded and destroyed. And over 300,000 Lebanese people have also been forced to live as refugees in their own country in a war imposed on them by Hezbollah. The U.S. and France will work with Israel and Lebanon to ensure this arrangement is fully implemented and enforced. Let me be clear: If Hezbollah or anyone else breaks the deal and poses a direct threat to Israel, then Israel retains the right to self-defense consistent with international law, just like any country when facing a terrorist group pledged to that countrys destruction said President Biden. The U.S. and France will also lead and support international efforts for capacity-building of the Lebanese Armed Forces as well as economic development throughout Lebanon to advance stability and prosperity in the region. President Biden stressed that the agreement is a first step toward peace in the region, called on Hamas to release hostages and said that the U.S. will continue to work toward a ceasefire in Gaza. If fully implemented, said President Biden. This deal can put Lebanon on a path toward a future thats worthy of its significant past. Regina Sotorrio Friday, 29 November 2024, 12:46 Compartir A robotic hand holds a translucent, almost ethereal disc. This striking image accompanies a BBC report on art in the age of Artificial Intelligence, posing the question: "The end of creativity or the beginning of a new movement?" The article, published by BBC Features, the BBC's online platform for culture, technology, travel and business, reaches audiences across the entire English-speaking world. Yet the illustration was thought up, designed and drawn in Malaga, at Estudio Santa Rita. A few days later, another article reflects on the origins of the internet, featuring a conversation with two scientists who created it. One of the accompanying illustrations shows two figures sitting at old computers, passing the letters "L" and "O" (the first characters sent online) between them. This artwork also carries the unmistakable mark of a Malaga-based artist, Emmanuel Lafont. Palo Graglia and Nuel Salinas, founders of Estudio Santa Rita, along with Emmanuel Lafont, have been part of the team of illustrators for BBC Features for several years. Their work provides a "great showcase" to a wide global audience and attracts new clients from all over the world. Their commissions are linked by another Malaga-born artist with connections to London: Javier Hirschfeld, an artist, curator, and now associate creative director at BBC Features in London. The connection between them all is the Malaga-born Javier Hirschfeld, an artist, curator and also the associate creative director at BBC Features In 2011, after spending a long time in London , he returned to Malaga, where he launched Los Interventores- a project with Alfonso Silva focused on graphic arts and publishing. Their goal was to promote artists through exhibitions, exchanges, collaborative projects and publications. "Malaga was a hotbed of creativity back then." It was there that Hirschfeld built a network of contacts, collaborators and friends- many of whom he later turned to as he took on more graphic design responsibilities at the BBC. "I knew their talent and I knew they could help make our stories more engaging and richer," he explained. Hirschfeld returned to London in 2017, "when that sense of possibility suddenly disappeared and many artists had to leave Malaga." Javier Hirschfeld praises Emmanuel Lafont for his "unique style" and his ability to build an image from small details. "His illustrations are full of meaning, with many layers for those who want to spend more time exploring them," he said. Lafont enjoys this process, especially when the topics are scientific. "They are the best, I find them very interesting - some of the stories are really out there," he laughed. He recalled, for example, the illustration he created for an article on the literature about aliens before the classic image of the bald, big-headed extraterrestrial was invented. He also remembered the one he designed for a report on how animals and plants of the future might evolve based on today's climate conditions, or the one illustrating what a party at Space Station would look like. Lafonte's job is to use his imagination, to visually recreate what a photograph could never show. "And that's the beauty of it," he stated. This is why he avoids using Artificial Intelligence. "I tried it once, and when I saw how easy it was to become too reliant on it, I uninstalled it. We're lazy, and when we find shortcuts, we use them," he reflected. "We're really grateful that the BBC works with us, real people, because they could have just used AI," stated Palo Graglia and Nuel Salinas from Estudio Santa Rita. Their latest commissions from BBC Features are centred around this very topic. Estudio Santa Rita is illustrating a series of articles that examine the relationship between humans and machines in different aspects of life. "We find it really interesting to approach AI from the perspective of illustrators, focusing on the pure creativity that comes from a person," they explained. Graglia and Salinas aim to avoid cliches, so they steer clear of depicting artificial intelligence as a robot or humanoid. Instead, they choose to portray it as something ethereal, connected to another world. They often use vibrant, lively colours, which they described as "very futuristic". "Each month is a new challenge," they stated with a laugh. Javier Hirschfeld first met Palo Graglia and Nuel Salinas of Estudio Santa Rita ten years ago when he returned to Malaga with Los Interventores. "We collaborated with them and saw their enthusiasm. They were very young, but serious, very good and very talented. I followed their work, and when a story came to me that needed a particular style, I immediately thought of them." This relationship has continued ever since. At the BBC, Hirschfeld stated, they are thrilled with the Malaga-based team. "The deadlines we work with are always very tight, but Lafont and the studio always deliver. They don't just do the bare minimum, they make sure their work is exactly right," he concluded Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. In the face of Russias escalatory actions in its unprovoked war against Ukraine, including the importation of thousands of North Korean soldiers to Russia to join the fight, the United States is determined to provide the support Ukraine needs to prevail against Russias aggression. As National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a statement, The United States remains committed to putting Ukraine in the strongest possible position, and we will continue to take all available steps to do so from surging security assistance to imposing and fulling enforcing sanctions and other restrictions on Russias war machine. To that end, on November 21, the United States imposed sanctions on 118 individuals and entities that operate in Russias financial services sector. Among the entities is Gazprombank, Russias largest remaining bank not previously designated by the United States. In a statement, the U.S. Treasury Department described Gazprombank as a conduit for Russia to purchase military materiel for its war against Ukraine. Gazprombank is also used by Russia to pay its soldiers, including for combat bonuses, and to compensate the families of Russian soldiers killed fighting Putins brutal war against Ukraine. In addition to Gazprombank, over 50 internationally connected Russian banks, more than 40 Russian securities registrars and 15 Russian finance officials were also sanctioned. The sanctions mean that the designated firms and individuals are denied access to any property or financial assets held in the United States, and U.S. persons and companies are prohibited from doing business with them. The Treasury Department also issued an alert describing sanctions risks related to Russias System for Transfer of Financial Messages, known as SPFS. Russia has used and promoted SPFS ... to maintain financial connectivity, evade sanctions, and fund its war effort, the Treasury Department wrote. OFAC [Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control] views joining SPFS after publication of this alert as a red flag and is prepared to more aggressively target foreign financial institutions that take such action. National Security Advisor Sullivan noted, In response to Russian aggression, President Biden has led international efforts alongside the G7 and many of our allies and partners to hold Russia accountable for its aggression. Todays sanctions will further curtail Russias abuse of the international financial system to help finance its war against Ukraine. Buffalo, N.Y. A state of emergency has been declared Saturday by the governor for 11 counties in Western New York and the North Country as heavy lake effect snow moves into those areas this weekend. Oswego, Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Allegany, Erie, Cattaraugaus, Chautauqua, Genessee, Herkimer, and Wyoming counties are all under a state of emergency. Gov. Kathy Hochul declared the state of emergencies in a tweet at 2:42 p.m. on X, formerly known as Twitter. The state of emergency starts immediately, Hochul wrote. READ MORE: Forecast worsens for Watertown: City could get 70 inches of snow through Monday Over 100 National Guard members are staging in Western New York, according to a press release from the governors office. The declarations come as heavy lake-effect snow starts to fall in those areas. As of early Friday, the snow fall projected for specific communities included wide ranges. Consider these forecasts for today through early Monday, according to the National Weather Service: Dunkirk could get 29 to 47 inches Jamestown could get 9 to 17 inches Pulaski could get 8 to 16 inches Lowville could get 11 to 21 inches And Watertown could get 49 to 64 inches more than 5 feet of snow by Monday. In the Orchard Park area, where the Buffalo Bills are set to play Sunday, there could be as much as 3 to 4 feet of snow. The stadium is in Erie County, which is now under a state of emergency. In the North Country, near Watertown, up to 5 to 6 feet of snow is possible. The snow is expected to create poor visibility and dangerous travel conditions on parts of the state Thruway and Interstate 81. Empty commercial vehicles and tandem trucks have been banned from several stretches of highway. The ban includes: The New York Thruway (Interstate-90) from the Pennsylvania line to Buffalo (Exit 53) Interstate 86 from the Pennsylvania state line to Interstate 390 U.S. Route 219 from the Pennsylvania line north to the Thruway Staff writer Rylee Kirk covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, photo, question or comment? Reach her at 315-396-5961, on Twitter @kirk_rylee, or rkirk@syracuse.com. Syracuse, N.Y. -- A severe lake effect snow system is headed for the Watertown area and could bring upwards of 6 feet of snow through Monday, according to the latest weather service forecasts. And the snow has already started falling. Watertown could get 2 feet of snow before the sun comes up Saturday. Already travel is extremely poor in these hard-hit areas, according to the National Weather Service. It might not be much where you are or where youre going, but that doesnt mean it wont be bad along the way, the weather service post on social media this afternoon, one day after Thanksgiving. Avoid travel into the lake effect bands. As of 4 p.m. Friday, heres what the weather service said could happen: Snowfall could reach more than 70 inches in and around Watertown. A lake effect snow warning has been extended from now through 7 p.m. Monday for Oswego, Jefferson and Lewis counties. The Eastern Lake Ontario Region is where the greatest accumulations are expected. In addition to Watertown, the Tug Hill area could see heavy snowfalls. Much of the lake effect bands will be north of Oswego County, BUT heavy snow will likely move south into that county on Sunday evening. The heavy snow will make travel very difficult to impossible, the weather service said. The bands could be narrow but intense, according to forecasts. For example, Pulaski is about 30 minutes south of Watertown but expected to get about 10 inches of snow, according to the weather service. Still, Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared states of emergencies in 11 Western and Northern New York Counties: Oswego, Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Allegany, Erie, Cattaraugaus, Chautauqua, Genessee, Herkimer, and Wyoming. The weather service is urging people not to travel in or through areas where the snow bands will be heaviest. akash_v12 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: Pune | Mumbai Posts: 1,144 Thanked: 3,024 Times Re: Intercity Bus travel reviews After I moved to BLR for college, getting home always meant booking a flight early (especially during the festive season) or waiting till the very last moment to get cheap tickets. After becoming unlucky a couple of times, I'll take the Ambaari Dream Class service home as it suits my college timings and is relatively inexpensive (ESPECIALLY in the festive season). The delay is not something other than something that can be controlled by the crew, given the eternally long roadworks on the Maharashtra side. Still, they tend to keep it to a minimum, and I get down at Belapur by around 10:30. I hadn't ever travelled by bus before this, so the experience of a 15-18 hour bus journey was brand new to me. KSRTC's 4PM Departure for the Mumbai-bound bus makes it easy to get out of the city by 5PM at the maximum. This service, too, has started halting at Shree Rathnam Restaurant, Billanakote, for its tea break around 5:30-5:45PM instead of Karajeevanahalli Toll Plaza a bit later. This was a much-needed move since the washrooms at the restaurant are much cleaner than they were at the toll. However, they have changed the dinner break to some restaurant in Davangare. While the food is decent, the washroom needs a significant upgrade. The drivers display no hurry or rash driving whatsoever, which is a critical factor in my choosing KSRTC over every operator. They are always courteous and will even converse nicely if they are not too busy. I prefer taking a lower single seat (as I usually travel alone). Avoid taking Seat No. 13 since the stickers cover the window. I'm around 5ft10in, and I can lay down perfectly fine. The bed is on the narrower side, but I don't mind. KSRTC does provide freshly laundered blankets on every trip from Bengaluru. The only complaint I have with the seat is that it is a bit hard to sit up straight due to the position of the backrest. Otherwise, it should be okay. Plugpoints, reading lights, USB sockets, etc., all work, which is a big plus. Moreover, there is consistent network coverage throughout the route, so one wouldn't have any problem with any shows. Attaching some pictures as well. I've travelled by KSRTC's Ambaari Dream Class from Bengaluru to Mumbai & Pune around 5 times, so I'll be penning my thoughts on these services. Keep in mind, the Mumbai rotations are operated by F4181/F4156 (I mainly get 4181, although I ended up getting F4144 last time, which operates the night service to Ernakulam usually), whilst the Pune rotations are operated by F4126/F4090. All of these buses are Volvo B11Rs, with the body of the MG Starz. Here is my take on the services.After I moved to BLR for college, getting home always meant booking a flight early (especially during the festive season) or waiting till the very last moment to get cheap tickets. After becoming unlucky a couple of times, I'll take the Ambaari Dream Class service home as it suits my college timings and is relatively inexpensive (ESPECIALLY in the festive season). The delay is not something other than something that can be controlled by the crew, given the eternally long roadworks on the Maharashtra side. Still, they tend to keep it to a minimum, and I get down at Belapur by around 10:30.I hadn't ever travelled by bus before this, so the experience of a 15-18 hour bus journey was brand new to me. KSRTC's 4PM Departure for the Mumbai-bound bus makes it easy to get out of the city by 5PM at the maximum. This service, too, has started halting at Shree Rathnam Restaurant, Billanakote, for its tea break around 5:30-5:45PM instead of Karajeevanahalli Toll Plaza a bit later. This was a much-needed move since the washrooms at the restaurant are much cleaner than they were at the toll. However, they have changed the dinner break to some restaurant in Davangare. While the food is decent, the washroom needs a significant upgrade.The drivers display no hurry or rash driving whatsoever, which is a critical factor in my choosing KSRTC over every operator. They are always courteous and will even converse nicely if they are not too busy. I prefer taking a lower single seat (as I usually travel alone). Avoid taking Seat No. 13 since the stickers cover the window.I'm around 5ft10in, and I can lay down perfectly fine. The bed is on the narrower side, but I don't mind. KSRTC does provide freshly laundered blankets on every trip from Bengaluru. The only complaint I have with the seat is that it is a bit hard to sit up straight due to the position of the backrest. Otherwise, it should be okay. Plugpoints, reading lights, USB sockets, etc., all work, which is a big plus. Moreover, there is consistent network coverage throughout the route, so one wouldn't have any problem with any shows.Attaching some pictures as well. vamsi.vadrevu BHPian Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 195 Thanked: 614 Times View My Garage Re: Nissan is in dire straits, has only 12 - 14 months of cash to ensure its survival This news is really concerning to me especially. I own a Magnite CVT. I don't want to be left grappling for spare parts availability 5 years down the line for my car. What Nissan (global) needs to do is build products for each market specifically. Every market is different and so the products have to suit that market. Currently, Nissan seems to have decent sales in USA and Europe. But their power train technology needs upgrade. Their reputation is in tatters because of CVT fiasco and their variable compression turbo engines blowing up. They didn't bring hybrid e-power to USA. They didn't bring it to India either. Many open opportunities to increase their revenue stream were left untapped. There's apparently a huge market in USA for simple compact cars with reliable transmissions (like the versa but without the CVT). Their obsession with CVT probably ruined their image forever. In the short term they can offer the US market manual transmissions alongside their CVT counterparts. And invest or purchase torque converter AISIN gearboxes for the rest of their line up. This would drastically improve their reliability scores and draw more people to buy Nissan. I don't understand how the leadership misses these opportunities that everyone else sees. I guess running large conglomerates is that difficult. Every manufacturer needs halo products. Nissan has GT-R and Patrol. Their VQ series engines are famed for extreme reliability. They need to use it in most of their lineup as much as possible. Even if it's expensive, that engine option will draw a lot of customers. And to counter the CAFE regulations they have to bring in epower powertrains. They already have decent EV tech, they can buy battery tech from BYD like Mahindra did with their BE vehicles and continue developing their EV portfolio. Only a multipronged approach can save Nissan. What used to be an aspirational brand during the 2000s, is now in this situation. It is extremely sad. I see so many US reviewers lambast Nissan for their over insistence on CVT. They should have read the signs. But when leadership is blind to feedback, there's nothing one can do. r2212xx BHPian Join Date: Apr 2023 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 42 Thanked: 124 Times Re: Hondas first electric scooter for India confirmed for March 2025 Strange mix of product features and I am not sure who is Honda trying to target with these scooters, thereby, making the customer profile confusing. Here are my two cents: 1. A top speed of 80 km/h means that Honda is targeting the conservative, family scooter buyer who may have considered the vanilla ICE Activa. This brings it into direct competition with Ather Rizta, which is a pretty good family scooter for the conservative EV family scooter buyer. 2. If we consider point 1 and compare it with Rizta, then Activa E does not have underseat storage and rather offers swappable batteries in place of it. I am not sure whether the target customer would be delighted to find a non-usable underseat slot and if they would even consider swapping batteries or even removing them, ever. Remember, Activa is a name synonymous with utility, simplicity, and practicality. I am not sure what the customer profile will be for QC 1, considering the pretty low driving range and top speed of the scooter that may not even appeal to even the most prudent of EV scooter buyers. QC 1 could have been labelled as a sub-branded Activa E, such as its lowest variant, but not sure why they did not do that. That scooter, with a 50 km/h top speed and a range of 80 km, seems to be designed to become a favourite of the quick-commerce segment. Cannot help but wonder if that is what Honda means by QC in the name. Overall, I believe Honda seems to have made a half-hearted effort aimed at a mere presence in the EV space rather than aiming at becoming the leader. The business motivation for this could be the prevention of cannibalisation of the ICE Activa products, which have consistently had healthy sales. Now, the pricing of these Honda EV scooters is the only parameter left that can help introduce some conviction for purchase. Any pricing that even slightly inclines toward the overconfident side will throw the sales into jeopardy. AKTransAM BHPian Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: Juneau Posts: 134 Thanked: 1,235 Times 2 Muscle Cars on a 2700-Mile Roadtrip | Multiple Mountain Passes, Ghost Towns & 3 States Prior to the roadtrip, we had to do some preventative maintenance on the 1988 Firebird. The car was running great, but I wanted to go over a few things regardless since it's a 36 year old car with 100,000+ miles on it. We took it into my friends garage since he has 3 lifts in there and it's much easier working on this car while on a lift. We gave it an inspection to see what needed to be addressed in addition to the basic things I'd already planned. The 1st time on the lift we changed out the oil, took off the wheels to inspect the brakes, changed the rear differential oil, and also the fuel filter which is right by the fuel tank in this car. We checked the transmission fluid dipstick, which I'm glad we did. It was nearly black and had a burnt smell, which told us that the car had probably never had the transmission fluid changed since new in 1988. At this point we were hoping that the clutch packs were still in one piece! The transmission had always shifted great, but you never know! Anyway I purchased a transmission gasket and filter kit, and we brought it back to the lift a 2nd time the next week. We dropped the transmission pan and it was still the original gasket from 36 years ago. We weren't going to drop the entire transmission and remove the torque converter, so we could only change roughly half the transmission fluid, with the other half still remaining in the torque converter section. But that would still be better than nothing. Unfortunately no shop in town does a transmission fluid flush here, which would have been the best way to go (at least not a shop I'd trust). Luckily the transmission pan didn't have any excess metal flakes in the bottom, which told us that the clutch packs were still intact luckily! We changed the transmission filter and fitted the pan back with the new gasket. To access the transmission pan fully we had to remove the transmission crossmember, which was easy enough since this car doesn't have any rust on it. However, the transmission crossmember mount broke in half while removing the crossmember (it was the original 36 year old metal/rubber mount from GM). It wasn't unexpected that the rubber section of the mount had broken in half. At this time I also noticed that after taking the rear differential cover off the last time to change the fluid, I had messed up the RTV seal. So for the 3rd time, I brought it back to my friends lift after ordering a new polyurethane transmission crossmember mount, and also decided to take off the rear differential cover, refill it and redo the cover seal. At this point we were finally done! I had also changed the front disc brakes which were worn out, and all maintenance was finally done. We still had a month to go before the trip, which was planned as I wanted to drive the car after all this work to make sure everything was still running good. Finally 2 weeks before the trip I took my car to the barge to have it shipped from Alaska to Seattle, Washington, which was the starting point of the trip. There's no road access into or out of where I live in Alaska, with only air or sea access. Finally we got down to Seattle the day before the trip, and my friend picked up his rental which was a 2024 Dodge Challenger. The next day we went to the shipping company, picked up my car, and we were off. There were 2 people in each car. My main concern at this point was to keep an eye on the temperature gauge over the passes and if we got stuck in traffic. The 1982 to 1992 Pontiac Firebirds were designed by GM to run really hot (for emission reasons) before the electric fans kicked on (224 degrees F before the fans kick on), which is very disconcerting when you watch the engine temperature climb up rapidly. These cars were designed to have an air dam below the front end to funnel in air while moving since the design doesn't have a front grill. Which is great while moving, but not when you're standing still and the engine is running on a hot day! As it turned out the car never overheated even once, not in the few times we were stuck in slow traffic in +80 degrees F, or crawling up and down mountain passes in hot conditions and thin air. The electric fans came on as they were supposed to (I don't care for electric fans at all-I prefer the old school mechanical fans). The 1988 performed flawlessly across 2700 miles, giving me an average of 23 mpg thanks to long highway driving, which is fantastic for a 36 year old V8 Chevy 350 engine! Photos of the trip below across multiple pages Friends garage. Yes, he has a great collection! Brake pad replacement Fuel filter replacement Changing out the rear differential oil Redoing the seal. I had to remove the cover, drain all the oil out, redo the seal and refill the diff. No more leaks after this! Changing out the transmission fluid and filter after dropping the pan. The red circle is the broken mount between the transmission and the crossmember Replacing the transmission mount Day 1. The rental Challenger My 1988 Firebird My friends son took this pic from the Challenger as we drove by. One of the best pics of my car Stop along the way to check out these falls in a National Park Lunch Stop Traces of a forest fire from not too long ago We stopped in Reno, Nevada, for the night. We found out there was a small Cars and Coffee gathering the next morning, so we stopped there to check it out on our way out of town Beautiful Oldsmobile 442 Pristine Plymouth Roadrunner Had to park mine there as well! She was quite dirty at this point after the drive from the day before Stop for the night in the quaint town of Mariposa, California, before heading to Yosemite National Park the next day, which was one of the planned stops The Dodge Challenger is really quite a large car and completely dwarfs the Firebird This showed up in front of us on the highway-I'm sure some folks will get the reference This was a 10 day roadtrip that myself and 3 other friends did last month. We had been planning it for around a year, after we did a roadtrip last year in a rental. We kept the trip planning very flexible. We had a couple of things we knew we wanted to do, namely visiting Yosemite National Park, and driving the amazingly beautiful Tioga Pass Road from California into Nevada, but besides that the rest of the trip was planned on the go. This time I wanted to take one of my Firebirds for the roadtrip, while my friend was content with renting a car. Since we were going to be going across multiple high mountain passes (the Tioga Pass being a notable one) across a few thousand miles, I decided to take my 1988 Firebird Trans-Am instead of my 1977 Trans-Am for a couple of reasons: a) The 1988 is fuel injected, while the 1977 is carbureted. I didn't want to deal with engine backfires or fueling issues that I knew would happen on some of the passes with altitude and thin air on a carbureted engine, and b) the 1988 Firebird has an overdrive 4 speed auto transmission, while the 1977 Firebird only has a 3 speed non overdrive auto transmission. I figured the OD would help with keeping RPM's and fuel consumption low over the nearly 3000 miles we estimated for the trip (the 1977 Firebird has a 20 gallon tank, but only gives me 10 mpg with sedate driving).Prior to the roadtrip, we had to do some preventative maintenance on the 1988 Firebird. The car was running great, but I wanted to go over a few things regardless since it's a 36 year old car with 100,000+ miles on it. We took it into my friends garage since he has 3 lifts in there and it's much easier working on this car while on a lift. We gave it an inspection to see what needed to be addressed in addition to the basic things I'd already planned. The 1st time on the lift we changed out the oil, took off the wheels to inspect the brakes, changed the rear differential oil, and also the fuel filter which is right by the fuel tank in this car. We checked the transmission fluid dipstick, which I'm glad we did. It was nearly black and had a burnt smell, which told us that the car had probably never had the transmission fluid changed since new in 1988. At this point we were hoping that the clutch packs were still in one piece! The transmission had always shifted great, but you never know! Anyway I purchased a transmission gasket and filter kit, and we brought it back to the lift a 2nd time the next week. We dropped the transmission pan and it was still the original gasket from 36 years ago. We weren't going to drop the entire transmission and remove the torque converter, so we could only change roughly half the transmission fluid, with the other half still remaining in the torque converter section. But that would still be better than nothing. Unfortunately no shop in town does a transmission fluid flush here, which would have been the best way to go (at least not a shop I'd trust). Luckily the transmission pan didn't have any excess metal flakes in the bottom, which told us that the clutch packs were still intact luckily! We changed the transmission filter and fitted the pan back with the new gasket. To access the transmission pan fully we had to remove the transmission crossmember, which was easy enough since this car doesn't have any rust on it. However, the transmission crossmember mount broke in half while removing the crossmember (it was the original 36 year old metal/rubber mount from GM). It wasn't unexpected that the rubber section of the mount had broken in half. At this time I also noticed that after taking the rear differential cover off the last time to change the fluid, I had messed up the RTV seal. So for the 3rd time, I brought it back to my friends lift after ordering a new polyurethane transmission crossmember mount, and also decided to take off the rear differential cover, refill it and redo the cover seal. At this point we were finally done! I had also changed the front disc brakes which were worn out, and all maintenance was finally done. We still had a month to go before the trip, which was planned as I wanted to drive the car after all this work to make sure everything was still running good.Finally 2 weeks before the trip I took my car to the barge to have it shipped from Alaska to Seattle, Washington, which was the starting point of the trip. There's no road access into or out of where I live in Alaska, with only air or sea access. Finally we got down to Seattle the day before the trip, and my friend picked up his rental which was a 2024 Dodge Challenger. The next day we went to the shipping company, picked up my car, and we were off. There were 2 people in each car. My main concern at this point was to keep an eye on the temperature gauge over the passes and if we got stuck in traffic. The 1982 to 1992 Pontiac Firebirds were designed by GM to run really hot (for emission reasons) before the electric fans kicked on (224 degrees F before the fans kick on), which is very disconcerting when you watch the engine temperature climb up rapidly. These cars were designed to have an air dam below the front end to funnel in air while moving since the design doesn't have a front grill. Which is great while moving, but not when you're standing still and the engine is running on a hot day! As it turned out the car never overheated even once, not in the few times we were stuck in slow traffic in +80 degrees F, or crawling up and down mountain passes in hot conditions and thin air. The electric fans came on as they were supposed to (I don't care for electric fans at all-I prefer the old school mechanical fans). The 1988 performed flawlessly across 2700 miles, giving me an average of 23 mpg thanks to long highway driving, which is fantastic for a 36 year old V8 Chevy 350 engine! Photos of the trip below across multiple pagesFriends garage. Yes, he has a great collection!Brake pad replacementFuel filter replacementChanging out the rear differential oilRedoing the seal. I had to remove the cover, drain all the oil out, redo the seal and refill the diff. No more leaks after this!Changing out the transmission fluid and filter after dropping the pan. The red circle is the broken mount between the transmission and the crossmemberReplacing the transmission mountDay 1. The rental ChallengerMy 1988 FirebirdMy friends son took this pic from the Challenger as we drove by. One of the best pics of my carStop along the way to check out these falls in a National ParkLunch StopTraces of a forest fire from not too long agoWe stopped in Reno, Nevada, for the night. We found out there was a small Cars and Coffee gathering the next morning, so we stopped there to check it out on our way out of townBeautiful Oldsmobile 442Pristine Plymouth RoadrunnerHad to park mine there as well! She was quite dirty at this point after the drive from the day beforeStop for the night in the quaint town of Mariposa, California, before heading to Yosemite National Park the next day, which was one of the planned stopsThe Dodge Challenger is really quite a large car and completely dwarfs the FirebirdThis showed up in front of us on the highway-I'm sure some folks will get the reference NVCleanstall lets you take greater control over your Nvidia GeForce software installation. Unlike the Nvidia custom installation, you can unselect packages like "Stereo 3D Glasses", "USB-C", Notebook Optimizations or Telemetry from the Nvidia drivers. This not only keeps things tidy, but also lowers disk usage and memory footprint. Features Customizable Driver Customize your Nvidia driver installation to fit your needs, eliminating unnecessary components, and setting the decimal separator according to your culture settings. You have the option to deselect several components when installing Nvidia drivers. Tweaks Option The "Tweaks Option" in NVCleanstall includes options to disable installer telemetry & advertising, enable unattended express installation, perform a clean installation, install the Nvidia Control Panel, disable the Nvidia HD audio device sleep timer, and enable message signaled interrupts. User Friendly UI NVCleanstall has a user-friendly interface and clear instructions on the screen. You just need to follow the steps and click on the buttons, and NVCleanstall will navigate you through the customization process, allowing for a tailored driver setup that aligns with your specific needs. Work Offline Enjoy the flexibility of modifying your drivers regardless of your internet connection, with offline installer support. Various Configurations Whether you're a gaming enthusiast or a professional creator, configure your drivers to suit your specific performance requirements, with added support for disabling Ansel. Portable You have the flexibility to save your personalized installer configuration for future installations or choose to execute it right away. Dependency Checking Ensure a smooth installation process with automatic checks for necessary dependencies. Detailed Descriptions Know exactly what you're installing with comprehensive descriptions of each component, including culture settings and decimal separator adjustments. New Install Action Benefit from the new install action feature, which streamlines the installation process. Is NVCleanstall compatible with all Nvidia graphics cards? This tool is specifically for Nvidia hardware and supports a wide range of Nvidia graphics card models. It's important to note that NVCleanstall is updated regularly to maintain compatibility with the latest Nvidia graphics cards and drivers. Can I use NVCleanstall on a computer without an internet connection? Yes. NVCleanstall supports offline operations, allowing you to customize and install your Nvidia drivers files without needing an internet connection. What's New Fixed compatibility with 566.36 and newer Added full support for Nvidia App Previous Release Notes: In context: Greenland hosts the second-largest body of ice in the world. During the Cold War, the US Army wanted to use this glacier to hide a nuclear base that could quickly strike the Soviet Union in the event of a nuclear conflict. The base can still be seen in great detail using NASA's latest penetrating radar technology. NASA performed a scientific mission earlier this year, surveying Greenland's massive ice sheet to test the limits and capabilities of its Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR) technology. The agency didn't expect to "see" anything interesting down there, yet they rediscovered a long-abandoned base built by the US during the Cold War. The UAVSAR technology is an imaging radar instrument designed to collect measurements of Earth's deformation. In April 2024, NASA deployed the device on a Gulfstream III aircraft flying over Greenland's territory. The US space agency planned to calibrate, validate, and test the device, drawing new maps of the ice sheet's internal layers down to the solid bedrock. During the test, NASA researchers got an unprecedented view of a former US base known as Camp Century. The secret site hosted a Cold War program known as Project Iceworm, which planned to build 2,500 miles of "underground" tunnels to hide nuclear ballistic missiles. These modified "Iceman" missiles were designed to launch through the ice sheet, striking sensible targets within Soviet Union territory. The US Army chose Greenland for Project Iceworm because of the country's proximity to Russia. Construction on Camp Century began in 1959 but was abandoned in 1967 because the tunnels faced the constant threat of shifting ice. Before abandoning the project, Washington planned to hide 600 nuclear missiles 100 feet below the icy surface. NASA rediscovered Camp Century base through changes in the ice. The April 2024 mission helped confirm that the UAVSAR technology can effectively measure Earth's surface. The secret "city under the ice" had previously been surveyed by other airborne missions. However, UAVSAR detected individual structures in the base that had never been seen before. Greenhouse emissions and global warming are quickly melting Greenland's ice sheet, and scientists estimate that the glacial formation will likely disappear entirely within 10,000 years. Millions of cubic kilometers of water will be lost, and the polluting materials hidden underground at Camp Century could take generations to clean up. What just happened? Australia has introduced world-first legislation that bans people aged under 16 from using social media even when their parents have given permission for them to use it. Meta, of course, is not happy about all this, and is accusing the country's government of failing to consider the evidence and the voices of young people. Earlier this month, it was reported that the Australian government had announced plans to introduce legislation banning children under 16 from using social media platforms, an initiative designed to reduce the harm that platforms like TikTok and Instagram can have on young users. Politicians say the ban is required to ensure another generation of teenagers is not exposed to "as much damaging content" in the future. The bill was approved on Friday morning in Australia's house of representatives with bipartisan support after a one-day inquiry was held to consider 15,000 submissions. Social media companies have criticized the bill and the speed at which it was passed. A spokesperson for Facebook and Instagram owner Meta said it was "concerned about the process which rushed the legislation through while failing to properly consider the evidence, what industry already does to ensure age-appropriate experiences, and the voices of young people." "Last week, the Parliament's own committee said the 'causal link with social media remains unclear' with respect to the mental health of young Australians," the spokesperson added. "This demonstrates the lack of evidence underpinning the legislation and suggests this was a predetermined process." TikTok called for the Australian government to work closely with industry to fix issues created by the "rushed process." Snap said there were many unanswered questions about how the law would be implemented. Some in Australia support the ban, such as the nearly 128,000 people who signed the 36 Months change.org petition calling for the minimum age to open social media accounts to be raised from 13 to 16. There are also those who believe the ban is the wrong route to take. The Australian Child Rights Taskforce said the ban is "too blunt an instrument," and is instead calling for the government to impose "safety standards" on social media platforms. The Guardian notes that even some Australian politicians are against the bill, with one calling it a "1970 solution for a 2024 problem." Companies that fail to comply with the law face fines of Aus$50 million (US $32.5 million), though it remains unclear how it would be enforced. The UK and several other European countries have shown an interest in implementing their own age ban on social media platforms. The issue of social media's impact on young people's mental health has been around for a long time. In January last year, Seattle schools sued social media companies for causing a "mental health crisis" among children. Over 40 states did the same thing last October. The US Surgeon General even called for tobacco-style health warnings to be shown on the platforms. Last November, a study that used data from over 2 million people disputed claims that the internet, smartphones, and apps are detrimental to users' mental health. The researchers said they looked for a smoking gun linking tech with mental well-being but found no conclusive evidence. In brief: Researchers in China have successfully tested the world's first boron ramjet engine that can operate both in the air and underwater. The engine was originally conceived for hypersonic weapons but has now been modified to use both air and water as oxidizers, allowing it to plunge into the sea after flying through the atmosphere. The big reveal came last month when a team led by Professor Huang Liya at the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT) in Changsha published their findings in the Chinese Journal of Propulsion Technology. Their paper detailed how in ground tests simulating undersea conditions, the boron-fueled ramjet achieved a near 90% combustion efficiency in submarine mode efficient enough for practical applications. The engine works by firstly burning boron, an energetic lightweight element that China already uses in scramjet engines for hypersonic missiles. When boron meets oxygen, it burns intensely, easily accelerating a vehicle past five times the speed of sound. But getting it to ignite properly when underwater was the main challenge. The South China Morning Post explains that the NUDT team overcame this by giving the boron a "second chance" to keep on burning through an optimized fuel injection design. They fine-tuned the amount of water vapor mixed into the combustion chamber along with metals like magnesium and aluminum that help the boron burn more completely when vaporized. During testing, the engine produced a brilliant yellow exhaust plume at speeds exceeding three times the speed of sound, with combustion remaining stable throughout each run. Telemetry revealed the boron ramjet was achieving a specific impulse of over 4,700 Newton-seconds per kilogram. That's one-third better than even SpaceX's latest Raptor rocket engine. The researchers say that engines like this could alter the future landscape of warfare. They envision stealthy drones or missiles soaring hundreds of miles through the air at hypersonic speeds, then plunging into the ocean to blast heavily defended targets like aircraft carriers at over 200 knots underwater. These could prove deadly since militaries currently lack countermeasures against such "cross-medium" hybrid weapons. Next up, the team wants to push the boron content even higher in the solid fuel mixture to extract more energy while also further refining the combustion process. Image credit: SCMP Penetration testing, also known as "pen testing", involves cybersecurity experts simulating cyberattacks on systems to find and fix weaknesses before malicious hackers can take advantage. It's like hiring a skilled, ethical hacker to stress-test your defenses and help protect your sensitive data. As cyber risks grow in complexity, pen testing services have become crucial for organizations and individuals alike. In 2025, leading service providers utilize advanced technology and deep expertise to identify security gaps and enhance protection. This comprehensive guide highlights the five best penetration testing services of 2025, empowering you to stay one step ahead of emerging cyber threats and safeguard your digital assets. Penetration Testing Defined: What Is It For? Penetration testing, commonly known as "pen testing", is a strategic cybersecurity measure where ethical hackers try to exploit vulnerabilities in your systems to gauge security strength. Their purpose isn't malicious but rather preventive, identifying flaws like weak passwords, misconfigurations, or outdated software before real hackers can strike. These tests mimic genuine cyberattacks, providing a realistic view of how well your defenses hold up. By proactively addressing discovered weaknesses, organizations can protect confidential data, maintain operational stability, and foster trust in an increasingly digitized landscape. Pen testing is a key component in any robust security strategy, ensuring you're always ready for potential threats. Why Is Penetration Testing Important? The digital era has brought about a surge in both the frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks. As organizations become more dependent on technology, they also become more vulnerable to potential threats. Penetration testing serves as a crucial measure to identify and mitigate weaknesses before they are exploited, keeping systems secure, compliant, and worthy of customer trust. Protects Your Infrastructure Penetration testing identifies weak spots across IT systems, networks, and applications, allowing businesses to bolster their defenses. This proactive approach ensures a secure infrastructure capable of resisting cyberattacks and mitigating potential damage. Penetration testing identifies weak spots across IT systems, networks, and applications, allowing businesses to bolster their defenses. This proactive approach ensures a secure infrastructure capable of resisting cyberattacks and mitigating potential damage. Builds Customer Trust and Safeguards Reputation A single data breach can significantly tarnish a company's reputation, resulting in lost business and eroded customer confidence. By regularly conducting penetration tests, companies show their commitment to data protection, preventing breaches and maintaining a trustworthy image. A single data breach can significantly tarnish a company's reputation, resulting in lost business and eroded customer confidence. By regularly conducting penetration tests, companies show their commitment to data protection, preventing breaches and maintaining a trustworthy image. Enhances Security Measures and Awareness Simulating real-world attack scenarios, penetration testing evaluates the effectiveness of existing security protocols. It also increases employee awareness of security best practices, promoting a culture of vigilance and minimizing the risk of accidental breaches. Simulating real-world attack scenarios, penetration testing evaluates the effectiveness of existing security protocols. It also increases employee awareness of security best practices, promoting a culture of vigilance and minimizing the risk of accidental breaches. Reduces Data Breach Costs The financial repercussions of data breaches can be enormous, involving fines, lost revenue, and costly recovery efforts. Regular penetration testing reduces the risk of such breaches, protecting your organization's financial stability and ensuring compliance with standards like HIPAA, PCI DSS, and GDPR. The financial repercussions of data breaches can be enormous, involving fines, lost revenue, and costly recovery efforts. Regular penetration testing reduces the risk of such breaches, protecting your organization's financial stability and ensuring compliance with standards like HIPAA, PCI DSS, and GDPR. Meets Compliance RequirementsRegulatory standards often require organizations to perform regular penetration testing. Staying compliant with these regulations not only prevents legal issues and fines but also reinforces a strong security posture in line with industry best practices. Top 5 Best Penetration Testing Services In today's rapidly evolving threat landscape, traditional vulnerability management methods often fall short, leaving organizations exposed. Rootshell Security redefines the process with a next-generation platform that consolidates penetration testing results, vulnerability scanning, and AI-driven exploit intelligence into actionable insights. Outstanding Features Rootshell Security offers AI-driven vulnerability management and real-time threat insights for enhanced cybersecurity efficiency. Rootshell Platform: A vendor-neutral tool that integrates penetration test reports, vulnerability scans, and assessment data into a single interface, eliminating manual consolidation. Penetration Testing as a Service (PTaaS): Offers a comprehensive suite of services, including red teaming, phishing assessments, breach simulations, and ongoing penetration tests. Attack Surface Management: Delivers managed vulnerability scanning with expert-guided reviews of internal and external infrastructures. AI-Led Exploit Intelligence: Uses advanced intelligence to uncover hidden risks in vulnerability data and prioritize remediation. Enhanced Collaboration: Features enterprise-grade automation and tools to accelerate remediation and improve team efficiency Challenges Addressed by Rootshell Security Rootshell Security solves common issues faced by organizations in traditional vulnerability management processes, streamlining operations and improving effectiveness. Key challenges addressed include: Fragmented Data : Consolidates penetration test reports, vulnerability scans, and other assessment data into one platform, eliminating data silos. : Consolidates penetration test reports, vulnerability scans, and other assessment data into one platform, eliminating data silos. Manual Processes : Reduces reliance on spreadsheets and manual data entry, automating repetitive tasks and accelerating remediation. : Reduces reliance on spreadsheets and manual data entry, automating repetitive tasks and accelerating remediation. Slow Remediation Cycles : Speeds up the identification and prioritization of critical vulnerabilities, helping teams respond faster. : Speeds up the identification and prioritization of critical vulnerabilities, helping teams respond faster. Lack of Prioritization : Uses AI-driven intelligence to prioritize vulnerabilities based on active exploit risks, ensuring teams focus on the most critical issues. : Uses AI-driven intelligence to prioritize vulnerabilities based on active exploit risks, ensuring teams focus on the most critical issues. Limited Visibility : Provides real-time insights into the threat landscape, giving security teams clear visibility across internal and external assets. : Provides real-time insights into the threat landscape, giving security teams clear visibility across internal and external assets. Complex Collaboration: Enhances collaboration across global teams, improving coordination and communication during the remediation process. Why Choose Rootshell Security? Rootshell stands out with its real-time insights, tailored security packages, and alignment with Gartner best practices. It empowers global teams by simplifying workflows, dynamically remediating vulnerabilities, and providing clear visibility into an organization's threat landscape. Rootshell Security is the ideal solution for modern organizations looking to enhance agility and efficiency in vulnerability management. Combining innovative technology with expert insights it helps businesses stay ahead of adversarial tactics and safeguard their operations effectively. White Label Pentest offers reliable and scalable remote penetration testing services tailored to businesses in need of external expertise. Specializing in subcontracting for larger IT firms, cybersecurity companies, and resellers, White Label Pentest helps clients meet deadlines and goals without the need for additional full-time staff. Based in the Netherlands, it provides high-quality services at competitive rates to the English-speaking market. Outstanding Features White Label Pentest offers expert, manual penetration testing with over 10 years of experience, ensuring high-quality results and flexible service. 10+ years of offensive security experience Extensive manual testing alongside automated tools Expertise in detecting security threats, especially those in the OWASP Top Ten High-level communication with clients and end-users Specializes in subcontracting for larger firms and resellers, offering flexible service options Challenges Addressed by White Label Pentest It helps businesses overcome staffing shortages, tight deadlines, and lack of internal expertise by providing scalable, subcontracted penetration testing services. Staff Shortages: Helps businesses scale during busy periods without the need for additional hires Helps businesses scale during busy periods without the need for additional hires Meeting Deadlines: Ensures timely completion of projects, even for understaffed teams Ensures timely completion of projects, even for understaffed teams Lack of Internal Expertise: Provides expert testing for IT firms lacking the specialized skills for penetration testing Provides expert testing for IT firms lacking the specialized skills for penetration testing Budget Constraints: Offers cost-effective solutions for businesses that don't require a full-time penetration tester High Demand: Assists cybersecurity firms that face a backlog of pentesting requests Why Choose White Label Pentest? White Label Pentest provides a professional, reliable, and efficient service for businesses looking to outsource penetration testing. With experienced consultants and a proven track record, it offers flexibility and peace of mind, allowing firms to focus on other areas while maintaining a high level of security. For businesses in need of expert penetration testing without the commitment of full-time hires, White Label Pentest offers a seamless and dependable solution. Its flexibility, expertise, and dedication to client success make it an invaluable partner in cybersecurity. X Security Group is a cybersecurity firm that specializes in providing high-quality, affordable security services exclusively through the channel. By white labeling its services, X Security enables Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) to offer expert penetration testing (pen test) services to their clients without the complexities and costs of maintaining an in-house team. Their mission is to make cybersecurity accessible and manageable for small to medium-sized businesses while helping partners grow their service offerings. Outstanding Features X Security Group offers white-label penetration testing, the CyAssess platform, and customizable reports to boost MSP and MSSP cybersecurity services. White Label Penetration Testing: X Security Group delivers expert penetration testing services under your brand, allowing MSPs and MSSPs to expand their portfolios. CyAssess Platform: A risk assessment platform that helps MSPs conduct cyber risk assessments systematically, built on the knowledge gained from over two years of experience. Comprehensive Reporting: X Security provides executive summaries and detailed vulnerability findings with remediation steps tailored to each client. Channel-Driven Approach: X Security only offers its services through the channel, ensuring partners can trust them as a reliable extension of their team. Post-Engagement Support: Ongoing support and remediation testing to ensure vulnerabilities are properly addressed. Challenges Addressed by X Security Group X Security Group helps MSPs and MSSPs overcome cost, expertise, and scalability challenges with affordable, white-label penetration testing services. Lack of In-House Expertise: X Security allows MSPs and MSSPs to offer penetration testing without building an internal team. Scalability Issues: Partners can scale their cybersecurity offerings easily by leveraging white-label penetration testing services. Cost Constraints: Affordable penetration testing solutions for businesses that need high-quality security assessments but lack the resources for in-house teams. Why Choose X Security Group? X Security Group's white-label penetration testing services provide MSPs and MSSPs with the tools and expertise they need to enhance their security offerings without the overhead costs. Their flexibility, affordability, and focus on the channel make them an invaluable partner for businesses looking to increase their cybersecurity capabilities. X Security Group makes cybersecurity attainable for businesses of all sizes by offering affordable, expert white-label penetration testing services. By partnering with X Security, MSPs and MSSPs can provide high-quality, actionable security assessments under their brand, helping clients stay secure and confident in their digital operations. ChannelSOC provides comprehensive cyber risk testing, advisory, and compliance services designed to identify vulnerabilities and develop effective security strategies. With over three decades of experience, the company offers a wide range of services, including penetration testing, security assessments, compliance services, and more. Outstanding Features ChannelSOC offers a wide range of cybersecurity services, including penetration testing, compliance, and security assessments, designed to tackle various security challenges. Comprehensive Testing Services: Network, application, physical, and social engineering assessments, ensuring all security layers are thoroughly evaluated. Industry-Specific Compliance: Supports key regulatory standards such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, NIST, ISO, and more, helping businesses maintain compliance. Expert Team: Certified professionals with decades of experience, providing high-level advisory and technical expertise. Customizable Solutions: Tailored security programs that address each client's specific needs, from small businesses to large enterprises. Streamlined Process: A straightforward scoping questionnaire and clear reporting ensure an efficient, results-driven approach to security. Challenges Addressed by ChannelSOC ChannelSOC addresses several key challenges in cybersecurity: Lack of Expertise: Provides access to certified professionals with extensive experience in security and compliance. Scalability: Helps businesses scale their security operations without increasing internal resources. Compliance Overwhelm: Eases the complexity of navigating multiple compliance frameworks like HIPAA, PCI DSS, and ISO. Security Gaps: Identifies vulnerabilities across various systems and helps develop remediation strategies. Why Choose ChannelSOC? ChannelSOC combines industry-leading expertise with a streamlined approach. Their experienced, certified team provides high-quality, results-driven security solutions. With a focus on delivering value and minimizing costs, ChannelSOC is a trusted partner for businesses aiming to improve their cybersecurity posture and maintain compliance. With decades of experience and a broad array of services, ChannelSOC is a reliable partner for organizations seeking to secure their environments, manage risks, and ensure compliance with industry standards. Their expert-led, client-focused approach helps businesses build a robust and scalable security strategy. Trilight Security, headquartered in Estonia, stands as a premier cybersecurity services provider within the European Union. They offer an array of comprehensive solutions designed to safeguard digital infrastructures and ensure their resilience against evolving threats. Known for its expertise in penetration testing services, compromise assessments, vulnerability assessments, digital forensics, SOCaaS, incident response, ISO 27001 and SOC 2 consulting, Trilight Security has earned a global reputation for delivering top-tier, cost-effective security services, both to end clients and white-label partners. Businesses of all sizes, from small enterprises to large Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) and Managed Service Providers (MSPs) across the U.S., Canada, the UK, and the EU, place their trust in Trilight Security. Outstanding Features Trilight Security sets itself apart in several key areas, showcasing its leadership in cybersecurity: Expert Penetration Testing Services Their specialization includes penetration testing for web and mobile applications, networks, and web3 technologies. This ensures robust protection for businesses' digital assets against the latest threats. Their specialization includes penetration testing for web and mobile applications, networks, and web3 technologies. This ensures robust protection for businesses' digital assets against the latest threats. White Label Penetration Testing For MSSPs and MSPs, Trilight Security provides white-label penetration testing services, enabling seamless integration of high-quality security assessments under their brand. For MSSPs and MSPs, Trilight Security provides white-label penetration testing services, enabling seamless integration of high-quality security assessments under their brand. Security Operations Center (SOC) Their managed SOC offers continuous monitoring, Managed Detection and Response (MDR), and proactive threat mitigation, ensuring businesses stay ahead of cyber threats with real-time defense. Their managed SOC offers continuous monitoring, Managed Detection and Response (MDR), and proactive threat mitigation, ensuring businesses stay ahead of cyber threats with real-time defense. Cost-Effective Solutions Trilight Security delivers exceptional value through competitive pricing, making top-quality cybersecurity accessible to a wide range of clients and partners. Trilight Security delivers exceptional value through competitive pricing, making top-quality cybersecurity accessible to a wide range of clients and partners. Highly Certified ExpertsThe team includes ethical hackers with top-tier certifications like OSCE, OSCP, eWPTX, eMAPT, CEH, CREST, and others, ensuring unmatched expertise in red team services and advanced cybersecurity practices. Challenges Addressed by Trilight Security Trilight Security effectively addresses several key challenges faced by businesses: Increased Cyber Threats: By providing expert penetration testing services, they identify vulnerabilities before cybercriminals can exploit them, reducing the risk of breaches. Limited In-House Cybersecurity Expertise: For organizations lacking specialized skills, Trilight's team of certified professionals offers a cost-effective, outsourced solution. Resource Constraints of Service Providers: Trilight's white-label penetration testing allows MSSPs and MSPs to scale their security services without the need to invest in additional in-house resources. Budget Constraints: if the end customer or white label partner has budget limitations for a particular project, Trilight will find a flexible solution while preserving the quality of service recognized by multiple partners. Why Choose Trilight Security? Opting for Trilight Security gives businesses a strategic advantage by providing access to highly trained and certified cybersecurity specialists. Their unwavering commitment to client satisfaction, paired with a flexible and partner-focused approach, positions them as a preferred choice for MSSPs and MSPs. Their white-label penetration testing services are designed to empower partners, allowing them to scale their offerings efficiently while maintaining cost-effectiveness. With Trilight Security, organizations benefit from a perfect balance of cybersecurity expertise, affordability, and flexibility. Whether it's standard penetration testing, specialized mobile penetration testing services, or white label penetration testing, Trilight Security consistently proves to be a top contender for fortifying digital assets in a rapidly evolving threat landscape. Conclusion In escalating cyber threats, robust penetration testing has become essential for protecting digital assets. The leading providers of 2025 offer innovative solutions to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities effectively. These services provide companies with the resources needed to ensure compliance, reduce risk exposure, and fortify their overall security posture. From Rootshell Security's sophisticated real-time threat intelligence to the budget-conscious, white-label services of X Security Group, each provider offers unique capabilities. Trilight Security stands out for its holistic, cost-efficient solutions tailored to the needs of global clients. By partnering with these industry leaders, organizations can tackle common cybersecurity obstacles like limited in-house expertise, resource constraints, and tight project timelines, ensuring they remain resilient and prepared for future challenges. If you are wondering on how to get away with corporate back taxes, Amazon is the right company to ask as it is no longer required to pay a whopping $263 million in back taxes to the European Union. This was thanks to the recent decision by the European Commission to end its state aid case against the renowned e-commerce company after over seven years since it was prosecuted. However, it is known that Amazon previously appealed the ruling and won it against the Commission but it took them three years before they finally closed the book on this significant case against the tech giant. Amazon No Longer Has to Pay $263M in EU Back Taxes The European Commission announced that it already closed three of its state aid cases in the region, with Amazon taking a massive win after many years of being embroiled in this taxation fiasco. In Amazon's case specifically, the e-commerce giant is no longer required to pay the huge $263 million sum in back taxes (250 million) to Luxembourg after it was discovered by the Commission and ruled against in 2017. It was revealed that from 2006 to 2014, Amazon resorted to using an operating company in Luxembourg to significantly lower the tax to be paid to the European Union, with the front not having any employees or offices. However, Amazon won its appeal against the European Commission's ruling to the EU courts where they argued that their actions are legal as per international tax principles, where it was later discovered that this did not give the e-commerce giant unfair advantages over other companies. Read Also: Amazon to Shut Down Freevee FAST Service After Debuting Prime Video With Ads European Commission's State Aid Cases There were three companies whose state aid cases were closed by the Commission earlier today, with Fiat Chrysler and Amazon for their operations in Luxembourg and Starbucks for their tax rulings in the Netherlands. All three companies were successful in avoiding the need to pay the back taxes as per the Commission's recent decision, particularly as their 'selective tax advantages' were not found to be against the EU State aid rules. EU Tax Troubles for Big Tech Apple is known for its years-long massive tax troubles with the European Commission after it was ruled by the international organization to pay Ireland a whopping $14 billion in unpaid taxes after a three-year investigation. However, the Irish authorities claimed that the EU 'interfered' with the country's tax affairs when it fined Apple, previously appealing this case alongside Cupertino against the Commission. That being said, a previous ruling earlier this September gave the win to the European Commission where Apple is now required to settle its tax bill with the whopping sum, after almost a decade. However, the European Union also targeted many Big Tech companies in the world regarding the unpaid taxes that resulted from special deals from the European Union member countries they had dealt with. Apart from Apple, the likes of Google, McDonald's, IKEA, HSBC, InBev, and more faced a massive investigation for their unpaid taxes, but these companies claimed that they were compliant with tax laws. After years of fighting against the European Commission regarding their back taxes, Amazon now takes the win and is clear of the scrutinies it faced in the EU, and the company is getting away with paying $263 million after its state aid case. In a tragic incident in Uttar Pradesh, India, three men lost their lives when their car drove off an incomplete bridge into a riverbed. Locals had long avoided the bridge, which partially collapsed earlier this year due to flooding. However, the men, unfamiliar with the area, reportedly relied on the navigation app Google Maps, which directed them onto the dangerous route. An investigation has been launched by authorities and a police complaint was filed against the engineers in the state's road department along with an official in Google Maps for the culpable homicide charge. This has further fuelled a debate whether apps such as Google Maps have any liability over the mishaps occurring through its misdirected instructions. Google Maps is Popular in India Google Maps, India's most widely used navigation tool, boasts around 60 million active users and processes 50 million daily searches. Though the app has revolutionized navigation, incidents like this have put its accuracy under scrutiny, according to BBC. In previous cases, similar reliance on Google Maps ended in tragedy. In 2021, a driver in Maharashtra drowned after following app directions into a dam. Last year, two doctors in Kerala drove into a river, again reportedly following Google Maps during heavy flooding. How Google Maps Handles Real-Time Data Google Maps depends on GPS signals contributed by users and governments as well as individuals to monitor the changing traffic and road. The congestion alerts, for instance, arise when there is an increase in GPS activities on a particular route. However, the site puts more emphasis on complaints marked by authorities or users because the site cannot process millions of complaints reported daily. Ashish Nair, founder of mapping platform Potter Maps and former Google Maps employee, says that with platforms like Google Maps, it is impossible to track every road change in the world. He adds that the terms of service for the app encourage users to use personal judgment, warning that data provided may not always reflect real-world conditions. "A map operator then uses satellite imagery, Google Street View, and government notifications to confirm the change and update the map." Infrastructure and Data Challenges in India India's decentralized nature when it comes to tracking infrastructure changes exacerbates the problem. While Singapore can efficiently report and feed updates into navigation apps, India finds itself at a loss given its population, speed of development, and lack of a proper mechanism to share data. Can Google Maps Be Liable In Such Road Accidents? The legal debate revolves around whether GPS apps such as Google Maps can be held liable for accidents. According to Advocate Saima Khan, India's Information Technology Act classifies digital platforms as intermediaries, shielding them from liability for third-party information. However, she notes that platforms might face negligence charges if they fail to rectify incorrect data after receiving timely, accurate reports. A Shared Responsibility for Safer Roads The Uttar Pradesh accident tells us to have collaborations among the navigation platforms, the government, and the users. Well-designed roads, timely updates, and a culture of cautious driving would prevent a similar tragic event. In modern travel, while apps such as Google Maps play an important role, the significance of human judgment and robust infrastructure cannot be surpassed. India can work toward safer navigation for its citizens by addressing systemic shortcomings and fostering accountability across all parties. Aerial photo shows a section of a new desert highway traversing the Taklimakan Desert over the Tarim River in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 22, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) URUMQI, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Taklimakan Desert, known as the "Sea of Death," has been completely encircled with a sand-blocking green belt stretching 3,046 km, said local authority in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. On Thursday morning, several plant species, including Populus euphratica (more commonly known as "desert poplar"), sacsaoul and red willow, were planted on sandy land in Yutian County on the southern edge of the desert, marking the completion of the final stretch of the green belt, according to the Xinjiang regional forestry and grassland bureau. The Taklimakan covers 337,600 square km and its circumference measures 3,046 km, making it the largest desert in China and the second-largest drifting desert in the world. It has taken more than 40 years to fully enclose the desert with a green belt. By the end of 2023, a 2,761-km-long green belt connected scattered oases, leaving only the final, most challenging section. This final stretch, approximately 285 km long, runs through the southern part of the desert and faces the most severe wind and sand hazards. Since this year, Xinjiang has taken targeted and scientific measures to close this gap. Alongside the green belt, efforts have been made to promote the development of sand industries, such as the growing of cistanche and other crops, to benefit local residents. Tuhti Rahman, director of the Xinjiang regional forestry and grassland bureau, said that the belt functioned as an ecological barrier and would guarantee the stability of agricultural production, improve the urban living environment and promote Xinjiang's economic and social development. Xinjiang will further consolidate the green belt, Tuhti Rahman added. The Taklimakan Desert control project is a part of China's Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program (TSFP), the world's largest afforestation program to tackle desertification. The TSFP was launched in 1978 and is scheduled to be completed by 2050. In June 2023, China proposed to turn the TSFP into a fully functional and unbreakable "green Great Wall" and ecological security barrier in northern China. Since 1978, China has expanded its afforestation area by 32 million hectares under the TSFP. The afforestation area under the program is projected to encompass over 4 million square km across 13 provincial-level regions by 2050, accounting for 42.4 percent of the country's total land area. Over the past 46 years, the forest coverage rate of the TSFP-covering areas has risen from 5.05 percent to 13.84 percent. Progress has been made in desertification and soil erosion control, while about 30 million hectares of farmland have been protected. Editor: JYZ Soldiers escort coffins containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs at the Taoxian international airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 28, 2024. The remains of 43 CPV soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China on Thursday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). (Photo by Han Qiyang/Xinhua) SHENYANG, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- The remains of 43 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who died during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China on Thursday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). At 12:07 p.m., a Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force Y-20 transport aircraft, carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers and 495 of their personal effects, landed at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. The plane's touch down was met with a water cannon salute, as soldiers carried the caskets off the plane before a remembrance ceremony was held at the airport. Nearly 1,000 people, including representatives from central and local authorities, the military, war veterans, and relatives of CPV martyrs, attended the ceremony. Following the placement of the caskets, which were covered with the Five-star Red Flag, the participants bowed three times in dignified silence to the soldiers' remains. The remains will be laid to rest in a martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang. After the ROK handed over the martyrs' remains and belongings to the Chinese side in Incheon on Thursday morning, China held a memorial ceremony at Incheon International Airport. During the ceremony, the Chinese national anthem was played, and each casket was draped with the national flag. Attendees bowed three times to the martyrs before their remains were placed onto the plane. From 2014 to 2023, China and the ROK, in accordance with international laws and humanitarian principles, successfully completed 10 consecutive handovers involving the remains of 938 CPV martyrs in the ROK, along with related artifacts. The Korean War broke out in June 1950, eight months after the People's Republic of China was founded. At the request of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Chinese ground forces under the CPV entered the Korean Peninsula on Oct. 19, 1950. A total of 2.9 million CPV soldiers joined the war that lasted almost three years, with more than 360,000 killed or injured. WELCOME HOME The flight from Incheon to Shenyang lasted about an hour and 20 minutes, but for many of the martyrs, this journey home spanned almost seven decades. In the past a few days the city of Shenyang has been decorated with slogans that read "welcome back, our heroes". As the Y-20 military transport aircraft prepared to land at Shenyang airport, the air traffic control tower transmitted a heartfelt message: "The mountains and rivers remain intact, our country is prosperous, and our military is strong. With the utmost respect, we welcome the loyal martyrs back home." In response, captain of the Y-20, Zhou Han, acknowledged the gravity of the moment: "The people's heroes will live on forever, their names eternally etched in history." It was freezing in Shenyang on Thursday, with temperatures dipping well below zero. Standing among the waiting crowd, retired teacher Lang Qingxia struggled to hold back her tears. In August 1952, her older brother Lang Defu died in the line of duty during the Korean War; she hopes that one day he will be brought back home and laid to rest. "I have been coming for several years," she said. "Those heroes are my brother's comrade-in-arms, whom I regard as my relatives. On the other hand, I look forward to seeing my brother among these returning home." Dong Shulan's uncle went to fight in the Korean War in July 1952, and that was the last time anyone saw or heard from him. "Even though my uncle may not be coming home this time, the return of his comrades feels like he's back too," she said. "I am deeply honored to be here," said Wang Lei, who plays Qin Jiwei, a CPV army commander, in the hit TV drama Battle of Shangganling. "As an actor, I'm here to welcome the heroes home, and it feels as though the characters I've portrayed in the past are welcoming them back as well." Winter Olympic short-track speed skating champion, Wu Dajing was visibly moved by the experience. "Many of the martyrs were younger than us when they went to war. They sacrificed their lives to protect our country. It was an environment that today's youth should never experience. I hope that their spirit can be an inspiration to today's young people." The ceremony was also livestreamed online. Among the viewers were faculty and students of a primary school in Shenyang, which was named after CPV martyr Mao Anying, the son of late Chinese chairman Mao Zedong. In memory of the martyrs, the students had selected personal gifts to take to the martyr's cemetery at a later date. "My gift is a scarf," said a girl. "The soldiers braved severe cold and fought in extremely difficult situations. So I hope that it could protect our CPV soldiers from the cold wind." Another girl cooked noodles with her mom before school that morning. In north China, it is customary to welcome guests with noodles. "These noodles taste of home," she said. "The martyrs have returned home." A third child brought a model plane. "My dad is a soldier and I grew up listening to his stories about the Korean War. I brought this model so our CPV soldiers can see how strong our motherland is now." Soldiers escort coffins containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs at the Taoxian international airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 28, 2024. The remains of 43 CPV soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China on Thursday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). (Xinhua/Li Gang) Soldiers escort coffins containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs at the Taoxian international airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 28, 2024. The remains of 43 CPV soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China on Thursday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). (Xinhua/Li Gang) Soldiers escort coffins containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs at the Taoxian international airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 28, 2024. The remains of 43 CPV soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China on Thursday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). (Xinhua/Li Gang) Soldiers escort coffins containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs at the Taoxian international airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 28, 2024. The remains of 43 CPV soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China on Thursday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). (Xinhua/Li Jie) Vehicles carrying coffins containing the remains of the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs head to the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 28, 2024. The remains of 43 CPV soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China on Thursday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) A soldier escorts a coffin containing the remains of a Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyr at the Taoxian international airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 28, 2024. The remains of 43 CPV soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China on Thursday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). (Photo by Han Qiyang/Xinhua) Coffins containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs are loaded onto a vehicle at the Taoxian international airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 28, 2024. The remains of 43 CPV soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China on Thursday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). (Xinhua/Yang Qing) Soldiers escort coffins containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs at the Taoxian international airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 28, 2024. The remains of 43 CPV soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China on Thursday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). (Xinhua/Li Gang) Soldiers escort coffins containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs at the Taoxian international airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 28, 2024. The remains of 43 CPV soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China on Thursday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). (Xinhua/Li Gang) Soldiers escort coffins containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs at the Taoxian international airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 28, 2024. The remains of 43 CPV soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China on Thursday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). (Xinhua/Li Gang) A Y-20 transport aircraft of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force carrying the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs is pictured over the Taoxian international airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 28, 2024. The remains of 43 CPV soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China on Thursday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). (Xinhua/Yang Qing) Coffins containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs are about to be loaded onto vehicles at the Taoxian international airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 28, 2024. The remains of 43 CPV soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China on Thursday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). (Xinhua/Yang Qing) Coffins containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs are about to be loaded onto vehicles at the Taoxian international airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 28, 2024. The remains of 43 CPV soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China on Thursday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). (Xinhua/Li Gang) An aerial drone photo taken on Nov. 28, 2024 shows a motorcade delivering coffins containing the remains of the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs moving along the Qingnian Street in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. The remains of 43 CPV soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China on Thursday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). (Photo by Xu Zhikang/Xinhua) A military aircraft carrying the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs is honored with a water salute after landing at the Taoxian international airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 28, 2024. The remains of 43 CPV soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China on Thursday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). (Xinhua/Li Gang) A Y-20 transport aircraft of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force carrying the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs, escorted by two J-20 stealth fighter jets, is pictured over the Taoxian international airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 28, 2024. The remains of 43 CPV soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China on Thursday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). (Xinhua/Li Gang) Editor: JYZ Saudi Arabia hosts UN talks on drought, desertification Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Nov 29 (AFP) Nov 29, 2024 Saudi Arabia will host the COP16 UN conference on land degradation and desertification next week as the top oil exporter pitches itself as an environmental defender despite criticism of its role at climate talks. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called the meeting for the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) a "moonshot moment" to protect and restore land and respond to drought. Activists accused Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, of trying to water down calls to phase out fossil fuels at last week's COP29 UN climate talks in Azerbaijan. However, the subject of desertification is close to home for the Gulf kingdom, which has one of the biggest deserts on the planet. "We are a desert country. We are exposed to the harshest mode of land degradation which is desertification," deputy environment minister Osama Faqeeha told AFP. "Our land is arid. Our rainfall is very little. And this is the reality. And we have been dealing with this for centuries." Land degradation disrupts ecosystems and makes land less productive for agriculture, leading to food shortages and spurring migration. Land is considered degraded when its productivity has been harmed by human activities like pollution or deforestation. Desertification is an extreme form of degradation. - 'Under the radar' - The last gathering of parties to the convention, in Ivory Coast in 2022, produced a commitment to "accelerating the restoration of one billion hectares of degraded land by 2030". But the UNCCD, which brings together 196 countries and the European Union, now says 1.5 billion hectares (3.7 billion acres) must be restored by decade's end to combat crises including escalating droughts. Saudi Arabia is aiming to restore 40 million hectares of degraded land, Faqeeha told AFP, without specifying a timeline. He said Riyadh anticipated restoring "several million hectares of land" by 2030. So far 240,000 hectares have been recovered using measures including banning illegal logging and expanding the number of national parks from 19 in 2016 to more than 500, Faqeeha said. Other ways to restore land include planting trees, crop rotation, managing grazing and restoring wetlands. The COP29 climate talks yielded a hard won $300 billion climate finance deal that poorer nations most at risk of worsening disasters dismissed as insultingly low. UNCCD executive secretary Ibrahim Thiaw told AFP he hoped COP16 would result in an agreement to accelerate land restoration and develop a "proactive" approach to droughts. "We have already lost 40 percent of our land and our soils," Thiaw said. "Global security is really at stake, and you see it all over the world. Not only in Africa, not only in the Middle East." Faqeeha said he hoped the talks would bring more global awareness to the threat posed by degradation and desertification. "If we continue to allow land to degrade, we will have huge losses," he said. "Land degradation now is a major phenomenon that is really happening under the radar." Saudi Arabia's high oil production, resulting in eye-watering profits for oil giant Aramco, routinely draws the ire of climate activists. But its exposure to desertification could give it more credibility during the Riyadh talks. "With the desertification fight, (Saudi Arabia is) not necessarily directly contributing to the problem, whereas with climate change, it obviously is," said Patrick Galey, senior fossil fuels investigator for Global Witness. "Saudi Arabia can, with some legitimacy, claim to be standing up for the little guy when it comes to desertification, because it is directly affected." - Freedom of speech - Thousands of delegates have registered to attend the December 2-13 talks in Riyadh including "close to 100" government ministers, Thiaw said. French President Emmanuel Macron is due to attend the One Water Summit, taking place on the sidelines of COP16 on December 3. Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has been criticised for mounting repression even as the kingdom pursues head-spinning social reforms intended to lure tourists and investors. As a UN-organised event, civil society including campaigners will be able to take part, although it was not clear if protests -- a rarity in the kingdom -- would be allowed. Saudi Arabia is hoping for strong, "constructive" civil society participation in COP16, Faqeeha said. "We are welcoming all constructive engagement," he told AFP, while Thiaw said all groups would be welcome to contribute and express themselves. "According to UN rules, of course there are rules of engagement, and everybody is guaranteed freedom of speech," Thiaw said. rcb-sar/th/ysm/kir Traumatised Spain marks one month since catastrophic floods Paiporta, Spain, Nov 29 (AFP) Nov 29, 2024 Fresh protests were called in Spain on Friday as the shellshocked country marked one month since its worst floods in a generation killed 230 people. Anger has swept the European nation after the October 29 catastrophe tossed cars, wrecked infrastructure and destroyed homes and businesses, particularly in the eastern Valencia region. Telephone alerts reached some residents when water was already raging through towns, while several municipalities went for days without state help and relied on volunteers for food, water and cleaning equipment. The authorities' handling of the disaster has prompted trade unions, associations and local organisations to call for rallies in the hardest-hit areas on Friday. They could take the form of symbolic actions at 8:11 pm (1911 GMT), the time when the Valencia regional authorities issued an alert more than 12 hours after a warning by the national weather service. Another protest is expected in Spain's third city Valencia on Saturday. A first demonstration drew 130,000 furious citizens demanding the resignation of regional leader Carlos Mazon. Popular outrage boiled over in the ground-zero town of Paiporta on November 3 when survivors hurled mud at King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Mazon during a visit. Sanchez and Mazon were evacuated and their fleeting unity has collapsed, with the left-wing central government and the conservative regional administration trading blame for the handling of the floods. - Irreparable damage - Thousands of troops, police, firefighters and volunteers continue to clear debris, repair damage and extract mud from garages, basements and car parks in the traumatised Valencia region. In Paiporta, one of many places far from normal, a thin layer of smelly reddish dust has replaced the torrents of mud. "There are many things that are destroyed and won't be able to be rebuilt," said Ignacio Trenor Dalmau, a 26-year-old unemployed architect. "Loads of businesses" will not reopen because the investment needed for repairs will not make economic sense, he told AFP as he helped clean the garage of his building. But "that early tension is calmer because we also see that we're slowly moving forwards," said Dalmau, citing the gratitude people felt towards the volunteers. Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo on Thursday reeled off a dizzying list of damaged property according to insurance data, including 69,000 homes, 125,000 vehicles and 12,500 businesses. The government has scrambled to put together aid packages collectively worth 16.6 billion euros ($17.5 billion) in grants and loans to help stricken citizens piece back together their shattered lives. "There is still a lot of work to do," Sanchez conceded in parliament this week. The Bank of Spain has warned the disaster could wipe as much as 0.2 percent off the country's growth in the final quarter of 2024. Malaysia floods kill 4, force over 80,000 to evacuate Kuala Lumpur, Nov 29 (AFP) Nov 29, 2024 Floodwaters rushing through several states in Malaysia after heavy rains this week forced more than 80,000 people to evacuate and left four dead, officials said Friday. The National Disaster Command Centre said 80,589 residents were evacuated to 467 temporary shelters in seven states this week, with northeastern Kelantan state and neighbouring Terengganu the worst hit. A search and rescue team has been mobilised to aid rescue operations in affected states, specifically Kelantan, the disaster centre said in a statement. Four deaths have been recorded across Kelantan, Terengganu and Sarawak, according to disaster officials. Heavy rain, which has already lasted several days, is forecast nationwide until Saturday, a meteorological department spokesperson told AFP. Floods are an annual phenomenon in the Southeast Asian nation of 34 million people due to the northeast monsoon that brings heavy rain from November to March. Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Thursday that the floods were "expected to be more severe than in 2014" -- when about 118,000 people fled their homes -- according to the official Bernama news agency. Thousands of emergency services personnel have been deployed in flood-prone states along with rescue boats, four-wheel-drive vehicles and helicopters, Zahid, who chairs the National Disaster Management Committee, was also quoted as saying. Spain urged to 'build differently' after deadly floods Madrid, Nov 29 (AFP) Nov 29, 2024 Spain is racing to reconstruct areas devastated by deadly floods last month but experts have urged a rethink of development with the relocation of buildings away from vulnerable areas. The worst floods to hit Spain in decades on October 29 killed at least 230 people, covered towns in mud and debris, destroyed bridges, roads and rail lines and submerged cars, mainly in the eastern region of Valencia. "The degree of destruction and ruin was historic" in the Valencia region, where some 80 towns were hit by torrential rains, according to a report from Spain's Higher Council of Colleges of Architects. Reconstruction must "be carried out with empathy, technical rigour and a great deal of responsibility," said its president Marta Vall-Llossera. "With global warming making meteorological phenomena more intense and more frequent, architecture will have an important role to play," she told AFP. "We're going to have to build differently," she added, recommending a return to "the traditional, compact Mediterranean city". In Spain's third-largest city Valencia, the regional capital, land has become increasingly built up, making it more vulnerable to flooding since concrete prevents the ground from absorbing water. In the Valencia suburb of Paiporta, epicentre of the disaster, roads were quickly transformed into torrents of mud that swept away everything in their path. "We must try to re-naturalise cities, reduce the use of cars, make the cobblestones less hard, more permeable, and better able to withstand the intense heat and torrential rain," said Vall-Llossera. - 'Forced expropriation' - A flood risk prevention plan was approved in the Valencia region in 2003 but it is not binding and has no "retroactive effects", said Maria Jesus Romero Aloy, an expert in urban planning law at Valencia's Polytechnic University. Valencia accounts for just five percent of Spain's territory which is at risk of flooding but has seen 20 percent of the heavy rainfall events recorded over the past decade in the country, according to the plan. The highest risk of flooding is concentrated in 12 percent of the region -- home to the popular beach resort of Benidorm -- and affects 600,000 people. In this area, the authorities recommend homes have watertight windows and an internal staircase with roof access to allow for an escape from flash flooding. But Romero Aloy said there has to be a "rethinking the territorial model and considering removing buildings or installations that face a high risk" of flooding. Property owners are currently allowed to rebuild on flooded land even in a high-risk zone. The only way to prevent this is through a "forced expropriation" as happened in 2019 in Onteniente, a municipality some 85 kilometres (50 miles) south of Valencia. There "a neighbourhood was eliminated" and turned into a floodway, a channel reserved for floodwaters to pass through, said Romero Aloy. - 'Natural barriers' - Mayors, however, are "reluctant to expropriate" because it is a "complicated political decision", especially when the country faces a housing shortage, she added. But a month after the floods "there is a growing awareness among decision-makers," said Federico Jesus Bonet Zapater, an expert in civil engineering, canals and ports who advises the regional government of Valencia. "Projects to build dams or divert canals, which have been on the table for some time, are finally going to be studied," he added. Rafael Delgado Artes, an expert in regional planning and risk prevention, recommends creating "natural barriers" such as forests to minimise the damage from floods and "artificial riverbeds to divert rivers away from city centres". In the centre of Valencia, which was spared the October disaster, the river that runs through the city was diverted after devastating floods in 1957 and in its place stands a popular urban park. Traumatised Spain marks one month since catastrophic floods Catarroja, Spain, Nov 29 (AFP) Nov 29, 2024 Angry residents called for fresh protests in Spain on Friday as the country marked one month since its worst floods in a generation killed 230 people. Outrage swept the European nation after the October 29 catastrophe tossed cars, wrecked infrastructure and destroyed homes and businesses, particularly in the eastern Valencia region. Telephone alerts reached some residents when water was already raging through towns, while several municipalities went for days without state help and relied on volunteers for food, water and cleaning equipment. The authorities' handling of the disaster prompted trade unions and associations to call for rallies in the hardest-hit areas later on Friday. Another protest is expected in Spain's third city Valencia on Saturday. A first demonstration on November 9 drew 130,000 furious citizens demanding the resignation of regional leader Carlos Mazon. "What is demanded of us is that we are efficient and arrive as soon as possible... that is the people's main complaint," Mazon told reporters on Friday. "We have to be extraordinarily understanding with the protests... there are still lots of people who have received nothing, so we cannot rest," he added, announcing the reopening of Valencia's metro on December 3. Popular outrage boiled over in the ground-zero town of Paiporta on November 3 when survivors hurled mud at King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Mazon. Sanchez and Mazon were escorted away and their fleeting unity has since collapsed, with the left-wing central government and the conservative regional administration trading blame for the handling of the floods. - 'Abandoned' - Thousands of troops, police, firefighters and volunteers continue to clear debris, repair damage and extract mud from garages, basements and car parks in the traumatised Valencia region. Two piles of rusting vehicles greet visitors to the town of Catarroja, where garages are still caked with mud and the council declared three days of mourning for the victims. "They have supported us a lot, but one month on many of the streets are a mess, the parks are still destroyed," said 44-year-old Gyovana Gimenez, whose restaurant was gutted by floodwater. Spain's Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo on Thursday reeled off a dizzying list of damaged property according to insurance data, including 69,000 homes, 125,000 vehicles and 12,500 businesses. The government has scrambled to put together aid packages collectively worth 16.6 billion euros ($17.5 billion) in grants and loans to help stricken citizens piece back together their shattered lives. But Amparo Peris expressed the despair of many in the flood epicentre who feel "abandoned" by politicians of all stripes. "We thank the volunteers, but we are very tired because this is not moving forward," the 35-year-old domestic assistant told AFP in Catarroja. "This is horrific... I feel powerless because they (the authorities) do nothing," added pensioner Fina Solaz, 69, as she queued to collect essential goods. Sanchez conceded in parliament this week that there was "still a lot of work to do". Stockholm ban on petrol, diesel cars put on hold Stockholm, Nov 29 (AFP) Nov 29, 2024 A ban on combustion engine vehicles in Stockholm's city centre has been put on hold, a government agency said Friday, just a month before the ban would come into effect. The Swedish capital was aiming to become the first city in the world to reserve some 20 blocks of an upmarket shopping district for "zero-emission" vehicles on December 31. But the region's County Administrative Board ruled the measure would be put on hold, while appeals from five companies in the area were examined. The companies have requested that the measure be withdrawn or postponed. With this zone, the city of Stockholm, led by the Social Democrats and the Green Party, wanted to improve air quality. "We want the air quality to become better, we want the noise to become less and we also want to create incentives for transport companies and others to when they invest in the next vehicle, choose one that can drive in this area," Lars Stromgren, the city's vice-mayor for transport and urban environment, told AFP earlier this week. After the announcement of the zero-emission zone, transport industry group the Swedish Confederation of Transport Enterprises lamented a rushed process. In a statement it noted that there are too few buses "that correspond to the requirements on the market." Business industry group Swedish Commerce, which represents some 15,000 Swedish businesses, in May appealed the decision to the administrative court -- which is still considering the appeal. According to the group, the introduction of the zone "could lead to job losses and harm our town centres". Jihadists, allies enter Syria's second city in lightning assault Beirut, Lebanon, Nov 29 (AFP) Nov 29, 2024 Jihadists and their Turkish-backed allies reached Syria's second city of Aleppo on Friday, as they pressed a lightning offensive against forces of the Iranian- and Russian-backed government. The fighting is some of the deadliest in years, with 277 people killed, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Most of the dead are combatants although the toll also includes 28 civilians, most killed by Russian air strikes. The offensive began on Wednesday, the same day that a fragile ceasefire took effect in neighbouring Lebanon between Israel and Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. By Friday, the jihadists and their allies had wrested control of more than 50 towns and villages in the north, according to the Britain-based Observatory, in the government's biggest loss of territory in years. They then entered western districts of Aleppo, a city of some two million people that was Syria's pre-war manufacturing hub. The fighters "advanced without any significant pushback from regime forces", Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said, adding that they had taken control of five neighbourhoods of the city. An AFP correspondent saw clashes in the New Aleppo district. State media reported that four civilians were killed when a student residence in Aleppo was shelled by HTS, a jihadist alliance led by Al-Qaeda's former Syria branch. Army reinforcements have arrived in Aleppo, a Syrian security official told AFP, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. An army statement said troops had repelled the assault on the city and retaken some positions. - Russian air strikes - Syrian and Russian warplanes launched intense air strikes on the rebel enclave around Idlib, where the jihadists are based, carrying out 23 raids, according to the Observatory. The Russian military said it was bombing "extremist" forces. "The Russian air force is carrying out rocket-bomb attacks on... control points, warehouses and artillery positions of terrorists," a defence ministry spokesperson told Russian news agencies. Turkey demanded a halt to the bombardment. "The recent clashes have resulted in an undesirable escalation of tensions in the region," a foreign ministry statement said. The Idlib area has been subject to a Turkish- and Russian-brokered truce since 2020. The ceasefire has been repeatedly violated but had largely held. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said "more than 14,000 people -- nearly half are children -- have been displaced" by the violence. Aleppo resident Sarmad, 51, told AFP he could hear "the sounds of missiles and artillery shelling around the clock". "We're scared that war will break out and we'll be displaced from our homes again," he said. Nasser Hamdo, 36, who works in a pastry shop, said he had been glued to the news since hostilities began. On Thursday, the jihadists and their allies cut the highway linking Aleppo to the capital Damascus, some 300 kilometres (185 miles) south, the Observatory said. "We're worried that roads getting blocked could cause fuel prices to soar and prevent goods from reaching the city," Hamdo said. - International players - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday described the situation in Aleppo as "an infringement on the sovereignty of Syria." He expressed support for "the government of Syria to quickly restore order in this district". Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi pledged "continued support for the government, nation and army of Syria," in a phone call with his Syrian counterpart Bassam al-Sabbagh, according to a statement. An AFP correspondent in the rebel enclave saw jihadists advancing in tanks as intense exchanges of fire took place in an area just seven kilometres (a little over four miles) from Aleppo. AFP images showed abandoned army tanks and other military vehicles. The correspondent said the jihadists and their Turkey-backed allies took orders from a joint operations command. Analyst Nick Heras, of the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy, said the fighters were "trying to preempt the possibility of a Syrian military campaign in the region of Aleppo". According to Heras, the Syrian government and its ally Russia had been preparing for such an offensive. - 'Totally unprepared' - Other interests are also at stake. As well as Russia, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been propped up by Iran and allied militant groups, including Lebanon's Hezbollah. Iran-backed militias have a heavy presence in the Aleppo region after providing crucial ground support to the army in its recapture of rebel-held areas of the city in 2016. Heras said anti-government forces are "in a better position to take and seize villages than Russian-backed Syrian government forces, while the Iranians are focused on Lebanon". Abdel Rahman said government forces "were totally unprepared" for the attack. "It is strange to see regime forces being dealt such big blows despite Russian air cover and early signs that HTS was going to launch this operation," Abdel Rahman said. "Were they depending on Hezbollah, which is now busy in Lebanon?" This photo taken from Jingshan Hill on Aug. 12, 2024 shows the skyscrapers of the central business district (CBD) on a sunny day in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Li Xin) BEIJING, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- A total of 121 major foreign-funded research and development (R&D) centers in Beijing invested 13.77 billion yuan (about 1.92 billion U.S. dollars) in R&D in the first eight months of 2024, up 29.9 percent year on year, local authorities said Thursday. The Chinese capital is currently home to 252 regional headquarters of multinational companies and 149 foreign-funded R&D centers, according to the municipal government. Li Yang, secretary-general of the Beijing Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment, noted that major foreign firms are optimistic about China's long-term growth prospects and continue to regard the country as a preferred investment destination. To improve its business environment further, the Beijing municipal government has implemented more than 1,500 reform measures and updated its regulations on business environment optimization over the past few years. On July 1, Beijing's first special regulation on foreign investment took effect, highlighting the city's efforts to promote further opening up and boost its appeal to global investors. Editor: JYZ On November 28, diplomatic envoys participating in the international communication event "Opportunities in China: International Communication Event of High-Quality Development of Anhui for Diplomatic Envoys in China" visited Hefei's Luogang Park and Sanhe Ancient Town, experiencing Anhui's rich cultural history and the vibrant practice of innovation and inheritance. Once a bustling airport, Luogang has now transformed into one of the world's largest urban parksLuogang Park. Covering an area of 11.45 square kilometers, with green space accounting for 90%, it resembles a vibrant "green heart" embedded in the center of Hefei. Here, visitors can almost hear the gentle whispers of time and feel the citys vibrant energy. Within Luogang Park, many remnants of the old airport can still be found. The former terminal has been transformed into an Urban Construction Museum, the large hangar has been converted into an art hall, and the original beacon platform has become a stunning "little mushroom." These old buildings, rejuvenated by the passage of time, bear witness to Hefei's urban renewal and carry the hopes and dreams for the future. After leaving Luogang Park, the envoys arrived at Sanhe Ancient Town. Named for the convergence of the Fengle River, Hangbu River, and Xiaonan River, this ancient town has a history of over 2,550 years. With its quaint architecture, cobblestone streets, and flowing waters, it transports visitors back a thousand years. Sanhe Ancient Town is a typical representative of the Jianghuai water towns, featuring a unique landscape of "eight antiquities," including ancient rivers, bridges, streets, alleys, residences, tea houses, temples, and battlefields. Here, the diplomatic envoys wandered through the town's streets, savoring authentic Sanhe cuisine and enjoying traditional opera performances, completely immersed in the experience. The diplomatic envoys expressed that this event allowed them to deeply feel Anhuis solid steps toward high-quality development. Whether through the innovative legacy of Luogang Park or the ancient charm of Sanhe Ancient Town, they left filled with confidence and anticipation for Anhui's future. Source: cri.cn SHENZHEN, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- In a delightful twist, the once-forgotten CCD cameras, deemed "electronic waste" and pushed aside by the technological tide, are making a stylish comeback as new darlings for documenting life among young Chinese people. Despite their slightly blurry images and less vibrant colors, these vintage devices, once up for grabs for a few tens of yuan, are now fetching prices in the thousands. Their surge in price and popularity are being fueled by the retro nostalgia trend sweeping through China's youth. "The prices have multiplied more than tenfold, and all my friends are buying them," said Tang Lili, a post-90s girl working in southern Chinese metropolis of Shenzhen. Her first camera, a Canon CCD camera she bought when she was in high school, was sold for a pittance when it became outdated after graduation. Now, lured by the soft, bright photos on social media, she's shocked to find the prices have skyrocketed beyond her wildest expectations. On Chinese social media platforms like Xiaohongshu, Douyin and Weibo, the enthusiasm for sharing second-hand or even multiple-hand CCD cameras is growing. It seems that owning one of these cameras is akin to capturing a unique vintage hue, the texture of film and the coveted "cold white skin" tone. CCD, or Charge-Coupled Device, is the light-sensitive component in digital cameras. While it excels in well-lit conditions, producing clear and bright images, it has clear limitations. Poor performance in low light, a small sensor size, and its low pixel count led to its gradual replacement by CMOS sensors after 2010. Yet, the search for CCD cameras on e-commerce platforms like Taobao, Xianyu and Douyin reveals a wealth of vendors still offering them. Moreover, physical stores in China's famous electronics hub, Huaqiangbei in Shenzhen, are now dotted with small yet bustling CCD sellers. Each stall, no larger than a few square meters, is a mini-museum of CCD cameras, showcasing a dense array of brands, models, ages, and conditions. "Nowadays, CCD has become a unique aesthetic style and most people are attracted by online posts," said Zhou Xingwang, the store owner of "Xidi Digital," a retro CCD specialty store at Huaqiangbei. The store owner also pointed out that they can sell over 100 CCD cameras a month, with prices ranging from a few hundred to around 2,000 yuan (about 278 U.S. dollars). For youngsters, especially students, the appeal of CCD cameras lies not only in their unique photographic style but also in their portability, making them ideal for everyday documentation. "They're small, convenient, and have a good feel in your hands. They also produce great shots, and there's a sense of occasion when you take them out for a shoot," said Zhang Nana, a high school student from the city's Bao'an District. In recent years, with the prevalence of smartphones, major manufacturers have discontinued their compact camera lines. However, the rise of Vlog has reignited the market demand for portable digital cameras. However, an increasing number of netizens who have bought CCD cameras due to the fad are now "discouraging" others. Due to their technological obsolescence, for the vast majority, the latest cameras or smartphones are still more user-friendly for serious photography. Industry experts have warned that many seemingly low-priced cameras may be second-hand inventory from merchants, with varying quality and outdated functions. Moreover, the so-called retro tones and film feel of many CCD cameras are often the result of outdated technology and sensor aging. Misleading online promotions not only confuse consumers about CCDs, but they may also lead them to purchase products that do not meet their expectations. However, some experts believe that these retro cameras have provided the youngsters a new channel to express their spiritual pursuits and unique personalities. "Sharing photos has become a social ritual for contemporary youngsters. The process of sharing is not only a display of self-awareness but also means a strengthening of group identity," said Wang Ning, professor of sociology and anthropology, Sun Yat-sen University. "The 'nostalgic consumption' behind the fad, as an aesthetic trend, reflects the young people's yearning for a better life and is endowed with new meanings that represent the development of the times," Wang explained. Editor: WRX Advertisement Eating outRegional guides From gold rush to gold chook: Where to find Central Victorias hidden dining gems Beyond Daylesford, central Victoria has plenty more for food-lovers, from a destination for charcoal chicken and natural wine to an all-day wine bar that feels straight from a quiet corner of Rome. Emma Breheny November 30, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share To Andy Buchan, a charcoal chicken joint is an essential part of any country town that, a fish and chip shop, a pub and a Chinese restaurant so he decided to take one to Harcourt, the town he fell in love with after making wine there for five years. Ten minutes from Castlemaine and 90 minutes from Melbourne, Harcourt is now home to Victorias quirkiest charcoal chicken spot, Le Coq Door (translating roughly to the golden chicken). Tina and Andy Buchan have reopened Harcourts tavern as Le Coq Door, a charcoal chicken restaurant serving natural wine. Eddie Jim Set inside the towns old tavern, which had been closed for 18 months, its got the atmosphere of a pub or RSL, with 150 vinyl seats, a front bar and a pool table. The brown and red colour scheme of the original fitout has been revived, but the drinks are fresh and exciting, thanks to Buchans winemaking background under the label Adaption. The menu is brief and joyously retro: rotisserie chicken, dagwood dogs and, for dessert, soft-serve and jam doughnuts. Advertisement Le Coq Door is a sign of the times in central Victoria, where Buchan and other hospitality operators have spied opportunity. Daylesford has long been the regions culinary drawcard, but there are now several dining destinations blossoming. Theres a demographic change happening, says Buchan. These towns have been very farmer-oriented, but now there are a lot of younger families who are commuting to Bendigo and, in many cases, Melbourne. Rotisserie chicken cooked over charcoal is the focus at Le Coq Door in Harcourt. Eddie Jim Castlemaine has had an influx of ex-Melbourne chefs drawn by the historic towns charm and access to produce. Ali Currey-Voumard, who trained under Andrew McConnell and worked at Tasmanias celebrated Agrarian Kitchen eatery, ran her pop-up restaurant, A Table Bistro, in Castlemaine for several months this year. Her French-leaning menus celebrated local growers, such as Mount Franklin Organics and Jonai Farms. Joel Baylon, formerly of Melbourne hot spots Aru and The Moon, moved back to his hometown to head the kitchen at Love Shack brewerys venue. Advertisement In August, couple Astrid Connelly and David Gorniak opened Gornellys, an all-day cafe and wine bar styled on those found in European neighbourhoods. After moving from Melbourne in 2020, they saw more young people like them relocating and spotted a gap in Castlemaine for a mid-range venue that was open late. We used to come up a lot on weekends [before we moved] and it felt quite sleepy. But its changed so much, Gorniak says. Love Shacks venue in Castlemaine is rich in nostalgic touches. Fred Farquhar The number of registered food premises in the Shire of Mount Alexander (which includes Castlemaine and Harcourt) doubled between 2020-21 and 2023-24. Advertisement The regions growing culinary reputation was pre-empted by a UNESCO City of Gastronomy designation in 2019, awarded to the City of Greater Bendigo and eight other local government areas including Shire of Mount Alexander. Among Castlemaines thriving community of hospitality entrepreneurs are hatted restaurant Bar Midland, cheesemakers Long Paddock, Boomtown wine bar, Love Shack brewery, the pop-ups by A Table Bistro and Ratbag at Temperance House Hotel, and Sprout Bakery. Wed always wanted to open our own place, Gorniak says. And wed seen all these new venues open up around us, and we found it quite inspirational. Theres a movement happening here. Castlemaines Bar Midland serves exclusively Victorian food and drink. Tim Grey Its alive in a way that I think is pretty special in a regional town, Connelly says. Places can sometimes become toy towns, but this is changing, its innovating. Advertisement Tiny Harcourt (population 1000) might be the next culinary pin on the map. Apart from Le Coq Door and wineries such as Bress, theres a revamp of Blumes Bakery under way, a forthcoming miniature railway, and new cafe Cool Store, which opened in August. Housed in a space once used to make pine boxes to store the towns famed apples, Cool Store sells toasties, home-made cakes and Code Black coffee between Monday and Friday. Hospitality people look for opportunities to do something a bit different. Little towns like Harcourt have those opportunities, says co-owner Remy Sowman. Remy Sowman and wife Bonnie Sowman, owners of the Cool Store cafe in Harcourt. Eddie Jim A proposal to rezone parts of the town centre for commercial use may bring more. Advertisement Whats happening in central Victoria is amazing right now, Buchan says. Theres so many wonderful little communities, producing fabulous wines and food and drinks and restaurants. Its a real opportunity for Harcourt to be pulled into it. Five venues to add to a central Victorian road trip Le Coq Door Youre here for the chook. Its sourced from Hazeldenes and cooked on a rotisserie over Mallee charcoal, just like charcoal chicken shops used to do. Served with chips, gravy and all the condiments you could want, it goes down a treat with the minimal intervention wines on offer from near and far. 23 High Street, Harcourt, lecoqdoor.com Advertisement Cool Store serves toasties such as egg and bacon, and three cheeses. Eddie Jim Cool Store From the less-is-more school comes this weekday-only cafe set inside a gorgeous art deco building. The menu revolves around toasties filled with ham, cheddar and pickle, or balsamic mushroom, hummus and feta. Coffee is by Code Black and the owners used to run Woodends popular Fox in the Chamber cafe. 32 Coolstore Road, Harcourt, instagram.com/harcourtcoolstore Boomtown Cellar Bar Advertisement This winemaking space, cellar door and restaurant is part of the revamped wool mills of Castlemaine, and its a magnet for those seeking minimal intervention wines and snacky share plates. On weekends, more substantial fare includes pasta (sometimes with clams, sometimes ragu), braised vegetables and roasted meat such as porchetta. The Mill, 9 Walker Street, Castlemaine, boomtownwine.com.au Gornellys Slide onto the bar at this Euro spot with checkerboard floors and chat to staff or whoevers next to you. A little like Pellegrinis, its all part of the experience. By day, get filled focaccia, coffee and house-made cake. Dinner will be small plates such as terrine, baby leeks with pesto, and affogato with house-made ice-cream. Just add wine. Advertisement 196 Barker Street, Castlemaine, instagram.com/gornellys Love Shack This bar attached to local brewers Love Shack has got all the wood-panelled charm of an old pub plus a secret weapon in chef Joel Baylon (ex-Aru). He serves Scotch eggs with XO sauce, fried cauliflower with ranch dipping sauce, and crumpets slathered with smoked trout and creme fraiche, plus parmas, burgers and other favourites. Pull up a stool seven days a week. 26 Hargraves Street, Castlemaine, loveshackbrewingco.beer Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up The family of 95-year-old Clare Nowland is struggling to understand why her killer will remain on bail until he is sentenced next year for the Taser manslaughter, as the police officers lawyer says his client remains entirely devastated and acutely aware of their loss. Senior Constable Kristian James Samuel White was found guilty by a jury on Wednesday of the unlawful killing of Nowland after discharging his Taser as she held a knife in Coomas Yallambee Lodge nursing home on May 17, 2023. Nowland died in hospital seven days later. Senior Constable Kristian White with his solicitor Warwick Anderson (right) outside the Supreme Court in Sydney on Friday. Credit: Rhett Wyman In a statement issued on Friday night, defence solicitor Warwick Anderson said White extends his thoughts and prayers to the Nowland family. Since that fateful morning, Kristian has tried to deal with the legal case against him, whilst confronting the pain that discharging his Taser ultimately resulted in Mrs Nowlands death, Anderson said. Victorias police officers are at breaking point as they deal with filthy, disgusting animals and stage their biggest walkout to date over pay and conditions, the union boss says. Hundreds of officers walked off the job at the forces Melbourne headquarters at Docklands on 11am on Friday, pouring into a forecourt outside and launching into a series of frustrated speeches. Victorian police officers stopping work at the forces Melbourne headquarters on Friday. Credit: Joe Armao Police Association of Victoria boss Wayne Gatt was third to take up a yellow stool in front of the crowd, saying it was no wonder officers had enough, while a Fair Work Commission decision over their impasse with Victoria Police loomed. These are the people that, week after week, front up to your protests on their days off, on their kids birthdays, to protests in the city to keep our community safe there, Gatt said. By the end of the sitting day on Thursday, it was all smiles for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. For the sum of $500 million towards social housing, he had corralled the Greens into voting with the federal government on a long list of legislation, from an overhaul of the running of the Reserve Bank to the Future Made in Australia program and changes to superannuation. The prime minister already knew that for another set of bills the inchoate social media ban for children under 16 and its draconian amendments to the Migration Act he could count on the support of the opposition. Mocking its leader Peter Dutton on the floor of the House on Thursday, Albanese could be heard saying that youre not being aggressive enough. The two men seem to have wedged each other into a perpetual tough-guy contest. Forty-five pieces of legislation were passed by the end of this, the last sitting week for the year. The news An LNP election promise to re-establish an independent body to advise on approaches to economic and social issues in Queensland will lack key independence held by its predecessor. Proposed laws introduced to parliament on Thursday will require the new Productivity Commission to get ministerial approval for any work launched on its own initiative and intended for publication. Treasurer David Janetzki told parliament on Thursday that the return of the commission promised by Premier David Crisafullis team would remain independent. But there are differences. Credit: Matt Dennien The departure from the fuller independence of the former commission, which Labor established in 2015 and wound up in 2020, has been criticised by a former commissioner and the new opposition. Major airlines are embracing the US phenomenon of Black Friday and Cyber Monday with discounts spanning many popular routes from Australia. While some carriers jumped on the trend early last week, with member early-access sale fares, the sale period officially began on Friday. Budget carrier Jetstar has backed up last weeks Return for Free Black Friday sale with another major sale for 48 hours from Monday morning, offering network-wide Cyber Monday discounts for international and domestic routes. Among the best deals are one-way Sydney to Ballina (Byron Bay) fares from $35, and one-way Melbourne (Tullamarine) to Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) from $189. Asian budget airlines continue to lead the way with significant discounts on economy fares, including Scoot from Melbourne to Phu Quoc, Vietnam, from $269 one-way, and AirAsia from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur from $339 one-way. Evan Kail (C), a pawnshop manager from the United States, learns to make the local street food "Jianbing Guozi" in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Nov. 28, 2024. In 2022, Kail donated a photo album to China. The album features photos of Japanese atrocities in China during WWII. Two years after making this donation, Kail decided to embark on a month-long visit to China. Before he actually arrived in Beijing on Nov. 16, the news of Kail coming to China went viral on social media, with Chinese web users expressing their welcome and inviting him to different parts of the country to have a look. Kail started his trip in Beijing, and will also spend time in Tianjin, Shanghai and Nanjing -- where he plans to visit the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders. (Xinhua/Li Ran) Evan Kail (L, front), a pawnshop manager from the United States, visits a cultural street in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Nov. 28, 2024. In 2022, Kail donated a photo album to China. The album features photos of Japanese atrocities in China during WWII. Two years after making this donation, Kail decided to embark on a month-long visit to China. Before he actually arrived in Beijing on Nov. 16, the news of Kail coming to China went viral on social media, with Chinese web users expressing their welcome and inviting him to different parts of the country to have a look. Kail started his trip in Beijing, and will also spend time in Tianjin, Shanghai and Nanjing -- where he plans to visit the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders. (Xinhua/Li Ran) Evan Kail (R), a pawnshop manager from the United States, tries the local street food "Jianbing Guozi" in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Nov. 28, 2024. In 2022, Kail donated a photo album to China. The album features photos of Japanese atrocities in China during WWII. Two years after making this donation, Kail decided to embark on a month-long visit to China. Before he actually arrived in Beijing on Nov. 16, the news of Kail coming to China went viral on social media, with Chinese web users expressing their welcome and inviting him to different parts of the country to have a look. Kail started his trip in Beijing, and will also spend time in Tianjin, Shanghai and Nanjing -- where he plans to visit the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders. (Xinhua/Li Ran) Evan Kail (L), a pawnshop manager from the United States, poses for photos with a local child when visiting a cultural street in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Nov. 28, 2024. In 2022, Kail donated a photo album to China. The album features photos of Japanese atrocities in China during WWII. Two years after making this donation, Kail decided to embark on a month-long visit to China. Before he actually arrived in Beijing on Nov. 16, the news of Kail coming to China went viral on social media, with Chinese web users expressing their welcome and inviting him to different parts of the country to have a look. Kail started his trip in Beijing, and will also spend time in Tianjin, Shanghai and Nanjing -- where he plans to visit the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders. (Xinhua/Li Ran) Evan Kail, a pawnshop manager from the United States, visits a cultural street in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Nov. 28, 2024. In 2022, Kail donated a photo album to China. The album features photos of Japanese atrocities in China during WWII. Two years after making this donation, Kail decided to embark on a month-long visit to China. Before he actually arrived in Beijing on Nov. 16, the news of Kail coming to China went viral on social media, with Chinese web users expressing their welcome and inviting him to different parts of the country to have a look. Kail started his trip in Beijing, and will also spend time in Tianjin, Shanghai and Nanjing -- where he plans to visit the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders. (Xinhua/Li Ran) Editor: WRX It was too good a chance to miss to not meet up with my son in Mexico on a student exchange program there. Arriving late, he took me to a tiny place called Cholula, east of Mexico City. A festival for Virgin Mary was in progress. In the dark, we stumbled across a near empty churchyard where two boys struck up a constantly changing rhythm on drums. Over the top of this came the random melody of an old man playing on a home-made instrument, like a cross between a recorder and an oboe. Despite my jet-lag, I was captivated by that simple get-together of musicians in the dark. Martin Hengeveld, Research, Vic Tatts how we like it Like Julia DOrazio (Traveller, November 28) Im also a reformed cheapskate in one way regarding family holidays. Im a big believer in everyone not always having to do the same thing when holidaying together, with each family member getting to choose one memorable activity theyd like to do without worrying about the cost, like a bungee jump, a helicopter ride, a special tour or a quad-bike ride; and we save our pennies beforehand to provide these special experiences. Some years ago while on a family holiday in New Zealand, our then 17-year-old son even chose to get his first tattoo in Queenstown. Imagine his delight when I said, Where do I sign? Kerrie Wehbe, Blacktown, NSW Eat Turkey Last year I did one of the Culinary Backstreet food tours in Istanbul and can highly recommend them (Traveller, November 23). My tour traversed both continents and, as Lee Tulloch described, revealed places and food that I would never have found on my own. Its incredibly good value for money and I finished the day feeling totally satiated. Lisa Clarke, Watsons Bay, NSW Missing in Africa Namibia is very picturesque and worth visiting. Just dont expect to ever get a tourist VAT refund on purchased goods. We received written advice that our claim was approved and would be paid in three months. Several months and follow-ups later without payment it leaves us feeling scammed. Peter Kempster, Brighton, Vic Tip of the week: Guiding lights Hiroshima and its Atomic Dome at dusk. Credit: iStock We recently had a wonderful trip to Japan and the highlight was spending a day with a local volunteer guide organised through the official Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO). Our guide, a retired educator, showed us around the uplifting city of Hiroshima while discussing history, philosophy, education, careers, government policies, taxes and food. A free service, the only cost is your guides lunch and reimbursement of transport costs. Why do the guides do this? The Japanese concept of Fureai developing emotional connections between people. Alan Hayden, Hawthorn East, Vic Samoan loaf Your cover story on guilt-free holidays (Traveller, November 16) reminded me of a trip I took to Samoa earlier this year. I rarely travel to loaf, however in Samoa it is impossible to not spend a few days in a beach shack (fale) and watch the waves, read a book, and enjoy doing nothing. I now recommend Samoa to everyone I speak with. Its a fantastic destination, full of wonderful people, and is a worthy destination for any loafing holiday. Stu OBrien, St Kilda, Vic Euro visions We recently returned from our ideal travel destinations for doing nothing including Nice, Cannes, Ramatuelle, Saint Tropez, Santorini, Paros, Athens and Doha. We enjoyed daily golden hours sipping Aperols, kicked back at beach clubs and pools, strolled the boulevards, and let the days drift by. A magical holiday. Rhoda Silber, Manly, NSW Monastic life I have your Tripologist to thank for the monasterystays.com recommendation and booked a month in Rome for the price of a few days in a hotel in the same location. The extra time gave me the luxury of days of doing nothing at all in between days of classic sightseeing. Kylie Salisbury, Lakemba, NSW Uluru dawning Dawn at Uluru. Credit: iStock Nothing is almost all that you need to do for this outback spectacle just sit in the dark and wait. First light at Uluru, watching the inky black sky magically turn to hues of magenta, and then our solar star peeks over the horizon bringing with it a burst of colour, silhouetting this world-renowned sandstone monolith. At 348 metres high, this icon is taller than the Eiffel Tower. Your senses will go into overdrive as the desert slowly comes to life around you. And the only effort required is an early start and warm clothes in winter. Roxanne Le Blanc, Croydon, Vic Expect the unexpected London: Volodymyr Zelensky has said for the first time he would be willing to cede territory to Russia to end the war, in Ukraine in exchange for his country being brought under the NATO umbrella. The Ukrainian president said support from the alliance a political and military coalition of 32 countries from Europe and North America would have to be offered to unoccupied parts of the country to end the hot phase of the war, as long as the invitation acknowledged Ukraines internationally recognised borders. Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaking to Sky News. Credit: SkyNews/YouTube His comments in an interview with UKs Sky News on Friday underscored increased concern in Kyiv and Europe about the direction of the war and any deal that US President-elect Donald Trump might try to broker with Moscow and Zelensky. Zelensky appeared to accept that occupied parts of eastern Ukraine would fall outside such a deal for the moment. A visitor tries an intelligent medical imaging system under the guidance of a staff member at the Light of Internet Expo in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province, on Thursday. WANG JING/CHINA DAILY With a focus on emerging digital opportunities around the world, the latest internet development reports highlight China's global leadership in the digital industry, with the country showing rapid growth and expanding international influence in the digital culture sector. According to the World Internet Development Report released on Thursday at the ongoing 2024 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province, China ranks second among the 52 involved economies worldwide in internet development, with a score of 69 just behind the United States. This year marks the 30th anniversary of China's fully functional access to the global internet, during which time the country has witnessed a steadily improved cyber ecosystem, rapidly advanced core technologies, comprehensively enhanced cybersecurity capabilities, deepened legal governance and expanded international cooperation, said Wang Jiang, head of the Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies, the reports' publisher. Based on six indicators information infrastructure, digital technology and innovation capability, digital economy, digital government, cybersecurity and international governance in cyberspace, it said the global digital economy is experiencing a new wave of growth, with more development potential rapidly unfolding. With a specific focus on China's performance in terms of digital development, another report by the academy highlighted the impressive performance of the country's digital culture industry in recent years. According to the China Internet Development Report 2024, the country's online audiovisual market including long videos, short videos, livestreaming and audio sectors had reached a market size of 1.15 trillion yuan ($159 billion) by end-2023. Meanwhile, the domestic gaming industry's actual sales revenue stood at about 303 billion yuan during the same period. "In recent years, China's digital culture has flourished, producing high-quality works across fields such as mini-dramas, online literature, video games and digital animation," Wang said. The country's digital culture vitality is not merely limited to its domestic market. According to the report, China's online literature sector has also seen remarkable success overseas, with export sales of over 4 billion yuan, attracting 230 million overseas readers last year. Additionally, domestically developed games generated overseas sales of $16.37 billion in 2023, marking the fourth consecutive year of surpassing the 100 billion-yuan threshold, it said. "Our digital cultural products are now more diverse and globally accessible. A large number of high-quality creations have transcended cultural boundaries and gained recognition from audiences worldwide," said Qian Xianliang, deputy director of the Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies. For instance, the Chinese mythology-inspired video game Black Myth: Wukong has captivated domestic and international audiences, driving widespread discussions and sales of over $1 billion on online gaming platform Steam by October, Qian added. In addition, Chinese science fiction television series Three-Body has spearheaded Chinese cultural productions' globalization, reaching audiences in over 190 countries and regions, he said, adding that many Chinese online literature works have also been translated into English, French, Spanish, Arabic and many other languages, further extending their global reach. "The digital culture industry, represented by video games, short videos and livestreaming, has now become a cornerstone of China's cultural sector. It plays a pioneering role in driving the deep integration of culture and technology, embedding China's rich traditional culture into the fabric of modern civilization through digitalization," said Sun Jiashan, associate researcher at the Central Academy of Culture and Tourism Administration. Sun also emphasized the key role of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and large language models in driving digital culture growth. "Cutting-edge technologies are reshaping the international dissemination of Chinese culture. For example, AI-powered translation has significantly reduced the cost of translating Chinese online literature into multiple languages, enabling broader global accessibility in a way more efficient than ever," Sun said. "The achievements in digital technology and infrastructure are not only fueling localized production and dissemination of cultural works, but also promoting the values of cultural diversity and fostering dialogue and mutual respect among different cultures on a global scale," he added. Editor: ZAD Tribal culture holds special place in Indias heritage Staff Reporter RAIPUR, CM Sai addresses workshop Tribal Identity, Survival, and Development at the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium in Raipur The history of tribal communities is intrinsically linked to the very existence of humanity on Earth. Tribal culture holds a special place in Indias heritage, with deep roots in the Sanatan tradition. This is epitomised in the story of Lord Shri Ram, who, during his exile in Chhattisgarh, is said to have eaten the berries offered by Mata Shabari, a tribal woman. This connection reflects the profound bond between tribal identity and the broader cultural fabric of India, according to Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai. He made these remarks while addressing a workshop Tribal Identity, Survival, and Development at the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium in Raipur on Thursday. The Chief Minister expressed pride in leadership of PM Modi, who, he said, has shown great sensitivity towards the identity and heritage of tribal communities. He also highlighted the election of Droupadi Murmu, a member of the tribal community, as the President of India, calling it a significant milestone in nations recognition of tribal communities. Sai further emphasised that the tribal community is culturally rich and plays a key role in preserving the values of Indian society. He noted that tribal communities have long been vocal against societal evils and have contributed greatly to the protection of Indias culture and independence. This was reflected in the Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, celebrated across the country from November 13 to 15, an initiative by Prime Minister Modi to honor the contributions of tribal leaders. On the developmental front, the Chief Minister spoke about the states efforts to establish peace in the Bastar region, where the BJP government has made significant progress within just 11 months of assuming power. One of the standout initiatives has been the Niyad Nella Naar scheme, which aims to bring government schemes to remote tribal areas. Besides 34 new security camps have been established in Bastar, ensuring that around 96 villages are benefiting from government welfare programs. Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap, who also spoke at the event, underscored the importance of such gatherings for educating future generations about the rich history of tribal heroes. He emphasized that it is the duty of the present generation to pass on these values to the next. Atul Jog delivered the keynote address, while BJP leaders Pawan Sai and Anurag Jain also addressed the symposium. Secretary of the Higher Education Department, Prasanna R, provided an overview of the various schemes implemented by the Chhattisgarh government to support tribal students, further reinforcing the states commitment to tribal welfare and development. Bangladesh HC no to ban ISKCON DHAKA : BANGLADESH High Court Thursday rejected a petition seeking a ban on ISKCONs activities in the country, days after a lawyer was killed in a clash between security personnel and supporters of a Hindu leader, previously linked to the religious group. A lawyer had sought a ban on the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) after placing some newspaper reports related to the organisation on Wednesday. The two-member High Court bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Debashish Roy Chowdhury on Thursday declined to ban the ISKCON activities in Bangladesh, a spokesman of the attorney generals office said. He said the bench made the decision after the attorney generals office submitted a report on the action taken by the government regarding the death of assistant government prosecutor Saiful Islam Alif in the northeastern port city of Chattogram earlier this week. Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachary, arrested earlier this week, was sent to jail by a Chattogram court on sedition charges, sparking a violent protest during which advocate Alif was killed. Chinmoy was earlier expelled from ISKCON. Right at this moment, the situation does not warrant the intervention of the (High) court as the State is carrying out its job (regarding the matter), Justice Mahbub was quoted as saying by the spokesman. The decision came a day after Attorney-General Mohammad Asaduzzaman urged the court not to take any decisions on the ISKCON issue as the government has started taking the required action. Additional Attorney General Aneek R Haque and Deputy Attorney General Asad Uddin informed the bench that three separate cases have been filed in connection with the murder of the lawyer and ISKCONs activities, and 33 accused have been arrested in these cases. The bench then hoped that the government would remain cautious about protecting the law and order situation and the lives and properties of the people of Bangladesh. Meanwhile, ISKCON Bangladesh refuted allegations linking the organisation to the lawyers killing, saying the claims were baseless and part of a malicious campaign. A series of false, fabricated, and malicious campaigns is being spearheaded targeting ISKCON Bangladesh, particularly in connection with recent events. These efforts are aimed at discrediting our organisation and creating societal unrest, general secretary of the organization Charu Chandra Das Brahmachari said. Speaking at a press conference at the organisations head office, he said ISKCON Bangladesh was never involved in communal or conflict-driven activities and will continue to promote unity and harmony. We have already clarified the matter multiple times through press conferences and official communications with the government and administrative authorities. Regrettably, certain groups continue to deliberately spread false propaganda against our organisation and make unreasonable demands, such as banning ISKCON, Das said. He said that Chinmoy was previously expelled from the organisation along with two others for violating its rules and none of their activities were connected to ISKCON. ISKCON Bangladesh President Satya Ranjan Baroi also spoke at the press conference, saying their organisation was dedicated to communal harmony, religious tolerance, and the welfare of humanity and the allegations are an attempt to tarnish our religious and social reputation. Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum on Thursday staged a protest in front of the Supreme Court Bar, protesting the lawyers killing and demanding the ban on ISKCON. The group is regarded as the lawyers wing of ex-premier Khaleda Zias Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement, which led the mass upheaval to oust deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas regime on August 5, also demanded the ban on ISKCON. Separately, a group of Supreme Court lawyers sent a legal notice to the Bangladesh government on Wednesday seeking the ban on ISKCON describing it as a radical organisation. India on Tuesday noted with deep concern Chinmoys arrest and denial of bail and urged Dhaka to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all other minority groups. Earlier, the ISKCON had urged the Bangladesh authorities to promote peaceful coexistence for Hindus in the country as it strongly denounced the arrest of the Hindu leader. Chinmoy, the spokesperson for Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, was arrested from Dhakas Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday as he was about to fly to Chattogram to join a rally. He was denied bail and sent to jail by the Chattograms Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate court in a sedition case on Tuesday. DelaPlex brings global expertise in supplychain, cybersecurity, AI to Central India Business Reporter : CITY-BASEDDelaPlexLimitedis making a significant impact in Central India by bringing global expertise in supply chain, cybersecurity, and AI to professionals of the region. Through its unique Center of Excellence (CoE) model, DelaPlex actively collaborates with colleges and educational institutions, offering training programmes to upskill young professionals with the latest industry knowledge. This initiative not only equips the company with cutting-edge skills but also ensures it is future-ready, contributing to theregionsgrowing talent pool. The initiative is also positioning DelaPlex as a leader in driving innovation and technology growth in Central India. This, combined with their global expansion strategy, positions delaPlex as a rising leader in the technology sector. DelaPlex Limited has shown significant growthin thefirsthalf ofFY2024,withconsolidated revenue reaching Rs 3,594.09 lakh, up from Rs 2,785.84 lakh in the same period last year. The companys EBITDA also grew by 48 per cent, demonstrating its strong financial performance. Key acquisitions, including UK-based BlueBerry Software Limited andBengalurusCelestia Crew Consultancy, are driving expansion into software development and Workforce Management (WFM) sectors. DelaPlex is also enhancing its presence in the EMEA region, securingcontractsin theUK and Gulf, and launching its Cybersecurity division to strengthen its service offerings. Managing Director Nitin Sachdeva commented, We are pleased with our results, driven by improved domestic performance and increased efficiencies. Ourfocus on cost optimisation and strategic acquisitions has resulted in higher margins. He further added that DelaPlexs launch of a Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (CoE) has already attracted contracts in the Gulf region, with expected growth in FY25 and FY26. Institute to come up in MP for German language skills Staff Reporter : CM Yadav aims for industrial development through co-ordination of Indian Technology and German experts On the first day of his tour to Germany Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav announced setting up of Language Institute in Madhya Pradesh to overcome the linguistic gap, facilitating smoother communication between Madhya Pradesh and German officials, ensuring language does not become a hurdle in accessing employment opportunities. Later on Thursday, Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav met Dr Florian Herrmann, Head of the Bavarian State Chancellery, and Minister of State for Federal and European Affairs and Media. The meeting focused on exploring various collaboration opportunities at the state-level. During the discussion, both Dr Yadav and Dr Herrmann expressed their commitment to strengthening state-level partnerships in line with the growing Indo-German relations under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The leaders discussed potential areas of co-operation, including technological innovation, supercomputing, the automotive sector, aeronautics, and space technology. Chief Minister Dr Yadav engaged in discussions with the Bavarian State Government leadership in Munich. He emphasised that, through co-ordination between the governments of Germany and Madhya Pradesh, new avenues for employment will be created. Dr Yadav highlighted that Germany, with a population of 85 million, has emerged as a global leader after World War II, setting an example of technical excellence. However, he acknowledged the language challenge for those seeking employment in Germany and announced plans to establish a Language Institute in Madhya Pradesh to overcome this barrier. This institute will help bridge the linguistic gap, facilitating smoother communication between Madhya Pradesh and German officials. Chief Minister Dr Yadav was deeply impressed by the German delegations time management skills, remarking, Those who conquer time can conquer the world. He praised Germanys economic resilience and transformation as an inspiring model of national development and strategic progress. Both sides viewed the meeting as the beginning of a long-lasting and mutually beneficial relationship between Madhya Pradesh and Bavaria. Chief Minister Dr Yadav emphasised the importance of addressing climate policy challenges, promoting technological innovations, fostering higher education exchange programs, facilitating technology transfer, and creating job opportunities for the citizens of Madhya Pradesh. The Chief Minister also discussed the plan to establish a dedicated state government liaison office in Madhya Pradesh to facilitate smoother co-ordination with existing German investments in Mandideep and Pithampur. Chief Minister Dr Yadav stated that the co-operation between Germany and Madhya Pradesh would open new doors for industrial development. He mentioned that in discussions with Dr. Herrmann, they had explored opportunities for German experts to bring technology to Madhya Pradesh. The two countries, through mutual co-ordination, will set new benchmarks for industrial growth in Madhya Pradesh. He noted that Germany has a long-standing relationship with India, and its civilisation is known for its unique approach to development. On his arrival in Munich, Chief Minister Dr Yadav and the industrial delegation were warmly welcomed by Indias Consul General Shatrughan Sinha, Indian Union President Rana Hargovind Singh, and other members of the Indian Diaspora. Chief Minister Dr Yadav noted that German technical expertise would be invaluable for enhancing Madhya Pradeshs industries, especially in engineering, polytechnic education, and ITIs. He emphasised the advanced level of German technology in the automotive sector and acknowledged the challenges that may arise in implementing this technology. Through sharing technical experiences, both states will work towards overcoming these challenges. He also announced that a Global Investors Summit would be organised in Bhopal after the foreign visit, where German representatives and industrialists would be invited. Madhya Pradesh winsprestigious Best TourismState of the Year award Business Reporter : THE Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department has been honoured with theprestigiousBestTourism State of the Year award at the Travel and TourismConclave and Awards held in New Delhi recently. This recognition is a testament to the remarkable work and achievements of the state in the tourism sector. The department has been innovating topromote thestates unique natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and world-class touristdestinations.Thedepartment has been working to improveinfrastructure,connectivity at tourist destinations, and create new employment opportunities for the local community. This has made Madhya Pradesh a preferred destination for both domestic and international tourists. P r incipal S e cretary Tourism and C u ltu r e D epartment and Managing D i r e ctor M a dhya Pra desh TourismBoard Sheo Shekhar Shukla said,This awardwill further accelerateour efforts toprovide a unique experience to touristsin the state.We are committed to elevating Madhya Pradesh as a world-class tourist destination. Narcotics detection dogs prove invaluable asset to City Police By Shirish Borkar : THE growing menace of drug trafficking in Nagpur has met a formidable adversary in the form of two highly trained narcotics detection dogs -- Surya and Max -- who are playing an essential role in the citys fight against the illegal drug trade. As part of the citys Nagpur Drug-Free initiative spearheaded by Commissioner of Police Dr Ravinder Singal, the duo, both three-year-old German Shepherds, have been instrumental in a series of successful drug busts, leading to multiple arrests of drug-peddlers. Crucial contributions of Surya and Max have solidified the importance of specially trained dogs in modern law enforcement. These two canines, who joined the Anti-Narcotic Cell of the City Polices Crime Branch in 2022, underwent rigorous six-month training at the Sashastra Seema Bals dog breeding and training centre at Dera in Alwar, Rajasthan, before being deployed in Nagpur. With their extraordinary olfactory abilities, Surya and Max have proven capable of detecting even the faintest traces of narcotics. Their highly developed sense of smell, far superior to that of humans, enables them to identify substances like cocaine, heroin, marijuana, mephedrone and other illicit drugs. Their keen noses are equipped with a higher concentration of olfactory receptors and a larger olfactory bulb compared to humans, which significantly enhances their detection abilities. The structure of their noses, including unique folding nostrils, further aids their skill in sniffing out illegal substances. The effectiveness of Surya and Max in drug detection is largely attributed to their specialised training. Handlers, including Head Constables Sukhdeo Dhurve and Ashok Yadav, along with Police Constables Abhay Dandi and Amol Padgam, have trained the dogs to remain alert to the presence of narcotics through specific behaviours, such as heightened excitement or intense sniffing. This skill allows the canines to detect even the smallest traces of narcotics during searches, raids, and other law enforcement operations. However, experts caution that while these dogs are highly skilled, they are not infallible. Since their detection is scent-based, a dog may be alert to narcotics that are no longer present in the immediate area, and some narcotics may be packaged in ways that mask their scent, such as in vacuum-sealed bags, leading to potential false alerts. Despite these limitations, Surya and Maxs reliability remains unmatched. Head Constable Dhurve, who handles Surya, takes pride in the dogs achievements. Surya detected more than 1.5 tonne of marijuana valued at Rs 2.33 crore that was being transported by traffickers in a truck in November 2022. After Surya alerted us, our team seized the contraband and the truck in the Kalamna area, Dhurve recalls. In another instance, Surya helped uncover mephedrone worth Rs 25 lakh in the Ajni area, leading to the arrest of drug-peddlers under the supervision of senior police officials, including Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sanjay Patil. Recently, Surya and Max were tasked with searching the Central Jail premises after reports surfaced about some inmates possessing drugs. Their success in detecting illicit substances within the facility further underscores their importance in maintaining law and order. Both dogs are continuing their training to refine their skills and maintain their accuracy. Their handlers regularly expose them to different environments to sustain focus and enhance their detection capabilities. Additionally, they conduct proofing exercises to ensure that the dogs are not distracted by unfamiliar or misleading smells, minimising the chances of false positives. Surya will also be participating in the State-level Police Meet in Pune next month, showcasing the capabilities of Nagpurs finest narcotics detection dogs. Despite challenges, narcotics detection dogs remain a vital asset for law enforcement, helping to remove dangerous drugs from the streets and making critical arrests. With their superior abilities and ongoing training, Surya and Max are poised to remain at the forefront of the Nagpur Drug-Free initiative, playing a crucial role in keeping the city safe from the growing threat of drugs and narcotics. Nagpur Police expands its canine force with ten more additional trained sniffer dogs THE City Police have also expanded their canine force with an additional ten sniffer dogs, further bolstering their capabilities in various law enforcement tasks. Besides two narcotics detection dogs Surya and Max, six criminal tracking dogs are in the Dog Squad and four other sniffer canines are working with the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad. Among the criminal trackers is Revan, a Belgian Malinois, a breed known for its intelligence, agility, and high stamina. The Belgian Malinois dogs are also used by elite forces like the US Navy SEALs and one of them was involved in the operation to neutralise Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden at Abbottabad, Pakistan, in 2011. In 2015, Belgian Malinois dogs Squad was also an integral part of US President Barack Obamas security apparatus during his visit to New Delhi. The same breed of dogs are in the elite K-9 Squad of the US Secret Service. Indias National Security Guards (NSG) have also integrated Belgian Malinois dogs into their specialised operations, as the breed is highly skilled in both tracking and paralysing terrorists. Priyanka takes oath as LS MP NEW DELHI : HOLDING up a copy of the Constitution, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday took oath as a Lok Sabha MP to begin her journey as an elected representative of the people five years after she joined active politics. The debutant MP, whose entry into Parliament has long been a subject of speculation, said her priority would be to raise important issues concerning the nation and fight for the country and her party. The 52-year-old, who joins her mother Sonia and brother Rahul as an MP in what is a rare instance of three members of a family together in Parliament, took affirmation in Hindi. The MP from Wayanad in Kerala held up a red and black copy of the Constitution, which Rahul Gandhi has been displaying at his public meetings, as she took her oath. Dressed in a cream Kasavu saree from Kerala, Priyanka Gandhi rose to take oath amid cheers of Jodo Jodo, Bharat Jodo from the Congress benches. She took oath with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, her mother and Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chief Sonia Gandhi, husband Robert Vadra, son Raihan and daughter Miraya watching from the galleries. Congress MPs earlier met at the CPP office in the Parliament premises where Priyanka Gandhi was greeted and congratulated by leaders. After taking oath, Priyanka Gandhi completed the formalities and then shared a warm hug with her brother and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. She then went and sat in the fourth row with fellow Congress MPs. Ravindra Chavan (Congress), who won the Nanded by-poll also took oath in Marathi in the name of god. The House was adjourned after the oaths as opposition members came to the Well of the House and raised slogans, demanding a discussion on the Adani issue and the Sambhal violence. As MPs exited the House, leaders made a beeline to congratulate Priyanka Gandhi and on the steps of the Makar Dwar. Congress MPs gathered as Rahul Gandhi clicked a photograph of Priyanka Gandhi with the Samvidhan Sadan in the background. It will strengthen Rahul Gandhi, the party and the principles of the Constitution because we are fighting for that, she told reporters when asked about the impact of her entering Parliament. Asked about taking the oath holding up the Constitution, Priyanka Gandhi said it signifies that nothing is above the Constitution for us and we will continue to fight for it. Priyanka Gandhi also met the Congress president after taking oath and took his blessings. Posting pictures of him blessing Priyanka Gandhi, Kharge said on X, I am confident that Priyanka Gandhi will become a strong voice of the people of the country, especially women, in Parliament. Her able leadership, compassion, courage, decency and determination, and her firm commitment to the principles of the Constitution will benefit the people of the country, he said. Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi also expressed happiness over Priyanka Gandhi taking oath as an MP, saying we are all proud. Sharing a photograph with his mother Sonia and Priyanka Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi posted in Hindi on his WhatsApp channel, Of the people, by the people, for the people - Jai Hind. Congress media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said, Since childhood, we have all seen on television the members of the Gandhi family displaying amazing dignity during the assassination of Indira Ji or Rajiv Ji. The entire country would break into tears, but the Gandhi family, a symbol of the unique tradition of sacrificing everything for the country, always considered the country bigger than their personal grief. When Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi took oath as a Member of Parliament for the first time with a copy of the Constitution in her hand, all those scenes came back in front of the eyes, he said. Top: Ren Keyu (center), a CUC student volunteer at Guangming Cinema, guides visually impaired audience members during a film screening. Above left: Li Yiying records narration for an accessible film. Above right: Li Chaopeng (left) assists a visually impaired child in exploring the production process of an accessible film. [Photo provided to China Daily] A special version of the Chinese animated film Nezha: Birth of the Demon Child(2019) was recently screened at a nursing home in Taiwan, allowing visually impaired elderly residents to "see" the movie. This version was created by Guangming Cinema, a public welfare initiative launched in 2017 by the Communication University of China (CUC) in collaboration with Beijing Gehua CATV Network and Dongfang Jiaying Television Cinema Media Co Ltd. The name "Guangming", meaning "bright" in Chinese, reflects its mission to make films more accessible to visually impaired audiences. Li Yiying, 27, a CUC student volunteer who joined the project in 2018, explained that accessible movies feature audio descriptions of visual elements, added during pauses in dialogue and sound effects. According to her, most volunteers at Guangming Cinema come from CUC's Television School. The team has grown from an initial group of about 30 members to more than 800 today. Making an accessible movie involves several steps: selecting a film from the copyright library, writing the audio description script, recording the narration, reviewing the content, and testing it with visually impaired audiences. The entire process usually takes about 28 days and involves at least three students and two teachers. For many volunteers, the most difficult part of creating an accessible movie is writing the audio descriptions. "Film is an art where a picture speaks a thousand words. It's tough to fit concise, accurate narration into the brief pauses in the soundtrack without disrupting the film's rhythm," Li explained. When she first started, it took her an entire day to write the script for a five-minute segment. To ensure accuracy, she paused the film over 3,000 times to review scenes. Writing descriptions for suspense films is even more demanding, as it's crucial to avoid spoilers. "I want to make sure that, even though visually impaired viewers can't see the screen, our narration still captures the emotions and atmosphere of the film, offering an experience that matches that of sighted audiences," Li said. For 28-year-old Li Chaopeng, his biggest challenge is writing descriptions for sci-fi and fantasy films, as it requires describing scenes far beyond everyday experience. While working on the animated film Big Fish &Begonia(2016), he researched extensively to accurately describe the film's fantastical creatures, many of which were inspired by the ancient Chinese text The Classic of Mountains and Rivers. These ancient and imaginative beings required lively and detailed narration. Li Chaopeng was pleasantly surprised to discover that visually impaired viewers also deeply enjoy fantasy movies. "Whether sighted or visually impaired, everyone creates their own imagined world when watching such films. The ability to fantasize is something we all share," he said. Chen Zhongrui, 24, recalled an experience after a screening when a congenitally blind girl asked her mother, "What is the color red?" This question made him realize the importance of paying closer attention to the details when translating visual elements into audio for accessible films. For example, he now describes "red" through other sensory perceptions, such as the warmth of heat or emotions like passion and shyness, whenever appropriate. "Seeing visually impaired audiences fully grasp the films we create gives me immense satisfaction," Chen said. Making a difference Zhao Xijing, a CUC teacher and a Guangming Cinema volunteer, noted that the team currently produces 104 accessible films each year. This allows visually impaired people in China to watch two films per week, matching or even surpassing the viewing frequency of sighted individuals. These films are distributed nationwide through hard drives or cloud storage, reaching cinemas, film festivals, neighborhoods, and public welfare groups. The network covers all 2,244 special education schools in China and serves visually impaired audiences across 23 provinces, five autonomous regions, four municipalities, and Macao. In 2022, Guangming Cinema began offering its films on cable television, making it easier for visually impaired individuals to watch accessible films at home. "We want to make accessible films a regular part of visually impaired audiences' daily lives," Zhao said. Li Chaopeng recalls meeting a visually impaired mother and her son at a film screening. The mother explained that after losing her sight, she struggled to find topics to discuss with her family and often felt isolated. However, at Guangming Cinema, she was able to enjoy films just as much as her son. "What we do may seem simple, but it gives the audience a way to interact and engage socially, helping them feel more connected to the world," said Li Chaopeng. Today, the volunteers at Guangming Cinema are not just making films more accessible; they are also working to promote the concept of information accessibility to better engage with visually impaired individuals. With this goal in mind, Guangming Cinema continues to improve accessibility in cinemas and advocate for standardized film technology. For example, inspired by their efforts, renowned Chinese director Jia Zhangke proposed the development of an accessible film industry during the 2019 National People's Congress. Moreover, the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled took effect in China in May 2022, opening up more opportunities for accessible film production and promotion. "This journey of illumination is also a journey of breaking down barriers," said Li Yiying. "We hope that accessible films can help our visually impaired friends discover a world of light." Editor: ZAD Selective Truce THIS ceasefire -- in Lebanon -- is obviously selective and temporary and still terribly tenuous. Though clad in smooth words and fine statements of intent of peace, this ceasefire appears to be a break of convenience of at least a few parties to the conflict. Possibly, both, Israel and Hezbollah are looking for a lunch-break so that they are ready again to launch a fresh combat. For, the Middle-East conflict has become an enduring feature of international geopolitics because the majority of Islamic regimes have refused to accept the reality of Israel as a legitimate entity in their neighbourhood. The details of agreement speak for themselves -- as the truce does not address the ongoing hostilities in Gaza strip where the terror outfits are refusing to appreciate the reality of their own limitations. When one side to a multi-national and multi-lateral conflict refuses to recognise the unavoidable realities of the situations, then the conflict is not likely to find its end. There is no doubt that the United States and France initiated the peace process that led to the current agreement between Israel and Lebanon. There are reasons to believe that the US in particular had its own reasons to impose at least a temporary peace in at least one theatre of conflict in Middle-East. At a time when the US is about to see a regime change, different and hitherto unimagined possibilities are likely to be crop up from the ground -- with a great potential to affect many an international activity in the diplomatic and geopolitical domain. In such situations, wise it may have been to broker at least a temporary truce so that there is some breathing time for realignment of various forces and elements of international realpolitik. Hence the agreement between Israel and Hezbollah -- limited only to Lebanon. But this truce has not come without the rider from Israel -- that a strong action would come if Hezbollah did not respect the agreement in its entirety. This warning is the critical pointer to the Middle-Eastern geopolitical reality. Experience has taught Israel over time that the Islamic side is ever eager to breach agreements and get back into the conflict mode, trigger-happy as it is (as history shows). There, of course, other hidden aspects of the situation as well. For, even if Hezbollah by itself does not kick itself up into a breach of agreement, another Islamic terror outfit may pick up the gauntlet and dare Israel and push the truce in Lebanon into trash-can. Israel is fully aware of such dangerous possibilities -- of course on the support of its experience over the past seven-plus decades. Hence its stern warning. No matter that, so tenuous is this agreement that the region can see eruption of hostilities at any moment even in the next, say, 72 hours. Such has been the nature of Middle-Eastern politics for decades on end. Even when a leader as strong and popular as Yassir Arafat promised peace, there were elements eager to breach his word and relaunch the region into fresh hostilities scorching the population with another outburst of violence sponsored by States on both sides of the divide. Standing in the United Nations, Arafat had then said, in effect, that even if he stood with an Olive branch (Signifying peace) in his hand, he also had a gun in the other hand. By that he had meant a possible breach of peace absolutely by anybody. The condition now also is not much different, except that personae to the current conflict are different. Yet, as the United Nations welcomes the truce and India hopes for peace to the region, the world has only one thing to do -- cross its fingers and wait and watch how things develop in a region where population of trigger-happy people is bigger than that of the peace loving ones. Sensational Digital Arrest case First arrest of POS agent from UPs Mahoba, one still at large Staff Reporter : In a breakthrough in the digital arrest case, the Cyber Crime Branch of Bhopal has arrested an accused for fraudulently activating SIM cards, which were later used in various cybercrimes. The arrested individual, identified as Dheerendra Kumar Vishwakarma, was a POS agent with the private company and operated in rural areas of Mahoba, Uttar Pradesh. As per information, Vishwakarma was involved in a scam where he activated multiple SIM cards using the Aadhaar card details of unsuspecting victims under the guise of helping them update their information. He would visit homes in different villages, promising free SIM cards, and then collect biometric data to activate two SIM cards at a time. While giving one SIM to the customer, he would keep the other for himself and sell it to a group of fraudsters involved in various illegal activities. The investigation began after a complaint from Pramod Kumar, a 38-year-old field engineer working with Vodafone-Idea, who reported being targeted by the fraudsters. On November 12, Pramod received a call from an unknown number, with the caller claiming to be from the Telecom Regulatory Authority and informing him that a SIM card had been activated in his name in Mumbai and was being used in illegal activities. Shortly after, Pramod received threatening social media messages claiming to be from the Mumbai Crime Branch and the CBI, demanding Rs 3.5 lakh to avoid arrest. Fortunately, the quick response from the police prevented the scam from succeeding, and the victim was saved from losing a large amount of money. The case was registered under various sections, including the IT Act, and investigation into the matter was initiated. The team of Cyber Crime District Bhopal then went to Kanpur, Mahoba for 7 days. On the basis of the evidences and technical analysis, Vikas Sahu, the holder of the calling mobile number used in committing the crime, was questioned. He told that POS agent Dhirendra Kumar Vishwakarma, promising to give a free SIM, scanned his Aadhaar card and face with his mobile and said that your SIM is not getting activated, you should get your finger print or face updated in your Aadhaar card. Then he activated the SIM by putting his thumb again (biometric) in the machine and gave it to me. Hence, the mobile number holder Vikas Sahu appeared before the honourable court and a statement was recorded, who confirmed before the court that he had been defrauded. While searching for the POS agent, technical information was obtained about the POS agent who used to activate SIM through fraudulent means, Dhirendra Kumar Vishwakarma. After making efforts on the basis of the information obtained, the team members arrested him from Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh. One mobile phone and three SIM cards used in the crime were seized. The arrested accused, Dheerendra Kumar Vishwakarma, is suspected of activating around 150 fraudulent SIM cards which were handed over to cyber criminals for a profit. The police seized a mobile phone, three SIM cards, and other evidence used in the scam during the arrest. The police have also identified the person whose mobile number was linked to the fraudulent SIM cards, and further investigations are underway. Vishwakarma was arrested after a detailed investigation by the Cyber Crime Branch team, which had been working on the case for several days. The authorities have warned the public to remain cautious of such scams and to report any suspicious activities immediately to avoid falling victim to similar frauds. Priest duped of Rs 20 lakh by education counsellors Staff Reporter In a shocking case of cheating, a priest from the Bagsewania area of Bhopal has been duped of Rs 20 lakh by two education counsellors. The counsellors, Mohammad Nadeem Khan and Irfan Khan, had promised to secure admission for the priests daughter in a Russian university for an MBA course. According to the police, Rajbahadur Dwivedi, a resident of Railway Colony, had approached the counsellors in 2022 to explore options for his daughters higher education. His daughter had failed to clear the NEET exam, and the counsellors suggested that she pursue an MBA from Mari University in Russia. They quoted a total fee of Rs 30 lakh for the entire course. The father was working as a priest in a temple. Rajbahadur paid the counsellors Rs 30 lakh in installments, but they deposited only Rs 10 lakh with the university and pocketed the remaining Rs 20 lakh. The priest and his daughter were unaware of the fraud until they received a notice from the university regarding pending fees. When Rajbahadur contacted the counsellors to ask them to deposit the remaining fees, they started threatening him. The priest then approached the Bagsewania Police Station and lodged a complaint against the counsellors. The police have registered a case and launched a search for the accused. We have registered a case of cheating and intimidation against Mohammad Nadeem Khan and Irfan Khan, said a police officer. We are investigating the matter and will take action against the accused. In this case, the priests trust in the counsellors proved costly. I trusted them because they were recommended by a friend, said Rajbahadur. I never thought they would cheat me. The police have advised students and parents to verify the credentials of education counsellors before dealing with them. Its essential to research the counsellors background and check for any reviews or testimonials from previous clients, said the police officer.The incident has also raised concerns about the lack of regulation in the education counselling industry. There is a need for stricter regulations to prevent such cases of cheating, said an education expert. As the police investigate the matter, the priest and his daughter are left to deal with the consequences of the counsellors actions. I hope the police take action against the accused and recover my money, said Rajbahadur. Luo Xikun, a certified drone pilot with Meituan, operates a drone on the rooftop of an office building in Longgang district, Shenzhen. MAO SIQIAN/XINHUA SHENZHEN After bouncing around through various gigs since the age of 18, Luo Xikun has finally landed his dream job flying drones in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province. Now 31, Luo has already participated in the development and testing of 18 drone express delivery routes for Meituan, a leading Chinese e-commerce platform. Luo started as a kitchen assistant, and later became a food deliveryman at Meituan. While working, the young man kept studying in pursuit of a bachelor's degree. Curious about mechanical devices since childhood, Luo had always hoped to find a job related to mechanical operation. He decided to give it a shot to fulfill his longstanding dream when Meituan started to recruit drone pilots among the company's food deliverymen in April 2022. After more than a month of intensive theoretical and practical training, he passed the professional exam on drone piloting by the Civil Aviation Administration of China and achieved the qualification certificate. He was then selected to be an emergency drone pilot for Meituan amid fierce competition. Since then, both his work environment and life track have undergone great changes. "I used to spend 8 to 10 hours a day on roads delivering food. Now I need to think and learn constantly, otherwise I will not keep up with changes." He studied previous flight cases and summed up the experience regularly. "Flying is not a small thing, and it allows no mistake," he adds. With accumulated drone delivery experience, Luo recently transferred to a new position focusing on the drone flight test and new route exploration, which led him to a fantastic place the Great Wall. "I never thought that my first time of climbing the Great Wall would be as part of a team launching a drone route there for express delivery," he says. On Aug 16, Beijing launched its first drone logistics delivery route in the Badaling section of the Great Wall, which enables tourists to receive summer relief items and emergency supplies within minutes. A single trip to the spot used to take around 50 minutes on foot. Before the launch, Luo and his colleagues spent half a month conducting surveys on the route. Every morning, he started climbing the Great Wall at 6 or 7, taking about 40 minutes to reach the preplanned drone landing site to commence his work. To Luo, it is "a challenging but exciting experience". Previously, drone route planning and testing was mostly conducted in cities where there was no altitude difference between takeoff and landing sites. However, this route along the Great Wall would have an altitude difference of 200 meters. The fickle mountain climate, such as high winds, sudden hail and rapidly enveloping fog, also posed challenges to the survey and test flights. Luo makes sure the drones are airworthy. MAO SIQIAN/XINHUA Luo says that the Great Wall reflects the wisdom and greatness of ancient Chinese, and today's scitech advancement allows people to experience the Great Wall with greater convenience. "I feel particularly proud of it," he adds. Luo's occupation transition is not only a personal growth experience, but also keeps pace with the country's pursuit of high-quality development driven by sci-tech innovations. China has taken various actions to promote high-quality employment for the youth. The country's efforts to foster new quality productive forces, featuring the low-altitude economy and other new emerging industries, are constantly generating new job opportunities for Luo and his peers. It is a normal phenomenon that labor flows from low-productivity industries to high-productivity ones, according to Li Chunlin, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission. "While promoting economic transformation and industrial upgrading, technological progress will also give birth to many new occupations and jobs," Li says. He points out that there are currently 1 million job vacancies for drone pilots, a new profession generated from the booming low-altitude economy. By the end of 2023, a total of 1.27 million drones were registered across the industry, an increase of 32.2 percent compared with the end of 2022, according to a CAAC statistical communique. There were 194,400 valid drone pilot licenses in the industry by the end of 2023, an increase of 27.2 percent over the end of 2022. China is deepening reforms in the building of its industrial workforce, according to a set of guidelines recently issued by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council. The country will promote modern vocational education, increase efforts to foster talent with comprehensive technical skills, and refine the lifelong vocational skills training system for industrial workers, according to the guidelines. Eyeing the skies, Luo is "full of expectations", and keen to tap new chances of the growing low-altitude economy. To him, the drone applications are far beyond the current express deliveries of food and groceries. "Maybe, they can shuttle patients' specimens for testing between home and hospitals." "The career transformation has increased not only my income but also my interest in drones. And I now have a clearer career target as I want to obtain the drone instructor certificate," Luo says. Editor: ZAD Young people crowd the pop-up academic bar launched by the social media platform Xiaohongshu in Shanghai in early September. [Photo provided to China Daily] Dubbed "academic bars", drinking holes that quench an intellectual thirst for enlightening lectures and lively exchanges are mushrooming across China's big cities. On lifestyle platform Xiaohongshu, topics related to academic bars have garnered millions of views, with their popularity in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, Guangdong province, accelerating over the summer. Typically lasting one hour, the lectures are generally free of charge or can be listened to for the price of a drink. "Bars or pubs, which provide an informal setting, naturally bridge the psychological distance between the general public and serious academic content," said Bai Anke, a 27-year-old manager of Bunker, a popular academic pub in Shanghai. "We've noticed that there is a large group of young people in Shanghai who have received higher or overseas education and still pursue serious knowledge after leaving campus. "Being in an informal setting can be more relaxing, and provides a free environment while learning," she said, adding that the availability of alcohol, or other beverages, complements this scenario. Shanghai is believed to be the first city in China to pioneer academic lectures in bars and pubs. Two years ago, lectures to popularize biomedical knowledge started in The Tiny Bar in Huangpu district. In May this year, Bunker in Jing'an district, started hosting academic lectures, which unexpectedly sparked interest in the trend among young people on social media platforms. Bai said they never promoted Bunker as an "academic pub". "Discussions about work, life or even academic subjects in a pub or cafe are nothing new worldwide. Our lectures were at first inspired and given by the friends of Bunker's previous manager, who is a PhD candidate at Yale University. "Since Bunker opened in April last year, we have always expected it to be a public space focusing on public values, and a friendly community where people can talk, communicate, share and grow. We have diverse cultural activities, and the academic content is only part of our vision," Bai said. Although the origins of the Chinese term "academic bar" are unclear, Bunker earned the sobriquet over the summer. "Since May, we have held 19 academic lectures in our first summer 'season', and three others after that. About 700 audience members have been to our lectures, with around 30 attending each one-hour lecture due to our limited space," Bai said. Bunker's academic lectures require no reservations or advance bookings, with seats secured on a first-come-first-served basis. Bai said sometimes the 30 available seats are all occupied before the staff arrive. Consumption of drinks is not obligatory, she added. "We were deeply impressed by a girl standing 31st in the line for one lecture," Bai recalled. "She had just flown back from America and headed directly to our lecture from the airport. She was tearful as we could only have 30 people in the audience. "But, lucky for her one audience member gave up their seat, which allowed us to welcome her inside. She was very active in listening, discussing and sharing on that day, giving us enormous positive feedback," said Bai. The enthusiastic woman characterizes many attendees of academic bar lectures. They are mainly undergraduate and postgraduate students, PhD candidates, researchers, and young office workers, who all share an eagerness for knowledge and are curious about people, culture, life, science, society and the world, Bunker staff said. Audiences attend a free academic lecture held at Bunker pub in Shanghai. NIE YUXUAN/FOR CHINA DAILY Increasing popularity Academic bars have gained in popularity through word-of-mouth and the algorithms of social media platforms such as Xiaohongshu and Douyin. Working with a venue in Jing'an district, Xiaohongshu launched a pop-up academic bar in Shanghai on Sept 7 and 8, featuring more than 10 lectures on topics including philosophy, reading, critical thinking, life experiences, anti-aging technology, and language learning. As the closing event for Xiaohongshu's summer school program, the pop-up bar had attracted 1,500 participants, who were randomly selected online, said Sun Qiyao, head of the Xiaohongshu project. "This year, we have been focusing more on knowledge that is related to and helpful for individuals, as we found out that young people are actually well-educated. In the fast-paced daily hustle and bustle, they are in need of more knowledge to navigate, safeguard and enrich their lives, such as information and experience on careers, finance, laws, health, psychology and culture," Sun said. She said they were surprised by young people's huge demand for learning and knowledge. The program garnered about 2 billion online views, and 120,000 posts on the platform. With the concept of "learning while relaxing", Xiaohongshu's academic bar's speakers included an editor, writer, debater, science educator, and a stand-up comedian. The venue can only host 60 to 80 people, and Sun said that the lectures were so popular they had to turn up the speakers so people gathering outside could hear them. Also, the free drinks offered at the partner bar were tailored to echo the lecture themes. Light alcohol was offered to help audiences relax and feel freer to interact. Both Bai and Sun agreed that to some extent, drinks can make the audience members relaxed and "merry enough", which sets academic bars apart from class settings, seminar rooms or cafes. The social lubricant also encourages attendees to be braver in raising questions, joining in discussions, and making new friends. Li Chenghao, a PhD candidate in applied economics from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, gives a lecture at an academic bar in Shanghai on Sept 20. [Photo provided to China Daily] Variety of topics Topics involved at academic bars can vary widely. One topic that was popular was anti-aging technologies. The lecture was presented by Ji Shisan, founder and CEO of Guokr, a popular science website in China. "I was surprised because the audience members were young mostly university graduates and office workers under the age of 35," Sun said. "Ji is not a popular entertainer, and his lecture informed the audience how to face the aging process with advanced technology and equipment, which was showcased on-site. "It (the lecture) was very interactive and popular," she said. Another popular lecture was given by Gao Xiang, a 36-year-old visually impaired stand-up comedian more widely known as Dyingsight. Known for sharing details about his barrier-free daily life in a humorous and inspiring way, his lecture attracted about 5,000 online applicants. A psychology major, Gao said he had been curious about academic bars since hearing the term from his wife. "It sounds like a place with novelty and diversity, which will pretty much attract artistic people like me," he said. "Lectures at a bar are light in form, rich in content, and more flexible when it comes to time and place." Sun said that posts on Xiaohongshu indicate the ongoing expansion of academic bars especially outside big cities. "I see the essence of the academic bar as a proper space for a certain group of audiences to share and discuss certain topics. So I would say that the 'academic bar' should actually be called the 'knowledge bar'," Sun said. Participants attend an academic lecture held at Bunker on Nov 16. YU ZIXU/FOR CHINA DAILY Two-way street Academic bar organizers, hosts and lecturers are also benefiting from the gatherings. Gao said sharing his life experiences through lectures boosts his efforts to make the visually impaired better understood by the wider public. Diagnosed with juvenile macular degeneration at the age of 13, Gao went through many struggles and challenges before he found new hope in stand-up comedy. With humorous accounts of his experiences, he has brought greater public attention to the rare disease and offered newfound confidence to those who have the condition. "The public and society must see and know us first to do something further," he said. "Xiaohongshu is a big platform with extensive influence, particularly among young people who have the desire to acquire and share knowledge. They represent the future and will soon be the backbone of society. The academic bar is a good chance, and platform, to make them see us." Li Chenghao, a 25-year-old PhD candidate in applied economics who attends Antai College of Economics and Management at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, gave a lecture on financial analysis at an academic bar on Sept 20. "The lecture was about a published paper of mine. It was still a challenge for me to explain the academic content in simple and brief words to an audience outside the field. Although I was unsure if such a topic would be accessible to them, it turned out quite positive and interactive," Li said. "I even received some really good and valuable advice from them, as they could see things from different views and aspects based on their various work experiences." Liu Qingge, a 31-year-old marketing consultant, frequently attends the academic lectures at Bunker. She has a bachelor's degree in sociology and a master's degree in criminology and values the diverse perspectives and learning atmosphere at these lectures. "The audiences at the lectures are kind of 'self-selected' ones," she said. "They usually share similar knowledge, interests or curiosity about the same topic, and are willing to learn and be open for discussion. "For me, it is interesting to learn from them, expand my horizons and better understand society and the world," said Liu, noting such lectures can offer the public a broad "general education" on various aspects of life. Gao Xiang, a visually impaired stand-up comedian more commonly known as Dyingsight, gives a lecture at Xiaohongshu's pop-up academic bar on Sept 8. [Photo provided to China Daily] Shot in the arm The booming trend is also injecting new vitality into the hospitality industry. Many people have a negative impression of bars and pubs, but the academic lectures are changing the stereotype. More patrons, especially those who don't drink, are stepping into bars for the very first time. "I think academic bars have found a new path for bars and pubs in China. Actually, bars have an innate cultural quality. These small public cultural spaces for talks and discussions are what we are missing now," said Gao, the stand-up comedian. However, debate on the worth of academic bars has also accompanied the boom. Some critics have questioned the value of such lectures and the seeming contradiction of "serious" academic issues being discussed in a commercial bar. Many wonder whether audiences can really learn something in one hour, or just regard it as a way of showing off as being part of an "elite". Organizers, lecturers, audiences and bar staff were unperturbed by the controversy, and view it as a way to publicize the trend. Sun, head of the Xiaohongshu project, said it is normal for a new trend to gradually find the right direction to head in. Li, the doctoral candidate, sees the debate as a catalyst to make academic bars more widely known among the public. Bai said that Bunker will stick to its original goal to create a public space for the community to help the spread of knowledge. Liu, the frequenter of the lectures, said academic bars are part of new business forms that represent change, development and fresh opportunities in society. Instead of being overly criticized or having too great expectations placed on them, they should be encouraged, even though they may be viewed as a marketing gimmick, she said. wangxin2@chinadaily.com.cn Editor: WRX The Cantonese Opera Art Museum in the district. [Photo provided to China Daily] Editor's note:Several Chinese cities maintain their cultural recollections in the form of historical neighborhoods that add to their multilayered charm and vigor. China Daily journeys to some of these timeless areas, where President Xi Jinping has left his footprints and remarked on the preservation and vitalization of heritage. In this installment, we take a walk through Guangzhou's Enning Road historical district, where the city's various intangible cultural heritage is preserved and celebrated. Since the 1930s, Enning Road in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, has been synonymous with Cantonese culture. Once a magnet for the brightest stars of Cantonese Opera, the street near the bustling Thirteen Hongs trading area was also home to martial arts schools and traditional medicine clinics. For 60-year-old Cen Zhaowei, Enning Road holds deeply personal memories. As a boy, he watched his father, Cen Neng a revered Wing Chun grandmaster known as Sum Nung in Cantonese teach disciples complex martial arts techniques while running a clinic that treated injuries the traditional way. The street's architectural charm is unmistakable. Its arcaded buildings blend Baroque flourishes and the design principles of Guangzhou's Xiguan mansions, with high ceilings, deep layouts and ornate Manchurian windows. This style fusion speaks to the city's layered history. Enning Road's fortunes shifted over the years. Once a thriving cultural hub, it eventually deteriorated into one of Guangzhou's most densely packed areas filled with dilapidated housing. Arcaded buildings line Enning Road of Guangzhou. [Photo/Xinhua] In 2016, a preservation plan was set in motion to restore its historical face. That same year, Cen Zhaowei reopened the Guangzhou Cen Neng Wing Chun Heritage Center in its original home. Around the corner from the center, the newly opened Cantonese Opera Art Museum began training a new generation of performers under the guidance of Tang Peiwen, then a 26-year-old inheritor of Cantonese Opera. In 2018, President Xi Jinping visited Yongqing Fang, a revitalized section of Enning Road. By then, the neighborhood welcomed studios dedicated to Cantonese porcelain and embroidery, intangible cultural heritage practices that breathed fresh energy into the storied streets. Today, the Enning Road historical district straddles two worlds the timeless and the contemporary. Its historical urban fabric remains intact while new businesses from trendy cafes to creative boutiques introduce modern vibrancy. Strolling through the neighborhood, visitors are met by the clang of copper being hammered and the lilting melodies of Cantonese Opera. On weekends and holidays, the streets teem with life. During this year's National Day holiday, Yongqing Fang drew over 893,000 visitors, a striking 78.4 percent increase from the previous year a testament to the allure of Enning Road's past and its reinvention for the future. Old photos of martial arts superstar Bruce Lee decorate the residence of his family in the Enning Road historical district. [Photo provided to China Daily] Retired resident Liang Jinsheng has seen how the neighborhood has evolved over the past decade. The 63-year-old's ties to the area run deep as his family has lived here for over three centuries. Less than a kilometer from Enning Road is the Leung (an alternate spelling of Liang) Ancestral Hall, a shrine that reflects the family's enduring connection to the land. "The arcaded buildings on Enning Road are quintessentially Xiguan," he says. "Shops fill the ground floors and the covered walkways provide shelter from the rain and shade from the sun, a practical elegance that defines the area." For Liang, the restoration has brought a sense of pride. He speaks of relatives and friends from abroad who now make a pilgrimage to the neighborhood. "They come to see the arcades, explore the Xiguan mansions and search for a connection to their roots," he says. But Liang also remembers when the small river running through the area was more an eyesore than an attraction a murky, foul-smelling ditch. Now, after being cleaned up, the river banks are a place of calm where he and his wife stroll daily, often with their young grandsons who are 3 and 5. "It used to be chaos along the river tangled wires, pipes everywhere," he says. "Now, it's been tidied up. Neighbors gather to soak up the sun, go for walks and enjoy the space." The changes have resulted in more than just local appreciation. Visitors now flock to Enning Road, particularly to see the "Moon Bridge". The semicircular arch, lit up at night, casts a glowing reflection on the water, creating the illusion of a suspended crescent moon. The bridge has become a magnet for photographers and tourists, especially during the Mid-Autumn Festival. "In recent years, tens of thousands of people have come during the festival to photograph the bridge," Liang says. A highlighted arch bridge dubbed the "Moon Bridge" outside the district's Cantonese Opera Art Museum. [Photo provided to China Daily] Jiang Weihui, a researcher with the housing and urban-rural development bureau of Liwan district, where Enning Road is located, states that preservation efforts began in 2006. "Our renovation projects focus on historical and cultural preservation, including the Liwan water system, the Cantonese Opera Art Museum and broader district development," he says. The official preservation plan for Enning Road was launched in 2018. Jiang emphasizes the team's sensitive approach to preserving traditional Lingnan (southern China) architectural elements and minimizing demolition. "It's a painstaking process," Jiang says. "We reinforce existing structures and preserve their original appearance." preservation efforts began in 2006. "Our renovation projects focus on historical and cultural preservation, including the Liwan water system, the Cantonese Opera Art Museum and broader district development," he says. The official preservation plan for Enning Road was launched in 2018. Jiang emphasizes the team's sensitive approach to preserving traditional Lingnan (southern China) architectural elements and minimizing demolition. "It's a painstaking process," Jiang says. "We reinforce existing structures and preserve their original appearance." Enning Road was once one of Guangzhou's aging neighborhoods. Today, it is a vibrant hub for young people, with trendy stores and coffee shops lining the streets. In 2020, Yongqing Fang became home to Guangzhou's first intangible cultural heritage-themed area and opened studios for masters of heritage. "We introduced heritage studios with favorable rent policies as a platform for masters to display their work," Jiang says. "This initiative connects young people with intangible heritage while encouraging the adaptation of products for modern tastes." In August, Enning Road was recognized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development for its exemplary preservation practices. Jiang believes the district's pilot projects offer valuable lessons for other historical areas in Guangzhou. Plans are also in place to create a pedestrian system connecting Enning Road with neighboring districts using the nearby river to preserve and revitalize the area's streets and paths, Jiang says. Cen Zhaowei runs a Wing Chun heritage center in the district, where he holds deeply personal memories. [Photo provided to China Daily] Reviving history Cen Zhaowei, who grew up in the Enning Road historical district, returned in 2016. His goal is to inspire more young people to practice Wing Chun not just for physical fitness but as a way of life. "Wing Chun is about going with the flow, balancing yin and yang. It's not only a philosophy but a lifestyle," Cen Zhaowei explains. He sees his studio in Enning Road as the ideal setting to blend tradition with modernity, making it a strong base for developing Guangzhou's martial arts culture. Cen Zhaowei began practicing Wing Chun when he was 12 and says that the neighbors have memories of people practicing it. Now, he has partnered with elementary schools to teach Wing Chun to children. "Learning martial arts is challenging and mastering Wing Chun is even harder," Cen Zhaowei says, adding that the practice engages the eyes, hands, ears, waist and mind, offering physical and mental benefits. To make the lessons more engaging, he allows students to practice with a wooden dummy and experiments by adding features to the dummy to make training more fun. "As inheritors, we must pass this tradition down through generations," he says. Like Wing Chun, Cantonese Opera is also experiencing a revival on Enning Road thanks to the opening of the Cantonese Opera Art Museum in 2016. Once a gathering place for great performers, the district now attracts a new generation of talent. "Cantonese Opera is a pillar of Lingnan culture and Liwan is its birthplace," Tang Peiwen says. At 34, Tang is leading this resurgence. A celebrated performer and the first inheritor of Cantonese Opera from the post-1990 generation in Liwan district, Tang also oversees a children's heritage program at the museum. Since its launch eight years ago, she has trained over 400 students through partnerships with local elementary schools. While vocal ability matters, Tang values the passion for Cantonese opera and an interest in preserving traditional culture above all. "My goal is to ensure that this art form takes root in the children's hearts and spreads to their families and communities," she says. Contact the writers at liyingxue@chinadaily.com.cn Editor: WRX The Chinese and Australian national flags in Sydney, Australia. [Photo/Xinhua] The Australia-China relationship is back on track after a period of disruption, analysts said, citing the recent meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Both leaders reiterated their shared desire to build a mature and stable relationship. Analysts say Albanese has taken great care in rebuilding relations with China, which were derailed by the former conservative coalition government. This was echoed on Tuesday by China's Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian, when he said the year 2022, when Albanese was elected, was the "year of stabilization" in Australia's relationship with China. At a news briefing marking the 10th anniversary of the Australia-China comprehensive strategic partnership, Xiao said ties were "back on the right track". "We experienced a difficult time for several years until two years ago," he said. "Since then, we have successfully changed that situation." James Laurenceson, director of the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney, said relations between Australia and China have a good foundation. "Since coming to power, the Albanese government has been consistent in its relations with China, and this was further reinforced when the two leaders met at the G20," Laurenceson told China Daily. He said Canberra and Beijing are basically saying the same things about the bilateral relationship. "While they acknowledged some differences, they also acknowledged areas of common interest." James Chin, a professor of Asian Studies at the University of Tasmania in Australia, said people welcome President Xi's speeches and commend the ways that he has described inclusion and a fairer world. He said the significance of the meeting between Xi and Albanese on the sidelines of the G20 summit is that it is quite clear that ties between Australia and China are back to normal, adding that he expects there will be "a series of bilateral meetings after this". Good for stability Noting that Australia is one of the biggest countries in the Pacific, Chin said the normalization of relations with China is "a really good thing from the perspective of stability" in the Asia-Pacific region. Albanese's meeting with Xi came a year after his visit to Beijing to end the diplomatic dispute that saw billions of dollars worth of Australian exports to its largest trading partner blocked. David Olsson, president and board chair of the Australia China Business Council, said: "Over the past three years, Australia-China relations have transitioned from significant tensions to the best they have been over the last decade, driven by pragmatic economic imperatives and diplomatic recalibration." He said the recent meeting between Xi and Albanese was an acknowledgment of the importance of the comprehensive strategic partnership. "It also demonstrates that there is an enduring appetite in both Beijing and Canberra to widen and deepen areas of collaboration," he told China Daily. Olsson said the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement has seen mutual trade double in the last decade. The two governments recognize international trade is vital for both economies and the region, and Australia regularly affirms its commitment to promoting open, diversified, rules-based trade. "We are seeing a more balanced engagement on contentious issues," Olsson said. "Top-level dialogues at government, diplomatic and business levels provide platforms to talk through differences and find common ground for mutual benefit. "Importantly, leaders on both sides point to the fundamental complementarity of the two countries' economies as the bedrock of the bilateral relationship." Looking ahead, he said, the Australia China Business Council "will be working with key stakeholders in Australia and China not only to strengthen traditional areas of trade and investment, such as resources, agriculture and education, but (also to) expand into new areas of collaboration, particularly those that address shared global challenges, such as climate action, sustainable infrastructure and supply chain resilience". Hans Hendrischke, a professor of Chinese business and management at the University of Sydney Business School, said that in the economic conversation, China and Australia have enough common interests to work together and resolve differences constructively. Xu Weiweiin Hong Kong contributed to this story. Editor: WRX China's National Immigration Administration will begin implementing the multiple travel permit policy for residents in Guangdong's Shenzhen Special Economic Zone to Hong Kong and for residents in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin to Macao, the administration said in an announcement on Friday. The new travel permit policy allows residents with hukou, or household registration, in Shenzhen to have unlimited visits to Hong Kong starting on Sunday. Residents with hukou in Hengqin can travel to Macao with no limit beginning in January for one year, with a stay of one week per visit, the administration said. Meanwhile residents with hukou in Zhuhai Special Economic Zone will be able to apply for a "one trip per week" permit for Macao beginning next year. Under the new policy, Zhuhai permanent residents can visit Macao once per calendar week, with a maximum stay of seven days per trip, it said. The new policy, which aims to facilitate Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Hengqin residents' travel to the two Chinese SARs has been approved the State Council, China's cabinet. In Hong Kong, chief executive John Lee Ka-chiu said he sincerely thanked the central government for its continuous care and support for Hong Kong, for valuing and considering the suggestions put forward by the SAR government and for introducing multiple measures to benefit Hong Kong. "I am grateful to the central government for actively researching, accelerating and implementing measures in this short period of time, bringing good news to Hong Kong," Lee said. The new measures will add momentum to Hong Kong's tourism, catering and retail industries, a news release from the HKSAR government information service said. The chief secretary for administration of the HKSAR government, Eric Chan Kwok-ki, said he has instructed all departments in Hong Kong to make preparations and cooperate closely with each other to ensure the smooth operation of ports, tourism facilities and public transportation networks to provide mainland tourists with a good experience. Peng Peng, executive president of the Guangdong Society of Reform, said the new one-trip-per-week permit for Zhuhai residents and multi-entry permits for residents in Hengqin to visit Macao will have a direct stimulating effect on the Macao tourism market and will revitalize the economies of both places. "The new policy will benefit industries, including tourism, catering, accommodation, transportation and retail," he said. Convenient transportation between Macao and Hengqin, located on the western bank of the Pearl River estuary, is a major trend that is highly beneficial for Hengqin's real estate industry. It is also beneficial for local residents crossing the border to work in Macao in the months to come, Peng said. "The new Macao permit policy will also help Hengqin to attract talent and play a role in promoting the integrated development of Macao and Hengqin," he added. Editor: WRX Despite many different points of view, China continues to be a top-of-mind topic for businesses around the world. Some say foreign companies have been leaving China in droves, while others say supply chains are shifting away from China and multinational companies are adopting a "China + 1" strategy to ensure more supply chain continuity. To some commentators, China "has peaked" and it's now time to look for the "next China". How right are these perspectives? China's GDP continues to grow at a decent pace despite the general global economic conditions, regional military conflicts and sanctions and tariff hurdles imposed by some Western countries. China's GDP for the first three quarters of the year grew at 4.8 percent. According to the International Monetary Fund, China will be the world's largest contributor to economic growth for the next five years, accounting for approximately 21 percent. Some foreign multinational companies came to China and gave it a try but somehow couldn't effectively compete in China. Some have downsized their China operations while some divested part or the whole of their operations in China. On the other hand, many foreign companies have found China to be a really rewarding place. For them, China is a major source of revenue and profit. And for more and more foreign multinationals, they have found China to be an epicenter of the most cutting-edge innovations. According to The Economist, China has become both a scientific superpower and a place for foreign companies to establish their research and development laboratories. While some supply chains have moved away from China, especially those in the labor-intensive industries and tariff-sensitive sectors, more manufacturing and supply chain capacities are being put in place in China by foreign multinationals. This is in particular true for manufacturing of highly sophisticated engineering products that require building-up and coordination of vast ecosystems of suppliers through meticulous organization of relevant skills, resources and cutting-edge infrastructure. While the world is still facing much volatility, we are entering a new world in which multipolarity will manifest. Beyond the traditional Western economic powers, quite a number of countries in the developing world are emerging fast. The expanded BRICS epitomizes this. In January, BRICS expanded its membership. And more countries will join as "partner states". A handful of these countries will increasingly play major roles in the global economy going forward. Many others are now able to see alternative ways of growth beyond what the West had to offer. Unlike a unipolar world, a multipolar world will need much more coordination, consensus-building, collaboration and give and take. Peaceful coexistence will be a key consideration among countries. As the largest economic power and one of the most influential political powers among Global South countries, China's role in the new multipolar world will increase. Today there are two major forces at work in the world. One is trying to partition the world by imposing measures such as sanctions and tariffs. Another force is trying to keep the world together through much more connectivity and trade. Instead of the "flat world", our world today and in the likely near future will be highly uneven with some open fields in some areas and some small silos in some others. Against this context, China's role will become more important. And, across business, China will be a multidimensional game-changer. Its increasingly important role in the world will manifest itself in many ways as an important market, in its resilient supply chains, for its increasing manufacturing prowess, with its proliferation of technological innovations and their applications across many use-case scenarios, and as an increasingly important setter of global standards for technology, products and business models. For many industries, China will continue to be either the largest or one of the largest markets. Supply chains for some industries may diversify geographically. But China's leading position across manufacturing for almost every category of goods will further strengthen its position across the majority of supplier ecosystems. China will unquestioningly strengthen its leading position in manufacturing, especially in advanced and intelligent manufacturing. Building on its position as the world's biggest exporter of goods, China will also increasingly export capital, services, technology and knowledge. Chinese companies will become more international and multinational. China will also play an increasingly important role in global financial disruptions. The country will play a central role in the development of next-generation supply chains that harness digital technologies and artificial intelligence to power the flow of goods, data and information and cash flows via new financial technologies and new payment and settlement systems. Through its dual-circulation paradigm a new economic development pattern in which China's domestic market remains the mainstay with domestic and international markets reinforcing each other, China will pay attention to both its domestic economy and its relationship with other countries. As China's influence in business and economy increases across more and new dimensions, companies from all parts of the world, regardless of whether they are operating in China or not, will need to consider China's impact on their business. While many companies will continue to find more opportunities in the Chinese market, the days of "every company needs to be in China because China's market is huge "have gone. But businesses' need to take China into account has increased as China's influence on businesses on a global basis has strengthened. Faced with the reality of China today, company CEOs and business strategists must reevaluate the significance of China for their business and adjust their strategies and actions accordingly. Could a "black swan" event change this picture? Certainly. The result of the presidential election in the United States could change the dynamics between China and the US, as well as other countries somewhat, adding volatility to the world. But I believe the probability of my view of China's future is high enough to prompt CEOs and corporate strategists to reflect deeply on its implications. Companies should develop their China strategy. For some companies, this will continue to mean "doing business in China", but for many more companies, this will mean "doing business with China".The way I prefer to call this is "developing global strategy with China at the core". The author is founder and CEO of Gao Feng Advisory Company, a strategy and management consulting firm with roots in China. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily. Editor: WRX The pet products market in Ukraine has grown by more than 50% over the past three years, sales of pet products at the Epicenter chain have increased by 80%, the retailer's press service told Interfax-Ukraine. As reported by Svitlana Lisanti, Director of Development of the Lapki project of the Epicenter chain, as of November 2024, Epicenter is recording an annual growth rate of 15% in the pet products category, despite the restrained forecasts at the beginning of 2024. She noted that the war has changed attitudes towards pets: Ukrainians often choose higher quality food, in particular holistic food, as well as products to create a comfortable environment for their pets. In the sales structure, the top positions are occupied by food and treats for cats and dogs, sales of which have grown by 23% this year. Since 2021, they have grown almost 2.5 times for dogs and by 73% for cats, almost equal in volume to 2024. At the same time, products for other animals, such as fish, rodents and birds, are declining, which emphasizes the unwavering love of Ukrainians for cats and dogs. Pet care remains a priority for Ukrainians, even despite the unfavorable economic conditions in the country. The company seeks to support this trend by strengthening the connection with pet owners. Thus, for World Pet Day, which is celebrated on November 30, Epicenter organized an open day for all visitors with animals. On this day, they receive gifts from the event's partners: Animall, Purina, Monge, Farmina, Basttet`o Holistic, and HiDog. "It is important for us to support the positive attitude of Ukrainians towards pets. We share love and care for them and want to be a true friend to their owners. That is why we open our doors to all visitors with pets, striving to make the overall shopping experience comfortable and enjoyable," notes Svitlana Lisanti, Director of Development of the Lapki project of the Epicenter chain. The Epicenter Group of Companies is an omnichannel ecosystem uniting the Epicenter and Nova Linia retail chains, the epicentrk.ua online store, the Epicenter-Agro agricultural holding, the Epicenter Ceramic Corporation ceramic tile factories, the Osmoloda woodworking enterprise, and logistics facilities. Before Russia's full-scale invasion, the Epicenter retail network included over 80 shopping centers across Ukraine. Seven locations were destroyed by the war in Mariupol, Nikopol, Bucha, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Kherson (two centers). Three additional locations (in Melitopol, Kramatorsk, and another in Kharkiv) remain closed due to occupation, shelling, or proximity to conflict zones. Currently, the group's retail network comprises 71 stores in Ukraine. According to Ukraine's Unified State Register of Legal Entities, Epicenter K LLC's shareholders include Oleksandr Hereha (51.3%), Halyna Hereha (47.97%), and Tetiana Surzhyk (0.73%). The Northern Commercial Court of Appeal rejected the appeal of some of the creditors of Eldorado (Diesa LLC) and upheld the approved rehabilitation plan of the company, the press service of the legal company Ario Law Firm reported. "A well-developed pretrial rehabilitation plan, which was confirmed by courts of two instances, allowed our business to stay afloat and begin recovery. Unfortunately, some creditors, although significantly fewer, still do not agree that a working business has a better chance of paying off its debts than an insolvent one, so they are trying to initiate bankruptcy proceedings against Eldorado.ua," Maksym Baidyk, director of the legal department of Diesa LLC, is quoted in the press release. He pointed out that in May the company began to fulfill its obligations in accordance with the rehabilitation plan and has paid off about 5% of the approved amount to date, adhering to the payment schedule. According to Ario Law Firm partner Andriy Fylyk, the company is ready to defend its rights in the Supreme Court. "I am convinced that creditors who disagree with the pretrial rehabilitation plan will appeal to the Supreme Court with a cassation appeal. We, in turn, have strong arguments that the decisions of the court of first instance and the appeal are fair," he noted. According to the press release, the Eldorado chain has already received two court decisions to recover $3.6 million and $15.9 million from the Russian Federation for damages caused to the business. At the same time, the total amount of damage to the chain from the Russian invasion is estimated at UAH 1.1 billion. As reported, in April 2024, the Kyiv Economic Court approved a pretrial rehabilitation plan for Eldorado, which provides for a guaranteed return of 30% of creditors' claims, another 40% after compensation for damages from the aggressor country, and a write-off of 30%. During the general meeting on September 22, 2023, Eldorado creditors, who own more than 60% of the claims from the total debt, approved a debt rehabilitation plan for more than UAH 1 billion. At the same time, a number of creditors disagreed with the pretrial rehabilitation and demanded rehabilitation within the bankruptcy procedure, which guarantees the return of debts. The first Eldorado store in Ukraine was opened in 1999 in Kyiv. As of August 2023, the Eldorado.ua network included 70 stores in 49 cities. Law on increasing military levy to 5% to enter into force on Dec 1 Hetmantsev Law No. 4015-IX on increasing military levy from 1.5% to 5% and a number of other amendments to the Tax Code was mistakenly published on Thursday, November 28, and will enter into force on December 1, 2024, said Danylo Hetmantsev, head of the Verkhovna Rada relevant committee. "A sleepless night is the result the resource law will enter into force on December 1, 2024. It will be published accordingly on November 30," he wrote on Telegram. Hetmantsev called the publication of the law on November 28 "a printer's mistake." At an attempt to go to the address of the publication of the law, Voice of Ukraine now gives an error message. "Common sense has won. Dear accountants, sorry for the wasted nerve cells," the head of the committee concluded. Three operating NPPs reduce their capacity in morning due to Russian attack, one Rivne NPP power unit disconnected from grid IAEA During the Russian missile and drone attack on Thursday morning, the Khmelnytsky, Rivne and Pivdennoukrainsk NPPs preventively reduced their capacity, and one of the Rivne NPP power units was disconnected from the grid, said Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). "For a second time in less than two weeks, the Khmelnytsky, Rivne and South Ukraine NPPs lowered their power levels as a precautionary step during widespread military activities in the country... The operating NPPs have a total of nine reactors, all of which decreased output. One reactor, at the Rivne NPP, was also disconnected from the grid," Director General Grossi said. The NPPs continued to receive external electricity, even though the Khmelnytsky site lost the connection to two of its power lines. Two of the IAEA teams deployed in Ukraine were forced to seek shelter, the report notes. There were no reports of direct damage to the NPPs, but the IAEA was informed by Ukraine that the strikes once again impacted the electrical substations which the plants use both to transmit and receive off-site power. "These substations, identified by the IAEA as important for nuclear safety and security, have been damaged in previous attacks, including in August," the agency noted. NPPs need reliable connections to the grid both to distribute the electricity they produce and to obtain off-site power for reactor cooling, the IAEA noted. As reported, with the start of another massive Russian attack in Ukraine, emergency power outages were introduced on Thursday morning, and subsequently the regions switched to hourly schedules, providing outages mainly for a maximum of 14 hours a day, depending on the region and the order. Photo: MFA of Ukraine Ukraine has called on the IAEA and the world to condemn the Russian Federation's Thursday morning attacks on Ukrainian substations connecting nuclear power plants to the power grid, which could lead to a threat of a nuclear incident, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said. Todays Russian air strikes once again targeted substations that link Ukrainian nuclear power plants to the grid. Europe and the world must realize that this morning Russia created a threat of a nuclear incident. We urge the IAEA and all states to condemn these reckless attacks, Sybiha said on X Thursday evening. He also added that another Russian missile and UAV attack aimed at civilians and the power grid led to power outages throughout Ukraine. Putin does not want peace. We must force him into peace through strength. Strength of our air shield, long-range capabilities, and sanctions on his war machine, the foreign minister added. As previously reported on the morning of November 28, Ukraine's energy sector is again under massive enemy attack, in connection with which the operator of the transmission system of the NPC Ukrenergo urgently introduced emergency power outages, said Minister of Energy of Ukraine Herman Haluschenko. Eighty-eight out of 132 enemy drones shot down in sky over Ukraine at night, 41 lost Photo: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/ The Russian occupiers attacked Ukraine with 132 shock unmanned aerial vehicles of the Shahed type and other unidentified types on the night of November 29, as of 9:00, 88 enemy drones were shot down by air defense. "Forty-one UAVs were locationally lost, presumably due to active counteraction to the electronic warfare of the Defense Forces, one drone returned to Russia. As a result of the Russian attack, infrastructure, cars, private and apartment buildings were damaged in several regions of Ukraine, and assistance is being provided to the victims," the Telegram channel of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on Friday morning. The enemy launched drones, starting at 6:30 on November 28, from the directions of the cities of Orel, Millerovo, Kursk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk. Air defense shot down 88 enemy drones in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Sumy, Kharkiv, Poltava, Zhytomyr, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhia, Odesa and Mykolaiv regions. The state budget of Ukraine for 2025 provides for the allocation of 26.3% of the gross domestic product (GDP) of Ukraine or UAH 2.23 trillion to the security and defense of the Ukrainian state, which is UAH 47.6 billion more than in 2024, notes Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. "Of these, UAH 1.16 trillion is allocated for the pay of our soldiers - this is UAH 10 billion more than in 2024. Some UAH 739 billion will be allocated for the purchase and renewal of weapons - this will allow us to modernize the army, providing it with modern weapons systems for effective combat operations. Some UAH 55.1 billion will go to modernizing the production capacities of the defense industry and developing the latest technologies," Umerov wrote on Facebook on Friday. Also, according to him, funding for the purchase of unmanned systems, in particular DeepStrike, has been significantly increased. "This budget is our response to the challenges of war. It is aimed at strengthening the country's defense capability, supporting our defenders and developing the defense industry. Every hryvnia is an investment in victory and the peaceful future of Ukraine," Umerov emphasized. Firebrand BJP leader Dilip Ghosh today said that chief minister Mamata Banerjee should be actively vocal against torture and attack on the minorities in Bangladesh. Ghosh said, Shed offered to provide shelter to the persecuted persons during the turmoil when Sheikh Hasina government was overthrown. Its alright but why is she so silent these days when the ISKON temples, Hindu ethnic groups are under attack, the monks are arrested there? Ghosh was leading his partys membership drive in Kalna, Monteswar and Satgachia today. Advertisement Ghosh ridiculed the Trinamul Congresss stand on Bangladesh issue that stated the party will extend wholehearted support to Centres stand on the issue. Ghosh said, Now, when immediate intervention was required, the TMC is trying to shrug off responsibility and push the matter upon the shoulder of Centre. Advertisement Ghosh was referring to the arrest of a monk in Bangladesh, Chinmayananda. He said: Some fundamentalists are creating nuisance there, which is injuring the economy and life of common people there, we from the BJP have come to the road to mobilize people against Bangla governments anarchy. The CPM politburo leader Dr Suryakanta Mishra meanwhile declared that the partys cadres would confront BJPs strategy on Bangladesh issue. Dr Mishra was addressing at the commemorative meeting on the recent demise of politburo leader Sitaram Yachuri and former chief minister Budhhadev Bhattacharya in Burdwan town today. He said: BJP is trying to import chaos from recent Bangla developments and trying to infuse fresh air into its conventional practice of communal politics, which our cadres would resist at every corner, come what may. The chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday asked her party MLA Humayun Kabir to give reply in connection with the show-cause notice served to him on Wednesday as soon as possible. Miss Banerjee also asked the MLA from Bharatpur in Murshidabad district not to talk so much. Advertisement She had talks with Mr Kabir for a few minutes when the latter met her in her room at the state legislative Assembly today. Advertisement Mr Kabir also assured the chief minister to give reply to the show-cause soon. While speaking to reporters after coming out of her room, he said, Didi asked me to talk less and with her instruction I would reply soon. Trinamul Congress disciplinary committee, looking after issues in connection with the party MLAs in the Assembly on Wednesday had served show-cause notice to the rebel legislator on charge of making anti-party statements regularly landing it in a state of embarrassment. The five-member disciplinary committee headed by the veteran party MLA and agriculture minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay on Wednesday afternoon decided to serve the notice to Mr Kabir seeking his clarifications within three days after receiving it. The other members of the committee are Firhad Hakim, Chandrima Bhattacharya, Aroop Biswas and Debashis Kumar. Its also learnt that Mr Biswas took him to the chief ministers room today after he desired to meet her. Mr Kabir while speaking to the reporters in the Assembly on Wednesday had threatened that he would stick to his stand to criticise his party leadership for not inducting Abhishek Banerjee, all India general secretary of the party, in the Mamata Banerjee cabinet as a deputy chief minister to look after home department in the state. Siliguri Metropolitan Police have arrested Manoj Chowdhury from the Baishnabnagar police station area in Malda in connection with the tablet scam. Chowdhury was produced before the court in Siliguri today. Officials from the cyber and detective department arrested Chowdhury following an investigation based on a complaint lodged at the New Jalpaiguri police station. The complaint stated that over 40 students did not receive funds allocated to them by the government in their respective bank accounts. Advertisement It is noteworthy that Siliguri police have received over 25 complaints regarding the tab scam and has been investigating the matter over the past few days. This is the first time the police have identified and arrested an individual allegedly involved in the scam. Advertisement According to the police, Chowdhury, who was running a customer service point (CSP) of a bank, was involved in withdrawing money tactfully without informing the account holders. He later escalated his operations, allegedly hacking into other consumers bank accounts. Investigations reveal that hackers have been using multiple bank accounts belonging to different consumers. The police are now probing how many consumers may have rented out their bank accounts for fund transfers from other accounts. Recently, nine individuals were arrested in Siliguri and adjoining areas by police from various districts in connection with the tablet scam. Tension prevailed in parts of north Bengal following recent unrest in Bangladesh, triggered by the arrest of a Hindu monk. Many Hindu families in the region, who have close ties to Bangladesh due to their relatives living there, are anxiously monitoring social media for updates on their loved ones safety. On Thursday afternoon, members and supporters of the Hindu Jagran Manch staged a protest march in Siliguri, condemning the attacks on minority Hindu leaders and communities in Bangladesh. The march began at Baghajatin Park and concluded at the office of the sub-divisional officer (SDO), where the group submitted a memorandum. Advertisement To ensure the protest remained peaceful, heavy police deployment was in place throughout the event. Advertisement Lakshman Bansal, state secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, stated that a memorandum addressed to the President of India was handed over through the SDO in Siliguri. The memorandum urged the Indian government to intervene and ensure the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh, including their properties and religious shrines. Meanwhile, Hindu Bangladeshis, who had traveled to India for medical treatment, are hastily returning to their homeland. Many, visibly anxious, have crossed the border back to Bangladesh through official channels. The Union Government on Friday informed that a total of 187.5 crore person days have been generated under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in FY 2024-25, providing employment to 4.6 crore rural households Union Minister of Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chauhan chaired a review meeting to assess the performance and implementation of the MGNREGS here which was attended by the Secretary, Rural Development, and other senior officials of the division. Advertisement The Minister emphasised the importance of fostering innovations and reforms to enhance the schemes effectiveness while appreciating the schemes achievements. He further directed that transparency and accountability mechanisms under MGNREGS will be strengthened. Measures will be taken for preventing the misuse of public funds, ensuring custody of job cards with beneficiaries, and prohibiting the use of machinery at worksites. Advertisement Under MGNREGS, significant milestones have been achieved in FY 2024-25. A total of 187.5 crore person days have been generated, providing employment to 4.6 crore rural households. More than 56 lakh assets have been created, reflecting the schemes role in strengthening rural infrastructure. Approximately 44 per cent and 55 per cent of total expenditure has been incurred on Agri and allied activities and individual beneficiary works, which indicates focus on agriculture in the rural areas and increase in livelihood opportunities for vulnerable families respectively. Around 97 per cent of fund transfer orders (FTOs) are being generated on time by the states/UTs ensuring timely payment of wages. An amount of Rs 74,770.02 crore has been released to States/UTs for smooth implementation of the scheme. In the current financial year, the states where the highest funds have been released from the centre are Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana and Odisha. Notably, womens participation in the scheme has consistently exceeded 50 per cent for the past five years, highlighting the inclusivity and enhancement of womens empowerment under the scheme. The Finance Ministry has approved two mega tourism infrastructure related projects for the state capital Jaipur that involves an investment of Rs 145 crore. Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat conveyed the Ministrys decision to Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari, incharge of finance portfolio, while she met the former in New Delhi yesterday. As per the sanctions , Rs 49.31 crore will be incurred on tourism -centric infrastructure development at Amer and Nahargarh fort and Rs 96.61 crore will be utilised for development and strengthening intrastructure/facilities around historic Jal Mahal. Advertisement The Dy CM had announced a Rs 100 Crore project for strengthening of facilities at the historic monuments and places of touristic attraction in the walled-city, many of those enjoy status of the UNESCO heritage sites, an official release stated here Thursday evening. Besides this, she was also keen in the installation of a rope way and development of more facilities along the Jal Mahal and in Amer and Nahargarh and making efforts at the Centres level for availing funds and clearances. Advertisement The mandatory clearances and no objection certificates from the Archaeology department for the Amer, Nahargarh and the walled city related works and from the Forest and the Rajasthan Lake Development Authority for works related in the Jal Mahal project have already been issued. Adani Group has sufficient liquidity and operational cash flows to meet its debt obligations and planned capital expenditures in the medium term, said CRISIL Ratings on Friday. The Adani Group, which has the flexibility to reduce certain discretionary capital expenditure (capex) depending on developments in financial markets and future capital availability, has a healthy Ebitda and cash balance that reduces its dependence on external debt to sustain operations, it said in a bulletin. The agency rates Adani groups infrastructure and holding entities. Advertisement CRISIL Ratings has taken note of these developments and their likely impact on the financial flexibility of the group, including the fall in the market capitalisation of the listed companies of the group, movement in bond yields, and calling off the $600 million bond offering of AGEL, it said. Advertisement CRISIL emphasised that the groups ratings are supported by its strong business and financial risk profiles. These factors include steady cash flows, long-term infrastructure assets, and its critical role within Indias infrastructure sector. The groups association with the larger Adani Group also provides additional financial flexibility. While CRISIL acknowledged the Adani Groups financial stability, it also highlighted potential risks. Any adverse regulatory or judicial actions, or restrictions on accessing domestic and international capital, could affect the groups financial flexibility. The United States Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued an indictment and a civil complaint, respectively, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, against Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and Vneet Jaain, key functionaries of Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL). The Adani Group had refuted the bribery allegations saying, Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and Vneet Jaain have not been charged with any violation of the FCPA in the counts set forth in the indictment of the US DOJ or civil complaint of the US SEC. Crisil also said any adverse regulatory, judicial or government action may exacerbate the situation. Thus, these actions will be monitored. Further, any fall-out of developments restricting the Adani Groups access to domestic and international capital and hampering its ability to refinance upcoming bullet repayments as well as a significant increase in its cost of financing will also be key monitorables. The stock market, on Friday, bounced back after witnessing a steep fall in the previous session. The rise was led by buying in heavyweights and across sectors, barring realty and PSU banks. At close, the Sensex was up 759.05 points or 0.96% at 79,802.79, and the Nifty was up 216.90 points or 0.91% at 24,131.10. Advertisement On a weekly basis, BSE Sensex and Nifty gained 1% each, while on a monthly basis in November, Sensex added 0.5%, and Nifty slipped 0.30%. Advertisement The top gainers in the Nifty index were Bharti Airtel (4.28%), Cipla (2.76%), Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (2.69%), Mahindra & Mahindra (2.33%), and Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone (1.92%). On the other hand, the top losers were Power Grid Corporation of India (1.27%), Shriram Finance (0.79%), Hero Motocorp (0.46%), Apollo Hospitals Enterprise (0.18%), and Nestle India (0.07%). On the NSE, nearly 190 stocks touched their 52-week high including, Avalon Technologies, Computer Age Management Services, Capacite Infra, Caplin Labs, Hikal, KFin Technologies, Kirloskar Pneumatic, Laurus Labs, Lloyds Metals, Mangalore Chemicals, Marksans Pharma, Paytm, Orchid Pharma, PG Electroplast, Pitti Engineering, Praj Industries, Sterling Tools, Wockhardt, among others. The BSE Midcap index was up 0.3% and the Smallcap index rose 0.7%. The market capitalization of BSE-listed companies jumped to Rs 446.47 lakh crore, from Rs 442.98 lakh crore in the previous session. Among the sectors, except for realty and PSU Bank, all others ended in the green with auto, energy, pharma, and media up 1-2%. Nifty Pharma emerged as the top performer with a gain of 2.35%, breaking its three-day losing streak. Nifty Realty and Nifty PSU Bank closed with losses of 0.59% and 0.56%, respectively. Two of the groups stocks, including Adani Green Energy and Adani Energy Solutions, surged sharply by 21.8% and 15.6%, respectively, as both stocks began trading within the Futures & Options (F&O) segment on Friday. Among the individual performers, shares of Bharti Airtel rose 4% emerging as the top gainer after ICICI Securities upgraded the stock to Buy. Divis Laboratories shares gained 4% after international brokerage Citi reiterated its bullishness over the stock. Shares of Easy Trip Planners surged 10% after the stock turned ex-bonus. CreditAccess Grameen fell 8.5% after international brokerage Goldman Sachs slashed its rating on the microfinance player as the earnings outlook remains clouded. Indias GDP growth slowed to a near two-year low of 5.4% y-o-y) in Q2FY25. The growth is lower than the industry expectations and is likely to reflect on the market performances on Mondays trade. Ukraine has joined the Joint Statement on behalf of 59 states in support of the strict implementation of the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention, in particular regarding the prohibition of the use of riot control chemicals as a method of warfare. As reported on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on Friday, the statement was announced during the 29th Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention. "We fully share the position that the use of chemical weapons and riot control chemicals as a method of warfare constitutes a gross violation of international law and threatens the achievement of a world free of chemical weapons. We highly appreciate the work of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and partner states aimed at proving the facts of the use of riot control chemicals by the Russian Federation as a means of waging war against Ukraine," the message reads. The Foreign Ministry noted that a recent report by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) confirmed the presence of chemical elements related to riot control and regularly used by the Russian Federation on the front line in violation of the requirements of the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. "The joint statement draws special attention to these violations numerous reports about the use of riot control chemicals and other toxic chemicals by the Russian Federation on the front line in Ukraine. Since February 2023, the Ukrainian side has documented 4,950 cases of the use by the Russian Federation of ammunition containing dangerous chemicals," the report says. In a joint statement, the participating states confirm their readiness to support the strengthening of the capacity of the OPCW Technical Secretariat to assist Ukraine and respond to the use of chemical weapons during the war against Ukraine. Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on Friday criticized the BJP in the Delhi Assembly, alleging that the saffron party indulged in dirty politics at the cost of womens safety by undermining the role of bus marshals. She said, The BJP, which claims to care about public welfare, has systematically undermined the role of bus marshals by first halting their salaries, then removing them, and now blocking their reinstatement. CM highlighted Delhi governments efforts to regularize bus marshals and reinstate them, only to be met with inexplicable delays by the LGs office. Advertisement According to Atishi, two weeks ago, the Delhi government sent a proposal to the LG regarding regularization of bus marshals, and retain their deployment in buses until then. However, the LG has not responded to this critical proposal, she claimed. She urged the LG to prioritize womens safety and approve the proposal without further delay. Advertisement This is essential to ensure the reinstatement of marshals in buses for the safety of Delhis women, she said. In a direct challenge to the Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta, Delhi CM stated, If the Leader of Opposition gets the LGs approval for the proposal to reinstate bus marshals, I will personally campaign for him. Speaking on the issue, she further said, The issue of bus marshals is close to my heart because I am a resident of Delhi. I have studied here, worked here, and understand the challenges women face while commuting in buses, she added. Recalling her school days, she shared, I remember how parents were hesitant to let their daughters stay late in school because they feared for their safety on the way back home. Harassment, inappropriate comments, and misbehavior were common in crowded buses. Atishi highlighted how the appointment of bus marshals by Arvind Kejriwals government in 2015 changed the narrative for women in Delhi. She shared, Women and girls have told me how the presence of a uniformed marshal in buses made troublemakers think twice before harassing them. Women felt safer knowing that a marshal was there to protect them in case of any untoward incident. The CM reiterated her challenge, If the Leader of Opposition gets the LG to approve the proposal for appointing bus marshals, I will personally campaign for him. For us, this is not about one seat but about the safety of Delhis women and the livelihoods of 10,000 marshals from underprivileged families. Delhi customs have seized gold in the form of chemical paste hidden in the strip of the travelers underwear at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA). According to Delhi Customs, on the basis of intelligence developed by the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU), a passenger arriving from Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) to Delhi via Kuwait was intercepted after crossing the Green Channel of Customs. Advertisement On growing suspicion of the Customs officials, he was taken inside the AIU room for interrogation. Advertisement During interrogation, he confessed to having concealed gold in chemical paste form in the strip of the underwear worn by him as he was wearing a pair of them. The paste was found to be weighing 1,321 grams which seemed to be appearing like gold. A further probe in the matter has been initiated. Earlier on Wednesday, the Customs had seized approximately 19 kg of Hydroponic weed (Marijuana) valued at around 9.5 crores at IGIA. Two Indian passengers who had arrived from Phuket (Thailand) to New Delhi were booked in this regard. The NDPS substance was concealed in 20 polythene packets kept in three trolley bags. A private school, located just a kilometre away from the blast site in Prashant Vihar area of North West Delhis Rohini on Friday received a bomb related threat via email, Delhi Fire Services officials said. However, during the search operation, no suspicious item was found and the threat turned out to be a hoax, they added. Advertisement According to DFS, a bomb related call was received at around 11 am from Venkateshwar Global School, Rohini. Advertisement The school administration evacuated the school premises as a precautionary measure and nothing suspicious was found, DFS added. The school authorities had informed parents about an early dismissal of the classes and requested them to pick up their children. A message sent to the parents stated, The situation is well under control. Theres no need to panic. This comes a day after a minor explosion occurred near the entrance of a park close to the Delhi Police Crime Branch office in Rohinis Prashant Vihar area, where a 27-year-old man got injured. Some white power was recovered from the spot, but a probe is underway to ascertain the exact causthe of the explosion. A police official said the explosive material was dumped in the garbage area and in comparison to the earlier blast near the CRPF school, the quantity of explosive material was less. On November 28, NewJeans, comprising Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein, held an emergency press conference in Samseong-dong, Seoul. They made the move to address their concerns regarding their contract with ADOR. The group announced the termination of their contract with ADOR. This comes after a lengthy feud between former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin and parent label HYBE. The termination is effective November 29 at Midnight EST. For the unversed, after a lengthy dispute, Min Hee Jin announced her resignation effective November 20. At the conference, the members took turns explaining the rationality behind their decision and the groups future. They revealed that they sent a letter of certification on November 13. It asked ADOR to rectify the significant breaches of the exclusive contract within 14 days. Moreover, they iterated that the failure to meet the demands might result in the termination of their contract. Advertisement Advertisement View this post on Instagram A post shared by NewJeans (@newjeans_official) The K-pop group said, ADOR does not have the will or ability to protect NewJeans. If we remain here, it will be a waste of our time, and our mental distress will continue. More than anything, there is nothing that we can gain in terms of our work, so the five of us think that there is no reason at all for us to remain at ADOR. NewJeans also stated that despite expressing their opinions on several occasions, ADOR rebuffed them. Subsequently, the K-pop group was tired of the insincere attitude. However, despite the termination of the contract at midnight, NewJeans assured fans that they would carry out the contracted activities that they had already scheduled. Additionally, they added, When our exclusive contracts are terminated, the five of us will no longer be artists of ADOR. Breaking away from ADOR, we plan on freely carrying out the activities that we sincerely want. In response, ADOR issued a statement saying that NewJeans has no grounds to announce their terminations. Moreover, the agency still wants the group to continue working together. The statement read, We regret that a press conference to announce the termination of the exclusive contract was planned and conducted even before receiving a response to the certification of contents and without sufficient review. ADOR, as a part of the exclusive contracts, has not violated the contracts. And claiming that trust has been unilaterally broken does not constitute grounds for termination. Also Read: Love Scout teaser: Han Ji Min and Lee Jun Hyuk dont want to part ways Moreover, the label added, We hope that even now, we can open our hearts and have sincere conversations together. ADOR will do our best to support NewJeans in their activities and help them grow further as global artists. In a significant development, Haryana will soon be home to a global Artificial Intelligence (AI) centre with the assistance of the World Bank (WB).This was discussed in a meeting between state Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, and representatives of the World Bank here today in which Industries and Commerce, Environment, Forest and Wildlife and Foreign Cooperation Minister Rao Narbir Singh was also present. The CM said that the present state government in its manifesto has announced to establish Haryana as a global education hub through which the youth would be imparted training in Artificial Intelligence and modern skills. This initiative of global AI Center is set to position Haryana as a hub for artificial intelligence research and innovation. This collaboration is expected to boost the states technological capabilities and contribute to the growth of the digital economy in the region. Advertisement In addition to the AI Centre, he also expressed keen interest for collaboration with the WB on the ambitious Interlinking of Rivers project. The WB also expressed keen interest in cooperation in this direction. The interlinking of rivers is expected to significantly improve irrigation facilities across the state and help implement the Amrit Sarover Scheme, which aims to rejuvenate water bodies and enhance water storage capacity particularly in rural areas. Advertisement This collaboration will ensure better water management, improve agricultural productivity, and contribute to the long-term sustainability of Haryanas water resources. He said that a team from the state of Haryana will soon visit Gujarat to study the interlinking of rivers in Gujarat. Furthermore, during the meeting, the Haryana Clean Air Project was also discussed. This initiative is aimed at enhancing sustainable development in the state and improving air quality. With a total project investment of Rs 3647 crore, the WB has committed to providing a loan of Rs 2498 crore to support the implementation of the project. The Haryana state government will contribute Rs 1066 crore, and an additional Rs 83 crore has been allocated as a grant. These initiatives will not only improve the quality of life for our citizens but will also set Haryana on a path to becoming a leader in technology, water management, and environmental sustainability, said the Chief Minister. WBs Country Director for India, Auguste Koume, stated that Haryana holds immense potential for economic growth. Thanks to its proximity to the national capital, Delhi, Haryana attracts foreign investors, making it a preferred destination for investment.He praised the Haryana government for the Haryana Clean Air Project and expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, assuring full cooperation from the World Bank. After meeting with Union Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda, Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde described the meeting as good and positive. He added that another meeting would be held, which is expected to decide who will assume the role of Chief Minister. The meeting was good and positive. This was the first meeting. We had a discussion with Amit Shah and JP NaddaThere will be another meeting of the Mahayuti. In this meeting, a decision will be taken about who will be the Chief Minister. The meeting will be held in Mumbai, he said. Advertisement Eknath Shinde, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, NCP chief Ajit Pawar and other Mahayuti leaders met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda in Delhi on Thursday. Advertisement After the meeting, Shinde, Fadnavis and Pawar left the national capital at late night. The leaders gathered to deliberate on the formation of the new government in Maharashtra. Earlier, Shinde reiterated that there were no obstacles regarding the Chief Ministers post and that Ladla Bhai is a title that holds more significance for him than anything else. I cleared my role in the press conference yesterday that there are no obstacles regarding the Chief Minister of Mahayuti. This ladla bhai has arrived in Delhi and the ladla bhai is a designation higher than anything else for me, Shinde told the meeting. Shinde had stated on Wednesday that he would accept any decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the CM face for the state. I have told the Prime Minister that if my presence creates any obstacle in forming the government in Maharashtra, there should be no hesitation in making a decision. Whatever decision you take will be acceptable to me, Shinde said during a press conference in Mumbai. Fadnavis also asserted that the Mahayuti alliance had no internal differences and that a decision on the Chief Minister would be made soon after consulting the leaders. Speaking to the media, Fadnavis said, In our Mahayuti alliance, there has never been a difference of opinion. We have always made decisions collectively. Before the elections, we announced that the decision regarding the Chief Ministers post would be taken collectively after the results. A few people had doubts, but Eknath Shinde ji has clarified those today. We will soon meet our leaders and finalise the decision. The Maharashtra Assembly election results were declared on November 23, but the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance has yet to finalise its choice for Chief Minister. The BJP emerged as the largest party with 132 seats in the 280-member Maharashtra Assembly, while its alliesthe Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, and the NCP, led by Ajit Pawarwon 57 and 41 seats, respectively. Aam Aadmi Party national convener and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday slammed the BJP-led Centre during a debate in the Assembly, alleging that it was unable to control crime in the national capital, where shootouts, extortion bids, and kidnappings were taking place frequently. Kejriwal hit out at Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the alleged deterioration in law and order situation in the national capital. Advertisement Citing alarming statistics and recent incidents, Kejriwal accused the central government of turning Delhi into a Gangster Capital. Advertisement Speaking on the floor of the House, the AAP chief said that it is unfortunate that such a day has come when criminal activity has become so rampant that it now requires a dedicated discussion in the Assembly. He further said, Ten years ago, the people of Delhi entrusted us with the responsibility of building schools and hospitals, improving electricity and water supply, and repairing roads. We fulfilled these responsibilities. We improved schools and hospitals; enhanced healthcare services, and improved the electricity supply. In many areas, we improved the water supply, and work is ongoing in others. We repaired several roads, and work on the remaining ones is underway, he added. He stressed that one area continues to worsen: law and order. He said, Delhi is a half-state. Half of the responsibility lies with the Delhi government, and the other half with the central government. The people of Delhi entrusted the BJP-led central government with the responsibility of ensuring the safety and security of Delhi residents and maintaining law and order. This responsibility falls directly on the shoulders of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the AAP chief added. Kejriwal also highlighted several recent crime incidents that took place in different areas of the city, while criticising the Union Home Minister for allegedly crippling the law and order situation in the national capital. Traders have shut down their family businesses and shifted to other states, Kejriwal claimed, citing the rise in extortion calls. He also claimed that kidnappings have increased in Delhi along with extortion bids, referring to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Kejriwal also claimed that several gangs are operating in Delhi and they no longer fear the police. He also highlighted the recent stabbing death of a constable in South East Delhis Govindpuri. He urged the Union Home Minister to take action to curb crime and make Delhi a safer place. In a setback to the LDF government in Kerala, the Kerala High Court, on Friday, declined to stay the temporary appointment of Dr. Ciza Thomas, former vice-chancellor (VC) of the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) as the VC of the digital university. A single bench of the court rejected the Kerala governments request to stay the appointment of Dr. Ciza Thomas observing that the absence of the VC could not be allowed. It is not good for universities not to have VCs. Advertisement The bench also issued notice to the Chancellor (Governor) and the new VC, Dr. Ciza Thomas. Advertisement On Thursday, the Kerala High Court declined to stay the temporary appointment of Dr. K Sivaprasad as the VC of the KTU. A single bench of Justice Ziyad Rehman, on Thursday, rejected the Kerala governments request to stay the appointment of Dr.K Sivaprasd, observing that the absence of the Vice-Chancellor could not be allowed. Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, in his capacity as the Chancellor, appointed Dr. K Sivaprasad, Professor, Department of Ship Technology, Cusat, as the vice chancellor of KTU until further orders. The Governor also appointed Ciza Thomas, former VC of KTU as the VC of the digital varsity. A Raj Bhavan notification said the two academics shall exercise the powers and perform the duties of the VC, pending the appointment of a VC in both varsities permanently. The new appointments were necessitated after the term of DUK VC Saji Gopinath, who was also the VC in charge of KTU, ended last month. The state government had submitted panels of senior professors to officiate as VCs in both universities. However, citing a Supreme Court verdict on VC appointments, the Governor had maintained that the government cannot have any role in the selection process. The government on Friday termed unfortunate the recent remarks of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, suggesting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is beginning to show signs of memory loss like US President Joe Biden. India shared a multifaceted partnership with the US, built over years of perseverance, mutual respect and commitment by both sides. We see such remarks as unfortunate and they are not in keeping with warm and friendly ties with the US and do not represent the position of the Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a press briefing. Advertisement Mr Gandhi, speaking at a rally in Amravati during Maharashtra Assembly elections, had mocked the PM, saying, My sister was telling me that she heard Modi jis speech. And in that speech, whatever we say, Modi ji is saying the same thing these days. I dont know, maybe he has lost his memory. Advertisement He said, The President of America also used to forget; he had to be reminded from behind. The President of Ukraine came, and the President of America said that Russian President Putin has come. He has lost his memory, similarly, our Prime Minister is losing his memory. Asserting that Madhya Pradesh is possibly the only state in India where all industrial permits and approvals are granted within just 30 days, Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav invited prospective investors and industrialists from Germany to come to MP and start business ventures with the ease of doing business. Addressing an interactive session titled Investment Opportunities in Madhya Pradesh with business persons at Munich in Germany today, during his three-day visit to the country, the MP CM emphasized that all necessary facilities will be provided to investors in various sectors. Advertisement He added that the state government has worked to eliminate and simplify procedural difficulties for investors and there would be no shortage of electricity or water for industries in Madhya Pradesh. Advertisement Dr Yadav lauded Germany, as a land of both hard work and ethics, and said that Germany has always maintained a friendly industrial attitude towards India. He also invited German business leaders to attend the Global Investors Summit (GIS) 2025, which would be held at Bhopal in February 2025. Investors are not guests, they are a part of our family. We will ensure they do not face any difficulties, the CM asserted. He further emphasized that Germany is the largest investor among European countries in Madhya Pradesh. We seek a new kind of partnership with Germany, beyond just trade. We want German companies to bring their advanced technologies and invest in Madhya Pradesh, combining their expertise with our natural and human resources, he said. The CM informed that the states economy has tripled in the last decade, and its growth rate is in double digits. He said Madhya Pradesh is a power-surplus state and is advancing in the use of alternative energy sources, including green energy. The state also boasts sufficient water and land resources, making it a unique place for investment. Addressing the session, Mr Shatrughna Sinha, Consul General of India in Germany, stated that Madhya Pradesh is not only the geographical heart of India but is also emerging as a major economic destination. He assured German investors that the state offers excellent infrastructure, including five fully developed airports, 4000 kilometers of national highways and an extensive railway network, making it an important hub for Indias supply chain. He further highlighted the states industry-friendly policies and discussed the immense potential for investment in sectors such as agriculture, renewable energy, automobile manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and tourism. State government officials informed during the session that the trade between India and Germany amounts to $26.06 billion, with Germany being a significant partner in Madhya Pradeshs industrial and economic development. CM Dr Yadav also paid tribute to the German scholar Max Muller, who translated Indian texts and Vedas into several languages, including German. Dr Yadav said Max Muller was a well-versed scholar of Sanskrit, and Swami Vivekananda had greatly admired his work. The Ukrainian defense forces hit an oil depot, where at least two fires are recorded, and destroyed the radar station of the Buk-M3 air defense system of the Russian occupiers in Zaporizhia region, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported. "On the night of November 29, an attack was carried out on the Atlas oil depot in Rostov region of the Russian Federation. As a result of the defeat, a fire broke out on the territory of the facility, at least two fires are recorded. It should be noted that in the summer of this year, the specified oil depot was already attacked by the Defense Forces," the General Staff said in a Telegram message on Friday. It is noted that Atlas is part of the Russian military-industrial complex, which provides supplies of petroleum products to the Russian army. "In addition, as part of the tasks of identifying and eliminating enemy air defense assets, the radar station of the Buk-M3 anti-aircraft missile kit of the Russian invaders was destroyed. The target was in the temporarily occupied territory of Zaporizhia region," the General Staff informs. The task was carried out by units of the Forces of unmanned systems, Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Main Intelligence Agency (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine in cooperation with other components of the Defense Forces. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the All India Conference of Director Generals/ Inspector Generals of Police from 30 November-1 December, 2024 at the State Convention Centre, Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar. The conference will include deliberations on critical components of national security, including Counter Terrorism, Left Wing Extremism, Coastal Security, New Criminal Laws, Narcotics among others. The Presidents Police Medal for distinguished service will also be awarded during the Conference. Advertisement The Conference will provide an interactive platform for senior Police professionals and security administrators in the country to freely discuss and debate diverse national security-related issues, as also various operational, infrastructural and welfare-related problems faced by the Police in India. Advertisement Its deliberations will include formulation and sharing of professional practices and processes in tackling challenges relating to crime control and law and order management, besides Internal Security threats. The PM has always demonstrated a deep interest in the DGP Conference. He not only listens attentively to all contributions but also fosters an environment of open and informal discussions, allowing for the emergence of new ideas. This year, some unique features have also been added to the conference. The entire day is being effectively utilised starting from Yoga session, business session, break-out sessions and thematic dining tables. This will also provide senior police officials with a valuable opportunity to present their perspectives and suggestions on critical policing and internal security matters that impact the country to the PM. The PM has encouraged the annual DGsP/IGsP Conference to be organised all across the country, since 2014. The conference has been held in Guwahati (Assam), Rann of Kachchh (Gujarat), Hyderabad (Telangana), Tekanpur (Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh), Statue of Unity (Kevadiya, Gujarat), Pune (Maharashtra), Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), New Delhi and Jaipur (Rajasthan). Continuing with this tradition, the 59th DGsP/IGsP Conference 2024 is being organised in Bhubaneswar (Odisha). The conference will be attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Principal Secretary to the PM, National Security Adviser, Ministers of State (Home Affairs), DGP of States/UTs and Chiefs of Central Police Organisations, among others. The controversy leading to survey of Shahi Jama Masjid and violence on Sunday in which 4 youths were killed, may see an end after the intervention of the Supreme Court on Friday. On the other hand the Friday prayers passed off peacefully while the survey report could not be presented in the court and Advocate Commissioner Ramesh Singh Raghav has sought more time from the court. Advertisement Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday last night had set up a 3-member Judicial Commission headed by retired High Court judge Devendra Kumar Arora to probe the Sambhal violence. Advertisement The Commission will submit its report in 2 months time. The other members of the Commission include Amit Mohan Prasad, a retired IAS officer, and Arvind Kumar Jain, a retired IPS officer. Giving important instructions on Sambhal violence, the Supreme Court has asked the lower court not to hear the Jama Masjid case. The Court has also asked the petitioner to go to the High Court and said that now any action can be taken only on the instructions of the High Court. The mosque committee had filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the lower courts decision to conduct a survey of the mosque. The bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar asked the petitioners to approach the Allahabad High Court. The Supreme Court directed the High Court to hear the petition within three days after the petition was filed. On the other hand, Friday prayers were offered peacefully at Shahi Jama Masjid on Friday. A large number of people reached the mosque. Security arrangements remained tight during the Namaz and the police administration was fully deployed. Moradabad Commissioner Anjaneya Kumar Singh said that people have offered namaz peacefully. Everyone maintained peace and no untoward incident occurred. Namazis said that we offered namaz with great peace. Due to the tight security arrangements, we did not face any problems, and everything went smoothly. The case related to Jama Masjid was heard in Chandausi Civil Court on Friday morning but rhe survey report was not presented in the court. Advocate Commissioner Ramesh Singh Raghav said that the report could not be prepared due to the violence that took place during the survey on November 24. The court has fixed the next hearing of this case on January 8. However lawyer of Shahi Jama Masjid Committee has asked the court for copies of all the files related to this case. The lawyer said that the court has accepted this request. He also clarified that now there will be no further survey of the mosque. After the order of the lower court on November 19 last, the survey of Sambhal Jama Masjid was conducted by the Advocate Commissioner. It was during this survey that violence broke out in Sambhal on Sunday last, in which four people were killed. In view of the situation, the Supreme Court has also directed to keep the report of the Advocate Commissioner in a sealed envelope and not to release it. The Supreme Court has instructed the Uttar Pradesh administration to maintain an atmosphere of peace and harmony. The court also directed the administration to establish harmony by forming a peace committee. In fact, the Hindu side filed a petition in the trial court claiming that the Jama Masjid of Sambhal was built by demolishing a temple. The Hindu side says that earlier there was a Harihar temple here, which was demolished by the Mughal emperor Babar in the year 1526 and a mosque was built there, which is today known as Jama Masjid of Sambhal. On this petition, the trial court had ordered the survey of the mosque by the Advocate Commissioner on November 19. During this survey, violence broke out in Sambhal on 24 November, in which four people lost their lives. Even after the BJP-backed Mahayutis top leaders from Maharashtra namely Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, returned after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday evening in Delhi, there was no relief from the long suspense about who will be the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, as late as Friday evening. Amazingly, though the name of the Chief Minister of Maharashtra is still under wraps, sources indicated that the oath-taking ceremony for the Maharashtra government is likely to take place on Tuesday, December 5 at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while others said that it might get delayed further. Advertisement Meanwhile, rather inexplicably and mysteriously, a meeting of the Mahayuti in Mumbai to iron out details was abruptly cancelled, along with another scheduled meeting of Shindes Shiv Sena. Advertisement It was announced that caretaker CM Eknath Shinde is heading to his village in Satara and all meetings would be held only after his return on Saturday. All this has led to a bigger revival of political speculation that Shinde is unhappy about the formation of the Mahayuti government, especially after he also met a leader of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, before he headed to his village in Satara. However, Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant insisted that Eknath Shinde is not upset. He had to go to his village and he will be back tomorrow. Sources claimed that Shinde is not keen on a Deputy Chief Minister role. According to a Shinde-led Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat, Saheb is unlikely to be a Deputy Chief Minister. It does not befit the stature of a person who has already served as chief minister of Maharashtra. Samant also insisted that Shindes Shiv Sena wants him to be a part of the Maharashtra government. If Eknath Shinde wants someone else to be Deputy Chief Minister, then it is his nobility but we (Shinde-led Shiv Sena) think that he should be a part of the Maharashtra government, he said. Sources said that the BJP is likely to keep the home ministry, Ajit Pawars NCP may get the finance portfolio and Shindes Sena may get urban development and public works departments. The BJP is likely to get 22 cabinet berths, while the Shinde-led Shiv Sena will get 12 portfolios and the NCP will get 9 portfolios respectively, according to sources. Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has dubbed the meeting of Mahayuti leaders with Union Home Minister Amit Shah as good and positive, adding that there will be another meeting of Mahayuti in Mumbai, which is expected to decide who will be the chief minister of the state. Eknath Shinde, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, NCP chief Ajit Pawar and other Mahayuti leaders met Union Home Minister Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda in Delhi on Thursday night and deliberated on the formation of the new government in Maharashtra amid indications that Fadnavis is the frontrunner in the race for the post of state chief minister. Advertisement The Maharashtra Assembly results were declared on November 23, but the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance has yet to decide on the chief minister of the state. In the elections, the BJP emerged as the largest party, winning 132 seats in the 280-member Assembly, while its allies the Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, and the NCP, led by Ajit Pawar secured 57 and 41 seats, respectively. Advertisement After meeting with Shah and Nadda, Shinde said, The meeting was good and positive. This was the first meeting. We had a discussion with Amit Shah and JP Nadda.There will be another meeting of the Mahayuti. In this meeting, a decision will be taken about who will be the Chief Minister. The meeting will be held in Mumbai. After the meeting, Shinde, Fadnavis and Pawar left the national capital late Thursday night. In a post on X after the meeting, Fadnavis credited Shah for inspiring and motivating the party workers during the recently concluded Maharashtra Assembly elections. Expressed my gratitude to Union Minister Amitbhai Shah, for his huge support on the battlefield during the important Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha Elections 2024 and for the way he greatly inspired and motivated the karyakartas. On this occasion, our BJP National President JP Nadda ji, Eknath Shinde ji, Ajitdada Pawar, #MahaYuti leaders, and colleagues were present too, in New Delhi, the BJP leader said in a post on X. In another post on X, Fadnavis said, Congratulated and felicitated our BJP National President JP Nadda ji for the historic unprecedented success of BJP in Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha Election 2024. Eknath Shinde ji too was present on this occasion in New Delhi. Earlier, the BJP leader asserted that the Mahayuti alliance had no internal differences and that a decision on the Chief Minister would be made soon after consulting the leaders. On Wednesday, caretaker Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde said he had left the final decision on the CMs post to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Security forces said on Friday that they recovered two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and explosive material in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch. Officials said a search operation was started after a suspicious object was found under the Chajla bridge in the Mendhar area of Poonch district. Advertisement The area was cordoned off and the bomb disposal squad was called in. Two IEDs and over a Kg of explosive material suspected to be RDX, a battery, two blankets and some edibles were found. Further investigation is now going on, officials said. Advertisement More details were awaited. Police in Jammu division have been carrying out a crackdown against terrorists and their overground workers (OGWs) in four districts of Kathua, Udhampur, Reasi and Doda for the last three days. Over a dozen OGWs have been rounded up during this crackdown. Security forces have been aggressively going after the terrorists in the union territory after terror-related incidents witnessed a surge during the last three months. On October 20, two terrorists fired indiscriminately inside a workers camp of an infrastructure company in the Gagangir area of Ganderbal district. Seven people, including six non-local workers and a local doctor, were killed in this terror attack. On October 24, terrorists killed five people, including three soldiers and two civilian porters, in the Botapathri area of Gulmarg in Baramulla district. On November 2, terrorists hurled a grenade at the busy Sunday market near the tourist reception centre (TRC) in Srinagar city. A woman was killed and nine other civilians were injured in this grenade explosion. In the aftermath of these terror attacks, J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha chaired two top-level security review meetings during which he directed the security forces to go all out to dismantle the terror ecosystem, including terrorists, their OGWs and sympathisers. The Yogi Adityanath-led government in Uttar Pradesh has ordered a judicial inquiry into the recent incident of violence in Sambhal in which at least four persons lost their lives. As per the order of the Uttar Pradesh Home Department, a three-member committee headed by retired High Court judge Devendra Kumar Arora has been handed the responsibility of conducting an investigation into the matter. Advertisement The two other members of the committee are retired IAS officer Amit Mohan Prasad and former IPS officer Arvind Kumar Jain. Advertisement An official said that the committee had been directed to submit its report within two months. The order to constitute the committee was issued by the Home Department of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday. The order read: It is necessary to investigate in the public interest whether the incident of violence that took place on November 24, 2024, during the survey ordered by the Court in the Jama Masjid vs Harihar Mandir dispute was a pre-planned conspiracy or a normal criminal incident, due to which several police personnel were injured, four persons died and property was also damaged. Tension mounted in Sambhal on November 24 during the second survey of the Mughal-era Jama Masjid after locals pelted stones at the police team. A second survey, as part of a court-ordered examination into the disputed site, began around 7 a.m. and a crowd began gathering at the spot. At first, the crowd just shouted slogans, and then, some people started pelting stones at the police, Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Vishnoi said. According to the police, there were three groups of stone pelters, operating from three directions, and began the pelting as the survey team was coming out. The team was later safely escorted out of the area. Meanwhile, some of the attackers tried to vandalise and set afire vehicles, and firing broke out in which the three youths were killed and several policemen and officials injured. On November 24, Sambhal District Magistrate Rajendra Painsia said: The survey was being conducted according to court orders. Last time, the survey could not be completed, and a slot of 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. was chosen today as no namaz is offered during this time and the process can be completed peacefully. The survey was on peacefully, there was no disruption. Jamia Committee was cooperating in the process, he said. However, some miscreants outside pelted stones at the police, he said. The Supreme Court had ordered a survey after a petition was filed stating that the mosque was originally the Harihar temple. Petitioner Vishnu Shankar Jain contended that Mughal Emperor Babar razed the Harihar temple to build the mosque. The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, that took effect on Wednesday morning, marks a significant turning point in a region long tormented by cycles of violence. Brokered through intense diplomatic efforts by the United States and France, the agreement offers a glimmer of hope amid the devastation wrought by months of conflict. Yet, this fragile peace remains precarious, demanding cautious optimism and robust measures to ensure its durability. For Lebanon, the ceasefire is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it provides an opportunity for displaced families to return to their ancestral homes, bringing relief to those uprooted by the hostilities. On the other, the reality awaiting these returnees is grim. Many border villages have been reduced to rubble, and the process of rebuilding lives and infrastructure will be daunting. Lebanons army now faces the delicate task of securing the southern border and preventing a resurgence of armed militancy, a challenge compounded by the nations on-going econo mic and political crises. A significant challenge for Lebanon will be addressing the humanitarian crisis caused by the conflict. Thousands of displaced families face not only the loss of their homes but also the lack of basic services in devastated areas. The international community must step in with aid and resources to support Le b anons recovery, ensuring that this fragile ceasefire translates into tangible improvements in peoples lives. For Israel, the ceasefire offers a strategic reprieve. The conflict with Hezbollah, which escalated as an extension of the Gaza war, strained Israels resources and diverted attention from its primary goal of neutralising Hamas. By halting hostilities along its northern border, Israel can concentrate its efforts on the volatile Gaza Strip. The ceasefire also underscores a broader regional strategy: isolating Hezbollah, weakening its infrastructure, and curbing Irans influence in the region. Israeli leaders have touted the operation as a decisive blow to Hezbollahs capabilities, but whether this assessment holds true in the long term remains to be seen. Advertisement Internationally, the ceasefire is a testament to the power of diplomacy, even in the face of entrenched animosities. The involvement of multiple nations in brokering this agreement highlights a growing recognition that sustained violence benefits no one. However, the international community must remain engaged, ensuring that both parties adhere to the terms of the ceasefire. Without consistent oversight and accountability, there is a risk that this fragile truce could unravel, plunging the region back into chaos. The broader implications of this ceasefire cannot be ignored. It serves as a reminder that dialogue, however challenging, is the only viable path to lasting peace. West Asias complex web of conflicts requires multifaceted solutions that address not just immediate security concerns but also underlying socio-political grievances. Efforts to de-escalate tensions in Lebanon must be paralleled by renewed attempts to broker peace in Gaza, where the human toll of war continues to mount. Advertisement Indictment of the chairman and top executives of the Adani Group on bribery charges by a New York court, has set alarm bells ringing in India. Less than two years ago, a US short-seller, Hindenburg, had alleged massive financial impropriety by the Adani group, but after long drawn enquiries, SEBI gave the Adanis a clean chit ~ which was endorsed by the Supreme Court. In 2022, a Sri Lankan official had alleged that the Government of India had pressurised the Sri Lankan Government to award a contract for a renewable energy project to an Adani firm, but all was forgotten when the government in Sri Lanka changed. However, after the US indictment, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are reviewing their contracts with the Adani group, while Kenya has cancelled two mega deals valued at US$2.5 billion with the Adanis. It is natural that Indian businessmen would carry their corporate culture abroad; some part of which is praiseworthy ~ their hard work and dedication, for example ~ but tolerance of, and indulgence in, corruption which is prevalent in India, is quite another matter. The West swears by the rule of law, which means that criminality if exposed is punished heavily ~ regardless of the persons involved. Moreover, the entire Western world has a fully formalised economy and a sophisticated reporting system which identifies unusual transactions in real time. Most Western countries, including the US, have unobtrusive surveillance systems in place that keep tabs on foreigners, and more so on rich and important ones. Advertisement Then, Western agencies are proactive and not merely reactive, as is the wont of Indian agencies. An example is the entrapment, by decoys, of two Indian citizens, who were seeking to recruit a killer to eliminate the Khalistani Pannun. Most importantly, VIPs from third world countries do not have the privileges and immunities they enjoy in their own countries; strict action follows if found non-compliant to local laws, as the case of Devyani Khobragade, the Indian diplomat, would show. A complicating factor is Indias rise in the international pecking order, which is resented by the old elite namely West European nations and the US. Despite protestations of friendship and under the guise of advancing a rule-based order, the US does not miss any opportunity to put us down. The April 2021 incident, when USS John Paul Jones of the Seventh Fleet deliberately navigated through Indian Exclusive Economic Zone, without permission from Indian authorities, statedly to uphold Freedom of Navigation Operation (FONOP), is a case in the point. Advertisement Later on, to rub in the insult, the US Seventh Fleet Commander issued the following statement. This Freedom of Navigation Operation (FONOP) upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea recognized in international law by challenging Indias excessive maritime claimsWe conduct routine and regular Freedom of Navigation Operations, as we have done in the past and will continue to in the future. FONOPs are not about one country, nor are they about making political statements. Another example is that of Albert Noriega, the President of Panama, who was captured and flown to the US, where he was tried on a Miami Court indictment, convicted, and sentenced to 40 years in jail, ultimately serving 17 years in a US prison. Contrast this with the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a US national, by agents of the Saudi Arabian government allegedly at the behest of the Saudi ruler, Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS), in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. The lure of Saudi oil and dollars ensured that the US never let the murder of Khashoggi mar its relations with Saudi Arabia or Mohammed Bin Salman. The Tata group was the first to take its business to the US. Known for their probity and adherence to rules, they rose slowly and steadily, facing no problems with US regulators, unlike newer and more ambitious entrants like BYJU and Adani. The genesis of the problem is in India; white collar crime goes unpunished, and even undetected, due to lax enforcement. Brought up in such an environment, Indian businessmen are unable to comprehend the consequences of transgression of local laws in a foreign country. Another reason for the laissez faire attitude is the unhealthy relationship between politics and business in India. Just before the elections, on 11 February 2024, the Supreme Court directed the State Bank of India (SBI) to supply details of donations received through Electoral Bonds (EBs) to the Election Commission by 12 March 2024. After much hemming and hawing, SBI provided lists of donors and donees, but without the crucial unique identifier which could connect donees and donors. After another dressing down, missing details were furnished, and donors and donors were linked ~ the entire process, which the SBI averred would take months, was completed in a few days. This se quence of events is a sorry reflection on the morality and truthfulness of Indias leading banker. Once details of donations through Electoral Bonds were published, more damaging conclusions were postulated; it appeared that some companies had donated money after the visit of enforcement agencies. Others had donated money, before or after award of lucrative government contracts. Surprisingly, some companies had donated money many times in excess of their net worth, pointing to those companies being fronts for others, indicating violation of both taxation and electoral laws. Instead of initiating penal action against the erring corporates and political parties, several ministers, without any enquiry, denied any wrong-doing. The PM defended the Electoral Bond scheme, saying that the country had been pushed towards black money in elections after the Supreme Court scrapped the scheme, and that on honest reflection, everyone will regret it. Sadly, even the Opposition did not pursue the matter to its logical end, because ruling parties in all States had benefited from the Electoral Bonds Scheme ~ showing that all political parties are tarred by the same brush. The aftermath of most elections in the recent past has witnessed numerous floor crossings leading to formation of governments against the public mandate. It is no ones case that the legislators change of heart was motivated purely by ideology, hence moneyed backers rule the roost in most political parties. This is a reality in all democracies, including the US, where the nomination of Elon Musk, to a super-powerful policy panel, Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has sparked a heated controversy. However, generally speaking, the relationship between businessmen and politicians is much more transparent, and open to public scrutiny, in the West. The US fancies itself as the global policeman taking unwarranted notice of events and practices in foreign countries ~ particularly lesser developed ones. Many US laws confer extra-territorial jurisdiction to US courts, one of which is the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), under which the Adani groups executives are being charged. Therefore, the argument that US courts have no jurisdiction because malfeasance, if any, was committed in India, by an Indian business entity, is of no consequence in eyes of the US. The probable trial in the US of an Indian icon, and one of the worlds richest men ~ a selfmade one, to boot ~ will make for a sorry spectacle. Since India plans to become an economic superpower in the next few years, more and more Indians will have business interests abroad in the coming years. So, if things do not change, there could be more incidents of the Adani kind. To avoid cutting a sorry figure, it is necessary for Indian businesses to adopt more ethical practices, and for the Government to tighten enforcement of anti-corruption laws. A related issue is that of transparent election funding, which cannot be resolved, except by unanimous agreement of all political parties. Unfortunately, corruption is a disease that has no permanent cure, we can only aim to control it. As Alan Greenspan, the famous economist and Chairman of the US Federal Reserve for nineteen years, had remarked: Corruption, embezzlement, fraud, these are all characteristics which exist everywhere. It is regrettably the way human nature functions, whether we like it or not. What successful economies do is keep it to a minimum. No one has ever eliminated any of that stuff. (The writer is a retired Principal Chief Commissioner of Income-Tax) Britains workforce crisis has reached alarming proportions, with millions trapped in a cycle of unemployment or underemployment. The root causes of this crisis are complex, stemming from long-term structural issues, a legacy of industrial decline, and rising health challenges. At the heart of the proposed government reforms lies a bold ambition to reshape how Britain supports its workforce. However, while the intention to tackle economic inactivity is clear, the success of these plans hinges on a delicate balance between opportunity and support. Recent figures reveal that three million households have no wage-earners, and nearly one million young people are neither working nor in education. These statistics point to a growing disconnect between the opportunities available and the barriers that prevent people from accessing them. While much attention has been given to the economic inactivity that has resulted from the pandemic, the crisis is not new. The decline of in dustries in the British Midlands and the North, coupled with insufficient investment in skills and healthcare, has created deep pockets of unemployment and underemployment across the country. Whats more troubling is that entire generations are at risk of being left behind. The governments response to this crisis is a proposed overhaul of the welfare system, which aims to shift the focus from passive benefits to active participation. A key element of this reform is a Youth Guarantee that insists young people must either be learning or earning. Advertisement This is an understandable and perhaps even necessary approach, as early disengagement from the workforce often leads to lifelong challenges in finding meaningful employment. However, the assumption that all young people can easily transition into work or education ignores the significant barriers many face, such as mental health struggles, disabilities, or a lack of access to affordable training programmes. The plan also includes an overhaul of job centres, which have long been criticised for being more focused on administering benefits than supporting jobseekers. By refocusing job centres on employment support and offering tailored programmes for young people, the British government intends to provide more opportunities for skill development and job placement. Yet, the success of this reform depends not only on better-designed services but also on the availability of quality jobs. Without an increase in well-paying, stable employment opportunities across the country, the risk is that these reforms could fall short of their promise. Additionally, the focus on ensuring that no one remains dependent on benefits for a prolonged period may overlook the genuine need for support for those with long-term health conditions or disabilities. Advertisement While work can bring a sense of purpose, it must also be accessible to all. The governments pledge to provide proper support for people with health conditions or disabilities is crucial, but it needs to be backed by more robust healthcare. For real progress to be made, the reforms must be accompanied by a broader investment in accessible healthcare, mental health services, and a diverse range of job opportunities. Romanias Constitutional Court (CCR) has ordered on Thursday the Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) to recount votes from the first round of the presidential election. At the same time, the CCR rejected a petition by candidate Sebastian Constantin Popescu to annul the first round results, citing late submission of the request. However, a separate annulment appeal filed by Cristian Terhes is scheduled for deliberation on Friday. Advertisement Terhes, a Member of the European Parliament and a candidate for the Romanian National Conservative Party, garnered 95,782 votes, representing 1.04 per cent of the total. Advertisement The BEC had announced the final first-round results on Tuesday. Independent candidate Calin Georgescu secured the lead with 2,120,401 votes (22.94 per cent), followed by Elena Lasconi of the Save Romania Union with 1,772,500 votes (19.18 per cent). Marcel Ciolacu of the Social Democratic Party narrowly missed advancing to the second round, receiving 1,769,760 votes (19.15 per cent). Since no candidate achieved an absolute majority, a runoff is set for Dec. 8, 2024. The current presidential term will conclude on December 21, Xinhua news agency reported. Meanwhile, Romania is also preparing for parliamentary elections on December 1, which will determine the composition of the next government and prime minister. The start of training for the first cohort of the REDpreneurUA programme at the School of ME has been launched. We are excited to announce the commencement of training for the first cohort of REDpreneurUA participants, in collaboration with the School of ME: School of Mindful Entrepreneurship, URCS said on Facebook Friday. The training program includes intensive sessions, practical tasks, and the opportunity to acquire new knowledge and skills to develop their own business projects. The programme is designed to support innovative solutions and foster entrepreneurial ideas that will bring positive change to Ukrainian communities. With the professional guidance of School of ME experts and mentors, participants will be empowered to transform their ideas into tangible projects that will contribute to the recovery and growth of the local economy. The Syrian army on Thursday cut off the Damascus-Aleppo road near the northern city of Aleppo as its troops engaged in combat with rebel groups that had launched a massive offensive in the western countryside of Aleppo on Wednesday, according to local media reports. The pro-government Sham FM radio reported that the army temporarily closed the road to Aleppo for public safety as its troops continued to confront a large-scale rebel offensive in the countryside of Aleppo and Idlib provinces in northern Syria for the second consecutive day on Thursday. Advertisement The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rebel group and allied factions opened new fronts in the countryside of Idlib on Thursday. Advertisement The General Command of the Syrian Army and Armed Forces said in a statement that militant groups had carried out assaults targeting villages, towns, and military positions using medium and heavy weapons. Our armed forces confronted the ongoing terrorist attack, inflicting heavy losses in personnel and equipment, the statement said. Our units continue to engage the terrorist organizations with various firepower, in cooperation with friendly forces, it added. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, reported that at least 153 combatants have been killed since the clashes began at dawn on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported. The dead include 80 HTS fighters, 19 from allied rebel factions of the so-called National Army, and 54 Syrian government soldiers, including at least four officers. The Observatory also noted that HTS forces had captured several government soldiers during the battles. HTS is designated as a terrorist organization by Syria, Russia, the United States, and several other countries. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Indias security landscape necessitates a robust and self-reliant defence sector, said Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan even as he hailed self-reliance and indigenous defence capabilities as the foundations to enduring peace even as India marches ahead on the path of progress and prosperity. He was addressing the inaugural session of the 'Defence Partnership Days', organised jointly by the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies and Indian Military Review, on Thursday. He said in order to ensure self-reliance in the defence sector, it is important to focus on four 'I'sinnovative, inventive, indigenous and imaginativeand batted for the formulation of defence policies in emerging technologies like space, AI, quantum and autonomous systems. ALSO READ: How 'Eklavya' is set to transform Indian Army officers and make it a future-ready force Gen Anil Chauhan pointed out that a common thread that binds all stakeholders in the sector is the national interest, and added that the whole enterprise of indigenisation would not succeed if this common thread does not bind all the elements. Talking about various reforms and initiatives by the government in the sector, he said, India has opened up its defence industry through reforms. It has opened it up for private industry, joint ventures, FDI, etc. But, we are yet to fully open up our minds. To really succeed, we will have to imbibe the 4Is and be innovative, inventive, indigenous and imaginative. READ MORE: COAS General Upendra Dwivedi hails indigenous defence innovations He noted that investments in defence manufacturing take time to accrue returns, and the time gap in defence R&D is even longer, and the outcome can be uncertain. The CDS suggested that the Defence Bank with earlier loan terms can be one option, in addition to funding in projects like iDEX and TDF. Over 200 companies and 100 officers from the ministry of defence and armed forces, dealing with technology and procurement are participating in the two-day event, designed to bring together government and business stakeholders and to facilitate strategic engagements through a series of targeted business-to-government (B2G) and business-to-business (B2B) meetings. As many as 75 companies are exhibiting their products on the sidelines of the event. Three countries could be potential buyers of the cutting-edge, supersonic cruise missile, BrahMos, developed through a joint venture between Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyeniya. Alexander B. Maksichev, joint managing director, Brahmos Aerospace, confirmed to the Russian news agency TASS that the Indo-Russian venture is in discussions for supplies of the supersonic cruise missiles with Vietnam, Indonesia, and the UAE. "These are the countries showing interest in the first instance," Maksichev said. READ MORE: India-Russia defence ties to grow further with more military drills, knowledge-sharing He said Vietnam, Indonesia, and the UAE are three countries with whom BrahMos missile supply contracts can be signed, but did not get into the details on the status of talks on the procurement. The Philippines was the first customer of BrahMos Aerospace. Named after the Brahmaputra River in India and the Moskva River in Russia, the missile, which is in service in the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, is known for its remarkable speed, precision, and versatility. BrahMos missile, equipped with stealth technology, has a range of between 300-500 km depending on which variant and the platform on which it is mounted. The two countries are also working on a hypersonic variant of the missile, called Brahmos-II, which according to the joint venture company "will fly at screaming velocities over six times the speed of sound on hypersonic scramjet technology." Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Photo: Eurosolidarity Businessman, MP, leader of the European Solidarity party, Petro Poroshenko, has handed over three complexes of countering Ai-Petri counter-intelligence systems to one of the units of the South operational command, the European Solidarity party said on its website on Friday. "Every day the enemy insidiously attacks Ukraine with guided aerial bombs Our complex of countering the enemy's technical intelligence has already proven itself as a good tool to combat these weapons," Poroshenko said. According to him, there are already cases of successful neutralization of guided aerial bombs on the combat account of units working with Ai-Petri, therefore, the production of anti-technical reconnaissance complexes is constantly increasing. "Three days ago, we handed over two complexes to the 206th Artillery Brigade of the Ukrainian Navy. Today we are transferring three more Ai-Petri to the Operational Command Pivden (South). We are trying to reach a record production volume. We must do everything to provide for the military," Poroshenko added. As noted in the message, the pickups, transferring Ai-Petri to the brigades, are equipped with a six-lane electronic warfare system. The kit also includes charging stations, generators, and Starlinks. A year ago, Poroshenko announced the investment of UAH 150 million in the development of the latest system for countering the means of technical intelligence Ai-Petri counter-intelligence systems. The project is being scaled and the amount of investments has already exceeded UAH 200 million. The state budget does not receive funds for the production of Ai-Petri. Following the footsteps of her father, Brig Kaushal Sreedharan, Capt Rheeya K. Sreedharan has earned the coveted Aviation Wings at the valedictory ceremony at Combat Army Aviation Training School (CATS) in Nashik. The Aviation Wings are awarded to officers in the Indian Army Aviation Corps (AAC), the supporting arm of the Army responsible for providing areal assistance. CATS is the premier flying training institution of the Indian Army which functions under the aegis of Army Training Command (ARTRAC), Shimla. The officers are awarded the coveted 'Aviation Wings' to become combat helicopter pilots after having successfully completed the Combat Aviators Course. READ MORE: President Droupadi Murmu hails gender shift in armed forces "After 11 months of rigorous training, she becomes the first second-generation woman officer to claim a legacy in the Army Aviation Corps and achieve this prestigious milestone," a tweet from the Southern Command of the Indian Army read. The youngest Corps of the Indian Army, the Army Aviation Corps serves to boost operational capabilities of the Indian Army through air mobility, surveillance, and support during combat operations. According to defence ministery, "Army Aviation is undeniably a formidable force multiplier, a key combat enabler and a vital fighting arm of the Indian Army." Capt Rheeya K Sreedharan's achievement is a testament to the growing presence of women in the Indian armed forces excelling in various roles. The logo and theme song for the upcoming 30th edition of the Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) were unveiled on Friday. Scheduled to take place from December 4 to 11, the KIFF, recognized as Indias third-oldest and one of its most prestigious international film festivals, will highlight France as its special focus. The unveiling event at Rabindra Sadan was attended by KIFF chairman Gautam Ghose, Minister Aroop Biswas, Indranil Sen, Birbaha Hansda, and Nicolas Facino, the director of Alliance Francaise du Bengale, the official French language and cultural centre in Kolkata recognised by the French embassy. The 30th KIFF will pay tribute to legendary director Tapan Sinha on his birth anniversary, with his film Golpo Holeo Sotyi likely serving as the festivals opening film. Additionally, the festival will honor the birth centenaries of iconic figures such as Marlon Brando, Marcello Mastroianni, and Mohammad Rafi. This years festival will feature a diverse lineup of 175 films, including features, short films, and documentaries from 29 countries, screened across 20 venues in Kolkata. The 30th edition of KIFF is expected to feature a dedicated segment on contemporary French women filmmakers. This year, the festival may miss the usual glitz and glamour associated with it in absence of superstars such Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan. Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar are anticipated to be the chief guests, while Vidya Balan is expected to make an appearance on December 5. Notably, the opening ceremony has been shifted from the Netaji Indoor Stadium to the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium. Ghose, the KIFF chairman, said, Its true that the number of people going to the theatre to watch Bengali films has decreased. But the footfall in the festival will not reduce. Even though OTTs have taken over, directors have not stopped making films for the big screen. In the AI era, the entire filmmaking process will change. Before that happens, I request the audience to experience different kinds of films in this years festival. Director Vetrimaarans Viduthalai 2 is expected to hit the screens on December 20. The much-awaited trailer of the sequel released on November 26 promises a solid crime thriller with extraordinary performances by Vijay Sethupathi, Soori and Manju Warrier. Viduthalai the prequel to Viduthalai 2 which was released in 2023 ended with the arrest of Perumal Vaathiyar, the role played by Vijay Sethupathi, who was shown as a comrade and a naxal. The sequel is expected to delve deep into the story of Perumal Vaathiyar and why the comrade was looked at as a Naxal by the police. The first part spoke about constable Kumaresan played by Soori and how he ended up meeting Perumal Vaathiyar. The sequel will tell the story of Perumal Vaathiyar, his love life, how he turned from a school teacher to a comrade to a union leader and his Makkal Padai. The two-minute 39-second trailer captures the essence of the gripping crime story with a background score by Ilayaraja. The trailer begins with Vijay Sethupathi and Manju Warrier meeting each other. Manju through the trailer promises an awesome performance with her elegant looks. The trailer also has a few hard-hitting dialogues with references to a few political happenings in Tamil Nadu. While one dialogue gives a reference to former chief minister M. Karunanidhi, the other at the end of the trailer has a reference to the actors getting into politics. Set in 1987, Viduthalai is a period crime thriller film directed and co-produced by Vetrimaaran. The prequel is the story of a police constable who gets recruited by a police regiment in the hills to arrest the leader of a separatist group. With Soori in the lead, the prequel had Chethan, Bhavani Sre, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Rajiv Menon and Ilavarasu in crucial roles. The sequel will have Manju Warrier, Anurag Kashyap, Kishore and Bose Venkat in the lead. Viduthalai 2, to be released on December 20 is expected to be the most successful Tamil film of 2024 with Vetrimaarans screenplay and Ilayarajas music score. A key Mahayuti meeting, which was to decide on the formation of the Maharashtra government, to be held in Mumbai was put off on Friday after caretaker CM Eknath Shinde headed to his native village. Speculations are rife that Shinde is upset with the government formation decision and therefore headed to his village Dare in Satara district. With Shinde absent, the government formation has been further delayed in the state. ALSO READ | Mahayuti leaders meet BJP top brass on Maharashtra govt formation Apart from Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, top leaders of the BJP and NCP were slated to attend the Mahayuti meeting. The ruling alliance's meeting is now expected to be convened in Mumbai on Sunday. According to sources, the swearing-in of the new government is expected to take place next week. ALSO READ | 'Sulking' Eknath Shinde sets tongues wagging amid reports that Shiv Sena sought 12 cabinet berths After the meeting with Amit Shah on Thursday night, Shinde told reporters that the talks were positive and the next round of discussions will be held in Mumbai on Friday. Shinde along with Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar met Shah on Thursday night and, reportedly, key decisions regarding the formation of the government were taken. After resigning from the CM post, the Shiv Sena leader had said that he would not be an obstacle in the formation of the government and would abide by the decisions taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah on the next CM. With Fadnavis as the frontrunner for the CM post after BJP swept the assembly elections by winning 131 constituencies, many are asking Shinde to accept the deputy CM's post if he is being considered. However, there are also reports that Shinde might push his son Shrikant Shinde for the post. According to the BJP leaders, the state unit is awaiting the arrival of central observers for the meeting. While talking to reporters, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat said if Shinde did not accept the deputy CM's post in the new government, someone else from the party would be considered for the post. "If Shinde does not accept the deputy CM's post, then some other leader from our party will get it. He (Shinde) will take a call on this by evening," he said. Meanwhile, amid speculations regarding Shinde's travel to Dare, Shiv Sena dismissed claims that he was upset. Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant said Shinde was facing health issues and therefore left for his native place. Samant also said that Shinde should be a part of the new government. "If the meeting does not take place physically, it can also be held through video conference." "He (Shinde) is not upset. Even in Delhi, he was down with a fever and cold. It will be wrong to say he has gone to Dare because he is upset," the Sena leader said. A Gurugram court has rejected anticipatory bail plea moved by journalist Chitra Tripathi in a POCSO case. The senior journalist is facing an arrest warrant for publishing a news allegedly related to Asaram Bapu sexual assault case. The court issued an arrest warrant against the journalist earlier this month after it rejected her bail plea and she failed to appear in court in person. Tripathi is facing charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) for allegedly airing news about a 10-year-old girl in connection with the Asaram Bapu case. The court observed the anticipatory bail plea moved by Tripathi was not maintainable as she was already facing an arrest warrant. The court had also ordered police officer to appear in person before it if the arrest warrant is not executed by November 30. According to Live Law, Tripathi is accused of airing 'morphed, edited and obscene' videos of a 10-year-old girl and her family and linking the same to a sexual assault case against godman Bapu. Tripathi has been charged under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 469 and 471 (forgery) IPC; sections 67B (abusing children online) and 67 (publishing or transmitting sexually explicit content) IT Act; and sections 23 (disclosure of identity of a child by the media) and 13C (indecent or obscene representation of a child) of the POCSO Act, Live Law reported. While seeking the trial of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the International Criminal Court (ICC), there is no evidence of any move yet by Bangladeshs interim government requesting New Delhi for her extradition, reliable sources have told THE WEEK. Till now, Dhaka hasnt sought her extradition although there has been considerable rhetoric on the issue in Bangladesh, one source said. Hasina already faces charges of crimes against humanity in the countrys local courts. ALSO READ | Bangladesh freezes bank account of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das; India calls for protection of all minorities Hasina is widely believed to be in India ever since August 5 when she sought refuge in India following widespread protest and violence against her Awami League government. #WATCH | Delhi: On the situation of minorities in Bangladesh, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "We made our position very clear as far as the situation of Hindus and minorities in Bangladesh is concerned. We have raised this matter with Bangladesh that they must take pic.twitter.com/p3FhuRDlzE ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2024 On Thursday, the former PM had come out with a public statement that was posted on X which slammed the Muhammad Yunus-led Interim Government for the arrest of Hindu activist Chinmoy Krishna Das saying that he was unjustly arrested. On Friday, responding to related queries, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said: Our position on the matter is clear - the interim government must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities. We are concerned at the surge of extremist rhetoric, and increasing incidents of violence and provocation. These developments cannot be dismissed only as media exaggeration. On the arrest of Bangladeshi leading ISKCON activist Chinmoy Krishna Das, the spokesperson said: As far as cases against individuals are concerned, we have noted that legal processes are underway. We expect that these processes will deal with the case in a just, fair and transparent manner, ensuring full respect for the legal rights of all concerned. #WATCH | Delhi: On the Adani indictment issue, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "This is a legal matter involving private firms and individuals and the US Department of Justice. There are established procedures and legal avenues in such cases which we believe would be pic.twitter.com/w8CCLqU660 ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2024 On the Adani issue that has snowballed into a controversy, Jaiswal said that the US authorities had not shared prior information on the case with New Delhi. This is a legal matter involving private firms and individuals and the US Department of Justice. There are established procedures and legal avenues in such cases which we believe would be followed. The Government of India was not informed in advance on the issue, he said. The US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission had made allegations of bribery and corruption against the Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani and two other top company executives, a charge that has been vehemently denied by the company which has termed the charges as incorrect. Nor have there been any US requests for information on the case till now. Any request by a foreign government for service of summons/arrest warrant is part of mutual legal assistance. Such requests are examined on merits. We have not received any request on this case from the US side, the spokesperson added. Former union minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda expressed disappointment over the BJP central leadership turning a blind eye to the growing internal turmoil within the state BJP, and the open dissent against the state BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra by the rebel faction led by senior MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal. The factional feud in the Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka has reached a peak ahead of the state core committee meeting scheduled on December 2 and 3 and the former chief minister also admitted that he was disappointed as the party high command had not responded to his letters apprising them of the worsening situation in the state. I reiterate that the leadership should focus on cleaning up the party. I understand the central leadership was preoccupied with elections. I have apprised the central leadership about the developments in the state BJP twice through letters. I am saddened by the fact that they have not acknowledged my letters. I am hoping to visit Delhi. It is time the central BJP leaders paid attention to Karnataka BJP. They should not make any excuses not to intervene, said Gowda. The veteran leader urged the warring factions to catch a flight to Delhi to meet the party leaders instead of hitting the streets. Our party leadership has shown the world what is the organisational strength and is capable of resolving the differences. Any leader who is unwilling to redress the issues before the party seniors and chooses to do it in an open forum is nothing but a selfish person. He does not deserve to be a leader of the BJP. There is still three-and-a-half years to the next Assembly elections and the party should not wake up when it is six months to the elections as it might be too late to repair what is broken, cautioned Gowda. Stating that Karnataka BJP should not have reached this pitiable state, Gowda expressed helplessness of senior state leaders in setting things right locally. "The Congress steeped in corruption has served issues on a golden platter, but the BJP is not in a situation to raise any of the issues as they are busy fighting each other," he added. Those who are fighting on the streets don't seem to care about anyone. None of the leaders who are engaging in street brawl or watching it silently deserve to be in the BJP. The earthworm should enhance the soil fertility as a worm and should never try to be a cobra," said Gowda in a cryptic comment over legislators fighting to dominate each other. Groupism was not new to the BJP, but the bitterness never spilled out to the streets, said the former state BJP chief recalling party veterans H.N. Ananth Kumar and B.S. Yediyurappa who had together built the party in the state but had remained as competitors. The former chief minister stated that the ruling Congress was involved in several scams and as the opposition party, the BJP could easily corner the government. All the Congress scams now seem insignificant as the internal conflict within the BJP has overshadowed everything. Today, no one takes the opposition leaders in the Assembly or the Council seriously because the same leaders can be seen huddled in the ruling party's chamber in the evening, said Gowda. Elaborating on the MUDA case, Gowda said the case was before the court and the people have decided that the BJP is no longer capable of working as a constructive opposition. The BJP leaders are using all their might to fight amongst themselves and not against the Congress government. This is due to the ego problem of some leaders. The organisation cannot grow unless it develops leaders without any ego hassles. The party has officially appointed the state chief or the opposition leader and as party members, it is our duty to respect these posts, said Gowda, who called upon the central ministers from the state. Gowda reminded them that their role was crucial to build and strengthen the organisation in the state. Stressing on the need to discuss any disagreement only within the party forum, Gowda reasoned that the party has tried many new formulae, elevated first-time MLAs to the post of the chief minister or roped in senior leaders and chief ministers for organisation work. So, I feel the party will take a call on replacing anyone after due deliberations. People who are against the appointment of the state chief or anyone else should go to Delhi and discuss. Moreover, there is no guarantee that merely changing the party president would resolve all issues and there won't be groupism, added Gowda. Yatnal who is leading a separate anti-Wakf campaign, while boycotting the partys campaign said that his team would not accept the leadership of the father-son (Yediyurappa-Vijayendra) duo as they were aligned with the Congress leaders. What is Sadananda Gowdas problem? I am only staging a protest against Wakf here. Gowda has spoken worse things about Yediyurappa. I suggest that he should keep his mouth shut. I dont want to respond to fading lamps, said Yatnal, upset over Gowdas advice. Dismayed over the repeated disruptions in Parliament, Rajya Sabha chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar called for a deep introspection by members and pointed out that the Rule 267 under which members seek adjournments to discuss various matters was being weaponised as a mechanism of disruption. Speaking in the Upper House, Dhankhar expressed his deep anguish, absolute pain, over the disruptions that were setting a bad precedence. We are dishonouring the people of this country. We are not coming up to the expectations. Our actions are not people-centric. They are to absolute public distaste, we are getting into irrelevance, people are ridiculing us, we have virtually become a laughing stock. The Rajya Sabha chairman said already three days have been lost due to disruption which amounted to loss of time, and the loss of opportunity by not having question hour. ALSO READ: Parliament winter session: Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha adjourn sessions amid opposition ruckus over Modi-Adani row Both the houses of the Parliaments have faced repeated disruptions by the Opposition members who are demanding discussion of various subjects, including the allegations of bribery against billionaire Gautam Adani, and violence in Sambhal of Uttar Pradesh and Manipur. Dhankhar does not mince words when it comes to disruptions. A day earlier, in the Rajya Sabha, he had said Parliamentary disruption was not a remedy but a malady that weakens countrys constitutional foundation. For the Opposition, seeking discussion on topics is a strategy to corner the government on several issues. While a dialogue between the two sides would enable a solution, the MPs want to forcefully put across their point, and disruptions become an essential tool. The Opposition MPs argued that it was the governments duty to run the house. The government should agree to discussions on the issues raised by the Opposition parties so that the house functions smoothly, the Opposition said. If Parliament strays from its constitutional duty to represent people's hopes and aspirations, it is our duty to nurture nationalism, and further democracy. I urge you all to embrace the spirit of meaningful dialogue. Let us return to traditional thoughtful discussion, Dhankhar had said on Thursday. As both houses were adjourned till Monday, there was still no solution sight for allowing discussions on contentious issues raised by the Opposition. The government has lined up several legislations during the session, which can only be brought in once the house functions properly. In anticipation of severe electricity shortages during the winter season, the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has urged domestic consumers to switch to solar rooftop panels under the PM Surya Ghar-Muft Bijli Yojanaan initiative of the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. A spokesperson for KPDCL clarified that bulk text messages sent to consumers regarding the installation of solar rooftop plants are genuine and authorised. These messages target domestic consumers and those with Rate Code 1 who have monthly electricity bills exceeding Rs 2,000. The aim is to encourage them to adopt solar energy in order to reduce costs and benefit from significant subsidies. The scheme offers a central subsidy of Rs 85,800 and a Union Territory share of Rs 9,000 for solar installations up to 3 kW. Of the 24,558 metered consumers who have registered their mobile numbers with KPDCL, 24,538 have already received these messages. The campaign will continue in a timely manner to ensure broader outreach, according to the spokesperson. This initiative is part of a larger effort to promote renewable energy in the region and alleviate the burden on the grid during peak demand. By installing solar rooftops, consumers can significantly lower their electricity bills and contribute to sustainable energy use. KPDCL has appealed to consumers to regard these messages as authentic and to act promptly to take advantage of the scheme. Power supply tends to decrease in winter as hydel power generation falls due to low water discharge. This often leads to increased purchases of batteries and inverters. While people commonly use traditional options like the Kangrian earthen pot covered with wicker sticks containing burning coalto stay warm, frequent outages can make life difficult in the cold weather of the Valley. In the past two years, the power department has installed smart meters to combat pilferage and power theft. However, the rising power bills generated by these smart meters have become a contentious issue, with consumers claiming the charges are beyond their means to pay. The National Conference-Congress government has promised to provide 200 watts of free electricity to economically weaker sections of society at the start of the new year. Recently, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah raised concerns about heavy load shedding in winter during meetings with Union ministers and requested assistance for Jammu and Kashmir to meet its energy needs. The Karnataka cabinet, on Thursday, approved a bill that replaces the governor with the chief minister as the chancellor of a rural development university in the state. The Siddaramaiah cabinet which has been mulling over curtailing the powers of the governor, more so after Governor Thawarchand Gehlot granted sanction to prosecute the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the MUDA land allotment case, has decided to introduce the Karnataka State Rural Development and Panchayat Raj University Bill, 2024 , in the upcoming winter session of the state legislature that begins on December 9, at Belagavi. Law Minister H.K. Patil said the bill was meant to make the university (set up in Gadag in 2016) more active and also help make quicker decisions. Till now, the governor was the chancellor of the university developed to impart education focusing on rural development. But, after the amendment, the chief minister will be the chancellor. As the university is directly related to panchayat administration and rural development, we wanted decision making to be quicker, said Patil. ALSO READ: A tough legal battle awaits the Karnataka CM After the passage of the bill in both Houses of the state legislature, it will be sent for governors assent and the governor is free to either approve it or reject it. However, a new law to be enacted could include all 31 Public Universities in the state, say seniors in the party. At present, the search committee appointed by the state government shortlists three names of eligible candidates (academicians) for the appointment to the vice-chancellor and sends it to the governor for his approval. But, once the proposed bill becomes a law, the state government will be free to finalise a single name out of the three names proposed by the search committee, which will then be sent to the governor for his nod. Slamming the Siddaramaiah government for mixing politics with education, state BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra said the Siddaramaiah government was polluting the higher education system. The purpose of the governor, who is the constitutional head, occupying the chancellors post, was to keep politics out of education. But, the Siddaramaiah government which is steeped in corruption, is misusing its power to pollute even the high education system. This move will encourage political interference in the RDPR university. The Congress government which has been intolerant towards the governor and treating him like an enemy, is planning to unsettle the Constitutional framework. I strongly condemn this decision of the cabinet. Incidentally, this is not the first time a state government has tried to curtail the powers of the governor as the chancellor. West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu have made a similar move. However, the Siddaramaiah cabinet hopes to emulate the Gujarat model. In 2013, when Narendra Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat, his government had pushed for a similar bill. But then governor Kamla Beniwal (appointed by the UPA government at the Centre) had refused to sign the bill. Eventually, the bill was approved much later after Beniwal was replaced by O.P. Kohli as the governor. Russia launched an Oreshnik missile at Ukraine to send a strategic message to the West, and the Russian Federation most likely has only a few such missiles, they are just preparing for serial production, the Ministry of Defense of Great Britain and Northern Ireland reports, citing intelligence data. The use of this experimental system against Ukraine was almost certainly intended as strategic messaging following the use by Ukraine of Western missiles into Russia, the Ministry of Defense said on the social network X on Friday. According to analysts, Russia highly likely only has a handful of Oreshnik missiles, which are yet to enter serial production. This missile is highly likely to be far more expensive than other missiles Russia is currently using against Ukraine. The system is highly likely a variant of the Rubezh RS-26 ballistic missile, which was first tested in 2011. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday slammed opposition parties for spreading propaganda against the BJP-led NDA and crushing the spirit of the Constitution. Addressing the party workers in Odisha, Modi said that the opposition parties rejected all norms of democracy. Those who consider power as their birthright has not been in power at the Centre for the last decade, said Modi. It is quite natural that there would be ideological differences among political parties on different issues and they have the right to express their views and resort to agitations. During my tenure as CM and PM, I saw different colours of politics. I admit that constructive opposition is normal in a democracy. There can be differences of opinion on any decision, he said. The PM pointed out the big difference in the manner of protests organised nowadays. "The spirit of the Constitution is crushed and all the norms of democracy are rejected." In an apparent dig at the opposition, PM Modi said that the parties, denied of power for the last decade are now filled with so much anger that they do not hesitate to conspire against the country and its people. "They are misleading people with lies," he added. False propaganda is a big challenge for the people of India and BJP workers and those who respect the Constitution should be more alert and vigilant to foil such attempts. "Odisha poll results surprised many big political experts...BJP's election success in Odisha, Haryana and Maharashtra has created a new confidence in the entire country. This is the speciality of BJP and the capability of our workers," he said. The BJP respects and gives priority to the rich cultural tradition of Odisha, he said. I am happy that due to the efforts of the BJP, Odisha's tribal daughter Droupadi Murmu ji is the President of the country today. This has boosted the confidence of daughters from all sections of society. Her journey will inspire many generations to come, the PM said. We want to give priority to Odisha not only in the country but also on the world map, he said. The Supreme Court on Friday advised the Shahi Jama Masjid committee to approach appropriate forum against the magistrate courts order directing a survey at the mosque site. The apex court will next hear the case in the second week of January. Hearing the Masjid committees plea challenging the survey at mosque site in Sambhal, a bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and comprising Justice Sanjay Kumar directed the district administration to maintain peace and harmony in the area. The bench observed they are not going into the merits of the matter at the moment and directed the Masjid committee to approach the appropriate forum against the lower courts order. The bench directed the trial court to not act further on the temple sides petition without the High Courts permission. No further steps in the suit without permission of the High Court. The trial court will not take any steps till January 8, Live Law reported quoting the bench. Chief Justice said, In case any revision appeal is preferred before an appropriate forum, same would be listed within three working days. We hope and trust the trial court will not further proceed till High Court passes appropriate orders, Live Law reported. The bench will next hear the matter in the week starting on January 6. Violence erupted in Sambhal on November 24 after a survey team visited the Shahi Jama Masjid site for the second time to conduct a survey as per orders of a lower court. Protesters pelted stones and police had to use tear gas to disperse the crowd. In the riots, four persons were killed and at least 20 persons suffered injuries. In their plea, the Masjid committee argued the survey was conducted in haste on November 19, the same day the lower court passed an order. The second survey was ordered while they were preparing legal remedies, they said. The petitioners alleged worshippers who were offering prayers in the mosque at the time of the survey on November 24 early morning were asked to leave immediately. Maharashtra's outgoing Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday night to decide on the power-sharing in Maharashtra. Though no announcement was made on who will helm the new Mahayuti government, what set the tongues wagging was Eknath Shinde's 'sulky' expression. The image shared by Amit Shah's office showed the Union Minister handing over a bouquet to Fadnavis. All leaders were seen smiling, except Shinde, who looked lost and sulking. His sombre expression has triggered speculations that the outgoing chief minister is still unhappy about the new arrangement. Meanwhile, reports are that Shinde presented Shiv Sena's position before Amit Shah, demanding 12 ministerial posts, along with that of the Speaker. He has also sought important portfolios, including home and urban development. Shinde is also said to have requested Amit Shah to give Shiv Sena its due respect. The outgoing chief minister is also said to have assured Shah that he will be a part of Mahayuti, no matter what. Eknath Shinde later reiterated that there was no resentment and that the three will work together. Meeting again in Mumbai today The three leaders will meet in Mumbai on Friday to discuss the suggestions and decisions given by Amit Shah. Leaders of the alliance said a new government could be in place in Maharashtra by December 2. Shrikant Shinde's reaction There are reports Shiv Sena might ask the BJP to give the deputy chief minister's post to Eknath Shinde's son Shrikant Shinde. Sanjay Shirsat, an MLA and Shinde's close aide, told reporters on Thursday that Eknath Shinde will probably opt out of becoming the Deputy Chief Minister but may join the Cabinet. Meanwhile, Shrikant Shinde expressed pride in his father, stating that he set an excellent example of following coalition dharma by setting aside personal ambition. After a months-long probe, the police have finally zeroed in on a 30-year-old man who is suspected to have raped and killed a 19-year-old woman in Gujarat. But, as the interrogation of Rahul Karamveer Jat, a resident of Rohtak in Haryana, progressed, more secrets began tumbling out. Not one, but Jat confessed to a total of five murders between October and November, four of which happened inside moving trains and one near a railway station. Police got their first clue from near the body of the slain girl on November 14 in Gujarat when they stumbled across a backpack containing one set of clothes and a mobile charger. This led police to believe that the suspect was a visitor to Gujarat and had possibly travelled via trains. An intensive manhunt saw the police rummaging through at least 5,000 CCTV cameras at railway stations across Gujarat and Maharashtra. Once the police received a clue about the suspect, they formed an investigation team. The information was passed to all nearby railway stations. He was then found travelling in a train to Vapi in Gujarat from where he was arrested by the police. He was seen wearing the same clothes as those found near the crime scene. The footage also showed Jat eating at the station after committing the brutal act. He was identified by the Surat Central Jail official. On interrogation, Jat revealed he had killed five people in two months, to the shock of investigation officials. The murders Jat is a differently-abled man who contracted polio at the age of five. He confessed to killing five people, including an old man who he entered into an altercation over a cigarette. The accused was first arrested by the Jodhpur police in 2018-19 for theft. He was released on bail from the jail recently, after which he embarked on a killing spree. He also confessed to having killed a resident of Chikkaballapur identified as Mauzaam after getting into an altercation with him. Jat strangled him and fled with the victim's mobile phone, bag and cash. Jat is also accused of stabbing a 60-year-old man to death on the Katihar Express train in West Bengal. This reportedly happened on November 19 and a case was registered at the Howrah police station. Besides the 19-year-old girl, who he dragged into a mango orchard near Udvada station in Gujarat before killing her, Jat allegedly raped and murdered another woman on a train near Solapur railway station in Maharashtra. He also allegedly murdered a Telugu woman near Yadagirigutta railway station. Modus operandi Police said Jat mostly slept at railway stations and travelled by train making it difficult to identify him. He also found his victims in moving trains, especially in the coaches meant for differently-abled passengers. " The latest murder was committed in the Pune-Kanyakumari Express. The victim in this case is still unknown and the police are carrying on the investigation," Valsad Superintendent (SP) Karanraj Vaghela. Days after the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, Bangladesh authorities ordered to freeze the bank accounts of people associated with ISKCON, including Das. Bank accounts of 17 people associated with ISKCON will be frozen for 30 days, as per the order. The recent move comes after the Bangladesh High Court rejected a petition seeking a ban on ISKCON, following the killing of a lawyer in the clash that broke out between the security forces and protesters over the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das. Krishna Das was arrested on Monday on sedition charges. After denying bail, he was sent to judicial custody. Directives regarding the suspension of the accounts were sent to different banks and financial institutions on Thursday by the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU). BFIU has also directed the banks and financial institutions to send information, including the latest transaction statements of accounts and all businesses owned by these 17 individuals, within the next three working days, it said. Accusing of disrespecting Bangladesh's national flag in Chattogram's New Market area during a rally, a sedition case was filed against 19 people. India reiterates ensuring protection of all minorities We made opposition very clear as far as the situation of Hindus and minorities in #Bangladesh is concerned. We have raised this matter with Bangladesh that they must take responsibility for protecting the #minorities and safeguarding their interests, safeguarding, and providing pic.twitter.com/QFV4aZXrYV DD India (@DDIndialive) November 29, 2024 The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday reiterated its stand on the targeted attack on minority communities in Bangladesh. MEA urged the Bangladesh government to ensure the protection of all minorities. "India has consistently and strongly raised with Bangladesh government threats, targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities," said MEA. "Interim government in Bangladesh must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities...These developments cannot be dismissed only as media exaggeration," added an MEA spokesperson. India has expressed its concern at the surge of targeted attacks and violence against minorities since the ouster of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar told the Lok Sabha that the government has seen several reports of incidents of violence against Hindus and other minorities. EAM noted that attacks on temples/ religious places and business establishments took place across Bangladesh in August. He also added that the High Commission of India in Dhaka continues to monitor the situation related to the minorities in Bangladesh. New Delhi, Nov 29 (PTI) Gaming and esports company NODWIN Gaming on Friday said it has acquired Trinity Gaming at a valuation of Rs 24 crore. Trinity Gaming serves as a Creator Service Provider (CSP) for Meta and gaming Multi-channel Network (MCN) for YouTube in India. It manages over 1,000 creators nationwide and has established partnerships with the likes of Samsung, Realme, iQOO, and Krafton. "The acquisition of 100 per cent of the share capital of Trinity will be a combination of secondary sale and stock swap of NODWIN Gaming shares for a total consideration of up to Rs 24 crore," a company statement said. The consideration would be payable partly by way of cash consideration of up to Rs 4.8 crore and balance Rs 19.2 crore by way of swap of equity shares of NODWIN Gaming, it added. "As part of this transaction, the founders would become shareholders of NODWIN Gaming and continue to lead the business going forward," the statement said. NODWIN Gaming plans to broaden Trinity's portfolio into emerging markets, including Africa, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East across NODWIN's existing businesses and verticals, it said. Additionally, NODWIN will integrate its Unpaused Talent division with Trinity, with Trinity's founders overseeing the combined entity. Founded in 2014, NODWIN Gaming is a subsidiary of Nazara Technologies. SYDNEY and BENGALURU, India, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- UST, a leading digital transformation solutions company, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Western Sydney University (WSU), a leading university in Australia, to collaborate on advancing agritech solutions. The partnership aims to leverage WSU's research capabilities and domain expertise and UST's cutting-edge technology solutions, to drive sustainable agriculture and enhance global food security. Through this collaboration, UST and WSU will leverage their combined strengths to conduct focused research, develop innovative agritech solutions for agri industry needs, and nurture the next generation of industry leaders through mentoring programs. Additionally, the partnership will involve knowledge-sharing initiatives, to educate the public and promote sustainable agricultural practices. "It is truly exciting to partner with WSU, a leading educational institution in Australia. This partnership gives UST access to world-class research, talent and facilities, to enable us to leverage our technology solutions in a meaningful way for the agriculture industry. This partnership underscores our approach of understanding industry-specific challenges and building a partnership ecosystem to solve real issues and deliver a positive impact to our clients and the industries we serve," said Kumaran C R, Managing Director - ANZ, UST. "This is an exciting partnership with UST that will help us tackle issues such as food security and agricultural sustainability," said Distinguished Professor George Williams AO, Vice-Chancellor, Western Sydney University. "We are bringing together our respective research strengths and extensive expert knowledge to collaborate on joint research initiatives, foster new ideas and, most critically, develop innovative and sustainable agrictech solutions that can address these pressing global challenges." The MoU was signed at an event held in Bengaluru, India, in the presence of Hilary McGeachy, Australian Consul General, Bengaluru; Kirankumar Doreswamy, Vice President and Center Head, Bengaluru; Jaison Sebastian, Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives; Tinu Cherian Abraham, Director and Head, Global PR & Media Relations, UST; Prof. Deborah Sweeney, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Enterprise and Global); Dr. Nicolene Murdoch, Pro Vice Chancellor (Global Partnerships and TNE); Dr. Nisha Rakhesh, Head International Strategy and Partnerships; and Dr. Kopal Chaube, PhD, Lead Research Collaborations and Partnerships, South Asia, Western Sydney University. This comprehensive partnership with a leading academic innovator aligns with UST's core values and commitment to 'Transforming Lives', by contributing to global food security campaigns. By combining the resources and expertise of both UST and WSU, the two organizations are poised to drive transformative change in the agricultural sector. About UST Since 1999, UST has worked side by side with the world's best companies to make a powerful impact through transformation. Powered by technology, inspired by people, and led by our purpose, we partner with our clients from design to operation. Our digital solutions, proprietary platforms, engineering expertise, and innovation ecosystem turn core challenges into impactful, disruptive solutions. With deep industry knowledge and a future-ready mindset, we infuse innovation and agility into our clients' organizations--delivering measurable value and positive lasting change for them, their customers, and communities around the world. Together, with 30,000+ employees in 30+ countries, we build for boundless impact touching billions of lives in the process. Visit us at www.UST.com Media Contacts, UST: Tinu Cherian Abraham +1 (949) 415-9857 (US) +91-7899045194 (India) Merrick Laravea +1 (949) 416-6212 Neha Misri +91-9284726602 Roshni Das K +91 7736795557 media.relations@ust.com Media Contacts, India: Adfactors PR ust@adfactorspr.com Media Contacts, U.S.: S&C PR +1-646.941.9139 media@scprgroup.com Makovsky ust@makovsky.com Media Contacts, U.K.: FTI Consulting UST@fticonsulting.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1422658/UST_Logo.jpg (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR PWR New Delhi, Nov 29 (PTI) India's medical technology industry is expected to touch exports of up to USD 20 billion by 2030 but the sector needs more government incentives and further ease of doing business to accelerate overseas shipments, industry body CII said on Friday. The production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for the medical technology sector currently available for select medical devices needs to be extended across products, while export incentives to 'reimburse hidden costs' need to be provided to manufacturers, CII Chairman National Medical Technology Forum Himanshu Baid told reporters here. "Today, we are importing almost 60 to 70 per cent of our medical equipment which are needed in the country. Whereas, our manufacturing is still very low as around 30 per cent is only manufactured in the country. Our imports are far exceeding our exports. Our imports are almost USD 8 billion and our exports are close to USD 4 billion," he said. However, Baid said, India has the best potential to grow this industry to the next level, taking advantage of the world adopting the 'China plus one' strategy to reduce import dependence on one particular country. India is very well poised to take advantage of it on the back of the talent it has in terms of software, hardware and low-cost of labour as compared to China. On the export potential of the Indian medical technology industry, he said, "My expectation is that by 2030 India's exports can reach around USD 15 billion to USD 20 billion dollar and our imports would reduce from USD 8 billion to USD 3 billion-USD 4 billion." In order to realise the potential, Baid said, "As an industry, we're also looking for some more ease of doing business, (removal of) overlapping regulations and certain areas where they have put in QCO orders, which is also impacting 'Make in India' and also exports." Elaborating, he said the medical devices industry, which is currently governed under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act that regulates the pharma sector, needs a separate regulator. "We are part of the pharma regulation. Drugs and pharma and medical devices are seen under the same lens. We have the same regulator. Our industry's demand was to have a separate regulator," he said. Asserting that medical device is a "very complex engineering industry" with electronic, mechanical and plastic parts with different standards, he said, it is "very different from pharma which is more about chemical and pharmacopeia with a defined formulations". On the quality control order (QCO) issue, he said at present suppliers of raw materials need to register with BIS and then only those products can be imported into the country. "That is causing a lot of roadblocks for local industry to manufacture products in India....At one point, the government is saying 'Make in India' but the raw materials suppliers are small players, who don't have the wherewithal to go BIS and register themselves globally. So we are asking the government for exemption from QCO especially for med-tech industry," Baid said. He also said in order to enhance exports, the PLI for the medical devices sector needs to be extended to more products. "Today 3,000 products are already regulated in India by CDSCO. We need PLI for almost the whole industry. When we say PLI should not be limited to very few products, the government should incentivise every manufacturing which is happening in the country to push for global markets," Baid asserted. In the existing PLI scheme for the medical devices sectors, he said only 28 companies were allotted and there was a budget of Rs 3,400 crore and only 10 to 20 per cent of the fund have been utilised. "The government has a surplus budget. Please use it for pushing more exports out of the country, more manufacturing in the country. Can we enlarge the scope of the scheme to more and more products?," he asked. Baid also said the remission of duties under the RoDTEP scheme by the Ministry of Commerce for exports needs to be enhanced to 2-2.5 per cent from the current range of 0.5 per cent and 0.7 per cent, stating it is "not enough". "There are a lot of hidden costs, which are there in manufacturing in the country. What we are asking is for the government to reimburse those hidden costs. Maybe a 2-2.5 per cent incentive would be good enough to help us get through those hidden costs and be competitive," he added. Baid also said there is a need to improve India's export infrastructure, saying, "we can't be waiting for two to three weeks to ship our containers out of the country, whereas in China, it takes maybe two days or three days to ship the products out." Commoditisation and similarity of products and services with competitors will have the most significant impact on how businesses deliver customer experiences over the next two years, according to the latest IDC InfoBrief commissioned by Affinidi However, businesses who are looking to hyper-personalise their products as a competitive differentiator are facing several obstacles in addressing the privacy-personalisation dilemma, with 56% of them highlighting data collection and management to be a key challenge. To truly enhance customer experiences through more personalised insights, they must transform into experience-orchestrated (X-O) businesses for meaningful data value exchange with customers. Key pillars of X-O business success enabled by Holistic Identity management a comprehensive way to manage a customer's digital identity across multiple platforms based on consent, transparency, and trust. SINGAPORE, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Affinidi, a Singapore-based data and identity management company, has released 'Unlocking Customer Value as an Experience-Orchestrated (X-O) Business', an IDC InfoBrief commissioned by Affinidi that explores the challenges that digital-native businesses (DNBs) are facing when driving meaningful data value exchange with customers, and the strategies that can help overcome them. Findings within the InfoBrief are based on the latest IDC Affinidi DNB 2024 Survey, which polled businesses in five countries Singapore, India, Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), and North America. Businesses worldwide are now facing even more pressure to deliver greater experiences. Commoditisation and similarity of products and services with competitors will have the most significant impact on how organisations deliver customer experiences over the next two years, according to IDC's Future of Customer Experience Survey 2023. With the intensifying competitive landscape, the ability to offer hyper-personalised customer interactions has become a key differentiator and is very much expected by customers. To outpace these market disruptions, businesses must be digitally adaptive, agile, and resilient by elevating the level of customer experiences. Asian Businesses Face Urgent Need to Hyper-Personalise Customer Experience, Catching Up to Western Counterparts 58% of the businesses surveyed seek to differentiate themselves by prioritising hyper-personalised products and services to deliver greater customer value. This level of personalisation goes beyond the previous field-level personalisation seen in the market, which is no longer sufficient to act on customer needs and deliver a proactive CX in real time. At present, companies in mature markets such as North America and ANZ are already prioritising hyper-personalised products and services due to heightened competition, ranking this their highest business priority. Meanwhile, Asian businesses, more specifically in Singapore and India, are placing priority on profitable growth instead, with personalisation as their lowest business priority. Nonetheless, as hyper-personalisation is becoming increasingly essential in customer acquisition and retention, serving as a key tenet of profitable growth, Asian companies will similarly be shifting more attention towards value outcomes through personalisation. According to IDC's prediction, Asian companies will focus more on value outcomes in the coming years, and personalisation will become their top priority to combat the intense competition. By 2027, to differentiate and drive loyalty, 30% of Asian organisations will undergo structural and technological changes to deliver value outcomes, shifting focus from providing experiences to value parity. Navigating the Privacy-Personalisation Dilemma While more organisations are casting the spotlight on the importance of harnessing the true power of their customer data to elevate experiences, there remains a striking gap. The same survey shows that only 33% of businesses can anticipate their customers' needs and drive value-centric, highly personalised services. This can be highly attributable to the hurdles in data collection, where 56% of businesses highlighted that data collection and management forms the main challenge. Such figures are set against a backdrop where cyberattacks and data breaches are on the rise and harder to prevent. End-users are becoming more cautious of the data they share with companies; only when a business has earned the customers' trust do they then feel comfortable enough to share more data. Customers face a dilemma: the desire to get personalised experiences essentially, value; while at the same time, discerning how much data they should share to achieve such a goal. Thus, businesses must navigate the fine line between delivering tailored experiences and proving they can protect customers' personal data. While there are existing data protection regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe, Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill in India, and Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) in Singapore, 59% of businesses surveyed indicated that they still struggle with security concerns from customers during the registration process. Embarking on the X-O Business Journey Data is Core In order for businesses to effectively leverage experience as a competitive differentiator, they must transform into experience-orchestrated (X-O) businesses, with data as the linchpin for success. An X-O business can effectively leverage all aspects of its organisation, spanning processes, applications, and channels, to create a meaningful value exchange through data between its internal and external stakeholders. To become X-O, businesses must not only be transparent with data collection practices in order to collect data and earn customer trust, but also upon collection of data have the ability to share it through a high level of system integration and interoperability to unlock the power of the acquired data. Key pillars to unlocking customer value in becoming an X-O business include focusing on: Connections across people, systems, applications, data, and processes. Such integration begins with a single customer view (data layer), which will power analytics and insights, and cross-functional collaboration. Culture that embraces AI and focuses on outcomes, not just outputs. Intelligence is data interpreted in context. Building and maintaining trust is the biggest obstacle in leveraging AI. Without trust, this intelligence pillar will crumble. Actions through engaging with stakeholders customers, suppliers, partners, and employees via active listening and bringing together relevant data into an active portfolio of insights. As such, businesses need to evaluate their current maturity across these key pillars, identify gaps in the current experiences being delivered, and link their next steps to executable actions, to ensure performance is matching stakeholders' expectations. The era of AI everywhere has further accelerated customers' expectations; survey results highlight that keeping up with changing customer demands is the biggest challenge for businesses to overcome when delivering customer value. To particularly compete in today's world, businesses must strive to adopt X-O practices to effectively outpace their competition. Recognising this, however, only 10% of businesses surveyed across India, Singapore, ANZ, and North America have reached the most advanced stage in their journey toward becoming an X-O business. This is primarily due to the lack of a unified customer view; to meaningfully engage customers, businesses must be able to unlock through a unified customer view the value of customer data sprawled across siloed data sources and applications in the enterprise. The key challenges of a unified customer view include: Data Fragmentation: Many businesses struggle to unify customer data stored in disparate systems, which hinders their ability to offer truly personalised experiences. Evolving Data Privacy Regulations: With countries implementing more stringent privacy laws, companies face increasing complexity in managing data across different jurisdictions. Scalability: Inability to keep up with data maintenance and security demands as business scales, attributable to lack of real-time customer data as individuals may not feel comfortable to share personal information with organisations, due to minimal trust. Embracing Holistic Identity For X-O Business Transformation To address these challenges and become an X-O business, organisations must adopt holistic identity management solutions, which provide a secure, trust-based, privacy-first approach to data collection and management. This includes identity verification, seamless onboarding, secure communication, and consent management services. Affinidi's Holistic Identity framework enables companies worldwide to manage customer data across multiple platforms, allowing for seamless integration while ensuring that privacy is protected. As data privacy regulations become more stringent, businesses need solutions that simplify compliance while maintaining customer trust and data security. By leveraging Affinidi's product offerings, businesses can effectively manage customers' consent preferences, enhance levels of personalisation, improve identity resolution and trust for transactions requiring authentication, communicate securely, and boost operational efficiency and business growth. These solutions ensure compliance with regional data protection regulations while empowering customers with greater control over their data making it possible for businesses to deliver personalised experiences without compromising privacy, security, and trust. Affinidi's approach enables businesses to break down data silos, integrate and translate them into greater insights from multiple sources, and deliver secure, seamless and enhanced customer experiences. "Turning X-O will be pivotal for businesses to stay competitive in today's digital landscape. It is no longer about just acquiring data, but also knowing how best to utilise it to cater to customers' needs and preferences. HI provides the scalability and flexibility businesses need to meet growing personalisation demands, while ensuring their customers feel secure, valued, and in control of their personal information fostering long-term customer loyalty and reducing data-related risks," said Glenn Gore, CEO of Affinidi. Affinidi is leading a global movement to return data ownership to individuals through its Holistic Identity concept, and in turn, enabling businesses to become X-O minded with the tools and technology they need to stay competitive. To read the full IDC Infobrief commissioned by Affinidi, 'Unlocking Customer Value as an Experience-Orchestrated (X-O) Business', visit here. For more information on Holistic Identity, do visit our website. About Affinidi Affinidi is a data and identity management company founded by Temasek in 2020 that aims to revolutionise data ownership for good through its Holistic Identity concept. Globally anchored in Singapore and supported by strategic hubs in Berlin, Ukraine, and Bangalore, Affinidi seeks to empower individuals, and enrich developers and businesses through its consent-driven and privacy-preserving solutions, rooted in trust and security. The Holistic Identity concept encompasses the complete spectrum of discovering, collecting, sharing, storing, and even monetising one's data in the digital world. Affinidi adopts an unwavering user-first approach, providing innovative developer tools with a 'privacy-by-design' philosophy within every layer of their tech stack. It emphasises and executes an end-to-end network trust known as the Affinidi Trust Network, underpinning a data environment that is secure and inherently interoperable. This commitment to decentralised identity management transcends borders and industries. Affinidi is actively pioneering the #ReclaimYourData movement through advocacy, partnerships, and education. Find out more here: https://www.affinidi.com. Source: 1. IDC InfoBrief commissioned by Affinidi, 'Unlocking Customer Value as an Experience-Orchestrated (X-O) Business', Doc #AP242492IB, September 2024. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2461093/Logo.jpg (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR PWR Los Angeles, Nov 29 (PTI) Hollywood veteran Dolph Lundgren says he is cancer-free after battling the disease for over nine years. Lundgren, best known for playing Russian boxer Ivan Drago in Sylvester Stallone's "Rocky IV", shared the news in a video posted on his official Instagram page on Wednesday. "Health update - finally cancer-free with gratefulness and excitement for a bright future. Thanks for all your support always," the Swedish-American actor wrote in the caption. Lundgren, 67, recorded the video message from a hospital bed at UCLA and said he was undergoing a procedure to "get rid of that last tumour." "Since there are no cancer cells in my body anymore, then I guess Ill be cancer-free, so Im looking forward to this procedure. Its been a rough ride and really taught me how to live in the moment and enjoy every moment of life. Its the only way to go," he said. Lundgren, also known for appearing in "The Expendables" franchise, "Creed II" and "Aquaman", was first diagnosed in 2015 after doctors found a cancerous tumour in his kidney. After removing that tumour, he was in remission until 2020, when he revealed doctors found a "few more tumors around the area". At the time, Lundgren said the doctors told him that he had two-three years left to live. Some 502 bodies of fallen Defenders have been returned to Ukraine, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (POWs) has reported. "According to the results of the repatriation activities, the bodies of 502 fallen Defenders have been returned to the territory controlled by the government of Ukraine. The returned fallen Defenders of Ukraine are: 397 from Donetsk direction; 24 from Luhansk direction; 64 from Zaporizhia direction; 17 dead Defenders were returned from morgues on the territory of the Russian Federation," the HQ said on the Telegram channel on Friday. The fallen Defenders were returned as a result of the joint work of the staff of the Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the Central Directorate of Civil-Military Cooperation of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Joint Center of the Security Council of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, the Office of the Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for Human Rights, the Secretariat of the Commissioner for Persons Missing in Special Circumstances, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, other structures of the Security and Defense Sector of Ukraine. Gratitude for the assistance is also expressed to the International Committee of the Red Cross, as well as to the personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which carries out the transportation of repatriated fallen Heroes to certain state specialized institutions, organizes the transfer of the dead to representatives of law enforcement agencies and forensic medical examination. Together with expert institutions, the identities of the victims will be established as soon as possible. London, Nov 29 (AP) British Transport Minister Louise Haigh resigned on Friday over a decade-old fraud conviction for claiming her cellphone had been stolen. In a letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Haigh said I remain totally committed to our political project, but I now believe it will be best served by my supporting you from outside government." I appreciate that whatever the facts of the matter, this issue will inevitably be a distraction from delivering on the work of this government and the policies to which we are both committed, she wrote. The resignation came hours after Sky News and The Times of London newspaper reported that Haigh had been charged with fraud after she reported that a work cellphone had been stolen after she was mugged in 2013. She later said she had mistakenly listed it among the stolen items. After she found the phone and switched it back on, she was called in for questioning by police. Haigh pleaded guilty to fraud by misrepresentation and was given a conditional discharge. In a statement before her resignation, Haigh said that "under the advice of my solicitor I pleaded guilty - despite the fact this was a genuine mistake from which I did not make any gain. The magistrates accepted all of these arguments and gave me the lowest possible outcome (a discharge) available. Haigh, 37, has represented a district in Sheffield, northern England, in Parliament since 2015 and was named to the key transport post after Starmer's center-left Labour party was elected in July. (AP) GRS GRS Dakar, Senegal, Nov 29 (AP) French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday for the first time recognised the killing of West African soldiers by the French Army in 1944 as a massacre in a letter addressed to the Senegalese authorities. Macron's move, on the eve of the 80th anniversary of the World War II killings in Thiaroye a fishing village on the outskirts of the Senegalese capital of Dakar comes as France's influence is declining in the region, with Paris losing its sway in the former French colonies in West Africa. Between 35 and 400 West African soldiers who fought for the French Army in the Battle of France in 1940 were killed on Dec 1, 1944 by French soldiers after what the French described as a mutiny over unpaid wages. The West Africans were members of the unit called Tirailleurs Senegalais, a corps of colonial infantry in the French Army. According to historians, there were disputes over unpaid wages in the days before the massacre but on that Dec 1, French troops rounded up the West African soldiers, mostly unarmed, and shot and killed them. Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye said he received the letter, which was seen by The Associated Press. Speaking to reporters late on Thursday, Faye said Macron's step should "open the door" so that the "whole truth about this painful event of Thiaroye" can finally come out. "We have long sought closure on this story and we believe that, this time, France's commitment will be full, frank and collaborative," he added. "France must recognize that on that day, the confrontation between soldiers and riflemen who demanded their full legitimate wages be paid, triggered a chain of events that resulted in a massacre," read Macron's letter. "It is also important to establish, as far as possible, the causes and facts that led to this tragedy," Macron added. "I have asked my services to inform me of the progress of the work of the Committee for the Restoration of the Facts, which your government has decided to set up, under the direction of Professor Mamadou Diouf, whose eminence and qualities are recognized by all." The letter comes weeks after the Senegalese legislative elections, in which the ruling party PASTEF secured a definite majority. The win granted newly elected President Faye a clear mandate to carry out ambitious reforms promised during the campaign, which include more economic independence from foreign companies, including French ones, which are heavily invested in the country. France still has around 350 troops in its former colony, mainly in a supportive role. Asked about the presence of French forces, Faye alluded that it would not be something the Senegalese would want. "Historically, France enslaved, colonised and stayed here," he said. "Obviously, I think that when you reverse the roles a little, you will have a hard time conceiving that another army, China, Russia, Senegal, or any other country could have a military base in France." (AP) VN VN Jakarta, Nov 29 (AP) A South Korean National Assembly member has called for a moratorium on wood pellet imports from Indonesia and an investigation into their environmental impacts after government data and satellite analysis linked the country's biomass imports to deforestation in Indonesia. We should stop imports of wood pellets and it's important for our government to investigate exactly what kinds of environmental destruction is occurring on the spot, Moon Dae-Lim, a lawmaker with South Korea's main liberal opposition Democratic Party, said in recent written responses to questions from The Associated Press. Identifying and correcting potential risks in supply chains and value chains is key to a sustainable project. Biomass can come from organic material like plants, wood and waste, and many coal-fired power plants can be easily modified to burn it alongside coal to make energy. As countries accelerate their energy transitions, demand for biomass is growing: The use of bioenergy has increased an average of about 3% per year between 2010 and 2022, the International Energy Agency said. Experts including the IEA say it's important for that demand to happen in a sustainable way, such as using waste and crop residue rather than converting forest land to grow bioenergy crops. In South Korea, bioenergy has grown to become the second-largest source of renewable energy and over 80% of its main raw material energy-dense wood pellets is dependent on imports, according to a policy report on the state audit authored by Moon and published in October. Data shows that a growing number of those wood pellets come from the vast tropical archipelago nation of Indonesia. In 2023 the country was the third-largest source of wood pellet imports for South Korea behind Vietnam and Russia. Over 60% of biomass made from pristine natural forests destroyed for wood pellet production since 2021 were shipped to South Korea, AP found in an examination of satellite images, company records and Indonesian export data. In the same time frame, Indonesia's wood pellet exports to South Korea jumped from 50 tons to over 68,000 tons. The largest exporter of wood pellets from Indonesia from 2021-2023, according to data Indonesian nongovernmental conservation organization Auriga Nusantara compiled from the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry database, was Biomasa Jaya Abadi. The wood pellet processing company is located in Gorontalo, near a concession owned by Banyan Tumbuh Lestari. Over 3,000 hectares (7,410 acres) of forest have been razed in a concession owned by Banyan Tumbuh Lestari, from 2021 to 2024, according to satellite analysis shared with AP by international environmental organization Mighty Earth. An additional 2,850 hectares (7,040 acres) were cleared for logging roads. If we block the imports of (Biomasa Jaya Abadi's) wood pellets, we can prevent a great deal of forest destructions that happen in Indonesia for the purpose of exporting to South Korea, Moon said. The Korean government's active responses to forest destructions can also send a message on the importance of sustainability to not only the Indonesian government but also related industries across Asia. In an email, a spokesperson from Biomasa Jaya Abadi said that it harvested its forest products strictly from within government-designated areas and that it replants trees. The company's wood pellet ecosystem has a very rigorous legality, traceability and compliance procedures put in place to ensure that the company adheres fully to all applicable regulations in Indonesia, the spokesperson wrote. Environmental activist groups lauded Moon's report and questioning as a step in the right direction for demanding accountability for South Korea's biomass use. Moon's questioning represents a pivotal moment. By highlighting the climate injustice tied to South Korea's energy policies, these inquiries put pressure on the Korea Forest Service to confront its role in failing to regulate high-risk imports, said Hansae Song, program lead at South Korea-based nongovernmental organization Solutions for our Climate. "We hope to see this scrutiny lead to a reevaluation of import standards and compel the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to rethink its subsidy policies, which currently benefit a narrow group of corporate interests at the expense of global forests." In responses to question posed by AP, the Korea Forest Service said it had asked the Indonesian government to provide biomass-related data via a South Korean-Indonesia forestry cooperation center in Indonesia. But it hasn't received an official response as Indonesia's Ministry of Environment and Forestry was split into the environment ministry and the forest ministry in October. The Korea Forest Service also told AP it had confirmed that Indonesia wood pellets were produced via legal tree-cut procedures in the country. It said it respects other countries' related domestic policies on tree cuts. Each country has rights to govern itself in line with its own economic and environmental policies, and that must be respected, the Korea Forest Service said. If we take unilateral actions on the wood products endorsed by the Indonesian government, there are concerns about possible diplomatic and trade disputes erupting. Thus, we ask for the Indonesian government to confirm relevant data and validity of certifications of legality." Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry did not respond to requests for interview or comment from AP. Banyan Tumbuh Lestari do not have contact information publicly available; AP contacted their main shareholders seeking comment but got no response. (AP) NSA NSA Taipei, Nov 29 (AP) Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te will stop over in Hawaii and Guam during his trip to the South Pacific, in a move expected to draw objection from China. Lai is due to depart Taiwan on Saturday for a weeklong trip to visit the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau three diplomatic allies of the self-ruled island. On Thursday, Taiwan's Central News Agency, quoting an unnamed official at his office, reported that Lai would make stopovers in the US state and US island territory. His office on Friday confirmed to The Associated Press that the report was accurate. Under pressure from China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, the island has just 12 formal diplomatic allies. However, it retains strong contacts with dozens of other nations, including the US, its main source of diplomatic and military support. Lai's upcoming stopovers are expected to trigger opposition from Beijing. When his predecessor Tsai Ing-wen began a stopover in the US on her way to Central America last year, China said it was closely watching and would resolutely safeguard our sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Chinese military also launched drills around Taiwan last year as a stern warning over what it called collusion between separatists and foreign forces" days after Lai, then Taiwanese vice-president, stopped over in the US. China objects strongly to such US stopovers by Taiwan's leaders, as well as visits to the island by leading American politicians, terming them as violations of US commitments not to afford diplomatic status to Taiwan after Washington switched formal recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979. With the number of its diplomatic partners declining under Chinese pressure, Taiwan has redoubled efforts to take part in international forums, even from the sidelines. (AP) GRS GRS Dublin, Nov 29 (AP) Ireland is voting Friday in a parliamentary election that will decide the next government and will show whether Ireland bucks the global trend of incumbents being ousted by disgruntled voters after years of pandemic, international instability and a cost-of-living pressures. Polls opened at 7 am (0700GMT), and Ireland's 3.8 million voters are selecting 174 lawmakers to sit in the Dail, the lower house of parliament. Here's a look at the parties, the issues and the likely outcome. Who's running? The outgoing government was led by the two parties who have dominated Irish politics for the past century: Fine Gael and Fianna Fail. They have similar centre-right policies but are longtime rivals with origins on opposing sides of Ireland's 1920s civil war. After the 2020 election ended in a virtual dead heat they formed a coalition, agreeing to share Cabinet posts and take turns as taoiseach, or prime minister. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin served as premier for the first half of the term and was replaced by Fine Gael's Leo Varadkar in December 2022. Varadkar unexpectedly stepped down in March, passing the job to current Taoiseach Simon Harris. Opposition party Sinn Fein achieved a stunning breakthrough in the 2020 election, topping the popular vote, but was shut out of government because Fianna Fail and Fine Gael refused to work with it, citing its leftist policies and historic ties with militant group the Irish Republican Army during three decades of violence in Northern Ireland. Under Ireland's system of proportional representation, each of the 43 constituencies elects multiple lawmakers, with voters ranking their preferences. That makes it relatively easy for smaller parties and independent candidates with a strong local following to gain seats. This election includes a large crop of independent candidates, ranging from local campaigners to far-right activists and reputed crime boss Gerry the Monk Hutch. What are the main issues? As in many other countries, the cost of living especially housing has dominated the campaign. Ireland has an acute housing shortage, the legacy of failing to build enough new homes during the country's Celtic Tiger boom years and the economic slump that followed the 2008 global financial crisis. There was not building during the crisis, and when the crisis receded, offices and hotels were built first, said John-Mark McCafferty, chief executive of housing and homelessness charity Threshold. The result is soaring house prices, rising rents and growing homelessness. After a decade of economic growth, McCafferty said Ireland has resources not least 13 billion euros in back taxes the European Union has ordered Apple to pay it but it is trying to address big historic infrastructural deficits. Tangled up with the housing issue is immigration, a fairly recent challenge to a country long defined by emigration. Recent arrivals include more than 100,000 Ukrainians displaced by war and thousands of people fleeing poverty and conflict in the Middle East and Africa. This country of 5.4 million has struggled to house all the asylum-seekers, leading to tent camps and makeshift accommodation centres that have attracted tension and protests. A stabbing attack on children outside a Dublin school a year ago, in which an Algerian man has been charged, sparked the worst rioting Ireland had seen in decades. Unlike many European countries, Ireland does not have a significant far-right party, but far-right voices on social media seek to drum up hostility to migrants, and anti-immigrant independent candidates are hoping for election in several districts. The issue appears to be hitting support for Sinn Fein, as working-class supporters bristled at its pro-immigration policies. What's the likely outcome? Opinion polls suggest voters' support is split into five roughly even chunks for Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein, several smaller parties and an assortment of independents. Fine Gael has run a gaffe-prone campaign, Fianna Fail has remained steady in the polls and Sinn Fein says it has momentum, but is unlikely to win power. Analysts say the most likely outcome is another Fine Gael-Fianna Fail coalition, possibly with a smaller party or a clutch of independents as kingmakers. It's just a question of which minor group is going to be the group that supports the government this time, said Eoin O'Malley, a political scientist at Dublin City University. Coalition-forming is about putting a hue on what is essentially the same middle-of-the-road government every time. When will we know the results? Polls close Friday at 10 pm (2200GMT), when an exit poll will give some sense of the outcome. Counting ballots begins on Saturday morning. Full results could take several days, and forming a government days or weeks after that. (AP) GRS GRS Dakar, Nov 29 (AP) Chad's government said it was ending a defence cooperation agreement with France in order to redefine the nation's sovereignty from its former colonial ruler. The decision marks a historic turning point since the Central African nation gained independence more than six decades ago, foreign ministry spokesperson Abderaman Koulamallah said in a statement Thursday. It said the decision to end the agreement would allow Chad to redefine its strategic partnerships in line with national priorities. There was no immediate response from France's government. Chad was one of the last countries in the region where the French maintained a large military presence, having been ousted in recent years from Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, after years of fighting Islamic extremists alongside regional troops. Those countries have inched closer to Russia, which has mercenaries deployed across the Sahel, the vast expanse below the Sahara desert. Chad's interim president, Mahamat Deby Itno, seized power after his father, who ran the country for more than three decades, was killed fighting rebels in 2021. Last year, the government announced it was extending the 18-month transition for two more years, which led to protests across the country. Analysts say Deby has mistrusted France for a while, and the decision creates an opportunity for other nations, notably Russia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. Deby has been seeking to diversify its security partnerships away from an exclusive deals. He doesn't trust Macron ... He can also not ignore a widespread anti-French sentiment, said Ulf Laessing, head of Sahel program at Konrad Adenauer foundation in Mali. France has some 1,000 troops in the region, and the statement didn't specify when they had to leave. Chad said the decision in no way calls into question the countries' historical ties and wants to maintain relations in other areas of common interest. (AP) GRS GRS Busan (South Korea), Nov 29 (AP) Negotiators working on a treaty to address the global crisis of plastic pollution inched closer to an agreement Friday, with more countries saying they want to address the total plastic on Earth. The most contentious issue of the talks is whether there will be a limit on the amount of plastic that companies are allowed to produce. Panama proposed text for the treaty to address plastic production on Thursday. Juan Carlos Monterrey, head of Panama's delegation, said it's a compromise proposal to build consensus because it does not include a numerical target or production cap. Instead, it says countries would adopt a global target at a later conference of the parties meeting. Support for Panama's proposal quickly grew to over 100 countries. Some plastic-producing and oil and gas countries, including Saudi Arabia, vigorously oppose including plastic production in the treaty, calling it a red line. Russia's delegation has said if the world is serious about this treaty, negotiators must concentrate on provisions acceptable for all delegations. On Friday afternoon, Luis Vayas Valdivieso, the committee chair from Ecuador, issued a paper with draft treaty text, condensing the views expressed by negotiators during the week. The treaty article on production has Panama's proposal. The other option is to strike that article. This is great! This is great, Monterrey said as he read the document on his cellphone just after it was issued. It is a big show of force, of muscle, for those countries that are ambitious. And also this shows that consensus is still possible, he said in an interview. Global plastics production is set to reach 736 million tons by 2040, up 70% from 2020, without policy changes, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Environmental organizations demonstrated with signs outside the convention center Friday morning, demanding that negotiators show courage. Negotiators began meeting Monday in Busan. They split into groups to consider text for treaty articles. By the midpoint of the negotiations, none had agreed to anything. They were having long discussions over topics where there's more agreement, such as the need to manage plastic waste better. And they hadn't settled on some of the basics of the treaty, such as the scope and definitions. Valdivieso told them Wednesday night their progress was too slow and they had to speed up significantly. The delegations will now discuss Valdivieso's paper and decide whether to agree to the articles. The meeting ends late Sunday or early Monday. UN Environment Program Executive Director Inger Andersen said there's still enough time to land an agreement, if we work hard. (AP) NSA NSA Dhaka, Nov 29 (PTI) Bangladesh's financial authorities have ordered freezing for 30 days the bank accounts of 17 people associated with ISKCON, including its former member Chinmoy Krishna Das, according to media reports on Friday. Bangladesh Bank's Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) sent these directives to different banks and financial institutions on Thursday, suspending all types of transactions in these accounts for a month, the Prothom Alo newspaper reported. The BFIU asked the banks and financial institutions to send account-related information, including updated transaction statements of all the accounts of all types of businesses owned by these 17 individuals within the next three working days, it said. Das, a spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, was arrested from Dhakas Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday in a sedition case. He was denied bail and sent to jail by a Chattogram court on Tuesday. A lawyer was killed in a clash between security personnel and supporters of the Hindu leader. Das was a former spokesperson of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Bangladesh. Beijing, Nov 29 (PTI) The population of giant Pandas endemic to China has increased to around 1,900 after their survival rate improved in captive breeding, according to official data. The status of the rarest members of the bear family whose round faces, plump bodies, and signature markings evoke global admiration has been changed from endangered to vulnerable. Chinese experts say the breeding of the giant Pandas was the most difficult process. "In the early days, the artificial breeding of giant pandas was a big problem. Throughout the 1980s, we only bred one baby panda, which survived for two years," Li Desheng, chief expert at China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda, said. But with technological and scientific advancements, artificial breeding at present is seeing significantly improved oestrus rate and panda cub survival rate, and pandas' average life expectancy has increased, Li told the state-run Xinhua news agency. Official data show the wild giant panda population has grown from around 1,100 in the 1980s to nearly 1,900. The global captive population of giant pandas now stands at 757, Xinhua reported. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has downgraded the giant panda's status from endangered to vulnerable. Sichuan, the venue of the conference, is home to the largest panda habitat in the world. Here, 1,387 pandas have been found in the wild, an increase of more than 50 per cent since the 1980s. The cuddly pandas have also become a centre for Chinas soft power diplomacy as Beijing provides a few of them to countries around the world for a specific period under the care of Chinese breeders in animal parks for public viewing. Giant pandas in China are also enjoying enlarged wild habitats. In 2021, China officially designated five national parks, including the Giant Panda National Park, which covers parts of the provinces of Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu. Speaking at the Global Panda Partners 2024 opening ceremony on November 26, Guan Zhi'ou, head of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, said China formed a giant panda habitat protection system centred around the national park, with a total area of 2.58 million hectares. It has also achieved habitat connectivity and genetic exchange between 85 per cent of the wild giant panda populations. Tallinn (Estonia), Nov 29 (AP) Imprisoned Kremlin critic Alexei Gorinov was convicted again on Friday for opposing Russia's war in Ukraine and handed a three-year prison term. A swift, three-day trial against Gorinov, once a low-profile activist, underscored Moscow's intolerance of any dissenting voices. Gorinov, a 63-year-old former member of a Moscow municipal council, is already serving a seven-year prison term for public criticism of the full-scale invasion. Taking into account his previous conviction and sentence, a court in Russia's Vladimir region ordered him to serve a total of five years in a maximum-security prison, a facility with stricter conditions than the one he's currently in. Russia's independent news site Mediazona quoted Gorinov's lawyer as saying that it means he will spend a year more behind bars compared to his previous sentence. Gorinov was first convicted in July 2022, when a court in Moscow sentenced him to seven years in prison for spreading false information about the Russian army at a municipal council meeting. Gorinov allegedly voiced scepticism about a children's art competition in his constituency while saying that every day children are dying in Ukraine. He was the first known Russian sent to prison under a 2022 law that essentially bans any public expression about the war that deviates from the official narrative. His arrest, conviction and imprisonment has shocked many. In written comments to The Associated Press from behind bars in March 2023, Gorinov said authorities needed an example they could showcase to others (of) an ordinary person, rather than a public figure. Authorities launched a second case against him last year, according to his supporters. He was accused of justifying terrorism in conversations with his cellmates about Ukraine's Azov battalion, which Russia outlawed as a terrorist organisation, and the 2022 explosion on the Crimean bridge, which Moscow deemed an act of terrorism. Gorinov vehemently rejected the accusations on Wednesday, independent news site Mediazona reported. It quoted him as telling the court that he merely said the annexed Crimean Peninsula was Ukrainian territory and called Azov a part of the Ukrainian army. Gorinov's trial began Wednesday in the Vladimir region, where he is serving time stemming from his previous conviction. Photos from the courtroom, published by Mediazona, showed a weary Gorinov in the defendant's cage, with a hand-drawn peace symbol on a piece of paper covering his prison badge. He held a hand-written placard saying: Stop killing. Let's stop the war. He had part of a lung removed before prison and struggled with respiratory illnesses behind bars. In his closing statement in court on Friday, Gorinov remained defiant and once again condemned the Russian authorities for the war in Ukraine. My guilt is that I, as a citizen of my country, allowed this war to happen and could not stop it," Mediazona quoted him as saying. But I would like my guilt and responsibility to be shared with me by the organizers, participants, supporters of the war, as well as the persecutors of those who advocate peace. I continue to live with the hope that this will happen someday. In the meantime, I ask those who live in Ukraine and my fellow citizens who suffered from the war to forgive me, Gorinov said. According to OVD-Info, a prominent rights group that tracks political arrests, some 1,100 people have been implicated in criminal cases over their anti-war stance since February 2022. A total of 340 of them are currently behind bars or have been involuntarily committed to medical institutions. (AP) PY PY The incoming President of European Council, Antonio Costa, has said that peace in Ukraine must be based on international law. "Peace in Ukraine must be just. It must be lasting. It must be based on international law," he said during a handover from outgoing President of the European Council Charles Michel in Brussels on Friday. The ceremony was attended by President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, a vice-president of the European Parliament, and representatives of the General Secretariat of the Council of the EU. Costa said that Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine has been lasting for "thirty-three months, one thousand and ten days." "We are all yearning for peace. Especially the empowered and heroic Ukrainian people. But peace cannot mean the peace of a graveyard. Peace cannot mean capitulation. Peace must not reward the aggressor. Peace in Ukraine must be just. It must be lasting," he emphasized. The President of the European Council is also convinced that in this war on the European soil at stake are the universal principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter people's right to self-determination, nations' right to choose their own future, and respect for territorial integrity and state borders. "We must write a new chapter of the European Union as a peace project. By becoming stronger, more efficient, more resilient, and yes, more autonomous in security and defence. Always working for a strong transatlantic partnership," he said. "Ladies and gentlemen, I have been mayor of Lisbon and proud to serve my city. I have been Prime Minister of Portugal and proud to serve my country. I now take office as President of the European Council and I am proud to serve the European Union. Lisbon is my city, Portugal is my country and Europe is our common home. There is no contradiction between these three levels. Nowadays, in this globalized world, the only way to be truly patriotic, to ensure sovereignty, is to build a common Europe," Costa said. "Because only together can we stand up for security, stability and peace in our continent. Only together can we achieve shared prosperity, economic growth and the climate transition. Only together can we make the voice of Europe heard in the international scene. So, unity is the lifeblood of the European Union. But we should not ignore our difference of opinion, nor treat them as a problem," he said. Dubai, Nov 29 (AP) Iran will begin enriching uranium with thousands of advanced centrifuges at its two main nuclear facilities at Fordo and Natanz, the United Nations' nuclear watchdog said Friday, further raising tensions over Tehran's programme as it enriches at near weapons-grade levels. The notice from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) only mentioned Iran enriching uranium with new centrifuges to 5 per cent purity, far lower than the 60 per cent it currently does likely signaling that it still wants to negotiate with the West and the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump. However, it remains unclear how Trump will approach Iran once he enters office, particularly as it continues to threaten to attack Israel amid its war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip and just after a ceasefire started in its campaign in Lebanon. Trump withdrew America from the accord in 2018, setting in motion a series of attacks and incidents across the wider Mideast. Iran's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment over the IAEA's report. Tehran had threatened to rapidly advance its programme after the Board of Governors at the IAEA condemned Iran at a meeting in November for failing to cooperate fully with the agency. In a statement, the IAEA outlined the plans Iran informed it of, which include feeding uranium into multiple cascades of its advanced IR-2M, IR-4 and IR-6 centrifuges. Cascades are a group of centrifuges that spin uranium gas together to more quickly enrich the uranium. Each of these advanced classes of centrifuges enrich uranium faster than Iran's baseline IR-1 centrifuges, which have been the workhorse of the country's atomic programme. The IAEA did not elaborate on how many machines would be in each cascade but Iran has put around 160 centrifuges into a single cascade in the past. It's unclear if Iran has begun feeding the uranium yet into the centrifuges. Tehran so far has been vague about its plans. But starting the enrichment at 5 per cent gives Tehran both leverage at negotiations with the West and another way to dial up the pressure if they don't like what they hear. Weapons-grade levels of enrichment are around 90 per cent. Since the collapse of Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers following the US' unilateral withdrawal from the accord in 2018, it has pursued nuclear enrichment just below weapons-grade levels. US intelligence agencies and others assess that Iran has yet to begin a weapons programme. Iran, as a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, has pledged to allow the IAEA to visit its atomic sites to ensure its programme is peaceful. Tehran also had agreed to additional oversight from the IAEA as part of the 2015 nuclear deal, which saw sanctions lifted in exchange for drastically limiting its programme. However, for years Iran has curtailed inspectors' access to sites while also not fully answering questions about other sites where nuclear material has been found in the past after the deal's collapse. Iranian officials in recent months, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian, had signaled a willingness to negotiate with the West. But Iran also has launched two attacks on Israel amid the war. Kazem Gharibabadi, an Iranian diplomat, said in a post on the social platform that he met with EU diplomat Enrique Mora, criticising Europe as being self-centred" while having "irresponsible behaviour. With regard to the nuclear issue of Iran, Europe has failed to be a serious player due to lack of self-confidence and responsibility, Gharibabadi wrote. For his part, Mora described having a frank discussion with Gharibabadi and another Iranian diplomat. Those talks included Iran's military support to Russia that has to stop, the nuclear issue that needs a diplomatic solution, regional tensions (important to avoid further escalation from all sides) and human rights, he wrote on X. (AP) NPK NPK Islamabad, Nov 29 (PTI) A Pakistani high court on Friday suspended the two-day physical remand of detained senior journalist Matiullah Jan in case of terrorism and narcotics and ordered to send him to jail on judicial remand. Jan was booked on Thursday after reportedly being arrested in Islamabad and was initially granted a two-day physical remand by the Rawalpindi Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC). However, the journalist challenged the remand in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) through his advocates on Friday morning. Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir took up the petition and after hearing his lawyers, suspended the remand and ordered to send him to jail on judicial remand. Jan's lawyer said a bail petition was being filed to seek his release. The journalist's family said that he was picked up from outside the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences hospital in the G-7 area of the city late on Wednesday where he went to report on the people injured during the clashes between the workers of jailed former premier Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and police. According to an FIR, Jan, initially not known to the police, was drunk and arrested after he tried to run his car over the police at a security checkpoint in Sector E-9 and injured a constable in the incident. It also stated that the journalist snatched a gun from the police and assaulted the officials present. Jan's son Abdul Razzaq, however, alleged that his father was arrested for his devotion to reporting on the ongoing political developments in Pakistan even at 3 am to keep the public "informed". The unknown individuals, unknown vehicles the real heirs to Pakistan picked him up based on this issue, Razzaq alleged in a video posted on his fathers X account. Anchorperson Munizae Jahangir said Jan was reporting from hospitals on those injured and killed from bullet wounds at the PTI protest and [it] seems thats why he has been arrested for his journalistic work. Khan's PTI has said that four people were killed and over 50 others were injured in the party's protest in Islamabad, which it suspended after a midnight crackdown by the authorities. However, all senior officials, including Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Information Minister Atta Tarar, have rejected their claims about casualties. The journalist's arrest and the charges brought against him sparked criticism from human rights organisations, the journalism community, and several prominent politicians. Political Advisor to the Prime Minister, Rana Sanaullah, told Geo News in an interview that apparently the FIR filed against Jan was bogus. The Islamabad police chief should come forward and explain the situation, he said. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also expressed grave alarm over reports of the abduction of Jan, noting it followed his coverage of protests by supporters of imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan. Jan is known for his aggressive reporting on political issues and went missing in 2020 when Khan, 72, was the prime minister but was later released unharmed. Mumbai, Nov 29 (PTI) Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant on Friday dismissed speculation that caretaker Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was upset and hence left for his native village in Satara district even as government formation has been delayed. The Shiv Sena president was unwell when he met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Thursday night, he told reporters. Shinde, who has made it clear that he would accept the decision of the BJP top brass on the next chief minister, should be part of the new government, added Samant, a minister in the previous Shinde-led cabinet. A key meeting of the Mahayuti allies BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP was put off earlier on Friday as Shinde left for his village Dare, delaying the government formation a week after the Maharashtra assembly polls results. Asked about the meeting between Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar that was supposed to take place in Mumbai, Samant said, "If the meeting does not take place physically, it can also be held through video conference." "He (Shinde) is not upset. Even in Delhi, he was down with fever and cold. It will be wrong to say he has gone to Dare because he is upset," the Sena leader maintained. "Anyone can face health issues, and if he has gone to a good place (for health reasons), there is no point in concluding that he is upset," Samant added. Shinde himself stressed two days ago that there will be no obstacle from his side in the government formation, he said, adding that the BJP has said it will decide on its legislative wing leader in the next two days and after the formalities, the new government will be formed. The Opposition should introspect on its performance in the elections rather than attacking the Mahayuti parties over government formation, he said. Ranchi, Nov 29 (PTI) The Hemant Soren government has reinstated Manjunath Bhajantri as the Ranchi district deputy commissioner (DC), from which he was removed by the EC before the Assembly elections following a complaint by the BJP, according to a notification. The decision to bring Bhajantri back to the post was taken hours after JMM leader Hemant Soren took oath as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand. The 2011 batch IAS officer was appointed as Ranchi DC by the Hemant Soren government on September 30 ahead of the polls which took place in two phases - November 20 and 23. He was removed on October 15 following a complaint by the BJP legal cell to the Chief Electoral Officer and shifted to Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society as its CEO. "Chief Executive Officer of Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS) Manjunath Bhajantri has been transferred and appointed as Deputy Commissioner, Ranchi, till further orders," a notification from the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms read. Ranchi DC Varun Ranjan, a 2014 batch IAS officer, was transferred to Jharkhand Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation as Managing Director, with additional charge as Commissioner, Mines. Bhajantri, during his tenure as Deoghar DC, had alleged that BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and eight others had entered the ATC room in the Deogarh airport and forcibly took clearance for the take-off for their chartered flight beyond the scheduled time in August 2022. Following this, a Twitter war broke out between the two. Dubey also lodged an FIR against the officer alleging that he was involved in sedition and violated the Official Secret Act. The Jharkhand High Court quashed the FIR in August of this year. New Delhi, Nov 29 (PTI) The Vishva Hindu Parishad has announced a two-day nationwide protest against the "atrocities" on religious minorities in Bangladesh starting Friday. The VHP and the Bajrang Dal, along with all sects and segments of the Hindu society and those who believe in humanity, will take part in this protest to save the minorities and their human rights, VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal said in a statement. Bansal said the neighbouring country was "playing in the hands of Islamic jihadist elements". He said the protest against the "repeated atrocities" against minorities in Bangladesh is scheduled for today and tomorrow, he said. "Let's all come and join for Human cause!!VHP nationwide protest to save minorities in Bangladesh today," Bansal wrote in a post on X. Bangladeshs minority Hindus, which constitute only about 8 per cent of the 170 million population, have faced over 200 attacks in 50-odd districts since the fall of Sheikh Hasinas Awami League government on August 5. Things took a turn for the worse this week after Hindu spiritual leader Das was arrested in a sedition case. He was later denied bail by a court, triggering protests by community members in various locations, including the capital Dhaka and the port city of Chattogram. India on Tuesday noted with "deep concern" the arrest and denial of bail to Das, urging the authorities in the neighbouring country to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all other minority groups. New Delhi, Nov 29 (PTI) A study published in the "Nature" magazine this year has revealed that the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) has contributed significantly in reducing infant and under-five mortality rates across the country by saving 60,000 to 70,000 infant lives annually, Union Health Minister J P Nadda informed Parliament on Friday. According to the Sample Registration System (SRS) report of the Registrar General of India, the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in Andhra Pradesh reduced from 39 per 1,000 live births in 2014 to 24 per 1,000 live births in 2020 and the IMR in Telangana reduced from 35 per 1,000 live births to 21 per 1,000 live births in the said period, Nadda said in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha. The Union health ministry supports all states and Union territories in the implementation of the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition strategy under the National Health Mission (NHM), based on the Annual Programme Implementation Plan (APIP) to improve child survival in the country, he added. These interventions include the promotion of institutional deliveries through cash incentives under the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), entitlements under the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK), establishment of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), special newborn care units (SNCUs) and newborn stabilisation units (NBSUs) to take care of sick and small babies and Home-Based Care of Young Child provided by ASHAs to improve child-rearing practices, the minister said. The interventions also include the Mothers' Absolute Affection (MAA) programme to promote early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, promoting the use of ORS and zinc for the management of diarrhoea in children, early screening, identification and management on pneumonia under Social Awareness and Actions to Neutralise Pneumonia Successfully (SAANS) and strengthening paediatric care for the management of sick children at the district hospital level. Also, the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) provides child-health screening and early-intervention services for defects, diseases, deficiencies and delays to improve the quality of survival, Nadda said. New Delhi, Nov 29 (PTI) The Enforcement Directorate on Friday said it has arrested a father-son duo in Kolkata in an alleged Rs 2,800 crore worth chit fund scam linked money laundering case. A special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court sent Basudeb Bagchi and his son Avik Bagchi, promoters of Prayag Group of companies, to ten days of ED custody, it said in a statement. The premises of the two and some others in Kolkata and Mumbai were raided by the ED on November 26. The two are accused of "defrauding" the public by collecting deposits worth Rs 2,800 crore under "false" high-return schemes like monthly income schemes (MIS), redeemable preference shares and club membership certificates. As of now, the ED said, Rs 1,900 crore remains "unpaid" to investors. The Prayag Group of companies operated "illegally" without necessary authorisations from regulatory bodies like the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), affecting lakhs of investors across multiple states. The agency said funds collected from the investors were "layered" by the promoters by incorporating multiple entities which were subsequently used for buying various properties. "The ED will interrogate the accused to uncover the properties acquired using the defrauded funds. This action is part of the ED's efforts to trace and recover assets linked to the scam, aiming for restitution of the money to rightful investors and victims," it said. Jammu, Nov 29 (PTI) PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti has blamed former Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud for his ''bad decision", which she claimed has led to searches in mosques and could push the country towards division as the foundation of secularism is being shaken. The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said these actions are being carried out to divert public attention from issues like development and jobs to divisive topics. "I want to say that one of our former chief justices of India has done a very bad thing for this country by giving a decision regarding the Gyanvapi Mosque that allows action to be taken wherever a complaint is raised," Mufti told reporters here. "This will lead the country toward division. It is dragging us toward bloodshed, as we saw in some incidents in Uttar Pradesh, where four or five innocent people were caught in the chaos," she said. Referring to a previous Supreme Court decision to maintain the status quo of all religious places, Mufti said, "This is despite the 1991 Supreme Court judgement, which clearly stated that the status of all religious places as they existed in 1947 -- be it temples or mosques -- must not be altered." "Unfortunately, the former chief justice passed a judgement that has led to a situation where Shivlings are being searched for in every mosques. This interference has even extended to sacred Muslim sites like Ajmer Sharif, which holds significance for Hindus as well," she added. The PDP chief said that more Hindus visit Ajmer Sharif to pray and seek blessings than the Muslims. "This shrine is over 800 years old. If this trend continues, I fear they might soon start searching Muslim homes," she said. Earlier on Wednesday, a court in Ajmer issued notices to the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Ajmer Dargah Committee seeking their response to a petition that sought a physical survey of the dargah. Pointing to the worsening situation over such issues, the former chief minister said "this will lead the country toward division". "It is dragging us towards bloodshed, as we saw in some incidents in Uttar Pradesh, where four or five innocent people were caught in the chaos," she added. Expressing her concerns about the state of the nation, Mufti said, "If this continues, God forbid, we may return to the conditions of partition in 1947." Referring to the secular foundations of the country, she added, "Let us not forget that leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Gandhi ji, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Sardar Patel built this country on the foundation of secularism. Now, those very foundations are being shaken. Hindus and Muslims are being pitted against each other." She also criticized the government. "They have no jobs to offer, no good schools or hospitals and no support for farmers. Instead, by creating Hindu-Muslim conflicts, attention is being diverted from these pressing issues," she said. The PDP chief concluded by stating that the role of one of the former chief justice has been "extremely damaging" in this regard. New Delhi, Nov 29 (PTI) Congress MPs from Punjab on Friday staged a protest in the Parliament complex against alleged delay in paddy procurement and fertiliser shortage, and demanded that the government compensate the farmers who were forced to sell their produce below the minimum support price (MSP). Congress MP from Ludhiana and the partys Punjab chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring blamed the BJP-led Union government and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab for the situation. MPs from Punjab raised their voice for the farmers of Punjab, the situation they are facing. They even spent the night at Mandi on Diwali, and were forced to sell below the MSP, Warring told reporters outside Parliament. The central government should form a committee and probe those who bought crops below the MSP. Farmers should get the price as per the MSP, he said. Congress MP from Fatehgarh Sahib, Amar Singh said farmers were forced to sell their crops 8-10 per cent below the MSP. This is the first time that paddy procurement is not being done properly. Farmers of Punjab had to wait for over a month, and were forced to sell it 8-10 per cent less than the MSP. The government should compensate farmers, and make arrangements so that it is not repeated in the future, he said. Dharamvira Gandhi, the Congress MP from Patiala, added that the government should also announce a loan waiver for farmers of north India. "The state and central governments have not taken steps to resolve issues faced by farmers in Punjab the stores were not emptied, there is a labour problem which was not resolved, truckers issues were not resolved, no processes were completed, and farmers were forced to spend days waiting to sell their produce, and were eventually forced to sell it at a lower price. "Loan waiver should be given to farmers of north India, he added. The MPs also staged a protest in the Parliament complex, displaying placards with slogans like farmers in Punjab are not getting DAP fertiliser, crop is being procured below MSP, and worst procurement in 25 years. The MPs raised slogans against the Union and Punjab governments. Jaipur, Nov 29 (PTI) Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar on Friday said emperors, such as Babar and Aurangzeb, demolished most of the temples that were there during the Mughal invasion and built mosques. He also said if a court orders excavation of a place, the decision will come on the basis of the remains found there, if any. The minister was reacting to notices issued by a local court to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Ajmer Dargah Committee and the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs on a plea claiming that the dargah was built over a Shiva temple. The court in Ajmer, known the world over for the dargah visited by thousands of devotees cutting across religious lines every day, issued the notices seeking the responses of the dargah committee, the Union ministry and the ASI on Wednesday. "It is true that Babar, Aurangzeb demolished most of the temples and built mosques. If the court orders excavation and if remains are found after the excavation, then a decision will come," Dilawar told reporters in Kota. Major General Mykhailo Drapaty has been appointed as the new Commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, while Oleh Apostol has been appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff Headquarters on Friday. "Today, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky separately reported on the situation at the front and in the areas of the Kursk operation. Also, together with the Commander-in-Chief, we made several personnel decisions for our army. Mykhailo Drapaty was appointed as the new Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Oleh Apostol has been appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces," the head of state said on the Telegram channel. He also noted that Drapaty successfully organized the defense on the Kharkiv axis and disrupted the offensive operation of the Russian forces. At the same time, Colonel Oleh Apostol is an experienced Commander of the 95th Independent Airborne Assault Brigade. "Both have proven their effectiveness in battles. The main task is to significantly increase the combat capability of our army, to ensure the quality of training of servicemen and to introduce innovative approaches to the management of people in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Ukrainian Army needs internal changes to fully achieve the goals of our state," Zelenskyy said. New Delhi, Nov 29 (PTI) A Delhi court on Friday said it will on March 17, 2025, pronounce the sentencing order against AAP MLA Prakash Jarwal, convicted of allegedly abetting the suicide of a doctor in south Delhi in 2020. Special Judge Kaveri Baweja, who was scheduled to hear arguments on quantum of punishment on Friday, deferred the matter after being informed Jarwal had challenged his conviction before the Delhi High Court. The judge was further informed that the high court would be hearing his appeal on March 6, 2025. Rajendra Singh, a 52-year-old doctor, died by suicide in Durga Vihar on April 18, 2020. The court on February 28 held Jarwal, who represents the Deoli assembly constituency, guilty, saying the prosecution had proved the case against him beyond reasonable doubt. Besides abetment of suicide, the judge held him guilty of criminal conspiracy, extortion and criminal intimidation. In his suicide note, the doctor had reportedly accused Jarwal of driving him to end his life following which the police registered a case of extortion and abetment of suicide against him. Bengaluru, Nov 29 (PTI) Karnataka Minister N S Boseraju, announced on Friday that Pilikula Nisargadham in Mangaluru, a tourist attraction inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in 2018, is set to undergo a major transformation to become a world-class destination. This vision will be discussed at the upcoming Pilikula Development Authority meeting, said the Minister for Minor Irrigation, Science and Technology. During a review meeting with officials from the Science and Technology Department, Boseraju emphasised Pilikula's potential to become a premier tourism hub. In a statement, Boseraju stressed that the ample space available at the Pilikula Wildlife Sanctuary makes it an ideal location for transforming into an international-level attraction. Officials will discuss a detailed blueprint for its comprehensive development at the next meeting, Boseraju said. He also mentioned that a formal proposal would be submitted in the upcoming state budget. Authorities were directed to expedite the appointment of a consultant agency to facilitate the project's implementation. During the same meeting, Boseraju announced that the Karnataka government's Department of Science and Technology will host a two-day Quantum Summit in July 2025. It aims to showcase the state's advancements in the quantum field and foster global collaborations, he said in a statement. "Discussions are underway with international partners renowned for their achievements in quantum technology to facilitate knowledge exchange. Minister Boseraju has urged officials to begin preparations immediately to ensure a successful conference," the statement added. The Minister also called for swift progress on the newly constructed sub-regional science centers in Raichur, Chikkamagaluru, and Yadgir. According to Boseraju, the Science City project near Bengaluru International Airport has made progress, with land allocated by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB). Officials have been instructed to expedite the preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR). Chennai, Nov 29 (PTI) The Ashmolean Museum at Oxford University, London, which purchased the Thirumangai Alwar bronze idol in 1967, has agreed to return the idol to Tamil Nadu after the state Idol Wing CID submitted evidence of the idol's trafficking from an ancient temple in Thanjavur district, the police said on Friday. In its recent communication to the Tamil Nadu Idol Wing CID police, the Oxford University has expressed its "commitment to repatriate" the idol said to be worth crores of rupees back to India, due to the wings efforts, a release here said. "They have also promised to cover all costs associated with transferring the idol from London to India, ensuring that it can be returned to the temple for worship. This marks a significant step in the efforts to return stolen idols to their rightful places of origin," the release said. Efforts were on to bring this idol to Tamil Nadu within a months time. Director General of Police Shankar Jiwal, appreciated the exceptional work done by the Idol Wing CID in successfully identifying and proving the provenance of the Thirumangai Alwar bronze idol and facilitating its repatriation process, the release added. The Oxford Universitys representative reviewed the evidence and testimonies provided by Deputy Superintendent of Policenvestigating Officer, P Chandrasekaran, which convincingly established the true origin of the Thirumangai Alwar bronze idol. This led the representative to submit a detailed report to the University. After careful consideration, the Council of the University of Oxford accepted that the idol had been illegally removed from Sri Soundaraja Perumal temple. In addition to this success, the Idol Wing CID was continuing its sincere efforts to bring back the remaining three idols: Kaalinga Nartha Krishna, Vishnu, and Sridevi, that were also stolen along with Thirumangai Alwar idol from Sri Soundaraja Perumal temple in Kumbakonam, and are currently in museums in the United States. "The CID is working diligently to follow a similar process to ensure that these idols are repatriated to their rightful place, the Sri Soundaraja Perumal Temple in Kumbakonam, where they can once again be used for worship," the release further said. In 2020, the wing registered a case based on specific information regarding the theft of four valuable idols from the Soundararaja Perumal temple in Thanjavur district, between 1957 and 1967. These idols were illegally sold by unknown idol traffickers and smuggled abroad. Through sustained efforts, the wing traced the smuggled idols to various museums abroad. The Thirumangai Alwar idol was found to have been purchased by the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford University, London, in 1967. Investigation revealed that, at present, only replicas of these four idols were used for worship at the Sri Soundaraja Perumal temple, while the original idols remain in foreign museums. The investigating officers, under the guidance of IGP, Idol Wing CID, R Dhinakaran, and the direct supervision of Superintendent of Police, Idol Wing CID, R Sivakumar, have meticulously collected all scientific evidences regarding the provenance of the four stolen idols. "The officers compiled convincing and indisputable evidence and have sent it to the relevant authorities in the countries where these idols are currently located. This evidence is crucial in demonstrating the true origin of the idols, which had been smuggled abroad," the release stated. Viewed of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Donavon Parish, 29, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, was sentenced to two years in federal prison on Tuesday for cyberstalking and making antisemitic threats against synagogues and Jewish-owned businesses. Following his release, Parish will serve three years of supervised probation. The defendants harassment and hateful antisemitic threats terrorized those he targetedtheir sense of security abruptly shaken by fears of escalation and physical harm. People of all faiths and backgrounds deserve to feel safe in their communities, said U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero. Parish pleaded guilty in June to charges stemming from incidents between April and May 2022. He admitted to using a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service to call synagogues and Jewish-owned businesses in Pennsylvanias Eastern District, where he spewed hateful and threatening rhetoric. Parishs comments during the calls included phrases such as Heil Hitler, All Jews must die, We will put you in work camps, Gas the Jews, and Hitler should have finished the job. Wayne Jacobs, special agent in charge of the FBI Philadelphia division, said the sentence reflects an intolerance for such behavior. This sentence demonstrates the FBI and our partners at the U.S. Attorneys Office will not tolerate such repeated and vile threats that seek to disrupt our communitys sense of safety and security, Jacobs said. And we will bring the perpetrator to justice, no matter where they are. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The United States has imposed sanctions on an additional 21 allies of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, accusing them on Wednesday of perpetrating some of the repression with which officials in the country responded to Julys disputed presidential election. The security and cabinet-level officials sanctioned by the Department of the Treasury include the head of the nations corrections agency, the director of an intelligence service and the minister of Maduros Office of the President. They joined a list of dozens of sanctioned Venezuelans that includes the head of the countrys high court, ministers and prosecutors. The Biden administration last week recognized opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez as Venezuelas president-elect. The U.S. also on Wednesday placed visa restrictions on additional individuals it accused of repressing Venezuelans after the July 28 election. While Maduro declared victory in the election, he and his government have refused to show vote tallies backing his claim. Gonzalez left Venezuela in September for exile in Spain after a warrant was issued for his arrest in connection with an investigation into the publishing of vote tallies. The former diplomat, who represented the main opposition parties, claimed to have won the presidential election by a wide margin. In September, the U.S. government imposed sanctions against 16 allies of Maduro, accusing them of obstructing the vote and carrying out human rights abuses. The effect of the individual sanctions and visa restrictions announced Wednesday is unclear. Previously punished Maduro loyalists still hold powerful in Venezuelas government. Venezuelan lawmakers on Tuesday continued the debate over a bill that would catalogue economic sanctions as a crime against humanity and allow the prosecution of anyone who expresses support for the measures. (AP) Vaping is coming before the Supreme Court next week as federal regulators ask the high court to uphold its block on sweet, flavored products following a spike in youth e-cigarette use. The Food and Drug Administration has denied more than a million marketing applications for candy- or fruit-flavored products that appeal to kids, part of a wider crackdown that advocates say helped drive down teen vaping after an epidemic level surge in 2019. Vaping companies, though, said the agency unfairly disregarded arguments that their sweet e-liquid products would help adults quit smoking traditional cigarettes without putting kids at greater risk. Republican Donald Trumps administration could take a different approach after he vowed in a September social-media post to save vaping. The Supreme Court on Monday is hearing arguments in the FDAs appeal of a decision from the conservative 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. While other courts upheld FDA refusals, the appeals court sided with the Dallas-based company Triton Distribution. It tossed out a decision blocking the marketing of nicotine-laced liquids like Jimmy The Juice Man in Peachy Strawberry that are heated by an e-cigarette to create an inhalable aerosol. Triton said the FDA had unfairly changed its requirements without enough warning. It sort of pulls the chair out from the applicants, said Marc Scheineson, a former FDA associate commissioner and attorney who now represents other small electronic tobacco companies. The FDA was slow to regulate the now multibillion-dollar vaping market, and even years into the crackdown flavored vapes that are technically illegal nevertheless remain widely available. The agency has approved some tobacco-flavored vapes, and recently allowed its first menthol-flavored electronic cigarettes for adult smokers. The marketing refusals combined with age-limit enforcement on the federal and state levels have helped drive down youth nicotine use to its lowest level in a decade, said Dennis Henigan, vice president for legal and regulatory affairs at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. He says the FDA was clear in its requirements and fears a court decision that leads to wider availability for flavored vape products, which are the dominant choice among the 1.6 million high school students who still vape. We think that would be a real harm to public health, Henigan said. (AP) Russia conducted a massive attack against Ukraines energy infrastructure on Thursday, firing nearly 200 missiles and drones and leaving more than a million households without power, Ukrainian officials said. Russias second major aerial attack on Ukraines power grid in less than two weeks amplified fears that the Kremlin aims to cripple the countrys power generation capacity before winter. Attacks on energy facilities are happening all over Ukraine, Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said in a post on Facebook. He added that emergency power outages were implemented nationwide. Russia in previous years has targeted Ukraines electricity generation, aiming to deny civilians critical heating and drinking water supplies during the bitter winter months and break Ukrainian spirits. The attacks also seek to hobble Ukraines defense industry that is now producing missiles, drones and armored vehicles, among other military assets. In some regions on Thursday, Kalibr cruise missiles with cluster munitions smashed into civilian targets, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, calling it an insidious escalation. Cluster munitions release numerous small bombs over a wide area, making them dangerous to civilians both during and after an attack. Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed his forces struck 17 Ukrainian targets Thursday, including military facilities and their support systems, with 100 drones and 90 missiles. It was the 11th massive combined attack by Russia on Ukraines energy infrastructure this year. But the Ukrainian air force claimed to have shot down 76 cruise missiles and three other types of missile as well as 32 drones. It added that it lost track of 62 Russian drones, which most likely were jammed by electronic warfare. Neither sides claims could be independently verified. Ukrainian officials have warned recently that Russia was stockpiling cruise and ballistic missiles, presumably for another pre-winter aerial campaign against Ukraines power grid. Ukrainian officials have in the past accused Russia of weaponizing winter. Such massive attacks have been a regular feature of the war. Around half of Ukraines energy infrastructure has been destroyed during the almost three years of war with Russia, and rolling electricity blackouts are common. Kyivs Western allies have sought to help Ukraine protect power generation with air defense systems and funds for rebuilding. Last March, the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued arrest warrants for two high-ranking Russian military officers on war crimes charges linked to attacks on Ukraines civilian infrastructure, including power plants and electricity sub-stations. The war has been going in Russias favor in recent months as its bigger army uses its advantages in manpower and equipment to push Ukrainian forces backward in eastern areas, though its offensive has been slow and costly. Putin said that over the past two days Russia had fired 100 missiles and 466 drones at Ukraine, saying they were a response to Ukraine using American-made missiles to hit targets on Russian soil after gaining permission to do so from President Joe Biden. Speaking at a summit in Kazakhstan of a security alliance of former Soviet nations, Putin threatened to use a new intermediate-range ballistic missile, called Oreshnik, against decision-making centers in Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital. The missile launched for the first time at Ukraine last week has six warheads and flies at 10 times the speed of sound, according to Putin, who declared that it cant be intercepted by any modern air defense systems. Oreshnik can penetrate underground bunkers and releases dozens of submunitions that turn everything to dust, Putin said. The use of several Oreshnik missiles in one strike would be comparable in its devastating power to a nuclear weapon, he claimed. Explosions in Thursdays Russian attack were reported in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Rivne, Khmelnytskyi, Lutsk, and many other cities in central and western Ukraine. Zelenskyy urged Western countries to accelerate delivery of promised air defense weaponry. Ukrainian officials in the past have grumbled that military aid is slow to arrive. Each such attack proves that air defense systems are needed now in Ukraine, where they save lives, and not at storage bases, Zelenskyy said on the Telegram messaging app. Russia uses large numbers of missiles and drones to overwhelm Ukraines air defenses and exploits weather conditions such as dense fog and cloud cover to make interceptions harder, the Ukrainian air force said. The head of Ukraines presidential office, Andrii Yermak, said in a Telegram post that Russia had stockpiled missiles to strike Ukrainian infrastructure and wage war against civilians during the cold season. They were helped by their crazy allies, including from North Korea, he wrote. Western governments and South Korea say North Korea in recent months has intensified its military support for Russia. The head of the Lviv region in western Ukraine, Maksym Kozytskyi, said the attack left more than half a million households without electricity. Over 280,000 households in the northwestern Rivne region were without electricity because of the attack, according to regional Gov. Oleksandr Koval. Running water supplies were also patchy in affected areas. Some schools in Rivne city switched to online classes. There were also strikes on the bordering Volyn region, where 215,000 households had no electricity, regional head Ivan Rudnytskyi said. All critical infrastructure that lost power was switched to generators. Energy infrastructure was also targeted in the western Ivano-Frankivsk region, local officials said. Air defenses were activated there, and emergency power outages were introduced. Local officials ordered the opening of points of invincibility shelter-type places where people can charge their phones and other electrical devices and get refreshments during blackouts. In Kyiv, where the air raid alert lasted over nine hours, missile debris fell in one neighborhood, local officials said. No casualties were reported. (AP) Some New York Democratic lawmakers, led by State Senator Liz Krueger, are seriously considering seceding from the United States and becoming a province of Canada in response to President-elect Donald Trumps immigration policies. Kruegers suggestionan apparent attempt to oppose Trumps proposed deportation plansincludes the idea that New Yorks secession could help alleviate Canadas supposed burden of enforcing illegal border crossings. Its not unreasonable to think outside of the box, Krueger said, though many might argue this particular box has fallen off its rocking chair. Adding to the spectacle, Krueger floated the idea of withholding federal taxes as a retaliatory measure against Trumps threat to cut federal funding for states that resist his immigration policies. While her proposal might appeal to a fringe segment of political theater enthusiasts, it has raised eyebrows for its lack of practicality and legal grounding. Critics have lambasted the notion as a desperate publicity stunt rather than a serious policy idea. Becoming part of Canada to avoid enforcing federal laws? Its hard to take such an idea seriously, said one political analyst. This isnt leadership; its grandstanding. The proposal underscores the increasing tension between New Yorks Democratic lawmakers and the incoming administration, but the suggestion of joining Canada is sure to draw widespread ridicule. Beyond the logistical and constitutional impossibilities of such a move, critics argue it does little to address the underlying issues of immigration reform or federal-state relations. While Kruegers plan has generated headlines, it seems unlikely to gain traction anywhere beyond the imaginations of those promoting it. For now, it stands as yet another example of political posturing in an increasingly polarized national debate. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) By Rabbi Yair Hoffman Rav Yaakov Aryeh Neiman ztl was a towering figure whose brilliant legacy continues to illuminate the Jewish world today. Born in Ostrolenka, Poland, he emerged as one of the most distinguished students at the prestigious Lomza Yeshiva, where he spent thirteen transformative years under the tutelage of the legendary Rabbi Yechiel Mordechai Gordon and Rabbi Moshe Rosenstein. Even in his youth, his extraordinary devotion to mussar (ethical development) and divine service set him apart, ultimately leading to his authorship of the masterful work Darchei Mussar. During his time at Lomza, his passionate commitment to spiritual growth led him to establish a revolutionary committee dedicated to moral contemplation and elevation in divine service. This innovative approach attracted exceptional scholars like Rabbi Chaim Bernstein, who would later become a renowned head of Or HaTalmud Yeshiva. His close relationship with the revered Chofetz Chaim was legendary so deep was their connection that when Rav Neiman would visit Radin, the Chofetz Chaim himself would personally arrange his accommodations. This extraordinary bond between these two giants of spirit would later influence many of Rav Neimans teachings and approaches. In 1923, at the behest of both the Chofetz Chaim and Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski, Rav Neiman embarked on what would become his lifes mission establishing the Or Israel Yeshiva in Lida. Named after Rabbi Israel of Salants seminal work, the yeshiva quickly became a beacon of Torah excellence under his inspired leadership. When he immigrated to Eretz Yisrael in 1935, settling in Petach Tikva, Rav Neiman carried with him the dreams and aspirations of his European legacy. With incredible determination and vision, he re-established Or Israel Yeshiva in 1943, transforming it into one of the central pillars of Torah education in the newly developing land. His exceptional warmth and fatherly devotion to his students became legendary his trademark opening words My dear children reflected the deep love and connection he shared with each student. He would often express his emotional pain about the state of affairs of matters spiritual. He once spoke and said, How great is the pain when we see that even Torah-observant parents do not understand their childrens souls, and instead of telling them words of Torah and holiness with genuine warmth they send them to places to study secular subjects. And they do not understand that it is not enough for a Jewish soul to just be religious Are there not high levels in matters of fear of Heaven and if they do not reach these high levels in matters of fear of Heaven, it is not certain at all if they will remain Torah-observant. The only place only the yeshivas that stand on holy ground, whose entire purpose is to raise a generation of Torah scholars and those who fear Hashem, they have the power to fill a persons soul so it will not remain empty and void. And if they go in a different way, they damage and sin against the childs soul, and this is an irreparable loss, and this is the destruction of the Temple that we need to cry about day and night. His magnum opus Darchei Mussar, published in 1951, received glowing acclaim from Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer, who recognized its power to ignite the flames of heavenly fear and ethical refinement in its readers. The work was enriched by Rav Neimans personal observations of the Chofetz Chaim, providing an intimate glimpse into the conduct of one of Judaisms greatest leaders. His establishment of the advanced Or Israel Yeshiva in 1982, at an age when most would have retired, demonstrated his tireless dedication to building Torah. Even after his passing in 1983, his influence continues to reverberate the street where his beloved yeshiva stands now bears his name, and his legacy lives on through the current leadership of Rabbi Mordechai Rabinowitz, who married his granddaughter. Rav Neimans life story is not merely a biography it is a testament to the power of unwavering dedication to Torah values and the profound impact one person can have on generations. His blend of intellectual brilliance, spiritual depth, and genuine love for every student created a unique educational approach that continues to shape Jewish leadership today. In this weeks Sidrah, he writes as follows: We need to understand why Isaac our forefather wanted to bless Esau rather than Jacob. While Esau deceived Isaac into thinking he was righteous because he honored him meticulously, how could Isaac prefer him over Jacob, who was known to be a wholesome man who dwelt in tents? I heard in the name of the Sabba zl quoting Rashi: Certainly Isaac our forefather knew the difference between Jacob and Esau. Precisely because he knew Jacob was a wholesome tent-dweller devoted to Torah study and would eventually sit on the Throne of Glory, Isaac wanted him to have no distractions from serving Hashem or involvement with worldly matters. He wanted to give all worldly blessings to Esau who was a man of the field. Meanwhile, he would strengthen Jacob and provide him whatever he needed to engage in Torah study, benefiting them both as it says The Tree of Life for those who grasp it. However, their mother Rebecca discerned that Esaus good heart could not be relied upon to benefit Jacob, so she told Jacob to take the blessings himself. In my opinion, the reason Isaac wanted to bless Esau and not Jacob was because Jacob didnt need blessings he had the Torah, as it is written If you follow My lawsI will provide your rains in their time and nothing will be lacking. If one keeps the Torah, they are already blessed by Hashem. If they dont keep the Torah, the blessings become bread of affliction. Jacob didnt want bread of affliction he wanted to eat what he earned through his service. Like we tell a struggling worker why struggle? Since youre weak and not accomplishing anything, better to leave difficult work and Ill arrange social welfare for basic sustenance. Surely no one wants to eat unearned bread and not what they labored for. Therefore Isaac didnt want to bless Jacob, and Jacob himself didnt want to receive blessings as he didnt want bread of affliction. He was only compelled to do it to fulfill his mothers will. But Esau, who had no Torah and wasnt worthy of the World to Come through Torah observance Isaac wanted to bless him to at least have sustenance in this world. Rebecca feared that if Jacob didnt keep the Torah, he would end up with bread of affliction regardless. But Isaac and Jacobs view was that they wouldnt fail to keep the Torah just to receive sustenance rather they would accept difficulties to be compelled to repent, as they were worthy of keeping the Torah. Through this approach we can understand why the righteous suffer while the wicked prosper the righteous dont want bread of affliction. Therefore if they lack in divine service, they themselves lovingly accept hardship to inspire repentance and cleanse their sins. But for the wicked, Hashem gives them bread of affliction out of great mercy, showing them that ultimately they will be exposed as denying Hashem, as they have no World to Come. At the very least, let them have sustenance in this world. The author can be reached at [email protected] Kyiv has already allocated more than UAH 9 billion from the city budget to support the military in 2024, the capital's mayor Vitali Klitschko said. "At the next session, there is still an opportunity to allocate UAH 740 million this year. That is, in total, it will be almost UAH 10 billion (last year it was UAH 7.5 billion). This includes money for the purchase of necessary equipment by units drones, electronic warfare systems, cars, etc. And funds, in particular, for payments to the military and their families, housing, equipment for engineering structures, rehabilitation," Klitschko said in Telegram channel. He said the city target program "Defender of Kyiv" is only one of the programs through which the capital helps the military. It is financed in two directions, the balance of funds from the previous year, that is, unused last year. And the second is the over fulfillment of the budget. "We will have these figures at the beginning and during the year. Funds are directed from them to this program. Also, assistance to the military and their families is financed from social support programs, housing, medical and others," the mayor said. As for the Defender of Kyiv program, UAH 2.8 billion will be provisionally allocated for 2025. It will be filled with funds during the first quarter of 2025. Klitschko also recalled that almost three times less was provisionally provided for in this program for 2024. "There is no need to speculate on the topic of assistance! Kyiv helps the military the most and will continue to do so next year. The overall support for defenders and their families will be no less than this year," Klitschko said. French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday for the first time recognized the killing of West African soldiers by the French Army in 1944 as a massacre in a letter addressed to the Senegalese authorities. Macrons move, on the eve of the 80th anniversary of the World War II killings in Thiaroye a fishing village on the outskirts of the Senegalese capital of Dakar comes as Frances influence is declining in the region, with Paris losing its sway in the former French colonies in West Africa. Between 35 and 400 West African soldiers who fought for the French Army in the Battle of France in 1940 were killed on Dec. 1, 1944 by French soldiers after what the French described as a mutiny over unpaid wages. The West Africans were members of the unit called Tirailleurs Senegalais, a corps of colonial infantry in the French Army. According to historians, there were disputes over unpaid wages in the days before the massacre but on Dec. 1, French troops rounded up the West African soldiers, mostly unarmed, and shot and killed them. Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye said he received the letter, which was seen by The Associated Press. Speaking to reporters late on Thursday, Faye said Macrons step should open the door so that the whole truth about this painful event of Thiaroye can finally come out. We have long sought closure on this story and we believe that, this time, Frances commitment will be full, frank and collaborative, he added. France must recognize that on that day, the confrontation between soldiers and riflemen who demanded their full legitimate wages be paid, triggered a chain of events that resulted in a massacre, read Macrons letter. It is also important to establish, as far as possible, the causes and facts that led to this tragedy, Macron added. I have asked my services to inform me of the progress of the work of the Committee for the Restoration of the Facts, which your government has decided to set up, under the direction of Professor Mamadou Diouf, whose eminence and qualities are recognized by all. The letter comes weeks after the Senegalese legislative elections, in which the ruling party PASTEF secured a definite majority. The win granted newly elected President Faye a clear mandate to carry out ambitious reforms promised during the campaign, which include more economic independence from foreign companies, including French ones, which are heavily invested in the country. France still has around 350 troops in its former colony, mainly in a supportive role. Asked about the presence of French forces, Faye alluded that it would not be something the Senegalese would want. Historically, France enslaved, colonized and stayed here, he said. Obviously, I think that when you reverse the roles a little, you will have a hard time conceiving that another army, China, Russia, Senegal, or any other country could have a military base in France. (AP) The Palestinian Authority announced on Wednesday that Rawhi Fattouh, 75, will temporarily assume leadership in the event of Mahmoud Abbass death. The decision comes just two weeks after Abbas marked his 89th birthday, raising questions about the future of the P.A.s leadership. The PAs official Wafa news agency reported that Abbas signed a declaration naming Fattouh as the organizations interim leader pending the holding of presidential elections as per the Palestinian Elections Law. Abbas said that the decision aimed to maintain stability during a challenging period for the P.A. Fattouh, a longtime Abbas confidant and current leader of the Palestinian National Council, briefly served as interim leader of the P.A. following Yasser Arafats death in 2004. Despite his decades of experience within the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Israeli analysts describe him as dull and lacking political influence or ability to actually rule. In 2008, Fattouh was caught by Israeli border guards attempting to smuggle 3,000 cell phones from Jordan into Yehuda and Shomron using his Israeli-issued entry permit. The incident reportedly angered Abbas, who banned Fattouh from entering his offices for a time. More recently, then-Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant revoked Fattouhs VIP entry permit after he visited a released Palestinian terrorist, Karim Younis, who served 40 years for the 1980 murder of IDF Cpl. Avraham Bromberg. Fattouh has also made inflammatory claims, including laughably stating in 2023 that Arabs had lived in Jerusalem for 1.5 million years (not a typo). The announcement highlights the uncertainty surrounding the P.A.s leadership transition. Abbas is currently in the 20th year of his four-year term, as no presidential elections have been held since 2006. The decision to name Fattouh as his temporary successor has drawn skepticism about whether he can navigate the P.A. through growing internal and external challenges. The move also raises questions about how this decision aligns with international calls for administrative reforms within the P.A., particularly from Washington. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The U.S. House of Representatives introduced bipartisan legislation on Tuesday that could strip federal student aid from universities and colleges that participate in the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. The proposed legislation, titled the Protect Economic Freedom Act (H.R. 10257), would make institutions of higher education that engage in nonexpressive commercial boycotts of Israel ineligible for federal funding under Title IV of the Higher Education Act. This includes essential financial aid programs for students. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, one of the bills co-sponsors and a candidate to become governor of New Jersey in 2025, emphasized the danger posed by the BDS movement, describing it as an effort to annihilate the democratic state of Israel, a key U.S. ally. While students and faculty are free to speak their minds and disagree on policy issues, we cannot allow antisemitism to run rampant and risk the safety and security of Jewish students, staff, faculty, and guests on college campuses, said Gottheimer. The legislation would require institutions to certify that they have not and will not engage in boycotting or divesting from Israel. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Education would be directed to publicly list non-compliant institutions. Rep. Virginia Foxx, the bills lead sponsor, issued a stern warning to schools that align with the BDS movement. Enough is enough, she said. Appeasing the antisemitic mobs on college campuses threatens the safety of Jewish students and faculty, and it undermines the relationship between the U.S. and one of our strongest allies. Foxx added, If an institution is going to capitulate to the BDS movement, there will be consequencesstarting with the Protect Economic Freedom Act. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Several BBC journalists have resigned from the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) after receiving instructions to wear the colors of the Palestinian flag during a workplace initiative, according to a report by Jewish News. The directive, part of a Day of Action for Palestine organized by the NUJ and the Trades Union Congress (TUC), encouraged staff to wear something red, green, black, or a Palestinian keffiyeh to advocate for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. The request sparked outrage among BBC staff, with one journalist calling it hypocritical and antisemitic and a violation of the BBCs impartiality guidelines. The journalist told Jewish News, BBC journalists, who pride themselves on impartiality and who fought to keep their NUJ free of politics, are being encouraged to break the BBCs editorial guidelines by supporting a political cause. In response, the NUJ acknowledged that BBC employees and public service broadcasters are bound by impartiality standards and social media guidelines. The NUJ would not wish members to breach these rules, the union stated. However, tensions within the organization remain high, with more resignations reportedly expected. Freelance journalist Charlotte Henry announced her resignation from the NUJ, stating that the union had become a hostile environment for Jews. She added, I can no longer be part of that. The controversy has also drawn criticism from the Board of Deputies of British Jews, which expressed concerns about the impact of such directives in the workplace. Attempts to bring this issue into the workplace in such a fashion will undoubtedly add to the belligerent atmosphere which many Jewish staff have been facing, the organization said. The TUC declined to comment on whether it had previously issued similar directives during other conflicts. Jewish News noted, however, that the union had not requested members to wear Ukrainian colors during the ongoing conflict with Russia. The incident comes amid broader accusations of bias in BBC coverage. A recent report from The Telegraph, based on research led by British lawyer Trevor Asserson, claimed the BBC had breached editorial guidelines more than 1,500 times since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war. The research alleged a deeply worrying pattern of bias against Israel and found that Israel was associated with genocide 14 times more frequently than Hamas in the networks coverage. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Mia Schem, a former hostage released from Hamas captivity one year ago, has announced her engagement to Yinon Hasson, who she began dating over the past year. The two, who were childhood friends, reconnected and became a couple following her release. Schem gained international attention when she was freed as part of the first hostage deal with Hamas, which took place exactly one year ago. Since her return, she has openly spoken about how her emunah grew during her time in captivity. I have always been a person of faith and a very, very spiritual person, Schem said. In captivity, my faith grew like crazy. Earlier this month, Schem participated in an event at the Israeli consulate in New York, where she recounted the harsh conditions she endured while being held hostage. She also used the platform to advocate for the release of the remaining 101 hostages still held by Hamas. During her visit to the United States, Schem made a stop at the Ohel of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Sharing her experience on Instagram, she posted a photo and wrote, I cant believe where I was a year ago and where I am today. Thank you for the right to make the voices of all the hostages still in captivity heard. With G-ds help, thanks to our prayers, everyone will be able to return home, reunite with their loved ones, and take care of themselves. Amen, it should be His will. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The IDF announced plans to establish the first company of the new Chashmonai Brigade, an initiative designed to cater exclusively to Charedi soldiers, by the time Chanukah begins in late December. The brigades name is intended to underscore its symbolic alignment with the Chanukah story, as the Chashmonean Dynasty emerged from the successful revolt against the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire, better known in Charedi circles as the Yevanim. The IDF hopes to channel this legacy to inspire Charedi participation in the military. According to reports, 30 young men have already passed initial screenings, and dozens more have expressed interest in joining. The IDF also plans to recruit Charedi soldiers currently serving in noncombat roles, transitioning them into combat positions within the brigade. A full company is expected to include 60 to 80 soldiers. The brigade is tailored to meet the needs of Charedim, including strict adherence to halacha. Commanders and soldiers in the brigade will follow a strict Charedi lifestyle, including maintaining beards and payos, using respectful language, and wearing traditional Charedi garb during tefillos and meals. To reinforce this commitment, enlistees will sign a document agreeing to uphold these standards throughout their service. Training and courses will be conducted exclusively within the brigade to prevent mixing with non-Charedi units, addressing concerns about preserving their values within the military. Brigade commander Col. Avinoam Emunah expressed optimism about the initiative, saying: I am privileged to be the commander of the Charedi brigade and to be part of this special project that can bring about a change in Israeli society and the entire people of Israel. This is the first time since the establishment of the IDF and the state that a brigade will allow the Charedi public to enlist and serve in combat according to their lifestyle while preserving their identity. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The flight was well underway when word of the couples presence began to spread among the passengers. By the time night fell, the festive spirit had taken over, and a large group of travelers gathered to celebrate the joyous occasion. A flight attendant provided complimentary wine for the brachos. Passengers joined together in heartfelt singing, creating an atmosphere of unity and joy, as the newlyweds embarked on their lifelong journey together. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, brokered by the United States and France, represents a huge setback for the Iranian-backed terror group, according to analysis from two leading U.S. think tanks. The deal, which came into effect this Wednesday, concludes over a year of intense fighting and requires Hezbollah to withdraw north of the Litani River while the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) take control of southern Lebanon. The agreement mandates a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon over the next 60 days, with the LAF deploying 5,000 troops to the area to enforce the ceasefire. The deal also allows Israel to retain operational freedom to respond to any Hezbollah violations. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and the American Enterprise Institutes Critical Threats Project (CTP) highlighted two main reasons why the ceasefire signals a defeat for Hezbollah: Hezbollah initially conditioned any ceasefire agreement on a halt to Israeli operations in Gaza. However, Israels sustained military campaign against Hezbollah leadership and infrastructure reportedly forced the group to relent. Israeli military operations in Lebanese border towns have eliminated the immediate threat of a large-scale Hezbollah invasion of northern Israel. Additionally, airstrikes have decimated Hezbollahs munitions stockpiles and leadership, allowing displaced Israelis to begin returning home after more than a year. The analysis estimates that Israels campaign has inflicted heavy casualties on Hezbollah, with at least 1,730 and potentially as many as 4,000 fighters killed. These losses have significantly degraded Hezbollahs ability to operate near the Israeli border. Despite the deals apparent success for Israel, ISW and CTP caution that implementing the agreement may face hurdles. The reliance on the LAF and UN observers to monitor compliance mirrors the framework established by UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war. That resolution called for the disarmament of Hezbollah in southern Lebanona goal that went almost completely unmet. The think tanks noted that LAF units, already stationed in southern Lebanon since 2006, have failed to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its military infrastructure in the area. Some LAF officials reportedly fear that enforcing the ceasefire could spark internal conflict, further complicating efforts to demilitarize Hezbollah in the south. Additionally, while the deal is seen as a military and political victory for Israel, many northern Israeli residents remain wary of Hezbollahs ability to regroup. Still, the ceasefire provides an opportunity for displaced residents to return to their homes, offering a reprieve after more than 14 months of hostilities. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) A 17-year-old has been charged with the murder of Israeli national Aviv Broek, a 21-year-old locksmith who was gunned down and robbed while on the job in Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis police announced that the teen, whose identity has not been released due to his age, faces charges of first-degree murder in perpetration of a robbery and especially aggravated robbery. Broek was killed last Friday after being lured to a job on Hernando Road, authorities said. He arrived at the location but became unreachable for two hours, prompting a friend to search for him. Broek was found shot near his car, which had been ransacked for his work equipment. Police reported that the attacker left him to die at the scene. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not confirmed whether the attack is being considered a hate crime, although indications so far suggest that it was a robbery, not an antisemitic attack. The Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry acknowledged the incident, saying it is in touch with U.S. authorities as the case unfolds. Broeks murder comes amid heightened concerns for Israeli nationals abroad. His death followed on the heels of the murder of Chabad shliach Rabbi Zvi Kogan in the United Arab Emirates, sparking fears that Broek was also targeted for being a Jew. Rabbi Kogans death is being investigated as a possible attack by an Iran-linked terror cell. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) A terrorist opened fire on an Israeli bus near the West Bank settlement of Ariel on Friday, injuring 8 people before being shot dead by security forces, According to the Magen David Adom (MDA) ambulance service, four of the victims sustained gunshot injuries, with three in serious condition and one moderately injured. Another four individuals were lightly wounded by shattered glass. Images from the scene show the terrorist armed with an assault rifle, identified as an M-16, used in the attack. The incident began when the terrorist drove from a village in the Nablus area, traveling from the Tapuach Junction to the Gitai Avisar Junction along a route with no internal checkpoints, according to an initial investigation by the IDF. The attacker stopped his car roughly 150 meters from a bus stop, exited the vehicle, and began firing at the bus while advancing on foot. IDF troops stationed nearby quickly returned fire, killing the gunman. Following a search of the area, the IDF confirmed there was no second terrorist involved. However, the IDF believes the terrorist may not have acted entirely alone. Investigators suspect others provided support, including the M-16 rifle and the vehicle used in the attack. Hamas took responsibility for the attack, identifying the terrorist as Samir Muhammad Ahmad Hussein, 46, a member of the terror groups Al-Qassam Brigades from the village of Einabus near Nablus. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) As part of the initiative of the President of Ukraine Bring Kids Back UA, eight Ukrainian children aged 6 to 16 were returned from the temporarily occupied territories of Kherson, Zaporizhia, Luhansk, Donetsk regions and Crimea, Head of the President's Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak said. "Among them are children who survived difficult trials during the occupation. One girl with serious neurological diseases lived with her grandmother in Crimea and did not have access to the necessary medical treatment, which worsened her condition. The girl's mother was abroad and could not take her daughter. Another 12-year-old boy, after losing his mother, ended up in an orphanage, where he was subjected to propaganda and they planned to transfer him to a Russian family. Despite all the difficulties, he maintained contact with his father, who lives in Kharkiv. Now these children have returned to Ukraine, where they receive the necessary state support and the love of their relatives," Yermak said on his Telegram channel. He said the return of these children is a step towards restoring justice and hope. Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, a senior UAE official, attended the shiva in Kfar Chabad for Rabbi Zvi Kogan HYD, the Chabad Shliach killed in a suspected terror attack in the UAE last week. Speaking to Kogans family, Al Nuaimi reaffirmed the UAEs commitment to openness and peace and pledged to uphold the rabbis legacy. Rabbi Kogan, a longtime resident of the UAE and a leader in the local Jewish community, was reported missing Thursday, with his body discovered Sunday. While the motive remains unclear, Israeli officials have condemned the killing as a terror attack, and Israeli agencies are assisting in the investigation. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Syrian insurgents breached Syrias second largest city Aleppo after blowing up two car bombs on Friday, and were clashing with government forces on the citys western edge, according to a Syria war monitor and fighters. It was the first time the city has been attacked by opposition forces since 2016, when they were ousted from Aleppos eastern neighborhoods following a grueling military campaign in which Syrian government forces were backed by Russia, Iran and its allied groups. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi labeled them as part of a US-Zionist plan orchestrated in the aftermath of supposed Israeli setbacks in Lebanon and Gaza, according to Irans state media. During a phone conversation with his Syrian counterpart, Araghchi reaffirmed Irans unwavering support for the Syrian government, the report said. Thousands of insurgents have been advancing toward Aleppo city since a shock offensive they launched on Wednesday. They have seized several towns and villages along the way. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, said the insurgents blew up two car bombs at the citys western edge on Friday. An insurgent commander issued a recorded message posted on social media calling on the citys residents to cooperate with the advancing forces. Turkey state-run Anadolu Agency reported that the opposition insurgents entered Aleppo city center Friday, but offered no further details. Syrias state media reported earlier Friday that projectiles from insurgents landed in the student accommodations at Aleppos university in the city center, killing four people, including two students. Public transportation to the city had also been diverted from the main highway linking Aleppo to the capital Damascus to avoid clashes, state-controlled media reported. Residents in Aleppo reported hearing sounds of missiles on the citys outskirts. Fighters also advanced on the town of Saraqab, in northwestern Idlib province, a strategic area that would secure supply lines to Aleppo. This weeks advances were one of the largest by opposition factions, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, and comes after weeks of low simmering violence. It is most intense fighting in northwestern Syria since 2020, when government forces seized areas previously controlled by opposition fighters. Syrias Armed Forces said the insurgents are violating a 2019 agreement that de-escalated fighting in the area, which has been the last remaining opposition stronghold for years. State media reported airstrikes on insurgents positions in Aleppo and the Idlib countryside. The war monitor Observatory said dozens of fighters from both sides have been killed in the battles that started Wednesday. The insurgents have seized control of more than 50 villages in their advance, which seem to have caught the government forces unprepared. The offensive came as Iran-linked groups, who had backed Syrian government forces since 2015, have been preoccupied with their own battle at home. Israel and Hezbollah, the lead group in the Iran-backed alliance, have been locked in a war that escalated since September. A cease-fire was announced Wednesday, the day the Syrian opposition factions announced their offensive. Israel has also escalated its attacks against Hezbollah and Iran-linked targets in Syria during the last 70 days. Hezbollah was the main force in the governments control of the city, said Rami Abdurrahman, the head of the Observatory, the war monitor. The insurgents reported earlier Friday that fighters had wrestled controlled of the Scientific Research Center neighborhood, about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from the western outskirts of Aleppo city. Government-linked media denied the insurgents have seized it. Insurgents posted videos online showing they were using drones in their advance, a new weapon they had not had previously in the earlier stages of their confrontation with government forces. It was not clear to what extent the drones were used on the battleground. Turkeys Anadolu Agency, reporting from Idlib, said insurgents attacked a military airbase southeast of Aleppo city with drones early Friday, destroying a helicopter. It said the opposition groups seized heavy weapons, depots and military vehicles belonging to the government forces during their advance. Aid groups said the fighting has displaced thousands of families, and forced some services to be suspended. The opposition fighters said their offensive will allow the return of thousands of displaced people who were forced to flee government bombardment in recent weeks. The 2016 battle for Aleppo was a turning point in the war between Syrian government forces and rebel fighters since the 2011 protests against Bashar Assads rule turned into an all-out war. Russia and Iran and its allied groups had helped Syrian government forces reclaim control of all of Aleppo that year, after a gruelling military campaign and a siege that lasted for weeks. Turkey has been a main backer of an array of opposition forces and its troops have established military presence in parts of northwestern Syria. Separately and largely in the east of Syria, the United States has supported Syrian Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State militants. (YWN/AP) I recently bought my first home and moved in six weeks ago. There are a few pricey purchases I need to make for the flat - some new furniture, white goods etc. - and I also have an expensive family wedding abroad coming up. While I do have some limited savings left over after the move, I'd prefer to keep those aside for a rainy day. So I'm looking for a credit card with a long 0 per cent interest period to help spread the cost. I don't have another credit card at the moment - I cancelled my last one a few months ago when the 0 per cent period ran out. As I was in the middle of the mortgage application, I didn't apply for another for risk of harming my credit score. My question is, how likely am I to be accepted for a credit card at an address I've only lived at for a few weeks? I have bills in my name here and have changed my details in all the places I can think of, but have probably forgotten a few. If six weeks isn't long enough, how long should I wait? My credit score is very good and I don't want to harm it with a rejected application. I also have access to my old rented property for another two months. Could I apply with that address instead as I have a longer history there? And what should I look for in a card? > Five best credit cards: This is Money's pick of the best credit cards Waiting game: Our reader has just moved house and wants to get a new credit card but doesn't want to risk hurting their credit score by being rejected Helen Kirrane of This is Money replies: A 0 per cent credit card can be a great way to help spread the cost of expenses like a new boiler or repairing a car over several months or years without paying interest. They let you spread the cost over up to 22 months, so are a useful way of buying items that you might not be able to, or want to, pay for upfront. However, as with any credit card, it is important to pay it off on schedule so that you don't get hit with hefty interest charges. When applying for credit, signing up to a credit agency such as Experian, Transunion or Equifax might be a good idea, so you can keep tabs on your credit score and be alerted if anything changes. Andrew Hagger director of personal finance website Money Comms replies: If you already have a very good credit record, then the fact that youve recently moved house shouldnt have any significant impact on a new credit card application. Prospective lenders will see your credit history going back six years even though it was at a different address. It makes sense to use a 0 per cent card to fund your forthcoming major purchases as that way youll still earn interest on your savings It won't impact your forthcoming application, however it is worth making sure that you are registered at your new address on the electoral register. You can do this here. If your credit record is in good order, theres no reason why you shouldnt be accepted for one of the best 0 per cent purchase credit card deals. It makes sense to use a 0 per cent card to fund your forthcoming major purchases as that way youll still continue to earn interest on your savings balance(s). Once you start using the card just make sure you make at least the minimum monthly payment on time if you miss a payment you could see your 0 per cent promotional rate terminated immediately. Try to clear the balance by the end of the 0 per cent introductory term that way you wont pay a single penny of interest on the amount borrowed on your credit card. Guy Anker, money expert at price comparison website Compare the Market replies: When it comes to checking your eligibility for a credit card, you should research a providers terms and conditions. Different credit card providers will have different eligibility criteria. Ultimately, your eligibility for a 0 per cent credit card will depend on the providers specific requirements, as well as your personal circumstances and borrowing history. Generally, you must be at least 18 years of age to apply for a 0 per cent credit card and usually need to be a permanent UK resident with a UK bank account and a steady income. What are the best cards? Helen Kirrane of This is Money replies: The longest 0 per cent interest term at the moment is 22 months, with Barclaycard's Platinum All Rounder Visa. A handful of different providers offer 20 month interest free periods. Interest kicks in at the end of the deal period, so its wise for shoppers to try and pay back the debt within that 0 per cent window. Lloyds Bank, NatWest, RBS, HSBC and M&S Bank are all offering credit cards with a 20 month 0 per cent interest period. HSBC's card is offering 25 cashback when you spend or transfer a balance over 100 by 16 December. Andrew Hagger replies: The top deals available at present for zero interest on purchases are from Barclaycard (Platinum) 22 months, MBNA 21 months and HSBC, Lloyds Bank, M&S Bank and NatWest all offering 20 months. The recent announcement of the new version of Band Aid's 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' to celebrate its 40th anniversary reminded me about the 12-inch version of the original single that I own. It's in great condition and has never actually been played I bought it alongside a copy of the 7-inch (long since lost) because I wanted a larger version of Peter Blake's iconic cover art. I also have some memorabilia from Live Aid which celebrates its 40th anniversary soon. The concert had a huge impact on me I vividly remember that, watching on television, I was eating a Mars Bar at the showstopping moment when David Bowie cut short his set to introduce the famine footage using 'Drive' by The Cars as its soundtrack. Like many, I was shattered by what I saw. I didn't eat another Mars Bar for well over ten years because of the memory of that moment. (Which was immediately followed by Bob Geldof's legendary 'Give us the f*****g money!' rant). The following day, I bought the official Live Aid poster costing 1 from the local newsagent and it has been framed on the wall of every home I have lived in since. Christmas staple: Do They Know It's Christmas? is played on loop at this time of year - but is the original vinyl worth anything? Consequently, I think it is a little sun damaged and probably worth much but I don't think I would ever part with it as it captures that 'moment in time'. I also bought that week's special 'Live Aid' edition of 'Smash Hits' magazine and, as an additional souvenir of the day, a Live Aid commemorative First Day cover issued by the Post Office in our neighbouring Island, Guernsey. Both items, also pictured, are in great condition. I'm sure that all of these items were bought in their hundreds of thousands 40 years ago and so probably have little value. However, as I was a teenager in the 80s, Band Aid, Live Aid and all the bands involved, represent a special part of my life and I would be interested to know what you think of my little collection. Mandy, Jersey. Dan Hatfield, our resident valuation expert, replies: Live Aid, even now, the name alone conjures up images of mullets, headbands, and Freddie Mercury absolutely stealing the show at Wembley. But lately, the 40th anniversary has whipped up some controversy. Ed Sheeran is apparently fuming that his 2014 vocals are being used for the 2024 version of Do They Know It's Christmas? - I'm steering well clear of that debate (I know my limits), but let's rewind to where it all started: 1984. Feed the world: Bob Geldof and Midge Ure wanted to tackle the famine in Ethiopia This was the year Bob Geldof and Midge Ure gave us Do They Know It's Christmas?, a single they wrote not for profit, but to tackle the harrowing famine in Ethiopia. In a move that no doubt delighted the tabloids and definitely delighted the public they assembled Band Aid - essentially pop royalty, from George Michael to David Bowie. The world had never seen anything like it. When the record hit the charts in December, it went straight to number one and stayed there for five weeks. It sold a staggering million copies in its first week - an achievement only toppled 13 years later by Elton John's Candle in the Wind, released after the untimely death of Diana, Princess of Wales. By the end of 1984, Do They Know It's Christmas? had sold 3million copies and raised 8million. Not bad for something thrown together in one legendary recording session and a number that Bob Geldof, in his wildest dreams couldn't have imaged they would achieve. Now when something as iconic as this comes along people often assume that memorabilia linked to it must be worth its weight in gold. Which brings us neatly to your treasure trove of Band Aid and Live Aid keepsakes. First up, your pristine 12-inch single. It's in great nick, you say, and hasn't even been played (a rare feat for vinyl). However, here's the rub: with millions of copies produced, the market is absolutely swimming in them. A quick eBay trawl turns up plenty of similar listings, so there isn't exactly a bidding war for these, indeed supply massively outstrips demand. Realistically, you're looking at a top-end value of 10. Not quite life changing, but still respectable when you think about just how many were made. Now let's talk about your Live Aid poster. Faded? Yes. Fantastic? Also yes. And while I can't help but feel a pang of jealousy over your idyllic Jersey location, I do see how it's taken a toll on the poor thing. Original Live Aid posters don't crop up all that often, so even in its sun-faded state, yours could fetch somewhere in the ballpark of 80 to 100. Had it been in mint condition, that figure would've been even higher. Not bad for something you've enjoyed looking at all these years. As for your commemorative cover and Smash Hits magazine, I'm afraid they're less impressive value wise - perhaps 10 for the magazine and a few quid for the cover. Small collection: How much is the First Day Cover, copy of Smash Hits and Live Aid poster worth? They're lovely pieces of pop history but, alas, not ones that will yield you life changing, or even day improving money. Now, you might see a modest bump in these values with the release of the new version of the single, but I wouldn't hold my breath for dramatic rises. The Band Aid legacy may endure, but the sheer volume of memorabilia from the era keeps the prices grounded. You will always find exceptions, memorabilia that is signed for example, as I outlined in last week's column on The Beatles, can and often do command huge figures. That said, your collection's real value isn't just in monetary value, It's in the memories, joy, and connection you feel to this pivotal moment in music history. And that, as they say, is priceless. Keep enjoying your wonderful items - and maybe give that poster a spot in the shade so it lasts for another 39 years. Direct Line shares soared yesterday after a shock 3.3billion takeover offer from rival Aviva raised the prospect of a Yuletide bidding war for the troubled insurer. The stock soared by 41.4 per cent, or 65.7p, to 224.4p, an eight-month high, as traders reacted to the disclosure that it had rejected an approach. One investor said Aviva may have to go up to 3.9billion to get the deal over the line amid speculation that Belgian insurer Ageas, a previous suitor, could re-enter the fray. Aviva is now directly contacting shareholders in an apparent attempt to pave the way for a hostile takeover. It came as a flurry of deal activity engulfed the City, with cafe bar group Loungers accepting a 338million offer from US investment group Fortress and waste management firm Renewi succumbing to a 701million bid from Australian bank Macquarie. Takeover activity was red-hot on the UK market, said Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell. Direct Line stock soared by 41% after the insurer, led by boss Adam Winslow, (right) had rejected an approach from rival Aviva, led by Amanda Blanc (left Avivas 250p-a-share offer, comprising a mix of cash and stock, was disclosed late on Wednesday. That was at a premium of nearly 60 per cent to Direct Lines share price. Aviva said it was highly attractive but Direct Line said it was highly opportunistic and substantially undervalued the company. Under put up or shut up takeover rules, Aviva now has until 5pm on Christmas Day to announce a firm bid or walk away. Aviva said that after the rejection of its offer this week, Direct Line had declined to engage further with it. However, it emerged that Aviva chair George Culmer met Direct Line chair Danuta Gray to discuss the offer, appearing to suggest that the latter was open to a deal of some sort. Yesterday, Direct Lines management was in talks with shareholders. Some, including Redwheel and Schroders, are also major investors in Aviva. One top-20 shareholder in the target company told the Financial Times that most investors would probably accept a bid at 300p. Analysts at investment bank KBW also suggested Aviva could make a 300p valuation. Analysts at Peel Hunt put a lower target on it, suggesting that if Aviva was able to sweeten the deal to something like 250p-265p that may help satisfy the Direct Line board. 'They said that struggling Direct Lines turnaround path may prove bumpier than anticipated, adding that exploring Avivas offer in more detail would make sense in our view. Avivas approach is the second takeover offer that Direct Line boss Adam Winslow has had to deal with since taking over this spring. It rejected a 239p-a-share approach from Ageas in March. Analysts at Barclays yesterday suggested Ageas could now come back. In our recent conversations with Ageas management, the CEO has reiterated strategic interest to the UK personal lines (home and motor) market, including Direct Line as a fitting asset, although clearly ruling out a hostile approach, they said in a note. Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said Direct Line was playing hard to get again. He added: Theres a case to be made that Aviva is a better suitor, given it already shares markets with Direct Line in the UK, but itll need to up its game, and offer, if it wants Direct Line to take the proposal seriously. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha has called on his NATO counterparts to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the Alliance at a meeting in Brussels next week, Reuters said, citing a letter from Sybiha. "The letter reflects a renewed push by Kyiv to secure an invitation to join NATO, which is part of a "victory plan" outlined last month by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to end the war triggered by Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine says it accepts that it cannot join NATO until the war is over but extending an invitation now would show Russian President Vladimir Putin that one of his main goals - preventing Kyiv from becoming a NATO member - could not be achieved," Reuters said. NATO diplomats say there is no consensus among NATO members at this stage to invite Ukraine. Any such decision would require the consent of all 32 NATO member states. Sybiha argued in his letter that now is the time to extend the invitation. "We believe that the invitation should be extended at this stage," he said. "It will become the Allies' adequate response to Russia's constant escalation of the war it has unleashed, the latest demonstration of which is the involvement of tens of thousands of North Korean troops and the use of Ukraine as a testing ground for new weapons. I urge you to endorse the decision to invite Ukraine to join the Alliance as one of the outcomes of the NATO Foreign Ministerial Meeting on December 3-4, 2024," the minister said. NATO had previously said that Ukraine would join the alliance and that it was on an "irreversible" path to membership, but had not issued a formal invitation or set a timeline. Ukraine's Black Friday - opportunity to save money or smth misleading? Violation of consumer rights in online and offline stores On Tuesday, December 3, at 11.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency will host a press conference entitled "Ukraine's Black Friday - opportunity to save money or smth misleading? Violation of consumer rights in online and offline stores," based on the results of monitoring compliance with consumer rights in the sale of technically complex household goods. Participants include Deputy President of the NGO Consumer Confidence - Test Expertise Centre Valentyn Bezruky; Deputy Head of the Department, Head of the Department of Control in the field of trade, works and services of the Department of Consumer Protection and Control over Regulated Prices of the Main Directorate of the State Consumer Service in Kyiv Iryna Mazepa; Head of the Department of Committees of the European Business Association Viktoria Kulikova (8/5a Reitarska Street). The broadcast will be available on the YouTube channel of the Interfax-Ukraine agency. Admission requires registration on the spot with press ID cards. Additional info by phone: (067) 504 0435 (Valentyn). Ukraine's international image is currently rather positive, almost three quarters (73.9%) of Ukrainian experts believes, according to the results of an expert survey conducted by the Razumkov Center and the Public Council at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on November 11-15 and presented at a press conference at the Interfax-Ukraine news agency on Friday. Some 5.8% called the international image of Ukraine unambiguously positive and 8.7% rather negative. More than half of the respondents (55.1%) called the foreign policy of the Ukrainian government rather effective during the war, 10.1% unequivocally effective, the same number hold the opposite opinion. At the same time, 15.9% called it rather ineffective. The expert survey was conducted within the framework of the project dubbed "Expert and analytical support for the activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine in the context of the development of public diplomacy and strengthening the dialogue between government and society", which is supported by the representative office of the Hanns-Seidel-Foundation. Sixty-nine experts from different regions of Ukraine and the city of Kyiv were interviewed: MPs, representatives of ministries, regional authorities, state and non-governmental research structures, teachers of higher educational institutions, independent experts and scientists. The strong cooperation between UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the Office of the Ombudsman of Ukraine, includes support to the establishment of regional human right centres, bringing human rights work closer to the people. The Regional Human Rights Protection Centre was opened in Chernivtsi city on 28 November 2024. Yesterday, a regional Human Rights Protection Centre was opened in Chernivtsi city by the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets together with Head of Chernivtsi Regional State Administration Ruslan Zaparaniuk, Head of Chernivtsi Regional Council Oleksii Boiko, Mayor of Chernivtsi city Roman Kluchuk and UNHCR Representative to Ukraine, Karolina Lindholm Billing. The facility has been refurbished and equipped with support from UNHCR through its NGO partner Rokada. It will serve as a resource to people in the region including internally displaced people, returnees and people at risk of statelessness by providing counseling services, public initiatives and information on access to fundamental rights. Jointly with other UN partners, UNHCR is continuously supporting the opening of regional Human Rights Protection Centres and Offices across the country by refurbishing the premises, including by making them accessible for people with low mobility, and providing furniture, IT-equipment and other basic amenities. UNHCR has for example supported facilities in Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk and Vinnytsia, while work is ongoing in Uzhhorod and other regions like Khmelnytskyi, Odesa and Volyn. By establishing these regional centres, the crucial work of ensuring human rights for all people in Ukraine, including through information and outreach to those groups or individuals who may need it the most, is moving even closer to the people. The partnership and joint work between the Ombudsman of Ukraine and UNHCR dates back to 2010 and was further consolidated with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in August this year. In the midst of the full-scale war, with dramatic human consequences, the commitment to safeguard the rights of all people living in Ukraine involves a special focus on people who have become particularly vulnerable or at-risk due to the war, including those forcibly displaced and people with disabilities or low mobility. The starting point for the protection of human rights is for people to know their rights, how to access them and for services and advice to be accessible to all. We have a better chance of achieving this with the expansion of human rights centres across the country closer to the people. In UNHCR, we are very happy to be part of the regionalization of the Ombudsmans office and taking our cooperation to the regions. Ensuring that all people can equally enjoy their rights and fundamental freedoms and receive advice in barrier-free and dignified conditions is more important than ever, in the midst of this horrific war, said UNHCRs Representative in Ukraine, Karolina Lindholm Billing. The Ombudsmans Office is expanding its work in the regions and is opening a new Human Rights Protection Centre in Chernivtsi region, an accessible space for everyone to get help in case of human rights violations. I would like to emphasize that last year, the number of appeals in Chernivtsi region increased by 80%, and thanks to the new space, it will be easier for citizens to contact us. I am grateful to our partners UNHCR and the Rokada Charitable Foundation for their cooperation and support in creating this space, said Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the cooperation between UNHCR and the Office of the Ombudsman of Ukraine has spanned from the development of information material for specific vulnerable groups to raise awareness about their rights, for example how to register as an internally displaced person or access medical assistance, to capacity building and strategy development, and, importantly, advocacy for the rights of forcibly displaced and stateless people. In addition, hundreds of joint monitoring visits have been carried out in collective sites to inspect the living conditions of the IDPs hosted there. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 28. An Azerbaijani-Latvian information and networking meeting is being held in Baku, Trend reports. Latvian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Edgars Skuja said that Latvia is very optimistic about the development of Karabakh. I would like to emphasize that we really highly value the relations between our countries. This is conditioned historically: we have long traditions and rich history. Businessmen and business communities of both countries strive for mutual cooperation, expansion, and deepening of our ties. Politically, we always emphasize our full support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. We are very optimistic about the development of the country, regions, as well as Karabakh, which is developing rapidly and, I am sure, will become one of the most beautiful regions of the republic, the ambassador noted. Executive Director of the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO) Yusif Abdullayev said that AZPROMO will organize an export mission to Latvia next year. Last September, our representative took part in the 28th food exhibition in Riga. We have previously organized an export mission to support our companies. Next year we plan to consider participating in this exhibition again and organize another mission to strengthen the international presence at Riga Food. I am sure our companies will be pleased to participate in this significant event, said Abdullayev. The Director of the EU Projects Department at the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Liga Siceva, emphasized increase of the interest of Latvian companies in activities in Azerbaijan by nearly 30 percent. "This indicator concerns not only those who are showing interest, but also companies that are already doing business with Azerbaijan. I believe this is an excellent result and an important signal for companies in both countries. It demonstrates the great potential for expanding our cooperation, especially in sectors with high added value, such as information technology, education, and green technologies. Additionally, I want to highlight the importance of traditional industries, such as the food industry, tourism, and others," Siceva noted. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel A peek at the near future and a reminder that your leftovers or a few bucks aren't REALLY going to solve this longstanding problem . . . "In Kansas City, 96% of the people who are chronically homeless live outdoors the highest rate in the country. "That means that nearly all people who have experienced homelessness for at least a year or repeatedly over three years are out on the streets. This population is considered chronically homeless due to struggles with substance abuse, a serious mental illness or physical disability. "So what can you do when you run across somebody whose addiction or mental illness makes them dangerous to you, to others or to themselves? Who is the right person to call?" Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . Who you can call to help a homeless person in crisis in Kansas City If you notice someone struggling with mental illness or substance abuse and posing a danger to themselves or others, Kansas City has resources beyond 911 to provide appropriate support. There's a slight chance that TKC readers might need a distraction into the late night & early morning. Also . . . TKC IS ALWAYS GRATEFUL FOR SO MANY THANKSGIVING NICE MESSAGES & NOTES!!! Accordingly . . . We share more of our reading from today by way of pop culture, community reporting and top headlines. Check TKC news gathering . . . Kansas City Switch Flipped 95th Evergy Plaza Lighting Ceremony - See the BIG MOMENT plus all the performances! It's officially the holiday season in Kansas City! Cowtown Gratitude In Abundance Kansas Citians share what they're thankful for this year KCTV5 took to the streets on Thanksgiving Day to ask the people of Kansas City what they're most thankful for. Urban Core Good Deeds Today NourishKC serves traditional Thanksgiving meal to 400 people in Kansas City's historic northeast community NourishKC served around 400 people on Thanksgiving Day. For the chefs and volunteers, it's all about giving back. JoCo Blaze Postscript One person taken to hospital after Merriam apartment fire Fire crews from Overland Park, Shawnee and Lenexa responded to a fire at the Georgetown Apartments at 72nd and Frontage Road. Earning Steps Amid Feast Nearly 5,000 'Turkey Trotters' run Ward Parkway There are several trots across the metro on Turkey Day, one of the most popular being along Ward Parkway for the annual Tiny Trot, Mile sprint, 5K, or 10K. Celebrity Share Holiday Love Happy Thanksgiving from Hollywood! Sofia Vergara celebrates holiday Sofia Vergara kicked off the festive holiday from her island home of Casa Chipichi, wishing followers early Thursday morning a great day. White House Offers Solidarity Biden reiterates US support for Ukraine after 'horrific' Russian attack President Biden reiterated the United States's support for Ukraine as it deals with the recent "horrific" Russian attack. "Overnight, Russia carried out a horrific aerial attack against Ukraine. Uk... MAGA Serves Challenge Trump delivers Thanksgiving message to 'Radical Left Lunatics' President-elect Trump on Thursday wished a happy Thanksgiving to all Americans, including those he called "Radical Left Lunatics." Serving More Political Upheaval Mass arrests at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade as anti-Israel protesters block procession Anti-Israel protesters tried to ruin the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade for the second year running Thursday, with cops quickly swarming in to gobble up roughly 25 arrests. Life Lesson Moving Forward America's Largest And Most Expensive DEI Program Is About To Go Up In Flames The University of Michigan's multi-million dollar diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) program may soon be dismantled. Baller Tradition Overturned NFL Thanksgiving: Detroit Lions beat Chicago Bears for record-equalling 10th straight win The Detroit Lions end their wait for a Thanksgiving win by beating the Chicago Bears 23-20 to extend their winning streak to a record-equalling 10 games. Local Encouragement Offered 'Never give up': Kansas City man living with stage 4 cancer is thankful for life According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer averages to 13%. Puppers Need Holiday Help, Too Kansas City nonprofit focused on helping pets this holiday season The Pet Resource Center of Kansas City is kicking off Pawlidays on Friday, November 29, which will run until New Year's Eve. Three-Peat Forecast For Friday Chilly Chiefs Friday, a few flakes Saturday Saturday is a First Alert Weather Impact Day for the first snow of the season. And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. A peek at an expensive & upcoming debate that might be overlooked going into the holiday season . . . "Because it is currently set to expire in 2028, the final year of the 2025-2029 Capital Improvement Plan currently has no guaranteed funding source. As a result, the Lenexa City Council will discuss at its upcoming Dec. 3 meeting whether to hold a mail ballot election in 2025 to renew the additional tax through 2048." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 29. A sum of 41.5 million manat ($24.4 million) has been set aside for the rejuvenation of the sewerage and storm water systems in the vibrant city of Sumgayit, Azerbaijan, Trend reports via the unified online portal for public procurement. The endeavor will unfold beside the flowing waters of the Ajidara canal in the heart of the city. The Directorate of Construction Objects under the Azerbaijan State Water Resources Agency has already launched relevant preparations. The entity has empowered EL EPCM LLC with the execution of the project, formalizing this collaboration through a contractual agreement for the specified amount. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 29. Azerbaijan's Prime Minister Ali Asadov has sent a congratulatory letter to Irakli Kobakhidze on the occasion of his reappointment as Prime Minister of Georgia and the formation of the new government, a source in the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers told Trend. "The letter welcomed steady development of relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia, a friendly country and reliable partner. It emphasized that the two countries, bound by deep historical ties, are cooperating productively both bilaterally and in multilateral formats in areas of mutual interest. It pointed out that Azerbaijan intends to further expand its ties and strategic partnership with Georgia, based on friendship, mutual trust, and support," the source added. To note, a decision to re-appoint Kobakhidze as prime minister was made at the assembly of the Georgian parliament on November 28. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel India: Demonization of Religious Minorities The RSS, BJP and their affiliates take every opportunity to deepen the demonization of religious minorities, and despite legal provisions to punish them mostly they go unpunished Friday November 29, 2024 6:22 PM , Ram Puniyani The RSS, BJP and their affiliates take every opportunity to deepen the demonization of religious minorities. Though there are legal provisions to punish hate speeches mostly they go unpunished. Last decade as the communal party is in power, the phenomenon has seen a dangerous downslide, which is leading to negative social perceptions about the religious minorities. As reflected in the community WhatsApp groups and social attitudes, hating the minorities has become a sort of normal discourse among the large sections of society. The increasing intensity of spewing hate is the root due to which negative social perceptions are constructed which inturn leads to severe blow to the concept of fraternity and communal amity - one of the three legs of the tripod of the Indian Constitution. There are newer dog whistles. In fact no more just dog whistles, they are more a call to action. They are built on the existing misconceptions and are add-on to the process of divisiveness. The perceptions like Mughal kings were outsiders and brought injustice to Hindus, they were temple destroyers, they imposed Islam by force have rapidly been added on to slogans like, Hum Do Hamare do, who Panch unke Pacchis, (We [Hindus] are two, and they [Muslim] are twenty five), refugee camps housing Muslims were called child production factories. The new add-ons are they can be recognized by their clothes, they are killers of our holy mother - the cow, they are luring our girls and women through "love jihad". Now, the "love jihad" is followed by jihad series, the latest being "land jihad" and "vote jihad". In the wake of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, Modi came out with hate speeches by the dozen. As per Human Rights Watch, Modi had made 110 hate speeches in the election period. The report says: Modi made Islamophobic remarks intended to undermine the political opposition, which he said promoted Muslim rights, and to foster fear among the majority Hindu community through disinformation. Another sample is equally horrifying. Referring to reservations to Muslims as appeasement by the Congress, he said: "This is a part of despicable attempts at Islamisation of India and pushing it towards divisions. When the UPA govt came to power, it made such attempts at that time too. BJP had carried out a massive agitation. So, be it Justice Verma committee report or the Sachar committee report, they were all attempts by Congress to loot the reservation of OBCs, SCs and STs. (The Times of India, 2024). The assembly elections in Jharkhand and Maharashtra saw the peak of this phenomenon yet again. In Jharkhand, Himant Biswa Sarma of the BJP focused on propaganda of Muslim infiltrators in the state. The BJP issued a very demeaning advertisement, which showed a large Muslim family invading a Hindu household and taking it over. One knows Jharkhand has no international border, so who are these Muslims taking over the Hindu household? For a change, the Election Commission got it pulled down but its source and already circulated video may be available at places. Another hate provoking propaganda was that Muslims marry Adivasi women and take over the Adivasi land. No data is needed to support this kite flying so far it serves the purpose of divisive politics. The slogan given was that the Muslim infiltrators were taking away your Roti, Beti, Mati (Livelihood, daughter, land). This statement was from the Prime Minister of the country! The core slogan this time was from Yogi Aditya Nath. Batenge to Katenge (If we are divided we will be butchered). He meant Hindu unity. Backing him up the father organization of BJP, RSSs Dattatray Hosabale made it clear: The important point is that when Hindus are united, it will be beneficial for all. Unity of Hindus is the Sanghs lifetime pledge..,. Modifying a bit on Adityanaths Batenge to Katenge PM Modi Came up with Ek hain to safe hain (If Hindus are united they will be safe) putting forward that the Hindu unity is foundation for keeping them safe from apparently the minorities, because of whom Hindu Khatre mein hai (Hindu in Danger). Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Fadnavis not only focused on "land jihad" and "vote jihad", he went on to call the Bharat Jodo Yatra as the one which had participation of Urban Naxals and ultra left, apart from the other slogans. The impact of this is shown not only on the polarization and thereby the voting pattern but also on social perceptions, as reflected in the thousands of whatsapp groups and drawing room chats of Hindu Households. Christophe Jaffrelot , the outstanding scholar focusing on Hindu Nationalisms rise in particular, quotes from a study conducted by CSDS from March 28 to April 2024 by scholars. The study tried to elicit the opinions of Hindus about how they see Muslims. In an immaculate study, they solicited answers to questions like are Muslims not as trustworthy as anyone else, are they being appeased etc. The study shows the empirical presence of negative perceptions in society overall. Scholars should also be able to help us how these negative sentiments are worsening over the years and decades. To cap it all, the BJP and Modi are trying to say, as reflected in Modis speeches, that they will not indulge in communal rhetoric. In interviews with journalists, when asked about anti-Muslim speeches during the campaign, Modi responded: The day I start talking about Hindu-Muslim [in politics], I will be unfit for public life. I will not do Hindu-Muslim. That is my resolve. The gross difference between what one says and what one's actions is so apparent here! It is these perceptions among Hindus that leads to an atmosphere of hate in the country. The spiral of Hate is worsening by the day, and it leads to ghettoisation on one hand and pushing the Muslim community towards second class citizenship on the other. How to combat this divisiveness? There is a need to inculcate among the people the alternative narrative which was the base of Indias freedom movement, the narrative which talks of the syncretic traditions of India, the narrative which led to unity of people of all religions to participate in freedom movement, the values of which are enshrined in our Constitution. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home FIR against Vokkaliga Seer over his 'Muslim voting right' remark, BJP fumes Karnataka Police Friday filed an FIR against Vokkaliga Seer Kumara Chandrashekaranatha Swami for his controversial remark demanding disenfranchisement of Muslims in India Saturday November 30, 2024 0:01 AM , ummid.com with inputs from Agencies Bengaluru: Karnataka Police Friday filed an FIR against Vokkaliga Seer Kumara Chandrashekaranatha Swami for his controversial remark demanding disenfranchisement of Muslims in India. The Swami is the Chief of the Vishwa Vokkaligara Mahasamsthana Mutt and the statements were made at a protest on Tuesday in Bengaluru, organised by the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, a farmers organisation linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to condemn the Waqf Boards notices to farmers. Politicians indulge in vote bank politics and appeasement of Muslims. Hence, Muslims should be deprived of exercising their voting powers. This should be done and the end of vote bank politics would help the progress of the country", he said addressing the rally. The Swami's statement had sparked a huge outrage. Following a complaint under Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Upparpet police in Bengaluru lodged the FIR. The complaint stated that the statement by the seer was provocative and threatens to disturb communal harmony in society. "Slip of Tongue" A day after calling for disenfranchising Muslims in India, the Vokkaligara Seer on Wednesday (November 27, 2024) tendered apology for his remarks, calling it a slip of the tongue. Muslims are citizens of India and they have voting rights. I apologise to my Muslim brothers for my statement, which was a slip of the tongue", the seer said in a statement. "I also request everyone not to continue conversation on the statement, he added. BJP Fumes Meanwhile, following the FIR against the Hindu seer, the Karnataka BJP warned of "serious consequences". The Congress partys hatred toward Vokkaligas is disgraceful. If the government dares to target Swamiji, the entire Vokkaliga community will rise against it", BJP leader R. Ashoka told reporters. If the Congress government attempts to take action against Vokkaliga seer Kumara Chandrashekaranatha Swami, the head of the Vishwa Vokkaliga Mahasamsthana Mutt, the entire Vokkaliga community will rise in protest", he added. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Jamiat Ulama announces 5L aid for Sambhal victims families The Jamiat Ulama i Hind has announced INR 5 Lakh each to the families of the deceased killed during the protest over survey of Sambhal Jama Masjid Friday November 29, 2024 12:15 PM , ummid.com News Network [President of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, Maulana Mahmood Asad Madani and other members of the organisation in a meeting in Rajabpur, Amroha Thursday Nov 28, 2024.] New Delhi: The Jamiat Ulama i Hind has announced INR 5 Lakh each to the families of the deceased killed during the protest over survey of Sambhal Jama Masjid. Jamiat Ulama i Hind said the four Muslims were killed on Sunday Nov 24, 2024 when Uttar Pradesh Police personnel resorted to firing. Videos surfaced after the incident showed UP Policemen indiscriminately firing several rounds using guns and revolver. The Uttar Pradesh District Magistrate however said the Muslim youths were not killed in Police firing. Watch Video The UP Police has also filed FIRs against around 800 persons, including Samajwadi Party MP Ziaur Rehman Barq. Based on the FIRs, the Police has arrested a number of Muslims. The recent police brutality in Sambhal has shocked the conscience of the Nation, President of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, Maulana Mahmood Asad Madani, said while addressing an emergency meeting in Rajabpur, Amroha. Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind strongly condemns this inhumane act and vows to seek justice for the victims and secure the release of innocent detainees, he said while assuring unwavering support to the victims and their families. He said to ensure swift and coordinated action, a relief committee has been constituted, comprising representatives from the districts of Sambhal, Amroha, and Moradabad. The committee will be led by Hafiz Muhammad Shahid, President of Jamiat Ulama-i-Sambhal. Additionally, a legal committee will be formed to provide robust legal assistance to the victims and detainees, Maulana Madani said. 'Injured shackled' Earlier in the day on Thursday, a delegation led by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind General Secretary Maulana Hakeemuddin Qasmi visited the TMU Hospital and met with the families of injured victims. To its shock, the Jamiat delegation found the injured shackled. The Jamiat criticized the Police for the inhumane treatment of the injured, and the shackling of the injured individuals. The Jamiat also alleged that the police were coercing detainees to alter their statements, an act the Jamiat termed as unlawful and unjust. Jamiat demands 50L compensation Earlier, the Jamiat Ulama i Hind, had demanded INR 50 lakh compensation from the government for the Muslim youths killed in Sambhal in Police firing. A delegation of Jamiat i Ulama, which held meetings with senior police officials, including District Collector, Superintendent of Police and SDM on November 25, 2024, protested the use of excessive force and the arbitrary arrests of innocent individuals. The Jamiat also demanded fair and impartial judicial inquiry into the incident, immediate suspension and strict action against police officers responsible for murders of citizens, and arrest of Vishnu Jain for his role in inciting violence. Sambhal Jama Masjid Survey Sambhal has been tense since the last week (November 19, 2024) a session court ordered a survey of the Jama Masjid in response to a petition claiming that the ancient place of worship was built during Mughal era (1526) after demolishing a temple. Ironically, the petition was filed on November 19 and the court passed the order to make a survey on the same day. The session judge appointed an "Advocate Commissioner" and directed him to carry out an initial survey at the mosque, which was done the same day and asked him to submit a report by November 29, 2024. Clashes between the protesters and security forces took places between the second round of the survey of the ancient masjid Sunday November 24, 2024. Purported video footages surfaced after the violence showed security forces resorting to firing. Eyewitnesses also claimed the Muslims were killed in Police firing. Leader of Opposition (LoP) and Congress MP from Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh Rahul Gandhi said the BJP government is directly responsible for the deaths of Muslim youths in Sambhal. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 29. Azerbaijans Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Elnur Mammadov met with Masaki Ishikawa, Japans Special Representative for Central Asia, the Caucasus, and GUAM, the countrys Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Trend. The two sides discussed various aspects of cooperation on the bilateral agenda between Azerbaijan and Japan. "During the discussions, issues related to expanding economic and trade relations, particularly in the industrial and energy sectors, as well as cooperation in the humanitarian field, were addressed. The role of the State Commission for Economic Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Japan and the Azerbaijani-Japanese Economic Committee was emphasized, along with the importance of holding the next joint meeting next year. Highlighting the significant role of Azerbaijan-Japan interparliamentary cooperation in developing bilateral relations, both sides agreed that mutual visits and intensifying contacts would be beneficial. The Japanese side was given a detailed briefing on the post-conflict period, the steps Azerbaijan has taken to establish lasting peace, the mine problem in the liberated areas, and ongoing restoration and reconstruction projects in the Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur economic regions. Deputy minister Mammadov also briefed his counterpart on the successful organization of COP29, the results achieved, and expressed gratitude to Japan for supporting Azerbaijan's presidency of COP29. The Japanese side congratulated Azerbaijan on its leadership of COP29, praising the high level of professionalism in organizing the event and Azerbaijans leadership efforts in the fight against climate change. The importance of the key agreements reached at COP29 was highlighted, particularly the definition of a new collective quantitative goal for climate financing, the Paris Agreement, the annual commitment of financial institutions to climate financing, and decisions related to the Loss and Damage Fund. Japan also highly praised Azerbaijans activities in this area," the ministry statement said. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 29. Azerbaijans Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov met with the newly appointed Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to Azerbaijan, Mohammad Faisal Al-Mutairi, on November 29, 2024, the countrys MFA told Trend. According to the ministry, Ambassador Al-Mutairi presented copies of his credentials to Minister Bayramov, who congratulated him on his appointment and wished him success in his future work. The minister highlighted that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Kuwait, noting the importance of strengthening both bilateral and multilateral cooperation. The two sides emphasized the need to intensify the work of the joint commission on cooperation between the governments of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the State of Kuwait to further develop collaboration in various areas, including economy, trade, investment, and tourism. The discussion also covered the importance of continued mutual support and cooperation within regional and international organizations, particularly the UN, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The results of COP29 were also thoroughly discussed, with both sides emphasizing the successful leadership of Azerbaijan in the conference and its significant contribution to global climate change efforts. Ambassador Al-Mutairi expressed confidence that cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kuwait will continue to grow and pledged to make every effort in this direction. The meeting also included an exchange of views on other bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti on Friday launched the Pink Scooty scheme for students and working women in the province and said that every talented and position-holding female student of Balochistan would be given a pink scooty QUETTA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Nov, 2024) Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti on Friday launched the Pink Scooty scheme for students and working women in the province and said that every talented and position-holding female student of Balochistan would be given a pink scooty. He said teachers, students and working women can also benefit from this scheme as a comprehensive Pink Scooty scheme is being introduced in the province to empowered students. The scooty would be awarded on monthly installments basis on merit and the scheme would be extended to the entire province. Addressing the ceremony of presenting Pink Scooties to 50 female students of Government Girls Post Graduate Degree College, Quetta, the chief minister said that for the first time in the history of the province, they were introducing Pink Scooties scheme for female students. Sarfraz Bugti said that every female student would be benefited from this scheme in order to empower women in Balochistan. The chief minister said that the government has striving hard to educate the youth especially girls of the province and they will be play their pivotal role for the betterment of the society. He added that the dream of women empowerment was becoming a reality in Balochistan as the government was committed to empower women in every sector to provide equal opportunities for development. Sarfraz Bugti said 5 women deputy commissioners are appointed in Balochistan who are doing better than 30 other male deputy commissioners. The Chief Minister said that organized conspiracies are being hatched against Pakistan and the youth are being brainwashed against the state due to unbalanced development. "Under an organized conspiracy from different countries, negative mindsets of the youth are being created through artificial intelligence," he added. He emphasised the need for youth to reject false propaganda against Pakistan, realize the facts of development as no country, province or region has the same level of development. He said the issue of unbalanced development is not only found in Pakistan but also in the whole world, adding that the issue is being used here to create hate against the state. He urged the youth to resist such misinformation through their actions and social media platforms and also play their role for the development of country. Referring to past tragedies, Bugti highlighted incidents like the Mastung attack on students and terrorist violence against the Hazara community and Bahadur Khan Women University. He reiterated his resolve to combat terrorism with the help of the youth, ensuring that educational institutions remain active and thriving. He said despite all these acts of terrorism, the educational institutions are populated and we will fight terrorism with the help of youth and not allow the maladjusted of educational institutions. He said the students and youth should convince their parents to move forward against corruption, adding that do not give money to anyone for getting a job. Bugti affirmed his commitment to merit-based reforms, recalling his pledge during his first day in the assembly that no jobs would be sold under his administration. He shared a success story from Pishin, where a sweepers daughter secured a government job purely on merit, illustrating his governments focus on creating equal opportunities for all. The chief minister said that the youth should be my arm and support me in the struggle for eliminating corruption in the province. He affirmed his vision of empowering women across the province, stating that initiatives like the pink scooty scheme are a step toward achieving this goal. Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti also announced the immediate completion of Prof. Nazima Talib Education Block in Government Girls Post Graduate Degree College Quetta. Addressing the ceremony, Provincial Education Minister Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani said that Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti has fulfilled his promise that the continuation of bringing reforms in education sector in the province which would help in promotion of education and increasing the ratio of female education. (@ChaudhryMAli88) PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Nov, 2024) Diwali celebration in Peshawar served as a platform for promoting unity and harmony among people of diverse religions by allowing them to mingle up with each other for expressing joy and solidarity with Hindu community over observance of biggest festival of their religion. The event was organized by Blue Veins, a non-governmental organization, with support from National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) and Directorate General of Law and Human Rights Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. People from diverse religions including Muslims, Hindu, Sikhs, Christians and Bahai community attended the celebrations and enjoyed spreading of colours, candle lighting, lamps lit and distribution of sweets. The best way to promote interfaith harmony in society is celebrations of religious festivals by people of different faiths, comments Subhash Chander, a Minority Rights Activist who was much jubilant over participation of Muslims, Christians and Sikhs over celebration of religious festival of Hindu community. Subhash recalled that his father used to arrange new attire for him and his sibling on every Eid-ul-Fitar, religious festival of Muslims after observance of one month of fasting. This was the true spirit of unity and mutual co-existence which our elders practiced and needs to be continued by us and our coming generations, Subhash stressed. He thanked Blue Veins and other partners for taking such a courageous initiative which has not only won the hearts of Hindu community, but will also promote sentiments of inter-faith harmony and mutual cohesion. Subhash also welcomed Diwali celebration messages from different people and organizations on social media, reflecting sensitivity of people about respect and honour for religious festivals of minorities. Earlier, a representative of Hindu community apprised participants about the background of Diwali festival which honours victorious return of Lord Rama, one of Hinduism most revered figures, from exile. While explaining importance of firework during the celebrations, he said the festival is known as the festival of lights to symbolize the triumph of light over darkness or good over evil. Sahibzada Haider from Auqaf, Hajj, Religious and Minority Affairs Department appreciated the efforts of organizers of the event in bringing people of different faith on one platform. Director General Directorate of Law and Human Rights KP, Ghulam Ali said government of Pakistan has issued directives for celebrations of religious festivals of all of communities for expression of solidarity and unanimity with them. He asked minority community members to approach Directorate General of Law and Human Rights for seeking justice on all issues of injustices or disparity. Ghulam Ali said holding of such events is need of the hour to reduce the gap between people of different religions. Provincial Coordinator NCHR Muhammad Rizwan highlighted efforts made by government for promotion of unity and inter-faith harmony in the country. Programme Manager Blue Veins, Qamar Naseem observed in his speech that we are living in a multi faith society and for making our country progressive we have to accept diversity by according respect to religious festivals of other communities. Qamar said the purpose of arranging joint celebration of Diwali is to foster stronger social bonds by providing a platform to people from diverse communities to come together. Later, Rang Holi ceremony was also observed wherein people gathered over beautiful arrangements of different colour, lit lamps and distributed candies. Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Faisal Karim Kundi, visited the residence of Maulana Hamid ul Haq Haqqani, head of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) on Friday to extend invitation to participate in an All Parties Conference (APC) for the restoration of peace and the protection of provincial rights PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Nov, 2024) Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Faisal Karim Kundi, visited the residence of Maulana Hamid ul Haq Haqqani, head of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) on Friday to extend invitation to participate in an All Parties Conference (APC) for the restoration of peace and the protection of provincial rights. The APC is scheduled to take place at the Governor House in Peshawar on December 5. JUI-S General Secretary Maulana Syed Yusuf Shah, provincial spokesman Hafiz Abdul Rafi, former MNA Sajid Hussain Turi, and the Deputy General Secretary of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Abrar Saeed Swati were also present on this occasion. Governor Kundi informed JUI-S leaders about the peace delegation about Kurram and invited them to attend the APC. The invitation was accepted by the JUI-S leadership, who expressed their support for the cause. Speaking to the media, the Governor emphasized the need for better medical treatment for the injured from Kurram, and pledged to fulfill his commitment of transferring them to hospitals in Islamabad and Peshawar. He also called on political leaders to accompany him to Kurram to offer prayers for the martyrs. Governor Kundi stressed the importance of collective efforts for peace and the acquisition of provincial rights, including water, electricity, gas, and other issues related to the Federal government. He urged the chief minister and political leadership to join the APC, highlighting the significance of the meeting for the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who are looking to their leaders for solutions. He specifically requested that the Chief Minister, as the provincial party president and the Chief Executive of the province, attend both the tribal jirga and the APC to ensure the success of the peace and rights movement. Maulana Hamid ul Haq Haqqani praised the Governors efforts for peace in Kurram and assured him that prominent scholars from JUI-S would accompany him and participate in the All Parties Conference. He emphasized the need for unity to protect provincial rights and foster economic development, stressing that peace and unity are essential for the prosperity of the province. Haqqani also expressed hope for the creation of a peaceful and harmonious environment in the province and emphasized the importance of supporting the Governor's initiatives for the greater good. Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch on Friday said participation of foreign nationals in any political activity in Pakistan was illegal and unacceptable ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Nov, 2024) Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch on Friday said participation of foreign nationals in any political activity in Pakistan was illegal and unacceptable. With regards to the participation of Afghan nationals in the protest this week, the spokesperson said "We expect all foreigners in Pakistan to respect Pakistani laws and customs. In her weekly media briefing, the spokesperson told that last week, four Kashmiri civilians were subjected to severe torture at an Indian Army Camp in Chas area of Mughal Maidan, Kishtwar in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), causing significant outrage across IIOJK, the incident is the latest in a series of similar abuses spread over the last several decades. "We express grave concern over this disturbing incident, and demand that the perpetrators of the custodial torture are held accountable," she added. As regards the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, she reaffirmed Pakistan's unwavering solidarity and support for the people of Palestine in their pursuit of justice, freedom, and dignity. "We also reaffirm our strong support for the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, based on pre-1967 borders." She said Pakistan welcomed the recent ceasefire agreement in Lebanon and called on all parties to fully uphold and implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701. "We firmly support Lebanons sovereignty, territorial integrity, and stability; and stress the urgent need for humanitarian assistance to those affected; the safe return of displaced persons; and facilitating the reconstruction of conflict-affected areas." She said Pakistan believed this ceasefire was a critical step towards de-escalating tensions and preventing a broader conflict in the region. Pakistan hopes that the ceasefire agreement will set the stage for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza Strip and other occupied Palestinian territories; an end to genocide in Gaza; and humanitarian relief to the Palestinian people. With respect to the visit of President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko, she informed that during his visit to Islamabad, President Lukashenko held extensive talks with the Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. "The two sides discussed areas of bilateral cooperation and engagement; and key regional and global developments. The two sides reaffirmed the commitment to promote mutually beneficial cooperation, deepen political dialogue, strengthen inter-parliamentary exchanges, and enhance trade and economic cooperation." She said the two leaders signed several agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) focusing on cooperation in environmental protection, disaster management, halal trade, financial intelligence sharing, vocational education and science & technology. The spokesperson said that Speaker of the National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, was on an official visit to Moscow, on a special invitation of his Russian counterpart, Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, Volodin Vyacheslav Victorovich. The visit aims to further strengthen and expand friendly ties between the governments and the people of the two countries through parliamentary exchanges. An MoU will also be signed between the State Duma and the National Assembly of Pakistan, on expanding parliamentary cooperation and exchanges. In addition, she said Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch participated in the second meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution held in Brussels, Belgium yesterday. At the forum, the Foreign Secretary reaffirmed Pakistans unwavering support for the Palestinian cause. On the occasion, she announced that Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar will undertake an official visit to Mashhad, Iran from 02-03 December 2024 to attend the 28th Meeting of Council of Ministers of Economic Cooperation Organization. In his address at the Meeting, Deputy Prime Minister will reiterate Pakistans commitment to the ECO Charter and highlight the potential of greater connectivity in the ECO region, through development of road and rail networks; liberalization of visa regimes and simplification of border procedures; and to attain sustainable growth and enhance geo-economic potential of the ECO region. The Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister will also reiterate the Pakistans concerns over hostilities in the Middle East, endangering the regional peace and security. He will sign the Charter for ECO Clean Energy Center and hold bilateral meetings with participating ministers and other dignitaries on the sidelines of the Ministerial Meeting. Replying to a question, she made it clear that there was no dialogue taking place between Government of Pakistan and TTP. "The position of Pakistan with regards to the dialogue with TTP is very clear and has been reiterated on several occasions. Second, Pakistan has said on number of occasions that the proposals to initiate talks with TTP, wherever they may come from, are an affront to the families of thousands of victims of terrorism. Thirdly, there is no such proposal on the agenda between Pakistan and China with regards to engagement with TTP," she added. Responding to a question with regards to the Kurram situation, she said the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan had strongly condemned the attacks on civilians, including women and children in Kurram district. They expressed grief over the loss of precious lives. Investigations have been initiated. As the prime minister said, those responsible will be held to account. Efforts are also underway to restore peace in Kurram, she added. (@FahadShabbir) KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Nov, 2024) Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the United Nations (UN) must take steps to stop the Palestinians genocide. In his message on International Day of Solidarity with Palestinians, he said, 'We have always condemned Israel's aggressive actions. ' The CM said that Pakistan's support will continue for Palestinians to achieve their right to self-determination. He said that the international community can not ignore Israeli oppression against Palestinians. He remarked that Pakistan always supports the freedom and peace in Palestine. Murad said Israeli occupation of Palestine is a violation of international laws. The people of Sindh are praying for peace and freedom in Palestine, he added. London, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Nov, 2024) UK lawmakers debated Friday whether to advance divisive and emotive legislation to allow assisted dying for terminally ill people in England and Wales, with a vote expected later in the day. Parliament last debated, and defeated, a euthanasia bill in 2015, but public support for giving terminally ill people the choice to end their lives has since shifted in favour. Opening the debate, Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, who is behind the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, said changing the law would give terminally ill people "choice, autonomy and dignity at the end of their lives". But dozens of opponents gathered outside parliament holding signs with "Kill the Bill, not the ill" and "care not killing" as they urged MPs to vote against the proposed legislation. Two polls last week indicated that a majority of Britons back changing the law, which would see England and Wales emulate several European and other countries. Supporters say allowing assisted suicide would make some deaths less painful. However, faith leaders are among the stringent opponents, with nearly 30 signing a joint letter last weekend arguing they are "deeply concerned" by the plans. Critics insist it could lead some people to feel pressured into ending their life, while some say the healthcare system is not ready for such a landmark change. The bill would allow assisted suicide in England and Wales for adults with an incurable illness who have a life expectancy of fewer than six months and are able to take the substance that causes their death themselves. Any patient's wish to die would have to be signed off by a judge and two doctors. The measures are stricter than assisted dying laws in other European countries and also proposed legislation being considered in France. The bill is a so-called private members' bill and is not part of the government's agenda. The debate was due to end at 2:00 pm, with a vote on progressing the bill to its next parliamentary stage highly likely but not guaranteed. Beijing, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Nov, 2024) A Beijing court on Friday sentenced veteran Chinese state media journalist Dong Yuyu to seven years in prison on espionage charges, his family said. Dong, a senior columnist at the Communist Party newspaper Guangming Daily, was detained in February 2022 along with a Japanese diplomat at a Beijing restaurant. The diplomat was released after a few hours of questioning, but Dong, 62, was charged with spying last year. "The Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court convicted Yuyu of espionage, a crime that requires that the prosecution prove that the defendant knowingly acted on behalf of 'espionage organisations' and their agents," according to a statement shared by his family with AFP. According to the judgement, the Japanese diplomats Dong met with, including then-ambassador Hideo Tarumi and current Shanghai-based chief diplomat Masaru Okada, were named as agents of an "espionage organisation", the family statement added. "We are shocked that the Chinese authorities would blatantly deem a foreign embassy as an 'espionage organisation' and accuse the former Japanese ambassador and his fellow diplomats of being spies," Dong's family said. On Friday, Beijing's foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning responded to Dong's case by saying "China is a country ruled by law". The Japanese embassy told AFP that it would not comment directly on the case. But an embassy spokesperson told AFP in an email: "The diplomatic activities of Japanese diplomatic missions abroad are carried out in a legitimate manner." In Washington, State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller condemned Dong's jailing and called for his immediate release. "His arrest and today's sentencing highlight the PRC's failure to live up to its commitments under international law and its own constitutional guarantees to all its citizens, which include the right to freedom of speech and freedom of the press," Miller said in a statement referring to China by its official name, the People's Republic of China. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the "unjust verdict" and called for Dong's immediate release. "Interacting with diplomats is part of a journalist's job," the NGO's Asia program coordinator Beh Lih Yi said in an email to AFP. "This sentencing cements China's position as the world's leading jailer of journalists," added Yi. Under Chinese law, a person convicted of espionage can be jailed for three to 10 years for less severe cases or receive heavy punishment, including life imprisonment, for serious cases. Dong's work has been published in the Chinese editions of The New York Times and the Financial Times. He won the prestigious Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University in 2006-2007. He was also a visiting fellow at Keio University in Japan in 2010 and a visiting professor at Hokkaido University in 2014. Civil liberties and freedom of expression have dramatically receded in China under President Xi Jinping's decade-long tenure. The Communist Party maintains tight restrictions on domestic media outlets, and Chinese nationals who work with foreign outlets are routinely harassed. China is the worst country for jailing media workers with 44 journalists behind bars as of December last year, according to a CPJ ranking. In February, a Beijing court handed a suspended death sentence to jailed dissident writer Yang Hengjun after finding the dual Chinese-Australian citizen guilty on espionage charges. isk-sam-mya/oho/sn/ecl/des/md/st THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY (@ChaudhryMAli88) Jakarta, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Nov, 2024) France has asked Indonesia to transfer a French death row convict, who has been jailed for drug crimes in the Asian nation since 2005, a senior Indonesian minister told AFP on Friday. Indonesia is in discussion with three countries, including France, over the return of several high-profile detainees and aims to transfer the prisoners by the end of December. "The French embassy has delivered a letter from France's justice minister to Indonesia's law minister dated November 4 containing a request for the transfer of a French prisoner named Serge Atlaoui," senior law and human rights minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra told AFP in a message. The French embassy did not immediately reply to a request for comment. A French diplomat in Paris acknowledged that talks with Jakarta about Atlaoui were underway. "French authorities are monitoring the situation of Mr Serge Atlaoui. We are in contact with the Indonesian authorities on this matter," the diplomat told AFP. Atlaoui, a welder, was arrested in 2005 in a secret drugs factory outside Jakarta, with authorities accusing him of being a "chemist" at the site. But the 60-year-old father of four has maintained his innocence, claiming that he was installing machinery in what he thought was an acrylics plant. He was initially sentenced to life in prison, but the Supreme Court in 2007 increased the sentence to death on appeal. Atlaoui was held on the island of Nusakambangan in Central Java, known as Indonesia's "Alcatraz", following the death sentence, but he was transferred to the city of Tangerang, west of Jakarta, in 2015 ahead of his appeal. That year, he was due to be executed alongside eight other drug offenders but won a temporary reprieve after Paris stepped up pressure, with Indonesian authorities agreeing to let an outstanding appeal run its course. In the appeal, Atlaoui's lawyers argued that then-president Joko Widodo did not properly consider his case as he rejected Atlaoui's plea for clemency -- typically a death row convict's last chance to avoid the firing squad. The court, however, upheld its previous decision that it did not have the jurisdiction to hear a challenge over the clemency plea. Atlaoui is currently being held in a penitentiary in Jakarta, Yusril said. His lawyer Serge Sedillot said there is "considerable hope" that Atlaoui's sentence would be commuted and his transfer ordered. "We hope that the Indonesian authorities will accede to the French request, given that Serge has been detained for almost 20 years and that his behaviour in detention has always been beyond reproach," added Sedillot, who is also spokesperson for the non-governmental organisation Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM). Other high-profile detainees that are in discussion to be transferred include Mary Jane Veloso, a Philippine woman who was granted a stay of execution in 2015, and the five remaining members of Australia's "Bali Nine", all convicted on drug charges. Two from the group were executed by firing squad, one died of cancer and another was released in 2018. Muslim-majority Indonesia has some of the world's toughest drug laws and has executed foreigners in the past. There are 530 prisoners on death row in Indonesia, among them 88 foreigners, according to the rights group KontraS, citing official figures. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Paris, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Nov, 2024) French skipper Charlie Dalin reached the Cape of Good Hope on Africa's southern coast in first place on Friday as the Vendee Globe solo non-stop round the world yacht race headed for rough seas. Dalin, 40, has been leading for the past week, setting a swift pace through the Atlantic since leaving Les Sables-d'Olonne in western France on November 10. His Macif boat passed the Cape of Good Hope -- the first of three great capes along with Australia's Cape Leeuwin and South America's Cape Horn -- at 1545 GMT after 19 days, three hours and 43 minutes at sea. "I feel like I've been teleported here from the equator," said Dalin, who took seven days from the equator to reach the entry point to the challenging southern seas. "It's sailing hard and it's sailing fast. "It's really impressive how quickly we have done this section to the Cape. I really have lost all sense of time and space." At 1800GMT Friday, Dalin was closely followed by fellow French skippers Sebastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil), Thomas Ruyant (Vulnerable) and Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkea), the trio just 25 nautical miles behind. "We all knew that this would be a very competitive race and so it is proving," said Dalin, who in 2020 also led at this point but by a margin of 300 nautical miles. The Cape of Good Hope is where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet, making it a key point in the southern seas. "The real world tour begins today," warned British racer Sam Goodchild, an early leader but now seventh. Like the equator, Point Nemo, the entry into the Pacific, or Cape Horn, the Cape of Good Hope is an important crossing in the Vendee Globe, but also a dangerous zone. "This is the place that I fear the most," Dalin had said of the currents which descend the east African coast to create whirlpools before the sailors arrive in the Indian Ocean. For three weeks competitors will have to deal with rough seas, freezing temperatures, violent winds, icebergs and the feeling of solitude. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 29. Russia is working on transforming the "3+3" platform into a full-fledged organization, said Mikhail Galuzin, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Trend reports. During the second public forum, "Russia-Armenia," Galuzin underscored the significance of the regional cooperation platform in reconciling the interests of all nations in the region. "We attach particular importance to the "3+3" regional cooperation platform in harmonizing the interests of all the countries in the region. Currently, we are working on transforming it into a full-scale organization for cooperation in the South Caucasus," he said. To note, the first meeting of the "3+3" Consultative Regional Platform was held in Russias Moscow in December 10, 2021, at the level of Deputy Foreign Ministers from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Iran, Russia, and Turkiye. The meeting involved discussions aimed at building trust in the region and fostering cooperation in reconstruction, economic development, and the expansion of transport and trade links. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel ULAN BATOR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Nov, 2024) Mongolia will provide full support for measures aimed at improving the well-being of its citizens with disabilities, President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh said here on Friday. "We will fully support all policies, decisions, proposals, initiatives, and actions that promote the well-being of people with disabilities and improve their quality of life," Khurelsukh said at the opening ceremony of the "Development and Participation of People with Disabilities 2024" conference. Ensuring the rights, development, protection, and participation of people with disabilities is a priority in decision-making by the president and the government, he said. There are over 110,000 people with disabilities in Mongolia, with 84 percent being of working age. However, only 13.5 percent are currently employed, according to the president. Khurelsukh emphasized the importance of public and private organizations fulfilling their legal obligations to provide jobs, improve incomes and livelihoods, and ensure access to quality and inclusive social security, education, and health services for people with disabilities. Caracas, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Nov, 2024) Venezuela's congress on Thursday passed a law punishing support for international sanctions on President Nicolas Maduro's regime with up to 30 years in prison. "Anyone who promotes, instigates, requests, invokes, favors, facilitates, supports or participates in the adoption of coercive measures... will be punished with imprisonment of 25 to 30 years," the law states. The legislation provides for fines of over $1 million for violations and bars political leaders who fall foul of it from holding elected office for 60 years. It also provides for similar punishments for anyone who supports, or participates in, "armed or forceful actions" against the Caribbean country. The law's adoption comes a day after the United States slapped sanctions on 21 top Venezuelan security and cabinet officials, accusing them of a campaign of repression after Maduro's bitterly contested reelection. Maduro claims to have won a third six-year term in July 28 elections which the opposition says he stole. The socialist strongman ignored calls to release detailed polling numbers to back up his victory claim, which triggered large-scale protests in Venezuela. The unrest ended with 28 dead, almost 200 injured and around 2,400 demonstrators arrested. On Tuesday, the G7 group of industrialized nations -- United States, Canada, Italy, Germany, Britain, Japan and France -- said they considered opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia the rightful winner of the election. The United States had already said on November 19 it recognized Gonzalez Urrutia as Venezuela's legitimate "president-elect." The law passed Thursday's was seen as a response to another round of US sanctions currently in the works. On November 19, the US House of Representatives passed the BOLIVAR act, which bars US Federal agencies from conducting business with the Maduro regime or its associates. It still needs passage by the Senate and President Joe Biden's signature for it to become law. Caracas reacted angrily to the House action, saying the bill would violate the United Nations Charter. After Venezuela's last disputed elections in 2018, which were also tainted by allegations of fraud, then president Donald Trump placed Venezuela under an oil embargo. But he failed in his bid to dislodge Maduro from power. Siem Reap, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Nov, 2024) A US offer to give Ukraine anti-personnel mines to help battle Russia's invasion has thrown a landmark global anti-landmine treaty into "crisis", campaigners said Friday, urging Kyiv to snub the proposal. Ukraine is one of 164 signatories to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, which prohibits the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of landmines. The United States, which is not, said last week it would transfer landmines to Ukraine, prompting condemnation from rights groups. The offer has thrown the treaty into "crisis", Tamar Gabelnick, director of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), told a meeting of signatories in Cambodia's Siem Reap. "We therefore hope very much that the mines offered by the US will be firmly rejected by Ukraine," she said. The ICBL later said the conference had been "overshadowed" by the US annoncement of the landmines offer. "We have heard some concerns raised by the community," Ukraine defence official Yevhenii Kivshyk told the conference on Friday. "They will be conveyed to the government of Ukraine." Ukraine's delegation in Siem Reap has refused multiple requests by AFP journalists for comment on the landmine offer. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called the mines "very important" to halting Russian attacks. On Thursday, an official from Finland's defence ministry said it was contemplating if anti-personnel landmines should be brought back into its arsenal. Finland abandoned the weapon in 2012 when it joined the anti-mine treaty but advocates for their use argue the country's security environment has changed due to Russia's war in Ukraine. Finland dropped decades of military non-alignment and became a NATO member last year. That move angered its eastern neighbour Russia, with which it shares a 1,340-kilometre (830-mile) border -- the longest in the US-led defence alliance. The Siem Reap conference is a five-yearly meeting held by signatories to the anti-landmine treaty to assess progress in its objective towards a world without antipersonnel mines. On Tuesday, landmine victims from across the world gathered at the meeting to protest Washington's decision to supply Ukraine with landmines. More than 100 demonstrators lined the walkway to the conference venue. suy-sjc-rma/ecl If you want an undergraduate degree from the University of California, San Diego, youre going to have to take a course in climate change. The requirement, which affects students who will graduate in 2028, is meant to prepare students for the future, according to a report by ABC News. (October 2024) Canada's antitrust watchdog said Thursday that it was suing Google over alleged anticompetitive conduct in the tech giant's online advertising business and that it wanted the company to sell off two of its ad tech services and pay a penalty. The Competition Bureau said such action was necessary because an investigation into Google found that the company unlawfully tied together its ad tech tools to maintain its dominant market position. The matter is now headed for the Competition Tribunal, a quasi-judicial body that hears cases brought forward by the competition commissioner about noncompliance with the Competition Act. The bureau is asking the tribunal to order Google to sell its publisher ad server, DoubleClick for Publishers, and its ad exchange, AdX. It estimates Google holds a market share of 90% in publisher ad servers, 70% in advertiser networks, 60% in demand-side platforms and 50% in ad exchanges. This dominance, the bureau said, has discouraged competition from rivals, inhibited innovation, inflated advertising costs and reduced publisher revenues. "Google has abused its dominant position in online advertising in Canada by engaging in conduct that locks market participants into using its own ad tech tools, excluding competitors and distorting the competitive process," Matthew Boswell, commissioner of competition, said in a statement. Google, however, maintains the online advertising market is a highly competitive sector. Dan Taylor, Google's vice president of global ads, said in a statement that the bureau's complaint "ignores the intense competition where ad buyers and sellers have plenty of choice." The statement added that Google intends to defend itself against the allegation. U.S. regulators want a federal judge to break up Google to prevent the company from continuing to squash competition through its dominant search engine after a court found it had maintained an abusive monopoly over the past decade. The proposed breakup, floated in a 23-page document filed this month by the U.S. Department of Justice, calls for sweeping punishments that would include a sale of Google's industry-leading Chrome web browser and restrictions to prevent Android from favoring its own search engine. Chad's government said Thursday that it had ended its defense cooperation pact with France, a move that could see French troops leave the Central African country. In a statement, Chad's foreign ministry said the country, a key Western ally in the fight against Islamic militants in the region, wanted to fully assert its sovereignty after more than six decades of independence. It said the decision to end the defense cooperation agreement revised in 2019 would enable it to redefine its strategic partnerships. Chad has cooperated closely with Western nations' military forces in the past, but it has moved closer to Russia in recent years. The decision is another nail in the coffin of France's historic and colonial role in West and Central Africa after being forced to pull its troops out of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso following military coups. The military juntas have since turned to Russia, which has mercenaries deployed across the Sahel region - a band of countries stretching from Africa's northwest to northeast coasts - and has been fostering closer ties with Chad's President Mahamat Deby. "In accordance with the terms of the accord, Chad will respect the modalities of the termination, including the necessary deadlines, and will collaborate with French authorities to ensure a harmonious transition," the statement said. The French foreign ministry was not immediately available for comment. France's foreign minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, on Thursday visited Chad's border with Sudan. There were no indications that Paris had been given advance notice of the decision, although a French envoy to President Emmanuel Macron this week handed in a report with proposals on how France could reduce its military presence in Chad, Gabon and Ivory Coast, where it has deployed thousands of troops for decades. France has around 1,000 troops as well as warplanes stationed in Chad. In a further blow to France, Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye said in an interview with French state TV on Thursday that it was inappropriate for French troops to maintain a presence in his country. He stopped short of saying if or when French troops would be asked to leave, but he said Paris would be the first to know. Around 350 French troops are based in Senegal. The statement by Chad's foreign ministry said the decision to end the nation's defense partnership with France should in no way undermine the friendly relations between the two countries. Earlier this year, Chad ordered a small contingent of U.S. special operations to leave the country. In September, the U.S. said it was in talks for them to return. The Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment on whether it has a presence in Chad. Malaysia is preparing for its worst floods in a decade after heavier-than-expected monsoon rains caused severe flooding that killed three people and displaced more than 90,000. The National Disaster Command Center online portal said Friday that 94,778 people from more than 28,000 families across nine states were evacuated to 527 temporary shelters. The northeastern state of Kelantan, bordering Thailand, was the worst affected, with 63,761 people evacuated from their homes, followed by neighboring Terengganu with 22,511. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Friday that all Cabinet ministers were barred from going on vacation. He said they have been instructed to help in flood-prone areas. All ministers have been told to go to the ground. Yes, leave has been frozen for them, Anwar was quoted as saying by national Bernama news agency. His deputy, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who heads the disaster response, said Thursday that floods this year were expected to be worse than 2014, when more than 250,000 people were displaced and 21 killed. He was cited by local media as saying that the weather forecast indicated heavy rainfall next month would likely affect more states. Zahid was quoted by the New Straits Times newspaper as saying that government agencies were prepared to tackle the disaster. Nearly 83,000 personnel and thousands of rescue boats, four-wheel vehicles and life jackets as well as 31 helicopters are ready, he said. The government has also identified 8,481 temporary evacuation centers nationwide that can accommodate over two million people, he said. Given the severity of the situation, all parties have been mobilized to ensure the safety and welfare of flood victims, he was quoted as saying by the national Bernama news agency. Floods are common in parts of Malaysia during the annual monsoon season, which starts in November and could last until March. The Meteorological Department has said the country can expect between five and seven episodes of heavy rainfall during that period. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 29. Under the requirements of the Convention of October 7, 2002, On legal assistance and legal relations in civil, family, and criminal cases, the petitions of the General Prosecutor's Office of Azerbaijan on the extradition of Asgarov Famil and Abdullayev Zamin were satisfied by the General Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation, Trend reports via Azerbaijan's Prosecutor General's Office. Thus, in connection with the revealed grounded suspicions in the commission of fraud by Famil Asgarov of fraud with significant damage and Zamin Abdullaev of fraudulent criminal acts committed by an organized group with significant damage, decisions were made to prosecute them as defendants, and they were declared the international wanted list. The mentioned persons were detained in the territory of the Russian Federation and conveyed to Azerbaijan on November 28, accompanied by a special convoy of the Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel A Beijing court sentenced veteran Chinese state media journalist Dong Yuyu to seven years in prison for espionage on Friday. In a statement, Dongs family called the verdict "a grave injustice, not only to Yuyu and his family but also to every free-thinking Chinese journalist and every ordinary Chinese committed to fostering friendly engagement with the world." They said that sentencing Yuyu to seven years in prison without evidence reveals "the bankruptcy of Chinas justice system." See the full story here. The Biden administration recently brokered a prisoner swap with China, resulting in the release of three Americans Mark Swidan, Kai Li and John Leung who had been imprisoned in China for years. In exchange, the U.S. released Chinese intelligence officer Xu Yanjun and former U.S. Army reservist Ji Chaoqun. This article profiles the individuals involved, examining their backgrounds, cases and the broader implications of the swap for U.S.-China relations. See the full story here. The Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims on Thursday urged the International Civil Aviation Organization to formally condemn the "killing of 176 innocent passengers and crew members aboard the Ukrainian passenger plane" by the Islamic Republic of Iran. See the full story here. Alam Saleh and Ben Sabti, two prominent experts on Iran and Israel affairs, joined VOA Persians evening analytical program on Wednesday to explore the implications of the ceasefire in Lebanon. They also assessed which of the two sides emerged as the true winner in the conflict and the subsequent peace efforts between Israel and Hezbollah. See the full story here. News agencies in Iran have reported the death of Kiumars Pourhashemi, a senior officer of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in Aleppo, Syria. The Student News Network, linked to the Student Basij Organization and considered a state-run media outlet, announced the news Thursday. See the full story here. A U.S. State Department spokesperson said Friday that the United States is "deeply concerned about Irans announcement that it is choosing the path of continued escalation as opposed to cooperation with the IAEA," or International Atomic Energy Agency. Irans production and accumulation of uranium enriched to 60% has no credible civilian justification, the spokesperson added. See the full story here. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Kazakhstan on Wednesday to discuss strengthening energy and industrial ties. Ahead of his visit, Astana announced plans to reduce oil exports via Russia by more than 80% and enhance protection of key infrastructure. Many experts view this as a response to the Kremlins recent hypersonic missile strike on Ukraine. See the full story here. Former Moscow lawmaker Alexei Gorinov, serving a seven-year prison sentence for criticizing Russia's war in Ukraine, unfurled an anti-war banner in a courtroom cage as he went on trial on new, more severe charges of justifying terrorism. Gorinov was the first individual jailed in Russia for openly opposing the war. Human rights activists demand his release. See the full story here. Insurgents have breached Syrias second-largest city, Aleppo, and were clashing with government forces on the city's western edge on Friday. It was the first time the city has been attacked by opposition forces since 2016, when they were ousted from Aleppos eastern neighborhoods. We talk with Ibrahim Al-Assil, a political scientist and Middle East scholar. He is a Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C. Iran will begin enriching uranium with thousands of advanced centrifuges at its two main nuclear facilities at Fordo and Natanz, the United Nations' nuclear watchdog said Friday, further raising tensions over Tehran's program as it enriches at near weapons-grade levels. The notice from the International Atomic Energy Agency only mentioned Iran enriching uranium with new centrifuges to 5% purity, far lower than the 60% it currently does likely signaling that it still wants to negotiate with the West and the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump. However, it remains unclear how Trump will approach Iran once he enters office, particularly as it continues to threaten to attack Israel amid its war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip and just after a ceasefire started in its campaign in Lebanon. Trump withdrew America from the accord in 2018. Iran's mission to the United Nations did not respond to a request for comment over the IAEA's report. Tehran had threatened to rapidly advance its program after the Board of Governors at the IAEA condemned Iran at a meeting in November for failing to cooperate fully with the agency. In a statement, the IAEA outlined the plans Iran informed it about, which include feeding uranium into some 45 cascades of its advanced IR-2M, IR-4 and IR-6 centrifuges. Cascades are a group of centrifuges that spin uranium gas together to more quickly enrich the uranium. Each of these advanced classes of centrifuges enrich uranium faster than Irans baseline IR-1 centrifuges, which have been the workhorse of the countrys atomic program. The IAEA did not elaborate on how many machines would be in each cascade, but Iran has put around 160 centrifuges into a single cascade in the past. It's unclear if Iran has begun feeding the uranium yet into the centrifuges. Tehran so far has been vague about its plans. But starting the enrichment at 5% gives Tehran both leverage at negotiations with the West and another way to dial up the pressure if they don't like what they hear. Weapons-grade levels of enrichment are about 90%. Since the collapse of Irans 2015 nuclear deal with world powers following the United States unilateral withdrawal from the accord in 2018, it has pursued nuclear enrichment just below weapons-grade levels. U.S. intelligence agencies and others assess that Iran has yet to begin a weapons program. The U.S. State Department said in a statement to The Associated Press it was deeply concerned with Irans announcement that it is choosing the path of continued escalation as opposed to cooperation with the IAEA. "Irans continued production and accumulation of uranium enriched up to 60% has no credible civilian justification," it added. Iran, as a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, has pledged to allow the IAEA to visit its atomic sites to ensure its program is peaceful. Tehran also had agreed to additional oversight from the IAEA as part of the 2015 nuclear deal, which saw sanctions lifted in exchange for drastically limiting its program. However, for years Iran has curtailed inspectors access to sites, while also not fully answering questions about other sites where nuclear material has been found in the past after the deal's collapse. Iranian officials in recent months, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, had signaled a willingness to negotiate with the West. But Iran also has launched two attacks on Israel amid the war. Kazem Gharibabadi, an Iranian diplomat, said in a post on the social platform that he met with EU diplomat Enrique Mora, criticizing Europe as being self-centered" while having "irresponsible behavior. With regard to the nuclear issue of Iran, Europe has failed to be a serious player due to lack of self-confidence and responsibility, Gharibabadi wrote. For his part, Mora described having a frank discussion with Gharibabadi and another Iranian diplomat. Those talks included Irans military support to Russia that has to stop, the nuclear issue that needs a diplomatic solution, regional tensions (important to avoid further escalation from all sides) and human rights, he wrote on X. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 29. On November 29, another group of former internally displaced persons, consisting of families temporarily settled in dormitories, sanatoriums, pioneer camps and administrative buildings in various territories of Azerbaijan, was sent to the city of Jabrayil from the Garadagh district of Baku, Trend reports. At this stage, another 40 families (200 people) moved to the city of Jabrayil. Jabrayil residents thanked President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva for their comprehensive care, expressed gratitude to the valiant Azerbaijani Army, which liberated the lands from occupation. Currently, about 30 thousand people live in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur. Among them are former internally displaced persons who have returned to these areas, as well as employees involved in the implementation of restoration and construction projects, employees of local departments of various government agencies, as well as specialists employed in healthcare, education, culture, tourism, industry and energy institutions that have resumed their activities. Iran will begin enriching uranium with thousands of advanced centrifuges at its two main nuclear facilities at Fordo and Natanz, the United Nations' nuclear watchdog said Friday, further raising tensions over Tehran's program as it enriches at near weapons-grade levels. The notice from the International Atomic Energy Agency mentioned Iran enriching uranium with new centrifuges to only 5% purity, far lower than the 60% it currently does likely signaling that it still wants to negotiate with the West and the incoming administration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. However, it remains unclear how Trump will approach Iran once he enters office, particularly as Iran continues to threaten to attack Israel amid Israels war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip and just after a ceasefire started with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iran's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment over the IAEA's report. Tehran had threatened to rapidly advance its program after the Board of Governors at the IAEA condemned Iran at a meeting in November for failing to cooperate fully with the agency. In a statement, the IAEA outlined the plans Iran informed it of, which include feeding uranium into multiple cascades of its advanced IR-2M, IR-4 and IR-6 centrifuges. Cascades are a group of centrifuges that spin uranium gas together to more quickly enrich the uranium. Each of these advanced classes of centrifuges enrich uranium faster than Irans baseline IR-1 centrifuges, which have been the workhorse of the countrys atomic program. The IAEA did not elaborate on how many machines would be in each cascade, but Iran has put around 160 centrifuges into a single cascade in the past. It's unclear if Iran has begun feeding the uranium yet into the centrifuges. Tehran so far has been vague about its plans. But starting the enrichment at 5% gives Tehran leverage at negotiations with the West and another way to dial up the pressure if they don't like what they hear. Weapons-grade levels of enrichment are around 90%. Since the collapse of Irans 2015 nuclear deal with world powers following the United States unilateral withdrawal from the accord in 2018, it has pursued nuclear enrichment just below weapons-grade levels. U.S. intelligence agencies and others assess that Iran has yet to begin a weapons program. Iran, as a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, has pledged to allow the IAEA to visit its atomic sites to ensure its program is peaceful. Tehran also had agreed to additional oversight from the IAEA as part of the 2015 nuclear deal, which saw sanctions lifted in exchange for drastically limiting its program. However, for years Iran has curtailed inspectors access to sites while also not fully answering questions about other sites where nuclear material has been found in the past after the deal's collapse. Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian, had signaled in recent months a willingness to negotiate with the West. But Iran also has launched two large-scale missile attacks on Israel amid the war. Kazem Gharibabadi, an Iranian diplomat, said in a post on a social media platform that he met with EU diplomat Enrique Mora and criticized Europe as being self-centered" while having "irresponsible behavior. With regard to the nuclear issue of Iran, Europe has failed to be a serious player due to lack of self-confidence and responsibility, Gharibabadi wrote. For his part, Mora described having a frank discussion with Gharibabadi and another Iranian diplomat. Those talks included Irans military support to Russia that has to stop, the nuclear issue that needs a diplomatic solution, regional tensions (important to avoid further escalation from all sides) and human rights, he wrote on X. After more than five years of frenetic reconstruction work, Notre Dame Cathedral showed its new self to the world Friday, with rebuilt soaring ceilings and creamy good-as-new stonework erasing somber memories of its devastating fire in 2019. Images broadcast live of a site visit by French President Emmanuel Macron showed the inside of the iconic cathedral as worshippers might have experienced it back in medieval times, its wide, open spaces filled with bright light on a crisp and sunny winters day that lit up the vibrant colors of the stained-glass windows. Outside, the monument is still a construction site, with scaffolding and cranes. But the renovated interior shown in its full glory Friday for the first time before the public is allowed back in on December 8 proved to be breathtaking. Stonemasons fixed the ripped-open ceilings Gone are the gaping holes that the blaze tore into the vaulted ceilings, leaving charred piles of debris. New stonework has been carefully pieced together to repair and fill the wounds that had left the cathedral's insides exposed to the elements. Delicate golden angels look on from the centerpiece of one of the rebuilt ceilings, soaring again above the transept. The cathedral's bright, cream-colored limestone walls look brand new, cleaned not only of dust from the fire but also of grime that had accumulated for centuries. The cathedral attracted millions of worshippers and visitors annually before the April 15, 2019, fire forced its closure and turned the monument in the heart of Paris into a no-go zone except to artisans, architects and others mobilized for the reconstruction. Macron entered via the cathedrals giant and intricately carved front doors and stared up at the ceilings in wonder. He was accompanied by his wife, Brigitte, the archbishop of Paris and others. Techniques new and old deployed Powerful vacuum cleaners were used to first remove toxic dust released when the fire melted the cathedral's lead roofs. Fine layers of latex were then sprayed onto the surfaces and removed a few days later, taking dirt away with them. Cleaning gels were also used on some walls that had been painted, removing many years of accumulated dirt and revealing their bright colors once again. Carpenters worked by hand like their medieval counterparts as they hewed giant oak beams to rebuild the roof and spire that collapsed like a flaming spear into the inferno. The beams show the marks of the carpenters' handiwork, with dents made on the woodwork by their hand axes. Some 2,000 oak trees were felled to rebuild roof frameworks so dense and intricate that they are nicknamed the forest. Sneak peek ahead of reopening Macron's visit kicked off a series of events ushering in the reopening of the 12th-century Gothic masterpiece. Macron will return on December 7 to deliver an address and attend the consecration of the new altar during a solemn Mass the following day. Macron's administration is hailing the reconstruction as a symbol of national unity and French can-do. When Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in an August 2023 plane crash, many analysts said his death could mark the end of the Wagner Group, the private military company he co-founded that provided thousands of Russian mercenaries for Moscows initiatives and other interests abroad. But more than a year later, the picture of Russian mercenary activities has only grown more complicated, researchers say. Before Prigozhins death, Wagners mercenaries had fought in conflicts around the world from Ukraine to the Middle East and Africa and helped Russia to spread its influence far beyond its borders. Along the way, Wagner faced allegations of murdering African civilians and committing war crimes. Then, in June 2023, Prigozhin launched an unexpected insurrection against Russian authorities over their handling of the war in Ukraine. His mercenaries captured the city of Rostov-on-Don and marched on toward Moscow. Prigozhin stood down only after the president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, mediated a deal. After such brazen insubordination, many were unsurprised when Prigozhin died in a plane crash less than two months later. But predictions that the Wagner Groups activities would die with him have proven to be untrue. Wagner Group fighters are still active in the Central African Republic and Mali. In other countries like Niger, it has been replaced by Africa Corps, a successor organization subordinate to Russias defense ministry. In other cases, different Russian militarized structures have picked up the Wagner name and symbols. What is clear to analysts is that Russian mercenaries are not going away. If anything, the future of Russian private military companies will be "more sustainable and less spectacular" according to Jack Margolin, an independent researcher who recently published a book on the Wagner Group. Since Prigozhins death, Russia has "really effectively created infrastructure and incentive structures in order to draw in former [Wagner] fighters and build this system of semi-formal forces," he told VOA. Ties with the Russian state The Wagner Groups activities around the world have always been intertwined with Russian foreign policy, but the exact nature of that connection is a subject of debate among experts. Margolin notes that Wagner co-founder Dmitry Utkin who also died in the August 2023 plane crash served in the special forces of Russias foreign intelligence agency, commonly called the GRU. Around 2014, he and Prigozhin founded the Wagner Group, which was initially small. That same year, Wagner took part in the illegal Russian annexation of Ukraines Crimean peninsula. Later, the mercenaries were dispatched to the pseudo-state Russia propped up in the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk. During this period, there is ample evidence that Wagner actively cooperated with the Russian defense ministry in part because Ukraine intercepted Wagner conversations with Russian officers. But when Wagner operations moved beyond Ukraine, the picture grew more complicated. Experts differ on how to interpret it. Maria Kucherenko leads Russian studies at the Ukraine-based Come Back Alive Initiatives Center. She believes that Wagner was created by Russian military intelligence and remains under its control. For this reason, she views the post-Prigozhin changes in the mercenary corps as largely superficial. "Only the surnames of the GRU generals in charge have changed," she said. Other analysts paint a more complex picture of Wagners ties with the Russian state. Margolin sees a greater degree of freedom in Wagners past activities. "They acted in the GRUs interest. They coordinated with the GRU. All of Wagner's operations abroad were supported by logistics that were owned by the Ministry of Defense," he said. "But at the same time, they were still able to determine in this local context exactly what they wanted to do." John Lechner, a researcher who will publish a book on Wagner in March, believes the mercenary corps relationship with the Russian state heavily depended on the country where it was operating. In Ukraine and Syria, where the mercenaries backed the government of Bashar al-Assad, Wagner actively collaborated with the Russias defense ministry. But in sub-Saharan Africa, where the Russian state had a very limited presence, Wagner was able to decide what Russias national interests were, Lecher said in an interview. Wagner wasnt "just a shadowy arm of the Kremlin pursuing the Kremlins interests; they were creating them," he said. What next? Since Prighzoins death, Wagner has undergone significant changes although analysts disagree about how fundamental they are. Russian journalist Ilya Barabanov, who coauthored a Russian-language history of Wagner, believes that the old private military company essentially no longer exists. "Over the last year and a half, weve seen Prigozhins empire being broken apart," he told VOA. "Some [parts] are going to the Ministry of Defense. Some are going to the Russian National Guard. Some are going to Chechnyas Akhmat special forces." The original Wagner, meanwhile, continues to operate only in the Central African Republic, Mali, and Belarus. Despite these changes, the dissolution of Wagner is going more slowly than expected because the Kremlin is too busy waging war in Ukraine, Barabanov added. Margolin emphasizes that Russias successor mercenary structures wont function the same way Wagner did. The Wagner Group stood out for its risk appetite and relative independence from the Russian government. In the Central African Republic, it was Wagner that decided to transition from a strategy of defending the capital of Bangui and the countrys political elite to a more aggressive battle with insurgents, he notes. Wagner also decided with whom it would do business. In contrast, Africa Corps and other successor companies are much more risk-averse and more actively coordinate their activities with Russian military intelligence, Margolin said. Lechner notes that efforts to replace Wagner have been more successful in some places than others. Starting in 2019, Wagner mercenaries fought in Libya on the side of rebel general Khalifa Haftar. But in October 2020, he signed a ceasefire with the United Nations-backed Libyan government. Because active fighting had stopped, Russia had little trouble replacing Wagner there with Africa Corps, Lechner said. In Mali, Wagner mercenaries are engaged in pitched battles with Tuareg separatists and Islamist fighters in the countrys north. In late July, dozens of Russian fighters were killed in an ambush near the town of Tinzaouaten. Lechner suggests that in the future there will be multiple "mini-Prigozhins" in charge of Russian military companies, but not one individual with "all of the political clout and business interests that Prigozhin had come to represent." Both Margolin and Lechner agree that, while Wagner is no longer officially fighting in Ukraine, its influence on that conflict has been significant. Journalists have often pointed out Wagners usage of so-called "meat storms," when the company was willing to sacrifice waves of men to wear down Ukrainian forces. The tactic was particularly noticeable during the 2022-23 battle for the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, which Russia eventually razed and captured. But Wagner also gained military experience in the Middle East and Africa that the official Russian military is now applying in Ukraine: for example, devolving command authority to lower echelons and small unit tactics, Margolin said. "Wagner has in many ways achieved the thing that Prigozhin said was necessary during the siege of Bakhmut, which was that the Russian armed forces needed to become more like Wagner to be more effective," he told VOA. Lechner refers to it as the "Wagnerization of the Russian military." Resisting Russian mercenaries abroad Regardless of exactly what structures succeed Wagner, Russian mercenary activities will likely continue to worry Western governments. Experts say it will be difficult to push back against their influence abroad. Ukrainian researcher Kucherenko believes that the U.S., European countries, Ukraine, and other partners must join forces to counteract Russian mercenaries. But she suggests they must look higher in the command structure. "We need to evaluate them as representatives of the GRU itself," she said. She suggests directing particular attention to Yunus-bek Yevkurov, Russias deputy defense minister, and Major General Andrei Averyanov, the reported former commander of a secretive military intelligence unit that has conducted assassinations abroad. Both men now are reputed to play key roles in Africa Corps. Margolin suggests that, among other efforts, the U.S. should focus on export controls to limit the mercenaries access to military technologies, especially drone technologies, which played a key role in Wagners activities in Ukraine. He also suggests that Western governments should be cautious about propping up African regimes with poor human rights records and entrenched corruption, despite any fears that Russia will rush in if they do not. In fact, engaging with such governments feeds popular anger against the West, which in turn provides "fertile ground for organizations like Wagner to take root," Margolin said. Lechner notes that Wagner expanded its presence in Africa as Western powers exited the continent. For example, France withdrew its forces from the Central African Republic in 2016 amid a civil war in the country. Wagner stepped in to provide security for the countrys leadership. "I don't think there is any interest for the United States to put troops on the ground in Africa to be perfectly honest," Lechner said. Short of that, he said, "I'm not exactly sure what [Western powers] can offer." Russian mercenaries have few similar competitors in the region. Though China is active in Africa, its activities are mainly focused on large economic investments. Even Wagners business activities have mostly not placed it in conflict with China. Russian journalist Barabanov suggests there is one more factor that will play a key role in determining the future of Russian mercenaries: Russias war against Ukraine. If that conflict ends, then "the Russian government will have a huge human resource of veterans who fought in this war," he said, "and they can probably be used in other, far-off conflicts." Paraguayan Foreign Minister Ruben Dario Ramirez Lezcano said Friday the country remains committed to diplomatic ties with Taiwan despite farm sector calls for it to switch to having formal relations with China. At the same time, Ramirez Lezcano said his government is open to establishing trade and other relations with Beijing as long as it would not have to break off its ties with Taiwan. Paraguay is one of only 12 countries maintaining diplomatic relations with Taiwan and the only one in South America. Paraguay is open to establishing diplomatic, consular or commercial relations with China without conditions, Ramirez Lezcano told VOA and five other U.S. news organizations. We are still committed to supporting the Taiwan government, and we dont accept any condition to break our relations with Taiwan, he said. Paraguay has been seeking to gain access to the Chinese market though a trade deal between Beijing and the South American Common Market, known by its Spanish initials Mercosur, which includes countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia and Uruguay as well as Paraguay. Our position with China is one of total openness, said Paraguayan President Santiago Pena during an August interview with Reuters. We are in favor of advancing trade agreements. However, talks toward a China-Mercosur trade deal have so far been frustrated by disagreements among the Mercosur members and Chinas insistence that any country seeking relations with Beijing must renounce its diplomatic recognition of Taiwan. 'Principles and values' matter, too Ramirez Lezcano reiterated Friday that economic benefit is not the only consideration for Paraguay when deciding whether to maintain diplomatic relations with any country. The most important factors are principles and values, rather than just trade and money, he said. Analysts say Paraguays recognition of Taiwan is not the only obstacle to a China-Mercosur trade deal. There are also fears by some countries within the bloc about overreliance on China and the impact that a deal would have on their own industries. Kung Kwo-Wei, a Latin American affairs expert at Tamkang University in Taiwan, noted that Brazil imposed new tariffs In October on Chinese and other Asian imports such as iron, steel and fiber, describing the move as an effort to combat dumping and protect Brazils domestic industries. Mercosur can only sign a free-trade agreement with China if all member states approve the proposal, but so far, there is no consensus among all member states because Brazil remains cautious about the move, said Su Yen-pin, an expert on Latin American affairs at National Chengchi University in Taiwan. Since Paraguay has repeatedly said it wont sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan in exchange for signing trade deals with China, that makes it impossible for Mercosur to approve the free-trade agreement with China anytime soon, he told VOA by phone. China has repeatedly emphasized that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and urged Paraguay to follow the trend of history. We hope the government and leader of Paraguay will follow the trend of history, meet the aspiration of its people, stand on the right side of history as early as possible, join the overwhelming majority of the international community, and make the right decision that serves the fundamental and long-term interests of the country, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters in August. Trade with Taiwan While Paraguay is unlikely to sign trade deals with China anytime soon, experts say Taiwan faces pressure to increase its imports from Paraguay and its investments there. Members of the Paraguayan Congress tend to discuss the benefits for Paraguay to maintain ties with Taiwan, and there is an increasing sense among Paraguays agricultural businesses that they are losing a lot of economic benefits from maintaining ties with Taiwan, said Fabricio Fonseca, an assistant professor of diplomacy at Taiwans National Chengchi University. He said that while Taiwan continues to increase its imports of beef and other agricultural products from Paraguay, farmers in other Mercosur states want the greater access to the China market a trade deal would offer, contributing to the pressure on the Paraguayan government. Every once in a while, not only during election cycles, we see these push to discuss the topic of Paraguays relations with Taiwan in the Congress, and this will continue to affect bilateral ties between Taiwan and Paraguay, Fonseca told VOA by phone. Paraguay has also been seeking more Taiwanese investment. Ramirez Lezcano said Asuncion is trying to attract more Taiwanese investments in the high-tech sector. Taiwan is establishing an industrial park in Paraguay, and we are working to establish a technological ecosystem with Taiwanese companies, he told the reporters Friday. While Taiwan has sent several trade delegations to Paraguay in recent years, some Taiwanese analysts say the number of Taiwanese businesses investing in Paraguay remains limited. Paraguay is geographically far from Taiwan, and Taiwanese businesses often think its difficult to ensure a smooth industrial technology transfer to Paraguay, Kung Kwo-Wei, a Latin American affairs expert at Tamkang University in Taiwan, told VOA by phone. Despite Taiwans limited private sector investment in Paraguay, Kung said the United States and Taiwan are working together to help Paraguay expand its private sector. In 2021, Taiwan and the U.S. worked with Paraguay to bolster growth in its renewable energy and electric vehicle sector, and the three countries also jointly established several small business development centers, he said. Despite the challenges, Su in Taiwan said Paraguays ruling Colorado Party is unlikely to make a major shift. Unless there is a regime change in Paraguays next election, there wont be too many opportunities for China to influence the diplomatic ties between Taipei and Asuncion, he told VOA. Russian President Vladimir Putin Thursday threatened to strike "decision-making centers in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, with Russias new Oreshnik hypersonic cruise missiles, after pounding Ukrainian energy infrastructure and cutting off power to more than one million people across the country. "We do not rule out the use of Oreshnik against the military, military-industrial or decision-making centers, including in Kyiv," Putin told a news conference in the Kasakh capital, Astana. He said he launched Thursdays drone and missile attack against Ukraines energy infrastructure in response to Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory with U.S. medium-range ATACMS missiles. The attack marked Russias second big attack on Ukraines energy infrastructure this month. Officials said it was the 11th major strike on Ukraines energy system since March. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of a "despicable escalation," saying it had used cruise missiles with cluster munitions. The attack marks Russias second big attack on Ukraines energy infrastructure this month. Officials said it was the 11th major strike on Ukraines energy system since March. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow launched the attack in response to Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory with U.S. medium-range ATACMS missiles. Putin also said Russias future targets could include "decision-making centers" in Ukraines capital, Kyiv. Ukraine called on the international community to respond to Putins threats to target government centers in Kyiv. "We expect those countries that have urged everyone to avert the expansion of the war to react to the statements voiced by Putin today," Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said. In addition to the more than 1 million people who lost power in the aftermath of the strikes, millions more had their existing schedule of rolling power cuts escalated. The Ukrainian air force said Russia used 91 missiles and 97 drones in the assault. The air force said 12 of those hit their targets, the majority of which were energy and fuel facilities. All missiles or drones aimed at Kyiv were brought down, officials said. "The enemy is using a large number of missiles and drones. Their massive use in certain areas often exceeds the number of means of [air defense] cover," the air force said in a statement. In the Lviv region, 523,000 subscribers lost electricity, regional head Maksym Kozytsky said on social media. The region, in the western part of the country, borders Poland. Directly north of the Lviv region, 215,000 customers lost power in the region of Volyn, and 280,000 lost power in the neighboring Rivne region, their governors said. "Energy infrastructure is once again targeted by the enemys massive strike," Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko wrote on Facebook. Ukrenergo, the national electrical grid operator, introduced emergency power cuts amid the attack, Galushchenko said. Officials told Reuters that several nuclear power units were disconnected from the network during the attacks. Private power company DTEK said the power cuts impacted Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions. Some regional officials said water service was also affected by the airstrikes. The head of Ukraines presidential office, Andrii Yermak, said in a Telegram post that Russia had stockpiled missiles to strike Ukrainian infrastructure and wage war against civilians during the cold season, The Associated Press reported. The three-year anniversary of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine is looming, and Russian ground forces are advancing at their fastest pace in two years. On Thursday, Ukraines Foreign Ministry urged its partners to accelerate the delivery of military aid, saying that was more important than drafting more men. "We are now in the situation when we need more equipment to arm all the people that have already been mobilized, and we think the first priority is to send quicker, faster military aid," Tykhyi, the spokesperson for Ukraines foreign ministry, told reporters in Kyiv. The statement comes one day after a senior U.S. official said Wednesday that Ukraine should consider lowering the age of military service for its soldiers from 25 years old to 18 in order to replace those lost on the battlefield. On Thursday, the Ukrainian presidents chief of staff Andriy Yermak said Ukraine is ready to host a second global summit aimed at ending Russias invasion in the "nearest future," according to local media. Kyiv hosted its first "peace summit" in June in Switzerland. Russia was not invited. Speaking in Kazakhstan on Thursday, Putin said there were no preconditions to start talks with Ukraine on a possible peace deal, but that terms he set out in June for the deal remained the same. In June, Putin said Russia would end the war only if Kyiv agreed to drop its NATO ambitions and hand over four entire Ukrainian provinces claimed by Moscow. Kyiv rejected those demands as amounting to surrender. Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Lola Tagaeva has no problem acknowledging that she is not an easy boss. But when youre running a startup news outlet from exile while your home country is at war, a steely demeanor can be an asset. I think its incredibly tough to work with me, Tagaeva said with pride, when we met at a Prague cafe on a rainy October morning. Tagaeva asks her reporters to travel to the future, she said, and to figure out what stories havent been told yet. We have to be two steps ahead, she said. That outlook is what helped put the outlet she founded Verstka on the map in such a short period of time. Tagaeva founded the news website from exile shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. The outlet now reaches millions of people each month and has grown into a major player in the independent Russian media landscape. Originally from the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Tagaeva left Russia for Prague in 2019 not because of safety concerns over her work, but because of her daughter. I never wanted to move, actually, but when I gave birth to her, I understood that I wanted her to grow up in a free place, Tagaeva said. Tagaeva had worked at top Russian independent outlets, including Novaya Gazeta and TV Rain. But after years of hoping that her work would bring change to Russia, only to see the country become more authoritarian, she was burned out. Every day was news from [an] apocalypse, Tagaeva said. Tagaevas break from journalism lasted about three years. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the journalist knew that many more stories would need to be told and that the Kremlin would embark on a harsher crackdown on independent media. I started to feel some kind of responsibility, she said. So, she founded Verstka. Verstka is Russian for layout, like the layout of a newspapers front page. The outlet started in April 2022 and now reaches millions of people each month, about 70% of whom are inside Russia, according to Tagaeva. Verstkas success is at least partly a product of the time in which it was founded, when Russian journalists were figuring out how to reinvent themselves during war and as a media crackdown forced them into exile, according to Karol Luczka, who covers eastern Europe at the International Press Institute in Vienna. They [Verstkas staff] were able to enter the mainstream of big, Russian independent media without being big and while being very new, Luczka told VOA. Tagaeva points to Verstkas commitment to distribution as a main driver behind the outlets early success. She had key staff on board even before the outlet was officially founded, Tagaeva said. We didnt have money. We didnt have staff. But I already had a director of marketing, Tagaeva said. Like many Russian news outlets, the social media platform Telegram is Verstkas primary hub. I dont believe in media without good distribution, because its not a private blog, Tagaeva said. If Im not able to distribute what you wrote, we dont need it. Perhaps more important than distribution is Tagaevas commitment to covering underreported issues. Instead of daily news, Verstka focuses on deeply reported features and investigations the kinds of stories that readers cant easily get anywhere else. The outlet was one of the first to report on Russia abducting Ukrainian children. Kyiv estimates that 20,000 Ukrainian children have been taken since the invasion. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and childrens commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova on war crimes charges related to the practice. Moscow says that it has protected vulnerable children from the war zone and that it does not recognize the ICC. The opportunity to produce stories of that weight is what convinced journalist Anna Ryzhkova to work at Verstka. I have zero questions about the importance of the work we do, Ryzhkova told VOA. The priority is stories that are impossible not to pay attention to, she said. Ryzhkova reported for various outlets in Russia before leaving for Georgia shortly after the war began. She has worked at Verstka since it was founded and moved to Prague in 2023. Ryzhkova acknowledges that Tagaevas standards are high. But Ryzhkova said she knows that is why Verstka has succeeded in a generally difficult media landscape. Its like an illness. At first, you might not feel really comfortable with the pace of work, but then you just become a part of it, Ryzhkova said. What Lola demands from us is something that we actually demand from ourselves now. Tagaeva believes that when outlets feel too comfortable, they dont push themselves, saying, There is always space to develop yourself. In just a couple years, her outlet has expanded from three to about 50 employees some of whom are still reporting anonymously from inside Russia. But as the third anniversary of the invasion approaches, Tagaeva is concerned that the repressive environment in Russia will hamper the next generation of journalists. This, Im afraid, will be the most dangerous issue for us, Tagaeva said. Since Russia invaded Ukraine, Moscow has imposed harsh laws and punishments on journalists who dont follow the Kremlins narrative. For journalists still in the country, you have to shut up, or you have to go to prison, Tagaeva said. Although Tagaeva didnt leave her home because of her work, its the main reason that she cant return anytime soon. She and Verstka have been labeled foreign agents by the Russian government. Tagaeva expects Verstka to eventually be labeled an undesirable organization, like many other independent Russian news outlets. That designation would ban Verstkas operations in Russia and open up Verstka staffers and sources to fines, criminal charges and jail time. But she remains committed to reporting. And her experience running an outlet has reframed for Tagaeva what it means to have impact. Were not changing the world, but were helping people to see the reality, she said. And I think its enough for us. Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov arrived in North Korea on Friday for talks with North Korean military and political leaders as the countries deepen their cooperation over Russias war in Ukraine. In announcing the visit, Russias Defense Ministry didnt say whom Belousov would meet or the purpose of the talks. North Korean state media didnt immediately confirm the visit. Belousov, a former economist, replaced Sergei Shoigu as defense minister in May after Russian President Vladimir Putin started a fifth term in power. Photos released by the Defense Ministry showed Belousov walking alongside North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang Chol on a red carpet at Pyongyang airport. North Korean military officials were seen clapping under a banner that read, Complete support and solidarity with the fighting Russian army and people. Belousov noted after his arrival that military cooperation between the countries is expanding. He applauded a strategic partnership agreement signed by Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un following their June meeting in Pyongyang, which he said is aimed at reducing tensions by maintaining a balance of power in the region and lowering the risk of war, including with nuclear weapons. The June meeting demonstrated the highest level of mutual trust between the leaders, Belousov said, and also the mutual desire of our countries to further expand mutually beneficial cooperation in a complex international environment. North Korean Defense Minister No also praised the expanding cooperation between the countries militaries and reiterated North Koreas support for Russias war in Ukraine, describing it as a just struggle to protect the countrys sovereign rights and security interests. The visit comes days after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met with a Ukrainian delegation led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov in the South Korean capital, Seoul, and called for the two countries to formulate countermeasures in response to North Koreas dispatch of thousands of troops to Russia to help its fight against Ukraine. Kim in recent months has prioritized relations with Russia as he tries to break out of isolation and strengthen his international footing, embracing the idea of a new Cold War. The United States and its allies have said North Korea has sent more than 10,000 soldiers to Russia in recent weeks and that some of those troops were engaging in combat. North Korea has also been accused of supplying artillery systems, missiles and other military equipment to Russia that may help Putin further extend an almost three-year war. There are also concerns in Seoul that North Korea, in exchange for its troops and arms supplies, could receive Russian technology transfers that could improve its nuclear weapons and missile programs. The Russian defense minister doesnt visit North Korea just to celebrate bilateral ties, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. This visit indicates Putin and Kims military cooperation in violation of international law is about to increase further. Yoons national security adviser, Shin Wonsik, said in a TV interview last week that Seoul believes that Russia has provided air defense missile systems to North Korea in exchange for sending its troops. Shin said Russia also appears to have given economic assistance to North Korea and various military technologies, including those needed for the Norths efforts to build a reliable space-based surveillance system, which Kim has stressed is crucial for enhancing the threat of nuclear-capable missiles targeting South Korea. Shin didnt say whether Russia has already transferred sensitive nuclear weapons and ballistic missile technologies to North Korea. Yoons office hasnt said whether the two governments discussed the possibility of South Korea supplying weapons to Ukraine in his talks with Umerov. Since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, South Korea has joined U.S.-led sanctions against Moscow and provided humanitarian and financial support to Kyiv. But it has avoided directly supplying arms, citing a longstanding policy of not giving lethal weapons to countries actively engaged in conflicts. Yoon has said his government will take phased countermeasures, linking the level of its response to the degree of Russian-North Korean cooperation. It wasnt immediately clear whether Belousov will meet with Kim, the North Korean leader. Last year, Kim hosted a Russian delegation led by then-Defense Minister Shoigu and gave him a personal tour of a North Korean arms exhibition, in what outside critics likened to a sales pitch. That event came weeks before Kim traveled to Russia for talks with Putin which sped up military cooperation between the countries. During another meeting in Pyongyang in June this year, Kim and Putin signed a pact stipulating mutual military assistance if either country is attacked, in what was considered the two countries biggest defense deal since the end of the Cold War. The Russian report about Belousovs visit came as South Korea scrambled fighter jets to repel six Russian and five Chinese warplanes that temporarily entered the countrys air defense identification zone around its eastern and southern seas, according to the Souths Joint Chiefs of Staff. It said the Russian and Chinese planes did not breach South Koreas territorial airspace. South Koreas Defense Ministry said it held telephone calls with Chinese and Russian defense attaches based in Seoul to protest the flights and urge the countries to prevent recurrences. Rebel fighters cut the Damascus to Aleppo highway on Thursday during an offensive that a monitor says killed around 200 people, including civilians hit by Russian air force strikes. A day earlier, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and allied factions launched a surprise attack on government-held areas of northern Aleppo province, triggering the fiercest fighting in years, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. HTS is listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and Turkey. The toll in ongoing battles "has risen to 182, including 102 fighters from HTS," 19 from allied factions "and 61 regime forces and allied groups," the Observatory said. "Russian airstrikes on the Aleppo countryside killed 19 civilians on Thursday," said Rami Abdel Rahman, who heads the Observatory, adding that another civilian had been killed in Syrian army shelling a day earlier. Russia is a close ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and first intervened in Syria's civil war in 2015, turning the momentum of the conflict in favor of the president, whose forces once controlled only a fifth of the country. HTS and its allied factions, including groups backed by Turkey, "cut off the Damascus-Aleppo international M5 highway ... in addition to controlling the junction between the M4 and M5 highways," the Britain-based monitor said. It has a network of sources inside Syria. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said "more than 14,000 people nearly half are children have been displaced" by the violence. Syria has been gripped by civil war for more than a decade, although the intensity of the conflict had decreased in recent years. "This operation aims to repel the sources of fire of the criminal enemy from the front lines," Mohamed Bashir, who heads HTS's so-called salvation government, said during a press conference. Analyst Nick Heras of the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy said the rebels were "trying to preempt the possibility of a Syrian military campaign in the region of Aleppo, which Russian and Syrian government airstrikes against rebel areas have been preparing for. With some Turkey-backed factions joining the offensive, "Ankara is sending a message to both Damascus and Moscow to back down from their military efforts in northwest Syria," he said. In addition to Russia, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been backed in the civil war by Iran and allied militant groups, including Lebanon's powerful Hezbollah. During more than two months of war with Hezbollah in Lebanon, Israel intensified its strikes on Iran-backed groups in Syria, including Hezbollah. Rebel forces "are in a better position to take and seize villages than Russian-backed Syrian government forces, while the Iranians are focused on Lebanon," Heras said. The Syrian rebels and their allies launched their attack the day the Lebanon-Israel truce came into effect. HTS, led by al-Qaida's former Syria branch, controls swaths of the northwest Idlib area as well as small parts of neighboring Aleppo, Hama and Latakia provinces. An AFP correspondent reported heavy, uninterrupted clashes east of the city of Idlib since Wednesday morning, including airstrikes. A military statement carried by state news agency SANA said that "armed terrorist organizations grouped under so-called 'Nusra terrorist front' present in Aleppo and Idlib provinces launched a large, broad-fronted attack" Wednesday morning. It said the attack with "medium and heavy weapons targeted safe villages and towns and our military sites in those areas." The army "in cooperation with friendly forces" confronted the attack "which is still continuing," inflicting "heavy losses" on the armed groups, the military statement said, without reporting army losses. Syria's conflict broke out after Assad crushed anti-government protests in 2011. It spiraled into a complex conflict that has drawn in foreign armies and rebels. It has killed more than 500,000 people, displaced millions and battered the country's infrastructure and industry. The Idlib region is subject to a ceasefire repeatedly violated but which had largely been holding brokered by Turkey and Russia after a Syrian government offensive in March 2020. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has urged his NATO counterparts to issue an invitation at a meeting in Brussels next week to Kyiv to join the Western military alliance, according to the text of a letter seen by Reuters on Friday. The letter reflects Ukraine's renewed push to secure an invitation to join NATO, which is part of a "victory plan" outlined last month by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to end the war triggered by Russia's 2022 invasion. Ukraine says it accepts that it cannot join the alliance until the war is over but extending an invitation now would show Russian President Vladimir Putin that he could not achieve one of his main goals preventing Kyiv from becoming a NATO member. "The invitation should not be seen as an escalation," Sybiha wrote in the letter. "On the contrary, with a clear understanding that Ukraine's membership in NATO is inevitable, Russia will lose one of its main arguments for continuing this unjustified war," he wrote. "I urge you to endorse the decision to invite Ukraine to join the Alliance as one of the outcomes of the NATO Foreign Ministerial Meeting on 3-4 December 2024." NATO diplomats say there is no consensus among alliance members to invite Ukraine at this stage. Any such decision would require the consent of all NATO's 32 member countries. NATO has declared that Ukraine will join the alliance and that it is on an "irreversible" path to membership. But it has not issued a formal invitation or set out a timeline. Olga Stefanishyna, Ukraine's deputy prime minister in charge of NATO affairs, said Kyiv understood that the consensus for an invitation to join NATO "is not yet there" but the letter was meant to send a strong political signal. "We have sent a message to the allies that invitation is not off of the table, regardless of different manipulations and speculations around that," she told Reuters. In his letter, Sybiha argued an invitation would be the right response "to Russia's constant escalation of the war it has unleashed, the latest demonstration of which is the involvement of tens of thousands of North Korean troops and the use of Ukraine as a testing ground for new weapons." In recent days, however, diplomats have said they do not see any changes of stance among NATO countries, particularly as they await the Ukraine policy of the United States the alliance's dominant power under the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump. By Agence France-Presse WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA Namibia tallied votes Thursday after technical problems led to long delays on election day, forcing authorities to extend voting in a pivotal poll set to test the ruling party's 34-year grip on power. Logistical issues on Wednesday, including problems with electronic tablets used to check voters' identities and insufficient ballot papers, left crowds still queueing until the early hours of Thursday in the southern African nation. Though polls were scheduled to close at 09:00 pm (1900 GMT) on Wednesday, those in line before that time were allowed to stay to cast their ballot, according to Namibia's electoral law. Armed with folding chairs and umbrellas to cope with the slow-moving lines and blazing sun, Namibians among the 1.5 million registered voters spent hours waiting outside polling stations, some for up to 12 hours. At the University of Science and Technology in the capital Windhoek, voting stopped at 05:00 am on Thursday, polling officers told AFP. "It's absolutely disappointing," said Reagan Cooper, a 43-year-old farmer among the hundred or so voters outside the town hall polling station in Windhoek. "The voters have turned out, but the electoral commission has failed us," Cooper told AFP. In the face of criticism from political parties and voters over the long queues, the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) extended voting hours. ECN spokesman Siluka De Wet told AFP on Thursday morning, "some people were still voting." Before the delays, initial results were scheduled to be released Saturday. 'Frustrate voters' Political parties with candidates running in the simultaneous presidential and legislative races were invited to meet with the ECN at noon Thursday to address complaints about the process. The opposition Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) is among those who have blamed the electoral body for the long lines and have cried foul. "We have reason to believe that the ECN is deliberately suppressing voters and deliberately trying to frustrate voters from casting their vote," said IPC official Christine Aochamus. The vote could usher in the desert nation's first woman leader even as her party, the ruling South West Africa People's Organization, or SWAPO, faces the strongest challenge to its political dominance since Namibia's 1990 independence from South Africa. But SWAPO's candidate and current vice president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, could also face an unprecedented second round, according to analysts. The long queues were "a signal that people really want a change," said Ndumba Kamwanyah, lecturer in the Department of Human Sciences at the University of Namibia. "For me, it seems it's not good news for the incumbent party," he told AFP. Unemployment SWAPO has governed since leading mineral-rich Namibia to independence but complaints about unemployment and enduring inequalities could undermine its standing at this election. IPC leader Panduleni Itula, a former dentist and lawyer, said Wednesday he was optimistic he could "unseat the revolutionary movement." Namibia is a major uranium and diamond exporter but not many of its nearly three million people have benefited from that wealth. "There's a lot of mining activity that goes on in the country, but it doesn't really translate into improved infrastructure, job opportunities," said independent political analyst Marisa Lourenco, based in Johannesburg. "That's where a lot of the frustration is coming from, [especially] the youth," she said. Unemployment among 15- to 34-year-olds is estimated at 46 percent, according to the latest figures from 2018, almost triple the national average. On November 29, during the 90th-anniversary celebration of the Financial-Economic College operating under the Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC), Rector Professor Adalat Muradov proposed several initiatives aimed at enhancing college education: Clarification of the College's Status: There is a need to specify the status of the college under UNEC. While the Financial-Economic College has been granted the status of a public legal entity, it is essential for both UNEC and its affiliated college to operate as public legal entities. This necessitates prompt amendments to the charters of both institutions. Integration into University Structure: Transforming colleges into structural units of universities can lead to increased salaries for college staff, aligning them with university pay scales. Additionally, leveraging university resources can significantly contribute to the advancement of college education. Per Capita Financing: Implementing per capita financing in colleges, similar to universities, would be beneficial. Unified Approach to Educational Programs: Despite existing credit transfer mechanisms between sub-bachelor and bachelor programs, it is desirable to establish a unified approach to curricula and educational programs at both levels. Autonomy in Specialist Training: It is advisable to grant colleges operating under universities the autonomy to train specialists at the sub-bachelor level across all disciplines available at the respective universities. One of the priorities for the Financial-Economic College under UNEC in the coming years is the swift restoration of its branch that previously operated in Khojaly. UNEC is prepared to implement a pilot project to fundamentally restructure college education. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Former New York Times editor Sheryl Oring turned artist invites the public to speak their minds for her project, "I Wish To Say". Dressed in 50s attire, she documents people's thoughts using a vintage typewriter. Elena Wolf has the story, narrated by Anna Rice. #ArtisticExpression #SpeakYourTruth No media source currently available The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. A power blackout in parliament yesterday when Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube was presenting his 2025 budget proposal stunned President Emmerson Mnangagwa, state officials and parliamentarians. They were left speechless. Zimbabwe is facing seriuos power outages. (Video: Mlondolozi Ndlovu) Zimbabwe's Finance Minister, Mthuli Ncube, who presented his 2025 national budget proposal in parliament on Thursday, said the country's economy is projected to grow by 6% next year. Ncube who also spoke to reporters outside parliament said Zimbabwe is expected to live within its means in 2025. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened Hezbollah Thursday with an "intensive war" if it breaches a fragile Lebanon ceasefire, which on its second day is straining under pressure from both sides. Hours before, the Israeli military said it struck a Hezbollah weapons facility in south Lebanon, where it said "terrorist activity was identified". Earlier it opened fire on people it said were in breach of the truce. The ceasefire, which came into effect before dawn on Wednesday, seeks to end a war that has killed thousands in Lebanon and sparked mass displacements in both Lebanon and Israel. "If necessary, I gave a directive to the (Israeli army)" to wage "an intensive war" in the event of any breach of the truce, Netanyahu said in an interview with Israeli broadcaster Channel 14. Earlier, the Israeli military had said "terrorist activity was identified in a facility used by Hezbollah to store mid-range rockets in southern Lebanon," adding that "the threat was thwarted" by its air force. Nazih Eid, mayor of Baysariyeh in south Lebanon, told AFP a strike had hit an area of his town. "They targeted a forested area not accessible to civilians," he said. The deal to end the war in Lebanon was brokered by Israel's top ally the United States and France. Under the agreement, Israeli troops will hold their positions but "a 60-day period will commence in which the Lebanese military and security forces will begin their deployment towards the south", a US official told reporters on condition of anonymity. Then, Israel should begin a phased withdrawal without a vacuum forming that Hezbollah or others could rush into, the official said. - Two wounded - On Thursday, the Lebanese army deployed across the south, where Hezbollah has long held sway and only the army and UN peacekeepers are to maintain an armed presence under the terms of the ceasefire. The Israeli and Lebanese militaries have both called on residents of frontline villages to avoid returning home immediately. Earlier on Thursday, Israeli fire wounded two people in a border village, according to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency. The Israeli army said that "over the past hour, several suspects were identified arriving with vehicles to a number of areas in southern Lebanon, breaching the conditions of the ceasefire". The army "opened fire toward them", the statement said, adding that the Israeli military "remains in southern Lebanon and will actively enforce violations of the ceasefire agreement". For the most part, however, the ceasefire appeared to be holding. A Lebanese army source said its forces were "conducting patrols and setting up checkpoints" south of the Litani River, without advancing into areas where Israeli forces were still present. The Israeli army on Thursday announced a nighttime curfew for areas south of the river, some 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border. - Devastation - While there was joy around Lebanon that the war has ended, the country faces a long recovery. Tens of thousands of Lebanese who fled their homes during the war have headed back to their towns and villages only to find them devastated. "Despite all the destruction and the sorrow, we are happy to be back," said Umm Mohammed Bzeih, a widow who fled the southern village of Zibqin with her four children two months ago. "I feel as if our souls have returned," she said, visibly exhausted as she swept up the shattered glass and rubble that carpeted the floor. In the border village of Qlayaa, residents threw rice and flowers to celebrate the arrival of Lebanese soldiers. The majority-Christian village is nestled in an area that is home mostly to Shiite Muslim communities. Lebanon is deeply divided along political and sectarian lines, with Hezbollah long dominant among the Shiite population. "We only want the Lebanese army," chanted residents of Qlayaa, as they clapped and cheered for the troops and waved the Lebanese flag. - Crisis - Even before the conflict, Lebanon had been wracked for years by political and economic crises, with World Bank figures from earlier this year indicating poverty had tripled in a decade. On Thursday, there was a glimmer of hope as the NNA reported parliament would meet to elect a president on January 9, ending a two-year vacuum. On Wednesday, in its first statement after the ceasefire, Hezbollah said its fighters would "remain in total readiness to deal with the Israeli enemy's ambitions and its attacks". Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah told AFP his group was cooperating in the army's deployment to the south, adding the group had "no visible weapons or bases" in the area. - Scepticism - In northern Israel, which has come under steady attack from Hezbollah for more than a year, there was hope tinged with scepticism over whether the truce might last. Nissim Ravivo, a 70-year-old in the coastal city of Nahariya near the border with Lebanon, voiced disappointment. "It's a shame, we should have continued for at least another two months and finished the job," he said. "We still don't feel safe and we are not happy about it." Lebanon says at least 3,961 people have been killed in the country since October 2023, most of them in recent weeks. On the Israeli side, the hostilities with Hezbollah killed at least 82 soldiers and 47 civilians, authorities there say. bur-dcp/kir An Israeli-Lebanese ceasefire agreementpurely verbalhas been announced by the US and French presidents, Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron. At the time of writing this article, no document has been signed by the protagonists. This agreement was demanded by Benjamin Netanyahu, through US negotiator Amos Hochstein, in total contradiction with his previous positions. The Jewish diaspora is now deeply divided and, for the most part, no longer supports him (cf. VIN 2488). His army is exhausted and has run out of ammunition. His official war goal (to allow the return of 100,000 Israelis to their homes on the Lebanese border) has not been achieved at all. On the contrary, Hezbollah is now attacking military bases as far away as Tel Aviv. His unofficial goal (to expand Israel to the north) has also failed. The IDF, which is undeniably victorious in the air and can destroy anything it wants, is utterly unable to occupy Lebanese territory whose people are resisting. This ceasefire agreement is said to be valid for 60 days. This means that hostilities can resume in two months or at any time thereafter. Benjamin Netanyahu claims that he has secured the right to attack Hezbollah if it rebuilds its forces, which is absolutely false and is denied by all Lebanese sources who participated in the negotiations. The prime minister names Iran as his next target. However, Tehran took part in the negotiations and confirmed that it was abandoning its strategy of "Resistance Axis" to move towards a global agreement with the West. The Arab League for its part, is aware that the 80-year war is not over, but is moving to Iraq and Syria. This is why Iran has resumed contact with the two Iraqi Kurdish parties (cf. VIN 1969) and why Turkiye has relaunched negotiations with Abdullah Ocalan (cf. VIN 2247). Meanwhile, the IDF bombed all the roads linking Syria to Lebanon until the last minute and destroyed its bridges (cf. VIN 2711 and 2712), while the jihadists resumed their attacks on Damascus, as in the 2011 war when Benjamin Netanyahu visited al-Qaeda officers hospitalized in Israel. Voltaire, International Newsletter is a weekly newsletter on international politics. It features 10 to 15 pages of contextualized, sourced news items. Its aim is to enable you to follow the decline of the unipolar world and the emergence of a multipolar system. The newsletter is published in several languages. Several foreign ministries from different countries have already subscribed. Our director of publication and editor-in-chief directed French magazines several years ago, and has won journalism awards abroad. He has regularly contributed to some fifteen major dailies and magazines around the world. Voltaire, International Newsletter is available by subscription for 500 a year, is published 42 times a year (not in July-August, nor during the Christmas holydays). Its an indispensable tool for any professional in international relations or defense. Whats more, 10 times a year, subscribers are invited to Zoom virtual meetings with publications director Thierry Meyssan. Contents of issue N110 EDITORIAL 2484 Verbal ceasefire in Lebanon AMERICAS 2485 Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron announce a permanent cessation of hostilities in Lebanon 2486 The Broad Front wins the general elections in Uruguay EUROPE 2487 London has decided to ship F-35 parts to Israel as early as July 2488 Jewish Diaspora Conference on Israel after October 7 2489 Frances Role in the Ceasefire in Lebanon 2490 Nan Goldin supports Palestinians in Berlin 2491 Creation of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine is stalling 2492 Hungary will protect Benjamin Netanyahu from the ICC 2493 Calin Georgescu qualified for the second round of the Romanian presidential election 2494 European Commission is concerned about Hungarys support for Benjamin Netanyahu in the face of the ICC 2495 If repaired, Nord Stream 2 pipeline would no longer be profitable 2496 Volodymyr Zelensky convicts 34 "traitorous" personalities 2497 The Russian plan for Ukraine, according to Interfax-Ukraine 2498 Belarus denounces NATO invasion plan 2499 Speech by Vladimir Putin on the successful launch of an Oreshnik missile 2500 The Russian Vision of the Wests Future AFRICA 2501 The Moral Order in Tunisia 2502 Arrest of Boualem Sansal 2503 DRC-Rwanda Agreement ASIA 2504 Speech by Benjamin Netanyahu against the International Criminal Court 2505 Benjamin Netanyahus strange relations with Hamas and Qatar 2506 Benjamin Netanyahu again calls for postponement of his criminal trial in Jerusalem 2507 The Netanyahu government ceases all contact with a major daily newspaper that contests its policies 2508 Announcement by Benjamin Netanyahu of the ceasefire in Lebanon 2509 Israel deliberately killed three journalists in Lebanon 2510 Hezbollah takes stock of the war 2511 Syria next target of Eretz Israel 2512 Israeli Attacks on Syria Last Month 2513 Assassination of Rabbi Zvi Kogan 2514 Russia recruits Yemeni fighters 2515 Ali Khamenei says Netanyahu and Galland deserve the death penalty 2516 Ali Larijani assures that Tehran is preparing its response 2517 Tehrans Ambivalent Response to the IAEA 2518 Pakistani Opposition Demonstration 2519 Bangladesh behind the rise in tension with Bharat 2520 U.S. and China Stir Up Crisis in Philippines 2521 China reiterates unchanged position on the rights of the Palestinian people 2522 Ishibas militarist government of Japan revives the controversy with Korea INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS 2523 UN Security Council and the Russian-Ukrainian War 2524 Towards a legally binding instrument on the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity 2525 ICC indicts Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Galland 2526 Arab League concerned about Israeli aggression in Iraq and Syria 2527 G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting Keeping pace with Hollywoods perpetual awards horserace. Sign up for the newsletter here. Shes gonna be a star. Photo: Stewart Cook/CBS/Getty Images To paraphrase Chappell Roan: Its a Madison-onemon! Mikey Madison stars as the title character in Sean Bakers Anora this year, and she how do we put this lightly? absolutely eats. How much? Enough to win an Oscar, in fact. Howd that happen? Well, she put on her Brooklyn accent, she took off her clothes, and she delivered a performance that is somehow both the comedic and dramatic best of the year as the brash Ani. The film, which premiered at Cannes, won the Palme dOr, and Madison promptly joined the Oscar conversation, eventually receiving Best Actress from last years winner Emma Stone. But it was not a slam dunk all year. For starters, the Best Actress Oscar has not gone to ingenues in recent years like it did in the 2010s, per our awards columnist, Nate Jones. (Think J.Law, Brie Larson, La La Landera Emma Stone). Also, Madison, at this point, doesnt have much of a public persona. Baker knew her from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and the Scream franchise, and some know her for her work as the teenage daughter on Pamela Adlons Better Things. Plus, she was something of a blank slate publicly shes a 25-year-old without any public social media. With that in mind, we tracked Madisons star power from Cannes through the Oscars, including the expected stops along the way, like the THR roundtable, and the unpredictable moments, like her first controversy, to see just how a star arrives at her first Oscar. Cannes Film Festival May 21, 2024: Notably, before Cannes begins, Vulture does not even include Anora on our list of 11 movies were most excited to see during the festival. By the end of the festival, the movie wins the Palme and Madison is a front-runner for Best Actress. In her first major piece of press during the Anora cycle, a Vogue scene report from the festival on May 23, Madison is positioned as a classic ingenue. Shes at her first festival, its her first time in France, and its all a dream plus, notably, shes a cinephile. Its been a dream of mine since I started acting to one day come to Cannes with a film, she says. I genuinely feel like the luckiest girl in the world. In another profile, by WWD, her status as Bakers muse is the focus. Shes quoted as saying: He was very willing to just be open and really wanted to collaborate with me on that level. It was very unique and special. A glossy mag profile August 26, 2024: Madison begins her press rollout in earnest, and something becomes very clear: Despite the high-octane feistiness of her character in the film, Madison is a much more low-key personality. Im a good girl, really, and Ive always been a good girl, she says in an August 26 Esquire profile. Ive never broken the rules or done bad things. Anoras release October 18, 2024: Neon releases Anora in a prime fall slot, ensuring the movie coasts into awards season without ever leaving voters minds. Madison does much of her YouTube appearances (where all the biggest PR triumphs are made in 2024) alongside Baker. In their scene breakdown for Vanity Fair, which comes out October 17, Madison and Baker have a sweet, awkward chemistry. Shes interested in both the practicalities and the more analytical elements of filmmaking. At one point, she references her characters love interest adjusting Anis top. Hes taking liberties, but hes also covering her, which I think is something interesting, she notes. Baker responds, Hmmm, yeah. Her first nomination October 29, 2024: On October 29, Madison scores her first awards recognition when she is nominated for Outstanding Lead Performance at the 2024 Gotham Awards. The Gothams do not separate by acting categories by gender, and they are not necessarily the best Oscar prognosticators Charles Melton won Best Supporting Performance last year for May December then went on lose out on even a nomination at the Oscars. Still, with her co-nominees including Nicole Kidman (Babygirl) and Adrien Brody (The Brutalist), it shows that shes on the right path. Awards-column darling November 26, 2024: Notably, in press where she is with Baker like the November 26 L.A. Times profile of both her shyness is less central. Instead that profile spends more time on the films explicit scenes. Madison recounts how her father built her a stripper pole in their home so she could practice. Training for a role is second only to a physical transformation in the eyes of Hollywood voters. Well see how it pays off with Golden Globe nominations on December 9. Golden Globe Nom December 9, 2024: Madison scored her first Golden Globe nomination on December 9 an expected honor that is nonetheless an important goalpost for her hit if shes going to get an Oscar win or nomination. She, and Anora at large, is nominated in the Comedy or Musical category, which is potentially category fraud and also tough for her chances. Shell have to face off against some glitzy and glamorous divas, like Cynthia Erivo for Wicked and Demi Moore for The Substance, and the Globes loves drama. Still, it also loves a newcomer (remember when Rachel Bloom won for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend?), so Madison could still feasibly barnstorm and take the win. Madison was also nominated at the Spirit Awards, and Anora was a top-ten film-of-2024 honoree by the American Film Institute. Still, its looking more and more like she could become an also-ran: She lost at the NBR Awards and the NYFCC Awards, and shed have to defy gravity in comparison to the extremely flashy press tours of her competitors (cough, cough, Wicked). As nominations need to turn to wins, ingenue wont be enough. Internet Virality December 19, 2024: The internet comes for us all eventually. As awards season gains momentum, its no surprise that Anora has become more and more discoursed, both positively and negatively, with some claiming the movie is a masterpiece and others saying its just another example of the male gaze. In press, Madison and Baker are, for the first time, pretty much severed hes in Directors on Directors talking with Brady Corbet, while shes conversing with Pamela Anderson in Actors on Actors. And, after Actors on Actors, Madisons own comments become discourse fodder for the first time specifically, her comments on how she, her co-star Mark Eydelshteyn, Baker, and their producer decided not to have an intimacy coordinator. We decided it would be best just to keep it small, with just us, Madison tells Anderson. We were able to just really streamline it. In response, many people feel it was inappropriate for Madison to be allowed to choose not to have an intimacy coordinator. Others say the whole thing was blown out of proportion. And still others get a little misogynistic with it. It becomes so discussed that memes about the discourse proliferate as well. Its a first look at what the conversation around Madison might look like throughout the rest of awards season, but its notable that the discourse has not yet touched her as an individual her lack of social-media presence means shes never replying, and no interviewers have asked her about her own controversies yet. And if they do, maybe they should ask her about Club Chalamets angry tweet. The Roundtable January 3, 2025: The Hollywood Reporters annual roundtable is one of the years highest-stake press opportunities for any performer. Rarely do all parties involved get equal playing time, and if one person takes over as moderator, its easy for this to become basically a solo press junket. For the shy, press-green Madison, the pitfalls are a bit unavoidable. Throughout the hour-long roundtable, Madison talks a total of three times, and one of those is when shes prompted by Tilda Swinton to say the age she was when she began acting. Still, she does some networking: Madison brought her dog, Jam, who got to hang out with Zendayas pup, Noon, and Demi Moores theater-critic Chihuahua, Pilaf. The Criterion Collection January 3, 2025: On the very same day that the roundtable is posted, Criterion posts Madisons visit to the Criterion Closet. And this is like a fish in water Madison, as has been documented since Cannes, is a huge film buff, and this gives her a chance to talk about her favorite movies. She waxes rhapsodic about Isabelle Hupperts noises in The Piano Teacher and gives credit to Jackie Coogan, who paved the way for child actors (like herself, when she was on Better Things) to have money kept aside for them that isnt accessible by their parents. The Globes Snub January 6, 2025: Well, folks, it happened: The Golden Globes were held on January 5, and not only did Madison not take home a trophy, but Anora was entirely shut out, with Emilia Perez winning Best Film Musical or Comedy; Conclave winning screenplay, and The Brutalist winning Best Director. Madison lost her award to Demi Moore for The Substance, and Moore took the opportunity and ran with it delivering one hell of a speech. Still, the race isnt over yet. The Substance is still a strange movie for the Academy, a body that doesnt historically like horror and didnt even nominate a beloved performance like Toni Collette in Hereditary. And it seems altogether possible that the Globes just didnt like Anora all that much and the Academy will. Are these crazed ramblings of a heres how Bernie can still win Anora hivemind or are they effective predictions? A much-improved late-night visit January 9, 2025: After visiting Jimmy Kimmel Live! in November, before any nominations really started rolling in, Madison finally joined the other Jimmy for a chat, going on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon on January 8. Fresh off a SAG nomination the previous day, Madison is funny and perky telling a story about a boat ride she ended up having to take control of while filming Anora and landing multiple punch lines in the process. Its remarkable to watch both interviews back-to-back, because, while she was very sweet in the Kimmel interview, in just a few short months, awards boot camp has made her so much more comfortable doing press. When Fallon asks her what shes most proud of, she takes a second and then lists a series of accomplishments: This is a film Im very proud of, she says. I learned Russian for this film; I learned how to dance like a stripper as authentically as I possibly could, which I took very seriously, by the way, and is one of the most difficult things Ive ever had to do; I learned how to twerk! Oscar night, incoming. Oscar! Oscar! Oscar! ANORAs Mikey Madison has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/JDRcALQ8f3 NEON (@neonrated) January 23, 2025 January 23, 2025: It happened! After months of campaigning (and a delay due to the wildfires), the Oscar nominations came out, and Mikey Madison scored her very first, alongside fellow first-timers Demi Moore (The Substance), Karla Sofia Gascon (Emilia Perez), and Fernanda Torres (Im Still Here), plus second-time nominee Cynthia Erivo, for Wicked. Its the first time this century that all of the women nominated for Best Actress are in Best Picture nominees. Anora itself scored six nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director for Baker, and Best Supporting Actor for Yura Borisov. Now, Madisons campaign will enter its final lap, heading straight toward the big night. We hope shes ready to keep shaking hands and kissing babies. Oscar gold is now in sight. Anoras upswing February 12, 2025: Given its lack of Golden Globe wins, a lot of people started to count Anora out from the Oscars race then, over the course of one weekend, it won Best Director for Baker at the Directors Guild Awards and the Best Pictureequivalent award, the Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures, at the Producers Guild Awards. With that added momentum, Madisons chances against the veteran Moore are again potentially on the rise, with the BAFTAs and the SAG Awards coming up to confirm it. Meanwhile, Madison got a GQ feature that went meta on her press run, while also letting Baker do a lot of the speaking. On her increasing comfortability around media, Baker notes, Shes doing this so she can maintain a very, for lack of a better word, high-brow career. Moving forwards, shes going to be very picky with the films that she chooses. She scored a big Briish win February 16, 2025: With that upswing comes awards! Finally! Madison won the BAFTA for Leading Actress, beating out Moore for the first time on TV. As a speech-giver, she was characteristically sweet and shy, thanking her mother and everybody involved with Anora individually. I do want to take a moment to recognize the sex-worker community, she added at the end. I see you. You deserve respect and human decency. and a Spirit-ed sweep February 22, 2025: Following a surprise BAFTA win, at an event at which she was the sole winner from Anora, Madison got to spread the love at the 2025 Film Independent Spirit Awards. She and Anora took home all the big trophies that night, including Best Lead Performance for Madison, Best Feature, and Best Director for Baker. While many of her fellow nominees at the Oscars were not nominated at the Spirit Awards (they only honor independently produced films), she did notably beat fellow Best Actress nominee Moore, her biggest competition. Oscar voting has already closed, so the quality of Madisons speeches from here on out cannot affect her Oscar chances. Still, she was sweetly composed, even through nerves, in this speech, mostly just thanking everybody who worked on the movie. To my fellow nominees, Im so honored to be nominated alongst she said, appearing to combine amongst and alongside. Sorry, Im so nervous, she added. But she got it all out eventually and walked away, with two big awards now under her belt, the potential front-runner. but sadly no SAG February 23, 2025: Madisons SAG Awards ceremony started out well she was the first person to speak during the ceremony, giving her Im an actor speech. I grew up in L.A. and fell in love with the idea of movie-making, she said. When I was 13, I booked an ultra-low-budget short film and earned my SAG card. She then said that it wasnt until she booked Once Upon a Time in Hollywood , when my character had a dog-food can thrown at her face, was attacked by a pit bull, ran through a sliding glass door, tripped into a pool, and finally was set on fire by a flamethrower, that she actually felt like she was making it. So that was good. But then Madisons short n sweet sweep ground to a halt, when Moore beat her yet again, this time for the SAG Award for Outstanding Lead Actress. It was nice while it lasted. Still, with two major awards to show for her work heading into Oscar night, she shouldnt be discounted. An Oscar! An Oscar! An Oscar! March 2, 2025: To paraphrase Anne Hathaway: It came true! On Oscars night, Anora won a total of five awards, including Best Picture, and Mikey Madison was included in its sweep. Thank you so much to the Academy, I grew up in Los Angeles but Hollywood always felt so far away from me, Madison said in her acceptance speech, later adding, Thank you Brighton Beach for lending us your beautiful backdrop. She then went back to a theme shes focused on all awards season, saying she wants to again acknowledge and recognize the sex worker community. This is a dream come true, Madison said. Im probably going to wake up tomorrow. Thank you to Sean, this is all because of you. Do turkeys talk in Oz? Photo: Universal Pictures/Everett Collection Mild spoilers ahead for Wicked. Get ready to stop holding space for Defying Gravity and make room For Good. Part two of Jon M. Chus Wicked adaptation is only 340 days away and you dont need a vision almost like a prophecy to know theres going to be another bonkers press tour starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. Below, everything the mighty Wizard (Universal Pictures and co.) have shared about the upcoming sequel, now titled Wicked: For Good. Presenting: a new title. The second movie will be called Wicked: For Good, after the most iconic song in the shows second act, defying expectations that they might come up with a better subtitle. You will be changed. Wicked: For Good, only in theaters November 21, 2025. pic.twitter.com/vBhTwNTVNa Wicked Movie (@wickedmovie) December 16, 2024 Whats new in Wicked: For Good? There are at least two new songs, confirmed by both director Jon M. Chu and composer Stephen Schwartz. Schwartz explained the decision to The Messenger in 2023, The storytelling required it, and therefore they were created the intention was that they were organic and not imposed on the movie. Its too late to make this request but more Jonathan Bailey please. Are there any new characters joining the movie? Some of Wicked: Part Two For Good plays out at the same time as the events of The Wizard of Oz, and in the latter, we meet Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, and the Tinman. While the stage show doesnt emphasize Dorothy shes only a silhouette or a voice-over at times the movie could change that. Plus, it would be fun to see the foreshadowing from the first film play out as its revealed Dorothys friends are from Elphabas past. Fellow Ozians are already speculating on who Dorothy could be played by, but nothing is confirmed. When does Wicked: For Good come out? Get ready for another Turkey season filled with finger-holding. The curtain raises November 21, 2025. Hopefully, the next press tour will be just as, if not more, emotional. Expo links China with rest of world, promotes supply chain cooperation Xinhua) 08:14, November 29, 2024 BEIJING, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- At the 2nd China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) being held here from Tuesday to Saturday, a big FARMER BOB statue made a debut at McDonald's booth in the "Green Agriculture Chain" exhibition hall, drawing wide attention from visitors. The FARMER BOB series was inspired by the theme of "McFarm," reflecting McDonald's efforts in bringing fresh, high-quality food to the table. Here, consumers and visitors have the opportunity to view McDonald's from a different perspective, exploring the brand's smart, digital, and eco-friendly supply chain system. In addition to McDonald's, other iconic global brands under Yum China, such as KFC and Pizza Hut, are also showcasing their supply chain stories at the ongoing CISCE, highlighting how digitalization, sustainability, and smart technology come together to ensure the variety and quality of their products. The global reach and resource integration of these food brands depend on robust, integrated supply chains that bring together high-quality ingredients from around the world, to offer diverse culinary experiences. This embodies the spirit of CISCE -- promoting global supply chain collaboration and mutual growth. With its theme "Connecting the World for A Shared Future," the expo highlights the shared vision of cooperation and win-win development. People visit the booth of Xiaomi at the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 28, 2024. (Photo by Na Yuqi/Xinhua) CONNECTING PARTNERS This year, over 620 companies, institutions, and international organizations are participating in CISCE, a 20-percent increase from the inaugural expo. The proportion of overseas exhibitors has risen from 26 percent to 32 percent, with European and American companies accounting for half of that group. So, why are so many international companies flocking to CISCE? At the expo's opening, Ren Hongbin, chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, emphasized that CISCE serves as a bridge for industries, fostering innovation and facilitating market access across countries. As the world's first national-level exhibition dedicated to supply chains, CISCE helps businesses worldwide integrate into the global industrial and supply chains. What makes CISCE special is its focus on the entire supply chain ecosystem. Unlike traditional trade expos that showcase individual products, CISCE emphasizes the networks, collaborations and connections that drive the supply chains forward. Exhibitors are not just competing for customers; they are seeking long-term partnerships and new opportunities. "We're excited to engage with organizations across the life sciences and genomics industries at this year's expo, and we look forward to sparking new collaborations and breakthroughs," said Yang Shuang, executive vice president of BGI Group, a genome research organization. "At this year's expo, my company iMpact is focused on showcasing how we empower Chinese businesses to succeed in overseas markets by building trust and facilitating strong, localized partnerships. CISCE supplies us with a platform to connect my company with our potential partners," Chris Pereira, founder and CEO of communications and business consulting group iMpact, told Xinhua. "As a fast food chain enterprise, Burger King (China) came to the exhibition to showcase the services and products which we can supply to our partners and potential partners. Besides that, we seek new cooperation opportunities here, and CISCE supplies us with these opportunities," said Atakan Bozkurt, CEO of Burger King (China). People visit the booth of XPENG at the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 28, 2024. (Photo by Na Yuqi/Xinhua) COLLABORATION FOR SHARED GROWTH Procter & Gamble (P&G), a global leader in consumer goods, made its debut at the expo, highlighting its collaborations with domestic and international partners across various sectors. At the expo, P&G launched its "One Supply Chain" strategy, aiming to deepen its partnerships with global collaborators. The company works with over 60,000 partners worldwide, with more than 500 in China alone. "Our relationship with our partners is symbiotic and collaborative," said Jasmine Xu, CEO of P&G Greater China. "We've always said that innovation and shared prosperity cannot be achieved by one company alone. I can confidently say that all the examples we've shared, whether in innovation, product technology, or operational improvements, have been accomplished through close cooperation with our partners," Calvin Yin, vice president of Product Supply Market Operations, P&G Greater China, told Xinhua. This year, New Zealand's dairy giant Fonterra is also participating in CISCE along with its supply chain partners. "By participating in CISCE, Fonterra firmly supports China's efforts to establish an advanced supply chain -- particularly in the area of green agriculture, where we are keen to contribute," said Teh-han Chow, CEO of Fonterra Greater China. "In China, our vision of sustainability highly aligns with China's 'dual carbon' goals. Accordingly, we cooperate with local partners across the value chain to jointly achieve the sustainable development of the dairy industry," he noted. A visitor talks with a staff member at the booth of Beijing China-Germany Economic and Technological Cooperation Demonstration Zone at the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Xiao Ennan) CHINA'S CRUCIAL ROLE The large presence of foreign companies at CISCE underscores the growing demand for global supply chain cooperation and highlights China's vital role in this ecosystem. Manuel Sanchez, chief representative director of the Beijing Office of U.S. Grains Council, told Xinhua that this is their second time participating in the expo. He emphasized that they have an extensive list of members and consider the Chinese market to be extremely important. "China is the largest buyer of agricultural products around the globe, so it's important to stay connected," he said. "It's important for not only the Chinese side to travel, but for us to also serve their needs to the best of our ability." At its CISCE booth, GE Healthcare is showcasing the latest achievements of its domestic supply chain, partnering with suppliers to present key components like CT tubes, bearings, detector crystals, MRI superconducting wires, and ultrasound circuit boards. Zhang Yihao, president and CEO of GE Healthcare China, said, "The common enemy of humanity is disease, and treating it requires a stable supply of medical equipment. China's medical equipment supply chain offers a powerful solution." Sanofi, a French multinational pharmaceutical and healthcare company headquartered in Paris, also made its debut at CISCE. China is one of the key markets for Sanofi's global leadership in immunology, said Shi Wang, president of Sanofi Greater China, noting that the expo presents Sanofi with an invaluable opportunity for deep interaction and communication with industry peers. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 29. The Azerbaijani Parliament has given the green light to the amendment regarding the joint development of the Azeri and Chirag fields, Trend reports. The draft law of the Republic of Azerbaijan concerning the adoption, approval, and authorization for the implementation of the Second Annex to the Agreement on the joint development of the Azeri, Chirag, and deep-water part of the Guneshli fields in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea and production sharing dated September 14, 2017 was presented for deliberation at today's session of the Azerbaijani Parliament. Subsequent to deliberations, the paper was subjected to a vote and ratified. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel ADJUNCT FACULTY: Sustainable Conservation The American University of Rome is looking for an adjunct instructor to teach the course "Sustainable Conservation" which is part of a graduate-level program in Cultural Heritage. The course will meet for 15 contact hours from mid March to mid May 2025. This course will examine the theory and practice of sustainable conservation. The course will focus on issues that form the current debate on conservation such as documentation and information management, values and interest groups and stakeholder engagement as a form of site preservation. The course will also provide students with the necessary tools and set of examples for selecting sites for preservation, with a focus on preventive conservation. Students will also learn practical methods for the physical conservation of different categories of cultural resources and will master a technical vocabulary adequate to communicate with conservation specialists. Required qualifications: Excellent knowledge of English Graduate qualification in conservation Professional experience Desirable qualifications Previous teaching experience at the graduate level Previous teaching experience with North American programs Application & Procedure All applicants must have the right to work in Italy. Applicants should submit a letter of application to applications@aur.edu detailing their teaching and other relevant experience and a CV that includes the names of three references to be contacted should the candidate proceed to the interview stage. Please include ref: HR 16_2024 Sustainable Conservation and the candidate's full name in the subject field. AUR is an equal-opportunity employer. Further details APPLICATION CLOSING DATE: January 20th , 2025 POSITION START DATE: Mid March 2025 The American University of Rome provides equal opportunity for all qualified individuals in its educational programs and activities. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, or Vietnam-era veteran status. It conforms to all applicable federal and state nondiscrimination laws. The policy of equal opportunity applies to every aspect of the operations and activities of the university generally and includes admissions and employment. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 29. The Azerbaijani Parliament has given its nod to a pact with Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, paving the way for a seamless journey for those bearing diplomatic passports, free from the shackles of visas, Trend reports. According to the information, the draft laws on approval of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on mutual exemption of holders of diplomatic, special, and service passports from short-term visas and approval of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia on visa-free regime for holders of diplomatic and service passports were submitted for discussion at today's session of the Azerbaijani Parliament Subsequent to deliberations, the documents were subjected to a vote and ratified. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel By PA Reporters Polls opened at 7am on Friday for voters to decide who will form Irelands next government. Some 174 seats across 43 constituencies in the Dail are being contested. The vote will close at 10pm with counting expected to start on Saturday morning. A young girl helps put a vote in the ballot box at St Anthonys Boys School, Beechwood Park, Ballinlough, in Cork (Jacob King/PA) Sonia Higgins, with her pet pug named Chico, arrives to cast her vote at Deaf Village Ireland (DVI) on Navan Road, Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) Ms Higgins holds up a ballot paper with Chico still under her other arm (Niall Carson/PA) President Michael D Higgins casts his vote at St Marys Hospital, Phoenix Park, in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) Mr Higgins and his wife Sabina speak to staff overseeing voting at St Marys Hospital (Brian Lawless/PA) Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris opted for his wife, Caoimhe, and two children, Saoirse and Cillian, to accompany him to the voting station. Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris and his wife, Caoimhe, cast their votes at Delgany National School, County Wicklow, with their children (Niall Carson/PA) Mr Harriss children, Cillian and Saoirse, accompanied their parents at the polling station (Niall Carson/PA) Saoirse is five years old while Cillian is aged three (Niall Carson/PA) Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald (left) is greeted by Sarah Byrne (right) as she arrives to cast her vote at Deaf Village Ireland on Navan Road (Brian Lawless/PA) Ms McDonald faces a wall of photographers and reporters as she dropped her vote into the ballot box (Brian Lawless/PA) Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin arrives with an umbrella to cast his vote, accompanied by his family (Jacob King/PA) Mr Martin speaking to the media as he casts his vote at St Anthonys Boys School, Beechwood Park, Ballinlough, Cork (Jacob King/PA) A man drops his vote into a ballot box St Maries of the Isle National School in Cork, watched closely by voting overseers and Father Christmas (Jacob King/PA) Voter turnout is expected to be a crucial factor in this general election, with several opinion polls putting the three biggest parties within touching distance of one another (Brian Lawless/PA) Aaron Joyce is running in the General Election in Waterford. He is part of the Guth Na hEireann party and spoke to journalist Hugh Dooley of Waterford News & Star and waterford-live.ie about his concerns about the public education system, immigration and mental health supports in Waterford. This is part of a series of interviews with the General Election candidates in Waterford. You can watch the full interview below. The Mayor of Waterford City and County Cllr. Jason Murphy joined the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the first Local Spiritual Assembly of Baha'i in Waterford City. The first assembly was established in 1974 and a celebration was recently held at the Tower Hotel. Along with friends and well-wishers, the Bahi'i community celebrated the notable anniversary of the annually elected body, which coordinates and supports the Bahai activities in Waterford each year. 50th anniversary of the Bahai community in Waterford. The event opened with a well-wishing message from President Michael D. Higgins, which was read out by Mayor Jason Murphy, in which he thanked the group for their "kind invitation". "Your thoughtfulness in extending the invitation is very much appreciated but the President regrets that, due to the extent of his commitments, it is not possible for him to accept on this occasion," he continued, "President Higgins fondly remembers welcoming the Baha'is of Ireland to Aras an Uachtarain in 2018 and would like to send his good wishes and trusts that you will appreciate the reasons for his unavailability on this occasion." Mayor Murphy delivered his own remarks to the more than one hundred people in attendance. "It is a great honour for me to be with you today as we mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Waterford. "As Mayor of Waterford, I am privileged to celebrate this significant milestone with you. One which reflects not only the history of the Baha'i community in Waterford city but also the deep commitment to unity, service and wellbeing for all that your community upholds. Mayor Murphy said that Waterford is "fortunate" to have the Baha'i community "that strives to promote unity in diversity". "The contributions of the Baha'i community have enriched the fabric of the society here in Waterford," he said, remaking that he was "inspired" by the group's "commitment to serve all people regardless of background and your dedication to principles that progress oneness and the wellbeing of all." Step back in time with Waterford Yesteryear, a calendar from Waterford News & Star photographer and Master of the Archives, Joe Evans. Waterford Yesteryear is a calendar that will bring you back, before you move forward! This years edition celebrates the work of local photographer Simon Farrell, a well-loved figure from the Cork Road, who captured the spirit of Waterford through his lens. Known for his contributions to Irish national newspapers and local papers, Simon documented the days news and, occasionally, weddings, preserving moments that are now precious memories. Through the efforts of Joe Evans, who salvaged and restored Simons original glass plate negatives, Waterford Yesteryear features 12 iconic scenes from the 1950s and 60s that will resonate deeply with the community. Favourites like Elliotts Chip Van, Summerland Bakery, and Tramores Hydro Hotel - places long since gone - are lovingly brought back to life, evoking fond memories for Waterford locals of all ages. Joe, who cherishes these old memories, as much as capturing new ones, hopes that as you turn each page of this 2025 calendar, you'll be transported to a special time and place in Waterfords history. Waterford Yesteryear is available now for 9.99 from The Book Centre in Waterford City. Also still available from The Book Centre is 'Colourful Memories of Waterford', the perfect Christmas gift, bringing historic photographs to life in ways that black and white simply cannot. The book by Joe Evans brings historic images of Waterford to life in vivid colour, capturing local people in a way never before seen! Loading The company recently completed an eight-level office building above its old premises down the street at 33 Stewart Street and revamped No.29 into a four-storey office housing the Slimform headquarters and other tenants. The Hong Kong investors also bought 44 Wangaratta Street in 2021 for nearly $19.5 million Slimforms local boss Derham Moss, who has a long association with the area, said he and the companys owners had a strong desire to maintain the streets heritage. Im really passionate about this area its a good blend of resi and commercial, Moss told Capital Gain. We put a lot of effort into keeping the facade at No. 33 and the facade of No.13 is quite unique. Thats what tenants want anyway. They dont want shiny surfaces like you get in the CBD. Carpe diem Property developer Carpe Group and Icon Developments have snapped up a Collingwood development site for $10.6 million. The sale of 53-57 Cambridge Street, a two-storey warehouse on an 811 square metre corner site, is the biggest deal done this year in Collingwood though it could yet be pipped by the sale of the old Gloweave site on Wellington street. The property, which has frontage to Langridge and Derby streets, has been home to textile merchant M.Recht Accessories for more than 40 years. 53-57 Cambridge Street, Collingwood Cushman & Wakefields Daniel Wolman, who did the deal with Hamish Burgess, Leon Ma and Raphael Favas, said eight bids were made for the property which is in the heart of the industrial suburbs redevelopment area. Carpe is planning to turn the site into a luxury apartment project. Up the road at 194-202 Wellington Street, an old office-showroom converted into hospitality has changed hands for a price believed to be between $4-4.5 million. An investor bought the building which has a fresh five-year lease to Proud Mary Coffee Roasters (which trades as Aunty Pegs). The 999-square metre building has a full commercial kitchen. Gross Waddell ICR agents Glenn Ye, Andrew Waddell and Danny Clark handled the transaction. Jail break Golden Peak Developments, one of the companies working at the former Pentridge prison precinct in Coburg has offloaded an 1100 sq m site for $9.75 million. Records show 45P, a company associated with the Dib familys Blue Sky Developments, has a caveat over 45 Pentridge Boulevard. 45 Pentridge Boulevard, Coburg. The site, overlooking McDonald Reserve near Bell Street, has a permit for more than 200 apartments in a 16-level tower. Cushman & Wakefield agents Joe Kairouz, Hamish Burgess and Leon Ma negotiated the deal. Queens Parade Finally going ahead after several years of neglect and attracting layers of graffiti is a five level residential project at 15- 33 Queens Parade, Clifton Hill, near the Smith Street intersection and the huge Gasworks redevelopment precinct. The former hardware shop has changed hands several times in the past seven years. Former Swisse Wellness boss Michael Saba paid $6.7 million in 2017 before selling to Tope Lane for $6.5 million in 2019. Developer Prime Edition, who is behind the current project, paid $8.3 million in 2021. The apartment development, designed by Cera Stribley, is being marketed with an odd AI-generated campaign depicting Queen Elizabeth II, Marie Antoinette and Catherine the Great going about their business at various local landmarks. No sign of Queen Victoria after whom the leafy boulevard is named. Renders of the apartment project at 15-33 Queens Parade, Clifton Hill According to the Collingwood Historical Society, the strip was once part of Heidelberg Road but was renamed Queens Parade in 1887 to honour Queen Victorias 50-year golden jubilee reign. Digging deep Investors have dug deep for childcare centres this month. The East Brighton Only About Children centre sold for $16.5 million, reflecting a 4.9 per cent yield. The centre at 409-411 South Road was built in 2017 and returns $823,107 a year. CBREs Sandro Peluso, Marcello Caspani-Muto and Jimmy Tat handled the sale. Stonebridge Property Groups Rorey James, Nic Hage, Kevin Tong and Max Sinclair have also sold three childcare centres for the Taverner Group. The first, at 1 Lauer Street, Doncaster is leased to Imagine Childcare and sold to an interstate investor for $15.5 million on a 6.05 per cent yield. The second, a Grow Early Education centre at 203-205 Canterbury Road, Heathmont, fetched $12.01 million, reflecting a 5.83 per cent yield, It was purchased by an Asian investor. A local investor bought the third property, a Nido Early School centre at 3-7 Clarendon Street, Ascot Vale, paying $8 million, on a 5.79 per cent yield. The Beast at 80 Lygon Street, East Brunswick. The Beast East Brunswick bar the Beast sold ahead of this weeks scheduled auction after 21 days on the market. A land-banking local investor will pay $3.75 million for the 620 sq m double-storey bar at 78-80 Lygon Street. Fitzroys Chris Kombi, Ervin Niyaz and Ben Liu did the deal. Meanwhile, the Imperial Hotel at 522 Chapel Street sold at a hot lunchtime auction with three bidders pushing the price to $6.85 million. The Imperial Hotel, 518-522 Chapel Street, South Yarra. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size In her decades-long international career, Chinese artist Cao Fei has never had an exhibition as personal as her new show at the Art Gallery of NSW. In it, she explores an aspect of her family history that she hasnt addressed in her art until now: the migration of her oldest sister, Xiaoyun, from Guangzhou to Sydney in 1998. I recently found a lot of letters she sent to my mum and that my mum kept, Cao tells me via Zoom from Shanghai. I had never read them and after so many years more than 20 years I was quite surprised at how she struggled at the beginning as an immigrant. I found this very touching. These letters, as well as family photographs, artefacts and interviews, will feature in a new work, The Golden Wattle, that Cao has made especially for the AGNSW in what is her first major Australian exhibition. I have never shown this kind of side to an audience, this really personal connection with this land, she says. The Golden Wattle is a universal story that will resonate in Australia, where the Chinese-born population is the third-largest migrant community after those of Britain and India. The work is an exhibition within an exhibition, a shrine to Caos sister, who was also an artist and died in 2022, aged 50, from cancer. Its title refers to Xiaoyuns favourite native flower; Xiaoyuns paintings of golden wattles and other native flora will feature in the installation. Cao Feis Haze and Fog 04, 2013, inkjet print on paper. Credit: Cao Fei/Vitamin Creative Space/Spruth Magers When Xiaoyun made the leap to this strange new land, Fei was still a student at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, absorbed in the act of breaking traditional art forms to give too much thought to how her sister was faring in far-off Sydney. But as often happens in midlife, Fei, now 46, felt the need to delve into the past and reflect on the challenges her sister confronted as a migrant. Before she passed away I had a long interview with her, Cao says. I told her it was a special interview, for the show. We had an hour interview, but soon after that call, she went to hospital and we never spoke again So its quite beautiful and sad in this work. Advertisement Although Cao lives in Beijing, shes on the line from Shanghai where the Museum of Art Pudong is presenting her work in the first solo exhibition dedicated to a female artist since the museum opened in 2021. Were speaking with the help of her studio assistant, Xu Xiong, who lives in Adelaide and translates her words from Mandarin to English. The back-and-forth of translation hampers the flow of conversation and theres a long and serious discussion in Mandarin when I ask whether I can record our conversation, but once Im given the OK Cao responds thoughtfully and extensively to my questions. She seems a little tired, but doesnt falter for the duration of our almost two-hour interview. The longer we speak, the more she opens up. A multimedia artist whose work comments on urbanisation, globalisation and the impact of technology on peoples lives, Cao has an extensive international profile and has exhibited at galleries including MoMA PS1 in New York in 2016, the Centre Pompidou in Paris in 2019 (the first Chinese artist to be given a solo exhibition there), and at MAXXI, the national museum of 21st century art in Rome in 2021. Shes had work in the worlds leading biennales and triennials, including three times at the Venice Biennale (2003, 2007, 2015), and twice at the Biennale of Sydney (2006, 2010). Last year, Cao was named one of the most influential people in the global arts, ranked No.10 in the ArtReview journals Power 100 list. A still from Nova, 2019, single-channel HD video. Credit: Cao Fei/Vitamin Creative Space/Spruth Magers Its fitting that her first major Australian exhibition is in Sydney, Guangzhous designated sister city. The exhibitions title Cao Fei: My City Is Yours plays on that idea and also points to the commonalities between seemingly disparate cities around the world and the humans who inhabit them. The exhibition features works spanning Caos career, from her first digital video in 1999, Imbalance 257, a grainy, stream-of-consciousness piece that wowed her art teachers in Guangzhou, to her two new commissions for the AGNSW, The Golden Wattle and Hip Hop Sydney, which also connects with the citys Chinese diaspora. Throughout her career, Cao has embraced new technology, from picking up a cheap digital camera as a boundary-pushing art student, to immersing herself in virtual reality, creating avatars and an entire city on Second Life, the online social world that peaked in the late 2000s. She produces videos, photographs, video games and extensive installations. Her Sydney exhibition, designed in collaboration with Hong Kongs Beau Architects, will mimic the structure of a city with various precincts, such as a factory zone, a cinema zone, and a restaurant zone for which Cao has recreated Sydneys much-loved and now-closed yum cha restaurant the Marigold, including salvaged chandeliers, dim sum trolley carts and lazy Susans. Advertisement I like new media, and sometimes I like old media, Cao says. For me, its not about whether a medium is old or new, but how it will be used for different subjects. As an artist, shes drawn to abandoned urban spaces and the memories and stories that linger. The lives of ordinary workers is another recurring theme and was the subject of the artwork that launched Cao onto the international stage in 2006. Titled Whose Utopia, the 20-minute video is set in an Osram light-bulb factory in the Pearl River Delta. As workers sit at their stations, heads bowed over their fiddly work, a young woman in a tutu and angel wings dances en pointe among them; another woman in a long white ball gown walks down a narrow warehouse corridor, shelves towering either side of her, performing delicate dance moves and hand gestures; and a middle-aged man practises mime on the factory floor, while younger men play out their fantasies of being rock stars. These melancholy images move to a slow, sombre score. Asia One, from 2018, commissioned by the Guggenheim Museum, is considered a sequel to Whose Utopia. Here, the nature of work has changed dramatically: in a vast automated warehouse, there are only two human workers a man and a woman (with a barcode tattooed on her wrist). Their co-worker is a cute AI robot. Once again a sense of yearning pervades the work; the humans seem vulnerable, wistful, forlorn as they inhabit a hollow world of conveyor belts rolling with cardboard packages and floor-to-ceiling industrial shelves crammed with even more packages. Whose Utopia, 2006, single-channel video. Credit: Cao Fei/Vitamin Creative Space/Spruth Magers Whose Utopia reflects the booming manufacturing industry in China at that time to serve globalisation and on the other hand Asia One shows the rise of new industry, digital commerce, Cao says. As individuals, we are all a subject of consumerism; we either need to work to provide a service or receive a service, and in the era of automation we need to think about how automation might replace jobs. As an artist, I think my work is to witness the change and record the change. In the past in China workers were glorified, they were considered a very important part of society. Now the glory doesnt seem to be there any more, and we all need to think about what our future will be. She hastens to add: Its not just in China that the glorification of the worker has disappeared, its a global phenomenon. In the past, in many places, the worker was valued, was rewarded, and now with technological development, it seems like humans and the workers are secondary. However, Cao doesnt take a purely critical view of technology her works are not judgments. Im trying to explore possibilities for co-existence, she says. In my life I wonder whether Ill be able to see how the value of people could change, so they are not just purely valued as workers. Is there a new value to people that can be outside of work? It could be something else, and so I have an open mind for that. Advertisement Asia One, 2018, single-channel HD video. Credit: Cao Fei/Vitamin Creative Space/Spruth Magers Cao was born in 1978, the same year that Chairman Deng Xiaoping ushered in sweeping changes for China, with his policies of reform and opening-up spurring rapid urbanisation and technological advances. Caos parents were both artists and sculptors; her father made portrait statues of Chinese leaders, including Deng Xiaoping. The family lived at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, where Caos parents taught, and she grew up surrounded by art. Guangzhou was quite a pioneering city at that time, Cao says. There were a lot of new opportunities, and one important memory I have at that time in the academy was being able to access a lot of Western culture in the library. I could read catalogues of modern art from the West, like Picasso, Dali and Magritte, so thats quite a rare opportunity, and later on, I got exposed to not just Western modern art but also pop culture. Now Cao finds herself sharing top billing with Magritte over summer at the AGNSW, a pairing that amuses her, and that is not as unusual as it may at first seem. A surrealist streak runs through Caos work. She highlights the odd and incongruous, such as cosplayers in bizarre outfits at combat in the bleak urban landscapes of Guangzhou, with fake animals representing nature displaced by urban sprawl. Loading Caos other new commission for the AGNSW, Hip Hop Sydney, also has an element of the absurd. It features 60 ordinary people, from the age of nine to 90, performing hip-hop on the streets of the citys Chinatowns in Haymarket and Burwood, as well as at the Sydney Opera House. The work reprises a project Cao began more than 20 years ago, when she made Hip Hop Guangzhou on the streets of her hometown, filming labourers, cleaners, police and more. The work reclaims hip-hop for the masses, returns it to the street as a form of joyous release or gentle rebellion, open to anyone, regardless of age or ability. She followed it up with Hip Hop Fukuoka (2005) and Hip Hop New York (2006). Its a very surprising opportunity for me to make Hip Hop Sydney because I already thought the Hip Hop series was finished, she says. Advertisement Fashion loves a Cinderella story. Amid the turmoil of the near-collapse and potential resurrection of Australian Fashion Week, the closure of several brands including Dion Lee, and the general downturn in retail, any green shoot is worth celebrating. Effie Kats knows this almost better than anyone in the industry, having come close to total financial collapse five years ago, when her first label, Zachary, imploded after her main investor allegedly conned her into signing away her business and ran up large debts in her name. Of her two brands Effie Kats and Bayse Brand its the eponymous line, which she runs with her father Bill, thats garnering the most attention, especially after this years spring racing carnival, during which she dressed 20 celebrities including model Montana Cox, radio host Carrie Bickmore and Kylie Rogers, the new chief executive of the Victoria Racing Club. Forging a new pattern Effie Kats in her Melbourne workroom. Credit: Simon Schluter So, how does a brand walk the line between a viral moment and over-exposure? And how did 34-year-old Kats, a photography school drop-out with no formal design training, become one of the hottest names in Australian fashion? Last week the Australian government denied a visitors visa to Ayelet Shaked, a right-wing former Israeli cabinet minister, while this week the Israeli government sanctioned Haaretz, the countrys oldest and left-leaning newspaper, with the communications minister accusing the paper of anti-Israeli incitement. These actions highlight just how sensitive commentary and reporting on issues relating to conflict in the Middle East can be, regardless of ones closeness to or distance from the region. It also highlights why it is hard but necessary for governments to find balance when dealing with issues relating to the conflict, and why advocacy groups in Australia should play a more responsible role in choosing who they ask to contribute to the public debate in this country. Former Israeli minister Ayelet Shaked was refused an Australian visa on character grounds. Credit: AP Before Shaked was denied entry to Australia, it is likely that few Australians knew that a provocatively titled meeting called the Canberra-Jerusalem Strategic Dialogue was being hosted by the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council. Given the title linked Australias capital with Jerusalem a city that Israel claims, but Australia does not recognise, as its capital it is unlikely that it would have featured a balanced examination of the complex issues facing the Middle East. Despite its prior obscurity, the meeting hit the international press, thanks to the governments denial of Shakeds visa on character grounds, based on concerns that her visit could vilify Australians and incite racial discord. Shaked is a former cabinet minister who previously threatened to leave the Israeli government if it decided to freeze settlement construction in the West Bank, and who said that 2 million Gazans should permanently leave the territory, and that other countries should accommodate them. A Perth man was having relationship issues on the night he took a rare psychedelic drug in such large quantities he overdosed, causing him to hallucinate and stab his mother to death. Carol Cameron was trying to get her 31-year-old son Callum James Cameron help in August 2020 when she called triple zero and asked for an ambulance. Carol Cameron, 63, died after being stabbed by her son Callum who was in a drug psychosis. She told paramedics who arrived at her St James home that her son was acting weird after consuming ayahuasca, a plant-based psychedelic. The 63-year-old tried to encourage her son to go with paramedics to hospital when his behaviour escalated. The ambulance crew retreated to their vehicle and called police for backup, when they heard Cameron reaching for a kitchen knife. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 29. The next resettlement to Jabrayil city under the Great Return program has taken place; the families sent in the morning have arrived in their motherland, Trend reports. According to information, Jabrayil city welcomed 200 people - 40 families today. The families who arrived in the city were reunited with their native land with tears of joy. Residents of Jabrayil city who returned to their native lands expressed gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva for all-round state care. They also expressed gratitude to the brave Azerbaijani army, heroic soldiers, and officers who rid our lands of occupation, wished repose to the souls of the martyrs, and wished patience to their families. In the new buildings constructed in Jabrayil under the instructions of the head of state, all conditions have been created to accommodate the families. To note, around 30,000 people currently live in Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur. This includes not only the IDPs but also individuals involved in implementing projects in the region, as well as those fulfilling official duties in local branches of various state structures and in the healthcare, education, culture, tourism, industry, and energy sectors that have resumed operations. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Japan is seeking to capitalise on its rapidly deepening quasi alliance with Australia as it competes with Germany in a fierce battle to win a $10 billion contract to build 11 frigates for the Australian navy. Defence Minister Richard Marles this week officially announced that Japans Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Germanys Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) have been shortlisted for the lucrative general purpose frigate contract, knocking out rival bids from Spain and South Korea. The government is considering a bid by Japanese shipbuilder Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to sell its Mogami 30FFM frigate to Australia Both sides are waging an intense lobbying battle to win the tender, with TKMS promoting its MEKO A200 frigate as the most trustworthy and reliable choice while Mitsubishi hopes the blossoming Japan-Australia strategic relationship will give it an edge over its European competitor. The Japanese Cabinet Office on Thursday released a document approving the sale of Mogami-class frigates to Australia in what would be a landmark deal for Japan. Australias biggest miners are cheering on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for scrapping Tanya Pliberseks deal with the Greens to create a national environment watchdog, insisting the reform be abandoned rather than returned to the agenda in February. It is unclear if the plan for the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) is now dead, but the issue is set to remain live over summer, with Labors left furious the election pledge has been shelved. The national peak mining lobby, the Minerals Council of Australia, welcomed the shelving of the bill, which it said was unacceptable. Plibersek, the federal environment minister, had secured the Greens support for a bill to establish the first national EPA, which would enforce nature regulations and hand out fines for breaches. But Albanese intervened at the last minute on Tuesday night, informing the Greens the bill would not be brought to parliament this year. The WCO conducted a Train-the-Trainer Sub-Regional workshop on Multilateral Environmental Agreements with emphasis on the Basel Convention for the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste and Their Disposal and the Montreal Protocol Agreement for Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer from 18 to 22 November 2024, funded by the Government of Sweden through the Sida-WCO Trade Facilitation and Customs Modernisation Programme in Sub-Saharan Africa. The workshop, which was held at the Kenya School of Revenue Administration (KESRA) in Mombasa, Kenya, was a crucial step in developing a pool of trainers to ensure that Customs administrations have competent staff to deliver training at the national level for appropriate awareness and compliance with the two Multilateral Environmental Agreements. During the five-day workshop, 14 participants from 12 Member administrations received an overview of MEAs technical topics, such as the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure, notification and movement document for the transboundary movement of hazardous waste, licensing requirements for import and export of ozone-depleting substances (ODS), phase out schedule and identification tools. The training methodology part ensured the participants were updated on the approach for designing, developing and delivering training and facilitation techniques to enhance their role as expert trainers expected to contribute to Customs competencies development and performance. Participants not only acquired knowledge but also had the opportunity to apply it practically. They delivered presentations on specific technical topics, demonstrating their ability to apply the core knowledge and facilitation skills acquired during the workshop. The workshop concluded successfully with positive feedback from the participants, who greatly appreciated the information shared by the facilitators. The Sida-WCO TFCM Programme is collaborating with the WCO Environment Programme and relevant international environment organizations to provide technical assistance for selected Customs administrations in the SADC and EAC regions to address the trade-related issues that adversely affect the environment while implementing the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. For more information on the Sida-WCO TFCM Programme, kindly contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org. The 11th Meeting of the Working Group on Revenue Compliance and Fraud (WGRCF) was held at World Customs Organization (WCO) Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on 27 and 28 November 2024. Organized in a hybrid format, the meeting brought together over 200 delegates representing 65 countries, including representatives of WCO Regional Intelligence Liaison Offices (RILOs) and international law enforcement organizations. The opening address was given by Pranab Kumar Das, WCO Director of Compliance and Facilitation, who welcomed all the delegates, emphasizing the importance of global collaboration in strengthening revenue compliance and combating fraud. Hugo Richard Mayer, in his capacity as Chairperson of the Working Group, then opened the meeting by outlining the work programme. The delegates launched the discussions by examining governance issues, including the updated Terms of Reference of the WGRCF. They also addressed Tariff and Trade Affairs, following the Final Report on the Exploratory Study on a Possible Strategic Review of the Harmonized System (HS). In addition, they looked at the progress achieved on post-clearance audit (PCA) activities, sharing insights and experiences related to fraud detection through PCA techniques. The Strategy for Fighting Commercial Customs Fraud and Operation LYNX, a key initiative targeting illicit trade in excisable products, were then reviewed. The Secretariat also gave a presentation on the latest developments concerning the ExciseNET platform, aimed at combating excise fraud involving tobacco and alcohol products. Reports on the outcomes of the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorism Financing (CTF) Programme with its Projects TENTACLE and OCTAGON, targeting trade-based money laundering (TBML), were provided as well. The delegates learned about the different strategies adopted by WCO Members such as South Africa, Australia, Canada and Italy (Guardia di Finanza) to fight TBML. The 11th Meeting concluded with the approval of the WGRCF Work Programme for financial year 2024-2025, and a review of the draft WGRCF Work Programme for 2025-2026 prior to its endorsement. Finally, the delegates proceeded to elect Mr. Jainendra Singh Kandhari from India and Ms. Hema Rana from the United Kingdom to serve, respectively, as Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the 12th Meeting to be held in 2025. Established in 2014, the WGRCF addresses revenue enforcement issues, including commercial fraud, money laundering and smuggling of excisable goods, while promoting fraud prevention and compliance management. It aims to keep Members informed of new initiatives, and foster a forward-looking approach to revenue compliance and fraud prevention. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 29. The Public Association Society of National Enlightenment operating in the city of Uralsk (Kazakhstan) has held Days of Azerbaijani Culture, Trend reports via Azerbaijan's State Committee for Work with Diaspora of Azerbaijan. Participants in the event included members of the organization's Council of Elders, youth association, representatives from the regional branch of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, Diaspora representatives, and local citizens. At the event, a cornucopia of souvenirs, musical instruments, and costumes that showcased the rich tapestry of Azerbaijani culture were on display, and national dances took center stage, wowing the crowd. At the end of the day, the Diaspora activists were handed letters of appreciation, a feather in their cap for all their hard work. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 29. Around 16 percent of buses in Nakhchivan run on electricity as part of efforts to reduce environmental impact in the autonomous region, Acting Minister - Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Rahid Alakbarli told Trend. The acting minister highlighted the region's ongoing initiatives to promote electric vehicles. Alakbarli noted that as part of larger environmental preservation initiatives, Nakhchivan, and especially its capital city, is aggressively seeking to boost the number of electric vehicles. "We have both electric taxis and buses. Currently, 16 percent of buses in Nakhchivan run on electricity, which is a very good indicator. Additionally, both the public and private sectors have installed electric vehicle charging stations. This year, we started building 10 new charging stations across Nakhchivan. We already have a charging station at the border with Turkiye, due to the anticipated inauguration of the Zangezur Corridor. Furthermore, there are plans to build stations at Sharur, Ordubad, Shahbuz, and six more in Nakhchivan city, extending the region's network of charging stations. There are 16 electric charging stations operating in Nakhchivan city at the moment. Since last year, the number of electric vehicles in Nakhchivan has increased significantly, surpassing 250 vehicles, a major leap from previous years," the acting minister concluded. By August Graham and Stephen Wood, PA Green Party leader Roderic OGorman said that since the new government came to power in the UK, a changed relationship is one of the reasons that the number of people claiming asylum in Ireland has halved from its levels earlier this year. Speaking on RTEs Upfront programme on November 25th, Mr OGorman said: Particularly since the new (UK) Government came in in the summer of this year, weve seen a changed relationship, weve seen better engagement, and thats one of the key reasons why the number of people seeking international protection right now is about half what it was earlier on in this year, because we are co-operating. Evaluation The latest monthly report shows that the number of applications to the international Protection Office did approximately halve between May and October 2024. However application numbers had already fallen significantly in June, before the new Labour government took power in early July, and were higher in July, August and September than they were in June. The facts Have applications halved compared to earlier this year? Each month the International Protection Office publishes a statistical report. These reports contain several datapoints, including how many applications for international protection have been received during the month. The latest of these reports at the time of writing was for October. It showed that there were 1,053 applications in total during the month. In May the same figure was 2,010, so if comparing October to May Mr OGorman is correct to say that numbers have approximately halved compared to earlier this year. Have applications halved since Labour gained power? Mr OGorman also said that better engagement with the new government in London was one of the key reasons why numbers had halved. The new Labour government came into power on July 5th following the UK election the day before. The figures from the International Protection Office show that the numbers applying for international protection had already dropped significantly from Mays 2,010 to just 1,404 in June. This was the last full month before Labour took office. After Labour took power the numbers actually rose to 1,736 in July, then fell slightly to 1,692 in August and 1,559 in September. In October, as stated above, applications dropped significantly to 1,053, which is not half the amount seen in June before Labour took power. Mr OGorman did not specify when the better engagement he cites started. Taoiseach Simon Harris spoke to the UKs new prime minister Sir Keir Starmer on July 5th, the day Mr Starmer gained office. Mr Harris visited Mr Starmer in London on July 17th, and hosted Mr Starmer in Dublin on September 7th. But regardless of when the better engagement started, monthly application numbers do not appear to have halved in October compared to July, August or September. What has happened so far in November? While the IPOs statistics page only contains monthly reports on applications, the International Protection Accommodation Services, which houses people seeking protection, publishes weekly data. These weekly reports do not show how many applications were received, but instead demonstrate the number of people arriving at IPAS accommodation. The November accommodation arrivals figures are somewhat lower than in October. However it remains to be seen what the data on people seeking protection will show in November. Links International Protection Office Statistics (archived) IPO Monthly statistical report. October 2024 (archived) IPO Monthly statistical report. May 2024 (archived) Gov.uk The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP (archived) IPO Monthly statistical report. June 2024 (archived) IPO Monthly statistical report. July 2024 (archived) IPO Monthly statistical report. August 2024 (archived) IPO Monthly statistical report. September 2024 (archived) IPAS Statistics 2004 to 2024 (archived) Gov.ie Taoiseach Simon Harris and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer speak by phone (archived) PA Images Taoiseach Simon Harris visit to UK (archived) Gov.uk Prime Minister Keir Starmer to visit Dublin in historic moment for UK-Ireland relations (archived) Support Workers are the backbone of countless life-changing moments for the people we support. At the Brothers of Charity, their work goes far beyond daily assistance. Support Workers with the Brothers of Charity empower people with intellectual disabilities to live their best lives, as independently as possible, while participating in and contributing to the life of their local communities. From helping someone gain confidence in building a new skill to supporting a person achieve personal goals, by fostering independence and creating opportunities for a person to develop socially, through supporting further educational opportunities to facilitating social activities, or by ensuring that the personal care needs of the person are met in a dignified and respectful manner, Support Workers are at the centre of every success. The role is ideal for people who are looking for a change and want work that truly makes a difference. Your life experience will complement the training provided to prepare you for this rewarding journey. While the challenges are real, so are the rewards. For Support Workers, every day is a chance to make a difference, working quietly behind the scenes to enable extraordinary outcomes for the people they support in everyday places. If youre ready for a career where no two days are the same, this could be your chance. Start changing lives today: http://careers.Brothersofcharity.ie Callan Tanseys joint managing partner David OMalley was among the lawyers recognised at the 2024 European Legal Awards in Budapest recently. Ballina-based Mr OMalley, the joint managing partner in Callan Tanseys medical negligence department, was recognised in the Medical Law category. The judges noted, in particular, Mr O'Malley's contribution to working tirelessly for his clients who remain central to his endeavour". Now in their fifth year, the European Legal Awards were created to promote excellence and knowledge through teaching, research, and pro-active networking. David OMalley expressed his delight at the award. "It represents a big team effort from all at Callan Tansey and it is nice to be recognised. We shall keep striving to ensure access to justice for our clients and fighting the good fight. Other winners on the night included Garret Farrelly, Matheson LLP and UK-based Jason McCue, who is a human rights lawyer. David was greatly supported by a wonderful Callan Tansey presence on the night. The awards are great recognition for all winners. Callan Tansey Solicitors LLP has offices in Sligo, Boyle, Dublin, Ballina, Galway and Limerick. Mayo farmer Padraig Nally, who became the centre of a cause celebre 20 years ago, following the shooting dead of a Traveller John Frog Ward, has died aged 81 following a long illness. In November 2005, Mr Nally was sentenced to six years imprisonment for the manslaughter of Ward, who had been trespassing on his farm near Lough Corrib on the Mayo/Galway border. However, his conviction was quashed in October 2006 and, in a retrial two months later, he was found not guilty of manslaughter. After being acquitted at the Central Criminal Court, Nally told reporters, as he prepared to travel home from Dublin to his 65-acre farm, he often thought of the man he shot dead more than two years earlier and regularly prayed for him. "I think of what happened all the time. It is always on my mind," Mr Nally said. Expressing sympathy with John Ward's widow, Marie, and their 11 children, he added: "These 11 youngsters are now without a father. It is a big loss to them." Nally, a bachelor, conceded due to the national and international publicity the extraordinary circumstances of his situation had received, he was now a celebrity but had to live that down. "I know I am known all over Ireland. I got thousands of letters and many cards and Mass requests while I was in prison. Even while I was in Dublin, people came up to me on the street wanting to shake my hand". Following his acquittal Mr Nally settled back to farming. Livestock was a big part of his life. He was a regular at Maam Cross Mart but kept to himself socially for the most part. Nallys victim, John Frog Ward was a 43-year-old Traveller with about 80 convictions for burglary, larceny and assault. At his first trial, Nally said he had been unable to sleep properly as a number of farms in his area had been burgled and his own home had been broken into in 2003 and a chainsaw stolen from one of his sheds. Nallys counsel Brendan Grehan told the jury his client was at the end of his tether agitated and fearful, even paranoid about his safety. Counsel went on to describe Nally as a law-abiding member of the community who acted in self-defence. The noise was sudden and loud, a metallic thud, followed by the screech of breaks and a second dull thump, then silence followed by shouts and excited cries. I jumped up from the meeting table and ran outside the door of our office, which exited onto the junction just below the Catholic church in Castlebar. While I sprinted down Tucker St to my jeep, my brain was inexplicably sending me images of my father and sister standing shocked in the road. I came to a small car, with the driver sobbing in gasps, wedged sideways in the street. She had failed to yield to the right-of-way at the junction and was struck by an oncoming vehicle which sent her own car, pummelling down the narrow street, miraculously missing all the parked cars, except mine and which my girlfriend was sitting in. Once checking everyone was okay, I then turned to look up to the other car and recognised it immediately as my fathers. Both he and my sister, who he had been taking to the hospital for a check-up, were shaken but okay. Later, the attending Garda made several attempts to understand how the vehicles owned by me and my father were the only ones damaged by the errant car especially as neither of us knew the other was in Castlebar that day. "Its too much of a coincidence," he repeated, "what are the chances, hah?" Perhaps he was thinking of some sort of elaborate insurance fraud on our part. But it wasnt. Coincidences do happen even as our brains ascribe meaning to otherwise random events, which seem to be unavoidably connected. A report by eight conservative legal experts titled 'Lost, Not Stolen' reviewed the 64 lawsuits taken by Donald Trump's campaign and allies challenging the results of the 2020 presidential election, and concluded that they all failed to provide evidence of widespread election fraud. The report stated that Trump was given ample opportunity to present evidence in court, but the cases failed due to lack of evidence. Despite this overwhelming rejection of voter fraud, Trump has insisted the 2020 election was rigged by Democrats and he doubled down on these lies during the recent presidential election campaign, with his stated core belief that there was no way Sleepy Joe Biden could have won more votes than him. Distrust of the electoral process has permeated deep into the Republican party. Thus in Michigan, Delta county canvass board members Bonnie Hakkola and LeeAnne Oman, both Republicans, voted against certification of a local recall election on May 14th, after seeing nearly identical voting margins in three different races, claiming it indicated some type of fraud may have occurred. State authorities responded two days later, with a stern letter. The two individuals ultimately resigned and the results were certified. Democrats have castigated any claims of likely voter fraud from Republicans, insisting instead (often with good reason) that they were nefariously carrying out the former presidents bidding, or too cowardly and stupid to do otherwise. However, the tenacity with which many people believe the 2020 election was rigged to some extent suggests a deeper conviction is at play. The Swiss psychologist, Carl Jung, applied the concept of synchronicity to describe the phenomenon of events which coincide in time and appear meaningfully related but have no discoverable causal connection. It derives from a deep-rooted human instinct to see patterns, especially if they align to our world-view. Thus, many of the 69% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents who stated in August last year that they did not believe Joe Biden's election win was legitimate may honestly have held that view based on coincidences such as seeing nearly identical voting margins in three different races. Now, claims of voter fraud by Democrats are circulating widely online with a growing support for Stephen Spoonamore who recently gained attention for his analysis of voting patterns in the 2024 presidential election, calling for hand recounts in certain states. The technology entrepreneur is long known for his expertise in cybersecurity and his outspoken views on election integrity. Following the lack of official response to his Duty to Warn Letter written to Kamala Harris, regarding potential fraud in the 2024 election, Spoonamore is caustic in his criticism claiming: "I dont think she nor the people around her fully understand the scale of abandonment, and permanent loss of trust that will result. Shame. Shame on anyone in power who claims to love democracy. Shame will surround you like the stench of a rotting limb. I hope it wakes you in your sleep from time to time." At the core of his election fraud claims are bullet ballots. These are the single-shot voting (or plump voting), where voters cast their vote for only one candidate, in this case Donald Trump, and did not proceed down the ticket to vote for state and local election candidates. Historically, bullet ballots make less than 0.1% of the total votes, but Spoonamore claims they are greater than 5% in every swing state, and no others. This impossible shift is solely confined to these key states and broke exactly for Trump, pushing all vote totals beyond the point of mandatory recounts (which is why only Harris could force a recount of the ballots in question). He argues that Trump benefited from about 600,000 bullet ballot votes surgically added to totals in limited jurisdictions and within only the seven swing states, resulting in Harris loosing Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina and Wisconsin in a result too perfect for belief. Spoonamore also says that Elon Musk conspired to facilitate this fraud, through his $1M lottery for people to go online and sign a pledge to vote for Trump, but which was in effect a vehicle to create the fake bullet-ballots. Yet, as with the 2020 election deniers, Spoonamore and his anti-Trump supporters have no actual proof only the impossible coincidences of the voting data. They are also seemingly resigned to their fate and no Democrat overthrow of the government is on the cards. Yet, such unresolved claims festers in civic society and widespread distrust in the democratic system hollows out the social contract which the government ultimately rests on. Even if an authentic analysis indicates otherwise, I will not be surprised to see a large portion of Democrats insist that Donald Trump is not their rightful president, based on these coincidences. As a Castlebar Garda might say; "what are the chances, hah?" BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 29. The first fully redundant technological infrastructure will be built in Nakhchivan, Acting Minister of Digital Development and Transportation of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and Deputy Minister Rahid Alakbarli said in an exclusive interview with Trend. Until recently, certain settlements in Nakhchivan lacked internet access. Currently, we have guaranteed Internet connection for the entire population of Nakhchivan. Efforts are under progress to enhance the infrastructure and deliver sustainable internet services to residential zones. Fiber-optic trunk lines were constructed along the Zangezur corridor for 350 kilometers in the first nine months of this year. Highway from Turkish border to Nakhchivan, Shahbuz, and Ordubad. In all three routes, we completed mountainous works before the fall-winter season. Purchasing and installing technical equipment is underway. For the first time in Nakhchivan's telecom history, we'll create redundant technological infrastructure in Ordubad and Shahbuz. This will allow us to provide fast and stable Internet in distant Nakhchivan. The autonomous republic's technological infrastructure ensures secure transit resource transport, he said. Regulation of internet services will be reinstated Internet costs in Nakhchivan remain unchanged. However, Internet service regulation and portfolio organization are crucial. This is crucial. We have also increased the private sector's market share, which should create a competitive atmosphere and regulate quality and price policy, giving consumers choice. This is a key issue in market regulation. This is because competition matters. Consumers should have quality, price, and service diversity options. One of the main requirements. We also offer mobile broadband Internet with mobile operators. We are creating circumstances for mobile operator network expansion and local technological infrastructure development. In the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, several providers and mobile operators offer broadband Internet connections. Usually, work is done to make the portfolio of Internet services available at a pace that matches the population's solvency or budget for Internet services, Alakbarov noted. Transformation in Nakhchivanpost As per the words of Alakbarov, the dawn of a new era awaits Nakhchivanpost as it prepares to embrace the full spectrum of digital transformation in the coming year. Previously, the remuneration of postal service personnel in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic was postponed; however, the circumstances have ameliorated in the past year. We have executed multiple contracts for the advancement of Nakhchivanpocht. Approximately 100 postal locations in Nakhchivan have transitioned to cashless payment systems. We must not only alter "Nakhchivanpost," but also enhance its development. Furthermore, efforts are underway to computerize workplaces in post offices. We are endeavoring to offer electronic services via the post office throughout the forthcoming year, he said. Transportation hubs towards Zangezur corridor to start working Our state actively pursues a policy regarding the Zangezur Corridor. This direction has led to the development of numerous concepts. Within the framework of these concepts, a transformation is necessary for the development, construction, and expansion of transit infrastructure and its potential along the Zangezur corridor. We cannot keep the previous conditions. The opening of the Zangezur corridor will result in the transportation of more cargo. We are developing specific concepts for the construction of transportation hubs on both sides of the corridor. We should carry out the transportation of goods through Nakhchivan, provide services related to transportation, and improve road conditions for drivers in a way that does not disrupt the population's comfort. Nakhchivan plans to build transit infrastructure through lands unsuitable for agriculture and industry. The geographical position of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is such that there are entrances and exits from neighboring countries. The Deputy Minister emphasized that the agenda may include concepts for creating infrastructure to provide logistics services in these locations. We provide passenger transportation services from Nakhchivan to Baku and vice versa. He noted that in the first nine months of this year, buses transported about 50,000 passengers from Nakhchivan to Baku and in the opposite direction. Last year, this figure did not exceed 30,000. This means an increase of 161 percent. All this happened thanks to our joint organizational activity with the Land Transport Agency of Azerbaijan. Four organizations perform these processes regularly. There is no passenger density. We always have buses in stock. If necessary, we can increase the number of trips by 67 per day. But there is no need for that. People prefer more airplanes to save time, he said. Main directions of transit cargo transportation Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic as a natural hub is located in such a geography that allows us to carry out transit transportation. Transportation of transit cargoes is also carried out in several directions. As for large-size vehicles, the growth is estimated to be more than 9 percent. Nakhchivan needs to expand in infrastructure. Also, the development of transit potential is under constant control of the state. All this will create more opportunities for the transportation of goods. The transit potential of Nakhchivan is of great importance. Concepts are being developed for the development of transit potential, and opportunities are being created for logistics centers as well as infrastructure projects of this potential. This process will probably accelerate after the opening of the Zangezur corridor, the deputy minister said. Works on increasing the number of electric cars Alakbarov stated that in order to protect the environment in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, particularly in the city of Nakhchivan, works are underway to increase the number of electric-powered cars. We have both electric cabs and buses. 16 percent of buses in Nakhchivan run on electricity. This is a very good figure. Public and private sector electric chargers have been installed in the city. This year, we have started construction work to install 10 new electric charging stations in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Since we expect the Zangezur corridor to pass through Nakhchivan, a charging station is already in operation on the border with Turkey. In addition, it is envisaged to build one power station each in Sharur, Ordubad, and Shahbuz, and 6 in Nakhchivan city. Currently, 16 electric charging stations are functioning in Nakhchivan city. Since last year, there have been more than 250 electric cars in Nakhchivan. This is many times more than in previous years, the Deputy Minister noted. Main objectives of the Road Transport Agency of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic The Road Transport Agency of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic has been established recently, and works on its organization are still underway. The activities are expected to be carried out following the regulatory measures aimed at streamlining this field. The main purpose of these regulations is to create conditions for participation not only of the state but also of the private sector in cab and passenger transportation activities. The presence of the private sector in the market will be realized through public-private partnerships and in accordance with the laws, rules, and regulations of the Republic of Azerbaijan. We are aiming for a softer transition in regulation. We want to see players in the market who respect the laws, rules, and regulations of our state, do not allow monopolization, and attach importance to the promotion of national cultural and moral values, Alakbarov concluded. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Allentown, PA (18103) Today Mainly cloudy, mild, and mainly dry after some morning fog and drizzle taper off. . Tonight Mostly cloudy, a bit breezy, and mild; perhaps a spotty shower. Celebrating a century publishing excellence Wits Press commemorated 100 years of publishing excellence with the launch of the book 'Publishing from the South: A Century of Wits University Press'. The vibrant literary hub of Love Books in Melville, Johannesburg, was the generous host and Service Station at the Bamboo Centre, the backdrop to the festive launch of Publishing from the South: A Century of Wits University Press. The book was conceptualised following the celebrations commemorating 100 years of publishing excellence since 1922, making Wits Press the oldest scholarly press in South Africa. Edited by renowned scholars Professor Sarah Nuttall, Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research (WiSER), and Professor Isabel Hofmeyr, pioneer of print culture and book histories in South Africa, the book explores the rich history and contributions of Wits University Press from a uniquely Southern perspective. Guests at the event were treated to insightful discussions from contributing authors Professor Srila Roy (Wits University Sociology Department), Dr Siphiwo Mahala (University of Johannesburg) and Professor Kopano Ratele (Stellenbosch University), who shared their perspectives on their chapters and the broader themes of the book. The evening radiated warmth and camaraderie, with the support of authors, booksellers, publishers, Wits colleagues and friends of the Press making it truly special. It was a moment to reflect on the achievements of the past century and look forward to many more years of impactful publishing. If you missed the launch, you can still get your copy of Publishing from the South: A Century of Wits University Press at Love Books in Johannesburg or from online retailers worldwide. For more information about the book, visit Wits University Press Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 29. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Mastercard Impact Fund have formed a partnership to support micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across Asia and the Pacific, Trend reports. The initiative, focusing on Georgia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, aims to provide $5 million in grant funding to financial institutions. This will catalyze lending to MSMEs, particularly those led by women or focused on climate finance. The partnership will leverage up to $1 billion in ADB financing over the next four years, offering risk-reduction capital and capacity-building for financial institutions. The collaboration seeks to address the $2.5 trillion credit gap faced by MSMEs in the region, which play a critical role in economic growth and job creation. "By combining our resources, we will help unlock the potential of MSMEs, fostering inclusive and sustainable growth," said Bhargav Dasgupta, ADBs Vice-President for Market Solutions. Jon Huntsman, Vice Chairman of Mastercard, added, "This partnership supports entrepreneurs and small businesses, helping them become more resilient to climate and economic shocks." This partnership marks a significant effort to address MSME financing challenges and promote financial inclusion in the region. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 29. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has committed $75 million to Garanti BBVAs second Basel III-compliant Tier II bond issuance in 2024, Trend reports. The funding will help strengthen the bank's capital position, support its growth strategy, and optimize its capital structure, in line with its funding diversification plans. Garanti BBVA, Turkiyes second-largest private bank, has been a long-time partner of the EBRD, contributing to many of the banks initiatives in the country. Since the EBRDs operations began in Turkiye, Garanti BBVA has played a key role in supporting the Banks transition agenda and operational goals. Oksana Yavorskaya, EBRD Deputy Head for Turkiye, highlighted the strong relationship with Garanti BBVA, emphasizing the potential for further strengthening the countrys financial sector. Metin Klc, Head of ALM at Garanti BBVA, expressed appreciation for the EBRDs involvement, noting the significance of the bond issuance and the positive outlook investors have towards both the bank and Turkiye. The EBRD has invested over 21 billion euros in Turkiye across 461 projects and trade finance since 2009, with the majority of funds directed to the private sector. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 29. The European Investment Bank (EIB) has announced 400 million euros in loans to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and Mid-Cap companies in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Trend reports. The funding, divided equally between Komercni banka and SG Equipment Finance Czech Republic (SGEF), aims to stimulate economic growth, job creation, and environmental sustainability. A portion of the financing is earmarked for climate action projects, including renewable energy and energy efficiency investments in transport, buildings, and machinery. More than 90% of the funding is expected to benefit less developed regions, promoting economic and social cohesion in both countries. EIB Vice-President Kyriacos Kakouris emphasized the importance of SMEs and Mid-Caps to the European economy, stating, Through our partnership with Komercni banka and SGEF, we provide long-term, stable financing for innovative projects that drive green and digital transitions, strengthening Europes competitiveness. The loans will also facilitate housing cooperatives and associations in improving energy efficiency in residential buildings. David Formanek of Komercni banka highlighted the collaborations impact, noting it provides favorable financing to support economic development in the Czech Republic. Petr Nemec of SGEF praised the long-standing partnership with the EIB, which has delivered billions of euros in financing, positively influencing growth and sustainability in the region. These loans build on a history of collaboration, with the EIB having provided 2.1 billion euros to SGEF since 2005 and 1.2 billion euros to Komercni banka since 2006. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 29. The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved a 350 million euro loan to Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka (CSOB) to support green financing and expand funding options for businesses in the Czech Republic, Trend reports. This collaboration will help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and Mid-Caps diversify their funding sources and enhance their financial stability. The funds will focus on climate action and environmental sustainability, particularly in energy efficiency projects within manufacturing and agriculture, as well as clean transportation, including electric vehicles, buses, and railway equipment. Renewable energy initiatives, such as solar, wind, and biomass, will also receive support. A significant portion of the loan will target underdeveloped regions in the Czech Republic, referred to as "cohesion" areas. EIB Vice-President Kyriacos Kakouris emphasized that the loan will not only provide businesses with better access to financing but will also aid in their transition to greener operations, contributing to the Czech Republic's economic competitiveness and environmental resilience. CSOBs commitment to sustainability is also reflected in its role as a leader in corporate banking in the Czech market. The bank's partnership with the EIB aims to support the countrys transition to a low-emission, sustainable economy, aligning with the European Green Deal and the EUs broader goals for climate neutrality by 2050. Photo: Economic Zones Development Agency under the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 29. The meeting with the delegation headed by the State Minister of the Office of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia Aklilu Tadesse was held at the Vocational Education Center of the Economic Zone Development Agency (IZIA), Trend reports via IZIA. Meanwhile, IZIA Chairman of the Board Seymur Adigozalov informed the delegation about industrial zones operating in the country, favorable investment opportunities created here for entrepreneurs, and tax and customs privileges applied and the IZIA presentation was demonstrated. The meeting discussed the possibilities of studying Azerbaijan's experience in the field of industrial zones, establishing mutually beneficial relations in this direction, and implementing joint business projects between entrepreneurs of the two countries. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 29. The first meeting of the Coordinating Council, established to implement the "Action Plan for the Phased Introduction of Electricity Market Elements," was held under the chairmanship of Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan, Parviz Shahbazov, Trend reports via the Ministry of Energy. In his speech, the minister highlighted that Presidential Decree No. 1209, dated May 29, 2019, on "Accelerating Reforms in the Energy Sector of the Republic of Azerbaijan," outlines the main directions of the reforms, and relevant work is underway in this regard. He highlighted that the foremost focus of the energy enhancements is the constant cultivation of energy security, the creation of management systems grounded in global guidelines, garnering private investments, and alleviating the fiscal load on the state. "The main priorities for sector development were also highlighted, including optimizing electricity production costs, further improving efficiency and service quality, as well as ensuring a competitive environment. The meeting agenda included a report on the work done by relevant structures in connection with the implementation of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Electric Power Industry" and the "Action Plan for the Phased Implementation of Electricity Market Elements." Subgroups have sprung into action under the Coordinating Council, specifying significant sectors, setting strategic tasks for the swiftly approaching season, and sealing decisive determinations. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Ministries of Energy, Economy, Finance, Justice, the Azerbaijan Investment Holding, Azerenergy OJSC, Azerishig OJSC, and the Agency for Energy Regulation, the ministry said. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Xac minh 'than y' chua ung thu bang phuong phap 'truyen nang luong' "Than y" Nguyen Van Kien (trai) lam viec voi co quan chuc nang - Anh: Cong an cung cap Ngay 28-2, ong Nguyen Tuong Duy - chu tich UBND xa Hai Yang (huyen ak oa, Gia Lai) - cho hay ang phoi hop cac co quan chuc nang xac minh truong hop nguoi xung... An Giang lien tiep xuat hien mua trai mua Mua bat chot giua cao iem ma kh khien nguoi dn bat ngo. Theo ng Luu Van Ninh, Gim oc i Kh tuong Thuy van tinh An Giang, nguyn nhn cua hien tuong ny l do nhieu ong nhiet oi trn cao trong ieu kien La Nina ket hop cua ra pha Nam khoi khng kh lanh... BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 29. The European Commission has adopted interim gas storage targets that EU member states must meet in 2025 to ensure energy security for the winter of 2025-2026, Trend reports via the Commission. According to the EU Gas Storage Regulation (EU/2022/1032), countries are required to fill their gas storage facilities to at least 90% capacity by November 1, 2025. The new implementing regulation sets specific minimum thresholds for storage levels on February 1, May 1, July 1, and September 1, 2025. These targets apply to EU countries with underground storage facilities, as well as those connected through the regional gas network, ensuring a coordinated approach across the bloc. Since its introduction in June 2022, the Gas Storage Regulation has been instrumental in maintaining adequate gas supplies during winter. Despite the ongoing energy challenges, the EU has consistently surpassed its storage goals. This year, member states filled storage facilities to approximately 95% by the November 1 deadline, securing around 100 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gasequivalent to roughly one-third of the EU's annual consumption. Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn BEIJING, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday sent a congratulatory message to Yamandu Orsi on his election as president of Uruguay. Noting that China and Uruguay are good friends trusting each other and enjoying win-win cooperation, Xi said that the two countries have always adhered to mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit since establishing diplomatic ties 36 years ago. The two sides have firmly supported each other on issues concerning their core interests, achieved fruitful results in practical cooperation across various fields, and forged a deep-rooted friendship between their people, Xi said. He added that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Uruguay relations, and is willing to work with Orsi to continue the China-Uruguay friendship and push for more results from the China-Uruguay comprehensive strategic partnership, so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples. On the same day, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng sent a congratulatory message to Uruguayan Vice President-Elect Carolina Cosse. (Source: Xinhua) Editor: Wang Shasha Putin threatens to strike Ukraine again with new missile after wave of attacks on energy Sir Keir Starmers Labour government responded to the arrest warrants against Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant with pro forma statements that it would observe the International Criminal Court (ICC) rulings. But they were framed to make it clear that no action is intended. The ICC issued warrants last week against Netanyahu and Gallant for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare, and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts. The court also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif, who is believed to have been killed by Israel. Starmers government, which includes former lawyersincluding the prime minister and Foreign Secretary David Lammyissued formulaic acknowledgements of the ICCs authority. A Downing Street spokesman said November 21, We respect the independence of the ICC, which is the primary institutional institution for investigating and prosecuting the most serious crimes in relation to international law. Sir Keir Starmer speaking in Parliament, with Foreign Secretary David Lammy (seated left), November 21, 2024 [Photo by UK Parliament/Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Asked whether Netanyahu would be arrested if he came to Britain, however, the spokesman replied, We are not going to get into hypotheticals. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper also refused to say that Netanyahu would be arrested in Britain, stating, Obviously we have always respected the independence of the International Criminal Court but those issues that they investigate are matters for them rather than for the government. She told Sky News, Weve always respected the importance of international law, but in the majority of the cases that they pursue, they dont become part of the British legal process. Downing Streets statement was in fact a further full-throated defence of the Israeli regime, war crimes and all. This Government has been clear that Israel has a right to defend itself in accordance with international law, it reiterated. What Downing Street calls self-defence has so far seen mass murder, more than 90 percent of the population of Gaza internally displaced, and the systematic destruction of infrastructure. Most houses, schools, hospitals and universities have been destroyed or damaged, and journalists attempting to report the onslaught have been assassinated by the Israel Defense Forces. This formed part of the charge of the ICC, who determined there are reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant speak during a news conference in the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv, Israel on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. [AP Photo/Abir Sultan] The official death toll stands at 44,000 Palestinians, with 104,000 injured and leading British medical journal The Lancet has found no evidence of inflated mortality reporting from the Gaza Ministry of Health. In its own report in July, moreover, The Lancet suggested in what it said was a conservative estimate that the death toll could be 186,000 or more. The Downing Street spokesman said the government remained focused on pushing for an immediate ceasefire to bring an end to the devastating violence in Gaza which is essential to protect civilians, ensure the release of hostages, and to increase humanitarian aid into Gaza. On this basis it has made explicit its determination to continue backing Netanyahus Zionist regime. A spokesman confirmed, The Prime Minister will continue to speak to the prime minister of Israel and indeed all allies in order to conduct the essential business of reaching a ceasefire in the Middle East its obviously important that we have a dialogue with Israel at all levels to find a diplomatic solution to this war. All such statements are a cover for supporting Israel all down the line. Israels fascist regime has responded to every ceasefire announcement with a renewed escalation of military activity across the broader region. And Downing Street dutifully insisted, There is no moral equivalence between Israel, a democracy, and Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah, which are terrorist organisations. Other international heads of state were less equivocal in their reaction. The Dutch government of Dick Schoof stated it would arrest Netanyahu if he entered the Netherlands, while Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris replied to the question: Yes, absolutely. We support international courts and we apply their warrants. These statements also rest on a determination to prevent that embarrassing position from arising in the first place. Starmers response was in part required because Britainunlike Israel and America which have both been bullish in their contempt of the warrantsis a member of the ICC. This did not stop France, an ICC founder state, from declaring Wednesday it would not break relations with Israel and would not arrest Netanyahu. Stating that it would comply with its international obligations, the French argued that its other obligations under international law required it to respect Netanyahus immunity. This, it said, was guaranteed precisely because Israel has not joined the ICC and had therefore not waived such immunities. The ICCs charges do not just condemn Israel. Those who finance, direct and authorise a crime can also be held legally culpable in its commission. Shortly after Israel launched its attack on Gaza, Starmer told LBC radio interviewer Nick Ferrari, Israel must have that right, does have that right, to defend herself. Ferrari asked, A siege is appropriate? Cutting off power? Cutting off water? Starmer replied, I think that Israel does have that right, while claiming that everything should be done within international law. Ever since Starmer and his Foreign Secretary David Lammy have doubled down, in the face of international human rights law, refusing to describe the mass slaughter in Gaza as a genocide. Palestinians line up for food distribution in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, on October 17, 2024. [AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana] The French position on immunity is being heavily promoted by senior legal academics at the right-wing Policy Exchange thinktank. Conservative Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel echoed government condemnation of any suggested moral equivalence, calling on Labour explicitly to condemn and challenge the warrants. The Starmer governments attitude to international law and genocide, and refusal to declare for Netanyahus arrest, can be understood most clearly in the recent appointment of veteran Blairite Jonathan Powell as national security adviser. Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet was arrested in London in 1998 for extradition to Spain on charges relating to the murder of more than 3,100 people during the 1973 military coup. He was feted and protected by the British bourgeoisie, with his house arrest served in luxury at the Wentworth estate in Surrey and lightened by a gift of fine malt Scotch from his admirer, former Conservative prime minister Margaret Thatcher. Pinochet eventually escaped extradition and the courts thanks to a deal between Tony Blairs Labour government and then Chilean President Eduardo Frei brokered by Powell. The only senior adviser to last the whole period of the unindicted old war criminals 10 years as prime minister, Powell also played a pivotal role in Blairs decision to back the US in the illegal invasion of Iraq in 2003. As Blairs right-hand man, he was subsequently involved in 2005 negotiations for a 40 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia. He worked there alongside his brother Lord Charles Powella former adviser to Thatcherand as Blairs 2001 envoy to Syria and then a consultant to arms manufacturer BAE Systems. Figures close to the fascist incoming US President Donald Trump have threatened a brusque response over the ICC warrants. The Heritage Foundation thinktank, creator of Project 2025, has warned there will be hell to pay for any international leader buying into this bulls**t. Starmer is fully in line with the interests of British imperialism as the reliable junior partner of US imperialism. As Director of Public Prosecutions (2008-2013), he made four trips to Washington to liaise over what ended up a 14-year persecution in London of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. He played a key role in ensuring Assanges continued detention during that time. His response to the ICC warrants points to him remaining a point man for Washington, as Trump prepares to take office. The strike by 55,000 postal workers at Canada Post is nearing the end of its second week. Strikers are fighting for job security, an end to the use of automation and AI to increase workloads, and real wage increases. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), the workers bargaining agent, has made clear it supports the premise of running the Crown corporation as a profit-making concern, underscoring that it wants to continue imposing concessions on workers in partnership with management and the Trudeau Liberal government. Postal workers established the Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee (PWRFC) in June to seize control of their contract struggle from the union bureaucracy and thereby prevent CUPW from isolating postal workers from their allies throughout the working class. The urgency of broadening the strike is becoming ever more urgent, since only a worker-led counter-offensive against austerity and war can defeat Canada Posts government-backed concessions and job-cutting drive. The PWRFC insists that postal workers would win enthusiastic support for their struggle if they make it the spearhead of a movement to defend public services, oppose state strikebreaking, and to secure full-time jobs and benefits, and decent working conditions for all. Dozens of workers have written to the PWRFC to ask questions, sign up for the WSWS postal workers newsletter, and share their experiences in the workplace. We encourage all postal workers to write to canadapostworkersrfc@gmail.com with their contributions or fill out the form at the bottom of this article. The following letter was sent by a striking postal worker in Ontario. It has been lightly edited for clarity. * * * In response to your article about the recent postal strike, Id like to add that so many cost-cutting measures can be made at the corporate level. For one, theres a specific order that NO mail remains at the Depots. This means that any mail not delivered goes back into the mailstream to be re-sorted. Thus costing us a second time for shipping, sorting and reshipping. Rehandling of mail is frowned on by the corporation. In regard to the Hamilton Mail Processing Plant: We have many Team Leaders (supervisors) who have no true leadership training, and the culture is to press for more work out of the workers, including by breaking the collective agreement on an ongoing basis. In keeping with this overstaffing of APOC (Association of Postal Officials of Canada) employees, they diligently monitor every item of mail incoming, processed and outgoing, in order to earn a premium on their payslips. The corporation says they want to protect their employees but the employees are siloed into separate teams, not only within the 24/7 operations, but also within the workers vs the Team Leaders, who either disappear when an issue arises, or band together against the worker, insofar as misrepresenting the issue or incident. Theres no real protection for the workers, and if one gets hurt they are forced to take the brunt of the responsibility upon themselves. The entire corporation is top-heavy, with all correct procedures being left to word-of-mouth or emails which filter down to the workers through the team leaders, and may not coincide with the actuality of the situation. The workers are unable to ask follow up questions which inevitably arise. Often (almost always) there is no clear procedure. This is THE biggest problem the corporation instigates, because it slows down the process of handling mail. Inevitably questions regarding the delivery are left to the discretion of each worker, based on their personal experience or who they ask. Striking postal workers in Newmarket, Ontario. Theres a disconnect between computer systems and case boards for manual sorting, and shockingly addresses are left off the case lists for manual sorting. For example, the mail that gets machine-sorted is based on postal code, then address, but the unmachinable mail is sorted by address, even if the postal code is particular to a specific location (like a box number). This creates a doubling of mail handling, if not deliveries of said mail, and only people in the know can redirect it to its proper delivery method. However, the corporation wants all workers to be ignorant of any information outside of what is filtered down to them. This means greater numbers of rehandled mail, and a greater drain on the bottom line. Specifically, the corporation has worked tirelessly in creating ignorance and division among its workers, and exacerbating its problems. For example, sometimes addresses are left entirely off the case boards and end up sitting for weeks pending investigation (which cannot be solved based on the current disconnect between systems), and end up being handled several times at least before often being rejected as undeliverable. The faulty equipment thats been red-tagged is put right back into circulation unchanged. Some computer equipment remains unusable for months, even as workers diligently try to get the mail to its proper destination. Workers are denied simple tools (cutters) for separating plastic and string bundles. And the list goes on. Every day theres a new low bar, and just when you think it cant get any worse, it does. Every change the corporation makes is cost heavy and causes other problems down the line. And THE WORST part of this culture is that there is absolutely NO ACCOUNTABILITY in leadership. Absolutely none. All the way to the top. Most workers in this public service want, really want, to do their jobs well. Its a public service and we serve the public, our communities and our families and friends. When we see mail being mishandled again and again, we are disappointed and disheartened that an iconic symbol of keeping Canadians connected is being discarded through the mismanagement of our nations most personal connections. Besides each of the team leaders ticking off numbers, there are computer systems that take care of that, then there are volume counters doing it, and whoever all is pencil pushing all those numbers around. This has demonstrated that the corporation only wants to manage numbers, not the connections. The corporation must provide the necessary tools and resources to do the work right, and on time. Theres so much more that can be told, like how the letter carriers are unable to sort their own routes now, meaning they have to carry someone elses mistakes, and they have to carry longer and start later. They will be working during the height of the summer heat (think heat exhaustion etc.) and the dark dangerous days of winter (slips, trips and falls). All the while having their benefits and pensions cut. Its the ultimate in legal exploitation! Its a gut punch for all Canadians to watch this once iconic symbol of Canada become so low and degraded. This is the Canadian Dream? More like a Canadian Nightmare. Elevenlabs AudioNative Player Aidan Beattys demonisation of Gerry Healy, The Party is Always Right, begins with the statement: Gerry Healy was born in Ireland in 1913 and became a Trotskyist in Britain just over 20 years later. Almost all the other important details that he would later recall about his childhood and early life were exaggerated, if not fabricated wholesale Most egregiously, Gerry Healys well-repeated claim that he saw the Black and Tans shoot and kill his father during the War of Independence was an outright lie. Countering this alleged lie, Beatty proclaims that Healys father, Michael, is not on the full list of Galway casualties provided by a historian of the War of Independence. Moreover, according to Beatty, the region where Healy was born and raised was largely spared the violence of early twentieth century Ireland. He claims that Galwayafter a tradition of rural agitation and even militancy in the later nineteenth centuryhad become quieter by the early decades of the twentieth. That is not all: Beatty claims that Healy grew up in relative comfort with his family owning a 109-acre farm a land-owning Catholic bourgeoisie had been crystallising in Ireland since the Famine of the 1840s and the Healys were a product of that long-term development. Aidan Beatty [Photo: Carnegie Mellon University] The purpose of the damning exposures with which Beatty opens his biography is to frame Gerry Healy as a liar and political conman, a fabulist who was so devoid of scruples that he even fabricated a story about his fathers murder. Beatty intended his readers to conclude, by the time they had reached the end of the first page of his book, that Healys entire political career was grounded on a false narrative, and that a man who would tell such lies about his own origins and early life would stoop to anything. If true, this would certainly amount to a devastating exposure of the biographys subject. But, in fact, Beattys allegations consist entirely of distortions, fabrications and outright lies. The claims he makes about Healys alleged misrepresentation of his life are based not on what Healy wrote or said, but, rather, on the wholly undocumented and unsubstantiated stories told by his political enemies. The primal lie that Beatty attributes to Healythat he had witnessed the murder of his father by the Black and Tanswas never told. In fact, Healy rarely said anything about his youth. In researching this essay, we have brought to light the one story, recalled by trustworthy witnesses in Ireland, that Healy told about his childhood. He made no mention of his father and the circumstances of his death. Beattys claim that Healy enjoyed a bucolic bourgeois childhood in a part of Ireland that was spared the violence of revolution and civil war is an incredible falsification of the well-documented historical reality. Advertising his own Irish identity and academic credentials, Beatty markets his book as a scholarly biography that is the product of scrupulous and exhaustive research. In fact, Beatty conducted virtually no research, aside from glancing through Ancestry.com, into either the social and political conditions that prevailed in the area where Healy was born or into the circumstances of his family. For a man who is soon to be president of the American Conference for Irish Studies, the scale of his negligence and dishonesty is staggering. The pages dealing with Healys background contain no archival references, and only one to secondary historical literaturewhich is misused. Having blackguarded Healy in this way, Beatty has since sought to defend his account by the same scurrilous means. Challenged at an online event on November 23 by David North, chairman of the International Editorial Board of the World Socialist Web Site, over his presentation of the area where Gerry Healy grew up as relatively quiet, Beatty was unable to control himself, interrupting, You have no idea what youre talking about. Youre an uninformed clown. Other interventions by historian Tom Mackaman and Socialist Equality Party National Secretary Joseph Kishore drew similar remarks. Beatty claims that Healy was able to falsify his personal history because of the Britishs left [sic] general lack of knowledge about Ireland. Healy, according to Beatty, believed that he could get away with lies. But this is precisely what Beatty has believed about his own work. He assumed that his exercise in slander would not be seriously investigated. The degree of his miscalculation has already been made clear by the two devastating exposures of his pseudo-biography by North and Andrea Peters, posted on the WSWS. This third essay is devoted to a detailed exposure of Beattys misrepresentation of Healys family background and youth, following on from an earlier essay by Mackaman. It is based on research I conducted in Ireland on behalf of the World Socialist Web Site, which included visiting the relevant archives in Dublin and in Galway where the Healy family lived. This research establishes: 1) that Healy was not one of the sons of the bourgeoisie as Beatty claims, but came from a family of recent tenant farmers who were able to purchase their land as a result of the decades of struggle waged against the landlord class by the Irish tenantry; 2) that Healy grew up in an area of Ireland that suffered extreme violence during the revolution and civil war; and 3) that while Healy never claimed his father was murdered, or that he witnessed such a traumatic event, his childhood was scarred by the violence that took place in the neighbourhood where he spent the first 13 years of his life. Tenant farmers in Killererin Gerry Healys familys ownership of a 109-acre farm did not place it in the ranks of the bourgeoisie, as Beatty absurdly claims. The Healys were members of the expanding class of middling farmers whose acquisition of land was inextricably bound to the great political and economic struggle of the Irish peasantry against landlordism, the bulwark of British imperialism on the island. According to the Griffiths Valuationa land valuation survey of Ireland commissioned by the British governmentGerrys grandfather, Thomas Healy, was farming in Galway in the mid-1850s. He was a tenant, renting a small 18-acre holding in the townland of Barnaderg South, in the parish of Killererin, a few kilometres southeast of the town of Tuam. Born in roughly 1841, Thomass early life would have been blighted by the Great Famine (or Great Hunger, an Gorta Mor) of 184552, which killed roughly 1 million people and caused millions more to flee the country. If Thomas Healy, after whom Thomas Gerry Healy was named, did not himself suffer famine, he certainly would have witnessed the effects of starvation all around him. Galway lost nearly one-third of its population owing to death and emigration aboard coffin ships. A priest in nearby Ballinasloe described the condition of his parishioners in 1847 in the following terms: Health, strength, youth, childhood and old ageall withering before the face of this frightful Famine. To its victims I broke the bread of life: the bread that perisheth I could not command; and frequently, indeed, I have wept bitterly in quitting the abode of misery, unable to aid its wretched inmates Good heavens, can it be possible that man, created in the image of the living God, is forced to live on weeds.[ 1 ] A starving family in Ireland, as depicted in the London News, December 22, 1849 Gerrys grandfather survived one of the great tragedies of modern history, but the Famine left in its wake significant change. It deepened the Irish masses hatred of the landlords and Great Britain, a legacy passed down through the generations. By depleting the farm labour population, it created the possibility for the emergence of a new middling layer of farmers. It was to this stratum that the Healys would rise over the next two generations. In the 1850s, Thomas Healy was still living under the sway of his landlord John A. Kirwan, one of the Kirwans of Hillsbrook, part of a branch of the Kirwans of Cregg, a great landed family in Galway owning thousands of acres. But by the time of his death in 1904, Thomas had expanded his holdings and was living in the neighbouring townland of Corralea. His will, available in the National Archives of Ireland, includes a statement from a local surveyor explaining, amongst the assets of above deceased there is a farm of land containing 65 acres or thereabouts held as a yearly tenant at the rent of 43 if said farm were sold in the open market it would realise 450 or thereabouts. This comprised nearly all of his estate, with only a further 20 in household goods. Thomass death, coming within a few days of that of his wife Honoria NorahHealy (nee Donnellan), precipitated an urgent crisis for the family. Barely a month earlier, his son Michael (Gerrys father) had been enrolled at Blackrock College in Dublin to train as a priest, a record of which exists in the schools archives. He returned to care for his dying parents. Their death certificates state that he was the witness for both deaths. The public death record of Gerry Healy's grandparents, who died a few days apart in October, 1904. Their illnesses forced Michael Healy, Gerry' father, to abandon his studies at Blackrock. As the death certificate shows, he was the witness at the death of both parents. Gerry Healys grandfather, Thomas, was buried in St Marys Graveyard. Michael, Gerrys father, never returned to Blackrock. His matriculation there lasted all of one month. He remained in Killererin to work on the family farm, where he is listed as a farm servant on the census of 1911. Far from being part of a rising Irish Catholic bourgeoisie, the 1911 Irish census also tells us that Michael Healy lived in a house with a thatch roof, and with more people than rooms. The census rated the Healy home at the bottom of the second class of housing structures. This means that Michael Healy resided at a home in roughly the bottom one-third of Irish housing, according to data compiled by the Cambridge Social History of Modern Ireland.[ 2 ] The duplicitous way Beatty has dealt with this period is instructive. In an X/Twitter exchange with Mackaman, attempting to back up his characterisation of Gerry Healy as one of the sons of the bourgeoisie, Beatty cited Michaels attendance at Blackrock, conveniently leaving out the fact that he was only there for one month. Exposed by Mackaman, Beatty responded by shutting down access to his X account. Research in Ireland has further revealed that Michaels place at Blackrock college had been offered at a substantially reduced rate of 4 a term, versus the usual 21 annual fee. In presenting this document, the archivist at Blackrock College explained that this was not unusual, as the school was keen to have recruits, particularly of a pious and respectable background. The account of Thomass funeral given in the Western People tells us that one of his sons was Reverend Martin Canon Healy, the author of several Bible history stories for children, who likely provided a useful reference for his younger brother Michael.[ 3 ] Such circumstances were not unheard of for those familiar with Irish history. Among those of relatively poor background but who nonetheless attended Blackrock College was the future president of Ireland, Eamon de Valera, who now gives the name of one of the student houses. The Healy family and the struggle for land in Ireland From the end of 1904, Michael Healy was back working on the family farm. According to the records of occupants kept in the land valuation books, accessible in the Valuation Office in Dublin, the household would have been headed first by his elder brother Martinthe beneficiary of Thomass willand later, from roughly 1910, his other older brother James. During this time, the valuation books indicate that the holdings grew to just over 100 acreswith a rateable annual valuation, i.e., rent, of 38and were purchased freehold with financial assistance from the Land Commission. The changes in the Healy familys circumstances were one individual outcome of a decades-long process of agrarian unrest to which Beatty makes only the most glancing and dismissive reference, but which would have had an enormous impact on the lives of Michael and his siblings. The Land Commission which aided their purchase of the land they had worked for decades was originally established by the British government in 1843 to investigate the land question in Ireland, but its scope and powers grew substantially over the decades with the passage of a flurry of Land Acts in 1870, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1885 (the Ashbourne Act), 1887 (the Balfour Act), 1896 and 1903 (the Wyndham Act). Westminsters successive rounds of legislation were driven by the persistent political agitation of the Irish tenantry, a class of peasants who worked and depended on the land but did not own it. The years 187982 were known as the Land War, associated with the Irish National Land League of Michael Davitt and Charles Stewart Parnell. The first major meeting of the movement was held in Irishtown, County Mayo, roughly 25 kilometres northwest of Barnaderg/Corralea, and attracted over 10,000 people from Mayo, Roscommon and Galway.[ 4 ] Tenant farmers on estates across Ireland, especially in the West, carried out rent strikes, boycotts and attacks on property. Attempts by the British government to suppress the movement, imprisoning many of its leading figures and emboldening the landlords into a wave of evictions, ultimately proved ineffective. Between 188691, the Plan of Campaign mobilised a new round of actions. In 1898, William OBrien founded the United Irish League (UIL) with the motto The Land for the People and began organising new initiatives, including the cattle drives of the Ranch War in the early 1900s, centred on the west of Ireland, including Galway.[ 5 ] William O'Brien, founder of the United Irish League. The UIL grew rapidly to a membership of over 100,000 and organised popular meetings across the country. Michael Healy and James Healy, Gerrys father and uncle, seem to have been active in the land agitation, an important detail that Beatty might have learned had he conducted any research. A report by the Tuam Herald from 1906 finds the brothers from Killererin in attendance at a UIL meeting in Cummer in 1906.[ 6 ] The meeting was addressed by Richard Hazleton, recently elected member of Parliament for North Galway, who had studied at Blackrock. He remarked, in the papers reporting, that the Land Act of 1903 had been in operation for some time, and no doubt some of the tenant farmers had benefited by it, but it required amendment, and he (Mr Hazleton) would co-operate with the Irish Party in having it amended that the Irish peasantry would be put into possession of the soil. The reporters notes the enthusiastic cheers in the crowd at this point. Hazleton gave a section of his speech in Irish, announcing himself a proud member of the Gaelic League. The organisation, founded in 1893, campaigned for the revival of an Irish language increasingly confined to the rural west of the country and was an important source of the movement for national independence from Britain. All of the Healys are listed in the 1911 census as speaking Irish and English, and Martin Healy wrote his Bible stories in both. A James Healy is listed as a member of the local Tuam Gaelic League in a 1903 edition of the Tuam Herald.[ 7 ] Another article from the same newspaper lists a Michael Healy as present at a 1907 meeting of the Tuam branch of Sinn Fein, which had been founded three years prior and would soon come to represent the dominant voice of Irish nationalism.[ 8 ] The evidence is incomplete, and it cannot be definitely stated, at this point, whether the Michael Healy referenced in the article was Gerrys father. But the cumulative evidence suggests an active role for the Healy family in the political movements of the period. The combined impact of nationalist and agrarian agitation in Galway and across Ireland, and the Acts passed in London in response, was substantial. Prior to 1921, more than 300,000 tenants had purchased over 11 out of 20 million acres in the country.[ 9 ] The Commission continued its work under the new Irish Free State from 1922, with the result that, by 1929, over 97 percent of farmers owned their farmsversus less than 3 percent in 1870.[ 10 ] Michael Healys farm in Ballybane and strange disappearance This process provided the basis for Michael Healys first steps in setting up his own farm and family. He left Killererin in 1912, at the age of 27, to purchase the tenancy of a 110-acre farm at Ballybane, or Ballybaanmore, then a small hamlet with surrounding farmland just east of Galway town. The tenancy was purchased from Charles Kaine, a respected local farmer, shortly before his death, for the agreed price of 1,410. The land was owned by the Governors of the Board of Erasmus Smith Schoolsa trust dating back to Cromwells invasion of Ireland which owned swathes of land across the country. Its archives contain the document giving the details above. Another document in the Erasmus Smith archives, the minutes of the Board of Governors, indicate that they agreed at the end of 1913 to sell the land in full to Michael in exchange for 975 advanced by the Land Commission. This is confirmed both by the Valuation Books held at the Valuation Officewhich further indicate the land was valued at 52 in terms of the annual rent it would bringand separate records held by the Registry of Deeds and Land Registry in Dublin. According to the folio at the Land Registry, Michael paid off what he owed the Commission by the early to mid-1920s. This purchase would have placed Michael among the category commonly known as strong farmers in the county, though his holding was tiny relative to the landlord class owning multiple hundreds and even thousands of acres of land. It certainly did not place him in the ranks of the bourgeoisie, controllers of the means of production in society, as Beatty claims. Questions arise from this research. The sum paid by Michael to Charles Kaine was substantial. Meanwhile, the land records indicate that the farm in Killererin, in which the Healy familys wealth was tied up, was in the possession of his brother James. Rather than assume the Healys were living a comfortable life in Ballybane, it is more likely than not that Michael took on significant debt to pay Kaine, which he would then have had to pay off alongside the Land Commission annuitya repayment that had to come during a crisis in agricultural prices in the 1920s. The public birth record for Gerry Healy During their years in Ballybane, Michael and his wife Margaret Mary Healy (nee Rabbitte) had four children: Thomas Gerard Gerry Healy in 1913, Mary Helena Angela (Sister Carmel) Healy in 1916, Michael Gabriel Healy in 1919 and Patrick Brendan Healy in 1923. From this point, however, the historical record of Michaels life thins out rapidly, and no likely candidate for him appears in lists of burials, gravestone inscriptions or wills that we have been able to locate. Beatty deals with this by writing vaguely: The family appears to have entered a financial crisis in the second half of the 1920s, possibly related to mental health problems on the part of Healys father, Michael. By the 1930s, Healys mother, Margaret Mary, was living in Tipperary Town, about 100 miles south of Galway The familys property in Tipperary was registered in the mothers name only and its not clear what had become of his father; he may have died in a psychiatric hospital There are no footnotes to this sectionit is sheer speculation. From our own research, we have established that the Healy farm passes to a John Crowe in 1927, not long after Michael gained full ownership and paid off his annuity to the Land Commission. Significantly, this aligns with the year in which Gerry Healy is understood to have left the country. All of this is suggestive of a serious crisis affecting the whole family. It should be emphasised that Gerry Healy was just 13 years old when he travelled, alone, to try and make a life for himself in Britainthere is no suggestion that he had family or any other connections waiting for him. The disappearance of his father should pique the interest of a historian in any circumstances, and especially so when it follows on the heels of the Irish War of Independence (19191921) and Civil War (19221923). Could Michael Healy have found himself the victim of these events in some way? A serious historian would investigate such questions. Historical versus hack work: the Black and Tans story Not only does Beatty fail to investigate potential connections between the Healys in Ballybane and the tumultuous events underway around them, his substitution for doing so is the exposure of a lie for which there is no credible evidence of Healy ever having told. As Mackaman has already explained: Research reveals that seven authors in eight separate sources have repeated as a fact something that Healy supposedly said about his youththat his father had been killed by the Black and Tans. All of these sources were published after Healys death, and so cannot be verified or contradicted by Healy. None of these authors provide any documentation showing that Healy ever made the claim. No writing or speech by Healy is ever referenced. Neither David North, who worked closely with Healy for a decade, nor Barbara Slaughter, who is, as Mackaman writes, at 96, the oldest living British Trotskyist, and whose former husband, the late Cliff Slaughter, was for decades one of Healys closest collaborators, recall any such story being told by Gerry Healy. Nor did Alex Mitchell, who also worked closely with Gerry Healy from 1971 to 1986 and served as the editor of the News Line, make any reference to this story in his own detailed account of his years as a leading member of the Workers Revolutionary Party. Nor did Healys daughter, Mary, who wrote to David North on October 9, 2024: Unfortunately Gerry never spoke to me about his childhood or his parents. Gerry Healy shared a loving relationship with his daughter. After Healys death in December 1989, Mary wrote a sharply worded reply to a slander-filled obituary written by a political enemy that was published in the Guardian. It is simply unbelievable that Gerry Healy would have failed to tell his daughter of the circumstances of her grandfather Michaels death or anything else about his parents, while making what Beatty describes as a well-repeated claim to all and sundry that he witnessed the murder of his father. Marys account of Gerrys silence on the fate of his father is substantiated in an interview that I conducted in Northern Ireland. I spoke to two former members of the Socialist Labour League (forerunner to the Workers Revolutionary Party) in the 1960s, George and Manda Craig, now in their 80s. Both were based at the time in Belfast and had met with Healy. Neither heard him mention his father at all, even when speaking briefly of his childhood experience in the country. Describing the time Gerry visited their flat for a discussion, George recounted: At no stage do I ever remember Gerry Healy talking about Ireland, his experiences, his father, or anything else to do with Ireland at all. And I would have thought that if he was going to talk about his experience in Ireland, where better to do it than Ireland itself. But he didnt.[ 11 ] Manda recalled one brief occasion when he did so, when the two were in the car travelling back from a conference with other comrades to Healys house in London, where they were being put up for the night: He talked about the troubles that had erupted after the war and with the separation [Partition] and the Black and Tans moving into the area where he lived, and he talked about himself being hidden in a water barrel at one time. He had been put in there, the lid had been put on, when they were coming raiding round the houses Subsequent to that I hear there have been rumours about his father being shot; he never mentioned that on the journey There wasnt any other discussion about his family.[ 12 ] Mandas recollection is, to the authors knowledge, the most substantive and trustworthy account of any comment made by Healy about his childhood. It rubbishes both Beattys claims of Healys compulsive lying about his past, and his attempt to portray his childhood as unaffected by the revolutionary events of early 20th century Ireland. The fact is that the first ten years of Healys life coincided with the most consequential decade of Irish history. He was born during the Dublin lockout, one of the decisive moments in Irish labour history, and was not even a year old with the outbreak of the First World War. He was 2 years old at the time of the 1916 Easter Rising against British imperialism, 5 when Sinn Fein swept dramatically to power in Ireland in 1918 and when the War of Independence began and 8 years old when the Civil War between the new Irish Free State and those opposed to the Treaty it had signed with British imperialism broke out. Basing ourselves on this understanding and on Manda Craigs comments, Mackaman and I began to investigate the sources for signs of Michael Healys direct involvement in these struggles. We were also motivated by the fact that the father of Margaret Marys fourth child, born in 1923, is listed as Martin Healy on the birth register. Given the existence of an uncle Martin Healy, who would have been roughly 60 years old at that point and who the land records indicate had resided at Thomass nearby farm for a period, was it not possible that Michael was for some reason related to politics away from home at this time and the family looked after by his brother? The name Michael Healy is a common one in Ireland, but one document caught our attention. The 2 Brigade, 1 Western Division (South West Galway) report, held by the Military Archives, contains lists of participants in various IRA operationscompiled some years later by its officers. The list for the Castledaly Ambush of October includes the name Michael Healy, added in pencil, with no home address or any other information. The list for the Castledaly Ambush of October 30, 1920, includes the name Michael Healy, added in pencil The ambush, which took place some 30 kilometres south of Ballybane, claimed the life of RIC Constable Timothy Horan. British reprisals were some of the fiercest seen in Galway. The RIC and Black and Tans burned the houses of suspected fighters and their associates in villages across the area, beat family members, and fired indiscriminately into villages. Young and pregnant mother-of-three Eileen Quinn was shot dead by Auxiliaries while sitting on the wall outside her house and cradling another child.[ 13 ] Enquiries with the Military Archives revealed that the name on the document is associated with an as yet undigitized application for an army pensionawarded to the Free State by those who had fought in the War of Independencesubmitted by a Michael Healy of Tubber, near Gort, in the far south of County Galway. There is a close match for him in the 1911 census for the area, making it fair to conclude at this stage that the pencilled-in name may not have been Gerrys father. More work of this kind with the historical sourcesidentifying and cross-referencing mentions of Michael Healywould need to be done to draw the full picture they provide. What the Castledaly event does point to, in any case, is that the British forces were hardly discriminating in their violence against the populationduring which holding a common name like Healy, shared with several fighters in the IRA, might have caused problemsand that many would have been affected whose names were never recorded. Indeed, our brief investigation into any direct connections between Michael Healy and the war with the British turned up plenty of material to demonstrate the profound effect the revolutionary struggles in Ireland would have had on his family in Ballybane. Gerry Healys childhood in Irelands revolutionary decade Published studies like Conor McNamaras War and Revolution in the West of Ireland, William Henrys Blood for Blood and Fergus Campbells Land and Revolution already show up Beattys claim that Galway, his native county, was relatively unaffected by the War of Independence, as a lie. Even a brief walk through the permanent exhibition at Galway City Museum tells the same. But the point can be made even more strongly. Limiting the focus to a radius of just a few kilometres around the farm in Ballybane provides ample evidence for the very local impact of not just of the War of Independence, but the Easter Rising and the Civil War. Visiting the area, one is struck by just how short the distances are between the Healys farm and many of the incidents referenced in the sources and historical literature on this period. Gerry Healy grew up in a war zone. There is no reason to disbelieve his story of hiding in a barrel, told to Irish comrade Manda Craig. Map of Galway: Healys life in Ballybane, Galway was in close proximity to many turbulent events of the Irish War of Independence and Civil War. [Photo: WSWS/Google Maps] The Easter Rising of 1916 famously saw 1,200 members of the Irish Volunteers under Patrick Pearse and of the smaller Irish Citizen Army under James Connolly seize key buildings in Dublin and engage in fierce fighting with British forces over several days. Although the planned national uprising against British imperialism did not take place, there was significant activity in Galway, with roughly 600 Volunteers mobilised under the direction of Liam Mellows. Attacks were staged by around 100 Volunteers on the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) barracks at Oranmore, five kilometres east of Ballybane, and another 100 on the barracks at Clarenbridge further southeast. There was a shootout the next day at Carnmore Crossroads, just to the north of Oranmore.[ 14 ] To deter the rebels from attempting to enter Galway city, British navy shipsHMS Guillemot, HMS Laburnum, HMS Gloucester and HMS Snowdropwere stationed in Galway Bay at the time and bombarded the countryside between Oranmore and Castlegar, which Michael Healys farm sat in the middle of, for the best part of a week.[ 15 ] Mellows escaped to America but was imprisoned there until 1918 on charges of aiding the German war effortbecoming one of the more than 400 people from Galway arrested and interned after the rising.[ 16 ] A political sea change was underway in Ireland, however, and he was one of the four representatives of Sinn Fein who took all the available seats for Galway county in the 1918 British general election. Sinn Feins decision not to go to Parliament in Westminster but to establish an independent Irish parliament, the Dail Eireann, prompted the outbreak of the Irish War of Independence. Monument to Irish Republican Liam Mellows, Eyre Square, Galway City, Ireland [Photo by Wikimedia / DazW-Dub / CC BY-SA 4.0 Contrary to Beattys ignorant assertion about it being quiet, Galway was heavily involved. The Irish Bureau of Military History holds witness statements from 80 participants in the independence struggle relating events in the county. Among the nearly 200 Irish Republican Army operations listed in Galway by the Irish Military Archives are a September 1920 firefight outside Galway railway station and an August 1920 ambush near Merlin Park. The railway engagement took place just a few kilometres to the west of Ballybane, and the Merlin Park ambush barely a kilometre to the south. The Castlegar company, with a reputation for radicalism, played a significant role in both and would have been the nearest IRA formation to the Healys address. One of its most prominent members, blacksmith Michael Newell, a veteran of 1916 and commandant of the Mid-Galway Brigade of the IRA, lived in Briarhill, roughly one kilometre from Ballybane. Another member, John Fahy, gave his address as Ballybane itselfthese details are contained in the Mid Galway Brigade, 1 Western Division and 2 Brigade, 1 Western Division (South West Galway) reports. It is all but certain that the Black and Tans would have searched Ballybane for such freedom fighters. Both the Galway railway station and Merlin Park attacks met with brutal reprisals by British forces, who went on the rampage in nearby Galway town and Oranmore village, dragging people into the street and burning houses and offices.[ 17 ] Another infamous night of counterrevolutionary violence took place in July 1920 in Tuam, near where James Healy would still have been living, with the RIC burning and looting houses and businesses and razing the town hall.[ 18 ] Houses were also burned in Castlegar in February 1921.[ 19 ] The British terror campaign would have hung like a pall over the whole area. As well as damage to propertywith Galway the most affected county outside the heavily targeted Munster provincethere was the threat of assassination.[ 20 ] The most infamous was that of republican sympathiser Father Griffin, kidnapped and killed by British Auxiliaries in November 1920. His funeral brought some 12,000 people to the streets of Galway town.[ 21 ] Known or suspected activists were frequently forced into hiding, and reliance on the local community. Here again, the war visited the very town Gerry Healy lived in, Ballybane, when he would have been not quite 7 years old. William Henry notes interestingly on this score, These were hungry days for the men on the run, and some houseowners in Ballybane would leave their doors unlocked at night and food on the table.[ 22 ] Come the Civil War, Galway again featured prominently, with Una Newells study of the county in 192232, The West Must Wait, describing the conflict as an intimate war a bitter war a public war. Trade was disrupted, food supplies were at times limited and some areas became increasingly isolated.[ 23 ] In one dramatic event in March 1922, anti-Treaty Irish opposed to the agreement signed by the new Irish Free State with British imperialism forced state forces out of Renmore Barracks in Galway townonce again a single kilometre from Ballybane.[ 24 ] There was a firefight just north of nearby Castlegar in July of that year, in which anti-Treaty IRA Lieutenant John Jack Lohan was shot dead.[ 25 ] John Fahy from Ballybane and Michael Newell of neighbouring Briarhill are named in the Mid-Galway Brigade report held by the Military Archives Ireland as captured by National Forces after another firefight near Galway town in that month. The July 8, 1922, entry in the Galway Prison record of men accused of attacks on state forces that lists Newells name includes as well those of Thomas Conroy and Edward Coyne, also of Briarhill. To help the reader get a sense of the significance of this, there are just seven households listed in Ballybaanmore in 1911; the hamlet a kilometre and a half down the road that was home to Newell, Conroy and Coyne, Breanloughaun, had nine households. They and Michael, and all the local residents, would surely have been known to each other. In such a small rural society, very few families would have been more than a few acquaintances away from someone with a direct connection to the struggle against Britain or the new Free State. Their activities, and their political ideas, would have been the subject of discussion at home and in public. Nor would this have stopped with the end of the Civil War, of which harsh memories persisted in Irish society for years afterwards. It was frequently noted that the Irish Free State had carried out 81 official executions of anti-Treaty Irishmen, whereas the British had carried out 24 state murders of Irish Volunteers. Among the former total were six anti-Treaty fighters killed in a group execution at Tuam on April 11, 1923. Another two followed the next month.[ 26 ] Gerry Healy, then not quite ten years old, would have been aware of these gruesome events. Intriguingly, it is also in the period following this traumatic conflict that Michael Healy disappears and Gerry in his young teenage years sets off for a new life in Britain. Personal troubles could well have upended the family: we have pointed to the possibility that Michael took on debts in the context of sharply falling agricultural prices in the 1920s. But there is equally no reason to discount the idea that some event in the previous decade of social and political upheaval played a part. The biography of a revolutionary Reconstructing the life of an individual, especially of their childhood, is a complicated task for the historian, requiring careful attention to contemporary social and political developments and thoughtful reflection on how these might have intersected with the life of the subject and his or her family. It is clear that even a brief account of Gerry Healys background in Ireland must acknowledge the explosive political atmosphere of the time, the traditions of activism extending into the countryside and back through generations of farmers, and the long and bloody record of violence. For the biographer of a man who went on to play a leading role in revolutionary politics not to have examined in the closest detail the impact this context had on his subject is professional negligence; to have flatly denied it is malicious. Gerry Healy speaking in 1942 Our initial research, which goes far beyond that of the self-styled Irish historian Aidan Beatty, does not answer every question. Michaels fate and the specifics of Gerrys early years remain unclear. More facts will eventually be uncovered, and one day an effort will hopefully be made by an objective historian to establish in detail the family background of such a significant figure in the international Marxist movement. But two things are already certain at this stage. First, that from the familys experiences as tenant farmers during the years of agrarian agitation and the mass transfer of land from the landlord class, to the revolutionary war and brutal counterinsurgency waged all around Gerrys home, this history cannot have failed to leave a deep impression on him. Second, that Beatty engaged in none of the research and contextualisation of evidence that characterises serious history. North recalls of Healy in his biography Gerry Healy and his Place in the History of the Fourth International that he was undoubtedly, a hard man and a working-class communist of the old school, whose Marxism was anchored in a burning hatred of the capitalist system, with whose brutality he was personally familiar.[ 27 ] This is no doubt true of someone who arrived in Britain as a child in the immediate aftermath of the General Strike and on the eve of the Great Depression, who came of age in the Hungry Thirties amid the rise of fascism, and who was a young man with the outbreak of the Second World War. Healy had been forced to grow up quickly. The account presented in this essay shows that process must have started earlier, in Ireland. North also notes: The experience of personal privation was not the only, or even principal, foundation of his hardness. Healy was of a generation whose conceptions of revolutionary struggle and sacrifice were inspired by the world-shaking achievements of the Bolshevik Party. For workers such as Healy, the events of 1917 demonstrated that the socialist revolution was not an event destined to occur in the distant future. It was, rather, a practical task. Thus, until the final tragic years, Healy lived for the revolution and the revolution lived in Healy. This passion distinguished him unmistakeably from all others in the workers movement. Next to him, the leaders of the opportunist organizations appeared as little more than rank amateurs or charlatans.[ 28 ] David Norths Gerry Healy and His Place in the History of the Fourth International. Mehring Books Besides the obvious malicious intent, what shapes Beattys treatment of Healy is the inability of this academicwho twists history in the service of the reactionary ideology of Zionismto understand a politician of Gerrys character. Having grown up in affluence in an Ireland supposedly beyond the Troubles of its colonial past and amid the capitalist triumphalism that followed the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Beattys biography exudes self-satisfied complacency and a congenital incapacity to imagine that the Galway of 100 years ago was so very different than that of his own time. It is unsurprising that such a figure finds his way to the cynical middle-class leadership of the Democratic Socialists of America, for whom revolution is a horror and political principle an encumbrance. This prejudice, too, blinds him to the kinds of experiences and decisions which shaped the life of a genuine revolutionary leader like Gerry Healy. The first task of a historian is to shed, as far as possible, the prejudices and presumptions unavoidably built up over the course of ones life in a particular context. But Beatty did not approach this work as a historian; he took out a contract on a political opponent. From the very first pages of his book, he makes clear that his intention is to conjure up claims that suit his predetermined conclusion of Healy the self-aggrandising liar, monster and hypocrite, excluding any research which might genuinely have shone light on the formative experiences of Gerrys youth. Beattys treatment of these issues discredits not only his book, but his academic career. The Zionist and pro-Israel foundations from whom Beatty solicited financial support for this project provided him with money with the understanding that he would produce a lie-filled diatribe against a Marxist-Trotskyist defender of the struggle of the oppressed against imperialism. And the unscrupulous Aidan Beatty has given them their moneys worth. Bibliography PRIMARY SOURCES Archives Testamentary Records and Landed Estates Papers, The National Archives of Ireland, Dublin. Western Estate Papers and Minute Books, Archives of the Erasmus Smith Schools, Dublin. Cancelled Land Valuation Books, Land Valuation Office, Dublin. Folio Archives, Land Registry, Dublin. Memorials, Registry of Deeds, Dublin. Online Archives Witness Statements and Brigade Activity Reports, Bureau of Military History (19131921), The Military Archives, available at https://bmh.militaryarchives.ie/ and https://brigade-activities.militaryarchives.ie/county/galway/. Census of Ireland 1901, 1911, available at https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/. Richard Griffiths General Valuation of Rateable Property in Ireland, available at https://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/. Irish Newspaper Archives, available at https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ Prison Galway General Register 19131923, Irish Prison Registers 17901924, available at https://www.findmypast.co.uk/home. Ireland, Civil Registration Births Index 18641958, available at https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/civil-search.jsp. Interviews Interview conducted by the author with George and Manda Craig, Northern Ireland, November 3, 2024. SECONDARY SOURCES Conor McNamara, War and Revolution in the West of Ireland: Galway, 19131922 (Newbridge: Irish Academic Press, 2018) William Henry, Blood for Blood: The Black and Tan War in Galway (Cork: Mercier Press, 2012) Fergus Campbell, Land and Revolution: Nationalist Politics in the West of Ireland 18911921 (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005) Una Newell, The West must wait: County Galway and the Irish Free State, 192232 (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2016) The Cambridge Social History of Modern Ireland, eds. Eugenio F. Biagini, Mary E. Daly (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2017) This month, Los Angeles police armed and clad in riot gear burst into classroom without warning at Northridge Middle Community school, pointing rifles at students and staff and demanding that the school be put on lockdown. The lockdown lasted for two full hours during which students werent allowed to eat or use the bathroom. An eighth grade student at the school, Annabelle Cardoza told press in an interview, We werent even given information that police were on campus. We didnt get the announcement that a lockdown was happening. The Northridge Middle Community School is part of the Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest public school district in the country with more than 565,000 students. Teachers and parents said that the lockdown was the fourth time within the past several weeks that police activity both in and around the campus had disrupted the school day and shocked parents, teachers and students. A statement by the Los Angeles School Police Department, which conducted the raid, contradicted the claims made by virtually every student, teacher, parent and staff member at the school. It read, every effort was made to provide the school community with all available information in accordance with Los Angeles United Unified [sic] policy and with the assistance of the Los Angeles School Police Department. During the incident, we sent three timely messages to the Northridge Middle School Community, providing updates on the status of and information about the lockdown. At a protest held outside of the campus last Thursday, however, not a single parent or educator present could remember a single notice from either the police or the campus administration notifying them of the raid. They dont tell us the details of the events that happened, said Ivania Nolasco, a teacher at the school. They dont tell us before, or after, or even during the crisis, what were expecting. Were not prepared to handle these kinds of events. According to the police, the raid was the result of a search they had been conducting on the campus but no further details have been provided. Last May, two young boys, aged 13, were accused of bringing a 9mm ghost gun along with a 9mm Glock handgun onto campus. The boys were later arrested with the Los Angeles School Police Department likely seizing on the incident as a pretext for a virtually perpetual presence on the campus. The police presence should also be placed within the context of a heightened campaign of repression launched by the US ruling class against workers, and immigrant workers in particular. With the incoming Trump administrations plans for mass deportations of immigrants, the need to terrorize immigrant children will become a priority for the state, particularly as a huge proportion of LAUSD students are children of undocumented workers. The designation of so-called sanctuary cities by state and local Democratic politicians only provides a minor inconvenience to border patrol agents and police in their collection of immigrant data. Such designations will do nothing whatsoever to physically prevent raids from being carried out. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators and police face off on the UCLA campus, May 23, 2024, in Los Angeles. [AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes] Moreover, the city and surrounding area of Los Angeles County are considered a priority target for domestic repression. Shortly after Los Angeles police raided the Northridge middle school, four students were arrested on the campus of the University of California Los Angeles simply for protesting the universitys support for the genocide in Gaza. The arrests follow a zero tolerance policy by the administration of Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom against pro-Palestinian protests at the University of California (UC) and California State University campuses across the state. During the previous year, police, in conjunction with Zionist thugs, launched a wave of violent attacks against peaceful protesters on campuses. In response to these attacks, the United Auto Workers called a fraudulent stand up strike at the UC system in which they kept picketing limited to a fraction of campuses and which they quickly disbanded after a court injunction. Moreover, the latest arrest of student protesters has not resulted in even a murmur of opposition from the UAW and the other academic unions. Similarly, the United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) has shown that it isnt committed to protecting students and its own members from the ongoing police terror. In a statement released after the raid at Northridge Community Middle School, the UTLA is demanding, not that Los Angeles police immediately cease campus raids and terrorizing minor children, but instead only that adequate notice in advance of the raids and a Trauma-Informed Curriculum be put in place to help students and teachers deal with having guns pointed at them on a regular basis by police. These actions are only a foretaste of whats to come. Teachers, staff, parents and students must join and build rank-and-file committees to take up a defense of public education and the right of all to be free of police state terror on school campuses. JFK8 warehouse in Staten Island. The Amazon Labor Union (ALU) is holding a strike authorization vote at the JFK8 fulfillment center in Staten Island, New York. The deadline for votes to be cast is the evening of December 1. The World Socialist Web Site urges the largest possible yes vote as a necessary first step in the fight against Amazon. The next step must be the formation of a rank-and-file committee that JFK8 workers control democratically. This committee, which must be independent of the bureaucracy of the ALU and the Teamsters (with which the ALU is affiliated), will be able to conduct a genuine struggle by formulating workers demands, elaborating a strategy to achieve them and linking up with other workers, at Amazon and elsewhere, in a common fight against exploitation. Amazon, the global retail behemoth, recorded approximately $575 billion in revenue in 2023, according to the Wall Street Journal. This revenue was produced by relentlessly pushing workers to their physical limitsand often beyond them. The Black Friday and Cyber Monday protests planned at Amazon facilities in more than 20 countries show workers fierce international opposition to the companys sweatshop regime, which depends on the extensive use of automation and surveillance technology. Workers at JFK8 cannot fight this massive international corporation alone. They must unite with other Amazon workers in New York, nationwide and around the world. The widespread anger toward Amazon must be organized and channeled into the development of a fighting program. Moreover, Amazon workers are not alone in facing the threats of surveillance and layoffs resulting from automation. Workers on the East and Gulf Coast docks, at UPS and at the United States Postal Service face the same dangers to their livelihoods. Workers at Canada Post have been waging a determined strike for about two weeks over similar questions. The workers at JFK8 must appeal to all these workers for support based on their common interests. Another essential basis for a struggle by Amazon workers must be their rejection of the companys supposed right to profit from their labor. As they formulate their demands, the starting point for Amazon workers must be their objective needs, without regard to what the company is willing to concede or what it claims it can afford. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, one of the worlds richest men, is just one of the American billionaires whose wealth has increased by almost 90 percent since the beginning of the pandemic. At the same time, the rate of homelessness increased by more than 12 percent throughout 2022, reaching a record high, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. Bezos and other billionaires cannot be allowed to hoard the wealth that the working class creates. Instead, they must be expropriated, and the socially created wealth must be used to satisfy social needs. Equally essential is that not only the struggle, but also the contract negotiations at JFK8 be subject to the workers democratic control. At each stage in the fight, the workers must meet and decide on their tactics. Negotiations must be fully transparent and open to all JFK8 workers. Closed-door bargaining and backroom deals lead only to betrayals, as workers in every industry have learned through bitter experience. Whether or not it honors a yes vote and calls a strike, the ALU/Teamsters will operate with a totally different strategy, aimed not at securing massive improvements to working conditions but pressuring management to work out a deal to allow the bureaucracy to jointly impose sweatshop conditions. During its unionization campaign, the ALU organizers won JFK8 workers support largely because they claimed that their new organization would be controlled by the workers and would be independent of the established trade unions. Workers believed that the ALU was an organization that would help them organize a fight. But after the ALUs victory, it quickly became apparent that the fledgling union had no strategy for fighting Amazon. Lacking an independent perspective, its leadership turned to the Democratic Party (which represents the interests of Wall Street and the intelligence agencies) and to the very trade unions from which they initially had distanced themselves. This bankrupt orientation left the ALU unable to make successful appeals to workers at other Amazon facilities including LDJ5, which is across the street from JFK8. The union became so distant from workers that its mass membership meeting in August 2023 attracted more Democrats and trade union officials than members. As the ALUs resources dwindled, its leaders began bickering among themselves. They finally turned toward the Teamsters to rescue them, and the ALU became affiliated with this union in June. More than two and a half years after its election victory, the ALU has nothing to show for itself. Conditions have not improved at all for JFK8 workers. The Teamsters bureaucracy rescued the ALU not because it sought to improve wages and conditions for JFK8 workers, but because it sought to broaden its base of dues-paying members. The Teamsters officials seek only to preserve their own generous salaries by advancing the companies interests. Among the most significant of the unions recent betrayals was its prevention of a strike by 340,000 UPS workers last year. Despite his loud promises to call a strike, Teamsters President Sean OBrien kept workers on the job after the contract expired. He then produced a historic and overwhelmingly lucrative tentative agreement that is now enabling UPS to close at least 200 facilities and, in its words, automate everything. Company executives later boasted to investors that the agreement provided labor certainty and curbed cost increases. Early this year, the Teamsters called off a strike by 5,000 workers at Anheuser-Busch at the last minute, despite a 99 percent vote in favor of the action. Union officials again brought forward a historic tentative agreement that allegedly contained job protections. But the agreement did not stop Anheuser-Busch from closing two distribution centers this fall, affecting 256 workers. A lawyer for the union admitted that the Teamsters had discussed brewery closures with the company without telling workers. Workers at JFK8 have no choice but to fight against Amazons relentless exploitation. But they cannot entrust the leadership of this fight to the ALU or the Teamsters, who will seek every opportunity to secure their own privileges by cooperating with the company. The formation of a rank-and-file committee that is independent of the union and under workers direct control is essential to waging the necessary struggle. JFK8 workers must unite with Amazon workers internationally in a fight that ultimately takes aim at the profit system itself. On November 11 the student parliament (StuPa) at Berlin Humboldt University approved a resolution introduced by the International Youth & Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) entitled Condemn the attack on academic freedom by the Federal Ministry of Education. The resolution condemned the attempts at intimidation by the Federal Ministry of Education against signatories of the open letter Statement by Teachers at Berlin Universities .... The open letter in turn condemns the police violence against students at the Free University of Berlin who were peacefully protesting against the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza. A woman is carried away by police during a pro-Palestinian demonstration by the Student Coalition Berlin in the theater courtyard of Freie Universitat Berlin in Berlin, Germany on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. [AP Photo/Markus Schreiber] The StuPa resolution demanded an immediate end to all state threats against lecturers, a ban on police operations on campus and an end to all repression against students with critical views. It went on to state: The student parliament welcomes the resignation of the Federal Minister for Science and Research and calls on the Ministry of Education (BMBF) in its new composition to fully clarify the events of recent months. To this end, it is also essential that former State Secretary Sabine Doring be allowed to again speak freely. In June, investigations by the public broadcaster NDR and the magazine Der Spiegel revealed how the Free Democratic Party (FDP)-led BMBF had taken steps to cut or withdraw funding for research projects by lecturers with critical opinions and have them prosecuted. Their offence: They had defended the democratic right to freedom of expression and assembly of pro-Palestinian students. The protest camp at the Freie (Free) University (FU) in Berlin was set up by students protesting Israels genocide of the Palestinians, opposing German arms deliveries and the financial and political support for Israel provided by the German state. Similar protests and camps were organized in many other cities and repeatedly faced brutal police violence. In response to the censorship and measures of repression, several thousand lecturers signed an open letter defending the democratic rights of the student protesters and the occupation at the FU while condemning the university management for breaking off offers of dialogue and allowing the police to remove student protesters. The reaction in political circles and the media was to target professors. The repression of lecturers sparked a scandal the BMBF was unable to control, even after the sacking of Sabine Doring. Doring was subsequently replaced by the agitator Roland Philippi (FDP), who, according to media reports, stated in an internal chat that he wouldnt mind if politically undesired scientists should worry about their funding. The repression continued even after the FDP quit the coalition government and the entire ruling class moved further to the right. The Bundestag, for example, has recently passed a so-called antisemitism resolution that is fully in line with the policies of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). The resolution describes the genocide in Gaza as correct according to international law with regard to self-defense and takes up the AfD slogan of imported antisemitism. Universities should be supported in continuing to make use of their legal options. These include the application of domiciliary rights, exclusion from teaching or studies, up to and including ex-matriculation [expulsion] in particularly serious cases. In this way, the ruling class is relying on the reintroduction of reactionary public order laws, which enable university administrations to carry out extrajudicial political expulsions. This is aimed at silencing all those who speak out against the genocide of Palestinians, Germanys military build-up and its aggressive war policy. At the StuPa meeting, IYSSE speakers explained the significance of the resolution and called for its adoption. StuPa member Gregor Kahl said: If those professors who criticized this massive and violent attack on students freedom of expression are now being persecuted by the government, then we as the StuPa must vehemently condemn these attempts at intimidation. IYSSE member Tamino Wilck summarized the significance of these repressive measures as follows: This is an enormous attack on freedom of expression and academic freedom, the kind of attack usually associated with authoritarian regimes. For more than 10 years, the IYSSE has fought against German warmongering and the ideological and militarist mobilization taking place at universities, including at Humboldt University in Berlin. In so doing, the IYSSE has repeatedly pointed to the sharp lurch to the right by establishment parties and the ruling class, which are reacting to enormous levels of social inequality and the deep crisis of capitalism by moving towards authoritarian and dictatorial forms of rule. The resolution in the StuPa of the Humboldt University was adopted by a clear majority after a favorable amendment by the Left List (LiLi), which updated some points and was endorsed by the IYSSE faction. The IYSSE had already introduced the motion last semester, but the RCDS, the right-wing student organization of the conservative CDU/CSU, delayed the vote and adoption of the motion by checking the quorum in the last StuPa meeting before the summer break. While the RCDS voted against and the social democratic Jusos abstained, all the other lists voted in favor of the resolution. After this important victory and their electoral success in this years StuPa elections, the IYSSE will expand its activities and orient students and youth towards the working class, arming them with the necessary socialist perspective for the struggle against war and dictatorship. World Socialist Web Site reporters spoke with striking Ramsay nurses and midwives at the Sydney rally on Tuesday about their wages, heavy workloads and worsening conditions. Read a full report of the strike here. Stephanie Stephanie has worked for 14 years in maternity at Ramsay Westmead. Reporters raised the Socialist Equality Partys call for the formation of health workers rank-and-file committees, united across states and between private and public nurses. Thats a fantastic idea, she said. We are in very close proximity to our public hospital, which is sort of a brother hospital, and a lot of staff do work between the two hospitals. Referring to her increasingly difficult working conditions she said, The hospital has just increased the numbers of patients to levels that are not workable. They are also recruiting more Visiting Medical Officers (VMOs), which bring with them their own workloads and patients, which we must care for, but we dont have capacity to do that. The enterprise bargaining agreement, the issue of a pay rise and safe working conditions has been going on for months and months. But Ramsay dont want to give us the pay rise. They are claiming they cant afford it, but they have made something like $900 million in profit. A key issue is workload. Were just completely burnt out. I worked night shift and have not had a break. I just got on a bus and came here because I feel strongly about it. Stephanie said it was virtually impossible to make ends meet on nurses wages. We just all tend to rely on doing overtime on top of our full-time rosters. Some of us do agency work at other hospitals as well, on our days off. It gives us very little rest. Girls are finding it hard to pay their mortgages. My kids are older, but I feel for those people that have got young families trying to sort of survive today. Alex, who works in a surgical ward, said, One thing that we face is poor nurse-to-patient ratios. We dont have explicit ratios in the private system in Ramsay Hospitals. Routinely it will be two nurses to twelve patients, thats quite a good day. Sometimes youll have several post-op patients and new admissions, so you can have 15 to 18 patients with two nurses, churning through the day. On a night shift it is not unusual to have one nurse to nine patients. Some of those patients will be confused and require quite close supervision, such as hourly observations. Its very hard and you worry about your patients safety. You miss opportunities to provide emotional support to patients. With the high workload, you triage what youre doing, give acute care first and emotional support is a low order priority. There is this idea of a moral injury. For a nurse, when something doesnt go right you think What did I miss? What could I have done differently? There are mini traumas people suffer at work. Living in Sydney on a nurses wage is extremely difficult, especially for young nurses, even to rent. How do they expect to attract and retain nurses with the wages that nurses are on? I think its a chronically undervalued profession. The deterioration of hospitals was a war of attrition, Alex continued. We all fronted up and put ourselves at personal risk and our families through the pandemic and yet now we are worse off on a real daily basis. There have been both Coalition and Labor governments in that time. I think there are salient lessons from the US elections. Look what happened to the Democrats. A working-class base is no longer assured for them. The Labor Party here probably needs to think about that. It is a big problem for them. she said. Kristy Kristy, from North Shore hospital in Sydney, has worked as a nurse for over two decades, including ten years in Sydney. It would be nice if we were all taking industrial action together instead of being separated, she said. I cant remember the last time we got a proper pay rise, but we are all in the same industry and facing the same difficulties. Our conditions are long hours, with no breaks, and low pay. Its a long time since Ive been in the public hospitals, but Im assuming that they face these same conditions. Its a general situation with staff ratios. Theyre really bad everywhere. Staff numbers are horrible. How can you work with one registered nurse looking after nine patients in the emergency ward? We are not superhuman. With such low staffing numbersand especially related to those who need major surgerywe are risking the lives of people. The problem we face in the private sector is that we dont get enough time to train people. If there are two junior staff and something goes wrong with a caseif you hit a major blood vessel for examplethey dont have the expertise to deal with this. To train people takes time but in our industry, because it is run for profit, that costs money, which management doesnt want to spend. Medicine should be organised in a way thats fair for everybody. The Australian Labor government pushed three bills through federal parliament yesterday which provide for mass roundups, widespread deportations, including to countries where immigrants face persecution and other sweeping attacks on the democratic rights of the most vulnerable sections of the working class. Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressing a media press conference on September 21, 2024 [AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File] The immigration bills were among 31 pieces of legislation rushed through the Senate on the last sitting day of parliament for the year. The frenzied legislative session, involving the curtailment and even suspension of debate, underscored the anti-democratic character of the whole parliamentary set-up. Far-reaching measures were rushed through, without even the usual threadbare pretense of scrutiny. Not one of the legislative measures will substantially improve the living or social conditions of the population. Instead, the major bills centre on repression, including a world-first ban on under-16-year-olds accessing social media, which will dramatically increase internet censorship. Others allow for massive handouts to the corporate elite, including the property developers responsible for the housing crisis. Even in that reactionary context, the immigration legislation stands out. For years, Australian governments, Labor and Liberal-National alike, have set global precedents for the persecution of refugees and immigrants, including through the indefinite detention of asylum-seekers in offshore sites that amount to concentration camps. Now, a Labor government is going even further, adopting policies of domestic repression that are in their substance no different to the measures associated with US President-elect Donald Trump and other fascist forces in Europe and internationally. The main migration amendment bill would more accurately be described as a mass deportation bill. Immigration officials have admitted that more than 80,000 people could be expelled from the country under the legislation. That includes more than 75,000 who allegedly do not have a valid visa, as well as those on various bridging visas. The mechanism for the mass deportation is entirely lawless. The government will pay unnamed third countries to take possession of the expelled immigrants in a policy that amounts to state human trafficking. Those countries do not have to be the signatories to the International Refugee Convention, which stipulates basic protections for immigrants and asylum-seekers. In the clearest indication of the homicidal intent of the program, the legislation completely indemnifies the government from any consequences of the deportations. That is essentially an admission that the expulsions will result in calamities, including indefinite detention, injury and even death. Australias visa regime is notoriously draconian and is well known to be discriminatory, with citizens from impoverished and developing countries frequently barred entry. Those who manage to arrive, including refugees, are frequently placed on temporary bridging visas, some of which impose onerous restrictions on employment and bar access to welfare, public healthcare and other essentials. This cohort is faced with complete uncertainty as to their future. It is entirely possible to violate the onerous and bureaucratic visa requirements through no fault of ones own. In the US, Trump has pledged to immediately deport millions of migrants upon coming to office in January. He has made clear that this will involve the mobilisation of repressive state forces, including the military, in a program that will inevitably involve attacks on the civil liberties of broad sections of the working class, whatever their immigration status. Labors plan for mass deportations will be no different. In a country of 25 million people, the 80,000 immigrants to be immediately targeted constitute a not insignificant proportion of the population. Australia, like the US, moreover, is a country of immigrants. An estimated 8.2 million Australian residents, or almost a third of the population were born overseas. At least 48 percent of the population has one or more parents who were born overseas. The scale of the deportations being prepared, and the countrys demographic makeup, sets the stage for widespread raids and Gestapo-style demands for proof of immigration status. The authoritarian character of the bill is underscored by its expansion of ministerial power, including to effectively overturn the judgements of tribunals providing asylum protection to non-citizens, paving the way for onerous conditions to be imposed on them, up to detention or potential deportation. The second bill, which complements the first, mandates that migrants being expelled from the country cooperate in efforts to ensure their prompt and lawful removal, or they could be imprisoned for up to a year. Again, underscoring the fascistic pedigree of the legislation, that bill provides the government with powers to cancel all new visa applications from designated countries that do not accept migrants removed from Australia. The clear inspiration for the measure, which will undoubtedly target both impoverished countries and those in the crosshairs of US and allied imperialism, is the travel ban implemented by the first Trump administration targeting Muslim-majority nations. The final bill provides the state with the power to confiscate mobile phones from refugees and immigrants in detention. The legislation is virtually identical to bills that Labor opposed while in opposition. Its transparent purpose is to prevent vulnerable detainees from communicating with the outside world, including to report instances of abuse and persecution. The new legislation is the culmination of a stepped-up campaign over the past year, vilifying refugees and immigrants. That has included a frenzied campaign against a small cohort of refugees, who were freed after the High Court ruled last year that their indefinite detention was unlawful. The individuals, some of whom were previously convicted of crimes and served their sentences, have been subjected to a relentless vilification from the media, as well as the government, which has repeatedly joined with the Liberal-National Coalition to impose punishing restrictions including the forced wearing of ankle bracelets. Government leaders, including Immigration Minister Tony Burke have railed against criminal refugees, declaring we dont want them here in Trumpian terms. At the same time, Labor and the Coalition have scapegoated immigrants for the worsening social crisis, including record housing unaffordability, which has in fact been produced by a speculative bubble benefiting the property developers and the ultra-wealthy. Labors role in the latest attack is not accidental. Anti-immigrant xenophobia is in the DNA of this party, which was explicitly founded on the racist White Australia policy of excluding non-European migrants from the country. In recent decades, Labor has spearheaded attacks on asylum, including through the introduction of mandatory detention for refugees who arrive in Australia unlawfully in the 1990s, and the reopening of offshore detention camps in 2012. The program of the Australian Labor government is strikingly similar to that of the British Labour government. Both are enforcing deportations and scapegoating migrants while ruling for the rich. While the British Labour administration is ending heating subsidies for pensioners in the winter, the Australian Labor government has presided over the biggest reversal in working class living standards in decades, with recent figures showing an average decline in purchasing power of nine percent over the past three years. Both are participating in the US-Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, the NATO proxy war against Russia in Ukraine and the preparations for a catastrophic war with China, including through their AUKUS pact with the US that is a cockpit of war preparations and of the militarisation of the Indo-Pacific. The open adoption of far-right policies by the old social-democratic parties, which decades ago severed any connection to the working class and have become unalloyed instruments of finance capital, recalls Lenins characterisation of imperialism and all of its agencies as reaction all down the line. Under conditions of a breakdown of global capitalism, imperialist governments, whatever their nominal political colouration, are dispensing with the trappings of democracy, and turning to a program of authoritarianism, to repress mass social opposition and to enforce the policy of war. That underscores the fact that the real and growing danger of fascism cannot be fought within the framework of official capitalist politics, or under the auspices of its representatives. In revealing comments, leaders of the increasingly far-right Australian opposition Liberal-National Coalition have boasted that they are already setting immigration policy. As the Socialist Equality Parties have insisted, the fight against the danger of fascism requires an independent political movement of the working class, based on the perspective of ending the capitalist system that is the source of the deepening barbarism and beginning the socialist transformation of society. In opposition to the nationalism and xenophobia of the ruling elite, that means a fight for the international unity of working people everywhere. Elevenlabs AudioNative Player French Prime Minister Michel Barniers minority government is on the verge of collapse. Its failure to find a parliamentary majority for its 2025 budget, which slashes social spending to divert tens of billions to the military and police, exposes its lack of any democratic legitimacy. An Elabe poll yesterday found that a majority of French people want the government to fall, and two-thirds want President Emmanuel Macron to resign. French President Emmanuel Macron, Monday, June 10, 2024. [AP Photo/Ludovic Marin] The force that must be mobilized against the Macron-Barnier government is the working class. There is overwhelming popular opposition to Macron and Barniers policies of austerity, war with Russia and support for Israels genocide in Gaza. This opposition must find expression in the preparation and initiation of a movement of strikes and protests, aiming to bring down both Barnier and Macron. Workers and youth cannot leave the organization of such a struggle to Jean-Luc Melenchons New Popular Front (NFP) and its allies in the union bureaucracies. Having played the decisive role in enabling Macron to set up the Barnier government after the July 7 elections, the NFP has threatened to bring down Barnier by holding a censure vote against him in the National Assembly. After Marine Le Pens far-right National Rally (RN) shifted its position to oppose Barnier this week, such a censure motion might pass and bring him down next week. Melenchon is not, however, preparing workers for the political tasks that Barniers fall will pose, but lulling them to sleep. He is not mobilizing his voters against NATOs bombings of Russia that threaten nuclear war or plans for a French ground intervention in Ukraine. Nor is he warning that Trumps fascist program of global trade war, deportation of millions of immigrants, and multi-trillion-dollar attacks on social programs is a declaration of global class war on workers. Instead of initiating a counteroffensive of the working class, Melenchon is claiming Barniers fall will resolve these issues on a national basis, through peace with Russia and a government backed by Melenchons own France Unbowed (LFI) party. He has asserted that Barnier will fall to a censure motion during the scheduled final 2025 budget debate in the Assembly. However, he only offers the perspective of supporting LFI-backed Finance Ministry bureaucrat Lucie Castets as prime minister in upcoming government talks: Michel Barniers government will fall between December 15 and 21. Until the head of state [i.e., Macron] decides to leave, the issue will be choosing the new head of government. For LFI, Lucie Castets is and remains our candidate for this position. Melenchon also criticized the decision of Washington and London to give the Ukrainian regime missiles to bomb Russia, as it cut across fast-approaching peace talks he predicted with Moscow: Two missiles shot into the depths of Russia were intercepted. Its a major step towards total war. An absurd and criminal strategy of the Biden administration, coming on the verge of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. Are the supporters of such folly ready to suffer retaliation? Such simplistic, national parliamentary predictions are utterly unrealistic. The NFP backs Castets, but it has a plurality and not a majority in the Assembly, where pro-Macron and RN deputies can band together to block Castets now, as they did this summer. And NATO is not preparing peace with Russia. Not only has Trump refrained from criticizing US-UK bombings of Russia, but Britain and France are moving to implement Macrons call to send ground troops to Ukraine. Workers must be warned: Melenchon has a record of reactionary and stupid policies leading to disaster. This year, he formed the NFP coalition with the big business Socialist Party (PS), the Stalinist French Communist Party, the Greens and the middle-class Pabloite New Anti-capitalist Party. In the NFP program, Melenchon agreed to support sending French troops as peacekeepers to Ukraine, strengthening riot police and intelligence services, and throwing criticisms of the Gaza genocide into the river, as he said, to get PS support. During the election, Melenchon withdrew hundreds of LFI candidates to back PS or pro-Macron candidates, pledging the Macron-NFP alliance would stop the far right. By subordinating workers to the president of the rich, Melenchon obtained precisely the opposite. He turned his back on the 91 percent of French people who oppose the pension cuts Macron rammed through last year despite mass strikes to fund the French military build-up, and a similarly massive majority opposed to total war with Russia. Instead, he helped get hundreds of pro-Macron or PS legislators elected. Macron then tore up his alliance with Melenchon after the elections, installing Barnier even though the NFP had won the most votes. Without a parliamentary majority for Barnier, Macron allied with the far-right RN, which agreed initially not to vote against Barnier. The NFP held one mass protest in September against this travesty of democracy, then surrendered to Macron, Barnier and Le Pen. Now, Trumps election and the war escalation are driving a draconian, far-right restructuring of European politics. The German government fell the day after Trumps victory. Trump has named Elon Musk, the worlds richest man, to head an office tasked with slashing $2 trillion in state spending. As mass layoffs and plant closures mount in Europe, financial markets have begun speculating on French state debt on fears Barnier cannot pass a budget or repay Frances 3 trillion debt. This poses burning questions to French imperialism, as it moves to divert hundreds of billions of euros to war and paying off the banks. Though the union bureaucracies ignominiously called off last years mass strikes against pension cuts, they know they face explosive opposition. Can the ruling class restructure French politics and create conditions to, for example, name Bernard Arnault, Frances wealthiest man, to run a state office like Musks in America, tasked with destroying pensions and health care? This week, as these issues were discussed in ruling circles, Le Pen suddenly withdrew RN support for Barnier, pledging to vote with the NFP to bring him down. Workers can give no confidence to such maneuvers. Le Pen is not setting into motion a rebirth of democracy and peace. The European bourgeoisie is setting into motion the most explosive confrontation with the working class since the last world war, 80 years ago, when Le Pens political ancestors collaborated with Nazi rule over Europe. There is only one viable policy for the working class in such a situation. A mass, insurgent movement must be built in the European and international working class against imperialist war, genocide, fascism, and the capitalist oligarchy. Such a movement requires the building of organizations of struggle directly in the rank and file, independent of the labor bureaucracies. The bureaucracies bankrupt national policies cannot be allowed to smother workers struggles. Workers must reject plant shutdowns and social cuts justified by debt crises and calls to increase war spending. In fact, much of the debt was accrued via multi-trillion-euro bailouts consisting of state funds given to the banks and major corporations by the state and union bureaucracies. The funds of banks and financiers who speculate against state debt to impose war and social attacks on the population must be impounded, and their operations nationalized under workers control. Such a movement can only be built based on a perspective of transferring state power to workers organizations of struggle and replacing the bankrupt capitalist order with socialism, in Europe and internationally. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, November 29. Kyrgyzstan invites Belarus to cooperation in railway transport development, Deputy Chairman of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers and Co-Chair of the Kyrgyz-Belarus Intergovernmental Commission Bakyt Torobayev said, Trend reports via the Cabinet of Ministers. Torobayev made this remark during a joint visit by a delegation that included the co-chair of the commission and Belarusian Prime Minister Anatoly Sivak to the national railway company of Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyz Railways. Torobayev emphasized the importance of developing the railway sector for Kyrgyzstan, noting that the government is actively working on modernizing its technical base and infrastructure. Key projects include the renewal of the rolling stock fleet of Kyrgyz Railways and the construction of the Balykchi-Kochkor-Kara-KecheMakmal railway line. Additionally, the implementation of the major international ChinaKyrgyzstanUzbekistan railway project is ongoing. Torobayev threw out a lifeline to the Belarusian side, pointing to their track record in the railway industry as a shining example of success. Sivak, in his turn, indicated a willingness to investigate possible collaborative opportunities between Kyrgyz Railways and the Belarusian Railways company. After the discussions, the delegation visited the Kyrgyz Railways wagon repair plant, where both sides had the opportunity to review the current state and future prospects of the enterprise. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, November 29. The Development Bank of Belarus and the State Development Bank of Kyrgyzstan have signed a framework agreement outlining the general conditions for providing export credits, Trend reports via the Belarusian bank. The document was signed during the meetings of the Belarus-Kyrgyz Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation in Bishkek, chaired by Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Anatoly Sivak and Kyrgyz Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Bakyt Torobayev. The agreement aims to support Belarusian exporters in promoting their interests in the Kyrgyz market. "The document provides for the creation of a universal financial infrastructure to support domestic exports, under which loan terms for consumers will be more favorable than other credit options for similar purposes," said Roman Brodov, First Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Belarusian Development Bank. The agreement will establish a mechanism whereby the Development Bank of Belarus will provide financing to the State Development Bank of Kyrgyzstan. In turn, the Kyrgyz bank, in accordance with local legislation and utilizing its own client network, will offer these preferential resources to businesses interested in purchasing Belarusian goods and services. After signing a contract, buyers will be able to approach a Kyrgyz financial institution to receive the necessary loan amount from the Belarusian Development Bank. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Eva Bjorg gisdottirs best-selling crime series Elma is set for a TV adaptation after Icelandic production company Glassriver optioned the rights. The series follows police detective Elma, who returns to work at the local police station in her small hometown of Akranes, Iceland, after a disastrous romance goes wrong. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When a womans body is found lying at the foot of a lighthouse, terrible secrets could well resurface from the past, reads the logline. In this small Icelandic town with its oppressive atmosphere, could salvation come to Elma from her colleague Saevar? The first book in the series is titled The Creak on the Stairs while the follow-up is Girls Who Life. gisdottirs books have been translated into 23 languages but the series has been a particular hit in France, where it has reached over 100,000 readers. D H H Literary Agencys David Headley negotiated the deal in association with The Artists Partnership. Glassriver has an extensive scripted portfolio, including crime drama Black Sands, and is developing over 20 further screen projects for both TV and film, ranging from comedy to sci-fi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were thrilled to be working with Eva and Karen on Elma, said Andri Omarsson, co-owner and producer at Glassriver. The project brings together Icelands striking landscapes with a gripping crime story that has already blown audiences away worldwide, from Iceland to France to the U.K. This project is a testament to the strength of Icelandic storytelling, and we believe it will resonate with audiences both locally and internationally. Karen is a talented scriptwriter who will bring the story to life on screen. With a dedicated cast and creative team, were confident that Elma will captivate viewers and highlight the best of what Icelandic drama has to offer. gisdottir added: Im beyond thrilled that Glassriver is bringing Elma to the screen. Ive been waiting for some time for the right opportunity and I am certain that with the talented and capable team at Glassriver Elma will be in great hands. Karen is one of Icelands most talented and productive script writers in recent years. After hearing her vision for the series Im so excited to work on this project and see how it will turn out. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Wondering about the relationship between fitness mogul Tammy Hembrow and her fiance from Love Island Australia? The couple has been turning heads ever since their whirlwind romance went public, with fans eagerly following their journey from social media sparks to engagement. As they prepare for their upcoming wedding, their relationship continues to capture the spotlight. Heres everything you need to know about Tammy Hembrow, her fiance, their love story, and the buzz surrounding their upcoming nuptials. Who is Tammy Hembrows fiance? Tammy Hembrow is engaged to Matthew Zukowski. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The couple announced their engagement in December 2023 after Zukowski proposed during a holiday in the Maldives. Their wedding is set for November 2024 in Byron Bay. Matthew Zukowski is widely recognized for his appearance on Love Island Australia in 2019, where he finished as a runner-up. Since then, he has built a career in modeling and professional wrestling, and more recently, launched a podcast. What does Matthew Zukowski do for a living According to So Dramatic!, Matthew Zukowski is a professional model, wrestler, and podcaster. He has worked as a model in Milan and London and wrestles under the name Charlie Matthews. In addition to these endeavors, Zukowski co-hosts the podcast Wheres Your Head At? alongside fellow Love Island star Anna McEvoy. Zukowskis career also includes work in his family business, where he reportedly works as a project manager for his dads pool company. His multi-faceted career spans both creative and entrepreneurial pursuits, balancing his public life with his private ventures. Tammy Hembrow and Matthew Zukowskis relationship history Tammy Hembrow and Matthew Zukowski began their relationship in mid-2023, after meeting through social media. They quickly became a public couple, and just three months later, Zukowski proposed during a romantic trip to the Maldives. Despite the relatively short timeline, the couple has shared multiple milestones, including matching tattoos and vacations, before their November 2024 wedding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their relationship grew after Zukowski slid into Hembrows DMs, and their connection soon turned serious. Hembrow, a mother of three, has been candid about their journey together, including their decision to have a child-free wedding, despite being a mother herself. Originally reported by Vritti Johar on ComingSoon. The post Who Is Tommy Hembrows Fiance, Matthew Zukowski & What Is Their Relationship History? appeared first on Mandatory. With its 1,500-a-night overwater villas and eye-wateringly pricey cocktails, the Maldives will never be a destination for those on a tight budget. But as of next month, this holiday hot spot will be even more expensive, thanks to the Maldivian government hiking its exit tax. What is an exit tax, you ask? Well, its exactly what the name suggests: a compulsory charge levied on holidaymakers when they board the aircraft on their way out. Yes, as if saying goodbye to paradise werent enough, you also have to pay for the privilege. From December 1, those flying in economy class will pay $50/39 (up from $30), while business-class and first-class passengers will pay $120 (up from $60) and $240 (up from $90), respectively. If youre coming on a private plane lucky you youll have to pay $480. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given that the exit tax is typically added to the cost of airline tickets, some travellers may not have even noticed it in the past. Perhaps the Maldivians are betting that will continue to be the case. But given the steepness of the jump for business-class travellers in particular, I wouldnt count on it. Perhaps it will have some travellers thinking twice about jetting there in the first place. Beautiful as it may be, isnt it time we got over our obsession with the Maldives? These days, there are plenty of other options out there, including ones that avoid some of the downsides of their more established rival. From December 1, economy-class travellers will have to pay $50 to leave the Maldives, up from $30 - Levente Bodo/Moment RF Already, I hear the squeals of astonishment from the uninitiated those whose image of the Maldives comes purely from the idyllic photos in the holiday brochures. What do you mean there are downsides? they cry. That isnt what weve seen on Instagram! where the Maldives generates millions of mentions every month they say. Its true that Ive never come across anyone who has been actively disappointed by the Maldives. But those of us who have been fortunate enough to visit this supposed island paradise will attest that even the most idyllic of getaways can have the occasional wrinkle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First, the hospitality. If theres one thing you need to know about the Maldives, its that you need to pick your resort carefully as youre almost certainly going to be stranded there for the entirety of your trip. This means youll be entirely dependent on them for every single meal. Holidaymakers in the Maldives tend to stay in the same location for all their meals - Nazim Ahmed/500px While island resorts usually have several different catering options, they arent always included in your package. When I stayed at the Sheraton Full Moon, for example, those on the full board package were welcome to eat at the main buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner but had to pay an extra surcharge for some of the fancier a la carte restaurants. Maybe it helps with the whole Cast Away vibe, but heading to the same food hall every evening isnt exactly how Id plan my dream holiday. That virtually every morsel of food is imported often travelling hundreds of miles can be a handbrake on gastronomic standards (although the Sheraton made a decent go of it). Then theres the slightly temperamental weather, particularly at this time of year. As churlish as it seems to point this out on another dismal day in Britain, the Maldivian climate isnt always so beautiful and youd be surprised just how quickly your view of your overwater villa changes when its being lashed with torrential rain. The Maldives is idyllic, though the climate isnt always ideal - Levente Bodo/Moment RF Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those of us with busier brains, or families in tow, may also have experienced the challenge that comes with actually filling your time. Most resorts will offer the usual identikit activities snorkelling lessons and the like but will typically charge you extra to partake. The free beach activities sometimes leave a lot to be desired such as the Sheratons tug-of-war contest. Some Maldivian resorts have tried their best to plug this gap. Soneva Fushi has a decent literary festival, for example, while others have invested heavily in all sorts of wellness treatments and the like. But most have stuck rigidly to the tried-and-tested fly and flop recipe. Perfect for the first few days, in other words, but not necessarily by day nine or 10. In the grand scheme of things, these may be small complaints. And they certainly dont appear to have dented the Maldives popularity: the country is currently on track to set a new tourism record this year, with some 1.8 million visitors already. British Airways is increasing the frequency of its Heathrow flights to one a day. Some 1.8 million people have visited the Maldives already this year - Levente Bodo/Moment RF Im sure that plenty will have the holiday they were hoping for. But how many will get through the trip without wondering at least perhaps as they sit down in the same restaurant for the sixth night running whether they might have got more for their money going elsewhere? I suspect it might be more than you think. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Discover the winter sun destinations that give you more bang for your buck here. Five great alternatives to the Maldives Four Seasons, Seychelles Pristine white sands, gorgeous villas and your own private infinity pool: the Maldives isnt the only island paradise that has them. While the Seychelles is hardly an obscure holiday destination, theres a reason it has been leading the way as an alternative getaway for those seeking that wonderful blend of tranquillity and luxury. Double rooms from 1,489 per night in low season; from 1,989 in high. Breakfast included. Pristine white sands and private infinity pools are the order of the day at the Four Seasons - Ken Seet Kamalaya Koh Samui, Thailand Is Koh Samui the most blissful spot in all of Thailand? Theres certainly a reason that this island is set to be the location for the next series of The White Lotus, the prestige drama set in a fictional resort catering to the super-rich. Experience the best of it with this adults-only wellness resort situated on the shores of the beautiful Gulf of Thailand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Double rooms from 181 per night, year-round. Breakfast included. The adults-only Kamalaya Koh Samui is a fabulous destination for a wellness retreat - RALF TOOTEN Plan your trip to Thailand with our guide. Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort, Mozambique Nestled at the heart of Mozambiques archipelago, this island resort promises the very height of beachside luxury alongside the kind of adventurousness that most Maldivian atolls could only dream of. The dramatic topography means that brave travellers can try their hand at dune boarding, speeding down the rolling slopes of one of Africas most gorgeous landscapes. Double rooms from 645 per night, year-round. All-inclusive. Anantara Bazaruto combines luxury with adventures such as dune boarding Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Andaman Islands If its isolation youre looking for, this should do the trick. Ten years ago, the Andaman Islands, a gorgeous group of islands in the Indian Ocean, were virtually unknown. The opening of this first five-star resort the first of its kind on the archipelago has partly changed that, although it remains a hidden gem for the most discerning of luxury travellers. Double rooms from 346 per night, year-round. Breakfast included. Taj Exoticas remote location is ideal for those who really like to get away from it all Nihi Sumba, Indonesia Larger than Bali but with only a tiny fraction of the tourists, Sumba has cemented its reputation as one of Indonesias more untouched island paradises. The resort is set on a private gold-sand beach backing on to the tropical jungle. It may be an hours flight from Bali followed by a 90-minute drive, but it will all be worth it when youre dozing in your own private paradise. One-bedroom villas from 602 per night in low season; from 1,093 in high. Breakfast included. Nihi Sumba resort is set on a private gold-sand beach backing on to the tropical jungle - Tania Araujo Explore the Indonesian islands that are less crowded than Bali here Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 29. European Unions strategic goal in the short-term perspective is the timely signature of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) with Uzbekistan, Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Uzbekistan Toivo Klaar told Trend in an exclusive interview. "The most important task for me is to ensure the continuity of the extensive collaboration we enjoy between the EU Delegation and the authorities of Uzbekistan in all areas. I have already established good working relations with representatives of the government and parliament of Uzbekistan, regional authorities, academia, and civil society. My top priorities include preparing for the key events that will take place next year, such as the first-ever EU-Central Asia summit and the EU-Central Asia economic forum, and continuing to work on all aspects of the Global Gateway, including digital connectivity and critical raw materials. This comes after the highly successful EU Economic Days in Uzbekistan at the beginning of November, and we are currently introducing the ninth EU Film Festival in Uzbekistan," he stated. He asserts that the EU remains dedicated to bolstering Uzbekistan's reform process and democratic transition. The EU has opened up its markets to Uzbek goods through the GSP+ regime and engaged with the authorities to help create a business climate in Uzbekistan that will attract even more European investment. He also mentioned the EU's Multi-Annual Indicative Programme (MIP) for 2021-2027, which aims to bolster the 2030-Uzbekistan Strategy by emphasizing three primary areas of focus: good governance, the green transition of the economy, and a sustainable agro-food sector. Cross-cutting themes of digitalization, gender equality, and human rights complement these areas. "We have committed 76 million euros to projects that address corruption, improve public service delivery, strengthen environmental laws, clean up hazardous chemical waste, assist Uzbekistan in accessing the WTO, promote innovation in the agriculture sector, and many other areas. Following a recently conducted mid-term review, we will continue to support the mentioned priorities while also adding new ones. These priorities include spatial planning, transportation, and critical raw materials, all of which are integral to the European Union's Global Gateway initiative," highlighted Klaar. He stated that the EUs public service delivery initiative has achieved remarkable success in the digital transformation of over 40 services, including, for instance, the streamlined application process for obtaining a birth certificate. This has significantly streamlined access for Uzbek citizens to leverage these services, particularly in underserved rural regions. Moreover, digitalizing public services has significantly reduced the risk of corruption. In the agriculture sector, which is of particular importance to the regions, the EU has advised the government on the necessary reforms to make the sector more profitable, more resilient against climate change, better for the environment, and better at producing safer food for the consumer. Here we focus on the millions of smallholders who are the backbone of Uzbekistans food security. Successes include the first steps in land reform, providing stronger land tenure rights, and the adoption of the food safety law. We have also concretely supported horticulture and livestock businesses to improve their production with technical advice, preferential loans, and the rehabilitation of irrigation systems, the ambassador noted. He underscored that through the SECCA (Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia) project, the EU focuses on energy efficiency and green transition in Central Asia. The goal is to support the countries of Central Asia in their energy transition efforts by building on the regions potential in renewable energy and capacity for higher energy efficiency, as well as by promoting sustainable energy connectivity in the region. Moreover, with the Regional Team Europe Initiative (TEI) on Energy, Water, and Climate Change, the union will continue supporting the green energy generation potential of Central Asian countries. Furthermore, as part of the Global Gateway Strategy in Central Asia and the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), we will focus on increased connectivity between Europe and Central Asia, including energy connectivity, to attract investments, improve trade flows, and increase stability and growth in the region. Uzbekistan is a key player in Central Asias trade routes, and improved infrastructure along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route will provide the country with more direct access to European markets via the Caspian Sea and Caucasus, he said. Toivo Klaar reminded that in January 2024, the EU held an Investors Conference in Brussels, which brought together governments, financing institutions, businesses, and civil society from Europe and Central Asia to discuss the required investments to transform the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route into a cutting-edge, multimodal, and efficient route, connecting Europe and Central Asia within 15 days. This will be necessary to boost trade and investments between the EU and Uzbekistan in the years to come. The estimated need for TITR-related investments amounts to 18 billion euros. "Investments in Central Asia, along with Uzbekistan's regional connectivity and economic growth potential, exhibit a positive trend. The EUs involvement introduces higher standards for sustainability, digitalization, and efficiency in infrastructure projects. Uzbekistan stands to benefit from adopting these practices, which will improve the overall quality of its transport and logistics sector. Moreover, infrastructure projects linked to the TITR can create jobs in construction, logistics, and supporting sectors within Uzbekistan. Therefore, this will not only increase trade but will stimulate local economies and foster skill development, he added. To note, in September 2024, Toivo Klaar was appointed to the position of EU Ambassador to Uzbekistan, following a career that spanned seven years as the Special Representative of the European Union for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia. Sprout and Lentil, @The Deck hosting Plant-Based Tapas and Sangria event On Friday, Dec.13, from 6 to 9 p.m. @The Deck, will host a special Plant-Based Tapas and Sangria Event, featuring theculinary expertise of Chef Carmen Foy from Sprout and Lentil. Ticket price includes first glass of Sangria, Tapas and free parking. This one-of-a-kind event invites food enthusiasts and plant-based aficionados to savor a selection of artisanal tapas dishes, expertly crafted using fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. Paired with refreshing sangria and set against the backdrop of @The Deck's stunning waterfront views, this promises to be an evening to delight all the senses. Nativity of Christ Puppet Show returns The Nativity of Christ Puppet Show returns after a 7-year absence to United Congregational Church, 524 Valley Road, Middletown, on Dec. 4, 5 and 6 at 7 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pageant features life-sized and larger-than-life puppets held aloft by actors dressed in black with the church sanctuary is darkened with just spotlights on the action. This retelling of the nativity story incorporates drama, music and humor and is intended for children ages 4 and up. Adults love it too! The event is free but a free will offering will be received to benefit a local family. Three Salve Regina students selected for Siemens program Salve Regina University students Georgia Costello, Emily Capocelli and Taylor Pendleton were selected for the prestigious Siemens Financial Leadership Development Program. Three students from Salve Regina University have been selected for the prestigious Siemens Financial Leadership Development Program (FLDP), landing internships that will take place in the summer of 2025. The global technology company offers these highly competitive spots to just 30 undergraduate students nationwide. From the thousands who apply, Siemens selects 80 students to attend their Super Day interviews and case study competition held at their U.S. hub in Atlanta, Georgia. While Salve was the smallest institution represented at that event, three of its students were selected for the internship program 10% of the cohort. Salve juniors Georgia Costello and Emily Capocelli and senior Taylor Pendleton will participate in the 12-week paid internship program that runs May through August 2025. In this program theyll have the opportunity to experience the day-to-day functions of a wide range of businesses as they learn how to analyze and support the financial aspects of a multi-billion-dollar company. In the coming weeks they will learn their individual assignments, which can take place in any of Siemens nationwide offices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Upon completing the internship, high-performing interns who are seniors will have the opportunity to interview for a full time position in the FLDP rotational program where they can opt to pursue a career path as a financial analyst, accountant, business process specialist/auditor, business or plant controller or data analyst for Siemens. Battle of RI focus of Tiverton library presentation Local historian Fred Zilian will be at the Tiverton Public Library on Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 6:30 p.m. to give a talk on the RI Campaign and Battle of Rhode Island (1778). This program is free and open to the public and will be held at the library on 34 Roosevelt Ave., Tiverton. Rather than being a summer vacation playground as it is today, Newport County was a war zone during the Revolutionary War era. In December 1776, British-German forces occupied Aquidneck Island and remained for almost 3 years. In the summer of 1778, American forces mounted a Rhode Island Campaign culminating in the Battle of Rhode Island on Aug. 29, the largest and final battle of the war in New England and the first operation jointly planned with Americas French allies. This lecture will provide the background to the campaign and its execution and explain the Battle of Rhode Island and its outcome and significance. Middletown GOP Committee meeting scheduled The Middletown GOP Committee meeting will be held at the Middletown Fire Station Community Room on Tuesday, Dec. 10, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Discover Newport CEO job listing released Discover Newport announced the appointed national search firm Winner Partners has released the job posting for the role of president and CEO. Individuals interested in learning more about the CEO position can find information on the employment page on DiscoverNewport.org or at WinnerPartners.net. Qualified candidates are encouraged to send a resume, letter of interest, and references to DiscoverNewport@winnerpartners.net. The deadline to apply is December 9, 2024. The timeline is slated to kick off with first round interviews after the New Year, with the anticipation of identifying the new leader and a start date before the end of the first quarter 2025. IYRS School of Technology & Trades to hold Career Day IYRS School of Technology & Trades announced it will host its 19th Annual Career Day on Jan. 25, 2025, from 9 a.m. to noon. The event will take place in Restoration Hall at IYRS, 449 Thames St., Newport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement IYRS Career Day is a hiring, networking, and knowledge-sharing event that offers companies in the marine trades, design, and modern manufacturing industries to meet job seekers who include IYRS students, alumni, and members of the greater community. The event attracts companies from across the United States. Attendees have the opportunity to learn about job opportunities, meet hiring managers, and explore new businesses. Exhibitors have the opportunity to meet skilled individuals with hands-on experience in fields including Boatbuilding & Restoration, Composites Technology, Digital Modeling & Fabrication, and Marine Systems. All IYRS programs include an externship as part of the curriculum so that IYRS graduates leave with skills that theyve applied in a workplace setting. Companies interested in exhibiting can reach out to Iacovelli at jiacovelli@iyrs.edu or 401.848.5777 x209. Those interested in growing their relationship with IYRS as an official IYRS Industry Partner can reach out to Iacovelli or Director of Philanthropy Liz Isdale at lisdale@iyrs.edu or 401.848.5777 x218. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement IYRSs industry partners receive complimentary registration for Career Day and have the opportunity to recruit students through events like Lunch & Learns or site visits, or have a job posting shared through IYRSs alumni newsletter. Industry Partners will have their organizations logo displayed at the school and at events like the annual IYRS gala which attracts more than 500 guests annually. More information about IYRS Career Day can be found at https://www.iyrs.edu/careers/career-day. Director of a new center for Black History announced The Newport Historical Society announced that Akeia de Barros Gomes, a native of Newport whose scholarship is focused on anthropology and African American history, will serve as the director of a new center for Black History being established at the Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House. de Barros Gomes comes to the NHS after more than three years at the Mystic Seaport Museum, most recently serving as the vice president for the American Institute for Maritime Studies. She is a former 100 Women of Color Honoree and in July 2024 was honored with the Eva Butler Scholar Award for scholarship recovering and rematriating hidden histories of Indigenous people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newport is my home. Its rich and dynamic history has always been a source of curiosity and inspiration for me, both personally and professionally. To be able to center my research and leverage my passion for education, programming, and community engagement all around this topic of such great importance to me and to this city is an opportunity I could not pass up, said de Barros Gomes. In this new role, de Barros Gomes will be responsible for building out a vision for public programming, managing community partnerships with the center, and curating both fixed and rotating exhibitions on Black history. For more information on the Voices campaign to create a center for Black history, visit Voices.NewportHistory.org. This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Around Newport County: plant-based tapas, Black History director named A bizarre story out of Egypt has shed light on not only the untrustworthiness of many viral videos, but the plight of stray dogs in that nation's capital. Last month, American paraglider Alex Lang was utilizing a motor and wing attached to a backpack to soar above the Giza complex near Cairo. At the top of the 448-foot tall Pyramid of Khafre, Lang spotted a dog near the apex of the structure and managed to film the adorable and bizarre spectacle. After landing, Lang showed the footage to other paramotorists, including a man named Marshall Mosher. According to the New York Times, Mosher then took the footage, edited it so it appeared Mosher was in the air (and not Lang), and posted it on Instagram without Lang's permission. Not surprisingly, the clip went viral (28 million views and counting) and Mosher soon received interview requests and financial opportunities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its my video edit, my post, and Im not required by any legal or moral rules to tag him, Mosher told the Times. Mosher did end up sharing some of the proceeds of the video with Lang, who seemed mostly unbothered by the wannabe influencer's machinations. About that dog The dog captured atop Khafre Apollo was actually a stray, though he was well known around the Giza complex. Apollo and his brood, along with many other stray dogs, often hang around the pyramids. A group known as the American Cairo Animal Rescue Foundation has long cared for Apollo and his pack, feeding, vaccinating, and spaying and neutering most of them (Apollo has not been neutered, according to the Times). Like his canine companions, Apollo is still wild and often bolts to the top of Khafre when someone from the rescue foundation tries to capture him. Egypt has long been filled with unhoused pups, with the population now estimated at 15 million. While dogs and humans lived harmoniously for centuries, Napoleon helped change that. Upon entering Egypt in the late 18th century, would-be French conquerors viewed the dogs as a nuisance at best, a danger at worst, and began shooting and poisoning them. The practice of poisoning stray dogs continued until the modern era, though it's now technically illegal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Organizations like the American Cairo Animal Rescue Foundation have stepped in to help these animals, housing hundreds of them and finding permanent homes for them all around the world. The society here considers street dogs to be varmints, the foundation's Vicki Michelle Brown told the Times. Fortunately, strays are increasingly gaining acceptance and grass-roots support. NEW MEXICO (KRQE) Check out community events around New Mexico from November 29-December 5. Albuquerque November 29 Family Friday Shop and Stroll Bring your friends and family to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center for a holiday shop and stroll event with games for kids, Pueblo Santa, photos with Santa, artists, ornament making, smores, hot chocolate, Pueblo pies, and more treats for everyone. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. November 29 Wreath Making Workshop Using dried berries, gorgeous greenery, and other natural elements foraged from around Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm, learn how to make a beautiful wreath infused with New Mexican touches. This event runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and costs $150 per person (or $100 for inn guests). November 29-December 1 New Mexico Artisan Market Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town hosts New Mexicos premier boutique holiday shopping experience. Shop locally curated, handcrafted, artisan goods from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets are $15. November 29-December 1 24th Annual Rio Grande Arts & Crafts Holiday Festival Kick off holiday shopping while supporting artists at the largest holiday art festival in New Mexico. Shoppers can find memorable and original gifts at this three-day event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $10. November 30 Winrock Wonderland Holiday Market From 2 to 6 p.m., visit Winrock Town Center Park for a showcase of over 80 local artisans, makers, food trucks, and live entertainment, including a special Nutcracker performance by the New Mexico Ballet. November 30-December 30 River of Lights New Mexicos largest original walk-through holiday light show runs until Dec. 30th from 5 to 10 p.m. daily. November 30-December 8 The Nutcracker Ballet Kick off your holidays and experience the magic of The Nutcracker Ballet, presented in Popejoy Hall on Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 7 and 8. This timeless tale of wonder features stars from the New York City Ballet and San Francisco Ballet plus a full live orchestra from the New Mexico Philharmonic. Showtimes and ticket prices vary. December 2 A Drag Queen Christmas The longest-running drag tour in America, this 10th Anniversary Tour hosted by Nina West starts at 8 p.m. with a VIP Meet & Greet starting at 6 p.m. This event is for ages 18+, with tickets starting at $45. December 5 Nob Hill Shop and Stroll Started in 1995 by local Nob Hill Merchants, Shop & Stroll is intended to highlight local retailers in the Nob Hill neighborhood during the holiday season. This free event runs from 5 to 10 p.m. December 5-29 Winter Wonderland NM A New Mexico favorite, Winter Wonderland NM at EXPO NM returns for the 2024 season. This event runs from 6 to 10 p.m. Dates vary. Tickets start at $30. New Mexico Albuquerque Notices City of Albuquerque hosting series of community meetings on homelessness The city of Albuquerque is looking to hear from the community about housing and homelessness in the metro. The city is hosting a series of community meetings called Constructive Conversations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Albuquerque Environmental Health Dept. shares Thanksgiving food safety tips With Thanksgiving this week, the City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department is reminding residents to prioritize food safety. The department shared the following tips to consider when buying, preparing, and cooking Thanksgiving food. Boots In The Park festival returning to Albuquerque with headliners Luke Combs, Cody Johnson Country musical festival Boots In The Park is returning to Albuquerque with a new format and performers in 2025. The festival will now take place over two days, May 17 and 18, at Balloon Fiesta Park. LIST: Free Thanksgiving meal giveaways in Albuquerque Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and several Albuquerque community organizations have events set up to help make sure everyone has access to a holiday meal. Here, you will find a list of free meals and food giveaways happening in November 2024. Thanksgving 2024: Which Albuquerque, Santa Fe operations are impacted? This year, Thanksgiving falls on November 28, which means Black Friday is on November 29. Both Albuquerque and Santa Fe will have closures to observe the holiday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Albuquerque Luminaria Tour returns for 59th year The annual Luminaria Tour is returning for its 59th year. The popular tour takes guests through some of the most festive neighborhoods in Albuquerque, including Old Town and the Albuquerque Country Club. Albuquerque holding annual crossing guard food drive The annual City of Albuquerque Crossing Guard Food Drive is coming up December 2 10. Crossing guards at locations throughout the city will be collecting non-perishable items. Albuquerque department sheds light on object attached to some parking meters A recent video circulating on social media has people wondering what the devices mounted on Downtown parking meters are. As it turns out, they are nothing new. City completes medical sobering facility at Gateway Center The City of Albuquerque celebrated a milestone on Monday as they are preparing to open a sobering center. They hope it will address a crisis in the community while easing the burden on emergency rooms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prepare for busy airports and roads, Sunport says The Albuquerque Sunport is prepping for a busy holiday week as they expect hundreds of thousands of flyers. According to airport officials, more than 170,000 people will be traveling through the airport over the next few days. New Mexico Notices Experts say its time to increase the 911 surcharge in New Mexico by 99 cents Every New Mexican with a phone bill has been paying the same rate for 911 fees since 1989. However, on Monday, officials from the New Mexico Association of Counties say its time for a fee increase. Corrales leaders warn residents about a rise in coyote attacks A growing number of coyote attacks has Corrales city leaders warning neighbors. Additionally, some think the village needs to bolster its efforts in addressing the problem. New Mexico receives $18.6M to help residents heat their homes during winter The New Mexico Health Care Authority (HCA) received $18.6 million of Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds to help New Mexicans stay warm and safe during this winter season. LIHEAP is a federal program administered by the Health Care Authority and currently provides utility assistance to 30,219 lower-income households across the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fees waived on Black Friday at New Mexico state parks Those looking for an outdoor activity during the Thanksgiving break have a cheap option with state parks here in New Mexico. The State Energy and Mineral Department said Black Friday will be a free-use day for all 35 parks in the Land of Enchantment. However, some parks may be closed due to seasonal hours. New Mexico providing emergency SNAP support to people impacted by flooding The New Mexico Health Care Authority (HCA) is providing emergency support to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) customers impacted by severe flooding in Chaves County and other affected areas. This assistance includes replacing lost food benefits, reissuing EBT cards, and temporarily allowing hot food purchases. When do New Mexico, Southern Colorado ski resorts open? Ski season is upon us and New Mexico and southern Colorado ski resorts are getting ready to welcome the public. Here is a list of area ski resorts and when theyre scheduled to open. PODCAST: Why Are New Mexicos Children At Risk? When it comes to overall child well-being in New Mexico, the state ranks 50th in the nation according to a Kids Count report. But that ranking doesnt even include child abuse and neglect data. What sort of indicators are used to measure child welfare? And how can New Mexico move out of last place? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Mexico Game and Fish releases video about turkey conservation New Mexico Game and Fish is highlighting their turkey conservation efforts ahead of Turkey Day. The department said that in the 1930s, there were only about 30,000 wild turkeys left in the US. Thanks to conservation efforts, that number grew to more than 7 million by 2010, and officials hope to continue the trend. New Mexico representative steps down to focus on health after re-election A state representative from Milan has retired from the legislature to focus on his health. Eliseo Lee Alcon, a Democrat was elected to the state house in 2009, where he advocated for New Mexico veterans, the economy, and the environment. Teen arrested for Roswell-area school threats Roswell Independent Schools said the teenager has been arrested after they made threats against schools in the area. According to the district, they were alerted by the FBI early Friday morning of potential threats made against the schools on social media. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. The United States is known as a great melting of people, food and culture. In major cities across the country like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, people can find nearly any cuisine that fits their heart's desire. However, as Chef Sean Sherman of the Oglala Lakota Tribe has pointed out in the past, these cities have few - if any - restaurants focused on Indigenous cuisines from the more than 570 recognized American Indian tribes and Alaska Native entities. Each of these tribes has their distinct food traditions. Food harvested by an indigenous woman in the Shinnecock Indian Nation sits on a table after being picked from her garden in Southampton on July 26, 2022. / Credit: KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images Eateries like Watecha Bowl, Tocabe: An American Indian Eatery, and Owamni aim to change that by reviving or paying homage to the centuries-old techniques and flavors passed down through generations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We all are on the same mission of food sovereignty," Watecha Bowl owner and entrepreneur Lawrence West told CBS News. "And introducing the world to Native American food." West is a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. "The things that I cook and the way that I prepare food is very important because it only represents a certain heritage of people," he said. Restaurant options around the country West's restaurant Watecha Bowl is a fast-food eatery in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, that serves food and flavors from the Lakota Nation. "I've had the privilege of feeding people from all over the world," West said. "I've fed people from all 50 states." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year, his restaurant is giving out an Indian taco in exchange for a toy that will be donated to local Native American kids in foster care, according to the Facebook page with 30,000 followers. Tocabe: An American Indian Eatery is a fast-casual restaurant that serves build-your-own Native American food in Denver, Colorado. Its goal is to "rebuild the original American food system." Co-founder and President Ben Jacobs, told CBS News that he wants to make his cuisine accessible to everyone while offering a space for Native community members to feel at home. He is a tribal member of the Osage Nation of northeast Oklahoma. Indigenous farmland / Credit: Tocabe He said he was inspired to open the eatery because Native food did not seem to have a place in the culinary industry in 2008 when it opened. More than 16 years later, Tocabe's food still shares stories of community, culture and identity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Minneapolis, Minnesota, Chef Sean Sherman's restaurant Owammni aims to "decolonize" the dining experience by purchasing ingredients from Indigenous food producers that would have been found in North America before European colonization. "It's unfortunate that this restaurant is unique. Part of the goal is, how do we normalize something that's healthy and Indigenous? We're showing a model that's possible," Sherman wrote in a recent blog post on the restaurant's website. What are the essential dishes to try? According to West, wojapi is a must-have. The thick berry sauce is one of the most traditional foods of the American plains. It can be used as a dip, on frybread, meat or even as is. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Next is bison, particularly chislic, invented in South Dakota. Third is wild rice with maple syrup. Frybread is one of the most popular Native American foods. But West said this was embraced out of necessity when the U.S. government forced assimilation with stipends during the land grab and the Trail of Tears. Jacobs emphasizes, though, that ingredients found in local grocery stores like corn, beans, squash, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and chillies originate "right here" in America. Those are Native foods, too. He said he hopes all Americans should understand where our food comes from and appreciate the story behind it. The Tocabe Indigenous Marketplace offers common, or not-so-common, ingredients, but they are sourced from Native producers on tribal lands. Corn cooking at Tocabe: An American Indian Eatery in Denver, Colorado. / Credit: Tocabe A history of food Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Native American food is not mainstream for a variety of reasons. Sherman pointed to the idea of "manifest destiny," or the 19th-century belief that the U.S. was "destined" by God to expand across North America to spread democracy and capitalism. West and Sherman also pointed to "forced assimilation," or the U.S. government's aim to make Native people adopt the customs, values and behaviors of the dominant culture. Laws like The Indian Removal Act of 1830, The Homestead Act of 1862, The Dawes Act of 1887 and others helped make this happen. According to Britannica, The Trail of Tears refers to the forced relocation of Native people in the Southeastern U.S. during the 1830s. Tribal military records estimate that around 100,000 indigenous people were forcibly removed from their homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Policies like these disrupted Native food systems, leading to food insecurity and poor health outcomes, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP). The CBPP said the U.S. has made treaties with tribes since the 1700s, promising to provide Indigenous people with rations, giving them food like lard, wheat and flour, which were often unhealthy. According to the 2023 U.S. Census data, around 1.3% of Americans identify as American Indian or Native American. Jacobs said after centuries of the American government deconstructing Native food systems, "we're trying to rebuild." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think we're at a point now that we can control our food again, which means we can control our future," he said. "CBS Evening News" headlines for Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 An update on the Abercrombie & Fitch sex trafficking case Great Lakes region recovers from winter storms with more coming BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) A study shows which states in the country are the most and least interested in home births. Birth Injury Lawyers Group analyzed the number of searches for multiple related search terms. The ranking was determined by the number of searches per 100,000 people. Alaska was named the state most interested in home births with 10.34 searches per 100,000 people. According to the study, the state has 76 searches per month on average. The most searched terms were home birth with midwife, at home birth and home birth midwife near me. The results reveal that Alaska has the most interest in home births. This is also reflected in the states rate of home births, which in 2022 stood at 2.7% according to Statista, the ninth highest rate in the country, said Bob Goldwater, a spokesperson for Birth Injury Lawyers Group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Data found that Vermont is the second most interested, with 8.88 searches per 100,000 people. Wyoming followed behind at No. 3 with 8.42 searches per 100,000 people. Is Louisiana a safe place to raise a family? See where the state ranks On the flip side, Alabama ranked as the state least interested, with 3.44 searches per 100,000 people. Data shows that Louisiana is among the least interested, ranking at No. 46 with 3.94 searches per 100,000 people. New Jersey, California, Oklahoma, and Texas are other states with the lowest interest. Latest News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to BRProud.com. Not everyone is lucky enough to work at a great workplace. If you do, its worthy of recognition. For the second year, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin newspapers in the northeastern part of the state will honor outstanding workplace culture in the region: Any organization with 35 or more employees in the region is eligible to compete for a Top Workplaces award. Standout companies will be honored in July. The deadline to nominate your workplace is Jan. 3. Anyone can nominate any organization, whether it is public, private, non-profit, a school or even a government agency. To nominate an employer or for more information on the awards, visit topworkplaces.com/northeastwis or call 920-202-8669. Northeast Wisconsin Top Workplaces 2025 logo There is no cost to participate. Once nominated, employees will be invited to evaluate their workplace using a short 25-question survey that takes just a few minutes to complete. Companies will be surveyed in March for a chance to be named a Northeast Wisconsin Top Workplace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, representatives from the selected companies gathered at The Terrace at Marina Circle in Ashwaubenon to celebrate an honor they said stands out from most other workplace recognitions because it is based entirely on employee feedback. John McHugh, Kwik Trip Inc.'s vice president of external relations, said at the event the La Crosse-based convenience store operator considers Top Workplaces "one of the best programs" to gauge how the company's doing because the data comes entirely from its workers at a time when people have a choice in where they work. For the 2024 awards, 576 organizations in Northeast Wisconsin were invited to survey their employees. Based on employee survey feedback, 12 earned recognition as Top Workplaces. This included Kwik Trip Inc., Associated Bank, St. Paul Elder Services, Goodwill NCW, Fox World Travel and Packer Fastener & Supply, among others. Last year: From senior care to shipping, here are the inaugural Northeast Wisconsin Top Workplaces Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Energage, the Pennsylvania-based research partner for the project, conducts Top Workplaces surveys for media in 65 markets nationwide and surveyed more than 2 million employees at more than 8,000 organizations in the past year. Earning a Top Workplaces award is a distinctive mark of excellence, setting companies apart in a recognizable way, said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. Top Workplaces embody the highest standards, and this award, rooted in authentic employee feedback, should be a point of immense pride. Taima Kern is editor of The Post-Crescent in Appleton and business editor for The Post-Crescent and the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Reach her at tkern@gannett.com or 920-993-7104. This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Nominations open for 2025 Northeast Wisconsin Top Workplaces ANKENY, Iowa Over 1,000 people braced the freezing temperatures and waited in line at the Fleet Farm in Ankeny to go Black Friday shopping, according to the store manager. Shoppers said the Ankeny Fleet Farm is a hot spot every Black Friday, and that rang true when the line stretched along the side of the stores exterior in below-freezing temperature. The customers at the very front of the line arrived at around 2:40 a.m. and waited until the store opened at 5 a.m. Kenny Skinner-Havens of Newton was at the front of the line with his friends. Two hours into his wait, he said [Im feeling] cold, tired. I did not sleep. Thirty minutes later, the doors opened and he was inside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His advice for others hoping to grab deals on Black Friday was simple: Survival of the fittest. Many shopping at Fleet Farm came for the popular giveaway, where the store gives the first 500 customers a plush toy. Every year, they change the animal. This year they were giving away a penguin. The toy is what attracted Arkansas resident Randy Kaelke. He drives from his home in Arkansas to Ankeny, Iowa every year just for the plush toys at Fleet Farm on Black Friday. He has a collection and enjoys adding to it. This year, he arrived just after midnight and stayed in his car until others started lining up around 2:40 a.m. Im here five minutes and then Im going home, said Kaelke. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the doors opened, Kaelke was in-and-out of the store, ready to start his eight-hour drive back to Arkansas. Fleet Farms supply of plush toys lasted about an hour, according to store manager Kirk Sackett. Sackett says the preparation for Black Friday takes a month, but every year, theyre blown away by the community support when they see long lines. Its fantastic. We have a lot of loyal customers We love having these customers here, he said. It took around twenty-minutes for everyone who was waiting on line to make it inside. Customers, like Kristin Goodrich of Missouri, were shopping with family. Goodrich has family that lives in Iowa and every year they go shopping at Fleet Farm after Thanksgiving. She said the deals are what attract them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She purchased items like dog beds, hunting gear, pecans, and more. Fleet Farm will be open until 9 p.m. on Black Friday. Fleet Farm shoppers got an early start to their Black Friday shopping, and many had plans to head to other stores. Daniel and Jessica Bloom of West Des Moines were headed to Menards after their trip to Fleet Farm. The key is little sleep, said Jessica in response to how they will keep up with their shopping plans. Here are the hours for local stores Black Friday shoppers are expected to go to. Menards: 6 a.m. Southridge Mall: 7 a.m. 8 p.m. Valley Junction: 8 a.m. 6 p.m. Outlets of Des Moines: 8 a.m. 8 p.m. Jordan Creek: 8 a.m. 9 p.m. Valley West Mall: 9 a.m. 8 p.m. Merle Hay Mall: 9 a.m. 9 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This comes as the National Retail Federation says a record 183.4-million shoppers will hit stores in-person and online between Thanksgiving Day and Cyber Monday. The top reason they say people shop is for holiday deals and tradition. A recent survey the NRF conducted found that clothing is the number one gift category this year for customers followed by gift cards, and then toys. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. COLBERT COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) A two-vehicle wreck south of Muscle Shoals claimed the life of a Killen woman Thursday afternoon. According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the crash happened at around 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 28. ALEA said the wreck took the life of Lisa M. Moore, 64, of Killen. Decatur Police investigating shooting at Nash BBQ ALEA said that she was killed when a 2000 Ford F-250 pickup hit the 2009 Toyota Tacoma she was driving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities said Moore was pronounced dead at the scene and that the driver of the Ford F-150 was also injured and taken to Huntsville Hospital for treatment. ALEA said the crash happened at U.S. 72 and Old Alabama 20 intersection, about one mile south of Muscle Shoals. ALEA said troopers with the Highway Patrol Division are investigating. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. A 12-year-old boy stole his grandpas car and took it on a 160-mile joyride in Washington, deputies said. The boy was reported with the vehicle Nov. 27 in Issaquah, the Grant County Sheriffs Office said in a Facebook post. Police told Grant County deputies the boy had a connection to Moses Lake and may be headed that way. And that happened to be the case. Deputies spotted the vehicle at about 10:20 a.m. in the Larson community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the boy didnt stop for deputies, authorities said. He fled until deputies said they used a PIT maneuver to stop the car. A PIT maneuver, precision immobilization technique, is a tool law enforcement uses to stop vehicle pursuits by hitting the rear of the vehicle so it spins and comes to a stop. The boy was arrested on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle and felony eluding. There were no injuries and the vehicle had minimal damage, deputies said. Moses Lake is about a 160-mile drive southeast from Issaquah. 14-year-old steals family car then dies after crash while fleeing cops, TX police say Teen breaks into school, then takes bus on joyride in parking lot, Alabama cops say Man from Florida takes plane on 15-mile joyride, crashes and walks off, CA cops say OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) 2025 will mark the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. We remember and honor those 168 who lost their lives on April 19, 1995, when a bomb went off in front of the Murrah building in downtown Oklahoma City. 168 Days to remember those lost in the OKC bombing: Gabreon D. L. Bruce. Image courtesy Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum. We want to remember Gabreon D. L. Bruce, while honoring those who survived and thanking those changed forever. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 29. Uzbekistan's foreign trade turnover with Kazakhstan reached $3.4 billion from January through October 2024. Data obtained by Trend from the country's statistics agency shows that this is 2.9 percent less than in the same period last year ($3.5 billion from January through October 2023). Kazakhstan ranked the top three largest trading partners of Uzbekistan in terms of trade turnover for the specified period. Uzbekistan's export volume to Kazakhstan amounted to $1.14 billion, which is 1.7 percent less than last year ($1.16 billion from January through October 2023). Uzbekistan's imports from Kazakhstan reached $2.2 billion from January through October 2024. This figure decreased by 8.3 percent compared to the same period last year ($2.4 billion from January through October 2023). The volume of Uzbekistan's foreign trade turnover amounted to $54.3 billion in the period from January through October 2024. This figure increased by 6.7 percent compared to last year ($50.9 billion from January through October 2023). BROWN TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WJW) The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating after a man was killed in a Carroll County crash Thanksgiving afternoon. The one-vehicle crash happened around 2:18 p.m. along Township Road 224 in Brown Township. According to the OSHP, a 2006 black Chevrolet Silverado 2500 heading east on Township Road 224 drove off the left side of the roadway, hitting a tree. I-Team: Law enforcement survivors grateful this Thanksgiving Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver, identified as 18-year-old Ethan Pistory of Kensington, was pronounced dead by ambulance EMTs while heading to Aultman Hospital. The crash remains under investigation at this time. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Nov. 28Two people were arrested Wednesday night in Dover after a 36-year-old woman helped a 57-year-old man escape from a local hospital, police said. John L. Pownall and Ashley S. Gustafson, both of Dover, were arrested after police tried to pull over a Kia sedan on Central Avenue at 8:12 p.m. The two sped away but were found after they abandoned the vehicle. Dover officers and State Police troopers searched the area where Pownall and Gustafson ditched the car. With the help of the department's police dog, officers found Pownall and Gustafson hiding under equipment in a nearby yard, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gustafson is accused of removing Pownall's location-monitoring device from his ankle before the two fled the hospital. Pownall was charged with escape, criminal trespass and resisting arrest or detention. Gustafson was charged with disobeying an officer, reckless driving, driving after revocation or suspension, open container in a vehicle, criminal trespassing, resisting arrest or detention and receiving stolen property. She was also arrested on an existing warrant in Rockingham County. Both were held in preventative detention pending arraignment Friday. Anyone with additional information about the incident can call the Dover Police Department and ask for the on duty shift commander at 603-742-4646. (KRON) Two people were injured after a sanitation tanker truck rolled over Friday morning in Napa County, south of Calistoga. The crash and hazmat response blocked all traffic on Silverado Trail before reopening at 11 a.m. Multiple emergency response agencies, including Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit, Calistoga Fire, California Highway Patrol and American Medical Response, were called to the single vehicle crash at 5:21 a.m. According to fire officials, two people inside the truck required extrication. One person suffered major injuries and was airlifted from the scene. The other person was rushed to a hospital with moderate injuries, Cal Fire said. (Photo: Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit) (Photo: Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit) (Photo: Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit) (Photo: Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit) The sanitation tanker truck had a 60-gallon diesel tank that ruptured in the rollover. A Napa interagency hazmat team, Hazmat-27, was dispatched to the scene and worked to contain the fuel. The tanker also spilled soap and water into a roadside ditch but did not reach a nearby creek, according to Cal Fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Office of Emergency Services and Napa County Environmental Health agencies were alerted to the incident. Highway 4 in Pittsburg reopens after fatal crash Friday The CHP advised motorists to use Highway 29 as an alternative route. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. (KRON) Two San Jose residents were arrested after possessing a stolen vehicle, according to the Benicia Police Department. An individual alerted Benicia PD dispatch that their car was stolen out of San Jose and the GPS showed the vehicle was near Warwick Drive and Clearview Circle in Benicia on Wednesday. Officers located the vehicle in a residential parking lot in the area. Police said they saw two men get out of the car and begin to walk away. Photo: Benicia Police Department Photo: Benicia Police Department Photo: Benicia Police Department The suspects were identified as Eddie Bara Jr., 32, and 52-year-old Ivan Isreal Villasenomarquez. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Benicia PD said while detaining the duo, officers found a controlled substance on Villasenomarquez. Police also learned Bara Jr. had five outstanding felony warrants for his arrest from various counties. Highway 4 in Pittsburg reopens after fatal crash Friday Both were arrested and booked into the Solano County Jail. Bara Jr. was charged with resisting arrest and charges for his warrants. Villasenomarquez was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, vehicle theft and possession of a controlled substance. The vehicle and the stolen property were returned to its owner. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Two of President-elect Donald Trumps North Texas nominees were among several Cabinet picks targeted by threats Thanksgiving week. Brooke Rollins, Trumps nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said on X Wednesday that a threat was issued against our home and family. She didnt specify what the threat was but thanked the Fort Worth Police Department for their swift response. I want to express my deep gratitude to the law-enforcement professionals who did their utmost, in both speed and expertise, to protect us, Rollins said in the post. This morning, we learned that a threat was issued against our home and family. Thanks to the swift efforts by the @fortworthpd, we were unharmed and quickly returned home. I want to express my deep gratitude to the law-enforcement professionals who did their utmost, in both speed https://t.co/C5RiEcJ7ai Brooke Rollins (@BrookeLRollins) November 27, 2024 Scott Turner, nominee for Department of Housing and Urban Development secretary, said he received a bomb threat Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nothing will shake my resolve to serve in @realDonaldTrumps administration and bring much-needed change to @HUDgov, the Richardson native posted on X. On the eve of Thanksgiving, my home was targeted by a bomb threat, as were the homes of several of my colleagues. Im grateful for the swift and professional response from local law enforcement in ensuring everyones safety. Nothing will shake my resolve to serve in https://t.co/8joJD9eDqY Scott Turner (@sturnerofficial) November 27, 2024 Several other Cabinet nominees and administration appointees received violent, unAmerican threats the night of Nov. 26 and morning of Nov. 27, incoming White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. The threats ranged from bomb threats to swatting. The Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a statement Wednesday saying they were aware of the threats. We take all potential threats seriously and, as always, encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement, the statement reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement United Nations ambassador nominee Elise Stefanik, Department of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth and Environmental Protection Agency nominee Lee Zeldin also posted on X about receiving bomb threats. More top stories from our newsroom: Woman arrested in hit-and-run death of 13-year-old Lawsuit: DNA test reveals woman switched at birth Biscuit restaurant closes on South Main Street [Get our breaking news alerts.] Two journalists from the Ukrainian media outlet Hromadske came under Russian attack in Kharkiv Oblast on Nov. 25 while filming a story about volunteers evacuating abandoned horses. Journalists Ksiusha Savoskina and Oleksii Nikulin went to film the evacuation of animals together with volunteers from Kharkiv Animal Rescue at an abandoned farm on the left bank of the Kupiansk district, Hromadske reported on Nov. 28. The group was accompanied by a soldier, as he had spotted the horses from the Ukrainian forces' positions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the evacuation of the horses began, a Russian drone appeared overhead, forcing everyone inside a building. Later, an explosion occurred the car, along with the journalists' backpack containing lenses for filming, were destroyed as a result of the attack. "Since then, we tried not to leave the hangar. The volunteers were supposed to put the horses in a trailer, and we decided that we would not leave (the hangar) the whole day until it got dark because it was very dangerous (the Russians) had probably already spotted us," Savoskina said. Another explosion also set a neighboring building on fire. The journalist suggested that Russian forces might have dropped a mine on it. "Despite this, everyone remained healthy. The horses are also unharmed they are now in Kharkiv, then they will be transported to a children's equestrian school," Savoskina said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian troops ramped up their efforts near Kupiansk in early September and approached the citys industrial outskirts in the northeast. Earlier in November, Ukrainian forces successfully repelled Russian attempts to break into the city. The crowd-sourced monitoring website DeepState also reported on Nov. 26 that Ukrainian forces had completed clearing Kupiansk of Russian soldiers. Kupiansk is a key logistics and railway hub in the eastern part of Kharkiv Oblast. With several highways and five railway lines running through it, the town was briefly occupied by Russian forces before it was liberated during a successful Ukrainian counteroffensive in the autumn of 2022. Capturing the city would widen the north-to-south supply route from Russia's Belgorod Oblast, fuelling their attempt to take the entire Donbas region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Once liberated Kupiansk braces for worst as Russian troops approach, and future Western support looks uncertain Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. (This story was updated to add new information.) A 25-year-old Chicago man was killed in a crash early Friday morning on Milwaukee's west side. The crash occurred about 1 a.m. Friday in the 6500 block of West Main Street, near the border with West Allis, according to Milwaukee police. Police said the man was speeding, lost control and crashed into a tree. He was pronounced dead at about 2:45 a.m. after being taken to Froedtert Hospital, the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The medical examiner did not release the man's name because the office was working to notify his family. A 32-year-old passenger, whose gender was not provided, suffered injuries that were not life threatening, police said. As of Tuesday, 61 people have been killed in crashes so far this year in Milwaukee, according to the most recent police department data. In all of 2023, 76 people were killed in crashes. Sophie Carson is a general assignment reporter who reports on religion and faith, immigrants and refugees and more. Contact her at scarson@gannett.com or 920-323-5758. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 25-year-old man killed in early Friday crash on Milwaukee's west side KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) Malaysia is preparing for its worst floods in a decade after heavier-than-expected monsoon rains caused severe flooding that killed three people and displaced more than 90,000. The National Disaster Command Center online portal said Friday that 94,778 people, from more than 28,000 families, across nine states were evacuated to 527 temporary shelters. The northeastern state of Kelantan, bordering Thailand, was the worst affected, with 63,761 people evacuated from their homes, followed by neighboring Terengganu with 22, 511. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Friday that all Cabinet ministers were banned from going on vacation. He said they have been instructed to provide assistance in flood-prone areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All ministers have been told to go to the ground. Yes, leave has been frozen for them, Anwar was quoted as saying by national Bernama news agency. His deputy, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who heads the disaster response, said Thursday that floods this year were expected to be worse than 2014, when more than 250,000 people were displaced and 21 killed. He was cited by local media as saying that weather forecast indicated that heavy rainfall next month would likely affect more states. Zahid was quoted by New Straits Times as saying that government agencies were prepared to tackle the disaster. Nearly 83,000 personnel and thousands of rescue boats, four-wheel vehicles and life jackets as well as 31 helicopters are ready, he said. The government has also identified 8,481 temporary evacuation centers nationwide that can accommodate over two million people, he said. Given the severity of the situation, all parties have been mobilized to ensure the safety and welfare of flood victims, he was quoted as saying by national Bernama news agency. Floods are common in parts of Malaysia during the annual monsoon season, that starts in November and could last until March. The Meteorological Department has said the country can expect between five and seven episodes of heavy rainfall during this period. CEDAR CITY, Utah (ABC4) Three Southern Utah University students were arrested the day before Thanksgiving after allegedly stealing refrigerators from a loading dock on campus. Brock Felder, 20, Hercy Miller, 24, and Peter Dadson Jr., 25, were each arrested on one count of theft, valued from $1,500 to $4,999. According to arrest documents filed in Iron County, the students stole two refrigerators worth $1,500 each. New items collected as potential evidence in alleged murder of missing Utah guardsman Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Documents said the three students were captured on security footage loading the refrigerators from the loading dock of the campus bookstore into two vehicles on Nov. 11 before driving away. The students and their vehicles were identified using SUU directories, according to arrest documents. One of the refrigerators was found inside an apartment where two suspects lived, and the refrigerator could be seen through the front door, according to documents. The other was located inside the garage of the third suspects home. Police asked each of the suspects about the refrigerators, and one said the idea to take the refrigerators was another suspects. He told police that he had only helped load the refrigerators into the vehicles. Another suspect told officers that they had seen the refrigerators sitting on the loading dock for almost a month and assumed that they were being disposed of, documents said. Another suspect also told officers he thought the refrigerators were being thrown out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspects did not speak to anyone before taking the refrigerators, according to arrest documents. On Nov. 22, 2024, police at SUU were informed that two refrigerators were taken from the loading dock of the bookstore on campus. The three students were arrested on Nov. 27, but were released from custody as of Nov. 28, according to the Iron County Sheriffs Office. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. A 33-year-old University City woman was pregnant when a man killed her earlier this month, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said Thursday. Detectives from the departments homicide unit learned last week Jameisha Wilkes was pregnant when she died on Nov. 13, a news release said. Officers from the University City division found her with a gunshot wound in the 5400 block of Strive Street after responding to a call. Wilkes was pronounced dead on the scene at the Ascent at Mallard Creek Apartments. Dasean Maddox, 32, was identified as the suspect during the investigation. He was arrested in Cabarrus County and transported to the Law Enforcement Center in uptown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maddox confessed to a family member that he killed Wilkes, according to reporting by WSOC-TV, The Charlotte Observers news partner. He was previously charged with murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon, according to a Nov. 14 news release from the police department. CMPDs news release on Thursday said the Mecklenburg County District Attorneys Office sent the case to grand jury with the additional charge of murder of an unborn child on Monday, but didnt provide further information about the proceedings. Maddox is still in custody after a judge previously denied his bond, according to WSOC-TV. Hes expected to make a court in December. CMPDs investigation in the case is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call 704-432-TIPS to speak with a homicide detective. Information may be sent anonymously by calling 704-334-1600 or visiting charlottecrimestoppers.com/ Stolen 18th-century gold coins worth over $1 million have been recovered in Florida. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) states that the 37 gold coins were stolen from the 1715 Fleet shipwrecks. The 1715 Fleet refers to a fleet of 12 Spanish treasure ships that carried vast amounts of gold and silver from the newly colonized Americas to Spain. As per Live Science, this precious cargo was intended to fund Spain's costly wars and maintain its power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The treasure ships departed from Havana, Cuba on July 24, 1715, bound for Spain. A few days later, a powerful hurricane struck, causing 11 of the ships to sink off the coast of Florida. This tragic event resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives and over $400 million worth of gold and silver. The recovery marks a major milestone in a long-standing investigation into the theft and illegal trafficking of these priceless historical artifacts, FWC announced in the press statement. The artifacts recovered from these shipwrecks offer a glimpse into the past, providing valuable historical insights. Due to their historical significance, these artifacts are protected by both state and federal laws. The stolen gold coins. FWC The lost treasure The FWC in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) uncovered a shocking act of theft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2015, 1715 FleetQueens Jewels, LLC contracted the Schmitt family to search for and recover artifacts from the sunken ships. The family discovered a significant treasure trove of 101 gold coins from the shipwrecks of the 1715 Spanish Fleet off the coast of Florida. However, The Schmitts only reported 51 of these coins to the authorities, illegally withholding the remaining 50. On June 10, 2024, new evidence emerged implicating Eric Schmitt, a member of the Schmitt family. Reportedly, Eric worked for his family's company, Fort Pierce-based Booty Salvage Inc. It indicated that multiple stolen gold coins were illegally sold between 2023 and 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a series of raids, investigators recovered stolen gold coins from private homes, banks, and auction houses. A Florida-based auctioneer unknowingly purchased five of these stolen coins from Eric Schmitt. Digital forensics linked Schmitt to a photo of the stolen coins at his family's condo. In addition, Schmitt had placed three of the stolen coins underwater in 2016, intending for new investors to discover them. 13 coins still missing To ensure the authenticity and value of the recovered artifacts, the FWC collaborated with renowned historical preservation experts, including Mel Fisher-Abt. These experts authenticated the coins and assessed their historical significance Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation also involved partnerships with the 19th and 9th Judicial Circuits, resulting in charges for dealing in stolen property against Eric Schmitt, FWC stated. The FWC has recovered 37 of the 50 stolen coins. But the search continues for the missing 13 coins. The recovered gold coins will be returned to their rightful custodians. This case underscores the importance of safeguarding Floridas rich cultural heritage and holding accountable those who seek to profit from its exploitation, said Camille Soverel, FWC Investigator, in the press statement. Editors note: This story is available as a result of a content partnership between WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal. Florida Polytechnic University is researching how to make Interstate 4 safer for drivers. The I-4 corridor from Orlando to Tampa is ranked among the most dangerous highways in the country. Rawa Adla, assistant professor of computer engineering at Florida Poly, is leading a research project that aims to improve safety and mobility on the congested route. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read: Kissimmee man arrested in DeSoto County after two kidnapped 4-year-olds found in stolen vehicle Florida is a tourism state everyone wants to travel to the Orlando amusement parks or to Clearwater and the beaches, Adla said. Thats why its so important to improve safety in this critical area of I-4. Click here to read the full story on the Orlando Business Journals website. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Nov. 29 (UPI) -- Four people were injured by gunfire, three of them seriously, in Israel Friday after a Hamas gunman started shooting at a bus in the occupied West Bank city of Ariel, according to authorities. Paramedics were treating four others for minor injuries related to shrapnel from broken glass, Israel's national ambulance service, Magen David Adom, confirmed on X. The driver of the bus had the most serious injuries of the eight, four of which were Israeli Defense Forces soldiers. All of the injured people were taken to the hospital. Update to the terror attack at Gitay junction MDA EMTs and Paramedics are treating 4 gunshot victims : 3 in serious condition and 1 in moderate condition. 4 others are being evacuated in mild condition with glass shrapnel injuries. All are being evacuated to Beilinson Hospital. pic.twitter.com/J36HZnoz7x Magen David Adom (@Mdais) November 29, 2024 "We saw three injured individuals lying near the bus, fully conscious and suffering from gunshot wounds. We immediately provided them with initial medical treatment at the scene and evacuated them by MDA ambulances to Bellison hospital in stable condition," MDA paramedic Itamar Hakhamov wrote on Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The gunman was killed during the attack. The military wing of Hamas, the Al-Qassam Brigades, later claimed responsibility and identified the gunman as 46-year-old Samir Muhammad Ahmad Hussein. Following the shooting, the IDF conducted a raid at Hussein's home in the village of Einabus, located in the northern part of the Palestinian enclave and seven miles from Nablus. Members of the Israeli intelligence service, Shin Bet, also questioned several people during the operation. The Palestinian-controlled West Bank has seen consistent violence since Israel began its war on Hamas in Gaza following the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by the militant group. Earlier this month, the United States called on Israel to do more to combat violence against Palestinians carried out by Jewish settlers in the territory. MISSOURI Its been 48 years since the skeletal remains of a Nevada teenage girl were found just north of Springfield. On November 28, 1976, the skeletal remains of 17-year-old Tina Sue Spencer were found by hunters in a shallow grave near McDaniel Lake. Spencer was originally reported missing to the Nevada Police Department on January 6, 1976, by her mother. The last known confirmed contact with Spencer was in Springfield around 10 p.m. on March 14, 1976. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A local taxi driver told police he picked Spencer up from the Springfield airport. He said the teen told him she had been waiting on a friend to pick her up, but he never came. According to the taxi driver, he took Spencer to a house in the area of North Main. Residents say Spencer left to make a call at a payphone but never returned. Springfield investigators say they still have hope they will be able to solve this case. Thats the challenge with a cold case, a lot of evidence, a lot of witnesses, its hard to get in contact with, we do follow up on all tips, but it is hard to get valuable information for cases that are unsolved but we still follow up on them and see if we can get that one tid bit of evidence that we can proceed with prosecution and get closure for the families, said Lt Bryan Welch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information on this case should contact the Springfield Police Department. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. Democrats will be looking to regroup while Republicans will be looking to grow their electoral advantages in 2025, when attention will turn to a handful of off-year races. While the electoral landscape next year will be nothing like the battle for the White House and Congress that America just experienced, the offices up for grabs could give both parties a sense of where the countrys electorate is headed. They also will almost certainly be interpreted as a litmus test of President-elect Trumps popularity and standing. Here are the key races to watch next year: New Jersey governor New Jersey has been seen as a heavily Democratic state, won by President Biden by 16 points in 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But in 2024, Trump narrowed that gap to just 6 points, making inroads in the Democratic stronghold and giving the GOP new hope of retaking the governors mansion. The GOP has already drawn a crowded field of candidates looking to succeed term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy (D). Murphy last snagged reelection by just 3 points against Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli in 2021, a surprisingly tight margin after he first won the office by double digits. New Jersey Reps. Mikie Sherrill and Josh Gottheimer, former state Senate President Steve Sweeney, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, former Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka are among the Democrats who have jumped into the race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Across the aisle, Ciattarelli is trying again in the GOP primary, alongside state Sen. Jon Bramnick, former state Sen. Ed Durr and radio host Bill Spadea. Trump is likely to hover over the race, and will inevitably be a factor in the outcome. If a Republican wins, it will be seen as a sign of a rightward shift sparked by Trump. But if Democrats retain the governorship, it is likely to be seen as a sign of backlash against Trump. Trumps own successes in Washington, as a result, could be key in how the battle for New Jersey plays out. Virginia governor In Virginia, where Trump also improved upon his 2020 showing this year, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin is limited to a single term, opening up the Trump allys gubernatorial seat in the Old Dominion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When he first scored the seat in 2021, Youngkin became the first Republican to win a statewide election in Virginia since 2009. And though the state has gone blue in every presidential election since 2008, Vice President Harris won this year by a smaller margin than Biden enjoyed last cycle. Youngkin has endorsed Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R) to succeed him, lauding her last week as an outspoken advocate for commonsense conservative principles and policies. The states Attorney General Jason Miyares (R), who was elected alongside Youngkin and Earle-Sears, decided against a gubernatorial bid, which could ease the path for Earle-Sears. On the Democratic side, Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) launched her campaign late last year. Though theres still time for other candidates to crowd into the race, a Spanberger match-up against Earle-Sears would be historic, potentially paving way for Virginias first female governor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just as in New Jersey, both parties will be watching the results in Virginia for evidence on how Trump is being perceived. A chaotic year in Washington for Trump would almost certainly be bad news for Republicans hoping to hold the governors mansion in Virginia, particularly given the importance of voters in the Washington, D.C., suburbs. If Trump has a good first year in his second term, that could increase the GOPs chances. New York City mayor New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) is looking to defy political gravity as he vies for reelection while grappling with federal corruption charges and low approval ratings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors allege the New York mayor used his prominent positions in New York City government to obtain illegal campaign contributions and luxury travel, noting he sought and accepted improper valuable benefits from at least one Turkish government official and foreign businesspeople. Adams has denied wrongdoing, and hes set to stand trial in April. In the face of Adamss legal woes, challengers are crowding into the race to represent the biggest city in the country. The declared Democratic candidates include New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, New York State Assembly member Zohran Mamdani, state Sens. Zellnor Myrie and Jessica Ramos, former New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, former Obama White House aide Michael Blake and Democratic donor Whitney Tilson. Attorney Jim Walden, a political independent, is also running. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Yorkers are watching to see whether state Attorney General Letitia James (D) or former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) will also enter the ring. Virginia House of Delegates Democrats flipped control of the Virginia House of Delegates two years ago, giving them a narrow 51-49 majority. But Trumps performance across the state and elsewhere during the 2024 election is raising questions about whether that favorable political environment for Republicans will carry into the next elections. Biden carried the state by 10 points in 2020, with Harris only carrying it by 6 points earlier this month. No matter what happens with the Virginia governors race and the battle for the state House, Democrats will cling to some power in the state Legislature. Democrats hold a narrow 21-19 edge in the state Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the GOP sees the race for the House of Delegates as crucial. If they lose the gubernatorial race, theyll need the House majority as a bulwark against a Democratic governors agenda. Wisconsin Supreme Court Partisan control is on the line in the upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court election. The states high court currently has a 4-3 liberal tilt, but Justice Ann Walsh Bradleys retirement will bring it to an even 3-3 split. So far, two candidates are running for Bradleys spot Dane County Judge Susan Crawford and former state Attorney General Brad Schimel (R). Crawford has represented Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin in addition to the Madison teachers union in their lawsuit over Act 10, a policy passed under former Gov. Scott Walker (R) that curtailed collective bargaining rights for many public workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of most prominent cases that Schimel, now a Waukesha County Circuit Court judge, handled while Wisconsin attorney general included appeals to the states legislative maps after they were struck down in 2016 as an unconstitutional gerrymander. That case was successfully appealed after making its way to the Supreme Court. He also appealed a case that would have brought back a 2013 law that said doctors who had admitting privileges to a hospital within 30 miles of where an abortion took place were the only ones who could provide abortion access. The case escalated all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which declined to hear the case. The last Wisconsin Supreme Court election in 2023, which also determined partisan control on the high court, shattered records in spending as groups threw tens of millions of dollars into advertising. Experts say they wont be surprised if the same is true again this cycle. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. More than five years after buying the white-brick building at 1001 S. 38th St., the owner of Tacomas popular La Ca Bar off Sixth Avenue will open his third restaurant. La Ca 38th opens Dec. 2 in the Lincoln District with a menu of noodle soups, street-food snacks and a full bar. It joins Tuan Nguyens second spot, La Ca Cafe, in Parkland. The menu to be served from a modestly sized but open kitchen on the main floor is about 50% the same as the original on Junett, said Nguyen, but with a few extras. He pointed to the four noodle soups, which include mi ga quay (roasted chicken leg with egg noodles and mustard greens), bun mang ga (vermicelli noodles with shredded chicken) and a beef pho. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A similar quad of vermicelli bowls features grilled pork, chicken or beef with house-pickled papaya carrots and the greenery of basil, mint and cucumber. The same meats are available in banh mi. Theres just one rice dish: com ga tuy hoa, a Southern Vietnamese specialty with turmeric rice cooked in broth, fried or steamed chicken thighs, kimchi and a chili-garlic fish sauce. La Ca 38th is similar to the original on Junett and Sixth Ave, with a menu of Vietnamese street food and a full bar. Nguyens vision for La Ca has always been rooted in street-food dishes that can be readily enjoyed with friends. The whole concept was just for me and my friends to hang out, he said this week. La Ca thats what it means: to hang out. You come to the spot and hang out. You dont want to leave. There are also two rice crepes: one with pork belly, shrimp and squid and the other with shrimp and coconut milk. Shareables include an array of fried and fresh rolls, crispy chicken wings with the classic fish-sauce or five-spice rub, and a papaya salad with beef jerky. The Hue City dumpling with pork and shrimp, steamed in banana leaves, is otherwise hard to the find in the area. Tapioca flour lends a pleasant chewiness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vegetarians and vegans will find a few options, including tofu spring rolls and noodle bowls. To drink, sip on a classic cafe sua da or fresh coconut milk. Like the original, La Ca 38th also has a full bar. That was the impetus for Nguyen to open a business there, he explained. As a Lincoln District resident, he longed for a place to hang out, especially in the evening. He swings by Cafe La Vie most mornings, he said, but few places in the area are open past 8 or 9 p.m. We want to make it for the people in the neighborhood, he continued. The concept is like Sixth Avenue, but a bit smaller. One perk is an attached patio, where he and his wife have set up a large igloo with two big tables. The new La Ca 38th serves a slightly shorter menu than the original off Sixth Ave, but more than the Parkland outpost. The noodle soup selection includes both meat and vegetarian options. LA CA IN LINCOLN He originally anticipated using the second floor but ran into complications with the fire code that would have required him to install a new sprinkler system. The 2,000-square-foot building from the 1920s was most recently an attorneys office, he said, but even that commercial zoning didnt ease the process of converting it to foodservice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its very hard to build a restaurant, he said, adding that he was his own project manager. He also ran into terrible timing he bought the building for $320,000 in April 2019 after years of admiring it. The reason I bought the one in Lincoln District is because I love that building, he said, noting he would drive by it every day. After some back-and-forth with the design and the sprinkler situation, the pandemic halted his progress. Its a lot of rules and laws but I made it happen. Nguyen has been working on the 38th Street restaurant since 2019. It opens Dec. 2, 2024. Its also something of a homecoming, added the 44-year-old. When Nguyen was 20, he opened a restaurant with a friend in the Lincoln District. He gave it up for other work, but later in life, he recalled, I realized, I wanna go back to the business to prove to myself: I think we can do it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One thing he learned through traveling and visiting Vietnamese restaurants in other cities is that spaces that felt modern and approachable to diverse demographics could spell success. Thats a big reason why La Ca has a bar, and why its open a bit later than its peers. The 38th Street outpost wont be open quite as late as the original (Sixth Ave is open until midnight on weekdays and 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday), but it will start the day mid-morning and end around 10 p.m. Thats the whole idea, you know, the way I run my business. If people open early, I close late. If they open late, I close early, he said. Its in those moments that you can pick up a new customer. LA CA 38TH 1001 S. 38th St., Tacoma, laca38th.com Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daily 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Details: third Vietnamese restaurant from La Ca Bar owner opening Dec. 2 Menu: street-food snacks, banh mi, noodle soups, vermicelli bowls ($8.50-$18) plus coffee, beer, wine and cocktails Ground beef, carrots, and more are subject to recall. Whether its due to bacteria or undeclared allergens, its important to be aware of foods that could mean danger if you consume them. These are this weeks recalls to know, from carrots to ground beef. Sugar Foods Fresh Gourmet Tortilla Strips Santa Fe Style On Nov. 22, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced a recall for these crunchy salad additions due to undeclared wheat. The issue was reported on Nov. 19 by a consumer who said that the pouch labeled as tortilla strips was actually filled with crispy onions, which contain wheat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No illnesses have yet been reported, but the FDA warns that people with a wheat allergy or sensitivity could risk a serious or even life-threatening reaction to the product. Consumers who have purchased products with a UPC Code 7 87359 17504 6 and "Best By" date of June 20, 2025 should either discard the product or return it to their place of purchase. Yu Shang Food Chicken, Beef, and Pork Products This Spartanburg, South Carolina-based company has recalled 72,240 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken, beef, and pork that were linked to an ongoing Listeria outbreak. If youve brought home a product from Yu Shang Food manufactured before Oct. 28, 2024, it is part of the recall. Nearly 30 different products are included. Look for the establishment number P-46684 or EST. M46684 on the USDA inspection label. The Listeria associated with these ready-to-eat meats has caused serious illness and even death in four states, including California, Illinois, New Jersey, and New York. If you have these products in your home, throw them away or return them to where you purchased them. If you have further questions, contact Yu Shang plant manager Ling Li at ling16099@yahoo.com or 864-310-6313. Great Value Cinnamon Rolls and Great Value Cheese Danishes A Class II recall has been announced for baked goods from Walmarts in-house brand due to possible foreign material contamination. Pieces of plastic were found in both cinnamon rolls and cheese danishes produced by The J.M. Smucker Company, LLC for the superstore chain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you have purchased Great Value Cheese Danishes (UPC 078742201177) with the lot # L092525200 269X or Great Value Cinnamon Rolls (UPC 078742201160) with the # L092525200 269X, dispose of the pastries, or return them to Walmart with a receipt for a refund. Grimmway Farms Organic Carrots Close to 40 illnesses have been reported, including 15 hospitalizations and one death, due to E. coli infections related to consuming organic carrots in recent weeks. Stores that carried the infected produce include Aldi, Costco, Kroger, Publix, Target, Trader Joe's, Walmart, Wegmans, and Whole Foods. The carrots were available for purchase from Aug. 14 through Oct. 23 and were sold both as whole carrots and baby carrots, as well as in a multi-pack of Whole Foods Market Organic Carrots & Celery. Though the carrots are no longer available for purchase in stores, the FDA urges consumers who may have them in their homes to not only discard them, but to clean and disinfect any surfaces they may have touched. For more information, contact Grimmway Farms customer service at 1-800-301-3101, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, or visit www.grimmway.com. Fabalish Kickin Carrot Falafel Bites Fabalish, a company based in Carlstadt, New Jersey, is concerned about the carrots in their spicy falafel bites. Though no illnesses have been reported so far, the company is recalling the product due to potential E. coli contamination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These products were sold through the Fabalish website and have the lot code 260925 on the packages side flap. If your box of falafel bites is a match, the company asks that you discard them and send a photo to orders@fabalish for a full refund. Wolverine Packing Co. Ground Beef Products E. coli could also be present in ground beef produced by this Detroit, Michigan company and sold to restaurants around the country. The FDA has reported a Class I recall of 167,277 pounds of ground beef products. That includes both fresh meat with a use by date of 11/14/2024 and frozen beef with the production date of 10 22 24, all have the establishment number EST. 2574B. According to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the issue was discovered when a group of people suffering from E. coli in Minnesota all reported that theyd consumed ground beef before they got sick. Working with the Minnesota Departments of Agriculture and Health, the FSIS confirmed the link between the ground beef from Wolverine Packing Co. and the infected consumers. The FSIS says that its particularly concerned about meat still in freezers at restaurants. It instructs anyone to throw away affected products or return them to their place of purchase. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 29. For the first time, French President Emmanuel Macron has referred to the 1944 mass slaughter of West African soldiers by the French army as a massacre, Trend reports, citing French media. According to the sources, Macron made the acknowledgment in a letter addressed to the authorities in Senegal. This statement, ahead of the 80th anniversary of the killings in the village of Thiaroye, located on the outskirts of Senegal's capital, Dakar, is seen as a response to the diminishing influence France holds in its former West African colonies. Somewhere between 35 and 400 West African soldiers, who threw their hats in the ring for the French army back in 1940, met their untimely end at the hands of French soldiers. The killings took place in the wake of a revolt on December 1, 1944, sparked by a lack of pay. The West Africans had served in the French army as part of a unit called "Tirailleurs Senegalais" (Senegalese Riflemen), a colonial infantry corps. Historians believe that disputes over unpaid salaries led to tensions, and on December 1, French troops rounded up and shot many unarmed soldiers. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Pending deals in the Wallula Gap Business Park have many talking in the nearby community of Burbank. Four proposed projects representing a total investment of $8.6 billion could mean thousands of new jobs and hundreds of homes and families in the unincorporated rural town if they come to fruition. Some are curious what the impact on the local school district will be. But Columbia School District Superintendent Todd Hilberg says theyre in a wait and see holding pattern until then. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a potential long-term upside concerning new business that could be coming into Walla Walla County down the road and were monitoring that and keeping track of that very closely, and working in very close partnership with the Port of Walla Walla to determine what that net effect is on Columbia School District, he told the Tri-City Herald. Columbia School District serves 750 students, most living in rural communities on the fringe of the Tri-Cities. The district operates an elementary school, middle school and high school along Maple Street. Tina Larios talks with students about an assignment for her art class at Columbia High School in Burbank. The rural school district is bracing for possible growth from a boom in new industries targeting the area. Already, Tyson Fresh Meats, Packaging Corporation of America, Northwest Wine Services and Tri-Cities Grain operate large plants within the school district boundaries, which stretch along the eastern banks of the Snake and Columbia rivers south to the Oregon border. And over the summer, Amazon.com opened a new distribution warehouse a few miles away in Pasco, across the Snake River from Burbank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The package hub has hired upwards of 2,000 employees already, but Hilberg says his district hasnt seen any direct benefit from the e-Commerce giant. For now, most Burbank workers live elsewhere and commute to work from all over the region. Thats due in part to a lack of housing. The Columbia School District includes Columbia High School, middle school and elementary on one campus on Maple Street in Burbank. The home market in the unincorporated community of 3,500 has been stretched thin as the Tri-Cities booms and developers look to West Richland, Kennewick and Pasco for expansion. A new rumored housing development would be a game changer, Hilberg says, but their schools dont currently have the capacity to add students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I mean, youve got a handful of homes to buy out here at any given time. We dont have hundreds of homes out here for sale, he said. But if they had more students, their general education funding from Washington state would also grow. In recent years, however, the Columbia School Districts enrollment has remained mostly steady, he said. The Walla Walla Fire District 5 station is near the Columbia School District campuses in Burbank. The Finley area is across the Columbia River in Benton County. As the boom of new industries drives up higher assessed values in the district, it also wont immediately equate to more revenue for Columbia School District. School districts ask voters to approve a specific levy amount to pay for programs and operations. So while higher assessed values and more homes could mean a lower tax rate for each property owner, Columbia may not see the financial benefit of that increase in property values for years down the road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were not collecting more. The only way we go out and collect and get more is if we go out and ask for more, Hilberg explained. School bus turns off Maple Street onto Jantz Road after passing by Columbia High School, middle school and elementary in Burbank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement School district assessed value The total assessed value within the school district stands at $1.2 billion a figure that has more than doubled over the last decade. Thats still much smaller than districts in the neighboring Tri-Cities. But Wallula Gap Business Park, 10 miles south of Burbank, has caught the eye of some international giants recently. The 1,400-acre area zoned for sprawling heavy industrial sites is being marketed by the Port of Walla Walla. Portrait of superintendent Todd Hilberg of Columbia School District in Burbank in his office. Now, deals being negotiated include a $5 billion data center complex, a $2.5 billion battery manufacturing plant, a $1 billion facility for a sustainable aviation fuel company and a $300 million plant for sustainable building insulation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hilberg says the immediate impact to their rural school district is zero since many of these projects are likely years out from construction or opening. The Wallula Gap Business Park, currently agricultural land, is a 1,400-acre park zoned for heavy industry in western Walla Walla county. Though those four projects could create up to 2,000 jobs, only Rockwool is a for-sure thing at the moment, Hilberg says. Hes been in touch with the Danish company, which bought 250 acres from the port to produce insulation. That project will hire about 125 workers. Im excited about the potential, but thats what it is: Potential, at this point, he said. Nov. 28A Glade Creek Rd. man pleaded guilty to a Class B felony involving a weapon and received an eight-year suspended sentence with 90 days to serve and the balance on supervised probation. It was one of six guilty pleas entered in Criminal Court Tuesday. Johnny Lee Johnson II, 42, was originally charged with possession of a firearm by a violent felon and driving on a revoked license. The charges stem from a Cumberland County Sheriff's Office traffic stop by Deputy Morgan Alverez on Jan. 27, 2023. Johnson had previously pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment in Cumberland County on Sept. 6, 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson pleaded guilty last week to attempted possession of a firearm by a violent felon. As part of the sentencing agreement, Johnson is to serve 90 days in jail at 35% as a Range II offender and forfeits the weapon seized by CCSO. Remaining charges were dropped. In other cases on the docket, the following guilty pleas were entered: Timothy Neil Snedecker, 32, charged with evading arrest, third offense DUI, reckless driving and second offense driving on a revoked license, pleaded guilty to evading arrest and received a two-year sentence to be served at 30% as a Range I offender. Snedecker pleaded guilty to third offense DUI and is to serve 120 days in jail concurrently, was fined $1,100 and is being given credit for 145 days already served in jail. Driving privileges are suspended for six years. The remaining charges were dropped. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charges stem from a Sept. 16, 2023, traffic stop by THP Trooper Donald Seiber from which Snedeker fled at a high rate of speed. Steven M. Crandell Sr., 69, pleaded guilty to an information charging possession of less than .5 grams of meth for sale and received an eight-year sentence with 30 days to serve at 75%. The plea was set aside with qualification for judicial diversion. If Crandell successfully completes all terms and requirements of diversion while on supervised probation, he will be eligible to have the charge removed from the official record. Fine and court costs are waived. The charge stems from a Crossville Police Department "knock and talk" encounter at a Pinewood Dr. address on July 9 with resulting search yielding the seizure of meth. Tonya Marie Davis, 38, pleaded guilty to an information charging introducing contraband into a penal institution and received a two-year sentence to serve concurrent with a probation violation sentence stemming from a 2023 plea to burglary and auto burglary with a two-year sentence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The latest charge stems from heroin being found on her person at the county jail where she was taken on an arrest warrant on Nov. 2. Fine and court costs were waived. Shadayda Storm Farris, 31, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and received a three-year suspended sentence which will be served at 100% if probation is violation. Fine and court costs are being waived and is she is being given credit for 89 days already served in jail. The charge stems from the theft of truck keys and a truck between April 28-May 1. All outstanding charges are to be dismissed. Once the sentence is satisfied in Cumberland County, Farris will be released to custody of DeKalb County authorities where an outstanding charge remains open. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dennis Lewallen, 47, pleaded guilty by information to attempted possession of a firearm by a felon and received a three-year suspended sentence to be served on supervised probation, with credit for 163 days served in jail. The sentence is to run concurrent with a Roane County Criminal Court sentence. The charge stems from a Feb. 13 traffic stop by CCSO during which weapons were recovered. Michael Moser may be reached at mmoser@crossville-chronicle.com Eight Ukrainian children have been successfully returned from temporarily occupied territories, the head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak said on Nov. 29. The children, aged 6 to 16, were returned from Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, and Donetsk Oblasts, as well as Crimea. This effort was part of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative. Seven children were assisted by Qatar, and one through a humanitarian corridor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Qatar acts as a mediator between Ukraine and Russia to bring back Ukrainian children illegally held by Russia. Some of the children endured severe hardships, including a girl with neurological conditions in Crimea who lacked access to medical care. These children are now receiving medical and psychological support and reuniting with their families in Ukraine. The return of these children is a step towards restoring justice and hope, Yermak wrote on Telegram. According to the Ukrainian governments database, Russia has illegally abducted over 19,500 children since February 2022, and less than 390 have returned home thus far. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 1.5 million Ukrainian children who remain in occupied areas of Ukraine are at high risk of being deported to Russia, Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said on Oct. 2. Read also: Russias drone attack damages childrens medical center in Kyiv, injuries reported Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Nine people are accused of running a multi-state money laundering organization that handled $20 million from internet fraud, the Department of Justice announced Wednesday. The nine defendants from Tennessee, Texas and Missouri allegedly ran a money laundering organization since November 2016, the DOJ said in a news release. They were indicted in the U.S. District Court for Middle Tennessee in Nashville. The indictment was unsealed on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The defendants allegedly used sham and front companies to conceal the fraud proceeds and enrich the members of the conspiracy," the DOJ said. The defendants are accused of creating an organization that used "herders" to recruit and direct others known as "money mules" to launder money allegedly acquired through internet fraud that targeted businesses and individuals in the United States and abroad. They allegedly laundered more than $20 million obtained through internet fraud, including business email "compromise schemes," since 2016, according to court documents. The nine defendants are charged with conspiracy to engage in money laundering but are innocent until proven guilty. Each faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defendants Misha L. Cooper, 50; Robert A. Cooper, 66; Dazai S. Harris, 34; and Edward D. Peebles, 35, are from Murfreesboro, Tenn. Defendants Samson A. Omoniyi, 43; Carlesha L. Perry, 36;Lauren O. Guidry, 32; and Caira Y. Osby, 44, are residents of Houston. Defendant Whitney D. Bardley, 30, is a resident of Florissant, Mo. The defendants were arrested in a coordinated takedown across Tennessee, Texas and Missouri, but the DOJ did not say when the arrests were made. Agents with the FBI's field offices in Nashville and Salt Lake City and the Boise, Idaho, resident agency assisted in the federal investigation. So did the FBI's forensic accountant support team. Assistant U.S. Attorney S. Carran Daughtrey in Nashville and trial attorneys Kenneth Kaplan and Jasmin Salehi Fashami are prosecuting the cases against the nine defendants. Syrian opposition fighters on Friday entered some areas inside Syria's second-largest city of Aleppo for the first time in years, activists and rebels said. "The rebels have entered areas inside the city of Aleppo for the first time since 2016," Rami Abdel-Rahman, the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, told dpa. "Our forces have begun entering the city of Aleppo," said a statement from the newly formed rebel coalition that is pressing ahead with a major offensive against the Syrian government forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Syrian army meanwhile said in a statement that the government forces "have succeeded in regaining control over some of the points that witnessed violations during the past hours" and would continue their combat operations until rebel forces are repulsed. The army also accused the rebels of "publishing misleading information, fake news, and video clips aimed at terrorizing citizens." The fighting has forced around 14,000 people to leave their homes, according to the United Nations. Fighting broke out in north-western Syria on Wednesday pitting an Islamist-led opposition alliance against the government forces, following an offensive by rebels led by the extremist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The assault, described as the heaviest in years, has intensified the conflict in the region. HTS is considered one of the most powerful armed militias in north-western Syria. The fighting has resulted so far in a total of 255 deaths, including civilians, the Britain-based observatory reported on Friday. Syrian state media and the observatory said at least four students were killed and two others were wounded when rebels shelled a place housing university students in Aleppo, a claim denied by rebel forces. Students in Aleppo University were asked to leave the campus, and people inside the city of Aleppo were confined to their homes out of fear that rebel fighters would shell the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the observatory head, several neighbourhoods close to the areas of clashes had witnessed a massive exodus as shells fell on their outskirts. One resident of New Aleppo told dpa people were very scared. "I am packing my things and family and leaving for Damascus," he said, requesting anonymity. A military commander of a pro-Syrian militia loyal to the government in the city of Aleppo, Abu Mahmoud Omar, earlier Friday told dpa, "The coming hours will be decisive for the battles after the arrival of large military reinforcements from the Syrian army and allied forces to Aleppo." Rebels said that their advancement came amid a complete collapse of the government forces, the seizure of dozens of tanks and military vehicles, as well as the killing and capturing of dozens of government soldiers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Syrian troops, backed by their Russian allies, have retaliated by carrying out more than 100 airstrikes on rebel positions in the north-western province of Idlib and the Aleppo area since Wednesday morning. Opposition factions announced the offensive on Wednesday, naming it Deterrence of Aggression. They said it was a response to recent artillery shelling,, which targeted civilian areas, by government forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad. The situation is deteriorating, particularly affecting the civilian population, warned David Carden, deputy regional UN coordinator for humanitarian aid in Syria. This is considered the largest attack by rebels on Aleppo since 2016 when they were ousted from the eastern areas of the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 2016 battle for Aleppo was considered one of the worst in the civil war in Syria, which has been going on since 2011. Al-Assad, with the help of his allies Russia and Iran, has managed to regain control of two-thirds of the country again from rebels in the past years. Idlib is the last rebel stronghold in war-torn Syria. Fighters prepare Grad missiles to target Syrian regime forces in Aleppo. The armed Syrian opposition factions, within the operations room (the Military Operations Department), launched a military operation under the name of deterring aggression in Idlib and Aleppo governorates, and took control of more than 60 towns that were under the control of the Syrian regime forces and the Iranian-backed militias. Anas Alkharboutli/dpa Syrian rebel fighters on Friday entered some areas inside Syria's second-largest Aleppo for the first time since 2016, activists and rebels said. "The rebels have entered areas inside the city of Aleppo for the first time since 2016," Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told dpa. "Our forces have begun entering the city of Aleppo," said a statement from the newly formed rebel coalition, which is carrying out the offensive against Syrian government forces said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the Syrian armed forces issued a statement that government soldiers "have succeeded in regaining control over some of the points that witnessed violations during the past hours" and would continue their combat operations until rebel forces are repulsed. They also accused the rebels "of publishing misleading information, fake news, and video clips aimed at terrorizing citizens." NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India's foreign ministry said on Friday that bribery allegations against billionaire Gautam Adani is a legal issue between private firms and the U.S. Department of Justice and that New Delhi has not received any request on this case from Washington. The comments were the first official reaction from the Indian government to the indictment of Adani, the chair of Indian conglomerate Adani Group and one of the world's richest people, and came more than a week after it was unsealed in New York. U.S. authorities accused Adani, 62, his nephew and executive director Sagar Adani and managing director of Adani Green, Vneet S. Jaain, of being part of a scheme to pay bribes of $265 million to secure Indian solar power supply contracts, and misleading U.S. investors during fund raises there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ports-to-power conglomerate denied the charges as "baseless" and vowed to seek "all possible legal recourse". "This is a legal matter involving private firms and individuals and the U.S. Department of Justice," Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters at a weekly media briefing. "There are established procedures and legal avenues in such cases which we believe would be followed." The Indian government was not informed in advance about the indictment and is not part of the "conversation" at this point, Jaiswal said. Any request by a foreign government for service of summons or arrest warrant is part of mutual legal assistance and India has not received any request on this case from the U.S. side, he said, adding that "such requests are examined on merit". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The indictment has sparked political wrangling in India as many Indian opposition parties accuse Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of favouring Adani and blocking investigations against him in India, accusations both have denied. While the government had not made any comment on the indictment so far, Modi's BJP has said it had no reason to defend Adani and that the law will take its course. (Reporting by Shilpa Jamkhandikar and Shivam Patel; Editing by YP Rajesh) (Bloomberg) -- Almost a week after bombshell allegations by the US of Gautam Adanis involvement in a bribery plot, an outpouring of public backing for the Indian billionaire slowly began to build. Most Read from Bloomberg The groundswell began early Wednesday, when an Adani Group unit issued a filing asserting that initial reports on the indictment were inaccurate the companys main defense was that its executives were being charged only with fraud, not bribery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later that morning, two former public officials within a half hour of each other held separate press conferences. Though they said they were speaking for themselves, their main message was the same: No Adani officials had been charged with bribery. I do not find a single name, single detail in the charge sheet as to who has been bribed, said Mukul Rohatgi, a lawyer and former attorney general who has done work for the conglomerate in the past. He later told Bloomberg News the company had asked him to share his views publicly but the views were his own. On social media, meanwhile, the hashtag #AdaniNotGuilty went viral, as an outburst of support for the infrastructure conglomerate widely seen as a national champion with close links to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi emerged. Pro-government media personalities called it an attack by the US deep state on India, adopting language used by those who claim President-elect Donald Trump is a victim of US law enforcement overreach. The sudden surge in public support for the tycoon and his empire suggests a broader effort by the Adani conglomerate and its backers to reclaim control of a narrative that, its defenders say, has tarnished not just the company and its founding family but India itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adani Group has denied allegations of misconduct by its executives and said it would defend itself in court. The stakes for the conglomerate are high. In the wake of the charges, a stock rout has wiped out billions of dollars from Adani Group companies, while foreign governments and partners are reassessing ties. Kenya has canceled $2.6 billion in deals, and TotalEnergies SE halted new investments in the conglomerate. Any company or any other organization that is involved in a joint venture with the Adanis right now, theyre starting to worry about their liability, said Kush Amin, a legal specialist at Transparency International, an anti-corruption group. The pushback against the US action seems to have helped claw back some ground, at least for shareholders. The ports-to-power conglomerate had lost about $34 billion in combined market value since the US indictments became public on Nov. 21. This week it has recouped about $21 billion in market value, the single largest one-week jump since December last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, Indias Ministry of External Affairs said the indictment was a legal matter involving private firms and individuals and the US Department of Justice. We have not been informed in advance on the issue, the ministrys spokesman, Randhir Jaiswal, told reporters. We have not had any conversation also on this particular matter with the US government. A Graver Threat The indictment issued by federal prosecutors in Brooklyn on Nov. 21 accused Gautam Adani and associates of lying to US investors about their anti-bribery practices while promising more than $250 million in bribes to Indian officials. The indictment charges Adani company executives with three fraud counts, while other defendants are charged with violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or FCPA, which bars US-linked entities from bribing foreign officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FCPA charges can be particularly damaging because they can trigger stronger due diligence requirements among investors, said Ben Charoenwong, associate professor of finance at business school INSEAD in Singapore. They can also limit access to business contracts from governments and global firms a particularly damaging prospect for an infrastructure company as well as affecting personal banking relationships. This is why theres such urgency in creating distance between individual family members and the allegations, he said. Its not just about corporate reputation, which they can probably shrug off soon, but about preserving individual financial mobility and access to global financial markets. The US indictment also goes further, and poses a graver threat, than last years allegations from short-seller Hindenburg Group, which alleged a campaign of stock manipulation and accounting fraud by the conglomerate, experts said. While those accusations also led to a punishing stock rout which later reversed they didnt carry the threat of criminal and financial penalties as the US charges do. The Adani Group mounted a similar defense after those charges. The company issued a 413-page response at the time, while high-profile lawyers came to its defense. In parliament, Modi in a series of speeches deflected pressure from the opposition over alleged links to Gautam Adani. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This time, attempts by the opposition to raise the charges in parliament have been cut short. Sessions in the upper and lower house were adjourned over multiple days this week after the opposition demanded a discussion of the bribery case. On Tuesday, the lower house sat for just over 14 minutes. Many see this as an attack on the Indian system and want to defend it, for nationalist reasons, said Sushant Singh, a lecturer at Yale University. Others, he added, want to defend Adani as he is close to Modi and this would be an indirect defense of Modi. --With assistance from Shruti Mahajan. (Updates with comment from government spokesman.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. A half-sunk 54-foot cruiser boat abandoned on Beer Can Island in the St. Croix River has been causing headaches in Hudson, Wis. As of Monday, the owner of the boat had racked up more than $44,000 in fines, according to Police Chief Geoff Willems. How these boats end up in Hudson every year, I have no idea, Willems said Wednesday. This is the fifth one in the last two years. The boats owner, Grayson McNew, apparently bought the 1981 Bluewater Intercoastal, named Sweet Destiny, earlier this year. McNew, 27, of Afton, did not return an email seeking comment and could not be reached by phone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McNew, who has twice run unsuccessfully for the Minnesota House, first came to the attention of Hudson officials in July when he docked the cruiser at the citys new boat launch in Lakefront Park, Willems said. It was parked there for, like, a week, and we started getting complaints about it, Willems said. So we called him and said, Hey, the boats got to move. He moved it out to (Beer Can) Island and then just left it there. The boat, which was beached on the sand, apparently had a hole in its hull and sank halfway, Willems said. It also had its rudder ripped off, he said. He thought he got a good deal and that he could fix it up and do something with it, Willems said. Then life happened, and he didnt have the money or time to fix it up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In August, Hudson officials contacted McNew and told him he had until Oct. 1 to remove the boat or he would be charged for the removal and towing of the boat. McNew stated he understood, according to police reports. The Hudson City Council in September passed a measure that added inoperable, unregistered, junked or wrecked watercraft that is incapable of buoyancy on water or not seaworthy to the citys abandoned vehicles ordinance. The ordinance calls for a series of escalating fines for each day an abandoned watercraft remains in place within city limits. Get this thing out of here In early October, Willems said he told McNew, Get this thing out of here by the end of October, no harm, no foul. He did not do that. On Oct. 14, McNew contacted police to tell them he had sold the boat. A Facebook Marketplace listing for the boat, included in police reports, showed he was asking $500. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No title can provide bill of sale, the listing read. Partially sunken on beer can Island outside of Hudson. Engines are water logged. Ran before she sank, failed starboard rudder packing. $500 OBO. Related Articles When police contacted the alleged buyer, an Elko New Market resident, he said he changed his mind about the purchase after he went and saw the boat and (saw) the condition it was in, according to police reports. A man from Alabama then allegedly purchased the boat for $250, but that sale also apparently fell through, Willems said. He decided that it was too much to deal with, so he was going to move back to the Ukraine instead of taking the boat, Willems said. Apparently moving to a war zone is more attractive than getting that boat off the island. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the beginning of November, officers began issuing a daily citation via the U.S. Postal Service to McNew. As of Monday, the fine total had topped $44,000, Willems said. Two of McNews court dates have already come and gone, in which he did not appear or contact the court, so it appears that hes going to let this stuff go into default, Willems said. Its his responsibility to get that boat out of there until its legitimately owned by another person. McNew told police that his attorney told him not to touch the boat, Willems said. I said, Well, thats really bad advice. Its going to get very expensive for you. When I asked him who his attorney was, he said, Im not at liberty to say. Fortunately, Sweet Destiny does not appear to be leaking oil, fuel, coolants or other hazardous liquids into the river, he said. Costly removal Three other watercraft have ended up in the citys impound lot over the past two years; another boat that was abandoned on Beer Can Island was removed this fall after the owner contacted his insurance company, Willems said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Removing McNews boat is going to be costly because its partially sunk, and the back end has to be lifted out of the water with a barge crane and then pumped out, Willems said. Its going to cost the city multiple thousands of dollars to get that boat out of there and have it towed to our impound lot, which is where its going to sit forever. Nobodys going to want it. We cant even give it to a salvage company. They dont want it. Willems, who joined the Hudson Police Department 18 years ago and has served as chief since 2018, said he is shocked anyone would abandon a boat. Boating is an expensive hobby, and its an expensive piece of machinery, so conventional wisdom indicates that you have that investment, and you use it for fun and enjoyment, that youre not just going to take it somewhere and leave it, he said. He recommends people refrain from making major watercraft purchases on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres my advice: Stay off of Facebook Marketplace. Related Articles BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 29. The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has reported that, according to its sources, NATO is increasingly inclined to "freeze" the conflict in Ukraine, given the apparent lack of prospects for delivering a decisive military defeat to Russia on the battlefield. The West views this scenario as a way to rebuild the combat readiness of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and prepare Kyiv for a potential counteroffensive. According to the Russian side, NATO has already started setting up training centers in Ukraine, where at least one million mobilized Ukrainians are expected to be trained. "Additionally, efforts will focus on revitalizing Ukraine's defense industry during the ceasefire, with active collaboration taking place with Western military-industrial companies, including Germanys Rheinmetall, to bring in investments, specialists, and high-tech equipment. NATO recognizes that without providing sufficient arms and ammunition to Ukraine, it would be unrealistic to expect Ukrainian forces to sustain high-intensity combat over an extended period," the SVR said. They state that in order to implement these plans, the West would effectively need to "occupy" Ukraine. "This would be done under the guise of deploying a 'peacekeeping force'," the report reads. "Specific regions of Ukraine are expected to be divided among the occupying powers: Romania would take control of the Black Sea coast, Poland would oversee the western regions, Germany would control the central and eastern parts, The United Kingdom would manage the northern areas, including Kyiv. A total of 100,000 so-called peacekeepers are expected to be deployed. German military experts are reportedly studying the methods used by Nazi forces during World War II to establish occupation regimes in Ukraine. It has been concluded that performing police functions would be impossible without task forces made up of Ukrainian nationalists, who would be rebranded but essentially remain the same paramilitary groups," the SVR stated. In an interview with Trend, Igor Korotchenko, Director General of the Caspian Institute of Strategic Studies (Russia), noted that the SVR has raised concerns about the expectations and strategies of some Western globalist elites regarding Ukraine. "Theres a lot of speculation in the West about possible solutions to the Ukrainian crisis, but we rely on the official information provided by the SVR, which has access to reliable sources. This allows us to understand how the West envisions Ukraines future, through the lens of freezing the conflict and placing specific Ukrainian territories under NATO's control. This would both ensure control and allow for the restoration of Ukraine's military capabilities, ultimately setting the stage for future hostilities against Russia," Korotchenko explained. He also commented on the growing interest in how Donald Trumps administration might approach the Ukrainian crisis. "Trumps team has appointed a special representative, a retired senior general, but I dont believe Trump or his team have a clear strategy for resolving the crisis. Meanwhile, the SVR, with its sources in NATOs military-political circles, has revealed some of the expectations and plans of certain Western elites," the analyst added. Korotchenko emphasized that Russia would not accept any proposals that do not meet the conditions set by President Vladimir Putin. "These conditions are clear: Ukrainian forces must withdraw from the four new Russian territories. Only then can discussions on the denazification and demilitarization of Ukraine take place. Right now, the situation is highly turbulent, and much could change in the two months leading up to Trumps inauguration. Nevertheless, I believe Russia will stick to the position laid out by Putin, and it wont change. These are Russias fundamental terms for any negotiations," he added. Former Prime Minister and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Konstantin Gryshchenko, noted that currently, especially after Trumps election, various ideas and proposals for ending the war in Ukraine are being actively discussed at all levelsintergovernmental, expert, and in reputable mass media. In this context, the issue of a sustainable ceasefire is logically viewed as a necessary first step toward achieving the ultimate goala lasting peace based on the fundamental principles of international law, with reliable guarantees against future aggression. Russia shows no willingness to seek a solution on such a basis, instead aiming to impose its ultimatum of complete capitulation and the de facto destruction of Ukrainian statehood on Ukraine and all its supporters by force. This objective is precisely what underlies the statements of the entity you mentioned and other Russian official bodies. Beyond this, their statements carry no substantive meaning, he said. The former U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza noted that he had never heard of a plan to divide Ukraine's territory into "occupation zones". "I follow these issues extremely closely and have never heard of any such plan. This is Russian propaganda. Poland has expected that maybe it and other willing NATO Member States could provide troops to fight in Ukraine, although not as part of a NATO operation," he said, adding that there has been no talk of Western peacekeepers or "occupation". Peter Tase, an American scholar in European geopolitics and transatlantic security, believes that the current assessment by Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service is absolutely correct: more than 100,000 peacekeepers will be deployed in Ukraine with a clear objective further escalation of the armed conflict in Europe. "For the Poland Forces to enter the Ukrainian territory as peacekeepers will be a great blunder and a regional security miscalculation. The entry of foreign troops in the ground in the battlefield of Ukraine, under the guise of peacekeepers will enable Russia, give Moscow a legitimate right to conduct intelligence operations inside Germany, Romania, UK, and Poland and influence shifts in national political alliances," the expert noted. He believes that NATO, with these peacekeepers operations, will emerge as a weaker alliance, a failed military force, and an international block with very little weight in European security infrastructure. "Only 21 out of 31 member nations of NATO have reached the level of two percent of annual investment of their respective GDP towards defense. In a defense alliance that even the two percent of GDP is not allocated annually by all its members, there is a global perception that Euro Atlantic alliance is in deep trouble and in shambles," Tase added. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Mayor Todd Gloria will celebrate the grand opening of Olive Street Park and an AIDS Memorial in Bankers Hill Sunday. The nearly three-quarter-acre park was completed as part of a $2.3 million project, which includes a playground, fitness equipment, an open lawn area, lighting and landscaping, as well as an overlook deck showcasing the view of Maple Canyon. The AIDS Memorial at the park will feature nearly 10,000 San Diegans who lost their lives to the virus. It will also have panels describing the history of AIDS in San Diego and boulders with the names of organizations that worked to improve the lives of those living with it.. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the mayors office, he will be joined by other elected officials like Assemblymember Chris Ward, City Councilmember Stephen Whitburn, City Councilmember Kent Lee, among others. Leaders of San Diegos LBGTQ+ community will also be present. The event lands on World AIDS Day, which is dedicated to raising awareness about the AIDS pandemic and remembering those who have died of the virus. Olive Street Park is located at 2772 Third Ave. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Russian forces launched attack drones towards Ukraine on the evening of 28 November. Air defence forces have been operating in Kyiv. There are reports of damage to buildings. Source: Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko; Ukrainian Air Force; Kyiv City Military Administration Details: At 22:42, the military warned of Russian UAVs in the vicinity of the capital. Quote from Klitschko: "Air defence forces are operating on the right bank of the city. Stay in shelters!" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Update: Klitschko later reported that drone debris caused the outer cladding of a clinic building in the capitals Dniprovskyi district to catch fire. Early reports indicate that nearby buildings have also been damaged. Kyiv City Military Administration has reported that one person has been injured. Early reports indicate that neighbouring buildings were damaged. Kyiv City Military Administration (KCMA) reported one injured person. Klitschko stated at 23:57 that the injured individual was a security guard at the facility. The fire on the facade of the polyclinic building was extinguished. In addition, the building's wall was damaged, windows were shattered and trees in the yard were broken. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Klitschko reported shortly after midnight that wreckage of a Russian UAV had fallen on the territory of an infrastructure facility in the Sviatoshynskyi district of Kyiv. The State Emergency Service published photos of the aftermath of the Russian UAV strike in the Dniprovskyi district. Aftermath of the Russian UAV attack in the Dniprovskyi district. Photo: State Emergency Service Aftermath of the Russian UAV attack in the Dniprovskyi district. Photo: State Emergency Service The State Emergency Service also reported that the injured security guard of the medical facility had been hospitalised with a preliminary diagnosis of concussion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote from KCMA at 00:40: "Near the damaged medical facility in the Dniprovskyi district, window panes and facade sections of entrances in three surrounding residential buildings were also damaged. The injured individual discovered at the scene has a closed fracture of the left femur." Support UP or become our patron! Nov. 29 (UPI) -- An al-Qaida-linked rebel group operating in Syria says it launched a major offensive and has gained territory in the country's northwest, but the Syrian army said Friday the attack has been repelled. Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham, known as HTS, and affiliated factions operating under the banner of "Deterrence of Aggression" said in a statement they have taken control of 20 villages, towns and positions in the countryside of Idlib and Aleppo provinces after three days of intense clashes, according to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. HTS also claimed it entered five neighborhoods in the city of Aleppo after a pair of suicide operations amid the first "violent clashes" clashes in the city since 2016. The group said it had captured the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Center on the outskirts of the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HTS and its predecessor, Jabhat al-Nusra, were formed during the Syrian civil war against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States since 2018, despite an official split from al-Qaida. Its stated aims include the establishment of Islamic rule in Syria via "toppling the criminal Assad regime and expelling the Iranian militias." The Syrian army, meanwhile, announced Friday its forces have successfully repelled the HTS offensive using heavy and medium weapons, including drones. "Our armed forces have inflicted heavy losses to the attacking groups, causing hundreds of deaths and injuries among the terrorists," the army said in a statement posted on social media. "We have destroyed dozens of vehicles and armored units and have downed 17 drones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our armed forces continue to reinforce all points on the various engagement axes with equipment and soldiers to prevent terrorist violations on those axes and repel their attacks," the statement read. "Our forces have succeeded in regaining control of some of the points that witnessed violations during the past hours." The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency said armed forces "continue to confront terrorists in Aleppo and Idlib countryside" and blamed four civilian deaths on a missile attack launched by HTS on Aleppo's university campus area. Syrian Foreign Minister Bassam Sabagh told his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi the army will "do everything in its power" to keep "terrorists" from seizing control of the country's northern areas. Iran, one of Assad's staunchest supporters, said the Syrian government and people "are doing their utmost to repel terrorist attacks and vowed that terrorists and their supporters will not succeed in achieving their diabolical goals," according to Russia's state-run TASS news agency. Araghchi promised that Tehran would "continue supporting Syria's government, army and people in their fight against terrorism." This is an adapted excerpt from the Nov. 23 episode of "Velshi." It was only a few months ago when Project 2025 was so toxic to Donald Trumps presidential bid that he and members of his campaign team were forced to deny any connection to it repeatedly. In July, Trump posted on TruthSocial: I know nothing about Project 2025. I have no idea who is behind it. I disagree with some of the things theyre saying and some of the things theyre saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal. Anything they do, I wish them luck, but I have nothing to do with them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That politically expedient lie was repeated by Trump campaign officials so that the deeply unpopular Project 2025 wouldnt derail his presidential campaign. But now that Trump has been elected, he is freely appointing the architects of Project 2025, figures who already had deep ties to the president-elect, to key Cabinet-level posts. Case in point: Russell Vought, who was announced as Trumps pick to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget, a role that he held in the first Trump administration. Vought is a proponent of Christian nationalism and is considered a lead architect of Project 2025. Hes the author of one of its key chapters: Chapter 2, about how to enhance the powers of the executive office, in large part by dismantling the administrative state, slashing budgets and eliminating the independence of certain regulatory agencies. Vought was also caught on camera by an undercover journalist revealing hes been tasked with preparing a secretive playbook for the first 180 days of Trumps second term, which involves overseeing executive orders that the incoming administration could implement beginning on Day One. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of those plans are in service of making the powers of the presidency even stronger and more centralized. Its earned Vought the backing of Trump and some of his staunchest allies. Stephen Miller praised Vought as a transformative pick for OMB director. He also described Vought as the guy for the last four years whos been developing the plan to take down the deep state. Miller is another supporter of Project 2025 whos set to join the incoming administration, this time as deputy chief of staff for policy and as Trumps Homeland Security adviser. A group that Miller founded, America First Legal, served on Project 2025s Advisory Board before it jumped ship this summer when the public began closely scrutinizing Project 2025. Besides Vought and Miller, a handful of other key Project 2025 figures have been chosen by Trump to join his administration. Theres Brendan Carr, Trumps pick to be chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, who wrote the chapter in Project 2025 about the FCC. One of the first people Trump appointed to his new administration was also a Project 2025 contributor: Tom Homan, who will serve as the border czar expected to lead the mass deportation effort. He was also the acting director of ICE who helped carry out the family separation policy during the previous Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John Ratcliffe and Pete Hoekstra are also listed as contributors to Project 2025. Theyve been tapped as CIA director and ambassador to Canada, respectively. Incoming White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt appeared in a training video associated with Project 2025 before she began working for Trumps campaign. NBC News is also reporting that Trumps transition team is using the extensive personnel database created and vetted by Project 2025 which has been referred to as a conservative LinkedIn to look for potential hires to fill lower-level positions. Plus, Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, the group behind Project 2025, has called Vice President-elect JD Vance, one of the leaders if not the leader of our movement. Apparently, Project 2025 isnt so nuclear anymore. Despite all of the Trump teams denials and attempts to distance themselves from it, the architects of Project 2025 will soon be inside the White House. Allison Detzel contributed. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Hundreds of Amazon employees from across Germany staged protests on Friday against what trade union representative say are unfair working conditions and the company's lack of a collective wage agreement. Demonstrators marched from two directions to a central rally in a hall in Bad Hersfeld in the state of Hesse. Amazon has two logistics centres in the town. They carried banners and signs with slogans like "Even if [Amazon boss] Jeff Bezos doesn't like it, we want the collective agreement." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's about "good and healthy work," employees having input and a legally secure collective agreement, Silke Zimmer of the service sector trade union verdi told the rally. According to verdi and the global umbrella organization of the service sector, Uni Gobal, 60 different actions were planned in more than 30 countries on Black Friday. Delegations from the US, the UK, Sweden and Italy also took part in the rally in Bad Hersfeld. Verdi said that around 550 protesters took part in the central rally in Bad Hersfeld. A spokeswoman said that around 2,000 Amazon employees across Germany took part in protest actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more than 10 years, verdi has been unsuccessfully demanding that the US company recognize German collective bargaining agreements for the retail and mail order sector and conclude a collective agreement. Amazon operates 23 large logistics centres in Germany and argues that it offers its employees fair wages with additional benefits. According to verdi, Amazon employees report enormous pressure to perform, and an ever-increasing workload and workplace surveillance which they say creates a climate of fear, especially in the logistics centres. Verdi called the strike and rally in Bad Hersfeld the central action of the international #MakeAmazonPayDay campaign. Amazon workers in more than 20 countries including the United States could be protesting between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. According to a news release from UNI Global Union and Progressive International, the planned Make Amazon Pay demonstrations are intended to hold Amazon accountable for labor abuses, environmental degradation, and threats to democracy. In a statement to CBS News, Amazon spokeswoman Eileen Hards said: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These groups represent a variety of interests, and while were always listening and looking at ways to improve, we remain proud of the competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and engaging, safe work experience we provide our teams. Its unclear how many, if any, Amazon workers in Washington will participate. Amazons relentless pursuit of profit comes at a cost to workers, the environment, and democracy, said Christy Hoffman, General Secretary of UNI Global Union in the news release. We stand united in demanding that Amazon treat its workers fairly, respect fundamental rights, and stop undermining the systems meant to protect us all. Make Amazon Pay Day is becoming a global act of resistance against Amazons abuse of power. UNI Global Union said that this is the fifth year of Make Amazon Pay activities. In previous years, the group said thousands of workers went on strike at company facilities in Germany, France, Spain, the U.K., and Italy. Amazon workers are planning to strike from Black Friday through Cyber Monday to hold the company accountable for labor abuses, environmental degradation and threats to democracy, organizers say. The Make Amazon Pay protest, organized by UNI Global Union and Progressive International, will take place in 20 different countries and major cities in the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, Japan and Brazil. Amazon is everywhere, but so are we. By uniting our movements across borders, we can not only force Amazon to change its ways but lay the foundations of a world that prioritizes human dignity, not Jeff Bezos bank balance. said Varsha Gandikota-Nellutia Progressive International Co-General Coordinator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event could impact the biggest shopping weekend of the year, though its not clear how many Amazon workers would be participating. Thousands are thought to be going on strike in Germany alone. Unions and allied tax justice, anti-poverty and garment worker rights groups will be part of the protest. A spokesperson for Amazon told ABC News: This group is being intentionally misleading and continues to promote a false narrative...The fact is at Amazon we provide great pay, great benefits, and great opportunities. Jeff Bezos is founder and executive chairman of Amazon (AFP via Getty Images) Amazon spokesperson Eileen Hards told Fox News: The fact is, at Amazon we provide great pay, great benefits, and great opportunities all from day one. Weve created more than 1.5 million jobs around the world, and counting, and we provide a modern, safe, and engaging workplace whether you work in an office or at one of our operations buildings. Its the fifth year the organizers have held the Make Amazon Pay campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group took issue with Amazons work in the political arena. Amazon underreported its lobbying expenditures across Europe by millions, the group said, adding Amazon refused to participate in public hearings, prompting the European Parliament to ban the companys lobbyists. In the US, organizers worry Amazons challenging the constitutionality of the National Labor Relations Board will threaten protections for American workers. In Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom, Amazon has been accused of intimidating workers to prevent unionization efforts. Amazons relentless pursuit of profit comes at a cost to workers, the environment and democracy, said Christy Hoffman, General Secretary of UNI Global Union. Bezoss company has spent untold millions to stop workers from organizing, but the strikes and protests happening around the world show that workers desire for justice for union representation cant be stopped. We stand united in demanding that Amazon treat its workers fairly, respect fundamental rights, and stop undermining the systems meant to protect us all. Make Amazon Pay Day is becoming a global act of resistance against Amazons abuse of power. The Independent has asked Amazon for comment. In a concerning turn of events, Amazon will be experiencing a workers strike on a global scale in the build-up to the holiday season. The display of resistance will take place between Black Friday and Cyber Monday across numerous nations. But what has caused the Amazon workforce to resort to such means to put their points forward? Heres everything you need to know regarding the upcoming Amazon workers strike. Amazon workers plan a strike between Black Friday and Cyber Monday The organizers leading the charge confirmed their plan to showcase their disapproval of the Jeff Bezos-owned companys way of handling their employees by announcing a worldwide demonstration on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to UNI Global Unions General Secretary Christy Hoffman, the workers seek to address the labor abuses, environmental degradation, and threats to democracy supposedly inflicted by Amazon through their strike. No matter how much they spend to fight us, corporations like Amazon cannot break the power of workers standing together, Hoffman conveyed in a statement to FOX Business. Make Amazon Pay Day is a powerful testament to our unity and momentum. No company no matter how wealthy can silence the cause of workers demanding justice, she added. According to the organizers, Amazon workers across the US, the UK, France, Germany, Japan, Brazil, India, and Turkey will participate in the premeditated strikes. They will also receive assistance from other worker-focused unions like the anti-poverty and garment worker rights groups, per the UNI Global Union. In response to the workers strike, Amazons Eileen Hards has called out the organizers for pursuing a false narrative. Explaining the organizations work culture, Hards stated, The fact is, at Amazon, we provide great pay, great benefits, and great opportunities all from day one. Weve created more than 1.5 million jobs around the world and counting, and we provide a modern, safe, and engaging workplace whether you work in an office or at one of our operations buildings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This forthcoming strike would be the fifth attempt made by the workers in as many years against Amazon prior to the commencement of the holiday shopping season. Nevertheless, it remains unclear as to how many employees will be taking part in the said protest. The post Amazon Workers To Go On a Strike Between Black Friday & Cyber Monday appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. (NewsNation) Three Americans held in China were released this week as part of a prisoner swap, just in time for the holidays. Mark Swidan, Kai Li and John Leung landed on a military base Wednesday night in San Antonio, Texas. All of them had been designated by the U.S. government as wrongfully detained by China. Officials and humanitarian aid groups said the three Americans were arrested on arbitrary and unlawful charges. Swidan was arrested on drug charges while on a business trip in Beijing in 2012. He had been sentenced to death. Kai Li and Leung were both imprisoned for espionage charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. President Joe Biden told reporters Thursday morning that he spoke to all of the released Americans. Im really happy theyre home, Biden said during a stop in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Mark Swidans mom posted a picture of her son with the U.S. Ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns, and Roger Carstens, the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, on X, and thanked them both. Travel tracker: What you need to know as you return from your Thanksgiving trip So grateful! she wrote. My son, American Mark Swidan came off the plane to me last night after 12 years wrongfully detained in China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harrison Li, Kai Lis son, said he was thrilled that his father was on his way home along with Swidan and Leung. Thank you, @POTUS, and everyone that made this day possible at long last, Harrison Li wrote. Please keep bringing them home. Chinas foreign ministry said the U.S. returned four people, including at least three Chinese citizens held for political purposes. Mel Gibson, an actor who has an been an advocate for Swidans release, posted a video thanking a number of people, including NewsNation anchor Elizabeth Vargas for continuing to shed light on the issue. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. As plans for a new turnpike progress, concerns over Lake Thunderbirds water quality reemerge among members of Pike Off OTA, who note the impaired water quality reports of recent years. In my estimation, just building a road through a watershed that supplies water for three major cities Norman, Del City, Midwest City is going to add to the pollution problem with the lake, said Randy Carter, a member of Pike Off. Kyle Arthur, general manager of the Central Oklahoma Master Conservancy District, which manages the lake under the Bureau of Reclamation, said that a project this size has to meet some environmental requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are rules and laws in place, notably from the Department of Environmental Quality, that must be adhered to by any entity that meets the criteria. And certainly a project like this would meet that criteria. So they would have to do things to control runoff from a location such as silt fences or hay bales, Arthur said. Construction permits require these best practices, said Erin Hatfield, director of communications for the Oklahoma DEQ. The OTA is also currently required to publish an annual stormwater report as required by other permits. However, members of the public still have concerns. The OTA has issued statements regarding water quality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OTA is significantly investing in environmental protection by employing a third-party environmental field compliance team before and during construction to ensure environmental commitments are met on all projects, read a statement from the OTA on as of Nov. 26. The authority states they will follow all requirements of the federal Clean Water Act, Oklahomas Water Quality Standards, and any local municipal requirements. The OTA will work closely with the DEQ, taking precautions to protect the lake. The agency also will continue to work with the City of Normans leadership along with the Central Oklahoma Master Conservancy District to ensure local environmental concerns are addressed, it stated, though the OTA said previously it would no longer negotiate with City Council about the turnpike project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statement read they are unaware of any new roadway where proper construction techniques were followed resulting in an adverse effect on water quality and that projects like these can actually improve water quality via solving existing drainage issues upstream of the lake. According to Lisa Salim, communications and marketing manager for the authority, the first area will be built west of the watershed, while the corridor that would be primarily inside the watershed likely will not begin construction until 2027. OTA will provide the same environmental care no matter the location, Salim said. The project would be large, Arthur said, so there are possible impacts to be aware of. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The answer is yes, it could have an impact. All projects could have an impact, he said. The scale and magnitude of this, if it all gets built, would certainly be significant. But you know, there are rules and laws in place that would help prevent that. Lake Thunderbird currently shows signs of environmental strain, including high algae levels, low dissolved oxygen, and poor water clarity, according to annual water quality reports published by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. Arthur said the scale of the project is certainly something you want to be aware of. I think thats fair to say. And you know, because of that, their performance as it relates to being compliant with stormwater rules and regulations will be very important, more so than someone clearing a small lot or half acre parcel or something. I mean, this is going to cut through the watershed, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district has sent a letter detailing their thoughts on protecting the lake and received numerous verbal assurances from the OTA that regulations will be followed, Arthur explained. We just want them to know that this is a source of drinking water for three cities, he said. Its our responsibility to manage that water supply to the three cities and when a construction project of this magnitude is planned to occur, we just want to be sure that theyre taking every precaution they can to prevent any pollution in the lake. The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority has stated multiple times they will adhere to environmental regulations throughout construction, including the Clean Water Act and Oklahomas Water Quality Standards. However, the OTA has stated it will not conduct post-construction environmental studies on affected lakes. The turnpike route is entirely contained within the Lake Thunderbird watershed, which spans 256 square miles with 19% urban development by area, according to the Lake Thunderbird Watershed Alliances 2021 plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Oklahoma Water Resources Boards 2021 water report read that the turnpike would impact nearly all of Lake Thunderbirds tributaries and advised ongoing monitoring of the OTAs Access Oklahoma turnpike initiative. Closely monitor and engage with the recently announced Access Oklahoma turnpike initiative that proposes to cut through the watershed and impact nearly all tributaries of Lake Thunderbird, the board wrote. In response to community concerns, OTA hired a third-party compliance team in July 2024 to work closely with the Department of Environmental Quality on the project and released a statement addressing water quality questions. OTA will take precautions to protect Lake Thunderbird from unwanted runoff from the future turnpike routes both during and after construction in compliance with all federal and state regulations, the statement read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The authority has also addressed some frequently asked questions. OTA will follow the requirements of the federal Clean Water Act, Oklahomas Water Quality Standards, and will conduct hydraulic and drainage studies on the corridors to ensure they are properly designed, the OTA stated. They also said the aquifer will be protected. Environmental advocates fear that increased runoff and construction activities will exacerbate nutrient and sediment pollution, worsening the lakes existing issues with a condition called eutrophication. Eutrophication means that there are too many nutrients in the lake, leading to algae blooms and harm to wildlife. This can include blooms of toxic blue-green algae. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Excess algal growth is most commonly associated with excess nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), which can wash off fertilized land (either agricultural or residential) during heavy rains, wrote Hatfield. In urban environments, there is more runoff because surfaces like pavement and rooftops are impermeable to water. Rain rushes along these surfaces, down the storm drains, and into creeks, which drain into larger bodies of water like Lake Thunderbird. Pollutants not filtered out or broken down end up inside of lakes and oceans. Natural sources of sedimentary pollution in lakes, such as erosion from streams, also contribute to sediment in lakes, turning up muddy water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Construction is subject to federal permits that require best management practices like bioswales, Hatfield said. Bioswales are a kind of natural water filter made of landscaping. Stormwater runs downhill into a channel filled with plants and grass, then a combination of sand, rocks, and dirt begins to break down pollutants. The microbes within the channel also help begin to tear pollutant molecules apart, and the less-polluted water sinks into a permeable pipe below the channel. Common green infrastructure elements that can be incorporated into construction projects include permeable pavement (not appropriate for high-traffic roadways), bioswales, planter boxes, and other landscaping aimed at reducing runoff and sediment transport during rainfall events, Hatfield said. Within lakes, nutrient and oxygen levels are supposed to fluctuate. This lake churn process, where seasonal temperature shifts circulate nutrients and oxygen within lake layers, is critical for the lakes ecosystem but often disturbed by excessive nutrients. Compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act will be required for turnpike intersections with federal highways. Locally, however, no specific environmental studies are mandated, though the City of Norman will collaborate with OTA on permits, said Tiffany Vrska, Chief Communications Officer for the City of Norman. Chronometrie Ferdinand Berthoud celebrates renowned retailer Sincere Haute Horlogeries 70th anniversary with an exclusive salmon-dialled platinum edition of its Chronometre FB RES To mark the 70th anniversary of Sincere Haute Horlogerie, Chronometrie Ferdinand Berthoud has unveiled a special Jubilee Edition of its Chronometre FB RES. Limited to just three pieces, the watch features a platinum octagonal case and a striking salmon-hued dial. It serves as a fitting tribute to the longstanding partnership between one of Asias most respected luxury watch retailers and the Chopard-owned high-end brand. Since its founding in Singapore in 1954, Sincere Haute Horlogerie has established itself as a key player in Asias fine watchmaking scene, with a network of over 23 boutiques showcasing the worlds leading independent watchmakers. Storefront Singapore Sincere Haute Horlogerie Among these, Chronometrie Ferdinand Berthoud has held a special place since the brands revival in 2015. Sincere is one of our long-term partners, having supported us since the launch of our very first collections, says Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, President of Chronometrie Ferdinand Berthoud. As such, we felt it was important for us to play our part in the festivities surrounding their 70th anniversary. Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, President of Chronometrie Ferdinand Berthoud Grand Prix d'Horlogerie Geneve Subtle Yet Striking At first glance, the Jubilee Edition captivates with its satin-brushed salmon dial, a visually warm feature that contrasts beautifully with the cool tones of the 44mm platinum case. Adding a symbolic flourish, the case is engraved with an infinity logo at 9 oclock, while each piece is individually numbered 1 of 3, highlighting its exclusivity for the fortunate collectors who secure one. Inside the FB RES The semi-openwork dial offers a glimpse into the intricate workings of the Calibre FB-RES.FC, an in-house movement that combines two of the brands hallmark innovations: a fusee-and-chain mechanism and a remontoir degalite. At the start of the gear train, the fusee-and-chain mechanism ensures a steady flow of torque from the barrel, regardless of the mainsprings level of wind. At the other end, the remontoire compensates for any irregularities caused by gear friction, storing energy momentarily before releasing it to the escapement in steady one-second increments. This precise regulation also drives the central deadbeat seconds hand, which advances in crisp, one-second steps. Dial of the Chronometre FB RES Jubilee Edition Ferdinand Berthoud While its mechanics are rooted in 18th-century horology, the design feels thoroughly contemporary. Imagining a modern interpretation of [Berthouds] exceptional work seemed a quite logical step, Scheufele explains, referring to the inspiration behind the collection a skeletonised remontoire-equipped table clock crafted by master watchmaker Ferdinand Berthoud around 1775. He continues: This gave rise to the idea behind the FB RES collection: a skeletonised, more technical version of our own Calibre FB-RE.FC with a one-second remontoire mechanism. Craft and COSC As with all Ferdinand Berthoud creations, the Jubilee Edition is a showcase of meticulous craftsmanship. The movement bridges, mainplate and gears feature polished bevels that, when measured end to end, span more than two linear metres. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the FB RES is also a COSC-certified chronometer, guaranteeing exceptional timekeeping performance. This accuracy is paired with precise time setting, thanks to the movements stop-seconds mechanism integrated into the balance wheel. A Tailored Collaboration The Jubilee Edition also underscores the extensive customisation options introduced with the FB RES collection earlier this year. Sincere Haute Horlogerie engraving on the Chronometre FB RES Jubilee Edition Ferdinand Berthoud Clients and retail partners can personalise elements such as the case material, shape, dial finish and engravings to create unique pieces or exclusive limited editions. For this Jubilee model, Sincere Haute Horlogerie collaborated closely with the Val-de-Travers-based brand to bring its vision to life, resulting in a timepiece that is both commemorative and distinctive. Deeper Meaning The carefully chosen materials, tones and finishes make the Chronometre FB RES Jubilee Edition a worthy addition to the Ferdinand Berthoud canon. While its exclusivity ensures that only three collectors will experience this watch firsthand, its significance goes beyond those fortunate few: By celebrating a milestone for Sincere Haute Horlogerie, this timepiece underscores the enduring power of collaboration in fine watchmaking. Back of the Chronometre FB RES Jubilee Edition Ferdinand Berthoud Following the steep decline of the African National Congress, or ANC, in South Africas national elections in May and the formation of a coalition government of national unity in its aftermath, all policy areas have now become contested terrain in Pretoria, at least in theory. In dominating the party system that prevailed from 1994 to 2024, the ANC did not attach much weight to the views of opposition parties. Debates over policy were conducted exclusively within the broad coalition that was the ANC. That era ended in May when the ANCs vote share fell to the historic low of 40 percent, ushering in a new age of coalition politics for South Africa. How the struggle to determine policy within the current government unfolds will turn on the relationship between the ANC and the Democratic Alliance, DA, the countrys long-standing center-right opposition party that finished in second place in May with 22 percent of the vote. With their combined share of the vote, the erstwhile bitter enemies now dominate the new power-sharing government. So far, their policy differences have largely focused on domestic issues such as education and health policy, but the fault lines between the ANC and DA on foreign policy are becoming more visible. The ANCs foreign policy trajectory since former President Nelson Mandela left office in 1999whether under former Presidents Thabo Mbeki from 1999 to 2008 and Jacob Zuma from 2009 to 2018, or President Cyril Ramaphosa from 2018 to nowhas had three distinctive features. First, solidarity with African countries and, more broadly, those of the Global South, with a commitment to the democratization of the institutions of global governance taking precedence over any support for the internal democratization of states. Pretorias muted responses to the proliferation of coups in Africa since 2020 and to the malpractice accompanying many African elections are illustrative examples. Second, a commitment to non-interference in the internal affairs of states replaced Mandelas view that sovereignty should not be used as a shield to deflect criticism of a states human rights violations. Third, the promotion of multilateralism as the route to a more equitable world order and closer alignment with states seeking the same goals, whether in the Southern African Development Community, the African Union or the expanded BRICS forum. Underpinning each of those objectives has been a hostility toward the West in general and U.S. hegemony in particular. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is some common ground between the ANC and the DA here. The DA supports South Africas promotion of its African neighbors interests, given that the countrys wellbeing is intrinsically linked to that of the continent. Nor does it have an issue with multilateralism per se, as it recognizes South Africas need to pursue its interests in as many diverse forums as possible. However, the DA favors a less expansive, more pragmatic foreign policy that would place stronger emphasis on democracy in Africa while favoring a more restrained role in the wider Global South, particularly in the Middle East where it feels South Africa is too partisan and lacks the weight to make a difference. It would seek to shore up South Africas traditional trade and investment links with the West as well as consolidating and expanding trade relations with China and emerging powers such as India and Brazil. To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter. The DA regards the ANCs animosity toward the West and its supportive posture toward Russiaand to a lesser extent Iran and Hamas in Gazaas a self-harming foreign policy, given South Africas own democratic values, as well as the meager economic benefits flowing from those relationships compared to the role played by Western trade and investment. It is also aware that the ANCs foreign policy and South Africas alleged hostility to U.S. global interests has prompted calls in the U.S. Congress for a review of the bilateral relationship and of South Africas place in the U.S. African Growth and Opportunity Act, or AGOA, which allows thousands of its goods duty-free access to the U.S. market and is due for renewal in 2025. This growing antagonism in Washington toward Pretoria is likely to deepen further under President-elect Donald Trumps second administration and a fully Republican-controlled Congress, with the relationship set for a period of even greater turbulence on geopolitical and trade issues. The diplomatic skills of Ebrahim Rasool, South Africas new ambassador to Washington, are likely to get a strenuous workout over the next four years. The DAs failure to challenge the ANCs monopolization of the foreign policy machinery in the negotiations over governmental positions means its influence is restricted to the National Assemblys committee on international relations. Essentially the ANC and the DA embrace two distinct models of non-alignment. The ANCs has a pronounced tilt toward Russia, China and more recently Iran, while the DAs is markedly tilted toward the West. One way to bridge this foreign policy divide is for the coalition government to assume a genuinely non-aligned posture in which South Africa avoids being drawn into ideological camps. Instead, it would seek to extract maximum benefits from its diverse relationships, whether in the expanded BRICS, AGOA or the G20, which South Africa will chair in 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This would recognize that the central purpose of a states foreign policy is to enhance its global standing and to generate as many economic benefits as possible. The value of such a posture to South Africa should be obvious given the scale of its domestic challenges of low growth, poverty and catastrophically high unemployment. That would still allow Pretoria to express differences with its partners, while avoiding the partisanship that is disfiguring its current foreign policy and antagonizing important power blocs. It might even allow South Africa to reprise the golden age of its international relations from the mid- to late 1990s, when it played the role of bridge-builder and model international citizen. This allowed it to break deadlocks and resolve disputes on issues such as the extension of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1995 and the Lockerbie stand-off in 1999 between Libya under Moammar Gadhafi on one side and the U.S. and Britain on the other. The current coalition government would provide Ramaphosa with the political cover to make this change if he chose to, as he can legitimately argue that the ANC has lost the power to decide policy alone. That appears an unlikely outcome, however, for reasons rooted in the thinking of both main parties. Although welcomed internationally, the coalition government is a fragile construction domestically, and there is strong opposition to it among sections of the ANC as well as its ally the South African Communist Party, which Ramaphosa cannot completely ignore. The internal critics are the same factions that embrace a militant, ideologically driven foreign policy rooted in hostility to Western imperialism, so they would in all likelihood resist any change of foreign policy direction. Ramaphosa is also conscious of the fact that a radical foreign policy invoking the old themes of struggle and solidarity provides some consolation for the partys rank and file as well as for malcontents among the leadership, in an era otherwise defined by a series of ANC retreats. In any case, from the outset of the coalition government, the ANC signaled its commitment to continuity and its determination to maintain a tight grip on foreign policy. This has been achieved through its control of both the presidencySouth Africa has a long tradition of executive leadership in foreign policyand the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, or DIRCO, through Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola and his two deputies, Alvin Botes and Thandi Moraka, all three of whom are from the ANC. The DAs failure to challenge the ANCs monopolization of the foreign policy machinery in the negotiations over governmental positions means it now has no presence at DIRCO, and its influence is restricted to the National Assemblys committee on international relations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The partys disinterest in these top-level appointments during the coalition negotiations sent a clear signal that it does not view foreign policy as a priority. Indeed, in September, DA party leader John Steenhuisen identified the DAs two red lines that, if crossed, would trigger its withdrawal from the coalition government: any ANC actions threatening the economy and any ANC assaults on the Constitution. Everything else would be subject to internal debates or constructive conflict, an implicit admission that the DA will not collapse the coalition government on account of foreign policy differences. That candor was perhaps unwise, as the DA might have gained more leverage by keeping the ANC guessing as to its red lines. Instead, the ANC is likely convinced that any DA opposition to its foreign policy will be performative and without substance. For example, it was notable how casually the presidents office dismissed Steenhuisens complaint that Ramaphosas description of Russia as a valuable ally and friend at the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, in October had not been cleared by his coalition partners. A more positive sign is that Lamola appears to be striking a less ideologically dogmatic and partisan tone than his predecessor, former Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor. He seems more conscious of the need to placate Western opinion and to avoid the rhetorical grandstanding that characterized Pandors tenure at DIRCO, although that will still fall well short of a fundamental reset of foreign policy. It does indicate, however, that any modifications to policy will be driven by external forces and the weight of economic pressures brought to bear on South Africaor the threat of themrather than through any traction the DA has in the coalition government. James Hamill has been a lecturer in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Leicester since 1991. He has a long-standing research interest in South African politics, particularly in the countrys post-apartheid development, and is a frequent visitor to the country. He has published articles on South Africa in International Relations, Diplomacy & Statecraft, The World Today, Politikon: The South African Journal of Political Studies and The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs. The post The ANC Is Keeping a Tight Grip on South Africas Foreign Policy appeared first on World Politics Review. Another eight children have been brought back to Ukrainian-controlled territory from the temporarily occupied territories of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts, and Crimea. Source: Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights Quote: "The children who have been brought back are between 6 and 16 years old. Some of the children have illnesses, so there were ambulances ready for them when they arrived in Ukraine. Among the children is a boy who was in the Oleshky orphanage [Kherson Oblast ed.] at the time of the Russian invasion. The children in this orphanage were taken to Skadovsk [Kherson Oblast ed.] and the Russian Federation by the occupation authorities." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Lubinets noted that seven children were brought back with the involvement of Qatar as an intermediary. Another boy was brought back through the humanitarian corridor. One of the children brought back to Ukraine Photo: Ukraines Human Rights Commission One of the children brought back to Ukraine Photo: Ukraines Human Rights Commission Government agencies and NGOs will help the families enrol their children in school, provide psychological and humanitarian support, and facilitate their social integration. The children who have been brought back to Ukraine Photo: Ukraines Human Rights Commission Support UP or become our patron! As October 7 moves further back in time, the ghoulish true colours of the pro-Palestine movement continue to fly wild and free, brazenly marring the peace, as well as the beauty, of our cities with their violence and their hideous, deeply disturbing paraphernalia. As if further proof was needed of the movements true motives hatred of the West, of all that is good in the world, and, of course, the fevered desire to legitimise attacks on Israel the Palestine solidarity brigade made their agenda clear, for the second year running, at the Thanksgiving Macys Day parade in New York. Another jolly, fun-filled affair for children and families, patriotic and festive in nature, made ugly and disrupted by people with nasty, extreme views, waving flags, brandishing a Dont Celebrate Genocide banner, chanting Free, free Palestine, and jumping barricades. The NYPD said it arrested 21 people. The pretence of caring a jot about Palestine, or the wellbeing of the Palestinian people, is becoming more and more outrageous. And they just dont give up. They are monomaniacal, obsessed, and amoral. They show no sustained attention to any other conflict in the world, or to the mass campaigns of barbarity against the Uyghurs in China, or to growing fears of genocide in Sudan. In the West, it is only when Israel stands up to bullies and terrorists that the placards, the chants, the demands for divestment, and the public exposition of blood-curdling cries and threats become utterly commonplace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But to what end? The only thing their ceaseless yelling, lying, bullying and disrupting has achieved is a sense of smugness in Hamass top brass. I was struck, reading a long New Yorker profile on the October 7 architect and arch-Hamas sadist Yahya Sinwar, killed by the IDF in October, that the Western protests against Israel, or for Palestine, were appreciated by him and his colleagues. They saw that these protests did their work for them: further undermining support for Israel, weakening it dramatically on the international stage, and making it easier to delegitimise the Jewish state and tie its hands. The people intent on ruining the likes of the Macys parade on behalf of Palestine would presumably call themselves progressive. But all they are progressing is the strength and confident evil of theocratic dictatorships which, by their own explicit ideological framework, would want most of their useful idiots in the West, especially women and gay people, silenced or killed. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Donald Trumps victory splintered the already fractured Never Trump movement into shards and further boxed out his MAGA outcasts, leaving some of his most prominent Republican critics scrambling for relevance in a reordered GOP. In recent days, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley ripped into two of the president-elect's top appointees, Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., on her radio show. Former Virginia Rep. Barbara Comstock skewered Trump's nominees as a Cabinet of Putinists and pedophiles. And former Vice President Mike Pence attempted to rally anti-abortion conservatives against Kennedy as Trumps Health and Human Services secretary. But they are screaming their words of caution from the sidelines as Trump, having already overhauled their party, forges ahead with remaking Washington in his MAGA image. And he is doing so with the backing of broadly supportive congressional Republicans who have little political incentive to listen to his detractors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Never Trumpers and Lincoln Project folks just need to climb back under their rocks for a few years, said Scott Reed, the veteran GOP strategist and leader of the Pro-Pence Committed to America PAC. Trumps convincing win allowed the president-elect to quickly consolidate power within his party as he prepares to return to Washington. And it has scattered the remnants of the Republican resistance to him back to their respective corners to regroup. Some, like Haley and Pence, who criticize their former boss on some issues but remain aligned with him on others, still believe they can change a GOP that has near-fully bent its knee to Trump. But others, particularly those among the pillars of the original Never-Trump movement who were long ago pushed aside by their party or left it of their own volition, have given up trying to resurrect Republicanism as they knew it. Joe Walsh, a former GOP congressman and prominent Trump critic who challenged him for the partys nomination in 2020 before becoming an independent, said the former presidents reelection has taken reforming the Republican Party off the table. He also believes it has dimmed the prospects for disaffected Republicans to form a new party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its down to two options, Walsh said in an interview. Productively throw rocks at the administration kind of be like a group in exile and from a distance do what we can to damage MAGA, knowing we can never go back or become Democrats. Trumps GOP skeptics broadly appear to be starting with the former, seizing on his Cabinet selection process as a way to both continue challenging his MAGA agenda and to reassert their own political relevance. Haley, a more traditional foreign policy hawk, recently used her radio show to assail Gabbards foreign policy views, criticizing the former Democratic congresswoman as a Russian, Iranian, Syrian, Chinese sympathizer. She also attacked Kennedy as a liberal Democrat who has no background in health care. She reiterated those serious concerns in an email to her political supporter list on Tuesday promoting her radio show, in which she also shared a survey soliciting top priorities for the Republican governing trifecta in Washington. Trump, however, has made clear that Haley his most significant GOP primary rival, who later embraced his candidacy will not be invited back for his second term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then theres Pence, who declined to endorse his former running mate after his own failed presidential bid. The conservative former vice president initially said he was very encouraged by Trumps initial Cabinet picks only to later attack Kennedy, who has expressed disparate views on abortion, as deeply concerning to millions of Pro-Life Americans who have supported the Republican Party and our nominees for decades. But the opinions of Haley and Pence or those of the more staunchly anti-Trump Republicans who have criticized his Cabinet picks as bad for national security or simply unqualified for their prospective posts arent exactly widely regarded within the MAGA movement. Who cares what Mike Pence thinks? said Mike Davis, the former Senate GOP aide and Trumps most outspoken legal defender. Pences team did not respond to a request for comment, while Haleys team declined to comment. And it remains unclear whether Trumps critics will leverage what minimal political capital and money they have through their advocacy groups and super PACs, such as Pences Advancing American Freedom, to oppose any of his nominations that they deem problematic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, many across the spectrum of Trumps skeptics are looking to Congress to continue to hold a line against his more controversial maneuvers. And they are seeing signs for hope in Senate Republicans early resistance efforts: Selecting John Thune (R-S.D.) as majority leader over Rick Scott despite Trumps allies backing the Florida senator, and pushing scandal-ridden former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz out of the running for attorney general before he could come up for a vote or Trump could use his nuclear option, recess appointments, to force him through. That is the only way for Trump to be checked the sort of in-group moderates, the people who are members of the Republican Party who wont give Trump carte blanche and who will push back against the most damaging things, said Sarah Longwell, an anti-Trump GOP strategist and publisher of The Bulwark. Youre going to need people in the Republican Party to not cave completely to Trump. But congressional Republicans may be less willing to buck Trump once he resumes office in January and the business of vetting his Cabinet picks moves out from behind closed doors. Public acts of defiance risk not just Trumps wrath, but primary challenges in 2026 and few GOP senators are positioned to win reelection without his voters. Meanwhile, the number of Trumps opponents in the upper chamber will again dwindle in the next Congress. And the remaining two Republican senators who voted for his impeachment, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, will no longer be enough to tank a nomination on their own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its got to start in Congress, Geoff Duncan, the former Republican lieutenant governor of Georgia who endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris over Trump, said in an interview. Youve got to have serious-minded senators willing to hold the conservative line and filter out as much anger and grievance-filled decision-making as possible. But if that bulwark crumbles, so, too, might the last vestiges of the broader Trump resistance. Asked where Never Trumpers go from here, Jeff Timmer, former executive director of the Michigan GOP and a member of the Lincoln Project, told POLITICO: You mean reeducation camps? Im being an optimist. Joanne Brierley got her start at the company after asking Christopher Howes daughter for work An antiques dealer is locked in a court fight with a former intern who claims she is entitled to half of his 1 million company. Christopher Howe, 63, grew a high-end antiques and interiors empire now worth millions from a small run-down shop in Belgravia, going on to serve clients such as Hollywood actor Richard Gere and artist Lucian Freud who liked his esoterically shabby chairs to use in his portraits But now, his former intern Joanne Brierley, 37, is claiming she has a right to half of the business after Mr Howe allegedly promised her a 50 per cent stake. Mr Howe denies making any firm agreement. Ms Brierley, who started as an intern before rising through the ranks, claims she helped Mr Howe grow his business as a partner in all but name. Christopher Howe, 63, began his business in 1986 at 36 Bourne Street in London - CHAMPION NEWS In 2008, Ms Brierley, an art student, joined as an intern after her college friend, Mr Howes daughter, asked him if he could offer her an internship. After graduating in 2009 she joined full-time and later agreed to help with the original shop in Bourne Street. Four years later in 2013, Mr Howe set up Bourne London Ltd and ran both shops through his new company. But in the following year, he suggested to Ms Brierley that 36 Bourne Street Ltd should be separated into a new company and managed by her. Ms Brierley says they agreed she would have a 25 per cent share in the new company, subject to revenue targets being met. And in 2018, after she had guided the new company to success, an improved promise was allegedly made for a 50 per cent stake in the company. Richard Gere was a client of Mr Howes antiques shop - STEFANIA D'ALESSANDRO But the judge said that the pair fell out after Ms Brierley returned from an extended business trip in India and said she wanted to leave to set up her own business. They were initially working towards an amicable parting until Ms Brierley began demanding a 49 per cent buyout as a condition of her departure, Mr Howe says. In a judgment relating to a preliminary company law issue, Judge Barber said that Mr Howe denies that any firm or unqualified agreement to transfer 49/50 per cent of the shares in the company to Ms Brierley was reached in July 2018 or at all. Lucian Freud used chairs from the shop in his paintings - STEPHAN AGOSTINI/GETTY Mr Howe says he agreed to gift Ms Brierley five per cent of the company in 2017, for meeting her revenue target, and then gifted a further five per cent in 2018 at her insistence. Any discussions or arrangements that would result in Ms Brierley receiving further shares in the company were at all times understood by both to be subject to legal, including tax, advice and ultimately came to nothing, Mr Howe says. However, Ms Brierley says in July 2019, Mr Howe took her for lunch at Joe & the Juice in Wimbledon and assured her that she could trust him to honour the 49% agreement. Nov. 22 - Nov. 28, 2024 Countries across the region marked International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women with performances and demonstrations. Left-wing opposition candidate Yamandu Orsi wins a tight presidential run-off election in Uruguay. Heavy rains in Bolivia sent mud crashing into the capital, destroying dozens of homes. It swept away a young girl, spurred evacuations and left parts of the city without electricity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A rural doctor travels miles of unforgiving terrain by donkey, enduring cold, rain, wind and exhaustion, to visit several dozen families scattered across the highest mountain in the north of Argentina. This gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published in the past week by The Associated Press from Latin America and the Caribbean. The selection was curated by AP photojournalist Fernando Llano, based in Mexico City. ___ Follow AP visual journalism: AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews X: http://twitter.com/AP_Images ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) A bar employee is facing a murder charge after police said a fight over a pool table turned deadly. According to the arrest warrant, Jeremy Saiz and James Silver got into an argument at the Dragonhorn Tavern on Juan Tabo and Candelaria Wednesday night. Witnesses said Silver asked Saiz if he could join his game before the incident. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Surveillance video captured Silver leaving the bar, and police said Saiz followed about a minute later. Thats when police said a gunshot rang out, and Saiz walked back inside the bar with a gun in his hand. Police reported Saiz later turned himself in. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) Joshua Dayshaun Fly, 25, a Lansing man convicted of several charges related to creating child pornography, had his attempt to appeal his conviction on the grounds of a mistrial and unreasonable punishment shot down by the Michigan Court of Appeals Wednesday. According to court documents, In December 2020, Fly went to the home of his friend, Damien Williams, who called Fly into a bedroom where he was having sex with a girl. Williams told Fly to record her, and Fly recorded a video of Williams and the girl having sex. A few days later, the Lansing Police Department executed a search warrant at Flys home, taking his phone and examining the data on his phone, where investigators found the video of Williams and the girl having sex. An LPD detective reviewed the video and described the video as depicting a girl in a floral bonnet sitting on a bed, and as she stands up, it is clear that Williams and another girl are in the bed having sex, court documents say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The detective identified Fly by his voice as she had interviewed him before. Child Protective Services, who identified the girl in the bonnet as a 13-year-old, and the girl having sex with Williams as a 16-year-old. Fly was 21 at the time the video was taken, and Williams was 20 years old. Both men were arrested and charged with child pornography and child sex crimes. Joshua Dayshaun Fly, 25 At Flys trial, the prosecution called Williams in to testify against him. Williams had previously pled guilty to child sexually abusive activity in connection to the video in exchange for a sentencing agreement and dismissal of three other charges. Williams testifying against Fly was not part of his plea, but the prosecution subpoenaed him to do so. However, when Williams was called to testify, he invoked his Fifth Amendment right and refused to testify. He was held in contempt of court and sentenced to serve 93 days in jail. However, the prosecutor argued that because Williams pled guilty to a crime that involved producing child pornography, he implicated the person who was filming the video as well. The court allowed the prosecution to read a redacted version of Williams plea hearing transcript at Flys trial, in which Williams names Fly as a knowing participant in filming the video. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The jury found Fly guilty on three counts: child sexually abusive activity, possession of child pornography, and using a computer to commit a crime. For these crimes, he was sentenced to 13-20 years in prison. When Fly attempted to appeal, he argued that the court should not have allowed the transcript of Williams plea hearing to be admitted as evidence and that the jury should have been made aware that the redacted parts of the transcript said that Williams pled guilty in exchange for dismissing the charge of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. While the Court of Appeals agreed that the court should not have allowed it to be admitted into evidence, they also held that Fly would have been convicted regardless. The court disagreed with Flys statement that it violated his rights, as Fly did not object to using it as evidence at the time with the claim he used to attempt to appeal. Additionally, the Court of Appeals upheld the decision to redact it, as knowledge of Williams case had the potential to influence the jury. Fly also attempted to argue that prosecutors failed to prove that he knew the 16-year-old girl was under 18 years oldbut the Court of Appeals held that as an adult, he was responsible for determining the ages of those involved in a sexual situation. The detective who referred the video to Child Protective Services did so because the girls in the video looked young. Fly also admitted under oath that he did not ask for the age of the girl Williams was having sex with. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, Fly attempted to appeal by claiming that his 13 to 20-year prison sentence was disproportionate to his crimes, which the Court of Appeals also disagreed with, upholding the lower courts decision. The Court of Appeals cited the judge as saying that the severity of the offense played a role in sentencing and that she could hardly think of something more repulsive or horrid than the video Fly recorded. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. (Bloomberg) -- Argentina wheat traders are seeking to close their first significant sales to China since the 1990s, according to the head of the countrys top crop-exporting group. Most Read from Bloomberg China is making overtures for wheat purchases after it authorized Argentine shipments earlier this year, said Gustavo Idigoras, president of Ciara-Cec, whose members include the major agricultural trading houses. China also recently authorized purchases of Argentine corn, though no cargoes have yet sailed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move comes as Argentina, one of the worlds top wheat suppliers, is on track for a bumper harvest. At the same time, tariff threats from US President-elect Donald Trump are raising hopes among South American traders for greater export opportunities. Growers in and around the southern half of Buenos Aires province, who will harvest their golden wheat fields in the coming weeks, are forecast to produce 3.9 million metric tons, 18% more than a year ago when plants endured a drought. Thats according to a tour of farmland this week organized by the Bahia Blanca Grain Exchange. The province, home to Argentinas prime wheat region, will contribute to a broader production rebound after a La Nina climate system that threatened to parch fields again largely dissipated helping libertarian President Javier Mileis plan to kick-start an ailing economy. Sporadic rains over the last few months fell just in time to keep plants in good condition, spurring improved yields, said Gabriel Abregos, an estimates analyst at the Bahia Blanca bourse. The US Department of Agriculture expects a national Argentine wheat crop of 17.5 million tons, up from 15.9 million last season. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chinas potential as a market for Argentine wheat may increase if Trumps vow to slap tariffs on imports sparks a full-on trade war with retaliatory levies imposed by Beijing. Brazil took advantage of Trumps first trade war, boosting its endeavor to be an agricultural force, Idigoras said in an interview. We need to know what a second trade war would look like long, short, multi-destination, multi-product? to see who could seize the opportunity this time around. However, Milei still needs to fulfill a promise to cut Argentinas long-standing tariffs on its own crop exports. Idigoras said exporters are lobbying the government to reduce the levies which range from 12% to 33%, denting the countrys global competitiveness for next season. But since Milei needs the revenue to reach ambitious budget goals, it isnt clear if the efforts will succeed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Actress Reese Witherspoon has faced backlash online as she tried to promote a novel that popularizes Russian culture. The 48-year-old celebrity has her own book club, where she recommended readers to enjoy City Of Night Birds: A Novel by Korean-born American writer Juhea Kim, who does not hide her love for Russia. ADVERTISIMENT On the organization's Instagram page, the actress called the book a "December pick". This outraged netizens as while Ukraine is suffering from the daily terrorist attacks, she tries to promote Russian ballet. What City Of Night Birds: A Novel is about Juhea Kim's novel tells the story of a Russian ballerina, Natalia, who had to give up her career for a long period of time after a serious accident. To recover faster, she took a lot of medication. However, because of her longing for the big stage, she became addicted to alcohol. After rehabilitation, the ballerina returns to St. Petersburg, where she faces a choice: to take a chance and regain her former success or to give up her dancing career for good. ADVERTISIMENT "This story left me thinking about the ways we overcome setbacks and redefine what truly matters," Reese Witherspoon said while listening to the audiobook. What we know about its author Juhea Kim was born in Korea but grew up in Portland (USA) and moved to London as an adult. The author probably chose the theme of ballet in the novel for a reason, as her life was also connected with this type of performing art. It is not surprising that it is Russian culture that became the highlight too, as the writer speaks frankly about her admiration for the aggressor country. For one of her novels, the author received a Russian literary award and even visited the country right during the big war. Moreover, she was spotted in the Tolstoy House once, where she called that day "one of the happiest of her life." In addition, Juhea Kim donates part of the money earned from her online magazine of ecological literature to the Russian Amur Leopard Conservation Fund. ADVERTISIMENT Netizens' reaction When a video of Reese Witherspoon promoting a book about Russian culture appeared online, Ukrainians could not contain their negative emotions. "Today Russia has launched about 100 missiles at Ukraine and you are praising a book about Russian culture?" "Wow, a book about Russian culture. How 'interesting'! Russian culture is murder, death, torture, terror. Do you know that? Do you care?" "Why don't you and your book club come to Ukraine and read this 'book' in some shelter, hiding from Russian missiles? It would add to the Russian aesthetics you are so eager to explore." "Come to Ukraine and read it in the cities occupied by Russia. Run under missiles and drones to cover." "My son-in-law was killed by Russians right on Christmas last year because he wanted his family to be alive and safe. And the fact that you are promoting this book means that you tolerate terrorism and violence in all possible forms and manifestations." Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! (Getty Images) On Monday, a three-judge panel will consider whether a federal lawsuit challenging Arkansas U.S. House congressional district map will go to trial in the spring. The lawsuit, filed last May by the Legal Defense Fund, OMelveny & Myers LLP, and longtime Arkansas civil rights attorney, Arkie Byrd, is one of four cases that have challenged Arkansas 2021 redistricting process. It focuses solely on the 2nd congressional district, and it is the only case that hasnt been dismissed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Redistricting is the process of redrawing the boundaries that group residents together for election and political purposes. According to Arkansas law, the General Assembly redraws the states congressional districts while the Board of Apportionment redraws state boundaries for the House of Representatives and Senate. Federal law states that districts must have populations as close to equal as possible, and may not be drawn to allow for discrimination based on race or ethnicity, according to the Board of Apportionments website. The 2021 map represents the first redrawing since Republicans won control of the state Legislature in 2012. The Christian Ministerial Alliance a pastoral organization based in Little Rock and four Pulaski County voters sued Secretary of State John Thurston in his official capacity. They allege that the General Assembly considered racial data when determining district lines and unconstitutionally cracked the Black community in southeast Pulaski County into three separate congressional districts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The states attorneys asked the court last month to rule on a motion for summary judgment in favor of the state but plaintiffs lawyers recently told the Advocate they feel confident the case will go forward. If it proceeds, the court has planned for a maximum 10-day trial in March. It was unprecedented to crack Pulaski County in any map, and to do so in three ways was even the more aggressive, extreme way of going against how they had treated that county historically, said Leah Aden, senior counsel for the Legal Defense Fund. The 2021 congressional district map split Pulaski County, which previously was all in Arkansas 2nd congressional district, into Districts 1, 2 and 4. Plaintiffs argue the redistricting violates the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution by intentionally separating Black voters to to thwart their political power. Pulaski County is in Central Arkansas and houses the state capital, Little Rock. It is the states most populous county and has a large population of Black residents 38% of its total 400,000 residents, according to the U.S. Census. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The states attorneys argued in their brief for summary judgment that plaintiffs cannot meet their demanding evidentiary burden to prove racial gerrymandering. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The brief also states the 2021 map shows the General Assembly was motivated to equalize the population of the four districts, reduce the number of split counties, secure a great partisan advantage in [District 2] over the previous Democrat-drawn map and otherwise make minimal changes to the preexisting lines. The brief also opposes a number of alternatively drawn congressional maps from a plaintiffs expert. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state sought to dismiss the suit last year before the discovery phase, but a three-judge panel denied the motion. Aden said the 2021 map diminishes the power of the Black vote, which could produce different election results. All four of Arkansas U.S. House seats have been held by white Republicans for at least a decade, despite Democratic efforts. Incumbents again won their elections this November. Leah Aden, senior counsel for the Legal Defense Fund. (Courtesy photo) At the local level, Black voters exercising their political might is evidenced through historically successful bids of Black candidates for Little Rock mayor, Pulaski County clerk and sheriff, Aden said. The 2021 map also affects how neighbors can organize for local improvements or funding as Black voters now make up no more than 20% of the population in any of the three districts, she said. It has real consequences for their ability to organize as a community and advocate for policies that impact their lives, such as infrastructure funding, health care funding, funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Aden said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the states motion for summary judgment from October, attorneys argued that the southeast corner of Pulaski County is suitable for the three-way split. There is simply no other place where a significant number of Democratic votes could be moved from [District 2] while otherwise making minimal changes to the districts configuration, according to the supporting brief. Plaintiffs claim that the split singled out [B]lack voters for worse treatment than white voters is contradicted by the fact that there are no significant blocs of white Democratic voters located near the border of [District 2] in any other location certainly not in an area where they can be split to balance three congressional districts at the same time. In a brief filed in opposition to the states motion for summary judgment, plaintiffs attorneys argued that more Black residents were moved out of District 2 than white residents, regardless of political party. Aden told the Advocate that while the redistricting lawsuit focuses on Black voters in Pulaski County, it should be an affront to all voters who signed up for a fair redistricting process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regarding the timeline of the potential spring trial Aden said, Every election matters, and every election that happens under what we think is a discriminatory, unfair map is one election too many. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Army is looking for 300 lieutenants to voluntarily transfer from four ground combat arms branches to five understrength branches: adjutant general, air defense, finance, logistics and signal corps. In January, the service sought 250 infantry or armor lieutenants to move over to adjutant general, finance or signal corps to address a misalignment between officer inventory and Army manning requirements, Army Times previously reported. Now, facing similar challenges, the service is expanding its effort, seeking an additional 300 lieutenants from year group 2022 to transfer out of infantry, armor, artillery and engineer branches, according to a release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Army wants 250 infantry, armor officers to transfer to support jobs Last years pilot program was successful as more than 130 [year group 2021] lieutenants voluntarily transferred from the Infantry and Armor branches into the Adjutant General, Finance and Signal Corps. By offering more options this year we hope to get greater participation and have a greater impact on readiness, said Maj. Thomas Mussmann, a readiness analyst for Army Human Resources Commands Force Shaping Directorate. When the Army finds a misalignment exists between manning requirements and available officer inventory, the service opens voluntary transfers to rebalance the active duty Army, Mussmann said. The Army will eventually face shortages at the battalion, brigade, division and corps level if we dont shape the force now, said Col. Shay ONeal, director of HRCs Readiness Division. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to the five understrength branches, the Army is also looking for transfers into four functional area jobs, including information technology engineer, space operations, public affairs and simulations operations. Potential volunteers for branch and functional area transfers may apply between Jan. 7 and Feb. 17, 2025, according to the release. The ideal candidate for this program is someone who enjoys the Army but is looking for a change from their current career field, said Maj. Jesse Lansford, a senior marketplace analyst at Army Human Resources Command. Maybe theyre looking for company command time but in a branch with a long wait queue or they didnt get their initial branch of choice upon commissioning. No officers will be forced to change branches, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To identify themselves as interested volunteers, infantry, armor, field artillery and engineer officers from year group 2022 must log into the Integrated Personnel and Pay System portal, locate the [Talent Management] Soldier Work Center within the Self Service window and select Closed Marketplace Preferences where they will provide their preferencing input for the rebranching process, according to the release. Officers who want to rebranch must put their desired branch above their current branch in their preference order. The branch placement will depend on the officers preference and their placement on the national cadet order of merit list from the fiscal 2022 branching boards, according to the release. In the early 2024 rebranching, for example, 57% received their first choice, while the remaining 43% received their second choice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If an officer is transferring into one of the functional areas of need, they must put the desired functional area as their top preference. Those approved for transfer will not incur a permanent change of station move with the transfer. HRC is slated to release results of the transfer option in early March 2025. A New Hampshire man has been charged in connection with a hit-and-run pedestrian crash that reportedly happened after a road rage incident in October, police said Friday. Nathaniel Duehart, 25, of Manchester, was arrested Thursday and charged with conduct after an accident, injury resulting, a Class B Felony, and simple assault, a Class A misdemeanor, police said. On Oct. 4, officers responded to Dunkin located at 119 East Hollis St. in Nashua for a report of a hit-and-run accident involving a pedestrian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When officers arrived, they learned a female had been struck by a vehicle following a road rage incident. The victim was transported to a local hospital for minor injuries, police said. On Nov. 28, 2024, Nashua Police arrested 25-year-old Nathaniel Duehart of Manchester, N.H. for Conduct After an Accident (Injury Resulting) a Class B Felony, and Simple Assault, a Class A Misdemeanor. Witnesses provided officers with the suspect vehicles license plate number and a physical description of the driver. With the assistance of Hudson Police, officers later located the suspect vehicle and the driver, later identified as Duehart. Detectives from the Criminal Investigation Division investigating the case later obtained a warrant for Dueharts arrest, police said. Duehart, already on parole with the New Hampshire Department of Corrections, refused bail and was arraigned at the 9th Circuit, District Division in Nashua on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nashua Police urge anyone with more information about this incident to contact the Crime Line at 603-589-1665. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) Police in North Macedonia have arrested 10 people following raucous celebrations allegedly including gunfire by members of the country's ethnic Albanian minority to mark an Albanian national holiday, officials said Friday. Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski said the suspects, who include several minors, face charges of inciting national, racial and religious hatred, discord and intolerance. If tried and convicted, they face up to five years in prison. Hundreds of people took part in celebrations late Thursday of Albanian Flag Day in North Macedonia's capital, Skopje, and other cities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Skopje, at least one flag of North Macedonia was hauled down, torn up and set on fire. Local reports said some people taking part in the celebrations had apparently fired bursts of shots in the air with automatic rifles. No injuries were reported. Thursday night's celebrations boosted ethnic tensions in the small Balkan country, which has a sizeable and occasionally restive ethnic Albanian minority. North Macedonia's right-wing government condemned the incidents as a bid to destabilize the country. All political parties, including those representing the ethnic Albanian minority, also issued statements of condemnation. Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski called the attack on the flag an act of aggression, while Interior Minister Toshkovski said it was a direct attack against the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I appeal to Macedonian citizens, regardless of ethnicity, not to allow these criminal groups ... to destabilize our common homeland, Mickoski said on Friday. According to the latest census in 2021, ethnic Albanians comprise nearly a third of the country's 1,8 million population. Relations between the Albanian minority and Macedonian majority have been fragile since North Macedonia left the former Yugoslavia in 1991. Ten years later, an armed ethnic Albanian uprising ended with a deal that granted more minority rights. North Macedonia borders to the west with Albania and to the north with Kosovo, most of whose population is ethnic Albanian. Albanian Flag Day celebrates Albania's declaration of independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912. Despite an arsonist setting fire to cars at his auto shop, owner John Kalupa was feeling thankful on Friday, and not just because it was the day after Thanksgiving. Fire destroyed five cars in for service at Kalupas 43-year-old business, Ruby Isle Auto. Its bad news, Kalupa acknowledged. But he emphasized that the damage at his lot at 11137 W. Silver Spring Drive could have been a lot worse. Further, the outpouring of support he said he's received from Milwaukee authorities, customers and neighboring businesses has been a revelation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a gift from God, he said. Police were called just before 2 a.m., and the fire department arrived only a few minutes later and quickly extinguished the fire. When Kalupa arrived, he was uncertain what to expect, but found his business largely unscathed and the fire out. The Milwaukee Fire Department confirmed there were no injuries. Police were able to see the arsonist on Kalupa's businesss security footage. The footage showed the suspect pouring some sort of accelerant on the vehicles, before they were lit and engulfed in flames, he said. The next-door Wendys also caught it on camera, Kalupa said, and supplied footage to police. Kalupa said there were about 30 cars in the lot and, if it had been windier, those might have caught fire too. One of the five cars scorched by an arsonist overnight. Even the way Kalupa was contacted by police was fortuitous, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police didnt have the owners cell phone number, he said. But one of the responding officers former partners who now lives in Florida was a former customer. Kalupa said the officer called the former partner, got his cell phone number and contacted him, all in a matter of minutes. You expect to come in and the store to be engulfed in flame and you expect to lose 43 years of business, Kalupa said. You feel like you had a giant safety net over you to watch out for us. I cant say enough. On Friday, Ruby Isle Auto was open. Customers called to see if they could help, and police officers returned at one point to check on how things were going and see if the owner needed anything. Kalupa said the response to what happened has been like something out of a movie. Milwaukee police are seeking an unknown suspect, the department said in a news release. The department is asking anyone with information is asked to contact them at 414-935-7360 or, to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-Tips or P3 Tips App. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David Clarey is a reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at dclarey@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Arsonist targets Milwaukee auto shop, but the owner is thankful. Why? "I don't know if she thought it was dead or what," Laura Splotch, a friend of the victim Leah Seneng, told KFSN Leah Seneng Facebook Leah Seneng Leah Seneng A California middle school teacher has died after she was bitten by a bat inside her classroom. Leah Seneng, 60, was wounded after she unexpectedly found the animal in her classroom at Bryant Middle School in Dos Palos back in October, Laura Splotch, Senengs friend told local ABC affiliate KFSN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I don't know if she thought it was dead or what caused it to be lying around her classroom and she was trying to scoop it up and take it outside, Splotch told the outlet. She didn't wanna harm it. But that's when, I guess it woke up or saw the light or whatever." Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Getty Brown bat Brown bat Related: Minnesota Man Dies of Rabies 6 Months After Bat Bite It swooped around a bit and it took off," Splotch said of Senengs interaction with the bat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After she was bitten, Splotch said that Seneng did not show any initial symptoms of rabies however, her condition severely changed around a month later when she fell ill and was admitted to the hospital by her daughter, and placed in a coma. On Nov. 22, four days after she was brought to the hospital, Seneng tragically died, reported KFSN and The Fresno Bee. Google Maps Bryant Middle School Bryant Middle School Following Senengs death, the Fresno County Department of Public Health said there is currently no public threat regarding the potential for rabies exposure in the area. The Fresno County and Merced County health departments continue to investigate, KFSN said. A Fresno County representative confirmed to KFSN and The Fresno Bee that those exposed to Seneng have received medical attention. "To date, there has been vaccines administered to both health care workers and household contacts," the rep said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As with any disease, close contacts/family members are notified and offered preventative care as theyre identified," a Mecerd County health official told The Fresno Bee. Fresno County Deputy Health Officer Trinidad Solis added to the outlet that it typically takes four to eight weeks for symptoms of rabies to show in humans. If a vaccine is not administered before that time, then it is almost always fatal, he added. Usually the symptoms quickly progress, Solis told The Fresno Bee. Related: New Hampshire Man, 86, Bitten by Rabid Bat That Crawled Out of His iPad Case GoFundMe Leah Seneng Leah Seneng Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senengs family has set up a GoFundMe to cover her funeral expenses following "her unexpected death." We ask for privacy for her family during this difficult time, the fundraiser added. Currently, $1,837 has been raised from a $5,000 goal. Speaking about the memory of her friend of 15 years, Splotch told KFSN, She was a lover of life. She spent a lot of time in the mountains where her mother lived. She loved to explore the world, she's a great explorer. In 2015, Russia waged its largest military campaign outside its borders since the Cold War, launching a sweeping air war to rescue Bashar al-Assads crumbling regime in Syria. Back then, Syrian rebels were closing in on the regimes strongholds, even as Assad leaned heavily on Iran and Hezbollah for support in the years prior. Moscows intervention turned the tide, culminating in the recapture of the largest Syrian city of Aleppo and a fragile stability that has largely held since. Until now. This week, Syrian rebels mounted a stunning assault on regime positions in Aleppo and Idlib, unravelling nearly five years of hard-won stalemates in the north. Those frontlines, painstakingly secured by Russian firepower, now look perilously fluid. The assault raises urgent questions about the Assad regimes durability and its allies ability to rescue it this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The challenges facing Assad and his backers in Russia and Iran are unprecedented. Moscow is bogged down in Ukraine, where a reinvigorated US-backed campaign has given Kyiv the green light to strike inside Russian territory. Iran, meanwhile, is grappling with a relentless Israeli campaign that has targeted its military networks and weakened its grip on Syria. The stakes couldnt be higher. The Assad regime faces a crisis that echoes the darkest days of the war, but with one stark difference: this time, the regime looks even weaker, and its allies are unable to come to its rescue. Years of economic collapse, internal fragmentation and the rise of unchecked militias have left Assad severely weakened. In many ways, the regime is now a hollow version of the one Russia and Iran fought to save in 2015. By contrast, the rebels appear more disciplined and unified than ever. Under the command of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham a former al-Qaeda affiliate that has since severed ties with the group, and even all but rooted it out opposition forces have evolved into a well-organised military machine, better equipped to sustain a long fight. The regime, ironically, now looks more fragmented and chaotic than the rebels it once dismissed as disorganised insurgents. Anti-government fighters brandish guns as they drive through Aleppo - OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP via Getty Images The timing of this rebel campaign couldnt be worse for Assads allies. Russia, stretched thin by its grinding war in Ukraine, is unlikely to redeploy significant forces to Syria. Its support, if it comes at all, will likely focus on safeguarding its naval bases along the Mediterranean and securing strategic areas in the Assad heartlands. In short: Russia will protect its interests, not Assads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iran, once the regimes lifeline, is also under pressure. A relentless Israeli bombing campaign has decimated its military infrastructure in Syria, complicating Tehrans ability to intervene on a large scale. While Iran is unlikely to abandon Assad entirely, its role may shift to fortifying key corridors like the one connecting Damascus to the coast and the land bridge linking Iraq and Lebanon rather than reversing rebel gains across the map. Opposition forces in Syria advance within 1km of Aleppo's outer neighbourhoods Meanwhile, the ripple effects of this renewed conflict could destabilise Syrias broader diplomatic landscape. Assad was on the verge of a breakthrough, with Gulf states normalising relations with Damascus and lobbying Washington to ease sanctions. That momentum now hangs in the balance. For the United States, this shifting reality could force a rethink of its Syria policy. Washington has long oscillated between tacitly tolerating Assads rule and supporting a fragmented status quo, where Kurdish forces control the north-east and rebels hold out in the north-west. But a new possibility is emerging: pushing Assads regime to retreat further, creating conditions for refugees to return and reshaping Syrias political map yet again. Idlib residents celebrate the control of several districts of Aleppo by jihadists and their Turkish-backed allies - MUHAMMAD HAJ KADOUR/AFP/Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rebels gains, while significant, are unlikely to dislodge Assad from his core territories in Damascus and the coastal heartland. Yet the mere fact that these frontlines are shifting is a reminder that Syrias war is far from over, and that the fragile order Russia and Iran worked so hard to impose is now under serious strain. The weeks ahead will reveal whether Assads allies can patch together another rescue, or if Syrias long-frozen conflict is about to thaw in ways that could reshape the Levant and the wider region for years to come. Hassan Hassan is the founder and editor in chief of New Lines Magazine, an American-Syrian analyst, and co-author of ISIS: Inside the Army of Terror. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Britains proposed law to legalise assisted dying has been voted on by MPs today and passed its first hurdle in the House of Commons. The Bill will now go through further scrutiny, and if it passes as law, would allow terminally ill people to end their lives. Its an option already available to more than 200 million people across the world, including those in Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands as well as 10 American jurisdictions and Victoria in Australia. The Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, who has introduced The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, insists that in Britain assisted death would include the strictest safeguards anywhere in the world. Whats the difference between assisted dying and euthanasia? Assisted dying is when a terminally ill, mentally competent, patient receives lethal drugs from a healthcare professional to end their life. This is at the patients request and involves the patient administering it themselves. The Bill passing through the House of Commons today means it could be on its way to becoming law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Euthanasia is the deliberate act of ending a persons life to relieve suffering. The patient may not be terminally ill. It can be voluntary, where the person makes a conscious decision to end their life, or involuntary, where the person does not give their consent (for example, they may be in a coma). It is illegal under English law. How would one initiate the process of assisted dying? The first step would be to discuss your wishes with a doctor, presumably your GP, who will become, in the terms of the Bill, the coordinating doctor, guiding you through the assisted dying pathway. Somewhat controversially, the Bill will allow doctors proactively to suggest assisted dying to their patients. The legislation states that while doctors are not obliged to raise it, they can use their professional judgement to decide if and when to discuss the issue with a patient. They must, however, also detail the patients diagnosis, prognosis, treatment options and the possibilities for palliative and hospice care. Who will be eligible? Candidates for assisted dying must be residents of England and Wales and must be registered with a GP for at least 12 months. This is to stop suicide tourism, with people coming from overseas to end their own lives in the UK. They must be terminally ill and expected to die within six months, yet also have the mental capacity to make the choice. According to the Bill, it must be deemed to be a clear, settled and informed wish, free from coercion or pressure. Those deciding to end their lives will need to be terminally ill with six months to live, and go through a rigorous three-week process, declaring their wish to die in front of witnesses and seeking doctors approvals and a ruling from a High Court judge. The Bill specifically excludes those with disabilities or mental illness alone. What will be the process of assisted dying? The candidate must make two separate declarations of their wish to die, which must be signed in front of a witness. Afterwards, their co-ordinating doctor plus another independent doctor will be responsible for assessing their eligibility. The Bill deems that you must have the mental capacity to make the decision, your condition must be terminal and that you will die within six months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To make an informed judgement, the doctors will consult with specialists in the particular condition and arrange an evaluation of the patients mental capacity. There will need to be at least seven days between each doctors assessment. Then a High Court Judge will hear from at least one of the doctors and might also question the patient or anyone else they deem appropriate before ruling that they should be allowed to self-administer a fatal medication. Then a further 14 days must pass after the judge has made the ruling before they can go ahead with their wish to end their life. How quickly do you die? According to a guide prepared by the University of California San Francisco, people who take these medications typically fall into a deep sleep within 10 minutes, followed by a coma, respiratory depression and death shortly afterwards. Death typically occurs within two to five hours, although it can happen very quickly. The University of California San Francisco prepares loved ones for the dying experience, warning them that their relative or friend will exhibit symptoms of dying that dont cause them to suffer but can be startling for loved ones to witness. These can include deep gasping breaths, gurgling sounds and changes in facial colour to pale or blue. How long would the process or pathway take? At least three weeks, given the required seven days between the doctors assessments and 14 days following the judges ruling. It could take longer, depending on the availability of the doctors and the judge, although there will be flexibility if the person is likely to die sooner. The dying persons decision must be confirmed at every stage and they could change their mind at any time. How would people end their life? There are strict protocols within the Bill to ensure the safe prescribing, transportation and administration of all medication. The medication must be self-administered: Neither a doctor nor anyone else can administer the medication to the terminally ill person. If they choose not to self-administer, the medication is immediately removed from their possession. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is different from certain other jurisdictions, where a fatal medication can be administered by doctors if you are unable to do it yourself. The assisted dying process must be overseen by a trained medical practitioner who will be expressly forbidden from taking any action to end the persons life. The medication will be prepared by a doctor unlike in Victoria, Australia, where patients receive a powder in a locked box, which they must mix up themselves. The Bill states that a doctor can prepare the substance for self-administration and also prepare a medical device enabling the person to self-administer. They can also assist the person to ingest or otherwise self-administer the substance. But the decision to self-administer the approved substance and the final act of doing so must be taken by the person to whom the substance has been provided. The Bill isnt specific about where the medication should be taken but information guidelines provided to patients in California and Victoria, suggest the medication can be taken at home, or in a hospital or hospice. Patients in those jurisdictions are encouraged to think carefully about where they take it, who is with them and the arrangements for their body afterwards. What is the approved lethal substance? The Bill does not specify a medication. It simply says that the Secretary of State will be required to state one or more drugs. In other countries where assisted dying is legal, high doses of the barbiturates pentobarbital and secobarbital are the preferred medications. Patients will most likely be required to take anti-nausea medications beforehand and drink juice or lick lollipops to counteract the bitter taste and soothe any burning sensations. Who advocated the Bill? Dame Esther Rantzen, who has been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, advocates the Bill, maintaining it will give those suffering from terminal illness the dignity of choice. Dr David Nicholl, a neurologist and human rights activist, believes it will improve the quality of conversation between doctors and patients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile the neurosurgeon Henry Marsh wrote in the Bulletin for the Royal College of Surgeons that there is clear demand for assisted dying in this country despite good palliative care as is shown by the fact that many people (who can afford it) go to Switzerland for an assisted death. Indeed, Dignitas helped 571 Britons to die between 1998 and 2023. The new law would only apply to England and Wales, although a separate bill is being discussed in Scotland and legislation is underway in Jersey and the Isle of Man. Who opposed the Bill? There are many opposers to the Bill. Dr Gordon Macdonald, the chief executive of campaign group Care Not Killing, believes that safest law is the one we already have, while Dr Gillian Wright, a former palliative care doctor, maintains that the Bills safeguards are too difficult to manage. Paralympian and House of Lords crossbencher Baroness Grey-Thompson told the BBC that she fears for the impact on vulnerable and disabled people, as well as the risk of coercive control and the ability of doctors to make a six-month diagnosis. A Telegraph poll shows readers are divided equally on the matter, with 47 per cent against the Bill and 53 per cent in favour. When will the change in law happen? Any change in the law would not be implemented until next year at the earliest. There is still a way to go before the Bill becomes law. Now that it has passed the first debate and vote in the Commons, it will go to committee stage where MPs can table amendments, before facing further scrutiny and votes in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. When the House of Commons debates Kim Leadbeaters Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on Friday, no-one knows what the result is going to be. In the vaudeville theatre of Westminster, especially when a government has a majority of 165, such unpredictability is rare. On assisted dying, however, MPs have been given a free vote, with no instructions from the party whips. One calculation concludes that 152 MPs support the bill and 164 will vote against with 79 abstaining, but that leaves a decisive 244 MPs who have yet to declare. The result may not be determined by a simple division between aye and no on the question of giving the bill a second reading, however. Legislation proposed by backbenchers is allowed very little time on the floor of the House essentially, 13 Fridays in each parliamentary session, with five hours debate each and there are a number of ways to stop a bill progressing without it being overtly defeated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Time is of the essence. If a bill is still being considered by the House at the moment of interruption (the time at which the main business has to conclude, which is 2.30 pm on a Friday), the Member in charge will be asked to name another day to continue the debate. It is likely that there will be other bills already scheduled for that day, so this outcome is probably fatal for the bills future. That means opponents can try to keep the debate going until 2.30 pm (talking it out) while supporters need to engineer a vote before that point. Leadbeater will hope to move a closure motion towards the end of the day, which proposes that debate should stop and a decision taken. The speaker has discretion over whether to allow such a motion and will only do so if he feels there has been adequate opportunity for MPs to discuss the bill. Another challenge is that a closure motion must be passed by at least 100 MPs, or the debate resumes again. Straightforward delay what in the United States Senate is known as filibustering is not the only weapon in the arsenal of Leadbeaters opponents. A common device is for a would-be saboteur to propose that the House sits in private. (It has not actually done so since December 2001, during a debate on the Anti Terrorism, Crime and Security Bill, and that was by accident.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once the question is put, MPs vote immediately on whether to sit in private, but the crucial factor is that if fewer than 40 Members take part in the division, then the bill under consideration is deferred to another day: again, that would probably be fatal for Leadbeaters measure. The most ingenious example of sabotage in recent history came in June 1985. Enoch Powell, by then Ulster Unionist MP for South Down, had shepherded his Unborn Children (Protection) Bill, which would have banned embryology research, through its committee stage and only had to secure its third reading for it to clear the House of Commons. Dennis Skinner, the Beast of Bolsover, noticed that the writ for a by-election in Brecon and Radnor was due to be moved after the death of Conservative MP Tom Hooson, a formality usually undertaken by a party whip. Usually, but not necessarily: Skinner realised any MP could move it, and was on his feet within six minutes of the House sitting. Before Powells bill was debate, he moved the writ, on which there could be a debate. Skinner spoke for 40 minutes, and stalwart parliamentarians piled in behind him: Tam Dalyell, Peter Shore, Ian Mikardo. Twenty-nine petitions on various matters were then presented, and Powells bill was not reached until 2.15 pm, and was doomed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Modernisation has made it more difficult for small numbers of MPs to frustrate a bills passage. Time is the critical factor. Leadbeater knows this and knows she will need to force a vote before the end of the day. Then it is all about numbers, and that is the unpredictable part. If Westminster is sometimes theatre, then Friday has an air of improv about it. It could be a triumph or a disaster, or some fusion of the two. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A few years ago, high prices were an important obstacle to buying an electric car. Finding a compact, affordable, and fuel-efficient electric car was not easy. Small cars are equipped with smaller batteries, which naturally offer a shorter range. ADVERTISIMENT However, in recent years, compact electric vehicles have become more affordable and stronger. As battery technology has improved, it has become possible to drive much longer distances on a single charge. Experts have compiled a rating of the best compact electric cars at an affordable price. Mini Cooper E The Mini EV has received a new elegant design, additional range and the latest digital technology systems from the BMW Group. Based on a new platform developed in partnership with the Chinese giant Great Wall Motors, the Cooper E is equipped with a 181 hp electric motor and a 40.7 kWh battery that provides a range of up to 470 km. The more powerful Cooper SE has 215 hp and a 54.2 kWh battery with a range of up to 400 km. The new Mini offers a much longer range and faster charging. However, its weight has increased, which you may felt when cornering. ADVERTISIMENT MG 4 EV The MG 4 EV has been targeting the budget segment of the market since the relaunch of the British brand, which is owned by Chinese giant SAIC. The rear-wheel drive provides a great driving experience, and the soft but steady ride means that the car is well suited for uneven roads. The car has a very competitive range and charging performance. You may notice some low-quality interior materials and somewhat haphazard infotainment and driver assistance features, but none of them are so bad to ruin the value for money that the MG 4 offers. Citroen e-C3 ADVERTISIMENT The car is powered by a 44 kWh battery that provides a claimed range of 481 km. It is equipped with a 111 hp front electric motor, which allows the e-C3 to accelerate to 100 km/h in about 11.0 seconds. Although all e-C3s are currently equipped with a 44 kW battery, a smaller battery option may be available in Europe next year. Fiat 500e Fiat has done a great job of keeping the 500's cute retro look while transforming it into a car for the modern era. Since the Fiat 500e was designed to be a purely electric car, it has a rather impressive 42 kWh battery for a small car. There is a cheaper Fiat 500 Action model with a 24 kWh unit, but experts do not believe that the financial savings are sufficient to compensate for the much shorter range. ADVERTISIMENT Dacia Spring Dacia Spring is one of the cheapest full-size electric cars. Entry-level models are equipped with a weak 44 hp electric motor that accelerates to 100 km per hour in 19.1 seconds. The variant with a higher power of 64 hp reduces this time to 13.7 seconds. The figures may not seem very attractive, but experts say that the Dacia Spring can match the 1-liter Volkswagen Up in terms of speed. Both models are equipped with a 26.8 kWh battery, which is quite enough for the claimed total range of 220 km. Equipment levels are good too: a 7-inch touchscreen, electric windows, cruise control, and rear parking sensors are included as standard. ADVERTISIMENT Mazda MX-30 Mazda has never been afraid to do things its own way, and the approach it has taken with its first all-electric car is truly impressive. Such a tiny appearance is due to the extremely small battery - only 35.5 kWh - which provides an official range of 200 km. Fast charging with a power of up to 50 kW is possible, so if a limited range suits you, the Mazda MX-30 may be a good option. Peugeot e-208 As a traditional supermini with an internal combustion engine, the Peugeot 208 doesn't stand out too much in its segment. However, in its all-electric form, the car makes good use of its truly useful range, good performance, practicality, style and quality. GWM Ora 03 The GMW Ora 03 (formerly Ora Funky Cat) from the Chinese automaker group Great Wall Motors can catch your attention for many reasons. This is a rather large and practical car in its price segment. The GWM Ora 03 is undoubtedly a spacious and moderately attractive model by class standards. Owners often complain about the average quality of the interior and equipment. Moreover, the infotainment system, although having a lot of functionality, is inconvenient due to very small controls. Subscribe to OBOZ.UA channels on Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events. Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are making the most of their time aboard the International Space Station ahead of their February 2025 return to Earth NASA/Facebook Clockwise from top left: NASA Astronauts Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, Don Pettit and Nick Hague Clockwise from top left: NASA Astronauts Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, Don Pettit and Nick Hague The NASA astronauts who are aboard the International Space Station celebrated Thanksgiving in space on Thursday, Nov. 28, complete with turkey, butternut squash and even cranberries. We have a bunch of food that weve packed away that is Thanksgiving-ish, Sunita "Suni" Williams told NBC News. Some smoked turkey, some cranberry, apple cobbler, green beans and mushrooms and mashed potatoes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The catch? The food comes in dehydrated pouches that float in the air until the astronauts prepare them and eat them. In a video from the ISS that NASA posted on Facebook, Williams, along with fellow astronauts Nick Hague, Don Pettit, Barry "Butch" Wilmore, wished everyone below on Earth a happy holiday. Greetings from the International Space Station, said Williams. Our crew up here just wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving to all our friends and family who are down on Earth and everyone who is supporting us. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. NASA/Facebook From top left: Suni Williams, Barry "Butch" Wilmore, Nick Hague and Don Pettit From top left: Suni Williams, Barry "Butch" Wilmore, Nick Hague and Don Pettit Williams, 58, and Wilmore, 61, arrived at the space station in June and planned on staying for about a week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the Boeing Starliner vehicle that launched them to the International Space Station ran into technical problems, including helium leaks and malfunctioning thrusters. Concerned for the astronauts safety, NASA sent the Starliner back to Earth on Sept. 7, leaving Williams and Wilmore on the ISS until February 2025 when a SpaceX capsule is expected to pick them up and return them home. Related: NASA Makes Decision to Bring Home Astronauts Who Have Been Stuck in Space for 80 Days Until then, the astronauts are making the most of their time in space. Thanksgiving is typically a holiday where family and friends get together, Pettit said in the video. Sometimes that cant happen, to physically be around each other, but in todays age, you can virtually tie into your family and friends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of those traditions, Hague said, is having a Thanksgiving meal together so were going to celebrate that tradition up here, though our meal may look a little different. Handing the microphone to Pettit, Hague opened a container, grabbing at the pouches of dehydrated food they planned on eating for Thanksgiving that floated in front of them. Weve got Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, apples and spice and smoked turkey, Hague said in a video message from the ISS, courtesy of NASA. He added, Its gonna be delicious! NASA HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Butch Wilmore (left) and Suni Williams in August 2024 Butch Wilmore (left) and Suni Williams in August 2024 Related: SpaceX Rescue Mission Reaches the ISS, But It'll Be a While Before Stranded Astronauts Are Back Home Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its true we have much to be thankful for, Wilmore chimed in. In a professional sense, I mean, theres not many places that you can be that you can actually lay on the ceiling. Were thankful for zero gravity, its fantastic. Of course, in a personal sense, our family, our friends, those that are lifting up prayers for us and have been, were grateful for that. He continued, Were grateful for our nation, which is a space-faring nation that lets us live free and say what we think is important to say, and so many other things. Theres so much to be thankful for in this season, to be reminded of that, to have a holiday that celebrates that, thats something to be thankful for as well. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! So from all of us at the International Space Station, he said, with the other three joining in, Happy Thanksgiving! GEORGETOWN, S.C. (WCBD)A restaurant in Georgetown County held a community Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday to feed people in need while bringing neighbors together to celebrate the holiday. For the past 16 years, Andrea Johnson, the owner of Aunnys, has opened her doors to the community, serving delicious hot meals on Thanksgiving which she said started from a calling. God just said to give back to the community by making a few Thanksgiving Day dinners, and when we first started, we started with 100- 150, and we are now up to over 1100, said Johnson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meals were served at 11 a.m., but people started lining up outside her Front Street restaurant at 9 a.m. The kitchen staff served ham, turkey, mac & cheese, collard greens, yams, corn, and more. One resident who enjoyed a meal said shes been attending for the last several years and appreciates Aunny going the extra mile to help her and others during the holiday. Every year around this time, I feel great because many people cant do this at home or cook themselves, and Aunnys is right here, so I enjoy it. Its a good thing, and I always try to come down, said Dot Walker, a community resident. Andrea said the smiles and appreciation are what she is thankful for the most. She plans to continue hosting Thanksgiving meals and is already ready for 2025. There are a lot of stories of people who have come in and seen this, and they are thankful. It makes me want to do so much more because they appreciate it, so for as long as I can, as long as God gives me strength and breath in my body, I guess Ill be back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Georgetown will keep the holiday spirit going all season long. Their next event is the Christmas tree lighting, set for December 6, and a parade on December 7. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. Efrat Moshkoviz, aunt of Naama Levy who has been held hostage by Hamas, joins Jose Diaz-Balart to describe how she and her family are holding hope in this incredibly painful time. A social media ban for children under 16 passed the Australian Parliament on Friday in a world-first law. The law will make platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram liable for fines of up to $33 million (A$50 million) for systemic failures to prevent children younger than 16 from holding accounts. More from The Hollywood Reporter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Senate passed the bill on Thursday 34 votes to 19. The House of Representatives on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved the legislation by 102 votes to 13. The House on Friday endorsed opposition amendments made in the Senate, making the bill law. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the law supported parents concerned by online harms to their children. Platforms now have a social responsibility to ensure the safety of our kids is a priority for them, Albanese told reporters. The platforms have one year to work out how they could implement the ban before penalties are enforced. Meta Platforms, which owns Facebook and Instagram, said the legislation had been rushed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Digital Industry Group Inc., an advocate for the platforms in Australia, said questions remain about the laws impact on children, its technical foundations and scope. The social media ban legislation has been released and passed within a week and, as a result, no one can confidently explain how it will work in practice the community and platforms are in the dark about what exactly is required of them, DIGI managing director Sunita Bose said. The amendments passed on Friday bolster privacy protections. Platforms would not be allowed to compel users to provide government-issued identity documents including passports or drivers licenses, nor could they demand digital identification through a government system. Critics of the legislation fear that banning young children from social media will impact the privacy of all users who must establish they are older than 16. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the major parties support the ban, many child welfare and mental health advocates are concerned about unintended consequences. Sen. David Shoebridge, from the minority Greens party, said mental health experts agreed that the ban could dangerously isolate many children who used social media to find support. This policy will hurt vulnerable young people the most, especially in regional communities and especially the LGBTQI community, by cutting them off, Shoebridge told the Senate. Exemptions will apply for health and education services including YouTube, Messenger Kids, WhatsApp, Kids Helpline and Google Classroom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opposition Sen. Maria Kovacic said the bill was not radical but necessary. The core focus of this legislation is simple: It demands that social media companies take reasonable steps to identify and remove underage users from their platforms, Kovacic told the Senate. This is a responsibility these companies should have been fulfilling long ago, but for too long they have shirked these responsibilities in favor of profit, she added. Online safety campaigner Sonya Ryan, whose 15-year-old daughter Carly was murdered by a 50-year-old pedophile who pretended to be a teenager online, described the Senate vote as a monumental moment in protecting our children from horrendous harms online. Its too late for my daughter, Carly, and the many other children who have suffered terribly and those who have lost their lives in Australia, but let us stand together on their behalf and embrace this together, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wayne Holdsworth, whose teenage son Mac took his own life after falling victim to an online sextortion scam, had advocated for the age restriction and took pride in its passage. I have always been a proud Australian, but for me subsequent to todays Senate decision, I am bursting with pride, Holdsworth said. Christopher Stone, executive director of Suicide Prevention Australia, the governing body for the suicide prevention sector, said the legislation failed to consider positive aspects of social media in supporting young peoples mental health and sense of connection. The government is running blindfolded into a brick wall by rushing this legislation. Young Australians deserve evidence-based policies, not decisions made in haste, Stone said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The platforms had complained that the law would be unworkable and had urged the Senate to delay the vote until at least June 2025 when a government-commissioned evaluation of age assurance technologies will report on how young children could be excluded. Naturally, we respect the laws decided by the Australian Parliament, Facebook and Instagram owner Meta Platforms said. However, we are concerned about the process which rushed the legislation through while failing to properly consider the evidence, what industry already does to ensure age-appropriate experiences, and the voices of young people. Snapchat said it was also concerned by the law and would cooperate with the government regulator, the eSafety Commissioner. While there are many unanswered questions about how this law will be implemented in practice, we will engage closely with the Government and the eSafety Commissioner during the 12-month implementation period to help develop an approach that balances privacy, safety and practicality. As always, Snap will comply with any applicable laws and regulations in Australia, Snapchat said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics argue the government is attempting to convince parents it is protecting their children ahead of a general election due by May. The government hopes that voters will reward it for responding to parents concerns about their childrens addiction to social media. Some argue the legislation could cause more harm than it prevents. Criticisms include that the legislation was rushed through Parliament without adequate scrutiny, is ineffective, poses privacy risks for all users, and undermines the authority of parents to make decisions for their children. Opponents also argue the ban would isolate children, deprive them of the positive aspects of social media, drive them to the dark web, discourage children too young for social media to report harm, and reduce incentives for platforms to improve online safety. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Hurricane Helene hammered the southeast at the end of September, killing at least 62 people, but the long-term damage from the storm is still being felt in places like North Carolina. There, scores of people are facing eviction as the state struggles with a combination economic-housing crisis. We had an avalanche of need with this hurricane, and theres a second avalanche coming with these evictions, Vicki Meath, executive director of Just Economics, a group pushing state officials to declared an eviction and foreclosure moratorium, toldThe Washington Post. A hurricane would cause housing problems anywhere, but when it hit western North Carolina, the storm landed in a region that was particularly vulnerable because of its high housing costs and reliance on tourism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the regional economy still in tatters, at least 225 new eviction cases have been filed as of mid-October in Buncombe County, home of the hard-hit tourist hub of Asheville, according to the North Carolina Tenants Union. Sometimes as many as 40 new cases are filed a day. State lawmakers and city officials have both pledged separate $1m pots of money for rental and mortgage support, but local officials worry this funding wont be enough to keep people in their homes. In this gap, private institutions have joined the effort, with Ashevilles Grant Covenant Presbyterian Church spending more than $1m in rental aid for local residents. Hurricane Helene has left North Carolina residents paying for apartments in poor condition or facing eviction notices (REUTERS/Marco Bello/File Photo) The housing crisis is only made worse by the poor conditions left behind after the storm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A boil notice for Ashevilles water supply lasted until November 18. This, plus long-running lack of power, left many residents unable to properly clean out their damp apartments, many of which began to mold after the storm. I explained to (my landlord) that the house is unlivable because we have no running water, no electricity, and no one will be living since we had lost these basic necessities, a childcare worker who rents near UNC Asheville told Carolina Public Press last month of the conditions. Tenants dont have the right to withold rent in North Carolina, even if they live in units that are unsafe or lack basic necessities, leaving renters, many of whom were unable to work, in the position of continuing to pay for apartments that werent safe to live in. Those who lost work in North Carolina can get a maximum weekly benefit of $600, but such funds may not be enough in communities like Buncombe County, where a 2021 report found that almost half of renters are cost burdened and spend at least a third of their income on housing. Experts are warning that fraudsters are exploiting Black Friday sales to target U.S. shoppers with fake websites and ads for major brands like IKEA, Wayfair and The North Face, after online scams hit record highs in 2023. A new report released by threat intelligence company EclecticIQ identified a campaign that operates a sprawling network of fabricated websites using "Trusted Store" badges to lure shoppers with fake products. When consumers attempt to make a purchase, scammers steal their personal and payment information. The consumers are often unaware they were scammed until they fail to receive the product. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reports of online fraud in 2023 exceeded $12.5 billion in potential losses a 22% jump from 2022, according to FBI data. Officials say increasingly sophisticated scams are using tools including AI to power their campaigns. "With the way it now seems like everyone is shopping online, reliance on digital platforms has handed these groups a wider attack surface than ever," EclecticIQ CEO Cody Barrow told CBS News. "Unfortunately, it's likely we'll see its impact stretch into next week." The scams EclecticIQ says it identified at least 8,000 fabricated sites that lure shoppers by offering steep "deals" on popular brands. The websites are not affiliated with the brands they appear to represent, but are designed to look like official sites and use URLs that appear authentic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In one example, a site posing as Wayfair used the URL wayfairtoday.com. Another site used the URL wayfairblackfriday.com. The website was registered in early November and offered fake "deals" including an $800 mattress reduced to $39. The photo shows a fake website pretending to have deals from Wayfair. / Credit: CBS Confirmed The photo shows a scam website posing as Wayfair. / Credit: CBS Confirmed CBS News also found an ad appropriating Wayfair's logo that directed users to another counterfeit site posing as the retailer. It was removed from Meta's ad library as of Friday. Wayfair told CBS News that it is actively monitoring scams to ensure customers are protected. Analysts discovered Mandarin coding and Chinese IP addresses on the sites, indicating that the phishing campaign was operated by a China-based group. IKEA told CBS News it was investigating one of the scam websites using its name that EclecticIQ identified. Separately, an ad on Facebook and Instagram using The North Face logo routed users to a fabricated site. The ad was removed for policy violations, and The North Face told CBS News it was working with Meta and "other partners" to combat scam sites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Scammers use every online platform available to them and constantly evolve their tactics in order to evade enforcement," said Meta spokesperson Erin Logan. "In this instance, our systems proactively detected and removed a number of these ads before they were reported to us." The Federal Trade Commission released data in February that shows online shopping fraud was the second most common type of fraud reported in 2023. Experts say fraudulent sites and ads remain a pervasive issue. "Many of the scam sites are short-lived campaigns, so it's an ongoing effort to identify new sites," Ilya Volovik, director of Recorded Future Payment Fraud Intelligence, told CBS News. "Some of the longer living scam sites change their 'sales' advertisement based on a holiday." Tips to protect yourself Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cliff Steinhauer, director of Information Security and Engagement at the National Cybersecurity Alliance, said consumers should take precautions, stay alert when online shopping and act quickly if they believe they have been scammed. Secure your accounts. Experts recommend setting up multifactor authentication as well as strong and unique passwords for all accounts, including shopping and bank sites. Avoid unfamiliar links: Be wary of links from unsolicited emails and text messages. Instead, use a search engine to navigate to the retailer's website. Look for red flags. Be wary of deals that appear too good to be true, as well as websites that use excessive pop-ups and urgent language. If in doubt, leave the site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Research the website. Look up reviews from other shoppers who have used the site. Visit the Better Business Bureau's website, which maintains a database with ratings for millions of businesses. If you think you have been the victim of fraud, immediately notify your bank to reverse the charges. You should also change the passwords to your online accounts. File a police report if you experience harassment or repeated attempts to steal more of your information. Experts also recommend freezing your credit on the three major credit reporting bureaus if your personal information has been compromised through a data breach. This will ensure your identity can't be stolen in the event that scammers obtain your social security number. Former Navy secretary says Trump's Defense Secretary pick will make the military "weaker" Investigators discover firefighter visited woman before she was found dead in burning home Ben Abraham joins "CBS Mornings Plus" to help surprise Adriana Diaz for her birthday (WETM) If youre planning on doing your holiday shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, its important to beware of potential scams that may surface this time of year. New York Attorney General Letitia James issued an alert on Wednesday, Nov. 27, encouraging New Yorkers to be extra careful when doing their holiday shopping, especially if they are doing so online. During this time of year, cybercriminals take advantage of shoppers by increasing phishing attempts, scams and other fraudulent activity. Amazon workers on strike from Black Friday to Cyber Monday Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To help shoppers protect themselves this holiday season, Attorney General James has provided the following tips to follow while shopping: Make sure the retailer is reputable Always verify website URLs before providing payment information. Make sure the company has an operating customer service line, lists an actual street address for its businesses and has a satisfactory service record. Many scammers will list a non-working phone number or list only a P.O. box as its address. Review all charges that may apply to your purchase. Many websites offer a bargain and then tack on additional fees such as delivery, processing or subscription fees. These fees may also increase around the holidays. Use caution when opening emails with subject lines reading Exclusive Holiday Deals or Free Gift Cards, as these are often phishing scams. Avoid using public Wi-Fi when making online purchases. If you receive an unexpected holiday e-card or invitation, verify the sender before clicking links or attachments. Secure devices to protect personal information Change your Wi-Fi password if it hasnt been updated in a while. Install the latest security updates on your phones, tablets and computers. Make sure antivirus software is active and up-to-date to protect against malware. Protect yourself after your purchase Save all purchase verifications and receipts from online retailers for future access. If you dont receive your purchase when youre supposed to, reach out to the company with a firm but polite inquiry. If the company doesnt respond to your request, you can file a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General online or by calling 1-800-771-7755. Be extra diligent with checking your monthly credit card and bank statements for unauthorized charges. Scammers will often take advantage of the increase in purchases during the holidays, as they expect fraudulent charges to go unnoticed. Report all unauthorized purchases, or items not received in a reasonable amount of time, to your credit card company as soon as possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. A Dayton-area restaurant offered free Thanksgiving lunches to the community on Thursday. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] News Center 7 crews watched as hundreds of people got a plate from Amar India. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, this year we were planning to do it on Thanksgiving or Christmas. There are many people without family or food, a meal especially on this day. So, we thought about this and planned the Thanksgiving lunch, restaurant owner Mandip Padda said. People who attended said they were not only thankful for a free meal but also a welcoming space to gather. Our family is celebrating tomorrow. We saw the advertisement for this being open and we werent doing anything today since our family is celebrating tomorrow. We thought, we love Indian food, and this is a great restaurant and were loving it. Very generous, Everett Farms said. Our family is now all over the country so, this is a chance to gather. And for us, typically we do Thanksgiving with Vietnamese food. However, ours is a mix of both, meat eater and Indian, a great blend, Baw Nguyen said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This isnt the first time Amar India restaurant has offered free meals to the community, but now theyre partnering with the Dayton Food Bank. We are doing this to give back to the community. We are collecting Dayton Food Bank donations. We did this thing, two or three times in the past. One for 9/11, one for Katrina. This is the third time were doing this, Padda said. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Nov. 28A Basset Healthcare physician will publish a book on transgender medicine. The book, "A History of Transgender Medicine in the United States," "takes an empathic approach to an embattled subject," a Bassett news release stated. The book traces the development of transgender medicine across three centuries, "centering the voices of transgender individuals, debunking myths about gender-affirming care and empowering readers to grasp the complexities of this evolving field." Dr. Carolyn Wolf-Gould, the founder of Bassett's Gender Wellness Center, a rural-based interdisciplinary center for transgender health care, clinical training, advocacy and research, is an editor of the book. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 40 contributors including patients, advocates, physicians, psychologists and scholars "weave an illuminating, sometimes surprising narrative of collaboration and conflict between trans people and the scientists who have studied and worked with them," the release stated. "An indispensable guide to understanding the current tumult surrounding trans health care access in the United States, the volume underscores a crucial message: gender diversity is not a new phenomenon but an integral part of our shared human history." Other editors include Dallas Denny, a retired licensed psychological examiner, advocate, writer and editor who has been actively leading the movement for transgender rights since the 1980s; Jamison Green, an author, educator, public speaker, independent scholar and consulting expert in transgender health and legal rights; and Kyan Lynch, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Rochester Medical Center. "After a period of relative progress around civil rights and health care for transgender and gender diverse Americans, these topics have again become political lightning rods," Wolf-Gould said. "To understand the present requires knowledge of the past and appreciation for how fear of difference leads people towards hate. This story explores the journey to legitimize the lives of transgender people through access to competent and affirming healthcare." The book is being published by SUNY Press and can be ordered at https://tinyurl.com/49ufj6ty. A 50% discount is available through Dec. 6 by entering the code HOLIDAY24 at checkout. Orders are expected to ship on Feb. 1, 2025. Mashed potatoes are not just a crushed vegetable with milk and butter. It is a work of culinary art that every housewife prepares in her own way. ADVERTISIMENT However, there are certain "golden" rules for making the perfect, which will help the dish to reveal its taste in a new way. Mary-Frances Heck, the chef of the Bon Appetit, told Mirror about them. The first rule is to use several varieties of potatoes at the same time. This life hack will significantly improve the structure of the dish. The second rule is to always wash the potatoes before you start peeling them. After peeling, rinse the potatoes again under running water. The third rule is to never immerse potatoes in boiling water. Put the peeled vegetable in cold water and slowly heat the pot. The fourth rule is to add spices to the water in which the potatoes are cooked. The vegetable will absorb the flavors, making the finished dish even more delicious. The fifth and most important rule is to maintain a constant cooking temperature. The water should be barely boiling. If you turn on too much heat, there is a risk that the vegetable will fall apart into small pieces. BEIRUT (AP) Hours after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire to end the war between Israel and Hezbollah went into effect, Lebanon woke up to the sound of celebratory gunfire instead of Israeli airstrikes and drones buzzing overhead. It was a rare moment of respite for Lebanon, as bombs stopped falling after a year of war. Thousands of displaced people joyfully drove back to their towns and villages in southern and eastern Lebanon. But the realization of what lies ahead quickly sank in. Town after town in the south and east as well as parts of Beirut have been destroyed, entire border villages leveled to the ground, and thousands of buildings damaged. The World Bank estimates losses amounting to some $8.5 billion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the tiny and broken Mediterranean country, which has dealt with compounded calamities for over half a decade, the ceasefire deal has brought more questions than answers. Among them, who will foot the bill for rebuilding? Will Hezbollah fully remove its fighters and arsenals from the south, relocating north of the Litani River and how will the Lebanese army ensure that it does so? And will Israel ultimately accept the militants being pushed back, battered but not destroyed? Meanwhile, Lebanons political paralysis between groups allied and opposed to Hezbollah has only worsened during the war raising the possibility of instability that could rattle the ceasefire. Anger has grown among some over that they see as the Iran-backed groups decision to provoke another disastrous war with Israel. Temporary calm or a step toward long-term security? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the 60-day first phase of the ceasefire deal, based on Security Council Resolution 1701, Hezbollah and Israeli forces are to withdraw from south Lebanon, and the Lebanese military is to step in. The Lebanese troops are to ensure that Hezbollah dismantles its facilities and military positions and that it doesnt try to rebuild. Thats a major point of tension, potentially putting the army in a dangerous confrontation with the more powerful militant group. The army, largely funded by the United States and other Western governments, is a rare point of unity in Lebanons tense sectarian power-balancing political system. But it's always tried to avoid friction with Hezbollah, which is backed by a large constituency among Lebanon's Shiite Muslims. Hassan Fadlallah, a Hezbollah lawmaker, told reporters Thursday that the group will cooperate with the army to implement the ceasefire. But he also said the military doesnt have the capability to defend Lebanon against Israel a role Hezbollah has long claimed. He said the group would continue in that role. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Can anyone say if Israel attacks, we watch? Fadlallah said. When Israel attacks our country, we will fight and resist. This is our right. Mike Azar, a Lebanese commentator, said the army is in an impossible position. To suggest that it can disarm or dismantle Hezbollahs infrastructure is, frankly, absurd, he said in an online post. A Lebanese military official told The Associated Press that troops deployment will be gradual into areas of the south, including those from which Israeli troops withdraw. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of not being cleared to speak to the media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. and France will also be involved in a monitoring mechanism to make sure Resolution 1701 is implemented. Its viability is really being put to the test if there really is going to be that commitment by all sides, said Salman Shaikh, who served as political adviser to the U.N. special envoy for Lebanon during the 2006 war, when the resolution was passed. He now runs The Shaikh Group, a mediation and conflict resolution organization. Critics of the deal fear the pressure is far greater on Lebanon, and Israel has more space to attack Hezbollah which it has vowed to do if it believes Hezbollah isn't abiding by its terms. With U.S. support, Israel has given itself almost total freedom to determine when it needs or wants to attack Lebanon again for whatever reason, said Matt Duss, executive vice president of The Center for International Policy, a Washington-based think tank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cash-strapped Lebanon needs support for its military and battered country Lebanon since late 2019 has been mired in a crippling financial crisis that pushed millions into poverty, destroyed its banking system, and limited the country to just a few hours of state electricity daily. The Lebanese military has suffered as well, with troops quitting or working second jobs to pay the bills. Yet, the aim of the agreement is for Lebanon to recruit more and deploy an additional 10,000 troops south of the Litani River. Without significant funding, this would be impossible especially with the huge rebuilding costs Lebanon now faces. The international community in a donor conference in Paris last month pledged $1 billion dollars for Lebanon, including $800 million for humanitarian assistance and $200 million to support the army. But aid groups say none of that funding has materialized yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mercy Corps says Lebanons gross domestic product shrunk by 6.4% some $1.15 billion just in the last two months of the war. The organization is scrambling to secure housing and services for displaced people ahead of the winter. The worst civilian impacts could still be ahead, Laila Al Amine, Mercy Corps' Lebanon country director, said in a statement. A looming question is who will foot the bill. Iran has offered to help, but it's cash-strapped and under Western sanctions. Oil-rich Gulf Arab states, who helped rebuild after the 2006 war, are weary of Lebanons political class and not inclined to step in. Growing tensions over Hezbollah at home Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even before the war, Hezbollah and its arsenal were a point of contention in Lebanon. Its allies say Hezbollahs militants are crucial in protecting Lebanon, while critics say its weaponry violates state sovereignty and is used to pressure political opponents. They have long demanded Hezbollah be disarmed. Senior parliamentarian Alain Aoun said Lebanon has a long list of urgent matters to address, including electing a president after over two years of vacuum, securing reconstruction funding and resolving a host of neglected economic issues. There are a number of challenges awaiting us, Aoun told the AP. Hezbollah's opponents were also angered over its decision to unilaterally start firing rockets into northern Israel on Oct. 8, 2023. The group said it was acting in solidarity with its ally Hamas in the Gaza Strip and vowed not to stop until a ceasefire there was reached. Critics say it dragged Lebanon into war and brought Israels destructive bombardment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even some of its allies expressed frustration. Lawmaker Gebran Bassil, who heads a party that for years was Hezbollahs main Christian ally in government, said in a video posted on X that Hezbollah should be at the service of the state, not the other way around. Hezbollah's top ally Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who spearheaded negotiation efforts, has long pushed for Hezbollah to decouple its campaign against Israel from the war in Gaza. Now he is calling for parliament to vote for a president in January in order to ease Lebanons political gridlock a move that could put Hezbollah's political power to the test. This is where international funding and political support would also be crucial, says Shaikh. The international community, he said, needs to help the Lebanese sort out their issues, which still persist and which are not exclusively just to do with the Israeli actions against them. In todays episode we get two rare insides from the ground. Our team of reporters just returned from the frontline in Kharkiv and Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council witnessed the humanitarian crisis unravelling in Sudan as a result of the ongoing war. Venetia Rainey catches up with both of them. Battle Lines, a podcast from The Telegraph, combines on-the-ground reporting with analytical expertise to help the listener to better understand the course of world politics, wars and tensions, as fault lines grind and slip in an increasingly dangerous and confusing multipolar world. Listen to Battle Lines using the audio player in this article or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or your favourite podcast app. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) The Panama City Police Department was alerted of possible acts of child abuse and neglect on a Bay District School bus on November 22. Detectives coordinated with BDS staff to obtain video footage of the alleged incidents. According to a news release, four children were identified as victims of neglect and abuse, and three were found to have significant developmental challenges. The Children Advocacy Center conducted interviews with two of the victims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local Paraprofessional charged after child abuse incident on a school bus On Wednesday, the information obtained further confirmed the evidence in the case, officials wrote. The bus driver involved was identified as Althea Russell and Para-professional Sylinda Goodman. Russell and Goodman were both arrested and charged. Bay District Schools full statement below: Bay District Schools is deeply disturbed by the allegations of child abuse and neglect involving two of our Transportation employees. Our hearts are with the victims and their families during this painful and challenging time. We are committed to supporting them fully now and in the future. In compliance with our contractual obligations and legal requirements, both employees have been placed on leave pending hearings with the Superintendent when schools reopen next week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a district, we maintain the highest professional and ethical standards for all employees. The behaviors described in this investigation are reprehensible and completely contrary to the values we uphold. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement and other agencies as they conduct their investigation, and we will take every step necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of our students. The trust of our community and the safety of the children entrusted to us are our highest priorities. We remain unwavering in our mission to protect, nurture, and support every child in our care. This will be our only statement. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. Nov. 28Local businesses may receive fraudulent notices appearing to come from a state agency. Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs is warning state residents not to trust these scam communications. The fake notices appear to target business owners prompting them to register or verify their business, complete annual filings or collect money for delinquency. The funds solicitated have typically far exceeded the state's fee schedule. Phone solicitations are specifically targeting Latino business owners, threatening fines and jail if they do not file immediately, eliciting a $200 payment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Washington businesses are a foundational aspect of our state and critical to our economy's health," Hobbs said in a statement. "Business owners deserve to feel protected and equipped with information to deny malicious attempts on their franchise." Washington's Office of the Secretary of State oversees management of state elections and registration of corporations and charities, among other duties. Business owners who receive these fraudulent communications can report the incident at atg.wa.gov/file-complaint. Tech insiders say Biden is leaving a strong foundation for high-tech industry, boosting broadband access, setting a foundation for AI regulation, and encouraging chip manufacturing. (Rebecca Noble | Getty Images) As hes poised to leave office in two months, President Joe Biden will leave a legacy of proactive, nuanced and effective tech policy strategy behind him, technologists across different sectors told States Newsroom. Bidens term was bookended by major issues in the tech world. When he took office in early 2021, he was faced with an economy and workforce that was struggling to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, and longstanding issues with a digital divide across the country. As he prepares to exit the White House, federal agencies are working to incorporate the principles from the 2023 AI Bill of Rights, on evolving technologies that will undoubtedly continue changing American life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though he was unable to get federal regulations on AI passed through Congress, Bidens goal was to bring tech access to all Americans, while safeguarding against potential harms, the technologists said. I think everything that he does is foundational, said Suriel Arellano, a longtime consultant and author on digital transformation whos based in Los Angeles. So it definitely sets the stage for long term innovation and regulation. The digital divide For Arellano, Bidens attempt to bring internet access to all families stands out as a lasting piece of the presidents legacy. Broadband internet for work, healthcare and education was a part of Bidens 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, especially targeting people in rural areas. Biden earmarked $65 billion toward the project, which was dolled out to states and federal departments to establish or improve the physical infrastructure to support internet access. As of September, more than 2.4 million previously unserved homes and businesses have been connected to the internet, and $50 billion has been given to grant programs that support these goals across the states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arellano said he thinks theres still work to do with the physical broadband infrastructure before that promise is realized I think that should have come first, he said. But I think as a legacy, I think breaching the digital divide is actually one of the strong maybe not the strongest, but I would say its definitely a strong legacy that he leaves, Arellano said. Shaping the U.S. conversation about AI During Bidens presidency, practical and responsible application of artificial intelligence became a major part of the tech conversation. The 2023 AI Bill of Rights created the White House AI Council, the creation of a framework for federal agencies to follow relating to privacy protection and a list of guidelines for securing AI workers, for navigating the effects on the labor market and for ensuring equity in AI use, among others. The guidelines put forth by the administration are subtle, and not likely to be felt by the average consumer, said Austin-based Alex Shahrestani, an attorney and managing partner at Promise Legal, which specializes in tech and regulatory policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was something thats very light touch and essentially sets up the groundwork to introduce a regulatory framework for AI providers without it being something that theyre really going to push back on, Shahrestani said. In recent months, some federal agencies have released their guidelines called for by the AI Bill of Rights, including the Department of Labor, and The Office of Management and Budget, which outlines how the government will go about responsible acquisition of AI. It may not seem like these guidelines would affect the average consumer, Shahrestani said, but government contractors are likely to be larger companies that already have a significant commercial footprint. It sets up these companies to then follow these procedures in other contexts, so whether thats B2B or direct-to-consumer applications, thats like more of a trickle down sort of approach, he said. Sheena Franklin, D.C.-based founder of Kept Health and previously a lobbyist, said Biden emphasized the ethical use and development of AI, and set a tone of fostering public trust and preventing harm with the AI Bill of Rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Franklin and Shahrestani agreed its possible that President-elect Donald Trump could repeal some of Bidens executive orders on AI, but they see the Bill of Rights as a fairly light approach to regulating it. It was a really nuanced and effective approach, Shahrestani said. Theres some inertia building, right? Like a snowball rolling down the hill. Were early days for the snowball, but it just got started and it will only grow to be a bigger one. The CHIPS act Bidens CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, which aimed to strengthen domestic semiconductor manufacturing, supply chains and the innovation economy with a $53 billion investment, is a major piece of his legacy, Franklin said. The bill centered on worker and community investments, and prioritized small businesses and underrepresented communities, with a goal of economic growth in the U.S., and especially in communities that needed support. Two years after the bill was signed, the federal government, in partnership with American companies, has provided funding for semiconductor manufacturing projects that created more than 100,000 jobs and workforce development programs. The U.S. is on track to produce 30% of the worlds semiconductor chips in 2032, up from 10% today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was really trying to position the U.S. as a global leader when it came to technology, because that industry is going to continue to grow, Franklin said. Its hard to quantify what the lasting impact of the CHIPS act will be, but one immediate factor is computing, Shahrestani said. The AI models being developed right now have infinite abilities, he said, but the computing power had previously held the industry back. Being able to provide more compute through better chips, and more sophisticated hardware is going to be a big part of what provides, and what is behind the best AI technologies, Shahrestani said. Accountability for Big Tech Many in the Big Tech community see Bidens AI Bill of Rights, and its data privacy inclusions, as well as the Justice Departments monopoly lawsuits against tech giants like Apple and Google, as hampering innovation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arellano is optimistic about the technological advances and innovation that the U.S. may see under a less regulation-focused Trump presidency, but he cautions that some regulations may be needed for privacy protections. My concern is always on the public side, you know, putting the dog on a leash, and making sure that our regulations are there in place to protect the people, he said. Franklin predicts that if Biden attempts any last-minute tech policy before he leaves office, it will probably be to pursue further antitrust cases. It would align with his goal of fostering competition between startups and small businesses and reinforce his legacy of safeguarding consumer interests, she said. When she considered how to describe Bidens tech legacy, Franklin said she nearly used the word strength, though she said he ultimately could have done a little bit more for tech regulation. But she landed on two words: thoughtful and proactive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meaning, hes thinking about everybodys concerns, Franklin said. Not just thinking about the Big Tech and not just thinking about the consumers, right? Like there has to be a balance there. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX President Joe Biden said that he hopes Donald Trump "rethinks" imposing tariffs on Mexico and Canada. Trump has said he may impose a 25% tariff on the two allies' imports after he retakes office. The president-elect has long had protectionist trade views. President Joe Biden on Thursday expressed hope that President-elect Donald Trump would back down on his plan to impose tariffs on two of the US' closest allies. "I hope he rethinks it, I think it is a counterproductive thing to do," Biden told reporters on Thanksgiving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Days before the holiday, Trump pledged to enact a 25% tariff on all Mexican and Canadian imports until the two countries do more to address illegal drugs and immigration. He said the tariffs would be among his first actions upon taking office, reopening the door to a national security law that lets the president impose tariffs with few limitations. Trump's vow threatens to roil relations between the US and its two neighbors and may call into question the USMCA, a rewriting of the North American Free Trade Agreement that stands as one of his biggest first-term achievements. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris teed off on Trump and his tariff threats throughout the 2024 campaign. Trump never retreated from more protectionist policy, a break from traditional GOP policy. The US, Biden said, can't afford to alienate its two North American neighbors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The last thing we need to do is screw up those relationships," the president said. It remains to be seen what Trump will do. His first administration imposed various tariffs on US allies' imports, including on Mexican and Canadian steel and aluminum. In May 2019, Trump threatened to impose a 5% tariff on all Mexican imports with the chance for additional escalation if the nation failed to do more to stop illegal immigration. His threat briefly roiled financial markets, but such tariffs never came to fruition. Mexico is mostly moving to de-escalate. Trump spoke with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum not long after he made the new tariff threat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both sides seem happy with the conversation. "Just had a wonderful conversation with the new President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday. "She has agreed to stop Migration through Mexico, and into the United States, effectively closing our Southern Border." Sheinbaum later said in a statement on X that she had not agreed to effectively close the border. She told reporters on Thursday that she was confident a trade war could be avoided. "There will be no potential tariff war," Sheinbaum said, according to The Associated Press. Read the original article on Business Insider President Biden told members of the press on Thursday, You all have a really tough job, especially with the exceedingly small number of people watching mainstream television and reading the newspapers. During the Thanksgiving photo op at the Nantucket Fire Department in Nantucket, Massachusetts, he cited a recent study that showed that only 35% of people who responded are happy with the direction of the country. This is not a criticism of the press, Biden continued. [But] when you turn on the television, you dont see a lot of good news, even stuff that is good news doesnt seem to sell very well. And so when you turn on TV, everything looks bad. Everything! He added, And now you have to deal with the exceedingly small number of people watching mainstream television and reading the newspapers and that the numbers are way down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As more and more people get their news from social media or other nontraditional sources, Biden expressed concern with accuracy and sourcing of news. Where do you get your news? And how do you know what youre getting is not just what youre looking for or whats really happening? He shifted into talking about the transition of power to president elect Donald Trump, saying, I want to make sure this transition goes smoothly, obliquely referencing Trumps stated plans for enacting mass deportations and adding tariffs to imported goods. All this talk about what hes going to do, I think there may be a little bit of internal reckoning on his part So it remains to be seen, he said. Watch his remarks in the embedded video above. The post Biden Laments Shrinking Press, Tells Media Good News Doesnt Seem to Sell Very Well | Video appeared first on TheWrap. President Biden reiterated the United Statess support for Ukraine as it deals with the recent horrific Russian attack. Overnight, Russia carried out a horrific aerial attack against Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities report that Russia launched nearly 200 missiles and drones against Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure, depriving Ukrainian civilians of access to electricity, Biden said in a statement. Biden said the recent attack, which occurred as the United States prepared for its Thanksgiving holiday, was outrageous and is another reminder of the importance of supporting Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biden said his administration has for months been working to help Ukraine increase its resilience in the energy sector and its Department of Defense as it attempts to surge its critical capabilities. Russia continues to underestimate the bravery, resilience, and determination for the Ukrainian people. The United States stands with more than 50 countries in support of Ukraine and its fight for freedom, Biden said. The statement and attack come as major questions loom over the regional war. It follows Bidens decision to authorize Ukraine to use long-range missiles inside of Russia. As the area heads into a long, dark and cold winter season, fighting will become more difficult. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As President-elect Trump prepares to take office for the second time, concerns have been raised over how he will handle the ongoing conflict. In the past, Trump has said he would end the Russia-Ukraine war in one day. Biden has emphasized Americas support for Ukraine in recent months, particularly as he prepares to leave office. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President Biden said he is thankful for a peaceful transition of power, among other things, during his visit to a fire department in Massachusetts on Thanksgiving. The commander in chief said Thursday he was thankful for my family, the peaceful transition of the presidency, and Im thankful by the grace of God we were able to make more progress in the Middle East, Im really thankful for being able to get the first peace done in Lebanon, when asked about it, according to the pool report. He was referencing the recent ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon that Washington brokered. He added that he was thankful to Americans. There is nothing beyond our capacity. Biden was visiting a fire station in Nantucket, Mass., on Thursday. His remarks on the presidential transfer of power came less than two weeks after President-elect Trump had a meeting with Biden at the White House that lasted just under two hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following Trumps win in the 2024 presidential election over Vice President Harris, the president pledged to follow tradition and make sure there was a smooth transition of power. He alluded to it in Thursdays remarks, saying he wanted to make sure this transition goes smoothly. I want to make sure it goes smoothly. All the talk about what [Trump] may do or not do I think there may be an internal reckoning on his part. So it remains to be seen. Trump did not offer the same meeting to Biden four years ago when he defeated Trump in the 2020 presidential election. Despite their past, Biden and Trump had a very cordial, very gracious meeting, according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. Congratulations, and I look forward to having a smooth transition, Biden told Trump during their meeting in the Oval Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It will be as smooth as it can get, and I very much appreciate that, Joe, Trump said in response. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. China has imposed new restrictions on the supply of dual-use goods to Russia. The new sanctions will come into effect on December 1 and will significantly complicate the process of purchasing machinery, equipment, and chemicals by Russian businesses. ADVERTISIMENT According to the Russian media, due to friendly relations with the aggressor country, Beijing has not officially announced the upcoming restrictions. However, starting in December, exporters of dual-use products from China to Russia will be charged a 25% tax. Among other things, the updated list of restrictions will include IT equipment, including servers and components, with which Russia has already had a tense situation. The sale of argon gas for welding will also be restricted contracts already signed are still being fulfilled, but future deliveries are not yet being made. It will also be problematic to import goods to Russia through third countries. Since China's export controls apply to all deliveries abroad, Chinese exporters will need to not only have a special license but also provide information about the final recipient of the goods, which will significantly worsen the situation with payments. ADVERTISIMENT Russian analysts have concluded that the new rules may confirm that the United States has influenced China, and now exports of important products to Russia will be greatly complicated if not completely stopped. By adhering to the restrictions, China is demonstrating to the United States that it is preventing the misuse of sensitive technologies and materials for use in Russia's war against Ukraine. Earlier, Chinese companies began to refuse direct deliveries to Russia of products from the stop-lists of foreign economic activity codes and demanded that imports be redirected to third countries. Before that, Russia's trade with China was complicated by the refusal of Chinese banks to accept payments from Russian companies after the introduction of the 12th package of EU sanctions against Russia. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! The year is 1998. While antiviral drugs to treat HIV had been approved a decade earlier, only five out of 33 million people who carried the virus were receiving the lifesaving treatment. Nowhere was the situation worse than in South Africa. The country had the highest global prevalence of the disease with nearly one in five people infected and 200,000 children orphaned. Treatment options were limited. That year, the minister of health released a report outlining the deficiencies in the countrys health care system. The principal finding was that most South Africans could not afford antivirals. The average monthly income at the time hovered around $220 a month, which was nowhere near the $1,000 per month the pharma companies were charging for their wares. Faced with a virus that was decimating his population, Nelson Mandela made a choice that landed him in court for the first time since his arrest several decades earlier for resisting apartheid. His government broke the patent regime for the antivirals that was chiefly responsible for killing his peopleallowing parallel imports in which generics companies manufacture the drug without the patent-holding pharma companys consent. He was instantly sued by 40 pharmaceutical companies. Bill Clintons administration cowered to pressure from the pharma lobby and placed South Africa on a watch list, subjecting the nation to possible trade sanctions. It ended up being an enormous P.R. disaster for the obstreperous pharmaceutical firms. After three years of mounting pressure from AIDS activists, the pharma companies finally dropped their case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While this story has a happy ending, Mandelas battle against Big Pharma was only a small part of an ongoing war to provide equitable access to HIV medication. In the decades since his court case, taxpayer-funded research has contributed enormously to the development of new HIV treatments. New drugs can now allow people living with HIV to enjoy normal lifespans, and completely reduce the risk of new transmissions. Used widely, medications should allow the complete eradication of HIV from the planet. The only obstacle the world is now facing is the same one Mandela stared down: corporate greed which prioritizes profits over human life. In 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Truvada for the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, which reduces the risk of HIV transmission. Recent research revealed that U.S. taxpayers contributed over $143 million to clinical testing and development of Truvada. But despite the role public institutions played in bringing the medication to market, the profits have gone to the pharmaceutical company Gilead, which owns and markets the drug. By 2019, the pharma company had made $36 billion in profits from Truvada thanks in part to pricing that followed no logical line of reasoning. When it was first approved as a treatment for HIV in 2004, Gilead charged $7,800 per year for treatment. By 2019 the cost had ballooned to $20,000 per year. Similar drug combinations to Truvada were available in other countries for as little as $60 per year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To combat bad P.R., Gilead promised to donate 2.4 million vials of PrEP each year for 11 years to 200,000 uninsured individuals at risk of contracting HIV. While this is a nice gesture, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that there were 1.1 million Americans at substantial risk for HIV who should be offered PrEP. Testifying before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, Tim Horn, director of medication access and pricing at the National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors, or Nastad, accused the pharma giant of using donation tactics to mask the impact high prices were having on access for the uninsured. To be clear, these programs are not a substitute for functioning public health and healthcare systems, he said. Partnerships with pharmaceutical manufacturers will always be important, but outsized dependency on their generositywhich, in turn, is dependent on their bottom lineis by no means a solution. Gileads practice of charging sky-high prices for treatment has not been the only barrier to access. This year, the pharma company paid $40 million to patients who developed kidney and bone diseases from taking Truvada after allegations that the company withheld the release of a safer drug so that it could extend profits until the patents expired. This practice, known as product hopping, is not uncommon in the pharmaceutical industry. Just before one medical products patents are set to expire, the pharma company will release an upgraded version to prolong its monopoly. Another common tactic pharma companies use to maximize profits is a practice known as pay for delay. Just before a medication is set to go off-patent, the pharma company will pay a generic manufacturer not to produce the drug. In 2019, plaintiffs sued Gilead for allegedly paying Teva, a generic drug manufacturer, $1.5 billion in exchange for staying out of the Truvada market for five years. Gilead won the case in 2023, thanks in no small part to a 2013 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that made it easier for pharma companies to design pay-for-delay deals that would stand up in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recently, Gilead has developed a new form of PrEP called Lenacapavir. Unlike many other forms of PrEP that come in pill form, Lenacapavir is an injection administered twice a year. In trials, the injection was found 100 percent effective at HIV prevention and superior to daily-administered Truvada. The good news is that Gilead has announced that it has signed licensing agreements with generic manufacturers to provide the injections to 120 low- and middle-income countries. The bad news is that for everyone else, the price tag is $42,000 per year. The Lancet reported that Australia was at a distressing impasse over the cost of injectables. And although countries in Eastern Europe, North Africa, and Latin America are still experiencing increasing numbers of HIV infections, many of them were left out of Gileads licensing agreement. Brazil is one such example, despite the fact it hosted clinical trials for PURPOSE 2 trials of Lenacapavir. To add insult to injury, recent research from Liverpool University in the U.K. revealed the injectable could be produced for as little as $40 per year. The pharma industry has historically been very good at formulating arguments that justify its greed. The first is that pricing reflects the high costs of the research and development it takes to bring new drugs to market. In fairness, when the cost of all the failed drug trials is included, the mean cost of development for a new drug can reach $870 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, there are a few problems with Big Pharmas argument. The first is that most early-stage research when clinical trials are the most likely to fail is funded by taxpayer money. In fact, the National Institutes for Health is the worlds largest public funder of medical research. The second problem is that the pharma industry spends millions a year lobbying Congress to keep its research and development costs a secret. Its one thing to tell Congress you need to charge high prices to recover your costs, but its a little disingenuous if you spend $379 million a year to make sure nobody knows what those costs are. There are solutions that the government can use to make sure that taxpayer-funded medicines remain accessible to everyone. One would be if the U.S. government exercised what is known as march-in rights to guarantee that all drugs that receive FDA approval and were funded in part with taxpayer money are sold at fair and reasonable prices. Charities that conduct critical medical research could also stipulate that any pharma companies that license their research must provide the outcomes of that research at fair prices. Since the first cases of HIV were identified in 1981, 42 million people have gone on to die from the virus. Unknown millions have died preventable deaths because the medicine they needed to survive was priced out of their reach. Millions more have become infected for the same reason. The decision to leave the responsibility of developing lifesaving HIV drugs with pharma companies was a political and societal choiceand an errant one at that. HIV will not be the last virus to claim millions of lives. Just recently, the world saw how unequal access to Covid-19 vaccines resulted in millions of preventable deaths, there is growing concern about the threat posed by the H5N1 strain of avian flu, and climate changeinduced viruses are likely to emerge in the future to claim even more lives. The HIV crisis provided a powerful lesson of what happens when the law prioritizes corporate profits over human life. Its up to us whether we decide to repeat the same mistake. Former President Bill Clinton is blaming Russia for wife Hillary Clintons defeat in the 2016 presidential election. In Citizen: My Life After the White House (Knopf), Clinton ruminates on what hes been doing since 2000. One candid excerpt admits his anger at what happened in 2016, when presumptive favorite Hillary Clinton lost the presidential election to Donald Trump. The ex-president says he couldnt sleep for two years and experienced outbursts of rage from those results, creating an atmosphere where he wasnt fit to be around. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The whole thing is hard for me to write, Clinton wrote. I apologize to all those who endured my outbursts of rage, which lasted for years and bothered or bored people who thought it pointless to rehash things that couldnt be changed, the 42nd president said. Clinton blames several factors for his wifes defeat, including former FBI Director James Comeys email investigations, a hostile press, and particularly Russian influence on social media. Almost two years after the election, Kathleen Hall Jamieson, a highly regarded social scientist, said Russias cyber attacks piled on top of Comeys interventions were effective enough to persuade voters in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin to vote for third parties or stay at home, he wrote. If so, Putins enablers were Comey and the political press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clinton also addressed his relationship with financier Jeffrey Epstein, a former associate who allowed the former president to fly on his controversial Lolita Express airplane. Clinton admits that he took the rides, but never visited Epsteins island retreat, where underage orgies allegedly occurred. The bottom line is, even though it allowed me to visit the work of my foundation, traveling on Epsteins plane was not worth the years of questioning afterward. I wish I had never met him, the former president lamented. I had always thought Epstein was odd but had no inkling of the crimes he was committing, he wrote. He hurt a lot of people, but I knew nothing about it, and by the time he was first arrested in 2005, I had stopped contact with him. Ive never visited his island. The post Bill Clinton Casts Blame on Hillarys Presidential Defeat, Explains His Jeffrey Epstein Ties appeared first on TheWrap. BINGHAMTON, NY (WIVT/WBGH) The kitchen staff at Binghamton High School showed up at 6 a.m. this morning to start cooking Thanksgiving dinner for hundreds of people who need it. Even with the snow this morning, hundreds of people filed into Binghamton High Schools cafeteria for its annual Thanksgiving hot meal. Between yesterdays prep, and todays service, there are about 150 Binghamton student volunteers handling everything from waiting tables, dishing out food, and welcoming the guests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A senior at BHS, Maria Mustafa says most of the students havent worked a restaurant style job, so they all get designated different tasks. Serving, either hosting, being a busser. While theyre making connections with our community members. I think its a great way for them to be active within their school and also their community. Its very rewarding and very fulfilling as a student, being able to do multiple things at once and knowing that youre making an impact on your community, says Mustafa. She says the students create a seating chart, and numbered every table just like a restaurant. The students hung up a Turkey Wall of Fame that displays the name of everyone who contributed or sponsored the event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34. The American bison, or American buffalo as they are commonly called, were once close to extinction. Their numbers dropped from 30-60 million to around 500 because of overhunting in the 19th century. But they made an unlikely comeback and continue to captivate people. At Yellowstone National Park home to the largest bison herd in the U.S., with almost 6,000 head of wild bison they are a major attraction for visitors. In 2023 the park attracted more than 3 million people. Conservationists and Indigenous people successfully saved the American bison from complete annihilation in the 20th century, increasing their numbers from less than 500 to more than 15,000 wild bison, which does not include the thousands of bison living on ranches. The U.S. even designated it as the national mammal in 2016. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over thousands of years and across diverse landscapes, Indigenous peoples developed traditional ecological knowledge about the bison and their ecosystems. Meanwhile, they also developed religious customs and sacred places important to their relationship with bison. As an Indigenous scholar and an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Tribe and Metis, I am interested in how Native Americans understand the natural world. I learned from my Blackfeet grandparents that bison emerged from the supernatural underwater realm and were given to humans by the Divine to use as food and as material. In return, humans are to respect and revere the bison. Thousands of years of history The modern-day American bison evolved around 10,000 years ago during the end of the Pleistocene Epoch from an ancient bison species. Over these several thousand years, according to environmental historian Dan Flores, Indigenous peoples and bison co-evolved meaning they influenced the others actions and behaviors. Indigenous peoples used bison meat and fat for food; hides for clothing, footwear and covering for their lodges; bones for tools; and other parts of the bison for rope, thread, glue or dyes. Along with the longtime use of bison for practical purposes, religious rituals and ceremonies also emerged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Environmental historian Robert Morrissey writes in People of the Ecotone that Indigenous peoples in what is now Illinois ritualized running, a skill necessary for hunting bison. They developed coming-of-age ceremonies that tested the ability of young people to run long distances, as well as fast, to prepare for bison hunting. Indigenous peoples in what is now Alberta, Canada, constructed shrines out of rocks to offer prayers to divine entities connected to bison hunting. They left offerings of tobacco or other items at these shrines during their seasonal hunts. Some of these rock shrines still exist and are viewed as sacred places. Bison origins and sacred places Indigenous people continued to remember and revere bison in rituals and ceremonies. Every tribe on the Great Plains has its own deep individual connection to bison, says Whisper Camel-Means, a Salish-Kootenai tribal member and wildlife biologist working at the tribes bison range. We are all connected, but we all have a different relationship. Native people are not all the same. The Blackfeet believe that certain lakes and rivers are sacred areas because they are the home of the Suyiitapi, the supernatural underwater persons, and the place where bison emerged from underneath the water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Lakota, similar to the Blackfeet, consider bison sacred and a gift from the Divine. For the Lakota, however, bison did not come out of water, they came from inside the earth. According to anthropologist Patricia Albers, the Lakota believe that both bison and humans emerged onto the Great Plains from what is now Wind Cave National Park in the Black Hills in South Dakota. The Lakota believe this landscape to be their most sacred and culturally significant area because it is a place of genesis for humans and bison. Gerard Baker, an elder from the Mandan-Hidatsa tribes, shared in a new PBS documentary film on the American bison, When you look at a buffalo you just dont see a big shaggy beast. You see life, you see existence, you see hope. Those are our relatives. They are a part of us. New efforts to revive the bison Bison are a major attraction for visitors at Yellowstone National Park. AP Photo/Robert Graves, File In 2023, the U.S. federal government added US$25 million to restore wild and healthy populations of American bison on federal lands and $5 million toward accomplishing the same goal on tribal lands. And new legislation this fall seeks to further develop the capacity of tribes to manage bison and bison habitat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The restoration of buffalo back to our tribes and communities and reservations is part of our healing, Jason Baldes, a member of the Eastern Shoshone from Wyoming, and the tribal buffalo coordinator for the National Wildlife Federation, told The New York Times, emphasizing why this kind of funding is necessary. As more bison are returned to tribal communities, I believe, as my grandparents did, that bison are a gift from the Divine. It is a reminder also of how Native peoples relate to and understand the natural world and its deep religious meaning. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Rosalyn R. LaPier, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Read more: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rosalyn R. LaPier served as an advisor and was interviewed for the PBS documentary film "The American Buffalo". NILES, Ohio (WKBN) Hundreds of shoppers lined up Saturday night and Friday morning outside of the Eastwood Mall to take advantage of Black Friday deals. Some shoppers at the Eastwood Mall had been out all night waiting for the doors to open staying bundled to ward off the cold. Jason Shields was the first person in line this year. He was first in line last year as well. He arrived at 6:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving to wait in line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shields talked about what was on his shopping list. Im looking for a couple of gifts for my 9-year-old daughter, like a Nintendo Switch, a couple of clothes, a gift for my girlfriend, he said. Shields was hoping to be the lucky person who received a $500 gift card. The first 500 people inside the store received bags of goodies, while the first 300 people will have a gift card inside their bags. There was one bag I gave out, which was pretty heavy, and I asked the woman, You might want to look in there and see what you got. She got a remote car starter from Auto Toys thats valued at about $400, said Johnny Chechitelli, a spokesperson for the Eastwood Mall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were other activities at the mall on Friday as well, including a DJ, live bands, shoebox Jenga and other entertainment. Those who WKBN spoke with said they made friends and had a good time. If you wanna come and meet some new people, make some friends for a night, have fun and earn a gift card, its definitely a good time to socialize and get to know people and have a good time, said shopper Jordan Wilson. Doors at the mall opened at 6 a.m and will close at 9 p.m. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. If those Black Friday deals are too good to be true its likely that they are. The day after Thanksgiving is reserved for blockbuster sales, not scams, but on Black Friday, cybercrime runs rampant, from fraudulent websites to faux advertisements made to look like fan-favorite brands. Fox News reports that 50% of online shoppers fall for scams each year, with 30% of cybercrime involving personal data or money occurring on Black Friday and another 11% happening on Cyber Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the way it now seems like everyone is shopping online, reliance on digital platforms has handed these groups a wider attack surface than ever, Cody Barrow, the CEO of cyber defense company EclecticIQ, told CBS News. Unfortunately, its likely well see its impact stretch into next week. This year, Black Friday shopping is expected to break records from previous years. Kevin C Downs forThe New York Post EclecticIQ recently released a report that found thousands of counterfeit websites using a fake Trusted Store badge in an attempt to steal financial information. Sometimes, the fraudulent sites will look eerily similar to those of popular brands offering cant-miss deals on products. Other times, the criminals fabricate ads that appear to be for Wayfair or IKEA, for example, and then plaster them on social media and other sites. Fake websites that look like popular companies, such as Wayfair, are rampant, especially on Black Friday. Wayfairstyles.com Experts warned about sales that look too good to be true. Wayfairstyles.com Duped customers likely are not aware they have been scammed until they never receive their order from the faux websites, which proliferate at this time of year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its very easy to create a fake e-shop that looks really realistic. The look and feel is amazing. You wont be able to spot it really easily. So even us, sometimes we struggle to figure out if something is real or not, Leyla Blige, of Nortons Scam Research Labs, told Fox News. You have to think twice with scams because theyre really complicated and sophisticated now, especially with AI. Things are becoming much more powerful. As businesses gear up to smash previous Black Friday records this year, experts are offering tips to keep your finances and personal data safe from cybercriminals. In addition to securing accounts as you normally would, Blige advises to never trust deals that are too good to be true. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If something is sold for, lets say, $100, youre not going to get it for $10, she explained. So its not youre never going to have [a] 90% decrease discount, but typically, you get these kind of crazy discounts on such websites. With the way it now seems like everyone is shopping online, reliance on digital platforms has handed these groups a wider attack surface than ever, said Barrow. Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Discrepancies on the same website are also a red flag. Sometimes, fraudulent sites will advertise on their home page that they take all kinds of payments, but when customers check out, the site will only take payment by PayPal or a gift card because its difficult for us to trace, Blige said. If you see these kinds of inconsistencies between the first page and the last page, you have to be very careful, she added. Keep your eyes peeled for unusual URLs when being redirected to websites, double-check that the webpage youre visiting is legitimate and be sure to read reviews. You might want to be really careful and cross-check with third-party organizations that are actually kind of providing reviews about our organizations, Bilge advised. We actually have an AI-powered chatbot, which we call Norton Genie, that a user can easily just cross-check. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On sites like Reddit, there are forums to double-check with fellow shoppers about potential scams, and a simple search on the internet will likely expose fake sites, too, Blige said. Additionally, URLs that begin with https are secure, while those beginning with http do not have a secure connection. Customers likely arent aware theyve been scammed until their package never arrives. Farknot Architect stock.adobe.com Smishing a version of texting scams in which criminals send text blasts mimicking businesses to dupe recipients into turning over sensitive information is also a danger during the holidays. They will tell you there is a problem with your payment, or you have to make an additional payment so they can actually steal your money, Bilge explained. Or they could try to actually compromise some personal information so they can use it for a different type of attack that can happen later on. She recommended double-checking the email address or phone number of the sender, noting that it will be some random characters or email address, which is really suspicious. As a rule of thumb, dont click links from unknown senders. You will never get that email from Amazon or UPS with an email like that, she warned. Nov. 28State officials are warning of a blast of winter weather that's expected to result in lake effect snow. A combination of rain and snow will impact the region today. State officials say significant lake effect snow will impact communities east of Lakes Erie and Ontario with the potential for multiple feet of snow. Areas of north of Buffalo are forecasted to see the bulk of the snow starting Saturday. The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a Lake Effect Snow Warning for Southern Erie, Wyoming, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties from 7 a.m. today through 7 a.m. Monday. Heavy lake-effect snow is expected, with multiple feet possible through the weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for north Erie County from 7 a.m. Saturday through Sunday night. Lake-effect snow could total 6 inches or more. "As we gather this Thanksgiving, I encourage all New Yorkers to remain vigilant, keep an eye on local weather updates, and take precautions while traveling to join family and friends this holiday weekend," Gov. Kathy Hochul said. "If you are traveling, please plan ahead, and prioritize safetyfor yourself and others so we can all enjoy this holiday with our loved ones safely and comfortably" To further support response operations in storm-impacted areas, the state Department of Transportation is deploying an additional 62 staff including 15 plow trucks, four snow blowers, two graders, 44 plow truck operators, nine supervisors, six equipment operator instructors, one supervising equipment operator instructor, one assistant manager and one ICS support specialist to the North Country and Western New York. Western New York will receive: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 10 operators, two supervisors and one assistant manager from the Capital Region Two equipment operator instructors from the Mohawk Valley Four operators, one supervisor and two equipment operator instructors from the Finger Lakes 10 operators, two supervisors, two equipment operator instructors and five plow trucks from the western Southern Tier 10 operators, two supervisors, one ICS support specialist and five plow trucks from the Southern Tier All staff were expected to be in place at their assigned locations this morning. Regions experiencing lake effect snows will also perform rolling assists to enhance coverage in the heavy snowfall areas. These rolling assists will shift as the bands oscillate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tow services will be on station along U.S. Route 219 in Erie County. The need for additional resources will be re-evaluated as conditions warrant throughout the event. For real-time travel information, motorists should call 511 or visit 511ny.org, New York State's official traffic and travel information source. Thruway Authority The Thruway Authority is monitoring the forecast and ready to respond with 691 operators and supervisors available. Statewide equipment numbers and resources are listed below: 358 large and medium duty plow trucks 10 tow plows 63 loaders 116,000+ tons of salt on hand (Reuters) -Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro is planning a political comeback, anticipating support from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, which may include using economic sanctions against current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. "Trump is back, and it's a sign we'll be back too," Bolsonaro, who has been barred from running for office until 2030 and faces criminal charges for allegedly plotting a coup, said in an interview with the Journal. Bolsonaro has denied any wrongdoing and claimed to be the victim of a witch hunt by President Lula and left-leaning judges, the report said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They don't just want me in jail, they want me dead," the 69-year-old told the newspaper. Trump's incoming administration did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment. Bolsonaro's lawyer declined to comment on the newspaper interview, and Lula's office also declined comment. On Tuesday, Brazilian federal police presented evidence to the Supreme Court that Bolsonaro was directly involved in plotting a coup to overturn the outcome of the 2022 election he lost. Police also said that Bolsonaro had knowledge of a plan to assassinate Lula before he took office. The final police report, the result of a nearly two-year investigation, laid out evidence gathered from search warrants, wiretaps, financial records and plea bargain testimony pointing to a criminal conspiracy with Bolsonaro at the helm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump's electoral victory in the United States has injected new energy into Brazil's hard right and stirred hopes that Bolsonaro can mirror his return to power despite legal obstacles to running for office in 2026. (Reporting by Bipasha Dey in Bengaluru; Editing by Ros Russell and Angus MacSwan) Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro called on President-elect Trump to help him in his bid to return to power, suggesting Trump in his second term levy economic sanctions on the South American country. Trump is back, and its a sign well be back too, Bolsonaro told The Wall Street Journal in an interview published Friday. Bolsonaro has been banned from seeking reelection in 2026, a punishment issued by the countrys courts in response to an attempted coup allegedly staged by Bolsonaro and several dozen others following his 2022 electoral loss to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thousands of Bolsonaros supporters stormed Brazils presidential palace, Congress and the Supreme Court on Jan. 8, 2023, a week after da Silva was inaugurated. Bolsonaro, known in local media as the Trump of the Tropics, told the Journal he aims to overcome his own legal battles through another presidential campaign. As long as the electoral court doesnt turn down my registration, its valid, Bolsonaro said. They can just put it off as long as possible until the election is over. The former Brazilian leader, who was a close ally of Trumps on the world stage during his first term, reportedly floated the idea of Trump using economic sanctions against da Silva. He pointed to Washingtons maximum pressure campaign put on Venezuelan authoritarian leader Nicolas Maduro, which ultimately failed, when discussing the idea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has also been very concerned about Venezuela and discussed with me ways in which we can return it to democracy, Bolsonaro told the Journal. Police revoked Bolsonaros passport earlier this year, but hes continued his outreach to Trump. Eduardo Bolsonaro, his son who is also a Brazilian politician, visited Mar-a-Lago on election night to cheer Trumps successful White House bid. Im not obsessed with power; its actually rather tiring at my age, Jair Bolsonaro told the Journal. There are also people more intelligent than me but no one has thicker skin, nor the experience I have. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Spokespeople for Rhode Island Congressman Seth Magaziner and U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said their elected official received bomb threats on Thursday. In a statement, Magaziner said, I was recently notified of a bomb threat targeting me and my family at our home. We are safe and there was no evidence of a bomb on the property. Magaziner also thanked Providence police for their effective response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for Magaziner said the threat was sent Thursday via email to an account belonging to a Providence City Hall employee thats not frequently used. The threat was discovered Friday morning, according to the spokesperson. A spokesperson for U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said the senator received a similar threat to the ones made against other Democrats on Thanksgiving. Whitehouses spokesperson added that the senator is grateful for the quick all-clear response by the Newport Police. NEXT: Providence police investigating shooting and stabbing incident Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe Now Nesi's Notes Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. On November 29, a Russian passenger plane was spotted flying over the territory of Ukraine, almost to the Dnipro. The Boeing 738 plane, owned by the Russian airline Aeroflot, took off from Istanbul and was supposed to be heading to Moscow. ADVERTISIMENT However, its route on the flight map was through Ukraine. This is evidenced by information on the Flightradar24 portal. According to the portal, the plane approached Dnipro, after which it suddenly changed direction and headed back, flying over the territory of Ukraine. Officials have not yet commented on the incident. There are several assumptions about this incident. One option is a technical failure on the Flightradar24 portal, as the Ukrainian sky is under the control of air defense, which destroys any aircraft that violates the country's airspace. As a reminder, an AN-2 aircraft came under fire in Bashkortostan, Russia, and locals mistook it for a Ukrainian drone. The incident occurred during a scheduled flight in Salavatovo. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes! We may receive an affiliate commission from anything you buy from this article. Author Wright Thompson's New York Times bestseller, "The Barn: The Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi" (Random House), explores the culture of silence that enveloped the Mississippi Delta over the 1955 murder of Emmett Till. Read an excerpt below, and don't miss Jim Axelrod's interview with Wright Thompson on "CBS Sunday Morning" December 1! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Barn: The Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi" by Wright Thompson Prefer to listen? Audible has a 30-day free trial available right now. One afternoon Stafford Shurden took me through his family's land. A Taurus semiautomatic pistol rested casually on his console. His family footprint once stretched to the gates of Parchman, the infamous Gothic prison farm that serves as the Mississippi State Penitentiary, one of the worst and most feared prisons in the country. The front gate is twelve miles north of the barn. At the end of the drive we stopped at his family's old farm office, which would have been buzzing with people back when the Shurdens ran this little corner of the world. Now it's empty. He found a key on a big ring and opened the door. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We stepped into the dark, silent room. The first thing Stafford did was go sit in his father's old desk chair made out of a green bucket seat from an old classic Thunderbird. He hoped the old man would be proud of him. A painting showed Black cotton pickers moving through a field with their long bags, with the Shurden Farms logo on the trailers parked around them. Stafford sighed. "Tell me this ain't the most racist s**t you've ever seen," he said. There was a walkin safe and a poster on the wall: Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn't matter whether you're the lion or a gazellewhen the sun comes up, you' d better be running. There was an oil painting of a stern old woman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That's Grandma Shurden," Stafford told me. "She had eighteen kids." A family crest, commissioned by Otha Shurden in 1969, has soybeans, cotton, and catfish on it. Grandma Shurden was Clint's mom, too. In a little side office was a huge map of their part of Sunflower County. It documented who owned every piece of land, divided into squares and rectangles and trapezoids, into little homesteads and big plantations. I looked down at the corner and saw the date: "Jan 1, 1956." This was the first county land map made after the murder. I ran my finger along the sides of the map and found the barn: Township 22 North, Range 4 West, Section 2, West Half, measured from the Choctaw Meridian. Familiar names claimed plots all around the old Milam farm. Smaller pieces of land were marked only by initials. I found the Dougherty Bayou and all the nearby farms and then the barn. It was the only piece of dirt on the map without a name. Thomas Jefferson wrote a law that would pass Congress as the Land Ordinance of 1785. His goal was simple. He wanted the empty open space of his new country to be broken into small blocks and sold to yeoman farmerssmall, entirely independent (white) landownersand so he took a system invented by a military engineer named Thomas Hutchins and codified it into law. Many ancient cultures were built around the idea of shared land. America was built around the idea of owning parceled land. That foundational urge was born in the moment when Jefferson put pen to page. Yeomen weren't plantation lords like Jefferson and they weren't poor white trash. To Jefferson their protection and elevation in American life was the hill upon which this new nation would live or die. The first draft of the bill broke the country into tenmilebytenmile squares called hundreds, while a second reduced them to sevenmilebysevenmile squares called townships. On May 3, 1785, William Grayson of Virginia made a motion to change the seven to a six and James Monroe seconded the motion. They would send surveyors out into every bit of new territory America amassedstarting with the land won from the English in the Revolutionary Warand divide it into thirtysixsquaremile blocks, which would be divided into thirtysix smaller squares named sections. Each section was 640 acres, or one square mile, and the sale of all this public land would pay down the war debt of the new nation, which hadn't yet been able to agree on a way to raise money through taxes. A permanent grid appeared overnight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A central American conflict was baked into this first drawing of the new nation. Jefferson wanted the land to be settled by yeomen. But the price for the newly available land was simply too high for most farmers to pay. In the decades that followed, Alexander Hamilton's Federalist Party and Jefferson's Republican Party fought over this issue. From John Adams through Jefferson and into Madison and Monroe, the minimum purchase amount (and the price) rose and fell depending on whether those in power wanted to help capitalist landowners or small, independent farmers. The Land Law of 1800 reduced the minimum purchase to 320 acres, which was cut to 160, then again to 80, and finally, in 1832, to 40 acres. The base price was about a dollar an acre. This fight between capitalized investors and small farmers dominated the politics of the new nation and would play out brutally on the land surrounding Drew, Mississippi. The barn sits on the southwest quarter of Section 2, Township 22 North, Range 4 West, measured from the Choctaw Meridian. That's its exact legal location on Jefferson's grid: a square mile per section, thirtysix sections per township, over and over again across the new nation. The thirtysix square miles of Township 22 North, Range 4 West, have borne witness to the birth of the blues at the nearby Dockery Plantation, to the struggle of Fannie Lou Hamer, to the machinations of a founding family of the Klan, and to the death of Emmett Till. To get to Dockery, take a right out of Jeff Andrews's driveway, take another right on Ralph Ray Road toward the Bolivar County line, and then turn left on Dockery Road. Dockery Farms has been called the birthplace of the Delta blues by B. B. King and many others. It's not an accident then that this land fueled the first protest music. The blues came from the land around the barn. From Charley Patton, the Black grandson of a white man. Patton's music flowed from a place of rage about how he lived a small, threatened life because his grandmother was Black "skin the color of rape," the poet Caroline Randall Williams wrote. He became the first blues star, the man who taught Son House, who taught Robert Johnson, who taught Muddy Waters, who hailed from the same Delta town as Sam Cooke and Nate Dogg, all these genres making the same protest music against the same forces as PattonDelta blues or Gfunk, Muddy and "I'm a fullgrown man" or Sam's "A Change Is Gonna Come" or Ice Cube and "F**k tha Police." EazyE's grandparents ran a grocery store sixteen blocks up Broadway in Greenville from the house where J.W. Milam lived when he died. The Dockery family still owns their plantation. Now the granddaughters of the founder control the business. One of them, a distinguished elderly woman named Douglas Dockery Thomas, agreed to meet me in her New York apartment. Her building is on the Upper East Side, overlooking the Metropolitan Museum and Central Park. She's on the board at the Metropolitan Opera and is one of the central patrons of the Met. The doorman was expecting me. The elevator opened directly into her apartment, which covered an entire floor, easily more than four thousand square feet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She led me into a formal parlor with a piano under tall ceilings and crown molding. I looked down at the museum and the yellow cabs on Fifth Avenue. Hers is some of the most expensive residential real estate in the world. The final vapors of the Gilded Age moved through the empty rooms in a world where history stopped in 1929, or maybe 1955. Nothing we talk about can be on the record, she says. The family remains very private. Her son, I've read, is an incredibly successful venture capitalist, the money behind Venmo and BuzzFeed, among others. We talked about Mississippi. Our families knew each other. On a side table was a picture of her with King Charles III when he was Prince of Wales. I noticed her sharp cheekbones and delicate wrists. She loves the opera but also loves the blues and has set up Dockery as a living museum to honor her parents, Joe Rice and Keith, and the music that came to life on the family farm. Her mother especially seemed to understand that the line all white southerners need to see or be shown wasn't between good and bad, but between cowardly and brave. "If I had not been married to Joe," Keith said, "I might have been out on the streets marching with the protestors. But I was, and I didn't." Willie Reed stepped out of his family home for the last time on a Friday night. He moved alone into the darkness. He had been told the plan and followed it carefully. Lots of people wanted him dead. He'd dared to accuse a white man of murder. In his arms he carried a coat and an extra pair of pants. Everything else he left behind. No account survives of the feelings in that dark house, the sorrow and fear, the words spoken and unspoken. It must have felt like a scene from a different time, a man forced into exile, facing a kind of ancient judgment surely not possible in 1955. The history books say he walked six miles in the dark. Nobody knows for sure which direction but when you look at the map, and understand who lived in the houses lining the roads, there's only one route he could have taken: down the DrewCleveland Road, now the DrewRuleville Road, skirting the edge of Dockery Farms. I've driven that road at night, in a big, modern Chevrolet four wheeldrive, with my armor of white skin, with a .40caliber semi automatic pistol in the glove box, and even then it's spooky. The darkness of rural Mississippi remains a physical thing, heavy and alive, a sonic experience, too, loud with bugs and birds. There is no safety outside the civilization of headlights. If someone wanted to kill you, there would be nobody to hear you scream. If someone approached, there would be no place to hide. This road was by far Reed's safest option, lined with poor Black families. He only had two other options to escape. The first, the DrewMerigold Road, would have taken him through the only real community of small, poor, white farmers in the Delta. That was suicide. He could have run into the town of Drew. Also suicide. That left Ruleville, which is 6.6 miles from his house and still risky. One of the policemen in the city of Ruleville was J.W. Milam and Roy Bryant's brother. Reed likely passed his girlfriend Ella Mae Stubbs's home. He didn't have time to tell her goodbye. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A car waited in the dark at the end of the road. The driver took Reed north on Highway 61 through Cleveland and Merigold, finally reaching Mound Bayou and safety. Another car awaited him there. The man behind the steering wheel was Medgar Evers. The other passenger was Congressman Diggs. The three men drove north in Evers's Oldsmobile 88 with a bigblock V8, which he had bought specifically to outrun the white terrorists who'd follow and chase him through the backroads of the rural state. His speedometer glowed red whenever he got over sixty miles an hour, which he did as the three men roared toward Memphis Airport. When they arrived, Diggs and Reed went inside the terminal. They probably took the 10:00 a.m. DeltaC&S 686 from Memphis to Chicago, with a stop in Saint Louis, each leg exactly an hour and nine minutes. That's three hours with the layover to try to imagine what awaited them when the plane touched down. In Chicago, Diggs took Willie to Congressman William Dawson's office. Dawson had represented the South Side of Chicago since 1943. An uncle met him up there. Two strangers approached them. "Willie?" "Willie Reed?" Both Reed and his uncle felt terror. He'd already been found. The fear eased when the men introduced themselves as Chicago police officers. They'd been assigned to make sure Reed was safe in his new home. Reed struggled to focus as his uncle took him to his mother's walkup apartment at 2103 South Michigan, two blocks from what is now the Marriott Marquis, across the street from the Chess Records studio where the Rolling Stones would one day visit and find their hero Muddy Waters painting the walls of the lobby. Reporters met Reed there in the first hours of his exile. "Everybody is scared," he told them. "Why? What did we do?" They asked him about the world he'd left behind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I feel kind of lonely for Ella Mae," he said. The next morning charitable strangers offered to write blank checks to bring Ella Mae Stubbs to Chicago. Mississippi reporters went out to the Clark Plantation and found her father, Ernest Stubbs, and asked his opinion. He said his daughter barely knew Willie Reed and that his family was perfectly happy in Mississippi. Willie Reed never saw Ella Mae Stubbs again. A Jackson Daily News reporter, Bill Spell, flew up to Chicago in a stateowned airplane to "interview" him. The whole point was to let Willie know that Mississippi could reach him anytime it wanted. Spell would confess later in life that Senator Eastland's office was actively digging up dirt on the Till family and actually delivering prewritten hatchet jobs to the Jackson paper where he worked. The reporter, a member of the National Guard, got his commanding officer to approve a military flight to Chicago. Spell found Reed in Michael Reese Hospital, located in Bronzeville on the South Side, with what best can be described as a nervous breakdown. His room was in between the train station where Emmett's body would arrive and the little piece of sidewalk where Sonny Boy Williamson got murdered as he walked home from a gig. A month later, Reed swallowed his fear and returned to Mississippi to testify in Leflore County as a grand jury debated indicting Milam and Bryant for kidnapping. He told his story and flew back to Chicago. The grand jury declined to bring charges, just as the jury in Sumner had acquitted Milam and Bryant, and with that the legal proceedings in the case of Emmett Till ended. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reed changed his name to Willie Louis soon after. That had been his father's last name and he wanted to be anonymous again. Every day he went to work as a surgical technician in a South Side hospital, located between Michelle Obama's childhood home and the house of poet Gwendolyn Brooks. Mamie Till-Mobley, Simeon Wright, and Wheeler Parker all lost touch with him and thought he'd been killed. Willie Louis vanished into working-class Chicago. He would go many years before telling another person about what he'd heard that morning inside Leslie Milam's barn. From "The Barn: The Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi" by Wright Thompson. Copyright 2024 by Wright Thompson. Published by permission of Random House, an imprint and division of Penguin Random House LLC. All Rights Reserved. Get the book here: "The Barn: The Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi" by Wright Thompson Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Buy locally from Bookshop.org For more info: "The Barn: The Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi" by Wright Thompson (Random House), in Hardcover, Large Print Trade Paperback, eBook and Audio formatswrightthompson.com "The Barn": A murder in Mississippi, and the evil hiding in plain sight Missing hiker found after nearly six weeks in the Canadian wilderness Ted Turner's nature preserves: A carefully curated "Heaven on Earth" We may receive an affiliate commission from anything you buy from this article. In "Freedom: Memoirs 1954-2021" (published by St. Martin's Press), former German Chancellor Angela Merkel writes about two lives: her early years growing up under a Communist-controlled police state in East Germany, and her years as leader of a nation reunited following the fall of the Berlin Wall. Read an excerpt below, and don't miss Mark Phillips' interview with Angela Merkel on "CBS Sunday Morning" December 1! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Freedom: Memoirs 1954-2021" by Angela Merkel Prefer to listen? Audible has a 30-day free trial available right now. Prologue This book tells a story that will not happen again, because the state I lived in for thirty-five years ceased to exist in 1990. If it had been offered to a publishing house as a work of fiction, it would have been turned down, someone said to me early in 2022, a few weeks after I stepped down from the office of federal chancellor. He was familiar with such issues, and was glad that I had decided to write this book, precisely because of its story. A story that is as unlikely as it is real. It became clear to me: telling this story, drawing out its lines, finding the thread running through it, identifying leitmotifs, could also be important for the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For a long time I couldn't imagine writing such a book. That first changed in 2015, at least a little. Back then, in the night between September 4 and 5, I had decided not to turn away the refugees coming from Hungary at the German-Austrian border. I experienced that decision, and above all its consequences, as a caesura in my chancellorship. There was a before and an after. That was when I undertook to describe, one day when I was no longer chancellor, the sequence of events, the reasons for my decision, my understanding of Europe and globalization bound up with it, in a form that only a book would make possible. I didn't want to leave the further description and interpretation just to other people. But I was still in office. The 2017 Bundestag election followed, along with my fourth period of office. In its last two years the containment of the COVID-19 pandemic was the predominant theme. The pandemic, as I said publicly on several occasions, made huge demands on democracy, on a national, European, and global level. This also prompted me to broaden my outlook and not only write about refugee policy. If I was going to do it at all, I had to do it properly, I said to myself, and if I was, then I would do it with Beate Baumann. She has been advising me since 1992, and is an eyewitness. I stepped down from office on December 8, 2021. After sixteen years I left it, as I said at the Bundeswehr's Military Tattoo in my honor a few days before, with joy in my heart. By the end I had in fact longed for that moment. Enough was enough. Now it was time to take a break and rest for a few months, leave the frantic world of politics behind me, to begin a new life in the spring, slowly and tentatively, still a public life, but not an active political one, find the right rhythm for public appearancesand write this book. That was the plan. Then came February 24, 2022, Russia's attack on Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was immediately clear that writing this book as if nothing had happened was completely out of the question. The war in Yugoslavia at the beginning of the 1990s had already shaken Europe to its core. But the Russian attack on Ukraine was a greater threat. It was a breach of international law that shattered the European peace which had prevailed since the Second World War and was based on the preservation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of its states. Profound disillusionment followed. I will write about that too. But this is not a book about Russia and Ukraine. That would be a different book. Instead I would like to write the story of my two lives, the first up to 1990 in a dictatorship and the second since 1990 in a democracy. At the moment when the first readers hold this book in their hands, the two halves are of more or less equal length. But in fact, of course, these are not two lives. In fact they are one life, and the second part cannot be understood without the first. How did it happen that, after spending the first thirty-five years of her life in the GDR, a woman was able to take over the most powerful office that exists in the Federal Republic of Germany and hold it for sixteen years? And that she left it again without having to step down during a period of office or being voted out? What was it like to grow up in East Germany as the child of a pastor, and study and work under the conditions of a dictatorship? What was it like to experience the collapse of a state? And to be suddenly free? That's the story I want to tell. Of course, my account is deeply subjective. At the same time, I have aimed for honest self-reflection. Today, I will identify my misjudgments and defend the things I think I got right. But this is not a complete account of everything that happened. Not everyone who might have expected, or who might have been expected, to appear in these pages will do so. For that I request understanding. My goal is to establish some points of focus with which I attempt to tame the sheer mass of material, and allow people to understand how politics works, what principles and mechanisms there areand what guided me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Politics isn't witchcraft. Politics is made by people, people with their influences, their experiences, vanities, weaknesses, strengths, desires, dreams, convictions, values, and interests. People who need to fight for majorities in a democracy if they want to make things happen. We can do thisWir schaffen das. Throughout the whole of my political career, no phrase has been thrown back at me with quite such virulence as this one. No phrase has been so polarizing. For me, however, it was quite an ordinary phrase. It expressed an attitude. Call it trust in God, caution, or simply a determination to solve problems, to deal with setbacks, get over the lows and come up with new ideas. "We can do this, and if something stands in our way it has to be overcome, it has to be worked on." That was how I put it in my summer press conference on August 31, 2015. That was how I did politics. It's how I live. It's also how this book came about. With this attitude, which is also something learned, everything is possible, because it isn't only politics that contributes to itevery individual person has a part to play. Angela Merkel With Beate Baumann Berlin, August 2024 From "Freedom: Memoirs 1954-2021" by Angela Merkel. Copyright 2024 by the author and reprinted by permission of St. Martin's Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Get the book here: "Freedom: Memoirs 1954-2021" by Angela Merkel Buy locally from Bookshop.org For more info: "Freedom: Memoirs 1954-2021" by Angela Merkel (St. Martin's Press), in Hardcover, eBook and Audio formats "The Barn": A murder in Mississippi, and the evil hiding in plain sight Missing hiker found after nearly six weeks in the Canadian wilderness Ted Turner's nature preserves: A carefully curated "Heaven on Earth" Border Patrol agents intercept immigrants near Eagle Pass, Texas, in August. Under the so-called remain in Mexico policy, asylum-seekers can be sent to Mexico while their claims are heard, but critics say that exposes migrants to abuse by cartels. (Photo by Jaime Rodriguez Sr./U.S. Customs and Border Protection) WASHINGTON President-elect Donald Trump has promised to hire 10,000 more Border Patrol agents as part of a crackdown on immigration. That may be a tall order. Days after taking office in 2017, Trump ordered the Border Patrol to add 5,000 agents. By the time he left four years later, the Border Patrol had actually shrunk by 1,084 agents, records from Customs and Border Protection show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Current staffing is nearly 3,000 below the target set last year by Congress. Despite promises to recruit more Border Patrol agents, the reality is that over the last several administrations, the Border Patrol has struggled to recruit, train and maintain agents, said Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh, associate policy analyst at the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute. Attrition has outpaced hiring since 2021, according to a September report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) documenting the CBPs chronic staffing shortages. Long hours, harsh working conditions and relatively low pay have kept turnover high for decades at the Border Patrol, which was created a century ago. A 2023 audit found that 88% of border stations were understaffed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertising and other recruitment efforts under both Trump and President Joe Biden yielded disappointing results. Under Trump, CBP inked a $297 million contract with a company that promised to recruit, vet and hire 5,000 Border Patrol agents plus 2,500 officers for related agencies. The administration scrapped the deal three years into Trumps term. By then, the company had delivered just 36 new hires at a cost topping $60 million. Standards are stringent. Just 1.8% of Border Patrol applicants complete training and go on active duty, the GAO says about the same as for the Secret Service. The FBI rate is just over 3%, by comparison. The screening process includes polygraph exams and drug screenings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Border Patrol staffing peaked at 21,444 agents in 2011, agency records show. As of June, staffing was just over 19,000, according to the GAO well short of the 22,000 target set last year by Congress. Newly hired agents with no previous law enforcement experience can earn $48,809 to $87,838, according to federal job postings. Former police officers and military police can earn more. Since January, the Border Patrol has offered $20,000 bonuses for new hires who complete training and three years of service, plus $10,000 if they agree to serve in a remote location. During the campaign, Trump promised a $10,000 signing bonus and 10% raise for Border Patrol agents. He and his advisers havent clarified whether the bonus would be on top of existing incentives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have a tremendous shortage because they havent been treated right, Trump said at an Oct. 13 campaign rally in Prescott Valley. The shortages didnt start when Biden took over nearly four years ago. By then, there were 19,740 agents, 88 fewer than when Trump had been sworn in. In the second half of his first term, the Border Patrol hired more than 3,500 agents but lost more than 3,100 to attrition, according to the GAO. That tracks with projections issued early in Trumps tenure by his first CBP commissioner, Kevin McAleenan that the Border Patrol would have to hire more than 26,000 new agents to expand by 5,000, due to turnover. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 2017 DHS inspector general report cited rising rates of suicide among agents and struggles with employee morale, among other factors that prevented the department from filling all authorized slots. CBP reported more than 2.1 million encounters along the Southwest border in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. The monthly tally set a record last December but has fallen sharply since then. In some sectors, Border Patrol officials say the influx required diverting up to 60% of agents away from border security missions to care for migrant families and children; provide transport to processing centers, shelters and hospitals; and handle paperwork. Presidents Biden, Trump and Barack Obama each tried and failed to increase the number of Border Patrol agents. Under Obama, the number dropped from 20,119 agents to 19,437. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has vowed to make it happen in his second term. President Trump has promised to make sure border agents and law enforcement have the resources they need to keep our border secure and our communities safe, Karoline Leavitt, Trumps pick for White House press secretary, told Cronkite News by email. He will deliver. The president-elects policies require significantly more personnel. The mass deportations he has promised would target over 11 million undocumented immigrants, a daunting task for 6,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents assigned to removals. Most interior enforcement is performed by ICE, while Border Patrol primarily guards land borders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immigration experts said signing bonuses wont be enough to fill the empty slots. Some also criticize Trumps emphasis on enforcement. The focus on more Border Patrol agents is a very narrow, restrictive frame and understanding of the solutions, said Allan Colbern, an assistant professor and immigration expert at Arizona State Universitys School of Social and Behavioral Sciences. A better approach, he said, would be comprehensive immigration reform that includes hiring more immigration lawyers and judges to reduce the backlogs of cases that force authorities to release asylum-seekers into the U.S. pending a hearing. He also blamed the emotional toll of a job focused on deterring access to the American dream by people desperate enough to try. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If we had a welcoming system for Border Patrol to facilitate humanitarian assistance, to help people through the legal system to seek asylum, he said, the job would be much more meaningful. Democrats generally share that view, while Republicans tend to emphasize the enforcement side. Earlier this year at Trumps urging, Senate Republicans quashed a bipartisan bill that would have added 1,500 Border Patrol agents. The bill added $20 billion to expand staffing. It also tightened asylum rules. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, senior fellow and the American Immigration Council, which opposes mass deportation, agreed that hiring personnel needed to speed processing would reduce the need for more enforcement. Simply having more agents will not solve the so-called border crisis, he said. This story was published in Arizona Mirror. In an interview with The Telegraph's Ukraine: The Latest podcast on Nov. 28, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that any possible ceasefire should involve a European peacekeeping mission including British forces to defend the front line. "I dont think we should be sending in combat troops to take on the Russians," Johnson said. "But I think as part of the solution, as part of the end state, youre going to want to have multinational European peace-keeping forces monitoring the border, helping the Ukrainians." Following Donald Trump's 2024 election victory, world leaders are preparing for an abrupt shift in the United States' policy on Ukraine. Much is unknown about Trump's plans for Ukraine. Trump has promised to end the war in "24 hours" and has called for peace talks, prompting many world leaders to discuss potential outcomes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Telegraph reported on Nov. 7, citing three Trump staffers, that Trump may call on British and European troops to enforce a buffer zone that he would try to impose over the current front line in Ukraine as part of a possible peace plan. Johnson, a supporter of Trump, said during his interview that he "cannot see that such a European operation could possibly happen without the British," said. "We need to be spelling out what kind of security guarantees we think are appropriate," Johnson added. Johnson's comments on the potential presence of combat troops in Ukraine came after the French outlet Le Monde reported that the U.K. and France have been discussing deploying soldiers or private defense contractors in Ukraine following President-elect Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy later said on Nov. 26 that London is not planning to deploy its military personnel on the ground in Ukraine. During the interview, the former prime minister said the United Kingdom is "morally responsible" for Ukraine as a signatory of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum. The agreement obliged Ukraine to give up its nuclear weapons and demilitarize, a move that has failed to protect Ukraine from Russian aggression. "The only thing that really works is a Nato Article 5 guarantee that has kept the peace in Europe for 80 years," Johnson said. "Its the reason the Baltic states are in NATO. Its the reason that the Poles, Hungarians, Czechs, Finns and the Swedes are now in NATO." A staunch supporter of Ukraine, Johnson previously said that extending NATO membership to Ukraine is the only solution, and it has to be done, as the only long-term solution that provides peace and stability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite Ukraine's ongoing challenges in securing an invitation from a NATO country to join the military alliance, Johnson said that Western allies would need to make clear what potential security guarantees would be offered to Kyiv as part of any peace agreement. As the war drags on past 1,000 days, Johnson's comment on peace negotiations reflect those made by Ukrainian officials over the past year. Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksandr Lytvynenko said in May that Ukraine "clearly understands" that Russia's full-scale war will end with negotiations. President Volodymyr Zelensky has more recently said that the country must do everything possible to end the war through diplomatic means in 2025, adding that a war would "end faster" under a Trump administration. Read also: Foreign Ministry says Kyiv discusses mobilization strategy with partners, calls on faster military aid Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Working from home presents the perfect opportunity to get on with those nagging chores, such as putting on a load of laundry or painting your nails. Others take a much more relaxed approach to home-working. More than 80pc of hybrid workers watch television while doing their day job for an average of two hours a day, according to a survey by TonerGiant. One in 10 workers in Britain say they regularly take a nap when working from home, according to a survey by Reign Storm, an energy drink company, with the most popular period between 3pm and 4pm. Some take the opposite approach and work two jobs simultaneously. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the pandemic upended how we work, there has been a steep increase in playing virtual workplace hooky. A recent Workhuman study has found that more than a third of UK workers fake productivity. Employees working remotely deploy a wide range of tactics to appear online to bosses, some more blunt and low-fi than others. A health sector worker who works remotely told The Telegraph they wiggle their mouse a lot when work is slower, and take the opportunity to watch TV. It keeps my system active so no one knows Im not really working, they said. You can also buy mouse and keyboard jigglers to do it for you. Many have taken to Reddit to share tips, which include starting a presentation or slideshow to keep a computer screen awake, and start a meeting with themselves in order to appear online on chat programmes. Others suggest opening a document and putting a weight on the spacebar so it appears to be writing. Bosses get wise Companies, however, have got wise and are fighting back. Many bosses surveil staff when theyre working remotely to ensure theyre actually working, often using software to track productivity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This practice rocketed during the pandemic, and in 2022 60pc of employees said they thought they were being monitored at work, according to a survey by the TUC union. The proportion of employers tracking workers is expected to rise to 70pc by 2025, the management consultancy Gartner found. Bosses have used surveillance software to check on staff with keystroke logging, screen monitoring, time tracking and chat monitoring. These programmes, some of which take screenshots of workers computers, can crack the tactics used by employees, such as running hours-long Powerpoint presentations. Some businesses use software that can take photos of employees via their laptop every few minutes and use their webcam to monitor them. Others offer productivity scores on workers, depending on their activity levels. Those mouse jigglers can also be outwitted by software because the cursor activity doesnt look normal. Algorithms can also see when a mouse is active over the same web page for hours at a time. Teramind, a software firm that can identify repetitive cursor movements, found that out of one million employees sampled, 7pc appeared to be faking activity at work. This year, one American bank fired more than a dozen of its workers for pretending to work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some software also offers the ability to log into an employees device remotely or track an employees tone and mood, and judge how useful their conversations are. One such programme, Aware, can sync with popular workplace chat tools, such as Slack, to check the conversations of specific employees. It also claims to use artificial intelligence to track employee sentiment and monitor for certain behaviours. Starbucks, AstraZeneca and Nestle all use software to monitor chats, which can also identify bullying, harassment and apparent discrimination. Elsewhere, one major consultancy company checks the IP address of remote workers to check they are not working from the beach. Employers that want staff back in the office are also using programmes to monitor attendance. PwC, which has asked employees to go back three days a week, said it will track where its staff work to enforce the rules. Outfoxing bosses Some staff are already taking matters into their own hands and their tactics are getting more hi-tech. A finance sector worker told The Telegraph that they, having some systems literacy, were able to bypass surveillance software by finding out which processes it tracked and looking for holes. If the software only surveils processes called chrome.exe, opera.exe, firefox.exe you make a copy, rename it excel.exe or something and youre good to go, they said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Others have been able to bypass the top-end software, which might surveil keywords and take screenshots, by creating a virtual machine on the work computer which is untrackable. Labours promise to strengthen employment rights could affect this kind of surveillance software, by ensuring that bosses negotiate with staff and unions over its usage. Already, a patchwork of legislation, from GDPR to Employment Rights Act provisions, place limits on what bosses can do when it comes to digital surveillance. Does this software actually work? Amit Raj, founder of the Links Guys, who runs a fully remote company and uses tracking software, says even the most intricate tracking software wouldnt be able to account for some remote staffs get-out-of-work ploys. There will always be some people who dont work. While Im not worried about employees watching YouTube for a few minutes, you cant really track someone if theyre watching something on a second device and not working. This hasnt stopped Raj from looking into how to ensure staff stay on track. The software he uses to surveil staff, apart from senior hires, includes activity tracking, screenshots, time tracking, and the ability to check breaks. He describes how this softwares screenshot application has caught someone who just kept a work programme open all day without doing much. But this requires an investigation with HR to confirm if that worker was actually doing anything, and he questions how useful some of the tracking software is. It cant tell you if theyre actually on a computer, he says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Raj also uses surveillance software at the interview stage, to catch out job seekers using so-called virtual candidates or ChatGPT to complete tasks. Of course, there are limits. Experts in HR worry surveillance might end up with unproductive consequences, impacting innovation, and sparking burnout and affecting wellbeing too. Others have questioned if they can truly track how work, well, works. Do they take into account paper notes, meetings, having to use the toilet? Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky found that almost half of employees were staying logged on to work devices longer than necessary in response to their employer installing surveillance software. Separate research by Glint into employee burnout at the start of the pandemic found it had doubled at a time when demand for surveillance technology was soaring. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG The money for the fall semester normally arrives in September. By the last week of November, with the end of the semester in sight, Elizabeth Rousseau was still waiting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rousseau, a student at Penn State, is due to receive $2,630 from a state grant program that helps Pennsylvania residents pay for college. The money can be used for anything from tuition, fees, room and board, to other living expenses like utilities and groceries. Rousseau, who takes classes online, lives with her husband and two young children in Luzerne County. As a result of the grant delays, she said, they paid their rent late for the first time in years. They are also two months behind on utility bills. In late November, Rousseau took out a personal loan to avoid falling further behind. While money from the PA State Grant Program has started to go out, students across Pennsylvania are still waiting. Many have been scrambling to cover the shortfall, often with no clear answers about when the grant funds will be available. Rousseau said the financial strain has made her anxiety worse, and she has been late on her assignments more often than usual this semester. Its hard to not just worry about it a lot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials at the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, which runs the grant program, say the problems can be traced back to the troubled rollout of a new federal application form for financial aid. PHEAA uses data from the federal form to administer the state grant program, which offers eligible Pennsylvania residents up to $5,750 per year. More than 100,000 students will receive grant funds in the 2024-25 academic year, the agency estimates. PHEAA uses the federal data to determine students eligibility; colleges and universities then update that information before PHEAA sends them the money and they pay it out to students. This year, however, PHEAA didnt start receiving data from the federal government until mid-April, months behind schedule, said Bethany Coleman, a PHEAA spokesperson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The records were riddled with errors and had to be updated, which caused further delays. When the revised data arrived in May, the agency was swamped by the sheer volume; the files typically arrive in smaller batches. The various mishaps left the state agency with only four months to complete work that usually takes nine, Coleman said. Compounding the difficulty, PHEAA has also been rolling out a new system of its own this year. This effort wasnt intended to coincide with the federal changes, agency officials previously told ABC27. The federal overhaul went into effect a year later than anticipated, with the state upgrades already underway. Students usually get their grant money within the first few weeks of the semester. This year, however, PHEAA did not begin sending the money to most schools until the end of October. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By Nov. 25, PHEAA had sent $154 million to colleges and universities, Coleman said. Its not clear exactly how many students are still waiting for the grants. Every single day, more money is flowing, Coleman told Spotlight PA. Were past the hump. Michael Driscoll, president of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, said the federal delays combined with PHEAAs internal upgrades created a perfect storm. But he also said the agency did not appear to have fully anticipated the problems created by switching to a new system. At one point, PHEAAs phone system was still giving details on grants from the previous academic year, he said. Some representatives gave students incorrect information. The data the university received from the agency was incomplete, and making corrections was difficult and time-consuming. As of Nov. 26, about one-third of IUPs estimated 3,100 eligible students were still waiting for the money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What was the backup plan? Driscoll said. Just hoping that a major software system works is not good enough. At Temple University, only a handful of students are still waiting for the grants, said Emilie Van Trieste, director of student financial services. The university accepted an offer from PHEAA to receive an advance on the funding in mid-September, she said. The trade-off was that university staff had to manually confirm students eligibility, instead of receiving a bulk file transfer. The downside is that we were taking on a little bit of a risk, Van Trieste said. But the decision allowed the university to get the money to most students throughout late September and October. Coleman said that PHEAA offered to advance funds to all eligible schools in Pennsylvania, but only seven took the agency up on the offer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harrisburg Area Community College declined because this would effectively involve borrowing money from the agency and is not standard practice, said Tim Barshinger, assistant vice president of student enrollment services. By the last week of November, HACC had not paid grant funds to any students. Some students will receive the money the first week of December, while others will have to wait longer because the school still needs PHEAA to confirm they are eligible, Barshinger said via email. Penn State did not accept PHEAAs offer of an advance either, instead choosing in-house solutions to protect these students until their actual grant awards are calculated and received, a spokesperson said. By Nov. 25, the university still had not received valid award information for students, the spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Penn State Executive Director for Student Aid Melissa Kunes said in a statement that there was not a specific date when students could expect to receive the grants, although the university hoped it would be before the end of the fall semester. Classes end Dec. 13. Many colleges and universities are forgiving late fees and relaxing policies that typically prevent students from registering for classes or graduating if they have an outstanding balance. However, many students rely on the grant money for living expenses, and the delays have forced some to make difficult decisions. Timothy Ladd, a senior at Penn State, had to take on extra shifts at work to make up the shortfall, leaving him less time to look for the internship he needs to graduate. I had to change my plans completely, he said. Melissa Bush, a student at Lehigh Carbon Community College, planned to use the grant money to register for classes in December. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is just wild to me, Bush wrote last month in a Facebook message to PHEAA. Ive never had to wait this long. In addition to the delays, some students say a lack of clear communication from PHEAA, and a series of shifting timeframes, have contributed to the stress and confusion. PHEAA originally told students that the new online portal would be available in June, but some didnt receive the link to register until August. The portal is how students check their status and correspond with PHEAA. The agency said it would send the money to colleges and universities in October, but, in most cases, that process didnt get underway until Oct. 31. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PHEAA representatives have told some students that most will have the money in November; others, that it will take at least until mid-December. Coleman said that timelines have shifted both forward and backward and that PHEAA has strived to keep open lines of communication with schools, students, and their families through various channels. Some students face a double dose of uncertainty. Sarah Cook, a student at Temple University, sat down in August to plan her finances for the semester. She anticipated that the state grant would arrive later than usual, but she didnt think it would take this long. The delay has blown a $2,600 hole in her budget. Shes had to rely on her boyfriend to cover her share of the rent for the past two months and has been using a credit card for groceries and other living expenses. By late November, she was almost 30 days behind on the credit card bill. Im trying to make smart financial decisions and I just didnt foresee this happening, she said. Adding to the stress, Cook is still waiting for PHEAA to confirm that she is eligible for the grant. PHEAA has told her repeatedly that her application is complete, but the grant doesnt show up when she logs into her account. In late October, after she followed up again, the agency replied that it was still in the process of determining her eligibility. The most likely explanation was that PHEAA needed to catch up on their processing, Temples financial aid office told Cook in an email several weeks ago. We dont know how many students are in limbo. The possibility that, after waiting so long, Cook might find out she does not qualify is too overwhelming to think about. I dont even know what I would do. BEFORE YOU GO If you learned something from this article, pay it forward and contribute to Spotlight PA at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. The Israeli military and the Iran-aligned Hezbollah militia both faced accusations on Thursday of violating the ceasefire, just one day after the fragile truce came into force. Netanyahu told the Channel 14 broadcaster on Thursday that he has instructed the military to prepare for an "intensive war" if the ceasefire agreement is breached, without specifying what could entail a violation. Since the ceasefire began on Wednesday morning, large-scale operations between Israel and Hezbollah have ceased. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the Israeli military has reported several incidents since then and says it is taking action against Hezbollah fighters over breaches of the deal. The Lebanese army, meanwhile, is also accusing the Israeli military of violating the agreement. Israel "violated the agreement several times through air violations and targeting Lebanese territory with various weapons," it said in a statement on the social media platform X. The Lebanese army, which plays a key role in overseeing the agreement, is not an active party in the Hezbollah-Israel conflict. In one incident, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said an aircraft attacked a weapons depot belonging to Hezbollah after "terrorist activity was identified in a facility used by Hezbollah to store mid-range rockets." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Israeli media reports, it was the second Israeli airstrike in Lebanon since the ceasefire began. An Israeli military official commented on the incidents, describing them as "isolated events" typical in the early hours or days following the implementation of such an agreement. The painstakingly negotiated deal stipulates that Hezbollah must withdraw behind the Litani River, about 30 kilometres north of the border to Israel, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701. The resolution marked the end of the last war in Lebanon in 2006 but was never fully implemented. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel's ground troops are to gradually withdraw from Lebanon over the next 60 days, but the IDF says it is still taking action against Hezbollah members who are violating the agreement. Earlier, the Lebanese state news agency NNA reported that at least two people were injured when the Israeli military fired on villages near the border in south-eastern Lebanon. In a statement, the IDF said that several suspected Hezbollah fighters had arrived in vehicles in various parts of southern Lebanon, violating the terms of the deal. The IDF also announced another night-time curfew in southern Lebanon, with a spokesman saying access to border areas south of the Litani River has been banned between 5 pm (1500 GMT) on Thursday and 7 am on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "For your safety, you must follow these instructions," the spokesman said in a post on X. The military announced a similar curfew on Wednesday evening. Iran calls ceasefire a 'humiliating defeat' for Israel The 60-day ceasefire is designed to put an end to the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah that began more than one year ago in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023 attacks. The deal has been welcomed around the world, particularly in Lebanon where hundreds of thousands were displaced and thousands killed in the fighting following Israel's ground invasion in late September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As well as suffering setbacks in southern Lebanon, Hezbollah lost a number of top commanders in targeted Israeli airstrikes in Beirut, including its leader Hassan Nasrallah. In a letter on Thursday to Nasrallah's successor Naim Qassem, however, the leader of Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the ceasefire was a "victory for Hezbollah" and a "strategic and humiliating defeat" for Israel. Anna Maria Oyster Bar agreed to a settlement after an investigation found that that restaurant group engaged in hiring practices that discriminated against lawful permanent residents, officials say. According to the Department of Justice, the Bradenton-based restaurant group routinely discriminated against lawful permanent residents by improperly requiring them to provide specific documentation to prove their eligibility to work in the United States. The investigation began after an employee reported that the business required her to provide a permanent resident card even though she had already provided sufficient proof of her employment eligibility, according to a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is unlawful for employers to reject valid documents from lawful permanent residents and require them to present a specific document because of their citizenship status when checking their permission to work, said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke. Unnecessary and discriminatory obstacles in the onboarding process can harm those who wish to lawfully participate in our economy and deprive employers of their talents. The department announced Tuesday that it secured an agreement with Anna Maria Oyster Bar that resolves federal investigators determination that the restaurant group violated discrimination laws. As part of the settlement, Anna Maria Oyster Bar will pay a civil penalty, revise its employment policies and undergo training on the Immigration and Nationality Acts requirements, according to a news release. The restaurant group will also be subject to monitoring by the Justice Department to ensure compliance. The Department of Justice said its investigation found a broad pattern of discriminatory hiring practices at Anna Maria Oyster Bar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal investigators say the restaurant group regularly requested documents issued by the Department of Homeland Security, typically Permanent Resident Cards, from lawful permanent residents to provide their citizenship status. This practice, which the department says lasted from March 1 to September 1, violated the Immigration and Nationality Act. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)s anti-discrimination provision prohibits employers from asking for specific or unnecessary documents because of a workers citizenship, immigration status or national origin. Employers must allow workers to present whatever acceptable documentation the workers choose and cannot reject valid documentation that reasonably appears to be genuine and to relate to the worker. Federal law allows individuals with legal permission to work in the United States, including U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents and those with asylum or refugee status, to use a variety of documents to prove their employment eligibility. The Immigration and National Act anti-discrimination provision prohibits employers from requiring specific or unnecessary documents based on an employees citizenship, immigration status, or national origin, nor can they reject valid documents that appear genuine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anna Maria Oyster Bar is a Bradenton-based restaurant group thats been around for nearly 30 years. It began in 1995 when John Horne, the owner and chief executive officer, took over Fast Eddies in Bradenton Beach, which became the first Anna Maria Oyster Bar, known as The Pier at 200 Bridge St. The restaurant has since expanded to include five additional locations. SEOUL, South Korea Starbucks, one of the worlds most recognizable, if sometimes tedious, symbols of global capitalism, has a knack for choosing unique spots to open coffee shops. A 1,200-year-old castle in Prague houses one, an ancient former mosque in Cordoba another, and a decommissioned power station in London a third. Its latest new venture is a foray into the last frontier of the Cold War even as tensions between South Korea and its hermetic neighbor to the north have risen in recent years. As of Friday, visitors to Aegibong Peace Ecopark near Gimpo, South Korea, can take in the views across the demilitarized zone and the North Korean border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baek Hea-soon woke up at 4 a.m. on Friday and traveled from the nearby city of Gimpo 30 miles northwest of Seoul to be one of the first in a line of hundreds outside the coffeehouses latest outpost. I wish I could share this tasty coffee with the people living in North Korea right in front of us, Baek, 48, told Reuters, as she observed the front line of a conflict that has technically not ended. The two Koreas are still at war after their 1950-53 conflict ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. The 30-seat cafe opened Friday, offering its customers in the south a peek into the worlds most reclusive country. Tensions between the two Koreas are clear to see. Last month, Pyongyang blew up sections of inter-Korean roads and rail lines on its side of the border as part of its push to scrap its long-standing goal of unification. North Korea has also this year sent thousands of balloons attached to bags of trash, old batteries and manure across the border, with one landing in Seouls presidential compound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, the heavily militarized border that bisects the Korean peninsula has long been an unlikely draw for foreign and local tourists, and now Gimpo is getting in on the action. South Korean veterans enjoy a coffee as they look over toward North Koreas Gaepung County. Along with the Starbucks, the city has launched a new public bus line that will take tourists to the park, once they have passed through a military checkpoint. People used to think of this area near the North Korean border as a dark and gloomy place, Kim Byung-soo, mayor of Gimpo, told NBC News. But now this place could now become an important tourist destination for security [and] peace that can be seen as young, bright and warm. As the mayor spoke, customers took pictures of the Starbucks logo on their mugs against the backdrop of the north. The coffeehouses patrons can see a North Korean village on Songaksan Mountain, as well as the environmental preservation area that the civilian-free DMZ is home to. An observation deck at a Starbucks in Gimpo, South Korea. For some customers, enjoying a cup of joe while overlooking fields and a North Korean village is calming even if Kim Jong Un has repeatedly threatened to send nuclear weapons across the border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Having a cup of coffee here, I feel like I can look at North Korea, a nation divided from us, with a bit more calm and peace of mind, 80-year-old Vietnam War veteran Lim Jong-chul told NBC News. Before, the concept of security felt rigid and tense, but now, with this cafe here, it feels more peaceful and reassuring. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com The Soviet Union appropriated many different inventions and even culinary dishes. Due to the lack of information from open sources, people living in those days did not even realize that they were facing real plagiarism. ADVERTISIMENT FoodOboz figured out what kind of products the Soviet government simply stole. As it turned out, most of the domestic dishes loved by millions were actually not domestic at all. Condensed milk The production of condensed milk in the world began in 1856. Its developer and patent holder is Gail Borden, a US entrepreneur. In the USSR, this product appeared only after Anastas Mikoyan, People's Commissar of the USSR Food Industry, traveled to the United States. There, he learned about the production of condensed and powdered milk, as well as milk formula for children. Cutlets ADVERTISIMENT Yes, the idea of using minced meat to make cutlets was also brought to the USSR from overseas. Something remotely similar to burgers began to be made in the Soviet Union in 1937. But at that time, the population did not like the dish very much. That's how cutlets in dough, another variant of burgers, were born. Processed cheese Processed cheese appeared in the USSR in 1937. However, in Switzerland, people have been enjoying their taste since 1911. Interestingly, the popularity of Druzhba processed cheese in the Soviet Union reached such a scale that a monument was erected to it. Semi-finished products On his trip to the United States, Mikoyan learned not only about condensed milk but about the idea of freezing food. It was after his trip that the first semi-finished products began to appear in the USSR, which at first only wealthy ones could afford. STORY: :: Gimpo, South Korea :: November 29, 2024 :: A Starbucks opens on South Korea's border with the North, offering a view into the hermit kingdom "As I sip this delicious coffee, I wish I could share this tasty coffee with the people living in North Korea right in front of us. :: Lim Jong-Chul, Vietnam War veteran "Having a cup of coffee here, I feel like I can look at North Korea, a nation divided from us, with a bit more calm and peace of mind. Before, the concept of security felt rigid and tense, but now, with this cafe here, it feels more peaceful and reassuring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ::Kim Byung-Soo, Mayor of Gimpo City People used to think of this area near the North Korean border as a dark and gloomy place. But now that Starbucks, with its global marketing power, has opened here, this place could now become an important tourist destination for security and peace that can be seen as young, bright, and warm as well as garnering global attention. "I wish I could share this tasty coffee with the people living in North Korea right in front of us," said Baek Hea-soon, one of hundreds of customers who queued up on Friday to visit the U.S. coffeehouse chain that has opened at the observatory near the city of Gimpo, about 31 miles northwest of Seoul and just outside the fortified Demilitarized Zone separating the Koreas. Lim Jong-Chul, an 80-year-old Vietnam War veteran, said he felt he could look at North Korea "with a bit more calm and peace of mind." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mayor of Gimpo City Kim Byung-Soo said he hopes the opening of the Starbucks could lead to more tourists visiting the area. Many customers took pictures of the Starbucks logo on their mugs against a backdrop of the territory in the north, while Gimpo mayor Kim Byung-soo said the new riverbank cafe would revamp the location into an important tourist destination. The world's last Cold War frontier has become an unlikely draw for foreign and local tourists, despite a spike in tensions on the Korean peninsula in recent years. The two Koreas are still technically at war after their 1950-53 war ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL) The City of Bristol, Tennessee, advises the community to expect heavier-than-usual traffic during the holiday season. The city said in a social media post that the Bristol Tennessee Police Department will direct traffic in busy areas to ensure smooth flow. Thousands participate in Johnson Citys annual Turkey Trot 5k The city asks drivers to reduce speed, be patient and be mindful of their surroundings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. British lawmakers are set to decide Friday whether to legalize assisted dying, a contentious proposal that would make the United Kingdom one of a small handful of nations to allow terminally ill people to end their lives. A passionate debate Friday in Westminster is underway and expected to last several hours, before a vote later in the day. The MP behind the bill from the governing Labour party, Kim Leadbeater, said the debate was long overdue, adding that the law was not fit for purpose and was driving people to desperate measures. But Conservative MP Danny Kruger, who is leading opposition to the bill, branded it too big and too flawed to pass. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If passed, the bill will let people with a terminal condition and fewer than six months to live take a substance to end their lives as long as they are capable of making the decision themselves. Two doctors, followed by a High Court judge, would need to sign off on the choice. The legislation would see Britain join a small collection of countries to push forward with the process. Canada, New Zealand, Spain and most of Australia allow assisted dying in some form, as do US states Oregon, Washington and California. The vote is the culmination of a lengthy and occasionally painful debate in the country, which has seen high-profile figures dealing with terminal diagnoses become standard-bearers for the cause. But it has sharply divided lawmakers, many of whom have labored to choose a side during an unusually strained week in Westminster, and the results of the vote appeared to be on a knife-edge. Members of Parliament have been given a free vote on the issue, meaning they can support either side according to their conscience, with no political ramifications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an open letter to MPs ahead of the vote, Esther Rantzen, a BBC TV presenter with advanced lung cancer who has become a prominent supporter of assisted dying, wrote: Under our current criminal law the only choice for most people who are terminally ill, if they are facing an agonising death, is between suffering, Switzerland or suicide. Rantzen has previously said she is herself considering using the Swiss assisted dying clinic Dignitas to end her life. She urged MPs on all sides to vote on the issue. This will probably not come before Parliament as an issue to debate for another decade, she wrote. How many more will be forced to suffer until then? But opponents have cited a variety of concerns with the bill, including their religious views, the strength of its safeguards, or the lack of time to consider its fineprint. Broadcaster Esther Rantzen, who has stage four lung cancer, has become a standard-bearer for the campaign. - Kirsty O'Connor/PA Wire/File Parliament is tearing itself in two It is rare that British lawmakers are asked to decide for themselves on such an intimate issue, and many have struggled this week over how they will vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parliament is tearing itself in two over this, Rachael Maskell, a Labour MP and prominent opponent of the process, told CNN. MPs are showing signs of stress, having to make this decision in such a short time frame. Its occupying everybodys complete thoughts. The vote represents the major hurdle that the bill would need to pass to become law, though it would still be reviewed in the House of Lords and by a parliamentary committee. Fridays ballot in the House of Commons bears similarities to previous free votes concerning abortion and same-sex marriage. The prime minister, Keir Starmer, is expected to vote himself, but he hasnt said which side he will support, insisting he wouldnt want to influence lawmakers in either direction. Proponents of the bill say assisted dying can bring dignity to terminal patients at the end of their lives, averting months of suffering and physical decline, and easing pressure on the countrys palliative, or end-of-life, services. Polling indicates that a comfortable majority of the public supports assisted dying. Kim Leadbeater introduced the bill to Parliament. As a Private Members' Bill, it was not co-sponsored by the government and reached the chamber quicker than traditional legislation would. - House of Commons/Handout/Reuters/File In her open letter, Rantzen wrote: The tragic truth is that no matter how excellent the palliative care is, it cannot prevent some kinds of suffering, fecal vomiting for example, or suffocating to death, or deep-rooted agony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tristan Osborne, a Labour MP, told CNN he decided to vote in favor of the process because he was confident in its safeguards. I put myself in my own shoes and what I would want for my loved ones, he said, describing the option as one that I myself would want if I were in that situation. But critics fear the bills guardrails are not stringent enough, and suggest patients could feel pressured to opt for an assisted death only to avoid becoming a burden on their families. Others have concerns that the bill has been sprung on MPs hundreds of whom are in their first few months in the job following Julys election without a thorough impact assessment or time to consider the proposal. And Maskell told CNN that Britains creaking National Health Service (NHS) wasnt in a fit enough state to offer assisted deaths. I really believe that Labour got elected because the NHS is such a mess. Weve got to sort the NHS out before we go down this route, she said. Pressing ahead now is ignoring the imperative weve got to address the woefully underfunded palliative system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposed bill is broadly in line with the Oregon model, and does not go as far as Switzerland, the Netherlands and Canada, which allow assisted death in cases of suffering, not just for terminally ill people. It differs from euthanasia, the process in which another person deliberately ends someones life to relieve suffering. It is currently a crime to help somebody die in England and Wales, punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Performing euthanasia on a person, meanwhile, is considered murder or manslaughter. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Lawmakers in the U.K. passed the controversial bill after a year of campaigning from both sides and hours of debate in Parliament Carl Court/Getty Supporters of a bill to allow for assisted dying protest in London on Nov. 29, 2024. Supporters of a bill to allow for assisted dying protest in London on Nov. 29, 2024. Terminally ill patients in Britain are closer to being able to choose when they can die after a new vote supporting medical aid in dying in the U.K.'s Parliament. After a contentious hours-long debate, lawmakers in Britain on Friday, Nov. 29 voted to support a bill allowing people with a terminal condition and less than six months to live the choice of taking a substance to end their lives, the Associated Press reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill is similar to medical aid in dying laws already in effect in 10 U. S. states, including Oregon and Washington. "Let's be clear, we're not talking about a choice between life or death, we are talking about giving dying people a choice about how to die," the bill's main sponsor, Kim Leadbeater, a member of Parliament from the Labour Party, said in the opening speech in a packed chamber, according to CBS News. While acknowledging the decision in front of the lawmakers, Leadbeater added, "If any of us wanted an easy life, theyre in the wrong place," the AP reported. Related: Filmmaker's Parents Choose Medical Aid in Dying, End Their Lives in Emotional Docuseries: Editing 'Was Hell' (Exclusive) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill passed the House of Commons by a vote of by 330 to 275. It now faces further debate and scrutiny as it moves through both Houses of Parliament before it becomes law. If it does, the law would apply to those in England and Wales over the age of 18. As for other parts of the U.K., Scotland is considering its own legislation, while Northern Ireland has no such proposal, Reuters reported. Press Association via AP Lawmakers in Britain's House of Commons debate a bill allowing for medically assisted dying on Nov. 29, 2024. Lawmakers in Britain's House of Commons debate a bill allowing for medically assisted dying on Nov. 29, 2024. The proposed legislation would only allow the option of medical aid in dying for terminally ill adults who are expected to die within six months and who are capable of making a decision themselves. Two doctors, and then a judge, would need to sign off on the choice, per the AP. MP Danny Kruger, who led the argument against the bill, argued that the legislation amounted to a "state suicide service" and said he was concerned that the role of Parliament should be to protect the vulnerable, according to CBS News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are the safeguard, this place, this Parliament, you and me," he said. "We are the people who protect the most vulnerable in society from harm and yet we stand on the brink of abandoning that role." Leon Neal/Getty Protester opposing a bill to allow for assisted dying outside the U.K. Parliament in London on Nov. 29. Protester opposing a bill to allow for assisted dying outside the U.K. Parliament in London on Nov. 29. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who leads the Labour Party, declined to share his views on the issue before the vote, but he did support the bill, even though some other members of his government voted against it, the AP reported. Polls suggest a majority of Britons back assisted dying, and a recent Gallup poll showed that most Americans favor legal euthanasia, when another person deliberately ends someones life to relieve suffering. Euthanasia is legal in several European countries including the Netherlands. According to the BBC, Leadbeater said that if the bill eventually became law, there would a period of up to two years before its implementation because "it is more important to get this right than to do it quickly." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: Brittany Maynard's Widower Made Her a Promise When She Ended Her Life. Ten Years Later, He's Still Keeping It (Exclusive) The proposed bill in Britain is similar to current law in Oregon, but doesn't go as far as laws in Switzerland, the Netherlands and Canada, which allow for access to assisted death in cases of suffering, not just for terminally ill people. Labour MP Kim Leadbeater speaks to the press during a gathering in favor of the proposal to legalize assisted dying in the U.K. JUSTIN TALLIS via AFP via Getty Images British lawmakers on Friday voted in favor of a landmark bill to legalize assisted dying in the U.K. In a historic vote, members of Parliament (MPs) supported the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill by 330 votes to 275. It followed four and a half hours of intense House of Commons debate as supporters and opponents of the bill locked horns. Although the legislation still has several more hurdles to clear as it makes its way through Parliament, the result is a huge step toward it becoming law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If it does make it onto the statute book, terminally ill adults in England and Wales with less than six months to live will be granted the right to choose to end their life with medical assistance. The bill was introduced by Kim Leadbeater, a lawmaker from the ruling Labour Party, but MPs werent obligated to vote along party lines because it is a matter of conscience. Nevertheless, the debate exposed splits within the Cabinet. Health secretary Wes Streeting and justice secretary Shabana Mahmood spoke out against the bill, while work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall and energy secretary Ed Miliband were among those making clear they would vote for it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lord Cameron became the first former prime minister to support the bill earlier this week after Gordon Brown, Baroness Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss spoke out against it. But, only Cameron and May have seats in the House of Lords meaning they will get to vote on it once the bill is processed in the Commons. MPs last voted on the issue in 2015, and rejected a different set of proposals by 330 votes to 118. British spies are taking covert action against Russia to help defeat Vladimir Putin in his effort to take Ukraine, the head of MI6 has said. Sir Richard Moore said on Friday that MI6 cherishes our heritage of covert action, which we keep alive today by helping Kyiv to resist Russias illegal invasion. Speaking at the British embassy in Paris, he also accused Russia of carrying out a staggeringly reckless campaign of sabotage across Europe and warned Putin could push into countries in Natos eastern flank next. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our security - British, French, European and transatlantic- will be jeopardised, he added. His comments come amid growing concerns of European intelligence agencies and militaries that Donald Trump will withdraw military aid for Ukraine when he becomes president in January. 03:00 PM GMT Thats all for today Thanks for following our live coverage of the war in Ukraine. It has now ended for the day. Well be back soon with more updates and analysis. 02:45 PM GMT Your views... 02:26 PM GMT Joe Rogan turns down Zelensky podcast offer Joe Rogan has revealed he turned down an offer by Volodymyr Zelensky, who reportedly offered to appear on the comedians podcast. It comes after a row broke out when Mr Rogan said f--k you towards the Ukrainian president after Western long-range missiles were fired at Russia for the first time. NEW: Zelenskyy tried to get on the Joe Rogan podcast but Joe turned him down.#Ukraine #Russia pic.twitter.com/x2qG7QBGPl Desi Bytes (@desibytes_) November 29, 2024 02:03 PM GMT Ukraine to deploy reserves to Pokrovsk and Kurakhove The Ukrainian army has ordered reserves to be deployed to Pokrovsk and Kurakhove, two key strategic hubs under intense fire by Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moscow launched more than 100 attacks on the two Ukrainian cities on Thursday as it pushes to take control of the entire Donetsk Oblast. The main goal is to personally communicate with the commanders who are directly engaged in combat to resolve problematic issues and provide comprehensive assistance, Oleksandr Syrskyi, the head of the Ukrainian army, said. 01:46 PM GMT Ukraine redirecting kamikaze drones back to Russia Ukraine has learnt how to hack the Iranian-designed kamikaze drones that are flooding its airspace and send them back to Russia and Belarus, according to reports. Russia is now producing more than 6,000 Shahed-style drones per year at a plant in Yelabuga in the south-eastern Tatarstan region. Its forces fire between 30 and 80 of the loitering munitions in the direction of Ukrainian cities each day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The volume of attacks has been a challenge for Ukraines air defence units, which are running low on costly, Western surface-to-air missiles. Read the full story here. 01:05 PM GMT Russia loses 2,000 troops in highest death toll for a single day Russia lost more than 2,030 troops in the past 24 hours, reaching a record daily high, according to Ukraines military. Over 300 weapons and military equipment were also destroyed, the General Staff of the Armed Forces added in its daily statement. The figure could not be independently verified and battlefield losses are notoriously difficult to estimate. It surpasses the 1,950 Russian losses recorded By Ukraine on November 12. It comes as Russia continues its assault on Ukraines east, launching more than 100 attacks in the key strategic hubs of Pokrovsk and Kurakhove. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moscow has also stepped up its aerial attacks in response to Ukraines use of Western long-range missiles to hit targets inside Russia. Ukraine said it shot down 88 out of 132 Russian drones launched overnight. On Thursday, Moscow carried out what was described as a massive attack on Ukraines power grid, causing blackouts across the country. 01:01 PM GMT The men who force Ukrainians to the front lines Every morning, Artem signs on for work as one of Ukraines feared recruitment officers in his home town somewhere in the countrys war-torn East, writes Lucy DuVall. After a short briefing, his team decides where they will go: some are sent to cafes, restaurants, even nightclubs anywhere where young men of fighting age might be found. Then, the difficult work begins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sometimes its like dealing with a cornered rat, Artem told The Telegraph, as he explained how he gets his targets into vans and off to desperate military recruitment centres. They continue fighting even while in the vehicle. Those who resist always threaten to take revenge on our guys or their families, he added. Read the full story here. 12:31 PM GMT Russia returns 500 soldiers bodies Russian authorities returned over 500 bodies of Ukrainian soldiers killed in combat, with most having died in the eastern Donetsk region, Kyiv said on Friday. Russia and Ukraine have been exchanging bodies and prisoners of war since the first months of the conflict - with casualties estimated to be high on both sides. 12:07 PM GMT Scholz and Zelensky speak after Putin call Olaf Scholz and Volodymyr Zelensky have spoken for the first time since the German chancellor held a controversial call with Vladimir Putin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Scholz said he reiterated Germanys support for Ukraine and shared details of his call with the Russian president. I agreed with Zelenskiy that we will remain in contact - also with a perspective to possible paths to a just peace, he said on Friday. 11:28 AM GMT Russia behind staggeringly reckless sabotage in Europe Russia is waging a staggeringly reckless campaign of sabotage in Europe while also stepping up its nuclear sabre-rattling to scare other countries off from backing Ukraine, the UKs foreign spy chief said on Friday. Richard Moore, the head of Britains Secret Intelligence Service known as MI6, said in a speech in Paris on Friday that were Putin to succeed in reducing Ukraine to a vassal state, he would not stop there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our security - British, French, European and transatlantic- will be jeopardised, he said. 10:52 AM GMT Russia sentences Ukraine conflict critic to 3 more years in jail Russia on Friday sentenced Alexei Gorinov, the first person to be convicted for speaking out against Moscows military offensive in Ukraine, to another three years in prison in a second trial. The 63-year-old is already serving a seven-year sentence following a conviction in 2022. He wore a paper badge with a peace sign drawn on it as a court in Vladimir handed him the new sentence on charges of justifying terrorism, the Medizazona website reported. Imprisoned Kremlin critic Alexei Gorinov stands in a cage at the court holding a banner saying Stop killing, stop the war in Russian - AP 10:24 AM GMT Russia claims it shot down 10 ATACMs Russia claimed it shot down 10 US ATACMs this week, according to its defence ministry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joe Biden gave Ukraine permission to use the US-made missiles to fire at targets inside Russia for the first time last week. 09:54 AM GMT Watch: Ukrainian drone strike sparks fire at Rostov oil depot A Ukrainian drone strike sparked a fire at an oil depot in the Rostov region (see 9.17am post). 09:31 AM GMT Damaged Baltic Sea cables repaired, say operators Two Baltic Sea telecommunications cables that were severed in Swedish territorial waters have been repaired, their operators said on Friday, amid a probe into a Chinese ship in the area. An undersea telecom cable connecting Finland and Germany that was ruptured on November 18 was back in operation and fully restored, Finnish network operator Cinia said. The fault was repaired slightly faster than expected, Cinia CEO Ari-Jussi Knaapila said. 09:17 AM GMT Ukraine strikes Russian oil depot Ukraines military struck the Atlas oil depot in Russias Rostov region overnight, causing a fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Atlas is part of the Russian military-industrial complex that supplies petroleum products to the Russian army, a military statement read. 08:57 AM GMT In pictures: Debris from Russian missile attack on Kyiv Ukrainian troops load the remains of a Russian X-55 cruise missile after it struck Kyiv - AFP A Russian missile is wedged in the ground after being fired at Kyiv - AFP 08:44 AM GMT Eight injured in strikes on Kyiv and Odesa Eight Ukrainians were injured in overnight Russian drone attacks on Kyiv and Odesa, according to local authorities. Some 13 residential buildings were struck in Odesa, while a childrens medical facility was hit in the Dnipro district of Kyiv. 08:22 AM GMT Russian relations with North Korea expanding in all areas Russias defence minister on Friday hailed expanding ties with North Korea, after Western countries accused Pyongyang of sending more than 10,000 soldiers to help Russia fight Ukraine. Friendly ties between Russia and North Korea are actively expanding in all areas, including military cooperation, Andrei Belousov said, according to state media. 07:54 AM GMT British troops should help defend Ukraines border, says Johnson British troops should help defend Ukraines border as part of any peace deal, Boris Johnson has said. The responsibility to guard any possible future ceasefire line in Ukraine should be given to a multinational group of European peace-keeping forces, according to the former prime minister. The inauguration of the US president-elect Donald Trump on Jan 20 is expected to hasten talks over how the war in Ukraine can be brought to an end. On the campaign trail, Mr Trump said he would end the war in a day, although without providing any details. On Thursday, Vladimir Putin praised Mr Trump as an intelligent politician who will find a solution to the war in Ukraine and said he was ready for dialogue with the US. Read the full story here. 07:42 AM GMT Ukraine shoots down 88 Russian drones overnight Russia launched 132 drones to attack the country overnight, Ukraines air force said on Friday. Of the 132 drones, 88 drones were downed by the air force, 41 were lost - likely hitting their targets - and one drone returned to the Russian territory, according to the statement. 07:31 AM GMT Russian defence minister visits North Korea Russias defence minister arrived in North Korea on Friday for talks with the countrys military and political leaders. The defence ministry in announcing the visit didnt specify who Andrei Belousov would be meeting or the purpose of the talks. North Korean state media didnt immediately confirm the visit. It comes amid deepening relations between the two countries. North Korea has sent as many as 10,000 troops to the frontlines in Kursk, which was invaded by Ukraine in August. Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, right on the red carpet, is welcomed by North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang Chol - Russian Defense Ministry Press Service 07:28 AM GMT Welcome to our live coverage Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the war in Ukraine. Well be bringing you the latest news and analysis throughout the day. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. This week, the European Commission assessed the multiannual spending plans of the 21 member states who submitted them giving passing grades to 20 and failing one. The passing countries: Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. However, the commission rejected the multiannual plan put forward by the Netherlands. The Hague has been asked to prepare a revised plan in line with earlier projections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hungary's spending plan is still being examined, while Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany and Lithuania have not yet submitted theirs due to upcoming general elections and the formation of new governments. How are the eurozone countries faring? The commission also published its regular evaluation of EU member states' budget plans for 2025, including the submissions of 17 out of 20 eurozone members. EU countries must submit their draft budget to Brussels by October 15 each year, but this time the commission has allowed more flexibility due to the new European fiscal discipline rules introduced earlier in the year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The annual draft budgets have to be submitted by the 20 eurozone members, while all 27 European Union capitals should submit their multi-annual spending plans. The goal is to make European economies more robust and public finances more sustainable. While some countries passed their fiscal health check with flying colours, others have some work to do and the Netherlands received another rejection for its 2025 budget. The commission found eight EU member states, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Slovakia, and Slovenia, to be "in line." The following six EU member states were "not fully in line": Estonia, Germany, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta and Portugal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lithuania is deemed to "risk being not in line" while the Netherlands is "not in line." Ireland has not received a concluding overall assessment, but the commission found that the country's net expenditure growth is "expected to be above the ceiling." Austria, Belgium and Spain did not make a submission. Richer members of the European Union, including Germany and the Netherlands, are traditionally avid defenders of the bloc's strict spending limits, compared to less affluent southern members. Sluggish recovery from the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia's war against Ukraine, however, have seen usually frugal countries struggle to keep their expenditure low. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Berlin's cumulative spending is expected to exceed the allowed limits, the commission said. Germany's three-party governing coalition recently collapsed over differences on how to tackle the country's economic problems. It is now expected that the 2025 budget will be adopted by the next German government, following elections penned for February 23. France, too, is facing internal issues over money: Its belt-tightening draft budget for 2025 is at the centre of a political standoff that is threatening to topple the government in Paris. With a public deficit expected to reach 6.2% of gross domestic product this year, France almost has the worst performance of the 27 member states, surpassed only by Romania, and is a long way from the 3% deficit ceiling authorized by EU rules. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement French Prime Minister Michel Barnier is struggling to get his economic plan past opposition from the political extremes. It has drawn criticism from French far-right figurehead Marine Le Pen, who has threatened to back a no-confidence motion if the plan is pushed through. To limit government deficit and debt, the EU's fiscal rules foresee that member states do not produce a deficit higher than 3% of their gross domestic product (GDP) and do not surpass the threshold of 60% of GDP in government debt. Countries with excessive deficits being closely watched EU members in breach of these rules enter an excessive deficit procedure and are closely monitored by the commission while they realign their expenditures with EU law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A total of eight countries are currently facing the EU's excessive deficit procedure, namely France, Belgium, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. Romania has been in the procedure since 2020. The commission warned that Austria, whose deficit is expected at 3.6% this year, could join them. These countries must take corrective measures to comply with the EU's budgetary rules in future, or face fines. Until now, the commission has never dared to resort to financial sanctions, which are considered politically explosive. But that may change. Fiscal rules facelift: What's behind it? The revamped rules are an adaptation of the EU's Stability and Growth Pact, which guided member states through the eurozone crisis and ensuing years with mixed success. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pact was suspended between 2020 and 2023 to avoid a collapse of the European economy following the Covid-19 pandemic and the outbreak of war in Ukraine. It was reactivated at the start of 2024, but was given the facelift to make it more flexible and pragmatic. Budgetary trajectories are now tailored to each member state and margins for manoeuvre have been introduced to allow for investment. They are spread over a four-year period, which can be extended to seven years to make the adjustment less abrupt, in exchange for reform pledges. Five countries France, Finland, Romania, Spain and Italy have requested and obtained such an extension. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The multiannual plan needs to meet EU requirements concerning net expenditure, as well as general government deficits and debts. The financial penalties for non-compliance with the pact, previously unenforceable because they were too severe, have been reduced to make them easier to apply. Once a country's medium-term fiscal plan is adopted collectively by all EU members, the expenditure path becomes binding during the period covered by the document. Its implementation will be assessed by the commission regularly. The content of this article is based on reporting by AFP, AGERPRES, ANSA, BTA, dpa, EFE, LUSA, HINA, and STA as part of the European Newsroom (enr) project. By Luna Reyna Underscore Native News + ICT Join ICT and IndiJ Public Medias 2024 End of Year Campaign in honor of Mark Trahants 50-year legacy in Indigenous journalism. Help us reach our goal of $75,000 by Dec. 31 to celebrate and amplify Indigenous voices. Donate here! Editors note: Support for this reporting came from the Poynter Institute with funds from the Gill Foundation. Read other stories in this series here and here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The colonial legacies of assimilation policies and heteropatriarchal notions of gender and sexuality continue to reverberate through Indigenous communities, but many Native nations, like the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, are working to maintain traditional values that predate the harm caused by those legacies. One way the Cowlitz are doing this is by protecting all of their citizens through approaches that reflect long-held cultural understandings of the gender spectrum, as demonstrated by the holistic gender-affirming care offered through their Health and Human Services department. The Cowlitz Health and Human Services department includes 11 programs and employs about 200 employees, making it the largest department of the Cowlitz Indian Tribes government. The department has five office locations across Washington state in Vancouver, Butte, DuPont, Toledo, and Tukwila, where it provides behavioral health services like substance use disorder support, mental health and Medicaid medication-assisted treatment, an elders program, an Indian Child Welfare Act program, a victim services program called Pathways to Healing, an employment support program that helps Cowlitz citizens and other enrolled Native people with disabilities find employment services, and a child care development program that provides child care vouchers. Underpinning the Cowlitzs commitment to serving its people is the honoring of gender diversity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It really is about looking at the whole person and always making sure that we are providing the services that the whole person needs in a place that is safe and is judgment free and is really patient centered and led, Debbie Hassler, the Deputy Director of our Health and Human Services Department told Underscore Native News + ICT. That means making sure that our advocates and our Pathways to Healing program understand maybe some of the nuances or uniquenesses in providing advocacy services to people who are trans or are in same-sex relationships, because sometimes those needs, or those resources, or how we help people be safe, are different. Making everyone feel welcome Hassler, Cowlitz, has been the deputy director of the Health and Human Services department for the past two years but has worked for her nation in different roles for almost 20 years. Hassler said that making sure the facilities are a welcoming and safe place from the moment people enter the building is a major priority for the entire department. Every facility entrance has artwork created by Marysa Sylvester, Tulalip and Quileute Tribes. Deputy Director of Cowlitz Indian Tribe's Health and Human Services Department Debbie Hassler stands at her desk. Her office is decorated with Native made and rainbow themed artwork, stickers and sings that celebrate Two-Spirit identity. (Photo by Jarrette Werk Underscore Native News / Report for America) To really make sure that we could message to individuals that they are welcome here and will be safe here, Hassler said of the departments goal. Each location also has gender-neutral restrooms. The department recently received feedback from a young adult about signage asking people not to flush feminine hygiene products in the womens restroom. The person pointed out that not all people who menstruate are women. In response, the department switched to more inclusive signage in the restrooms for menstruation products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For me as the deputy director, it's like all the little things that we can do add up to, I think, making some real significant impacts in our community, [which] is pretty great, Hassler said. Hassler added that not everybody outside of Health and Human Services understood the importance of changing the language, which prompted important conversations that turned into more awareness and a better understanding of gender-diverse people within their own community. The Cowlitz Health and Human Services department makes sure that its clinicians and providers are knowledgeable and well trained in the needs of the community, including gender-diverse patients. Being able to be a health and human service department, we really are able to marry those social health or human service kind of resources into integrated care, Hassler said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether in regards to gender-diverse issues, access to Plan B or other issues, Hassler said the department is able to honor the Cowlitz Indian Tribes cultural values through its integrated care model. Cowlitz citizens are spread out because it doesnt have a reservation, so the nation has facilities all over the state to best serve its community members. Inside the waiting room, a poster celebrating "Indigiqueer Joy" hangs on the cupboard of the receptionist desk of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe Health and Human Services clinic. (Photo by Jarrette Werk Underscore Native News / Report for America) In order to make sure that every employee continues to honor Cowlitz cultural values, staff members all receive eight hours of cultural education training that details Cowlitz history, the legacy of violence and forced assimilation, the effects of federal Indian policies, tribal sovereignty, and Two-Spirit relatives place and reverence in community. Hassler said the elders, spiritual people and culture keepers that Cowlitz citizens depend on are often members of the Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA+ community and that its important honor them and acknowledge that. Every person in our community has a role to play, Hassler said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department also received training from Tavis Taylor, an internal medicine physician who has provided trans care since 2011 and teaches trans care to medical providers, including University of Washington Family Practice and Internal Medicine Residents. A portion of Taylors three-part series on providing gender-affirming care describes case studies that demonstrate how the care has had positive impacts for patients. According to Hassel, the departments medical director, Dr. Lynelle Noisy Hawk, Oglala-Hunkpapa Lakota, supports these trainings and believes continuing education in gender-affirming care is a priority for the departments providers. We're really excited that we have a person who feels comfortable and confident to be able to do that and really look at all of our community members and patients as unique people, Hassler said. If there's a way that we can individualize the care that we're providing people, whether it's because they're needing gender-affirming care, or maybe they need something else, being able to provide and have the resources and flexibility of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe to be able to make those individual treatment plan decisions has been something that I think we're pretty proud of. Gender-affirming care, a phrase that many people in whats now referred to as the United States have become familiar with, describes a range of healthcare services that support trans and nonbinary people. But it has long been a familiar concept to Indigenous cultures across Turtle Island, as people along the gender spectrum have traditionally held roles of cultural importance and respect for many Native peoples prior to the forced perpetuation of the gender binary through colonization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hassler said her department provides all services related to gender-affirming care that patients have needed so far. This includes helping them decide on an individualized treatment plan that can include treatments such as hormone replacement therapy, referrals to specialists for surgical treatments if the patient expresses interest and other services. If they are pediatric patients, the patient is referred to pediatric gender-affirming care teams for specialized support. There is also a therapeutic intervention youth group for kids 13-16 years old that meets once a year depending on interest. The group has presenters who talk through issues like understanding signs and red flags of abuse of people who identify as Two-Spirit and resources for help. Family planning services for same sex and other families on the gender spectrum are also provided, including contraceptive counseling, referring patients for IVF/IUI services and offering resources for patients interested in adoption or becoming foster parents. Additionally, a new family nurse practitioner is joining the staff in January 2025 who has obstetrics experience and an interest in gender-diverse care. She will be working with clinical admin staff and clinical providers to explore additional family planning services. The Cowlitz Health and Human Services Department also provides mental health support to patients regardless of gender identification, including gender-affirming counseling. Future plans The department has also taken sexual orientation and gender identity training through Paths (Re)membered. Itai Jeffries, Yesah, director of the Paths (Re)membered Project, facilitated the training and was also a keynote speaker at the Cowlitz Behavioral Health Conference in August along with Harlan Pruden, First Nations Cree, co-founder of the Two-Spirit Dry Lab, a quantitative research group, and an Indigenous Knowledge Translation Lead at Chee Mamuk, an Indigenous Health Program at the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control. Informational pamphlets from the Paths Remembered Project are available for all patients and clients that utilize services from the Cowlitz Indian Tribe Health and Human Services clinic. (Photo by Jarrette Werk Underscore Native News / Report for America) Were really excited about the content of this conference, and a large part of that was our Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement our Two-Spirit, LGBT focus, Hassler said. At the conference, behavioral health providers spoke about the importance of training and best practices when providing services or resources to citizens who are Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA+, and every breakout session had a speaker who was Two-Spirit or a workshop that addressed issues specific to Two-Spirit people in some capacity. Indian Health Service will not support funding for the conference next year, so Hassler is unsure if the conference will be held again. Future collaborations with Paths (Re)membered include Paths (Re)membered staff filming material around gender-affirming care at the Cowlitz tribal clinic to be used in the departments promotional marketing or informational videos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a conversation with Pruden about the language Cowlitz people would have used to identify somebody in their community who was Two-Spirit, Hassler talked to the Cowlitz linguist. I want to know how Cowlitz would have identified a Two-Spirit person in our community, Hassler said. What was our word for that? Hassler is hoping to be able to share what she learns by June for Pride month in conjunction with the nations language program. Lori Morris, the departments referred care program manager, would also like to have a dedicated gender-affirming care team in the department, which would include a medical provider, a behavioral health clinician, a member of executive leadership and ancillary staff, according to Hassler. Debbie Hassler, the Deputy Director of Cowlitz Indian Tribe's Health and Human Services Department, walks into the clinic on Nov. 08, 2024. (Photo by Jarrette Werk Underscore Native News / Report for America) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hassler is amazed by the departments growth over the last 20 years and everything the Cowlitz nation has been able to accomplish. She believes the model should be celebrated. The department has even become a resource for other programs like the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, which reached out to inquire about Cowlitzs programs. I'm real proud of us as an employer, Hassler said. I'm proud of us because we do some cool things, but as a tribal member I'm really excited that we're building all of this for my kids kids, and their kids and their kids. I just think it's just so important. This story is co-published by Underscore.news and ICT, a news partnership that covers Indigenous communities in the Pacific Northwest. Funding is provided in part by Meyer Memorial Trust. Our stories are worth telling. Our stories are worth sharing. Our stories are worth your support. Contribute $5 or $10 today to help ICT carry out its critical mission. Sign up for ICTs free newsletter. SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WJW) Burglars earned a free ride to jail this Thanksgiving holiday in Springfield Township. According to a press release posted to the Springfield Twp. Police Department Facebook page, officers were dispatched to the Kohls store on South Arlington Road around 1:30 a.m. for a possible robbery. Will mail and packages be delivered on Thanksgiving, Black Friday? While heading to the scene, officers learned that two people were seen entering and exiting the front doors of the store. When they arrived at the scene, the suspects were actively inside the store, the release said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspects, identified as 21-year-old Anthony Williams Jr. and 20-year-old Ryon Thomas, tried to flee the scene through the back door, the release said. Williams was arrested in the parking lot and Thomas was arrested in a wooded area north of the business, police said. According to the release, the suspects were found in possession of miscellaneous clothing and cologne that totaled in value of $2,183.01. I-Team: Law enforcement survivors grateful this Thanksgiving Investigations found that the suspects were able to get into the store by forcing the front doors open with a crowbar, the release said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Happy Thanksgiving, burglars. Youve earned a free ride to jail! the police department said on Facebook. Both suspects were charged with breaking and entering, theft, possessing criminal tools and obstructing official business. They were both taken to the Summit County Jail. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. With ongoing rainfall covering the Northstate, CalFire Tehama-Glenn Unit is no longer requiring residential burn permits. Before conducting yard waste burning, residents must contact their local fire department or local air quality management district to determine permits requirements and whether it is an allowable burn day. CalFire encourages safe dooryard burning by residents to reduce fire risk. In the event of a forecasted wind event, residents must ensure the dooryard burn pile has been extinguished and secured to avoid fire spread. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To verify if it is a permissive burn day contact: Residents of Tehama County can call 530-527-3717 Residents of Glenn County can call 530-934-6500 Only natural vegetative material such as leaves, pine needles and tree trimmings are allowed to be burned. Household garbage may not be burned. CalFire warns that residents must never burn on windy days. New Year's Eve is always a special occasion, and Europe offers plenty of options for those looking to celebrate in style. From spectacular fireworks displays in London to traditional celebrations in Madrid, each city creates its own unique atmosphere. ADVERTISIMENT For those looking for the perfect places to ring in 2025, Lonely Planet has compiled the best European locations to experience the magic of New Year's Eve. Europe has something to offer everyone, regardless of preference. Celebrating the New Year here is an opportunity not only to celebrate the beginning of a new chapter but also to immerse yourself in the rich culture and traditions of different cities. London: fireworks over the Thames Every year, London gathers tens of thousands of visitors to see the grand fireworks over the Thames. The event is so popular that tickets for viewing platforms are sold out in advance. If you want to avoid the crowds, you can enjoy the spectacle from Primrose Hill Park or from a boat on the river. ADVERTISIMENT Berlin: the capital of techno parties Berlin is known for its nightlife, and New Year's Eve is celebrated to the fullest. Especially popular are parties at the Brandenburger Tor, where the best DJs perform and light shows take place. It is also recommended to visit clubs or enjoy a festive cruise on the Spree River. Lisbon: a New Year's tradition with a twist Portugal celebrates New Year's Eve with fireworks over the Tagus River, and Lisbon residents follow a unique tradition of eating 12 raisins to the sound of chimes. The Praca do Comercio becomes the main center of celebrations, where people gather for concerts and drink local sparkling wine. ADVERTISIMENT Paris: the city of lights shines brighter New Year's Eve in Paris turns into a fairy tale. A large-scale light show takes place on the Champs-Elysees, and the Arc de Triomphe becomes a backdrop for festive fireworks. Besides, you can visit famous cabarets such as the Moulin Rouge to celebrate the New Year with champagne. Dublin: a festival of music and light Dublin invites guests to a big New Year's festival with concerts, DJs, and light shows. The main event is performances in open areas near Dublin Castle. And for beer lovers, a visit to the Guinness Storehouse will be a great end to the holiday. ADVERTISIMENT Edinburgh: four days of celebration Hogmanay in Edinburgh is a whole program of events with a torchlight procession, concerts, and the famous performance of "Auld Lang Syne." In addition to street parties, visitors can see the traditional Loony Dook bathing in the cold waters of the Firth of Forth. Stockholm: a poetic celebration of the New Year In Stockholm, New Year's Eve is celebrated in a more relaxed but no less solemn way. Fireworks over the Old Town and the recitation of Alfred Tennyson's poem in Skansen create a special atmosphere. The Royal Opera House offers a masquerade ball for lovers of classical art. Madrid: the rhythm of the night and the grape tradition Madrid comes alive on New Year's Eve with music and dancing until the early hours. The main celebration takes place in the Puerta del Sol square, where people eat 12 grapes for every strike of the clock. After that, the city's nightclubs are open for guests until dawn. Subscribe to the OBOZ.UA channels on Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events. BURNET, Texas (KXAN) New range equipment, drones and devices that can detect illicit drugs are helping the Burnet Police Department in a big way. Burnet Police Chief Brian Lee said, from improving officer safety to helping with investigations, this technology can help in a big way. The TruNarc device uses a laser to break down the substance presented. The laser goes in there and detects two different molecules, it will break them down and it will let us know, if there is fentanyl in this and then if there is methamphetamine, said Sgt. Michael Daugherty with the Burnet Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lee said, in a time when fentanyl is on the rise, the True Narc comes in handy and keeps officers safe. In an agency our size, you dont see typically having the TruNarc, having the drone systems, Lee said. The device tests for a wide range of drugs, including heroin, cocaine and synthetic opioids. The department also received funding for new drones. There are four in all, the two larger drones are weather resistant and used for a number of tasks, like search and rescue or pursuits, but they can also be used for other duties, as well. We can put out broadcasts as well as a spotlight for nighttime, Officer Joshua Day, who is one of the drone pilots, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The zoom capabilities with this is about 200 times magnification, Day said as he zoomed into the high school which was a few miles away. Another new tool can be found on the gun range, with targets linked to software that twist and turn them in a number of ways. If my officers are out there scanning targets every time before they act that is going to help them in a real life situation, Lee said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. The round batteries, small as buttons and shiny as coins, are prized for the energy they pack at their size. In households, they have become commonplace, powering remote controls, hearing aids, toys, electric tea lights, wristwatches, greeting cards that play music and other familiar items. But doctors warn that such "button batteries" can maim and kill. Pop one into your mouth and swallow as thousands of children do annually and they can quickly cause devastating injuries. A growing number of medical associations are pushing for battery manufacturers to head off the threat by making a new product: A button or "coin cell" battery that will not lead to catastrophic injuries when swallowed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The only real solution to the battery problem is to make the battery itself safer," said Dr. Toby Litovitz, founder of the National Capital Poison Center. When button batteries are lodged in the body, their electrical current breaks down water, driving up alkalinity to dangerous levels akin to bleach. Bodily tissues can begin to liquefy. Physicians say serious injury can happen within two hours, sometimes before a parent has realized that a battery was swallowed. As button batteries have proliferated in common items, the rate of pediatric emergency visits for battery-related injuries has more than doubled in recent decades, according to a study published in the journal Pediatrics. Some children have ended up relying on tubes to breathe or suffered massive hemorrhaging, doctors said. "Unfortunately, these batteries cause such severe injuries so rapidly," some of which are impossible for surgeons to repair, said Dr. Kris Jatana, surgical director of clinical outcomes at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Ohio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jatana became alarmed by the risks after caring for a 2-year-old who ended up needing a tracheostomy to breathe. "It was a moment that motivated me to try to see what we could do to prevent these injuries from happening in the first place." Some battery manufacturers have tried adding bitter coating or saliva-activated dye to tip off parents. Reese's Law, a federal statute named for a child who died of serious injuries after swallowing a button battery, now requires compartments for such batteries on consumer products to be harder to open and mandates child-resistant packaging for button batteries. But advocates say more needs to be done. For instance, Litovitz said that harder-to-open packaging would not address the many injuries caused when children swallow batteries left sitting out or discarded. Among those pushing to develop safer batteries is biotech entrepreneur Bryan Laulicht. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "What makes them really great for devices is also what makes them so dangerous when you swallow them," Laulicht said of button batteries. "They're powerful enough to split water ... which spikes the pH up to Drano levels in a matter of minutes." Doctors began raising alarms about the threat decades ago as more children began to suffer grave injuries. One study found that between 1985 and 2009, the percentage of button battery ingestions that led to serious or deadly injuries had risen more than sixfold. Litovitz and other researchers pointed to the rising popularity of the 20-millimeter-diameter lithium coin cell battery: Their analysis found that 12.6% of children under the age of 6 who ingested button batteries around that size suffered serious complications or death. They're "just the right size to get stuck in the esophagus of a small child, especially a child younger than four years," Litovitz said in an email. "Further, these lithium coin cells have twice the voltage of other button cells." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Doctors may not immediately recognize and diagnose the problem if no one realized a battery was swallowed, because the symptoms can initially look like those of other childhood ailments. The problem has worsened over time: From 2010 through 2019, an average of more than 7,000 children and teens went to emergency rooms annually for injuries related to batteries, according to the Pediatrics study. The rate of such emergency visits had doubled compared with the period of 1990 to 2009. Button batteries were implicated in the bulk of cases where the battery type was known. Researchers have tallied more than 70 deaths from ingesting button batteries over time, but Litovitz said the true number could be far higher because that figure only includes cases documented in medical research or the media or reported to the National Battery Ingestion Hotline, which stopped operating six years ago. At Children's Hospital Los Angeles, doctors see roughly one child a month who has been injured by a button battery, said Helen Arbogast, injury prevention program manager in its division of general pediatric surgery. Children are attracted to shiny things and pick up on the attention that adults pay to electronics, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Remote controls are really fascinating to them the buttons, the colors and part of their natural motor skill development is to learn how to open and close things," Arbogast said. She stressed that time is critical. "If a parent suspects their child having swallowed a button battery, it's important to get them to a hospital right away." In Texas, Reese Hamsmith awoke one morning in 2020 congested and wheezing. Her mother, Trista Hamsmith, took the toddler to the pediatrician, who suspected croup. It wasn't until the next day, after a Halloween night when Reese had remained ill, that her mother realized a button battery was missing from their remote control. Reese underwent emergency surgery, but the damage continued even after the battery had been removed, burning a hole through her esophagus and trachea, her mother said. In the weeks that followed, she underwent more surgeries, sedation and intubation. Less than two months after her injury, Reese died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was a year and a half old. After she died, "I held her again, and I promised to her that I would do everything I could that no kid would die this way again," Trista Hamsmith said. The Lubbock mother started a nonprofit, Reese's Purpose, that successfully pushed for federal legislation that imposed new requirements for battery compartments, childproof packaging and warning labels. Hamsmith was glad to see those rules go into effect, but rued that such protections had not been put in place earlier. "It shouldn't have to take what we went through" to spur action, she said. "It definitely should not have to take someone like me screaming at the world." The group is also funding research into a medical device that could detect a swallowed battery without subjecting a child to radiation, which Hamsmith wants to see used whenever a child shows up with possible symptoms. And it worked with Energizer on safety features including a telltale dye that turns blue with saliva. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The missing ingredient here ... has been the ability to alert the caregiver that something has happened," said Jeffrey Roth, Energizer's global category leader for batteries and lights. "That's really what 'color alert' does it gives the caregiver notification that a child might have put something in their mouth that they shouldn't have." Litovitz cautioned, however, that because not all batteries have the blue dye, doctors and parents should not assume that no battery was swallowed if they don't see that color. Roth said that in recent years, Energizer has spent tens of millions of dollars on research and other efforts surrounding button battery safety. "We believe that one day we will solve this," he said. "But it certainly requires a breakthrough innovation." Laulicht, co-founder and chief executive of Landsdowne Labs, said his company has been testing an alternative battery with a different kind of casing, intended to shut down inside the body. Tests that involve sandwiching the battery between two pieces of ham do not show the kind of damage inflicted by commercially available button batteries, he said. (Ham is used as a readily available substitute for human gastrointestinal tissue, Laulicht explained.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of their challenges has been getting the same level of battery performance with those alterations, Laulicht said. But as a father of young children, "I would rather [have] a battery that only lasted a year on the shelf ... but didn't kill my kid when they swallowed it." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Several roads that were temporarily closed after a traffic incident Thursday afternoon have reopened, police said. Motorists had been advised to avoid California City Boulevard between Randsburg Mojave Road and Conklin Boulevard, according to a release from the California City Police Department. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17. A popular restaurant teamed up with a local high school to feed the hungry on Thursday. What started as an idea to help those in need 15 years ago has evolved into an annual event that brings community members together in the true spirit of the holidays. From inside, where an assembly line of volunteers loaded containers with turkey and all the trimmings, to outside where volunteers delivered Thanksgiving meals with a smile, Calamaris Squid Row on State Street was a hub of activity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All in order to make the day brighter for Erie residents in need. Waterford businesses dish out Thanksgiving meals to the community (Does it mean a lot to you on a holiday to have this here?) Its super helpful of them Im so glad that theyre here for us, said Misty Maeperry, Thanksgiving meal recipient. The daughter of Calamaris owners came up with the idea after her Mercyhurst Prep class went on a mission trip to Baltimore to work in a soup kitchen. When I came back, I felt like we still really needed to do something and bring it back to our community. When I sat down with my parents and people from Mercyhurst, we came up with doing something on Thanksgiving to give back, said Rachel Honard, founder of Calamaris Thanksgiving for the Needy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mercyhurst Prep does the food drive and provides volunteers while Calamaris hosts the event and prepares the food. What Thanksgiving leftovers can/cant you share with your pets? The event is in its 15th year, and by noon, they had already served 1,500 people, which is 300 more than last year. So I think it ended up being close to 1,100 pounds of turkey and close to 800 pounds of stuffing, Honard said. Longtime volunteer Conor Amendola came home from college to help out. My mom, my dad, myself, we all come down here. And even now that Im back in college, I love coming down and I love helping with the dinner. Its just a great tradition to be a part of, Amendola said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 70 volunteers from Calamaris and Mercyhurst Prep worked together to make the event a success. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Illustration by Stephen Kelly / Getty Images Calin Georgescu is the EU and Nato's worst nightmare. The 62-year-old agricultural engineer came from nowhere to win the first round of Romania's presidential election on Sunday, the far-right candidate leap-frogging more well-known figures from the left and right to win 22% of the vote. He will now face a run-off against the pro-Western, pro-Nato centrist Elena Lasconi on 8 December. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His win has already dealt a "major blow to the country's political establishment", said the Financial Times (FT), and sent shockwaves through Europe. If he prevails next month he will hold the most powerful office in Romania, with the right to nominate the prime minister, conduct coalition talks and have the last word on security and foreign policy matters in the strategically vital east European country. 'Putin of Romania' In a TV interview in 2018, Georgescu called Russian President Vladimir Putin one of the few politicians in the world who is "a true leader". Three years later he described Nato's ballistic missile defence shield in Deveselu, southern Romania, as a "shame of diplomacy," claiming the military alliance would not defend any of its members against a Russian attack. This has earned him a reputation as a pro-Russian politician, with local newspapers jokingly describing him as the "Putin of Romania". Georgescu was a member of the far-right nationalist Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), but left the party in 2022 amid criticism that his anti-Nato stance was harming its reputation. While still a member of the AUR, Georgescu attracted "widespread condemnation for endorsing past Romanian far-right leaders", said the FT. He has called the pro-Nazi de facto Second World War dictator Ion Antonescu a "martyr" and described the pre-war leaders of the Christian-fascist Iron Guard movement as "heroes". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like other far-right populist politicians such as the UK's Nigel Farage and France's Jordan Bardella, Georgescu is also "savvy with social media", said Radio Free Europe. His TikTok account has gained 3.8 million likes with videos of himself attending church, doing judo, running on a track, and speaking on podcasts. Just days before the presidential election vote, Georgescu launched a TikTok campaign calling for an end to aid for Ukraine, "apparently striking a chord with voters". A '2024 radical right-wing populist' In the run-up to the election, Georgescu who does not now belong to any political party barely registered in national opinion polls and did not take part in TV debates. But perhaps his win should not have come as such a surprise given he "in many ways fits the mould of the 2024 radical right-wing populist" that has triumphed again and again, said Politico. "He speaks plainly, shuns Western orthodoxy, is loathed by mainstream media, and is an EU- and Nato-sceptic." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Today, a vote is a prayer for the nation," Georgescu wrote on Facebook on Sunday, summing up his appeal and those disillusioned voters he hoped to target. "I voted for the wronged, for the humiliated, for those who feel that they do not matter in this world they are the ones that matter!" Across a range of issues, "whatever the Romanian establishment stands for, he appears to be against it", said The Times. "He has argued that chemotherapy makes cancer patients sicker, that viruses are laboratory-engineered bio-weapons and that vaccines were designed to make children ill." Georgescu is promising a "radical transformation" of Romania, said the BBC, creating a society "based on small-scale organic agriculture, Christian values, and national sovereignty". Central to his appeal is his promise to "restore Romanias dignity" and end subservience to the international organisations it belongs to, including Nato and the EU. Like Robert F. Kennedy Jr's recent presidential campaign in the US, "food policy has loomed large" in Georgescu's politics, said Politico, and he has called for the country to be more self-sufficient in both farm and energy output. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His surprise surge at the polls has raised "concerns about possible yet unproven interference" from foreign state actors such as Russia, said Politico. "He is the product of the vacuum [in Romanian politics] and likely Russian money," said Milan Nic, from the German Council on Foreign Relations. Regardless of how he fares in next month's run-off, Georgescu's popularity is a "wakeup call" for the West, EU and Nato, he concluded "one of many". A man has been jailed for life for murdering his brother-in-law and attempting to kill three other people during a brutal and mindlessly violent shotgun rampage on the Isle of Skye and the Scottish mainland. Finlay MacDonald, 41, was ordered to serve at least 28 years in prison before he becomes eligible to apply for parole. He was convicted at the High Court in Edinburgh of the murder of John MacKinnon and the attempted murders of three others, including his wife, during a spree of violence on August 10, 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge Lady Drummond told him: You carried out a series of brutal and mindlessly violent attacks with a knife and a pump action shotgun within a matter of hours. Mr Mackinnons family said MacDonald was a callous coward who traumatised all those involved. Finlay MacDonald shot John MacKinnon several times, leaving him with fatal injuries - UNPIXS The attacks began that morning when the father of four repeatedly stabbed his wife, Rowena, at their home in Tarskavaig on the islands Sleat peninsula after finding flirty text messages on her phone between her and her boss. Giving evidence during the trial, Mrs MacDonald said the frenzied attack punctured both her lungs and left her squelching blood with every breath she took. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After attacking his wife, MacDonald got into his car with a pump-action shotgun, a couple of hundred cartridges and a machete-type knife, and drove to his brother-in-law John MacKinnons house in the nearby village of Teangue. His sister Lyn-Anne MacKinnon, who was outside on the driveway, told the court she saw him with the gun as he walked into the house, and said she heard bangs as he shot Mr MacKinnon a number of times, leaving him with fatal injuries. A GP who lived nearby attempted to save Mr MacKinnon but he died at the scene. The court heard MacDonald had borne a grudge against his brother-in-law since the pair had a violent falling out in 2013. The car belonging to Finlay MacDonald outside the house in Dornie, where he shot John and Fay MacKenzie - PETER JOLLY NORTHPIX MacDonald then drove to the house in Dornie in Wester Ross, on the mainland, where his osteopath John MacKenzie lived with his wife Fay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MacDonald claimed Mr MacKenzie had previously given him a treatment session which he said ruined his life. After arriving, MacDonald shot Mrs MacKenzie in the face through the windows of the house and then shot Mr MacKenzie twice, in his front and side, before being tasered and arrested by police who had trailed him to the property. Mrs MacDonald, Mrs MacKenzie and Mr MacKenzie all survived their injuries, and gave evidence in court during the trial. Moment of madness The court was shown footage of a police interview with MacDonald the day after the attacks during which he said he stabbed his wife in a moment of madness and he then felt a total darkness come over me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MacDonalds lawyer had argued for his client to be convicted of the lesser offence of culpable homicide rather than murder in relation to the killing of Mr MacKinnon, saying his ability to control his actions had been impaired by reason of abnormality of mind. However after three and a half hours of deliberation on Friday, the jury found MacDonald guilty of one count of murder, three counts of attempted murder, and one count of possession of a shotgun with intent thereof to endanger life. Frenzied attack Sentencing him to life imprisonment, Lady Drummond said: What began with a frenzied persistent attack with a knife on your wife continued with you deliberately targeting those you bore longstanding grudges against, shooting at them at close range within their own homes where they had no opportunity to defend themselves or escape. That Rowena MacDonald, Fay MacKenzie and John Don MacKenzie are alive today is down to their own actions, the bravery and responsiveness of police, particularly local Portree police, the emergency services in reaching them and the medical professionals who treated them. The outcome for each was as likely to have been fatal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For them and the family of John MacKinnon life will never be the same again. She noted that MacDonalds victims had suffered severe injuries, with his wife having to endure six weeks in hospital and permanent scarring from at least nine stab wounds. A central focus of the 12-day trial was the extent to which MacDonald was in control of his actions when he carried out the attacks. The court heard evidence about his mental state from two psychiatrists and two psychologists, who all agreed he suffered from autistic spectrum disorder and depressive disorder. However, prosecutor Liam Ewing KC said MacDonalds actions after he stabbed his wife driving to two houses, loading and using a shotgun, and selecting his victims indicated he had been fully in control of his actions when he murdered the osteopath. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lady Drummond said that the jurors had rejected a claim of diminished responsibility, but his health issues were still a matter to be taken into account and she acknowledged that he had expressed remorse. Sexual infidelity She also noted that the jury by their verdict rejected a claim that he was provoked into attacking his wife by reason of sexual infidelity. Defending, solicitor advocate Shahid Latif said of MacDonald: He is sorry for what he did that day. He wishes he could undo and go back in time to try and stop himself. In particular, he indicates he has failed his children. He wants them to know he is sorry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking outside the court on behalf of Mr Mackinnons family, Det Insp Richard Baird said: The loss of John is immeasurable. There are 10 children who have now lost their dads Finlay MacDonalds own children are now without a father due to his selfish and evil actions. He added: It should never be forgotten that John was defenceless at the time of his murder when he was inhumanely shot three times in his own home making breakfast for his children murdered by Finlay MacDonald a callous coward who traumatised all those involved. Speaking outside Edinburgh High Court, Det Insp Richard Baird said the loss of John is immeasurable - Duncan McGlynn Moira Kerr, Scotlands procurator fiscal for homicide, said: This has been a traumatic ordeal for all those affected by Finlay MacDonalds shocking crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The circumstances of John MacKinnons death and the injuries inflicted on Rowena MacDonald and Fay and John MacKenzie are deeply distressing and have had a profound effect on their communities. Det Supt Lorna Ferguson, of Police Scotlands major investigation team, said MacDonald had displayed an incomprehensible level of violence, and his crimes have had a lasting and devastating impact on generations of the families involved, and indeed entire communities. She added: I would like to end by making particular mention of the outstanding bravery displayed by the two officers who apprehended MacDonald. They acted under instruction to follow his vehicle and then put themselves at extreme risk by pursuing him into a house as shots were being fired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their actions, which selflessly put public safety ahead of their own, brought this incident to an end without any further loss of life. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. TORONTO (AP) Canada's antitrust watchdog said Thursday it is suing Google over alleged anticompetitive conduct in the tech giants online advertising business and wants the company to sell off two of its ad tech services and pay a penalty. The Competition Bureau said that such action is necessary because an investigation into Google found that the company unlawfully tied together its ad tech tools to maintain its dominant market position. The matter is now headed for the Competition Tribunal, a quasi-judicial body that hears cases brought forward by the competition commissioner about non-compliance with the Competition Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bureau is asking the tribunal to order Google to sell its publisher ad server, DoubleClick for Publishers, and its ad exchange, AdX. It estimates Google holds a market share of 90% in publisher ad servers, 70% in advertiser networks, 60% in demand-side platforms and 50% in ad exchanges. This dominance, the bureau said, has discouraged competition from rivals, inhibited innovation, inflated advertising costs and reduced publisher revenues. Google has abused its dominant position in online advertising in Canada by engaging in conduct that locks market participants into using its own ad tech tools, excluding competitors, and distorting the competitive process," Matthew Boswell, Commissioner of Competition, said in a statement. Google, however, maintains the online advertising market is a highly competitive sector. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dan Taylor, Googles vice president of global ads, said in a statement that the bureaus complaint ignores the intense competition where ad buyers and sellers have plenty of choice. The statement added that Google intends to defend itself against the allegation. U.S. regulators want a federal judge to break up Google to prevent the company from continuing to squash competition through its dominant search engine after a court found it had maintained an abusive monopoly over the past decade. The proposed breakup, floated in a 23-page document filed this month by the U.S. Department of Justice, calls for sweeping punishments that would include a sale of Googles industry-leading Chrome web browser and impose restrictions to prevent Android from favoring its own search engine. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy chaired a regular meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff to discuss urgent issues of energy security and defense. Zelenskyy also made several important personnel decisions regarding the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including the appointment of a new commander of the Land Forces. ADVERTISIMENT It was Mykhailo Drapatyi. The head of state announced this on his Telegram channel. The main topic of the meeting was the elimination of the consequences of Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure and the protection of critical infrastructure. "I held a meeting of the Council. First of all, on energy. Elimination of the consequences of Russian strikes, protection of facilities," the statement said. The President heard reports from responsible leaders and commanders on the state of restoration work in the regions. In order to protect critical infrastructure, the president set a task to strengthen the air defense system and intensify negotiations with international partners to provide the necessary resources. Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi reported on the situation at the front, including the course of hostilities in the Kursk operation area. ADVERTISIMENT In addition, important personnel decisions were made that should increase the combat capability of the Ukrainian army. "Mykhailo Drapatyi has been appointed as the new Commander of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Oleh Apostol has been appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces," the President noted. Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi is known for the successful organization of defense in the Kharkiv sector, where he thwarted an offensive operation by Russian forces. His experience and strategic thinking were the basis for this important decision. Colonel Apostol, commander of the 95th separate air assault brigade, has extensive experience in combat operations, which makes him one of the key specialists in modern warfare. "Both have proven their effectiveness in combat. The main task is to significantly increase the combat capability of our army, ensure the quality of training, and introduce innovative approaches to human resources management in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Ukrainian army needs internal changes to fully achieve the goals of our state," Zelenskyy emphasized. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes! As you can well imagine, dear North Country readers, your neighbors across the border are in a state of well, lets start with shock. The 25 percent tariff your newly-elected president has vowed to impose on everything flowing south when he takes office in January has thrown our normally placid nation into some form of panic. Evidence of the degree of national freak-out about the impact of the threatened tariffs is the speed with which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau convened an emergency meeting of provincial and territorial leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Your new president announced the tariffs, which also target Mexico and China, on Monday. Trudeau and the premiers met on Wednesday. Well deal with the tariff bombshell in a future column as things unfold, but suffice it to say, viewed from the vantage point of Americas most staunch ally and largest trading partner, its not a very promising omen given your new president wont even be sworn in for another two months. Wed much rather talk about an election outcome closer to home in the North Country and thats the appointment of your newly re-elected congresswoman as the United States ambassador to the United Nations. Elise Stefanik, as the new presidents envoy to an assembly that famously laughed in his face, has her job cut out for her, what with the new presidents apparent intent to shake up the world, and where better to disrupt things than in the only place where the whole world meets? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stefanik will be following in the footsteps of a parade of diplomatic and political luminaries, including one future president and several presidential and vice-presidential candidates. We dont know when this will happen, but presumably once the new administration takes office and diplomats take up their posts, Ambassador Stefanik will inevitably have a chit-chat with the U.N. ambassador for Americas staunchest ally. In a normal world, Stefanik might benefit from the wisdom and knowledge of Bob Rae, Canadas U.N. envoy since August, 2020, whose experience in a dazzling diversity of spheres almost makes one forget he was premier of Canadas largest province for nearly five years. Rae, now 76, led the one and only New Democratic Party (NDP) government Ontario has ever had, from 1990 to 1995, a one-off dance with a moderate socialist regime that had its share of controversy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Incidentally, Doug Ford, the current premier of Ontario, had perhaps the most visceral reaction of premiers to the looming tariffs: Its like a family member stabbing you right in the heart.) In the aftermath of a rather harsh defeat in the 1995 Ontario election, Rae eventually returned to his youthful political roots, the Liberal Party of Canada, and served as foreign affairs spokesman before becoming interim leader of the party from 2011 to 2013, when Trudeau became the new boss. Raes career as a politician he was elected to federal and provincial parliaments 11 times is remarkable in itself. His other work, however, as a negotiator, mediator, investigator, involving him in a astounding variety of issues, is literally too lengthy to even summarize here, but we can offer a few notable examples. A Rhodes scholar and seasoned lawyer, Rae led an inquiry into the 1985 Sikh terrorist bombing of an Air India flight out of Montreal; he served as a member of the Security and Intelligence Committee, Canadas top intelligence watchdog; he was a special envoy investigating human rights issues in Myanmar; he investigated humanitarian and refugee issues arising from the pandemic; he was the negotiator for nine First Nations in a major land claim dispute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year, U.N. members elected Rae president of the bodys Economic and Social Council, the group that oversees economic development. Raes election to the key position comes as Canada takes on the presidency of the G7 organization. In June, your new president will attend the first G7 summit of his second term on a mountain-top retreat in Alberta. If Rae and Stefanik should be stuck for ice-breaking small talk when they eventually meet, Canadas envoy might tell the tale of how he once delivered newspapers to the home of then vice-president Richard Nixon and one of her predecessors as American U.N. ambassador, Democratic presidential candidate Estes Kefauver. Rae, whose father was Canadian ambassador to the United States from 1956-61, went to high school in Washington and was a paperboy for the Evening Star. Rae recalled that at Christmas Kefauver gave him a $20 tip, whereas Pat Nixon gave him a quarter. Thus, young Bob became a Democratic sympathizer. Would such a charming tale give Elise Stefanik a chuckle? Lord knows, were all going to need some levity in the four years to come. OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) A coalition of Canadian news publishers, including The Canadian Press, Torstar, Globe and Mail, Postmedia and CBC/Radio-Canada, has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI for using news content to train its ChatGPT generative artificial intelligence system. The outlets said in a joint statement on Friday that OpenAI regularly breaches copyright by scraping large amounts of content from Canadian media. OpenAI is capitalizing and profiting from the use of this content, without getting permission or compensating content owners, the statement said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The publishers argue that OpenAI practices undermine the hundreds of millions of dollars invested in journalism, and that content is protected by copyright. News media companies welcome technological innovations. However, all participants must follow the law, and any use of intellectual property must be on fair terms, the statement said. Generative AI can create text, images, videos and computer code based on a simple prompt, but the systems must first study vast amounts of existing content. OpenAI said in a statement that its models are trained on publicly available data. It said they are grounded in fair use and related international copyright principles that are fair for creators and support innovation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company said it collaborates closely with news publishers, including in the display, attribution and links to their content in ChatGPT search and offers outlets easy ways to opt-out should they so desire. This is the first such case in Canada, though numerous lawsuits are underway in the United States, including a case by the New York Times against OpenAI and Microsoft. Some news organizations have chosen to collaborate rather than fight with OpenAI by signing deals to get compensated for sharing news content that can be used to train its AI systems. The Associated Press is among the news organizations that have made licensing deals over the past year with OpenAI. Others include The Wall Street Journal and New York Post publisher News Corp., The Atlantic, Axel Springer in Germany and Prisa Media in Spain, Frances Le Monde newspaper and the London-based Financial Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canada has passed a law requiring Google and Meta to compensate news publishers for the use of their content, but has previously declined to say whether the Online News Act should apply to use by AI systems. In response to that legislation, Meta pulled news from its platforms in Canada, while Google has reached a deal to pay $100 million Canadian (US$ 71 million) to Canadian news outlets. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) More than 700 families had a chance to celebrate Thanksgiving with turkey and all the trimmings thanks to volunteers and Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada. The annual event, now in its 59th year, helps some of the most vulnerable people who live in the Las Vegas valley. The men, women, and children who came to the feast at St. Lied Vincent Dining Facility enjoyed a meal of turkey, homemade mashed potatoes, stuffing, vegetables, and pumpkin pie. More than 50 volunteers helped make the meal possible. Las Vegas Mayor-elect Shelley Berkley volunteered to help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It adds some humanity to the day, she said. 8NewsNow.com photojournalist Tim Zeitlow attended the event and captured it on camera. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. Native American Heritage Day is celebrated in the United States on the day after Thanksgiving, which is observed as a federal holiday. It serves as an opportunity to honor the history, culture, contributions, and resilience of Native American tribes and their members. The day emphasizes raising awareness of the rich traditions and cultural heritage of Indigenous peoples while acknowledging their continued influence on American society. Here is what President Joe Biden said about Native American Heritage Day: Indigenous history is defined by strength, survival, and a deep pride in heritage. Today, on Native American Heritage Day, we celebrate that rich story. And recommit to working with Tribal Nations and Native communities to bring new prosperity and security to Native peoples. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) reflected on this day with: Long before colonial ships landed on our countrys shores, there were Native Americans - living full lives and caring for the earth's gifts so that future generations could thrive. We have always been here. We always will be. Happy Native American Heritage Day, everyone! About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. " Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net N'DJAMENA (Reuters) - Chad's government has terminated a revised 2019 defence cooperation agreement with France, a statement by its foreign ministry said Thursday. The statement said the central African nation, a key Western ally in the fight against jihadists in the region, wanted to fully assert its sovereignty, and redefine its strategic partnerships after 66 years of independence. The French foreign ministry was not immediately available for comment. (Reporting by Mahamat Ramadane; Additional Reporting by John Irish in Paris; Writing by Jessica Donati; Editing by Bate Felix) ALABAMA (WRBL) A Chancellor man was killed in a single-vehicle crash early Friday morning, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. The crash happened around 4:44 a.m. on Nov. 29 at Geneva County 45. ALEA says Camilo Enrique Gonzales Puig, 21, was fatally injured when the 2014 Volkswagen Passat he was driving in left the road and hit a tree. Puig was pronounced dead at the location. There is no further information available at this time. ALEA is still investigating the accident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. Nov. 28GROTON The aging roof of the Charles Barnum Discovery Magnet School is slated to be replaced over the summer. The elementary school's leaky roof is beyond its 20-year life expectancy, according to Sam Kilpatrick, facilities director at Groton Public Schools. He said the maintenance staff has done great work in maintaining the roof, but it is now time to replace it. The new roof will not have solar panels, though they may be added at a later date, said Kilpatrick. The addition of solar panels would require the Board of Education to own and maintain the panels in the utility zone where the school is located. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Solar panels recently were installed at no cost to the school district at Mystic River Magnet School and Groton Middle School. The school district signed an agreement with the Connecticut Green Bank to purchase the discounted solar energy, and the Connecticut Green Bank owns, operates and maintains the panels. The district anticipates $40,000 in annual energy savings from the solar panels. However, the Connecticut Green Bank program is only available to Eversource and United Illuminating customers, not to customers of Groton Utilities, where the Charles Barnum School is located. City of Groton Mayor Keith Hedrick, the chair of the Groton Utilities Commission, explained that Groton Utilities embraces solar, but the challenge is that Groton Utilities' rates are so much lower than Eversource's that, generally speaking, the return on investment takes longer than the average solar panels' 20-year shelf life. He said Groton Utilities is looking to roll out next year an incentive program for solar panels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The roof replacement is estimated to cost just under $1 million, said Kilpatrick. The town's fiscal year 2023 budget set aside $1 million for the project. Kilpatrick said the hope is to go out to bid before the new year in anticipation of completing the Charles Barnum roof replacement project in the summer of 2025. The Town Council this month authorized the Board of Education to apply for a state grant, which would reimburse the town for 47.5% of the project costs, and to establish a Permanent School Building Committee for the project. k.drelich@theday.com CHICAGO November is National Homeless Youth Awareness month, a time to recognize what some experts call an invisible problem in Chicago, where 12,000 young adults find themselves without stable housing on any given night, according to the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness. Among that group, however housing advocates say theres an acute problem faced by the LGBTQ+ community. According to a study by Chapin Hall, a research organization formerly affiliated with the University of Chicago, LGBTQ+ young adults are 120 percent more likely to be homeless than their straight peers. The group makes up only 7 percent of the countrys total youth population, but they account for 40 percent of all young people experiencing homelessness in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LGBTQ youth were way overrepresented among that population, said Amy Dworsky, a senior research fellow Chapin Hall. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines She said that a variety of reasons, ranging from drug abuse to violence and from mental illness to poverty, can lead to homelessness in general. But in the case of LGBTQ youth, its typically a single factor: they were simply being themselves. These young people, theyre homeless not because of some bad behavior on their part. Its not their fault that theyre homeless. Its largely a lot of systemic factors, so we should really be doing all we can to help them find housing and stay housed, Dworsky said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One example is William Morgan, 21, from Chicagos Austin neighborhood. Ive been bullied all of high school, elementary school, so Ive been through it all, he said. It was just really bad. Morgan was living with his aunt and was kicked out shortly after he came out. Now, hes living at Covenant House Illinois, one of the organizations working to provide a safe space for the unhoused LGBTQ youth population. We provide wrap-around comprehensive services to young people experiencing housing instability, said CEO Susan Reyna-Guerrero. Its in our signage, and in our space and in our staff that we have being reflective of the young people we serve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The newly renovated East Garfield Park shelter next to the Chicago Transit Authoritys Green Line is exclusively focused on 18-to-24-year-olds. Nearly a quarter of the shelters residents identify as LGBTQ+. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland We know that the LGBTQ+ population, many times theyre seeking safety and sanctuary outside their home because their home is not welcoming, and being able to find spaces that recognize them and provide affirming services is very difficult, Reyna-Guerrero said. Covenant house provides beds for more than 50 people every night, but congregate rooms can create conflicts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those are challenging spaces for young people, particularly our trans youth. Thats one of the things we have nonbinary bedrooms just to make sure were providing a safe welcoming space for them, Reyna-Guerrero said. Unlike the chronic adult homelessness, visible in tent cities or panhandlers on the streets, youth homelessness can be an invisible problem. So, theyre often doing things like couch surfing, doubling up, so theyre not as visible as chronically homeless adults for example, Dworsky said. Thats why people dont really realize how big a problem this is. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Mother who killed daughters rapist gets reprieve from prison Alicante woman thanks supporters after hearing her request for a government pardon will be considered Maria del Carmen Garcia is hugged by her daughter, Veronica, after hearing that she will not have to go back to prison. PEPE OLIVARES Maria del Carmen Garcia already had her suitcase packed, ready to enter the Fontcalent prison in Alicante on Thursday for killing her daughters rapist. However, at the last minute, the court accepted the appeal filed by her attorney, Joaquin Galant, which called for the suspension of her sentence while the government considers her request for a pardon. Thank you all for your support, said Garcia, visibly emotional after learning that, at least for now, she wont have to return to jail to serve the remaining four-and-a-half years of her murder sentence. They have to pardon me because Im not a killer, she told reporters. Her daughter, Veronica, was 13 when she was raped by a neighbor in 1998. The offender was sentenced to nine years in prison. In 2005, while on parole, the rapist returned to their hometown, Benejuzar, and ran into Garcia. Hows your daughter? he asked her. Maria del Carmens response was blunt. She bought a bottle of gasoline, walked into a bar, doused the convicted rapist and set him on fire. The man died a week later from the burns he suffered. The court has now agreed to suspend her sentence while the application for pardon is being handled by Justice Minister Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon. We won a battle; whats left is the war, says Veronica, who is glad that her mother can now spend the summer with the family. The court suspended the sentence in light of Garcias personal circumstances. They cited her lack of habitual dedication to criminal activities and noted that she had no prior record. Her lawyer also argued that she has to attend to her family in particular her husband, who suffers from a serious illness. They have to pardon me because Im not a killer Galant explained that the court confirmed a few weeks ago that the government is currently hearing the petition for pardon, which was endorsed by more than 20 groups and 1,700 individuals. The defense attorney asked the court in Elche to suspend her imprisonment pending the resolution of the request, which must be approved by the Cabinet. Galant is thankful for the popular uproar of the thousands of people who supported the pardon request. We hope it will be approved, he says. On Wednesday, the family submitted an additional 14,700 signatures from individuals who support Garcias plea. They will be added to the petition that was filed on June 11. In July 2009, the court sentenced Garcia to nine-and-a-half years for the crime, which occurred in June 2005. A year later in 2010, the Supreme Court reduced the sentence to five-and-a-half years after applying the defense of temporary insanity. She was detained for one year while awaiting trial. Snow or no, your car could be towed. Chicagos winter overnight parking ban begins at 3 a.m. Sunday. This means parking is prohibited on 107 miles of streets from 3 to 7 a.m. regardless of snow until April 1. Another 500 miles of streets prohibit parking after 2 inches of snow or more falls, no matter the time of day or the date. These parking bans are designed to keep the citys streets clear and cars moving despite inclement weather and to prevent recurrences of problems that happened in 1967 and 1979 when Chicago came to a traffic standstill due to major snowstorms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Signs are posted along the affected streets. Motorists who ignore these seasonal parking bans will be towed and face at least a $150 towing fee, a $60 ticket and storage fees of $25 per day. Vehicles in violation of the ban will be towed to Auto Pound No. 2 (10301 S. Doty Ave.) or Auto Pound No. 6 (701 N. Sacramento Blvd.). Both locations are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Think your car has been towed? Call 311 to determine your vehicles location and the address of the impound lot. The citys Streets and Sanitation Department has additional tips on what to do to retrieve your vehicle from an impound lot. Sources: City of Chicago; Tribune reporting WAUPUN, Wis. (WFRV) Child Protective Services were called after a man and a woman in central Wisconsin were arrested when authorities allegedly found evidence of them selling prescription medications. According to the Waupun Police Department, on November 26, officers got word that two people were allegedly actively selling prescription medications from their Waupun residence. Green Bay man arrested for 5th OWI offense after I-43 traffic stop on Thanksgiving Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During an investigation, a search warrant was obtained and conducted at the home on Sawyer Street. The search warrant was executed by the Waupun Police Department and the Dodge County Drug Task Force. As a result of the search, a 36-year-old woman and a 42-year-old man were taken into custody on the following charges: 36-year-old woman Maintaining a Drug Trafficking Place Possession with the Intent to Deliver Schedule II Drugs Possession with the Intent to Deliver Schedule IV Drugs Neglecting a Child 42-year-old man Possession with the Intent to Deliver Schedule III Drugs Man hit by two vehicles while crossing I-43 in Brown County, pronounced dead at the scene Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both were taken to the Dodge County Detention Facility and the release noted that the Dodge County Child Protective Services assisted with the safety and placement of the children that reside at the residence. No additional information was provided. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. STORY: :: November 28, 2024 :: Santiago, Chile :: State workers strike in Chile in protest over what they say are threats to job security :: David Acuna, President, Workers Central Union (CUT) "There is still much progress to be made. We believe and are convinced that today the Government has an opportunity. The opportunity to provide job stability to thousands of workers who have precarious jobs within the State. That's why we made this call. That's why we are drawing attention to ensure commitments are met: decent wages, and above all, job stability. Nationally, many public worker unions are on the streets." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government questions the interpretation of "legitimate trust," a principle deemed crucial by experts for protecting state workers from dismissal. Unions argue that the new criteria weaken job stability for thousands of employees, as dismissals prior to the designated period will no longer be deemed illegal or arbitrary. The strike will last at least 24 hours. (Bloomberg) -- The race to secure goods from China before tariffs are imposed has taken off, with international cargo flights out of the Asian nation increasing to new records in the weeks since Donald Trump won the US election. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were 3,485 international cargo flights in or out of China last week, the most in data back to March 2023, just after China reopened its borders from several years of pandemic restrictions. That was the third straight week with more than 3,400 flights, according to the data from the Ministry of Transport. China is in the midst of an export boom, with the value of shipments this year likely to hit a record. That may be further boosted in the time before Trump takes office in late January next year, as companies in the US try to purchase as much as they can before he imposes new tariffs on goods from China, Mexico, Canada and possibly other nations. In the year through October, the number of freight flights rose 73% compared to the same period in 2023, according to official data, while there was an 8.3% gain in the number of ships moving goods in and out of China. Truck and train transport also saw double-digit increases. Air cargo prices out of China have still not spiked and carriers report being busy but not overwhelmed even as December approaches, according to a report from Judah Levine, head of research at Freightos Group. Capacity additions to these lanes and shippers who adjusted and planned ahead may prove to be enough to prevent extreme rate climbs and congestion through the end of the year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will be visiting China next Monday and Tuesday at the invitation of her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, the Foreign Ministry in Beijing announced on Friday. Baerbock has recently repeatedly criticised China's role in several international crises, including climate policy and Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine. The German government's assumption is that Moscow is receiving help from its most important partner in the form of drones, and Baerbock recently warned China that this would have consequences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With regard to China's climate stance as the world's largest emitter of the climate-damaging gas carbon dioxide, she called for the People's Republic to join the group of states that provide aid to developing countries. Baerbock was last in Beijing in mid-April 2023 and in September of that year she caused a diplomatic dispute with comments on US television about China's state and party leader Xi Jinping. During an interview with the US television channel Fox News, she also commented on the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, asking what kind of signal a Russian victory would send "to other dictators in the world, such as Xi, such as the Chinese president?" China's foreign ministry was annoyed at the time, summoning the German ambassador, and calling Baerbock's comments "absurd." Baerbock reacted calmly to Beijing's ire and stated that she had taken note of it. By Laurie Chen and James Pomfret BEIJING/HONG KONG (Reuters) -A Beijing court sentenced veteran Chinese state media journalist Dong Yuyu on Friday to seven years in prison for espionage, his family said in a statement, calling the verdict a grave injustice. Police in the Chinese capital detained the 62-year-old former Guangming Daily editor and journalist in February 2022 while he was lunching with a Japanese diplomat, the U.S. National Press Club said in a statement. He was later charged with espionage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Sentencing Yuyu to seven years in prison on no evidence declares to the world the bankruptcy of the justice system in China," Dong's family said in a statement provided to Reuters. "Today's verdict is a grave injustice not only to Yuyu and his family but also to every freethinking Chinese journalist and every ordinary Chinese committed to friendly engagement with the world." The family added that in the court judgment, Japanese diplomats whom Dong met were "specifically named as agents of an 'espionage organisation,' which is the Japanese embassy in Beijing". Dong's conviction implied every Chinese citizen would be "expected to know that the Chinese government may consider those embassies to be 'espionage organisations'", it said, which would cause a chilling effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police guarded the court on Friday, with seven police cars parked nearby, and journalists were asked to leave the area. A U.S. diplomat said they had been barred from attending the hearing. Dong has been detained in a Beijing prison since a closed-court hearing in July 2023, the press club said in September. Chinese authorities handled the case "strictly in accordance with the law", foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a regular press briefing on Friday. The United States issued a statement on Friday condemning Dong's sentencing as "unjust," and called for his immediate and unconditional release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya refused to comment on the verdict. "In any case, diplomatic activities conducted at our missions abroad are legitimate activities," he told a routine press conference. "Chinese authorities must reverse this unjust verdict, and protect the right of journalists to work freely and safely in China," said Beh Lih Yi, Asia program manager at the Committee to Protect Journalists. "Dong Yuyu should be reunited with his family immediately." Dong regularly had in-person exchanges with diplomats from various embassies and journalists. The Japanese diplomat he met, one of two he had regularly met in the past, was also detained for several hours, spurring a complaint from Japan's foreign ministry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said the diplomat was engaged in activities "inconsistent with their capacity" in China. The diplomat was later released. A Nieman Fellow at Harvard University in 2007, Dong was a visiting scholar and visiting professor at Keio University and Hokkaido University in Japan, his family said in a statement in April 2023. He joined the Guangming Daily, affiliated to the ruling Communist Party, in 1987, after graduating from Peking University law school, and was the deputy editor of its commentary section. He wrote opinion articles in Chinese media and liberal academic journals on topics from legal reforms to social issues, and co-edited a book promoting the rule of law in China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His articles advocated moderate reforms while avoiding direct criticism of President Xi Jinping. His family had initially kept news of his detention private in the hope that charges could be reduced or dropped, but were told in March 2023 that he would stand trial, they said in their statement. Non-government bodies (NGOs) advocating press freedom have called for his release, with more than 700 journalists, academics and NGO workers signing an online petition for him to be freed. "Dong Yuyu is a talented reporter and author whose work has long been respected by colleagues," said Ann Marie Lipinski, curator of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We stand with many in hoping for his release and return to his family." In February, a Beijing court handed a suspended death sentence to Australian writer and pro-democracy blogger, Yang Hengjun, on espionage charges. (Reporting by Laurie Chen and James Pomfret; Additional reporting by Joe Cash in Beijing and John Geddie in Tokyo; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan, Clarence Fernandez and Diane Craft) China will make it harder for Russian businesses to purchase equipment and chemicals. Source: The Moscow Times Details: China will implement an enlarged list of dual-use commodities subject to export controls beginning 1 December. The expanded list will contain IT equipment, particularly servers and components, which are already difficult to be exported to Russia. It is worth noting that argon gas used for welding will also be restricted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the new laws, Chinese enterprises that export dual-use products to Russia would face a 25% tariff. At the same time, importing goods into Russia via third-party countries will be difficult because China's export control applies to all international deliveries. In addition to obtaining a specific licence, Chinese exporters must now disclose information about the end recipient of the items. Background: China's exports are still in the positive, but market participants report a 30-40% fall in shipments by rail this month. The Russian government reported a loss of about US$30 billion in imports owing to payment issues. In August, problems with settlements with Chinese partners worsened in Russia. Support UP or become our patron! LONDON Chinas government has kept its cool and offered a muted response to comments by Tadashi Yanai that Fast Retailing does not use cotton from Xinjiang. Yanai, president and chief executive officer of Fast Retailing, the parent of Uniqlo, told the BBC his company does not use cotton from the region, despite working closely with Chinese manufacturers. It was the first time Yanai has gone on the record to confirm the companys policy. More from WWD Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the past, comments criticizing Xinjiang would have been met with angry disapproval by the Chinese government and caused a major media storm. This time, China took a step back, with government spokeswoman Mao Ning saying: Xinjiang cotton is among the best in the world, and businesses shall make decisions based on their own best interest instead of being swayed by political pressure. Xinjiang cotton has been at the center of a geopolitical battle between China and the U.S. since the U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a ban on goods sourced from the region in 2021. The U.S. said it was concerned about alleged exploitation of Uyghur minorities in the autonomous region. In the past, brands that stood by the U.S. ban have been blacklisted by the Chinese government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As reported, e-commerce searches and ads for H&M products were temporarily blocked and at least six physical stores were forced to shut due to landlord decisions. Nike, Adidas, Burberry and Hugo Boss were targeted as well. Beijing has categorically denied any abuses in the region, and has punished those who issued public comments regarding alleged forced labor in Xinjiang. It is unclear why China has apparently softened its stance on those who refuse to work with Xinjiang cotton. The Greater China region is a significant one for Fast Retailing, representing around 21.8 percent of total revenue in the latest quarter. It is also the companys biggest market outside Japan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the fiscal year ending on Aug. 31, Fast Retailing said that full-year revenue rose 9.2 percent to 677 billion yen, or $4.51 billion, in Greater China. There was also a 0.5 percent increase in operating profit, totaling 104.8 billion yen, or $698 million. While Yanai may be keeping his distance from Xinjiang cotton, fellow Japanese slow-living retailer Muji is doing the opposite. It has been embracing prime quality cotton from Xinjiang. In 2021 it even added Xinjiang cotton as a keyword in its product descriptions across its e-commerce channels. Best of WWD Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. In November 2021, the team led by virologist Sikhulile Moyo (Zimbabwe, 1973), researcher and director of the Botswana-Harvard HIV Institute (BHP) laboratory in Gaborone, was the first to identify the omicron variant of the coronavirus, together with a Brazilian bioinformatician working in South Africa, earning him a multitude of awards and recognitions. The following year, Times magazine included him in its list of the 100 most influential people in the world. The specialist then believed that the planet had learned a lesson: viruses have no borders. Now he doubts this after witnessing the international response to the serious health emergency unleashed by mpox also known as monkeypox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In the laboratory he runs in the capital of Botswana, he talks about this new virus causing concern in some African nations and that high-income countries are looking askance at, but also about how climate change can accelerate the emergence of new epidemics, especially in Africa, and the reasons that make the continent more vulnerable to this type of disease. He also discusses how Botswana, a middle-income state, has made significant progress in health matters. In 2021, for example, it became the first country in the world with a high HIV burden those in which more than 2% of pregnant women live with the virus to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of the AIDS virus. Sikhulile Moyo in the laboratory he runs in Botswana on September 19. Jose Ignacio Martinez Rodriguez Question: Its been three years since your laboratory sequenced the omicron variant of the coronavirus. There was a lot of talk back then about how many things had to change in Africa to ensure that new epidemics would not catch countries on the continent off guard again. Has that been the case? Answer. One of the things that the world discovered with the omicron variant is that viruses have no passports or borders. They move with people because we are a global village. We also realized that the effort to control pandemics cannot be that of one country alone. There are now several coalitions, both national and international, working to ensure that, in the future, we can deal with these kinds of problems together. In addition, we have learned how to communicate to communities the existence and dangers of a new virus. Even though we scientists do our job, we must be able to make people understand what is happening. People are part of the solution. Finally, I think that African countries are realizing that they can now issue their own diagnostics. Q. However, we have recently witnessed an outbreak of mpox, the largest known to date in Africa, and it seems that the same problems have been repeated: higher-income countries have withheld vaccines that could have alleviated the situation. A. What we see is that some lessons we thought we had learned have come back to us. Countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Burundi are dealing with an aggressive disease while the rest of the world is just watching them do it. One of the things that worries me the most is the selfishness of some countries. And as I said, viruses do not respect borders. In 24 hours they can move from one end of the world to the other. We have seen that there are nations and organizations that have mobilized to bring vaccines and donate material. It is not enough, but those are the kinds of actions that we need. If you protect your neighbor, you are protecting yourself. And, in the case of mpox, this is not happening. No action is taken until you see your own house on fire Q. Do you think Western nations should become more involved in health emergencies such as this new outbreak of mpox? A. The world is a global village, so these kinds of cases need an international response. If you protect your neighbor, you are protecting yourself. And, in the case of mpox, this is not happening. No action is taken until you see your own house on fire. But I also think that the African continent needs to wake up and be able to produce its own test kits, its own vaccines. It is the only way to stop complaining that no one is helping us. Q. In 2021, countries in southern Africa were hit by the omicron variant. Now, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is battling mpox. In 2022, there was an aggressive outbreak of Ebola in Uganda, although not as bad as the one in Sierra Leone in 2014. In addition, every so often, countries like Zimbabwe or Zambia deal with severe cases of cholera. Why do these diseases seem to hit Africa more severely than other regions? A. Africa is more vulnerable for several reasons. Firstly, many of the health systems in African countries are still those of colonial times. Secondly, this is where the largest interface between humans and animals is found, and more than 70% of these infections we are talking about are zoonotic. In addition, prevention systems are still developing. I also have to say that climate change could accentuate some of these problems. And the countries that cause it the most are not precisely those that are suffering its most devastating consequences. Climate change causes animals and humans to come into closer contact, and these microorganisms become more adaptable and more capable of infecting new hosts Q. Can climate change cause pandemics or epidemics in Africa? A. It can amplify diseases and epidemics. It changes temperatures and habitats and causes floods that bring with them massive movements of organisms. Climate change causes animals and humans to come into closer contact, and these microorganisms become more adaptable and more capable of infecting new hosts. Ultimately, it can cause viruses whose main victims are animals to also affect humans. You can see this with mosquitoes that carry malaria; changes in temperature, for example, allow these bad mosquitoes, so to speak, to displace the good mosquitoes. It also happens with those that transmit dengue, chikungunya, and other diseases. Q. There are countries in Africa, such as Botswana, that are models in terms of health. For example, in 2021 the country became the first with a high HIV burden to eliminate mother-to-child transmission. How can these achievements be enhanced? A. Firstly, with committed public policies. Here, the government has taken this issue very seriously for the last 25 years or more. Significant resources have been allocated to combat HIV. Botswana was the country with the largest proportion of people living with the AIDS virus, and it was the first nation in Africa to offer free treatment to all its citizens. It did so in 2002. It was a great show of commitment that attracted many partners, including this institution. Secondly, Botswana has always been open to working with international organizations in the response to HIV. Donors are vital, but allocating a significant amount of your budget to health is even more vital. Q. Is it easy for everyone to benefit from these advances? How do you combat, for example, the stigma that this disease often carries? A. Primary care was promoted a lot here to ensure that services reached everyone and all sectors of the population. We have to make sure that no one is left behind. Access to healthcare cannot be a matter for the rich, and that is something that is being done very well in Botswana. All inhabitants have access to healthcare for free or at a very low cost. In addition, Botswana society has managed to make it very natural to talk about HIV. Before, some people who were infected felt ashamed, they lowered their heads... Now none of that happens any more. Q. Botswana, however, has fewer than three million inhabitants. Is it easier to achieve such progress here than in other countries, or even in African cities, with much larger populations? We have to make sure that no one is left behind. Access to healthcare cannot be a matter for the rich, and that is something that is being done very well in Botswana A. Not necessarily. It is true that having a small population can be an advantage, but here we have had to face a challenge due to the very low population density two-thirds of the countrys territory is desert. This makes it difficult for medicine to reach everyone. In terms of means of production, for example, other nations may have many more options. Q. What other diseases are of concern to the Botswana or African population in general today? A. We are now focusing on non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, etc. That is what concerns us now. These are problems that also affect high-income countries. In addition, we are facing an increasing number of cancer cases. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition BEIJING (Reuters) -China urged the United States on Friday to exercise the "utmost caution" on relations with democratically governed Taiwan, ahead of a sensitive trip its President Lai Ching-te starts this week to both Hawaii and Guam, as part of a Pacific tour. China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, opposes any foreign interactions or visits by the island's leaders, especially those involving the United States. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department reiterated the U.S. position that transits by high-level Taiwan authorities were routine and "consistent with long-standing practice, the unofficial nature of our relations with Taiwan, and the U.S. One-China policy, which remains unchanged." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We see no justification for a private, routine, and unofficial transit to be used as a pretext for provocation," the spokesperson added. China is likely to launch military drills in the coming days near Taiwan, using Lai's trip to the Pacific and scheduled stopovers in the United States as a pretext, according to assessments by Taiwan and regional security officials. Lai's weeklong trip begins on Saturday, making what is officially called a stopover first in Hawaii before going to the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau, three of the 12 countries which have formal ties with Taiwan. He will also stop over in the U.S. territory of Guam. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry, reiterated comments made by President Xi Jinping to U.S. President Joe Biden at an Asia-Pacific summit in Peru this month, in which he said "separatist acts" were incompatible with peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. "If the United States wants to maintain peace in the Taiwan Straits, it is crucial for it to recognise the independence nature of Lai Ching-te and the Democratic Progressive Party authorities," she said, referring to Taiwan's ruling party. The United States must "handle the Taiwan issue with utmost caution, unequivocally oppose Taiwan independence, and support the peaceful reunification of China", Mao added at a daily news briefing in the Chinese capital. China opposes any "scurrying to the United States" of Taiwan's leaders, in any form, or any U.S. support for separatist activities, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "China's determination to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity and oppose interference in its internal affairs by external forces is unwavering." The State Department spokesperson said every democratically elected Taiwan president had transited the United States, with Taiwan's former President Tsai Ing-wen making seven overseas trips with U.S. transits, while her predecessor Ma Ying-jeou transited several times as well, with both going via Hawaii twice. The official said that as with past transits, Lai would be welcomed in Hawaii by Ingrid Larson, Washington office managing director of the American Institute in Taiwan, the body which serves as the unofficial U.S. embassy in Taiwan. Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung told lawmakers on Thursday that Chinese war games in response to Lai's trip were one of the possible scenarios. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lai and his government reject Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future. Visiting a temple in New Taipei on Friday, Lai said he was looking forward to visiting Taiwan's three Pacific allies on his first overseas visit since assuming office in May. Lai said he would keep deepening partnership with other countries and "keep Taiwan going out into the world", the presidential office said in a statement that did not mention the U.S. stopovers. (Reporting by Joe Cash; Writing and additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei and David Brunnstrom in Washington; Editing by Clarence Fernandez, Jonathan Oatis and Alistair Bell) BEIJING (Reuters) - A Beijing court is expected to announce a verdict on Friday in the case of a veteran Chinese state-media journalist who was detained on espionage charges after meeting with a Japanese diplomat in 2022, according to a U.S.-based journalists' organisation advocating for his release. Former Guangming Daily editor and journalist Dong Yuyu, 62, was detained by police in Beijing in February 2022 while having lunch with a Japanese diplomat, according to a statement from the U.S. National Press Club. Beijing's Public Security Bureau did not respond to a faxed request seeking comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dong has been detained in a Beijing prison awaiting the verdict since a closed-court hearing in July 2023, the press club said in September. He regularly had in-person exchanges with foreign diplomats from various embassies and journalists. The Japanese diplomat he met was also detained for several hours, triggering a strong complaint from the Japanese foreign ministry. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said at the time that the diplomat was engaged in activities "inconsistent with their capacity" in China. The diplomat was later released. Dong participated in the prestigious Harvard Nieman Fellowship and was a visiting scholar and visiting professor at Keio University and Hokkaido University in Japan, according to a family statement in April 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He joined the Communist Party-affiliated Guangming Daily in 1987 after graduating from Peking University law school, and was the deputy editor of its commentary section. He had written opinion articles in Chinese media and liberal academic journals on topics from legal reforms to social issues, and co-edited a book promoting the rule of law in China. His articles advocated moderate reforms while avoiding direct criticism of Chinese President Xi Jinping. His family had initially kept news of his detention private in the hope that charges could be reduced or dropped but were notified in March 2023 that his case would be sent to trial, their statement said. Multiple press freedom non-government organisations (NGO) have called for his release. An online petition for his release has collected over 700 signatures from journalists, academics and NGO workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Dong Yuyu is a talented reporter and author whose work has long been respected by colleagues at home and abroad," said Ann Marie Lipinski, curator of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. "We stand with many in hoping for his release and return to his family." The Australian writer and pro-democracy blogger Yang Hengjun was handed a suspended death sentence on espionage charges by a Beijing court in February. (Reporting by Laurie Chen; Editing by Neil Fullick) An office sits vacant in San Francisco in October 2022. The city is one of several across the country offering incentives to convert unused office space into housing. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Read more Stateline coverage of how communities across the country are trying to create more affordable housing. Nearly a fifth of office space across the country sits empty, a record high vacancy rate thats expected to keep growing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seeking both to boost their economies and ease their housing shortages, cities are taking steps to encourage the conversion of unused office space into much-needed housing. They include reductions in approval times, exemptions from affordable housing rules and changes in building code requirements. Some cities and states also are providing tax incentives or subsidies to developers. Cities need to focus on making conversions feasible by removing unnecessary regulatory barriers, said Alex Horowitz, project director of the Housing Policy Initiative at The Pew Charitable Trusts. The U.S. is short millions of homes, and office vacancy rates are at record highs. It makes all the sense in the world to convert underused commercial space into housing, but the cost per square foot is just too high. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Purchasing and converting an office building for residential use costs an average of $685 per square foot. Buying a completed multifamily property costs an average of $600 per square foot, while building a new multifamily development costs about $588 per square foot. Regulatory hurdles such as outdated building codes, minimum unit sizes and natural light requirements push up costs. Cities are trying a variety of ways to overcome these obstacles. From coast to coast In September, Minneapolis peeled away several regulations in an effort to encourage conversions, including removing public hearing requirements, requiring less intensive traffic studies, and exempting converted buildings from the typical requirement that 20% to 30% of units be rented at below-market rates. San Francisco has waived certain planning and building code requirements as well as real estate transfer taxes for downtown conversions that are approved before 2030. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seattle in July approved exemptions for commercial-to-residential conversions from certain design development standards and from housing affordability requirements. New York Citys Office Conversion Accelerator program provides a single point of contact for office building owners to streamline conversions, from zoning questions to permitting. And Denver last year launched an adaptive reuse pilot program to make it easier and faster to get conversions approved by the city. Jon Gambrill, managing director of global architecture firm Genslers Denver office, said that converting the top 16 buildings identified by the firm and city leaders into housing could add more than 5,000 units to the downtown area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It makes all the sense in the world to convert underused commercial space into housing, but the cost per square foot is just too high. Alex Horowitz, project director of the Housing Policy Initiative at The Pew Charitable Trusts Atlanta, Denver, Phoenix, the San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle stand to benefit the most from converting underused offices to housing, according to a June Urban Institute analysis. Still, conversions have made little dent in the housing crisis so far. Between 2016 and April 2024, office-to-multifamily conversion projects created more than 22,000 apartments, according to CBRE, a commercial real estate services and investment firm. The 169 projects planned or underway are estimated to produce another 31,000 apartments over the next several years. Despite the growth, that total is less than a half-percent of total U.S. apartment inventory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a June presentation by Seattles Office of Planning and Community Development, city leaders estimated that they expect fewer than a dozen conversion projects to result in 1,000 to 2,000 new housing units over seven years. Money matters Cities and states also are trying to promote conversions by offering incentives and funding. New York Citys 2025 budget included a new incentive for conversion of commercial properties to rental housing, offering up to a 90% tax exemption for projects with at least 25% affordable units. Chicago has committed $151 million for developers to transform four office buildings into 1,000 apartments, about a third of which would have affordable rental rates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Washington, D.C., provides 20-year tax abatements for commercial-to-residential conversions through its Housing in Downtown initiative. The District of Columbia led the nation in adaptive reuse from 2021 to 2024, creating 5,820 new housing units from office properties, followed by New York (5,215 units) and Dallas (3,163 units), according to RentCafe, an apartment search website. California in 2022 approved $400 million for office-to-residential projects. Commercial-to-residential legislation has hit some hurdles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom in October vetoed legislation that would have provided financial incentives for developers, including the option for local governments to allocate up to 30 years of property tax revenue to support affordable housing conversions. It also would have fast-tracked the approval process for conversion of office buildings into residential or mixed-use developments. Newsom objected to changes in labor practices including the issuance of stop-work orders for violations and procedures for contesting violations. And in Colorado, a bill that would have offered refundable tax credits up to $3 million per commercial-to-housing project starting in 2026 failed in the legislature earlier this year. Still, experts expect housing conversion efforts to increase across the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All Americans, particularly underserved communities, need homes they can afford, said Pews Horowitz. But outdated rules make it harder to create deeply affordable housing. Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and X. GENEVA, Ala. (WDHN) The city of Geneva is putting economic development at the forefront as a nearly $3 million city hall is a month away from being complete. This project along with recently updating the Geneva municipal Airport and soon enhance the quality of life by building a park. Our footprint is starting to be felt, we are not a Dothan or E tonterprise and we dont want to be but we want have a good town and share that with the people that want to be in it, Mayor David Hayes said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, the city partnered with a new fixed base operator and recently within the last month, they honored a longtime worker at the airport Buck Williams whos well known and spent a lot of his free time making sure the airport is operational. We dedicated the field in his name and we never had signage on the highway saying heres your airport, so now we have a sign telling people here is the airport and it is a very vital part of our economic development, Hayes said. Mayor Hayes said they plan to add a taxiway and several hangars in the near future as Geneva is a main through to the beaches as people tend to want to leave their cars or planes at the airport. Its being used a lot but we can fuel everything that Fort Novosel flies, so theres a lot of air traffic coming through, a lot of refueling and the best part of it is the city is making money and its only going to bring more people in, He said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More people will be coming into downtown Geneva soon as they are in the process of building a 1 million-dollar park it was announced a year and a half ago. The splash pad is already there which opened in May but the park will expand as there will be two playgrounds, a 60-foot gazebo, dual restrooms, a walking trail and amphitheater, five pavilions, and park wifi. Mayor Hayesbe says they just finalized the plans and the project will bid out in February so ground can be broken in March. Were excited to bring something new to Geneva we told them 4 years ago dont get used to it because we are going to continue bringing something new and we are, He added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City officials hope to move into the new city hall within a month. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com. TEMPLE, Texas (FOX 44) The City of Temple is inviting you to its 78th annual Christmas Parade! This event comes as part of the new Holly Jolly holiday series, which brings a month of holiday events to Downtown Temple. This years theme is a Toyland Christmas, and the city is welcoming Temple native Paul Smith as Grand Marshal. The city says Smith has dedicated 50 years to H-E-B locally, where he earned a highly respected statewide customer service award. As a devoted community volunteer, Smith has played an instrumental role in local events, including organizing a popular car show fundraiser with the Temple Police Department. The city says Smiths long history of service and deep commitment to Temple have made a meaningful impact in the community. Grand Marshal Paul Smith. (Courtesy: City of Temple) The Parade will take place this Monday, December 2. It will begin at 6:30 p.m., with Santa beginning his arrival down W. Adams Avenue at 7:20 p.m. The parade will begin at the intersection of E. Adams Avenue and N. 8th Street, moving westward along Adams Avenue, and concluding at Temple High School, located at 415 N. 31st Street. (Courtesy: City of Temple) The city says spectators can enjoy street-side viewing along the entire route, with seating available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Be sure to arrive early to secure a great view, and feel free to bring any seating essentials for comfort during the event! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Road closures are scheduled for the event. N. 8th Street will be closed from Adams Avenue to Garfield Street at 4 p.m. N. 6th Street will be closed from Adams Avenue to Calhoun Avenue at 4 p.m. E. Adams Avenue will be closed from N. 8th Street to N. 23rd Street at 5:30 p.m. All roads will reopen immediately following the parade. Detours will be implemented, and access will be maintained for area residents and businesses. Drivers are encouraged to use caution and follow all traffic control signage. The city says free parking is available at the City Hall parking lot and various locations in Downtown Temple, including Santa Fe Plaza, the 1st Street Parking Garage, and non-parade route street parking. Other Holly Jolly events in Temple include: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Christmas on the Plaza on November 30 Kringle Krawl on December 6 Jingle Jam on December 6 Santa at the Depot on December 7 Plaza Picture Show on December 13 Santa Paws on December 14 Santas Send-Off on December 21 For more information, you can visit hollyjollytemple.com. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. Heavy clashes and shelling continued on Friday between rebel fighters and Syrian government forces in the north-western part of the country, forcing 14,000 people to leave their homes, activists and the UN said. The fighting which started two days ago is continuing around the area of Idlib and the western countryside of Aleppo. Activists in Idlib told dpa the fighting was very intense on Friday around the town of Saraqeb in the eastern countryside of Idlib. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is a key town because if they [the rebels] control it, they can control the Aleppo-Damascus highway," activists said. Syrian state media and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that at least four students were killed and two others were wounded when rebels shelled a place housing university students in Aleppo city, a claim denied by rebel forces. The Syrian army, backed by their Russian allies, has retaliated by carrying out more than 60 heavy airstrikes on rebel positions in Idlib and the Aleppo area since Wednesday morning. Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the observatory, said the death toll has reached 242 since Wednesday, among them 24 civilians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The opposition factions announced the offensive on Wednesday under the moniker Deterrence of Aggression, and claimed it was a response to recent artillery shelling from government forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad on civilian targets. The situation is deteriorating, particularly affecting the civilian population, warned David Carden, deputy regional UN coordinator for humanitarian aid in Syria. More than 14,000 people have now been displaced over the past three days, Carden said. On a recent Sunday afternoon in the Canadian city of Brampton, just outside of Toronto, a face-off between two religious groups outside a Hindu temple erupted into violence. Pro-Khalistan Sikhs, there to protest a visit by Indian consular officials, clashed with members of the Hindu congregation. Each side hurled flagpoles and fists at one another in an incident which triggered days of violence across Canada and led to multiple arrests. The clashes earlier this month were the latest flashpoint in a broader dispute between Canada and India, which has simmered for decades but boiled over in the last year over the assassination of a Sikh separatist on Canadian soil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he had credible information linking the Indian government to the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, an Indian-born Canadian national and Sikh dissident who was an outspoken supporter of Khalistan, a proposed autonomous homeland for Sikhs in northern India. Canadian authorities have repeatedly said they have shared the evidence with Indian counterparts. Indian government officials deny that Canada has provided evidence and have called the allegations absurd. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attends a press conference following Canada's expulsion of six Indian diplomats, in Ottawa on October 14, 2024. - Dave Chang/AFP/Getty Images New Delhi had previously designated Nijjar as a terrorist and accused him of being behind a banned militant group that sought to radicalize the Sikh community across the world in support of Khalistan. The movement is banned in India and considered a national security threat. Tensions between Ottawa and New Delhi further escalated last month when the Canadian government publicly accused Indian government agents including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis closest aide of plotting to kill pro-Khalistan Sikhs in Canada, which is home to one of the largest Sikh communities outside of India. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, including the high commissioner, after police linked the envoys to homicides, extortion and other violent acts against Sikh separatists in the country, including Nijjar. Canadas national police force also said it had uncovered more than a dozen credible and imminent threats to life of members of the South Asian community, specifically from the pro-Khalistan movement. India, in turn, expelled six Canadian diplomats. Canada further ratcheted up tensions by outright accusing Amit Shah Indias home affairs minister and Modis number two of ordering the violent plots. Shah, an influential player in Indian domestic politics, is widely seen as Modis potential successor in the ruling Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. The stunning and highly public allegations by Canada which India has strongly denied calling them absurd and baseless have raised concern among its Five Eyes intelligence-sharing allies the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand who have pursued deeper ties with India in recent years, in part to counter Chinas increasingly aggressive behavior in the Asia-Pacific region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US has also accused an Indian government official of being involved in a conspiracy to kill a Sikh activist and American citizen in New York City. The Indian government similarly denied any involvement in the alleged plot, however New Delhis response in setting up a high-level committee to investigate the American accusations contrasts with its vocal condemnation of Canadas accusations. Demonstrators rally outside the Consulate General of India in Toronto, Canada following the murder of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, on September 25, 2023. - Cole Burston/AFP/Getty Images While the existence of pro-Khalistan factions in Canada has long bothered India and acted as a wedge between the two countries, experts say tensions have sharply escalated under Modi and Trudeau, with little prospect for resolution. It was really like a festering sore for quite some time, said Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington, DC, who said the disagreement over Khalistan has really torpedoed the relationship. The Khalistan disconnect At the heart of the current conflict between India and Canada is the disconnect in how each side views the Khalistan movement, says Kugelman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Khalistan movement grew in the 1980s and 1990s when the Indian government violently cracked down on Sikhs, following the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by two of her Sikh security guards in 1984. Thousands of Sikhs moved abroad to places like Australia, the UK, the US, and Canada. While the Khalistani ideology lost resonance in India, it remained more alive in the diaspora. India has long accused Canada of harboring Sikh extremists, allowing more hardline elements of the Khalistan movement to thrive a premise Canada rejects, said Stephanie Carvin, a former Canadian intelligence analyst and associate professor of international affairs at Ottawas Carleton University. Violence related to Sikh extremism in Canada goes back decades with the 1985 bombing of Air India Flight 182, the worst terror attack in Canadas history, a tragedy that continues to strain relations between the two countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canada-based Sikh extremists planted a bomb on a Mumbai-bound passenger flight from Montreal, killing all 329 people on board, in what was widely seen as revenge against the Indian government. The only person who was convicted in the bombing was released in 2017 by Canadian courts after serving two decades in jail. Members of the Hindu Sikh Global Forum protest the clashes between Hindu and Sikh communities in Canada in New Delhi, India, on November 9, 2024. - Sanchit Khanna/Hindustan Times/Getty Images For years, India has accused Canada of failing to prevent the attack after it warned the Canadian government of the possibility of a bombing. A Canadian inquiry two decades later found the attack was due to a cascading series of errors by the government, police and intelligence services. While most of the victims were Canadians, the tragedy was viewed by many in Canada as something foreign, Carvin said, which some observers allege influenced the governments response. Aside from a small minority of violent Sikh separatists, Canada does not see the Khalistan movement as the threat India does, according to Carvin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canada has said Sikhs have a right to peaceful protest and Trudeau has largely avoided categorical condemnation of Sikh separatism. However, the Canadian prime minister recently acknowledged that Khalistan separatists do not represent the Sikh community in Canada. India and Canada have typically taken a very different view as to what constitutes permissible activity, because it doesnt break Canadian law to advocate for a Sikh separatist state in Canada, Carvin said. But the Sikh insurgency of the 1980s and its campaign of violence remains very strong in the memory of the New Delhi political elite, said Harsh Pant, foreign policy head at the New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation think tank. A downward spiral of relations While the Khalistan issue has persisted for decades, relations between Canada and India have plummeted under Modi and Trudeau. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Trudeau visited India in 2018 for his first official visit, his calendar, which was light on diplomatic meetings, was seen by many as a snub from New Delhi. Local media in both India and Canada linked Trudeaus reception or lack thereof to the issue of Sikh separatists. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) walks alongside Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah outside a polling station during India's general election, in Ahmedabad, India, on May 7, 2024. - Adnan Abidi/Reuters Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A year earlier, the Canadian leader was seen at a Sikh event in Toronto where separatist flags and posters depicting an extremist Sikh leader killed in a 1984 Indian Army operation were displayed. Trudeaus visit to India further roiled tensions after it became known Canada had invited a former member of a Sikh extremist organization, a man convicted of attempted murder, to attend an official dinner with the prime minister while in New Delhi. That invitation was swiftly rescinded, according to CNN affiliate CBC News. In October, Trudeau told reporters that India made a fundamental error by supporting criminal activity against Canadians on Canadian soil. Here is a case of the top official in Canada very publicly leveling one of the most serious allegations one could make against India, one that relates to an issue that is extremely sensitive for New Delhi, Kugelman, of the South Asia Institute, said. It really reinforced this anger in New Delhi that Canada simply doesnt care about these concerns, and its willing to embarrass India. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carvin, the former Canadian intelligence analyst, said she believes Canada was pushed into a corner. It seems pretty clear that the Indian government is not willing to meet with its Canadian counterparts in the same way that theyre willing to meet with (the US), she said. Earlier this month the two leaders had what looked like an amicable exchange as they posed for a group photo at the recent G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, alongside US President Joe Biden. Photos showed Biden with his arm around Modi, as the three world leaders shared a laugh. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, from left, US President Joe Biden and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi gather for the G20 Summit world leaders' group photo, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on November 19, 2024. - Eraldo Peres/AP Growing mistrust Canadian leaders were quick to denounce the recent violence in Brampton and crack down on those involved in the clashes. At least five people have been arrested, and a local police officer was suspended after he was caught on camera participating in the protest while off duty, according to CBC. Bramptons city council passed a bylaw prohibiting protests around religious places. Modi also spoke out on the violence, calling it a deliberate attack on a Hindu temple in Canada, slamming the protesters for cowardly attempts to intimidate our diplomats. Such acts of violence will never weaken Indias resolve, Modi wrote on X. We expect the Canadian government to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law. That Modi, who up until now has largely avoided weighing in on the diplomatic spat, issued comments on the tussle shows just how fraught relations have gotten, analysts say. Implicating Shah in the Nijjar killing on Canadian soil was an incredibly serious provocation from Ottawa, Kugelman said. At this point, the risk is that it could really hijack the relationship, to the point that the areas of cooperation that continue to play out, such as trade, could become casualties, Kugelman said. Pant, of the Observer Research Foundation, said he does not believe the relationship is salvageable under current leadership, with so much ill will between Modi and Trudeau. Canadas next federal election is set to take place before next October. The level of mistrust between India and the Trudeau administration has been building up and growing, Pant said, adding that he doesnt think there is space to diplomatically resolve it. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A sign at the entrance of a hallway leading to the Office of the Senate President bars lobbyists. File photo by Bryan P. Sears. The national climate advocacy group F Minus is at it again, with a new report spotlighting what it sees as the lack of oversight of fossil fuel lobbyists in the Maryland State House. F Minus, which was set up last year by James Browning, the former director of Common Cause Maryland, has focused so far on statehouse lobbying by the fossil fuel industry around the country, calling for more transparency and accountability. The group has also attempted to expose the intrinsic contradiction of lobbyists who simultaneously represent climate organizations or clean energy interests and corporate polluters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Browning argues that climate-conscious local governments, nonprofits and other entities that share lobbyists with fossil fuel companies cant fully appreciate the extent to which these lobbyists are making the climate crisis worse, without better disclosure of their activities. The newest report, called Inherent Vice, grades the 50 states on the transparency of their lobbyist disclosure laws Maryland rates a C-plus, while 27 states got a failing grade. The report also gives special attention to Maryland, one of two states that received an F Minus audit of fossil fuel lobbying activities and official government disclosure rules. The picture isnt pretty. F Minus found a pattern of fossil fuel lobbyists giving incomplete and inaccurate information in disclosures filed with the Maryland State Ethics Commission. While the report card gives the state high marks for requiring disclosure of the compensation lobbyists receive from each of their clients, and disclosure of bills on which they lobbied, it also found fossil fuel lobbyists disclosing the specific bill numbers they lobbied on just 47% of the time in 2024. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marylands fossil fuel lobbyists are stalling action on the climate crisis and making a mockery of disclosure requirements, Browning said recently. The F Minus audit also reveals two examples of climate bills on which Johns Hopkins Universitys pro-climate testimony was contradicted by its own lobbying firms anti-climate testimony for the American Petroleum Institute. Nationwide, the advocacy groups database finds more than 1,500 state-level lobbyists for fossil fuel companies who also represent local governments, schools, businesses, nonprofits and other entities that are impacted by the climate crisis. But Browning argues that the degree to which these lobbyists fossil fuel advocacy is harming their non-fossil-fuel clients cannot be fully known without better disclosure of what, exactly, these lobbyists are doing in state legislatures, how much they are paid, and if the disclosures they do make are accurate. In Maryland, lobbyists file semiannual reports with the state ethics commission, the entity that oversees the industry in May, shortly after the completion of the three-month General Assembly session, and again in November. The ethics commission requires disclosure of bill numbers that lobbyists have worked on, but F Minus found that compliance varies from lobbyist to lobbyist and from firm to firm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The advocacy group analyzed disclosures made by Marylands top fossil fuel lobbyists in May 2024, compared this to video and written records of these lobbyists appearances at legislative hearings on specific bills, and found these lobbyists disclosing bill numbers for their fossil fuel advocacy just 47% of the time in 2024. On two measures that sought to dramatically limit the use of gas in new buildings, House Bill 210 and House Bill 1279, lobbyists for the American Petroleum Institute, Maryland Association of Realtors, Maryland Building Industry Association, and Maryland Multi-Housing Association testified or registered their opposition at hearings on these bills, but failed to disclose this activity to the ethics commission, F Minus found. Also failing to disclose their lobbying on one or both bills were BGE, Pepco, and the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Energy Solutions, which was established to slow electrification mandates. The audit also found two instances of a lobbyist at Cornerstone Government Affairs, a national firm with a robust Annapolis office, testifying against climate legislation that was supported by Johns Hopkins University a Cornerstone client. The audit identifies at least half a dozen other Maryland lobbyists or firms representing fossil fuel interests that appear to have skirted fully reporting their activities during the General Assembly session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement F Minus argues that monthly disclosure reports should be required of lobbyists because lobbying is a year-round activity, even in states whose legislatures only meet part-time, like Marylands, or only meet every other year. Nineteen states require monthly reporting either year-round or when their legislatures are in session. But the benefits of frequent disclosure cannot make up for the problems with weak disclosure, the report argues. This is the case in Illinois, for example, which does not have any of the three keys to disclosure, but requires disclosure reports twice a month. Georgia has none of the three keys and requires monthly reporting during its legislative session. This flurry of activity creates an illusion of disclosure, while failing to capture the exact nature of lobbyists activities, according to the report. F Minus suggests that governors who have committed to fighting climate, change, including Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D), call out their states fossil fuel lobbyists for flouting disclosure requirements. Exposing the tactics of fossil fuel lobbyists can make the difference between winning or losing the climate fight, Browning said, and this report card shows that right now were choosing to lose. (Bloomberg) -- A group of climate scientists, academics and activists urged Japan to set an ambitious 2035 carbon reduction target, following a proposal made by government officials on Monday. Most Read from Bloomberg Japan needs to provide a framework for emission cuts by about 80% below 2013 levels by 2035, in line with other leading countries that are committed to delivering on the goals of the Paris Agreement, the experts said in a joint statement released on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statement follows a meeting held by Japans trade and environment ministry on Monday, in which government officials suggested updating the nations climate targets to a 60% reduction by 2035, compared to 2013 levels. Members of the panel, which includes external experts from academia and financial institutions, questioned whether the proposed figures are ambitious enough and whether they align with global climate goals. The Asian nation relies heavily on natural gas and coal for much of its electricity, and has struggled to shift toward cleaner energy sources, citing geographical challenges and energy security as some of the reasons. Signatories to the Paris Agreement are required to submit fresh carbon reduction pledges by February to the United Nations. Some countries, like the UK, have already outlined their plans for updated goals, intended to show higher ambitions than the existing 2030 targets. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Its a tremendous innovation, I was also shocked. It sounds much more natural than most similar programs. It has intuitively learned to hold conversations on almost any subject. These are some of the early reactions from experts in artificial intelligence (AI) regarding ChatGPT, as published in EL PAIS. Within just a few days, the tool captivated both professionals and general users, who began sharing excerpts of their conversations with the bot on social media. Suddenly, anyone with an internet connection could engage in a dialogue with a machine that provided coherent, well-written responses though not always accurate ones. For many, it felt as if they were conversing with a person rather than a machine. This Saturday marks two years since the launch of ChatGPT, which introduced generative AI to the public a technology capable of producing seemingly original content based on human prompts. What is the current state of this technology? The initial excitement has given way to a corporate battle for dominance in deploying such tools. Microsoft quickly entered into a collaboration agreement with OpenAI, the developer behind ChatGPT and DALLE, while Google was not far behind, announcing its own open models within two months. Today, we find ourselves in what the consultancy firm Gartner refers to as the trough of disillusionment: the initial euphoria led to inflated expectations, and the inability to meet them immediately caused interest to wane. This is a natural phase in the lifecycle of technological trends, and, according to Gartner, the slope of expectations will rise again within a few years, though more moderately than the first surge. Two years later, artificial brains remain stochastic know-it-alls: they speak with great authority, they seem to know everything, but what they say is not the result of real knowledge, but of their intuitively developed ability to appear wise, sums up Julio Gonzalo, professor of Computer Languages and Systems at Spains National University of Distance Education (UNED) and deputy vice-rector for research. Andrej Karpathy, one of the creators of the GPT model (who left OpenAI in February), recently acknowledged signs of exhaustion in generative AI. Since the early versions of ChatGPT were already trained on nearly all available texts on the internet, the new versions will not be able to use much more data than their predecessors. This will mean that the models will not be able to significantly improve. For a big leap to take place, innovation in algorithmic architecture will be needed, such as the development of transformers [a type of neural network that is key in the development of large language models] in 2017, says Alvaro Barbero, head of data analysis at the Knowledge Engineering Institute. There are also concerns on the business front. Investors have yet to see how generative AI can be monetized effectively. OpenAI raised $10 billion in October to operate flexibly, in addition to the $13 billion Microsoft pledged in 2023. Yet this funding may not be enough. The much-anticipated GPT-5 model, initially slated for release in late 2023, has yet to arrive, and analysts are beginning to doubt that it will be as groundbreaking as CEO Sam Altman has suggested. According to OpenAIs own projections, the company wont turn a profit until 2029, and in the meantime its burning through about $500 million a month. The tech magazine The Information estimates that the cost of training its models will reach $7 billion by 2024, and OpenAI could run out of funds by next summer. Within 12 months, the AI bubble will have burst, said AI expert Gary Marcus last July. The economics dont work, the current approach has reached a plateau, there is no killer app, hallucinations [when the system makes things up] remain, boneheaded errors remain, nobody has a moat, and people are starting to realize all of the above. The AI revolution Financial concerns aside, theres no doubt that the tool launched on November 30, 2022, was groundbreaking. From my perspective, the emergence of ChatGPT was absolutely revolutionary, says Carlos Gomez Rodriguez, professor of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence at the University of La Coruna and an expert in natural language processing, the AI field dedicated to understanding and generating text. For the first time, a single system could perform a wide range of tasks without specific training. Before, you could create a Spanish-English translator, but by designing it specifically for that. It turned out that by developing these larger models, the model was able to do many things. That has changed everything in my field of research. Generative AI has led to interesting applications, such as summarizing texts, composing letters in other languages, and extracting information from documents, but also problematic uses, such as relying on the system to extract factual information when it is really making predictions not searching, or to draw conclusions when it isnt reasoning, explains Ricardo Baeza-Yates, research director of the Experiential AI Institute at Northeastern University in Boston and professor at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona. Alongside image and video generators, generative AI is blurring the lines between reality and deception through deepfakes, while also enabling more sophisticated and cost-effective forms of cyberattacks. Images created using an AI tool show a dispute between Donald Trump and police officers. J. David Ake (AP) Just three months after the launch of ChatGPT, OpenAI introduced the GPT-4 model, marking a significant leap from the first version of the tool. However, in the nearly two years since then, there have been no major breakthroughs. It seems that with GPT-4 we have reached the limits of what AI is capable of just by emulating our intuition. It has also been proven that the capacity for rational thought has not appeared by magic just by making bigger brains, Gonzalo explains. The road ahead The latest development in generative AI is multimodal systems, capable of combining different types of media, such as text, image, and audio. For example, the latest versions of ChatGPT or Gemini can analyze a photo of your fridge and suggest what to prepare for dinner. But they generate these results based on intuition, not reasoning. The next step will be to investigate whether large language models can evolve into autonomous agents meaning they can operate independently and interact with each other on our behalf. They could book plane tickets or hotel reservations based on our instructions, says Gomez Rodriguez. I think generative AI models are reaching their limits and will need to add other elements, such as true knowledge [Perplexity and others already cite the sources they use], deductive logic [classic AI] and, in the long term, common sense, the rarest of the senses. Only then can we start talking about true reasoning, says Baeza-Yates. This is what Altman has promised for next year. He refers to it as artificial general intelligence (AGI), which equals or exceeds human capabilities. Its clear that such a development will take time to materialize, and, as Baeza-Yates suggests, more than just generative AI will be needed to achieve this goal. Large multimodal models of generative AI are going to be a critical part of the overall solution to developing AGI, but I dont think theyre enough on their own. I think were going to need a handful of other big breakthroughs before we get to what we call AGI, said Demis Hassabis, head of AI research at Google and Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry, last week at a meeting with journalists in which EL PAIS participated. Generative AI not only does not bring us closer to the big scientific questions of AI, such as whether intelligence can exist in non-organic forms, but it actually diverts us from them. These systems are incapable of reasoning, [to achieve that] we would need to turn to symbolic AI [based on mathematical logic], reflects Ramon Lopez de Mantaras, founder of the CSIC Artificial Intelligence Research Institute and one of Spains pioneers in the field. Alphafold, the tool developed by Hassabis team to predict the structure of 200 million proteins leading to his Nobel Prize integrates 32 different AI techniques, generative AI being just one of them. I believe the future will lie in these kinds of hybrid systems, says Lopez de Mantaras. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Reps. Josh Gottheimer and Mikie Sherrill are competing for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2025. (Photos from Gottheimer's office and Chance Yeh/Getty Images) On Wednesday afternoon, the Associated Press reported that Democrat Derek Tran flipped a California House seat held by GOP Rep. Michelle Steel. Why does this matter to New Jersey voters? Well, with another California Democrat leading in a Republican-held district that has yet to be called, Republicans are looking at a House majority in January that could end up being a whopping total of two votes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coincidentally, over here on the best coast, two is the number of New Jersey House Democrats who have recently decided to seek their partys nomination for governor next year. In such a closely divided House, will the gubernatorial ambitions of Reps. Josh Gottheimer and Mikie Sherrill affect key legislation because theyre up here campaigning instead of down in D.C. voting? Both campaigns said they can indeed seek the governorship and tend to their House duties at the same time. Sherrill campaign spokesman Sean Higgins noted the Center for Effective Lawmaking ranked her as the most effective House member from New Jersey during the last House session because of her commitment to delivering for the people she serves. Gottheimer was ranked No. 4 for New Jerseys 12-member House delegation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mikie will stay in close coordination with House Democratic leadership on the vote schedule and will always fight to protect the interests of New Jersey families, Higgins said. As for Gottheimer, Zach Florman, his communications director, said, As ever, the Congressman will be at every critical vote and is already working closely with leadership to ensure that. Both Sherrill and Gottheimer have missed at least one vote since they launched their gubernatorial bids. On the evening of Nov. 18 thats the day Sherrill announced her campaign for governor the House voted in favor of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, which is intended to bridge gaps in the services provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Sherrill and Gottheimer were the only two members of New Jerseys House delegation who did not vote on it. Three days later, Gottheimer was the only New Jersey House member to miss two votes, including one on a bill that would give the Trump administration more power to punish nonprofits it doesnt like (Sherrill voted no). Two of those bills passed with an overwhelming majority and the nonprofit bill passed with 35 votes, so their presence in D.C. for those votes would not have changed anything. Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop says Gottheimer and Sherrill lied to voters when they ran for reelection this year while planning 2025 gubernatorial runs. (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Liberty Science Center) I asked Steve Fulop about this. Hes the mayor of Jersey City and one of the six Democrats hoping to succeed a term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy (the others are Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, teachers union chief Sean Spiller, and former state Sen. Steve Sweeney). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of all of Sherrills and Gottheimers primary opponents, Fulop has been the most critical of them, chiding them for seeking reelection to the House this month while also readying their campaigns for governor. He has lobbed enough bombs in their direction on social media that a Sherrill supporter said Fulop is thirsting for engagement. Fulop told me he thinks Sherrills and Gottheimers campaigns put Democrats at risk of letting President-elect Donald Trumps agenda eke through the House. In a time of Trump where the House of Representatives will be the front line of defense every resident in NJ should be offended that they were lied to during the congressional campaign by Mikie and Josh. Its unheard of to tell people you want a job and then to bail on it before even being sworn in and it speaks to their own ego about having a title above the goal of service, Fulop said in an email. Spiller also cited Trump when asked to comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Democrats we all need to be fully focused on defending against a Trump agenda. As an educator, and leader in New Jersey, I have the experience and am prepared to stand up to his agenda and for New Jersey values, he said in a statement from his campaign. To be fair, Gottheimer and Sherrill have great attendance records. GovTrack says both miss few votes: Gottheimer was absent for 1.3% of votes in his first term, and since then that percentage hasnt risen above 1%, while Sherrill missed 0.6% of votes in her first term and 3% in her second (numbers for their current terms are not available). House members missing votes because theyre off campaigning for another job is a tale as old as time. Earlier this year, Rep. Andy Kim was criticized by then-opponent first lady Tammy Murphy for missing a vote on a bill to ban TikTok. But at that time, in March, the GOP had a six-vote majority. If it ends up being just two starting in January, Democrats will need every body they have in D.C. What happens if Sherrill has a big-dollar fundraiser in Montclair or Gottheimer has a meet-and-greet with voters in Asbury Park and the House decides at the last minute to vote on a major bill? What gets the priority, the job they have now or they job they want in January 2026? Well find out very soon. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX While the lake effect will run wild producing feet of snow in some locations from Michigan to New York into the start of December, a variety of colder storms may spread some flakes and perhaps even some accumulating snow to other places in the Midwest and East for the first time this season in the coming days, AccuWeather meteorologists say. A persistent southward dip in the jet stream will not only direct waves of cold air from central Canada through the Midwest and into the eastern United States into the first half of December, but it will also help guide some storms toward those regions. Most of these storms will struggle to grab moisture. However, there will be some exceptions where snow could accumulate outside of the mountains and immediately downwind of the Great Lakes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Major travel problems will continue into early week downwind of the Great Lakes due to bands of heavy lake-effect snow that can close roads and strand motorists. There is a potentially larger and somewhat stronger storm from Canada that AccuWeather meteorologists will be monitoring this week. This clipper-style storm will travel from Canada to near Lake Superior from Monday to Tuesday. The storm will then pivot eastward across the Great Lakes and near the St. Lawrence Valley from Tuesday to Wednesday. While this track will put much of the Ohio Valley, mid-Atlantic and southern New England on the warm side of the storm, the air may still be chilly enough to allow pockets of snow all the way from the Midwest to the Atlantic coast. The amount and precise locations of that snow will depend on the track and intensity of the moisture-starved storm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A bit of snow or flurries will be in the offing for Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Chicago and Detroit from later Tuesday to Wednesday. Cold rain showers or perhaps wet snow mixed with rain can occur near the Ohio River. The same storm will then bring the chance of a little snow, snow showers or mixed rain and snow showers to the zone from New York City to Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., from Wednesday to Thursday. During this time, there will likely be long periods where there is no rain or snow falling due to the extent of dry pockets within the storm. GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is pretty rare for much snow to accumulate with a storm track of this nature from southern New England to the mid-Atlantic in the coastal Northeast, but areas farther to the north [and west] stand a better chance at picking up some accumulating snow," AccuWeather Senior Long-Range Meteorologist Joe Lundberg said. Looking farther ahead, AccuWeather meteorologists are monitoring the chance of a bigger snowstorm closer to the middle of December. "There continues to be an indication that a storm will track from the southern Plains or lower Mississippi Valley to the Atlantic coast in the span from Dec. 9-11," Lundberg said. There are many possibilities with a storm this far out in terms of track, intensity and the amount of snow it could bring, but such a track typically allows the storm to grab much more moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic, which can potentially then unload heavier precipitation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Options for the storm as it nears the coast range from it evolving into a potent nor'easter with significant travel disruptions to a weaker storm that simply races out to sea with minimal travel problems. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) An exercise equipment manufacturer headquartered in Columbus lost nearly half a million dollars as part of a money laundering operation based in New York. In May, federal prosecutors leveled a stack of 30 different money laundering charges against 53-year-old Brooklyn resident Aleksandr Bogomolny. After a plea agreement in October, U.S. District Court records showed that he pleaded guilty on Saturday to just two of those charges: money laundering with an interstate commerce specification, and money laundering with fraud. Six Ohio cities make U.S. News & World Reports list of best places to live in 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bogomolny had been tied to the siphoned funds through a Trojan virus that stole banking credentials on a Rogue Fitness employees laptop, according to federal court documents. The exercise equipment manufacturer, headquartered at 1011 Cleveland Ave., reported to the FBI that it had found 78 suspicious transfers from the companys Paypal account over a month. Because 90 different Rogue employees including the one with an infected laptop had access to the Paypal account and it was used for transactions with customers banks, Bogomolny was able to hide his activity. From March 29 to April 29 in 2021, Bogomolny periodically pilfered $496,136, court records said. From there, the money made its way to 22 different cards, including Bogomolnys with Bank of America. When investigators looked into his account, they found he had already laundered more than $247,000 in criminal funds from December 2019 to July 2021. Separately, he had used the gambling website FanDuel to launder more money. After stealing a victims identity, the U.S. Attorneys Office said Bogomolny would deposit criminal proceeds into a new FanDuel account, then withdraw it. He and others dropped $572,000 into the FanDuel accounts and moved $485,000 out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Long before being arrested, FBI agents raided Bogomolnys Brooklyn home in 2022, where court records said they found an Excel spreadsheet with 341,000 different entries of personal information. They included names, addresses and Social Security numbers. Bogomolny also had 10 different credit card numbers, information on four different bank accounts, and 249 gift cards containing anywhere from $5 to $250. He also had several pictures of drivers licenses and passports. Investigators moved in on Bogomolny by going undercover. Agents approached him in 2023 claiming to have $20,000 from illegal drug activities, and he agreed to launder their money for a 6% fee. After wiring the agents $18,000 through multiple transactions, they asked him to launder another $50,000. When he met them to pick up the funds in April 2024, the U.S. Attorneys Office said they arrested him. When central Ohio malls, stores open on Black Friday Bogomolny could face up to 20 years in prison at sentencing, which federal court records did not show a scheduled date for as of Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Nov. 29A group of University of Idaho students who use diversity offices that are threatened under a proposed statewide policy said in a survey that the services have boosted their college experience and, in some cases, stopped them from dropping out. Nick Koenig, a UI graduate student, compiled a report Monday with peers that includes the testimonials of 55 students who use the diversity offices. The Idaho Board of Education is considering a resolution to consider scrapping diversity, equity and inclusion programs throughout colleges in the state. At the board's meeting last week, members decided they wanted more input from universities about their diversity offices before acting on the resolution to close them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, Idaho Board of Education Executive Director Joshua Whitworth has had discussions with some university presidents and legislators, especially the lawmakers who are part of a "DEI task force" within the Legislature, said education board spokesperson Mike Keckler. Koenig says it's not enough students' voices must be at the forefront of the discussion. "I would love for them to speak to students and be able to recenter the student voice in this. I think that's the point of education. We should do that," Koenig said, "not have people who aren't in the classroom talk to one another. If they were to make a decision without talking to students, that is deeply problematic." Koenig's report surveyed 55 students who attended gatherings and meetings about the potential closure and were given a QR code . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All respondents reported positive experiences with the diversity offices. Koenig admits, however, that the surveys aren't representative of the entire university, "but they do represent student voices." Over half of the respondents replied they might consider leaving the university if the services were to be scrapped because they don't know how they'd continue without it. One student wrote in their testimonial about UI's Office of Multicultural Affairs: "I had sexual trauma resurfaced causing me to have a panic attack. Going to the women's center the staff supported me and lend me a shoulder to cry on. OMA had helped me find friends and learn how to survive the first year of college." Another student wrote in their testimonial that the office "helped during the 2022 homicides" of UI students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle. Bryan Kohberger, accused of their killings, is set to be tried for the homicides in the summer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the homicides, the course of the university was completely changed. Many students left campus, police increased patrols around the city and national media swarmed the school. "That was the one that made me emotional," Koenig said of the student who was helped following the homicides. "It shows we can't turn our backs on these offices." The testimonials also include people who said they could not have graduated without the offices, that they felt more comfortable on campus, that the offices helped educate them on things like reproductive health or sexual health and that they are worried about their friends who use the offices. The school has kids from a "wide stretch of background," Koenig said, so even teachers will use the diversity offices to better understand and support their own students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Koenig, who uses they and them pronouns, said they worry other services, like veterans affairs or disability offices, could be threatened. "If I didn't know how to support a student who is a veteran, I don't know what I would do if that office didn't exist. Same for students who need the women's center. I worry about what's next." Those critical of diversity practices have voiced concern about reverse discrimination or alienating students who aren't part of the demographic those offices serve. Education board member David Turnbull said in last week's meeting that "identity has become a way of separating us instead of bringing us together." But Koenig said, as a white person, they've never walked into the Black and African American Cultural Center and felt any type of hostile behavior. In fact, Koenig said, the people there were welcoming when Koenig had questions about how to teach a class about how environmental changes can impact people of different races. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Come into the centers to see how supportive they are. Come to the campus. Come see for yourself," Koenig said, speaking to the board members. "Meet the students and staff, and listen to them." University of Idaho representatives did not respond for comment Tuesday. Well, there you have it: the British parliament votes in favour of assisted dying, bringing us up to date with Oregon and, I would argue, the Third Reich. We are not the same country we were; we do not rest on the same moral foundation. Rarely was the obvious question asked, why did we not do this before? Because for all the misery, muck and hypocrisy around dying and, yes, morphine helps it along we long stuck to the principle that the state does not take innocent life. No longer. It was a good debate. The argument for assisted dying was largely anecdotal, but those are some damn good anecdotes. Kit Malthouse spoke of a constituent who, unable to take the pain anymore, laid down on a railway line. It would have been hard to resist such pleas to end suffering; the problem is that the suffering that will follow legalisation, by its nature, cannot be attested to because it hasnt happened yet. Relatives will push the elderly to die early; money will be made; the wedge will thicken; and the British health service being so poor, this will come to be seen as a patriotic or desperate alternative to substandard care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As I said on Politics Live this week, my mother lives with long-term pain. Contrary to the image of angels in white coats, weve found many doctors to be rude and uncaring; the bureaucracy is hellish. Shes lucky: she has me to fight for her. Were she poor and alone, and were she ever given a terminal diagnosis, whos to say she wouldnt take the suicide pill just to avoid the NH-bloody-S? Contrary to the image of angels in white coats, weve found many doctors to be rude and uncaring - Eddie Mulholland for The Telegraph This point was raised most forcefully by Labour MPs, which was impressive. Had we a Tory majority, the debate wouldve likely been about philosophy; with a Labour majority, it was about poverty and inequality. MPs such as Diane Abbott made the case that the state is so impoverished that we cannot guarantee patients a fair choice between palliative care and dying. Someone very clever observed to me that the debate divided, on the Right, conservatives from libertarians; on the Left, socialists from progressives. Conservatives and socialists listen to constituencies most worried about legalised suicide religious voters, the poor and the disabled. But they also share a vision of the human being as rooted in community, whose welfare is all our responsibility. They emphasise security over liberty. Individualist MPs of the libertarian or progressive kind, favour maximised autonomy and frequently spoke in terms of choice, almost to the point of separate-from-moral-concern. I quote Alicia Kearns warning to religious critics of the Bill: Supporting the choices of others does not diminish compassion, ie you can be personally against something, but acknowledge or validate the right of others to do it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But this is nonsense. A rational human being cannot support the rights of others to harm the community, such as murder; to promote bad choices, such as encouraging self-harm; or step back from someone in physical and mental anguish with the blessing that its their body, their choice. Their body, to lift from St Paul, is part of a whole; the body of mankind. If you see someone standing on a bridge, thinking about jumping, you dont just give them a sympathetic smile, do you? Or perhaps some people do. One feels the disagreements with members of ones own tribe more strongly than with those on the other side and a kind of fury bubbles up in me whenever I hear libertarians speak, because for every liberal Tory in the House of Commons, thats one more seat thats been denied to a philosophical conservative. I return to the comparison with Nazi Germany, which others will find distasteful, because its crimes were involuntary. But it, too, proclaimed death could be healthcare, and necessary and kind. And it was in revulsion against Nazism that in the decades since the 1940s we got rid of the death penalty, wrote human rights laws, recognised the disabled as full citizens and promoted peace. It is the postwar consensus, as social democratic as it is Judeo-Christian, that is crumbling giving way to something consumerist and atomising. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) A sanitation contractor has been fined $171K after an investigation revealed they had employed children at a pork facility in Sioux City. According to a release from the Department of Labor, Qvest LLC has been ordered to pay a total of $171,919 in child labor civil money penalties. The investigation revealed that they had employed 11 minors to do work for the company. Tips to avoid holiday shopping scams Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the second company to be fined for hiring minors to do sanitation work at Seaboard Triumph. Earlier this year, Fayette Janitorial Service LLC was ordered to pay $649,304 in child labor civil money penalties. Seaboard Triumph Foods has not been accused of any wrongdoings in these two incidents. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. U.S. Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, speaks to the Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce on Nov. 26, 2024, in Brandon, S.D. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) BRANDON, S.D. Incoming U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, has signaled that hes willing to push back against potential attempts by President-elect Donald Trump to expand presidential power over federal spending. Every president is going to come in and try to do as much as they can by executive action as possible, Thune said. Congress, in some cases, is going to be the entity that sometimes will have to put the brakes on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thune spoke Tuesday to the Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce and also took questions from reporters. He said Republicans in Congress will work with Trump to achieve shared policy goals. The things we want to achieve at present are by and large the same, Thune said. How we get there is another matter, and well have to work through that. Trumps pick for his budget director, Russ Vought, served in the same role during the first Trump administration. Vought has since outlined an aggressive vision for presidential power in Project 2025, a 922-page document from the conservative-leaning Heritage Foundation. The President should use every possible tool to propose and impose fiscal discipline on the federal government. Vought wrote. Anything short of that would constitute abject failure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has meanwhile tried to assert greater control over the Cabinet selection process, calling for the Senate to recess the chamber early next year so he can appoint whoever he wants without having to go through the confirmation process. Thune said Tuesday he plans to immediately begin committee hearings on Cabinet nominees when Congress is sworn in on Jan. 3, 2025. Thatll give the Senate a head start vetting Trumps nominees before his inauguration on Jan. 20. After Trump is sworn in, Thune expects some nominations to quickly hit the floor of the Senate. The committees cant report them out until the president is officially sworn in and theyre officially nominated, Thune told the audience Tuesday. But they could do hearings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thune told South Dakota reporters following the event that even though some questions have been raised about nominees, they deserve a fair process in which senators question them on their background, qualifications, and whether they ought to be in these really important positions. Thune said he has not taken recess appointments off the table if Democrats try to obstruct or delay the confirmation of nominees when they reach the Senate floor, particularly if theyre well regarded and they have bipartisan support. Top priorities for Republican senators heading into the new session of Congress, Thune said, include extending Trumps 2017 tax cuts and securing the nations southern border. Thune said he plans to begin drafting a budget reconciliation resolution to push an extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, key provisions of which expire at the end of 2025. The reconciliation process allows tax and spending bills to pass the Senate with 51 votes, instead of the 60 needed for most Senate legislation. Republicans will control 53 seats in the new Senate and will also control the House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Failing to extend the tax cuts would lead to a $4 trillion tax increase, Thune said. This story first appeared in the South Dakota Searchlight, a member with the Phoenix in the nonprofit States Newsroom. States Newsrooms D.C. Bureau contributed to this report. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Most of Connecticut's congressional delegation and two from neighboring states said they were the subject of bomb threats Thursday at their homes as they were preparing to celebrate Thanksgiving, although no bombs ultimately were found. Connecticut Democratic Reps. Jim Himes, Jahana Hayes, Joe Courtney, John Larson and Rosa DeLauro announced in written statements that they had been targeted. So too did Reps. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts and Seth Magazine of Rhode Island. The office of Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., confirmed to NBC News that he too was a target, as well. CBS' local affiliate reported earlier Thursday that Murphy received the threat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities say they are tracking a wave of threats against lawmakers that began earlier this week. "Were working that hard with the FBI," President Joe Biden told reporters with him in Nantucket, Massachusetts, where he is celebrating Thanksgiving with his family. A spokesperson for Murphy said the threat on the senator's Hartford home "appears to be part of a coordinated effort involving multiple members of Congress and public figures." The U.S. Capitol Police, which is charged with protecting lawmakers, is working the case, a spokesperson said, but would not reveal more information about potential suspects or motives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anytime a Member of Congress is the victim of a swatting incident, we work closely with our local and federal law enforcement partners, said Brianna Burch, a spokesperson for the agency. To protect ongoing investigations and to minimize the risk of copy-cats, we cannot provide more details at this time. Larson also alluded to the threats, saying in a statement that he was "grateful that my colleagues in the Connecticut Congressional Delegation, who received similar threats, are also safe." Hayes said on X that the police notified her Thursday morning that "they received a threatening email stating a pipe bomb had been placed in the mailbox at my home." Local and state police did not find bombs or "explosive materials," Hayes said. "At this time the investigation is ongoing," she continued. "I thank law enforcement for their swift attention to this matter, their actions demonstrate there is no place in our country for political violence." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similarly, Himes said in a statement on X that he was notified Thursday morning about a bomb threat targeting his home, though police found "no evidence of a bomb." "There is no place for political violence in this country, and I hope that we may all continue through the holiday season with peace and civility," Himes said in a statement, in which he also expressed gratitude for law enforcement. Courtneys spokesperson said in a statement that Courtney and his wife, Audrey Courtney, "extend their utmost gratitude to the law enforcement officers, whose response should signal to perpetrators that these types of threats will not be tolerated." DeLauro said on X that she received a threat similar to that of her colleagues and that New Haven police determined there was no bomb. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I am grateful for local, state, and federal law enforcements efforts to keep me, my colleagues, and our community safe today," she said. The FBI, which did not release any information about the investigation, said it is "working with our state and local partners on these matters." Connecticut State Police deferred a request for more information about the incidents to local police departments that were the main investigators of each threat. The Vernon Police Department, which responded to the threat against Courtney, said in a statement that "the incident remains under investigation and no charges have been filed at this time." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wolcott Police Chief Edward Stephens, whose department responded to the threat against Hayes, told NBC News that a suspect has not been identified but that the department is working to trace the email used to send the threat. Stephens said his department is coordinating with the state police and other agencies. Other local police departments that responded to the incidents did not immediately reply to requests for comment. Capitol Police said in January that it investigated more than 8,000 incidents involving threats to members of Congress last year, including "concerning statements and direct threats." The number was an increase from the year before, when the agency investigated more than 7,500 threats. The final statistics for 2024 are not yet available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several of President-elect Donald Trump's planned administration officials were targeted with bomb and "swatting" threats Tuesday and Wednesday. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A construction industry event has sparked a sexism row after hiring female performers in skin-tight, builder-themed outfits for an awards show. On The Tools, an online community for builders, was accused of sexism after photos emerged from its recent awards ceremony showing women in tight-fitting costumes modelled on personal protective equipment (PPE) and walking on stilts. Faye Allen, a chartered quantity surveyor, said she was contacted by horrified attendees of the event, including one woman who literally walked into a crotch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said: Theres also a lot of issues over PPE. Weve been fighting really hard for PPE that fits, for women and other diverse groups. To have people put on hi-vis colours and dress like that, its frustrating. Ms Allen, who was formerly a director at construction company Arcadis, said: Ive been in the industry for 30 years I stopped working for contractors on site because I got sick of the way I was treated, and women are still being treated that way today. It has to change. Harriet Waley-Cohen, another diversity campaigner, said in a LinkedIn post she was appalled by the regressive, sexist messaging of the On The Tools event. She said: The promo women would have been signed off at the highest level. Anyone who wanted to question it either didnt feel safe to speak, or their concerns werent listened to. Everyone involved decided that its OK to sexualise and devalue women in the industry, and portray that women are there for their sexual desirability not their brains or talents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The organisation has spoken up for mens mental health recently, showing that it [is] capable of thinking sensitively about how to support its staff in some ways. But this is a huge fail. Women have far shorter careers than men in construction, according to RICS data. Its not surprising women are leaving if they are unsafe at work and routinely sexualised. What happened at the awards absolutely reinforces all of this. The post has drawn reactions from more than a thousand people and hundreds of comments. Critics of the events said hiring the performers was regressive and sexist - On The Tools A sign used at the event for photo opportunities has also circulated on social media showing an image of a loading bar with 69pc progress and stating: Getting drunk, please wait. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Allen said: The industry will never be inclusive if this messaging carries on. Women dont want tacky, or people getting drunk for the sake of it, we just want respect and to be able to do our jobs. According to On The Toolss website, the organisation is the largest and most engaged online construction community for UK tradespeople. Sponsors for last weeks awards ceremony included Jewson, CT1, Dulux Trade, Howdens, Renault Trucks, SIG Roofing, Toolstation and Wienerberger. Lee Wilcox, the chief executive of On The Tools, has since issued a public apology on LinkedIn and said On The Tools had used an events contractor to plan the event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He wrote: We asked for a construction theme but didnt check the outfits. But no matter the ins and outs of it and how it happened, this was a f--- up and were sorry. We always aim to empower women, which is why Im personally really, really sorry to anyone weve offended. Those that know me, know this isnt what Im about, and as the leader of the business our culture and beliefs are a reflection of me directly. Which is why this is on me. Mr Wilcox has also spoken personally to Ms Allen and Ms Waley-Cohen to apologise. Ms Allen said: Im trying to look on the bright side hopefully people will wake up and realise how bad the situation is for women now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Research carried out by Ms Allen for her upcoming book, Building Women: How Everyone In Construction Can Win, showed one in four women in the industry were sexually assaulted at work in 2023, equivalent to around 74,000 women in British construction. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. In less than a month, Donald Trumps proposal to carry out the largest deportation in history has gone from campaign slogan to imminent reality. And it is clear that the president-elect intends to fulfill his promise by any means necessary. He has already resorted to tariff threats against Mexico and Canada to force them to stop illegal immigration into the United States, and the intimidation will not stop there. Because in order to expel 11 million people, Trump will have to pressure a long list of countries to take back their citizens, or even people of other nationalities who cannot return to their own countries. To do this, he has promised that he will resort to coercion; the question is how. One possible way will be to withhold all types of visas for countries that refuse to cooperate. Since November 5, the president-elect and members of his future administration have been detailing the measures they will implement to carry out mass deportations. They have assured, for example, that Trump will declare a national emergency, that he will use the military, that he will build detention camps on the border, and that he will carry out massive raids in workplaces. However, they have left an important question unresolved: how they plan to twist the arms of countries around the world to accept deported people. We cant just put them on a plane, Tom Homan, the Republicans future border czar, who will be in charge of deportations, recently acknowledged in an interview. Theres a process we have to go through. You have to contact the country, they have to agree to accept them, then they got to send you travel documents, he added, assuring that it would be a long process. To begin with, there are several countries that do not allow deportations from the United States, including Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Other countries that the U.S. government describes as recalcitrant because they refuse or do not cooperate in deportation processes include China, Russia and India, according to the latest update from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE). And another 17 nations cooperate sometimes or only slightly. Beyond tariffs a tool he used for diplomatic purposes during his first presidency and is now using again the president-elect has another instrument at his disposal that he could use to try to force any of those countries to accept deported immigrants: visas. His administration can condition the granting of visas to certain countries on their acceptance of receiving people deported by the United States. This is established by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and is reflected in Project 2025, the conservative agenda from which Trump tried to distance himself during the campaign. However, among Trumps appointments for his second administration there are several individuals who participated in the development of Project 2025, which promotes ultraconservative policies to transform the federal government in order to, among other things, radically change the countrys immigration system. The document which not only echoes the Republicans immigration policies, but details the mechanisms for carrying them out was drafted by Homan and the White Houses future deputy chief of staff for policy, Stephen Miller, who will be in charge of overseeing the policies of the new administration, especially with regard to immigration. In the far-right guide that the president-elect could use as a roadmap for his administration, whether he is willing to admit it or not, the authors recommend invoking the Immigration and Nationality Act within the context of mass deportations to crush any resistance from affected countries. To that end, the text alludes to Section 243(d) of the INA, which states that when a government of a foreign country denies or unreasonably delays accepting an individual who is a citizen, subject, national, or resident of that country, the Secretary of State shall order consular officers in that foreign country to discontinue granting immigrant visas or non-immigrant visas, or both, to citizens, subjects, nationals, and residents of that country until the Secretary of Homeland Security notifies the Secretary of State that the country has accepted the individual. Immigrants and activists protest against Trump's mass deportation proposals on November 9 in New York. Stephanie Keith (Getty Images) This is a sanction that would remain in effect until the affected country accepts the return of all of its nationals awaiting deportation and formally commits to future, regular acceptance of its nationals, explains Project 2025. Blackletter implementation of this law will demonstrate a heretofore lacking seriousness to the international community that other nations must respect U.S. immigration laws and work with federal authorities to accept returning nationals or lose access to the United States, the authors conclude. If the law were to be implemented, the consequences would be severe. It could upend the countrys entire visa system, which includes more than 60 different types of immigrant and nonimmigrant visas. Immigrant visas include the IRI or CR1 for spouses of U.S. citizens. Nonimmigrant visas include the H-2A and H-2B for temporary workers, the F and M for international students, and the B1 for tourist travel. In fiscal year 2024, which ended last October, the United States issued a record 11.5 million visas. The figure is part of an upward trend that was already evident last year, when 11 million visas were approved, the vast majority of them 10,438,327 nonimmigrant, according to State Department figures. The 2023 total represented a 50% increase over the previous year. Based on last years figures, the five countries whose citizens received the most nonimmigrant visas were Mexico, India, Brazil, Colombia and China. Two of them India and China do not accept deportations from the United States. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition HONOLULU (KHON2) Comedian Jo Koy is back in the islands, delivering three shows at the Blaisdell this weekend. He stopped by the KHON studios just a couple of hours after arriving from Los Angeles. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Its no secret that Jo Koys love for Hawaii runs deep. Im just back home. This is what I call home, said Koy, sitting on the couch in the green room. You guys know, Im consistent. Whenever I come to Hawaii, I dont just come with my crew, I fly my family out. Like, this is not a gig for me. This is a blessing. Ive been blessed to be able to say Im performing in Hawaii. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For 35 years now, Koy has been breaking records around the world with sold-out shows. He just inked a two-special deal with Netflix. His autobiography came out in 2021, and he recently announced hell be the executive producer of a documentary on Filipino nurses, called Nurse Unseen. You know, representation is real. Like, we say it, and people think that its just something you say, but its notits a lot deeper than that, said Koy. That is something Ive always stayed true to. Im glad that its living on now. You know, after Easter Sunday, the movie that came out that I did with Spielberg, were seeing more and more of this. Im not saying Im the one who started it, but Im just saying we need more of that. We need more representation for everybody. Everyone has a voice, and everyone deserves a shot. Kaimuki volunteers taking action to reduce wildfire risk: Do it now before its too late Behind Koys effortless stage presence is a story of grit and perseverance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think what Im most proud of is just not giving up, said Koy. I just kept my little you ever see those flaps on horses when they race? They just, so they focus straight ahead. I just made sure to keep those little horse flaps on the side and just stay focused. Cause I knew I was living my dream. I just wanted to take it to that next level. Hawaii is one of the last stops on the first leg of a 60-city tour. On this Thanksgiving, Koy said hes thankful for family. Like, you know, when things start to happen, I hate to say this, but your circle gets a little tighter, and you want to surround yourself with people who are your day ones, your ride-or-dies, you know what I mean? People that got your back, no matter what, said Koy. And thats who you want to surround yourself with. Thats what Im most happy aboutthat my day ones are still here, you know, theyre still with me, right by my side. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jo Koys Friday and Saturday night shows are sold out, but tickets are still available for Sunday, Dec. 1. For more information, visit jokoy.com. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. Nov. 28Donations to a local food pantry will be boosted by philanthropists. According to a news release from the Cooperstown Food Pantry, the number of people seeking help from the pantry has increased. "There's increased need for the Food Pantry as people face high prices for housing, food and childcare, and with the coming winter heating costs," Will Kleffner, executive director of the pantry, said in the release. The pantry serves food insecure people in Otsego County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For all donations made to the food pantry through the end of 2024, the release stated, the Scriven Foundation will provide a match of up to $10,000, and an anonymous donor will match an additional $5,000, making a dollar-for-dollar match of up to $15,000. "The timing of the match from the Scriven Foundation and the donor couldn't be better for the Pantry and the families we serve," Kleffner said. Otsego County residents in need can receive a monthly distribution of food, which includes fresh produce, frozen meat and fresh dairy. Kleffner said the pantry purchases food from the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York in Latham, where it can get $10 worth of food for each $1 spent. "That is why cash donations help us the most," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far in 2024, the pantry has served an average of 634 people per month, a 35% increase over 2023, the release stated. Kleffner said 13% of Otsego County residents live below the federally established poverty level and that 43% of K-12 students receive subsidized school lunches. People who would like to support the food pantry can donate via PayPal at cooperstownfoodpantry.org or mail a check to the Cooperstown Food Pantry, 25 Church Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326. The food pantry, now in its 46h year, is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, according to the release. The pantry is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays; 1 to 5 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays. People in need of food assistance should call the pantry at 607-547-8902 to place an order and arrange a time to pick up. For more information and updates, see cooperstownfoodpantry.org and the food pantry's Facebook page, www.facebook.com/CooperstownFoodPantry. A substance-abuse treatment provider operating three facilities in Pierce County has been ordered to cease accepting new patients and safely release existing ones after the state suspended its licenses and declared immediate jeopardy to patient safety. Rainier Recovery, which runs centers in Lakewood, Gig Harbor and Puyallup, is accused of altering patient records to maximize profits and employing unqualified staff, according to investigative documents from the Washington State Department of Health. The treatment provider has 28 days to formally respond to the allegations and cannot provide services to patients in the state until the charges are resolved, the DOH said Nov. 26 in announcing the licensing suspensions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement to The News Tribune, Rainier Recovery rejected accusations of wrongdoing. Our client denies the allegations raised by the Department of Health, attorney Seth Rosenberg, whos representing the treatment provider, said in an email. We look to the administrative process to clear them of the allegations. Rainier Recovery may contest the suspension and request an adjudicative proceeding as well as a hearing to show cause whether an immediate jeopardy exists, according to the DOH. The Rainier Recovery office, on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in Gig Harbor. The allegations against Rainier Recovery Center LLC were laid out in a 25-page notice of immediate enforcement action sent Nov. 26 to the provider by the DOH. The notice followed the departments investigation, which included interviews with current and ex-employees earlier this year and reviews of patient, employee and other records, the document shows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the claims, Rainier Recovery is accused of colluding with an unnamed law firm to ensure court-ordered clients were compliant with sobriety. In exchange, the firm purportedly would continue to send patients to the provider. Rainier Recovery allegedly altered patient clinical records at the request of an attorney to underplay their clients needs and minimize court scrutiny on them, according to the DOH. The alleged non-disclosures presented an immediate risk to clients and the general public, the DOH said, noting that defendants charged or convicted of driving under the influence might continue to drive impaired without adequate monitoring by the licensed agencies entrusted with doing so. A former employee, who claimed to have been fired without a reason, reported to the DOH in July that staff falsified urinalysis testing results, which can show the presence of drugs, state documents showed. Staff removed positive tests from a refrigerator so they werent sent out for further testing and marked results as negative in patient records, the employee said. The employee reported one instance when a patients positive test for fentanyl was changed to a negative result in their file. At least three other workers reported that patient records were altered to appease an attorney or the law firm, according to the DOH. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rainier Recovery managements corrupt practices are motivated by financial considerations instead of the clinical needs of the patients and the needs of the criminal justice system to accurately monitor the patients treatment status, the DOHs notice said. The treatment provider also is accused of employing people to be substance-use disorder professional trainees (SUDPTs) who didnt meet the required educational or training standards. One employee reported to DOH that many of the staff were not qualified or properly trained. Another claimed that employees submitted applications to the state to get credentialed but began conducting assessments and treatment before their applications were approved. After a patient died in February from acute intoxication with fentanyl, it was determined that a SUDPT hadnt gathered sufficient information to determine the appropriate level of care for the patient, according to the DOHs investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The purportedly lacking qualifications among staff has led to an extensive pattern of substandard services, including false or inaccurate assessments, treatment plans and monitoring, the DOH said in its notice. Rainier Recovery offers substance use disorder counseling and addiction medicine services, according to the treatment providers website, which said it provides a safe and supportive environment. We believe change is possible no matter your situation and that with a little help and guidance, you can transform your life starting today, the website reads. Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Handsome Brooks Farms on Wednesday recalled its 24-count Kirkland Signature organic pasture-raised eggs due to potential salmonella contamination in five states. The eggs are distributed through 25 Costco stores in Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina and sold under Costco's Kirkland Signature store brand, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday. The eggs were sold starting on Nov. 22, have the UPC code 9661910680 and are packaged in plastic egg cartons bearing the Kirkland Signature brand name at the top. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The recall only applies to eggs with the Julian code 327 and a Use By Date of Jan. 5, 2025, both of which are printed on the side of the 24-count egg cartons. The recall is due to the accidental packaging of eggs that were not intended for retail distribution being placed in the 24-count cartons. No illnesses complaints have been made regarding the eggs, but Handsome Brands is proactively removing the questionable cartons from the 25 Costco stores, the FDA said. The recall is being done in cooperation with the FDA. The FDA said consumers should stop eating the questionable eggs and return any recalled units they might have to local Costco stores for a full refund or otherwise dispose of the eggs. Anyone with questions regarding the recall can contact Handsome Brooks Farms by calling 646-733-4532, Ext. 1, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST or by email at recall@hbeggs.com. More than 10,000 retail units of organic eggs at US Costcos are being recalled due to salmonella concerns. Approximately 10,800 retail units of organic, pasture-rasied eggs in 24-count cartons using the Kirkland Signature branding have been recalled from Costco stores across the South. The eggs are being recalled by Handsome Brook Farms in New York, according to a US Food and Drug Administration press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cartons included in the recall were sold at 25 Costco stores located in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee beginning on November 22, according to the FDA. More than 10,000 eggs have been recaleld from Costco stores across the south. ((AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)) Units with Julian code 327 and a "use by" date of January 5, 2025 are included under the recall. The recall was launched after officials at Handsome Brook determined that eggs not meant for delivery to markets had accidentally been packaged and distributed to retailers, according to the FDA. The press statement advised that retraining and supply chain controls were being initiated to help prevent future incidents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No known illnesses have been connected to the affected products. Consumers who are in possession of one of the affected cartons should return the eggs to their local Costco store to receive a full refund, or dispose of the eggs. Chicken and other live poultry can carry salmonella, a bacteria that can cause diarrhea, fever, nausea, and stomach cramps, and can lead to other, more serious health problems, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Salmonella can spread from bacteria-carrying birds to their eggs, which is why eating raw or undercooked eggs can make people sick. Improper handling of the eggs can also lead to contaminatoin with various form of bacteria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chicken eggs have tiny pores on their shells, and if they come into contact with bird droppings, for example, the shells can pick up the bacteria, and potentially pass it along to humans. Eggs sold at grocery stores have been washed and are typically safe for handling. The best way to fight potential salmonella contamination from eggs is to keep them refrigerated at 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.4C) or cooler, cook them and do not consume them raw, and to use soap and water to wash hands before and after preparation. Nov. 28The Cumberland County Commission has officially asked the Tennessee General Assembly to show them the money. During November's county commission meeting, the county approved a resolution requesting the state to share half of the real estate transfer tax funds that are collected in Cumberland County. According to the resolution and request to the 114th session of the Tennessee General Assembly, for many years the state has imposed a 37-cent-per-$100-of-value for the privilege of publicly recording documents that evidence all transfers of real estate property whether by deed, court deed, decree, partition deed or other instrument evidencing transfers of any interest in real estate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the tax is collected locally by county paid employees in the register of deeds office, it must be remitted to the state. The resolution asks for the state return half of the tax to the county that has collected the tax under Tennessee Code Annotated 67-4-409. "County governments have few revenue options available to them for funding the many crucial governmental services mandated by state law and are therefore largely dependent upon property tax to fund these services ... Many counties are experiencing rapid population growth as families are choosing to move to Tennessee and settle in its communities, adding to the demand for county services and infrastructure which are necessary to maintain the quality of life all Tennesseans expect and deserve," the resolution states. It further states that doing so would "take the pressure off local property taxes and allow for investment in infrastructure and services without unduly burdening state finances and without increasing the rate of this tax." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Cumberland County Mayor Allen Foster, the Association of County Mayors, Tennessee County Commissioner's Association, and Tennessee County Services Association have all voted to request the state share the revenue generated from the real estate transfer tax with the originating county. A copy of the resolution will be sent to the members of the Tennessee General Assembly who represent Cumberland County. It was unanimously approved after Terry Lowe, 5th District commissioner, motioned for approval. Wendell Wilson, 6th District commissioner, supported the motion. Lowe sponsored the resolution. NEWPORT, Tenn. (WATE) In Cocke County people from far and wide came to support residents who have been impacted by Hurricane Helene this Thanksgiving. One Michigan couple gave out free meals Thursday at the Webb Baptist Church to bring a home-made meal to those who may have lost everything. WATE raising money for Operation Honor Guards Day of Giving Were just here to help, and anything we can do that can help ease some of what happened down here, thats what were hoping to accomplish, said Jeff Gardner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After seeing the devastation Hurricane Helene left behind in East Tennessee, Jeff and Holly Gardner, with the help of their Michigan community, started gathering supplies. And put it all into a big trailer, and pulled it down here with a motorhome for a week. In the beginning of October, we started feeding people here at the church, and it just opened our eyes to something that we couldnt have imagined for, said Jeff Gardner. Now, he says they see Cocke County as a second home. Its the people have been so gracious down here. So, it really made it very worthwhile for us, said Holly Gardner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How to protect yourself from scams during the holidays They said leaving the community back in October, they knew they needed to come back. So we talked to Pastor Daniel Bell and he, in Holly and I, we came up with a plan to come back down for Thanksgiving and just feed people for Thanksgiving, and thats why were here, said Jeff Gardner. While they spent the holiday in Cocke County, they said they can see the area is beginning to heal. Weve seen a lot of progress, said Jeff Gardner, but we also see how much people are still struggling, but were very thankful to be here and very thankful to be feeding and, you know, making some sort of a difference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They said if they had any leftovers, they planned to send them to Feed My Sheep Ministries in Newport, to make sure they can feed as many people they can this holiday. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. LANSING A candidate elected to two offices in the Nov. 5 election should now be disqualified from both positions, a lawyer told the Michigan Court of Appeals in a new filing. In northern Michigan, Linsey Rogers was elected both Montmorency County treasurer and a member of the school board in Atlanta, which is the county seat. A lawyer for the current treasurer, Cheri Eggett, says in court filings the two offices are incompatible because the treasurer collects tax revenues that are managed by the school board, creating a conflict of interest under state law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rogers, who is not a party to the lawsuit, beat Eggett in the Republican primary in August. Eggett then ran as a write-in candidate in the general election and lost to Rogers again. Eggett sued County Clerk Cheryl Neilsen before the election, saying Rogers should never have been allowed to run for both offices. A Montmorency circuit judge ruled against Eggett on Oct. 29, noting ballots were already printed and voting was underway and saying Eggett waited too long to bring her lawsuit. In Wednesday court filings, Eggett attorney David Delaney, of Gaylord, asked the Michigan Court of Appeals to rule that Rogers should be disqualified from both offices. Delaney asked for "immediate consideration" and a ruling before Jan 1, when Rogers is scheduled to assume her new positions. Neilsen took the position that it's not up to the county clerk to decide whether the two offices were incompatible and advised Rogers to seek her own legal advice, court filings show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The clerk may not sit on the sidelines and then claim it's 'too late' before and after the election," Delaney told the Court of Appeals. "The clerk is the chief election officer. She must take a position." An attorney for Neilsen had not filed a response in the Court of Appeals as of Friday morning. But in an earlier filing in Montmorency County Circuit Court, Neilsen attorney Timothy Perrone, of Lansing, said it's not clear the two offices are incompatible and Neilsen "did not have a clear legal duty to disqualify" Rogers from running for the two positions. Delaney points to two Michigan attorney general positions, which are not binding on state courts but are considered persuasive. In 1990, then-Attorney General Frank Kelley issued an opinion that it was legally incompatible for someone to serve as both city treasurer and city school board trustee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The nature of the duty owed to a school board by a city treasurer in the collection of school taxes has been likened to that of a fiduciary," Kelley wrote. In 2002, then-Attorney General Jennifer Granholm issued an opinion that it was incompatible to serve as both township treasurer and school board member where the township is located within the school district. Rogers said in an Oct. 3 posting on her Facebook page that if it is determined the two offices are incompatible, she will serve as treasurer and forego the position on the Atlanta school board. But Delaney argues that since Rogers should not have been able to run for both positions, all votes she received for either job should be considered null and void. Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan candidate who won two offices could be disqualified from both The Indiana Court of Appeals rejected on Thursday an Illinois mans bid to throw out his conviction. Francisco A. Perez, 35, of South Holland, Illinois, argued he had an ineffective lawyer, who never told him he could face deportation for signing a plea deal for touching a 15-year-old girl. Prosecutors had upgraded the case to Level 3 felony rape, before he pleaded guilty in 2019 to sexual misconduct with a minor. After the plea deal, Perez was sentenced to three years in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perez, a U.S. permanent resident, was released from the Indiana Department of Correction in 2022. Court records note that he was in federal immigration custody awaiting deportation when he applied for post-conviction relief. After that challenge was denied in January, Perez appealed to the Indiana Court of Appeals. In a 3-0 decision, Appeals Judge Mark Bailey wrote the law requires attorneys to notify all clients without U.S. citizenship that if they get a felony conviction, they could be deported. He also noted it was written in the plea deal that Perez agreed he understood that if he is not a United States citizen, a conviction may affect his immigration status. He also wrote that Perezs lawyer testified during a post-conviction relief hearing that he went over the plea repeatedly with his client. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perez could appeal the decision to the Indiana Supreme Court. The victim told cops she was babysitting for her relative in February 2018 when Perez, then 28, her relatives boyfriend, came back first. The relative later returned with her friend. All smoked marijuana. When the relative went to take a friend home, the victim went to sleep. Perez climbed in the bed and started touching the girl, then put his hands down her pants, court records show. The girl screamed. She called a boyfriend, then the relative. Perez told his girlfriend he touched the girl as payback, court records show. mcolias@post-trib.com KYODO NEWS - Nov 29, 2024 - 20:41 | Sports, All, Japan The Japan Sumo Association's first overseas exhibitions in 20 years will take place next October in London, the organizing body revealed Friday. In advance of the tour, JSA President Hakkaku will attend Wednesday's press conference in London. The event, featuring bouts between wrestlers from the top-flight makuuchi division, is aimed at promoting friendship and goodwill. It will be the JSA's first event in London since 1991 when the sport was enjoying a boom in popularity. With Japan now experiencing increased tourism from abroad, grand sumo tournaments have become popular stops for overseas visitors. The association, which will celebrate its centennial next year, has previously staged 13 overseas tours, starting in 1965 with two events in the Soviet Union. Eight of the 13 tours have taken place since 1990, with the last in Las Vegas in 2005. Since 2006, organizers other than the JSA have promoted tours to Taiwan, Los Angeles, Hawaii and Mongolia. However, between declining popularity and the coronavirus pandemic, these have not taken place since a 2013 event in Jakarta. Related coverage: Sumo: Kotozakura eyes yokozuna promotion following breakthrough title Sumo: Ozeki Kotozakura, Hoshoryu set up final-day title showdown OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Many families are still left picking up the pieces after tornadoes ripped across the state earlier this month, but thanks to the kindness of two women, this Thanksgiving will still be a day of gratitude. You can say, you know, Im too busy and Ive got my own life to live, but when you see someone you know, basically your neighbors, youre inspired to help, said Kim McGuffee. McGuffee and Alicia Taylor are coworkers and jumped into action right after the tornadoes by using a community service day at work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two cleared debris and helped neighbors recover, but they were left with wanting to do more. We decided that a Thanksgiving meal would be pretty easy to accomplish and it might be really helpful for the people that are in need right now that are going to be out from deductibles or just displaced from their home, said Taylor. They started a GoFundMe campaign and raised $1,500. McGuffee and Taylor took that money to the Honey Baked Ham Company and bought ten gift cards to hand out to families impacted by the storms. One of them was the Payne family, who lost their home of 46 years to the tornado. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres no rhyme or reason and theyre devastating, they dont look back, they just work their track, said Steve Payne. Metro woman trades Black Friday deals for helping feed the homeless To them, the gift was more than just a meal. It makes for a holiday thats kind of got a little cloud over it, but it makes it a little bit brighter day, said Payne. The Payne family will enjoy their meal at their granddaughters house where theyve been staying and say it will help them beyond Thanksgiving. Actually have a little bit of money left on the gift card that were going to use probably before Christmas, so its going to help us in a couple of areas, said Payne. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While theyre grateful for the kind act, they say the holidays now bring along a strange feeling. When your wife cant go to a cabinet and say I need this pan because its not there and we dont know where it is, so it makes it difficult kind of working out of someone elses kitchen, you know? but well get there, we got a good family and well get by, well make it, said Payne. As those like the Payne family rebuild their lives, the kindness and creativity of these two women will no doubt inspire others to give back too. McGuffee and Taylor plan to keep the GoFundMe page active and continue raising money to feed even more families for Christmas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To donate, click here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. CHICAGO Authorities in Chicago are asking for help from the public in the search for a man who has been missing from the citys South Side for more than four months. According to Chicago police, 18-year-old Daquan Anderson has been missing from the citys Englewood community since July 19. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland Anderson, who stands 5-foot-11 and weighs around 155 pounds, has black hair and brown eyes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers said the missing man is known to spend time in Calumet City, Illinois. CPD: Man missing from South Side home for over four months Police notified the public about Andersons disappearance in a news release that was sent out on Wednesday afternoon, but did not provide details on what he was last seen wearing. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Anyone with information on the whereabouts of 18-year-old Daquan Anderson is asked to contact CPD Area One SVU Office detectives at 312-747-8380 or dial 911. Those with information that could help authorities in their investigation can also leave a tip at CPDtip.com. Tips can be filed anonymously. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. DENVER (KDVR) Its almost been a full year since Colorado Parks and Wildlife released the first group of 10 gray wolves into the state, in a program mandated by voters in 2020, and stakeholders are still fighting to ensure a second release is stopped, or at least delayed. In December 2023, CPW released 10 gray wolves that were sourced from Oregon into the Rocky Mountains of Grand County. The first gray wolf to move south of Interstate 70 was announced in early November, and wildlife officials have been speaking to the county commissioners in Garfield, Eagle and Pitkin County to find a suitable release site for the next group of wolves. CPW updates list of potential counties for upcoming gray wolf release Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CPW was also considering Rio Blanco County for the 2024-25 wolf release. However, the agency said it removed the county as a potential location due to the limited number of state-owned sites that adhered to the criteria in the Plan and their proximity to livestock, elevating the risk of conflict, as well as the potential impact to elk and deer herds recovering from the severe winter of 2022-23. The state has secured an agreement with the British Columbia Ministry of Water, Lands and Resource Stewardship that will allow Colorado to source up to 15 more wolves from Canada. This map shows collared gray wolf activity recorded by CPW from Oct. 22 through Nov. 26, 2024. (Courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife) This map shows collared gray wolf activity recorded by CPW from Aug. 28 through Sept. 24. (Courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife) This map shows collared gray wolf activity recorded by CPW from July 24 through Aug. 27. (Courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife) This map shows collared gray wolf activity recorded by CPW from May 21 through June 25, 2024. (Courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife) This map shows collared gray wolf activity recorded by CPW from June 25 through July 23, 2024. (Courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife) This map shows collared gray wolf activity recorded by CPW from April 23 through May 21. (Courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife) This map shows collared gray wolf activity recorded by CPW from March 26 through April 23, 2024. (Courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife) This map shows collared gray wolf activity recorded by CPW from Feb. 28 to March 25, 2024. (Courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife) This map shows collared gray wolf activity recorded by CPW from Dec. 18, 2023 to Jan. 22, 2024. (Courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife) Those capture and transfer operations are slated to begin in December. CPW has been holding non-lethal conflict mitigation training across impacted areas to try and curb potential depredations this next spring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Depredations occur when a predator is attacking a livestock herd or animal, such as a wolf attacking a cow, calf, sheep or other livestock for food, killing the animal in the process. The last wolf depredation reported to the state was on Sept. 9, when a wolf killed a cow and a calf in Grand County. However, a flurry of depredations were reported in Jackson and Grand counties the spring after wolves were released. Later, biologists found a pair of wolves denning in Grand County and identified four pups in the pack, which was dubbed the Copper Creek pack. The pack was captured and removed from the area to prevent further conflict between livestock providers and the wolves, and the group will be released. Later, biologists identified a wolf that could be a fifth pup of the pack. However, capture efforts were called off. CPW was petitioned to lethally remove the wolves earlier in the spring, but the organization declined to do so out of fear that the pair of wolves had mated. Agriculture, livestock organizations want program stopped However, agriculture and livestock organizations continue to seek ways to prevent more wolves from coming into the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ahead of second wolf release, CPW offers conflict reduction training to ranchers In September, 26 agricultural and livestock producer organizations petitioned the state to delay any gray wolf releases until the state can meet benchmarks set by the group. On Wednesday, those same groups sent a letter to the Canadian government, asking the foreign government to reconsider allowing Canadian wolves to be relocated to Colorado. Of the ten wolves introduced in December 2023, at least three have died, and Colorado captured and removed a fourth introduced wolf and her four pups that were linked to high livestock fatalities. So, the program has not been good for the wolves or for the ranching community, the letter states. Among other requests, the groups are asking the CPW Commission to adopt a rule pausing wolf reintroductions until certain wolf-livestock conflict mitigation strategies are fully funded, developed and implemented. The association said the requested rule would ensure the state agency is equipped to manage wolf depredation and provide livestock producers with the necessary tools and resources before any wolves are put on the ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the letter sent to British Columbia, the groups said that other states and Native American Tribes have declined to be a source for Colorados gray wolf reintroduction program, and that British Columbia should as well. We ask that British Columbia reconsider issuance of needed permits allowing Colorado to take your wolves for introduction in Colorado this winter. Your deferral would benefit the wolves and avoid your becoming embroiled in this controversy, the letter stated. 26 agriculture, livestock organizations petition CPW to delay gray wolf releases CPW noted in its wolf movement update that wolves are federally protected, and are a state-endangered species in Colorado, which prevents harm to wolves except in cases of self-defense. Penalties for illegal take can vary and include fines up to $100,000, jail time and loss of hunting privileges, the state wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information on the take of an endangered gray wolf in Colorado is encouraged to contact the local CPW office. Report a wolf sighting to CPW here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) Hilltop Road was closed in both directions for some time after a police vehicle was hit by a train. On Thursday, Nov. 28, Amtrak train 76 was traveling from Charlotte to Raleigh at approx. 6:50 p.m. ET, when it came into contact with an unoccupied vehicle obstructing the track in Jamestown, NC at milepost 290.35. There were no reported injuries to the 58 passengers or crew members onboard. Amtrak is cooperating with local law enforcement to investigate the incident, Amtrak said in a release. Greensboro police confirmed that it was a Greensboro Police Department car on the train tracks at the time. No one was in the vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Karden Chen, a witness who shot video of the incident, said he was panicked on the inside because he had witnessed a similar incident with his own uncle. I hope the officer was OK. I was astonished, amazed, and dumbfounded, he said. No injuries were reported. Police are investigating the circumstances that led to the crash. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) When you think of the phrase home for the holidays, the home part can often be taken for granted. Many kids who grow up in foster care dont have a home once they turn 18. KCAU 9s Sophie Erber has taken the time to share the story of a Tiny Home community where residents are spending their first Thanksgiving in a place that they now call their own. When you think of Thanksgiving, you think about truly, what are you thankful for? Crittenton Center CEO Kim Scorza said. What happened over the last year that causes you to pause and really count your blessings and Siouxland has been a big part of that. Through donors and volunteers and making the reality of these tiny homes possible. On this Thanksgiving, were happy to report that a family of former foster kids and their loving mentors are coming together in a place thats helping them find success. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In fact, the residents of these tiny homes would have had nowhere to go after they aged out of the foster care system. Scorza told KCAU 9 that the idea was born on January 1, 2022. Annual Memorial March to Honor Lost Children marks 22nd year It was literally with one child, Scorza said. We said to the HHS work, Whats the plan? Hes about to turn 18? and she said that the plan was to discharge him to the street and Im a mom and grandma and Im like, thats not okay. It was really hard because these kids dont have cosigners, they dont have first and last months rent, they dont have a lot of things that people take for granted when you have that safety net of a family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats the conversation that led to the beginning of the project. So its like, we are going to do this, Scorza told us. We jus started rallying people. We rallied our board of directors, we rallied people in our community. Lets take care of these kids, these are Siouxland kids, these are Iowan kids, we just have to do this. We have to be responsible for kids in our community. We just have to. The residents pay rent and are required to get jobs, preparing them for adulthood with the comfort of a safety net and budget counseling to help them succeed. So to have housing, and to have people around them, that truly show up and love these kids, its just amazing, said Scorza. And one of our community partners, Restoration Church here in Morningside, is providing all of the meals for our kids and our staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To be able to help these young men and women have a meal together at Thanksgiving and be together for lack of a better term, it warms my heart that they can know people in this community care about them and care about them enough to provide a meal for them, Restoration Church Lead Pastor Johnny Helton said. I cannot imagine what it would be like to go from one day, living in a facility with care, and then the next day going, youve reached a certain age, youre going to have to do life on your own. While for safety reasons we couldnt talk to any of the tiny home residents on camera, Sophie said that she was told that the thing they are most thankful for living in their new space is something else many of us may take for granted, their bathtub. The bathroom is important. When the homes were being designed, architects drew up plans that included a shower, but the young adults asked for a tub instead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gospel Mission providing for those in need at annual Thanksgiving dinner If you think of when you were a kid, you probably recall your parent or maybe even a grandparent putting you in a =bathtub and giving you a bath, Scorza said. Sometimes our kids have never had that nurture, that safety net, that place they can relax. And so you walk in here, and I just walked in a few minutes ago, and I saw that bathtub and it probably means nothing to anybody, but it means something to me because we gave our kids voice and choice. For Scorza, this new little neighborhood keeps her feeling grateful. To me, breaking bread is so important. Its like sharing in something, building that community, its just super cool. Im forever blessed and thankful for people coming together and hardcore living my babies. These kids mean a lot to me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youd like to help the Crittenton Center and their mission here in Siouxland, you can support them through their website here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. A luxury cruise from South Africa to Argentina canceled its leg to Antarctica after an engine issue. Some passengers on the ship, the SH Diana, wanted more compensation to reflect their inconvenience. The cruise company's CEO said "a select few" staged a hunger strike, which was "counterproductive." Some luxury cruise passengers have gone on hunger strike after their trip to Antarctica was canceled. Swan Hellenic's 21-day cruise had to change course after a problem with one of the engines on the SH Diana, CEO Andrea Zito said in a Friday statement shared with Business Insider. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Times of London reported that many passengers paid between 7,000 and 10,000 ($12,689) for the trip from Cape Town to Ushuaia, in southern Argentina. The SH Diana is 409 feet long and has nine decks with space for 192 guests. Amenities include an outdoor pool, a spa, a library, and an expedition lab. On arrival, each cabin comes with a bottle of Champagne. Zito said the SH Diana was supposed to stop in Antarctica for three and a half days, but the captain decided this was unsafe given the engine issue. Instead, the ship is set to dock in Ushuaia on Saturday, leaving many passengers feeling upset after missing out on a key part of the trip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "To go to Antarctica is a trip of a lifetime and this specific sailing made it achievable for many on board to do so as it's a repositioning sailing that had attractive deals," one passenger told The Times. A room on the SH Diana. Courtesy of Swan Hellenic Swan Hellenic offered passengers a 50% cash refund, which Zito said was above the legal requirement of 30%. Alternatively, passengers could take a 65% "future cruise credit." However, some people on board weren't pleased with the offer. "A select few chose to stage a hunger strike in their protest," Zito said. He added that it was "rather counterproductive." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are working towards a swift end to this action." The Times obtained pictures of some of these passengers with signs calling for a 100% cash refund. "Swan Hellenic would like to reiterate that we deeply regret that we had to change the itinerary due to the technical problems with the propeller drive and we understand the disappointment of our guests who were looking forward to a taste of Antarctic experience," Zito said in the statement. "We feel we have offered a very generous compensation package, beyond what is legally required," he added. "Swan Hellenic always strive to go above and beyond our guest expectations and look forward to welcoming all our guests back on board future expeditions." Read the original article on Business Insider CONNECTICUT (WTNH) State police have released their Thanksgiving weekend statistics and hundreds of traffic stops with over a dozen DUIs were reported. The weekend statistics account for midnight Wednesday to 8:00 a.m. on Friday. Around 244 motor vehicle crashes were reported, state police said. Motorcycle crash in Westbrook under investigation While no fatal injuries were reported this weekend, there was one report of serious injuries and 16 injuries, state police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Out of 509 traffic stops around 14 DUIs were reported, state police said. Calls for service related to removing debris, and assisting with disabled or hazardous vehicles accounted for 177 calls, state police said. There was a total of 2,609 calls for service on the celebratory weekend, according to state police. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. NORWICH, Conn. (WTNH) State police had to block a wrong-way driver who swerved around cruisers early Friday morning on Interstate 395 in order to get him to stop, according to authorities. A passenger told state police she repeatedly told David Valcin that he was going the wrong way, but he kept driving. Valcin told a trooper that he was relying on GPS, since he was from Massachusetts and didnt know the area. Connecticut State Police started receiving 911 calls about a wrong-way driver at about 1:15 a.m. Friday. The driver was going southbound in the northbound lanes on I-395 near Exit 11 in Norwich. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ford Focus was spotted again near Exit 6 in Montville, and repeatedly swerved around troopers who were trying to pull him over, according to state police. Multiple cruisers used their lights, sirens and spotlights to try to get Valcin to stop. A trooper was eventually able to block him from continuing on, but Valcin tried reversing when the trooper got out of their cruiser. Valcin struggled to put the Focus into park and remove the keys from the ignition, and his passenger ended up doing it for him, according to state police. He went on to fail a field sobriety test. Lamont, DOT say states wrong-way driving prevention tech is working Valcin, 36, of Mattapan, Massachusetts, has been charged with reckless driving, illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol/drugs and driving the wrong way on a divided highway. He is being held on a $2,500 cash/surety bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. Nov. 28Because Newton and Jasper counties are part of a CWD management zone, different rules applied to deer hunters this fall. Among them, hunters who harvested a deer during the opening weekend of the modern firearms season, Nov. 16-17, were required to take that deer or its head on the day of harvest to a mandatory CWD sampling station. Voluntary sampling also is encouraged by state officials. Modern firearms season for deer ended Tuesday. Archery season resumed Wednesday and continues through Jan. 15, 2025. Special short deer seasons also are planned this fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although chronic wasting disease has not been detected in Newton County, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation, of the 162 positive cases of chronic wasting disease identified statewide last year, one was in Jasper County the first for that county and it was close enough to add Newton County to the list of designated management zones. The Jasper County case was northwest of Joplin along Center Creek near the Kansas line. The state has implemented a number of management strategies to reduce the spread of CWD. One of those has been designating counties where the disease has been found, and those within 10 miles of a positive, as part of a management zone where mandatory sampling is required and different regulations apply for hunting and carcass movement restrictions. Chronic wasting disease has been detected in Barton County, initially during the 2022-2023 season, when there were nine positives. Last season, 15 cases were identified in Barton County, bringing the total in the last two years there to 24 cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CWD is a fatal neurological disease that can be transmitted freely within and among deer populations. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation's website: "There have been no reported cases of CWD infection in people. However, some studies raise concerns that there may be a potential risk to people. Research is ongoing. Hunters and others should take precautions when processing any game to help prevent the transmission of any potential disease." The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also reports that to date there have been no reported cases of CWD spreading to humans. "However, some animal studies suggest CWD poses a risk to certain types of non-human primates, like monkeys, that eat meat from CWD-infected animals or come in contact with brain or body fluids from infected deer or elk," the CDC website says. Sampling is not required during archery or other deer seasons, but hunters who want to voluntarily have deer tested can do so by going to https://mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer/chronic-wasting-disease/voluntary-cwd-sampling. The Missouri Department of Conservation reported more than 37,000 deer were tested for chronic wasting disease during the 2023 CWD surveillance year between July 2023 and April 2024, with 162 positives detected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state also reported that since it began testing for CWD in 2002, there have been 572 positives statewide, which includes the latest sampling; the first positive was found in 2012. According to the department, fewer than 1% of tissue samples from hunter-harvested deer tested positive for CWD. The disease has not been detected in McDonald or Lawrence counties, but it has been found in Barry County. However, McDonald County also is part of a management zone because of its proximity to cases in Northwest Arkansas. Missouri officials also have been monitoring the outbreak of CWD in Northwest Arkansas in counties along the border. So far, there have been 1,769 positives in deer in Arkansas as of July 1, and 56 positives in elk since the disease was first detected there in 2016. Almost all of those are in the northwest part of the state. No positives have been detected in Missouri's elk herd. KYODO NEWS - Nov 28, 2024 - 23:59 | All, World The Australian Senate on Thursday passed a bill banning children under 16 from using social media, positioning Australia to become the first country to enact such a law as governments worldwide seek to protect young people from the mental and physical health risks posed by social networking sites. The legislation will require social media companies to "take reasonable steps" to prevent those under 16 from creating or holding an account on platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, Reddit and X, or face fines of up to AU$49.5 million ($32 million). Users and their parents will not be penalized for breaches of the age limit by the law, with the onus to be placed on social media platforms to verify the ages of account holders. The bill, introduced just a week ago by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Labor government, has garnered widespread public support and backing from the main opposition bloc, the Liberal-National coalition, enabling its swift passage through the House of Representatives on Wednesday and the Senate on Thursday. The House is expected to endorse opposition amendments made in the Senate on Friday in a final formality before the bill becomes law. Under the law that will come into effect in one year at the earliest to allow platforms time to prepare, messaging services and those that provide educational or health support for children will be excluded from the ban, given communication within families and welfare of youngsters. Apps likely to be excluded from the ban include Facebook Messenger Kids, WhatsApp, YouTube and Google Classroom, as well as those run by mental health services such as Kids Helpline, according to Australian Communications Minister Michelle Rowland. A survey conducted in mid-November by polling firm YouGov showed 77 percent of respondents backed the age limit. Among parents who support the ban is Mia Bannister, whose teenage son Oliver committed suicide earlier this year after battling an eating disorder fueled by bullying and problematic posts on social media. "My argument is that it's no different to drinking," Bannister, 51, told Kyodo News, suggesting the harmful and addictive nature of social media. However, some lawmakers called for a longer period of consideration on the bill. There are concerns over the legislation that could prevent children from accessing the positive benefits of social media use in a safe way, according to some experts who question how such a ban could be implemented effectively. Laws imposing age-based restrictions for social media have been planned in France, Britain, Canada and some states in the United States. Related coverage: World Athletics reveals alarming findings on online abuse of athletes Facebook owner Meta faces $2.8 million lawsuits in Japan over fake ads Over 60% in Japan read no books each month, majority for 1st time Gold jewelry on display at a shop in the Gold Souk in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in 2021. Credit - Christopher PikeBloomberg/Getty Images Gifting gold at Christmas has been a thing since the very first. And there are few better places to buy it than Dubais Gold Souk, which is reputed to be the largest and cheapest gold market in the world. Bargain-hunters have flocked here since before the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was even a country. Back in the early 1900s, merchants from India and Iran began hawking gems and precious metals close to the twisting waterway known as Dubai Creek. Today, more than 500 stores line the Gold Souks narrow alleys, crammed with pearls, platinum rings, silver earrings, and diamond-encrusted necklacesas well its namesake precious metal, which can be bought as jewelry, coins, or biscuits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A main reason for its popularity is safety, Fahad Khan, a Pakistani from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who has worked in Dubais Gold Souk for two decades, tells TIME. People can walk around with gold in your hand, and nobody will bother you. Most people come here, purchase 24 carat or 22 biscuits, go back to their own countries and they sell it. Little wonder that gold is Dubais top foreign trade commodity, dwarfing oil four to one in 2020. As Christmas approaches, Dubais Gold Souk goes into overdriveboth due to tourists stocking up with cheap gifts and because November to February is when gold prices historically dip, incentivizing buyers. These months also coincide with peak fighting season during the catastrophic civil war in Sudan. That might seem like a tenuous segue, but theres plenty to connect the two. While the scourge of blood diamonds has been well-documented (and immortalized by the 2006 Leonardo DiCaprio film), the role of blood gold is more insidious but no less ruinous. And its gold that has been one of the main drivers of the Sudan conflict, allowing both sides to fuel their war machines, especially after global gold prices reached record highs in 2024. Gold has become the currency of this war, says Kholood Khair, a Sudanese policy analyst and founding director of Confluence Advisory. The UAE is the worlds third biggest importer of gold, which is in turn Sudans most important commodity, accounting for 70% of exports. This dynamic makes the UAE a primary actor in the war-torn Northeast African country of 50 million, where more than 20,000 people have been killed, 7 million internally displaced, and nearly 2 million forced across borders as refugees since fighting broke out in April 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sudans conflict is mainly being waged between the governments Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF)ostensibly over the transition to free elections, though tensions have simmered for years. The RSF was formed out of the Janjaweed fighters of former President Omar al-Bashir, who ruled Sudan for three decades before his ouster in a popular uprising in 2019. That revolution brought to power Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who later cemented his position in a 2021 coup and today is fighting RSF chief Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemeti. Al-Burhans government accuses the UAE of backing the RSF, which has allegedly committed ethnic cleansing in Darfur. The UAE denies any overt role in the conflict. In a statement, the UAEs Permanent Mission to the U.N. denounced spurious allegations that it has been stoking the violence. We reaffirm our support for efforts to de-escalate tensions, implement a ceasefire and advance negotiations leading to the restoration of a legitimate government that is representative of all Sudanese people. But few independent observers are convinced. Leaked documents allegedly showing Emirati passports recovered from battlefields suggest the UAE has been stealthily deploying troops in Sudan. U.N. sanctions monitors also described accusations that the UAE had provided military support to the RSF as credible. Even the Grammy-winning American rapper Macklemore canceled an October concert in Dubai over the UAEs alleged role in the ongoing genocide and humanitarian crisis in Sudan. The UAE has taken a very clear position supporting the militia against the army, including logistical support, financial support, but also sending arms through trafficking routes, says May Darwich, an associate professor specializing in Middle Eastern politics at the University of Birmingham. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At one level, Sudan is yet another proxy conflict between the Middle Easts squabbling theocracies, with Qatar and Iran major backers of the SAF. But the UAE also sees Sudan as a resource-rich, strategically located opportunity to expand its influence and control across Africa and the Middle East. The fact the UAE imports 90% of food supplies has made food security one of its highest priorities, prompting huge investment in farmland overseas. It especially eyed Africa, for which Sudan was the largest agricultural producer, with two UAE firms already farming over 50,000 hectares in its north. However, the war has transformed the continents breadbasket into potentially the worlds worst famine for 40 years, with 50% of Sudans population requiring humanitarian aid. At the same time, Sudans official gold exports generated $1.5 billion in revenue in the first 10 months of 2024, nearly all destined for the UAE. That doesnt include a comparable amount smuggled out via Chad, Libya, Ethiopia, and Egypt by the RAF, which controls gold fields in Sudans east. Some 5080% of [Sudans] gold is smuggled abroad mainly through the UAE, Ahmed Soliman, senior research fellow with the Africa Program at Chatham House, told a recent podcast. But the global lust for gold is not just wreaking havoc in Sudan, with the UAE allegedly complicit in laundering illicit gold from the Central African Republic, Mali, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and elsewhere. According to a May report by the NGO Swissaid, some 40% of all African gold exports are undeclared, of which 93% goes to the UAE. In addition, Russias Wagner militia is also heavily involved in the trade, helping funnel some $2.5 billion of African gold to Vladimir Putins war of choice in Ukraine, according to the Blood Gold Report. On Nov. 18, Russia even vetoed a U.N. Security Council draft resolution on protecting civilians in Sudan that would have urged warring parties to immediately cease hostilities and engage in dialogue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course, the UAEs alleged role in laundering gold is nothing new. In 2016, Reuters reported that the UAE declared gold imports from 25 African countriesworth $7.4 billionwhich had not declared any exports to the UAE. In total, the UAE declared $3.9 billion more in gold from across the 21 other source countries than was declared in their exports. The opacity of gold supply chains means American consumers might very well be funding Sudans war today. The number one exporter of gold to the U.S. is Switzerland, whose top gold supplier is the UAE. The UAE doesnt do due diligence as long as gold makes its markets money, says Khair. It takes it from anywhere. What is the international community doing? Very little, it seems, with the UAEs comparatively pro-Israel stance amid the war in Gaza buying it diplomatic cover. The U.S. and Israel have this conception of the UAE as among the very few countries in the moderate camp in the region, and they would not want to lose that partner at this point, says Harwich. Its apathy that leaves consumers who may simply want to buy an ethically-sourced glistening gift for loved ones this holiday season with very little recourse. Adds Khair: Sudans war chests are full of gold. Write to Charlie Campbell at charlie.campbell@time.com. DENVER (KDVR) Friday marks 160 years since Colorados Sand Creek Massacre, where U.S. soldiers attacked a camp of indigenous people, mostly women and children, killing hundreds. On Nov. 29, 1864, what has become known as the deadliest day in Colorado history, more than 200 innocent people were killed by U.S. Army soldiers in an attack on the Cheyenne and Arapaho people. Most of those killed were women, children and the elderly, according to the National Park Service, and hundreds more had to flee north in search of safety. The Sand Creek Massacre, as told by the tribes Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chief Black Kettle of the Arapaho and Cheyenne people, was attempting to negotiate peace with the American military and then-Governor John Evans. After peace talks were rescinded, Colonel John Chivington took the 1st Colorado Infantry Regiment of Volunteers (US) and 3rd Regiment of Colorado Cavalry Volunteers to the southwest of the indigenous peoples camp. According to the National Park Service, 675 Colorado volunteer soldiers attacked the encampment of about 750 people. Chivington was never given orders to leave Denver but instead opened fire on the camp of unaware and innocent people. After about eight hours of fire, over 230 people were killed. The soldiers reportedly commit foul acts to the dead bodies before fleeing the scene, according to the National Park Service. The Sand Creek Massacre is considered a nationwide tragedy and the repercussions of it still linger today. The area is now a National Historic Site and shows the issues exacerbated by the ongoing Civil War. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Park Service maintains the site and also maintains copies of letters sent by Captain Silas Soule and Lieutenant Joseph Cramer, revealing some soldiers at the massacre found it barbaric and showing that a hundred men resisted the orders to commit atrocities. Historians say the massacre not only forever impacted tribal relations with the U.S. government, but also forever changed the Arapaho and Cheyenne tribes makeup. For more information on the Sand Creek Massacre, visit the National Park Service website. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. Men drink more, are more likely to binge drink and are almost four times more likely to develop alcohol use disorder than women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Yet when it comes to diagnosing babies born with birth defects associated with alcohol consumption, such as fetal alcohol syndrome, historically only the mothers drinking habits are taken into consideration. Research clearly shows that sperm carry a vast amount of epigenetic information meaning heritable shifts in the way genes are expressed that dont result from changes in the DNA sequence that strongly influences fetal development and child health. Yet most doctors and other health care providers do not take into account the influence of paternal health and lifestyle choices on child development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am a developmental physiologist, and my research explores the ways that male drinking affects fetal development. While most of the attention is given to the moms drinking while pregnant, my team and I focus on male drinking in the weeks and months before conception. Our studies are the first to demonstrate that male drinking before pregnancy is a plausible yet completely unexamined factor in the development of alcohol-related craniofacial abnormalities and growth deficiencies. The intense focus on mom In 1981, the U.S. surgeon general issued a public health warning that alcohol use by women during pregnancy was the cause of physical and mental birth defects in children. This warning came in response to growing recognition that a group of severe physical and mental impairments in children, now commonly known as fetal alcohol syndrome, were correlated with maternal alcohol use during pregnancy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, doctors and scientists recognize that as many as 1 in 20 U.S. schoolchildren may exhibit some form of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, a term referring to a wide range of alcohol-related physical, developmental and behavioral deficits, many of which cause lifelong challenges for those affected. According to the CDC, this syndrome can occur when alcohol in the mothers blood passes to the baby through the umbilical cord. This has led to the firmly accepted belief that alcohol-related birth defects are caused only by maternal alcohol use during pregnancy and are the womans fault. The medical community reinforces this perception by requiring pediatricians to compel mothers to confirm and document their prenatal alcohol use before they can formally diagnose children with alcohol-related birth defects or neurobehavioral disorders associated with prenatal alcohol exposure. Nonetheless, there are multiple documented instances in which children diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome were born to mothers who denied that they consumed alcohol during pregnancy. For example, in one study, 41 mothers denied having consumed alcohol during pregnancy despite their child receiving a diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome. In this circumstance and others like it over the past 40 years, the commonly accepted assumption and explanation is that these mothers lied about their alcohol use during pregnancy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the CDC, there is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy or while trying to get pregnant. Despite this recommendation, alcohol use during pregnancy is widely reported. However, reported drinking levels do not directly correlate with a child developing alcohol-related birth defects, and not all women who drink give birth to children with fetal alcohol syndrome. This contradiction has resulted in conflicting public messaging. Although differences in how much and when pregnant women drink can contribute to the variation in how fetal alcohol syndrome develops, these factors alone cannot explain the wide range and severity of symptoms. Therefore, unknown factors beyond maternal alcohol use must contribute to this debilitating disorder. Dad is the missing piece Alcohol is a social drug, so when women drink, they often do so with their male partner. Building from this perspective, my laboratory used a mouse model to determine what happens if mom, dad or both parents drink. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fetal alcohol syndrome is associated with three core birth defects: facial abnormalities, including small eyes and malformations in the middle of the face; reduced growth of the head and brain; and fetal growth restriction, a condition that occurs when babies are born smaller than average. Building on a previous study in humans, we used facial recognition software to study the effects of alcohol consumption on the faces of mice born to mothers, fathers or both parents who consumed alcohol before conception. In a study published early this year, we captured a digital image of the mouses face. We then digitally assigned facial landmarks, including specific parts of the eyes, ears, nose and mouth. The computer program then determined if maternal, paternal or dual parental alcohol exposures changed the proportional relationships between each of these landmarks. Our study using this mouse model revealed that chronic male alcohol exposure affects the formation of the offsprings brain, skull and face. We also observed microcephaly, the underdevelopment of the head and brain, as well as lower birth weight, which became worse the more the male parent drank. Therefore, our studies demonstrate that chronic male alcohol exposure defined as consuming more than five drinks per day in a four-hour window could drive all three of the core fetal alcohol syndrome birth defects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Using this same mouse model, we also determined that these craniofacial changes persist into later life. Specifically, we identified abnormalities in the jaw and the size and spacing of the adult teeth. Abnormal alignment of the upper and lower teeth is another recognized symptom of fetal alcohol syndrome in humans. Besides our research, other studies have identified behavioral changes in the offspring of male mice who regularly consume alcohol. In addition, clinical studies suggest that paternal drinking increases the risk of heart defects in people. Effects on male fertility and pregnancy Our studies also support more immediate impacts of alcohol consumption on male fertility and the ability of couples to achieve a healthy pregnancy. These observations may be especially relevant for couples struggling to have children. The CDC estimates that about 2% of all babies born in the U.S. are conceived using assisted reproductive technologies. While the focus of in-vitro fertilization treatments remains maternal health and lifestyle choices, our studies reveal that male alcohol exposure decreases the chance of becoming pregnant after undergoing IVF. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Significantly, our research showed that the more a man drinks before providing sperm, the lower the chances of his partner becoming pregnant in some cases, by almost 50%. Looking ahead Annual estimates suggest that the cumulative costs of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders to the health care and educational systems range from US$1.29 billion to $10.1 billion annually. Given these exorbitant costs and the devastating lifelong effects on affected individuals, ignoring paternal drinking habits in public health messaging overlooks a significant contributing factor. The first published investigations into the effects of maternal exposure to toxins on birth defects in the 1950s and 60s were met with skepticism and disbelief. Today, it is widely accepted that maternal exposures to certain drugs cause birth defects. I fully anticipate that some within the medical and scientific communities, as well as the public, will forcefully deny that paternal drinking matters. However, until doctors start asking the father about his drinking, we will never fully know the contributions of paternal alcohol exposure to birth defects and child health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Michael Golding, Texas A&M University Read more: Michael Golding receives funding from the National Institutes of Health (R01AA028219) and a Medical Research Grant from the W.M. Keck Foundation. Ed Miliband faces a bill of almost 130bn to clean up Britains old nuclear sites after estimated costs jumped. It will cost 128.8bn to safely wind down old facilities, according to an investigation by the National Audit Office (NAO) 23.5bn more than previously expected, after factoring in the cost of shutting eight power stations that are currently operational. Seven nuclear stations are due to shut down in 2028 at which point operator EDF, Frances state-owned energy firm, will hand them back to the British Government for decommissioning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another station, Sizewell B, is expected to keep operating into the 2030s when it too will be decommissioned at taxpayer expense. Sizewell B started generating in 1995 and is expected to run until into the 2030s - Matthew Horwood/Getty Images Contributor The NAO report, which looked at the overall operation of Mr Milibands Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (Desnz), said: The current best estimate is that the eight existing sites will cost 23.5bn to defuel and decommission. This is in addition to 105.3bn already set aside for dealing with other legacy projects, chiefly waste stockpiled at Sellafield in Cumbria. Desnz oversees a Nuclear Liabilities Fund set up to save the money needed for decommissioning the eight stations, but the NAO said this had proven woefully inadequate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also warned that the final costs and taxpayer contributions could rise even higher. The NAO said: Costs could rise further, particularly if defuelling takes longer than planned ... There is a risk that further taxpayer contributions may be required. However, the cost of decommissioning the UKs remaining working nuclear stations is dwarfed by the amount which the NAO found was needed for dealing with legacy waste since the 1950s. About 70pc of the costs relate to the Sellafield site in Cumbria, where thousands of tonnes of highly radioactive waste are stored in buildings and cooling ponds that are up to 70 years old many considered extremely hazardous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The figures mean the cost of the UKs nuclear clean-up alone is close to the total value of electricity produced by atomic power stations since the 1950s. Figures released by the Department of Energy and Climate Change show that since Britains first nuclear power station opened in 1956, they have generated 2.6bn megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity with a wholesale value of about 200bn at todays prices. If the cost of building Britains 20-odd past and present nuclear power stations were included around 30bn each in todays money the total cost of several hundred billion pounds would far exceed the value of the power produced, say experts. The NAO report also looked at the system of Contracts for Difference (CfD) a financing method created by the UK to guarantee investors in wind farms, solar farms and nuclear power stations sufficient income. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such schemes, it warned, were already set to cost consumers 89bn by the 2030s but the final sums could be far higher because of unreliable estimates for the amount of power likely to be produced. Chris Hewett, the chief executive of trade association Solar Energy UK, said CfDs had been a key tool in accelerating deployment of renewable energy. He said: The UKs pioneering Contracts for Difference system has been praised around the world for attracting investment into renewable energy projects by providing long-term clarity on revenue, reducing exposure to volatile wholesale market prices. They have made clean, green and domestically-produced renewable energy more affordable, pushing pricey, polluting and imported natural gas off the grid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ana Musat, the policy director at RenewableUK, the trade body for wind energy companies, said: Contracts for Difference represent excellent value for money as companies compete against each other to build renewable energy projects at the lowest cost, which is far cheaper than building new gas plants. A DESNZ spokesman said: Managing the nations nuclear legacy is a hugely important mission which will last into the next century. We are working with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority to ensure value for money and hold them to account. As the NAO acknowledges, this figure on Contracts for Difference is highly subjective. The scheme is explicitly designed to protect consumers from volatile prices by offering certainty to both bill-payers and generators. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Several deer at Jester Park in Polk County on Nov. 7, 2024. (Photo by Karsan Turner for Iowa Capital Dispatch) Wild deer with chronic wasting disease have been detected in 25 counties, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, which is seeking help from Iowans to spot the disease and limit its spread. The DNR is hosting a public meeting Dec. 5 on statewide management and surveillance efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chronic wasting disease was first detected in Iowa in 2013 and is fatal to infected deer, though it has not been shown to infect humans. The DNR has tested more than 100,000 deer for the disease to monitor its spread through the state. Rachel Ruden, state wildlife veterinarian with the DNR, said it will be a generational challenge. Iowans can register for the virtual webinar here : https://bit.ly/CWD120524 What we do to limit the spread of this disease today will pay dividends tomorrow, and we need everyone at the table, Ruden said in a press release. The public meeting, which will be held virtually, will allow Iowans to ask questions and learn about the role they play in managing the spread of the disease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As this disease continues to expand its geographic footprint in Iowa, we encourage all Iowans to stay up-to-date on where we have found CWD so they can make informed consumption decisions, Ruden said. Chronic wasting disease affects the animals brain, but is present in all tissues. It causes deer to lose weight, act abnormally and is always fatal, according to the DNR. Chronic wasting disease has been detected in deer in 25 counties, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, which tests for the disease. (Map courtesy of Iowa DNR) CWD and deer hunting The public information meeting takes place just before the start of gun season for deer, which the DNR said roughly 100,000 people participate in each year. The DNR is partnering with deer hunters to test for chronic wasting disease and has county-specific sample collection goals, depending on the presence of CWD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Interested hunters are asked to contact their local wildlife staff, who can be found on the departments website. DNR aims to collect samples from each county, and reach 5,000 samples statewide, according to a press release. CWD is tested via a sample from a lymph node found behind a deers jaw. Learn more about hunting and chronic wasting disease: And while humans have yet to be infected by the disease, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges hunters to avoid eating meat from an animal with CWD, to wear gloves while field dressing the animals and to minimize contact with brain or spinal cord tissues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even if a hunters particular county has reached its testing quota, or the deer doesnt qualify for the collection, hunters are encouraged to submit samples to the DNR for testing, especially if they plan to eat the meat. According to the DNR, most deer that test positive for CWD dont have visible symptoms, which is why testing is important. Hunters can seek assistance from their local wildlife staff, and from an instructional video, on how to remove the lymph node and send it in for testing. Tyler Harms, a wildlife biologist with the Iowa DNR, called it a really good partnership that provides an additional testing option for our hunters. In the press release, Harms also urged Iowans to help stop the spread of chronic wasting disease and avoid putting out grain or mineral blocks that will cause the deer to gather. Hunters should also refrain from transporting carcasses across counties, as this can also spread the disease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hunting plays a huge role in slowing the spread of the disease, Harms said We encourage hunters to continue hunting in Iowa and managing the herd for future generations. DNR is also offering some additional tags and licenses for hunters in deer management and incentive zones. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Even before November, the once trendy concepts of DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) were already sinking. Now the election of Donald Trump all but guarantees their accelerated decline. The DEI push gained momentum during the 2020 George Floyd riots, after being nurtured for years on most college campuses. Many companies, including Walmart, adopted its associated practices. But new research from The Conference Board indicates that over half of executives anticipate continuing the pushback of DEI initiatives. Among the firms stepping back from DEI include Boeing, John Deere, Harley-Davidson, and Black & Decker, and the biggest of all, Walmart itself. Like DEI, corporate types saw in ESG a means of expiating the sins of the past. Both draw support from cultural arbiters as well as corporate human resources departments and Left-wing non-profits like the Ford Foundation, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the Open Society Foundations, and from progressive billionaires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Economics was sinking ESG even before the election, as its one-time promoter, BlackRocks Larry Fink, has acknowledged. A recent analysis of major funds found that BlackRock and others who had binged on ESG have underperformed those funds not so encumbered. US sustainability funds faced their worst year on record in 2023, according to a Morningstar. The GOP takeover is sure to make things worse. Republican state legislatures Florida, Kansas and Idaho among them have passed laws that ban or limit the consideration of ESG, providing direct opposition to these green investment pledges. DEI is, if anything, even less favoured. The recipe of racial quotas and the systemic destruction of merit was already unpopular before Trumps victory. Over the last two years, corporate DEI departments were slashed. One third of DEI professionals lost their jobs in 2022. The idea of racial quotas in hiring and college admissions is rejected by the vast majority of Americans and minorities. Trump is aware of this and, under the influence of activists like the Manhattan Institutes Christopher Rufo, could ban aid to schools that adopt DEI and quota policies. Given the extreme dependence on Washington, bloated universities will either have to cut staff or change direction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To be sure, both the green and the diversity industries will fight back. Like the climate industrial complex, DEI has become a business that, according to McKinsey, was worth over $7.5 billion globally in 2020. DEIs advocates, universities in particular, will look for ways to get around new directives and court rulings. ESG is similarly threatened by the ascension of a president seeking to expand energy production, continuing the USs profitable role as the world leader in oil and gas. Given the inevitability and continued growth of hydrocarbons, eliminating them post-haste would largely deliver the economic future to China, the worlds largest greenhouse gas emitter, and hand more power to all those lovely liberal democracies of the Middle East. Worst still, some of these policies seem to have little apparent impact on the actual climate. For its part, DEI fails because it is based on a largely false notion of the nature of America. The US is far from the apartheid state portrayed in schools. Instead, it is an increasingly integrated country where minorities do not automatically back their self-appointed tribunes. Nearly half of all Latinos voted for Trump, as did growing numbers of Muslims, Asians and even Black males. The whole idea that people should be judged on their degree of victimhood gender, race, national origin strikes most as manifestly unfair. Critically, minorities no longer cluster mostly in ghettos and barrios. In the 53 metropolitan areas with more than 1,000,000 residents, more than three-quarters of black and Hispanic residents live in racially and ethnically diverse suburbs, ranging from 20 per cent to 60 per cent non-white. Minorities are also moving away from big cities like New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Portland (whose city council is demanding reparations for the very people who are exiting the inner city). In contrast, their numbers are rising in many red state metros like Houston, Dallas, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Boise, and Las Vegas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Racial identity itself is changing. Elements of the Left favour segregating students, but the damned kids keep insisting on doing the opposite. Gallup has found that approval for interracial unions has risen from 4 per cent in 1958 and 50 per cent in the mid-1990s to 94 per cent today. The fastest growing race in America is mixed-race; one in ten babies born in the US have one white and one non-white parent, and 12 per cent of black Americans are now immigrants from Africa, the Caribbean, and elsewhere. The abandonment of DEI could actually improve race relations. There is a growing literature, including a recent report from Network Contagion, that shows that DEI policies increase racial tensions rather than soothe them. Luckily for the DEI mavens, much of the establishment media refuses to cover such analyses, responding to the ideological predilections of staff at places like The New York Times and Bloomberg. The demise of DEI and ESG marks a landmark shift away from a decade of incessant virtue-signalling. The debate should now focus not on some abstract notion of justice but on how to make life better for working people of all ages. We can expect hysteria from eco and social justice warriors about the imminent climate catastrophes or the return to Jim Crow, slavery and anti-miscegenation laws. Yet at least for the next four years, the promoters of both ESG and DEI will be on the defensive, as Americans continue to build on their own the worlds most prosperous, and dynamic, multi-racial society. Joel Kotkin is presidential fellow in urban futures at Chapman University and senior research fellow at the Civitas Institute at the University of Texas Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. KYODO NEWS - Nov 29, 2024 - 12:45 | World, All Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Friday that social media platforms now have a responsibility to ensure the safety of children, after the country's parliament passed a world-first bill banning children under 16 from the services. The legislation will require social media companies to "take reasonable steps" to prevent those under 16 from creating or holding an account on platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, Reddit and X, or face fines of up to AU$49.5 million ($32 million). "Platforms now have a social responsibility to ensure the safety of our kids is a priority for them," Albanese said at a press conference in Canberra on Friday. "We've got your back is our message to Australian parents." The bill, which passed the Senate late Thursday, was fast-tracked through the country's parliament in the last sitting week of the year with backing from the main opposition bloc, the Liberal-National coalition, amid widespread public support. Amendments made in the Senate that were upheld by the House of Representatives on Friday, bolstered privacy protections by barring social media firms from compelling users to provide government-issued identification documents such as passports or driver's licenses. Platforms can still collect such documents for the age-verification process, but an alternative method must be offered. Responding to the passage of the bill, Facebook and Instagram owner Meta Platforms Inc. said, "We are concerned about the process which rushed the legislation through while failing to properly consider the evidence, what industry already does to ensure age-appropriate experiences, and the voices of young people" while it respects the legislation. The government will work with the industry and experts over the next 12 months to ensure the age-limit is effectively implemented, Australian Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said, before the ban comes into effect in a year at the earliest. Users and their parents will not be penalized for any breaches of the age limit by the law as the responsibility for verifying age will fall on the platforms. Related coverage: Australian Senate passes world's 1st social media ban for under-16s Japan tech firms tap AI to help workers handle abusive customers (Bloomberg) -- House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said lawmakers from his party had been targeted by violent threats over the Thanksgiving holiday that included claims of bombs and swatting calls to law enforcement, following similar incidents directed against some of President-elect Donald Trumps cabinet picks. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incidents against the Democratic lawmakers ranged from detailed threats of a pipe bomb placed in mailboxes to swatting, all signed with MAGA at the conclusion of the message, Jeffries said in a statement Friday, referencing Trumps Make America Great Again political slogan. Thanks to the swift reaction from law enforcement, no devices were found and Members of Congress and their families were kept safe on the holiday, Jeffries added. Threats of violence against elected officials are unacceptable, unconscionable and have no place in a civilized society. All perpetrators of political violence directed at any party must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Some Democratic lawmakers from Connecticut said they were among those targeted on Thanksgiving, including Representatives Jim Himes, Rosa DeLauro and Jahana Hayes, who posted on the X social-media platform about the threats they received. Swatting is a form of harassment in which a caller falsely reports a dangerous incident in hopes of provoking an armed police response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier: Lutnicks Home Receives Bomb Threat as Trump Picks Targeted Trumps transition team on Wednesday said that some of his nominees and appointees to the incoming administration were targeted by bomb threats and hoax phone calls. Among the recipients of the threats were Cantor Fitzgerald LPs Howard Lutnick, Trumps pick for Commerce secretary, and Representative Elise Stefanik of New York, the president-elects choice for US ambassador to the United Nations. New York State troopers received an email Wednesday morning claiming that a bomb had been placed in the mailbox of Lutnicks Upper East Side home in Manhattan, according to a person familiar with the matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Joe Biden was asked on Friday about the threats and swatting directed at lawmakers and Cabinet nominees. Were working that hard with the FBI, he told reporters on Nantucket, where he is spending the Thanksgiving holiday. The FBI in a statement Wednesday said it was aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees. The agency said it takes potential threats seriously and was working with law enforcement partners. US political figures have been increasingly targeted in swatting-style attacks, including an incident earlier this year in which a caller falsely claimed that there was a fire at the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Updates with Biden remarks starting in paragraph nine) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Democratic senators are privately acknowledging their party committed political malpractice by bungling the issue of border security, which they view as a driving factor behind President-elect Trumps sweeping victory and their loss of four Senate seats. Democratic senators had a long and intense conversation about what went wrong in this years election during a recent lunch meeting in the wood-empaneled Mansfield Room just off the Senate floor. Senators at the meeting offered a variety of theories about why their party got routed on Election Day, despite what many of them see as President Bidens impressive accomplishments and the strength of the economy. Many Senate Democrats think voters sour views about Bidens record was driven by their anger over rising costs. That was probably the biggest factor behind Trumps victory, they say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But theres a growing feeling among Democratic lawmakers that the Biden administration completely mismanaged the huge surge of migrants across the southern border and that this also hurt their party dearly. We destroyed ourselves on the immigration issue in ways that were entirely predictable and entirely manageable. We utterly mismanaged that issue, including our Democratic caucus here, one Democratic senator told The Hill. Thats political malpractice. Thats not someone elses fault. Thats not the groups pushing us around, the lawmaker added. Some Democrats think Biden made a huge mistake in May 2023, when he lifted Title 42, the emergency health order Trump had put in place to block migrants from entering the country to seek asylum. Bidens decision allowed millions of migrants to stay in the country while their asylum cases slowly moved through the courts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Democrats tried to find political cover on the issue by blaming Trump for defeating the bipartisan border security bill they negotiated with Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) in February. When asked about Bidens border record, vulnerable Democratic candidates would argue Senate Democrats had crafted a bill to reform the asylum process. They said that bill gave the president broad new power to close the border, but Republicans killed it because they wanted to campaign on the issue. In the end, that strategy and argument proved ineffective. A second Democratic senator said a lot of Democrats think Biden and other party leaders mismanaged the situation at the border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawmaker said he was dismayed by Bidens blanket approach to reversing Trumps immigration policies immediately taking office. Biden ended Trumps remain in Mexico policy, halted construction of the border wall, implemented a 100-day moratorium on deportations and paused other interior immigration enforcement initiatives. Why would you do that? Who are you trying to play to? Whats the benefit to that? said the lawmaker, who called border policy Bidens Achilles heel. The senator, however, said Biden was right to rescind Trumps zero-tolerance migrant family separation policy. The final New York Times/Siena College poll of likely voters in the seven battleground states found immigration ranked nearly as highly as abortion as voters top concern, with both trailing the economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And the Times/Siena poll of likely voters in the blue wall states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin in August found voters trusted Trump more than Vice President Harris on the issue by a margin of 51 percent to 46 percent. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.), who left the Democratic Party to become an independent after the 2022 midterms, warned years ago that the Biden administration was unprepared for the deluge of migrants that would follow the end of Title 42. She introduced a bipartisan bill to extend Title 42s expulsion authority for two years, a proposal Sens. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) also supported. Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) joined Sinema in warning Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas in November 2022 that ending Title 42 would result in an explosion of border crossings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And eight senate Democrats Brown, Tester, Manchin, Kelly, Hassan and Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.), Jacky Rosen (Nev.) and Jon Ossoff (Ga.) voted for an amendment in December 2022 to protect Title 42. Several House Democrats blamed Bidens handling of the border as a major factor behind Republicans winning control of the White House and Senate and clinging to their House majority. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) told CNN shortly after Election Day that the border crisis was a major reason why Democrats lost ground with working-class voters. It just busted this year, he said. Rep. Susie Lee (D-Nev.), who won a close reelection race in a battleground state that Harris lost, told CNN: Biden mismanaged the border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Democratic lawmakers say that while their partys handling of border security and immigration cost them many votes, they need to dig deeper into why Harris lost all seven battleground states. We need to look at exactly what happened. We know we lost men, we lost Hispanics, we lost women. Were not connecting with people, but also its part of the pendulum swinging back to the right and Trump appealing to people in ways that Harris couldnt, said a third Democratic senator who requested anonymity to comment on internal Senate Democratic Caucus discussions about what went wrong. This lawmaker said social media platforms such as X formerly known as Twitter and TikTok spread Trumps message more effectively than Bidens or Harriss. Social media is, so far, the unanalyzed and unaccounted-for factor. Something is happening there that we didnt address, the senator said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biden moved aggressively in June to crack down on migration by signing an executive order to pause asylum requests once the average number of daily encounters passed 2,500 between ports of entry, but Democrats on Capitol Hill said the move came far too late. You cant go three and a half years with the perception being youve done nothing, to doing something right before the election and expect it to have an impact, a Democratic strategist said. Even some of the Latinos that moved over to Trump, its not a stretch to say that some of them voted for Trump because they dont want people following them in, the source added. Exit polling showed Trump won Latino men over Harris by a margin of 54 percent to 44 percent, despite his long record of harsh statements about migrants, who are overwhelmingly Hispanic, and their impact on the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think Democrats equated being hardcore on the border as being anti-Latino, the strategist said in explaining why Democratic leaders took a cautious approach. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who crafted the strategy of pointing to the bipartisan border security deal with Lankford as a principal defense for vulnerable incumbents, declined to speak in much detail about why Democrats fared so poorly on Election Day. He said the Democratic senators would hold more conversations to analyze the results and emphasized Senate Democratic incumbents and candidates still managed to win in four states Trump carried: Arizona, Michigan, Nevada and Wisconsin. But that optimistic view is cold comfort to many Democratic senators after watching Tester, Brown and Pennsylvanias Sen. Bob Casey (D) lose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was a change election, and we were on the wrong side of a change election, a fourth Democratic senator remarked after emerging from more than an hour of postelection analysis with colleagues in the Mansfield Room. The problem was the presidential ticket, the lawmaker said. I think Harris was given a really difficult task. Shes the vice president, and being the vice president in a change election is pretty tough. She would have had to really break [with Biden] on some issues, the source added. The senator also said Trump did a masterful job of linking immigration to the economy and crime. Trump did this narrative it wasnt just anti-immigration he connected it all up to the economy. Housing prices are going up, youre losing your job, wages, the lawmaker added. The center said the party needs to listen to Sinema and Democrats such as Brown, Tester, Rosen, Shaheen and Hassan who want the party to tack to the center on border security. People who say, Be more moderate, if theyre talking about the border, I agree. Ive always agreed, the senator said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Is it too soon to ask? Even though the next presidential election is four years away, Democratic hopefuls are already starting to lay the groundwork for a 2028 presidential run. The latest poll from Emerson College asked voters which Democratic candidate they would support in 2024. Vice President Kamala Harris earned 37% backing, followed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom with 7%. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro also landed in the top five. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres more about these candidates and their chances of running in the 2028 presidential election. Kamala Harris According to Politicos Monday report, Harris directed her advisers not to leave out any political options, including the 2026 gubernatorial race in her home state of California. According to the latest poll from the University of Californias Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, Harris would wipe the floor in a crowded Democratic primary field for Californias top spot, against the likes of former state Senate leader Toni Atkins, Lt. Gov. Elena Kounalakis, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, as the Los Angeles Times reported. For now, Harris is keeping her options open and is expected to redefine her place in the Democratic Party after she departs from the White House. Tim Walz Gov. Tim Walz will continue leading Minnesota as governor for the remainder of his term, which ends in 2026. He hasnt revealed his aspirations beyond that. Before Harris picked him as her running mate, Walzs name wasnt on top of the list of candidates for 2028, but thats not the case anymore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, the Harris-Walz campaigns performance dampened his plans for the future. Hamline University professor and political expert David Schultz told WCCO that the Minnesota governors political paths on the national and state levels are closed. Gavin Newsom As the Los Angeles Times columnist George Skelton wrote, Harris loss creates a path, albeit a bumpy one, for Newsom to be president in 2028. He wont feel politically and morally inhibited from entering the race against someone from his home turf. Plus, he will be termed out of running for governor again and can launch a potential campaign in two years. A recent report suggested Harris may be vying for Newsoms job after he leaves office. As for Newsom, his desire to run for president was evident as far back as his college days. The congratulatory message Newsoms family left in the senior yearbook of Santa Clara University from 1989 said: Gavinsy by George you did it! The next step the Presidency? Or, perhaps, California governors are naturally pulled towards the White House. Ronald Reagan, a Republican, served as the governor of the Golden State before entering the White House, while others like former governors Jerry Brown, a Democrat, and Pete Wilson, a Republican, launched unsuccessful bids, as the Deseret News previously reported. California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks in Larkspur, Calif., Tuesday, April 16, 2024. Newsom has announced a plan to allow Arizonans abortion care access in California. | Jeff Chiu Josh Shapiro The Pennsylvania governor isnt as well situated as Newsom, who won reelection and dodged a recall. In many ways, Shapiros reelection in 2026 will be another test to becoming a household name, as Axios Isaac Avilucea wrote. He was among Harris top candidates for running mates this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Brookings Institution notes that Shapiro appeared more controversial, partly because of his support for Israel amid its war with Hamas. His other policy stances like his backing for school vouchers positioned him center left, compared to Harris chosen running mate, the more progressive Walz. Pete Buttigieg Buttigieg ran an 11-month-long campaign for the Democratic Partys nomination for president in 2019 and endorsed Biden before he dropped out of the race. Should the Navy veteran win in 2028, he would be the first openly gay president. Politico reported he is expected to go on a tour of speaking events to tout the accomplishments of his agency, the Department of Transportation, and the Biden administration. Buttigiegs time at the White House has been a series of disasters, including Southwest Airlines meltdown during the winter holidays, resulting in more than 15,000 canceled flights, and the derailment of a train carrying toxic chemicals in Ohio. While Biden, and later Harris, campaigned to be president, Buttigieg was tapped as a surrogate and defended the Biden White House in appearances on Fox News. He hasnt ruled out another run for president. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez The 35-year-old is one of the most outspoken progressives in Congress, following in the footsteps of senior Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez won her district by roughly 38 percentage points over her Republican opponent Tina Forte. But Harris led Trump by 24 points, showing many voters in her district split their ticket. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2022, she sat down with GQ Magazine and admitted that running for president provokes a lot of inner conflict. Becoming emotional, Ocasio-Cortez said that although she believes that anything is possible, the country would never allow a woman to be president. Gretchen Whitmer While politicians and experts are still analyzing the results of the 2024 election, Whitmer says she will continue to do what she has been doing. As governor of the great state of Michigan, my job remains the same no matter who is in the White House, she said. I am focused on getting things done that make a real difference in peoples lives. When her name was floated to replace Biden, she allegedly put a stop to it and has not expressed an interest in running for the White House. The drubbing Democrats took in Pennsylvania in this years election has prompted predictable vows to rebound, but it has also sowed doubts about whether Pennsylvania might be leaving the ranks of up-for-grabs swing states for a right-leaning existence more like Ohios. The introspection over voters rejection of Democrats comes amid growing speculation about Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as a contender for the partys 2028 presidential nomination. Widely expected to seek reelection in the 2026 mid-terms, Shapiro was considered a rising star in the party even before he garnered heavy national attention for making Vice President Kamala Harris shortlist of candidates for running mates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some Pennsylvania Democrats say 2024s losses are, at least in part, attributable to voters motivated specifically by President-elect Donald Trump. Many of those voters wont show up if Trump isnt on the ballot, the theory goes, leaving Pennsylvanias status as the ultimate swing state intact. I dont think its an indicator for Pennsylvania, said Jamie Perrapato, executive director of Turn PA Blue, which helps organize and train campaign volunteers. Ill believe it when these people come out and vote in any elections but for the presidency. Pennsylvanias status as the nations premier battleground state in 2024 was unmistakable: political campaigns dropped more money on campaign ads than in any other state, according to data from ad-tracking firm AdImpact. Plenty of that money was spent by Democrats, but their defeat was across the board. Democrats in Pennsylvania lost its 19 presidential electoral votes, a U.S. Senate seat, three other statewide races, two congressional seats and what was once a reassuring advantage in voter registration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of those losses were particularly notable: Democrats hadnt lost Pennsylvanias electoral votes and a Senate incumbent in the same year since 1880. The defeat of three-term Sen. Bob Casey is especially a gut-punch for Democrats: the son of a former governor has served in statewide office since 1997. An echo of what happened everywhere The same debate that Democrats are having nationally over Harris decisive loss is playing out in Pennsylvania, with no agreement on what caused them to be so wrong. Some blamed President Joe Biden, a Pennsylvania native, for backtracking on his promise not to run for reelection. Some blamed the partys left wing and some blamed Harris, saying she tried to woo Republican voters instead of focusing on pocketbook issues that were motivating working-class voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Pennsylvania, finger-pointing erupted in the Democratic stronghold of Philadelphia where Trump significantly narrowed his 2020 deficit between the citys Democratic Party chair and a Harris campaign adviser. The nations sixth-most populous city is historically a driver of Democratic victories statewide, but Harris margin there was the smallest of any Democratic presidential nominee since John Kerrys in 2004, and turnout there was well below the statewide average. Rural Democrats suggested the party left votes on the table in their regions, too. Some said Harris hurt herself by not responding forcefully enough in the nations No. 2 natural gas state against Trumps assertions that she would ban fracking. Ed Rendell, the former two-term governor of Pennsylvania and ex-Democratic National Committee chair, said Trump had the right message this year and that Harris didnt have enough time on the campaign trail to counter it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, Rendell said Pennsylvania remains very much a swing state. I wouldnt go crazy over these election results, Rendell said. Its still tight enough to say that in 2022 the Democrats swept everything and you would have thought that things looked pretty good for us, and this time we almost lost everything. That year, Shapiro won the governors office by nearly 15%, John Fetterman was the only candidate in the nation to flip a U.S. Senate seat despite suffering a stroke in the midst of his campaign, and Democrats captured control of the state House of Representatives for the first time in a dozen years. Bethany Hallam, an Allegheny County council member who is part of a wave of progressive Democrats to win office around Pittsburgh in recent years, said the party can fix things before Pennsylvania becomes Ohio. But she cautioned against interpreting 2024 as a one-time blip, saying it would be a mistake to think Trump voters will never be heard from again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre going to be more empowered to keep voting more, Hallam said. They came out, finally exercised their votes and the person they picked won. I dont think this was a one-off thing. The ever-changing political landscape Shapiro, assuming he seeks another term in 2026, would likely benefit from a mid-term backlash that has haunted the party in power in this case, Republicans and Trump in nearly every election since World War II. The political landscape never stays the same, and voters two years from now will be reacting to a new set of factors: the state of the economy, the ups and downs of Trumps presidency, events no one sees coming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rendell predicted that Trumps public approval ratings will be badly damaged below 40% even before he takes office. Democrats, meanwhile, fully expect Republicans to come after Shapiro in an effort to damage any loftier ambitions he may have. They say theyll be ready. Hes on the MAGA radar, said Michelle McFall, the Westmoreland County Democratic Party chair. Hes a wildly popular governor in what is still the most important battleground state ... and were going to make sure were in fighting shape to hold that seat. In 2025, partisan control of the state Supreme Court will be up for grabs when three Democratic justices elected a decade ago must run to retain their seats in up-or-down elections without an opponent. Republicans have it marked on their calendars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats will go into those battles with their narrowest voter registration edge in at least a half-century. What was an advantage of 1.2 million voters in 2008, the year Barack Obama won the presidency, is now a gap of fewer than 300,000. University of Pennsylvania researchers found that, since the 2020 presidential election, Republican gains werent because Republicans registered more new voters. Rather, the GOPs gains were from more Democrats switching their registration to Republican, a third party or independent, as well as more inactive Democratic voters being removed from registration rolls, the researchers reported. Democrats have won more statewide elections in the past 25 years, but the parties are tied in that category in the five elections from 2020 through 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daniel Hopkins, a political science professor at the University of Pennsylvania, said it is hard to predict that Pennsylvania is trending in a particular direction, since politics are evolving and parties that lose tend to adapt. Even when Democrats had larger registration advantages, Hopkins said, Republicans competed on a statewide playing field. Hopkins said Democrats should be worried that they lost young voters and Hispanic voters to Trump, although the swing toward the GOP was relatively muted in Pennsylvania. Trumps 1.8 percentage-point victory was hardly a landslide, he noted, and it signals that Pennsylvania will be competitive moving forward. I dont think that the registration numbers are destiny, Hopkins said. Thats partly because even with Democrats losing their registration advantage, whichever party can win the unaffiliated voters by a healthy margin will carry the state. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW House Democrats are sounding early alarms that a second Trump administration will lead to a vast erosion of Palestinian rights and undermine efforts to bring peace to the volatile Middle East. The lawmakers fear President-elect Trumps staunchly pro-Israel sensibilities combined with his cozy relationship with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could not only pave the way for Israel to annex the West Bank, but also dash any chance of a two-state approach thats viewed widely in Washington as the only viable path to a lasting peace in the region. Things look bleak for the Palestinian cause as President-elect Trump gears up to return to the White House, Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Democrats are particularly wary that Trump has tapped former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) who opposes the two-state solution and has denied the existence of the West Bank to become U.S. ambassador to Israel next year. And they took notice when Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law and a real estate developer, lamented that the Palestinians in Gaza have not developed their waterfront property, which he appraised as potentially very valuable. Trump would like to see his son-in-law become a developer in Gaza, Johnson charged. Its a horrible vision of the future when it comes to a two-state solution and justice for the Palestinians, which has eluded them since the establishment of Israel. Theres no love lost between liberal Democrats on Capitol Hill and the conservative Netanyahu, Israels longest serving prime minister. But the tensions have escalated in recent years as Netanyahu has assembled the most right-wing governing coalition in the nations history, and theyve been strained further by Israels aggressive military response to last years Hamas attacks. Netanyahu is also opposed to the creation of a Palestinian state to coexist alongside Israel, and some members of his Cabinet have openly advocated for Israel to seize the West Bank in violation of international law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those positions put Israeli leaders at odds with U.S. presidents in both parties, stretching back decades. But Trump has a closer relationship to Netanyahu and has been more sympathetic to the notion of adopting Israels priorities as a matter of U.S. policy. In his first term, Trump took the extraordinary step of recognizing Jerusalem as Israels official state capital and moving the U.S. Embassy there a controversial move that had been opposed by his White House predecessors of both parties. And in naming Huckabee as the top U.S. diplomat in the region, Trump appears to be pushing that agenda even further. Spokespeople for Trumps transition team did not respond to requests for comment. But Huckabee, in a recent interview with Arutz Sheva, a conservative Israeli news outlet, said he has long opposed the creation of a Palestinian state, and he promised that approach wont change as he heads to his new posting in Jerusalem. Its a position Ive held for many years and, frankly, its a position that Donald Trump has held, and I expect that he will continue to, Huckabee said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such statements have alarmed human rights advocates and many Democrats in the Capitol, who were already furious with Netanyahus use of force in Gaza. Some see it as a purposeful strategy of straining relations with Palestinians so severely that it becomes impossible to negotiate a two-state solution. Were seeing the overtaking of the West Bank by settlers, and settler violence. And we have a Netanyahu government who has over and over again said that they do not support the goals of the United States in reaching a two-state solution, said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), head of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. The reality is that there is serious evidence here that collective punishment was applied to the Palestinian people. Trump, in his first term, secured a historic victory by helping to orchestrate the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and a pair of Arab countries: Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. Morocco signed on a short time later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Hamass attacks of late last year, and Israels hard-charging military response in Gaza, have exploded tensions in the region. And even some of Israels staunchest Democratic allies while praising Trumps success with the Abraham Accords are wondering if hes the right figure to negotiate a peace deal that accommodates the human rights of all sides of the conflict. I have great concerns about the incoming administration understanding the complexities of a region thats very important to the United States a region that has a lot of history but also carries a lot of risks and dangers, said Rep. Brad Schneider, a moderate Illinois Democrat and a fierce Israel ally. We need to work together. Schneider pushed back especially forcefully against the idea of Israel annexing occupied lands such as the West Bank, a region that Israel seized from Jordan in the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. Since then, almost 500,000 Israelis have settled in the region, alongside almost 3 million Palestinians, but most countries around the globe consider it to be occupied territory and a key part of any negotiations if the creation of a Palestinian state is to be successful. In his interview with Arutz Sheva, Huckabee said there is no such thing as the West Bank, which he considers a fiction perpetrated by Israels enemies and the liberal media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I speak of Judea and Samaria. I tell people there is no occupation, he said. It is a land that is occupied by the people who have had a rightful deed to the place for 3,500 years, since the time of Abraham. That argument mirrors the position of Netanyahus finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, who is leading Israels settlement expansion in the West Bank and wants Israel to take permanent control of the territory. Schneider didnt hesitate when asked about efforts to annex occupied lands. Theyre wrong, he said. The Abraham Accords, and the idea of the Abraham Accords, were the first time [it was] put in writing that both the Israelis and the Arabs belong in the same land, he said. Arabs and Israelis belong in the same land finding a way to live together in peace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Holy cow! A recently demoted Brooklyn priest whose church finances are under federal investigation has an impressive real estate portfolio worth more than $2 million, including a house in the Hamptons and a pricey waterfront condo in Florida, a review of records by The Post reveal. Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello, who had his pastoral duties yanked at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary last week even peddled a $2,000-a-week timeshare on the resort island of St. Martin on Facebook in October, the review found. Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello, the recently removed pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Brooklyn, lives large outside the parish, with more than $2 million in real estate in the Hamptons and the Florida coast. AP While there is no indication that the real estate holdings are improper or skirt the law, the feds review of Our Lady of Carmels finances and Gigantiellos personal wealth has come under scrutiny after his demotion by the Brooklyn Diocese amid questionable loans to a connected city lawyer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monsignor Jamie is definitely an operator, but hes a good guy, one law enforcement source said. He raises a lot of money for the church and he definitely knows how to raise money. [Yet,] I cant see him getting involved in anything illegal. Feels like a wheeler dealer. Very out there, the source said. But theres always an angle. Obviously he has connections to the NYPD but hes always trying to do the right thing. His Long Island spread in Southampton, which Gigantiello bought in 2021 for $605,000 and co-owns with fellow Brooklyn pastor, is now valued at more than $700,000, according to the records. Sources said the house has hosted parties for city insiders in the past, including NYPD brass. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gigantiellos condo in Pompano Beach, which he purchased in 2009 for $417,000, now has a market value of more than $1.4 million, the records show. Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello first got in trouble with the Brooklyn Diocese when he allowed sultry singer Sabrina Carpenter filme a racy music video inside his church. Sabrina Carpenter/YouTube Monsignore Jamie Giganteillo, left, was demoted over loans to city lawyer Frank Carone, at right, with Mayor Eric Adams. The popular and well-connected pastor, who has not been charged with any crime by the feds, did not return calls and declined to comment when approached outside the church on Sunday. The co-owner of the Long Island home, who is not being identified by The Post, did not return a call while a rep for the diocese declined to comment, citing investigations by the feds and the diocese. Gigantiello, well known among the Big Apples power brokers, is a familiar figure at fundraisers for needy causes and is a vocal supporter of the NYPD and some of the citys most successful charities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The priest is also a colorful figure who has authored a cookbook and has his own line of Italian sauces. He first got into hot water last year when he allowed pop diva Sabrina Carpenter to film a sexy video inside the 160-year-old church, prompting the diocese to relieve him of administrative duties. Parishioners at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Brooklyn staunchly defend Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello, saying he has always put the parish first. Stefano Giovannini Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In September, sources revealed that the feds served a subpoena seeking records of Our Lady of Carmels finances, including dealings with attorney Frank Carone, a former chief of staff to Mayor Eric Adams. Then, last week, the diocese announced it was stripping Gigantiello of pastoral duties at the Brooklyn parish, citing $1.9 million in loans to Carones companies in 2019 and 2021. In a statement, Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan said Gigantiello did not inform diocesan officials or seek the required approval for the transfer of church funds to the companies. Brennan also cited the decision to allow Carpenters racy music video at the church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the controversy, Our Lady of Carmel parishioners were standing by their pastor. Monsignor Jamie has done nothing but good for this parish and he has done nothing but good for any parish that hes been with, parishioner Joseph Peluso told The Post on Sunday. Embattled Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello is a popular and well-connected figure who has hosted frequent fundraisers and held parties for insiders at his Hamptons house, sources said. Stefano Giovannini Gigantiello was relieved of his administrative duties when he allowed pop diva Sabrina Carpenter to film a sexy video at the 160-year-old church. Sabrina Carpenter/YouTube Hes made every parish that hes been in better, not worse, Peluso said. Hes never taken money, hes never put money in is pocket, though thats what theyre trying to say. He didnt. In fact, when he came here there was $1.9 million between these two parishes. Supporters said Gigantiello raised funds for upgrades at his church, while sources note that the monsignor is active in fundraising and charity events for the needy in the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive been here like 100 years my grandparents went here when they came from Italy, said Mount Carmel faithful Joseph Ciuffo. Monsignor Jamie has baptized my children. He has, OK, married them. He was there when my mother was dying. He has done nothing but good here. Hes evangelized the neighborhood, the parish, which is part of what he was sent to do. Deputies and family members located an at-risk child after officials reported he was missing in Los Angeles on Thursday evening. The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department reported that 8-year-old Tristian King Taray Burrell was last seen around 5 p.m. on the 200 block of East 127th Street. According to officials, Tristian has autism and is nonspeaking. His loved ones are concerned for his well-being and asking for your help, wrote the department in a release. 8-year-old Tristian King Taray Burrell, pictured here in an undated photo, was last seen around 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving on the 200 block of East 127th Street. (LASD) Authorities describe Tristian as a Black male who is 4 feet tall, weighs about 120 lbs and has black hair in dreadlocks and brown eyes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tristian was reportedly last seen wearing a black shirt with red, white and yellow graphics, black pants, and a black jacket with red, white and yellow graphics. LASD announced at 10:03 p.m. that Tristian was found. Thank you to the public, the media, Aero Bureau, and deputy personnel for their tireless efforts in the search for Tristian, wrote LASD in a release. Officials encourage anyone with information about this incident to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department Century Station at 323-568-4800. To provide information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477) or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Nov. 28The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office seized 65,000 fentanyl pills and three guns on Tuesday during a search of an apartment off East Central. Richard Cortez, 44, who authorities say lived in the apartment, is charged with drug trafficking and three counts of possession of a firearm by a felon. Michael Herrera, 18, who was inside the apartment at the time of the raid, is charged with resisting, evading or obstructing an officer for not surrendering "for over 30 minutes." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both men were booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center. Neither man had an attorney listed in online court records. Court records show Cortez was sentenced to prison for drug trafficking in 2010 and for years afterward bounced between prison and probation after repeated violations. In 2016, a BCSO deputy arrested Cortez on felony drug possession, according to court records. Cortez faced another potential prison stretch, but the case was dismissed, and Cortez was set free after the deputy didn't show up for court. Prosecutors filed a motion to detain Cortez until trial following Tuesday's seizure, calling him "dangerous." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The defendant is a major dealer of fentanyl in the Albuquerque area," according to the motion. "He had three firearms ready for use." It is unclear how Herrera is tied to the apartment where the drugs and guns were allegedly found. Court records show Herrera has been on probation since being released from a brief prison stint in a case where he rammed a stolen car into a deputy's vehicle in February. Herrera has had two felony cases dismissed against him over the past year one when witnesses didn't show up to court and another "pending further investigation," according to court records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BCSO spokeswoman Jayme Gonzales said Tuesday's drug raid was "part of an ongoing investigation linked to a recent incident where a vehicle was used in an attempt to run over a deputy from the BCSO Metro Unit." It is unclear if Gonzales was referring to Herrera's prior conviction, and she did not immediately respond when asked for clarification. In a statement, Sheriff John Allen said the drug and gun seizure was "a testament to the determination and bravery" of deputies with the BCSO Metro Unit, which was recently created to patrol the urban areas of Albuquerque. "These deputies are not just proactive but are also unafraid to confront the challenges head-on. As we anticipate further expansion of this unit, I am confident in their continued impact in making Albuquerque a safer place for everyone," Allen said. "Their efforts do not just stop crime; they deter it, making a clear difference throughout our community." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A deputy on BCSO's Metro Unit was doing surveillance on an apartment at 329 Pennsylvania NE, north of Central, and saw multiple "hand-to-hand transactions" of drugs, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court. A person "left unnamed to maintain their confidentiality" told the deputy Cortez lived at the apartment and sold drugs "to make a living." On Tuesday, deputies went to the apartment and used a loudspeaker to tell anyone inside to surrender, with Cortez coming out first. Deputies said after a half-hour, Herrera also came out and was detained. Deputies searched the apartment and found the thousands of fentanyl pills inside a briefcase and three handguns, according to the complaint. Cortez told deputies the apartment was his, but "he had no idea about the pills" and the guns "did not belong to him." Cortez told deputies that he used "blues," slang for fentanyl, but only picked up 25 pills at a time, the complaint states. BOLT, W.Va. (AP) A West Virginia sheriff's deputy shot and killed a person on Friday who fired at him as he was responding to a 911 call, authorities say. The individual who died wasn't immediately identified by the Raleigh County Sheriff's Office, which released a statement about the shooting on Facebook. It said officials were notifying next of kin. Law enforcement responded to a residence in the community of Bolt, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of Charleston, West Virginia, at around 9 a.m. on Friday following a 911 call reporting a mentally disturbed individual armed with a gun, according to the sheriff's office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first deputy to arrive was immediately fired upon and returned fire, killing the shooter, the statement said. The officer was transported to a local hospital where he was treated for a gunshot wound that was not life-threating. Detectives with the sheriff's office and the West Virginia State Police are investigating. DES MOINES, Iowa The Des Moines Police Department reported an increase in OWI arrests beginning Wednesday afternoon, they are advising people to be cautious during the holiday weekend. In partnership with the Iowa Governors Traffic Safety Bureau, on Wednesday, extra officers were on the street in Des Moines. Thanksgiving travelers in good spirits despite interstate delays while on way to visit family Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to officers between the hours of 5 p.m. Wednesday and 5 a.m. Thursday six drivers were arrested on OWI charges. Including, A 21-year-old male who was found passed out in the drivers seat of a vehicle shortly after 5 p.m. A three-year-old child was found in the backseat, the man has been charged with OWI 1st offense and child endangerment. After leading officers on a vehicle pursuit, a 35-year-old male was arrested just before 10:30 p.m. He has been charged with OWI -1st offense, eluding, reckless driving, and interference with official acts. Officers responded to a report of a pedestrian being hit in downtown while using a crosswalk just before 1:00 a.m. The car fled the scene but officers located it nearby and charged a 27-year-old with OWI 2nd offense and leaving the scene of an accident. After running a red light, a 19-year-old male led police officers on a vehicle pursuit just before 2:30 a.m. He fled to his home and attempted to hide in the home. He is charged with OWI 1st offense, eluding, interference with official acts, and traffic offenses. Forecast: Cold, with a few snowflakes The Des Moines Polic Department ensures that they will be vigilant and alert for impaired driving and dangerous driving behaviors. They encourage everyone to have a safe plan home if you intend to head out and celebrate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. KYODO NEWS - Nov 29, 2024 - 22:22 | All, World, Japan Japan, Britain and Italy are considering inviting Saudi Arabia to join their next-generation fighter jet development project with its financial support, a British government source said Friday. Britain is looking to provide support for engineers in the Middle Eastern nation and its defense industry in return for its financial contribution to the trilateral project, under which the three countries aim to deploy the first jet by 2035, the source said. The source, meanwhile, said Saudi Arabia is unlikely to become an equal partner, as some officials of the other three governments are concerned about its cybersecurity and defense technology as well as cultural differences. Announced in December 2022, the joint program comes as Japan and European countries are deepening security cooperation in recent years amid China's provocative activities in the Indo-Pacific region and Russia's protracted invasion of Ukraine. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his British and Italian counterparts, Keir Starmer and Giorgia Meloni, reaffirmed their commitment to the joint development, dubbed the Global Combat Air Program, during their meeting in Brazil earlier this month on the fringes of the Group of 20 summit in Rio de Janeiro. According to the British government, the three leaders "discussed their ambition to widen participation to a broader range of international partners in future," without mentioning any specific nations. Saudi Arabia, a major oil exporter and financial power, has been interested in participating in the project, while London has been open to enlisting it as a fourth partner, British media outlets reported earlier. Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Britain's BAE Systems plc, and Italy's Leonardo S.p.A. will lead the joint development. Related coverage: Japan, Britain, Italy to work closely in fighter jet development Japan, Britain to launch ministerial dialogue on economic security Japan, Britain to start economic security talks before Trump's return A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives. On Nov. 29, 1961, Enos the chimp was launched from Cape Canaveral aboard the Mercury-Atlas 5 spacecraft, which orbited Earth twice before returning. Enos became the first chimpanzee to orbit the Earth, which added to the attention for the mission. NASA was a fairly new program, so sending Enos up was deemed necessary before orbiting an astronaut in a Mercury capsule. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Deseret News followed successes of the budding space program with great interest and national pride. But according to space historians, Enos never found too much fame or, presumably, fortune. Per the Smithsonians Air and Space Museum, Ham, his compatriot from the U.S. Air Forces chimp training facility in New Mexico, overshadows him. Earlier in the year, Ham made a publicity splash after NASA stipulated his short, suborbital trip, which NASA required before the United States could put its first person in space. Doctors had a lot of what turned out to be exaggerated concerns about the impact of spaceflight on the human body and psyche; engineers wanted to prove the safety of the Mercury capsule. Ham, who was visibly agitated by his rough flight and by the flashing press cameras afterward, became a celebrity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to historians, fruit flies were also sent in an orbit earlier in 1947, returning safely to New Mexicos White Sands Proving Grounds. Following Enos successful flight, John H. Glenn Jr. was selected to make the first U.S. manned orbital flight at Cape Canaveral, Nov. 29, 1961. And the rest is history. Enos died in 1962 of a unique form of dysentery, not attributed to his space adventure Here are some articles from Deseret News archives about Enos, other animals who have been part of the U.S. and world space programs, and some of the challenges that come with combining astronauts and other species in space: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Online document: Today in history Shuttle rats look fine, but jellyfish are acting weird Monkey dies after returning from space mission for Russia A first in space: the embalming of rats 7 astronauts, 48 rats blast off aboard Columbia Iran claims it sent a monkey into space Astronauts by day and vets by night KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Desertion is starving the Ukrainian army of desperately needed manpower and crippling its battle plans at a crucial time in its war with Russia, which could put Kyiv at a clear disadvantage in future ceasefire talks. Facing every imaginable shortage, tens of thousands of Ukrainian troops, tired and bereft, have walked away from combat and front-line positions to slide into anonymity, according to soldiers, lawyers and Ukrainian officials. Entire units have abandoned their posts, leaving defensive lines vulnerable and accelerating territorial losses, according to military commanders and soldiers. Some take medical leave and never return, haunted by the traumas of war and demoralized by bleak prospects for victory. Others clash with commanders and refuse to carry out orders, sometimes in the middle of firefights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This problem is critical, said Oleksandr Kovalenko, a Kyiv-based military analyst. This is the third year of war, and this problem will only grow. Although Moscow has also been dealing with desertions, Ukrainians going AWOL have laid bare deeply rooted problems bedeviling their military and how Kyiv is managing the war, from the flawed mobilization drive to the overstretching and hollowing out of front-line units. It comes as the U.S. urges Ukraine to draft more troops, and allow for the conscription of those as young as 18. The Associated Press spoke to two deserters, three lawyers, and a dozen Ukrainian officials and military commanders. Officials and commanders spoke on condition of anonymity to divulge classified information, while one deserter did so because he feared prosecution. It is clear that now, frankly speaking, we have already squeezed the maximum out of our people, said an officer with the 72nd Brigade, who noted that desertion was one of the main reasons Ukraine lost the town of Vuhledar in October. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The troops who walk away More than 100,000 soldiers have been charged under Ukraines desertion laws since Russia invaded in February 2022, according to the countrys General Prosecutors Office. Nearly half have gone AWOL in the last year alone, after Kyiv launched an aggressive and controversial mobilization drive that government officials and military commanders concede has largely failed. It's a staggeringly high number by any measure, as there were an estimated 300,000 Ukrainian soldiers engaged in combat before the mobilization drive began. And the actual number of deserters may be much higher. One lawmaker with knowledge of military matters estimated it could be as high as 200,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many deserters don't return after being granted medical leave. Bone-tired by the constancy of war, they are psychologically and emotionally scarred. They feel guilt about being unable to summon the will to fight, anger over how the war effort is being led, and frustration that it seems unwinnable. Being quiet about a huge problem only harms our country, said Serhii Hnezdilov, one of few soldiers to speak publicly about his choice to desert. He was charged shortly after the AP interviewed him in September. Another deserter said he initially left his infantry unit with permission because he needed surgery. By the time his leave was up, he couldnt bring himself to return. He still has nightmares about the comrades he saw get killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The best way to explain it is imagining you are sitting under incoming fire and from their (Russian) side, its 50 shells coming toward you, while from our side, its just one. Then you see how your friends are getting torn to pieces, and you realize that any second, it can happen to you, he said. Meanwhile guys (Ukrainian soldiers) 10 kilometers (6 miles) away order you on the radio: Go on, brace yourselves. Everything will be fine, he said. Hnezdilov also left to seek medical help. Before undergoing surgery, he announced he was deserting. He said after five years of military service, he saw no hope of ever being demobilized, despite earlier promises by the countrys leadership. If theres no end term (to military service), it turns into a prison it becomes psychologically hard to find reasons to defend this country, Hnezdilov said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A growing problem for Kyiv Desertion has turned battle plans into sand that slips through military commanders' fingertips. The AP learned of cases in which defensive lines were severely compromised because entire units defied orders and abandoned their positions. Because of a lack of political will and poor management of troops, especially in the infantry, we certainly are not moving in a direction to properly defend the territories that we control now, Hnezdilov said. Ukraines military recorded a deficit of 4,000 troops on the front in September owing largely to deaths, injuries and desertions, according to a lawmaker. Most deserters were among recent recruits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The head of one brigades legal service who is in charge of processing desertion cases and forwarding them to law enforcement said he's had many of them. The main thing is that they leave combat positions during hostilities and their comrades die because of it. We had several situations when units fled, small or large. They exposed their flanks, and the enemy came to these flanks and killed their brothers in arms, because those who stood on the positions did not know that there was no one else around, the official said. That is how Vuhledar, a hilltop town that Ukraine defended for two years, was lost in a matter of weeks in October, said the 72nd Brigade officer, who was among the very last to withdraw. The 72nd was already stretched thin in the weeks before Vuhledar fell. Only one line battalion and two rifle battalions held the town near the end, and military leaders even began pulling units from them to support the flanks, the officer said. There should have been 120 men in each of the battalions companies, but some companies' ranks dropped to only 10 due to deaths, injuries and desertions, he said. About 20% of the soldiers missing from those companies had gone AWOL. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The percentage has grown exponentially every month, he added. Reinforcements were sent once Russia wised up to Ukraine's weakened position and attacked. But then the reinforcements also left, the officer said. Because of this, when one of the 72nd Brigade battalions withdrew, its members were gunned down because they didn't know no one was covering them, he said. Still, the officer harbors no ill will toward deserters. At this stage, I do not condemn any of the soldiers from my battalion and others. Because everyone is just really tired, he said. Charging deserters Prosecutors and the military would rather not press charges against AWOL soldiers and do so only if they fail to persuade them to return, according to three military officers and a spokesperson for Ukraines State Investigative Bureau. Some deserters return, only to leave again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine's General Staff said soldiers are given psychological support, but it didn't respond to emailed questions about the toll desertions are having on the battlefield. Once soldiers are charged, defending them is tricky, said two lawyers who take such cases. They focus on their clients' psychological state when they left. People cannot psychologically cope with the situation they are in, and they are not provided with psychological help, said attorney Tetyana Ivanova. Soldiers acquitted of desertion due to psychological reasons set a dangerous precedent because then almost everyone is justified (to leave), because there are almost no healthy people left (in the infantry), she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soldiers considering deserting have sought her advice. Several were being sent to fight near Vuhledar. They would not have taken the territory, they would not have conquered anything, but no one would have returned, she said. On Nov. 25, 2020, the day before Thanksgiving, responders rushed to a house fire in Mt. Morris, Illinois. They discovered 27-year-old Melissa Lamesch inside, dead on the floor by the oven in the kitchen. Initially, investigators were uncertain whether the fire was intentional or accidental. But after taking a closer look, they believed foul play was involved and that the fire was arson. They did not find any electrical issues at the house and learned that the oven and stove burners were all in the off position. The autopsy performed on Lamesch revealed no soot in her lungs and normal carbon monoxide levels, but there were signs of strangulation. Investigators concluded that Lamesch was murdered before the fire started. But why would someone want to kill Melissa Lamesch? "48 Hours" contributor Nikki Battiste reports on the case in "The Firefighter's Secret," now streaming on Paramount+. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the fire occurred, Lamesch had been just two days away from giving birth to a baby boy. She was a dedicated EMT and was excited to become a parent. However, investigators learned there was someone who was not as enthused the expectant father of the baby, 33-year-old Matthew Plote, who was a firefighter-paramedic. When Lamesch let Plote know she was carrying his baby, she was surprised by his reaction, says Lamesch's sister, Cassie Baal. "Melissa thought he would want something to do with the baby. To that point, she thought he was a pretty nice guy," Baal told "48 Hours." "She saw a different side of him and that really upset her." Investigators learned Plote kept the fact that he was going to become a dad a secret, including from his parents and his co-workers. Rob Schultz, fire chief at the Carol Stream Fire District where Plote worked, explained to Battiste how unusual it was for someone not to talk about a big life event at the firehouse. "We're here 24 hours a day," Schultz said. "It's a just a normal, uh, course of being a firefighter that you talk about your family, your personal life, and what's going on good, bad or indifferent." Matthew Plote / Credit: Carol Stream Fire District Although Plote seemed disinterested in becoming a father, Lamesch had sporadically kept in touch with him, even sending him sonograms. "Sometimes he would respond a little bit, but she didn't know really where he stood exactly," Baal said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lamesch, though, was ready to take care of the baby on her own, with the help of her family. Despite Lamesch not asking Plote for any type of support, investigators believe that as her due date drew closer, Plote became increasingly concerned that having a child was going to alter his lifestyle and that's why he had kept that baby a secret. "He was keeping a secret the fact that he fathered a baby in the hopes that the child wouldn't be born," Ogle County Assistant State's Attorney Allison Huntley told Battiste. The state began building a case against Plote. He was arrested on March 9, 2022, on charges including murder, the intentional homicide of an unborn child and arson. There was evidence that Plote had been at Lamesch's house the day of the fire something Plote admitted when he spoke with investigators. "He told them everything about his presence there, he didn't hide any of that," defense attorney John Kopp told "48 Hours." He says his client went there to discuss plans for being involved in the baby's life. "They discussed their finances," Kopp said. "And then Matt left as she was making some lunch." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors suspected Plote was lying about Lamesch being alive when he left and that he set the house on fire to try to cover his tracks. "I believe from the very beginning he was trying to set up a story that there was an accidental house fire, that she had been cooking something," said Ogle County Assistant State's Attorney Heather Kruse. "Which would explain why her body was found in the kitchen." For Chief Schultz, the thought of a firefighter inflicting harm was unthinkable. "It doesn't chime with what a firefighter is," he told "48 Hours." "We put fires out. We don't start fires. We help people. We don't hurt people." Missing hiker found after nearly six weeks in the Canadian wilderness War in Ukraine pushes women into new roles How severe weather could impact Christmas trees President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that Ukraine should work directly with US President-elect Donald Trump because there are "different voices" in his circles. Source: Zelenskyy in an interview with Sky News; European Pravda reports Details: When asked about his opinion on Trump, Zelenskyy said that "we have to work with the new president" of the United States in order to "have the biggest supporter". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I want to work with him directly because there are different voices from people around him. And that's why we need not to [allow] anybody around to destroy our communication," the Ukrainian president added. Zelenskyy said he wanted to share his ideas with Trump and to hear him out in turn. Zelenskyy noted that he had already met with the then-US presidential candidate in New York, and their conversation "was very warm, good, constructive". "It was a very good meeting and it was an important first step now we have to prepare some meetings," he said. Background: Earlier, Zelenskyy acknowledged that the war may "end faster" under Trump's presidency. He also said that he expects to see Donald Trump's proposals for ending the war in Ukraine shortly after the start of his term. Support UP or become our patron! Scientists were astonished to find that recirculating a cocktail of preserving agents through a severed pig's head caused the animal's brain to show signs of life. As New Scientist reports, basic cellular functions were restored in the dismembered brain something that was previously thought impossible following the cessation of blood flow. While the pig brain wasn't exactly oinking at the farm after the treatment, in scientifically significant ways it was seemingly brought back from the brink of death a ghoulish experiment that could have implications for future efforts to reanimate a dead human brain as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In fact, Yale School of Medicine neuroscientist Zvonimir Vrselja and his colleagues are looking to try the technique on human brains efforts, needless to say, that could have thorny ethical ramifications. For one, the definition of when a person has died has remained a lively debate among health practitioners. "We are trying to be transparent and very careful because theres so much value that can come out of this," Vrselja told New Scientist. Some argue that death occurs when the heart stops beating. Others define it as the point when the brain's functions cease entirely. Things get murkier when you consider that neuroscientists have already found that brain activity can extend far beyond cardiac arrest. In fact, research has found that the brain can even light up when the heart stops beating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The dying brain actually starts this massive rescue effort," University of Michigan neuroscientist Jimo Borjigin told New Scientist. Borjigin found in a 2023 study that the brain "appeared to be on fire" after four dying people were taken off of life support. "If we can better understand whats going on at this point, I believe we could resuscitate it," he added. Vrselja and his colleagues are at the forefront of those efforts, having developed a special drug cocktail called BrainEx that stops the brain from being damaged by the sudden surge of oxygen-rich blood following brain death. In a 2019 experiment involving pig brains, the researchers managed to bring some activity back four hours after decapitation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But even getting remotely near the point of consciousness with a donated human brain could have major ethical ramifications, forcing the team to tread carefully. "We had to develop new methods to make sure no electrical activity is occurring in an organized way that might reflect any kind of consciousness," Vrselja told New Scientist. For now, they're using their invention to test out treatments for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Similar techniques could also be used to prolong the shelf life of donor organs, which could save lives. More on death: Professor of Medicine Says Death Appears to Be Reversible Milwaukee is among the most "livable" cities in the United States, according to a new evaluation of more than 100 metro areas across the country. The Milwaukee-Waukesha metro area ranked sixth of 139 cities on the list, scoring particularly well for its green spaces and fitness opportunities. To determine livability, RentCafe, an online rental marketplace, evaluated U.S. metros across three main categories: socioeconomics, quality of life, and location and community. Each city earned an overall score, based on factors like cost of living, unemployment rate, commute times, access to physical exercise opportunities, and number of arts and recreation facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the quality of life category, Milwaukee placed fourth out of 139 cities. That's likely because the study found more than 96% of Milwaukee-area residents have access to exercise opportunities, and more than 80% of residents are physically active. However, Milwaukee ranked much lower for its affordability, placing 52nd in this category. The area has an unemployment rate of 3.8% and poverty rate of 12.5%. The Milwaukee area is best for "eco-conscious residents and young families who encourage a healthy lifestyle for their little ones," according to RentCafe. Milwaukee ranked sixth among the most livable cities in the nation. Which other Wisconsin cities made the list? Along with Milwaukee, Green Bay and Madison also made the list. Though Milwaukee ranked the highest, all three Wisconsin cities cracked the top 15. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more about how Green Bay and Madison placed here. More: Milwaukee minimum-wage workers must spend 84% of salary to afford typical rent, study says This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: How livable is Milwaukee compared to other US cities? Dogecoin. In the week after the 2024 presidential election, the coins value jumped 250%. (Image: Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Rockets arent the only thing Elon Musk is sending into the stratosphere. After a three-year plummet, dogecoin is blasting off again, jumping 250% since the election of Donald Trump part of a broader wave of optimism in the industry, due to Trumps courting of crypto advocates during his campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps informal appointment of Musk to what he calls the Department of Government Efficiency D.O.G.E for short also helped pump the dog-themed meme coin. This isnt the first time Musk, who styles himself as the Dogefather, has fueled interest in dogecoin. In May 2021, its price shot up in anticipation of Musks guest appearance on Saturday Night Live. During one skit, Musk played a financial analyst in conversation with a Weekend Update host, who repeatedly asked him, What is dogecoin? After some obfuscation, Musks character finally admitted that it was a hustle. The price of the coin went into a freefall. Just over a year later, it had shed over 90% of its peak value. The losses hit small investors hard. In 2022, one of them filed a class action lawsuit against Musk for market manipulation and insider trading, though the case was dismissed in August 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why has dogecoin a meme coin that was never meant to be taken seriously as an investment seen such extreme swings in value? Were all in this together Dogecoin was launched in 2013 to spoof bitcoin and a slew of other cryptocurrencies that were claiming to disrupt the traditional world of finance. Two strangers from across the globe met online, copied the code of an existing coin, and branded it with the already popular Doge internet meme a picture of a Shiba Inu dog surrounded by fragments of broken English: wow much coin. Although their main goal was to make the coin pointless and undesirable, it became one of the most popular and enduring cryptocurrencies on the market. Following dogecoins previous surge in 2021, I studied how its fervent network of influencers and everyday investors worked together to draw tremendous attention and capital to the joke currency. Elon Musks 2021 appearance on Saturday Night Live caused the price of dogecoin to tumble. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To understand the appeal of these absurd investments, you have to look at the time and energy that users invest into these networks and the rewards, both financial and social, they get in return. Meme coins are collaborative enterprises. Members of these online communities have an economic incentive to become outspoken boosters: The more the value of dogecoin rises, the more their investments grow. But they also receive social validation from other meme coin investors when they pump up the coin. In other words, behind every meme coin is a collective of strangers on a communal mission to make more money. Dogecoin and its imitators have been described by their leadership as crypto movements, shared journeys and community-owned projects. Beyond branding the assets with culturally resonant images, whether its a Shiba Inu dog or Pepe the Frog, successful crypto ventures are characterized by complex webs of trust. Trust in the technology. Trust in its potential for future appreciation. And trust that those holding power in the networks wont exploit the rest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This loyalty is woven among a global network of users who collaborate around the clock to promote their coin and demonstrate their unwavering commitment to its success. In times of price appreciation, the collective buzzes with elation. During price dips, community members mutually reinforce their comrades and their own beliefs that this is just a bump in the road and that their collective efforts will eventually lead to a handsome payoff. Even in the coldest of crypto winters, this ritualistic behavior helps these speculative communities endure. Community serves as a substitute for financial loss. The investment strategies in these communities and the conviction in their payoff involve repeating and reposting what others have said, like any traditional internet meme. Trolling traditional valuation The real value of meme coins cannot be understood in the same way as traditional assets, such as stocks and physical commodities. These types of assets have fundamentals, such as a companys financial statements, or public demand for basic goods, from coffee to oil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conversely, the fundamentals of meme coins are reflected in their network activity, such as daily active users, and less concrete metrics, such as social sentiment and mindshare how much public awareness a coin has generated compared with its rivals. Of course, the valuations of traditional assets are also affected by these social factors. The difference is that meme coins offer little by way of productive activity. They add nothing to the economy. Occasionally, their leadership will build financial services around them, but these are generally added as afterthoughts, especially as a way to drum up more speculative excitement. Meme coins troll the traditional conventions of valuation and mock the edicts and dogmas of mainstream investors. And thats exactly the point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Participation in meme coin communities or any crypto community, for that matter entails embracing an alternative economic experience. They are speculative sandboxes for playing outside of the conventional rules of investment. Who let the Doge out? Musk is the quintessential meme coin influencer. As the richest man in the world, hes viewed by many as a paragon of savvy investing. His massive following extends far beyond dogecoins social network. And his promotional efforts are playful so playful that the judge in his class-action case dismissed his dogecoin tweets as mere puffery and that no reasonable investor could rely upon them. Dogecoin previously reached the peak of its memetic momentum when Musk appeared on Saturday Night Live. Now, instead of sitting at the Weekend Update news desk cracking jokes, hes sitting in Trumps office advising the president-elect. In other words, dogecoins memetic resonance has ascended from pop culture to politics, helping it capture a bigger slice of the publics mindshare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While dogecoin has specifically benefited from Musks proximity to Trump, the broader crypto market is leaping with optimism for a crypto-friendly administration. Speaking at the Bitcoin 2024 conference in July, the GOP candidate ensured hed make the United States the crypto capital of the planet. After pouring $131 million into this election cycle, the crypto industry can now claim 274 pro-crypto members of the U.S. House of Representatives and 20 pro-crypto U.S. senators. Between Musk buddying up with Trump and a shifting regulatory environment, the dog can once again run free. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Australia has warned travelers against drinking spirits made by a Laos distiller, following the deaths of six foreign tourists from suspected methanol poisoning in the Southeast Asian country. The updated travel advice published Friday cited serious safety concerns over Laos Tiger-branded vodka and whisky in the wake of a mass poisoning earlier this month in the northern town of Vang Vieng, a popular backpacker destination. Lao authorities have issued an order prohibiting the sale and consumption of Tiger Vodka and Tiger Whisky due to their concerns about these products being a health risk, the Australian advisory said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Be alert to the potential risks particularly with spirit-based drinks including cocktails. No reports of Laos apparent ban on the Tiger-branded spirits have been published in the countrys English-language state media. Warnings about the potentially fatal consequences of drinking tainted alcohol following the poisonings have come from foreign governments to their own citizens, not from Laos authorities. Laos, an opaque communist state, tightly controls its media and remained silent on the deaths for more than a week before issuing its first statement. More than two weeks later, details surrounding the tourists deaths and how they became ill including how widespread the poisonings are remain scant, frustrating families and fellow travelers trying to piece together what happened in Vang Vieng. Australians Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both 19; Danish nationals Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Frela Vennervald Sorensen, 21; US citizen James Louis Hutson, 57; and British lawyer Simone White, 28, died from suspected methanol poisoning after drinking alcohol in Vang Vieng. Bianca Jones (left) and Holly Bowles (right), both 19-year-old Australian nationals whose bodies returned to Melbourne on November 26, 2024. - Facebook Earlier this week, eight Vietnamese staff members of a backpacker hostel where at least five of the victims had stayed were detained by local authorities, according to the state-affiliated Laotian Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Part of the investigation has focused on reports the tourists were offered free shots of alcohol at the Nana Backpacker Hostel. The hostel manager and owner, who are also Vietnamese, were previously detained for questioning by police, according to the Associated Press. The manager had earlier said the two Australian women joined more than 100 guests for free shots at the hostel before leaving for a night out, but he denied that other guests had reported any issue, AP reported. With little information forthcoming from Laos authorities, some travelers in Vang Vieng and friends of those who died have taken it upon themselves to investigate. One, who asked not to be named, told CNN they had conducted an independent survey of travelers who also fell ill or were hospitalized after suspected methanol poisoning. Many respondents described getting sick after drinking at multiple bars or hostels around the town. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CNN cannot independently verify these reports or the survey results. Laos Tiger Vodka and Tiger Whisky are a brand of locally produced spirits that are cheap to buy and often used in mixed drinks and cocktails. The brand does not appear to have a public website and the vodka label says it is distilled, blended and bottled in Laos. Methanol is an alcohol chemical commonly used in industrial solvents, cleaning products and fuel, though it can be added to alcoholic drinks either inadvertently through traditional brewing methods or deliberately to boost the volume of alcoholic drinks usually in the pursuit of profit. Just small amounts of methanol can cause blindness, nausea and vomiting, while drinking as little as 30 milliliters (1 ounce) can be lethal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If not treated, fatality rates are reported to be 20% to 40%, depending on the concentration of the methanol and the amount ingested, according to medical charity Doctors Without Borders, which tracks cases of methanol poisoning globally. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Christina Louma has just one word to describe former President Donald Trump and his supporters claims of rampant noncitizen voting leading up to Election Day: foolishness. I feel like theyre indirectly trying to intimidate us against voting, Louma, a DeKalb County resident whose parents immigrated to the U.S. 25 years ago, told Capital B Atlanta. Louma echoes the concerns of Trump critics who say his voter fraud allegations are not only unfounded but also dangerous. With his imminent return to the Oval Office, Trumps misleading claims could have consequences that extend well beyond this years election especially for Atlanta, which holds the countrys fourth-largest Black immigrant population, according to a 2022 Pew Research Center report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lauren Groh-Wargo, CEO of voting rights nonprofit Fair Fight, told Capital B last month in an emailed statement that she anticipates an avalanche of disinformation from Trump will continue after all ballots are cast to rile up his strongest supporters. His xenophobic messaging from false tales of Ohio immigrants eating pets to Georgia noncitizens voting illegally can influence policy that is harmful to refugees and immigrants both nationally and locally, according to Dorian Crosby, an associate political science professor at Spelman College. It can make those who already harbor those thoughts feel even more emboldened to codify them into law, says Crosby. If [those policies] are already infused with prejudice, then the outcome is naturally going to be detrimental to those communities that are targeted. Trumps allegations of illegal voting date back to at least 2016, when he declared on X (formerly Twitter) that millions of people who voted illegally are responsible for him losing the popular vote to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He similarly insisted that voting fraud in Georgia cost him the 2020 election against President Joe Biden. That claim was debunked by Ken Block, the data analyst Trump hired to investigate it, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. An audit released last month by Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger revealed that out of 8.2 million registered voters, only 20 non-U.S. citizens registered to vote in Georgia. While nine of those noncitizens previously cast ballots, 11 were registered but never voted. Election officials canceled their registration and reported them to district attorneys. Anybody who is not a citizen typically doesnt want to go near anything governmental or anything where they have to show their identification, said Wayne Kendall, a Fayetteville-based attorney specializing in civil rights. Still, misinformation continue to spread, at times fueled by deceptive actors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a widely circulated video posted to X last month, a man who claimed to be a Haitian immigrant said he voted for Vice President Kamala Harris in Gwinnett County and planned to do so in Fulton County as well. He stated that he arrived in the U.S. earlier this year and became an American citizen. State and federal officials indicated that the video was likely created by Russian propagandists attempting to undermine confidence in the election. Its intimidating to anyone who is a citizen who has been naturalized that may cause them to think, There may be some glitch in my paperwork, therefore, I better not go forward and vote, said Kendall. Crosby says the xenophobic rhetoric of Trumps campaign will likely cause people who share his views to be more vocal about their bigotry, and for immigrants to experience an anxiety akin to how many felt during his first presidential term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People who were already harboring prejudice and disdain for people who do not have a citizenship status in the U.S. it has made it acceptable to express those sentiments, she said. While Fair Fight Communications Director Max Flugrath urges people to verify information before sharing it, Crosby adds that addressing misinformation in real time can help to prevent its spread. If you know that someone is saying something that is erroneous, speak up, she said. It can just be a simple correction like, I dont think thats quite right, friend. Alyssa Johnson contributed additional reporting to this story. The post How Donald Trumps Voter Fraud Claims Can Impact Black Atlantans Beyond the Election appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta. By Camillus Eboh ABUJA (Reuters) -At least 27 people died when a boat capsized on the Niger River in central Nigeria, the local emergency management agency said on Friday. The final death toll from the accident late on Thursday would be known once a search and rescue operation ended, said Sandra Musa, spokesperson for Kogi State Emergency Management Agency. "So far, 27 bodies have been recovered, but (the) rescue operation is still ongoing," Musa told Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The boat was carrying mostly traders from Missa community in central Kogi state heading to a weekly market in neighbouring Niger state, a National Inland Waterways Authority spokesperson said. None of the passengers were wearing life jackets, which significantly increased the risk of fatalities, the spokesperson said. (Reporting by Camillus EbohWriting by Elisha Bala-Gbogbo and MacDonald DzirutweEditing by Frances Kerry) KYODO NEWS - Nov 29, 2024 - 20:10 | Arts, All, Japan, Expo Greece has decided to withdraw from the World Expo scheduled for next year in Osaka, Japan, the organizer said Friday, with the European country citing fiscal constraints. It is the eighth country to drop out after initially planning to participate in the expo, to be hosted by the commercial hub of western Japan, amid concerns about the event's ballooning costs. The Japan Association for the International Exposition, meanwhile, made a formal announcement that Ukraine, which has been under invasion by Russia since 2022, will join the event, keeping the number of participating countries and regions unchanged at 161. Greece had intended to use the "Type B" pavilion, renting and exclusively using a facility constructed by Japan. The organizer said it will reconsider how to utilize the space in the future. The expo is slated to run for six months from April 2025. So far, Mexico, Estonia, Russia, Niue, Argentina, Afghanistan and Niger have announced their withdrawal from the event. The organizer said Ukraine will take part in the "Type C" pavilion, which will be built by Japan and shared among participants. Related coverage: Argentina withdraws from 2025 World Expo in Japan Osaka Expo seeks to tap into youth power to drum up support for event DES MOINES, Iowa Dr. Ian Roberts is a former Olympian, an author and motivational speaker who began his second year as Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools. WHO 13s Courtney Greene wraps up her special reports talking with Dr. Roberts about his accomplishments, goals for the future and how long he sees himself in Des Moines. I anchor everything that I do, as cliche as it sounds, on what is best for children and am I making the right decisions to inspire the 5,000 employees? The Des Moines School District recently took up the topic of restricting cell phones next school year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have a board that understands the importance of making mission critical decisions that are anchored in data. And so I have a board that is willing to have those courageous conversations where we may not necessarily all agree on a decision at a certain time, but we always find a way to compromise. One area Roberts wont compromise, is finding new ways to engage with families who may not be involved in their childrens education. And so what Ive been doing is the third or last Friday of every month I go into different communities and have these 90 minute coffee chats and essentially somewhere I find a local coffee shop, reach out to the owners weeks before and ask them if we can come and have these conversations here. And every single business that weve reached out to thus far obliged. I realized that while we want to encourage community members and parents to meet with us in K-12 education, we have not necessarily made it convenient for folks, we always want them to come to this big district office or to one of our schools. And so Ive decided to go into the communities. And its making a difference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second sort of key approach for me is to make sure that every single person, every adult in this district understands and is reminded daily that we are an academic institution, an education organization, which means that we have to be incredibly focused on instruction and instructional practices that are of a high quality. I want to make sure that the public schools become known as that school system here in Iowa that provides every student with quality education outcomes. Read more about DMPS Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts Free breakfast and lunch (including dishes that reflect different cultures), expanding preschool and adding free Montessori schools are some notable first year accomplishments. So is recruiting and retaining teachers and administrators who reflect the students they serve. The one public schools is a majority minority school system. Our largest general population, Latinx 32%, 31% white students, 22% African-Americans, but more than 95% of our teachers and leaders are white Teaching them instruction that is meaningful, that is affirming, that is grade level and that is rigorous. And so we are seeing some of the early fruits of those investments already. Im proud of the work we are doing and the strides were making, but while acknowledging that we have a long way to go, but again, since this is a destination for me, were going to get this done. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are also ongoing discussions to address declining enrollment, piloting a program to keep sixthgraders in elementary schools, like Oak Park on Des Moines north side, one more year, and encouraging policymakers to continue strong support of public education. And Roberts says the 600 students who are homeless keep him up at night. I intend to continue to partner with every legislator, every state official, to make sure that everyone is on the same page about why quality public education can be a game changer for every Iowan. And we have a lot of community partners, right, that are providing them with temporary or theyre benefiting from our food pantries. I want us to get to this place whereby we can get a position where our funding allows us to sort of meet the needs, the basic needs of all of our families. Theyre not asking for anything that is luxurious. As Roberts continues his work into year two, he sees Des Moines not as a stop on his career journey. I see the mine as a destination. If youd asked me this question a year ago, there was uncertainty. But now, having been invited into this community and doing the work in this school district, Des Moines is home. It feels like home. I travel the country to attend conferences or other professional engagements, and it feels really good to say Im going home. Latest Metro News: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. WESTFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WJW) The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating after a driver was killed in a multiple-vehicle crash in Medina County early Thursday morning. The crash happened around 12:16 a.m. along Interstate 71, near mile post 206 in Westfield Township. According to investigators, a white Hyundai Sante Fe was heading north on I-71 when it hit the back of a white Honda Civic. 18-year-old killed in Carroll County crash: OSHP Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators say the Hyundai went off the left side of the roadway and crossed into the southbound lanes, hitting a semi-tractor trailer and crashing into a white Dodge cargo van head-on. The Hyundai driver, identified as 25-year-old Eliyjsha Richardson of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, was pronounced dead at the scene. Missing hiker survived 50 days in Canadian wilderness, at times in frigid temps The Dodge driver was taken to the Cleveland Clinic in Lodi for serious injuries. Investigators say the others involved in the crash werent hurt. The fatal crash remains under investigation at this time. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. The Norton Police Department responded to a major motor vehicle accident that left one person with serious injuries. Officers were dispatched around 1:36am to a single-vehicle accident in the area of 95 North Washington Street. The vehicle had ran off the roadway, striking both a utility pole and a tree, leaving the vehicle with serious damage. The driver of the vehicle had suffered serious injuries and was transported by Norton EMTs to a Rhode Island hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Power and utility crews responded to repair the broken telephone pole, while emergency personnel remained on the scene for approximately 4 hours to maintain the scene. The Norton Police Department strongly urges all motorists to drive attentively and responsibly, prioritizing safety at all times. The department wrote in a Facebook post. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -An unidentified drone flew over the Russian embassy in Stockholm early on Friday, dropping paint on the grounds of the diplomatic compound, Swedish police said. No arrests have been made and no suspects identified, a police spokesperson added. "We insist that all incidents against the Russian embassy be thoroughly and impartially investigated and that the perpetrators be found and brought to justice," Russia's embassy in Sweden said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators will look at whether the incident was in any way linked to a reported case of vandalism at Sweden's embassy in Moscow on Thursday, according to the police spokesperson. Following the Moscow incident, Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard urged Russia to ensure the protection of Sweden's diplomatic mission and its staff. A Swedish foreign ministry spokesperson said Sweden's embassy in Moscow was in contact with Russian authorities over Friday's incident in the Swedish capital. "It is serious when a country's embassy is subject to vandalism," Stenergard said in an emailed statement on the incident in Stockholm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Swedish authorities are responsible for the embassy's security and the police have initiated a preliminary investigation". (Reporting by Anna Ringstrom, editing by Terje Solsvik, Louise Heavens and Daren Butler) Five properties worth a combined total of 146m were bought in Wokingham with untracked funds - Mark Poley/iStockphoto Hawaiian shirts and suitcases stuffed with cash are a rare sight on the sleepy streets of Wokingham. But this leafy Berkshire town has been revealed as an unlikely hotspot for suspicious money channelled into the UK from global tax havens. Nearly 6bn of untracked funds have been funnelled through companies registered in British Overseas Territories to purchase British properties since 2016, according to analysis by campaign group Transparency International UK. Over 90pc of this money originated from the British Virgin Islands, favoured by the ultra-wealthy looking to avoid tax. The funds have been used to purchase 494 UK properties since 2018, mostly in London. The figures are broken down by Parliamentary constituency, and based on a combination of court documents, corporate and land registry data, and leaks. Cities of London and Westminster topped the list of constituencies that had attracted the most investment, with 3.6bn spent on 224 properties. However, the research also revealed that five properties worth a combined total of 146m were bought in Wokingham, for an average value of almost 30m, despite domestic properties in the town selling for an average of 615,044. The purchase of one large estate of multiple properties owned by one person boosted the average figure, Transparency International UK said. Four of the top 10 constituencies were outside the capital. Wokingham ranked fifth overall, ahead of Windsor also in Berkshire where 50m of property was sold, Runnymede & Weybridge in Surrey with 48.2m, and Bristol Central, where a single office building was bought for 34.7m. From 1997 to 2019, Runnymede & Weybridge was the constituency of Philip Hammond, who launched a crackdown on offshore tax cheats while chancellor. Dirty money exacerbates housing crisis It is believed that around a third of all world tax avoidance is funnelled through British Overseas Territories. The Panama Papers leak in 2016 revealed how wealthy individuals used offshore companies to hide assets, evade tax, and conceal financial activities. More than half of the companies cited in the release were registered in the British Virgin Islands. Campaigners have long lobbied for the British Virgin Islands to publish a list of the ultimate owners of companies registered there, which are often hidden in a complex network of trusts. Joe Powell, MP for Kensington and Bayswater, where 83 properties worth a total of 1.1bn were purchased through British Overseas Territories over the eight-year period, led a cross-party group of MPs in writing to David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, this month urging him to crack down on tax evasion in the territories. AMSTERDAM (Reuters) -The Supreme Court of the Netherlands was advised on Friday by its advocate general to uphold a ruling saying the Dutch state must put an end to the export to Israel of parts for F-35 fighter jets. In February, the Hague Court of Appeal ordered the government to block those exports over concerns they were being used to violate international law during the war in Gaza, prompting the government to seek advice from the Supreme Court. The Netherlands houses one of several regional warehouses of U.S.-owned F-35 parts, which are distributed to countries that request them, including Israel in at least one shipment since Oct. 7, 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "According to the advocate general (of the Supreme Court), the Court of Appeal was justified in finding that there is a clear risk that Israel's F-35 fighter jets are being used to commit serious violations of international humanitarian law in the Gaza Strip," the court's adviser said. The Supreme Court said it would rule on the appeal as soon as possible, without giving a specific date. Human rights groups that brought the case against the state, including the Dutch arm of the charity Oxfam, welcomed the advice to the court. "The government should wait no longer and change course," they said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The complicity in the atrocious violence in Gaza needs to stop as quickly as possible." Israel denies committing war crimes in its attacks on Gaza, which followed a cross-border raid by Hamas-led militants on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, in which some 1,200 people were killed and some 250 were taken hostage, according to Israel. Israel's campaign in Gaza has killed nearly 44,200 people and displaced nearly all the enclave's population at least once, Gaza officials say. Vast swathes of the territory are in ruins. (Reporting by Bart Meijer and Benoit Van OverstraetenEditing by Gareth Jones) AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof on Friday said there could be options for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit the Netherlands without being arrested, despite the International Criminal Court's (ICC) arrest warrant against him. His words seemed to tone down a previous stance by his foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp, who last week in parliament said the Netherlands fully cooperates with the ICC, explaining that meant "we act on arrest warrants for people who are on Dutch territory". Schoof on Friday said there were still scenarios within the Netherlands' duties towards the ICC in which Netanyahu would not be arrested, depending on the reason of his visit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The most important thing is that we have obligations that come from the treaty (on which the ICC is based), and that we comply to them," Schoof said at a news conference. "In light of that, we would have to see how we act when the prime minister of Israel were to come to the Netherlands. There are possible scenarios, also within international law, in which he would be able to come to the Netherlands without being arrested." Schoof did not elaborate on the circumstances under which Netanyahu could come. Last week he said it might be possible for Netanyahu to visit an international organization located in the Netherlands, such as the U.N. watchdog for chemical weapons OPCW, without being arrested. The Netherlands is also host nation to the ICC, which is located in The Hague. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ICC issued arrest warrants last week for Netanyahu, his former defence chief Yoav Gallant and a Hamas leader, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict. Though all EU member states are signatories to the ICC's founding treaty, France said on Wednesday it believed Netanyahu had immunity to actions by the ICC, given Israel has not signed up to the court statutes. Italy has said it is not feasible to arrest Netanyahu as long as he remains head of Israel's government. Israel, which launched its offensive in Gaza in response to Hamas's deadly attack on southern Israeli communities on Oct. 7, 2023, has said it will appeal against the warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant. (Reporting by Bart Meijer) When humans pump groundwater, it has a substantial impact on the tilt of Earths rotation. Additionally, a study documents just how much of an influence groundwater pumping has on climate change. Understanding this relatively recent data may provide a better understanding of how to help stave off sea-level rise. Water has power. So much power, in fact, that pumping Earths groundwater can change the planets tilt and rotation. It can also impact sea-level rise and other consequences of climate change. Pumping groundwater appears to have a greater consequence than ever previously thought. But nowthanks to a study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letterswe can see that, in less than two decades, Earth has tilted 31.5 inches as a result of pumping groundwater. This equates to.24 inches of sea level rise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earths rotational pole actually changes a lot, Ki-Weon Seo, a geophysicist at Seoul National University and study lead, says in a statement. Our study shows that among climate-related causes, the redistribution of groundwater actually has the largest impact on the drift of the rotational pole. With the Earth moving on a rotational pole, the distribution of water on the planet impacts distribution of mass. Like adding a tiny bit of weight to a spinning top, authors say, the Earth spins a little differently as water is moved around. NASA research published in 2016 alerted us to the fact that the distribution of water can change the Earths rotation. This study in Geophysical Research Letters attempts to add some hard figures to that realization. Im very glad to find the unexplained cause of the rotation pole drift, Seo says. On the other hand, as a resident of Earth and a father, Im concerned and surprised to see that pumping groundwater is another source of sea-level rise. The study included data from 1993 through 2010, and showed that the pumping of as much as 2,150 gigatons of groundwater has caused a change in the Earths tilt of roughly 31.5 inches. The pumping is largely for irrigation and human use, with the groundwater eventually relocating to the oceans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the study, researchers modeled observed changes in the drift of Earths rotational pole and the movement of water. Across varying scenarios, the only model that matched the drift was one that included 2,150 gigatons of groundwater distribution. Surendra Adhikari, a research scientist at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory who was involved in the 2016 study, says the additional research is important. Theyve quantified the role of groundwater pumping on polar motion, he says in a news release, and its pretty significant. Where the water moves fromand tomatters. Redistributing water from the midlatitudes makes the biggest difference, so our intense water movement from both western North America and northwestern India have played a key role in the tilt changes. Now that the impact of water movement is known for such a shortand relatively recenttime, digging through historical data may help show trends and provide greater depth to the understanding of groundwater movement effects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Observing changes in Earths rotational pole is useful, Seo says, for understanding continent-scale water storage variations. This data may also help conservationists understand how to work toward staving off continued sea level rise and other climate issues. Hopefully, changes can be properly implemented over time. You Might Also Like COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Economists found Franklin County and Columbus affordable housing problems are in need of legislative support. The Franklin County Auditors annual tax incentives report featured work by two economists who compared Columbus and Franklin County with six other metropolitan areas of similar demographics. The economists, Mark Partridge and Nick Messenger, found Columbus can benefit from implementing policies used by its peers to help residents gain affordable housing. Each of the metropolitan areas defines affordable housing differently. Columbus typically uses median family income as the determining factor for affordability. In Franklin County, it takes an average of 37.9% of the median households income to purchase the median-priced home as of June 2024. This is a stark increase in a short amount of time; from January 2014 to January 2022, it only cost 25% of the median households income. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. DeWine signs Ohio anti-trans bathroom bill According to Partridge and Messenger, Columbus area income has lagged significantly behind housing costs, contributing heavily to the affordability crisis. The Federal Housing Finance Agency measures changes in single-family home prices through the House Price Index. NBC4 compared the median income and median home prices from 2005 to 2023, overlapped with the HPI for Franklin County. Housing costs are also rising because property values are increasing. Partridge and Messenger said new residential housing built in the Columbus MSA since 2010 only accounts for 50% of the areas growth, so housing demand has not caught up with the areas expanding population. This has led to increased property taxes, which the economists said disproportionately affects low-income residents and seniors on a fixed income, who have had to either pay more or move, contributing to gentrification. To fix these issues, Partridge and Messenger recommend the city implement new policies regarding affordable housing. The pair recommends the Columbus MSA consider transportation around affordable living to ensure people can get to work, and to adopt laws to protect tenants from eviction and housing discrimination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Analysis: Six Ohio cities among best places to live They also said pre-existing policies should be doing more. The pair recognized recent zoning code changes but said stricter affordable housing requirements and bonuses for high-density housing projects to encourage building more housing should be prioritized. They pointed to Columbus down payment program, which limits grants to $7,500 for first-time homebuyers. Partridge and Messenger said increasing the grant size to $15,000 would promote diverse homebuyers and better align with current prices. Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther allotted over $100 million to affordable housing for the 2025 city budget, which has yet to be approved by City Council. Partridge and Messenger said legislative action must accompany city programming on spending to make progress on the housing crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Nov. 28A dispute over the city of Santa Fe's approval process for a new building has sparked a lawsuit from the New Mexico Educational Retirement Board. At issue is whether the board, as a division of the state government, is required to comply with city land use approval processes for the building under construction at 5211 Las Soleras Drive. "The city is of the opinion that they have authority over the approval process associated with the entire development of the building, whereas according to state law, the state has oversight over the construction and development of state office facilities," Educational Retirement Board Executive Director David Archuleta said in a recent interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City officials have contested the board's position. The Educational Retirement Board, which oversees the state's pension system for teachers and other educators, is building a new facility it hopes to complete in early 2025 and move into by the spring. According to a complaint filed in early November in the First Judicial District Court, then-city Planning and Land Use Director Jason Kluck asked the board to provide the city with "construction drawings and similar documents related to the New ERB Building" in April. The board's legal counsel told Kluck the documents would not be provided because they had already been approved by the state and were not subject to city approval. Kluck said in response city code requires all applicants to agree that all future development of the property will comply with the city's land development code "and that the City therefore would not approve water service to the New ERB Building until such time as the City approved its plans," according to the complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "However, New Mexico law is settled that a municipality may not subject an agency of the State of New Mexico to municipal ordinances," the complaint says. The board suggested the city determine it was exempt from that section of the code as a state entity, the complaint said, a suggestion the city denied. City Attorney Erin McSherry said in a statement she disagreed with the Educational Retirement Board's framing of the issue. "The City, acting in its capacity as the water utility, is required to enter a contract with customers such as ERB regarding the extension of the City's service lines," McSherry said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city is in the process of responding to the legal complaint, McSherry noted, where it will outline its own position. While the complaint says the dispute was initially academic, by October construction had progressed to the point at which its water lines were ready to be pressure-tested, which it could not do without a water supply. Postponing the test while other construction continues will make any necessary repairs "exponentially more difficult and expensive," the complaint says. The board decided to file a lawsuit after reaching out to new Planning and Land Use Director Heather Lamboy without receiving response, according to the complaint. The board's attorneys are asking the court to declare the city has no authority to require a state agency to subject itself to Santa Fe municipal ordinances. It also requests a preliminary and permanent injunction ordering the city to provide water to the new building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Archuleta said construction on the building is about 70% complete and is still underway, though lack of water has been an impediment to some of the work. He said the board's staff has outgrown its current building at 701 Camino de los Marquez and decided to build a new building instead of buying an existing one. "But obviously, we can't move into a building without water," he said. Archuleta said the board is not trying to subvert city codes "in any way" but that anytime state agencies build new buildings, approval goes through the Construction Industries Division of the state Regulation and Licensing Department, not the city. He said he is not aware of any other state agencies that have had similar problems with other municipalities, nor was he expecting this to come to a head in Santa Fe. "We had no indication that this would be an issue," he said. KYODO NEWS - Nov 29, 2024 - 15:09 | All, Japan Chemicals potentially harmful to human health, collectively known as PFAS, were detected in about 20 percent of tap water in Japan, though no samples contained the maximum permissible amount tentatively set by the government, a survey showed Friday. In the government's first large-scale survey covering even small water utility companies, the chemicals were detected in water samples from 332 water companies in 46 of the country's 47 prefectures out of 1,745 companies surveyed. The Environment Ministry and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has been conducting tap water surveys focused on PFAS containment since 2020 after the widely used and long-lasting substances were detected in filtration plants and rivers across the country and concerns grew about their possible links to cancer risks. PFAS, or polyfluoroalkyl substances, used in various products such as non-stick cookware and water-repellent clothing, are known as "forever chemicals" because they have components which break down very slowly over time and can accumulate in people, animals, plants and the environment. The government currently sets a provisional cap of 50 nanograms per liter for the two representative forms of PFAS, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, or PFOS, and perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA. None of the samples contained the substances exceeding 50 nanograms in total, but those from three water utilities in Aichi Prefecture, Nagasaki Prefecture, and Hokkaido were found to have between 47 to 49 nanograms of the chemicals, according to the survey. The ministries conducted the survey between May and September. Results on water supplied exclusively to certain facilities have not been finalized. In past surveys, cases in which PFAS levels exceeded 50 nanograms came to 11 in fiscal 2020, five in fiscal 2021, four in fiscal 2022, and three in fiscal 2023. Koji Harada, an associate professor of environmental studies at Kyoto University, said the government should legally require all water utilities to check their water for PFAS and set legally binding upper limits. Related coverage: Japan gov't to support companies boosting geothermal power plants Japan gov't says health impact of PFAS chemicals "undeniable" Japan to conduct 1st thorough survey of PFAS chemicals in tap water Sen. Jon Ossoff has pushed for federal oversight over the proposed mining project near the Okefenokee Swamp. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder (2022 file photo) The U.S. military is busy in Georgia. The states military assets range from the No. 1 installation in the country for land warfare maneuver exercises at Fort Moore near Columbus to a major Department of Defense forensic lab in the country at the Fort Gillem Enclave south of Atlanta and the U.S. Armys Cyber Command Center in Augusta. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over at Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base in Camden County, the Navy is preparing to transition its submarines from the Ohio class to the Columbia class nuclear weapons submarines, which the Navy hopes will serve as a sea-based nuclear deterrent into the 2080s. At Moody Air Force Base near Valdosta, troops are preparing to retire their A-10 attack aircraft to be replaced with a squadron of F-35 fighters. Back in the 1990s, Moody was placed on the Base Realignment and Closure list which meant it was set to be shut down. But community members like Lucy Greene, who, in 1991, co-founded the Moody Support Committee, led a successful effort to spare the base. Greene said she sees the new F-35 mission as a positive sign that the Air Force values Moodys role in national defense, and that aircraft will be lifting off for years to come. She said that means more for the community than national pride or the infusion of dollars from people working on or near the base. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The impact of the base is far-reaching, beyond the economic impact, she said. We have so many of the spouses and families who are involved in our community, and they bring in so much knowledge and experience to our area. Greene said U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff personally called her to break the news. Ossoff pushed for the new aircraft, which was announced last year and is set to begin arriving in 2029. Speaking to the Recorder this fall, Ossoff said as a newly sworn-in senator in early 2021, he vowed to meet with enlisted men and women as well as advocates like Greene in addition to top leaders. The first thing I did was to set a policy for my team that whenever I went out to a defense installation in Georgia, we were going to try not just to meet with the brass, but to sit down with junior enlisted personnel and military spouses to understand the issues that were impacting them every day, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ossoff ousted incumbent GOP Sen. David Perdue in a pair of 2021 runoffs that sent him and Rev. Raphael Warnock to the U.S. Senate, giving Democrats a narrow majority in that chamber and cementing Georgias battleground status. Warnock won a full six-year term in 2022, and Ossoff will be on the ballot again in 2026. Republican state Rep. Josh Bonner, a Fayetteville Republican and chair of the House Defense and Veterans Affairs Committee, said he and Ossoff may not see eye to eye, but he said he doesnt question Ossoffs commitment to the military. I think that both (Ossoff and Sen. Raphael Warnock) share our concerns with our veterans, he said. I think absolutely theyre gonna do everything possible. Ive had more interaction with Sen. Ossoffs office, and hes got a great veteran services guy that gets it and is very present and is very involved. Bonner said his committee has also been pushing for more responsiveness from the VA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Having both of our senators focus on this over the next couple of years would absolutely be a great thing for Georgia. I dont care if youre Republican or Democrat, you know, I think we can all agree on the fact that if somebody like our service members has already earned a benefit, they ought to be receiving it, right? I dont think theres any daylight between what we on my side of the aisle want to do for our veterans than anybody else. Military quality of life is a national security issue Ossoff said it was a meeting with enlisted troops at Fort Stewart where he learned that women soldiers often wear ill-fitting body armor designed to fit men, which can put them at risk for injury in combat or training. Ossoff was part of a bipartisan team of senators that passed a provision securing more funding for womens body armor in the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act. Another meeting with troops at what was then Fort Gordon, now Fort Eisenhower led to an investigation of poor conditions in privately managed housing on the base. Ossoff released findings in 2022, which revealed shocking stories from servicemembers whose families were suffering from living in unsafe conditions. Infestation of vermin, mold, rotting structures, just housing conditions that werent just inconvenient, but actually put the health of the families living in these homes at risk, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So that spurred me to launch a nearly year-long investigation of how Balfour Beatty was managing these homes and what military families were experiencing in them, which culminated in hearings in Washington where we put Balfour Beatty executives under oath in public on Capitol Hill to explain themselves and how they were going to fix it. In 2023, the Army announced it would perform unit-by-unit inspection of the housing. A Senate follow-up investigation the same year found that while serious problems still remain, the Army and the company that manages the housing had made some progress in addressing the issues. What I have found is that when you put these executives, these wealthy business people who are making their money in this case, in my opinion, they were making their money exploiting military families under oath, under bright lights on national television, you motivate them to do a better job, Ossoff said. Ossoff, whose background includes work in foreign policy and national security issues as well as investigative journalism, said members of Congress all want to fund the military, but that funding often comes in the form of cutting-edge hardware and weapons, and the needs of the average man or woman in uniform can often be ignored. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its about political priorities, he said. So what you find when you look at U.S. military spending is that the latest, greatest, multi-billion dollar gold-plated weapons system is robustly funded, but the care and well-being and salaries and housing and health care of the junior enlisted personnel and military families has been neglected. That can be more than just a moral problem, Ossoff added. We have an obligation to do right by those who serve, and its not just a matter of honoring the service and sacrifice of the young men and women who serve and their families, it is also a national security issue, he said. Military quality of life is a national security issue. Because if people join the armed forces and then find that theyre underpaid, theyre living in deplorable housing, we cant retain that talent in the military. We cant recruit talent into the military if we are poorly treating junior enlisted personnel. Heather Hall, CEO and founder of the nonprofit Military Housing Coalition and resident of Fort Moore, said housing affordability can be another big problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The military pays for members to live in civilian housing using something called the Basic Allowance for Housing, which factors in the service members rank, number of dependents and the housing market around their duty station. But many enlisted men and women report the allowance does not actually provide enough to secure a decent home. That was the case near Fort Moore a few years ago, Hall said. Families couldnt afford housing off the installation, so it kind of caused this influx of families that were waiting for on-post housing, which created just a perfect storm, she said. Hall said she credits Ossoff with helping bring a 22% increase in the housing allowance for the ranks who were dealing with the most problems about two years ago. Ossoff said his next priorities are a pair of bipartisan bills aimed at improving VA benefits. The Veterans Home Loan Fairness Act, co-sponsored by Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, who is also president-elect Donald Trumps nominee for secretary of state, seeks to make it easier for veterans to qualify for VA home loans by removing childcare expenses from loan calculations. A separate bill, co-sponsored by Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn, would require the VA to contact servicemembers who are returning to civilian life before they discharge to help them file for disability benefits if they are eligible, with the goal of creating a smoother transition. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Wisconsin voters line up outside of a Milwaukee polling place on Nov. 5. Wisconsin U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde is one of the Republican politicians who sowed doubt about the integrity of this years election. (Andy Manis | Getty Images) President-elect Donald Trump may have quieted his lies about widespread voter fraud after his win earlier this month, but the impact of his effort to cast doubt on the integrity of American elections lingers on. Although this post-election period has been markedly calmer than the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, there were isolated flare-ups of Republican candidates borrowing a page from Trumps playbook to claim that unsatisfactory election results were illegitimate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Wisconsin, Republican U.S. Senate challenger Eric Hovde spread unsubstantiated rumors about last-minute absentee ballots in Milwaukee that he said flipped the outcome of the race. Though he conceded to incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin nearly two weeks after the election, his rhetoric helped stoke a spike in online conspiracy theories. The Milwaukee Election Commission disputed his claims, saying they lack any merit. In North Carolina, Republican state Senate leader Phil Berger told reporters last week he feared that the vote-counting process for a state Supreme Court seat was rigged for Democrats. Karen Brinson Bell, the head of the State Board of Elections, skewered Berger for his comments, saying they could inspire violence. And in Arizona, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake, who has spent two years disputing her defeat in the 2022 governors race, hasnt acknowledged her Senate loss. While she thanked her supporters in a video posted to X, the platform formerly called Twitter, she stopped short of conceding to Democratic U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego. Republicans disinformation campaigns have caused Americans confidence in elections to plummet and exposed local election officials to threats and harassment, and some observers worry about a return of the GOPs destructive rhetoric the next time they lose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have to turn this rhetoric down, said Jay Young, senior director of voting and democracy for Common Cause, a voting rights group. There cannot be this continued attack on this institution. Still, many politicians who either denied the 2020 election results or criticized their local voting processes won election. In Arizona, for example, voters chose state Rep. Justin Heap, a Republican, to lead the election office in Maricopa County, home to Phoenix and the largest jurisdiction in the critical swing state. Heap ran on a voter confidence platform and suggested at a Trump rally that Maricopas election office is a national laughingstock. Trump tapped former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to oversee the U.S. Department of Justice. Bondi, a Republican, served as an attorney for Trump while he disputed the results in 2020. She could use her position as U.S. attorney general to prosecute election officials involved in that election, as Trump promised in an X post in September. While the rhetoric around stolen elections has been somewhat muted among the GOP ranks since Trumps victory, conservatives attempted to flip the election denial script on Democrats in at least one race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Pennsylvania, Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey refused to concede defeat until last Thursday, two weeks after The Associated Press called the race for Republican challenger David McCormick. Casey lost by fewer than 16,000 votes, less than half a percentage point. Casey said he wanted to see the results of an automatic recount and various court cases filed on his behalf, but Republicans jumped on his refusal to bow out quickly. Last week, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican who resisted pressure from Trump in 2020 to find votes after he lost the state, lambasted Casey for not conceding the Senate race. Election denialism needs to end, now, Raffensperger wrote in a statement. We are a country of laws and principles, not of men and personalities. Do your job! Follow the law. Accept election results or lose your country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even as Republicans mostly toned down their rhetoric this year, some left-wing social media accounts repeated a debunked conspiracy theory that Starlink, the internet provider owned by billionaire and Trump supporter Elon Musk, changed vote counts. Those posts, however, arent comparable to GOP election denialism, according to the University of Washingtons Center for an Informed Public, which fights strategic misinformation. While the claims are similar, the rumoring dynamics on the left are markedly different due to the lack of endorsement or amplification by left-leaning influencers, candidates, or party elites, the center posted last week. Young, of Common Cause, said its clear that election disinformation of any kind has a devastating impact on the local officials tasked with administering the vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Threats to election workers continued even after Election Day. Bomb threats were called into election offices in California, Minnesota, Oregon, and other states, forcing evacuations as workers were tallying ballots. But this was just a slice of the onslaught many officials faced over the past four years. Local election officials need the resources to beef up the way they fight disinformation and physical attacks, Young said. We should be doing better by them, he said. This story was originally published by Stateline, which like the New Hampshire Bulletin is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Voters line up in the lobby of Anchorage's City Hall on Nov. 4, with most waiting 90 minutes to two hours that morning to cast their ballots at the early voting site there. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) With increased political polarization, rules governing who can participate in primary elections have received more attention from advocates looking to reduce that polarization. That has led to an election reform movement across the country that during this past election put nine ballot measures before voters across seven states and Washington, seeking to reform current systems. Reformers argue that party-focused systems exclude large swaths of independent voters who do not identify with any political party. Since candidates need to appeal to their partys base in order to advance to the general election, the choices voters are left with in November tend to represent party interests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And reformers say that new systems would make elected officials more responsive to the entire electorate, as building a broader coalition of voters would be necessary to win. In three other states, advocates who object to changing the system put measures on the ballot to reaffirm the status quo or repeal previously adopted reforms. Primary election systems and the rules determining who can vote in them have long been debated. A key difference between sides is the purpose of the primary is it how political parties choose their champions? Or is it simply the first stage of a two-stage contest that determines who holds public office? In states that are dominated by a single party, primaries are often the decisive election for who takes office. Therefore, the rules governing primaries matter greatly. I have been researching the effects of primary systems for over a decade, particularly what happens when a state changes from one system to another, and can offer some insight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the 2024 election, voters proved hesitant to overhaul the election systems they were already familiar with, as almost all of the reforms failed. Voters become familiar with the electoral system they live under and can be slow to embrace changes to that system. It can take several election cycles before they fully adapt to these changes. Primary election types There are three major types of primary system: open primaries, where voters select which partys ballot they want to fill out in the privacy of the voting booth; closed primaries, where voters must publicly become a member of that party in order to receive their ballot; and multi-party primaries, where all candidates are listed on a single ballot, regardless of party, and a set number of top finishers advance to the general election. While most states have some form of open or closed primary, which are partisan in nature, reformers across the U.S. have pushed for greater adoption of multi-party primaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement California and Washington state use a top-two multiparty primary system, where all candidates, regardless of party, are listed together and the two candidates that receive the most votes advance to the general election, even if they are from the same party. This turns the general election into a natural runoff where someone is guaranteed to receive more than 50% of the vote. South Dakota just rejected switching to this system. In Alaska, a top-four system was recently implemented where the four candidates who get the most votes in the primary advance and the general election is decided by a ranked choice ballot system that eliminates the candidate receiving the lowest number of votes and redistributes their votes to the voters next preferred candidate until a 50% majority is achieved. This allows for an instant runoff without holding a separate election. A repeal of the Alaskan system was one of this years ballot measures. After two weeks of counting votes, the repeal appears to have failed by a narrow 0.2 percentage-point margin, leaving the new system in place. Alaskans wait in line for early voting on Nov. 1, 2024, in Anchorage City Hall. (Photo by Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon) Package deal or piecemeal Four states Arizona, Colorado, Idaho and Nevada voted on ballot measures that sought to implement an Alaska-style change, combining new primary systems with a shift to a ranked choice system in the general election. Since voters were not able to pick just the elements they liked, this meant opposition to one part of the reform meant they were opposed to the entire reform. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boise State Universitys Ninth Annual Idaho Public Policy Survey, conducted a year prior to the election, found Idahoans divided over the two components of its ballot measure. While a 58% majority favored a top-four primary system, 50% said they opposed ranked choice voting. Only 29% expressed support for both options at once the combination that the ballot measure proposed. What followed the survey was an intense year of campaigning by both sides, with nearly US$1 million spent trying to convince Idahoans to support or oppose the effort by the week prior to Election Day. The election result for Idahos ballot measure? Only 30% were in favor, 70% against. Idahoans were unmoved. Montana reformers took a different approach and ran two proposals independently: One ballot measure would have established a top-four primary system, while a second would have required a 50% plus one majority threshold to win the general election. Whether that was accomplished by ranked choice voting or a separate runoff election was left up to the state Legislature. While both measures failed, the top-four initiative failed by only 3 points, compared with the 50% plus one initiative failing by 21 points. Voters signaled a different tolerance for the two approaches. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arizona, in addition to a potential reform that failed by 17 points, also got to vote on a constitutional amendment that would have required partisan primaries. The proposal would have prohibited all forms of multi-party primaries for partisan office including superseding any local laws that said otherwise and guaranteed that political parties would have one candidate per office on a general election ballot. It too failed by a 16-point margin. Despite a large fundraising advantage by pro-reform advocates, Arizona voters largely resisted any type of election change this year. The impact of political parties Party discipline at all levels, from elected officials and party leaders to rank-and-file members, may have been influential in these outcomes. Political parties tend to view the purpose of a primary as selecting their nominee and will resist efforts to change that. In Idaho, Republican opposition to ranked choice voting was near unified, regardless of which faction of the party one belonged to. In Colorado, opposition came from both Republicans and Democrats. It was the same in Nevada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While opposition to top-four primary reform is not as pronounced as that against ranked choice voting, the widespread failure of these ballot measures, often by double-digit margins only Washington, D.C.s reform effort passed suggests there is currently little appetite among voters for systemwide reform. This leaves reform-minded groups with the choice of either starting over to try again or finding new ways to navigate the current systems. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Have you bought an electric car and regretted it? Email us at money@telegraph.co.uk When Patrick Mulligan took a Nissan Leaf for a test drive, he felt like he was driving a super car. It was very fast, very quiet, oh-so-smooth, and easy to drive. Mr Mulligan, a business owner and wedding host, decided to take the electric vehicle (EV) plunge and purchase the electric car on a finance agreement that cost him 320 per month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the problems soon came thick and fast. Like countless other EV drivers, Mr Mulligan suffered buyers remorse, triggered by nightmare charging issues and an astonishingly fast depreciation which saw its value slashed in half in under three years. Eventually, the 52-year-old felt he had no option but to sell up. Electric cars, so often touted by politicians as the future of motoring, have faced countless complaints from customers. Range anxiety, infrastructure issues and expensive batteries are among the top concerns. In the final series of Amazons The Grand Tour, presenter Jeremy Clarkson signed off a decades-long career as a motoring journalist by describing modern, mainly electric, cars as s--t. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And consumer disquiet has fed through to manufacturers. Vauxhall this week announced the closure of its 120-year Luton plant, citing punitive EV sales targets set by the Government. It prompted Jonathan Reynolds, the business secretary, to confirm a review of the zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate which requires carmakers to sell a higher proportion of electric cars each year up to 2035 or face fines. Ford has said it will cut 800 UK jobs, and Nissan, who were early adopters of EVs, have demanded a private meeting with Reynolds. But the 2030 deadline on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles is still expected to be non-negotiable. And this means that drivers will need to get on board with EVs, whether they like it or not. EV teething issues are too great For Mr Mulligan, the teething issues associated with EV adoption are too great. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He had planned to use the car to commute to jobs between his home in Bradford and Bolton, a distance of some 50 miles. But despite the advertised range, he couldnt trust that it would make it there and back. He says: My wife ended up using it as her car. It was going to be our family car, but it ended up just being for doddering around town. And it was great for that. But it is so expensive to charge it away from home. The car wouldnt connect to the internet, he says, so he was paying 28p per kilowatt hour, rather than the 7p he is now paying on his new electric van. He adds that he regrets not doing more research ahead of the purchase. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I regret the charging port on it charging it was a nightmare. At motorway service stations, theres only one charger for my type of EV, and 20 for everyone elses. And it charged a lot slower, he says. And I regret the buying experience. He was astonished to find that in just two and a half years, the value of the car had plummeted to less than 9,000. It is why he recommends motorists only ever lease rather than buy an EV. His current van, a VW ID Buzz, is also an EV. It is currently leased for two years, has had two significant updates, one in the battery power and another for its motor power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a straightforward lease. The main reason for it is that anxiety of something going wrong, which wouldnt be cheap, he says. If it is an electrical or computer-based failure, its going to be really expensive. Mr Mulligan adds: If there was ever a sign from above that you shouldnt own a vehicle at all anymore, it is the way EVs are going. We have to plan long journeys But, Lisa Ingram, 60, has had a different experience. She bought a second-hand Nissan Leaf with just 2,000 miles on the clock for 24,000, three years ago, and loves it. She says: It should have been 29,000, it was like a brand new car. We felt we had a bargain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Ingram is consciously green, and runs an organic cotton company, LittleLeaf Organic. She says she is drawn to EVs as they dont spew out horrible toxins to every cyclist that goes past. However, theyre not without drawbacks. She says: If we are going on a longer journey, we obviously have to plan it. We would have to look up where we should charge. But living in Hampshire, she can get to and from London on a single charge. We can use the faster chargers on our EV, but theyre often taken, when we go to places. Even so, with the slower ones, you can usually top up 20 or 30 miles while having a sandwich which will get you on your way about. So that hasnt really been a problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Ms Ingram says that she can see how it might be more difficult for others to adapt to electric cars. Its been useful, because we live in the countryside, so we have got somewhere to park off the road, with a plug outside which is just a normal plug, she says. I can see that if you live in flats or somewhere you cant park next to your house and plug it in, that would be an issue. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Editors note: As of Friday, November 29, Buffalo Wild Wings has been repaired and reopened. WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) An electrical fire kept one local restaurant closed on Thanksgiving Day. Wichita Falls Fire Department responded to a structure fire at Buffalo Wild Wings on Thursday, November 28. The first responding unit stated that smoke was showing from the west wall of the restaurant. The wall was removed, exposing the fire, which was extinguished within about 15 minutes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The restaurant was closed and unoccupied at the time. It was determined that the fire started in an electrical outlet. The buildings damages are estimated to total $12,000. The business will be closed until repairs can be made. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com. As some of sciences most eminent figures gather to celebrate the Royal Societys 362nd anniversary today, one of their number is likely to dominate conversation despite being several thousand miles away. Elon Musk, the billionaire Tesla chief, is facing an attempt to oust him having enraged a section of the Society with his scepticism about vaccines and man-made climate change and his controversial political views which they believe could bring the institution into disrepute. The row hit the headlines this week when Dorothy Bishop, an Oxford University professor, revealed she had resigned as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in protest at Musks continued membership of the organisation. Highlighting the Societys code of conduct, which requires fellows to treat each other with courtesy, she said: Im not going to be polite and nice to Elon Musk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the supposedly sedate, objective and calculated world of science, this is about as close to High Noon as you will get. But not every FRS approves of Bishops decision, and some have told The Telegraph, anonymously, that they support Musks fellowship (bestowed on the entrepreneur in 2018 for his technological achievements, most notably in space travel and electric vehicle development). They will not voice their support in public, they say, for fear of being ostracised not least due to the unpopularity of defending Musks position on climate change. They also believe the Society the worlds oldest scientific academy which boasts Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Stephen Hawking among its former members should stay out of politics. But, again, they are aware that a majority of fellows have been appalled by Musks support of Donald Trump and, in particular, his pronouncements condemning the Labour government here in the UK. During the riots in the summer, the tycoon wrote on Twitter, the platform he owns and has rebranded as X, that civil war was inevitable in the UK, and has since criticised Prime Minister Keir Starmer repeatedly on everything from immigration policy to freedom of speech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It just felt having him in the Royal Society (RS) seemed such a contradiction of all the values of the Royal Society [and] I didnt really want to have anything to do with it, Bishop wrote on her blog on Monday in an attempt to explain her decision to quit. I just started to think, you know, the Royal Society seemed to be set up to make it very, very difficult to ever get somebody to resign or to actually get thrown out, and given all I know about Musk, it felt grubby, to be honest. The RS code of conduct says fellows should have a spirit of openness, courtesy and cooperation, uphold the reputation of the Society and not engage indiscrimination, harassment, or bullying. Bishop, however, is only prepared to extend courtesy so far: What I said to [RS president, Sir Adrian Smith, and executive director, Dame Julie Maxton] was, Im not going to be polite and nice to Elon Musk, Im afraid, so I cant keep to the code of conduct. Dorothy Bishop resigned as a Fellow of the Royal Society in protest at Musks membership - AFP/Getty The Oxford academic lists Musks crimes as using social media for political propagandabattling what he sees as the woke mind virus and attacks on free speech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among other offences, Bishop listed Musks tweets on climate change: In 2023 Musk played down the seriousness of climate change, and, in 2024, participated in a bizarre interview with Donald Trump, which dismayed climate experts, Bishop wrote. She added: Any pleasure I may take in the distinction of the honour of an FRS is diminished by the fact it is shared with someone who appears to be modeling himself on a Bond villain, a man who has immeasurable wealth and power which he will use to threaten scientists who disagree with him. The question of Musks continued fellowship of the Society first arose in August, when 74 fellows wrote to the institution, asking whether he was a fit and proper person to hold the considerable honour of being a fellow of the Royal Society. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Society is understood to have taken legal advice in the wake of this letter. But Bishop claims the lawyer determined that Musk hadnt breached the code of conduct. Bishop states that signatories were unhappy with this response and pointed to a 2022 Musk tweet My pronouns are Prosecute/Fauci - which they said was antivaxx, anti-LGBTQ, and put Anthony Fauci, the immunologist who headed Americas Covid taskforce under Donald Trump, at further risk, following years of attacks from vaccine sceptics. A former member of the RS ruling Council, Brian Foster, who is a professor of experimental physics at Oxford University, told The Telegraph that he was not a signatory but had raised concerns. The mistake was to have elected [Musk] in the first place but we elect people on the basis of their scientific and technological achievements, not whether they are nice people or how they behave in non-scientific or political arenas, he says. Fellows of the Royal Society say Musk, pictured at a Trump rally in early October, threatens to bring the institution into disrepute - Reuters This is a point I made to a senior Labour politician who taxed me on this subject just after Musk was elected. Musk is not deemed to have legally violated the Societys code of conduct, so there is nothing we can do except rue the day we elected him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Foster, who declined to name the Labour politician in question, concedes that even RS members who hold non-mainstream scientific views cannot be expelled on legal grounds. There are quite a few, astonishingly, who dont believe that man-made climate change is real. So, we have to be careful, he says. One distinguished FRS, who asks to remain anonymous, suggests that members opposed to Dorothy Bishops view feel alienated but are staying silent. Ive got several friends who have been hurt by this, so, basically, their attitude is: if its not on my bailiwick, I dont want to stick my head on the block, the fellow says. He adds of Bishop: I wouldnt have resigned. I mean, I have my differences with the Royal Society on a number of things, but I havent resigned. The problem is pretty clear that, as an engineer, Elon Musk has done some pretty remarkable things. Hes like a modern-day version of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. So, I dont think that the fact that hes elected a fellow of the Royal Society is a question of judgment. It is pretty clear he is eligible, and hes done those things. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The thing is that, if anybody in the Royal Society goes mad or does some crazy things or takes up some crazy cause, afterwards, is that a reason for getting rid of him? I think the fact that [Bishop] says she cant live in the same [organisation], I think that has to be her problem, not his. The academic declined to comment on Musks views but said Musks handling of X and his attitude to robust debate is interesting and is probably at one end of a spectrum. And thats probably what some people dont like about it. One long-time observer believes that Musks election betrays an inherent problem at the Royal Society. He says: There are two issues here. One, a needless sucking up to celebrities such as Musk and, two, rewarding individuals of no particular intellectual distinction. There was a time, not long ago, when the letters FRS after someones name meant they had made a fundamental contribution to human knowledge. Thats no longer the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [But] no one will want to say this, particularly in relation to Musk, who is a pretty remarkable figure but not an FRS intellectual. But that is not what is driving this controversy, which is political. Former Tory science minister Andrew Griffith says: It is shocking that there are some within the Royal Society who seek to politicise the body and introduce cancel culture. If people resign because they cant bring themselves to be polite to fellow society members, that says more about them than it does about Elon Musk whose endeavours are making a significant contribution to humanity. The Royal Society receives a substantial amount of taxpayer money, so it is imperative it remains strictly objective. Given the byzantine process required to expel an FRS it seems unlikely that Musk will be kicked out any time soon. The last recorded expulsion occurred over 150 years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Royal Society spokesman says: The Royal Society greatly regrets Dorothy Bishops resignation from the fellowship. She is an outstanding scientist and has contributed much to the society over her years as a fellow. In the event of any concerns raised about the behaviour of a fellow, the society has a clear set of processes described in our code of conduct, which is published on our website along with relevant disciplinary regulations. Any issues raised in respect of individual fellows are dealt with in strict confidence. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Elon Musk and Donald Trump have been inseparable since the election and spent Thanksgiving together. The Tesla CEO joined the Trump family at a star-studded dinner at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. Sylvester Stallone also attended, and Mark Zuckerberg visited Trump's resort on Wednesday. Elon Musk and Donald Trump have been inseparable since the latter's election victory and the Tesla CEO was one of several celebrity guests for Thanksgiving at Mar-a-Lago. Videos circulating on social media showed Musk, who has been regularly spotted at Trump's resort base and is reported to be playing a role in selecting the incoming president's cabinet picks, attending the event alongside his mother, Maye, and the actor Sylvester Stallone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk posted on X that he discussed Stallone's 1993 film "Demolition Man" with the actor, as well as taking part in a rendition of "YMCA," a staple at Trump's campaign rallies. I was telling @TheSlyStallone that I just watched Demolition Man again and how well it predicted the crazy woke future 30 years ago! https://t.co/3wlYgdJus4 Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 29, 2024 Musk has been tapped by Trump to help run a "Department of Government Efficiency" in his incoming administration after donating at least $119 million toward Trump's election campaign. Along with his fellow DOGE head, Vivek Ramaswamy, Musk has floated mass layoffs of federal workers and suggested the new administration should "delete" a federal agency set up to help prevent another financial crisis. The billionaire and his mother dined with Trump's family members, including his wife, Melania, and youngest son, Barron. Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Barron and Melania blasting YMCA at Mar-a-Lago on Thanksgiving pic.twitter.com/elroKGQ9VA ALX (@alx) November 29, 2024 Musk isn't the only tech boss to be spending time at Mar-a-Lago this Thanksgiving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg dined with Trump on Thanksgiving eve, the company told Business Insider in a statement. The Facebook cofounder doesn't appear to have made any mention of the visit on his own social-media platform Threads. Zuckerberg has had a rocky relationship with Trump, who threatened to jail Zuckerberg earlier this year if he was reelected. The Meta chief previously described Trump's reaction to an assassination attempt in July as "badass" and congratulated the former president on his "decisive victory" after the election. Read the original article on Business Insider Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will head to Capitol Hill next week to meet with House Republicans on their plan to slash regulations and other parts of the federal government. Speaker Mike Johnson announced he will host them on Thursday, Dec. 5 to discuss "major reform ideas" to "revive the principle of limited government." Musk and Ramaswamy have been tapped by President-elect Donald Trump to lead the so-called "Department of Government Efficiency." Their roles have been described as "outside of government" advisers on how to make drastic cuts to various federal agencies and their workforces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk, in particular, has become a member of Trump's inner circle as the president-elect prepares for a second term. The Tesla billionaire spent Thanksgiving with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. MORE: Some ethics experts raise concerns over Musk and Ramaswamy's Department of Government Efficiency roles PHOTO: Elon Musk speaks after President-elect Donald Trump spoke during an America First Policy Institute gala at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Nov. 14, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (Alex Brandon/AP) Earlier this week, Musk proposed abolishing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Delete CFPB. There are too many duplicative regulatory agencies, he wrote on his social media platform, X. Trump on the campaign trail vowed to dismantle federal bureaucracy but did not specifically call for the CFPB to be eliminated. To gut an entire agency would be a difficult task, and would require legislation from Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CFPB, which was formed in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis to protect consumers and review practices of the nations banks, lenders and other institutions, has long been a target of conservative attacks over its cost and its regulations. Earlier this year, the CFPB survived a legal challenge led by former Trump administration Solicitor General Noel Francisco on behalf of a group of payday lenders alleging the agency's structure was illegal. The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 7-2 decision, upheld the agencys funding mechanism as constitutional. Musk also recently reposted on social media the names of specific people and jobs that he suggested be cut. They include employees at the Department of Energy and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. "So many fake jobs," Musk wrote in one post. MORE: Musk's DOGE wants to slash regulations. Workers and patients may suffer, experts say. Vivek Ramaswamy speaks during a rally for Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden, in New York City, Oct. 27, 2024. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters) Musk and Ramaswamy outlined more of their plans for DOGE in a Wall Street Journal op-ed published last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They said they were helping Trumps transition team bring on board a lean team of small-government crusaders that would be aimed at three core actions: repealing regulations, reducing the administrative workforce and saving costs. We are prepared for the onslaught from entrenched interests in Washington. We expect to prevail, they wrote. Now is the moment for decisive action. Our top goal for DOGE is to eliminate the need for its existence by July 4, 2026 -- the expiration date we have set for our project. MORE: Can he do that? How Trump could try to break the federal government Legal and logistical hurdles remain for Musk and Ramaswamy's goal to slash the government. But they will get some help on Capitol Hill by a new congressional subcommittee aimed at eliminating government waste in conjunction with DOGE. Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a conservative firebrand and staunch supporter of Trump, has been chosen to chair the panel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ramaswamy, in response to Johnson's announcement of next week's meeting, said he's had "great discussions so far" with House and Senate GOP leaders about DOGE. "Congress appears serious about delivering structural reform. We look forward to productive meetings in D.C. next week," Ramaswamy wrote on X. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to meet with House Republicans on DOGE plans originally appeared on abcnews.go.com TOKYO (AP) Embattled Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who survived as leader after a major election loss by his governing coalition, promised Friday to work closely with the long-ignored opposition that is now the only way his minority government can stay in power. Ishibas Liberal Democratic Party and its junior partner Komeito together lost a majority in the 465-seat lower house, the more powerful of Japans two-house parliament, in the Oct. 27 elections. He needs support from opposition parties to keep his fragile government alive. The election loss was blamed on voter anger over his partys financial misconduct, and he is trying to quickly tackle reforms. We will thoroughly listen to other parties and form a consensus as broadly as possible as we sincerely and humbly seek to protect the safety and security of the people, Ishiba said Friday in his first policy speech since his reappointment as prime minister after the election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At home, he faces tough negotiations with the opposition. The LDP coalition has long forced through its favored legislation by taking advantage of its dominance in parliament, a routine set under ex-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and criticized as autocratic. Without a majority, Ishiba will struggle in coming months to gain consent from the opposition on the budget and other legislation, raising worry about a political deadlock. But experts say the situation could also lead to more public debate and transparency in the policy-making process. Ishiba, known as a critic of the late Abe, may find that his minority government offers a chance to restore a more democratic way of deciding policies. I believe the way democracy should be is for each party to reflect diverse voices of the people and discuss policies sincerely and achieve better results," Ishiba said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ishiba's LDP has been cooperating closely with a smaller rising party, the conservative Democratic Party for the People, whose seats quadrupled to 28 in the October election under its popular leader, Yuichiro Tamaki. His proposal for raising the basic tax-free income allowance and increasing take-home wages has garnered support from low-income and younger voters. Ishiba's coalition has been negotiating toward achieving the proposals. Ishiba said Friday he hopes to have candid discussions with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump when he takes office in January to further elevate the Japan-U.S. alliance as the cornerstone of Japans diplomatic and security policies. But he wants the relationship to be more equal. He is expected to face tough demands from Trump that Tokyo pay more for the 50,000 U.S. troops stationed in Japan under a bilateral security pact. Ishiba said he will propose to the United States the joint use of American bases and military facilities with Japans Self-Defense Forces. He will also seek to resolve problems stemming from the American troop presence, he said. Ishiba has advocated a revision to the Status of Forces Agreement that gives the United States the right to investigate accidents and crimes that occur on Japanese soil. It has been criticized by many as unequal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He reiterated the importance of pursuing a significant buildup of Japans defense power to deal with growing threats from China, Russia and North Korea, while cooperating with the United States and other like-minded partners. Ishiba also pledged to revitalize Japans economy, especially in suburban areas, to promote growth led by an increase in wages and investment, while building resilience to natural disasters issues less likely to be opposed by the opposition. He recently began preparations for a long-pursued disaster ministry, planned for launch by March 2027. EMERY COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) The Emery County Sheriffs Office search and rescue team was called to rescue a woman who broke her leg while in Little Wild Horse Canyon on Thursday. According to a statement posted by the Emery County Sheriffs Office to Facebook, the search and rescue team from ECSO was dispatched to assist a woman around noon who was hiking in the canyon when she broke her leg and was stuck in the canyon. When can you turn on your holiday lights in Utah? Laws vary by location Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ECSO says that Goblin Valley State Park employees assisted the team in finding the woman. Search and Rescue from ECSO located the injured woman, and rendered first aid to her in the canyon, while a medical helicopter waited at the mouth of the canyon. Rescuers got an assist from other hikers who helped in carrying the woman roughly a quarter-mile through rough and technical terrain to the medical helicopter. The woman was taken to an area hospital for further evaluation. Instead of resting from their labors for a few hours and dozing off in the Lazy Boy, they are wading through waist-deep freezing water, doing their best to remember to lift with their legs instead of their backs, Emery County Sheriff Tyson Huntington said on Facebook in the release on Friday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Huntington said that they are thankful for these rescuers. No further information is available. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. KYODO NEWS - Nov 29, 2024 - 19:15 | All, Japan A central Japan town plans to put up new fences along a road in front of a Lawson convenience store offering scenic views of Mt. Fuji, local authorities said Friday, aiming to prevent people from stepping into traffic at the spot popular among foreign tourists. The site in Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, has been inundated with visitors looking to photograph the famous mountain as if perched above the store. The development has prompted the town's government to take preventative measures. The new fences, scheduled to be installed in December, will be the first on the convenience store side of the road. Their introduction is due to a significant increase in jaywalking, the town said. Each measuring around 3 meters long and 80 centimeters high, the two fences are intended to encourage pedestrians to cross the road via a designated crosswalk. The town office is considering painting the crosswalk green and white to make it more noticeable. A similar barrier to prevent entries into the road was expanded to span 25 meters of roadside opposite the convenience store in October. In May, amid concerns of misbehavior and loitering at the site, local authorities temporarily installed a black screen on the opposite side of the road to block the view. It was removed in August as a safety precaution ahead of an approaching typhoon. Mayor Hideyuki Watanabe said Friday there are currently no plans to reinstall the black screen. Related coverage: Over 85% wary of bad tourist behavior at national parks: poll "Bullet climbing" on Mt. Fuji down 90% after gate put in place LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) An employee suffered minor injuries after a cylinder exploded at a General Motors assembly plant, CBS Detroit reported. CBS Detroit says the incident happened at Factory ZERO Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Center Thursday. The Detroit Fire Department told CBS Detroit it is unclear what caused the explosion but it is not related to an electric vehicle battery. The employee was then taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tueday, a tank containing by-products from oil drilling operations exploded near a GM proving grounds in Milford that damaged two nearby homes. An incident occurred at Factory ZERO earlier today, resulting in one employee being transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, GM told CBS Detroit in a statement. Safety is our overriding priority and we will continue to investigate the cause of the incident. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. Nov. 28Final plans for a bridge replacement project along Highway F-17 West over Rock Creek were approved by the Jasper County Board of Supervisors this past week in a 3-0 vote, and by the time the concrete beam structure is finished by outside contractors it will be a little over 200 feet long and 30 feet wide. County Engineer Michael Frietsch said following the board's approval of the plans, they should be on the February letting schedule. By next construction season, the county will have projects for Bridges T06, F04 and A11. All will be constructed by outside contractors and not county bridge crews. "This is actually kind of the same thing we did for Bridge C08," Frietsch said. "Same design as Bridge C08. No different than what we're already doing today." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newton News previously reported in December 2023 that Bridge A11 was to receive soil borings to better understand what it needs to be an effective bridge. Currently, the bridge is a continuous steel I-beam bridge originally built in 1963. Frietsch has said the biggest issue is the deck, based on inspection reports. According to a copy of the plans, the prime contractor is to employ controls to reduce erosiveness of land adjacent to surface waters and wetlands, which including erosion control during and after construction and the revegetation of all disturbed areas upon the project's completion. It was a fight before a flight. Onlookers captured the wild moment when an enraged passenger punched an employee at an airport in Malaysia. The altercation was sparked by a check-in issue at Terminal 1 of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on Nov.10, according to a report from Viral Press. The incident stemmed from a misunderstanding between the two after the passenger was late during the checking-in process, District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Azman Shariat told the Star while relaying the dramatic scene. This then led to a fight. The incident resulted in a fight between the two individuals due to the delay in entering to register for the flight, said KLIA District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Azman Shariat. Viral Press In the dramatic footage, the passenger in green is seen raining punches upon the gound employee in front of the check-in counter. The green-clad passenger rains punches down upon the staffer. Viral Press Finally, a security guard separates the two, after which the shaken staffer shouts and points at the flyer while hes being escorted away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Azman Shariat said the worker was slightly injured during the scuffle, but no arrests have been made so far. This incident joins a long line of assaults by incensed passengers on aviation employees of late. Earlier this month, an intoxicated Russian plane passenger was filmed attacking a flight attendant and then lunging at a police officer when she was detained on arrival, causing her child to cry. In an incident closer to home in August, an outraged passenger threw a computer monitor at Frontier Airlines employees at Chicagos OHare International Airport over a missed flight. Perhaps the wildest instance of passenger-on-employee assault occurred in 2021 when Californias Brian Hsu punched an American Airlines flight attendant, breaking her nose. Apparently, the cure for every Idaho schools challenges is found in just reading aloud from the Bible, according to the Idaho Family Policy Center. No instruction, no commentary needed; the simple act of reading every single passage of the Bible aloud will magically cure every societal ill caused by Idahos perennial failure to fund and support public education for all students. As our children hear the wonderful stories in the Book of Judges, Im sure theyll be deeply inspired! Who doesnt love to read about Jephthah sacrificing his young daughter to repay a vow to God for giving him victory over his enemies (Judges 11), or the story of the Levite dismembering his concubine after shes assaulted and sending her body parts throughout the twelve tribes of Israel (Judges 19)? This would remind young women that men are some of the most dangerous people theyll meet, including fathers and boyfriends. As children hear Jesus admonitions to go and sell all that you own and give it to the poor (without any work requirement!) and to love your neighbor as yourself (without checking their citizenship!), our children will learn that a Christian nation would take care of every single person from birth to old age and would not fixate on acquiring wealth as the only worthwhile goal of life. Surely no nation would pursue wealth and power as its primary goals, for that would be met with condemnation as Babylon in the Book of Revelation, chapter 13! And no nation would want to run afoul of the words of the prophets that consistently condemn those who oppress the poor and defraud their workers! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And teaching children that might does not make right! Oh, the wisdom theyll gain from Daniel, chapter 3, when the political leader sets up a golden statue and demands worship and adoration, and Daniel refuses to bow down! Imagine that not making a politician the center of your life! And Romans, chapter 13, will boost our civic life! It will teach our children that authority is to be obeyed such as non-discrimination laws and laws to protect the environment! and it will also teach them to gladly pay their taxes! What a lesson in civic responsibility! Romans 13 8-10 would make a good companion to all the posts of the Ten Commandments, too: Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law. Love sure isnt woke! Or so Im told. But Im also aware that not every Christian tradition uses the same texts in their Bibles. Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians have other texts in the Old Testament that are not included in more Protestant Bibles, such as Tobit, Baruch or Judith; would we want to deprive our students of a wonderful story where a woman single-handedly stops an invading army by decapitating its commander with his own sword? It is a lesson in boldness and courage for all! I cant imagine leaving it out just because some folks do not consider it part of the Old Testament. Whose Bible is the right one? And what translation would we use? Some churches lean toward modern translations, and others stick with older translations like the King James Version, which was developed for the Church of England and is the historic Bible of the Episcopal Church which I am a part of. (We Episcopalians tend to read more modern translations because we love the best of Biblical scholarship, though). So which translation is going to be the right one? So many questions remain. Perhaps we should fund our public schools first, and leave the Bible to church. The Rev. Joseph Farnes is the rector of All Saints Episcopal Church in Boise. Toomas Vali, head of the operational department of the Estonian Defence Forces General Staff, has stated that despite heavy pressure from Russia, Ukraines defences are holding, and the use of Russia's "miracle weapon" Oreshnik was merely demonstrative. Source: ERR, an Estonian public broadcaster; European Pravda Details: Vali emphasised that Ukraines defence remains unbroken despite Russias heavy pressure. Commenting on the past week of the Russo-Ukrainian war, Vali highlighted Russian attacks on Ukraines energy infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Ukraine has been resisting Russia for 1,010 days and its defence remains unbroken, despite all difficulties," he said. Vali noted challenges for Ukraine regarding domestically produced ammunition. Estonian intelligence reported that Russia launched over 100 Shahed-type drones over three consecutive nights in mid-November. Additionally, after a months-long pause since late August, Russia carried out a large-scale missile attack on 17 November, involving multiple types of missiles, severely damaging Ukraines energy infrastructure. , @KpsZSU, . 21 . pic.twitter.com/DR5bLyzbHC (@BackAndAlive) November 21, 2024 Vali also addressed the 21 November attack on the city of Dnipro, where Russia launched a mid-range RS-26 (Oreshnik) missile in what he described as a demonstrative strike. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "It was clearly a demonstrative strike on the city of Dnipro. It is now evident that this is not some 'miracle weapon' and the hype was far greater than the results." However, Vali expressed concern about such attacks, noting that while Ukraine adheres to international war laws, particularly concerning drone strikes, Russia does not. The head of the operational department also noted a rise in double-strike tactics, where an initial targeted strike is followed by another at the same location. "The aim is to kill rescue workers, medical personnel and anyone responding to help," Vali explained. He stated that six such double strikes were recorded in 2022, ten in 2023, and twenty in 2024. The Pokrovsk front Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Screenshot: DeepState map. Vali stressed that on the ground, Ukrainian forces continue to hold the front lines despite ongoing Russian offensives in various directions. He emphasised that there are no signs of front line breaches on the Pokrovsk or Kurakhove fronts. In Kharkiv Oblast, Russian forces are attempting to cross the Oskil River and increasing pressure on Kupiansk. The Kupiansk front Screenshot: DeepState map. Quote: "The Russian Federations success is not significant. There are no indications that could dramatically change the situation there." Background: On 22 November, Estonia's Ministry of Defence stated that Russias mid-range ballistic missile strike was a political demonstration. Similarly, UK intelligence assessed that Russia launched the experimental Oreshnik missile to send a strategic message after Western approval of Ukraines use of long-range weapons for strikes deep into Russian territory. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested that Vladimir Putins sabre-rattling with the Oreshnik missile is aimed solely at disrupting the efforts of President Trump to end the war. Support UP or become our patron! By Felix Light TBILISI (Reuters) - Over 100 serving Georgian diplomats have signed an open letter criticising the new government's suspension of EU accession talks, a diplomat said on Friday, after a protest against the move led to overnight clashes on the capital's streets. The diplomats said the decision, announced by the ruling Georgian Dream party on Thursday, violated the country's constitutional commitment to pursuing EU membership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The European Union's ambassador to Georgia, in the first comments from Brussels, said Tbilisi's move to effectively halt its EU bid until 2028 was "heartbreaking". He also condemned police violence against protesters at a pro-EU demonstration on Thursday night. Police used water cannon, pepper spray and tear gas against masked young protesters angry over the decision. The interior ministry said on Friday that 43 people had been arrested. In a statement, it also said 32 police officers had been injured during the protest, which saw some demonstrators attempting to smash down metal barriers outside parliament. Coalition for Change, the largest opposition party, said two of its female leaders had been attacked by police during the protest, with one suffering a broken hand and another a broken nose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nika Melia, a Coalition for Change leader, called for renewed protests on Friday. "Today we have only one job - the service of the country, so that tomorrow we will have a country, and that our children will have a future," Melia wrote on Facebook. Three Tbilisi universities said they were suspending studies amid the unrest, while a group of business associations, including the U.S., EU, and German chambers of commerce said they opposed freezing talks in a joint statement. European traders reacted to the news by selling off London-listed Georgian bank stocks. By 11.15 GMT, TBC Bank was down 6.1% at the bottom of the FTSE 350, while Bank of Georgia had lost 5.7%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dollar was on track for its biggest daily jump against the Georgian Lari since May, last up 1.62%. Georgian Dream claimed victory in an October election with almost 54% of ballots cast, but opposition parties said the vote was fraudulent and refused to take their seats in parliament. Georgian Dream suspended the EU accession talks over what it called "blackmail" by Brussels. DIPLOMATS PROTEST President Salome Zourabichvili, a pro-EU critic of Georgian Dream whose powers are mostly ceremonial, appealed on Thursday to Georgian diplomats to come out against the freezing of talks. One diplomat told Reuters that more than 100 serving diplomats had signed the letter saying the move violated the country's constitutional commitment to pursuing EU membership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Georgia's ambassador to South Korea, in a post on Facebook, appeared to suggest he opposed the accession freeze, while Tbilisi's envoy to Bulgaria said on X he had resigned over the suspension of talks. Pawel Herczynski, the EU envoy to Tbilisi, described the decision to freeze the accession talks as "very regrettable" and "heartbreaking". "What has happened yesterday clearly goes against the policy of the previous government of Georgia, actually all previous governments of Georgia, it also goes against the will of the vast majority of the population of Georgia," he said. He also deplored police violence against the protesters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local media quoted Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze as accusing the EU envoy of "disinformation", and threatening a "diplomatic response". Though Georgia is an EU candidate country, its relations with Brussels have deteriorated sharply in recent months amid accusations from EU politicians that Tbilisi is pursuing pro-Russian and authoritarian policies. The EU itself said earlier this year that Georgia's application had been frozen in response to new laws passed against "foreign agents" and LGBT rights that critics say are draconian and Moscow-inspired. The government, which does not have diplomatic ties with Russia, said the laws were proportionate and needed to protect national security and society's traditional values. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Georgian Dream, which is seen as being controlled by its billionaire founder, ex-prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, has moved in recent years to deepen ties with Russia and China. The European Parliament voted on Thursday to withhold recognition of the October election, and called for sanctions on key Georgian Dream figures. (Reporting by Felix Light, Additional reporting by Lucy Raitano in London; Editing by Andrew Osborn, Gareth Jones and Angus MacSwan) (Bloomberg) -- European lawmakers have called for fresh sanctions on Hong Kong and Chinese officials over the prosecution of former media mogul Jimmy Lai, as the trial of the citys top security law target enters its final stage. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members of European Parliament wrote that Hong Kong authorities should immediately and unconditionally release all pro-democracy politicians. They added in a resolution that was posted to their website Thursday sanctions should be imposed for human rights violations. Lai is taking the stand to defend himself against national security charges that could jail the 76-year-old for the rest of his life. That case has attracted international attention with US President-elect Donald Trump vowing to free Lai, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer bringing up the case in a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. A Hong Kong court earlier this month sentenced former democracy advocate Benny Tai to 10 years in prison, the longest sentence ever meted out using a China-imposed security law. His punishment was handed down in a mass trial that jailed a total of 45 defendants, including student activist Joshua Wong, over organizing unofficial primary polls in 2020. Hong Kong authorities hit back at the European lawmakers criticism, calling accusations of humans rights abuses groundless. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We strongly condemn any suggestion of imposing unilateral sanctions on any officials, a government spokesperson said in a statement late Thursday. Officials will not be threatened by such barbaric and despicable acts. The former British colonys alleged role in helping Russia, Iran and North Korea evade global sanctions through financial services was also condemned in the lawmakers statement. European lawmakers called for Hong Kongs favorable customs treatment to be revoked and the status of its economic trade office in Brussels to be reviewed. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. The European Union's top diplomat has called on Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia to adhere to the agreed ceasefire. "It is now crucial that the ceasefire holds as agreed, to guarantee the safety of people in both Lebanon and Israel, and to allow internally displaced people on both sides of the border to return to their homes," read a statement by Josep Borrell issued on Thursday. Borrell also demanded that the sovereignty of both states be fully respected and that cross-border attacks cease. He urged regional and international actors to actively support the ceasefire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The diplomat assured Lebanon that the European Union would continue its humanitarian aid and support reconstruction efforts. The ceasefire came into effect early on Wednesday morning, pausing the intense mutual attacks between Hezbollah and Israel following more than a year of warfare. However, each side on Thursday accused the other of violations of the fragile truce. Officials lifted evacuation warnings as firefighters made some progress containing a wildfire near the Jurupa Valley that ignited Thanksgiving Day. By Saturday, the Canyon Crest fire had spread to about 284 acres since it was first reported south of the Riverside and San Bernardino county line, according to Cal Fire. More than 200 firefighters have battled the blaze, which is now 50% contained, officials said. Containment refers to what portion of a wildfire's perimeter has been surrounded by a natural or human-made control line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The progress led officials to cancel evacuation warnings in Jurupa Valley. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Read more: Wildfire prompts evacuation warnings in Riverside County Evacuation warnings were initially issued last night as some houses had reportedly burned. The fire as of Thursday evening encompassed 84 acres and was 0% contained overnight, in the area east of County Village Road and west of Sierra Avenue. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. KYODO NEWS - Nov 29, 2024 - 19:56 | World, All A Beijing court on Friday handed down a seven-year jail term to a former senior editor at a major Chinese newspaper affiliated with the ruling Communist Party who had been accused of leaking information to Japanese diplomats, sources familiar with the matter said. Dong Yuyu, a former deputy head of the Guangming Daily editorial department, had pleaded not guilty to the charge and is set to appeal the court decision, the sources said. He was detained in February 2022 after meeting with a Japanese Embassy official in Beijing and was indicted in March last year for alleged espionage, the sources said. The Japanese diplomat who met with Dong was temporarily detained while on duty, with China justifying its action by saying he had engaged in activities "inappropriate" for his embassy job. Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya declined to comment directly on the case at a press conference in Tokyo except to say activities by Japan's diplomatic missions overseas are "justifiable." Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a press conference that China's judicial body "strictly" deals with cases, adding crimes "will never fail to be punished according to law." Dong, known as a liberal commentator, is a longtime friend of former Japanese Ambassador to China Hideo Tarumi and was invited to his residence for a Lunar New Year celebration in early 2021, the Chinese journalist's family has said. The verdict named several individuals believed to be Japanese diplomats based in Beijing, referring to them as "agents of an espionage organization" and identifying the Japanese embassy as such, according to the sources. His trial was closed to the public. In China, it is customary that allegations concerning national security are not released, and the details are not announced in most cases, even after rulings are finalized. More than 60 people, including American journalist Bob Woodward and Tomoko Ako, a China studies professor at the University of Tokyo, had signed an open letter of concern over Dong's indictment, saying he faces a jail term for what they believe were "normal contacts with foreigners." The former senior editor, who is not a Communist Party member, knew numerous Japanese and American journalists, scholars and diplomats. He was awarded fellowships at Harvard University and Keio University and was a visiting professor at Hokkaido University in Japan, according to Dong's family. Related coverage: China admits plane entered Japan airspace in August but unintentional China to conduct sampling of treated water at Fukushima nuclear plant FOCUS: Biden's guardrails on U.S.-China ties may live on under Trump 2.0 HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) The first heart-stopping moment happened for Jodi-Ann OSullivan before her baby son, Jahsiah, was born. Seven months pregnant, OSullivans ultrasound revealed that the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck, prompting doctors at UPMC Harrisburg to induce her labor. At birth, Jahsiah was silent, not breathing and not cryinga devastating sight for any parent. I was just thinking, God, what is going on? OSullivan recalls. When they finally got him to breathe, and I heard him cry, that was the moment I felt pure joy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But what began as a celebration quickly turned into a nightmare. When Jahsiah was taken for a routine circumcision, the doctor returned with troubling news: the newborn wasnt clotting. It was an early sign of a life-threatening condition: acute liver failure. Before long, the family was on their way from UPMC Harrisburg to Pittsburgh. Cucumbers sold in Pennsylvania recalled for potential Salmonella Dr. George Mazariegos, Chief of Pediatric Transplantation at UPMC Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh, explained that the condition left Jahsiah with a 100% mortality rate without a liver transplant. We quickly realized that we needed to act fast, Dr. Mazariegos said, adding infants who need liver transplants are national priority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Incredibly, a matching donor liver became available locallyan extremely rare occurrence. Even more extraordinary, the donor was a child just down the hall from Jahsiah. The childs parents, who were in a heartbreaking situation themselves, made the selfless decision to donate the organs of their own three-year-old child child who was dying saving the lives of several children, including Jahsiah. Those families who make that courageous decision to donate their loved ones organs, in the midst of such grief, are heroes, Dr. Mazariegos said. Jodi-Ann OSullivan was overwhelmed by the generosity of the donor family. That kids parents saved so many lives, including my sons, she says. Well never be able to thank them enough. The boys liver alone likely saved another child, because only part of it was transplanted to tiny Jahsiah the understanding of how a partial liver can regenerate is one of the relatively recent advances in the 30 years Mazariegos has been in the field, he explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For OSullivan, the challenges didnt end with Jahsiahs transplant. The same week she learned her son would need a transplant, a fire destroyed the familys home. Yet, through it all, she remained focused on Jahsiah, who soon after his transplant began showing signs of recovery. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now abc27 Evening Newsletter Jahsiah had the best team. I truly believe he had the best doctors, OSullivan said. We are so thankful for everyone who helped us, from the medical team to the donor family. Two years later, Jahsiah is thriving. His mother calls him her miracle boy, a living testament to the power of medical intervention, donor generosity, and the love of a family determined to overcome unimaginable odds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, as the OSullivans reflect on their journey, OSullivan is eager to meet the donor family one day, hoping to thank them in person for giving her son a second chance at life but understanding that needs to happen on their time, not hers. Whenever theyre ready, were here. We want them to know how grateful we are, she says. Today, Jahsiahs future is bright. For the OSullivans, every day is Thanksgiving. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock believes that every missile launched by Putin is also aimed at European security, highlighting the need for greater investment in defense. Source: Baerbocks post on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Details: The minister commented on Russias latest combined attack on Ukraine. Quote: "Air-raid warnings and emergency power outages across Ukraine, 4.5 million people without electricity. Every missile Putin launches is also targeting our European security. We all need to invest even more in our peace. Our additional air defence systems are a first step." Background: Ukraine is set to receive two short- and medium-range IRIS-T air defence systems from Germany by the end of 2024. In early September, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that Germany had ordered a total of 17 IRIS-T air defence systems for Ukraine. This includes eight medium-range (SLM) systems and nine short-range (SLS) systems. As of early October, four SLM systems and three SLS systems were already in Ukraine. Subsequently, the German defence ministry reported the delivery of two more SLM and SLS systems, with Scholz promising to send an additional IRIS-T system to Ukraine by the end of the year in his conversation with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Support UP or become our patron! By Emilie Madi and Ahmed Fahmy BAALBEK/NABATIEH, Lebanon (Reuters) - In south Lebanon, Hezbollah's yellow flag fluttered atop a vast pile of rubble that was once part of Nabatieh's old market. In eastern Lebanon, rubble also marks the spot where a historic building once stood near Baalbek's ancient ruins. Since Israel and Hezbollah ceased fire on Wednesday, people have been taking stock of devastation across wide areas of the country hammered by Israeli attacks - from Beirut's southern suburbs to the southern border region and the Bekaa Valley. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Baalbek, in the Bekaa Valley near the Syrian border, Hamza al Outa's home was one of around a dozen buildings destroyed in one neighbourhood alone. Twisted rebar poked out of piles of rubble and broken masonry. "These buildings can be rebuilt. Theyre not important. But our loved ones, friends, neighbours, companions, people. The homeland has been destroyed," he said, behind him the ground scarred by deep holes. The Israeli army has said its strikes in the Baalbek area targeted Hezbollah, the heavily armed Lebanese group which had been trading fire with Israel for almost a year until Israel went on the offensive in September, striking across Lebanon. Like Lebanon's south and Beirut's southern suburbs, Baalbek is a predominantly Shi'ite Muslim region, and Hezbollah has big political sway in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israeli strikes killed 940 people and wounded another 1,520 in the Baalbek-Hermel region, said Bachir Khodr, its governor. This amounts to almost a quarter of the country-wide death toll announced so far by the Lebanese government. Khodr said Israel mounted 1,260 airstrikes in the province. Baalbek is known for its ancient Roman ruins - a UNESCO World Heritage site. Lebanese culture ministry officials are expected to inspect for damage next week. One Israeli strike destroyed an Ottoman-era building known as al-Manshiya just a stone's throw from the ruins. Outa owned a large-scale kitchen next to his home, which he said catered for big events and functioned as a soup kitchen for the poor during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, feeding 2,500 people per day. "Are there rockets in this kitchen?" he said, inspecting the damage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One man salvaged a laptop bag and a backpack from the trunk of a crumpled car. "This is what we make rockets from," he said, smiling sarcastically as he stood atop a piece of rubble and held the bags aloft for journalists to see. 'EVERYTHING IS LOST' Khodr, the governor, said: "Were healing the wound ... sadness prevails in this area". "We have hundreds of destroyed buildings ... the big question thats worrying people is the subject of reconstruction: until now we have nothing clear on this subject," he said. The government is expected to do "what's necessary", he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The World Bank, in a preliminary assessment, estimated more than 99,000 homes have been fully or partially damaged, costing an estimated $2.8 billion. It is a bill which the Lebanese state, still reeling from the collapse of Lebanon's financial system five years ago, cannot afford to pay. In Nabatieh in the south, Jalal Nasser smoked a water pipe as he sat amidst the ruins of his cafe, saying he had an "indescribable feeling" when he returned to find the damage done to his business. But despite this, he praised what he described as "the victory", saying "we are still standing on our feet". Hassan Wazni, director of Nabatieh hospital, said parts of the city were unrecognisable due to the destruction. His hospital received some 1,200 casualties during the war, he added. "Nabatieh is totally different. It's very sad. We feel shocked about everything," he said by phone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clouds of dust rose up as Omar Bakhit, a Sudanese man who has lived in Nabatiyeh for 21 years, picked up chunks of broken masonry with his bare hands. "Everything is destroyed, the house and the things, as you can see," said Bakhit. "Everything is lost." (Writing by Tom Perry) Germany's ex-finance minister Christian Lindner, the leader of the pro-business liberal Free Democrats (FDP), sought to distance himself from an internal party strategy paper plotting the end of Germany's coalition government "The paper from the Genscher house that has become public was only a draft," Lindner said in a statement issued on Friday. "I did not take note of it and would not have approved it," Lindner claimed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lindner was sacked by Chancellor Olaf Scholz on November 6, which prompted the FDP to quit the coalition. The move cost Scholz his governing majority, and is almost certain to lead to early new elections on February 23. In his statement, Lindner said the party's outgoing managing director, Carsten Reymann, confirmed that the internal strategy paper had been created at the employee level and only discussed there. But Lindner said "it was necessary to consider the possibility of the FDP leaving the coalition," given bitter disputes among ministers over Lindner's insistence on sticking to strict budget rules limiting government borrowing, known in Germany as the debt brake. However, his actual proposal to Scholz of the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) was for the coalition to jointly bring about new elections if no agreement was possible on the matter. "It was and is no secret that the FDP would have had to leave the government without an economic turnaround, without a budget with a debt brake and without a consistent migration policy." Nov. 28Exeter's Jeremy Cole was heading home after his shift as a police sergeant at Endicott College early Thanksgiving morning when he was killed by a wrong-way driver on Interstate 95. The wrong-way driver in a Tesla, first spotted in New Hampshire, crashed head-on into Cole's Chevrolet Trailblazer shortly after midnight on I-95 in Newbury, Mass., State Police said. Cole was a 15-year veteran of the Endicott department, where he was described by Chief Kerry Ramsdell as "not only a dedicated public servant and prior recipient of a lifesaving award, but also a cherished member of our team." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ramsdell issued a statement Thursday saying the department is heartbroken by the loss. "On this Thanksgiving Day, our hearts are with the family, friends, and loved ones of a police officer who reported for duty keeping the rest of us safe and secure but did not return home," Ramsdell said. "We are committed to supporting them in any way we can through this unimaginable grief." New Hampshire State Police alerted Massachusetts authorities when the Tesla was heading toward the border around midnight. State troopers from both departments kept visual contact with the car through the Newburyport area while police in Georgetown prepared a tire-deflation device. However, the Tesla struck Cole's SUV before it made it to Georgetown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver of the Tesla was a man in his 40s from Massachusetts. Police have not released his name. He suffered serious injuries and was flown by helicopter to a Boston hospital. He is expected to face charges. Massachusetts State Police are investigating. dpierce@unionleader.com CHICAGO Holiday shoppers across Chicagoland are heading to the stores to try and snag Black Friday deals, but as some visit stores downtown, they say are remaining alert considering several recent violent incidents. Black Friday used to be marked by shoppers lining up hours before doors opened or people sleeping on sidewalks before rushing in to get the best deal. As Macys on State Street opened Friday morning at 6 a.m., no visible lines could be seen outside, but a steady flow of customers headed in. Others waited for the doors to open at nearby stores, many doing so around 9 a.m. Last weekend, two violent incidents followed on the heels of holiday festivities right in this area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A shooting near the Macys at State and Washington last week left a 19-year-old woman injured. It also caused panic among people in the area, many of whom came from the nearby Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines The previous night, following the Millennium Park tree lighting, Chicago police officers tried to stop dozens of young people who flooded the area and were fighting near State and Monroe streets. At least two people were put into handcuffs and one person was loaded into an ambulance. After the incidents, residents and tourists told WGN News they werent overly concerned for their safety. Most echoed that exact message days later, as they headed out to get their shopping done. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cool thing about Chicago is that theres a really big sense of community, so I dont feel that scared going outside, but obviously keeping an eye out, said Mariana Belaval. Dont think the worst of people. Chicago gets a bad rep sometimes. Belaval, a college student who lives in the area, said she was aware of the recent incidents. Like any other major city, she knows the importance of remaining vigilant but said she is not concerned. She decided to get some Christmas shopping done and was pleasantly surprised by the ease of it all. Alicia Bark and her daughter, Lillian Bark, came to Chicago for a few days of festivities. They said they felt comfortable walking around and pointed out the visible police presence theyd noticed during their trip. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We did see a lot of police presence during the parade and when we stopped to get some breakfast and stuff, so thats comforting, said Alicia. Rachel and Evie Horsom traveled from Ireland with their mother, Dierdre Horsom, to embrace a new tradition of traveling to Chicago together. The trio was excited to explore all Chicago has to offer, including food, shopping, theater shows, and more. Were very sheltered in Ireland but you do feel safe in this city too, said Rachel. The wards alderman, Bill Conway (34th Ward) said he has spoken to the Chicago Police Department leadership in the 1st District and Central Control Group, which covers downtown. He told WGN Chicago police are confident they have the resources and staffing needed to cover downtown and have additional teams at the ready should any additional resources be necessary. CPDs Holiday Shopping Safety Tips Chicago police also shared safety tips for people taking part in holiday shopping, including on Black Friday: Keep your purse close to your body, preferably in front of you or under a jacket or coat. Be aware of where your purse is when you go to restaurants or hotel lounges. Thieves prey on purses hung over the back of a chair or left on the floor. If you carry a wallet, keep it in your front pants pocket or coat breast pocket. Always be alert and walk confidently. Be mindful of those who pass you on a crowded bus or train or bump into you on a sidewalk. These individuals may be pickpockets. Do not leave packages or other valuables on the car seat where they can be seen. Lock them in the trunk. Do not carry valuables in backpacks, which can easily be accessed in a crowded elevator, on an escalator or a checkout line. Keep an eye on credit cards and the paper trail they generate to avoid becoming the victim of identity theft. To reduce the risk, people should destroy extra copies of credit card receipts. Its also best not to carry personal information in a wallet or purse. This includes a social security number, an old credit card, ATM receipts or seldom used credit cards. Keep pertinent information, including credit card account numbers, banking information and social security numbers, in a secure but accessible place at home. That way, in the event that a credit card is lost or stolen, the information will be handy for reporting to authorities. Use caution when making online purchases, especially when the vendor is an individual rather than a known retailer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Barcelonas Animation BCN wrapped this afternoon after three days of working groups, roundtables and networking events focused on ways that the regions animation industry can weather a global animation crisis. This years third edition gathered 90 delegates from 60 European industry organizations in 24 countries to address the key themes and topics faced by the animation industry today, including artificial intelligence, sustainable animation practices, media regulation and the benefits of co-production. The gathered professionals, which included producers, distributors, broadcasters, film fund organizers and government representatives, participated in a series of four targeted working groups in which several shared conclusions were made about the future of European animation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the attendees were Lucia Recalde, Deputy Director and Head of Unit Audiovisual Industry and media support programs, DG Connect, European Commission; Patricia Hidalgo, Director of Childrens & Education at the BBC; and Edgar Garcia Casellas, Director of ICEC, the Catalan governmental culture industry division. Working Groups Conclusions 1 Strengthening Media Regulation Citing the tremendous reach of free streaming platforms such as YouTube and TikTok, Animar attendees agreed that greater child protections on digital platforms are needed. The working group recommends applying the Audiovisual Media Services (AMVS) Directive to all platforms that provide audiovisual content. The group also advocated that the definition of what constitutes a European work for quota purposes be reinforced to better safeguard IP retention within Europe as a means of supporting the long-term growth of the regions industry. 2 Fostering European Animation Co-Productions Faced with underfunded childrens programming and a global animation crisis, Animars co-pro working group emphasized the need for better co-production tools and more collaboration between financial institutions and broadcasters to support projects during the developmental stage. The unit also recommended creating enhanced tax initiatives by linking the benefits to the retention of IP by European companies and the relevance of the content in a European context. This, they suggested, will strengthen the competitiveness of Europes independent sector and avoid a future where most European animation companies are only engaged in service work. 3 Embracing Ethical AI for a Human-Centered European Animation Industry Participants in an AI-focused working group suggested that any European company planning to implement the technology into their operations do so with a human-centered approach. Animation in Europe a federation of animation producers from around the continent further recommended that a Best Practice Guide be developed for the legal, ethical and sustainable use of AI tools. The group also called for increased access to training programs for established industry professionals to acquire knowledge and skills that align with the sectors best interests. 4 Driving Sustainability with Common Green Production Standards Participants in an animation sustainability think tank emphasized the urgent need for common environmental sustainability tools to support European co-production efforts. In line with this commitment, attendees agreed to involve their national stakeholders in joining an existing international working group focused on creating green animation production standards. This collaborative initiative seeks to establish a cohesive approach to European sustainable animation practices. Following Through on Previous Commitments Building on a recommendation from previous editions of Animar, Animation in Europe has partnered with a consortium of European universities to launch Anima Mundi, the first academic, interdisciplinary, and multistakeholder initiative focused on the European Animation Industry Ecosystem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Set to run from February 2025 to July 2028 and backed by 4 million ($4.2 million) in funding from the European Commission through the Horizon Europe program, the initiative aims to tackle key issues regarding IP, the distribution of European content and the fostering of cross-border collaborations. In addition to connecting producers with key stakeholders, Animation in Europe has committed to create a European Animation Brand, a policymaking dashboard and toolkits designed to improve IP management and content discoverability. Looking Forward In the future, Animar BCN will launch a series of spin-off workshops dedicated to single topics and organized in different locations around the continent. The first will be held in Nova Gorica, Slovenia, in March of next year, when the conversation around sustainable practices in animation production and their application in Eastern European territories will continue. Two more spin-offs are planned for the 2026 and 2027 editions of the Annecy Animation Film Festival, focused on how to better foster the distribution and dissemination of European animated titles worldwide. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. President-elect Donald Trump's appointed "border czar" Tom Homan has said that he wants to prioritize deporting noncitizens with criminal histories when Trump's second term starts in January. This follows recent high-profile criminal cases involving undocumented immigrants, including the murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley by a Venezuelan immigrant who crossed the U.S. southern border illegally. But in interviews, Homan and other top Republicans have shared contradictory and inflated figures about the overall number of noncitizens who Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials say fall into this category. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a recent interview with Fox News, Homan said there are "over 1.5 million convicted criminal aliens in this country with orders for removal who we'll be looking for." The Trump transition team has said this number includes some migrants who have crossed into the country illegally, although they are not considered "convicted criminal aliens." U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), officers arrive to a Flatbush Gardens home in search of an undocumented immigrant on April 11, 2018 in the Brooklyn, New York. / Credit: John Moore / Getty Images House Speaker Mike Johnson has claimed in recent weeks that the number of migrants apprehended for committing violent crimes specifically is "by some counts, as many as 3 or 4 million people." However, Immigration and Customs Enforcement provided much lower estimates to Congress. As of July 21, ICE's national docket, which tracks immigrants facing deportation proceedings, listed roughly 660,000 noncitizens with criminal histories, including 436,000 convicted criminals and 227,000 with pending criminal charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This includes noncitizens in ICE detention and those not detained by the agency. There are only estimates of the number of noncitizens currently in the U.S. As of 2022, there were roughly 24.5 million noncitizens including at least 11 million unauthorized immigrants and 13.5 million people who are lawful permanent residents or temporary lawful residents, according to estimates by Pew Research Center based on the latest Census data. By Homan's numbers, around 6% of noncitizens would be convicted criminals. By Johnson's numbers closer to 12% of the noncitizens would be criminals, or as much as 24% of the unauthorized population. According to ICE's figures closer to 2.6% of the noncitizens in the U.S. have criminal histories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Response from Trump's transition spokesman The agency's totals are far below the millions suggested by Homan and Johnson, and ICE's figures remain the most accurate available for tracking noncitizens with criminal histories, according to C. Mario Russell, executive director for the Center for Migration Studies, a think tank that also supports policies that safeguard migrant rights. Johnson's office did not respond to a request for clarification at time of publication. Brian Hughes, a Trump-Vance transition spokesman, told CBS News that Homan was considering the number of migrants who have crossed illegally into the U.S. who evaded border patrol, sometimes called "gotaways" by immigration and border security officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Tom Homan is rightnearly 2 million 'gotaways' have evaded border patrol under the Biden-Harris wide-open border, which is more than four times the average under President Trump," Hughes said. Border Patrol estimates that roughly 1.7 million migrants have evaded apprehension since the start of fiscal year 2021. However, there is no official data on the number of so-called "gotaways" with criminal records. There were also "gotaways" during the Trump administration but the average number during Trump's first three years in office, before immigration fell during COVID-19, was four times lower than the totals in fiscal year 2022 and 2023, according to testimony by Steven A. Camarota, the director of research at the Center for Immigration Studies. In some interviews, Homan has also cited lower figures more in line with ICE data. On Nov. 14, for example, Homan told NewsNation, "authorities have identified more than 700,000 undocumented immigrants with criminal convictions." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What ICE's data shows about the number of noncitizens with criminal histories Noncitizens including those with green cards can lose their legal right to be in the U.S. after committing a crime. Many of the people ICE tracks remain incarcerated and can be deported only after serving their sentences. Data suggests many of the 436,000 convicted criminals on this list, including over 13,000 convicted of murder and 62,000 people convicted of assault, have been in the U.S. for years. Non-violent offenders are also on ICE's docket, including more than 125,000 people convicted of or facing traffic offenses. In 2016, under the Obama administration, there were 368,574 convicted criminals in ICE's non-detained docket, according to data published by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General. In June 2021, a few months into the Biden administration, there were 405,786 convicted criminals on the list. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some criminal noncitizens remain in the U.S. for years because they come from countries that don't accept or limit U.S. deportations, including Cuba, Venezuela, and China. Others are legally protected from deportation under United Nations convention because they face a credible threat of torture if they return to their home countries. Government statistics indicate that a relatively small fraction of migrants processed by Border Patrol have criminal records in the U.S. or in other countries that share information with American officials. Additionally, although the data is not exhaustive, available studies suggest that undocumented migrants are incarcerated less frequently than native-born Americans. Former Navy secretary says Trump's Defense Secretary pick will make the military "weaker" Investigators discover firefighter visited woman before she was found dead in burning home Ben Abraham joins "CBS Mornings Plus" to help surprise Adriana Diaz for her birthday Attention peanut butter lovers. Do you remember Michigans Velvet Peanut Butter brand? Its the one with the label featuring images of three freckled cartoon boys on the label with the words "Fresh" "Pure" and "Delicious" under their images. On its label, each letter of the word Velvet was on a green, black, or red background. The brand has recently been bought and it appears to be coming back to Michigan. Velvet Peanut Butter has new owner. Well-known brewing company owner Mark Rieth announced on Wednesday that he acquired Velvet Peanut Butter, a Detroit-born brand with a history that spans 90 years. Michigan businessman Mark Rieth recently acquired the Velvet Peanut Butter brand. According to a news release, Rieth recalled loving the peanut butter growing up and he plans to produce the peanut butter back in Detroit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I learned of the opportunity to acquire the company, it just felt like something I had to do, Rieth says. There are lots of people like me who remember and loved that distinctive Velvet taste. With some aggressive marketing and prominent space on grocers shelves, Im confident we can return Velvet back to the level of popularity it enjoyed years ago. And we can do here in Detroit, where it all began for the company. Velvet Peanut Butter truck driver beginnings Paul Zuckerman founded Velvet Peanut Butter and was known as the Peanut Butter King, according to the recently released Classic Michigan Food and Drinks: The Stories Behind the Brand by Jon Milan and Gail Offen (Arcadia Publishing, $24.99.) Michigan Food and Drinks features stores about Michigan brands. The story goes that Zuckerman, a truck driver who immigrated to the U.S. from Turkey with his parents, got into the peanut butter-making business in the late 1930s. Zuckerman, along with friend Harry Goss, according to the book authors, set up the peanut butter-making operations in a Detroit garage. Goss handled products and Zuckerman handled sales, according to the book authors.Zuckerman, who sold the peanut butter by cases from his car, eventually got the peanut butter on grocery store shelves in metro Detroit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Besides great taste, Velvet had another competitive advantage consistency. It was one of the first brands to homogenize, the authors wrote. After getting Velvet Peanut Butter into stores, by the late 1950s, Velvet merged with the Sunshine Brand. Years later, Sunshine stopped making the peanut butter and Zuckerman bought the company back. About those boys on the label Velvet Peanut Butter was well known for the three, freckled-faced boy cartoon characters on the yellow label. Out of the three, the middle character had a halo-like image over his head. According to the Michigan Food and Drinks authors, the boys on the label were modeled after Zuckermans son, Norbert. Velvet drifts away, then returns In 1985, Zuckerman sold the peanut butter business. Zuckerman, who resided in Franklin, died in 1986. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not long after his death, production of Velvet Peanut Butter ceased, and the brand drifted away.It was around 2008 when Michigan native Eric Bruce, who was living in Georgia, resurrected the brand and began distribution in Michigan. After owning the brand for more than 15 years, Bruce says he wasnt planning to sell the brand until he met Rieth. Its been a true labor of love to revive Velvet Peanut Butter and shepherd the brand for the past 16 years, Bruce said in the release. "Now is the perfect time for me to step away and turn this iconic brand over to Mark for him to lead the exciting next chapter." A new Velvet chapter Rieth, the owner of Detroit Liquid Ventures, earlier this year acquired a majority stake in the Lansing Brewing Co. He is also the former owner of Atwater Brewery. In 2005, Rieth bought Atwater, in Detroits Rivertown district when it was called Stoney Creek Brewing. He returned it to its former Atwater name and 15 years after buying it, Atwater Brewery was sold to Molson Coors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I find myself wondering if this is what it was like for Paul Zuckerman in 1937. You wake up one day and think Hey, I guess Im in the peanut butter business now, Rieth said. Velvet's quality, branding, and "deep ties to Detroit" motivated Rieth to acquire the company. "I relish the opportunity to grow nostalgic Detroit brands and think the opportunity with Velvet will not only be a lot of fun, but also a profitable endeavor," he said. While plans for production and distribution are being finalized, according to a news release, Rieth hopes to increase sales in metro Detroit and eventually distribute Velvet Peanut Butter nationally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rieth says that Velvet, known for its innovative homogenized peanut butter will follow its original recipes. Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Subscribe to the Free Press. This story was updated to add a video. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Famed Velvet peanut butter brand with Detroit roots has new owner GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) A West Michigan family is especially thankful after spending many years celebrating the holidays at Helen DeVos Childrens Hospital. Eight-year-old Levi Berens has spent his entire life receiving treatment and has seen a remarkable recovery. His mother Emily Berens and father Randy Berens had feared the worst when they received a diagnosis before he was born. Levi is a walking miracle, said Emily Berens. We were given a 50% chance of him to survive after birth then we had a follow up appointment a week later and was given a less than 40% chance that he would survive. An undated photo of Levi Berens. (Courtesy Berens family) The number of procedures and conditions he has overcome would be hard for anyone to keep track of. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Levi has had 56 diagnoses in his medical history chart of his medical chart. He has had 40 procedures in his surgical chart, Emily Berens said. Levi has persevered through every challenge that has come his way. He was born with a diaphragmatic hernia we discovered that at the 20-week ultrasound as well as he had clubbed feet, Emily Berens said. Already a cancer survivor at age eight, Levi has been through more health challenges than many people we see in their entire lifetime. Levi was roughly five when he was then diagnosed with testicle cancer and we are now two years in remission and we still follow-up with oncology every four months, Emily Berens said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His physical therapist Andrew Harrington has seen that progress since he was two years old. Especially at the beginning it was just getting him on his feet and working on his standing and walking because initially at the age of two years old he was mostly like scooting on his bottom to get around everywhere, Harrington said. Learning how to walk took dedication and physical therapy sessions made to seem like play. Levi Berens works with a physical therapist. (Nov. 28, 2024) An undated photo of Levi Berens. (Courtesy Berens family) It truly is rewarding to see the progress for Levi and many of the other kids that were able to work with to see where they were and the challenges that they were facing and seeing what theyre able to do now is definitely inspiring, Harrington said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family is beyond grateful for everything the staff has done over the years, giving up their holidays to help Levi. Were very thankful for everybody here at Helen DeVos, Emily Berens said. Constantly thankful that we are there as a family celebrating that we can all actually be together. Weve spent several holidays apart from each other due to hospitalizations so its a big milestone when we can actually celebrate a holiday at home. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. "It's really an example for numerous cites in China, but it is also an example, a model for the rest of the world," experts and media professionals shared their insights on Xiamen's ecological protection efforts while attending a three-day event in the city. #GLOBALink BAALBEK, Lebanon (AP) In eastern Lebanon's city of Baalbek, the Jawhari family gathered around a gaping crater where their home once stood, tears streaming as they tried to make sense of the destruction. It is heart-breaking. A heartache that there is no way we will ever recover from, said Lina Jawhari, her voice breaking as she hugged relatives who came to support the family. Our world turned upside down in a second. The home, which was a gathering place for generations, was reduced to rubble by an Israeli airstrike on Nov. 1, leaving behind shattered memories and twisted fragments of a once-vibrant life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family, like thousands of Lebanese, were returning to check on their properties after the U.S.-mediated ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah went into effect early Wednesday. Intense Israeli airstrikes over the past two months leveled entire neighborhoods in eastern and southern Lebanon, as well as the southern suburbs of Beirut, which are predominantly Shiite areas of Lebanon where Hezbollah has a strong base of support. Nearly 1.2 million people have been displaced. The airstrikes have left a massive trail of destruction across the country. A photo of the Jawhari family's home taken on a phone by Louay Mustafa, Linas nephew is a visual reminder of what had been. As the family sifted through the rubble, each fragment recovered called them to gather around it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A worn letter sparked a collective cheer, while a photo of their late father triggered sobs. Reda Jawhari had built the house for his family and was a craftsman who left behind a legacy of metalwork. The sisters cried and hoped to find a piece of the mosque-church structure built by their father. Minutes later, they lifted a mangled piece of metal from the debris. They clung to it, determined to preserve a piece of his legacy. Different generations were raised with love... Our life was music, dance, dabke (traditional dance). This is what the house is made up of. And suddenly, they destroyed our world. Our world turned upside down in a second. It is inconceivable. It is inconceivable," Lina said. Despite their determination, the pain of losing their home and the memories tied to it remains raw. Rouba Jawhari, one of four sisters, had one regret. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are sad that we did not take my mom and dads photos with us. If only we took the photos, she said, clutching an ID card and a bag of photos and letters recovered from the rubble. It didnt cross our mind. We thought its two weeks and we will be back. The airstrike that obliterated the Jawhari home came without warning, striking at 1:30 p.m. on what was otherwise an ordinary Friday. Their neighbor, Ali Wehbe, also lost his home. He had stepped out for food a few minutes before the missile hit and rushed back to find his brother searching for him under the rubble. Every brick holds a memory, he said, gesturing to what remained of his library. Under every book you would find a story. The headline on this story has been corrected to make clear that the family fled to another part of Lebanon, not to another country. The crashing incompetence of Keir Starmer and his Cabinet, like the Conservatives before them, is starting to make Nigel Farage look like a much more serious politician. As with most of the so-called Westminster elite, I never used to take my fellow GB News presenter all that seriously, largely because he didnt seem to either. With his Bad Boys of Brexit schtick, which famously saw him compare then EU president Herman Van Rompuy to a wet rag, Farage presented himself as an anti-establishment disruptor, rather than someone actually capable of running the country. While the jury very much remains out on his boast to me, on Thursdays Daily T podcast, that he could possibly be PM come 2029, his rivals underestimate him at their peril. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They have yet to fully catch on to the threat posed by Farage and his increasingly professionalised Reform Party but Prof Sir John Curtice, a man who knows a thing or two about Westminster politics, already sees it clearly. As the political scientist wrote this week in the Telegraph, reflecting on how 42 per cent of the electorate voted for someone other than Labour and the Tories on July 4: The grip of Britains two largest parties on the affections of the electorate has never looked weaker. At the last general election, one in four Conservative voters backed Reform, fed up with broken Tory promises on tax and immigration, not to mention the partys obsession with net zero. Their lockdown zealotry hardly helped, nor did the perception that Boris Johnson and his successors failed to capitalise on Brexit. And now Labour are doing even worse. After four months in which we have witnessed Donorgate, endless broken promises on tax, the Chagos Islands giveaway, the closure of Vauxhalls Luton plant and the resignation of Cabinet fraudster, Louise Haigh, it is Reform, not the Tories, who are on the rise. The latest compendium of council by-election polling by Britain Elects makes for fascinating reading. Since the general election, Labour has haemorrhaged nearly 10 per cent of its support. But intriguingly, it hasnt gone to the Tories, who are down 0.3 per cent. Some support has shifted to the Liberal Democrats, up 1.2 per cent (although that may have come from the Greens, down 1.8 per cent), but most appears to have gone to Reform, up 11 per cent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Farage shrewdly plans to capitalise on this by emulating the late Paddy Ashdown in establishing Reform as a serious local political force to be reckoned with, with well over 300 branches now open across the country. National polling suggests Reform has grown its vote share from 14 to 18 per cent since the general election, with the party now the main opposition to Labour in Wales. All of which should frighten Starmer, a man whose inability to connect with the common man (and woman) was once summarised to me by a former Red Wall Labour MP, who said his working-class Yorkshire constituents regarded the former Director of Prosecutions as resembling a Brylcreemed spiv. As Andi Peters kindly pointed out to the Prime Minister on ITVs This Morning on Monday, he is now less popular than Farage, whose approval rating currently stands at 28 per cent to Starmers 23 per cent according to Ipsos. (Badenoch is currently tied with Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey on 21 per cent and therefore needs to make rapid progress in the popularity stakes, but well get on to the Tories shortly.) So it isnt just a threat to Starmer that Farage is better liked by the public. Its also problematic that he has a far more extensive social media reach. A little like Trump, but on a much smaller scale, Farage is the only party leader in Britain with an established fan base. Hes just surpassed the one million followers mark on TikTok, half of whom are under 25, and thanks to regular appearances online and on television, he is instantly recognisable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether hes credible as a prospect for PM remains to be seen, but consider this: of the 34 per cent of a 60 per cent turnout who voted for Labour, the vast majority did so simply because they werent the Tories. They wanted the Tories out. Starmer is already alienating Labour voters, right, left and centre. If his bungling continues, which in all likelihood it will, then come 2029 the main motivation for voting will be ABL (Anyone But Labour). And if the Tories are still seen as damaged goods (and Sir Ed reprises his clown act), who will they support? Many voters said in 2024, how much worse can Labour be? We now have our answer. The scale of incompetence we have witnessed with successive governments since 2010 makes Farage, Tice et al seem a far less risky prospect by contrast. At least some of them have run businesses, unlike most of the Labour front bench. This week Tice, to his credit, questioned why on earth the Ministry of Defence is importing steel from adversaries like China rather than buying British, with steelworks in places such as Port Talbot closing down as production continues to soar in Asia. Reform can credibly attack Labour because it has never been in power (a point that is also the partys Achilles heel), but the Conservatives attacks are awkward. Badenoch tried to undermine Starmer at Prime Ministers Questions by blaming Labours obsession with zero emissions vehicles (ZEVs) for the closure of Vauxhalls Luton plant. But everyone knows it was the Tories who originally came up with many of these economically illiterate targets, in the same way they know the Tories built on Blair and Browns open border policy, resulting in net migration soaring to nearly a million in 2022-23. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just as Starmer should be deeply concerned about the rise of Reform, so too should Badenoch. Her partys membership could soon be overtaken by the Right-wing challengers. Reform passed the 100,000 member mark around the time Conservative minister Dame Andrea Jenkyns defected to the party, in what feels like the confluence of two symbolic events. The new Tory leader was right to this week announce a review of every policy, treaty and part of our legal framework including the ECHR and the Human Rights Act. It will take work to persuade the public that they will indeed introduce a strict numerical cap, given the failure to deliver on such promises in office. The one advantage Badenoch has over Farage is that some still regard Reform as David Cameron did Ukip: Fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists. But that tag may only work when ascribed to an amateur outfit. We are witnessing the reform of Reform and next Mays local election results will reveal whether Farage really is in a position to mount the biggest political revolution since Brexit. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Cameron Smiths daughters want their father back. A mechanic by trade, he would bring them to his shop at times, and his 9-year-old daughter Cameron London Smith Taylor remembered how he would come home and love them. He used to come over to our house and give us kisses and hugs and stuff, she told the Journal Sentinel on Friday. Smith, a father of three daughters, was shot and killed Wednesday while he was in a vehicle at a gas station near West Fond du Lac and Hampton avenues, according to an initial police report. It stemmed from an argument between him and a 48-year-old man, who was arrested. Milwaukee police are seeking charges through the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the day after Thanksgiving, the 35-year-old's family was no closer to knowing what triggered such a violent response between the two men. Kimberly Nathaniel, Cameron's mother, said the family had spoken to a police detective, but only knew they were collecting evidence. He wasnt into no silliness. I dont know why he was shot. said Kevin Nathaniel, his father. Kevin and Kimberly Nathaniel said their son grew up in Milwaukee and lived in the city his whole life. He worked in construction initially, before he decided to go to Milwaukee Area Technical College to become an auto mechanic. Kimberly said it was her sons passion to work on cars; Kevin said Cameron later partnered with his cousin and they worked at an auto garage together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was a hard worker, sunup to sundown, said Kimberly. He just loved working on cars and trying to (support) his three kids. The children 9-year-old Cameron, 7-year-old Camer'rah Smith Taylor and 1-month-old Camyla Danielle Smith are staying with Kevin currently, he said. Thats the plan for now, while the family is grieving. Later, the kids will be with their mothers. He knows the gravity of what happened is still something his three grandchildren will have to grapple with. Im going to step up as a grandfather, Kevin said. It hasnt really kicked in with them. They still think hes coming back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two days since she lost their father, Camerrah remembered him. I miss my dad, and I want him back, Camerrah told the Journal Sentinel on Friday. He did everything for us. Smiths death was at least the 122nd reported homicide in Milwaukee so far this year, according to Milwaukee Police Department data. Thats 22% less than last year at this time and 38% less than in 2022. David Clarey is a reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at dclarey@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Victim of Milwaukee gas station shooting a father to three daughters SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Over a thousand San Diegans experiencing homelessness sat down to a warm Thanksgiving meal in downtown on Wednesday, when Father Joes Villages hosted their annual feast celebrating the holiday. Dozens of volunteers worked to serve the some 1,200 meals prepared by executive chef for Father Joes Village, Amiel Brosoto featuring twists on staples like a smoked herb turkey as well as unique sides, such as glazed Brussel sprouts topped with asiago cheese and cranberries. Watch Ed Lendermans report for KUSI News in the player above. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. A former Trump administration Food and Drug Administration commissioner is worried that the incoming administrations pick of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead a key health agency will prove dangerous. I think if RFK follows through on his intentions, and I believe he will, and I believe he can, it will cost lives in this country, Scott Gottlieb said during a Friday appearance on CNBCs Squawk Box. Youre going to see measles, mumps and rubella vaccination rates go down, and like I said, if we lose another 5 percent [of vaccinations], which could happen in the next year or two, we will see large measles outbreaks, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gottlieb, who serves on the board of Pfizer, maker of one of the Covid vaccines, is one of a number of health experts who have raised the alarm about the Trump administrations pick of Kennedy to lead the department of Health and Human Services. The Independent has contacted the Trump-Vance transition team for comment. Kennedy, who doesnt have a medical background, has a long history of raising doubts about vaccines, though he denies hes an anti-vaxxer. Trumps former FDA commissioner warns welcoming Robert F. Kennedy Jr. into the administration could harm public health and cost lives (AP) During a July interview with podcaster Lex Fridman, Kennedy doubted the utility of the polio vaccine and said falsely that, Theres no vaccine that is, you know, safe and effective. He later denied making the comments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2019, the island of Samoa suffered a measles outbreak that left 83 people dead, which critics argued Kennedy and his Childrens Health Defense organization helped bring about during a trip to the nation that year where Kennedy met with and later praised a prominent anti-vaxxer. Kennedy has said he had nothing to do with people not vaccinating in Samoa. The former environmental lawyer has said he will not take away anyones vaccines in office. We are going to make sure that Americans have good information right now, Kennedy told NPR this month. The science on vaccine safety particularly has huge deficits, and were going to make sure those scientific studies are done and that people can make informed choices about their vaccinations and their childrens vaccinations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Public health experts worry this message will further drive a partisan rejection of vaccines, at a time when routine vaccination rates are dropping, more children are seeking vaccine exemptions, and cases of measles are sprouting around the country. Georgetown University public health expert Lawrence Gostin has warned that Trumps victory and alliance with Kennedy represent the darkest day for public health and science in my lifetime. A federal judge has issued a contempt order against a Kentucky coal company for the third consecutive year after it failed to make progress toward cleaning up polluted mine sites. What's happening? The Associated Press reported in November that U.S. District Judge Robert Chambers has ordered Lexington Coal Company LLC to develop and implement an action plan to clean up selenium discharges and other pollution at its sites in Mingo County, West Virginia. Chambers also fined the company $50,000 and directed it to create a $100,000 fund to use toward compliance with federal environmental laws. Lexington Coal Company has already paid $169,500 in sanctions after Chambers found it in contempt in 2022 and 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Unfortunately, this significant sum of money has proven insufficient to coerce Lexington Coal into compliance," Chambers wrote in the ruling, per the AP. Why is this concerning? As the dirtiest fuel, coal is among the energy sources associated with millions of premature deaths every year, along with severe health complications such as cancer and heart disease. Mining the material can also introduce significant public health hazards to local ecosystems. For instance, the U.S. Department of Agriculture explains that selenium discharges "can rapidly bioaccumulate in food chains and reach levels that are toxic to aquatic life." Ultimately, Lexington Coal Company's failure to address the pollution is contributing to environmental degradation in West Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "For years, Lexington Coal has dragged its feet and failed to stop polluting Mingo County streams," Sierra Club West Virginia Chapter chairman James Kotcon said in a statement for the organization. "The pollutants they've discharged into the water have completely devastated ecosystems." What's being done about this? Kotcon has called for Lexington Coal to be held accountable for its actions. While previous fines have proved ineffective, a third contempt order may up the pressure on the company to make things right. Do you worry about air pollution in your town? Click your choice to see results and speak your mind The Sierra Club noted in a media release that it is partnering with environmental groups Appalachian Voices and the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy to put a stop to the coal company's repeated violations. Donating to organizations advocating for a cleaner future and supporting pro-climate policymakers are some ways to make your voice heard on issues like these. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Henry Brannan Washington State Standard A trio of federal agencies are considering whether to pursue additional environmental guidelines for the Columbia River. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bonneville Power Administration and the Bureau of Reclamation are conducting the review to comply with an agreement reached late last year after litigation by regional Native nations and environmental groups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Environmental groups and tribes are holding out hope the agencies will recommend the removal of Snake River dams, which seemed likely only a few years ago. But, with Republicans set to control Congress and the White House in less than two months, its unclear what will happen. The guidelines at the center of the debate are collectively called the Columbia River System Operations Environmental Impact Statement. Despite the dense, bureaucratic name, the document is important because it shapes many crucial aspects of the Columbia Rivers management including how much water is used by dams to generate hydroelectricity versus how much passes over their spillways to help young salmon safely make it to the ocean. The federal agencies began work on the current environmental impact statement in 2016 and finalized it in 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Groups had anticipated the 2020 environmental impact statement to finally settle the conflict over four dams on the Lower Snake River. They produce about 5 percent of the regions electricity but contribute to salmons struggles by preventing endangered fish from reaching historic spawning grounds. However, the 2020 document did not recommend their removal. Native nations and environmental groups sued. The recent litigation came after more than three decades of legal battles over the governments efforts to save endangered salmon runs, which environmental groups argue are inadequate. Following the 2020 litigation, the Biden administration in 2021 stepped in, halting this most recent round to give parties time to negotiate an agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement, reached in 2023, paused litigation for five to 10 years. It also mandated the government review the recent environmental impact statement, conduct new research and potentially produce a supplement to the document that would change the governments stance on issues like Snake River dam removal. To get a stay in that litigation, we agreed to some things, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spokesman Tom Conning said. And one of those things is environmental compliance. That compliance could lead to a supplemental environmental impact statement or the slightly less significant step of a supplemental environmental assessment. Or it could lead to nothing at all. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a supplemental environmental impact statement is required when an agency makes substantial changes to the proposed action that are relevant to its environmental concerns or when there are substantial new circumstances or information about the significance of adverse effects that bear on the analysis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a follow up email, Conning said the agency is looking at things that have changed since 2020, specifically citing: changes to the Columbia River systems 14 federal dam and reservoir projects; species that have since been listed by the Endangered Species Act; changes in Columbia River flows from the pending Columbia River Treaty with Canada; and newly published research. When asked if the agencies are considering Snake River dam removal, Conning said the dams are a part of the Columbia River system, but the agencies are looking at the system as a whole and not necessarily individual projects. Earth Justice lawyer Amanda Goodin said her organization expects to find out what approach the agencies are taking through a notice of intent from the trio by the end of this fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its currently unclear how the January transition from the Biden administration to another Trump presidency will impact the agencies decision-making. Goodin said its likely it will have some effect, but the specifics remain to be seen. She noted removing the Snake River dams when combined with significant investment in areas like Lewiston, Idaho, that would lose local revenue would be a win for environmentalists, Native nations and the regions economy. But Goodin added that decision documents that came out of the last Trump administration showed no interest in that kind of win-win solution. And, in fact, (they) were pretty fine condemning salmon to extinction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Corps Conning said the coming change in administrations will not change anything the agency is doing. Right now, we dont (expect) basically any impact, he said. Its not like we can really speculate at this point what the incoming administration or the next Congress might do. Republicans, who will control the presidency and both the chambers of Congress after January 2025, have opposed Snake River dam removal. During his first term, President-elect Donald Trump showed a clear preference for cutting environmental protections for fish and ecosystems, instead increasing the amount of river water available across the West for farming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats a stance he doubled down on while campaigning this summer, The Columbian reported last month. To Goodin, the stakes of the federal agencies potential action could not be higher or more time sensitive. The science has made clear that we are in an extinction crisis and that we really have to act with urgency here if we dont want to lose some of these (salmon) runs, she said. We dont really have time for half measures. We dont really have time for inaction. And if the federal government decides to not live up to its obligation and not to keep moving forward with the agreement, she continued, then anythings on the table anything that we can do to buy the fish more time, anything that we can do to keep this moving forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whatever the agencies decide on Snake River dam removal, Goodin acknowledged that issue will ultimately have to be decided by Congress. This article was first published by The Columbian through the Murrow News Fellow program, managed by Washington State University. A one-year-old girl was killed in a two-vehicle crash Friday, according to Florida High Patrol. According to a report, the crash occurred around 12:45 a.m. on I-4 East in Hillsborough County. FHP said a 30-year-old woman from Dundee was driving a Toyota RAV4 that was also carrying a 34-year-old Orlando woman, a six-year-old girl, a three-year-old boy and the one-year-old. A Jeep Cherokee driven by a 21-year-old woman from Englewood was behind the Toyota and collided with the rear of the vehicle as she tried to pass, according to FHP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read: Cold front arrives, with temps dropping to the 30s and 40s over the next few days According to troopers, both drivers suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to hospitals. The passengers of the Toyota were including the Orlando woman and children were also taken to the hospital. The six and three-year-old suffered non-life-threatening injuries, while the one-year-old did not survive her injuries, according to troopers. Read: Fur parents beware of lost pet scam on the rise The 34-year-old Orlando woman was not injured. Troopers are still investigating the crash. Read: Kissimmee man arrested in DeSoto County after two kidnapped 4-year-olds found in stolen vehicle Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. By Maya Gebeily BEIRUT (Reuters) -Syrian rebels opposed to President Bashar al-Assad said on Friday they had reached the heart of the northern city of Aleppo, after a surprise sweep through government-held towns and nearly a decade after having been forced out of the city. The opposition fighters, led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, launched an incursion on Wednesday into a dozen towns and villages in the northern province of Aleppo, which was controlled by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government, backed by both Iran and Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They made quick progress and by late Friday, an operations room representing the offensive said rebels were sweeping through various neighbourhoods of the city. Assad and his allies Russia, Iran and regional Shi'ite militias had retaken all of Aleppo city in late 2016, with insurgents agreeing to withdraw after months of bombardment and siege in a battle that turned the tide against the opposition. Rebel commander in the Jaish al-Izza rebel brigade Mustafa Abdul Jaber said the speedy advance was due to insufficient Iran-backed manpower in the broader province. Iran's allies in the region have suffered a series of blows at the hands of Israel as the Gaza war expanded to the Middle East. Opposition sources in touch with Turkish intelligence say Turkey had given a green light to the offensive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Turkish foreign ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli said Turkey sought to avoid greater instability in the region and had warned that recent attacks undermined de-escalation agreements. The attack was the biggest since March 2020, when Russia and Turkey agreed to a deal to de-escalate the conflict. CIVILIANS KILLED IN FIGHTING Syrian state television denied rebels had reached the city and said Russia was providing Syria's military with air support. The Syrian military said it continued to confront the attack, saying in a statement it had inflicted heavy losses on the insurgents in the countryside of Aleppo and Idlib. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David Carden, U.N. Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, said: "Were deeply alarmed by the situation unfolding in northwest Syria." "Relentless attacks over the past three days have claimed the lives of at least 27 civilians, including children as young as eight years old," he told Reuters. "Civilians and civilian infrastructure are not targets and must be protected under International Humanitarian Law." Syrian state news agency SANA said four civilians including two students were killed on Friday in Aleppo by insurgent shelling of university student dormitories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was not clear if they were among the 27 dead reported by the U.N. official. Russian and Syrian warplanes bombed the area near the border with Turkey on Thursday to try to push back an insurgent offensive that has captured territory for the first time in years, Syrian army and rebel sources said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow regarded the rebel attack as a violation of Syria's sovereignty and wanted the authorities to act fast to regain control. "As for the situation around Aleppo, it is an attack on Syrian sovereignty and we are in favour of the Syrian authorities bringing order to the area and restoring constitutional order as soon as possible," said Peskov. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked about unconfirmed Russian Telegram reports that Assad had flown into Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Peskov said he had "nothing to say" on the matter. (Reporting by Maya Gebeily in Beirut; Suleiman al-Khalidi in Amman; Adam Makary and Nadine Awadalla; Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Writing by Maya Gebeily and Tom Perry; Editing by Kevin Liffey, Timothy Heritage and Diane Craft) GENEVA, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreed on Friday to appoint incumbent Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to a second term, according to a press release from the organization. The decision was made during a special meeting of the WTO's General Council. The process for appointing the next director-general formally began on Oct. 8. By the end of the nomination period, Okonjo-Iweala, who had confirmed her willingness to serve a second four-year term, was the sole candidate for the position. Okonjo-Iweala's second term will commence on Sept. 1, 2025. A Thanksgiving Day electrical fire that started in a manhole on a Brooklyn street quickly engulfed a vehicle parked above it then caused flames to erupt in a fourth-floor apartment in a nearby building, FDNY officials said Thursday. The two-alarm blaze began in a manhole on Remsen St. near Hicks St. in Brooklyn Heights around noon and consumed a silver Subaru SUV parked nearby, FDNY Deputy Chief Stephen Corcoran said. We were in the process of suppressing the flames beneath the car and also checking the surrounding properties for carbon monoxide or any extension into the buildings, said Corcoran at the scene. At that point fire broke out on the fourth floor of [a] building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FDNY said 25 units responded to the 12:05 p.m. fire, with 106 fire and EMS personnel on scene. No injuries were reported. Three hours later, operations were still ongoing, and a cause for the initial electrical fire had yet to be determined. The cause of the fire in the building, which were assuming is correlated to the electrical fire in the street, is still under investigation, said Corcoran. Electrical fires are especially difficult to put out, said Corcoran, and firefighters had to wait for Con Edison to arrive and shut off power to the building. Extensive fire damage occurred in the fourth-floor unit, and occupants werent able to return Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three buildings were evacuated, one due to the fire and two because high amounts of carbon monoxide were detected. We are going to remain on the scene until those carbon monoxide levels are reduced to zero, said Corcoran, adding that once the levels were safe residents could return to the buildings undamaged by the blaze. While the fire ruined Thanksgiving plans for dozens of residents, at least one family forced to evacuate had something to be grateful for. Its an extremely distressing situation but especially on a holiday like Thanksgiving, said Corcoran. We were able to go in and save their Thanksgiving dinner and pack up their food for them and give it them so they could take it to a relatives house and enjoy it there. KANSAS CITY, Mo. A firefighter was hospitalized after falling through a flight of stairs while fighting a fire at an abandoned school Friday morning. According to the Kansas City Fire Department, at about 9 a.m., crews were dispatched to an abandoned, three-story school near East 22nd Street and Tracey Avenue on reports of a fire on the third floor. Upon arrival, crews began their offensive interior operations by searching the building and using five handlines to get the fire under control. Emergency responders and fire crews arrive at the scene of an abandoned school fire in Kansas City, Missouri on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, that left one firefighter hurt after they fell through a flight of stairs. (WDAF-TV) However, at about 9:15 a.m., as crews were taking out the fire, one firefighter fell through a set of stairs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to KCFD, the firefighter was taken to a hospital where they were later reported to have suffered non-life-threatening injuries. No other injuries were reported and dangerous buildings have been ordered. KCFD said the cause of the fire is still under investigation. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. By John Kruzel WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A dispute over the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's refusal to let two e-cigarette companies sell flavored vape products due to their health risk to youths goes before the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday in another case involving the power of regulatory agencies. The FDA has appealed a lower court's ruling that the agency did not follow proper legal procedures under a federal law called the Administrative Procedure Act when it denied applications by Triton Distribution and Vapetasia to sell their nicotine-containing products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case gives the Supreme Court a chance to further weaken federal regulatory agencies following major rulings in recent years limiting the authority of the bureaucracy that interprets laws, crafts rules and implements executive action. "This case places the Supreme Court in a position of oversight over the FDA's scientific decisions," University of Utah law professor Daniel Aaron said. "Should it overrule the FDA, it could allow tens of thousands of e-cigarettes onto the market the FDA has determined are harmful to the public health, while continuing a trend of judges intruding on agencies' scientific expertise." A 2016 FDA rule deemed e-cigarettes to be tobacco products that, like traditional cigarettes, are subject to agency review under a 2009 federal law called the Tobacco Control Act. That law requires manufacturers of e-cigarette products to apply for authorization to sell nicotine vaping devices and e-liquids. Triton and Vapetasia filed FDA applications in 2020 for products with flavors such as sour grape, pink lemonade and creme brulee, and names including "Jimmy The Juice Man Peachy Strawberry" and "Suicide Bunny Mother's Milk and Cookies" - offerings that critics call designed to appeal to children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FDA has approved only 34 flavored e-cigarette varieties, all tobacco or menthol flavored, and rejected applications for more than a million other products including e-liquids with flavors from candy to fruit to various desserts. E-cigarettes in a range of flavors are still easily available despite being illegal. The FDA lacks its own litigating authority, meaning enforcement of its regulation requires cooperation from the U.S. Justice Department, which has generally been unwilling to crack down on unauthorized flavored vape products despite requests from the agency, Aaron said. "These companies are flouting the law and are also using litigation to avoid FDA enforcement," Aaron added. To get FDA approval, e-cigarette companies must show that a product would be "appropriate for the protection of the public health," meaning any health benefits - like helping traditional cigarette smokers transition to generally less-harmful vaping - must outweigh the risks of bringing the new product to market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 'KNOWN AND SUBSTANTIAL RISK' The FDA maintains it has not categorically banned flavored e-cigarette products. But companies seeking its approval face a particularly demanding health benefits-versus-risk legal test due to the FDA's finding that flavored e-cigarettes pose a "known and substantial risk" to youths. "The FDA has rejected all applications for flavored vaping products because such products simply cannot meet the public health standard because of their documented potential for creating new underage tobacco users," said Mark Gottlieb, executive director of Northeastern University School of Law's Public Health Advocacy Institute. The FDA found that nearly one in five high school students and almost one in 20 middle school students used e-cigarettes in 2020, making e-cigarettes "the most widely used tobacco product among youth by far." It found that youth users consistently cited flavor as a top reason for why they vape. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Flavored e-cigarette use is highly prevalent among youth, which raises concerns about creating a new generation of adults addicted to nicotine," Aaron said. Ohio State University law and health policy professor Micah Berman said that in this case "the two sides have very different views about what happened." The FDA, Berman said, maintains that it simply followed a law that was largely designed to protect minors. Yet e-cigarette manufacturers have sought to portray the FDA as "an out-of-control agency that subjected them to a Kafka-esque series of constantly shifting and impossible-to-understand requirements," Berman said. Triton and Vapetasia in 2021 asked the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to review the FDA's denial of their applications. The 5th Circuit in January ruled in favor of them, finding that the FDA had been arbitrary and capricious in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 5th Circuit ruling created a split with seven other federal appellate courts that have sided with the FDA in similar cases, and prompted the agency's Supreme Court appeal. The 5th Circuit's ruling "seemed to strongly suggest that in rejecting the plaintiffs' marketing applications, the FDA got the outcome wrong," Berman said. "It will be interesting to see whether the justices engage in similar second-guessing of how the FDA weighed the evidence," Berman added. (Reporting by John Kruzel; Editing by Will Dunham) A flight packed with vacationers had to be aborted in midair because a technical mistake meant the aircraft failed to pressurize. An official report into the incident last year found that the 193 people on board the Tui Airways flight from Manchester Airport in the United Kingdom to Kos in Greece were exposed to the risk of hypoxia. A cabin altitude warning was activated in the Boeing 737-8K5 on October 17, 2023 as the plane flew over Lincolnshire in eastern England. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plane returned to Manchester and there were no injuries but the report from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said that those on board were likely to have been at risk of dropping oxygen levels during the incident. The investigation revealed that switches that regulate the air pressure inside the plane, known as bleed air switches, were turned off during maintenance work carried out on the air conditioning system before takeoff. This error was not picked up by the crew in their pre-flight safety measures. One of the engineers who carried out the maintenance work on the plane told investigators that he believed the switches had been returned to their original position after checks on the jets air conditioning system. A second engineer failed to spot that they were, in fact, in the off position. The oversight was also not detected by the pilots, either before takeoff or during after takeoff checks, the report found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once the error emerged, the pilots turned the switches back on but the report found that the crew failed to take other actions set out in the Quick Reaction Handbook (QRH) in response to the warning. These would have included donning oxygen masks. The report suggested the pilots thought that turning the switches on was sufficient to correct the issue and that other measures would have been disproportionate. However, donning the oxygen masks as an immediate action would have given both pilots immediate protection from any hypoxia risk and allowed them to clarify the situation with the highest risk removed, the report said. Once the switches were turned back on the plane continued to climb, but the warning sign remained on for 43 minutes before action was taken to stop and consult with the Tui maintenance team at Manchester Airport, the report stated. The captain then made the decision to return to Manchester. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cerebral hypoxia which is when the brain is deprived of oxygen can happen if a plane reaches too high an altitude or if there is a loss of cabin pressure. It can also be the result of carbon monoxide poisoning or breathing in too much smoke from a fire. Every pilots reaction to hypoxia is different, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. But is extremely hard for a person to tell when it is happening to them because the onset of symptoms is subtle. CNN reached out to Tui for comment. CNNs Jen Christensen contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Being convicted of tampering with a corpse tends to get a lawyer disbarred, so Nina Beltran aka Nina Marano saved the Florida Bar and state Supreme Court the trouble she requested disciplinary revocation.. The state Supreme Court, which says disciplinary revocation is tantamount to disbarment, granted Beltrans request on Nov. 14. Shed been a member of the Bar since 2012, two years after graduating from Brigham Young Universitys law school. An arrest warrant said Beltran worked for Empire Law Group in Polk County at the time of her arrest. Disciplinary revocation makes the professional discipline case go away while the lawyer is disbarred for at least five years. This doesnt affect any criminal or civil consequences from the attorneys actions, so Beltran remains in Plane Jail, a prison in Dayton, Texas. According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, where shes booked under Nina Marano, shes scheduled for release on Jan. 10, 2026. Nina Tamar Beltran aka Nina Tamar Marano when she was taken into custody in 2021 by Miami-Dade Corrections. READ MORE: Texas fugitive, wanted in murder of woman who was missing for months, jailed in Miami Conspiracy and murder in Dallas Marano was captured in Miami-Dade after being on the run with her wife, Lisa Dykes aka Lisa Beltran, following the October 2021 murder in Dallas of Marisela Botello-Valadez, 23. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors proved at trial that after Botello left a bar in Dallas Deep Ellum section with Charles Beltran, with whom Dykes and Marano were in a three-way relationship, Dykes stabbed Botello to death. Marano and Beltran helped hide Botellos body, which wasnt found until months later. Police say they traced Marano and Dykes cellphones to woods near a cement plant in the suburb of Hutchens. By that point, Marano, Dykes and Beltran skedaddled. Marano wound up in Miami, where shed be arrested on March 25, 2021. Dykes would be arrested up in Orange County around the same time. Eventually, Beltran was arrested, also. Marano and Dykes posted bond and were under house arrest in Dallas. Trial testimony by the house arrest supervisor said on Christmas morning, 2021, Marano and Dykes cut off their ankle monitors to skip town and country, boarding a flight at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport to Seoul, South Korea. The holiday falling on a Saturday gave them two days before the inactivity in their monitors was discovered. They would be recaptured in Cambodia. Murder charges would be dropped against Marano and Beltran, who also pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence. He testified against Dykes and, with an unrelated robbery conviction, is scheduled to be in prison until April 21, 2027. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dykes got sentenced to life after being convicted of murder and tampering with evidence. Marano didnt testify against her. She just chose not to testify against her spouse, Maranos attorney, Valerie Baston said to Dallas Fox4News. Theyre still legally married Theyre not in communication with each other. I dont believe theres any animosity between the two. Information from Miami Herald reporter Charles Rabin contributed to this report. Backing the blue and promising to be tough on criminals turned out to be a winning message for one Florida judicial candidate, but it also got him suspended by the Florida Supreme Court this week. John B. Flynn was elected to the Polk County bench in 2022 after promising to support our law enforcement agencies and vowing that criminals wont be happy to see me on the bench. I am tough. If someone is found guilty, the punishment should sting enough for the person to learn criminal behavior will not be tolerated. Flynn rode the message to a decisive win, defeating his opponent by 25 percentage points. But the Judicial Qualifications Commission, the states ethics watchdog, opened an investigation and found the campaign violated the judicial canons, the rules that govern a judges public and private conduct. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its the job of the impartial judge to look at each defendant individually and each case individually, said Jason B. Blank, a Broward attorney who serves as president of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. The judges campaign statements undermined public confidence that he would give the accused a fair hearing, he said. Blank took little issue with the general statements supporting police, recognizing that jurors are told to weigh the testimony of police the same as they would any civilian witness. We would hope that they testify truthfully as every citizen would and should. A statement of support for law enforcement has to be balanced with the fact that not every defendant is guilty. Once he was elected, Flynn was appointed to oversee civil cases. A phone call to the attorney who represented Flynn in front of the qualifications commission was not returned Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Court suspended Flynn for 25 days without pay and ordered him to appear in front of the courts justices for a public reprimand. The dates for the suspension and reprimand have not been set. _____ PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (WFLA) A convicted felon reportedly tried to escape from deputies through a drainage pipe Friday after he was caught loading a stolen chainsaw and other lawn supplies into his truck. The Charlotte County Sheriffs Office said deputies received a call from a homeowner that day who told them he had just chased a thief out of his garage. Father murdered 5-year-old son then killed himself, Hillsborough deputies say Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before he was spotted, the suspect, later identified as 52-year-old Thomas Maldonado, had reportedly managed to take the victims chainsaw, weed eater, and leaf blower and load them into his light gray Toyota Tundra. Officials said the homeowner was able to note the license plate number on the truck as he was chasing Maldonado. He also provided a description of the alleged thief, stating that the man was of a medium build and had a bald head. A deputy in the area spotted a vehicle and driver matching the description on Midway Boulevard. Authorities said Maldonado immediately got out of the truck and started running after the deputy activated his emergency lights. Deputies then swarmed the area, and a helicopter crew was deployed to search for Maldonado. Officials said it wasnt long before the crew spotted Maldonado laying between a wooded area and a small waterway. (Credit: Charlotte County Sheriffs Office) The pilot directed deputies to the location, but after seeing the helicopter, Maldonado reportedly crawled into a drainage culvert. As he exited the other side, which came out onto Kings Highway, more deputies were waiting to take him into custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maldonado was arrested and charged with the following: Burglary of an occupied dwelling (Felony) Grand theft more than $300 but less than $5,000 (Felony) Fleeing or attempting to elude (Felony) Resisting officer without violence Knowingly driving while license revoked Violation of probation In addition to those charges, Maldonado was served with a warrant out of DeSoto County for violation of probation, the sheriffs office said. He was booked into the Charlotte County Jail without bond. This individual was brazen enough to commit these crimes in broad daylight with the homeowner present. He clearly has no regard for the law, and his actions show that he belongs behind bars, Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell said. As we enter the holiday season, it is a time to be thankful for what we have and we should not have to look over our shoulder to make sure what we have is still there and not taken by someone who did not earn it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Two former Senate counsels agreed in a New York Times op-ed published Friday that President-elect Trumps nominations for his Cabinet need to undergo FBI checks. Some advisers to the president-elect have suggested taking the job of conducting background checks for high-level nominees away from the FBI and give it to private investigators, but other Republicans are balking at that proposal. Without nominees being scrutinized by the F.B.I., the danger is that neither lawmakers nor the public would know whether they are trustworthy or have issues that could compromise their ability to do the job or their loyalty to the United States, wrote Noah Bookbinder, who served as counsel for Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee from 2005-13, and Gregg Nunziata, who served as a counsel for the GOP members of the committee from 2005-08. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Associated Press reported last week that the Trump transition team had not signed the requisite agreements with the White House or Department of Justice to allow the FBI to conduct background checks on the nominees, which could mean the Senate could continue with the confirmation hearings without the nominees undergoing the usual background checks. Efforts to bypass F.B.I. background checks and even Senate confirmation itself via mass recess appointments, made by the president when the Senate is not in session, never would have flown with past iterations of the Judiciary Committee, regardless of which party was in charge. The Senate shouldnt stand for it now, Bookbinder and Nunziata wrote. Republicans have been grappling with the possibility that Trump could prompt a constitutional crisis and set a dangerous precedent by with recess appointments to appoint controversial Cabinet nominations an idea that could test the president-elects limits of his constitutional authority. Some Republican senators and aides, however, say Trump allies who claim he would have power under Article 2, Section 3 of the Constitution to force an extended recess next year allowing him to fill key positions without having to go through the Senates confirmation process dont understand how Congress really works. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In our time working on the Judiciary Committee, we reviewed hundreds of nominations. Many nominees, like many Americans, had minor issues isolated drug use, fights, bad employment experiences but most of those incidents, while not ideal, never rose to the level of further investigation, the two former counsels wrote. When there were more significant issues, we handled them together, Democrats and Republicans, confidentially, so there would never be a question of our using peoples backgrounds for partisan gain, they continued. Then, Bookbinder and Nunziata said, it would be up to the Senate to decide whether the information would impact their votes more than merely a matter of formal process, Bookbinder and Nunziata wrote. The duo urged the Senate to make clear that nominations must undergo FBI checks before the confirmation votes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a time when there are fewer and fewer meaningful checks on presidential power, the need for rigorous Senate consideration of nominees is all the more important. Without it, the president and his appointees could run roughshod over the government and over Americans lives with no one challenging them, they wrote. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Fort Moore one of the largest and most vital military infantry training installations in the U.S. is ground zero for heat strokes and, in the last five years, heat adaptation. For a century, Fort Moores Maneuver Center of Excellence and its home city, Columbus, have mulled through hot, muggy summer days. An average of 64,000 soldiers are trained every year at the base, readying them for the U.S. infantry with an intense 22-week-long boot camp. But in the last 10 years, heat has complicated training as much as ever. Those 10 years have been the warmest on record globally, and Georgia has experienced some of its hottest years in that period including 2016, 2017 and 2020, and 2023 was one the hottest Julys in Georgia. Unbearably hot conditions in the already hot summer and warming conditions into the spring and fall are creating recipes conducive to heat stroke and adding challenges safe training. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Defense recognized the problem of heat stroke illness at Fort Moore as early as 2008, according to Lt. Col. David DeGroot, heat center director of the Army Heat Center. But it wasnt until 2016 when a soldier died from drinking too much water and losing electrolytes, an illness called Hyponatremia, that the base stepped up its caution for heat. The Army Heat Center started here in 2019, and we kept it here because DOD data shows Fort Moore leads the entire DOD in heat casualties, DeGroot said, not referring to heat deaths but instead with cases of heat illness. In the 1950s, the military created a gauge for minimizing time outdoors by using colored flag categories known as flag days with black being the most severe at 92 degrees wet-bulb globe temperature. Wet-bulb globe temperature is different from the heat index in that it takes into account ambient temperature, humidity, sunlight exposure and wind speed. DeGroot, a physiologist who partners with the Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (co-located at the Soldier Systems Center in Natick, Mass.) said flag days matter but more needs to be done. He leads several programs at the Army Heat Center headquartered at Fort Moore located in the Martin Army Community Hospital on base. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said prevention and education are key, not just at Fort Moore but at other bases too. Over 6,000 people have received training from Army Heat Center staff since its inception in 2019, according to the 2023 DOD Heat Illness Report. Another component of his work is minimizing severity and recognizing that, we are never going to get heat casualties to zero, he said. Since DeGroots time as heat center director, the heat stroke casualties at Fort Moore have dropped. DeGroot said there has just been one heat-related death in the past five years, which occurred in 2020. Aside from 2023, the frequency of exertional heat stroke at Fort Moore has been reduced by 47% since 2019. DeGroot said 2023 was an unusually warm year, which is likely why there were higher levels compared to 2022 or 2024. Tools and techniques for adapting Over 90% of all exertional heat stroke casualties at Fort Moore occur during foot march or running events, according to the 2023 DOD heat illness report. DeGroot said changing times for outdoor training makes it safer, because they go out during cooler parts of the day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement July and August from two to five p.m. is not when people go out for runs and do foot marches, DeGroot said. Basic trainees with E-Troop, 5th Squadron, 15th Cavalry Regiment, 194th Armored Brigade participate in the Thunder Run, June 29, 2023 on Harmony Church. The Thunder Run requires Sometimes in the hot summer months, the coolest part is just a small window in the morning when its still very humid or warm. And because of climate change, Columbus has warming low temperatures. Lows have gotten 2.2 degrees warmer since 1970. Its not just how hot it gets each day that matters, its also how warm the coolest time of day is, Degroot said in an email. Leaders schedule events with higher risk of heat illness for the coolest time of day, but when that time of day is warmer than usual, its increasingly difficult to mitigate heat stress. Warmer nights have increased over the past 40 years in Columbus. The average low is increasing by 2.2 degrees. DeGroot said people on-base will dunk their arms in a bucket of ice. That can cool body temperatures by half a degree, which is significant to avoiding heat illnesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When its hot enough and humid enough just resting or passively resting in the shade is not going to be enough, he said. Another component of the heat center DeGroot stresses is that leaders need to know it takes time for the body to acclimate and soldiers need to be educated on slowing down, which DeGroot said is the most important part for soldiers preventing heat issues. (FORT MOORE, Ga) Basic trainee with E-Troop, 5th Squadron, 15th Cavalry Regiment, 194th Armored Brigade participate in the Thunder Run using the arm immersion technique created by Dr. David DeGroot. June 29, 2023 Drill sergeants are holding the line and saying, dont run in front of me when they go for a run, he said. But that goes against a culture of motivation and competitiveness that the military has built up for years. DeGroot said that culture can be the Armys own enemy when it comes to fighting heat stress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yes, this could absolutely, potentially impact the quality of the training, DeGroot said to the Ledger-Enquirer. Future challenges There were an average of 80 days per year above 90 degrees in Muscogee County from 1970 to 2000, and 14 days per year over 100 degrees, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists, a nonprofit organization of climate scientists aimed at developing solutions for a safe future. That number is expected to rise drastically. In the groups 2020 project, Killer Heat in the United States: The Future of Dangerously Hot Days they say Muscogee County is at risk of experiencing 118 to 127 days per year above 90 degrees and 51 to 68 days above 100 degrees as early as 2036 if slow or no action is taken on climate change. The annual average global temperature increased by 1.8 degrees from 1901-2016, with most of this increase taking place in the last 30 years, according to NOAA. Screen grab from the Killer Heat interactive map showing a scenario of no climate action in Muscogee County. The number of days above 100 degrees F would increase to 68 per year starting in 2036. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sherri Goodman, the current secretary general of the International Military Council on Climate & Security, told the Ledger-Enquirer about military bases at home adapting to climate change last month. Goodman also was the first deputy undersecretary of defense (environmental security). In the 90s we talked about owning the night, as night vision goggle technology was the advanced technology ... , Goodman said. Now we have to own the heat. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks talks about how we have to own the heat in the climate era. Earlier this month, climate scientists determined that 2024 is set to break 2023s global average temperature record. Global warming is real and the risk is not going away, DeGroot said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeGroot said the challenge now is complacency because the risk of heat is here, but leaders at Fort Moore rotate. This is the longest weve gone without a death. The danger now is complacency because leaders rotate in and out of positions. KATHMANDU, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- A sport utility vehicle veered off the highway in eastern Nepal on Friday afternoon, leaving five dead and three others wounded. The vehicle carrying eight people fell about 300 meters down a cliff in Ramechhap district of Bagmati province, said Pradip Kumar Singh, chief of the district police. A ward chairperson of Gokulganga Rural Municipality in the district was among the dead and one of the injured was in serious condition, Singh told Xinhua. Traffic accidents are common in mountainous Nepal, killing hundreds of lives each year. PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) For new foster parents like Gail and John Dickerson, welcoming children isnt just about offering shelter. Its about providing a fresh start, one full of hope and happiness. They came to our home with next to nothing. They had some clothing. Much of it didnt fit, said Gail. Thanks to Foster Village Peoria, the Dickersons three new foster kids, a 16-year-old and her two babies, arrived to more than just a home. They were greeted with new clothes, shoes and toys, just for them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We just got a bunch of brand-new items, and it was just really rewarding. It brought a lot of joy to see her excited, opening up the packages, said John. They came in their own bags. They werent in garbage sacks. They werent in tattered boxes. It meant so much for them to have something that truly belonged to them, that had never belonged to anybody else, said Gail. So I thought it was just such a wonderful program that they can provide this type of new stuff to these kids that have nothing of their own. Its more than just new things. Its dignity. The ability to feel loved. Founded by foster parents for foster parents, Foster Village Peoria has supported more than 1,700 families in Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford counties since launching in 2022. Its run entirely by five program coordinators and about 40 volunteers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The organizations resource closet is filled with brand-new clothes, toys, shoes, socks, uniforms, diapers, toiletries and more. Parents can also make special requests for larger items like strollers, beds, cribs and car seats. The resource closet at Foster Village Peoria Each child receives a welcome bag tailor-made for them within 24 to 48 hours of being placed with a foster family. So say they like Spider-Man pajamas, we will do our best to get Spider-Man pajamas, said Katie Oliger, resource closet coordinator at Foster Village Peoria. We pack specifically for the child, for their age, their interests, their developmental needs, even sensory needs. We do our best to get things that are just for them. Jill Vaughn has been fostering a baby boy for the last 10 months. She said the support provided by Foster Village Peoria has been invaluable, especially when she first brought him home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What was really helpful was receiving diapers and formula. I can go out and buy those things, but for those first few days, you have a newborn like he was fresh. He just got home from the hospital. So to not have to worry about, okay, we need to go buy formula or we need to go buy diapers and wipes right away was great, she said. And its not just about providing things. Its about building a village through youth events, support gatherings, educational workshops, and a visit room. Our goal is to make sure every child feels that they are loved and they are respected, and we are showing them they are unique, said Cheriz Kunkle, co-founder and executive director of Foster Village Peoria. Foster Village Peoria hosts two to three support gatherings per month for foster families to connect and build community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were trying to make sure they feel supported and connected. Were trying to build that village, so the single foster parent has friends that shes made through our support groups that she can call for help, said Kunkle. The nonprofit also offers multiple educational workshops each year so foster parents are equipped to handle whatever may come their way. Caring for children from difficult places means they come with trauma, emotions, behaviors. And so we want to help prepare them so they can continue to care for kids in their home, said Kunkle. Vaughn said she has formed relationships with the foster family community built through Foster Village Peoria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And so just to have that resource, to be able to make that community if you need somebody to help watch your children. Youre making meaningful relationships with other people within the foster care community, she said. The visit room is filled with toys and activities for all ages. Biological parents are able to meet with their children in a safe space. But as the need continues to grow, Foster Village Peoria needs your help to continue serving foster families in Central Illinois. Because were non-profit, we dont get federal dollars or state dollars like the agencies do. Were community-funded and community-run. We need your support to keep going, said Kunkle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youre interested in joining the organizations board of directors, volunteering or to make a donation, click here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com. WEST JORDAN, Utah (ABC4) The founder of the Utah-based Tiny Tims Foundation for Kids died on Tuesday at 89 years old. Alton C. Thacker died peacefully of natural causes in his West Jordan home while surrounded by family, according to a press release. During his lifetime, Thacker founded a nonprofit that gave more than 1.7 million toy cars to children in 110 countries. Family, nonprofit bring holiday cheer to bedridden teen with cancer Heres how you can help Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thacker and his wife Cheryl began making wooden cars for children after traveling to Mexico with a group of Utah eye doctors. He traveled with the group several times and noticed many children in the poorer areas did not have toys. He decided to do something about it, the press release said. He enjoyed woodworking, so he started making wooden toy cars to give to children in Mexico on his next trip there with the eye doctors. Photo of Alton C. Thacker, founder of Tiny Tims Foundation for Kids. (Credit: Tiny Tims Foundation for Kids) Car made at Tiny Tims (Credit: Tiny Tims Foundation) That first year, Thacker and his wife made approximately 400 wooden toy cars in their garage and in 1996 the nonprofit was established. The organization is now comprised of more than 1,000 volunteers who make over 100,000 toy cars annually. The nonprofit reports there are 500 million children worldwide who have never owned a toy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the obituary, Thacker was born and raised in eastern Utah and enjoyed hunting, camping, cowboy poetry, attending the Utah State Fair, and playing banjo and mandolin and singing old-time folk songs. But his greatest joy by far came from serving others, the obituary reads. Alton was fond of saying, If you want to be happy, do something for somebody else, and he dedicated his life to living up to that ideal. Many who knew him would say that he was the happiest person they knew. Tiny Tims Foundation is now being operated by his daughter Ashley Krause and granddaughter Emilee Johnson who have been running the organization since 2022. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. (EL PASO/TELLER COUNTIES, Colo.) The Fourth Judicial District is celebrating the first anniversary of Division CARE (Court Assisted Recovery from Eviction), Colorados only eviction recovery program of its kind. Division CARE was launched as a pilot program by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) on Nov. 21, 2023. Throughout the last year, Division CARE has impacted the lives of tenants and landlords by addressing housing insecurity and stabilizing the local community. Division CARE has proven that innovative, collaborative approaches can make a difference in reducing housing instability, said Magistrate Andrea Paprzycki, the programs founder. By working with community partners, we have turned a critical challenge into an opportunity to restore dignity and hope for individuals and families facing eviction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Fourth Judicial District sees 750 eviction cases filed each month. The program has grown to provide assistance to 100 of those cases every month. These efforts have helped participants avoid eviction, secure stable housing, and access mediation or legal assistance. For the very first time in my life, I do not feel like I have to carry the weight of the world all by myself, and I am so very grateful for you and for my judge yesterday who told me about this program, one program participant said. Division CARE serves as a model for other districts and jurisdictions considering similar programs. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. By David Lewis, John Irish NAIROBI/GENEVA (Reuters) -A French plan to significantly reduce its military presence in West and central Africa risks backfiring and further diminishing the former colonial power's influence in the region at a time when Russia is gaining ground. A French envoy to President Emmanuel Macron this week handed in a report with proposals on how France could reduce its military presence in Chad, Gabon and Ivory Coast, where it has deployed troops for decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details of the report have not been made public but two sources said the plan is to cut the number of troops to 600 from around 2,200 now. The sources said Chad would keep the largest contingent with 300 French troops, down from 1,000. However, in a surprise move that caught French officials on the hop, the government of Chad - a key Western ally in the fight against Islamic militants in the region - on Thursday abruptly ended its defence cooperation pact with France. That could lead to French troops leaving the central African country altogether. "For France it is the start of the end of their security engagement in central and Western Africa," said Ulf Laessing, director of the Sahel Programme at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Mali. "Chad was the aircraft carrier of the French army, its logistical headquarters. If Chad doesn't exist, the French army will have a huge problem to keep running its other operations." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a further blow to France, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye told French state TV on Thursday it was inappropriate for French troops to maintain a presence in his country, where 350 French soldiers are currently based. France has already pulled its soldiers out from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, following military coups in those West African countries and spreading anti-French sentiment. Paris is also shifting more attention to Europe with the war in Ukraine and increasing budgetary constraints, diplomats said. The review envisions the remaining French soldiers in the region focusing on training, intelligence exchange and responding to requests from countries for help, depending on their needs, the sources said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chad's move to end the cooperation deal had not been discussed with Paris and shocked the French, according to the two sources and other officials. France, which wants to keep a presence in Chad in part because of its work to help ease one of the world's worst humanitarian crises unfolding now in neighbouring Sudan, responded only 24 hours after Chad made its announcement. "France takes note and intends to continue the dialogue to implement these orientations," the foreign ministry said in a statement. One of the two sources, a French official with knowledge of Chadian affairs, said Chad's government appeared to have seen the French decision to more than halve its military presence there as a snub. Chad also felt the French would no longer be in a position to guarantee the security of the military regime led by President Mahamat Idriss Deby, this source said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Macron had backed Deby despite criticism since Deby seized power following the death of his father, who ruled Chad for 30 years until he was killed in 2021 during an incursion by rebels. Deby won an election held this year. In its statement on Thursday evening, released hours after the French foreign minister had visited the Sudanese border in eastern Chad with his counterpart, Chad's foreign ministry said N'djamena wanted to fully assert its sovereignty after more than six decades of independence from France. It said the decision should in no way undermine the friendly relations between the two countries. Earlier this year, a small contingent of U.S. special forces left Chad amid a review of U.S. cooperation with the country. The French drawdown, coupled with a U.S. pullback from Africa, contrasts with the increasing influence of Russia and other countries, including Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, on the continent. Russian mercenaries are helping prop up the military governments of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, and are also fighting alongside them against Islamist militants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, French officials and other sources played down Russia's ability to take advantage of the French setback in Chad, at least in the short term. The French source familiar with Chadian affairs noted that Russia and Chad back rival factions in Sudan's war. Russia also has major military commitments in Syria and the war in Ukraine. (Reporting by David Lewis in Nairobi and John Irish in Geneva; Writing by Silvia Aloisi; Editing by Peter Graff and Richard Chang) France is heading for a showdown with Britain over the Channel migrant crisis unless the UK agrees to open legal admission channels for those seeking to reach its shores, its hardline interior minister has warned. Bruno Retailleau also called for a new comprehensive Europe-wide deal with Britain on migration in which the UK accepted legal routes for migrants in exchange for the return of illegal immigrants from Britain to the EU. He pledged to engage in an arm wrestle with the EU on the issue if necessary to obtain it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a visit to Calais, northern France, on Friday, he said: The relationship between France and the United Kingdom can no longer be reduced to sub-contracting out to France security on the Channel border. The UK last year pledged 478 million to help the French police its borders over a three-year period. Frances new Right-wing government has vowed to curb migrant numbers - SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP/Getty Images Mr Retailleau announced that some 175 police would be added to the current 800 on the northern coast. But he said: Not everything can be solved with additional funding. He added that there is a showdown to be had on border security between the two countries in the wake of Brexit. I hope it wont come to that, but we have to change this relationship, he insisted during his first trip to the Calais coast since taking up his post in the Right-wing government of Michel Barnier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brexit has destroyed all the migratory relationships we had with the other side of the Channel, including legal admissions channels from France to England by air, sea or rail. Mr Retailleau said he had intended to discuss these issues with his British counterpart Yvette Cooper, whom he has invited to the northern Pas-de-Calais area on Dec 9 before a meeting the following day in London in a format extended to Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Ireland. In an interview with La Voix du Nord on Friday, he said: We need a new relationship with the British. Brexit has changed the situation. Only a comprehensive deal between the UK and the EU can really turn things around. If I have to engage in an arm wrestle, I will. Frances new Right-wing government has vowed to curb migrant numbers and sources recently said it absolutely believes the lack of an EU-wide migration deal with the UK after Brexit is a pull factor for illegal immigrants travelling to French soil from countries such as Italy and Greece. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The border between France and the United Kingdom is Europes common external border. Why should France alone, since the UK is no longer an EU member state, bear the entire burden of defending this external border? That is no longer possible, said Mr Retailleau. If things do not progress, we will denounce the Le Touquet agreement, he said, referring to the 2004 deal whereby Britain is authorised to conduct border checks on French soil. However, Mr Retailleau appeared to rule out simply scrapping the Le Touquet deal as doing so would be the best way to rebuild the jungle and to clog up cross-Channel traffic, he warned. Its a tragedy Eventually, there will have to be a legal [immigration] route to Great Britain and a returns route not only to France but also to the border countries, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The current framework had totally run out of steam, he said, pointing out that according to French authorities, 72 migrants have died this year trying to reach England by sea in makeshift boats. Its not tolerable, its a tragedy, he stressed. Brussels rejected British calls for a UK-EU migration deal, which would allow the return of Channel migrants to France, during the Brexit negotiations from 2017 to 2021. It told the UK it would have to negotiate bilateral migrant return deals with individual EU countries such as France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands instead. The Commission has rebuffed calls for such a deal ever since but is under pressure from the EUs two most influential members following the recent letters from France and Germany on the issue. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed his support for Ukraine and reiterated his condemnation of an escalation in Russia's attacks against the country in a phone call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said the two leaders. A statement from Macron's office said Macron held his phone call with Zelenskiy on Friday, during which Macron "condemned in the strongest possible terms Russia's indiscriminate attacks which are consistently intensifying against towns, civilian populations and against Ukraine's energy infrastructure." A separate statement from Zelenskiy on the Telegram social media platform said Zelenskiy had again stressed to Macron the importance of a NATO invitation to Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I had a productive telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron. I thanked him for France's readiness to help with generally strengthening Ukraine's air defence capabilities and for general support and speeding up the transfer of Mirage aircraft," said Zelenskiy. (Reporting by Elizabeth Pineau and Ronald Popeski; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta) Orange County Animal Services is warning that scammers are targeting Central Florida pet owners, posing as Orange County Animal Services (OCAS) employees. One of its partner cat rescues almost became a victim of the scam last week. Valerie Fitzgerald, representing United Paws Rescue Inc., says she received the call after she posted her cat, Bella, on an online lost pet forum. I received a call from a private number, Fitzgerald said. The person on the other line said he was an OCAS employee and Bella was in the shelter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read: OUCs Controversial PeakShift Program The callers informed Fitzgerald that Bella had been hit by a car, paralyzed and in need of surgery that would cost $5,400. Fitzgerald needed to pay half the fee immediately through Cash App, Venmo, or Zelle. I was pretty upset and trying to log into my Venmo, Fitzgerald said. He said he needed the payment immediately, or they must let Bella go. Fitzgerald said the caller eventually hung up. She then called OCAS, who confirmed this was a scam, Bella was not there. Read: I-4 safety research aims to cut crashes and congestion Its heartbreaking to know people are attempting to take advantage of grieving and upset pet owners; people who are often so desperate for a chance to be reunited with their pet they miss suspicious behavior, said Diane Summers, Manager for Orange County Animal Services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read: 9 Investigates: Orlando affordable housing project pulled 2.5 years after groundbreaking OCAS has set fees for pet reclaims and we dont ask for online payments. When we reach out to owners about reclaiming a pet, the first thing we ask them to do is visit the shelter, not send money, Summers said. If someone is contacting you on behalf of our shelter and you have any suspicion about the legitimacy of the information, please visit our shelter in person to speak with our staff. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Too often, missing persons cases involving people of color "don't get any amplification," Joe Petito tells PEOPLE The Petito & Schmidt Families Gabby Petito Gabby Petito Joe Petito became upset when he first heard the term "Missing White Woman Syndrome." His 22-year-old daughter Gabby disappeared on a cross-country journey in the summer of 2021, later to be found slain by her fiance Brian Laundrie. The desperate search for Gabby made headlines across the globe. But the intense online interest and widespread, non-stop media coverage represented what many believed to be an instance of "Missing White Woman Syndrome" where White crime victims get more public attention than non-White ones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I first heard Missing White Woman Syndrome, I didn't like the phrase and I didn't know anything about it, to be honest, Joe tells PEOPLE in an interview. However, Joe quickly realized that it was a real thing," he says. You start looking at stories that go mainstream, and they always seem to look the same and that needs to change, he says. Everyone deserves the same attention, and every story deserves the same type of assistance. Joseph Petito/Instagram Joe Petito and his daughter Gabby Joe Petito and his daughter Gabby Related: Gabby Petitos Parents Want Teens to Look Out for These Dating Red Flags to Prevent Domestic Violence (Exclusive) Now, Joe is hoping to shine a spotlight on cases that have too often been ignored. He's collaborating on a television series featuring those cases called Faces of the Missing, a Backlot Productions and Boundless Films collaboration with executive producers Dana Richie, Francesco Lucarelli and Elaine Aradillas. (The sizzle reel for the series is shown below.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have a plan to try and get as many people's stories in front of as many people as possible, and hopefully it works, he says. It's not only getting the stories out there but getting the stories out there to the people that have leverage in the true crime community because that's how Gabby's story got out there, was social media. When social media was going wildfire with the story, that's when the national media started to pick it up. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Diana King Joe and Tara Petito; Nichole and Jim Schmidt Joe and Tara Petito; Nichole and Jim Schmidt Making Gabby Proud Gabby, a YouTube vlogger, disappeared while driving around the U.S. with Laundrie, 23, in the summer of 2021. Her body was later discovered near a campground in Wyoming. After killing Gabby, Laundrie died by suicide. His body was found in a nature preserve near his familys home in North Port, Fla., on Oct. 20, along with a backpack containing what the FBI described as a notebook claiming responsibility for Gabbys strangulation death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Gabbys murder, Joe, along with his wife Tara, Gabbys mom Nichole Schmidt and her husband Jim, found purpose and healing by using the enormous publicity generated by the tragic case to try to prevent similar tragedies. They came together to create the Gabby Petito Foundation, which raises awareness about domestic violence while also creating tougher laws and policies governing how police respond to reports of intimate partner abuse and missing persons. In recent months, the foursome have begun using their platform to raise awareness about the thousands of missing and unsolved murders of and people of color and Indigenous people whose cases often get too little attention. Related: Gabby Petitos '4 Parents' Share How Her Tragic Death Fulfilled Her Lifelong Dream of Bringing Them 'All Together' (Exclusive) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When it comes to missing persons, they just don't get any amplification, he says. So doing things that we can by helping get their stories out as far as we can get them, you and I included, it's going to help find those people. I understand what it takes, the heartaches and the anxiety and the hopelessness. But I only had to endure it for a little over a week and a half, he said. Others have had to endure lifetimes, years of not knowing. And I don't know how people deal with that. And it breaks my heart when I see that. The Petito and Schmidt Families Gabby and Joe Petito Gabby and Joe Petito Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joe says he wants to use social media as a tool where people can help dive in in their own private groups that they have, their own sleuth groups that they do from home to help get information out there. Hopefully that can work just the same way it did with Gabby. Related: 3 Years After Gabby Petito's Death, Mom Says 'There's Never Going to Be Closure' (Exclusive) We had precincts and police departments from all over the country looking and searching, he says. They found seven bodies looking for Gabby. So, I know there's more that can be done, and the louder the message, the more pressure gets put to make sure that the story stays at the forefront." Joe, a warehouse store chain manager in Florida, says he hopes that his daughter is proud of his familys new mission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I hope she's proud. I really hope us as a family, my wife, Jim and Nikki and the kids are showing her that we're trying to carry on what she started," he says. "She's probably laughing at us at the same time, Stop crying over it!' But we can't. We're just going to help out. One day I'm going to get to see her again and hopefully when I ask her, Did I make you proud? She'll say Yes." If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. DAMASCUS, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army announced on Friday that its forces successfully repelled a large-scale offensive by armed groups from the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in the rural regions of Aleppo and Idlib provinces in northern Syria. In a statement, the army said the HTS -- an al-Qaida-linked extremist organization -- has launched attacks using various heavy and medium weapons, including drones provided by its foreign allies. "Our armed forces have inflicted heavy losses to the attacking groups, causing hundreds of deaths and injuries among the terrorists," the statement said, adding, "We have destroyed dozens of vehicles and armored units and have downed 17 drones." The army is reinforcing its positions on various frontlines to prevent further breaches, the statement noted. It also accused the HTS of disseminating misleading information and videos aimed at alarming the civilian population in Aleppo, urging citizens to rely solely on official national media for accurate information. Four civilians were killed and several university students were injured on Friday when the armed militant groups fired shells at a dormitory complex in Aleppo city, state news agency SANA reported. The shelling marks one of the deadliest attacks in recent months on the area, as ultra-radical groups launched a large-scale offensive on military sites in Aleppo's western countryside starting from Wednesday. The HTS, formerly the Nusra Front, is considered a terrorist organization by Syria, Russia, and several other countries. GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) A nonprofit in Georgetown lost thousands of dollars from what they thought was a generous donation. It turned out to be a bogus check. Motorcycle Missions is an organization that helps veterans and first responders with post-traumatic stress disorder. It offers programs like: Welding Track days Motocross Build mentorship Motorcycle Safety Foundation training Krystal Hess founded the nonprofit nearly a decade ago. Motorcycle Missions has served 500 veterans and first responders nationwide. (Photo: KXAN) Motorcycle Missions has served 500 veterans and first responders nationwide. (Photo: KXAN) Motorcycle Missions has served 500 veterans and first responders nationwide. (Photo: KXAN) Trying to get them out of their head, getting their hands dirty, doing something constructive with their time, Hess said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The organization, that relies on donations, is now out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. This really does anger me. Its really sad that were in this situation. Krystal Hess, Motorcycle Missions Founder Hess said an email came through from a stranger about donating money. Part of the email said that their work always resonated deeply with him. He was kind of giving us a little sob story about, you know, hes clearing out his assets and things and directing certain funds certain places, Hess said. Hes like, I want to send you some money. She received a check for $95,000 and deposited it. Just a few days later, the person wanted some of it back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hess said the person said his assistant made a mistake and it was supposed to be for $50,000. He asked for $45,000 back. It cleared, Hess said. So I felt confident sending this guy his money back. I wired it. A few days later, she found out the check was actually fraudulent. The next thing you know, Chase Bank pulled the full $95,000 out of our account, Hess said. Chase sent us a letter saying that, basically, they have the right to pull that check anytime that they want, even after it cleared our account. This situation left Hess asking the community for support so she can continue this mission. Motorcycle Missions has served 500 veterans and first responders nationwide. (Photo: KXAN) Every time a veteran comes to me and tells me what this means to them, thats what keeps me going, and I dont intend on this keeping me from keeping on going, Hess said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youd like to help Motorcycle Missions, click on this link to donate. A common fraud tactic The Better Business Bureau (BBB) noted that this is a common fraud tactic. By the time your bank realizes that that check is fraudulent, youve already sent money from your actual money from your account, and then youre just out of the money. Of course, the scammer disappears, said BBB Director of Education and Community Engagement Katie Galan. Dyslexia Center of Austin target of fraudulent check scam Just a few months ago, KXAN reported on the Dyslexia Center of Austin also receiving a fraudulent $95,000 check. Their bank realized the check was fake before anything happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT) A man is dead following a two-vehicle crash that occurred Wednesday, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Gerone L. Evans, 58, of Summerville, Georgia, was injured when the 1994 Nissan pickup he was driving was struck by a 2023 Nissan Altima. After the initial impact, Evans vehicle left the roadway and overturned. Evans was not using a seatbelt at the time, and he was ejected from the vehicle. Evans was transported to Floyd Medical Center in Rome, Georgia, where he was later pronounced deceased. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man killed in Hueytown shooting The driver of the Nissan Altima, as well as two passengers, were injured and transported to Floyd Medical Center for treatment. A one-year-old and three-month old, who were also passengers in the vehicle, were injured and transported to an area hospital for medical treatment. The crash occurred on Alabama 35 near the seven-mile marker, approximately three miles north of Gaylesville. Troopers with ALEAs Highway Patrol Division are investigating the crash. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. Georgia is now a mirror image of Ukraine in November 2013, believes former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. Source: European Pravda, citing Kuleba on Quote from Kuleba: "Tragically, what we are witnessing in Georgia today is precisely a Ukrainian scenario but of a different kind." Details: He added that the Georgian government is masking its gradual concessions to Russia with promises to avoid the so-called "Ukrainian scenario", referring to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "[Georgia's Prime Minister Bidzina] Ivanishvili, like [Ukraine's President Viktor] Yanukovych back then, is following the same playbook. Exactly 11 years ago, Ukraines Revolution of Dignity began in November 2013, when Yanukovych announced he would not sign the EU Association Agreement, sparking nationwide protests. Ukrainians stood up then, refusing to let their freedom be taken, and their fight changed the course of history," wrote Kuleba. He explained that Georgia's current situation is clear: "First, they take away [your] freedom, then they start beating you, prosperity vanishes next, and then Russia consumes you." Kuleba emphasised that the fight in Tbilisi today is about more than just a pro-European or pro-Russian stance its a struggle for the fundamental right to live freely. He urged Georgians to stand up and not let their government steal their future. Background: On 28 November, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced a pause in negotiations regarding the country's EU membership. According to him, Tbilisi will delay discussions on starting talks with the European Union until the end of 2028, with the aim of joining the EU by 2030. Kobakhidze explained this decision as a response to what he described as offensive "blackmail" from certain European politicians and bureaucrats. The prime minister's statement followed the adoption of a harsh resolution by the European Parliament, which condemned the results of Georgias parliamentary elections held on 26 October. In the early hours of 29 November, Georgia's special forces violently dispersed a protest in central Tbilisi, which had erupted in response to the governments decision to pause the country's EU integration process. Support UP or become our patron! Georgian police used force against journalists during a crackdown on a rally in Tbilisi on the night of 28-29 November, leaving 15 media representatives injured. Source: European Pravda, citing information from Georgian media Details: Special forces cracked down on a protest against the government's sharp anti-Western turnaround. Radio Tavisupleba reported that police had acted aggressively towards journalists, with some being beaten and others sprayed with special agents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In particular, journalist and TV presenter Guram Rogava from the Formula TV channel was assaulted, sustaining head injuries that left him with a bleeding nose and mouth. Formula TV journalist and presenter Guram Rogava is seen in blood after being beaten by the Police during the violent crackdown on demonstration against aborting Georgias EU accession pic.twitter.com/XUyScJN6AO Formula NEWS | English (@FormulaGe) November 29, 2024 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Georgian Service posted footage showing the moment of the attack on Rogava. A video showing a cameraman from the Pirveli TV channel falling to the ground with his camera was also shared on social media. Police runs in crowd. Tv pirveli cameraman on the ground pic.twitter.com/sZoDPN2CCo Mariam Nikuradze (@mari_nikuradze) November 28, 2024 As reported by the publika.ge portal, around 15 media workers from various outlets were injured as a result of the polices actions at the rally. Some of the journalists required medical treatment due to exposure to tear gas, which affected their eyes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other journalists sustained more severe injuries. For instance, Alexander Keshelashvili, a journalist from publika.ge, had his nose broken and his equipment confiscated. He was also detained by the police. Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili responded to the violence by stating that she stood with the Georgian media, "against which disproportionate force is being used". Background: On the night of 28-29 November, Georgian security forces used tear gas and water cannons to disperse a protest in Tbilisi, which had erupted following the government's decision to "suspend" EU accession talks. The protests in Tbilisi and other cities across Georgia were triggered by a statement from Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, announcing that the country was halting negotiations on EU membership until the end of 2028. Support UP or become our patron! Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has responded to the actions of security forces against protesters in Tbilisi who gathered on 28 November to peacefully protest against the government's refusal to negotiate with the EU. Source: Zourabichvili on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Details: Zourabichvili was commenting on footage showing protesters being detained, including in a pharmacy in Tbilisi. She noted that there is no safe place left in Georgia: neither in churchyards nor in pharmacies, as protesters are being chased by "robocops" (security forces) everywhere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Russian government, Russian methods," Zourabichvili wrote, referring to the current Georgian government and the violent suppression of the peaceful protest. #georgianprotests no safehaven in Georgia: church yard or pharmacy, robicops chase the participants everywhere to beat and arrest them russian government, russian methods https://t.co/8haFBu3TSA Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) November 29, 2024 Background: On the night of 28-29 November, special forces of the Georgian Interior Ministry violently dispersed a protest in the centre of Tbilisi that began over the authorities' decision to suspend European integration. The security forces used water cannons and tear gas against the protesters. They also acted extremely brutally, roughly detaining protesters and beating them, as well as media representatives. On the evening of 28 November, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze held a briefing during which he announced a pause in the EU accession negotiations. Kobakhidze said that Tbilisi would postpone starting negotiations with the European Union until the end of 2028 and would join the EU by 2030. Kobakhidze explained the reason as "blackmail" by some European politicians and bureaucrats, which was offensive to Georgia. Support UP or become our patron! TBILISI, Georgia (AP) Thousands of demonstrators protesting the Georgian government's decision to suspend negotiations to join the European Union rallied outside the parliament and clashed with police for a second straight night on Friday. The night before, police used water cannons, pepper spray and tear gas to disperse protesters who took to the streets of Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of the ruling Georgian Dream party announced the suspension. The interior ministry said it detained 43 people during the protests. On Friday evening, protesters again swarmed the parliament, with some trying to break the metal gates to the building. Riot police used water cannons to push them away from the building and later moved to force them farther back along the Rustaveli Avenue, the city's main boulevard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the protesters used garbage bins and benches to try to build barricades. Clashes between police and protesters also erupted late Friday in the Black Sea port of Batumi. Georgian Dream's disputed victory in the Oct. 26 election, which was widely seen as a referendum on the countrys aspirations to join the European Union, has sparked massive demonstrations and led to an opposition boycott of the parliament. The opposition said the vote was rigged under the influence of Russia seeking to keep Georgia in its orbit. President Salome Zourabichvili joined protesters on Thursday after accusing the government of declaring war on its own people. In Friday's address to the nation, Zourabichvili urged police not to use force against protesters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Georgian president, who has a largely ceremonial role, has declared that the ruling party rigged the election with the help of Russia, Georgia's former imperial master. The government's announcement that it was suspending negotiations to join the EU came hours after the European Parliament adopted a resolution that condemned last months vote as neither free nor fair, representing yet another manifestation of the continued democratic backsliding for which the ruling Georgian Dream party is fully responsible. European election observers said October's vote took place in a divisive atmosphere marked by instances of bribery, double voting and physical violence. The EU granted Georgia candidate status in December 2023 on condition that it meet the blocs recommendations, but put its accession on hold and cut financial support earlier this year after the passage of a foreign influence law widely seen as a blow to democratic freedoms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EU lawmakers urged for a rerun of the parliamentary vote within a year under thorough international supervision and by an independent election administration. They also called on the EU to impose sanctions and limit formal contacts with the Georgian government. The Georgian prime minister fired back, denouncing what he described as a cascade of insults from the EU politicians and declaring that the ill-wishers of our country have turned the European Parliament into a blunt weapon of blackmail against Georgia, which is a great disgrace for the European Union. We will continue on our path toward the European Union; however, we will not allow anyone to keep us in a constant state of blackmail and manipulation, which is utterly disrespectful to our country and society, Kobakhidze said. We must clearly show certain European politicians and bureaucrats, who are completely devoid of European values, that they must speak to Georgia with dignity, not through blackmail and insults. Kobakhidze also said Georgia would reject any budgetary grants from the EU until the end of 2028. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics have accused Georgian Dream established by Bidzina Ivanishvili, a shadowy billionaire who made his fortune in Russia of becoming increasingly authoritarian and tilted toward Moscow. The party recently pushed through laws similar to those used by the Kremlin to crack down on freedom of speech and LGBTQ+ rights. The EU suspended Georgias membership application process indefinitely in June, after parliament passed a law requiring organizations that receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as pursuing the interest of a foreign power, similar to a Russian law used to discredit organizations critical of the government. (Bloomberg) -- Georgias government said it wont enter into talks on joining the European Union for four years, in a move that drew condemnation from the president and deepened questions over the future path of the Black Sea nation. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have decided not to place the issue of EU membership on the agenda until the end of 2028, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said on Thursday during a briefing at the Georgian Dream headquarters in Tbilisi. It is categorically unacceptable to view EU integration as an act of charity. Georgia applied to join the EU in 2022 along with Ukraine and Moldova, but the bloc never formally agreed to open the years-long process of negotiating membership. EU leaders in June said that Georgias refusal to reverse a crackdown on civil society had prompted a de facto halt to its efforts to join the bloc. They cited the adoption of a foreign agents law, which the US and the EU said was similar to one President Vladimir Putin introduced to crush pro-democracy groups in Russia. The controversial legislation forces non-governmental organizations to disclose their sources of funding from abroad. Georgias pro-EU president, Salome Zourabichvili, denounced the premiers statement and reiterated a call for new elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today marks the end of the constitutional coup that has been ongoing for several weeks, if not months, she told reporters after an emergency meeting with foreign ambassadors in the capital, Tbilisi. Georgian Dream won October parliamentary elections to extend its 12-year rule by four more years, according to the Central Election Commission. Four parties backing a pro-European charter said theyd boycott the parliament, alleging fraud in the vote. There have been weeks of rallies following the results and crowds of people took to the streets of Tbilisi again late Thursday, with local television also showing demonstrations in other cities. Legislators on Thursday approved nominees for the new government, including Kobakhidze to continue as prime minister. The partys lawmakers convened parliament earlier this week for its first session after receiving 89 of 150 assembly seats after the election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Adds presidents comments from fifth paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. BERLIN (Reuters) -German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius wants to purchase four submarines in a deal worth more than 4.7 billion euros ($5 billion) that will require parliamentary spending committee approval, two sources told Reuters on Friday, confirming a news report. In a request submitted to the committee, the ministry says the acquisition is needed for Germany to fulfil new NATO requirements for better protection of the alliance's northern flank, according to Spiegel news magazine, which has seen the documents. The ministry is seeking to procure four more Type 212CD submarines which are manufactured by Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, sources told Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thyssenkrupp did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The defence ministry said that ongoing parliamentary talks about funds for further defence procurement were "good and constructive" without providing detail on specific projects. In total, the budget committee has received 29 so-called "25-million euro proposals" for defence and equipment projects that are to be adopted this year, budget committee members told Reuters. Any military procurement worth more than 25 million euros needs approval from the parliamentary budget committee. Members of the budget committee told Reuters that they are analysing it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are paying particular attention to the proposal to purchase additional submarines due to its importance in terms of security policy, but also because of the high amount of funds required," said Karsten Klein, member of the budget committee from the Free Democrats (FDP). Another committee member told Reuters that the proposal is to be decided on this year. ($1 = 0.9446 euros) (Reporting by Rachel More, Friederike Heine and Maria Martinez; editing by Thomas Seythal and Jason Neely) German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will travel to China on 1 December amid Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine and debates over additional duties on Chinese electric vehicles. Source: DPA with reference to the spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry, reported by European Pravda Details: As part of her visit, Baerbock will meet with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on 2 December and hold further political talks, including with representatives of German business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The German Foreign Ministry has announced that Baerbock will discuss Russian aggression in Ukraine, the human rights situation in China, and the trade conflict between the European Union and Beijing over duties on electric vehicles. From Beijing, the German foreign minister plans to travel to Brussels for a two-day meeting of NATO foreign ministers on 3-4 December. The German Foreign Ministry announced that they would discuss further support for Ukraine, the threat of hybrid attacks, and Moscow's increasingly close cooperation with China, North Korea and Iran. Background: Annalena Baerbock last visited China in April 2023, and in the autumn of that year, she called Chinese leader Xi Jinping a dictator. The EU is currently discussing the first possible sanctions against companies based in China and involved in the production of drones for the war in Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! HONG KONG, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- A total of 85 enterprises signed a memorandum of understanding about supporting and participating in the Northern Metropolis development with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Friday. Thirty-two inter-enterprise agreements were reached with a total investment of over 100 billion Hong Kong dollars (12.85 billion U.S. dollars) in such areas as infrastructure, housing and innovation technology. Speaking at the signing ceremony, HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee noted that as a new engine for Hong Kong's growth, the Northern Metropolis can complement the high-quality integration of Hong Kong with other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. He encouraged enterprises to actively participate in land development and other commercial, innovation and technology industry projects in the Northern Metropolis, including the new large-scale land disposal development approach. Lee vowed in the 2024 Policy Address to pilot a large-scale land disposal approach for developing the Northern Metropolis. The HKSAR government unveiled on Friday the locations and sizes of three pilot areas, which are expected to be open for tendering from 2025 to 2026. Each pilot area covers sites for residential, industrial and public facility constructions. Major General Christian Freuding, the head of the Bundeswehr's Situation Center Ukraine at the German Ministry of Defence, believes that Ukraine will lose Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast by early 2025. Source: Freuding on the German Defence Ministrys Nachgefragt podcast, as reported by European Pravda Details: Freuding believes that "Russia now has the military initiative on all fronts, in all regions", including the Donbas area, which has been the centre of hostilities for several months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "Russia is attacking there with an almost unthinkable deployment of people and materiel," the German general continued, highlighting the Russian forces' heavy losses of up to 2,000 people every day. For Ukraine, Freuding says, the situation is particularly critical in the city of Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, which serves as a major transportation hub for Ukrainian forces. "I believe that Pokrovsk will have to be abandoned at the end of the year or at the beginning of 2025," he noted. The German general also forecasts an escalation of hostilities in Russias Kursk Oblast, which is partially controlled by Ukrainian forces particularly with the involvement of North Korean troops. Background: The Estonian defence forces intelligence centre said in October that Ukrainian forces may be forced to withdraw from Pokrovsk by the end of the year. Earlier, Christian Freuding stated that Germany sees signs that the Russian army intends to attain sufficient capabilities by 2029 to launch a fresh attack, which may be against a NATO member state. Support UP or become our patron! Germanys health minister is facing calls to resign over revelations that he meddled in independent assessments of the danger posed by Covid. Karl Lauterbach blocked his public health agency from lowering the risk posed by Covid over a three-month period at the beginning of 2022, leaked emails have shown. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) initially wanted to reduce the risk posed by Covid from very high to high on Feb 3 2022, a week after the UK had rolled back restrictions in light of the spread of the less virulent Omicron variant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Mr Lauterbach blocked the reclassification, describing it as problematic and sending the wrong signal, an email exchange between the minister and the head of the RKI has shown. The RKIs assessments are intended to be independent of political interference. Mr Lauterbach has previously denied meddling in the agencys decisions. Andrew Ullmann has called for Mr Lauterbachs resignation - Florian Gaertner/Photothek Andrew Ullmann, health spokesman for the Free Democrats, described the leaks, published by the Suddeutsche Zeitung, as shocking and said that Mr Lauterbach must resign immediately. Sahra Wagenknecht, leader of the Left-wing BSW party, said the revelations were proof of Mr Lauerbachs grandstanding during the pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With his scaremongering, school closures and de facto vaccine mandates he made people depressed instead of protecting them, she added. However, Mr Lauterbach insisted the emails were not proof of political interference but instead constituted an expert exchange of opinion. A doctor by training, the 61-year-old shot to fame during the pandemic because of his appeals for strict lockdowns even in the summer. Previously a backbench MP for the Social Democrats, Olaf Scholz made him health minister in late 2021. While the RKIs risk assessment did not have a direct effect on lockdown measures, it would have added to the pressure on Mr Lauterbach to weaken his stance on maintaining lockdowns while the rest of Europe opened back up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time Mr Lauterbach was also planning to bring in blanket vaccine mandates, a plan he later had to drop. The RKI only changed its risk assessment in early May 2022, three months after concluding that the risk posed by the virus had changed. While Germanys Covid death rate was lower than that of the UK, measures such as long school closures have been criticised for damaging the mental health and education levels of the countrys youth. Mr Lauterbach admitted last year that the Covid regulations went too far, referring to some restrictions as idiocy, while calling lengthy school closures an unnecessary mistake. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. By Miranda Murray and Sarah Marsh BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's domestic intelligence agency (BfV) has set up a task force to head off any foreign state attempts to influence the upcoming federal election after last month warning of increased Russian-sponsored espionage and sabotage. It said possible attempts at disinformation, cyberattack, spying or sabotage could be made ahead of the snap vote set for Feb. 23 after the collapse earlier this month of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's fractious three-way coalition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Against the backdrop of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, Russia probably has the greatest and most obvious interest in influencing the election in its own favour," the BfV said in a statement, noting it was also keeping an eye on other actors. Such actors could seek to actively support individual candidates or parties or discredit other candidates and parties or the democratic process itself, seizing on opportunities, the BfV said. Germany is Ukraine's second biggest financial and military backer, seeking to help it fend off Russia's full-scale invasion more than 2-1/2 years ago. That has resulted in a sharp rise in "aggressive behaviour" by the Kremlin towards Germany, as to other Ukraine allies, the head of Germany's domestic intelligence agency said last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parcels that exploded at logistics depots in Europe including in Germany, for example, were part of a test run for a Russian plot to trigger explosions on cargo flights to the United States, according to Western security officials. Acts of sabotage could, in addition to causing physical damage, also have a psychological impact on voters as well as on political decision makers, the BfV said. The agency also warned against disinformation, given that Russia had been "offensively increasing" the distribution of pro-Russian and anti-western narratives, hoping to divide German society and reduce support for Ukraine. Cyberattacks, in particular hack-and-leak operations, were a further danger, as well as the use of artificial intelligence to produce deepfake videos to dupe voters, it said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Support for Russia-friendly parties - notably the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the far-left Sahra Wagenknecht Aliance - has been on the rise in recent months, with both parties faring well in elections in eastern Germany in September. In April, a senior member of the AfD was accused of receiving money from a pro-Russian media site, allegations he denied. A senior Romanian election official said on Friday Romania could rerun its presidential election first round after an independent far-right politician came from nowhere to win a shock victory that caused suspicions of interference. (Reporting by Miranda Murray and Sarah Marsh; Editing by Daren Butler) BERLIN (Reuters) - German federal prosecutors on Friday said they had indicted a Turkish national for alleged spying on individuals that he associated with cleric Fethullah Gulen. The suspect, who is not in jail and was only identified as Mehmet K., in line with German privacy laws, contacted Turkey's police and intelligence service via anonymous letters, prosecutors added. Gulen built a powerful Islamic movement in Turkey and beyond, but spent his later years in the U.S. mired in accusations of orchestrating an attempted coup against Turkish leader Tayyip Erdogan. Gulen died last month. (Reporting by Thomas Seythal, editing by Andrey Sychev) German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will visit China on Monday and Tuesday at the invitation of her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, both countries announced on Friday. Baerbock has recently repeatedly criticized China's role in several international crises, including climate policy and Russia's war in Ukraine. A spokesman for the German Foreign Office said she hopes to raise the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and well as the human rights situation in China during the trip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Further political talks are planned in the capital, Beijing, as well as a meeting with German business representatives, the spokesman said. The planned meeting with Wang is Baerbock's third in-depth meeting with her Chinese counterpart this year. She last saw him three months ago on the fringes of the UN General Assembly in New York. In February, they met at the Munich Security Conference in Germany. From Beijing, Baerbock is due to travel to Brussels for a two-day meeting of NATO foreign ministers on Tuesday and Wednesday. The main topic of discussion there is expected to be further support for Ukraine. Other topics at the NATO gathering include the threat posed by hybrid attacks, Russia, and Moscow's ever-closer cooperation with China, North Korea and Iran, said a German Foreign Office spokesman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The EU is currently preparing a 15th package of sanctions targeting Russia. Among other things, there are plans to target companies based in China that are involved in the production of drones for the war in Ukraine. Ukraine, trade and climate on agenda The German government's believes that Moscow is receiving help from China, its most important partner, in the form of drones. Baerbock recently warned China that it could face consequences over such support. Another topic is likely to be China's possible role in connection with the recent damage to two underwater cables in the Baltic Sea. The smouldering trade conflict between China and the European Union is likely to be another topic of discussion at the meeting with Wang. The EU accuses Beijing of distorting competition through subsidies and decided in October to impose putative tariffs on Chinese electric cars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China is considering countermeasures that could affect German carmakers. On climate policy, Baerbock has also repeatedly called on China to join the group of countries providing aid to developing countries, citing China's position as one of the world's largest emitters of climate-damaging carbon dioxide. Baerbock was last in Beijing in mid-April 2023. In September of that year, she caused a diplomatic dispute with her comments about China's state and party leader Xi Jinping during an appearance on US television. During an interview with the US television channel Fox News, she asked what kind of signal a Russian victory in Ukraine would send "to other dictators in the world, such as Xi, such as the Chinese president?" China's Foreign Ministry was annoyed at the time, summoning the German ambassador, and calling Baerbock's comments "absurd." Baerbock reacted calmly to Beijing's ire and stated that she had taken note of it. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is due to meet her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on Monday against the backdrop of numerous international conflicts. A Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Friday that Baerbock wants to discuss the Russian war against Ukraine and the human rights situation in China, among other things. Beijing is considered Moscow's most important ally. Further political talks are planned in the capital, Beijing, as well as a meeting with German business representatives, the spokesman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Chinese Foreign Ministry had already announced the visit by the Green Party politician. The smouldering trade conflict with China is likely to be another topic of discussion at the meeting with Wang. The EU accuses Beijing of distorting competition through subsidies and decided in October to impose extra tariffs on Chinese electric cars. China is considering countermeasures that could affect German carmakers. From Beijing, Baerbock is due to travel to Brussels for a two-day meeting of NATO foreign ministers on Tuesday and Wednesday. The main topic of discussion there will be further support for Ukraine. Other topics will include the threat posed by hybrid attacks, Russia, and Moscow's ever-closer cooperation with China, North Korea and Iran, said a German Foreign Office spokesman. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) plans to campaign on calls for the country to quit the European Union, the Paris climate agreement and the euro currency ahead of the early election expected in February. The policies are spelled out in the AfD's draft party platform, which will be discussed and voted on by AfD members at a national party conference on January 11 to 12. The 85-page paper also calls for a tightening of abortion laws, an end to economic sanctions against Russia and the repair and re-commissioning of the Nord Stream pipelines, which brought natural gas to Germany from Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With regard to the euro, the draft program states that Germany must "end the misguided path of permanent bailouts by reintroducing a national currency." The paper also states: "We consider it necessary for Germany to leave the European Union and establish a new European community." The AfD draft platform accused the European Union of having vehemently pushed ahead with its transformation into a "planned economy super-state" in recent years. The AfD's manifesto ahead of European Parliament elections in June contained similiar language, but did not explicitly call for Germany to quit the EU. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The draft also calls for an exit from the Paris Climate Agreement to reduce greenhouse gases. The "alleged scientific consensus" of man-made climate change is politically constructed, the draft claims. There is no reason to restrict the use of coal, natural gas and oil, humans cannot protect the climate and carbon dioxide - the gas scientists say is most responsible for warming the climate - is ascribed a positive role in the draft program, which states that it is "a driver of increased global plant growth and thus promotes world nutrition." Under the heading "welcoming culture for children," the AfD advocates legal restrictions on abortions in the draft. "When carefully weighing up the interests, abortion must remain the absolute exception, e.g. in the case of criminological or medical indication," it says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is also proposed that pregnant women should be required to view ultrasound images of the child during counselling sessions when considering an abortion "so that they are aware of the child's stage of development." Abortions are currently illegal under Section 218 of the German Criminal Code, but in practice are available and not subject to punishment in the first 12 weeks if the woman receives counselling beforehand. An abortion also remains unpunished if there are medical reasons or if it is performed due to rape. The possible legalization of abortion under German law has been the subject of political debate for years. The public release of an internal strategy paper from Germany's pro-business liberal Free Democrats (FDP) that lays out a plan for bringing down the coalition government has made waves in German politics. Two top FDP officials announced their resignations on Friday, a day after the strategy paper was published by the party itself. The strategy paper detailed a scenario for the FDP to quit German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-party coalition government, a move described in a header in the paper as "D-Day." Several phases are described, the final being "start of open warfare." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In fact, Scholz fired the FDP's top politician, ex-finance minister Christian Lindner, on November 6 after months of bitter disagreements over budget plans for 2025. The FDP quit the coalition in response, a move that triggered its collapse and early elections, which are expected to be held on February 23. A spokesman for Scholz said on Friday that the FDP strategy paper makes clear that Scholz made the right decision to sack Lindner. "The chancellor feels confirmed in his decision by the current publications, and he thinks that he made the right decision in this context," deputy government spokesman Wolfgang Buchner told journalists in Berlin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics of the FDP have viewed the internal paper as evidence that the party intentionally undermined the government to trigger the coalition's collapse. The party's general secretary, Bijan Djir-Sarai, and the party's operational manager, Carsten Reymann, said in separate announcements that they were stepping down after the scandal over the document made front pages across the country. Leading FDP officials said it was drawn up by staff and the contents were not known to the leadership. The question of who was mainly responsible for the collapse of Germany's three-way coalition on November 6 - and the subsequent move towards fresh elections - has been the subject of intense debate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FDP paper - nicknamed the "D-Day Paper" - states that the "ideal timing" for an exit from the coalition would be in the middle of calendar week 45, so between November 4 and 10. Lindner, Scholz and Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck of the Greens were unable to agree on ways to deal with a budget shortfall, and each blamed the other for not making the necessary concessions. Lindner, a budget hawk, had adamantly refused to loosen strict rules limiting government debt or allow the coalition to borrow money to finance large projects. Polls have shown the FDP losing support during the three years as part of Scholz's coalition government, and the party may now be in danger in the upcoming election of falling below the 5% threshold generally needed to take seats in parliament. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speculation has swirled since Lindner's sacking about whether the budget debate itself was a sideshow, and whether either side had in fact long planned the end of the coalition. Djir-Sarai had previously denied that the formulation "D-Day" had been used by the party in reference to the collapse of the coalition. In the surprise press conference on Friday - lasting less than a minute - he said that he had "no knowledge" of the D-Day Paper, but admitted he had "unwittingly provided false information" to the public. He apologized, and said he wanted to avert damage from his party and was therefore stepping down. BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Olaf Scholz assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of Germany's continued military support in their first official call since Scholz spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month. "I agreed with Zelenskiy that we will remain in contact - also with a perspective to possible paths to a just peace," wrote Scholz on social media platform X on Friday. A German government spokesperson said the exchange was "constructive" and that Zelenskiy had thanked the German government for its military support, particularly air defence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is the first official call between Zelenksiy and Scholz since the German leader held an hour-long call with Putin on Nov. 15 that the Ukrainian leader said opened a "Pandora's box" that undermined efforts to isolate Putin and end the war in Ukraine with "a fair peace." Scholz defended the call with Putin, their first direct communication in almost two years, saying it was important to tell him he cannot count on German support for Ukraine to wane. (Writing by Miranda Murray, Editing by Friederike Heine) SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) From wheelchairs to canes, Owens Outfitters is full of donated medical equipment and supplies. Mike Turner is the executive director of the free medical equipment lending library, a program of The Legacy Foundation. Folks come and tell me they need a piece of medical equipment and we just give it to them. Thats as complicated as it gets, Turner said. Tearing up the dirt with riders of all ages and skill levels Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An online bulletin board is helping Turner spread the word about Owens Outfitters and generate community support. Its called The Giving Depot, a resource made available by the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation. We have so many worthwhile non-profits, and we have so many people who want to do great things, but its overwhelming, right? There are so many great opportunities to give too, sometimes you dont know where to start, so the Giving Depot is a great place to connect donors with non-profits, SFACF Chief Philanthropy Officer Mary Kolsrud said. The Giving Depot is free for nonprofits. Organizations can post about their projects and programs and how the community can help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New option for shopping small at the Empire Mall Right now our ask is just that basically $50 will help us deliver a hospital bed, an electric wheelchair, some of these really big pieces of durable medical equipment that families struggle to get, Turner said. Donors can browse the different giving opportunities, which change throughout the year. We encourage the community to check it out and see something they might find interesting that they can give back to, Kolsrud said. Turner says the Giving Depot is making a difference for Owens Outfitters. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. DAR ES SALAAM, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), won a landslide victory by securing 99.01 percent of village chairperson positions in local government elections held on Wednesday, an official announced late Thursday. Minister of State Mohamed Mchengerwa, who is in charge of the polls, said elections were conducted for 12,271 out of the 12,280 available chairperson positions. CCM secured 12,150 positions, accounting for 99.01 percent, while the main opposition party Chadema won 97 positions, representing 0.79 percent, Mchengerwa told a news conference. In village council elections, CCM won 229,075 out of 230,882 seats, equating to 99.31 percent, according to Mchengerwa. "These results reflect the confidence that citizens have in CCM's ability to lead and deliver on its promises," the official said. Farmworkers, many of them immigrants, harvest strawberries in Oregon. (Oregon Department of Agriculture) Im fortunate to be able to type out this column. Over a year ago, while pruning my yard, I accidentally sliced the base of my thumb, severing two tendons. Luckily, an excellent surgeon sewed them back together, restoring to me the gift of a working hand. This surgeon I surmise, based on his accent and last name is an immigrant from South Asia. This Thanksgiving, I give thanks for him and all the immigrants who make Oregon and our nation a stronger, more vibrant place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anti-immigrant sentiment reached fever pitch during election season, with dehumanizing rhetoric flowing from Donald Trumps campaign. Having won, the incoming administration says it will carry out its campaign promise of mass deportations. This would be a tragedy and a historic mistake. While Trump and others blame immigrants for the economic struggles that many people endure, the reality is that immigrants strengthen the economy. Immigrants boost the economy beyond what their numbers would suggest. They make up 10% of Oregons economy but account for 13% of the states economic output, a report co-released by the Oregon Center for Public Policy shows. The reason for this is that they are more likely than native-born people to be of prime working age. Immigration benefits those who arrive from abroad, of course, but also those already here. When immigrants move to the United States, researchers point out, it means more jobs: there are more consumers, more workers, more business owners. Study after study shows that there is no fixed number of jobs in the economy. Immigration creates benefits for U.S.-born workers too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So important are immigrants to the economy that some industries could not survive without them. In Oregon, 60% of the states full-time farmworkers are immigrants. Fruit would die on the vine and fields would go fallow without the hard-working immigrants who perform this difficult, low-paid labor. On the other end of the income spectrum, immigrants have long played a vital role in Oregons high-tech economy. No company casts a bigger shadow in Oregon than Intel, a company co-founded and led during its heyday by a refugee from Hungary. In 1997, Time Magazine named this immigrant, Andy Grove, Man of the Year, calling him the person most responsible for the amazing growth in the power and the innovative potential of microchips. Today, immigrants still help power Oregons technology sector, accounting for about one-third of advanced computer jobs. Expelling the roughly 11 million undocumented immigrants residing in the U.S., as the Trump administration proposes, would weaken our nation. Based on past instances of mass deportations, researchers estimate that deporting 7.5 million immigrants today could shrink the economy by as much as 6.2%, a massive hit to our well-being. To put that in perspective, the economy declined 4.3% during the Great Recession of 2008. Rather than open job opportunities for native-born workers, mass deportations would lead to a negative ripple effect throughout the job market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, if a shortage of construction workers prevents a house from getting built, the businesses that would be furnishing that house from kitchen appliances to bedframes lose business, too, explains the American Immigration Council. Without field workers to pick crops, truckers have no goods to transport, and farmers have no need to buy new farm equipment. The damage, of course, would be much more than economic. Undocumented immigrants are our family members and neighbors. In 2022, some 7 million undocumented immigrants belonged to households that included U.S. citizens. Deportation breaks these bonds, separating children from their parents, uprooting people who have built lives and businesses in our communities. Mass deportation would leave devastation in its wake. Theres no guarantee that the persecution of immigrants would end there. Remember that the most notorious attack on immigrants during the campaign was aimed at Haitian immigrants residing legally in the country. For his part, Trumps influential adviser Stephen Miller has called for greater use of a process that strips naturalized immigrants of their citizenship. History shows that once the evil genie of xenophobia and bigotry has been unleashed, it can be hard to contain. I was 13 when I celebrated my first Thanksgiving. My family had much to be thankful for that day. We had arrived weeks earlier to the safety of the U.S., having fled a civil war in the country of my birth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, I remain grateful for the opportunities that this country has given me. Likewise, I give thanks for the millions of other immigrants whose contributions make it a stronger nation. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE BENGALURU (Reuters) -The global Earth Observation (EO) market is on track to exceed $8 billion in valuation by 2033 from $5 billion currently, according to a new report from Novaspace, the merger of Euroconsult and SpaceTec Partners. The rapid growth is largely attributed to the surge in large-scale defense contracts and increasing availability of high-resolution imaging and 3D capabilities, which are enhancing the scope and quality of Earth monitoring, the report said. EO technology, which provides critical data for industries ranging from agriculture to environmental monitoring and defense, is one of the most lucrative sectors in the commercialization of space technology. North America remains the dominant player in the market, contributing 44% of global revenue in 2023. Europe follows with a 22% share, Novaspace said. However, the most significant growth is expected to come from Asia, according to the report. The region is projected to account for 23% of the global EO market by 2033, spurred by emerging procurement policies, increasing investments in space infrastructure and growing demand from Southeast Asia and the Middle East. It did not say how much the region contributed last year. Countries across the world are starting to invest more in EO technologies to better monitor everything from vegetation and climate change to their borders. India, for example, is leaning into this sector to win the global space commercialisation race, while Canada said last year it will invest C$1.01 billion ($741 million) over the next 15 years in satellite technology to boost the data it uses to track wildfires and other environmental crises. Market growth isn't just about replacing aerial geolocation systems, said Alexis Conte, lead author of the report. Its about scaling up EO monitoring capabilities to provide actionable insights over time. This focus on tracking and analyzing activities at scale is driving both technological and market innovations. (Reporting by Nivedita Bhattacharjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Varun H K) GOLDEN, Colo. (KDVR) For many, Thanksgiving is about giving back. The Golden community came together for a give what you can feast for all to help fight food insecurity for those who may not have a Thanksgiving meal. The Golden Mill hosted a free, or donate what you can, Thanksgiving meal with a Mexican twist on Thursday, including serving mole, rice, beans, pumpkin pie empanadas and more. The cooking started at 3 a.m. Are wild turkeys native to Colorado? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We decided to go in a little different direction. Instead of doing a traditional Thanksgiving, we want to have a little fun to ourselves and have people come and enjoy a beautiful night here, said Chef Jesus Silva. Everybody was here ready to go. We cook everything nice and fresh. All proceeds from Thursdays event will go to BGOLDN, a local organization dedicated to eradicating food insecurity. Times can be tough Thanksgiving is just a really great time to do it, bring everybody together and give back, said Director of Operations Brett Russell. We wanted everybody regardless of your financial situation to be able to come in and enjoy an awesome meal on Thanksgiving. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. It was Charles McKnight's first Thanksgiving without his father, and he knew exactly how he wanted to mark the holiday. McKnight joined dozens of volunteers Thursday at North 35th and West Center streets in Milwaukee to give away meals, clothes, and toiletries for anyone in need. "It feels so good to help out," he said. "Everyone was so nice and thankful. This is what this day is about." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said his father had often relied on shelters for food and other necessities during hard times. The 6th Annual Community Thanksgiving Feast transforms an empty lot each year into a fully stocked supply closet and pantry for anyone who needs winter items, coats, personal hygiene products and meal kits for Thanksgiving dinners. Helen Banks enjoys a meal inside a heated tent at the 6th Annual Community Thanksgiving Feast. The event is hosted by Ald. Russell W. Stamper II in collaboration with Dream Team United WI and Embassy Center MKE. Volunteers said they expected to serve 300 people over several hours Thursday afternoon. Jim Wilson, who lives in the neighborhood, selected a new puffy coat for his son in a cheerful red color. He also had been hoping to find a winter jacket for himself, but was thankful to find one for his son. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This was very helpful," he said. Farina Brooks, center, one of the organizers, said God gave her the vision for the event and she wanted to it to be outdoors so people passing by saw the activities. Nehmiah Huertas said he was "excited and happy" as he got meal kits to prepare dinner for his three daughters. "It is going to be a nice Thanksgiving," he said. In a news release before the event, Stamper invited all to come together and celebrate. This Thanksgiving event will provide residents the chance to interact with neighbors and aims to uplift the community as a whole, he said. For many, that was the feeling on Thursday as snow flurries started to fall. Nathan Merriweather, left, helps his mother Tyra, right, sort through coats to give to people attending the 6th annual community Thanksgiving on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024 at North 35th and West Center streets in Milwaukee. Christopher Lasalle was volunteering with his family and was looking forward to his family meal after they finished at the event and assisted with taking down the tents. Another volunteer, Leslie McCloud, said her positive experience helping at Community Feast last year brought her back on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I loved this," McCloud said. "This is about giving and feeling good." More: Here are places in the Milwaukee area where you can meet Santa Claus this holiday season This story was updated to add photos. Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on X at @kozlowicz_cathy. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Volunteers hand out Thanksgiving meals, winter coats in Milwaukee ATHENS (Reuters) - A Greek police officer has been arrested on suspicion of assisting a transnational cocaine trafficking ring by leaking confidential investigative information to its members and helping them cover up illicit activities. Two more people are in custody as part of the months-long investigation launched on information provided by France and the European policing agency Europol, Greek police said in a statement late on Thursday. An analysis of encrypted communications through messaging service Sky ECC by authorities in France, Belgium and the Netherlands over the past few years helped lead to the arrests in Greece, a police official said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Europol believes that Sky ECC and another online platform EncroChat - both have ceased operations - were widely used by gangsters. It said in June 2023 that the takedown of Encrochat had led to more than 6,500 arrests. Charges against the three arrested in Greece range from setting up a criminal group and trafficking drugs to bribery. Greek police said the main suspect, a 42-year-old former member of the police anti-narcotics unit, was receiving a monthly payment from gangsters who were smuggling cocaine and cannabis into Greece, and witnesses said he had a lavish lifestyle. Their statement said that two other Greek officers are under investigation on suspicion of assisting the criminal ring. (Reporting by Yannis Souliotis; editing by Renee Maltezou and Mark Heinrich) Peter Thiel, tech billionaire and conservative kingmaker, has amassed influence all over Washington. He's close to powerful elected and un-elected political players, like JD Vance and Vivek Ramaswamy. Palantir, a company Thiel co-founded, counts the US government as its biggest client. In August 2021, a mystery buyer purchased a 10,000-square-foot home in Washington, DC. They made the $13 million purchase through Salona Village Holdings LLC, shielding their identity. That mystery buyer was billionaire Peter Thiel, whose sprawling influence in Washington has grown in recent years. Between mentoring Vice President-elect JD Vance since his time at Yale Law School to running companies with millions in government contracts, Thiel has entrenched himself in the DC world in ways both seen and subtle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Worth $14.8 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaire Index, the 57-year-old PayPal confounder was one of the first Silicon Valley leaders to espouse conservative views. Here's a guide to his influence in Washington, which stretches far beyond the walls of his mansion. A representative for Thiel did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment. JD Vance Thiel has mentored Vance since 2011. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Thiel played a critical role in orchestrating Vance's rise to the top of Republican politics. The two first met in 2011, when Vance attended a talk Thiel gave at Yale Law School. In a magazine article written nearly a decade later, Vance called Thiel "a good friend" and said his speech was "the most significant moment of my time at Yale Law School." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After graduating from Yale, Vance became a principal at Thiel's VC firm, Mithril Capital. Their mentor-mentee relationship only grew stronger, with Thiel eventually investing heavily in Vance's own venture fund, Narya Capital, and writing a blurb for "Hillbilly Elegy." When Vance decided to pursue politics, Thiel remained by his side, pouring at least $15 million into his 2022 Senate campaign, according to OpenSecrets. In 2021, Thiel introduced Trump and Vance at Mar-a-Lago, and remained invested in their relationship through the 2024 election. With repeated calls to President-Elect Donald Trump and persistent lobbying, Thiel played an important role in getting Vance on the ticket. Elon Musk Thiel and Musk merged their companies in 2000. AP Musk and Thiel merged their online banking companies in 2000, forming PayPal. Their relationship soured, though, when Thiel ousted Musk as CEO and eventually took over the role. Come 2008, relations had evidently thawed enough for Thiel to make a $20 million investment in SpaceX, one of Musk's companies. The investment was crucial to helping SpaceX recover from a failed rocket launch that same year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Trump won the 2024 election, Thiel credited Musk for making other Silicon Valley leaders feel comfortable supporting the president-elect. Musk is one of Trump's top advisors and soon-to-be co-head of the Department of Government Efficiency. Donald Trump Thiel didn't donate to Trump in 2020 or 2024. Drew Angerer/Getty Images In 2016, Thiel donated more than $1 million to Trump's presidential campaign. He had a prime-time speaking slot at the Republican National Convention and served as a go-between with Silicon Valley. Thiel said he was disappointed by Trump's first term and didn't donate in 2020 or 2024. Still, he predicted that Trump would win this year. With Vance anointed as MAGA heir apparent, Thiel and Trump have a chance to rekindle their ties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mark Zuckerberg Zuckerberg relied on Thiel during the early days of Facebook. Chris Unger/Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mark Zuckerberg may not be a politician, but his influence in Washington runs deep. Between Facebook's role in free speech culture wars, the Federal Trade Commission's ongoing antitrust case against Meta, and Zuckerberg's rocky relationship with Trump, the tech leader is entrenched in the political conversation. Thiel has a stake in Zuckerberg's involvement. He counts the Facebook founder among his mentees and was the site's first outside investor. Thiel sat on the board of Facebook and wielded great influence as its longest-serving member, but sparred with some of the company's more liberal employees, per the Washington Post. He ended up stepping down in 2022. In 2019, Thiel, Zuckerberg, and Trump all had dinner at the White House, illustrating the strengthening ties between the tech world and Washington. Sam Altman Thiel was an early investor in OpenAI, Altman's company. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images Sam Altman, billionaire co-founder of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is another one of Thiel's mentees. Thiel offered advice and support throughout Altman's early career, eventually becoming an early investor in OpenAI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like other prominent tech companies, OpenAI is under federal scrutiny. The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating if the company's investors were misguided after board members suddenly ousted Altman as CEO in 2023, the Journal reported. Beyond the investigation, Altman is becoming more involved in Washington. In the summer of 2023, he began a lobbying campaign in Congress about the future of AI regulation. OpenAI has spent money trying to sway Washington and hired staff with political know-how, per CNBC. As AI policy is poised to become an even bigger political question, Altman's influence and Thiel's, by proxy may continue to grow. Vivek Ramaswamy Thiel invested in Ramaswamy's "anti-woke" investment fund. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images Biotech billionaire and former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is set to co-lead DOGE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like Vance, Ramaswamy first met Thiel as a student at Yale Law School he told PBS that it may have been at the very same speech that so impacted the vice president-elect. At the time, Ramaswamy attended an "intimate lunch seminar" Thiel hosted for a small group of students, per the New Yorker. Eventually, Thiel threw his wealth behind Ramaswamy. In early 2022, Ramaswamy co-founded Strive Asset Management, an "anti-woke" investment fund, and Thiel was an early investor. David Sacks David Sacks Reuters David Sacks, a former PayPal executive and prominent venture capitalist, will serve as the White House's AI and crypto czar during Trump's second term. Thiel and Sacks met at Stanford, where they co-wrote the controversial book, "The Diversity Myth." Both men have apologized for some of the book's content, which downplayed date rape. Sacks also served as editor-in-chief for the Stanford Review, a libertarian newspaper Thiel founded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1999, Sacks joined Thiel's company Confinity, which later became PayPal. He eventually served as PayPal's chief operating officer and continued working closely with Thiel. As the AI and crypto czar, Sacks will create the country's legal framework for crypto and head a presidential council of advisors on science and technology. The council will, according to the White House's website, be comprised of industry actors, academics, and people from non-profit organizations. Through Sacks, cryptocurrency supporters will likely have a direct line to Trump, Bloomberg reported. Jim O'Neill O'Neill is the former CEO of the Thiel Foundation. Drew Angerer/Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has nominated Jim O'Neill, former CEO of the Thiel Foundation, as the deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. A Silicon Valley investor, O'Neill worked at HHS under former President George W. Bush before moving to Thiel's network. During his time as the acting CEO of the Thiel Foundation, O'Neill co-founded the Thiel Fellowship, which gives a $10,000 grant to young people who skip out on or pause college to tackle big projects. In 2012, O'Neill worked with Thiel to launch Mithril Capital Management, the same VC fund where Vance worked. He served as the fund's managing director but left in 2019 he sued Mithril later that year over claims of unfair business practices and a contract breach. During Trump's first term, Thiel pushed to have O'Neill fill a prominent health role, per the Post. If confirmed this time around, O'Neill will work closely with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whom Trump tapped to lead HHS. O'Neill, who has criticized the FDA in the past, would play a big role in HHS' daily operations and policy decisions. Palantir The federal government is Palantir's biggest client. Illustration by Piotr Swat/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Thiel's Washington connections extend to his businesses, especially the data mining company Palantir that he co-founded in 2003. Palantir makes software to manage, analyze, and secure data, and its biggest client is the US federal government. Federal government contracts helped build Palantir, which started out by partnering with defense and intelligence agencies. The company focuses on counterterrorism efforts and immigration enforcement. Some investors anticipate defense and immigration enforcement will see increased spending under a second Trump administration, meaning Palantir may get a boost. Blake Masters Blake Masters lost his Senate race, even after getting Thiel's help and Trump's endorsement. Mario Tama/Getty Images An ideological ally of Thiel and Vance, Blake Masters lost his bid for a Senate seat in Arizona to Sen. Mark Kelly, but nonetheless benefited from Thiel's money and support. A decade before running for the Senate in 2022, Masters took Thiel's lecture when he was a student at Stanford Law School. Enthralled by Thiel and the course, Masters posted his notes from the influential class on a website. The two co-authored a book, and Masters served as chief investment officer at Thiel's investment firm and president of the Thiel Foundation. When Masters pivoted to politics, Thiel donated $13.5 million to Masters' 2022 campaign. Other elected officials Thiel has donated to other politicians, including a few Democrats. Getty Images Though Thiel's most notable political contributions have gone to Vance, Masters, and Trump, he's donated to an array of other politicians and Republican causes. Among his beneficiaries are Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, according to OpenSecrets. He's also given to the Republican National Committee and other GOP-aligned groups. Thiel isn't entirely partisan with his contributions, though. In 2014 and 2015, he gave at least $70,000 to Gavin Newsom, the Democratic governor of California. Between 2011 and 2016, he also donated at least $7,800 to Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democrat who represents parts of Silicon Valley, per OpenSecrets. Read the original article on Business Insider As many prepare to send and receive holiday packages, one Southern California man is urging residents to exercise caution after he had an expensive package intercepted right outside his front door. On Nov. 14, John Shin, a Lawndale resident, was tracking his shipment of an expensive laptop when he was notified it had been delivered. Apparently, he wasnt the only one tracking his package. When Shin went to check the front of his home near the intersection of Prairie Avenue and Manhattan Beach Boulevard, the package was nowhere to be found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shin told KTLAs Kimberly Cheng that he saw the UPS driver and followed him down the street to stop and ask him about the missing package. And he said, Well some guy showed me his ID, Shin explained. Sure enough, Shin later found footage of the exchange. The video shows a stranger stopping the UPS driver as he steps out of the truck with Shins package. The man shows the driver something on his phone, possibly a fake ID, and then is handed the delivery. Surveillance footage captures a suspected package thief showing delivery people possible fake IDs and then making off with expensive laptops in Southern California. November 2024. (Viewer photo) Surveillance footage captures a suspected package thief showing delivery people possible fake IDs and then making off with expensive laptops in Southern California. November 2024. (Viewer photo) Surveillance footage captures a suspected package thief showing delivery people possible fake IDs and then making off with expensive laptops in Southern California. November 2024. (Viewer photo) Surveillance footage captures a suspected package thief showing delivery people possible fake IDs and then making off with expensive laptops in Southern California. November 2024. (Viewer photo) Surveillance footage captures a suspected package thief showing delivery people possible fake IDs and then making off with expensive laptops in Southern California. November 2024. (Irvine Police) Surveillance footage captures a suspected package thief showing delivery people possible fake IDs and then making off with expensive laptops in Southern California. November 2024. (Viewer photo) This guys got a criminal mind, said Shin. And, obviously, he had some insider information, where he knows that this package had a laptop in there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few days after this incident, Irvine police issued a public alert with a video of a man who they believe is the same suspect intercepting a package with a MacBook Pro inside. The video, taken on Nov. 18, shows a man with glasses and a beard wearing the same black pants and white shirt. He goes through the same pattern, showing the delivery driver a possible fake ID and then getting away with the package. Shin is convinced its the same person. Its already been reported to the retailer and the credit card company, I did an online FBI report UPS wasnt much help, said Shin. I contacted them and they said, Well, we delivered the package. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since many are expecting deliveries over the holidays, Shin said he wants to warn others to think twice about having expensive items shipped to their home. If youre getting a high-value package delivered to your house, maybe you could just get it delivered to a UPS station or a FedEx location, or just pick it up directly from the store, advised Shin. Its just safer. KTLA reached out to UPS representatives, who said they wouldnt comment on the incidents but said customers can ship directly to a UPS store, or sign up to receive an email alert that lets them know when their package is scheduled to be delivered which is what Shin said he did. Shin says he is trying to get the item reimbursed, and the process is currently pending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police did not immediately release an identity for the suspect they believe to be involved in both cases. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Guy Verna, known by many in Saint John as president of the citys soccer club, says his family and friends in Haiti have no peace or stability. (Submitted by Guy Verna - image credit) A Saint John man who is originally from Haiti says life has become very dangerous and difficult for people there, including members of his family. "It's totally chaotic," said Guy Verna, who left the country in 1976 but tries to check in daily with his sister, who lives on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, the capital. Recently, communications systems have been down about 25 per cent of the time, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Violence exploded in Haiti after the assassination of President Jovenal Moise in 2021. Since then, gangs have displaced about 700,000 people from the capital city, said Greg Beckett, an associate professor of anthropology at Western University, who has been studying political crises in Haiti for 20 years. The last national government was kicked out by a gang coup in March, Beckett said. About 500 police officers from Kenya have arrived since June as part of a UN security mission, he said. However, violence worsened this month as a transitional prime minister was sworn in, and travel in and out of Port-au-Prince was blocked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Doctors Without Borders suspended its medical care in Haiti on Nov. 19 because of threats and assaults against patients and staff. Verna's family has an orphanage and school in Port-Au-Prince. Saint Johns Guy Verna says his sister, Marguerite Emeran Colombes, runs an orphanage and school in Port-au-Prince. Saint Johns Guy Verna says his sister, Marguerite Emeran Colombes, runs an orphanage and school in Port-au-Prince. (Submitted by Guy Verna) Verna said he spoke with his sister on Monday, and she told him gunfire could be heard that morning from the orphanage so everyone had to stay inside with the doors closed. Class is often cancelled because bullets are flying and teachers can't get to work. Schools in Port-au-Prince only open on "odd days" when things are calm, Verna said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students can't wear their uniforms because it makes them a target and gangs are recruiting children, he said, and Port-au-Prince residents of any age are facing risk of death anytime they leave their home. Before going anywhere, they call ahead to acquaintances using CB radios and walkie-talkies to find out where gangs are and which streets are blocked. "When you wake up, you have to call someone and ask how are things on the corner outside their place," he said. That person may say, "Don't come to that market because the gangs are there since midnight and they're not leaving." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's a far cry from the way things were when Verna left Haiti almost 50 years ago. Back then, conditions were safe enough in Port-au-Prince that you could sleep in the street all night and nothing would happen to you, he said, but these days you can't go out after 7 p.m. Things are a little better in other parts of the country, such as in his hometown of Saint-Marc, he said, where some of his cousins still live, where they were able to get rid of the gangs. In his opinion, it would take 10,000 to 20,000 soldiers to restore peace in the capital. "Any force that comes to Haiti can't resolve it because they come underfunded. They never come with the quantity of soldiers or police that they say that they are sending," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After following developments in Haiti for two decades, Beckett described what he is seeing now as a lot of exhaustion, trauma and frustration. The gangs are strong and entrenched and they have sophisticated, military-grade equipment and communication systems, he said. The current Kenyan police mission in Haiti is suggesting a shift to a formal UN peacekeeping mission, Beckett said. A peacekeeping mission would have military personnel and more funding, but no country has expressed willingness to lead such a mission, he said, adding that it would be long and complicated. BEIJING, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- After rotating its tires 90 degrees, an electric car can move sideways like a crab and make spin turns, making side parking and navigating tight spaces a breeze. The technology, involving intelligent chassis and automatic wheels, is demonstrated at the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), which is being held in Beijing from Tuesday to Saturday. FOSTERING INDUSTRY EXCHANGES Steering and braking are usually done through the chassis, but new technology integrates them into wheels, according to Xu Qingguo, Changchun MATIC Robotic Vehicle Technology's sales general manager. "This means the components of chassis can be cut by 40 percent, reducing the vehicle's weight by over 30 percent," said Xu, adding that the technology can contribute to smart driving, increase driving distance and improve energy efficiency. "Making cars lighter also depends on quality raw material," said Wang Hanguang, head of Dalian Ketian New Material, an upstream supplier of MATIC, also exhibiting at the expo. By adding a fining agent to aluminum alloy, Ketian contributes to the increase of the strength and toughness of car components, including wheels and brake discs, said Wang. Themed "Connecting the World for a Shared Future," CISCE hosted over 600 exhibitors from 69 countries and international organizations, with more than 30 percent of exhibitors coming from overseas. As the world's first national-level exhibition focusing on supply chains, the expo has gathered industry leaders and experts from around the world and helped promote global cooperation in industrial and supply chains. After experiencing the lateral movement of the co-pilot seat of the car, David Doninotti, secretary general of the Italian Association of Foreign Trade, said the technology is amazing and convenient, and he hopes to find more partners in the sector of new energy vehicles and charging piles. "Through this expo, China sends a message of connectivity, cooperation and opening, and this is important for business people all over the world," said Doninotti. China is the world's largest automobile market and exporter. In the first 10 months of the year, China produced about 9.78 million new energy vehicles (NEVs) and sold 9.75 million units, marking a year-on-year growth of 33 percent and 33.9 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, NEV exports totaled some 1.06 million units, up 6.3 percent year on year, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. SHOWCASING SUPPLY CHAIN COOPERATION CISCE highlights cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions in supply chains. In the expo's smart vehicle zone, new materials, components, research and design in the upstream, batteries and intelligent network systems in the midstream, and automobiles and services in the downstream, have been fully displayed. In the smart vehicle zone, XPENG Motors showcases its new P7+ model with AI-powered intelligent driving capabilities. Also displayed is the Voyager X2, a two-seater electric aircraft with vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL), which has been capturing the attention of car fans. At a joint booth, Xpeng is exhibiting with the Rio Tinto Group, Bosch and China Baowu Steel Group Corporation, to showcase upstream and downstream collaboration and synergy across the automotive supply chain. Rio Tinto is co-developing the Simandou iron ore project in Guinea with Baowu and other Chinese companies, cooperating in areas such as capital investment, equipment and infrastructure, to supply high-grade, low-impurity iron ore for the steel industry. Baowu uses ore as raw material and produces high-performance automotive steel through smelting and rolling processes. It creates an overall solution to meet the hardware needs of NEV companies by using high-strength car bodies and high-safety battery packs. According to Bold Baatar, Rio Tinto's Chief Commercial Officer, the expo fosters industrial integration and innovation, providing a platform to showcase successful partnerships and expand global connections. Bosch displays its integrated power brake and occupant safety system developed for the XPENG P7+ model. These technologies help the XPENG vehicle enhance reaction speed, accurately monitor its surroundings and collision scenarios, and optimize safety response and intelligent driving performance in complex road conditions, ensuring greater consumer safety. "For a vast and continuously growing market like China, an innovative and resilient supply chain system, along with collaboration and synergy across the industrial value chain, are the keys to sustaining its successful development," said David Xu, president of Bosch China. According to Yin Xiaopeng, dean of the Research Institute for Global Value Chains at the University of International Business and Economics, new products can promote more high-tech development and strengthen industrial and supply chains, fostering closer economic integration that benefits both China and the world. The office of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries denounced Thanksgiving Day threats made against Democratic members of Congress that ranged from detailed threats of a pipe bomb placed in mailboxes to swatting. Each of the threats was signed with MAGA at the conclusion of the message, the minority leader's office said in a statement on Friday. Nearly all of the House and Senate Democrats from Connecticut were the targets of bomb threats at their homes on Thursday, including Sen. Chris Murphy and Reps. Jim Himes, Joe Courtney, John Larson, Jahana Hayes and Rosa DeLauro. Police did not find evidence of devices at the lawmakers residences, Jeffries' office confirmed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The threats made toward Democrats came one day after a series of bomb and swatting threats made against President-elect Donald Trumps Cabinet nominees and administration appointees earlier this week. None of the threats were found to be credible. Threats of violence against elected officials are unacceptable, unconscionable and have no place in a civilized society, the statement from Jeffries' office said. All perpetrators of political violence directed at any party must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. The New York lawmaker's office also said Democrats had been in close communication with the Sergeant at Arms office and it is imperative that Congress provide maximum protection for members and their families. Researchers are taking a new approach to understanding the origins of breast cancer. Theyre studying healthy breast tissue. And the results offer a new look into how and where breast cancer develops. The female breast contains billions of cells. However, researchers are narrowing down specific cells most susceptible to breast cancer. Eighty percent of breast cancer originates from a single cell type in the breast, said Harikrishna Nakshatri, BVSc., PhD, professor of breast cancer research at IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Using healthy breast tissue donated from women of diverse ancestries, researchers have created an extensive map of the cells in the breast. Now, they can compare healthy cells to cancerous ones. A step Professor Harikrishna Nakshatri said has been a missing link for years. Now we can go be more precise in figuring out where the cancer originated and what is the fundamental difference between a cancer cell and its normal counterpart, said Harikrishna Nakshatri, BVSc., PhD. We are making tremendous strides in breast cancer research, said Stephanie Lesher, Healthy Breast Tissue Donor. Lesher is passionate about helping the breast cancer community. For her, its personal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My mom is a two-time breast cancer survivor, she said. Lesher has donated healthy breast tissue for research three times. Its such a tangible way to contribute and feel like youre really making an impact, Lesher added. Professor Nakshatri said this data will help him and researchers around the world better understand breast cancer at a cellular level and address biological and ancestral aspects as well. Unless you know what is normal, you cant figure out what is abnormal, said Professor Nakshatri. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. Advanced practice regsitered nurse Ashley Abt and Doctors' Memorial Hospital CEO Lauren Faison-Clark in Perry, Florida. (Photo credit: Liam Fineout) On the health care front lines in Florida, these are the people who work to hold back the storm for hospitalized patients and nursing home residents. The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season, which ends on Saturday, put many of them to the test. Five hurricanes made landfall in the continental United States and two of them pummeled Florida just weeks apart. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hurricane Helene hit as a Category 4 storm near the city of Perry in the early morning hours on Sept. 26. Helene was the strongest hurricane on record to strike the Big Bend region of Florida and, with more than 150 direct fatalities in the southeastern states, the deadliest hurricane to affect the continental United States since Hurricane Katrina. Hurricane Milton made landfall on Floridas west coast on Oct. 9 as a Category 3 hurricane. Florida Hospital Association CEO and President Mary Mayhew said hospitals take storm planning and preparation seriously. You want hospitals before, during, and after a storm, Mayhew told the Florida Phoenix. But every hospital has to do a risk assessment based upon their physical plant, their location, and the number of patients that can be safely transferred, evacuated. All of that goes into consideration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the height of Hurricane Helene, 98 health care facilities offering a range of services, from assisted living facilities to nursing homes to hospitals to residential treatment facilities, reported evacuations to the state. Of those, 27 were nursing homes, eight were hospitals, and one was a hospital emergency department. At the height of Milton, 212 health facilities reported evacuations, including 10 hospitals, two freestanding hospital emergency departments, and 50 nursing homes. Famous or infamous? Lauren Faison-Clark is CEO of Doctors Memorial Hospital in Perry, a position shes held for a year, and worked as interim CEO for the year before that. Shes been at the helm of the rural hospital for three storms in the past two years: Hurricanes Helene and Debby (which hit in August) and Hurricane Idalia (which hit Keaton Beach on Aug. 30, 2023.) Doctors Memorial Hospital CEO Lauren Faison-Clark (Photo credit: Liam Fineout) I dont think a lot of people across the country probably have even heard of Perry or Steinhatchee, Florida, but now were famous on The Weather Channel because of those three storms, Faison-Clark told the Florida Phoenix. And its, its weary. People are very weary. Theyre very mentally tired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During hurricanes, Faison-Clark said, hospital staff are assigned to two categories: Group A and Group B. Both are tasked with coming to work when hurricanes approach. Staff are asked to arrive before winds exceed 35 miles per hour, which is when it becomes unsafe for people to drive. Group A takes the first shift, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Group B is asked to shelter in place at the facility so they are there to relieve Group A when that shift ends. As health care people do, they kick into gear and they pack up their bags, and you have your team show up for the storm. Some of them are nervous, some are scared, some of them are mad that they have to be here, but they do it, Faison-Clark said. Blown away Ashley Abt joined Doctors Memorial Hospital as clinical director of the emergency room on Sept. 1. He and his wife, Noni, had taken steps to prepare their Keaton Beach home for Hurricane Helene. Its a routine they have become familiar with. Two months after the storm, heres how they are faring SU SURIANO: The nursing home administrator from Tarpon Springs has replaced a lot of what she lost and says she is in a better frame of mind than she was in September and October following Hurricane Helene. Hurricane Milton, a bigger more powerful hurricane that was projected to directly hit her area but didnt, inflicted more psychic damage than physical. Thats because Suriano became aware of everything that wasnt lost in Helene that could be lost in the second storm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were rebuilding and cleaning up. We are in the process of thinking about leaving our neighborhood, as well. But now that things are back into place, you almost feel like things are back to normal. So, you kind of forget. I mean, people forget very, very easily until the next storm season begins next summer, Suriano said. Im not quite sure what were planning on doing just yet, but for right this moment, with the beautiful weather, we have some family down from Philly right now. Things are you kind of just forget the bad couple of months that we just had, she said. Suriano has received insurance settlements, and a contractor has been working on the house. Her husband, whos handy, has been able to help replace drywall and make other fixes. KIM MERRICK: The nursing home worker from Crystal River reports that most of the stuff in her home is packed up in boxes. Shes waiting for her wood floors, which buckled under four-and-a-half feet of water during Helenes storm surge, to get replaced. The water flooded all her kitchen appliances but only her dishwasher has stopped working. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Merrick said she has a claim with FEMA. She routinely checks the status of the claim online but it always says pending. Merrick is one of 185 nursing home employees who have received a stipend from the Florida Health Care Association, a statewide nursing home organization that raised $50,000 to assist long term care workers who suffered damage during the storm season. ASHLEY ABT: The clinical director of the emergency room at Doctors Memorial Hospital in Perry lost his Keaton Beach home in Hurricane Helene. He is fully insured, with a homeowners policy as well as federal flood insurance. He received a $750 payment from FEMA following the storm but nothing from his insurance company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From the start, Abt said, he had problems with his carrier, including failure to make a timely response to his claim. He called the state insurance office for assistance. Meanwhile, the company told him this week that the loss of his house wasnt covered by his policy because his house had been swept away by flood waters, not wind. Hes waiting to see if the state can help before hiring an attorney. I just kind of laughed when they told me that, that it was purely flood, and that there was no wind, and that they could actually determine that when theres no house to even look at, Abt said. He and his wife Noni have been renting a tiny house in Keaton Beach no small feat for Abt, a towering man well above six feet tall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Me and my wife have gotten really close. Its interesting and different, he said. The ceilings are way lower than Im used to, but, but it is what it is. You know, all things considered. Its good, you know we have AC, heat, a flushing toilet, and hot water. All things considered, it could be a lot worse. We get the boat out of the water, and we do this and we do that. We tie this stuff down, and, you know, take cushions off of porch furniture and put the cushions inside and pile them up together next to the house. And, you know, make sure everythings inside and everythings secured. Abt told the Phoenix. The following day, his wife evacuated to a friends home in South Georgia and Abt went to Doctors Memorial and sheltered in place. He recalled watching the storm veer toward Perry and wondering whether he should have gotten additional sandbags or boarded up the house better. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Luckily, I didnt waste the time or money on sandbags or plywood, because I dont think any amount of that would have helped, he said. He left the hospital after the storm hit and headed toward the beach to check on his house. But the road was closed and he couldnt make it. A man he met on the side of the road with a drone provided him the footage he needed to confirm what he already suspected that the storm had demolished his house. Faison-Clark recalled the look in Abts eyes when he returned to the hospital later that day. Once he talked to his wife and figured out whats going on, I made him leave, she said, telling him he needed to take time to let reality sink in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He wanted to be here to help work, she said. You know, at some point youre no good to others if you dont take care of yourself first. We teach that all the time in health care care for yourself so you can care for others. In addition to working at the hospital, Abt, an advanced practice registered nurse, and his wife, also a nurse, operate a health clinic in Keaton Beach called Second Wind Hydration. Despite the total loss of their home, they dont plan to move from the area. Ashley and Noni Abt (pictured) lost their Keaton Beach home during Hurricane Helene. But they arent moving from the area. (Photo courtesy Ashley Abt) Me and my wife just kind of stood on our lot, on our empty lot, and I was like, You want to go somewhere else? And she said, No. And I said, All right, happy wife, happy life. Lets get it. Feeling better by helping Roughly 700 nursing homes operate in Florida, data maintained by the state Agency for Health Care Administration show. The facilities house some of the most vulnerable citizens in the state and managing their safety during storms is complicated. Kim Merrick is a certified occupational therapist assistant at Crystal River Health and Rehabilitation. Because the facility is located in a low-lying coastal area, it evacuates residents when a storm approaches. The certified nurse assistants and nursing staff travel with the residents during evacuations, Merrick said. Because she is not a nurse, Merricks hurricane duty involves helping transfer residents from their rooms onto the buses that drive them to sister facilities in other areas of the state that are not threatened. For Hurricane Helene, Merrick said, residents moved to facilities in Ocala and Daytona. The residents in the memory care unit went to a Citrus County facility that also has a such a unit. Kim Merricks Crystal River house got flooded during Hurricane Helene. (Photo courtesy Kim Merrick) After helping put the resident on the buses, Merrick returned to the house where she has lived for 21 years with her husband, and they started preparing for the storm. They anticipated the water coming near the garage and prepared by placing sandbags around the lower lying areas near their home, she said. But they never anticipated what was going to happen. My neighbor across the street is an elderly woman and she has lived here for over 50 years, and she said the houses here have never flooded, hers and ours, Merrick recalled. Her husband and son stayed awake waiting for Helene to arrive but she drifted off to sleep. They woke me up, and it was just, you just saw it coming, and started coming under the doors. And we just picked up what we could off of the floor and got it as high as we could. By that point, you know, theres, thats all you can do. Its dark. We had no power, so we basically just sat there and waited for it to stop, she recalled, her voice trembling. While the residents returned to the facility the Friday following the storm, Merrick spent three days sorting through ruins and trying to dry out a flooded home. She returned to work Monday to take care of the residents. It makes you think. A lot of them dont have anybody. The facility staff is their family, their caregivers. They need help and it makes you feel better to help them. Different this time Su Soriano has been a licensed nursing home administrator for nearly 30 years and works at the Oakpark Health and Rehabilitation Center in Tampa. Shes hands-on at the facility when a storm threatens. Days in advance, she said, staff make sure the generators have 96 hours-worth of gas as required by law and that the facility has seven days of food and water. Soriano also checks oxygen supplies and whether the pharmacy has what it needs. One of the biggest challenges in preparing for storms for Suriano lies outside the walls of the nursing facility: keeping staff calm and prepared so they are able to work. Su Suriano, Oakpark Health and Rehabilitation Center administrator. (Photo courtesy of the Florida Health Care Association) Like many long-time Florida residents, Suriano has seen her share of hurricanes over the years. This time was different: Hurricane Helene flooded the first floor of her two-story Tarpon Springs home which is built on stilts. She lost two cars and all the possessions downstairs. Her living space, the kitchen, bedrooms, family room, are on the second floor and werent damaged. As customary, she was at work during landfall and on a group text with her husband and her neighbors. Soriano said her husband wasnt responding to the group chat messages and she started to worry. It wasnt until my next door neighbor posted a video of what was happening in her own home which was the water was just crashing into her front door, and she and her husband were trying to hold the door closed as the water was coming in and it wasnt until then that I thought, Oh, my goodness, look, thats happening with our neighbors. Obviously, its happening at our own house. Just days later, Suriano found herself headed to the facility to once again prepare for a storm, this one Hurricane Milton. For Suriano, the experience was different than it had been in the past; her thought process, she said, had completely changed. I packed up my house crazily, as if I were, I was saying goodbye to it, and we just packed up our things that were of sentimental value and everything else we kind of left behind, she said. But it was a very scary experience for me personally this time, because we had just gone through it with Helene, and then just, I mean, back-to-back, Milton came. But you know, all in all, we were very fortunate. And I was very happy to come in. We never lost power. We never lost electricity. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE This story has been updated. Hurricane Milton was a Category 3 hurricane when it hit Florida. HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) The Hendersonville Police Department recently put an end to a gift card scam that, according to them, was likely done across several states. According to HPD, officers were notified of possible gift card tampering by someone inside a Publix on Monday. Tennessee Attorney General warns of dealership website scams He just went to the gift card rack and put some gift cards back on the rack, and then he left. He was in there less than a minute, and so the manager thought that was suspicious, explained HPD Cmdr. Jimmy Garret. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Using license plate recognition (LPR) technology, the suspect identified as 43-year-old Lin Jiang was tracked down later the same day in Spring Hill. Garett told News 2 he had over 700 gift cards in his possession, along with tools needed to manipulate gift cards. Authorities said they dont believe Jiang was working alone. In fact, they know that these specific scammers have been working across the country. Hendersonville firefighters rally around longtime captain diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer This crew started in California and we were able to track them through LPR, and they went to Washington, down through Kansas, to Missouri, into Tennessee, and theyve been in the Tennessee area for about four or five days, said Garrett. They scratch off the pin number, and then whenever you load that card up, you dont have the pin number, you cant use it. But it loads up their information and theyre able to get into the gift card and use it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Going into the peak shopping months, Garrett shared some advice for people who may visit the gift card racks in the weeks ahead. CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee Just dont grab it and run out to the rack and go pay for it; take a minute to look at it and see if it looks altered, Garrett explained. You can tell the stickers arent always put on correctly, and you can tell, sometimes, when the packages have been cut and re-glued. Hendersonville police charged Jiang with 10 counts of criminal simulation, with more charges expected. Potential accomplices and other incident locations are still being investigated, according to HPD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. BEIRUT (Reuters) - The head of Hezbollah, Naim Qassem, pledged on Friday to coordinate closely with the Lebanese army to implement a ceasefire deal with Israel, which he said his group had agreed to "with heads held high". It was his first address since a ceasefire came into effect on Wednesday after more than a year of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel that decimated swathes of Lebanon and killed 4,000 people including hundreds of women and children. Qassem said Hezbollah had "approved the deal, with the resistance strong in the battlefield, and our heads held high with our right to defend (ourselves)." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ceasefire stipulates that Hezbollah will withdraw from areas south of the Litani river, which runs some 30 km (20 miles) north of the border with Israel, and that the Lebanese army will deploy troops there as Israeli ground troops withdraw. "There will be high-level coordination between the Resistance (Hezbollah) and the Lebanese army to implement the commitments of the deal," Qassem said. The Lebanese army has already sent additional troops to the south but is preparing a detailed deployment plan to share with Lebanon's cabinet, security sources and officials have said. That effort has been complicated by the continuing presence of Israeli troops on Lebanese territory. The deal grants them a full 60 days to complete their withdrawal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli military has issued restrictions on people returning to villages along Lebanon's border with Israel and has fired at people in those villages in recent days, calling those movements a violation of the truce. Both the Lebanese army and Hezbollah have accused Israel of breaching the ceasefire in those instances, and by launching an airstrike above the Litani River on Thursday. Qassem said the group had scored a "divine victory" against Israel even greater than that declared after the two foes last fought in 2006. "To those that were betting that Hezbollah would be weakened, we are sorry, their bets have failed," he said. (Reporting by Maya Gebeily; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Timothy Heritage) The leader of the Iran-allied Hezbollah militia, Naim Qassem, has said his group plans "high-level coordination" with the Lebanese army to implement a ceasefire deal with Israel that began on Wednesday. "Coordination between the resistance and the Lebanese army will be of a high level to implement obligations of the agreement," Qassem said in a televised statement on Friday. "The agreement was concluded with full respect for Lebanese sovereignty. We agreed to it with our heads held high in our right to self-defence." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Qassem claimed his militia has achieved a "big victory" in its latest war with Israel. "We are in front of a big victory that transcends the victory of the July 2006, given the length of the duration, the ferocity of the battle and enormity of sacrifices," he said, referring to a 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel. The ongoing ceasefire is designed to put an end to the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah that began more than one year ago. The leader of the Lebanese militant Islamist movement Hezbollah, Naim Qassem, has said his group plans "high-level coordination" with the Lebanese army to implement a ceasefire deal with Israel that began on Wednesday. "Coordination between the resistance and the Lebanese army will be of a high level to implement obligations of the agreement," Qassem said in a televised statement on Friday. "The agreement was concluded with full respect for Lebanese sovereignty. We agreed to it with our heads held high in our right to self-defence." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Qassem said that Hezbollah, a powerful force in Lebanon that is both a political party and potent military force, has achieved a "big victory" in its latest war with Israel. "We are in front of a big victory that transcends the victory of the July 2006, given the length of the duration, the ferocity of the battle and enormity of sacrifices," he said, referring to a 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel. The ongoing ceasefire is designed to put an end to the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah that began more than one year ago. Israel strikes Hezbollah The Israeli military said on Friday it had attacked a mobile rocket launcher belonging to the Hezbollah militia in southern Lebanon, two days after the ceasefire came into force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released a video showing an exploding truck. "Terrorist activity" had taken place there, the IDF said, in justification of the air strike. The military did not say where exactly the attack took place. It was the third known attack by the Israeli Air Force since the beginning of the ceasefire, initially set for 60 days, on Wednesday morning. The agreement, which was painstakingly negotiated after more than a year of war, stipulates, among other things, that the pro-Iranian Hezbollah withdraw behind the Litani River, about 30 kilometres north of the Israeli-Lebanese border, in accordance with a UN resolution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the beginning of the ceasefire, the intense mutual attacks between Hezbollah and Israel have indeed ceased. However, both sides have repeatedly accused each other of violating the agreements. Villagers banned from returning Israeli troops also banned residents of dozens of villages in southern Lebanon from returning home until further notice. An Israeli military spokesman announced on X in Arabic that the military didn't want the villagers to be put in danger of being targetted. He listed more than 60 villages near the Israeli border that are part of a restricted area which Lebanese people are currently not allowed to enter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The locations in the restricted zone are all on or south of the Litani River. Until Friday morning, access to the entire area south of the river had been prohibited for 14 hours. Now, access is no longer prohibited to all places there. Israel's ground troops are to withdraw from Lebanon step by step within 60 days. However, the IDF said it is currently still operating in the south of the neighbouring country to take action against violations of the ceasefire agreement. The intense reciprocal attacks between Hezbollah and Israel ended at the beginning of the ceasefire on Wednesday morning. However, there are still isolated incidents. Thousands of displaced Lebanese had set out for their home towns in the south after the beginning of the ceasefire. LONDON (AP) British lawmakers gave initial approval on Friday to a bill to help terminally ill adults end their lives in England and Wales, following an impassioned debate that saw people sharing personal stories of loss and suffering. Members of Parliament approved the assisted dying bill by a 330-275 vote, signaling their approval in principle for the bill, which will undergo further scrutiny before it goes to a final vote. Friday's vote came after hours of debate emotional at times that touched on issues of ethics, faith and law. There was no braying and shouting that often marks debates in the House of Commons and speeches were considered respectfully and heard in silence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lets be clear, were not talking about a choice between life or death, we are talking about giving dying people a choice about how to die, the bills main sponsor, Kim Leadbeater, said as she presented the bill to a packed chamber. Supporters said the law would provide dignity to the dying and prevent suffering, while protecting the vulnerable. Opponents said the disabled and elderly were at risk of being coerced, directly or indirectly, to end their lives to save money or relieve the burden on family members. Others called for the improvement of palliative care to ease suffering as an alternative. The proposed bill would allow adults over the age of 18 who are expected to have fewer than six months to live to request and be provided help to end their life, subject to several safeguards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They would have to be capable of taking the fatal drugs themselves, and two independent doctors and a High Court judge will have to sign off on any decision. The bill will not apply to Scotland or Northern Ireland. Backers of the bill told heart-wrenching stories about constituents and family members who suffered in the final months of their lives and dying people who committed suicide in secret because it is currently a crime for anyone to provide assistance. Danny Kruger, who led the argument against the bill, cautioned lawmakers not to back a state suicide service." He argued that no amount of safeguards will stop many vulnerable people feeling the pressure to make a request to end their lives. Kruger voiced his disappointment at the outcome but said there's a chance lawmakers will reject the bill when it comes back for a vote in the next few months. Some of those voting in favor said they only did so to examine the details further and could potentially vote against it in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I still think we can stop it, he said. Although the bill was proposed by Leadbeater, a member of the ruling center-left Labour Party, it was an open vote with alliances formed across the political divide. The government is widely expected to come up in the next few months with assessments on how assisted dying will be funded and how it would impact the U.K.'s state-funded National Health Service, hospice care and the legal system. Prime Minister Keir Starmer did not show his hand ahead of the vote, but backed the change. Others in his Cabinet, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting and the Justice Minister Shabana Mahmood, voted against. There were similar divisions across other political parties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Long-time British campaigner Esther Rantzen, who is terminally ill with lung cancer and played a leading role in advocating the need for a vote on assisted dying, voiced her joy at the wonderful outcome and said it will give people an equal choice. When diagnosed with her terminal illness, Rantzen said she would travel to Switzerland to bring an end to her life, where the law allows assisted dying for non-residents. Hundreds of people on both sides of the issue gathered outside Parliament on a cold but bright day as the debate continued for nearly five hours. Opponents held signs saying, Kill the bill, not the ill, and, referring to the National Health Service, NHS It's cradle to grave. Not 'til old, inconvenient or expensive! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group Dignity in Dying, many wearing pink winter hats, led supporters as they clutched signs saying Giving me choice over my death, and You can't cure death. Please make it fear free. Backers of the measure erupted in cheers when the result was announced and hugged each other. Its a relief, its history, finally we are getting towards having a society that shows love and compassion above the need to just keep people alive," said Joshua Cook, 33, who has Huntingtons disease, an incurable neurodegenerative disease. Other countries that have legalized assisted suicide include Australia, Belgium, Canada and parts of the United States, with regulations on who is eligible varying by jurisdiction. Assisted suicide is different from euthanasia, allowed in the Netherlands and Canada, which involves health care practitioners administering a lethal injection at the patient's request in specific circumstances. DHAKA, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh and Germany Thursday signed two financial and technical agreements on development cooperation worth more than 180 million euros (190.8 U.S. dollars). Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky, secretary of the Economic Relations Division at Bangladesh's Ministry of Finance, and Achim Troster, German ambassador to Bangladesh, signed the agreements on behalf of their respective sides, said a press release. Out of the total amount, 45.8 million euros will be used for technical cooperation and up to 135 million euros for financial cooperation. Cooperation under the agreements will take place in the areas of renewable energy and energy efficiency, sustainable urban development, technical and vocational education and training, socially and environmentally sound supply chains, trade and infrastructure, protection of biodiversity and for a project on combating domestic violence against women and children. (1 euro equals 1.06 U.S. dollars) DES MOINES, Iowa Over 40 driver teams helped deliver 4,000 meals to families in the metro today, and members of the community filled up the lunchroom at Hope Cafe. The annual Thanksgiving Day meal got bigger this year, adding 500 more meals to the delivery and prep schedule. Theres a need out there and theres a lot of folks who, for whatever reasons, wouldnt have a nutritious Thanksgiving meal. I mean, they dont have family, they dont have friends, said Frederick Hollister, Major Gifts Manager at Hope Ministries. And so, we just want them to know that we love them, and we want them to feel like part of the community and we will help them out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 100 people from the community going to the Hope Cafe kitchen to get their holiday meal. Dozens of volunteers helping prepare and serve meals, along with helping with the cleanup. I think it just reminds us that were all a community and that everybodys got to help each other and it makes us stronger, said Jamie Casey, a volunteer cleaning dishes at Hope Cafe. And it reminds you that its nice to be with different family members, kind of like an extended family. The reservations for meals were at capacity well before Thursday. Hope Ministries is taking reservations for Christmas meal deliveries starting next Monday. You are able to sign up for those meals on the organizations website. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. Washington orcas have reportedly revived a macabre fashion trend: dead-salmon hats. West Coast killer whales were last spotted sporting expired salmon in the 1980s, according to Live Science. After a nearly 40-year hiatus, whale watchers and scientists witnessed the resurrected fad last month off Point No Point in Kitsap County and in South Puget Sound. Earlier this year, the conservation charity ORCA wrote about the first time this fashion craze cropped up. The trend can be traced to one salmon-wearing orca circa the summer of 1987. Before long, three pods including her own had followed suit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No word yet on whether salmon-hat mania will catch on this go-round, Live Science notes. Ever neglect a passe pair of boots, only to happily rediscover them in the closet years later? The same might be more or less true for these Pacific Northwest whales. It does seem possible that some individuals that experienced [the behavior] the first time around may have started it again, Andrew Foote, a University of Oslo evolutionary ecologist, told New Scientist. Whatever the case, the fad may not stick around for long. After debuting the year prior, salmon hats had reportedly gotten stale by summer 1988. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unknown why orcas decided to don the fish in the first place. One theory is that theres a lot of food available thanks to the prevalence of chum salmon in the South Sound, according to Live Science. Its possible that satiated whales are saving excess food for later. Mammal-eating orcas have been known to tuck food under their pectoral fin, clasping it close to their body, University of Washington orca researcher Deborah Giles told New Scientist. Salmon might be too small for killer whales to hold snugly, so the bold headgear solves the problem. New technology could assist researchers in chronicling the trend. Camera drones can potentially document orcas in their salmon hats, Live Science reports. That way, scientists might potentially confirm whether the whales ultimately eat their hats or ditch them altogether. The homes of four Connecticut U.S. Congress members were targeted by bomb threats Thanksgiving morning, according to police and the Democrats who received the threats. Rep. Joe Courtney was inside his home in Vernon, gearing up to celebrate the holiday with family, when authorities descended on the property around 7 a.m., his office confirmed in a statement. The large law enforcement response including officers from the Vernon Police Department, the U.S. Capitol Police and the Hartford Police bomb squad was triggered after an unidentified city official received a threat of a bomb inside Courtneys home, a Vernon police spokesman told Patch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Courtneys office later confirmed there was no evidence found of a bomb on the property, and that everyone inside the home was safe. Roughly 45 minutes later, Rep. Jahana Hayes received a call from the Wolcott Police Department, alerting her to a threatening email about a pipe bomb being placed in her mailbox, she said in a statement. Officers from state and Capitol police, as well as the Wolcott Police Department, responded to her residence, but did not uncover any explosives or evidence of other danger. On Thursday afternoon, Rep. Jim Himes said his Greenwich home had also been targeted by a bomb threat that morning while he was celebrating Thanksgiving with family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thankfully, after a swift and thorough response from the United States Capitol Police, the Greenwich Police Department and the Stamford Police Department, no evidence of a bomb was found, Himes said in a statement. Police in East Hartford were also called to the home of Rep. John Larson for a similar threat, which also turned out to be unfounded. I would like to thank the East Hartford Police Department for their swift and professional response in ensuring the safety of my family, Larson told NBC Connecticut. I am grateful that my colleagues in the Connecticut congressional delegation, who received similar threats, are also safe. Authorities have not yet said whether the threats were connected or came from the same person. An investigation into the matter is ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Thanksgiving incidents followed a spate of swatting calls and bomb threats against several nominees for President-elect Donald Trumps Cabinet. Those who confirmed they were targeted late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning include New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trumps pick for United Nations ambassador; Lee Zeldin, a former representative from Long Island whos been tapped to head the EPA; and former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who recently withdrew his name from consideration for U.S. attorney general. The New York Police Department also confirmed a bomb threat had been made against the Upper East Side home of Howard Lutnick, Trumps nominee to lead the Department of Commerce. Dairy cows gather at a farm on July 5, 2022 in Visalia, California. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) The past year hasnt been good to many Ohio farmers. In August, a handful of southeastern counties received drought disaster designations. Before the month was out, that list had ballooned to 22 counties throughout Appalachian Ohio. At of early November, the total has risen to 52 counties, cutting a diagonal swath from Northwest Ohio to the Southeast. The U.S. Drought Monitor ranks drought conditions on a five-point scale running from D0 (abnormally dry) to D4 (exceptional drought). At that highest level, you can expect exceptional and widespread crop or pasture losses, and water emergencies stemming from shortages in reservoirs, streams and wells. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the latest drought map, Ohio has a patch of D4 drought situated over Guernsey and Noble Counties that looks something like Jupiters Great Red Spot. Rep. Don Jones, R-Freeport, represents some of those highly impacted areas, and hes co-sponsoring a measure to help farmers. Ohios U.S. Drought Monitor map as of Nov. 19, 2024. (Map by Richard Tinker NOAA/NWS/NCEP/CPC) The stories are endless, he told the House finance committee earlier this month. People are paying as much as $80 a bale for a round bale of hay if they can find it, sometimes more than that. Many farmers have also been forced to sell off livestock because they dont have the feed to take care of it, so its either buy hay or sell the livestock. He and committee chairman Rep. Jay Edwards, R-Nelsonville, have proposed a $10 million appropriation to the Ohio Department of Agriculture, to provide additional money through soil and water districts to support farmers dealing with drought. Theres some federal support available, but Jones and Edwards argue thats not enough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the appropriation theyre proposing is significant nearly doubling the funding already budgeted to soil and water districts in the state. And Jones argued even that might not be sufficient. I think were going to have to take a look at this again after the first year, because we dont know what the winter is going to be like, he said. We have a budget coming up that were going to probably have to look at doing some more this is just the first bite at the apple. State Rep. Don Jones, R-Freeport. Official photo. Stakeholder perspective Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge described how the drought has been particularly hard on people raising livestock. Drought means less forage in their own pastures and tightening supply of hay. It also means depleted groundwater which many farmers have supplemented by trucking in water. Federal programs can soften the blow he argued, but they come with prerequisites. Yes, you can get paid for hauling hay if its more than 25 miles, he said, Yes, you can get paid for hauling water and get reimbursed for that water that you purchase, but theres a lot of gaps in between there, and its not fully reimbursed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that federal programs, which serve farmers across the entire country, dont have the same understanding of local needs and dynamics. Ashley Kasler serves as an organization director with the Ohio Farm Bureau in Southeast Ohio. Her family also runs a cow-calf and hay farm. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX In her telling the past year has been a rollercoaster for farmers in her area. Early spring, there was enough rain many farmers worried if theyd be able to plant. Then the rain stopped, she said. Fields that were once worried about being too wet, now looking like they had never seen water at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first cutting of hay was a bit dry, but ok; by the second cutting yields were down significantly, and a third was all but an afterthought, she said. That meant many farmers began digging into hay stores meant to carry their livestock through the winter. We would normally start feeding hay in mid-November, she said. Now we have been feeding hay since mid-June. Normally, for those needing to buy round bales, you would pay about $40 to $45 per round bale. Its now close to $80 to $85. Think what your business would go through in six months if unexpected overhead costs popped up out of nowhere and the price doubled, she added. Lawmakers questions In committee, lawmakers primarily asked different versions of why arent we doing more? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I mean we needed it this summer, right? Rep. Tom Young, R-Washington Twp., asked. Shouldnt we do something more now, if we can, versus coming back and waiting until we get into drought season again? Jones stressed that we dont know where this ends, and said he didnt want to ask for too much now and risk lawmakers souring later when the need might be greater. Rep. Dani Isaacsohn, D-Cincinnati, cautious not to actually mention climate change asked if an ad hoc approach is really the best way to address the problem. This is not the last time this is going to happen, he said. Unfortunately, this is going to get worse. Its going to get more frequent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He asked Baldridge if the department is thinking about a climate mitigation fund or some state level version of crop insurance, and what approaches other states are considering. Because right now, its these farmers who are acutely impacted, he said. In the future will either be other farmers (or) it could be, honestly, if it goes the other direction, it will be basements in places in Cincinnati that people cant afford to fix, right? Rep. Bob Peterson, R-Washington Court House, jumped in a few minutes later to warn against irrational exuberance, and attempting to recreate crop insurance when the federal program is very robust. The one gap probably that exists right now in federal crop insurance is is these haying grazing operations. And I appreciate the work that the administration and you have done to try and address that gap thats out there, but I dont see need to step into what the federal government does very well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whatever the quibbles on the margins, lawmakers on the panel had no qualms with advancing the funding. The measure was introduced and reported favorably in the same hearing. It still needs approval of the full House and the Senate, but given its rapid rollout and broad support, the measure seems to likely to be a priority in final weeks of the legislative session. Follow OCJ Reporter Nick Evans on Twitter. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) Mistakes by members of the crew caused a New Zealand navy ship to plow into a reef off the coast of Samoa, where it caught fire and sank, according to the preliminary findings of a military Court of Inquiry released Friday. The ships crew did not realize autopilot was engaged, believed something else had gone wrong with the ship, and did not check the HMNZS Manawanui was under manual control as it maintained course toward land, a summary of the inquirys first report said. The full report has not been made public. All 75 people on board the vessel evacuated safely as the boat foundered about 1.6 kilometers (a mile) off the coast of Upolu, Samoa, in October. The ship was one of only nine in New Zealands navy and was the first the country lost at sea since World War II. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials did not know the cause of the sinking at the time, and Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Garin Golding ordered a Court of Inquiry to investigate. The direct cause of the grounding has been determined as a series of human errors which meant the ships autopilot was not disengaged when it should have been, Golding told reporters in Auckland on Friday. Muscle memory from the person in control should have leaned over to that panel and checked whether the screen said autopilot or not." The crew "mistakenly believed its failure to respond to direction changes was the result of a thruster control failure, he said. A number of contributing factors were identified, Golding said, including training, planning, supervision, readiness and risk assessment. The Court of Inquiry is expected to continue until the first quarter of next year. Golding said given human error was identified as the cause, a separate disciplinary process will begin after the inquiry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three crew members who were on the bridge as the disaster unfolded are likely to face such a process, Golding added. They were the officer in control of the ship, an officer supervising that person, and the ship's commanding officer. The navy chief would not name them. I want to reassure the public of New Zealand that we will learn from this situation and that it is on me, as the Chief of Navy, to earn back your trust," Golding said. In the days after the sinking, New Zealand's Defense Minister gave stinging rebukes of misogynistic online commenters who directed abusive comments at the ship's captain because she was a woman. The specialist dive and hydrographic vessel had been in service for New Zealand since 2019 and was surveying the reef that it ran aground on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sinking prompted fears in villages along the Samoan coastline near the wreck about damage caused by the ship's diesel spilling into the ocean. New Zealand officials have said since the sinking that most of the fuel burned off in the fire and that no environmental damage has been recorded. The current flow of fuel into the sea was a persistent slow leak which divers are monitoring, Golding said Friday. Specialist equipment is due to be transported from New Zealand to Samoa by sea, departing this week, to remove fuel and other potential pollutants from the ship. New Zealand officials have not made public plans to remove the ship from the reef. This has had an impact to our reputation, Golding said. We will own it, fix it and learn from it." JERUSALEM, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Nine people were injured in a shooting attack at a bus of Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank on Friday, said the Israeli army in a statement. The army added that the shooter, identified as a Palestinian man, was gunned down by Israeli security forces at the scene at the Gitti Avisar junction, west of Nablus city. A manhunt was underway for possible accomplices, it noted. Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service reported that three of the injured sustained severe wounds, and the others in moderate to light condition were evacuated to a hospital. The bus was driving from Tel Aviv to the Israeli settlement of Ariel when the shooting occurred, the Shomron Regional Council, an Israeli regional council in the northern portion of the West Bank, said in a statement. The head of Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) has dismissed fresh rumours of his imminent firing, describing them on Nov. 29 as "rumors and disinformation" spread by Russian propaganda. Earlier in the week, New Voice of Ukraine reported that the Ukrainian President's Office wanted to replace Kyrylo Budanov with a "a person more loyal to the authorities." "Unfortunately, at a certain point, these narratives were spread in the Ukrainian information space, many of them were replicated by Russian propaganda," Budanov told BBC Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "But there is nothing surprising in this. Throwing out rumors and disinformation is what they do to destabilize the country, and to destabilize the team," he added. Budanov insisted he had "normal working relations" with President Volodymyr Zelensky and his team. It's not the first time in recent months that rumors of Budanov's imminent dismissal have circulated. Zelensky on Oct. 21 denied similar rumors. "I wasn't going to do that. I was not going to replace Budanov. This information was circulating, yes. There was no such question about (Defense Minister Rustem) Umerov either," Zelensky said during a meeting with journalists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelensky's statement followed media speculation that Budanov was in line for dismissal. Budanov, 38, has been the head of Ukraine's military intelligence since August 2020. In late September, Umerov dismissed two of Budanov's deputies, Viktor Zaitsev and Ihor Ostapenko. The decision was not made in cooperation with Budanov, Ukrainska Pravda reported, citing an undisclosed source. Read also: Russias reported daily losses in Ukraine pass 2,000 for the first time Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Pajtim Krasniqi, 34, was shot and killed by his wife, Sabrina Krasniqi, "the person he trusted most," his sister wrote on social media Albana Krasniqi Munrett/Facebook Pajtim Krasniqi Pajtim Krasniqi A Florida man is dead after his wife fatally shot him and then herself on the balcony of their luxury oceanfront high-rise in a tragic murder-suicide, police say. At 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27, Hallandale Beach police officers responded to a report of multiple shots fired at the Beach Club II Hallendale at 1830 South Ocean Drive, NBC 6 reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers found Pajtim Krasniqi, 34, and his wife, Sabrina Krasniqi, 27, laying on the balcony of their condominium unit, dead of apparent gunshot wounds, police said, according to NBC 6. Sabrina shot Pajtim multiple times before shooting herself, CBS News reported. The couple lived on the 45th floor of the luxury building, according to NBC 6, and the Miami Herald reported that police are investigating what led up to the fatal shooting. In a heartbreaking post on Facebook, Albana Krasniqi Munrett wrote, My Thanksgiving Eve wasnt spent with my husband and children. It wasnt spent with friends. It was spent with police officers, detectives and news reports talking about the vicious and senseless murder of my youngest brother by his wife." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pajtimis wife chose to take my brothers life away from him when she shot 5 bullets into his chest. The person he trusted the most, the person he chose to spend his life with was the one who took his away from him. She betrayed him, his love and his trust. She shattered my family. My siblings and I will never be the same. Im terrified my mother will not ever recover," the post continued. She ended the post by writing, I love you always Pajtim RIP. The Albanian newspaper Gazeta Tema reports that the couple were Albanian nationals from Kosovo. The Hallandale Police department did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment. Tehran has revealed its plans to expand its nuclear facilities in detail ahead of a meeting between Iranian and European diplomats in Geneva on Friday. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced in Vienna that Iran had informed it of plans to install several thousand additional centrifuges for uranium enrichment and also to commission thousands of centrifuges that have already been installed. The talks planned for Friday in Switzerland between high-ranking representatives from Iran, Germany, France and Britain will revolve around the Islamic Republic's nuclear programme. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iran claims it is not seeking nuclear weapons. Nevertheless, the country is producing highly enriched uranium that could be converted into material suitable for nuclear weapons with little effort. The IAEA has announced that the centrifuges that are to be additionally constructed and activated also include particularly powerful devices. Tehran had already publicly announced its latest nuclear plans after the three European states and the United States had brought a resolution critical of Iran to a vote in the IAEA. Despite these nuclear signals from Tehran, the talks in Geneva are intended to contribute to de-escalation, according to statements from Iran and Europe. The Iranian government spokeswoman said the focus is on the nuclear issue, the re-establishment of bilateral relations and the Middle East conflict. Tehran has revealed its plans to expand its nuclear facilities in detail ahead of a meeting between Iranian and European diplomats in Geneva on Friday. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced in Vienna that Iran had informed it of plans to install several thousand additional centrifuges for uranium enrichment and also to commission thousands of centrifuges that have already been installed. At a round of talks between government representatives from Iran, Germany, Britain and France in Geneva, there was reportedly little movement with regard to de-escalation in the dispute over the Islamic Republic's nuclear programme. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are firmly committed to pursue the interests of our people, and our preference is the path of dialogue and engagement," Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kasem Gharibabadi said on X. "It was agreed to continue diplomatic dialogue in near future." He said that sanctions, the situation in the Middle East and other bilateral issues were also discussed in addition to the Iranian nuclear programme. Similar meetings had recently been held previously, including recently in New York. Iran, for its part, was also interested in taking steps to reduce sanctions. Iran claims it is not seeking nuclear weapons and that the nuclear programme is purely for civilian purposes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nevertheless, the country is producing highly enriched uranium that could be converted into material suitable for nuclear weapons with little effort. The IAEA has announced that the centrifuges that are to be additionally constructed and activated also include particularly powerful devices. Tehran had already publicly announced its latest nuclear plans after the three European states and the United States had brought a resolution critical of Iran to a vote in the IAEA. Despite these nuclear signals from Tehran, the talks in Geneva are intended to contribute to de-escalation, according to statements from Iran and Europe. The Iranian government spokeswoman said the focus is on the nuclear issue, the re-establishment of bilateral relations and the Middle East conflict. An Ada County judge has ruled against an Idaho prisoner who argued that prosecutors latest felony charge against him was retaliation for speaking to the Idaho Statesman. Bobby Templin, a 34-year-old man incarcerated at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution south of Boise, said a new felony charge he faced two months after the publication of a Statesman story was an act of retaliation from prosecutors and asked the judge to dismiss the charge. Templin was featured in a Statesman article in October 2023 about his fractured hand and his pleas to seek medical help that went unanswered for several months. Fourth Judicial District Judge Cynthia Yee-Wallace wasnt persuaded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a 28-page order, Yee-Wallace wrote that there wasnt any evidence that the Ada County Prosecutors Office engaged in vindictive prosecution. The prosecutions decision to charge Templin with a felony wasnt because he spoke to the Statesman about the medical care he received while incarcerated, she concluded. In short, the record before the court does not reveal any facts indicating realistic likelihood of vindictiveness on the part of the prosecutor in this case, Yee-Wallace wrote. The court thus finds that defendant has not shown that the prosecutor engaged in vindictive prosecution in this case, and Templins motion to dismiss is denied. In January 2023, Templins thumb was fractured in the moments after a fight broke out at the Idaho State Correctional Center. Templin told the Statesman it happened when correctional officers were restraining him, while an IDOC report said he punched a wall after he was detained. Records showed IDOC wouldnt take Templin to see a specialist for six months, despite Templins continual pleas for help. By then an expert said permanent damage was likely done. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ada County Prosecutors Office charged Templin with felony battery against a correctional officer in December 2023, two months after the story was published, which could keep him in prison for another five years if hes convicted. Templin had been under investigation by the Ada County Sheriffs Office since the January 2023 fight over the allegation that he struck a correctional officer. But Templins attorney called the timing suspect. Mike French, a Boise-based attorney, filed a motion to dismiss the felony against Templin, arguing that her client was retaliated against because he dared to speak out against the persistent medical neglect he suffered at the hands of the Idaho Department of Correction. Prosecutors also filed a persistent violator enhancement against Templin, which could add at least another five years to his prison sentence. The charge can be tacked on by prosecutors once someone has been convicted of three felonies. Templins only other felony convictions are for possession of a controlled substance and grand theft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Templin told the Statesman in a message that he was disappointed the charges werent dismissed. The state is more worried about a prosecution than seeing my innocence, he said. Bobby Templin holds his hand up, showing he is unable to close his thumb, while recording a video from inside the Idaho Maximum Security Institution. He has waited for months to get medical attention for his broken hand. N o evidence of retaliation, judge says When the January 2023 fight broke out at the Idaho Department of Corrections Kuna prison, the Ada County Sheriffs Office was called to handle the investigation. Ada County Detective Alex McCray investigated the allegation that Templin struck an IDOC officer in the neck and head that day. The officer didnt have any injuries or need medical attention, according to court records. IDOC identified a total of 13 men who participated in the fight. A review of court records by the Statesman showed that Templin was the only person who was criminally charged in connection with the fight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite reaching out to IDOC three times, McCray said in court that he didnt receive the investigative materials related to Templins case until Oct. 5, 2023. He said the delay wasnt unusual in IDOC cases. It was the same day a Statesman reporter had emailed an IDOC spokesperson to request an interview regarding the agencys medical practices. A day after McCray received the files, IDOC Chief Investigator Nicole Fraser emailed McCrays supervisor, Ada County Sgt. Bill Weires, and asked for a timeline on when they planned to close the case, according to Yee-Wallaces order. We have a news outlet requesting information about this case, Fraser wrote, later adding that she needed this information as soon as possible. The newspaper published the article a week later. McCray said during an August court hearing that he never felt any pressure from IDOC or the Sheriffs Office to get the case to the Prosecutors Office, and that he treated this case no differently than any case he received from IDOC. He added that no one from IDOC suggested that Templin should be prosecuted for the charges and that no one from the Prosecutors Office inquired about the case until McCray submitted it for review. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But French said IDOC officials only began communicating with the Sheriffs Office once they learned Templin was talking to the Statesman. One of dozens of health service requests filed by Bobby Templin asking for medical help after his hand was fractured while in prison. Yee-Wallace said that there was no evidence that the Ada County Prosecutors Office was aware of these emails, adding that she would not impute or attribute the actions of IDOC or the Sheriffs Office to the prosecutors in Templins case. Similarly, there is no evidence or support linking the prosecutors decision to charge Templin in this case because of Templins medical care, Yee-Wallace wrote. Templins prison sentence ends in February but will likely be released to the Ada County Jail if his new charges arent resolved by then. For now, Templin spends most of his day in the states highest security prison. His next hearing is at 11 a.m. Dec. 10 at the Ada County Courthouse. PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) The Illinois Department of Transportation is hosting a public hearing to get input on improvements to Illinois Route 29. The public hearing is going to be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 4 at the Peoria Heights Grade School located at 500 E. Glen Ave., Peoria Heights. The hearing is designed to give the public an update on the Illinois Route 29 reconstruction program, as well as gain public input on the project. They will also be displaying the proposed relocation of the Grand View Drive Pavilion and the impacts to Grand View Drive Park and Bielfeldt Park, a release from IDOT said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No formal presentation will be given however there will be project exhibits, aerial photographs and reports available for viewing, as well as IDOT staff members to receive input, provide information and answer questions. The reconstruction consists of 2.6 miles of the route from just north of McClugage Bridge to north of Gardner Lane. This project will also convert one of nearly 200 acres from the park district to the highway use and displacement of eight residents, the release said. Inputs on any aspect of the project may be submitted at the meeting or by emailing DOT.IL29GalenaRdProject@Illinois.gov. Comments received by Jan. 4, 2025, will be part of the public hearing record. If special accommodations or assistance is needed, contact Karen Dvorsky, the IDOT Program Development Engineer, at (309) 671-3491. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com. OAK PARK, Ill. (WTVO) An officer exchanged fire with a suspect leaving a bank on Black Friday, resulting in his death, authorities reported. On November 29, around 9:30 a.m., officers were called to the 800 block of Lake Street for a person seen leaving a bank with a firearm. Detective Allan Reddins, 40, arrived on the scene and at an unknown time was fired upon, according to WLS. Both Reddins and the suspect were wounded in the shootout, according to officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities were able to take the male suspect into custody. The detective was transported to Loyola University Medical Center in critical condition with a gunshot wound to his side and died around 10 a.m. The suspect was also taken to the same hospital and is currently in stable condition with a gunshot wound to his leg. This is the first death of anyone in the line of duty with the Oak Park Police Department since 1938. The Village of Oak Park extends its deepest condolences to Detective Reddins family, friends and colleagues within the Oak Park Police Department and the wider law enforcement community as they process the grief caused by this senseless violence, officials expressed in a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This incident is still currently under investigation. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. A 24-year-old Fairview Heights man was shot and killed in the 7500 block of Church Lane in East St. Louis Monday morning. Alex Brown was identified as the victim, according to St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr. Brown was pronounced deceased at the shooting scene at 7513 Church Lane at 7:32 a.m., Dye said The last known address for Brown was in the 200 block of Oxford Avenue in Fairview Heights. East St. Louis Police requested Illinois State Police to investigate the shooting death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No arrests have been announced in connection with this shooting. Illinois State Police said in a news release the call from East St. Louis to state police came in at 6:38 a.m. Monday. This is an open investigation and no further details are available for release at this time, the news release said. This homicide is the 13th in East St. Louis this year based on reports in the Belleville News-Democrat. A state watchdog has identified at least $7.2 million in fraudulent claims and more than 275 instances of misconduct by state employees accused of bilking a federal program designed to help businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2022, the Office of the Executive Inspector General has been investigating allegations that state employees fraudulently claimed Paycheck Protection Program loans for small businesses they didnt disclose or entirely fabricated. State workers may engage in secondary employment, but only if its disclosed and permission is granted. Employees from 13 different state agencies are involved in the fraud and have illegally taken these federal public funds, according to the OEIG, which is charged with investigating allegations of misconduct within state government. As of April, more than 60% of those implicated to date worked for the Illinois Department of Human Services, which operates mental health hospitals and developmental centers across the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Paycheck Protection Program was an initiative established by the federal CARES Act in 2020. The Small Business Administration oversaw the implementation of the PPP to provide forgivable loans to cover payroll costs or other expenses for small businesses struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. By October 2022, the program gave out $786 billion in loans and forgave 93% of them, according to the SBA. Quickly, PPP loans led to unprecedented fraud levels, according to the SBA inspector general. Applicants self-certified their small business status and income. The OEIG is investigating only public employees who received more than approximately $20,000 from the program. To receive a $20,000 loan, businesses investigated by the OEIG typically declared $100,000 or more of net profit or gross income on the loan application. The OEIG could not comment on whether this investigation was close to the end. Due to the sheer size of this fraud, investigations involve many different agencies. In May 2023, the Illinois legislature passed House Bill 3304, which allows criminal prosecutions for COVID-19 related fraud to start up to five years after authorities discover the fraud. Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, who filed the bill, said most of the routine checks such as cross-referencing data on the loan forms with other agency databases were suspended for this program. A large issue was also the lack of personnel. According to Crespo, between April 2020 and April 2022, the fraud hotline of the SBA received millions of calls, of which a large number went unanswered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vulnerabilities that led to the issues with PPP fraud werent really attributable to things at the state level. I would say that the issues had far more to do with the unaccountable nature of the program itself, said State Rep. Mike Kelly, D-Chicago, who co-sponsored the bill. IDHS employees have been heavily involved in the fraud. Since 2022, at least 43 employees have been discharged and 53 resigned before further action by management. In most cases on the OEIG website, the employees either lied about being self-employed or provided false information about their income. Records show Deborah Reynolds-Jones was a human services caseworker who had been working for the IDHS since 2016. Reynolds-Jones told OEIG investigators that her barber recommended a company that could help her apply for the loan. She sent the company her personal information, including her Social Security number. The company filled out the form and simply asked her to sign. The information was inaccurate. Reynolds-Jones paid the company $3,000 for their service after she fraudulently received a $20,000 PPP loan. In another case, Shanythia Anderson admitted to the OEIG that she allowed a third party to apply for a PPP loan on her behalf and that the information provided was inaccurate. She began working as a mental health technician at IDHS in 2020. Anderson met a woman on Facebook, and she sent her personal records. In exchange for this service, the woman was to receive half of her loan, $10,000. Anderson worked at the Ludeman Development Center in Forest Park, where at least 36 other employees were accused of wrongdoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It happens that in one particular location when you find out there are 37 people that have done this, theyve obviously been talking to one another at work, Gov. JB Pritzker said in a news conference last year. Maybe somebody committed this kind of fraud and then tried to convince somebody else. IDHS declined to comment on why so many of its employees were implicated. IDHS is the largest public agency in Illinois, which could be one explanation. Crespo said that his best guess was that public employees had early access to the loan forms, so it was easier for them to understand how to file them, fraudulently or not. While the vast majority of IDHS roughly 14,000 State employees are hard-working people of strong character who work tirelessly to help the most vulnerable, it is deeply concerning any time an employee takes advantage of public programs, IDHS said in a statement. Other state agencies where the OEIG found multiple cases of PPP fraud included the Department of Corrections (31 cases), the Department of Children and Family Services (27), Pace (10) and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (8). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The OEIG, through the Executive Ethics Commission, publishes reports of wrongdoings only if there is proof of employee misconduct. It can refer cases to the Attorney General if the fraud is significant enough. The Attorney General, specifically the Public Integrity Bureau, then conducts its own investigation in order to prosecute involved public employees. Many cases mentioned third parties who applied for the PPP loan on behalf of an individual. The DOJ has gone after some of these third parties in Illinois, but its unclear that these are the same third parties that helped public employees. In June, the a federal jury in Chicago convicted Hadi Isbaih on charges of wire fraud. According to the DOJ, Isbaih used his company, Flash Tax Service Inc., to file fraudulent loan applications on behalf of his clients. Isbaih would ask for an upfront fee to file the loan form, and when the client received the loan, he would charge an additional fee. A sentencing date has not yet been announced for Isbaih. In September 2023, two Illinois businessmen were indicted on federal charges for obtaining $7.8 million in fraudulent business loans. According to the DOJ, they recruited self-employed individuals to provide personal information. With that, they would fill out loan forms with false data by inflating the individuals income, for example. They would then charge the clients up to $4,000 if the loan was successfully received. These two have not been convicted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are severe consequences for PPP fraud. Knowingly declaring false statements to a financial institution can result in up to 30 years in prison or a fine of up to $1 million. Wire fraud, the use of the Internet or electronic communication to carry out fraud, is a federal crime that can be punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Amalia Huot-Marchand is a graduate student in journalism with Northwestern Universitys Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications, and a Fellow in its Medill Illinois News Bureau working in partnership with Capitol News Illinois. Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation. Sign up for CNNs Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. An orca pod in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Mexico has devised a cunning strategy to hunt and kill whale sharks the worlds largest fish that can grow up to 18 meters (60 feet) in length new research has revealed. While anecdotal evidence had previously suggested that orcas can take down whale sharks, marine scientists have now documented the behavior in detail for the first time, analyzing four separate hunting events caught on camera. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The orcas hunt whale sharks that gather at feeding sites in the Gulf of California and are not fully grown. The young sharks are typically 3 to 7 meters (10 to 23 feet) in length, making them more vulnerable to predators. While an orca versus whale shark matchup may seem like an epic battle, the orcas make easy work of the gentle giants. The whale shark has the smallest brain compared to body mass. The brain is the size of an egg, said Francesca Pancaldi, first author of the study and a researcher at Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas in Mexico. Its a big, big fish that is very slow compared with other sharks. It has tiny, tiny teeth that it doesnt use as a defense mechanism, Pancaldi added. The only defense it has is flailing or diving down. It can dive to 2,000 meters or more. The orcas surface to breathe before delivering a rapid, final blow. - Kelsey Williamson The hunts described in the study, published Friday in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, occurred between 2018 and 2024 and were captured in images and videos taken by scientists and members of the public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The authors were able to identify the orcas involved by looking at distinctive features such as dorsal fins or scars on the animals bodies. In three of four hunting events, a male orca nicknamed Moctezuma after the Aztec emperor that is around 8 meters (26 feet) long was present. A female orca previously observed in the presence of Moctezuma participated in one event also, suggesting they could be related or members of the same pod, said senior study author Erick Higuera Rivas, a marine biologist at Conexiones Terramar, a nonprofit organization. An orca hits the belly of a whale shark head-on. - Kelsey Williamson Orca vs. whale shark The researchers analysis revealed exactly how the killer whales, often hunting as a group, subdue the whale shark. First, the orcas use their bodies to hit a whale shark at high speed. Then, they flip the whale shark so its floating belly up and unable to dive down to escape. The orcas then bite the abdomen of their prey, allowing its blood to flow out before consuming its internal organs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can clearly see how all the members of the orca pod are trying to bring down the whale shark, Higuera Rivas said. While one orca was bumping him on the ventral (belly) side, the other one was bumping him on the head. Then eventually the whale shark is taken into an upside-down position, he added. This maneuver puts the whale shark in a state seen in other animals called tonic immobility essentially temporary paralysis resulting from extreme fear. The study authors believe the orcas are plundering the whale sharks large and nutrient-rich liver, which makes up a significant amount of the sharks body weight, but the researchers didnt observe the orcas consuming the organ. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As apex predators, killer whales have been known to hunt sharks for their fatty livers, said Sarah Teman, a doctoral student in the University of Washingtons School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences. However, what makes this discovery exciting is that its the first time weve seen this behavior clearly documented with whale sharks, which are the largest sharks on the planet, Teman, who was not involved in the study, added in an email. Its a pretty amazing find! Found worldwide, orcas are the oceans apex predators. They prey on a wide variety of creatures: fish, marine mammals like seals and dolphins, sea turtles, and cephalopods such as squid. While there is just one species of orca there are multiple ecotypes, or groups that share similarities in their appearance and behavior. Several of the killer whales were observed with whale shark carrion in their mouths during an attack on May 26. - Kelsey Williamson Its possible the Gulf of California orcas may form a new ecotype that specifically targets elasmobranchs sharks and rays Pancaldi and Higuera Rivas said, although more research is needed to prove the case. Moctezuma, who was first spotted in 1992, has been seen hunting other elasmobranch species such as the Munks pygmy devil ray, which is 1 meter (3.2 feet) wide, bull sharks and stingrays. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More research is needed to understand where this specialized pod fits into our knowledge of ecotypes, Teman said. In South Africa, orcas have developed techniques to kill great white sharks, one of the oceans most fearsome predators. The behavior has driven the sharks away from some parts of the coast around Cape Town in what some experts think is a worrying ecological shift. However, Pancaldi said that the orcas appetite for whale sharks had not resulted in any significant consequences for the population of whale sharks that gather in the Gulf of California or the wider ecosystem. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com ABUJA, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian government reaffirmed its commitment to promoting a robust economic partnership with China as the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) opened Thursday here in Nigeria's capital. The three-day expo, which attracted numerous Chinese firms from Hunan Province in collaboration with the China Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria, aims to enhance Africa's agricultural and industrial capabilities. While speaking at the opening ceremony, Nigeria's Minister of Transportation Sa'idu Alkali praised the expo as a timely initiative aligning with the infrastructure-driven "Renewed Hope Agenda" of the Nigerian government. Alkali emphasized the importance of leveraging such collaboration to fast-track the ongoing railway modernization project across the most populous country in Africa. The minister said the sustainable collaboration with China and Chinese entities would make "Nigeria's transportation infrastructure accessible, safe, and environmentally friendly." Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Yu Dunhai noted in his address the transformative potential of the expo for Africa, particularly in industrialization and agricultural mechanization. "The CAETE is not just a showcase of products; it is a gateway to a future where African nations can harness their resources effectively and elevate their industries to meet global standards," Yu said. He explained the dual significance of the expo, which coincides with the 18th China Engineering Technology Exhibition, a platform for technological and knowledge transfer, and emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts between China and Africa to address shared challenges and unlock opportunities for mutual growth. The Chinese envoy added that such engagements could drive sustainable development, improve agricultural practices, and enhance industrial capabilities across Africa. The expo, which showcases innovative agricultural technologies and industrial solutions, has drawn significant attention from Nigerian stakeholders eager to explore partnerships with Chinese firms. Local participants have expressed optimism that the event will strengthen China-Africa economic ties, particularly in sectors critical to Africa's development. Dolly Parton wants to encourage kids in Fresno County to read. So much so that the country music legend and philanthropist is willing to give free, age-appropriate books to every child between the ages of 0 to 5 on a monthly basis regardless of income level. The books are mailed directly to the kids homes, addressed to them and come with their names printed on the inside. What must we do to ensure Partons generosity extends locally? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pretty simple: Raise $170,000 by the end of 2024, the amount remaining from the $400,000 needed to launch Dolly Partons Imagination Library in Fresno County. Opinion If we want a community thats thriving, that means kids have to be able to read, said Cindy Jurado Hernandez, policy and community relations manager for First 5 Fresno County. Unfortunately, childhood literacy is not a given around these parts. More than 70,000 kids between 0 and 5 reside in Fresno County. Many grow up in low-income households 61% of which dont have any childrens books in their homes, according to national studies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By the time they get to elementary school, the lack of reading begins to show itself on standardized tests. In 2023, 65% of all Fresno Unified School District third-graders did not read or write at grade level. Dolly Partons Imagination Library is designed to reverse those trends. Since its 1995 inception in Partons home county in east Tennessee, the program has spread to all 50 states and five countries while delivering more than 200 million books. Last year, Dolly Partons Imagination Library arrived in California with an assist from a state bill that provides dollar-for-dollar matching funds to any local organization that partners with Partons. Those matching funds helped Kern, Tulare and Merced counties launch Imagination Library programs. Fresno officials are eager to follow suit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When our children succeed, our city succeeds, Fresno City Councilmember Tyler Maxwell said. Providing free monthly books to every child ages 0 to 5 in Fresno County will ensure their educational growth for years to come, while also creating more opportunities for parents to bond with their kids. Together, we can provide over 70,000 young children the tools they need to reach their fullest potential. $230,000 raised, $170,000 needed Last week, the Fresno City Council provided 37.5% of the necessary seed money by approving a $150,000 contribution from federal stimulus funding that Maxwell previously set aside. Donations from Producers Dairy, Valley Childrens Hospital and the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools helped bring the total amount raised to $230,000. Those contributions leave The Lighthouse for Children, the official nonprofit arm of First 5 Fresno County, roughly $170,000 short of whats needed to operate Dolly Partons Imagination Library for two years. The program will begin taking sign-ups as soon as the fundraising goal is reached. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were putting up the bat signal for any private parties or local organizations to contribute, Maxwell said. We will take from whomever is willing to give, Jurado Hernandez added. With Giving Tuesday right around the corner, theres no better or more socially acceptable time to make a tax-deductible donation. To donate online, visit LFCfresno.org/DPIL. Or send checks to: Lighthouse for Children Inc., Attention: Dolly Partons Imagination Library, 2405 Tulare Street Suite 200, Fresno CA 93721. (Write Fresno Imagination Library on the memo line.) Getting this program off the ground early next year would be pretty cool, especially if we could get Dolly Parton to come to Fresno County as part of the launch, Maxwell said. That would be pretty cool. Almost as cool as a childhood literacy program that sends free books to kids. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) While many Mississippians will enjoy sweet potato pies, casseroles and yams this holiday season, some are unfamiliar with how important the food is to the state and its economy. Seeing sweet potatoes sold at the farmers market or just off the highway is a common sight in the Magnolia State. Worldwide, it is also among the most popular crops grown, sold and eaten. Though sweet potatoes grow across the United States, one particular part of Mississippi is synonymous with the crop. Heres how much Thanksgiving dinner will cost this year Vardaman The Calhoun County town of Vardaman has for decades claimed the title of Sweet Potato Capital of the World. To celebrate this distinction, an annual celebration graces Vardaman on the first Saturday in November annually: the Vardaman Sweet Potato Festival. A pie-eating contest, cooking competitions, pageantry, arts and crafts, a 5K race and more are common festivities that day and throughout the following week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cultural phenomenon celebrated its 51st annual festival this year. For locals, the crops economic impact is also worth celebrating year-round. Agriculture is the largest industry in Calhoun County, and sweet potatoes are the main reason why. Vardaman sweet potatoes find their way across the United States and even Europe. Several Mississippi sweet potato growers have reported above average yields, an unexpected outcome after a growing season plagued by drought conditions. Many are shipping in additional wooden crates to pack their harvest. (Photo by MSU Extension Service/Kevin Hudson) Several sweet potato fields in Mississippi went 45 days without a drop of rain during peak root bulking from July to August, resulting in a wide variety of sizes. (Photo by MSU Extension Service/Kevin Hudson) Tom Vilsack, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, holds up a large, locally grown sweet potato at Fresh Start Food Hub & Market, Thursday, June 15, 2023, in Manchester, N.H. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeding agricultural producers and food businesses with millions of dollars in investments designed to improve markets, create and strengthen jobs, control rising food prices and improve nutrition, Vilsack said Thursday. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Labor was one of the issues addressed in a late July workshop hosted by Mississippi State University as a team from across the country identified research needed to sustain the sweet potato industry. (Photo by MSU Extension Service/Kevin Hudson) Economic impact of sweet potatoes According to the Mississippi Encyclopedia, Calhoun County farmers grow most of Mississippis sweet potatoes. However, Chickasaw, Pontotoc, Yalobusha and Panola Counties in North Mississippi also grow the crop. Most Mississippi growers plant the Beauregard sweet potato variety. It has a smooth, rosy outer skin and a deep orange flesh on the inside. These potatoes are soft, moist and sweet with a smooth creamy texture once cooked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Mississippi State University Extension Service, Mississippi consistently ranks second in the U.S. in sweet potato acreage and third in production. Despite dry conditions, growers saw above-average yields across the state in 2024. How to pick the best sweet potatoes For those looking to cook sweet potatoes around the holidays or any time of the year, the Mississippi Sweet Potato Council suggests that you do the following: Choose firm, round, well-shaped potatoes with somewhat even coloring. Handle them carefully to prevent bruising Store in a cool (50 to 60 degrees), dry, well-ventilated area. Do not refrigerate sweet potatoes unless they are already cooked. Cold temperatures will give potatoes a hard core and cause flavor loss Sweet potatoes are more nutritious if cooked with the skin on. Wash and dry your sweet potatoes thoroughly before cooking Use a stainless steel knife when cutting a sweet potato. Using a carbon blade will cause the sweet potato to darken Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. The St. Clair County Board on Monday night voted 25-1 to approve spending $46 million on the countys daily operations in 2025 as part of the annual budget, a 7% increase from 2024. County Board members raised concerns about a pair of budgeted expenses for next year: $3.3 million to cover any operating loss at the county-owned MidAmerica St. Louis Airport $300,000 for a new pilot program to help small villages in the county hire an officer if they lack their own police Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican County Board member Ed Cockrell, of District 20, voted against passing the budget. He said after the meeting that he objected to continued spending of taxpayer money on the airport, which first opened in 1998. That could be spent on how many sheriffs deputies could you pay? How many other county services could you do? How much relief could you give the taxpayers? Cockrell said. ... I cant vote for a subsidy every single year on an operation that shouldnt be losing money at this point. County Board Chairman Mark Kern noted during Mondays meeting that the airline Allegiant has added two new destinations out of MidAmerica: Knoxville, Tennessee, and Gulf Shores, Alabama. We expect ridership could be up 15% this coming year, he said. We continue to have record years, and it looks like next year will be the same and may even be a little better than that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MidAmerica Airport Director Darren James issued a statement Tuesday in response to Belleville News-Democrat questions about the airports budget deficits and what he is doing to address it. MidAmerica St. Louis Airport makes continual efforts to become self sustaining. The $3.3M mentioned last night is what the County budgeted for 2025, yet that does not necessarily mean that full amount will be transferred to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, James stated. The Airport continues to pursue additional lines of service from Allegiant as well as service from other airlines, and markets real estate available for aviation development. All of these efforts provide potential future revenue to offset operating and maintenance costs. Republican County Board member Phil Henning, of District 19, spoke out during Mondays meeting about another line item in next years budget: $300,000 for the policing pilot program to help communities along the eastern edge of the county. The villages of Marissa, Fayetteville, Lenzburg, Summerfield and St. Libory have been relying on help from the St. Clair County Sheriffs Department responding to more than 200 crime calls the past two years because of a shortage of officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Henning described the $300,000 budgeted for next year as a good start but expressed concerns about how far it would go given the rising cost of providing law enforcement, including salary increases to compete with other agencies and required equipment like body cameras. The moneys gonna go pretty fast unless its well organized and we think about how to cover these areas, how many officers per shift, Henning said. ... This is a good idea, but it needs a lot of thought about how its going to be executed, and thats pretty much my concern. Kern said in response that he looked forward to working on a plan with Henning and other County Board members. Were hoping that the municipalities participation makes this money go farther, Kern said. A lot of them have maybe the equipment already in existence and so maybe we can do a little more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 2025 budget also includes 3% raises for county employees, the same rate they received in 2024. Information technology, also known as data processing, is the department getting the largest bump in funding from last year: $810,011, a 26% increase. Its budget includes major capital purchases for software. The only department in the general fund getting less money in 2025 than in 2024 is the county clerk for its election budget. The clerk will run one consolidated election on April 1, 2025, after running primary and general elections in 2024. Two County Board members were absent from Mondays meeting: Democrats Jerry Dinges, of District 15, and Richie Meile, of District 25. 2025 draft budget by Lexi Cortes on Scribd Swiss banking apprentices at the CYP bank training school in Zurich work with trainer Burak Besler on how to handle loan applications. Indiana is basing a new banking academy and apprenticeships on CYP. (Patrick ODonnell/The 74) The banking apprentices in Zurich, Switzerland look up from the loan applications on their laptops when trainer Burak Besler calls for their attention. What do I actually need from the customer?, Besler asks the second year apprentices, all 17 or 18 years old at the Chase Your Potential wirtschaftsschule business school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its really important that you know why these documents are being requested, he tells them in German as part of their kreditprozess credit process class. A few are simple and obvious, such as a standard ID cardAnd of course I also want to see how much he earns. Created in 2003 by Switzerlands five largest banks, the CYP banking school is unlike any in the United States. With 30 partnering banks, its a school where apprentices many of them teenagers who would still be in high school in the U.S. learn banking skills letting them work in any bank in the country. This story comes from The 74. Now, the Indiana Bankers Association wants to create a version of CYP in Indianapolis as part of the states push to reinvent high schools and offer more meaningful work opportunities for students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The association plans to start a statewide banking apprenticeship by the fall of 2025 where high school juniors and seniors are paid to work and train at banks as often as three days a week, and attend high school the other two. Though common in Europe, Indianas new apprenticeship program would be one of the first large scale white collar apprentice programs in the U.S. Traditionally building trades apprenticeships have dominated here. Apprentices would rotate between bank departments for two years, sometimes directly working with customers and handling accounts, with the possibility of doing a third year while also attending college. Students will also receive extra training in banking skills at a new state Financial Services Academy based on CYP the association will host at its 75-seat training center it already uses for adults. Students would likely take classes there once a month, as Swiss apprentices do at CYP, either in person or live online if they are in other parts of the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Academy could later expand to include other financial industries such as insurance. The new banking apprenticeships, along with a similar effort with hospitals, will be the first steps in Indianas goal of better serving the 60 percent of high school students in the state who never attend college and earn any degree. Indiana Fifth Third Bank regional president Michael Ash visited CYP and member banks in Switzerland twice over the last two years as Indiana leaders crafted a plan unveiled this month to create thousands more apprenticeships. Those visits taught him the state could adapt and create opportunities for high school students that also would help banks. As the walls of the Indiana Bankers Association office say, the association trains adults in banking skills, so it can adapt and teach high school students too. (Patrick ODonnell) Itll give the student a lot more experience andit will give the employer an opportunity to have an employee doing real work, Ash told The 74. I think its a winwin for the student and for the company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though some U.S. banks and insurance companies have hired apprentices, including J.P Morgan Chase and Zurich insurance, the new academy is likely the first in the U.S. where multiple banks jointly train apprentices of competitors, as well as of their own company. The American Bankers Association and several youth apprenticeship experts were unable to identify any other school like it. Cooperation and agreement between banks on the key skills they all want employees to have, then to consistently teach those to apprentices, is a key part of the European apprentice model. It hasnt been in an organized fashion (in the U.S.) before where the trade association is involved and also educating the students, which is a big piece of this, said Amber Van Til, president of the Indiana association. Its going to give the banks the confidence that they (students) have also had the educational training that they need to be workforce ready. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state legislature and department of education are reworking state diploma requirements to give students more course credit, and flexibility of class schedules, when students pursue work experience and training while still in school. At the same time, teams of leaders from the manufacturing, medical and financial service industries have visited Switzerland to learn from a country where about two thirds of students use apprenticeships to learn a career or launch into further study. Those trips have included stops to the CYP campus in Zurich, one of 12 in the country, that train about 6,000 apprentices a year combined. This classroom at the Indiana Bankers Association headquarters, used for continuing education classes in banking for adults, will also be used as part of the new Financial Services Academy for high school apprentices starting in fall of 2025. (Patrick ODonnell) In classrooms carved out of a rehabilitated former foundry, apprentices take classes starting at age 16 or 17 that progress from the basics of retail banking working with customers at the front desk to how banks operate, how stock markets work, how to handle mortgage or construction loans and later investment banking by their third and final year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Altogether, CYP teaches apprentices 87 specific skills over the three years, such as this one: Simon Stadler, CEO of the 12-campus CYP system, said Swiss parents often prefer their children go to universities instead of doing apprenticeships, just like in the U.S. But the Swiss still regard apprenticeships highly and there are real practical advantages to learning a job through them. Afterwards, youre able to do it, Stadler said. Youre able to work from the first day in the bank, because you already know it. You have the experience and you also know how it works in real life. Being able to learn the different departments of a bank drew Chantal Rupff to become a banking apprentice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You get many opportunities during your apprenticeship, said Rupff, 17 when this reporter visited CYP in 2022. We get to see a lot of different departments we change departments every half a year so its really cool. Apprentice Nuzla Issadeen had a chance to go to university at 16, which the Swiss system allows, but chose to be a banking apprentice instead. I think thats way too young to just go to school and study all the time, she said at 18. Ive been in school since the age of five, I guess, so it wasnt for me. I wanted to try something new. I wanted to earn money. Apprentice Noemi Cattolico also preferred having the handson experience of her apprenticeship, instead of the pure academics of students who go to university. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They might be much more intelligent in what concerns studying, but if were talking about experience in life, and such things, and actually understanding others and understanding how the world works, they have absolutely no knowledge, said Cattolico, 18 at the time. CYP has shared its curriculum and overall banking apprenticeship plan with Indiana, which plans to adapt it slightly for the new academy. Were going to probably stick pretty close to the Swiss model, said Van Til. Its very well developedthe tracks that they have, the rotations that they have, the education CYP is providing is pretty much in line. Van Til said that though students will learn basic interaction with customers, they wont be limited to just being traditional tellers, whose role she said has expanded over the years. They wont be funneled into highstakes investment banking either. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just because you come in the bank and you want to be an investment banker doesnt mean thats where youre going to end up, she said. Were going to assess the student while theyre there, see where we think their skill set is and try and direct them to where we think would best be a fit. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US Are they good at writing? she asked. Are they good at communication? Do they like marketing? Do they like working with customers? Are they better behind the desk? Maybe loan processing. (Were) seeing what their skill sets are, and then matching them up upon graduation. How much demand Indiana high school students will have for banking apprenticeships isnt clear. Students who have testdriven banking through internships at a bank branch located at Zionsville Community High School northwest of Indianapolis were intrigued. Mann Patel, now a sophomore majoring in finance at Indiana University, interned at the branch of Star Bank as a senior in 2023. That internship, just an hour a day for a semester, taught him enough about banking that he decided to continue pursuing the field, possibly focusing on wealth management. But committing to that path in 11th grade would have been too much for him, even if more handson work than what the internship offered would have been tempting. Probably senior year I would have definitely considered it, Patel said. Going into college? Yeah. But junior year, if its two or three days full time, I probably would not have. Akshara Amuhadin, a junior interning at that branch now, also hopes to find a career in finance. She said she likes handson learning and would likely try the new apprenticeship. If you know for sure that this is the career that you want to go into, thatd be a really great way to get some real world experience about banking, she said. Fifth Thirds Ash said he believes both banks and students will take advantage of apprenticeships that are long overdue. When you see CYP and you see the students this seems so obvious, he said. You kind of kick yourself, like, why havent we done this sooner? Because it makes so much sense. But you know, were starting now, right? So well get there. This story was reported with support from the Spencer education reporting fellowship at Columbia University. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Nov. 29Shortly before 7 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27, a two-vehicle head-on crash on US 421 in southern Decatur County claimed the life on an Indianapolis man. The initial investigation by troopers with the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post indicated that a 2010 Pontiac passenger vehicle driven by Joseph L. Arthur, 47, of Indianapolis, was southbound on US 421 near CR 700 E., near the Decatur/Ripley County Line. For an unknown reason, Arthur lost control of the vehicle, which crossed the center line into the path of a northbound 2014 Freightliner semi pulling a trailer, driven by Michael S. Olsen, 55, of Charlotte, Michigan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vehicles collided nearly head-on in the northbound lane of US 421. Arthur sustained fatal injuries in the collision. He was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Decatur County Coroner's Office. Olsen's vehicle caught fire immediately following the crash. He was able to exit the vehicle with minor injuries. Indiana State Police Crash Reconstructionists were called to the scene to document the scene and reconstruct the crash. The crash remains under investigation, although initial evidence suggested that speed likely played a role in the crash. US 421 was closed in both directions for approximately five hours for crash investigation and cleanup. Troopers from the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post were assisted by the Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction Team, Decatur County Sheriff's Department, Ripley County Sheriff's Department, Greensburg Police Department, Ripley County EMS, Decatur County EMS, Greensburg Fire Department, Napoleon Fire Department, Decatur County Coroner's Office, INDOT, and TDS Towing. Information provided India's airlines have received 999 hoax bomb threats this year, according to an Indian official. He said there were 500 bomb threats in the last two weeks of October alone, but all were hoaxes. Hoaxes are inflating airlines' costs and security checks, an aviation risk company told Reuters. India's airlines have already received 999 hoax bomb threats this year, Murlidhar Mohol, India's deputy civil aviation minister, said on Thursday. In written answers to India's upper house, he said the number was almost 10 times more than in the whole of 2023, according to Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reuters reported that the false claims were mostly made via social media. Mohol said that 12 people had been arrested in connection with 256 police complaints filed over hoax bomb threats up until November 14, and that more than 500 threats had been made in the final two weeks of October, more than in the rest of the year combined. "The recent threats were hoaxes, and no actual threat was detected at any of the airports/aircraft in India," he said. The spike in incidents has forced planes to be diverted, and has led to rising costs for airlines. A Boeing 777 flight from Delhi to Chicago in early October was diverted due to what Harjit Sajjan, Canada's minister of emergency preparedness, said at the time was a "bomb threat," stranding more than 200 passengers for over 18 hours at a remote airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In mid-October, Singapore's air force dispatched two fighter jets to escort an Air India Express plane away from populated areas after the airline got an email saying a bomb was on board, the country's defense minister said. Another Air India plane flying from Mumbai to New York was diverted midair to New Delhi in October, The Indian Express reported at the time. The Times of India, quoting senior officials, said the cost of diverting that plane amounted to more than $354,500. Osprey Flight Solutions, a private aviation risk company, said there doesn't seem to have been any real threat to aviation, but told Reuters earlier this month that the hoaxes result in increased airport security checks, inflate airlines' financial costs, and cause major concern and distress among passengers. More than 3,000 flights depart daily from India's airports, according to the country's civil aviation ministry. Read the original article on Business Insider JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesian rescuers on Friday searched for survivors buried in three cars and bus at the base of a cliff after flash floods and landslides in North Sumatra province killed at least 29 people. Torrential rain for the past week in the province has triggered flash floods and landslides in four different districts, Indonesia's disaster agency has said. The death toll from one landslide on Wednesday on a hilly interprovince road rose to nine from seven, Hadi Wahyudi, the spokesperson of North Sumatra police told Reuters on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least five cars, one bus, and one truck were trapped at the base of a cliff following the landslide. On Friday, police and rescuers focused their search for missing people on three cars and one bus buried in mud. "We still don't know how many people who were still trapped," Hadi said. In other districts, landslides over the weekend killed 20 people and rescuers will keep searching for two missing people until Saturday. Flash floods hit the provincial city of Medan on Friday although waters have receded in some areas, said Sariman Sitorus, spokesperson for the local search agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The floods forced a delay in votes for regional elections in some areas in Medan on Wednesday. Extreme weather is expected in Indonesia towards the end of 2024, as the La Nina phenomenon increases rainfalls across the tropical archipelago, the country's weather agency has warned. (Reporting by Ananda Teresia; Editing by Michael Perry) HONOLULU (KHON2) A hiker was rescued Tuesday night after becoming injured while attempting to assist a lost hiker on the Maunawili Trail. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You The Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) responded to a 911 call at 9:35 p.m. on November 27, 2024, reporting an injured hiker on the trail. Six fire units, staffed with 16 personnel, were dispatched to the scene. The first responders arrived at 9:50 p.m. and secured a landing zone for air operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to HFD, a group of three hikerstwo men and a doghad started their hike to help a woman and her two dogs, who had become lost off the trail. Light showers and cool trades for Thanksgiving and Black Friday While searching for the woman, one of the male hikers sustained an injury and was unable to continue down the trail. Rescue teams reached the injured hikers location at 10:15 p.m. and assessed his condition. The hiker was then safely transported to the landing zone by Air 1 at 10:45 p.m. where Emergency Medical Services took over his care. The female hiker and her two dogs were flown to the landing zone at 11:16 p.m., while the remaining male hiker and his dog were able to walk out with the assistance of fire department personnel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news All personnel involved in the rescue operation were accounted for, and there were no injuries reported. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. Guards of honor escort the caskets of the fallen Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 29, 2024. The remains of 43 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Friday in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. (Xinhua/Li Gang) SHENYANG, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- The remains of 43 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Friday in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. The remains of the fallen soldiers were brought back to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) aboard a Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force Y-20 transport aircraft on Thursday. The burial ceremony began at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang at 10 a.m. With the national anthem playing, the guards of honor carrying the caskets of the fallen martyrs entered the cemetery. More than 300 people, including representatives from central and local authorities, the military, and relatives of CPV martyrs, attended the ceremony. Since 2014, China and the ROK, in accordance with international laws and humanitarian principles, have completed 11 consecutive handovers of the remains of 981 CPV martyrs who died in the ROK. About 74 years ago, the CPV crossed the Yalu River and fought alongside the army and civilians of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. After an arduous fight that lasted almost three years, the CPV eventually won the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. More than 197,000 CPV soldiers were confirmed killed in the war. Guards of honor escort the caskets of the fallen Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 29, 2024. The remains of 43 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Friday in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. Since 2014, China and the Republic of Korea (ROK), in accordance with international laws and humanitarian principles, have completed 11 consecutive handovers of the remains of 981 CPV martyrs who died in the ROK. About 74 years ago, the CPV crossed the Yalu River and fought alongside the army and civilians of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. After an arduous fight that lasted almost three years, the CPV eventually won the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. More than 197,000 CPV soldiers were confirmed killed in the war. (Xinhua/Li Gang) Soldiers fire a gun salute during a burial ceremony for the remains of the fallen Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 29, 2024. The remains of 43 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Friday in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. Since 2014, China and the Republic of Korea (ROK), in accordance with international laws and humanitarian principles, have completed 11 consecutive handovers of the remains of 981 CPV martyrs who died in the ROK. About 74 years ago, the CPV crossed the Yalu River and fought alongside the army and civilians of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. After an arduous fight that lasted almost three years, the CPV eventually won the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. More than 197,000 CPV soldiers were confirmed killed in the war. (Photo by Han Qiyang/Xinhua) Guards of honor escort the caskets of the fallen Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 29, 2024. The remains of 43 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Friday in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. Since 2014, China and the Republic of Korea (ROK), in accordance with international laws and humanitarian principles, have completed 11 consecutive handovers of the remains of 981 CPV martyrs who died in the ROK. About 74 years ago, the CPV crossed the Yalu River and fought alongside the army and civilians of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. After an arduous fight that lasted almost three years, the CPV eventually won the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. More than 197,000 CPV soldiers were confirmed killed in the war. (Photo by Han Qiyang/Xinhua) Guards of honor escort the caskets of the fallen Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 29, 2024. The remains of 43 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Friday in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. Since 2014, China and the Republic of Korea (ROK), in accordance with international laws and humanitarian principles, have completed 11 consecutive handovers of the remains of 981 CPV martyrs who died in the ROK. About 74 years ago, the CPV crossed the Yalu River and fought alongside the army and civilians of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. After an arduous fight that lasted almost three years, the CPV eventually won the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. More than 197,000 CPV soldiers were confirmed killed in the war. (Photo by Han Qiyang/Xinhua) Guards of honor carrying the caskets of the fallen Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs enter the cemetery during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 29, 2024. The remains of 43 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Friday in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. Since 2014, China and the Republic of Korea (ROK), in accordance with international laws and humanitarian principles, have completed 11 consecutive handovers of the remains of 981 CPV martyrs who died in the ROK. About 74 years ago, the CPV crossed the Yalu River and fought alongside the army and civilians of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. After an arduous fight that lasted almost three years, the CPV eventually won the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. More than 197,000 CPV soldiers were confirmed killed in the war. (Xinhua/Li Jie) Guards of honor carrying the caskets of the fallen Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs enter the cemetery during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 29, 2024. The remains of 43 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Friday in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. Since 2014, China and the Republic of Korea (ROK), in accordance with international laws and humanitarian principles, have completed 11 consecutive handovers of the remains of 981 CPV martyrs who died in the ROK. About 74 years ago, the CPV crossed the Yalu River and fought alongside the army and civilians of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. After an arduous fight that lasted almost three years, the CPV eventually won the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. More than 197,000 CPV soldiers were confirmed killed in the war. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) Guards of honor carrying the caskets of the fallen Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs enter the cemetery during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 29, 2024. The remains of 43 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Friday in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. Since 2014, China and the Republic of Korea (ROK), in accordance with international laws and humanitarian principles, have completed 11 consecutive handovers of the remains of 981 CPV martyrs who died in the ROK. About 74 years ago, the CPV crossed the Yalu River and fought alongside the army and civilians of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. After an arduous fight that lasted almost three years, the CPV eventually won the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. More than 197,000 CPV soldiers were confirmed killed in the war. (Photo by Han Qiyang/Xinhua) Guards of honor escort the caskets of the fallen Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 29, 2024. The remains of 43 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Friday in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. Since 2014, China and the Republic of Korea (ROK), in accordance with international laws and humanitarian principles, have completed 11 consecutive handovers of the remains of 981 CPV martyrs who died in the ROK. About 74 years ago, the CPV crossed the Yalu River and fought alongside the army and civilians of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. After an arduous fight that lasted almost three years, the CPV eventually won the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. More than 197,000 CPV soldiers were confirmed killed in the war. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) Guards of honor escort the caskets of the fallen Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 29, 2024. The remains of 43 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Friday in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. Since 2014, China and the Republic of Korea (ROK), in accordance with international laws and humanitarian principles, have completed 11 consecutive handovers of the remains of 981 CPV martyrs who died in the ROK. About 74 years ago, the CPV crossed the Yalu River and fought alongside the army and civilians of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. After an arduous fight that lasted almost three years, the CPV eventually won the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. More than 197,000 CPV soldiers were confirmed killed in the war. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) Guards of honor escort the caskets of the fallen Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 29, 2024. The remains of 43 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Friday in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. Since 2014, China and the Republic of Korea (ROK), in accordance with international laws and humanitarian principles, have completed 11 consecutive handovers of the remains of 981 CPV martyrs who died in the ROK. About 74 years ago, the CPV crossed the Yalu River and fought alongside the army and civilians of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. After an arduous fight that lasted almost three years, the CPV eventually won the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. More than 197,000 CPV soldiers were confirmed killed in the war. (Photo by Han Qiyang/Xinhua) Students line up to present flowers to the memorial wall of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 29, 2024. The remains of 43 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Friday in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. Since 2014, China and the Republic of Korea (ROK), in accordance with international laws and humanitarian principles, have completed 11 consecutive handovers of the remains of 981 CPV martyrs who died in the ROK. About 74 years ago, the CPV crossed the Yalu River and fought alongside the army and civilians of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. After an arduous fight that lasted almost three years, the CPV eventually won the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. More than 197,000 CPV soldiers were confirmed killed in the war. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) People line up to present flowers to the memorial wall of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 29, 2024. The remains of 43 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Friday in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. Since 2014, China and the Republic of Korea (ROK), in accordance with international laws and humanitarian principles, have completed 11 consecutive handovers of the remains of 981 CPV martyrs who died in the ROK. About 74 years ago, the CPV crossed the Yalu River and fought alongside the army and civilians of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. After an arduous fight that lasted almost three years, the CPV eventually won the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. More than 197,000 CPV soldiers were confirmed killed in the war. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) Guards of honor carrying the caskets of the fallen Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs enter the cemetery during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 29, 2024. The remains of 43 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Friday in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. Since 2014, China and the Republic of Korea (ROK), in accordance with international laws and humanitarian principles, have completed 11 consecutive handovers of the remains of 981 CPV martyrs who died in the ROK. About 74 years ago, the CPV crossed the Yalu River and fought alongside the army and civilians of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. After an arduous fight that lasted almost three years, the CPV eventually won the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. More than 197,000 CPV soldiers were confirmed killed in the war. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) Guards of honor carrying the caskets of the fallen Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs enter the cemetery during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 29, 2024. The remains of 43 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Friday in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. Since 2014, China and the Republic of Korea (ROK), in accordance with international laws and humanitarian principles, have completed 11 consecutive handovers of the remains of 981 CPV martyrs who died in the ROK. About 74 years ago, the CPV crossed the Yalu River and fought alongside the army and civilians of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. After an arduous fight that lasted almost three years, the CPV eventually won the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. More than 197,000 CPV soldiers were confirmed killed in the war. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) Soldiers fire a gun salute during a burial ceremony for the remains of the fallen Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 29, 2024. The remains of 43 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Friday in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. Since 2014, China and the Republic of Korea (ROK), in accordance with international laws and humanitarian principles, have completed 11 consecutive handovers of the remains of 981 CPV martyrs who died in the ROK. About 74 years ago, the CPV crossed the Yalu River and fought alongside the army and civilians of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. After an arduous fight that lasted almost three years, the CPV eventually won the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. More than 197,000 CPV soldiers were confirmed killed in the war. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) Guards of honor carrying the caskets of the fallen Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs enter the cemetery during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 29, 2024. The remains of 43 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Friday in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. Since 2014, China and the Republic of Korea (ROK), in accordance with international laws and humanitarian principles, have completed 11 consecutive handovers of the remains of 981 CPV martyrs who died in the ROK. About 74 years ago, the CPV crossed the Yalu River and fought alongside the army and civilians of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. After an arduous fight that lasted almost three years, the CPV eventually won the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. More than 197,000 CPV soldiers were confirmed killed in the war. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) This photo taken on Nov. 29, 2024 shows the caskets of the fallen Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province. The remains of 43 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Friday in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. Since 2014, China and the Republic of Korea (ROK), in accordance with international laws and humanitarian principles, have completed 11 consecutive handovers of the remains of 981 CPV martyrs who died in the ROK. About 74 years ago, the CPV crossed the Yalu River and fought alongside the army and civilians of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. After an arduous fight that lasted almost three years, the CPV eventually won the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. More than 197,000 CPV soldiers were confirmed killed in the war. (Xinhua/Li Jie) Guards of honor escort the caskets of the fallen Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 29, 2024. The remains of 43 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Friday in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. Since 2014, China and the Republic of Korea (ROK), in accordance with international laws and humanitarian principles, have completed 11 consecutive handovers of the remains of 981 CPV martyrs who died in the ROK. About 74 years ago, the CPV crossed the Yalu River and fought alongside the army and civilians of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. After an arduous fight that lasted almost three years, the CPV eventually won the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. More than 197,000 CPV soldiers were confirmed killed in the war. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) An inmate was sentenced after being found with a weapon at FCI Beckley. According to a press release, 28-year-old Jonathan Webb, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Beckley, was sentenced to one year in prison, followed by three years of parole, for possession of a weapon by an inmate at a federal prison. Webbs sentence will run consecutively to his current sentence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mexican man sentenced for federal immigration crime in West Virginia The press release stated that according to court documents, Webb was involved in a pat-down search by a staff member at FCI Beckley on June 26, 2023. During the pat-down search, the staff member discovered that Webb had a handcrafted weapon commonly referred to as a shank in the front pocket of his pants. Webb revealed that the shank, which was a piece of metal approximately six inches long with a sharpened point on one end and a cloth handle, was in his possession with the purpose of being used as a weapon. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Will Thompson, who thanked the Federal Bureau of Prisons for their work on the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. BEIRUT Islamist rebels breached neighborhoods in Syrias second-largest city of Aleppo and clashed with government military forces after detonating two car bombs Friday. The incident, reported by a leading war monitoring group and The Associated Press, has renewed international attention on a country wracked by civil war and extremism for more than a decade. The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights, the monitoring organization, said fierce clashes were underway between the attacking insurgents and regime troops. The fighting is a significant escalation since rebels launched a surprise offensive Wednesday, seizing towns and villages as they advanced toward Aleppo. The breach marked the first time opposition forces besieged the city since 2016, when they were driven out of Aleppos eastern neighborhoods during a military operation in which Syrian troops were supported by Russia and Iran. Four years ago, a ceasefire brought an end to the most intense violence, but the new push from rebels has upended a period of relative calm. Fighters enter the Rashidin district on the outskirts of Aleppo on their motorbikes with smoke billowing in the background during fighting on Nov. 29, 2024. The rebels appear to have gained momentum by the diminished strength of Iran-backed groups such as Hezbollah throughout the region, illustrating how the conflicts in the Middle East feed off one another.Witnesses who spoke to The Associated Press said Aleppo residents were fleeing from areas on the western edge amid missiles and exchanges of gunfire. The AP said an insurgent commander posted a recorded message on social media urging the citys residents to cooperate with the rebels. The rebels are led by the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Syrian armed forces were repelling attacks, the Syrian Defense ministry said Friday, adding government forces involved in combat operations were able to regain control over some areas. "Our armed forces have inflicted heavy losses on the attacking organizations, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries among the terrorists," Syria's general command of the army and armed forces said in a statement translated by NBC News. "Dozens of vehicles and armored carriers have been destroyed, and we have successfully shot down and destroyed seventeen drones." The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of on-the-ground information sources, said at least 121 people have been killed since the start of HTS shock offensive, including at least 20 civilians. Syrian state media reports cited by the AP said insurgent-fired projectiles struck student accommodations at Aleppos university in the city center, killing four people, including two students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Syrian civil war started in early 2011 with a wave of protests against the authoritarian rule of President Bashar al-Assad. Assad's government, bolstered by arms shipments from Iran and Russia, cracked down forcefully on the popular uprisings, setting off a spiral of violence and fueling an aggressive insurgency. Matt Bradley reported from Beirut and Daniel Arkin from Atlanta. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com By Stephanie van den Berg THE HAGUE (Reuters) - The United Nations' top court next week begins hearings on the legal obligation of countries to fight climate change and the consequences for states of contributing to global warming, the outcome of which could influence litigation worldwide. While the advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) are non-binding, they are legally and politically significant. Experts say the ICJ's eventual opinion on climate change will likely be cited in climate change-driven lawsuits in courts from Europe to Latin America and beyond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hearings begin a week after developing nations denounced as woefully inadequate an agreement reached at the COP29 summit for countries to provide $300 billion in annual climate finance by 2035 to help poorer nations cope with climate change. Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu's special envoy for climate change and the environment, said it was imperative fossil fuels be phased out and more money provided to poorer nations bearing the brunt of climate change, such as his Pacific island nation. "We're not seeing that in the outcome of the COPs," Regenvanu told Reuters. "We are hoping (the ICJ) can provide a new avenue to break through the inertia we experience when trying to talk about climate justice," he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fijis Attorney General Graham Leung called the hearings an historic opportunity for small island developing states in their quest for climate change justice. CLIMATE LITIGATION Climate litigation is on the rise. Earlier this year, Europe's top human rights court ruled that the Swiss government had violated the rights of its citizens by failing to do enough to combat climate change. But it also rejected two other cases, pointing to the complexities of the growing wave of climate litigation. Vanuatu, one of the small developing nations that pushed for an ICJ advisory opinion, says it disproportionately suffers the effects of climate change as a result of increasingly intense storms and rising sea levels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vanuatu will be the first of 98 countries and twelve international organisations to present arguments to the ICJ, also known as the World Court. It is the United Nations' highest court for resolving international disputes between states and can be tasked by the U.N. General Assembly to give advisory opinions. In 2023, the assembly asked it for a formal opinion on questions including the legal obligations of states to protect the climate system and whether large states that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions may be liable for damages, in particular to small island nations. "As COP29 failed to provide a clear direction for climate justice and ambition, any developments from the ICJ will now only become more weighty, said Lea Main-Klingst, a lawyer with ClientEarth. Aside from small island states and numerous Western and developing countries, the court will also hear from the world's top two emitters of greenhouse gases, the United States and China. Oil producer group OPEC will also give its views. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hearings will start at 10 a.m. (0900 GMT) local time on Monday and run until Dec. 13. The court's opinion will be delivered in 2025. (Reporting by Stephanie van den Berg. Editing by Richard Lough and Mark Potter) Nov. 28A driver crashed after leading New Hampshire State Police on a high-speed chase that ended in Massachusetts Wednesday morning, police said. The driver, whose name has not been released, was clocked by a state trooper in an airplane driving in excess of 100 mph while passing other cars on Interstate 95 in Greenland around 11:30 a.m. A state trooper tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver sped up and passed other cars, using every lane and the breakdown lane to avoid him, State Police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Police pursued the driver toward Massachusetts, where troopers there joined the pursuit. Troopers from both states disengaged due to safety concerns as the driver continued south. Minutes later, the car went off the road and crashed on a curve near Exit 76B. The driver, an adult male, suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was treated at an area hospital. State Police in both states are investigating the incident and criminal charges are forthcoming, officials said. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Iran will begin enriching uranium with thousands of advanced centrifuges at its two main nuclear facilities at Fordo and Natanz, the United Nations' nuclear watchdog said Friday, further raising tensions over Tehran's program as it enriches at near weapons-grade levels. The notice from the International Atomic Energy Agency only mentioned Iran enriching uranium with new centrifuges to 5% purity, far lower than the 60% it currently does likely signaling that it still wants to negotiate with the West and the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump. However, it remains unclear how Trump will approach Iran once he enters office, particularly as it continues to threaten to attack Israel amid its war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip and just after a ceasefire started in its campaign in Lebanon. Trump withdrew America from Iran's nuclear deal with world powers in 2018, setting in motion a series of attacks and incidents across the wider Mideast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iran's mission to the United Nations did not respond to a request for comment over the IAEA's report. Tehran had threatened to rapidly advance its program after the Board of Governors at the IAEA condemned Iran at a meeting in November for failing to cooperate fully with the agency. In a statement, the IAEA outlined the plans Iran informed it of, which include feeding uranium into some 45 cascades of its advanced IR-2M, IR-4 and IR-6 centrifuges. Cascades are a group of centrifuges that spin uranium gas together to more quickly enrich the uranium. Each of these advanced classes of centrifuges enrich uranium faster than Irans baseline IR-1 centrifuges, which have been the workhorse of the countrys atomic program. The IAEA did not elaborate on how many machines would be in each cascade but Iran has put around 160 centrifuges into a single cascade in the past. It's unclear if Iran has begun feeding the uranium yet into the centrifuges. Tehran so far has been vague about its plans. But starting the enrichment at 5% gives Tehran both leverage at negotiations with the West and another way to dial up the pressure if they don't like what they hear. Weapons-grade levels of enrichment are around 90%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the collapse of Irans 2015 nuclear deal with world powers following the U.S. unilateral withdrawal from the accord in 2018, it has pursued nuclear enrichment just below weapons-grade levels. U.S. intelligence agencies and others assess that Iran has yet to begin a weapons program. The U.S. State Department said in a statement to The Associated Press it was deeply concerned with Irans announcement that it is choosing the path of continued escalation as opposed to cooperation with the IAEA. "Irans continued production and accumulation of uranium enriched up to 60% has no credible civilian justification," it added. Iran, as a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, has pledged to allow the IAEA to visit its atomic sites to ensure its program is peaceful. Tehran also had agreed to additional oversight from the IAEA as part of the 2015 nuclear deal, which saw sanctions lifted in exchange for drastically limiting its program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, for years Iran has curtailed inspectors access to sites while also not fully answering questions about other sites where nuclear material has been found in the past after the deal's collapse. Iranian officials in recent months, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian, had signaled a willingness to negotiate with the West. But Iran also has launched two attacks on Israel amid the war. Kazem Gharibabadi, an Iranian diplomat, said in a post on the social platform X that he met with EU diplomat Enrique Mora, criticizing Europe as being self-centered" while having "irresponsible behavior. With regard to the nuclear issue of Iran, Europe has failed to be a serious player due to lack of self-confidence and responsibility, Gharibabadi wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For his part, Mora described having a frank discussion with Gharibabadi and another Iranian diplomat. Those talks included Irans military support to Russia that has to stop, the nuclear issue that needs a diplomatic solution, regional tensions (important to avoid further escalation from all sides) and human rights, he wrote on X. ___ Associated Press writer Jamey Keaten in Geneva contributed to this report. By Parisa Hafezi and John Irish GENEVA (Reuters) -European and Iranian officials made little progress in meetings on Friday on whether they could engage in serious talks, including over Iran's disputed nuclear programme, before Donald Trump returns to the White House in January, diplomats said. The meetings in Geneva, the first since this month's U.S. election, come after Tehran was angered by a European-backed resolution last week that criticised Iran for poor cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Another round of candid discussions with PDS (political directors) of France, Germany and United Kingdom," Iran's former ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, said on X. "It was agreed to continue diplomatic dialogue in near future." A European official said there had been nothing of note in the meeting but that Tehran had shown an eagerness to explore how diplomacy could work in next few weeks. Trump, who after pulling the United States out of the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers pursued a "maximum pressure" policy that sought to wreck Iran's economy, is staffing his new administration with noted hawks on Iran. Iran's deputy foreign minister and senior nuclear negotiator Majid Takhtravanchi met the EU's coordinator Enrique Mora on Thursday evening before holding various talks on Friday with the European diplomats, known as the E3. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Trump's return to power leaves many questions open, four European diplomats said the E3 countries - the European parties to the 2015 accord - felt it was vital to engage now because time was running out. The level of distrust between both sides was highlighted when the E3 on Nov. 21 pushed ahead with a resolution by the IAEA board of governors which criticised Iran. They dismissed as insufficient and insincere a last-minute Iranian move to cap its stock of uranium that is close to weapons grade. Tehran reacted to the resolution by informing the IAEA that it plans to install more uranium-enriching centrifuges at its enrichment plants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In rare public comments, the head of France's foreign intelligence service Nicolas Lerner said on Friday there was a real the risk of Iranian nuclear proliferation in the coming months. "Our services are working side by side to face what is undoubtedly one of the most, if not the most, critical threat of the coming months ... possible atomic proliferation in Iran," Lerner said, speaking in Paris alongside his British counterpart, adding the two agencies were defining their strategy. A European official had earlier said the primary aim in Geneva was to try to agree a calendar timeline and framework to embark on good faith talks so that there was a clear commitment from Iranians to begin negotiating something concrete before Trump arrives. It was unclear immediately if there had been any such progress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If we finalise a roadmap with France, Britain and Germany on how to resolve the nuclear dispute, then the ball will be in the U.S. court to revive or kill the 2015 nuclear deal," the senior Iranian official said. The E3 have adopted a tougher stance on Iran in recent months, notably since Tehran ramped up its military support to Russia. However, they have always insisted that they wanted to maintain a policy of pressure and dialogue. Iranian officials say their primary objective will be finding ways to secure lifting of sanctions. WAR FEARS The 2015 deal lifted international sanctions against Iran in return for Tehran accepting some curbs to its nuclear programme. Since Trump left the deal, Iran has accelerated its nuclear programme while limiting the IAEA's ability to monitor it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There isn't going to be an agreement until Trump takes office or any serious talks about the contours of a deal," said Kelsey Davenport, director of non-proliferation policy at the Arms Control Association advocacy group. The talks, which also discussed the Middle East situation and Iran's military cooperation with Russia, took place amid fears that an all-out war could break out between Iran and arch-rival Israel despite a ceasefire in Lebanon between Israel and Iran's Hezbollah allies. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday he wanted to turn Israel's focus to Iran. The European powers hope Iran will decide to begin negotiating new restrictions on its nuclear activities with a view to having a deal by the summer. That would give enough time to implement new limits on Iran's programme and lift sanctions before the accord ends in October 2025. It is not clear whether Trump would back negotiations. (Writing and reporting by John Irish and Parisa Hafezi, Editing by Deepa Babington and Angus MacSwan) (Bloomberg) -- Ireland goes to the polls today in a vote that looks closer than previously expected after prime minister Simon Harris lost the momentum that motivated him to call an election a few months ahead of schedule Most Read from Bloomberg Harriss strong polling numbers since he became Taoiseach seven months ago, a slide in support for Sinn Fein, the main opposition, and a recent giveaway budget suggested it was the right time to call a vote. But his Fine Gael party has stumbled and is now neck and neck with Fianna Fail, its current coalition partner and Sinn Fein. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most likely government after the election remains a repeat alliance of the centrist parties, polls show. Still, after more than 13 years in power, Fine Gael has struggled to sell itself to voters frustrated with the cost of living, housing shortages and a long-running healthcare crisis. On top of that, an increase in anti-immigrant sentiment in Ireland and a backlash against asylum seekers has drawn support to newer parties and some independent candidates. People are changing their mind a lot at election campaigns and thats the story of the last three elections and its the same all across Europe, said Theresa Reidy, a senior lecturer in politics at University College Cork. Those old enduring connections between voters and parties just arent there anymore, and the campaign matters a lot. Tight Race Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Polling stations are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Dublin time, and there will be an exit poll after voting closes. More than 680 candidates are running in the election, vying for 173 seats in the next parliament, or Dail as it is known in Irish. Counting will start Saturday morning, with the first results expected over the following hours. The full count may take a number of days. Harriss election campaign was beset with slip-ups, the worst a viral video of him walking away from a disability care worker and dismissing her view that the government wasnt doing enough. Harris later apologized. The 38-year-old may still secure enough support to form a new coalition, but its not the situation he had hoped for. Fine Gael has slumped in recent weeks and theres just two percentage points between the three main parties, according to an Irish Times/Ipso B&A poll published Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A separate survey from Red C showed a similarly tight race. A lot will depend on undecided voters, which the Irish Times put at 19%. The most likely government after the election remains a coalition between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, led by one of the partys leaders, Harris or Micheal Martin. But the parties, which between them have led every government since the state was formed 100 years ago, are likely to need the support of a third party or a group of independents. Sinn Feins steady rise over in the last decade has created a formidable challenge to the century-long status quo. Despite slipping in polls since 2023, its built a solid base of support by focusing on problems around housing and infrastructure that have haunted Ireland since the 2008 housing and banking crash. But the party, the one time political wing of the Irish Republican Army, is unlikely to get enough support to be able to form the next government. Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have ruled out a partnership with it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a television debate this week, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald accused Martins party of causing the countrys financial crisis and blamed Harriss for the austerity that followed. Harris has tried to reinvigorate Fine Gaels image since he became leader in April, promising new energy. A month before he called the election, the government gifted voters a slew of tax cuts and spending increases in Octobers budget, made possible by whats forecast to be a record 38 billion ($40 billion) in corporate tax receipts. One growing concern is that Irelands current tax boom could be undone by US policy changes under Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response, Harris has pointed to plans to stow away money in a new sovereign wealth fund while still giving voters what they want. The next chapter, the next five years, the government I want to lead has to now be about looking at the costs that families face every day, that businesses face, Harris said in the final debate on national broadcaster RTE. Now is not the time to run the country on a national credit card. (Update with additional details in 6th paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Nov. 29 (UPI) -- People in Ireland are going to the polls Friday, as the country holds a general election to fill 174 seats in the Dail Eireann or lower house, the principal chamber of the country's parliament, the Oireachtas. Polls will close at 10 p.m. GMT Friday, with the center-right Fine Gael, center-right Fianna Fail and far-left Sinn Fein parties vying for votes. Affordable housing and immigration are two of the biggest issues in the spotlight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March, Ireland's then-Prime Minister or Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, announced his surprise resignation as head of the coalition government. His Fine Gael Party successor Simon Harris then dissolved parliament earlier this month, announcing on Nov. 8 he would call an election. Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris dissolved parliament earlier this month, announcing on Nov. 8 he would call an election. File Photo by Ron Sachs/UPI The country has increased the number of seats in its lower house to 174, up from 160 during the last national election in 2020 and 158 before that. With one member of parliament elected to serve as speaker, a party would need to win 87 votes to govern alone. Polls will close at 10 p.m. GMT Friday, with the center-right Fine Gael, center-right Fianna Fail and far-left Sinn Fein parties vying for votes in an election in which affordable housing and immigration are two of the biggest issues in the spotlight. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI Officials from all three parties have already said they are not interested in forming a coalition government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When parliament was dissolved, Fine Gael held 32 seats as part of the governing coalition, while Sinn Fein had 33 and Fianna Fail controlled 35. Five smaller parties controlled 30 seats while independent members of parliament held 24 with five vacancies. The parties have been in a tight race to convince the country's 3.4 million eligible voters, with many predicting Sinn Fein to make the biggest gains since the last election. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald is also vying to become the first female Prime Minister of Ireland. Last year, Sinn Fein made major gains during local elections in Northern Ireland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the first time, the party took control of both the Northern Ireland Assembly and a majority of local council seats. The party is the former political wing of the Irish Republican Army or IRA. In Ireland, affordable housing is a priority issue for a large number of the country's voters. In early October, Ireland's then-Finance Minister Jack Chambers announced the federal government would allocate a large portion of the $14.4 billion tax settlement it received from tech giant Apple towards infrastructure, including building thousands of new homes. The European Union's highest court in September ordered Apple to pay the multi-billion-dollar amount as part of owed back taxes. The Irish parliament is scheduled to sit next on Dec. 18. ISLAMABAD, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Four terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said on Thursday. The security forces conducted the operation in the Khyber district of the province on the reported presence of terrorists, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said in a statement. "During the operation, the terrorists' location was effectively engaged by troops," the ISPR said, adding that four terrorists were killed and three others injured during the operation. A clearance operation is being carried out to eliminate the presence of other terrorists from the area, it added. The military said the security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country. Dublin Ireland's opposition party Sinn Fein looked on course to narrowly win the popular vote in the country's general election on Friday, an exit poll suggested, but its two main political rivals the incumbent coalition parties of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail will likely have enough support to retain power. The exit poll placed Sinn Fein at 21.1% of the vote, narrowly leading the Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris's party Fine Gael who had 21% of the vote, and their governing partners Fianna Fail at 19.5%. Voting began Friday in Ireland's general election after a campaign that left the country's three biggest political parties locked in what earlier polls had suggested was a dead heat. The voting will see Irish citizens choose lawmakers to fill all 174 seats in the country's parliament, with the winning party or parties likely forming a new government and picking Ireland's next prime minister. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's what to know about the Republic of Ireland's general election. Posters depicting the candidates of political parties are pictured in Dublin, Ireland, Nov. 25, 2024, ahead of Ireland's general election. / Credit: PAUL FAITH/AFP/Getty Who is up for election in Ireland? Incumbent Taoiseach (prime minister) Simon Harris, of the center-right Fine Gael party, called the election on Nov. 8, making way for a three-week general election campaign. Either Fine Gael or the centrist Fianna Fail party which have led Ireland together for the last four years under the current coalition have produced every Irish prime minister since the republic gained independence from Great Britain just over a century ago. In the aftermath of the last general election in 2020, the two longtime rivals, whose political divide can be traced back to the Irish civil war of the 1920s, came together to form the coalition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The opposition, left-wing nationalist party Sinn Fein the oldest political party on the Emerald Isle and previously the political arm of the Irish Republican Army is seeking to break that cycle and become at least part of Ireland's government for the first time ever. But that remains a high hurdle for Sinn Fein. The latest exit poll suggests Sinn Fein will win around 21.1% of the vote, a share that would leave the party edging the popular vote but with no clear path to power. The remaining 40% of the votesoutside of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael's claims to the electorate are expected to be distributed among independent candidates and smaller political parties, which could have an outsized say when it comes to the horsetrading involved in building a coalition government if there is, as polls suggest, no big majority winner. Given that the leaders of both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have publicly vowed not to form a coalition with the main opposition party, Sinn Fein would need to exceed expectations and overtake the two other parties in the number of seats its candidates win to put itself in the driver's seat of the next government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the course of 2024, more than half of the world's population has had the opportunity to vote on new leadership. In a majority of those countries, voters have decisively rejected incumbent governments. So, if Irish voters do usher in the return of some form of Fine Gael-Fianna Fail coalition considered the most likely scenario based on recent polling it would buck the global trend. What's at stake in Ireland's election? A Sinn Fein victory would represent a seismic shift in Ireland's political landscape. It's a party best known around the world as the former political wing of the IRA, the terrorist Irish republican group that wrought decades of violence on the island and in Britain during a dark period of bloodshed known as "The Troubles." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 3,500 people are believed to have been killed between 1969 and 1998 as militants loyal to the British government and crown fought a bitter guerrilla war against the IRA and other nationalist Irish paramilitary groups. In the years since the U.S.-brokered Good Friday Peace Accords brought an end to that violence in 1998, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has sought to distance the party from its militant past, focusing instead on left-wing economic populism and, in particular, addressing the country's long-running housing crisis. Mary Lou McDonald, leader of Sinn Fein, campaigns and talks to the media before the Irish general election, Nov. 28, 2024, in Dublin, Ireland. / Credit: Dan Kitwood/Getty In the aftermath of 2020's general election, when Sinn Fein shocked many observers by winning a lion's share of the popular vote though not enough seats in parliament to gain a position in the government it appeared as though McDonald's strategy was working. McDonald, who succeeded the party's longtime stalwart Gerry Adams as Sinn Fein's leader in 2018, appeared to be on a trajectory to become the country's first female leader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sinn Fein remains the party with the most serious public commitment to achieving the aspiration of Irish nationalists a united Ireland that includes what has, since 1921, been British-ruled Northern Ireland. McDonald has pledged to push for a referendum on Irish unification both in the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland by 2030 if she's elected. Sinn Fein currently leads Northern Ireland's own semi-autonomous, power-sharing government, so securing a victory in the republic could be enormously consequential in making that referendum happen, though it's unclear how much Britain's central government in London could try to stand in the way of such a vote. Just as in the rest of Europe and in the U.S., immigration has dominated much of the political debate in Ireland in recent years. A wave of anti-immigrant sentiment, fuelled by the lack of affordable housing in the country, has swept over Ireland. The country was rattled when far-right rioters, incited by a partially false claim on social media suggesting an illegal immigrant had stabbed young children, brought chaos to Dublin's streets last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That sentiment has eaten into a key base of support for Sinn Fein, which is largely pro-immigration. Independent and fringe right-wing populist candidates have made gains in Irish opinion polls, as they've gained seats in recent local, national and European Union elections over the past year. Early polls suggested Sinn Fein was losing momentum as the current election campaign got underway. Simon Harris, the energetic 38-year-old leader of Fine Gael, has worked hard to keep Sinn Fein out of power. Ireland's youngest-ever prime minister took office last April and, in the months since, he's sought to assuage voter concerns about key issues including immigration and the housing and the cost of living crises. A savvy social media strategy saw the Irish press dub Harris the "TikTok Taoiseach" and, under him, Fine Gael did gain ground with voters ahead of Friday's election. Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris accompanied by his wife Caoimhe and children Cillian and Saoirse casts his vote at Delgany National School, County Wicklow, as voters go to the polls for the 2024 General Election in Ireland. Friday November 29, 2024. / Credit: Niall Carson/PA Images/Getty Ireland's famously low corporation tax has led to huge investment from outside the country not least by U.S. businesses, making it the envy of many other European nations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unlike their financially strapped British neighbors, the Irish government currently boasts a sizable budget surplus, which left the incumbents plenty of resources to tempt voters with promises of electricity credits, welfare payments and tax breaks in the months before Harris called the election. But the advantage brought by Ireland's tax policy could soon face some stiff competition. President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to match Ireland's corporate tax rate in the U.S., a policy sweetener that could incentivize American multinationals in Dublin to pick up their business and head back home. For the purposes of this election, however, the national budget surplus has doubtlessly benefited both Harris and Deputy Prime Minister Micheal Martin, the 64-year-old veteran leader of Fianna Fail, as they vie to become the country's next leader. The last-minute gift of a gaffe Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail were offered a late gift as their campaigns wound down. In the final week, Fine Gael's lead dropped by gut-punching six points, according to one Irish Times poll, after Taoiseach Harris was accosted on camera by a woman in a supermarket who protested that his government wasn't doing enough to support disability care workers like herself. The clip, which went viral, showed Harris tensely denying the woman's claims before awkwardly offering a handshake and then walking away. Opponents have criticized him for being insensitive. Whether it proves to be decisive in swinging the election toward his centrist coalition partners, or toward a landmark win for Sinn Fein, will only become clear on Saturday as the votes are counted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saturday Sessions: Bayker Blankenship performs "Tennessee Sunset" Saturday Sessions: Bayker Blankenship performs "300 Miles" Saturday Sessions: Bayker Blankenship performs "Maxed-Out" The Israeli military said on Friday it had attacked a mobile rocket launcher belonging to the Hezbollah militia in southern Lebanon, two days after the ceasefire came into force. The army released a video showing an exploding truck. "Terrorist activity" had taken place there, it said, in justification of the air strike. The military did not say where exactly the attack took place. It was the third known attack by the Israeli Air Force since the beginning of the ceasefire, initially set for 60 days, on Wednesday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agreement, which was painstakingly negotiated after more than a year of war, stipulates, among other things, that the pro-Iranian Hezbollah withdraw behind the Litani River, about 30 kilometres north of the Israeli-Lebanese border, in accordance with a UN resolution. Since the beginning of the ceasefire, the intense mutual attacks between Hezbollah and Israel have indeed ceased. However, both sides have repeatedly accused each other of violating the agreements. Israel's military and Lebanon's army are trading accusations that each country violated the ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon. It comes less than two days after the deal was first reached and went into effect. NBC News' Hala Gorani reports from Jerusalem. Israel's army has banned residents of several villages in southern Lebanon from returning home until further notice. An Israeli military spokesman announced on X in Arabic that the military didn't want the villagers to be put in danger of being targetted. He listed more than 60 villages near the Israeli border that are part of a restricted area which Lebanese people are currently not allowed to enter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The painstakingly negotiated ceasefire agreement includes a provision that Hezbollah withdraw to the Litani River, about 30 kilometres north of the Israeli-Lebanese border, in accordance with a UN resolution. The locations in the restricted zone are all on or south of the Litani River. Until this morning, access to the entire area south of the river had been prohibited for 14 hours. Now, access is no longer prohibited to all places there. Israel's ground troops are to withdraw from Lebanon step by step within 60 days. However, the army says it is currently still operating in the south of the neighbouring country to take action against violations of the ceasefire agreement. The intense reciprocal attacks between Hezbollah and Israel ended at the beginning of the ceasefire on Wednesday morning. However, there are still isolated incidents. Thousands of displaced Lebanese had set out for their home towns in the south after the beginning of the ceasefire. ARIEL, West Bank (Reuters) -A Palestinian opened fire on an Israeli bus near the Jewish settlement of Ariel in the occupied West Bank on Friday, wounding at least eight people before he was killed by Israeli troops, the Israeli military said. Israel's MDA medical service said four people suffered gunshot wounds, with three in a serious condition, and four others were hurt by flying glass. The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the shooter as a 46-year-old local man. Hamas's armed wing al-Qassam Brigades said he man belonged to the group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Violence has surged across the West Bank since the start of the Hamas-Israel war in Gaza in October last year. Dozens of Israelis have been killed in Palestinian street attacks, Israeli authorities say, while hundreds of Palestinians - including armed fighters, stone-throwing youths and civilian bystanders - have died in clashes with Israeli security forces. (Reporting by Crispian Balmer, Mustafa Abu Ganeyeh and Ali Sawafta; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Timothy Heritage) Meet Dou Jinchao, a Chinese craftsman who has dedicated nearly a decade to recreating the Forbidden City's iconic Hall of Supreme Harmony - at a stunning 1:18 scale. From meticulous research to building each tiny detail by hand, this project is a true labor of love. DUBAI (Reuters) - Lebanese residents are prohibited from moving south to a line of villages and their surroundings until further notice, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said on X on Friday. Israel said it opened fire on Thursday towards what it called "suspects" with vehicles arriving at several areas in the southern zone, saying it was a breach of the truce with Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah, which came into effect on Wednesday. Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah in turn accused Israel of violating the deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Israeli enemy is attacking those returning to the border villages," Fadlallah told reporters, adding "there are violations today by Israel, even in this form". The Israeli military also said on Thursday the air force struck a facility used by Hezbollah to store mid-range rockets in southern Lebanon, the first such attack since the ceasefire took effect on Wednesday morning. In his recent post, Adraee called on Lebanese residents to not return to more than 60 southern villages, saying anyone who moves south of the specified line "puts themselves in danger". The Lebanese army earlier accused Israel of violating the ceasefire several times on Wednesday and Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The exchange of accusations highlighted the fragility of the ceasefire, which was brokered by the United States and France to end the conflict, fought in parallel with the Gaza war. The truce lasts for 60 days in the hope of reaching a permanent cessation of hostilities. (Reporting by Tala Ramadan and Clauda Tanios; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Stephen Coates) By Nidal al-Mughrabi CAIRO (Reuters) -Israeli military strikes killed at least 40 Palestinians overnight and on Friday in the Gaza Strip, medics said, as efforts to revive Gaza ceasefire talks received a boost with officials from the Palestinian group Hamas headed to Cairo for a new round of talks. Medics said they had recovered 19 bodies of Palestinians killed in northern areas of Nuseirat, one of the enclave's eight long-standing refugee camps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later on Friday, an Israeli air strike killed at least 10 Palestinians in a house in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza, medics said. Others were killed in the northern and southern areas of the Gaza Strip, medics added. There was no fresh statement by the Israeli military on Friday, but on Thursday it said its forces were continuing to "strike terror targets as part of the operational activity in the Gaza Strip". Israeli tanks had entered northern and western areas of Nuseirat on Thursday. They withdrew from northern areas on Friday but remained active in western parts of the camp. The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service said teams were unable to respond to distress calls from residents trapped in their homes. Dozens of Palestinians returned on Friday to areas where the army had retreated to check on damage to their homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Medics and relatives covered up dead bodies, including of women, that lay on the road with blankets or white shrouds and carried them away on stretchers. "Forgive me, my wife, forgive me, my Ibtissam, forgive me, my dear," one grief-stricken man moaned through tears beside her corpse, laid out on a stretcher on the ground. Medics said an Israeli drone on Friday had killed Ahmed Al-Kahlout, head of the Intensive Care Unit at Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya, on the northern edge of the Gaza Strip, where the army has been operating since early October. Contacted by Reuters, the Israeli military said it was unaware of a strike occurring in this location or timeframe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kamal Adwan Hospital is one of three medical facilities on the northern edge of the Gaza Strip that barely function now due to shortages of medical, fuel, and food supplies. Most of its medical staff have been detained or expelled by the Israeli army, health officials say. The Palestinian civil emergency service, Hamas and the Palestinian official news agency WAFA put the number of Palestinians killed in two Israeli strikes in Beit Lahiya in the past 24 hours at 70. There was no immediate confirmation of the figure by the local health ministry. In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and accused Israel of "using the weapon of starvation against the people (in northern Gaza) to displace them from their land and homes." The Israeli army said forces operating in Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun and Jabalia since Oct. 5 aimed to prevent Hamas militants from regrouping and waging attacks from those areas. Residents said the army was depopulating the towns of Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun as well as the Jabalia refugee camp. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CEASEFIRE EFFORT TO RESUME Late on Friday, two Hamas officials told Reuters a Hamas delegation would arrive in Cairo on Saturday for talks with Egyptian officials. The visit comes days after the U.S. said it would begin new efforts with Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey to revive Gaza ceasefire talks. Months of efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza have yielded scant progress, and negotiations are now on hold. A ceasefire in the parallel conflict between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas, took effect before dawn on Wednesday, bringing a halt to hostilities that had escalated sharply in recent months and had overshadowed the Gaza conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Announcing the Lebanon accord on Tuesday, U.S. President Joe Biden said he would now renew his push for a ceasefire agreement in Gaza and he urged Israel and Hamas to seize the moment. Israel's campaign in Gaza has killed nearly 44,300 people and displaced nearly all the enclave's population at least once, Gaza officials say. Vast swathes of the territory are in ruins. The Hamas-led militants who attacked southern Israeli communities 13 months ago, triggering the war, killed some 1,200 people and captured more than 250 hostages, Israel has said. (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi; Editing by Gareth Jones and Deepa Babington) Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) A few days before the scheduled preliminary hearing of the case, several more items have been turned over as potential evidence in the case of Jennifer Gledhill, the Utah woman accused of murdering her husband after he was first reported missing in September 2024. Gledhill, 41, was arrested at the beginning of October for the alleged murder of her husband, missing guardsman Matthew Johnson. As of Nov. 27, Johnsons body still had not been found, but more items were turned over for discovery in the case, according to a document obtained by ABC4.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUSLY: Charges filed against Utah woman accused of murdering husband, burying him in shallow grave The document, dated Nov. 27, 2024, revealed that hundreds of photos and more than a dozen videos in addition to other files and items were obtained from the Salt Lake County District Attorneys Office. Among the items included for discovery in the case were Jennifers Phones, Misc. Cell Phone Data, photos and videos of several guns, and black boxes. In court cases, discovery is the formal process of exchanging information between the parties about the witnesses and evidence theyll present at trial, according to the American Bar Association. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gledhill is facing one count of first-degree murder, five counts of obstruction of justice, one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, one count of abuse or desecration of a dead body, and one count of tampering with a witness. Gledhill is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. Background Matthew Johnson was last seen on Sept. 20, 2024, according to the Cottonwood Heights Police Department. Between Sept. 20 and Sept. 21, police said witnesses reported an argument between Johnson and Gledhill. Officials believe Johnson died of a gunshot wound, and the alleged crime was first reported on Sept. 28. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jennifer Gledhill, Johnsons wife, was taken into custody on Oct. 2, 2024, on preliminary charges of murder and obstruction of justice. On Oct. 3, court documents said Gledhill openly admitted to a third party (a man with whom she was allegedly having an extramarital affair) that she had shot Johnson while he slept on Sept. 21. However, Gledhill did not confess anything to police as of Oct. 3. On Oct. 15, Gledhill was charged with nine felonies including first-degree murder and obstruction of justice based on the testimony of the informant she allegedly confessed to earlier. Based on initial information from that informant, after the incident, Gledhill reportedly put Johnsons body in a storage container and slid it down the stairs and into the back of their minivan. Authorities then said Gledhill is accused of driving Johnsons body north and burying it in a shallow grave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Oct. 24, Gledhills parents were both arrested for obstruction of justice after they allegedly came over to her home to help clean up in late September. On Oct. 25, Utah courts ruled to uphold a No Contact Order between Gledhill and her children. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. There's a lot of temptation to spend money at Disney World, but some things aren't worth it. I will never buy hot coffee from a park or resort in the morning. I'm also no longer buying ponchos at the parks since they are cheaper elsewhere. I've been going to Disney World for over 30 years and visit the Orlando theme parks multiple times a month. Over the years, I've bought my share of souvenirs and merchandise. However, I've also narrowed down what's not worth the money at the parks and resorts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Preparing for a new year is a prime time to reassess my travel budget. Here are some of the things I don't plan on buying at Disney World in 2025. It doesn't make sense to buy plain coffee when I can make it at my hotel. I just make my own morning cup of coffee in my hotel room. Megan duBois I inevitably need a morning boost at Disney World, especially after spending a few days in the parks. But I try not to buy cups of hot black coffee. I'm always at a hotel when I visit the parks usually a resort on the Disney property so I have access to at least a single-serve coffee machine that makes a decent cup at no added expense to me. Even better, when I stay at a Disney Vacation Club villa, there are usually larger machines that brew full pots instead of single cups. I can bring my own ground coffee and filters for my perfect cup. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I skip buying ponchos in the parks since they're cheaper elsewhere. It rains at Disney World a lot, so I always come prepared. Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel Rain and Disney World seem to go hand-in-hand. When it rains at one of the theme parks, you'll likely see people donning thick, branded ponchos from the gift shops that cost about $12. I've been guilty of buying these when I've been ill-prepared in the past, but I can get much cheaper disposable ones on Amazon or at Target before the trip. The thinner, disposable ones are smaller anyway, so it's easy to pack multiple in any bag I have with me. Then, when it's done raining, I can simply throw the poncho away instead of carrying around a wet bundle of plastic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Simple room upgrades usually aren't worth the extra cost. I don't spend a ton of time in my hotel room at Disney World anyway. Megan duBois I like to stay at the Disney World resorts, but I usually skip upgrading my booking from a standard to a preferred room closer to the hotel's front or its transportation options. I imagine this is a nice feature for families with kids, but the rooms themselves seem to be exactly the same. Plus, it only saves me a couple of minutes of walking. Prices vary depending on which kind of resort you're at value, moderate, or deluxe. Sometimes, it's only about a $20-a-night difference between standard and preferred, but I could use that money on plenty of other things. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dining packages for fireworks shows are overpriced. You can pay extra to eat dinner near the "Fantasmic!" theater. Megan duBois Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Disney World sometimes offers dining packages for its bigger shows, but I often find them to be of poor value. I'd rather grab something quick and easy and save my money. For instance, you can book a dining package to watch "Fantasmic!" at Hollywood Studios. The price includes your meal, a drink, and guaranteed seats to the show, starting at $57 for adults. That's much more than I'd normally spend on a meal at Disney World, and as long as I get to the theater early, open seats are usually plentiful. I don't think Lightning Lane Single Passes are worth it. You can buy line-skipping passes for rides, but they're expensive. Megan duBois If you're not as familiar with Disney World, all the different ticket add-ons can be confusing plus, they always seem to be changing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For now, there are still times when I think it makes sense to pay $15 a person per day for a Lightning Lane Multi Pass that I can use to expedite three lines at certain attractions. However, the individually priced Lightning Lane Single Passes for the most popular rides cost $10 to $25 each. I understand that some people only have one opportunity to visit the parks and get on these rides, but I'm there often enough that the added expense isn't worth it. Instead, I just get to the park early or stay late since lines are usually shorter during those times. I also keep my eye out for virtual queues on rides like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. When they're open, you can reserve one a day for free on the My Disney Experience app. Read the original article on Business Insider TALLINN, Estonia (AP) Imprisoned Kremlin critic Alexei Gorinov was convicted again on Friday for opposing Russia's war in Ukraine and handed a three-year prison term. A swift, three-day trial against Gorinov, once a low-profile activist, underscored Moscow's intolerance of any dissenting voices. Gorinov, a 63-year-old former member of a Moscow municipal council, is already serving a seven-year prison term for public criticism of the full-scale invasion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taking into account his previous conviction and sentence, a court in Russia's Vladimir region ordered him to serve a total of five years in a maximum-security prison, a facility with stricter conditions than the one he's currently in. Russia's independent news site Mediazona quoted Gorinov's lawyer as saying that it means he will spend a year more behind bars compared to his previous sentence. Gorinov was first convicted in July 2022, when a court in Moscow sentenced him to seven years in prison for spreading false information about the Russian army at a municipal council meeting. Gorinov allegedly voiced skepticism about a childrens art competition in his constituency while saying that every day children are dying in Ukraine. He was the first known Russian sent to prison under a 2022 law that essentially bans any public expression about the war that deviates from the official narrative. His arrest, conviction and imprisonment has shocked many. In written comments to The Associated Press from behind bars in March 2023, Gorinov said authorities needed an example they could showcase to others (of) an ordinary person, rather than a public figure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities launched a second case against him last year, according to his supporters. He was accused of justifying terrorism in conversations with his cellmates about Ukraines Azov battalion, which Russia outlawed as a terrorist organization, and the 2022 explosion on the Crimean bridge, which Moscow deemed an act of terrorism. Gorinov vehemently rejected the accusations Wednesday, independent news site Mediazona reported. It quoted him as telling the court that he merely said the annexed Crimean Peninsula was Ukrainian territory and called Azov a part of the Ukrainian army. Gorinovs trial began Wednesday in the Vladimir region, where he is serving time stemming from his previous conviction. Photos from the courtroom, published by Mediazona, showed a weary Gorinov in the defendants cage, with a hand-drawn peace symbol on a piece of paper covering his prison badge. He held a hand-written placard saying: Stop killing. Lets stop the war. He had part of a lung removed before prison and struggled with respiratory illnesses behind bars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his closing statement in court on Friday, Gorinov remained defiant and once again condemned the Russian authorities for the war in Ukraine. My guilt is that I, as a citizen of my country, allowed this war to happen and could not stop it," Mediazona quoted him as saying. But I would like my guilt and responsibility to be shared with me by the organizers, participants, supporters of the war, as well as the persecutors of those who advocate peace. I continue to live with the hope that this will happen someday. In the meantime, I ask those who live in Ukraine and my fellow citizens who suffered from the war to forgive me, Gorinov said. According to OVD-Info, a prominent rights group that tracks political arrests, some 1,100 people have been implicated in criminal cases over their anti-war stance since February 2022. A total of 340 of them are currently behind bars or have been involuntarily committed to medical institutions. South Korea's military said Friday it scrambled fighter jets as five Chinese and six Russian military planes flew through its air defense zone, an area wider than the country's airspace. Five Chinese and six Russian military aircraft entered and exited the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone in the East Sea and South Sea from 9:35 am (0035 GMT) to 1:53 pm, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. But the planes crossed into the KADIZ "without violating South Korean airspace", the JCS said, adding that the military "identified the aircraft before they entered KADIZ and deployed Air Force fighter jets to take tactical measures in preparation for any contingencies." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An air defense identification zone is a broader area than a country's airspace in which it tries to control aircraft for security reasons, but the concept is not defined in any international treaty. China's defense ministry called the flights "their ninth joint strategic patrol," which occurred above the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea in South Korea. It added in a post on its official social media account that the flights were held Friday "according to the annual cooperation plan between the Chinese and Russian militaries." South Korean military officials told local media that Chinese military aircraft flew towards the small Dokdo islands off South Korea's eastern coast, after passing between the Korean peninsula and Japan near the contested submerged rock of Ieodo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian planes also flew south towards the Dokdo islets, known as Takeshima in Japanese. Officials said the Chinese and Russian aircraft flew together over the sea south of Dokdo before departing. Since 2019, China and Russia have regularly flown military aircraft into South Korea's air defense zone without prior notice, citing joint exercises. In this photo provided by the U.S. Air Force via South Korea Defense Ministry, U.S. Air Force B-1B bombers, F-16 fighter jets, South Korean Air Force F-15K fighter jets and Japanese Air Force F-2 fighter jets fly during a trilateral air drill at an undisclosed location, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. / Credit: U.S. Air Force/South Korea Defense Ministry via AP Similar incidents occurred in June and December last year, and in May and November 2022, with Beijing and Moscow describing the flights as "joint strategic air patrols." South Korea's defense ministry on Friday "expressed regret" to China and Russia over their military aircraft entering the South's air defense zone and "flying for an extended period without prior notice," according to a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ministry requested that "appropriate measures be taken to prevent a recurrence", adding that such actions could "unnecessarily heighten tensions in the region." China and Russia have expanded military and defense ties since Moscow ordered troops into Ukraine nearly three years ago. Both are also traditional allies of North Korea, Seoul's arch-foe. South Korea and the United States have accused nuclear-armed North Korea of sending thousands of soldiers to Russia to fight in Ukraine and this month Pyongyang ratified a landmark defense pact with Moscow. The South Korean jets being scrambled marks the latest incident involving Russian and Chinese militaries in recent months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month, Italy and Norway mobilized jets after Russian aircraft were spotted over the Baltic Sea and along the Norwegian coast. In September, Japan said its warplanes used flares to warn a Russian reconnaissance aircraft to leave northern Japanese airspace. That same month, the U.S. military moved about 130 soldiers along with mobile rocket launchers to a desolate island in the Aleutian chain of western Alaska amid a recent increase in Russian military planes and vessels approaching American territory. Eight Russian military planes and four navy vessels, including two submarines, have come close to Alaska in recent days as Russia and China conducted joint military drills. In July, two Russian Tu-95s and two Chinese H-6s entered the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone, NORAD said. The bombers were intercepted by U.S. F-16 and F-35 fighter jets, along with Canadian CF-18s and other support aircraft, a U.S. defense official confirmed to CBS News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Republicans hedge on Pete Hegseth support after latest controversy Extended interview: Selena Gomez Trump considering replacing Hegseth with DeSantis for defense secretary pick, sources tell CBS News President Joe Biden on Thursday expressed hope that President-elect Donald Trump will reconsider his pledge to apply tariffs on Mexico and Canada, saying the move would be counterproductive. Earlier this week, Trump said he would impose a 25% tariff on all goods from Mexico and Canada as soon as he takes office. During a visit to the Nantucket Fire Department on the morning of Thanksgiving Day, Biden suggested taking such action against U.S. neighbors and allies would be a mistake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I hope he rethinks it. I think its a counterproductive thing to do, Biden said of Trump. We have an unusual situation in America. Were surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and two allies, Mexico and Canada. The last thing we need to do is begin to screw up those relationships. I think weve got them in a good place. Trump has previously suggested tariffs would motivate Mexico and Canada to address some of the issues he repeatedly complained about during his White House bid undocumented immigrants crossing into the U.S. through the southern border and the fentanyl crisis. Trump said the two countries could easily solve those issues. We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price! Trump said Monday. Biden, for his part, noted that border crossings have decreased significantly since Trumps last term in office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has also said he will levy an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods in January. As Biden wraps up his final months in office, he spoke to reporters about what he is grateful for this Thanksgiving season. Im thankful for my family. Im thankful for the peaceful transition of the presidency, he said. He added that he is thankful for the U.S.-backed ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The deal does not cover the war in Gaza. In a statement released by the White House addressing another major foreign policy concern for his administration, Biden slammed Russia for its Thursday attacks on several Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, targeting the countrys energy infrastructure as the winter months approach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This attack is outrageous and serves as yet another reminder of the urgency and importance of supporting the Ukrainian people in their defense against Russian aggression, Biden said. Trumps impending return to the White House has prompted concern among Ukraine allies about the future of U.S. support for Kyiv given the president-elect has previously refused to say whether it would be in the United States interest for Ukraine to win the war. But during his remarks to reporters, Biden said he will work to ensure the transition to the Trump administration goes smoothly, while seeming to express hope that Trump may walk back some of his controversial campaign pledges. I want to make sure it goes smoothly. All the talk about what hes going to do or not do I think there may be a little bit of an internal reckoning on his part, he said of Trump. So it remains to be seen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biden added that the makeup of the incoming Congress with Republicans having a thin majority in both the House and the Senate will require some real compromise. But well see, Biden said. On Thanksgiving, I am hopeful. Related... Billionaire venture capitalist and Trump in-law Josh Kushner slapped down online criticism of a tech executive who visited Israel and posted an image of the Tel Aviv beachfront on social media. Kushner, the brother of President-elect Donald Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, took to the social media platform X on Wednesday to defend Patrick Collison, the co-founder and CEO of payment processing firm Stripe. Collison, whose company is partially owned by Kushners venture capital firm Thrive Capital, caused a stir among pro-Palestinian supporters on X after he posted an image showing Tel Avivs beachfront promenade in a photo that appears to have been taken early in the morning on Wednesday. Josh Kushner (seen left with wife Karlie Kloss) took to X on Wednesday to defend a tech CEO. Christopher Peterson / SplashNews.com Patrick Collison is the co-founder and CEO of payment processing firm Stripe. REUTERS Collison on Wednesday posted an image showing the Tel Aviv beachfront promenade. Kushner reacted to the backlash to Collisons post from pro-Palestinian sympathizers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Great to be back in Tel Aviv. I missed this run, Collison wrote. Collisons seemingly innocuous post went viral, generating more than 14,000 likes as well as thousands of comments many of them from pro-Palestinian sympathizers who noted the thousands who have died as a result of Israeli military actions launched in the aftermath of the Oct. 7, 2023 massacres. Paul Biggar, a software engineer and pro-Palestinian activist, responded to Collisons post by writing: Ten people reached out to me about this tweet. Sad day. Kushner wrote: agree. saddened by how much hatred people have for jews. happy thanksgiving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biggar, who urged his followers on social media to boycott Stripe, replied to Kushners comment, writing: Why do you think this is about Jewish people? This is about Israel and its occupation and genocide in Palestine. Kushner is founder and CEO of Thrive Capital, a venture capital firm that has invested in Stripe. Getty Images for Fortune Media It is a tactic of Israel and their supporters to label criticism of Israels illegal occupation of Palestine, and genocide of Palestinians as anti-semitism, Biggar told The Post via email. This is of course absurd. Kushner is attempting to silence criticism of a genocide. The Post has sought comment from Kushner and Collison. It is rare for Josh Kushner, 39, to weigh in on hot-button political issues. His social media page primarily consists of posts related to his business ventures, including Oscar Health, the health insurance company he co-founded in 2012. Kushner and Kloss are pictured above on Nov. 11. Kushner is the brother of Jared Kushner, former senior adviser to father-in-law President-elect Donald Trump. Getty Images for Fortune Media In December of last year, he reacted to then-Harvard President Claudine Gays testimony before Congress in which she defended her administrations handling of alleged antisemitic incidents on campus related to the Israel-Gaza crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kushner, who like his brother attended Harvard, wrote: congressional testimonies speak louder than tweets. harvard is better than this. The post included an emoji depicted a broken heart. The Kushners are scions of a prominent New Jersey family that built a multi-billion dollar real estate empire. Their father, Charles Kushner, is a real estate developer who founded Kushner Companies with his dad, the late Joseph Kushner. The Kushner family practices Orthodox Judaism. Their adherence to the religion is such that the famous wives of Jared and Josh Kushner Ivanka Trump and supermodel Karlie Kloss, respectively both converted to Judaism before exchanging nuptials. After the Oct. 7, 2023 massacres by Hamas terrorists, Josh Kushner wrote: I am heartbroken by the horrific atrocities that took place in Israel this weekend Collisons payments processing company Stripe counts Kushners Thrive Capital among its investors. Bloomberg via Getty Images My grandmother witnessed her mother murdered by the Nazis in front of her eyes because of her Jewish faith, he wrote. It is hard to comprehend that we still live in a world in which hatred is the answer. The murder of innocent civilians is never justified. "We [didn't] give enough education or knowledge to the people that we really need to take care [of] this," Dendy Montgomery tells PEOPLE National Geographic/Duane McClunie/Richard Ing When the 2004 earthquake started, journalist and videographer Dendy Montgomery filmed the devastation. When the 2004 earthquake started, journalist and videographer Dendy Montgomery filmed the devastation. Tsunami survivor Dendy Montgomery, 46, wasn't planning on working on Dec. 26, 2004 then the world's worst tsunami was triggered by a 9.1 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Indonesia Montgomery tells PEOPLE in this week's issue that drove to the Grand Mosque and had just noticed one of its minarets about to fall when his wife shouted a warning: The waters coming! In the two decades since, Montgomery believes the Indonesian government hasn't done enough to teach people what happened and what to do if it happens again in the future It's been nearly 20 years since a catastrophic tsunami wreaked havoc on at least 12 countries and killed 230,000 people Dendy Montgomery, of Indonesia, was one of the survivors, although many members of his family weren't as lucky. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Dec. 26, 2024, Montgomery, a journalist, wasnt planning to work that day, until the 9.1 magnitude earthquake began. So he and his wife Raihan Lubis then newlyweds living at home with his mother headed to downtown Banda Aceh. "I told my mom that this is really my duty," he recalls saying. "I really need to [cover it]. He instructed her to stay inside and that he would come find her once he finished. He says he never imagined there being a tsunami. (At the time, he hadn't learned about them.) Montgomery, who is featured in National Geographics Tsunami: Race Against Time (streaming now on Disney+ and Hulu), drove to the Grand Mosque and had just noticed one of its minarets about to fall when his wife shouted a warning: The waters coming! courtesy Dendy Montgomery, July 2004 in Banda Aceh the Capitol of Aceh Province. Dendy Montgomery, July 2004 in Banda Aceh the Capitol of Aceh Province. Related: Survivors Remember World's Deadliest Tsunami, Which Killed Over 225,000: 'Everybody Lost Somebody' (Exclusive) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eventually, some 25 strangers piled onto their Jeep a scramble Montgomery, the father of three, thinks helped anchor them to land. But as he noticed the ocean water headed for his mom's home, he shares that he drove back to look for her. Miraculously he found her running on the street. "That's the happiest day in my life," he adds. For more on Montgomery's account of the 2004 tsunami and other survivor stories, pick up this week's issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday, or subscribe. Along with his mom and wife, one of his aunts and brother Ronald, Montgomery survived the ordeal by escaping in the Jeep. But he later learned that 50 of his relatives, who were living together on his grandfather's land, had been killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the two decades since the disaster, Montgomery argues the Indonesian government hasn't done enough to teach people what happened and what to do if it happens again in the future. Related: Supermodel Petra Nemcova Almost Died in the World's Worst Tsunami. How She Overcame Fear of Water and Healed (Exclusive) "We [didn't] give enough education or knowledge to the people that we really need to take care [of] this," he says. "It's what really [disappoints] me." Today, Montgomery has continued to chronicle his countrys recovery and challenges and even opened a public library on the beach. I can smile now, he adds. ULAN BATOR, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia will provide full support for measures aimed at improving the well-being of its citizens with disabilities, President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh said here on Friday. "We will fully support all policies, decisions, proposals, initiatives, and actions that promote the well-being of people with disabilities and improve their quality of life," Khurelsukh said at the opening ceremony of the "Development and Participation of People with Disabilities 2024" conference. Ensuring the rights, development, protection, and participation of people with disabilities is a priority in decision-making by the president and the government, he said. There are over 110,000 people with disabilities in Mongolia, with 84 percent being of working age. However, only 13.5 percent are currently employed, according to the president. Khurelsukh emphasized the importance of public and private organizations fulfilling their legal obligations to provide jobs, improve incomes and livelihoods, and ensure access to quality and inclusive social security, education, and health services for people with disabilities. Desmond Haneef-Perry poses at his desk on Nov. 25 at the Maryland Office of the Public Defender in Harford County. Photo by William J. Ford. Part of Desmond Haneef-Perrys job is to explain to judges why an incarcerated individual who appears for a pretrial hearing not only needs services to overcome possible substance abuse or mental health issues, but also a second chance at life when eventually released from jail. He speaks from experience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charged with first-degree murder at age 18 and sent to prison a year later, Haneef-Perry spent 20 years behind bars before being released in May 2022. Since getting out, hes landed a job as a certified forensic peer recovery specialist for the Maryland Office of the Public Defender in Harford County, where he lives with his wife and 9-month-old daughter. When I talk about second chances, there are hundreds more individuals just like myself who would come out and serve the community the same way, he has, Haneef-Perry, said in an interview Monday. They just need to be given an opportunity. Haneef-Perry, 41, who serves on various statewide organizations to help reform the states criminal justice system, is just one of the criminal justice reform advocates hoping for a better outcome next year for the bill informally called the Second Look Act, which stalled in the House in the last legislative session. The bill that did pass the Senate would let inmates who are 60 years old or who have served more than 20 years behind bars file a petition with the court seeking to have their sentence reduced. If that petition is denied, the inmate could file again, but only if he was both 60 or older and had served for at least 20 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I talk about second chances, there are hundreds more individuals just like myself who would come out and serve the community the same way. They just need to be given an opportunity. Desmond Haneef-Perry Its in societys best interest to allow a truly rehabilitated person to contribute to society rather than remain warehoused, soaking up our tax dollars, unable to make any positive contribution at all, said Sen. Jill P. Carter (D-Baltimore City). She sponsored the bill in the last session, along with Del. Cheryl Pasteur (D-Baltimore County), who sponsored the House version. Both women plan to reintroduce the proposal in 2025. I believe it will pass, in the next session, Carter said in a Nov. 15 text message. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baltimore County States Attorney Scott Shellenberger (D) hopes it doesnt. Shellenberger, who wrote a letter earlier this year opposing the proposal, said his position hasnt changed. Under the bill, a victim or a victims representative would be notified of any hearing scheduled on an inmates sentence reduction petition. Among his other problems with the bill, Shellenberger said earlier this month that the victim notification provision is just another post-conviction complication for victims or their loved ones, forcing them to return to court to relive events of serious crimes such as rape or murder that happened years ago. When can I ever look at a victim and say the case is over? Thats the main thing, he said. But Prince Georges County States Attorney Aisha Braveboy (D) supports the measure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Braveboy said the courts are currently able to evaluate a sentence, but state law limits that review to the five years after a sentence is handed down. Very few judges will reconsider a sentence for a serious crime within the window, she said. The justice system is a continuum. Justice requires us to look at and review cases at every stage, including conviction and sentencing, she said in an interview earlier this month. The law has to reflect the fact that people can be redeemed and should be given an opportunity to prove that they deserve a second chance. It is not opening the flood gates, she said of the proposed Second Look Act. Its really being very strategic about how we evaluate individuals and whether or not they are ready to come back to society. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Haneef-Perry, who speaks only for himself and not for the public defenders office, and other members of the Maryland Second Look Coalition said they plan to lobby on the bills behalf in the next session. Coalition members, who include those with loved ones currently incarcerated, said they will either provide written testimony or travel to Annapolis next year to urge lawmakers in both chambers to approve the measure. One of those potential witnesses is Magdalena Tsiongas, the Second Look Coalition convener, who has a 36-year-old partner who remains incarcerated after being sentenced for first-degree murder at age 19. If people rehabilitate, they should have the opportunity to show that to the judge, Tsiongas said. We need to do better as a society recognizing if and when people have rehabilitated that healing doesnt always look like just keeping people in prison as long as possible, but making avenues for them to come back into the community and give back to the communities that they might have harmed. UPDATE 11/29/24: Allegheny County police have charged a 16-year-old boy in connection with the shooting. _______________________________ Initial coverage: A juvenile male was shot in Port Vue on Thursday night, according to Allegheny County police. Emergency crews were called to the 1300 block of Romine Avenue at 10:08 p.m. First responders found the victim, who had been shot once. He was taken to a local hospital and is in stable condition. Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call 1-833-ALL-TIPS. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW KANSAS CITY, Mo. Two teenagers were shot, and one was critically injured, in a shooting at a Kansas City, Missouri home, police reported Friday morning. According to the Kansas City Police Department, just before 10 a.m., officers were dispatched to a home near Bristol Terrace and Ruskin Way on reports of a shooting. One critically injured in Thursday night shooting Upon arrival, KCPD said two teenagers were found, a boy and a girl, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both teens were taken to the hospital, the boy had non-life-threatening injuries and the girl had life-threatening injuries. As of 11:30 a.m. Friday, she still remains in critical condition, KCPD said. Police have not released a statement about a suspect or a person of interest. Stay tuned at FOX4 News for the latest updates and details regarding the investigation. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Police have found a missing 69-year-old man who disappeared from a rehabilitation and healthcare center in Kansas City, Missouri Thursday morning. According to the Kansas City Police Department, just before 11:28 a.m., Dwight Jamison checked out of a Highland Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center and has not returned. One person taken to hospital after Merriam apartment fire Police said he is on dialysis and is confined to a wheelchair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was reported Friday morning that Jamison was found safe, according to KCPD. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Two days after the November election, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey touted a court victory against a federal immigration rule to aid migrants married to U.S. citizens, a decision that came in a lawsuit filed by Bailey, Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach and 13 other Republican states. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris had created a crisis at the southern border, Bailey said. The rule was an example of the Biden administration inventing an unlawful program out of thin air, Kobach added. But Bailey and Kobach wont have the Biden administration around to attack much longer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After spending years suing Biden and federal agencies under his control, the Republican attorneys general of Missouri and Kansas will enter a new era on Jan. 20, 2025, when President-elect Donald Trump takes office. The two state officials are almost certain to abandon their adversarial posture in favor of a supporting, even cheerleading, role. As Bailey and Kobach reposition themselves as allies of the new administration, they may turn their legal firepower elsewhere. Democratic-leaning localities are likely to find themselves further scrutinized if they take action that upsets Republicans, predict experts who have watched how state attorneys general offices operate. The coming federal transfer of power marks the first time Bailey and Kobach have been state attorneys general while their party controlled the White House. Both men took office in January 2023; Kobach after winning election and Bailey after Missouri Gov. Mike Parson chose him to fill a vacancy. Both officials have forged ties to Trump. During the first Trump administration, Kobach co-led a White House commission that tried unsuccessfully to locate voter fraud while Bailey was reportedly on the short list recently for U.S. attorney general before Trump selected former Florida congressman Matt Gaetz and, later, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even as Kobach has kept a lower profile compared to Bailey, both officials have sued the Biden administration repeatedly over the past two years. They have led lawsuits, as well as signed onto legal challenges with other Republican state attorneys general. Key court battles included alleging the Biden administration violated the First Amendment by urging social media companies to take down posts and ban social media accounts, a case the U.S. Supreme Court tossed, and successfully challenging Bidens efforts to forgive student loan debt. Once Trump takes office, the flood of litigation is expected to dry up or at least slow to a trickle. I think Andrew will do what needs to be done. I just think its much less likely to need to be done with Trump in the White House than it would be with Biden in the White House, said Missouri state Sen. Mike Cierpiot, a Lees Summit Republican. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey More and more lawsuits While state attorneys general have traditionally been associated with law enforcement and consumer protection, politically-charged lawsuits seeking to block federal rules and programs have taken on an increasingly central role in recent decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immigration rules, environmental regulations and protections for LGBTQ individuals have all been at the center of legal fights between state attorneys general and the federal government. The number of multi-state lawsuits against the federal administration has exploded over the past eight years, according to a database maintained by Paul Nolette, a professor who has studied state attorneys general and is the director of Marquette Universitys Les Aspin Center for Government. The Trump administration faced 160 lawsuits and the Biden administration faced 137. The Obama administration over two terms was only sued 80 times. President George W. Bushs administration also experienced a similarly meager 76 lawsuits. Despite the overall growth in litigation, the database shows just how sharply Kansas and Missouris approach shifted depending on which party controlled the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kansas participated as a plaintiff in 43 lawsuits against the Biden administration, while Missouri participated in 56, according to the database. Danedri Herbert, a spokesperson for Kobach, said the Kansas Attorney Generals Office was on more than 29 cases and is leading or co-leading nine cases. A Bailey spokesperson didnt respond to questions for this story. By contrast, Kansas and Missouri were plaintiffs in just two lawsuits total against the Trump administration, according to the database. One of those lawsuits was an attack on the Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obamas signature health care law. The lions share of this activity is going to be coming from Democratic AGs against the Trump administration, Nolette said in an interview, previewing the next four years. Still, some Republican attorneys general potentially including Kobach and Bailey may file fresh lawsuits in the first few weeks of the Trump administration, Nolette said. Those challenges will be aimed at overturning rules and regulations put in place by the Biden administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked whether Kobach anticipates many of the current cases will become moot in the coming months, Herbert said its unclear. For instance, Kobach is fighting Title IX regulations advanced by the Biden administration to provide protections to transgender students. President Trump has said he will end Bidens changes to Title IX on day one, Herbert wrote in an email. Well continue litigating until the Trump administration publishes a proposed Title IX rule that rescinds Bidens Title IX rule. Bailey and Kobach are both already attempting to restrict access to medication abortion, the most commonly-used form of abortion nationally, through a federal lawsuit. The U.S. Supreme Court in June ruled that a group of doctors didnt have standing to challenge FDA approval of mifepristone, a common abortion drug. The state attorneys general are now attempting to prohibit mifepristones use after seven weeks of pregnancy instead of 10 and require three in-person doctor visits. The request would reinstate requirements that were in effect before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration relaxed them in 2016 and 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the Biden administration fought the previous lawsuit, its unclear what position the Trump administration will take in response to the new complaint. In some instances, courts offer a faster path to tossing out rules than going through the formal federal rule-writing process, Nolette said. If state attorneys general receive a favorable court ruling, the Trump administration can simply decline to defend the challenged rule. But those friendly challenges will still only represent a small fraction of the litigation that a Harris administration would have faced. Instead, Nolette and others expect Republican state attorneys general to pay more attention to actions by local governments. President Donald Trump, left, and Kris Kobach, the Kansas secretary of state, on Nov. 20, 2016, at the clubhouse of Trump International Golf Club, in Bedminster Township, N.J. Focus on local officials Bailey, in particular, has been willing to take local officials to court or at the very least publicly fight them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve seen a lot of battles, both with Bailey and before, between localities and the state, Nolette said. I think Missouri may be only second to Texas in terms of the sheer quantity of those sorts of challenges. In April, Bailey accused Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas of offering an open invitation for illegal aliens to come to Missouri after Lucas on social media linked to an article in which he said that the Kansas City economy would benefit from workers seeking asylum or other legal status in the U.S. but who are stuck in crowded shelters in cities such as New York awaiting work permits or other documentation. Lucas also emphasized that he was talking about persons who are lawfully present, with lawful work permits, and the lawful ability to come to our community. Bailey issued a vague legal threat in a letter to Lucas, arguing that his previous comments regarding Kansas City welcoming migrant workers were wildly irresponsible. The Missouri attorney general ultimately took no further action against Lucas, but the attacks generated days of headlines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More recently, Bailey promised to sue Jackson County over a new ordinance that restricts the possession and purchase of guns by individuals 21 and younger. The ordinance, which the Jackson County Legislature enacted over the veto of County Executive Frank White, marked the culmination of an effort to pass local gun-related restrictions following the Chiefs Super Bowl rally shooting in February. The right to keep and bear arms is inalienable, Bailey said in a statement. To that end, I will be filing suit against Jackson County for their illegal attempt to violate Missourians Second Amendment rights. Jackson County Legislator Manny Abarca said in a statement that he was glad the issue had Baileys attention, saying that as for his tenure thus far, he has gotten to avoid the countless juvenile victims and perpetrators of gun violence. Cierpiot cited the new ordinance as an example of the kind of action Bailey will take in the coming years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think Andrew would push back wherever it needs to be pushed back. But the way things are playing out, its going to be much more likely to be local than it is going to be federal, Cierpiot said. In Kansas, Kobach was a vocal critic of illegal immigration long before becoming state attorney general. Michael Smith, a political science professor at Emporia State University who has studied Kobach, said he expects him to fight any efforts by municipalities to adopt sanctuary city policies. What I would guess with Kobach is, he will work to raise his national profile, that he will continue to be very much a conservative activist, Smith said. He may go ahead and put immigration back on the agenda, maybe get the states involved in deportations in some way. Kobachs litigation unit Kobach campaigned on setting up an operation inside the Kansas Attorney Generals Office to sue the Biden administration. After he took office, Kobach established a special litigation unit that its website says is dedicated to protecting the constitutional rights of Kansans. Kansas state Rep. Susan Humphries, a Wichita Republican who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, said Kobachs legal battles with the federal government over the past two years had been a good use of state resources. The cases the state attorney general weighed in on had a direct impact on Kansas, she said. So I dont feel like its been just toss it up to the wind and see what happens, Humphries said. I feel like it has a purpose. But Trumps victory is raising questions about the future of the unit. A special committee of the Kansas Legislature is exploring the creation of a regulatory sandbox program designed to entice businesses to test new products and services without initially coming under full regulatory scrutiny. During a committee meeting in November, lawmakers discussed what role the Kansas Attorney Generals Office would potentially play. Robert Hutchison, deputy attorney general for the offices civil division, told lawmakers the Kansas Attorney Generals Office would prefer not to administer the program. Given staffing within the office, the responsibilities would be a burden, he indicated. Herbert, the Kobach spokesperson, told The Star that three attorneys are currently assigned to the office. She didnt answer a question about whether their roles would change after Trump takes office but noted that they also work on other high-profile cases, such as defending a Kansas law that defines man and woman based upon sex assigned at birth. Kansas state Rep. John Carmichael, a Wichita Democrat, asked Hutchison about the offices workload. I can assure you all of our attorneys are occupied very much full-time with what theyre doing, Hutchison responded. Carmichael replied that the attorney general files a lot of litigation against the Biden administration. Left unsaid was that Biden will soon be out of office. In an interview, Carmichael said he expects Kobach to retain the lawyers within the litigation unit but that they will be redirected to something political in nature. People need to keep an eye on Kris because I think hes prone to do these sorts of things, Carmichael said, particularly if theres a TV camera nearby. An Atlanta area woman who learned her husband was cheating on her after an innocent phone call with an airline representative exposed his infidelity, has finally been granted a divorce. - Angela Johnson Read More Defendant Susan Lorincz, left, who fatally shot a Black neighbor through her front door during an ongoing dispute, listens to proceedings during her sentencing hearing Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Ocala, Fla. - Photo: Doug Engle/Ocala Star-Banner via AP, Pool (AP) Over a year after four Black kids lost their mother to a shooting stemming from a neighborhood feud, the white woman who fired the fatal bullet is finally facing her punishment for the heartbreaking incident. - Kalyn Womack Read More Photo: Jon Kopaloff/WireImage (Getty Images) In the ongoing battle over whether Sean Diddy Combs should be granted bail or not, his attorneys refreshed the memory of the court with a piece of information that is critical toward determining whether the rapper is too dangerous to be released from jail. - Kalyn Womack Read More Photo: Instagram Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Dallas influencer who took her business feud wayyy too far just got some more bad news about what shell have to do to pay for her crimes. A federal judge sentenced 35-year-old Ashley Grayson to 10 years in federal prison for the 2022 murder-for-hire plot. Prosecutors said Grayson was an internet business influencer who gained popularity around her online courses she built. However, in 2021, she had a fallout with another woman who ran a similar business based out of Southaven, Miss. Grayson suspected the woman was trolling her and contacted an old associate to help handle the problem. - Kalyn Womack Read More Bishop T.D. Jakes - Photo: Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank (Getty Images) Popular Texas Bishop T.D. Jakes gave his congregation a scare over the weekend after enduring a health incident during a November 24 sermon at The Potters House, his Dallas megachurch. - Angela Johnson Read More Photo: WTOK An Ohio man was handed a prison sentence this week for an unthinkable crime he committed exactly one year ago. Authorities say the incident stemmed from a dispute over a bag of potato chips. Seriously. - Kalyn Womack Read More Screenshot: Facebook A family is finally getting answers to a nearly 80-year mystery behind the death of their loved one during an encounter with Alabama police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hattie DeBardelaben was killed by police officers on March 23, 1945, when they showed up at her home in Autaugaville, a town near Montgomery. Although some of her family members, including her youngest son, witnessed the tragic encounter, her seven children have never talked about it a fact that left her grandchildren with lots of questions, according to AL.com. - Angela Johnson Read More Photo: JOCE/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images (Getty Images) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a breaking story about the federal sex crime case against Bad Boy Records founder Sean Diddy Combs. Come back for new developments. Friday, Nov. 22, rap mogul Sean Diddy Combs was due in court for a hearing on his fourth request at bond. As we await for the judges decision, heres what we know about the chances of Combs being released. - Kalyn Womack Read More In May of 1985, scores of row houses burn in a fire in the West Philadelphia neighborhood. Police dropped a bomb on the militant group MOVEs home, May 13, 1985, in an attempt to arrest members, leading to the burning of scores of homes in the neighborhood. - Photo: Archives (AP) More than 40 years after one of the most horrific tragedies in Pennsylvania history, one family might finally get the closure theyve been looking for. The 1985 Philadelphia bombings claimed the lives of at least 11 men, women, and children. - Phenix S Halley Read More Photo: Matthias Nareyek (Getty Images) The lawsuits against Kanye West just wont stop...whether from his former assistants or employees who worked at his short-lived Donda Academy. But the details behind the latest suit are creepier than most. - Noah A. McGee Read More For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Kate Middleton and Prince William are mourning the death of Liz Hatton, the teenage cancer patient who inspired the royals after meeting her in October. Hatton passed away Wednesday at the age of 17 after battling a rare form of cancer. She and her family met the Prince and Princess of Wales at Windsor Castle on Oct. 2, who helped fulfill part of the teens photography bucket list dream. On Thursday, William and Kate, both 42, shared an emotional statement on their social media accounts paying tribute to Hatton. Kate Middleton hugs Liz Hatton at Windsor Castle on Oct. 2, 2024. Andrew Parsons/Kensington Palace We are so sorry to hear that Liz Hatton has sadly passed away, they wrote. It was an honour to have met such a brave and humble young woman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our thoughts and prayers are with Lizs parents Vicky and Aaron and her brother Mateo at this unimaginably difficult time. The royals signed their post W & C, the initials of their first names that they add to statements to indicate that the message is more personal and comes directly from them. Though commonly known as Kate, the Princess of Wales officially goes by Catherine. Kate Middleton and Prince William mourn brave and humble teenage cancer patient, Liz Hatton, after her death. The Prince and Princess of Wales/X Kate and Hatton made global headlines after the future queen shared a photo of her and the young photographer hugging during their Oct. 2 meeting. Three weeks earlier, Princess Kate announced she was cancer free and had completed the chemotherapy she began after being diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hatton received her cancer diagnosis in January after doctors discovered she had an aggressive desmoplastic small round cell tumor. According to the BBC, doctors told her she had anywhere between six months to three years to live. Portrait of Liz Hatton taken on April 10, 2024. News Licensing / MEGA William and Kate invited Hatton to Windsor Castle to photograph an investiture ceremony, an event in which members of the royal family bestow honors to individuals for various outstanding achievements. Hattons mother, Vicky Robyana, shared the sad news of her daughters death on Wednesday in a post on X. Our incredible daughter Liz died in the early hours of this morning. She remained determined to the last. Even yesterday she was still making plans, Robyana wrote. We are so very proud of the kindness, empathy and courage she has shown in the last year. Liz Hatton, who died on Nov. 27, posted pics she took of Prince Williams during her visit to Windsor Castle on Oct. 2. Liz Hatton/Instagram Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was not only a phenomenal photographer, she was the best human, and the most wonderful daughter and big sister we could ever have asked for. No one could have fought harder for life than she did, Robyana continued. There is a gaping Liz-shaped hole in our lives that I am not sure how we will ever fill. We have so much gratitude to every single one of you, whether you offered to help, or liked or shared posts you ensured Lizs last two months were her very best. She flew high until the end. Hattons invite to photograph Will leading the investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle came after Robyana made an appeal on social media for any photography based opportunities that could create a lifetime of memories for her daughter and help complete the teens photography bucket list in the time she had left. Liz Hatton (C) works alongside the press photographers during the UK premiere of Venom: The Last Dance at the BFI IMAX Waterloo on Oct. 23, 2024, in London, England. WireImage Hatton received her cancer diagnosis in January after doctors discovered she had an aggressive desmoplastic small round cell tumor. WireImage Kate, a self-described enthusiastic amateur photographer and the patron of the Royal Photographic Society, and Prince William shared photos of their meet and greet with Liz on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A pleasure to meet with Liz at Windsor today. A talented young photographer whose creativity and strength has inspired us both, the pair said. Thank you for sharing your photos and story with us. W&C. Hatton posted her personal thoughts about the day on Instagram. Such a lovely, genuine and kind people, Im over the moon that my family and I had this experience, the teenager wrote on her Instagram story under a photo of herself hugging the Princess Catherine. Hatton spoke further about the experience meeting the royals the following day during an interview with BBC Radio 4. Talking to them was amazing cause it was like talking to anyone, like just a normal person, she said. There was no sort of grandeur about them, there was just humanity and kindness. Liz Hatton. GoFundMe Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hattons mother has asked that people remember her daughter by sharing one of her photos on your social media, or in real life, however you can. Lets let her go out with a bang, Robyana wrote on X. She asked anyone posting on social media to use the hashtag #LizHatton. The family has also called on the public help their fight to fund research into desmoplastic small round cell tumor. Whether you can share, donate or raise funds please be our village one more time, Robyana added. She also linked a GoFundMe page she created to raise funds for research into the rare cancer. Lets make this the last item on her bucket list and make sure other families dont face a similar fate, she concluded. LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) The Kentucky State Police Department (KSP) is hosting a festive ornament sale to spread holiday cheer with trooper teddy bears that will go on sale Friday. Lexington bike extravaganza hopes to donate 100 bikes to Angel Tree: How you can help From Black Friday to Cyber Monday, the teddy bears will be priced at a 20% discount for $20. The department said proceeds from the cuddly bears in uniform will go toward helping children dealing with traumatic situations. (Kentucky State Police) LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trooper Teddy Bear project relies solely on donations and sales from the teddy bears. For more information and to buy a bear for you or a loved one, visit the KSP website. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. A pod of killer whales has revived a curious trend from the 1980s in which they swim around with dead salmon balanced on their heads. Scientists observed the whales exhibiting the unusual activity again off the coast of Washington state in the US, the same Pacific Northwest region where the salmon hat behaviour was last seen 40 years ago. A female orca was spotted swimming around Puget Sound with a dead salmon lolling on her nose in 1987. The craze then quickly caught on as other orcas began adopting the same behaviour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The parading ceased as abruptly as it had appeared and the salmon hats had disappeared by 1988. However, the behaviour has returned for reasons that are as mysterious as to why it started in the first place. In recent weeks, killer whales have been observed wearing the salmon hats again and perching the dead fish on their heads. They may even be the same orcas that adopted the trend back in the 1980s given that the species can live for up to 100 years in the wild. Experts are trying to understand exactly why they have reverted back to a trend that fell out of fashion four decades ago. Orcas have been known to carry prey around with them, perhaps for later consumption when they get hungry again - YouTube It may be some sort of play behaviour or a reaction to the large number of salmon in the region this year. Having feasted on the bumper shoals of salmon until they are full, the whales may be carrying around the dead fish until they get hungry again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Orcas are known to carry prey around with them, perhaps for later consumption. Deborah Giles, research director for conservation group Wild Orca, told New Scientist: Weve seen mammal-eating killer whales carry large chunks of food under their pectoral fin, kind of tucked in next to their body. The salmon are too small and slippery to be secured under a fin, meaning the orcas put them on their heads instead. They are known to be highly capable predators that seem to learn behaviours from each other. Their intelligence is evident in the differing hunting strategies they adopt for different prey in separate parts of the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Off the coast of South Africa, they will attack great white sharks and remove their livers with large, precise bites. In the Antarctic, they are renowned for using a surge technique to create waves that knock seals off of ice floats into the water, where they are easy prey. Along the coast of Patagonia, killer whales deliberately beach themselves to attempt to catch sea lions. As the largest member of the dolphin family, male orcas can weigh up to 9,800kg or 10 metric tons and reach 32ft in length. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. SYDNEY, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Residents of several communities in Western Australia (WA) have been told it was too late to leave as a major bushfire continued to burn nearby. The WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) on Friday morning issued an emergency warning to residents of the small coastal town of Cervantes, 170 km north of Perth, and nearby communities, advising them to take shelter from the approaching fire. "You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. There is a threat to lives and homes," the alert said. "It is too late to leave. Fire has impacted evacuation routes and leaving now will put your life in danger." Hundreds of firefighters as well as aerial water bombing crews were deployed to fight the fire, which was sparked by a car crash on Monday. The fire burnt through over 65,000 hectares of land. Authorities warned that hot weather and strong winds forecast for Friday could make containment efforts more challenging. Roads, schools and hospitals in Cervantes and the surrounding area were closed. Two firefighters were injured while fighting the blaze, including a volunteer who was airlifted to hospital in a stable condition. CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) This Thanksgiving, the Knights of Columbus in Chicopee embodied the spirit of giving by providing free meals to the western Massachusetts community, during their annual dinner. 13th annual Stuffing the Pantry 5K kicks off in East Longmeadow Dozens of volunteers came together to prepare and serve meals to families giving them a moment of joy and warmth on this special holiday. The Castle of Knights opened its doors once again to those who may not have a place to go or a meal to eat on Thanksgiving. Families were able to gather around tables, share a delicious meal, and connect with others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I love it, I was here last year and I was looking forward to being here this year, said Butta Wilke of Chicopee. Its real neat because theres only two of us and its just nice to be with other people, added Jane Parent of West Springfield. Volunteers put in countless hours in the kitchen at the Knights of Columbus to turn thousands of pounds of turkey into thousands of meals for both at the hall and delivery. Its been about five days of cooking turkeys, the prep crew gets here about like midnight, 18-hundred takeouts when out this morning, its just absolutely insane, said volunteer, Scott Dubey. This was all made possible through the number of fundraisers Knights of Columbus put on throughout the year, which comes at a time when families grapple with rising food prices. People are hurting and thats what were here for. Thats what the Knight of Columbus does year round we make donations to kitchens year round and all that, and everyone that needs it. We help out, said the Grand Knight at Knights of Columbus, Ron Grenier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By providing free meals, the Knights of Columbus is not only easing the financial burden for families but also spreading kindness and cheer. People need some help and some friendship and compassion, and I think thats where were missing a lot of things in life. We just gotta take a minute, take a breath, and remember thats all people need, added Dubey. This event shows that a small act of generosity can make a big impact in someones life. Organizers say they are deeply grateful for the volunteers whove generously given their time and efforts, making this a memorable Thanksgiving celebration for all. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. Question : At least before the Board of Water Supply raised water rates, they had a bunch of community meetings where people could vent their concerns. This plan for the big sewer fee increase from the city came out of nowhere as far as I am concerned. Answer : The citys Department of Environmental Services has been conducting extensive public outreach for months, via an advisory group, neighborhood boards, the news media, social media, a website and town hall forums, one of which was held Nov. 18 at Kapolei Hale and five more of which are scheduled starting next week and into the new year. Heres the upcoming schedule, from Markus Owens, an ENV spokesperson :Tuesday at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center, from 10 a.m. to noon in the Oahu RoomDec. 10 at Kailua District Park from 5 :30 to 7 p.m.Dec. 17 at Mililani District Park from 5 :30 to 7 p.m.Jan. 3 at Aina Haina Community Park from 5 :30 to 7 p.m. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA.Jan. 6 at Kalanianaole Beach Park from 5 :30 to 7 p.m. in the craft room At these forums the public will hear from ENV staff about the need to increase sewer rates for the first time since 2016, details of the 10-year plan to raise fees annually starting July 1, and about a proposed customer assistance program to ease the burden on low-income customers. Under ENVs proposal, sewer fees would rise 9 % annually for the first six years, followed by increases of 8 %, 7 %, 6 % and 5 % the next four years, according to a news release, which said that the additional revenue is critical to cover rising operational and maintenance costs and to fund essential projects included in ENVs Capital Improvement Program, valued at $10.1 billion between 2025 and 2040. The monthly sewer bill for the average single-family household using 9, 000 gallons a month would gradually rise from $110.89 now to $248.56 in 2035, according to ENV. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposed customer assistance program would cut $20 to $25 from the fixed sewer charge for households earning less than 80 % of Oahus area median income. Overall, the increases are less than predicted in 2010, when ENV entered a consent decree to upgrade Oahus wastewater systems, Owens said. At that time it was said that sewer fees likely would rise annually from 2010 through 2035 (they havent increased since 2016 ), by which time the average monthly household bill was projected to be at least $300$51.44 higher than now projected, he said. For more details about the proposal, see. As for the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, it raised rates in February and July and will raise them again each July through 2028. See for details. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Q : How can that coral cut from the fish farm grow on its own ? A : A special marine epoxy is used to attach healthy, native coral heads to existing reef, allowing them to flourish, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. The DLNR explained last week in a news release that nearly 11 years worth of coral growth was successfully removed and relocated from a fish farm pen off the island of Hawaii that was no longer in use. The fish farm pipe ring had been in the ocean in 2013, and coral had naturally accrued there but would not survive long-term without a proper reef home, the news release said. Corals on top of the pipe were not recovered as prolonged exposure to air kills them, but most everything below the water line was removed using chisels and hammers, it said. Smaller corals were taken to a new coral nursery at the National Energy Laboratory of Hawai i, while larger coral heads were being affixed to existing reef this week.------------Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 2-200, Honolulu, HI 96813 ; call 808-529-4773 ; or email.------------ MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia said on Friday that any accusations it had interfered in Romania's presidential election were groundless. "We are not in the habit of interfering in elections in other countries, particularly in Romania, nor do we intend to do so now," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Romania's top court on Thursday ordered a recount of votes in the first round of the election and the country's top security body warned Romania was a key target for hostile actions from Russia after a shock result in the ballot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The winner was a far-right politician, Calin Georgescu, who has been critical of NATO and said Romania should engage, not challenge, Russia. He is due to face centrist candidate Elena Lasconi in a run-off on Dec. 8. Peskov told reporters that accusations against Moscow were part of a trend in the West where "if something happens, first of all Russia must be blamed". (Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Editing by Mark Trevelyan) MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Friday it wanted the Syrian government to restore constitutional order in the Aleppo region as soon as possible after an insurgent offensive there that captured territory for the first time in years. Russia, a staunch ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, intervened militarily on Assad's side against insurgents in 2015 in its biggest foray in the Middle East since the Soviet Union's collapse, and maintains an airbase and naval facility in Syria. Rebels led by Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched an incursion on Wednesday into a dozen towns and villages in the northwestern province of Aleppo, which is controlled by Assad's forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was the first such territorial advance since March 2020 when Russia and Turkey, which supports the rebels, agreed to a ceasefire that led to the halting of military action in Syria's last major rebel stronghold in the northwest. Russian and Syrian warplanes bombed a rebel-held area near the border with Turkey on Thursday to try to push back the insurgents, Syrian army and rebel sources said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow regarded the rebel attack as a violation of Syria's sovereignty and wanted the authorities to act fast to regain control. "As for the situation around Aleppo, it is an attack on Syrian sovereignty and we are in favour of the Syrian authorities bringing order to the area and restoring constitutional order as soon as possible," said Peskov. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked about unconfirmed Russian Telegram reports that Assad had flown into Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Peskov said he had "nothing to say" on the matter. (Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Writing by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Mark Trevelyan) The billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Times abruptly ended an interview with so-called reporter Oliver Darcy after the ex-CNN journalist pressed him about his decision to hire pro-Trump commentator Scott Jennings to serve on the editorial board of the left-leaning broadsheet. Darcy, who launched his standalone newsletter Status after leaving CNN in August, reported on Tuesday that his phone interview with Times owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong was ended after the conversation grew combative. Last month, Soon-Shiong blocked his editorial board from publishing an endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris similar to the move made by Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos. In both cases, editorial staffers resigned in protest and readers cancelled their subscriptions in anger. Oliver Darcy, the former CNN media reporter, was dismissed as a so-called reporter by the owner of the Los Angeles Times during a contentious interview. CNN Darcys interview with Los Angeles Times owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong was abruptly ended. Bloomberg via Getty Images Both Soon-Shiong and Bezos have stated their wish to diversify their newspapers respective editorial boards and opinion pages by hiring more right-leaning voices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Darcy reached out to Soon-Shiong in response to an X post in which the Times publisher wrote that he brought Jennings to his papers editorial board because he wanted to staff it with experts who have thoughtful balanced views. According to Darcy, he reached out to the Times for comment on Soon-Shiongs X post. A personal spokesperson of Soon-Shiong then reached out to Darcy to see if he wanted to interview the billionaire directly. The phone interview would be on the record and there would be no restrictions, according to Status. A summary of the article was reported by Mediaite. The interview began warmly enough, wrote Darcy. I thanked Soon-Shiong for his time and asked him what he intends to do with the Times editorial board. Darcy pressed Soon-Shiong over his decision to hire CNN commentator Scott Jennings to serve on the Times editorial board. CNN Soon-Shiong replied that he wanted a revamped editorial board that he would build from scratch so that it would represent all voices that would include some truly critical thinkers, thoughtful people, onto the board who can voice opinion, but Im hopeful that people voice opinion based on the facts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Times owner praised Jennings for his interactions on CNN where he often is outnumbered five to one against the left. Soon-Shiong said he was impressed with how Jennings was respectful and thoughtful in expressing his point of view on the air. But Darcy took issue with Soon-Shiong, saying that it was very debatable whether Jennings was respectful to his fellow panelists. Darcy then blasted Jennings for his dishonest commentary. He wrote that Jennings career hinges on defending a politician (President-elect Donald Trump) who subjects the populace to an endless stream of lies and conspiracy theories. It was when I attempted to broach this topic with Soon-Shiong that our conversation grew combative, Darcy wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Darcy, Soon-Shiong said it was the reporters opinion that Trump lies more than other politicians. Darcy wrote that Soon-Shiong didnt apparently appreciate his claim that the depths of [Trumps] dishonesty have been well-documented by fact-based news organizations. According to Darcy, the Times owner scolded him for making a statement. If you want to talk about Donald Trump, thats not the conversation I started with, a clearly annoyed Soon-Shiong is reported to have told Darcy. The Times was engulfed in turmoil last month after Soon-Shiong blocked the editorial board from publishing its endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris. AP Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Darcy, who noticed that the interview had without a doubt gone sideways, sought to get things back on track and to reel it back in. But Soon-Shiong interjected once more and slammed Darcy as a so-called reporter, according to Darcy. When Darcy then asked Soon-Shiong about MAGA voices that could be added to the editorial board, Soon-Shiongs spokesperson, who was listening in on the conversation, interjected: I think we have pretty much answered all the questions that you have. No, to be honest, you havent answered all the questions I have, Darcy reported that he told the spokesperson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Soon-Shiongs rep ended the interview, signaling to [his boss] to hang up the phone. Darcy told The Post: It takes a lot more than a weak insult to bother me. Clearly, my questions were getting under his skin and so he resorted to tossing an insult. I think it actually revealed quite a bit about him. Soon-Shiong has said he wants to bring more right-leaning voices to the newspapers editorial board. Yashar Ali /X He said it was his job to interrogate power and that he will never shy away from, respectfully, asking tough questions to those who have it. Thats what I did when interviewing Patrick and what I would do again, if given the opportunity, Darcy said. If he wanted a safe space, he came to the wrong place. The Post has sought comment from Soon-Shiong. Labour MPs were three times more likely to back assisted dying than their Conservative counterparts in Friday afternoons Commons vote. Almost three in five Labour MPs including Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, and the majority of his top team voted to legalise the practice, compared to just one in five Tories. The Commons was given a free vote on the private members Bill tabled by the Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, meaning the usual whipping along party political lines did not take place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Out of a total of 402 Labour MPs, 235 were supportive (59 per cent) and 147 opposed (37 per cent). MPs voted in favour of the Bill - SKY Of the 24 Cabinet members who sit in the Commons, 15 backed a private members Bill that will allow assisted suicide for terminally ill adults with less than six months to live. Sir Keir voted in favour of assisted dying along with front bench colleagues including Rachel Reeves, his Chancellor, Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, and Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary. Those in the Cabinet opposed to the measure included the two ministers likely to be most heavily involved in the process. Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, and Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, both walked through the no lobby along with Angela Rayner, Sir Keirs deputy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Prime Minister declined to take a public view in the weeks before the campaign, insisting the Government was neutral on the issue. But Sir Keir had previously signalled his support for such a measure, and also voted in favour of changing the law in 2015 when a bill was unsuccessful. Ninety-two Tories, 76 per cent of the parliamentary party of 121, voted against the Bill including party leader Kemi Badenoch. Rishi Sunak, Mrs Badenochs predecessor, joined Mel Stride, her shadow chancellor, among the 23 Conservative MPs who backed Ms Leadbeaters proposals. Eighty-five per cent of Liberal Democrats (61 out of 72) backed the Bill but a notable exception was Sir Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, who voted against. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All four Green MPs backed the Bill while Reform UK was split. Party leader Nigel Farage and his fellow Reform MP James McMurdock were against the Bill, with its three other MPs in favour. Almost fifty-five per cent of female MPs voted in favour of the Bill (143 out of 262), compared to 48.6 per cent of male MPs (188 out of 387) who supported it. The vast majority of MPs in Scotland voted on the assisted dying Bill despite the fact that a change in a law would not apply there. Forty-six out of 57 Scottish MPs voted on the legislation put forward by Ms Leadbeater despite it only covering England and Wales. Thirty MPs in Scotland voted against the assisted dying plans, while 16 voted in favour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The remaining 11 MPs did not vote including Douglas Alexander and Ian Murray, both of whom are Government ministers, and all nine of the SNP MPs. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Congressman Doug LaMalfa of Californias First Congressional District will serve as the Western Caucus Chairman after being unanimously elected by the caucus Executive Committee. According to a media release from Congressman LaMalfas communications director Paige Boogaard, LaMalfa said he is grateful for the opportunity to serve as the new Chairman of the Western Caucus and continue fighting for rural America. LaMalfa currently serves as the Western Caucus Executive Vice Chair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Western Caucus exists within the U.S. House of Representatives and advocates for rural policy issues relating to agriculture and forestry, local control, multiple-use, energy, private property rights and water. Founded in 1993, the caucus is comprised of 62 members from numerous states and territories. The California Farm Bureau congratulates Rep. Doug LaMalfa on his election as Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus. As a fourth-generation rice farmer, Rep. LaMalfa has spent more than a decade proudly representing an agriculturally diverse district and advocating for farmers and ranchers through his work on the House Agriculture and Natural Resources committees. He continues to bring Western and rural issues to the forefront, and we look forward to working with him and other members of the Western Caucus to support these communities, said Orland resident Shannon Douglas, who is president of the California Farm Bureau. LaMalfa is a native of Oroville, a lifelong Northern California resident and a fourth-generation rice farmer. He earned a bachelors degree in agricultural business from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Prior to being elected to the House in 2012, LaMalfa was elected to the California State Assembly and State Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the media release, LaMalfa has been a strong advocate for limited, constitutionally grounded government, fiscal restraint and lower taxes, and is a strong voice for the North States agriculture and resources-based economy and for the first districts farms and businesses. As California has been hit with numerous devastating wildfires, LaMalfa has advocated for legislation to change forest policy to reduce wildfire risks and help affected citizens recover. UAFA (United Aerial Firefighters Association) congratulates Rep. LaMalfa on being elected as Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and we are excited to continue working with him and the Western Caucus on supporting the aerial firefighting industry. Rep. LaMalfa has long been a staunch supporter and advocate for aerial firefighting and the wildland firefighting industry,said Paul Petersen, executive director of United Aerial Firefighters Association. LaMalfa shared in the media release, the Western Caucus is a strong voice in Washington, and I look forward to working with the Trump Administration and our members to deliver results for the folks who call rural America home, LaMalfa said. Nov. 28New Mexico's antidonation law is rooted an issue that predates statehood, harkening back to when the Land of Enchantment was a territory. At the time, concerns ran high about the potential for the government to fund the economic interests of the burgeoning and dominant railroad industry, state Rep. Kathleen Cates, a Rio Rancho Democrat, told fellow lawmakers earlier this month. It was commonplace, she noted, for states in the Western U.S to have such a law on the books, "to ensure that our government, our taxes weren't going to the railroads." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The provision, known as the antidonation clause in the New Mexico Constitution, prevents state and local government entities, including the Legislature, from giving donations to nonprofits and other private organizations and individuals as a precaution against corruption. While the more than century-old provision continues to serve a critical purpose, Cates and other lawmakers believe it needs an overhaul. "It was a very good idea back then. But through the years and the complexities, the states have all adjusted their antidonation clause. We are the only one that has stayed with our antiquated amendment to our constitution," Cates said. She and outgoing state Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino, D-Albuquerque, presented a proposal to amend the article of the constitution that includes the antidonation clause to the legislative Courts, Corrections and Justice Committee on Nov. 13. Cates and Ortiz y Pino argued the existing provision prevents or complicates a number of initiatives the Legislature would like to undertake, particularly in the capital outlay process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's restricting how public monies can be used to help people in this state," Ortiz y Pino said. "The whole point of this is to make it easier for New Mexico to help the people of the state who have needs." In the past, the antidonation clause has hindered a number of state and local government initiatives, even leading the city of Santa Fe to stop funding the popular Hometown Heroes banner program, which honors local military veterans, over concerns the use of the money would violate the state law. Under the proposed broadening of the law, the state government would be able to "use public funds for a public purpose" and "invest in public and private partnerships," meaning it could make donations or fund nonprofits for specific projects and initiatives that meet required criteria. The proposed amendment wouldn't be the first change to the law. There have been several amendments and multiple exemptions to the antidonation clause over the years, and since 1912 there have been about 30 judicial opinions applying the clause, according to a New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee record from 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A bill that would be paired with a resolution proposing a constitutional amendment which requires voter approval outlines guardrails for the changes. "The enabling legislation spells out a procedure by which nonprofits would apply," Ortiz y Pino said in an interview. "Their proposals would be vetted by a committee, and then the committee would then make recommendations to the Legislature for which ones should be funded." Currently, the state can have service contracts with nonprofit organizations and private companies, Ortiz y Pino said, but under the proposed changes, the state or a local government could send money directly to private entities for projects that serve a public purpose for instance, to purchase vehicles or to fix a leaky roof on a homeless shelter. This would cut down on the administrative burden at the local level, he said. To work around the anti-donation clause, local governments must now act as fiscal agents for nonprofits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers on the Courts, Corrections and Justice Committee stressed the importance of having strong provisions meant to guard against corruption if the Legislature wants to meaningfully change the antidonation clause. "I've struggled with this bill because I think I probably have the most nonprofits of any legislative district in the state here in Santa Fe," said Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, a Santa Fe Democrat. "... Every nonprofit is set up, and they think they can do it best. If I've got 400 lined up in front of my office, how in the world do I determine what makes sense and how I should allocate?" Wirth said, "The guardrails are super important," adding he is "very open" to the proposal and will "look carefully at the enabling statute." The constitutional amendment would have to be put to a statewide vote. Unless a special election is called, the next opportunity will be the November 2026 general election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the Nov. 13 meeting, Ortiz y Pino provided an example of how the antidonation clause has been a hindrance, citing services for women and families affected by domestic violence. Most counties and cities don't have a specific department to address domestic violence and rely on nonprofits, he said, which are funded through a contract. But if the facility for that nonprofit needs plumbing changes or a new electrical system or a new roof, the city or county would have to take ownership of the facility in order for state funding to go directly to the project. "And that's the dilemma," Ortiz y Pino said. "And it's not just legislative money. Local government money can't go to it, either." The enabling legislation for the move would be called the Vibrant Communities Act. It outlines the application process for requesting public funds, the review process for vetting requests and making recommendations to the Legislature, and the agreement for the use of funds and ownership of assets, according to the presentation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The measure was developed with input from legislators, local governments, nonprofit leaders and the Department of Finance and Administration, according to the presentation. Sen. Moe Maestas, D-Albuquerque, expressed his support. "It just drives me crazy when in committee somebody says, 'This violates the anti-donation clause' and the entire room just gets deflated and we just kind of move on to the next bill," Maestas said, adding he believes the proposed change to the law would allow the state to provide government services more efficiently through nonprofits. Nov. 29OKLAHOMA CITY House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, released the following statement after being named in an annual independent OKC FRIDAY poll for Most Powerful Women in 2024. "I am honored to be named alongside some of the most hardworking, influential women in Oklahoma City," said Leader Munson. "Thank you to those in Oklahoma City and throughout my district who have and continue to support me and allow me to serve our community. I have been and will stay focused on bettering the lives of women and girls in Oklahoma. While we face many challenges as women in our state, this list highlights the tenacity, courage, and hard work we have instilled in each of us to create a brighter future. My hope for myself and every honoree on this list is that we use whatever power we have to help our neighbors and make our state a better place for all of us." BEIJING, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- China has taken proactive measures to address the intellectual property (IP) concerns and demands of enterprises, ensuring equal protection for both domestic and foreign innovators, a Chinese IP official said at a press conference on Friday. Aligning with international rules, providing efficient dispute resolution and establishing regular communication channels are the key tasks China has focused on to assist foreign enterprises in the country, according to Guo Wen, an official with the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), which is the country's top IP regulator. Guo said that the Chinese government has joined almost all major international IP treaties and become a prominent user of the three primary registration systems for patents, trademarks and designs that are administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization. She also noted the new round of revision to the country's trademark law and patent law, saying that China has implemented "strict punitive measures in accordance with the highest international standards." China has also taken measures to crack down on malicious patent invalidation and malicious trademark filings, effectively resolving numerous IP disputes involving companies from countries such as the United States, Germany, France, Italy, Thailand and Denmark, Guo noted. The CNIPA has built a regular communication mechanism, organizing numerous symposiums in Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Guangdong to listen attentively to the demands of foreign enterprises and offer assistance in resolving their problems. From January to October this year, China authorized 92,000 foreign invention patents, a year-on-year increase of 5.3 percent. The registration of foreign trademarks in China climbed to 121,000, up 13.1 percent compared to the previous year. "These figures demonstrate the recognition foreign enterprises have given China's IP protection work," Guo said, emphasizing that China will continue its endeavors to "establish a business environment that is fairer, more transparent, and more predictable." The Alabama Legislature has meet in the current Statehouse -- the old Highway Department Building -- since 1986. The Alabama League of Women Voters streams the proceedings of the Alabama Legislature and wants to ensure it remains as a service for years to come. (Stew Milne for Alabama Reflector) More than two years after going live, the Alabama Channel is planning to expand its coverage of government beyond the meetings it streams during the legislative session. The League of Women Voters of Alabama, the nonprofit responsible for creating the website that both broadcasts and archives video of the meetings at the Statehouse, hopes to secure grant funding that will allow it to hire videographers to capture even more footage of what is happening at the Legislature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year we had students who were helping us out, said Kathy Jones, president of the League of Women Voters of Alabama. This year, we want to do it more formally, so that we have got a more consistent presence in the statehouse to cover these meetings that are not live streamed and that is going to take additional funding. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The platform captures video from live meetings broadcast on the Legislatures website. The site also transcribes audio of the meetings and offers users the capability to input keywords that the site will then search for in the transcriptions. The site allows people to search for different types of meetings that include discussions among legislators on both the floor of the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as the various committee meetings responsible for discussing different issues that constituents bring before lawmakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The League of Women Voters archives all the videos. The initiative began as a prototype developed by Tara Bailey, currently the Alabama Channels director. She came to me and said, This is something that I think would work,Jones said of Bailey. As the League, one of our top priorities for the League of Women Voters here in Alabama is government transparency because there is so little of it here. Bailey brought it before the executives of the nonprofit in April 2022, who then expanded it to an official feature offered by the organizations nonprofit arm. When you see a problem that you can do something about, I am the kind of person who wants to do something about it, Bailey said. This was a problem, that you could not go in, you could not go back and see discussions, very vibrant discussions at these different committee meetings, and the House and the Senate, when it is only live streamed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bailey first researched how other states have been archiving video feeds and found that most states were already providing the service. She then solicited assistance from the Open Media Foundation, a nonprofit media and communications service provider, with the transcription of the audio. She then obtained a domain name and designed the logo, and helped develop the website using her previous experience as a graphic designer. Bailey and Jones also collaborated with the Legislative Research Service to ensure staff understood the purpose of the website. You are able to record meetings with the Open Meetings Act, Bailey said in discussions with the Legislature. We took that and said, We are recording the meetings according to the Open Meetings Act. They understood that a lot of other groups were probably doing this, they just werent doing it in the way that we were proposing to do it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The site was ready for the 2023 legislative session. The national office provided the seed funding to develop the Alabama Channel. Grants to date have been provided by the League of Women Voters of the United States Education Fund (C3 fund) for the last 3 years, according to Jones. Jones invited the public to donate additional funds if so inclined. The site has a growing viewership, close to 70,000 total views as of now, according to Bailey. Media that use video footage as a primary source for articles, to legislators who review the proceedings from other meetings to better understand the discussions of various bills, according to Bailey. The organization also records meetings beyond the legislative session, including any meeting on Alison, the states legislative website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are times when we will send a videographer off to a meeting that might not be happening in the statehouse, but happening maybe in Montgomery, Bailey said. We bring in those meetings as well because oftentimes, those focus groups at different meetings that are happening are going to play a major role in the legislation that is going to come up at the next legislative session. The Joint Prison Oversight Committee meetings, for example, where family and friends of those who died in prison, have been popular with viewers. Our prison system in Alabama is a topic of great interest because of what has been going on there, Bailey said. It is not the best prison system, and so a lot of people are watching those meetings. The League expects to continue recording the meetings and archiving the footage, hoping to create a library of the Legislature and how lawmakers have grappled with issues confronting the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We use it in the classroom, Bailey said. We are told that civics we need to be instilling in our students, and what a great resource to say, how a bill becomes a law, and actually get to watch how a bill becomes a law in our Alabama state government. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE At least 120 people have been killed in Israeli military attacks in the Gaza Strip since Thursday night, according to Palestinian reports on Friday. The Israeli military, when contacted, stated that it requires the precise geographic coordinates of the attacks to comment further, though such details are rarely available due to the widespread destruction. The information from both sides could not be independently verified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Palestinian medics told dpa that about 25 people were killed in northern Gaza, with an additional 20 fatalities reported in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central region. Civil defence sources also reported 75 deaths in Beit Lahia, a town in northern Gaza. The figures do not distinguish between combatants and civilians. The Gaza conflict began on October 7 last year when attackers from the Palestinian militant Islamist movement Hamas and other extremist groups based in Gaza carried out massacres in southern Israel, killing 1,200 people. At least 44,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, according to the Hamas-controlled health authority. MILWAUKEE (AP) The Aurora Health Care Mobile Medical Clinic team waited patiently at a table in the main hallway of the Milwaukee Public Librarys sprawling downtown branch, a blood pressure cuff and mental health questionnaire at the ready as they called out to patrons who paused: Do you have any questions about your health? On this Tuesday afternoon, one man did. His joints were bothering him, he told Carolyn McCarthy, the teams nurse practitioner. And he knew his bones need calcium to stay strong, so he stopped taking his blood pressure medication, a calcium channel blocker. McCarthy talked with him at length in simple and specific terms about how the medication worked on his cells, why it was important to take and how it doesnt affect calcium storage in his bones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hopefully, he walked away a little bit more informed, McCarthy said. The mobile clinic is one of several health programs offered by libraries around across the U.S. from tiny rural town libraries to large urban systems. They offer fitness classes, food pantries, cooking classes, conversations about loneliness and mental health, and even blood pressure monitors that can be checked out just like books. The public health programs leverage libraries' reputation as sources of reliable information and their ability to reach people beyond formal health care settings. No money, insurance, language skills or ID required, no limits on age. All are welcome. Libraries are the last true public institution, said Jaime Placht, a health and well-being specialist at the Kansas City Public Library system in Kansas City, Missouri. The system has a full-time social work team. The library is a public health space. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kansas City Public Library, along with Milwaukee and several others, is part of the American Heart Association's Libraries with Heart program. Several Kansas City branches have blood pressure stations which Placht said have been used 13,000 times as well as a take-home blood pressure kits that have been checked out nearly 100 times. The program started there about a year ago. We have patrons that say, Because I used the blood pressure monitor at the library, I went and saw my physician for the first time in a long time, Placht said. There is no local public health office in Jarrell, Texas, a small town between Austin and Waco. But there is a nonprofit library that can connect patrons to mental health help. It's one of nine rural libraries in central Texas that receives funding from the St. Davids Foundation, the philanthropic arm of one of the states largest health systems. Jarrell Community Library and Resource Center is a place for brave conversations. When a senior card game group turned to a discussion of the best crematorium in town, the library brought in local experts to teach about end-of-life planning, library director Susan Gregurek said. Last year, seven women came to the library for information on how to file restraining orders against their husbands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is mental health, but its obviously larger than mental health," Gregurek said. The public library in Smithville, Texas, which also gets money from the Libraries for Health program, stocks boxes of surplus food from area farmers and built out programs that help teens, older adults and parents address isolation. The librarys peer support specialist has gone from working with four to five people a month to nearly 60 in the community southeast of Austin. St. David's Foundation has invested more than $3 million in the program over three years, which Smithville library director Judy Bergeron said is key when she hears comments like, Why are we funding the library so much? Nobody reads anymore. A year and a half into being in Milwaukee's libraries, mobile health clinic reaches eight patrons on average per visit. They've had some people come back to say they went to the hospital and got a life-saving treatment, McCarthy said. Theyve also had patients who did not seek help and later died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What we do is a Band-Aid on a broken (health care) system, McCarthy said of the clinic. Another library effort in Milwaukee teaches kids about healthy nutrition habits at the Mitchell Street branch a weekly after-school program run by chef Sharrie Agee since 2022. Certain areas of Milwaukee dont have the same opportunities to (access) healthy ingredients, healthy sources of food, the knowledge behind how to use those ingredients, said Agee, whose class learns how to make snacks from different continents. Four junior chefs helped her cut cheese and tomatoes for a pizza this month while she quizzed the rest of the attendees: What country is pizza from? What ingredients are listed on the recipe? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ruby Herrera, 40, brought her children to help them learn to cook something healthy and try different foods. Her older kids cook everything in the air fryer. Yareni Orduna-Herrera, 7, ran over to her mom, smiling, her task of slicing tomatoes complete. She said she'll try the recipe home again and also wants to learn to make rice and beans. But first, she needed to taste the pizza. The one that I made, she said with pride. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Band students from Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls took to the streets of New York City and performed in this years Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade. A few of the band members share their experiences during the rainy, yet thrilling performance. It was an early Thanksgiving morning start for Lincoln High School seniors Lauryn Lidel and Annabelle Johnson. We woke up at 3 a.m. and we had a meeting at 3:55 a.m. with everyone just to make sure like everyone was here and we knew the schedule, Lidel said. Wrapped up in ponchos, all 215 band members made their way to the parade route. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Obviously it was a bit more wet and uncomfortable than it would usually be. Besides that, it was still a lot of fun. I think it for sure made it very memorable, Lidel said. Johnson says her favorite part was seeing the crowds reaction. Its amazing how many people you can make happy just from music, Johnson said. And theres people in the audience who like definitely never seen or heard a marching band before. They were clapping and dancing and singing along and they were excited to hear the drums and see the people playing. And it was just pretty inspiring seeing people be happy when they didnt even know any of us. When do businesses open on Black Friday? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lidel says this is the biggest performance shes been a part of. She is honored to represent Sioux Falls South Dakota in front of millions of people. Its very, very cool to be able to represent not only our school and our city but also our state in that way, Lidel said. Its crazy, I think at our biggest competition, it maxed out around 15,000 people. So to have a million in person and another 50 million watching from home. The two say the band is closer than ever being able to experience the parade together. Everybody is so happy and so proud of each other and like the support we all have for each other and the love we all have for each other is really strong right now, Johnson said. I think were all just overjoyed and honored to have been able to have this experience, Lidel said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The band played a mashup of Empire State of Mind and New York New York with its march song being America the Beautiful. If youd like to watch part of the performance click here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Shoppers lined up outside several stores at Charlotte Premium Outlets well before 6 a.m. Friday morning to be among the first to score a holiday deal. While online shopping and extended deals have led to a steep decline in Black Friday crowds, some said visiting stores in person is a tradition theyre not ready to give up. Its less people out at the mall and more people shopping online, which is kind of sad. Getting out, seeing people out, meeting people, its a great thing and theyll miss that, said Nigel Smith. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the National Retail Federation, Smith is among millions who keep the tradition. Their annual Thanksgiving weekend shopping survey reveals 183.4 million people plan to shop in-store or online in the days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday. Nearly 65% of respondents say they plan to make their purchases in person. Charlotte Premium Outlet shoppers are PUMPED for Black Friday @JasonHarperTV @SavannahRudicel pic.twitter.com/b8lj9XBGY8 Queen City News (@Queen_City_News) November 29, 2024 The prediction for 2024 is about a million people higher than 2023s record-setting year, and 18.1 million people higher than 2019. Of the people who said they want to shop in person, 57% said its to get a good deal, 28% said its their tradition, and 24% said they like to get holiday shopping done early. Representatives of the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union said its been several years since employees felt their safety was at risk from Black Friday crowds. However, they said now the risk is to their mental health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Union workers said people expect above and beyond customer service, regardless of how busy employees may be. Theyve been conditioned to expect to get anything they ask for, said Margaux Lantelme with REI Chicago. But overnight shipping and to serve an immediate satisfaction are not normal things. Theyve become normalized through the exploitation of low-wage workers, and its high time people start to consume more thoughtfully and with much more grace and patience. The NRF predicts through November and December, holiday-related purchases nationwide may total as much as $979.5 billion to $989 billion. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. The billionaire co-founder of LinkedIn has told friends he is considering moving out of the US following Donald Trumps election victory. Reid Hoffman is one of the Democrats biggest donors, funnelling hundreds of millions of dollars into the party in recent years. However, the 57-year-old tech entrepreneur is said to have told friends he is now considering moving overseas amid concerns the president-elect will seek retribution when he takes office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the presidential campaign, Mr Trump vowed to go after his political enemies and Democrat donors if re-elected. Sources close to Mr Hoffman told The New York Times he is worried about Mr Trump pursuing him after the tech billionaire helped fund some of the private litigation against the president-elect. I fear they were wrong Mr Hoffman helped pay for a lawsuit by E. Jean Carroll, a journalist who was awarded nearly $90 million in damages earlier this year after suing Mr Trump for sexual assault and defamation. Mr Trumps lawyers said at the time that Mr Hoffman had poured money into the case to advance a political agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking to the Rapid Response podcast earlier this month, Mr Hoffman said friends have optimistically predicted that the president-elect wont go through with plans to seek retribution against so-called enemies within. I feared and still fear they were wrong, he said. The Silicon Valley donor has an estimated net worth of $2.6 billion and has a long history of funnelling money into Democratic causes, including those designed to counteract Mr Trumps influence. He once offered to donate up to $5 million to veterans groups if Mr Trump released a copy of his tax returns. He is the latest high-profile Democrat to suggest he would leave the country as Mr Trump returns to power. Other mega-donors could move abroad According to The New York Times, several other mega-donors have spoken privately about moving abroad, underlining deep-seated fears on the Left about what surprises a second Trump term may hold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People are kind of shell-shocked and trying to figure out what happened, Steve Silberstein, a software entrepreneur who donates to Democrats, told the outlet. People are trying to adjust to reality and plot out a path forward. It comes after a string of celebrities were reported to be considering leaving the US in the wake of the Democrats election defeat. Ellen DeGeneres, the former talk show host, is said to have upped sticks from California to the Cotswolds in the south-west of England after becoming very disillusioned following Kamala Harriss loss. DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi, the Arrested Development star, decided to get the hell out, sources told TMZ, and the couple are said to be planning to sell their home in the exclusive neighbourhood of Montecito. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Hoffman was approached for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Lithuania declared three staff members of China's representative office in the country, a type of diplomatic mission, as personae non gratae, its foreign ministry said on Friday. The ministry cited violations of the Vienna Convention and Lithuanian legislation as the cause, though no further details were provided. The 1961 Vienna Convention outlines the rules of diplomatic law. The staff have been instructed to leave Lithuania within a week, the ministry said in a statement, exacerbating sour relations between the two countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China's representative office in Lithuania could not be immediately reached for comment. China has already downgraded ties with Lithuania and pressured multinationals to sever links with the Baltic nation of 2.9 million people after it allowed Taiwan to open a de facto embassy there in 2021. In March, the chief of Lithuania's counter-intelligence said Chinese interference in this year's elections could not be ruled out due to the EU and NATO member's support for Taiwan. In addition, a Chinese ship is suspected of being involved in damage to two undersea cables recently, one of which runs between Sweden and Lithuania. (Reporting by Stine Jacobsen; Editing by Rod Nickel) NAIROBI, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's earnings from horticulture exports recovered in the third quarter of 2024, rising 1.5 percent on higher shipments, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) said Friday. In a report released in Nairobi, Kenya's capital, the apex bank revealed that the export earnings were 41.3 billion Kenyan shillings (about 318 million U.S. dollars) in the third quarter, up from 313 million dollars in a similar quarter last year. During the period, the East African nation exported 220,942 tonnes of produce, up from 213,178 tonnes in a similar period in 2023, according to CBK. Kenya's major horticulture produce includes cut flowers, fruits and vegetables, with cut flowers making up the majority of the produce exported to Europe and Asia. The East African country is also seeking new markets for its horticulture produce, especially in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) region. Besides, the rise in earnings during the period is also attributed to a stable shilling, the local currency. Since March 2024, the Kenyan shilling has stabilized at about 129 against the U.S. dollar, allowing exporters to receive consistent revenue. Many are asking about the details surrounding Liz Hattons death, especially following her prolonged battle with a rare disease. Interest has grown as the young girls inspiring journey, marked by her photography achievements and a memorable meeting with Kate Middleton, has touched many. Lets explore the key facts and circumstances surrounding Liz Hattons unfortunate passing. What happened to Liz Hatton? Liz Hatton, a 17-year-old photographer from Harrogate, passed away early on November 27 morning after battling desmoplastic small round cell tumor, a rare and aggressive cancer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Diagnosed in January 2024, Hatton was given a prognosis of six months to three years to live. Despite this, she pursued a photography bucket list and captured significant moments with notable figures like Kate Middleton as well as the photographer, Rankin. The young girls determination and passion for photography left a lasting impression on many. In October, Hatton photographed an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle and met the Princess of Wales, who warmly embraced her. She also worked with major celebrities, including models from Storm Model Agency and comedian Michael McIntyre. Additionally, Hatton photographed significant events like the MTV Europe Music Awards and the Royal Ballet. The talented photographers portraits of circus performers showcased her unique ability to capture emotional moments through her lens. Following Liz Hattons death, both the Prince and Princess of Wales expressed their condolences. They described her as a brave and humble young woman whose creativity and strength had inspired them (via BBC). Hattons mother, Vicky Robayna, paid tribute to her daughters kindness, courage, and determination. She noted that the teenager remained committed to her work until the very end. Moreover, Harrogate Grammar School honored Liz Hatton as a remarkable young person, whose presence enriched their community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Liz Hattons legacy as a talented photographer and advocate for cancer research will continue to inspire efforts to improve treatments for rare cancers. Unfortunately, her death highlights the urgent need for more research into sarcoma, the rare cancer that took her life. Sarcoma UK pointed out the lack of standard treatments for desmoplastic small round cell tumors, which affect only a few people each year. The post Liz Hatton, Photographer Who Inspired Kate Middleton, Passes Away appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. MARCELLUS, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) Chocolate Pizza Company has become more than just a Central New York favorite. The locally owned company is now having to expand its operations as business continues to boom. For Chocolate Pizza Company, its their busiest time of year. November, December were shipping thousands of packages a day. Our store is packed with people in it just spreading chocolate cheer all around, said Ryan Novak, owner of Chocolate Pizza Company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Central New York staple already has about 2,100 shipments going out this Black Friday. Latest local news For Black Friday we have about 21 hundred shipments going out. So we will fill up four UPS trucks with chocolate pizzas. Shipping to all 50 states and I think theres about 17 countries in Fridays shipment., said Novak. Countries as far as India and New Zealand are now joining the bandwagon, putting chocolate pizza in high demand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Going into this summer we really decided that we needed to be able to double our production facility. We were producing a lot of chocolate and we were getting crammed back there. So we had the land and the space out here so we decided you know what lets double our production facility, said Novak. Novak said the company added another 3,000 square feet to the facility, where theyll be moving production and new equipment into the space to better handle the demand. About February, March of this year we started talking with our contractor and the Town of Marcellus to figure out if we would be able to put this expansion on. Its been in the works for a few years, but actually digging the ground started this year, said Novak. Unlike most companies, Novak says Chocolate Pizza took off during 2020. Since the pandemic, sales have continued to skyrocket. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve just been so fortunate that people just love a fun product. You know, chocolate pizza is a unique thing, not something you can find anywhere else. Its just us and being able to keep up with more and more people that find it, said Novak. Novak said construction for the company finished in September of 2023. The expansion has made production much easier for employees as they continue to keep chocolate lovers happy. Click here to learn more about Chocolate Pizza Company. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR. The Montgomery County Board of Developmental Disabilities Services CEO and superintendent announced her resignation during a meeting Wednesday following last months program cuts. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Dr. Pamela Combs last day will be Dec. 6, and the deputy CEO, Kamarr Gage, is serving as the interim CEO and superintendent while they search for a permanent replacement. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During her tenure, the Board earned two consecutive three-year accreditation awards from the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilitiesthe highest level of recognition possibleand undertook several groundbreaking initiatives to improve accessibility and inclusion in the community, including the rollout of universal changing tables throughout Montgomery County and statewide, the board said in a statement. In Oct., the board announced nearly $9 million in cuts to the MCBDD. Within two days, the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners worked with the Human Services Levy Council to send $5 million to the board. The one-time funding helped save programs and staff positions that were part of the cuts. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) Full Spectrum Community Outreach in Youngstown hosted its annual Thanksgiving dinner for people who not may have anywhere else to go. The organization is aimed at helping LGBTQ people, especially youth, in the Valley. Organizers passed out a full turkey dinner with all the sides and gave people a warm, safe and inclusive place to eat a meal. Things have been rough in the community lately. So, to be able to provide a safe space means a lot to us. Were all thankful to be a part of it, said Damien Divincenzo with Full Spectrum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Full Spectrum is preparing to help the community for the Christmas season as well and is getting ready to recognize World AIDS Day this weekend. Tino DiCenso contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) A Bay District Schools Paraprofessional is facing child abuse charges for an incident on a school bus earlier this month. Panama City Police arrested 57-year-old, Sylinda Goodman on Wednesday charging her with four counts, including child abuse and simple assault with the intentional threat to commit violence. Investigators say that on November 5th, the school bus cameras recorded Goodman hitting, punching, and pinching several children, through her job as a paraprofessional. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two dead in motorcycle crash, Fort Walton Beach Police investigating The video allegedly recorded her instructing one disabled student to hit another child who is non-verbally autistic. Goodmans being held in the Bay County Jail on a $10,000 bond. Police also charged the bus driver Althea Russell with child neglect for failing to intervene or report the alleged abuse. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. Donald Trumps plan to immediately carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history upon taking office is banking on a key ally: conservative sheriffs. There are some 6,000 federal immigration agents in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE), but the incoming administration is counting on sympathetic local law enforcement to be its eyes and ears in communities and jails across the country. While police chiefs are appointed, sheriffs are often elected and excercise broad powers, including running county jail systems. Many right-leaning sheriffs, whose own partisan politics align with new administrations, are eager to join forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im willing to support the president 100%, Chuck Jenkins, the Republican sheriff of Marylands Frederick County, recently toldThe Wall Street Journal. I want to do more, within the law. Were going to be in the business again, another sheriff, Richard Jones of Butler County, Ohio, told the paper. Trump is also likely to get support from the insurgent constitutional sheriff movement, a growing trend of local, often right-wing, sheriffs who believe they are the final word on whats legal and constitutional in their jurisdictions even if state or federal laws or Supreme Court decisions say otherwise. Such sheriffs have been key proponents of Trumps election denial claims and flouted Covid restrictions during the height of the pandemic. The president-elect himself has acknowledged his alliance with sheriffs, touting their support in a recent post on Truth Social. Sheriffs like Frederick County, Marylands Chuck Jenkins, left, will be key allies in the Trump administrations deportation plans (Getty Images) Through Trumps political rise, hes sought to tie himself to hardline local sheriffs who crack down on immigration, including Joe Arpaio, the notorious, now-former, sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2017, Trump pardoned Arpaio, who was accused in a civil rights lawsuit of racially profiling Latino constituents, stopping and detaining them on immigration suspicions them even if they hadnt broken any state laws. Arpaio was held in contempt of court for refusing a 2011 court order to cease such stops. Pro-Trump state governors have also taken up the mantle of immigration enforcement, even though its traditionally an area of federal power. Texas has declared it is literally under invasion by immigrants to justify sweeping new plans, and has spent billions on its Operation Lone Star, which has surged state troopers to the border and erected walls and barriers across the international boundary with Mexico. This election season, Arizona passed Proposition 314, a ballot initiative making illegal immigration a state crime in addition to a federal one, and empowering state police and courts to carry out deportations. Trump has long aligned with former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who was accused of racially profiling Latinos as he sought to crack down on immigration (Getty Images) Throughout both Republican and Democratic administrations, local sheriffs have cooperated with federal immigration officials through initiatives like the 287(g) program. Under 287(g) agreements, sheriffs screen inmates for their immigration status, share data with federal officials, serve warrants for ICE, and in some cases begin the deportation process themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics like the ACLU claim that such collaborations are a license to abuse and encourage law enforcement to profile people they suspect to be unlawful immigrants because of their skin color or language. A report from the group analyzed the more than 140 local law enforcement agencies in the program as of 2022 and found that at least 59 percent of the sheriffs in the program have a record of anti-immigrant, xenophobic rhetoric and 65 percent have shown a pattern of racial profiling and other civil rights violations, including excessive use of force. In 2021, a Latina woman in Frederick County, one such jurisdiction, won a lawsuit accusing deputies of stopping her on false claims of a broken tail light and interrogating her over her immigration status. Others argue local police collaboration with immigration authorities erodes public safety by making minority communities and immigrants, legal and otherwise, wary of interacting with law enforcement or other government offices for fears of being swept into the deportation system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The last thing we want is people who are part of our economy, part of our school system, part of our community and the fabric of our city to feel than all of a sudden they have to retreat into the shadows, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said earlier this month in an interview with WCVB. Since 2014, the city has had a law on the books limiting local police resources from going towards enforcing civil immigration violations, while leaving room for cooperation on immigration matters involving criminal accusations like human or drug trafficking. Boston is one of a number of sanctuary jurisdictions across the country limiting local resources and cooperation with federal immigration agents. The Trump administration has warned it will crack down on sanctuary cities and states, including reports it could pull federal grants for such jurisdictions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the mayor of Denver said local police might be used to stop federal forces from deporting migrants, Trump border czar Tom Homan said he would put the mayor in jail. The mayor later walked back the comments on police, but called on local citizens to help resist the mass deportation plan. Despite the political narrative that Democrats have ignored immigration in comparison to Donald Trump, the Obama administration actually deported more immigrants than Trump in nearly every year of its two terms, and in 2023, the Biden administration removed more people than any year during the first Trump term, according to a Reuters analysis. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WMBD) Hunters have harvested more deer throughout Illinois this year than the last two years. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources released that in the first week of Illinois firearm season, there were 54,661 deer harvested throughout the whole state. This is more than both 2023 and 2022 which yielded 53,348 and 52,354 respectively. Randolph County led with the most deer harvested with 1565, while Peoria County had 554, McLean County had 407 and Tazewell County had 371, the IDNR release said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement IDNR hosting mentored archery deer hunt Illinois seven-day firearm deer season concludes Dec. 5 through Dec. 8, the release said. The following are the remaining dates for deer hunting in Illinois according to the release: Muzzleloader-only deer season, Dec. 13-15. Late-winter antlerless-only and chronic wasting disease deer seasons in select counties only, Dec. 26-29 and Jan. 17-19. Archery deer season continues through Jan. 19. Please note that archery deer hunting is closed Dec. 5-8 in counties open for firearm deer season. For more information on deer hunting season, click here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com. A For Sale sign is seen on March 19 in Austin, Texas. Policymakers are watching for indications of what President-elect Donald Trump plans to do to ease housing costs next year after an election where voters were laser-focused on the economy. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Americans hand over a huge chunk of their paycheck for a roof over their heads. Policymakers are looking out for indications of what President-elect Donald Trump plans to do to ease housing costs next year after an election where voters were laser-focused on the economy. Housing accounted for 32.9% of consumers spending in 2023, making it the largest share of consumer expenditures, according to the most recently available data Bureau of Labor Statistics. And that was an increase of 4.7% from 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year, many Americans still struggle to find affordable housing, whether they choose to rent or buy a home. Theres a lot economists and housing advocates still dont know about what to expect from a second Trump term. Its unclear which campaign promises will find their way into administrative rules or legislation, even with a Republican trifecta the GOP will control the White House and both chambers of Congress. But policy experts, researchers and economic analysts are looking at Trumps record, his recent remarks on housing, and Project 2025 the conservative Heritage Foundations 900-page plan to overhaul the executive branch for a glimpse of what may lie ahead. Tariffs and the cost of building homes Trump has spoken frequently of his proposed 60% tariff on goods from China, which he has said would create more manufacturing jobs in the U.S. Tariffs could be as high as Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 20% on goods from other countries. But housing economists and other experts say that could be bad news for building more affordable housing. Selma Hepp, chief economist for CoreLogic, a financial services company, said tariffs are one of her main concerns about the effects of a second Trump term. One of the biggest concerns is not just lumber [costs], but the overall cost of materials, which have been going up, Hepp said. Construction material prices have risen 38.8% since February 2020, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of October Producer Price Index data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kurt Paulsen, professor of urban planning in the department of planning and landscape architecture at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, said building costs are already high from tariffs on Canadian lumber that Trump first imposed and that the Biden administration kept and increased. It used to be in construction that you would get a bid from a contractor or a subcontractor or supplier and it would be good for 60 days. Now, the bids are good for like five days because you dont know where prices are going to be, he said. Immigration policy and its effect on construction labor Trump tweeted on Nov. 18 that he is planning to use the declaration of a national emergency as part of his mass deportation plan. Besides disrupting lives, Trumps plan could have effects on what it costs to build housing, Hepp said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is the cost of labor as well, if we do indeed have all these deportations. Thats a big, big concern, she said. A large share of labor in the construction industry obviously comes from immigrants. That is a huge issue for new construction and particularly new construction as it relates to affordable housing. Foreign-born construction workers made up 3 million of the 11.9 million people who work in the construction industry in 2023, according to the latest American Community Survey data. Trumps not in my backyard rhetoric The former president hasnt always been clear on where he stands with zoning regulations and making way for more affordable housing in a wide variety of neighborhoods. In a July Bloomberg interview, Trump spoke critically of zoning regulations and said that they drive up housing costs. But Trump also has a record of tending toward a not in my backyard, or NIMBY, approach to housing that maintained some of these zoning regulations. The Trump administration moved to roll back an Obama-era regulation that tied HUD funding to assessing and reducing housing discrimination in neighborhoods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hell talk about reducing regulations on developers, but hell also use this NIMBYism talking about protecting suburbs from low-income housing and you really cant have it both ways, said Sarah Saadian, senior vice president of public policy and field organizing at the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Paulsen said Project 2025 embraces a pushback against anti-NIMBY approaches to expand multi-family housing. What I read in the Project 2025 documents is a clear statement that says every local community and neighborhood should be able to choose the housing it wants to accept or not. The challenge of that is that if every community in every neighborhood can veto housing, then we just dont get enough housing and prices go up and prices and rents go up, he said. A more punitive approach to homelessness Last year, homelessness rose to its highest level recorded since the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development began collecting this information in 2007. The ending of pandemic safety nets that gave some households better financial stability and a lack of affordable housing supply contributed to the number of unhoused people, the report explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has been outspoken on his view that homeless people should be off our streets. The president-elect has also proposed putting unhoused people with mental health issues into mental institutions. Theres a movement that I think is largely reflected in Project 2025 that says, actually, cities need more coercive policy tools to enforce public order and to require that someone whos camping take a shelter placement even if they dont want it, Paulsen said. Saadian said that given the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Grants Pass v. Johnson, which makes it easier to criminalize unhoused populations for sleeping outside, shes worried about a changing political environment where policies that prioritize stable housing over policing fall out of favor. I think all of that just shows a culture shift in the political dynamic here that were definitely worried about, she said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Louise Haigh has resigned as transport secretary in a blazing scandal. It has come to light that she was convicted of fraud over a missing work phone a decade ago a device she reported to police as stolen in a mugging only to be turned on in her presence later. Haighs former employer, Aviva, reportedly told police about several cases of mysterious disappearances of Haighs work devices. There have been allegations that she had reported her phone stolen to get a newer model, but Haighs associates denied this. The resignation letter deflects responsibility for her actions, does not mention the conviction, and states the reason for stepping down is to avoid distraction from delivering the work of this government. Prime Minister Keir Starmer responded by thanking Haigh for all she has done to deliver this Governments ambitious transport agenda and saying she has a huge contribution to make in future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the niceties, it is unlikely that Starmer will be missing his former minister. There was already speculation that Haigh would be among the first to be dumped after comments that Starmer had to slap down calling P&O Ferries a rogue operator. Haighs remarks almost derailed a 1 billion investment in a new Thames freeport by the companys owner at Labours investment summit last month. Haigh also declared the governments full support for the introduction of 20mph zones back in August hardly a way to endear the government to Welsh voters, where the measure is being partly reversed following a backlash. The former minister, however, will likely be remembered for two contributions to Britain. The first was to nominate Jeremy Corbyn for Labour leader in 2015. She intended to broaden the debate, but subsequently expressed regret for the decision and criticised Corbyns behaviour and style. The other is legislation, already passed through Parliament, that will nationalise the railway as existing franchises end. The Tories had already planned to increase state direction over the system while still allowing private train operators on a contract basis. The new governments approach goes one step further by putting a state operator in charge of the entire system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Haighs nationalisation plans stamp out opportunities for private sector-led innovation and incentives to deliver for passengers. They will also risk empowering trade union strikers, who will be given a stronger hand to shut down the system in pay negotiations. There is little reason to believe that the government, which is currently struggling with so many public services like the NHS, will be competent enough to improve the system. We should also not forget the disaster last time the system was nationalised. Between 1948 and 1995, journeys declined from one billion to 750 million. Then there was a significant lack of investment as other priorities like healthcare inevitably take priority in political decision making and the Beeching cuts. The franchising system resulted in increases in passenger numbers, which doubled to 1.75 billion by 2019. There have also been big investments in rolling stock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Haigh claimed that nationalisation will enhance service reliability. However, there is little evidence of any improvements on the lines already under state control. London North Eastern Railway, which took over the InterCity East Coast line from Virgin Trains in 2018, has hardly shown a striking record. The current system is far from perfect. But that is not entirely the blame of private operators. National Rail, the state-owned controller of the tracks and signals, is responsible for more delays than the train operating companies. The decline in passenger numbers since the pandemic has also reduced resources available for the system. But the biggest failure was to not encourage competition. We know that where open access operators can compete, like Lumo from London to Edinburgh, passengers are given more options at lower costs. Unfortunately, under Labours nationalisation plans, there is little incentive to enable this sort of competition with the state operator. The next major issue that needs addressing is the out-of-control cost of building transport infrastructure. Britian Remade has calculated that, on a per-mile basis, HS2 is the worlds most expensive railway, costing twice as much as similar projects elsewhere. Perhaps thats no surprise with environmental requirements like a bat shed costing 100 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Haigh is gone and unlikely to be missed. However, at this stage it may be too much to hope that a new Transport Secretary takes a radically different approach. Matthew Lesh is Country Manager at Freshwater Strategy and a Public Policy Fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Voters leave the Bricolage Academy gym after casting their ballots in New Orleans, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Matthew Perschall for Louisiana Illuminator) Louisiana voters will decide the fate of four state constitutional amendments in the Dec. 7 election. They involve judicial discipline, the state budget process and property tax debt. The final day of the early voting period is Saturday, after observing the Thanksgiving holiday Thursday and Friday. Polls will open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 7. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For a more detailed explanation of the constitutional amendments, read the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana (PAR) voter guide. The following summaries are partially based on PARs research. Amendment 1 Judicial discipline This amendment would give the governor and Louisiana Legislature some influence over the discipline of state judges. The Louisiana Supreme Court would also get the authority to reprimand judges without outside input. Allegations of judicial misconduct are currently handled by a nine-member judiciary commission. The commission reviews complaints and investigates alleged inappropriate behavior by judges and then makes discipline recommendations to the Louisiana Supreme Court when necessary. Justices cannot reprimand a judge unless it receives a recommendation from the commission. Amendment 1 would put appointees from the governor and legislators on the commission for the first time. The nine-member commission is currently made up of three judges the Louisiana Supreme Court chooses, three attorneys picked by state appellate judges; and three people who are not judges, attorneys or elected officials that state district court judges select. Under the amendment, five more appointments would be added to the commission two from the state House speaker, two from the Senate president and one from the governor. The commission would grow from nine to 14 members. There are no requirements for these appointments from legislative leaders and the governor. Unlike the others, none have to be attorneys or judges, and they could be elected officials if desired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the amendment, the Supreme Court would also be able to reprimand judges without a recommendation from the judicial commission for the first time. The justices would also be given more flexibility for applying discipline. Among the biggest proponents of the amendment is Laura Cannizzaro Rodrigue, a former prosecutor and daughter of former Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro. Rodrigue is also an ally of Gov. Jeff Landry and the founder of the conservative group Bayou Mama Bears, which challenged mask and vaccine mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rodrigue has asserted the constitutional amendment would allow the Supreme Court to punish judges she perceives to be too lenient on people accused of crimes. Critics of the measure, including former judiciary commission members, say the amendment would inject too much political pressure into the process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposal is similar to others Landry has pushed to give the governor more influence over state government. Amendment 2 Budget approval wait time This amendment would require the Louisiana Legislature to wait 48 hours when changes are made to state budget legislation to take final votes on those bills. Legislative rules already require a similar 48-hour waiting period, but it is easily and often waived with a majority vote in each chamber. This constitutional requirement could not be scuttled. The amendment would not only require a 48-hour waiting period but also that lawmakers receive a summary report that explains changes made to the bills at least 48 hours in advance. The proposal is a response to the end of the 2023 regular legislative session, in which a $52 billion rewritten state budget was rammed through the Legislature less than 30 minutes after it was released publicly. Most lawmakers said they didnt understand what the plan contained, and mistakes were made in its drafting that had to be corrected later. Amendment 3 Lawmakers extension to pass the state budget This amendment would allow legislators to extend a regular legislative session up to six days just to pass the state budget bills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposal is a companion piece to Amendment 2, which requires a 48-hour waiting period between budget changes and final votes on the plan. Currently, when the Legislature fails to pass an annual budget by the end of its regular session, state lawmakers or the governor have to call a special session to resolve the matter. At that point, legislators are required to have the budget bills rerun through the entire legislative process, including public hearings and committee votes. This amendment would allow the legislators to avoid an extra special session and a repeat of the preliminary steps of the budget process if they werent able to wrap up negotiations by the final deadline. Instead, they would get a few extra days to vote on the final budget plan. Amendment 4 New process for local property tax debt This amendment would change the process local governments use to seize property when an owners property tax debt is overdue. Currently, people who have not paid taxes on their property risk having it auctioned in a sheriffs sale. However, property owners have up to three years to reclaim their parcel if they are able to pay their delinquent taxes, interest and associated penalties. This process is unusual and possibly illegal following a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that outlawed a similar procedure in Minnesota. The applicable state law hasnt been challenged in court yet, but the Louisiana Law Institute, a nonpartisan think tank, believes it is vulnerable to being declared unconstitutional, according to PAR. Companion legislation that has already been approved would establish a longer process for seizing and selling property if the amendment is approved. The delinquent taxpayer would have more time to prevent the property from being taken from them. This proposal would also remove much of the process for dealing with property debt from the state constitution altogether, so legislators could make adjustments more easily in the future. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE BUDAPEST, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has nominated Finance Minister Mihaly Varga as the next governor of the National Bank of Hungary (MNB). The announcement was made during Orban's regular Friday morning interview on public radio Kossuth. The proposal has been submitted to parliament for approval. "We will be working within a new economic governance framework starting Jan. 1," Orban said, adding that he would elaborate on the framework in December. Varga confirmed his acceptance of the nomination in a Facebook post, calling it an honor. "I will continue to serve the stability and prosperity of Hungary with my future work," he wrote. Varga has held several senior positions, including finance minister since 2018 and economy minister prior to that. The nomination comes as Gyorgy Matolcsy's tenure as MNB governor, which began in 2013, approaches its end. California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis could be pulled into a harassment and retaliation lawsuit brought by a Fresno State employee if a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge denies a motion for a protective order that would prevent her from being deposed in the case. The plaintiff in the lawsuit, Terrance Wilson, was a primary source in a February 2022 USA Today report that detailed the universitys mishandling of years of sexual harassment, bullying and retaliation allegations against Frank Lamas, the former Fresno State vice president of student affairs. Shortly after that story was published, Wilson, who worked in accounting services had his campus key card disabled and his access to the building cut off, a violation of the universitys collective bargaining agreement and retaliation for his involvement in the USA Today expose, he claims. Wilsons lawyers say the lockout amounted to a continuation of years of harassment and bullying on campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilson in December 2022 filed a civil lawsuit alleging blatant harassment and retaliation in violation of Californias Fair Employment and Housing Act. The lawsuit says that Lamas created a hostile work environment based on Wilsons gender and sexuality and because Wilson objected to Lamas refusal to abide by proper accounting practices. When Wilson complained, Lamas, according to the lawsuit, became noticeably hostile, refused to allow Wilson to transfer to another position and gave him a negative performance review. The lawsuit also alleges that as other employees came forward and complained about harassment from Lamas, Castro thwarted any effective investigation into the alleged conduct, or any remedial measures to correct it. Fresno State, the CSU and its board of trustees, Castro and Lamas are named as defendants in the lawsuit. In several depositions, university administrators acknowledged that the lockout occurred, but denied responsibility and disputed who was responsible for ordering the lockout, in addition to providing contradictory testimony, according to exhibits in a motion that was filed by Wilsons attorneys, Stephen Hammers and Phillip Baker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawyers say that someone gave the order to lockout Wilson, and they believe that Kounalakis has personal knowledge that could shed light on the case. This includes her memory of a phone conversation with former CSU Chancellor Joseph I. Castro a few days after the USA Today news story was published but before Wilson had his access to the building where he worked cut off. We contend she has a personal relationship with a major party, that is Dr Castro, at a critical time in the fact pattern, Hammers told The Bee. The law provides that high-ranking government officials cannot be deposed. The exception to the rule is if they have personal involvement and knowledge with the facts at issue and we argue that she certainly does. Kounalakis, who has announced that she will run for governor in 2026, said in a sworn declaration attached to the motion for the protective order that she has no specific recollection of speaking to Castro about the USA Today article, and that she has never discussed Wilson with Castro or anyone else. However, Castro, in an Aug. 21 deposition, described in detail a conversation he had with Kounalakis days after the USA Today article was published. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is one of those motions where the facts literally speak for themselves, Hammers said. Youve got the highest ranking official at the nations largest university system speaking with the second highest ranking government official in California a few days after an article exposes multiple serious instances of abuse at the university on which they sit on the board. A few days after their conversation, one of the primary victims of the abuse is locked out of the university. The suggestion that those two (board of trustees) members did not discuss that article in their conversation is unbelievable. We want to talk to the lieutenant governor about that telephone call, especially since she didnt even mention it in her declaration in support of the motion, he said. A hearing on the motion for the protective order for Kounalakis is set for Dec. 4 in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Attorneys for the CSU and Kounalakis in a response to the plaintiffs motion that was posted to the court website on Wednesday contend Wilson was not discussed in the conversation between Castro and Kounalakis and that she was not involved in the access-to-building issue, according to the reply to the opposition motion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CSU attorneys also challenged the use of the term locked out and claim Wilson and his attorneys have not met the burden to establish any reason, much less a compelling reason, to depose Kounalakis, which is required for the taking of the deposition of an apex official such as the Lt. Governor. If allowed, the plaintiffs attorneys would like to set Kounalakis deposition for Dec. 18, according to court documents. Wilson and his attorneys also intend to depose Fresno State president Saul Jimenez-Sandoval and former Title IX deputy Erin Boele in December, according to court documents. They have already taken depositions in the case from Castro, Lamas, vice president of administration Deborah Adishian-Astone, associate vice president of human resources Marylou Mendoza-Miller and former dean of students Carolyn Coon. Fresno State president to be deposed There were inconsistencies in testimony by Fresno State officials on the lockout of Wilson and who ordered it, before Wilson and his attorneys deposed Castro in August. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Wilsons lawsuit was filed he was serving as vice president of finance for the employees union, and essentially on loan from the university. Fresno State continues to pay Wilson, and is reimbursed by the union. Mendoza-Miller said in her Aug. 15 deposition that Wilsons access to campus should have continued after he was elected to the union position and while on a leave from the university. Is it your testimony that (access) should have continued, Mendoza-Miller is asked. Yes, she said. Mendoza-Miller said that Adishian-Astone, along with Ben Hilton and John Fugatt, administrators who work in departments that Adishian-Astone oversees, made the decision to lock Wilson off campus. Mendoza-Miller also said she was not included in the process where Wilson lost his access. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adishian-Astone said in her July 22 deposition that the decision was made in the department where Wilson worked. Wilson, however, had been appointed to the union position in December 2020 and was elected to a three-year term in June 2021. He was on leave from the university for more than a year, but his access to campus apparently was not addressed until he had been quoted in the USA Today story. Two other Fresno State staffers quoted in the article had left the university by 2022. Adishian-Astone also testified that there was a lack of understanding about the protocols for access when employees are on full-time leave and that the lockout was a mistake the university was only to limit after-hours access, she said. Asked who made the mistake, Adishian-Astone said: I dont know, but it happened between the home department and the lock shop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About six weeks after her depositions, the university announced that Adishian-Astone would retire at the end of 2024. Conflicting testimony between administrators at Fresno State Astone, in a deposition, singles out Hilton and Fugatt. She was asked whether they took unilateral action to remove Wilsons access, and her response, as transcribed in the deposition, was: They did. That was - those were what cant happened with the communications you saw between Ben Hilton and John Fugatt, and then after the fact is when we started to look at well, wait a minute, where is this a policy, where is it a protocol, how do we handle union employees on leave, and then thats what subsequently got reinstated in April. Wilson had his access restored in April 2022, two months after it had been cut. But it took nearly two years before he again was listed in the universitys staff directory he had been removed, when his access to campus buildings was cut off. Attorneys for the CSU filed the motion for a protective order to prevent the deposition of Kounalakis on the grounds that it is irrelevant, burdensome, oppressive and harassing, and they cite a state civil procedure code that allows the court to issue the protective order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But attorneys for the plaintiff contend the CSU and Kounalakis left out crucial facts in their motion for a protective order, including the phone call with Castro. Newsom responds with emoji Castro, according to court documents, sent text messages the morning that the USA Today article was published apprising various high-ranking state officials that he was featured in the USA Today story and that it contained several falsehoods. He sent the same text to Gov. Gavin Newsom, Senate president pro temp Toni Atkins, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, and Kounalakis. All responded in some fashion, including a thumbs up emoji from Newsom, simply acknowledging receipt of the text, according to Castro. The governor, lieutenant governor, speaker, superintendent of public instruction and CSU chancellor are all ex-officio members of the CSU board of trustees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Kounalakis was the only board member that Castro spoke with on the telephone between the date the USA Today article was published and Wilson was locked out of the Joyal Administration building on campus, according to Castro in his deposition. Wilson and his attorneys, in countering the motion for a protective order for Kounalakis, said in court documents the lieutenant governor has a personal connection with the primary actor in this most important part of the story, and the court should hold CSU accountable for failing to provide all the facts in its motion and said there is no means of gathering the information at issue through any other reliable source. The notion that they didnt discuss the article is hard to believe, he said. A Canadian woman with stage 4 cancer says she ignored signs of the disease because she believed them to be eczema-related. Taylor Deanne Roy, 32, experienced extreme tiredness and itchy skin for years before medics made a devastating diagnosis of Hodgkins Lymphoma last month. I have been struggling for three years with itchy skin that was diagnosed as follicular eczema, Roy who hails from Edmonton, Alberta, told NeedToKnow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roy dismissed other symptoms that subsequently developed, falsely believing they pertained to her skin condition. She also admits that she failed to be pushy with dismissive doctors. Taylor Deanne Roy, 32, experienced extreme tiredness and itchy skin for years before medics made a devastating diagnosis of Hodgkins Lymphoma last month. Jam Press/@VitaminTaylor Roy is now undergoing treatment and experiences severe pain, nausea and exhaustion and some days struggles to get out of bed. Jam Press/@VitaminTaylor For two years I had become extremely tired and out of shape but I thought it was just part of being older, she admitted. [Then] I started getting random pains that I blamed on myself. Finally, in September, after discovering a large lump on her neck, she visited a doctor for an ultrasound. On October 2 of this year, less than two months after finding the lump, I received my diagnosis for Stage 4 Hodgkins Lymphoma that had spread to my lungs and the bones in my spine, Roy emotionally stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The moment I was told I had cancer it was as if the whole world around me stopped, the Canadian continued. I felt like nothing was real for a few minutes. Finally, in September, after discovering a large lump on her neck, she visited a doctor for an ultrasound. Jam Press/@VitaminTaylor Jam Press/@VitaminTaylor Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roy is now undergoing treatment and experiences severe pain, nausea and exhaustion and some days struggles to get out of bed. My body is a stranger, betraying me in ways I never thought possible, she declared. Simple tasks that I once did without a second thought, are now sometimes nearly impossible. The hardest part is the feeling of losing myself losing the independence I worked so hard to build. Roy hopes to beat the disease, saying she is in the fight of her life. Jam Press/@VitaminTaylor My body is a stranger, betraying me in ways I never thought possible, she declared. Simple tasks that I once did without a second thought, are now sometimes nearly impossible. Jam Press/@VitaminTaylor Roy hopes to beat the disease, saying she is in the fight of her life. And despite the daily difficulties of treatment, the inspiring Canadian is now using her TikTok account to share her story and raise awareness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a post about the symptoms she ignored, she said that she wished shed mentioned them to her doctor sooner. I think the most I can do with my circumstances is spread enough awareness to people to advocate for themselves and not give up when doctors dont listen, she stated. If I had been more pushy with doctors, I wouldnt be Stage 4 right now. MORGAN COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) The Decatur Police Department says a mail carrier in her personally owned vehicle was involved in a wreck with an 18-wheeler Friday morning. According to DPD, the call came in around 10:09 a.m. and said the wreck happened in the 2000 block of Kirby Bridge Road. DPD said the Decatur Police Traffic Divison and the Mud Tavern Fire Department responded to the scene. Authorities said the driver of the vehicle was airlifted to Huntsville Hospital and the driver of the 18-wheeler was uninjured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation is ongoing. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. By David Ljunggren OTTAWA (Reuters) -Five Canadian news media companies filed a legal action on Friday against ChatGPT owner OpenAI, accusing the artificial-intelligence company of regularly breaching copyright and online terms of use. The case is part of a wave of lawsuits against OpenAI and other tech companies by authors, visual artists, music publishers and other copyright owners over data used to train generative AI systems. Microsoft is OpenAI's major backer. In a statement, Torstar, Postmedia, The Globe and Mail, The Canadian Press, and CBC/Radio-Canada said OpenAI was scraping large swaths of content to develop its products without getting permission or compensating content owners. "Journalism is in the public interest. OpenAI using other companies' journalism for their own commercial gain is not. It's illegal," they said. A New York federal judge dismissed a lawsuit on Nov. 7 against OpenAI that claimed it misused articles from news outlets Raw Story and AlterNet. In an 84-page statement of claim filed in Ontario's superior court of justice, the five Canadian companies demanded damages from OpenAI and a permanent injunction preventing it from using their material without consent. "Rather than seek to obtain the information legally, OpenAI has elected to brazenly misappropriate the News Media Companies valuable intellectual property and convert it for its own uses, including commercial uses, without consent or consideration," they said in the filing. "The News Media Companies have never received from OpenAI any form of consideration, including payment, in exchange for OpenAI's use of their Works." In response, OpenAI said its models were trained on publicly available data, grounded in fair use and related international copyright principles that were fair for creators. "We collaborate closely with news publishers, including in the display, attribution and links to their content in ChatGPT search, and offer them easy ways to opt out should they so desire," a spokesperson said via email. The Canadian news companies' document did not mention Microsoft. This month, billionaire Elon Musk expanded a lawsuit against OpenAI to include Microsoft, alleging the two companies illegally sought to monopolize the market for generative AI and sideline competitors. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Chris Reese and Rod Nickel) Italian trade unions staged a nationwide strike on Friday against Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's budget plans, with work stoppages primarily hitting the public sector. There were major disruptions in many Italian cities. Government agencies and state-owned businesses were hit hardest by the strike, but some private companies were also affected. There were strikes in schools, hospitals, the post office and at highway toll booths, and local public transport services were disrupted for hours on Friday morning. Flights were also cancelled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Transport Minister Matteo Salvini prevailed over the trade unions with a decree that transport services must run normally during peak hours in the mornings and evenings. The degree limited the strike on public transport, but caused additional outrage among the trade unions. The General Confederation of Labour (CGIL) trade union accused the government of infringing on the fundamental democratic right ot strike. In addition, tens of thousands took to the streets in various cities for demonstrations. In the northern Italian city of Turin, clashes broke out between demonstrators and police on the fringes of the protests, as reported by the ANSA news agency. The police also used tear gas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The protest - officially declared a general strike - is directed against the Meloni government's draft budget. The General Confederation of Labour (CGIL) trade union has described the planned cuts and austerity measures as "completely inadequate to solve the country's problems." The coalition of three far-right and conservative parties cites reducing the national debt as its primary goal. According to forecasts, the national debt will rise to around 3 trillion ($3.17 trillion) this year, leaving the country with one of the highest debt ratios in the world. The trade unions are demanding higher wages and pensions as well as more money for health, education and the public sector as a whole. People take part in a protest against Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's budget plans, as part of a general strike involves all sectors, with the exclusion of rail transport. Marco Di Gianvito/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa People light flares as they attend a protest against Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's budget plans, with work stoppages primarily hitting the public sector. Schools, hospitals, post offices and motorway toll booths are all affected, as well as local public transport. Air traffic is expected to suffer disruption between 10 am and 2 pm (0900-1300 GMT). Antonio Balasco/LPS via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Italian trade unions went on strike on Friday against Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's budget plans, with work stoppages primarily hitting the public sector. Schools, hospitals, post offices and motorway toll booths are all affected, as well as local public transport. Air traffic is expected to suffer disruption between 10 am and 2 pm (0900-1300 GMT). The protest - officially declared a general strike - is directed against the Meloni government's draft budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The General Confederation of Labour (CGIL) trade union has described the planned cuts and austerity measures as "completely inadequate to solve the country's problems." The coalition of three far-right and conservative parties cites reducing the national debt as its primary goal. According to forecasts, the national debt will rise to around 3 trillion ($3.17 trillion) this year, leaving the country with one of the highest debt ratios in the world. The trade unions are demanding higher wages and pensions as well as more money for health, education and the public sector as a whole. In addition to the strike, demonstrations are planned in numerous cities. BEACH PARK, Ill. Felony charges have been filed against a man accused of slashing a family member with a box cutter in Beach Park on Thanksgiving night. Deputies from the Lake County Sheriffs Office said they were called to a home in the 10100 block of West California Avenue following a report that a man was threatening his family members with a knife. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies arrived on the scene and allegedly found 28-year-old Ricardo Carcamo-Ortega, a Waukegan resident, outside the home. After Carcamo-Ortega spotted authorities, he allegedly ran back into the home. Deputies then heard screaming coming from the basement and immediately ran inside. Once inside, they found Carcamo-Ortega sitting on a couch in the basement, holding a small child. Deputies said they were able to quickly rescue the child and apprehend Carcamo-Ortega. Man accused of slashing family member with box cutter during argument on Thanksgiving night After taking the suspect into custody, deputies determined that the incident began after he had allegedly become angry after his family tried to stop him from leaving the home and driving while intoxicated, deputies said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to deputies, during the argument with his family members, Carcamo-Ortega allegedly pulled out the box cutter from his pocket and slashed a family members arm. He also allegedly used the knife to damage a vehicles tires and chased other family members with it. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland Deputies said the family member who was slashed in the attack was not seriously injured. Carcamo-Ortega has since been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, two counts of domestic battery, and criminal damage to property. Carcamo-Ortega was being held at the Lake County Jail pending an initial court hearing on Friday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. ARCADIA, Fla. (WFLA) A man is facing kidnapping charges after stealing a vehicle with two young children inside earlier this week. On Wednesday, the Desoto County Sheriffs Office intercepted a stolen vehicle following a Be On the Lookout alert for two kidnapped 4-year-olds out of Henry County. Suspect jumps from Florida bridge while fleeing officials Deputies spotted Jerome Ralph Garvin in the stolen car driving down Highway 17 in Arcadia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Garvin refused to pull over and led deputies on a pursuit, they said. While the car was still in motion, the suspect abandoned the vehicle with the kids still inside. With the help of the Arcadia Police Department, officials were able to track Garvin down and arrest him. In addition to his already lengthy criminal history of robbery, grand theft auto, and aggravated battery, Garvin faces new charges of kidnapping and child neglect, fleeing to elude law enforcement, resisting arrest, and grand theft of a motor vehicle. According to the sheriffs office, the two children were safely rescued. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. DENVER (KDVR) Law enforcement reported this week that a 32-year-old man arrested at the Port of Buffalo, Peace Bridge border crossing on Tuesday was wanted for felony warrants out of Arapahoe County. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers first met the man after he made a wrong turn in a 2016 Nissan Altima onto the Peace Bridge. During the primary inspection, officers found that the vehicle had been reported stolen to the Chicago Police Department. Montana man sentenced for shooting at 3 individuals sleeping outside in Loveland Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That led to officers escorting the occupants to a secondary inspection area for further questioning. During that questioning, officers identified the driver as Naxer Acevedo Ascalona, 32, of Venezuela, who was wanted on felony warrants for armed robbery and vehicle theft by the Arapahoe County Sheriffs Office. Border agents were also able to confirm the Nissan was a match to the vehicle reported stolen out of Chicago. Ascalona was arrested and turned over to the Buffalo Police Department. He is being held as a fugitive from justice and is awaiting extradition. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. DAKAR, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye said on Thursday that the presence of French military bases on Senegalese territory is "not compatible" with the sovereignty his administration upholds. "Senegal is an independent country, it is a sovereign country, and sovereignty is not compatible with the presence of military bases in a sovereign country," he said in an interview with the AFP news agency, addressing relations between Senegal and France, particularly regarding the French military presence and bases in the West African country. "The updating of our military doctrine is not only about military presence, it goes beyond that. It obviously requires that there be no more military bases of any kind in Senegal," he said. "Sixty-five years after our independence, the French authorities must also consider a partnership free of military presence, one that is instead rich, fruitful, privileged, and comprehensive, similar to the relationships we have with many other countries," Faye added. He said it is a "major step" that French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged, in a letter, the "massacre" committed by French colonial forces in the village of Thiaroye, near the capital Dakar, on Dec. 1, 1944, when they opened fire on Senegalese tirailleurs returning from France. Faye noted that the letter, confirmed by the Elysee Palace, was sent three days before commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the massacre, an event the new Senegalese administration intends to highlight. "A renewed partnership ... can only be renewed in the truth and in the completeness of the truth," Faye said, adding that "France remains an important partner for Senegal in terms of the level of investment, the presence of French companies and French citizens residing in Senegal." Senegal gained independence from France in 1960. While France has maintained several military bases in Dakar, it began reducing its presence in 2023 and is expected to retain only about 100 military personnel in Senegal, down from the current 350. COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS, Utah (ABC4) A man was arrested on Thursday night and now faces several charges including child endangerment after he reportedly violated a protective order. Vincent Leroy Swanson, 38, faces the following charges: Failure to stop vessel at the command of a law enforcement officer, a third-degree felony Violation of pre-trial protective order for a felony arrest/charge, a third-degree felony Endangerment of a child or vulnerable adult, a third-degree felony Reckless driving, a class B misdemeanor Driving on a denied license, a class C misdemeanor Operating vehicle without insurance, a class C misdemeanor Failure to register or expired vehicle registration Failure to obey traffic control devices Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emery Co. Sheriffs Office rescues woman who broke leg in canyon while hiking According to an affidavit of probable cause from Cottonwood Heights Police, they observed a black Cadillac driving through the parking lot near a Home Depot at a high rate of speed. Police say the man, later identified as Swanson, parked the vehicle and got out. A female and a child also got out. Police say they ran the plate and found that the vehicle had no registration and no insurance. The suspect had involvements in early November for protection order violations. Police verified that the protective order was still in place. Once everyone returned and the vehicle started to move again, police tried to stop the vehicle but a chase ensued. The chase near the shopping center had to be terminated due to public safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other officers tried to pursue the vehicle but lost sight of the vehicle in a neighborhood. Police also went to an address in Murray, to see if he would show up there. Police spotted the vehicle traveling by another shopping complex in Murray with its headlights off and driving through red lights. More police showed up at the other address in Murray, which was in a residential area, and spotted the black Cadillac, unoccupied. Police also found the victim at this location and police spoke with the victim. During this time, police got word of a man running through yards. Police say Swanson returned to the area and briefly barricaded himself in a garage before being arrested. Swanson was booked on the charges listed above. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Matthew Drachman contributed to reporting. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. NORTH HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) A West Haven man was arrested after driving 126 mph on Interstate 91 in North Haven, according to state police. Oliver Thomas, 24, was charged with reckless driving, disobeying the signal of an officer, passing on the right, interfering with an officer/resisting, failure to maintain lane, improper turn, and reckless endangerment in the first degree. CSP: 509 traffic stops made on Thanksgiving weekend Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State police said at around 10:11 a.m. on Wednesday, Troop H observed a white Toyota Camry with New York license plates speeding at a clocked rate of 94 mph. The trooper attempted a traffic stop with emergency lights near Exit 12, but the driver did not comply and instead, accelerated using all traffic lanes, according to state police. The vehicle drove into the shoulder and gore area of the highway almost hitting other cars as he tried to elude troopers, state police said. At that time, troopers observed the speed at 126 mph. State police said troopers stopped trying to pursue the car and the driver continued to speed northbound on I-91. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After police investigated and obtained registration information, troopers responded to a home in West Haven where they spoke to the drivers family. The family confirmed Thomas was the driver and contacted him. Thomas admitted to driving the car during the attempted traffic stop and turned himself in at around 12:48 p.m., state police said. Thomas was released on a $10,000 cash/surety bond and is scheduled for arraignment at Meriden Superior Court on Dec. 20. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) A Buffalo man has been charged with attempted murder in connection to a shooting on Davidson Avenue earlier this month, Buffalo police said Friday. James Thomas, 24, is accused of shooting a 44-year-old man in the head on the 100 block of Davidson just after midnight on Nov. 9. The victim was taken to ECMC to be treated for his injuries. Thomas was arrested on Wednesday on Bickford Avenue. He is charged with second-degree attempted murder. Latest Local News Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. A 29-year-old man died after being shot at an apartment in Pittsburg, Kansas, on Wednesday. The shooting victim was identified as Fedor Lee Warren Lomax, of Pittsburg. A 25-year-old man was arrested in connection with the shooting, the Pittsburg Police Department said on Thursday in a social media post. Police responded at 10:54 p.m. Wednesday to a report of a shooting at an apartment complex at 1116 South Elm Street. Officers found Lomax who had been shot inside the apartment. He was taken to a hospital where he died from his injuries, the Pittsburgh Police Department said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives determined the identity of a suspect and went in search of him at a residence in the 300 block of East Park Street. They knocked, but no one answered. A search warrant was obtained, and police entered the residence. Officers found the suspect in the attic of the home and took him into custody. The suspect was booked into jail on suspicion of second-degree murder, felony interference with law enforcement and felon in possession of a firearm. He was also wanted on a Crawford County arrest warrant for failing to appear on a previous drug charge, according to police. Anyone with information on the shooting is encouraged to contact the Pittsburg Police Department at 620-231-1700 or the departments automated tip line at 620-231-8477. Pittsburg is a city of 20,504 and is roughly 157 miles southeast of Wichita. A man was found shot and killed inside his car in Braddock early Friday morning. Pennsylvania state troopers were called to Library Street around 1:49 a.m. after reports of gunshots in the area. When troopers arrived on scene, they found Henry Freeman shot multiple times inside his car. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Right now, theres no information on any suspects. Pennsylvania State Police are currently conducting interviews, collecting evidence and checking surveillance in the area. Anyone with information is asked to call PSP Pittsburgh at 412-787-2000. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) A man was seriously hurt in a Friday morning stabbing in Grand Rapids. Around 1:40 a.m., officers with the Grand Rapids Police Department were sent to the area of Rose Street SW and South Division Avenue for a stabbing. GRPD said that a man was taken to the hospital with a serious stab wound to the stomach. A suspect has been taken into custody, GRPD said. Its unclear what led up to the stabbing. The stabbing remains under investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Early Thanksgiving morning, a heavily armed man began firing multiple rounds from a Volusia County Airbnb condo, ultimately shooting an estimated 200 rounds at neighboring units, negotiators, and Volusia County Sheriff's Office vehicles. After a nearly six-hour standoff, Joseph DiFusco, 56, from Connecticut, was killed by a SWAT team. "There was no negotiating with this guy," Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said. "Every time we tried to negotiate with him he would fire on us." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one else was injured, the VCSO said. Here's what to know. What happened in the Ormond-by-the-Sea shooting? DiFusco and his family had been in Ormond-by-the-Sea for a few days. Deputies had been called to his condo several times for a well-being check and an attempt to serve a court order from other members of his family who came here with him. The VCSO got a call around 4:20 a.m. Thursday that DiFusco was having suicidal thoughts. He appeared to be in physical distress but refused to go to the hospital. At 6 a.m., the VCSO got multiple calls that DiFusco was shooting at residents and other condo units. He barricaded himself in his home when deputies arrived. A few hours later, after deputies evacuated the area and set up a perimeter, he started shooting at them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the next six hours DiFuysco fired more than 200 rounds at deputies, negotiators, the speakers on their truck and a SWAT vehicle, Chitwood said, using a shotgun, a handgun, and a Tommy gun (a type of submachine gun). Some of the apartments are littered, the facade is just shot up, there are rounds in peoples homes," he said. "Shell cases were all over the place from the initial confrontation with his neighbors. How nobody got killed in that initial confrontation, I can't answer that," the sheriff said. By 11:48, when deputies fired tear gas into the condo DiFusco retreated to a back bedroom. Eventually our SWAT team was able to get eyes on him and we were able to end the standoff," Chitwood said. Where did the Ormond-by-the-Sea shooting happen? The shooting occurred at Kingston Shores Condominiums at 5500 Ocean Shore Blvd. in Ormond-by-the-Sea, an unincorporated town along A1A in Volusia County north of Daytona Beach and just over an hour south of Jacksonville. Who is Joseph DiFusco? Joseph DiFusco was a veteran and a convicted felon in Connecticut for firearms offenses, Chitwood said. He was being treated by a veterans' hospital in Connecticut and information indicates he had stopped taking his medication. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chitwood said it was believed DiFusco was discharged from the military in the 1990s, possibly for mental issues. His family was afraid of him and tried to get a court order, he said. "They were so scared of him, they were sleeping in their car," the sheriff said. "Last night they were so scared of him they relocated north to Palm Coast." DiFusco and his family had been in Ormond-by-the-Sea for four days, Chitwood said. During that time deputies responded to the condo several times, including for a well-being check, an attempt to serve a court order, and a medical call after DiFusco was found in physical distress. Was anyone killed or injured in the Ormond-by-the-Sea shooting? Despite the amount of shots fired, no one else was killed. The VCSO reported that no one aside from DiFusco was injured. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida gunman killed by SWAT after firing 200 rounds. What we know HONOLULU (KHON2) A man, who has helped many, works two jobs and has been his mothers caregiver. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news He does much for his community such as feeding the homeless, coordinates toy drives, volunteers where and when needed and plans events for the public housing areas in his neighborhood. He often uses his own money to accomplish some of this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this year, his mother suffered a stroke. Then, the money that was supposed to be used to pay her medical bills was stolen by a family member and never fully recovered. His mother is now in a government-assisted care home. He visits her regularly and takes her out, all while still giving back to his community. He is now struggling financially and could use some help. Gas and store gift cards would be greatly appreciated too. In the spirit of laulima, our many hands working together, lets help this man who does so much for his mom and for others this holiday season. Check out more news from around Hawaii Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you would like to help, visit the Laulima Giving Programs website HERE. Select Adopt A Family and fill out the submission form with the family code H240054-1. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. BEIJING, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for greater efforts to adapt Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the requirement in an instruction on the project of studying and developing Marxist theory in the new era. A work meeting on the project of studying and developing Marxist theory was held in Beijing on Friday. Police are investigating after a man was stabbed to death during an argument in Tampa early Friday morning. Shortly before 4 a.m., officers were called to a home on the 8700 block of Mandarine Place for a report of a physical altercation, the Tampa Police Department said in a news release. When officers arrived, they found a man with stab wounds and he was taken to the hospital, where he died of his injuries. Preliminary investigation found there was a dispute inside the home among two adults who knew each other, the news release states. Police said the other person involved is cooperating with the investigation. Police did not release the identities of the people involved. No further information was immediately available. The Cincinnati Police Department is asking for help identifying a person in connection with a stabbing that occurred Friday. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] According to police, the incident took place just before 10:30 a.m. in the 300 block of Baum Street in Mt. Adams. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When officers arrived at the scene, they found a man suffering from what police described as critical injuries. No arrests have been made. The stabbing is being investigated as a felonious assault. Police are asking anyone with information about the attack or who recognizes the person in the photo to call 911 or contact Crime Stoppers at (513) 352-3040. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A man who was allegedly swinging a sword near children on Thanksgiving was shot by Pasco County deputies after he exited his home with a shotgun, according to Sheriff Chris Nocco. The incident happened in the area of Boland Avenue in Shady Hills. Sniper kills Florida man who fired 200 rounds at neighboring condos The man, whose name has not yet been released, was reportedly in the street earlier Thursday swinging a sword around children and causing fear in the neighborhood, deputies said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neighbors told the sheriffs office that the man was sending them messages that were making them afraid. At about 7:30 p.m., deputies showed up at the home and found the sword in the backyard. When attempting to get the man to leave the home, he came out of the house with a shotgun, Nocco said. The man ignored the deputies command to drop the weapon and they shot him, according to the sheriff. The man was taken to a hospital and is expected to survive. Father murdered 5-year-old son then killed himself, Hillsborough deputies say The man had a blood alcohol content of .307, nearly four times the legal limit, Nocco said. Testing will reveal if he had any other substances in his system at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everybody just wants to have a peaceful day, Nocco said. Its crazy, crazy, crazy, Lisa Ashcroft said. How could someone do that? 8 On Your Side asked Shannon Faunce who lives in the Shady Hills area, if she found the incident shocking. No, she said. Honestly no. Around here, its just something else that happened, Faunce said. The sheriff said that hes thankful everyone is OK. This is a developing story. Stay up to date on the latest from News Channel 8 on-air and on the go with the free WFLA News Channel 8 mobile app. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. GREENVILLE, N.C. (WAVY) A manatee was rescued near Greenville, North Carolina, on Nov. 18 after cold temperatures put the animal at risk. Courtesy: SeaWorld Orlando Almost 10 organizations and institutions partnered to help with the rescue, according to SeaWorld Orlando, who was among the groups. The teams successfully rescued a distressed female manatee weighing 855 pounds and measuring almost 9 feet. The manatee, first reported in late October 2024 to the North Carolina stranding network, had been observed in distress, including listing in shallow waters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With water temperatures in the low 60s Fahrenheit, the manatees condition required immediate intervention. The manatee was transported to SeaWorld Orlando for rehabilitation with veterinary support during the transport. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. In a groundbreaking demonstration, the US Air Force has successfully conducted tests with its experimental unmanned aircraft, the XQ-58A Valkyrie, in conjunction with F-35 fighter jets. This historic flight, which featured two F-35As working alongside the Valkyrie, marks a significant advancement in the militarys vision of manned-unmanned teaming. Lockheed Martin, the developer behind the F-35 program, praised the collaboration, emphasizing that integrating the F-35A with the autonomous Valkyrie enhances their combat capabilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This pairing creates a team that is smarter and faster, the company noted, showcasing a pivotal evolution in aerial warfare. High-tech flight test The combination of the F-35A Lightning II and the Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie represents a significant shift in the US Air Force's combat strategy, moving towards a more distributed and networked approach. The F-35A, renowned for its short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) capabilities, is a key asset in the Air Forces expeditionary operations. It delivers unparalleled situational awareness and advanced strike potential. Integrating the Valkyrie as a loyal wingman expands the F-35A's operational potential, functioning as a force multiplier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Valkyrie is designed to undertake high-risk missions such as electronic warfare and surveillance, which traditionally threaten pilot safety. This semi-autonomous aircraft can be operated autonomously or controlled directly by an F-35A pilot, enhancing mission flexibility and operational range. This innovative partnership is exceptionally relevant for the Air Forces distributed operations strategy, particularly in contested environments where smaller, mobile units need reliable air support. The Valkyrie's low cost enhances the Air Force's ability to execute more daring missions without endangering human pilots, allowing for an increased willingness to take operational risks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the most significant advantages of this teaming is improved survivability and lethality in combat scenarios. The F-35A, equipped with cutting-edge sensors and stealth technology, can function as a command center, effectively designating targets and orchestrating attacks involving multiple Valkyries. This strategy reduces detection risks while overwhelming enemy defenses through sheer numbers and diverse attack vectors. F-35 and XQ-58A Moreover, by delegating certain tasks to the Valkyrie, F-35A pilots can concentrate on strategic decision-making, thereby optimizing mission effectiveness and execution. In a related development, the US Marine Corps has also tested the capabilities of the XQ-58A alongside F-35s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During these tests, the Valkyrie operated as a forward-deployed sensing unit, providing vital threat-targeting data to the Marine's fifth-generation aircraft. This integration facilitated the rapid closure of advanced kill chains, demonstrating the Valkyries operational value. Utilizing a common tactical data link, the Valkyrie enhanced situational awareness by sharing critical information with ground and airborne assets within the joint network. Col. Derek Brannon, Branch Head for the Cunningham Group at the Deputy Commandant for Aviation, stated, This test marked another milestone for the Marine Corps' unmanned tactical aircraft program. The success of the flight during Emerald Flag further advanced the manned-unmanned teaming concept for the entire Joint Force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the military continues to explore the approach between manned and unmanned systems, the successful integration of the XQ-58A Valkyrie with the F-35A highlights a transformative approach to modern warfare. With enhanced capabilities, these next-generation aircraft are poised to redefine tactical operations and ensure the US military maintains its strategic edge in future years. EDITORS NOTE: This article was written by the father of Itay Chen, 19, an Israel Defense Forces soldier who was among those reported by the IDF killed on Oct. 7, 2023 in Israel although Hamas has not provided any physical evidence to confirm. His parents hold hope that their son is still alive. On Oct. 7, 2023, my son, Itay, was taken hostage by Hamas during the terrorist groups brutal attack on Israel. He is one of the seven U.S. citizens, among 101 hostages, who have been held in the dungeons of Gaza for over 400 days. For my family, every day is a waking nightmare. We live in a constant state of agony, constantly asking ourselves what else we can do to bring Itay home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Nov. 5, we found a new glimmer of hope in anticipation of the incoming Trump administration, praying they take a new approach and secure the hostages release. As Florida Sen. Marco Rubio steps into the role of secretary of state, I send this one plea: Seize this unique window ahead of President-elect Trumps inauguration to leverage Hamas foreboding regarding the new administration, in order to finally broker a hostage deal. Itay was just 19 when he was kidnapped. An Israeli-American citizen, he grew up regularly visiting our family in New York City. Yet, he became a diehard Celtics fan. He is kind, courageous, and selfless qualities he demonstrated on Oct. 7 when he saved countless lives during the Hamas attack. I have met Secretary of State Antony Blinken. I am grateful for the Biden administrations support but unfortunately, they have failed us: Negotiations have stalled as Hamas and its supporters no longer fear a lame-duck administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rubio has a unique opportunity to bring a new kind of leadership. He and Trump need to apply pressure even before they enter office. They need to make it clear that if the hostages are not released before Jan. 20, the consequences for Hamas and the countries supporting them will be severe. This message needs to be understood by direct supporters of Hamas, like Iran, as well as countries that enable the terror group to survive financially. The U.S. should begin holding regional enablers accountable. Turkeys tacit support for Hamas cannot go unchallenged while they claim to be a friend of the West. As a NATO member, Turkey must decide where it stands: with its allies or with terror. Egypt receives enormous financial aid from the U.S. yet looked the other way while Hamas built its war machine which attacked Israel on Oct. 7; Egypt should be held responsible for meeting security requirements and preventing arms smuggling into Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finally, the U.S. must prioritize the hostages in all its diplomatic efforts. Presidents often enjoy the peak of their power at the onset of their administration. Hamas is wary of the new president, as are other regional players. They all, including the Israeli government, wish to start relations with the new administration on the right foot. As such, this is indeed the opportunity to save the 101 hostages. I ask that the U.S. turn up the pressure, using every diplomatic, economic, military and intelligence tool at its disposal. For decades, the U. S. has valued the lives of its citizens while protecting freedom worldwide. Allowing seven American hostages to languish in Hamas tunnels under horrendous conditions undermines that legacy it cannot be one that the new administration inherits. This past year, we have spent birthdays, anniversaries and holidays without Itay, thinking of him every moment. His empty seat at this years Thanksgiving table will be painful to bear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet we continue to hope. We hope because we believe in the strength and resolve of President Trump and his new leadership team. Let us not wait another day. Get them home now. Ruby Chen is the New York-born father of Itay Chen. He and his wife, Hagit, live in Israel with their two other children. MARION COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) Marion County deputies are investigating after a shooting on Thanksgiving morning, the sheriffs office said on Facebook. It happened in the area of Bluff Road near Highway 917 in the Mullins area, according to the sheriffs office. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division was called to assist. No additional information was immediately available. Count on News13 for updates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * * * Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. MARRAKECH, Morocco (AP) One of the Middle East and North Africa's largest film festivals opened Friday in Morocco, drawing actors and directors from throughout the world to present 70 features from 32 countries. The Marrakech International Film Festival, now in its 21st year, will showcase Oscar contenders and screen films for members of the public. But unlike larger festivals in Venice, Cannes or Toronto, it places unique emphasis on emerging directors and films from the Middle East and Africa. The roster of actors and directors who will participate in this years conversations and tributes includes Sean Penn, Alfonso Cuaron and David Cronenberg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Remi Bonhomme, the festival's artistic director, said what makes the festival unique is its ability to draw talent on par with the world's largest festivals while also spotlighting up-and-coming directors from Morocco, the Middle East and Africa. We pay a lot of attention to countries that are underrepresented in cinema, he said. We support filmmakers who have their own voice, who develop a story that is in a specific context, whether it is Iran, Morocco or the U.S." But they dont have to be the voice of their country. They have the need to have the freedom to express their own personal vision, he added. Among the themes that Bonhomme is excited about in this year's films is family. Filmmakers, including The Seed of the Sacred Fig director Mohammad Rasoulof, are exploring social and political impact through the scale of a family, Bonhomme said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The festival opens Friday with The Order a thriller starring Jude Law that chronicles an FBI manhunt for the leader of a white supremacist group. The jury competition contains 14 first or second films. The nine-person jury includes actors Jacob Elordi and Andrew Garfield as well as Ali Abbasi, the Iranian-Danish director of The Apprentice. Luca Guadagnino, the Italian-Algerian director of Queer will preside over the jury. The films in competition include Said Hamich's Across the Sea about a young Moroccan man's immigration to Marseille and Damian Kocur's Under the Volcano, Poland's Oscar entry for Best International Feature. The festival founded by Morocco's King Mohammed VI and is presided over by his brother Prince Moulay Rachid plays a major role in showcasing and promoting Moroccan films and directors. It has rarely shied away from diverse subject matter and this year will screen Moroccan films about immigration, homosexuality, bar performers and Moroccan communist Jews. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) The U.S. Attorneys Office for D.C. said two men, including a man from Maryland, were sentenced after dumping red powder on a display case that contained the U.S. Constitution at the National Archives on Feb.14. According to court documents, the two men are part of Declare Emergency, a group of activists who claim to raise awareness about climate change by committing criminal offenses in D.C. Donald Zepeda, 35, of Maryland pleaded guilty on Aug. 15 to felony destruction of property. He was sentenced to two years in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to his prison sentence, Zepeda will also have to serve two years of supervised release, pay restitution for $58,600 and complete community service, which includes cleaning up graffiti. He was also ordered to stay out of D.C. and nationwide museums. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 2 people dump red powder on Constitution encasement at National Archives, officials say Jackson Green, 27, of Utah pleaded guilty on Aug. 13 to felony destruction of property as well as one count of injury to a National Gallery of Art exhibit. Green defaced a memorial to Black Civil War soldiers on Nov. 13, 2023. He will have to serve a year and five months in prison as well as two years of supervised release, pay restitution for $58,600 and complete community service, which includes cleaning up graffiti. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Green was also ordered to stay out of D.C. and nationwide museums. The National Archives was closed after the incident from Feb. 14 to Feb. 17 to allow for repairs which cost $58,646.25. The incident also caused the Rotunda to close for four days, which prevented visitors from stopping by the display. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. PHNOM PENH, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has played a crucial role in promoting a shared vision of peaceful development, win-win cooperation and mutual prosperity, a Cambodian scholar said on Friday. The successful implementation of the BRI's flagship projects in Cambodia, such as the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, the Siem Reap Angkor International Airport and the Sihanoukville Special Economy Zone, is a testament to great contributions of the BRI to the kingdom's infrastructure development, economic growth and poverty alleviation, said Thong Mengdavid, a lecturer at the Institute for International Studies and Public Policy of the Royal University of Phnom Penh. The Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, the first of its kind in Cambodia, has significantly reduced travel time between the capital Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville from five hours to under two hours, promoting trade, logistic support and tourism, he said. "BRI projects are providing tremendous tangible benefits to Cambodian people," he told Xinhua. "They have improved infrastructure development and connectivity, created tens of thousands of jobs as well as facilitated the transfer of technical skills and managerial expertise to Cambodian professionals, fostering long-term self-reliance." Mengdavid said BRI-funded infrastructure projects, such as the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, align with Cambodia's goal of diversifying its economy by attracting industries and investments to special economic zones, boosting productivity and export capacity. Similarly, the airport, another significant BRI project, directly contributes to Cambodia's objectives of expanding its tourism and logistics sectors under the Cambodian government's Pentagonal Strategy, the expert said. Mengdavid said the BRI has also strengthened Cambodia's connectivity with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and global markets, supporting the Pentagonal Strategy's vision of making Cambodia a competitive player in regional value chains. "Through projects like railways, ports, and digital networks, the BRI fosters regional and global trade linkages, facilitating the free flow of goods, services, and capital," he said. The BRI, together with the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement, will help Cambodia achieve its ambitious goals of becoming an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income nation by 2050, he said. The expert also pointed out that the BRI has also supported human capital development by providing training, technology transfer, and skill-building opportunities. Looking ahead, Cambodia stands to gain from industrial diversification, establishment of special economic zones, and a more diversified economy, reducing reliance on traditional sectors like textiles, he said. Aligning frameworks and complementing capabilities prioritize inclusivity, mutual respect and practical cooperation, which have been pivotal in the BRI's wide acceptance and growth, he said. "Through its focus on strategic alignment and complementary strengths, the BRI promotes a shared vision of peaceful development, win-win cooperation and mutual prosperity," he said. WELLESLEY, Mass. (WWLP) A Wellesley contractor was nearly killed after hanging Christmas lights on a tree outside. Black Friday shopping begins: What should you buy? The man was using a pole to put up the lights when it touched an electrical line above a utility post sending an electric shock to him, according to the Wellesley Police Department. When police arrived, they found the 22-year-old man in cardiac arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers were able to use an AED and on the third attempt got his heart beating. The pole he was using was about 34 feet long and it came in either proximity or touched a primary line that was only a few feet from the tree and he got zapped from that, said Officer Tim Gover of the Wellesley Police Department. The 22-year-old also suffered burn injuries and is now recovering in the hospital. Police are urging residents to be cautious of live power lines when hanging Christmas lights. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. A local police department is warning residents about calls from scammers impersonating officers. Northborough Police on Friday received a number of reports from residents that they are receiving phone calls from someone pretending to be from the Northborough Police Department, the department said in a statement on social media. This person is identifying themselves as Sergeant/Officer Franklin from our department, demanding payment for missed court dates, unpaid citations, subpoenas, etc., police said. THIS CALL IS A SCAM. Our department will never call you requesting payment. This person/persons is spoofing our phone number, so the call appears on your caller ID as 508-393-1515, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Again, this is an attempt to scam payments from you just hang up and do not provide any information, police warned. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW The BBC is pushing on with MasterChef production despite the ream of Gregg Wallace allegations that emerged yesterday, as a conversation is kickstarted around open secrets in TV. Wallace, a fixture on BBC TV screens for decades, has stepped away from presenting MasterChef after producer Banijay UK, which owns MasterChef maker Shine, launched an external review into his behavior. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The BBC published an initial report of 13 people saying Wallace had made inappropriate sexual comments with former Newsnight host Kirsty Wark coming on the record to say he told sexualised jokes during filming on at least two occasions and since then more people have come forward. Last night, Rod Stewart took to Instagram accusing Wallace of humiliating his wife Penny Lancaster when she was on MasterChef. Others told the BBC Wallace down the years talked openly about his sex life, took his top off in front of a female worker and told a junior female colleague he wasnt wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans. In a letter to BBC News, Wallaces lawyers denied he engaged in behavior of a sexually harassing nature. His spokesperson declined to comment beyond the Banijay UK statement. In a video posted on Instagram on Thursday evening, Wallace said: I would like to thank all the people getting in touch, reaching out and showing their support. Open secrets Bectu head Philippa Childs said the allegations finally emerging after more than 20 years of Wallace being on screen speak to a culture whereby open secrets are allowed to fester. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The allegations levelled at Gregg Wallace are very serious, as is their scope and the significant time period they span, she said. Its clear that more needs to be done to ensure film and TV workers can have confidence that allegations will be taken seriously, investigated and dealt with swiftly, and perpetrators held to account. Deadline has spoken with a number of behind-the-camera workers in UK TV who concurred that Wallaces behavior had been an open secret for some time. CIISA, a broadcaster-backed anonymous bullying reporting service for the UK TV and film industries which has been in the offing for the past couple of years, could play the role Childs is referring to, but is yet to launch in full. And the probe comes with trust in BBC talent plummeting. The One Show presenter Jermaine Jenas was fired by the corporation for allegedly sending inappropriate messages to colleagues, while two Strictly Come Dancing professionals exited that show amid misconduct allegations. Also this year, BBC News anchor Huw Edwards pleaded guilty to accessing child abuse images. While Childs was keen to highlight the seriousness of the Wallace situation, she also stressed how important it is for MasterChef to continue rolling cameras given the paucity of work in what has been a tough year for the freelance community. It would be absolutely brutal if this decision were to result in freelance crew suffering the consequences of Wallaces alleged behaviour if filming is paused, she added. Banijay should commit to honouring freelancer contracts in full, particularly given that Christmas is just weeks away, and families will be depending on those payments. The BBC and Banijay concur. Both have confirmed that filming will continue into December, with six episodes now remaining of the 17th season of MasterChef: The Professionals, which concludes in two weeks. An episode featuring Wallace that had already been recorded transmitted as planned last night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At time of publication, all episodes from the MasterChef back catalog remain on BBC iPlayer and the MasterChef section of the player is bedecked with images of a smiling Wallace alongside fellow presenters. A Banijay UK spokeswoman said: Banijay UKs duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behavior are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set. Whilst these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met, are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately. A BBC spokesman said: We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them. We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated. Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them. It would be inappropriate for us to comment on anything that could form part of Banijays ongoing investigation or otherwise influence it. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau were fatally struck by a driver suspected of being under the influence on Aug. 29 in New Jersey Madeline Gaudreau/Instagram; Matthew Gaudreau/Instagram Matthew and Johnny Gaudreau via Madeline Gaudreau's Instagram; Madeline and Matthew Gaudreau Matthew and Johnny Gaudreau via Madeline Gaudreau's Instagram; Madeline and Matthew Gaudreau Matthew Gaudreau's widow Madeline paid tribute to her late husband and brother-in-law on the first Thanksgiving since their tragic deaths. Madeline posted a touching photo of Matthew and his brother Johnny who both died in a bike crash in August on the night before their sister's wedding in a post on Instagram Stories on Thursday, Nov. 28. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Happy Thanksgiving you two," Madeline who is currently pregnant with her and Matthew's first child Tripp wrote over a photo of Johnny and Matthew. The photo of the brothers shows just the back of their heads as they enjoyed Bud Lights with their arms around one another on a couch. Madeline Gaudreau/Instagram Madeline Gaudreau's Instagram photo Madeline Gaudreau's Instagram photo The brothers were laid to rest at a joint funeral on Sept. 9, where both of their widows gave emotional speeches honoring their late husbands. Both Johnnys wife Meredith and Matthews wife Madeline are pregnant, they confirmed at the funeral. The sentimental Thanksgiving post from Madeline reflects the close relationship between the two brothers that family and friends have greatly highlighted since their passing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau's Pregnant Widows Promise to Honor Each Other's Husbands 'Hand in Hand' at Funeral In a tribute post by Johnny's widow, Meredith, the mother-of-two who is expecting her third child with her late husband next year wrote, John and Matty. U dont hear one name without the other." Always side by side. Even in large group settings, u can find them hip to hip," Meredith continued, adding that Johnny looked up to his younger brother Matthew and relied on him for everything, describing the pair as best friends. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. And Matty was always there. Absolute best friends and biggest fans of each other despite polar opposite personalities, she continued. Everyone wanted to be around them, including me. I would sit back and watch John genuinely love his time with his brother. Jason Mowry/Getty Johnny Gaudreau number 13 of the Columbus Blue Jackets Johnny Gaudreau number 13 of the Columbus Blue Jackets Matthew, 29, and Johhny, 31, were tragically killed when a driver suspected of being under the influence of alcohol struck and killed them near Country Route 551 North just after 8 p.m on Aug. 29. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: Matthew Gaudreau's Pregnant Wife Madeline Celebrates Baby Shower: 'My Husband Would Have Loved All the Balloons' New Jersey State Police said in a statement to PEOPLE at the time that the driver, identified as Sean M. Higgins, was attempting to pass another car when he fatally struck the brothers. Johnny and Matthew were in Oldmans Township, New Jersey for their sister Katie Gaudreau's wedding which was rescheduled from its Aug. 30 date after the sudden death of the bride's brothers where they were set to serve as groomsmen. PORT LOUIS (Reuters) -Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam said on Friday he has asked for an independent review of a confidential draft agreement with Britain over the future of the Chagos Islands. The British government said on Thursday it was confident that the deal to secure the future of a U.S.-British military base on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia would be ratified. Prime Minister Keir Starmer wants to finalise an October political agreement that hands Mauritius sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, while securing a 99-year lease on the base. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The deal still needs to be ratified by both sides. Ramgoolam, who won an election this month, has expressed doubts about the agreement. He told parliament on Thursday his new cabinet would be able to consider the outcome of the review. Britain's foreign ministry declined to comment. British foreign minister David Lammy said earlier this week he was confident the deal would go through, adding that the U.S. intelligence agencies, State Department and Pentagon had all welcomed it. He said Britain was happy to give the new Mauritius government time to examine the details. U.S. President Joe Biden supported the deal when it was announced, but it could be challenged by the next U.S. administration after Donald Trump is sworn in as president in January, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump's pick for secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has said the deal poses a serious threat to U.S. security by ceding the archipelago - with its strategic base used by U.S. long-range bombers as well as warships - to a country allied with China. When Mauritius became independent in the 1960s, London retained control of the Chagos Islands, and forcibly displaced up to 2,000 people in the 1970s to make way for the base. Britain said last month it would hand over the islands, after years of sometimes acrimonious negotiations. But many of the exiled Chagossians say they were not involved in the negotiations and cannot endorse it. Olivier Bancoult from the Chagos Refugees Group, which defends the rights of Chagossians, said he hoped the review would be done quickly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There is a need to correct injustice inflicted on the Chagossian population," Bancoult told Reuters. (Reporting by Villen Anganan; Editing by Hereward Holland, Timothy Heritage, Kevin Liffey and Andrew Heavens) A South Carolina mayor died while being pursued by law enforcement on Tuesday, just days after the towns entire police force quit due to a hostile work environment. McColl Mayor George Garner II veered into eastbound traffic and collided head-on with an 18-wheeler during the police chase. Garner was connected to an active investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, sources told WBTW , though details of the investigation are not clear. The pursuit was not related to any laws being broken. The pursuit was taking place in an effort to protect the well-being of Mr. Garner, the coroner said, adding that more information will be released in the coming days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Nov. 21, just five days before the crash, police chief Bob Hale and his five officers resigned from their post. Hale announced the decision in a Facebook post , and said he left because of repeated acts of harassment and personal attacks on his character by a town council member. Hale added that the council member cut the polices funding upon assuming his position. This lack of investment hampered our ability to operate at the standard the citizens of the Town of McColl rightfully expect and deserve, he said in the post. The McColl police department has been mired in conflict before. The former police chief quit this June because of a hostile work environment caused by Garner, court docs said . Garner recently won re-election in the town of 2,000 people. Outgoing U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and his wife, former U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, arrive at the Graves County Republican Breakfast, Aug. 3, 2024,(Kentucky Lantern photo by Austin Anthony) Were in the personnel business, Sen. Mitch McConnell has said ever since he concluded the biggest piece of business in Donald Trumps first administration, a massive tax cut and argued that a bigger legacy of that Congress was going to be conservative judges. Now Trump is about to become president again, and McConnell can reshape his own legacy, starting with another type of personnel business Trumps planned nominations of unqualified, risky people for some of the highest, most crucial positions in the government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The idea that McConnell would vote to make Tulsi Gabbard, a Russophile, director of national intelligence is as outlandish as the notion that he would have voted to make Matt Gaetz attorney general. Its also hard to imagine McConnell liking the idea of former Fox News host Pete Hegseth as secretary of Defense or vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. secretary of Health and Human Services, though RFK2 might be able to obfuscate his way through a committee hearing and lose no more than three Republican senators, the maximum he could stand if all Democrats voted no. After Gaetz pulled out, he said McConnell was one of four Republicans who sank his nomination, but it sank so quickly that there must have been plenty of Senate torpedoes. Still, Gaetzs tweet reminded us that McConnell is the most prominent anti-Trump Republican, one who endorsed the former president only because he felt obliged to do so as Senate GOP leader, a job he leaves at years end. Trump allies may be quick to label other nominee skeptics as junior versions of McConnell, who has been a highly unpopular national figure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, the Kentucky senator is likely to take a low profile in the Senates advice-and-consent function, with the possible exception of Hegseth, since McConnell has taken the chairmanship of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and declared that Senate Republicans must secure the future of U.S. leadership and primacy in the world. That means very different things to him and Trump; ask anyone in Europe. McConnells first and boldest public statement about the process came Nov. 12, when he accepted the American Enterprise Institutes Irving Kristol Award for career achievement and was asked about confirmations. He said, Each of these nominees needs to come before the Senate and go through the process of being vetted. Spontaneous applause interrupted McConnell, because two days earlier Trump had demanded that prospective Senate leaders agree to allow him to avoid the advice-and-consent process by taking the Senate into recess when an archaic provision in the Constitution allows a president to make appointments that can last until Congress adjourns. McConnell spoke before Trump announced the unqualified picks. Afterward, McConnell told another group, There will be no recess appointments, according to a post on X.com by Jane Mayer of The New Yorker magazine. Mayer deleted the post, apparently in response to uncertainty about whether the gathering at which McConnell was speaking was off the record, wrote William Kristol (son of Irving) on The Bulwark, an anti-Trump outlet. But neither McConnell nor any of his aides has denied he said it. (His office didnt respond to my inquiry.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So went the first round of a cagey cage match between McConnell, the epitome of a Senate institutionalist, and Trump, a fundamental anti-institutionalist who correctly sees the Senate as the biggest check on his autocratic, authoritarian schemes that could change the nature of our democratic republic which depends on checks and balances among the branches. Sen. Mitch McConnell listens as then-U.S. Senate Minority Whip John Thune speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol on Oct. 19, 2021. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Trump lost the first round on points, when McConnell lieutenant John Thune of South Dakota was elected majority leader, and suffered a brief knockdown in the second round with the withdrawal of Gaetz. The later rounds could go beyond personnel. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, no McConnell buddy, opposes Trumps plan to use the military to deport undocumented immigrants. Thune and other farm-state Republicans dont like tariffs, the only tax Trump seems to like. And on any issue, Democrats will need only four of the Senates 12 or so GOP institutionalists to make an anti-Trump majority. Some of those institutionalists are also unlikely to face voters again, which makes them even more independent. McConnell hasnt said he will retire in 2026, but every indication has been that he will. His protege, CNN commentator Scott Jennings, said Sunday, Hes one of this group of senators that is unthreatenable; theyre not subject to the normal political machinations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After being Trumps chief enabler, and his reluctant maybe-savior in the second impeachment, McConnell no longer bears the burden of leadership and can be an independent and influential voice perhaps enough to wipe part of the Trump stain off his legacy. But look for him to be careful about making news. The more he lays low, the more effective he is likely to be. When its all over, maybe hell tell us what really happened. This column is republished from the Northern Kentucky Tribune, a nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism. LUDLOW, Mass. (WWLP) Crews were sent to a single-vehicle crash at an intersection in Ludlow early Friday morning. Expected poor holiday weather has travelers leaving early Chief Daniel Valadas of the Ludlow Police Department told 22News that a car crashed into a utility pole at the intersection of Center and Chmura Street in Ludlow around 5:00 a.m. on Friday. MAP: Chmura and Center Street Three people were inside the car when the car lost its brakes, causing it to crash. The car caught fire, but there were no serious injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The roads are back open and the utility pole is being replaced. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. Journalists and volunteers have identified the names of 80,973 Russian soldiers who died during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine as of Nov. 29, according to a joint investigation by BBC Russia and Mediazona, a Russian independent media outlet. Since Mediazona's update in mid-November, the names of 3,830 more Russian soldiers have been added to the list of casualties. Over half of those killed were not affiliated with the army at the beginning of the war in 2022, meaning they voluntarily signed contracts to fight in Ukraine. Many died in the first two to four weeks after being sent to the front line, the investigation said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The share of volunteers now accounts for 22% of the total number of confirmed losses in the Russian army. Last year, in November 2023, volunteers accounted for only 14%. The share of deaths among those sent to the front from prison is on the decline. As of November 2023, they accounted for 26% of all losses, and now only 18%. The large-scale involvement of convicts at the front allowed the Russian authorities to support the army's offensive potential without causing additional damage to the economy. "The convicts... were not skilled workers. This distinguishes them, for example, from those mobilized, (and their removal from society) has weakened several sectors of the economy," the investigation said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the investigation, most of the soldiers killed were from Bashkortostan, Tatarstan, and Sverdlovsk Oblast. As of the morning of Nov. 29, the Russian army had lost about 738,660 soldiers, according to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Over the past day, Russian losses amounted to 2,030 people. Read also: Russias reported daily losses in Ukraine pass 2,000 for the first time Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. NANJING, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- A group of scientists led by Chinese researchers have uncovered the significance of iron sulfides in supporting the life origin hypothesis in early Earth's terrestrial hot springs, according to an article published in the academic journal "Nature Communications" on Thursday. According to the life origin hypothesis of the early Earth, hydrothermal systems, including deep-sea hydrothermal water and terrestrial hot springs, are generally considered two possible environments for life. Iron sulfides, abundant in the early Earth's hydrothermal systems, may have functioned similarly to cofactors in modern metabolic systems, which can help transform carbon dioxide into organic compounds, potentially facilitating essential prebiotic chemical reactions, according to Nan Jingbo, associate professor from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Previous studies on iron sulfides and the origin of life have focused primarily on deep-sea alkaline hydrothermal vents. However, some scientists have proposed terrestrial hot springs as another plausible setting for life's origins, as they contain rich mineral content, diverse chemicals, and abundant sunlight. To explore iron sulfides' role in terrestrial prebiotic carbon fixation, the research team conducted simulated experiments and created an environment similar to the early terrestrial hot spring, including temperatures of 80 to 120 degrees Celsius, enhanced ultraviolet light irradiation, and rich carbon dioxide, hydrogen and iron sulfides. The results showed that iron sulfides act as a catalyst to promote the transformation of carbon dioxide into methanol. Methanol may further catalyze the formation of the methyl group, which is necessary for the oldest metabolic pathway, thus, laying the foundation for the origin of life. "This research highlights the potential of iron sulfides in catalyzing prebiotic carbon fixation in early Earth's terrestrial hot springs, opening new directions for exploring life's origins and supporting future efforts in the search for extraterrestrial life," Nan said. A new era for education in Charlotte will start next summer when Wake Forest University opens the first four-year medical school for the Queen City. And its long overdue, especially since Charlotte is one of the largest U.S. cities without one. But an attempt to fill the void was made more than a century ago with the long-forgotten North Carolina Medical College in uptown. More than 700 students attended the college in Charlotte, and 40 doctoral degrees were awarded by the faculty, according to historians. Many went on to build medical practices throughout North Carolina, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Located at 229 N. Church St., the building is designated as a historical landmark by Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. The architect work of James McMichael was another reason for the designation. He designed the building and popular churches in the area. The basement contained showers, toilets, cadaver vats and service rooms, according to the historic commission. An entrance on Sixth Street provided access to a dispensary which had a drug room, separate waiting rooms for Black and white patients and several examination/treatments rooms. Free medical services were offered for an hour between 11 a.m. and noon during the week. The schools first and second floors had a lounge, administrative offices, demonstration/lecture spaces, lecture hall, library and a reading room. Students also had access to two labs and a dissecting hall on the uppermost floor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A two-story amphitheater was at the rear of the building to hold at least 250 people, according to Mecklenburg County historical records. Wrong place at the wrong time? Before the school opened, North Carolina didnt have a medical school after several places in the mid- and late-1800s opened and closed, according to historians. In 1887, Dr. Paul Barringer, a physician at Davidson College, established the Davidson School of Medicine in Mecklenburg County. About two years later, Barringer went to the University of Virginia and sold the medical school to Dr. John Munroe. Munroe expanded the school and it became a three-year institution. He made a way to get a larger building for the college in 1896 and a structure for clinical teaching in 1901. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A year later, the college sent its senior students to classes in Charlotte for clinical training since there were a lot of hospitals in the city. And in 1907, the entire student body moved to the building on North Church Street. The college left Davidson to take advantage of more opportunities in Charlotte. More than 80 students enrolled in 1907. This building at 229 N. Church St. was once home to a medical school in Charlotte. North Carolina Medical School was thriving for a while. But that changed in 1910 when the Carnegie Foundation, a policy and research center, sent a representative to evaluate the school and the results were not positive. The school was criticized for not having adequate facilities. Criticis called it thoroughly wretched, said Tommy Warlick, historic preservation specialist for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They really dumped on the laboratories and the instruction, he said. They said there werent adequate books. They really shot the facility full of holes. Monroe and his associates didnt have enough funding or were unwilling to spend money on improvements to please the Carnegie Foundation, according to historians. The school closed in 1914 and students then enrolled at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond to finish their studies. They received their degrees as graduates of the North Carolina Medical School. The last degrees were awarded in 1917, according to the historic landmarks commission. It had a short life due to being in the crossfire of standards changing in the medical field, said Franky Abbott, chief content strategist for The Levine Museum of the New South. The days of learning medicine by becoming a doctors apprentice were disappearing around that time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were caught in this sort of wrong moment of this big education revolution in medical schools in the U.S., she added, forced to close maybe before their time. The building was sold and converted into apartments. Its now being used for condos with monthly rent listings close to $2,000. Goodwill Industries and the local convention bureau used the space for offices before the condos came. As the city grows so quickly, its really easy to forget to not know the way back stories, and the North Carolina Medical College, I think, has been often forgotten, said community historian Tom Hanchett. Remembering the past, embracing the future The Wake Forest University School of Medicine-Charlotte creates a second campus in midtown for the Winston-Salem-based school, with officials anticipating accepting 48 students for the class of 2029. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its new campus will be on 20-acres at the corner of South McDowell and Baxter streets, as part of the Pearl District. The $1.5 billion project will include retail, offices, hotels, apartments and academic spaces after construction is complete. Atrium Health and Wexford Science & Technology have partnered to build the district. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in January 2023. Local historians wonder what could have been if the old medical school was allowed to continue. Although the school granted medical degrees, its unclear if North Carolina Medical College was a four-year program or they probably didnt exist at that time, according to local historians. But Warlick stressed that its important to remember history and the contributions from it. Its always important for us to get the story straight and to make sure that our history is accurate, Warlick said. Weve got the full understanding of it. By Tom Balmforth (Reuters) - When Russian missiles hurtle towards the Ukrainian power plant and employees scramble for the bomb shelter, a handful of workers stay above ground in a control room protected by sandbags to keep the system running manually. The facility, the location of which energy officials asked Reuters not to identify for security reasons, has been pounded by missiles this year in an aerial assault on the grid that Russia renewed this month as the war's third winter sets in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When there are attacks, we stay here even though we know there are missiles coming at us ... To say we're not afraid is not true because we are all living, normal people and we are afraid," said Serhii, 52, a shift leader who has worked at the plant for over 30 years. Outside the control hub is a vast machine room that has holes in its walls and extensive damage after missile strikes, the most recent of which were on Nov. 17 in this facility. The smell of burning hung in the air during a recent Reuters visit, as water dripped from a damaged roof. Missile parts lay on the floor, twisted metal sheets were stacked up to the side and broken pieces of equipment were strewn around. Workers in grubby overalls busied themselves with repairs and clambered over a damaged power unit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Serhii, who declined to provide his surname, and his fellow workers see themselves as on the front line of a crucial battle in the 33-month-old war with Russia - to supply millions of people with power despite the attacks. Russia, which denies targeting civilian infrastructure but views the Ukrainian power system as a legitimate target in its war, has inflicted major damage on energy facilities since it began a spate of attacks on the grid in spring. The facility is one of five remaining thermal power plants owned by DTEK, Ukraine's largest private power provider, which provided a quarter of the country's electricity needs before Moscow's February 2022 invasion. As well as the location, DTEK asked Reuters not to disclose certain details about the plant, including the amount of electricity it currently produces, saying such information could help Russia conduct future strikes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The facility, which typically provides electricity and heating to hundreds of thousands of people, has undergone major repairs throughout much of the year. The November attacks created more urgent repair work. "We've been set back six months," said Oleksandr, 52, a senior worker at the plant. 'WINTER WON'T BE EASY' Russia unleashed its second big attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure this month on Thursday, triggering deep power cuts across the country. After the two waves of attacks, the outlook for Ukraine's energy grid has worsened at a volatile moment in the war, with Russian troops advancing in the east and Donald Trump preparing to enter the White House on Jan. 20. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine repaired some of its energy infrastructure that was hammered in the spring and summer, putting it in what had looked like an unexpectedly strong position for the looming winter, industry sources said. But now they say the damage inflicted on Nov. 17 and Nov. 28 has set them back significantly, raising the prospect of long blackouts and other outages in the depths of winter. Temperatures are already hovering around 0 Celsius (32 Fahrenheit). One industry source said that, despite the setbacks, Ukraine would be able to handle the looming challenges. The workers interviewed by Reuters at the plant said they would do their best. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is our front, some of the guys have a front in the east, our front is here. Our task is to ensure that our Ukraine has electricity, that it functions in full," said Serhii. (Reporting by Tom Balmforth; additional reporting by Pavel Polityuk; Editing by Mike Collett-White and Frances Kerry) Former chancellor Angela Merkel has appealed to Ukraine and the country's supporters to consider diplomatic solutions to end Russia's war against it. "Russia must not win this war," Merkel emphasized on Maybrit Illner's talk show on public broadcaster ZDF on Thursday evening. It is "not only in the interest of Ukraine but also in our interest that Putin does not win this war." As chancellor, she tried everything to prevent the such an escalation, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is a blatant violation of international law that he [Russian President Vladimir Putin] has committed with Ukraine." However, the former chancellor also stated that "one must always consider diplomatic solutions in parallel." These did not need to be discussed right now but when the right time comes, which she did not specify. Merkel stressed her support for what the German government is doing for Ukraine and suggested that it would not be easy for Ukraine to defeat its much larger neighbour Russia. "Nevertheless, I support everything the international community is doing to put Ukraine in a good position." AfD benefited from asylum policy - but not only factor Merkel, who in 2015 admitted some 1 million refugees, mainly from Syria and other war-torn countries, admitted that the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) had "indeed become stronger" because of that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But she noted when she left office in 2021, the AfD had between 10% and 11% support - but today it is 18%. "So, something else must have happened in the meantime," she said. It "did not benefit us, the democratic parties," to argue so much over the refugee issue, Merkel said. This dispute certainly did not weaken the AfD. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged Ukraine and its supporters to explore, alongside other options, diplomatic pathways to ending the war initiated by Russia. Source: European Pravda, citing DPA Details: In an interview, Merkel emphasised that Russia must not win the war, stating: "This is not only in Ukraine's interest, but also in our own, as we cannot allow Putin to win." She also pointed out that, as chancellor, she did everything possible to prevent such an escalation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a blatant violation of international law, Merkel acknowledged that "diplomatic solutions must always be considered alongside military ones". The former German chancellor suggested that diplomatic talks should not take place immediately but rather when the right time comes, although she did not specify when that would be. Merkel also reaffirmed her support for the German government's actions in aiding Ukraine, noting that it would be difficult for Ukraine to defeat Russia. Background: Recently, the former Chancellor released her memoirs in Germany, which has led to her increased media presence after nearly three years of silence. In a recent interview with German newspaper Der Spiegel, Merkel explained that when Putin first became president, he had no intention of attacking Ukraine. Over time, however, his plans took shape, partly in response to the actions of the West. She also voiced her frustration at being made a "scapegoat" for the war in Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! Our Student of the Week poll has closed for the ninth time. Thanks to all who voted. This week, both of our nominees are high school seniors, one from Green Bay and the other from Milwaukee, who spend many hours volunteering in their communities. Keep reading to find out who won and how you can participate in our weekly statewide Student of the Week contest. Shanya Dean, grade 12, Messmer High School Shanya Dean This week, Shanya Dean of Messmer High School in Milwaukee was the clear winner of the poll. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Counselor Melissa Hoeppner nominated Dean for her work with school organizations and the broader community. A National Honor Society student, Dean coordinates Messmer's blood drive and encourages her fellow students to vote. She works with the Greater Urban League Foundation and was recently nominated as an All-In Milwaukee scholar. She's also working toward helping others for a living once she finishes her education. Hoeppner said Dean is already taking college credit courses at Milwaukee Area Technical College and plans to enroll at Marquette University to pursue a degree in nursing. About Student of the Week High school students are nominated for Student of the Week by principals, teachers, youth organizations and others who work with teens. Voting is open each week from 5 a.m. Monday until noon Thursday with polls at jsonline.com, postcrescent.com and greenbaypressgazette.com. Do you work with youth and know a high school student who could be Student of the Week? Email statewide education editor Debi Young at Debi.Young@jrn.com to receive a link to the nomination form. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rebecca Loroff is a K-12 education reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. She welcomes story tips and feedback. Contact her at rloroff@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Shanya Dean is the Nov. 29 Student of the Week Metro buses operate in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. (Larry Levine / WMATA) The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) is moving forward with a service-wide redesign of its bus routes, including in a few areas of Northern Virginia, improving where people want to travel and simplifying services by the summer. The transit agency is planning to make changes in Alexandria, Fairlington and West Falls Church and Fairfax County after a two-year comprehensive review of the existing bus network called the 2025 Better Bus Network, which, according to the plan, aims to better match when and where people want to travel, provide fast, frequent and reliable service, address inequities, and increase access to opportunity for disenfranchised communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately we ended up with a product that, I think, is going to really result in significant efficiency and savings, but also provide better service, said Matt Letourneau, chairman of the Metro Board of Directors Finance and Capital Committee. Letourneau, who also represents Virginia on the board that oversees transit services for Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia, said some of the changes could frustrate some travelers because a particular route may not be available, but by and large, we think this is going to be a big win for the whole region. In Alexandria, the Better Bus Network plan proposes to preserve rush hour service in Brookville along Taney Avenue, Park Place Condominiums and South Fairlington. The proposal also consolidates and streamlines service between Shirlington and South Fairlington. The proposal will also restore the connection to the West Falls Church Station and surrounding development in West Falls Church. In Fairfax County, the plan will maintain rush-hour service at the Fairview Park Office Complex and service along Vaden Drive to the Fairless neighborhood and the Jim Scott Community Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Metro plans to roll out the service plan by June throughout its service area in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Northern Virginia, all of which provide financial contributions to the agency. Metro is supported by ridership and fare revenue, which has steadily increased since the pandemic when travelers stayed home. Under the new restructured Metrorail and Metrobus subsidy formula and Metros 2025 Approved Budget, Virginia and most of its Northern Virginia jurisdictions would see a small contribution savings under the new Better Bus Network plan. The Board of Directors voted to update the funding formula, which determines how much jurisdictions pay to Metro, after the agency received feedback that the current formulas are confusing and lack transparency and predictability. The purpose of restructuring the formula is to increase legibility and transparency, align service benefits and improve service and fiscal predictability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Metro established the funding formulas in 1977 and amended them in 1995. Letourneau said additional costs could arise as the board considers other changes to the bus network. He did not mention any changes specifically. We were really focusing on data, on efficiency, on really trying to run a really good, efficient system, Letourneau said. I dont necessarily think that were done growing the bus network. We just needed to really [create] a baseline that reflects a new reality of where people are traveling. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A diversion on the Mimbres River in southern New Mexico in February 2023. (Photo by Megan Gleason / Source NM) After unprecedented disasters, local governments in charge of centuries-old community ditches in New Mexico are asking state lawmakers for tens of millions of dollars more than usual to maintain and rebuild acequias. The New Mexico Acequia Commission and the New Mexico Acequia Association outlined their joint legislative priorities for the upcoming session last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are more than 700 acequias across New Mexico, and these irrigation ditches support communities and families rooted in the practice. Some of the ditches are decades, if not hundreds of years old, and the practices are ancient as Pueblo peoples used irrigation methods before Spanish colonization. Acequias are often loosely and locally governed, often by volunteers. But a rapidly changing climate making water more scarce and disasters like fires and flood increasingly devastating is putting the traditional practices at risk. Lawmakers in 2003 empowered acequias to approve or deny water transfers without having to go through state officials first, and in 2019 set aside $2.5 million per year to build and maintain irrigation infrastructure. However, that is not enough, acequia advocates say. According to a rough estimate, in the coming decades, acequias will need about $68 million to maintain or improve their irrigation infrastructure, said Paula Garcia, the executive director for the grassroots Acequia Association. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont have complete data on all the infrastructure needs across the state but with that snapshot, Im confident the need is in the tens of millions every year, she said. There is no one state agency devoted to acequias, instead, theres responsibility held across multiple state departments including the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer or the New Department of Agriculture. Acequias will likely face challenges in getting the funding they need from the Legislatures budget hawk, Sen. George Munoz, who chairs the powerful Senate Finance Committee. In September, as state agencies were preparing their budget requests for next year, he called for a disciplined approach to spending public money. Cost sharing for infrastructure, disaster assistance The acequias are urging lawmakers to give $10 million to the Interstate Stream Commission to help pay for infrastructure repairs, which require local governments to pay a 25% cost-share, Garcia said. Acequias need the state to step in because they do not have the power to tax. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Acequias inability to pay for debris removal has become more urgent since 2022, and resulted in astonishing delays in rebuilding acequias destroyed by wildfires, Garcia said. She called for debris removal after flooding to be more institutionalized and not just a reaction to emergencies. For example, Garcias own acequia in Mora County is in its third year without water and wont be rebuilt until 2026. It seems like every time we have a disaster, were reinventing the wheel, Garcia said. Its not good for our state. Paula Garcia, director of the New Mexico Acequia Association, drives through the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon burn scar Sept. 13, 2022. (Photo by Patrick Lohmann / Source NM) After the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon fire, the state Department of Transportation quickly hired contractors to remove debris, Garcia. But the debris removal process is uncertain, she said, and not easy to stand up in real time when disaster strikes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unless we figure this out as a state, there are going to be communities that are left behind because they cant do that cost-share, Garcia said. Acequias are supporting the Interstate Stream Commissions request to double the Acequia and Community Ditch Infrastructure Fund from $2.5 million per year to $5 million. The fund is used to pay for planning, designing and building irrigation systems or matching funds for other state and federal programs. The current $2.5 million alloted is only meeting about half of the requests coming through the program, Garcia said. While there are state funds for tribal infrastructure and colonias, there is no comparable fund for acequias, said Rep. Susan Herrera (D-Embudo). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These water systems which allow small farming and ranching operations to exist almost entirely rely on volunteers, and they cant be maintained or fixed using only one-time money, Herrera said. Those volunteers are also getting older and the number of people who can work on a ditch is getting smaller, she said. Ive told my volunteers: if you want to shut down the state, everybody can go on strike in the north and not do water systems for a year. See what happens, Herrera said. Settling water rights disputes The acequias are supporting the New Mexico Department of Agricultures request to increase its Acequia and Community Ditch Fund from about $830,000 per year to $1.5 million. The fund is used to pay for attorneys and experts in determining who has the right to what water. There were a total of $1.3 million in requests for help in the previous fiscal year, according to the acequias presentation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The acequias are also supporting the State Engineers $40 million request to help pay costs resulting from court settlements over water rights, which finalize the oldest water rights in the state held by the Pueblos and also acequias water rights, Garcia said. Water rights agreements between sovereign nations and American governments must be approved by Congress. Congress has approved final settlements in four separate cases involving Native nations in New Mexico, and there are still four where Congressional approval is pending but federal legislation has been introduced, according to the acequias presentation. Other acequia priorities MEXICO CITY (AP) Mexicos Senate has voted to eliminate seven independent regulatory and oversight agencies, a move that critics warn will cement the ruling partys power and avoid outside scrutiny. President Claudia Sheinbaum calls it a money-saving measure, arguing that the government can more efficiently handle functions like freedom of information requests, anti-monopoly enforcement and energy-market regulation. However, foreign investors and critics fear this could open the door to favoritism and a lack of transparency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What does this mean for the public's right to know? The Senate vote Thursday which will likely be confirmed by two-thirds of state legislatures controlled by Sheinbaum's Morena party eliminates the independent body that had powers to force government departments to hand over information based on requests filed by citizens. Now, presumably, each government department will decide what to hand over. Adrian Alcala, head of the National Institute for Information Access, said each department may be able to set its own rules and impose its own criteria. When you fragment something, it tends to disappear, Alcala said. Did people really see any value in the agencies? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the first nine months of 2024, people submitted more that 275,000 requests for government files, and more than four million freedom-of information requests have been received since the National Institute for Information Access formerly known by another name was set up 20 years ago. Those requests include everything from government budgets and contracts, to labor and human rights issues. Sarahi Salvatierra, of the public policy research group Fundar, said "transparency and informing the public are the cornerstones of democracy. What are foreign governments and investors worried about? The Senate also voted to eliminate the federal anti-monopoly commission, raising concerns about potential trade disputes. The American Chamber of Commerce said in a recent report it worries the changes could result in disputes with our trading partners, because the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement requires independent anti-monopoly authorities. The agreement comes up for review in 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ruling party has already exempted Mexico's state-owned oil and energy companies from monopoly rules. The move opens the door to opacity and corruption, as well as encouraging a concentration of power that favors monopolistic practices, the Mexican Employers Federation said in a statement. The Senate also voted to eliminate the regulatory commission that oversees the energy and oil markets, raising concerns for foreign investors who worry there will be little to protect a foreign company that invests in a power generating plant in Mexico. The American Chamber of Commerce worries the changes, together with a previous reform that requires all judges to stand for election, could significantly increase uncertainty, affecting the continuation of projects like North American energy competitiveness. What else is disappearing? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Mexican government is also eliminating two independent agencies that measured progress in fighting two of the country's key problems: poverty and the under-performing public school system. Why does the government say this is necessary? Sheinbaum said the independent agencies which controlled their own staff and decided what to investigate and how to spend their budgets were plagued by corruption and overspending. She said earlier this month that there will be more transparency, but there won't be corruption. The president has insisted that transparency rules and the right to information will be preserved, and that the public will be able to easily review the functioning, the spending and everything the Mexican government does. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What really angered the government was that the anti-monopoly commission would not make exceptions for the debt-laden, corrupt and inefficient state-owned energy companies that the ruling party sees as its personal fiefdoms. Sheinbaum said Friday the commission devoted itself to stopping state-owned companies. What will happen next? It's not clear. The government still has to set up the offices that will replace the old agencies, and write the rules by which they will be governed. Until then, the public will just have to trust the government. ____ Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america MEXICO CITY (AP) Mexican authorities raided a massive complex of stores selling counterfeit Chinese and other Asian goods in downtown Mexico City, and vowed Friday to take the crackdown nationwide. Over 200 police, marines and inspectors raided a building known as Mexico Mart in the citys colonial center Thursday and seized around 90,000 counterfeit products that masqueraded as name-brand goods. They seized a total of over 262,000 products that had no receipts, import documents or, in some cases, even labels. It is not clear if the counterfeits which included imitations of Marvel, Sanrio, Disney and Nintendo products were part of the 262,000 product count, or were counted separately. Officials said it took seven hours to seize all the merchandise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The entire facade of the building is labelled in Chinese characters, as are most of the stores inside. Authorities said the goods were from China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Vietnam. The timing of the raid was noteworthy, given that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose 25% import duties on Mexican products, and some U.S. politicians have worried that Mexico was serving as a conduit for Chinese goods to flood the American market. There was no evidence that any of the goods were intended for re-export to the United States; they appeared destined for Mexican street vendors who flood the downtown area around Christmas. But it was also clear that authorities had known for a long time what went on in the complex, which resembles a shopping center for wholesalers or bulk buyers. Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said three raids had been carried out previously at the same address. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They didn't have any labels, Ebrard said of the products. They were in violation of all the norms, he said, adding that the haul included a whole mountain of Disney products, all pirated. Mexican officials have said they will try to substitute Chinese imports, by encouraging companies to manufacture locally. Ebrard said prosecutors would seize the building from its owners and destroy the contraband goods. He also said that, if import documents are found, the shipping and customs agents who signed off on them would also be investigated. We are going to be working throughout the country ... in the seaports and airports, Ebrard said. This has to be a permanent operation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chinese products, often ordered over retail websites, have flooded Mexico in recent years, particularly toys, houseware and inexpensive electric bicycles and scooters. ____ Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america Two children and a woman were crushed to death Friday as a crowd of Palestinians pushed to get bread at a bakery in the Gaza Strip amid a worsening food crisis in the war-ravaged territory, medical officials said. The bodies of two girls aged 13 and 17 and the 50-year-old woman were taken to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, where a doctor confirmed that they died from suffocation due to crowding at the al-Banna bakery. Video from The Associated Press showed their bodies placed next to each other on the floor inside the hospital's morgue. The flow of food allowed into Gaza by Israel has fallen to nearly its lowest level of almost 14-month-old war for the past two months, according to Israeli official figures. U.N. and aid officials say hunger and desperation are growing among Gazas population, almost all of which relies on humanitarian aid to survive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Osama Abu Laban, the father of one of the girls, wailed over the loss of her life outside the hospital. My wife fell when she heard that she (our daughter) was suffocating. She did not yet know that she was dead, he told the AP. Some bakeries in Gaza were closed for several days last week due to a shortage of flour. AP footage taken last week after they reopened showed large crowds of people cramming together, screaming and pushing, at one bakery in Deir al-Balah. Palestinians across the Gaza Strip are heavily relying on bakeries and charitable kitchens, with many able to only secure one meal a day for their families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Lebanon, thousands of displaced people began returning to their homes this week after a ceasefire was announced between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group. Many found their homes reduced to rubble after intense Israeli airstrikes over the past two months leveled entire neighborhoods in eastern and southern Lebanon, as well as the southern suburbs of Beirut. Nearly 1.2 million people have been displaced. The truce was the first major sign of progress in the region since war began more than a year ago, triggered by Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. But it does not address the devastating war in Gaza. For Palestinians in Gaza and families of hostages held in the territory, the ceasefire marked another missed opportunity to end fighting that has stretched on for nearly 14 months. More than 44,000 people have been killed and more than 104,000 wounded, according to Gazas Health Ministry. Israel has destroyed large parts of Gaza and displaced nearly all of its 2.3 million people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's the Latest: Hezbollah again starts holding public funerals for its fallen fighters MAARAKEH, Lebanon Hezbollah held a public funeral in a southern village on Friday for five of its fighters killed during the fighting with Israel. It was the first time the Lebanese militant group held a public funeral since after the war intensified in late September. My son is in heaven, said Zeinab al-Haj holding a bag or roses to toss them on the coffin of her son Ali Hijazi during the ceremony in the village of Maarakeh. Hijazi died of wounds suffered in an airstrike last week. Hezbollahs last public funeral was held on Sept. 27, the same day the groups leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a southern Beiruts suburb. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are people who are proud of their martyrs, said Hezbollahs media chief in south Lebanon Salman Harb. Our martyrs are the symbol of our victory by all means. After a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah went into effect on Wednesday, the group began announcing again its fallen fighters. More funerals are expected in the coming days including the funeral of three more fighters in Maarakeh on Saturday. Hezbollah had announced the death of nearly 500 fighters before Sept. 23, when the war intensified. Since late September, Hezbollah is believed to have lost hundreds of fighters whose funerals will be held whenever their bodies are recovered. Hezbollah is also expected to hold a funeral for Nasrallah and other top officials, including his successor Hashem Safieddine who was killed in an airstrike in early October. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hezbollah chief says the group agreed to the ceasefire deal from a position of strength BEIRUT Hezbollah chief Naim Kassem said on Friday that the militant group will coordinate closely with the Lebanese military to implement the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement with Israel that followed nearly 14 months of intense fighting. He also claimed that with the deal, Hezbollah achieved a great victory that surpasses the victory of July 2006, the last time the Iran-backed group was at war with Israel. The ceasefire agreement aligns with Lebanese sovereignty and we have accepted it from a position of strength, he asserted, speaking in a pre-recorded message from an undisclosed location on the third day of the ceasefire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kassem added there would be no confrontation between Hezbollah fighters and the Lebanese Army. Dont bet on any disagreement or friction between us and the army, he said. The army will be deploying in its country, which is also ours. Kassem also pledged Hezbollah will help with rebuilding and cooperate with the state and all organizations and countries willing to assist Lebanon, aiming to make Lebanon more beautiful than it was. The World Bank estimates that Lebanons financial losses from the conflict which was initially limited to the border but escalated dramatically in mid-September exceed $8 billion, further straining a country already reeling from a series of cascading crises since 2019. Israeli military says it struck a site of a Hezbollah rocket launcher in southern Lebanon Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement JERUSALEM Israels military said it struck an area in southern Lebanon where it detected movement of a Hezbollah rocket launcher on Friday, the third day of the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel. In the statement on the airstrike, the military said it would actively enforce violations of the ceasefire agreement. The strike followed several Israeli military attacks in southern Lebanon earlier in the day, which were reported by the Lebanese state media, and an Israeli drone strike on a Hezbollah weapons depot on Thursday. There was no immediate comment from the Lebanese army, which has accused Israel of breaking the ceasefire several times since it came into effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamas claims attack on Israeli bus in West Bank that wounded 8 people, including 4 soldiers RAMALLAH, West Bank Hamas claimed responsibility for a shooting attack on an Israeli bus in the occupied West Bank on Friday that wounded eight people, including four soldiers. It was the latest violence to scar the territory as tensions run high 14 months into the Israel-Hamas war. The attacker, who Hamas identified in a statement as Samer Hussein, 46, was killed by Israeli troops shortly after opening fire toward the bus at a junction near the Israeli settlement of Ariel. The military said four soldiers were lightly wounded. Paramedics said three people were critically wounded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attacks by Palestinian militants on Israelis in the volatile territory have grown more common since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, as Palestinian deaths have also spiked. Israeli fire has killed 796 Palestinians since Oct. 7, 2023, mostly in military raids on Palestinian cities and towns. Attacks by settlers on Palestinians and their property have also increased. Lebanon's state media says Israel carried out several attacks in the south BEIRUT The Israeli army carried out several attacks in southern Lebanon on Friday, the third day of the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, Lebanons state media said. Artillery bombardment struck the villages of Markaba, Talusa and Khiyam while four Israeli tanks moved into the western part of Khiyam, the report said, adding that an Israeli tank fired at a house in Nabatiyeh province. Local media also reported that the Israeli army fired on civilians in the nearby village of Bint Jbeil. No casualties were immediately reported and The Associated Press was not immediately able to verify the claims. Israel's and Lebanon's armies did not comment on the alleged attacks. Lebanon politician calls on Hezbollah to work with Lebanese army BEIRUT The leader of a leading Christian political party in Lebanon has called on Hezbollah to engage with the Lebanese army and devise a plan to dismantle its military infrastructure south and north of the Litani river. In a press conference Friday, Samir Geagea, head of the Lebanese Forces Party, criticized Hezbollah for opening a front with Israel and accused the Shiite militant group of committing a major crime against the Lebanese people. We could have done without the martyrdom of more than 4,000 people, the displacement of thousands and the destruction across the country, Geagea said. Despite all these tragedies, Hezbollah continues to talk about a victory using a bizarre and disconnected logic that has no basis in reality. Geageas comments came two days after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel went into effect. More than 3,900 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israel's conflict with Hezbollah escalated. Geagea, whose Lebanese Forces Party holds the largest bloc in Lebanons 128-member parliament, also addressed Lebanons presidential deadlock. The country has been without a president for more than two years. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has scheduled a session for presidential elections in January. "Consultations with opposition factions and our allies will begin in the coming days to explore the possibility of agreeing on presidential candidates and bringing them to parliament, Geagea said. 2 children and a woman crushed to death outside Gaza bakery Two children and a 50-year-old woman were crushed to death Friday as a crowd of Palestinians pushed to get bread at a bakery in the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah, medical officials said. The flow of food allowed into Gaza by Israel has fallen to nearly its lowest level of the almost 14-month-old war for the past two months, according to Israeli official figures. U.N. and aid officials say hunger and desperation are growing among Gazas population, almost all of which relies on humanitarian aid to survive. A doctor at Al-Aqsa Hospital confirmed that the three died from suffocation due to crowding at the al-Banna bakery in Deir al-Balah. Some bakeries in Gaza were closed for several days last week due to a shortage of flour. AP footage taken last week after they reopened showed large crowds of people cramming together, screaming and pushing, at one bakery in Deir al-Balah. Bags of bread now sell in the black market near bakeries for up to $17 each. Palestinians across the Gaza Strip are heavily relying on bakeries and charitable kitchens, with many able to only secure one meal a day for their families. Osama Abu Laban, the father of one of the girls killed Friday, wailed over the loss of her life outside the hospital. My wife fell when she heard that she (our daughter) was suffocating. She did not yet know that she was dead, he told the AP. He added that he had also lost his son, father, uncle, and cousins, all in northern Gaza. Several women gathered inside the morgue to mourn their dead relatives, with one woman screaming they went to buy bread, they crushed them. ___ Read more of the AP's coverage of the Middle East wars: https://apnews.com/hub/mideast-wars TEHRAN, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi held a phone talk with his Syrian counterpart Bassam Sabbagh on Friday, exchanging views on the latest developments in Syria, Iran's state-run IRIB TV reported. During the talk, Araghchi denounced the resurgence of terrorist groups in Syria as a U.S.-Israeli "scheme" following setbacks in Lebanon and Palestine, affirming that Iran would continue to support the Syrian nation, government, and army in the fight against terrorism for safeguarding regional security and stability. For his part, Sabbagh said the Syrian nation and government would strive to the fullest extent to defend themselves, and will, as always, foil the attempts of terrorists and their supporters in reaching their objectives. The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rebel group and allied factions have launched a major offensive on Syrian military positions in the Aleppo and Idlib provinces since Wednesday, resulting in dozens of deaths, including a senior member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and the seizure of several towns. Earlier on Friday, the Syrian army announced that its forces successfully repelled the large-scale offensive by HTS in the rural regions of Aleppo and Idlib, claiming to have inflicted heavy losses to the rebel group and hundreds of casualties among the terrorists. In May 2017, Russia and Iran, allies of the Syrian government, signed a memorandum with Turkiye, a key supporter of the Syrian opposition, agreeing to establish de-escalation zones in Aleppo and Idlib. In September 2018, Russia and Turkiye brokered a stabilization memorandum for Idlib. But sporadic fighting continues to erupt in the province. Arizona weather was expected to stay mild through the holiday weekend, and the Arizona Department of Transportation promised no road work until Dec. 2 but recommended "expecting the unexpected" and being patient while navigating traffic. The state highway department reported no expected major highway closures in the state. The National Weather Service predicted highs in the 70s and sunny or partly sunny skies through the holiday in the Phoenix area with no expected rain and calm winds. Lows were expected to dip into the mid-50s. Flagstaff, too, was expected to be clear and calm with daytime highs just above 50 and overnight lows just about 20 degrees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nationally, there were few serious weather advisories, but the weather service issued freeze warnings in a band stretching across central Texas east to Alabama. The most disruptive weather remained around the Great Lakes with winter weather alerts in place. The calm weather led to a relatively smooth holiday for air travelers. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport reported only one canceled flight on Thanksgiving Day. Thus far, there have been 1,480 flight delays and 56 cancellations involving international flights to and from the U.S. and domestic flights within the country. Flight Tracker also reported 10 cancellations for Friday and three for Saturday as it relates to the U.S. flights. According to the American Automobile Association, close to 80 million Americans were traveling from the Tuesday before Thanksgiving to the Monday after. This is a new record in both road and sky travel (a 1.9% and a 2.1% increase respectively, compared with last year). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Busier holiday traffic highways will include Interstate 17 and State Route 87 north of the Phoenix area as well as Interstate 10 between the Tucson or Phoenix areas and California. ADOT recommended getting an early start on Sunday as traffic would get heavier in the afternoon. Below is one closure to keep in mind. Pinetop-Lakeside All lanes on State Route 473 southbound near CR-620 (MP 369) are closed until May 1, 2025. How to avoid big crowds: These are the best times to shop on Black Friday This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Mild AZ weather through Black Friday, holiday weekend; no road work (NewsNation) Millions of Ukrainians are left in the dark after Russia launched a massive attack aimed at the countrys power grid, amplifying fears that the Kremlin is trying to cripple the countrys electricity and heating supplies just as the cold winter months hit. This is Russias second major aerial attack on Ukraines energy infrastructure in less than two weeks. In the latest assault, it fired nearly 200 missiles and drones. Attacks on energy facilities are happening all over Ukraine, Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said on Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mother hopes to be reunited with toddler found alone at border Cruise missiles with cluster munitions smashed into civilian targets in some regions, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called an insidious escalation. Russian President Vladimir Putin says this attack is in retaliation for Ukraine firing missiles made by the United States into Russia. Putin also warned that if Ukraine fires any more, he would target Kyiv decision-making centers in the next attack, and maybe even use the new ballistic missile he calls the Oreshnik. However, despite these tensions with the United States, Putin is seemingly more willing to work with Republican President-elect Donald Trump than current President Joe Biden, a Democrat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Putin was angered by Bidens decision to OK Ukraines use of long-range missiles in Russia, he praised Trump, calling him a clever and experienced man and that he will find a solution to the conflict. In Putins opinion, he said, Trump is not safe after two assassination attempts earlier this year. However, he added the president-elect was courageous in the face of them. Kamala Harris disqualified forever over Democratic overspending: Donor Trump, as he deals with Putin, will have a hand from retired General Keith Kellogg, who he recently chose as his special envoy to Ukraine and Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biden, meanwhile, responded to Russias power grid attack by saying it is outrageous. He stressed the importance of supporting Ukraines defense against Russian aggression. Russia continues to underestimate the bravery, resilience and determination of the Ukrainian people, Biden said. The United States stands with more than 50 countries in support of Ukraine and its fight for freedom. The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. The entire lakefront should belong to the people and be for their enjoyment. Milwaukee Alderman Cornelius Corcoran, 1892-1936. Imagine the Milwaukee lakefront without Lincoln Memorial Drive, Bradford Beach, McKinley Marina, Veterans Park, the War Memorial, the Milwaukee Art Museum, Discovery World, or the Summerfest grounds. You don't have to look far. The wastewater treatment system at Veolia Water Milwaukee is contracted by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, on Jones Island in Milwaukee. Just to the south you can see a Milwaukee lakefront dotted with railroad tracks and trains spewing smoke and blowing horns as freight cars move through the city each day. This is a lakefront largely barren of people, but full of storage for salt and fuel oil, and a sewage treatment plant spewing the aroma of sewage into downtown and the historic Third Ward each day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the early 1900s, Lincoln Memorial Drive was barren of beaches, kites, sailboats, coffee houses, or people. At the time, forward-looking Milwaukee residents were unhappy with the lakefront and agreed with Alderman Corcoran who wanted the entire lakefront dedicated to the people and their enjoyment. Legislature gave Milwaukee right to massive landfill project in 1890s In the 1890s, the state Legislature provided the city of Milwaukee the right to a 300-foot-wide strip of lakefront between Juneau and Lake Parks. In 1907, a massive landfill project that took more than 20 years to complete was started. More opinion: Buses and bikes beat the I-94 expansion. Interstate projects are costly and pointless. The work created McKinley and Bradford Beaches, McKinley Marina, a lagoon, the Art Museum. And yes, lots of average people enjoying the previously inaccessible lakefront. A distance of nearly three miles, Lincoln Memorial Drive connected all of it when it opened in 1929. A group of average people with a big idea. The thought of re-developing three miles of lakefront, removing railroad tracks, moving millions of yards of soil for a landfill that is now a beautiful lakefront park must have seemed impossible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am certain there were naysayers who said it couldn't be done: Too much money. Too much traffic. Too much trouble. The same thing could be said about the lakefront just to the south. You cannot move a sewage treatment plant. It needs to be on the water, right? Where will the salt we need for winter roads be stored? Where will the port of Milwaukee go? These are admittedly big questions. Big ideas require big visions. Big visions have big obstacles. Milwaukee needs a vision for other portions of lakefront The distance from downtown Milwaukee south to Port Milwaukee and the Lake Express Ferry Terminal is approximately 2.25 miles. The distance from downtown Milwaukee north to the end of Lincoln Memorial Drive is 3 miles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the completion of Lincoln Memorial Drive in 1929, billions of dollars of primarily residential real estate have been developed along the bluffs overlooking Lake Michigan, generating millions of dollars of real estate tax revenues for the city. But even more importantly, millions of people have enjoyed the beautiful lakefront created through a big vision many years ago. Milwaukee is not unique in using landfill to fulfill the vision of average people and a long-forgotten alderman. Most of Grant Park in Chicago is landfill. Most of Battery Park in New York City is landfill, and many other cities used fill to enhance their lakefront shoreline, including Toronto, Cleveland and numerous others. A salt pile sits in the Port of Milwaukee in Milwaukee in May. Imagine what the southern lakefront of Milwaukee might look like if we removed the sewage treatment plant, salt storage and oil storage facilities and replaced them with beautiful high rise residential communities, parks, marinas, beaches and playgrounds? Billions of dollars of investment in real estate, and millions of dollars of tax revenues to help make Milwaukee a growing city, a safer city, and a thriving community. Milwaukee is blessed to be located on one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lets not let it go to waste with a sewage treatment plant and salt storage. Lets make it a place for the people and their enjoyment. Jack Gebhardt is a retired executive at Fiserv and Deluxe Data Systems who has lived in Whitefish Bay for more than 30 years. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Travel Lincoln Memorial Drive for vision of MKE's future | Opinion Uber and Lyft drivers file out of the waiting lot at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport after being dispatched to pick up passengers on May 13, 2024. Photo by Max Nesterak/Minnesota Reformer. Take a seat in the Break Room, our weekly round-up of labor news in Minnesota and beyond. This week: Uber and Lyft drivers get minimum wages; nursing home groups sue to block holiday pay for workers; Hennepin County unions representing 4,000 workers reach tentative agreement; Trumps labor secretary pick is union-approved; and farm groups want their workers exempted from deportation. Uber and Lyft minimum wages take effect Sunday A new minimum wage for Uber and Lyft drivers in Minnesota takes effect on Sunday, the result of a hard-fought, two-year campaign to raise drivers wages, insurance coverage and protections from unfair discipline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Drivers for transportation network companies will earn at least $1.28 per mile and 31 cents per minute on average for time spent driving passengers. (Individual trips may pay less than the minimum rate, but if drivers dont earn the minimum rate on average over two weeks, ride-hail companies must pay the difference.) With that rate, the typical driver in the Twin Cities can expect to earn at least $34.58 per hour before they pay for gas and other expenses a 14% increase over 2022 pay according to an analysis by the Service Employees International Union based on a state study of driver earnings. The law entitles drivers to at least $5 per trip, 80% of any cancellation fee and additional pay if they have a wheelchair accessible vehicle. Customers in the Twin Cities metro area can expect to see about a 25% increase in pricing at first, according to an Uber spokeswoman. Loren Balazs, a full-time Uber and Lyft driver, said hes worried the higher prices might lead to a decrease in demand but is overall optimistic the law will increase pay, especially on longer rides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new law also gives drivers the right to appeal being fired or deactivated on a quick timeline; expands insurance requirements for companies (which will take effect Jan. 1); and requires companies to contract with a nonprofit organization to provide culturally competent driver representation services, outreach and education to the many East African and other immigrant drivers on the platform. Uber and Lyft did not say which nonprofit theyve decided to contract with to provide those services. The law seemed to be written with one organization in mind: the Minnesota Uber/Lyft Drivers Association. The group was at the forefront of the grassroots campaign for minimum wages for ride-hail drivers, and lucrative contracts with Uber and Lyft promised to be a valuable reward for years of activism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The groups president Eid Ali, however, said in an interview that MULDA has not contracted with either company. He said his organization will continue to advocate for drivers. The pay increase is a positive step though long overdue, Ali said. Drivers are now watching to see how the TNCs comply with the law. Ali and MULDA are currently being sued by former members alleging fraud and deceptive trade practices. Ali denies the allegations and his attorney, Stephen Cooper, moved to dismiss the case. The minimum wages will likely make competing even more challenging for Uber and Lyft alternatives that entered the market after the two ride hail giants threatened to leave over regulations passed by the Minneapolis City Council. State Democrats banned cities from enacting their own pay standards as part of the state legislation regulating driver pay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Balazs said theres been no reason for him to switch to the other companies, like Wridz or MyWeels, since Uber and Lyft demand remains strong. Nursing homes sue over state labor standards boards holiday pay requirement Two nursing home industry groups filed a lawsuit against the state on Tuesday aiming to block the states Nursing Home Workforce Standards Boards new rule entitling workers to time-and-a-half on 11 state holidays next year. The Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board, created by the DFL-controlled Legislature in 2023, voted earlier this year to raise the minimum pay for nursing home workers to an average of $22 per hour in 2026 and $23.49 per hour in 2027. The three nursing home industry representatives abstained from voting on the rules, which passed with unanimous support from the government and worker representatives. The two industry groups LeadingAge Minnesota and Care Providers of Minnesota argue in their lawsuit filed in federal court that the rule violates federal labor law by interfering with collective bargaining agreements with unionized workers. The union representing most nursing home workers in the state, SEIU Healthcare Minnesota and Iowa, pushed for the boards creation and the unions president voted in favor of the rules as a member of the board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By dictating how providers grant holiday pay, the board is inserting itself in the collective bargaining process, and that violates federal law. Such overreach is unheard of in any other sector in Minnesota, the groups said in a statement through their partnership called Long-Term Care Imperative. Monyou Taye, a nursing assistant and SEIU member, wrote in a statement that she was frustrated that the nursing home industry was spending money on a lawsuit rather than pay for their workers. It is a slap in the face that nursing home owners, after getting over $300 million in 2023, are saying they dont have enough money to pay their workers time-and-a-half holiday pay, she said, referring to a big infusion of state money into the industry after a bipartisan push. For those of us who have to work these holidays, being away from our families while our bosses get to relax at home, it is frustrating that nursing home owners have chosen this path instead of trying to address the staffing issues we all agree are a crisis. Workers and labor advocates say the raises will improve care for the states elderly and disabled by helping attract and retain more quality workers, but nursing home leaders say the wage mandates could tip their balance sheets into financial insolvency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The higher labor costs come as the Biden administration planned to phase in minimum staffing requirements for nursing homes, mandating a registered nurse be on site 24 hours a day and for residents to each receive around three-and-a-half hours of nursing care per day. The Trump administration could roll back those requirements. Unions representing 4,000 Hennepin County workers reach tentative agreement The AFSCME locals representing some 4,000 Hennepin County workers including social workers, probation officers, librarians and prosecutors reached a tentative agreement that includes a 4% annual wage increase for the next three years with dozens of different jobs seeing additional raises. This major agreement is a win for every AFSCME member and every family that relies on the critical services provided by Hennepin County workers, said Bart Andersen, Executive Director of AFSCME Council 5, in a statement on Nov. 22. The deal, which must still be ratified by workers, comes after months of negotiations that culminated in a rally with some 700 union members earlier this month. Many workers were incensed that Hennepin County Board members voted to give themselves 49% raises which were later walked back to 5% while union workers were initially offered around 1% annual raises. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The board also awarded sizable raises to other leaders to bring their salaries in line with their peers: 20% for the county administrator, 20% for the county sheriff and 15% for the county attorney. The president of AFSCME Local 2938, which represents prosecutors and other legal staff, said they were ready to strike for wage increases that are competitive with other government attorneys like public defenders, who have recently won significant pay raises. The tentative agreement ends the prospect of a strike and moves legal staff closer to higher paid peers, though falls short of what they had hoped. Trumps Labor secretary pick is union-approved Labor leaders were unexpectedly pleased by President-elect Donald Trumps pick of a union-endorsed Republican congresswoman to be the next Secretary of Labor, while some Republicans fear she is too sympathetic to organized labor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who narrowly lost her re-election bid for a second term, is the daughter of a Teamster and one of just three House Republicans to support the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, a legislative package that would make it easier for workers to unionize, add penalties for illegal union busting and ban so-called right-to-work laws, which allow workers to decline paying union dues for the cost of bargaining and representation. Teamster President Sean OBrien lobbied on behalf of Chavez-DeRemer and had won some goodwill from Trump for being the first Teamster president to speak at the Republican National Convention and declining to make a presidential endorsement. (Local and regional Teamsters overwhelmingly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.) On Twitter, now called X, OBrien thanked Trump: Nearly a year ago, you joined us for a Teamsters roundtable and pledged to listen to workers and find common ground to protect and respect labor in America. You put words into action. Now lets grow wages and improve working conditions nationwide. Congratulations to (Chavez-DeRemer) on your nomination. Other labor leaders remain skeptical; Chavez-DeRemer has a poor rating from the AFL-CIO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Labor secretary can be a champion of workers and unions or a bulwark for employers, depending on how zealously the agency enforces federal wage and hour laws, worker safety standards and child labor regulations. Chavez-DeRemers nomination is a significant departure from Trumps previous labor secretaries, and could represent a thawing of icy relations between labor and the Republican Party. She is already facing some resistance from Republican senators who must confirm her appointment. I will need to get a better understanding of her support for Democrat legislation in Congress that would strip Louisianas ability to be a right-to-work state, and if that will be her position going forward, Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy said, according to Punchbowl News. The Teamsters are currently working with Sen. Josh Hawley on a version of the PRO Act that Republicans would vote for, according to Bloomberg. Farm groups want their workers exempted from deportation U.S. farm groups and some fellow Republicans hope Trumps central campaign promise of mass deportations without exceptions will indeed have exceptions for farm workers, about half of whom dont have legal work authorization, Reuters reported. (This graph is a helpful primer on the vital role of immigrants in the nations food system.) U.S. Rep. John Duarte, a Republican and California farmer, said deporting agricultural workers threatens rural economies and the farms that supply the nations food: I would like to hear more clearly expressed that these families will not be targeted. Deporting the 11 million or so people in the United States illegally would also hurt other major sectors of the economy by slowing production and driving up prices, including in construction, hospitality and manufacturing, even as those sectors face already face a labor shortage. Thats to say nothing of the logistical and humanitarian nightmare of removing so many people, most of whom have lived in the U.S. for a decade or more and are in mixed households with legal immigrants or U.S. citizens. In his first term, Trump told farmers he wouldnt target their workers, although his administration did conduct some raids at poultry and produce processing facilities. Trumps incoming border czar Tom Homan said immigration enforcement will focus its efforts on those with criminal records, which is unchanged from recent Democratic administrations, but he said no undocumented immigrant will be exempt. Keeping undocumented workers in a state of limbo is good for disreputable farm owners, construction contractors and other employers who exploit the vulnerabilities of a workforce less likely to report wage theft, labor trafficking or other abuses. Farmers have a path to hiring an unlimited number of seasonal workers if they can show there are not enough U.S. workers available through the H-2A visa program, but as Reuters notes, many farmers say they cannot afford to pay the minimum wages required by the visa and provide the required housing. Those with year-round operations, like dairy farms, arent eligible. A man who was reported missing more than five weeks ago was found alive Tuesday after he was recognized by two men in the wilderness of British Columbia, Canada. Sam Benastick, 20, went missing on Oct. 19 after failing to return home from a 10-day fishing and hiking trip in the scenic Redfern-Keily Park in the northern Rocky Mountains. His sister, Kate, wrote in a GoFundMe that the trip had been a solo one. Our family is devastated and is determined to find him, she wrote at the time. Benastick was recognized by the two men while walking along a service road with two sticks to support himself, a statement from the RCMP said. He had cut open a sleeping bag to wrap around his legs for warmth. According to the BBC, temperatures in the area had dropped to as low as -4F (-20C). A search-and-rescue team operation had already been called off and it seemed all hope was lost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finding Sam alive is the absolute best outcome. After all the time he was missing, it was feared that this was would not be the outcome, said Corporal Madonna Saunderson of the RCMP in a statement. The circumstances of his disappearance are still not known, but Benastick told police that he had lived in his car for a couple of days before walking to a creek where he camped for approximately two weeks. His supplies included a tarp, backpack and some camping supplies. According to the RCMP, he moved from the creek down the valley and built a shelter in a dried-out creek bed. He then made his way to the spot where he flagged down the two men and was taken to safety. The two men took him to a hospital where he is now recovering. He was in pretty bad shape but hes alive, Mike Reid, the general manager of an inn where Benasticks family stayed for more than 20 days while searching for him, told CNN. Benasticks uncle, Al Benastick, told CBC his nephew was suffering frostbite and some smoke inhalation. (WJW) A 20-year-old hiker who had been missing for weeks was found alive in the wilderness of British Columbia, the Royal Canadian Mountain Police confirmed on Wednesday. Sam Benastick was first reported missing back on Oct. 19. As reported by CBC News and other media outlets, the hiker didnt return from what was supposed to be a 10-day camping trip. He took his dirt bike and planned to hike and fish in the Redfern-Keily Provincial Park, but his family grew concerned when he didnt check in after 10 days, his sister stated on a GoFundMe page. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our family is devastated and is determined to find him, she said on the fundraiser, which gathered more than $42,000. Stowaway passenger bypasses TSA at New York airport, lands in Paris: Officials This led to an extensive search for the hiker, which was made up of rescue teams, park rangers and volunteers. According to Royal Canadian Mountain Police, two people walking along the Redfern Lake trail spotted a man heading toward them around 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 26. CBC reported he was carrying two walking sticks and had a cut-up sleeping bag wrapped around his legs. Investigators say he was taken to the hospital, where police confirmed the man to be Benastick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Benastick told investigators he stayed in his car for a couple days before setting up camp by a creek for 10 to 15 days. Then moved down the valley, and built a camp and shelter in a dried-out creek bed, the Royal Canadian Mountain Police said in a press release. He then made his way to where he flagged down the two men and was taken to safety. Baseball star Shohei Ohtani seeks $325,000 worth of baseball cards from ex-interpreter Benastick spent 50 days surviving in sometimes frigid temperatures. At times, CBC reported, temperatures in the area dropped four degrees below zero. In the press release, investigators thanked everyone who took part to the search. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finding Sam alive is the absolute best outcome. After all the time he was missing, it was feared that this was would not be the outcome , Corporal Madonna Saunderson said in the release. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Police have announced a major new development in the case of missing Maui woman Hannah Kobayashi after she was spotted on surveillance footage crossing the Mexican border alone with her belongings. The 30-year-old vanished from Los Angeles on November 8 while traveling to New York City for what was described as a bucket list trip. Her disappearance raised alarm bells with her family, who headed from Hawaii to LA to search for her. Now, more than three weeks on, the Los Angeles Police Department has declared her a voluntary missing person after surveillance footage captured her crossing the USs southern border on foot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said on Monday that Kobayashi was seen collecting her luggage from a carousel at Los Angeles International Airport on November 11. The next day, she purchased a bus ticket from Union Station to San Ysidro, California close to the Mexican border. She then crossed over into Mexico soon after, the LAPD said. The LAPDs missing persons unit traveled to the US-Mexico border to review the footage with the US Customs and Border Protection on Sunday. Based on the footage, law enforcement believe Kobayashi went missing of her own accord and so the LAPD will not be continuing its investigation in Mexico. Hannah Kobayashi went missing on November 8 when she failed to board a connecting flight at LAX (midorieve/Instagram) To date, the investigation has not uncovered any evidence that Kobayashi is being trafficked or is the victim of foul play, the LAPD said in the statement. She is also not a suspect in any criminal activity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said her disappearance will continue to be treated as a missing person case until her safety is assured and that authorities will be notified if she returns to US soil. On November 8, Kobayashi failed to board a connecting flight at LAX on her way from Hawaii to New York City. Her ex-boyfriend, who has not been named, had the same flight itinerary as Kobayashi and reportedly made it to their end destination, CNN reported. The trip was planned before the pair split up, but as the flights were non-refundable, they kept the tickets and agreed to part ways once they arrived in New York, Kobayashis sister Sydni told the network. Kobayashi had planned to meet her aunt Geordan Montalvo and her aunts husband Bob in New York to go to a concert together on November 12. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But she missed her connecting flight and never made it to NYC. The Kobayashi family said they received a strange and cryptic text from hers phone suggesting she was being intercepted while she was boarding a Metro train, and expressing fear that someone was trying to steal her identity. A missing flyer for Hannah in Los Angeles (AP) Once the family started pressing, she went dark, Hannahs aunt, Larie Pidgeon previously told the Associated Press. She said the phone just went dead after November 11. Her sister Sydni spoke of her familys fears that someone is controlling her. Sydni told NewsNation last week that strange text messages friends and family members had received from Hannahs phone were absolutely not like her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the cryptic texts a friend received from Hannahs number said she had been tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds to someone I thought I loved, it was previously reported. Deep Hackers wiped my identity, stole all of my funds, & have had me on a mind f*** since Friday, another message said. Sydni described the texts as really weird. This is absolutely not like her, especially with the text messages that she last sent, she told the broadcaster. In my mind, it feels like someone was controlling her. Or it might not have even been her. Police previously said they were investigating payments Hannah made over Venmo to a man and woman on November 9, shortly before her disappearance. Ryan Kobayashi, center, holds a picture of his missing daughter Hannah Kobayashi in LA on November 21 (AP) As well as Kobayashis disappearance, the family is also currently grappling with the double tragedy of the death of Hannahs father Ryan Kobayashi, who was found dead in a parking lot near LAX on November 24 while in the city looking for his daughter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The LA County medical examiner said he had died from multiple blunt force traumatic injuries, and has since ruled his death as a suicide. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you. A man who went missing for more than five weeks deep in the Canadian wilderness has been found alive, authorities have confirmed. Sam Benastick was reported missing on Oct. 19 after not returning from a trip to the back country of British Columbia in Canada, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in British Columbia. MORE: Man nearly electrocuted to death while hanging Christmas lights on tree Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But on Tuesday at approximately 11:30 a.m. -- more than five weeks after Benastick was initially reported missing -- Northern Rockies RCMP were notified that he had been located by two people who were headed to the Redfern Lake trail for work when they saw a man walking toward them and recognized him to be Sam Benastick when they approached him, officials said. The two men immediately took Benastick to the hospital where police attended and confirmed him to be the man reported missing, authorities said. MORE: 22 rescuers recover body of 44-year-old hiker after 'significant fall in icy terrain' Sam told police that he stayed in his car for a couple of days and then walked to a creek, mountain side where he camped out for 10-15 days, according to the British Columbia Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Benastick then reportedly moved down into the valley and built a camp and shelter in a dried-out creek bed before he was fortunate enough to find the two men he flagged down and taken to safety, officials said. MORE: Woman dies after being thrown from golf cart near private members-only club Finding Sam alive is the absolute best outcome. After all the time he was missing, it was feared that this was would not be the outcome, said Cpl Madonna Saunderson of British Columbia Royal Canadian Mounted Police Communications. The RCMP would like to sincerely thank the Fort Nelson and North Peace and Search and Rescue teams including other Search and Rescue jurisdictions that provided mutual aid support, the Canadian Rangers along with many local volunteers with extensive back country knowledge of the area, authorities said. The time, effort and resources put in to locate Sam from the time of notification he was missing was beyond measure. We are thankful for the great outcome. Missing for over 5 weeks, man miraculously found alive deep in Canadian wilderness originally appeared on abcnews.go.com JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) Criminals scam Americans out of billions of dollars annually, but research suggests Mississippians are especially vulnerable. The most common scams are phishing emails that attempt to steal personal information. Other common scams include fake calls or text messages claiming to be the IRS, a car warranty provider or a bank wanting to give a loan. Mississippi ranks 29th among states nationwide most affected by fraud and identity theft, and fifth among states most touched by tax scams. Below is a breakdown of the Mississippi numbers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reports of fraud and identity theft: 900 per 100,000 people Reports of tax preparer scam: 29.5 per one million people According to Federal Trade Commission data, scammers took more than $10 billion from Americans last year. According to Wes Jennings, chair and professor of criminal justice and legal studies at the University of Mississippi, tax season, holidays, emergencies or disasters are times when people are most vulnerable to con artists. One Tech Tip: Replacing passwords with passkeys for an easier login experience Scams can be effective as they exploit human emotions such as fear, urgency or the desire to be helpful, Jennings said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the first warning signs is an offer that seems too good to be true, requests for urgent action, payment or unprofessional communications. Still, Jennings explained that these scams are often targeted towards people based on age. Young people ages 18 to 24 are vulnerable to scams related to fraudulent job offers and online shopping. Adults over 65 are often targeted for scams more broadly. Jennings asserted that awareness of these factors and the following tips may help consumers protect themselves. Be cautious about sharing personal information online Consult a friend, family member or local law enforcement Do not provide any personal or financial information Educate yourself on the various types of scams Regularly update software and antivirus programs on electronic devices Verify the identity of the person or organization by contacting them directly Many organized scams are run by groups, not individuals, and they are frequently based in geographic regions with weaker legal systems to avoid detection and prosecution. Jennings said that authorities may still be able to track and potentially apprehend the scammers, especially in cases where organized groups are involved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A quick report increases the likelihood of limiting the scammers access to further information and resources, potentially preventing future fraud targeting other victims, Jennings said. If one has lost money or had their financial account compromised, they should contact their bank to report the fraud. Anyone who thinks they have been scammed should contact local law enforcement. For more information on how to protect yourself from financial con artists, click here. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. KABUL, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- The construction work on 17 infrastructure projects has been completed in Afghanistan's western Ghor province, the state-run Bakhtar news agency reported Friday. The projects, which include roads, bridges, and protective walls, are valued at over 13 million Afghanis (200,010 U.S. dollars) and will provide enhanced facilities for the local community. As part of efforts to rebuild war-torn Afghanistan, the caretaker government has launched many infrastructure projects, calling on national and international enterprises to invest and create job opportunities for the Afghan people. Nov. 28Online Anyone interested in the testing for chronic wasting disease can learn more at mdc.mo.gov/cwd. CARTHAGE, Mo. Hundreds of Jasper County hunters brought deer they killed to the Carthage Intermediate Center parking lot on Route HH earlier this month to have them tested for chronic wasting disease. Across the state, the Missouri Department of Conservation said it collected tissue samples from more than 18,500 hunter-harvested deer Nov. 16-17, the opening weekend of the modern firearms season. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sampling was mandatory in Jasper, Newton and Barton counties this fall; all three counties are part of state-designated CWD management zones. Kevin Badgley, with the department's Shoal Creek Conservation and Education Center in Joplin's Wildcat Park, said hunters brought about 550 deer to the Jasper County testing station. "We found one positive case out of the 800-plus deer sampled last year from this station, and that deer was harvested over by Carl Junction in the Stringtown area by the Kansas state line," Badgley said Nov. 16. "So we are having sampling again here." CWD also has been detected in Barton County for several years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The disease CWD is a deadly, infectious disease in whitetail deer and other members of the cervid family such as elk and moose that is 100% fatal. There is no vaccine or cure. CWD can be spread from direct deer-to-deer contact, through improper disposal of deer carcasses and through the environment by deer contacting infectious material from other deer. Left unmanaged, CWD could have a significant impact on Missouri's deer population, hunting culture and economy. The Missouri Department of Conservation said hunters play a critical role in helping the department find and manage CWD by having deer tested and following CWD regulations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CWD sampling consists of department staff removing lymph nodes from the necks of harvested deer. Tissue samples are sent to an independent lab for testing. "We greatly appreciate the many thousands of hunters who brought their deer to mandatory CWD sampling stations over the weekend," said Deb Hudman, the department Wildlife Health Program supervisor. "Hunters who provide samples from harvested deer play a critical role in MDC's efforts to monitor the spread of CWD and identify new areas of infection." Sampling stations The Missouri Department of Conservation set up mandatory sampling stations in 43 counties across the state on the first weekend of deer hunting season. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because of the proximity of that positive in Jasper County to Newton County, mandatory sampling also was required there for the first time this fall, although no positives have been found in Newton County yet. "What we're wanting to do as the Missouri Department of Conservation is we want to gauge the disease on the landscape," Badgley said. "If we know it's in a particular area, then we're continuing to look at that. But if we're not sampling in a county, we don't know if it's there or not, so selective counties are added each year, and when we don't find it for a few years, we drop them off." At the sampling station, while one department worker removes the nodes, a second one has the hunter pinpoint on a map of the county exactly where he shot the deer and gives the hunter a bar code for checking on the results of the tests later on the department's website. Badgley said the department only contacts hunters if their deer tests positive for the CWD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the hunters generally don't see the station as an inconvenience. "It's kind of bringing back the old check station days," Badgley said. "A lot of hunters really enjoy coming in and talking with other hunters and seeing some of the deer that are brought in. It's camaraderie, and it's also an opportunity to talk to an MDC representative, so it's good for us to talk to the public and gauge their interest and it's a good opportunity to educate them if they have questions about CWD." Hunter perspective Cody Heidlage, from Carthage, said he had heard about CWD from his dad and saw the notice of the mandatory testing when he bought his deer tag online. He spent that morning hunting with his brother, Cole Heidlage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our dad wanted us to come here and get the buck tested," Cole Heidlage said. "I've heard about it, but I don't know too much about it." Logan Eck went hunting with his son, Landon, 11, and brought in a buck. "We saw four deer, all males. We thought this one a different, bigger deer," Landon Eck said. "We thought it was a 12-point we saw earlier, and it was really puffed up. It caught us off guard so we had to make a decision really quickly." Logan Eck said he is concerned about CWD. "It does make a difference in the animals we have out there, and if a bunch of them start getting chronic wasting, that's not going to be good for us in the future, especially for his generation of hunters," he said. "We don't want a bunch of them dying off, because I've seen the disease and what it does." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Logan Eck said he is going to wait for the test results before eating his deer. "Even though they said there's never been any confirmed case of CWD being transmitted to humans, I'm for sure going to wait just to be on the safe side," he said. TGIF and happy Black Friday, friends! Heres to hoping you all stayed safe and cozy during our Thanksgiving Day storm. Were still dealing with lingering impacts in the aftermath of that system including leftover snow showers and sloppy/slick roadways. The mountains are the messiest this morning, but there may be some localized icy spots in the lower elevations as well. Temperatures will rebound into the middle to upper 30s this afternoon with a mix of sun, clouds, and scattered lake effect snow showers. Those lake effect bands from Ontario will cut across the Champlain Valley and even into the Granite State at times today. Be mindful of how intense they could be, providing periodic whiteouts. Overnight, readings will dip into the 20s as lake effect snow showers retreat back into northern New York. The weekend forecast will feature prevailing lake effect snow showers for the North Country. Southern St. Lawrence and Franklin counties will see the most snow and the poorest travel conditions both Saturday and Sunday. While there may be a few snow showers that break off from the main bands and head east into Vermont and/or New Hampshire, its primarily a drier weekend for the Twin States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Temperatures will manage the upper 30s Saturday afternoon with partly cloudy skies for the Green Mountain and Granite States. More clouds than sun are likely in the North Country along with those lake effect snow showers. Sunday will be a rinse and repeat of Saturday with slightly colder highs in the lower to mid 30s. We have written up an article specific to this weekends lake effect snow event including who will see what and when along with the latest winter weather alerts for northern New York. We encourage you to take a look at it so you can adjust your travel plans accordingly. Make it a safe and happy holiday weekend! Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A teenager has been charged in connection with the murder of an Antioch restauranteur, but officers are still searching for his twin brother. Marcos Leyva-Hernandez, 17, was arrested and charged with criminal homicide for Sunday nights murder of Nashville business owner 39-year-old Hwarang Joo, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD). Metro police announced officers have been searching for two people in connection with the investigation on Tuesday. Authorities reported Joo had just left his business, Hot Stuff Chicken, and was inside his Volkswagen SUV when gunfire erupted shortly before 11 p.m. Joo was hit and the Volkswagen accelerated before crashing into a dental office, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ORIGINAL STORY: Man found shot to death inside vehicle at Antioch shopping center, police say Marcos and his twin brother, Emilio, reportedly used an AR-style rifle to open fire at a Dodge Charger across the way from Joos Volkswagen, the MNPD added in a Thursday press release. The MNPD noted Joo was not involved in the dispute whatsoever. There were three people inside the Charger at the time of the shooting, but they and the Leyva-Hernandez brothers fled the scene. The MNPD said that authorities located and interviewed the individuals within the Charger. The brothers face three counts of attempted criminal homicide. (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department) (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department) The MNPD added in a follow-up post officers are still searching for Emilio in connection with this case. In a press release, the MNPD said that both brothers were named in Juvenile Court petitions charging them with criminal homicide and three counts each of attempted criminal homicide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee Anyone who has seen Emilio, or the Ford Taurus the brothers were last seen in, is asked to call either 911 or Nashville Crime Stoppers at (615) 742-7463. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Abu Mohammad al-Jolani says his days with al-Qaeda are over As Syrian rebels bore down on the city of Aleppo, their communication channels published photos of a bearded man in military clothing directing the offensive. For the man sitting with subordinates at banks of telephones, the surprise push apparently marked the most electrifying chapter yet in a career as one of the Syrian civil wars most significant, but also most disputed and enigmatic leaders. As head of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) jihadist group, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani leads the main rebel group in north-west Syria, controlling about half of Idlib province and parts of neighbouring Aleppo, Latakia and Hama. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This territory is home to nearly three million displaced people and is the main opposition enclave to Bashar al-Assads government. Here he has attempted to cultivate the image of a community-oriented civic leader protecting residents while delivering public services. Yet to the American government and others, he is also a designated terrorist with a $10m (7.9m) bounty on his head because of his past as an al-Qaeda extremist. Rebel forces take control of areas outside Aleppo - Ghaith Alsayed/AP Jolani, whose real name is Ahmed Hussein al Shara, joined al-Qaeda after moving to Iraq in 2003 to fight against American forces. He spent several years in US military prisons, before returning to Syria in 2011 to set up the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front, when the civil war erupted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the following years, he split firstly with his former allies in Islamic State and then later with al-Qaeda, before consolidating other factions into HTS in 2017. In nearly a decade of rifts, mergers and rebranding, he has attempted to portray himself as a pragmatist who has put his time with al-Qaeda a long way behind him. HTS fighters set light to a picture of president Bashar al-Assad in Zarbah, south of Aleppo - AAREF WATAD/AFP Since the split, Jolani has said he has abandoned al-Qaedas goals of global jihad and is now only focused only on ousting Mr Assad and delivering Islamic governance in Syria. In 2021, he told US broadcaster PBS: Our involvement with al-Qaeda in the past was an era, and it ended. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And even at that time when we were with al-Qaeda, we were against external attacks and its completely against our policies to carry out external operations from Syria to target European or American people. This was not part of our calculations at all, and we did not do it at all. In the interview, he said the designation of HTS as a terrorist group was unfair and political. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In areas under HTS control, the group has a technocratic administrative arm called the Salvation Government, to manage general services, the economy, health, education and internal security. Jolani has said governance should be Islamic but not according to the standards of Islamic State or even Saudi Arabia. The group has not banned smoking or compelled women to cover their faces. The morality police had also stopped patrolling the streets by January 2022, the Washington Post reported. He has also reportedly reached out to Christians and Druze living in the enclave. Rebels led by the Islamist militant group HTS drive thrrough al-Rashideen with weaponry - MAHMOUD HASANO/Reuters Yet for all HTS attempts to portray its softer side, it has also been ruthless in asserting its dominance and squeezing out rivals, analysts say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are widespread reports which Jolani denied to PBS that detainees have been tortured. Human rights organisations could come and inspect the prisons or take a tour,he said. As his troops stormed through Aleppo, Jolani issued a statement instructing them not to frighten children, cut down trees, or instil fear in our people of other sects. Last year the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies said: Beyond the messaging campaign, there have been some substantive signs of moderation within the group, including limiting the power of the so-called morality police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite any moves towards religious moderation, HTS has shown limited tolerance for political dissent, reacting swiftly and harshly to any protests or civilian complaints. Today, HTS is more recognisable as an authoritarian statelet than the transnational Islamist militia it once was. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. "She will be missed but she is not forgotten," her son wrote on social media, adding, "I miss you every day" Phoenix Police/X Amber Bretsch Barnett Amber Bretsch Barnett A hiker who went missing in Arizonas White Tank Mountains in April has been found dead seven months later, though her cause of death is not yet clear, authorities said. On Sunday, Nov. 24, the body of Amber Barnett was located in White Tank Mountain Regional Park near Waddell, Sgt. Calbert Gillett of the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office confirmed to PEOPLE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A cause of death has not yet been determined, Gillett wrote in an email. Barnett was first reported missing by her family after failing to return from a hike on the Mesquite Trail in Waddell. Deputies had been dispatched to the area on Sunday for possible human remains reported by a hiker, according to an initial statement from the sheriff's office. When deputies arrived, they were able to locate the human remains," authorities said then, adding, "Homicide unit detectives are investigating. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. On Tuesday, Nov. 26, Barnetts son Anthony Merlina paid tribute to her in a post on Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My wonderful mother has gone to be with the Lord, Merlina wrote. She was found in the white tanks mountain doing what she loved to do seeking the Lord." "I am forever grateful for the example she showed me," he continued. "She lived her life for Jesus and set herself apart to interceed and pray for others. She will be missed but she is not forgotten. Thank you momma. I miss you every day. A missing persons flyer had stated that Barnett was last seen on April 1 in Phoenix. An updated missing persons flyer clarified that she was last known to be hiking in the White Tank Mountains on Tuesday, 4/2/2024. Her car was found in Lot 7 at the west end of Ramada Way. Her keys and purse were found in her car. Oneida community members shared wrenching stories about loss and addiction during a community meeting last Thursday evening at the Oneida Nations Norbert Hill Center, near Green Bay, Wisconsin. During the tribes community meal and discussion, one man said he was 16 when his brother died of an opioid overdose, and he has five nieces and nephews who dont have a father. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Oneida Nation estimates it will receive about $6.5 million in opioid settlement payments between 2020 and 2037, according to an informational packet provided at the meeting. The money is the result of lawsuits against companies involved in manufacturing and selling opioids in the United States. People who attended the meeting spoke passionately about how the tribe should use the funds. Editor's Note: This article was first published by Wisonsin Examiner. Used with permission. All rights reserved. Data from 2021 shows that Native Americans and Black people in Wisconsin were hit particularly hard by the opioid epidemic. Native Americans died of opioid overdoses at close to three times the rate of white people, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Historical trauma, high levels of unemployment and poverty contribute to the vulnerability of Native Americans to addiction.. A total of 1,427 people died of opioid overdoses in Wisconsin in 2021. We did a little analysis of individuals that had overdosed in our community, and I want to say that more than 90% of the individuals that overdosed left children behind, Oneida Nation General Manager Mark Powless told the Examiner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oneida data in a packet provided at the meeting showed 20 overdose deaths between October 2022 and September 2023. For each quarter of that year, between 380 and 516 active patients received substance abuse services. Nationally, in 2022, non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native people died from drug overdoses at the highest rate of any racial or ethnic group. Powless wasnt surprised by the comments people made at the meeting, he said, but their testimony will contribute toward what the tribe is trying to do. He said he never gets used to hearing stories of losing a child, a parent or another family member to an overdose. There was a few times tonight where I had to quickly regain my composure because its just so difficult to hear some of the things that people say and share, he said. We want to prevent addiction, not simply treat addiction Powless told the Examiner about a concerning trend among children 5 years old and younger who are affected by drug abuse. He mentioned Head Start and Early Head Start programs, where staff are encountering families affected by substance abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those areas are starting to encounter kids who are coming from homes where theres either rampant substance use or a loss of a parent due to an overdose, Powless said. Or you have kids that were born addicted. So those kids are now entering into our programs and services, and thats like a growing issue Were seeing more and more kids, and its more and more difficult to find spaces for them to get the services that they need. When you have conversations with the community about children who lost one or both parents to an overdose, you hear about those childrene experiencing challenges, including bullying, Powless said. Theres an understanding that only focusing on treatment means never overcoming the addiction problem, Powless told the crowd at the meeting. For the opioid settlement funds, the tribe is proposing an emphasis on prevention. Prevention is often underfunded, he said. Family-friendly events, programming in the school system and training about trauma and stigma are among ideas that could be funded by the settlement money. We want to prevent addiction, not simply treat addiction, Powless said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the meeting, the man whose brother died from an overdose was disappointed to see the tribe not proposing spending more settlement funds on harm reduction. The only harm reduction proposal outlined would spend $5,000 on harm reduction kits in tribal vehicles. He expressed support for having Narcan, a medicine that can treat an opioid overdose, available in more areas in the community to prevent deaths. The Oneida Nations proposals for the settlement funds arent its only plans to prevent overdoses. Narcan is distributed through the Tribal Action Plan and behavioral health services, Powless said. Yes, there is a need for vending machines, other ways to get even more [Narcan] out into the community, Powless said. But we havent talked about all of the work that is happening, and so some of that is missed in this conversation. How might the tribe use the funding? The tribe has more ideas than it can pay for with the settlement funds and is continuing to add tothe list, Powless said at the meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is not yet a final plan for how most of the money will be used, but there is agreement on a few items, he said. These include funding for future community meetings and buying equipment for Oneida Nation High School students to develop anti-opioid multimedia content. The youth voice and youth participation in this conversation has been really low, so we do want to get our youth engaged in this topic, Powless said. One person at the meeting said that to her, providing transitional housing to people with nowhere to go should be a top priority. There are different models of transitional living the tribe might use to help people overcome substance abuse. One model is called Housing First, and it welcomes people still struggling with substance abuse and can be tricky to manage, Powless said. The idea is to satisfy a persons basic needs, then help with recovery, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Powless isnt sure if the tribe will go in that direction, but he said it will at the very least provide a safe and sober place to live for people coming out of treatment. This would aim to avoid scenarios where someone goes to treatment and then returns to an environment that may lead to relapse. Its really those early days of recovery [when] people need a lot of support, Powless said. Some proposals are specific to Oneida culture. One idea Powless described involves people in recovery receiving training in the trades and then helping build a longhouse. Another idea involves hiring apprentices to learn the Great Law of Peace. One person does the majority if not all of the speaking for Oneida at Great Law recitals, Powless said, and the tribe doesnt currently have people learning to replace him. The Great Law is one of the foundations for our culture, Powless said, one of the foundations for our community We do need to pass on that information to other generations. State settlement money will help fight addiction The Oneida Nation may receive more opioid settlement funding from the state of Wisconsin. This would provide additional funding for a tribe that has more ideas about how to address addiction in the community than it can fund with its settlement money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wisconsin is due to receive over $750 million through 2038 due to national litigation against the pharmaceutical industry, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website. The state received about $31 million in opioid settlement payments in the state fiscal year 2023. (Wisconsins fiscal years run from July 1 to June 30 of each calendar year). Wisconsins 11 federally recognized tribes received $6 million for prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery services for tribal members. The Oneida Nation received over half a million dollars. Earlier this year, the Wisconsin Legislatures Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee passed a plan for using the state fiscal year 2025 payments. The state again allocated $6 million to the tribes. About the Author: "Andrew Kennard is a freelance writer for Native News Online. Kennard, a junior at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, has interned with Native News Online for two summers. He has also done freelance reporting for the Iowa Capital Dispatch and the Wisconsin Examiner, and he is a beat writer at The Times-Delphic, Drake's student newspaper. " Contact: andrewjkennard@hotmail.com DENVER (KDVR) A Montana man was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years in prison for attempted first-degree murder after he allegedly shot at three people sleeping outside a Safeway in Loveland in August 2023. Aaron Lambertus, 28, pleaded guilty under a plea agreement on Sept. 24 to the single felony charge, in addition to a sentence enhancement of using a handgun during the crime. In return, prosecutors dismissed three further attempted first-degree murder charges, and three further sentence enhancement charges that would have specified Lambertus use of a handgun during the crimes. Lone Tree police looking for 2 suspects involved in I-25 carjacking Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case began in August 2023 when Loveland police responded to a Safeway parking lot on a report of a shooting. They learned that two victims were sleeping on the ground and a third person was nearby when someone in an SUV drove by, shot at them, and sped off. One victim was injured in the incident. The Loveland Police Department began to investigate and learned the SUV was registered to Lambertus. The case led detectives to Bozeman, Montana, to interview Lambertus and a co-defendant, Ayla Osterloth. Both were arrested and extradited to Larimer County for the case, according to prosecutors, who said they learned Osterloth had been driving the SUV during the shooting, while Lambertus pulled the trigger. In June, Osterloth pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted murder. She was sentenced to four years in the youth offender system with an eight-year suspended sentence in the Department of Corrections. Prosecutors asked the judge to sentence Lambertus to a maximum of 48 years in prison. Prosecutors said in a release that Lambertus told police he was looking to shoot someone who no one would really care about and who he believed wasnt a contributing member to society. Prosecutors also told the judge during sentencing that Lambertus had tried to manipulate Osterloth, communicating with her in jail and asking her to take the blame for the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lambertus was also sentenced to five years of parole following his prison sentence. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. Fifty-eight percent of EU citizens support the purchase and supply of military equipment to Ukraine. Source: European Pravda, citing the latest Eurobarometer survey Details: Amid Russias aggression against Ukraine, nearly nine out of ten Europeans (87%) agree on providing humanitarian aid to those affected by the war. Support for economic sanctions against the Russian government, companies, and individuals reached 71% of EU citizens, while 68% back financial assistance to Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Six out of ten respondents approve of granting Ukraine candidate status for EU membership, and 58% agree with the EU funding the procurement and delivery of military equipment to Ukraine. The war in Ukraine remains the top concern at the EU level (31%), followed by immigration (28%) and the international situation (22%). Additionally, 76% of Europeans agree that Russia's invasion of Ukraine poses a threat to EU security. The Eurobarometer survey was conducted from 10 October to 5 November 2024, across 27 EU member states, with 26,525 citizens interviewed in person. Interviews were also conducted in nine candidate and potential candidate countries (excluding Ukraine) as well as in the UK. Background: A recent survey revealed that American citizens remain divided on the issue of military support for Ukraine. Meanwhile, compared to the previous year, Germany has seen an increase in the number of people supporting military aid to Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! GUANGZHOU, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Forty-eight blanket shield block modules departed from China on Friday, heading to France for the construction of the world's largest experimental tokamak nuclear fusion reactor. Departing from the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, the components are the first of their kind destined for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project in southern France. The facility, sometimes referred to as "artificial sun," is being built by China, the European Union, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and the United States to test the feasibility of fusion as a large-scale and clean source of energy. The ITER tokamak uses a magnetic cage to confine, shape and control the super-hot plasmas to make fusion reactions possible. The blanket shield block modules are critical vacuum components that provide neutron shielding and heat conduction under high thermal loads. They protect the vacuum chamber, external equipment, and personnel from radiation, ensuring the reactor's stable operation. China and the ROK are each responsible for the manufacturing of 220 blanket shield block modules. The first 48 modules were produced by Dongfang Electric Corporation. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Chula Vista Border Patrol Station arrested a member of the notorious Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang last week as he attempted to enter the country illegally, officials said. Border Patrol agents encountered a group of individuals who had unlawfully crossed the U.S.-Mexico border around 3:15 a.m. Friday, Nov. 22. Among the group was one man who, when questioned about his citizenship, initially claimed to be from Mexico, CBP officials explained. However, after further investigation, it was discovered that the man had provided false biographical information in an effort to conceal his true identity. US faith-based missionaries build homes for Mexican poor south of the border Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Upon further processing at the Border Patrol station, agents confirmed that the individual was actually a 32-year-old citizen of El Salvador and a member of the MS-13 gang. He is now in the custody of the Department of Homeland Security, pending expedited removal under the Presidential Proclamation on Securing the Border. I applaud our San Diego Sector Border Patrol agents for their dedication and diligence to protecting our country, said Chief Patrol Agent Patricia McGurk-Daniel. Keeping dangerous subjects from entering our communities is our pledge to America. In fiscal year 2024, San Diego Sector Border Patrol apprehended 26 gang members, marking a 62.5% increase compared to the previous year, CBP officials noted in a press release. Border Patrol urges the public to report suspicious activity to the San Diego Sector by calling (619) 498-9900. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WKRN) The Mt. Juliet Board of Commissioners approved a contract with a new vendor for license plate readers. Nearly every week, the Mt. Juliet Police Department (MJPD) posts to social media about license plate recognition (LPR) software alerting officers to criminals who are primarily from outside the city. Majority of the offenders are out of the Nashville area, MJPD Deputy Chief Tyler Chandler told News 2, so theres always that concern as Nashville crime changes how does it affect our community? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Armed man accused of resisting arrest in Mt. Juliet One of the issues that affects Mt. Juliet is the issue of guns stolen from vehicles. This week, the Metro Nashville Police Department reported that 819 guns have been stolen from vehicles this year. Sixteen were taken from cars just last week. When you look at our statistics, you do find more officers finding more unlawful weapons in vehicles, Chandler said. Last month, two guns stolen from Nashville were recovered in Mt. Juliet during two separate traffic stops. The suspects were from outside areas. When you look at our statistics and see that the offenders committing crime in our community are coming out of Nashville, Chandler added. Many of them are wanted out of Nashville, so why arent they in jail? Why arent they being held accountable for the crimes that they have committed previously? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of publication, the city of Mt. Juliet has 52 LPR cameras. This week, city commissioners approved a contract with a new LPR vendor that will take over this summer. Chandler said the new vendor will hopefully expand the citys LPR system. Flock has more technologies that are available to local law enforcement, Chandler said. They are a company totally geared towards public safety. Operation Safe Shopper underway as reports of shoplifting increase 20% in Mt. Juliet He said its another layer to keep the community safe. Every county surrounding Nashville has an LPR system in place. Thats part of the reason Chandler said crime has bled into suburban communities like Mt. Juliet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I kind of look at it like a fire ant hill. Its a weird analogy, but if you have an anthill, it can continue to grow if its not controlled. But you can set a perimeter around it from whatever treats the ants and prevent them from spreading, Chandler explained. This is what you see what you see and right nowits an out-of-control ant hill where we see criminals to cross borders and travel around and cause harm in other communities. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. A 42-year-old man wanted by state parole since June 2023 for fleeing a halfway house in Philadelphia was arrested Monday in Scranton, law enforcement officials said. Investigators from the Scranton Police Street Crimes Unit and Lackawanna County District Attorneys Office assisted the U.S. Marshals Service with the apprehension of Melvin Graham at a residence on Prescott Avenue in the city, according to a criminal complaint. Graham had previously been staying in the halfway house following a conviction for first-degree robbery, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 6:45 a.m., investigators arrived at a residence in the 500 block of Prescott Avenue where they believed Graham was staying and he surrendered shortly after police announced their presence outside the property, officers said. Graham admitted knowing he was wanted for leaving the halfway house and said he didnt turn himself in out of fear, according to the criminal complaint. He also expressed relief at being apprehended after living as a fugitive, officers said. Additionally, Graham told investigators he had been staying in Scranton for about a month after living in Philadelphia. When questioned, Graham denied that any drugs were in the residence, but said someone had a handgun, police said. Investigators confiscated three partially smoked marijuana cigarettes from Grahams room. They also discovered a black Taurus 9mm handgun loaded with a magazine hidden under clothes in a bedroom and additional ammunition and another loaded magazine in the same area, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a recorded interview with investigators, Graham admitted again that he was on the run and having been in possession of the gun on multiple occasions, according to the criminal complaint. Due to his criminal history, which includes being adjudicated delinquent for aggravated assault and the 2014 robbery conviction, Graham is prohibited from possessing firearms, police said. Police charged Graham with possession of a firearm prohibited, flight to avoid apprehension, possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. As of Wednesday, Graham was jailed in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $20,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 9 at 10 a.m. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. Jamell Demons, the rapper known professionally as YNW Melly, is finally due back in court Dec. 5, but it wont be to pick up where his murder retrial left off. For that, the artist who calls himself Melly the Menace with a hit track Murder on My Mind will have to wait nearly a year, and even that assumes no more surprises in a case that has seen no shortage of them. Demons, 25, has spent most of his adult life locked up in the Broward Main Jail, held without bond since his arrest for the murders of fellow rappers Christopher YNW Juvy Thomas and Anthony YNW Sakchaser Williams. Prosecutors say Demons shot the men, his childhood friends, in Miramar early on Oct. 26, 2018, after a late-night recording session in Fort Lauderdale. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He faces the death penalty if convicted of first-degree murder. Thursdays hearing is not about the murder but about additional charges Demons is facing for alleged witness tampering. Prosecutors say Demons relayed messages to co-defendant Cortlen Henry through a fellow inmate, instructing Henry to talk Demons girlfriend out of giving a sworn statement or testifying against him. The Fourth District Court of Appeal recently rejected a defense motion to dismiss those charges. The same court is considering a slew of appeals concerning what evidence may and may not be introduced when the murder retrial finally begins. But the witness tampering allegations led to restrictions on Demons access to visitors and other inmates, giving rise to conditions that prompted Demons to file a federal lawsuit last month seeking his release while his cases are pending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Demons first trial ended with a hung jury in July 2023, setting the stage for a retrial. According to prosecutors, Demons was a passenger in a Jeep, seated behind Henry, who was the driver. Expert testimony at trial established that the victims were shot from inside the vehicle, and that the shooter was sitting where Demons sat when they left the Fort Lauderdale recording studio. Henry drove the victims to a Miramar hospital, where they were pronounced dead. Demons was not with him, and defense lawyers say he had already left the vehicle when the shots were fired. That could be interpreted to contradict a 20-minute video documentary Demons produced before the shooting and released after. The video contains a title card near the end that reads Four days after the completion of this film, YNW Melly and his friends were the targets of a drive-by shooting in Miami, Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to prosecutors, Demons and Henry drove the victims to an isolated area in western Miramar, stepped out of the Jeep and fired repeatedly into it to make it appear the slain rappers were the victims of a drive-by. Henry is charged with first-degree murder and as an accessory. His trial was set for September 2025, but that was before Demons retrial was penciled in to start the same month. After the first trial, defense lawyers accused prosecutors of burying an accusation against the lead investigator in the case, Miramar Police Det. Mark Moretti. Defense lawyers say Moretti tried to recruit a Broward Sheriffs deputy to lie about the execution of a search warrant on Demons mother. Moretti denied any intention to lie, and his official report did not contain any facts in dispute. But the legal wranglings over the accusation led Broward Circuit Judge John Murphy to order the removal of the lead prosecutor from the case. Those accusations are likely to resurface when Moretti is called back to the stand in Demons retrial. Murphy has since retired, and the case is now before Broward Circuit Judge Martin Fein, who has said he expects the retrial to get underway, finally, next September. Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457. Follow him on Threads.net/@rafael.olmeda. Tesla owner Elon Musk, right, was hardly alone in the tech sector in supporting the reelection efforts by Donald Trump, left. Many Silicon Valley investors and innovators were hoping for a lighter regulatory hand than they have seen under President Joe Biden. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Reading about Donald Trumps plans to elevate Elon Musk into a position in the federal government might have you asking questions. Why does it take two people to head a government office focused on efficiency? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why will Musk be co-leading a governmental department with an acronym that matches (DOGE) his beloved, meme cryptocurrency? Why should Musk have a role in a government that is one of the largest customers for his satellite internet technology? How many people with sexual abuse allegations should be wedged into one administration? Why should we want Musk a leader famous for gutting the workforce of Twitter with disastrous business and online safety consequences to lead government reform? Or, given the size of Trumps and Musks egos, how long will it take for them to revert to being adversaries? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Good questions, each of these. However, as I was teaching my students about media history, a different question arose for me: What does Musks ascendence to a national political figure say about the internet today? To answer that question, lets rewind to the tech-utopian start of the internet. During the late 1960s, computer experts from every kind of American institution chipped in. Private companies provided hardware. Academic researchers at Berkeley and MIT helped out. Military agencies partnered up. While their shared progress seems idyllic now, one of their goals revealed darkness: They hoped to create a communication system strong enough to survive a nuclear attack. Compared with the invention of other American media, this collaborative and urgent beginning aimed at helping the public was distinctive. Most other new media burst onto the scene with commercial aims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Looking back to the 1800s, often a single private individual, such as Thomas Edison with the phonograph, invented new media technology. Other times, inventors aimed to reverse monopolies created by other technologies. This was the case with Alexander Graham Bell and his telephone: Bell and his business partner wanted to counter the market dominance of the telegraph. The internet between the late 1960s and the late 1980s was different. Corporations partnered with the government and universities in creating this new digital network. A lucrative market for the internet essentially didnt exist for decades. We all know the history since then. American companies dominate computers and the internet, starting with the founding of Microsoft and Apple in the 1970s, through the creation of social media giants such as Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram. The switch has firmly toggled. The internet, often shepherded by government through its collaborative start, has transformed into to competitive commerce. Given this history of the internet, Musks recent move allowing him one hand to steer the government and another to steer his internet corporations stands out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps you dont consider Musk and his fortune to be connected to the internet as much as his Tesla car brand. Remember, though, that one of his first technology jackpots was in creating PayPal, the online transaction service. Also, he purchased Twitter, one of the most important social media platforms, for $55 billion dollars and converted it into the now-slumping X.com. His satellite internet service Starlink provides everyone from national militaries to adventurers with internet connections, virtually anywhere on the globe. Finally, his ambitions of creating an autonomous taxi service will rely on those cars being constantly connected to the internet. Considering all of that, Musks identity and fortune have always been plugged into the internet, a technology that relied on government and university expertise. The irony is obvious. From his perch in the Department of Governmental Efficiency, he might dismantle programs and hobble the type of institutions that fueled the early days of the internet. If so, it would be the equivalent of Musk pulling the drawbridge up behind him after driving a Tesla into his gleaming techno-castle. While he profits each day from government investments made decades ago, he may block others from the same benefits through promising technologies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One example: The Defense Department spurred the internets development by creating the Advanced Research Projects Agency in 1958. The broad, initial goal of ARPA was to create a new communications system. By 1969, however, it had launched something specific: ARPAnet, an early computer network seen as an internet precursor. Its difficult to see how government investments and partnerships like this would be more likely under the regime of Musk and his proposed partner in governmental efficiency, Vivek Ramaswammy. Since Trumps election at the start of the month, Ramaswamy said that the Defense Department has nearly a trillion dollars of budget they cant even tell you where it goes, suggesting that cuts are on the way. Of course, in budgets as large as the Defense Departments and with overall federal spending, there is likely waste, fraud and overspending. Efficiency is a noble goal. However, valuing efficiency doesnt mean that we should entrust Musk with the job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given his pending appointment, Musk may cement his status as the most powerful private citizen in America. Heres hoping he remembers that the internet, the engine of his personal wealth and influence, grew from an ambitious collaboration not from government spending that had been arbitrarily hacked to pieces. Eric Thomas teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here. A bird's-eye-view of the Yucatan Peninsula has revealed a massive 4,000-year-old fishery in Belize's largest inland wetland. The long, zigzagging network of human-made canals and ponds re-engineers the watery landscape into what some researchers describe as a massive fish trap, covering 42 square kilometers (16 square miles) in total. Excavations on the ground have provided several radiocarbon dates for the channels, which suggest they were in use from about 2000 BCE until 200 CE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Belize is the home of the earliest Maya settlements, but these fish traps were built at least 700 years before this civilization's rise to prominence in the region. "The early dates for the canals surprised us initially because we all assumed these massive constructions were built by the ancient Maya living in the nearby city centers," says anthropologist Eleanor Harrison-Buck from the University of New Hampshire. "However, after running numerous radiocarbon dates, it became clear they were built much earlier." Harrison-Buck and her colleagues working on the Belize River East Archaeology project argue these channels are part of the first large-scale prehistoric fish-trapping facility recorded in Central America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were probably built by Late Archaic hunter-gatherer-fisher groups, possibly as a response to long-term drought. Researchers estimate the traps once caught enough fish to feed 15,000 people for a whole year. If true, this supports emerging evidence that suggests the Maya civilization was initially built on a feast of fishes, not necessarily a surplus of maize, as other scientists have hypothesized. "For Mesoamerica in general, we tend to regard agricultural production as the engine of civilization, but this study tells us that it wasn't just agriculture it was also potential mass harvesting of aquatic species," explains Harrison-Buck. Like other researchers working on the Yucatan, Harrison-Buck's team has recently started using aerial surveys to peer through dense vegetation or hard-to-access areas. Their focus is on the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary (CTWS), which has hosted nearly 10,000 years of continuous human occupation, along with several other locations in the Maya Lowlands, including the New River, Rio Hondo, and the Candelaria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When lagoons in these aquatic environments dry out, the shore hosts marshy grasslands, and the subtle earthen channels built into the clay-rich soil are "barely discernible", researchers say. Some are only 20 centimeters (8 inches) deep. With drone footage and Google Earth satellite imagery, however, the pattern is more easily observed. Satellite imagery includes (A) a contemporary fishery in Zambia, Africa; (B) an ancient fishery in the Bolivian Amazon; and (C) the ancient fishery in the Western Lagoon, CTWS, Belize (all images courtesy of Google Earth). (Harrison-Buck et al., Seasonal floodplain landscapes with earthen fish weirs that resemble those in Belize.Satellite imagery includes (A) a contemporary fishery in Zambia, Africa; (B) an ancient fishery in the Bolivian Amazon; and (C) the ancient fishery in the Western Lagoon, CTWS, Belize (all images courtesy of Google Earth). (Harrison-Buck et al., Science Advances , 2024) Previous studies have interpreted these channels as dams or water catchments for wetland agriculture. But scientists have found no pollen from maize crops, nor any agricultural fields with ditches or drains at these sites. The waterways are reminiscent of pre-Columbian fish-traps built to the south, in the Bolivian Amazon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each year, during the wet season, flood cycles inundate Belize's wetlands and lagoons, providing a good place for fish to spawn. During the dry season, however, these human-built channels divert receding waters into pools, dragging aquatic life into a confined space. Map of Western Lagoon in the CTWS showing linear channels and ponds. (Harrison-Buck et al., Science Advances , 2024) To this day, locals say these ponds still concentrate fish when flood waters subside. Because much of the region is protected from harvesting, however, most fish are left to rot as the pools slowly evaporate. Some scientists hypothesize that an abundance of storable food is what first led hunter-gatherer societies to form settlements around important resources. Drying, salting, and smoking an estimated million kilograms of fish each year would have easily supported a large, sedentary society living in and around the CTWS, argue Harrison-Buck and colleagues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Further investigations are necessary to clarify this full history," they conclude. The study was published in Science Advances. Related News WINDHOEK, Namibia (AP) Voting in Namibia for a new president and parliament has been extended into the weekend by the electoral agency due to shortages of ballot papers, a move challenged by the main opposition which is alleging fraud. The southern African countrys elections management body said polling stations that should have closed on Wednesday will now close on Saturday night after some ran out of ballot papers. The opposition Independent Patriots for Change party on Friday claimed that the extension is illegal. Namibias electoral issues come as Mozambique is engulfed in violent unrest after the long-ruling Frelimo party was declared the winner of an election in October, prompting claims of vote rigging and sparking ongoing violent protests against the party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Namibia's 72-year-old vice president and the ruling SWAPO partys candidate for president, would become the largely desert country's first female leader if she wins. But she faces stern opposition from a youthful population seemingly frustrated by lack of opportunities in a mineral-rich country rated by the World Bank as an upper middle income country, but also one of the globes most unequal Elsie Nghikembua, chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Namibia, said many people had failed to cast their ballots due to logistical challenges. Many people were yet to vote on Friday afternoon, with long lines at polling stations visited by The Associated Press. Many remote rural polling stations were still waiting for ballot paper deliveries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Electoral officials assured voters that ballot papers were on the way, but many were doubtful. Nangombe Shitaleni, a registered voter waiting in a line at the Okandjengedi Community Center polling station, in northern Namibia, said he had failed to vote since Wednesday. He said he would give up if not served by Friday evening. I keep coming to the same place every day without being assisted. Its like you are a mad person, he said. About 1.4 million people around half the Namibian population are registered to vote to decide the president and the makeup of parliament for a five-year term. Namibia is a former German colony that came under South African control after World War I and its Black majority was later subjected to some apartheid policies. SWAPO was at the forefront of the battle for independence and has dominated politics since independence in 1990. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previous elections have largely been regarded as credible, earning the country rich in minerals such as gold and uranium the title of being one of the most stable democracies in a continent where power transfer often involves disputed elections, force or even bloodshed. SWAPO has governed Namibia and held the presidency for 34 years since independence. But there is frustration caused by high unemployment and economic hardship, especially among young people. It's a trend that has seen voters elsewhere in southern Africa this year reject parties that liberated their nations from colonial or white minority rule in favor of era-ending change to address new problems. Israeli troops are seen near the northern Israeli border with Lebanon, on Nov. 28, 2024. Although a cautious calm prevailed across the border areas in southern Lebanon since the entry into force of a ceasefire between Hezbollah and the Israeli army at 4:00 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) on Wednesday, the two sides have been trading accusations of ceasefire violations. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua) An Israeli tank is seen near the northern Israeli border with Lebanon, on Nov. 28, 2024. Although a cautious calm prevailed across the border areas in southern Lebanon since the entry into force of a ceasefire between Hezbollah and the Israeli army at 4:00 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) on Wednesday, the two sides have been trading accusations of ceasefire violations. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua) An Israeli military vehicle is seen near the northern Israeli border with Lebanon, on Nov. 28, 2024. Although a cautious calm prevailed across the border areas in southern Lebanon since the entry into force of a ceasefire between Hezbollah and the Israeli army at 4:00 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) on Wednesday, the two sides have been trading accusations of ceasefire violations. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua) Israeli troops are seen near the northern Israeli border with Lebanon, on Nov. 28, 2024. Although a cautious calm prevailed across the border areas in southern Lebanon since the entry into force of a ceasefire between Hezbollah and the Israeli army at 4:00 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) on Wednesday, the two sides have been trading accusations of ceasefire violations. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua) Nashville police arrested a 17-year-old and continue to search for his twin brother after an Antioch restaurant owner was caught in a barrage of gunfire. Nashville police were called to the 1300 block of Bell Road about 10:30 p.m. Sunday to find Hwarang Joo, 39, dead of a gunshot wound to the head. Joo, who owned Hot Stuff Chicken, was leaving the restaurant when gunfire erupted in the parking lot. Joo suffered the fatal gunshot wound, and his car accelerated crashing into the side of the building used by Cane Ridge Dentist, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two days after the shooting, police released photographs of the two suspects and the silver, Ford Taurus with a rust spot above the windshield and front-end damage used by the pair. Thursday night, police announced the arrest of one of the suspects. The Tennessean is not naming the teen as he has not yet been charged as an adult. Police said Thursday night that it appeared the two brothers used "an AR-style rifle" to shoot at people in a Dodge Charger across the parking lot when Joo crossed paths with them. All parties fled the scene immediately after the shooting. Police have since located and interviewed the people from the Charger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The captured brother was charged with criminal homicide and three counts of attempted criminal homicide, while police have warrants for the other brother on the same charges. Anyone who has information on the whereabouts of the second brother or the car they drove that night is asked to call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville Police searching for teen after Antioch restaurant ower killed Starting in January, Navajo farmers and ranchers will gain access to new insurance coverage through a partnership between a Navajo woman-owned business and a U.S. Department of Agriculture program. Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren officially signed an agreement with Native Land Insurance Services, Inc., to provide protection for enrolled Navajo farm and livestock producers against extreme weather events such as droughts and floods. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The signing took place during a live radio broadcast and Facebook stream, where President Nygren was joined by Native Land Insurance CEO and co-owner Brittany Begay, along with her brother and Native Land ambassadorsPRCA champion team ropers Derrick Begay, Aaron Tsinigine, and Erich Rogers. Its a big day for Navajo, big day for Native Land and big day for our farmers and ranchers, President Nygren said. Im glad that our Navajo people are coming together to speak positively. We are here to work, support, help our family, help our land, and thats what todays about. In 2007, the U.S. Department of Agriculture introduced the Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance Program (PRF) to help agricultural producers mitigate the risks of forage loss caused by insufficient precipitation. To support Navajo producers, the Navajo Nation established the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), aimed at improving and maintaining agricultural and ranching infrastructure. Any potential indemnities from the PRF program are allocated to this fund, which helps farmers reduce post-harvest losses, increases decision-making flexibility for farmers and ranchers, enhances productivity, and lowers costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Native Land Insurance, designated as a Navajo Priority 2 business under the Navajo Business Opportunity Act, is 51% to 91% Navajo-owned and controlled. Its founder, Brittany Begay, launched the company after working as a crop insurance agent since 2020. Begay, a native of Seba Delkai, graduated magna cum laude from Arizona State University with a bachelor's degree in business administration. Over the past three years, she has collaborated with tribal ranchers across New Mexico and Arizona through the Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Program. For generations, my family has been involved in raising livestock sheep, cattle and horses on the Navajo Nation, she said. We made a living by taking care of our livestock. This teaching was passed down from our grandparents, and this is what our life is all about. Native Lands main priority is to create safe, comprehensive and conservative insurance policies for Navajo and Native ranchers, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The way it works is we look at the historical results for each rancher, she said. We look at the 15-year history. If it has more net positive benefits, then its good to insure. Thats how we like to set up our policies. We dont like to predict Mother Nature. When its dry, they receive benefits. And when its wet, they receive forage so theyre able to feed their cattle. Mike Halona, director of the Navajo Nation Division of Natural Resources, said Native Land Insurance was selected after a painstaking, multilayered Request For Proposal process. This is the first time it's been procured correctly, he said. We had the bid openings, had 10 individuals that served on the review team, two people from business regulatory when theres usually there's only one, two people from purchasing, and the division was represented by principal attorney Robert Allen. Department of Agriculture Director Jesse Jim brought two staff members with years of experience in contract reviews and purchasing procurement. Staff from the Fish and Wildlife Department and Land Department also reviewed and approved the insurance agreement and RFP, Halona said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Native Land is a Navajo-owned company run a woman who knows ranching, he said. We now have an insurance agent that is Navajo and understands Navajo, lives on Navajo, and they're all for the ranchers. My family are ranchers, mainly into rodeo so thats where our background comes from, Begay said. We had sheep and cows. Thats how most Navajo live and know us. Native Land Insurances mission is to deliver sustainable risk management solutions based on years of service and deep-rooted community connections in every client partnership, she said. Her office can be reached at 928-221-2224. Our experience comes from working closely with tribal councils, the Department of Natural Resources, grazing associations and individuals with a tailored approach that respects and upholds tribal governance and values, she said. With programs federally subsidized by the USDA Risk Management Agency, you can trust our strength and reliability to protect farmers and ranchers livelihoods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Team roper Aaron Tsinigine, a Native Land ambassador, told President Nygren that he and Brittany Begay approached the Navajo Nation five years ago to try to interest it in Native Land Insurance but couldnt get a foot in the door. We thought it was going to be a walk in the park, you know, just going to walk in and the Nation's going to give us a job, he said. We kept coming back and we kept getting denied. But as they continued to see Navajo sanis and cheiis with water barrels in the back of their trucks and lined up at the hay vendors every Friday, he said they were inspired to keep trying and not quit. They're spending their own money, their own dollar, to keep their lifestyle, Tsinigine said. So thats when you know. That's where we come from, those same teachings. That's what enriches us, this lifestyle. Because thats the way we were taught, and thats the way we look at it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. " Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net Bestselling author Robert Beatty envisioned his latest page turner of a novel years before the tale tragically played out for real with Hurricane Helene. Sylvia Doe and the 100-year Flood is a nature-based mystery adventure about a forlorn 13-year-old who saves people and animals during a flood of the century in the North Carolina mountains. The cover of Sylvia Doe and the 100-year Flood. Helene killed at least 103 people in North Carolina as of Nov. 26, including 43 in Buncombe County, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Asheville is the Buncombe County seat of government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The storm, which hit the state on Sept. 27, caused at least $53 billion in damage, Gov. Roy Cooper told the General Assembly in late October. Entire mountain communities vanished in floods. Author, on horseback, rescued horses and goats Beatty based the harrowing experiences of main character Sylvia Doe on his own, he told The Charlotte Observer in a Nov. 7 interview on Google Meet. Bestselling author Robert Beatty envisioned his latest page turner of a novel many years before the tale tragically played out for real with Hurricane Helene. He, wife, Jennifer, and their three young daughters lived on a horse ranch and farm for 16 years in Cane Creek Valley, five miles south of Asheville. They moved a few years ago to north Asheville. Just as Sylvia does in the book, Beatty said he rode horseback rescuing his familys horses and goats when his land flooded every year or so at their previous home in Cane Creek Valley. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Much of our farm was in a known flood zone, he said. And I often wondered, well, how bad could these floods get? Their previous home was on higher ground, beyond the 100-year flood line, but the barn and horse pastures flooded with anywhere from inches to several feet of water, he said. Generally, I got pretty good at sensing when it would flood, Beatty said. It would have to rain for eight or nine days straight for it to flood. Thats when Id start worrying about, OK, I have to move the horses to high ground, make sure the goats were out of their little shelter. And I would do this from horseback. Floods were a natural occurrence, author says Cane Creek, normally about 20 feet across and a foot to a few feet deep, grew to 10 feet deep and a hundred feet across in the storms, Beatty said. Once, several of the familys goats drowned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 2016, the flooding really got me to thinking and experiencing the power of the water and the river, and how this little stream, which was just this pretty little creek, how powerful it really was, Beatty said. And how it probably had been doing this for hundreds or thousands or millions of years. Cane Creek flows into the French Broad River, which has been running for many millions of years, he said. Its a very, very ancient river and has been flowing on this continent since before the Atlantic Ocean. Writing stories for his daughters Three years ago, Beatty started on a concept for the book. He spent about two years writing the 310-page novel. His wife did the illustrations, and she and their daughters provided valuable editing, he said. It was kind of a family project for us, Beatty said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Young girls are the main characters of his novels because of his daughters, he said. Im effectively writing stories for my daughters to read, and they help me write the stories, Beatty said. My daughters and my wife are my first editors and help me refine the story, help me create the plots and refine the details of the story. Beattys Serafina and Willa book series were New York Times bestsellers, all published, like Sylvia Doe, by Disney-Hypherion Books. His first Serafina book was published in 2015 and Willa in 2018. Each series features a brave teenage girl. When I first started (writing and publishing books) in 2015, my eldest daughter was 12, and now shes 24, he said. So 24, 22 and 13 now. Helene canceled book tour Creating the Sylvia Doe story involved looking at where we are and into the future, Beatty said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You could sort of see this coming, he said about more frequent and powerful storms. Things are changing. I didnt know it would happen on the week I tried to launch the book and make me cancel all of my events, but you could sort of see the direction things were going. Theres agreement or disagreement on this, but it seems like storms are getting worse over time, and a lot of people have been suffering from these storms. As its publisher planned months before, the book was published on Oct. 8. Beattys book team had arranged appearances in early October at a different Barnes & Noble each day, in Charlotte, Asheville, Columbia, South Carolina, Johnson City, Tennessee, and Greenville, South Carolina. I am national, but I usually do my first week regionally, because thats where the majority of my biggest fans are, he said. Literally thousands of people were signed up on Facebook to come to these events. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It broke my heart, but I realized I really shouldnt be having these events, he said. For one thing, the Asheville mall, which is where we do the biggest event, was closed because the road was under water. Johnson City was hit really hard. Beatty is donating his royalties from sales of the book to flood victims through the Helene Rebuild Collaborative. The grassroots organization supports people rebuilding in multiple Western N.C. counties. We found my uncle 35 miles down the river Beatty said his family was very lucky during Helene. Like tens of thousands of others, they had no water, power and cellular and internet service for days. They chainsawed fallen trees in their driveway, but their roof had only minor leakage from the storm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And yet, just a mile or two down the road, there were houses completely gone and people that had been swept away, he said. I know multiple people who have lost loved ones. Theyve lost aunts and uncles and brothers and sisters. I know people who have lost horses and pets. Its really bad. An HVAC worker who fixed the system in their home after Helene told Beatty that he lost three family members. We found my uncle 35 miles down the river, and we havent found the other two family members yet, Beatty said the man told him. I dont know where to look for them or what to do or how to help them. So I just gotta go back to work and live my life. Quite a few flood victims have read the book and discussed it with him, Beatty said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The response has been extremely positive, both from the professional reviewers but even more so by just the people who lived through the flood, he said. Some people have indicated that it was sort of weird or uncanny because they were literally reading this book about the flood while the flood was happening. Teachers are using the book in classrooms to help their kids kind of come to grips with what has happened and put it all in perspective, he said. Its an uplifting story, Beatty said. It does have a good ending. Who is Sylvia Doe? The character Sylvia got her last name when she was found without a parent at age 3 or 4 and didnt know her last name, Beatty said. So they just gave her the last name Doe, like Jane Doe, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She lives in an orphanage in a river valley near Asheville. Shes a budding artist and naturalist who keeps a list of all the birds and animals she sees, and she sketches them. The book is for adults, but also is suitable for young people, he said. Ages 8 to 108, he said. Through Sylvia, the book shows you what a good person does, Beatty said. It shows you how to be good and how important it is to be good. And when I say good, I mean, like, fair and kind and strong and resilient and so on. Those are very much themes of the books that I write, particularly this one, he said. While the story is very realistic and grounded in this environment, theres also a fantasy element to it, Beatty said. In the flood waters, animals pass Sylvia that arent really possible, he said, including a pack of wolves and extinct Carolina parakeets and red pandas, which once lived here. Red pandas are found only in the Himalayas and southwestern China, but a close ancestor, the extinct Bristols Panda, lived millions of years ago in the Southern Appalachian mountains in North Carolina and Tennessee, according to the Western North Carolina Nature Center in Asheville. Fossils have been found in Tennessee, center officials said. The Carolina parakeet became extinct in 1939, according to the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove, in Audubon, Pennsylvania. The bird was the only parrot species native to the East Coast, according to the center. Like his other books, a main theme of Sylvia Doe is stay bold, with an exclamation mark, Beatty said. That is basically what Serafina would say to her friends, just keep pushing on, so that theme is very much in the Sylvia Doe book as well. RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) A 38-year-old Durham man could be in prison until he is 63 if convicted on charges of cyberstalking five victims, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. David Ryan Winters was formally accused of cyberstalking the victims by way of a federal grand jurys indictment, according to a Wednesday announcement from the DOJ. That indictment further accuses Winters of targeting the victims due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Out of the five cases, one victim who claims to have been targeted by Winters said the harassment began in 2016 and has continued through 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The indictment points to text messages as the primary source of Winters communications to the victims. According to a DOJ release, Winters would send text messages that were harassing and intimidating in nature. His messages were also sent, in some cases, to people close the victims. Porch Piracy: How to prevent package theft during online holiday shopping season The cases, which are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Blondel, were taken up as part of the work being done by the EDNC Civil Rights Team. The team was launched in 2022 and in 2023 the U.S. Attorneys Office for Eastern District of North Carolina added two new, dedicated civil rights prosecutors to that team. Everybody has an equal right to live, work, worship, and love in America, said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. We wont tolerate those who threaten, stalk, or use violence just because they dont like how somebody else lives. Everybody is treated equally and fairly under the law and we wont normalize violence and intimidation. Our Civil Rights Team is squaring off against threats and hate-fueled violence of any kind and not slowing down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other cases taken on by the EDNC team have included: The indictment of an Alabama man accused of cyberstalking an NC woman because of her sexual orientation. The arrest of a California man after making threats targeting multiple entities and individuals in N.C., including an elected official, members of law enforcement, and several synagogues. As for Winters cases, the DOJ said the Raleigh and Durham Police Departments, the Wake County Sheriffs Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are continuing to investigate. Anyone who is a victim of cyberstalking is encouraged to contact your local law enforcement agency or the FBI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Neolithic society was less sexist than previously thought, scientists believe, after studying the genetics and burial sites of early European migrants. Previously, anthropologists had suggested that the first farming communities triggered the beginning of inequality between men and women. Studies have also shown that men were often buried with arrows in their tombs, while cave paintings show males fighting and hunting, suggesting their physical dominance in society. But new research by the University of York suggests women enjoyed more freedom and respect than previously thought. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The team looked at genetic, burial and food data from more than 300 Neolithic individuals belonging to the Linear Pottery Culture, who lived between 5,500 and 5,000 BC and spread farming across continental Europe. They found no difference between the graves of men and women, suggesting that the status of men and women in societies was more equal than previously supposed. Likewise, genetics show that some communities expanded hundreds of miles in just a few generations, with women more often than men buried far away from where they were born. The research also found that women were more often than men buried far away from their place of birth - GORODENKOFF Professor Penny Bickle, from the University of Yorks Department of Archaeology, said: In recent years our perception of Neolithic communities has started to change due to greater analysis of grave sites, but our new genetic data is another piece of the puzzle that sheds more light on not just the work of these communities but their relationship to each other, as well as their similarities to the way modern humans build communities today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We can now see how important broader family relationships were; in a triple burial, long thought to be a mother and two children, for example, we have shown she was their paternal aunt. The three are buried close together with her arms placed embracing the children in a distinct act of care. We also know from the items left in grave sites, such as stone tools and pottery, that women played a much more active role in farming work than previously thought and that some women travelled more than men, whilst women in other areas stayed closer to home, showing a much more dynamic community than we perhaps thought possible. Researchers showed that relatives lived as far apart as Slovakia, Western Germany and Hungary while studies of grave sites showed there was no difference of burials based on sex, or foreign origins. The new genetic data also added more questions to the mystery surrounding the demise of Linear Pottery Culture, which disappeared around 5000 BCE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One hypothesis was that it was a period of violence, peaking in the Massacre of Asparn-Schletz in Austria, where over 100 individuals appeared to have been slaughtered. The new study, however, showed that fewer than 10 of these skeletons were genetically related, challenging the idea that this was an act of violence against a single, linked community. There were also children among the dead, but few young women. Professor Bickle said: The massacre site raises many questions and more work will need to be done on this event to get closer to an answer. Could they have been selected from a larger community and transported? Were the young women present but not killed or held captive elsewhere, why children as well as adults the mystery remains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Professor Bickle is currently investigating the lives of women in Neolithic times. Professor Bickle said: Our research shows that conceptions of gender have always been dynamic across different cultural contexts, with no one single impact as societies adopted farming and settled down. The research was published in Nature Human Behaviour. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. People participate in a Puerto Rican Day parade in New York City. Multiracial cultures such as Puerto Rican and Dominican may pose problems for new proposed Census Bureau survey formats that ask about race and Hispanic status separately (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images). The U.S. Census Bureau and a growing number of states are starting to gather more detailed information about Americans race and ethnicity, a change some advocates of the process say will allow people to choose identities that more closely reflect how they see themselves. Crunching and sorting through those specific details known as data disaggregation will help illuminate disparities in areas such as housing and health outcomes that could be hidden within large racial and ethnic categories. But some experts say the details also might make it harder for Black people from multiracial countries to identify themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Racial data gleaned from the census is important because local, state, tribal and federal governments use it to guide certain civil rights policies and in planning and funding government programs that provide funds or services for specific groups, according to the Census Bureau. The form will have checkboxes for main categories current census groupings include Asian, Black, African American and White, among others followed by more specific checkboxes. Under Asian, for example, might be Chinese, Asian Indian, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean or Japanese. And then there will be an empty box for people to write in more specific subgroups. Collecting more detail by allowing free-form answers, for example, will make it possible for people to identify themselves as part of more racial and ethnic subgroups such as Sardinian (an autonomous region within Italy) instead of simply Italian and include alternative names for certain groups, such as writing Schitsuumsh, the ancient language for Coeur DAlene Tribe. And the Census Bureau will for the first time include Middle Eastern/North African as a separate racial/ethnic category for respondents with that heritage. Until now, Middle Eastern people who did not choose a race were treated as a subcategory under white, based on a 1944 court ruling intended to protect Arab immigrants from racist laws banning U.S. citizenship for nonwhite immigrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under new federal guidelines approved in March, the bureau also will give people the option to check no race at all if they identify as Hispanic or Middle Eastern/North African. The Census Bureau already has decided to use more open-ended questions in both the 2027 American Community Survey and the nations 2030 census. But the agency is seeking public comment on the way write-in responses will be categorized. The bureau wants to hear how people are likely to identify themselves, said Merarys Rios-Vargas, chief of the bureaus Ethnicity and Ancestry Branch, Population Division, in a recent webinar. The agency also is interested in whether there are missing or incorrect entries in its proposed list of possible responses. Its about peoples lives Nancy Lopez, a University of New Mexico sociology professor, said she and other experts in Black Hispanic culture think the census should have a visual race or street race question, so people can communicate how others see them as well as how they identify themselves. The answer might be Black or a yet-unrecognized racial category such as brown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A separate question on race as a visual status helps illuminate the kind of things we are interested in discrimination in housing, discrimination in employment, discrimination in education and accessing health care in public spaces, said Lopez, who is the daughter of Dominican immigrants and a co-founder of the universitys Institute for the Study of Race & Social Justice. Its about peoples lives, its about the future, its about children, its about access to opportunities and its about fairness, she added, noting that even if the federal government doesnt add such questions to surveys and the decennial census, state and universities can still do it on their own as they collect data for health care, student enrollment and other topics. The NALEO Educational Fund, an organization representing Latino elected and appointed officials, supports the decision to make a race choice optional for Hispanics. Many Latinos did not see themselves in any of the categories for their racial identity, said Rosalind Gold, NALEOs chief public policy officer. Theres a large number of Latinos who feel that identifying as Latino is both their racial and ethnic identity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gold said NALEO understands the concern some have that failing to require a race designation will obscure racial information on Black Hispanics. But her group argues that the census can get what it needs by educating the public on how to respond and by including prompts on the questionnaires to guide race choices. Black Hispanic people often see themselves as having a single racial and ethnic identity, according to several experts in Hispanic identity who spoke at a Census Bureau National Advisory Committee meeting Nov. 7. They conceptualize themselves as belonging to one [group], said Nicholas Vargas, an associate professor of ethnic studies at the University of California, Berkeley, speaking at the committee meeting. They check Black and they check Dominican and dont want to be counted as two or more, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response, Rachel Marks, an adviser for the Census Bureau on race and ethnicity, said the bureau will consider that issue and other feedback on how people want to be represented before making a final decision on survey details. The bureau may recognize a term, Afro-Latino, that could be used to indicate both Black race and Hispanic ethnicity, according to a proposed code list from the agency, as well as Blaxican for Black Mexican and Blasian for Black Asian. The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition of civil rights groups, called the more detailed questions a step forward but also suggested more guidance on the forms to ensure people are categorized the way they want to be. In its comment on the changes, the group noted that in 2020, some people who wrote in British under the Black checkbox were categorized as partly white even if they didnt mean that. The group also said it is concerned about a conflation of the concepts of race and ethnicity, and it asked for more research to make sure people understand how to respond. State actions Some states are acting on their own to gather more detailed data about identity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Jersey is among the latest states to pass a law requiring more detailed race and ethnic data collection for state records such as health data and school enrollment. A similar bill in Michigan would require state agencies that gather information to offer multiracial and Middle Eastern or North African as choices; the bill remains in committee. And advocates in Oregon, which already has a law requiring detailed ethnic data collection, are asking the state for more details on Asian subgroups who face education challenges. A December 2023 report by The Leadership Conference Education Fund identified 13 other states with laws requiring more detailed state data on ethnic and racial groups, including laws passed last year in Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts and Nevada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The states of California, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington already had such laws, the group found. Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and X. A Kenton County man is accused of threatening to kill a judge and the countys top prosecutor in retaliation for a prior felony prosecution and failed civil litigation, court filings show. Brian Keith Tucker, 48, of Morning View, Kentucky, was arrested Wednesday and charged with retaliating against participants in a legal process, Kenton County District Court filings show. The investigation began when a friend of his reported to police that Tucker had been threatening to kill Kenton County Commonwealths Attorney Rob Sanders and the female judge who presided over his 2019 felony arson trial, investigators said in a criminal complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Lawsuit: Man newly freed from prison sought help 48 hours before killing cellmate at jail Court records show Tucker was indicted in 2018 on counts of complicity to commit arson and insurance fraud, but was ultimately acquitted of those charges at trial. Tucker sued the Kentucky Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company and Green Light Fire Investigations following his trial and alleged the companies provided false evidence to law enforcement that implicated him in a 2016 fire that destroyed his friends home. In July, a judge dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice meaning it cannot be refiled. Investigators said Tucker told a friend he wanted to harm Sanders and the judge because he was unhappy about not being paid from his lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tucker even specified the gym where Sanders works out and articulated plans to either sneak up behind Sanders and slit his throat or hide in the woods and snipe Sanders with a rifle, the complaint states. Police spoke with Tuckers girlfriend and brother who relayed that Tucker had been acting strangely, investigators said, adding that his brother reported Tucker was suffering from a mental break and going through violent mood swings. Kenton County Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Sanders. When investigators spoke with Sanders, the prosecutor said he was familiar with Tucker and that they go to the same gym, according to the complaint. While Sanders told police Kenton County Circuit Judge Kathy Lape presided over Tucker's previous criminal trial, court records show both his criminal and civil cases were before Judge Patricia Summe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jail records show Tucker is currently being held at the Boone County Jail on a $500,000 bond. As of Friday, court records did not list when Tucker will make his first court appearance, nor who is representing him. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: NKY man accused of threating judge, Kenton County's top prosecutor Nov. 29A coalition that includes 11 New Mexico counties is urging the nation's highest court to hear a Utah lawsuit challenging U.S. government control over federal lands in that state. The coalition filed a brief on Oct. 18 asking the U.S. Supreme Court to create a model that would offer states a "roadmap" for taking control of U.S. Bureau of Land Management lands within their borders. The 21-page brief contains a list of grievances ranging from loss of property tax revenue to what they argue are inefficiencies in response to wildfires on federal lands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Right now there is no roadmap" for states to seek control over federal lands, said Karen Budd-Falen, a Wyoming attorney who filed the brief on behalf of the 11 counties and other groups in New Mexico. "I'm not saying that this would be a good idea for New Mexico, or that New Mexico would even want all" BLM lands, Budd-Falen said in a phone interview. "I think these are state decisions, not county decisions, but it's a decision that's really going to impact the counties." Budd-Falen filed the brief on behalf of the Coalition of Arizona-New Mexico Counties for Stable Economic Growth, which includes Chaves, Eddy, Lea, Luna, Roosevelt, Hidalgo, Otero, Socorro, Sierra, McKinley and Catron counties. The coalition also includes several industry group and five Arizona counties. Utah's Republican leaders launched a legal challenge in August aimed at gaining control of BLM lands that make up about one-third of Utah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes is asking the Supreme Court to address whether the federal government can hold lands indefinitely that are "unappropriated" for uses such as national parks, wilderness areas, tribal lands or military bases. Utah argues that federal control deprives state and local governments of needed tax revenue and restricts economic development projects. The lawsuit is the latest round in an ongoing feud between states and the U.S. government over who should control vast tracts in the West and the valuable resources they contain, including oil and gas, timber and minerals. Conservation groups have called the lawsuit a political stunt with little chance of success. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BLM manages 244 million acres in the U.S., including 13.5 million acres in New Mexico, or about 17% of the state. But that percentage is much larger in some rural New Mexico counties. Bureau of Land Management spokesperson Brian Hires said in an email that the agency would not comment on pending litigation. The U.S. Department of Justice responded in a Nov. 21 filing that only Congress has authority over federal lands and that the courts cannot "order Congress to enact legislation disposing of federal lands." Coalition member Socorro County contains about 1.5 million acres of BLM land, making up about 37% of the county, according to the brief. Counties can't assess property taxes on BLM land, depriving them of badly needed revenue, the brief contends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congress pays counties a per-acre payment, called payment in lieu of taxes, or PILT, to compensate them for loss of property tax revenue. But PILT falls short of adequately compensating counties, the brief contends. Andrew Lotrich, Socorro County manager, said the federal government pays Socorro County about $1.8 million a year in PILT payments, which amounts to $1.13 a year per acre. But Socorro County receives property taxes of at least $18.20 per acre for "the most desolate land in the county," he said. If Socorro County had the ability to tax BLM land directly, property tax revenue would increase by $2 million a year, from $3.3 million to $5.3 million a year, Lotrich estimates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, PILT payments must be approved by Congress, which often results in late payments, or none at all, he said. "Being late happens more often that not," he said. "If the federal government is late with a payment, or withholds a payment for whatever reason, that has a negative impact on the county's budget itself and the services we have to provide to our constituents." Socorro County is also required to maintain about 150 miles of roads on BLM land, he said. The New Mexico coalition is one of 12 groups that have filed briefs asking the high court to hear the case. Those groups include attorneys general, legislatures and Congressional delegations in a dozen largely Western states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Utah's legal challenge came two months after Utah and Wyoming sued President Joe Biden's administration over a new policy that allows BLM to lease acreage for conservation in much the same way it offers land for drilling and mining. Utah is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to take the case directly rather than starting at the district court level, where most federal lawsuits originate. The Constitution allows some cases to begin at the U.S. Supreme Court when states are involved, but justices can also decline to hear any case. SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) Authorities announced multiple arrests after an operation in Santa Fe. The Santa Fe Police Department, Region III Task Force, and New Mexico State Police (NMSP) worked together from November 12 to November 25 to crack down on crime, particularly those who victimize the unhoused population. During the operation, NMSP said they made 25 felony arrests, 15 misdemeanor arrests, 13 drug-involved arrests, and 19 habitual offender arrests. Officials also seized 242 fentanyl pills and various amounts of heroin, meth, and psilocybin mushrooms. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New Mexico State Police is committed to understanding and tackling the root causes behind challenges faced by our unhoused population, which can lead to criminal activity. Through meaningful collaboration with state resources, NMSP aims to foster strong relationships that promote safety and enhance the quality of life for everyone in New Mexico, reads a release from NMSP. During the operation, advocate services and resources were supplied to those who opted for the help. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. MURRELLS INLET, S.C. (WBTW) While many spend Thanksgiving surrounded by loved ones, others face the holiday alone. For the 17th year, Low Country Community Church in Murrells Inlet made sure no one had to spend the day by themselves. The church hosted its annual Thanksgiving meal as part of Project N.O.A.H.No One Alone on the Holiday offering a free feast to anyone in need. The tradition began as a small dinner in a pastors kitchen, and has since grown into a community event welcoming thousands. Here in Myrtle Beach, up and down the Grand Strand, I think the majority of us are transplants. Our families live all over, so for many, were not able to go home for Thanksgiving, said Senior Pastor Steve Fairchild. This is an opportunity to experience community, fellowship, and even meet lifelong friends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This years event featured 1,200 pounds of turkey, 250 pounds of ham, and countless pies. More than 130 volunteers helped prepare the meal, with months of planning and days of cooking leading up to the big day. The preparation starts months in advance, Fairchild said. We began our cooking on Monday and finished just in time for the meal. The church opened its doors from noon to 3 p.m., and tables filled up in just 15 minutes. Organizers stressed that the meal is for anyone, regardless of circumstance. Its not just for the homeless, said Louise Goodman, the back-of-house manager. Its for people who would otherwise be alonewhether a spouse has died, their children arent visiting, or they just dont want to cook or cant afford to cook, especially with the skyrocketing prices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For attendees like Lucille Francoeur, the event is about more than just food. We came here last year for dinner, and it was wonderful being around Christian people, Francoeur said. We dont have a big family, but we decided to come here, praise God for all He has given us, and enjoy a meal. Fairchild shared how the connections made at the event sometimes last well beyond Thanksgiving. One of my favorite stories is about a family who broke down in Myrtle Beach several years ago Fairchild said. They saw this on the news, came for a meal, and loved it so much that they came back the next year for Thanksgiving just to serve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Community support played a crucial role in making the event possible, with donations from local businesses and help from six other churches. Its become a community event to show Gods love in the community, Goodman said. The team at Low Country Community Church said theyre grateful for the volunteers and support that make this tradition possible and look forward to continuing it for years to come. * * * Savannah Denton joined News 13 in July 2023 as a reporter and producer. Savannah is from Atlanta, Georgia, and is a graduate of the University of Alabama. Follow Savannah on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of her work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. JAKARTA, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia is seeking investors to accelerate its bauxite downstreaming efforts, as the country faces challenges in securing funding for smelter development, a minister said on Friday. "Our bauxite downstreaming agenda is still hindered by funding issues, causing several bauxite smelter projects to be postponed. Therefore, we are now looking to attract financing from investors," Indonesian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia told reporters in Jakarta. He said the government plans to invite bauxite industry players, particularly those involved in processing and refining, to help expedite downstreaming efforts. Indonesia banned the export of raw bauxite ore in June 2023 to prioritize the development of its downstream industry. Data from the ministry shows that Indonesia is currently developing 12 bauxite smelters, but only four are ready for operation. Bahlil acknowledged that progress in bauxite downstreaming has been slower compared to nickel, which already boasts 116 refining facilities across the country. A young girl in Charlotte will have an easier time getting around with her family thanks to a nonprofits gift on Friday. All Things Possible Medical Fundraising raised money to get a wheelchair-accessible van for the Jackson family on Friday. The van will help Kimberly, a 5-year-old girl who was abused by her biological father when she was three months old. The abuse left her with Cerebral Palsy and epilepsy, and shes legally blind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kimberly is 100% dependent on her mother for all of her personal care, and shes been using a manual wheelchair to get around. The nonprofit surprised Kimberlys mother by saying she would be participating in a commercial for All Things Possible. Instead, they were gifted the van. It was all smiles when Mike was handed the keys for the first time. You can help All Things Possible with future accessibility van donations at this link. (VIDEO: Local organization encourages turkey donations as Thanksgiving approaches) A Los Angeles-based nonprofit turned a part of Skid Row into a block party this Thanksgiving, feeding unhoused individuals and families as a part of an annual tradition. One Midnight Mission volunteer said he comes back every year to serve strangers, who then become friends. I have been coming here for about seven years and its a really nice experience to give people food and get a couple smiles here and there, said volunteer Phil Fineman. I get a good workout in, got some shmutz on my shirt, but its a really nice feeling down here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Organizers said the event was made possible by the hundreds of corporations and community volunteers with generous donations that created quite a feast. Were enjoying the holiday and having a meal to eat because we didnt have one, said guest Dana Knowles. And coming down to spend the holiday with people that we dont know. Midnight Mission, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit, hosts its annual volunteer event to feed thousands of people on Skid Row for Thanksgiving. November 2024. (KTLA) Midnight Mission, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit, hosts its annual volunteer event to feed thousands of people on Skid Row for Thanksgiving. November 2024. (KTLA) Midnight Mission, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit, hosts its annual volunteer event to feed thousands of people on Skid Row for Thanksgiving. November 2024. (KTLA) Midnight Mission, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit, hosts its annual volunteer event to feed thousands of people on Skid Row for Thanksgiving. November 2024. (KTLA) Midnight Mission, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit, hosts its annual volunteer event to feed thousands of people on Skid Row for Thanksgiving. November 2024. (KTLA) Turkey, stuffing, potatoes and holiday dessert were all included in the fixings that many families said they couldnt enjoy outside of this event. Its delicious, another guest told KTLAs Kareen Wynter. [The volunteers] are all angels. Midnight Mission has been helping individuals for decades, not only partnering with big corporations but also with celebrities who give back on Thanksgiving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Midnight Mission is always looking out for us out here, said guest Terrell Baker. So we thank them, we bless them and we just ask God to protect all of yall. Organizers said no one leaves hungry, and many are heartened by a day of festivities that make the holidays more meaningful. The spirit of Thanksgiving, this is what its about, said another guest. For more information on Midnight Mission and ways to contribute, click here to visit the website. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. North Korea has supplied Russia with more than 100 short-range ballistic missiles, and 5 million artillery shells, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) said on Nov. 29. In comments to Interfax-Ukraine, HUR also said Pyongyang had begun supplying Moscow with artillery systems last month. "In total, over 100 pieces of various equipment have been transferred, including 170-mm M-1989 self-propelled artillery systems, and 240-mm M-1991 multiple rocket launchers," it said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Additionally, North Korea continues to supply Russia with large-calibre artillery ammunition and short-range ballistic missiles of the Kn-23/24 type." HUR added that as of this month, over 5 million artillery rounds and 100 artillery shells have been delivered. On the same day, Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov arrived in Pyongyang for an official visit amid deepening military cooperation between the two countries. Belousov's visit to Pyongyang comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin's state visit to the hermit country in June, where Russia formally deepened it military and economic cooperation with Pyongyang. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pyongyang is believed to have dispatched over 10,000 troops to aid Russia's war, with the first clashes with Ukrainian forces reported in Kursk Oblast. North Korea has also become Moscow's leading supplier of artillery shells and ballistic missiles. A source with Ukraine's General Staff also indicated to Reuters on Nov. 23 that the majority of North Korean soldiers were finalizing training. In recent months, Russia has focused on regaining territory lost in the country's Kursk Oblast following a surprise Ukrainian incursion into the region in August. According to the source in Ukraine's General Staff, Ukraine has lost over 40 percent of the territory it previously gained in Kursk Oblast due to Russian counterattacks. NATO allies believe that Putin is aiming to recapture territory lost in Kursk Oblast before U.S. President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration on Jan. 20, the Telegraph reported, hoping to gain leverage in future peace negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Russia reportedly loses a record 2,030 troops in one day in Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. By Jack Kim SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has told the Russian defence minister that Ukraine's use of long-range weapons is the result of direct military intervention by the United States and Moscow is entitled to fight in self-defence, state media said on Saturday. Kim met Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov on Friday and said "the U.S. and the West made Kyiv authorities attack Russia's territory with their own long-range strike weapons" and Russia should take action to make "hostile forces pay the price," KCNA news agency said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The DPRK government, army and people will invariably support the policy of the Russian Federation to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity from the imperialists' moves for hegemony," KCNA quoted Kim as saying. DPRK is short for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim pledged to expand ties with Russia in all areas including military affairs under the comprehensive strategic partnership he signed with Russian President Vladimir Putin in June, which includes a mutual defence agreement, KCNA said. Moscow and Pyongyang have dramatically advanced ties since their leaders held a summit in September last year in Russia, and the North has since shipped more than 10,000 containers of ammunition, as well as self-propelled howitzers and multiple rocket launchers, according to South Korea's spy agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KCNA made no mention of whether Kim and Belousov discussed North Korea's deployment of troops to Russia. South Korea's spy agency has said North Korea has sent more than 10,000 troops to Russia and they have been moved to frontlines, including the Kursk region where Russian forces are trying to expel Ukrainian forces. Ukraine has fired U.S. ATACMS missiles to strike Russian territory after the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden gave permission to use them for such an attack this month. Russia in turn unleashed attacks against Ukraine's military and energy infrastructures, saying it was in response to the use of U.S. medium-range missiles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Belousov separately held talks with North Korea's Defence Minister No Kwang Chol and said the partnership pact signed by Kim and Putin will contribute to maintaining balance of power in Northeast Asia. Kim personally attended a reception hosted by the defence ministry for Belousov's delegation, KCNA said. (Reporting by Jack Kim; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Marguerita Choy) Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) has revealed that North Korea has already transferred over 100 artillery systems and the same number of short-range ballistic missiles of the Kn-23/24 type to Russia. Source: Interfax-Ukraine, citing DIU Quote: "On 3 October of this year, North Korea began supplying artillery systems to Russia. In total, over 100 pieces of various equipment have been transferred, including 170-mm M-1989 self-propelled artillery systems and 240-mm M-1991 multiple rocket launchers. Additionally, North Korea continues to supply Russia with large-calibre artillery ammunition and short-range ballistic missiles of the Kn-23/24 type (as of November, over 5 million rounds and 100 pieces, respectively, have been delivered)." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: DIU also reported that more than 60 pieces of 170-mm M-1989 Koksan self-propelled artillery systems have been transported from North Korea to Russia. Some of these are reportedly intended for delivery to the Saratov Higher Military Command School, likely for training personnel. "Information on the condition of these artillery systems is currently unavailable," the agency noted. Background: On 11 September, The New York Times reported that Russia had received new Hwasong-11 ballistic missiles from North Korea, which were used for strikes on Kyiv this summer. The Hwasong-11 has a range of about 700 km and can carry either nuclear or conventional warheads. In November, reports emerged that North Korea was significantly expanding a key ballistic missile production facility, supplying weapons used by Russia in its war against Ukraine. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that more than 11,000 North Korean soldiers are stationed in Russia's Kursk Oblast, and they have already participated in combat against Ukraines defence forces. Support UP or become our patron! Northeastern Illinois University student Joel Perdomo-Hernandez, 23, will be the only person in his five-member family to graduate college come December. The Belmont Cragin native works at Costcos tire shop for his job during the day and then studies at NEIU after he gets off his shift at night. His parents are immigrants from Guatemala; his dad is a mechanic and his mom is a housecleaner. Its taken Perdomo-Hernandez five years to make it through college, and he said his parents are over the moon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre kind of like, This is why we came here, Perdomo-Hernandez said. With its first bump in enrollment in nearly 15 years and new leadership as of this summer, NEIU is positioned to help its nontraditional students excel. Despite facing fiscal challenges like many universities across the nation, Katrina E. Bell-Jordan the universitys eighth president has a vision for educational justice. We need to have a strong, vibrant, economically sound future, Bell-Jordan said. Our work is to move in that direction. The university in the North Park neighborhood has seen ups and downs with leadership and finances for years but announced an enrollment of 5,734 this fall a 4.2% increase from the previous year. This is the first bump in enrollment in nearly 15 years, with an increase in the freshman class. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bell-Jordan celebrated the bump in enrollment, crediting the universitys admissions and onboarding teams for the freshman class size gains. She said NEIUs strong academic programming its social work and education tracks helped with retention efforts. The growth of NEIUs freshman body is a good sign for the university, said Robert M. Zemsky, a professor of education at the University of Pennsylvania. Shifting attitudes among high school students about the importance of higher education has led to lower enrollment and financial strain on colleges and universities across the country, especially at small state schools, according to Zemsky. The trend was further exacerbated by the pandemic. These are tough times for higher education, unless youre at the top of the totem pole, Zemsky said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NEIU serves untraditional students, who may be older, have dependents, work full time while attending school or return to education after a break. About 48% of the total students undergraduate and graduate are Hispanic, according to the universitys website. NEIU is the longest-standing four-year public Hispanic-serving institution in the Midwest, Bell-Jordan said. The new president said she was proud of NEIUs long-standing relationship with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities for several successful partnerships, including with Telemundo Academy providing professional development for students interested in media careers and the U.S. Department of Agriculture providing research opportunities. Promising to reinforce and coalesce around the types of students NEIU serves, Bell-Jordan replaced former President Gloria Gibson over the summer. NEIU decided not to renew Gibsons contract in 2022, and in March 2023, its faculty passed a vote of no confidence against the outgoing president amid tensions between faculty and leadership. Gov. JB Pritzker also named five new board members in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bell-Jordan brings institutional knowledge to the role as an employee at NEIU for nearly 30 years, said Chuck Ambrose, senior education consultant at Husch Blackwell and author of the book, Colleges on the Brink: The Case for Financial Exigency. Leadership really matters, and (Bell-Jordan and the board) certainly have a vital mission, Ambrose said. When youre in a highly densely populated, very diverse region like Chicago, just by being an institution committed to student success, it becomes a social-economic mobility mechanism for the students served. Like Perdomo-Hernandez, over 30% of the student body is first-generation, meaning their parents or legal guardians dont have a bachelors degree. There is a role and a need for institutions like Northeastern who believe in servicing untraditional students, being open to those students, creating the programming and the wraparound services so that those students are successful, said Michelle Morales, the vice chair of the board of trustees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The university is mindful of shifting dynamics in the workplace due to the advent of tools like artificial intelligence, said J. Todd Phillips, chair of the universitys board of trustees. NEIU partners with online programs like Coursera Career Academy to provide computer science and other technology certifications at reduced costs. (The students) are supporting not only themselves and building for their own futures, but theyre also building for the futures of their families and their communities, Phillips said. Though Bell-Jordan said NEIU achieved a balanced budget for 2025 without raising tuition or fees, the cost of classes is still too high for some. Farzad Kosarnezhad, 41, a refugee from Iran who works as a grocery stocker at Jewel-Osco, studies philosophy at NEIU. He said he wants to transfer to Harry S. Truman College where he can pay $500 for three credits, about a third of what hes paying now. He doesnt get tuition support from Jewel, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I applied, but its very competitive, Kosarnezhad said. But NEIU still faces headwinds. Despite some enrollment gains, the university only has about half the number of students as it did in 2010. The universitys operating revenue has mirrored that decline, despite successful efforts to secure external funding. NEIU is asking for more state appropriations that match the commitment and energy on campus with a new president. We need the governor and all the other folks in Springfield to appreciate how hard these students are working and the resources they deserve, Morales said. nsalzman@chicagotribune.com Marius Borg Hiby, the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, has been accused of a third alleged sexual offense, Oslo police said HAKON MOSVOLD LARSEN/NTB/AFP via Getty Marius Borg Hiby Marius Borg Hiby The son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway is being investigated over another alleged sex crime. On Wednesday, Nov. 27, the Oslo Police District confirmed Marius Borg Hiby the royal's 27-year-old son from before her marriage to Crown Prince Haakon had been released from custody, but added that officers were investigating a third alleged sexual offense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "An investigation has been launched into a further matter relating to sexual offenses," police said, per the translated news release. "The accused has been banned from visiting two women," authorities said, adding that this was in addition to the August incident in the borough of Frogner, which saw Hiby be arrested and face charges including bodily harm and damage following a "violent incident," per a previous release. PEOPLE reported at the time that the incident allegedly involved a woman in her 20s, citing Norwegian outlet Se og Hr. In Wednesday's release, police confirmed they had "conducted a significant number of witness interviews," but could "no longer see that there is a risk of evidence being tampered with," so had "decided not to request further detention" of Hiby after his Monday, Nov. 18 arrest. Related: Norwegian Royal Family Member, 27, Arrested on Suspicion of Rape: Police Nicky J Sims/Getty Marius Borg Hiby Marius Borg Hiby According to Se og Hr, the third sexual offense case Hiby is facing allegedly took place in Tnsberg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The update comes after PEOPLE reported that Hiby had been arrested on Nov. 18 on suspicion of violating the criminal code which concerns sexual intercourse with someone who is unconscious or for other reasons unable to resist the act. What police can say about the rape is that it concerns a sexual act without intercourse. The victim is said to have been unable to resist the act, the release added at the time. Following his August arrest, Hiby was held for 30 hours before being released, according to Se og Hr. The outlet stated he had reportedly "attacked a woman in her 20s psychologically and physically," and she was treated at a hospital for a concussion. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Related: Future King of Norway Crown Prince Haakon Comments on Stepson Marius' Arrest on Suspicion of Rape LISE ASERUD/NTB/AFP via Getty Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit (wearing pink) with King Harald V and other members of the Norwegian royal family Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit (wearing pink) with King Harald V and other members of the Norwegian royal family A Nov. 19 police release stated that during Hiby's latest arrest, he was in a car with the alleged victim from the August incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charge relates to another violation of a restraining order against the same victim. In addition, a report has been filed for violation of a restraining order and driving without a valid driver's license, the release said. Hiby is not in the line of succession to the Norwegian throne and he doesn't have a public role. In 2017, it was announced that he would lead a largely private life. Crown Princess Mette-Marit said of the decision at the time, "Marius has always had a role that has been difficult to define in the public sphere. He is and will be an exceptionally important part of our family." "Marius became a symbol of the unusual choice we made when we got married, at the same time, he will not carry public duties like his siblings, she added. Oslo Police District didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE. PEOPLE also reached out to the legal firm that the third victim's assistance lawyer, Lill Vassbotn, works for. Photo: Pete Douglass/Getty Images Two days after Pariss iconic cathedral shockingly caught fire in April 2019, French President Emmanuel Macron pledged that Notre-Dames reopening would happen within five years. The famous gothic structure would be rebuilt even more beautifully, he promised. Though restorations of this magnitude can often take decades, Macrons vow has come to fruitionNotre-Dame will reopen on December 8, 2024. The reopening of Notre-Dame is a very welcome win for [Macron]; he can honestly say that hes kept a promise that many critics and experts doubted was possible, Bill Whitaker, 60 Minutes correspondent, tell AD over email. Earlier this month, Whitaker and the 60 Minutes team visited the nearly completed cathedral and were the first US crew to enter the structure since its refurbishment. It was humbling, Whitaker says of the experience. A true privilege to be inside this 860-year-old cathedral, restored to its glory. On Sunday, December 1, the network will air a segment on the visit, offering viewers one of the first glimpses of the gothic masterpiece in five years without any signs of damage. In an exclusive clip shared with AD, Whitaker walks through the space with Philippe Jost, who Macron tapped to lead the restoration efforts. This monument, there is a soul. We feel that when we enter now, Jost says in the video. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whitaker, who also visited the structure in 2023, says its one-year transformation is remarkable. Then, there was an absolute forest of scaffolding inside the cathedralit weighed 600 tons. Now, all of that is gone, and the interior is filled with light. Its shining. Below, AD covers everything you need to know about Notre-Dame reopeningincluding exactly how it was brought back to life. How did Notre-Dame catch on fire? The exact cause is still undetermined, though officials believe an improperly extinguished cigarette or an electrical malfunction were among the potential culprits. According to Reuters, there was no evidence to suggest a criminal or purposeful act. Nonetheless, the fire was large and aggressive. As NBC reported, it took around 400 firefighters who worked through the night to extinguish the fire once it ignited around 6:50 pm on April 15, 2019. What was damaged in the Notre-Dame fire? Once the firefighters successfully extinguished the flames, it became clear how extensive the damages were. Much of the roof was destroyed, which was constructed from oak dating as far back as 1220. The cathedrals spire collapsed and much of the upper walls were damaged. Inside, falling debris crushed pews. Major Blaze Devastates Notre-Dame Cathedral in Central Paris Bloomberg/Getty Images Luckily, the vaulted ceiling contained much of the fire, and many of the artworks and relics, including the great organ, were saved. The main structure, including the bell towers and rose windows, was also unharmed. How was Notre-Dame restored? Restoring the Notre-Dameespecially on such a short timelinewas no small feat. As AD reported in its December issue, nearly 250 firms, specializing in fields such as metal work, carpentry, and stained glass, were a part of the project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Engineers stabilized and secured the edifices exterior, including its elegant flying buttresses; masons used 35,000 cubic feet of limestone to replace what had been marred; specialized teams gently cleaned walls and statues, at times with lasers, to remove soot; art conservationists repaired paintings damaged by smoke and water; and woodworkers re-created the original oak roof structure, writes AD contributor Dana Thomas. Even undamaged parts of the building received attention. Both towers, which werent harmed, were cleaned and fortified. Restoration teams also updated the bells ringing mechanism and the great organ. Modern safety measures, including alarms, updated fire walls, and sprinklers, were also installed. When will Notre-Dame reopen? Notre-Dame will reopen to the public on Sunday, December 8, 2024. An invitation-only reopening ceremony will take place on December 7, which will be broadcast globally. President Macron will begin the festivities with a speech in the courtyard to commemorate the restoration success. It will be a republican and secular moment before a religious and musical moment in Notre-Dame, the Elysee Palace said in a statement. Photo: Courtesy of *60 Minutes* Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monsignor Laurent Ulrich, the archbishop of Paris, will then officially reopen the cathedral by banging his crosier on the main door. As The Guardian reports, he will then wake up the grand organ in what was described as a verbal and musical exchange. How to visit the reopened Notre-Dame Entrance to Notre-Dame has always been free and will remain so when it reopens. To avoid long lines, visitors can book a timed entrance through the cathedrals official website. According to National Geographic, the booking platform will launch in early December. Without a reserved time slot, visitors can still access the cathedral, but the wait is estimated to take two to three hours. Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest More Great Stories From AD The November 15 return of indictments by the Laurel County Grand Jury featured multiple high-profile cases. Topping the list was an indictment charging 44-year-old Jeremy Glenn Owens of Mudy Gap Road in Manchester with a total of nine counts including first-degree fleeing or evading the police; two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment; receiving stolen property of the value of $10,000 or more; first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine); operating a motor vehicle while under the influence (third offense); resisting arrest; speeding; and first-degree persistent felony offender. The charges stem from an August 28 incident when Laurel County Sheriffs deputies first spotted Owens on Parker Road in London turning around in the middle of the roadway apparently attempting to avoid a traffic safety checkpoint being conducted there by the Laurel County Drug Interdiction Task Force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Task force members attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle and it failed to stop traveling at a high rate of speed along County Farm Road, Pine Top Road, Powder Mill Road, Sinking Creek Road and traveled onto Hal Rogers Parkway. Owens slammed his brakes numerous times attempting to cause task force members to wreck. On the parkway, Owens swerved his vehicle into two different Sheriffs cruisers causing damage to both before his vehicle lost control and spun out, which caused the vehicle to flip on its top before coming to a stop. Investigators determined that the black 2020 Nissan Rogue that Owens was driving was a reported stolen vehicle. In addition, he was determined to be under the influence and was found in possession of suspected methamphetamine. In other news: Logan Barber, 24, of Sinking Creek Road in London, has been charged with distributing matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor on or about July 14, 2024 through September 16. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barber was arrested October 14 by the London Police Departments Investigation Division on 41 charges related to an Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigation that began after discovering a suspect sharing images of child sexual exploitation online. Detective Elbert Riley and Detective Ashley Taylor led the investigation with Barber being lodged in the Laurel County Detention Center. The Kentucky ICAC Task Force comprises more than 26 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. The Task Force, created by the U.S. Department of Justice and administered by KSP, assists state and local law enforcement agencies in developing a response to cyber enticement and child sexual abuse material investigations. Amy Hammock aka Amy Jo Smith, 48, of McFadden Cemetery Road in London, was charged on six counts, all involving a vehicular collision which took place on February 3. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hammock is facing first-degree wanton endangerment; fourth-degree assault; operating a motor vehicle while under the influence; operating a motor vehicle while her license is revoked or suspended for driving under the influence; reckless driving; and improperly driving on the left side of the road. The charges were the result of an investigation conducted by LCSO Dep. Bobby Roberts after he was dispatched to a two-vehicle, head-on traffic crash with injuries on East Laurel Rd., approximately six miles east of London on the afternoon of February 3. Dep. Roberts reported at the time that Hammock was driving a white Chevrolet Impala at a high rate of speed, crossing into the opposing lane and striking another vehicle driven by Ellen Colwell. Steven Ray Noyes, 45, of Hazel Patch Road in East Bernstadt, was charged with first-degree rape and first-degree sexual abuse for incidents involving a 12-year-old that took place on or about April 24, 2024 through June 24. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Richard Stanley Evans, 70, of East Laurel Road in London, is charged with first-degree strangulation by intentionally and without consent impeding the normal breathing or circulation of blood of a woman by using his knee to apply pressure on her throat. Evans is also charged with first-degree assault due to striking her in the face with his hands, kicking her, and choking her. The incident occurred on or about October 30. An indictment is an accusation only and does not imply guilt or innocence. A person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. WELLINGTON, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand and Germany are committed to enhancing their partnership, according to the New Zealand government on Friday. "Our discussions in Berlin over the last few days have underlined the broad range of interests that New Zealand and Germany share," New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said after meeting with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock. Peters and Baerbock discussed opportunities for closer cooperation in the Pacific and Antarctica and how to better respond to global challenges and opportunities, said a New Zealand government statement. Germany is the world's third largest economy, New Zealand's largest trading partner in the European Union and an important education, tourism, science and research partner, said Peters who is the first New Zealand foreign minister to visit Berlin since 2016. Peters said Germany, one of the global leaders on renewable energy and clean technologies, is an ideal partner in the Pacific to help promote a more sustainable and resilient region. The Big Apple is shedding outdoor dining. Restaurant sheds across the five boroughs must come down by Friday, according to new city rules that had some diners saying good riddance, while eatery staffers worried about the impact on business. No love lost for these things, 30-year-old East Village resident Zeke Sancousi told The Post this week. They were ugly and cluttered up the streets and sidewalks, and made simple walking a pain in the ass especially during the summer when the sidewalks are already clogged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dining structures that meet the citys strict regulations will be allowed to reopen in April 2025 but as of Tuesday, fewer than 3,000 restaurants had submitted applications to erect either sidewalk or roadway seating sheds. Thats a far cry from the 6,000 restaurants that touted COVID-era dining permits as recently as this summer. Nicks Bistro owner Tom Avallone said the impact on his Forest Hills, Queens business will be tremendous, particularly during the holiday months. Tom Avallone Avallone said the $160,000 structure was kept in pristine condition and cost him thousands more to tear the structure down this month. Tom Avallone Employees at several restaurants told The Post that being forced to take down the outdoor vestibules just around Thanksgiving was a headache and fretted that having less seating for the holidays would hurt their bottom line. Im a little bit disappointed because thats the busiest part of the year, right now, Mirico Mennuni, 36, a manager at San Carlo Osteria Piemonte in SoHo, said. So Im putting down the shed right now, it means like for the month of December, thats going to be a little bit less profitable. Nicks Bistro owner Tom Avallone said the impact on his Forest Hills, Queens business will be tremendous, particularly during the busy holiday season. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The closure of his dining shed, which took more than 50 seats away from his restaurant, will cost him tens of thousands of dollars in revenue forcing him to cut half of his staff, he said. Forest Hills, Queens restaurant owner Tom Avallone and a Nicks Bistro customer. Tom Avallone Nicks Bistro has a makeshift city council member dunk tank, fashioned to look like a toilet, in which the restaurant encouraged clientele to pick a council member and flush their name down. Tom Avallone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We built it the way [its] supposed to be, Avallone said, noting that the $160,000 structure was kept in pristine condition and came with hardwood floors, heaters, fans, partitions and sliding glass windows and it cost him thousands more to tear it down this month. [Customers] already told me they will not come and sit in a crowded restaurant, Avallone said. Now we have to make it as tight as possible [inside]. Before taking the structure down, Nicks Bistro had put up signs on it and the restaurant reading, Let me stand, and Why tear me down? They also installed a makeshift city council member dunk tank, fashioned to look like a toilet, in which the restaurant encouraged clientele to pick a council member, fill in their name on provided toilet paper and flush them down the toilet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new set of seasonal shed rules, dubbed Dining Out NYC, went into effect in August and require owners to pay both a four-year $1,050 to $2,100 licensing fee and an annual sum based on the size of their dining shed, The Post previously reported. Eateries below 125th Street in Manhattan are asked to shell out even more. The new set of seasonal shed rules, dubbed Dining Out NYC, went into effect in August, prompting hundreds of sheds to come down in the process. James Keivom I had a good time and the food was good, too, Los Angeles resident Chaz Solomon told The Post of her outdoor dining experience. I dont get to experience this too often. Tom Avallone The pandemic-era vestibules once helped nearly 13,000 Big Apple establishments get back on their feet and reopen starting in 2020. But blighted, abandoned caused quality of life issues ranging from rats, noise, parking and even public sex. The new program aims to curb those problems, Mayor Eric Adams administration said during Dining Out NYCs announcement in February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They had their charms for the first couple of years, but a lot of restaurants didnt upkeep them and they turned into eyesores, 48-year-old East Villager Greg Brievik said. The whole idea of sheds was done out of necessity because of the circumstances at the time. They were never ideal. Workers break down a dilapidated dining shed at the corner of Bedford Avenue and North 5th Street Gregory P. Mango A SoHo resident whose apartment is above a cluster of dining sheds called them nasty. Its so not New York. I understand why they were there in the beginning it helped the businesses but now its time to let go, said Caroline, who declined to give her last name. Buddha Venj, a 27-year-old worker at German clothing store Derschutze, described the two dining sheds lining the corners in front of Famous Bens Pizza in front of his store as a rat cemetery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I almost stepped on a rat like six times walking through here because theyll be dead in the street, they was ran over so theyll be flat rat cakes, Venj said. A dining shed comes down at the corner of Downing Street in Manhattan. Robert Miller Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scott, a worker at Artichoke Basilles Pizza in Bushwick, Brooklyn, said streets in the neighborhood are not built for them its crowded. A lot of animals are harboring themselves within a lot of these sheds. Our neighbors do complain about that, he said. The sheds can also hinder NYPD investigations because it often becomes much harder to get unobstructed footage of the offense from surrounding video cameras, according to a New York Daily News op-ed written by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr., Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and Councilman Keith Powers. Our government can and must do better, they wrote. The sheds also apparently hindered NYPD investigations, according to a New York Daily News op-ed written by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr., Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and City council member Keith Powers. Gregory P. Mango Chaz Solomon, a diner and designer from Los Angeles disagreed with the shed haters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I went in and it was just lovely,she told The Post after she celebrated her 40th birthday inside a dining shed at San Carlo Osteria Piemonte. I had a good time and the food was good, too I dont get to experience this too often. Owners must find somewhere to store the sheds this winter, but the application portal for restaurants to apply for next year remains open, the DOT said. Guiseppe, 61, a manager at Famous Bens Pizza of SoHo, bemoaned the removal of his restaurants two dining sheds, which seat a combined total of roughly 30 people. Brooklyn city council member Lincoln Restler said he is working on new regulations to salvage outdoor dining. Getty Images for Emirates and USTA Foundation He has since to reinstall the dining shed in the spring, but despite his hopes of renewal, he forecasted a very costly vicious cycle of building and tearing down the structures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its ridiculous that we have to knock this down, he said, but what Im worried about is we got to take it down, and then we got to rebuild it, then we got to take [it] down, rebuild it, take it down. Its very annoying. Those that dont comply with the new rules face fines up to $1,000, the DOT said Tuesday. But not all seem to be in agreement regarding just how restrictive the regulations should be. At a Thursday town hall meeting, Brooklyn Councilmember Lincoln Restler told constituents that he is working on a new bill to bring back the outdoor dining practice what he calls one of the silver livings of the pandemic. Restaurants that dont comply with the rules face fines. Robert Miller I voted against the mayors proposal for a modified permanent outdoor dining program, because I could see that this seasonal approach would be costly and unfeasible for restaurants, Restler wrote in a newsletter earlier this month. My team and I are in the initial stages of crafting a new regulatory approach to salvage outdoor dining. The battle between feuding double-decker tour bus companies is heating up with new claims that drivers at one of the companies are treated so poorly, that they abandon the gigantic vehicles in the middle of Times Square. Thats according to TopView sued last month for allegedly trying to honk out a smaller competitor which filed a blistering counterclaim Monday calling the claims against it false and an effort by the other tour bus company to distract from their own record of misconduct. Aurora Tourism Services have been violating regulations requirements so as to avoid fair competition, while providing an inferior service to consumers and negatively impacting the hop on hop off bus industry reputation, TopView claims. Aurora (left), operating as Iconic Cruises, was slammed with a blistering counterclaim in their suit against TopView (right) accusing Aurora of operating illegally. Matthew McDermott An Aurora driver was even observed publicly complaining about unpaid wages and abandoning [the companys] bus in the middle of Times Square in protest, according to the Manhattan Supreme Court filing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aurora also known as Iconic Tours constantly runs afoul of the law by not registering their buses with proper agencies, operating vehicles without permits or license plates and storing their buses overnight on public streets, Top Views filing claims. The company also accuses Aurora of using unlicensed ticket sellers to dupe tourists, making unauthorized bus stops and picking fights with traffic agents, according to the court documents. Claims TopView previously made in federal court that Aurora workers deliberately don similar uniforms as theirs and trick customers into believing they are the much larger operator are also included in the new filing. But since Aurora filed its own salacious suit against TopView in October accusing the competitor of beating up its workers and harassing its customers with weed smoke and megaphones a slew of new, documented claims of illegality are now in the public record. Aurora denies the allegations in the counterclaim filing. Matthew McDermott TopView, which operates a fleet of over 40 buses, claims to have documented nearly 100 instances where an Aurora bus was missing a vehicle license plate on the front of the bus, according to a 39-page spreadsheet submitted as part of their filing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tourist buses must also affix a license plate from the city Department of Worker and Consumer Protection to the front of their vehicles at all times, but TopView claims in that same spreadsheet that theyve documented 389 instances of Aurora buses missing the required plates while in operation. Also in the spreadsheet are claims that Aurora, who has operated a fleet of four double-decker buses since 2022, uses unauthorized bus stops that are not part of their Department of Transportation permitted stops. On numerous occasions, the filing reads, Aurora has operated at least two different buses with the same license plate at the same time, and/or operated a bus with an illegal license plate, in violation [sic] DOT, DMV, and insurance laws and regulations. TopView also claims that Aurora ticket sellers are hawking tickets without their required DWCP license displayed, and that they dupe customers into thinking they are boarding a TopView bus, according to the filing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This filing demonstrates our unwavering commitment to defending our rights and holding Aurora accountable for their actions, said Asen Kostadinov, of TopView, in a statement to The Post. A TopView worker yelled at a New York Post photographer while reporting on the story. Matthew McDermott A rep for Aurora disputed TopViews claim that one of their workers had abandoned a bus, saying the companys filing failed to mention that the vehicle had suffered a mechanical failure and broken down at an approved stop and did not impede traffic. Auroras attorney, Brandon Walters, said the company is compliant with all applicable regulations, and utilizes a compliance firm to that effect. Aurora denies any allegation that it operates in an unauthorized or illegal manner, Walters told The Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Aurora rep said that front stickers or plates are sometimes missing because they are stolen and that the company has not been able to identify the vandals. Lister Oluwabamise Jegede, owner of Aurora Tourism Services, known as New York Iconic Cruises bus tours, said in his initial suit that hes been battling with rivalry company Top View who have been allegedly using intimidation tactics, violence and vandalism to hurt his business Matthew McDermott Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aurora have been violating regulations requirements so as to avoid fair competition, while providing an inferior service to consumers and negatively impacting the hop on hop off bus industry reputation, TopView said in their counterclaim filing. Matthew McDermott Walters also sent The Post images of six DWCP ticket seller licenses, as well as their DWCP and DOT permits for tour bus operations, in addition to 10 DOT sightseeing bus stop permits. Aurora is allowed to utilize several other stops that are currently under review by the DOT, he added. Auroras compliance with applicable regulations is a matter of public record, Walters said. No one should be a vigilante enforcer of the New York City Administrative Code. DCWP, the agency largely tasked with regulating tourist buses, declined to comment on the allegations because of an ongoing investigation, but a spokesperson told The Post that DCWP has issued Aurora two violations over the past two years for vehicle issues. An Oak Park police detective was killed Friday morning by a gunman who was seen leaving a bank, marking the first killing of an officer in the line of duty in the near west suburb in 86 years, officials said. Detective Allan Reddins, a five-year veteran of the department, was shot in his left side shortly after 9 a.m. while responding to a call of a person armed with a gun who was seen leaving a Chase Bank branch in the 1000 block of Lake Street, according to Oak Park police Chief Shatonya Johnson. Johnson said Reddins along with several other responding officers ordered the suspect to show his hands, but he instead brandished a firearm and opened fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reddins, 40, was transported to Loyola University Medical Center in critical condition and died of his injuries at approximately 10:10 a.m., Johnson said. Were hurting right now, Johnson said at a news conference Friday evening. Im hurting. His family is hurting. The suspect was shot in the leg during the confrontation and was treated at the scene before being transported to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, where he was in custody Friday night, police said. Johnson said the investigation was ongoing and she did not take any questions about what led up to the shooting. Asked for more details about the alleged gunman, Johnson said she didnt want to give him any more air time on the news. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reddins, of Chicago, joined the Oak Park force in 2019 after a stint with Metra police and quickly established himself as a natural leader, Johnson said. He was promoted to investigations in 2022 and closed several substantial cases in his time as a detective, she said. He would always take the extra step to say what else, and that is huge, the chief said. I thought he would make a phenomenal field training officer as well, and was looking forward to him becoming a sergeant. Reddins was a devoted family man and leaves behind his mother and siblings and a 19-year-old son, Johnson said. We had so many conversations about his mother, said Johnson, who described Reddins son as a bright young man with a bright future ahead of him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reddins death marks the first line of duty death for the Oak Park Police Department since 1938. She said the 86-member force was in mourning. We have a very close-knit police department, Johnson said, adding that many officers who were home celebrating the holiday came in to offer help, and a sergeant was able to pick Reddins mother up and drive her to the hospital. He had a whole community there at the hospital, Johnson said. We wrap our arms around each other. This is the worst day for any chief of police. Johnson also said shed heard from leaders of other departments around the area, offering assistance and condolences, including Chicago police Superintendent Larry Snelling. Funeral information will be posted on the Oak Park village website, Johnson said. As the year comes to a close, and a new presidential administration is set to lead Washington in January, theres a final push to prevent a titanium mining project from getting closer to Georgias Okefenokee Swamp. Right now, officials are considering a plan to extend the swamps boundary and to include the site. Channel 2s Michael Doudna spoke to advocates for protecting the swamp, who said the time to act is now, or never. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently accepting public comment on a proposal that would extend the swamp boundary. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Despite the proposal process to do so being underway, some advocates fear time is ticking as a change in president could change the federal governments position in support of protecting the swamp. The Okefenokee Swamp is more than 400,000 acres of nature refuge, providing peace for animals and solace for people. You just dont find it nowhere else, so why would you want to endanger it? Deborah Reed told Channel 2 Action News previously. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February, advocates pushed to stop the titanium dioxide mine at the refuges border. If U.S. Fish and Wildlife is able to extend the refuges border to include the land where the proposed mine would go, it would permanently protect the integrity of the swamp, advocates said. TRENDING STORIES: Despite the progress theyve been trying to make, they feel that now is the time to act, before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, saying he has a history of rolling back environmental regulations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This could be the last best chance that we have to get the federal government to lead at protecting the Okefenokee, Josh Marks, President Georgians for the Okefenokee, said. While advocates of the plan claim the titanium dioxide mine could cause irreparable damage to the swamp, Twin Pines Minerals, LLC, the mining company, said they have spent tens of millions of dollars to prove their process would not hurt the swamp. A statement shared with Channel 2 Action News in February said in part the scientists who publicly opposes the project had four plus years to present credible science to back their claims and never did However, Marks said that the mining plan was something you wouldnt do it at the Grand Canyon, you wouldnt do it at Yellow Stone, so in my eyes, this place is the same. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the federal government decides if it will expand the swamps borders or not, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp also has a choice on whether or not to grant the mining permits, which could have a big impact on the cost of the land and the future of any mines there. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated. A large fire has engulfed an oil depot in Russia's Rostov Oblast overnight on Nov. 29, local media reported. Eyewitnesses reported seeing large clouds of smoke over the FDKU Atlas oil depot in the Kamensk-Shakhtinsky District of Rostov Oblast. Videos of the fire posted on various Telegram channels appear to show a large blaze engulfing the night sky. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the location of reported fire. Ukraine's military has not yet commented on the reported attack. Ahead of the start of the blaze, acting Rostov Oblast Governor Yuri Slyusar claimed Russian air defenses intercepted 30 Ukrainian drones in the northwest of the region. The governor added that emergency services are "extinguishing a large fire at an industrial site," without specifying the location. Slyusar also claimed two houses were damaged in the Masalovka and Dyachkino communities amid the drone attack. Ukraine routinely strikes Russian oil bases and weapons depots in an attempt to diminish Russia's fighting power in its war against Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian strikes have targeted weapons storage facilities, military bases, and oil depots in Rostov Oblast in an attempt to slow Russian advances in Eastern Ukraine and pressure Russians to call for an end to the war. Ukrainian drones previously struck the FDKU Atlas oil facility in August, a military intelligence (HUR) source confirmed to the Kyiv Independent. In recent months Ukraine has tried to move Russia's war away from its own territory, striking targets deeper inside Russia. On Oct. 31, a Ukrainian drone struck an oil refinery in the city of Ufa in Russia's Bashkortostan Republic, which lies some 1,500 kilometers from the Russia-Ukraine border. Fossil fuels are the primary drivers of the Russian economy and the main source of revenue for the Kremlin's war machine. Despite Western sanctions, Russia still provides oil and gas to other countries around the world, primarily India and China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Its excruciating Ukrainians describe surviving Russian attacks that cost them health, loved ones, and homes Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Reports have claimed that a large-scale drone attack has taken place in Russia's Rostov Oblast, with social media reporting a fire at an oil depot on the outskirts of Kamensk-Shakhtinsky. Source: Rostov Oblast Governor Yuri Slyusar; Russian Telegram channels Details: Slyusar claimed that Rostov Oblast was attacked by 30 drones. He said these drones were destroyed and suppressed in the oblasts northwest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Russian social media reports indicated a fire had broken out at an oil depot near the city of Kamensk-Shakhtinsky. Fire at Russian oil depot. : astra The reports specified that the depot belongs to Atlas, an oil storage facility previously targeted by Ukrainian drones during the summer. Updated: Later, Slyusar confirmed a "huge fire at an industrial facility in the Kamensk district." For reference: The Atlas plant of the Russian Federal Agency for State Reserves in the Southern Federal District specialises in the supply of petroleum products to the Russian Armed Forces. Russian media reports indicated that in August 2020, the plant hosted joint exercises by the Russian Ministry of Defence and Rosrezerv as part of the Caucasus 2020 exercise. The demonstration exercises on the supply of petroleum products for the needs of the army involved three methods road, rail and pipeline. Support UP or become our patron! OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. Attorney General Gentner Drummond is calling upon Congress to pass the Kids Online Safety Act before the end of this year to protect children from online harm. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond Our youth are spending untold hours a day on social media platforms without proper safeguards to protect them from toxic content and addictive algorithms, said Drummond. There are commonsense measures that need to be taken to protect our children from harm when they are online. States launch probe into TikToks effect on kids health Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This push for federal legislation comes as many states, including Oklahoma, have launched investigations and lawsuits against major social media platforms like Meta and TikTok for targeting underage users. Drummond and a coalition of 31 other state attorneys general outlined the urgent need to address the growing crisis of youth mental health linked to social media use in a letter sent to Congressional leaders. The coalition highlighted several key provisions of the Act that would enhance online protections for minors. Mandatory default safety settings: This would require platforms to automatically enable their most robust safety protections for minors rather than burying these features behind opt-in screens. Addiction prevention: Allowing young users and their parents to disable manipulative design features and algorithmic recommendations that keep children endlessly scrolling. Parental empowerment: Providing parents with new tools to identify harmful behaviors and improved capabilities to report dangerous content. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also joining the letter to Congressional leadership are the attorneys general of Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont and Wyoming. kosa-letterDownload View the letter. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. Four law enforcement officials two police officers, a sheriffs deputy and an Oklahoma Highway Patrolman are set to be honored as regional law enforcement officers of the year by Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond. The program is part of a new initiative launched by Drummond in May to recognize the work done by state law enforcement officials. Drummond said the four were chosen from a pool of 44 applicants that included city, county, tribal and state criminal justice professionals. Drummond said the idea for the award program came from his work with an organized crime task force created earlier this year by his office. He said part of the effort involved building relationships with tribal, state, federal, county and municipal law enforcement officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result of that experience, I realized that we need to celebrate the best and brightest of Oklahomas law enforcement community, he said. Drummond's new program comes during the same time the attorney general is considering a run for governor in 2026. Candidates across the political spectrum often tout endorsements from police and fire unions in their campaigns. Drummond, however, declined speak about a possible race for governor. "I think it's premature," he said. "The problem is the day that I either announce for reelection or announce for another office is the day people are going to go, 'Oh, everything that Drummond does is political.'" More: In a deep red state, Oklahoma attorney general embraces policy nuance, shirking party politics Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Drummond said he was focused on his job as attorney general the state's top law enforcement official and part of that job is to ensure that law enforcement officials are recognized for their work. He said the finalists for the program were nominated and chosen by other representatives of the law enforcement community. Mike Fina, the executive director of the Oklahoma Municipal League, an association that represents and advocates for the states cities and towns, said he believed recognition programs like the one launched by Drummond could have a positive impact on the 587 cities and towns in the state and assist with the recruitment of new law enforcement officials. We struggle with (finding police offices) in small towns, Fina said. I wish hed do the same with volunteer firefighters. Its a big struggle there, too. The program also has drawn praise from police, union and municipal officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its great to see the AGs office recognizing the amazing work our states law enforcement officers perform day in and day out, Oklahoma City police Sgt. Gary Knight, a spokesman for the agency, said in an email. Echoing Knight, the president of the states police union said his organization hoped the award program would be a positive reflection on law enforcement as a whole. I think society often needs to be reminded of the valuable role that law enforcement plays in keeping our community safe and our residents safe, said Mark Nelson, president of the Oklahoma State Fraternal Order of Police. Its appropriate to honor officers whove done a phenomenal or outstanding job that might deserve recognition. Nelson added that law enforcement officers often dont go looking for recognition and often shy away from it while simply doing their job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were just out here to serve our communities, he said. Anytime we can highlight the role, even specifically some of these officers to the public of what it is that we do ... most people dont see that day in and day out. Who are the 2024 nominees? The nominees and the four regional winners will be recognized at a Dec. 2 reception, during which the state's Officer of the Year will be announced. In a news release about the program, Drummond said the four finalists represented courage, selflessness and unwavering commitment. The finalists include: Detective Lauren Cunningham Oklahoma City Police Department Detective Lauren Cunningham, representing the northwest region of the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cunningham is a 16-year police veteran. She has served in the homicide division and investigated crimes against children and cases of domestic violence. Drummond pointed to Cunningham's investigation of the deadly 2023 shooting at Whiskey Barrel Saloon as an example of her work. They spent weeks assembling video, photographs and 3D imaging technology to show the movements of the defendants at the crime scene, Drummonds news release said. Trooper Derek Fry Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Derek Fry, representing the northeast region of the state. A nine-year veteran of the highway patrol, Fry is one of two recipients of the 2023 Trooper of the Year Award. Drummond said Fry was instrumental in stopping a Kansas armed robbery suspect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After lethal force was authorized, Drummond said Fry fired on a suspect's car near Highway 412. The suspect lost control of the vehicle and ran away toward a populated area. Fry chased the suspect, who was armed with an AK-47, and fatally shot the man. Fry is currently with the Oklahoma Counter Terrorism Intelligence Center. Master Police Officer Benjamin Gomez Norman Police Department Master Police Officer Benjamin Gomez, representing the southwest region of the state. In 2023, Gomez was named the Norman Police Departments Officer of the Year, earning recognition for his work in all facets of policing, including submitting more than 230 felony/misdemeanor charges, completing more than 819 calls for service and serving more than 360 hours of community outreach. Drummond praised Gomez for his quick actions that saved a 2-year-old who had been choking and his efforts that led to the arrest of a couple charged with trafficking fentanyl. Deputy Austin Murray Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bryan County sheriffs Deputy Austin Murray, representing the southeast region of the state. Drummond said Murray was able to subdue a suspect who had chased his fleeing wife and two children. The man's pickup had struck the wifes vehicle, forcing her to crash into a tree off a highway near Achille. Murray, who has been with the department for nearly four years, recently received the Medal of Valor from the Oklahoma Sheriffs' Association for his actions in the case. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma AG Drummond launches award to recognize officers KANSAS CITY, Mo. Police are investigating after a man was critically injured in a late-night shooting Thursday near Armour Boulevard in Kansas City, Missouri. According to the Kansas City Police Department, just before midnight, officers were dispatched to the 1300 block of East Armour Boulevard on reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers found the man suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One person taken to hospital after Merriam apartment fire KCPD said the man was taken to a hospital and is currently in critical condition. A subject of interest was taken into custody, according to KCPD. Police have not released a suspect ID. This is a developing story. Stay tuned at FOX4 News for the latest updates and information. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Villagers prepare seaweed seedlings for marine farming at Dong'ao Village in Wenzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 27, 2024. Once plagued by environmental deterioration of its seaside, Dong'ao Village has now revived thanks to its ecological conservation efforts and burgeoning development of catering and homestay businesses. Currently, the village has nearly 100 homestays, which have so far accommodated about 800,000 tourists since the beginning of this year. (Xinhua/Liu Mengqi) A villager tidies up a guestroom at the homestay he owns at Dong'ao Village in Wenzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 27, 2024. Once plagued by environmental deterioration of its seaside, Dong'ao Village has now revived thanks to its ecological conservation efforts and burgeoning development of catering and homestay businesses. Currently, the village has nearly 100 homestays, which have so far accommodated about 800,000 tourists since the beginning of this year. (Xinhua/Zhang Nan) This photo shows a restaurant and homestay under renovation at Dong'ao Village in Wenzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 27, 2024. Once plagued by environmental deterioration of its seaside, Dong'ao Village has now revived thanks to its ecological conservation efforts and burgeoning development of catering and homestay businesses. Currently, the village has nearly 100 homestays, which have so far accommodated about 800,000 tourists since the beginning of this year. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi) A villager slices dried eels before packing at Dong'ao Village in Wenzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 27, 2024. Once plagued by environmental deterioration of its seaside, Dong'ao Village has now revived thanks to its ecological conservation efforts and burgeoning development of catering and homestay businesses. Currently, the village has nearly 100 homestays, which have so far accommodated about 800,000 tourists since the beginning of this year. (Xinhua/Zhang Nan) A villager checks eels being aired at Dong'ao Village in Wenzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 27, 2024. Once plagued by environmental deterioration of its seaside, Dong'ao Village has now revived thanks to its ecological conservation efforts and burgeoning development of catering and homestay businesses. Currently, the village has nearly 100 homestays, which have so far accommodated about 800,000 tourists since the beginning of this year. (Xinhua/Zhang Nan) This photo shows a view of Dong'ao Village in Wenzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 27, 2024. Once plagued by environmental deterioration of its seaside, Dong'ao Village has now revived thanks to its ecological conservation efforts and burgeoning development of catering and homestay businesses. Currently, the village has nearly 100 homestays, which have so far accommodated about 800,000 tourists since the beginning of this year. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi) A villager airs eels at Dong'ao Village in Wenzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 27, 2024. Once plagued by environmental deterioration of its seaside, Dong'ao Village has now revived thanks to its ecological conservation efforts and burgeoning development of catering and homestay businesses. Currently, the village has nearly 100 homestays, which have so far accommodated about 800,000 tourists since the beginning of this year. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi) A villager airs seafood at Dong'ao Village in Wenzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 27, 2024. Once plagued by environmental deterioration of its seaside, Dong'ao Village has now revived thanks to its ecological conservation efforts and burgeoning development of catering and homestay businesses. Currently, the village has nearly 100 homestays, which have so far accommodated about 800,000 tourists since the beginning of this year. (Xinhua/Zhang Nan) This photo shows an exterior view of a homestay at Dong'ao Village in Wenzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 27, 2024. Once plagued by environmental deterioration of its seaside, Dong'ao Village has now revived thanks to its ecological conservation efforts and burgeoning development of catering and homestay businesses. Currently, the village has nearly 100 homestays, which have so far accommodated about 800,000 tourists since the beginning of this year. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi) BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) A person was killed and a deputy was shot after a shooting in part of Raleigh County. According to a post on the Raleigh County Sheriffs Office, members of the Raleigh County Sheriffs Office responded to the Bolt area of Raleigh County at around 9:00 a.m. on Friday, November 29, 2024 due to reports of a potentially mentally disturbed person with a gun. Once the members of the Raleigh County Sheriffs Office arrived at the scene, the person fired and shot a Deputy, who was later taken and treated for non-life threatening injuries at a local hospital. The person was shot and killed after a member of the Raleigh County Sheriffs Office returned fire during the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The West Virginia State Police and the Raleigh County Sheriffs Office Detective Bureau are investigating the incident. The names of the people involved were not released at this time in order to inform family members. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) Black Friday is coming up, meaning hordes of people are gearing up to get those savings. However, after a shot fired at an Albuquerque mall during the holiday surge last year sent the day into chaos, News 13 asked the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) what they learned and how they plan to keep people safe this year. APD Police Chief Harold Medina said last years incident showed them the value of real-time information. The more information we have, the better off we are, Medina stated as one of the major takeaways APD gleaned after a singular shot rang out at Coronado Center during Black Friday last year, prompting a massive police response and mass confusion. Some of the big lessons weve learned is: we needed technology to give more information about what was occurring so that we could have the proper response and know exactly what was occurring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The police chief said they immediately began working with state lawmakers after the incident to get more ShotSpottera gunshot detection systemcoverage in the malls. One shot is one shot too many. One shot with no other shots, and nobody being signified as hit is a few officers responding to check on while a possible active shooter is every officer available in the nearest area command is going to be responding, Medina explained. They secured the funding for ShotSpotter in the spring, and theyve spent the summer and fall installing them in places like Coronado Center, ABQ Uptown, Winrock, and Cottonwood Mall. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This means that if there is ever an incident here, we will know within seconds if it was a gunshot, how many gunshots, and we will be able to pinpoint where that happens within about 40 feet, commented Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, We know this is not the be-all-end-all. It does not end crime. It isnt a magical solution to solve everything, but it is a massive signal that we will most likely catch you very quickly if you try anything at one of our shopping malls. Medina said, on top of the new technology, theyre putting a lot more officers on the ground during the shopping spree: I think its somewhere near 30 to 40 officers working these areas with on-duty personnel and overtime officers. His message for prospective holiday shoppers: Go out, have fun, enjoy the city, and know that we have officers in the area to keep you as safe as possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keller said 21% of the city is now covered by ShotSpotter; thats up from just 12% last year. He said the goal is to reach 100% coverage. In terms of other holiday crime, Medina said theyve seen rates of shoplifting decrease this year while commercial burglary is on the rise. Police urge people to be careful while theyre shopping and to not leave their purchases in cars where theyre visible. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) A woman has died after an apartment fire near Reno and Tinker Diagonal late Wednesday night. Respond to commercial fire at 403 Tinker Diagonal southbound, the automated system called out on the radio. In the daylight, charred remains around a door, puddled water on the ground, and crime scene tape are the only outside evidence of a late-night fire that can be found at the Redbud Landing apartments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At around 10:30 pm on Wednesday, the parking lot was lit up with lights from fire trucks and emergency vehicles, while Oklahoma City Police and firefighters discussed findings. The residents who called 911 told crews they saw smoke coming from their dishwasher. There were no signs of flames, but firefighters followed the smoke. They discovered it was coming through the wall, appeared to be coming form the apartment next door, said Battalion Chief Mike Paschal, with the Oklahoma City Fire Department. Hot on its trail, firefighters knocked down the door of an apartment. They said heavy smoke was coming from the back bedroom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dangerous: Oklahoma city fire crews seeing annual surge of abandoned structure fires Then whenever they were searching the apartment they found an adult female in the bathroom, said Paschal. She was unconscious and not responding to crews. The woman was put in an ambulance and rushed to the hospital. Sadly, she didnt make it. Firefighters noted a familiar sound was never heard will fighting the flames. We didnt hear any smoke alarms going off, said Paschal. You need to have working smoke alarms. Oklahoma City Fire Department, along with just about any fire department, will give those away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you need a smoke detector, OKCFD said you can call 405-316-BEEP. Oklahoma City will even come and hang them, said Paschal. Police and firefighters are working to pinpoint the exact cause of the fire. The victims name has not been released. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) Thursday is Thanksgiving and Open Pantry Community Services provided residents with a warm meal. Will mail and packages be delivered on Thanksgiving, Black Friday? 22News got a chance to see how services like this help families throughout the Springfield Region. Millions of Americans are celebrating Thanksgiving with their loved ones, enjoying their holiday feast, spending quality time with family, and giving thanks. But while many people are able to enjoy this holiday some residents are unable to provide sufficient meals for themselves and their families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To make sure that no one goes without a meal this year, Open Pantry Community Services welcomed the community to the High School of Commerce in Springfield to enjoy a warm meal. Its a wonderful event we also delivered 560 meals to homebound and elderly people in the community so we have about 150 here and also delivered the 560 meals, says Nicole Lussier with Open Pantry. Since 1975, Open Pantry has provided social services to families and residents who are hungry, homeless, or disadvantaged. These services becoming more essential across western Massachusetts as more than 98 thousand people are facing food insecurity. The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts reports that residents in Hampden County are struggling the most with food insecurity as more than 61,000 people do not know when their next meal will be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reasons behind food insecurity vary. It is often caused by poverty, unemployment, and low wages. Miss US Woman of Achievement Cristianna Borelli, told 22News, Having something like this for our community not only where they are being fed but they are having a positive environment listening to the music and you look at all the different people here who just want to give back and they have nothing more to gain from it but to see other people smile. Hopefully, that empowers people to want to get up next and try again. This is an annual Thanksgiving event and organizers say they look forward to helping more people in the community for many more years. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. ChatGPT creator OpenAI has been sued by more news organizations for using articles to train its artificial intelligence systems, this time by top Canadian media outlets. Torstar, Postmedia, The Globe and Mail, The Canadian Press and CBC/Radio-Canada on Friday filed a joint lawsuit in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice against OpenAI. The legal action alleges the Sam Altman-led firm is infringing, authorizing, and/or inducing the infringement of the news media companies copyright in the owned works, in violation of copyright laws. More from The Hollywood Reporter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The AI giant has been sued by several publishers and other copyright holders, accusing OpenAI of pilfering their work without compensation and consent to use articles by media companies to train automated chatbots. In a statement, the Canadian media outlets added: OpenAI regularly breaches copyright and online terms of use by scraping large swaths of content from Canadian media to help develop its products, such as ChatGPT. OpenAI is capitalizing and profiting from the use of this content, without getting permission or compensating content owners. Their claim aims to address the inappropriate and illegal use of Canadian content, and enforce Canadian laws. The lawsuit, led by legal firm Lenczner Slaght LLP, seeks punitive damages from OpenAI and a permanent injunction against the AI giant from using their news articles. The court action out of Canada expands a multi-front legal battle against OpenAI that includes earlier legal claims from The New York Times, Chicago Tribune and Denver Post. Media organizations that have reached arrangements with OpenAI include Axel Springer, owner of Politico and Business Insider; News Corp.; The Associated Press; the Financial Times; Vox Media and The Atlantic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paul Deegan, president and CEO of News Media Canada, which represents major newspaper groups like Torstar and Postmedia, in a statement to THR argued: These artificial intelligence companies cannibalize proprietary content and are free-riding on the backs of news publishers who invest real money to employ real journalists who produce real stories for real people. They are strip mining journalism while substantially, unjustly, and unlawfully enriching themselves to the detriment of publishers. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Four weeks ago, I messaged my lawyer to inform him that I could not keep a scheduled appointment for the 5th of November, because I would be working at the polls all day. His reply surprised me: Thank you for working the polls and performing your civic duty. In a society where the refrain Thank you for your service is commonly heard whenever military personnel walk by, we fail to recognize that civilians can and should do other forms of service for their country besides donning a uniform. Some of us may have done or know someone who has done jury duty. We vote, though not in overwhelming numbers. American citizens have always been called upon to do these tasks, but few do. In his book The Dying Citizen, renowned historian Victor Davis Hansen asks us to consider what it means to be a citizen as he explains, there is too much focus on rights, yet little attention on responsibilities. We yearn to be free as Lady Liberty declares on her tablet but few of us yearn to shoulder the responsibilities and perform civic duties demanded of a free people. This year, I decided that I would have no right to complain about election integrity or the state of the government if I failed to answer the call to participate in the electoral process. I wanted to see for myself how it worked; I wanted to do more than just cast a ballot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Strict requirements included training. In a one-day session, we poll workers practiced properly setting up/dismantling booths. No one discussed political views we focused on supporting each other to do our job well. As a veteran of the Army National Guard, I still recall the day I was sworn in and the pride I felt. At the end of poll worker training, I again recited an oath to support and defend the constitution ... [and] do my due diligence, words seared into my mind and heart. We verified IDs, triple checked voter data and got signature confirmation from voters as well as poll workers. Two poll workers were required to sign off on tasks. Were there people trying to vote illegally? Probably. All I can say for sure is that we turned away a few folks with improper identification (out of state or wrong county). Many folks waited till the day of or only a few days before to register, causing delays in processing them to check in to vote. Lesson: if you want your vote to be counted, dont delay getting registered. I noticed that certain demographics preregistered well in advance. Expediting the process, they showed only one ID: drivers licenses. My colleagues were exemplary patriots acting with professionalism, they maintained a neutral but helpful disposition toward everyone (despite the fact that we can see affiliation when verifying registration). In fact, several voters had no affiliation. One surprising thing was that several voters, adamant that they no longer belonged to the party listed in their record, asked if they could change affiliation. Note that voters are not restricted to choosing candidates from their party affiliation in national elections. At the end of a 16-hour day, I was exhausted but proud to have participated in the civic life of our republic. Civic duty can engender confidence in the integrity of democratic processes. More importantly, it makes us responsible citizens, worthy of the rights we so stridently claim as we live up to the immortal words of President John F. Kennedy: Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country. President Joe Biden and his top negotiator, Amos Hochstein, deserve considerable credit for bringing about a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. The terror group had no reason to launch a new conflict with Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, but clearly did so at Tehrans behest. Indeed, when the Hamas leadership initially approached the late Hassan Nasrallah in an effort to get Hezbollah to agree to a coordinated attack on Israel, the Hezbollah leader demurred. When Nasrallah subsequently authorized the launching hundreds of missiles into Israel, thereby driving out some 70,000 Israelis residing near the Lebanese border, Israel retaliated with such ferocity that Hezbollah lost much of its fighting power. It lost both its longtime leader and his newly named successor, at least a third of its missile launchers, much of its infrastructure and many of the tunnels it had constructed in anticipation of an expanded attack on northern Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unsurprisingly, Hezbollah was suddenly prepared to agree to a 60-day truce. In announcing the ceasefire, Biden said that both sides have accepted the United States proposal to end the devastating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. He added that the ceasefire is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities. But Hezbollah has said little other than that it has accepted the ceasefire. It has yet to make any long-term commitment. Indeed, shortly after Bidens announcement, the terrorist group was still sending vehicles into the zone below the Litani River, to which, under the terms of the agreement, it is meant to withdraw. Additionally, according to Lebanese media, civilians have begun to return to their homes in southern Lebanon, which would be in violation of the agreement that they not do so until all Israeli troops have left the country. Israel likewise has made no longer-term commitments. On the contrary, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized his countrys freedom of military action which Biden has underscored if Hezbollah violates the ceasefire. Netanyahu stressed in his own announcement of the agreement that it did not prevent Israel from relaunching its offensive after the 60-day term expired. As he put it, The length of the ceasefire depends on what happens in Lebanon. The war will not end until we realize all its goals, including the return of the residents of the north safely home. Netanyahu may also be betting that, should Israel relaunch its war against Hezbollah, it will not face any opposition in Washington. After all, when the 60-day truce comes to an end, Donald Trump, not Biden, will be president of the United States. And Netanyahu is widely believed to expect even more support from the new president than he has received from the current White House resident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Netanyahu pointed out in his statement that the Gaza War continued, and indeed widened, after the expiration of the seven-day ceasefire in November 2023 that included the release of 81 Israeli hostages and 240 Palestinian prisoners. His remarks about Gaza stood in marked contrast to Bidens expressed desire to bring about an end to the Gaza War. In fact, there is little prospect that the Gaza conflict will end any time soon. Hamas has called for a ceasefire, as it has before, but without reference to the release of Israeli hostages and with a demand that all Israeli forces leave the embattled and devastated strip. There is no chance that Israel will accept these conditions now, not only because it previously rejected them, but because the Lebanon truce enables Netanyahu to underscore that he is committed to completing the annihilation of Hamas. Netanyahu has every reason to maintain that commitment. To begin with, there have been numerous reports that he has essentially written off the remaining 101 Israeli hostages held in Gaza. If there is any truth to these reports, there is nothing to hold him back from seeking to annihilate Hamas. In addition, he must placate his right-wing partners in the government, who want to press on with the war even if it means the ethnic cleansing of northern Gaza. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, the most extreme member of the coalition government, bitterly opposed the Lebanon ceasefire agreement and was the only member of the security cabinet to vote against it. Netanyahu cannot afford to alienate Ben Gvir to the point that the extremist minister pulls his Otzma Yehudit party out of the government, which could prompt its collapse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Netanyahu continues to face charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust he is scheduled to testify in court on Dec. 10 and faces jail time if convicted unless he can retain his premiership; that would be problematic without the support of Ben Gvir and his party. Finally, Netanyahu has emphasized that his primary concern remains Iran. He has now acknowledged that Israels Oct. 26 strike on Iranian facilities included a significant component of their nuclear program, what previously had been seen as a major red line for the Tehran regime. While Biden still hopes for an understanding with Iran, and even Trump may do so given Elon Musks mid-November meeting with Irans ambassador to the U.N., Netanyahu is of no such mind. He still wants to go after what he calls the head of the octopus and remains determined to do anything needed to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Biden and his team deserve credit for the truce they have negotiated between Israel and Hezbollah. But a truce is just that and nothing more. The Lebanon agreement is certainly a step toward resolving the entire Middle East crisis, as the president asserts. But it is only a small step that is far too easily reversible. The crisis is far from over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dov S. Zakheim is a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and vice chairman of the board for the Foreign Policy Research Institute. He was undersecretary of Defense (comptroller) and chief financial officer for the Department of Defense from 2001 to 2004 and a deputy undersecretary of Defense from 1985 to 1987. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The U.S. Secret Service has long been synonymous with protecting the nations highest leaders. From securing the president and vice president to guarding visiting foreign heads of state, the agency plays a key role in protecting the lives of the worlds important leaders. But the Services dual mission protecting personnel while also investigating financial crimes has left it disoriented and stretched dangerously thin. Today, Secret Service agents not only protect the president, his family, and more than 30 other protectees, but also conduct extensive investigations of financial crimes. Assigning these dual roles to Secret Service agents structurally undermines their ability to focus on their truly critical mission: protecting the president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Months have now passed since an assassins bullet came within centimeters of killing President-elect Trump. Days ago, America again marked the anniversary of President Kennedys assassination in Dallas. Despite the passage of time and countless congressional and other independent investigations, the Secret Services diluted mission continues to sabotage it with a dangerous weakness. No organization can fully succeed when it tries to do too much with too little or when its mission is diluted with bifurcated responsibilities. But the risk is intolerable when the life of Americas president is at stake. The Secret Services current dual missions historical roots no longer serve the agency or its protectees effectively. Established in 1865 to combat counterfeit currency, the Secret Service took on its protection responsibilities after President McKinleys assassination in 1901. Since then, its scope of protective duties has expanded dramatically to include the protection of the president, vice president, their families, visiting foreign dignitaries and providing protection during major national events. At the same time, todays agents are tasked with investigating sophisticated financial crimes, including counterfeiting, cybercrime and identity theft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigating financial crimes requires specialized expertise in forensic accounting, data analytics and cyber forensics. Protection, on the other hand, demands tactical precision, logistical mastery and an unparalleled ability to anticipate threats. Attempting to excel without failure in both critical specialties leaves the agency stretched too thin, resulting in operational deficiencies and missed opportunities to enhance its primary mission of protecting the president. The strain of the Services dual mission has become glaringly apparent. The agencys resources are finite, yet the investigative demands on it continue to increase as the threat environment to protectees has grown dramatically even as financial fraud schemes have grown more sophisticated, requiring agents to navigate a constantly evolving landscape of technology and advanced criminal tactics. Like it or not, these dual missions compete with each other for limited Secret Service capabilities. Unless reforms occur, an avoidable tragedy may result from our continued failure to re-focus the Secret Services primary mission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Secret Service has unparalleled expertise in physical protection. Its agents are highly trained in threat assessment, crisis response and logistical planning. From coordinating motorcade routes to deploying cutting-edge counter-surveillance measures, the agency is uniquely equipped to protect high-profile individuals against a wide range of threats. Financial fraud investigative responsibilities should be assigned to other federal agencies, freeing Secret Service agents to focus exclusively on protection. Financial crime investigations, while critical, are better suited to agencies like the FBI or Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which already have the infrastructure and experience to investigate matters currently handled by the Secret Service. Resources could be redirected toward enhancing training programs, improving technology and addressing emerging threats. Agents would no longer be burdened with the competing demands of financial crime investigations, enabling them to devote full attention to the complex task of ensuring safety and security. Streamlining the Services mission is a necessary first step, but Congress should consider even bolder reforms including merging the Secret Service with other federal agencies that focus exclusively on physical protection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Service could be merged with other protection-focused agencies like the Diplomatic Security Service, which currently provides protection to visiting foreign dignitaries, associated personnel and families, and U.S. embassy personnel abroad (in addition to other investigative responsibilities). Combining the capabilities of two agencies with comparable missions could better ensure that our leaders are safeguarded with the highest possible level of expertise and precision. A unified command structure capable of addressing the full spectrum of threats to U.S. officials and visiting protectees (and U.S. officials working abroad) would far more effectively address the full spectrum of threats. Throwing additional taxpayer money at the challenge is not the solution and may even delay necessary reforms. In a time of dramatically heightened threats, focus is not just a strategic advantage its a matter of survival. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Secret Services current dual mission is not advisable or sustainable at least not without continuing to jeopardize the safety of our leaders. Congress should act now to return the Secret Service to its most important responsibility and strength: the physical protection of the president, the presidents family and other protectees. Michael D. Burnett is a decorated former Special Agent with the U.S. Secret Service (USSS), USSS Medal of Valor recipient, current Chief Operating Officer in the private sector serving the utilities industry. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. You might want to wait before you rush out to stock up on goods before our once and future presidents planned tariffs go into effect. While President-elect Donald Trump has announced that he will impose tariffs on his first day in office, there are plenty of practical and legal hurdles for Trump to clear before those tariffs could go into effect. In addition to challenges under domestic law, Trumps proposed tariffs may violate the United States-Mexico-Canada agreement that was negotiated during his first administration. The most likely legal challenges may be based on the argument that he stepped outside of the admittedly broad authority that Congress granted the president. This type of challenge might gain new traction with the current conservative court, which has embraced the so-called major questions doctrine. Under this doctrine, Congress must provide clear authorization before an executive agency decides an issue of national significance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While history indicates that courts will generally defer to the presidents decisions in this area, a recent Supreme Court case could change that. In June, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the opinion overturning the doctrine of Chevron deference and concluded that courts should exercise independent judgment and not defer to an executive agencys interpretation of a congressional statute when it is ambiguous. This would allow courts to perform a more searching review of the actions that Trump takes under the congressional statutes authorizing him to impose tariffs in certain circumstances. But lets assume for a moment that Trump is able to make good on his campaign promises and impose tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada and China. And lets further assume that such tariffs, as many expect, make our economy worse. The blame would fall not just on the White House, but also with Congress. For almost a century, Congress has ceded much of its constitutional authority to regulate foreign commerce to the president. Congress abdication of responsibility allows presidents to usurp that power and impose their own will on our global trading partners, with potentially disastrous results. This is not what the founders intended. Those who drafted our Constitution envisioned a government of truly shared power, between three coequal branches, including two political branches. Sadly, in the area of imposing tariffs, the legislative branch seems to have hobbled itself to the benefit of the executive branch. Under the Constitution, it is Congress, not the president, that has the power to regulate foreign commerce and impose tariffs. But since the Great Depression, Congress has delegated much of its authority to the president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1934, Congress passed the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act, which gave the president the power to negotiate trade agreements and make certain changes to U.S. tariff rates without congressional approval. President Franklin D. Roosevelt thus became the first president to have the power to unilaterally alter tariffs. Three decades later, in 1962, Congress passed the Trade Expansion Act. Section 232 of this act gives the president the power to change tariffs based on an investigation and determination by the Department of Commerce that some imports pose a national security threat. During his first administration, Trump used this power much more liberally than his predecessors and twice imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum pursuant to his power under Section 232. Trump might use Section 232 to impose tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, claiming that immigrants and drugs from those countries undermine our national security. Trump says the tariffs he proposes are a response to the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs into the United States. But Trump cant wave a magic wand and use his Section 232 powers. He first has to direct the Department of Commerce to undertake an investigation, a process that normally takes months. In addition, while any such legal challenge would face an uphill battle, those seeking to thwart these tariffs could endeavor to show that imports from Mexico and Canada fail to pose a national security threat. More than a decade after Congress passed the Trade Expansion Act, it once again relinquished its power over foreign commerce to the executive branch with the Trade Act of 1974. Section 301 of this law gives the U.S. trade representative, a Cabinet member, the power to impose trade sanctions on foreign countries when they break trade agreements or harm U.S. commerce by taking actions that are unjustifiable or unreasonable. Trump could direct the trade representative to conclude that China has broken one or more trade agreements, thus providing a pathway to impose sanctions (aka tariffs) on goods imported from China. Here, again, a challenger could try, but may face an uphill battle, alleging that China did not take actions that would justify the imposition of tariffs under the 1974 law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another, somewhat related legal challenge would be that Congress has simply ceded too much authority to the president. The Constitution gave this power to Congress, and then 150 years later, Congress gave that power away to another branch of government. Congress may not have had the power to do this. Under whats called the nondelegation doctrine, Congress cannot simply throw up its hands and delegate its constitutional duties to the executive branch. However, in 1976, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that a portion of Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act was not an unconstitutional delegation of power from Congress to the president. Roberts conservative court, however, may be willing to revisit this case, or at least embrace a more robust view of the nondelegation doctrine. So dont rush out to buy that electric car before the second Trump administration just yet. A federal judge or the Supreme Court may pump the brakes on Trumps tariffs. But the best solution to this looming problem is not to rely on the judiciary. It is instead for Congress to reassert its constitutional authority and revoke some of the powers it gave away to the president. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Under the current situation, all relevant parties need to remain calm and restrained and jointly seek de-escalation and lower strategic risks through dialogue and consultation, said Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian on Nov 20. Chinas comments came a day after Vladimir Putin approved a decree lowering the threshold for nuclear strikes. At first glance, it looks as if Beijing is worried that the war in Ukraine will escalate. Its sometimes hard to know for sure what the Chinese leadership actually thinks but leader Xi Jinping is almost surely comfortable with Vladimir Putins threats to use his most destructive weapons against Ukraine. Why? There are two principal reasons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First, events over the past couple of years suggest that Beijing is fully behind Putins war effort. As an initial matter, China greenlighted the invasion, evident from its joint statement with Russia declaring the no limits partnership, issued on Feb. 4, 2022, while the Russian leader was visiting the Chinese capital. The statement was released just 20 days before the Russian attack. The attack might have been earlier but Putin evidently acceded to Chinese wishes and waited until the end of the Beijing Winter Olympics to hit the former Soviet republic. From the very beginning of the war, Xi Jinpings regime has kept Putin in the fight by providing Russia with diplomatic, propaganda, banking, economic and lethal assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moreover, China has been providing military personnel as technical advisers on the ground for about a year. These advisers were charged with maintaining the Chinese-provided drones that Wagner mercenaries were deploying, military analyst Brandon Weichert told me. There are numerous reports of the advisers deploying into combat with those mercenaries. Putin is bold. I think Xi sees Putin as an essential partner because he is willing to do what Xi would like to do himself: disrupt the international system. Xi has adopted a page out of Mao Zedongs peasant movement playbook of promoting chaos to achieve worldwide Chinese rule, and Putin is Xis chaos maker. What better way to cause chaos than to threaten nuclear war? China and Russia have effectively formed an alliance because Xi and Putin see the world in the same terms, they articulate interests in the same way, and they have identified the same enemy: the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chinas and Russias ultimate ambitions are different Putin seeks to reassemble the Russian empire to its greatest extent and Xi wants to rule the world and the near parts of the solar system but their conflicting goals do not prevent them in the here and now from coordinating policies. Their militaries continually practice for war together, on land and at sea. Putin is so important to China that the Chinese leader, I think, believes Russia must prevail in Ukraine and use every weapon at its disposal if that is what it takes. Second, the Chinese regime has for decades been making Putin-like threats of its own. Beijing has pledged to not use nuclear weapons first, but it has throughout this century made threats to do exactly that. For instance, in July and September 2021, China threatened to nuke Japan for supporting Taiwan and Australia for joining AUKUS, the submarine-building coalition of Australia, the United Kingdom and the U.S. In March 2022, the Chinese Ministry of Defense promised the worst consequences for countries helping Taiwan defend itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moreover, China throughout this century has made out-of-the-blue threats to incinerate America, most notably in October 2013. Then, the main outlets of Communist Party and state media Peoples Daily, China Central Television, and PLA Daily, among others ran identical articles about how Chinese submarines launching ballistic missiles tipped with nuclear warheads could kill tens of millions of Americans, even listing the 11 cities they were targeting. These articles were not the work of rogue journalists: They appeared across Chinese media at the same time, a clear indication they were directed from the top of the Chinese political system. Tellingly, the articles were run less than a year after Xi Jinping became the countrys ruler. Putin had the opportunity to observe Chinas nuclear threats. Would he actually pull the trigger himself? By now, he has made so many threats to do so that most observers believe he has just been bluffing. Putins most recent threat came in response to the Biden administration allowing Ukraine to fire U.S.-made ATACMS missiles into Russian territory. Ukraine actually did so on Nov. 19, hitting an arms depot in the Bryansk region, about 70 miles inside Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moscow immediately called the United States a combatant in the war, and Putin, as noted, signed a decree lowering the threshold for the use of atomic weapons. We will only know for sure Mr. Putin isnt bluffing when he actually explodes a nuclear weapon on our doorstep, Peter Huessy of the National Institute for Deterrence Studies said to me after Ukraines launch of the ATACMS missiles. But then it will be too late to finally take his threats seriously. Would Chinas leadership be upset if Vladimir Putin carried through and detonated a nuclear device? And what is Chinas position on the use of these weapons? China does not publish its true nuclear doctrine, which in reality is whatever advances the goals of the Chinese Communist Party, Richard D. Fisher, Jr. of the International Assessment and Strategy Center told me in an e-mail message this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Ukraine, the Communist Party counsels calm and de-escalation in response to Russian nuclear threats, but the party would actually welcome any Russian nuclear strikes that sparked a larger European-U.S.-Russian nuclear disaster, as they would all emerge much weaker compared to China. China then would be freer to start its own wars of aggression, notes Fisher. Gordon G. Chang is the author of Plan Red: Chinas Project to Destroy America and The Coming Collapse of China. Follow him on X @GordonGChang . Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. As a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect early Wednesday, Lebanese displaced internally and seeking refuge in Syria during recent hostilities are returning home. #GLOBALink For decades, one of the most overpromised and underdelivered campaign pledges has been to reduce waste, fraud and abuse in government. Americans want to know that their tax dollars wont be squandered and that their government will not spend $400 on a hammer. A few weeks ago, President-elect Donald Trump announced the formation of a new advisory group called the Department of Government Efficiency, aka DOGE. Although its name suggests a government entity, DOGE will be an nongovernment commission, operating independently. It will only be able to provide recommendations to the president and Congress, and like many of Trumps early announcements, details about what it might do remain scarce. We do know who will lead it, however: Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. According to Trumps post on X, the duo will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies. But due to Musk and Ramaswamys reputations both have taken increasingly aggressive stances on social issues, prioritizing trolling and own the libs rhetoric the reception from Democrats has been mostly pessimistic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is perhaps understandable. Trumps return to the Oval Office has engendered an explosion of cynicism and distrust from many on the left. Trumps various pledges to punish political opponents arent helping. Even so, Democrats need to try to fight against that cynicism especially when it comes to the problems that politicians on both sides of the aisle can clearly see need fixing. Theres a long history of presidents tasking commissions with streamlining government, leading to ideas that were both praised and panned. President Theodore Roosevelts Committee on Department Methods was tasked with investigating and reporting on ways to improve business methods and practices of Executive departments from 1905 to 1909. President Ronald Reagan created the Grace Commission, and President Bill Clinton formed the National Partnership for Reinventing Government. All had successes and less than stellar reviews. Yes, the two men in charge of this most recent effort are flame throwers. I think Ramaswamy is mostly in this for the publicity and will likely fade away once he realizes how hard the work of meaningful government reform is. Candidly, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie nailed it a primary debate in 2023, when he called Ramaswamy the most obnoxious blowhard in America. And many Democrats have significant political and policy differences with Musk. His systemic destruction of X, boosting of conspiratorial and antisemitic thinking, offensive and at times dangerous jokes and attacks on free speech have won him few progressive friends. But I believe he is also brilliant. Perhaps he will have a unique way at viewing and finding areas of government that could truly use a reconfiguration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For now, lets ignore Musks unrealistic call for $2 trillion in budget cuts. He hasnt even opened the books, and like Trump, has a habit of repeating misinformation. When people outside of government look at how government is structured, shock is natural. But then the challenge begins. I dont think its a bad thing for outsiders to be part of this process. New perspectives can help identify opportunities for innovation and improvement, while highlighting potential weaknesses. And to be clear, Musk and Ramaswamy may find that maintaining the status quo is a very bipartisan practice. Every lawmaker has their favorite lobbyists and pet projects. But in a positive sign, some members of Congress are already signaling they will try to keep an open mind. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who represents Silicon Valley, indicated there could be bi-partisan collaboration when looking at notoriously inefficient corners of government, like the defense budget. More worrying to me is the dark cloud of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. After being removed from her committee assignments in 2021 for vile, hateful comments, Greene is poised to become the chairperson for a new subcommittee that will work with DOGE. Her involvement will make any collaboration between Musk and Democrats much more difficult. And theres the risk that she will enable Musks and Ramaswamys worst impulses. In other words, she could be the biggest obstacle for a successful, bipartisan efficiency effort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Will Musk be able to find ways to work with a Congress that too often defaults to partisan gridlock? We shall see. Restructuring parts of the federal government requires someone who knows how to build things, not just demolish them. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Organic eggs sold at Costco are being recalled over concerns they may be contaminated with salmonella. Approximately 10,800 retail units of organic, pasture-raised, 24-count eggs sold under Costcos Kirkland Signature brand are being recalled by New York-based Handsome Brook Farms, according to a news release posted on the Food and Drug Administrations website. The affected cartons were sold in 25 Costco stores in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee beginning Nov. 22. The recall applies only to units with Julian code 327 and a use by date of Jan. 6, 2025. No other products are affected by the recall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The recall was initiated after Handsome Brook determined that eggs not intended for stores were instead packaged and distributed in retail packaging, according to the release. Additional supply chain controls and retraining are being put in place to prevent recurrence, it said. To date, there are no illness complaints. The recall is being done in cooperation with the FDA. Impacted consumers should stop consuming the product and return affected units to their local Costco store for a full refund, or should dispose of the products. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) Handsome Brook Farms issued a voluntary recall Wednesday of the Organic Pasture-Raised 24-count eggs sold under the Kirkland Signature brand. According to the companys press release, 10,800 retail cartons of the double dozen of eggs have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The units that are up for recall were distributed to 25 Costco stores in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee between Nov. 22 and Nov. 26. They have an expiration date of Jan. 05, 2025, with UPC # 9661910680. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Costco asks members to review the expiration date and UPC number, as well as return them to a local Costco for a full refund. Courtesy of Handsome Brook Farms Handsome Brook Farms said the recall was initiated after the units of eggs not intended for retail distribution ended up being packaged and distributed anyway. For those who have additional questions, please contact Handsome Brook Farms via phone at 646-733-4532, ext. 1, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, email at recall@hbfeggs.com, or visit their website at www.handsomebrookfarms.com. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com. Solar United Neighbors, in coalition with the Clean Energy Equity Taskforce and several members of the Orlando community, will hold a press conference on Wednesday, December 4th, at 5:30 PM outside Orlando City Hall. Advocates from neighboring Orlando communities will highlight pressing concerns surrounding the Orlando Utility Commissions (OUC) proposed PeakShift program and its potential impact on Orlandos renewable energy goals and community. Read: Cold front arrives, with temps dropping to the 30s and 40s over the next few days Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speakers include: Heaven Campbell, Florida Program Director, Solar United Neighbors Patty Sheehan, City of Orlando Commissioner, District 4, Solar Customer Laura Betts, Climate Resilience Manager, The CLEO Institute Alejandro Flores, State Program Coordinator, PoderLatinx Bill Johnson, Florida Solar Energy Industries Association (FlaSEIA) President Read: Princess Cruises Love Boat departs from Port Canaveral for first time Higher energy bills will burden Orlando residents, particularly those in low-income communities. OUCs attempt to limit net metering raises serious legal and ethical questions that must be addressed to protect consumers rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read: Kissimmee man arrested in DeSoto County after two kidnapped 4-year-olds found in stolen vehicle The meeting will review and address critical topics such as Protecting Orlando Residents from higher energy bills, Impact on Solar and Efficiency Investments, Net Metering Concerns, and Unfair Fixed Charges. Stand together to protect Orlandos clean energy future and ensure the citys renewable energy goals are obtained equitably and effectively. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Security forces in Pakistan were seen pushing a protester off a 25ft-tall tower of shipping containers during a demonstration that saw nearly 1,000 people arrested. The incident captured on camera and widely circulated on social media happened as thousands of supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan converged in Islamabad to demand his release from prison. Top aides of Mr Khan claimed security forces launched a brutal crackdown on protesters and opened live fire, leading to the deaths of dozens of people and scores were injured as war-like scenes emerged from the heart of the capital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the dramatic videos showed a man seemingly praying on top of a huge wall of containers erected to block protesters from reaching their destination. Forces in riot gear are seen following him to the top, surrounding him, and then pushing him off the edge. The man is seeing hanging on to the edge of the container before falling. Mr Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said: An innocent, unarmed protester was seen praying on a container when an armed paramilitary officer brutally pushed him off from a height equivalent to three stories. A supporter of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party offers prayers on top of a shipping container as a paramilitary soldier chases him (AFP via Getty Images) The condition of the man after his fall from the containers remains unknown. A PTI source said the party was still investigating what happened to him, and eyewitness reports that he died at the scene could not be verified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Independent has reached out to the Ministry of Interior for a comment. On Wednesday, police in Islamabad said 600 protesters had been arrested following Tuesdays operation, bringing the total since the protest sit-in began on Sunday to 954. Mr Khans aides alleged, without providing evidence, that hundreds had suffered gunshot wounds during chaotic scenes overnight in the heart of Islamabad as police dispersed protesters led by Mr Khans wife Bushra Bibi who had broken through security barricades. Bushra Bibi, center, wife of imprisoned former premier Imran Khan and leaders of Khan's party lead their supporters during a rally demanding Khan's release (AP) However, Islamabads police chief, Ali Rizvi, denied that live ammunition had been used during the operation, which he said police had conducted alongside paramilitary forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that the police seized weapons, including automatic rifles and tear gas guns, from the protest site where thousands had gathered. Ali Amin Gandapur, a top Khan aide and chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, who was a part of the protests, accused the authorities of using excessive force against protesters who he said were peaceful. Mr Gandapur who was part of the convoy that had Bushra Bibi said they were directly attacked. The PTI officials said the truck in which she was travelling was set on fire but both Bushra Bibi and Mr Gandapur were removed from the convoy and taken to the PTI stronghold Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party march towards Islamabad after clearing shipping containers placed by authorities (AFP via Getty Images) Both Imran Khans wife and I were attacked directly, Mr Gandapur told a press conference in the city of Mansehra, in the province he rules. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari said earlier that the protest seeking Mr Khans release had been called off, citing what he called the massacre. But Mr Gandapur said the protest would continue until Mr Khan himself called it off. Mr Khan who has been in jail for the last year has called his supporters to fight till the end in what he dubbed as final call for his release. The former leader is facing more than 150 cases many of which have been overturned or scrapped. He has called the charges against him a political vendetta after he accused the army of his ouster in 2022 in a no-confidence vote at the behest of the US. The army and the US have both denied the allegations. TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) Paraguay's foreign minister said his country is committed to its relationship with Taiwan and has no plans to break off their diplomatic relationship in favor of China as he visited the increasingly isolated island Friday. Paraguay is the only country in South America and one of 12 worldwide that recognizes Taiwan as a country, but it also has a big trade relationship with China worth about $5 billion. Paraguay is open to establish diplomatic, consular or commercial relations with China without conditions, Paraguay Foreign Minister Ruben Dario Ramirez Lezcano said. But we don't accept any condition to break our relations with Taiwan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China has become one of the biggest players in South America, and the biggest trading partner for many countries in the region. Chinas trade with the region has grown exponentially, reaching nearly $500 billion as of 2023, according to data from the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. We are very committed, said Ramirez Lezcano. He added that the relationship is not dependent on the U.S. It's not because the U.S. is asking Paraguay to keep relations with Taiwan. China requires it diplomatic allies to recognize its claim that Taiwan is a part of China. Taiwan and China split after a civil war, and today, Taiwan is self-ruled. Ramirez Lezcano met with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te on Thursday. Lai welcomed him and said his visit was a demonstration of the staunch friendship between them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ramirez Lezcano is in Taiwan to sign a reciprocal visa-free agreement for their citizens. He also said he would work on investment opportunities, while pursuing the country's goal of diversifying its market access for their agricultural products, namely beef, soybeans and corn. President Santiago Pena, who took office last year, has repeatedly said he will remain steadfast to Taiwan, bucking a trend. Taiwan's diplomatic allies have dwindled as China has gone on a campaign of poaching them. Last year, Honduras cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Ramirez Lezcano also said he was looking forward to working with the U.S. secretary of state nominee, Marco Rubio. He's ready to strengthen our relations, and go deeper, he said of his meeting with President-elect Donald Trump and his team last week at Mar-a-Lago. ___ Wu reported from Bangkok. Large parts of the fuselage from the German cargo aircraft that crashed near the Vilnius airport were recovered and loaded onto lorries on Friday as the investigation into the crash continues. The Swiftair aircraft, which was flying from Leipzig to Vilnius on behalf of DHL, crashed into a residential area near Vilnius Airport early on Monday morning under unclear circumstances. One of the four crew members was killed. The cause of the crash is still unknown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the help of a crane on Friday, part of the fuselage was lifted and loaded onto a lorry. The aircraft engines were also removed from the crash site, which has remained cordoned off and secured by police. The wreckage was brought to a hangar for closer examination by investigators seeking to understand what brought down the plane. The flight recorders have already been recovered. According to the authorities, experts from Germany, Spain and the US have arrived in Lithuania and are helping with the investigation. Two Republican candidates for open U.S. House seats in Florida got a boost Monday when President-elect Donald Trump endorsed them. But if they want to use their considerable funds in state-level political committees to campaign for federal office, they can thank Gov. Ron DeSantis, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, a 14 year-old U.S. Supreme Court precedent and loopholes in campaign finance laws. Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis submitted his resignation effective March 31 on Monday to run for the Congressional District 1 seat vacated by former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Niceville, who left the position when Trump tapped him to by U.S. Attorney General. Gaetzs trail of controversies doomed his nomination, but his resignation still stands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Sen. Randy Fine, R-Brevard County, is running for the Congressional District 6 seat left open after U.S. Rep. Mike Waltz was named the next national security adviser. Waltz resigned effective Jan. 20, the same day Trump takes office. Patronis, who was considering a run for governor in 2026 before the seat opened up, has $6.8 million in Keep Florida Free, a political committee chaired by Melissa Stone, his political consultant. Fine has about $1 million in his Friends of Randy Fine committee. Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis takes the oath of office administered by Justice Alan Lawson with his wife Katie Patronis and sons Theo and Johnny Patronis during the 2019 inauguration ceremony on the steps of the Historic Capitol Building in Tallahassee Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. Until last year, Florida Department of State election law guidelines asserted transferring funds from a Florida political committee for use in a campaign for federal office was illegal. A Florida political committee must use its funds solely for Florida political activities, i.e., depositing contributions and making expenditures, which by definition in Florida law are for the purpose of influencing only Florida elections, the 2022 edition of the Florida Department of States political committee handbook states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last March, when the latest edition of the handbook was published, the guidance was changed. Now, donations from Florida political committees to federal super PACs are allowed if the PACs dont coordinate with a candidate. The change results from the Citizens United decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2010. That ruling struck down limits on contributions from corporations, unions and other groups to super PACs independent of a candidates campaign. This interpretation is no longer tenable regarding contributions to groups whose expenditures are not coordinated with candidates, the handbook states. The change in guidance was first reported by NBC News in 2023. It came right as DeSantis was preparing to run for President and just before he relinquished control of his political committee, Friends of Ron DeSantis, to state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, a political ally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ingoglia changed the name of the committee to Empower Parents PAC, then transferred $82.5 million from the committee to Never Back Down, a federal super PAC backing DeSantis presidential bid. The move brought a complaint filed with the Federal Elections Commission by Campaign Legal Center, an elections watchdog group, alleging it violated federal campaign finance laws barring the use of soft money not subject to federal limits on donations to federal candidates. The CLC also later filed another complaint against DeSantis campaign, alleging coordination between the campaign and Never Back Down, which had paid for travel and hosted events for the campaign. Neither complaint has been publicly decided upon by the FEC. When it does, its likely the panel, which is comprised of three Republicans and three Democrats, will deadlock in a 3-3 vote, resulting in no penalties for DeSantis campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats what happened when Donalds used a similar maneuver to help fund his initial run for an open U.S. House seat in 2020. Donalds relinquished control of his political committee, Friends of Byron Donalds, which had about $107,000 in it. That was later transferred to a super PAC, Trusted Conservatives, which supported his campaign. Donalds won the GOP primary for a heavily Republican seat in a crowded nine-person contest with 22.6% of the vote, beating the runner-up by 777 votes. When the FEC considered the resulting complaint over the move, the vote was 3-3, so no punishment was issued. Its unknown whether Patronis will attempt to convert his funds in Keep America Free into a war chest to help him win the U.S. House seat. In a text message to USA TODAY Network Florida, Stone, his political consultant, said she couldnt speak to that at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Qualifying for the CD 1 and CD 6 seats begins Dec. 6 and ends Dec. 7, but Patronis appears to have a more competitive primary than Fine. State Rep. Joel Rudman, R-Navarre, is also in the race for the GOP nomination for CD 1, a district that leans heavily Republican, while the Republicans competing with Fine for the CD 6 seat have little name recognition. Trumps endorsement, though, makes Patronis and Fine the favorites for the seats. Fine, though, has left control of the Friends of Randy Fine political committee and former state Rep. Jason Fischer, a Jacksonville Republican, has taken over as chairman as of Tuesday, according to state campaign finance documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the timeline set by DeSantis in calling the special elections, the primary will be held Jan. 28 and the general election will be April 1 for both seats. Gray Rohrer is a reporter with the USA TODAY Network-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at grohrer@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @GrayRohrer. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Can Patronis, Fine use state PAC money for U.S. House races? Nov. 29WILKES-BARRE The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PA Turnpike) this week came together to remind drivers to wear their seat belts, drive sober, and eliminate distractions behind the wheel. Operation Safe Holiday kicked off on Nov. 11, with the "Click It or Ticket" (CIOT) Thanksgiving Enforcement Mobilization running through Dec. 1. Throughout Operation Safe Holiday, law enforcement will also conduct sobriety checkpoints, roving patrols, and regular traffic safety patrols that began Wednesday, Nov. 20, and run through the New Year's holiday to crack down on drivers impaired by drugs or alcohol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "These enforcement efforts are not about tickets, they are about saving lives," said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. "PennDOT data shows seat belts save lives. Wearing your seat belt is your best defense against injury or death in the event of a crash. No matter how far you travel this year, buckle up!" Last year, it is estimated that 92% of unbelted occupants or 282 people who were killed in crashes while traveling in passenger vehicles, including cars, small trucks, vans, and SUVs, could have survived if they had been buckled up. Pennsylvania law requires any occupant younger than 18 to buckle up when riding in a vehicle, as well as drivers and front-seat passengers. Children under the age of two must be secured in a rear-facing car seat, and children under the age of four must be restrained in an approved child safety seat. Children must ride in a booster seat until their eighth birthday. As part of the CIOT enforcement mobilization, PSP held child safety seat fitting clinics at several locations across the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Pennsylvania State Police is dedicated to ensuring the safety of everyone who travels the highways and secondary roads of our Commonwealth. With this comes zero tolerance for impaired drivers," said PSP Commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris. "Wear your seat belts, drive sober, and eliminate distractions behind the wheel." According to PennDOT data: During the 2023 holiday travel period beginning the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and running through Jan. 2, 2024, there were 1,061 alcohol-related crashes, resulting in 22 fatalities and 618 suspected serious injuries. During the same time-frame, there were 360 drug-related crashes, resulting in 26 fatalities and 267 suspected serious injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is once again expecting big numbers over the Thanksgiving holiday. Approximately 3.4 million motorists are expected to be traveling the PA Turnpike during the six-day holiday period running through Sunday, Dec. 1. Topper: Assessment scores show need for transformational change in education Incoming Pennsylvania House Republican Leader Jesse Topper, R-Bedford/Fulton, this week said the recent statewide assessment results from the Pennsylvania Department of Education show transformational change is needed in Pennsylvania's system of education to achieve meaningful improvement. "While the statewide assessment scores released by the Pennsylvania Department of Education show some areas of improvement, it is clear we are still lagging behind our pre-COVID achievement scores and Pennsylvania students are continuing to learn at a deficit compared to their predecessors," Topper said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the just-released statewide assessment scores, Pennsylvania students incrementally improved in math and science proficiency, while continuing to fall behind in English language arts. "If we are to expect tangible change in outcomes, we must have transformational change in our system of education. It is clear unfocused budgetary and legislative education priorities in state government are not benefiting Pennsylvania's children in the classroom," Topper continued. "I look forward to continuing to work across the aisle and with the Shapiro administration to find common ground on shared goals that can advance the kind of transformative change in our education system our students so desperately need." Secretary of Education Mumin steps down; Gov. Shapiro appoints Fitterer interim Acting Secretary Secretary Dr. Khalid N. Mumin this week announced his resignation after nearly 2 years of service as Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Mumin, a lifelong educator, was confirmed by the Senate of Pennsylvania to serve as the Secretary of Education on June 26, 2023. "Dr. Mumin has dedicated his life and career to ensuring Pennsylvania children have real opportunity through a quality education that sets them up for success in life," said Gov. Josh Shapiro. "He has led the Pennsylvania Department of Education with passion and integrity. I am grateful for his service to Pennsylvania's students and educators and wish him great success in his future endeavors." "It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education," said Secretary Mumin. "I began my career as a teacher in a classroom, and those early experiences watching students get excited about learning inspired me to become a principal, a superintendent, and ultimately Secretary of Education, so I could continue to fight for those students to get more support and more opportunities. I'm so grateful to Gov. Shapiro for this opportunity to lead the Pennsylvania Department of Education and help build a bright future for Pennsylvania's students and educators." Dr. Mumin will step down on Dec. 6. Angela Fitterer, Executive Deputy Secretary for the Department of Education, will serve as interim Acting Secretary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During Dr. Mumin's tenure, Pennsylvania has made historic investments in K-12 public education across two budgets, delivering $1.5 billion in new funding to schools and driving resources to the public schools that need it the most. The Shapiro Administration has delivered universal free breakfast for 1.7 million Pennsylvania students, strengthened career and technical education programming by investing in Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and apprenticeships, and invested in student mental health, repairs for safer and healthier schools, and free menstrual products for students in schools. The Department has also made significant strides to strengthen the pipeline of qualified teachers ready to take up jobs in our classrooms. PDE has created a new CTE program in Education for high school students, awarded $1.5 million in grant funding to colleges and universities to bolster the Commonwealth's next generation of special educators, eliminated the Basic Skills Assessment to become an educator, worked with the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) to create and expand the Student Teacher Support Program to provide a stipend to student teachers, allowed individuals authorized to work in the United States to earn certification and serve as educators in the Commonwealth, reduced the wait time for new teachers in Pennsylvania to receive their teaching certification by more than ten weeks, and more. Fitterer is a lifelong public servant who currently serves as the Executive Deputy Secretary of Education for the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PA Broadband Development Authority opens $1.16B program to connect Every Pennsylvanian to internet Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) Executive Director Brandon Carson this week announced the Commonwealth's $1.16 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program will accept the first round of applications from Nov. 22, 2024, through January 21, 2025. BEAD is a federal grant program that provides states with funding to deploy broadband infrastructure and connect residents to the internet. In June 2023, Governor Josh Shapiro and PBDA Executive Director Carson announced the Commonwealth's historic BEAD program funding to expand broadband in unserved and under-served areas to make sure high-speed internet is available to every Pennsylvanian by the end of the decade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "My Administration is moving quickly to solicit applications and drive out this historic funding so we can extend access to high-speed, affordable internet all across our Commonwealth by the end of this decade," said Gov. Shapiro. "Ensuring every Pennsylvanian can connect to the internet is critical for students who want to learn, patients in rural communities who want to see their doctor, and small business owners who want to find new customers and succeed in Pennsylvania. We're committed to closing the digital divide in the Commonwealth, and this is another significant step forward in creating real opportunity for all Pennsylvanians." Per federal guidelines, the BEAD program will consist of two, 60-day application periods for eligible entities to apply for funds to construct high-speed internet networks to areas that lack service. "We've worked closely with local government leaders, state and federal officials, industry representatives, and other stakeholders to design this program and we're excited to launch it," said PBDA Executive Director Carson. "For far too long communities lacking internet access have had to make difficult decisions about how to educate their children, where they're able to work, or how to get their medical care. We have the funding needed and are ready to invest in a variety of technologies and networks of all sizes to provide high-speed internet to all corners of the Commonwealth." Dates for the second application period in 2025 will be announced. Following both application periods, the PBDA will evaluate the applications and provide a final proposal outlining each of the selected recipients and projects. This final proposal will be open for public comment for 30 days prior to its submission to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). PBDA will announce the final awards later next year after they are accepted by the NTIA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eligible BEAD applicants include cooperative organizations; not-for-profit organizations; public-private partnerships; private companies; public or private utility companies; public utility districts; municipalities or units of local government; and internet service providers registered through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Funds can be used for physical improvements; long-term leases; multi-family residential deployment; planning, design, and engineering; personnel costs; network software upgrades; and workforce development. There is no minimum or maximum grant amount for any project projects require a minimum 25% share of the total project cost in matching funds. The BEAD program, established in accordance with the NTIA's Notice of Funding Opportunity and Act 96 of 2021, utilizes funds allocated to Pennsylvania through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. In addition to $1.16 billion in BEAD funding, the PBDA recently approved $45 million in Multi-Purpose Community Facilities grant funding to 49 projects in 26 counties across Pennsylvania. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle. A Pennsylvania woman pleaded guilty in court after embezzling over $90,000 from Social Security funds. Patty Merlo, 66, of Punxsutawney, pleaded guilty to a charge of violating federal fraud laws on Nov. 25. According to information presented to the court, from around May 2016 to January 2022, Merlo embezzled about $91,300 in Social Security benefit payments, to which she knew she was not entitled. Merlos sentencing was scheduled for March 26, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General led the investigation for this case. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- The counter-narcotics police have discovered illicit drugs and arrested 11 alleged drug traffickers in southern Afghanistan's Kandahar province, provincial police spokesman Mullah Asadullah Jamshid said Friday. The contraband, which includes 297 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and other material used in manufacturing heroin, was discovered during a series of recent operations, the official said. Police also destroyed 2.5 acres of poppy farm recently, the official said, adding that no one would be allowed to produce or smuggle illegal drugs in the province. Poppy cultivation in Afghanistan had dropped by an estimated 95 percent since the country's caretaker government imposed a drug ban in April 2022, according to a report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime last November. (FOX40.COM) A person died at a Sacramento area hospital on Friday morning after being pulled from a Folsom house fire, according to the Folsom Fire Department. Just after 2 a.m., firefighters arrived to Briarcliff Drive where they found heavy smoke and flame pouring out of a home. 8 people displaced following turkey frying fire in Carmichael Firefighters were able to rescue a single occupant from the home, who was transported to a Sacramento area hospital where they later died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Folsom Fire Department is still working to determine the cause of the fire. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40. President-elect Donald Trump has long embraced the phrase America First in dealing with foreign policy. This theme started during his first campaign, and he doubled down in 2024. It is true that the phrase has a sordid history from the 1930s, which amounted to isolationism, Nazi appeasement and antisemitism, but it is also true that Americas government should primarily champion the interests, values and goals of its citizens. So what does the philosophy mean for America and its allies today? During his first term, Trumps foreign policy was fairly traditional, run by traditional actors. Then, his vice president was Mike Pence, a mainstay of traditional Republican foreign policy if there ever was one, and now one of the most strident supporters of Ukraine and a harsh critic of the rise of isolationism on the right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His top cabinet officials were military men like H.R. McMaster and John Kelly, and experienced foreign policy hands like former Sen. Dan Coats and State Department veteran Brian Hook. By and large, his administration conducted a traditional Republican foreign policy. He gave lethal aid to Ukraine, attempted to use trade and renewed alliances with countries like India to box in China, started a maximum pressure campaign against Iran, and eliminated Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in retaliation for Irans provocations. There were notable exceptions. Trumps abandonment of Americas Kurdish allies in northern Syria was a key factor in the resignation of Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, a highly respected military leader. A very public summit with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, opposed by Trumps then-national security adviser John Bolton, went on anyway. Fatalistically, he signed an agreement with the Taliban that effectively undercut the U.S. backed moderate government, a move also opposed by Bolton, Mattis and others in the administration. Things have changed. Trumps vice president will be J.D. Vance, a vocal critic of Ukraine and a backer of what his fans would call restraint. Columnist George Will used far harsher terms, saying if Vances views are ultimately victorious, the Republican Party will be more isolationist than either party was during the 1930s. Few of Trumps previous top foreign policy hands will be returning to the new administration. Moreover, the idea of America First has grown and evolved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The America First Foundation, a think tank including many former Trump administration officials, argues that this philosophy is pragmatic, interests-driven transactional engagement with other nations, and emphasizes the need to avoid economic overreach and unnecessary military conflicts. It has published numerous articles and position papers on various related issues. Most are bare-bones, aimed more at attacking the Biden administration, rather than detailed policies on what is to be done next. But they at least offer something to go on. Meanwhile, Trumps appointments so far send mixed signals. The first major announcements were that Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, a longtime member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Intelligence Committees, would be secretary of state, and Rep. Mike Waltz, a top military vet and Pentagon adviser, would be the national security adviser. Both are generally well thought of and fit well inside the historic Republican consensus, even if they have taken a somewhat different tack to fit more closely in Trump world, being somewhat less pro-Ukraine than more traditional Republicans. On the other hand, Trump has nominated former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, a Democrat turned Republican, as the director of national intelligence, and Pete Hegseth, a former National Guardsman and Fox television host, as secretary of defense. Gabbard has been criticized by both parties for repeating the propaganda of Bashar al-Assad and Vladimir Putin. Hegseths experience is less in defense policy as in veterans policy, working for veterans organizations, including the Concerned Veterans for America, one of the advocates for restraint. Hes also sent mixed signals on Ukraine and NATO. They are, in essence, the opposite of Rubio and Waltz. Thus, there is a contest to define what America First means. Often, this has been discussed with regard to Ukraine as shorthand, with traditional Republicans supporting continued aid to Ukraine and the restraint advocates arguing against. But while it is true that this is a key concern, and as Ive argued, perhaps the vital issue in terms of what will ultimately drive global politics, it is far from the only issue at play. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the last part of the campaign, in Arab-heavy regions of Michigan a constituency skeptical of Israel, to put it mildly Trump said hed bring peace to the Middle East, without giving any specifics. A Republican spokeswoman later said Trump wanted Israel to end its war with Irans proxies with a decisive victory. Thats a good answer on paper, but what if there is tension between Israel ending and winning the war? Similarly, last summer, Trump questioned why Taiwan wasnt paying more for its own defense, citing its success in the semiconductor industry, and he refused to say whether hed defend Taiwan. This statement drew criticism from both Trump backers and opponents in Congress, and is the opposite of what Pence said in an op-ed shortly thereafter. It is, however, consistent with criticism from former advisers that Trump sees foreign policy as transactional. Since winning office, Trump has included billionaire international businessman Elon Musk, now Trumps efficiency czar, in high-level calls with Ukrainian leadership, and Musk himself has met with senior Iranian diplomats. Musk, a mercurial figure with regard to foreign policy, has a complicated set of personal financial interests in Russia, China, Saudi Arabia and others, and throws another major curveball into things. Voters liked Trumps first-term foreign policy by and large, and punished what they saw as American weakness in the Biden administration, with some good reasons, leading to the conflagrations in Israel, Ukraine and other places. At the same time, voters liked Trumps critique of what they saw as overreach during the Bush and Obama years in Afghanistan and Iraq. But projecting strength, while avoiding overreach, are impulses that are in tension. The bipartisan debacle of Afghanistan proves a difficult point: Voters may say they want a particular policy, such as withdrawal of U.S. troops from foreign lands, but they will punish leaders at the ballot box if those policies dont work out. Will Trump continue to back Ukraine if highly dubious talks with Putin are futile in expelling Russia from Ukraine? Will Trump prioritize winning, or ending, Israels war on Irans proxies? What will his policies about China entail? Will he support allies, such as Taiwan or Japan, if China encroaches in their space? What will his administration do if Americas short-term economic interests and our alliances conflict? In other words, does America First look more like Trumps first term, more like what Vances crowd might want, some mixture of the two, or something else altogether? I dont think anyone really knows. But were about to find out. As the holiday season ramps up, scammers are also ramping up their efforts to target consumers, including utility customers, warns Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) To help combat this trend, PG&E is joining Utilities United Against Scams to help customers recognize potential scams. Each year around the holiday season, scammers target consumers with new and predatory tactics and seek to exploit and defraud customers when they are more distracted or stressed than normal. While many are aware of the potential for online shopping scams, the same danger exists for utility bill scams, where scammers will demand payment by telephone, online or in person to prevent immediate disconnection of service. Reports of scams targeting PG&E customers have remained alarmingly high throughout 2024. In fact, there have been nearly 15,000 reports year-to-date with customer losses of over $334,000, and an average loss of $628. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scammers dont take the holidays off. Stress and distraction create a window of opportunity for scammers to deploy their latest strategies to defraud and exploit consumers, said Matt Foley, lead scam investigator for PG&E. Remember, PG&E will not contact you for the first time within one hour of service disconnection, and we will never request payment by a pre-paid debit card or via online payment services like Zelle or Venmo. Small and medium-sized businesses are also a target, and scammers will focus their efforts during busy business hours, preying on business owners sense of urgency to keep the doors open and the lights on. In fact, PG&E has received over 500 reports of scam attempts targeting these customers during 2024. We encourage customers of all ages to stop and verify any unusual utility company requests before making a payment, regardless of whether the customer is contacted via phone, internet, or in person, said Utilities United Against Scams Executive Director Monica Martinez. While scammers often target elderly and vulnerable populations, customers in all age groups are reporting utility impostor scam incidents that take place online, on the phone, and in person. Signs of a potential scam Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Threat to disconnect: Scammers may aggressively demand immediate payment for an alleged past due bill. Request for immediate payment: Scammers may instruct the customer to purchase a prepaid card then call them back supposedly to make a bill payment. Request for prepaid card: When the customer calls back, the caller asks the customer for the prepaid cards number, which grants the scammer instant access to the cards funds. Refund or rebate offers: Scammers may say that your utility company over-billed you and owes you a refund, or that you are entitled to a rebate. How customers can protect themselves Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Customers will never be asked by PG&E to specifically purchase a prepaid card to avoid service disconnection or shutoff, a tactic often used in scam attempts. PG&E does not specify how customers should make a bill payment and offers a variety of ways to pay a bill, including accepting payments online, by phone, automatic bank draft, mail or in person. If a scammer threatens immediate disconnection or shutoff of service without prior notification, customers should hang up the phone, delete the email, or shut the door and report this incident to PG&E at www.pge.com/scams. Customers with delinquent accounts will be contacted by PG&E with an advance disconnection notification, typically by mail, and included with their regular monthly bill. Signing up for an online account at pge.com is another safeguard. Not only can customers log in to check their balance and payment history, they can sign up for recurring payments, paperless billing and helpful alerts. Scammers impersonating trusted phone numbers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scammers are now able to create authentic-looking 800 numbers which appear on your phone display. If called back, the numbers do not lead back to PG&E. If a customer has doubts about the authenticity of the call, they should hangup and call PG&E at 1-833-500-SCAM. If customers ever feel that they are in physical danger, they should call 911. Customers who suspect that they have been victims of fraud, or who feel threatened during contact with a scammer, should contact local law enforcement. The Federal Trade Commissions website is also a good source of information about how to protect personal information. For more information about scams, visit pge.com/scams or consumer.ftc.org. MANILA, Philippines (AP) Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Friday that filing impeachment complaints against the vice president, who is facing a legal storm after publicly threatening to have him killed, would be a waste of time for Congress. It was unclear whether Marcos remark would stop plans by several groups to file impeachment complaints against Duterte over a number of criminal allegations, including her alleged misuse of confidential government funds and her recent public threat to have the president, his wife and the speaker of the House of Representatives killed if she herself were killed in a plot she has not detailed. The legal troubles facing the vice president and her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, are unfolding in the backdrop of their worsening feud with Marcos. It's the latest battle between the country's most powerful families in a long-unwieldy democracy that has been dominated for decades by political dynasties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Marcos played down the political showdown. "Its a storm in a teacup, he told reporters. "This is not important. This will not make any difference to even one single Filipino life, so, why waste time on it? he said of an impeachment. Impeachment complaints are being prepared for filing before the House, which is led by Marcos cousin and political ally, Martin Romualdez. Duterte regards Romualdez as a bitter opponent. Both are seen as potential presidential candidates in 2028. Duterte has ruled out a political reconciliation with Marcos. They were running mates in 2022 and won by landslides in a campaign of national unity but later had a falling out on several issues, including over their support for China or the Unites States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marcos has strengthened a defense alliance with the U.S. as the Philippines faces an increasingly aggressive China in the disputed South China Sea. The vice president has refused to condemn Chinas assertive actions and her father nurtured close ties as president with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, and Russian leader Vladimir Putin while criticizing U.S. and Western security policies. Marcos has also opposed the former presidents anti-drug crackdown that left thousands of mostly poor suspects dead and sparked an ongoing investigation by the International Criminal Court as a possible crime against humanity. When asked about the vice presidents remark that their estranged political alliance has reached a point of return, the president said, Never say never." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Duterte, a 46-year-old lawyer, failed to appear on Friday before investigators at the National Bureau of Investigation, which issued a subpoena for her to explain her threats against the president, his wife and Romualdez, which were made in an online news conference over the weekend. She said she needed to see the questions she would face, and her appearance before the investigators was reset to Dec. 11. The vice president has said her remarks were not actual threats and were made to highlight an unspecified danger she was facing. Marcos has said her remarks were a criminal plot and added he would fight back. Under Philippine law, such public remarks may constitute a crime of threatening to inflict a wrong on a person or their family and are punishable by a prison term and fine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Separately, the Department of Justice has said investigators are looking into potentially seditious remarks by the vice presidents father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who said in a news conference on Monday that the government would only seriously listen to allegations of government corruption if the military speaks up. There is a fractured governance, the former president said. It is only the military who can correct it. He clarified that he was not calling on the military to stage an uprising. He also asked how long the military could still serve under a commander in chief who is a drug addict an accusation he has made often and Marcos has repeatedly denied. ___ Associated Press journalists Joeal Calupitan and Aaron Favila contributed to this report. A Phoenix-based contractor must pay more than $1.7 million after defrauding 246 workers of wages owed, the U.S. Department of Labor announced Tuesday. The federal investigation found that Bean Drywall paid workers either straight-time rates or piece rates for all hours worked but did not pay extra when they worked more than 40 hours per week, which is required by the Fair Labor Standards Act. A federal judge ordered Bean Drywall to pay $875,000 in back wages and another $875,000 in liquidated damages. The company must also pay $25,000 in civil money penalties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bean Drywall used fraudulent practices to disguise the theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars in wages earned by hundreds of employees, Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division District Director Eric Murray said. This employers willful and deceitful acts were designed to cover up their inexcusable behavior. Bean Drywall did not respond to requests for comment from The Arizona Republic. If you think you may be owed back wages collected by the division, you can use the Labor Department's search tool and file an online complaint. For confidential compliance assistance, employees and employers can call the agencys toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Bean Drywall ordered to pay $1.7M in wages, penalties, officials say Phoenix police officers fatally shot a man on Thursday night near 79th Avenue and Mitchell Drive in west Phoenix's Maryvale Village, where residents say gun violence has overtaken their neighborhood. At about 10:30 p.m., officers received a call about a person who was possibly armed harassing another near 83rd Avenue and McDowell, Phoenix police said in a news release. The caller told officials they were following a vehicle the suspect was driving. Police officers found the vehicle and tried to pull it over, but the driver sped off, according to the news release. The department used air support to track the vehicle to the area of 79th Avenue and Mitchell Drive. Phoenix police investigate a shooting involving an officer near the 7900 block of West Mitchell Drive and North 79th Drive on Nov. 29, 2024, in Phoenix. The driver then fled from the vehicle and ran into a backyard, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An officer spotted a man matching the driver's description who "was seen with a handgun in his hand and raised it up," the news release stated. Phoenix police said the man was shot once and died from his injuries on the scene, despite officers' attempts to provide life-saving measures. Phoenix police investigate a shooting involving an officer near the 7900 block of West Mitchell Drive and North 79th Drive on Nov. 29, 2024, in Phoenix. Police said officers found the gun at the shooting scene. Officials warned that the area would be shut down while detectives investigated the situation. No further details, including the identity of the man shot, were available as of Friday morning. Based on information previously shared by Phoenix police, this is at least the 18th person the department has shot this year and at least the fourth person they have shot this month. Based on data compiled by The Arizona Republic and this month's most recent fatal shootings, there have been at least 14 people fatally shot by Phoenix police in 2024. Residents express concern: 'It's been horrible' Friday morning through at least the afternoon, police cordoned off a few homes on West Mitchell Drive and a few department vehicles could be seen parked on the street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cordoning blocked the entrance from 79th Drive, keeping back people Connie and Keith Rohrman hoped would spend cash on their two-day yard sale at their West Mitchell Drive home. The couple, who have been married for 40 years, have lived at the house that sits across from Starlight Park. Situated between Mitchell and West Osborn Road, Starlight Park includes a baseball field, basketball court and a swimming pool. The seemingly tranquil community space has recently become a meeting ground for those looking to shoot their guns, the Rohrmans and neighbors told The Republic. Keith Rohrman, 77, said there was a shootout Tuesday night between about eight male teens at the park's baseball field. Though the teens fled, one returned in his car and was cornered by an officer before he dashed, Keith Rohrman said. Connie Rohrman, 74, moved in across the park 53 years ago. "The last couple of years, it's been horrible," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Republic reached out to the City of Phoenix for comment on Friday afternoon. City offices were closed for the Thanksgiving holiday and no one immediately responded. Among the group of friends helping the Rohrmans with their yard sale was Juliana Nunez, 38. She said her sister discovered Wednesday morning that her house on West Whitton Avenue, immediately north of Mitchell, was riddled with 22 bullets. Turning north around the street corner into North 79th Avenue, brothers Jose and Santos Ortega attested to how Starlight Park has descended into a shooting field where visitors often find bullets. Next-door neighbors for 40 years, the 61-year-old Jose and the 69-year-old Santos discussed the series of rounds they heard emanating from about some blocks north. Santos Ortega said it sounded like 50 rounds from 10 firearms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The brothers said they heard ambulances shortly after the gunfire ended. They said the nearby area between North 76th Avenue and West Indian School Road was closed for several hours. The Republic reached out Friday to Phoenix police for confirmation about the reported shooting incidents Tuesday at Starlight Park and Wednesday near 76th Avenue and Indian School. Police did not immediately repsond. This story has been updated to provide new information. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Residents say Maryvale neighborhood taken over by gun violence RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) Police and fire officials responded to a business on New Bern Avenue after a truck crashed into it on Thanksgiving Day in Raleigh. A little before 3 p.m., police got a report of a motor vehicle crash into a building. According to police, one person was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries from the collision. CBS 17 CBS 17 CBS 17 CBS 17 is on the scene where the truck can be seen with significant front-end damage with its rear wheels on the pavement and its front wheels roughly two feet off the ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cause of the crash is unknown at this time. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. TRUSSVILLE, Ala. (WIAT) Whenever Kent Ewing flies into Birmingham, he always makes a point to look out the window, looking for the field where he crash landed his plane in 2013 when he was visiting family for Thanksgiving. For Ewing, who flew in from his home in Virginia Wednesday to visit his daughter and her family in Trussville for Thanksgiving, the holiday has meant more to him ever since 2013, when he, his son and his girlfriend had to land the plan he was flying in a field in Trussville. We had plenty to be thankful for, thats for sure, Ewing said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On November 28, 2013, Ewing decided to fly his plane to visit his then-pregnant daughter in Trussville for Thanksgiving. Flying was nothing new for Ewing, who flew planes in the Navy and spent years training young pilots how to fly. However, on this particular morning, not everything went according to plan. The engine basically blew a rod, Ewing said. It was all of a sudden. By the time the engine blew, Ewing was flying 6,500 feet above the ground. While his son began filming the next few minutes that followed, Ewing began doing his usual checks, alerting the FAA about what was happening. From there, all he was focused on was figuring out how to safely land the plane. The luck of the thing was just at the right time that field showed up, and I was able to put it down there, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the exception of a couple of cracked ribs, Ewing was fine. Everyone in the plane was fine. Even the pumpkin pie he was traveling with came out unscathed. It was in the backseat, Ewing said. Despite the close call that day over 10 years ago, Ewings passion for flying has remained undeterred. In fact, he still uses the video that his son filmed of the landing that day when training new pilots. We show that video almost every time, just to remind them that this is the worst thing that can happen, he said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. AI-aided surgery sounds futuristic but has become reality. Join Alex Reporterfy from the Western China International Communication Organization as he explores the new quality productive forces in Chongqing, southwest China. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Donald Trump and his newly-appointed border czar intend to send Special Forces soldiers to eliminate Mexican drug cartels but defence experts are warning they could be outmatched. Deploying US troops to tackle the gangs is not a new idea in the circles of hardline Republicans. Tom Homan, the man tapped by Mr Trump to lead his border closures, recently told Fox News the president-elect will use [the] full might of the United States Special Operations to take em out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael Waltz, picked to be the next national security adviser, last year introduced a congressional resolution to give Joe Biden permission to use military force to tackle cartels smuggling fentanyl into the US. But while the US Special Forces are considered among the worlds premier war machines, a report by the Cato Institute said the Mexican cartels might now be an equal match. It has become hazardous now given the Mexican drug cartels increased military capacity and tactical competence, Brandan Buck, a research fellow at Cato, wrote. Directing American Special Operations Forces against the cartels would put them up against a sizable near-peer competitor in asymmetric warfare, thus putting the US government into a position of little escalatory advantage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such a move would not just force the American military into another quagmire; it would drop them into a morass up to their metaphorical waist. Tom Homan, Mr Trumps border czar, is among Republicans keen to use US special forces against drug gangs - AP Photo/Eric Gay The Sinaloa Cartel is considered one of the deadliest of Mexicos drug cartels. The gang controls much of the countrys north-western territory, and is described by the US government as one of the worlds largest drug trafficking organisations. Over the years it has acquired a broad range of modern weaponry, including assault rifles, grenade launchers, drones, anti-personnel mines, anti-tank weapons and grenades. Some of its hardware is illegally imported into Mexico, while other equipment is believed to have been supplied by Central American governments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) is Sinaloas main and most fierce rival. In a propaganda video circulated in 2020, members of the CJNG purportedly posed with military-grade armoured vehicles and weapons. There have also been documented cases of cartels using surface-to-air missiles while intelligence points to them having obtained anti-tank rockets. The CJNG has posted videos showing off its military might And beyond the military-grade equipment, the cartels are believed to be receiving training from former members of the Mexican military, many of whom were trained by their American counterparts. Sending US Special Operations into a direct confrontation with the Mexican cartels would pit them against a near-peer competitor, who, like the Taliban, would likely enjoy the direct or tacit support of the local populace and the luxury of hiding in punishing terrain, Mr Buck wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fight would likely resemble a counter-insurgency, like those faced by US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. The cartels would likely adapt tactics similar to the Taliban or Islamic State in terms of mounting guerrilla-style attacks on American troops. Ambushes and hit-and-run attacks would be commonplace, as gang members used their local knowledge of the battlefield. Cartels also operate in densely populated urban areas, making military engagements complex and risking civilian casualties. And like Islamist terrorists, the drug gangs, like the one once commanded by Pablo Escobar, could resort to ordering retaliatory attacks on American soil. A mural to Pablo Escobar, the late Colombian drug lord - Raul Arboleda/AFP/Getty Images Mr Buck also argues in his report that the Mexican drug gangs would learn lessons from Russian and Ukrainian forces in their use of drones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He wrote: As seen in more significant conflicts, such as Russias invasion of Ukraine, and the Middle East, man-portable weapons systems and armed [Unmanned Aerial Vehicles] favor those who hold territory, thereby leveling the scales between otherwise mismatched military forces. Overall, while the cartels pose a serious threat, a military solution could lead to further instability and might necessitate prolonged US involvement with limited success, he concluded. After making a judgement on the difficulties of fighting cartels, Mr Trumps administration will have to decide whether it is worth the legal, political and diplomatic consequences. Without Mexicos permission, it would be considered an invasion of a sovereign country much like Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine. Mexican special forces with the captured drug lord el Marro. One option could be for the US to provide them with greater support - Shutterstock Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president-elects pick for secretary of state, Marco Rubio, would likely be made to argue that the cartels pose a risk to US national security. The top diplomat would have to go to the United Nations to argue for Americas right to self-defence as enshrined in Article 51 of the UN charter. An easier option might be to broker a deal with Mexico, promising funds and support in exchange for US involvement in eradicating the cartels. This process could involve a bilateral agreement, promising intelligence sharing, training and equipment to the Mexican forces, and also foreign aid to bring communities out of poverty in exchange for permission to deploy troops over the border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any deal of this nature would require legislative approval in Mexico, where the constitution forces the country to adhere to non-intervention and the peaceful resolution of dispute principles. Even Mr Trump, a self-proclaimed dealmaker, would be hard pressed to broker this kind of agreement. Still, it will not stop his allies floating hardline strategies for delivering his key campaign pledge to secure the borders. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Poland has deployed Leopard 2 battle tanks in Latvia to reinforce the NATO brigade in the Baltic EU and NATO country. The armoured vehicles were moved by train to the Adazi military base after their arrival, the Latvian army said on Friday. They are to replace the PT-91 battle tanks that have been stationed there so far, a Polish development of the Soviet T-72 tank. No information was provided on the exact number. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The multinational brigade is led by Canada. "The arrival of the Polish Leopard 2PL tanks in Latvia marks a significant enhancement to our firepower," said the brigade's Canadian commander, Colonel Cedric Aspirault, in the statement. The presence of the tanks confirmed the commitment to protect Latvia, which borders Russia and Belarus, and sends a clear message, he said. Latvia sees Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine as a direct threat to its national security. WARSAW, Poland Polish lawmakers have voted to allocate some 3 billion zoty ($740 million) for investments in ramping up the countrys ammunition production capacities, with a particular focus on much-needed 155mm artillery shells. The decision to approve the bill was made by the Sejm, the lower chamber of the Polish parliament, on Nov. 27 by a majority of 424 votes, with no lawmakers voting against the measure. Following this, the legislation needs to be approved by the senate, the upper chamber, and signed by the president to enter into force. The allocated funds will be used to capitalize companies responsible for producing ammunition, in particular artillery ammunition of caliber 155mm, Polish Deputy State Assets Minister Marcin Kulasek said in a social media post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The funds will be made available for investments by companies that seek the states backing for their projects to ramp up ammunition manufacturing capabilities. The program will be financed by the Ministry of National Defence and government securities. The latest development comes as Warsaw is exploring various means of drastically increasing industry capacity for making artillery shells. As the predominantly state-owned sector relies on imported components to manufacture 155mm ammunition, officials are looking at ways to secure the necessary manufacturing technology from foreign partners. Polish Deputy Prime Minister and National Defence Minister Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz recently stated that Poland aims to cooperate with Slovakia to secure the necessary technology that will allow the country to boost production. Kosiniak-Kamysz declared willingness to bolster Warsaws partnership with Bratislava during the ministers Nov. 22 meeting with his Slovak counterpart, Robert Kalinak. Im greatly impressed by Slovakias production capacities in the field of ammunition, in particular the 155mm one, but also other types, Kosiniak-Kamysz told his counterpart. We want to develop our defense industry together with you. The Polish military requires increasing 155mm ammunition deliveries for its growing fleet of K9 Thunder and Krab self-propelled howitzers, manufactured by South Koreas Hanwha Aerospace and Polands state-run defense group PGZ, respectively. The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs has begun dispersing protests near the Parliament building. Source: Georgian edition of Radio Liberty Details: Radio Liberty reported that police used a water cannon on Chichinadze Street, adjacent to the Parliament. Before the dispersal, clashes occurred between police and demonstrators. Radio Liberty stated that police used pepper spray, while protesters threw eggs and other objects at law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ministry of Internal Affairs claimed that the protest exceeded the legal limits established by the law on assemblies and demonstrations. Videos of police detaining protesters have been largely published on social media. According to Georgian media, journalists were injured during the dispersal and arrests. Background: Citizens in major Georgian cities took to the streets on 28 November, protesting against the ruling Georgian Dream partys decision to halt the countrys EU integration process until the end of 2028. Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili joined protesters in front of the parliament building in Tbilisi after protests erupted following the governments decision to "suspend" EU accession talks. Support UP or become our patron! Police have started dispersing protesters who gathered near the parliament for a spontaneous rally in Tbilisi overnight on Nov. 29, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported. The protest followed Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze's statement that Georgia's integration into the European Union could be postponed until 2028, prompting outrage among some in society, who are demanding changes in the country's political course. The ruling Georgian Dream party led by Kobakhidze has faced accusations of democratic backsliding and steering the South Caucasus country closer to the Kremlin. Earlier this year, the controversial "foreign agents" law sparked mass protests and violent crackdowns by police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the election, the European Commission suspended Georgia's EU accession process, highlighting the growing rift between Tbilisi and the West. The protest was organized through social media, the media outlet Echo of the Caucasus reported. Protesters claimed the refusal to negotiate accession to the EU by 2028 is "a betrayal of the country's interests, and a violation of Article 78 of the Georgian Constitution, which enshrines the country's aspirations for European integration." Prior to the dispersal, clashes between law enforcement officers and protesters occurred, and lasted for several hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The police used pepper spray, and demonstrators threw eggs and other objects at the police. Police also used water cannons to break up the demonstration on Chichinadze Street. Several people were beaten by police, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The Georgian Interior Ministry said the action went "beyond the limits of the law." The ministry noted that three police officers were injured, and two of them were hospitalized. When the Georgian parliament's decision on the EU became known, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili held emergency consultations with the diplomatic corps and the opposition, and issued a statement afterward, the Georgian media outlet SOVA reported. Zourabichvili previously accused the ruling pro-Russian Georgian Dream party of rigging the recent elections and refused to accept the stated results. Along with other opposition party leaders, she has called for public demonstrations and a parliamentary boycott. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Zourabichvili, "the non-existent, illegitimate government has declared not peace, but war against its own people, its own past and its own future." "There is no Georgian statehood, no independence, no future without Russia on this path." The president said that a few minutes after Kobakhidze's speech, in which he announced the suspension of European integration, Russian President Vladimir Putin "expressed his satisfaction and praised the Georgian authorities for their obedience." Read also: If Georgian Dream stays its course, we cant consider them a democratic partner, expert says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Georgian riot police deployed tear gas and rubber bullets against demonstrators protesting a government decision to delay pursuing European Union accession. Thousands rallied in the capital of Tbilisi on Friday and cities across Georgia after prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced the decision amid a post-election crisis that saw the countrys president challenge the legitimacy of the newly-elected parliament and government. Waving EU and Georgian flags, protesters demonstrated outside parliament, blocking traffic on the Georgian capitals main road in the latest of a series of protests in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after midnight, riot police deployed tear gas and water cannons against the peaceful demonstrators. The crackdown continued into the early hours, with masked police firing rubber bullets and allegedly assaulting protesters and journalists. Demonstrators erected barricades and set them on fire while local media reported several protesters and journalists were arrested. I stand with the Georgian media, who are disproportionately targeted and attacked while doing their job and reporting continuously, pro-Western President Salome Zurabishvili said on social media. She was later seen in dramatic footage joining protesters in Tbilisi and confronting riot police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is not your duty to tear people apart. Do you serve Russia or Georgia? Who did you swear an oath to? I am interested in the answer. Do you not answer the president? says Ms Zurabishvili, asking protesters through a line of riot shields. For how many GEL [Georgias currency] are you serving another country? The riot police were not seen to give an answer. Credit: FormulaGe/X The prime ministers announcement came hours after the European Parliament adopted a non-binding resolution rejecting the results of Georgias Oct 26 parliamentary elections, alleging significant irregularities. The resolution called for new elections within a year under international supervision and for sanctions to be imposed on top Georgian officials, including Mr Kobakhidze. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Accusing the European Parliament and some European politicians of blackmail, Mr Kobakhidze said: We have decided not to bring up the issue of joining the European Union on the agenda until the end of 2028. But he pledged to continue implementing reforms, asserting that by 2028, Georgia will be more prepared than any other candidate country to open accession talks with Brussels and become a member state in 2030. The decision to delay EU bid came hours after the European Parliament rejected Georgias election results - Getty Images Security forces use tear gas canisters during protest in front of Georgias Parliament - GIORGI ARJEVANIDZE/AFP via Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The former Soviet country officially gained EU candidate status in December 2023. But Brussels has frozen Georgias accession process until Tbilisi takes concrete steps to address what it calls democratic backsliding. Opposition lawmakers are boycotting the new parliament, alleging fraud in the October elections, in which the ruling Georgian Dream party gained a new majority. President Zurabishvili at loggerheads with Georgian Dream has declared the ballot unconstitutional and is seeking to annul the election results through the Constitutional Court. Following Mr Kobakhidzes statement, street protests erupted in Tbilisi and several other cities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Georgian Dream didnt win the elections, it staged a coup. There is no legitimate parliament or government in Georgia, said 20-year-old demonstrator Shota Sabashvili. We will not let this self-proclaimed prime minister destroy our European future. Georgian police use water cannons and tear gas canisters to disperse protesters - Mirian Meladze/Anadolu via Getty Images The Interior ministry said protesters physically confronted police in Tbilisi, resulting in injuries to three officers, two of whom have been hospitalised. To de-escalate the situation, the police have employed measures permitted by law, including the use of special means, it said of the use of tear gas. Ms Zurabishvili held an emergency meeting with foreign diplomats, her office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today marks a significant point, or rather, the conclusion of the constitutional coup that has been unfolding for several weeks, she told a news conference alongside opposition leaders. Today, this non-existent and illegitimate government declared war on its own people, she added, calling herself the countrys sole legitimate representative. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Endicott College Police Sgt. Jeremy Cole was returning home from work just after midnight on Thursday, Nov. 28 when he was hit by the wrong-way driver, according to authorities Photo courtesy Endicott College Police Endicott College Police Sgt. Jeremy Cole, who died after his vehicle was hit by a wrong-way driver early on Thanksgiving morning. Endicott College Police Sgt. Jeremy Cole, who died after his vehicle was hit by a wrong-way driver early on Thanksgiving morning. A police officer has died after he was involved in a wrong-way crash on a Massachusetts highway early on Thanksgiving morning. Endicott College Police Sgt. Jeremy Cole was driving home early on Thursday, Nov. 28 after a shift on campus when his Chevrolet Trailblazer was struck head-on on the northbound side of Interstate 95 in Newbury, according to a statement from Endicott College Chief of Police Kerry Ramsdell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members of the Newbury Fire Department (NFD) responded to the scene near Exit 81 on Interstate 95 just after midnight and found the sole occupants of the vehicles trapped inside, according to a news release from the department. Massachusetts State Police (MSP) said before the crash, officers had tried to stop a white Tesla heading south on the northbound side of the highway before the vehicle collided with Cole's car, according to ABC affiliate WCVB. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. It took nearly an hour to extract both men from their respective vehicles, the NFD said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cole, 49, of Exeter, N.H., was pronounced dead at the scene, according to FOX affiliate WFXT. The other man, a 40-year-old Massachusetts man, was MedFlighted to a local hospital. On behalf of the Public Safety & Police Department at Endicott College, I wish to express our deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the family of Sgt. Cole, Ramsdell said in her statement. This is an incredibly difficult time for our department. We are heartbroken by this unimaginable loss, she continued. Sgt. Cole was not only a dedicated public servant and prior recipient of a lifesaving award, but also a cherished member of our team. Related: 3 Calif. High School Graduates Killed, 1 Seriously Injured in Cybertruck Crash: Reports Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The police chief added, On this Thanksgiving Day, our hearts are with the family, friends, and loved ones of a police officer who reported for duty keeping the rest of us safe and secure but did not return home. We are committed to supporting them in any way we can through this unimaginable grief." The Tesla driver is expected to face charges, according to WFXT and WCVB. OAK PARK, Ill. (AP) A police officer was fatally shot in suburban Chicago on Friday after responding to a report of a man leaving a bank with a gun. Oak Park Detective Allan Reddins, 40, was shot once about 9:30 a.m. and later pronounced dead at a hospital, the police department said on its Facebook page. The suspect was shot in the leg and was being treated at a hospital. Reddins, of Chicago, had been with the police department since 2019. Oak Park is west of Chicago. BRASILIA (Reuters) -Two senior police officers were arrested in Brazil on suspicion that they took bribes and provided security for illegal gold mining activity in the Amazon, according to a court document seen by Reuters on Friday. Brazilian authorities suspect they were receiving money to overlook and even provide private security for trading of gold illegally extracted from Indigenous lands and conservation areas, the court decision and a federal police statement showed. Another 36 police officers were removed from their jobs for suspected involvement in the protection scheme, according to the documents, which also said luxury cars, jewelry, cellphones and an unspecified amount of gold and cash were seized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brazil is trying to crack down on illegal gold mining that has surged in recent years, fueled by record high world prices and the absence of enforcement during the country's previous far-right government. More than half the gold exported from Brazil is believed to be illegally produced. The police said it has found "strong evidence" that the gold traded by the criminal organization comes from locations near or within the Munduruku Indigenous land, a reservation in the Amazon rainforest the size of Switzerland. The two officers with northern Para state's military police, as well as two businessmen from the gold firm Gana Gold, were preventively arrested on Thursday, the court document said. Para state military police said in a statement that all the officers involved in the case have been dismissed and that all the military who held command positions have been fired. Reuters could not immediately find representatives from Gana Gold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal police statement said the Gana Gold had an estimated income of 1.1 billion reais ($182.9 million) between 2020 and 2021, adding that it has already been at the center of other official investigations into illegal mining. Brazilian authorities earlier this month began an operation to remove illegal gold miners from the Munduruku reservation, where agents found clandestine airstrips used by wildcat miners. (Reporting by Ricardo Brito; Writing by Isabel Teles; Editing by Aurora Ellis) KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Worsening floods have displaced 98,129 people and killed three across several states in Malaysia as of 8 p.m. local time on Friday. The worst affected areas are the east coast states of Kelantan and Terengganu, with 72,475 and 19,294 people evacuated respectively, according to the country's social welfare department. Meanwhile, the National Disaster Command Centre reported that the floods have claimed three lives as of Friday. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim barred cabinet members from going on leave. "All ministers have been asked to continue their duties and go down to the ground now," Malaysia's national news agency Bernama reported. Nov. 29 (UPI) -- Georgia has suspended its bid to join the European Union, prompting thousands of protesters to take to the streets, where they clashed with police in the capital of Tbilisi. Protesters damaged buildings, roads and surveillance cameras, set fires and erected barricades on the central Rustaveli Avenue. Authorities said officers were pelted with glass bottles, stones, metal objects and pyrotechnics. Forty-three protests have been arrested, the Ministry of Interior said Friday in a statement, adding that 32 law enforcement officers were injured, some sustaining "severe" head injuries. Thirteen required surgery, and one officer remained hospitalized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ministry said it repeatedly used "legally sanctioned special measures," referring to the tear gas and water canons seen fired and protesters, some waving EU flags, as in video shared online. The number of injured protesters was unclear, but there have been reports that some were beaten. The protest continued into Friday morning, according to Georgia's pro-EU president, Salome Zourabichvili, who was standing on the side of protesters. In response to Frederic Petit, deputy of the French National Assembly, stating on X, "Georgia's European dream is buried, the Kremlin's dream has come true," Zourabichvili told him not to count her country out yet. "Georgia has been fighting for its European future for decades, even centuries, and has no intention of resigning," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The unrest and violence erupted after the country's Russia-leaning prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, announced during a press conference Thursday that they would pause their EU accession and halt accepting grants from the 27-member bloc until 2028. He made the announcement after his new government unanimously won a confidence vote in parliament following last month's parliamentary elections that have been marred be accusations of irregularities. The U.S. State Department, citing international and local observers, said after the election that the ruling Georgia Dream Party has been accused of misuse of public resources, vote-buying and voter intimidation. Earlier Thursday, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the Oct. 26 election "for being neither free nor fair, representing yet another manifestation of the continued democratic backsliding of the country 'for which the ruling Georgian Dream party is fully responsible,'" the bloc said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It added vote manipulation, interference with election observers and media and manipulation involving electronic voting machines to the long list of election interference allegations against Kobakhidze's government. It also accused Russia of "systematic interference" in Georgia's democracy through information campaigns, particularly an anti-West, pro-Russia conspiracy theory pushed by the Georgia Dream Party. The theory claims that Georgia will be dragged into Russia's war in Ukraine by the United States and the EU. The resolution calls for sanctions to be imposed on individuals responsible for Georgia's democratic backsliding, including Kobakhidze. Despite advocating for a potential TikTok ban thats currently under judicial review, politicians of all stripes turned to the platform to boost their chances in the 2024 election. At least 49 members of Congress, five officials in President Joe Bidens administration and President-elect Donald Trump have verified TikTok accounts, according to an analysis by NBC News. Twenty-three of the 49 members of Congress voted for the TikTok ban. Many of these politicians have used TikTok to campaign, defend their beliefs and curate their public image even as they argue that the app poses a threat to American users. The presence of American politicians on the app who actively campaigned or voted for the potential ban highlights a thorny reality: Despite their claims that TikTok poses a national security risk, the app remains a primary source of media for a significant portion of their constituents. Recognizing this, many have leveraged TikToks massive reach to bolster their re-election campaigns, despite criticism of similar types of political hypocrisy, from the use of dark money to advocacy around early voting and voting by mail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cheyenne Hunt, an attorney and a former Democratic congressional candidate in California who has worked on big tech regulation in the U.S. Senate and has over 100,000 TikTok followers, described the use of TikTok to reach people where they are while also advocating against big tech as an interesting balance. Hunt doesnt support legislation that singles out TikTok, because she said other big tech companies like Meta pose similar concerns. She said politicians are drawn to TikTok in part because of its unique algorithm, which can show their content to millions of people without requiring paid promotion or an established following. Increasingly, its becoming the main source of news for most Americans, Hunt said. Its really the place where people are. Its where theyre engaged. TikTok use in the Biden administration and incoming Trump administration After attempting to ban TikTok via an executive order in 2020, Trump launched his official account on the platform in June as part of his successful, online-driven presidential campaign. He quickly amassed the largest TikTok following of any U.S. politician, with 14.6 million followers. Biden joined the platform in February to campaign, then signed legislation two months later that would force a sale of the Chinese-owned company to an American entity. After Biden ended his re-election campaign and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, his TikTok account was then used by her team for viral memes, while Harris maintained a separate personal account. TikTok has argued in its legal challenge to the law that it is unwilling and unable to sell to an American owner. If TikToks owner fails to sell the app and the law is enforced, it would no longer be available in the U.S., which experts say likely wouldnt happen until 2026. During his campaign, Trump suggested that he would intervene to prevent a TikTok ban, allowing the platform to remain accessible in the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps TikTok videos featuring soundbites from campaign rallies, interactions with voters and appearances with celebrities and influencers get the most consistent views out of all of the politicians, and most of his top comments are positive. While Trump has flipped his stance on TikTok, his pick for Federal Communications Commission chair, Brendan Carr, has supported a ban on TikTok. Trumps picks for his administration cant be confirmed until he takes office, with Bidens administration continuing to serve until Trumps 2025 inauguration. At least five Biden administration officials, including Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, have verified TikTok accounts. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg leads the way with over 770,000 TikTok followers, while Interior Secretary Deb Haaland has a verified TikTok account with just over 1,100 followers. Haaland began posting on TikTok in September to campaign for Harris, but saw limited growth and engagement on the platform. While the presidential candidates from both parties used TikTok to campaign, despite previously stating their opposition to its Chinese ownership, Hunt said Trump is more likely to be perceived as having organically changed his mind. Trump joined the app while he was out of office, at the same time he reversed his position on TikTok. In contrast, Biden and Harris continued to oppose TikTok despite using it to campaign, which highlighted an ongoing inconsistency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hypocrisy is so blatant on the surface when youre paying attention to the way theyre voting and talking about this, that its a huge threat to national security, Hunt said. Then to see the president of the United States posting on it not that many months afterward, its pretty stark. Some House members campaign on TikTok despite security concerns In March, 353 representatives voted in favor of a forced sale of TikTok, 65 voted against it, and 14 did not vote. Of the 353 who supported the bill to force a sale, 13 have verified TikTok accounts, all of whom are Democrats. Of those who voted against the bill, 17 have verified TikTok accounts. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., who did not vote, has a verified TikTok account. Another two dozen accounts that appear to belong to politicians who are currently in office are unverified, meaning they dont have a blue check mark of authenticity. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, voted present. She has an unverified TikTok account with 140,000 followers, putting her in the top 20 most-followed representatives on the platform, although she hasnt posted since September 2023. A representative for Crockett said she doesnt use the account due to security concerns, but leaves her account up to distinguish it from impersonator accounts, which the representative said can be difficult to report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While I agreed with the spirit of the bill, I have grave concerns about the constitutionality of it as written, as well as concerns about whether this was the best solution to the problems posed by TikTok, or indeed, a solution that can even be effectively enforced, Crockett said in a statement about her vote. I have just as many concerns, if not more, about the algorithms employed by X and Meta. Rep. Jeff Jackson, a Democrat from North Carolina, has 2.2 million TikTok followers, making him the most-followed House member on the platform. Despite that, in March he voted to force a sale of TikTok. Jackson posts on TikTok about twice a month, with videos frequently surpassing millions of views. He follows a similar format in each one, speaking directly to the viewer in a well-lit, focused shot that centers him entirely in the vertical video frame. Jackson explains what is going on in Congress in a conversational style, with one comment calling his videos the modern day fireside chat. He has used this style since late 2022, when he was first elected as a national representative after serving in the North Carolina Senate for eight years. In a TikTok video that reached almost 6 million viewers, Jackson apologized to his followers for voting against TikToks Chinese parent company. Explaining his vote, he said he heard genuinely alarming information about TikTok in congressional briefings and that he believed the bill was more likely to force TikToks owner to sell the app to an American buyer than to lead to a ban. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jacksons TikTok viewers expressed their dissatisfaction with his explanation in the comment section. But Jackson kept posting. He used TikTok to campaign for North Carolina attorney general and won by nearly 3 percentage points. Hunt said the nature of TikToks algorithm also makes it easier for creators to recover from a controversy like the one Jackson weathered, because videos are continually shown to new audiences. You basically have this ever-renewing chance to make a first impression or start over and lure people in, Hunt said. One of the unverified TikTok accounts in the House appears to belong to Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Republican from Florida who voted to divest TikTok from its owner. She has almost 7,000 TikTok followers and a verified YouTube account with almost 6,000 subscribers. Lunas communications director said that her TikTok account was for personal use and is not an official campaign account. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Trump-endorsed candidate and a former model with a large Instagram following, Luna became the director of Hispanic engagement for conservative youth outreach nonprofit Turning Point USA in 2018. Despite her accounts unofficial status, Luna started using TikTok to campaign in February 2020, winning the Republican primary but losing to the Democratic incumbent. Her last TikTok was uploaded in December 2022, the year she was elected. In 2022, she anchored a short-lived online podcast production that featured her at a desk, bathed in neon pink and purple lighting. Luna put some of her podcast clips on TikTok, along with videos that used trending sounds and music to attack Democrats. Lunas communications director said she stopped using TikTok that year after growing concerns about Chinese meddling with the app. He said Lunas account remains up as a placeholder to distinguish it from impersonators, like Crocketts account. Of the 65 representatives who voted against the bill, 16 were Democrats who have verified TikTok accounts and one was a Republican who has a verified TikTok account, Rep. Nancy Mace from South Carolina. Mace, who has over 90,000 TikTok followers, has argued that the legislation is an example of government overreach, writing on X, Sure, some of TikToks content is bad, but that is all over the internet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats not a coincidence, Hunt said, referring to Maces presence on TikTok and her opposition to the bill. Shes not going to get rid of the thing that makes her relevant. In the Senate, TikTok users vote along clear party lines In April, 79 senators voted in support of the forced sale of TikTok, 18 voted against it, and three senators did not vote. Unlike in the House, where elected officials with verified TikTok accounts voted in both directions across party lines, 10 Senate Democrats with verified TikTok accounts voted to force a sale of the platform, while one independent and one Senate Republican with verified TikTok accounts voted against the bill to do so. Two of the Senate Democrats who voted to force a sale of TikTok were Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia, who each have more than 400,000 TikTok followers. Ossoff, who got millions of views posting about topics like Covid-19 vaccines using TikTok meme formats, hasnt posted since November 2021. Booker still posts on TikTok, and he used his account to support Harris campaign. Booker leaned into the Brat-themed launch of Harris TikTok presence, a nod to pop artist Charli XCXs latest album, which performed well on social media. Bookers profile picture on his TikTok account is his first name in the style of the Brat album cover, and he made multiple references to the meme on TikTok, as well as Harris coconut tree soundbite meme. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an April 2024 statement, Booker said he would not have voted to force a sale of TikTok if it had been presented as a stand-alone measure, versus being part of a wider national security and foreign aid package. I would have voted against this provision if I had the opportunity, not because I dont have concerns about Tiktok or its ownership structure I do but because I worry that Congress is missing an opportunity to address larger issues with social media in general, from screen addiction, to its negative effects on mental health, to the alarming impact it can have on the well-being of American children, to privacy, to the stunning proliferation of hate speech online, to its use for bullying and intimidation, to its toxic spread of misinformation, and many more, Bookers statement said. The sole independent who has a verified TikTok account, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, voted against the bill. Even though Sanders told the New York Times editorial board in 2020 that he has no apps on his own phone, Sanders has the largest TikTok following in the Senate, with 1.5 million followers. His account has been active since March 2020, shortly before he dropped out of that years presidential race. In the beginning, Sanders campaign referenced TikTok memes on the platform, but his account has since shifted to posting high-quality video clips of the senator speaking and talking to constituents. Part of the value of having a national platform like Bernie Sanders is you have tremendous leverageable fundraising potential, Hunt said. You have the tools to invest in the types of things that actually reach your voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While there are more than twice as many verified TikTok users in the House as in the Senate, the average senators follower count is almost twice as large as the average representatives which tracks with their larger constituencies. Senators with verified TikTok accounts have an average of 318,000 TikTok followers, while representatives with verified TikTok accounts have an average of 178,000 TikTok followers. Members of Congress have spent more time on TikTok, both in terms of the age of their accounts and the frequency of their posts, than the highest-profile members of the Biden administration and the Harris and Trump campaigns. Until we are going to be brave enough to stand up to that big tech lobby and pass comprehensive data privacy legislation, were not going to be any safer, Hunt said. Weve created this really strange position where were making enemies out of individual services instead of making a playbook of rules that everyone has to play by to keep consumers safe online. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Susan Slaughter describes herself as an empty nester, with her son out for the Thanksgiving holiday. However, shes not alone after being moved to give back to those less fortunate. Theres always somebody whos ready to receive a Thanksgiving plate, Slaughter told KOIN 6 News. 6 Portland stores offering Black Friday sales Slaughter said that at first, she thought her only companions during this holiday would be her pets, her cat Tinny Boo and pup Piper. However, she was inspired to do more while taking Piper for a walk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I saw a bunch of people sitting outside and I thought, Oh wow, I know what to do,' Slaughter said. She said thats how her solo dinner turned into a Thanksgiving feast for strangers in need. That includes turkey, sweet potatoes and all the fixings, prepping plates for the homeless. Making a dinner, like you do, and just helping some people out. Thats about it. But it comes from my heart, Slaughter said. Lets serve and help each other out and just be there. Were all people. And shes not the only one hoping a small act of kindness can make a big difference. With prices rising and temperatures dropping, the Union Gospel Mission said their teams have been out bringing warm food to people in tents. Theyve gifted more than 900 basket meals to families ahead of their Thanksgiving celebration on Thursday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, were bringing in our homeless guests and residents in the neighborhood that want to join us and have a great meal in our dining room, said Union Gospel Mission Executive Director Matt Stein. 2 hospitalized after Hillsboro ice cream shop crash Stein said more than 40 volunteers shared their holiday to help neighbors in need with plenty of stuffing, mashed potatoes, turkey and pumpkin pie. Everyone loves Thanksgiving and its nice to share it more broadly than in just your inner circle, he said. The Union Gospel Missions Thanksgiving day meal at their downtown location is just one of the ways theyre giving back and it extends past the holiday itself. Since November 14, they began giving out Thanksgiving meals at their winter overnight shelter in Southeast Portland. And their mobile Search Rescue outreach team has been serving holiday plates to people all week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Volunteers with UGM cooked, in total, 100 turkeys, 300 pounds each of mashed potatoes and stuffing and 50 gallons of turkey gravy. You can find out more about how to volunteer or donate to the non-profits year-round cause of helping the homeless community by visiting the Union Gospel Missions website Allan Shrader and Crystal McGowen are volunteering for the cause for the first time this year at the downtown event on Thursday. My perspective on Thanksgiving has changed over the years and theres so much more that I want to give back, Shrader said. Ive been very fortunate in my life. Its just a good way to love people who maybe dont have a warm meal on a cold day like this, added McGowen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Volunteers care for Humane Society pets year-round From large organizations powered by volunteers and donations to one woman and her kitchen, the greater Portland areas focus on helping the homeless community is prevalent nearly everywhere. But it doesnt stop at serving up a free meal once a year. Susan Slaughter fed her neighbors experiencing homelessness in Milwuakie on Thanksgiving. November 28, 2024 (KOIN). Volunteers help to feed the homeless at the Union Gospel Mission in downtown Portland. November 28, 2024 (KOIN). Volunteers help to feed the homeless at the Union Gospel Mission in downtown Portland. November 28, 2024 (KOIN). At Francis and Clare Place, a new permanent supportive housing program run by Catholic Charities of Oregon, residents like Henry Johnson are finding new beginnings. After surviving homelessness, he now has a place to call home. When I first came to Portland, I slept at the Greyhound station. I had two knives tied to my wrist because I was worried about my safety, Johnson said. Now its a blessing. I am warm. Im safe. Im around people that care. Its up from here Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents receive case management, peer services and access to food pantries and community events. Meanwhile, Portland Rescue Mission continues to serve the citys most vulnerable population all year round. No matter what the storm is, no matter what the weather is, we are going to have breakfast and dinner seven days a week, 365 days a year, said Portland Rescue Mission Burnside Services Director Timothy Desper. At the Salvation Army Gresham Corps, spokesperson Iliana Montes said they serve people youd never imagine being homeless due to issues in recent years, such as a difficult economy. People are having a hard time making ends meet, Montes said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Check out the websites for Portland Rescue Mission, Salvation Army, Francis and Clare Place and Union Gospel Mission for opportunities to volunteer or donate to charitable causes. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Nov. 28OGDENSBURG Sandstone native to Potsdam that has been salvaged during the demolition of 10 St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center buildings will be turned over to the city of Ogdensburg and the village of Potsdam for their use. The village of Potsdam had begun the effort to seek the salvaging of any Potsdam sandstone found in the 10 dilapidated buildings at the psychiatric center's Letchworth Complex that were being demolished. Demolition of the first of 10 at the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center began this past August, with Neuber Environmental, a demolition and environmental remediation firm from Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania, performing the work on the buildings that had been originally constructed in 1890 and vacant since 1988. At Monday's City Council meeting, Mayor Michael Tooley announced that he had received word from the offices of Assemblyman Scott Gray, R-Watertown, and Senator Mark Walczyk, R-Watertown, that the state Office of Mental Health (OMH) has granted access for the two municipalities to collect the sandstone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "OMH has already paid for the engineering study to determine if there was any contamination and none has been found," stated Tooley. "The sandstone that is currently available, it's a very small pile of very large stone, four by eight feet long." Tooley said that the city Department of Public Works will work out the arrangements to collect their portion of the sandstone and to store it. Tooley added that the municipalities have been asked to submit a letter before Thursday with regards to what their intentions will be in regards to retrieving the sandstone. The salvaged sandstone would allow the village to make repairs to more than 25 buildings that had used Potsdam sandstone in their construction. The salvaging would allow repairs to be made to the city's vacant Ogdensburg Armory, built in 1898 using Potsdam sandstone in construction of its walls. "I appreciate the outreach from the village of Potsdam's mayor," said Tooley, adding "this resolution puts us on the record in support of their efforts and I think we are teaming well together in taking advantage of the opportunity the state is giving us." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wording in an approved resolution states that the city "supports efforts by the Village of Potsdam for its salvage of Potsdam Sandstone from the demolition of the buildings at the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center in Ogdensburg, N.Y., to be used for future restoration projects in Ogdensburg and Potsdam using Potsdam Sandstone, helping to preserve our architectural history." The resolution states that Potsdam sandstone is a well-cemented sandstone of nearly pure quartz, renowned for its reddish hues, ranging from salmon pink to orange-red, and its strength in construction. Extensively quarried in the 19th century, beginning in 1809, notably at the Clarkson Quarry, "Potsdam Sandstone was used for many buildings and projects throughout the Village of Potsdam, including numerous iconic structures, as well as sidewalks, foundations and gravestones," stated the resolution. Of the 70 buildings in St. Lawrence County that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 28 are located in or near the Village of Potsdam and made of Potsdam Sandstone, including the civic center and Potsdam Public Museum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The demolition of the buildings in the Letchworth Complex is expected to continue through the fall of 2025. Once this project is finished, the OMH has its eyes on seven additional buildings to be torn down in the St. Lawrence Center complex located on State Route 37, Entrance Avenue, Cottage Drive, and Hanes Drive. An investigation is underway in Salisbury, Maryland, after groundwater near a subsidiary of poultry giant Perdue Farms tested positive for highly toxic PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. What's happening? The Bay Journal reported on Oct. 16 that a Perdue AgriBusiness soybean processing plant had asked 550 households within a half-mile of the facility for permission to test their well water after the plant discovered PFAS in its wastewater system. Perdue partnered with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) for its outreach and has offered free bottled water to the impacted homes. According to the report, the findings were part of a statewide investigation into potential PFAS contamination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is very much an emerging issue," Perdue CEO Kevin McAdams told the nonprofit news organization. "We did this out of an abundance of caution." "PFAS is an emerging area of concern in Maryland and across the nation. We appreciate Perdue's cooperation in addressing this matter and helping to protect the health and well-being of the community," MDE Secretary Serena McIlwain added. However, per the Bay Journal, law firm Baird Mandalas Brockstedt & Federico filed a class-action suit against Perdue on behalf of five facility neighbors on Oct. 11. The lawsuit alleges that the poultry giant failed to test the safety of its wastewater for years, even as it used it for irrigation. It also claims that Perdue knew about the high levels of PFAS in September 2023 but didn't take action to remedy the situation or communicate the potential risks to local residents. Why is this concerning? PFAS are often called "forever chemicals" because they can take hundreds to thousands of years to break down. Because of this, when they enter our bodies, they can accumulate over time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scientists have linked exposure to PFAS to severe health complications, including fertility issues, developmental delays, immune system dysfunction, some cancers, and kidney damage, per the Bay Journal and Keck School of Medicine of USC. How often do you worry about toxic chemicals getting into your home? Click your choice to see results and speak your mind The nonprofit news organization reports that the residents who filed the lawsuit against Perdue have experienced a "variety" of health issues affecting their quality of life, and their unspecified problems are connected to PFAS exposure. They are seeking "potentially millions of dollars in damages" to cover medical costs and loss of property value, among other things. What is being done to protect the public from PFAS? The Bay Journal reports that the class-action lawsuit also calls for Perdue to stop its polluting ways. However, the poultry giant said in a statement that it is still unclear whether its operations caused the contamination or whether the local well water even received exposure to PFAS. "We are fully cooperating with MDE and actively investigating all possibilities, including other potential sources in the area," the company said. "We have always prioritized the safety and well-being of our community, and this case is no exception. Perdue will continue to engage transparently with our neighbors and the community throughout this process." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More broadly, the Environmental Protection Agency announced in April the first-ever legally enforceable national regulations regarding PFAS contamination in U.S. drinking water, providing organizations with a crucial tool to help safeguard public health. You can limit your exposure to toxic forever chemicals by supporting PFAS-free brands and retailers. Learning how to spot greenwashing can also help you make decisions that support your health. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Retailers are predicting record shopping this holiday season and the bulk of that spending is expected on Black Friday. The National Retail Federation is expecting 131.7 million Americans to take advantage of Black Friday deals. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Roughly two out of three Black Friday shoppers, like Jacob Shecter, plan to do their holiday shopping the old-fashioned way by heading out to the storefronts early in the morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I like being outside, seeing people. The malls are fun. Theyre always packed, and theres great deals going on, said Shecter. Others, like Shenika Green, told Action News Jax theyve seen enough Black Friday antics for one lifetime. After hearing all the horror stories, I just kind of like picked up a little something and just kind of left it alone, said Green. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Overall, holiday spending is expected to jump as much as 3.5% this year to $989 billion, according to the NRF. We are back up to pre-pandemic levels of spending. So, there is a lot of excitement about the holidays, and we are ready to get started., said Amanda Bevis, spokesperson for the Florida Retail Federation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bevis and FRF are encouraging Floridians to shop local when possible, as holiday shopping makes up roughly one-fifth of Florida retailers annual revenue. We head into the holiday season ready to support consumers, all stocked up and staffed up so that everybody can find what they need and check out efficiently. We are just hopeful that consumers get out and support Florida retail stores, said Bevis. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] As for the top gifts this year, some things never change. Bevis said Barbies and dolls are at the top of girls lists, while boys are asking for video games and Hot Wheels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is some crossover though, with both boys and girls asking for Legos. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. CHICAGO Pre-trial release has been denied for a Chicago woman accused of leading police on a chase before a brief standoff along Route 83 in the western suburbs on Wednesday afternoon. 30-year-old Terry Kahdijah has been charged with two counts of aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer, one count of criminal damage to property and multiple counts of misdemeanor and petty traffic offenses, DuPage County States Attorney Robert Berlin announced in a press release on Thursday. According to Berlin, Kahdijahs charges stem from an alleged pursuit and crash that unfolded in Oak Brook during an investigation into her alleged involvement in a burglary and retail theft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said it all began around 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday after Oak Brook police received an alert from license plate reading technology that a black Audi Q5, which was wanted in connection with a burglary and retail theft out of Countryside, had entered Oakbrook Center Mall. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Officers eventually located the Audi, which was allegedly being driven by Kahdijah, near the mall and began following it in an unmarked squad car. Prosecutors said as the Audi began to pull out of the mal to head westbound along 22nd Street, it began to roll backwards and ended up tapping the bumper of the squad car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers then attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle, but prosecutors said Kahdijah allegedly ignored the red light and turned westbound onto 22nd Street. Offices continued to follow Kahdijah, who allegedly refused to stop and reached speeds of at least 61 mph in a 40mph zone. The alleged pursuit came to a head when Kahdijah approached the intersection of Route 83 and 22nd and allegedly crashed into another car while attempting to make a right-hand turn from the left lane to travel northbound on Route 83, which left the car badly damaged. According to prosecutors, Kahdijahs car stalled along Route 83 following the crash, but she allegedly refused to exit the vehicle, leading to a brief standoff with police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers used a less-lethal bean bag round to remove the Kahdijahs rear windshield to get a look inside her car. They then determined that she was the only person inside the car and she was taken into custody shortly after. After she was pulled from the vehicle, Kahdijah was taken to the hospital for injuries she sustained in the crash, but prosecutors said while she was handcuffed to the hospital bed, she allegedly caused approximately $7,000 worth of damage to the hospital bed In addition to her previous charges, prosecutors said Kahdijah has also been charged with fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer out of Cook County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland The allegations that in the middle of the afternoon Ms. Kahdijah not only sped away from officers, but then crashed her car at the intersection of two of DuPage Countys busiest roadways are outrageous, Berlin said. With the holiday shopping season upon us, I want to remind motorists that in DuPage County we will not tolerate this type of alleged behavior that puts not only the accused at risk, but also the officers involved as well as the motoring public. As Ive said in the past but bears repeating, if you hear sirens and see lights behind you, pull over. Do not attempt to outrun the police as you will not be successful and will only make matters worse for yourself. We are all thankful the victim in the car Ms. Kahdijah allegedly crashed into was not seriously injured. I thank the Oak Brook Police Department for their work on this case and for their continued efforts in keeping our roads safe for everyone as they venture out this holiday season. I also thank Assistant States Attorneys Michael Pingaj and Nick Covert for their efforts in securing charges against the defendant. Kahdijah made her first court appearance on Thursday where Judge Maureen Riordan granted the States motion to deny her pre-trial release. Kahdijah is set to return to court for arraignment on Dec. 23. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. The Duke of Sussex is locked in a legal battle with the U.K. government over the security for him and his family being downgraded in February 2020 Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Prince Harry at an unrelated court case in London in March 2023 Prince Harry at an unrelated court case in London in March 2023 Prince Harrys legal team could turn to the example Taylor Swift set to help them overturn a legal decision over the royals security. When Swift was performing her record-breaking sell-out shows at Wembley Stadium in August, she was given police escorts to the Eras Tour concerts. That came in the wake of a serious security issue: a terror plot that prompted the cancellation of three of her Eras Tour dates in Austria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harry, 40, is locked in a battle over a ruling, made in February, to remove the automatic right to security for him and his family. The initial decision was made in February 2020 when he and wife, Meghan Markle, stepped away from their roles as working royals. Harry has taken the issue to the courts for more than four years. He lost an initial decision in April, but is appealing it, and the case is set to be heard in the spring of 2025. A source with knowledge of the situation tells PEOPLE that the prince wants to ensure the safety of himself and his family while in the U.K. so his children can know his home country and work with his charities without any fear. The Governments decision to provide Taylor Swift with armed police escorts during her August 2024 Wembley Stadium performances highlight significant inconsistencies in how protection decisions are made by U.K. authorities, raising questions about the transparency and consistency of the process, the source says. Getty Images Prince Harry in London in March, 2023 Prince Harry in London in March, 2023 Clearly Prince Harry is being treated completely differently to everyone else," the insider continues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The source adds that the case demonstrates the need for a more systematic and transparent approach to protection decisions, ensuring both public safety and equitable application of security resources. Related: The Real Reason Prince Harry and King Charles Are No Longer Speaking: 'Harry's Calls Go Unanswered' (Exclusive) The development was first reported by The Daily Telegraph on Friday, Nov. 29. The Metropolitan Police previously said in a statement to PEOPLE: The Met is operationally independent. Our decision making is based on a thorough assessment of threat, risk and harm and the circumstances of each case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is our longstanding position that we dont comment on the specific details of protective security arrangements," the Metropolitan Police continued. Jeff J Mitchell - WPA Pool/Getty King Charles with Prince Harry at one of the ceremonies before the funeral of Queen Elizabeth in Sept. 2022 King Charles with Prince Harry at one of the ceremonies before the funeral of Queen Elizabeth in Sept. 2022 The situation has exacerbated his estrangement from his father King Charles. When Harry was over in the U.K. in May, he wanted to discuss the issue with Charles, whom he believes has the power to reinstate the security to the former high levels. (Buckingham Palace will not comment on security provisions, but a palace source previously told PEOPLE the notion that Harry's security is in Charles' hands is "wholly incorrect.") Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Those close to Harry point out that he served two tours of duty in Afghanistan, becoming a target of terrorist threats as a result, and his family has been subjected to domestic extremist threats. His team argues that his threat level has not changed irrespective of his non-working role within the royal family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: Prince Harry and Prince William Avoid Each Other at Uncle's Funeral in Surprise Joint Appearance: Report Neil Basu, a former head of counterterrorism for the Metropolitan Police, has spoken out about the fact that Meghan faced serious threats while in the U.K., noting that both Harry and Meghan had among the highest threat assessments within the royal family. Chris Jackson/Getty Prince Harry on his last visit to the U.K., for the WellChild awards on Sept. 30, 2024 Prince Harry on his last visit to the U.K., for the WellChild awards on Sept. 30, 2024 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harrys military service, his global recognition and his marriage to a mixed-race woman all contribute to his high threat level, Basu told PEOPLE in July. Related: Meghan Markle Says Every Year It Gets Better When It Comes to Holiday Traditions with Prince Harry and Their Kids The security downgrade for Harry and Meghan was ultimately introduced by a committee called RAVEC. Its membership includes the Home Office (the U.K. version of Homeland Security), the Metropolitan Police and the Royal Household. Although the King has no direct involvement with RAVEC, his staff sits on the committee. A government spokesperson earlier this year said that they provide "rigorous and proportionate" security and do not disclose details "as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals security." Editors Note: This is a version of CNNs Royal News, a weekly dispatch bringing you the inside track on Britains royal family. Next week, Catherine, Princess of Wales is set to make her biggest return to royal duties since revealing that she had completed her chemotherapy treatment earlier this year. Kate, 42, will join her husband and heir to the throne, Prince William, in welcoming the Emir of Qatar to the United Kingdom on Tuesday the first day of the emirs two-day state visit to the nation, according to Buckingham Palace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a welcome signal if we remember that the Princess of Wales was forced to skip a state visit by the Emperor and Empress of Japan in June as she was undergoing chemotherapy. Her central role in the upcoming visit will be seen by many as a significant marker of her strong recovery, following her announcement in September of a phased return to duties. During the state visit, William and Kate are expected to greet Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, accompanied by his wife Sheikha Jawaher, on Tuesday morning, before traveling to Horse Guards Parade in St. Jamess Park for a ceremonial welcome and rendition of the Qatari national anthem. King Charles and Queen Camilla will then join the four royals in a carriage procession along The Mall to Buckingham Palace, which will be decorated with dozens of flags of the nation being hosted. Processions like these are typically escorted by mounted soldiers from the Household Cavalry. Mounted police officers lead a carriage procession carrying King Charles III, Emperor Naruhito of Japan, Queen Camilla, Empress Masako of Japan and Prince William down The Mall -- lined with Japanese and Union flags -- to Buckingham Palace on June 25, 2024. - Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images The extravagant procession will be followed by lunch at Buckingham Palace and a cultural exhibition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The exhibition, arranged by the Royal Collection Trust and Turquoise Mountain Foundation an organization founded by King Charles in 2006, when he was Prince of Wales, to protect cultural heritage at risk around the world will display items relating to Qatar. In the afternoon, the emir and Sheikha Jawaher will be given a tour of Westminster Abbey and the Palace of Westminster, where they will meet members of Britains House of Lords and members of parliament. Its also worth remembering that Kate is taking each day as it comes and while she is expected to be present, her appearances may be reduced on the day. One event we know Kate will not be attending is the state banquet on Tuesday evening, where King Charles and the emir will give speeches. Usually, around 150 VIPs with cultural and diplomatic ties to the country being honored are invited to the soiree. Preparations in the ballroom at Buckingham Palace on June 25, 2024, ahead of a state banquet during the three-day visit by Japan's emperor and empress to Britain. - Aaron Chown/AFP/Getty Images Kates planned absence from the white-tie affair shouldnt be cause for alarm, though. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also missed the annual Diplomatic Corps reception at Buckingham Palace last week, which was held to celebrate foreign diplomats in London. Despite her absence from the get-together, a royal source described Kates upcoming engagements as good news. She will round off the week by hosting her annual Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey on Friday evening, which will focus on how much we need each other, especially in the most difficult times of our lives. The princess has invited children who survived the stabbing attack in Southport earlier this year, and their families, to the concert, Kensington Palace confirmed to CNN on Thursday. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Mahamudu Bawumia (L, Front), Ghanaian vice president and presidential candidate from the ruling New Patriotic Party, signs the presidential election peace pact in Accra, Ghana, on Nov. 28, 2024. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua) ACCRA, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Presidential candidates in Ghana's general elections signed a pact late Thursday, pledging to ensure peace before, during, and after the polls. Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, former President John Dramani Mahama, and leaders of the other smaller parties signed on behalf of their parties at a ceremony in the Ghanaian capital of Accra. "We must all take responsibility to ensure peace and harmony, and I hope we will come out of this election stronger, and all sides will uphold the peace and stability of Ghana," said Bawumia, a presidential candidate from the ruling New Patriotic Party. Bawumia expressed commitment to working with all relevant institutions and personalities to ensure a free and fair election. Former president Mahama, representing the National Democratic Congress, urged all parties to align their actions with their pledges, saying that genuine efforts are essential to maintaining Ghana's reputation as a peaceful democratic nation. "It is laudable to commit to peace and recite beautiful platitudes. But all the efforts at building peace before, during, and after the 2024 elections would come to naught if undermined by mistrust and insincerity," Mahama stated. Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana Chairperson Jean Mensa affirmed the commission's responsibility to ensure transparency of the polls. "At the end of the day, when the EC declares the results, Ghana should remain standing as a beacon of democracy in Africa. We each have a role to play to ensure this happens," Mensa added. According to the commission, Ghanaians will go to the polls on Dec. 7 to elect a new president and 276 members of parliament. Mahamudu Bawumia, Ghanaian vice president and presidential candidate from the ruling New Patriotic Party, speaks at a signing ceremony of the presidential election peace pact in Accra, Ghana, on Nov. 28, 2024. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua) John Dramani Mahama (L, Front), former Ghanaian president and presidential candidate from the National Democratic Congress, signs the presidential election peace pact in Accra, Ghana, on Nov. 28, 2024. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua) John Dramani Mahama, former Ghanaian president and presidential candidate from the National Democratic Congress, speaks at a signing ceremony of the presidential election peace pact in Accra, Ghana, on Nov. 28, 2024. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua) Abortion rights supporters march in Denver in the wake of a leaked Supreme Court opinion that indicated justices would overturn Roe v. Wade, May 7, 2022. (Kevin Mohatt for Colorado Newsline) Private health insurance carriers providing coverage in Colorado will have to fully cover abortion care starting in January 2025 under a law the Colorado Legislature passed in 2023. Senate Bill 23-189 requires private health insurance plans to fully cover the cost of abortions starting in 2025. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed the bill into law as part of a package of abortion-related protections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The law also requires insurance plans to cover medication abortions, contraception, vasectomies and treatment of sexually transmitted infections without copays. There is an exception for employers for whom abortion is against religious beliefs. The law also included an exception for government employers, but that could change following Colorado voters approval of Amendment 79, which enshrines the right to abortion in the Colorado Constitution and will allow state and local government employers to cover abortion care, too. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The amendment wont affect implementation of the 2023 law, but abortion rights advocates want to see Colorado lawmakers pass legislation requiring similar coverage for public employees and Medicaid recipients when the General Assembly convenes next year. Kiera Hatton Sena, policy director of the Colorado-based reproductive rights group Cobalt, said there is no other medical procedure that insurers do not cover solely based on ideological means, and SB-189s requirements show that reproductive health care is health care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everybody should have access to the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare, and so what this really does is it levels the playing field so that reproductive healthcare isnt something only for the wealthy and people with means, Hatton Sena said. State Sen. Lisa Cutter, a Littleton Democrat who sponsored the bill, said the law will close gaps related to access not only for abortion, but for STI treatment and family planning, too. We feel really strongly that reproductive healthcare is just an essential part of any primary and preventative care, Cutter said. That has remained out of reach for many Coloradans, and so this bill is just aiming to address that. Jack Teter, regional director of government affairs for Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, noted that the law also makes it so that someone doesnt need to meet their deductible to have abortion care covered. He estimated more than one million Coloradans will now have abortion care fully covered under the new law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of people go through the entire year without meeting their deductible, and so even though a lot of people maybe had insurance coverage for abortion care in theory, in practice, that coverage would have very rarely kicked in, Teter said. All insurance plans regulated by the Colorado Division of Insurance will fully cover abortion. The bill included language requiring individual and small group insurance to cover abortion, so long as the state got approval from the federal government to do so. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services gave the state that approval in July. Teter said people who work for large companies might have health insurance regulated by the federal government, so the new policy would not apply to them. A health insurance card should have CODOI written on it if it is regulated by the state, Teter said. Members of the Colorado House of Representatives work on the last day of the 2024 Legislative Session May 8, 2024 at the Colorado Capitol. (Lindsey Toomer/Colorado Newsline) Not something that people plan on State Rep. Lorena Garcia, an Adams County Democrat and another SB-189 sponsor, said its important that people no longer need to purchase an additional rider if they want to have abortion covered by their health insurance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who looks at insurance and says, Oh, I might get an abortion, Im going to get an abortion rider? Garcia said. No one does that, because its not something that people plan on. Its a big difference because abortion care is something that many people end up needing Its the same thing as, no one plans to have a heart attack, but sometimes they do. Im excited that were finally seeing implementation of a reduction in economic barriers to abortion care, Garcia added. Teter said 93% of the patients PPRM has served in Colorado so far in 2024 paid out of pocket for abortion care, even though the organization accepts most insurance carriers. That includes people whose insurance does not cover abortion, public employees whose insurance does not cover abortion, and people who dont have any health insurance. To be able to use insurance is going to be a game-changer for our patients, especially those who have to worry about making ends meet and have to decide between groceries or rent and accessing the care that they need, Teter said. We pay our premiums every month, and we count on our health when insurance to be there for us when we need access to healthcare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Insurance coverage for abortion care will also mean less people in need of financial assistance to access abortion, Teter said, so abortion funds can direct more of their funding to people traveling from out of state or who dont have insurance. Public funding ban for abortion gone Teter said PPRMs top priority going into the 2025 legislative session is to implement insurance coverage for Medicaid recipients and public employees. Garcia said she absolutely sees the Legislature pursuing such legislation as part of Amendment 79s implementation in 2025. Hatton Sena said the earliest she would expect to see public coverage would be on July 1, 2025, though it could take longer given the tight budget the state will be working under next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Knowing that we are in a difficult budget year, I think we have to just acknowledge that it may need to be spread over two years, but definitely no further, Hatton Sena said. The voters were so clear that they wanted this, so I do think it should be a priority for the state legislature. Though Republican President-elect Donald Trump said he would not support a federal abortion ban on the campaign trail, there is still concern over how his administration will target abortion access given a Republican trifecta in Washington D.C. Anti-abortion activist groups want to end other federal and state protections while vastly expanding restrictions on reproductive health care. Even though Colorado secured the right to an abortion in its Constitution, a federal abortion ban would override state protections. Theres lots of different horrible ways that they could approach the question of how they want to use the federal government to restrict or ban access to abortion care, Teter said about the incoming Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hatton Sena said theres no way to predict what Trump and the federal government might do, but that abortion access was wildly popular across the country in the election. I say bring it, Garcia said. Cutter said Colorado officials will continue to do everything we can to protect access to abortion in the state. That is a personal freedom, she said. And protecting that access to reproductive healthcare, and abortion care specifically, saves lives. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE By Felix Light TBILISI (Reuters) -Police deploying water cannon, tear gas and pepper spray confronted thousands of pro-European protesters erecting barricades in the centre of Tbilisi on Saturday after Georgia's ruling party said it was halting EU accession talks until 2028. European Union accession is overwhelmingly popular in Georgia according to opinion polls, and the move saw thousands mass outside the parliament building in Tbilisi on Thursday before they were dispersed by riot police using water cannon and gas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The freezing of application talks has been met with widespread anger in Georgia, which has the aim of EU membership written into its constitution. Protesters carrying Georgian and EU flags pressed towards the Soviet-built fortress-like parliament building and hurled fireworks at police officers. Police forced them away from the assembly and down Rustaveli Boulevard toward the opera house. Still in their thousands, demonstrators seized anything to hand and stood atop ramshackle barricades in a standoff with officers well past midnight. Fires were ablaze on the boulevard. "We'll be here every night until they get tired," Nika Gvaramia, leader of Georgia's largest opposition party, the Coalition for Change, said as he warmed his hands over a fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is our country, we only have one, were going to fight for Europe. Elene Khoshtaria, another coalition leader, was wearing a sling after her hand was broken during Thursday's protest. "We are not going to give in, we are not going to give up," she said. "But I think the international community should think how to support people who really believe in European values." Hundreds of serving employees of the country's foreign, defence, education and justice ministries on Friday signed open letters denouncing the freeze in talks as unconstitutional. A string of private universities have said they are suspending studies amid the unrest, while business groups have called for the government to review its stance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ruling Georgian Dream party, which won almost 54% of the vote in an October election that opposition parties say was rigged, said on Thursday that it was freezing membership talks over what it said was EU "blackmail" of Georgia. WORSENING RELATIONS WITH EU The move caps months of deteriorating relations between Georgia and the West, which has accused the Tbilisi government of authoritarian and pro-Russian inclinations. Georgian Dream has this year passed laws against so-called "foreign agents" and LGBT rights, which critics say are draconian in nature and Russian in inspiration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The party, which is widely seen as controlled by its founder, billionaire and former prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, says it wants eventually to join the EU, and that the laws it has passed are necessary to defend Georgia's traditional values. The EU's ambassador to Georgia described Georgian Dream's stance as "heartbreaking" on Friday and condemned the crackdown on protesters. (Reporting by Felix Light; Editing by Hugh Lawson, Ron Popeski, Diane Craft and Marguerita Choy) This story is reported by South Dakota News Watch, a non-profit news organization. Find more in-depth reporting at www.sdnewswatch.org. PIEDMONT, S.D. (SDNW) Earlier this year, well before big-game hunting season began in South Dakota, Josh Clark invested time and money into expanding his wild-game processing capabilities to take advantage of high demand for the service. Yankton mall gains 3 major retailers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the number of commercial and self-employed meat cutters willing to process wild game in South Dakota has dwindled, Clark saw an opportunity in 2024 to profit off the trend at Cutting Edge Meat Market in Piedmont, where he is the manager. Prior to hunting season, he added another skinning station, expanded capacity to hang and move animals and created more refrigeration space. He also did some summer advertising to let hunters know he is still taking in deer, elk and other large animal carcasses for full-service processing into steak, burgers and sausages. I dont know if its just the lack of processors still out there, but were up 30% to 40% over last year in terms of animal drop-offs, Clark told News Watch last week. Were slammed right now. Clark said he recently contacted several other West River meat shops and found that no one he spoke to is taking in whole deer or other game for processing. Skinned deer carcasses hang in a cooler at Cutting Edge Meat Market in Piedmont, S.D., in November 2023, one of the few remaining butcher shops in the Black Hills that still takes whole deer and other big game for processing. (Photo: Bart Pfankuch / South Dakota News Watch) Butchers who still take full deer carcasses said other processors who no longer take wild game or require it to be deboned first may be facing worker shortages, have higher expenses that cut into profitability or simply do not want the hassle of dealing with wild game processing that often occurs one customer with one animal at a time and creates a mad rush of business each fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The month of November the heart of the deer hunting season in South Dakota is always busy for butchers who process wild game, as hunters bring in tens of thousands of deer and antelope shot with rifles or bow and arrow. In 2023, South Dakota hunters killed about 49,000 deer, roughly 2,800 antelope and 114 elk, according to the state. Clark said prior News Watch coverage of the processor shortage generated even more business for him, including from Custer State Park, where officials shipped him some buffaloes for processing after culling park animals after the annual Buffalo Roundup. South Dakota butchers exiting wild game market Some butcher shops have closed or shifted focus away from wild game, while others no longer take any game animals, and a few will only process wild meat that is already skinned and deboned by the customer. Whereas commercial livestock producers schedule delivery of animals to be slaughtered and butchered during normal work hours and with several animals at once, big game hunters usually arrive at butcher shops with one or two animals at whatever time of day they happen to make a kill. South Dakota big game hunters are having increasing difficulty finding butchers who will skin, debone and package meat from big game, including this buck shot in a Meade County woods in November 2023. (Photo: Bart Pfankuch / South Dakota News Watch) Paul Sorum, co-owner of Renner Corner Meats, about 10 miles north of Sioux Falls, said his shop usually processes about 1,000 deer and other big-game carcasses a year. Sorum said he feels a strong commitment to helping hunters have a place to take full carcasses. But he also wants to continue taking whole animals as a way to maintain the South Dakota hunting economy and to uphold conservation goals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If it werent for the hunters, wed have an overabundance of deer that are not easy on crops, not to mention the damage they do to vehicles (when struck), he said. The shortage of wild-game processors has been a boon to Sorums bottom line in the fall. Hes now taking in a lot of deer from western Minnesota and has had elk, moose, caribou, bear and antelope shipped in from other states for processing in Renner. One concern is that if hunters who lack the skills or equipment to skin, quarter and debone carcasses on their own cant find a processor willing to take a whole carcass, the animals could be dumped in the garbage or left to rot in the field. Some hunters may choose to give up hunting if they know in advance they wont be able to get a full animal carcass processed. The deer hunters, they need a place to take their animals to be processed correctly and to know theyre going to get a great product, so we still provide that service because theres not that many of us out there, Sorum said. Its a busy time, and its difficult work, but I have a great staff and we get through it. Hunters can donate animals to charity Hunters who want to donate the meat from a deer or antelope to charitable food pantries across the state can work with South Dakota Sportsmen Against Hunger. Under the program, hunters with animals can contact one of roughly two dozen butchers in South Dakota and drop off an animal carcass or deboned meat for full processing. In most cases, the participating butcher shops assume the cost of processing female animals, while donating a buck typically results in the hunter paying the processing fee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the butchers enrolled in the program require that the animal be skinned and deboned before being dropped off for processing, and the program does nothing to help hunters who want to eat the wild game meat from animals they have killed. The wild game processing industry is not overseen or regulated by the state Game, Fish & Parks Department, which manages state hunting seasons, though butcher shops are subject to regular inspection by state and federal regulators. GFP spokesman Nick Harrington sent an email to News Watch in 2023 saying the department is currently not seeing a lack of game processors acting as a barrier to hunters participating in the sport. Conversely, applications for many big game seasons including deer and elk are either holding steady or gradually rising each year, Harrington wrote. There are some big-game hunters who utilize processors, while others process themselves. This is each individual hunters choice and personal preference. Home-based butchers help fill the need The commercial butcher shops that handle wild game have long been bolstered by a network of small, home-based meat processors who take animals killed in the fall. However, those processors are also dropping out of the industry or slowing down due to age, increasing volumes or burnout. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But some home-based butchers continue to provide the service of processing wild game from carcass to usable meat portions wrapped in butcher paper, though they often can only be found through word-of-mouth connections. Rex Roseland and his wife, Cheryl, have processed wild game at their home north of Rapid City for decades, but theyve seen demand for processing rise in recent years. When you get swamped, it just takes time to get caught up, Rex Roseland told News Watch in 2023. We get a lot of people from previous years, and they keep coming back. But every year it seems like we pick up more people. Cheryl Roseland said they enjoy the work and want to help hunters out, but its getting harder to handle the increasing flow of animals being brought in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve heard from people who are saying, Help us because we cant find anyplace that will take it, she said. But the thing is, while we can do it, do we have room to add another animal? We will take overflow when we can, but were overflowing ourselves out here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. Nov. 28Reporters and editors almost always bear the blame for the culture of celebrity. But Santa Fe really is the city different this time. No member of the media would still be writing about Alec Baldwin if District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies and her special prosecutor weren't preoccupied with the actor. The state's case against Baldwin reeked of star-gazing from the beginning. Carmack-Altwies never would have secured special public financing or hired special prosecutors if Baldwin weren't famous. And an ordinary Joe who tragically erred as Baldwin did never would have been charged with a crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During rehearsal for the Western Rust three years ago near Santa Fe, Baldwin took hold of a Colt .45 revolver. The firearm was announced as "cold," meaning it contained no live ammunition. The pistol that had been deemed safe by the movie's armorer discharged a bullet that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The armorer was tried and convicted of involuntary manslaughter. Justice was served in that instance. Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey also indicted Baldwin for the same crime. Never had a fourth-degree felony charge generated so much national and international publicity for civil servants in New Mexico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With Baldwin as a defendant, Morrissey and Carmack-Altwies were sought out by national shows and publications. All the attention turned to humiliation after Morrissey failed to disclose certain ballistic evidence to the defense. The trial judge, Mary Marlowe Sommer, in July dismissed the case against Baldwin and ruled it cannot be refiled. She cited "egregious discovery violations constituting misconduct and false testimony." Marlowe Sommer later rejected Morrissey's longwinded filing seeking to revive the criminal charge. That should have been the end, but it wasn't. Morrissey has filed notice that she will ask the state Court of Appeals to overturn Marlowe Sommer's ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Morrissey's continued pursuit of Baldwin will generate many incremental news stories in New Mexico. Television networks, national publications and news outlets covering Hollywood also will report on developments. They would be irresponsible not to cover an act of desperation by a publicly funded prosecutor's office. While Morrissey pursues Baldwin on behalf of the district attorney, myriad victims of premeditated violent crimes await their day in court. The siblings of 22-year-old Cypress Garcia are two of them. A robber shot and killed Garcia in August 2022 while he worked as a cashier at Blake's Lotaburger in Espanola. The thief proceeded to pistol-whip Garcia's younger brother, Cyress, who was overseeing the restaurant's nightside crew. The suspect in the Lotaburger murder case has been charged in federal court with a series of crimes, notably interference with commerce by robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But murder, the most serious crime, is a state charge that would have to be filed by Carmack-Altwies' staff. To date, 27 months after the gunman killed Garcia in hopes of pocketing a few lousy bucks, there's no homicide charge. Perhaps one will be filed after the federal prosecution concludes. Crimes committed against the Garcia brothers won't bring prosecutors a fraction of the publicity that comes with Baldwin's case. The big East Coast papers and the network news programs won't cover the Lotaburger murder trial, if there is one. The Garcias weren't in movies. They weren't known outside the Espanola Valley. The robber who killed one brother and bashed the other in the head six times with a pistol isn't of interest to a national audience. While Garcia's family waits for justice in a cold-blooded killing, Morrissey will expend more public resources trying to resurrect her courtroom confrontation with Baldwin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Morrissey loses her appeal in the Baldwin case a year or two from now, she and Carmack-Altwies should personally have to pay all of the government's expenses, as well as attorneys' fees for the defense. That would be justice, and it might lead to a fresh set of priorities. Residents of the Santa Fe-area judicial district might not like Baldwin, but they don't fear him. The 66-year-old actor isn't going to carjack and kill an elderly man in the parking lot near Best Buy. Baldwin won't peddle dope to kids or shoot a young worker at a Sonic Drive-In. The late author David Halberstam often lectured about the culture of celebrity and its dumbing down of the planet. He criticized newspaper editors and television news directors for reporting on celebrities to the exclusion of important matters. "We know so much about so little and so little about so much," Halberstam would say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Editors across New Mexico aren't obsessing about Baldwin as they try to present an accurate daily snapshot of their communities. The same cannot be said of prosecutors who found the national spotlight through Baldwin. Ringside Seat is an opinion column about people, politics and news. Contact Milan Simonich at msimonich@sfnewmexican.com or 505-986-3080. Hundreds of immigrant rights advocates and others participate in rally and demonstration at the Federal Building in lower Manhattan on June 1, 2018 in New York. In coordinated marches across the country people gathered outside U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field offices, U.S. attorneys offices, and the Department of Justice headquarters in Washington, D.C. (Spencer Platt | Getty Images). The week before Thanksgiving, I spoke with an immigration attorney in Madison, Wisconsin, Grant Sovern, who helped found the Community Immigration Law Center (CILC) part of a flurry of new services created in the wake of the 2018 ICE raids that terrorized Dane County during President-elect Donald Trumps first administration. No one knows what the immigration crackdown Trump has promised for his second term will look like. But advocates are once again meeting to try to prepare. Sovern told me about desperate calls from friends of his college-age daughter students who are worried about losing their protected status under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). While he has been offering them hope that the new administration wont start by targeting Dreamers, who grew up in this country and just want to continue to study and work here, he added that the easiest targets for mass deportation are other people whove followed the rules. Asylum-seekers and those with temporary protected status and work visas like the Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, that Trump and incoming Vice President J.D. Vance falsely accused of eating their neighbors pets will be the easiest to find. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What an ominous holiday season. We need the warmth of gatherings with friends and family more than ever. But its a weird time to be celebrating the arrival of our nations first immigrants and the mythical meal where they bonded with Native Americans before swiping their land and wiping them out. Talking about colonialism, genocide and how our society is built on historic injustice is quickly dismissed as woke and out of fashion these days. But its unavoidable if youre trying to understand the rise of right-wing authoritarianism here and around the globe. The same week I spoke with Sovern about preparations in Dane County to counter Trumps mass deportations, Israeli peace activist Rotem Levin came to Madison with his Palestinian peace movement colleague Osama Iliwat to speak out against the war in Gaza and to discuss their vision for a path to shared safety, justice and liberation, according to the promotional materials from Jewish Voice for Peace, Vets for Peace and a handful of local religious groups that brought them to the Presbyterian church near my house. I met Levin at the home of a neighbor who hosted the pair (Iliwat was resting, feeling unwell after their trip). Levin said their goal was to get people to stop being sleepy about the occupation and the hopelessness of the seemingly endless war on Palestinians by his country, supported by the U.S. Were not like you you genocided all the Native Americans and now they have to accept you, Levin said with startling Israeli frankness. Were in the Middle East. There are Muslims all around us. The only way to guarantee safety and security is by building trust. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of the recent U.S. election, he said, I want to encourage you. We have been living with dictatorship for 20 years. You will be OK. People who have been living comfortably with the thought that they are part of a democracy, protected by the rule of law, are not the ones who need to be afraid, he added. In the U.S., people without papers are the most vulnerable, like the Palestinians in Israel, he said. His parents, among other Israelis, have been shocked by his countrys rapid slide into fascism under the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu and his right-wing cabinet. For his mother, who suddenly doesnt recognize her country, and for his father, who was beaten at a protest march, the shift to militarism and the crushing of free speech was unthinkable until recently. For his Palestinian friends, however, repression is a familiar fact of life. His message is that security depends on justice for everyone. Levin was not keen to talk about the daunting project of finding a political solution to the conflict. He didnt want to get bogged down in arguments about the details, he said. Focusing on the small things, building personal, humanizing connections between Israelis and Palestinians, is critically important, even if there is no big-picture solution on the horizon yet. The same approach applies here, on the cusp on the next Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Community leaders and immigration attorneys have been meeting in Madison to try to figure out what to do. Local funding has dried up since the first Trump term. CILC lacks adequate resources and doesnt have enough volunteer lawyers to respond to the crisis advocates see coming. And they dont even know what shape that crisis will take. The prospect that the Trump administration will likely do away with its practice during the first administration of not conducting raids in churches and schools sends shivers down everybodys spine, Sovern said. Mass raids like the 2018 ICE operations that shut down local restaurants could be scaled up, and could cause huge economic harm, especially for Wisconsin dairy farms where an estimated 70% of the workforce is comprised of undocumented immigrants. But raiding isolated farms in rural areas of the state wouldnt make the kind of news splash Trump is probably seeking. To achieve that effect, Democratic cities like Madison could be in the crosshairs. Instead of dropping busloads of migrants off in liberal northern cities, the publicity stunt gleefully executed by Republican Govs. Greg Abbot of Texas and Ron Desantis of Florida, the Trump administration could send in buses to round people up, crashing local economies by emptying out restaurants and other businesses that depend on an immigrant workforce. According to The Hill, Texas has offered the incoming Trump administration 1,400 acres to build a mass deportation detention camp. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Madison, immigrant rights groups and local officials have begun trying to calm people down. After the 2018 ICE raids, advocates hosted an information session to offer legal advice and the only thing anyone wanted to ask was, Who will pick up my kids from school if Im deported? Sovern recalled. There is a lot to worry about, including the bill that recently passed the U.S. House allowing the federal government to designate U.S. nonprofits terrorist supporting organizations and strip them of their tax-exempt status. But its also important to remember that, under current law, they cant do all the bad things they want to do all at once, Sovern said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He pointed to an evaluation of the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project, the nations first public defender system for immigrants facing deportation. (CILC, in Madison, was the second such effort.) The project provided lawyers to all low-income immigrants facing deportation proceedings in New York City. Before the project, only 4% of those challenging deportation were successful. Once they were provided with attorneys, the rate of success rose to 48%. And despite polls showing increasing public support for mass deportations, even in the current amped-up anti-immigrant climate, most Americans (about 64%) say undocumented immigrants should be allowed to stay in the country if they meet certain conditions including applying for citizenship, working, paying taxes and not committing crimes. People are more sympathetic if they hear the stories of real people who are affected by deportation threats, not just the lies about violent criminals who are eating pets. Its also important to spread the word that there are good people trying to hold up a light in the darkness. As Sovern puts it, What we can do are little bits of tons of hard work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even if its impossible to solve the big problem all at once, brave people are doing their best to lead us to a better future. This commentary was first published by the Wisconsin Examiner, which like NC Newsline, is part of the national States Newsroom network. Protesters are once again assembling outside Georgia's parliament to oppose the Georgian Dream party's plan to postpone EU accession negotiations until 2028. Source: Ekho Kavkaza (Echo of the Caucasus), as reported by European Pravda Details: According to Ekho Kavkaza, the latest demonstration at the Georgian Parliament in Tbilisi began on Friday, 29 November. Citizens have come together to protest against Georgian Dream's plan to postpone EU membership negotiations until 2028. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs has reportedly claimed that opposition supporters have discussed the possibility of disrupting the operation of critical facilities. So far, the situation in Tbilisi is calm. The capitals main street, Rustaveli Avenue, is closed. Background: On Thursday, 28 November, Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of the ruling Georgian Dream party confirmed that Tbilisi would not be negotiating EU membership "until the end of 2028". His statement came after the European Parliament adopted a resolution not to recognise the outcome of the recent elections. Several Georgian ministries have already criticised this decision. President Salome Zourabichvili later stated that the ruling party had declared war on its own people. That evening, a large demonstration took place under the walls of the parliament in Tbilisi and there were clashes with the police. Protesters were brutally dispersed with water cannons and tear gas. The security forces used physical violence against people, including journalists and their equipment. Support UP or become our patron! Security forces used water cannons against the protesters who gathered for a demonstration of thousands near the Georgian parliament to protest against the freezing of Georgia's progress towards EU membership. Source: European Pravda citing Ekho Kavkaza (Echo of the Caucasus) Details: The situation near the Georgian parliament building escalated in the evening. Protesters and police threw bottles, stones and other objects at each other. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Afterwards, footage emerged of Georgian police using special equipment, including water cannon vehicles, against the demonstrators. The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs in turn said that some protesters in Tbilisi "provoked" law enforcement officers, resulting in one police officer being injured. Background: On Thursday, 28 November, Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of the ruling Georgian Dream party confirmed that Tbilisi would not be negotiating EU membership "until the end of 2028". His statement came after the European Parliament adopted a resolution not to recognise the outcome of the recent elections. Several Georgian ministries have already criticised this decision. President Salome Zourabichvili later stated that the ruling party had declared war on its own people. That evening, a large demonstration took place under the walls of the parliament in Tbilisi and there were clashes with the police. Protesters were brutally dispersed with water cannons and tear gas. The security forces used physical violence against people, including journalists and their equipment. Support UP or become our patron! BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) Protesters in Serbia stood in silence for 15 minutes on Friday for the victims of a roof collapse four weeks ago in a northern city, seeking to keep up pressure on the populist authorities to punish those responsible for the tragedy. Traffic was blocked for a third week in a row at various spots in several Serbian cities and towns, including in the northern city of Novi Sad where the concrete outer roof at the central railway station smashed down on people on Nov. 1 without warning. Initially 14 people died and three were injured but one more person later died in hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The railway station building was renovated twice in recent years. Many in Serbia believe rampant corruption and opaque deals resulted in sloppy work during reconstruction and led to the collapse of the roof. Street protests and blockades have been held almost daily since the roof crash, demanding justice. Another rally is planned on Sunday in Novi Sad to mark one month since the tragedy. While prosecutors have announced the arrests of 13 people, a Serbian court this week released from detention former government construction minister Goran Vesic. This has fueled widespread skepticism of the ongoing investigation, as the populists control both the police and judiciary. Serbia's authoritarian President Aleksandar Vucic has accused the protesters of being bullies and thugs who used people's deaths for political gains. Scuffles have erupted both in Serbia's parliament and during some of the recent rallies when pro-government protesters showed up to break up the opposition-led blockades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Minor incidents were also reported during Friday's silent protest in Belgrade, the capital city. In Novi Sad, residents held a long black banner for the victims. Some people at the protests in other cities held white roses or posters with a red handprint, telling the authorities they have blood on their hands. Opposition parties have repeatedly called for the resignation of Serbias prime minister and his government, as well as access to full documentation in the train station building and other infrastructure projects with Chinese state companies. The station in Novi Sad was originally built in 1964. Its renovation was part of a bigger project with China and Hungary to build a high-speed railway between Belgrade and Budapest. Putin says Trump is a "smart and experienced person" and can "come up with a solution" to the Ukraine war. Trump said on the campaign trail this year that he would end the war in 24 hours if elected. In 2022, Trump also said that he "knew Putin very well" and got along "great" with the Russian leader. Russian President Vladimir Putin believes President-elect Donald Trump will be able to put an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine. "President Trump, a smart and experienced person, will come up with a solution, especially given that he has gone through quite an ordeal of fighting to reclaim the Oval Office," Putin told reporters in Kazakhstan on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin was speaking at the sidelines of a security summit in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, when he was asked about President Joe Biden's recent decision to give Ukraine long-range missiles. Representatives for Putin and Trump did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider. Trump talked about ending the Russia-Ukraine war in Ukraine while on the campaign trail. In July 2023, he said on Fox News that he would end the war within 24 hours if elected. "I would tell Zelenskyy, no more. You got to make a deal. I would tell Putin, if you don't make a deal, we're going to give him a lot. We're going to give more than they ever got if we have to," Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both Ukraine and Russia have been dismissive of Trump's proposal. However, Putin's praise for Trump comes just weeks after the pair reportedly spoke over the phone. Trump also took a separate call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in November. Putin and Trump talked about resolving the war in Ukraine and achieving peace in Europe during their call, The Washington Post reported on November 10, citing people familiar with the matter. The Kremlin denied the call had taken place, while a spokesperson for the Trump campaign said they "do not comment on private calls" between Trump and other foreign leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin's admiration of Trump appears to be mutual. Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Trump called Putin's move "genius" and "wonderful." He also said without substantiation that the reason Putin chose to invade Ukraine during Biden's presidency instead of his was because he had a better relationship with Putin. "I knew Putin very well. I got along with him great. He liked me. I liked him," Trump said during a February 2022 appearance on the "Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show." Meanwhile, in February, Putin told the state-owned television channel Russia-1 that he would "work with any US leader whom the American people trust." Read the original article on Business Insider BANGKOK, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Six people were killed and nine others injured after a crane collapsed at a construction site near the Thai capital Bangkok on Friday, authorities said. The accident occurred early on Friday when a launching gantry crane and concrete segments of an under-construction elevated expressway collapsed in central Thailand's Samut Sakhon province, a local public relations office reported. In a social media post, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed her deepest condolences to the bereaved families. Paetongtarn said that the government would establish a committee to investigate the accident and closely monitor the work of private contractors to prevent similar accidents from reoccurring. Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to strike the Ukrainian capital Kyiv with recently unveiled Oreshnik missiles, as he praised US President-elect Donald Trump as quite clever and experienced. We do not exclude the use of Oreshnik against the military, military industry facilities or the decision-making centre, including in Kyiv, Putin said at a press conference in Kazakhstan on Thursday. The Oreshnik missile, launched for the first time targeting Ukraine last week, carries six warheads and can travel at 10 times the speed of sound, according to Putin, who also claimed it cannot be intercepted by any modern air defence systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The use of several Oreshnik missiles in one strike would be comparable in its devastating power to a nuclear weapon, he said. Related Oreshnik can penetrate underground bunkers and release dozens of submunitions that turn everything to dust, Putin said at the summit in Kazakhstan of a security alliance of former Soviet nations. "Although Oreshnik is of course not a weapon of mass destruction," Putin added. The Russian president suggested that Washington's decision to allow Ukraine to strike Russia with longer-range missiles might be intended to make it harder for the next US administration to negotiate a peace deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin, however, voiced his confidence in Trump, stating that he would be able to find a solution given that he "has tackled such a challenge as reclaiming the White House. Trump has previously claimed he could end the war in Ukraine "in one day," but some who have fled the country are less than confident about the president-elect and the US' role in putting an end to Russia's ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened on Thursday to fire the military's new medium-range missiles at further targets in Ukraine, including the capital Kiev. The Oreshnik ballistic missile was first deployed last week against the Ukrainian industrial city of Dnipro, in a move seen as a dangerous escalation in the conflict. The Kremlin is currently selecting targets for further strikes, Putin said at a meeting in Astana of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a Russian-led military alliance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "These could be military buildings, defence companies or decision-making centres in Kiev," the Russian leader added. Speaking of last week's strike on Dnipro, he said: "We were forced to carry out the test under war conditions in response to the attacks on the Bryansk and Kursk areas with Western weapons, with ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles." Following recent approval from Washington, Ukraine has begun using US-made ATACMS missiles and British Storm Shadow cruise missiles to target military sites in Russia. Putin reiterated his praise of the new Russian weapons system as unique, saying that when used in a bundle, its destructive power is comparable to that of a nuclear bomb. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Putin, Russia has fired 100 missiles and 466 combat drones at Ukraine in the last two days alone. He described the massive attacks as a response to Western arms deliveries to Ukraine. Zelensky says Russia's Putin derailing Trump's peace efforts Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia's use of the medium-range missile was an effort to derail anticipated peace efforts by US President-elect Donald Trump. In his evening video address on Thursday, Zelensky said Putin "wants to escalate the situation so that President Trump fails so that he cannot end the war." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Putin is the only one responsible for this war and the only one who believes in the war," he added. Renewed power cuts Western Ukraine experienced more power outages on Thursday as a result of the missile strikes, leaving more than a million people without electricity. In the Rivne region, more than 280,000 households were cut off, Governor Oleksandr Koval posted on Telegram, referring also to water supply issues. In the neighbouring Volyn region, near Poland, more than 200,000 households were cut off from the energy grid. Authorities reported strikes on the regional capital, Lutsk. No casualties were initially registered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Further south in the Lviv region, more than half a million people were left without power, along with a further 300,000 households in the neighbouring region of Ivano-Frankivsk. According to the Ukrainian air force, Russia fired over 90 rockets and cruise missiles, including from long-range bombers and ships in the Black Sea. Almost 80 were intercepted. Earlier, the Russian army had deployed almost 100 combat drones against targets in Ukraine, all of which were either shot down or intercepted by electronic means. Military observers however cast doubt on the figures released by Moscow. Explosions were reported from nearly all parts of the country, including in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv and central Ukrainian city of Kropyvnytskyi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko referred on Facebook to targeted Russian attacks on energy facilities. Grid operator Ukrenergo had carried out emergency power cuts, he said. Fatal strikes Two men were killed and three injured in a Russian drone attack in the eastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said. A tractor was hit in a field near the village of Bilyi Kolodiaz by a so-called first-person-view drone, which is controlled via a video connection, he said. Bilyi Kolodiaz is a few kilometres from the front line near the border town of Vovchansk, which has been under siege for months. Kiev accuses Moscow of war crimes Ukraine once again accused the Russian army on Thursday of committing war crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the southern region of Zaporizhzhya, five of six Ukrainian soldiers captured near the village of Novodaryivka were shot on Sunday, the prosecutor's office in Kiev said, adding an investigation into war crimes and murder was now under way. The Russian army launched a full invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. International human rights organizations accuse the Russian side especially of violating the Geneva Conventions. In recent weeks, there have increasingly been reports from Ukraine about the execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian soldiers. EU lawmakers speak out In the French city of Strasbourg meanwhile, the European Parliament condemned the deployment of North Korean troops in the conflict and criticized China for its assistance to Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers adopted a resolution denouncing the use of North Korean forces and the testing of new ballistic missiles on Ukraine, arguing that the "recent escalatory steps represent a new phase in the war and a new risk for Europe's security." The parliament, which has no formal say on foreign policy issues, called on EU capitals to strengthen their military support for Ukraine and impose further sanctions on countries supporting Moscow's war, notably China, Belarus and Iran. Beijing in particular must "end all military or dual-use assistance it is giving to Russia," the statement read, adding that "a refusal to change course risks seriously affecting bilateral EU-China relations." SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Its a race against the clock as Thanksgiving shoppers made their final runs Thursday morning to make sure their dinner tables were set. As I was getting ready to go to our family dinner, I realized I forgot the gel cranberries. And so, I had to swing in and get a can of it, Malenda Hoelscher said. Malenda Hoelschers not the only one who made the quick trip to Sunshine Foods in downtown Sioux Falls that morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I need to bring green beans. Youve got to get green beans. You know, youve got to make green bean casserole, Lori Eckrich said. We got a meat and cheese tray and just needed the cheese, John Forsberg said. We forgot it. Something we should have got when we were out last. Workers dont seem to mind the extra holiday hustle and helping customers find some of those last-minute items. KELOLAND Thanksgiving Dish Bracket Challenge: Results Im mainly front end, like getting people checked out, if they have questions, finding things or where things may be, just directing people, just helping people out, Sunshine Foods worker John Yarman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For plenty of people, finding a grocery store open on a holiday is a relief. They help them get the last-minute items they forgot, or they might be shopping for the weekend, Forsberg said. Theres a lot of good sales on food, so theyre probably stocking up for the week and with all the visitors. The aisles may have been packed, but doors were wide open. Were just grateful for all these people to be here to just provide an option for people to come and get whatever they need, a last minute thing or whatever it may be, Yarman said. Sunshine Foods in Sioux Falls in located downtown on South 2nd Avenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. Labours plan to nationalise the railways has been thrown into chaos following the resignation of Louise Haigh as Transport Secretary. Industry sources warned that Ms Haighs departure could hold up crucial legislation and delay the launch of state-owned Great British Railways (GBR) to 2027. Ms Haigh resigned on Friday after it emerged she had pleaded guilty to misleading the police a decade ago. Her shock resignation comes as the Government seeks to push forward its plans to take Britains railways into state ownership. The DfT is understood to have been planning to publish a timeline for the nationalisation of train operating companies early next week after a bill paving the way for public ownership won royal assent on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Haighs exit threatens to stall this timeline and the publication of crucial draft proposals for GBR. Squabbling between competing factions within the Department for Transport (DfT) over the structure of GBR could also contribute to delays, sources said. Lord Hendy, the rail minister, has indicated that wants to launch a consultation on GBR before Christmas. Even before Ms Haigh quit the new body wasnt due to be operational before late 2026 because of the scale of the reforms, she warned earlier this month. Heidi Alexander, who was previously the minister for courts and legal services, has been appointed as Ms Haighs successor but may want more time to familiarise herself with the issues surrounding the nationalisation plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A train operator source said the bill will be a huge piece of legislation that cannot be rushed through. One source said Labours plans are also highly reliant on the cooperation of the rail unions. The departure of Ms Haigh, a former Corbynite, potentially makes it more difficult to keep the RMT and powerful drivers group Aslef on board. Ms Alexander, who served as deputy mayor of London for transport under Sadiq Khan, faces other knotty challenges under her new brief. She faces the challenge of deciding how to redevelop and fund the new 5bn London Euston station and whether to take HS2 north of Birmingham at a cost of tens of billions of pounds. The Prime Minister indicated that he would consider ordering a study into proposals for the route backed by Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester Mayor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Away from the railways, Ms Haigh last week held a crisis meeting with carmakers over the pace of the transition to electric vehicles. Other areas of contention include whether to build the Lower Thames Crossing, a decision that has been delayed three times; and how to cope with traffic congestion following the abandonment of the Stonehenge tunnel. Ms Haigh had made a point of describing herself as the railways passenger-in-chief rather than its fat controller, a distinction intended to convey a focus on improving customer service without undue interference. Richard Bowker, a former head of National Express, Virgin Trains and the Strategic Rail Authority, which oversaw the railway following privatisation, said he worried Ms Haighs resignation meant the focus on passengers would be lost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said: If you look at transport secretaries over the past 25 years, not many have shown a passion or understanding for the industry, and Louise Haigh was one of the few that did. She had energy and drive and understood the difference between policy and delivery and that the industry needed to be empowered, and for that reason was a breath of fresh air. Whether that would have been enough to make a success of nationalisation we will never know. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) A Raleigh County man was sentenced to prison for a federal gun crime. According to a press release, 27-year-old Justin L. Saunders, of Mabscott, was sentenced to seven years in prison, followed by three years of parole, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Raleigh County man pleads guilty to federal gun crime The press release stated that according to statements made in court, Saunders was arrested on a felony warrant by members of law enforcement in the Beckley area of Raleigh County on May 30, 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Law enforcement officers discovered that Saunders had a handgun in his possession at the time of his arrest. People with previous felony convictions are prevented from having a gun or ammunition in their possession by federal law. Two people arrested in connection to sexual abuse cold case in West Virginia Due to prior felony convictions for first-degree robbery and malicious wounding in Raleigh County Circuit Court on June 5, 2012, Saunders knew that he could not have a gun in his possession. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Will Thompson, who thanked the Raleigh County Sheriffs Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for their work on the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. Democrats are licking their wounds after Vice President Harriss defeat to President-elect Trump, but already are looking toward who might lead their party in a 2028 presidential contest. Its a fight that looks wide open. The certainty is that Trump himself will not be on the ballot, since the Constitution limits him to two terms. Vice President-elect JD Vance is the likely GOP front-runner as the partys next presidential nominee. Democrats could have a flood of potential candidates, and there are disagreements within the party over what to prioritize. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some Democrats say the party needs to start over, injecting itself with new blood for the next presidential contest. Others say Harris deserves another shot at the presidency, pointing to the 74 million votes cast for her earlier this month. Just like in 2016, were a little lost and rudderless, and not quite sure what we want going forward, one Democratic strategist acknowledged. What seems certain is a crowded field. Early names include everyone from Harris to Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia to Govs. Wes Moore of Maryland, Andy Beshear of Kentucky and Phil Murphy of New Jersey. Here are the top contenders: Kamala Harris Democrats have not been putting the blame on Harris for their defeat, at least for the most part. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is President Biden, who dropped out of the race in July and endorsed his vice president, who has received the lions share of criticism. Democrats say in many ways the race Harris inherited from Biden wasnt the one she would have run if shed been the candidate at the outset. In many ways, this was still Joe Bidens race. Even though she was the nominee in the end, she still had a number of constraints, including the fact that she couldnt maneuver to distance herself from him when she needed to, one ally to the vice president said. At the same time, Harris showed that she could run an impressive campaign even in the short time she was in the race, according those pining for another run. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vice presidents political instincts have also grown, and she now has the understanding and experience of someone who has run a $1 billion campaign. She also has name recognition; an Emerson poll out this week showed Harris leading other potential contenders in 2028. To be sure, there are a number of reasons to think Harris wont be the nominee and wouldnt emerge from a competitive primary. Gender could be a factor. The last two times Democrats nominated a woman to be their presidential standard-bearer, their candidate lost to Trump. There will be some Democrats who will want to go in a different direction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harris also led a billion-dollar campaign that lost. And her campaign was far from perfect. There are some Democrats who think it would be foolish to choose the same nominee in 2028 who lost in 2024. Harris, for her part, has also told allies she wants to keep her options open. If she doesnt run again for president, some say she could easily run for governor of California. Gavin Newsom Long before Biden dropped out of the race, Californias governor was positioning himself as a potential nominee in case the president decided not to run for reelection. In many ways, he became the bulwark for Democrats against Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout the Biden administration, Newsom took on Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), something that pleased Democrats who wanted a leader to punch the GOP in the face. He spoils for a fight, and right now, you have a party that wants a shot in the arm, a second Democratic strategist said. Newsom will be able to raise money, hes known across the country and he leads a populous Democratic state. Hes positioning himself as part of a Trump resistance, already calling for a special session of the California Legislature to safeguard California values and fundamental rights in the face of an incoming Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Can a California Democrat win a general election for president? It has yet to happen in U.S. history, and plenty of Democrats have their doubts. But Newsom certainly looks like a leading candidate in 2028. Gretchen Whitmer Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has long been seen as a strong potential presidential candidate. There are some Democrats who wish there had been a more open contest for the nomination this cycle, and who think Whitmer might have been a stronger general election candidate. In 2028, Whitmer will face questions about gender because of the defeats of Harris in 2024 and Hillary Clinton in 2016 against Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The next nominee is always a referendum on the last one, Democratic strategist Christy Setzer said. I think Harris ran a much better race than anyone couldve asked for, [but] the obvious takeaway is going to be that we shouldnt run a woman of color or a woman at all. Sucks, but I dont see people having a different analysis. Whitmers fans point out that the governor of Michigan is proof that a Democrat can not only win a competitive blue wall state but have a successful agenda. Whitmer was a top contender to be Bidens running mate in 2020, and since then her political star has risen. She has also continued to raise millions of dollars for her super PAC, Fight Like Hell PAC, according to federal campaign finance filings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She is the real deal, said one Democrat who has spoken to her in recent months. Josh Shapiro Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro emerged from the Democrats loss of the White House in a stronger position, even with Harris losing his state. He was widely seen as the second choice to be Harriss vice presidential candidate after Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and there will be questions going forward over whether he might have made the difference in the blue wall states. Well never know how that would play out, but he certainly got a lot of attention for it, one Democratic donor said. And I know a lot of us think he definitely has the chops to one day run for higher office. He has a certain gravitas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shapiro maintains solid approval ratings in his state as he grows his national profile. But polling shows he still has work to do in building his name ID. The Emerson poll out this week showed that only 3 percent of those surveyed said they would support him. Pete Buttigieg Since he ran for president in 2020, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has been someone Democrats have said could be the future of the party. While the 42-year-olds tenure as Bidens Transportation secretary hasnt always been smooth, Democrat after Democrat says he is without a doubt the partys best communicator since former President Obama. He is comfortable before a large crowd and also on Fox News, something appealing to Democrats who say the party needs to do more to win over working-class men who have flocked to Trump. For the time being, hes also polling ahead of most of the Democratic pack. JB Pritzker After Bidens disastrous debate performance in June, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker was one of the Democrats many thought might mount a bid for the nomination in an open primary at the convention, which was hosted in Chicago, right in the Illinois governors home state. An heir to the Hyatt Hotel chain, Pritzker could easily build his campaign coffers and quickly. He also has a string of legislative achievements that could be appealing to Democrats. He signed legislation that would raise the minimum wage to $15 in the state. He also signed several reproductive rights bills. Together with Gov. Jared Polis of Colorado, he helped form a coalition of Democratic governors called Governors Safeguarding Democracy. Democrats have also applauded the way he went after Trump the day after he was elected earlier this month. To anyone who intends to come, take away the freedom and opportunity and dignity of Illinoisans, I would remind you that a happy warrior is still a warrior, he said. You come for my people, you come through me. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez When Democrats talk about the future of the party, the 35-year-old New York congresswomans name always bubbles to the top. Democrats have long been impressed with Ocasio-Cortezs ability to cut through the BS and tell it like it is, the second Democratic strategist said. Shes somebody who can cut through the noise and doesnt talk like Washington. Democrats say Ocasio-Cortez would be a magnet for young voters and would have little trouble using social media, podcasts and other online tools, as she has been doing since she was elected to Congress in 2018. While Ocasio-Cortez was once aligned with progressives including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), she has since backed more centrist candidates. Still, some Democrats say she still represents a more leftist wing of the party to some voters, something that could hurt her if she pursues higher office. She and the squad started pushing too hard, too fast, the first strategist said. D.C. doesnt work that way. And our party doesnt work that way. We need to get back to the basics. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. It feels rather surreal so deep in the South Atlantic Ocean on the aft deck of Swan Hellenics ocean vessel, Diana, watching grey-headed albatrosses swoop and dive as I enjoy a coffee, that our voyage suddenly garnered international attention. Diana departed Cape Town back on November 13 to begin a long 20-day traverse to Antarctica for the beginning of the cruise season (November to March) down to the frozen continent. She was at near full capacity with her 177 guests hailing from all over the world. After five days at sea, we called by the remote Tristan da Cunha before carrying on towards South Georgia. It was four days further on that this new vessel completed in only 2023 developed a mechanical problem. I still recall the grinding clunk and juddering and hoped we hadnt hit a whale as the ship slowed. Later, the Norwegian captain, Svein Rune Strmnes, explained there was an issue with a bearing in the propeller shaft. The ship, for clarification, has two propellers. The ship halted mid-sea while an inspection was made before continuing on at half-speed to South Georgia. The guests were able to see Tristan da Cunha before their ship suffered a mechanical problem - Mark Stratton We spent a day and a half making landings to see wildlife on South Georgia. Everything felt normal despite us now running slightly more than 24 hours behind schedule. Next stop, Antarctica. Before departing however, a meeting was called, and Captain Strmnes announced the propeller issue could not be fixed, and we therefore could not risk sailing the two further days south required to reach Antarctica. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have sailed to Antarctica before from South Georgia across the Scotia Sea one of the wildest stretches of water on Earth and can well understand that attempting this crossing would have been dangerous with only one functioning propeller. There was, of course, great collective disappointment. Mine included. Antarctica is the dream of a lifetime for many travellers, and we were in touching distance. Nevertheless, most passengers were pragmatic, understanding that the cruise company had no choice but to prioritise the safety of its passengers. Thus, at a heavily reduced speed, fluctuating between 4-7knots, we began a slow limp back towards Ushuaia at the southern tip of Argentina, our final port-of-call to disembark. It would be a five-day voyage, which is now likely to be six as I write, with an estimated arrival date of December 1. After the bombshell announcement, compensation offers were announced by Swan Hellenic. They offered guests either a 50 per cent refund for this voyage, or 65 per cent off a future cruise. There was initially a lull in reaction perhaps because many were still in a sort of shock that this dream voyage could end so abruptly yet within 24 hours of the announcement, the mood changed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To date, some of the passengers I have spoken with have either accepted the offer or are dealing with the company or insurance brokers, or their tour-operator to try to negotiate better settlements. However, three days ago, some passengers took more strident stances. Three Russian guests began a hunger strike on Deck 4 outside the dining room. Swaddled in blankets, they bore placards calling for a 100 per cent refund of the voyage. At the same time, a letter was handed to the ships expedition leader from a group of Chinese guests calling for a 100 per cent refund, and also a free cruise. This was presented during a lively meeting where grievances were aired to the ships captain and expedition leader who is in charge of the day-to-day passenger operations. The meeting certainly became heated, with tensions boiling over for those who felt they were not being sufficiently refunded, despite having had two weeks at sea. An unexpected fault has prevented the Swan Hellenic cruise from reaching Antarctica - causing guests to protest - Mark Stratton But several days on, life is now relatively calm onboard, albeit with a frisson of lingering tension. This morning there was just one Russian female continuing the hunger strike, and a few of the Chinese guests are wearing cardboard placards pinned to their clothing reading 100 per cent refund now. Mostly, however, passengers are trying to enjoy the last few remaining days at sea. Some disquiet remains at how compensation negotiations have gone, but it is mixed with a realism that we could not have risked sailing down to Antarctica and breaking down there. Its a shame not to make it there, but you never know how things are going to turn out down here. Its all part of the adventure, two sanguine American ladies told me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Onboard, the expedition staff continue to entertain guests with natural history lectures, quizzes, a cookery demonstration, and birdwatching out on deck. A sense of suspended animation exists: slowly sailing back to Ushuaia dreaming of what might have been. Compensation negotiations are ongoing with the Swan Hellenic management, and I hope the last hunger striker ends her draconian action soon before she harms herself. For now, as I remain on the back deck penning this, the two magnificent albatrosses have been joined by a dozen of these freewheeling flyers and stormy seas have subsided to a moderate swell. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Syrian rebels have entered the countrys second city of Aleppo, after launching a dramatic surprise attack on the government-held areas of northern Aleppo province earlier this week. The development is significant: not only was Aleppo previously seen as very well defended, but it has also been four years since Syrian government forces lost significant swathes of territory. The insurgents had entered Aleppo as of this afternoon, local time. Meanwhile, the Associated Press said that residents reported hearing missiles striking the citys outskirts. Absolutely historic footage from #Aleppo tonight. Rebel forces reached the statue of Bashar's deceased brother Bassel al-Assad at the eastern edge of the New Aleppo district, taking down the regime flag.#Syria. pic.twitter.com/oacvTCwIZM Thomas van Linge (@ThomasVLinge) November 29, 2024 Right now, Syrian rebels are taking over the center of Aleppo. Assad's forces are retreating! pic.twitter.com/IEj7BUkILY MAKS 24 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) November 29, 2024 More than two million people are expected to be displaced from #Aleppo with the arrival of #HTS factions pic.twitter.com/hDbCmDXY6k MOHAMMAD HASAN (@MHJournalist) November 29, 2024 HISTORIC: Syrian rebels at Aleppo International Stadium. pic.twitter.com/770vGsE7Cz Clash Report (@clashreport) November 29, 2024 #Syria: footage of rebel forces, the final moments before they moved out and advanced into the city of #Aleppo. pic.twitter.com/Q3ghQqJKks Thomas van Linge (@ThomasVLinge) November 29, 2024 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Videos posted to social media today claim to show the first Syrian rebel forces entering Aleppo city. Ahead of that, there were multiple reports and further videos showing fierce fighting on the outskirts of the city. Reports suggest that the rebels entered the city from the southwest outskirts, with clashes with regime forces reported less than six miles from there earlier today, in an area straddling the Idlib and Aleppo provinces. Mohamed Bashir, the leader of the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is at the forefront of the rebel offensive, stated in a press conference today: This operation aims to repel the sources of fire of the criminal enemy from the frontlines. Mohamed Bashir, who heads HTS so-called Salvation Government, holds a press conference in the rebel-held northwestern Syrian city of Idlib on November 28, 2024. Photo by Omar HAJ KADOUR / AFP) OMAR HAJ KADOUR The Syrian state news agency said today that four civilians had been killed in the city itself after student accommodation was hit by projectiles launched by rebel forces. Earlier today, international media was reporting that the insurgents had succeeded in cutting off the key M5 highway between Aleppo and the Syrian capital, Damascus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joulani's drone industry is the silent star of this incursion. Absolutely shredding the backline of Assad conscripts. https://t.co/OMkkOTMASc Pawe Wojcik (@SaladinAlDronni) November 29, 2024 The highway has now been put out of service after it was reopened by regime forces years ago, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based monitor of the conflict, said. The rebels have also taken the junction of the M5 and M4 highways, which connects Damascus and Aleppo with Latakia, a regime stronghold on the coast. #Syria: rebel forces have seized the village of Tal Hadya as they continue to advance along and across the M5 highway in SW #Aleppo. pic.twitter.com/vU3QY2DZB6 Thomas van Linge (@ThomasVLinge) November 29, 2024 Earlier today, the observatory said that 182 people had been killed in the current offensive, of which 102 were HTS fighters, 19 from allied factions, and 61 from regime forces and allied groups. A significant number of the rebel fatalities were caused by Russian airstrikes. Russian fighter-bombers have been active from Khmeimim Air Base, near the city of Latakia, since 2015, providing vital support to the regime in Damascus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement #Syria: as rebels advance across western #Aleppo the #Assad regime is bombarding the town of Darat Izza, hitting women and children. Heroes of the @SyriaCivilDef rush to the site. Whenever the regime looses on the battlefield, it responds by killing innocent people. pic.twitter.com/UmcbkQ0EI8 Thomas van Linge (@ThomasVLinge) November 28, 2024 While the situation on the ground in the city is still confused, and we await confirmation of how far the rebels have advanced, theres no doubt that their latest offensive has achieved notable gains and quickly. The rebel offensive was only launched on Wednesday, apparently led by the HTS but also includes other allied factions, including Turkish-backed Syrian rebel groups. After HTS fighters flooded out of their base in the rebel-held Idlib countryside, the northwest of Syria was scene to some of the fiercest fighting seen in the country for several years. Already, rebels have taken dozens of towns and villages in the Aleppo countryside and have captured a military base, weapons, and tanks from Syrian government forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement #Syria: a rebel soldier shows some of the vehicles that were abandoned by the regime in the 46th Regiment base in western #Aleppo. At least two tanks and a BMP. pic.twitter.com/ZcNuQJoKSK Thomas van Linge (@ThomasVLinge) November 28, 2024 #Syria: in yet another major development, Syrian rebels seem to have captured a number of MANPADS surface-to-air missiles. This severely limits the regime's capabilities to retaliate from above. pic.twitter.com/yBnMGYNIzy Thomas van Linge (@ThomasVLinge) November 29, 2024 Russian equipment has also fallen into rebel hands, as evidenced in the videos below. Syrian rebels have captured a massive depot of Russian weapons, ammunition, and military equipment Meanwhile, government troops and officials loyal to Assad are fleeing Aleppo. The rebels are advancing so quickly that OSINT analysts can't keep up with updating maps. Remind pic.twitter.com/aw8zD8TaKD NEXTA (@nexta_tv) November 29, 2024 Russians and troops loyal to the Russian-backed Syrian dictator Assad continue to retreat in northern Syria as rebels push into Aleppo, Syria's second largest city. Here, rebels have seized a massive depot of Russian weapons, ammunition, and military equipment. The rebels are pic.twitter.com/mdGMmhq0KF KyivPost (@KyivPost) November 29, 2024 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, HTS claimed that it had captured four more towns including Mansoura, five miles from the center of Aleppo. Syrian government forces have meanwhile been hitting the rebels hard, as they try and blunt their advance. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), regime forces have carried out at least 125 airstrikes and shelled areas across the Idlib and western Aleppo provinces. In the process, at least 12 civilians have been killed and 46 injured, while 14,000 more have been displaced, the OCHA says. Syrian fighter reunites with his family after liberating his town from Assad, Russian, and Iranian forces near Aleppo. pic.twitter.com/fYc5P7160a Clash Report (@clashreport) November 29, 2024 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The background to the latest rebel offensive is the civil war that has raged in Syria ever since a popular uprising against the rule of leader Bashar Assad in 2011. Assads forces put down the original uprising with assistance from Russia and Iran. The arrival of Russian military forces in 2015, in particular, proved to be a turning point for Assad. After losing control of around four-fifths of the country, the Russian intervention helped swing the conflict back in favor of the regime. The Free Syrian Army has captured a Russian soldier who was operating FPV suicide drones. Russian criminals are everywhere. Glory to FSA pic.twitter.com/4HTYKXiEaQ Nedal Al-Amari (@nedalalamari) November 27, 2024 Back in 2016, there was more fierce fighting around Aleppo, but pro-Assad forces took back control of the city and they have held onto it until now. In more recent years, with backing from Moscow and Tehran, Assad has remained in power, while the intensity of the conflict has decreased. However, the level of control Assad has over the country is fragile in places, as the latest rebel offensive has demonstrated. Notably, as well as having control over much of the northwest Idlib area, HTS also has strongholds in smaller areas within the Aleppo, Hama, and Latakia provinces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Syrian rebel forces on their way to Saraqib, Idlib. pic.twitter.com/pfo0qGV1gx Clash Report (@clashreport) November 29, 2024 Smoke rises as a result of a Syrian regime airstrike targeting the town of Majdalya in the Idlib countryside, Syria, on November 28, 2024. Photo by Anas Alkharboutli/picture alliance via Getty Images picture alliance At the same time, more pressure has been applied on the Syrian regime by Israel, which has stepped up its campaign of airstrikes targeting Iranian proxy forces that operate in the country. This has put the Iranian forces on the defensive, meaning they can no longer contribute as much to shoring up Assads forces against the rebels. In addition, Tehran is currently more focused on the fate of Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Hamas in Gaza, as well as the prospect of further strikes on its own territory by Israel. HTS has specifically said it will target Iranian forces fighting alongside Syrian government troops. Yesterday, an Iranian news agency reported the death of a general in Irans Revolutionary Guards in Syria, during fighting between government forces and jihadists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As well as more than 100 Israeli airstrikes on Syrian territory, the war in the Middle East has forced around half a million people to flee the conflict in Lebanon for the relative safety of Syria. Assads other major backer, Russia, is meanwhile bogged down in the war in Ukraine, where it has redeployed forces including air defense units that were previously being used in support of the Syrian regime. Rebel fighters pose in front of a seized Syrian Army tank in the village of Talhiyah, located east of the northwestern Syrian city of Idlib after the area was taken over by jihadists and their Turkish-backed allies in the latest battles with government forces in the northern Syrian Aleppo province, on November 29, 2024. Photo by Omar HAJ KADOUR / AFP OMAR HAJ KADOUR This leaves Syria as something of a distraction for Russia and its notable that, in a statement from the Kremlin today, its spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, called upon Syrian authorities to quickly regain control and thwart the rebel attack, which he described as a violation of Syrias sovereignty. Russian interests in Syria include the aforementioned Khmeimim Air Base, as well as access to port facilities at Tartus. These two bases serve as the only Russian facilities of their kind in the Mediterranean, making them highly strategic but also symbolic prizes that Moscow gained in exchange for saving Assad. A Russian Su-30SM fighter-bomber before a mission from Khmeimim Air Base in Latakia province, in the northwest of Syria, on December 16, 2015. Photo by PAUL GYPTEAU/AFP via Getty Images PAUL GYPTEAU Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another major player is Turkey, which backs several rebel groups active along Syrias northern border. Recently, Turkey has made efforts to re-establish relations with Assad, but its unclear exactly how it will respond to this latest round of fighting. Already, some Turkey-backed factions have joined the new offensive. At this point, it appears that the Syrian rebels, including HTS, have identified a weakness in the Syrian regimes grip on the northwest of the country, compounded by Israels attacks on Iranian proxies in Syria, as well as Russias focus on Ukraine. Even against this backdrop, its surprising how fast the Syrian regime forces have apparently crumbled in the face of the latest rebel offensive. It remains to be seen whether Aleppo will fall but there are also major questions about the ability of Assads forces to respond in an effective way, especially without rapid backing from Russia and/or Iran. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com Syrian opposition forces have entered Aleppo just three days into their surprise offensive, marking the first time they have set foot in the countrys second-largest city since government forces recaptured the city in 2016. The rebels launched a surprise attack this week, sweeping eastward through several villages outside the city and reigniting a conflict that had been largely static for years. By Friday evening, opposition forces had reached the city center, according to footage verified by CNN, which showed camo-clad fighters waving the flag of the Syrian opposition in a central square. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The offensive, which began Wednesday, is the first major flare-up in years between the Syrian opposition and the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, who has ruled the war-torn country since 2000. The official Syrian military said it was confronting a major attack and claimed it is reinforcing all locations along the various battlefronts, but multiple residents of the city say regime forces have pulled back from several neighborhoods in the western part of Aleppo. On Friday, the newly formed armed opposition coalition , the Military Operations Command, said it seized control of the Syrian governments Military Scientific Research Center on the outskirts of Aleppo city after intense clashes with the regime forces and Iranian militias. It later shared a video of Syrian regime tanks leaving Aleppo as rebel forces advanced. The armed opposition forces continued to edge further into the city throughout Friday afternoon. In a video geolocated by CNN, fighters were seen by the statue of Bassel al-Assad, the deceased brother of President Assad, on the eastern edge of the citys New Aleppo district. One fighter was seen lowering a Syrian flag from its mast. A fluid situation The situation in Aleppo remained fluid as the day progressed, as armed opposition forces appeared to continue their rapid advance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two videos captured in the central Saadallah al-Jabiri Square show camo-clad fighters waving the flag of the Syrian opposition and yelling Allahu Akbarmeaning God is great in Arabicin the nearly deserted plaza. The armed rebels also appeared at Aleppos historic citadel, verified footage shows, nearly a mile (1.59km) to the southeast, verified footage shows. Pro-Syrian government social media channels have disputed the extent of the oppositions advance. Two videos posted on pro-government Telegram channels, purportedly show empty squares in northwest Aleppo, as men claim that there are no rebels in that part of the city. Syrian opposition fighters enter the village of Anjara, west of Aleppo, on Thursday. - Omar Albam/AP In an attack earlier Friday, an artillery shell struck Aleppo Universitys student housing, killing four people, according to Syrias state news agency, SANA, which blamed opposition factions for the attack. The spokesperson for the rebel groups Hassan Abdulghani refuted the accusations by the Syrian government media as baseless lies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An Aleppo University employee, speaking anonymously for security reasons, confirmed that an artillery shell hit the second floor of a dormitory with students inside at the time. A video circulating on social media, geolocated by CNN, shows young men running out of a dormitory in Aleppo University campus and carrying an injured individual. On Thursday, at least 15 civilians, including six children and two women, were killed, and 36 others were injured in airstrikes and shelling on rebel-held areas in Aleppo and Idlib countryside, according to the White Helmets, a volunteer rescue group. Iranian state media said that an Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Kioumars Pourhashemi was also killed in the city. In a call with his Syrian counterpart to discuss the escalation, Irans foreign minister Abbas Araghchi accused the United States and Israel of the reactivation of the rebels, and stressed the continued support of Iran to the Syrian government and army. The Syrian government responded with airstrikes on the city of Idlib, one of the last remaining rebel strongholds and home to more than 4 million people. The White Helmets said Russian-Syrian alliance aircraft had struck residential neighborhoods, a gas station and a school in Idlib city on Friday, killing at least four people and injuring six others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Videos geolocated by CNN showed damage at a gas station in Idlib. In one video, a man wearing a press jacket films himself as he runs through a burning gas station after an airstrike. He takes the hand of a screaming child, with blood running down his face. I want my dad, I want my dad. Hes burned, hes in the fire, the boy says, as he is led out of the gas station by the journalist. The Russian air force on Friday launched an aerial offensive against Syrian armed opposition forces in Aleppo and Idlib provinces, according to Russian state media TASS. Russia claimed to have killed at least 200 members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a Syrian jihadist group that went by the name Al-Nusra Front when they were affiliated with Al Qaeda. Providing support to the Syrian Arab Army, the Russian Aerospace Forces are carrying out missile and bomb strikes on the equipment and manpower of illegal armed groups, command posts, warehouses, and artillery positions of terrorists, TASS reported, adding that Russian operations continue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier on Friday, the Kremlins spokesman Dmitry Peskov called on the Syrian authorities to quickly restore order in this area and restore constitutional order. Both Iran and Russia are key allies to Syria. Syrias civil war began during the 2011 Arab Spring as the regime suppressed a pro-democracy uprising against Assad. The country plunged into a full-scale civil war as a rebel force was formed, known as the Free Syrian Army, to combat government troops. The conflict swelled as other regional actors and world powers from Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United States to Russia piled in, escalating the civil war into what some observers described as a proxy war. ISIS was also able to gain a foothold in the country before suffering significant blows. Since the 2020 ceasefire agreement, the conflict has remained largely dormant, with low-level clashes between the rebels and Assads regime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 300,000 civilians have been killed in more than a decade of war, according to the United Nations, and millions of people have been displaced across the region. This is a developing story and will be updated. CNNs Kareem Khadder, Caitlin Danaher, and Abeer Salman contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com "The Chinese market will continue to be very attractive for German companies. The investment stock is already very impressive. We definitely see more potential," said a German industry leader attending the China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing. Rebel fighters continued their advances for the third day on Friday towards Syrian government force posts and areas in the north-western part of the country, forcing 14,000 people to leave their homes, activists and the UN said. According to rebel sources and activists, violent clashes are currently taking place between opposition rebels and forces loyal to the Syrian government near the Scientific Research Centre located on the western outskirts of the city of Aleppo. Activists in Idlib told dpa the fighting was also very intense on Friday around the town of Saraqeb in the eastern countryside of Idlib. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is a key town because if they [the rebels] control it, they can control the Aleppo-Damascus highway," activists said. Syrian state media and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that at least four students were killed and two others were wounded when rebels shelled a place housing university students in Aleppo city, a claim denied by rebel forces. Students in Aleppo University were asked to leave the campus, and people inside the city of Aleppo were confined to their homes out of fear that rebel fighters would shell Aleppo city. According to Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, several neighbourhoods close to the areas of clashes, such as New Aleppo, al-Furqan, al-Hamdaniyeh witnessed a massive exodus as shells fell on their outskirts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One resident of New Aleppo told dpa people were very scared. "I am packing my things and family and leaving towards Damascus," he said, requesting anonymity. A military commander of a pro-Syrian militia loyal to the government in the city of Aleppo, Abu Mahmoud Omar, told dpa, "The coming hours will be decisive for the battles after the arrival of large military reinforcements from the Syrian army and allied forces to Aleppo." Rebels said that their advancement came amid a complete collapse of the Syrian government forces, the seizure of dozens of tanks and military vehicles, as well as the killing and capturing of dozens of government forces." Rebel sources and activists in Idlib said their forces entered the al-Rashideen neighbourhood and the Scientific Research Centre, located at the western and southern entrances to the city of Aleppo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Syrian army, backed by their Russian allies, has retaliated by carrying out more than 100 heavy airstrikes on rebel positions in Idlib and the Aleppo area since Wednesday morning. The observatory said the death toll has risen 255, among them some 24 civilians, within 48 hours. Opposition factions announced the offensive on Wednesday under the moniker Deterrence of Aggression, and claimed it was a response to recent artillery shelling from government forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad on civilian targets. The situation is deteriorating, particularly affecting the civilian population, warned David Carden, deputy regional UN coordinator for humanitarian aid in Syria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 14,000 people have now been displaced over the past three days, Carden said. I am alarmed by the deteriorating situation in north-west Syria and the impacts on the lives of civilians," he told dpa, adding, "We are getting reports of children with multiple shrapnel wounds from the attacks." This is the heaviest fighting in years between Islamist rebels and Syrian government troops in north-western Syria. This is considered the largest attack by rebel fighters on Aleppo since 2016 when they were ousted from the eastern areas of the city. The 2016 battle for Aleppo was considered one of the worst in the civil war in Syria, which has been going on since 2011. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President al-Assad, with the help of his allies Russia and Iran, has managed to regain control of two-thirds of the country again from rebels in the past years. Idlib is the last rebel stronghold in war-torn Syria. A reclusive member of the wealthy Rothschild family was killed on Wednesday in a fire that devastated his Hollywood Hills home. The Los Angeles Police Department responded to the fire Wednesday afternoon, with 45 firefighters extinguishing the blaze in about 33 minutes, according to the Los Angeles Times. Officials found a dead body in the home, and it was later identified as Will Rothschild, according to KABC. It was unclear what caused the fire, and the L.A. County Medical Examiner has not yet determined a cause of death. But the news of Rothschilds death came as a shock to neighbors in the affluent community, as some told KABC he lived a rather reclusive life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is very sad, neighbor Jim Moore told the station. He was a good guy. A good neighbor. Another neighbor told the Times Rothschild was a friendly neighbor, one who was proud of his Yale degree and doted on his Afghan hound. The guy was attached to his dog, Dana Gladstone told the Times. I knew him as Will. Still, Rothschild flaunted some of his wealth, according to KABC. Neighbors said he owned various properties and dozens of high-priced vintage cars. The Rothschild family made its fortune in the 18th and 19th centuries through banking in Europe, and it was once considered to possess the greatest private fortune in the world. Its modern interests span across finance, politics, real estate, and energy. The Enquirer and United Way of Greater Cincinnati have joined forces for the 38th year to help families in need with the Wish List program. After wishes are granted, remaining funds assist people with similar needs throughout the year. This is the second of eight stories. Brittany Berry, whose goals include becoming a special education intervention specialist, reads with her children, from left, De'Andre, Sunshine and Ryan. Brittany Berry knows her actions and words have a profound impact on her daughter and two sons. Im a role model for my children, the 34-year-old single parent said, especially when it comes to achieving goals, being resilient, being comfortable with who we are and our abilities, and finding strength in that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are too young to fully understand now, but someday Ryan, 8, DeAndre, 6, and Sunshine, 2, may come to appreciate their mothers determination and resilience as she sought a brighter future for their family. This fall, Brittany earned an associate degree in early childhood education from Cincinnati State, where she was on the deans list five straight semesters. In January shell begin pursuing a bachelors degree in in the same major at Mount St. Joseph University. Her goal is to become a special education intervention specialist. Theres a lack of special education teachers, a lack of Black special education teachers. I want to support families, because I have children and I understand the struggles. I understand the need to provide resources. One of her sons has high-functioning autism. The other has ADHD. Both have sensory processing disorder. Brittany Berry holds her daughter, Sunshine, with sons De'Andre and Ryan in the background. Since August 2023, the family has lived in Covington at Lincoln-Grant Scholar House, which provides affordable housing, academic support and other services for single parents who are full-time college students. Its operated by the Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission, a United Way partner that nominated Brittany for the Wish List. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brittany is gaining experience as a teachers assistant at an early education center in Covington. She also assists at Cherished Hearts Family Support Services, where she leads discussions about postpartum depression. Brittany experienced the disorder after the birth of Sunshine. At Lincoln-Grant, its not uncommon for other residents to come to Brittany for advice. I help them figure out how to navigate college, how to navigate community resources. When I was at my lowest, I was grateful for individuals who did that for me, so Im all about trying to do that for the next person. Her low point came a few years before she arrived at Lincoln-Grant. She left an unhealthy relationship, learned she was pregnant, experienced long COVID and was unable to work. Everything crashed down, she said. She and her children temporarily stayed with family members until they moved into Lincoln-Grant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, her biggest challenge, she said, is transportation. Riding a bus to her boys therapy appointments takes an hour and a half. Theyve had to resort to ride-hailing companies, an expense that can be as much as $700 a month. Thats forced her to cut back on the boys therapy. Then theres the issue of traveling with children with developmental disabilities. Some drivers understand when the boys become overstimulated and upset, but others have refused to accept their ride, resulting in missed appointments. A car also would allow her to avoid the expense of having groceries delivered. And, she would be able to take her children on outings. Like any parent, I just want to sustain a life for my children and give them the best. Brittany has saved money for a car but doesnt yet have enough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brittany's wish: A safe, reliable vehicle. Estimated cost: $5,000 (to be combined with funds she has saved). How to help Donations can be made online at www.uwgc.org/wishlist. You can also mail donations to: United Way of Greater Cincinnati, Attn: Wish List Pledge Processing, P.O. Box 632840, Cincinnati, OH 45263-2840. Please include Wish List in the memo line on checks. John Johnston is the content writer at United Way and a former Enquirer reporter. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Wish List: Transportation is mom of 3's biggest challenge Nov. 29The set of human remains and other artifacts had been cataloged in the collection at Yale University's Peabody Museum for decades. So, why did it take so long for those items to be linked to and offered back to Wabanaki tribes in Maine? Betsy Richards, executive director of the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor, whose collection focuses on Wabanaki art and artifacts, said the answer is complex. "It's important to remember that this is super emotional work, and it's happening continuously. I just think a lot of people don't know about it," she said. "But when we think about the law, there is the letter of the law and the spirit. And I think the focus on getting things home and leaving decisions to the nations themselves, that hasn't always happened." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Native American Graves Repatriation Act, which passed in 1990, sets out a process for museums and other institutions to review their collections for any human remains found on tribal lands or associated funerary objects placed with or near remains as part of Native American death rites or ceremonies. If any of those items can be linked to specific tribes or nations that are still active, they are then offered for repatriation. This month, Yale filed a required public notice that it had linked one set of remains, found in Deer Isle between 1948 and 1952 and donated to the museum in 1969, to one of the four federally recognized tribes in Maine: the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Mi'kmaq Nation, Penobscot Nation and the Passamaquoddy Tribe. Eight funerary items found at several sites also were linked to Wabanaki tribes. A spokesman for the Yale museum declined to share details of how staff there worked to connect the items. "We defer to a confidential process that respects tribal privacy," Steve Scarpa said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similarly, Wabanaki Nations officials here either declined to discuss the effort to repatriate the items or did not respond to media inquiries. According to the federal notice, once a formal request for repatriation is made, the remains and objects could be returned as soon as Dec. 12. The recent example suggests that the process and collaboration between cultural institutions and tribal nations is smooth, but in the 34 years since that law has been in place, that hasn't always been the case. Ryan Lolar, a lawyer with Drummond Woodsum in Portland who has worked with the Wabanaki Intertribal Repatriation Committee on repatriation of ancestors and funerary objects, said one of the challenges has been the staggering amount of time it can take for museums to do the work. Some, though, have been resistant to letting items in their collection go, even if they have a sacred or ancestral connection to Indigenous tribes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think it's improving, and many of the larger museums at places like Yale and Harvard are making the effort now," said Lolar, whose ancestors were members of both the Penobscot Nation and from Tobique First Nation (in New Brunswick, Canada). "One of the reasons there have been delays is because there just isn't a strong enforcement mechanism built into the law." The Department of the Interior, which monitors compliance with federal law, does not conduct any inspections and investigates only when individuals or groups report that an institution has not complied. And even if a museum is found in noncompliance, it results only in a small fine. Lolar was involved in a complex case recently involving remains held by Harvard Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. The Wabanaki committee made a request to repatriate those remains, only to be told they didn't have enough evidence to demonstrate ancestral or cultural lineage. Tribal officials were devastated but continued to make their case and, eventually, it paid off. "That was a good example of a primary reason it can go wrong," Lolar said. "A museum could in theory have incentive to say there is no affiliation." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An investigation last year by ProPublica, which featured that case, found that many museums used their power and resources to delay returning remains and objects or to reject claims, while still technically complying with federal law. Although the Native American Graves Repatriation Act is meant to give Indigenous people the final say over ancestral remains, those decisions were instead being made by institutions. "As more people are educated about this, I think it puts more pressure on museums," Lolar said. "I don't think it's a coincidence that some larger social justice narratives have coincided with this." Added the Abbe Museum's Richards: "I'm a great believer that laws have teeth when public sentiment is with them, and I think public sentiment has changed," she said. "So, yes, it is a lot of work, but it's the right work." The selection of Deb Haaland as secretary of the Department of Interior, the first-ever Native American appointed to a cabinet position, likely played a role in bringing increased awareness. New rules approved last year also set a more specific deadline. Museums now have five years to consult with tribes and determine cultural affiliation for the Native remains in their collections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That means this likely won't be the last time remains or objects are repatriated to Wabanaki Nations tribes. As of last year, Yale had repatriated the remains of about 500 Native people. About 600 sets of remains are still in the museum. "I can express my deep personal hope when there comes a time when there is nothing left to repatriate but, given the backlog, this will be ongoing for a while," Lolar said. Any museum or institution in Maine that receives federal funds is governed by the Native American Graves Repatriation Act as well. In 2023, for instance, the Maine State Museum in Augusta conducted an inventory under the act of its human remains and associated funerary objects. It was determined that there was no cultural affiliation between them and any nation. And this month, just two weeks after Yale's museum filed its public notice, the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology linked an adult female cranium in its collection to one of the Wabanaki tribes in Maine. Those remains had been removed from a cemetery near the Androscoggin River prior to the Civil War and were initially held by Bowdoin College. Repatriation of those remains to affiliated tribes or lineal descendants could happen by early next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Richards is glad to see the process simplified and the tribes respected in the latest efforts at repatriation. And she hopes it helps bring more public awareness. Imagine, she said, if one of your own great-grandparent's remains were held in a museum rather than a cemetery somewhere. Susan Kaplan, professor of anthropology at Bowdoin College and director of the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum and Arctic Studies Center on campus, said her museum has not repatriated any remains or items during her time there. But she's familiar with the federal law and agreed that many museums have not moved as quickly on repatriating, although that has started to shift. That shift, she said, also has helped to forge relationships between institutions and tribes that might not have existed prior. For too long, Kaplan said, many museums defended their claims to remains and other items under the guise of "scientific curiosity." "But they were doing it in a very insensitive and arrogant way," she said. "That's not an acceptable attitude anymore." Copy the Story Link The remains of a World War II airman were identified 80 years after his plane was shot down during a bombing mission in Germany, military officials said this week. In the spring of 1944, U.S. Army Air Force Tech. Sgt. Sanford G. Roy, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, was assigned to the 732nd Bombardment Squadron in the European Theater, according to a news release from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. Roy and several other airmen were aboard the B-24H Liberator "Little Joe" on a bombing mission to Brunswick, Germany on April 8. The plane was shot down by German forces and other airmen flying near the aircraft did not report seeing any crew members exiting "Little Joe" before it crashed. His name was engraved on the Walls of the Missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery. Though military members saw the incident, the crash site could not be located during the war. The remains of Roy and eight other crew members were listed as unaccounted for after the war. In 1946, the American Graves Registration Command began investigating bomber losses like the one that Roy died in in the region. Those efforts still failed to find any crash or burial sites associated with the crew of Little Joe. The crew of Little Joe, with Sanford G. Roy circled in red. / Credit: Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency An independent research group finally shed new insight into the crash in 2015. The Missing Allied Air Crew Research Team contacted historians from the DPAA to inform them of a possible crash site near Wistedt, Germany. The DPAA conducted interviews with local residents, which led to the realization that there had been two crash sites, but only one had been examined and had remains recovered from it during the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DPAA investigators found the second crash site and recovered various pieces of wreckage and possible human remains. Those remains were transferred to the DPAA's laboratory, but no identifications could be made. Between 2021 and 2023, the agency conducted more research at the crash site, including excavation and recovery of more remains. By the end of November 2023, all evidence from the crash site had been transferred to the DPAA laboratory. Sanford G. Roy. / Credit: Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency Scientists used anthropological and dental analysis, as well as DNA analysis, to identify the remains. One set of remains from the crash site were identified as those of Staff Sergeant Ralph L. Mourer. Another set of remains was identified as Roy's. Roy's surviving family has been informed of his identification. He will be buried in his hometown on April 8, 2025, the 81st anniversary of his loss. A rosette has been carved next to his name on the Walls of the Missing to indicate that he has been identified. Former Navy secretary says Trump's Defense Secretary pick will make the military "weaker" Assessing Trump's Cabinet picks, what to anticipate for his 2nd term Black Friday or Cyber Monday? Tips for when to find the best deals during holiday shopping season Utahs federal delegation is laying the groundwork ahead of the next congressional session in January, and that means new committee assignments, a few new colleagues and a need to start off on the same page. Rep. Celeste Maloy is learning a lot through the process, she shared during her appearance on PBS Utahs The Hinckley Report. Maloy, who worked for former Rep. Chris Stewarts office, won the special election for the 2nd District in 2022, and was elected to her first full term earlier this month. Maloy navigates new committee roles Currently, Maloy is on the House committees for Transportation and Infrastructure, and Small Business, but she wouldnt say what panels shes vying for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those were committees that had openings when I got there in the middle of the Congress. I am working on getting onto committees that I think are really important for Utahs priorities, the Utah congresswoman said. But I dont want to jinx anything. Ive never done this before, but I know the steering committee makes all of those assignments, she said. The congresswoman explained that Utahs congressional lawmakers are well-positioned, and have sway over this influential panel. A regional representative from different parts of the country is elected to this assignment panel. Our region is Arizona, Utah, Nevada and Oregon. Arizona has six votes, and then the other three states combined have six votes, and yet, Burgess Owens managed to get elected to be our regional rep on the steering committee, which is great news for Utah, Maloy said. Rep. Blake Moore, the vice chair of the Republican Conference who represents Utahs 1st District, also has a vote on the committee since he is in leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We say all the time at the federal level that Utah punches above its weight, but we really are positioning ourselves to punch well above our weight, she said. Utah delegation prepares for new congressional session Former Rep. Ben McAdams, a Democrat who represented Utahs 4th Congressional District, said the steering committee will go through some changes to establish a Republican majority. Members consider several factors when lobbying for an assignment, like their skills, background, and, most importantly, issues that are important to the state they represent. He noted that Utah always wants to have somebody on natural resources because so much of our land is controlled by the federal government. For the upcoming congressional cycle, Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee announced he will be the next chairman of the Senate Energy and National Resources Committee. McAdams, who was on the science committee so he could advocate for the University of Utah, a tier 1 research center, said the Education Committee is another priority for the Beehive State, and Owens, who represents the 4th District, is jockeying to be the chair of that panel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maloy added that Utahs state and federal elected officials were well coordinated on education policy. The state legislature passed bills that ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs in universities last year. To solidify this policy win, Owens introduced a bill in Congress that would prohibit college accreditors from requiring college professors to include topics like diversity, equity and inclusion, and critical race theory. If the states telling universities you cant do this, the federal governments telling them you have to, it puts universities in a bind where they dont know how to follow the law, Maloy said. But with a well-coordinated state and federal government, we can have policies that make sense, so people know when theyre following the law, she added. What Mike Kennedy is hoping to accomplish Rep.-elect Mike Kennedy brings his experience and connections from his time as a state senator to his role in Congress. He met with Maloy, Moore, Owens, Kennedy, Sen.-elect John Curtis, and Sen. Mike Lee in recent weeks to talk about whats next. Alongside a picture of the meeting he released on X, Kennedy, who will represent Utahs 3rd District, wrote he is committed to collaborating with the team and promised to uphold the principles of limited government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the next Congress, we have a lot to accomplish: from making the Trump tax cuts permanent and making life more affordable for families to securing our border and restoring common sense in Washington, he wrote. Utah punches above its weight in Washington when our delegation works together for Utah families. Im committed to collaborating with our team while upholding the limited government principles that have made Utah and America great. In the next Congress, we have a lot to pic.twitter.com/ZDc0b6m3w4 Dr. Mike Kennedy (@KennedyForUtah) November 19, 2024 Maloy said she thinks its really going to be helpful to have him be part of the federal delegation. The goal is to work with each other effectively, whether its on issues related to public lands or education. Republicans are going to have a lot of influence in Washington, D.C., for the next two years, the GOP congresswoman said. Utah is a very red state, and sometimes when Republicans have a lot of these things lined up, we start fighting with each other, and weve got to be really careful not to do that. Nov. 29OKLAHOMA CITY During the 21st Annual National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses Sportsman-Legislator Summit held in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Rep. Nick Archer, R-Elk City, was elected to serve a full, two-year term as a member of the NASC Executive Council. Established in 2004 by the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, NASC provides the synergy to protect and advance hunting, angling, recreational shooting, trapping, and professional fish and wildlife management in state capitols. With more than 2,000 legislators who are members of state legislative sportsmen's caucuses from all 50 states, this unprecedented network of pro-sportsmen legislators provides the nexus and support among the state caucuses that is critical to the successful advancement of pro-sportsmen policies across the nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Working with staff at the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, the EC assists with the establishment and promotion of pro-sportsmen ideas, and facilitates the sharing of information between state caucuses, conservation partners and allied industries. "Hunting, fishing and outdoor traditions have been a cornerstone of my life, instilling values of sportsmanship and respect for nature. In Oklahoma, these activities are more than pastimes they are a way of life that unites us and preserves our state's rich heritage," Archer said. The EC plays a critical role in the protection and advancement of hunting and angling rights and the continuation of our sportsmen's heritage by establishing the activities of NASC, assisting with policy development, setting guidelines for affiliated state caucuses, as well as media outreach intended to highlight the role hunting, angling, recreational shooting and trapping play in supporting conservation policies that also benefit our nation's social and economic well-being. "I would be remiss if I did not thank my friend and former legislator, Kevin Wallace. Kevin opened the door for me to this incredible opportunity. I am humbled to carry the torch for Oklahoma and the central United States," said Archer. The number of people dying due to toxic air from dirty fuels has dropped significantly in recent years, largely in part to the closure of coal plants. The Times summarized a new report by the Lancet medical journal, which found that the number of people killed by air pollution caused by the burning of coal, natural gas, and oil fell by almost 7% between 2016 and 2021. However, the rest of the findings were not as hopeful the number of global deaths related to an overheating planet has risen in 10 out of 15 areas considered by the report. For instance, in 2023, heat-related deaths among people over 65 were 167% higher worldwide than in the 1990s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "With an aging population in many countries in the world, this is going to be a larger problem," Ollie Jay, professor of heat and health at the University of Sydney, told the Times. The report also called out a rise in mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue, which increased tenfold from 2000 to 2023. "In 2023 alone, people faced an average of 50 additional days of health-threatening temperatures than expected without climate change, and nearly half the world experienced severe drought, associated with heightened food insecurity for 151 million more people compared to previous decades," the World Health Organization stated in response to the report. While the evidence is piling up that warming global temperatures are bad for human health, the air pollution statistics offer a ray of hope. Plus, as the Times pointed out, renewable energies are now getting more funding than dirty fuels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, continued investment in coal, oil, and gas is putting the world on course for 2.4 degrees Celsius (4.3 degrees Fahrenheit) of warming by the end of the century, the publication added. That's why it's more important than ever for communities to adopt renewable energy solutions, which can help reduce planet-warming and health-harming pollution while generating affordable and reliable power. Do you worry about air pollution in your town? Click your choice to see results and speak your mind For instance, towns in rural Virginia are adding over one million new jobs to the economy by swapping out coal for solar. Meanwhile, Tokyo is requiring most new buildings to have solar panels. You can get on board with the green energy revolution by enrolling in community solar where you live. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Jim Carlson, with the Minnehaha County Historical Society, repaints a historical marker at Falls Park in Sioux Falls on Sept. 23, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) SIOUX FALLS Jim A. Carlson steadies his hand as he balances on a ladder in Falls Park, concentrating as he paints the raised lettering on a cast aluminum historical marker. The marker explains how the region earned its Siouxland nickname from 20th century author Frederick Manfred. After the marker was erected in 2000, it became discolored and faded within a decade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carlson, whos 84, has volunteered hundreds of hours over the past two summers to refurbish historical markers throughout the Sioux Falls area. So far, hes touched up 65. It takes about seven hours to repaint both sides of one sign, he estimates. He cleans and preps it, repaints the base, paints the raised lettering with shimmering gold, and sprays a protectant over the work. Carlson wipes his hands on a handkerchief when hes done, though the green and gold has largely dried on his fingertips and nails by then. He loads his ladder, supplies and $12 worth of paint into his red 1998 Ford Ranger pickup and drives to the next sign. Hundreds of markers statewide Since 1950, the South Dakota State Historical Society has worked with local sponsors to post over 700 signs memorializing historic events, places and people across the state. Hundreds more have been erected by local organizations. The signs are a draw for tourists curious about South Dakotas past and an access point to educate residents about state history. Jim Carlson, with the Minnehaha County Historical Society, repaints a historical marker at Falls Park in Sioux Falls on Sept. 23, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) But South Dakotas harsh winters and blazing summer sun take a toll on the markers, fading and discoloring the signs to the point of illegibility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state does not provide funding for the markers. Local organizations such as the Minnehaha County Historical Society pay for the maintenance, and some rely on volunteers including Carlson to do the work. That can be a difficult task for some local groups. It can cost between $1,300 and $1,700 to have a sign professionally refurbished. In Vermillion, a resident noticed a historical marker in poor shape. He called several organizations to find out how to refurbish it. He eventually learned that the local Rotary Club was the original sponsor and is responsible for maintaining it. But the club said it cant spare the money to refurbish it, so the resident is paying for part of the effort out-of-pocket with a contribution from the club. The Clay County Historic Preservation Commission will consider paying the rest of the money at its December meeting, said Tim Schreiner, commission chair. State role discussed The state could play a larger role in communicating with local governments and organizations when a sign is in need of refurbishment, Schreiner said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tony Venhuizen, a legislator from Sioux Falls and president of the South Dakota Historical Society Foundation, has helped place several gubernatorial history signs in South Dakota. The foundation is the fundraising arm of the historical society. Venhuizen said the volunteers who maintain historical markers are doing a great service. Jim Carlson, with the Minnehaha County Historical Society, repaints a historical marker at Falls Park in Sioux Falls on Sept. 23, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) As a history enthusiast myself, I appreciate the people who value this and put their time and effort into it, he said. The foundation is fundraising $4 million to refurbish the state history museum at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre. Once thats completed, Venhuizen said, a fund to help local organizations maintain or refurbish historical signs would be a great idea to consider at some point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You dont know where youre going unless you know where youve been, Venhuizen said. The neat thing about the markers is you can be in a South Dakota town big or small, you can be driving along a road in the middle of nowhere, and theres history everywhere. In some areas, awareness of local responsibility for the signs has faded. Richard Rubel, vice chairman of the Gregory County Historical Society, said he didnt know local organizations such as his were responsible for maintaining the markers. Why it matters Carlson estimates hes saved the Minnehaha County Historical Society about $50,000 by refurbishing the signs himself. He finished his last sign at Falls Park in October. He plans to pick up his work again next spring in downtown Sioux Falls hopefully with some more volunteers. Jim Carlson, with the Minnehaha County Historical Society, repaints a historical marker at Falls Park in Sioux Falls on Sept. 23, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Last summer, curious park visitors stopped and watched him as he worked on the signs. Tourists from places as far flung as Asia asked him what he was doing, while others asked about the importance of the history explained on the signs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I hope they took more time to read those signs, Carlson said, and appreciate our history. Schreiner said the signs are an opportunity to learn South Dakota history thats not always taught in schools or widely known in the state. In terms of inspiring somebody or teaching your kids, Schreiner said, those quirky little things that inform your sense of where you live are golden. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX by Xinhua writer Li Hanlin BERLIN/BEIJING, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Stefan Hartung recently inaugurated the third-phase facility of Bosch's joint venture, United Automotive Electronic Systems Co., Ltd., in Taicang, Jiangsu Province. The new plant will begin mass production of second-generation electric bridges next year. These critical components for electric drive systems will be supplied to vehicle manufacturers located just a few kilometers away. This close-knit collaboration reflects the advantages of China's integrated industrial ecosystem. For Hartung, chairman of the board of management of Bosch Group, China offers an ideal solution to supply chain challenges, and Bosch Group is now participating in the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) that is underway in Beijing from Tuesday to Saturday. "WIN-WIN CHAINS" The second CISCE has attracted more than 600 exhibitors from nearly 70 countries, including some Fortune Global 500 companies. International participants account for 32 percent of the total, up from 26 percent at the first event, with European and American firms comprising half of the international presence. The event emphasizes the concept of "chain," not only showcasing new technologies, products, and services but also highlighting the close collaboration and deep integration of key upstream and downstream elements across various industries. This year's event underlines long-term partnerships along supply chains. Joint exhibition booths showing upstream and downstream collaboration are a standout feature of the expo, said Zhang Shaogang, vice chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. By fostering global connections, the CISCE provides a stage for international cooperation, enabling enterprises worldwide to co-create value and transform supply chains into genuine "win-win chains." Under the theme of "Connecting the World for a Shared Future," the CISCE highlights supply chains as a bridge for global cooperation and integration. IN CHINA, FOR CHINA AND WORLD "In the past, parts were often imported from Europe. Now, numerous European companies are moving their supply chains to China, creating models of 'in China, for China' and 'in China, for the world,'" Schumann said. Michael Schumann, chairman of the Board of the German Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade, noted that many European companies are localizing their production in China to enhance efficiency. Bosch's Taicang facility is located along Nanjing Road, home to a robust automotive supply chain. About 70 percent of automotive components can be sourced locally in Taicang due to its well-developed ecosystem, according to Yin Wei, deputy director of Taicang's Bureau of Industry and Information Technology. Yin said Taicang's strategic location and comprehensive infrastructure have attracted over 700 automotive-related enterprises, including more than 200 foreign-funded firms. These factors have fostered a cohesive industrial cluster that supports local and multinational businesses alike. Tesla has also benefited from China's efficient supply chain. Gang Song, Tesla's vice president of manufacturing, noted that Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory produces a vehicle every 40 seconds, a feat made possible by close collaboration with Chinese suppliers. For many multinational corporations, this efficient supply chain is at the heart of the "Made in China" competitive edge and remains a key factor driving their continued investment and expansion in the Chinese market. PLATFORM FOR SUSTAINABILITY Modern industrial products often rely on complex supply chains involving multiple upstream and downstream enterprises. The stability and efficiency of these chains are critical for success in today's industries. As a leading manufacturing powerhouse, China is one of the world's most critical markets, boasting a robust and comprehensive supply chain system. Nearly all products can be sourced with high efficiency and low costs through China's extensive supplier network. The robust ecosystem boosts foreign companies' confidence to deepen their presence in China, said Andreas Schmitz, president of the Dusseldorf Chamber of Industry and Commerce, who praised China's supply chain system for its flexibility and resilience. This globally integrated, end-to-end supply chain advantage has been a key factor in elevating China's new energy vehicle industry to a leading position in the global market. The CISCE is an essential platform for advancing innovation and sustainability, particularly in the automotive industry, which is undergoing a significant transformation, said Xu Daquan, president of Bosch China. (NewsNation) Its a busy travel week, as airports and major highways are packed with people getting to and from their Thanksgiving destinations. The weather could affect some peoples plans, with heavy rain and wet snow expected in the northeast part of the country, including Boston. New York City is getting rainfall, while snow is predicted in Buffalo and parts of Vermont. Lake effect snow is expected in the Lake Ontario region and a blast of arctic air could impact travel in other places. Travelers who spoke to NewsNation on Thursday said the Transportation Security Administration seemed prepared for the number of passengers coming their way. Faye Nichols said she is happy to be out of the hospital after being there since Feb. 25. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Covenant House brightens Thanksgiving for homeless youth I have a lot to be thankful for, Nichols said. There were more than 1,300 total delays into or out of the United States as of Thursday afternoon, according to FlightAware, and 53 cancellations. Forecasters are keeping an eye out for potential problems when people return from their trips, both because of weather and the number of people trying to get back. States expected to get snow during Thanksgiving are Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, the National Weather Service said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 3 million passengers are anticipated to be screened by the agency. The TSA is projecting record numbers of people flying through the airports on Sunday after Thanksgiving. said Aixa Diaz, a spokesperson for AAA. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Rheinmetall has taken the next step towards building a new plant to manufacture 155-millimetre artillery shells in Lithuania. The German arms company and the government of the Baltic EU and NATO country signed a lease agreement on Friday for a 340-hectare state-owned property in the small town of Baisogala and a contract for the purchase of 155-mm ammunition. The State Chancellery in Vilnius said the munitions factory is expected to start operating in mid-2026 and, once completed, will produce tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition per year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rheinmetall plans to invest around 180 million ($190 million) in the new plant and create around 150 jobs. The company confirmed plans to build an artillery production plant in Lithuania in the spring and signed a letter of intent with the government in Vilnius. The Lithuanian parliament then passed several legislative amendments to facilitate and expedite investments by defence companies. "I have no doubt that this project will be implemented as quickly as necessary in view of the increasing demand for ammunition in Europe and NATO," Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said after the signing of the agreements. They were concluded by Rheinmetall representatives together with Lithuanian Minister for Economic Affairs Ausrine Armonaite and Minister of Defence Laurynas Kasciunas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We at Rheinmetall are very grateful for the trust Lithuania has placed in us," Rheinmetall chief executive Armin Papperger said in the statement. Rheinmetall is already active in Lithuania and has been operating a maintenance centre with the defence contractor KNDS since the summer of 2022. By Michael Holden and Gabriel Stargardter PARIS (Reuters) -Britain's foreign spy chief accused Russia on Friday of waging a "staggeringly reckless campaign" of sabotage in Europe while also stepping up its nuclear sabre-rattling to scare other countries off from backing Ukraine. Richard Moore, head of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service known as MI6, said that any softening in support for Ukraine against Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion would embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin and his allies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In what appeared a message to incoming U.S. President Donald Trump's administration and some European allies that have questioned continued support for Ukraine in the grinding war, Moore argued that Europe and its transatlantic partners must hold firm in the face of what he said was growing aggression. "We have recently uncovered a staggeringly reckless campaign of Russian sabotage in Europe, even as Putin and his acolytes resort to nuclear sabre-rattling to sow fear about the consequences of aiding Ukraine," he said in a speech in Paris. "The cost of supporting Ukraine is well known but the cost of not doing so would be infinitely higher. If Putin succeeds China would weigh the implications, North Korea would be emboldened and Iran would become still more dangerous." In September, Moore said Russia's intelligence services had gone "a bit feral" in the latest warning by NATO and other Western spy chiefs about what they call hostile Russian actions, ranging from repeated cyber attacks to Moscow-linked arson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moscow has denied responsibility for all such incidents. The Russian embassy in London did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on Moore's remarks. Last month the UK's domestic spy chief said Russia's GRU military intelligence service was seeking to cause "mayhem". Sources familiar with U.S. intelligence have told Reuters Moscow is likely to step up its campaign against European targets to increase pressure on the West over its support for Kyiv. LOOKING FORWARD TO TRUMP Much of Moore's speech was focused on the importance of Western solidarity, saying the collective strength of Britain's allies would outmatch Putin who, he said, was becoming increasingly in hock to China, North Korea and Iran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, who has vowed to quickly end the war in Ukraine, without saying how, and other Republicans in the U.S. have expressed reservations about Washington's strong strategic support and heavy weapons supplies for Kyiv. "If Putin is allowed to succeed in reducing Ukraine to a vassal state he will not stop there. Our security - British, French, European and transatlantic - will be jeopardised," Moore said. In general terms, Moore said the world was in its most dangerous state in his 37 years working in the intelligence world, with Islamic State on the rise again, Iran's nuclear ambitions a continued threat, and the radicalising impact of the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel not yet fully known. Nicolas Lerner, head of France's foreign spy agency DGSE, said French and UK intelligence were working closely together "to face what is undoubtedly one of the threats - if not the threat - in my opinion, the possible atomic proliferation in Iran". Iran has repeatedly denied seeking nuclear weapons. (Reporting by Michael Holden; editing by Kate Holton and Mark Heinrich) Russia, a close supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has condemned the unexpected advance of anti-government Islamist rebels on the city of Aleppo as an attack on Syria's sovereignty. "Of course this is an encroachment on Syria's sovereignty in this region," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in Moscow. However, his words suggested that Moscow did not see itself as responsible for stopping the offensive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are in favour of the Syrian authorities bringing order to the region as quickly as possible and restoring constitutional order," he said, according to the state news agency TASS. Russia intervened in the Syrian civil war in 2015 and, with its superior air power, helped to consolidate al-Assad's wavering grip on power. Russia was particularly involved in the recapture of Aleppo by the Syrian army in 2016, which resulted in many civilian casualties. However, Moscow reduced its troop presence in Syria beginning in 2022 after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. According to TASS, Russian military experts believe that Russia's Hamaimim airbase and the Tartus naval base in the country will be protected from possible rebel attacks. Syrian opposition fighters stand next to a captured Syrian regime tank in the town of Kafr Naya in the countryside of Aleppo province. The armed Syrian opposition factions, within the operations room (the Military Operations Department), launched a military operation under the name of deterring aggression in Idlib and Aleppo governorates, and took control of more than 60 towns that were under the control of the Syrian regime forces and the Iranian-backed militias. Anas Alkharboutli/dpa Russia is eyeing a new missile to target Ukraines decision-making centers, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday. Over the course of the nearly three-year-long war between Russia and Ukraine, no Ukrainian government ministries have been struck in conflict, Reuters noted. While Ukraine has continued to intercept Russias attacks, the Russians say their new Oreshnik hypersonic missile is not capable of being intercepted. The Russians first deployed it last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reuters noted Western officials are skeptical that it is incapable of being intercepted. Putin said his forces will respond to Ukraines ongoing strikes with long-range Western-made missiles and has plans to continue the tests of Oreshnik. At present, the Ministry of Defense and the General staff are selecting targets to hit on Ukraine territory. There could he military facilities, defense and industrial enterprises, or decision-making centers in Kyiv, Putin said, per Reuters. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced the attacks, saying Putin does not want this war to end. Putin wants to escalate the situation now to ensure that President Trump cannot succeed in bringing this war to an end, Zelensky said on the social platform X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin argued the massive Russian attack was in response to Ukraines use of U.S. long-range missiles. President Biden authorized the use of U.S.-supplied long-range missiles recently, after Ukraine had requested them for months. Putin noted in a speech that while he thinks Oreshnik is not a weapon of mass destruction, it is also highly accurate, the Kyiv Post reported. The increase in activity comes as Russia deployed North Korean troops to the battlefield. Ukraine has continually sought aid as the war has dragged on, nearing the three-year mark. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The head of MI6 has said a staggeringly reckless campaign of Russian sabotage has been uncovered in Europe. Speaking at the British embassy in Paris, Sir Richard Moore said Russia was trying to sow fear about the consequences of aiding Ukraine and challenge Western resolve in so doing. It comes after a DHL plane crash in Lithuania on Monday which officials suspect was a hybrid attack meaning aggressive actions short of actual war, such as sabotage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plane was flying from Leipzig to Lithuania when it crashed in Vilnius, killing one crew member and leaving three others injured. Marywilska 44 shopping centre in Warsaw is destroyed by a massive fire. Russian involvement is suspected - Dariusz Borowicz/Reuters Earlier this year, incendiary devices caused fires at DHL facilities in Leipzig, Germany, and in Birmingham. Russia is suspected of being behind the incidents. Suspicions were also raised about a massive fire that destroyed Warsaws largest shopping centre in May. It is likely that Russia was involved, Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, said at the time. Germany blamed sabotage for the severing of two undersea internet cables last week. Boris Pistorius, the defence minister, said that nobody believes these cables were accidentally severed after the Finnish owner of the C-Lion1 data cable announced that it had been cut. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his speech, Sir Richard said: We have recently uncovered a staggeringly reckless campaign of Russian sabotage in Europe, even as Putin and his acolytes resort to nuclear sabre-rattling. Such activity and rhetoric is dangerous and beyond irresponsible. A CCTV image of the moment the DHL cargo plane crashed in Lithuania. Below, part of the engine of the craft is seen on the ground - Michael Sohn/AP; Lukas Balandis/Reuters DHL cargo plane wreckage Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers meeting in Italy, Germanys Annalena Baerbock referred to the DHL cargo plane crash, saying: Our Lithuanian partners must now seriously ask ourselves whether this was an accident or another hybrid incident that shows what volatile times we are living in in the middle of Europe. Giving the inaugural Entente Cordiale lecture alongside his opposite number in the French external intelligence agency, Sir Richard said that in his 37-year career, he had never seen the world in a more dangerous state. The impact on Europe our shared European home could hardly be more serious, he warned. If Putin is allowed to succeed in reducing Ukraine to a vassal state, he will not stop there. Our security British, French and transatlantic will be jeopardised. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cost of supporting Ukraine is well-known, but the cost of not doing so would be infinitely higher. If Putin succeeds, China would weigh the implications, North Korea would be emboldened and Iran would be still more dangerous. Our democracy is our strength, MI6 chief Sir Richard Moore said as he warned of Russian subterfuge - British Embassy Paris via AP Nicolas Lerner, the head of the Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE), Frances MI6 equivalent, warned the current situation in Europe could be the turning point in our common history. Marking 120 years of the Entente Cordiale which, although not a formal alliance, ended centuries of conflict between the UK and France and set the path for a stronger Anglo-French relationship, Mr Lerner sought to remind those who would doubt or contest the binding links between our two countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement France and Great Britain are standing side by side in all the major crises shaking our planet, he said. Sir Richard, who goes by the title C meaning Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) or MI6 said: SIS and DGSE intelligence has been critical to calibrating risk and informing the decisions of our respective governments so they can navigate successfully Putins mix of bluster and aggression. He said Putin was jeopardising Russias future through continuing his catastrophic conflict in Ukraine, highlighting the transactional nature of the relationship between Moscow, Beijing, Tehran and Pyongyang. There is no real trust or respect, he warned. Its roots are shallow [and] there are limits to the partnership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia should avoid the classic error of the authoritarian state, which confuses the splendidly irreverent clash and thunder of democracy with weakness and irresolution. Our democracy is our strength. Sir Richard also said British spies were taking covert action against Russia to defeat Vladimir Putin and likened intelligence activity today in Ukraine to the secret war fought in the Second World War against Nazi Germany. We cherish our heritage of covert action, which we keep alive today in helping Ukraine resist the Russian invasion, he said. Highlighting the vital partnerships between the UK, France and America, Sir Richard said the allies collective strengths will outmatch and outlast Putins morally bankrupt axis of aggression. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In only a brief nod to the impending inauguration of Donald Trump as 57th US president, on Jan 20, Sir Richard said he had worked successfully with the first Trump administration, and look forward to doing so again. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Russian forces have suffered over 2,000 casualties in a single day for the first time, according to the Ukrainian military. On Friday, Kyivs general staff reported that 2,030 Russian troops had been lost over the past 24 hours. It did not specify whether these were killed, captured or missing. The figure surpassed the previous record of 1,950 casualties, which Ukraine said Russia suffered on Nov 12. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the same report, the general staff said Russia had lost 33 troop-carrying fighting vehicles, 34 artillery pieces, 89 tactical drones and one anti-aircraft system over the previous day. Despite heavy losses, Russia has been advancing at its quickest rate since the early days of the 2022 invasion, when Moscows forces swept through swathes of Ukraine before being pushed back to eastern and southern Russian territory. Earlier this week, Agentstvo, a Russian news agency, estimated that the Kremlins forces had captured 91 square miles in the week prior to its report, and 232 square miles altogether in November. The Ukrainian commanders calculated the total number of Russian casualties since the invasion began to be 738,660, of which the defence ministry estimated 500,000 to be wounded. These figures could not be independently verified, with battlefield losses notoriously difficult to estimate and neither Ukraine nor Russia releasing casualty data. An electronic screen in Moscow shows a Russian soldier and the slogan unity leads to victory - Yuri Kochetkov/Shutterstock In July, The Economist estimated that 106,000-140,000 Russians had been killed in the war so far, while the Ukrainian death toll was between 60,000 and 100,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It said it calculated Ukraines losses using data from leaked or published intelligence reports, agencies and researchers. High casualties on both sides have been attributed to both armies reliance on a Soviet-style doctrine that emphasises massive firepower and overwhelming numbers. A joint project run by the BBC and Mediazona, an independent Russian outlet, said on Friday that it had confirmed the deaths of 80,973 Russian soldiers killed since the full-scale invasion began. The project uses open-source data such as funeral announcements, local government publications and social media posts to keep track of the names of Russian dead. Many were killed within a few weeks of arriving at the front, the BBC said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 32-year-old man from the central Russian town of Zarinsk was killed five days after arriving in Ukraine, according to a social media post giving details of his funeral. The BBC said the share of convicts as a percentage of overall Russian dead was decreasing. In November last year, they accounted for 26 per cent of all Russian losses, but now represent 18 per cent. The broadcaster emphasised that convict units were still operating on the front line and detailed the case of a 45-year-old twice-convicted murderer who could not read or write. It said he signed a contract with the military in June, and died from a shrapnel wound two months later in Ukraines Donetsk region. His obituary read: His fate was not easy, but he fulfilled his duty to the fatherland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia had been offering prisoners their freedom if they fought for one year in Ukraine. However it, was reported in February that the deal had changed and convicts must fight until the end of the war. On Friday, Ukraine said Russia had returned over 500 bodies of Ukrainian soldiers killed in combat. As a result of repatriation activities, the bodies of 502 fallen defenders were returned to territory controlled by the government of Ukraine, Kyivs coordination headquarters for the treatment of prisoners of war posted on social media. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Russia has suffered more than 2,000 casualties in a single day, Ukraines military has claimed, in what would mark one of the heaviest toll of losses inflicted on Vladimir Putins forces at any point in the war so far. Russia appears to be ramping up its push for territory with the Kremlin potentially anticipating that Donald Trump could seek to follow through on his presidential election campaign claim that he would rapidly end Moscows invasion with a peace deal once he re-enters the White House in January. As Moscow focuses its efforts in Ukraines eastern Donbas made up of the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk and in trying to push Ukraines forces from Russias Kursk region, war analysts say that Russia is seizing more territory than at any point since the early days of its February 2022 invasion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Russian losses have for weeks been consistently among the highest of the war so far, with around 1,500 casualties each day, Ukrainian and Western military chiefs have said. In their daily update, the general staff of Ukraines armed forces claimed on Friday morning that more than 200 combat clashes had taken place in the past 24 hours, in which Russia had suffered 2,030 losses. Ukraine does not distinguish between those killed and wounded. That figure appears to be broadly in line with Western intelligence estimates, which also put the wars overall casualty toll at more than 1 million. Russian military leaders claimed in July to have inflicted 700,000 irrecoverable losses on Ukraine. However, the Wall Street Journal has since carried claims that a confidential Ukrainian estimate put the number of Ukrainian fatalities at 80,000, with 400,000 wounded. Ukrainian defences in the eastern Donetsk region have struggled against the sheer power of Russian forces in recent months (Reuters) While the exact toll may never be known, Russias relative willingness to expend its troops lives in a costly war of attrition for the sake of incremental gains witnessed repeatedly over the past 33 months means its losses are indeed likely greater than those of Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As clashes were reported across frontline areas of Ukraine on Friday, Kyivs military said Russian attackers had launched 93 airstrikes using nearly 180 missiles, as well as firing more than 4,800 artillery shells in the past 24 hours. The heaviest fighting came in Donetsk, near Povrovsk, where Ukraine claimed to repel more than 60 attacks, and close to Kurakhove, where Russia tried 43 times to breach Ukraines defences, the general staff said. Following visits to units stationed close to both Povrovsk and Kurakhove, Ukraines army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi vowed on Friday that he would strengthen troops deployed on the eastern front with reserves, ammunition and equipment. Donald Trump claims he can end the war in a single day in remarks that have alarmed some in Kyiv (AFP) Based on the results of the work, all necessary decisions have been made to strengthen the units with reserves, additional ammunition, weapons, and military equipment, he said on Telegram. We continue to restrain the enemy and inflict heavy losses in terms of their manpower and equipment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Away from the frontlines, Mr Putins crackdown on domestic criticism of its war continued apace, as jailed critic Alexei Gorinov was handed a further three-year sentence over accusations of justifying terrorism in conversations with cellmates about Ukraines Azov battalion and the 2022 explosion on Crimeas Kerch bridge. Mr Gorinov, 63, a former councillor, who denies the allegations, is reported to have been the first person convicted under new censorship laws ushered in days after Russias invasion, after allegedly saying that every day children are dying in Ukraine during a city council meeting. Photos from the courtroom, published by independent outlet Mediazona, showed a weary Mr Gorinov in the defendants cage, with a hand-drawn peace symbol on a piece of paper covering his prison badge. He held a hand-written placard saying: Stop killing. Lets stop the war. Imprisoned Kremlin critic Alexei Gorinov was further convicted on Friday (AP) He had part of a lung removed before prison and struggles with respiratory illnesses behind bars. In his closing statement in court on Friday, Mr Gorinov remained defiant and once again condemned the Russian authorities for the war in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My guilt is that I, as a citizen of my country, allowed this war to happen and could not stop it, Mediazona quoted him as saying. But I would like my guilt and responsibility to be shared with me by the organisers, participants, supporters of the war, as well as the persecutors of those who advocate peace. I continue to live with the hope that this will happen someday. In the meantime, I ask those who live in Ukraine and my fellow citizens who suffered from the war to forgive me. According to OVD-Info, a prominent rights group that tracks political arrests, some 1,100 people have been implicated in criminal cases over their anti-war stance since February 2022. A total of 340 are currently behind bars or have been involuntarily committed to medical institutions. Additional reporting by agencies (Bloomberg) -- Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov talked with his counterpart in North Korea on Friday, stoking concerns over deepening military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow while Russian jets flying nearby South Korea added to the mounting tensions. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the official visit of the Russian Defense Minister, meetings with the military and military-political leadership of the DPRK are planned, the Russian Defense ministry said in a statement on its Telegram channel on Friday. DPRK stands for the Norths official name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. Belousov said the talks would contribute to a strengthening of the countries defense partnership, according to Interfax. North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang Chol said the meeting could serve as a key moment for enhancing security and defense for both countries, the Interfax report added. Belousovs visit follows Russian President Vladimir Putins warning that his forces may strike decision-making centers in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv with new ballistic missiles as retaliation for attacks on Russia using Western missiles. Earlier in the week Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov met with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in a trip widely believed to have entered on a request for weapons support to repel a Russian invasion now backed by North Korea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South Korea has raised the prospect of sending weapons to Ukraine in response to North Koreas dispatch of thousands of troops to Russia to help the Kremlins war efforts. Russia has said any provision of weapons will fully destroy relations between Seoul and Moscow. Those relations were tested Friday with South Korea scrambling fighter jets after six warplanes from Russia and five from China entered an air identification zone maintained by Seoul. The Russian and Chinese planes did not enter South Koreas territorial air space, according to South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff, but their presence and the scrambling of jets by Seoul in response underscores the risk that both sides of the divided Korean peninsula may get dragged into the conflict. The air zone is an area where aircraft are supposed to identify themselves as they draw near it. The planes flew above waters off South Koreas eastern and southern coasts, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said. Seoul has long resisted calls from Western partners to tap into its vast military stockpiles with direct transfers of weapons or ammunition to Ukraine, choosing instead to help Kyiv with other aid. But North Koreas deployment to Russia has shifted that stance, with Yoon saying Pyongyangs direct involvement in the conflict poses a threat to his countrys security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The growing ties between Pyongyang and Moscow have emboldened North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to ramp up hostility toward South Korea, while raising fears about North Koreas ability to strengthen its military and sustain its regime with Russian backing. The US and South Korea have repeatedly accused Kim of sending munitions and ballistic missiles to aid Putins war in Ukraine, with South Korea estimating that as many as 8 million rounds have been sent. A previous Pyongyang visit by Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu in September was followed by North Koreas troops deployment to Russia. (Adds reported comments from Belousov and more details of Seouls scrambling of fighter jets) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. "Let's become Panda Partners!" Global Panda Partners 2024 conference held in Chengdu this week has brought people together under the theme "Harmonious Coexistence Between Man and Nature." Join Xinhua correspondent Du Baiyu's dialogue with international attendees, including Irina Bokova, former UNESCO director-general, who sees panda as "a great messenger of peace in international cooperation." Produced by Xinhua Global Service 36,718 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others? 36,718 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others? SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov arrived in North Korea on Friday for talks with North Korean military and political leaders as the countries deepen their cooperation over Russias war in Ukraine. In announcing the visit, Russias Defense Ministry didnt say whom Belousov would meet or the purpose of the talks. North Korean state media didnt immediately confirm the visit. Belousov, a former economist, replaced Sergei Shoigu as defense minister in May after Russian President Vladimir Putin started a fifth term in power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photos released by the Defense Ministry showed Belousov walking alongside North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang Chol on a red carpet at a Pyongyang airport. North Korean military officials were seen clapping under a banner that read, Complete support and solidarity with the fighting Russian army and people. Belousov noted after his arrival that military cooperation between the countries is expanding. He applauded a strategic partnership agreement signed by Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un following their June meeting in Pyongyang, which he said is aimed at reducing tensions by maintaining a balance of power in the region and lowering the risk of war, including with nuclear weapons. The June meeting demonstrated the highest level of mutual trust between the leaders, Belousov said, and also the mutual desire of our countries to further expand mutually beneficial cooperation in a complex international environment. North Korean Defense Minister No also praised the expanding cooperation between the countries militaries and reiterated North Koreas support for Russias war in Ukraine, describing it as a just struggle to protect the countrys sovereign rights and security interests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The visit comes days after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met with a Ukrainian delegation led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov in the South Korean capital, Seoul, and called for the two countries to formulate countermeasures in response to North Koreas dispatch of thousands of troops to Russia to help its fight against Ukraine. Kim in recent months has prioritized relations with Russia as he tries to break out of isolation and strengthen his international footing, embracing the idea of a new Cold War. The United States and its allies have said North Korea has sent more than 10,000 soldiers to Russia in recent weeks and that some of those troops were engaging in combat. North Korea has also been accused of supplying artillery systems, missiles and other military equipment to Russia that may help Putin further extend an almost three-year war. There are also concerns in Seoul that North Korea, in exchange for its troops and arms supplies, could receive Russian technology transfers that could improve its nuclear weapons and missile programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Russian defense minister doesnt visit North Korea just to celebrate bilateral ties, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. This visit indicates Putin and Kims military cooperation in violation of international law is about to increase further. Yoons national security adviser, Shin Wonsik, said in a TV interview last week that Seoul believes that Russia has provided air defense missile systems to North Korea in exchange for sending its troops. Shin said Russia also appears to have given economic assistance to North Korea and various military technologies, including those needed for the Norths efforts to build a reliable space-based surveillance system, which Kim has stressed is crucial for enhancing the threat of nuclear-capable missiles targeting South Korea. Shin didnt say whether Russia has already transferred sensitive nuclear weapons and ballistic missile technologies to North Korea. Yoons office hasnt said whether the two governments discussed the possibility of South Korea supplying weapons to Ukraine in his talks with Umerov. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, South Korea has joined U.S.-led sanctions against Moscow and provided humanitarian and financial support to Kyiv. But it has avoided directly supplying arms, citing a longstanding policy of not giving lethal weapons to countries actively engaged in conflicts. Yoon has said his government will take phased countermeasures, linking the level of its response to the degree of Russian-North Korean cooperation. It wasnt immediately clear whether Belousov will meet with Kim, the North Korean leader. Last year, Kim hosted a Russian delegation led by then-Defense Minister Shoigu and gave him a personal tour of a North Korean arms exhibition, in what outside critics likened to a sales pitch. That event came weeks before Kim traveled to Russia for talks with Putin which sped up military cooperation between the countries. During another meeting in Pyongyang in June this year, Kim and Putin signed a pact stipulating mutual military assistance if either country is attacked, in what was considered the two countries biggest defense deal since the end of the Cold War. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Russian report about Belousovs visit came as South Korea scrambled fighter jets to repel six Russian and five Chinese warplanes that temporarily entered the countrys air defense identification zone around its eastern and southern seas, according to the Souths Joint Chiefs of Staff. It said the Russian and Chinese planes did not breach South Koreas territorial airspace. South Koreas Defense Ministry said it held telephone calls with Chinese and Russian defense attaches based in Seoul to protest the flights and urge the countries to prevent recurrences. ___ Associated Press writer Emma Burrows in London contributed to this report. KYIV (Reuters) -Russian drone attacks on Ukraine injured at least eight people and damaged residential buildings in the capital Kyiv and in the southern Odesa region overnight, officials said on Friday. Ukraine's air force said in a statement that, of 132 drones launched against the country overnight, it had downed 88 drones, while 41 were "lost", likely due to electronic warfare, and one returned to the Russian territory. Russia has stepped up its nightly drone attacks on Ukrainian cities as it continues to push along the eastern frontline, making some of its largest monthly territorial gains since 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It launched a record-high number of 188 drones against the country on Tuesday before staging a large-scale attack on Ukraine's power grid on Thursday. The drone attack on the southern region of Odesa damaged 13 residential buildings and injured seven people, the national police said in a statement. Fragments from downed Russian drones struck buildings in two Kyiv districts and injured one person late on Thursday, officials said. Emergency services, in a post on the Telegram messaging app, showed pictures of rubble strewn about inside and outside a pediatric clinic in Kyiv's Dniprovskyi district on the east bank of the Dnipro River. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A security guard at the facility was taken to hospital. Adjacent buildings also suffered damage. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said drone fragments had struck an infrastructure site in the Sviatoshynskyi district on the west bank of the river. Kyiv regional governor Ruslan Kravchenko reported minor damage to a private residence and another building without any casualties. (Reporting by Ron Popeski; Editing by Paul Simao, Deepa Babington and Gareth Jones) A Russian court has sentenced prominent lawyer Dmitry Talantov to seven years in prison for criticizing the war in Ukraine on social media, according to the Russian independent monitoring group OVD-Info. Talantov, 63, was arrested in June 2022 and has been behind bars for over two years. He was convicted of inciting hatred and spreading what Russian law enforcement called "false information" about the Russian military, offenses introduced under a 2022 law that criminalizes public dissent against the war. Talantov, who once chaired the regional lawyers' association in Udmurtia, was accused of posting several social media comments condemning Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a letter from detention, Talantov explained his actions: "I once looked at a photo of a maimed Ukrainian woman and decided that I cant stay silent anymore. But I remained a lawyer. I published my opinion in a way that doesnt violate the formalistic law. And you know what? It is not my problem that a normal act is perceived by someone as a crime." The court in Zavyalovo, Udmurtia, found him guilty and handed down the seven-year sentence on Nov. 28. OVD-Info reports that over 1,100 people have been implicated in criminal cases related to anti-war expressions since the invasion began, with 340 currently incarcerated or involuntarily committed to medical institutions. Before his arrest, Talantov had been a longtime chair of Udmurtias Chamber of Lawyers and was involved in defending former journalist Ivan Safronov, who was sentenced to 22 years in prison in 2022 for exposing military incidents and arms deals. Read also: Russian opposition holds anti-war march in Berlin Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. BBC News Russian, together with the Russian media outlet Mediazona and volunteers, has identified the names of 80,973 Russian soldiers killed during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Source: BBC News Russian Details: The analysis was conducted using open data, such as funeral photos, information about those killed in action on local government websites, news items, posts by relatives or in other sources if they are accompanied by photos of the burial, etc. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The media have concluded that there has been a rapid increase in casualties among Russians who signed a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defence after the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Many of them are killed within 2-4 weeks of being sent to the front, some within a few days. "Their share in the total number of casualties continues to grow and now accounts for 22% of the total number of confirmed Russian losses. A year ago, in November 2023, volunteers accounted for only 14% of the total number of losses. Graph depicting the distribution of Russian soldiers killed, categorized by type. Graph: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proportion of convicts sent to the front from prison is, on the contrary, decreasing. In November 2023, they accounted for 26% of all casualties, and now they make up only 18%. However, units formed from convicts are still on the front line and take on part of the combat load," BBC News Russian writes. The Republic of Bashkortostan, the Republic of Tatarstan and Sverdlovsk Oblast, which are all parts of the Russian Federation, are now the leaders in terms of the number of confirmed losses. Graph showing the density of Russian losses by region Graph: Russias Sverdlovsk Oblast appeared on this list after the start of conscription and mass recruitment to the front from penal colonies, as the region has many industrial facilities and a number of large penal colonies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Tatarstan is among the three regions with the highest number of confirmed losses in 2024. This is primarily due to the active work of local volunteers who collect data on the deceased. Acquaintances and relatives of the soldiers send and publish information about the dead in local communities, often reporting cases that were not publicised by local authorities," BBC News Russian notes. Losses of elite military specialists. Graph: Journalists noted that, in this regard, the number of dead soldiers from Tatarstan revealed by them might be as close as possible to the actual number of people killed who came from this republic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nevertheless, the data for other regions is much less complete, as there are no such active volunteers there, and local authorities often pressure journalists and relatives of the killed, urging them not to "post about the losses" again. In terms of per capita casualties, the Republic of Tyva, the Republic of Buryatia and Altai Krai are leading the way, with the cities of Moscow and St Petersburg having the lowest rates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mortality in the war, recalculated by population density. Graph: "Our calculations show that a man from Tyva is nine times more likely to die in the war than a resident of Moscow. At least 52% of all those killed are people who were not associated with the Russian army at the outbreak of the war," BBC News Russian writes. The journalists noted that the actual number of Russians who joined the armed forces without any previous military experience and who have been killed at the front is much higher, as analysts have not been able to determine exactly how 28% of the dead they identified reached the battlefield. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But because the obituaries of most of them are accompanied by photographs of men in civilian clothes, journalists assume that they may have been drafted or voluntarily signed contracts. Background: Earlier, The New York Times reported that Russia continues to suffer huge losses in its war of aggression against Ukraine. For example, in October, the number of dead and wounded soldiers was the highest since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Nonetheless, the journalists stressed that the Russian forces could hardly be described as depleted, as in the first half of 2024, Russia managed to conscript about 900 people daily. As of the morning of 29 November, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine estimated Russian losses at 738,000 killed and wounded. In November, The Economist wrote that Ukraine may have lost 60,000 to 100,000 soldiers in the nearly three years of Russia's full-scale invasion, and that another 400,000 soldiers may have been seriously wounded. In February 2024, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed during Russia's full-scale invasion. Support UP or become our patron! Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov met with his North Korean counterpart No Kwang Cho for talks in Pyongyang on Friday, in what Belousov said was an effort to expand military cooperation between the two countries. The Russian defence chief also said that a strategic partnership agreement signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in June is aimed at "stabilising" Northeast Asia. "The agreement aims to reduce the risk of war, including nuclear weapons, and to make a positive contribution to maintaining the balance of power in the region," Belousov said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his remarks, North Korea's No said that Pyongyang would stand "on the common front with Russian comrades to safeguard international peace and security." Belousovs visit came just days after South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol met with a Ukrainian delegation led by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov in the capital, Seoul. Yoon called for the two countries to formulate countermeasures against North Koreas reported deployment of thousands of troops to Russia to support its war effort in Ukraine. Related Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United States and its allies have said North Korea has sent more than 10,000 soldiers to Russia in recent weeks and that some of those troops were engaging in combat. In recent months, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has prioritised relations with Russia as he tries to break out of isolation and strengthen his international footing, embracing the idea of a new Cold War. Four unarmed Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) were apparently shot and killed by Russian forces in Donetsk Oblast earlier this November, adding to the five previously reported executions of Ukrainian soldiers, the Prosecutor General's Office said on Nov. 28. According to the statement, Russian troops captured four Ukrainian defenders during an assault in the Pokrovsk sector on Nov. 22. After forcing the soldiers to surrender, Russian forces are said to have shot them with automatic weapons. In total nine Ukrainian POWs were executed by Russia in the village of Petrivka. It was not immediately clear if the two reported executions are directly connected, or whether they occurred at the same time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The deliberate killing of prisoners of war constitutes a blatant violation of the Geneva Conventions and is classified as a grave international crime," the Prosecutor General's Office said in a statement. Reports of murders, torture, and ill-treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war are received regularly by Ukrainian authorities and have spiked in recent months. Most cases were recorded in the embattled Donetsk Oblast. Last week, the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor's Office reported two other Ukrainian POWs killed by Russian troops in the Pokrovsk sector. Ahead of the most recent reported cases, law enforcement officers previously said they were investigating 53 criminal proceedings over the executions of 177 Ukrainian soldiers, while 37 proceedings of 109 executions were registered in 2024 alone, the Prosecutor General's Office said on Nov. 22. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russias large-scale attack strikes a massive blow at Ukraines energy system Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. During a repatriation operation on 29 November, the Russian party did not return to Ukraine the body of Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna, who died in Russian captivity in early October. Source: Suspilne, the Ukrainian public broadcaster, citing the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War Details: Suspilne did not provide a comment from the Coordination Headquarters, but a source from Ukrainska Pravda confirmed that the Russians did not return Roshchynas body. Background: On 29 November, Ukraine repatriated the remains of 502 fallen defenders from the Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia fronts, as well as from Russian territory. Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, Head of the Parliamentary Committee on Freedom of Speech, previously stated that the Russian side is deliberately delaying the process of returning the body of Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna, who died in Russian captivity. Support UP or become our patron! Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov has arrived in North Korea on an unannounced visit. Source: Russia's Defence Ministry on Telegram Quote: "During the official visit... meetings with North Korea's military and military-political leadership are planned." Background: On 11 September, The New York Times reported that Russia had received new Hwasong-11 ballistic missiles from North Korea and used them to strike Kyiv this summer. The Hwasong-11 has a range of about 700 km and can be equipped with nuclear or conventional warheads. In November, reports indicated that North Korea was significantly expanding a key plant for the production of ballistic missiles used by Russia in its war against Ukraine. Ukraine's General Staff reported that over 11,000 North Korean troops were stationed in Russia's Kursk Oblast and they had taken part in combat against Ukrainian forces. Support UP or become our patron! MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov arrived on Friday on an official visit to North Korea, news agencies reported, citing the defence ministry. Belousov will hold bilateral meetings with North Korea's military and military-political leadership, the agencies said. (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Christopher Cushing) MANILA, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said Friday it has signed a loan of 20 million U.S. dollars with APU Dairy LLC to boost Mongolia's dairy supply and strengthen its food security. The project will support nomadic herders by integrating them into the dairy value chain, enhancing dairy processing capacity and promoting sustainable herd management practices, the ADB said in its press release. The ADB said its financing also includes up to 750,000 dollars in technical assistance to build the capacity of 300 herders on sustainable herd and pasture management, financial literacy, gender equality, disability awareness and climate resilience. "This partnership with APU Dairy is a significant step toward a more resilient and inclusive dairy value chain in Mongolia," said ADB Director General for Private Sector Operations Suzanne Gaboury. "The project's benefits will be shared by all value chain stakeholders, improving the livelihoods of 1,000 herders and giving women better access to job opportunities and greater inclusion in the dairy supply chain," said Gaboury. Established in 2006, APU Dairy is the second largest dairy producer in Mongolia. Editor's Note: This is a developing story and is being updated. Russian forces launched attack drones targeting Kyiv, among other regions, on the evening of Nov. 28. Air defense systems shot down the drones, but debris caused structural damage in several areas of the city, according to officials. Several explosions were heard in different parts of the capital overnight on Nov. 29. In the Dniprovskyi district, drone debris caused a fire on the facade of a children's medical center. The blaze, which damaged the building's exterior, shattered windows and uprooted nearby trees, was later extinguished. A security guard was injured by the falling wreckage, according to the mayor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the Sviatoshynskyi district, drone debris struck an infrastructure facility, Klitschko reported. Officials did not provide other details at the time of the publication. Klitschko urged residents to remain in shelters, while air defense operations were still active as of 1 a.m. local time. Read also: Russia launches mass missile attack, explosions reported all over Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russia's recent missile attacks on Ukraine's energy sector on 17 and 28 November have increased the risk of prolonged blackouts in the dead of winter. Source: Reuters Details: The news agency recalls that the Russian Federation launched the second major attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure this month on Thursday, 28 November, causing severe power outages across the country. After two waves of attacks, the situation with Ukraine's power grid has deteriorated significantly at a critical point in the war, Reuters writes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "But now they say the damage inflicted on 17 November and 28 November has set them back significantly, raising the prospect of long blackouts and other outages in the depths of winter. Temperatures are already hovering around 0 Celsius," the agency writes. One of the representatives of the energy sector said that despite the difficulties, Ukraine is able to cope with the challenges ahead. Background: A large-scale missile and drone attack on the night of 27-28 November and the morning of 28 November damaged power facilities in several oblasts. Ukrenergo, Ukraines state-owned electricity transmission operator, predicted that the emergency outages would last until 20:00. On Thursday, 28 November, Russia attacked energy infrastructure in a number of oblasts of Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! (FOX40.COM) A 52-year-old Sacramento woman that was reported missing on Thursday was reported to be found safe on Friday morning, the Sacramento Police Department said. Police said the woman was considered at risk due to mental capacity and had last seen around 12:45 a.m. near the intersection of Eldertown and Jamestown Way. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40. Have you lost out because of the cyber attack? Email money@telegraph.co.uk Sadiq Khan has admitted victims of a Transport for London (TfL) cyber attack may never get their money back. Tens of thousands of Londoners are feared to have been left out of pocket after hackers gained access to the travel authoritys systems in September. The aftermath of the hack meant over-60s, children and students were unable to apply for new discount Oyster cards until recently forcing them to fork out for standard fares. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It means TfL has received an unknown level of extra income erroneously. Now, Mr Khan has conceded that people who should have had free travel could be left out of pocket because they may have lost their receipt and they may not claim it back. He told London Centric it is possible those impacted will be left out of pocket if they do not make a claim. Keeping records of travel on the TfL network, however, is tough due to the tap-in and tap-out purchasing process. Mr Khan added: Id encourage anyone who reads this piece to contact TfL directly. We are determined to make sure no ones out of pocket because of this cyber attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The London mayor said last month that he couldnt put a figure on the number of people who had paid over the odds, but admitted it was big. At the time of the attack, TfL said that certain customer data had been accessed, including names, addresses, contact details and bank details. It disabled large parts of its public-facing web services and closed applications for new Oyster photocards as a precautionary measure. TfL, which described the attack as highly sophisticated, is understood to not actively offer refunds to overcharged passengers, putting the onus on the victims to log their claims manually for each journey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A reclaim system is hoped to be up-and-running on the authoritys app and website soon, but a timeline has not been announced. TfL said anyone who has paid with an Oyster card can already see their journey history and apply for refunds. The authority is poised to launch an independent review into the cyber attack and subsequent issues it has faced. Papers published ahead of a board meeting next week state: Given the nature and scale of the cyber incident, an independent review will be conducted to consider the circumstances surrounding the incident and the impact, our response to the incident and whether further improvements are needed to our cyber security strategy, taking into consideration existing initiatives that are in progress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A TfL spokesman said: We apologise for any inconvenience that this recent incident has caused customers but we are fully committed to ensuring that anyone who has been overcharged can get any money owed to them back as quickly as possible. If any customer is overcharged or paid an incorrect fare that they should not have can contact our customer services team. The team will have full access to customers Oyster and contactless journey history soon, and customers will be able apply for a refund once services are restored. TfL suggested that passengers consider keeping proof of travel, particularly passengers who have been unable to apply for concessionary photocards. A criminal investigation into the cyber attack is ongoing. It has so far resulted in the arrest of a 17-year-old boy from Walsall on suspicion of computer misuse offences. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) Millions of Americans will kick off their holiday shopping on Friday if they havent already. Black Friday shopping begins: What should you buy? Cyber security experts want to help keep people safe who plan to shop on Black Friday. They recommend only making purchases with credit cards. A majority of credit cards have a zero-liability policy to protect customers from fraudulent purchases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They also recommend not connecting to public wifi while making payments to avoid your data from being shared. Around 36 percent of Americans are expected to shop in stores. Im working at Target tomorrow, be nice to the people working were working really really hard everyone is trying to get the best deal. We are trying just as much as you guys are to help you out, said Shirley Constanino of Springfield. The National Retail Federation believes more than 183 million Americans will shop in stores or online between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. JOPLIN, Mo. Some of the meals prepared at the Salvation Army were taken to Missouri Southern. They went to international students who werent able to be home during the fall break. Its the first year for the Thanksgiving meal delivery. Volunteer coordinator Nathan Hicks told us its in honor of longtime MSSU employee Pam Hosp who passed away suddenly earlier this year. Every Thanksgiving, every Christmas, students that didnt have a place to go at Missouri Southern, she always brings them to her house, she wanted them to have a warm Thanksgiving meal, and when she passed away here this past year, we wanted to still do something for those students, said Nathan Hicks, volunteer coordinator, Salvation Army of Jasper Newton County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Volunteers drove the meals to campus. A treat for international students who dont all celebrate Thanksgiving. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The Salvation Army hosted the annual drive-thru Thanksgiving Community Lunch, where over 1,000 meals were distributed during the drive-thru. The Salvation Army also provides Thanksgiving meals to the shelter, soup kitchen, and County Migrant Center. Union Draft House and Five Points Lions Club volunteered one week before the holiday to shred turkeys and help prepare the meal. This year, The Salvation Army served smoked turkey; Rollin Smoke BBQ generously offered to brine and smoke all 80 turkeys. Photo: Miguel Paredes KTSM Photo: Miguel Paredes KTSM Photo: Miguel Paredes KTSM Photo: Miguel Paredes KTSM Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photo: Miguel Paredes KTSM As theyve done for the last two years, Oro Temple No. 9 Shriners, Union Draft House, and Girls Scouts Troop 61229 served Thanksgiving meals. Volunteers are always needed to help during the holidays. Anyone interested in volunteering may call 915-544-9811. If you want a free Thanksgiving meal, you can pick up your ticket at the front desk at The Salvation Army (4300 E Paisano) from 9 AM to 6 PM. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. Samsung is reportedly preparing to release its first tri-fold smartphone as early as next year. To support this creative design, the company is investigating cutting-edge technologies. According to a new patent made public by xleaks7 and VeePN, Samsung has developed a first-of-its-kind folding battery designed to suit the distinctive form factor of a tri-fold gadget. Beyond technical features like maximizing capacity and output while guaranteeing that it can fold at particular angles, Samsung's ground-breaking folding battery is not disclosed in the patent specifications. However, patents reveal the ideas and innovations manufacturing teams are exploring. Samsung appears to be examining the feasibility of a multi-hinge battery design that allows it to fold alongside the screen. Samsung is reportedly aiming for a launch next year. If testing succeeds, the device could debut by 2025. However, the company has yet to confirm any official plans for this new form factor. Advanced battery design The patent details dont reveal much about Samsung's innovative foldable battery beyond technical aspects like optimizing capacity and output while ensuring it can fold at specific angles. The design aims to make foldable devices more efficient by maximizing battery space. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The patent illustrations show a book-style foldable phone and a quad-fold concept, suggesting that folding batteries may be included in the next models, such as the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6. By using more space within foldable phones, such batteries could greatly extend battery life. Samsung may use flexible materials for the foldable battery, enabling safe folding and unfolding. According to TechRadar, though, there might be trade-offs associated with this innovation. Adding a foldable battery might make the device heavier and thicker, making it more difficult for designers to strike a balance between portability and functionality. Samsung's research into these technologies could revolutionize foldable devices by enhancing performance without sacrificing the svelte appearance that consumers have come to demand. Foldable future unfolds Huawei introduced the Mate XT, the world's first triple-screen foldable phone, earlier this year. Although it was launched only in China, it garnered international notice. Soon after, rumors circulated that Samsung was developing a tri-fold smartphone of its own. With the introduction of its in-house improvements, Samsung's tri-fold model is anticipated to compete with this. If the product is a success, it might raise the bar for foldable phones by improving both functionality and design to appeal to tech-savvy customers. The Mate XT has a special dual-hinge design that folds in a Z form when one hinge folds outward and the other inward. It performs the same duties as a 6.4-inch OLED smartphone while it is small. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fQHAZWOUuY&pp=ygUic21hcnRwaG9uZSBpbnRlcmVzdGluZyBlbmdpbmVlcmluZw%3D%3D When fully unfolded, it transforms into a 10.2-inch OLED display with a 2232 x 3184 resolution and a 16:11 aspect ratiolarger than any current foldable, including the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Honor Magic V3. Furthermore, when partially unfurled, the smartphone provides a 7.9-inch display option, increasing its adaptability for media consumption and multitasking. The debate surrounding the Galaxy Note 7 explosion serves as a clear warning of the dangers associated with battery technology. It resulted in a worldwide recall and consumer outcry. Since then, Samsung has made user safety its top priority, putting dependability ahead of innovation when needed. Experts claim that the introduction of a foldable battery represents a substantial shift from traditional designs and raises additional questions regarding potential harm and durability. Although these batteries have the potential to improve foldable gadgets, it is imperative first to ensure their dependability and safety. This new technology will probably need to be thoroughly tested and improved to overcome these obstacles and prevent reoccurring problems. Nov. 29Voter turnout in San Joaquin County is now at 68%, as 257,611 ballots have been counted as of Monday, according to elections officials. The San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters said that there are still 6,248 ballots left to count and 5,295 left to cure or correct. Of the ballots left to count, 5,348 were conditional voter registration ballots, and 900 were provisional. Political newcomer Victoria Lenderman remains ahead of Maia Aguirre for the Lodi Unified School District Board of Education's Area 2 seat. Lenderman has tallied 3,997 votes to Aguirre's 2,597. Incumbent Gary Knackstedt, who conceded last week, has garnered 2,546 votes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the district's Area 7 race, incumbent Joe Nava has collected 3,753 votes, while challenger Joseph Gardea, the Bear Creek High School alum who also conceded last week, has picked up 2,266. Tammi Van Houton and Ann Ullrich continue to hold on to the top two slots for the seats on the Oak View Union School District Governing Board, with former receiving 635 votes and the latter tallying 620. Dan Rice collected 583. In the race for Lodi City Council District 4, incumbent Ramon Yepez has pulled away from challengers Lyndsy Davis and Alex Aliferis. Yepez has collected 748 votes, while Davis and Aliferis garnered 568 and 392, respectively. For federal and state races, Rep. Josh Harder, D-Tracy, Assemblyman Heath Flora, R-Ripon, and former Rep. Jerry McNerney continue to lead in their respective contests, according to California Secretary of State. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harder has garnered 125,773 votes to Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln's 116,934 in the U.S. Congress 9th District race, and McNerney has tallied 185,406 votes to Clements resident Jim Shoemaker's 164,373 for State Senate District 5. Flora has collected 126,797 in his bid for re-election to the State Assembly's 9th District seat, while Lodi resident Tami Nobriga has picked up 53,955. Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Sacramento, leads over Galt resident Tom Silva in the District 7 seat with 195,186 votes. Silva has collected 97,096. In Galt, Tim Reed has essentially secured his seat on the city council, garnering 5,823 votes for one of two seats, according to the Sacramento County Registrar of Voters. Former Galt Herald publisher Bonnie Rodriguez has taken a slight lead over Mathew Pratton for the second seat, tallying 3,855 votes to his 3,853. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dean Dockery and Aleida Suarez remain ahead of the pack for the two seats on the Iselton City Council, with the former collecting 132 and the latter tallying 115. E. Kelly Hutson remains in third with 81 votes, Paul Steel is in fourth with 51, and Jose Morquecho is last with 35. Diana Villones O'Brien has received 134 votes in the race for Isleton City Clerk, while Michelle Burke has picked up 88. In the Galt Joint Union High School District Board of Education Area 3 seat race, Karol Messersmith has collected 1,740 votes to incumbent Pat Maple's 1,669. The district's Measure H, which would secure $27 million to repair and upgrade facilities and improve campus security, has garnered 7,266 votes in favor and 5,630 against, with its 56.3% approval rating exceeding the 55% needed for passage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tallies from both races are combined from both Registrars of Voters. The Sacramento County ROV reported that 8,624 ballots are left to count, but did not provide a breakdown. The ROV will provide its next update on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 5:15 p.m. at results.saccounty.gov. The San Joaquin County ROV did not disclose when it would provide its next update. Results can be found at www.sjgov.org/department/rov. Results from the Secretary of State's office can be found at electionresults.sos.ca.gov. WINDHOEK, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC Countries (ECF-SADC), an independent regional organization of election management bodies, has described the recently concluded Namibia elections as peaceful and orderly while also identifying areas for improvement. In a preliminary report issued Friday, the regional observer mission commended voters, electoral officials, and political parties for ensuring a generally smooth voting process. Meanwhile, the report flagged several issues, including challenges with voter registration, delays in vote counting, and limited access to polling stations in certain areas. The 33-member mission recommended that electoral authorities address these shortcomings to enhance the credibility and efficiency of future elections. It also called for the peaceful resolution of disputes that may arise. The ECF-SADC is an independent organization representing election management bodies across the Southern African Development Community (SADC), a regional economic community of 16 member states in Southern Africa. The observer group's findings will be followed by a final report, which is expected to include more detailed recommendations. On Wednesday, Namibians went to polling stations for the country's eighth presidential and National Assembly elections. By Samia Nakhoul and Pesha Magid RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has abandoned its pursuit of an ambitious defence treaty with Washington in return for normalising relations with Israel and is now pushing for a more modest military cooperation agreement, two Saudi and four Western officials told Reuters. In a drive to get a wide-ranging mutual security treaty over the line earlier this year, Riyadh softened its position on Palestinian statehood, telling Washington that a public commitment from Israel to a two-state solution could be enough for the Gulf kingdom to normalise relations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But with public anger in Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East at fever pitch over Israel's military actions in Gaza, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has again made recognition of Israel conditional on it taking concrete steps to create a Palestinian state, two Saudi and three Western sources said. Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu is still eager to secure normalisation with the Saudi powerhouse as a historic milestone and a sign of broader acceptance in the Arab world, Western diplomats said. But he faces overwhelming opposition at home to any concessions to the Palestinians following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks and knows any gesture in the direction of statehood would fracture his ruling coalition, they said. With both leaders shackled for now by their domestic powerbases, Riyadh and Washington hope a more modest defence pact could be sealed before President Joe Biden leaves the White House in January, the sources said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A full-blown U.S.-Saudi treaty would need to pass the U.S. Senate with a two-thirds majority - and this would be a non-starter unless Riyadh recognises Israel, the six sources said. The pact now under discussion would involve expanding joint military exercises and drills to address regional threats, mainly from Iran. It would foster partnerships between U.S. and Saudi defence firms, with safeguards to prevent collaboration with China, the sources said. The agreement would promote Saudi investment in advanced technologies, especially drone defence. The U.S. would increase its presence in Riyadh through training, logistics and cyber security support, and may deploy a Patriot missile battalion to enhance missile defence and integrated deterrence. But it would not be the kind of binding mutual defence treaty that would oblige U.S. forces to protect the world's biggest oil exporter in the event of foreign attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Saudi Arabia will get a security deal which will allow more military cooperation and sales of U.S. weapons, but not a defence treaty similar to that of Japan or South Korea as initially sought," said Abdelaziz al-Sagher, head of the Gulf Research Institute think-tank in Saudi Arabia. THE TRUMP DILEMMA The picture is complicated further, however, by the impending arrival of Donald Trump in the White House. While Trump's plan to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict excludes any provisions for Palestinian statehood or sovereignty, he is a close ally of the Saudi crown prince. Palestinian and some Arab officials worry that Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner - architect of the "Deal of the Century" and also a close ally of the crown prince - may ultimately persuade him to support the plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How the prince reconciles Saudi priorities with this shifting diplomatic landscape will be pivotal, defining both his leadership and the future of the peace process, diplomats said. The current U.S. administration has not given up hope for a deal on security guarantees before Biden leaves office in January, but a number of obstacles remain. One person in Washington familiar with the talks said there was reason to be sceptical about whether there was enough time to strike a deal. U.S. officials are mindful that the kingdom is still interested in formally cementing the guarantees it has been seeking, especially to gain access to more advanced weapons, but are uncertain whether it would prefer to get it done under Biden, or wait for Trump, the source said. "We continue to discuss and have many lines of effort on the table (with the Saudis)," the U.S. official said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House National Security Council declined comment when asked about efforts toward reaching a deal on U.S. security guarantees for Saudi Arabia. Netanyahu's office declined to comment when asked about the Saudi position on Palestinian statehood. A defence treaty giving Saudi Arabia U.S. military protection in exchange for recognising Israel would reshape the Middle East by uniting two long-time foes and binding Riyadh to Washington at a time when China is making inroads in the region. It would allow the kingdom to shore up its security and ward off threats from Iran and its Houthi allies, to avoid a repeat of the 2019 strikes on its oil facilities, which Riyadh and Washington both blamed on Tehran. Iran has denied any role. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A senior Saudi official said the treaty was 95% complete but Riyadh opted to discuss an alternative agreement, given it was not doable without normalisation with Israel. Depending on the format, a scaled-down cooperation agreement could be approved without going through Congress before Biden leaves office, two of the sources said. There were other stumbling blocks in the negotiations to secure a mutual defence treaty. For instance, there was no progress in the talks about civil nuclear cooperation because Saudi Arabia refused to sign a so-called 123 Agreement with the U.S. that would have denied Riyadh the right to nuclear enrichment, the six sources said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saudi objections to articles related to human rights proved to be another area of disagreement, one Saudi source close to the talks told Reuters. 'THE BIG PRIZE' While the Saudi leadership strongly advocates Palestinian statehood, it remains uncertain, according to diplomats, how the crown prince would respond if Trump revives the deal he floated in 2020 to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The plan marks a dramatic shift in U.S. policy and international agreements by overtly aligning with Israel and deviating sharply from the long-standing land-for-peace framework that has historically guided negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It would allow Israel to annex vast stretches of land in the occupied West Bank, including Israeli settlements and the Jordan Valley, and recognises Jerusalem as the "undivided capital of Israel" - effectively denying Palestinian claims to East Jerusalem as their capital, a central aspiration in their statehood goals and in accordance with U.N. resolutions. By legitimising Israeli annexations, the Trump plan is viewed by many as a severe blow to the two-state solution and Palestinian hopes of statehood. Saudi officials insist that the creation of a Palestinian state in accordance with previous international agreements, including East Jerusalem as its capital, remains an essential condition for long-term regional peace and stability. Without it the cycle of violence will continue to jeopardise any normal relations, they say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "How can we imagine a region integrated if we sidestep the Palestinian issue?" a senior Saudi official said. "You can't prevent the Palestinian right to self-determination." And in some of the harshest criticism of Israel since the start of the Gaza war, the Crown Prince Mohammed called Israel's military actions in Gaza "collective genocide" in his address to an Arab and Islamic summit in Riyadh this month. The potential for Saudi normalisation with Israel, however, could be revisited in the future, perhaps once the dust settles after the Gaza war - and possibly under a different Israeli government, diplomats said. Fawaz Gerges, a Middle East expert at the London School of Economics, said Trump would leverage all possible avenues to secure historic normalisation between Saudi Arabia and Israel. "For Trump, Saudi Arabia is the big prize," said Gerges. "As to how normalisation could happen despite repeated Saudi leaders insistence they will not recognise Israel until a real path to a Palestinian state is set, Trump could promise a ceasefire in Gaza in return for normalisation and tentative promise to support a Palestinian state, without obliging Israel to make any real concessions to the Palestinians." (Reporting by Samia Nakhoul and Pesha Magid in Riyadh; Additional reporting by Matt Sptalnick in Washington and Crispian Balmer in Jerusalem; Writing by Samia Nakhoul; Editing by David Clarke) (Bloomberg) -- With its replica arches and columns from ancient Persepolis, the new Iranian Corner at one of Riyadhs most popular outdoor venues has been doing decent business selling carpets, saffron and other products. Most Read from Bloomberg Saudi Arabias capital might seem an unlikely place to showcase the Islamic Republic. The rivalry between the two powers has shaped the Middle East for decades. But ahead of Donald Trumps return to the White House, the kingdom is urgently looking to strengthen ties with Tehran while it seeks to bolster relations with its traditional ally the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, the de facto Saudi ruler, made an offer of increased trade to Iranian officials in recent weeks in the hope of ratcheting down tension with the West and a reduction of support for proxy militias, according to people with knowledge of Riyadhs moves. They asked not to be identified when discussing private matters. That would build on a March 2023 rapprochement between the two countries brokered by China, which is pushing for them to forge closer ties and provide much-needed revenue to Tehran. Trumps victory, though, is testing the regional dynamic because of the prospect of a renewal of the Middle East policies introduced in his first term. Those may include his maximum pressure approach to Iran, which saw Washington walk away from a nuclear deal with Tehran and impose severe sanctions. Saudi Arabia is still keen to capitalize on work that went into a defense and strategic agreement with the US that was put on hold after the Oct. 7 attack by Iran-backed Hamas on Israel last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prince Mohammad sent National Security Adviser Musaad Al-Aiban to Washington last month to revive the talks, according to three people with knowledge of the matter. Yet, time is tight. The aim was to secure commitments before President Joe Biden leaves office in January. The Saudis see the dual-channel approach of closer ties with both Washington and Tehran as vital geopolitically, though it could leave the kingdom in an awkward spot. Prince Mohammeds top priority is his trillion-dollar plan to diversify the kingdoms economy away from oil. The agenda, known as Vision 2030, relies on peace as well as foreign investment to help fund its ambitious mega-projects. Speaking at the annual investment conference in Riyadh in late October, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan said his primary mandate was to protect Vision 2030 and further its advancement. Its unclear what Prince Mohammad has offered the Iranians, but a person who worked on the 2023 detente between the two historic foes said trade could initially focus on products in the food and medical sectors that wont breach European and US sanctions against Tehran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An accord could involve private Saudi companies, and transactions may take place through a third country like Iraq, the person said. Iran-Saudi trade is negligible at the moment, and Iranian officials have expressed a desire to take it to up to $1 billion a year. Saudi Arabia made a similar approach last year in a bid to de-escalate regional tensions amid the ongoing war in Gaza, Bloomberg reported at the time. The fresh proposal would also be conditional on Iran holding back on support for its proxies in the region, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon. Officials with the Saudi ministries of foreign affairs and trade didnt respond to multiple requests for comment. Before the crown princes move, Iranian officials had been unhappy that Saudi trade and investment pledges under whats become known as the Beijing Agreement hadnt materialized. China, which is the biggest buyer of oil from both countries, has been urging Riyadh and Tehran to buttress their rapprochement, said Dina Esfandiary, senior adviser for the Middle East and North Africa at the International Crisis Group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a pretty simple, noncontroversial way for Riyadh to demonstrate its commitment to the new dialogue with Tehran, she said. A Saudi-Chinese-Iranian committee following up on the accord held its second meeting in Riyadh on Nov. 19, reaffirming commitment to it. In a statement, the parties touted the nearly 140,000 Iranian pilgrims that have visited the Islamic holy sites in Saudi Arabia this year as a sign of closer ties, along with things like the Iranian Corner in Riyadh. On a political level, Prince Mohammad earlier this month accused Israel of carrying out genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and criticized it for attacking Iran during an exchange of direct missile fire in October. He dispatched his armys chief of staff to the Islamic Republic to meet his counterpart, while Saudis armed forces took part in a naval drill in the northern Indian Ocean alongside Iran, Russia, Oman and other countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That harsh rhetoric against Israel was mainly aimed at appeasing the kingdoms own citizens and those in the wider Arab and Muslim worlds upset at the civilian death toll in Gaza. The kingdoms engagement with Tehran, meanwhile, is all about protecting itself and its economic transformation plan from any flare up between Israel, Iran and Trumps US, said Hanin Ghaddar, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Saudi Arabias main concern is its internal security, she said. While Saudi Arabia is upset at the devastation wrought by Israels wars in Gaza and Lebanon, its not shedding a tear for the weakening of Hamas and Hezbollah, according to people familiar with the leaderships thinking. Both groups are designated as terrorist organizations by the US and European countries. Prince Mohammad continues to deeply mistrust Iran and that played into the decision to send Al-Aiban to Washington, the people said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Al-Aiban, who sealed the 2023 deal with the Iranians in Beijing, was tasked with finding out whether any agreement could be signed before the end of Bidens term, the people said. Among topics discussed were designating Saudi Arabia a major non-NATO ally. The US-Saudi Arabia deal being discussed before Oct. 7 centered on a binding defense treaty with Washington that included the prospect of a normalization of ties with Israel, with the stumbling block being that Riyadh would demand steps toward establishing a Palestinian state. The kingdoms position has hardened on that since the start of the war in Gaza and subsequent devastation of the territory. That could change if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or any successor alters his stance, something that looks unlikely despite the 60-day cease-fire agreed this week with Hezbollah. The Israeli parliament this year passed a resolution opposing Palestinian statehood. I would expect the pendulum to swing back in the other direction should Netanyahu end current conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon and take meaningful steps toward a Palestinian state, said Firas Maksad, senior director for strategic outreach at the Middle East Institute in Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One bright spot in the US might be Prince Mohammads history with Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner before relations temporarily soured following the killing of newspaper columnist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018. That might help him walk the line between the US and Iran, and fulfill his foreign policy goals. In the meantime, the crown prince is hedging his bets. Saudi Arabia has observer status at the the BRICS group of emerging market powers, of which Iran is now a full member. He is guided by a nationalist Saudi first view of the world, said Bernard Haykel, a professor of Near Eastern studies at Princeton. --With assistance from Matthew Martin and Sylvia Westall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Myrtle Beach has been ranked among the top dangerous beaches in the U.S. It was the only South Carolina beach listed among 25 in a study by the law firm White Law. Myrtle Beach ranked No. 20. The other 24 were beaches in Florida, with New Smyrna Beach, Panama City Beach and Daytona Beach taking the top three spots. The study looked at the number of hurricanes, shark attacks and surf zone fatalities of beaches across the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the study, Myrtle Beach has had 24 surf fatalities, 24 shark attacks and 33 hurricanes based on information recorded through 2023. The information for shark attacks came from The Shark Research Institute and its incident log of reported cases across the world, which dates back to 1845. The most recent one listed for Myrtle Beach was in September 2023, according to the site. However, it appears that the study may have included other beaches in the Myrtle Beach area, including North Myrtle Beach and Surfside Beach in its calculations, but most of the attacks were listed as Myrtle Beach on the incident log of attacks. The number of surf zone fatalities and hurricanes were gathered from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The study showed that although shark attacks are low, the most dangerous beach finding were hurricanes and storms, which cause dangerous rip currents and storm surge. The Myrtle Beach area has been plagued this year with strong rip currents and surf, which has caused officials to post red flags at many of the beaches. The flags indicate the safety risk of swimming in the ocean. Because of the strong currents, police agencies responded to several ocean-related calls. In North Myrtle Beach, beach patrol had 72 rescues involving 114 people through Nov. 22, 2024, according to North Myrtle Beach Police spokesman Officer Patrick Wilkinson. There were also 1,781 preventative actions, including swimmers or rip currents involving 16,288 people, Wilkinson said by text. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Horry County Beach Patrol had 15,849 calls for service through Nov. 24, 2024, and 19,681 calls in 2023. This is all calls to beach patrol, not just rescues or on the sand, according to a text by Horry County spokesperson Mikayla Moskov. Myrtle Beach beach patrol had 100 surf assists or rescues, which were any water-related incidents that didnt involve a person losing consciousness or drowning, from Jan. 1, 2023, through Nov. 19, 2024, according to information provided through a Freedom of Information Act request. There were 17 drowning incidents, which were categorized as when a victim enters the water, loses consciousness, and either is resuscitated and survives or is not resuscitated and dies. The Sun News reported at least three drownings this year that resulted in a death. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz once again assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of Germany's solidarity in a telephone call on Friday. "We will continue our military support for Ukraine in close coordination with our European and international partners," Scholz said in a post of X after the call. The chancellor said he had agreed with Zelensky to remain in contact "also with a view to possible paths to a just peace" to end Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the phone call, Zelensky thanked Scholz for Germany's help and support, particularly with air defence weapons, in a post on his Telegram channel. Zelensky said that Scholz also informed him of the details of his recent telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "It is obvious that only the strength of arms and the strength of diplomacy can force the perpetrator of the war to make peace and that this peace can only be achieved through strength," Zelensky wrote. Scholz held an hour-long phone conversation with Putin in mid-November, the first conversation between the two leaders in nearly two years. Zelensky subsequently criticized Scholz for speaking with Putin, accusing the chancellor of undermining Putin's international isolation and opening "Pandora's box." German Chancellor Olaf Scholz once again assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of Germany's solidarity in a telephone call on Friday. "We will continue our military support for Ukraine in close coordination with our European and international partners," Scholz said in a post of X after the call. The chancellor said he had agreed with Zelensky to remain in contact "also with a view to possible paths to a just peace" to end Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the phone call, Zelensky thanked Scholz for Germany's help and support, particularly with air defence weapons, in a post on his Telegram channel. Zelensky said that Scholz also informed him of the details of his recent telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "It is obvious that only the strength of arms and the strength of diplomacy can force the perpetrator of the war to make peace and that this peace can only be achieved through strength," Zelensky wrote. Scholz held an hour-long phone conversation with Putin in mid-November, the first conversation between the two leaders in nearly two years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelensky subsequently criticized Scholz for speaking with Putin, accusing the chancellor of undermining Putin's international isolation and opening "Pandora's box." Russian defence minister in North Korea Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov, meanwhile, reaffirmed the good relations between his country and North Korea at a meeting with his counterpart No Kwang Chol in Pyongyang. The Russian state news agency TASS reported on Friday that Belousov had stated cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang in the military field is actively expanding. TASS reported that Belousov recalled the recently signed treaty on a comprehensive strategic partnership. He praised the good relations between the two countries and their governments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The comprehensive strategic partnership between Russia and North Korea is aimed at reducing the risk of war in north-east Asia, he added. The Russian Defence Ministry published a video of Belousov's arrival at the airport in Pyongyang. Russia and North Korea have moved closer together against the backdrop of the international sanctions imposed on both countries. In this context, military cooperation has come in for particular criticism. Pyongyang is said not only to have supplied Moscow with artillery ammunition and missiles, but also to have sent more than 10,000 soldiers to the war zone on Russia's border with Ukraine. General: Ukraine energy at risk German Major General Christian Freuding, the military chief coordinator of the German Ukraine Aid organization, sees the energy supply in Ukraine as being increasingly at risk due to targeted Russian attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Freuding also made it clear that he does not expect the early winter weather in the combat zones to provide much relief for the country's defenders. The effects of the so-called mud season before the onset of hard frost had "not been as severe" in the Donbass region as in the past two winters, he said in a Bundeswehr video. Further deliveries of spare parts and generators are needed, as is material support for the Ukrainian military. He mentioned equipping newly formed units, as well as air defence and anti-aircraft defence. "The will of the Ukrainian population and the Ukrainian military to win this war remains unbroken. But of course there is exhaustion," said Freuding. Bodies of soldiers exchanged The bodies of 502 Ukrainian soldiers killed in the fight against the Russian invasion were returned by Russian on Friday as part of an exchange mediated by the International Red Cross. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Coordination Staff for Prisoner of War Matters, 64 of the soldiers were killed in the southern Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhya and a further 24 in the Luhansk region in the east of the country. Another 17 of the soldiers were killed in Russia. In August, Ukrainian units advanced into the Russian border region of Kursk. They still hold an area of several hundred square kilometres. According to Russian media reports, Russia received the bodies of 48 Russian soldiers in return. At the beginning of November, 563 bodies of soldiers were handed over to the Ukrainian side. Due to the Russian advance, particularly in the Donetsk region, the Ukrainian army is not always able to recover its dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine has been defending itself against a full-scale Russian invasion for over two and a half years. Harsh sentence for Russian war opponent A Russian military court has sentenced the already detained war opponent Alexei Gorinov to three years in prison for allegedly justifying terrorism. The independent news portal Mediazona reported on Friday that his total prison sentence has been extended by one year to eight years due to the consolidation of the two judgements. However, the judge in Vladimir, around 200 kilometres east of Moscow, ordered the 63-year-old to be transferred to a penal colony with strict prison conditions. The trial lasted only three days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gorinov has been in custody since 2022 for allegedly discrediting the Russian army and is considered to be in poor health. The then-member of a Moscow district assembly was one of the first people in Russia to be sentenced to prison without probation for allegedly discrediting the Russian army. He had called for a minute's silence at a meeting "for the victims of the current military aggression in Ukraine." The new trial was based on witness statements from fellow prisoners in which Gorinov is said to have justified Ukraine's defensive action and the blowing up of the Crimean bridge. After the start of the Ukraine war, the Russian parliament significantly tightened legislation as part of a crackdown on anti-war activists. Hundreds of people have been convicted for criticizing the war. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been vindicated by the release of an internal strategy paper from his former coalition partner, the pro-business liberal Free Democrats (FDP), a spokesman for the chancellor said on Friday. The FDP strategy paper makes clear that Scholz made the right decision to sack ex-finance minister Christian Lindner, a top leader of the party, on November 6, according to deputy government spokesman Wolfgang Buchner. The paper detailed scenarios how the FDP might quit the squabbling three-party coalition government with Scholz's centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens. Lindner's firing prompted the collapse of the coalition and is almost certain to lead to early elections in February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The chancellor feels confirmed in his decision by the current publications, and he thinks that he made the right decision in this context," Buchner told journalists in Berlin. In response to follow-up questions from journalists, Buchner could not say whether Scholz had been informed about the FDP's detailed internal strategy plan before dismissing Lindner. Headings on the paper appeared to describe quitting the government as "D-Day" and laid out several phases for the exit, the last of which was "start of open warfare." Hatful of Sorrow You've probably heard all about orcas' daring feats, like sinking yachts. But are you aware that they can be quite dashing, too? Yep. It appears that these snazzy cetaceans are fond of wearing "hats" in the form of dead salmon on their snouts, and sometimes other fish. First observed in 1987, the morbid fashion trend quickly came and went like so many questionable choices in dress but like baggy trousers, it now it appears to be back in style again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As New Scientist reports, photographers have spotted killer whales donning salmon hats off the coast of the Pacific Northwest, reigniting debate about why orcas exhibit this puzzling behavior. "Honestly, your guess is as good as mine," Deborah Giles, the science and research director at the non-profit Wild Orca, told New Scientist. "We saw one with a fish on its head," she described. "So that was fun it's been a while since I've personally seen it." Boast to Coast As New Scientist notes, only west coast orcas appear to favor dressing this way. East coasters, it seems, are either too cool or too demode to bother. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because orcas can live up to ninety years, it's possible that it's the same trendsetter from nearly four decades ago or its acolytes that's reviving the salmon hats. Who knew that orcas had fashion icons of their own? "It does seem possible that some individuals that experienced [the behavior the] first time around may have started it again," Andrew Foote, an evolutionary ecologist at the University of Oslo, Norway, told New Scientist. Fishful Thinking In reality, there could be a practical reason behind the hats. Perhaps this is how the orcas set aside some food for later after an especially plentiful hunt. "We've seen mammal-eating killer whales carry large chunks of food under their pectoral fin, kind of tucked in next to their body," Giles told New Scientist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Either way, it's a testament to the intelligence of the creatures, which are social to such an almost primate degree that they develop their own cultures. It's this cultural bent and the trends that come with it that's believed to be responsible for how orcas not only began attacking human vessels, but learned how to immobilize and even sink them. Nevertheless, it'll take more observations to bear out the saving-a-snack hypothesis which Giles suggests could be done with camera-equipped drones. "Over time, we may be able to gather enough information to show that, for instance, one carried a fish hat for 30 minutes or so, and then he ate it," she told New Scientist. More on whales: Footage Shows Orca Blasting SeaWorld Visitors With Liquid Feces Every week, without fail, specially-modified light aircraft take off from an air strip in Panama and head out over the jungle carrying a unique payload. On board are millions of male flies that have been bred, raised and sterilised with radiation to become unwitting foot soldiers in the battle against an enemy named the man devourer. For decades, scientists have been quietly fighting to eradicate the new world screw worm a species of fly that lays its eggs in the open wounds of warm-blooded animals, causing agonising injuries, infections and death as the larvae eat their hosts from the inside out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the most severe cases, the only course of action available if the larvae burrow into a human victim is to administer morphine and start digging them out with a scalpel. The fly, which was given the name man devourer (Cochliomyia hominivorax) after a spate of horrific outbreaks in a French penal colony in the 1800s, could once be found all over the Americas. But since the eradication programme first began in 1957, it has been gradually pushed back until now. The culmination of the eradication effort is a kind of invisible wall across central America where the Darien gap creates a natural break between Panama and Colombia. Its here where the aircraft drop their cargo, carpet-bombing the jungle with millions of sterile flies that pair with females. Because the flies only mate once in their life cycle, the mass distribution of sterile males kills them off locally and stops them spreading. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now though, the wall built at a cost of over a billion dollars appears to be crumbling. Earlier this year Costa Rica declared a national emergency after the flies mysteriously gained a foothold in the country again for the first time since the 1990s. Thousands of cases of screw worm infection have been detected in cattle in Panama, even though it was declared screw worm-free in 2006. And this week the US suspended imports of cattle from Mexico after a case was reported in Catazaja, a small town in the southern state of Chiapas. The renewed spread of the fly poses a danger not just to humans but hundreds of billions of dollars worth of livestock. The same scientists who have dedicated their lives to eradicating the screw fly are now racing to understand the resurgence which has caused alarm among the farmers of Central America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The return of the screw worm menace has also energised calls for an even more ambitious eradication programme using a gene drive to wipe out the flies once and for all, setting up a clash between scientists and the Catholic church. The specially-modified light aircraft takes off from an air strip in Panama and flies over the jungle carrying a unique payload - COPEG Farmers on the brink Jaqueline Calderon is the general manager of the Pana Rubber company, which has a herd of around 500 cattle scattered over several farms in Panamas Darien and central Veraguas provinces. Her company has had to deal with around 45 cases of screw worm since first detecting an infestation in January 2024, and she says it would be disastrous if the screw worm became the new normal. We already have such slim margins. The screw worm would increase our costs, and it would get very complicated. More than anything its just labour intensive monitoring the herds and treating them when they get sick and that is the big cost, having to hire more people, she told The Telegraph. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her cows each cost around $500 and she said has already employed two people to monitor the herds. The guys have to be constantly monitoring the herds, every day. Thank god we havent lost any animals yet! Other farmers have not been so lucky. Every farm in Costa Rica has been affected by the resurgence of screwworm - John Coletti/Getty Luis Diego Obando, the general manager of the Costa Rican cattle ranchers association, said there had been an exponential explosion of infestations in the country in the last six months. Every farm in the country has been affected, he said, mainly beef and dairy cows but also in herds of sheep and goats. There have also been several cases in humans, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also fears the true scale of the problem in Costa Rica may be larger than the figures suggest. Farmers will call the authorities about the first few cases, but after that they often stop notifying them, he said. After the eggs are laid in a wound, which could be a scratch from a barbed wire fence, a recently severed umbilical cord, or even a tick-bite, it can take one or two days before the larvae emerge and are easy to detect. This makes monitoring for signs of an infestation a painstaking job each animal in a herd has to be inspected every day, rather than just checked on once or twice a week, said Mr Obando. But the signs of parasitic infection, called myiasis, are there if you know what to look for. Infected animals stop eating, begin to appear weak and have a disagreeable smell, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once an infection is found, the larvae have to be dug out by hand and dropped into a bucket of chlorinated water to make sure they are dead before the wound can be cleaned with disinfectant. Its not enjoyable work, he said. Some blame the resurgence on higher temperatures, which have created better conditions for the flies - Ramdan Fatoni/iStockphoto Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Obando also warned that the flies could be feasting at will on wild animals, which do not have farmers to look after them and tend their wounds. We also need to be monitoring wildlife. Ranchers keep an eye on their herds but whos doing that with the tapirs, deer, jaguars and raccoons? The eradication project is run by a joint commission of Panamas agricultural department and the US Department of Agriculture known as COPEG, or the Comision PanamaEstados Unidos para la Erradicacion y Prevencion del Gusano Barrenador del Ganado. COPEG is now working to reverse the advance of the screw worm by re-establishing a barrier of sterile flies across Honduras and then pushing them back to the Darien gap again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But there appears to be little hope of relief for Central American farmers in the short term Ms Calderon has heard that this is expected to take up to seven years. Why have the flies returned? Scientists are rushing to understand why their great wall is crumbling. Some blame higher temperatures caused by climate change, which have created better conditions for the flies, while others have pointed the finger at deforestation and more livestock farming in the Darien gap. Recent migration trends are also seen as a possible cause. The thinking is [the resurgence] coincided with this mass movement of people across the border hundreds, thousands every day crossing that border through the Darien gap, said Maxwell Scott, an entomologist at North Carolina State University. Some believe the resurgence coincides with the mass migration of people through the Darien gap - Matias Delacroix/AP Its been suggested that a migrant travelling up from South America could have carried the infection with them, or even a dog following a caravan of people through the jungle towards the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think it had to be humans helping them move through Panama, Prof Scott said of the flies. Animal rights activists have also blamed another human factor illegal cattle trafficking as the cause for the rapid spread of the flies back through Central America. Major screwworm outbreak hotspots closely mirror cattle smuggling routes, Jeremy Radachowsky, the Wildlife Conservation Societys Regional Director for Mesoamerica, said in a statement. This unregulated cross-border movement has created a rapid corridor for the parasite, allowing it to travel nearly 700 miles from the Nicaragua-Honduras border to Catazaja, Mexico in just two and a half months A lack of familiarity with the scourge of the flies could also be why they have re-emerged. Part of the problem is that theres a generation that has never seen this before. Theyre used to other [veterinary] issues, but this is completely new for them, said Dr Victor Montenegro, professor of veterinary medicine at Costa Ricas National University. Dr Bridget McFarland, the technical director of COPEG, said: For a lot of people, this was just a topic in a book. They thought it had already been solved. Its also possible that the eradication effort itself could be failing. It was raised right at the beginning that somehow the flies in the field could develop a behavioral resistance, that the females would somehow recognise the sterilised males as factory produced, and that they wouldnt mate with them, said Prof Scott. While there is no evidence for this, its a theoretical possibility, he said, adding that it was also not clear why the flies had not been brought back under control despite COPEGs best efforts. Production of sterile flies has been ramped up dramatically, and the factory in Panama now churns out around 90 million flies every week, but still the species is spreading. Theyre releasing so many flies now. I dont know why the outbreak is not yet under control, said Prof Scott. Gene drive The re-emergence of the flies has given new urgency to projects which seek to use genetic engineering to wipe them out completely. Kevin Esvelt, an American biologist, is one of the foremost proponents of using gene drives to solve ancient problems like the screw worm. Hes been preoccupied by these ideas since he was a child. I got into this when I was quite young. My parents took me to the Galapagos I was very interested in nature and got me reading Darwin, he told The Telegraph. I wanted to learn how to create creatures of similar beauty. But even back then, I noticed that there was an awful lot of suffering in nature, and I wondered if we could do without that. Now an associate professor at MIT, he is working on a project in Uruguay to use CRISPR, a gene editing technology, to effectively hijack the laws of inheritance and give the flies a hereditary defect that would wipe them out completely. The plan is to create a group of engineered males carrying edited genes that would render females in successive generations infertile. Over generations, more and more female screw worms would inherit the edited genes and become sterile, leading to a population crash. The current technology, known as the sterile insect technique (SIT), is not working, he said. Its not enough, because a lot of people in South America, a lot of animals in South America, are suffering quite severely and we just lost control, and the screw worm is spreading into Central America again, so there are a lot of reasons to try something different. He warned, however, that a gene drive would not be a silver bullet for the screw worm problem, and would require a massive international effort to be successful in eradicating the flies for good. You are going to need on the ground efforts to try to get to full eradication in every area, he said. It is going to require the cooperation of every nation. The gene drive would also have to be designed in such a way as to account for genetic mutations that arise to block it, and may have to be carried out in different stages. If youre building a gene drive to suppress the population, youre putting tremendous evolutionary pressure in favor of any mutations that arise that can block the drive system, he explained. Perhaps the biggest hurdle standing in the way of a gene drive is the controversy that surrounds the idea of intervening in nature to such an extent. True gene drives have yet to be tested outside of laboratory conditions, and there are significant fears over unintended consequences that could arise from enacting one. In a gene drive, the altered genes are intended to be passed down through subsequent generations and spread through a population, meaning the release of even a small number of animals could eventually kill off a species. Millions of male flies have been bred, raised and sterilised with radiation - COPEG This goes a step beyond other programmes that are already using genetic engineering to target insects, like the mosquitoes developed by Oxitec which have genetic modifications that will self-cancel, meaning that batches of engineered mosquitoes have to be released continuously to control populations. Scientists who promote gene drives are often accused of playing God an accusation that carries a powerful resonance in devoutly Catholic South America. Youre not going to get agreement on this without at least the tacit support of the Catholic Church, said Prof Esvelt. But Prof Esvelt says there is actually scriptural precedent from the book of Genesis justifying an intervention on this scale. The relevant scripture is actually: God brought the beasts to man to see what he would name them. That was the first collaborative act of creation rather than a direct commandment, he said. You can argue, and people have, that this incurs an obligation to shepherd those species that we named. The screw worm is one of four species that Prof Esvelt thinks would be ideal candidates for eradication through gene drives. The others are malarial mosquitoes, the trematode worm that causes Schistosomiasis and the desert locust. For locusts, we could just turn off swarming and keep them as harmless grasshoppers and thereby tame Gods eighth biblical plague, he said. But I think the screw worm is rather a worse plague upon the earth and its creatures than the locust ever was. Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Seaweed Sedan Mountains of brown, sludgy sargassum, an invasive species of seaweed, have rendered popular beaches in the Caribbean into an unsightly mess. The situation has become so dire that Barbados' prime minister Mia Mottley declared the invasion a national emergency in 2018. But there could be a silver lining, the BBC reports: scientists say sargassum could be a lucrative source of biogas, turning the fibrous species into a fuel that can power converted combustion engine cars. A group of Caribbean scientists recently launched the first-ever vehicles converted to run on the stuff a creative endeavor that turns a dire environmental crisis into a golden opportunity. Biogas Boon The team at the University of the West Indies (UWI) in Barbados developed a conversion kit that can turn a conventional gas-powered car into one that runs on the seaweed product for just $2,500. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Tourism has suffered a lot from the seaweed; hotels have been spending millions on tackling it," UWI lecturer and renewable energy expert Legena Henry told the BBC. The team combined rum distillery wastewater with sargassum inside a bioreactor and found that it produced plenty of usable biogas. "Within just two weeks we got pretty good results," UWI student Brittney McKenzie, who was tasked with collecting the seaweed, told the broadcaster. "It was turning into something even bigger than we initially thought." Sargassum has become a major problem, threatening not just local endangered wildlife but even human health due to the hydrogen sulfide it releases as it decomposes. Climate change is also allowing its population to explode, covering many Caribbean beaches entirely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "By repurposing it in vehicles you protect tourism and prevent people from inhaling it," biologist Shamika Spencer, who worked on the project, told the BBC. "When we scale up to fuel more vehicles it will require a very large volume." But the resulting sargassum-based biofuel won't be a magic fix for a growing environmental crisis. "My goal is to help build up this region," Henry added. "We are now setting up a four-car pilot to demonstrate real-life working prototypes to convince funders that this is workable and scalable." More on biogas: A Cruise Line Plans to Power Its Ships with Dead Fish Rescuers and people search for bodies of victims after a mudslide in the mountainous district of Bulambuli, eastern Uganda, on Nov. 29, 2024. The death toll in the Wednesday night mudslide that hit several villages in the eastern Ugandan district of Bulambuli has risen to 20, a police spokesperson said Friday. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua) KAMPALA, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- The death toll in the Wednesday night mudslide that hit several villages in the eastern Ugandan district of Bulambuli has risen to 20, a police spokesperson said Friday. Rogers Taitika, a spokesperson of Elgon region police, told Xinhua over the telephone that a total of 20 dead bodies have been retrieved from the scene. Taitika said more than 100 people are still believed to be missing after the calamity, which was triggered by torrential rains and buried over 40 houses and partially damaged others. He said 21 people were rescued and are now undergoing treatment. "We are continuing with the operations. We have several teams on the ground to help with the operations," he said. Landslides and mudslides have become frequent in Uganda during seasons of heavy rainfall. In August, more than 30 people lost their lives in a landslide at a garbage dump site in central Uganda, following days of torrential rain. Earlier in May, landslides in the western district of Kasese killed eight people. Rescuers and people search for bodies of victims after a mudslide in the mountainous district of Bulambuli, eastern Uganda, on Nov. 29, 2024. The death toll in the Wednesday night mudslide that hit several villages in the eastern Ugandan district of Bulambuli has risen to 20, a police spokesperson said Friday. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua) People search for bodies of victims after a mudslide in the mountainous district of Bulambuli, eastern Uganda, on Nov. 29, 2024. The death toll in the Wednesday night mudslide that hit several villages in the eastern Ugandan district of Bulambuli has risen to 20, a police spokesperson said Friday. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua) Scientists are developing a portable sensor which would be capable of detecting skin cancers from chemicals released by the skin. The team from Bournemouth University (BU) and University Hospitals Dorset has launched a three-year study at Poole Hospital in Britain to examine how to create the rapid sensor, which would not need specialist training to use. A BU spokesman explained skin cancer sites are known to release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) organic chemicals which easily evaporate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said: "The study aims to identify the VOCs which are specific to skin cancers and develop a rapid, portable device which can detect them." Richard Paul, professor of bioanalytical chemistry at the university, who is leading the study, said: "People with suspected skin cancer usually present at their GP surgery, where a doctor is tasked with making a visual assessment before deciding whether to refer the patient for specialist assessment. "Skin cancers can be difficult to diagnose, and as such the rates of unnecessary referrals for specialist assessment are high. "Our research towards the development of a rapid sensor, specific to skin cancers and deployable in a point of care, device is an exciting prospect, which would enable rapid detection of skin cancer in primary care, enhancing patient triage and improving patient outcomes." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project follows a pilot study which developed a custom extraction device to capture the VOCs released from skin cancer sites. The spokesman said: "The trial developed a non-invasive approach for VOC collection from skin cancer patients which can be used during routine appointments and revealed the potential VOC biomarkers associated with skin cancers. Prof Paul added: "Our latest funding will allow us to validate this approach over a major three-year clinical study on skin cancer patients, and to undertake work to develop new portable skin cancer detection technology for use in primary care. "Our vision is a user-friendly, rapid sensor capable of detecting skin cancers which does not require specialist training to use. "Such a device could be confidently used by a range of medical professionals in primary care, including nurses, and would enhance the detection of skin cancers." A 38-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after crashing his car into a utility pole early Friday morning in Seattle, according to the Seattle Police Department. The incident occurred at 5:21 a.m. in the 3800 block of Rainier Avenue South. Responding officers found the car heavily damaged and leaking fluids while blocking both southbound lanes of the road. The utility pole sustained extensive damage, requiring a full replacement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seattle Fire Department personnel were already on the scene when police arrived, providing medical aid to the driver, who suffered a significant forehead laceration. The driver requested an ambulance and was transported to Harborview Medical Center for treatment. During their investigation, officers determined the driver was under the influence. A warrant was obtained for a blood draw, which was executed while the driver remained in custody. After completing the blood draw, the driver was released from custody. Seattle Department of Transportation video courtesy safetyvid.com. The Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln. (Rebecca S. Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN A task force seeking a Nebraska way to reduce prison overcrowding and avoid repeat crimes by inmates is calling for a deeper dive into ways to improve post-release supervision and reduce the number of inmates serving short sentences. State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha. Oct. 28, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) The Nebraska Sentencing Reform Task Force, which was formed by a 2023 criminal justice law, issued its annual report in November, calling for more study of possible reforms with the intention of introducing proposals during the 2026 legislative session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members of the task force expressed differing views on whether meaningful reforms will ever be adopted. State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, who is term-limited, said that while task force members have been working together, now it comes down to the politics, I dont know if well have strong enough willpower to get something done. Wayne, the chairman of the Legislatures Judiciary Committee, has long argued that doing nothing will mean the state will need to build not one but two $350 million-plus prisons to handle the anticipated increase in inmates by 2030. Facility master plan A Facility Master Plan for the Nebraska Department of Corrections, released in 2023, stated that Nebraska would still have 1,300 more inmates than its prisons were designed to hold after a new, 1,500-bed facility is completed north of Lincoln. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A second new prison would be needed by 2030, said Dewberry,the consultant who produced the master plan. Meanwhile, a report earlier this year by the Center for Justice Research at the University of Nebraska at Omaha said the state could avoid building a second new prison if short-timers sat out their sentences in county jails or were sentenced to other alternatives rather than going to prison. In February, the Nebraska Department of Corrections joined a national effort called Reentry 2030 with an aim to reduce the states recidivism rate from 28% to 18% by 2030. Goals include increasing participation in educational and rehabilitation programs and ensuring job placement once inmates finish their sentence or are paroled. Another task force member, Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson, said hes optimistic that effective reforms can be adopted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he would support looking at how Texas handles inmates with short sentences, in state-run county jails, and said providing inmates with marketable job skills is key. Were never going to break that cycle of crime unless we give inmates the skills so they can live a life of dignity, Hanson said. Everybody realizes that what we need are more options, both on the front end (probation and diversion) and the back end (parole and post-release supervision), he said. Rocky history with reform Omaha Sen. Terrell McKinney, who co-chairs the task force with Attorney General Mike Hilgers, said he shares Waynes concerns but remains hopeful, despite recent setbacks for sentencing reform proposals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its the only way I can stay sane, McKinney said of his optimism. The data (for sentencing reform) has been there, but people didnt trust it. To be sure, Nebraskas history with sentencing reform has been rocky. Two nationally recognized authorities on reducing prison overcrowding, the Justice Center of the Council of State Governments and the nonprofit Crime and Justice Institute, have conducted lengthy studies in recent years, leading to recommended changes in sentences to cut costs and prison crowding. But many of the recommendations were ultimately rejected by state lawmakers as soft on crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That has led reform advocates such as McKinney and Wayne to state that without changes, Nebraska will be forced to build another expensive new prison like the 1,500-bed facility now rising just north of LIncoln. Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson. Aug. 5, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) As of this summer, state prisons held about 1,800 more inmates than they were designed to house, and Nebraska continues to have one of the most overcrowded prison systems in the nation. The latest rejected recommendations, in 2023, led to amending a proposal, Legislative Bill 50, to create the sentencing reform task force. It was charged with devising a Nebraska way to reduce prison populations and improve outcomes for inmates released back into society. The task force took testimony in recent months from state corrections, parole and probation officials, as well as corrections staff, former inmates and victims of crime. Over 90% will leave prison Improving reentry success is important because more than 90% of all prison inmates will leave prisons eventually. State Sen. Terrell McKinney of Omaha. Aug. 15, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) Within three years, more than 28% of inmates released will commit new crimes, returning them behind bars, according to the latest state data. This recidivism rate has declined from a high of 31% in 2017. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The task force report stated that treating inmates mental illnesses remains a huge challenge. The report said approximately 1,709 inmates in Nebraska state prisons or about 29% of all inmates have a serious mental health illness, ranging from major depressive disorder and schizophrenia to bipolar disorder. Improving care, the report said, could help reduce recidivism. The 16-page task force report recommended a deep dive into two areas specifically: How to improve success of post-release supervision, such as parole, by providing better quality jobs and housing for departing inmates, as well as preparing them for simple tasks like paying bills and handling leases. How to better handle short-timers, or inmates serving less than one year in state prison. This population puts a significant burden on one of the states most overcrowded facilities, the Reception and Treatment Center in Lincoln, where short-sentence inmates are held. The RTC, according to the most recent statistics, was holding about 1,477 inmates a night, far beyond its design capacity of 884. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report recommended looking at alternatives to prison, such as ankle monitors and home confinement, or having people serving their time in county jails. Hanson said its a balancing act: providing rehabilitation for those inmates who truly want to change their lives while protecting the public. A lot of moving parts McKinney, who was recently re-elected to a second four-year term in his North Omaha district, said he plans to introduce bills in the 2025 session to keep alive a discussion of sentencing reforms. The task force report stated that once more study is completed, the task force may have proposals to introduce in the 2026 legislative session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hanson said sentencing reform is complicated, with a lot of moving parts, so it takes time to develop proposals. McKinney added that extra time may increase understanding of the issues. State Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln. (Courtesy of Bosn campaign) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People want to take more time and get to a space where they can understand it, he said, adding that many of his proposals are an uphill climb. Wayne, who will leave office in January, said hes not optimistic as he sees the Legislature taking a more pro-prosecutor stance. Lincoln Sen. Carolyn Bosn, a former deputy county attorney, is seen as the probable new chair of the Judiciary Committee, which crafts criminal justice proposals. She would be the first prosecutor to hold that position in recent decades. Past Judiciary Committee chairs have been defense attorneys, such as Sens. Steve Lathrop, Brad Ashford and Kermit Brashear. Bosn did not return phone messages left by the Examiner on Tuesday and Wednesday. 817_20241115-163929 SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The collisions occurred on Monday, Nov. 25 as holiday week travel was kicking off Getty Boston Logan Airport Four planes were involved in two separate collisions at Boston Logan International Airport on Monday before Thanksgiving, causing confusion for some travelers kicking off the holiday week. The first collision occurred at around noon on Nov. 25 when an American Airlines flight that had just arrived from London Heathrow Airport and was pulling into its gate when it clipped the wing tip of a parked Frontier plane, American Airlines said in a statement to PEOPLE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were no reported injuries as a result of the incident, the airline said, adding that the aircraft involved has been removed from service so it can be inspected. Frontier Airlines told PEOPLE in a statement that 200 passengers were on board at the time but none reported injuries. Ozzy Palchik, a Frontier passenger, told local outlet WCVB that, It was like a bump, kind of. Then we were just waiting and the pilot said that there was an incident with the plane next to us." NBC Boston reported that the Frontier plane was supposed to fly to Dallas but that everyone onboard had to be rebooked after the aircraft sustained damage. Getty Images Boston Logan Airport Boston Logan Airport All of a sudden we just felt this... I didn't know what it was, passenger April OBrien told the outlet. I'm like, 'What's that?' and then all of a sudden, I looked out the window, it was right outside my window. The American Airlines went right into our wing, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Federal Aviation Administration says it is investigating the collision as well as another that occurred at the same airport a few hours later. At 6:15 p.m., a JetBlue plane was being towed when the towing vehicle struck the back of a Cape Air plane that was waiting to park at a gate, the Massachusetts Port Authority said. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The Massachusetts Port Authority says both incidents were minor and occurred at low rates of speed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It was an absolute mess, there were lights everywhere," Caroline Agid, a passenger who was supposed to board the JetBlue flight, told WCVB. The outlet further reported that the scheduled JetBlue flight, bound for Orlando, was delayed for hours as a result. A college police sergeant was killed after a wrong-way crash on I-95 in Massachusetts, reported by our sister station Boston 25. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Officers responded to a Tesla traveling south on northbound I-95 a little after midnight, Massachusetts State Police say. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State troopers and New Hampshire State Police saw the Tesla driving the wrong way through the Newburyport area, and prepared a tire-deflation device in Georgetown. Before the Tesla reached the tire-deflation device, it struck Endicott College Police Sergeant Jeremy Coles Chevrolet Trailblazer in Newbury. Cole, 49, was pronounced dead at the scene and later identified. According to Endicott College Police, Sgt. Jeremy Cole, while driving home early on Thanksgiving when he was struck. On behalf of the Public Safety & Police Department at Endicott College, I wish to express our deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the family of Sgt. Cole, said Kerry Ramsdell, Chief of Endicott College Police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is an incredibly difficult time for our department. We are heartbroken by this unimaginable loss. Sgt. Cole was not only a dedicated public servant and prior recipient of a lifesaving award, but also a cherished member of our team, Ramsdell added. The driver of the Tesla sustained serious injuries and was MedFlighted to a Boston hospital. He is expected to face charges at a later time. On this Thanksgiving Day, our hearts are with the family, friends, and loved ones of a police officer who reported for duty keeping the rest of us safe and secure but did not return home, Ramsdell said. We are committed to supporting them in any way we can through this unimaginable grief. The crash remains under investigation. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] HONOLULU (KHON2) Ensuring everyone gets to share in the holiday blessings is a community effort. This Thanksgiving was all about sharing the love. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Lanakila Meals on Wheels delivered over 600 meals all across Oahu with the help of almost 200 volunteers. During the holidays, the loneliness can hit a little harder. A conversation with Jo Koy: Its a blessing to be back in Hawaii Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats why we make an extra effort to deliver these fresh, warm meals, stated Carla Kida, a volunteer. Some families skipped breakfast to enjoy a hot meal at the Blaisdell. The Salvation Armys 52nd annual Thanksgiving meal even served about 1,500 meals. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news We have a little over 700 volunteers here at the Blaisdell today, which means that Oahu cares for its community and so above all else, it really brings joy to your heart, stated Major Troy Timmer, Divisional Commander. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. EAU CLAIRE A man facing multiple felony cases in Eau Claire appears to be nearing a plea agreement. Dane Weber, 25, Eau Claire, faces charges in four felony cases, ranging from strangulation and suffocation to third degree sexual assault. He was also a passenger in a vehicle chase that saw speeds reach 120 mph this past June. A previous hearing involving the cases saw Webers attorney ask for adjournment and noted a settlement conference scheduled for Nov. 13. On Tuesday, he again asked for adjournment, telling the court the sides are closing in on an agreement. Another settlement conference is scheduled for Dec. 30, and a hearing is set for Jan. 6, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sexual assault charge is the most serious of those filed against Weber, carrying the potential for a decade in prison. The criminal complaint in that case said police responded after dispatchers received a 911 call. The caller did not speak directly to dispatchers, but they heard her tell someone stop and get off. The woman told officers Weber began hitting and choking her when she refused to show him her cell phone. He believed she was cheating on him. She said he sexually assaulted her, then left when he saw she had called for help. While the case was filed in June, it wasnt the first. In May, Weber was charged with battery and disorderly conduct. In April another charge of strangulation and suffocation was filed, along with counts of disorderly conduct and damage to property. SCRANTON Seven of nine people arrested in Operation Deep Blue C earlier this month and charged with various drug-trafficking, weapons-related and corrupt organization offenses are headed for court. Joanne Gaetano, 60, Lakee Harris, 45, Lawrence Myers, 37 and Nichole Young, 34, all of Scranton; Dwight Smith, 50, of Dickson City ; Lee Wood, 47, of Pittston; and Damion Williams, 44, of Carbondale waived their preliminary hearings earlier this month. Keith Fox, 47, of Scranton and Jermaine Wilson, 43, of Mercer have preliminary hearings scheduled for Dec. 5. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The nine are alleged to be affiliated with the Crips street gang, with illegal operations centering around the Blue Face Global Hookah Lounge on North Main Avenue, District Attorney Mark Powell said at a press conference announcing the arrests Nov. 12. * JOANNE GAETANO * LAWRENCE MYERS * DWIGHT SMITH * DAMION WILLIAMS * LEE WOOD * NICOLE YOUNG * LAKEE HARRIS Show Caption 1 of 7 JOANNE GAETANO Expand Law enforcement officials initiated the investigation in January after learning Harris and Williams were dealing cocaine and marijuana in Scranton, with many of the transactions occurring in and around the Blue Face Lounge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lounge was routinely referred to as the spot in text messages intercepted by law enforcement officers. Officers used confidential informants who made multiple illegal drug purchases from Harris, Smith and Williams over the course of several months, according to the criminal complaint. Officers noted Harris made multiple trips to New York City, a known location for the sale of illegal substances. Harris would often return from the city early in the morning, when he believed law enforcement coverage was at a minimum, according to the complaint. On Feb. 8, state police installed a surveillance camera on Charles Street, which allowed them to observe Harriss residence in real time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to law enforcement officers, Wood would get drugs from Harris on consignment and then distribute them, often with the help of Young. Wood and Young would then meet with Harris to complete repayment and restock their drug supply, according to the complaint. Wilson spoke with Harris and Williams multiple times during the investigation, often using coded language to order controlled substances and indicate where they would meet, officers said. Wilson would indicated that he needed to be resupplied and often visit the Blue Face Lounge to complete his purchase, according to the complaint. Fox spoke with Harris and Williams 75 times via phone calls and text messages, often arranging drug purchases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Aug. 22, investigators served a search warrant of Foxs residence and found pill manufacturing equipment, pressed tablets and three pistols, charges read. Myers allegedly spoke with Harris 25 times during the investigation and was both a customer and secondary supplier of illegal drugs. On Aug. 22, officials served a search warrant on Myers residence and found significant amounts of marijuana, cocaine, packaging material and cash, according to the complaint. Gaetano spoke with Harris 350 times through phone calls and text messages. Gaetano, too, often communicated with Harris in code, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On June 8, following a drug purchase from Harris, Gaetano called him and stated, I havent seen chicken this good and roast this good in years. Just wanted to give you a thumbs up buddy. On Aug. 22, law enforcement officers raided the Blue Face Lounge and recovered illegal drugs, guns and paraphernalia. Fox, Williams, Smith, Harris, Wood and Wilson remain at Lackawanna County Prison for inability to post bail amounts, which range from $100,000 to $350,000. Gaetano, Myers and Young are out on bail amounts which range from $100,000 to $200,000. The investigation included the Lackawanna County District Attorneys office, city and state police and Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office. The District Attorneys office obtained a temporary injunction to close down Blue Face Global Hookah Lounge on Nov. 12. A hearing regarding possible permanent closure of the business is scheduled for Dec. 9. A man plays the traditional Chinese musical instrument pipa during an event on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Prague, the Czech Republic, on Nov. 28, 2024. (Photo by Dana Kesnerova/Xinhua) PRAGUE, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- An event on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was held here Thursday to promote wellness and cultural exchange, while celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Czech Republic. Speaking at the event, Chinese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Feng Biao said that the Chinese government attaches importance to promoting TCM, benefiting more people and fostering exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations. Ludmila Bendova, founder of the First School of TCM in Prague where the event was held, noted that over the past 34 years, her school has trained nearly 10,000 TCM students. "Health is a goal everyone strives for. Today's event is meaningful as it allows us to share health information in various forms," she said. The event brought together nearly 100 TCM enthusiasts, and several local people shared their experiences in learning TCM, using it to treat illnesses, and pursuing careers in the field. "We meet here to share experiences together," said Zdenek Chmelka, a TCM student. He described the event as both interesting and inspiring, saying that studying TCM has not only enriched his life but also provided him with a way to help others. Judita Halvova, who has been studying TCM for some 20 years and now works as a TCM practitioner, said Chinese medicine is "a gift" for her. "Chinese medicine is very good at curing chronicle disease. I visited China many times and studied with a Chinese professor. For me, it is really an honor to be a practitioner and help people," she said. Guan Xin, director of the Czech-Chinese Center for TCM Development, said as a TCM doctor he has observed a growing demand for TCM among the Czech public over the past eight years. "The public's need for TCM remains significant, which indicates that TCM has tremendous development potential not only in the Czech Republic but also across Europe," he said, noting that the event allowed the participants to experience TCM concepts up close, and in turn, appreciate the essence of Chinese culture. During the event, some participants also presented performances of traditional Chinese music and demonstrated traditional Chinese exercises such as Tai Chi. People demonstrate traditional Chinese exercise during an event on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Prague, the Czech Republic, on Nov. 28, 2024. (Photo by Dana Kesnerova/Xinhua) A man demonstrates traditional Chinese exercise Tai Chi during an event on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Prague, the Czech Republic, on Nov. 28, 2024. (Photo by Dana Kesnerova/Xinhua) People attend an event on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Prague, the Czech Republic, on Nov. 28, 2024. (Photo by Dana Kesnerova/Xinhua) NAVARRO COUNTY, Texas (FOX 44) Several individuals have been detained at an illegal cockfight in Navarro County. Sheriff Elmer Tanner said late Thursday afternoon that the Sheriffs Office had numerous units on scene in the 4800 block of NW 4210. No further information has been made available. This is a developing story. FOX 44 News will have more information as it becomes available. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. Several people have been injured after a gunman opened fire on a bus near an Israeli settlement in the West Bank. Three people were seriously injured by gunfire and another person suffered moderate injuries, the Israeli rescue service Magen David Adom reported on Friday. Other people were injured by broken glass, it said. The alleged perpetrator opened fire on the Israeli bus, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on X. He was "neutralized" at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Palestinian man was reported dead by the Ministry of Health in Ramallah. The military arm of the Palestinian militant Islamist group Hamas said the attacker was a Hamas member. Hamas has been at war with Israel for more than a year. According to Israeli sources, the attack took place near the settlement of Ariel in the north of the West Bank. Palestinians have been carrying out more and more attacks in Israel and the occupied West Bank for some time. At the same time, there has been a sharp increase in violence by settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank. SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) Its one of San Franciscos biggest annual traditions Glide Memorial Churchs annual Thanksgiving feast to help those in need. Volunteers at Glide in San Franciscos Tenderloin have been busy Thursday serving up a festive meal featuring turkey, ham, and all the fixings. To uphold the Thanksgiving tradition, volunteers began cooking more than 24 hours in advance to prepare thousands of meals. This year, Glide brought back its turkey drive after having to stop four years ago due to the pandemic. Thou Shalt Not Steal: Antioch pastor restrains axe-wielding church burglar Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year is the first Thanksgiving the Glide community will celebrate since the death of its co-founder, Reverend Cecil Williams, who passed away in April at age 94. While Thanksgiving is one of Glides main events, its kitchen feeds the community year-round. Glide is here every day and I always want to reiterate that we are here 364 days a year feeding our communities, supporting our communities, giving services and counseling to our communities, housing people in our community, and today, Thanksgiving is just a culmination of the love and the community, said Glide President and CEO Dr. Gina Fromer. Glide Memorials next holiday meal will take place on Christmas. Health tips for the holidays KRON4s Lezla Gooden spoke with Director of Culinary Medicine at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Dr. Linda Shiue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. What's Your KCQ is a collaboration between The Star and the Kansas City Public Library series that answers your questions about the history, people, places and culture that make Kansas City unique. Have a suggestion for a future story? Share it with us here, or email our journalists at KCQ@kcstar.com. With the Kansas City Public Library celebrating its 150th anniversary, staff have spent this year thinking about and promoting our history. One KCQ reader who recently visited the Central Library in downtown Kansas City noticed handouts about KCPLs first librarian and asked us who she was for our project, Whats Your KCQ?, in which librarians and Star journalists answer reader questions about local history and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carrie E. Westlake was born on a Virginia plantation in 1851. That same year, her father, Wellington, was awarded land in Winfield, Iowa, for his services in the U.S. Army. The family made the 600-mile journey west in a canvas-covered wagon Upon arrival, they built a stock farm. Carrie Westlake Whitney The Westlakes led a simple life in the rural plains. Carries mother Hellen instilled the customs of Southern tradition. She was to become a proper young lady, limited to a life of domestic duties in preparation for marriage. But it was while receiving an education at a nearby schoolhouse that Carrie Westlake found her true calling: a love of learning. Carries parents, Wellington Bracee and Hellen Martha Westlake At age 18, Westlake left the countryside for the bustling city of St. Louis. In her 1908 book, Kansas City, Missouri: Its History and Its People, she suggests that she stayed with relatives while attending private school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was around this time that she met Edward Judson, a student at the St. Louis Physicians College, and on June 1, 1875, they were married. The couple moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where Judson set up his practice. Their union didnt last long, however, as Westlakediscovered Judson had been unfaithful to her after contracting a venereal disease from him. In October 1879, Westlake, alone and pregnant, traveled to her parents new home in Sedalia to give birth to her only child, Edith Westlake Judson. Moments later, the infant died of an imperfect heart. From that day forward, Westlakedeclared that she was no longer Edward Judsons wife. She entered the Jackson County Courthouse in Independence and prayed for a divorce. KCs first librarian While awaiting the verdict, she relocated to Kansas City and took up work as a bookkeeper. Fortunately for Westlakes future career, her landlord was James Greenwood, superintendent of the citys public schools. Impressed by Westlakes keen intelligence and drive to learn, he offered her a position as the districts first librarian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On March 16, 1881, she was hired at $30 per month with the stipulation that she was to meet the school boards rigorous demands the library was to operate as a sphere of intelligence and information for the entire city, and it was her duty to instill within the citys children a correct taste for reading the best authors. The former Board of Education headquarters at 546 Main St. was where Carrie established the citys first public library. With 3,000 works under her stewardship, Westlake organized the first catalog and transformed three rooms in the Board of Education building into a public library. Shortly after, she received the news shed been waiting for her husband was found guilty of adultery and their marriage was dissolved. She was in the position to put the past behind her and live a life that aligned with her ambitious spirit. Westlake later married James Steele Whitney, a writer for The Kansas City Star. Their relationship ended when James died of tuberculosis in 1889. The Mother of the Kansas City Public Library Carrie Westlake Whitney attends the 1901 ALA Conference in Waukesha, Wisconsin Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Westlake Whitneys accomplishments during her 30-year career left an indelible mark on library history. In 1888, she established the first reference room for children in the United States, and in 1900, she was among the founding members of the Missouri Library Association. Her contemporaries traveled long distances to learn about public librarianship, and she gave speeches that drew praise including: Libraries and Reading Rooms as Intellectual Environments and The Advantages of the Library to the Technical Man. Inside the Childrens Room at the Ninth and Locust library The construction of the citys first purpose-built public library building at Ninth and Locust streets in 1897 was accelerated by Carries push for more space, and more books! The structure still stands today and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the 1898 American Library Association (ALA) conference, a librarian who had visited the Kansas City Public Library, called it the most complete and up to date library in the United States, and credited one little woman and her big ideas, Carrie Westlake Whitney. The 1897 Kansas City Public Library building at Ninth and Locust streets was the citys first purpose-built public library. From 1901-1910, Westlake Whitney wrote 40 booklets titled The Library Quarterly, which offered educational tidbits, reference materials, and book recommendations. These guides substantially influenced the collecting decisions of American libraries at the time. Over the years, Westlake Whitney earned the moniker, The Mother of the Kansas City Public Library. Her favorite hobby was saving boys by teaching them to read, and her dedication to educate all classes of people can be summoned up by her motto: We can always find someone whom we can help and thus soften our own sorrow. Although many of the librarys early successes were due to Westlake Whitneys efforts, many of the day-to-day operations were handled by her assistant and partner of over 40 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Born in 1861, Frances Fannie Bischoff grew up in the city of Evansville, Iowa. She was the fourth child of seven and the only daughter to parents Emil and Francesca. The profits from Emils German newspaper business allowed the family to live very comfortably. After Emils death in 1877, the family changed their name to Bishop and brothers Theo and Arthur created a joint venture called Bishop Bros. Printing in Kansas City. On Oct. 28, 1886, Bischoff rode the train to Union Station and settled into the house catty-corner from Westlake Whitneys. Two years later, they were living together at 1455 Harrison St., a short distance from the Chase School where Bischoff taught. Three years later, she was hired as head cataloger at the library and was promoted to assistant in 1895. Carrie at the 1907 ALA Conference in Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island Trouble in the Kansas City library Despite her positive influence on libraries, Westlake Whitney had shortcomings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She fought with teachers after sending students back to school without their required books because she found their reading lists unsuitable for children. She also found herself at odds with the public she served. Her decades-long campaign to eradicate the national taste for reading trashy literature was well-received early in her career, but as the city evolved, so did its reading interests. The school board noticed these conflicts and Library Committee member Frank A. Faxon made changes to undermine Westlake Whitney, including hiring attendants without her consent and allowing them to disobey her. One new attendant even spat in Westlake Whitneys face when she reminded her to follow library procedures. Westlake Whitney asked that the attendant be punished, but no action was taken by the board. Following Westlake Whitneys return from the 1910 ALA conference, she was served notice that the board of education decided that the public librarian was for a man, one of college library training. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patrons, suffragettes, and teachers came to her aid, demanding that she be retained. Under intense pressure, Faxon chose instead to demote Westlake Whitney and Bischoff to assistants for the new librarian. Purd Wright, who replaced Carrie Westlake Whitney, fit the image of what the Kansas City School Board thought a professional librarian should be, namely a man Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was internal strife when Purd Wright, former head of the St. Joseph Library, was hired to replace Westlake Whitney. Library staff disagreed on who was in charge, including Westlake Whitney herself. Unable to maintain order, Purd left temporarily due to ill health. The board found Westlake Whitney at fault for the confusion and fired her Sept. 6, 1912. Bischoff was sent away to manage the Swope Settlement Library until her retirement in 1914. Both women stayed by each others side until Westlake Whitneys passing April 8, 1934, at age 83. Carrie Westlake Whitneys legacy Defying the expectations assigned to her gender, Westlake Whitney was named KCPLs first librarian when the profession was still dominated by men. She used her position to expand the publics access to knowledge and her teachings were instrumental in advancing the field of librarianship. From her obituary: After her retirement Mrs. Whitney lived a very quiet life. She and Miss Bishop, bound by a rare and beautiful friendship, found happiness in each other and the books with which they surrounded themselves. They dropped out of the great current, but they never lost interest in its movement and its ever-changing character. Fannie and Carrie (second and third row from the right) pose for a group portrait outside the library at Ninth and Locust streets, ca. 1900. As the Kansas City Public Library continues to celebrate 150 years of discovery throughout 2024, the libraries first leader is remembered, despite imperfections and an unjust dismissal, for setting the organization on the path to spreading knowledge to all Kansas Citians. ALLEN EYESTONE/THE PALM BEACH POST WEST PALM BEACH Susan Russell told West Palm Beach police she believed her Taurus pistol was unloaded when she removed the weapon from a piece of luggage to show to her roommate. But the act turned deadly, with Russell mistakenly discharging the weapon and fatally shooting her roommate in the chest, police said in arresting her this week on a manslaughter charge. Officers took Russell, 69, into custody on Tuesday, Nov. 26 in connection to the May 16 death of Ninoshka Almengor, 27. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One stupid mistake of not making sure the (expletive) chamber was empty when you thought it was, thats all, double check," Russell reportedly told officers during an interview with her attorney present. Fatal wreck: Third PBSO motorcycle deputy dies from injuries sustained in SUV crash west of Wellington Gun fired as woman showed it to her roommate while packing for a trip During a Nov. 27 hearing the Palm Beach County Jail, county Judge Ted Booras set bail at $30,000 and ordered that Russell not possess any weapons. She was released from custody that afternoon, jail records show. Russell's attorney could not immediately be reached Wednesday evening. According to a police arrest report, Russell said she was packing for a trip when Almengor asked to hold the pistol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russell said she removed the weapon from her luggage believing it to be unloaded because the magazine had been removed. She handed the weapon to Almengor and in the process pulled the trigger, according to her arrest report. Russell called 911 and Almengor was driven to St. Mary's Medical Center, where she died. Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@pbpost.com and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida woman thought gun was unloaded, shoots roommate by mistake PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) An elite team of sheriffs deputies rescued a visually impaired hiker who was lost in the wilderness of the Columbia River Gorge on Wednesday, authorities said. The Multnomah County Sheriffs Office responded to a 911 call at around 5:30 p.m. The man who placed the call said he was lost near a Wahkeena Falls hiking trail. He told authorities that he was visually impaired. St. Helens mental health worker on navigating trauma Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sheriffs office said the mans wife had been hiking with him but returned to the car. A sheriffs deputy located the woman at the Multnomah Falls welcome center. Another sheriffs deputy contacted the man through text messages. The Green Hornets team is a specialized group within the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office Search and Rescue. Many of them are backcountry trail runners and considered navigational experts, the sheriffs office said in a release. The man had told emergency responders he was using his cell phones flashlight to find his way, but was unable to see the trail markers and was now alone. Over text messages, the sheriffs deputies told him to stay put until help arrived. Restaurant celebrates Laotian heritage with mural Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Green Hornets began the search for the lost man just before 7 p.m. They located him in less than an hour and he was not hurt. The team safely guided him back to the trailhead, where he was reunited with his wife. The Multnomah County Sheriffs Office website has a list of ten essentials they said everyone should take during hikes to reduce the risk of getting lost and being able to survive if you do. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. BEIRUT Insurgents breached Syrias largest city Friday and clashed with government forces for the first time since 2016, according to a war monitor and fighters, in a surprise attack that sent residents fleeing and added fresh uncertainty to a region reeling from multiple wars. The advance on Aleppo followed a shock offensive launched by insurgents Wednesday, as thousands of fighters swept through villages and towns in Syrias northwestern countryside. Residents fled neighborhoods on the citys edge because of missiles and gunfire, according to witnesses in Aleppo. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the countrys unresolved civil war, said dozens of fighters from both sides were killed. The attack injected new violence into a region experiencing dual wars in Gaza and Lebanon involving Israel, and other conflicts, including the Syrian civil war that began in 2011. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aleppo has not been attacked by opposition forces since they were ousted from eastern neighborhoods in 2016 following a grueling military campaign in which Syrian government forces were backed by Russia, Iran and its allied groups. But this time, there was no sign of a significant pushback from government forces or their allies. Instead, reports emerged of government forces melting away in the face of advances, and insurgents posted messages on social media calling on troops to surrender. Robert Ford, who was the last U.S. ambassador to Syria, said the attack showed that Syrian government forces are extremely weak. In some cases, he said, they appear to have almost been routed. This weeks advances were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, and represent the most intense fighting in northwestern Syria since 2020, when government forces seized areas previously controlled by the opposition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The offensive came as Iran-linked groups, primarily Lebanons Hezbollah, which has backed Syrian government forces since 2015, have been preoccupied with their own battles at home. A cease-fire in Hezbollahs two-month war with Israel took effect Wednesday, the day the Syrian opposition factions announced their offensive. Israel has also escalated its attacks against Hezbollah and Iran-linked targetsin Syria during the last 70 days. Dareen Khalifa, a senior adviser with the International Crisis Group and an expert on Syrian groups, said the insurgents have signaled for a while that they were ready for an offensive. But no one expected the swift advance of the forces toward Aleppo. Its not only that the Russians are distracted and bogged down in Ukraine, but also the Iranians are distracted and bogged down elsewhere. Hezbollahs distracted and bogged down elsewhere, and the regime is absolutely cornered, she said. But the surprise element comes in with how quickly the regime crumbled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attack on Aleppo followed weeks of simmering low-level violence, including government attacks on opposition-held areas. Turkey, which has backed Syrian opposition groups, failed in its diplomatic efforts to prevent the government attacks, which were seen as a violation of a 2019 agreement sponsored by Russia, Turkey and Iran to freeze the line of the conflict. Turkish security officials said Thursday that Syrian opposition groups initially launched a long-planned limited offensive toward Aleppo, where attacks targeting civilians originated. However, the offensive expanded as Syrian government forces began retreating from their positions, the officials said. The aim of the offensive was to reestablish the boundaries of the deescalation zone, according to Turkish officials. The 2016 battle for Aleppo was a turning point in the war between Syrian government forces and rebel fighters after 2011 protests against Bashar Assads rule turned into an all-out war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia and Iran and its allied groups helped Syrian government forces reclaim control of the city that year after a grueling military campaign and a siege that lasted for weeks. Besides backing opposition forces, Turkey has also established a military presence in Syria, sending troops into parts of the northwest. Separately and largely in the east of Syria, the United States has supported Syrian Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State militants. The Syrian government did not comment on insurgents breaching Aleppo city limits. The Kremlin said Friday that it considered the attack an encroachment on Syrias sovereignty and that it supported the quickest possible establishment of constitutional order in the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course, this is a violation of Syrias sovereignty in this region, Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told a press briefing. Syrias armed forces said in a statement Friday that they clashed with insurgents in the countryside around Aleppo and Idlib, destroying drones and heavy weaponry. They vowed to repel the attack and accused the insurgents of spreading false information about their advances. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the insurgents detonated two car bombs Friday at the western edge of Aleppo. The war monitor said insurgents were also able to seize control of Saraqeb, south of Aleppo, a town at the strategic intersection of the highways linking Aleppo with Damascus and the coast. Syrian government authorities diverted traffic from that highway Thursday. An insurgent commander posted a recorded message on social media calling on Aleppo residents to cooperate with the advancing forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turkeys state-run Anadolu Agency reported that the insurgents entered the city center Friday and now control about 70 locations in Aleppo and Idlib provinces. Syrias state media reported that projectiles from insurgents landed in student accommodations at Aleppos university in the city center, killing four people, including two students. Syrian armed forces said the insurgents are violating a 2019 agreement that deescalated fighting in the area, the last remaining opposition stronghold for years. Hezbollah was the main force in the governments control of Aleppo, said Rami Abdurrahman, head of the Observatory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a phone call with his Syrian counterpart, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the insurgent attacks in Syria as a plot orchestrated by the U.S. and the Zionist regime following the regimes defeat in Lebanon and Palestine. Insurgents posted videos online showing they were using drones, a new weapon for them. It was not clear to what extent the drones were used on the battleground. Insurgents attacked a military airbase southeast of Aleppo with drones early Friday, destroying a helicopter, the Anadolu Agency reported. The opposition groups also seized heavy weapons and military vehicles belonging to the government forces, the agency said. MEMPHIS, Tenn. One person is in the hospital recovering after being shot in Germantown early Friday morning, police say. A little before 5:20 a.m., Germantown Police say they responded to the intersection of Germantown Road and Crestridge Road regarding a shooting. Officers say one person was shot while sitting in the car by someone else in another vehicle. 2 injured after shooting at Classic Inn Hotel Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim was then taken to Regional One Hospital but is currently in stable condition. No suspect information is available at this time, but this is still an ongoing investigation. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) Black Friday shopping is in full swing at locations across East Tennessee, including the popular West Town Mall. During midday, the Black Friday rush showed no signs of slowing down with hundreds of shoppers at the mall. Many shoppers such as local Katlyn Jeffers consider it tradition. 21 years weve done it. Always gotten together, got matching shirts. Ive been doing it with my mom and the church ladies since I was little, said Jeffers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lots of shoppers prefer shopping in person for Black Friday because of the experience it provides for quality time as well a choosing the right items. WATE raising money for Operation Honor Guards Day of Giving I think its just more funafter you eat dinner for Thanksgiving. You sit together, get your lists together and then just get to go out and, like, make memories and find the deals like you used to back then Jeffers added. A younger shopper named Taryn also said she prefers in person shopping compared to online. Today was her first time going Black Friday shopping and plans to make it tradition from now on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I prefer to shop in person because I like to be able to actually see stuff and be able to try stuff on. But Ive also never been Black Friday shopping, and so I really wanted to come because my mom used to go with all her friends every year, and so I wanted to come see what it was like. said Taryn. Despite showing up early, Taryn and many other shoppers still ran into tons of lines. We got here this morning like thirty minutes after it opened, and it was not very busy then, and we were in the middle of a store. I think we were in Altard State, and we went to go check out, and the line was out the door into the hall to check out. she said. WATE raising money for Operation Honor Guards Day of Giving Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Black Friday is still extremely popular nowadays. Some shoppers realized Tanger Outlets was too packed to be able to shop there so went to West Town Mall instead. Deputy Sheriff and Firefighter Maurice Solomon shared he couldnt get into Tanger Outlets this morning. I saw lines and everything We were first at Tanger Outlets and turned around since it was so busy up there it was unreal, so we came down here to West Town said Solomon. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. WILLCOX More than 300 people filled the Willcox Community Center last week for the second public hearing in two months about a plan by the Arizona Department of Water Resources to regulate groundwater in an area where farmers are the largest water users. Tom Butzchatzke, the director of the state agency, must decide by Dec. 23 whether the state will establish an Active Management Area in the Willcox basin or not. Until recently, such regulations were limited to Phoenix, Tucson and Prescott, and Pinal and Santa Cruz counties. Residents are concerned about either outcome. Advertisement Advertisement Jesse Davis, who runs a multi-generational ranching operation in Graham County, said water levels have barely dropped there and the states intervention would take 60% of his land value away. Water levels haven't been dropping equally across the basin, yet the AMA boundaries would affect growers in Kansas Settlement and the Bonita area all the same. John Graffio, a retired veteran and a neighbor to Turkey Creek Dairy, planned to spend the rest of his life in Sunizona, but then saw a 10-foot drop in the water of his home well from one year to the next, a rate that could run him dry in 14 years. And under an AMA, Curry Seed and Chile Company wouldnt be allowed to grow anything that requires more water than cactuses on nearly 1,000 acres of farmland, yet owner Ed Curry believes that until there is alternative legislation, the AMA is better than nothing. Two years ago, residents in the eastern corner of Cochise County voted on whether they wanted an AMA in the Douglas and Willcox basin; only the Douglas AMA was approved. The Willcox basin could now wind up with an AMA because, under the current conditions of water level declines and land subsidence, the state has the power to designate it. Advertisement Advertisement The water agency concluded that at the current rate of pumping in the Willcox basin, there won't be a "safe supply" of groundwater, even for farmland, and an AMA is necessary to preserve the resource. The rate of groundwater mining has accelerated and the agency has recorded 29 wells going dry in the last 10 years. Water levels have dropped up to 400 feet in some areas. The land has sunk 11.5 feet since 1969 from groundwater mining and the speed of subsidence is increasing. The state geological survey has mapped 50 miles of earth fissures, which endanger roads and properties. In 2011, a large earth fissure caused by excessive groundwater pumping opened on East Parker Ranch Road in southeastern Arizona. Cochise County has some of the highest subsidence rates in the state, according to the Arizona Department of Water Resources. Residents testifying at the hearing or chatting outside the venue acknowledged that groundwater levels have dropped fast, and many expressed concern. Still, most repeated, in all tones and styles, that the AMA is not the right tool, even if there is no other. Legislative attempts for groundwater regulation have been denied a hearing in the House Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee for years. In the last session, bipartisan efforts to pass an alternative for groundwater regulation in rural areas made progress but ultimately failed. Democrat and Republican lawmakers said they will go back to negotiate before the next legislative session starts. "An AMA is terrible for me," said Curry, who is deep into water talks and invested in finding common ground. Provisions that take historical water use to determine how much water a farmer is allotted would penalize his water-saving efforts and reward companies that did double cropping. Advertisement Advertisement "At least it stops the drilling. Even if it hurts me." Depleted aquifers: In the 'wild West' of groundwater use, Hobbs hears about dry wells, ground fissures No alternatives or turning back on AMAs The Arizona Department of Water Resources has never used its power to designate an AMA, one of only two tools that the state has to monitor and protect aquifers, and by law there would be no turning back. "The Legislature would have to pass new laws to allow for changes either specifically or by authorizing the Director to make changes," said Kathleen Ferris, former ADWR director and a senior research fellow at ASU's Kyl Center for Water Policy. Changing an AMA into an Irrigation Non-Expansion Area is also not allowed. Advertisement Advertisement Groundwater is the only water source in Sulphur Springs Valley, which encompasses the Willcox and Douglas basins and portions of Cochise and Graham counties. It has been farmed for nearly a century but in the past decades, there's been expansion and intensification at the hands of fewer operations. Riverview Dairy LLC, a Minnesota-based company, began operations in both basins about a decade ago and stands as the largest operation in the valley. Residents located next to its operations have seen their water well levels drop dramatically and many demanded state action. After a public hearing at Pearce in February, Attorney General Kris Mayes announced she would look to use nuisance action against the dairy. When the Douglas AMA was approved by voters, all farmland that had not been irrigated five years before stood to lose all irrigation rights. Some growers, like the dairy, were unaffected, but many are at risk of losing generational farming land unless they prove theyve made a substantial capital investment. What constitutes substantial is not defined by law. If the proposed Willcox AMA goes through, over 6,500 acres of farmland would be at risk of lacking rights for irrigation. Advertisement Advertisement "I don't have (irrigation) history in the last 5 years, we're talking about thousands of acres that I could lose," said Davis, from Sierra Bonita Ranch. "It would hinder and handcuff the value of my ground. There would be no opportunity for a future generation to expand the farming operation if they so deem to do so." To regulate or not? In the Willcox and Douglas groundwater basins, residents bet on unity to solve issues Douglas AMA could be, or not, a blueprint The effects on property value are one of the key reasons for opposition to the AMA framework, said Sonia Gasho, who helped launch an opposition campaign to the AMA in 2021 through an alliance called Rural Water Assurance. Advertisement Advertisement The group stepped back, and some of its members, including Gasho, joined the Sulphur Springs Water Alliance in recent months, as dialogue on solutions to the groundwater issue evolved. Some of the fears of what an AMA plan would look like for an agricultural community have already been put to the test in the Douglas basin. Under the first management plan, yet to be amended and approved, farmers would be able to use more or less of their allotted water in a year and balance that use later through flex accounts. The appointed Ground Water Users Advisory Council, which residents feared would not represent them, is made up fully of people living, some of them farming and ranching, in the area. Bryan Fontes and a small work crew harvest the last of his sweet potato crop on Double Adobe Farms in the Sulphur Springs Valley. Having a locally elected council has been one of the strongest demands of the opposition. Advertisement Advertisement Residents fear their water use would be controlled, and urban areas would then take the water, said Gasho. An AMA would not track water use of homes or any well pumping less than 35 gallons per minute, and under current law, the only transfer basins are the McMullen Valley Basin, the Butler Valley Basin, Harquahala INA, Big Chino sub-basin and Yuma Basin. "It would take a new law to allow transportation from other basins and the Governor lacks authority to do so on her own," said Ferris. "Thats not going to happen given the state of the groundwater in the Willcox and Douglas basins." The Douglas AMA plan as written would gradually address the severe overdraft in the aquifer and give privilege to the biggest agricultural water users, who would keep their current acreage and crops, only with demands for higher efficiency. The water agency has not said if the potential Willcox AMA would follow the same model. Advertisement Advertisement Many residents already find the AMA goal for the Douglas basin, which has seen less agricultural expansion than the Willcox basin, insufficient. Under the current plan, agriculture would incrementally reduce water use by 640 acre-feet of water every year, until year 10. "Almost all of our neighbors are hauling water to some degree. We all have failing wells," said Sharon Hill Hubbard, who lives north of Willcox. Their wells' capacity has been declining and they rely on it for showering, washing dishes, and clothes. For their animals and trees, they haul. The retired couple has 10 acres and would gladly allow their family to move to their land, but there is not enough water, she said. "I'm hoping we can slow everything down and have a trickle for the rest of our lives." Clara Migoya covers agriculture and water issues for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Send tips or questions to clara.migoya@arizonarepublic.com. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cochise County residents are concerned about plan to regulate water Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Nepalese Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Kun) CHENGDU, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Nepalese Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu on Friday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the two sides have made joint efforts to promote cooperation on all fronts, make progress under the Belt and Road Initiative, and advance the building of the trans-Himalayan multi-dimensional connectivity network. China is ready to work with Nepal to embrace new prospects for the development of China-Nepal relations by taking the opportunity of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties next year, he said. Arzu Rana Deuba said Nepal firmly adheres to the one-China policy, and will never allow other forces to make use of Nepal's territory to engage in any activities that oppose China and harm China's interests. The Nepalese foreign minister said that Nepal appreciates the concept of building a community with a shared future for humanity, and is willing to participate in the Global Development Initiative. Sinn Fein has won Irelands election, according to exit polls on Friday night, but looks certain to be shut out of power by its rivals after failing to get enough votes to enter government for the first time. Mary Lou McDonalds party was predicted to get 21.1 per cent in an election that hangs on a knife-edge, with its nearest rival just 0.1 per cent behind and all three main parties separated by just 1.6 per cent. The exit polls point to the renewal of the coalition between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, the two centre-Right parties that have dominated Irish politics for more than 100 years of the Republics history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will always work to make life better for workers, families and communities. To unite Ireland. To build a brighter future for all, said Ms McDonald, 55, who led her party to victory despite a string of scandals. If the exit polls are borne out, it will be a blow to Sinn Feins hopes of forcing a united Ireland referendum by 2030, which were raised by the party winning a hat trick of election victories in Northern Ireland. Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail see Irish unity as a long-term aspiration, rather than short-term policy goal like Sinn Fein. Credit: RTE News Fine Gael, led by taoiseach Simon Harris was predicted to get 21 per cent in the Ipsos/B&A exit poll on behalf of The Irish Times and RTE, which is accurate to a margin of error of 1.4 per cent. It suggests he was able to overcome a Gordon Brown moment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Harris was first in the polls before a damaging video clip of him dismissively walking away from a disability care worker went viral and his lead evaporated in the dying days of the campaign. Fianna Fail, led by Micheal Martin, was expected to get 19.5 per cent after taking a narrow lead in the polls in the final week of the campaign after slipping from first in a sign voters are not yet prepared to forgive the party its role in Irelands economic collapse in 2008. Historic rivals Fine Gael and Fianna Fail formed a coalition government in 2020 after Sinn Fein won its highest-ever vote share in that years general election; citing their incompatibility with the nationalists Left-wing policies and paramilitary past as the former political wing of the IRA. The leaders of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, the current prime minister and deputy prime minister, both ruled out forming a coalition with Sinn Fein in their final televised debate before polling day. In 2020, Sinn Fein won the most seats, followed by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael in third. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Going into Fridays election, Fianna Fail held a narrow lead over a rising Sinn Fein, while Fine Gael had slipped to third in the polls from first. There was less than two per cent between all three parties, which were each on about 20 per cent. Independents could play role The count begins on Saturday morning and could last days because of Irelands proportional representation system, which sees eliminated candidates votes redistributed during multiple rounds of counting. Independents could play a role in the formation of the next government if Fine Gael and Fianna Fail fall short of an 88-seat majority. Mr Harris, 38, is hoping to secure a record fourth successive term for Fine Gael, which has been in government for the last 14 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sinn Fein had held a commanding lead in the polls for two years until it was overtaken by Fine Gael in June, after Mr Harris replaced the unpopular Leo Varadkar in April to become the youngest-ever taoiseach at the age of 37. He outflanked Ms McDonald on migration and cutting benefits, as Sinn Fein alienated supporters with pro-immigration policies before losing local elections to the government parties. Sinn Fein rallied in the final week, focusing heavily on housing and claiming to be the only alternative to Fine Gael and Fianna Fail. Patchy record on housing Mr Harris had to defend the governments patchy record on housing in a country where the average age of a first-time buyer is 39 and house prices have risen 92 per cent since 2015. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Figures published on Friday showed that the number of people in homeless accommodation in Ireland was at a record high of almost 15,000 people, including 4,645 children. For Peta Scott, 54, a healthcare worker and mother of four, housing woes meant it was a challenge for her children to stay in Ireland. Mr Harris also faced accusations of profligate public spending after launching a 10.5 billion budget to appease voters fretting about housing and childcare costs before calling the snap election. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Sioux Falls Fire Rescue responded to a garage fire Wednesday afternoon. Rudolph on wheels prepares for the Parade of Lights Units were dispatched at around 4:30 p.m., to the west side near Chickadee Place where they discovered smoke and an active fire in a non-attached garage. The fire was extinguished in about 15 minutes and the garage received moderate damage. There were no injuries reported during the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cause of the fire is under investigation. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. Elbit Systems of America has been awarded a significant contract from the United States Air Force (USAF) to replace the Wide-Angle Conventional Head-Up Display (WACHUD) used in F-16 Block 40/42 aircraft. This Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contract has a ceiling value of up to $89 million, reflecting the USAF's investment in upgrading its F-16 fleet. The initial order under this contract, which amounts to over $57.5 million, was received in September 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All work will be carried out in Talladega, Alabama, with deliveries scheduled to continue through September 2027. Head-up display The WACHUD, mounted on the F-16's instrument panel, is crucial in projecting essential flight and mission information. This system enhances the Airmen's ability to process information quickly and accurately, ultimately contributing to mission success. The WACHUD will replace the Diffractive Optic Head-Up Displays used on some F-16s, ensuring modernization across the fleet. Elbit Americas Senior Vice President of Electronic Systems, Scott Tumpak, emphasized the value of this upgrade, stating, "The new displays not only modernize the aircraft but also standardize the equipment across the USAF's F-16 fleet. This standardization simplifies management and maintenance for pilots and support teams." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moreover, Jimmy Johns, Elbit America's Vice President of Operations in Talladega, expressed confidence in the local workforce's capabilities, stating, "Our team has decades of experience working on F-16 avionics and head-up displays. We are excited to contribute to this multi-year program and enhance our aftermarket services." F-16'S 3D audio system In addition to the head-up display improvements, the USAF has contracted Danish defense firm Terma for a $9 million project to implement a cutting-edge 3D audio system for F-16 aircraft. This advanced audio technology is designed to enhance pilots' communication and overall situational awareness. Terma's 3D-Audio system, compatible with all aircraft types, is engineered to deliver high-fidelity digital audio by spatially separating radio signals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This feature allows pilots to better hear and respond to critical information during missions. The system significantly reduces distractions by integrating active noise reduction, enabling pilots to react quickly to threats. This innovative audio system eliminates the "crowded-room" effect often experienced in tight cockpit environments, allowing pilots to focus on vital communications. It enables aircrews to distinguish between critical radio calls, warning signals, and less important sounds, improving their situational awareness. The 3D audio system also assists pilots in identifying various threats, including missile warnings, radar alerts, and laser detection signals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the integration of head tracking technology, audio sources are positioned relative to the pilot's head, creating an immersive audio environment that enhances reaction time in high-pressure situations. By separating audio inputs and presenting them in a more natural sound field, the 3D audio system empowers pilots to make quicker, more informed decisions. Research indicates that this technology can improve response times by up to 1.5 seconds, a crucial advantage when facing enemy attacks. Overall, the contracts awarded to Elbit Systems and Terma signify a commitment to modernizing the F-16 fleet, ensuring that USAF pilots are equipped with the latest technology to enhance their performance and safety during missions. These upgrades enhance the aircraft's capabilities and streamline maintenance and operational efficiency across the board. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A Florida man was killed by a Volusia Sheriffs Office sniper after he reportedly fired more than 200 rounds at neighboring condos over several hours on Thanksgiving morning, authorities said. Joseph DiFusco reportedly was shooting at neighboring condos along Ocean Shore Boulevard near Ormond-by-the-Sea. He also fired shots at a sheriffs office vehicle from inside his condo, according to the Volusia Sheriffs Office. Suspect in rapper Julio Foolios killing prepares for possible insanity defense Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neighbors were evacuated from the area and DiFusco continued shooting for several hours, deputies said. This is Ormond-by-the-Sea. We leave our windows open at night and our doors open at night, Jason Valiant, who lives in the condos, told WESH. Weve never seen anything like this. In 37 years, I dont think Ive ever had an experience where I had to position snipers and say, You have a green light to do your job,' Sheriff Mike Chitwood said. No deputies or residents were injured. There was no negotiating with this guy, Chitwood said. My objective was to make sure every single deputy went home for Thanksgiving dinner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) The Buffalo Bills are asking Bills Mafia to register as a snow shoveler in anticipation for the upcoming snowstorm in Orchard Park. Anyone 18-years-old or older who is interested in the snow removal is asked to sign up using the google doc provided by the Buffalo Bills. After completing the doc with the necessary information, ABM management and will create schedules for each day and contact you within 24 hours of completion of the doc to provide more information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shovelers will be offered $20 per hour with food and hot beverages provided. The Bills and ABM ask snow shovelers to dress appropriately for the weather. Fans may bring their own shovels, but shovels will be provided by the Bills and ABM. If you have any questions, you can reach out to the Bills at buffaloabm@gmail.com. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. Alice Ford, an outdoor content creator and show host, has spent a decade centering conservationist education on her YouTube channel. She said the glut of nature photos and short videos on social media is resulting in just people wanting to see a place more than they have respect for the place. (Photo courtesy of Alice Ford) Dont pet the fluffy cows. Thats the Instagram bio tagline for the National Park Services popular account, which showcases stunning photos of the diverse terrains of the United States 431 national parks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cheeky statement, followed by a buffalo emoji, is meant to make its 6 million followers laugh, NPS social media specialist Matthew Turner says, but its also a very real warning. We want you to be really prepared to stay this distance, and be aware of your surroundings at all times, Turner said. And to know that if you dont, there are consequences where you can get hurt. Technology and the rise of social media has driven new people to visit public parks and lands, as the platforms make it easier to showcase the great outdoors. But outdoor enthusiasts and environmental conservationists say social media has also contributed to selfie tourism or the influx of visitation to specific landmarks that go viral on social media. It also can describe the behavior of those that crowd a landmark or ignore safety protocol to get the perfect shot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every year, there are incidents of people having such dangerous interactions with wildlife, or getting lost in the parks, or even losing their lives. Its hard to quantify how exactly social media influences the decision making or behavior of park visitors, but several nearly-fatal and fatal incidents have been connected to attempting to capture content. In 2018, a 29- and 30-year-old couple fell to their deaths in Yosemite National Park in California while attempting to take a photo at Taft Point. Several people have been attacked by bison in Yellowstone National Park over the last three years at least one was a tourist trying to touch a bison while recording with her phone. A selfie in and of itself can inspire others. Maybe you see a friend post from a great trip, and it inspires you to go, Phillip Kilbridge, CEO of NatureBridge said. But you better do it thoughtfully. You better realize that when theres a fence, its because theres loose rock on the other side, or theres a steep fall, or so many other unintended consequences. Loving our parks to death Kilbridge runs NatureBridge, an organization that teaches young people how to explore the outdoors without technology. The organization was initially founded with the intention of exploring parks in their off-peak seasons, and teaching kids to learn more about themselves and the environment with low barriers to entry on cost and prior education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The parks have seen a surge in visitors in the last few years, crossing more than 300 million visitors nearly each year since their centennial celebration in 2016. NatureBridge has brought more than 1 million kids through the program over its tenure and operates in Golden Gate National Recreation Area in California, Olympic National Park in Washington, Prince William Forest National Park in Virginia and Yosemite. It makes a conscious effort to explore areas and trails that are outside the most popular ones, but high visitorship is putting strain on the hotels and areas surrounding the parks, and as a result, its more expensive to operate the program. The social media effect on certain areas of the parks might be evident in some data from Yosemite National Park. Many drive in, take pictures at the iconic Half Dome and El Capitan rock formations, and then they head out, Kilbridge said. The focus is on documenting the visit and putting it on their checklist or bucket list, to prove that theyve done it. Youve probably heard the phrase, were loving our parks to death, Kilbridge said. But the truth is, were loving certain parts of certain parks to death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cynthia Hernandez, the National Parks Systems public affairs specialist, said the agency uses social media to show examples of good environmental stewardship. Staff love and encourage new visitors to the parks, but they want them to be educated on preserving the trails, picking up trash, and learning the history and culture of where theyre visiting. We ask visitors to be adaptable and to listen to the park rangers, Hernandez said. You know, if the parking lot is full, dont drive wherever. We like to say, what is your plan B? New Hampshires public and private lands are feeling the impact from some not-so respectful visitors this year, as its peak fall foliage season a few-week stretch in late September and October is bringing an estimated 3.7 million visitors this fall, the Washington Post reported. New Hamshirians, and their neighbors in Vermont, are dealing with clogged roads, crowded hiking trails, trespassing on private property and trash left behind by their visitors, many of whom are doing so in the pursuit of the perfect fall photo. Some towns have closed roads to non-local traffic, while others have had to pay for extra patrols during on routes leading to lookouts or popular spots. One group of neighbors in Pomfret, Vermont, has raised $22,500 in a GoFundMe to save their road from the surge of influencers, with the funds planned to go toward temporary closures and increased signage, the Post reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wesley Littlefield is a Salt Lake City-based marketing manager and outdoor content creator, and the effects Kilbridge described and New Englanders are experiencing are some of the many reasons hes become mindful of not overexposing certain locations. Littlefield has been posting on social media and making YouTube videos about fishing, kayaking and other outdoor adventures for a few years, and focuses on educating people on leave no trace principles. He loves exploring the Southwest, but some of his favorite trails and natural wonders have become overpopulated after gaining attention on social media. Horseshoe Bend in Arizona is a prime example, he said, as is Antelope Canyon, which sits on Navajo land. What was once a peaceful overlook is now packed with people looking to snap that perfect shot, often at the expense of the environment around them, he said of Horseshoe Bend. Youll notice things like litter, soil erosion and even permanent damage to local ecosystems. In extreme cases, wildlife habitats can be disrupted or destroyed, which takes away from the natural beauty and balance of these areas. Responsible exploration Littlefield said he loves that technology has allowed people to discover new places and share experiences. But carelessness in certain areas has made him more conservative with geotagging certain areas or fragile locations. Its his way of protecting them while still sharing his love for the outdoors, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want these places to remain as beautiful and untouched as possible for future visitors, Littlefield said. Alice Ford is another content creator who is sharing her outdoor adventures online as a way to educate others about conservation. She hosts a show on PBS called Alices Adventures on Earth, has a masters degree in environmental management and has been making Youtube videos showcasing outdoor traveling, hiking and sustainable living for about a decade. Her bread and butter is in longer-form content where she gets to place the focus on education. I think theres an issue with these three-to-10 second videos showcasing a place, Ford said. Where youre just seeing the most beautiful part, and youre not learning anything about it, and youre then not doing any research. And youre just showing up because you want to get the exact same shot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Ford travels, shes looking for those less-busy places, not just to discover somewhere new to her, but also to not contribute to the demand of places that dont have infrastructure to support an onslaught of visitors. Pulling off the side of a road inundated with visitors may not just cause traffic chaos, but also could damage wildlife and road infrastructure, she said. I think also another thing that Ive seen globally is just people wanting to see a place more than they have respect for the place, Ford said. There are very real physical dangers to jumping head-first into a hike or a trip without proper preparation, Ford said. Shes seen a rise in visitors to national parks and other places around the world attempting grueling hikes or exploring dangerous areas in extreme heat without the right footwear, food or water. Two people died during this summers brutal heat waves in Death Valley National Park in California, including a 57-year-old man who attempted a short hike on a day when temperatures reached nearly 120 degrees, which can quickly cause serious dehydration and heat stroke. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Michigan, The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore a state park featuring miles of sand and bluffs has a dune climb thats been well-documented on social media. The hike includes 3.5 miles of sandy, steep terrain and can take three or four hours. The Lakeshore gets an average of 1.5 to 1.7 million visitors a year, and reached its peak visitorship in 2020 and 2021, Emily Sunblade the parks lead education ranger said. The climb has long been a rite of passage, but the park rangers said visitors have been recognizing the location because of social media posts of the famous sign outlining the $3,000 fee incurred for being rescued if you get stuck. The park instituted a preventative search and rescue program where volunteers stand at the top of the dune and check in with visitors before they attempt the hike in order to quell the strain on local rescue resources, which are performed by township emergency services. The volunteers ask visitors if they have enough water, and if theyre prepared for it to take two or more hours. It dramatically lowered the number of rescues needed, Sunblade said. The social media posts we are seeing are having a positive impact as people share their experience of what the hike was like, and what they wish they knew before starting, Sunblade said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As much as social media has the ability to overexpose and overwhelm one area with visitors, it remains an essential tool for the Parks Service and for content creators who aim to educate others on responsible visitorship. Its an important component of the digital toolbox for the Parks Service, Turner told States Newsroom. Their online profiles allow them to engage in real time with visitors and connect with people around the world. They use it as a forum to ask and answer questions, respond to outreach and share resources. And they do lean on memes and humor to get peoples attention and have people learn without maybe realizing theyre learning, Turner said. There are ways to add a photo-worthy spot to your travels, if you do so responsibly, Ford said. She suggests trying to research whats nearby those locations, and if the local community has been negatively impacted by visitors. If theres not enough restaurants, stores and accommodations, tourism may hurt the community or put a strain on its resources. Her hope is that folks are making informed decisions about their travel plans and considering the impact that social media may have on driving them to visit. I wish people would have more respect, not only for each other, but for the places that we visit, Ford said. And to just think a little bit more before we act in general, like whether thats the time youre taking to take a selfie at a popular destination, or the place in which were walking. A South Carolina mayor died in a car crash during a deputy pursuit days after his entire police force quit. Darlington County Coroner J Todd Hardee confirmed the news in a Facebook post on Tuesday. McColl Mayor George Garner II, 49, died when a car he was traveling in collided with a truck. The crash happened around 2.40 pm on Hwy 34 in Mechanicsville. Garner was being pursued by a Marlboro County Deputy at the time. He veered left of the center line and collided with an 18-wheeler on November 26. He was transported to McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence, where he died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Garner had recently been re-elected to his position. The pursuit was not related to any laws being broken, Hardee wrote. The pursuit was taking place in effort to protect the well-being of Mr Garner. Hardee expects to make a ruling on Garners death in the coming days. The Independent has emailed Marlboro County officials for comment. Earlier this month, McColls entire police force resigned, leaving the town of 1,900 without a single officer on duty. In a statement obtained by WPDE, Chief Bob Hale said he resigned following treatment from a local official. George Garner II, 49, a South Carolina mayor died in a car crash days after his entire police force resigned (WBTW) For months, I have endured unwarranted and malicious behavior aimed at undermining my integrity and leadership, he wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These actions have not only affected me personally but have also created a toxic atmosphere that has hindered the departments ability to function effectively. The collision is being investigated by the Darlington County Coroner and the SCHP MAIT team. In a separate Facebook post, Marlboro County 911 wrote: Our hearts are heavy during this difficult time, and we are keeping everyone affected in our thoughts and prayers. Mayor Garner was truly a remarkable individual. He consistently treated everyone with warmth and respect, and his kindness left a lasting impact on those around him. Garner leaves behind a wife, two sons and a daughter. His funeral service will be held on December 3. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McColl Mayor Pro-Tem Brian Blue also offered his condolences to Garners family. In a statement he gave to WMBF, he wrote: I want everyone to know the mayor loved his family and the people in the Town of McColl. He always told us whether he was in or out of office, he always wanted us to move the town in the right direction. And at this time, I would like for everybody to keep his family and the Town of McColl in your prayers as we deal with the loss of the mayor of McColl. UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Ongoing hostilities continue to put Palestinians at grave risk in the Gaza Strip, particularly civilians trying to survive the Israeli siege in the north, UN humanitarians said on Friday. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini of the UN relief agency for Palestinians, known as UNRWA, said the ongoing military operation in the north has uprooted 130,000 people over the past seven weeks. In northern Gaza, including Gaza City, a critical shortage of cooking gas has forced families to rely on burning waste for fuel, which raises the risk of respiratory infections at a time when healthcare services are minimal, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The World Food Programme (WFP) reported that as the hunger crisis worsens, prices of basic food items have surged by over 1,000 percent compared to pre-hostility levels. WFP managed to deliver some wheat flour to bakeries in Gaza this week. Although seven bakeries in central Gaza have been working recently, bakeries have intermittently been shutting down and reopening due to a lack of flour and fuel. With bread a lifeline for many families in Gaza, it is often the only food they can access. The agency said that it is critical that bakeries remain open and that the flow of essential supplies for them -- including wheat and fuel -- is sustained. UN humanitarian partners reported there is also a critical shortage of adequate shelter for hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the hostilities across Gaza. Less than a quarter of shelter needs in the Gaza Strip have been met, leaving nearly 1 million people at risk of exposure to harsh conditions as winter nears. OCHA said that about 545,000 people are living in damaged buildings and makeshift shelters, underscoring the urgency of ensuring that thousands of tarpaulins and sealing-off kits to repair living spaces can enter Gaza without delay. In the south, rains that have flooded shelters along the shoreline in Al-Qarara have displaced hundreds of families to Hamad City in Khan Younis over the past six days. In the West Bank, OCHA points to a deteriorating situation for Palestinians. During Nov. 19-25, Israeli forces killed nine Palestinians, including one child. Seven of the nine were killed during a 48-hour Israeli operation in Jenin. Nov. 28Funds to come from governor's investment in Appalachian counties SOUTH POINT "Things are moving along," Mayor Jeff Gaskin said of the Village of South Point's plans for riverfront renovations. The village received $1.2 million in funding from Gov. Mike DeWine's investment in the state's Appalachian counties earlier this year. The funds are federal dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act, a COVID-19 relief package passed by Congressional Democrats and signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Appalachian region covers 39 percent of Ohio and includes Adams, Ashtabula, Athens, Belmont, Brown, Carroll, Clermont, Columbiana, Coshocton, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Mahoning, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pike, Ross, Scioto, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Vinton and Washington counties. DeWine and the Ohio legislature prioritized the state's Appalachian counties in using those funds, with communities polling together for projects across southeastern Ohio. For South Point, the village plans to invest in their riverfront park. Gaskin said this would include a boat ramp and a sea wall along the river. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I want half of what Ashland says," he said of their plans. In addition, the riverbank will be made handicapped-accessible and a new shelter will be constructed. He said such a wall would enable larger boats to dock and launch in South Point. Altogether, Lawrence County received $12.7 million in funds, with projects also set for Ironton and Rome Township. In other business, the mayor said the village was appreciative that voters passed a revision in the fire levy in November. Gaskin said it was necessary to update the 30-year-old levy, as costs have gone up. He said a fire truck hat cost $200,000 in 1990 now runs about $800,000 to $1 million in cost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Gaskin said, while this increases fire taxes, it is still lower in cost than the village having to pay more fire insurance. Gaskin also said Phase III of the village's water line replacement project is nearly finished. He said what remains to be completed are "cosmetic" items, such as planting grass and driveway work. The project covers the area from North Kenova Road to the train bridge, as well as surrounding neighborhoods. Gaskin said the village is finished with a new well for their water system, which was mandated by the Ohio Department of Environmental Protection. That $800,000 project was paid for by the agency. Police officers in Brea shot and killed an alleged DUI driver on Thursday afternoon, authorities say. According to the Brea Police Department, officers were notified of a possible DUI driver in the area of Lambert Road and the 57 Freeway just before 4:45 p.m. Responding officers found a vehicle up against a retaining wall in the westbound lanes of Lambert east of the freeway, authorities stated. Canyon Crest Fire grows to 250 acres in Riverside County Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers made contact with the driver [and] a short time later, an officer-involved shooting occurred, Brea police said in a media release posted to social media. The driver of the vehicle was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased by medical staff. The aftermath of an officer-involved shooting in Brea on Nov. 28, 2024. (KTLA) The aftermath of an officer-involved shooting in Brea on Nov. 28, 2024. (KTLA) The aftermath of an officer-involved shooting in Brea on Nov. 28, 2024. (KTLA) The aftermath of an officer-involved shooting in Brea on Nov. 28, 2024. (KTLA) Video from the scene taken by KTLA shows the aftermath of the shooting; the decedents SUV was seen wedged in between two squad cars with a bullet hole in the drivers side window. There were reports that the driver intentionally rammed into the police vehicles; however, Brea authorities did not mention that in their media release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The exact circumstances of the shooting including what caused the officers to open fire was not disclosed. The identity of the decedent was also not released. Deputies, family locate 8-year-old who went missing in Los Angeles Per department policy, the Orange County District Attorneys Office will conduct an investigation into the incident. Anyone who witnessed the shooting or has further information is asked to contact the OCDAs office by calling 714-664-3964. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) The Springfield Police Department will be hosting a Stuff-A-Cruiser event on Friday. Second night of Bright Nights at Forest Park in Springfield The Stuff-A-Cruiser event is taking place at the Walmart on Boston Road in Springfield, according to a news release sent to 22News from the Springfield Police Department. This public event is to celebrate the holiday season by giving back to the community by donating new toys to kids throughout Springfield. This event is in partnership with Springfield Together, the Springfield Police C3 Units, the Hampden County Sheriffs Department, Springfield Public School, the Springfield Lodge of Elks #61, and the Springfield Walmart. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Stuff-A-Cruiser will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. Starbucks has opened a new coffee shop in South Korea, where customers can sip their lattes and view a quiet North Korean mountain village in the distance. On Friday (November 28), the American chain opened its newest location in an observatory at Aegibong Peace Ecopark near the city of Gimpo about 31 miles northwest of Seoul, South Korea, and less than a mile from North Korean territory. However, customers must pass a military checkpoint before entering the observatory, which overlooks North Koreas Songaksan mountain, according to The Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials from the South Korean city of Gimpo explained that opening the Starbucks was part of efforts to develop its border facilities as a tourist destination, saying the coffee shop symbolizes robust security on the Korean Peninsula through the presence of this iconic capitalist brand. The observatory is one of the main attractions at Aegibong park, which was built on a hill that was a fierce battle site during the Korean War. The website describes the park as a symbolic place representing peace and harmony. Visitors at the Starbucks can not only catch a glimpse of North Korea, but also the Jogang River that runs between the observatory and the border town of Kaepung in the North. Starbucks opens new location at Aegibong Peace Ecopark near the city of Gimpo, less than a mile from North Korean territory (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) I wish I could share this tasty coffee with the people in North Korea, Baek Hea-soon, a 48-year-old Gimpo resident, told Reuters at the Starbucks opening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of 2024, there are nearly 2,000 Starbucks coffee shops across South Korea, according to SCK Company, which operates Starbucks in the country through a licensing deal. Gimpo and other South Korean border cities like Paju have been trying to develop their border sites as tourist assets, even as tensions grow between the war-divided Koreas. Customers must pass a military checkpoint before entering the observatory (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been trying to raise pressure on South Korea and threatening to attack his rival with nuclear weapons if provoked. North Korea has also engaged in psychological and electronic warfare against South Korea, such as flying trash-laden balloons into the South and disrupting GPS signals from border areas near the Souths biggest airport. Kaephung county is believed to be one of the possible sites from where North Korea has launched the thousands of balloons over several months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South Koreas military said Friday that the North flew dozens more balloons overnight and that some trash and leaflets landed around the capital Seoul and nearby Gyeonggi province. Additional reporting from AP The chain opened the doors to its new location in Aegibong Peace Ecopark in Gimpo, South Korea, on Friday, Nov. 29 SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty Visitors are pictured at the new Starbucks store in Aegibong Peace Ecopark in Gimpo, South Korea, on Nov. 29, 2024 Visitors are pictured at the new Starbucks store in Aegibong Peace Ecopark in Gimpo, South Korea, on Nov. 29, 2024 Starbucks has tens of thousands of coffee shops around the world, but their latest might be in one of the most unique locations yet. On Friday, Nov. 29, the chain opened the doors to its new location in Aegibong Peace Ecopark in Gimpo, South Korea, where coffee lovers can look out at views of North Koreas Songaksan mountain and a nearby village in Kaephung county, per the Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The store is close to the demilitarized zone (DMZ), which separates the two war-divided Koreas and is about 31 miles northwest of Seoul, Reuters reported. A three-year conflict between South and North Korea ended in a 1953 armistice, but a peace treaty was never signed. The AP added that customers visiting the Starbucks have to "pass a military checkpoint before entering the observatory," where the coffee shop is located. SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty Visitors are pictured at the new Starbucks store in Aegibong Peace Ecopark in Gimpo, South Korea on Nov. 29, 2024 Visitors are pictured at the new Starbucks store in Aegibong Peace Ecopark in Gimpo, South Korea on Nov. 29, 2024 Related: Starbucks to Start Handwriting Customers' Names on Drink Orders Again, Needs to Find 200,000 Sharpies, CEO Says The news agency stated that the Starbucks opening is part of Gimpo's plan to turn the border facilities into more of a tourist destination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The store symbolizes robust security on the Korean Peninsula through the presence of this iconic capitalist brand, the AP added. Aegibong Peace Ecopark mentions plans to become more of a tourist destination on its website, which explains hopes for the area to "grow into an international landmark symbolizing world peace by combining peace, ecology and tourism." "Located in the only South-North Free-zone in Korea, [Aegibong] Peace Ecopark is a symbolic place representing peace and harmony and also connecting the will of peace at the mouth of Hangang River along with the Jogang River flowing to connect the disconnected history and culture," a message on the site adds. SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty Cups are pictured at the new Starbucks store at the Aegibong Peace Ecopark in Gimpo, South Korea Cups are pictured at the new Starbucks store at the Aegibong Peace Ecopark in Gimpo, South Korea Related: Starbucks New Wicked Drinks, Glindas Pink Potion and Elphabas Cold Brew, Defied Our Expectations Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another description states, "It was originally Hill 154, where the two Koreas fought fiercely during the Korean War. With the symbolism of the world's only divided area, it is located at the mouth of the Hangang River, which has endless ecological nature around the border area." Mayor of Gimpo, Kim Byung-soo, told NBC News: People used to think of this area near the North Korean border as a dark and gloomy place." But now this place could now become an important tourist destination for security [and] peace that can be seen as young, bright and warm, the mayor added, per the outlet. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories. Vietnam War veteran Lim Jong-chul, 80, told the publication of the new Starbucks opening, Having a cup of coffee here, I feel like I can look at North Korea, a nation divided from us, with a bit more calm and peace of mind." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before, the concept of security felt rigid and tense, but now, with this cafe here, it feels more peaceful and reassuring, he added. PEOPLE has contacted Starbucks for additional information on the new location. Low and middle-income families across New York are eligible for funds through the Home Energy Assistance Program, which has expanded its requirements this year. The federally-funded program has eligibility requirements based on income, household size, primary heating source and vulnerable family members, which is defined as a household member who is under age 6, age 60 or older or permanently disabled. A family of four may still be eligible with a maximum gross monthly income of up to $6,390, or an annual gross income of $76,68, according to a Nov. 12 press release from the governors office. Last year, the benefits for the same size family were capped at a maximum monthly gross income of $5,838, and an annual gross income of $70,059. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each eligible household can apply for one benefit, with the option to apply for emergency benefits later in the winter if they are in danger of running out of fuel or having their utility service turned off. Applications for regular benefits are being accepted now and applications for emergency benefits will open Jan. 2. New Yorkers should not have to choose between heating their home or putting food on the table, and were offering critical financial assistance to protect vulnerable New York households as the weather gets colder, Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement. Applications can be submitted at www.ny.gov/heat or through the mail or in person at local social services departments. The Franklin County Department of Social Services is at 184 Finney Boulevard in Malone. The office number is 518-481-1807. The Essex County Department of Social Services is at 7551 Court Street in Elizabethtown and can be contacted at 518-873-3878. Older adults requiring assistance with their application can contact local offices for the aging. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, the state issued $1.7 million HEAP benefits, which amounts to $397 million in savings, according to the state press release. Essex County received more than 3,000 benefits and Franklin County received almost 8,000 benefits, according to data provided by Darren OSullivan, a public information officer for the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance in Albany. Other types of funding are available, including for eligible homeowners who need up to $8,000 to replace or up to $4,000 to repair an unsafe or inoperative heating system. Similarly, homeowners can receive up to $500 to clean or tune heating sources. The state Energy Research and Development Authority EmPower program can help fund energy-efficient home improvements and the state Homes and Community Renewal Weatherization Assistance Program works through local service providers for improvements like insulation installation and the sealing of cracks and holes. For more information on these programs, visit: Energy Research and Development Authority EmPower program: https://tinyurl.com/4yrtmh38 Weatherization Assistance Program: https://tinyurl.com/yc6x8r7u NEW YORK (AP) Authorities are investigating after a Russian national who did not have a ticket boarded a Paris-bound Delta flight at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport this week and was arrested when the plane touched down. Delta Flight 264 took off Tuesday night from Kennedy and landed at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris the next day with a stowaway who had somehow bypassed security, authorities said. Police boarded the plane at the Paris airport, according to a video from a passenger that was shared on social media. This is the captain. We're just waiting for the police to come on board, the pilot can be heard saying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daniel Velez, a spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration, said an individual without a boarding pass was screened at Kennedy and was not carrying any prohibited items. TSA takes any incidents that occur at any of our checkpoints nationwide seriously, Velez said. TSA will independently review the circumstances of this incident at our travel document checker station at JFK. A Delta spokesperson said in a statement, Nothing is of greater importance than matters of safety and security. Thats why Delta is conducting an exhaustive investigation of what may have occurred and will work collaboratively with other aviation stakeholders and law enforcement to that end. The French National Police said Friday, A passenger of Russian nationality was smuggled onto a flight from NY (JFK) to Roissy-Charles de Gaulle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The passenger was refused entry to France for lack of a valid travel document (visa), and was placed in a waiting area for the time needed to return her to the United States as she held a valid US residence permit, the National Police said in a statement. A spokesperson for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates Kennedy Airport, declined to comment. A stowaway accused of sneaking aboard a Delta flight from JFK Airport to Paris is expected to return to the U.S. Saturday after failing to receive asylum in the City of Light, officials said Friday. The unidentified woman, who is between 55 and 60, is expected to return to JFK in Queens on Saturday evening, Port Authority sources said. Once she is back in the U.S., the woman faces both state and federal charges. The charges are expected to include theft of services for taking a flight without paying, the source said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday night, during one of the heaviest travel days of the year, the woman managed to get onto Delta Flight 264 heading to Charles de Gaulle Airport. The individual bypassed two identity verification and boarding status stations and boarded the aircraft, a Transportation Security Administration spokesman said. The flight wasnt full, so the unregistered passenger avoided detection by spending the flight between an empty seat and the planes rear lavatories, officials said. But halfway through the trip, a flight attendant wondered why the woman was spending so much time in the bathroom and quickly learned she had never bought a ticket. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman was taken into custody when the plane landed in France Wednesday. The captain announced that passengers had to remain in their seats so police could come and take the illicit flier into custody, passenger Rob Jackson told CNN. Related Articles I overheard the flight attendants talking about it with the pilots, he recalled. They said this person was in one lavatory and then would exit and walk to a different lavatory and go in there for a long time. Once under arrest in Paris, the woman asked for asylum, which was denied Thursday. The woman, who has a Russian passport, had requested asylum in France a few years earlier but was denied, Paris officials told CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the woman is brought back to the U.S., the TSA will independently review the circumstances of this incident at our travel document checker station at JFK, an agency spokesman said. The woman was physically screened before the flight and boarded without any prohibited items, the TSA said. Passengers at JFK Airport typically pass through at least two boarding pass checks: one at the TSA screening checkpoint before entering the boarding area and another at the gate, which is performed by the airline. In a statement, Delta said: Nothing is of greater importance than matters of safety and security. Thats why Delta is conducting an exhaustive investigation of what may have occurred and will work collaboratively with other aviation stakeholders and law enforcement to that end. With News Wire Services GENEVA, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Senior Iranian diplomats met with officials from Britain, France, and Germany on Friday behind closed doors in Geneva to discuss Iran's nuclear program, according to Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi. As Iran's negotiator, Gharibabadi described the discussions with representatives from France, Germany, and Britain as "candid." In his post on the social platform X, he said the meeting talked about and evaluated the recent bilateral, regional and international developments, particularly the nuclear issue and the lifting of sanctions. Iran is "firmly committed to pursuing the interests of the people," he noted, stressing that the preferred approach remains the path of dialogue and engagement. He added that all parties agreed to continue diplomatic dialogue in the near future. Till press time, there are no public comments or official statements from the three European countries involved in the Friday discussion. In July 2015, Iran signed the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with world powers, accepting restrictions on its nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions by the West. However, the United States withdrew from the agreement in May 2018, reinstating sanctions and prompting Iran to scale back some of its nuclear commitments. The talks on the revival of the JCPOA began in April 2021 in Vienna, Austria. Despite several rounds of talks, no significant breakthrough has been achieved since the end of the last round in August 2022. (NewsNation) A Delta Air Lines passenger managed to board a flight from New York City to France without a ticket this week. The flight, Delta 264, was going from New York John F. Kennedy International Airport to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris on Tuesday. U.S. Transportation Security Administration officials said the woman bypassed ID and boarding pass checks before getting on the plane but did get physically screened for prohibited items, which she did not have, according to Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TSA will independently review the circumstances of this incident at our travel document checker station at JFK, TSA told Reuters in a statement. See the 10 worst airports for on-time Thanksgiving travel: Report Its unclear if the woman was arrested when the plane landed in France, but police were called to the airport. Delta said in a statement that it is conducting an exhaustive investigation of what happened. Nothing is of greater importance than matters of safety and security, a Delta spokesperson said. The company said it will not comment further at this time given the ongoing investigations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. A man is dead and another man is in police custody after a shooting early Friday morning in Laveen, according to the Phoenix Police Department. About 1 a.m., police responded to reports of a shooting at a home near 51st and Southern avenues, according to spokesperson Sgt. Rob Scherer. Officers at the scene learned that 27-year-old Luis Eduardo Beltran Arteaga suffered a gunshot wound at the home and was transported by family members to the hospital where he later died, according to Scherer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Witnesses at the scene told police that the man accused of shooting Beltran Arteaga fled from the home on foot and into the neighborhood. A brief search for the man ensued. Police deployed a helicopter to locate 23-year-old Jose Luis Fajardo, who was taken into custody. Police said they learned that earlier in the night, Fajardo and an adult woman who lived in the house where the deadly shooting took place were involved in a separate fight near 47th Avenue and Van Buren Street, in which Fajardo fired a handgun several times but did not harm the woman. After the woman returned to her home near 51st and Southern avenues, Fajardo went to the home early Friday morning and forced his way into the residence, where he fatally shot Beltran Arteaga, according to Sherer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Fajardo is in the process of being booked on multiple felony charges for the two incidents that occurred overnight, to include murder," Scherer wrote in an email. "Additional details related to this incident remain part of the ongoing investigation," Scherer added. This is a developing story; check back to azcentral.com for more details. What to know: Phoenix police officer fatally shoots armed man on Thanksgiving night This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix police: Laveen shooting leaves man dead, man in custody Video above: Julio Foolio murder suspect captured in Jacksonville SWAT standoff TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) The attorney for one of the suspects allegedly involved in the killing of rapper Julio Foolio in Tampa is preparing for a possible insanity defense, according to online court records. A motion filed Nov. 19 in a Hillsborough County court is asking for a confidential forensic neuropsychologist to be appointed to examine Rashad Murphy, who was taken into custody in July after an hours-long standoff in Jacksonville. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Murphy is one of several suspects charged in the rappers death. Cases involving NGI Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity, are very complicated, attorney Daniel Hernandez wrote in the motion. The doctor sought has been involved with several NGI cases over their career. One is required to complete a comprehensive report on the Defendant. Suspect jumps from Florida bridge while fleeing officials Hernandez wrote that an extensive clinical interview, along with psychological and neuropsychological testing, is required. An NGI case such as this, should be treated just like a death penalty case, Hernandez wrote. The State will seek highly qualified clinicians to prove their side and will compensate them accordingly. The Defense should be treated in the same fashion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attorney said the forensic psychologist has previously been approved for $300 per hour plus $125 for travel with a $15,000 cap, which would be paid for by the state of Florida. A judge had not ruled on the motion as of Thursday evening. Murphy faces several charges, including premeditated first-degree murder. Police believe Jones was trying to get a room at the hotel after he was kicked out of an Airbnb while celebrating his 26th birthday. Three others were wounded in the shooting. This story includes reporting by Rachel Tucker, Georgia McCarthur and Jeff Patterson. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. A man who was suspected to be driving under the influence was fatally shot by police officers Thursday afternoon. Police responded to calls around 4:42 p.m. of a "possible DUI driver," according to a news release from the Brea Police Department. The man was reportedly found after having driven his vehicle up against a wall near a freeway on Lambert Road and the 57 Freeway in Brea, a city north of Orange County. Once officers arrived and surrounded the car, the driver allegedly drove the car into a police cruiser, according to ABC 7. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Officers made contact with the driver. A short time later, an officer-involved shooting occurred," the news release said. The suspect was taken to a local hospital where he died from his injuries. The officers who arrived to the scene were reportedly unharmed, according to Fox LA. The Orange County District Attorney's office will conduct an investigation into the shooting, according to the release. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Heather Hunter and Noah Hunter have been in Swannanoa for several weeks serving meals and snacks to disaster survivors. (Greg Childress/NC Newsline) SWANNANOA, N.C. Parts of Swannanoa looks like a war zone more than two months after the storm. The small town east of Asheville suffered unprecedented damage during Hurricane Helene. A swollen Swannanoa River overflowed its banks. Its rushing water destroyed everything in its path. Storm wreckage from Helene in Swannanoa, N.C. (Greg Childress/NC Newsline) A drive along U.S. Highway 70, which runs parallel to Interstate 40 between Asheville and Black Mountain, is eye opening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Homes and businesses that were swept off of their foundations remain where the fast-moving water left them. Mounds of debris, washed out roads and bridges, and shuttered stores and shops are haunting reminders of natures power. Volunteers provide hope But there is hope in a washed-out strip mall parking lot. Thats where the Federal Emergency Management Agency has set up a mobile disaster center with portable showers, laundry facilities and an operations center where disaster survivors can apply for aid. Volunteers from around the state and country have also shown up in force to provide meals, survival supplies and comfort to residents, some of whom have suffered unimaginable loss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the volunteers have been there for weeks, spending their savings on food and supplies and relying on donations from generous citizens. At a makeshift stand in the middle of the parking lot, Heather Hunter and husband Noah are serving hot dogs, cold drinks and snacks to survivors. The couple from the Winston-Salem area arrived in the disaster area about six weeks ago. Theyve been operating in the strip mall for about three weeks. The folks here need hope and though I cant fix everything for them, or really anything, sometimes just having a full belly and a cold drink gives hope, Heather Hunter said. It just makes them feel like theyre all right for that moment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The residents who come by for food are grateful for the meals, but also thankful to be alive, Heather Hunter said. People are just thankful for their lives, and they say that often, she said. I think this Thanksgiving season and going into Christmas, will be one where people just look back and be thankful for being together with family and friends. Swannanoa resident Larry Burnette. (Greg Childress/NC Newsline) Like they have been for the past month, Heather Hunter and her family plan to spend the holiday at the makeshift stand providing food and kind words to anyone who needs them. These folks are the greatest people and most of them have a lot of pride and dont want to ask for help, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Swannanoa resident Larry Burnette, 76, stopped by the recovery center for a meal one day last week. Burnettes home was flooded during the storm and he currently lives in FEMA-provided motel room. He was among the lucky few in the area who had flood insurance and is confident his home will be repaired. Where I live, it [flood insurance] was kind of a good safety thing to have, Burnette said, explaining that his home is in a low-lying area. Of course, it never flooded before. There was so much water, so much rain, there was pretty much nothing you could do. He said that FEMA and the dozens of volunteers who showed up have been supportive and residents are grateful for the help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive met people from Indiana, Hawaii, Ohio, Virginia who have come in and donated stuff and are going in and helping people, Burnette said. People seem to be pretty happy and theyre getting a fair amount of support. Kim Teitelman, a Red Cross volunteer from Northern Virginia, was handing out emergency supplies last week. Teitelman said she believes the holidays will bring people closer together as the recovery effort in western North Carolina continues. People have been coming to help from all different states, Teitelman said. The American people really are nice, no matter what you hear in the media. The American people come out for these things. After experiencing Hurricane Katrina, Stephen LaPoint of Baton Rouge, Louisiana said he was compelled to travel to North Carolina to help. Red Cross volunteer Kim Teitelman (third from left) poses with volunteers at Swannanoa disaster recovery center. (Greg Childress/NC Newsline) This [storm damage in North Carolina] is the worst that Ive ever seen, LaPoint said. I drove through, taking pictures and its worse than Hurricane Katrina. Everyone here from Louisiana says the same thing. Veterans face new challenges A short drive into Asheville along Tunnel Road, a hotel now serves as Veterans Restoration Quarters (VRQ), in place of the facility that was severely damaged during the storm. The main building flooded up to the second floor and some buildings were swept away. The storm displaced 187 people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everybody lost everything, said Shawn Hersman, who worked at the centers front desk. Everything got destroyed. The water went all the way up to the second floor. The VRQ is owned by Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM), a nonprofit that addresses poverty, hunger, homelessness and issues around access to health care for underserved communities. Kelsey Stephens works with the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Suicide Prevention Grant Program within Veterans Services of the Carolinas. Stephens said the loss of the VRQ is traumatic for veterans, particularly those previously experiencing homelessness and those with mental health issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Them losing the Veterans Restoration Quarters, now theyre displaced again into a hotel and its going to be an ongoing thing just because the hurricane happened, Stephens said. The waters went down but theres still so much aftermath with the mental health of individuals who may have never experienced mental health issues before. Swannanoa residents pick up provisions at disaster recovery center. (Greg Childress/NC Newsline) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stephens said her organization and others are preparing for an uptick in veterans experiencing mental health crises due to the storm. Its really taking a toll on a lot of people, Stephens said. Finding suitable, long-term housing for veterans will become increasingly difficult in the wake of the storm, she said. Now that a lot of housing options have washed away, its harder to house people, Stephens said. Now, were putting them up in hotels, but this will be a long-term issue. Like SC Daily Gazette, NC Newsline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. NC Newsline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Rob Schofield for questions: info@ncnewsline.com. Follow NC Newsline on Facebook and X. Nov. 29 (UPI) -- Sweden has sent China a formal request to cooperate with its investigation into damage sustained by two undersea cables in the Baltic Sea. The two cables, between Sweden and Lithuania and Germany and Finland, were severed in Sweden's waters of the Baltic Sea early last week, leading to accusations of sabotage, specifically involving the Chinese-flagged bulk carrier Yi Peng 3. The cause of the severed cables is under investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson of Sweden told reporters during a press conference on Thursday that the country has formally asked China to cooperate with the probe. "Today, I can also tell you ... that Sweden has also sent a formal request to China to cooperate with Swedish authorities in order to create clarity on what has happened," he said, adding that they have asked for the Chinese ship to return to Sweden's waters. The cables were damage between Nov. 17 and 18. Swedish telecom Telia Lietuva said the cable from Sweden to Lithuania was cut Nov. 18 at 10 a.m. local time. That cable has been repaired and was operational as of Thursday, Lithuanian state-run LRT reported Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a joint statement on Nov. 18, the foreign ministers of Finland and Germany said they were "deeply concerned" about the severed cable connecting their countries. "The fact that such an incident immediately raises suspicions of intentional damage speaks volumes about the volatility of our times," they said. The statement did not mention China but said European security "is not only under threat from Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine but also from hybrid warfare by malicious actors." "Safeguarding our shared critical infrastructure is vital to our security and the resilience of our societies." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told a council of the European Union the next day that they suspect "sabotage." This is not the first time in recent years that infrastructure under the Baltic Sea has been damaged. The Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, which connected Russia to Germany and transported natural gas, were blown up in an explosion in September 2022. Then, the Balticconnector gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia was damaged in October 2023. A Chinese cargo ship named NewNew Polar Bear was found responsible. BEIRUT (AP) Insurgents breached Syrias largest city Friday and clashed with government forces for the first time since 2016, according to a war monitor and fighters, in a surprise attack that sent residents fleeing and added fresh uncertainty to a region reeling from multiple wars. The advance on Aleppo followed a shock offensive launched by insurgents Wednesday, as thousands of fighters swept through villages and towns in Syrias northwestern countryside. Residents fled neighborhoods on the city's edge because of missiles and gunfire, according to witnesses in Aleppo. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the country's unresolved civil war, said dozens of fighters from both sides were killed. The attack injected new violence into a region experiencing dual wars in Gaza and Lebanon involving Israel, and other conflicts, including the Syrian civil war that began in 2011. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aleppo has not been attacked by opposition forces since they were ousted from eastern neighborhoods in 2016 following a grueling military campaign in which Syrian government forces were backed by Russia, Iran and its allied groups. But this time, there was no sign of a significant pushback from government forces or their allies. Instead, reports emerged of government forces melting away in the face of advances, and insurgents posted messages on social media calling on troops to surrender. Robert Ford, who was the last U.S. ambassador to Syria, said the attack showed that Syrian government forces are extremely weak. In some cases, he said, they appear to have almost been routed. This weeks advances were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, and represent the most intense fighting in northwestern Syria since 2020, when government forces seized areas previously controlled by the opposition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The offensive came as Iran-linked groups, primarily Lebanon's Hezbollah, which has backed Syrian government forces since 2015, have been preoccupied with their own battles at home. A ceasefire in Hezbollah's two-month war with Israel took effect Wednesday, the day the Syrian opposition factions announced their offensive. Israel has also escalated its attacks against Hezbollah and Iran-linked targets in Syria during the last 70 days. Dareen Khalifa, a senior adviser with the International Crisis Group and an expert on Syrian groups, said the insurgents have signaled for a while that they were ready for an offensive. But no one expected the swift advance of the forces toward Aleppo. Its not only that the Russians are distracted and bogged down in Ukraine, but also the Iranians are distracted and bogged down elsewhere. Hezbollahs distracted and bogged down elsewhere, and the regime is absolutely cornered, she said. But the surprise element comes in with how quickly the regime crumbled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attack on Aleppo followed weeks of simmering low-level violence, including government attacks on opposition-held areas. Turkey, which has backed Syrian opposition groups, failed in its diplomatic efforts to prevent the government attacks, which were seen as a violation of a 2019 agreement sponsored by Russia, Turkey and Iran to freeze the line of the conflict. Turkish security officials said Thursday that Syrian opposition groups initially launched a long-planned limited offensive toward Aleppo, where attacks targeting civilians originated. However, the offensive expanded as Syrian government forces began retreating from their positions, the officials said. The aim of the offensive was to reestablish the boundaries of the de-escalation zone, according to Turkish officials. The 2016 battle for Aleppo was a turning point in the war between Syrian government forces and rebel fighters after 2011 protests against Bashar Assads rule turned into an all-out war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia and Iran and its allied groups helped Syrian government forces reclaim control of the city that year after a grueling military campaign and a siege that lasted for weeks. Besides backing opposition forces, Turkey has also established a military presence in Syria, sending troops into parts of the northwest. Separately and largely in the east of Syria, the United States has supported Syrian Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State militants. The Syrian government did not comment on insurgents breaching Aleppo city limits. The Kremlin said Friday that it considered the attack an encroachment on Syrias sovereignty and that it supported the quickest possible establishment of constitutional order in the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course, this is a violation of Syrias sovereignty in this region, Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told a press briefing. Syria's armed forces said in a statement Friday that they clashed with insurgents in the countryside around Aleppo and Idlib, destroying drones and heavy weaponry. They vowed to repel the attack and accused the insurgents of spreading false information about their advances. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the insurgents detonated two car bombs Friday at the western edge of Aleppo. The war monitor said insurgents were also able to seize control of Saraqeb, south of Aleppo, a town at the strategic intersection of the highways linking Aleppo with Damascus and the coast. Syrian government authorities diverted traffic from that highway Thursday. An insurgent commander posted a recorded message on social media calling on Aleppo residents to cooperate with the advancing forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency reported that the insurgents entered the city center Friday and now control about 70 locations in Aleppo and Idlib provinces. Syrias state media reported that projectiles from insurgents landed in student accommodations at Aleppo's university in the city center, killing four people, including two students. Syrian armed forces said the insurgents are violating a 2019 agreement that de-escalated fighting in the area, the last remaining opposition stronghold for years. Hezbollah was the main force in the governments control of Aleppo, said Rami Abdurrahman, head of the Observatory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a phone call with his Syrian counterpart, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the insurgent attacks in Syria as a plot orchestrated by the U.S. and the Zionist regime following the regimes defeat in Lebanon and Palestine. Insurgents posted videos online showing they were using drones, a new weapon for them. It was not clear to what extent the drones were used on the battleground. Insurgents attacked a military airbase southeast of Aleppo with drones early Friday, destroying a helicopter, the Anadolu Agency reported. The opposition groups also seized heavy weapons and military vehicles belonging to the government forces, the agency said. ___ Associated Press writers Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey; Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria; and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington contributed to this report. OTTAWA, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday incoming U.S. President Donald Trump's threats on tariffs should be taken seriously. "One of the things that is really important to understand is that Donald Trump, when he makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out," Trudeau was quoted as saying in Prince Edward Island. "There's no question about it." "He would be actually not just be harming Canadians, he'd actually be raising prices for American citizens as well and hurting American industry and businesses," said Trudeau. According to the report, the prime minister said that Canada can take the same approach to working with Trump as it did during his first term as president. Trudeau on Wednesday night held a virtual meeting with all 13 premiers to discuss Trump's tariff threat. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland called on the premiers to make use of all of their contacts, channels, and abilities to relay important information and messages to Americans and people of influence. They agreed to continue working closely together to advocate for Canada's interests and the deep economic ties that drive prosperity on both sides of the border, across all sectors of the economy. Trump vowed on Monday to impose a 25 percent tariff on all products from Canada and Mexico as soon as he takes office, saying that he will keep them in place until both countries crack down on drugs and immigrants entering the United States illegally from their territories. For the first nine months of this year, Canada exported more than 300 billion U.S. dollars in goods to the United States, according to Statistics Canada. Syrian opposition fighters on Friday breached Syria's second-largest city of Aleppo for the first time in years, activists and rebels reported. "The rebels have entered areas inside the city of Aleppo for the first time since 2016," Rami Abdel-Rahman, the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, told dpa. The rebels' offensive marks a significant escalation in the civil war, which has raged since 2011 and had recently seen relatively stable front lines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An alliance of Islamist rebel groups announced that their fighters were engaged in skirmishes with government troops in the western suburbs of the city. The Syrian Ministry of Defence stated that government forces were facing massive attacks in the outskirts of the cities of Aleppo and Idlib. Eyewitnesses in Aleppo told dpa that rebels had been seen in western Aleppo with their vehicles, tearing up pictures of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Other residents reported hearing explosions and fighting in the city. Thousands flee fighting The fighting has forced around 14,000 people to leave their homes, according to the United Nations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fighting broke out in north-western Syria on Wednesday pitting an Islamist-led opposition alliance against government forces, following an offensive by rebels led by the extremist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The assault, described as the heaviest in years, has intensified the conflict in the region. HTS is considered one of the most powerful armed militias in north-western Syria. The fighting has resulted so far in a total of 255 deaths, including civilians, the United Kingdom-based observatory reported on Friday. According to rebel sources, fighters have advanced from the south and west of Aleppo and have so far taken control of more than 50 towns in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Syrian state media and the observatory said at least four students were killed and two others were wounded when insurgents shelled a place housing university students in Aleppo, a claim denied by rebel forces. Students in Aleppo University were asked to leave the campus, and people inside the city of Aleppo were confined to their homes out of fear that rebel fighters would shell the city. Clashes intensify three days into surprise attack A military commander of a pro-Syrian militia loyal to the government in the city of Aleppo, Abu Mahmoud Omar, told dpa on Friday: "The coming hours will be decisive for the battles after the arrival of large military reinforcements from the Syrian army and allied forces to Aleppo." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rebels said that their advancement came amid a complete collapse of the government forces, the seizure of dozens of tanks and military vehicles, as well as the killing and capturing of dozens of government soldiers. The Syrian troops, backed by their Russian allies, have retaliated by carrying out more than 100 airstrikes on rebel positions in the north-western Idlib region and the Aleppo area since Wednesday morning. Opposition factions announced the offensive on Wednesday, naming it "Deterrence of Aggression." They said it was a response to recent artillery shelling by government forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, which targeted civilian areas. Largest anti-Assad offensive in Aleppo since 2016 The situation is deteriorating, particularly affecting the civilian population, warned David Carden, deputy regional UN coordinator for humanitarian aid in Syria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is considered the largest attack by rebels on Aleppo since 2016 when they were ousted from the eastern areas of the city. The 2016 battle for Aleppo was considered one of the worst in the civil war in Syria, which has been going on since 2011. Al-Assad, with the help of his allies Russia and Iran, has managed to regain control of two-thirds of the country again from rebels in the past years. Idlib is the last rebel stronghold in war-torn Syria. Russia condems advances by Syrian rebels Russia, a close supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has condemned the unexpected advance of anti-government Islamist rebels on the city of Aleppo as an attack on Syria's sovereignty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Of course this is an encroachment on Syria's sovereignty in this region," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in Moscow. However, his words suggested that Moscow did not see itself as responsible for stopping the offensive. "We are in favour of the Syrian authorities bringing order to the region as quickly as possible and restoring constitutional order," he said, according to the state news agency TASS. Russia intervened in the Syrian civil war in 2015 and, with its superior air power, helped to consolidate al-Assad's wavering grip on power. Russia was particularly involved in the recapture of Aleppo by the Syrian army in 2016, which resulted in many civilian casualties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Moscow reduced its troop presence in Syria beginning in 2022 after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. According to TASS, Russian military experts believe that Russia's Hamaimim airbase and the Tartus naval base in the country will be protected from possible rebel attacks. Fighters prepare Grad missiles to target Syrian regime forces in Aleppo. The armed Syrian opposition factions, within the operations room (the Military Operations Department), launched a military operation under the name of deterring aggression in Idlib and Aleppo governorates, and took control of more than 60 towns that were under the control of the Syrian regime forces and the Iranian-backed militias. Anas Alkharboutli/dpa LOS ANGELES (AP) On a recent Saturday afternoon, hundreds of Anora fans lined up for hours on Los Angeles' Melrose Avenue, hoping to snag exclusive merchandise inspired by Sean Bakers latest film about a stripper who marries the son of a Russian oligarch. The one-day-only pop-up from distributor Neon followed the success of a similar event in New York, hosted at the strip club at which the winner of the top prize at this years Cannes Film Festival was filmed. Elated film buffs many already wearing clothes inspired by movies like fellow Cannes hit The Substance and the Nicolas Cage horror flick, Longlegs relished the fruits of their labor at the front of the line, admiring their T-shirt and thong underwear purchases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Exclusive is a buzzword, but it really is. Its an exclusive event because we all waited in line, said Nathan Zakim, who arrived at 10 a.m. for the 3 p.m. pop-up. We all saw the movie. I think the movie merch mania should go on for as long as it can. The rise of 'movie merch mania' Movie-themed merchandise is nothing new. Who can forget the iconic Vote for Pedro T-shirt from Napoleon Dynamite that was seemingly everywhere in the early aughts? But in recent years, movie-inspired streetwear has exploded in popularity among film lovers, thanks in part to viral marketing campaigns put on by independent film studios. The result is clothing, often made in collaboration with popular brands, promoted as trendy and in limited supply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Being this film buff type of person, I buy Blu-rays, I buy 4Ks. And thats not something that you can just pop out to someone and be like, I have this Criterion, said Natanael Avilez, who drove more than 50 miles (80 kilometers) for the Anora pop up. Merch is the second-best option of saying like, I do love movies and this is the way to express that. T-shirts are by far the most common form of merch, be it for Neon's Oscar-winning Parasite (2019) or, more recently, A24's We Live in Time, with the infamous carousel horse emblazoned across the front. Some films, however, lend themselves to a more thematic marketing approach. First Reformed fans flocked to the sold-out denim hat featured in Paul Schrader's 2017 film about a pastor's descent into despair over the environment. The J. Hannah gold locket inspired by Sofia Coppola's Priscilla (2023) is still on the market for $1,480. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One catalyst in the trends rise can be traced to 2018, when the clothing brand Online Ceramics and A24 joined forces. The brand, founded by artists Elijah Funk and Alix Ross, began with the idea of making bootleg T-shirts inspired by the Grateful Dead. Ross recounted two serendipitous moments in the companys history: One was watching Pete Davidson wearing a Good Time T-shirt on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon in 2018. I was really jealous that we didnt make that, Ross recalled of Davidsons shirt, adorned with a poster image of Robert Pattinson and co-director Benny Safdie. The other was knowing, after just seeing the trailer, that Online Ceramics had to make Hereditary T-shirts with or without A24s permission. Thanks to a mutual friend, they managed to get in touch with the studio just before the films release and got A24's stamp of approval. Hopeful online shoppers today will be disappointed as they scroll through dozens of Online Ceramics x A24 items, inspired by films like MaXXXine, Midsommar and Love Lies Bleeding, only to find each one sold out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why merch? Watching movies following a pandemic and the rise of streaming has become less of a collective experience in recent years. For many fans, repping their favorite films in public is a way to combat that. Its so fun knowing that everyone loves the movie so much to go stand in line for multiple hours. I got here three hours before it even opened and theres probably, like, 30 people in front of me, said Sabrina Bratt. Physical keepsakes are just so cute and fun. For studios, the benefit is multifaceted. Not only is it an additional revenue source in a time of slowed production in Hollywood, it also is a way to engage with the fans that help keep their films in the zeitgeist long after they leave the theater. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People, and particularly younger people, they want to be a part of something. And wearing a shirt for a movie is no different to wearing a shirt for the band that you just went to see. Theres a cachet to it. Theres a value to it. Its a sign of who I am, said Neon Chief Marketing Officer Christian Parkes. Alex Ng is the co-founder and creative director of the Los Angeles-based brand Brain Dead, which also owns a movie theater on Fairfax Avenue. As the film industry continues to evolve out of necessity, Ng contends this intersection of fashion and film will play an increasingly important role in Hollywood. What people want is like a token or a souvenir. They go to Disneyland and they get a Mickey, right? So, if you go to an arthouse cinema, theres not a lot of things or souvenirs you could take away from a film that you love, he said. I want to connect those pieces. And I think thats the new era that were seeing as a movie-going experience. Getting in on the action Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the demand has grown for merchandise, studios and brands have sought to take advantage for films old and new. Searchlight Pictures recently released a handful of products to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Alexander Paynes buddy comedy for oenophiles, Sideways, including tees, hats and, of course, wine keys. Brain Dead has done a handful of movie collaborations with studios like A24, Focus Features and, more recently, MUBI and Jordan Peeles Monkeypaw Productions. Some products are odes to cult classics, like Being John Malkovich and The Big Lebowski, while others commemorate newer releases. Within days of announcing a limited-edition, long-sleeve shirt for The Substance complete with a 30-day trial for MUBI Brain Dead had sold out of the product online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although Ng bristles at the idea of hype, arguing it suggests somethings popularity isnt sincere, he appreciates the ways in which demand for movie merchandise has grown: I think when we can speak to someone who loves films in that, thats really cool to me. Ross, too, is ambivalent about how popular merch has become. I cringe at seeing how many movie companies are trying to rip off what we did, he said. But at the same time, its just kind of like, Damn. Like I cant believe it got to this point. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te will visit Hawaii and the US territory of Guam during an upcoming trip to the Pacific, prompting condemnations from China, which could respond by staging a fresh round of military drills near the island democracy. Lai will begin his visit on Saturday to the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau three small Pacific countries that are among Taiwans 12 formal diplomatic allies. During the visit, Lai will stop over for two nights in Hawaii and one night in Guam his first transit through US soil since taking office in May, Taipeis presidential office told CNN. While on US soil, Lai is expected to meet with old friends and participate in closed-door discussions with think tanks, according to Taiwans official Central News Agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taiwanese leaders have often used visits to diplomatic allies to make unofficial stopovers in the United States, which has remained Taiwans most important backer and arms supplier despite the lack of formal diplomatic relations. The Taiwanese presidents upcoming trip has already drawn the ire of Beijing. A Chinese defense ministry spokesman told a press briefing on Thursday that the military would resolutely crush any separatist attempt seeking Taiwan independence. Political manipulation and provocation to seek Taiwan independence are doomed to fail and can never stop the historical trend of Chinas reunification, spokesman Wu Qian added. The Taiwan Affairs Office, a Chinese government agency responsible for cross-strait affairs, also labeled Lais visit as a provocative act, and called on the United States to stop sending wrong signals to Taiwans independence forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chinas ruling Communist party claims Taiwan as a part of its territory, despite having never controlled it, and has repeatedly ruled out the use of force to bring it under control. The Taiwanese government, meanwhile, emphasizes that it is a sovereign government and that the future of Taiwan can only be decided by its population of 23.5 million. Karen Kuo, a spokeswoman from Taiwans presidential office, said Lais official visit to the three diplomatic allies is aimed at bolstering friendly relations with like-minded democracies, adding that maintaining regional peace and stability is the joint responsibility of both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Risk of new China drills? Lais visit to Hawaii comes as the leadership of the US, its most important protector, is in a state of transition with observers and Taiwan closely watching how the return of Donald Trump to the White House might impact relations with China. Beijing openly loathes Lai and reacted with fury to his election earlier this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Citing regional intelligence assessments, a senior Taiwanese official told CNN that China could respond to Lais first overseas trip by staging a new round of military drills near the island. [China hopes to] create an incident during the transition period in the United States to highlight its disregard to the Biden administration, and create pressure on the incoming Trump team by drawing a red line, the official said. Since the beginning of this year, Beijing has held two rounds of war games near Taiwan one in May and another in October both labelled as part of its Joint Sword 2024 exercises. The drills, if they come, could be similar in scale to the ones in October, according to a Taiwanese security document obtained by CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement on Wednesday, Taiwans defense ministry said any deliberate attempt to create tension in the Taiwan Strait would undermine peace and stability, which is not the proper behavior of a responsible modern country. In April last year, Beijing launched three days of military drills in response to an unofficial visit to California by Lais predecessor Tsai Ing-wen. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te will stop over in Hawaii and Guam during his trip to the South Pacific, drawing criticism from China. Lai is to leave Taiwan on Saturday on a weeklong trip to visit the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau three diplomatic allies of the self-governed island. Asked by the AP, Lai's office on Friday confirmed reports that he would make stopovers in the U.S. state of Hawaii and the U.S. territory of Guam. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under pressure from China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, the island has just 12 formal diplomatic allies. However, it retains strong contacts with dozens of other nations, including the U.S., its main source of diplomatic and military support. Lai's planned stopovers drew criticism from Beijing. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said if the U.S. wants to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait, it is important for it to handle the Taiwan issue with utmost caution, clearly opposing Taiwan independence and supporting Chinas peaceful reunification." Mao said China firmly opposes any form of official interaction between the U.S. and Taiwan, and visits by Taiwan's leaders to the U.S. for any reason. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When his predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen, began a stopover in the U.S. on her way to Central America last year, China said it was closely watching and would resolutely safeguard our sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Chinese military also launched drills around Taiwan last year as a stern warning over what it called collusion between separatists and foreign forces" days after Lai, then Taiwan's vice president, stopped over in the U.S. China objects strongly to such U.S. stopovers by Taiwans leaders, as well as visits to the island by leading American politicians, terming them violations of the U.S. commitment not to afford diplomatic status to Taiwan after Washington switched its formal recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979. With the number of its diplomatic partners declining under Chinese pressure, Taiwan has redoubled efforts to participate in international forums, even from the sidelines. TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan's government expressed disappointment on Friday that members of a Trans-Pacific trade pact had not set up a working group to consider its membership, saying there should not be political considerations. Taiwan in 2021 formally applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), less than a week after China said it too had submitted an application. The group currently has 11 members - Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, New Zealand, Singapore and Vietnam - and Britain will formally join next month. Taiwan's Office of Trade Negotiations said that a meeting of members in Vancouver this week had agreed to set up a working group to consider Costa Rica's entry, but not one for Taiwan. Costa Rica said on Thursday it had been invited to join the group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our government expresses its deep disappointment and once again calls on CPTPP members to set up a working group on our membership at an early date without political considerations," the Taiwanese office said in a statement. The Canadian government, the host of the meeting, did not respond to a request for comment outside business hours in Canada. There has also been no working group set up so far to consider China's application. Taiwan has few international trade agreements due to its diplomatic isolation because of pressure from China, which views the democratically governed island as its own territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However both Taiwan and China, which has opposed Taiwan's CPTPP application, are members of the World Trade Organization. Taiwan says China has no right to speak for it or represent it on the world stage and that it has a right to engage with other countries and international bodies. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Jeanny Kao; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan) Lai Ching-te is set to make his first overseas trip as Taiwans president to Guam and Hawaii in a move that has prompted China to warn the US to exercise utmost caution. Mr Lai, who is considered a separatist by China, is leaving for a week-long Pacific tour on Saturday. After a stopover in Hawaii, US, he will travel to the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau, three of the dozen countries that have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan. He will also stop over on the US territory of Guam. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China opposes any foreign interaction or visit by the self-governed islands leaders, especially with the US. Beijing regards Taiwan as its territory that it can bring under control by force if required. If the US wants to maintain peace in the Taiwan Straits, its crucial for it to recognise the independence nature of Lai Ching-te and the Democratic Progressive Party authorities," Mao Ning, a spokesperson for Chinas foreign ministry, said. The spokesperson reiterated the comments made by Chinese president Xi Jinping to US counterpart Joe Biden at the Asia Pacific summit in Peru this month that "separatist acts" were incompatible with peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Washington must handle the Taiwan issue with utmost caution, unequivocally oppose the independence of Taiwan, and support the peaceful reunification of China, Ms Mao said at a daily press briefing in Beijing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said China opposed any "scurrying to the United States" of Taiwans leaders or any American support for separatist activities. Chinas determination to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity and oppose interference in its internal affairs by external forces is unwavering," she said. The Taiwanese president and his government reject Chinas claims of sovereignty over the island. Mr Lai said he was looking forward to meeting Taiwans three Pacific allies. He would also keep deepening Taipeis partnership with other countries and keep Taiwan going out into the world", according to a statement by his office that excluded mention of the US stopovers. His foreign minister, Lin Chia-lung, told lawmakers on Thursday that China could launch military drills near Taiwan in the coming days in response to Mr Lais Pacific tour. Michael Carrafiello The Conversation Every November, numerous articles recount the arrival of 17th Century English Pilgrims and Puritans and their quest for religious freedom. Stories are told about the founding of Massachusetts Bay Colony and the celebration of the first Thanksgiving feast. In the popular mind, the two groups are synonymous. In the story of the quintessential American holiday, they have become inseparable protagonists in the story of the origins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But as a scholar of both English and American history, I know there are significant differences between the two groups. Nowhere is this more telling than in their respective religious beliefs and treatment of Native Americans. Where did the Pilgrims come from? Pilgrims arose from the English Puritan movement that originated in the 1570s. Puritans wanted the English Protestant Reformation to go further. They wished to rid the Church of England of popish that is, Catholic elements like bishops and kneeling at services. Each Puritan congregation made its own covenant with God and answered only to the Almighty. Puritans looked for evidence of a godly life, meaning evidence of their own prosperous and virtuous lives that would assure them of eternal salvation. They saw worldly success as a sign, though not necessarily a guarantee, of eventual entrance into heaven. After 1605, some Puritans became what scholar Nathaniel Philbrick calls Puritans with a vengeance. They embraced extreme separatism, removing themselves from England and its corrupt church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These Puritans would soon become Pilgrims literally meaning that they would be prepared to travel to distant lands to worship as they pleased. In 1608, a group of 100 Pilgrims sailed to Leiden, Holland, and became a separate church living and worshipping by themselves. They were not satisfied in Leiden. Believing Holland also to be sinful and ungodly, they decided in 1620 to venture to the New World in a leaky vessel called the Mayflower. Fewer than 40 Pilgrims joined 65 nonbelievers, whom the Pilgrims dubbed strangers, in making the arduous journey to what would be called Plymouth Colony. Hardship, survival and Thanksgiving in America Most Americans know that more than half of the Mayflowers passengers died the first harsh winter of 1620-21. The fragile colony survived only with the assistance of Native Americans most famously Squanto. To commemorate, not celebrate, their survival, Pilgrims joined Native Americans in a grand meal during the autumn of 1621. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But for the Pilgrims, what we today know as Thanksgiving was not a feast; rather, it was a spiritual devotion. Thanksgiving was a solemn and not a celebratory occasion. It was not a holiday. Still, Plymouth was dominated by the 65 strangers, who were largely disinterested in what Pilgrims saw as urgent questions of their own eternal salvation. There were few Protestant clerics among the Pilgrims, and in few short years, they found themselves to be what historian Mark Peterson calls spiritual orphans. Lay Pilgrims like William Brewster conducted services, but they were unable to administer Puritan sacraments. Pilgrims and Native Americans in the 1620s At the same time, Pilgrims did not actively seek the conversion of Native Americans. According to scholars like Philbrick, English author Rebecca Fraser and Peterson, the Pilgrims appreciated and respected the intellect and common humanity of Native Americans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An early example of Pilgrim respect for the humanity of Native Americans came from the pen of Edward Winslow. Winslow was one of the chief Pilgrim founders of Plymouth. In 1622, just two years after the Pilgrims arrival, he published in the mother country the first book about life in New England, Mourts Relation. While opining that Native Americans are a people without any religion or knowledge of God, he nevertheless praised them for being very trusty, quick of apprehension, ripe witted, just. Winslow added that we have found the Indians very faithful in their covenant of peace with us; very loving. we often go to them, and they come to us; some of us have been fifty miles by land in the country with them. In Winslows second published book, Good Newes from New England (1624), he recounted at length nursing the Wampanoag leader Massasoit as he lay dying, even to the point of spoon-feeding him chicken broth. Fraser calls this episode very tender. The Puritan exodus from England The thousands of non-Pilgrim Puritans who remained behind and struggled in England would not share Winslows views. They were more concerned with what they saw as their own divine mission in America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After 1628, dominant Puritan ministers clashed openly with the English Church and, more ominously, with King Charles I and Bishop of London later Archbishop of Canterbury William Laud. So, hundreds and then thousands of Puritans made the momentous decision to leave England behind and follow the tiny band of Pilgrims to America. These Puritans never considered themselves separatists, though. Following what they were confident would be the ultimate triumph of the Puritans who remained in the mother country, they would return to help govern England. The American Puritans of the 1630s and beyond were more ardent, and nervous about salvation, than the Pilgrims of the 1620s. Puritans tightly regulated both church and society and demanded proof of godly status, meaning evidence of a prosperous and virtuous life leading to eternal salvation. They were also acutely aware of that divine-sent mission to the New World. Puritans believed they must seek out and convert Native Americans so as to raise them to godliness. Tens of thousands of Puritans therefore poured into Massachusetts Bay Colony in what became known as the Great Migration. By 1645, they already surrounded and would in time absorb the remnants of Plymouth Colony. Puritans and Native Americans in the 1630s and beyond Dominated by hundreds of Puritan clergy, Massachusetts Bay Colony was all about emigration, expansion and evangelizationduring this period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As early as 1651, Puritan evangelists like Thomas Mayhew had converted 199 Native Americans labeled by the Puritans as praying Indians. For those Native Americans who converted to Christianity and prayed with the Puritans, there existed an uneasy harmony with Europeans. For those who resisted what the Puritans saw as Gods mission, there was harsh treatment and often death. But even for those who succumbed to the Puritans evangelization, their culture and destiny changed dramatically and unalterably. War with Native Americans A devastating outcome of Puritan cultural dominance and prejudice was King Philips War in 1675-76. Massachusetts Bay Colony feared that Wampanoag chief Metacom labeled by Puritans King Philip planned to attack English settlements throughout New England in retaliation for the murder of praying Indian John Sassamon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That suspicion mushroomed into a 14-month, all-out war between colonists and Native Americans over land, religion and control of the regions economy. The conflict would prove to be one of the bloodiest per capita in all of American history. By September 1676, thousands of Native Americans had been killed, with hundreds of others sold into servitude and slavery. King Philips War set an ominous precedent for Anglo-Native American relations throughout most of North America for centuries to come. The Pilgrims true legacy So, Puritans and Pilgrims came out of the same religious culture of 1570s England. They diverged in the early 1600s, but wound up 70 years later being one and the same in the New World. In between, Pilgrim separatists sailed to Plymouth, survived a terrible first winter and convened a robust harvest-time meal with Native Americans. Traditionally, the Thanksgiving holiday calls to mind those first settlers courage and tenacity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the humanity that Pilgrims like Edward Winslow showed toward the Native Americans they encountered was lamentably and tragically not shared by the Puritan colonists who followed them. Therefore, the ultimate legacy of Thanksgiving is and will remain mixed. Florida Swifties can experience The Eras Tour all over again. For Black Friday, Taylor Swift is releasing a tour book and two exclusive "The Torturated Poets Department" albums exclusively at Target. 'Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Book': What's in The Eras Tour book? This 256-page hardcover beauty features over 500 never-before-seen photos, taking you through every era during Taylor's tour. Fans can find performance shots, exclusive rehearsal moments, and a glimpse of the intricate costumes, instruments, and set designs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But that's not all! The book shares personal reflections and notes from Swift herself, letting you experience the tour through her eyes. How much is The Eras Tour book? The book costs $39.99 plus tax. What is The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology at Target? For the first time ever, fans can own the previously digital-only album "The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology" on vinyl and CD. For the first time ever, fans can own the previously digital-only album "The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology" on vinyl and CD. They both boast 35 tracks, including four acoustic songs of the following songs: "Fortnight," "Down Bad," "But Daddy I Love Him" and "Guilty as Sin?" The vinyl features four marbled, translucent discs accompanied by a unique 12x12-inch poster of Taylor. It retails for $59.99 plus tax, while the CD will cost $17.99 plus tax. How many Targets are in Florida? What time do they open in Florida? There are 118 Target stores in Florida. To find a location near you, check here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Black Friday, Target retailers opened their doors at 6 a.m. Didn't find book or album in person? When you can order them online If the early Black Friday crowds already nabbed the items, don't fret! On Saturday, Nov. 30, you can find them online through the Target app and website. Buy Taylor Swift's new Eras Tour book Is the Eras Tour still going on? Here's Swift's final tour dates Since March 2023, Swift has been taking her critically acclaimed, billion-dollar-grossing concert tour across the globe. She made stops in two Florida cities; Tampa in April 2023 and Miami in October 2024. After a year-and-a-half of performing her greatest hits, the Eras Tour will come to an end next month in Canada's Vancouver. Swift will perform her final three shows on Dec. 6 through Dec. 8. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contributing reporting: Digital Desk at Asbury Park Press We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesnt influence our coverage. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Taylor Swift has exclusive Black Friday releases at Target. See items Palestinian people are seen at a temporary shelter in Gaza City, Nov. 28, 2024. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) GAZA, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said on Friday that Gaza endured the most intense civilian bombardment in the past year since World War II. It added that the plight of Palestinian refugees remains the "longest unresolved refugee crisis" in the world, noting that UNRWA was established to provide assistance and protection to Palestinian refugees until a just and lasting solution is found. The UN agency issued the statement to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, observed annually on November 29. Israel has been waging a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 taken hostage. The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 44,363, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Friday. A Palestinian man is seen at a temporary shelter in Gaza City, Nov. 28, 2024. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) Palestinian children walk on the rubble in Gaza City, Nov. 28, 2024. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) A Colombian school bus driver has been arrested on rape and kidnapping charges after a girl he allegedly snatched over a decade ago managed to escape, authorities said Thursday. The victim went missing 12 years ago at age seven. She escaped in February and reported her alleged abuser, who was arrested in the city of Medellin last week, a statement from the prosecutor's office said. After being kidnapped, the girl was moved for years between addresses in Medellin and nearby Bello, and allegedly raped on camera. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her captor, named as Carlos Humberto Grisales Higuita in the statement that also included his photo, allegedly changed the girl's name, kept her out of sight and out of school. Carlos Humberto Grisales Higuita / Credit: Colombia Attorney General The suspect faces charges of kidnapping, raping a minor and producing child sexual abuse material. The prosecutor's office said the man had "psychologically manipulated" the girl "into making her believe that this type of behavior is normal." When she was 16, the alleged victim confronted her captor, which prompted him to lock her in a house from which she escaped earlier this year, prosecutors said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man appeared in court last week and denied all charges. He was ordered held in pre-trial detention. Recently exposed cases of child sex abuse in Medellin, including by foreign tourists, has prompted a wave of indignation in Colombia. The city of 2.5 million people registered 139 cases of child sexual exploitation between January and August this year, according to municipal data. Fourteen foreigners have been arrested in Medellin this year for child sex abuse. In April, the case of an American visitor who was arrested after entering a hotel with two girls, only to be released later, led the city hall to ban street prostitution in its tourist areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Child sexual assault offenders often go unpunished in the country. The non-profit Colombia Reports, citing a Prosecutor General's victim database, reported earlier this year that only 1,389 people were convicted for sexual violence against children since 2018 -- less than 2% of the children examined by doctors because of alleged sexual violence during the same period. According to Children Change Colombia, 200,000 minors are sexually abused each year in the country. A 2021 Violence Against Children Survey found that two out of five of the Colombia's youth had experienced violence before the age of 18, Former Navy secretary says Trump's Defense Secretary pick will make the military "weaker" What to know about Biden's criticisms of Trump's proposed tariffs Investigators discover firefighter visited woman before she was found dead in burning home Prosecutors in Colombia say the girl was kidnapped in 2012 when she was 7 years old Colombia Attorney General Carlos Humberto Grisales Higuita Carlos Humberto Grisales Higuita A school bus driver in Colombia was arrested after authorities say he allegedly kidnapped and sexually assaulted a girl who escaped after 12 years in captivity. Carlos Humberto Grisales Higuita was arrested on charges of simple kidnapping, sexual abuse with a minor under 14 years of age, sexual acts with a minor under 14 years of age and pornography with a person under 18 years of age, the countrys attorney generals office said in a press conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors allege that Grisales Higuita kidnapped the girl when she was 7 years old in 2012 and took her to a home in Medellins city center. For years, he allegedly sexually assaulted her and manipulated her into believing what was happening to her was normal, the A.G.s office claims. During the 12 years in which the girl was missing, prosecutors say Grisales Hiiguita changed her name and moved her to different locations in Medellin and Bello, Antioquia. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. The girl was also taken out of school and kept from communicating with others while in captivity, authorities say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When she turned 16, prosecutors say the girl confronted Grisales Higuita about how he was allegedly treating her. He allegedly responded by locking her in the home, from which she ultimately escaped in February 2024. Grisales was arrested by National Police in Medellin. Prosecutors say he denied the charges he is currently facing. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org. If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. CHICAGO A drive-by shooting on the citys West Side left a teen boy dead early Friday morning. According to Chicago police, the incident unfolded just after 2 a.m. in the 2800 block of West Polk Street in East Garfield Park. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland Officers said the teen was standing in the street in the area when a black vehicle pulled up alongside him and an individual inside opened fire in his direction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The teen suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his body and was taken to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Authorities have not yet identified the victim killed and it is unclear what led to the shooting. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines According to police, an investigation into the deadly shooting is now underway, and no arrests have been made. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact CPD Area Four Detectives at 312-746-8251 or dial 911. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) The Odessa Police Department is investigating after a deadly crash left one Odessa teen dead and another seriously injured. According to OPD, at about 2:05 a.m. on Thursday, November 28, a 2018 red Ford F-150 was traveling east on 42nd Street when it collided with a 2011 Kia Sorrento that was traveling north on North County Road West. The driver of the Kia, a 15-year-old male, was killed in the incident. A 13-year-old male passenger was also transported to the Medical Center Hospital with serious injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Accused hit and run driver among 46 people facing DWI charges after holiday weekend The driver of the Ford F-150, later identified as 19-year-old Jonah Hurton, of Odessa, was arrested for driving while intoxicated and transported to the Ector County Law Enforcement Center. OPD said additional charges are probable. The 2011 Kia Sorrento was reported a stolen vehicle. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. If you have any information related to this crash, please contact Odessa Crime Stoppers at 432-333-TIPS or through the P3 Tips mobile app. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. Telling someone with a foreign accent you cant understand them could be racial harassment, a senior tribunal judge has said. Commenting on or criticising the way someone from another country or ethnic group speaks could breach employment law, Judge James Tayler said. The senior circuit judge of the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) made the ruling following a case about a university worker who sued when she received criticism over her strong Brazilian accent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elaine Carozzi took the University of Hertfordshire to an employment tribunal, claiming she suffered racial discrimination and harassment over comments about her accent. Although the marketing manager had a good grasp of the English language, managers at the institution had allegedly struggled to understand what she was saying. Elaine Carozzi say the team didnt want to invite me to important meetings and events in part because of her very strong accent Her claims were dismissed by a 2021 tribunal in Watford but she has now won a legal battle to have part of her case reheard as the EAT found that there were mistakes in its decision. Judge Tayler found that the original panel erred in law when it found that the University of Hertfordshire did not racially harass Ms Carozzi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He suggested that comments about not understanding someone with a foreign accent could still be harassment because an accent may be an important part of a persons national or ethnic identity. Comments about a persons accent could be related to the protected characteristic of race, he said at the appeal tribunal. Violate dignity The judge said that criticism of such an accent could violate dignity and could therefore be harassment however, this would depend on a number of considerations and the individual case. The original tribunal heard that Ms Carozzi made a catalogue of allegations against the university, including that Annabel Lucas, her manager, discriminated against her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Carozzi was on probation at the university after joining in December 2017, but said the probation kept getting extended over concerns about her communication allegedly due in part to her pronunciation. She told the original tribunal that over 13 months, Ms Lucas made derogatory remarks about her attitude, culture and Brazilian accent. I have a Brazilian accent [Ms Lucas] told me that the team was having issues with my very strong accent, and therefore they didnt want to invite me to important meetings and events, Ms Carozzi said at the time. I have a Brazilian accent. I cant change my background, my ethnicity and my national origins, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked why Ms Lucas was not comfortable taking Ms Carozzi to external meetings, she said it was not because of her accent but because of the content of what she was saying. Ms Lucas said the content of what Ms Carozzi had been saying was separate from her accent, and that it had often been confusing which made it difficult for her and other team members to get a grasp on what she was doing. Nothing to do with her race All of Ms Carozzis claims were dismissed by the original tribunal in 2021 but the EAT has now said it made mistakes in some of its judgments. In one of the mistakes, the initial tribunal was told Ms Lucas said at a probation meeting for the marketing manager: You have a very strong accent, and although your English language is very good it can be difficult for you to be understood, and this is an issue when your role [is] one of communication, engagement and partnership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The original tribunal ruled Ms Carozzis accent had nothing whatsoever to do with her race and that Ms Lucass comments did not harass her. However, Judge Tayler said this was a mistake because while race didnt motivate the comments, it was still connected to it and was therefore potentially harassment. The judge also said the original tribunal made mistakes in two other judgments, one relating to a claim about Ms Carozzis accent and another about victimisation. Concluding, Judge Tayler said these three complaints should be heard by a new tribunal. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Strong public schools are the cornerstone of our communities - employing amazing teachers, supporting families, and educating every child that walks in their doors regardless of race, class, ability, or background. While Gov. Bill Lee has claimed throughout his career to stand for families and fiscal responsibility, he and his billionaire backers are instead pushing a policy that would channel tax dollars away from the 90% of students who attend Tennessee public schools and into the hands of a few exclusive private schools. After an overwhelming rejection last year by teachers, parent groups, 72-plus school boards, the superintendents association, and communities all across the state, Governor Lee is yet again pushing a bill to create a universal private voucher program in Tennessee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In year one, this program would divert over $144 million per year into private schools but this figure would almost certainly balloon in subsequent years as the program is expanded. While Lee and his followers sell their voucher bill as parental choice, the evidence from states like Arizona who have passed similar legislation show that the overwhelming majority of voucher recipients are wealthy families who can already afford to send their children to exclusive private schools. In other words, Governor Lees voucher program is just a new entitlement program for upper-middle class families. Tennessee should direct voucher funds to fixing public schools As Lee pushes his private school entitlement program, many public school classrooms are bursting at the seams, school facilities are crumbling, the growing list of responsibilities placed on our teachers is causing many to leave the profession they love, and our state legislatures obsession with teaching to the test is harming our students ability to learn. A billboard in Nashville funded by Koch-funded Americans for Prosperity encourages residents to contact lawmakers and ask them to support Gov. Bill Lee's voucher legislation in March 2024. These challenges have emerged not by magic but through continued disinvestment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are not challenges that can be addressed in a single year, but we can make a choice to change course and actually invest in the success of our public schools. Instead of sending hundreds of millions per year to exclusive private schools, we could choose to direct those funds into rebuilding dilapidated public school buildings, hiring more teacher aides, helping address our hemorrhaging supply of K-12 educators, funding relief (not loans) to school districts hardest hit by Hurricane Helene, expanding access to pre-k, reforming our approach to standardized testing, supporting the development of vocational training facilities and so much more. Opinion: Tennessee primary showed pro-school choice candidates can win elections Its no surprise that everyday Tennesseans are not the ones asking for Lees entitlement program for the wealthy. Instead, its out-of-state billionaire groups like Americans for Prosperity leading the charge by pouring millions upon millions of dollars into campaigns in our small towns and threatening our local elected leaders if they dare to side with their constituents. Next time you get a mailer hyping the voucher scam, check the fine print at the bottom and see whos paying for it. With a few clicks on Google, youll almost certainly find that the money is not coming from Tennesseans. Contact your lawmakers to tell them how you feel about school vouchers But the good news is, everyday Tennesseans and so many of our elected leaders refuse to be bought. From rural county commissioners, to urban school board reps and suburban parent groups, we rejected the voucher scam in a landslide last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tennessee can claim some of the best educators in the nation, an incredible body of students, and a deep community pride in local public schools that serve every young person who walks in the door. Let's remind our state representatives that Tennessee is #PublicSchoolStrong and that we need them to have the courage to stand with their constituents instead of caving to Lee and his billionaire buddies. And then, lets get serious about investing in our public schools so that every child can have access to a high-quality education in the communities where they live and play. Contact your state representatives, urge them to say no to vouchers, and get involved in working for strong public schools in your own community. https://bit.ly/stopthescamagain Signed on behalf of the PublicSchoolStrong TN campaign, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Angela Wynn, Rutherford County PublicSchoolStrong parent Dustin Park, Blount County PublicSchoolStrong parent Harmonie Dingui, Davidson County PublicSchoolStrong parent Marissa Cox, Loudon County PublicSchoolStrong parent Marsha Livingston, Anderson County PublicSchoolStrong retired educator Austin Sauerbrei, McMinn County PublicSchoolStrong Parent Rosa Ponce, Montgomery County PublicSchoolStrong parent Christine Woods, Fayette County, PublicSchoolStrong parent Elton Holmes, Fayette County, President NAACP Marco McNeil, Shelby County, PublicSchoolStrong Parent This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Most Tennesseans do not want an expansion of school vouchers | Opinion Transport for London chiefs were left red-faced after it emerged that a bus stop was misspelt Qween Elizabeth. The sign for the bus stop in Charlton, south-east London, should read Queen Elizabeth Hospital, but was instead spelt Qween on both sides. Residents were left unimpressed and said the sign should be changed as soon as possible out of respect for the late Elizabeth II, Britains longest-reigning monarch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bus stop is near the historical landmark Charlton House and the red-brick St Lukes Church, which dates back to the 11th century. TfL chiefs have admitted the mistake and said it would be corrected. A TfL spokesman said: We are looking to fix the typing error made on a bus stop in Charlton as soon as possible. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused to customers. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. MANHATTAN (KSNT) Not everyone gets to spend Thanksgiving with family and friends. Lt. Samuel Spillman with Riley County EMS said for them its business as usual. We still have people that have had seizures, Spillman said. We have people that have fallen. Just different things like that that dont take a break for the holidays. Spillman has been with Riley County EMS for 15 years and was a volunteer firefighter prior. He said he doesnt give much thought to clocking in on holidays. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sacrifice falls on our families he said. Our spouses, our kids. Being able to adjust, you know, if family comes into town. Knowing that, hey, you know, I might be here tomorrow, but Im not going to be able to be here today, type of thing. Spillman said the working crew tries to have a meal together on the holiday when the job allows. He also said Thanksgiving is as good a time as any to show support for local first responders. Its just another day for the 911 community, he said. The world keeps turning, theres still emergencies. If you know somebody; EMS, police, fire, dispatchers tell them thank you. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. SARAJEVO, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Bosnia and Herzegovina's (BiH) Border Police thwarted an attempt to smuggle six foreign nationals from Serbia into BiH, according to an official statement released Friday. The incident occurred Wednesday in the Zvornik area, where officers intercepted five Indian nationals and one Nepalese national during a border surveillance operation. The individual operating the boat, suspected of facilitating the smuggling, fled toward Serbia upon noticing the police. The Border Police Station in Mali Zvornik, under Serbia's Ministry of Internal Affairs, has been informed to locate the suspect. Meanwhile, the Prosecutor's Office of BiH has directed the confiscation of the boat and related evidence. The six foreign nationals were handed over to the BiH Service for Foreigners' Affairs for expedited readmission proceedings. (Photo courtesy of the Iowa Board of Medicine) The Iowa Board of Medicine has refused, for the third time, to license a physician who was hoping to practice medicine in Iowa. Dr. Brett Snodgrass of Hazelwood, Missouri, took the Iowa Board of Medicine to court last year, seeking judicial review of a June 2023 board decision denying him a license to practice in Iowa. The boards decision, as well as one in 2021, was based on questions pertaining to Snodgrass moral character. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In its decision this month to again reject Snodgrass application for licensure, the Iowa board reiterated its concerns and said Snodgrass has again failed to produce sufficient evidence to carry his burden of proof to show that he has been rehabilitated. Snodgrass obtained his medical degree in 2007, but board records indicate he has not been licensed anywhere to practice as a physician. Documents from the Missouri Administrative Hearings Commission outline the specific concerns raised by regulators there in 2013 and which form the basis for the Iowa boards decisions. The Missouri commission records indicate Snodgrass attended medical school at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and earned his M.D. in May 2007. In his last year of medical school, he was accepted into a residency program at Carolinas Medical Center in North Carolina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Within a few months, however, he was informed that he would not be accepted into the five-year general surgery residency program. According to the commission records, a supervisor wrote in an evaluation of Snodgrass that he does not have the skills to be a caregiver of humans and that he instilled fear, rather than confidence, in nurses, patients and their families. In 2008, Snodgrass entered UMKCs four-year pathology residency program. By December 2010, he had been placed on a remediation plan, and the interim head of the residency program, Dr. Kamanisnodgr Lankachandra, expressed concerns with what she called Snodgrass substandard behavior, chronic tardiness, disheveled appearance and utter inability to follow instructions. Harassment led to criminal conviction Snodgrass attorney later filed papers with Missouri licensing officials in which Snodgrass admitted having engaged in a string of harassing actions aimed at Lankachandra and which resulted in a 2012 conviction on a charge of disturbing the peace. According to the Missouri Board of Registration for the Healing Arts, Snodgrass sent as many as 500,000 emails to Lankachandra; created a Facebook page about Lankachandra that included negative comments about her behavior and professionalism; used Lankachandras name and personal information including loan documents and insurance records to have her bombarded with mass mailings from various organizations; and posed as Lankachandra in seeking help for addiction issues from various drug rehabilitation facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The records also indicate the Missouri board accused Snodgrass of making harassing and threatening phone calls to a colleague while using a fake Indian accent, and that while at Truman Medical Center, he dictated notes for transcriptionists using a fake Indian accent. In 2013, Snodgrass allegedly posted two ads to Craigslist that included a drawing of a man resembling a terrorist with a bomb strapped to his chest. One of the ads was captioned, Rice[in] inside a can, for sale (F UMKC], and the other was captioned, Looking for a consultant, labor person [meet at second floor]. Snodgrass later told licensing officials the ads, which drew the attention of the FBI and resulted in increased security at Truman Medical Center, were posted to get the attention of UKMC so he could clear up any issues involving the residency program. In November 2013, the Missouri Division of Professional Regulation notified Snodgrass his application for a medical license was being denied. He subsequently submitted applications for licensure in Connecticut and Illinois without success. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2020, he submitted an application for medical licensure in Iowa. In July 2021, his application was denied. Snodgrass appealed that decision, which led to a hearing in March 2022. The board ruled that if Snodgrass chose to submit to a set of evaluations he could submit the results of the assessments to the board, which would then consider granting him a license. According to the board, Snodgrass subsequently stated he wanted to omit any psychological testing from the evaluations and indicated hed only agree to competency testing by an entity of his own choosing. Last year, the board voted again to deny Snodgrass application for an Iowa license, citing insufficient evidence of rehabilitation. Snodgrass then sought judicial review of that decision but within a few weeks he dropped the matter and the case was dismissed. On Nov. 15, the board found there was still a lack of evidence indicating Snodgrass was rehabilitated and, for the third time, it denied his application. In its decision, the board noted that it was aware Dr. Snodgrass failed his psychological screening, but the results of such are not included in the record since Dr. Snodgrass had the authority to decide whether to submit such, and he does not want it considered. Demonstrators took to the streets on Thursday to protest a decision by the Georgian government earlier in the day to suspend accession talks with the European Union until the end of 2028. In Tbilisi, several thousand people gathered in front of the parliament building until late into the evening. A large contingent of armed police sealed off government buildings and held back the crowd. Pro-European President Salome Zourabichvili, who joined the protest, called on the security forces not to take action against the demonstrators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zourabichvili also called for a re-run of the October parliamentary elections, which were overshadowed by accusations of fraud. The ruling party Georgian Dream has officially been declared the winner. Pro-European rallies with hundreds of participants were also reported in the major Georgian cities of Batumi, Kutaisi, Gori and Zugdidi. Georgia suspends EU accession talks Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze from the nationalist Georgian Dream said Tbilisi would not negotiate accession to the EU with Brussels before the end of 2028 and would not accept any EU budgetary support before then. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kobakhidze characterized Brussels' demands for negotiations as a form of blackmail and said integration was a two-way process. Georgia, along with Ukraine and Moldova, was granted EU candidate status in December 2023, but its relationship with the bloc has deteriorated significantly in recent months. While the opposition aims to maintain ties to Europe, the Georgian government passed a law restricting civil society groups that was similar to methods used in Russia. As a result, Brussels has put accession talks on hold. The opposition remains committed to a pro-European stance, accusing the government of securing its election victory through manipulation. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A three-legged rescue dog that had been on the run for nearly two weeks was found safe early Friday morning, close to the same place where she ran off. Bailey, a one-year-old lab mix, had her injured right front leg amputated early this month and got loose during a follow-up visit to Bluff City Veterinarian Specialists on Forest Hill Irene Road. Three-legged dog on the lam after escaping vet visit Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When she took off, the dog still had staples in the leg area and a cone on her head. Charlies Crusaders Pet Rescue said there were several sightings of the pup, and she was caught in a trap near the Bluff City Veterinarian parking lot. Bailey found near Bluff City Veterinarian Specialist. Courtesy: Michelle Becker Bailey found near Bluff City Veterinarian Specialist. Courtesy: Michelle Becker Bailey found near Bluff City Veterinarian Specialist. Courtesy: Michelle Becker Bailey found near Bluff City Veterinarian Specialist. Courtesy: Michelle Becker Her incision where her leg was amputated looks good, said Donna Quick with Charlies Crusaders. She is a little scared and skinny, but we can work on that. Quick said an experienced dog trapper and volunteers had been looking for her nonstop and were hoping she would return to the area. Thanks to Cyndy, Michelle, and Karen for setting and baiting the traps, Quick said. Also, many thanks for all the prayers and help everyone else has given us in trying to catch her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bailey was found underneath a house in Mississippi with a broken and infected leg. Rescuers believe the dog was hit by a car or a heavy instrument. Charlies Crusaders is now looking for a foster or forever home for Bailey. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Nov. 29EPHRATA During the Nov. 25 Ephrata School Board meeting there was a presentation on the First Lego League. Then there was discussion around electronic doors, new kitchen equipment and a donation. The meeting ended with a farewell to Board Director Anita Waller who has resigned her position to focus on personal matters. Legos Students from Grant Elementary, Columbia Ridge Elementary, and Parkway Intermediate schools are set to showcase their technological prowess at the upcoming First Lego League competition in Pasco on Dec. 14. The event will feature nearly 60 teams from communities across Central Washington competing in a variety of robotic tasks, each aligned with this year's theme of underwater research and exploration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a recent school board meeting, the four participating Lego robotics teams provided a preview of their projects. The Grant Elementary team, known as the "Grant Goliaths," has focused on developing safer fishing nets for killer whales. In contrast, the Columbia Ridge team, dubbed "Ridge Robotics," is working on a shark-shaped capsule designed to clean coral reefs. Finally, the Parkway Intermediate team, called "Parkway Pizzazz," is researching engineered organisms named Super Power and Carefully Engineered Germs (S.P.A.C.E Germs), which aim to eliminate algae that deplete oxygen levels in coral ecosystems. Facility issues The board approved a contract with e3 Solutions of Yakima for the integration of new electronic doors at Parkway Intermediate. This initiative, resulting in the installation of five new doors, will enhance security features in line with existing electronic systems. The total cost of the project is just less than $22,000, and the installation work is expected to occur during the upcoming Winter Break. The school board also reviewed plans for new kitchen equipment at Grant Elementary, Parkway Intermediate, and Ephrata High School. Earlier this year, the district was awarded a $165,000 Healthy Kids-Healthy Schools Grant from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. This funding will facilitate necessary kitchen renovations and equipment upgrades across the schools, including Vulcan Ovens, commercial dishwashers, and various storage units. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The generosity of local community members was recognized, particularly Stemilt Growers, whose $1,000 donation will be allocated to purchase winter clothing for students in need at Columbia Ridge and Grant Elementary schools. Board resignation The board bid farewell to Director Anita Waller, who concluded her six-year tenure on the board during the meeting. Waller stepped down during the Sept. 23 meeting, letting her fellow members know she was going to leave at the end of the year. The Nov. 25 meeting was Waller's last meeting in her role. The board is currently doing interviews to find her replacement. Superintendent Ken Murray praised Waller's contributions and unique perspective, emphasizing her significant role in the district's achievements. On Friday, MPs spent five hours debating Kim Leadbeaters Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, before voting in favour of legalising the Bill. The legislation would allow adults aged 18 and over in England and Wales, who are mentally capable, terminally ill, and in the final six months of their lives, to seek medical assistance to end their life. An exclusive poll conducted by The Telegraph showed that 61 per cent of more than 40,000 readers thought the Bill should not be passed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Below, Telegraph readers gave their case for and against the proposed legislation. Too much medical intervention is as cruel as too little One Telegraph reader, the Rev Richard Woods, visited The Telegraph offices to share his view on the Bill. The 73-year-old spoke from his experience as a priest and also as a son who witnessed his mothers suffering in death. His mother had cancer and, despite having good palliative care, in her last two weeks in hospital, it wasnt so good. She needed more analgesics than she was getting. He said: We asked why is she in such pain, but they wouldnt give her any more, as they said it would kill her she was days away from death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a Christian, I believe that every life is precious, but I do not believe that life should be extended in suffering too much medical intervention is as cruel as too little, he said. Rev Richard Woods in The Telegraph office - Heathcliff O'Malley Having spent time with people on their deathbeds and with their families in hospitals in a religious capacity, the Rev Woodss stance on assisted dying is this: Those in pain should be given analgesic even if doses would shorten life, and physicians should not be punished for doing so. Rev Woods suggested it is easier when families are accepting and understanding of death. Sadly, the problem seems to be people refuse to acknowledge that were all dying, from the moment were born. I dont like euphemisms like passing, he said. However, he is uncomfortable with the proposed Bill or any legislation around assisted dying. He suggests that to actively prescribe a deadly substance is another matter from allowing those on deaths door to die without pain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He argued: The state should be out of it, the law should be involved only when it is quite clear that theres been coercion, force or misuse. For Do you need legislation to put down your dog when it is suffering? Many readers who support the introduction of the Bill believe that artificially prolonging life for the terminally ill is a misguided morality that does not take into consideration their wish to end the severe pain and indignities they experience. Telegraph reader Ross Moore reflects on the harrowing experience of watching his partners health slowly deteriorate: Modern medicine tortures dying people for days on end all in the name of caregiving, palliative care and hospice. People would be well served to watch a video of what it is like to die from cancer and other horribly painful diseases. In a similar vein, Billy Nudgell said: Imagine living in constant pain, paralysed and with a perpetual migraine where a nurse or family have to wipe your bottom every day. Youre in misery and could keep existing this way on medical support for many years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He asks: Do you really think this person should not have some say on their own life or should they live in absolute misery just to salve other peoples conscience? Kim Terry shared her concerns: Im unable to tolerate strong pain relief, so the thought of dying in pain terrifies me. After witnessing my mother endure a terrible death, I believe having a choice is crucial. For many, death can be a mercy, and I dont think anyone else should have the right to make that decision for you. She added: I know two people who are now refusing cancer treatment. Their cancer is terminal, and theyve simply had enough. Making the analogy that pets who are suffering are treated more humanely than people, reader Chris Brooks raises the point: Do you need legislation to put down your dog when it is suffering? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No, you dont. All you need to know from the vet is that theres nothing that can be done as the poor old fellow is suffering badly. Common sense decrees we should be allowed to follow our old friend, Fido, into the next life at our own choosing. Let them choose to go early and in peace Several readers make the case that the terminally ill should have the option to avoid a protracted death by choosing a good death on their own terms. James Glover said: My father starved himself to death in a hospice. He would have preferred assisted dying as he stated many, many times over the years. Once his dementia got to the point where he was still able to make a decision he took the only legal path possible. Likewise, Roger M watched his mother die a lingering death from cancer over several months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said: Before eventually losing consciousness, she begged us to make her suffering end. People should have the choice to end their own life. And with appropriate safeguards in place, relatives, friends and medics should be able to assist them without fear of prosecution. Ivor Stuart explains how a good death can give comfort to the dying: The Bill is for people who are going to die in the next few months anyway. Does it matter if they choose to go early and in peace, knowing exactly when and maybe holding the hand of a loved one? Wouldnt that be better than forcing them to endure unbearable agony, crying out for release, never knowing when their final moment will come? And what of their families, unable to be there every moment, hoping in vain to be by their side at the end? Have those who oppose this Bill no compassion? Its only for those judged terminally ill with weeks or months to live Opponents of assisted dying often express concerns about potential exploitation of the terminally ill whether by family members seeking to lighten their own emotional or financial burden, or by hospitals under pressure to free up beds for other patients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An anonymous reader argues that the proposed stringent safeguards protect against this. He explains: The applicant has to be over 18 and raise the issue, two doctors have to confirm competence, diagnosis and prognosis, a judge has to sign [it] off and then there is a cooling-off period and a final check of settled intent. What can be added? Similarly, Jon Summer champions the safeguards: What swung me was it only being applicable for those judged terminally ill with weeks or months to live. Against How can 700 hours be dedicated to abolishing hunting, but five for assisted dying? Critics argue that the Bill is being pushed through Parliament with insufficient time for proper scrutiny, given the profound ethical, legal and societal implications. With only five hours allocated for debate, many feel the Bill lacks the rigorous consideration such a complex and morally significant issue demands. Telegraph reader H Gardiner said: What a complex and sensitive subject! It simply hasnt been given enough time for thorough discussion. A private members Bill seems entirely inadequate for a decision of this magnitude. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peter Dickinson echoed concerns about the legislative process: This matter is far too significant to be handled through a Private Members Bill. Its inconceivable that such a profound change could become law after such a rushed process. Richard Lees, while questioning the allocation of time, compared it to past legislative debates: Whichever side youre on, how can it be right that a mere five hours of debate has been assigned to this Bill when, for example, 700 hours of parliamentary time was devoted to the 2004 Bill to abolish hunting? Other readers highlighted the need for greater scrutiny of the potential societal impact. Reader Thomas Smith warned: Even Mrs Leadbeater, the Bills proposer, acknowledges that social and family pressure to do the decent thing is a concern. This issue has not been properly investigated or discussed. Its being rushed through, disregarding the national interest. The Bill should either be withdrawn or firmly rejected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John Bolwell warned of a slippery slope: There will be a legal challenge under the ECHR on the grounds of inequality; the mentally ill will then be included, then the depressed and eventually those who are simply old. Every jurisdiction where assisted suicide exists has morphed the controls to suit demand. Kill the Bill, not people Many readers are critical of Ms Leadbeaters suggestion that fearing being a burden could be a legitimate reason to seek an assisted death, viewing it as both dangerous and dehumanising. Reader Mark Josyln shared his personal experience: I am currently nursing my wife as she dies from Alzheimers. I dont view her continued existence as a burden. I see it as a privilege that I am her companion to this funny, intelligent, loving and vivacious lady in her last great adventure. Ms Guderian reflected on her years as a caregiver: My beloved mother died two years ago at the age of 98. Completely disabled, blind and deaf. I was what is termed nowadays her sole, full-time carer for 15 years. I would have cared for her for a thousand years. And my mother, despite all the afflictions and indignities of age and illness, would have relished the chance of telling Kim Leadbeater precisely what she thought of her chilling views and sinister Bill. For Grace Grant, the idea that any person could be considered a burden is offensive: No living person is a burden. Ever. And the suggestion that they might be is disgraceful. We have the money as a country to give proper care to everyone at the end of their lives, what we dont have is the political will. Kill the Bill not people. Rosemary Led urged Britain to lead with compassion: It is time for Britain to demonstrate that it is the most civilised country. Make people feel valued old people, sick people and disabled people. Not hasten them out the door. Colin Adams, whose wife has lived with MS for over 30 years, shared the concerns: My wife often feels like she is a burden. I could never think of ending her life, but according to Kim Leadbeater, that feeling alone could justify it. Those who support this Bill are out of touch with the realities of people struggling with terminal illnesses. Yes, some people dont want to suffer, but introducing a law to ease their conscience is a step backwards. The Government should focus on improving palliative care, not ending the lives of those who feel like a burden. It would be the beginning of a very slippery slope Mr Adams was not alone in calling for better palliative care rather than the passing of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. Jenny Wright, a nurse, shared her professional experience: I understand the desire to end suffering, but good palliative care is the only answer. I speak from my own experience as a nurse in a small hospice. This is where investment and education are needed. Legalising assisted dying would be the beginning of a very slippery slope. Hilary Deighton said: Support for the hospice movement allows people to die in dignity and with pain control. Good hospital geriatric wards allow people to die gently. Do you really want people to feel pressured to die? Would you make the decision for someone with a disability? Would you encourage a depressed person to try drugs that would kill them rather than encourage them to know that depression can be survived? Would you tell parents to discard a sick child or a sick granny because they are inconvenient? Campaign for a decent healthcare system, not killing people. The state cannot be trusted Some readers expressed unease about the role of the state in determining matters of life and death, arguing that such authority should not be entrusted to government institutions. Telegraph reader AM highlighted a broader concern in the states ability to manage critical issues: The state cannot be trusted. It cannot be trusted on housing, energy, military security let alone dying. There needs to be an expansion of hospice care and wards dedicated to end-of-life care in hospitals. Not this. CR Brummell raised concerns about the potential for state overreach, drawing on international examples: My religious beliefs arent about judging others who want to increase their morphine dose; its about being terrified of giving the state power over life and death. Looking at the expansion of assisted suicide criteria in other countries is surely enough of a warning sign. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. In 2018, at 46, Chris retired and left Chicago for Bangkok. He spent two years planning and saving for his move by investing in real estate. He enjoys the affordability of living in Bangkok and how easy it is to make friends. As he soaked in the pool of his Airbnb in Bangkok, Chris wondered, "How can I make this my home permanently?" It was 2016, and he'd spent the past 25 years in the toy industry overseeing product development. His routine was the same: wake up, go to work, come home, play a video game, and sleep. At 44, retirement was weighing on his mind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There was nothing else I needed to really do," said Chris, now 52, who asked to be identified only by his first name to protect his privacy. "I mean, could I have worked longer to buy a cooler car? Maybe. Could I have bought a bigger house? Maybe. But nothing like that was really important to me." At the same time, Chris knew he didn't want to retire in his home state of Illinois. He loved the city but couldn't stand the long and bitter winters. Most of his friends unlike him were married with kids. He wanted to challenge himself with a hard reset. Chris had taken many business trips to Asia and started to love that part of the world. So, he mapped out a plan to save up, quit his job, and live there full time. He decided to tell no one He didn't want to deal with negative reactions, he said. So, he kept his plan a secret for almost two years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But behind the scenes, Chris worked feverishly to make his plan a reality. First, he ramped up his real-estate investments. Chris got more involved in the real-estate market in 2014 after paying off the mortgage of his first home 17 years early. "When you pay off a house, it's the coolest feeling for a couple of weeks you don't have a mortgage payment. And then you're like, what do I do?" he recalled. He decided to invest in more property. By 2018, he had nine properties earning about the same amount as his full-time job. He also visited Thailand eight times to ensure it was where he wanted to be. He'd considered Hong Kong and Japan but eventually decided against them because of the higher cost of living. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I wouldn't do touristy things. I would sometimes spend days just hanging out at the condo I was renting as if I already lived here," he said. By September 2018, he had a six-figure safety net in the bank in case he "didn't survive" and had hired a property manager to look after his properties. With a Thai Elite Visa a long-term tourist visa that permitted his residency for the next five years, he left frosty Chicago for sunny Thailand. The first six months were hard Chris said he was used to being in a job where he had a team and worked on multiple projects. "It was very strange to be fully retired and not have any responsibilities at a young age," he said. "I definitely, in the beginning, had some panic attacks where I'd wake up at 3 in the morning and be like, 'What did I just do?'" he recalled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Things improved when he followed a friend's suggestion to explore a site for meeting people with the same interests. Through meetup.com, Chris was able to connect with other expats and make Thai friends. Playing pickleball was a great way to connect with new people, he said. "Bangkok is such a massive city. It's so easy to walk up to almost anybody and say hello," he said. "I don't do it as much as I used to because I have a lot of friends now. I'm like, I can't handle more friends," he said with a laugh. Chris met his girlfriend while living in Thailand. Chris Living in Thailand is more affordable Chris lives in an 882-square-foot two-bedroom apartment in Thonglor, a hip neighborhood in Bangkok with trendy bars and shopping centers. His rent is 62,000 Thai baht, or about $1,785 a month. Before he left the US, he'd set a budget of about $3,000 a month based on three factors: his age, lifestyle, and health. Describing his lifestyle as "semi-luxury," Chris said he'd increased his budget year after year to adjust to his changing circumstances. Now, his budget is at $3,800. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, it's almost half of what he spent in Chicago, which was more than $6,000 a month. Last year, the Council for Community and Economic Research found that Chicago was the most expensive place to live in the Midwest . Among 32 Midwestern cities, Chicago had the highest Cost of Living Index score. "I get so shocked every time I go home once a year to visit my mom and see how it's gone up even more exponentially over the last couple of years," said Chris, who spends a few weeks with his 82-year-old mom. He recalled that his parents were more shocked about his early retirement than his move. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think this is important for people that move away from family," he said. "You can't think of it as how many years you have left with somebody. You have to think about it as how many visits you have left with that person." Thailand is a popular retirement destination Chris isn't the only one who has found a retirement haven in Thailand. According to the World Bank, the number of foreigners over 50 who received retirement visas to stay in Thailand doubled between 2013 and 2018 to nearly 80,000. Retirees enjoy the country's slow pace of life and low cost of living. John Walker, 73, moved from Australia to Chiang Mai, a province in northern Thailand, in 2019. He lives on an annual pension of about $18,000 and saves about 40% of his income. "People from all different countries come here," he told BI. "It's got a huge retirement community." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similarly, Jeffrey Odgen, 75, decided to retire in Hua Hin, a beach town south of Bangkok. "The people here are very respectful. They respect their elders, whereas you don't get that in other European countries," said Odgen, who's originally from the UK. Chris also travels to other parts of Thailand for vacation. Chris For Chris, being able to live any type of lifestyle is his favorite part of living in the city. "If you want to be a recluse and just hide in your condo all day and get everything delivered, you can do that. If you want to explore the city, the public transportation is amazing," he said. "There's a lot of great culture, and everything is just right at your fingertips." Though he's been in the city for six years, Chris said it felt like only six minutes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It has been the fastest and the best six years of my life living here," said Chris, who has since extended his visa for 20 more years. "I absolutely want to stay as long as I possibly can." Do you have a story about moving abroad to retire that you want to share? Get in touch with the reporter, Erin: eliam@businessinsider.com . Read the original article on Business Insider NEW YORK, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Boeing's executive fleet operated just 29 flights in October, down from 56 in September and 146 in August, when Kelly Ortberg joined Boeing as chief executive officer (CEO), reported Bloomberg News on Friday. The number was an 85 percent decrease from a year earlier, said the report based on analysis of flight data compiled by Flightradar24. "While Boeing is starting to ease its travel crackdown, the tactics provide a glimpse into the priorities and management ethos of the new CEO. Boeing slashed spending on everything from advertising to consultants and catering in September as financial pressure intensified from the strike, which lasted seven weeks," noted the report. The 19 senior leaders have counted on five company-owned Bombardier Inc. Challenger 650 business jets and two customized 737 narrowbodies to help oversee the U.S. planemaker's sprawling operation. Boeing requires its CEO to avoid commercial flights for security reasons, even when on a personal trip, according to the report. "Then in mid-September, new CEO Kelly Ortberg grounded much of the corporate fleet in an early cost-cutting move. Executives were instead told to fly economy on scheduled airline flights," said the report. At the time, a strike had shut down Boeing's commercial manufacturing and the company was in dire need of cash. The flying restrictions, combined with work furloughs and layoffs, sent a message of frugality as Ortberg worked with bankers to raise 24 billion U.S. dollars to fund its comeback, it said. The savings wouldn't move the needle for a company with a 58 billion dollars debt load, said aviation consultant Brian Foley, who estimates Boeing spends about 15 million dollars per year flying its executives around. "But at a time when the company was cash-strapped and factory workers in open revolt about what they viewed as measly paychecks, the move sent a clear message from the new boss," the report added. Five leading Canadian news outlets filed a lawsuit against OpenAI on Friday, accusing the ChatGPT owner of violating copyright laws to train its artificial intelligence (AI) models. The outlets lawsuit, filed in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, is the latest in a series of legal challenges against the AI developer over its use of data and news materials to train their AI systems. The companies Postmedia, the Globe and Mail, Torstar, the Canadian Press, and CBC/Radio-Canada said in a statement Friday that OpenAI is using other companies journalism for their own commercial gain and claimed this was against the law. Noting they welcome technological innovations, the companies said any use of intellectual property must be on fair terms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OpenAI regularly breaches copyright and online terms of use by scraping large swaths of content from Canadian media to help develop its products, such as ChatGPT, the outlets said. OpenAI is capitalizing and profiting from the use of this content, without getting permission or compensating content owners. The 84-page suit requests damages from OpenAI and a permanent injunction prohibiting the tech company from using material without permission. An OpenAI spokesperson said its models are trained on publicly available data, grounded in fair use and related international copyright principles that are fair for creators and support innovation. We collaborate closely with news publishers, including in the display, attribution and links to their content in ChatGPT search, and offer them easy ways to opt-out should they so desire, the spokesperson added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit joins that of several other news outlets similarly alleging copyright infringement, including the New York Times, which argued OpenAI threatens the newspapers bottom line by stealing billions of dollars worth of work by its journalists. OpenAI also pushed back on the claims of that lawsuit, maintaining training is fair use and outlets are provided an opt-out. However, many outlets and media companies, including the Associated Press, Axel Springer, News Corp, the Atlantic and Vox Media, have also reached licensing agreements with the AI company. Axel Springer owns Politico and Business Insider, while News Corp owns the Wall Street Journal and the New York Post. A federal judge dismissed a suit by Raw Story and AlterNet against OpenAI earlier this month, finding the companies failed to show an actual injury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Israel is expected to soon deploy its top missile-defense system, Arrow 3, to Germany. Arrow's chief engineer told BI that the system had already proved its worth in combat. The transfer, planned for next year, comes amid growing concerns in Europe over Russian missiles. Germany is expected to receive a top Israeli missile-defense system that helped protect the Middle Eastern country from two massive Iranian attacks earlier this year. Israel is set to deploy the Arrow 3, a highly advanced system designed to intercept ballistic missiles outside the Earth's atmosphere, on German soil in 2025 as part of a $3.5 billion deal announced last fall in what officials said was the country's largest-ever defense export. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The transfer comes as Europe and NATO allies like Germany face a rising Russian missile threat to its eastern flank. Just last week, Moscow used a new intermediate-range ballistic missile to strike Ukraine. Arrow 3 made its combat debut just a year ago in the early days of Israel's ongoing war with Hamas. But the system's chief engineer told Business Insider that it had proved its worth against two massive Iranian missile barrages in April and October of this year. "Arrow 3 is the right answer for Germany, and, also, it'll be a part of an even greater system to German allies in Europe," Boaz Levy, the CEO of the state-run Israel Aerospace Industries, said in a recent interview. An Arrow 3 interceptor being tested. US Missile Defense Agency The Arrow systems are a product of IAI and the US manufacturer Boeing. They were developed because Israel needed a way to defend itself from longer-range ballistic missiles. Together, they make up the upper echelon of the country's air-defense network. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arrow 2, which was first deployed in 2000, can intercept targets in the upper atmosphere. It was followed in 2017 by Arrow 3, which can eliminate targets in space and up to 1,500 miles away well beyond the ranges of the US's Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense systems. Both systems use a two-stage solid-fueled interceptor to engage incoming ballistic missiles. Israel confirmed the first operational use of Arrow 3 in November of last year after it was used to take down a missile fired by Houthi rebels in Yemen. But the system saw its most serious tests against two massive Iranian attacks this year. In mid-April, Iran fired more than 300 missiles and drones including some 120 ballistic missiles at Israel, which, along with partner forces like the US and the UK, shot down nearly all the munitions. Six months later, in early October, Iran fired a much larger salvo of ballistic missiles about 200 at Israel. Most of the projectiles were intercepted, including by American warships. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month, the Israeli defense ministry said Arrow "proved effective" in both Iranian attacks. Levy declined to provide specific figures on its performance. But he said the system performed as intended, adding that "the results that we received over those attacks are really phenomenal." "We believe that the system proved its capability during these two attacks," he said. Arrow's demonstrated capability in the Middle East conflicts will make it a valuable asset to Germany as Europe grows increasingly concerned with the Russian missile threat. Moscow's war against Ukraine and its widespread employment of ballistic missiles has prompted NATO countries to seek ways to bolster their air defenses. Unease over Russian missile capabilities was underscored last week after Moscow launched an experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile at Ukraine. A Pentagon spokesperson described the weapon as a "new type of lethal capability" deployed on the battlefield and called it a "concern" to the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Arrow 3 eventually arrives in Germany, it will complement NATO's existing network of systems capable of ballistic-missile defense, including the American-made MIM-104 Patriot battery that has been a workhorse in Ukraine. Part of a ballistic missile that Iran fired at Israel lay near the Dead Sea after it was intercepted in April. AP Photo/ Ohad Zwigenberg In a statement earlier this month, Israel's defense ministry said it has started coordinating joint preparations with Berlin for the initial deployment of Arrow 3 next year. It did not provide a specific date. Levy said the deployment to Germany was just a starting point, but it comes at a crucial time as missile attacks become more common in conflicts. "We should expect to have missile attacks in future wars, and that's why a country that wants to defend its assets needs to have such a sophisticated system," Levy said. "Arrow was designed for that." "I believe that more customers will come," he added. Read the original article on Business Insider Dale Vince has expressed an interest in buying The Observer - Paul Grover One of Labours biggest donors has confirmed an interest in buying The Observer if talks with the loss-making start-up Tortoise Media collapse. The renewable energy tycoon Dale Vince said he had discussed a bid for the Sunday newspaper with its current owner, Guardian Media Group (GMG), saying there needed to be greater media plurality in Britain. The Telegraph revealed earlier this month that Mr Vince, the founder of Ecotricity, was interested in buying the paper. Tortoise, run by the former BBC News director James Harding, is currently in exclusive discussions to acquire The Observer, but the deal has proved controversial amongst the titles staff and former editors who have raised concerns that it will not safeguard their future. Mr Vince said he was prepared to put The Observer in a trust, as GMG currently does. Im a reader and a fan of The Observer and a believer in the need for greater media plurality in Britain, said Mr Vince, who is believed to be worth around 100m. Weve already got too many Right-wing media barons (often tax exiles) controlling what people read and hear and ultimately believe. Out of that concern Ive expressed an interest in the sale of The Observer and discussed the situation with the GMG. I understand talks with Tortoise are at an advanced stage and in an exclusive period Ive confirmed that should there be a problem concluding that deal I would like to enter negotiations and would be interested in the idea of holding the title in a trust as currently is the case with the Scott Trust, the ultimate owner of The Observer. Mr Vince has given more than 5m to the Labour Party and previously funded Just Stop Oil before suspending donations last year. He has successfully pursued legal action against both the Daily Mail and GB News for libel over their portrayal of comments he made regarding Hamas, and has also sued the political blog Guido Fawkes in an ongoing case, which Guido Fawkes is contesting. His estranged wife Kate Vince last month accused him of trying to rush through a divorce so that she does not get an honour if Mr Vince receives a knighthood from Sir Keir Starmer. Lawyers for Mr Vince have dismissed the claim as speculation. Hundreds of Guardian and Observer staff are due to stage a 48-hour strike next week in protest at the proposed sale to Tortoise. Six former Guardian and Observer editors said this week that the sale was a gamble, a throw of the dice, for a title which started publishing in 1791. The Scott Trust, which owns GMG, had been due to vote on the deal this week but delayed the decision. The general secretary of Germany's Free Democratic Party, Bijan Djir-Sarai, said on Friday he was resigning after a damaging strategy paper by his party regarding its exit from the centre-left coalition came to light. The question of which party or people were mainly responsible for the collapse of Germany's three-way coalition has been the subject of intense debate since it happened on November 6. The FDP paper - nicknamed the "D-Day Paper" after some of the headings in the document - was published by the party itself on Thursday. Leading FDP officials said it was drawn up by staff and the contents were not known to the leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It contained a detailed scenario for the FDP's exit from the coalition government with Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens. On November 6, Scholz sacked then finance minister Christian Lindner, the leader of the FDP, a move which led to the withdrawal of the FDP from the government and set in motion the process of early elections, now expected in February. Djir-Sarai said in the surprise press conference - lasting less than a minute - that he had "no knowledge" of the D-Day Paper, and he had "unwittingly provided false information" to the public. He apologized, and said he wanted to avert damage from his party and was therefore stepping down, he said. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is defending his working relationship with President-elect Donald Trump while pointing out that tariffs on Canadian goods would also hurt Americans. We were able to protect great jobs in Canada by working with President Trump on renegotiating NAFTA in ways that secured our economy for decades to come, Trudeau said to reporters Friday in Prince Edward Island. We rolled up our sleeves, we created growth across both sides of the border, [and] continue to work constructively and responsibly for the win-win that is the Canada-U.S. relationship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trudeau said he looks forward to lots of great conversations with the president-elect. Earlier this week, Trump said that on his first day back in office he plans to bring in a 25 percent tariff on all Canadian products coming into the United States. He said it will remain in effect until Americas northern border is secured from drugs, particularly fentanyl, and illegal immigration. One of the things that is really important to understand is that when Donald Trump makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out, Trudeau said. Theres no question about it. Canadas responsibility is to point out that these tariffs will also harm American businesses and industry, Trudeau said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But there are ways for us to work together, he said. We can create opportunities and growth and good jobs on both sides of the border by being the partners and allies weve been for decades. As of Nov. 6, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has seized 19.5 kilograms of fentanyl at its northern border this year. Last year it seized one kilogram at the northern border. Immigration Minister Marc Miller pointed out this week that the yearly flow of migrants into the U.S. from Canada is the equivalent to a significant weekend at the Mexico border. As for illegal entry into the U.S., border protection data shows there were nearly 200,000 northern border encounters between October 2023 and September. By comparison, the U.S.s southern border saw over 2.1 million encounters during the same time period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. President Joe Biden said Thursday that he hopes Trump will stand down on his threat. I hope he rethinks it. I think its a counterproductive thing to do, Biden said during a visit to a Nantucket fire hall. Were surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and two allies, Mexico and Canada. And the last thing we need to do is begin to screw up those relationships. Fridays for Future demonstrators hang a poster with the inscription "Black Friday, Climate not for Sale!" on Nov. 29, 2019. Credit - Tom Wellerpicture alliance via Getty Images If youre one of the millions of Americans aiming to score a new cell phone, cordless drill, or other gadget this Black Friday or Cyber Monday, you might want to consider the real costs of that sale-priced gizmo. Thats because the metals contained in the consumer electronics we all use are spawning massive environmental damage, enriching warlords, and even killing people. Different gadgets are made of different materials, of course, including plastic and glass. But from iPhones to handheld vacuums to electric toothbrushes, todays cordless consumer electronics typically include three crucial metallic components: a battery, a charging cable, and a magnet. The raw materials for these components are often sourced in troubling ways. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lithium-ion batteries that power most electronics are made with lithium (of course), nickel, and cobalt. One of the worlds biggest sources of lithium is Chiles Atacama desert, where the mines are sucking up so much underground water that many scientists and Indigenous people fear they are drying out the delicate ecosystem. Lagoons that are home to rare flamingos; vegetation that feeds goats, sheep, and guanacos; and a way of life followed by Indigenous Atacameno communities for thousands of years may all be in danger. On the other side of the world, Indonesia has in recent years become the top supplier of raw nickel. To clear land for new mines and related infrastructure, more than 20,000 acres of rainforest have been wiped out in just one of the archipelago nations many islands. Mine waste including hexavalent chromiumthe same cancer-causing toxin that Erin Brockovich famously campaigned againsthas polluted streams and waterways. Once dug up, the nickel ore is processed in huge industrial facilities, which belch out air pollution and devour energy, most of which comes from carbon-spewing coal-fired plants. More than two-thirds of all the worlds cobalt comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, a nation beset by recurring civil wars, endemic corruption, and crushing poverty. The worst of the DRCs mines are straight out of a nightmare. Men wearing nothing but shorts, T-shirts, and flip-flops, with flashlights strapped to their heads, spend their days in cramped underground tunnels, chipping out cobalt with hand tools. Not infrequently, the tunnels collapse, burying men alive. Perhaps most disturbingly, the DRCs cobalt workers include thousands of children. Children are required to routinely carry sacks of ore that weigh more than they do, wrote a team of European researchers who visited dozens of mines. The children are also often beaten and whipped by security guards. Some are as young as seven years old. Then there are the charging cables that feed electricity into our devices lithium-ion batteries. Those cables almost all contain copper, as do other common electronics components, such as printed circuit boards and internal wiring. Copper is mined in many parts of the world, and its rarely a pretty process. From the western U.S. to South America to Central Africa, copper mining has left colossal pits full of toxic waste and fouled enormous swathes of land and waterways. The red metal often sparks violence, too. In Peru, police in recent years have killed protestors in clashes over copper mines. In Pakistans Balochistan province, struggles over copper resources are fueling an armed separatist movement. In South Africa, armed gangs steal copper in bulk to sell to recyclers, occasionally killing those who interfere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We rarely see the third metallic components: Neodymium-based permanent magnets that make cordless drills spin and cell phones vibrate, and produce sound in headphones and laptop speakers. China overwhelmingly dominates the production of rare earths, a category of metals that includes neodymium. They have such a lock that when Beijing briefly cut off supplies to Japan in 2010 over a territorial dispute, it sent shockwaves through the global economy. The main rare earth mining area in China is one of the most polluted places on Earth. China also imports ever-growing quantities of rare earths from Myanmar, where brutal militias extract it from jungled mountainsides with boatloads of toxic chemicals. Read More: The Dark Side of Gifting Gold This Christmas All of that is on top of the colossal carbon emissions generated by metal mining of all sorts. Mines require fleets of drill rigs, trucks, diggers, and other heavy machinery, energy hogs that account for as much as seven percent of the worlds annual greenhouse gases. The consequences of our electronics addiction are bad enough without Black Friday. The annual shopping bonanza continues to see sales growth, as consumers drop hundreds or even thousands of dollars. And research suggests most of these purchases end up in landfills or the incinerator. In the U.S., fewer than one in five dead cell phones are recycled each year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What can we do to cut these ugly costs? Consider buying used or refurbished electronics, to help reduce demand for virgin metals. And help pressure manufacturers to use more recycled materials. Theyre starting to pay attention: this years phones from both Apple and Samsung use record amounts of recycled cobalt and neodymium. But the most impactful thing we can do as consumers is simple: Resist the siren song of sales, and dont buy so many gadgets. That may be the best deal of all. Contact us at letters@time.com. One called China an existential threat. Another called for a whole-of-society effort to confront China and was sanctioned twice by Beijing. A third claimed the Chinese military was specifically dedicated to defeating the United States of America. US President-elect Donald Trumps proposed cabinet is stacked with so-called China hawks who have made clear an ambition to confront Americas ascendant superpower rival in nearly every policy realm, from the economy to security. But unlike at Trumps previous inauguration eight years ago, Chinese leaders may not be caught off-guard by a more confrontational approach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, experts say this time around Beijing is more experienced in dealing with the transactional leader and the ideological hardliners around him and may seek to establish back-channels through more China-friendly figures in Trumps inner circle, such as Elon Musk. Observers of Chinas foreign policy have no illusions about the potential downward trajectory of relations under Trump, who on the campaign trail threatened to slap Chinese imports with upwards of 60% tariffs. This week he said he would impose an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods on top of all existing levies. If you look at Trumps team, most, if not all, are China hawks. The appointed officials are likely to pursue a hardline policy to bring competition with China to a new level, said Yun Sun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center in Washington. I dont think Beijing sees any of them as good news. But some foreign policy thinkers in China believe the president-elect ultimately still wants to make a deal with China and may be more flexible than his cabinet picks suggest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump is known to be more concerned about the economic challenge from China, while many officials in the incoming administration from the National Security Council to the departments of state and defense are preoccupied with the military and security challenges China poses, said Hal Brands, professor of global affairs at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. The interesting question is whether they can use Trumps general economic hawkishness on China to drive through policies that are strong and assertive on the security dimensions, or whether Trump makes that difficult because hes just less interested in those aspects of US-China policy, Brands said. Trumps pick for national security adviser, Rep. Mike Waltz, has declared twice in recent years that the Chinese Communist Party is in a cold war with America. His nominee for secretary of state, Sen. Marco Rubio, is known in China as the anti-China vanguard and currently sanctioned by Beijing. Pete Hegseth, the former FOX News host tapped for defense secretary, has warned that China is bent on defeating the US and achieving global domination. Wu Xinbo, director of the Center for American Studies at Shanghais Fudan University, said its important for Beijing to distinguish Trumps hawkish advisers from the president-elect himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of the hardliners indeed want a full confrontation and decoupling with China, but is that truly Trumps objective for US-China relations? If not, their policy actions may be tempered by Trump himself, he said. Trump has picked Sen. Marco Rubio, a leading critic of China in Congress, as his secretary of state. - Aaron Schwartz/SIPPL Sipa USA/AP The Musk factor The lineup of China hawks in the incoming administration will likely add to the urgency for Beijing to find alternative channels to Trumps ear, starting with Elon Musk. The billionaire founder of Tesla has extensive business interests in China, where his company makes half its electric vehicles. Musk is often invited to meet Chinese officials on his trips there. Everyone is watching what role Elon Musk will play on China, Sun said. China definitely wants him to be at least a channel of communications and potentially play a positive role. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk often echoes some of Beijings talking points, such as maintaining a healthy win-win economic relationship and even calling Taiwan an integral part of China. The future success of a key Musk business like Tesla could hinge on what course relations between the worlds two largest economies take over the next four years. But it remains unclear whether Musk is willing, or able, to sway US policy in favor of China. It seems the role that Trump carved out for him is more on the government efficiency front, so I dont expect Musk to have a prominent role in foreign affairs, said Lyle Morris, a senior fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute. Although given Elons significant business interests in China, I imagine Trump will listen to Elons views on the US-China business relationship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Either way, Beijing will be bracing for a rocky road ahead. Economists have warned that Trumps threatened 60% tariffs could deliver a body blow to Chinas sputtering economy and cut its growth rate by half. Trumps pick for treasury secretary, hedge fund executive Scott Bessent, has called tariffs a useful tool for achieving the presidents foreign policy objectives and has described Trumps threat as a maximalist negotiating position. Jamieson Greer, whos been nominated as the US trade representative, served as chief of staff to Robert Lighthizer, an arch protectionist who led the trade war with China during Trumps first term. In previous comments, Greer has echoed Lighthizers tough stance on Beijing and advocated strategic decoupling from China. Wu, from Fudan University, said China must be prepared for some serious challenges that may arise in China-US relations. Whether in trade, diplomacy or security, the situation is all pretty grim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first tricky question for Beijing is what to do with the sanctions on Rubio, imposed in tit-for-tat retaliation for US penalties against Chinese officials over crackdowns in Xinjiang and Hong Kong. Rubio is set to become the first sitting US secretary of state to have been sanctioned by Beijing, raising the question of whether he will even be able to visit China as the top US diplomat. Experts in both the US and China are divided over whether Beijing will lift the sanctions on Rubio. But most agree the Chinese government has the pragmatism to not let them get in the way of diplomatic protocols. And in the eyes of Beijing, Rubio is not even the worst pick, according to Chinese experts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many in China breathed a sigh of relief when Trump announced he wont invite (former Secretary of State Mike) Pompeo to join his new administration, Wu said. In some way, he was a direct catalyst for the deterioration of China-US relations. Pompeo, who once called on Chinese people to join an international effort to change the behavior of their government, was sanctioned by Beijing along with more than two dozen former Trump-era officials when Biden took office. Trump has named Rep. Mike Waltz as his national security adviser. - Leon Neal/Getty Images Taiwan and red lines Some Chinese experts argue that Beijing now has a deeper understanding of Trumps playbook and is better prepared to deal with his second presidency. China is no longer the same as it was eight years ago when Trump first took office, either in terms of mindset, strength or international standing. China has gained more status and confidence, said Wang Yiwei, a professor of international studies at Renmin University in Beijing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We now understand Trumps personality once China shows weakness, he will push further. Therefore, China absolutely cannot make concessions, especially at the beginning. Chinese leaders will be particularly concerned about Trumps new foreign policy teams stance on Taiwan, the reddest of red lines for Beijing. Rubio has been a steadfast supporter of Taiwan, a self-governing democracy Beijing has vowed to bring under its control, by force if necessary. He has pushed for a raft of legislation to strengthen ties between Washington and Taipei, including fast-tracking US arms sales to the island. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te congratulated Rubio on his nomination in a post on X, thanking him for his staunch support for Taiwan and expressing anticipation for furthering Taiwan-US relations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement National security pick Waltz, meanwhile, has urged the next US president to bring the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East to a swift conclusion and focus strategic attention on Asia to better prepare for a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan a stance that Trump running mate JD Vance also repeatedly voiced on the campaign trail. But that doesnt mean Trump whose America First agenda has promoted a more isolationist foreign policy will spoil for an overseas fight. Instead, he has long viewed alliances and Washingtons historical commitments in more transactional terms, while often praising autocratic overseas leaders. On the campaign trail, Trump accused Taiwan of stealing the chip industry from the US and said that the self-governing democracy should pay the US for protection. Industry experts say Taiwan grew its own semiconductor industry organically through a combination of foresight, hard work and investment. And the island has purchased the vast majority of its weaponry from US arms manufacturers over recent decades. But Trumps campaign rhetoric nonetheless hinted at a more transactional approach to Taiwan. Asked by The Wall Street Journal in an interview if he would use military force against a blockade of Taiwan by China, Trump said it would not come to that because Xi respected him and knows hes crazy. Instead, he said he would slap 150% to 200% tariffs on Beijing. Wang, the professor at Renmin University, said whatever their ideological leanings, Trumps cabinet picks will ultimately have to comply with his vision. I believe Trump is willing to make deals with China, and he will ensure his team stays on course, he said. CNNs Simone McCarthy contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Political interference, mind control, domestic spying, and generally speaking, making America worse (again). These are just some of the many grievances Donald Trump and his allies have leveled against the intelligence community in recent months. They have been repeated on podcasts, on YouTube shows, and at rallies since Trump began a vendetta against spy agencies he says colluded to destroy his 2016 campaign and presidency. Now, the full scope of Trumps planned war on the deep state is coming into focus thanks to the president-elects nomination of John Ratcliffe and Tulsi Gabbard to top intelligence posts. Taken together, interviews with current and former intelligence officers, a close read of the Project 2025 intelligence playbook, and the biographies of Trumps top two intel picks reveal a radical, if confused, agenda for member agencies of the U.S. intelligence community. Among the proposals likely to be attempted inside the Central Intelligence Agency are a centralization of control over other agencies, an expansion of covert operations, and a shift from the War on Terror to competition with China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Intelligence officers who spoke with Rolling Stone say that proposals like centralizing control of intelligence agencies known for infighting, scaling back zombie programs operating with little effect since the Cold War, and tamping down the War on Terror are all logical policies that would streamline agencies ability to advance national security. But given Trumps steadfast demand for total loyalty over all else, reforms that appear sound on their face have already provoked and enraged agencies bristling at the prospect of the incoming president yanking tight on their leash. Everyone just wants to be left alone to keep running their operations without interference, one intelligence officer said. One way or another, interference looms on the horizon. During the 2024 campaign, Trump sought to distance himself from Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation-led policy and personnel program, after its highly detailed agenda drew scrutiny for its extreme proposals. Now that hes won the presidency again, Trump has had no problem hiring several people involved with Project 2025 to serve senior roles. That includes his choice for CIA director, Ratcliffe, who was listed as a contributor to Project 2025s right-wing policy guidebook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Project 2025 chapter on the intelligence community was authored by Dustin Carmack, who served as chief of staff to Ratcliffe when he held the title of director of National Intelligence during Trumps first term. As with the Project 2025 plan for many agencies, a central pillar of Carmacks vision for the CIA is an effort to exert political control over the agency by removing and replacing personnel. This is proposed via several mechanisms including requiring senior officers to sign mobility agreements that allow CIA leadership to move them within the IC [intelligence community] every two years if necessary, and implementing an up and out policy, similar to military service branches that require promotion to higher ranks or retirement. Already, CIA sources say, some senior officers plan to tender their resignations rather than be forced out the hard way. But the Project 2025 plan is not focused on personnel alone. It is also intent on digging into and gaining control over the most secretive and volatile of CIA operations: covert action. Unlike clandestine efforts in the military, which operate in secrecy but are still guided by the broad provisions that regulate armed combat, the CIAs covert action authorities allow it to conduct influence campaigns and paramilitary operations far outside the conventional rules governing most military operations. Project 2025 proposes that on day one, the CIA director and deputy director should be read into every special access program and covert action finding without exception. While this may seem standard fare for incoming leadership, the size and scope of the CIA enterprise means that the highest ranking positions of director and deputy director are rarely briefed with this kind of granularity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once political appointees and the scope of CIA operations are in the viewfinder of the new director, the plan recommends ramping up covert action in the areas prioritized by the president, and slashing operations outside this purview. By both Carmack and Trumps account, this would result in a major shift from counterterrorism to China. Additionally, Carmack argues for a return to a warrior, OSS-like culture at the CIA, a reference to World War II Office of Strategic Services, which served as the wartime precursor to the CIA. Like the OSS, Carmack suggests senior intelligence officers should be promoted from the ranks of those who have risked their lives in high stakes operations. Certain elements in the State Department, IC, and DOD [Department of Defense] trade on risk aversion or political bureaucracy to delay execution of the presidents foreign policy goals Carmack writes. A future conservative president should therefore identify individuals on the transition team who are familiar with the implementation of covert action with a view to placing them in key [intelligence] and DOD positions. In service of this mission, Carmack also recommends increasing availability of Pentagon assets to the CIA, writing that many DOD capabilities, including those in the space and cyber domains, can be employed only after the initiation of armed conflict, and that those assets should also be considered for use in the furtherance of covert action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But there is a major hitch to Carmacks plan, and by extension, Ratcliffes mandate for remaking American intelligence agencies. In the Project 2025 manifesto, centralized control lies not with the director of the CIA, but instead, with the director of National Intelligence, who, if confirmed, will be former Hawaii representative Tulsi Gabbard. Gabbards unpredictable foreign policy commitments and outright hostility to the intelligence community is hard to overstate. Thanks to her dovish stance toward Russia and high-profile meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the former politician and National Guard veteran has already drawn scrutiny from senators on the Intelligence Committee who she will need to support her confirmation. Gabbards support for National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange have also failed to win her allies in the Senate, and positioned her in direct opposition to Project 2025s proposed crackdown on unauthorized leaks. Thanks to Carmack elevating the role his boss once held but holds no longer, Ratcliffe could soon be playing second fiddle to Gabbard. Not only does Project 2025 suggest that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence should be the only agency that crafts the presidents daily intelligence brief, Carmack also recommends giving the ODNI full budget authority, which would ultimately allow it to force other intelligence agencies into monetary submission. Initially created in the wake of 9/11 in an effort to prevent the glaring intelligence-sharing failures that occurred in the run up to the attacks, ODNI has by most accounts devolved into an intelligence backwater, with little oversight and control over the dozen-plus intelligence agencies, and a directorship so powerless that more than one nominee has rebuffed the offer to become its director. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People on both sides of the political fence hate ODNI, says a former high ranking CIA chief. Do I really think that another 9/11 would be stopped thanks to ODNI? Of course not. People back home would suffer through their directives, but to a large extent people in the field ignore them completely. Now if ODNI was really directing national intelligence by controlling the budget, thats a different story. But the IC community is great at playing hide the ball, whether its out in the field, or with the bureaucrats in Washington. If the DNI was authorized to control the intelligence flow to the president, the budgets of all other agencies, and held a mandate to actualize the role that it was once intended to serve, things could change quickly. But Trumps nomination pageant has subordinated Ratcliffe under the directorship of Gabbard, whose outlook stands in sharp contrast with Ratcliffes. Project 2025 proposals like increasing surveillance of Chinese American academics, pouring gas on risky covert action, and juicing the CIA arsenal with big-ticket items from the DOD all sound like proposals Gabbard is likely to sour on. On the other hand, controlling the CIA, NSA, FBI, and a dozen other agencies could be more appealing to Gabbard. As one former CIA officer tells Rolling Stone, It sure looks like Ratcliffe wrote the playbook and then had his balls cut off and handed to Tulsi. An opinion shared by all the sources who spoke with Rolling Stone is that without a coherent foreign policy, a truly radical overhaul of the intelligence community is hard to imagine. Pete Hegseth, nominated to run the Department of Defense, does not believe that women like former National Guard soldier Tulsi Gabbard should serve in combat roles. Meanwhile, Gabbard has opposed the mass surveillance programs that Ratcliffe says are essential to national defense. Ratcliffe has signaled that China should be centered as the number one threat to America, while counterterrorism czar Sebastian Gorka is frothing at the mouth to supercharge the War on Terror. Somewhere off in the Senate, Marco Rubio, Trumps nominee for Secretary of State, is furiously trying to keep up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1975, it was Sen. Frank Church, who first attempted to knock the intelligence agencies down to size and into the oversight of Congress. If this government ever became a tyranny, if a dictator ever took charge in this country, the technological capacity that the intelligence community has given the government could enable it to impose total tyranny, and there would be no way to fight back because the most careful effort to combine together in resistance to the government, no matter how privately it was done, is within the reach of the government to know, Church said. Fortunately for American democracy, so far, the fears raised by Church have wavered in the face of a clown car Cabinet and an administration with the keys to the city but no clue how to walk through the door. Fights will be waged, senior officers purged, and changes to covert action, personnel hiring, and firing enacted. But whether the intelligence agencies can be dragged into the light and forced to heel at the presidents table remains to be seen. As a former intelligence officer tells Rolling Stone, If theres one place the CIA thrives, its in chaos. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. ABUJA, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Scores of people were dead after a wooden boat carrying over 200 passengers and crew capsized at a section of the River Niger, one of the two largest rivers in Nigeria, Friday morning, local authorities said. The boat, carrying mainly market women and farm laborers from Kogi to a weekly market in Niger -- Kogi and Niger are two states in the country's central region -- capsized midway, Suleiman Makama, a spokesman for the National Inland Waterways Authority, told reporters in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State. So far, eight bodies have been recovered by rescue operators, including local divers, Makama said, while confirming an ongoing search and rescue operation. A local source told Xinhua that none of the passengers and crew members wore lifejackets during the trip. Boat accidents are common in Nigeria, often due to overloading, adverse weather conditions, and operational errors. In October, over 150 people, mostly women and children, perished after a wooden boat carrying approximately 300 passengers capsized on the River Niger upstream of Jebba Dam, according to local authorities. (Bloomberg) -- Donald Trumps crypto project, World Liberty Financial, was looking like a bust. The president-elect and his sons had been promoting its cryptocurrency for weeks, saying it would make finance great again, but the industry largely rejected it. Sales fell 93% short of the goal, so low they failed to hit the minimum required to trigger a payout to Trump. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then on Nov. 25, Justin Sun, a flashy China-born crypto founder, announced he was investing $30 million in World Liberty tokens. That pushed the project over the threshold, and the Trumps now stand to collect at least $15 million, based on terms detailed in World Libertys gold paper. Sun, 34, who five days earlier paid $6.2 million at a Sothebys auction for a banana duct-taped to a wall, is a controversial figure in the crypto world. Hes fighting a lawsuit from the US Securities and Exchange Commission, which sued him in 2023 alleging he defrauded investors by manipulating the price of his Tron cryptocurrency with fake trades, which he has denied. This year, when he got involved with a crypto project called WBTC, others involved threatened to pull out. But World Liberty named him an adviser, putting him in business with Trump, its Chief Crypto Advocate, and his sons Eric, Don Jr., and Barron, who are listed as Web3 Ambassadors. World Liberty Financial can be a beacon to move forward the whole blockchain industry in the US, Sun said in an interview on Wednesday from Hong Kong, where he says he spends most of his time. Because of the SECs approach of regulation by enforcement, crypto in the US has been at a disadvantage. They didnt have an organization to unite people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement World Libertys cryptocurrency isnt very appealing as an investment. The tokens dont promise a share of the companys revenue. And the coins cant be resold, unless the projects rules are changed. But they do represent a good way to send money to the Trumps. Now that the project has received more than $30 million, 75% of all proceeds are paid to Trumps company DT Marks DEFI LLC, according to the gold paper. Suns investment shows how Trumps cryptocurrency along with his publicly traded company, Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. present new opportunities for the wealthy to curry favor. During his first term, foreign governments spent millions of dollars at his Washington, DC, hotel. That conflict of interest looks unbelievably quaint by comparison, said Jeff Hauser, executive director of the Revolving Door Project, a nonprofit that scrutinizes executive branch appointees. Foreign countries and rogue business people would have never thought to be as brash in cultivating an American president as what we are witnessing in the orbit around Trump, Hauser said. World Liberty Financial and the Trump transition team didnt respond to requests for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Born in China as Yuchen Sun, Sun has in recent years gone by the honorific His Excellency after he was made a diplomat by the Caribbean island of Grenada. (The current status of that appointment is unclear.) Hes known for his self-aggrandizing stunts, like paying $4.5 million for a meal with Warren Buffett in 2019, spending $500,000 for an NFT rock in 2021, and announcing a plan to save Sam Bankman-Frieds crypto exchange FTX in 2022. (That never happened, nor did an announced $1 billion fund to save crypto in 2024.) He also made sure the world knew about his investment in World Liberty, a purchase he couldve made anonymously, by announcing it on X. Sun said he hasnt met with any of the Trumps but expects to meet one of them at a Bitcoin conference in Abu Dhabi next month. Eric Trump is scheduled to attend, according to the conferences website. Sun said he didnt expect any favors from Trump in exchange for his investment. Trump has pledged to replace SEC Chairman Gary Gensler with someone wholl take a more conciliatory approach to crypto, and hes been meeting with industry executives, including Coinbase Global Inc. Chief Executive Officer Brian Armstrong, whose company is also fighting an SEC lawsuit, as he weighs who to appoint to run the agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Genslers approach to crypto went from fact-driven to name-driven, Sun says. He turned into someone like, I want to sue Coinbase, I want to sue Justin Sun, just find something so I can sue them. Crypto, Bibles, Sneakers World Libertys founders, Chase Herro and Zachary Folkman, were not well-known in the crypto industry. Folkman once taught classes about how to pick up women, and Herro has sold colon cleanses and get-rich-quick classes and called himself the dirtbag of the internet. But they hit it off with Trumps sons. And Trump, who once called Bitcoin a scam, changed his tune after wealthy crypto investors started donating to his campaign. He began promoting World Liberty in September, part of a flurry of shilling that also included Trump sneakers, Bibles and digital trading cards, unprecedented for a presidential candidate. Were embracing the future with crypto and leaving the slow and outdated big banks behind, Trump said in a video posted on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sun founded the Tron blockchain, popular in Asia, in 2017, raising about $70 million by selling a proprietary token called TRX. The SECs lawsuit against Sun alleges that he engaged in manipulative trading to pump up the value of TRX and another token, and that celebrities including Jake Paul and Lindsay Lohan received undisclosed payments to promote it. Sun has denied the allegations, and one of his lawyers said in a court filing in May that the supposedly manipulative trades cited by the SEC accounted for such a tiny fraction of trading that they couldnt have had the alleged effect. (Lohan and Paul settled with the SEC for $40,670 and $101,887, respectively, neither admitting nor denying the claims.) Crime Syndicates Tron has been criticized for facilitating illicit activity. It hosted 45% of all illicit flows last year, more than Ethereum or Bitcoin, the blockchain tracking firm TRM Labs said in a March report. And in October, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime said in a report that Tron was the preferred choice for Asian crime syndicates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tron in September announced a partnership with TRM to stop crypto crime. Illicit activity is not welcome in our industry, Sun said in a statement at the time. Much of the activity on Tron involves stablecoins cryptocurrencies backed by real-world assets held in reserve. But Circle Internet Financial, which controls the biggest US stablecoin, discontinued support for Tron in February, citing risk management, among other reasons. World Liberty plans to launch its own stablecoin. Sun said that he hoped it would help connect Tron to US financial institutions. The $6.2 million banana that Sun bought was a work of conceptual art, titled Comedian, by the Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, meant to poke fun at the art world. It comes with instructions on how to tape the banana and to replace it when it rots. Sun said in the interview that hes got big plans for it. I want to tape my banana on the wall of the White House, Sun said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sun ate the banana on Friday at a press conference at a hotel in Hong Kong. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Emboldened by Donald Trumps blatantly anti-trans, Islamophobic and racist campaign to successfully secure a second term in the White House and a Republican trifecta, GOPers have been using their time ahead of the 119th Congress to launch new and unprecedented attacks against their will-be colleagues on the other side of the aisle. Randy Fine, a Trump-backed Florida Republican running to fill the soon-to-be-vacant seat of Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) who Trump tapped to be his national security adviser posted a seemingly threatening message on the social media platform X on Monday. In it, he said that Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) should consider leaving the House of Representatives before he gets there, if he wins the special election in January. The Hebrew Hammer is coming, Fine, who is Jewish, said in a post on X. [Rashida Tlaib] and [Ilhan Omar] might consider leaving before I get there. #BombsAway Fine is a staunch supporter of Israel and his veiled threat against Tlaib and Omar is seemingly due to their Muslim faith or their vocal support for the Palestinian people. They have both repeatedly called for a ceasefire in the conflict and have criticized the number of casualties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And its not just anti-Islam rhetoric coming from potential members of the Republican conference. Existing members have used the remaining weeks of the lame duck Congress to up their attacks on incoming Democrats, as well. Last week, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) introduced a resolution to ban transgender women from womens restrooms at the Capitol building just two weeks after the first openly transgender person was elected to Congress. When asked directly if her resolution was in response to Rep.-elect Sarah McBride (D-DE) joining the upcoming Congress, Mace said, absolutely, a hundred percent. But Maces performative outrage did not stop at introducing the resolution. Over the course of 72 hours last week, Mace posted about trans women and bathrooms more than 325 times on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She went as far as to post a video of herself taping a piece of paper that reads BIOLOGICAL on top of a womens bathroom sign in the Capitol complex. I never thought we would need a sign for this, but womens restrooms are for BIOLOGICAL women. Not men, Mace captioned the video. I never thought we would need a sign for this, but women's restrooms are for BIOLOGICAL women. Not men. pic.twitter.com/42lOMhqHFT Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) November 19, 2024 Its all quite hypocritical, of course. As recently as last year, Mace called herself pro-transgender rights and said she supported children exploring gender identities with different hairstyles, clothing and preferred pronouns, according to CNN. And in 2021, Mace said I strongly support LGBTQ rights and equality. No one should be discriminated against, in a Washington Examinder interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, MAGA loyalist Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) also took to social media to suggest that trans women who use womens bathrooms should be thrown in prison. As MAGA House Republicans shameless othering of the will-be first ever openly trans member of Congress was at its peak, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) came out in support of Mace, announcing in a press release that trans women will not be allowed to use the womens restrooms and locker rooms on the House side of the Capitol complex. It is important to note that each Member office has its own private restroom, and unisex restrooms are available throughout the Capitol, Johnson said, disregarding the fact that there is no single occupancy restroom in the actual U.S. Capitol building where lawmakers and staff often spend hours voting or in meetings. Its not enough to say that Donald Trump is installing a gaggle of opportunists, gadflies and, in some cases, quacks to run public health. Rather, its that over time, many of those who Trump has appointed have bent their perspectives in various ways towards ideas that he has favored. On cures, treatments, and public health strategies that Trump has promoted like ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, and herd immunity, these appointees have aligned themselves with, or held back criticism of, the Trump-endorsed path forward. Its a long-term byproduct of a signature issue with the Trump administrations response to COVID, which emerged in the pandemics earliest days in 2020: it caught experts off-guard by politicizing elements of the response, seemingly at random. Whether it was invoking the Defense Production Act, giving guidance on mask-wearing, describing the viruss origin, or promoting various proposed treatments, Trump turned facets of the pandemic into sites of furious partisan contestation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And for many of his new administrations nominees commentary, public health considerations appeared to fall by the wayside as they sought either to keep Trump happy or offer ways forward that broke with the same expert community who explicitly or implicitly criticized the former President for his disastrous handling of the pandemic. Two of the issues on which that pattern can be seen most starkly are a proposed treatments for COVID, hydroxychloroquine, and with a proposal to use herd immunity as a means to quickly escape the pandemic. Hydroxychoroquine Early in the pandemic, doctors were racing to find anything that might help patients suffering from COVID. There was, at the time, no known treatment, and a lot of desperation as the virus spread rapidly. Out of that fog came one now-infamous proposal: hydroxychloroquine. The FDA initially authorized hydroxychloroquine in March 2020 on an emergency basis, as the first wave of the pandemic broke over the United States. But after more research showed that it was ineffective and potentially harmful in some cases, FDA officials rescinded authorization in June 2020. In that time, however, it had become politicized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said on Fox News in May that he had taken the treatment. His supporters started to flock to the drug, and it became a totem of loyalty. Several of Trumps picks for public health-related agencies were involved in the debate around hydroxychloroquine in real time. Dr. Mehmet Oz, the TV doctor and Trumps nominee to run Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services in the new administration, pushed officials in March 2020 to back a study he wanted funded on the drug, emails released by the House Coronavirus Committee in 2022 showed. Initially, Ozs entreaties were met with receptiveness. In one message to Jared Kushner, Oz said that it was a national priority to complete his study on the drug. But by the end of March 2020, he started to encounter more skepticism. Dr. Deborah Birx, then a key player in the White Houses COVID response, replied only that we should talk after Oz cited data from a French doctor who was claiming a near-100 percent success rate for the treatment. Other future nominees also became involved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Trump said in May that he had been taking hydroxychloroquine on a daily basis, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat the current surgeon general nominee appeared on Fox News. Nesheiwat tried to walk a tight line. She said that it was very smart for Trump to take the drug as a preventative measure, and later added an admission that the efficacy of the drug was somewhat unclear. She had prescribed the drug for COVID patients, she said, and some of them benefitted from it, some of them did not. Nesheiwat, later in the pandemic, gently pushed back against another cure that had become popular in conservative circles as an alternative to vaccination: ivermectin, a drug with a variant used for horse deworming. After podcast host and ex-fear factorer Joe Rogan complained that CNN had accused him of taking horse dewormer over his use of the drug, Nesheiwat tried to clarify, affirming that it was used as a horse dewormer and also for humans, without addressing whether its useful for COVID or as a vaccine substitute. Misinformation is harmful, she wrote. Herd immunity Another future Trump appointee, FDA nominee Dr. Marty Makary, was willing to reject hydroxychloroquine in a December 2020 appearance on Fox News before ingratiating himself with the MAGA right by opposing vaccine mandates and advocating for herd immunity in an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Makary was referencing a concept that had been proposed in an October 2020 public letter fancifully known as the Great Barrington Declaration. Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, who Trump nominated to run the National Institutes of Health this week, was one of three doctors who drafted the letter. Bhattacharya would later entertain ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, the MAGA COVID fad cures. In 2022, he attributed the rejection of the two medications to a conspiracy: drug companies have no interest in funding trials for off-patent drugs, whose production would be far less profitable. If you have a drug that is offpatent, there is nobody interested in testing it, he said. It was a clever tack, as unmoored from reality as it was, casting as villain widely reviled pharmaceutical manufacturers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But in the Great Barrington declaration, Bhattacharya called for the U.S. to enact a policy of focused protection. Residents of long-term care facilities, home to the most vulnerable, would be kept isolated, while the government would stop implementing and advocating non-pharmaceutical interventions like masking and social distancing. The result would be to let the virus sweep through the population, in theory creating herd immunity while taking the most vulnerable out of the way. The theory was immediately met with a chorus of criticism, largely pointing out that the long-term effects of COVID on healthy people were unknown, and that the United States had a massive population of unhealthy people who were vulnerable to the virus for reasons like obesity, and who were not residing in long-term care facilities. But it was a great solution if you wanted to avoid the arduous tradeoffs that COVID necessitated: in theory, you could run the economy at full tilt with a herd immunity strategy. Trump administration officials met with Bhattacharya and others in the days after the declaration was released. Dr. Birx put the issue succinctly in an email later released in a congressional investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 80 million Americans not in long-term care were vulnerable, she wrote. Without masks and social distancing we end up with twice as many deaths we will never look as good as even Sweden due to our co-morbidities, she wrote, calling Bhattacharya, among others, a fringe group without grounding in epidemics, public health or on the ground common sense experience. Pushing herd immunity, as the White House was considering, would trigger an unacceptable death toll. President-elect Donald Trump's newest round of cabinet nominations includes another Florida influence. He tapped businessman John Phelan to serve as his United States Secretary of the Navy. Phelan, who has never served in the military or had a civilian leadership role with the service, was a major donor to Trump's re-election campaign. Phelan's military connection comes from serving on the board of Spirit of America, a military-themed nonprofit. John will be a tremendous force for our Naval Servicemembers, and a steadfast leader in advancing my America First vision. He will put the business of the U.S. Navy above all else, Trump said in a statement Tuesday evening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Phelan is the co-founder and chairman of the Palm Beach-based private investment first Rugger Management, LLC. If confirmed, Phelan would be the first Navy secretary without military experience in 15 years. Amy and John Phelan Who is John Phelan? John C. Phelan, born in 1964, earned a bachelor's degree in economics and political science from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Phelan began as a financial analyst for Goldman Sachs & Co. and moved on to a range of financial positions, including vice president at the Equity Group, acquisitions head for Zell-Merrill Lynch Real Estate Opportunity Funds and principal at the investment firm ESL Partners. In 1998, Phelan co-founded MSD Partners and MSD Capital LP to manage investments for Michael Dell, the founder and CEO of Dell Technologies. Phelan is also the co-founder and chairman of Rugger Management LLC, a private investment firm based in Palm Beach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John is married to Amy Merriman Phelan, a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader and current philanthropist, and they have one daughter, Makenzie Moon Phelan, from Amy's first marriage. The Phelans have homes in Palm Beach, Aspen, Colorado, and London. The Phelans were named one of ARTnews' top 200 art collectors in 2024, and display works from Andreas Gursky, Lisa Yuskavage, Cindy Sherman, Richard Prince, Jenny Holzer, Marilyn Minter and others at their Colorado and Florida homes. Both Phelans are on multiple museum boards and councils. John Phelan hosted a Trump campaign fundraiser In April, the Phelans hosted a Trump fundraiser at their $38 million Aspen home with participation tiers from $25,000 to $500,000. Guests reportedly included Florida congressman Byron Donalds, Texas governor Greg Abbott, Colorado congresswoman Lauren Boebert, former Colorado senator Cory Gardner, casino mogul Steve Wynn, billionaire businessman Thomas Peterffy and more, according to various media sources. A 12-minute recording obtained by The Guardian captured Trump giving a profanity-laced speech at the event about the dangers of waves of undocumented immigrants" and the efforts of "radical leftwing lunatics." Trump told the crowd this "could be the last election we ever have," The Guardian said. He also joked about Helen Comperatore, the widow of the man killed in Trump's assassination attempt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to FEC records, "John W. Phelan" of MSD Capital in Palm Beach donated $834,600 to Trumps joint fundraising committee, Trump 47 Committee Inc, a week before the fundraiser. In October, "John C. Phelan" of MSD Capital in Palm Beach donated $93,300. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Trump's Navy secretary cabinet pick John Phelan from Florida Donald Trump has shared a parody video of National Lampoons Christmas Vacation featuring President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and ending with himself leaping out of a turkey. In the video shared on Truth Social on Thanksgiving night hours after Trump sent a fiery Thanksgiving message to the radical left lunatics the president-elect put his own spin on the iconic scene from the holiday classic. In the amusing 35-second video, Bidens head is superimposed onto the body of Chevy Chase, who plays Clark Griswold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seated around the table are several prominent Democrats, many of whom Trump railed against during his presidential campaign. As Biden cuts into the turkey, Rep. Adam Schiff of California, who is Cousin Eddie in the parody, says: Save the neck for me, Clark. Harris, who is Eddies wife Catherine in the clip, then laughs. Throughout the campaign, Trump mocked Harris saying she laughed like a crazy person. OK, Adam, Biden says before the clip pans to Jill Biden looking uncomfortable as Ellen Griswold, played by Beverly DAngelo. Bidens head is superimposed onto the body of Chevy Chase, who plays Clark Griswold in the movie (@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social) Also sat around the table are former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the memorable moment from the 1989 movie, the group looks on as Griswold tries to carve the turkey which then collapses because its so dry. In Trumps spoof version, the president-elect emerges from the carcass doing his signature dance move to the YCMA, the anthem of his campaign rallies, as the diners look on stunned. Rep. Alexandria Ocasia-Cortez of New York is seen looking shocked, while Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota laughs beside her. The video follows the president-elects Thanksgiving note to Americans early on Thursday morning. Trump emerges from the dried-out turkey in the spoof video (@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social) Happy Thanksgiving to all, including to the Radical Left Lunatics who have worked so hard to destroy our Country, but who have miserably failed, and will always fail, because their ideas and policies are so hopelessly bad that the great people of our Nation just gave a landslide victory to those who want to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Trump posted on Truth Social. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dont worry, our Country will soon be respected, productive, fair, and strong, and you will be, more than ever before, proud to be an American! The festive message was a tone warmer than last years, where he unleashed on the key figures in his $454m civil fraud case, including the so-called Racist & Incompetent New York Attorney General Letitia James, the Radical Left Trump Hating Judge, Psycho Justice Arthur Engoron and his Politically Biased & Corrupt Campaign Finance Violator court clerk Alison Greenfield. Last Christmas, Trump also delivered an equally scathing message to President Joe Biden and Special Counsel Jack Smith: MAY THEY ROT IN HELL. AGAIN, MERRY CHRISTMAS! President-elect Trump will gain back vast powers when he retakes the nations highest office, including the ability to grant pardons. During his first four years as president, Trump granted 144 pardons a notably low number that included several of his allies. Excluding President Biden, whose term is not yet up, the only president in modern history to grant fewer pardons is President George H.W. Bush. But heading into his second term, Trump has promised vast clemency for some and hinted at relief for others, raising the specter that waves of pardons are on the horizon. Heres who Trump might pardon upon returning to the White House. Steve Bannon Steve Bannon, a right-wing provocateur and Trumps former chief strategist, was convicted of two counts of contempt of Congress after refusing to comply with a congressional subpoena related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was sentenced to four months in prison, which he completed in October, and could be among those who receive clemency from Trump. During his first term, Trump gave Bannon a full and unconditional pardon for his role in a scheme to raise funds for Trumps border wall between the U.S. and Mexico. New York state prosecutors subsequently launched their own investigation into the matter. Peter Navarro Ex-Trump White House adviser Peter Navarro was released from a Miami federal prison in July after serving a four-month sentence for evading the House committee that investigated Jan. 6. Though Navarro seems a likely candidate for a Trump pardon, he has said hes not seeking clemency. Instead, he hopes his appeal of his conviction, which is ongoing, will reach the Supreme Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its crying out for the Supreme Court to do this, Navarro told reporters before beginning his prison term. Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira In Trumps federal classified documents case, he was charged alongside two other defendants: his valet, Walt Nauta, and Carlos De Oliveira, the property manager of his Mar-a-Lago estate. Though the case was dismissed, special counsel Jack Smith is still pursuing an appeal of that ruling for Nauta and De Oliveira because, unlike Trump, no principle of temporary immunity applies to them, his office wrote in court filings. That leaves open the possibility that Trump could pardon his former co-defendants. A number of Trump allies, however, are largely out of luck. Dozens of associates face state charges tied to efforts to subvert the 2020 presidential election after Trump lost, but presidential pardon powers only extend to federal crimes. Jan. 6 rioters Trump repeatedly vowed on the campaign trail to pardon rioters accused of storming the Capitol on Jan. 6. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The moment we win, we will rapidly review the cases of every political prisoner unjustly victimized by the Harris regime, and I will sign their pardons on Day 1, Trump said in September. The range of conduct and resulting charges from that day vary widely. While many rioters were charged with misdemeanors, several extremist group leaders were convicted by juries of seditious conspiracy. It remains to be seen how many Jan. 6 defendants will receive relief. Hunter Biden Hunter Biden is scheduled to be sentenced in December on separate gun and tax charges. President Biden, Hunters father, has ruled out pardoning his son. Trump, however, did not rule out pardoning the younger Biden when asked by conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt during an Oct. 24 interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I wouldnt take it off the books, Trump said. See, unlike Joe Biden, despite what theyve done to me, where theyve gone after me so viciously, despite what and Hunters a bad boy. Theres no question about it. Hes been a bad boy. Eric Adams Trump has publicly empathized with New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) after federal prosecutors unsealed corruption charges against him. He was honest, and I said he will be indicted within a year, and thats what happened, Trump said in September. And I noticed the indictment is very old. It goes back a long time. Well, I had the same thing they got, they went way before the statute of limitations. So, I wish him well. During an appearance on CNN last week, anchor Wolf Blitzer repeatedly pressed Adams on whether he has discussed a pardon with Trump, given that the mayor has repeatedly emphasized he wants to work with the president-elect. The mayor deflected and said his legal team will handle his case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont go into private conversations, but that is not on my agenda, Adams said of a pardon. George Santos Disgraced former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) is set to be sentenced Feb. 7, less than three weeks after Trumps inauguration, after pleading guilty to felony wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges. Santos faces a mandatory two-year prison sentence. When asked by a reporter at The Hill last year about the possibility of a Trump pardon, Santos retorted, Why is that little brain of yours going there? Im not into dwelling into the future, he said at the time. Santos has been a vocal advocate for Trump and his Cabinet picks, traveling to the Capitol to advocate for former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) to be confirmed as attorney general before he withdrew. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Santos told reporters during his visit that requesting a pardon is not a conversation Ive had. I dont intend on having that conversation. Julian Assange WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange could also land on Trumps pardon list. In a podcast appearance earlier this year, the former president said he would give very serious consideration to a pardon of Assange, who recently pleaded guilty to one felony count under the Espionage Act for his role in publishing classified military information as part of a plea deal to secure his freedom. Trump has also said hes open to potentially pardoning Edward Snowden, whom he previously called a traitor. His nominee for director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, lobbied for Trump to pardon Snowden during his first term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Some of Americas key security allies are hopeful President-elect Trumps impetuous streak might spur resolution to drawn-out conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, but theres also deep anxiety about the America First agenda, compounded this week by Trumps tariff threats. These competing sentiments were on display over the weekend at the Halifax International Security Forum, where top diplomats, defense ministers, U.S. lawmakers, foreign politicians, military brass, and democracy activists scoured for any clues on where Trump can be convinced to stand with allies, and where he is intent on going rogue. Rosa Brooks, a law professor at Georgetown University who helped lead a series of spring 2024 simulation exercises examining how a second Trump administration might play out with sobering results said she was dismayed to see so many people at the conference assume a second Trump administration will be business as usual. Nothing about his postelection statements suggests this will be business as usual. Both in the U.S. and in allied countries, people should be expecting Trump to follow through on his threats and should brace for the political and economic instability his actions will cause, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont want to put too fine a point on it, but the future of the world is at stake, said a former official of a NATO country and high-level participant at the conference. And if the United States goes bad, then were done. Were going to enter a century of a period of darkness. In security and defense circles, anxiety about the incoming administration has been compounded by surprise picks such as Tulsi Gabbard for chief of intelligence, Pete Hegseth for the Pentagon and Elon Musk as a close adviser on global affairs. Sen. James E. Risch (R-Idaho), the incoming chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sought to play down those worries. I wouldnt focus on one person, he said when asked about the risk Gabbard poses to analyzing and presenting the threat picture to Trump, given the criticism she has received for echoing Russian propaganda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am not concerned that a person is going to influence the president to the point where he changes his basic view on things. While Trump has said Ukraines survival is important to the U.S., he has refused to commit to backing Ukraines victory against Russia, a shared goal of those assembled in Halifax. Yet the president-elects focus on dealmaking, and even his perceived impulsiveness, is being welcomed by some Ukraine supporters, tired from President Bidens drawn out decisionmaking on sending weapons systems and allowing Ukraine to use them for strikes into Russia. We need brave and just decisions, I will not hesitate to say historic decisions, Ruslan Stefanchuk, speaker of Ukraines Parliament, said in a speech to the conference. It is exactly such decisions that must be timely made in Halifax, Ottawa, Washington, Brussels, Paris, Berlin and London. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Batu Kutelia, the former ambassador to the U.S. from Georgia, who also served as a senior defense official in the country, said theres a shared sense that the current approach isnt working. Some kind of a cautious optimism, and also the change that something which is not working for more than 1,000 days for Ukraine, so something needs to be changed, he said. Peter Van Praagh, founding president of the Halifax International Security Forum, said the optimism does not change the difficult reality, with Russian forces deeply entrenched across eastern Ukraine. I dont think theres any new understanding that the difficulties are any less challenging than they were yesterday, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you take a hard look at this stuff, yes the solutions are challenging, but there are solutions. Allies are also bracing for a trade war, as Trump has made tariffs a central piece of his economic and foreign policy agenda. Risch sought to reassure Canada that Trump would not impose his threatened, global 10 percent tariff, giving an emphatic no when asked about the prospect Saturday. That message was undercut Monday when the president-elect called for a 25 percent tariff on Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10 percent tariff on China, to pressure a crackdown on drug trafficking and illegal immigration. Canada Minister of National Defense Bill Blair told The Hill that drastic trade measures would have implications, adding its to the mutual benefit of both countries to make sure were able to work together and for our industries to support each other and collaborate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blair has tried to get ahead of Trumps criticism over Canadas relatively low defense spending, but he said a trade war could disrupt Canadas efforts to ramp up cross-border military production contracts. The European Union has reportedly started preparations on retaliatory taxes on American imports. It doesnt make sense to reveal secrets or to tell you exactly how we prepare, but what I can tell you is that the European Commission is prepared if there should be a disagreement on tariffs, Tobias Lindner, state minister in Germanys foreign ministry and transatlantic coordinator for the incoming Trump administration, told reporters. We believe to negotiate, to speak, to talk, is the best way to get through this. And we both are economically benefiting from our ties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And Trumps controversial nominee Hegseth for secretary of Defense stirred pushback at the conference, particularly over his recent remarks saying women should not serve in combat roles. Canadas chief of the armed forces, Gen. Jennie Carignan, said women in combat roles are not some kind of social experiment. I wouldnt want anyone to leave this forum with this idea that women are a distraction to defense or national security, Carignan said. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), the incoming ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said at the forum that hopefully there will be a background check amid sexual assault allegations against Hegseth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont think having somebody who has a questionable record on that issue is a message to the women of the military that we want to send, she said. And Musks unpredictability was also touched on, with Norways Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide pointing to Oslos reliance on Starlink satellites in remote parts of the Arctic as long as Elon Musk is happy, I guess. Musk reportedly joined a phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after the election and met with Irans ambassador to the United Nations earlier this month. Trump has assembled a vehemently pro-Israel team of advisers and has promised to take a hard line against Iran for fueling terrorism throughout the region, posing a threat to U.S. forces and regional allies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new administration makes the Islamic Republic [of Iran] nervous, said Masih Alinejad, an Iranian journalist and activist who is under persistent threat of assassination from Tehran. I still believe that we have to push the new administration to stick with their own promises to support the Iranian people rather than going back to the negotiation table, thats my hope. The overwhelming focus of the conference was rallying ongoing international support for Ukraine and appealing to Republican members of Congress, in particular, to hold firm in their positions backing Kyiv, despite skepticism from Trump and far-right factions in Congress. Senator, when you have conversations with your colleagues, what is the argument that is the most successful to talk about the support to Ukraine? Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly asked Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), an outspoken Ukraine supporter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because clearly, your argument of, We need to fight now, because if not it, will be even more costly to us in terms of lives and in terms of money, is a good one, and this is one that weve been all using. There was even an appeal by Taiwans former President Tsai Ing-Wen, pushing back on arguments that the U.S. should be focusing its foreign military support on Taiwan, given the threat from China. We still have time, she said in conversation with PBSs Nick Schifrin. The U.S. may have this issue of whether they have enough stock but my thought is that they should do whatever they can to help the Ukrainians. We still have time to prepare for ourselves, with the rest of the world. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A bipartisan bill to boost transparency and make sure incoming presidents stick to an ethics plan was so uncontroversial that it passed the Senate by a voice vote in 2020. Donald Trump then signed it into law. But now, after blowing past deadlines to adhere to the law after winning the White House a second time, Trump appears to have excluded himself from those same ethical guidelines. Trump missed two months of deadlines before finally signing off on an agreement with President Joe Bidens administration to begin the presidential transition process this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the agreement does not appear to include the president-elects pledge to avoid conflicts of interest while in office, despite requirements under a renewed Presidential Transition Act he signed into law four years earlier. Donald Trump met with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office on November 13 (EPA) Trumps team is turning down federal funding and office space for his transition team as well as official government checks and security checks for his staff. The president-elect has rebuffed agreements with the Department of Justice to process security clearances to access classified information during the transition. This announcement fails to answer key questions about national security threats and FBI vetting of nominees, and increases concerns about corruption, said Senator Elizabeth Warren, who co-wrote the Presidential Transition Act. There appear to be serious gaps between the Trump transitions ethics agreement and the letter of the law, she said. The reliance on private donors to fund the transition is nothing more than a ploy for well-connected Trump insiders to line their pockets while pretending to save taxpayers money. Senator Elizabeth Warren, who co-wrote the re-newed Presidential Transition Act that Trump signed into law in 2020, has warned that his refusal to submit an ethics pledge could open the door to corruption (AFP via Getty Images) Trumps agreement with the Biden administration this week paves the way for Trumps landing teams to begin entering government offices to receive briefings from current staff about the day-to-day operations of hundreds of federal agencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The team said it is turning down federal support consistent with President Trumps commitment to save taxpayers hard-earned money, his campaign said in a statement. But accepting the money would have put a $5,000 cap on individual donations to the transition and require the public disclosure of donors. Trumps team merely said it would not allow foreign contributions and would be disclosing its donors, but did not reveal any guidelines for those pledges. By turning down roughly $7 million in federal funding for the transition process, Trump will be able to raise unlimited private donations for the transition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The team will operate as a self-sufficient organization, and its organizational autonomy means a streamlined process, Trumps campaign said in a statement. Donald Trump Jr and his father launched a cryptocurrency venture in the days before Election Day (AP) Democrats and government watchdogs have been repeatedly sounding the alarms over a lack of clear, transparent ethical guidelines and background checks in place. The Presidential Transition Enhancement Act, which Trump signed into law in March 2020, requires presidential candidates to create and release an ethics plan for their transition team prior to the election, according to the nonprofit, nonpartisan Center for Presidential Transition. That plan must disclose conflicts of interest for the president-elect and transition team members, as well as a code of ethical conduct that all staff must agree to. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, whose net worth is more than an estimated $5 billion, has a bulk of his wealth tied up in stock for Trump Media & Technology Group, the publicly traded company that runs Truth Social, and his ties to foreign business interests and potential conflicts of interest have repeatedly come under scrutiny. He also has advertised a number of products bearing his name, including watches, guitars and shoes, and Trump and his sons embarked on a cryptocurrency venture in the days before Election Day. His Trump Organization also has global real estate holdings, though Trump and his empire are on the hook for tens of millions of dollars in financial penalties for fraud tied to the family business. Trump is appealing that judgment. A bulk of Trumps net worth is tied up in shares of Trump Media & Technology Group, the publicly traded company that runs Truth Social (REUTERS) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps alleged resistance to signing an ethics pledge is a red flag pointing to nothing so much as greed and corruption and an intention to enrich himself and/or his family through the extensive powers of his office, according to Virginia Kase Solomon with democracy advocacy group Common Cause. Americans expect and deserve a president who prioritizes the nations well-being over personal gain, she added. They will not tolerate a president who abuses the powers of his office to line his own pockets. The plan requires transition team members to avoid both actual and apparent conflicts of interest and to safeguard classified information and non-public information and other information that is not readily available to the public. It also blocks team members from lobbying activities and prohibits them from serving as registered foreign agents while working during the transition Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without thorough reviews of the incoming administrations financial withholdings and interests by the Office of Government Ethics, those nominees could be in a position to benefit from their proximity to power, according to Campaign Legal Center counsel Kedric Payne, a former deputy chief counsel with the Office of Congressional Ethics. Without this crucial review which is mandated by law nominees may enter office with conflicts of interest (obvious or hidden) that they are not ordered to remedy, Payne said in a statement. If that happens, not only are Americans deprived of critical information about those poised to hold immense power, but those power holders could manipulate the government for their own personal benefit while facing little to no consequence, he added. Trumps dismissal of ethics obligations is not only a break from precedent but a potentially illegal and dangerous scene setter for the years to come, according to Payne. If we do not bother to hold some of the most politically powerful members of our government to ethical guidelines before they even enter office, there is little hope that these leaders will bother with ethics guidelines throughout their public service, he added. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spent weeks lobbying Donald Trump to nominate an Agriculture secretary who would be his ally in a war with the sugar, soybean, corn and other farm commodity interests he argues are poisoning Americans. Working largely from his home in California, Trumps pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services even meticulously vetted and put forward his own list of candidates to run the massive agency responsible for the countrys farm and food policy, according to three people familiar with the discussions. But Trump went a different direction. Instead, the president-elect made a wild-card pick a former White House aide with little formal experience in agriculture policy and no record on the public health concerns driving Kennedys agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps choice of Brooke Rollins, who co-founded the Trump-aligned think tank America First Policy Institute, to lead the Agriculture Department represents something of a victory for the entrenched agriculture interests that view Kennedy as a foe. And it shows the potential limits of Kennedys power to pursue his Make America Healthy Again agenda in a Trump administration attuned to the concerns of industry. Brooke Rollins is a savvy operator, and shes not going to serve as anyones lackey, said one farm state GOP lawmaker. They and more than a dozen other individuals interviewed for this story were granted anonymity to candidly discuss transition decision-making. RFK may have broad discretion at HHS, but I have every expectation that Secretary Rollins will be the one actually calling the shots at USDA. Thats going to give Americas farmers and ranchers a certain amount of comfort. Kennedy and his advisers were certainly hoping for a more vocal ally in the job. As the search for a nominee intensified, he personally lobbied Trump on the matter, while making clear to transition officials that he expected the eventual Agriculture secretary to work closely with him to overhaul U.S. food and agriculture policy, according to two people familiar with the discussions. Among Kennedys preferred candidates for the job: Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who like Kennedy, has advocated for slashing federal farm subsidy programs, which Republicans in farm districts have carefully guarded over the years arguing they protect vulnerable farmers and help produce enough food to feed the country. Kennedy also advocated for Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller in the final hours before Trump made his pick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But powerful, conservative-leaning agriculture groups, many of which have long-established ties to Trump, warned the president-elects team to keep Kennedy and candidates like Massie and Miller away from USDA. Such picks would alienate large swaths of the industry, which reliably supports Republicans. Trump won most rural counties in a landslide in November, outperforming his 2020 margins in those areas. Instead, agriculture groups pushed their own candidates who had strong backing among a faction of Trump officials, such as former Trump USDA official Ray Starling. Others in Trumps orbit, including his daughter Ivanka, suggested names like Sarah Frey, who founded her own produce business and is known as Americas Pumpkin Queen. Trumps decision to tap Rollins came as a surprise to almost everyone outside and even some within the confines of Mar-a-Lago, edging out other candidates on Trumps shortlist with far more agriculture and governing experience. A Texas native, she has a degree in agricultural development but has never served in a role solely focused on food and agriculture policy. In Trumps first term, Rollins worked as acting director of the White Houses domestic policy council. After his defeat in 2020, she helped form and lead the America First Policy Institute, a nonprofit group that has served as a shadow Trump transition team, preparing reams of policy plans and staffing suggestions in the event he won a second term. The organization's only work on agriculture policy, however, has been to warn against Chinese nationals buying up U.S. farmland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While some in the agriculture industry and on Capitol Hill have expressed concern about Rollins lack of ag policy experience, they are also relieved the president-elect did not tap someone more openly aligned with Kennedy and his critiques of the current agriculture system. It could be worse. It couldve been Massie, said one GOP Senate aide. If confirmed, Rollins will have massive influence to shape agriculture policy and farm subsidies that serve as the foundation of the U.S. food system, which Kennedy is eager to overhaul. Hes openly promised to go to war with large agriculture interests he argues are at the root of Americans twin obesity and chronic health crises. But those fights lie within USDA, which oversees a $430 billion-plus yearly budget and 100,000 employees, touching nearly every part of the countrys $1.5 trillion food and agriculture industry. Not HHS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since joining the Trump transition team after abandoning his own independent bid for president, Kennedy has suggested he will wield immense influence over USDA in the impending Trump administration. He has insisted to allies and Trump associates that many of his priorities depend on having an agriculture secretary who is philosophically aligned with him, and had toyed with taking a czar-like position in the White House that would give him oversight over both health and food policy. He even filmed a video of himself in front of the departments headquarters in Washington several days before the November election, promising to rewrite a swath of agriculture policy regulations when Donald Trump gets me inside the building. If confirmed to lead HHS, Kennedy will have broad jurisdiction over medical and health care policy. Hell also have direct oversight of the Food and Drug Administration with regulatory discretion over huge swaths of the U.S. food sector. But even some GOP senators have pointed out that Kennedy wont have direct power at HHS to deliver some of his biggest promises to remake Americas food system, by overhauling farm subsidies and agriculture policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the stuff that he's talking about doesnt even come under the jurisdiction of HHS, longtime Senate Agriculture Committee member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) recently told reporters. Farm state lawmakers on Capitol Hill have also been skeptical that Trump would actually allow Kennedy to follow through on his promises to upend the food system and go to war against big corporate agriculture interests, including those that are protected by rural Republicans. Several candidates for Cabinet posts even tried to lean on the strong ties to the corporate agriculture sector within Trumps inner circle, including his chief of staff Susie Wiles contacts within Floridas politically powerful sugar industry, according to three people familiar with those conversations. But Kennedy and his allies are still pushing to exert his influence over lower-level USDA picks an effort that has at times spilled out into the public. Nicole Shanahan, Kennedy's former vice presidential running mate, openly advocated for a Kennedy ally to get a USDA job over the weekend and has alluded to an ongoing internal tug-of-war over other high-level appointees. Rollins is also likely to want a say in those picks, however. Despite her lack of experience, Republicans on the Hill think shell have a fairly smooth Senate confirmation given her ties to the president-elect. (A person familiar with the transition conversations said Rollins was the last person standing at Mar-a-Lago, after missing out on Trumps chief of staff role.) I think people who know her believe she has the Presidents ear and will advocate for him to do what is best for production agriculture and rural America, said a second Senate GOP aide. YAOUNDE, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chad has formally ended a security and defense cooperation accord with France, said Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah on Thursday night. The decision was made after an "in-depth analysis," which marked a "historic" turning point, Koulamallah said in a statement. It is time for Chad to assert its full sovereignty and redefine its strategic partners according to national priorities, Koulamallah said, adding that Chad will respect the terms of the termination, including required deadlines. Chad will continue to maintain "constructive" relations with France in other areas of common interest, he added. CNN has outlined the key aspects of a peace plan proposed back in April by Keith Kellogg, Trumps special envoy for the Russo-Ukrainian war. The plan provides for the complete lifting of sanctions against Russia. Source: CNN Details: According to the article, Kellogg proposes to partially ease sanctions against Russia in exchange for an agreement to cease fire, freeze the front line, and introduce a demilitarised zone in Ukraine. If Russia signs a peace deal, sanctions will be lifted altogether. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kellogg's plan does not imply that Ukraine would give up the territories occupied by Russia, but reclaiming them would be done through diplomacy alone. Ukraine would have to recognise that regaining the occupied lands "would require a future diplomatic breakthrough", which is unlikely to happen before Putin leaves office. Trump's special envoy says that foremost, "it should become a formal US policy to seek a ceasefire and negotiated settlement". Kellogg's peace plan also states that future US aid likely in the form of a loan to Ukraine will depend on the progress of peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow. The US will arm Ukraine to the extent that it can defend itself and stop any further Russian offensives before and after any peace deal. According to the author of the article, Kellogg is of the opinion that the US does not need to be involved in another conflict, and its own arms stockpile has been reduced because of aid to Ukraine, leaving the US potentially vulnerable in a possible conflict with China over Taiwan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also believes that Ukraine's NATO membership should be put on hold indefinitely "in exchange for a comprehensive and verifiable peace deal with security guarantees". Support UP or become our patron! In his victory speech on Nov. 6, President-elect Donald Trump claimed Americans had given him an unprecedented and powerful mandate. Its a message his transition team has echoed in the last three weeks, referring to his MAGA Mandate and a historic mandate for his agenda. But given that Trumps lead in the popular vote has dwindled as more votes have been counted in California and other states that lean blue, there is fierce disagreement over whether most Americans really endorse his plans to overhaul government and implement sweeping change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The latest tally from the Cook Political Report shows Trump winning 49.83% of the popular vote, with a margin of 1.55% over Vice President Kamala Harris. If there ever was a mandate, this isn't it. Hans Noel, Georgetown University The president-elects share of the popular vote now falls in the bottom half for American presidents far below that of Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson, who won 61.1% of the popular vote in 1964, defeating Republican Sen. Barry Goldwater by nearly 23 percentage points. In the last 75 years, only three presidents John F. Kennedy in 1960, Richard Nixon in 1968 and George W. Bush in 2000 had popular-vote margins smaller than Trumps current lead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If there ever was a mandate, this isnt it, said Hans Noel, associate professor of government at Georgetown University. Trumps commanding electoral college victory of 312 votes to Harris 226 is clear. And unlike in 2016, when he beat former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, he won the popular vote and the needed support in the electoral college. The question is whether Trump can garner significant public support to push through his more contentious administration picks and the most radical elements of his policy agenda, such as bringing in the military to enforce mass deportations. Read more: This red California county had an election surprise in 2020. What happened this year? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats say that the results fall short of demonstrating majority public support for Trump and that the numbers do not give him a mandate to deviate from precedent, such as naming Cabinet members without Senate confirmation. Theres no mandate here, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) said last week on CNN, noting Trump had suggested using recess appointments to get around Senate hearings and votes for his nominees. What there certainly should not be is a blank check to appoint a chaos Cabinet. GOP strategist Lanhee Chen, a fellow at Stanford Universitys Hoover Institution who ran for California controller in 2022, rejects such framing by Democrats. He argues that Trumps victory was quite resounding, in large part because it defied expectations. In an election that almost all political pundits expected would be close and protracted, he reversed Democrats 2020 gains, won all seven battleground states and even made inroads with voters in blue states such as California. Republicans also will take control of the Senate and retain their control of the House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Look, if the popular vote ends up having him at 49.6% versus 50.1%, do I think its a meaningful difference? Chen said. No, I dont. Scholars of American politics have long been skeptical of the idea of a presidential mandate. The first president to articulate such a concept was Andrew Jackson, the nations seventh president, who viewed his 1832 reelection in which he won 54.2% of the popular vote as a mandate to destroy the Second Bank of the United States and expand his political authority. In arguing he had the mandate of the people, Jackson deviated from the approach of previous presidents in refusing to defer to Congress on policy. In "Myth of the Presidential Mandate," Robert A. Dahl, a professor of political science at Yale University, argued the presidential mandate was "harmful to American public life because it elevates the president to an exalted position in our constitutional system at the expense of Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: She won a seat in the California Legislature by campaigning for abortion rights in Nevada Even if we accept the premise of a mandate, there is little consensus on when a candidate has achieved it. How do we know what voters were thinking as they cast ballots? Julia R. Azari, an assistant professor of political science at Marquette University, wrote in a recent essay. Are some elections mandates and others not? If so, how do we know? Whats the popular vote cutoff is it a majority or more? Who decides? In Delivering the Peoples Message: The Changing Politics of the Presidential Mandate, she argues that its politicians in weak positions who typically invoke mandates. This century, she wrote, presidents have cited mandates with increasing frequency as a result of the declining status of the presidency and growing national polarization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats particularly true of Trump, who has long reveled in hyperbole. In 2016, he bragged that hed won in a massive landslide victory, even though his electoral college win of 304 to Clintons 227 was not particularly dramatic by historic standards and he lost the popular vote by 2 percentage points. Four years later, he refused to accept he lost the electoral college and the popular vote to Joe Biden, falsely claiming he was the victim of voter fraud. When Trump speaks of his supposed mandate, he is not an outlier, but is drawing from bipartisan history. In the last four decades, no president has won the popular vote by double digits, but politicians including George W. Bush and Barack Obama have increasingly tried to justify their agendas by invoking public support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Democrat Bill Clinton defeated Republican President George H.W. Bush and Ross Perot, an independent, in 1992, his failure to win a majority of votes did not stop his running mate, Al Gore, from declaring they had a mandate for change. Five days after Clinton was inaugurated, he announced he was creating a task force to devise a sweeping plan to provide universal healthcare. In my lifetime, at least, Clinton told reporters, there has never been so much consensus that something has to be done. The effort ultimately failed for lack of political support. The fake news is trying to minimize President Trumps massive and historic victory to try to delegitimize his mandate. Karoline Leavitt, incoming White House press secretary Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four years ago, Biden also declared a mandate for action. And while Biden prevailed in the electoral college 306 to 232, his share of the popular vote was 51.3%, hardly a dominant performance. As mainstream news outlets have reported on Trumps shrinking popular margin, Karoline Leavitt, Trumps incoming White House press secretary, has lashed out at the media. New Fake News Narrative Alert! Leavitt posted on X, adding a red warning light emoji. The fake news is trying to minimize President Trumps massive and historic victory to try to delegitimize his mandate. Trumps victory is not by any objective measure massive or historic. But Republicans say that news outlets have subjected him to a different standard than they apply to Democratic presidents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Clinton won in 1992 after 12 years of GOP presidents, some Republicans note, Time magazine put his face on its cover with the headline Mandate for Change. Clinton won just 43% of the popular vote, one of the lowest shares in U.S. history. Presidents sometimes bolster their claims of a mandate by cherry-picking polling results. On Sunday, Trumps transition team highlighted new polling from CBS News, claiming it showed overwhelming support for his transition and agenda. But even though the poll indicated that 59% of Americans approved of Trumps handling of the presidential transition, it did not show overwhelming or even majority support for many parts of his agenda. For example, while Trump won strong backing for his broad immigration plan, with 57% supporting a national program to find and deport all immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally, the poll showed far less support 40% for his plan to use the military to carry out deportations. Whatever the popular vote, the Hoover Institutions Chen argues, Trump is in a strong position because he can count on GOP majorities in both houses of Congress. Hes going to be able to do, from a legislative perspective, largely what he wants to do, Chen said. Read more: Democrat Derek Tran ousts Republican Michelle Steel in competitive Orange County House race But several GOP senators have already emphasized the importance of requiring FBI background checks for Trumps more contentious nominees. It also appears he lacks public support for pushing through his picks without Senate approval. More than three-quarters of respondents, according to the CBS poll, believe the Senate should vote on Trumps appointments. Noel, the Georgetown professor, said that Trumps rhetorical strategy aside, the president-elect might have to move past the I won, so everybody get out of my way kind of politics and work behind the scenes to seek common ground with moderate Republicans and maybe even some Democrats. In the past, people have made strong claims about mandates, but then theyve coupled that with more cautious policymaking, Noel said. If Trump doesnt do that if he acts like he believes his own story then were in a different, more Trumpian kind of place. Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox three times per week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's Nov. 27 decision to choose Keith Kellogg as his special envoy for Ukraine and Russia is not ideal for Kyiv but is an acceptable and reasonable choice for Ukraine, analysts say. Kellogg has co-authored a peace plan that would freeze the front line in Ukraine, take NATO's accession off the table for an extended period, and partially lift sanctions imposed on Russia. At the same time, Kellogg has stated that Ukraine should negotiate from a position of strength. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to his proposals, the U.S. will continue sending military aid to Ukraine and provide security guarantees to Kyiv to prevent further Russian aggression. The plan does not stipulate a reduction in the Ukrainian army's size or recognizing occupied territories as Russian de jure. "There will be no (outright) pro-Ukrainian appointments (under Trump)," Ukrainian political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko told the Kyiv Independent. "But it's good if an appointee is not anti-Ukrainian." He argued that Kellogg is not anti-Ukrainian and that he is an experienced and competent professional. In contrast with Kellogg, Trump's nomination of Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Pete Hegseth for defense secretary was met with unease in Kyiv. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "From this standpoint, if you compare (Kellogg) with others, he's absolutely acceptable for Ukraine," Fesenko added. "His position is understandable (for Kyiv), and we can adapt to it." Read also: What do Trumps first team picks mean for Ukraine? Kellogg's track record Kellogg is a retired lieutenant general who served in the Vietnam War and the Gulf War and was the chief operating officer of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq from 2003 to 2004. During Trump's first presidency, Kellogg was the chief of staff of the National Security Council from 2017 to 2018 and national security advisor to Vice President Mike Pence from 2018 to 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "General Kellogg is very devoted to President Trump, having been with him in all three campaigns plus his time in office, but in my experience, he is a serious guy," Michael O'Hanlon, director of research in the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution, told the Kyiv Independent. "General Kellogg is very devoted to President Trump, having been with him in all three campaigns plus his time in office." Daniel Hamilton, another foreign policy expert at the Brookings Institution, also described Kellogg as "an experienced military leader" and "a strong supporter of President Trump." US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Keith Kellogg (R) after announcing him as chief of staff to national security adviser US Army Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, US on Feb. 20, 2017. (Nicholas Kamm / AFP via Getty Images) "Kellogg is close to the president, which is a prerequisite for an effective special envoy. He's also considered to be thoughtful and measured and is obviously experienced," Peter Rough, director of the Center on Europe and Eurasia at the conservative Hudson Institute, told the Kyiv Independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charly Salonius-Pasternak, lead researcher at the Center on U.S. Politics and Power at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, said "it's important that any such envoy has 'the ear' of the president and conversely is seen to genuinely represent/speak for Trump." "In making deals, that's almost more important than any previous policy position Kellogg has had because people can then to some degree trust that what he says will also hold with Trump," he told the Kyiv Independent. Read also: Ukraine aid key to battling Russian invasion Can Europe fill the gap if Trump pulls the plug? Kellogg's plan Kellogg co-chairs the Center on American Security at the America First Policy Institute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In May, Kellogg and another Trump advisor, Frederick Fleitz, co-authored a report called An America First Approach to U.S. National Security for the America First Policy Institute. Among other things, the report presents their vision for a peace settlement in Ukraine. In June, Reuters reported that Kellogg and Fleitz had proposed to Trump a plan that would cease military aid to Ukraine unless it agrees to hold peace negotiations with Russia. Hamilton argued that "Kellogg is essentially coming in (to Ukraine) to implement his proposal." "As someone who has helped draft a proposal for seeking a diplomatic end to the war, Kellogg is poised to push hard to fulfill Trump's pledge to bring Moscow and Kyiv to the negotiating table," Charles Kupchan, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, told the Kyiv Independent. "I expect a determined diplomatic effort to bring the war to an end very early in Trump's presidency." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kellogg's plan, as outlined in his report, envisages freezing the current front line in Ukraine. According to the plan, Ukraine's NATO accession would be taken off the table for "an extended period." The strategy includes partially lifting the Western sanctions on Russia to encourage the Kremlin to take steps toward peace. "If Ukraine doesn't want to negotiate, fine, but then accept the fact that you can have enormous losses in your cities and accept the fact that you will have your children killed, accept the fact that you don't have 130,000 dead, you will have 230,000250,000," Kellogg told the Voice of America in July. "Demographically, what does that do to the country?" The paper by Kellogg and Fleitz also repeatedly referenced the unsubstantiated theory that NATO expansion triggered Russia's full-scale invasion, which Trump also mentioned in an interview in June. Stay warm with Ukrainian traditions this winter. Shop our seasonal merch collection. Star shop now Upsides for Ukraine On the upside, Kellogg's plan envisages levies on Russian energy imports to fund Ukraine's reconstruction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to his strategy, Ukraine will not be asked to give up its ambition to regain all land seized by Russia, but Kyiv should agree to use diplomatic means only and realize that it might take a long time to regain all the territories. The strategy also calls for "a comprehensive and verifiable peace deal with security guarantees." The plan stipulates that, if Ukraine agrees to peace talks, the U.S. would continue sending military aid to Ukraine to deter Russia from attacking it. On the other hand, the U.S. would increase its military support for Ukraine if Russia refuses to accept a peace deal. Kellogg has also made a number of statements that appear to favor Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We've said very clearly in our paper that Ukraine has fought valiantly," he told the Voice of America. "They are very well led. We think the Russians did clearly an unwarranted invasion of a sovereign state, and this must be addressed." Kellogg also said that "you want to make sure that Ukrainians are not put at the position when they're operating from weaknesses, but from strength." "you want to make sure that Ukrainians are not put at the position when they're operating from weaknesses, but from strength." "Nobody is ever saying that: 'Oh, we just have to make Ukrainians give up land and give it to Russia,'" he continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If the West had provided the equipment that (President Volodymyr) Zelensky asked for, then you probably could have finished the job. You could have gotten into the Sea of Azov through Kherson, splitting them in half, and that is what you wanted to do. So, I blame (U.S. President Joe Biden's) administration and the West to a degree for not supporting Ukraine when they should have," Kellogg said. Crew members of the 56th motorized brigade fires a mortar at Russian positions near the occupied Ukrainian city of Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on Feb. 2, 2024. (Dmytro Larin /Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images) He lambasted the Biden administration for failing to provide F-16 fighters, tanks, and long-range weapons quickly enough and in sufficient quantities and to allow Ukraine to "shoot deep into Russia." "You have to give more arms to them because you can't trust the Russians," Kellogg said. "Sometimes you have to look at what we call in America the long game. And that is security guarantees, financial support, and military support." To guarantee Ukraine's security, he suggested concluding a "defense agreement" with Kyiv similar to the U.S. accords with South Korea and Taiwan. Kellogg also said that Russia's demand for Ukraine's demilitarization and a reduction in the size of its army was "unacceptable." Read also: Trump taps Ukraine-skeptic Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence Reasonable choice? The Ukrainian authorities reacted positively to Kellogg's nomination. "Keith Kellogg is not a new person for Ukraine. The Embassy of Ukraine in the U.S. has maintained close ties with him, particularly within the framework of expert diplomacy in recent years, and has developed and maintained a good dialogue with him during this time," Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said on Nov. 28. Max Bergmann, director of the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told the Kyiv Independent that Kellogg "should recognize the only way to have successful negotiations is to make Ukraine as strong as possible peace through strength." "That means continuing aid and getting Congress to pass another assistance package," he added. "(Kellogg) seems like a reasonable choice," Roland Paris, professor of international affairs at the University of Ottawa and a research associate at Chatham House, told the Kyiv Independent. "He has emphasized the importance of Ukraine negotiating from a position of strength, he seems to understand the threat that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin poses, and he has underscored the importance of providing Ukraine with ironclad U.S. security guarantees, along the lines of the U.S. commitment to South Korea, following any eventual peace negotiation." Hamilton said Kellogg is "an experienced military professional, not a loose cannon." "This means the exact nature of U.S. pressure, or the contours of any ceasefire, may evolve," he added. O'Hanlon said that he was "more hopeful by this choice than" he would have been if it had been Richard Grenell, former ambassador to Germany, who was reportedly among the candidates for the job. He said he hopes Kellogg will help Ukraine to achieve peace from a position of strength. Fesenko agreed, saying that "Grenell is more radical and more inclined to apply strong pressure (to Ukraine)," while "Kellogg is more pragmatic." Keith Kellogg, former national security advisor, during the America First Policy Institute's America First Agenda summit in Washington, D.C., US, on July 25, 2022. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Reuters reported on Nov. 22 that Trump was considering appointing Grenell as his special envoy for Ukraine. Grenell, who served as the acting director of national intelligence during Trump's first term, is seen as an isolationist and supporter of reducing military aid to Ukraine. Back in 2022, Grenell said he "applauded" billionaire Elon Musk's peace proposal but added that he would like a "stronger (peace) deal." Musk prompted a scandal the same year by suggesting a peace plan that included Ukraine's neutral status, recognizing Crimea as Russian, and holding a UN-supervised vote on the status of other occupied territories. In July 2024, Grenell also proposed creating "autonomous zones" in Ukraine as part of a peace deal with Russia. He did not elaborate but the statement was an apparent reference to autonomous zones in the Russian-occupied territories. Even if Kellogg pushes for a pro-Ukrainian peace deal, it is unclear whether Trump will back him. Fleitz said in July that Trump had reacted positively to the peace proposal by him and Kellogg but said he was not claiming that Trump agreed with every word of it. Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung emphasized then that only statements from Trump or his campaign should be taken as official policy positions. "It is Trump, not Kellogg, who will make decisions," Fesenko said. "Kellogg is just an instrument." "And will Putin agree (to Kellogg's proposals)? I doubt it." Read also: Marco Rubios stance on Russias war in Ukraine what we know Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. MILL SPRING, N.C. (WSPA) The Tryon International Equestrian Center is set to play host to the 6th annual Winterfest. The winter-themed festival starts Friday and marks the opening of several weeks-long events such as the Christmas Market, the drive-through light show, and more. Synchronized music [and] hundreds of thousands of lights; starts at 6 p.m. every single night, said Doug Grandahl, the chief operating officer of Tryon International Equestrian Center, referring to the drive-through light show that began on Nov. 22. So, it is single-file. Youre just following the person in front of you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The light show stretches for about 1.2 miles and starts at Highway 74. Guests can also tune their vehicles radio a specific channel and listen to music synced to the lights. Tyron Internationals Christmas Market runs begins Friday. Pop-up shops featuring vendors from Chimney Rock that were affected by Hurricane Helene were invited. Chimney Rock businesses have moved down here and were hosting them on the second floor of our international pavilion, said Grandahl. Being able to help them and giving them a place to open up while going through this rebuild process has been really nice. The vendors will be open for business on Friday and Saturday between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starting December 5, businesses will be open from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. every Sunday until the weekend before Christmas. To learn more visit the festivals website. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. The US blocked Turkey from acquiring F-35 stealth fighters. Turkey wants the F-35s and may be willing to move the Russian air defenses that triggered the ban. President-elect Trump may favor a deal, but he'll likely face resistance inside his administration. Until five years ago, Turkey had planned to buy 100 of Lockheed Martin's F-35 stealth jets to modernize its air force. But its acquisition of a top-of-the-line Russian air defense missile system dashed that plan, with the US barring Turkey from acquiring any F-35s out of concern the sophisticated Russian system could compromise its tiny radar return. Five years later, Ankara hopes the incoming Trump administration will reverse its ban. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turkish sources are signaling the discussion may go beyond an appeal from Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with whom Donald Trump built a rapport. According to Bloomberg, Turkey may agree to restrict its Russian S-400s air defenses in return for the US lifting sanctions. Over the summer, Greek media reported that Washington suggested Ankara transfer the Russian missile launchers to the American section of Turkey's Incirlik airbase, effectively putting them under American supervision. "If Turkey agrees to a soft decommissioning of the S-400s by storing them at Incirlik under US supervision, it could significantly accelerate Ankara's reintegration into the F-35 program," Suleyman Ozeren, a lecturer at the American University and senior fellow at the Orion Policy Institute, told Business Insider. "However, this move would likely require Moscow's consent, which presents a complex challenge." That's not the only hurdle. While analysts see signs that Trump and Turkey may try to clear the impasse, any agreement could still face resistance in his cabinet and in Congress, which passed the 2017 legislation under which Turkey would later be sanctioned for its acquisition of the S-400 system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ali Bakir, a Turkey expert at Qatar University's Ibn Khaldon Center and nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative, sees "cautious optimism" in Ankara. He attributes this to the belief that "personal understanding and communication" between Trump and Erdogan will resolve outstanding issues in the Turkish-US relationship, paving the way for a "fresh start." "However, it is important to acknowledge that Congress also plays a significant role in this dynamic," Bakir told BI. "Congress has often been the most problematic element in US-Turkish relations, rather than the US president." "Early indications suggest that Congress may not be particularly favorable towards Ankara," Bakir said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ozeren also anticipates Ankara could find "greater room to maneuver" during Trump's second term, especially as Republicans will control the House and Senate. "In theory, this could increase the chances of obtaining US approval for Turkey's return to the F-35 program," Ozeren said. "Nonetheless, given the deeply strained relations over the past decade, any progress would likely be fraught with difficulties and setbacks." Lockheed Martin's F-35 would help Turkey modernize its air force. Senior Airman Benjamin Cooper/US Air Force Ryan Bohl, a senior Middle East and North Africa analyst at the risk intelligence company RANE, believes Trump is personally "keen" on selling F-35s to Turkey. However, Trump's nominee for secretary of state, Marco Rubio, is a Russia and China hawk and may prove "less flexible" on the requirements of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act that became law in 2017. Bohl sees "little sign" that the law will be overturned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "So, it will remain to be seen if Trump can overcome these institutional hurdles to a sale to Turkey," Bohl told BI. Before Turkey received any S-400s, Washington had repeatedly warned Ankara it would not tolerate F-35s flying in a military that also operates S-400s, fearing that could compromise the low observable radar signature critical to the aircraft's survivability. Placing Turkish S-400s under US supervision in Incirlik could resolve such concerns. "The damage will never be too severe in terms of relations; what matters is whether or not the administration, and Congress, decides Turkey has done enough to limit the potential exposure of the F-35 to Russian intelligence and/or information gathering," Bohl said. "That will likely be a split between Trump, who tends not to emphasize such risks, and the Pentagon and intelligence services, who do," Bohl added. "Even with a pliable defense secretary compared to Mark Esper in his first term, this consideration may still be in play." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turkey has repeatedly asserted over the years that it no longer needs F-35s since it is developing its indigenous stealth jet, the TF Kaan. Despite these assertions, Ankara would most likely welcome another chance to acquire the fifth-generation produced by Lockheed Martin, in partnership with Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems; its powerful single-engine is built by Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation. The F-35 is flown by 17 American allies. "I believe that if the ban on F-35s is lifted, Ankara would definitely want to acquire them, despite other parallel deals, as Turkey cannot afford to be overly dependent on a single player in critical times," Bakir said. At the same time, Turkey is developing domestic air defenses and has never put the S-400 into service in the five years since receiving them. The intervening Ukraine war, where Russian S-400s suffered losses, could reduce the value Turkey sees in them. "Certainly, the S-400's combat performance against Ukraine has been mixed; Turkey may conclude that more advanced F-35s are in its national interest, particularly given Israel's recent deployment of F-35s against Iran," Bohl said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "At the same time, F-35s will be reliant on US supply chains, and those could be interrupted over politics or because of other priorities that make resupply difficult." Paul Iddon is a freelance journalist and columnist who writes about Middle East developments, military affairs, politics, and history. His articles have appeared in a variety of publications focused on the region. Read the original article on Business Insider PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Two people were hospitalized Thursday after a car crashed into a Hillsboro ice cream shop, authorities said. According to Hillsboro police, a car crashed into Jims Ice Cream Shop at Southeast 10th Avenue and Southeast Maple Street Thursday morning, hitting a pedestrian along the way. The driver and the pedestrian were both transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Northeast Portland restaurant celebrates Laotian heritage with 100-foot mural Hillsboro Fire Department also responded to the scene and stabilized the building, which was struck on one of its corners. Police said that the cause of the crash is still under investigation. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. (COLORADO SPRINGS) Two minors were arrested and the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) said both had previous charges of aggravated robbery. According to CSPD on Wednesday, Nov. 27 at around 3:40 a.m. officers were called to a burglary in progress in the 2900 block of North Academy Boulevard north of Maizeland Road. When officers arrived they learned that a stolen Hyundai was intentionally driven into the front of the store. After crashing through the store, what appeared to be two minor offenders entered the store and stole vape products. The two suspects left the store and got into a second allegedly stolen vehicle identified as a Kia Soul. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives arrived to assist in the investigation and later in the day detectives found a stolen Kia Soul matching the description and two minors were detained. One of the minors arrested is facing charges of aggravated robbery and according to CSPD had been arrested and released earlier this year for aggravated robbery. The other minor was contacted in the stolen vehicle and released pending further investigation by police. CSPD said that the minor had been arrested and released at least four times in 2024 for charges including aggravated robbery and motor vehicle theft. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) Two puppies were killed during a house fire in north Abilene Thanksgiving Day. The fire happened on the 1400 block of Beech Street just after 10:00 a.m. A press release from the Abilene Fire Department states no one was injured in the fire, which was quickly extinguished, but two puppies were killed. Investigators determined the fire was accidental in nature and have closed the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An estimated $8,000 in damage was caused. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. Editors Note: This article has been updated to more accurately reflect the event that transpired. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) Around 2 p.m. on Nov. 29, a two-vehicle collision happened that ended up sending two people to the hospital for injuries. According to the San Angelo Police Department, the collision occurred at the intersection of Culberson Street and Irene Street. A grey Toyota was moving westbound and failed to yield at a yield sign and was hit by a white Camaro going southbound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The white Camaro had a driver and a passenger who got sent to the hospital for their injuries caused by the collision. The grey Toyota occupants had no injuries. The driver of the Toyota was cited for failing to yield to the right of way at the yield sign. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com. The News Ugandan officials confirmed Thursday that the countrys central bank had been infiltrated by hackers who stole money earlier this month. Local media reported the stolen amount to be $16.8 million, but the government refuted the claims. The incident is being investigated, with a Southeast Asia-based hacking group called Waste identified as responsible, Reuters reported. The group hacked the Bank of Ugandas IT systems and illicitly transferred funds to Japan and the UK, according to Bloomberg. More than half of the funds have already been recovered. The theft may have involved some bank insiders, Ugandas Daily Monitor reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is true that our account was hacked, but not to the extent of what is being reported, Ugandas finance minister said, adding that an incident report would be ready in a month. Both the central bank and the police declined to comment. CAIRO, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi renewed his support for Palestinian statehood on Friday, marking the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. "On the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, I reaffirm my full support for the just rights of the Palestinian people and their struggle for freedom and the establishment of their independent state," Sisi stated in a message shared on his official Facebook page. He emphasized that the Palestinian cause "will always remain a noble humanitarian issue and the cause of everyone who believes in justice and peace." The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, observed annually on November 29 since 1978, commemorates the United Nations Resolution 181 and draws global attention to the Palestinian quest for self-determination. By highlighting this day, international communities are called to recognize the ongoing humanitarian and political challenges faced by Palestinians. A member of the U.K. Cabinet has resigned after reports revealed she was convicted in a fraud case more than a decade ago. British Transport Secretary Louise Haigh submitted her resignation in a letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday, saying while she is totally committed to our political project it will be best served by my supporting you for outside government. I am sorry to leave under these circumstances, but I take pride in what we have done, she wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her letter came hours after Sky News and The Times of London published reports revealing Haigh was charged with fraud in 2013 when she incorrectly reported a cellphone had been stolen after she was mugged. Haigh, in her letter, said she later discovered the phone was still in her possession some time after the mugging incident. Once she found the phone and turned it on, police called her in for questioning, The Associated Press reported. She pleaded guilty to fraud by misrepresentation and received a conditional discharge at the time, the AP reported. In a statement ahead of her resignation, Haigh said she pleaded guilty under the direction of a lawyer. I should have immediately informed by employer and not doing so straight away was a mistake, she wrote. I appreciate that whatever the facts of the matter, this issue will inevitably be a distraction from delivering on the work of this government and the policies to which we are both committed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starmer responded to Haighs letter Thursday, thanking her for the work she has done on the governments ambitious transport agenda. You have made huge strides to take our rail system back into public ownership through the creation of Great British Railways, investing 1 billion in our vital bus services and lowering cost for motorists, Starmer wrote. I know you still have a huge contribution to make in the future. Haigh, 37, was first elected to Parliament in 2015. She was named shadow secretary of state for transport in November 2021 and later appointed to transport secretary last July, when the Labour Party was elected. My appointment to your Cabinet as the youngest ever woman remains one of the proudest achievements of my life, but not as proud as the steps we took to improve the lives of the British people, she wrote the prime minister Thusday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Downing Street announced Friday that Heidi Alexander was appointed as Haighs replacement. Alexander came back to the Parliament in July following a six-year absence. Part of that stint was spent overseeing the capitals transport system, the AP reported. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Researchers at the University of Kentucky say a new dashboard that tracks granular data about drug overdoses can help the commonwealth combat an addiction crisis that remains stubbornly prevalent in some counties. An improved Drug Overdose and Related Comorbidity County Profiles Dashboard, launched in October by The Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center at UK, aims to help the state deploy resources to counties that have not recorded the same decrease in overdose deaths that has been seen statewide. Last year in Estill County, for example, the fatal overdose rate was almost 194 per 100,000 residents the countys highest rate since 2016, and a significant increase from 2022, when it was 121 per 100,000 residents. The statewide fatal overdose rate, meanwhile, fell last year to 44 per 100,000 residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want to make sure that the people who need this information can actually use it to make impactful decisions, epidemiologist said Mira Mirzaian, an epidemiologist at UK. Its all about accessibility and practicality. One of the keys, researchers say, is what the dashboard tracks. Two drugs in particular fentanyl and methamphetamine have been persistent in parts of Eastern Kentucky like Estill County. And though UKs drug overdose dashboard was launched in 2019, it did not include data for those drugs until this year. And the scope of the data in the dashboard has been expanded, now dating from 2016 to 2023. The changes, said principal investigator Dana Quesinberry, bring researchers one step closer to the dashboards primary goal: Finding the counties where drug overdoses remain high and deploying targeted resources accordingly. The trends Statewide, Kentuckys rate of drug-related deaths has been declining since 2022, when it dropped for the first time in five years. 2021 was the most deadly year on record for fatal overdoses in the state, with roughly 2,260 deaths, driven largely by the proliferation of fentanyl, a fully synthetic opioid that can be lethal in extremely small quantities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While fentanyl is still a driving force in overdose deaths, other opioids like heroin have become less pervasive in recent years. Stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine, meanwhile, have become more common. Dashboard data tells the story. In 2016, 22% of all overdoses fatal and non-fatal involved heroin, according to the dashboard. By 2023, that number had fallen to 1%. Meanwhile, cocaine increased during that same time from 13% to 44%. But a breakdown of drugs that contribute to Kentuckys overdose rate is just one part of what the dashboard aims to track, researchers say. It also seeks to track the drug epidemics effect on communities and the states health care system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Timely data is also a goal; pertinent data can help inform responses in real time, which is what led UK epidemiologists to create a smaller interactive dashboard that includes rolling quarterly data. That dashboard, updated almost daily to include data through the last quarter, includes the number of non-fatal drug-related emergency department visits by age and gender, and the number of monthly overdoses through June of this year. The full scope When the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center launched the dashboard in 2019, with funding from the Centers for Disease Control, it sought to show a nuanced, county-by-county view of the epidemic in a way that was interactive and accessible. At the time, the opioid epidemic was raging. State and local officials were in the early stages of deploying a coordinated response that aimed to support those in the throes of addiction. And since understanding the scope of the problem is the first step to taking steps to solve it, local and state officials needed data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When we first started with it in 2019, one of our primary audiences was the local health departments, Quesinberry said. Legislation that allowed health departments to create syringe service programs was still relatively new, and under that statute, health departments had to go to both city and county governments to get approval to start those programs. And what they needed to do that was data. Thats where Quesinberry, along with epidemiologists Mirzaian and Lara Daniels, came in. The trio created the first edition of the dashboard, which included not only overdose information, but a county-by-county snapshot of the infectious disease burden, like mortality and morbidity rates, as well as drug-related emergency department encounters. Syringe exchange programs, for example, which offer people injecting drugs free and clean syringes as an incentive to avoid using dirty needles, are intended to reduce the spread of diseases like HIV and Hepatitis C. So identifying areas where those diseases were surging helped counties see where exchange programs were especially needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, across Kentucky, about 84 syringe exchange sites served nearly 36,000 people in 2023, according to the Office for Drug Control Policys annual report. Drug overdoses are such a public health challenge, so understanding the trends and disparities is critical to creating effective interventions, Mirzaian said. Making the data timely has also been a goal of the dashboard. The new, rolling quarterly dashboard now shows data thats only four months old. Earlier this year, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear announced that Kentuckys overdose rate dropped by 10% in 2023, outpacing the national average. He touted the states multi-pronged treatment and prevention approach as the reason for the sharp decline, including the fact that Kentucky now boasts the most addiction treatment beds per capita of any state in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And, at the root of much of that response is data the kind thats compiled and published on the Drug Overdose and Related Comorbidity County Profiles Dashboard. Quesinberry agreed: All of these strategies across all of these different agencies are contributing to the decline were seeing. Russia has launched the experimental Oreshnik missile as a strategic message to the world following the West's approval of Ukraines use of long-range weaponry for strikes deep within Russia. Source: European Pravda, citing UK Ministry of Defences review of the Russo-Ukrainian war dated 29 November Quote from intelligence: "The use of this experimental system against Ukraine was almost certainly intended as a strategic message following the use by Ukraine of Western missiles into Russia." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: The ministry recalled that in February 2019, Russia announced its withdrawal from the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty, which prohibited the development and production of such missiles. However, UK intelligence believes the development of the Oreshnik likely began before that withdrawal. British analysts indicate that the system is likely a variant of the RS-26 Rubezh ballistic missile, first tested in 2011. They estimate that Russia possesses only a few Oreshnik missiles and has yet to begin serial production. The missile is also expected to be significantly more expensive than other missiles currently being used by Russia to strike Ukraine. Background: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin is sabre-rattling with the Oreshnik missile to prevent US President-elect Donald Trump from ending the Russo-Ukrainian war. Earlier, Zelenskyy and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte discussed Ukraine's specific air defence needs following Russias recent use of the new ballistic missile. The NATO-Ukraine Council also convened to address Russias deployment of the Oreshnik missile. Support UP or become our patron! (Bloomberg) -- The UK House of Commons voted in favor of a landmark bill to legalize assisted dying, potentially putting England and Wales on track to a fundamental social reform thats largely supported by the British public. Most Read from Bloomberg Members of Parliament voted 330 to 275 in favor of changing the law to allow terminally ill people with less than six months to live to opt to end their own lives. Two doctors and a high court judge would be required to approve the decision. The legislation will now proceed to the next Parliamentary stage, with the bill subject to further debate, amendments and votes before it becomes law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vote was preceded by more than four hours of debate on a highly emotive issue thats divided lawmakers in both main parties and that drew supporters of both sides to demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament. The so-called private members bill which isnt government legislation was brought before the House of Commons by backbench Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, who told the chamber on Friday it would give the terminally ill choice, autonomy and dignity at the end of their lives, bound by very stringent criteria. We are not talking about a choice between life or death, she said. We are talking about giving dying people a choice of how to die. Its the first time in nine years the issue has come before the Commons, and MPs were given a free vote on the matter, meaning they didnt have to follow party lines. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who had declined to say beforehand how he would vote because he didnt want to exert influence on others, supported the legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opponents including Diane Abbott of Labour, the longest-serving female MP, cited the risks of people being coerced into ending their lives, as well as concerns over people with disabilities. I dont believe that the safeguards are sufficient, Abbott said. Conservative lawmaker Danny Kruger said that altering the law would change life and death for everyone. The bill will not just create a new option for a few, it will impose on every person towards the end of their life, on everyone who could be thought to be near death and their family this new reality: the option of an assisted suicide, the obligation to have a conversation, he said. But Leadbeater said said the legislation would not apply to the elderly, the disabled, people with mental health conditions and those with chronic health conditions unless they are also terminally ill. She stressed there would be checks and balances at every stage of the process requiring people choosing to die to have the mental capacity and a settled will and to repeatedly demonstrate that they understand the implications of their decisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No other jurisdiction in the world has those layers of safeguarding, she said. Moreover, she said, the bill would protect loved ones of the terminally ill from the sort of prosecution that they could face under current laws banning people from helping someone to end their life. Marie Tidball, a Labour MP with a disability, said she had not expected to be voting for the bill, but that she would be doing so at this stage because she would want to live my death just as Ive lived my life, empowered by choices available to me. She added she would like to see stronger safeguards introduced as the bill goes through parliament. While assisted dying has substantial public backing, with surveys consistently showing support for a legal change that would give Britons an alternative to traveling overseas to clinics including Dignitas in Switzerland, divisions inside the Commons were also reflected in the streets outside, where campaigners for both sides had gathered on opposite sides of Parliament Square. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some were holding religious placards, with biblical references stating Thou shalt not murder. Others were bedecked in the bright pink merchandise of the Dignity in Dying campaign. Akua Rugg, a 78-year-old Londoner, said she became interested in the latter campaign after caring for her mother, who died at the age of 101 and saw the last few years of her life as a jail sentence as her health declined. She had to be hoisted in and out of her bed and it terrified her, Rugg said of her mother. I couldnt control how I came into this world but Id like to control how I leave it. Aaron, a 42-year-old campaigner from London aligned with Secular Pro-Life, a US organization, said he thought the bill would be a slippery slope to eventually allowing those with mental illnesses or disabilities to be legally killed. He didnt wish to give his surname because he didnt want his work colleagues to find out his views on the matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislation and any proposed amendments will now be scrutinized line-by-line by a specially formed committee, before going back to the wider House of Commons, where further amendments and then the whole bill - can be proposed and voted on. Then it goes to the upper chamber, the House of Lords, for further scrutiny. Leadbeater said shes minded to move a motion to give the Commons bill committee the power to take oral and written evidence on assisted dying and its implications not normal procedure for a private members bill. That would allow for extra scrutiny of the issue. She also promised the committees members would come from different parties and represent a range of views. This is not going to happen overnight, she said. If the legislation does ultimately become law, it will bring England and Wales into line with about a dozen countries that permit assisted dying such as Canada and Switzerland, as well as 11 US states. (Updates with context and comment throughout.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. British members of parliament have voted to legalize assisted dying, approving a contentious proposal that would make the United Kingdom one of a small handful of nations to allow terminally ill people to end their lives. Lawmakers in the House of Commons voted by 330 to 275 to support the bill, after an hours-long debate in the chamber and a years-long campaign by high-profile figures that drew on emotional first-hand testimony. Britain is now set to join a small club of nations to have legalized the process, and one of the largest by population to allow it. The bill must still clear the House of Lords and parliamentary committees, but Fridays vote marked the most important hurdle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It allows people with a terminal condition and less than six months to live to take a substance to end their lives, as long as they are capable of making the decision themselves. Two doctors, and then a High Court judge, would need to sign off on the choice. Canada, New Zealand, Spain and most of Australia allow assisted dying in some form, as do several US states including Oregon, Washington and California. Debate over the issue sharply divided lawmakers, many of whom have labored to choose a side during an unusually strained week in Westminster. MPs were given a free vote on the issue, meaning they can support either side according to their conscience, with no political ramifications. In an open letter to MPs ahead of the vote, Esther Rantzen, a BBC TV presenter with advanced lung cancer who has become a prominent supporter of assisted dying, wrote: Under our current criminal law the only choice for most people who are terminally ill, if they are facing an agonising death, is between suffering, Switzerland or suicide. Rantzen has previously said she is herself considering using the Swiss assisted dying clinic Dignitas to end her life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She urged MPs on all sides to vote on the issue. This will probably not come before Parliament as an issue to debate for another decade, she wrote. How many more will be forced to suffer until then? An emotional debate It is rare that British lawmakers are asked to decide for themselves on such an intimate issue, and many have agonized this week over how they will vote. Parliament is tearing itself in two over this, Rachael Maskell, a Labour MP and prominent opponent of the process, told CNN before the debate. MPs are showing signs of stress, having to make this decision in such a short time frame Its occupying everybodys complete thoughts. Fridays emotive discussions in the House of Commons bore similarities to previous free votes concerning abortion and same-sex marriage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Proponents of the bill say assisted dying can bring dignity to terminal patients at the end of their lives, averting months of suffering and physical decline, and easing pressure on the countrys palliative, or end-of-life, services. Polling indicates that a comfortable majority of the public supports assisted dying. In her open letter, Rantzen wrote: The tragic truth is that no matter how excellent the palliative care is, it cannot prevent some kinds of suffering, fecal vomiting for example, or suffocating to death, or deep-rooted agony. A rally in support of assisted dying in Westminster earlier this year. - Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire/File Tristan Osborne, a Labour MP, told CNN he decided to vote in favor of the process because he was confident in its safeguards. I put myself in my own shoes and what I would want for my loved ones, he said, describing the option as one that I myself would want if I were in that situation. But critics fear the bills guardrails are not stringent enough, and suggest patients could feel pressured to opt for an assisted death only to avoid becoming a burden on their families. Others have concerns that the bill has been sprung on MPs hundreds of whom are in their first few months in the job following Julys election without a thorough impact assessment or time to consider the proposal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And Maskell told CNN that Britains creaking National Health Service (NHS) wasnt in a fit enough state to offer assisted deaths. I really believe that Labour got elected because the NHS is such a mess weve got to sort the NHS out before we go down this route, she said. Pressing ahead now is ignoring the imperative weve got to address the woefully underfunded palliative system. The proposed bill is broadly in line with the Oregon model, and does not go as far as Switzerland, the Netherlands and Canada, which allow assisted death in cases of suffering, not just for terminally ill people. It differs from euthanasia, the process in which another person deliberately ends someones life to relieve suffering. It is currently a crime to help somebody die in England and Wales, punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Performing euthanasia on a person, meanwhile, is considered murder or manslaughter. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com (Bloomberg) -- UK Members of Parliament will hold a landmark vote on assisted dying on Friday as they decide whether to allow terminally ill people with less than six months to live to opt to end their own lives. Most Read from Bloomberg Under the legislation put forward by Kim Leadbeater, a backbench member of the governing Labour Party, assisted dying would be restricted to adults with a terminal illness who are expected to die within six months. Two doctors and a high court judge would also be required to approve the decision. It broadly follows the US state of Oregon model, meaning the lethal drugs must be self-administered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opening a five-hour debate on the legislation on Friday morning, Leadbeater sought to allay concerns of opponents, saying her bill would give the terminally ill choice, autonomy and dignity at the end of their lives, bound by very stringent criteria. We are not talking about a choice between life or death, she told the House of Commons. We are talking about giving dying people a choice of how to die. Itll be the first vote on the issue since 2015, though if the bill passes its so-called second reading, there are still several more Parliamentary steps before it becomes law, including opportunities to amend it. If the legislation is successful, it would be a fundamental social reform bringing England and Wales into line with about a dozen countries that permit assisted dying such as Canada and Switzerland, as well as 11 US states. Listen to the Bloomberg UK Politics podcast on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you listen. Opposing the legislation, Conservative lawmaker Danny Kruger said that altering the law would change life and death for everyone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill will not just create a new option for a few, it will impose on every person towards the end of their life, on everyone who could be thought to be near death and their family this new reality: the option of an assisted suicide, the obligation to have a conversation, he said. Assisted dying has substantial public backing, with surveys consistently showing support for a legal change that would give Britons an alternative to traveling overseas to clinics including Dignitas in Switzerland. High-profile celebrities including TV presenter Esther Rantzen, who was diagnosed with lung cancer, have brought public attention to the issue, prompting Prime Minister Keir Starmer to promise her he would grant time for a vote on the issue early in the next parliament during the summers election campaign. Rantzen told LBC radio on Thursday that she doesnt think the bill will become law in time to benefit from it, and that if her life becomes unbearable, she would go to Switzerland without her family to avoid them being investigated by British police. Leadbeater told the Commons that her bill would protect loved ones of the terminally ill from the sort of prosecution that they could face under current laws banning people from helping someone to end their life. Addressing other concerns of the legislations detractors, she said it would not apply to the elderly, the disabled, people with mental health conditions and those with chronic health conditions unless they are also terminally ill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A YouGov poll last Friday found 73% of Britons believe that assisted dying should be legal in the UK, compared to 13% who say it should not. That picture was consistent among voters of all the major parties, the pollster said. MPs have been given a free vote on the issue, meaning they dont have to follow party lines. Lawmakers across the parties are split, with many telling Bloomberg they are still undecided. The vote is expected to be close, although those involved with proposing the bill say they expect it to pass. Former prime ministers Gordon Brown, Theresa May, Liz Truss and Boris Johnson are against the bill, with the latter telling the Spectator he worried it would lead to the industrialization of state-sponsored suicide. Another ex premier, David Cameron said this week in an article for the Times newspaper that he has changed his mind to now support a change in the law, believing it would achieve a meaningful reduction in human suffering. The Labour government has no official position on the law, with ministers being told last month not to intervene in the debate. Cabinet ministers have, nevertheless, made their views clear, most notably Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who told the BBC he worried about people being guilt-tripped into taking the decision to end their lives, and later ordered civil servants to conduct an impact assessment of the cost of the policy, warning the legal change could force cuts to other parts of the health service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Streetings interventions prompted increased media scrutiny of the positions of the cabinet on the issue, revealing a split among ministers. A majority of publicly-declared cabinet members support the bill, but several prominent figures will vote against it, including Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, according to people familiar with the matter, though she has not stated her position publicly. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who like Streeting would have a role in implementing the new law, said she would vote against it on religious grounds. Starmer held a meeting with Streeting to express his unhappiness with his health secretarys interventions and the scrutiny they prompted, according to people familiar with the matter. The prime minister, who voted for assisted dying in 2015 and said last year he retained that view, refused to say how hell vote this time, when asked Thursday in a press conference. If the bill passes Fridays vote, the legislation and any proposed amendments will then be scrutinized line-by-line by a specially formed committee, before going back to the wider House of Commons, where further amendments and then the whole bill - can be proposed and voted on. Then it goes to the upper chamber, the House of Lords for further scrutiny. Leadbeater said shes minded to move a motion to give the Commons bill committee the power to take oral and written evidence on assisted dying and its implications not normal procedure for a so-called private members bill, the sort of non-government legislation shes marshalling. That would allow for extra scrutiny of the issue. She also promised the committees members would come from different parties and represent a range of views. This is not going to happen overnight, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Updates with comment from Leadbeater, Kruger, starting in third paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's parliament voted in favour of a new bill to legalise assisted dying on Friday, opening the way for months of further debate on an issue that has divided the country and raised questions about the standard of palliative care. After a passionate debate in the House of Commons, lower house of parliament, 330 lawmakers voted in favour of the "Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life)" bill with 275 against. The vote will start months of further debate and the bill could be changed as it wends its way through both House of Commons and the upper house of parliament, the House of Lords. Kim Leadbeater, the Labour lawmaker who introduced the bill, has said she expects the process to take a further six months. (Reporting by Alistair Smout and Elizabeth Piper, editing by Catarina Demony) The head of Britains Secret Intelligence Service said Russias war against Ukraine is part of a staggeringly reckless campaign of Russian sabotage aimed at Europe. Richard Moore, chief of the intelligence agency also known as MI6, accused Russian President Vladimir Putin and his allies of saber-rattling to sow fear about the consequences of aiding Ukraine and noted that if Ukraine fell, it would embolden the Wests adversaries. Our security British, French, European and transatlantic will be jeopardized, he said during an address at the British Embassy in Paris on Friday, noting countries had no choice but to support the Eastern European nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cost of supporting Ukraine is well known, but the cost of not doing so would be infinitely higher, he said. If Putin succeeds, China would weigh the implications, North Korea would be emboldened and Iran would become still more dangerous. Moore said Britain and France are united and unflinching in our determination to support Ukraine for as long as it takes to defeat Russias war of aggression, and protect European security and the international order. President Biden on Thursday reiterated U.S. support for Ukraine following Russias aerial strikes this week, as Moscow eyes additional attacks against decisionmaking centers in Ukraine, among other facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President-elect Trump has vowed to bring a quick end to the war between Russia and Ukraine but has not shared details of how he would do so. Both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have spoken favorably of Trump following his election this month. Moore on Friday touted his work with Trumps first administration to advance security efforts and said he looks forward to doing so again, citing collaborations on technology and defense. Together, as allies, our collective strengths will outmatch and outlast Putins morally bankrupt axis of aggression, he said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By John Irish and Tom Balmforth (Reuters) -Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has urged his NATO counterparts to issue an invitation to Kyiv at a meeting in Brussels next week to join the Western military alliance, according to the text of a letter seen by Reuters on Friday. The letter reflects Ukraine's renewed push to secure an invitation to join NATO, which is part of a "victory plan" outlined last month by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to end the war triggered by Russia's 2022 invasion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelenskiy told UK-based Sky News that offering Ukraine NATO membership while allowing Russia to keep for the moment territory it had captured could be a solution to end the "hot stage" of the 33-month-old war. Ukraine says it accepts that it cannot join the alliance until the war is over but extending an invitation now would show Russian President Vladimir Putin that he could not achieve one of his main goals - preventing Kyiv from becoming a NATO member. "The invitation should not be seen as an escalation," Sybiha wrote in the letter. "On the contrary, with a clear understanding that Ukraine's membership in NATO is inevitable, Russia will lose one of its main arguments for continuing this unjustified war," he wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I urge you to endorse the decision to invite Ukraine to join the Alliance as one of the outcomes of the NATO Foreign Ministerial Meeting on 3-4 December 2024." Zelenskiy told Sky News an invitation had to be officially extended to the entire country as Ukraine had no legal right to recognise any of its territory as Russian. NATO membership could then initially apply to only the part of Ukraine that Kyiv controls. "No one has offered us to be in NATO for one part or another part of Ukraine. The fact is, it is a solution to stop the hot stage of the war because we can just give NATO membership to the part of Ukraine that is under our control," Zelenskiy said. "But the invitation must be given to Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders ... That's what we need to do fast and then Ukraine can get back the other part of its territory diplomatically." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NO NATO CONSENSUS NATO diplomats say there is no consensus among alliance members to invite Ukraine at this stage. Any such decision would require the consent of all NATO's 32 member countries. NATO has declared that Ukraine will join the alliance and that it is on an "irreversible" path to membership. But it has not issued a formal invitation or set out a timeline. Olga Stefanishyna, Ukraine's deputy prime minister in charge of NATO affairs, said Kyiv understood that the consensus for an invitation to join NATO "is not yet there" but the letter was meant to send a strong political signal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have sent a message to the allies that invitation is not off of the table, regardless of different manipulations and speculations around that," she told Reuters. In his letter, Sybiha argued an invitation would be the right response "to Russia's constant escalation of the war it has unleashed, the latest demonstration of which is the involvement of tens of thousands of North Korean troops and the use of Ukraine as a testing ground for new weapons". In recent days, however, diplomats have said they do not see any changes of stance among NATO countries, particularly as they await the Ukraine policy of the United States - the alliance's dominant power - under the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump. (Reporting by John Irish and Tom Balmforth; writing by Andrew Gray; Editing by Gareth Jones, Tomasz Janowski, Ron Popeski and Rod Nickel) Ukraine has received US$100 million from South Korea. Source: Ukrainian PM Denys Shmyhal on Telegram Quote: "This is the first budgetary aid from our Korean partners, aimed at supporting the social sector," Shmyhal said. He noted that earlier this year, Ukraine and Korea signed an agreement that will enable Ukraine to secure up to US$2.1 billion in funding. Background: On 2 October, the Ministry of Finance signed a loan agreement with the Export-Import Bank of Korea to secure a US$100 million loan. Support UP or become our patron! Ukraine has repatriated the bodies of 502 soldiers who died fighting against Russia, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of the Prisoners of War reported on Nov. 29. The Geneva Conventions stipulate that those who lose their lives during war are entitled to a dignified burial. As of early March, Ukraine has identified more than 2,800 bodies and body fragments of fallen soldiers, according to Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets. The bodies of 397 soldiers were recovered from Donetsk Oblast, while 64 were brought back from Zaporizhzhia Oblast, and 24 from Luhansk Oblast. Another 17 bodies were repatriated from morgues in Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Law enforcement officials and forensic experts will identify those killed," the headquarters wrote in a post on Telegram. The operation to recover the fallen soldiers involved several government and military agencies, including the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Interior Ministry, the State Emergency Service, and the Armed Forces. The headquarters also thanked the International Committee of the Red Cross for its assistance. On Nov. 8, the bodies of 563 fallen Ukrainian soldiers were returned to Ukraine. Meanwhile, on Oct. 18, the bodies of 501 Ukrainian troops were also retrieved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In late February, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that about 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed during the full-scale invasion. Read also: Russias reported daily losses in Ukraine pass 2,000 for the first time Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukraine is asking NATO to invite it to join the military alliance at a meeting next week. Source: A letter seen by Reuters on Friday, as reported by European Pravda Details: In the letter, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha addresses his NATO counterparts: "I urge you to endorse the decision to invite Ukraine to join the Alliance as one of the outcomes of the NATO Foreign Ministerial Meeting on 3-4 December 2024." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Next week's meeting of NATO ministers will take place in Brussels. Background: As reported, the next meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council is scheduled for 3 December, when a meeting at the level of NATO foreign ministers will take place in Brussels. Recently, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly called for increased political and practical efforts to help Ukraine receive an invitation to become NATO's 33rd member as soon as possible. Support UP or become our patron! Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha asked his NATO counterparts to invite Ukraine to join the alliance during a meeting in Brussels next week, Reuters reported on Nov. 29, citing a letter received. "I urge you to endorse the decision to invite Ukraine to join the Alliance as one of the outcomes of the NATO Foreign Ministerial Meeting on Dec. 3-4," Sybiha wrote. Kyiv submitted its application to join NATO in September 2022, and in July 2024, the alliance affirmed Ukraine's "irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership" although Ukraine has not received any definitive news about its future accession. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Sybiha, a NATO invitation will become "the Allies' adequate response to Russia's constant escalation of the war it has unleashed." He mentioned "tens of thousands" of North Korean soldiers involved in the full-scale war and a recent attack against Ukraine with Oreshnik, Russia's new intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM). "We believe that the invitation should be extended at this stage," the minister wrote. President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has repeatedly called on partners to issue a membership invitation to Kyiv, said that Ukraine will join NATO only after Russia's full-scale war ends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, inviting Kyiv to the alliance now would demonstrate to Russian President Vladimir Putin that he failed to achieve one of his main goals to prevent Kyiv from joining NATO, Reuters reported, citing the letter. In mid-October, Zelensky unveiled his five-point victory plan, which includes Kyiv's invitation to join NATO placed at the top of the list. U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith said in October that the alliance does not currently have such plans. Read also: Some commitments from NATO summit in July remain unfulfilled, Zelensky says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Key developments on Nov. 29: Zelensky suggests ending 'hot phase' of war in exchange for NATO membership without occupied territories Ukraine hits oil depot in Rostov Oblast, destroys Buk radar station in Russian-occupied territory, Kyiv claims Syrskyi orders deployment of more reserves to Pokrovsk, Kurakhove directions in Donetsk Oblast Zelensky appoints new Ground Forces of Ukraine commander Russia reportedly loses a record 2,030 troops in one day in Ukraine To end the "hot phase of the war," NATO would have to offer membership to Ukrainian territory under government control, with the invitation recognizing the country's internationally recognized borders, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with Sky News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If we want to stop the hot stage of the war, we should quickly take under NATO umbrella the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control. That's what we need to do first, and then Ukraine can get back the other parts of its territory in a diplomatic way," Zelensky said during the interview, which was published on Nov. 29. According to the president, Kyiv has never considered such a proposal, since "no one has ever offered that to us officially." Donald Trump's election has intensified uncertainty around Ukraine's war effort. He criticized U.S. military support provided to Ukraine by Joe Biden's administration. Some reports also indicate this would entail forcing Ukraine to cede territory and at least temporarily give up on its NATO accession plans. Zelensky's latest remarks are somewhat at odds with his previous statements. He said that the signals of Ukraine's accession to NATO in parts is "nonsense," and Ukraine "will never exchange any status for any of our territories." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president's comments to Sky News imply that territories currently occupied by Russia would not fall under the "NATO umbrella" in this scenario. Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts are partially controlled by Russian troops. Russia claims to have annexed the whole territory of those regions in 2022 despite not controlling two regional capitals Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Moscow also controls all of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula. Ukraine hits oil depot in Rostov Oblast, destroys Buk radar station in Russian-occupied territory, Kyiv claims Ukrainian forces reportedly struck an oil depot in Russia's Rostov Oblast, and destroyed a Buk-M3 radar station in Russian-occupied territories in Zaporizhzhia Oblast overnight, Ukraine's General Staff said on Nov. 29. Outmanned and outgunned on the battlefield, Ukraine has turned to homemade drones to try to exhaust Russian combat capabilities as much as possible from afar, targeting Russian military-industrial complex facilities, airbases, and oil refineries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ukrainian military said that on the night of Nov. 29, they struck the Atlas oil depot in Rostov Oblast. As a result of the strike, fires broke out on the territory of the facility, the statement said. According to the General Staff, Atlas is part of the Russian military-industrial complex, and supplies petroleum products to the Russian army. The oil depot was previously targeted in the summer of 2024. Elsewhere, a radar station of the Buk-M3 anti-aircraft missile system was destroyed in the Russian-held part of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Oblast, the General Staff reported. The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Ukraine destroys Russian $5 million radar system in Crimea, military intelligence claims Syrskyi orders deployment of more reserves to Pokrovsk, Kurakhove directions in Donetsk Oblast Ukrainian forces stationed near the towns of Pokrovsk and Kurakhove in Donetsk Oblast will be additionally supplied with reserves, ammunition, weapons, and military equipment, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Nov. 29. Prior to the statement, Syrskyi visited Ukrainian units in the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove directions of the front line. "The main goal is to personally talk to the commanders who are directly engaged in combat, to solve problematic issues, and provide comprehensive assistance," Syrskyi wrote on his Telegram channel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We continue to deter the enemy and inflict heavy losses in manpower and equipment. I am grateful to our soldiers for their resilience and bravery in the fight against the Russian aggressor." Ukrainian officials have increasingly raised concerns about a possible new Russian push in Zaporizhzhia Oblast in the south, just as Russian forces continue to advance in the east, focusing their efforts near Pokrovsk and Kurakhove. Russia has captured 234.79 square kilometers (90 square miles) in the past week, which is the highest number in 2024, according to the independent Russian outlet Agentstvo. Read also: Ukraines fight against Russian invasion undermined by draft-dodging graft Zelensky appoints new Ground Forces of Ukraine commander President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed General Mykhailo Drapatyi as Ukraine's Ground Forces commander, the president announced on Nov. 29. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Drapatyi replaced Oleksandr Pavliuk who has served in the position since Feb. 11, 2024 after then Ground Forces Commander Oleksandr Syrskyi had been appointed commander-in-chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces. "Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi successfully organized the defense in the Kharkiv sector and disrupted the Russian offensive," Zelensky said on social media, without elaborating on the reason for the reshuffle. Drapatyi, 42, served as a commander of Ukraine's 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade from 2016 to 2019. He also played one of the key roles in the liberation of Mariupol in Donetsk Oblast in 2014. Drapatyi has headed the "Kharkiv" operational grouping of troops since this May and "Luhansk" operational and tactical group of forces since September. In February, Drapatyi was appointed as deputy chief of the General Staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelensky also appointed Oleh Apostol, the commander of Ukraine's 95th Separate Air Assault Brigade, as deputy commander-in-chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces. Apostol, 37, participated in combat operations in Ukraine's east after Russia's invasion in 2014 and liberated settlements in southern Mykolaiv Oblast after the beginning of the all-out war in 2022. He is a holder of the Hero of Ukraine award. "Both have proven their effectiveness in combat," the president said. The reshuffle came at a critical time for Ukraine, as Moscow's forces make their fastest gains in months and North Korean troops are stationed in Russia's Kursk Oblast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Ukrainian army needs internal changes to fully achieve the goals of our state," Zelensky added. Read also: For some its a game, for me its a manifesto Ukrainian soldiers join S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 frenzy Russia reportedly loses a record 2,030 troops in one day in Ukraine Russia's daily losses in Ukraine surpassed 2,000 for the first time, according to figures released by Kyiv on Nov. 29. According to the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces, Moscow's troops lost 2,030 men over the preceding day. This surpasses the previous record of 1,950 set on Nov. 12. The total figure stands at 738,660. The figures do not specify killed or wounded, though the overall consensus is that it includes dead, wounded, missing, and captured. They are broadly in line with estimates from Western nations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine has largely avoided revealing the full extent of its military casualties. President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowleded only in February that 31,000 Ukrainian fighters have been killed. But estimates by The Economist published on Nov. 26 said between 60,000 to 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in the full-scale war, and 400,000 more are too injured to fight on. Read also: Trump ally Tucker Carlson slams Biden for giving Ukraine land mines, says killing is the point Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Friday he would strengthen troops deployed on the eastern front with reserves, ammunition and equipment after he visited two key Ukrainian-held sites in the Donetsk region. Russian forces are advancing in the Donetsk region at the fastest rate since the early days of the 2022 invasion, and the defence ministry in Moscow on Friday claimed control of two new settlements there. But Syrskyi said Ukrainian forces were continuing to repel Russian advances after he paid a visit to units near the towns of Pokrovsk and Kurakhhove. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Based on the results of the work, all necessary decisions have been made to strengthen the units with reserves, additional ammunition, weapons, and military equipment," he said on the Telegram messaging app. "We continue to restrain the enemy and inflict heavy losses in terms of their manpower and equipment." The war against Russia has reached a critical juncture. Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to target Ukraine's "decision-making centres" with its new ballistic missile in response to Kyiv using Western-supplied missiles to strike back inside Russia. (Reporting by Olena Harmash; Editing by Gareth Jones) Russia attacked Ukraine with 132 attack UAVs of various types on the night of 28-29 November. Ukrainian air defence destroyed 88 of them, 41 drones disappeared from radar, and one flew back to Russia. Source: Air Force Command Quote: "On the night of 28-29 November 2024 (starting from 18:30 on 28 November), the enemy attacked Ukraine with 132 Shahed-type attack UAVs and unidentified drones that were launched from the Russian cities of Oryol, Millerovo, Kursk and Primorsko-Akhtarsk." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: It was reported that Ukrainian aircraft, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare equipment and mobile fire groups of the defence forces were involved in repelling the attack. As of 09:00 on 29 November, air defence had shot down 88 Russian drones in the Kyiv, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Sumy, Kharkiv, Poltava, Zhytomyr, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa and Mykolaiv oblasts. Ukraines Air Force noted that 41 UAVs had disappeared from radar, presumably due to active countermeasures by the defence forces' electronic warfare, and one more UAV flew back to Russia. As a result of the Russian attack, infrastructure, cars, houses and apartment blocks were damaged in several Ukrainian oblasts, and the people who sustained injuries are being provided with assistance. Support UP or become our patron! From 1 January 2025, all men aged 18 to 25 will have to undergo military training in Ukraine. Source: Ivan Tymochko, Chairman of the Council of Reservists of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on the national joint 24/7 newscast Quote: "Citizens between the ages of 18 and 25 must be given basic and professional training," Tymochko said. He specified that this is not about mobilisation but basic training for everyone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is the training of people who will have basic and professional skills in weaponry and choosing a speciality. That is, they will know how the army lives and breathes in order to allay many fears and, at the same time, to have a prepared population. This is the right approach," said the head of the Council of Reservists of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Background: A former kindergarten teacher serving in the Air Force recently shot down a Russian missile. The Ground Forces commented on the mobilisation of men under 25. According to the law, Ukrainians in this category can only serve under contract. Support UP or become our patron! Nuclear power plants in Ukraine reduced electricity production on Nov. 28 as a precautionary measure in response to a Russian mass aerial attack on Ukraine, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Mariano Grossi said. For the second time in less than two weeks, the Khmelnytskyi, Rivne, and South Ukraine nuclear power plants (NPPs) lowered their power levels following an early morning Russian attack on energy infrastructure across the country. Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack against Ukraine on the morning of Nov. 28, targeting energy infrastructure across the country, including the far-western regions. Russian forces launched more than 180 drones and missiles at Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the attack, Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said that Russia struck a "massive blow" to Ukraine's power grid, forcing emergency blackouts to be implemented in multiple regions across the country. "Ukraines energy infrastructure is extremely fragile and vulnerable, putting nuclear safety at great risk," Grossi said, while adding that none of the reactor sustained damage during the attacks. All nine reactors operating in Ukraine reduced output, with one reactor at the Rivne NPP was disconnected from the grid. All the NPPs continued to receive external electricity despite the Khmelnytskyi NPP losing connection to two of its lines. "The IAEA will continue to assess the extent of damage to facilities and power lines that are essential for nuclear safety and security," Grossi added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previously, NPPs in Ukraine reduced electricity output on Nov. 17 following overnight mass attacks on the same day. Officials have been warning that Russia may resume strikes on the energy grid as temperatures drop, mirroring the strategy used in the spring and summer of this year and in the autumn-winter season of 2022-2023. During the visit of two IAEA teams deployed to NPPs in Ukraine on Nov. 28, they were forced to seek shelter due to ongoing air raid sirens. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russias large-scale attack strikes a massive blow at Ukraines energy system Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Dr. Cui Na provides medical treatment for a patient at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital in Apia, Samoa, June 22, 2023. (The eighth batch of the Chinese medical team in Samoa/Handout via Xinhua) by Xinhua writer Guo Xinhui SUVA, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- "I write to thank the People's Republic of China for providing a medical team to Samoa's national Tupua Tamasese Meaole (TTM) Hospital ... I believe the specialized knowledge of Dr. Liang Huaxin for the surgery saved Meleisea's life, and his family and I are very grateful to him and to the other doctors from China ..." These words come from a special letter the Chinese Embassy in Samoa received from Meleisea Malama's wife, which expressed heartfelt gratitude to the eighth batch of the Chinese medical team in Samoa. One day in June of last year, Meleisea experienced a sudden and severe headache and was rushed to the TTM Hospital, where he was diagnosed with bilateral subacute subdural hematoma, a life-threatening condition. In this critical moment, the hospital recommended consulting the Chinese medical team for diagnosis and treatment. Leading the operation was Dr. Liang Huaxin, with the rest of the team assisting. Despite challenges brought by outdated surgical instruments and a shortage of medical supplies, they completed the surgery and saved the patient's life. This was not the first time that Dr. Liang and the Chinese medical team received a letter of thanks from a patient. During the 2024 New Year, he received a message from one of his patients, expressing gratitude and kind wishes. "You make me reach 2024 in good health and happiness. My words are not enough of what your surgical team had done for me ... Thanks for making me walk again," the message read. Located in the remote South Pacific, Samoa's healthcare system is relatively underdeveloped, with a shortage of specialized personnel, inadequate diagnostic facilities, and rudimentary surgical instruments, which severely restricts clinical operations. Li Qingchun, team leader of the eighth batch of the Chinese medical team in Samoa, told Xinhua that under such challenging conditions, making the most of limited resources to save lives and alleviate patients' suffering is a reality that every member of the Chinese medical team in Samoa must confront. Rising to the challenges, the team, comprising members from the China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, achieved a series of "firsts" in this South Pacific island nation: the first minimally invasive surgery for acute epidural hematoma, the first craniotomy using a powered system, the first laparoscopic surgery in urology, and the first intramedullary nail for tibia fractures, among others. During their one-year term, the eight-member team diagnosed and treated nearly 13,700 outpatient and emergency patients, admitted 2,768 patients, performed 2,679 surgeries, and rescued 184 critically ill patients, said Li. As an otolaryngologist, Dr. Cui Na sees over 50 patients a day. "In Samoa, one in every 20 people may have visited my clinic. They may not know my name, but they will certainly remember the five-star red flag on my white coat, and they will remember that the doctor who treated them comes from China," Cui said. Apart from providing treatment for the patients, the Chinese medical team also shared their expertise and technologies with local doctors through various methods, including clinical teaching, joint surgeries, and hosting specialized lectures and training sessions, which has significantly enhanced the healthcare expertise in the island nation. Since 2018, when the first batch of medical team were sent to Samoa from northeast China's Jilin Province, the Chinese medical teams from Jilin have earned respect and admiration through their professionalism and compassion, while also cultivating genuine friendships with the local people. The ninth batch of medical personnel from the People's Hospital of Jilin Province arrived in Samoa in May, continuing to uphold their commitment to saving lives, treating illnesses, and forging new friendships throughout the island nation. Ukraine's three operational nuclear power plants (NPPs) have scaled back electricity production following the latest Russian attacks on the country's energy infrastructure, further undermining nuclear safety amid the ongoing war. Source: a statement by Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Quote from Grossi: "For a second time in less than two weeks, the Khmelnytskyi, Rivne and South Ukraine NPPs lowered their power levels as a precautionary step during widespread military activities in the country." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Grossi notes that nine reactors operating at these plants have had their power output reduced. In addition, one reactor at Rivne NPP was disconnected from the grid. Ukrainian NPPs continued to receive electricity from external sources, though Khmelnytskyi NPP lost connection with two power lines. Quote from Grossi: "Ukraines energy infrastructure is extremely fragile and vulnerable, putting nuclear safety at great risk. Once again, I call for maximum military restraint in areas with major nuclear energy facilities and other sites on which they depend." "The IAEA will continue to assess the extent of damage to facilities and power lines that are essential for nuclear safety and security." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Background: On the night of 27-28 November, Russia conducted a large-scale combined missile and drone attack on Ukraine's energy sector, with Ukrainian air defence units destroying 76 cruise missiles, 3 air-to-surface missiles and 35 UAVs out of 188 Russian-launched aerial assets. On the morning of 28 November, emergency power cuts were introduced in all Ukrainian oblasts following the latest large-scale Russian missile and drone attack. Support UP or become our patron! Myroslav Herasymovych (real name Myroslav Kulyk), a Ukrainian poet, prose writer and screenwriter, was killed in action in Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast. Source: Herasymovychs brother Taras Kulyk on Facebook Quote: "In the battle with Russia, my brother, Myroslav Kulyk, gave away his life in the city of Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast," Kulyk wrote. His brother specified that Myroslav Herasymovych was killed on 25 November, four days before his birthday. On 29 November, the poet was supposed to have turned 57. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Journalist Myroslava Barchuk reacted to the news of Herasymovychs death. "Mik, fly high and lightly, higher and higher, as granny Helia used to say, up to your heavenly School of Liberal Arts. And to your mother Myroslava. Today is your birthday. So, I wish you this. May your sacrifice not be in vain," she wrote. Myroslav Herasymovych (Kulyk) was born in Lutsk on 29 November 1967. He was a poet, prose writer, screenwriter and musician who founded the School of Liberal Arts named after Evening Space. He graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University's Faculty of Journalism in Kyiv. Support UP or become our patron! ATHENS, Greece (AP) The United Nations refugee agency has voiced concern at a rise in deaths of migrants trying to reach Greece by sea in small boats from Turkey, following two fatal shipwrecks this week. The UNHCR said in a statement Friday that 17 people have died in such accidents this month, while the total so far this year is at least 45 deaths. Some 56,000 people have illegally entered Greece since Jan. 1, mostly by sea. That's a five-year high, and the number has already exceeded government estimates in October of some 50,000 arrivals by the year's end. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The UNHCR representative in Greece, Maria Clara Martin, said the migrant deaths highlight the urgent need for long-term responses and safer and credible alternatives for people fleeing conflict, persecution, violence, or human rights violations. Counting lives lost at sea cannot become a norm we should not get used to it, she said. The U.N. agency said that this week's two fatal accidents off the eastern Aegean Sea island of Samos, which is close to the Turkish coast, saw a mother lose three of her children, while another survivor lost his wife and daughter. Greek authorities have attributed this year's rise in migrant arrivals to conflicts in the Middle East. While there's been a surge in people attempting the long and dangerous Mediterranean Sea crossing from Libya to the southern Greek island of Crete, most migrants pay smuggling gangs to ferry them from Turkey to the eastern Aegean islands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, the Greek coast guard said it arrested a 17-year-old Turkish youth on suspicion of having landed 16 migrants including three children on the eastern island of Chios. ___ Follow APs global migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration A nearly 20-year-old claim that turkeys from the company Butterball were sexually abused before being slaughtered and packaged for food circulated online just days before Thanksgiving in late November 2024. Multiple videos on TikTok shared the claim. One user replied, saying, "Why is this allowed!? I am NEVER buying a butterball.... ever again." Another said, "How can there be people with a heart like that?" A different user commented, "Literally just finding this out after I bought mine over the weekend." The claim originated with an Instagram post by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). The group shared a video clip of a 2006 investigation into a Butterball factory in which the anonymous investigator alleges, "One guy humped a shackled turkey one day, and another time, another worker was putting his fingers in a turkey's cloaca, which is basically her vagina, while the line was stopped." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sexual abuse was not the only accusation that appeared in the clip but also physical abuse, like punching, kicking, breaking bones, dismembering limbs, crushing turkeys under vehicles and more. A Butterball spokesperson told Snopes: We are aware of a video from nearly 20 years ago, which is being re-shared across social media. This video is not current and was taken prior to Butterball becoming a private company and prior to our engagement and certification through American Humane. Animal care and well-being is central to who we are as a company, and we are committed to the ethical and responsible care of our flocks. The spokesperson added Butterball was taken private "around October 2006" when Carolina Turkeys acquired Butterball from ConAgra Foods. Food industry B2B publication Just Food reported at the time that the company "acquired more than 3,200 employees and five processing plants." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PETA confirmed to Snopes that the clip is indeed from an undercover investigation in 2006, which was not disclosed in the Instagram post. PETA also said it did not have a more recent Butterball investigation to cite. However, the group referred to investigations into Butterball done by other animal-rights organizations, like Mercy for Animals, as well as more recent investigations by PETA into competing turkey companies, like Plainville Farms. In the latter case, "a total of 139 charges were filed, including six felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and 76 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty," according to a 2022 report from The Associated Press. In 2011, a Butterball facility in North Carolina was raided by the Hoke County Sheriff's department after footage captured by Mercy for Animals prompted a response, resulting in misdemeanor animal cruelty charges against six employees and charges of obstructing justice and obstructing a police officer against a state employee. Regarding the claims of sexual abuse specifically, an important piece of context is that PETA considers artificial insemination of turkeys, a widespread practice in the farming industry, to be sexual abuse. Amber Canavan, PETA's vegan campaigns project manager, told Snopes, "Hens are held down and syringes inserted into their cloaca, forcefully impregnating them. The males are also held down and forcefully ejaculated. And that is because these birds are still being bred to be so large that they can't mate anymore." However, PETA claims that artificial insemination is not the only sexual abuse that has happened in Butterball facilities. Canavan said: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have found that workers will often take out their frustrations or try to impress their coworkers by doing things to the animals. And sometimes those are sexual in nature, as we saw in the Plainville investigation and in the Butterball investigation. We have seen that happening, unfortunately. So that is something that the industry doesn't like getting out there that happens, and they'd like to think that it's not happening. But, unfortunately, it takes organizations like PETA, at great risk to our investigators, to go in and document those abuses. And if Butterball was sure that that wasn't happening anymore there's a reason why they don't have CCTVs or live-streaming in their slaughterhouses. We've long pushed for that if they don't have anything to hide and if they think the public would be OK with everything that's happening inside. While the 2006 PETA footage does show clear evidence of workers abusing the animals, it is too grainy to verify the specific claims of sexual abuse made by the anonymous investigator. Following the 2011 raid on a Butterball facility, the company took steps to rectify its image and became certified by the organization American Humane. A Butterball spokesperson confirmed certification began in 2013 and told Snopes the following: Eleven years ago, Butterball was the first, and remains the only, turkey company to be American Humane certified. That means we have yearly audits conducted by a third party to ensure compliance with our 200+ science-based standards of best practice for care of turkeys, well exceeding industry best practices. We are proud of this designation that no other turkey company can claim and have a zero-tolerance policy for animal mistreatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canavan referred to the American Humane certification as a "sham" and said that despite the designation, the company was "still doing many of the standard industry practices that... would not fit the expectation of a reasonable consumer for humane treatment." In 2014, PETA filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for "humane washing," according to Canavan, hoping to affect the company's ability to advertise its products as humanely raised. Butterball's website describes its commitment to animal welfare with the following: At Butterball, we are committed to producing healthy, high-quality turkeys in a responsible way. Simply, animal care and well-being are central to who we are as a company, and we are committed to maintaining the health and well-being of our turkeys. Butterball adheres to high standards of animal care and we're engaged in a stringent, zero-tolerance policy against any form of animal mistreatment. Butterball follows all animal care guidelines set by American Humane and the National Turkey Federation, and continually assesses our policies, procedures, and new and emerging technologies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for American Humane echoed this sentiment to Snopes, saying: Butterball is certified by American Humane and has been since 2013. The video referenced is nearly 20 years old and predates American Humane certification. American Humane Certified Farms are involved in rigorous, independent, third-party audits. Our standards are guided by the latest science and evidence in animal welfare and are informed by a Scientific Advisory Committee made up of respected experts in farm animal care and humane treatment. According to a 2020 edition of American Humane's "Animal Welfare Standards for Turkey," guidelines include statements like, "American Humane Certified Animal Welfare Standards for Turkeys do not require that birds have access to the outdoors," "birds must be lifted and then hung on the shackles by both legs," "turkeys must not be suspended for more than four minutes before they are stunned," "no more than 10 seconds may elapse between stunning and neck cutting," and "turkeys must not be immersed in a scalding tank or plucked until at least 90 seconds have elapsed since the major blood vessels in their necks have been severed." We found no mention of sexual abuse or artificial insemination in the manual, but the document breaks down how American Humane auditors score their reviews of facilities, including the following statement: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout the course of the audit, the auditor must not have observed farm personnel committing willful acts of abuse or neglect, which include but are not limited to kicking, throwing, yelling at, or purposefully scaring the birds, or neglecting to provide feed, water, or health care. When Snopes checked with an FTC spokesperson about the 2014 complaint, the agency said that complaints made to the organization are not made public, and the FTC does not comment on the outcome of a complaint unless it leads to an "enforcement action." There have been no actions taken against Butterball for its use of the word "humane" in its advertising. Snopes has investigated other animal welfare claims in the past, including abuse of calves at an Indiana farm, a bison calf that was euthanized after a "rescue" by Yellowstone tourists, animal abuse during the making of the film "The Adventures of Milo and Otis" and whether or not the Trump administration ended public access to puppy mill inspection reports. Sources: "11 Turkey Farm Workers Charged with Cruelty Caught on Video." AP News, 6 Oct. 2022, https://apnews.com/article/science-business-pennsylvania-animal-cruelty-people-for-the-ethical-treatment-of-animals-215ad0a211f604aaf4528836f9676c2c. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement admin. "US: Carolina Turkeys Acquires ConAgra's Butterball." Just Food, 3 Oct. 2006, https://www.just-food.com/news/us-carolina-turkeys-acquires-conagras-butterball/. Animal Welfare Standards for Turkeys. American Humane, 2020, https://www.americanhumane.org/app/uploads/2021/08/Turkey-Full-Standards.pdf. Butterball House of Horrors. vimeo.com, https://vimeo.com/490290471. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024. "Corporate Information." Butterball, 3 Oct. 2022, https://www.butterball.com/about-us/corporate-information. "Ex-N.C. Turkey Farm Worker Pleads Guilty to Animal Cruelty." USATODAY.COM, http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2012/08/nc-turkey-farm-worker-pleads-guilty-to-animal-cruelty/1. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kindy, Kimberly. "PETA Wants 'Humanely Raised' Label Stripped from Butterball Turkeys." The Washington Post, 13 Nov. 2014, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/federal-eye/wp/2014/11/13/is-your-humanely-raised-butterball-turkey-really-so-humane/. mercyforanimals. Butterball Abuse: Undercover Mercy For Animals Investigation Reveals Cruelty. 2011. YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5LM06ZvCk4. News, A. B. C. "Butterball Turkey Raided Amid Animal Abuse Allegations." ABC News, https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/butterball-turkey-raided-amid-animal-abuse-allegations/story?id=15249456. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024. ---. "Butterball Workers Arrested on Animal Cruelty Charges." ABC News, https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/butterball-workers-arrested-animal-cruelty-charges/story?id=15637180. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "PETA Files FTC Complaint Over Inhumane Treatment of Butterball Birds." PETA, 13 Nov. 2014, https://www.peta.org/media/news-releases/peta-files-ftc-complaint-inhumane-treatment-butterball-birds/. POLITICO Pro: PETA Asks FTC to Stop Butterball 'Humane' Labeling: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/agriculture/whiteboard/2014/11/peta-asks-ftc-to-stop-butterball-humane-labeling-043835. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) The programs and services that United Rehabilitation Services offers start at birth and continue into adulthood. The continuum of care is what makes URS unique, helping integrate children and adults into the community. At United Rehabilitation Services, Sheldon Wheeler has found a home. This is the best place for him, states Terri Allen, Sheldons mother. Sheldon has been coming here since he was six years old. Hes been here a long time. Hes like Norm on Cheers. He comes in. Everybody knows his name. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Terri has watched her son grow up at URS. Sheldon has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. He is a quadriplegic. He does not verbalize. He has a power wheelchair that he will use when he wants to, describes Terri. First receiving therapy when he was a young child, now at age 34, Sheldon comes to URS for the adult day services. We start our day off with a snack, some current events. We do some exercise. Depending on what day of the week it is, we go out into the community, describes Elizabeth Hess, the Adult Day Service Manager. Sheldon likes to go places where he can people watch, like the mall. He likes to go bowling a lot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For them, this is this is the stuff of life. Like we are creating a world that includes them, says Elizabeth. With the advancements of technology, you know, were able were able to give someone who might not have the dexterity in their hands, were able to give them the ability to play drums, to paint a picture, to play Connect Four. The all-inclusive environment at URS starts at birth and leads into adulthood and beyond. I would say my favorite moment is like when youve been working with someone for a long time to gain a new skill and seeing it click in their head and the look on their face. It just makes what we do here so much more important, states Elizabeth. URS helps not only develop fine and gross motor skills, but also the mind and the body, giving people like Sheldon the support they need through each stage of life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It just goes to show you that if you give people the right tools and opportunities, theyll be able to do everything that everyone else can do. So yeah, we really appreciate that, says Terri. This is the best place for him. Terri also says URS has a lot of opportunities not just for Sheldon, but parents as well. They offer seminars and informational sessions for how to write a trust, getting additional resources, and other topics parents need to know. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. US Magnesium says it will halt plant operations at Skull Valley until market conditions are more favorable. Its a decision that has led to a mass layoff of 186 workers, according to a notice sent to the Utah Department of Workforce Services. Layoffs and the decision to "idle plant operations" were "heavily influenced by deteriorating market conditions for lithium carbonate. Product pricing has fallen by 90% since 2022," the notice says. A notice was sent to the state in September, to comply with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, which requires a company with over 100 employees to provide written notice 60 days in advance if employers plan on a mass layoff or plant closure affecting 50 or more employees at a single site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Skull Valley operation spans over 80,000 acres and can produce 63,500 metric tons of magnesium, 9,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate, as well as liquid chlorine and other chemical products, according to the US Magnesium website. A hundred square miles of evaporation ponds on the Great Salt Lake make a concentrated brine used as the raw material in the complex to manufacture the products. Positions listed in the layoff notice are varied but include top-level titles, like chief financial officer, vice president of marketing, director of engineering, director of sales and plant controller. The majority of those impacted, however, are boots-on-the-ground roles within the facility operators, technicians, maintenance workers, warehouse clerks, supervisors and foremen. The company notice says owners are "hopeful that these layoffs will be temporary in nature, but we are unable to guarantee this," as a reopening depends on the future recovery of lithium carbonate pricing. US Magnesium, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment, is a defendant in an October lawsuit brought by construction company Forgen. The contractor alleges that US Magnesium owes almost $5.8 million in unpaid invoices and interest and has filed a lien against the company that could potentially entitle Forgen to sell the property to pay debts, according to court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Evidence in the court documents shows a purchase order allegedly issued by U.S. Magnesium of $11.9 million for the construction of a hydraulic barrier wall. In its answer to the complaint, US Magnesium "denies that (Forgen) is entitled to any relief whatsoever." That wall, described as "an underground pollution mitigation wall" in other court documents, is part of an effort spurred by environmental regulators to build a "large-scale control system to isolate and sequester all historic and future wastes and process waste streams," an EPA report says. Forgen ceased work on the wall at the end of 2023. It is unclear what this will mean for the protection of the area from the migration of dangerous contaminants. The plant was designated a Superfund Site in 2008 due to hazardous chemicals contaminating soil, air, surface water and groundwater. The EPA currently reports an "unsafe level of contamination" is detected at the site, there is "a reasonable expectation ... that people could be exposed" and "the migration of contaminated groundwater is not stabilized." Air quality across the Salt Lake Valley may be improved by the now-idle plant. In a 2023 federal study, researchers found high levels of chlorine and bromine released by US Magnesium boosted particulate matter levels by 10-25% in the Wasatch Front area during a winter inversion period. ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) The US Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering economic disaster relief to Virginians affected by Hurricane Helene; however, the filing deadline is approaching on July 1. What Types of Disaster Loans are Available? Business Physical Disaster Loans are funds to repair or replace damaged property owned by a business. This includes real estate, inventory, supplies, and machinery and equipment. The Small Business Administration says businesses of any size are eligible, as well as private and non-profit organizations including charities, churches, and private universities. RELATED STORY: FEMA Disaster Relief application deadline December 2, learn more Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) provide working capital to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations regardless of size that cannot meet their financial obligations as a direct result of Helene. Home Disaster Loans are available to homeowners and renters for the repair or replacement of damaged real estate and personal property, including automobiles. To apply, applicants must have a credit history acceptable to the SBA and must show the ability to repay all loans. Physical Damage Loan Types No Credit Available Elsewhere Credit Available Elsewhere Home Loans 2.813% 5.625% Business Loans 4.000% 8.000% Non-Profit Organizations 3.250% 3.250% Blue Ridge Strong: Relief. Recover. Rebuild on WFXRtv.com Residents of the following Counties may be eligible for disaster relief loans: Bedford, Bland, Carroll, City of Galax, Giles, Grayson, Lee, Montgomery, Pittsylvania, Pulaski, City of Radford, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe; for economic injury only in the contiguous Virginia counties of: Amherst, City of Bristol, Buchanan, Botetourt, Campbell, Craig, City of Danville, Dickenson, Floyd, Franklin, Halifax, Henry, City of Lynchburg, Patrick, Rockbridge, and Roanoke County; for economic injury only in the contiguous Kentucky counties of: Bell, Harlan, Letcher, and Pike; for economic injury only in the contiguous North Carolina counties of: Alleghany, Ashe, Caswell, Rockingham, and Surry. All the detailed information on eligibility terms and conditions is on the US Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Fact Sheet. Applications for disaster loans may be submitted online using the MySBA Loan Portal at https://lending.sba.gov or other locally announced locations. Please contact the SBAs Customer Service Center by email at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or by phone at 1-800-659-2955 for further assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services. While many Utahns might be thankful for the turkey on their table this Thanksgiving, Utahs wild turkeys could be giving thanks to improved conditions this year that have helped the species population rebound after years of harsh conditions. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources reports about 30,000 to 35,000 Rio Grande and Merriam's wild turkeys are now in the state, which is up from 25,000 to 30,000 in its previous estimate. Division officials credit the rise to better climate conditions over the past year. "Precipitation patterns during the winter and spring last year provided ideal conditions for reproduction and brood rearing during the summer, so in some areas of the state, this increased production and the survival of young turkeys," the agency wrote in an update on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 97% of the state was listed as having moderate drought or worse at the start of 2023. It had been even worse at times since developing in 2019 and peaking between 2020 and 2022, but back-to-back above-average snowpack collections including a record-setting 2022-23 season helped reverse Utah's water fortunes. However, both swings factored in population declines for turkeys and other wild animals like mule deer. Drought conditions deplete the plants and other food sources turkeys rely on, while many also die off during cold and snowy winters. Utah's 2023-24 snowpack was above normal and led to less die-off, according to wildlife officials, while the state also briefly climbed out of drought this summer, having no form of moderate drought or worse in July for the first time since 2019. Division officials provided an update not just because turkey is on many Utahns' minds for the holiday, but because the next wild turkey hunting season is on the horizon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Utah offers some fall hunting opportunities, including a season on mostly only private land that remains open through the end of February 2025, for permit holders. But turkey hunts also take place in the spring ahead of the species' reproduction season, as noted by Heather Talley, upland game coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. "The fall hunt is specifically designed to eliminate conflicts with landowners; turkey hunting in the fall is administered primarily to alleviate these conflicts and, secondarily, to provide more hunting opportunities, which is why the number of permits offered may be low, depending on the year," she explained, in a news release. "This is why the fall hunt encompasses mostly or entirely private lands." Utah plans to offer a little over 2,000 limited-entry permits across five regions for a hunt taking place from April 12-24, 2025. Hunters can apply from Dec. 12 to Dec. 27 before a drawing on Jan. 8, 2025. A general statewide hunt will run from April 28 through the end of May 2025. There arent any permit limits when permits go on sale beginning on March 6, 2025, but hunters are limited to just one permit. Both hunts focus on male birds only. LONDON, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- The British parliament voted on Friday in favor of a bill to legalize assisted dying for terminally ill people, a measure that has sparked divided opinions across the country. After five hours of debate in the House of Commons, the vote concluded with 330 Members of Parliament (MPs) supporting the bill and 275 opposing it. The Terminally Ill Adults Bill, also known as the End of Life Bill, proposes allowing adults with terminal illnesses to request and receive assistance to end their own life, under safeguards and protections. The bill also includes provisions for connected purposes. Under the proposed bill, individuals aged 18 or older in England and Wales, diagnosed with a terminal illness expected to result in death within six months, would be eligible to request assistance to end their own life. They must demonstrate mental capacity to make an informed, voluntary decision. The process requires High Court approval for each case. The individual must self-administer the approved substance after a mandatory reflection period, during which they must reaffirm their intent through a second declaration. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Benoit Peyrucq / AFP / Getty Images In September 2021, the largest criminal trial in French history got under way at the Palais de Justice in Paris. In the dock were 20 defendants, accused of helping to plan and organise what became known as "V13": the attacks of Friday (vendredi) 13 November 2015, at the Bataclan theatre and other locations in Paris, which killed 130 and injured hundreds. Everything about the trial was "unprecedented", said Chris Power in The Guardian: it lasted nine months, involved nearly 400 lawyers and magistrates, and took place in a 650 square metre purpose-built courtroom. The legal brief ran to more than a million pages. Watching it all was the celebrated non-fiction writer Emmanuel Carrere, who was covering the proceedings for the news magazine L'Obs. Now, he has expanded his reports into a superbly crafted and "absolutely gripping" book. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carrere, best known as an introspective memoirist, seems an "unlikely stenographer for France's trial of the century", said Thomas P. Lambert in The Spectator. Yet "V13" is a "remarkably well-behaved piece of reportage". While Carrere is a presence the book he describes befriending the mother of one of the victims, which conveniently allows his attention to "wander outside the courtroom" he also knows when to step back and "let the horrors speak for themselves". This he does most powerfully in one "nightmarish" section, a lengthy reconstruction of what happened at the Bataclan, stitched from the "fragments of testimony" of those trapped inside. Only one actual assailant stood trial at the Palais de Justice, said Jennifer Szalai in The New York Times. Like the nine other gunmen, Salah Abdeslam was "supposed to blow himself up", but decided not to at the last minute. More than once during "V13", Carrere recalls something the terrorist told police: "Everything you say about us jihadists is like reading the last page of a book. What you should do is read the book from the start." The quote strikes Carrere as profound, but as the trial progresses, he comes to view Abdeslam as an "abysmal void wrapped in lies". In the end, the victims interest him much more than the perpetrators, said Will Lloyd in The Sunday Times. As he hears about people who were "prepared to sacrifice themselves so that others could live", or who stayed with partners who'd been disabled or disfigured, he is "awed" by their courage and goodness. Ultimately, this "marvellous and terrifying" book concludes that "good is actually more interesting than evil, and a harder philosophical problem to solve". VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) Residents of Virginia Beach are encouraged to attend one of several public sessions to voice their opinions to shape the future of Rudee Park at the Oceanfront. Design team introduced for VBs future park at Rudee Loop; public input still sought The Rudee Park Public Engagement Sessions will take place from Dec. 9-11 from 6-7:30 p.m. There, people will be able to share ideas, vote, meet the design team and help to shape the future of Rudee Park. The full schedule can be found below: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dec. 9 : Kempsville High School Online or in-person Dec. 10 : Holland Road Annex Library Online or in-person Dec. 11: Online only According to 2023 survey with over 4,000 residents responding, 71% of people have said they wanted Rudee Park to be public open space. The final design for Rudee Park is expected to be presented to the community by spring of 2025. For more information on Rudee Park, click here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. A Vermont man is facing multiple charges after crashing into a state police cruiser and then hitting the pickup truck of a local fire chief responding to the scene on Interstate 89 on Thanksgiving Day, state police said Friday. Daniel Poroj, 22, of Shelburne, Vermont, was summonsed to appear in Hillsborough District Court on March 18, 2025 on charges of driving without a valid license, negligent driving, unregistered vehicle, duty when approaching a highway emergency, the Move Over law, and speeding too fast for existing road conditions. The unidentified trooper and Poroj were evaluated at New London Hospital for minor injuries, state police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, troopers responded to a multitude of weather-related calls resulting from the Thanksgiving day snowstorm, state police said. Dozens of crashes and vehicles off the road were reported on I-89, mostly in the stretch between Warner and Lebanon. At 10:11 a.m., a trooper responded to assist the driver of a vehicle that had gone off the road on I-89 southbound in Sutton, state police said. The troopers cruiser was fully marked with its flashing blue emergency lights activated, state police said. There was also a fully marked Department of Transportation pickup with amber lights leading up to the scene, directing drivers to Move Over with an arrow on an electronic messaging board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the trooper was in the right break down lane helping the driver who had gone off the road, a 2009 black Honda Accord driven by Poroj slid on the snow and slush and struck the rear of the State Police cruiser, state police said, adding that Poroj was traveling at speeds excessive for the existing road conditions. The Honda, unable to stop, then slid into the pickup truck of a fire chief who had responded to the initial crash scene, state police said. Troopers were assisted on scene by New London Police and Fire, Sutton Fire, Northeast Towing and Recovery, S&P Auto and the New Hampshire Department of Transportation. The New Hampshire State Police remind drivers that state law requires them to slow down, move over and give a wide berth to highway emergencies, including stationary police, fire, EMS, tow and roadside assistance vehicles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If a crash or first responders have blocked a lane, drivers should reduce speeds and give plenty of space without endangering oncoming traffic, state police said. Violators face a fine of $75 plus a penalty assessment for a first offense and $250 plus a penalty assessment for a subsequent offense in a 12-month period. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A Vermont driver has been arrested for fatally striking a Brooklyn mother of six after she shielded her teenage son from the drivers oncoming pickup truck, NYPD officials said Friday. Mitchell Maldonado, 33, is facing charges including leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and failure to yield to a pedestrian for the March 3, 2023, Coney Island crash on Mermaid Ave. at W. 24th St. that killed 41-year-old Tamika Richards and seriously injured her 18-year-old son, Rayquan Parker. After 20 months of searching for answers and demanding justice, the sudden arrest took some of Richards children by surprise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont know what to say, Mart Richards, the victims oldest son, told the Daily News Friday. I just found out. It was just kind of weird, Richards, 21, said about Maldonados arrest, knowing his family can rest easy now that the hit-and-run driver has been captured. [We] were ecstatic. But it was also it was like an exhale. Mother and son were crossing Mermaid Ave. at about 8:50 p.m. when Maldonados red pickup came barreling toward them, cops said. As the truck came closer, Richards jumped in front of her son and yelled for the driver to stop before taking the brunt of the deadly impact, Rayquan told friends and relatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When she saw the truck coming, she positioned herself in front of him to protect him, family friend Zemaya Williams, 21, told the Daily News after the crash. So she ended up taking most of the impact. Maldonado, of Burlington, Vt., never stopped and disappeared into the night, cops said. EMS rushed Richards to Coney Island Hospital but she could not be saved. Rayquan, a senior at John Dewey High School at the time, was taken to NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn in stable condition, but suffered serious injuries to his pelvis that could have potentially threatened his ability to walk. After surgery, Rayquan was sent to a rehabilitation center to begin physical therapy so he could regain full movement, relatives said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives from the NYPD Collision Investigation Squad spent the next year tracking Maldonados truck and building a case against him. A Brooklyn grand jury recently indicted him for the hit-and-run, and a warrant for his arrest was issued. Cops caught up with Maldonado after he was sentenced to 13 years in prison for a burglary conviction in Vermont, officials said. The burglary took place in 2021 and he was convicted for the break-in three months after the Brooklyn hit-and-run. He was brought to New York on Wednesday and was ordered held without bail during a brief arraignment that evening, cops said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A call to Maldonados attorney was not immediately returned Friday. Rayquan told relatives that Maldonado had blown a red light before crashing into him and his mother. The two had run out to the store to pick up some drinks for a relatives upcoming visit, family members said. He remembers it being a red light, Williams recalled, speaking after the hit-and-run. He remembers hearing his mother telling the driver to stop and the driver just coming even faster. He remembers being under the truck going under and waking up and them giving his mother CPR. Initially, he did not know that his mother had been killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Richards had three sons and three daughters, the oldest now 20, and the youngest 8. About six months before the fatal hit-and-run, she had been overjoyed by the birth of her first grandchild, a boy named Hakim fathered by her oldest son. All the kids and her grandchild were living in her apartment. Shes ALWAYS looked out for everyone in her family, around the neighborhood, anyone that she came across, and she always had her children as her #1 PRIORITY, her sister Shaquana Folks wrote on a GoFundMe post seeking donations to keep the single moms family afloat. More than 1,000 people signed a petition to name the intersection where she was killed to Tamika Ashika Richards Way as a secondary street name. Our sister was a FEARLESS spirit, a provider, a protector . . . but most of all she was a HERO, Richards other sister, Shavonna Folks, wrote on the street-naming petition. What other way more fitting to honor an act of heroism? A New York-based former Victorias Secret model and her family were kidnapped at gunpoint and held in a shack in Brazil, as police hunt the people behind the crime. Luciana Curtis, her husband and their 11-year-old daughter were seized upon by masked men as they left a restaurant in Alto da Lapa, an upscale neighborhood in the West Zone in Sao Paulo. They were taken to a shack in a rural area of the state of Sao Paulo and held for 12 hours. The gang transferred money to bank accounts of people linked to a criminal group and also stole the couples car, a GWM Haval, valued at more than $33,000. The stolen amounts have not yet been recouped by the model, 47, and her husband, photographer Henrique Gendre, 53. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The eldest daughter raised the alarm when the family didnt return from the restaurant, and police were alerted. However, the gang had already released the parents and the girl around 10:30 a.m. Thursday. During the search by specialist police teams, the gang abandoned the family and fled, police said. They were dumped in an area in the north of the city and walked until they got help from local workers. Police went to the shack, but there was no trace of the criminals. No arrests have been made as yet. Police said the trio presented a very shaken emotional state while Curtis press office said that the family is doing well. Curtis is the daughter of British businessman Malcolm Leo Curtis. She splits her time between New York, Sao Paulo and London. She has modeled for the likes of Victorias Secret, Harrods and H&M. This post contains graphic images and/or details. Reader discretion is advised. VINEYARD, Utah (ABC4) A Vineyard man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the 2023 murder of his 4-month-old child. Alexzander Sean Berry, 30, was sentenced on Tuesday, Nov. 26, after he pleaded guilty to aggravated murder charges in September. PREVIOUS STORY: Vineyard couple arrested for infants death In 2023, Vineyard police were called to investigate the death of a 4-month-old after the infant was found unresponsive by the parents. Emergency personnel responded and reported they found the infant in an upstairs room not breathing. Fire and rescue reported the home was in deplorable condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Upon examination, medical examiners say the child had a skull fracture and that signs pointed to the fracture being the cause of death. Several other signs of long-term abuse were present during the examination including a severe case of untreated diaper rash, bruising, and scratches. Sergeant Spencer Cannon, public information officer for the Utah County Sheriffs Office, told ABC4.com in 2023 that this was the worst case of child abuse and neglect he had ever seen. It was pretty obvious the child had not probably for most of their 4 months of life had very good conditions to live in, Sgt. Cannon said in 2023 Officers spoke to Berry and his partner, Myra Jane Megan, in the hospitals emergency room. Berry told police that he struck the child with a fist to the head while trying to put the child down for a nap because he was frustrated with the childs crying. He then picked the child up and struck the childs head on the rail of the crib, wrapped the child up, and threw the child back into the crib causing the child to strike the wall on the side of the crib. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police later learned that nine people and two dogs lived at the residence and that the bedding area was dirty, damp, and smelly. Megan pleaded guilty to her role in the death of the four-month-old in March of this year. She pleaded guilty to aggravated child abuse, a third-degree felony, and felony obstruction of justice. Megan was sentenced in June to up to 10 years in prison. If you suspect child abuse or neglect contact the DCFS 24/7 hotline: 855-323-3237. For more information, visit dcfs.utah.gov. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. TBILISI, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Georgian government has suspended negotiations over the country's accession to the European Union and rejects any budgetary grants until the end of 2028, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced at a briefing on Thursday. He said Georgia will be adequately prepared economically for opening EU accession talks by 2030. According to him, the issue of opening EU membership negotiations is used as an instrument of blackmail, just as it happened in case of granting the EU aspirant status to the country. "Our state target is to make Georgia an EU member in 2030 and we will spare no efforts for it. It is unacceptable for us to consider integration with the EU as a favour that the European Union should grant us," noted the prime minister. Kobakhidze said that the government will fulfil all the commitments made over the Association Agreement with the EU "without any financial support from the EU." Earlier on Thursday, the European Parliament adopted another tough resolution on Georgia, saying that the Oct. 26 parliamentary elections held in the country were "another manifestation of the country's democratic decline." The resolution said that the parliamentary elections were neither free nor fair and it called for the elections to be re-run under international supervision. VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) Seton Youth Services has been in the Hampton Roads community for decades, and this holiday season they are asking for donations and volunteers to keep Seton around for many years to come. If anyone is doing their shopping this weekend and I have a strong feeling people will be out the day after Thanksgiving, maybe just a couple extra small things that might help us would be greatly, greatly appreciated, Seton Youth Services CEO Jennifer Sieracki said. Since the 1980s Seton Youth Services has been saving lives and building futures. Each year, hundreds of boys and girls arrive at Setons two Virginia Beach shelters. Often they are in the middle of a crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sieracki said Seton welcomes them with food, shelter and support. The issues that can cause a youth to be homeless, run away, trafficked, or at risk and because the community believes in us we are able to continue our mission to this day, Sieracki said. More than 5,000 youth benefitted from their services last year alone. Couple that with a new campus under construction, now is a great time to remind the community that donations are always appreciated. We are like everyones household times 10, were always in need of household cleaning products, paper products, paper towels bathroom tissue, napkins all the things that we need to run our households, Sieracki said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With Black Friday and Cyber Monday on the horizon, she hopes many will keep Seton in the back of their mind as they shop. Its great during the holiday season when folks will give us gift cards to grocery stores or other retailers so if one of the youth were working for has a need we can take them to a store and get them exactly what they need, Sieracki said. For more information on ways to support Seton Youth Services, click here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. Nov. 29AUSTIN Texas Land Commissioner and Veterans Land Board (VLB) Chairwoman Dr. Dawn Buckingham introduced the next installment of the series highlighting the VLB's Voices of Veterans oral history program. This week, they highlight the service of Staff Sergeant John Latta, who served in the United States Marine Corps. Latta was born in Niagara Falls, New York, in 1930, to hardworking parents who ran a small farm and preferred country living. After finishing high school, Latte joined the Marine Corps and attended boot camp in Paris Island, South Carolina. He chuckled when asked about the difficulties of boot camp. The training was relatively easy for a strong young man familiar with strenuous farm work. He met his best friend Gene Moscicki in Buffalo, New York, and they both waited to be assigned to a group to enter boot camp. Latte and Moscicki would spend most of their time together in the Marines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Latta entered the Reconnaissance Company and was assigned to the First Marine Division out of Camp Pendleton in California. While the trip overseas was a bit hazy for Latta, one of his first memories of being in Korea was incredibly profound. "The first memories I really have are of Gene Moscicki sitting on a pile of rocks out behind the school that we were bivouacked in after we beat the North Korean Army, and he was Catholic, and he was playing with something with his hands. I couldn't tell, so I walked out to see what he was doing, and he was playing with his medals. He had a St. Christopher Medal. He said, 'Jack, I'm not gonna make it back.' I said, 'Gene, don't Give me that crap.' But he didn't make it back. He got killed. He was on point heading up the company, going into the Chosin Reservoir, and got killed. I still have that St. Christopher Medal. I carried it for years. I almost wore it out, and then I put it up. I put myself up too, come to think of it." The most harrowing time during his service was when Latta led his fire team out of the Chosin Reservoir. His fire team was one of the last groups to leave the battle. They fought against the enemy but also against the deadly natural elements. Latta recalled that it could be anywhere from 30 to 60 degrees below zero, depending on the time of day. Many men suffered from frostbite and even lost feet. "After we fought our way out of the Chosin Reservoir, they put me in a hospital and let my toenails grow back and trench foot heal." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later, Latta returned to South Korea, where he served as a Platoon Sergeant. Altogether, he spent 15 months in Korea and left service as a Staff Sergeant. After the war, Latta got a business degree and worked for many years as a successful Regional Sales Manager in Denton, Texas. He retired at 61 and was happily married to his wife of 61 years at the time of his interview. Click here to listen to Staff Sergeant John Latta tell his story. Wildlife and photography lovers have been invited to have their say and vote as 25 incredible images compete to be best in class. From mating monkeys to a beluga whale exfoliating its skin, the pictures, vying to win the Wildlife Photographer Peoples Choice Award of the Year, offer intriguing perspectives into the remarkable world of wild animals and nature. The shortlisted photographs were chosen from 59,228 entries from 117 countries, and depict the critical challenges facing wildlife today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr Douglas Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum said: The Peoples Choice Award allows members of the public from across the globe to join the jury and vote for their winning image, inspiring everyone to connect with the natural world. Among this years selection is the moment a European roller bird defends its territory from a bemused-looking little owl and heartbreaking image of a young cheetah cub waiting to be sold in Ethiopia. You can vote online for the winner of the Peoples Choice Award here or via digital screens at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Natural History Museum, London. Voting closes on Wednesday 29 January 2025. Scanning the Realm by Aaron Baggenstos (USA) A puma stands on a windswept outcrop in the rugged mountain terrain of Torres del Paine National Park, Chile. Scanning the Realm by Aaron Baggenstos (USA) ( Aaron Baggenstos, Wildlife Photographer of the Year) Wolf Pack by Arvind Ramamurthy (India) Members of an Indian wolf pack pause briefly as they play in fields in Bhigwan, India. Indian wolves were once found all across India. Now, their number has dwindled to as few as 3,000. Wolf Pack by Arvind Ramamurthy (India) ( Arvind Ramamurthy, Wildlife Photographer of the Year) Annoying Neighbour by Bence Mate (Hungary) A European roller defends its territory from a bemused-looking little owl in Kiskunsag National Park, Hungary. The little owl and the European roller are very different birds, but their nests and feeding requirements are similar. Annoying Neighbour by Bence Mate (Hungary) ( Bence Mate, Wildlife Photographer of the Year.jpg) The Arrival by Brad Leue (Australia) Floodwaters that have travelled for months surge towards an enormous salt lake in South Australia. Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is Australias largest inland lake and one of the worlds largest salt lakes. The Arrival by Brad Leue (Australia) ( Brad Leue, Wildlife Photographer of the Year.jpg) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fallen from the Sky by Carlo DAurizio (Italy) A collage of dead butterflies and moths trapped by the surface tension of the water floats in a stream in Italy. It was a summer morning in the San Bartolomeo valley, in the Majella National Park, Italy. Fallen from the Sky by Carlo DAurizio (Italy) ( Carlo DAurizio, Wildlife Photographer of the Year) Evening Song by Christian Brinkmann (Germany) A singing Eurasian songbird is silhouetted against a backdrop of colourful fairground lights in Munster, Germany. Evening Song by Christian Brinkmann (Germany) ( Christian Brinkmann, Wildlife Photographer of the Year) Spiked by David Northall (UK) A bloodied yet determined honey badger returns to finish off a Cape porcupine, which earlier had tried to defend itself. The badger grabbed the porcupines right leg. In defence, the porcupine repeatedly backed into its attacker, piercing it with many quills. Spiked by David Northall (UK) ( David Northall, Wildlife Photographer of the Year.jpg) Aspen Shadows by Devon Pradhuman (USA) Four grey wolves cross a minimalist landscape of naked aspens and snow in Yellowstone National Park, USA. It was early spring in the Lamar Valley, and this pack was in search of its next meal. Aspen Shadows by Devon Pradhuman (USA) ( Devon Pradhuman, Wildlife Photographer of the Year.jpg) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sneak Attack by Erlend Haarberg (Norway) A polar bear cub attempts an underwater surprise attack on a northern fulmar. Sneak Attack by Erlend Haarberg (Norway) ( Erlend Haarberg, Wildlife Photographer of the Year.jpg) Earth and Sky by Francisco Negroni (Chile) A double lenticular cloud is illuminated at nightfall by the lava emitted from the Villarrica volcano, Chile. Villarica is in the town of Pucon in the south of Chile. Its one of the countrys most active volcanoes and last erupted in 2015. Earth and Sky by Francisco Negroni (Chile) ( Francisco Negroni, Wildlife Photographer of the Year.jpg) No Access by Ian Wood (UK) An ambling Eurasian badger appears to glance up at badger graffiti on a quiet road in St Leonards-on-Sea, England, UK. Residents had been leaving food scraps on the pavement for foxes. But Ian noticed that badgers from a nearby sett were also coming to forage. No Access by Ian Wood (UK) ( Ian Wood, Wildlife Photographer of the Year.jpg) Togetherness by Ivan Ivanek (Czech Republic) A striking pair of red-shanked douc langurs are seen mating in the forests of the Son Tra peninsula in Vietnam. Known for their bright red stockings, these primates are found only in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Togetherness by Ivan Ivanek (Czech Republic) ( Ivan Ivanek, Wildlife Photographer of the Year) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Edge of Night by Jess Findlay (Canada) A ghostly barn owl exits the hayloft window of a derelict barn to hunt in fields outside Vancouver, Canada. Edge of Night by Jess Findlay (Canada) ( Jess Findlay, Wildlife Photographer of the Year.jpg) Unsold by Jose Fragozo (Portugal) A young cheetah cub hisses while waiting to be sold in Ethiopia. Captured from her home plains in the Somali Region, she was transported for several days on the back of a camel to the northern coast of Somaliland. Unsold by Jose Fragozo (Portugal) ( Jose Fragozo, Wildlife Photographer of the Year.jpg) A Good Scratch by Mark Williams (UK/Canada) A beluga whale rubs its underside on a shallow river bottom to exfoliate its skin. Hundreds of beluga whales come here to socialise and exfoliate in the shallow water. The passage is also a safe haven, away from the predatory orcas. A Good Scratch by Mark Williams (UK/Canada) ( Mark Williams, Wildlife Photographer of the Year.jpg) Meeting in the Marsh by Michael Forsberg (USA) A disguised biologist approaches an endangered whooping crane in Louisiana, USA. Meeting in the Marsh by Michael Forsberg (USA) ( Michael Forsberg, Wildlife Photographer of the Year) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whiteout by Michel dOultremont (Belgium) A stoat sits up and observes its territory as it blends perfectly into a snowy landscape in Belgium. Michel had been looking for stoats in the snow for many years. Whiteout by Michel dOultremont (Belgium) ( Michel dOultremont, Wildlife Photographer of the Year) Drifting Dinner by Noam Kortler (Israel) A decorator crab perches on top of a sea squirt to comb the water for drifting plankton. Drifting Dinner by Noam Kortler (Israel) ( Noam Kortler, Wildlife Photographer of the Year) Curious Connection by Nora Milligan (USA) A chimpanzee pauses and looks down as its family moves across the forest floor of Loango National Park, Gabon. Curious Connection by Nora Milligan (USA) ( Nora Milligan, Wildlife Photographer of the Year) Snuffling Sengi by Piotr Naskrecki (Poland) A rarely seen four-toed sengi forages for food among the leaf litter in Mozambique. Snuffling Sengi by Piotr Naskrecki (Poland ( Piotr Naskrecki, Wildlife Photographer of the Year) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Forest of Dreams by Samuel Bloch (France) A northern giant petrel sits on its nest at the edge of a rata tree forest on Enderby Island, New Zealand. Forest of Dreams by Samuel Bloch (France) ( Samuel Bloch, Wildlife Photographer of the Year) Slap Shot by Savannah Rose (USA) A beaver cocks its tail before slapping it down on the water to alert its family to a newcomer. Slap Shot by Savannah Rose (USA) ( Savannah Rose, Wildlife Photographer of the Year.) Icy Repose by Sue Flood (UK) A dramatic blue-grey sky highlights the soft greys of a Weddell seal as it rests on an ice floe. Icy Repose by Sue Flood (UK) ( Sue Flood, Wildlife Photographer of the Year) Concert in the Forest by Vincent Premel (France) A Surinam golden-eyed tree frog puffs out its cheeks as it prepares to call for a mate. Concert in the Forest by Vincent Premel (France) ( Vincent Premel, Wildlife Photographer of the Year) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Brave Gecko by Willie Burger van Schalkwyk (South Africa) A giant ground gecko stands fast against a pale chanting goshawk in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa. One hunting strategy of the southern pale chanting goshawk is to walk or run on the ground in pursuit of prey. The Brave Gecko by Willie Burger van Schalkwyk (South Africa) ( Willie Burger van Schalkwyk, Wildlife Photographer of the Year) You can vote online for the winner of the Peoples Choice Award here or via digital screens at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Natural History Museum, London. Voting closes on Wednesday 29 January 2025. DENVER (KDVR) A police officer in Lone Tree, Colorado went above and beyond to try and catch a suspect who took off on a scooter. The City of Lone Tree posted a body camera video of the two-wheel police chase on its social media, where officer Jacob Tarr decided to commandeer a kids bike to apprehend someone suspected of felony theft. The suspect was initially confronted, but then hopped some fences and used a scooter as a getaway vehicle. Luckily, Tarr had another mode of transportation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The video, in the player above, shows body camera footage of the officer hopping two fences and then grabbing a green kids bike to chase down a suspect. The suspect is also featured in camera footage from a nearby house. The video shows the suspect trying to get away on a scooter. Shortly after, footage shows Tarr chasing after the suspect on a kids bike. The video ends with another officer, this one with a squad car, apprehending the suspect shortly after. The City of Lone Tree said the suspect was booked with a charge of felony theft. The suspect also had three outstanding warrants, one of which was for armed robbery from another county. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. DENVER (KDVR) A Lone Tree police officer went above and beyond to try and catch a suspect who took off on a scooter. The City of Lone Tree posted a video of the two-wheel police chase on its social media, where officer Jacob Tarr decided to commandeer a kids bike to apprehend someone suspected of felony theft. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox The suspect was first apprehended for the alleged theft, but then hopped some fences and used a scooter as a getaway vehicle. Luckily, Tarr had another mode of transportation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The video, shown in the player above, shows body camera footage of the officer hopping two fences and then grabbing a green kids bike to chase down a suspect. The suspect, who took off while being apprehended, is also featured in camera footage from a nearby house. The video shows the suspect trying to get away on a scooter. Shortly after, footage shows Tarr chasing after the suspect on a kids bike. Download the FOX31 App: Breaking news alerts & Pinpoint Weather The video ends with another officer, this one with a squad car, apprehending the suspect shortly after. The City of Lone Tree said the suspect was booked with a charge of felony theft. The suspect also had three outstanding warrants, one of which was for armed robbery out of Adams County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shayla Lampton lives at the residence where the doorbell video was captured. She and her fiance pointed officer Tarr in the right direction as he passed their home. We had just gotten done hanging the Christmas lights up and everything and we were sitting on the porch and all of the sudden we see a guy go by on a scooter. Didnt think anything of it and two seconds later we see a cop like Sir, did you see somebody on a scooter go by? pedaling his little heart out on that kids bike, knee to chin. She says this kind of determination from police makes her feel safe in her neighborhood. Theyre really good about what they do. This just goes to show they dont just do this for a job or a paycheck. Theyre doing it to actually take care of the community and protect and serve. Lampton said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tarr said hes never commandeered any vehicle before, but was trying to think outside of the box and is happy with the result. Its something out of my norm. I know that the bike and the scooter were returned to the family. They were grateful, Tarr said. I just asked them if they could throw a little air in the tires next time. He said these kinds of thefts are taken seriously in their jurisdiction because they often lend themselves to more serious crimes. Its never just shoplifting. Typically we are seeing that there is credit card and ID fraud. Theres drugs, theres weapons, theres warrants like this suspect had, Tarr said. One thing that we are seeing a lot is its never just the shoplifting. Theres always more going on. And so thats why we take our jobs so seriously to get these people to be held accountable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: NASA/Irina Kitiashvili and Timothy A. Sandstrom Even today, our best scientists wrestle to understand the sun's complex behavior yet it's incredibly valuable to decipher the patterns that drive our star's activity. Those patterns can have a profound impact on our world. Earth's weather and ocean currents, for instance, flow from the relationship between our planet and the sun. The sun's behavior also dictates space weather such as particle radiation that can damage satellites in our planet's orbit and harm astronauts helping explore the harsh environment beyond Earth . But to connect the dots and identify solar activity patterns, we need to begin by decoding the intricacies of the sun itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sure enough, last week, NASA released 3D simulations detailing some of the sun's behavior. The simulation shows turbulent flows of materials moving upward from the sun's inner layers toward its atmosphere, as the materials twist and evolve during the journey. The mesmerizing visualization of the fine structure movements within the sun looks like rainbow-colored oil roiling through a cube of black still water. The simulations use a color-coded scale with the fastest movements through the sun's layers in bright red, which then turn to yellow, green, and blue as the movement slows. It's almost too quick and complex for the eye to follow. "Right now, we don't have the computational capabilities to create realistic global models of the entire sun due to the complexity," NASA scientist Irina Kitiashvili, who works at Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley and helped lead the study, said in a statement . "Therefore," Kitiashvili continued, "we create models of smaller areas or layers, which can show us structures of the solar surface and atmosphere like shock waves or tornado-like features measuring only a few miles in size; that's much finer detail than any one spacecraft can resolve." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Creating the simulations was quite an undertaking. The research team ran them on the Pleiades supercomputer (named after the star cluster in the Taurus constellation), which is housed at the NASA Advanced Supercomputing facility at NASA Ames. The simulations ran for a few weeks and generated terabytes of data. "Our simulations use what we call a realistic approach, which means we include as much as we know to-date about solar plasma to reproduce different phenomena observed with NASA space missions," Kitiashvili said. The data used for the simulations was gathered by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) . Launched in 2010 on an Atlas V rocket into a geosynchronous orbit , the observatory is one of many spacecraft that NASA uses to monitor the sun and its phenomena. In April, the SDO observed a quadruple eruption of solar flares . The rare event was caused by a buildup of magnetic energy in the solar atmosphere, which then emitted bursts of electromagnetic radiation. "The sun keeps surprising us," said Kitiashvili, regarding the simulations. "We are looking forward to seeing what kind of exciting events will be organized by the sun." ZAGREB, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government's decision to expand its visa-free policy to nine additional countries, including Croatia, will simplify travel to China and enhance its appeal as a destination, Gabrijela Koscica, director of a Zagreb-based travel agency, said on Friday. Speaking to Xinhua, Koscica noted that her agency, Travel Idea, has never encountered visa-related challenges in the past, but emphasized that the new policy "will undoubtedly make traveling to China easier and more convenient." China announced last week that ordinary passport holders from nine more countries -- Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, and Japan -- will enjoy visa-free entry on a one-year trial basis starting Nov. 30. This brings the total number of countries eligible for visa-free access to China to 38. Under this arrangement, visitors can stay in China without a visa for up to 30 days for purposes such as business, tourism, family visits, exchanges and transit. Koscica expressed optimism about the policy's impact, predicting increased interest from tourists, particularly those from Europe. She highlighted the convenience it brings, noting that her agency will be able to "fill group tours at the last minute," thanks to the simplified travel process. For business travelers from Croatia and other European countries, the new visa-free policy will make travel to China much easier and faster, Koscica added. According to Koscica, one of the key attractions of travelling to China is its affordability. She explained that a 14-day trip to China, which includes round-trip airfare, accommodations, and food expenses, costs around 2,300 euros (2,429 U.S. dollars). "This is cheaper than many shorter trips within Europe." Koscica said her travel agency has seen a surge in demand for group tours to China. These tours have already been fully booked for next year, particularly for spring. Popular itineraries include visits to iconic attractions such as the Great Wall, the Terracotta Warriors, giant pandas, and other cultural and historical sites. Currently, trips to China are a big draw, she said. Watertown, a town in Wilson County of about 1,550 residents as of the 2020 census, experiences a tourism boon 16-18 Saturdays per year when the train comes to town. The Tennessee Railway Museum's excursion trains from Nashville have made the town a primary destination for its 500 riders, and Watertown is a very amenable host, often organizing events and activities for the train's layover. And for local entrepreneurs, excursion Saturdays are very good for business. The original cabin of steam engine locomotive No. 576 is too deteriorated to restore and now sits at the Tennessee Central Railroad Museum on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024 in Nashville, Tenn. "We're hopping," said Debbie Stephens, who's owned Depot Junction Cafe with husband, James Stephens, for more than 32 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Watertown wants more. The town has an historic steam engine locomotive getting closer to full restoration, and the eastern Wilson County town took another step towards being that steam engine's primary destination with its recent approval for a $1.6 million federal grant. The U.S. Department of Transportation recently notified Watertown officials they were eligible for the grant, which would go towards the citys $2.4 million rail infrastructure project, according Mayor Mike Jennings. The restored steam engine locomotive is very much central to the rail yard project, Jennings said. The railroad is a key part of Watertowns history and identity, and the economic activity generated by the excursion trains is vital to our downtown business district. To accommodate the steam engine, Watertowns rail project aims to reinstall a train turntable to allow the locomotive, first used in 1942, to turn around and continue moving forward, allowing it to pull either end of the train car line in both directions which is optimal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Watertown Rail Yard project will include installation of a rail siding through a train turntable with additional storage tracks on city owned property, according to the city. Nashville Steam Preservation Society mechanical apprentice Hunter Coley and shop foreman Stephen Hook talk in front of steam engine locomotive No. 576 at Tennessee Central Railroad Museum on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024 in Nashville, Tenn. Where the renovation stands Restoration of the historic No. 576 steam engine train nicknamed The Stripe, continues at a steady pace with almost $3 million raised for the effort, Nashville Steam Preservation Society Vice President Joey Bryan said. Hopes are to begin steam engine excursion trips within the next two years, Bryan said. When finished, The Stripe will be the largest steam locomotive operating in Tennessee, according to Bryan. There are some smaller steam engines in East Tennessee, he said. The locomotive will be operated by the Nashville Steam Preservation Society in partnership with the Tennessee Central Railway Museum and RJ Corman Railroad Group, Bryan said. The locomotive is currently being restored at the Tennessee Central Museum in Nashville. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The turntable will serve as both a historical and operational asset to the future operation of No. 576, Bryan said. It will give our passengers a first-hand view of the infrastructure that was needed to operate trains in the steam era and will allow the steam engine to pull trains both to and from Nashville." Historic Watertown has acquired a turntable that will give a steam engine locomotive that is being renovated a landing spot to turn around. Vickie Frazier owns an insurance brokerage in Watertown that also houses a nonprofit for local artists. "There are so few of these steam engines available to see, much less ride on, in our country now, we will become a destination for people from all over," she said. The owner of Artizan Insurance, Frazier says she knows she stands to benefit from the excursion trains with stops giving riders a chance to look at local art and gift items. "The steam engine train will increase the clientele base of all of our businesses in Watertown and hopefully help to sustain us for years to come." After it stopped being used for rail transport, The Stripe steam engine eventually became a display train at Centennial Park in Nashville in 1953. It was removed from Centennial Park in January 2019 in order to be restored. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Historic Watertown has acquired a 110-foot railway turntable out of Atlanta through a donation by CSX to service the steam engine renovation and hopes to draw more trips from Nashville. Nashville Steam Preservation Society volunteer Mike Ozaruk sands a piece of steam engine locomotive No. 576 at Tennessee Central Railroad Museum on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024 in Nashville, Tenn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Historic Watertown raised about $65,000 and the city added about $5,000 to bring the turntable to Watertown. It is not known how many excursion trips Watertown will see once the steam engine becomes operational, according to Tennessee Railway Museum President Terry Bebout. But the Watertown Rail Yard project will also service freight operations along with the Tennessee Railway Museum excursion trains and the steam engine. The city's federal grant requires $800,000 in funding from local governments and private entities. Jennings said the city has almost half that money raised in commitments. It may also seek funding from Wilson County, Jennings said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville steam train nears full restoration; Watertown a destination Scientists and conservation groups are pushing for more regulation to prevent mining contamination that stems from the Elk Valley in British Columbia and into the Kootenai River, which flows through Montana and Idaho. (Courtesy of Genny Hoyle) One thing seems certain following the elections on the national and state level resource-rich states like Montana are going to be on the edge of the bulldozer blade. That future will present daunting challenges to maintain the wild lands and clean rivers that continue to sustain the same native species that were present when Lewis and Clark Expedition passed through Montana more than two centuries ago. On the upside, it will likely spell the demise of the conservation collaboration movement that has utterly failed to produce significant results after nearly three decades of failed appeasement to extractive industries and environmentally harmful uses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For those new to Montana, a little history may be useful. Collaboration got its start here in the 90s when then-governor Marc Racicot appointed his hand-picked Consensus Council to ostensibly find balance on thorny natural resource issues to end the timber wars. The fact is the industry was losing that war since most of the large trees had already been logged. Then Plum Creek Timber decided to liquidate its Montana timber holdings on the checkerboard sections they owned in virtually every valley and mountain range in the state. The liquidation produced massive clearcuts right to the boundary of wilderness areas, thousands of miles of eroding logging roads, and pushed species like the bull trout onto the Endangered Species List. When Montanans rebelled at the devastation of their beloved landscapes and natural amenities the industry moved to find consensus which then morphed into collaboration. Simply put, extractive industries viewed the process as a way to get at least half of what they wanted rather than fighting a losing battle to get far less. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Make no mistake, although collaboration was spawned by extractive industries, the national foundations that pour millions of dollars into conservation organizations willingly jumped on board, preferring not to fund groups that sued the government when it broke or failed to enforce environmental laws. When Jon Tester beat Sen. Conrad Burns, sure enough the faux-conservation groups had a collaborative proposal ready to go the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act. Not only did it open wilderness quality lands to extractive industries, it actually mandated national forest logging levels a move so radically anti-conservation that even the U.S. Forest Service opposed it. It died in the Senate, but the same groups leaped to put together another foundation-funded collaborative measure, the Blackfoot-Clearwater Stewardship Act. And once again, it divvies up wilderness quality public lands to extractive and special interests. With Testers loss in the recent elections, its fair to say the measures passage is doubtful since theres not even a companion bill in the U.S. House. Hard on the heels of these failures, comes now the Lincoln Prosperity Proposal and the Gallatin Forest Partnership Agreement both of which again chop up and give away wilderness quality lands to extractive industries and industrial recreation. Long-time conservationists have already rebelled against the Partnerships plan, aghast at the lands and wildlife habitat the collaborators have sacrificed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has already pledged to cut loose extractive industries with no conservation sidebars not even the lame cut the baby in half proposals offered by the collaborators. The good news is that decades of collaborative failures, the Trump administrations promised onslaught on our remaining wild lands and wildlife, and a growing backlash against the collaborators proposals, may lead to the rebirth of true conservation advocacy that fights for wild lands and wildlife, with a hopeful vision for future generations and that would truly be something for which to be thankful. ELKINS, W.Va. (WBOY) While West Virginians are enjoying family and food, first responders around the state are still on the job. 12 News checked in with the Elkins Fire Department, which said its keeping two personnel posted at the fire station during Thanksgiving. Of course, first responders are always crucial no matter the day, but they can be especially important on holidays; the US Fire Administration says that between 2017 and 2019, an estimated average of 2,300 residential building fires were reported to fire departments on Thanksgiving Day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lieutenant Andrew Roth of the Elkins Fire Department said that the shifts at the fire department are 24 hours on and then 48 hours off, and his 24 hours happened to be on Thanksgiving. While the Elkins Fire Department has gone out on calls on Thanksgiving Day in the past, Roth says Thanksgiving is generally a quiet day. Families continue tradition with Gobble Gallop 5K in Weston Im actually pretty covered in paperwork, so Im getting all that stuff caught up today while its quiet, Roth said. Whether its quiet or not, 12 News would like to thank all first responders working during the holidays and being there for the next emergency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. U.S. Special Operations Forces operate under extreme conditions and depend crucially on advanced, versatile transportation to navigate diverse and hostile terrains. Central to their operations are specialized vehicles designed to conquer any environmentwhether traversing rugged landscapes, gliding over water or entering conflict zones. These tools are not just assets but lifelines, ensuring the success of every mission across land, air, and sea. Among the key components of the U.S. Special Operations Command are several units: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement United States Army Special Forces : Often referred to as the Green Berets, they excel in unconventional warfare and foreign internal defense. 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D) : Commonly known as Delta Force, this unit specializes in hostage rescue, counterterrorism, and high-stakes direct actions. 75th Ranger Regiment : This regiment is a light infantry unit tasked with specialized missions across a broad spectrum of operations. Let's take a closer look at the vehicles that equip the U.S. Special Forces for their complex and demanding roles M1297 Army Ground Mobility Vehicle (A-GMV) The M1297 Army Ground Mobility Vehicle, or AGMV, is a light off-road vehicle designed by General Dynamics based on their Flyer 72 model. As a versatile asset for the U.S. Army, it's specifically tailored for light infantry brigades with the capability of being airdropped into operation zones. The AGMV's modular design allows for customization to suit a variety of operational demands, from deep reconnaissance to direct combat engagements, available in both enclosed and open-top configurations. This vehicle incorporates advanced network capabilities for seamless integration into both existing and future combat systems. Measuring 5.33 meters in length and designed with an integrated roll cage, the AGMV can support significant payloads without compromising the safety of its crew, even in the event of a rollover. Additional storage is incorporated into the external boxes on each passenger door, enhancing capacity while also reinforcing the vehicle's ballistic and blast defenses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The AGMV's standard armament includes a central ring mount, which can be outfitted with a range of weapons depending on mission needs. The vehicle is engineered to tackle challenging terrains, capable of ascending 60% gradients and managing dynamic side slopes of 40%. Although its road speed is tailored to specific mission requirements, it can achieve a cruising range of nearly 250 miles on flat terrain. The AGMV's compatibility with both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft ensures its utility as a rapid-deployment vehicle in various military operations. MH-6 Little Bird The MH-6 Little Bird, along with its armed counterpart the AH-6, plays a crucial role in the operations of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, often referred to as the Night Stalkers. Known for their agility and durability, these helicopters are pivotal in high-risk military operations where precise and adaptive performance is critical. The MH-6, nicknamed the "Killer Egg" for its small, inconspicuous design, excels in quick, low-altitude maneuvers which makes it perfect for deploying forces into intricate or highly sensitive areas. Its lightweight structure and exceptional maneuverability allow it to navigate through tight urban spaces and rugged landscapes, often utilized for covert operations under minimal light conditions. The AH-6 variant enhances the Little Bird's capabilities, equipping it with an extensive arsenal suitable for light assault tasks. This includes machine guns, rocket pods, and grenade launchers, transforming it from a mere insertion craft to a formidable force capable of executing precise strikes and providing vital air support to ground troops. This transformation emphasizes the AH-6's role in direct engagement missions, where its ability to offer immediate aerial support and reconnaissance is invaluable. Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC) Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC) are pivotal elements of the Naval Special Warfare community, specializing in operating high-performance boats during critical missions. Their primary duties involve the covert insertion and extraction of Navy SEALs and other special operations forces within hostile or remote coastal and riverine environments. This role encompasses a range of operations, including direct action raids, reconnaissance, riverine patrols, countering enemy vessels, and conducting combat search and rescue missions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Operating in conditions where larger naval vessels would be impractical, SWCC teams are known for their physical endurance and mental resilience, managing advanced, high-speed watercraft designed for stealth and adaptability. These capabilities are essential for navigating and operating in challenging, non-permissive environments. Special Operations Craft-Riverine (SOC-R) The SOC-R, constructed by U.S. Marine Inc., is an integral asset for both the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, tailored for short-range tactical insertions and extractions of special operations forces in littoral and riverine areas. The craft is heavily armed with two GAU-17 miniguns, one M2HB .50 caliber machine gun, two M240B 7.62 mm light machine guns, and two 40 mm Mk 19 grenade launchers, ensuring readiness for a variety of combat scenarios. Driven by Yanmar 6LY2M-STE diesel engines and equipped with Hamilton HJ292 water pump jets, the SOC-R offers exceptional speed and maneuverability, critical for operating in diverse and obstacle-rich waterways. The craft supports a crew of four SWCC operators and can transport up to eight special operations personnel. Its compact design and air transport compatibility enables rapid deployment to global hotspots as required. With its advanced navigational systems, including radar and GPS, along with night-vision capabilities, the SOC-R is designed to excel in operations requiring high agility and precise maneuvering. This includes navigating tight river bends and potential underwater hazards and ensuring operational success in complex terrains where situational awareness is paramount. This wraps up our look at the vehicles central to U.S. Special Forces operations, showcasing their integral role in conducting successful, high-stakes missions worldwide. A federal judge has rejected two Pierce County mens efforts to pause their criminal case related to the January 2021 Capitol riot until President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January. Richard Slaughter, a former Orting School Board member who resigned shortly after his arrest, and his stepson, Caden Paul Gottfried, are scheduled for trial Jan. 6, according to court records in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Earlier in November, an attorney representing the two men requested that the trial date be scrapped and a status conference be set for the week of Feb. 2, after Trumps inauguration, since Trump has publicly declared he would pardon defendants involved in the mob attack on the U.S. Capitol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The consequences of denying this motion would be with history of the January 6 cases as a backdrop almost certain convictions for felony and/or misdemeanor offenses that would otherwise not be likely to happen, attorney William L. Shipley, Jr. wrote in a Nov. 11 filing. On Nov. 27, U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth ruled against the two mens motion, saying that it wouldnt be unfair to the defendants to proceed with the scheduled trial, which had previously been delayed on three occasions, court records show. This Courts duty is to uncover whether the defendants committed the unlawful things of which they are accused and, if they did, prescribe an appropriate and just punishment, Lamberth wrote in his ruling. Whatever happens afterwards is irrelevant. Federal prosecutors say video and photos show 40-year-old Richard Slaughter of Orting at the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack wielding a pole. Slaughter and Gottfried, who were 40 and 20 at the time of their October 2022 arrests in Tacoma, face multiple charges. They allegedly illegally entered the Capitol grounds and joined others in the Lower West Terrace area, according to federal prosecutors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Slaughter is accused of taking, or attempting to take, a baton from a Metropolitan Police Department officer, court records show. He allegedly attacked Capitol police with a long pole, handed chemical spray to another rioter in the crowd and kept a police shield from an officer after grabbing it from another rioter. Gottfried purportedly used his body weight to push against a line of officers, federal prosecutors said. Federal prosecutors say video and photos show 20-year-old Caden Gottfried of Orting at the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack joining a crowd the pushed police. Both men have pleaded not guilty. They face a combined 13 counts in a superseding indictment, including assaulting, resisting or impeding law enforcement officers and engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds. Slaughter is additionally alleged to have used a dangerous weapon and is also accused of robbery. Others convicted or accused of involvement in storming the Capitol have similarly requested case delays in the wake of Trumps re-election, USA Today reported earlier in November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Special counsel Jack Smith on Nov. 25 moved to dismiss the four felony charges against Trump, who had been charged with allegedly attempting to overturn the 2020 election preceding the Capitol attack, citing Justice Department guidelines that prevent prosecution of a sitting president, multiple media outlets reported. In his ruling filed Nov. 27, Lamberth said that the allegations in the special counsels prosecution bore no resemblance to the case against Slaughter and Gottfried. (T)he fact that the former has been discontinued has no obvious significance for the latter, he wrote. Keir Starmer will today be forced to comply with the new slogan imposed on the Department for Transport by his departing secretary of state: Move fast and fix things. The prime minister will not have been prepared to carry out a reshuffle of his top team this early in the new parliament. But Louise Haighs departure has forced one upon him. And he really has no one to blame but himself. Haigh herself had made an impressive start in the job. Hailing from the sensible (as opposed to the Corbynite) Left of the party, she had enthusiastically embraced the task of legislating to bring those small parts of the railway industry still in private hands mainly the management of the train operating companies back under Whitehall control. It is a complicated piece of legislation, paving the way for the setting up of the heir to British Rail this time to be named Great British Railways. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In fact this story isnt about Haigh, who received a criminal conviction of fraud in 2014, the year before she entered parliament. It is about the leader of her party who was informed of the conviction in 2020 and who still felt it was appropriate to appoint her to the shadow cabinet and, subsequently, the cabinet itself after Labour won the general election. The swiftness of events since the conviction became public knowledge this week is testimony to the fact that Haigh herself must have known her position was untenable as soon as her conviction became public knowledge. This is an admirable political instinct: to be able to anticipate what the public and media will and will not tolerate. What a pity her boss does not possess that same skill. Starmer is, in case you needed reminding, a former Director of Public Prosecutions, a senior KC who, even before becoming an MP at the same election as Haigh, understood the political consequences of criminal convictions for politicians. He authorised the prosecution of a number of MPs whose careers and freedom were ended by their exploitation of the House of Commons expenses system. He understands or should understand the toxicity of public figures having a criminal conviction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That he should choose to prosecute some while appointing others to his cabinet is an extraordinary misstep. True, the offence occurred more than a decade ago and is now spent, but as Starmer himself would have explained, had he still been in his former role, that matters little, especially since Haighs conviction occurred barely six months before becoming an MP. Heres a useful thought experiment: if, in the run-up to the 2024 general election, the media had exposed a Labour candidate in a safe seat to have been recently convicted of fraud, how would Starmer have reacted? Given his reputation for ruthless management of his party, especially in the couple of years before he became prime minister, the answer is obvious. There would have been zero chance of his allowing that person to remain a Labour candidate. That judgment might have been wrong everyone deserves a second chance, after all but there can be little doubt that he would have made it. So why, given that he already knew about Haighs background, did this fierce defender of standards in public life invite her into his first cabinet? Did he believe the conviction would never come to light? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And if that is the case, is that a solid basis for appointing someone to high office? Or did he genuinely believe that her guilty plea in the magistrates court should have no impact on her career? In which case, can he justify that position today when Haigh herself believes the opposite to be the case? This is just the latest example of poor judgment by Starmer. But its worse than what has gone before because the claim was always made of him by his supporters that at worst, he was a lawyer, not a politician, a man with good legal instincts but few political ones. This mess, this vacant seat around the cabinet table barely four months into the governments tenure, suggests that even Starmers legal instincts have let him down. Where does that leave him, his party and his country? Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. There are no zero-risk air routes across the Middle East, according to a major flight operations organisation. OpsGroup, an outfit for pilots and air traffic controllers, says that the risk to civil aviation in the region has changed at a pace we have never seen before. And this, it says, has created a major headache for global aviation. Since the outbreak of war between Russia and Ukraine, the escalated conflict in the Middle East and the Houthi crisis in the Red Sea, significant portions of global airspace have been closed off, and safe long-haul flight routes between Europe and Asia have become narrower than ever before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Behind the scenes, airlines have their own measures in place to manage the risks. Brian Smith, a pilot at a major British cargo aviation firm, says: All companies either have on their team someone who specialises in security, or have access to relevant intelligence in order to inform their policies. It certainly costs more to take the longer route, but of course safety is paramount. There are now only three possible flight routes from Europe to Asia, all of which pass through or skirt just around the Middle East. Lets take a look at those routes, and the risks associated with each one. The northern route This has become the favoured route, and unsurprisingly so since it gives a wide berth to the conflict zones in the Middle East. From Europe, the route runs through northern Turkey, crosses the southern Black Sea, into Georgia, Azerbaijan, across the Caspian Sea and then into Turkmenistan. Flights to south-east Asia will pass through countries not considered as hazardous (including Uzbekistan and China). However, flights to south Asian destinations such as India, the Maldives or Sri Lanka take a southerly route over Afghanistan, a country without any air traffic control whatsoever since the Taliban insurgency in August 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The risk: OpsGroup says the biggest risk for flights flying through Afghanistans airspace is the potential of having to land there. There is no guarantee of crew or passenger safety if you need to land, writes Chris Shieff, the author of a recent OpsGroup blog post on air corridors. The overriding consensus, along with common sense, is dont land in Afghanistan. It would be wise to consider it akin to ditching, [...] a last resort. Careful consideration of critical fuel scenarios to clear the Kabul Flight Information Region (FIR) in the event of de-pressurisation, engine failure or both is essential to moderate this risk, Shieff adds. Nats, the United Kingdom air traffic organisation, advises UK airlines against flying over Afghanistan below 25,000ft because of potential risk from anti-aircraft weaponry. Note, however, that many airlines, including KLM and Lufthansa, do fly over Afghanistan every day with no problems. The biggest risk for flights taking the northern route to South Asia is the prospect of having to land in Afghanistan - AFP/Getty The central route This route flies across inland Turkey before cutting south through Iraq and then into the Persian Gulf, towards the United Arab Emirates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parts of Iraqs airspace have been considered safe for some time now, and major carriers continue to fly above the country. OpsGroup says: The overriding question from this route is, Is it safe to overfly Iraq? In our opinion yes, but with some disclaimers. The risk: One risk of flying above Iraq, according to OpsGroup, is the proximity to Iranian airspace: Due to the recent escalation in hostilities between Israel and Iran, many states prohibit operators from entering the Tehran FIR due [to] the risk of anti-aircraft fire at all levels. Another consideration is that GPS interference can occur in northern Iraq, which almost led one aircraft to enter Iranian airspace without clearance recently. Furthermore, Iraqi airspace could close at short notice if there is further military activity between Israel and Iran Iraq is sandwiched between the two. And perhaps most worryingly of all, OpsGroup flags the well-publicised risks of militant and terrorist activity which may target civil aircraft with anti-aircraft weaponry, on all flights away from two recognised air routes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Passenger jets could be misidentified by air defence systems targeting drones which are frequently used to conduct attacks in northern Iraq that originate from Turkey and Iran. The southern route This route involves a navigation across Egypt via the Red Sea and then an eastward turn across Saudi Arabia. The route is popular because it would not be directly impacted by an escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran, and it also provides safer diversion options than a transit of Iraq, argues Ops Group. The route also means fewer miles than the northern route via Turkey and the Stans. However, the route has become so popular that it has created air traffic control issues and frequency congestion. One flight crew reported that it had had zero contact with air traffic control from the north coast of Egypt to the Red Sea, according to OpsGroup. The risk: The primary risk in this region is the one posed by the Houthi rebels, who have been firing missiles at cargo vessels in the Red Sea. Yemens Houthi rebels, who have been firing missiles at cargo vessels in the Red Sea, are a cause for concern for airlines - Getty Houthi rebels in Yemen are currently engaged in a long-term campaign to use missiles and drones to target Israel (therefore infringing the Jeddah FIR) along with shipping channels in the Red Sea, OpsGroup reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The military response to these activities is the use of air defence systems to destroy them. The latest incident occurred on November 3, where a crew witnessed the interception of a missile at a similar level in open airspace near Jeddah. One concern, particularly for aircraft at higher altitude, is if missiles were fired from western Yemen and intercepted on the way to their target (potentially, Israel). This poses a three-pronged threat to pilots in the region of northern Saudi Arabia: a direct hit by a missile (something OpsGroup describes as extremely unlikely), debris from the broken-up missile, or misidentification. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The MND urges the relevant parties to withdraw Typhon mid-range missile system immediately 08:30, November 29, 2024 By Li Xuan, Wu Mingqi ( China Military Online Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks at a regular news conference on Thursday. Question: According to foreign media reports, the Philippine defense minister recently said that the Philippine side was considering purchasing Typhon mid-range missile system from the US. May I have your comment, please. Wu Qian: China has repeatedly expressed our firm opposition to US deployment of mid-range missile system in the Philippines. The mid-range missile system is an offensive weapon. Accepting US deployment of the system by the Philippine side has intensified geopolitical confrontation and escalated tensions in the region. It is by no means a matter of the Philippine side itself, but hinges on the common security of regional countries. History and reality have repeatedly proven that where there are US weapons deployed, there will be higher risk of conflicts, inflicting underserved suffering on the local people. The Asia-Pacific is a grand stage for peace and development, not a wrestling ground for geopolitical rivalry. We urge the relevant parties to withdraw the Typhon mid-range missile system immediately. If the US and the Philippines insist on heading down the wrong path, the Chinese side will take resolute countermeasures. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) BUCHAREST, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced Thursday that he is withdrawing from the presidential race, even if a court-ordered recount proves he was disadvantaged in the first round of the election. Ciolacu called for transparency and urged the Central Electoral Bureau to allow civic organizations to observe the recount process in a Facebook post on Thursday evening. His decision follows the mandate of Romania's Constitutional Court to recount all ballots from the election on Nov. 24 after allegations of fraud were raised by Cristian Terhes, a conservative candidate and a member of the European Parliament. Despite announcing his withdrawal, Ciolacu, also leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), reaffirmed the PSD's focus on securing victory in the parliamentary elections scheduled for Dec. 1. WILLIMANTIC, Conn (WTNH) Police are searching for a suspect involved in an armed robbery at a Dollar General in Williamtic this week. The suspect is described as 5 feet 5 inches tall. He appeared to be wearing a black mask, black or blue hoodie, black pants, and a blue winter hat. Witnesses said the suspect appeared to have a heavy Spanish accent, police said. CSP: 509 traffic stops made on Thanksgiving weekend Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At around 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Willimantic police responded to an attempted robbery where a suspect implied having a firearm in their front jacket, according to police. Police said they could not confirm whether or not the suspect had a firearm in video surveillance. The suspect fled the scene on foot before police arrived, police said. No injuries were reported. Willimantic police encourage anyone with information to contact the police department. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. MADISON, Wis. (AP) Wisconsins election commission leader quietly certified Donald Trump s victory on Friday, moving past the chaos that surrounded the 2020 election results in the battleground state. Commission Chair Ann Jacobs certified results that show Trump won the state with 1,697,626 votes compared to Democrat Kamala Harris' 1,668,229 votes during a morning Zoom teleconference that lasted six minutes. The certification felt almost anticlimactic compared with the aftermath of the 2020 election, when Trump refused to accept that Joe Biden had won the state by about 21,000 votes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump forced a recount in Dane and Milwaukee counties, the state's two Democratic strongholds, but it didn't change the outcome. Trump later sued to disqualify more than 221,000 ballots in the two counties. He wanted to disqualify absentee ballots cast early and in-person, saying there wasnt a proper written request made for the ballots; absentee ballots cast by people who claimed indefinitely confined status; absentee ballots collected by poll workers at Madison parks; and absentee ballots where clerks filled in missing information on ballot envelopes. The state Supreme Court dismissed the case in December 2020, finding four of Trump's claims were filed too late and the other was without merit. A federal judge that same month dismissed another lawsuit filed by two Republican legislators, voting rights groups and others seeking to overturn the results. Facing pressure from Trump, Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos hired former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman in the spring of 2021 to investigate allegations of fraud and abuse related to the election. The probe ultimately turned up nothing. The state Office of Lawyer Regulation filed a complaint against Gableman last week accusing him of violating multiple rules of conduct during the investigation. The state Supreme Court will decide what sanctions, if any, Gableman will face. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The election commission's nonpartisan administrator, Meagan Wolfe, found herself the target of conspiracy theorists and election skeptics who falsely claimed she was part of a plot to rig the 2020 election for Biden. Republican legislators are trying to fire her but the commission has filed a lawsuit to keep in her post. That case is currently before the state Supreme Court. Trump's national victory in November has calmed conservative anger but a vocal faction of the GOP remains deeply skeptical of election processes, particularly the use of mail ballots and scanners to tally votes. Still, several states that saw tumultuous certifications during the 2020 election and 2022 midterms have smoothly approved their results in recent weeks, including Arizona, Michigan, Nevada and New Mexico. Small cliffs and rock formations in Utahs west desert. (Getty Images) The federal governments response to Utahs lawsuit seeking to take over millions of acres of public land says the states legal challenge is without merit. In a brief filed last Thursday, attorneys with the U.S. Department of Justice asked the U.S. Supreme Court to deny Utahs motion, writing that the states argument doesnt hold water. Plus, the state fails to meet the criteria that would allow a petition directly to the nations high court rather than going through lower courts first, the filing claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Filed in August, Utahs lawsuit questions whether the Bureau of Land Management, or BLM, can indefinitely hold onto land without giving it a designation. The BLM controls about 18.5 million acres of what the state calls unappropriated land in Utah the land is still leased for grazing, recreation and mineral extraction, but lacks a formal designation. National parks, national monuments, national forests, Indian reservations or wilderness areas have a designation, and therefore are not considered unappropriated. But about 34% of the entire state meets the states definition of unappropriated, much of it found in remote western Utah. The lawsuit claims the federal government lacks the constitutional power to hold that land in perpetuity over the States objection. The Supreme Court should declare the practice of holding unappropriated land unconstitutional, Utah argues, and issue an injunction that would start the process of a massive, 18.5 million acre land transfer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the federal government says that argument lacks merit and faces significant jurisdictional and procedural barriers. Utah argues the federal government can only hold onto land if it has a designated purpose; the federal government asks why a formal reservation would make a legal difference under the constitution. Utah argues the federal government cant retain land over its express objection; the federal government says that runs afoul of the constitutions supremacy clause, which states federal law takes precedence over state law. Utah argues Congress has a duty to dispose of unappropriated public lands; the federal government says that while Congress has the power to dispose of land, it does not have a duty to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And, Utah raises several policy objections, including its inability to collect revenue on federal land; the federal government says that argument is better suited for Congress, not the countrys high court. The brief also takes issue with Utah invoking original jurisdiction, which allows states to petition directly to the Supreme Court rather than starting in a lower court and then going through the appeals process. To invoke original jurisdiction, the issue needs to be between a state and the federal government. Thats because the case does not involve a dispute over state boundaries, the brief reads, or Utahs ability to enforce criminal and civil laws on the land in question. This article was first published by the Utah News Dispatch, part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Utah News Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor McKenzie Romero for questions: info@utahnewsdispatch.com. Follow Utah News Dispatch on Facebook and X. UPDATE: The suspect, 55-year-old Lachunda Johnson has been charged with Aggravated Assault/DV, Aggravated Assault, and Domestic Assault, according to Memphis Police. MPD says Johnson is the mother of one of the stabbing victims. *** MEMPHIS, Tenn. A woman is accused of attacking family members with a knife at Thanksgiving, sending one to a hospital, police say. The victim told police that around 3 p.m., she and her mother were arguing at a house in the 200 block of Delta Road in Southwest Memphis. The argument was about her mother pushing her son, among other things. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats when the woman allegedly charged at the daughter with a knife she retrieved from the kitchen. She then struck the son with a knife, in the left hand near his thumb, according to police. Crafty crook grabs cash while clerk distracted by fight The suspect left the scene on foot wearing a red wig, and was last seen on Horn Lake Road before police picked her up at a home on Cazassa, several miles away. She was booked into jail. The victim said her mother was drinking and possibly heavily intoxicated at the time of the incident. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. CLEVELAND (WJW) A 42-year-old woman was fatally shot in a vehicle on Broadway Avenue Wednesday morning, according to the Cleveland Division of Police. Around 9:45 a.m. on November 27, officers responded to a ShotSpotter notification indicating gunfire in the 7700 block of Broadway Avenue. Local lottery ticket wins Powerball prize Upon arrival, officers discovered the woman inside a vehicle with gunshot wounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emergency Medical Services (EMS) transported the victim to a nearby hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. Multi-day lake effect snow event hits Northeast Ohio The Cleveland Police Homicide Unit is actively investigating the incident. No arrests have been made at this time. The victim has not been identified. Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact Cleveland Police. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. HONOLULU (KHON2) As the world observes World AIDS Day, the focus turns to reflection, remembrance, and redoubling efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The theme of World AIDS Day, which is held annually on Dec. 1, resonates strongly in Hawaii where both public health professionals and community members have worked tirelessly for decades to combat the virus. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You In the islands, this day of reflection is not just about memorializing those lost to HIV/AIDS but about acknowledging the ongoing battle and looking ahead to a future free of new infections, deaths and stigma. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Cecilia M. Shikuma, M.D., director of the Hawaii Center for AIDS Research at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, has been at the forefront of this fight for over 30 years. I started this journey in the early 1990s. At that time, I had young children, and I was looking for a way to be involved in the medical field that wasnt just about being in hospitals at all hours, she explained. Her initial decision to become involved in AIDS research in 1990 was prompted by the University of Hawaiis development of an AIDS clinical trials unit, and it marked the beginning of a lifelong commitment to the cause. From those early days, when an HIV diagnosis was essentially a death sentence to the present when HIV is increasingly seen as a manageable chronic disease, Dr. Shikumas work has been instrumental. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a long road from where we started, with treatments that could only offer comfort, to today, where we have antiretroviral therapy that can allow people to live a near-normal life, she said. Dr. Dominic Chow, M.D., a professor of medicine at the same center, shares a similar perspective. His own journey into the fight against HIV was personal. My mom, a very well-known artist in New York City, lost many friends to HIV during the 1980s and 1990s, he recalled. Watching that devastation firsthand made me want to contribute in any way I could. He joined the Hawaii Center for AIDS Research after his time with the Pan American Health Organization, eager to bring his international experience to a local context. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For both physicians, the progress in treatment has been monumental. Dr. Chow described the shift from AIDS being a death sentence to a manageable disease. What were seeing now is a result of decades of effort from researchers, clinicians, and activists, she said. People with HIV are living longer and healthier lives, thanks to the development of more effective medications and treatment protocols. In Hawaii, the collaboration between local clinicians, the Hawaii Department of Health and community-based organizations has been key to achieving some of the lowest HIV rates in the United States. Dr. Shikuma credited the collective efforts of the states health system, researchers and community and medical activists like Dr. David McEwan for creating a unique environment of support and care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When we started, there was so much to be done. There were physicians, community organizations and state health officials working together to find solutions, she recalled. The local community was incredibly supportive. One critical component of Hawaiis success in managing HIV is the states pioneering needle exchange program which was the first state-wide program in the U.S. Dr. Shikuma explained that the program, which was initially controversial, has been crucial in reducing the spread of HIV through shared needles. Weve shown that harm reduction works. There is no evidence that providing clean needles encourages drug use; instead, it decreases the transmission of HIV, she asserted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The data from the program has shown a significant drop in HIV cases linked to needle-sharing in Hawaii. But despite these successes, both Drs. Shikuma and Chow emphasized that there is still work to be done. HIV is still with us, Dr. Chow noted. More than 33 million people worldwide are living with HIV, and more than a million in the U.S. alone. We are not done yet. He pointed to the importance of continued advocacy and research, particularly in the areas of prevention and potential cure. We need to keep pushing the boundaries of science, he emphasized. HIV cure research is still in its infancy, and we need to remain vigilant in our efforts to prevent new infections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ongoing battle includes not only research into new treatments but also initiatives like Hawaiis HIV Zero campaign which aims to eliminate new infections, new AIDS-related deaths and stigma surrounding the virus. Hawaii has made significant strides, but we still have more to do, Dr. Shikuma said. Were aiming for zero new infections and zero deaths, and were committed to making that a reality. In addition to research and medical care, community involvement has been essential in Hawaiis approach. Dr. Shikuma acknowledges the vital role of local participants in research studies. Our HIV population is unique. Many of our participants have been with us for decades since they enroll in study after study to help advance research, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This level of trust and commitment to the cause has been crucial for Hawaiis research efforts, especially given the historical mistrust that some communities, such as Native Hawaiians, have toward medical research. Were grateful for the trust our participants have shown, said Dr. Shikuma. They understand the importance of what were doing, and theyve been incredibly supportive. Dr. Chow agreed as he emphasized the importance of community support in the fight against HIV. Without our patients, we wouldnt be where we are today, he said. Their advocacy has led to advancements not just in medications but in how we approach patient care. HIV has taught us so much about health care, especially the importance of addressing social determinants like housing, food security, and financial stability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This advocacy extends beyond the patients themselves. Dr. Shikuma recalled a pivotal moment in 2007 when the National Institute for Health (NIH) threatened to cut funding for Hawaiis research program. The NIH called and told us that our site was going to be cut due to the cost of maintaining it, she explained. They thought we could be replaced by California, and our population was too small to justify the expense. In a show of solidarity, Hawaiis community advisory board took action. They worked with legislators to introduce a bill that would secure funding for our program. The bill passed, and within months, we received the money we needed, Dr. Shikuma said, clearly proud of the outcome. I cant think of another disease where the community would step in like that to support research. Its a testament to the bond we have with our patients and the broader community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As World AIDS Day 2024 approaches, Dr. Chow offers a simple but powerful message: Its a time to remember those weve lost, to honor their contributions to science and our understanding of HIV, and to renew our commitment to continue the fight. He stressed the importance of awareness and action, as the global HIV/AIDS pandemic is far from over. We still need a cure, and we need better prevention methods. The fight isnt over, and we cant stop now, he added Dr. Shikuma echoed this sentiment and added that Hawaii has a unique opportunity to be a leader in the effort to eliminate HIV. Weve made incredible progress, but the work continues, she cautioned. We still need to push for new treatments, work towards a cure, and strive to reduce stigma and new infections. And well keep doing that, together with our community, until we reach our goal of zero. As Hawaii memorializes World AIDS Day, the states progress in combating HIV serves as both a reflection on how far weve come and a reminder of the work that still lies ahead. The collective efforts of researchers, clinicians and community members have brought us to this point, but the battle against HIV is far from over. You can click here to find out more information about the Hawaii Center for AIDS Research. Click here or here for Department of Health resources. You can watch the full interview in the video above. So, as you reflect on the things you are thankful for through this holiday season, remember that Hawaii has a unique place in the HIV/AIDS research world due the incredible foresight of Dr. David McEwan and the quick action of community members who heeded his call more than 40 years ago. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHONs morning podcast, every morning at 8 However, we do not need to allow this to deter us from ensuring that HIV/AIDS continues to be treated and approached as the world destroying disease that it is. Be prepared and use the medical tools (i.e. syringe exchange programs) and medications (i.e. PrEP) that prevent its spread. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. A significant step forward for fusion energy education has been made with the opening of the worlds first Fusion Energy Cafe in Worksop, United Kingdom. This unique cafe aims to engage the public with fusion energy science in an interactive, accessible setting. Located in the Bridge Skills Hub, the cafe serves as a space to increase awareness about fusion energys potential and its role in shaping a sustainable future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The opening of the cafe comes at a pivotal moment when nuclear fusion energy is gaining global momentum as a clean energy solution. As companies and research institutions around the world make significant strides, such as Zap Energys unveiling of its Century prototype device in Seattle and advancements at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory and Chinas HL-3 tokamak, fusion energy is increasingly seen as a potential game-changer in the pursuit of sustainable, low-carbon power. An innovative approach to public engagement The Fusion Energy Cafe is designed to raise public interest in fusion energy, offering interactive displays, themed decor, and informative guest talks. Visitors can enjoy refreshments while learning about the potential of fusion energy as a low-carbon, sustainable energy solution. This initiative highlights fusion as a transformative technology that could change the way we produce and consume energy in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the heart of the cafes mission is the planned construction of the STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) fusion prototype plant at the nearby West Burton site. The cafe serves as a bridge between the community and the evolving fusion industry, providing an opportunity for people to engage with cutting-edge science in a welcoming environment. Supporting local jobs and skills development The opening of the Fusion Energy Cafe is part of a broader strategy to create jobs and skill development opportunities in the area. As the fusion energy industry grows, it promises to bring valuable employment prospects to the local community. The cafe will also provide work placements for individuals who are disabled, long-term unemployed, or not currently in education, employment, or training (NEET). Kerry McCarthy, the UKs Climate Minister, led the opening ceremony and emphasized the importance of the cafe in inspiring the next generation of energy professionals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Fusion Energy Cafe is a fantastic way to inspire a whole generation to learn more about this groundbreaking technology and its potential to deliver safe, sustainable, and low-carbon energy, helping us in our fight against climate change," McCarthy said. The initiative, inspired by the development of the STEP prototype power plant at West Burton, will not only help drive progress in clean energy but also bring valuable skills, jobs, and investment to the area. A community-focused collaboration The cafe is part of a collaboration between the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), Bassetlaw District Council (BDC), and North Notts Business Improvement District (NNBID). Local entrepreneur Diana Kaponas operates the cafe, which will play an essential role in the area's skills outreach initiatives, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cllr Jonathan Slater, Deputy Leader of Bassetlaw District Council, spoke about the significance of the Fusion Energy Cafe: "We are delighted to be working collaboratively with our partners on this groundbreaking venture to raise awareness and knowledge about the opportunities that fusion energy, science, and technology will bring to our communities." The cafes presence will support the skills development needed for the growing fusion sector. The Fusion Energy Cafe will provide a vital link in supporting the skills outreach learning for STEP and STEM, as we look to upskill young people in the district, ready for a range of exciting employment opportunities in the future, said Slater. A model for future community engagement The cafe is a prime example of how local businesses and government organizations can work together to promote public understanding of new technologies while creating social and economic benefits for the community. Sally Gillborn MBE, Chief Executive at North Notts BID, highlighted the cafes potential: The opening of the Fusion Energy Cafe delivers on the commitment we outlined in our 2022-2027 business plan to create a community cafe that will provide hands-on hospitality skills development and working experience for people with learning difficulties." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gillborn also expressed excitement about the cafes role in educating the community about fusion energy and its impact on future employment opportunities. We are excited to see how the presence of the Cafe at the Skills Bridge Hub will grow as a space to educate the community on the fusion energy industry, she added. Fusion energy has the potential to revolutionize energy production by providing a safe, sustainable, and low-carbon source of power for generations to come. As part of the larger STEP program, the cafe is helping people understand how this powerful technology can help fight climate change. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huhEnv8JHvs&t=1s MEXICO CITY, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Thursday urged U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to rethink his country's trade embargo against Cuba and sanctions policy against Venezuela, arguing that the punitive measures have a direct impact on citizens and fuel mass migration. At her regular press conference, Sheinbaum said she made the request when she spoke with Trump on the phone on Wednesday, with immigration being a main topic. The Mexican president made several proposals, including "ending the blockades against Cuba and Venezuela" because they cause the people to suffer and cause phenomena like migration. She recommended the strategy Mexico's government used to tackle mass migration, saying it has led to a decline in migrants heading north. The comprehensive strategy aims to address the root causes of migration, such as a lack of jobs and opportunities at home, by investing in development programs in countries such as El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, said Sheinbaum. The phone call came a day after Sheinbaum sent a letter to Trump, responding to his threats to impose a 25-percent tariff on Mexican imports and carry out mass deportations of undocumented migrants once he takes office in January 2025. There's a mineral so rare that only one specimen of it has ever been found in the entire world. It's called kyawthuite (cha-too-ite), a tiny, tawny-hued grain weighing just a third of a gram (1.61 carats). On first glance, you might mistaken it for amber or topaz; but the unassuming mineral speck has value beyond measure. The stone itself was purchased in 2010 at a market in Chaung-gyi in Myanmar by gemologist Kyaw Thu, who thought the raw gem was a mineral called scheelite. After he faceted the stone, though, he realized that he was looking at something unusual. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unable to match the mineral with anything known, he sent it to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Laboratory in Bangkok, Thailand. There, mineralogists were able to relate the stone to synthetic BiSbO 4 bismuth antimonate though with the formula Bi3+Sb5+O 4 , an arrangement never before found in nature. The tiny stone measures just 5.8 by 4.58 by 3 millimeters. (Kampf et al., Mineral. Mag. , 2017) "This is the first in the world. It is not found in other countries," Thu told The Myanmar Times in 2016. "From studying in the field and buying stones from the Khanae market, [I could tell that] this stone was a little strange and I bought it. Then, when I reached Yangon, I examined it [and determined that] this was not like any other gem we've ever found." We don't know much about the stone itself. It has a saturated orange color, with a red overtone and a white streak; that's the color of the powder the gem produces when it is dragged across a coarse surface. It also has hollow, tube-shaped inclusions called en echelon veins that are caused by shear stress evidence of its natural formation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Geologists think that was likely igneous in origin, an inclusion in a type of common volcanic rock called pegmatite, common in the region where the stone was found. Like granite, pegmatite's composition is similar to that of a fruit cake, with different minerals jumbled together; it's common to find large crystals of gems in pegmatite. Traces of titanium, niobium, tungsten, and uranium in the kyawthuite are consistent with a pegmatite formation. Additionally, experiments in the lab show that bismuth antimonite crystals form at high temperatures consistent with the temperatures of cooling magma. Since the mineral appears to be so rare, there are likely other special circumstances about how it forms, but we don't know what they are. The value of kyawthuite is currently listed as priceless. The world's second-rarest gem, a mineral called painite, is valued at US$50,000 to $60,000 a carat. Oof. The world's only known piece of kyawthuite is currently housed safely at the National History Museum of Los Angeles County. Related News BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) On the morning of Thanksgiving, 14,000 people started off the holiday giving back to the community one step at a time. Were called the city of good neighbors for a reason, thats because we all work together, said Michael Baggerman, Communications Director of the YMCA Buffalo Niagara. We believe in good causes and one of those causes is the YMCA Turkey Trot. Last year, the race raised $1.1 million for the YMCA Buffalo Niagara, helping to benefit 6,000 people in Western New York. The funds from the YMCA Turkey Trot go to combat food insecurities in our community, it helps safe and affordable child care, it helps ensure health equity, it helps kids learn how to be safe around water that and so much more. said Baggerman. The snow and rain mixture didnt stop runners from wanting to take part in the Thanksgiving run that is currently celebrating its 129th year. The communitys spirit is so alive at events like this, even though the weather is less than ideal, said runner Jessica Oleana. Its a very Buffalo thing to do to go out and have fun even when the weather is miserable, added William Oleana. The race wrapped up at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center. Thomas Appenheimer from Buffalo was the overall winner and fastest male, finishing the nearly five mile race in 23 minutes and 47 seconds. Gabrielle Orie won for the second year in a row for women participating in the trot, finishing the race in 26 minutes and 37 seconds. For more information on YMCA Buffalo Niagara programs, you can click here. Latest Local News Hope Winter is a reporter and multimedia journalist who has been part of the News 4 team since 2021. See more of her work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) The YWCA is looking to the community for help in making its dream of a new intergenerational campus in Binghamton a reality. Executive Director of the YWCA of Binghamton and Broome County Carole Coppens gave a presentation to the Binghamton Noon Rotary club yesterday, updating members on the projects progress. The $32 million development will transform the former Urban League headquarters on Carroll Street into an expanded home for the YWs Young Wonders childcare program, increasing the number of available slots to 98. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around the corner on Lisle Avenue, the YWCA plans to build 68 units of affordable supportive housing, with half of them reserved for survivors of domestic violence. Coppens says she expects to hear back from the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal in the next two months about a low-income housing tax credits application. She says the YWCA expects to raise about 10% of the necessary financing through a three-year community campaign that it launched in April. She says there is less state aid available to support childcare construction, so the YW is offering naming rights for its new location and already has had a number of supporters come forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are now serving well over 300 women a day in our housing programs, which is wonderful, but its a drop in the bucket. The need is documented for Broome County. We are not even close to providing enough affordable housing and there are less and less slots available for childcare, said Coppens. Coppens says that while there will be no age restrictions for the housing, she expects most of the tenants to be older, fulfilling the intergenerational aspect of the project. The YWCA will maintain its existing building on Hawley Street which provides emergency housing and long-term supportive housing to women and their children at risk of homelessness. If the HCR tax credits are approved, Coppens says a groundbreaking could take place early next year, launching a two-year construction period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To donate to the capital campaign, go to YWCABinghamton.org. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34. A New Zealand naval ship that sank after smashing into a coral reef in the South Pacific was left on autopilot, an inquiry has found. An interim report into the incident said human error was to blame for the sinking of HMNZS Manawanui, the first ship that New Zealand has lost since the Second World War. Yvonne Gray, the vessels British-born captain, is originally from Harrogate, Yorkshire, and previously served in the Royal Navy before moving to New Zealand with her wife. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She became the target of online trolling in the wake of the 48-million ships sinking on Oct 5, prompting New Zealands defence minister to criticise armchair admirals and stress that Commander Grays gender was not to blame. However, the report has revealed that the crew failed to realise the vessel was on autopilot. They wrongly believed that its failure to respond to direction changes was because the thruster control had failed. Divers survey the area around the HMNZS Manawanui off the southern coast of Upulo, Samoa - Jese Somerville/New Zealand Defence Force The cause of the disaster was the ships autopilot not being disengaged when it should have been, according to Rear-Adml Garin Golding, the head of the New Zealands navy and presenter of the interim report. He said: Having mistakenly assessed a thruster control failure, standard procedures should have prompted the ships crew to check that the ship was under manual control rather than in autopilot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This check did not occur. Remaining in autopilot resulted in the ship maintaining a course toward land, until grounding and eventually stranding. He said that the direct cause of the grounding has been determined as a series of human errors. After crashing into coral reef off the Samoan island of Upolu, a fire broke out in the engine room and the ship began to sink. HMNZS Manawanui is one of only nine vessels in New Zealands small navy - RNZ All 75 people on board the survey vessel were rescued safely, although the disaster became an embarrassment for the New Zealand military. The ship is one of nine vessels in the countrys small navy. Rear-Adml Golding added that the incident had obviously had an impact on New Zealands reputation. This has really knocked the navy for six, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judith Collins, the defence minister, said: We were all terribly disappointed in what happened. Following the sinking, social media in New Zealand was rife with comments about diversity in action, sexist remarks about women drivers and homophobic references to Cdr Grays sexuality. HMNZS Manawanui arrives in Funafuti Lagoon, Tuvalu in September 2022 - Christopher Weissenborn/New Zealand Defence Force At the time, Ms Collins said: The one thing that we already know did not cause it, is the gender of the ships captain a woman with 30 years of naval experience. Cdr Gray said losing the ship meant that her very worst imagining as captain had become reality. HMNZS Manawanui, which is Maori for steadfast or big heart, was based at Devonport Naval Base in Auckland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cdr Gray started her Royal Navy career in 1993 as a warfare officer, serving on frigates, mine hunters and aircraft carriers. She and her wife Sharon emigrated to New Zealand in 2012. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. (Bloomberg) -- Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy suggested hed accept a cease-fire with Russia that left parts of his country occupied in return for NATO security guarantees over the rest, the strongest signal yet that the Ukrainian leader is open to ending the war without regaining all territory. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelenskiy made the comments in an interview with Sky News broadcast Friday when asked about a scenario in which NATO security guarantees covered only territory controlled by Kyiv. If we want to stop the hot stage of war, we should take under NATO umbrella the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control. Thats what we need to do fast, Zelenskiy said in the interview, according to a translation by Sky News. And then Ukraine can get back the other part of its territory diplomatically. He added that no country has made such a proposal to Ukraine, and that it would be difficult to establish NATO protection for only part of a country. Members of NATO have resisted Ukraines aspirations to join the military alliance anytime soon because its provision for mutual defense would require them to send in their forces to repel any future attacks. Earlier: Putins Offer to Talk to Trump Is Unlikely to End Fighting Soon Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The nearly three-year war is heading for a turning point next year as Russian troops make steady advances from the east and US President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to end the hostilities. The US and Ukraine have long insisted that Russia not be able to keep forces in the country, a stance thats harder to achieve in the short-term. President Joe Biden has stepped up support in the final weeks of his administration, including allowing Kyiv to use US weapons deeper in Russia. Those moves are intended to strengthen Zelenskiys hand in cease-fire talks, which Trump is expected to pursue. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Credit: Sky News Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday night that he was willing to cede territory to Russia to end the war for the first time. The Ukrainian president said his country could give up land temporarily in exchange for a Nato umbrella over the territory Ukraine still holds. He added that after a ceasefire was agreed, Kyiv could diplomatically negotiate the return of the territory in the east that is currently under Russian control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If we want to stop the hot stage of the war, we should take under [the] Nato umbrella the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control, Zelensky said in an interview with Sky News. Thats what we need to do fast, and then Ukraine can get back the other part of its territory diplomatically, he added. The comments represent a considerable shift in his position. Kyiv has previously said it would continue to fight Russia until Ukraine was returned to its internationally recognised borders, which include the four regions annexed by Vladimir Putin in 2022, as well as Crimea. The shift comes as Donald Trump prepares to take office with a promise to end the war on day one. Meanwhile, support for a peace deal is also growing among European allies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under plans floated by Mr Trumps team, a peace deal would see the current front line frozen in place, and Ukraine agreeing to shelve its ambitions to join Nato for 20 years. If agreed, the US would pump Ukraine with weapons to deter future Russian aggression. The Ukranian presidents position has shifted as Donald Trump prepares to take office Mr Zelensky hinted in his interview that the Nato umbrella would not be full membership of Nato, something Putin has rejected as part of any peace deal. Rather, it could mean Nato member states, including Britain, the US, France and Germany, providing individual security guarantees to Ukraine. Asked in the interview whether Kyiv would be willing to give up territory to Moscow altogether in exchange for full Nato membership, he said: No one has offered us to be in Nato with just one part or another part of Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that it could be possible, but no one offered. He later said he would be willing to consider ceding the Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine in exchange for the free parts of Ukraine to be brought under the Nato umbrella. The inauguration of the Mr Trump on January 20 is expected to accelerate talks over how to end the war. Mr Trump is thought to be considering a plan that would call on European and British troops to enforce an 800-mile buffer zone between the Russian and Ukrainian armies as part of a plan to end the war. Speaking to The Telegraph this week, Boris Johnson, the former prime minister, said that British troops should help defend Ukraines border as part of any peace deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said that any responsibility to guard a future ceasefire line between Ukraine and Russia should be given to a multinational group of European peacekeeping forces. I dont think we should be sending in combat troops to take on the Russians, he told the Telegraphs Ukraine: The Latest podcast. But I think as part of the solution, as part of the end state, youre going to want to have multinational European peacekeeping forces monitoring the border [and] helping the Ukrainians. I cannot see that such a European operation could possibly happen without the British. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Johnson said Western countries should make clear what security guarantees would be offered to Ukraine as part of any peace deal, to ensure Russia could not simply re-arm and attack again after a few years. Mr Zelensky switched to English in the latter part of his interview and suggested that other countries had unofficially proposed a ceasefire agreement between Ukraine and Russia. A lot of different countries proposed a ceasefire, he said. The question is, ceasefire where? He went on to say that if a ceasefire was agreed, it must guarantee that Putin will not come back. We need [Nato protection] very much, otherwise [Putin] will come back. Otherwise, how are we going to go to a ceasefire? So for us, its very dangerous. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Colonel Pavlo Palisa, Commander of the 93rd Kholodnyi Yar Brigade, to the post of deputy head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, which is headed by Andrii Yermak. Source: Zelenskyy in his evening address Quote: "Colonel Pavlo Palisa, a combat commander and the commander of the 93rd Kholodnyi Yar Brigade, has been appointed Deputy Head of the Office. He clearly understands what is happening in the brigades, at the front, and I need just such a person to know exactly what is happening on a daily basis directly from the front." Background: Zelenskyy appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, replacing Oleksandr Pavliuk. Support UP or become our patron! President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Friday, 29 November, that he had a phone call with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre. Source: Zelensky in his evening address; European Pravda reports Details: The president noted that during the conversation, he thanked Norway for increasing its support for Ukraine for the next year and discussed "joint actions for the near future". "We will expand our cooperation in arms production in Ukraine and in efforts to protect our energy sector," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president also noted that he and the Norwegian prime minister "discussed cooperation with Norway in the field of air defence". Background: Earlier, the Norwegian parliament voted to increase support for Ukraine to NOK 35 billion (about US$3.16 billion) in 2025. Last year, Norway approved the NOK 75 billion (about US$6.8 billion) Nansen long-term support programme, which provides Ukraine with NOK 15 billion (about US$1.36 billion) annually until 2027. However, this year, the country's authorities proposed to increase funding for the programme to 135 billion euros and extend it for another three years, until 2030. Support UP or become our patron! President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has acknowledged the possibility of Ukraine signing a "ceasefire agreement" if the Ukrainian-controlled territory is brought "under the NATO umbrella". Source: Zelenskyy in an interview with Sky News; European Pravda reports Details: Zelenskyy was asked to respond to media reports that one of US President-elect Donald Trump's plans to end the war could be for Kyiv to give up the Russian-occupied territories in exchange for Ukraine's accession to NATO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president said that the Ukraine-controlled part of the country could be offered NATO membership to end the "hot phase of the war", provided that the invitation to the Alliance recognises Ukraine's internationally recognised borders. "If we want to stop the hot phase of the war, we need to take under the NATO umbrella the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control. We need to do it fast. And then [as for] the [occupied] territory of Ukraine, Ukraine can get [it] back in a diplomatic way," he added. Zelenskyy said the ceasefire is necessary to "guarantee that Putin will not come back" to seize more Ukrainian territory. And NATO should "immediately" secure the territory controlled by Ukraine, which is needed "very much, otherwise he (Putin - ed.) will come back". Background: The invitation to NATO is the first point of Ukraine's Victory Plan, which was publicly presented by Kyiv in October. At the same time, inviting a country at war and with occupied territories poses a dilemma for NATO. Zelenskyy's statement on the possible freezing of the war in Ukraine came against the backdrop of the election of Republican Donald Trump as president of the United States. Trump has promised to end the Russo-Ukrainian war "in 24 hours", although he did not specify how. Media reports indicate that Mike Waltz, Trump's future national security adviser, has been considering several proposals to end the war in Ukraine. The US president-elect announced that he is going to appoint retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg as the special representative for Ukraine and Russia. Support UP or become our patron! Despite financial challenges plaguing its parent company, the Volkswagen Group, Audi has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to Formula 1. In a move that strengthens the German manufacturer's project, Audi has confirmed its strategic partnership with the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), to which it has sold a minority stake in its Sauber F1 team. Addressing concerns at the Qatar Grand Prix, Audi CEO Gernot Dollner emphasized that the partnership wasn't a cost-saving measure due to Volkswagen's struggles. "We have a business plan, and it's a business for us," he asserted. This F1 project is an integral part of the transformation story of Audi. You can't build a future by only saving money. You have to invest. And we have to transform the company, the Audi company. We believe that the F1 project is an integral part of that transition of Audi." The sale of a reported 30% stake to QIA, worth an estimated $350 million, injects capital directly into Sauber. This move is seen as pivotal in accelerating Audi's journey to competitiveness ahead of its planned entry as a works team in 2026. Read also: Dollner refuted suggestions that the deal was a reaction to VW's financial pressures, stating that discussions with QIA began long before recent developments at the German carmaker. Not at all," he said. "When I stepped in as CEO of Audi, we had a review of the project, and the question was how to proceed. And that was one year ago. "Part of the decision to really go all in and continue this program was that we have to think bigger, and to think bigger in the context of a complex transition phase the whole industry is in. "So we decided to take in partners as other teams do, to be able to really build a strong team. So it's not related. "We started the meetings exactly one year ago. On the 29th of November, QIA, for the first time, visited our facilities in Neuburg, and were able to see the passion and the professionalism the team has." While details of QIA's involvement are still unfolding, Dollner assured that Audi would maintain its role as the team's title sponsor from 2026 onward, also noting that discussions about whether QIA-affiliated brands would gain naming rights were ongoing, with no decisions made yet. "We are right now having a broad view on that. No decisions made so far," he said. It will definitely be Audi as title sponsor of the team. And however the constellation is, the future will show." Sauber COO Mattia Binotto welcomed the QIA investment as a crucial step in transforming the team into a front-runner. He stressed that the financial support would help bridge the gap to the leading F1 teams, positioning Audi-Sauber for long-term success. "I think at the end, it is whatever is needed to bring the team to become a winning team," Binotto said. "And if you look [at] the gap to the top teams and the winning teams today, certainly there is a lot which is needed." Audi's partnership with QIA marks a significant milestone in its Formula 1 journey, underscoring its resolve to compete at the pinnacle of motorsport. Despite the challenges faced by its parent company, the German manufacturer is pressing ahead with its ambitious plans, signaling a potentially bright future for the Audi-Sauber collaboration. Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has replaced Oleksandr Pavliuk, the former commander of the Ground Forces of Ukraines Armed Forces, with Mykhailo Drapatyi. Source: Zelenskyy on social media Details: Zelenskyy announced the decision after a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff on 29 November. The president noted that Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi had successfully organised defence on the Kharkiv front and disrupted the Russian offensive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, Zelenskyy announced the appointment of Colonel Oleh Apostol, an experienced commander of the 95th Separate Air Assault Brigade, as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Photo: Armiia Inform As of 17:00, no decrees regarding this appointment have been published on the president's official website. Updated: The decrees were published soon after. Background: On 11 February, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Oleksandr Pavliuk as the head of the Ground Forces, replacing Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi. Support UP or become our patron! On Friday, 29 November, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a telephone call with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron. Source: Zelenskyy on Twitter (X), as reported by European Pravda Details: During the conversation, Zelenskyy thanked France for its readiness "to assist with urgently strengthening Ukraines air defence, as well as for its comprehensive defence support and the expedited process for transferring Mirage aircraft". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "I deeply appreciate Frances understanding of the challenges we face. We had a detailed discussion on how to enhance air defence and protect the lives of our people," he added. Zelenskyy said he had "emphasised the importance of Ukraine's invitation to NATO", the expansion of the countrys long-range capabilities, and further training and equipping Ukrainian troops both in NATO member states and on Ukrainian soil. Background: The first batch of Mirage 2000-5s that France intends to supply to Ukraine early in 2025 will contain three aircraft, according to information obtained by the French media outside official channels. It was also reported that Ukraine has asked NATO to invite it to join the military alliance at a meeting next week. Support UP or become our patron! On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, during which the chancellor shared details of his telephone conversations with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. Source: European Pravda; Volodymyr Zelenskyy on X (Twitter) Details: Zelenskyy said he thanked Scholz for Germany's leadership in supporting Ukraine, especially for strengthening air defence with Patriot and IRIS-T systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They also discussed decisive joint steps that could further strengthen Ukraine's ability to defend itself. Quote from Zelenskyy: "Increasing pressure on Russia and strengthening Ukraines positions on all fronts are critical to forcing the aggressor to real peace." The head of state said Chancellor Scholz also shared the details of his conversation with Putin. In this regard, Zelenskyy stressed that only the combined power of weapons and diplomacy can force the one responsible for this war to end it. Quote from Zelenskyy: "True peace can only be achieved through strength." Background: On 15 November, it was revealed that Scholz had spoken with Putin for the first time in two years. Zelenskyy referred to the call as "a Pandora's box". Recently, Scholz once again defended his controversial conversation with Putin. Recently, Scholz once again defended his controversial phone call with Putin. Support UP or become our patron! Theres a new interpreter at the New Hampshire DMV. Its name is Pocketalk, and it retails for a little under $300. As the demand for assistance in languages other than English rises, the DMV is hoping that the new technology will expand their language capacity. It's been really positive so far, said Administrator Kathy ONeal. We've seen people come back with their friends now that we can offer this service to them. Pocketalk is a portable translator. Twenty of these devices were implemented earlier this summer and have text-to-speech capabilities in over 80 languages. Unlike a human interpreter, they are available on request at all full-time DMV locations throughout the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ONeal saw the Pocketalk at a conference she went to in Wisconsin about a year ago. So far, ONeal said that the Pocket Talk has gotten a lot of good reviews and other state agencies have visited the DMV to see it in action. Despite the expanded capabilities, the tech still has limitations. It takes a long time to take the knowledge test with the Pocketalk because of the text-to-speech feature. Its slightly better at saying things like turn left or stop at the corner during a driving test. Even though the DMV has used it for both tests, ONeil said the pocket talk shines with paperwork. It's really meant for simple conversations, not full length conversations, ONeal said. Customers, they're here, they want a title or they want an ID, so we ask, Please fill this out. Do you have this? Do you have that? The DMV estimated they helped 3,600 customers in a language that wasnt English last year. ONeal didnt have numbers for previous years, but she said that the demand is definitely growing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the added language capabilities, DMV administrators are quick to point out that this isnt a case of robots replacing humans. Shah Sherazi is a supervisor at the DMV and speaks Hindi, Urdu, Pashto and English, although he can also understand Farsi and Arabic. As someone who uses his language skills daily, he says theres always a switch when customers realize he speaks their language. Sometimes they were scared, like they don't know how to do it and maybe somebody will reject their application, he said. So what I always do is I would prefer to talk in their language, and they will feel more comfortable. Director John Marasco pointed out that getting a U.S. drivers license can be a really big deal for immigrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We don't want anybody coming to the DMV that's worried about, am I going to have a good experience? Am I going to be successful? So the language translation, I think first and foremost, alleviates those concerns, he said. Marasco is also looking for ways to make speakers of other languages more comfortable at the DMV. In addition to providing Pocketalks, hes looking at increasing language accessibility by hiring more multilingual staff and looking for grants to translate the manuals into other languages. We don't have a subway system here. You can't just always walk to everything, he said. Getting that license and being mobile is important and this allows people to have that opportunity and not let language stand in the way. These articles are being shared by partners in the Granite State News Collaborative. For more information, visit collaborativenh.org. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: New translation tech helps New Hampshire DMV expand language access By Jonathan Stempel and Carolina Mandl (Reuters) -BlackRock, Vanguard and State Street have been sued by Texas and 10 other Republican-led states, which said the large asset managers violated antitrust law through climate activism that reduced coal production and boosted energy prices. Wednesday's complaint filed in the federal court in Tyler, Texas, is among the highest-profile lawsuits targeting efforts to promote environmental, social and governance goals, or ESG. The defendants were accused of exploiting their market power and involvement in climate advocacy groups to pressure coal companies to slash output and reduce carbon emissions from coal by more than 50% by 2030, driving up consumers' utility bills. "Competitive markets -- not the dictates of far-flung asset managers -- should determine the price Americans pay for electricity," the states said in the complaint. BlackRock, Vanguard and State Street together have more than $26 trillion of assets under management. In a statement, BlackRock said any suggestion it invested in coal producers to harm them was "baseless and defies common sense. This lawsuit undermines Texas' pro-business reputation and discourages investments in the companies consumers rely on." State Street also said on Friday the lawsuit is "baseless" and that it invests "with a focus on enhancing shareholder value." "We look forward to presenting the facts through the legal process," the firm wrote in a statement. Vanguard did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The 11 states also include Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, West Virginia and Wyoming. Republicans have long explored using U.S. antitrust laws to target alleged collusion among investment managers to advance climate-related goals. Climate advocates, in contrast, view assessing environmental risks as essential to determining what investments are worth. BIG STAKES IN COAL COMPANIES The states objected to BlackRock, Vanguard and State Street allegedly pressuring coal companies for change starting in 2021. They also criticized the defendants' membership in the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative, which says members are committed to complying with all antitrust laws, and BlackRock's and State Street's membership in Climate Action 100+. Vanguard left the Net Zero initiative in 2022, while BlackRock and State Street left Climate Action 100+ in February. But the states said the withdrawals did not negate the "ongoing and future threat" of continued pressure. (Bloomberg) -- Pony AI Inc.s American depositary shares erased an early pop to decline 7.7% in their trading debut after raising $413.4 million in an initial public offering and concurrent private placements, after delaying the pricing by a week. Most Read from Bloomberg The Chinese autonomous driving startups shares closed at $12 each on Wednesday in New York, below the IPO price. The company sold 20 million ADS in the offering for $13 per ADS, the top of the marketed range, to raise $260 million. Separately, a group of investors agreed to buy $153.4 million worth of ordinary shares from the company in a private placement. One ADS is equivalent to one ordinary share. The pricing gives the Guangzhou-based firm a market value of $4.2 billion, based on the outstanding ADS. Ponys pricing was pushed back from last week as the firm increased the deal size and addressed regulator questions, Bloomberg News reported. Uber Technologies Inc. was among those indicating interest in Pony AI shares, people familiar with the matter have said. The IPO adds to the modest revival in Chinese companies listing in the US, led by auto firms including self-driving car company WeRide Inc. and EV maker Zeekr Intelligent Technology Holding Ltd. With Ponys offering, Chinese companies have raised $1.2 billion via US IPOs this year, nearly double the amount in the same period in 2023 but below the heights seen during the pandemic. A unit of state-owned automaker Beijing Automotive Group Co., and the venture capital arm of Singaporean taxi firm ComfortDelGro Corp. had indicated an interest in purchasing as much as roughly $75 million worth of Ponys offering, according to an earlier filing. Pony develops and operates self-driving vehicles including trucks and robotaxis in the US and China. The company has permits to provide fully driverless taxi services in Beijing, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, and has a fleet of over 250 robotaxis as well as over 190 robotrucks. Its limited US-based testing involves no more than 10 vehicles, the filings show. The company is tapping US capital markets as President-elect Donald Trumps second administration considers moves that could ramp up competition in the autonomous-driving sector, where the US and China are neck and neck in funding. The two countries also have the most robotaxi startups globally. Pony.ais backers also include Saudi Arabias Neom Co., the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board and HongShan Capital Group, the firm formerly known as Sequoia Capital China. The company has a joint venture with Guangzhou Automobile Group and the Chinese arm of Toyota Motor Corp. State lawmakers are considering making it a traffic violation to operate a vehicle in Arizona with an animal on the drivers lap. The violation would come with a fine. Do you agree? You voted: The New York Cafe, celebrated as the worlds most beautiful cafe and now 130 years old, has reached another milestone. Starting 13 December and running until 6 January, the iconic establishment on Erzsebet Boulevard will introduce night-time opening hours from midnight to 4 AM on a trial basis. This new schedule aims to offer more people the chance to experience Budapests jewel in an exclusive and serene atmosphere. If successful, nighttime service with a dedicated menu will launch in March. The December nighttime opening is designed to let guests avoid long waits and enjoy the magic of the cafe in peace. To match the nighttime ambiance, special lighting will be installed, and a life-sized figure of El Asmodaj, the torch-holding demon on the facade, will move inside to become a popular photo attraction. Additionally, designated selfie spots will be created, providing perfect settings for memorable pictures. Legend has it that when the cafe first opened, Hungarian writer Ferenc Molnar wished for the place never to close, throwing its keys into the Danube to seal his wish. Now, 130 years later, this dream comes true with nighttime hours. Table reservations will be available through the cafes website. If the concept proves successful, a special nighttime menu will also be introduced in March for guests enjoying the historic ambiance. To mark its 130th anniversary, the cafe has created a special cake combining apricot and chocolate flavours, which will be available to guests throughout the year. The New York Cafe serves 2,500 to 3,000 guests daily, totalling over 1 million visitors annually. This extraordinary challenge requires meticulous organization, and the team at CER Ltd., which operates the cafe as part of the Eventrend Group, is committed to meeting this proud responsibility with the highest level of professionalism. Since being named the worlds most beautiful cafe by Ucityguides.com in 2011, the New York Cafes popularity has remained unshaken. It has since appeared in every iconic travel guide, thanks to its professional management, show-like programs, and high-quality service despite its large volume of guests. Today, the New York Cafe is rightfully considered a must-see attraction in Budapest, ranking among the citys most sought-after sights. The Eventrend Group boasts over three decades of experience in operating cafes, restaurants, hotels, and event management. The group currently oversees 31 projects and employs around 1,000 staff members. Among its approximately 20 gastronomic ventures are iconic names such as the Gundel Restaurant, New York Cafe, Central Cafe, Spoon the Boat, Foorseg Cafe, Varosliget Cafe, Sef Asztala, Symbol, and the Groupama Arena. Additionally, the company manages catering at Mupa and 79 unique event rooms across 24 venues in Budapest. Source: Dailynewshungary.com - republished with permission Hyundai Tucson Safety Rating: As vehicle safety is becoming a bigger priority for Indian car buyers, we have witnessed more 5-star safety-rated vehicles compared to a decade ago. The introduction of Bharat NCAP last year has further pushed Indian automakers to build stronger and safer vehicles. Recently, many models have earned 5-star safety ratings at both Global NCAP and Bharat NCAP. The latest to join this list is the petrol-powered Hyundai Tucson, which achieved a 5-star rating in Bharat NCAP tests. The Hyundai Tucson scored 30.84 out of 32 points for adult occupancy and 41 out of 49 points for child occupancy, resulting in a 5-star safety rating in both categories. According to the Bharat NCAP website, the ratings apply to both the Platinum and Signature trims of the SUV. It was tested by the autonomous body in September this year. In the adult occupancy protection (AOP), it scored 14.84 points out of 16 in the front offset deformable barrier test and a perfect 16 out of 16 in the side movable deformable barrier test. For child occupancy protection (COP), Tucson scored full marks in the Dynamic and CRS installation tests, with 24 out of 24 and 12 out of 12 points, respectively. The tests used dummies representing an 18-month-old and a 3-year-old child. In India, the Hyundai Tucson is priced from Rs 29.02 lakh to Rs 35.94 lakh (ex-showroom). The petrol variants cost between Rs 29.02 lakh and Rs 31.69 lakh. Notably, it comes with two engine options: a 2.0L petrol engine delivering 154 bhp and 192 Nm of torque, and a 2.0L diesel engine producing 184 bhp and 416 Nm of torque. The petrol version has a 6-speed automatic gearbox, while the diesel gets an 8-speed automatic transmission with an optional all-wheel-drive system. As 2024 comes to a close, India is gearing up for a delightful series of literature festivals that will captivate book lovers everywhere. These gatherings celebrate the beauty of writing and offer authors, poets, and readers a chance to connect, learn, and exchange thoughts. No matter your taste in booksbe it fiction, poetry, history, or modern writingtheres something for everyone at these upcoming festivals. Let's take a look at five of the most awaited literature festivals happening in December that you definitely wont want to miss! 1. Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) December 2024 Where: Jaipur, Rajasthan When: December 2024 (Exact dates coming soon) The Jaipur Literature Festival is a standout event in Indias literary scene, drawing in writers, thinkers, and cultural figures from all around the globe. Set against the backdrop of the stunning Diggi Palace, this festival transforms Jaipur into a lively center for literary discussions. You can look forward to a wide variety of sessions, including talks from authors, book launches, and panels on topics like politics, history, and the arts. With many renowned writers attending, JLF is a must for anyone who loves books, culture, and learning. 2. Kolkata Literary Meet (KLM) December 2024 Where: Kolkata, West Bengal When: December 2024 (Exact dates coming soon) Known as Indias cultural hub, Kolkata hosts a literary festival that is both intimate and intellectually stimulating. The Kolkata Literary Meet (KLM) brings together a wonderful mix of Indian and international writers, journalists, and scholars. With a blend of contemporary and historical literature, you can expect engaging discussions, readings, and chances to interact with authors across all genres. Held at the historic Victoria Memorial Hall, this festival combines great literature with a touch of history, all while enjoying the beautiful surroundings of Kolkata. 3. Bengaluru Literature Festival (BLF) December 2024 Where: Bengaluru, Karnataka When: December 2024 (Exact dates coming soon) If youre in the southern part of India, the Bengaluru Literature Festival is a highlight worth attending. Known for its lively programming, this festival is a vibrant gathering of writers, thinkers, and storytellers celebrating the art of literature. Expect a mix of book launches, engaging conversations, and workshops that create a space for book lovers to explore fresh ideas, discover new writers, and dive into thought-provoking discussions. It's a perfect venue for established authors and new voices to connect with readers and share their stories. 4. Mumbai Literature Festival (MLF) December 2024 Where: Mumbai, Maharashtra When: December 2024 (Exact dates coming soon) In the bustling city of Mumbai, one of the countrys most lively literary festivals takes place. The Mumbai Literature Festival (MLF) is brimming with energy, featuring an exciting array of literature, culture, and engaging dialogue. With panels that include well-known authors, book signings, and interactive events, MLF presents a fantastic mix of literary talent. Whether you enjoy fiction, non-fiction, or poetry, this festival is the perfect place to connect with thought leaders from various fields, covering a range of topics from global affairs to storytelling in Bollywood. 5. Delhi Literature Festival (DLF) December 2024 Where: New Delhi When: December 2024 (Exact dates coming soon) The Delhi Literature Festival is a grand celebration that attracts book enthusiasts from all over India and beyond. Taking place every year in the capital, DLF is celebrated for its diverse range of activities, addressing everything from classic literature to contemporary stories. The festival features a variety of events, including author readings, discussions, workshops, and literary awards. With strong attention on both Indian and international literature, DLF encourages cultural conversation, giving authors a platform to share their work and audiences a chance to explore literary traditions and current topics. Its a wonderful opportunity for book lovers to engage with some of todays most influential writers. Why You Should Attend a Literature Festival Attending these festivals is about so much more than just hearing book readings. Theyre a chance to meet your favorite authors, take part in creative writing workshops, join in on stimulating debates, and immerse yourself in Indias rich literary culture. Whether your interests lie in history, fiction, poetry, or current events, these festivals foster an environment where you can learn, share, and find inspiration. They celebrate both the past and future of literature, allowing you to connect with fellow book lovers and engage in meaningful discussions that extend beyond the words on the page. India's literature festivals truly reflect the countrys love for storytelling, creativity, and thoughtful exploration. As December approaches, these festivals are set to offer unforgettable experiences for book lovers, writers, and thinkers alike. Whether you plan to attend one or all of them, these upcoming literary events are a fantastic way to wrap up 2024. So, save the dates, get ready, and prepare to immerse yourself in the world of literature! (This article is intended for your general information only. Zee News does not vouch for its accuracy or reliability.) New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Friday said the allegations against the Adani Group top executives were a legal matter involving private firms and individuals and the US Department of Justice. In the weekly press briefing, Jaiswal informed the reporters that there are established procedures and legal avenues in such cases which India believes would be followed. He also apprised the media that the Indian government "was not informed in advance on the issue." "Any request by a foreign government for service of summons/arrest warrant is part of mutual legal assistance. Such requests are examined on merits. We have not received any request on this case from the US side," the spokesperson said, referring to reports of summons against Adani Group's top management. Jaiswal reiterated that the matter pertains to private individuals and private entities and the Government of India is not legally a part of it in any manner, at this point in time. In its latest response, the Adani Group has refuted the alleged bribery allegations made by the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against Group's founder and Chairman Gautam Adani his nephew Sagar Adani and MD CEO Adani Green Energy Vineet Jaain. In its filing to the exchanges, Adani Green Energy Ltd cited the news reporting on the alleged bribery and corruption charges against Adani group Officials as 'incorrect' "Media articles which state that certain of our directors namely Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and Vineet Jain have been charged with violation(s) of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in the indictment. Such statements are incorrect," read the statement by Adani Green Energy Ltd. Recently, a five-count criminal indictment was unsealed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, charging prominent Indian executives, including Chairman of the Adani Group, Gautam Adani, by linking them to an alleged bribery and fraud scheme. An Adani Group spokesperson in an official statement had said all legal recourse would be taken. The Adani Group also reaffirmed its dedication to high standards of governance, compliance, and transparency across its operations. New Delhi: As the prices of gold and silver continue to rise amid geo-political tensions, ace global investor Jim Rogers has an advice for people: stay invested in precious metals and nothing can teach us better about bullion than Indian women. In an interaction with IANS on Thursday, Rogers, who is known for his expertise and strategic insights, said he owns both gold and silver. Everybody should own gold and silver. That is one thing I learned in India where women in the markets taught me a lot about gold and silver, he quipped. If I were buying one today, I would buy silver because it's cheaper. I hope I'm smart enough to buy more of both if they go down in price, Rogers added. According to a recent report by the World Gold Council (WGC), the demand in India surged 18 per cent (year-on-year_ to 248.3 tonnes in the September quarter due to a rise in jewellery consumption and investment in gold. In terms of value, India's gold demand during the quarter surged 52 per cent (on-year) to Rs 1.65 lakh crore compared with Rs 1.08 lakh crore in the same period last year. India's demand for gold jewellery rose 10 per cent on year to 171.6 tonnes in the September quarter owing to weddings and the festive season. On mutual funds (MFs), Rogers said if people know what they're doing, everybody should invest in MFs because it's a way to have better prosperity. But do not invest unless you know what you're doing yourself. Don't listen to other people. Only invest in what you know a lot about. But if you know a lot about something, you should find investments and have success, the veteran global investor told IANS. I sold my investments in India too soon. I will invest more in India as the country has a brighter future, said Rogers, the American millionaire based in Singapore. New Delhi: At a time when serious questions are being asked about a slew of serious allegations against Securities and Exchange Board of India Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch, another top-level appointment at the country's capital market regulator is learned to be raising eyebrows. Shikha Gupta, former head of taxation at Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL), is likely to be appointed as Executive Director (ED) at the market regulator, sources told Zee Business. Several SEBI officers and employees are learned to have opposed the choice of Gupta's name as an external candidate for the post. "There seems to be a lot of dissatisfaction among SEBI officers and employees regarding this appointment," according to the sources. Sebi workers want one of the several internal aspirants available to be considered for the post, the sources said. Questions are also being raised about the correction between Gupta and the current Chairperson Buch, whose husband Dhaval Buch has served at the private sector FMCG giant for years. This is not the first time such a situation has arisen. In 2022, a similar situation was observed when ICICI Bank's Pramod Rao was named Executive Director at the regulator. ICICI Bank is where Buch served the longest stint in her career. (This story has been taken from ZeeBusiness.) New Delhi: Many companies allocate various funds to be spent on employees, however in a bizarre case, that was shared in social media, a woman spent nearly 1.7 lakh for her own farewell party from the company's tab and that too without resigning. In a post, shared in Reditt, the startup owner has said, while she was away for business, her employee used company credit card to pay for her massive farewell party, without even quitting her job. The woman said that she owns a mid-sized tech consulting firm and hired a new assistant called Lily a few months ago. The 26 year old assistant Lily has been described as 'competent' by the owner, though 'she had a quirky personality and sometimes blurred professional lines' found the latter. "Last week, I was out of town for a conference, and while I was away. Lily emailed everyone in the company, announcing she was "leaving to pursue new horizons" and threw herself a massive farewell party at the office. She used the company credit card to order catering, decorations, custom cake, and even arranged for a bartender to set up a drink station in the break room. The total bill was close to $2,000 (Approx Rs 1.7 lakh). The woman said that she was shocked to find that she didn't receive a resignation from her assistant when she came back, because the employee hadn't actually quit! "When I confronted her, she said she was "testing" how much people appreciated her and wanted to see if anyone would "convince her to stay." She called it a "social experiment." I was furious and fired her on the spot for misuse of company funds and deceptive behavior. Now, she's blowing up on social media, claiming I'm a "soulless boss" who has "no respect for mental health and personal exploration." She says! should have appreciated her "creative way of bonding with the team," said the owner. CAT Response Sheet 2024: The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta has released the IIM CAT 2024 response sheet on November 29, 2024. Candidates who appeared for the Common Admission Test can access and download the answer key from the official IIM CAT website at iimcat.ac.in. Based on previous years, the answer key is typically published within 10 days of the exam date. The CAT 2024 exam was conducted on November 24, 2024, across three sessions: the first session from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM, the second from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM, and the third from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM, at various test centres across 170 cities nationwide. Additionally, the objection window for the answer key will be opened. Candidates wishing to challenge the key will need to pay a processing fee for each objection. The objection window will remain open for a few days to allow candidates to submit their challenges. CAT Response Sheet 2024: Here's how to download Go to the official IIM CAT website at iimcat.ac.in. Enter your login details to access the response sheet. Review the response sheet and save the page. Download and print the page for future reference. The CAT 2024 scorecards will be available on the official CAT website. Candidates will also be notified individually via SMS. The results are expected to be announced by the second week of January 2025. The CAT 2024 score will remain valid until December 31, 2025, and will be accessible on the website until then. Approximately 2.9 lakh candidates have reportedly taken the MBA admission test. Admission to IIMs will be based on CAT scores along with the specific admission criteria set by each IIM. In addition to the IIMs, CAT scores are also accepted by many top MBA colleges across the country. For instance, IIM Ahmedabad requires a CAT percentile of 80, while IIM Bangalore has set its requirement at a 90 percentile. DCI said: We direct all our employees and consultants to comply with the law. In a statement, Exxon said it has not been involved in or aware of any hacking activities, calling allegations to the contrary conspiracy theories. Reuters could not determine whether Exxon itself has also been the subject of the FBI investigation. Exxon and DCI parted ways around 2020, according to two people familiar with the matter. The group, the National Association of Manufacturers, said it was not aware of the allegation the material had been hacked and will consider whether to stop using it in future briefs. The stolen material continues to be used today to counter litigation claiming the oil giant misled the public and its investors about the risks of climate change. As recently as April, an industry trade group that has received funding from Exxon cited one of the hacked documents an internal memo sketching out the proposed litigation strategy of the environmentalists in an effort to get the Supreme Court to quash a lawsuit filed by the city of Honolulu against Exxon and other energy companies. The case is pending. Some environmental activists interviewed by Reuters say the hacking operation disrupted preparations for lawsuits by cities and state attorneys general against Exxon and other energy companies. Those lawsuits were modeled on litigation against the tobacco industry in the mid-1990s, which resulted in a watershed settlement and sweeping restrictions on cigarette sales. In an effort to push a narrative that Exxon was the target of a political vendetta aimed at destroying its business, some of the stolen material was subsequently leaked to the media by DCI, Reuters determined. The Federal Bureau of Investigation found that DCI shared the information with Exxon before leaking it, the source said. The scheme allegedly began in late 2015, when U.S. authorities contend that the names of the hacking targets were compiled by the DCI Group, a public affairs and lobbying company working for Exxon at the time, one of the sources said. DCI provided the names to an Israeli private detective, who then outsourced the hacking, according to the source. The operation involved mercenary hackers who successfully breached the email accounts of environmental activists and others, the sources told Reuters. WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The FBI has been investigating a longtime Exxon Mobil consultant over the contractor's alleged role in a hack-and-leak operation that targeted hundreds of the oil companys biggest critics, according to three people familiar with the matter. Story Continues The leaks sent a shudder through the environmental community, said Kert Davies, director of investigations for an environmental group, the Center for Climate Integrity. Davies was among those targeted by the hackers. Matt Pawa, an attorney whose strategy drove much of the anti-Exxon litigation, said the leaks fueled a legal counteroffensive that nearly knocked him out of business. Those documents were directly employed by Exxon to come after me with all guns blazing, he said in a recent interview. It turned my life upside down. The investigation into the hack-and-leak operation comes amid growing concern among law enforcement agencies worldwide about how such cyberespionage schemes threaten to taint judicial proceedings. The FBI has been investigating the broader use of mercenary hackers to tamper with lawsuits since early 2018, Reuters has previously reported. The Israeli private detective hired by DCI, Amit Forlit, was arrested this year at Londons Heathrow Airport and is fighting extradition to the United States on charges of hacking and wire fraud. U.S. law enforcement authorities declined to comment on their efforts. They have not spoken publicly about the case against Forlit, which remains under seal. But in court hearings earlier this year, British lawyers acting on behalf of the American government alleged that Forlit had carried out hack-for-hire work for a Washington-based PR and lobbying firm and that he worked on behalf of an oil and gas corporation which wanted to discredit individuals involved in climate change litigation. In those hearings, the energy company and the lobbying firm were not identified. Federal prosecutors have secured a related conviction: that of Forlits former business associate, private investigator Aviram Azari. Azari pleaded guilty in 2022 to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit hacking and aggravated identity theft, which included targeting the environmental activists. In court files, prosecutors did not assert any link between Azari and Exxon, DCI or Forlit. But one of the sources with knowledge of the FBI investigation said Forlit outsourced the hacking of the environmental activists to Azari. Forlits attorneys did not respond to messages from Reuters seeking comment. A lawyer for Azari, Barry Zone, declined to comment. Addressing his victims after he was sentenced last year to 80 months in prison, Azari said that there will come a day when he could provide more information about what he had done. You don't know everything," he said. CODENAME FOX HUNT The hack-and-leak operation came on the heels of a series of media reports in 2015 contending that scientists at Exxon knew for decades that fossil fuels were warming the Earth as the company's top executives publicly said otherwise. Exxon has said that its internal research and public positions on climate change have been misinterpreted. Under the hashtag ExxonKnew, groups such as Greenpeace called for legal action. So did then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who said the Department of Justice should probe the firm because theres a lot of evidence they misled people. In November 2015, New Yorks attorney general, Eric Schneiderman, announced he was investigating Exxon. Other suits followed. With Exxon on the defensive, DCI swung into action to protect what was then one of the firms most important clients. Reuters interviewed a dozen former DCI employees to piece together the firms relationship with Exxon. Founded in 1996 by veterans of Republican politics, DCI has worked for a variety of tobacco, telecom, hedge fund and energy firms. On its website, DCI says it handles public relations crises, litigation support, and opposition research. Five former DCI employees said Exxon was long one of DCIs biggest sources of revenue. One ex-employee said the oil giant regularly steered more than $10 million in business a year to DCI. Lobbying work alone for Exxon earned DCI at least $3 million between 2005 and 2016, according to publicly available data gathered by the transparency website OpenSecrets. DCIs staff in Washington kept track of social media chatter around the ExxonKnew campaign as well as moves made by state attorneys general, according to two people familiar with the matter. DCI also hired the Israeli detective Forlit, who tapped Azari to hack the accounts, according to one of the sources familiar with the FBI investigation. The operations code name was Fox Hunt, the source said. Azari was the subject of a 2022 Reuters investigation that revealed how he and other private investigators used mercenary hackers in India to help wealthy clients gain the upper hand in legal cases. The report drew on a large dataset of Indian hacking activity, which shows that the spies tried to break into more than 13,000 email addresses over a seven-year period. Among the targets were more than 500 email addresses belonging to environmentalists, their funders, their colleagues and their family members, all of whom were targeted between 2015 and 2018. Some details of the hacking campaign previously have been made public. In 2020 the Canadian digital watchdog group Citizen Lab identified 10 organizations targeted in a sweeping cyberespionage effort, including Greenpeace, the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Rockefeller Family Fund. Reuters has learned the identity of other prominent targets, which include former Democratic presidential candidate and billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer, and the ex-wife of Schneiderman, New Yorks then-attorney general. Steyer's lawyers did not respond to requests for comment. In an email, Schneiderman's ex-wife and former political adviser, Jennifer Cunningham, said she had long suspected that Exxon was behind the hack-and-leak effort. Beginning in April 2016, news reports appeared alleging the ExxonKnew campaign was a politicized effort pushed by wealthy benefactors. Within 24 hours of one another, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Free Beacon published stories based on an internal memo circulated about a meeting at the offices of the Rockefeller Family Fund. The memo said participants planned to discuss how to convince the public that Exxon is a corrupt institution and delegitimize them as a political actor. The person with knowledge of the law enforcement investigation said the FBI assessed that the memo was obtained via the Forlit-led hacking operation. Separately, Reuters determined that the memo was subsequently leaked to the media by DCI. Washington Free Beacon editor Eliana Johnson said that the paper did not comment on sourcing. The Wall Street Journal did not immediately return a message seeking comment. Exxons lawyers repeatedly drew on the hacked documents to support the companys litigation. After the New York attorney general filed suit against Exxon in 2018, for instance, the energy companys lawyers cited the stolen Rockefeller meeting memo to argue that the case should be thrown out. The lawyer representing Exxon, Theodore Wells, told New Yorks Supreme Court in his October 2019 opening statement that Schneiderman had improperly formed a political alignment with activists for the purpose of advancing an agenda directed at energy companies. New York lost the case two months later, when a judge ruled that the attorney general failed to prove that Exxon had defrauded investors by hiding the true cost of climate change regulation. In an interview, Schneiderman said the leaked documents were used to great effect to bolster what he called Exxons baseless claim that we were engaged in a politically motivated witch hunt. Wells and his law firm, Paul Weiss, did not respond to messages seeking comment. The memo or other hacked documents were also cited in court filings by Exxon against attorneys general in Massachusetts and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as in the company's 2018 effort to depose climate change attorney Pawa and other lawyers. Much of the litigation is ongoing. On Tuesday, Maine became the ninth U.S. state to file a lawsuit accusing oil companies or allied groups of deceiving the public about climate change. Pawa said the industry has continued to invoke the hacked files in its effort to push back. They were used over and over again, he told Reuters. The net effect, he said, was chilling people from exercising their constitutional rights. (Reporting by Raphael Satter and Christopher Bing in Washington; editing by Chris Sanders and Blake Morrison) Jammu: Police on Thursday arrested two terror associates allegedly conspiring to execute subversive activities in Doda and Udhampur districts of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. A police team arrested a hardcore terror associate named Firdous Ahmed Wani from the Dandi area in Doda districts Bhaderwah belt based on credible intelligence, they said. The accused was reportedly in contact with terrorist handlers across the border through various social media platforms. He was actively working to revive militancy in Doda by establishing a foothold for anti-national elements in the area, officials said. A thorough search of the suspect and his residence led to the recovery of incriminating materials and documents, which have been seized for further investigation, they added. The accused was allegedly conspiring to execute subversive activities in and around Doda in collaboration with active terrorists and handlers operating from Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (POK), police said. In another operation, police arrested a hardcore terror associate under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) in Udhampur, officials said. The accused has been identified as Abdul Satar from Ponara Soni, who was involved in multiple terror cases, working as an active guide and facilitator for terrorist organisations until his arrest, they added. Several FIRs were registered against him at the Basantgarh police station, police said. Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel has appointed a three-member Judicial Inquiry Commission, led by Justice Devendra Kumar Arora (Retired) of the Allahabad High Court, to investigate the stone-pelting incident in Sambhal, ensuring a transparent and quality inquiry. As per the order, the commission will include Retired IAS Amit Mohan Prasad and Retired IPS Arvind Kumar Jain as its other two members. On the other hand, the Committee of Management of Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, moved the Supreme Court against the November 19 order of the local court for the survey of the mosque. A bench led by Chief Justice of India, Justice Sanjiv Khanna will hear the petition of Sambhal Jama Masjid on Friday. Earlier, the stone-pelting incident took place during the ASI's examination of the Mughal-era mosque on November 24, resulting in the deaths of four people and injuries to several others, including officials and locals. "The Governor thinks that it is necessary to conduct an inquiry in the public interest concerning the violent incident that took place on November 24, during the survey of disputed Jama Masjid- Harihar Mandir Site in Town Sambhal, Police Station- Kotwali Sambhal, District-Sambhal during the compliance of the order passed by the Court in which many Police personnel were injured, four persons lost their lives, and various properties were damaged," the order said. "Now, therefore, in view of the comprehensiveness of the subject matter and to ensure transparency and quality of inquiry, in exercising the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952 (Act No. 60 of 1952), the Governor hereby constitutes the following three-member Judicial Inquiry Commission to be headed by Justice Devendra Kumar Arora (Retired), High Court, Allahabad," it added. According to the order, the commission will report on whether the incident was planned or a "sudden" event, and also on the effectiveness of law and order arrangements made by the District Administration and police. "The Commission will examine the aforesaid incident that happened on November 24 and submit a report on whether the incident was sudden or was well planned and the result of a criminal conspiracy. To inquire into the arrangements made by the District Administration and Police to maintain law and order during the incident and other aspects related," the order said. (With ANI Inputs) Digital Arrests In India: A shocking case surfaced in Gujarats Surat where a 90-year-old man lost his entire life savings of over 1 crore to fraudsters. The fraudsters posed as CBI officers and placed him under 'digital arrest' for 15 days. According to an NDTV report, they claimed that drugs were found in a parcel that was couriered in his name from Mumbai to China. Five people have been arrested in connection with the racket, according to the Surat Crime Branch. As per the news report, the racket was operated in collaboration with a gang in China. The mastermind, however, is yet to be traced. Parth Gopani, the main accused, is suspected to be in Cambodia. Briefing about the case, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Bhavesh Rozia said the senior citizen traded in the stock market. He had received a WhatsApp call from one of the scamsters, who identified himself as a CBI officer, the NDTV report stated. The conmen claimed that 400 grams of MD drugs were found in a parcel that was reportedly couriered in the senior citizen's name from Mumbai to China, the senior official further said. The accused in the case further claimed that the bank account details of the man revealed that he was indulging in money laundering and threatened to register a case and arrest him and his family. According to the DCP, the elderly man was placed under 'digital arrest' for 15 days on the pretext of interrogation. He was asked about transactions carried out through his bank account. The accused transferred 1,15,00,000 from the man's account. After getting the information about the incident, the family of the victim approached the Surat Cyber Cell and filed a complaint on October 29, as per the NDTV report. Police said five people have been arrested, but a search is on for mastermind Gopani. The officials have also released a sketch of Gopani. According to the police, 46 debit cards of various banks, 23 bank cheque books, one vehicle, rubber stamps of four different firms, nine mobile phones, and 28 SIM cards were recovered from the arrested men. The persons who were arrested in the case were idnetified as Ramesh Surana, Umesh Jinjala, Naresh Surana, Rajesh Deora and Gaurang Rakholiya. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government had recently warned about a widespread cyber scam targeting individuals. The government stated that the scam involved fraudulent letters threatening people with 'digital arrest' unless they comply with the scammers' demands. Last month, PM Modi opened up and spoke in detail about digital arrest saying that there is no such system in the law. While speaking during 'Mann Ki Baat,' the Prime Minister dubbed digital arrest a 'fraud and deceit'. He said that those who are involved in it are enemies of the society. The Prime Minister further stated that various investigative agencies are working in collaboration with the state governments to deal with the fraud that is going on in the name of digital arrest. A man has been arrested for allegedly killing his vlogger girlfriend and spending two days with her corpse before fleeing the city. The victim, Maya Gogoi, a popular vlogger from Assam, was found dead in a service apartment earlier this week, and her boyfriend, Aarav Hanoy, is accused of the brutal crime. Incident Details The police investigation suggests that Maya Gogoi and her boyfriend were experiencing relationship issues. Hanoy allegedly murdered Gogoi after she attempted to break up with him. The incident took place in a service apartment in Bengaluru, where the couple had been staying. The police revealed that after committing the murder, Hanoy spent two days with the victim's body in the apartment. Sources say he spent most of this time smoking cigarettes while sitting near her lifeless form. After the murder, Hanoy fled Bengaluru, attempting to evade arrest. His flight took him across several states, including North Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradeshs Varanasi. Authorities launched a large-scale manhunt, with police teams deployed to multiple regions to track him down. Despite his efforts to stay one step ahead, Hanoy was finally arrested near the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on Friday. Deputy Commissioner of Police D Devraj shared details of the manhunt, noting, After committing the murder, Aarav first traveled to Raichur in North Karnataka before heading to Varanasi via Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan. He returned to Bengaluru and was arrested near the airport." Before her death, Maya Gogoi had been in contact with her sister, telling her that she would not be returning home due to an office party. However, the situation took a dark turn over the following days. On Friday, she informed her sister that she would be out partying that evening as well. After sending the message, her phone was turned off, and she was not heard from again until her body was discovered. Investigation and Arrest After the police found Gogois body, they formed three teams to track down Aarav Hanoy. The teams traveled to various locations in search of the accused, including North Karnataka and Kerala. Despite his efforts to flee, Hanoy's capture brings an end to the horrifying ordeal, though the investigation continues as authorities piece together the details of the crime. Chennai and nearby districts are experiencing heavy rainfall, leading to widespread disruptions and prompting the government to declare school holidays in several areas. The state government has declared a holiday for school and colleges today and if the inclement weather continues, the administration may declare a holiday tomorrow as well. The downpour, caused by a cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal, has resulted in severe waterlogging, traffic jams, and safety concerns. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a rain alert for Chennai and surrounding regions, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall in the coming days. Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 4050 km/h are also anticipated. A yellow alert has been issued, urging residents to remain cautious and prepared. Rainfall across several regions in Tamilnadu The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has reported significant rainfall in key areas, with Nagapattinam receiving 19 cm and Chennai recording 13 cm between 8:30 am on November 26 and 8:30 am on November 27. While the rainfall has been widespread across Tamil Nadu, the heaviest showers were concentrated in the delta regions, with other parts of the state experiencing light to moderate rainfall. To address the effects of the heavy downpour, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and state emergency units have been deployed in the delta districts and Chennai. In response to the weather conditions, several districts, including Tiruvarur, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, and Mayiladuthurai, declared November 27 as a holiday for schools and colleges. Advisory for fishermen near Puducherry The IMD has issued a warning about rough sea conditions, advising fishermen to refrain from venturing into the sea. Coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are likely to experience gusty winds accompanied by moderate to heavy rainfall in the coming days. Government measures for the upcoming flood The Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority (TNSDMA) has taken significant measures to address the ongoing situation. Emergency teams have been deployed in flood-prone areas to provide swift assistance, and relief camps have been set up to accommodate displaced residents. Efforts are also being made to enhance drainage systems to minimize further waterlogging. Essential supplies such as food, drinking water, and medicines have been stockpiled to ensure prompt support for affected individuals. Authorities are closely monitoring reservoirs and water bodies to regulate water release and prevent flooding. Cyclone Fengal, anticipated to strengthen over the next 48 hours, is likely to bring heavy rainfall, strong winds, and potential flooding to Tamil Nadu's coastal areas. Residents in low-lying and coastal regions have been advised to stay alert and follow safety guidelines issued by authorities. The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday criticized Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's "losing memory" remark on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and dubbed his remarks "unfortunate." The MEA asserted that it doesn't represent the position of the government. The development came after Rahul Gandhi took a jibe at PM Modi, saying he is also "losing his memory" like US President Joe Biden. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that the "multifaceted partnership" between India and the US is built over years of perseverance, togetherness, mutual respect, and commitment by both sides, and these remarks are "not in keeping with warm and friendly ties." During the weekly press briefing, Jaiswal said, "India shares a multifaceted partnership with the United States, and this partnership has been built over years of perseverance, togetherness, mutual respect, and commitment by both sides. We see such reports as remarks as unfortunate, and they're not in keeping with warm and friendly ties with the United States and do not represent the position of the government of India." Further, being asked about the latest development regarding patrolling on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Jaiswal said it is "under progress." "We have said earlier, we have been working on it. It is under progress," he said. Earlier, the armed forces of India and China agreed to carry out one coordinated patrol every week in the Demchok and Depsang areas in the eastern Ladakh sector and have already completed one round of patrolling there. The two sides had started coordinated patrols in the first week of the month after completing disengagement in both Demchok and Depsang in the last week of October. India and China have agreed to carry out one patrol each by both sides every week in Depsang and Demchok. In each area, one patrol would be carried out by Indian troops and one patrol would be done by the Chinese troops, defence sources told ANI. India and China reached the agreement for disengagement from Depsang and Demchok in Eastern Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control after multiple rounds of talks at political, diplomatic, and military levels. Relations between the two nations have been tense since a violent clash occurred in the Galwan Valley in June 2020, causing the most serious military conflict between the two nations in decades. (With ANI Inputs) Reacting to the violence against Hindus in Banglades, External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar on Friday said that Bangladesh's Muhammad Yunus-led interim government is responsible for protecting all Bangladesh citizens, including minorities. His comments came after the continuos attacks on Hindu communities and places of worship. He highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by minorities in the country since the political upheaval that began in August 2024 after Sheikh Haseena fled the country. Jaishankar pointed out that reports of violence against Hindus and other minorities, especially during the Durga Puja festival, had been a cause for concern. The MEA highlighted that the Indian government had taken these incidents seriously, sharing its concerns with the Bangladesh government. Jaishankar also reiterated that India's High Commission in Dhaka was closely monitoring the situation to ensure that the interests of minorities were being protected. ISKCON Priest's Arrest Jaishankar's remarks come amid widespread protests and unrest in Bangladesh following the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a former priest of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Das is facing sedition charges for allegedly hoisting a saffron flag above the Bangladesh national flag during a rally in October. This incident has sparked further concerns regarding the treatment of religious minorities in Bangladesh, particularly the Hindu community. Several political leaders, including those from India's opposition, have voiced their concerns over Dass arrest, calling on the Indian government to intervene in the matter. Sheikh Hasina Calls for Chinmoy Krishna Das's Immidiate Release Amid the growing tension, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted from power in August 2024, has expressed her support for the arrested Hindu monk. Hasina described Das's arrest as 'unjust' and called for his immediate release. She also urged the Bangladesh government to take stronger measures to protect the rights of religious and ethnic minorities, who have faced violence and discrimination since her removal. In recent months, videos have surfaced showing Hindus being attacked and Hindu temples being desecrated across Bangladesh. These incidents have drawn global attention to the plight of the Hindu minority in the country. It has been observed that since the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government, the situation for Hindus has deteriorated further. With rising extremist violence and increased ties between radical groups in Bangladesh and China, many are questioning the role of Xi Jinping and China in these attacks. The Role of Bangladeshs Radical Groups Radical groups like Jamaat-e-Islami, along with other Islamic factions such as the Khalifa Movement, Khalifa Council, and Islamic Order Party, have been increasing their influence in Bangladesh. What is alarming is that several of these groups have strengthened their ties with China in recent times. Just recently, leaders from Jamaat-e-Islami and other radical organizations visited Beijing, signaling an increasingly close relationship between these groups and China. Meeting with Chinese Officials On November 25th, a significant meeting took place in Dhaka, where Chinese diplomats met with leaders of extremist organizations in Bangladesh. Among those present was the chief of Jamaat-e-Islami, standing side by side with the Chinese ambassador. The Chinese ambassador assured full support for these radical organizations, further indicating China's growing involvement in the region's political dynamics. The Connection Between Xi Jinping and Radical Groups The question arises whether the rise in attacks on Hindus and the increasing violence in Bangladesh are a direct result of orders or encouragement from Xi Jinping and China. It is noteworthy that during the same period that the Jamaat-e-Islami leaders met with the Chinese ambassador, a Hindu priest named Chinmay Krishna Das was arrested in Bangladesh. The timing of this arrest raises suspicions about a possible coordinated effort to suppress the Hindu community, potentially with the support or influence of Chinese authorities. The Support for Extremist Groups Chinas relationship with Bangladeshs radical elements has not gone unnoticed. In a recent statement, Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh, Yao Wen, praised the strong ties between the Communist Party of China and the radical groups in Bangladesh. He spoke of the desire to re-establish closer cooperation with these organizations, a move that could have significant implications for the treatment of religious minorities in the country. The Implications for Hindus in Bangladesh There is growing concern that the rise of extremist violence against Hindus in Bangladesh may be linked to China's influence over the current political climate. Experts believe that Chinas backing of the radical factions in Bangladesh could be encouraging the rise in attacks. As these groups continue to receive support from China, the safety and rights of the Hindu population in Bangladesh remain at great risk. Kerala Lottery Results Friday 29-11-2024 LIVE: The Kerala Lottery Department, on behalf of the Keralan government, announces the "Nirmal NR-408" Lucky Draw Result today Nirmal NR-408, November 29, 2024. The draw will be held at Gorky Bhavan near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. The Kerala Lottery Result 2024 for "Nirmal NR-408" will feature 12 series, with changes in series possible each week. A total of 108 lakh tickets are available for purchase weekly. The ticket prices may vary. Check the Nirmal NR-408 results right here to see if youre the first-place winner of 70 Lakhs. Stay tuned to this website for the live update of Kerala Lottery Nirmal NR-408 results today. Kerala Lottery Result 29-11-2024 November: FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR NIRMAL NR-408 Draw LUCKY TICKET NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE OF RS 70 LAKHS IS: NM 346652 LUCKY TICKET NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE OF RS 10 LAKHS IS: NC 144685 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 3RD PRIZE OF RS 1 Lakh ARE: NA 104683 NB 909201 NC 349759 ND 635914 NE 904037 NF 409572 NG 249550 NH 245281 NJ 662011 NK 233517 NL 229171 NM 178474 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR CONSOLATION PRIZE OF RS 8,000 ARE: To Be Announced (For The Tickets Ending with The Following Numbers below) LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE OF RS 5,000 ARE: 0019 0082 0328 0602 1529 1935 2044 3571 4255 4443 6460 7059 7544 8304 9156 9197 9459 9874 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE OF RS 1,000 ARE: 9107 3055 0418 2297 8370 0532 5131 4910 7263 5907 5829 8906 1502 2098 3137 0168 4798 9888 3186 3513 8536 8189 8156 4453 4492 6341 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE OF RS 500 ARE: 0240 0247 0316 0426 0463 0533 0658 0710 0934 1172 1393 1470 1540 1558 1614 1629 1657 1678 1693 1718 1778 2178 2774 2837 2955 2972 3044 3068 3078 3088 3305 3739 3963 4236 4301 4318 4338 4656 4659 4801 4828 4838 5172 5366 5475 5564 5752 5864 5876 6208 6273 6291 6537 6590 6699 7022 7341 7551 7552 7751 7810 7851 7981 8066 8142 8144 8258 8267 8403 8785 8877 8885 8938 9223 9413 9419 9615 9769 9805 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE OF RS 100 ARE: 0041 0120 0272 0278 0439 0528 0622 0678 0683 0684 1105 1126 1250 1430 1459 1517 1525 1659 1699 1875 1885 2010 2070 2087 2138 2207 2443 2451 2497 2508 2519 2568 2605 2639 2845 2966 3084 3153 3162 3199 3301 3331 3427 3564 3578 3756 3772 3850 3866 3930 3941 4119 4120 4188 4414 4477 4539 4657 4696 4922 5072 5122 5159 5289 5335 5392 5463 5520 5539 5630 6038 6071 6340 6435 6461 6522 6575 6772 6885 6979 6991 7020 7026 7033 7046 7129 7202 7246 7360 7440 7533 7592 7719 7741 7759 7789 7822 7834 7846 8010 8153 8166 8259 8278 8384 8410 8436 8591 8702 8774 8836 8888 8899 8985 9206 9299 9316 9376 9497 9609 9660 9799 KERALA LOTTERY RESULT TODAY 29-11-2024 November: NIRMAL NR-408 LOTTERY PRIZE DETAILS 1st Prize: Rs 70 Lakhs 2nd Prize: Rs. 10 lakhs 3rd Prize: Rs. 5,000 4th Prize: Rs. 2,000 5th Prize: Rs. 1,000 6th Prize: Rs. 500 7th Prize: Rs. 200 8th Prize: Rs. 100 Consolation Prize: Rs. 8,000 (NOTE: Lottery can be addictive and should be played responsibly. The data provided on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as advice or encouragement. Zee News does not promote lottery in anyway.) New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting on Thursday night with leaders of the three parties in the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance. The discussion focused on finalising the power-sharing arrangement and deciding how Cabinet berths will be divided among the coalition partners. The new government is likely to take oath early next week. After discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda, Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde called the meeting good and positive. He announced that a follow-up meeting is scheduled in Mumbai on Friday, where the decision on the next Chief Minister is expected to be settled. The meeting between Fadnavis, Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Ajit Pawar, and Eknath Shinde lasted over an hour. Alliance leaders indicated that a new government in Maharashtra could be formed by December 2. While the BJP will retain the Chief Minister's post in Maharashtra, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reportedly approved the appointment of two Deputy Chief Ministers, one from the Shiv Sena and the other from the NCP, the party's alliance partners. As the suspense remains over the name of Maharashtra Chief Minister, Sanjay Shisat, an MLA and spokesperson of Shiv Sena commented on Eknath Shindes role in the government. According to him, a deputy chief ministers post does not befit a person who has already served as chief minister. He told PTI, Eknath Shinde is unlikely to be a deputy chief minister. "The meeting was good and positive. This was the first meeting. We had a discussion with Amit Shah and JP Nadda...There will be another meeting of the Mahayuti. In this meeting, a decision will be taken about who will be the Chief Minister. The meeting will be held in Mumbai," ANI quoted Shinde as saying. Shinde, Fadnavis, and Pawar left the national capital late at night after a meeting to discuss the formation of the new government in Maharashtra. Shinde met Shah in Delhi separately ahead of the meeting of the Mahayuti coalition. Reiterating the stance, Eknath Shinde stated that he would not obstruct the government formation in Maharashtra and would follow the decisions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah. "This 'ladka bhau' designation is higher than anything else for me," Shinde remarked, signaling his support for the BJP's nominee as the next Chief Minister. Fadnavis too denied any internal differences within the Mahayuti alliance, he asserted, "In our Mahayuti alliance, there has never been a difference of opinion. We have always made decisions collectively. We will soon meet our leaders and finalise the decision," Fadnavis told the media. The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a stunning victory in the recent state assembly elections, winning 230 of the 288 seats. In contrast, the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) faced a major setback. The Congress won only 16 seats, marking one of its worst performances. Sharad Pawar's NCP(SP) secured just 10 seats, while Uddhav Thackeray's (UBT) won 20. The German government is planning to allocate approximately 2bn ($2.11bn) into the semiconductor industry to bolster its chip production capabilities, reports Bloomberg. The move comes two months after US-based semiconductor manufacturing company Intel shelved its plan to build 30bn chip factory project in Magdeburg. German Economic Ministry spokesperson Annika Einhorn was cited by the news agency as saying the funds will support chip companies to develop modern production capacities that significantly exceed the current state of the art. The new funds are intended to support 10 to 15 projects, focusing on areas like raw wafer production and microchip assembly. The spokesperson stated that the funds would be in the "low single-digit billion euro range. Einhorn said: The funded projects should contribute to a strong and sustainable microelectronics ecosystem in Germany and Europe. Earlier, the ministry issued a call for chip companies to apply for the new subsidies. The latest move reflects a global trend where governments are investing in the chip industry to secure local production of vital components, a need highlighted by supply disruptions during the Covid era and by geopolitical tensions. In October 2024, Financial Times reported that Wolfspeed and its partner ZF Friedrichshafen suspended plans to build a 3bn chip factory in Ensdorf, Germany. The decision was attributed to a slower than anticipated EVs adoption in Europe, which has led to reduced demand for the silicon carbide chips that the factory was intended to produce. The European Union has set a target to double its global chip market share by 2030. The EUs concerns about supply chain fragility and dependence on Asian manufacturers have spurred efforts to boost local production. "Germany plans 2bn in subsidies to boost chip production" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand. The death toll in a bus accident in Maharastra's Gondia district on Friday has gone up to 11 after three more people succumbed to their injuries, with 34 others injured, police said. The accident occurred on Friday afternoon near Bindravana Tola village, along the Gondia-Arjuni road, when a Maharashtra State Transport bus overturned. The bus, travelling from Nagpur to Gondia, had over 40 passengers on board at the time of the incident. Initially, eight passengers were reported dead. However, the toll later increased to eleven. "34 people have been injured, and 11 have died. Treatment of those injured in the accident is underway. One of the deceased was from Nagpur, another from Chandrapur, a few from Bhandara, and some from Gondia," said Gondia District Collector Prajit Nair told ANI. Following the tragedy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. "Distressed by the loss of lives in the bus mishap in Gondia, Maharashtra. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected. An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000: PM Narendra Modi," the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a post on X. Maharashtra's caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also issued an order for immediate medical care for the injured. "A State transport Shivshahi bus overturned in a horrific accident. Eight bodies have been recovered from the site of the incident, and the death toll is expected to increase. Information about the situation was taken from the local administration. Instructions have been issued for immediate and proper treatment of the injured," Maharashtra CMO said in a statement. Devendra Fadnavis, deputy chief minister in the outgoing Maharashtra government also offered his condolences to the bereaved family members. "It is very unfortunate that a Shivshahi bus met with an unfortunate accident near Sadak Arjun in Gondia district in which some passengers died. I pay my heartfelt respects to the deceased. We share the grief of their families," Fadnavis wrote in a post on X. Maharashtra Government Formation: Amid the suspense over the next Maharashtra Chief Minister and government formation in the state, the meeting among the partners in the Mahayuti alliance has been cancelled as Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has left for his native village Dare in Satara district. The meeting was to take place on Friday. The meeting was slated to discuss details pertaining to the government formation, especially the allocation of cabinet berths, distribution of portfolios, and appointment of district guardian ministers. The meeting was set to take place after the two-and-a-half-hour-long meeting chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday night in the national capital. Shinde, who is currently acting as the caretaker CM of Maharashtra, said after the Mahayutis meeting with the Home Minister that the three partners would meet on Friday to finalize the government formation and sort out related issues. The MahaYutis meeting will be held in Mumbai on Friday, and the allies will arrive at a final decision on government formation. Our meeting in Delhi was positive. We had a discussion with Amit Shah and JP Nadda. I have announced my stand. As Shiv Sena, I have supported the name of the Chief Minister of the Grand Alliance. The deadlock is over. Everything is fine. I am a caretaker Chief Minister; I am taking care of everyone," said Shinde, as reported by news agency IANS. On Wednesday, Shinde broke his silence and said he has assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he will abide by whatever decision the BJP makes in naming his successor. Shinde is reluctant to join as the deputy chief minister in the new government, but pressure is mounting from leaders and cadres that he should become part of the government and continue to head the Shiv Sena. According to media reports, the Shinde faction is insisting on the allocation of home and urban development departments. However, the saffron party has already rejected its proposal, as the home department will remain within its quota. Despite the BJP's refusal, Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Shirsat on Friday said that the home department should be given to Eknath Shinde, who is quite capable of maintaining the law and order situation in the state. Shiv Sena focuses on urban development, education, cultural affairs, water supply, health, transport, and state excise departments. NCP has made a pitch for the allocation of departments including planning and finance, cooperation, women and child welfare, food and civil supply, minority affairs, medical education, and tribal development. The BJP will keep key departments including home, revenue, energy, housing, rural development, water resources, forest, OBC welfare, tourism, and general administration, saffron party sources told IANS. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday condemned a plea in a Rajasthan court claiming that the Ajmer dargah was built over a Hindu temple, saying "targeting" of mosques and shrines can lead to "further bloodshed". "Thanks to a former Chief Justice of India a Pandora's box has been opened sparking a contentious debate about minority religious places. Despite a Supreme Court ruling that the status quo should be maintained as it existed in 1947, his judgement has paved the way for surveys of these sites potentially leading to increased tension between Hindus and Muslims," she said in a post on X. She was apparently referring to an order by a bench led by then CJI DY Chandrachud allowing the ASI to conduct a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque to determine if the 17th-century structure was built upon a pre-existing temple. However, the court had asked the ASI not to take recourse to any invasive act during the survey. The former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir claimed the recent violence in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh is the direct result of this judgment. Violence had erupted in Sambhal where a court-ordered survey of the Jama Masjid mosque was carried out following claims that a Harihar temple previously stood at the site. "First mosques and now Muslim shrines like Ajmer Sharief is being targeted which can result in further bloodshed. The question remains - who will take responsibility for perpetuating this communal violence reminiscent of the partition days?" she added. Similarly, People's Conference president Sajad Gani Lone also expressed strong disapproval of the plea and slammed misplaced priorities and growing regression in Indian society. "Yet another shocker.. supposedly hidden somewhere in the Ajmer Dargah Sharif," Lone said in a statement. He said that as 2025 approaches, marking the dawn of the Artificial Intelligence era, society has regrettably chosen the path of regression. "And as Indians, let us be honest - we have not contributed to any technological revolution. Yes, we have the resources to make use of them by buying, but scientific innovation. No. None. Not even remotely," he added. Lone expressed concern that the nation's focus appears entirely consumed by an obsession with uncovering hidden temples. "And make no mistakes, a statistically significant section of the population is applauding it," he said. "And yes, the more educated, the more temple-searchers they tend to be. Those educated ones who should have been at the forefront of heralding the Indian tech revolution are busy mythologizing," Lone added. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Sambhal trial court to refrain from issuing any orders concerning the survey of a Mughal-era mosque. It also instructed the Uttar Pradesh government to ensure peace and harmony in the violence-hit town. A bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar further mandated the Allahabad High Court to address the Muslim side's plea within three working days of its submission. SC has kept the case pending and scheduled it for hearing in the week starting January 6. The apex court further asked the Sambhal trial court to refrain from opening any report submitted to it until the Allahabad High Court hears and decides on the Muslim side's plea. "Peace and harmony must be ensured. We will keep this pending. We do not want anything to happen...We have to be absolutely neutral and ensure that nothing untoward happens," the Bar and Bench quoted the top courts observation. The SC bench directed the state government to set up a peace committee comprising members from both communities, to maintain order in the region. The management committee of Sambhal's Shahi Jama Masjid approached the Supreme Court on Thursday, challenging a district court's November 19 order for a survey of the Mughal-era mosque. The committee sought an ex-parte stay on the civil judge's order. Tensions escalated in Sambhal after the survey, triggered by claims that a Harihar temple once stood at the mosque's site. On November 24, protests erupted near the mosque. Demonstrators clashed with security personnel, leading to stone-pelting and arson. The violence left four dead and several injured. (With PTI inputs) Pamban Bridge Safety Concerns: In a bid to ensure the continued safety and reliability of one of India's most iconic rail structures, the Railway Board has established a dedicated committee to address the concerns raised by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) regarding the Pamban Bridge. The five-member technical committee will be headed by RK Goel, PED (Bridge), Railway Board. The committee will include the PED of RDSO, the Chief Bridge Engineer of Southern Railway, the Director of RVNL, and an independent safety expert. This move comes after a report from the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS highlighted concerns about the structural integrity and safety standards of the bridge, which connects the southern tip of India to the rest of the country. In its report, the CRS noted several lapses in the planning of the bridge. It pointed out that the lift span girder was non-RDSO standard and designed using foreign codes, which required RDSO's involvement in the project. However, a review of the records showed that, with the support of the Railway Board, RDSO had neglected its responsibility in designing the girder. The CRS report also flagged that for important bridge projects like this, a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) is typically formed. However, due to the decision to exclude RDSO from the project, this step was not followed in the case of the Pamban Bridge. The CRS report stated that RDSO's dissociation from the project resulted in serious consequences, including deviations from standard guidelines. In response, the Ministry of Railways clarified that the Pamban Bridge is a 2.05 km long structure with a unique 72-meter Vertical Lift span, one of its kind in the country. The design of the bridge was done by TYPSA, an international consultant, using European and Indian codes. The design was proof-checked by IIT, Chennai. Given that the bridge was designed by a foreign consultant, the Railway Board recognized technical limitations in the design examination by Railways and RDSO. As a result, the Railway Board decided to have the design proof-checked by IIT, Mumbai. After the double-proof check, the design was approved by Southern Railway. The bridge has been constructed based on a design by a reputed international consultant and has undergone rigorous proof-checking by two of the country's leading institutes. Modifications to the RDSO design for the approach girders to accommodate local constraints have also been proof-checked by IIT Madras and IIT Bombay, and approved by Southern Railway. Additionally, the welding of structural members, which is crucial for the bridge's efficacy, has been 100 per cent inspected using the latest Phase Array Ultrasonic Testing and checked by the Welding Research Institute, Trichy, with final test checks conducted by Southern Railway. For corrosion protection, the bridge employs a special painting scheme used in extremely corrosion-prone areas worldwide, utilizing polysiloxane paint with a design life of 35 years. Stainless-steel reinforcement in reinforced concrete construction, fully welded box sections in the lift span, the elimination of splice joints in the approach span girders, FRP pathways, and enhanced inspection arrangements and handrails are some of the innovative features incorporated to prevent corrosion. The Ministry confirmed that the bridge has been constructed using state-of-the-art design and best construction practices. It has been cleared for operation by the Commissioner of Railway Safety. However, the Ministry stated that it will comply fully with any further concerns raised by the CRS. The five-member committee has been tasked with evaluating these concerns in detail and recommending necessary actions to further enhance the bridge's safety. Tamil Nadu: Actor Kasthuri Shankar on Friday appeared before the Egmore Police in Chennai to sign for bail in a case related to her alleged derogatory remarks against the Telugu community. The case is based on a complaint filed by a Telugu federation which has accused her of making offensive comments during a public event in Chennai. Speaking to ANI outside the police station, Kasthuri said that she doesn't have access to social media. "I don't have my phone. I don't have access to social media. So that is why everybody is here today. Every day when I come to sign, [the media] tries to get something out of me. Because there's no way to be accessible. Once I get access, I will start squeezing out. In fact, last week some major events happened for which I could not voice out," said Kasthuri. Apart from this the actress also thanked fans for supporting her and said, "I'm also not able to thank all the people who are standing in support of me. And without their support, I wouldn't be here today." The Egmore Police registered the case against Kasthuri on November 5 after her remarks went viral on social media. She had issued a public apology and retracted her statement. Following a backlash over the actor's remarks, the police formed a special team to arrest her. Kasthuri was taken into custody in Hyderabad on November 16 and brought to Chennai. She was later sent to jail before being granted conditional bail, requiring her to sign daily at the Egmore Police Station. Mumbai: The legal dispute between Nayanthara and Dhanush has intensified after the actor and producer sent a civil suit to the actress for using his film footage in her documentary Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairytale. And now the actresss lawyer, Rahul Dhawan has addressed the allegations surrounding the use of content in Nayantharas recent documentary on Netflix. Dhanush had reportedly filed a civil suit, alleging copyright infringement related to behind-the-scenes footage from their 2015 film, Naanum Rowdy Dhaan. Responding to the allegations, Rahul Dhawan clarified the stance of Nayantharas team in a statement to Hindustan Times. He stated, Our response is that there is no infringement or violation because what has been utilised by us in the docu-series is not part of behind-the-scenes (from the film Naanum Rowdy Dhaan). The same is part of a personal library; therefore, this is not infringement. The lawyers response suggests that the material in question was privately sourced and does not breach intellectual property laws or agreements tied to the production of the film. The dispute revolves around footage reportedly featured in Nayantharas docu-series, which offers a glimpse into her life and career. Dhanushs legal team claims that the inclusion of behind-the-scenes content from Naanum Rowdy Dhaan violates copyright protections. However, Nayantharas team has dismissed these claims as baseless, asserting that the content belongs to her personal archives. Earlier Nayanthara too had shared a long statement on her Instagram slamming Dhanush for sending her a legal notice of Rs 10 crore to put down the content from her documentary. New Delhi: The excitement around Pushpa 2: The Rule continues to grow as the highly anticipated film makes its way to Mumbai today. Following a grand trailer launch in Patna that left audiences spellbound, and a successful pre-release event in Kochi with overwhelming fan reactions, the team is now ready to conquer the city of dreams. The makers of Pushpa 2: The Rule took to social media to announce their arrival in Mumbai, sharing a poster for the press meet scheduled for tomorrow. The post read: Mumbai meri jaan, aa raha hain Indian Cinema ki shaan #PushpalconicPress Meet in Mumbai tomorrow from 2 PM onwards at JW Marriott Sahar The film, which is set to hit theatres on December 5, 2024, is directed by the acclaimed Sukumar and produced by Mythri Movie Makers in collaboration with Sukumar Writings. The music is being released under T-Series. As the hype builds, Pushpa 2: The Rule is expected to be one of the biggest releases of the year, promising an action-packed cinematic experience. New Delhi: A section of the media had reported that telecom subscribers of Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea, BSNL, Airtel may stop receiving OTPs or get delayed OTPs after November 30 because of the TRAI deadline on message traceability that kicks in from December 1. Responding to news reports, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has said that the news is not correct. In its official X (formerly Twtter) handle, the regulator has said, "This is factually incorrect. TRAI has mandated the Access Providers to ensure message traceability. It will not delay delivery of any message. " https://t.co/7uemnOtVd8 This is factually incorrect. TRAI has mandated the Access Providers to ensure message traceability. It will not delay delivery of any message. @the_hindu TRAI (@TRAI) November 28, 2024 On August 20, TRAI had issued directives to access providers to curb misuse, fraud through messaging. Among the directives was regulation on curb dubious OTPs for which TRAI had asked telecom companies to provide message traceability. TRAI had mandated that the trail of all messages from senders to recipients must be traceable, the deadline of which was set for November 30, 2024. Any message with an undefined or mismatched telemarketer chain will be rejected. TRAI had also mandated all access service providers to migrate telemarketing calls starting with 140 series to the online DLT platform by September 30, 2024, for better monitoring and control. Effective September 1, 2024, all access service providers are prohibited from transmitting messages containing URLs, APKs, OTT links, or call-back numbers that are not whitelisted by the senders. Jerusalem: An Israeli fighter jet launched an airstrike in southern Lebanon, said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in a statement, claiming the attack aimed to "thwart a threat." This is reportedly the first strike of its kind took place on Thursday since the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon took effect early Wednesday morning, Xinhua news agency reported. The IDF statement said that "terrorist activities were identified in a facility used by Hezbollah to store mid-range rockets in southern Lebanon," adding, "The IDF troops are deployed in southern Lebanon, operating to prevent any violation of the ceasefire." Earlier on Thursday, the IDF confirmed that it conducted a drone strike in southern Lebanon in the morning, describing it as a warning shot. The IDF said several "suspects," some with vehicles, entered areas in southern Lebanon, violating the ceasefire agreement. In response, the military fired a warning shot near a vehicle in the Markaba area, aiming to deter it without causing casualties. However, Lebanese military sources reported that at least two individuals were injured due to the strike. Meanwhile, unnamed official and military sources in Lebanon reported four additional injuries in a series of Israeli attacks on the village of Taybeh in southern Lebanon, accusing the Israeli army of breaching the truce. They added that more such attacks took place in the towns of Al-Bissariye, Shebaa, and Khiam, as well as in the villages of Kfarchouba, Halta, Tayr Harfa, Mays al-Jabal, Kafr Kila, and Aitaroun. Although a cautious calm prevailed across the border areas in southern Lebanon since the entry into force of a ceasefire between Hezbollah and the Israeli army at 4:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, the two sides have been trading accusations of ceasefire violations. BERLIN (AP) Germany's highest court on Thursday rejected complaints by renewable energy producers against a government decision in 2022 to use their excess profits to help finance a cap on electricity prices. A submission to the Federal Constitutional Court by 22 generators of wind, solar and biomass energy argued that dealing with the energy crisis that followed Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine was the responsibility of the state and should therefore have been financed from taxes. They also said their facilities hadn't contributed to high electricity prices. But the court found that the measure was, in the exceptional situation that the energy crisis created, constitutional. Excess profits that many electricity generators ran up as a result of high energy costs were used between December 2022 and June 2023 to help finance an electricity price brake, capping the cost of part of the power households and businesses used. The measure was part of a relief package drawn up in response to sky-high gas prices that, because of the way the electricity market is structured, pushed up overall energy costs. That led to unusually high profits for some operators of facilities with low fossil fuel costs, including those powered by renewable sources. Washington DC: Johnnie Moore, former Commissioner of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), has slammed the Bangladesh interim government over the situation of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh, saying "there isn't a minority in the country that doesn't feel under threat right now" and that "Muhammad Yunus is failing." In an interview with ANI, Moore said it is the government's first responsibility to protect those under threat. He also said that this is a moment of "existential threat not only for the minorities of Bangladesh but for the entire country". Moore criticised the arrest of priest Chinmoy Krishna Das by Bangladesh Police and said perception among minorities is "if they'll go after him, they'll go after any of us". The former USCIRF Commissioner said the global Christian community stands with the Hindu community in Bangladesh. "Bangladesh isn't just a Muslim country. It's a Muslim-majority country that has many, many minorities. There isn't a minority in the country that doesn't feel under threat right now. That's been globally evident in recent days as this high-profile arrest has taken place of not just a leader of the Hindu Bangladeshi community, but really a very serious religious figure. I think the perception is if they'll go after him, they'll go after any of us. I want to be crystal clear, that the global Christian community stands with the Hindu community in Bangladesh. It is the first responsibility of a government to protect those under threat. The religious minorities of Bangladesh are really feeling it now and they deserve our support," he said. "We're not sure who's really doing this, but let me just say, the way I see it, Muhammad Yunus is failing. That's what's happening in Bangladesh now. As, the leader of the country, as the interim leader of the country, there are no aspirations for the Bangladeshi people. If you can't manage a very, very simple component of civil society, which is you have to protect people, people have to be safe. If the rule of law becomes so inefficient that instead of getting due process, a lawyer is killed. This is unbelievable, I was astonished by the response of Mr Yunus in the Bangladeshi government. They are saying this is exaggerated. They're saying that this isn't as big a deal as it seems," he added. Moore said the visuals and the reports that are coming out of Bangladesh show that how a Hindu priest was first arrested then he was denied bail by the local court. "Then the lawyer defending the priest was killed amid protests outside the court where the lawyer was hacked to death by protesters, dragging him out of his chamber. It's become a major rallying point in the country," Moore said. "As the leader of the country, as the interim leader of the country, there are no aspirations for the Bangladeshi people if you can't manage a very, very simple component of civil society, which is you have to protect people. People have to be safe. And you certainly, you certainly cannot have a vibrant democratic country...if the rule of laws becomes so inefficient that instead of getting due process, a lawyer is killed," he added. Moore also expressed concern over Bangladesh's Attorney General's push to remove the word 'Secular' from the constitution amid growing attacks on religious minorities. "Bangladesh should ask for advice from India and the United States. These are incredibly pluralistic countries that despite a lot of religious competition people have found a way to manage it. Not perfectly. None of our countries are perfect. We make lots and lots of mistakes. But Bangladesh should ask for some help. But secondly, you can't make these promises and not keep them. The second thing they need to do is take what's happening seriously," he said. "The statement that came officially from Mohammed Yunus and the government of Bangladesh was in response to it - they diminished it. That's not what a leader does. A leader takes issues like this seriously... I'm afraid that this mistake could have other consequential effects. The good news is it's not too late to fix it... I'm sorry to say this, but we're finding a lot around the world, a lot of countries that are using the term democracy but aren't actually instituting its values," he added. Muhammad Yunus took over as interim leader of Bangladesh in August this year. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) also expressed solidarity with Chinmoy Krishna Das, who was arrested on charges of sedition for allegedly raising a flag on a stand displaying Bangladesh's national flag. Moore said the way the crisis relating to minorities is being handled by Bangladesh government poses risk of denying the Bangladeshi people all the benefits that can come from being in a close relationship with India which is "an economic, technological and political powerhouse". Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) on Friday reported an increase in Chinese military activity around the island, detecting over 30 PLA aircraft and 8 PLAN vessels around Taiwan. The details were shared in a post on X. "33 PLA aircraft and 8 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 21 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern, southwestern and eastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly." Chinese incursions around Taiwan have increased recently. In response, Taiwan has stepped up security along its maritime borders. Taiwan's armed forces conducted a comprehensive air defense drill on Thursday as China reportedly prepares for its third large-scale military exercise, Joint Sword-2024C, near Taiwan. The drill, which involved air, naval, and missile defense units, was conducted to strengthen readiness against potential aerial and missile threats, according to Taiwan News. The Air Force Command stated that the exercise took place from 5 am to 7 am, deploying fighter jets, naval vessels, and air defence missile systems. Aircraft such as the Indigenous Defence Fighter (IDF), Mirage 2000, F-16, and C-130 transport planes were utilised, along with ground-based air defence missile units. Recently, Taiwanese President, Lai Ching-te attended the completion ceremony for the #ROCN Shuei-Sing Barracks. The base will serve as the new home for the Taiwanese Navy Underwater Operations Unit and enhance its training capabilities. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te convened a high-level national security conference in which he assured the public about the government's commitment to neutralising any threat to Taiwan's democracy and security after China staged a large-scale military drill around the island. He made his remarks in response to the Chinese People's Liberation Army's (PLA) announcement of military drills, named "Joint Sword-2024B," in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding areas, which were described as a "stern warning" to advocates of Taiwan independence, according to the Taipei Times. BEIJING: A member of China's powerful Central Military Commission has been suspended and put under investigation, the country's Defense Ministry said Thursday. Miao Hua was director of the political work department on the commission, which oversees the Peoples Liberation Army, the world's largest standing military. He was one of five members of the commission in addition to its leader, Chinese President Xi Jinping. Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said Miao is under investigation for serious violations of discipline, which usually alludes to corruption. It is the third recent major shakeup for Chinas defense establishment. In June, China announced that former Defense Minister Li Shangfu and his predecessor Wei Fenghe were expelled from the ruling Communist Party and accused of corruption. Yet, the high-level investigation is not likely to have any significant consequences, given Xi's tight grip on power. Most countries would incur at least some reputational cost to their international reputation were such frequent, high-profile personnel purges to have happened in their own armed forces but the PRC is no ordinary country, James Char, a research fellow at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies at Nanyang Technological University, in Singapore, said in an email. These purges can go on so long as its commander-in-chief approves of them. In Xi's first term as party secretary, he was known for a multiyear campaign against corruption that has brought down numerous high-profile political rivals and thousands of officials. This has led some to allege a widespread purge of officers suspected of conspiring with outside forces or simply being insufficiently loyal to Xi. Xi's dedication to his anti-corruption campaign has continued throughout his rule. High-ranking officers occupy an elevated position in Chinese politics and can command extensive privileges, official and unofficial. Miao being placed under investigation comes after the Financial Times reported that Defense Minister Dong Jun was under investigation for corruption. Miao's position on the commission, which is a Communist Party committee, outranks Dong and anyone who holds the position of defense minister, as Communist Party positions are more powerful than government institutions in China. Experts say a possible corruption investigation would not be a surprise, given the PLAs history. In the 1990s, the PLA was allowed to run businesses as the country opened up during the reform and opening up period, when the country stopped many of its planned economic policies and transitioned to a more market-based economy. Miao has come up through the political department in the military and had served as the political commissar of the PLAs Navy. He was already fairly senior before Xi came to power in 2012. If the investigation is about corruption, its not out of line with peoples expectations, said Tiehlin Yan, deputy director at the Taiwan Center for Security Studies, who studied the PLA. Its very difficult for anyone not to have have blemishes if you were a midlevel or senior cadre in the 1990s. Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu, said Dong was not under any investigation and called the newspaper report a sheer fabrication. In response to a question about who Chinas defense minister was, Wu smiled and raised his hands in a shrug. Why do you ask this nonsensical question? I just said this many times: Minister Dong Jun. By Mike Scarcella (Reuters) -Alphabet's Google asked a U.S. appeals court on Wednesday to throw out a jury verdict and a judge's order forcing it to revamp its app store Play. In its first detailed argument to the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Google said the trial judge made legal errors that unfairly benefited the plaintiff, "Fortnite" maker Epic Games. Requiring a "dramatic redesign" of Google Play and its mobile-device operating system Android will hurt app developers and consumers, Google said in its court filing. Epic in a statement on Wednesday said Google was relying on flawed arguments that the jury rejected. This meritless appeal is Googles desperate attempt to avoid complying with the unanimous jury decision, Epic said. Google declined to comment beyond its court filing. Epics 2020 lawsuit accused Google of monopolizing how consumers access apps on Android devices and how they pay for transactions within apps. The Cary, North Carolina-based company persuaded a San Francisco jury last year that Google illegally stifled competition. Based on the jury's findings, U.S. District Judge James Donato ordered Google in October to let users download rival app stores within Play and make Play's app catalog available to those competitors, among other reforms. The order, which would bind Google for three years, is on hold pending review in the 9th Circuit. Google told the appeals court on Wednesday that a jury should never have heard Epic's lawsuit because it sought to enjoin Google's conduct, not collect damages. It said Donato unfairly allowed Epic to tell jurors that Google and Apple are not competitors for app distribution and in-app payments. The filing said Donato was wrong to issue an injunction affecting users and developers nationwide, not just Epic. Google said the order made Donato "a central planner responsible for product design." The 9th Circuit said it will hear oral arguments on Feb. 3, with a ruling expected later next year. (Reporting by Mike Scarcella; Editing by David Bario, Rod Nickel, David Gregorio and Jonathan Oatis) Aside from differences with China, a lack of unity among the Asean member states - including over competing claims with each other - has also contributed to the slow pace of progress. Negotiations for a COC started in the 1990s, but remain unresolved. Despite the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China agreeing last year to conclude talks by 2026, they remain divided - including on whether it should be legally binding. According to the official Vietnam News Agency, Lam specified that the code should be in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). At a joint press conference with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Lam reiterated the call for restraint by "all relevant parties" while committing to the early adoption of a "substantive and effective" South China Sea code of conduct (COC). They also "reaffirmed the importance for all parties concerned to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities and to refrain from undertaking activities that could escalate tension which in turn could affect peace and stability in the South China Sea". In a joint statement, Kuala Lumpur and Hanoi pledged to continue working together to "maintain peace, security, stability, safety, and freedom of navigation" in the South China Sea, as well as "peaceful resolution of disputes without resorting to threats or use of force". The agreement makes Malaysia the first Asean member state to become a top-tier diplomatic partner with Vietnam, a status it shares with China. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge , our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. The move also signals an accelerating realignment of power in Southeast Asia, which could lead to a more united front from claimant countries in the overarching maritime dispute with China, the analysts said. The elevation in ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership - announced last week during Vietnamese Communist Party chief To Lam's visit to Malaysia - is a step towards easing tensions over the competing territorial claims in the waterway, according to observers. Vietnam and Malaysia have upgraded diplomatic ties and pledged to deepen their cooperation on the South China Sea dispute ahead of a second Donald Trump administration in the US and rising maritime tensions between Beijing and Manila. Story Continues The diplomatic upgrade between Kuala Lumpur and Hanoi followed a report by Reuters in October that Malaysia had lodged a rare protest over Vietnam's alleged expansion of a South China Sea reef in the Spratly Islands that is claimed by both countries. The Malaysian and Vietnamese claims, alongside those of the Philippines and Brunei, also overlap with China's expansive assertions of territorial rights over much of the waterway. Zhang Mingliang, an expert on regional affairs at Jinan University in Guangzhou, southern China, said Lam's visit and the upgrade of ties highlighted Vietnam's backing for Malaysia's turn in 2025 as rotating chair of Asean. "Both sides see Malaysia's Asean chairmanship next year as an opportunity to push the maritime issue in the direction desired by both countries, that is, a legally binding COC as soon as possible," he said. According to Zhang, the timing - just ahead of Trump's return to the White House in January - also underlines the worries in Southeast Asia about the possibility of declining US support for the region. "Asean nations are particularly sensitive to possible US policy changes and it would be only natural for them to take precautions against uncertainty. Securing a binding South China Sea code of conduct with China is probably the best option at the moment." Nguyen Khac Giang, a visiting fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute's Vietnam Studies Programme in Singapore, said the elevation of ties sent a "strong signal of shared priorities" from both members of the 10-strong Association of Southeast Asian Nations. "Despite their own overlapping claims, Hanoi and Kuala Lumpur recognise that a fragmented Asean only benefits those who wish to dominate the South China Sea," he said. According to Giang, the move to lift Malaysia to the top-tier of Vietnam's partnerships - an eight-strong group that also includes the US, Russia, India, Japan and France - fits well into Hanoi's broader diplomatic strategy. Indonesia and Singapore could follow Malaysia's lead, with reports that the two countries are in discussions to upgrade their ties with Vietnam to the highest level next year. "By forging stronger bonds with Indonesia, Malaysia, with the Philippines potentially next, Hanoi is quietly weaving a network of partnerships that could help Southeast Asian nations better coordinate their approach to maritime disputes," Giang said. While the diplomatic upgrade underscores a growing coordination between claimant states, it may not have an immediate impact on the South China Sea dynamics, but could build momentum for a more cohesive regional response, according to Giang. "The Philippines might view this as encouragement to deepen its own partnerships, while Malaysia's coming Asean chairmanship in 2025 presents a critical opportunity to shape a more unified ... stance on the South China Sea," he said. "Vietnam's early engagement with Kuala Lumpur is clearly aimed at encouraging a more proactive role from the host." A China-based Southeast Asia specialist, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the subject's sensitivity, was also of the view that the elevation of Vietnam-Malaysia ties was at least partly aimed at Beijing. "Both countries are among those that have encountered constant pressure from China over the past decade in the disputed waters they each claim in the South China Sea," the academic said. "In a sense, Malaysia - which is under increasing pressure in the disputed waters from China - is in a rather similar position to Vietnam. That's why they've edged closer, trying to reinvigorate efforts within Asean to push for the binding code of conduct with China." According to the mainland-based specialist, Lam has appeared to be more assertive on the South China Sea issue than his predecessor Nguyen Phu Trong, who died in July at the age of 80. "For instance, Vietnam and Malaysia have shown unprecedented intentions to cooperate on maritime issues since Lam came to power [in August]." The academic also noted Lam's mid-November visit to Bach Long Vi island in the Gulf of Tonkin, observing that his pointed remarks on the island's strategic importance to Vietnam's national security and sovereignty were obviously aimed at Beijing. It was the first visit to the island - controlled by China until 1957 when Beijing transferred it to Hanoi - by a Vietnamese leader since 2014, when a diplomatic crisis over a Chinese deepwater oil rig in the contested waters sent their ties to a low point. In his remarks, Lam described the island as "a key maritime gateway ... providing logistics services for military activities at sea" and added that it should become "a fortress for defending Vietnam's maritime sovereignty". Lucio Blanco Pitlo III, research fellow at the Asia-Pacific Pathways to Progress Foundation, a Manila-based think tank, described Malaysia and Vietnam as "pragmatic and flexible actors", despite their different approaches and thresholds. "Both jointly submitted an extended continental shelf claim [to the United Nations in 2009] and pursued joint offshore petroleum development in the resource-rich sea," he noted. According to Pitlo, much of their offshore oil and gas blocks are in choppy waters where China's claims are becoming more felt - through Beijing's growing enforcement capacity and frequent disruption of regular marine security and economic activities. "Both countries see China's increasing omnipresence in the disputed sea and airspace and the challenge these present to their interests," Pitlo said. "But relative distance and burgeoning economic ties may explain Malaysia's higher bar in pushing back against China. It can tolerate the passage and presence of Chinese ships, so long as they do not interfere with the country's petroleum fields or projects." Pitlo noted that Malaysia and Vietnam had opposed China's claims and actions and registered their displeasure through diplomatic channels. "However, they may also have apprehensions about Manila inviting greater US and allied military footprints, which may raise the possibility of accidents in the hotspot," he said. Unlike the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam seem to have "more confidence in dealing with their big northern neighbour", according to Pitlo, who pointed out that both Kuala Lumpur and Hanoi have channels for dialogue with China about the sea. Ngeow Chow Bing, director of the Institute of China Studies at the University of Malaya, said the upgraded partnership between Vietnam and Malaysia was not necessarily meant as a strategic statement towards China or the Philippines. Instead, the wording of the joint statement - such as "peaceful settlement" and "self-restraint" - were standard phrases that are common among the Asean nations, he said. "So these are not particularly aimed at the current tensions or towards China or the Philippines ... The upgrade ... is bilateral in nature and does not indicate any form of united front against China on the South China Sea." According to Ngeow, the recent dispute between Kuala Lumpur and Hanoi was not a factor in the timing of the upgrade's announcement because "incidents like this, on their own, are no obstacles for improved diplomatic relations". Carl Thayer, emeritus professor at the University of New South Wales in Australia, agreed, noting that both countries had signalled that priority would be given to "self-restraint towards each other in the South China Sea and negotiations to address outstanding issues". Thayer added that the Vietnam-Malaysia statement merely repeated their support for the standard Asean position on the maritime dispute with regard to China. While both countries stood to benefit from better trade and investment, deepened defence and security cooperation, as well as greater Asean-wide coordination, Vietnam's support would also enhance Malaysia's position as Asean's 2025 chair, he said. However, the upgrade could presage a realignment within a deeply divided Asean, with Vietnam emerging as "the hub of a network" that includes Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, according to Thayer. "This new realignment could influence the Philippines to put greater trust in Asean, [rather] than relying primarily on its alliance with the US. China would find it more difficult to play its 'divide and conquer' strategy," he said. "A united front of claimant states against China is unlikely until Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines resolve their own overlapping claims," Thayer added. This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2024 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2024. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here. Years ago, I read a book by the historian Barbara Tuchman called "Bible and Sword: England and Palestine from the Bronze Age to Balfour." It's worth a read for anyone wondering about the origins of the present-day conflicts in the Middle East. According to the Financial Times, HongShan, the Chinese investment firm spun off from Sequoia Capital in 2023, is aggressively expanding into Europe and North Asia owing both to "shrinking options" in China and to limited partners that have grown frustrated with how slowly HongShan is deploying the $9 billion in capital commitments it secured two years ago. (As the FT notes, LPs typically have to pay management fees on capital even if it has not been called into use.) Based in Hong Kong, the nearly 20-year-old firm has taken a bigger bite of existing Chinese portfolio companies like TikTok's parent company ByteDance and an Instagram clone called Xiaohongshu. It's also investing in China-based robotics and AI startups. Still, a range of new bets in new regions, along with reported plans to open an office in Tokyo, suggest HongShan is looking farther afield for returns. Indeed, having recently opened an office in London, it may increasingly bump into its former partner, Sequoia, which also now has a London office, observes the FT. Google (GOOG, GOOGL) has a lot at stake if the Justice Department succeeds in breaking up its empire, from control over its search data and Android operating system to the loss of its Chrome browser. But the biggest threat the company faces is to a search business that is deeply woven into the technology ecosystem of its parent company Alphabet. Of the $307.3 billion in revenue Google made in 2023, $175 billion came solely from that ad-driven search engine business. The DOJ wants to impose dozens of limitations on the way that Google connects that engine with consumers. Other parts of Alphabet could also be affected. The DOJ also asked for the company to be prohibited from favoring its video subsidiary, YouTube, which is part of its YouTube Ads business unit. That unit, which generated $31.3 billion in revenue in 2023, earns money through ads that appear on and around YouTube videos. Google search promotes YouTube video links in response to user queries. Google's digital ads business, a division that generated $31.5 billion in revenue in 2023, could also be imperiled by a limitation on search favoring YouTube. Advertisers as well as content creators use Google's buyer- and seller-side platforms to target consumers and monetize video content. It will be up to District of Columbia Judge Amit Mehta, who sided with the DOJs monopoly argument in a trial that wrapped up earlier this year, to approve any of the proposals submitted by prosecutors. That could include the sale of Google's Chrome browser and a divestment of its Android mobile operating system. Even artificial-intelligence investments designed to pay off in the future could be under threat. Prosecutors also called for Google to divest within six months any investment or ownership in rival query-based AI products, as well as rival search text advertising technology products. That would force Google to unwind its partnership with generative AI startup Anthropic. Google has invested $2 billion in Anthropic, while also hiring the founders of another AI startup, Character.AI. Taken together, the Justice Departments requests would dramatically alter the tech landscape. Some legal experts said there is a slim chance Mehta will grant all of the prosecutors' proposals. Judge Amit Mehta, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, will decide whether Google gets broken up. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Mark Wilson via Getty Images "I think it's pretty unlikely that the government will be successful in getting these things," Columbia Law School antitrust professor Erik Hovenkamp told Yahoo Finance. "In particular, I do not expect the court to order any divestiture. Contrary to popular misconception, antitrust rarely breaks up monopolies." The European Central Bank (ECB) and Norges Bank have reached an agreement to add Norway to the TARGET Instant Payment Settlement (TIPS) service by Eurosystem. With this move, Norwegian krone will become the fourth currency available for settlement in TIPS. The integration of the Norwegian krone into TIPS is scheduled in the first half of 2028. This will enable instant, round-the-clock payment settlements in central bank money for market participants in Norway. With this development, Norwegian citizens and businesses will join the European community of TIPS service users, benefiting from the streamlined payment infrastructure. It follows the inclusion of the Euro and the Swedish krona and Danish krone expected to join in April 2025. TARGET Services, which TIPS is a part of, are designed to facilitate secure and efficient transfers between banks, businesses, and individuals across multiple currencies. The Eurosystem is also working towards implementing a cross-currency settlement service within TIPS. This service will allow transfers between all participating TIPS currencies, including the Norwegian krone. ECB President Christine Lagarde said: We are delighted that Norway will use the Eurosystems TARGET Instant Payment Settlement service for instant payments in Norwegian krone. Norway is the first non-European Union country of the European Economic Area to join one of the Eurosystems TARGET Services. It is an indication of the strengthened economic relations across Europe and the attractiveness of TIPS. Norges Bank Governor Ida Wolden Bache said: A well-functioning instant payments solution is an important part of an efficient payment system. The agreement with the ECB will ensure that infrastructure for instant payments in Norwegian krone is developed in pace with developments in the Nordic countries and the rest of Europe. "Norway becomes part of Eurosystems TIPS service " was originally created and published by Electronic Payments International, a GlobalData owned brand. MARKING ITS NINTH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH GLOBAL WEALTH FUNDS MUSCAT, Oman, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik's state visit to the Republic of Turkiye, Oman Investment Authority (OIA), Oman's Sovereign Wealth Fund, announced a US$500 million collaboration with Turkiye's state-owned OYAK Fund. This joint capital allocation, with equal contributions from both entities, underscores Oman's commitment to strengthening economic ties with global partners while advancing mutual growth and development. OIA ANNOUNCES A US$500 MILLION STRATEGIC COLLABORATION WITH TURKIYES OYAK FUND This partnership will focus on investments in Oman and Turkiye, with prospects for expansion into other international markets.This initiative further reinforces OIA's ongoing strategy to establish high-value investment alliances that deliver significant financial and strategic returns. H.E. Abdulsalam bin Mohammed Al Murshidi, President of the Oman Investment Authority, stated: "We have built a global reputation and sufficient expertise to form impactful partnerships that bring tangible benefits to Oman's economy. This latest collaboration with OYAK Fund seamlessly aligns with our strategic objectives to expand our investment network and secure meaningful returns." OYAK General Manager Suleyman Savas Erdem added, "The joint fund we have established with the Oman Investment Authority is an indication of the trust in our country and our corporation. With this fund, we will be making investments in strategic areas not only in both countries, but also in different regions of the world. This partnership will strengthen our vision of being a global company." OYAK Fund brings significant resources and expertise to this collaboration, enhancing its potential to drive economic growth in both countries. Key industries targeted for investment include mining, metals, automotive manufacturing, logistics, chemicals, agriculture, food production, and energy. It also aims to facilitate technology transfer and localize expertise in Oman, fostering capacity building and knowledge sharing. This agreement marks OIA's ninth strategic partnership with global entities, building on successful collaborations with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Spain, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and India. These alliances have delivered positive outcomes, such as new investments, profitable exits, and increased capital allocations. The authority's growing portfolio underscores its pivotal role in driving Oman's economic diversification and international economic diplomacy. Despite Pfizer's (NYSE: PFE) recent struggles with falling earnings and a bid by an activist investor to unseat its leadership, the pharma juggernaut is still actively advancing its core priorities and giving investors plenty of reasons to consider buying its stock while it's cheap. With that in mind, here's one new initiative that's worth thinking about if you're wondering about whether to make an investment. Are You Missing The Morning Scoop? Breakfast News delivers it all in a quick, Foolish, and free daily newsletter. Sign Up For Free This new play could lead to super-effective medicines down the line On Nov. 20, Pfizer announced that its strategic partnership with Flagship Pioneering, a highly prestigious biopharma venture capital (VC) group, had agreed on a new collaboration. Per the agreement, one of Flagship's portfolio companies, a private biotech called Ampersand Biomedicines, will work with Pfizer to potentially develop new medicines for obesity. Given that the market for weight loss drugs could be as large as $100 billion by 2030, there's little doubt that there's great potential for these businesses as they work together. Ampersand's technology platform aims to streamline the development of multi-component drugs that can localize themselves precisely to the appropriate physiological locations in the patient's body, perhaps including targeted locations inside specific types of cells, and then deliver a high-impact payload for the intended medicinal effect. Unlike technologies that are conceptually similar in terms of their goals, such as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), Ampersand's technology can supposedly be implemented across a wide range of different therapeutic formats and drug delivery systems, utilizing everything from small molecules to biologics and even nucleic acids like mRNA. In plain English, this means that the biotech could develop novel approaches to treating obesity and that those novel approaches might end up being significantly more effective than the drugs that are currently on the market or in development elsewhere. But that's an ambitious goal. This is not to suggest that its highly flexible multiformat approach is impossible, but in practice it'll need to tackle a bunch of engineering issues beyond what would normally be expected. It would need to carefully calibrate the physical and chemical interactions between each drug format and each delivery system from scratch -- and doing it correctly even for one combination is a very complicated and challenging process. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) Two neighbors of a Kentucky plant that was the site of a massive explosion are suing the company, saying the blast earlier this month damaged their homes and caused emotional trauma. Edward Roberts and Ana Carolina Gomez Bridge filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Givaudan Flavors Corporation and its parent company, Givaudan U.S. They say the company was negligent leading up to the Nov. 12 explosion of a cooking vessel inside the plant that destroyed the building, killed two workers and flung debris into nearby yards and homes. The two residents live in the same home that backs up to the plant. Givaudan failed miserably to operate their business responsibly, and the consequences were catastrophic," Tad Thomas, a Louisville lawyer representing the two residents, said in a media release. The company has said they are liable for damages to the surrounding homes. The companys president, Ann Leonard, said in a community meeting last week that it is likely the plant will be moved out of the neighborhood and rebuilt elsewhere. Last week, the family of one of the plant workers who died in the blast hired lawyers who said they are exploring a lawsuit. Another lawsuit filed against the company last week was from a food delivery driver who was in the area when the explosion happened. Charles Fowler said in the lawsuit that the blast triggered post-traumatic stress disorder from his service during the Iraq war. Dozens of homes around the plant had their windows shattered, and the percussion from the blast knocked pictures off walls and cracked drywall in some homes. Some residents at the community meeting told the company their children were traumatized by the sound. In 911 calls obtained by The Associated Press this week, residents complain of a loud sound and smoke after the afternoon explosion. In one call, a woman reported that she heard some sort of explosion outside her home. It shook the house, she said. In another call, a man reported that a building just like exploded nearby and described in detail what he heard and saw. There was a huge blast, he said. The lights flickered and theres a bunch of smoke coming out of the plant. It smells like something blew up, he added. According to the latest lawsuit, Roberts was in the basement when the blast happened, knocking out windows and causing foundation damage. Both Roberts and Bridge said they have been experiencing physical pain and suffering, and Bridge has suffered severe emotional distress, requiring her to pursue necessary therapeutic care and treatment, the lawsuit said. The lawsuit also says that employees had warned the company about the vessel overheating, but Givaudan failed to take any corrective action and continued operations. MARRAKECH, Morocco, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Marrakech Air Show 2024, held under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, concluded on November 2 after four dynamic days. Hosted at the Royal Air Force base, the event attracted 194 exhibitors, 50 delegations, and nearly 30,000 visitors, solidifying Morocco's position in the global aerospace industry. Seventh annual Marrakech Air Show hosted 194 exhibitors and attracted 30,000 visitors Participation of Global Leaders Renowned aerospace and defense companies, including Airbus, Lockheed Martin, Embraer, and Safran, showcased cutting-edge technologies. The UAE, as the country of honor, featured a prominent pavilion spanning over 800 m, highlighting innovations from major Emirati companies. The 7th edition also witnessed the signing of key agreements that reaffirmed Morocco's appeal as a competitive aeronautics hub. A major highlight was the creation of the African Centre of Manufacturing Excellence (ACME) in partnership with Boeing, focusing on advanced manufacturing research. Embraer signed agreements for projects in commercial aviation, defense, and urban mobility, further strengthening Morocco's industrial ecosystem. Additional partnerships were formalized with companies such as TRELLEBORG and Composite Industrie Maroc, boosting local supply chains. Spotlight on Human Capital and Innovation MAS 2024 emphasized the importance of human capital and innovation. Over 100 Moroccan engineering students participated, underscoring the role of local talent in industry growth. A dedicated 500 m space for startups showcased innovative solutions, reflecting the future of aerospace. Morocco's aeronautics industry has seen remarkable development, doubling the number of active companies to 151 in just a decade. The sector now employs 24,000 people and generates 2 billion dirhams in monthly exports, with 23% growth in 2024 alone. A Memorable Closing On November 2, the public was invited to explore aircraft and military displays and attend a two-hour airshow that thrilled nearly 20,000 visitors, bringing the 7th edition to a spectacular close. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2569985/Marrakech_Air_Show.jpg Media contact: Oscar Valero oscar.valero@marco.agency Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/seventh-annual-marrakech-air-show-hosted-194-exhibitors-and-attracted-30-000-visitors-302318856.html SOURCE Marrakech Air Show By Eduardo Baptista and Casey Hall BEIJING (Reuters) -Casual wear giant Uniqlo is facing a storm of online criticism in China after a BBC report quoted the chief executive of its owner as saying the company does not source cotton from the far western region of Xinjiang. The British Broadcasting Corporation published an interview on Thursday with Tadashi Yanai, the chief executive of Fast Retailing, in which it asked him if the Japanese retailer sourced cotton from the region. The report went viral on Chinese social media platform Weibo on Friday, with several users slamming the company and some saying they would stop buying its products. "With this kind of attitude from Uniqlo, and their founder being so arrogant, they're probably betting that mainland consumers will forget about it in a few days and continue to buy," one user wrote. "So, can we stand firm this time?" In the interview, Yanai initally responds to the BBC's question saying, "We're not using," before interrupting himself to say he did not want to continue his answer as it was "too political". Fast Retailing did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The issue of sourcing from Xinjiang, where rights groups and the U.S. government accuse China of abuses against the Uyghur population, has been a geopolitical minefield for foreign firms with a large presence in China. Beijing denies any abuses in the region, the origin of the vast majority of Chinese-produced cotton. In 2021, Uniqlos rival, H&M, faced a consumer boycott in China for a statement on its website that expressed concern about accusations of forced labour in Xinjiang and said it would no longer source cotton from there. H&M saw its stores removed from major e-commerce platforms and its store locations moved from map apps in China as it bore the brunt of consumer anger at companies refusing to source cotton from Xinjiang. Other Western brands such as Nike, Puma, Burberry, Adidas and more were also caught up in the controversy. In September, China's commerce ministry launched an investigation into PVH, the parent company of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger. In a statement it said PVH was suspected of "unjustly boycotting" Xinjiang cotton and other products "without factual basis". PVH has said it will respond in accordance with relevant regulations, media reported. In 2020, Fast Retailing said it did not make any products in Xinjiang. However, Yanai has refrained in recent years from discussing the subject in other media interviews, saying Uniqlo wanted to stay neutral. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. Gratitude to the Almighty is the theme of Thanksgiving and has been ever since the Pilgrims of Plymouth brought in their first harvest. "Instead of famine, now G od gave them plenty," their leader, Governor William Bradford, would later write in "Of Plymouth Plantation," his celebrated history of the colony's first decades, "and the face of things was changed to the rejoicing of the hearts of many, for which they blessed G od." The annual presidential Thanksgiving proclamations always invoke G od, and they frequently itemize the favors for which we owe Him thanks. "For all the blessings that have been bestowed upon our nation during the past 12 months, it is a small thing to give thanks to Almighty G od," declared Lyndon Johnson in 1965, to mention just one example. "Our nation is rich and strong and united in the cause of liberty and justice. Our physical comforts are unmatched anywhere in the world. Our medicine has conquered ancient diseases." This week, in millions of homes across the nation, G od will be thanked for many gifts for the feast on the table and the company of loved ones, for health and good fortune in the year gone by, for peace at home when there is so much war abroad, for the incalculable privilege of having been born or having become American. But it probably won't occur to too many of us to give thanks for the fact that the local supermarket had plenty of fresh turkey for sale this week. Even the devout aren't likely to thank G od for airline schedules that made it possible for some of those loved ones to fly home for Thanksgiving. Or for the arrival of "Wicked" and "Gladiator II" at the local theater in time for the holiday weekend. Those things we take more or less for granted. It hardly takes a miracle to explain why grocery stores stock up on turkey before Thanksgiving, or why Hollywood releases big movies in time for big holidays. That's what they do. Where is G od in that? And yet, isn't there something wondrous something almost inexplicable in the way your Thanksgiving weekend is made possible by the skill and labor of vast numbers of total strangers? To bring that turkey to the dining room table, for example, required the efforts of thousands of people the poultry farmers who raised the birds, of course, but also the feed distributors who supplied their nourishment and the truckers who brought it to the farm, not to mention the architect who designed the hatchery, the workers who built it, and the technicians who keep it running. The bird had to be slaughtered and defeathered and inspected and transported and unloaded and wrapped and priced and displayed. The people who accomplished those tasks were supported in turn by armies of other people accomplishing other tasks from refining the gasoline that fueled the trucks to manufacturing the plastic in which the meat was packaged to scheduling the shifts of the cashiers who rang up customers' sales. The activities of countless far-flung men and women over the course of many months had to be intricately choreographed and precisely timed, so that when you showed up to buy a fresh Thanksgiving turkey, there would be one or more likely, a few dozen waiting. The level of coordination that was required to pull it off is astounding. But what is even more astounding is this: No one coordinated it. No turkey czar sat in a command post somewhere, consulting a master plan and issuing orders. No one rode herd on all those people, forcing them to cooperate for your benefit. And yet they did cooperate. When you arrived at the supermarket, your turkey was there. You didn't have to do anything but show up to buy it. If that isn't a miracle, what should we call it? Adam Smith called it "the invisible hand" the mysterious phenomenon that leads innumerable people, each working for his own gain, to promote ends that benefit many and enrich society. Out of the seeming chaos of millions of uncoordinated private transactions emerges the spontaneous order of the market. Free human beings freely interact, and the result is an array of goods and services more immense than the human mind can comprehend. No dictator, no bureaucracy, no supercomputer plans it in advance. Indeed, the more an economy is planned, the more it is plagued by shortages, dislocation, and failure. It is commonplace to speak of seeing G od's signature in the intricacy of a spider's web, the grandeur of a mountain range, or the ethereal beauty of a rainbow. But even they pale against the kaleidoscopic energy and productivity of the free market. If it is a blessing from Heaven when seeds are transformed into grain, how much more of a blessing is it when our private, voluntary exchanges are transformed without our ever intending it into prosperity, innovation, and growth? The social order of freedom, like the wealth and the progress it makes possible, is an extraordinary gift from above. On this Thanksgiving Day and every day, may we be grateful. Jeff Jacoby is a columnist for The Boston Globe, from which this is reprinted with permission. (COMMENT, BELOW) Dell Technologies (NYSE: DELL) stock tumbled 11% through 10:05 a.m. ET Wednesday after the company reported mixed earnings last night. Heading into the report, analysts forecast Dell would earn $2.06 per share in Q3. Dell beat that number, reporting pro forma profits of $2.15. However, the company's quarterly revenue fell short of expectations at $24.4 billion, versus Wall Street's expected $24.7 billion. Are You Missing The Morning Scoop? Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free Dell Q3 earnings were a mixed bag Sales still grew 10% year over year, however, led by the company's infrastructure solutions group (server farms), which showed tremendous 34% sales growth. Client solutions, however (PCs and similar devices), suffered a 1% decline in sales. Earnings growth was even better. Non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) adjusted profits grew 14%, and GAAP profits grew 16%, but the GAAP number remains far smaller -- only $1.58 per share -- a 27% difference, suggesting Dell's not really as profitable as the "earnings beat" makes it look. Is Dell stock a buy? As demonstrated by the divergence in growth rates between servers and PCs, Dell's placing a big bet on the continued popularity of artificial intelligence (AI) functions to drive its growth. COO Jeff Clarke said in the earnings release, "AI is a robust opportunity for us, with no signs of slowing down." And "interest in our [AI products] is at an all-time high, driving record AI server orders demand of $3.6 billion in Q3 and a pipeline that grew more than 50%, with growth across all customer types." So why aren't investors impressed? The fact that sales came in just a bit lighter than expected is probably one reason. Valuation may be another. Priced at 25 times earnings today, Dell stock is actually cheaper than the average S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) stock, which costs closer to 31 times earnings. That makes Dell stock look like a relative bargain, but with profits only growing in the mid-teens, the stock still sells for a PEG ratio of at least 1.5, which isn't objectively cheap. I continue to be cautious on Dell stock. Should you invest $1,000 in Dell Technologies right now? Before you buy stock in Dell Technologies, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Dell Technologies wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. INVL Baltic Real Estate INVL Baltic Real Estate (hereinafter the Company) informs that on 29 November 2024 a new wording of the Articles of Association of Company was registered in the Register of Legal Entities. The new wording of the Articles of Association was approved on 19 November 2024 during the General Shareholders Meeting. According to the provisions of legal acts, the registered Articles of Association will be submitted to the Bank of Lithuania. The person authorized to provide additional information: Real Estate Fund Manager of Management Company Vytautas Baksinskas E-mail vytautas.baksinskas@invl.com Attachment Before the biggest shopping season of the year even kicked off on Friday, the holidays and promises of alluring seasonal sales arrived at shopping centers across El Paso County. Amid twinkling lights strung along storefronts and Christmas trees lined up outside grocery stores, magnificent posters in festive colors were already pasted to the front windows of several businesses by the weekend prior to Black Friday. In giant, exclamatory verbiage, they entice would-be customers to peruse their selection of goods and services to commence their holiday purchases. The deals are tempting: Holiday sale! BOGO 50% on everything! Up to $350 off select computers! Black Friday deals all week long! Then there's the litany of emails and text messages from retailers, advertising their limited-time sales for a Thanksgiving weekend that every year invites a shopping frenzy: Black Friday followed by Small Business Saturday followed by Cyber Monday. Across the U.S., a record 183.4 million people plan to shop in stores and online this holiday weekend, an annual survey released Nov. 14 by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics found. Most of them nearly 72%, or 131.7 million will shop on Black Friday. Consumers plan to shop because they don't want to pass up good deals (57%), because it's tradition (28%) and they like to start their holiday purchasing over Thanksgiving weekend (24%), the survey found. Another survey the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics conducted in October found holiday spending is also expected to reach a new record this year. On average, a consumer will spend $902 on gifts, food, decorations and other seasonal items. That's about $25 more per person than in 2023, and $16 more than the previous record set in 2019, according to the October survey. Of the average $902 total, shoppers will spend about $641 on gifts, up from $620 in 2023. While the holiday season is one of the most lucrative for retailers, it can pressure consumers to spend more money, and with more abandon, than they would at other times of the year. Sign up for free: Gazette Business Receive a weekly roundup of business news around El Paso County. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Featured Local Savings Marketing tactics, planned purchasing, future discounting, emotional factors and social pressures all influence consumers' tendency to binge shop, splurging on gifts and experiences this time of year, said Ying Zeng, an assistant professor of marketing at the University of Colorado Boulder's Leeds School of Business. She has studied consumer decision-making for the last seven years. "At the end of the year there are so many big holidays all together: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. They're associated with family gatherings, vacations and celebrations, making them feel more special," Zeng said. The annual celebrations cause consumers to make different types of purchases every year: so-called ritual purchases of gifts and other commodities because of the holiday season; planned purchases, when a person knows they want or need a certain item and plans to take advantage of holiday discounts; and "sacred purchases" to express love and devotion for close friends and family. "Emotion is a very important determinant for consumer decisions," Zeng said. "This time of year holds a lot of nostalgia and sentimentality for people and we ... are more willing to spend more (money) as an expression of love, making us sensitive to overspending." Fear of missing out on a special holiday deal or a new trend can drive consumers to purchase items impulsively, including those they may not have bought otherwise. "During holidays there are so many justifications to say, 'Maybe today I'm not going to be a disciplined shopper. Everyone is buying that product, I'm worried not part of the trend, or I'm missing the deal.' All these marketing tactics can create anxiety," Zeng said. This doesn't mean holiday shopping season is purely harmful, she said. It helps many parties, including small businesses who can benefit from advertising their sales and brands through word of mouth and social media. "They may not have as much exposure, but they have good quality products. Joining holiday sales and increasing the number of customers who visit and make purchases from them is a great way" to get more business, Zeng said. Shoppers can be more mindful when doing their holiday shopping by being specific about exactly which events or under what circumstances they will use a product they want to purchase. Zeng recommends consumers plan ahead to reduce impulsive shopping, such as making a strict shopping list and sticking to it. Shoppers should avoid installment payment plans because they can be misleading and contribute to overspending, she added. People should think of purchases in terms of their total cost, rather than justifying the cost by breaking it down mentally. For example, people should consider they will spend $200 on an item rather than comparing the cost to 28 daily coffees at $7 apiece. Lastly, Zeng advises people to consider a store's pricing strategy and an item's actual price, rather than just the reference price, to determine if it's worth the purchase. At the invitation of Premier of the State Council Li Qiang, Prime Minister of Nepal KP Sharma Oli will pay an official visit to China from December 2 to 5. China Daily: To follow up on your announcement that Nepals Prime Minister Oli will pay an official visit to China. Can you brief us on the program of the visit? How does China view the current China-Nepal relations and whats Chinas expectation for the visit? Mao Ning: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has visited China twice as Nepals Prime Minister and made important contributions to advancing the growth of China-Nepal relations. During his upcoming visit, President Xi Jinping will meet with him, and Premier Li Qiang and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress Zhao Leji will have talks and meet with him respectively. The two countries leaders will have in-depth exchanges of views on deepening our traditional friendship, expanding Belt and Road cooperation and exchanges and cooperation in various fields, as well as international and regional issues of mutual interest. China and Nepal are neighbors with enduring friendship connected by mountains and rivers. Over the past 69 years since China and Nepal established diplomatic relations, despite the changing international and regional landscape, bilateral ties have maintained sound and steady growth, setting a fine example of equality and win-win cooperation between countries of different sizes. In 2019, President Xi Jinping paid a historic state visit to Nepal and the bilateral relationship has been elevated to the strategic partnership of cooperation featuring ever-lasting friendship for development and prosperity. In recent years, the two sides have been earnestly delivering on the important common understandings between leaders of the two countries and achieved fruitful outcomes in our bilateral ties. China stands ready to work with Nepal through Prime Minister Olis visit to enhance strategic mutual trust, expand practical cooperation, deepen high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and strive for new progress in China-Nepal strategic partnership of cooperation. AFP: Sweden said yesterday that it has sent a formal request to China to cooperate with Swedish authorities as they investigate the severing of two cables in the Baltic Sea after a Chinese ship, the Yi Peng 3, was linked to the incident. Can the Foreign Ministry share any updates on this incident or the investigation? Mao Ning: China stands ready to work with relevant countries to find out what happened. There is ongoing close communication between China and Sweden on this. Shenzhen TV: The 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP29, successfully concluded a few days ago and climate governance has become a hot topic. We noted that China is the first country in the world to achieve zero net land degradation and reduce both desertification and sandification. By the end of 2023, Chinas forest coverage ratio had exceeded 25 percent with the increase topping the world. How would you comment on Chinas achievement in desertification prevention and control and its contribution to the world? Mao Ning: China is among the countries that suffer most from desertification. The Chinese government attaches great importance to this issue, and has steadily advanced the comprehensive prevention and control of desertification and major ecological conservation projects, such as the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program. We have put 53 percent of treatable sandy land under effective treatment, realized a virtuous cycle of ecological conservation and improvement of peoples life, and contributed to the global effort to combat sandification. This year marks the 30th anniversary of China signing the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Over the past three decades, China has taken active effort to implement the convention, carried out international cooperation on combating sandification, and explored mechanisms under Belt and Road cooperation to prevent and control desertification. China has also shared relevant technology and experience and provided training to Central Asian and African countries, which also face the problem of desertification, injecting impetus to the joint pursuit of the Global South for green development. Next week, COP16 of the UNCCD will be held in Saudi Arabia, and China will send a delegation to the meeting to contribute Chinas solutions to global effort to combat desertification and join hands with all parties to make Planet Earth greener. Reuters: A Beijing court sentenced Chinese journalist Dong Yuyu to seven years in prison today for espionage. Would the Foreign Ministry like to comment given the international attention his case has attracted? Mao Ning: China upholds the rule of law and Chinese judicial authorities handle cases in strict accordance with the law. Those who violate laws will certainly be brought to account in accordance with the law. TASS: Yesterday, when answering questions from the press in Astana, Russian President Putin said he discussed with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev the possibility of creating new routes for oil and gas pumping to third countries, including to China, over the territory of Kazakhstan. What is Chinas comment on this? Mao Ning: Id refer you to competent Chinese authorities for this question. Reuters: Has China directly told the US not to allow Taiwans Lai Ching-te to visit Hawaii and Guam while he is on the Pacific tour? Mao Ning: In the meeting between Chinese and US Presidents in Lima, President Xi Jinping stressed that the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques are the political foundation of China-US relations and they must be observed. Cross-Strait peace and stability and Taiwan independence separatist activities are irreconcilable as water and fire. If the US side cares about maintaining peace across the Taiwan Strait, it is crucial that it sees clearly the true nature of Lai Ching-te and the DPP authorities in seeking Taiwan independence, handles the Taiwan question with extra prudence, unequivocally opposes Taiwan independence, and supports Chinas peaceful reunification. Let me reiterate that China firmly opposes any form of official interaction between the US and the Taiwan region, firmly opposes any visit by the leader of the Taiwan authorities to the US in any name or under whatever pretext, and firmly opposes any form of US connivance and support for Taiwan independence separatists and their separatist activities. We urge the US to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, act on its leaders commitments, including not supporting Taiwan independence, stop any official interactions with the Taiwan region, and stop sending wrong signals to Taiwan independence separatist forces. China remains resolutely determined to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and oppose interference in our internal affairs by external forces. Global Times: Its reported that, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued three executive orders recently, which ask for preventing Chinas police service stations overseas and Operation Fox Hunt from targeting dissidents, prohibiting Texas state agencies and all public higher education institutions from entering into new contracts with companies controlled by the Chinese government, and protecting critical infrastructure in Texas from being attacked by China. Greg Abbott also sent a letter to Texas state agencies, prohibiting them from making any new investments of state funds in China and asking them to divest at the first available opportunity. Whats the Foreign Ministrys comment? Mao Ning: There is no so-called Chinese police service stations overseas at all. Chinas law enforcement agencies carry out cooperation in international law enforcement in strict accordance with international law, fully respects other countries laws and judicial sovereignty and safeguard the lawful rights and interests of the suspects. The economic ties and trade between China and the US are win-win in nature. Over the years, Chinese companies investments have made important contributions to boosting employment and economic growth in the US. To politicize the issue of trade and investment and overstretch the concept of security runs contrary to the principle of market economy and international trade rules, undermines international confidence in the US market and does no good to the USs economic growth. Relevant people in the US should stop smearing and making groundless accusations against China. Instead, they need to do more to facilitate cooperation between China and the US. Reuters: CPTPP members met in Vancouver this week to consider applications to join the free trade agreement. According to reports, the meeting agreed to set up a working group to consider Costa Ricas entry. Are you able to tell us whether a working group to consider Chinas bid to join was also set up? Mao Ning: Chinas position on the CPTPP is consistent and clear. China firmly champions trade liberalization and facilitation and actively participates in the regional cooperation and economic integration of the Asia-Pacific. We have taken the initiative to align with high-standard international trade rules, taken proactive steps to expand opening up, and advanced the process of joining the CPTPP. We are in contact, communication and consultation with all parties on this. Reuters: A BBC report quoted the boss of global fashion chain Uniqlo as saying the brand does not use cotton from Xinjiang. Would the Foreign Ministry like to comment on these remarks? Mao Ning: Cotton from the Xinjiang region is among the best in the world. We hope relevant company will overcome political pressure and malign disruption, and independently make business decisions that serve its own interests. Reuters: Could you confirm whether todays joint air patrols between China and Russia took place in international or Chinese or Russian airspace? Mao Ning: Id refer you to competent Chinese authorities for this question. AFP: Russias defense minister has arrived in North Korea today according to Russian state media, citing a military statement. Recent months have seen these two countries strengthen their military ties. North Korea has been accused of sending more than 10,000 soldiers to help Russia fight Ukraine. China is a country with close ties to both Russia and North Korea. How does China view this visit and Russia and North Koreas recent military cooperation? Mao Ning: Russia and the DPRK are independent sovereign states. Their bilateral exchange is a matter for themselves and we are not familiar with the specifics. Chinas position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent. *************************************************** The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Peoples Government of Hainan Province will hold the event of presenting Hainan Free Trade Port to the world themed Local Practices of Chinese ModernizationHainan Free Trade Port: New Era, New Mission, New Opportunities on the afternoon of December 4 at Lanting, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi will attend and address the event. Secretary of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee Feng Fei and Governor of Hainan Province Liu Xiaoming will deliver remarks and presentations respectively. Representatives of the diplomatic corps in China will deliver remarks. The event will comprehensively showcase the unique strengths, early harvests and development prospects of Hainan Free Trade Port, as well as the cooperation opportunities it offers to the world. The event will demonstrate Chinas firm resolve in promoting reform through opening up and in building a new open economic system at a higher level. You are welcome to cover the event. There will be no regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on December 4. The press conference will resume on December 5. During the recess, questions can be submitted to the Spokespersons Office via fax, e-mail or WeChat. Liberty Energy founder and CEO Chris Wright of Colorado has been picked to serve as the countrys next energy secretary. George Brauchler is district attorney-elect for the 23rd Judicial District and former district attorney for the 18th Judicial District. He has served as an Owens Early Criminal Justice Fellow at the Common Sense Institute. Follow him on Twitter(X): @GeorgeBrauchler After a first halt in Beijing, Xavier Bettel, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and Lex Delles, Minister of the Economy, SME, Energy and Tourism, continued their economic mission in China on 27 and 28 November with a stop in Shanghai, where the automotive sector and clean technologies were the focus of attention. The two ministers were first received by the mayor of Shanghai, Gong Zheng, for an exchange of views on subjects of common interest, particularly those linked to the sustainable development of cities and regions. Shanghai is the world leader in the production of electric vehicles, as well as being the city with the most vehicle registrations (1.4 million). Avenues for collaboration were discussed in the fields of research, logistics, clean technologies and tourism. Minister Delles also met the mayor of Changzhou, Sheng Lei, to discuss industrial developments in the province and possible cooperation in the industry. Ministers Bettel and Delles then attended demonstrations of cutting-edge automotive equipment. Futurus Technology, an innovator in the field of head-up displays, presented the ministers with its new generation of products offering augmented reality functionalities. Xpeng, an independent car manufacturer, focuses on the development, construction and sale of electric and intelligent vehicles. Avenues for collaboration with the Grand Duchy were discussed with the two companies. The ministers also held talks with several companies operating in Luxembourg or wishing to develop their business in Europe. The ministers then attended a working lunch organised by the Luxembourg Trade and Investment Office (LTIO) in Shanghai, bringing together some ten representatives of major Luxembourg companies active in China. The Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the Ministry of the Economy and Luxinnovation, then organised the Luxembourg-China Business Forum Shanghai, which brought together more than 80 representatives of Chinese companies and more than 60 representatives of Luxembourg companies. After the opening speech by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Xavier Bettel, the Minister of the Economy, SME, Energy and Tourism gave a keynote speech. In the sidelines of the Forum, the ministers signed three Memoranda of Understanding between Luxembourg and Chinese companies. The first day in Shanghai ended with an official reception organised by the Chamber of Commerce and attended by more than 200 participants from Luxembourg and China. The ministers exchanged views with entrepreneurs and the Luxembourg community in China. The following day, the ministers visited the new factory of CEBI, a flagship of Luxembourg industry that has been present in China for 20 years. With the new production lines, the company now employs 270 people in China, bringing the total workforce to 3,300 in 13 countries. Minister Delles also visited the production site of Higer Bus, which produces electric buses. Accompanied by the directors of Demy Schandeler, the Minister was briefed on the production capacity and took part in the handover of the keys of 11 purchased electric buses, which will join the electric fleet of the Grand Duchy in 2025, contributing to the green transition of public transport in Luxembourg. Finally, Minister Delles attended a reception organised by Chinalux, where he met representatives of Chinese companies active in Luxembourg and Luxembourg companies active in China. Minister Xavier Bettel stated: Today, at a time when the geopolitical and geo-economic landscape has become increasingly complex, Luxembourg remains committed to a mutually beneficial and forward-looking relationship with China, based on mutual respect and a level playing field. The many exchanges we have had underline the potential for growth and cooperation that exists between Shanghai, the Yangtze River Delta and Luxembourg. The Minister of the Economy, SME, Energy and Tourism, Lex Delles, commented: Shanghai is at the forefront of innovation in many key areas, including green mobility and clean technologies. We can't decarbonise our economy alone. Exchanges with Chinese companies show that there is real potential for collaboration in these and other areas. By exploring new opportunities, this economic mission has helped to support our companies in their search for new partnerships, to create an environment in which they can make valuable contacts with leaders in their fields, and to position Luxembourg as a trusted European partner for innovation. Xavier Bettel will conclude the economic mission with a programme in Hong Kong on 29 November. Press release by the Ministry of the Economy and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Youre invited to take part in a workshop or a survey that is part of research about data classification for Australian industry. .Whether you intend the workshop or not we encourage you to assist our research by completing a survey on our registration page invite below. CSIROs Data61 and the Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre (Aus3C) invite you to share your insights and experiences in one of our upcoming workshops or via a survey. We want you to help us develop a Voluntary Data Classification Framework (VDCF) for the Australian industry a key measure under the 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy. Findings from the study will help inform the design of a Voluntary Data Classification Framework that considers the needs of, and provides benefits to Australian industry. Voluntary Data Classification Framework Workshop Dates and Times (Local Times unless Specified) Sydney - Tuesday 3rd December - 9:30am - 12:30pm Hosted at UTS, Broadway 2007 Brisbane - Wednesday 4th December - 9:30am - 12:30pm Hosted at UQ, St. Lucia 4072 Virtual - Monday 9th December - 1:30pm - 4:30pm (Syd/Melb +11:00 GMT) Melbourne - Tuesday 10th December - 9:30am - 12:30pm Hosted at NBN, Docklands 3008 Adelaide - Thursday 12th December - 1:45pm - 4:45pm Hosted at Aus3C, Lot Fourteen 5000 Dont miss out FREE WORKSHOP - REGISTER HERE also please complete survey whether your register or not GUEST OPINION: While threat actors continue to rely on many classic tactics that have existed for decades, our threat predictions for the coming year largely focus on cybercriminals embracing bigger, bolder, and, from their perspectives, better attacks. From Cybercrime-as-a-Service (CaaS) groups becoming more specialised to adversaries using sophisticated playbooks that combine both digital and physical threats, cybercriminals are upping the ante to execute more targeted and harmful attacks. In our 2025 threat predictions report, our FortiGuard Labs team looks at tried-and-true attacks cybercriminals continue to rely on and how these have evolved, shares fresh threat trends to watch for this year and beyond, and offers advice on how organisations worldwide can enhance their resilience in the face of a changing threat landscape. Emerging threat trends to watch for in 2025 and beyond As cybercrime evolves, we anticipate seeing several unique trends emerge in 2025 and beyond. Heres a glimpse of what we expect. More attack chain expertise emerges: In recent years, cybercriminals have been spending more time left of boom on the reconnaissance and weaponisation phases of the cyber kill chain. As a result, threat actors can carry out targeted attacks quickly and more precisely. In the past, weve observed many CaaS providers serving as jacks of all trades, offering buyers everything needed to execute an attack, from phishing kits to payloads. However, we expect that CaaS groups will increasingly embrace specialisation, with many groups focusing on providing offerings that home in on just one segment of the attack chain. In recent years, cybercriminals have been spending more time left of boom on the reconnaissance and weaponisation phases of the cyber kill chain. As a result, threat actors can carry out targeted attacks quickly and more precisely. In the past, weve observed many CaaS providers serving as jacks of all trades, offering buyers everything needed to execute an attack, from phishing kits to payloads. However, we expect that CaaS groups will increasingly embrace specialisation, with many groups focusing on providing offerings that home in on just one segment of the attack chain. Its cloud(y) with a chance of cyberattacks: While targets like edge devices will continue to capture the attention of threat actors, theres another part of the attack surface that defenders must pay close attention to over the next few years: their cloud environments. Although cloud isnt new, its increasingly piquing the interest of cybercriminals. Given that most organisations rely on multiple cloud providers, its not surprising that were observing more cloud-specific vulnerabilities being leveraged by attackers, anticipating that this trend will grow in the future. While targets like edge devices will continue to capture the attention of threat actors, theres another part of the attack surface that defenders must pay close attention to over the next few years: their cloud environments. Although cloud isnt new, its increasingly piquing the interest of cybercriminals. Given that most organisations rely on multiple cloud providers, its not surprising that were observing more cloud-specific vulnerabilities being leveraged by attackers, anticipating that this trend will grow in the future. Automated hacking tools make their way to the dark web marketplace: A seemingly endless number of attack vectors and associated code are now available through the CaaS market, such as phishing kits, Ransomware-as-a-Service, Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS)-as-a-Service, and more. While were already seeing some cybercrime groups rely on artificial intelligence (AI) to power CaaS offerings, we expect this trend to flourish. We anticipate that attackers will use the automated output from large language models (LLMs) to power CaaS offerings and grow the market, such as taking social media reconnaissance and automating that intelligence into neatly packaged phishing kits. A seemingly endless number of attack vectors and associated code are now available through the CaaS market, such as phishing kits, Ransomware-as-a-Service, Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS)-as-a-Service, and more. While were already seeing some cybercrime groups rely on artificial intelligence (AI) to power CaaS offerings, we expect this trend to flourish. We anticipate that attackers will use the automated output from large language models (LLMs) to power CaaS offerings and grow the market, such as taking social media reconnaissance and automating that intelligence into neatly packaged phishing kits. Playbooks grow to include real-life threats: Cybercriminals continually advance their playbooks, with attacks becoming more aggressive and destructive. We predict that adversaries will expand their playbooks to combine cyberattacks with physical, real-life threats. Were already seeing some cybercrime groups physically threaten an organisations executives and employees in some instances, and we anticipate that this will become a regular part of many playbooks. We also anticipate that transnational crime, such as drug trafficking, smuggling people or goods, and more will become a regular component of more sophisticated playbooks, with cybercrime groups and transnational crime organisations working together. Cybercriminals continually advance their playbooks, with attacks becoming more aggressive and destructive. We predict that adversaries will expand their playbooks to combine cyberattacks with physical, real-life threats. Were already seeing some cybercrime groups physically threaten an organisations executives and employees in some instances, and we anticipate that this will become a regular part of many playbooks. We also anticipate that transnational crime, such as drug trafficking, smuggling people or goods, and more will become a regular component of more sophisticated playbooks, with cybercrime groups and transnational crime organisations working together. Anti-adversary frameworks will expand: As attackers continually evolve their strategies, the cybersecurity community at large can do the same in response. Pursuing global collaborations, creating public-private partnerships, and developing frameworks to combat threats are all vital to enhancing our collective resilience. Many related efforts, like the World Economic Forum Cybercrime Atlas initiative, of which Fortinet is a founding member, are already underway, and we anticipate that more collaborative initiatives will emerge to meaningfully disrupt cybercrime. Enhancing collective resilience against an evolving threat landscape Cybercriminals will always find new ways to infiltrate organisations. Yet, there are numerous opportunities for the cybersecurity community to collaborate to better anticipate adversaries next moves and interrupt their activities in a meaningful way. The value of industrywide efforts and public-private partnerships cannot be overstated, and we anticipate that the number of organisations participating in these collaborations will grow in the coming years. Additionally, organisations must remember that cybersecurity is everyones job, not just the responsibility of the security and IT teams. For example, implementing enterprise-wide security awareness and training is a vital component of managing risk. And finally, other entities have a responsibility to promote and adhere to robust cybersecurity practices, ranging from governments to the vendors that manufacture the security products we rely on. No single organisation or security team can disrupt cybercrime alone. By working together and sharing intelligence across the industry, were collectively better positioned to fight against adversaries and effectively protect society. Download a copy of our full predictions report for 2025. Learn more about Fortinets FortiGuard Labs threat research and intelligence organisation and the FortiGuard Security Subscriptions and Services portfolio. Sign up for FortiGuard Outbreak Alerts to stay up to speed on the latest breaking threats. Learn more about Fortinets free cybersecurity training, an initiative of Fortinets Training Advancement Agenda, or about the Fortinet Network Security Expert program, Academic Partner program, and Veterans program. By Akbar Novruz Polish President Andrzej Duda, during his visit to Armenia, highlighted the importance of establishing peace in the South Caucasus and expressed Poland's willingness to support the normalization of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. However, his visit to the village of Arazdeyan along the conditional Armenian-Azerbaijani border raised eyebrows, particularly as he inspected the border with binoculars in the company of representatives from the EU observation mission. During his visit to Armenia, he made the decision to examine the village of Arazdeyan, which sits along the conditional Armenian-Azerbaijani border. Upon arrival, he was met by representatives of the EU mission. Together, they walked back and forth, scanning the Azerbaijani border with binoculars. One must wonder what he hoped to find there. It is evident that there was likely nothing of significance to observe. The Azerbaijani border is secured with the same rigor as any other nation's border, including that of Poland. In addition, EU Ambassador Vasilis Maragos revealed to Radio Free Europe that the future of the EU's over 200 civilian observers remains uncertain after the current mission ends. This observation mission, operating without Azerbaijan's consent, has already strained relations between Baku and Brussels. Although it is expected that official Baku will protest this action, President Duda's behaviour can be seen as a provocation. This step has undermined the trust and confidence that have developed between Azerbaijan and Poland over many years, given their historical relations and cooperation. It is important to note that the state border between Azerbaijan and Armenia has not been fully defined. The head of state's visit to territories that are not delimited or demarcated is a violation of the sovereign rights of the other side. The lands he visited may also become part of Azerbaijan as a result of negotiations between Baku and Yerevan. Ilyas Huseynov, sector head at the Social Research Center, shared his insights with Azernews: "It should be noted that the visit of Polish President Andrzej Duda to Armenia resulted in considerable tensions, and here, in particular, his viewing of the country's border through binoculars on the conditional border between Azerbaijan and Armenia showed that it was part of his 'binocular diplomacy'. It is clear that official Baku is completely opposed to the activities of this observation mission. Because this mission is operating illegally. They were deployed along the entire border without the consent of Azerbaijan. It is no secret that this mission includes former military personnel and employees of special services." Huseynov also emphasized Poland's historical support for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty, labeling this move as a contradiction to the strategic partnership between the two nations. "The Foreign Ministry issued a statement, and Micha? Greczy?o, Poland's Charge d'Affaires in Azerbaijan was summoned and handed a letter of objection," he added. Highlighting the broader context, Huseynov pointed out Armenia's ongoing military presence in Azerbaijani territories and its failure to implement meaningful reforms, including distancing itself from the Minsk Group. "The steps taken during this trip are valued as a compilation of the anti-Azerbaijani campaign and as a non-friendly step," he concluded. Many factors suggest that the provocation by the President of Poland on the conventional Armenian-Azerbaijani border was not unexpected. His second term as president will conclude in 2025, and his legacy will likely be defined by his handling of this event. Regrettably, Andrzej Duda will also be marked as a border violator. In light of this development, we can easily say that a long, intriguing December is upon us. With the turkey leftovers packed away, Lincoln is ready to celebrate the Christmas season with exceptional light shows across the city. This years holiday events include the annual Zoo Lights, two drive-thru Christmas light shows and the opportunity for residents to create their own displays at home. Zoo Lights, Lincoln Childrens Zoo For the fifth year, the Lincoln Childrens Zoo is presenting its annual Zoo Lights Powered by LES with a brand new display spreading over 36,000 square feet. The display, called Fountains of Light, includes 40 towers, three fans and two arches, all synchronized to music. It was designed by Sarah Wood, the zoos chief operating officer. We wanted to transport the guests into a dynamic water illusion, Wood said. The Fountains of Light create the appearance of water spraying up 25 feet into the sky and then crashing down. There are a total of four scenes including a hip-hop version of The Grinch, a classical instrumental portion and a jazzy and upbeat holiday jingle one. Its just twinkling magic, its very immersive, Wood said. Wood said each year they are looking to add something new, but she knows it might not be possible as they max out their physical space at the zoo. The end goal is just that they feel the warmth of the holiday season, they have some amazing experiences, they make lifelong memories and they see something that theyve never seen before, Wood said. The zoos CEO Evan Killeen said the fountain show is the largest light display theyve had at the zoo yet. Everything we do here is top-notch, Killeen said. Lincoln is incredibly lucky to have this team put together this light show. Its amazing. Killeen said the past five years have outperformed his wildest expectations with last years event exceeding 73,000 guests. Our dream was just to create an event for the community for Lincoln, Killeen said. I grew up back when the Star City Parade was still going on, so to me, its great to have this community-wide event where the whole community can come together and celebrate the holidays. Over the years, Wood has seen a change in the demographics as well as more college students and adults are attending in addition to young families. Thats the beauty of Zoo Lights, Wood said. Its for everyone in the community. Proceeds from the event will go to support the zoo and its animals during the winter months. Tickets range from $14 to $23 for zoo members and $17 to $26 for non-members. Tickets and train ride passes can be purchased in advance at the Lincoln Childrens Zoo website. Zoo Lights will run Friday until Dec. 30 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. each night. The event is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Nebraska Christmas Lights Show, Star City Shores The Nebraska Christmas Lights Show will run its drive-thru lights show for a second year at Star City Shores, 4375 S. 33rd Court. Constantine Syniy moved to Nebraska from Ukraine along with his wife and two kids. After a few years, he opened his own business, All-Pro Heating and Air Conditioning, in 2008. Syniy said that his business focused on serving the local community and he was thankful to Lincoln for using his services. Over a decade later, he decided he wanted to give back to the community that supported him by sharing Christmas cheer with a drive-thru light show in 2021 at Haymarket Park. It brings people joy, families come together, friends come together, so thats my inspiration, Syniy said. Last year, Syniy moved the show to Star City Shores for a more convenient location for guests and about 20,000 cars came through. Syniy expects more guests to visit this year as he decided to push the opening date to Nov. 15. It was good, a very good turnout, which is very unusual, even for me. Christmas lights before Thanksgiving? Ive never done it, but people like it, Syniy said. This year includes a new North Pole igloo with characters inside for guests to drive by. His goal is to reach 1 million lights, which he fell short of this year but hopes to attain next year. Syniy said he enjoys meeting the families that come through. I try to be here as much as I can and meet as much customers as I can, Syniy said. Thats a very exciting thing to do. Tickets prices for each vehicle are $25 for weekdays and $30 for weekends. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Nebraska Christmas Lights Show website. The show will run until Jan. 2 from 5:30 to 11 p.m. each night. Magical Lights of Christmas, Sandhills Global Event Center Maggie and Vinny Bittingers full-time jobs revolve around Christmas as their Magical Lights of Christmas show has become a family effort. Its like all-year Christmas at our house, Maggie said. After getting married in 2009, she said Vinny Bittinger wouldnt stop buying Christmas lights and she became determined to find a way to share that love for Christmas. He became an electrician to understand the electrical side of the light show and before they knew it, the couple from Lincoln moved to Malcolm. We had a drive-thru at our house in Malcolm; we outgrew that and went to Seward, Maggie Bittinger said. After they outgrew the Seward County Fairgrounds, the Bittingers moved back to Lincoln in 2023 to the Sandhills Global Event Center. This year, theyve designed 22 shows across three different countries. Everything in the Bittingers drive-thru shows in Lincoln and Omaha are designed and built by their small team. For this years Lincoln show, Maggie Bittinger said there are close to 2 million lights, about 350,000 more than last year. This years show also includes a brand new stage, 241 new props and new music, including an original song by the Bittingers. Any year that you come, youre not going to see the same show, Maggie Bittinger said. We want people to see something new every year. Theres special props all throughout the show to reflect the couple's family. Lighted cats for their youngest son, bulls for their son Abel and a red pickup for Vinny Bittingers dad. In the military lane, there are two battle crosses one for a friend who lost his life in Afghanistan and another for a friend who died while serving in the Marines. Theres things out here that people dont realize that weve hidden in the show for other people, Maggie Bittinger said. Last year, she said they had around 80,000 people. Its a family event for us and we want it to be a family event for others, she said. Tickets prices for each vehicle are $25 for weekdays and $30 for weekends, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Magical Lights of Christmas website. The show runs Friday until Dec. 31 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. weekdays and until 10 p.m. weekends. Phillips Lincoln Lights Growing up, Phillip Wagoners family had a holiday tradition of sipping hot chocolate and listening to Christmas music while driving around to find the best house decorations. The tradition prompted Wagoner to create a map for his family about 10 years ago to quickly find Christmas light displays. Since then, Wagoner has continued to share the map with others and online. Last year, more than 100 houses submitted their light displays to be featured on the map. I just want people to be able to use it for something free to go do with their family, Wagoner said. It was a tradition to go out with your family and you kind of always want to know where the best ones are or at least have an idea of what youre going to see. If I can help people do that, then thats all I want. Each year, the map includes elaborate houses with thousands of lights along with houses with simple decorations. I like to celebrate both big and small and make sure there are ones you can go see in different areas because people dont have a lot of time to go all over town and see every big display, Wagoner said. Only a few houses are on the map so far, but Wagoner said he expects the numbers to quickly rise after Thanksgiving weekend. I cant even express how much I appreciate people and I know Ive had people just do their display bigger hoping to be on the map, Wagoner said. Its an honor and a privilege, and Im just happy Im able to help the community in a free thing for families to go do. Phillips Lincoln Lights also comes with the annual Christmas contest. The competition features eight categories: Best overall, Best use of animation, a Clark Griswold category, best traditional, crazy inflatables, best theme, most creative and best newcomer, with three prizes in each category. The public can participate by voting for their favorite houses between Dec. 12 and Dec. 22. Not all displays on the map will be entered into the contest. Each home can participate in one category, with a total of 10 displays selected for the competition in each category. The deadline to submit a lawn display for the competition is Dec. 9 at 9 p.m. The map can be found at PhillipsLincolnLights.com. France has pulled their top negotiators from the COP29 summit in Azerbaijan, intensifying divisions at a climate conference already disrupted by Donald Trumps election. The French move came following a speech by Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev at the event, where he accused French President Emmanuel Macron's regime of brutally killing citizens during recent protests in New Caledonia. President Ilham Aliyev also referred to France's Pacific island territories as colonies, pointing to nuclear tests conducted in French Polynesia and Algeria. Paris accused Azerbaijan of meddling in its internal affairs by escalating tensions in its overseas territories and dependencies, such as New Caledonia. Additionally, Macron has opted not to attend COP29. Azerbaijan has rejected accusations of interference, while President Aliyev criticized France for keeping Corsica and its distant overseas island territories under the colonial yoke. Before Macrons tenure, Azerbaijan and France engaged in mutually beneficial cooperation. From 1995 to 2019, French companies invested $2.2 billion in Azerbaijan's economy, with $2 billion allocated to the oil sector and $194.1 million to other industries. In return, Azerbaijan invested $2.6 billion in the French economy. These developments led France to maintain a relatively balanced stance in the South Caucasus. A clear example was former French President Nicolas Sarkozy's visit to Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia in 2011. However, this balanced approach has shifted in recent years, with French foreign policy in the region moving increasingly in Armenia's favour. Key factors driving this change include Nikol Pashinyan's rise to power in Armenia in 2018, the weakening of Armenian-Russian relations, the Second Garabagh War and the intensifying tensions between France and both Turkiye and Azerbaijan, all of which have pushed France towards a more unbalanced approach in the South Caucasus. It is important to note that France is home to approximately 650,000 Armenians, the largest Armenian diaspora in Europe and the third-largest globally, after Russia and the United States. Traditional Armenian parties, particularly the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), along with Armenian lobbies and associations, wield significant influence in France's political, social and media spheres. On June 18, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced the sale of 36 Caesar self-propelled howitzers to Armenia. This decision quickly triggered harsh reactions from both Baku and Moscow. The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry described the sale as a "provocative" move that could turn the region into a hotbed of war once again. Azerbaijans strong response is linked to Bakus discontent with France, stemming from Paris' firm support for Armenia during the three-decade-long struggle over Azerbaijan's Garabagh. This conflict concluded late last year with Azerbaijan's decisive victory over Armenian forces. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has attempted to exclude France from the ongoing Karabakh peace process. He has also sought to challenge France in other ways, condemning what he called French neocolonialism and promoting the formation of the Baku Initiative Group against French Colonialism. Baku is positioning itself as a champion and advocate for island nations and other small countries engaged in liberation movements against European powers. This approach aligns with Azerbaijan's history within the Non-Aligned Movement, established during the Cold War, to protect the interests of developing nations. France's policy toward Armenia is motivated by the aim of maintaining a presence in the South Caucasus amid a changing geopolitical landscape. Paris wields broader influence as a key power within the European Union and has been actively advocating for greater Western support for Yerevan. In April, Pashinyan met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to finalize a $350 million aid agreement. Although tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan have eased to some extent, evidenced by their efforts to negotiate a peace deal the outcome remains uncertain. Considering the stakes, the EU should reconsider its approach to the South Caucasus. Even if European countries are not directly involved in the Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations, they will play a crucial role in ensuring the implementation of any agreement on the ground. For years, a flaw in Western strategy was the neglect or compartmentalization of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, leaving it to a small group of diplomats while other officials focused on generally easier matters in Yerevan. Without a proactive approach from Western actors to prevent further violence and encourage the parties to reach an agreement, the unresolved conflict is likely to resurge with even greater intensity in the future. The agreement on the return of prisoners of war between Armenia and Azerbaijan was concluded shortly after the second Garabagh war. These processes were carried out under the supervision of Russian peacekeepers, and for this reason, the number and identity of prisoners of war were handed over to Armenia by list. However, the Armenian side still continues its claims regarding an obscure list of POWs. Armenian politicians, especially continue to shed crocodile tears over the so-called Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan. It has been exploiting this issue since 2020, playing the victim. And who are they? After the end of the Second Garabagh War, the Armenian side was supposed to ensure that the Armenians remaining in several territories of Garabagh left those territories and prevented their armament. However, Yerevan did not keep its promise and continued secretly to support armed separatist Armenians who did not want to leave Garabagh. Finally, by 2023, as a result of anti-terrorist operations, the threat in Garabagh was eliminated, and as a result, a group of individuals leading armed separatist terrorists were arrested. Recently, the speaker of the national assembly of Armenia, Alen Simonyan, raised the issue again, begging the Dutch Ambassador to help "release" those so-called "POWs" kept in Baku prison. And the question arises: How can the Netherlands help Armenia release Armenian terrorists? First of all, Azerbaijan is not Armenia, and unlike Armenia, Azerbaijan is an independent country with its national interests, operating within its laws. Azerbaijan does not have patrons dictating its actions. As for the separatists in Baku prisons," this topic is out of the question. Not because Baku is self-conceited, but because there are no Armenian POWs. As it was mentioned above, Azerbaijan released all POWs after the war following the 10 November Declaration. Those Armenians in Azerbaijani prisons violated the country's laws and were arrested long after the cease-fire, which the Declaration does not cover. Moreover, let us not forget that Armenia used to deny its interference in the Garabagh issue. They fabricated a myth that following the collapse of the USSR, the so-called "Garabagh " emerged as an "independent country" like Azerbaijan. However, no country in the world, including Armenia, recognized the independence of Garabagh. They tried to brainwash people into believing it was a conflict between Azerbaijan and the so-called "Garabagh," with Armenia merely supporting their counterparts. But today, they speak about their soldiers. If Armenia did not take part in the war, what were their soldiers doing in Garabagh? Furthermore, no country in the world supports separatism. Laws regarding separatism in Armenia are much stricter than in Azerbaijan. This raises the question: "If Armenia is so strict on separatism, why should Azerbaijan release separatists and those who fought for separatism?" To top it all off, it is worth noting that it is the Armenian side that is not committed to the provisions of the Declarations. Over 4,000 Azerbaijani citizens went missing in the First Garabagh War, most of whom were POWs. There are photos, videos, and letters proving they were detained by Armenian soldiers and kept in prisons in Armenia or occupied Garabagh. For example, Natig Gasimov, a soldier, was captured in the church in Pirler village of Khojaly in 1992. Thanks to photos taken by Italian photographer Enrico Sarsini, we know he was detained and questioned by Vitali Balasyan, an Armenian retired general and politician. However, Natig went missing. Last year, British cinematographer Simon Stanford shot a documentary about him and conducted an investigation. Armenian soldiers involved in Natigs detention spoke in the film, noting that after Sarsini's deportation, Natig was dismembered and killed. Vagif Gurbanov, the first Azerbaijani pilot, is another victim. His aircraft was shot down near Nakhchivanik-Askeran by Armenian armed forces on June 13, 1992. He disappeared, and the Armenian side has not provided any information about him for over 30 years. We do not know if he is alive or dead. There are 4,210 persons sharing the same fate as Natig and Vagif. Instead of providing information about these POWs, the Armenian side mocks us. As is known, like Azerbaijan, Armenia exports its agricultural products to Moscow. Sometimes, letters written in Azerbaijani are found among these products, claiming they are being kept in prisons in Armenia and asking for assistance. We do not know if these letters are real, but every time they create hope in the family members of those who went missing. Playing with and mocking the emotions of these people is very cruel. On 28 November prosecutors entered the Honduran congress and seized documents linked to longstanding corruption investigations which are said to implicate current and former deputies. End of preview - This article contains approximately 361 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 28 November Uruguays president-elect,, met Chinas ambassador to the country,, who presented him with a letter of congratulations on his recent electoral victory from President End of preview - This article contains approximately 397 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options Editors note: This is the second of a four-part series on verb tenses. Click here to see part one. See the others in Related Stories. For VOA Learning English, this is Everyday Grammar. Today we are going to look at the progressive verb tenses. Progressive tenses express actions that are unfinished or in progress. There are three progressive verb tenses: the past progressive, the present progressive, and the future progressive. Progressive tenses are the same as continuous tenses. past present future Progressive Verbs It was snowing when I drove to work. Was/were + -ing verb It is snowing. Am/is/are+-ing verb It will be snowing by the time I get home. Will be + -ing verb Present progressive We will start with the present progressive, the most common progressive tense. You form the present progressive tense by using a form of the verb be followed by an ing verb. For example, I am watching a movie. It is easy to confuse the simple present and the present progressive. Whats the difference between, It rains in Seattle and It is raining in Seattle? It rains in Seattle states that it rains in general. It does not necessarily mean that it is raining at the moment of speaking. It is raining in Seattle means that the rain started in the past, is happening now, and will probably continue into the future. Now, at this time, and currently are common adverbs in the present progressive. The present progressive can also express a scheduled event in the future. For example, this sentence is in the present progressive: She is starting school next semester. The meaning here is the same as the sentence in the simple future: She is going to start school next semester. The present progressive and simple future (with be going to) sometimes have the same meaning. You can also use present progressive with always to say that something disturbs you. My neighbor is always playing loud music at night or I am always making mistakes with verb tenses! Past progressive Lets move on to the past progressive. The past progressive describes an event that was in progress in the past. To form the past progressive use was or were followed by an ing verb. For example, I was working late last night. Sentences in the past progressive often have two actions. For example, It was snowing when the plane landed in Denver. Notice that the second action, landed, is in the simple past. The past progressive can also express an action in progress interrupted by a second action. I was running when I slipped and fell or I was sleeping when you called. It is possible to have two progressive actions in the same sentence if the two actions are happening at the same time. You could say, I was sleeping when you were working. Future progressive The future progressive tense describes an event that will be in progress in the future. To form the future progressive tense, use will be followed by an ing verb. For example, I will be waiting for you when you finish work. The future progressive can be useful when you are making plans. Imagine your friend wants you to pick her up the airport tomorrow. But you have to work. You could tell her, Im sorry, but I will be working when your plane gets in. Stative verbs There are some verbs that cannot be used in any of the progressive tenses. You would say I own a car, not I am owning a car. Own is a stative verb. Stative verbs describe unchanging conditions or situations. Stative verbs often refer to mental states such as know, realize, like, believe, understand, love, hate, appear, and exist. A few verbs have both stative and non-stative meanings. Lets look at the verb think. I think the book is good is stative. The action does not change. I am thinking about you is progressive. It shows a temporary, changing action. Sensory verbs like see, taste, feel, smell, and hear work in the same way. Progressive verbs are especially useful for describing changing emotional states. Im Jill Robbins. And I'm John Russell. Adam Brock wrote this lesson for Learning English. ____________________________________________________ Words in This Story stative - adj. describes verbs that express a state rather than an action; usually relating to thoughts, emotions, relationships, senses, states of being and measurements sensory adj. of or relating to your physical senses An asteroid that moved closer to Earths orbit in recent months is now moving away from our planet as gravity pulls it back toward the sun. The asteroid is small about 10 meters long and never presented any threat to Earth. But the object, known as 2024 PT5, was recently pulled closer to our planet by Earths gravitational forces. Scientists sometimes call such objects mini-moons. This is because they behave similarly to the permanent moon orbiting Earth when they are captured by gravity. But they are much smaller and stay only temporarily in Earths orbit. The American space agency NASA said it does not consider 2024 PT5 a mini-moon because it was never expected to be fully captured by Earths gravity. But NASA has described the small asteroid as an interesting object that is worthy of study. Such asteroids are considered near-Earth objects. The space agency noted that similarities between the asteroids motion and that of Earth suggest the object could be a large piece of rock that broke off from the moons surface after an asteroid strike in the distant past. The object was first observed on August 7 by two astronomer brothers from Spains Complutense University of Madrid Carlos de la Fuente Marcos and Raul de la Fuente Marcos. They identified the asteroid through observations made by a telescope in South Africa. The Spanish astronomers said it appeared 2024 PT5 is part of a group of near-Earth objects within the Arjuna asteroid belt. They wrote that asteroids in this belt are believed to be surrounding the path followed by the Earth-moon system. The Associated Press reported the astronomers had used telescopes in the Spanish Canary Islands, off the coast of northwestern Africa, to make hundreds of observations. The object is currently more than 3.5 million kilometers from Earth. Only powerful telescopes can see the asteroid because of its small size and low brightness. The astronomers say 2024 PT5 should head back to Earth in the coming weeks. It is expected to pass as close as 1.8 million kilometers from Earth in January. The moon stays at a distance of about 384,000 kilometers from our planet, NASA explains. The asteroid will then move farther into the solar system while orbiting the sun. Scientists say the next time the object is expected to make another close move toward Earth is in 2055. Raul de la Fuente Marcos told the AP that 2024 PT5 was first identified in August and began its move toward Earth in late September. He said the objects path was similar to the shape of a horseshoe. De la Fuente Marcos noted that by the time the asteroid returns in January, it will be moving at more than double the speed from September. Current data suggests that during its 2055 visit, it will again make a temporary and partial circle around Earth. NASA said teams at its Center for Near Earth Object Studies had continually followed the movements of 2024 PT5. It is normal for NASA and its international partners to continuously search the skies for near-Earth objects. Such objects include asteroids and comets that come within 50 million kilometers of Earths orbit. The search system, called ATLAS, involves four different telescopes. Two of them are based in Hawaii. Another operates in Chile and the other sits in South Africa. NASA explains that ATLAS is designed to search the whole sky several times each night looking for moving objects. The space agency says it will use its large Goldstone Solar System Radar observer which sits in Barstow, California to follow 2024 PT5 when it again is pulled toward Earths orbit in 2025. Im Bryan Lynn. The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. __________________________________________ Words in This Story asteroid n. a rocky object that goes around the sun like a planet comet n. an object in space that leaves a bright line behind it in the sky By Qabil Ashirov Under the chairmanship of Azerbaijans Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov, the first meeting of the Coordinating Council was held for the purpose of implementing the "Action Plan on Phased Implementation of Electricity Market Elements" approved by the relevant Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers, Azernews reports, citing the Energy Ministry. The Ministry noted that in his speech, the minister stated that the main directions of the reforms were determined by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated May 29, 2019 No. 1209 "On accelerating reforms in the energy sector of the Republic of Azerbaijan" and that relevant work is being carried out in accordance with these directions. It was emphasized that the main goal of reforms in the field of electric energy is to continuously strengthen energy security, develop management systems in terms of advanced international practice, attract private investments and reduce the financial burden of the state. Also, optimization of electricity production costs, further improvement of efficiency and service quality, as well as ensuring a competitive environment were mentioned as the main priorities for the development of the sector. Then, in accordance with the agenda of the meeting, information about the work done by the relevant institutions in connection with the implementation of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Electric Power" and the "Action Plan on Phased Implementation of Electricity Market Elements" was brought to attention. Under the Coordinating Council, sub-working groups were formed in relevant directions, the work to be done for the upcoming period was determined, and relevant decisions were made. Representatives of the Ministries of Energy, Economy, Finance, Justice, Azerbaijan Investment Holding, "Azerenergy" OJSC, "Azerishiq" OJSC and Energy Regulatory Agency took part in the meeting. Angelina Jolie glides through the final days of Maria Callas short life in Pablo Larrains Maria, a dramatic, evocative elegy to the famed soprano. Its an affair thats at turns melancholy, biting and grandly theatrical, an aria for a once in a generation star. Reality is of little consequence on the stage and in Maria. Its all about the raw feeling, which serves the movie well, more dream than history lesson about La Callas. Early on, she pops some Mandrax and tells her devoted butler Ferruccio (a simply wonderful Pierfrancesco Favino) that a television crew is on the way. Are they real, he wonders. As of this morning, what is real and what is not real is my business, she says calmly and definitively, making a feast out of Steven Knights sharp script. Its one of many great lines and moments for Jolie, whose intensity and resolve belie her fragile appearance. In Maria, we are the companion to a protagonist with an ever-loosening grip on reality, walking with her through Paris, and her life, for one week in September 1977. The images from cinematographer Ed Lachman, playfully shifting in form and style, take us on a scattershot journey through her triumphs on stage, her scandalous romance with Aristotle Onassis (Haluk Bilginer) and her traumatic youth. In the present, at age 53, she sleeps till midday, drinks the minimal calories she ingests, goes to restaurants where the waiters know her name looking for adulation and has visions of performances staged just for her all around the city. Callas is always immaculately dressed and assured, whether reflecting to the imagined news crew (led by Kodi Smit-McPhee) or attempting to find her voice again. Her instrument had famously diminished, leaving her wondering whats left to live for. Larrain has made a lasting mark on cinema with his unofficial trilogy about these famous women with tragic narratives. With Jackie,Spencer and now Maria, his films are also an unintentional antidote to Ryan Murphys stranglehold of the grand dames of recent history, which are all style and scandal and little substance. And yet Larrains films are not for everyone. Jolie as a movie star is somehow both omnipresent and elusive, and lately she chooses to step in front of the camera all too infrequently. Perhaps its because performances like Jolies in Maria look so all-consuming. Character and actor blend so seamlessly, so ferociously, that you leave not just with heightened empathy for La Callas but Jolie as well. In one of the films few regrettable scenes, shes put face to face with John F. Kennedy (no fault of Caspar Phillipson), whose wife has caught the greedy eye of Onassis. As a testament to the power of Jolie and the script, you almost forgive yet another JFK impersonation for giving her one of the great brushoffs to utter, romantic and withering all at once. Is it all a little much? Of course, but thats kind of the point of Maria. LINDSEY BAHR, MDT/AP Film Writer Maria, a Netflix release in select theaters now and streaming Dec. 11, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for a sexual reference, some language. Running time: 122 minutes. Three American citizens imprisoned for years by China have been released and are returning to the United States, the White House said yesterday [Macau time] announcing a rare diplomatic agreement with Beijing in the final months of the Biden administration. The Chinese government also announced yesterday that the U.S. had returned four people to China, including at least three Chinese citizens who it said had been held for political purposes, and a person who had been sought by Beijing for crimes and had been living in the United States. It did not identify the four. The three Americans released by Beijing are Mark Swidan, Kai Li and John Leung, all of whom had been designated by the U.S. government as wrongfully detained by China. Swidan had been facing a death sentence on drug charges while Li and Leung were imprisoned on espionage charges. Soon they will return and be reunited with their families for the first time in many years, the White House said in a statement. The release comes just two months after China freed David Lin, a Christian pastor from California who had spent nearly 20 years behind bars after being convicted of contract fraud. The release of Americans deemed wrongfully detained in China has been a top agenda item in each conversation between the U.S. and China, and this weeks development suggests a willingness by Beijing to engage with the outgoing Democratic administration before Republican President-elect Donald Trumps return to the White House in January. Trump took significant actions against China on trade and diplomacy during his first term. He has pledged to continue those policies in his second term. Still, the two countries have maintained a dialogue that has included a partial restoration of military-to-military contacts. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met this month to discuss potential improvements. In a separate but related move, the State Department on Wednesday lowered its travel warning to China to level two, advising U.S. citizens to exercise increased caution from the norm when traveling to the mainland. The alert had previously been at level three, telling Americans they should reconsider travel to China in part because of the risk of wrongful detention of Americans. The new alert removes that wording but retains a warning that the Chinese government arbitrarily enforces local laws, including exit bans on U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries, without fair and transparent process under the law. The Biden administration had raised the cases of the detained Americans with China in multiple meetings over the past several years, including this month when Biden spoke to Xi on during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru. Politico was first to report the mens release, which it said was part of a prisoner swap with the U.S. The White House did not immediately confirm that any Chinese citizens in American custody had been returned home. However, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced in Beijing yesterday that three Chinese citizens have returned to the motherland safe and sound. China always firmly opposes U.S. suppression and persecution of Chinese nationals out of political purposes, and we will continue taking necessary measures to defend the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese nationals, she said. She added that a fourth person, a fugitive who escaped to the U.S. many years ago, has also been repatriated to China. The fourth persons nationality was not identified. Mao said this shows that there will be no safe haven forever for criminals. The Chinese government will continue our efforts to repatriate the fugitives and recover criminals and illegal possessions until every fugitive is held accountable. Senators from both U.S. political parties praised the release of the Americans. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas said he was overjoyed Swidans mother lives in Texas and credited senior Biden administration officials with having worked tirelessly to secure this achievement. Li, a Chinese immigrant who started an export business in the U.S. and lived in New York, was detained in September 2016 after flying into Shanghai. He was placed under surveillance, interrogated without a lawyer and accused of providing state secrets to the FBI. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who said he had worked for years to try to secure Lis release, welcomed the news. Leung was sentenced last year to life in prison on spying charges. He was detained in 2021, by the local bureau of Chinas counterintelligence agency in the southeastern city of Suzhou after China had closed its borders and imposed tight domestic travel restrictions and social controls to fight the spread of COVID-19. After Leungs sentencing, the U.S. recommended though without citing specific cases that Americans reconsider traveling to China because of arbitrary law enforcement and exit bans and the risk of wrongful detentions. Swidan had been jailed for the last 12 years on a drug charge and, along with Li and Leung, was considered by the State Department to be wrongfully detained. ERIC TUCKER, AAMER MADHANI & MATTHEW LEE, WASHINGTON, MDT/AP Cui Guochao, a former official at the Chinese liaison office in Macau, is under investigation for alleged corruption as part of an intensified anti-corruption campaign in Guangdong province. The Guangdong provincial disciplinary commission announced earlier that Cui is suspected of serious violations of discipline and law, a term commonly used in China to denote corruption. Cui, 70, served as the secretary-general of the liaison office from 2006 to 2014. His career also includes a significant tenure as party chief in Zhongshan from 1996 to 2006. The focus of the investigation remains unclear, raising questions about potential links to his previous roles in both Zhongshan and Macau. This inquiry is part of a broader crackdown on retired officials in Guangdong. Recently, Xu Jianhua, former party secretary of Dongguan, was detained on corruption charges, joining a list that includes Zhong Ganquan and Li Yuquan, both previously high-ranking officials in the region. The Chinese Central Commission for Discipline Inspection has emphasized its commitment to combating corruption among all cadres, stating that any cadre involved in corruption and power abuse for personal gain will find no peace. Reports indicate that over 50 retired officials have been detained in Guangdong since last year. In a related development, investigations into departmental officials have surged, with 109 department-level and 1,321 division-level officials scrutinized in the first three quarters of 2024 alone, reflecting a nearly 50% increase from the previous year, as reported by the South China Morning Post. Nadia Shaw * Key secretary Wong Sio Chak awaits official confirmation to join Sam Hou Fais cabinet * Corruption | Former Liaison Office staff facing corruption probe * Taste of Edesia * Lawmaker Lo Choi In urges govt to prioritize psychiatric support as the region grapples with a concerning rise in suicides * Increasing criminal activity from scams, cybercrimes, kidnapping, and usury * Beiijing releases three Americans imprisoned for years; US returns four Chinese nationals DOWNLOAD PDF Friday, November 29, 2024 edition no. 4616 China has suspended a high-ranking military official while he is being investigated, its Defense Ministry announced yesterday. The official, Miao Hua, is director of the Political Work Department on the powerful Central Military Commission that oversees the Peoples Liberation Army. He is one of five members of the body that oversees the worlds largest standing military, in addition to Chinas leader Xi Jinping, who heads the commission. Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said Miao is under investigation for serious violations of discipline, which usually alludes to issues of corruption. This is the third recent major shakeup for Chinas defense establishment. In June, China announced that former Defense Minister Li Shangfu and his predecessor Wei Fenghe were accused of corruption and expelled from the party. They were being investigated for corruption and bribery, after initially facing suspension. In Xis first term as Party Secretary, he was known for a multi-year campaign against corruption that has brought down numerous high-profile political rivals, and thousands of officials. This has led some to allege a widespread purge of officers suspected of conspiring with outside forces or simply being insufficiently loyal to Xi. High-ranking officers occupy an elevated position in Chinese politics and can command extensive privileges, official and unofficial. Miao being placed under investigation comes after the Financial Times reported that Defense Minister Dong Jun was under investigation and suspended. The Defense Ministry spokesperson said Dong was not under any investigation and called the report a sheer fabrication. Miao, by sitting on the commission that is a Communist Party committee, outranks Dong and anyone who holds the position of defense minister, as Communist Party positions are more powerful than government institutions in China. MDT/AP As the domestic market approaches a potential saturation point and intensified price competition becomes more of a challenge, Chinas human papillomavirus vaccine manufacturers are seeking to expand incremental markets and explore overseas opportunities to secure further growth. According to its latest financial report, in the first three quarters, Beijing-based Wantai Biopharm, a major HPV vaccine producer in China, reported revenue of 1.95 billion yuan ($269 million), down 60.8 percent year-on-year, while net profit stood at 267 million yuan, a significant decline of 85.25 percent. Wantai Biopharm in its statement attributed the sharp decline in performance to factors including extended market impact of nine-valent HPV vaccines, intensified competition and inventory adjustments, which have all added up to sales declines. Similarly, over the same period, another major player in the countrys HPV vaccine market Kunming, Yunnan province-based Walvax Biotechnology also recorded revenue of 2.14 billion yuan, a decrease of 32.2 percent year-on-year, with a net profit of 256 million yuan, down 53.7 percent, which points to sustained sales pressure on vaccine companies in the sector. Currently, five HPV vaccines have been approved for use in China three bivalent, one quadrivalent, and one nine-valent. Among these, domestic manufacturers account for two bivalent HPV vaccines produced by Wantai and Walvax. By the end of August, 18 clinical trial approvals had been granted for domestically developed HPV vaccines from 10 companies. Wantais bivalent vaccine, the first domestically approved HPV vaccine, had previously driven substantial growth for the company. Launched in May 2020, its batch release volume reached over 2 million doses that year, generating nearly 700 million yuan in annual revenue and accounting for 80 percent of the companys vaccine business. The vaccines release volume surpassed 10 million doses in 2021 and rocketed to 25 million doses in 2022, said the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control. However, with more players entering the market and intensified government procurement competition, sales performance of the bivalent vaccine has been greatly impacted. In 2023, its annual sales plummeted to about 13 million doses, with the price dropping significantly from the original release level of over 300 yuan to around 110 yuan per dose that year. A historical point came when earlier this year, Wantais bivalent HPV vaccine was priced at 86 yuan per dose in Jiangsu provinces government procurement project, marking the official entry of domestic bivalent HPV vaccines into the below 100 yuan era. Yet, price reductions did not stop there. In August, Shandong provinces online procurement platform revealed that Walvaxs bivalent HPV vaccine was priced at just 27.5 yuan per dose about the same price as a cup of coffee. Eyeing a higher public health level, a lot of local governments have beefed up efforts to provide free bivalent HPV vaccines for females under 15 through government procurement, said Tao Ran, CEO of Beijing Health Guard Biotechnology Inc, an innovative vaccine producer. According to the National Health Commission, as of mid-October, the free HPV vaccination policy had covered about 40 percent of women of eligible age nationwide. Tao suggested that as competition intensifies in the lower-valent vaccine market, breakthroughs may lie in the higher-valent vaccine segment and the development of vaccines for male indications. Health Guards nine-valent HPV vaccine, covering both male and female indicators, is currently in phase-III clinical trials. Nine-valent products of other players, such as Jiangsu Recbio Technology Co Ltd and Shanghai-based Bovax Biotechnology, are also in advanced clinical stages. Notably, Wantais application for market entry of its nine-valent HPV vaccine was accepted in August, marking the first such domestic application. Lower and higher-valent vaccines may complement each other in meeting different market needs, Tao said. Tao also said with the sequential approval of domestic nine-valent vaccines, competition is expected to gradually extend from the female market to the male market and eventually boost overall immunization levels worldwide. Data from consultancy Frost & Sullivan showed that in 2020, the number of males in China eligible for HPV vaccination (aged 9 to 45) reached 344 million, requiring about 980 million doses for full vaccination coverage. To date, there are merely three HPV vaccines designed for male use that have entered phase-III clinical trials in China. Many women are already well-informed about cervical cancer and HPV vaccines. With the expansion of indicators to include males in the future, more people are expected to gain awareness of this topic, which will further aid in educating the public about cervical cancer prevention and eradication efforts, said Sun Xiaodong, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention. For many Chinese vaccine manufacturers, tapping the expanding overseas markets has also become a key step to counter fierce domestic competition and achieve broader growth. For example, Health Guard said it is conducting phase-III trials for its nine-valent HPV vaccine in Indonesia and plans to submit a market application to relevant departments by 2025. The company also seeks broader market expansion in other ASEAN countries, it said. Wantais bivalent HPV vaccine has also gained market access in 18 countries, primarily in Asia and Africa, with registration applications underway in 10 additional countries across Asia, Africa and Latin America, the company said. MDT/China Daily Lawmaker Lo Choi In urged the SAR government to prioritize mental health and psychiatric support services as the region grapples with a concerning rise in suicide rates. This plea comes in the wake of a tragic incident involving a 17-year-old girl who fell from a building. In a recent plenary session, Lo emphasized the need for increased support for community services and advocated for a four-tier joint prevention strategy to address mental health issues comprehensively. The statistics are alarming, with Macau recording 88 suicide deaths in 2023, a 10% increase from the previous year. As of the third quarter of this year, there have already been 62 reported suicides, indicating a troubling trend that professionals warn may continue. A recent survey conducted by a medical school and a professional institution revealed that 27% of respondents are at risk of depression, while 19% face anxiety. Additionally, the Macau Healthy Family Index Survey report highlighted that many families are struggling with life balance, further emphasizing the need for societal support. While the government has made strides in addressing mental health through its four-tier mechanism, Lo pointed out that these efforts are insufficient given the complexity of addressing suicide. Ongoing changes in social structure and environment, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, have significantly impacted residents psychological well-being. He noted that, while there have been improvements in staffing and service integration within health centers, the current framework does not adequately meet the evolving needs of the community. Lo drew comparisons with Hong Kong, where the government has actively invested in mental health resources and collaborated with various organizations to enhance service availability. She urged the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture to ensure cohesive policy planning to avoid fragmented approaches to mental health care. To effectively combat the rise in mental health issues, Lo called for an increase in resources dedicated to community services. This includes hiring more social workers and counselors to expand service reach across different demographics. He also advocated for improved student counseling through smaller class sizes and increased investment in educational resources aimed at fostering psychological health. Prevention is better than cure, Lo stated, highlighting the critical need for proactive measures. She encouraged both academic institutions and civic organizations to conduct more research into mental health issues and implement community activities designed to raise awareness and provide support. Nadia Shaw A brother and sister from the mainland are under investigation for allegedly using counterfeit casino chips to commit fraud at a Cotai casino, resulting in losses of over HKD150,000. According to the Judiciary Police (PJ), a Cotai casino received suspected fake chips three times on the same day, leading to a reported loss of HKD100,000. Another victim in the case claimed a loss of HKD50,000. After identification, the three counterfeit chips with a face value of HKD50,000 were found to have the same characteristics as the counterfeit chips in previously uncovered cases. On Tuesday, a casino staff member discovered a suspected fake HKD50,000 chip during a routine count. Two more fake chips were found at other gaming tables in the same casino. The PJ investigation traced the fraudulent activity to two mainland male gamblers, who confessed to exchanging their proceeds with two mainland money exchange gangs. PJ intercepted the mainland siblings at the same casino Wednesday. One of them was found to be in possession of HKD150,000 in chips and HKD7,000 in cash. The police also discovered transaction records on the siblings mobile phones, indicating an illegal exchange limit of RMB800,000, suggesting they may have profited by at least HKD8,000 from the fraudulent activities. Victoria Chan By Laman Ismayilova The safeguarding of religious sites around the world has become an increasingly critical issue amid rising tensions and intolerance. Addressing this pressing matter, the global conference titled "Protection of Religious Sites: A Multi-Stakeholder Approach" took place on November 27, 2023, as a significant part of the 10th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC). The event took place in the picturesque city of Cascais, Portugal, bringing together leaders, policymakers, and advocates dedicated to fostering respect and understanding among diverse cultures and religions. Azerbaijan Culture Minister Adil Karimli, took to the podium during the conference to speak about Azerbaijan's commitment to the preservation of cultural and religious heritage. In his speech, Adil Karimli expressed his strong appreciation for a pivotal report presented by the UNAOC entitled "Action Plan for the Protection of Religious Sites: In Unity and Solidarity for Safe and Peaceful Worship". He described this Action Plan as one of the most exhaustive initiatives created to combat intolerance directed at religious sites. The minister stressed the importance of this comprehensive document in guiding international efforts to ensure the protection and respect of religious heritage worldwide. He highlighted Azerbaijan's significant role in promoting intercultural dialogue and religious understanding, noting that the country has successfully hosted six major global forums aimed at enhancing these discussions, as well as three notable global summits involving religious leaders. Azerbaijan also contributes to the protection of cultural and religious heritage both locally and internationally. Since 2011, the World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue has been held in our country six times in partnership with the Alliance of Civilizations within the framework of the "Baku Process" initiated by President Ilham Aliyev in 2008. The 10th UNAOC Global Forum in Cascais, Portugal has gathered members of the UNAOC Group of Friends, political leaders, representatives of international and regional organizations, religious leaders and faith actors, the private sector, civil society, academia, youth, arts and media, as well as donor agencies and foundations, who address the global issues pertinent to peace and security and call for restoring trust and for uniting in peace. In Cascais, participants have an opportunity to reflect on the twenty years of the Alliance of Civilizations' initiative, announced by Spain at the 59th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2004, and how UNAOC grew into a vibrant and well-established United Nations entity. To strengthen the preservation, restoration, and promotion of Macaus cultural heritage, the Centre of Preservation and Transmission for Cultural Heritage of the Palace Museum was officially inaugurated yesterday. The joint venture between the government and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Peoples Republic of China aims to establish Macau as a base for exchange and cooperation with Chinese culture as the mainstream and the coexistence of different cultures. The inauguration ceremony was jointly hosted by Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng and the director of the Palace Museum, Wang Xudong. The new center, located on the ground floor of the Macao Museum of Art, covers nearly 900 square meters and is equipped with specialized laboratories for the restoration of cultural heritage. It will focus on the preservation and restoration of Macaus World Heritage sites, classified immovable properties, and components of cultural heritage buildings. The center will also work to elevate the standard of safeguarding cultural heritage through advanced technology and cultivate local talent in the field of restoration. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Peoples Republic of China and the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region, which endow the grand opening of the Centre with particular significance, said Deland Leong, director of the Cultural Affairs Bureau. She emphasized the citys unique architectural heritage as a vivid microcosm of over 400 years of multicultural exchanges, mutual learning, harmony, and friendly coexistence, and a critical foundation for Macaus development as a base of exchange and cooperation for promoting multicultural coexistence with a pre-eminence of Chinese culture. Coinciding with the inauguration, the Forbidden City Architecture Conservation Exhibition was also launched at the center, showcasing the countrys cutting-edge technologies and achievements in architectural heritage preservation. The center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with free admission for residents and tourists. Victoria Chan Sands China recently organized a tour for approximately 30 team members to the Macao Museum of Art, showcasing the exhibition Splendour of Chinese Bronzes: Masterpieces from the National Museum of China. This event was part of the companys commitment to professionalism education and celebrated two significant anniversaries: the 75th anniversary of the Peoples Republic of China and the 25th anniversary of Macaus return to China. The exhibition features over 150 bronze artifacts, highlighting cultural significance and craftsmanship. Wilfred Wong, executive vice chairman of Sands China, expressed hope team members would deepen their understanding of Chinese civilization and its artistic heritage. Participants reflected on their pride in Chinas artistic achievements, emphasizing the importance of promoting this rich history to visitors. In addition to this event, Sands China has conducted numerous educational activities aimed at enhancing team members professionalism and cultural appreciation, contributing to their overall development within the context of national growth. The enforcement of the new law to combat illegal gambling and related activities will soon have a more noticeable impact on curbing illegal currency exchange, the Secretary for Security, Wong Sio Chak, stated yesterday. Speaking at a press conference on the criminal activities report for the first nine months of this year, Wong explained that while the police have always pursued this unlawful activity, its new classification as a crime will make the effects more obvious in reducing such activities. Wong noted that illegal currency exchange has long posed a security issue in casinos and surrounding areas, with serious crimes like scams, theft, bodily harm, and even murder often stemming from it. He said this activity has been increasing in recent years, becoming more organized and professional. Between January and September, authorities intercepted 2,835 money-changing fraudsters. Of these, 2,635 non-residents were banned from entering Macau for being involved in illegal activities, and information about 1,677 individuals was forwarded to the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau for similar entry bans into casinos. During the same period, 527 cases of scams linked to illegal currency exchange were reported, with fraudsters employing various methods, such as providing victims with training banknotes and forging fake remittance certificates. In June, in collaboration with mainland authorities, the Judiciary Police (PJ) and Guangdong Police dismantled three criminal groups using training notes to conduct fake remittance scams, resulting in the arrest of 101 suspects. The operation, according to the report, involved a sum of approximately MOP1.6 billion. In August, PJ and mainland police launched another joint operation targeting this activity on both sides of the border. They arrested 47 mainland residents involved in the illegal activities at various casinos, hotels, residential areas, and Macaus border crossings. The authorities also seized around HKD1.92 million in cash and over HKD700,000 in gambling chips during this operation. 55 arrested since new law came into force Since the new law criminalizing illegal currency exchange came into effect Oct. 29, 2024, and up until Nov. 22, authorities have arrested approximately 55 individuals involved in this activity in Macau, particularly around the casino areas, according to the Director of the Judiciary Police, Sit Chong Meng. He also reported that the police seized around MOP7.11 million during the operation. The crime rate during the first nine months of this year has increased 12.2%, according to a report from the Secretary for Security, Wong Sio Chak, in a press conference yesterday. The report highlights that significant rises in crimes such as scams, usury, cybercrimes, and kidnapping have contributed the most to this overall increase. Despite a marked decrease in certain types of crime, the total crime rate from January to September remains 2.2% higher compared to the same period in 2019, before the pandemic. The largest increases were seen in cybercrimes, which more than doubled, surging 104.2% (770 cases). Usury nearly tripled, growing from 73 cases in 2023 to 206 in 2024, while kidnapping cases increased 147.1%, totaling 42 cases. Scams also saw a sharp rise of 31.5%, with 2,160 cases reported, averaging around eight per day. Sexual crimes have also increased, notably in rape cases, which rose 48.1%, reaching 40 cases. Addressing this, the Secretary emphasized that while the statistical rise is concerning, over 60% of the victims were not Macau residents, and most of the incidents occurred in hotel rooms. As a result, he suggested that some of these cases could involve consensual sexual relations. Authorities have often explained that many rape claims are fabricated by individuals, including mainland prostitutes, to extort money from clients or settle debts. These false reports exploit the swift police response required to handle such serious cases. To combat prostitution and related illegal activities, the authorities are intensifying inspections in casinos and surrounding areas. In addition, although child sexual abuse cases decreased by 37.5%, the 15 cases reported by September remain a cause for concern, as the figure is still higher than in 2019. To address this, between January and September, the Public Security Police Force (PSP) conducted 70 awareness activities on self-protection, attended by over 8,000 participants. The Judiciary Police (PJ) also held 62 talks on sexual abuse prevention, reaching more than 14,000 people, including students, parents and school staff. Fewer violent crimes than in 2019 but more than in 2023 Overall, violent crimes have risen by 16.7% compared to the same period last year, with 210 cases reported. However, this is still a significant improvement from 2019, when 313 violent crimes were recorded in the same period. The Secretary pointed out that, particularly in cases such as kidnapping, murder, and serious bodily harm, Macau continues to maintain a very low or even zero incidence rate. Although the number of serious offenses against physical integrity remains low (just five cases), it has seen a sharp increase, rising fivefold compared to last year. Kidnapping cases have also more than doubled, with 42 reported so far this year. The authorities have emphasized that these kidnapping cases are primarily related to the gaming industry, often linked to gambling debts. In most cases, victims are not subjected to significant physical violence or life-threatening injuries. The exception was an incident on Aug. 7, when a murder occurred in Macau over an illegal money exchange dispute. In this case, police swiftly apprehended two suspects within three hours. Gaming-related crimes up eas expectedi According to PJ data, there were 1,021 criminal investigations related to gambling, marking an increase of 305 cases, or 42.6%, compared to the same period in 2023. However, authorities pointed out a decrease of 578 cases (36.1%) when compared to the same period in 2019, which the Secretary attributed to the effective work of the police in deterring criminal activity. Criminals know they cannot operate here. This reduction is a direct result of the polices efforts, he said. The rise in gambling-related crimes compared to last year was deemed inevitable, largely due to the high influx of visitors, especially in the first quarter of the year. According to the collected data, the most common gambling-related crimes this year were scams, with 254 cases (24.9% of the total), followed by 195 cases of usury (loan sharking), which accounted for 19.1%. Other reported crimes included 150 cases of misappropriation (14.7%), 113 cases of theft (11.1%), 66 cases of disobedience (6.5%), 36 cases of offenses against physical integrity (3.5%), and 33 cases of kidnapping (3.2%). The remaining crimes made up less than 3% of the total. Wong also addressed the activities of triads or secret societies, stating that no unusual movement of secret societies or their members related to the gambling sector has been detected. The governments recent launch of the Medical Assisted Reproduction Subsidy Program has been seen as a significant step towards supporting childbirth and safeguarding the reproductive rights of infertile couples by the Womens General Association of Macau. However, the association believes the government can subsidize more cycles over time. The plan aims to alleviate the financial burdens associated with assisted reproductive technologies (ART) by waiving treatment service fees. Eligible couples can be subsidized up to two cycles at the Macau Union Hospital, thereby addressing previous challenges faced by those seeking treatment due to high costs and limited options. In Kiang Wu Hospital, assisted reproduction is a relatively expensive service, costing about MOP70,000 to MOP90,000 per cycle. Lawmaker and vice-president of the association Wong Kit Cheng said that as the success rates of ART decline with age, many couples may require more than two treatment cycles to achieve pregnancy. The average age of women seeking this service is relatively advanced, up to 43 years old. Drawing inspiration from practices in mainland China, where cities like Beijing and Shenzhen offer multiple reimbursements through medical insurance, the association has advocated for an increase in the number of subsidized treatments over time. This approach is aimed at adapting to macro factors such as treatment success rates and local birth trends. Moreover, the association also called on the government to expand the subsidy plan to include additional medical institutions beyond the currently approved Kiang Wu Hospital, as this would enhance treatment choices for infertile couples and reduce waiting times. Recently, the private hospital issued a warning about declining birth rates, calling on the government to implement measures to support families who want children but face difficulties. The situation is very serious, said Chan Tai Ip, the hospitals deputy director, noting the number of newborns in the first two quarters of this year was around 1,700, similar to 2022s total of over 3,000 but down sharply from 7,000 in 2016. Since launching its assisted reproduction services in 2018, the private hospital has provided treatment to more than 300 couples, performing around 190 cycles per year with a 48% success rate, which Chan said is in line with international standards. The association has also proposed incorporating advanced services such as pre-implantation genetic testing and gamete cryopreservation into funding projects, further bolstering support for those facing infertility. With infertility rates estimated to be between 12% to 18%, the plan not only provides financial assistance but also aims to raise awareness about ART. A redevelopment project proposed between two Downtown Madison landmarks is nearing final approval after a favorable City Council vote late Tuesday. The 10-story apartment building that Trinitas Ventures of Lafayette, Indiana, plans to build at 619 and 699 W. Mifflin St. would add hundreds of student beds near the UW-Madison campus, where housing is in high demand. Opponents of the proposal say its height and footprint would overpower the historic structures that are situated on either side of the redevelopment site the one-story Milwaukee Road Depot and two-story Wiedenbeck-Dobelin Warehouse. The developer wants to demolish a pair of low-rise apartment buildings built in the late 1980s that have a total of about 120 beds. The new building it would put up in their place would have space for about 665 beds across a mix of studios, one- through five-bedroom apartments and double-occupancy rooms. Amenities there would include a fitness center, interior and exterior courtyards, a rooftop pool and sauna, and a terrace facing the Kohl Center and the Capitol. Trinitas knew going in that the citys review process for the project would be complicated, said Linda Irving, a vice president and project executive at the real estate development firm. In addition to the fact that the new building would be flanked by a pair of designated Madison landmarks both built before 1910, one of the existing apartment buildings currently shares a single lot and street address with the Wiedenbeck-Dobelin Warehouse, which was converted to apartments in the 1980s. Trinitas plans to preserve those apartments and make some improvements to the interior of the warehouse as part of the project. But in Madison, when a property contains a historic landmark, that designation and the associated protections apply to the entire property. That means Trinitas cant make big changes to the exterior of any building on the lot, historic or otherwise, for as long as it retains its landmark status. The developer is seeking an amendment to the landmark nomination that would adjust its boundaries, removing the newer building and leaving only the warehouse. Madison established a process for amending a landmark nomination in 2015, said Heather Bailey, the citys preservation planner. That process which requires City Council sign-off has never been used before. The council unanimously granted the project standard city approvals on Tuesday. It will consider the landmark nomination amendment at a future meeting. A spot thats worth the headache When Trinitas first approached Ald. Mike Verveer, 4th District, who represents much of Downtown including West Mifflin Street, about redeveloping the site, I thought I had the address wrong, he said. I said, Well, this doesnt compute. Its a local and national landmark. The Wiedenbeck-Dobelin Warehouse was built in 1907 and added onto in the 1910s, the landmark nomination form for the warehouse says. It served as the main building for a company that sold materials for blacksmithing and wagon-making and is one of a few in Madison that has a relationship to the horse transportation era. The warehouse is historically significant, the form says, in part because it survived, intact, from a period when Madison was becoming an important commercial center. The Milwaukee Road Depot opened in 1903, in a time when the Capitol City was a rail hub for business people and governmental officials, when rail linkages brought nearly all products from farm to market, and when vacationers were traveling by rail to their favorite resort spots in Wisconsin and Minnesota, according to its landmark nomination form. The depot was built during the last significant era of railroad dependence and improvement before the effects of the automobile were to challenge rail dominance. Irving said the sites prime location, with its proximity to campus, the Kohl Center, public transit and the Southwest Commuter Path, made it worth taking the extra steps the landmarks would require. This is the developers second student housing project in the area. Trinitas completed its 12-story Atmosphere Madison building on Regent Street, on the opposite side of the Southwest Commuter Path and railroad tracks, this summer. Verveer said hes happy to see more density coming to his district, though he wishes the project had put more emphasis on affordability and used a recently expanded incentive in the citys zoning code to provide reduced rents at some of the new units. Still, Irving and her team deserve all the credit in the world, Verveer said, for not walking away from ... a landmark property which I think many developers wouldnt touch with a 10-foot pole. Some people who live in the area said they wish developers had continued to keep their distance and left the two relatively affordable apartment buildings alone, however. Other critics of the Trinitas plan have said theyre not necessarily opposed to redevelopment at the site but say this project is simply too big. Opponents say its too much for area The local neighborhood association, the Miffland District of Capitol Neighborhoods Inc., didnt take an official position on the proposed redevelopment. Most of the participating community members generally opposed it, said Linda Scott, the districts chair. We thought they were trying to put too much on that parcel, she said. Its less clear what changes, if any, would have been enough to win over the group as a whole. There really was never a consensus, Scott said. As the project advanced through the city process, Scott pushed for modifications that she and some other neighbors hoped would make the building less visually imposing, like a step-back on the sides facing the depot that would create more distance between the upper stories and pedestrians below. We were trying not to be totally oppositional, Scott said. It wasnt our intent to try to kill the project. We were trying to get the developer to work with us. But the developer pretty much just held their ground. The Madison Trust for Historic Preservation, a nonprofit that regularly weighs in on development initiatives that involve landmarks, did come out against the project at least in its current form. The group believes the project would be so large and visually intrusive that it significantly alters the view of the depot, in particular, and the ability to see it in its original setting, said Rick Chandler, the Madison Trusts board president. It was easy, I think, to visualize a project that would have been less massive, less close to the depot, several stories shorter, that would have had less of a visual impact, that would have been more historically compatible, Chandler said. The Madison Trust hoped the city would ask Trinitas to come back with a different proposal that was shorter and farther away, Chandler said. City commissioners did request some tweaks, like increasing the shortest distance between the new building and the warehouse from 5 feet to at least 10 feet. Trinitas adjusted the design accordingly. The Madison Trust, which had pushed for a setback of 50 feet, was underwhelmed. Trinitas heard the groups concerns, Irving said. But the developer didnt see a realistic middle ground for the site that would still be economically feasible. Concerns for what could come next The Madison Trusts apprehension about the future of the warehouse also extends beyond the Trinitas project. One end of the L-shaped warehouse faces the stretch of West Mifflin Street that turns into a cul-de-sac in front of the redevelopment site. The rest of the warehouse sits in the middle of the block. Its visible from the street in several directions because many of the buildings around it are short. Besides the 10-story student apartment building proposed directly to its southwest, the warehouse is neighbored by a five-story, mixed-use building built a couple of years ago. To its northwest is a UW-Madison art gallery. To its east, on the side of the warehouse with the most distinctive signage, is a U-Haul property that houses an old freight depot that has not been designated as a historic site and has been designated by the Madison Assessors Office as prime for redevelopment. The Madison Trust is worried that the warehouse will eventually disappear into the block as taller buildings go up around it a fate resembling that of Frank Lloyd Wrights Robert Lamp House, tucked into the center of a city block near the Capitol. Its going to be cut off from essentially all sides, said Kurt Stege, co-chair of the Madison Trusts advocacy committee. If no one can see the warehouse anymore, he said, What historic integrity is left? Displaced Lebanese rush home after ceasefire, facing joy, loss, and uncertainty Xinhua) 08:44, November 29, 2024 Displaced people are on their way home after the ceasefire in the southern suburbs of Beirut in Lebanon, on Nov. 27, 2024. (Str/Xinhua) BEIRUT, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- As the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel took effect at dawn on Wednesday, Jihad Nasrallah, along with thousands of displaced Lebanese, wasted no time. Before sunrise, they gathered their belongings and set out on the long-awaited journey back to their homes in southern Lebanon. The roads were crowded with returnees, their faces a mixture of joy and lingering sorrow. Many had endured over a year of displacement, their return marked by happiness at reclaiming their homes but also the grief of lost harvests, destroyed properties, and loved ones who perished during the conflict. "The displaced could hardly sleep, eagerly waiting for dawn," said Jihad to Xinhua. "There were tears of joy as people bid farewell to each other, and car horns echoed in celebration. " In the southeast village of Kfarhamam, most returnees lost their homes due to Israeli bombings. Still, the villagers were unfazed, as their priority, according to the young Hassan Abdul Karim, was to move past their displacement and return to their hometown. "Displacement is unjust, humiliating, and deeply disturbing," Abdul Karim told Xinhua. "We'd rather live in tents on the ruins of our homes than remain in school halls, crammed alongside five to eight other families. So we returned, carrying mattresses and blankets on the roofs of our cars." The Lebanese army mobilized at first light, deploying bulldozers and trucks to repair roads damaged by airstrikes in the Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, members of the Internal Security Forces managed traffic at key intersections, while medical teams from the Lebanese Red Cross and the Islamic Health Authority stationed themselves at city entrances to handle emergencies. Displaced people drive a car on their way home in al-Zahrani area, southern Lebanon, on Nov. 27, 2024. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) In the eastern city of Baalbek and the villages of western Bekaa, including Machghara, Sohmor, and Yohmor, returnees faced the devastation of homes and infrastructure caused by relentless airstrikes. Yet, not everyone could go back. Those from villages along the Israeli-Lebanese border were forced to wait, as Israel warned against their return until its forces completed their withdrawal. Fatima al-Ahmad, displaced from the border village of Wazzani, remains in the Khan market with her livestock, awaiting clearance from the Lebanese army. "We are happy about the ceasefire, but we cannot return until the Israeli forces leave our village," she told Xinhua. "We will remain with our livestock, estimated at 3,000 heads of sheep, in the Khan market, waiting for the instructions of the Lebanese army, which will inform us about our return date," she told Xinhua. For those who have made it back, the challenges are far from over. In the southern village of Habbariyeh, returnee Riad Issa described the uphill battle ahead. "Rebuilding homes, replanting lands, and restoring life to our villages are monumental tasks, especially with scarce resources and an ongoing economic crisis," he said. The most daunting challenge, however, is emotional recovery. "We can rebuild what was destroyed, but the loss of loved ones and the memories of war and displacement will remain etched in our minds forever," Issa reflected. Displaced people return to their home after the ceasefire in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, on Nov. 27, 2024. (Str/Xinhua) Vehicles carrying people returning home are stranded in a traffic jam in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, on Nov. 27, 2024. (Str/Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) By Qabil Ashirov Military attaches of foreign states accredited to Azerbaijan visited the Main Ground Satellite Control Center of Azercosmos, the Space Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, subordinate to the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, Azernews reports, citing Azerbaijan`s Ministry of Defense. Organized by the International Military Cooperation Department, the visit included 17 representatives who were briefed on Azercosmos' history, activities, projects, and future plans. The delegation also explored the center's facilities and infrastructure, with military attaches having their questions addressed during the event. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Ethiopian Revolution, which began as an uprising against the semi-feudal despotism of Emperor Haile Selassie but would go much further, culminating in the abolition of capitalism in the country. In this article, Ben Curry, gives an account of these dramatic events, and explains the complex processes that shaped the revolutions course. The article was orginally published as part of issue 45 of In Defence of Marxism magazine, the quarterly theoretical journal of the Revolutionary Communist International. Subscribe and get your copy here! This February marked the 50th anniversary of the outbreak of the Ethiopian revolution of 1974, which overthrew Emperor Haile Selassie, putting an end to an 800-year-old dynasty that claimed to trace its roots back to the Biblical King Solomon. In the course of the events that followed, not only was the autocracy crushed, but so too were landlordism and capitalism. And Ethiopia is not the only country in which this took place; nationalised planned economies were established in a series of countries across Africa in the postwar period, including in Angola, Mozambique and Somalia. However, instead of providing the spark for a continent-wide socialist revolution, these regimes took on the same deformed characteristics as Russian Stalinism. By the 1990s, the process went into reverse and capitalism was restored. Today, the crisis-wracked capitalist system offers no perspective of development or progress. In fact, it threatens the Horn of Africa, and indeed the entire continent, with barbarism. Only the world socialist revolution can offer a way out. Revolutionary events like those of 50 years ago in Ethiopia, with all of its peculiarities, contain enormous lessons, won at a bitter price, for the young generation of revolutionaries in Africa and around the world today. Modernising a feudal state Historically, Ethiopia was more-or-less unique among the nations of Africa insofar as it avoided direct colonial occupation by a European power with the exception of the short period of occupation by fascist Italy. But from its inception, Ethiopia was moulded economically, politically, and even in its borders, by the extreme, external pressure of imperialism. The modern Ethiopian nation-state was forged in the late 19th Century, amidst European imperialisms scramble for Africa. It emerged as a complex patchwork of ethnicities, nationalities, languages and religions over which the Amharic Christian Emperor and his clique ruled with the utmost brutality and without the slightest regard for his subjects. In 1916, the young Emperor Haile Selassie acceded to the Ethiopian throne. Selassie was no fool, and he understood that to withstand being directly absorbed into some European empire, his feudal regime had to modernise, and so he set about a programme of reform. Indeed, a layer of the old aristocratic elite shared his vision. Called the Japanisers, they dreamed of remedying Ethiopias underdevelopment by emulating the feats of Meiji Japan in the second half of the 19th Century. At that time, the feudal Japanese state had succeeded in forcing the development of a powerful domestic Japanese capitalism by copying the industrial and commercial practices of the West. The problem was that Ethiopias Japanisers hoped to achieve the same feat some 50-100 years later, when the world was dominated by a handful of advanced imperialist powers. Ethiopias development was extremely late. By the time of the 1974 revolution, the country remained extremely backward far more backward even than Russia had been in 1917. In 1916, the young Emperor Haile Selassie acceded to the Ethiopian throne / Image: public domain Under Ethiopian feudalism, the four fifths of the population were subsistence peasants. Almost all the arable land was owned by the aristocracy and church. Largely concentrated in the cooler highland regions, the peasants paid huge tributes or rents to their local feudal aristocrats, in some cases, up to 50 percent or more of their produce, as well as corvee labour and military obligations. Illiteracy stood at 93 percent, average life expectancy was 33 years, and annual per capita income was just US$60, one tenth of that of contemporary Algeria reflecting the fact that much of the peasantry did not even use money.[1] As in mediaeval Europe, a traditional feudal pyramid of military obligations, with the Emperor at its apex, formed the basis of the state. The aristocracy therefore enjoyed significant power. But on the basis of Selassies reforms, this aristocracy was increasingly supplanted by a modern state bureaucracy and army staffed by salaried professionals, paid for by foreign aid (in the postwar period, principally from the United States) as well as by cash crops grown for export, such as coffee. To fill the professional roles in the state and encourage the growth of domestic industry and development, the state also assisted young people from humble backgrounds to go abroad for education at foreign universities. Whatever might have been hoped for, the result was not the creation of a developed, liberal capitalist nation. Selassies reforms left feudal land relations untouched. Their destruction was absolutely essential for ending the countrys overwhelming backwardness. The postwar upswing of capitalism led to the ever-more decisive domination of the world market, which crushed the peasants. As they sought to escape slow death from hunger on the land, cities like Addis Ababa grew at a breakneck pace. But unlike other semi-colonial nations, foreign capital had barely begun to penetrate Ethiopia. In the cities too, capitalist development was extremely limited. The urban population of Ethiopia stood at about 3 million out of 32 million by 1974. But the majority of this population were either part of the informal sector, unemployed or lumpen proletarians. The working class was a minority even in the cities. The Confederation of Ethiopian Labour Unions (CELU), drawing upon workers from all sectors, had just 80,000 members. [2] Yet, despite its small size, the proletariat would leave its decisive stamp on the Ethiopian revolution. And although the Emperors reforms didnt succeed in building a powerful national capitalism, the creation of a modern, bureaucratic state nonetheless served to free him from dependence on the feudal aristocracy. As a result, power became increasingly concentrated in the hands of Selassie the autocrat, resting upon the narrowest of props: the newly formed professional army. It too would leave its peculiar stamp on events. The revolution of February 1974 Worldwide radicalisation in the 1960s reverberated through Ethiopia as it did everywhere. The students that had been sent abroad to Europe and America to train as functionaries for the bureaucratic state instead came back with radical ideas, influenced by the anti-Vietnam War, Civil Rights, and Palestine solidarity movements but above all by Maoist ideas then in vogue among many students in the West. By the 1960s, Ethiopia was a powder keg. Peasant revolts erupted and were crushed in Sidamo, Gojjam, Bale and elsewhere. Many revolts took the form of national liberation movements. In the postwar period, the United Nations, in all its wisdom, had conjoined the former Italian colony of Eritrea with Ethiopia without the least regard for the opinions of the Eritrean people. Heroic guerrilla movements were growing among the Eritreans and in the lowlands of the Somali-majority Ogaden in the East. In Tigray, memories festered of how the Woyanne rising of May 1943 had been defeated by British RAF bombers sent from Aden, and how Selassies recently restored regime slaughtered peasants and introduced vicious, punitive taxes five times higher than those of the Italian fascists. [3] Dealing with these peasant insurgencies, and permanently encamped in the hot, arid, mosquito-ridden lowlands from which the guerrillas operated, were the poorly paid rank-and-file soldiers. Selassie had envisaged a modern, bureaucratic state as a means of keeping up with the pressures of imperialism. But the men who made up the rank-and-file and the lower echelons of the officer corps of his army had their own ideas about Ethiopias trajectory. They despised the parasitic aristocracy that lived off the fat of the land without raising a finger to develop the nation. As early as 1960, a group of officers had launched a coup against Selassie, whose regime they saw as the primary force keeping Ethiopia in backwardness. The coup failed and its leaders were publicly executed. But the mystique of the monarchy was forever tarnished. This was a mere foretaste of things to come. Already difficult conditions were becoming unbearable for the masses. Whereas in the advanced capitalist countries, the economic upswing of the postwar period allowed certain reforms to be granted by the ruling class, in the so-called third world it was a completely different picture. Everything came to a head with the worldwide crisis of capitalism in the 1970s. In 1973, the effect of the immense sums extracted from the peasantry by the feudal aristocracy combined with drought to cause a terrible famine in the north of Ethiopia. At least 200,000 people starved to death. The state made a futile attempt to cover up its crime, but scenes of the famine circulated, spliced with footage from Selassies obscene 80th birthday celebrations, which opened around the same time with an 80-gun salute and cost $35 million. In the same year, war in the Middle East provided the catalyst for a global recession. The shock sent oil prices skyrocketing. In a situation that has parallels with the world today, the rapid rise in oil prices led to a 50 percent increase in the price of petrol overnight in Ethiopia.[4] Everywhere the movement spread, coordinating committees were established spontaneously by workers, students, teachers and soldiers / Image: public domain It was more than the masses could take. The working class exploded onto the scene. Strikes began breaking out: first among the taxi drivers, who were among those most immediately hit by the fuel price hike. They were quickly joined by radical teachers and students. From here, the strike movement spread like wildfire. It was soon clear that what had begun was no mere strike wave. It was a revolution. Economic demands were supplemented by political demands for the right to protest and democracy. Although the movement was at this stage wholly urban, the students began raising the important demand of land to the tiller. From these layers, social unrest spread to every sector of the population. Major riots erupted in Addis Ababa. The army was not immune. The rank-and-file soldiers suffered the same privations as the workers and urban poor, compounded by discontent at being perennially bogged down in counter-insurgency campaigns in Eritrea and Ogaden. And so mutinies erupted over pay, pensions and arbitrary and harsh discipline. In one explosive incident, a general was taken hostage by soldiers. The regime had to tread carefully, and in that incident Haile Selassie personally intervened to free the captured general. But upon his release, the same unfortunate general visited a second battalion and was immediately arrested again, and was force-fed grit-filled bread and contaminated water by the soldiers: the same that they were expected to subsist on. [5] Within a couple of weeks, the prime minister was forced to resign. Everywhere the movement spread, coordinating committees were established spontaneously by workers, students, teachers and soldiers. In Jimma, the biggest city in Oromia province, the coordinating committee even briefly took power. These committees were not at all dissimilar to soviets, revolutionary assemblies of workers and soldiers that emerged in Russia in 1905 and 1917. Had a revolutionary party been present in Ethiopia at this time, it would have put the call out to link up all the committees into city-wide, regional and nation-wide committees. It would have naturally invited representatives of soldiers coordinating committees to sit jointly with those of the workers. It would have launched a systematic campaign to win over the rank-and-file of the army and, through such connections, to arm the workers. On this basis, such a party could have seized power. But the Ethiopian working class was only just coming into existence. No such party existed. The students returning from abroad, it is true, had begun to form the nuclei of future mass parties. But they had barely begun to build links with the workers. In fact, the students did not even possess the conception of a revolution led by the proletariat through democratic organs of working-class rule along the lines of that in Russia in 1917. Instead they clung to the Maoist idea of peasant guerrilla war. If one country seemed ripe to test the Maoist conception of rural guerrilla warfare, it would surely have been peasant Ethiopia. But their schemas were utterly exploded by the events of 1974, which took them completely by surprise. This was therefore a true baptism of fire for the young Ethiopian working class. With no party capable of organising and bringing clarity to its most advanced layers, it was not able to assume its rightful place at the head of the revolution. In these circumstances, events unfolded in a very peculiar manner. The rise of the Derg Through concessions, the Emperor was able to convince the army to return to barracks in March. But just as unrest temporarily settled in the army, the tobacco workers went on strike, and on 8 March 1974 the CELU trade union confederation announced a general strike. Every layer of Ethiopian society that had suffered some oppression or injury came out with their demands. On 20 April, there was a march of 100,000 Muslims through Addis Ababa demanding the right to freedom of worship and an end to discrimination. Even workers employed by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church came out on strike![6] A key demand raised everywhere was for corrupt officials, provincial governors and army officers to be fired. Indeed, the soldiers were only convinced to return to barracks based on the promise to remove hated senior officers. But when, by April, the majority of old officers remained in place, the coordinating committee in the 4th Division of the army began taking things into its own hands. It arrested some 200 senior officials. But in the months of May and June, the strike movement started to ebb. Without a unifying revolutionary leadership to channel all the streams of discontent, events began unfolding in an uneven manner. A curious situation now existed in the army. The temporary ebb of the strike wave left the soldiers and junior officers isolated. They were fearful of launching a coup, lest they suffer the same fate as the organisers of the 1960 coup. But they could hardly retreat: by carrying out arrests, they had already gone too far and they feared reprisals. So committees continued to be extended across the armed forces until, in June 1974, every army unit was called upon by the coordinating committee of the 4th Division to send three delegates (of any rank excluding the hated senior officers of the old regime) to a new body. This body, composed of 106 delegates, referred to itself as the Provisional Military Administrative Council, and was known simply as the Derg (from the Amharic for committee). [7] Soon, this powerful committee began flexing its muscles. It politely asked ministers to carry out this or that request and the ministers could hardly refuse. The Derg even went to Selassie himself and asked the Emperor for permission to work with the cabinet to further the unity and development of the country. Selassie assented, and the Derg acquired a legal cover for its actions. In short, in the second half of 1974, Ethiopia witnessed what has since been called a creeping coup, in which the Derg began concentrating more and more power in its hands. Only in September 1974 did it finally announce that the Emperor was deposed, and in 1975 Selassie died in mysterious circumstances presumably killed on the Dergs orders. The Derg had ascended to power. When army units were initially asked to send representatives to the Derg, most failed to grasp its significance. No doubt those who convened the Derg were just as little aware of where their course would lead. All sorts of accidental elements ended up being represented on it. In some cases, commanding officers sent misfits as representatives to the Derg simply to get them out of the way and would come to regret doing so. Such were the origins of one Derg delegate, Mengistu Haile Mariam, the future dictator of Ethiopia. What emerged was a military clique of soldiers and low-ranking officers. But its self-declared right to rule didnt go unchallenged. In September 1974, sensing that the Derg was consolidating a military dictatorship, the CELU made the call for a hastily organised general strike. But without proper preparation, the general strike failed to materialise and the Derg reacted with repression, shutting down the workplace coordinating committees. Coordinating committees in the rest of the army particularly those most sympathetic to the workers in the engineering corp, the airforce and the First Army also challenged the right of the coordinating committee of the 4th Division to form an exclusive clique around itself. They demanded civilian rule, nationalisation of the land and major enterprises, and economic planning for the country. They too were subject to repression. But the blows that the Derg delivered to cement its power were not only directed at the left. It also rounded up high-ranking government officials from the old aristocracy. On 23 November 1974, the Derg got its first taste of blood when it executed 60 of its opponents. Most were senior officials of the old regime, but they also numbered Derg members, including its first chairman, Aman Andom. This was a foretaste of violent internal faction fights to come inside the Derg. But the ruling clique was not satisfied with a few arrests of regime stalwarts. To consolidate its power it had to go further. In early 1975, it took decisive steps to completely break the back of the old ruling class. Although it had no intention or desire to concede power to the masses, the Derg now rested upon them to deliver blows against the old aristocratic elite and the old state. Land reform was initiated. The land was nationalised and allotted to the peasants on the basis of use. These measures were wildly popular and their announcement brought out hundreds of thousands in demonstrations of support.[8] The Derg could not break the aristocracy by relying on the old state apparatus to carry out its orders. It therefore mobilised some 60,000 radical students and teachers and sent them into the countryside to agitate among the peasants to redistribute the land among themselves. The encouragement was hardly necessary, but the measure had the advantage for the Derg of dispersing across the countryside thousands of radical youths whom it correctly perceived as a serious threat to its rule. It didnt stop there. Urban housing was nationalised, and so too were the banks, insurance companies and most major industries. The Dergs nationalisations went so far that they actually abolished capitalism in Ethiopia and yet the capital expropriated didnt amount to a value of more than US$30 million! Of this sum, US$10 million was constituted by the capital of the big British and Italian-dominated banks. The barely-existent Ethiopian capitalist class amounted to a fraction of the rest. [9] What was the Derg? In an article analysing this process, titled The Colonial Revolution and the Deformed Workers States, Ted Grant explained that what was unfolding verified Trotskys theory of permanent revolution, but in a distorted manner: The whole essence of Trotsky's theory of the permanent revolution lies in the idea that the colonial bourgeoisie and the bourgeoisie of the backward countries are incapable of carrying out the tasks of the bourgeois democratic revolution. This is because of their links with the landlords and the imperialists. The banks have mortgages on the land, industrialists have landed estates in the country, the landlords invest in industry and the whole is entangled together and linked with imperialism in a web of vested interests opposed to change.[10] Therefore, the only revolutionary class in Ethiopia that could seize power and take up the tasks of smashing feudalism, carrying out land reform and modernising the nation was the working class, resting on the support of the peasantry. But the working class would not stop there. It would also have to carry out inroads and expropriations against the counter-revolutionary capitalist class, thus beginning the tasks of the socialist revolution, although these could only be completed on a world scale. Thus, the revolution becomes permanent. The EPRP persisted in referring to the regime as fascist by pointing to its ongoing repression / Image: public domain Events were following a similar path to that predicted by Trotsky, but with a twist. In 1975, capitalism and landlordism were smashed in Ethiopia. However, they were not smashed by the organised working class seizing power with a perspective of world socialist revolution, as in Russia in 1917. Rather, they were smashed by a military clique that had leaned on the masses to deliver a killer blow to the deposed capitalists and landlords, but which had also dealt blows to these same masses. How could this unusual regime be characterised? Here the importance of a correct theoretical approach rooted in the Marxist method looms large. Tragically, the two main Maoist groups in Ethiopia the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Party (EPRP) and the All-Ethiopian Socialist Movement (or Meison, after its Amharic acronym) failed to understand the nature of the regime. Their mistakes would have catastrophic consequences. At first, both pointed to the repression of the workers in late 1974 and superficially denounced the regime as fascist. But then came the revolutionary measures of 1975, which utterly disoriented both groups. In attempting to characterise the Derg, each latched onto one of its features and arrived at diametrically opposite conclusions. The EPRP persisted in referring to the regime as fascist by pointing to its ongoing repression. Meison, on the contrary, turned 180 degrees, pointed to the Dergs revolutionary measures, and threw their full support behind the junta. As in the parable of the blind men who encounter an elephant, in which each comes to a completely different description of the animal based on feeling just one part of its anatomy, the Ethiopian Maoists had each identified one side of the regime without grasping its essence. It is a fact that Ted Grant alone understood the real significance of the Derg. When the revolution broke out in Ethiopia, the working class was too small and without the leadership needed to seize power. But if the working class was weak, the Ethiopian capitalist class was even weaker. Into this impasse stepped the junior and mid-ranking officers, who seized power and raised themselves above society by balancing between the classes, delivering blows to the masses and to the old ruling class. This is a typical feature of what Marxists refer to as Bonapartist regimes, by analogy to the dictatorship of Napoleon Bonaparte, and they tend to emerge when the class struggle arrives at an impasse. Such regimes, in which the army balances between the classes to raise itself up, became the norm in much of the so-called third world in the postwar period. Why? Because similar conditions produced similar results. The old ruling class was too discredited by the chronic social crisis to rule. But the working class lacked the strength or leadership to conquer power. The class struggle thus arrived at a deadlock. But not every Bonapartist regime is the same. As Ted Grant explained, the fact that in much of the colonial and semi-colonial world, especially in Asia and Africa, the capitalist state was of recent vintage, was a significant factor. It had not been perfected over centuries, as in the advanced capitalist world. And the capitalist class had proved incapable of cementing the loyalty of the armed bodies of the state, which it could only hope to do by seriously developing the productive forces. Many lower and middle-ranking officers despised the landlords and capitalists, who consumed everything whilst contributing nothing to national development. Where and when these officers seized power in the postwar decades, they had no reservations about dealing heavy blows to the old ruling classes. The main imperialist powers could not intervene directly. Precisely at this time, they were being forced to retreat and withdraw from direct colonial rule by the enormous wave of colonial revolutions, and this encouraged many of these officers to take sweeping measures. In a number of countries, officers regimes made serious inroads into the property of the capitalist class: In Egypt, for instance, Nasser nationalised a series of foreign companies, and important resources, including the Suez Canal; whilst in Iraq, the officers nationalised the oil fields and other resources. However, the state cannot mould society completely at will. Every regime must ultimately base itself on some set of property and class relations in society. In these countries, the expropriations never went as far as to abolish capitalism entirely. They remained, for all intents and purposes, bourgeois Bonapartist regimes resting on a capitalist economy, even though the bourgeois class was deprived of political power. But it was by no means prescribed in advance that similar regimes might not go all the way, completely expropriating the feeble capitalist class. And this was precisely what happened not only in Ethiopia under the Derg, but also in Syria, Burma and neighbouring Somalia among a number of other countries during the colonial revolutions. Here, with the complete expropriation of the bourgeoisie, capitalism was abolished. Of course, this was no great feat given the feeble character of the capitalist class in Ethiopia. As Trotsky explained: for a lion you need a gun, for a flea, a fingernail will do. But under these regimes, the working class were merely passive observers and did not exert political power, which is a prerequisite for a transition towards socialism. As Ted Grant explains, there were no soviets or organs of workers power: In a revolution according to the norm such ad hoc committees and traditional organisations are indispensable. They are a training ground for the workers in the art of running the state, of developing the solidarity and understanding of the workers. After a victorious overthrow of capital they become vehicles for workers rule, the organs of the new state and of workers democracy. But where as in Eastern Europe, China, Cuba, Syria, Ethiopia the overthrow takes place with the support of the workers and peasants certainly but without their active control, clearly the result must be different. The petty-bourgeois intellectuals, army officers, leaders of guerrilla bands use the workers and peasants as cannon fodder, merely as points of support, as a gun rest, so to speak. Their aim, conscious or unconscious, is not power for the workers and peasants, but power for their elite.[11] These regimes could thus be described as Bonapartist. But it was Bonapartism based on state property, not on capitalist property, which had been abolished. These were, as Ted Grant described them, proletarian Bonapartist regimes. And they had for their model the deformed workers state in the Soviet Union, from which they differed only superficially. Other regimes arrived at the same result by a different route. In China and Cuba, capitalism was expropriated at the hands of victorious guerrilla armies. In Eastern Europe, expropriations took place on the orders of the Red Army from 1948. In all these instances, the process may have enjoyed the passive support of the working class, but it lacked its active participation. It is a fact that Ted Grant alone understood the real significance of the Derg / Image: public domain The Soviet Union had begun its existence in 1917 as a healthy regime of workers democracy, but in conditions of isolation and economic backwardness had degenerated, leading to the political expropriation of the working class by a parasitic, privileged bureaucracy, whilst economic planning remained intact. These new regimes were not fundamentally different to the degenerated Stalinist regime in Russia. And Stalinism had been massively strengthened with the victories of the Red Army and the Chinese Revolution of 1949. Here were ready-made examples of proletarian Bonapartism that could be copied. The existence of the bureaucratic caricature of socialism in the USSR had a magnetic attraction for cliques of officers all over the so-called third world and its bureaucratic deformations only enhanced its appeal. After all, socialism, as it appeared to exist in the form of the Soviet Union, seemed to demonstrate that there was another route for underdeveloped nations, in which society could be developed through a planned economy, whilst allowing a top layer to continue enjoying enormous privileges. As Ted Grant put it: A change to proletarian Bonapartism actually enlarges their power, prestige, privileges and income. They become the sole commanding and directing stratum of the society, raising themselves even higher over the masses than in the past. Instead of being subservient to the weak, craven and ineffectual bourgeoisie they become the masters of society.[12] The slightest degree of political independence of the working class is a threat to the interests of the privileged ruling stratum in a proletarian Bonapartist regime, which has no interest in a transition towards genuine socialism. This layer must inevitably strive to crush such opposition where it becomes a serious threat. As such, the EPRP were correct to describe this as a dictatorial regime that was attempting to consolidate itself through repression. As Ted Grant explained: Not for nothing did Trotsky explain to the American Socialist Workers Party that, separated from state ownership of industry and the land, the political regime in Russia was fascist! There was nothing to distinguish the political regime of Stalin from that of Hitler except the decisive fact that one defended and had its privileges based on state ownership while the other had its privileges, power, income and prestige based on the defence of private property.[13] This difference in property relations is key. As such, by equating the Derg with fascism, and opposing it with an abstract notion of democracy, the EPRP made a political blunder, undermining its own ability to challenge the Derg. The dictatorial methods of the Derg, to the extent they were applied to the masses, were hated. But to the extent that they were used against the feudal lords and capitalists they were not only extremely popular but historically progressive. Abstract talk of democracy left the EPRP open to accusations by the Derg that it was a counter-revolutionary fifth column that stood up for the democratic rights of the counter-revolutionary classes. The theoretical errors of Meison meanwhile led it to sink far, far lower. In raising up only the revolutionary actions of the Derg and lending it full support against its enemies, Meison subordinated itself to the petty-bourgeois officers, and would find itself complicit in all the crimes of Mengistus terror when the latter sought to consolidate his power by smashing the revolutionary youth. The rise of Mengistu When the Derg rose to power, there was very little that united the body and it was liable to become a very unstable ruling clique. It certainly did not claim to have any affinity to Marxist ideas, which were utterly alien to its members. To the extent that the officers were united by an ideology, that ideology was a nationalist one, summed up in the Dergs slogan: Ethiopia Tikdem (Ethiopia First). Mengistu saw an opportunity to raise himself by seeking out the support of the Soviet Union / Image: public domain The Derg soon split over many questions, including over how to deal with the growing mass influence of Meison and especially the EPRP. The latter had grown enormously. It enjoyed the support of the big majority of the youth, it captured the leadership of the CELU, and by all accounts its influence was growing rapidly inside the army too. Other differences were also emerging inside the Derg, such as how to deal with the Eritrean national question. Amidst these differences, personally ambitious individuals also manoeuvred, among whom the arch-manoeuverer was Mengistu. For pragmatic and not principled reasons, Mengistu saw an opportunity to raise himself by seeking out the support of the Soviet Union, as well as by craftily manipulating differences among the student-led Maoist groups. As radical students returned from exile, Mengistus faction came into contact with Meison members, and entered into cooperation with them. Meison foolishly believed they could influence Mengistu, whom they even gave lessons in what they passed off as Marxist-Leninist theory! In fact, all Mengistu took from them was enough rhetoric to become an effective demagogue. It was he who was using Meison, whose cadres he bureaucratically installed in state positions, in neighbourhood committees known as kebeles, and even in ministerial posts. By February 1977, resting on the support of Meison and the kebeles as well as Soviet backing Mengistu felt strong enough to make a grab for power. He massacred his opponents in the Derg, reducing it to little more than a rubber stamp committee for his personal dictatorship. To consolidate this dictatorship, his next move had to be the liquidation of the revolution, and particularly its vanguard. That meant wiping out the mass Maoist parties. A campaign of murder was brought down on the heads of the EPRP and the nationalist guerrillas in what Mengistu and Meison perversely referred to as the Red Terror. Disgracefully, this utterly counter-revolutionary terror enjoyed the full backing, not to mention technical assistance of the Soviet Union, including phone tappers, high-tech surveillance equipment and intelligence experts.[14] Army units loyal to Mengistu, and armed mobs drawn from the lumpenproletariat, connected to the kebeles and led by Meison cadres, were unleashed against the EPRP. Mengistus reign of terror resulted in the deaths of thousands of young people / Image: public domain On May Day 1977, the EPRP organised a May Day rally in Addis Ababa. The regime responded with machine-gun fire that left over 1,000 dead. Notoriously, before they could retrieve their bodies from the hospital morgue, mothers and fathers were charged for the cost of the bullets that riddled their childrens bodies. Mengistus reign of terror resulted in the deaths of thousands of young people the flower of the revolutionary generation. It is hard to imagine that any regime has exceeded Mengistu in terms of the variety and cruelty of torture methods that it applied against its victims. [15] Survivors of that period claim that there was barely a man or woman living in the cities of Ethiopia in that period, between the ages of 15 and 40, who did not endure torture in one of the regimes jails between 1977 and 1979. By the middle of 1977, the EPRP scarcely existed any longer in the urban areas. Those of its cadres that survived fled to the countryside. Having rested on a layer of the lumpenproletariat to smash the EPRP, a second wave of terror was unleashed in late 1977. This time, the main target was Meison itself. This was a much simpler police operation. Meison had no underground organisation, its members were well known to the regime. It was quickly finished off. By 1979, Mengistu officially made Ethiopia a one-party state. He had adopted all of the methods and external paraphernalia of the bureaucratic regime in the Soviet Union. But having decimated the revolutionary youth, the Mengistu regime had killed off precisely that layer of the population that might have fought to preserve the revolutions gains. It was a weak regime that only became weaker as centrifugal forces took hold across the country. From civil war to collapse By the end of the decade, the silence of the graveyard descended on the revolutionary movement in the cities. Those who continued to resist the regime did so from guerrilla bases in the countryside. Many of the youth that fled the cities linked up with so-called Marxist-Leninist nationalist guerrilla movements. Mengistus Stalinist regime proved to be completely incapable of solving the tasks begun by the Ethiopian revolution, above all the national question, which can acquire explosive potential, particularly in former colonial and semi-colonial nations where the bourgeois-democratic revolution has never been completed. Mengistus Stalinist regime proved to be completely incapable of solving the tasks begun by the Ethiopian revolution / Image: public domain Not for nothing had the radical students in the 1960s borrowed Lenins refrain in describing Ethiopia as a prison house of nations. In Russia before 1917, the national question took on similarly acute proportions. It required the most sensitive policy on the part of the Bolsheviks to convince the workers and peasants of the oppressed nationalities that their interests were wholly aligned with those of the Russian workers, and to weld workers of all nationalities into a united revolutionary movement. To convince the Latvians, Ukrainians, Caucasians, Jews and other minority groups that they were serious about ending the barbaric national oppression of Russian Tsarism, the Bolsheviks promised to respect the right of nations to self-determination, up to and including secession. In Ethiopia, the Eritreans had been carrying on a long struggle for independence going back to the time of Selassie. National-ethnic guerrilla movements had begun erupting since the 1960s, and had grown with the revolutionary awakening of the peasant masses. Somali insurgents had risen up in Ogaden, and from 1975, radical students had established the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF), which has continued to play an important role in Ethiopian politics to this day. A healthy workers regime based on Leninist principles could have averted civil war. In fact, the main demand of the Tigrayan insurgents was not even for secession but for autonomy, which could easily have been granted. But the national policy of Lenin and the Bolsheviks was utterly alien to the Derg. The officers, with their nationalist policy of Ethiopia Tikdem, were used to imposing their way. They resorted to dictatorial methods to crush the national aspirations of the Eritreans, Somalis, Tigrayans and others. Mengistus Red Terror inflamed the situation further and convinced the oppressed nationalities that this regime was little different to that of the Emperors. Bureaucratic methods in Mengistus land policy further inflamed nationalist tendencies among the peasants. With the nominal aim of solving the problem of extreme parcelisation of land, the regime launched a campaign of villagisation forced resettlement of peasants in uncultivated regions, often in harsh environments. In many instances this process was bureaucratically bungled, with peasants receiving none of the support they were promised. But more often than not, this hated policy proved merely a fig leaf for a cynical counterinsurgency policy aimed at resettling peasant communities that sympathised with the guerrillas. The completely reactionary game played by the Soviet Union amidst the horrors now unfolding in the Horn of Africa should also be stated here. Moscow was happy to help Mengistu rise to power. But prior to this, the USSR had been allied with Major General Barres regime in Somalia and the Eritrean guerrillas fighting Selassies autocracy. The Somali regime had also expropriated the capitalists and landlords, and it was fundamentally no different to that of the Derg. But it too pursued a narrow nationalist line and, armed by the USSR, Barre prepared for war to annex Ogaden from Ethiopia. Moscow tried to reconcile its two allies, initially advocating for a federation of Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia. A socialist federation of the Horn of Africa may indeed have been the most desirable outcome for the people of the region, but the fact that narrow nationalist cliques controlled both Ethiopia and Somalia precluded such an outcome. What did the Russian bureaucracy do? They simply threw their old allies overboard and switched sides, aligning with Mengistu. It was a move devoid of principles, merely designed to serve their geopolitical interests, with Ethiopia the bigger prize for Moscow. Russian backing didnt save Mengistus regime. An isolated revolution in the conditions of backwardness then prevailing in Ethiopia would always have faced enormous difficulties, despite the advantages of a planned economy. But under Mengistu, isolation was compounded by bureaucratic mismanagement and devastating civil war. This in turn, combined with record low rainfall, led to the horrors of the 1984-85 famine and several hundred thousand deaths. The government responded with further detested waves of resettlement away from the war-ravaged north. A healthy workers regime based on Leninist principles could have averted civil war / Image: public domain As the eventual downfall of Mengistus regime looked increasingly inevitable, the Soviet Union (which had its own problems) withdrew its support in the late 1980s. As the USSR collapsed, an isolated Mengistu, who was never motivated by any principles, attempted to move with the tide, dropping his Marxism-Leninism and converting overnight to the powers of the market. Incidentally, so too did the so-called Marxist guerrillas that had been fighting his regime in Tigray and Eritrea. In 1991, Mengistus regime met its inevitable demise as the TPLF and its allies swept to power. The same year, Siad Barres proletarian Bonapartist regime collapsed in neighbouring Somalia, leading to the collapse of the state, civil war, famine and Islamist insurgency, compounded by US imperialist interference. More than three decades have now passed since the collapse of the Mengistu regime. The market runs rampant through the Horn of Africa. What has it brought? New, brutal ruling cliques, which have been installed in Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia. For a while, the boom of double-digit GDP growth that Ethiopia enjoyed in the 2000s was hailed as an economic miracle. But that has now begun unwinding, and now all the old wounds are tearing open once more. Unrest; civil war in Tigray; the shadow of famine hanging over the heads of millions across the region; warmongering rhetoric between the regimes. It is not hard to see the future that capitalism is creating in the Horn of Africa: one of terrible misery, mass murder, ethnic strife and hunger. In a word: barbarism. But there is another path ahead for the people of the Horn of Africa. The whole continent today is a seething cauldron of discontent. The working class, which in Ethiopia was in its infancy 50 years ago, is today stronger than ever and not just in Ethiopia, but everywhere. If the workers and youth of Ethiopia can forge a revolutionary party, infused with the lessons of the past, then, in contrast to 1974, they will be able to take up their rightful place at the head of the next revolutionary wave, which will be markedly different from the last. The conditions that led to the rise of proletarian Bonapartism no longer exist the bureaucratic, nationalist model of Stalinist socialism in one country is dead. It always was a dead end. The next revolutionary wave, if it is to advance, must place power directly in the hands of the working class. No band of officers, no group of intellectuals, no guerrilla insurgents will do it for the workers. That is the lesson. The next wave of revolution must place the working class in power, and pass over into a continent-wide, worldwide struggle to overthrow capitalism and imperialism everywhere. Then and only then, when the levers of the economy have been seized from the foreign imperialists and their local cronies, can we seriously talk of developing the productive forces, ending national and ethnic strife, and of creating a future free of want, misery and toil for the millions of workers and peasants. References [1] The Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Party Program, printed by the Ethiopian Students Union in North America, 1975, pg 1 [2] A Tiruneh, The Ethiopian Revolution (1974 to 1984), Cambridge University Press, 1993, pg 51 [3] A Bertha, A political history of the Tigray People's Liberation Front, Tsehai Publishers, 2009, pg 54 [4] A Tiruneh, The Ethiopian Revolution (1974 to 1984), Cambridge University Press, 1993, pg 64 [5] ibid. pg 63 [6] ibid. pg 72 [7] ibid. pg 104 [8] ibid. pg 152 [9] ibid. pg 139 [10] T Grant, The Colonial Revolution and the Deformed Workers States, in The Unbroken Thread, Fortress, 1989, pg 349-350 [11] ibid. pg 355 [12] ibid. pg 345-346 [13] ibid. pg 363 [14] J Wiebel, The Ethiopian Red Terror, in T. Spear (Ed.), Oxford research encyclopedia of African history, Oxford University Press, 2017 pg 20 [15] See B Tola, To Kill a Generation, Free Ethiopia Press, 1989 85,000 students went on strike last week against Israels ongoing slaughter in Gaza. This was the largest student strike over international solidarity that Canada has ever seen. [Originally published at marxist.ca] The strike took place on Nov. 21 with students from all the major universities in Montreal, both francophone and anglophone, as well as from colleges and CEGEPs. Over 1,000 people gathered in downtown Montreal for the main strike rally with speeches demanding an end to the genocide. For many schools, the strike continued through Nov. 22, denouncing the NATO summit taking place in Montreal that weekend. Another rally on that day drew another 1,000 people who gathered to let these imperialist war-mongers know that they are not welcome. Summing up the mood, one student said, I didnt know if striking could do anything, especially if it was just us, but considering its students across Quebec, it means something now. I was like, how are people going to show up for something that doesnt affect them directly? But people do, and they are! While all of the campuses on strike were in Quebec, dozens of other campuses around the country held rallies for the day of action on Nov. 21. There were rallies and walk-outs at Capilano, University of British Columbia, University of Victoria, University of Alberta, University of Calgary, all three campuses of the University of Toronto, Toronto Metropolitan University, YorkU, George Brown College, Humber College, Ontario College of Art and Design, Dalhousie and more. This is a fantastic step forward for the Palestine solidarity movement. After over a year, with hundreds of thousands of people demonstrating, boycotting products, signing petitions and calling their MPs, everyone knows that nothing has changed. Israel continues their genocidal policy and continues to be supported by the western imperialist countries. This is why in August, the Revolutionary Communist Party put out the call to organize a student strike for Palestine. We argued that a student strike was the logical next step to escalate and breathe new life into the Palestine solidarity movement which has clearly entered a period of confusion and lull. RCP activists took this strike campaign onto 45 different campuses across the country, arguing in favour of a student strike, amassing thousands of signatures calling on the student unions to begin mobilizations. The fact that some student unions in Quebec went on strike on Nov. 21-22 is a great step forward. However, just one or two days of strike is not enough to affect the situation. This is why we call on all of the student unions who voted for strike action to not simply see this as a one- or two-day stunt but to seriously commit themselves to a general campaign to mobilize for strike action next semester, appealing to all student unions across the country to join the movement. This is the only way to take the movement forward. An uphill battle This strike was not achieved easily and not without confronting great obstacles. When the RCP launched the strike campaign, we knew that a small organization like ours could not organize a strike all on our own. That is why we appealed to all Palestine solidarity groups and student unions to dedicate all of their resources to mobilize for a student strike. If this took place, there is no doubt that a genuine mass student strike movement from coast to coast could have developed. Unfortunately, we did not meet a positive response from most of the groups that currently dominate the Palestine solidarity movement. We were told on multiple occasions that a strike wasnt realistic, because students didnt care about Palestine or that they wouldnt strike on this issue. The strike of 85,000 students proves these naysayers wrong. Some even opposed the strike because they thought it was too extreme, calling it the nuclear option. We were told that continuing to pressure the administration and propose reasonable demands was the way to go. But this approach is precisely what has led the movement down a blind alley. Yes, when there is a genocide, we do need a nuclear option! No business as usual while a genocide is ongoing! There has been a clear division in the movement between those who propose revolutionary class struggle methods, and those who are stuck in a reformist-liberal mindset and are content with making moralistic appeals to imperialist institutions. This reached ridiculous proportions when Students for Justice in Palestine called for a strike on Nov. 21. While we had already called for a strike day on Nov. 22, we quickly changed our plans in the interest of unity of the movement. Scandalously, various SJP chapters such as the one at Toronto Metropolitan University defied their own parent organization and refused to support mobilizations for the student strike on campus. Instead they told Student Strike for Palestine activists that they preferred to pressure the administration to divest. There was even a layer of sectarians who attempted to sabotage the strike campaign on various campuses. At UBC a small group of liberals undemocratically took control of the student strike social media and banned the RCP. This was just a week before Nov. 21, which paralyzed the student strike Instagram page and majorly hampered mobilizations. This sectarian attitude, that places their own petty grievances against the communists above the interests of the movement, is far too prevalent and has to be vigorously denounced. Only in Quebec did the movement end up leading to a student strike. However, even here we met stern opposition and sabotage. Under the pressure of events, with Nov. 21 approaching, a lead activist with SPHR Concordia requested that the student strike campaign wrap up so that they could save face and be the ones who would be seen to be calling for a student strike! This petty sectarian madness is exactly what repels people from the left and damages the movement. Fortunately, a good number of student associations did end up voting to strike. This is a huge step in the right direction. But this is only one step. For us to have any sort of impact, we need to shut things down, in every province. The way forward The RCP are prepared to do our part to build this movement. But we are still a relatively small force and we cannot do this on our own. This movement must have the resources and mobilizing power of the main student unions and Palestine solidarity groups. The obvious place to start is with the student unions who went on strike for Nov. 21-22. These unions can and should appeal to other student unions and all Palestine solidarity groups to unite and organize a pan-Canadian student strike against the genocide. 85,000 students on strike for Palestine is a big success we can build upon. Lets shut down the campuses and force them to divest from the Israeli war machine. Lets build a movement so powerful that it spreads to the working class. Lets build a movement so vast that it does not respect borders and spreads to the United States and Europe and brings western imperialism to its knees. That is the way that we can liberate Palestine. Malian authorities continue their assertive stance toward foreign mining operations, detaining four senior Barrick Gold employees amid escalating tensions over tax obligations. The arrests at the Loulo-Gounkoto mining complex highlight growing pressure on international mining corporations operating within the West African nation. The military administration implements increasingly stringent measures to enhance government revenues from its vital mining sector. This enforcement strategy previously resulted in the temporary detention of Resolute Mining executives, culminating in substantial tax settlements totaling one hundred sixty million dollars. Barrick Gold maintains opposition to undisclosed charges while pursuing negotiations regarding operational frameworks and economic benefit distribution with government authorities. Despite ongoing dialogue attempts, resolution remains elusive as the company advocates for employee release and dispute settlement. Industry analysts identify this pattern as strategic government leverage against foreign enterprises. These enforcement actions reflect broader regulatory transformations, including retroactive policy implementation and enhanced state participation requirements in mining operations. The military government, which assumed power in 2020, initiated comprehensive sector reforms through detailed audits and revised mining regulations. Several international corporations have already acquiesced to new requirements, establishing precedent for compliance. Mali maintains its position as a prominent African gold producer, despite persistent regional challenges including security concerns and economic instability. The administration continues pressing mining enterprises for increased contributions, highlighting tensions between international business operations and domestic revenue objectives. Experts anticipate continued regulatory pressure on western mining interests, suggesting prolonged industry uncertainty. This evolving dynamic reshapes operational parameters for international mining corporations while potentially influencing future sector investment decisions within the region. Severe weather conditions unleash destructive landslides across eastern Ugandas mountainous terrain, claiming fifteen lives and leaving more than one hundred individuals unaccounted for. The disaster impacts multiple villages throughout the Bulambuli district, devastating local communities and infrastructure. Emergency responders navigate challenging conditions while conducting search and rescue operations in affected areas. Local authorities report widespread destruction, with particular devastation observed in Masugu village, situated several hours from the capital city. The Uganda Red Cross Society coordinates ongoing rescue efforts, acknowledging potential increases in casualty figures. District officials confirm multiple recoveries, including tragic discoveries of victims across various age groups, while expressing concern about additional casualties. Concurrent flooding compounds the crisis as regional waterways overflow, disrupting major transportation networks nationwide. Government authorities issue comprehensive disaster alerts, mobilizing emergency resources to address multiple crisis points. Response teams encounter severe operational challenges, including transportation disruptions requiring specialized water rescue capabilities. Maritime rescue operations face additional setbacks, resulting in tragic personnel losses during emergency response activities. Local media documentation reveals extensive environmental damage, with substantial earth movements transforming landscape features. Social media platforms facilitate information sharing, documenting community-led rescue initiatives across affected regions. The disaster highlights persistent environmental vulnerabilities while testing emergency response capabilities. Authorities continue monitoring weather conditions and coordinating relief efforts amid ongoing challenges and infrastructural limitations. Political tensions escalate in Somalia as Jubbaland state announces complete suspension of relations with the federal government, marking significant deterioration in regional stability. The diplomatic crisis emerges following disputed local elections that culminated in Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe securing his third term as regional president. Federal authorities in Mogadishu challenge the electoral process legitimacy, citing lack of national government participation. The confrontation intensifies through reciprocal arrest warrants issued by both administrations, though enforcement capabilities remain uncertain given respective military strengths. The conflict centers on Jubbaland, a strategically vital region bordering Kenya and Ethiopia, encompassing valuable agricultural resources and the crucial port of Kismayo. Additional significance derives from contested maritime zones containing potential hydrocarbon deposits. Federal authorities respond by deploying additional military forces to the region, elevating concerns about potential armed confrontation. Jubbaland officials present multiple allegations against President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, including constitutional violations, corruption, and undermining security operations against insurgent forces. This regional dispute parallels broader challenges facing Somalias federal system, including ongoing tensions with Somalilands independence aspirations. The situation echoes previous confrontations, notably the 2021 constitutional crisis involving attempted presidential term extension. National information ministry officials maintain judicial oversight of the situation while declining direct comment on diplomatic severance. The standoff highlights persistent challenges in balancing regional autonomy with federal authority within Somalias complex political framework. The crisis threatens stability in a region already grappling with multiple security and governance challenges. International observers monitor developments closely, recognizing potential implications for regional security and political stability. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: An example of a contact lens with the Waterloo research team's hydrogel "stitched" on it. The hydrogel is 3D-printed throughout the periphery of the lens. Credit: University of Waterloo The next time you need to take a prescription drug, taking it might be as easy as putting on a contact lens, thanks to a new discovery made by University of Waterloo researchers. The team of researcherswhich spans Waterloo's Department of Chemistry and its School of Optometry and Vision Sciencecreated a new type of hydrogel that can deliver drugs to patients with various eye issues when 3D printed onto a contact lens. The paper, "Injectable and 3D Extrusion Printable Hydrophilic Silicone-Based Hydrogels for Controlled Ocular Delivery of Ophthalmic Drugs," was published in ACS Applied Bio Materials. The hydrogel, a type of gel that can retain significant volumes of water, is silicone-based and can help control the amount of medication a person would need, continuously delivering it as long as the contact lens is worn. Using these hydrogel-loaded contact lenses could help physicians reduce pain and the number of times the patient has to apply the drug, as the medication is delivered during normal contact lens wear. Even though silicone can be tricky to 3D print, this new hydrogel is different. It uses a special type of silicone that easily attracts water and is curable with UV light. After curing, the gel is both flexible and durable enough to keep its shape after being stretched and compressed. "Once we knew the hydrogel had good strength and flexibility, we decided to test its ability to hold and release drugs by using amoxicillin, a commonly prescribed antibiotic for ailments related to the eye," said Shirley Tang, a Waterloo professor in the Department of Chemistry and Associate Dean, Research in the Faculty of Science. The researchers found that the hydrogel's macro-porous structure helped regulate the release of amoxicillin over time during lab testing. The hydrogels were also found to be injectable and extrusion printable, meaning they could easily be printed onto a contact lens. "This concept is much more efficient and easier to comply with than using eye drops, which are often difficult to insert for patients and need frequent administration over the day," said Lyndon Jones, a Waterloo professor in the School of Optometry and Vision Science and director of the Center for Ocular Research & Education. The research team also wanted to test the shelf stability of the hydrogel material and found that the drug encapsulation was exceptionally stable after a month. "After being encapsulated in the gel and stored for a month, the amoxicillin was found to have negligible changes," said Sayan Ganguly, a post-doctoral researcher in the Department of Chemistry. "Our results showed that this hydrogel is safe for human eyes and can be effectively used in diverse biomedical applications." With their recently filed patent, the researchers aim to expand the use of contact lenses for treating eye illnesses. More information: Sayan Ganguly et al, Injectable and 3D Extrusion Printable Hydrophilic Silicone-Based Hydrogels for Controlled Ocular Delivery of Ophthalmic Drugs, ACS Applied Bio Materials (2024). DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.4c00901 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain The U.K.'s leading hearing loss organizations have joined forces to highlight misleading reports by some health professionals and the media that hearing loss causes dementia, and treating hearing loss will reduce our individual risk of dementia. In a position statement published today, the British Society of Audiology, the British Academy of Audiology and the British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists say the misinformation is promoting a sense of alarm and stigma around hearing loss, and may discourage people experiencing hearing difficulties from seeking help. They also argue the focus on what causes the co-occurrence of hearing loss and dementia could inadvertently distract from much needed research on how to assess and help people who live with both conditions. The statement published by the organizations, provides a more balanced view of the link between the two, arguing there is no evidence to support or refute either of the claims. Factors which are predictive of dementia include depression, traumatic brain injury, diabetes, lower levels of education, and social isolation. Hearing loss comes much further down the ranking and has a clear but weak association. The lead author Kevin Munro, Professor of audiology at The University of Manchester, said, "It is true that hearing loss and dementia both increase with age. But it does not follow that one causes the other. "Social responsibility is paramount, and any misleading negative messaging may distract from the importance of good hearing in its own right. "Hearing loss is a huge challenge because it ranks third in terms of years lived with a disability. "There is clear evidence that treating adult-onset hearing loss facilitates an active, engaged, independent, and healthy older age, and that could be good for people with or without dementia. "The topic of dementia raises considerable fear and alarm because of the potential devastating consequences for individuals, with a significant impact on families and caregivers, as well as the health and care system." Siobhan Brennan, Chair of the British Society of Audiology said, "While the nature of the link has yet to be determined, it is a mistake to think that if two things co-occur, one must have caused the other. "We can say with certainty that just because someone experiences age-related cognitive change, and changes in their hearing, this does not mean that they will go on to develop dementia." Listening and trying to communicate with others when you have hearing loss can be a challenge. Hearing aids have proven benefits for improving communication and this helps to keep the user cognitively and socially active. Professor Munro added, "If hearing aids help you to hear more easily, this means your brain probably doesn't have to work so hard. That could free up your brain to do other things. This is a simple and clear message: hearing better can help you to live better." Claire Benton, President of the British Academy of Audiology said, "We need to change the narrative, so society appreciates the importance of healthy hearing. We are in an aging society and the more people who enter older age in good health, the better. Healthy hearing is an important component of healthy aging." Michael Marchant, Vice President of the British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists, said, "This document is designed to reassure our members and help them navigate any concerns. Since causation between hearing loss and dementia has not been proven, it's essential that our members approach this topic with sensitivity, ensuring patients feel informed and supported rather than alarmed." The authors of the report stress that the content is specific to adult-onset hearing loss. It does not apply to people who identify as being Deaf and are members of a vibrant community that uses sign language to communicate. More information: The link between adult-onset hearing loss and dementia. www.baaudiology.org/app/upload sionals-Nov-2024.pdf This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Socioeconomic status and mode of prostate cancer presentation, IPCOR cohort (20162020). Credit: Archives of Public Health (2024). DOI: 10.1186/s13690-024-01439-6 Recent findings from a study on prostate cancer in Ireland reveal diagnosis disparities, especially in urban areas and middle socioeconomic groups. Patients treated in public hospitals and urban patients were more often diagnosed through opportunistic screenings. The recent study, published in the Archives of Public Health, characterized disease presentation features, identified factors related to socio-demographic disparities in presentation following opportunistic screening, and shed light on potential inequality challenges within Ireland's health care structure. Addressing these gaps in the health care system may guide future strategies for equitable early detection. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in Ireland. It accounts for almost 30% of total cancer cases in men. There were 3,980 cases diagnosed on average each year from 2019 to 2021 (source: National Cancer Registry of Ireland). This translates to a 1 in 9 (11%) risk of developing prostate cancer before the age of 75. Early detection of prostate cancer is crucial for improving outcomes and survival rates. The Irish Prostate Cancer Outcomes Research (IPCOR) team led by Associate Clinical Professor David Galvin, UCD School of Medicine, Mater & St Vincent Hospitals, supported by the Irish Cancer Society and the Movember Foundation, is focused on improving prostate cancer care in Ireland by creating a comprehensive national database, assessing care quality, and evaluating patient experiences. To do this, the IPCOR project collected data on demographics, diagnosis, and treatment of 6,816 men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer across 16 hospitals in the Republic of Ireland from February 2016 to January 2020. These men were seen in the urology clinic after opportunistic screening. Opportunistic screening for prostate cancer refers to the practice of testing for the disease (usually by a blood test called a PSA test) in men who visit health care providers for unrelated reasons. It does not refer to testing following clinical findings and or as part of a screening program. Prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, is a protein produced by normal, as well as malignant, cells of the prostate gland. The PSA test measures the level of PSA in the blood. This study provides a comprehensive national-level analysis of prostate cancer presentation disparities in Ireland, covering both rural and urban populations and public versus private health care sectors. The type of hospital was a key determinant in attending the urology clinic after opportunistic screening. Patients in public hospitals are 45.7% more likely to be presented following screening compared to those in private hospitals. Urban residents were 34% more likely to present following screening than rural ones. However, patients in urban areas are diagnosed with more advanced prostate cancer. One possible explanation for this is that urban health care systems are burdened by longer wait times, particularly in the public sector, leading to delays in both diagnosis and treatment. The findings highlight the impact of health care access inequalities, particularly for middle socioeconomic groups and rural populations, on prostate cancer presentation following opportunistic screening. They point to the need for targeted interventions to improve health care access, offering actionable insights for policymakers and health care providers. Commenting on the study, Professor David Galvin said, "By addressing these nuanced differences in access to health care, socioeconomic status, and urban versus rural residence in addition to implementing tailored strategies, we can work towards closing disparity gaps in prostate cancer care, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes and equity across all population segments." Co-investigator and Conway Fellow, Professor William Watson from UCD School of Medicine added, "This study contributes to the broader global discussion on health care equity in cancer detection, particularly in countries with mixed public-private health care systems, such as Ireland." More information: Noa Gordon et al, Are we there yet? Closing the gap of prostate cancer presentation disparities in Ireland, Archives of Public Health (2024). DOI: 10.1186/s13690-024-01439-6 By Qabil Ashirov In accordance with the order of President Ilham Aliyev, the next migration caravan consisting of families temporarily settled in dormitories, sanatoriums and administrative buildings in different areas of Azerbaijan left Garadagh district of Baku city for Jabrayil, according to the First State Program on the Great Return to the territories freed from occupation. Azernews informs that at this stage, 40 families - 200 people - were relocated to Jabrayil city. Jabrayil residents who returned to their homeland thanked President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva for being surrounded by comprehensive state care. They also expressed their gratitude to the brave Azerbaijani Army, our heroic soldiers and officers who liberated our lands from occupation, and prayed for mercy to the martyrs who sacrificed themselves on the way. Currently, in Garabagh and Eastern Zangezur, along with former internally displaced persons who have been relocated there, approximately 30,000 people live in the region, including those working on the implementation of various projects, employees fulfilling their duties in local branches of various state institutions, and workers in newly reopened healthcare, education, culture, tourism, industry, and energy enterprises This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Blood Neoplasia (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.bneo.2024.100049 Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have discovered how genetics can affect the success of venetoclax, a treatment for multiple myeloma, a rare type of blood cancer. Their study, "Predictors of Response to Venetoclax and Therapeutic Potential of CDK7 Inhibition in Multiple Myeloma," was published this month in the journal Blood Neoplasia. This study is the first to look at genetic markers in patients with multiple myeloma who are receiving venetoclax. Venetoclax is a B cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) inhibitor that has shown promising results in treating multiple myeloma at Mount Sinai and other institutions, though it is not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration for this use. Currently, it has been approved to treat adults with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). The team identified a special six-gene pattern that can help predict which patients are more likely to respond well to the treatment. They also found that using inhibitors of the enzyme CDK7 alongside venetoclax could make the treatment work even better. Understanding these genetic factors is important because not all patients respond to venetoclax. "By knowing which patients might benefit the most, we can customize treatments to improve their chances of success," said corresponding author Alessandro Lagana, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Oncological Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The American Cancer Society estimates that in the United States for 2024, about 35,780 new cases of multiple myeloma will be diagnosed (19,520 in men and 16,260 in women), and approximately 12,540 deaths are expected (7,020 in men and 5,520 in women). Although the average lifetime risk of getting multiple myeloma is less than 1%about 1 in 103 for men and about 1 in 131 for womenindividual risk can vary based on specific factors. Multiple myeloma is most common in older adults, with less than 1% of cases diagnosed in people younger than 35. The average age of diagnosis is 69. "Doctors could use genetic testing to choose the best candidates for venetoclax treatment," Dr. Lagana said. "In addition, combining venetoclax with CDK7 inhibitors might help more patients respond positively, especially those who might not respond well to venetoclax alone. For patients, this research means someday they could receive more personalized treatment plans based on their genetic information, leading to better outcomes." Paula Restrepo, a Ph.D. candidate at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, contributed to this research. Next, the research team plans to confirm these findings in larger groups of patients and explore clinical trials that test the combined use of venetoclax and CDK7 inhibitors. More information: Rudra P. Dutta et al, Predictors of response to venetoclax and therapeutic potential of CDK7 inhibition in multiple myeloma, Blood Neoplasia (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.bneo.2024.100049 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: (A) Survival by key underlying risk groups (B) Survival by CPA subtype. Credit: The Lancet Infectious Diseases (2024). DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(24)00567-X About 32% of people who have had prior damage from lung diseases will die after five years if they also get a common fungal infection, a major global review has found. The review also finds that 15% of people with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) die in the first year following other lung diseases. The international study of CPAwhich kills 340,000 people a year around the worldwas led by Professor David Denning from The University of Manchester and was published Nov. 28 in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. Though still high, CPA patients with prior tuberculosis (TB) had a lower overall five year mortality of 25%, according to the study. Though patients with TB tend to be younger, a multivariable analysis showed prior TB was 24% less lethal than other lung conditions, even accounting for age, though the reason for the difference in outcome was not identified. Being older than 60, having interstitial lung disease, current cancer and smoking-related lung disease carried worse outcomes. Co-authors Dr. Abinhav Sengupta and Dr. Animesh Ray from All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi examined the death rates in 8,778 patients described in the literature from all continents except Antarctica. CPA, in which lungs gradually scar over months and years, is a debilitating condition which causes severe tiredness, weight loss, breathlessness and coughing up blood. Caused by exposure to airborne spores of the mold Aspergillus, it is harmless to most people, but not to those with lung damage. A small group of patients with disease in only one lung who have it removed surgically have a much lower mortality. In contrast, very ill patients tend to be treated with the antifungal drug voriconazole and had a significantly higher mortality. Denning, Professor of Infectious Diseases in Global Health at The University of Manchester, said, "This truly international collaboration highlights the poor outcome of diagnosed and treated patients with CPA. "Many are not diagnosed or misdiagnosed as having TB, and then not treated with antifungal agents. "Treatment with antifungal drugs or surgery improves symptoms and probably reduces deaths from this truly disabling disorder, although as this study shows, new strategies to reduce deaths are required, especially straight after diagnosis." Earlier in 2024, Professor Denning estimated that CPA developed in 1.8 million people each year, leading to 340,000 deaths (18%), taking into account diagnosed and undiagnosed patients. Of the deaths, an estimated 204,000 were directly attributable to CPA. This new research takes the CPA mortality down and consequently the number of patients living with CPA up. The last figure (prevalence) was estimated by Professor Denning at more than 6 million. More information: Abhinav Sengupta et al, Mortality in chronic pulmonary aspergillosis: a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis, The Lancet Infectious Diseases (2024). DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(24)00567-X Journal information: Lancet Infectious Diseases This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: cottonbro studio from Pexels Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry researchers are on the cutting-edge of the study of HIV, working toward treatments and a better understanding of how the virus works. Finding a cure is no easy feat. But there is progress. The theme for this year's World AIDS Day on Dec. 1 is "Take the rights path: My health, my right!" In 2021, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS adopted a goal of ending human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) as public health concerns by 2030. To help achieve this goal, UNAIDS created the 95-95-95 targets, aiming for 95% of people living with the virus to know their HIV status, 95% of people who know their status to be receiving HIV treatment and 95% of people on treatment to be virally suppressed. Schulich Medicine & Dentistry professor Jessica Prodger studies ways to prevent HIV transmission to address the epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa and why certain individuals are more susceptible to the virus. Schulich Medicine & Dentistry professor Jimmy Dikeakos and postdoctoral researcher Mitchell Mumby study various parts of the HIV virus and how viral proteins control the immune response within infected individuals. They spoke with Western News about the progress towards meeting the UNAIDS goals and why a cure for HIV remains so elusive. What is HIV? Jimmy Dikeakos (JD): HIV is a fairly small and simple structural virus but it's also a very complicated virus. When expressed within infected cells, it can trick the immune system into not knowing it's there. HIV is within the retroviruses family and hides in latent reservoirs, which makes it difficult to treat. If left untreated, it can lead to AIDS. Jessica Prodger (JP): This virus infects the cells that provide us with immunologic memorythese are some of the same cells that contribute to lifelong protection elicited by childhood vaccination. What makes HIV so difficult to cure? JP: HIV is difficult to cure because one part of the virus' life cycle is to integrate its own DNA into the human DNA of the cell it is infecting. These cells are very long-lived and can lie dormant for long periods of time. As a result, the HIV DNA inside them also lies dormant. If these cells become active again, the HIV DNA inside them can make a new virus that is released from the cell and can infect new cells or be transmitted to another person. However, while the cell is dormant, our immune system cannot detect the HIV DNA hidden inside the latent reservoir. Currently, the medications we have available to treat HIV only stop new infections from occurring, but they do nothing against the HIV DNA hidden inside the human DNA. Additionally, our bodies have many safeguards against damage or mutations to our DNA, and we have no natural system to hunt out and excise non-human DNA. Removing or permanently silencing this HIV DNA, or the cells that harbor it, is the challenge of HIV cure research. What are the current treatments to help people living with HIV? JD: A group of drugs called antiretroviral therapies (ARTs) inhibit the steps of the virus' life cycle. They block the ability of an enzyme called reverse transcriptase or integrase to function. This treatment can halt replication of most of the virus and helps individuals lead a much healthier life. Mitchell Mumby (MM): In recent years, ARTs have shown remarkable promise as a preventative measure through pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Those at risk of acquiring HIV can take PrEP, and when adherence is maintained, HIV transmission becomes exceedingly rare. However, traditional PrEP formulations require a daily pill, which presents challenges for long-term adherence and increases the chances of HIV transmission. A recent study trialed a twice-yearly injection of a new treatment called Lenacapavir among young women in South African and Uganda, resulted in zero cases of HIV transmission. This innovation could greatly increase adherence to PrEP and reduce transmission rates. The pressing challenges lie in ensuring access to this revolutionary PrEP regimen in regions of the world and communities where HIV transmission remains prevalent. How much progress has been made towards ending HIV and AIDS as a public health concern? JD: Globally, we have made huge strides in the last decades. There are now more than 25 ARTs that people living with HIV can have access to. There have been major education initiatives to encourage individuals to get tested. Unfortunately, in certain parts of the world and even in Canada, there is still a lot of stigma associated with HIV, which means not everyone will want to get tested to have access to these treatment strategies. There is still a long way to go in terms of education for everyone to understand people living with HIV who are receiving treatment can live an improved life. What needs to be done to achieve the 95-95-95 targets by 2030? MM: Achieving these targets is less a virologic challenge and more so a socio-cultural and economic one. To achieve the 95-95-95 targets by 2030, significant and sustained investments in testing and access to ARTs are essential, both for treating HIV-positive individuals and as a preventative measure through PrEP. HIV disproportionally affects key populations around the world, including men who have sex with men, intravenous drug users, sex workers, adolescent girls and young women. At-risk groups sometimes avoid seeking care due to fear of discrimination or even imprisonment in places with strict laws against homosexuality, sex work or drug use. Because ART is required for life, the cumulative lifetime cost is significant for both individuals and at the population level, making programs that ensure ART access essential, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Achieving the 95-95-95 targets will require widespread educational and testing programs and integrating HIV care into existing health infrastructure. JD: Some of the biggest hurdles will be to enhance and develop the curative strategies, but also to really make sure everyone who's infected knows they're infected. We need to remain hopeful and optimistic. It's important to strive towards these targets and the goal of ending the epidemic. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain An international research team including researchers from Augsburg University Medicine has made significant progress in the risk assessment and treatment of extracranial malign rhabdoid tumors. Recently published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research, the study, "Clinical and Molecular Risk Factors in Extracranial Malignant Rhabdoid Tumors: Toward an Integrated Model of High-Risk Tumors," shows how clinical and molecular factors can influence disease progression and contribute to improvements in individual treatment. Malign rhabdoid tumors are rare and affect around 35 children a year in Germany, in particular infants and toddlers. Due to the aggressive nature of the disease and the high rate of recurrence in this type of cancer, treatment is often difficult. As there has been no established model of prognosis for these tumors up until now, there has often been a lack of targeted treatment options that consider individual disease progression. The new research results now enable a more precise assessment of the risk and of individually adapted therapies that increase the chances of recovery for young patients. A thorough molecular analysis was conducted in the study in which the research team analyzed the genetic and epigenetic composition of the tumors. Data from a total of 213 patients from the EU-RHAB register was used. Through the analysis of tumor DNA and a modern machine learning process, the team were able to identify three subgroups with different risk profiles: a subgroup with improved chances of survival ("eMRT standard risk") and two subgroups with increased risk of recurrence. These subgroups should support clinical decision-making by the early identification of high-risk patients. Professor Dr. Pascal Johann, one of the leaders of the study at the University Hospital Augsburg, and professor for experimental pediatrics at the Faculty of Medicine, explains, "Our research results show that clinical as well as genetic factors have a significant influence on disease progression." Professor Dr. Michael C. Fruhwald, director of the Swabian Children's Cancer Centre and co-author of the study, adds, "This study represents an important step towards personalized medicine in the treatment of children with malign rhabdoid tumors. Through a better understanding of the risk factors, we want to increase the chances of therapeutic success and the chances of recovery for seriously ill children." More information: Victoria E. Fincke et al, Clinical and Molecular Risk Factors in Extracranial Malignant Rhabdoid Tumors: Toward an Integrated Model of High-Risk Tumors, Clinical Cancer Research (2024). DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-23-3489 Journal information: Clinical Cancer Research This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain The Federal Government is funding a national Take Home Naloxone (THN) program that makes the life-saving medication available for free and without prescription in pharmacies across Australia. Naloxone reverses the effects of opioid toxicity and, under the THN program, is available from pharmacies for anyone at risk of either experiencing or witnessing an opioid overdose or adverse reaction. Initially introduced on a trial basis, the THN program has expanded to now include more than 384 participating pharmacies across South Australia. Dr. Victoria Cock, Statewide Clinical Director, Drug and Alcohol Services SA, says demand for free naloxone is growing as more people become aware of its availability, with 8,377 units being supplied across the state in 202223 and 16,171 in 202324. A recent paper co-authored by SA Health experts and University of South Australia pharmacist Dr. Jacinta Johnson and published in Drug and Alcohol Review, found there were 2,046 hospital admissions in SA involving opioid toxicity between 2017 and 2020, costing the State approximately $18 million. Almost 20% of the patients admitted stayed in hospital for more than five days, 22% required intensive care and around 10% required mechanical ventilation. Of the 2,046 opioid toxicity-related admissions in SA hospitals, 6% involved children who were accidentally poisoned, prompting health officials to remind South Australians about the importance of safe medication storage and disposal of opioids to protect children. Families also may wish to consider having naloxone on hand in case of an accidental poisoning at home. Members of the public can locate their nearest registered pharmacy using the user-friendly map available on www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/naloxone. They do not need to provide any identifying details when requesting naloxone at a pharmacy. The webpage also includes a range of resources consumers may find useful. Dr. Maria Sarantou from Flinders Medical Center says a 2019 trial of the Take Home Naloxone (THN) program, providing free access to the opioid blocker, found that it saved an estimated three lives a day. "Research evaluating the pilot program showed that expanding THN supply to include the majority of patients prescribed medium to high doses of opioids would save hundreds of lives over the next five years," Dr. Sarantou says. Dr. Johnson, the UniSA senior lecturer who is responsible for driving all pharmacy research across SA Health, says a history of opioid toxicity is a major risk factor for future overdoses, yet many patients were not referred to drug and alcohol services or specialist pain services for help after discharge. "There are things within the system we can improve," Dr. Johnson says. In addition to the now implemented THN program, which is expanding to include an increasing number of public hospitals, the authors have made the following recommendations: Improved discharge referrals to external health care services; and Parental/carer education around safe storage and disposal of opioids to protect children. Organizations involved in the study included local health networks in Adelaide, South Australian Statewide Chronic Pain Clinical Network, University of South Australia, University of Adelaide, and SA Pharmacy Statewide Clinical Support Services. More information: Maria Sarantou et al, A 3year retrospective review of hospital admissions involving opioid toxicity in South Australia, Drug and Alcohol Review (2024). DOI: 10.1111/dar.13913 Journal information: Drug and Alcohol Review This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: DNA, which has a double-helix structure, can have many genetic mutations and variations. Credit: NIH A rare autoimmune condition with a tongue-twister of a name may impact people of Puerto Rican heritage through a newly discovered genetic pathway, a discovery that may ultimately guide genetic counseling and treatment, scientists associated with the discovery say. The name of the disorder is autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy, but doctors simply refer to the condition by its acronym, APECED. People affected are subject to severe autoimmune attacks against the endocrine glands, but the disorder leaves hardly any tissues or organs unscathed. Patients are particularly vulnerable to infections caused by various Candida species, the most common cause of fungal infections worldwide. In general, APECED is described not only as rare, but potentially lethal and is triggered in most people who have it by so-called bi-allelic mutations. That means mutations are present in each alleleboth copiesof a gene called AIRE. Each parent contributes one copy of all genes that make up the human genome. Yet in a study of 104 patients, conducted by researchers at the Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in Bethesda, Maryland, scientists identified a small subset of those patients17with a newly recognized genetic sequence that causes the disease. Of those 17 patients, 15 were of Puerto Rican ancestry. "APECED is a life-threatening monogenic autoimmune disorder," asserted Dr. Sebastian Ochoa, lead author of the study, published in Science Translational Medicine. Ochoa refers to the gene, AIRE, as the monogenic cause of the autoimmune disorder. No other gene undergoes mutations to cause APECED. But Ochoa and the NIAID team have identified a new mutation that causes the condition. AIRE gets its acronym from its role: autoimmune regulator geneAIRE, which underlies a cascade of deleterious events. The most insidious of those events is the proliferation of a highly reactive population of T cells. These constituents of the immune system morph into veritable rogues. Like all T cells, their name is derived from the first letter of "thymus," because of the gland from which these cells emerge. When APECED-associated T cells exit the thymus, they're poised for recklessness and destruction, taking aim at a vast array of tissues, glands and organs. Among the symptoms of the disorder are skin rashes; alopecia; alternating bouts of chronic diarrhea and constipation; kidney problems; Addison's disease, which affects the adrenal glands; damaged tooth enamel, and high blood pressure. Dry eye is common among people with APECED. So too is keratitis, an inflammatory condition of the corneas, which can lead to blindness if left untreated. In advanced stages, APECED can be complicated by kidney failure, sepsis, and squamous-cell oral and esophageal cancers. Overall, the disorder is considered quite rare because it is estimated that 1 in every 100,000 to 500,000 people are at risk. Ethnic groups with a noteworthy APECED risk include Finnish, Sardinian, and Iranian Jewish populations. For those groups, an estimated one in 9,000 to 25,000 people are at risk. And while a genetic flaw in the AIRE gene underlies the disorder, it is a mechanism long associated with the condition. Among the 17 members in the study's subset, Ochoa and colleagues identified an AIRE gene miscue relative to a newly identified genetic variant. The team also found, at least in the laboratory, that this form of APECED may be reversible, a finding that paves the way toward more intensive studyand possibly an effective treatment. Because of the cluster of Puerto Rican patients in the study, Ochoa and colleagues say their research has opened a new window of understanding about the underlying genetics of APECED in this ethnic group. Indeed, the high proportion of the newly found AIRE variant among Puerto Ricans suggests it may be a founder variant brought to the island from the Cadiz region of Spain. "Our findings revealed [this variant] as a founder APECED-causing AIRE variant in the Puerto Rican population," Ochoa wrote in Science Translational Medicine. For all 17 patients, the flawed AIRE variant was tucked in a region of the gene's non-coding RNA, sometimes called the dark matter of the genome. To understand what came next in their research, it is necessary to delve into the processes and jargon of genomics. Deep in one of AIRE's non-coding introns, Ochoa and colleagues discovered a cryptic splice site. A splice site is where the intronthe non-coding sequence of RNA is snipped out automatically when new messenger RNA strands are produced. That leaves an exon, a coding sequence free to be joined to the rest of the RNA exon coding sequence to produce a mature messenger RNA (mRNA) strand. The mature mRNA then possesses the instructions for a cell to make a specific protein. Among Puerto Ricans, a healthy mRNA strand wasn't being produced. The team found that the cryptic splice site led to the formation of a pseudoexon in AIRE, an exon that is not normally spliced into mRNA. The pseudoexon prompted the production of a non-functioning protein. The researchers reversed this effect in cells by developing an antisense oligonucleotide that targeted the pseudoexon region and restored normal splicing. Although further research and testing for safety and efficacy are needed, the antisense oligonucleotide may lay the groundwork for a therapeutic treatment, the team of researchers said. Ochoa and collaborators concluded that the new findings can help guide counseling and symptom treatment for the gene-driven autoimmune disorder. More information: Sebastian Ochoa et al, A deep intronic splicealtering AIRE variant causes APECED syndrome through antisense oligonucleotide-targetable pseudoexon inclusion, Science Translational Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adk0845 Journal information: Science Translational Medicine 2024 Science X Network Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recently stated that he proposed to Azerbaijan the withdrawal of Euro-observers from the delimited sections of the border. It is unclear why such a statement was made, as there are no observers on the Azerbaijani side. Furthermore, we do not recall Yerevan or the EU mission requesting Azerbaijans consent to monitor its territory. If Pashinyan made this gesture as a sign of goodwill, it is unlikely to be appreciated in Baku. Not only in the delimited areas, but across the entire border, third-country missions have no legal right to conduct surveillance over Azerbaijani territory without its consent. Yet, this is exactly what the members of the international mission are doing, violating all norms and laws. Pashinyan is engaging in typical blackmail. Now, he is attempting to pressure Baku by leveraging the EU mission, suggesting that it will remain a nuisance until Azerbaijan agrees to sign a peace treaty on Armenias terms. The Europeans are complicit in this game. These frequent missions along the conditional border, the overt and unceremonious surveillance of a sovereign countrys territory through binoculars, and now, the visit of Polish President Duda to the occupied village of Kyarkithese are all part of a coordinated campaign. But espionage is not the most important aspect of this "program." The primary objective is to divert attention from Armenias accelerated military preparations. More specifically, it aims to prepare Armenia for further regional destabilization. Recently, Armenia's Ministry of Defense dismissed media reports about Yerevan purchasing weapons, claiming the reports were false. Of course, no one believes this denial. Armenia is undergoing intensive militarization, acquiring modern weaponry from across the globe. Armenia is a country in servitude; it makes no independent decisions, especially concerning war. If Yerevan receives orders, it will comply without question and follow the Wests directives, which is precisely what it is doing. The statements made by Polish President Duda after his visit to the border are telling. He did not deny being shown the locations of border fortifications and positions of "individual states"referring to Azerbaijan, though he did not name it. He was briefed on many issues, including the constant shelling and destruction of infrastructure, which, they claimed, Armenia was saved from by the EU mission. He also learned about the increasing number of new Azerbaijani fortifications. A hundred Europeans with binoculars roam the border, supposedly keeping the peace, and the Polish president, impressed by these efforts, is already contemplating an increase in the number of Polish personnel in the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMA). By the way, the mandate of the EUMA ends in February 2025, and all EU countries must vote on its extension. We will see whether those supporting war in the Caucasus can achieve unanimity. It is possible that the mandate will not be renewed. This may explain the recent surge in activity by the EU mission. From the moment of its arrival, the mission's goal was never peace or stability, but rather to intercept the initiative. To justify its presence, the "Azerbaijani threat" myth was created, with the EU mission portrayed as the only obstacle to it. This myth not only serves to rationalize European presence in Armenia but also underpins the militarization of the country. Unfortunately, the recent visit of the Polish leader to Armenia is part of the Wests broader strategic games in the region. There are hidden processes unfolding, clearly detrimental to the South Caucasus. The logic behind these processes aligns with Nikol Pashinyans increasingly belligerent rhetoric, as he continues to find new excuses for blackmail. Hiding behind the French, Americans, and other allies, he executes an agenda drawn up in Paris, point by point. This is a grave mistake because Paris will never dominate when Azerbaijans interests are at stake. Baku sees everything clearly and knows everything. The movement of Armenian equipment and personnel toward the border has been documented. The fact that France is lobbying third countries to supply weapons to Armenia is not a secret. Despite its alliance with Armenia, even Greece would never consider supplying Russian S-300 missiles to Armenia in lieu of Ukraine. Insider information about Frances involvement in this effort is beyond doubt. Whether or not it succeeds is another matter. Recently, India, also urged by France, announced it was sending missiles to Armenia, though the Ministry of Defense denied it. But when has anyone believed the Armenian Ministry of Defense? France is not only facilitating arms deals with Yerevan, but is also attempting to draw other European nations into this vortex. It would not surprise us if the center of European "solidarity" gradually shifts from Ukraine to Armenia. The Wests efforts in Ukraine have faltered, but Armenia promises greater prospects. The southern borders of Russia are quieter, and the situation in Georgia has been resolved, leaving Armenia to play its part. Why was the "summit meeting" held by the EU mission near Kyarki village? Could it be because Armenia refuses to return it to Azerbaijan and hopes for EU support? Whether Armenia wants it or not, the issue of returning the enclaves must be addressed. Azerbaijan has not pursued this issue recently due to COP29, but now it is time to refocus on the topic. Everyone knows that Baku is not willing to relinquish its territories. Pashinyan understands that serious problems lie ahead, and in desperation, he tries to shift from one crisis to the next. He makes bold statements, blackmails Baku with the European mission and potential international legal proceedings, fully aware that these institutions will always rule in favor of Armenia. He sets conditions and pretends to be in control of the situation. This is necessary for the script, where a small but noisy victory is scriptedperhaps along the Nakhchivan border. It is no coincidence that the EU mission is regularly rotating in this area. Few are seriously considering a return to the pre-September 27, 2020, status quo, but a small and loud victory would be useful. The only problem is that Azerbaijan refuses to play the role assigned to it. It will not yield to provocations. No one expected that in four years, the victorious nation would not try to seize Zangezur or at least the enclaves by force, disrupting the entire game. Now, "occupation" and the "Azerbaijani threat" are being conjured up in real-time, because Azerbaijan must make the first move so that Armenian revanchism remains confined to the realm of international law. Meanwhile, time is running out. Pashinyan, without cause, nervously promises Armenians that a peace agreement will be signed by the end of this year. Clearly, this deadline was set by his foreign backers, knowing that the goal is unattainable. They need destabilization, not peace. Yerevan has bowed so deeply to the West that it will not be able to recover without external assistance. And of course, Nikol Pashinyan himself is eager to assume the role of "varchapet," but without the irony. However, Baku will not allow him to do so. COTU-K Secretary General Francis Atwoli has hit back at Nandi Senator Samson Cherargeis assertion that he is a political genius adept at survival politics. Atwoli dismissed the claims, emphasizing that his work aligns with the mandates of a trade unionist. Cherargei had likened Atwoli to a political chameleon, suggesting that he seamlessly adapts to every ruling regime. The senator went further, describing Atwoli as a designated survivor in Kenyan politics who deserves to be studied as a model of political longevity. Atwoli is a political genius who is a designated survivor in high octane politics of Kenya. He camouflages with an easiness of a chameleon in different political eras. He is a case study of text book of politics of survival and relevance in Kenya, Cherargei posted on Twitter. Responding sharply, Atwoli clarified that his duties as COTU-K leader require collaboration with the government of the day. He dismissed Cherargeis remarks as uninformed, asserting that trade unionists globally operate under the tripartite system of the International Labour Organization (ILO), which involves governments, employers, and workers. It is only a fool who doesnt understand my workall trade unionists globally work under tripartite ILO system, government, employers and workers and therefore we work and support the government of the day! The government provides an enabling environment for effective workers representative and protection, Atwoli stated. Cherargeis remarks came shortly after Atwoli sparked debate by proposing the removal of Kenyas presidential term limit. Speaking on JKL Live on November 27, 2024, Atwoli argued that the limit fuels political instability. If you ask me, as Francis Atwoli, I will tell you to remove the presidential term limit because this is what is causing us problems. Someone is timing after 10 years to be president. Are Ugandans experiencing the same problems we experience here? Atwoli questioned. He further decried the over-politicization of governance, stating, People have made politics an industry. Every morning to evening is politics because they know someones term is almost ending. A faction within the Azimio Coalition is exploring the possibility of rebranding as several affiliate parties plan to exit the alliance. Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo addressed these concerns, firmly denying that the coalition is on the verge of collapse. Despite Narc Kenya leader Martha Karuas announcement to withdraw her party from the coalition, Maanzo assured that Azimio remains intact. As a member of the Wiper Party, Maanzo emphasized that Azimio would cease to exist if all affiliate parties withdrew, leaving only one party in the coalition. He revealed that Azimio is considering a rebrand or a name change as part of its efforts to revitalize the coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections. We want to build a bigger coalition. We could rebrand or give it another name. We will invite more partners and we know Kenyans are with us, Maanzo stated. His comments reflected a strategy to attract new members and partners, aiming to strengthen the coalitions political influence. Maanzo also clarified that ODMs decision to send some members to the government did not affect the coalitions structure in Parliament. When ODM sent a few people to government, the party structure in Parliament remained because Azimio had not been dissolved, he confirmed. Maanzos statements come after DAP-K, led by former Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, announced it was beginning the process of leaving the coalition. Speaking at a national delegates meeting in Webuye, Wamalwa explained that DAP-K could no longer remain in Azimio, as their ODM partners are now in government. He criticized ODMs support for government policies, including tax increases, stating that DAP-K would not align with those supporting such actions. As DAP, we can no longer maintain a relationship with those who are not like-minded. Those aiding Ruto in introducing more taxes to Kenyans are not aligned with our values. When John Mbadi brings back those taxes, it wont just be Rutos responsibility; our members will be complicit, he stated. Kiambu County Senator Karungo Wa Thangwa has accused goons of attempting an assassination on former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua during a chaotic funeral event in Limuru on Thursday, November 28, 2024. The funeral, initially a solemn occasion, quickly descended into violence when a rowdy crowd began shaking the tent where Gachagua was seated with his allies, including Senator Thangwa. The unexpected disruption caused panic, forcing those inside the tent to flee in fear for their safety. Gachagua, Thangwa, and other dignitaries were swiftly evacuated by their security personnel, who ushered them to safety. Senator Thangwa condemned the attack, calling it an assassination attempt but expressing relief that Gachagua was unharmed. He thanked Limuru residents for ensuring their safety, reassuring the public that such incidents would not intimidate them. It was an assassination attempt. But the Peoples Deputy President is safe. Asanteni sana, watu wa Limuru, for ensuring our safety. We will not be intimidated or silencednow we know! Thangwa posted on X after the incident. Gachagua Blames Govt Security Withdrawal Gachagua also weighed in on the attack, alleging that the withdrawal of his security by the government had been a deliberate move to leave him vulnerable. He explained that the government had recently removed the final aspects of his security, a decision linked to the impeachment process he is currently contesting. However we did not raise issue with this decision by government although expectations were that any Kenyan who has served at the level of government that I was privileged to serve at, would be secured by government even after leaving office. However it now looks like the decision to withdraw my security was to leave me exposed to the kind of attack we have witnessed today, Gachagua claimed. Recalling the violent events during the funeral of Erastus Nduati, Gachagua described how the assailants, armed with stones, machetes, iron bars, and sticks, indiscriminately attacked mourners, including children. He added that a specific group of attackers followed him to his car, pelting it with rocks and iron bars. Gachagua and his entourage were forced to flee under a hail of stones as the violence intensified. In his statement, Gachagua expressed his dismay over the governments decision to withdraw his security, suggesting that it had exposed him to the violent attack. He also criticized the situation as a sad state of affairs and expressed particular sympathy for the grieving family who had to flee amidst their sorrow. Gachagua implied that the governments actions were complicit in orchestrating the attack, pointing to the deliberate nature of the violence. Despite the traumatic experience, Gachagua reassured his supporters that he would continue to stand with Kenyans, regardless of the threats. He vowed not to be intimidated, emphasizing that such incidents of violence should never be repeated in the future. We will not be scared away from standing with Kenyans who need us to support them in their moments of need. We just expect such a terrible moment of shame will not be repeated, he declared. On Thursday, November 28, 2024, Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula revealed plans to adopt Switzerlands legal framework to help manage Nairobi. Wetangula shared that he had assembled a team of parliamentary lawyers to develop a legal framework based on Switzerlands model, tailored to support the effective management of Kenyas capital city. The announcement came during a meeting with Swiss Ambassador to Kenya, Mirko Giulietti, at the Parliament Buildings. Wetangula highlighted the similarities between Kenya and Switzerland, noting their shared role as mini capitals hosting multiple diplomatic missions. Kenya and Switzerland enjoy unique similarities of being mini capitals for several Missions in the world I informed the envoy that I have put in place a team of parliamentary lawyers to come up with a legal framework borrowed from Switzerland on how to manage Nairobi city, Wetangula stated. Although Wetangula did not provide further details, Swiss municipalities are largely autonomous public bodies with significant responsibilities. In Switzerlands cantonal structure, each canton(county) has its own constitution, legislature, executive, police, and courts, enabling municipalities to implement major reforms. These municipalities generate around 70 percent of their income through taxes and fees, with state transfers being among the lowest in Europe. In contrast, most counties in Kenya depend on government revenue for their operations. Beyond Nairobis management, Wetangula and Giulietti also discussed strengthening bilateral relations between Kenya and Switzerland. They explored opportunities to enhance free trade and deepen interparliamentary ties. Wetangula also commended Switzerland for its strong stance on global issues, acknowledging its influential position on the international stage. I welcome Ambassador Giuliettis request for a visit by Swiss MPs to the Kenyan Parliament in January next year to chat ways of fostering free trade initiatives, Wetangula concluded. It is interesting to observe how Western politicians and organizations talk about Armenias problems, carefully avoiding sensitive issues and, God forbid, not touching the delicate strings of the Armenian soul. On Wednesday, Armenian media published an interview with Elisabetta Falchetti, Managing Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for Turkey and the Caucasus. The EBRD representative discussed the economic forecasts for Armenia and offered advice. According to Ms. Falchetti, the EBRD expects that after several years of exceptionally high growth, Armenia's GDP growth will moderate in the short term. Real GDP growth is projected to slow to 6.2 percent in 2024 and 4.8 percent in 2025. The EBRD representative diplomatically noted that "temporary capital inflows related to the war in Ukraine have decreased," and "geopolitical uncertainty creates significant risks for economic development." She also carefully advised Armenia to open its borders as soon as possible. Putting diplomacy aside, the message in the interview is clear: Armenia is facing an economic downturn. This is due to the outflow of Russian capital and relocants who flooded Armenia after the war in Ukraine broke out, as well as a reduction in transfers from the Russian Federation. Armenia was one of the countries that benefitted from the war in Ukraine, but as the war continues, fewer benefits remain for Armenians. Just today, there was news about a 20 percent decrease in the tourist flow from Russia and a reduction in tourism revenues. If Russian tourists stop coming, Armenias tourism sector will collapse. It is amusing to see how the EBRD representative diplomatically avoids the proper terminology when discussing "temporary capital inflows related to the war in Ukraine." Everyone knows that this refers to illegal re-exports and the circumvention of sanctions, which fueled Armenias so-called "economic miracle." The country, which does not have a large industry, developed agriculture, and lives largely on foreign assistance, became a world leader in economic growth. The United States and China watched nervously as Armenia topped global GDP growth rankings. Everyone is aware of Yerevans blatant disregard for anti-Russian sanctions. Western analysts and media have repeatedly published investigations exposing these facts, yet international organizations and world capitals prefer to avoid naming the reality in order to avoid taking action. However, how can European structures take measures against Armenia for violating sanctions when the authors of the sanctions themselves are guilty of similar actions? Therefore, they simply state the facts. Such carefulness is unlikely to benefit Armenia. When the "holiday" ends, and Armenians must face reality, it will be the fault not only of the country's criminal optimism but also of those who have shielded Yerevans actions. This includes international financial organizations and other bodies. The World Bank has published a review of Armenia's economy in its Monthly Economic Update for November 2024, showing that Armenian exports increased by 39 percent year-on-year in September. This growth was driven by the re-export of precious and semi-precious stones and metals, as explicitly stated in the World Banks review. Without this re-export, exports would have barely increased. According to official statistics, Armenian exports grew 2.1 times during the first nine months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, totaling $10.6 billion. In September 2024, exports amounted to $857.1 million, an increase of 38.9 percent compared to September 2023. During this period, Armenias imports totaled $13.1 billion, soaring by 54.2 percent. The volume of foreign trade grew by more than 70 percent from January to August. Armenia is encouraged by such figures and by Yerevan's apparent impunity. Finance Minister Vahe Hovhannisyan optimistically reports to Parliament that the economy could achieve 7 percent GDP growth in 2025. The minister claims that Armenia's economy is based on its existing potential and is moving to a new level of development, "despite the challenges of recent years." However, everyone knows that Armenia has reached this "new level of development" not despite, but because of the "challenges of recent years." Meanwhile, the Armenian economy, which survives by circumventing sanctions, continues to receive favorable assessments and forecasts. Fitch Ratings has upgraded Armenias rating from B+ to BB-, placing it among countries with a "stable outlook." The rating change is explained by the high economic indicators seen in Armenia last year, which were driven by the war in Ukraine and sanctions against Russia. In other words, the rating agency itself acknowledges the facts. By upgrading Armenias rating to "stable with promising prospects," Fitch Ratings simultaneously signals that growth rates will slow down in the coming years, so as not to make an overly optimistic mistake. In assessing the revenues and expenditures of Armenias state budget, the country seems to be betting on the continuation of the war in Ukraine, seeing no threats to its ambitious plans. This approach, however, is fraught with risks and could cause significant problems for Armenia if the geopolitical situation changes even slightly. According to former Finance Minister Vardan Aramyan, Armenias 2025 state budget is full of risks, as the revenue growth heavily depends on the unpredictable course of global geopolitical developments and other external factors. Perhaps this is the only sober assessment seen in Armenian media lately. By Akbar Novruz Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov held a meeting with Masaki Ishikawa, Special Representative of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) for Central Asia, the Caucasus, and GUAM. The discussion centered on various aspects of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Japan, focusing on expanding economic, trade, and humanitarian ties. According to a statement from the Azerbaijani MFA, the meeting addressed key areas of collaboration, particularly in the industrial and energy sectors. Both sides emphasized the importance of the State Commission for Economic Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Japan, as well as the Japan-Azerbaijan Economic Committee. During the discussions, the issues of expanding economic and trade relations, especially in the industrial and energy sectors, as well as cooperation in the humanitarian field were considered, the statement noted. The parties also agreed on the significance of holding the next joint meeting next year to further strengthen bilateral relations. The two officials also discussed the role of interparliamentary cooperation between Azerbaijan and Japan, highlighting its importance in fostering bilateral ties. The importance of the important role of Azerbaijan-Japan interparliamentary cooperation in the development of bilateral relations and the intensification of mutual visits and contacts would be beneficial, the statement added. Deputy Foreign Minister Mammadov provided his counterpart with a detailed overview of Azerbaijans efforts to establish sustainable peace in the post-conflict period, including the mine problem in the liberated territories and ongoing rehabilitation projects in the Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions. Mammadov also informed Ishikawa about Azerbaijans successful presidency of COP29, which recently concluded. The counterpart congratulated Azerbaijan on its presidency of COP29, as well as the highly professional organization of the event and its leadership efforts to strengthen Azerbaijan's efforts to combat climate change, the statement said. Ishikawa emphasized the significance of the agreements reached at COP29, including the establishment of a New Collective Quantitative Goal on Climate Finance and the Loss and Damage Response Fund. The Japanese side also expressed appreciation for Azerbaijans contributions to global climate action. PRNewswire Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 29: Pilgrim, one of India's fastest-growing beauty and personal care brands, has been recognized as the 'Best Hair Care Brand' at the prestigious Myntra Rising Star D2C Summit. This recognition highlights Pilgrim's outstanding achievements on Myntra, particularly in the Hair Serum and Shampoo sub-categories. Pilgrim has been honoured with this award due to its cutting-edge technology, world-class formulations, and global natural ingredients. This recognition highlights Pilgrim's commitment to revolutionising hair care through innovation and efficacy. By blending the finest natural ingredients with advanced scientific research, Pilgrim sets new standards in beauty with products like the bestselling 3% Redensyl & 4% Anagain Hair Growth Serum (1 sold every 3 minutes), which is clinically proven to show visible hair growth in 28 days, the Patua & Keratin Smoothening Shampoo, and the Australian Tea Tree Non-Drying Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, which reduces up to 100% dandruff. The hair care range, including shampoos, conditioners, hair masks, serums, and oils, addresses key concerns like hair fall, dandruff, and frizzy hair, helping you achieve healthier, more manageable hair every day. Using world-class natural ingredients like Patua, Spanish Rosemary, and Argan Oil, Pilgrim sets itself apart by sourcing the finest ingredients from around the globe and presenting them to the Indian audience. Leveraging advanced technology, each product is designed to surpass consumer expectations. This dedication to quality and innovation has cemented Pilgrim's reputation as a leader in the hair care industry. The Myntra Rising Stars Beauty Summit is a premier event that brings together the most innovative D2C beauty brands, visionary entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and the Gen Z crowd. It features insightful panels, inspiring talks, and valuable networking opportunities, all aimed at elevating the beauty industry in India. The event also marked the launch of the Myntra Rising Stars Beauty Edit, showcasing emerging and innovative Made-In-India beauty brands. With the growing popularity of Myntra Beauty, this initiative supports D2C beauty and grooming brands by providing invaluable consumer and industry insights to fuel their accelerated growth. Gagandeep Makker, Co-founder of Pilgrim, expressed his excitement, saying, "We are honoured to receive the 'Best Hair Care Brand' award at Myntra's Rising Star D2C Summit. This recognition is a testament to our dedication to providing top-quality hair care products that our customers love. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Myntra team for their unwavering support and are excited about future partnerships to continue delivering exceptional products to our customers." Speaking on Pilgrim's success, Deepak Joshi, Sr Director, Beauty and Personal Care, Myntra, said, "We were delighted to confer the title of 'Best Hair Care Brand' on Pilgrim during Myntra's Rising Star D2C Summit. This accolade reflects their innovation and dedication to delivering outstanding value. Being part of Pilgrim's journey and contributing to their growth fills us with immense pride. Through the Rising Stars program, Myntra nurtures a diverse range of promising brands. We eagerly look forward to welcoming more such brands and enhancing the customer experience." Earlier this year, Pilgrim's Patua & AHA BHA Scalp Scrub was honoured with the prestigious CMPL Disruptors Award for Contract Manufacturers & Brand Owners. The award-winning Patua & AHA BHA Scalp Scrub stands out as India's first innovative AHA BHA scalp scrub without beads, designed to deliver the freshest, cleanest hair ever. About Pilgrim Launched in 2019, Pilgrim has created a product portfolio of over 200+ products across haircare, face care, makeup, and fragrance categories, catering to customers in over 25,000 pin codes. It retails across both online and offline platforms, including the brand's own website and third-party e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Nykaa, and Flipkart, as well as numerous stores across the country. Pilgrim is backed by investors such as Fireside Ventures, Vertex Ventures, and Narotam Sekhsaria Family Office, among others. With an impressive track record of serving 700,000 clients monthly and achieving gross sales of over 30+ crores per month, Pilgrim is set to disrupt the beauty and personal care market, contributing to its vision of becoming a 1000 crore ARR brand by 2025. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2569357/Pilgrim_Best_Hair_Care_Brand.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) VMPL New Delhi [India], November 29: Top tech leaders, Government Officials and seasoned entrepreneurs witnessed the product launch of Infiheal's Healo, an AI Therapist and Companion for mental healthcare at the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2024, Asia's Largest Tech Conclave. The launch event featured an esteemed panel of thought leaders and industry experts, including Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, IAS, Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities; Rumi Mallick Mitra, Global Head-Director, CSR & Sustainability, EY GDS; Deepak Padaki, President, Catamaran; Surendra S, Managing Director, Accenture Advanced Technology Centre, India; Akashdeep Bansal, Founder & CEO, SaralX; and Dr. Ananthalakshmi Venkitaraman, CEO, EquiBeing. Under the direction of Prateek Madhav, CEO and Co-Founder of AssisTech Foundation, the panel discussed the pressing need for innovation and affordable solutions in assistive technology, specifically in the realm of neurodivergence and mental health. Founder and CEO, Srishti Srivastava, described the process of building Healo as a deeply personal and transformative journey. "The idea for Healo was born from my own struggles with mental health and a desire to make support more accessible for those facing similar challenges. I realized that while traditional therapy is invaluable, not everyone has access to it--whether due to stigma, cost, or availability. A lot of people do end up googling their problems, posting on anonymous forums like Reddit, and more recently using ChatGPT as an AI Companion. That's where an AI Therapist like Healo could play a pivotal role." The event highlighted the urgent need for global access to mental health support, perfectly aligning with Infiheal's mission to break down barriers and provide affordable, stigma-free care to millions in need. It was a powerful reminder that mental health should be a universal right, accessible to everyone, anytime. In the Valedictory function of the Bengaluru Tech Summit, Infiheal was also awarded as the winner for Best AT Startup - People's Choice by AssisTech Foundation. The award was presented by Shri Priyank Kharge, Minister for Electronics, IT & Bt, Rural Development, and Panchayat Raj, and Sharath Kumar Bache Gowda, Chairman, KEONICS; Dr. Ekroop Caur, IAS, Secretary to Government, Department of Electronics, IT, Bt, and S&T, Government of Karnataka; Dr. Sharanprakash Patil, Hon'ble Minister for Medical Education & Skill Development, Entrepreneurship & Livelihood; Sri Eshwar Khandre, Hon'ble Minister for Forest, Ecology, and Environment; and Sri Radha Krishna, MP, Gulbarga, GoK. The ATF Awards by the AssisTech Foundation focus on advocating for and empowering individuals and platforms working towards an inclusive society while focusing on assistive technology, disability care, and neurodivergence, embarking on a mission to celebrate everyone's uniqueness. About Infiheal Infiheal is a healthtech startup on a mission of making mental health accessible, affordable, and stigma-free by leveraging technology to bring scale to mental healthcare. Infiheal's flagship product, Healo, an AI Therapist and Companion, provides 24/7 affordable and anonymous mental health care but also matches you to qualified professionals where needed. Founded by Srishti Srivastava, an IIT Bombay alumnus, and Utkarsh Srivastava, Boston University alumnus, Infiheal captured everyone's attention in the Silicon Valley of India just after their successful star-studded public beta launch in Mumbai last month, attended by prominent personalities including Jackie Shroff, Harsh Goenka, Shaina NC, and senior bureaucrats. Infiheal shot to prominence after being lauded by PM Modi on his 108th National Address of Mann Ki Baat. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari said that there will be no government intervention for determining the fair price for a vehicle to be scrapped. The market forces will determine the fair price of the vehicle to be scrapped. "There is no intervention by the Government in determination of fair price of private vehicles to be scrapped. The price of these vehicles is decided by the market forces as per the condition of the vehicle to be scrapped" said Gadkari The minister also noted that the Reserve Vehicle Scrapping Facility (RVSF) units, set up as private entities, are responsible for determining the price based on vehicle condition. On compensating vehicle owners, the minister stated that while government vehicles have a reserve price determined by the Ministry of Steel, private vehicles' scrap value is decided by the market forces. To ease the economic burden on citizens, especially low-income groups, incentives are provided for scrapping vehicles. These include waiving registration fees for new vehicles purchased with a "Certificate of Deposit" issued upon scrapping. Additionally, concessions in motor vehicle tax are offered--up to 25 per cent for private vehicles and 15 per cent for commercial vehicles for buying a new vehicle. He stated "Provided that this concession shall be available up to eight years, in case of transport vehicles, and up to fifteen years, in case of non-transport vehicles". On impounding end-of-life vehicles Gadkari said "the crackdown on end-of-life vehicles (ELVS) was resumed by Transport Department, GNCTD from 11.10.2024. Since then, 2,445 vehicles have been impounded by the enforcement teams of the Transport Department, GNCTD". This initiative targets vehicles that have exceeded their permissible age limits--10 years for diesel vehicles and 15 years for petrol vehicles in the national capital region (NCR). The minister also stated that the government is taking steps to promote greener alternatives. The PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) scheme, with a budget of Rs10,900 crore, aims to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) by providing incentives and setting up charging infrastructure. Regarding pollution reduction, the scrappage policy includes guidelines for environmentally sound disposal of vehicle parts, ensuring compliance with Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) standards. The minister emphasized that the vehicle scrappage policy, coupled with incentives and regulatory measures, aims to create a sustainable ecosystem to phase out older, polluting vehicles while promoting cleaner, affordable transportation options. (ANI) The Adani Group has sufficient liquidity and operational cash flows to meet its debt obligations and planned capital expenditures in the medium term, according to an update on the financial situation of the Adani Group by the CRISIL Ratings. CRISIL Ratings stated, "All our outstanding ratings are under continuous surveillance." The update comes as the group faces legal proceedings in the United States. On November 20, 2024, the US Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed charges against key officials of Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL), including Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani, and Vneet Jaain. The charges involve allegations of securities fraud, wire fraud, and misleading bond offering documents. The Adani Group had refuted the bribery allegations saying, "Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and Vneet Jaain have not been charged with any violation of the FCPA in the counts set forth in the indictment of the US DOJ or civil complaint of the US SEC." Despite these challenges, CRISIL Ratings noted that, based on feedback from Adani Group's management and lenders, there have been no negative actions from investors or lenders so far, such as accelerated debt repayments or changes in loan terms. The group also has the flexibility to adjust its discretionary capital expenditures based on financial market developments.The Adani Group reported a robust financial performance for fiscal year 2024, with earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) of Rs82,917 crore. The group's net debt-to-EBITDA ratio stood at 2.19 times, reflecting healthy debt management. As of September 2024, the group maintained a cash balance of over Rs53,000 crore, which is more than adequate to cover its long-term debt maturities of approximately Rs27,500 crore. CRISIL emphasised that the group's ratings are supported by its strong business and financial risk profiles. These factors include steady cash flows, long-term infrastructure assets, and its critical role within India's infrastructure sector. The group's association with the larger Adani Group also provides additional financial flexibility. While CRISIL acknowledged the Adani Group's financial stability, it also highlighted potential risks. Any adverse regulatory or judicial actions, or restrictions on accessing domestic and international capital, could affect the group's financial flexibility. A significant rise in financing costs or difficulties in refinancing upcoming debt repayments will also be closely monitored.Recent developments, including a decline in the market value of Adani Group's listed companies and the cancellation of a USD 600 million bond offering by AGEL, have raised concerns. CRISIL is keeping a close watch on how these issues may impact the group's operations and financial position in the coming months. (ANI) The Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) continue to influence Indian stock markets however the extent of their impact on major indices has reduced over time, says a report by ICICI Mutual Fund. The report attributed this decline in sensitivity to the strengthening of India's economy, which has made the markets more resilient to transient FPI flows. It said, "Though Indian markets continue to remain sensitive to FPI flows, the extent to which it is impacted has gone down". The report also highlighted that FPIs, traditionally a significant source of short-term capital in emerging economies like India, have recently been selling off their holdings in Indian markets. This sell-off has brought large-cap stock valuations to more reasonable levels compared to mid- and small-cap stocks. The report also expressed a preference for large-cap schemes over mid- and small-cap schemes, stating that large caps are likely to benefit the most if FPIs return to the markets. "The current sell-off by FPIs has made large cap valuations reasonable compared to mid and small caps" it added. However, the report also cautioned that overall market valuations are not cheap at the moment. It mentioned that the rising geopolitical tensions and weak macroeconomic indicators in the US, such as a high fiscal deficit, ballooning debt, and a significant current account deficit, are contributing to near-term market volatility. The report noted that the ability of the newly elected Republican administration in the US to address these challenges will be closely watched. The global economic environment is also influencing FPI flows. In October 2024, China's stimulus measures to boost its economy and the anticipated strength of the US economy, following the Republican Party's re-election, led to significant FPI outflows from emerging markets, including India. Slowdown in the corporate earnings in India further dampened investor sentiment, as high valuations coupled with below-par earnings have raised concerns about a potential slowdown in growth. Despite these challenges, the report remained optimistic about India's long-term growth story. The report describes the current FPI sell-off as a transient phase and expects FPIs to return soon. While the equity markets may witness intermittent volatility, the structural strengths of the Indian economy are expected to sustain long-term growth. (ANI) PNN Mohali (Punjab) [India], November 29: Pritika Group, one of the North India based leading manufacturers of precision machined components for the tractor and Heavy Commercial Vehicles in India announced the start of commercial production of the ordered components from a leading multinational Tractor Manufacturer in India after successful completion of inspection and trials at the customer end. The components include - Hydraulic Lift Housing and Axle Housing. The total business value of the above said component will be approximately Rs.18.00 crores per annum. At the same time, these orders have a long term visibility spanning to over next four to five years. Total value for the span of five years comes to around Rs. 90 crore. Pritika Engineering Components Limited is a subsidiary of Pritika Auto Industries Ltd. which holds 70.81% stake. The Pritika Group is celebrating its Golden Jubilee (50 years) this year. CARE Ratings Ltd. has reaffirmed Stable credit Rating for Pritika Auto Industries Ltd. and Pritika Engineering Components Ltd. Highlights: * Pritika Group will utilize combined rights issue proceeds of Rs. 99.80 crore of Pritika Auto & Pritika Engineering to fund its expansion including railway component manufacturing, debt reduction etc * Tractor industry is expected to grow at double digit in H2FY25 * M&M, Escorts Ashok Leyland, Mahindra Swaraj, TAFE, Swaraj are some of its major clients * The Pritika Group is celebrating its Golden Jubilee (50 years) this year. * Pritika Engineering is a subsidiary of Pritika Auto Industries Ltd. which holds 70.81% stake. Pritika Group is planning to raise around Rs. 99.80 crore from the rights issue proceeds of the Pritika Auto and Pritika Engineering (Right issue proceeds of Rs. 49.80 crore of each entity). The Issue proceeds will be utilized to fund its expansion including railway component manufacturing, debt reduction. Pritika Auto Industries Ltd. had done the Preferential Issue of Equity Shares, the funds of which has been utilized for the expansion of Plants. Pritika Auto Industries Limited has recently announced the issuance of right shares aggregating upto Rs. 49.90 crore to fund its expansion plans. The company is also planning to reduce its debt in due course of time. Pritika Engineering Components Limited has also recently announced the issuance of right shares aggregating upto Rs. 49.90 crore to fund its expansion into railway component manufacturing and its existing business. The company is also focusing to contain its debt. GREEN SHOOTS IN TRACTOR INDUSTRY One of the leading Tractor OEM has in it's Q2FY25 Presentation mentioned that H2FY25 tractor industry is expected to grow in double digits. The Group has long standing relations with its clients for almost 50 years. It has PAN India presence & some of its major OEM clients are: * Escorts Kubota Ltd. * Tractor & Farm Equipment Ltd. * Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. * Ashok Leyland Ltd. * Mahindra Swaraj. * Swaraj Engines Ltd. * Tafe Motors & Tractors Ltd. (Eicher Tractors) * Brakes India Ltd. * SML ISUZU Ltd. * Knott - Vortex Pvt. Ltd. * CNH Industrial (India) Pvt. Ltd. (New Holland Tractors) * International Tractors Ltd. (Sonalika) Pritika Auto has finalised a significant order worth INR 30 crore per annum from country's leading OEM tractor manufacturers. This order represents a strong endorsement of the company's capabilities in delivering high-quality components for the agriculture sector. The order involves the supply of approximately 250 tons per month of new large components designed for tractors. These new components will weigh over 78 kilograms, underscoring Pritika Auto's expertise in producing robust, heavy-weight products. This latest order is a testament to Pritika Auto Industries' Limited commitment to innovation and excellence in meeting the evolving needs of the automotive industry, particularly in the agricultural segment. Company has recently announced highest ever monthly dispatch, reaching an impressive 1350 metric tons in September, 2024. Company has successfully adopted new technology and with this it has shifted its focus towards higher-weight products which fetch relatively higher margin. The trial batches produced using this advanced technology have been well received by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), leading to the commencement of commercial production. This achievement underscores PECL's ability to adapt to market demands and deliver high-quality products. Looking ahead, the demand outlook for Pritika Engineering Components Limited remains strong. The Company is confident in its ability to leverage the new technology to enhance its production capabilities and meet the evolving needs of its customers. About Pritika Auto Industries Limited Pritika Auto Industries Ltd. is a flagship company of the Pritika Group of Industries which was set up in 1974 by Raminder S. Nibber, manufacturing small forgings. Over the last four decades and under Nibber's visionary leadership, the Company has established itself as a robust and reliable brand in its market, specializing in machined castings and automotive components. A quality driven organization, Pritika produces world class components from modern facilities. Pritika has manufacturing facilities situated at Derabassi, Hoshiarpur and Mohali (Punjab), and Tahliwal (Himachal Pradesh) with a total capacity of over 75,000 metric tons per annum (MTPA). Catering primarily to tractors and commercial vehicles, Pritika focuses on expanding and diversifying its product portfolio. The Company manufactures a wide range of products such as axle housings, wheel housings, hydraulic lift housings, end cover, plate differential carrier, brake housings, cylinder blocks, and crank cases, among others. Pritika is one of the biggest component suppliers in the tractor segment of the automobile industry in India and supplies to OEMs like M&M Swaraj, Swaraj Engines Ltd, TAFE, Escorts, SML Isuzu, TMTL, Ashok Leyland, New Holland Tractors India Ltd., Brakes India etc. The Company's vision is to provide products which meet customer's quality requirement constantly at competitive prices. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) A criminal case initiated by the State Security Service is being prosecuted in connection with the fact that the citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in collusion with the citizens of other countries, participated in the commission of smuggling crimes between foreign countries, Azernews reports, citing the press service of the State Security Service (SSS). SSS noted that during the investigations, lieutenant colonel Mammadov Gahraman Shamil, who served as the chief assistant to the military attache of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the United States of America, colluded with another citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Gasimov Anar Ali, and citizens of foreign countries. a particularly large amount of gold transported from the United Arab Emirates to the Republic of Turkiye by a pre-conspired group of individuals substantial suspicions were established that the ingots were involved in smuggling across the customs border. So, according to the agreement reached in advance with others, Kahraman Mammadov, who holds a position with diplomatic status, came to the Republic of Turkey from the United States of America on November 22, 2024, and was brought by Anar Gasimov from the United Arab Emirates on the same day and was located outside the customs control at Istanbul International Airport. He took the bag that was placed in the storage room, which contained a large amount of gold bars. By deliberately using the diplomatic passport and official powers confirming the privileges and immunities intended for the members of the diplomatic staff, he took the gold bars through the customs border at that airport without declaring them. Later, Kahraman Mammadov was stopped by Turkish law enforcement officers while driving a taxi to a hotel in Istanbul to hand over these gold bars to Anar Gasimov. During the inspection of his bag, 70 kilograms of gold bars worth 10 million 220 thousand 900 manats were found and taken away. As a result of investigations, another bag containing 14 kilograms of gold bars and which did not cross the customs border was found in the mentioned storage area at the airport. Also, Anar Gasimov was detained in the Republic of Turkey and charged with criminal responsibility. 12.1, 206.3.2, 12.1-1, 206.3.3 of the Criminal Code (smuggling by a citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the case of a group of persons who conspired in advance outside the country, using a service position) and 12.1- 1, 341.1 (Position outside the country by a citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan was brought to criminal responsibility under the articles of abuse of authority or exceeding the authority of duty), the Baku Military Court ordered a preventive measure against him. At the moment, investigative and operational measures are being continued in the criminal case. NewsVoir New Delhi [India], November 29: The Indian Beverage Association (IBA) is organizing the National Beverage Conclave 2024, which will be held at the ITC Maurya Hotel, Sardar Patel Marg, New Delhi. The conclave, scheduled for December 4, 2024, shall focus on the theme of "Making India a Global Beverage Processing Hub". The Conclave aims to position the Non-alcoholic Beverage Industry as a key driver of India's transformation into a global beverage processing hub. The conclave will also lay touchstone emphasis on sustainable practices in beverage production, reflecting on the industry's commitment to environmental responsibility. It will spotlight the industry's potential to solidify India's position as a key player in the global beverage processing market and contribute towards the Government of India's vision of "doubling farmer's income and thereby the national economy as part of the "Viksit Bharat initiative." The Event shall bring together key stakeholders including Policymakers, Regulatory bodies, Food Processing & Standards Authorities, Export & Trade bodies and other key players within the beverage industry. The global non-alcoholic beverage market was valued at USD 1.8 trillion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 3.8 trillion by 2034 rising at a CAGR of 7.75%. Similar growth can be observed within India as well, with the industry having a market size of approximately $16 billion in 2023, which is expected to grow to $23 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 7.29%. The Indian Non-alcoholic beverage industry also plays a significant role in employment generation, with over a million jobs created across the value chain as of now, up from 6.9 lakh in 2019, driven by 30% market growth. The industry also supports millions of informal workers and contributes substantially to retail incomes, with beverages occupying over 85% of retail stores nationwide and accounting for 11% of the Total Income as an estimate of the retailer's revenue. Despite being the world's largest producer of key raw materials like banana, mango, lime, papaya, milk, and sugar, India's potential as a global beverage processing hub remains untapped due to supply chain gaps and regulatory challenges. Scaling up processing facilities and adopting modern standards can position India as a leader in global beverage production. Commenting on the conclave, JP Meena, Secretary General, IBA stated, "India holds immense potential to emerge as a global hub for beverage processing. The upcoming National Beverage Conclave 2.0 aims to create meaningful dialogues to help the industry grow. For this event, we are bringing together industry partners and policymakers to unlock and elevate our potential. As an association, we are dedicated to driving innovation, fostering investment, and enabling collaboration to firmly establish India as a global leader in the beverage industry." He added that major players had already invested Rs 50,000 crore in the sector in the last few years and that investments could rise to Rs 80,000 crore in the next five years with the right facilitative environment. The Conclave will build on IBA's roadmap for making India a global beverage processing hub by 2030. It will focus on best practices, policy recommendations, and fostering an ecosystem that drives export-oriented growth, innovation, and international collaboration. It aims to position India as a global beverage processing hub, leveraging the non-alcoholic beverage industry's potential to contribute significantly to the nation's economic growth and its journey toward becoming a 5 trillion-dollar economy. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) PNN New Delhi [India], November 29: On November 27, 2024, Dr. Basant Goel was honored as the Guest of Honor at the United Nations Global Excellence Award in Dubai, where he also received a Doctorate from the United States of America International University (Honoris Causa) for his remarkable contributions to healthcare and philanthropy. With academic accomplishments that include a Bachelor of Pharmacy, a Ph.D. in Diabetes, and a Doctorate in Health Science from esteemed U.S. institutions, Dr. Goel's dedication to improving lives continues to earn widespread recognition. His humanitarian work first gained global attention during the COVID-19 pandemic, earning him recognition from the World Book of Records (London). On July 6, 2024, his leadership in organizing blood donation drives led to a Guinness World Record for the most blood donations in a single camp, ensuring 200 units of blood are provided daily across India. For this achievement, the President of India awarded him the title "Blood Man of India" and hosted him at the President's House for four days. The International Book of Honour (England) further acknowledged his efforts on October 26, 2024. Dr. Goel's global reputation has been further solidified through awards like the 'Bharat Kirtimaan' Award from the British Parliament, recommended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and his appointment as Global Ambassador of the International Siddhashram Shakti Centre for the U.S.A., U.K., and India, announced during King Charles III's birthday celebration on November 14, 2024. His tireless commitment to healthcare and philanthropy, combined with his visionary leadership, continues to inspire transformative change and strengthen cultural and international ties. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Actors Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna have been promoting their upcoming film 'Pushpa 2' with full josh. The team on Friday hosted a grand pre-release event in Mumbai, and they did their best to create excitement among fans and media for the film. From recreating 'Pushpa' signature step to setting the stage on fire with dance, both Allu Arjun and Rashmika left no stone unturned to entertain the audience. In the visuals captured by ANI, Allu Arjun and Rashmika could be seen shaking a leg on Angaaron song from the film. https://www.instagram.com/p/DC9AJxcuUTa/ The event was also graced by Anil Thadani and Bhushan Kumar. Recently, Rashmika took to her Instagram Stories to share her five-year journey with the Pushpa franchise and expressed the bittersweet feelings she experienced on her "last day" of filming. In her long note, Rashmika revealed the busy day she had before heading to the sets for her final shoot. She also shared about the whirlwind schedule that included a flight to Chennai for an event, followed by a return to Hyderabad late at night. Despite only having a few hours of sleep, Rashmika pushed through exhaustion and arrived on set for the final day of shooting. "Dear diary, 25th Nov This day for me was so overwhelmingly.. I just still don't know how to react on it.. ok I'll explain 24th evening after an entire day of shoot we took a flight to Chennai and we had such a lovely event in Chennai Flew back the same night back to Hyderabad Went home slept for about 4 or 5 hours.. woke up rushed to shoot for my last day of Pushpa :(( We shot a crazy amazing song (you'll all get to know about this very very soon) My whole day till late went in shoot.. and I knew it was my last day but somehow it didn't feel like the last day you know.. like hmm I don't know how to say Out of the 7/8 years Last 5 years being on this set almost made this set my home in the industry and finally it was my last day..," read a part of her note. 'Pushpa 2: The Rule' is directed by ace director Sukumar and produced by Mythri Movie Makers in association with Sukumar Writings. The music of the film is on Bhushan Kumar's T-Series channel. The film will see Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil reprise their roles as Pushpa Raj, Srivalli, and Bhanwar Singh Shekawat. Allu Arjun, the main lead of the film, received a National Film Award for his performance in the first part. The first part of Pushpa, directed by Sukumar, showcased power tussles set against the backdrop of red sandalwood smuggling. The upcoming part is set to hit the theatres on December 5. (ANI) Actor Allu Arjun on Friday made a captivating presence at the pre-release event of 'Pushpa 2'. At the event, he expressed his admiration for Bhushan Kumar and T-Series for being the music partners of the film. He said "For the longest time I wanted my albums to be released on a platform like T-Series which has the highest reach. Today when it happened with Pushpa it filled my heart with absolute joy." The event was also graced by 'Pushpa 2' lead actress Rashmika Mandanna. From recreating 'Pushpa' signature step to setting the stage on fire with dance, both Allu Arjun and Rashmika left no stone unturned to entertain the audience.In the visuals captured by ANI, Allu Arjun and Rashmika could be seen shaking a leg on Angaaron song from the film. Recently, Rashmika took to her Instagram Stories to share her five-year journey with the Pushpa franchise and expressed the bittersweet feelings she experienced on her "last day" of filming. In her long note, Rashmika revealed the busy day she had before heading to the sets for her final shoot. She also shared about the whirlwind schedule that included a flight to Chennai for an event, followed by a return to Hyderabad late at night. Despite only having a few hours of sleep, Rashmika pushed through exhaustion and arrived on set for the final day of shooting. "Dear diary, 25th Nov This day for me was so overwhelmingly.. I just still don't know how to react on it.. ok I'll explain 24th evening after an entire day of shoot we took a flight to Chennai and we had such a lovely event in Chennai Flew back the same night back to Hyderabad Went home slept for about 4 or 5 hours.. woke up rushed to shoot for my last day of Pushpa :(( We shot a crazy amazing song (you'll all get to know about this very very soon) My whole day till late went in shoot.. and I knew it was my last day but somehow it didn't feel like the last day you know.. like hmm I don't know how to say Out of the 7/8 years Last 5 years being on this set almost made this set my home in the industry and finally it was my last day..," read a part of her note. 'Pushpa 2: The Rule' is directed by ace director Sukumar and produced by Mythri Movie Makers in association with Sukumar Writings. The music of the film is on Bhushan Kumar's T-Series channel. The film will see Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil reprise their roles as Pushpa Raj, Srivalli, and Bhanwar Singh Shekawat. Allu Arjun, the main lead of the film, received a National Film Award for his performance in the first part. The first part of Pushpa, directed by Sukumar, showcased power tussles set against the backdrop of red sandalwood smuggling.The upcoming part is set to hit the theatres on December 5. (ANI) BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis expressed his gratitude to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday for his support during the Maharashtra Assembly elections. In a post on X, Fadnavis credited Shah for inspiring and motivating the party workers during the elections. "Expressed my gratitude to Union Minister Amitbhai Shah, for his huge support on the battlefield during the important Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha Elections 2024 and for the way he greatly inspired and motivated the karykartas. On this occasion, our BJP National President JP Nadda ji, Eknath Shinde ji, Ajitdada Pawar, #MahaYuti leaders, and colleagues were present too, in New Delhi," the BJP leader posted on X. https://x.com/Dev_Fadnavis/status/1862211372903539100 Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Fadnavis, NCP chief Ajit Pawar and other Mahayuti leaders met Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda in Delhi on Thursday. After meeting with Shah and Nadda, Eknath Shinde said that the meeting was "good and positive", adding that another meeting will be conducted which is expected to yield a decision on who will assume the role of Chief Minister. "The meeting was good and positive. This was the first meeting. We had a discussion with Amit Shah and JP Nadda...There will be another meeting of the Mahayuti. In this meeting, a decision will be taken about who will be the Chief Minister. The meeting will be held in Mumbai," he said. The leaders gathered to deliberate on the formation of the new government in Maharashtra. Earlier, Fadnavis asserted that the Mahayuti alliance had no internal differences and that a decision on the Chief Minister would be made soon after consulting the leaders. Speaking to the media, Fadnavis said, "In our Mahayuti alliance, there has never been a difference of opinion. We have always made decisions collectively. Before the elections, we announced that the decision regarding the Chief Minister's post would be taken collectively after the results. A few people had doubts, but Eknath Shinde ji has clarified those today. We will soon meet our leaders and finalise the decision." The Maharashtra Assembly election results were declared on November 23, but the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance has yet to finalise its choice for Chief Minister. The BJP emerged as the largest party with 132 seats in the 280-member Maharashtra Assembly, while its allies--the Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, and the NCP, led by Ajit Pawar--won 57 and 41 seats, respectively. (ANI) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha warned against attacks on minority Hindus in Bangladesh echoing the Centre's stance on the matter and underlining the need to protect them and secure Sanatan Dharma. Speaking at the conclusion of the 7-day-long 'Namo Yuva Yatra' at Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhawan on Thursday, CM Saha emphasised unity among youth for the country's progress. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always said that without unity among youths, the development of the country is not possible, and the country cannot become powerful. Today's rally was great. I joined the huge bike rally and encouraged the Yuva Shakti. Everyone is happy. We believe in Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. We have raised the slogan of making Tripura drug-free, and we will fulfil it," he stated. Addressing the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, CM Saha underscored the importance of monitoring borders and urged for restraint. "The Bangladesh matter is an international issue. Our central leadership has communicated and sent their message on this. Similarly, we must also urge restraint and ask for the protection of minority Hindus in Bangladesh. We are monitoring the situation closely, and I have already spoken to the DGP to keep a close watch on the borders to ensure no intruders cross over," he said. He criticised opposition parties for their silence on the issue, saying, "They only speak about Iraq and similar issues, taking to the streets, but on this matter, they remain silent." He also responded to criticism from opposition parties, including the CPIM and Congress, which claim the BJP has no grassroots support. "The election results have proven where the BJP stands. Under the leadership of PM Modi, the BJP has achieved resounding victories in Maharashtra, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. Yet, they continue to shout baselessly. Let them shout; we have no problem. PM Modi always speaks about development, and our Tripura government is working in the same direction. We are moving forward with development," CM Saha said. He also urged the youth not to waste their lives supporting the opposition. "I urge the youths who have spent their lives with the opposition to join the BJP as the membership drive is still ongoing. Don't miss this opportunity. Youths should not fall into the trap of the opposition. We believe in democracy, and we work based on democratic principles," he said. The event was attended by BJP Yuva Morcha state president and MLA Sushanta Deb, BJP state Prabhari Dr Rajdeep Roy, MLA Sambhu Lal Chakma, BJP state general secretary Bhagavan Das, and Bipin Debbarma.(ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah to move the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in Lok Sabha for its consideration and passage on Friday. "Amit Shah to move that the Bill to amend the Disaster Management Act, 2005, be taken into consideration. Also to move that the Bill be passed," The List of Business stated. Meanwhile, in the Rajya Sabha, 44 private bills are to be tabled for introduction and five Bills for consideration and passage. The Union government introduced the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha on August 1, 2024. The bill seeks to amend the Disaster Management Act, of 2005, which was enacted to provide for the effective management of disasters. The main purpose of the Disaster Management Act was to put in place necessary institutional mechanisms for drawing up and monitoring the implementation of disaster management plans, ensuring measures by various wings of Government for prevention of and mitigating the effects of disasters and for undertaking a holistic, coordinated and prompt response to any disaster or threatening disaster situation. The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 seeks to bring more clarity and convergence in the roles of Authorities and Committees working in the field of disaster management, provide statutory status to certain pre-Act organisations like the National Crisis Management Committee and the High-Level Committee and to empower the National Disaster Management Authority and the State Disaster Management Authorities to prepare the disaster plan at national level and state level instead of the National Executive Committee and the State Executive Committee. The bill also seeks to provide for the creation of a disaster database at the national and state level. The first session of the winter Parliament commenced on November 25, with both Houses getting adjourned fairly early due to disruptions. The winter session will go on till December 20. (ANI) The Division Bench of Delhi High Court has recently held that applicants suffering with colour vision cannot be appointed as constables in Delhi Police. The bench headed by Justice C. Hari Shankar and Justice Amit Sharma observed that "there can be no cavil with the finding of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) that defective colour vision is a defect. As such, the petitioners clearly suffer from a defect which renders them unfit for appointment as constables in the Delhi Police." The High Court further held that the standards of medical fitness of candidates in forces, including Delhi Police, have to be stricter and higher than those who apply for civilian posts. The petitioners had approached the High Court with a writ petition challenging the order of the Central Administrative Tribunal, by which it refused to entertain an application seeking an appointment in Delhi Police. It was contended through the petitioners' advocate that 'defective colour vision' is not 'colour blindness', hence they should appointed as constables in Delhi Police. The Delhi Police, through Central Government Standing Counsel Ashish Dixit Advocate, opposed the writ petition and contended that colour vision is a defect and therefore, in terms of advertisement, the candidates should be free from defects. Noted this, the High Court bench said, "We do not find any cause to interfere with the judgement of the Tribunal. This writ petitions accordingly stand dismissed in limine." (ANI) On the fourth day of the Parliament winter session, Congress MP Manickam Tagore filed an adjournment notice in Lok Sabha on Friday to discuss the Adani indictment in the lower house. Congress MPs have continuously sought to discuss the Adani indictment in the Lok Sabha since the start of the winter session on November 25. Justifying the public adjournment motion in the letter submitted to the Lok Sabha Secretary General, Tagore wrote that the issue is of "public importance," and "strikes at the core of public trust in India's governance and regulatory framework." "I hereby seek leave to move an adjournment motion to discuss a matter of urgent public importance, namely the recent allegations of corruption, bribery and securities fraud involving the Adani Group and its leadership," read the motion by Manickam Tagore. Detailing the various allegations levied by the United States Department of Justice, he also mentioned that the Andhra Pradesh government also had initiated a review of solar power agreements, and alleged that there has been "government inaction" on this matter. "Despite mounting evidence and international scrutiny, the Indian government has not initiated a probe into the Adani Group. This inaction raises serious question about the government's commitment to transparency, justice and its independence from corporate influence," Tagore wrote in the motion. While mentioning the Andhra Pradesh government's review of its solar project, he said that they have "uncovered a Rs 1,750 crore bribery allegation." "The Andhra Pradesh Government has initiated a review of solar power agreements, reportedly uncovering a Rs 1,750 crore bribery allegation linked to the Adani Group. These allegations deepen public suspicion about systemic corruption involving prominent business entities," he wrote. "The US Department of Justice has indicted Azure Power Global, a US based company and its employees under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) for corruption charges amounting to over 265 million dollars. While Azure is directly implicated, credible evidence implicates the Adani Group in facilitating the alleged bribery schemes," Tagore wrote Saying that since FCPA could not be applied to foreign nationals, Indian agencies should investigate Adani under Indian laws. "However as the FCPA cannot be applied to foreign nationals like Gautam Adani and his associates, it is imperative that the Indian Authorities act on the evidence and investigate under domestic laws," he added. (ANI) The deep depression brewing over the Southwest Bay of Bengal, which was initially expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm, is likely to gradually weaken into a depression as it approaches the north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the system is likely to continue moving northwestward while maintaining its intensity as a deep depression until November 29, 2024, and then expected to weaken into a depression as it approaches the north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts. The depression is forecast to make landfall between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram, close to Puducherry, by the morning of November 30. After it reaches the coast, the system will bring moderate winds, with speeds ranging between 45 and 55 km/h, gusting up to 65 km/h, along with heavy rainfall in coastal regions. Authorities have issued advisories for fishermen and coastal residents to remain vigilant. Coastal districts in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, particularly around Karaikal and Puducherry, are advised to expect rainfall, strong winds, and rough sea conditions as the system approaches. "The deep depression over Southwest Bay of Bengal moved north-northeastwards with a speed of 9 km/h during the past 6 hours and lay centred at 2330 hours IST of yesterday, November 28, 2024, over the same region near latitude 10.1N and longitude 82.8E, about 240 km northeast of Trincomalee, 330 km east-southeast of Nagappattinam, 390 km east-southeast of Puducherry and 430 km southeast of Chennai," said the IMD. "It is very likely to move northwestwards and maintain its intensity of deep depression till 29th November. Continuing to move northwestwards, it is very likely to cross the north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram close to Puducherry around the morning of November 30, 2024, as a depression with a wind speed of 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph. The system is being continuously monitored," said the weather department. Earlier on Thursday, heavy rainfall due to Cyclone Fengal caused widespread damage to paddy crops in Tamil Nadu's Nagapattinam district. Paddy crops in over 800 acres of land have been completely submerged, leaving farmers in distress. The affected areas include Kamashwaram, Virundhamavadi, Pudupalli, Vedrappu, Vanamadevi, Vallapallam, Kallimedu, Eeravayal, and Chemboadi. Earlier, a senior IMD official said that there would be fairly widespread moderate rainfall in most of the parts of the state. The Indian Navy on Thursday activated a comprehensive disaster response plan as Cyclone Fengal intensifies in the Bay of Bengal. The Eastern Naval Command, in coordination with Headquarters Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Naval Area (HQTN&P), has activated a robust disaster response mechanism to mitigate the cyclone's potential effects.Focusing on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) and search and rescue (SAR) operations, naval authorities are working closely with state and civil administrations to ensure rapid response capabilities. Vehicles are being loaded with essential relief materials, including food, drinking water, and medicines, while specialised Flood Relief Teams (FRTs) are being positioned in vulnerable areas. Cyclone Fengal, which is forecast to intensify within the next 48 hours, is expected to bring heavy rainfall, strong winds, and possible flooding to Tamil Nadu's coastal regions.Authorities have urged residents in low-lying and coastal areas to remain vigilant and adhere to safety advisories. (ANI) The Russian ambassador to Germany has been summoned to the German Foreign Ministry in connection with the expulsion of ARD TV journalists from Russia, Azernews reports, citing the release by the German Foreign Ministry. "The removal of ARD employees from Russia is unacceptable, and the justification for this is simply wrong and false. We strongly condemn it. That's why we called the Russian ambassador," said the minister. FM Annalena Baerbock condemned and called the statements about the restriction of press freedom in Germany and Europe unacceptable. Earlier, the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Maria Zakharova, announced that two employees of the ARD TV channel had been expelled from the country. The diplomat said that this step is a response to the closure of the First Channel's office in Germany. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team on Friday early morning rescued two persons who were seriously injured after the oil tanker they were travelling in fell into a ditch. The SDRF team received information that an oil tanker had fallen into the ditch at a place called Bemund between Khadi and Agrakhal, in which SDRF team is required for rescue, as per a press release. On the said information, the SDRF team from Post Dhalwala immediately left for the spot under the leadership of Sub Inspector Surendra Singh with necessary rescue equipment. The oil tanker was going towards Chamba and went out of control near Bemund under Thana Narendranagar area and crashed into a ditch about 150 meters deep from the main road, in which two people identified as the driver and conductor have been seriously injured. The SDRF team immediately reached the site of the incident and descended into the deep ditch in the pitch dark of the night and along with the district police reached the two injured persons, who, after a lot of hard work were brought to the main road in a seriously injured condition with the help of rope and stretcher and were sent to the hospital with the help of an ambulance. Earlier, on November 8, in a joint operation, the Uttarakhand SDRF had rescued a youth who was trapped in the middle of the Mandakani river, while trying to cross it in a trolley near the Agastyamuni town in Uttarakhand. The SDRF conducted a joint operation with Rudraprayag District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), local police, and fire service on Thursday and saved the life of the trapped individual. According to the information, the trolley got stuck in the middle of the stream due to a technical fault which led to the incident. Agastyamuni is a town, located on the banks of the Mandakini River in Rudraprayag district in the state of Uttarakhand. (ANI) "Indian Coast Guard has commenced the 11th edition of National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise SAREX-24 off Kochi today. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh had yesterday inaugurated the event and interacted with foreign delegates. The exercise is being reviewed by DG S Paramesh, PTM, TM, DGICG," the Indian Coast Guard posted on X. The event was inaugurated by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Director General S Paramesh, who is also the National Maritime Search and Rescue Coordinating Authority, and other dignitaries attended the event. Rajesh Kumar Singh lauded the role played by ICG in providing SAR services in the Indian Search and Rescue Region and helping the fishing community at sea. He also assured all assistance from the government towards strengthening ICG. The 11th edition of the Indian Coast Guard's National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise and Workshop (SAREX-24) is being conducted under the aegis of the National Maritime Search and Rescue Board in Kochi, Kerala, from November 28-29, 2024. The theme is 'Enhancing Search and Rescue Capabilities through Regional Collaboration'. It signifies ICG's commitment to provide succor during large-scale contingencies regardless of location, nationality or circumstances in the Indian Search and Rescue Region and beyond. The first day of the event featured various programmes, including tabletop exercise, workshops, and seminars involving the participation of senior officials from government agencies. According to the Ministry of Defence, on the second day, the sea exercise involving two large-scale contingencies will be carried out off the Kochi coast with the participation of ships and aircraft of the ICG, Navy, and Indian Air Force, passenger vessels and tugs from the Cochin Port Authority and boats from the Customs. (ANI) Earlier on November 25, Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandran had confirmed the visit of both ministers. Speaking to ANI, Harichandan said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are indeed expected to attend the three-day 'DGP Conference' in Bhubaneswar, scheduled from November 29 to December 1." The conference will focus on evaluating state performances, addressing law and order issues, and exploring measures to improve the country's law and order system. "The event will begin with Home Minister Amit Shah attending the inaugural ceremony on November 29. PM Modi will join the conference on November 30 and December 1," Harichandan added. Underlining the importance of the event, Harichandan stated, "This is a significant honour for Odisha, marking the first time the state will host the DGP and IG Conference in Bhubaneswar. It is evident that PM Modi is placing importance on Odisha, and this event will provide a platform for in-depth discussions on law and order and strategies for systemic improvement." The conference is expected to gather senior police officials from across the country. Earlier on November 28, Odisha's Chief Minister Mohan Charan Manjhi had joined for the Welcome function for the All -India Director General-Inspector General of Police (DG-IGP) Conference at the IPS Mess, Chandrasekharpur. "Joined the Welcome Function for the All India Conference of Directors General and Inspectors General of Police at the IPS Mess, Chandrasekharpur," he stated. "Tomorrow, Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah Ji, National Security Adviser (NSA) Shri Ajit Doval Ji, along with DGs and IGPs from across the nation, will grace this prestigious event. Odisha is fully prepared to extend a warm and gracious welcome to them," CM Majhi added. (ANI) Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha on Friday gave a Suspension of Business notice in Rajya Sabha to discuss "atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh and arrest of ISKCON priest Chinmon Krishna Das." "Under Rule 267 (Notice of Motion for Suspension of rules) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Council of States (Rajya Sabha), I hereby give notice of my intention to move the following motion," Raghav Chadha stated in the notice to motion. Further, he demanded that the house discuss and condemn the detention of ISKCON priest Chinmoy Krishna Das. "That this House do suspend Zero Hour and relevant rules relating to Question Hour and other business listed for the day to discuss the atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh and the arrest of ISKCON priest Chinmoy Krishna Das. Further, I demand that this house collectively discusses and condemns the detention of ISKCON priest Chinmoy Krishna Das," he added. Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was arrested on charges of sedition for allegedly raising a flag on a stand displaying Bangladesh's national flag. He was presented before a Chittagong court on November 25. The court denied his bail plea and sent him to custody. The arrest has sparked widespread outrage, with many calling for his immediate release. Earlier, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Manish Sisodia and Saurabh Bharadwaj met Vrajendra Nandan Das, Communication Director of ISKCON, in the national capital. Manish Sisodia, a senior AAP leader, also expressed concern over the situation in Bangladesh following Chinmoy Das's arrest. "Whatever is happening with ISKCON in Bangladesh is deeply worrying. ISKCON has delivered a message of love and harmony to the entire world--it cannot be a terrorist organisation. These people cannot be radical, and such allegations will not be accepted globally, let alone in India. I urge the Government of India to take all necessary action," Sisodia said to reporters. (ANI) Amid a Rajasthan court issuing notices regarding a petition claiming that the Ajmer Sharif Dargah was built over a Shiva temple, the spiritual Head of the Dargah, Syed Zainul Abedin Ali Khan said that it is "not right to create such controversies." "It is not right to create such controversies. The majority of the population here is Hindu. Even outside the dargah, there are most of the shops by Hindus. They keep their keys outside the dargah and open their shops. This tradition is still prevalent today," the Darghah''s spiritual leader told ANI. The spiritual leader said that this place is such that people of every religion come here, including the Prime Minister. "Be it a leader, CM, Governor, an actor, and the ''chaadar'' of the Prime Minister of the country is also presented here. Apart from this, RSS chaadar is also presented on behalf of Indresh Kumar and people of every religion come here. The faith of all people is connected to this dargah," he said. He then mentioned the recent violence in Sambhal following an ASI survey in the area''s mosque, saying that innocent people are being killed on those incidents. "In 2022, Mohan Bhagwat had said that how long will you keep looking for Shivalaya in mosques. The incident that happened in Sambhal, five people died, in which many were innocent, there were two people who did not even have a breadwinner in their family, innocent people are being killed," he said. The Dargah chief, who is a descendant of Khwaja Garib Nawaz'' Dargah, said that they are ready to take advice from lawyers on the petition in a Rajasthan court. "We have a panel of lawyers whom we will consult on what to do, If we have to become a party in this whole matter, then we will become a party," he said. He also said that petitions can be filed by anyone for a "cheap publicity stunt," but ultimately the court will decide based on the evidence and the hearings. "Anyone can go to the court, but only after hearings and production of evidence anything can be decided...Anyone can do this (file petition) for cheap publicity," he added. The Rajasthan district court in Ajmer has also issued notices to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Union Ministry of Minority Affairs and the Ajmer Dargah president regarding the petition filed by the Hindu Sena president. (ANI) Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav on Friday said that the Union government is "running away" from discussing Adani, Sambhal and Manipur issues in Parliament. "The government is running away from discussing issues relating to Adani, Sambhal and Manipur. When the government doesn't want the Parliament to function, then how can it function?" Ram Gopal Yadav said. Meanwhile, Congress MP Manickam Tagore today filed an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha to discuss the Adani indictment issue. Congress MPs have continuously sought to discuss the Adani indictment since the start of Winter Session on November 25. "Today, on the fourth day of Parliament as well, we are moving an adjournment motion," Tagore said. Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya faced adjournments over the Adani issue and other matters, with the two Houses of Parliament not transacting any substantial business. Opposition members have been continuously pushing to have a discussion on the floor on the Adani issue, Sambhal violence and the Manipur situation, raising slogans in the Parliament. Adani Group has refuted the bribery allegations made in the United States. Adani Green Energy Ltd said in a statement that media articles which claimed "that certain of its directors, namely Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and Vineet Jaain have been charged with violation(s) of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in the indictment are incorrect." The Adani Group said it has always upheld and is steadfastly committed to maintaining the "highest standards of governance, transparency and regulatory compliance across all jurisdictions of its operations". We assure our stakeholders, partners and employees that we are a law-abiding organisation, fully compliant with all laws," the statement said. (ANI) Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut launched a scathing attack on Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar on Friday, saying that since the Mahayuti victory in Maharashtra, all the decisions of the government will be taken in Delhi instead of in the state. "Now the thing is all the things related to Maharashtra will be decided in Delhi, they used to talk about self-respect and pride, that is not there anymore. Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar will have to come to Delhi again and again to put forward their issues. Even though they are from different parties, their high command is in Delhi, Modi and Shah are their high command," Raut said during a press conference. "Whatever they (Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar) need to get done in Maharashtra, they have to get approval from Delhi, yesterday also they met (in Delhi). So now meeting in Maharashtra what will they do? So whatever orders is being given by Modi and Shah, they will have to listen," he added. He further slammed Devendra Fadnavis, saying that the BJP leaders political journey has been quite eventful as he switched between being Chief Minister to Deputy Chief Minister (DCM). "Before too Devendra Fadnavis was CM, he became a DCM, Eknath Shinde was quite junior to him. Eknath Shinde has also worked in the cabinet of Fadnavis, suddenly Fadnavis started working in the cabinet of Shinde. The kind of politics happening in Maharashtra, there is no such thing as self-respect left anymore," he said. Similarly hammering down his objections over Ajit Pawar, saying that Pawar is a "forever DCM" "Ajit Pawar is a forever DCM, he has been DCM, he will continue to only be DCM," Raut said. Raut once again cast doubts on EVMS claiming that the alliance is happy due to the "wonder of EVMs." "Nowadays there is a lot of happiness on their faces, the brightness of their faces which had disappeared after Lok Sabha polls, has now returned, it is the wonder of EVMs. A '3-murti' temple should be formed, in the middle EVM, on one side PM and the other side Amit Shah," he said. (ANI) Following the Mahayuti meeting in the national capital, Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande on Friday said that Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has full faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. "Caretaker CM Eknath Shinde ji has expressed full faith in PM Modi and Amit Shah ji as he is an important part of NDA. The members of (Shiv Sena) legislative party have elected him as our leader and we have left it to him to talk about portfolios and other demands," Kayande told ANI. Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, NCP chief Ajit Pawar and other Mahayuti leaders met Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda in Delhi on Thursday. After meeting with Shah and BJP chief JP Nadda, Eknath Shinde said that the meeting was "good and positive," adding that another meeting will be conducted, which is expected to yield a decision on who will assume the role of Chief Minister. "The meeting was good and positive. This was the first meeting. We had a discussion with Amit Shah and JP Nadda...There will be another meeting of the Mahayuti. In this meeting, a decision will be taken about who will be the Chief Minister. The meeting will be held in Mumbai," he said. The leaders gathered to deliberate on the formation of the new government in Maharashtra. Earlier, Fadnavis asserted that the Mahayuti alliance had no internal differences and that a decision on the Chief Minister would be made soon after consulting the leaders. The Maharashtra Assembly election results were declared on November 23, but the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance has yet to finalise its choice for Chief Minister. The BJP emerged as the largest party with 132 seats in the 280-member Maharashtra Assembly, while its allies--the Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, and the NCP, led by Ajit Pawar--won 57 and 41 seats, respectively. (ANI) In response to a query in Parliament, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal provided an update on judicial vacancies, stating that there are currently 2 vacancies in the Supreme Court, 364 in high courts, and 5,245 in district courts. The Minister explained that the appointment of High Court judges is governed by Articles 217 and 224 of the Constitution of India, involving a continuous and collaborative process between the Executive and the Judiciary. This process requires consultation and approval from various constitutional authorities at both the state and central levels. Meghwal also highlighted that vacancies in High Courts frequently arise due to retirements, resignations, elevations of judges, and changes in the sanctioned strength of judges, despite ongoing efforts to fill these positions promptly, stated the reply by Law Minister The responsibility for filling vacant positions in district and subordinate courts lies with the high courts and the concerned state governments. Under the constitutional framework, the state governments, in consultation with the respective high courts, are tasked with framing the rules and regulations for the appointment and recruitment of judicial officers in the state judicial service, as per the powers conferred by the proviso to Article 309 and Articles 233 and 234 of the Constitution. In its January 2007 ruling in the Malik Mazhar Sultan case, the Supreme Court set forth specific timelines that must be followed by the States and High Courts in the recruitment process for judges in district and subordinate courts. (ANI) Amid continuous sloganeering by opposition MPs in Rajya Sabha on Friday, the House adjourned early again on the fourth day of the winter session of Parliament and will again meet at 11 am on December 2 (Monday). Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha will meet after 12:00 in the afternoon. Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar said that the actions are not "public-centric." "This cannot be appreciated. We are creating a very bad precedent. Our actions are not public-centric. We are getting into irrelevance," Dhankhar said. Parliament proceedings have been stalled since the beginning of the Winter Session amid protests by opposition parties over the Adani issue and violence in Manipur and Sambhal. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said that the government should clarify which issue it wants to raise and when. "Did the government say that there will be a discussion on Adani, Manipur, Sambhal, China and foreign policy? Nothing has come from the government. They have neither clarified the subject nor the date. The day they clarify the subject and the date, we will be able to run the House. But we are seeing a new arrogance in the government," Gogoi said. Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav also said that the Union government is "running away" from discussing Adani, Sambhal and Manipur issues in Parliament. "The government is running away from discussing issues relating to Adani, Sambhal and Manipur. When the government doesn't want the Parliament to function, then how can it function?" Ram Gopal Yadav said. Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya faced adjournments over the Adani issue and other matters, with the two Houses of Parliament not transacting any substantial business. Opposition members have been continuously pushing to have a discussion on the floor on the Adani issue, Sambhal violence and the Manipur situation, raising slogans in the Parliament. Adani Group has refuted the bribery allegations made in the United States. Adani Green Energy Ltd said in a statement that media articles which claimed "that certain of its directors, namely Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and Vineet Jaain have been charged with violation(s) of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in the indictment are incorrect." (ANI) By Alimat Aliyeva The Dubai Police Department has announced that the worlds and the Middle Easts first floating "smart" police station (SPS) will be operational by the end of 2026. The project, worth 2 billion dirhams, was presented by the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, and Emir of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. This initiative aims to strengthen the rule of law and invest in specialized police training. Dubai Police spokesperson Faisal Al Tamimi confirmed that the floating SPS will be ready by the end of 2026 and will offer world-class advanced services at sea. The design will cater to the needs of yacht and boat owners, ensuring quick and easy access to police services. According to Al Tamimi, the project aligns with the initiative to make Dubai "the smartest and happiest city in the world." The SPS will provide a range of 27 essential services, including crime and traffic reports, along with 33 additional services available in six languages. These services will cover a wide array of needs, such as the return of lost items and processing requests for certificates and permits. Al Tamimi added that the floating police station will operate without human intervention during the day, reducing the number of visitors to traditional service centers. It will leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics to enhance efficiency and improve service delivery. Colonel Al Tamimi further explained that the floating SPS will be designed to accommodate the specific features of modern boats and yachts, simplifying the process of arrival, boarding, and disembarkation. The Dubai Police Department stated that such "smart" police stations will be created not only to provide high-quality, fully automated services to local communities, but also to serve as models for similar systems around the world. Additionally, police stations in arid areas, such as airports and train stations, will incorporate the latest advancements in artificial intelligence. In response to a query about the recommendation made by the Parliamentary Standing Committee in its August 2023 report on judicial reforms, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has clarified that the government is not considering legislation that would mandate judges of the higher judiciary to submit property returns. Responding to the query about whether the government is considering a law mandating judges of the higher judiciary to submit property returns, as recommended by the Parliamentary Standing Committee in its August 2023 report titled Judicial Processes and their Reform, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said, 'the government is not contemplating such legislation.' However, the "Restatement of Values of Judicial Life," adopted by the full Supreme Court on May 7, 1997, outlines judicial standards to be followed by judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts. Based on this, the full bench of the Supreme Court, in its meeting on August 26, 2009, decided to make public the statements of assets submitted by judges by posting them on the Supreme Court's website. The disclosure was resolved to be voluntary and to take place by October 31, 2009, stated the law minister in reply. Further, the Supreme Court had constituted a Committee of Judges to examine the issue of mandatory asset declarations by judges, following recommendations from the Departmental-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law, and Justice. The Committee noted that the issue had already been extensively addressed in the Constitution Bench judgement in CPIO, Supreme Court of India vs. Subhash Chandra Agrawal (2020), and the procedure followed by the Full Court is in line with the judgement. The Committee reaffirmed the Full Court's earlier decision that judges must declare their assets upon assuming office and whenever there is a substantial acquisition, submitting these declarations to the Chief Justice. This also includes declarations by the Chief Justice of India (CJI). Additionally, the Committee proposed that the names of judges who have submitted their asset declarations should be displayed on the official Supreme Court website. This proposal has been approved by the CJI, and the names of the judges who have made such declarations are now available on the Supreme Court's official website. (ANI) Samajwadi Party MP Zia Ur Rehman on Friday said that the party had been demanding that the probe committee should comprise of the sitting Supreme Court Judge in the Sambhal stone pelting incident. Speaking to ANI, Rehman said "SP has been demanding that the probe committee should comprise the sitting Supreme Court's judge. We have approached the Supreme Court demanding that the case regarding the survey which is in the district court should be stopped and the case should be heard in the Supreme court..." Further, he said that the place of worship act should be used properly. "The Place of Worship Act should be used properly. A petition has also been filed over the Ajmer dargah as well. When will this stop?.. Saying that Babar Sahab broke the temple and built the mosque is wrong. There was already a mosque there since a very long time... Why are a few selected people being given a chance to disturb the atmosphere?" he added. UP Dy CM Brajesh Pathak said, "We respect the Supreme Court order and work accordingly. We will not let anyone take the law into their hands, maintain law and order and conduct an unbiased investigation." Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Muniraj G said that the Friday prayers would take place peacefully and a three-tier security scheme had been implemented to maintain proper security. "The Friday prayers will happen peacefully and for that, we have made all necessary arrangements. A three-tier security scheme has been implemented; the PSC and RAF have also been deployed. Drones and barricades have also been put to keep a check and CCTV cameras have also been installed," the DIG said. Earlier today, SP leader ST Hasan said that the rumours of the stone-pelting incident should be controlled. "Rumours should be controlled. There is a rumour in entire Moradabad that namaz would not be offered in the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal. Namaz will be offered but it will just be done in tight security. There is no need to panic; go to the mosque and pray for peace." Hasan said while speaking to ANI. The incident took place on November 24 when a stone-pelting incident took place during ASI's examination of the Mughal-era mosque which resulted in the death of four individuals and several others were injured, including locals and officials. (ANI) As the Mahayuti alliance continues to deliberate over the pick for the Maharashtra Chief Minister, Shiv Sena leader Shambhuraj Desai said that the meetings with leaders in Delhi went "positively" he expects that clarity on the state cabinet will be arrived at within 1-2 days. When asked about the meeting between Mahayuti leaders, Amit Shah and JP Nadda, Desai told ANI, "In the meeting, discussion took place regarding the whole election victory, the campaigning of the alliance, how did we get such a huge margin of victory. Then also how the upcoming govt should be formed, who will play what role. I think that within 1 or 2 days there will be a final solution which comes out." Earlier today, Maharashtra Caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, NCP leader Ajit Pawar, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis and other Mahayuti leaders met with BJP national president JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The leaders gathered to deliberate on the formation of the new government. Shambhuraj Desai highlighted that all the opinions by Shiv Sena leaders were put in front of Amit Shah and JP Nadda, with the Mahayuti leaders might prepare a draft document on the upcoming government formation too. "We have put forward the opinions of Shiv Sena leaders in front of the senior leaders of Mahayuti including Amit Shah. Either Mahayuti leaders will sit in Maharashtra and prepare a draft, or from Delhi, senior leaders of NDA in Delhi will find a solution." Earlier, Eknath Shinde reiterated that there were no obstacles regarding the Chief Minister post and that 'Ladla Bhai' is a designation higher than anything else for him. "I cleared my role in the press conference yesterday that there are no obstacles regarding the Chief Minister of Mahayuti. This 'ladla bhai' has arrived in Delhi and the 'ladla bhai' is a designation higher than anything else for me," Shinde told the meeting. Shinde had said on Wednesday that he would accept any decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the CM face for the state. "I have told the Prime Minister that if my presence creates any obstacle in forming the government in Maharashtra, there should be no hesitation in making a decision. Whatever decision you take will be acceptable to me," Shinde said during a press conference in Mumbai. BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis also asserted that the Mahayuti alliance had no internal differences and that a decision on the Chief Minister would be made soon after consulting the leaders. (ANI) The All India Conference of Director Generals and Inspector Generals of Police 2024 commenced on Friday, highlighting critical components of national security that include counter-terrorism, left-wing extremism, coastal security, new criminal laws, and the fight against narcotics. The three-day conference, held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, aims to bring together senior police officials and security administrators to address pressing challenges and enhance strategies for ensuring internal security across the nation. The conference will provide an interactive platform for senior police professionals and security administrators in the country to freely discuss and debate diverse national security-related issues, as well as various operational, infrastructural and welfare-related problems faced by the police in India. It's deliberations will include the formulation and sharing of professional practices and processes for tackling challenges relating to crime control and law and order management, besides internal security threats. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the conference from November 30 to December 1, 2024. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will also be present at the conference. The President's Police Medal for distinguished service will also be awarded during the three-day conference, being held from November 29 to December 1. The Prime Minister has always demonstrated a deep interest in the DGP conference. The Prime Minister not only listens attentively to all contributions but also fosters an environment of open and informal discussions, allowing for the emergence of new ideas. This year, some unique features have also been added to the conference. The entire day is being effectively utilised, starting with yoga sessions, business sessions, break-out sessions and thematic dining tables. This will also provide senior police officials with a valuable opportunity to present their perspectives and suggestions on critical policing and internal security matters that impact the country to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister has encouraged the annual DGsP and IGsP conferences to be organised all across the country since 2014. The conference has been held in Guwahati (Assam), Rann of Kachchh (Gujarat), Hyderabad (Telangana), Tekanpur (Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh), Statue of Unity (Kevadiya, Gujarat), Pune (Maharashtra), Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), New Delhi and Jaipur (Rajasthan). Continuing with this tradition, the 59th DGsP and IGsP Conference 2024 is being organised in Bhubaneswar (Odisha). The conference is being attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Principal Secretary to PM, National Security Adviser, Ministers of State (Home Affairs), DGP of states and Union Territories and chiefs of Central Police Organisations, among others. (ANI) A bench of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and justice Sanjay Kumar deferred the hearing into the Mathura's Krishna Janmabhoomi and Shahi Masjid case. Various petitions are being heard by the Supreme Court on the dispute. In one of these matters, the Committee of Management Trust Shahi Masjid Idgah has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Allahabad High Court order rejecting the mosque committee challenging the maintainability of various lawsuits initiated by Hindu devotees. In the plea, Committee of Management Trust Shahi Masjid Idgah challenged an order dated August 1, passed by the High Court whereby the HC dismissed the Applications under Order VII Rule 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC) filed by the mosque committee seeking rejection of plaints in 15 different suits filed by the Hindu devotees. The management committee has filed the plea through advocate Mehmood Pracha and RHA Sikander and also sought interim relief for putting a stay on the HC order. More than 15 suits by different plaintiffs have been filed claiming competing rights over the Shahi Masjid Eidgah on the ground that it is the site of the birthplace of Lord Shri Krishna (Krishna Janmabhoomi). "The Petitioner herein who has been arrayed as a Defendant by the different Plaintiffs/Respondents herein in the subject (15) Suits had filed individual Applications under Order VII Rule 11 of the CPC in each Suit for rejection of the respective Plaint. The Plaints were inter alia barred by the provisions of the Limitation Act, Places of Worship Act, Specific Relief Act, Waqf Act and Order XXIII Rule 3A of the CPC," the plea said. "After hearing all the parties in all the 15 Suits, the High Court has passed an inherently flawed Judgement by combining selective pleadings of different Suits filed by different Plaintiffs/Respondents herein (containing differing pleadings and claiming different reliefs), into a common hotchpotch, to make a new composite Suit from the pleadings of the 15 Suits and thereafter, reading them selectively to dismiss all the Applications under Order VII Rule 11 of the CPC filed in all the 15 Suits by a common Judgment," the plea said. "The High Court has passed a common Judgment by a selective combined reading of the pleadings in 15 Suits and not taken into consideration the specific pleadings of each Plaint to decide whether that particular Plaint is barred by law on the basis of its pleadings," the plea filed by mosque committee said. On August 1 Allahabad High Court dismissed the petition filed by the mosque committee challenging the maintainability of lawsuits initiated by Hindu devotees. Various matters relating to the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah Masjid dispute are being dealt in different legal forums. Earlier Committee of Management Trust Shahi Masjid Idgah has filed an appeal in the top court challenging Allahabad High Court order which transfers to itself all the petitions relating to Mathura's Krishna Janambhoomi land dispute from District Court Mathura, Uttar Pradesh Masjid Idgah challenged the order dated May 26 passed by the Allahabad High Court whereby it transferred all such cases relating to the Krishna Janambhoomi dispute from the District Court Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, to itself. Ranjana Agnihotri, a resident of Lucknow, had filed a suit in Mathura court demanding the ownership of 13.37 acres of land of Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi.In her legal suit, Agnihotri demanded removal of the Shahi Idgah mosque built in Krishna Janmabhoomi. The suit filed in the Mathura court sought the removal of a mosque said to have been built in 1669-70 on the orders of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in the 13.37-acre premises of Katra Keshav Dev temple, near the birthplace of Lord Krishna. (ANI) At least eight people died after a Maharashtra State Transport bus overturned near Bindravana Tola village on the Gondia-Arjuni road in the Gondia district on Friday afternoon. The bus was on its way from Nagpur to Gondia. "A State transport bus met with an accident in Gondia district. The bus was en route from the Bhandara depot to Gondia when the bus driver lost control of the vehicle near Bindravana Tola village on the Gondia-Arjuni road and overturned on the side of the road. Eight people have died and around 30 people are injured," said the police. The official further said that the injured have been shifted to the Gondia District Hospital, adding that the death toll is expected to increase. According to information from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has ordered the Transport Administration to provide immediate assistance of Rs 10 lakh to the victims. "A State transport Shivshahi bus overturned in a horrific accident. Eight bodies have been recovered from the site of the incident, and the death toll is expected to increase. Information about the situation was taken from the local administration. Instructions have been issued for immediate and proper treatment of the injured," said the CMO. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis offered his condolences to the bereaved family members. Taking to his official handle on X, Fadnavis posted, "It is very unfortunate that a Shivshahi bus met with an unfortunate accident near Sadak Arjun in Gondia district in which some passengers died. I pay my heartfelt respects to the deceased. We share the grief of their families." "The people who were injured in this incident may immediately receive treatment in a private hospital if necessary. I have also told the Collector of Gondia to make arrangements to shift them to Nagpur if required. Senior administration officials have reached the spot and are coordinating relief efforts. I pray to God for the speedy recovery of the injured in this incident," posted Fadnavis on X. Further details on the matter are awaited. (ANI) Former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD chief Lalu Yadav on Friday said that Electronic Voting Machines should be replaced with ballot papers in the elections. "Our party will win the Bihar elections to be held next year. We will get the majority. The elections should be conducted using ballot papers," Lalu Yadav said. The assembly elections in Bihar are likely to be held in October-November 2025. The opposition party and leaders have raised questions over EVMs after the Maharashtra Assembly elections. Earlier on November 26, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge demanded the replacement of electronic voting machines (EVMs) with ballot papers, alleging that votes from "SC, ST, OBC, and poor communities are being wasted." "Votes of people from SC, ST, OBC, and poor communities are being wasted. Set aside EVMs. We do not want EVMs; we want voting on ballot paper... Let them keep the machine at their home, at the home of PM Modi or Amit Shah... Then we would know where you (BJP-NDA) stand," Mallikarjun Kharge said while speaking at the Constitution Day program at Talkatora Stadium here. The Congress Chief's scathing remarks come on the heels of his party's crushing defeat in the Maharashtra Assembly election, where the Mahayuti alliance swept to power in a landslide victory with the BJP emerging as the biggest winner with 132 seats out of 280 member Maharashtra assembly, while its allies--the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde and the NCP led by Ajit Pawar--won 57 and 41 seats, respectively. The Maha Vikas Aghadi - comprising the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), the Nationalist Congress Party faction led by Sharad Pawar and the Congress - won just 46 seats. Several Congress leaders, Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, Digvijaya Singh, G Parameshwara, and Chamala Kiran Kumar, have raised concerns over the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) victory in the recent Maharashtra assembly election and alleged that it won the election by manipulating targeted polling booths through electronic voting machines (EVMS). The Supreme Court dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) petition seeking the reintroduction of the physical paper ballot voting system in elections in India. (ANI) Amid the ongoing tensions between India and Bangladesh, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed concern over the situation in the neighbouring country in the aftermath of the arrest of spiritual leader Chinmoy Krishna Das. He also said that the committee on external affairs has called a meeting on the situation in Bangladesh on December 11. The committee is currently headed by MP Shashi Tharoor. "...If the government has something to say on behalf of the Foreign Ministry, it would be good if (External Affairs Minister) S Jaishankar comes to Parliament and tells us. We have called a meeting of the External Affairs Committee on December 11 to know the details about Bangladesh. We are concerned about whatever is going on in Bangladesh...All minorities should get democratic rights in their country,"he said. "But it would not be appropriate to talk too much as this matter does not concern our country," Shashi Tharoor added. The arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das has sparked widespread outrage, with many calling for his immediate release. Uddhanand Das, Kalaburagi (Karnataka), ISKCON branch Pracharak termed the interim government in Bangladesh as "anti-Hindu." "Our goal is to condemn the anti-Hindu government in Bangladesh...We should unitedly come together and support Hindus...," Das told ANI. ISKCON) on Thursday expressed solidarity with priest Chinmoy Krishna Das. In a post on X, ISKCON, Inc. stated, "ISKCON, Inc. stands with Chinmoy Krishna Das. Our prayers to Lord Krishna for the protection of all these devotees." Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was arrested on charges of sedition for allegedly raising a flag on a stand displaying Bangladesh's national flag. He was presented before a Chittagong court on November 25. The court denied his bail plea and sent him to custody. The arrest has further strained relations between the Bangladesh government and ISKCON, fuelling protests and unrest. (ANI) The Supreme Court on Friday put a stay on the disproportionate assets case against former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and his kin and sought a response from the Tamil Nadu Police on his appeal challenging the Madras High Court decision to restore the case against him. A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti issued notices to the Tamil Nadu Police and the original complainants and asked them to file their responses. In October, the Madras High Court had set aside a lower court's order of December 3, 2012, which allowed the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to withdraw the 2006 disproportionate assets case registered against O Panneerselvam (OPS) and his kin. The High Court, while quashing the order, questioned DVAC on how it had initially filed a report saying that OPS had assets in excess of 374 per cent but later discharged him when the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) came to power in 2011. It had directed that the trial in the case be conducted before the Principal Sessions Court in Madurai. The DVAC under the DMK regime had registered a case against OPS for accumulating wealth amounting to Rs 1.7 crore disproportionate to his known sources of income between 2001 and 2006 when he was the revenue minister. In 2012, the AIADMK came back to power and the DVAC closed the case and OPS was discharged. (ANI) After both houses of the Parliament were adjourned till December 2 as proceedings were stalled for the fourth consecutive day, Congress MP Karti P Chidambaram on Friday said that he is hoping that the government will allow the opposition to raise issues of importance. Earlier today, the Parliament was adjourned till December 2 (Monday), failing to conduct substantial business amid continuous sloganeering by opposition MPs in both Houses for the fourth straight day. "I hope the government is large-hearted and allows the opposition the space to raise issues of importance. It's incumbent that the government finds a way in which the opposition can have its say and the government can have its way. The government is in a position to give and the government must give..." Chidambaram told ANI. Parliament proceedings have been stalled since the beginning of the Winter Session amid protests by opposition parties over the Adani issue and violence in Manipur and Sambhal. Before adjourning, Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar slammed the Opposition. "This cannot be appreciated. We have become a laughing stock, and parliament disruptions are in public distaste. We are creating a very bad precedent. Our actions are not public-centric. We are getting into irrelevance. Rule 267 is being weaponised as a tool of disruption, the Rajya Sabha Chairman said. The Chairman expressed his deep anguish and profound regret at the disruption in the normal business of the House. Opposition members have been continuously pushing to have a discussion on the floor on the Adani issue, Sambhal violence and the Manipur situation, raising slogans in the Parliament. The first session of the winter Parliament commenced on November 25, with both Houses getting adjourned fairly early due to disruptions. The winter session will go on till December 20. Meanwhile, Congress MP also reacted on the Sambhal issue and said that agitation about worship places should be avoided. He said, "We should not agitate about places of worship. Because, as the RSS chief said, one should not look for Shivalingams under every mosque. I hope people take his advice and take his advice seriously. If everyone wants to go back to the root of places of worship, then even the established Hindu places of worship can have a history that can be disputed... There will be no end to this revision of history. I think we should let the places of worship be as they are..." (ANI) By News Centre The Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (MUS?AD) EXPO 2024 International Trade Fair, which is among the important events of the business world and aims for a business volume of $1bln, has started. The event, which started with the participation of Vice President Cevdet Y?lmaz, Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet ?im?ek and Trade Minister Omer Bolat, opened its doors at Tuyap Fair and Congress Center. The Albayrak Group and TUMOSAN stands will host visitors and customers at the Fair, which will also reflect the strong tradition of the Albayrak Group. Trade Minister Omer Bolat also delivered a speech. Bolat stated that Turkiye ranks 17th in terms of national income and 11th in terms of purchasing power parity in the global arena and increased its share in world goods exports to 1.08 per cent. "These are pleasing and proud developments and achievements. But are they enough? No. We have a long way to go and a long way to go," he said. Minister Bolat noted that the event, which is being held for the 20th time this year, is the reality of a great dream that started with the 9 square meter stands of 70 companies at the Izmir International Fairground on October 29, 1993. "This is also very important evidence that shows continuity and growing stronger. Together with the 28th International Business Forum (IBF) that was opened yesterday, these are two very important organizations that bring together the tradesmen of the Islamic world," he added. Bolat emphasized that MUSIAD EXPO and IBF are very important international trade and investment platforms that bring together the entire Muslim business world from the USA to Indonesia, from South Africa to Russia, from Portugal and England to the Middle East with their brothers in Turkiye. The great success story of Turkiye in the last 22 years is actually a clear indicator of where MUSIAD EXPO has come from in this period and said, "As MUSIAD EXPO has grown, Turkey's economy, foreign trade, international investments and service sector have grown as much," he stated. Minister Bolat said that Turkiye traded $605bln in goods, $170bln in services, and became a very important country in the global arena with $1.2trl in revenue. "It increased its share in world goods exports from 0.49 per cent to 1.08 per cent in 22 years and increased its share in services exports from 0.89 percent to 1.35 percent. These are pleasing and proud developments and achievements. But are they enough? No. We have more to run and a long way to go. We will do these together with you, valuable members of the business world," he pointed out. Noting that Turkiye increased its share in trade with Islamic countries from 11 per cent to 26 per cent in 22 years, Bolat said, "Hopefully, we aim to reach 30 percent first and then 35 per cent by 2028." Trade Minister stated that as a Ministry, they are always on the side of exporters and that they are working to increase exports and provide resources to exporters with all their units and supports. Sharing the incentives and supports offered to exporters, Bolat noted that they also made trade agreements with foreign countries, organized international summits and meetings, and played a team game with all stakeholders in the sector. "Our vision is the whole world. We will make the Century of Turkiye the century of trade. The point we have reached, thank God, under the leadership of our President, is a point that no one could have imagined 22 years ago. They see this very well from the outside, they appreciate it, and they envy it. We are a country that has been completely renewed with its infrastructure and superstructure, has become a major production and supply centre, has managed to reach the whole world with its ports, logistics centres, airports, and airways, and has successfully implemented the Customs Union with the European Union, and has invited us to the negotiation table to expand this to the services sector," said Bolat. The Minister pointed out that Africa is 45 minutes away from Antalya by air, that they have increased foreign trade with this continent to $37bln, and that great breakthroughs have been made in all areas such as investments and contracting services. Bolat stated that relations with the Islamic world are progressing in the field of economy within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC). "We have a preferential trade agreement with 13 countries. Hopefully, we will develop this to more countries and strive to make a new generation trade agreement," he added. Bolat concluded his remarks by pointing to the agreements and organizations recently made between Turkiye and Islamic countries. Then MUSIAD Chairman Mahmut Asmal? made a speech at the opening of the fair and stated that Turkiye has been a trade centre throughout history and that these ancient lands located at the heart of the Silk Road have always been the centre of production, and trade and added value generation. "Today, we are preparing to lead world trade once again by combining this ancient mission with the requirements of the modern world since the first day we were founded, Mahmut Asmal? said, that this year, they are hosting 2,150 participants from 115 countries and more than 300 companies from 24 sectors on the path we set out on with the slogan 'Global Trade is Here'. They are happy to come together with participants from a wide range of sectors, especially textile, machinery, construction, energy, food, defence industry and advanced technology companies. "We are also presenting a vision that guides the future in light of our deep-rooted past, beliefs and values. The 'Medina Market' concept that we never stop talking about and that has become synonymous with MUSIAD guides us at this point. As we all know, the 'Medina Market' spirit is not just a commercial system, but a guide for humanity. Inspired by the Medina Market, which is a symbol of solidarity, sharing and trust, we have been bringing together our local and foreign business people for years in cooperation opportunities based on justice and trust. Therefore, we know this very well; during MUSIAD EXPO, not only business agreements will be made, but also new bridges of brotherhood will be built and the foundations of strong partnerships will be laid," he said. MUS?AD Chairman Asmal? stated that the large delegations, especially from Algeria, Iraq, Malaysia and England, will provide great momentum in spreading trade to a global scale at the fair where there are 19 country pavilions, and announced that with the support of the Trade Ministry, they will bring together over 650 participating purchasing delegations from 88 different countries with Turkish companies. Asmal? stated that a large investor group from Malaysia, ministerial level participation from Iraq, and purchasing delegations from England and Algeria once again demonstrated the strategic importance of Turkiye in the business world, and said that they wholeheartedly believe that they will reach the $1bln trade volume target at the end of the fair. Asmal? noted that a full program awaited them from the first day to the last day of MUSIAD EXPO. "We will hold important discussions on the world economy with the G20 Panel. We will strengthen the friendship and trade ties between the two countries with the Turkiye-Iraq Business Forum. We will bring together international investors and Turkish entrepreneurs with the MUSIAD INVEST program. We will strengthen our solidarity with the valuable representatives of our business world at our gala dinner," he said. Sharing that the fair is expected to be visited by President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an on November 29, Asmal? talked about the breakthroughs in the Turkish economy in the last 22 years under Erdo?an's leadership. MUSIAD EXPO, which is being organized for the 20th time this year and hosts more than 300 companies and participants from 24 different sectors, will last for 4 days. The event, which will host 2,150 participants from 115 countries in total, will host more than 650 foreign procurement delegations. The fair, which will bring together business people, industrialists and investors and enable the establishment of new collaborations, aims to reach a trade volume of $1bln with these meetings. Within the scope of MUSIAD EXPO, which has the vision of strengthening Turkey's position in the international trade field, the G20 Panel, Diplomatic Missions Session, Turkey-Iraq Business Forum, MUSIAD INVEST Networking Program and closing programs will be held. On the last day of the fair, which will host B2B meetings with foreign purchasing delegations, country presentations introducing the general characteristics of countries where investments can be made, special programs and MoU agreement signing ceremonies will be held. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday condoled the loss of lives in a bus accident in Gondia, Maharashtra and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. "Distressed by the loss of lives in the bus mishap in Gondia, Maharashtra. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000: PM Narendra Modi," PMO said on X. https://x.com/PMOIndia/status/1862453816190542110 At least eight people died and around 30 people were injured after a Maharashtra State Transport bus overturned near Bindravana Tola village on the Gondia-Arjuni road in the Gondia district on Friday afternoon. The incident happened when the bus was on its way from Nagpur to Gondia. "A State transport bus met with an accident after it lost control and overturned near Bindravana Tola village in the Gondia district. So far, 7 people have died. Around 30 people are injured and the injured have been shifted to Gondia District Hospital," Gondia Police said. After the incident, Maharashtra's caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde issued an order for immediate and appropriate medical care for the injured. "A State transport Shivshahi bus overturned in a horrific accident. Eight bodies have been recovered from the site of the incident, and the death toll is expected to increase. Information about the situation was taken from the local administration. Instructions have been issued for immediate and proper treatment of the injured," Maharashtra CMO said. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis offered his condolences to the bereaved family members. Taking to his official handle on X, Fadnavis posted, "It is very unfortunate that a Shivshahi bus met with an unfortunate accident near Sadak Arjun in Gondia district in which some passengers died. I pay my heartfelt respects to the deceased. We share the grief of their families." (ANI) Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu on Thursday met Union Minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi and requested him to provide a special industrial package for Himachal Pradesh on par with Jammu and Kashmir and northeastern states to promote balanced regional development. "Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu called on Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal in New Delhi late Thursday evening. The Chief Minister requested for special industrial package for Himachal Pradesh. He said that in order to ensure balanced regional development it is the need of the hour that a special industrial package on the lines of Jammu and Kashmir and North-eastern states should be provided to the state," as per an official release. He also urged to restart the previous transport subsidy scheme for hilly areas like Himachal Pradesh, keeping in view the high logistic cost due to rugged terrain. He said that this would go a long way in promoting industrial production and boosting exports, the relese said "He also requested funds for industrial infrastructure development projects, quality testing labs, certification labs for export promotion, etc," the release read. Chief Minister also requested for releasing pending amount of capital subsidy under Industrial Development Scheme and sanctioning pending cases under the IDS at the earliest. "The Union Minister assured that the issues raised would be examined and that all possible support to the state would be extended," the release read. Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani, Chief Minister's Political Advisor Sunil Sharma, Principal Advisor Ram Subhag Singh and other senior Officers of the state attended the meeting. Earlier this week, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu dedicated development projects worth Rs 43.37 crore to the people of the Kasumpatti Assembly constituency here on Monday and announced bus service from Peeran to Shimla via Kufri. (ANI) Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, has terminated two government employees having 'terror links' from the service in the interest of the security of the state, top sources said. The two employees have been identified as Ab Rehman Naika and Zahir Abbas. According to top sources in the law enforcement agencies in the Union Territory, the LG invoked 311(2)(c) of the Constitution after painstaking investigation by law enforcement and intelligence agencies clearly established their terror links. Ab Rehman Naika, a pharmacist in the health department, and a resident of Devsar, Kulgam, was appointed as a medical assistant in 1992. His links with Hizbul Mujahideen were unearthed when police officials started investigating the killing of a political person, namely Ghulam Hassan Lone of Devsar. Ghulam Hassan Lone was a staunch nationalist, and all his 3 sons are serving in the security forces. He was killed by terrorists in August 2021. Investigation revealed that Ab Rehman Naika was one of the plotters of killing Ghulam Lone to create terror and a situation of insecurity among the patriotic people. "Investigation further revealed that Ab Rehman Naika played a pivotal role in nourishing, strengthening, and proliferating conducive ecosystems for secessionism and terrorism, not only in his local area of Kulgam but also in the neighbouring districts of Shopian and Anantnag," sources in law enforcement agencies said. After Ghulam Hassan Lone's killing, the police investigation tracked the footprints of Over Ground Workers (OGW) who were providing logistical support to terrorists. Ab Rehman Naika and associates were finally nabbed with a hand grenade and AK 47 ammunition. During the interrogation, Ab Rehman Naika confessed he had received direction from his handlers in Pakistan to carry out a terrorist attack in Kulgam by lobbing grenades at security forces and political persons. He also admitted that, as an overground worker, his job was to conduct reconnaissance of targets. In the killing of Ghulam Hassan Lone, Ab Rehman Naika and his associates had kept a watch on his movements, and on the day of the killing, he mounted surveillance of the area so that terrorists get a safe passage without getting identified or intercepted. Sources said during further investigation, we unearthed his role and acts for Hizbul Mujahideen and how he facilitated attacks on police personnel. Zahir Abbas, the other employee terminated by LG Sinha, was a resident of Badhat Saroor, Kishtwar, and a school teacher. Zahir, a graduate of Aligarh Muslim University, was appointed as a teacher in 2012 and posted at Government High School, Bugrana. He was arrested in September 2020 for harbouring three active terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen (Mohd Amin, Reyaz Ahmad, and Mudasir Ahmad) in Kishtwar. He is currently lodged in Central Jail, Kot Bhalwal. "During the investigation of terror activities in Kishtwar, the role of Zahir as hardcore OGW came to light. As a teacher, he was expected to serve the nation, but he betrayed his country, aligned with Pakistani terrorists, and provided arms, ammunition, and logistical support to terror outfits, in particular Hizbul Mujahideen. He turned against the same country, which provided him and his family with a livelihood and a life of dignity. After his arrest, Zahir gave the inputs on hideouts where arms and ammunition were stored and also identified two other OGWs, namely Gulzar Ahmad and Mohd Hanief," sources in the law enforcement agencies further revealed. A top security official said Zahir Abbas was also providing critical information about security forces movements to his handlers in Pakistan. (ANI) Launching a scathing attack on the Congress party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that those who consider power as their "birthright" have not been able to come to hold power at the Centre for the last decade. Addressing party workers in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, PM Modi accused the Congress of "misleading" the citizens of the country and said that out of anger, the party is busy "plotting" against the country. He urged the party workers to keep an eye on such situations and make people aware to expose their lies. PM Modi said, "I have seen different colours of politics when I was working as CM and PM. In politics, I agree that policy opposition is very natural in politics. There can be different opinions regarding any decision. Political parties also keep organising movements to convey their message to the public. They also express their views while staying within the limits of democracy and the Constitution....But for the last some time, you all must be feeling a big change. The spirit of the Constitution of India is crushed; all the norms of democracy are rejected. Those who consider power as their birthright have not had power at the Centre for the last decade. Now, they are angry with the people of the country for blessing someone else from the very first day." "This situation has filled them with so much anger that they are busy plotting against the country. These people have started venting their anger on the public. They have started misleading people to take the country in the wrong direction. Their shop of lies and rumours has been running for 50-60 years. Now they have intensified this campaign. In such a situation, for the awakened citizens, for the BJP workers, for those who love the country and who respect the Constitution, the actions, intentions and deeds of such people are becoming a big challenge. Therefore, I would like to tell all the countrymen that we have to remain alert at every moment and keep making people aware. We have to expose every lie," he added. Hitting out at the opposition's 'Chowkidar'remarks, the Prime Minister said these "power-hungry" always lie to the people, and if one of the lies doesn't, they come up with a bigger lie. "These power-hungry people have only been lying to the public. When one of their lies does not work on people, they fabricate a bigger lie. They do the same to give false assurance to their workers also. The Chowkidar, who was a thief for them in 2019, became honest by 2024 and they could not call the Chowkidar a thief even once. Their only aim is to somehow capture power by misleading the people of the country," he said. Prime Minister Modi further accused the opposition parties of "ill-campaigning" against the BJP-led Centre. Recalling the BJP's historic win in Odisha's Legislative Assembly elections, the Prime Minister said that the work of the BJP government at the Centre for the people of Odisha and the sense of affinity it maintained with the people of Odisha led to the historic win. "Opposition always does ill-campaigning against the BJP government, but the public itself gives the blessings to the BJP. Till a few months before the elections, some big political experts were completely rejecting the BJP in Odisha. These people were saying that the BJP cannot become such a big force in Odisha that it can form the government on its own strength. But when the results came, these people were surprised. Because the work of the BJP government at the Centre for the people of Odisha and the sense of affinity it maintained with the people of Odisha even while sitting in Delhi, had reached every household in Odisha," he said. PM Modi added, "I can see and feel the happiness, joy and shine on your faces. I can in your eyes that the result of the Maharashtra, and Haryana elections and by-elections all over the nation has created new trust among the public. It was started by Odisha, then Haryana and Maharashtra. This is the speciality of BJP and the potential of the party workers." PM Modi is on a three-day visit to Odisha to attend All India Conference of Director Generals/Inspector Generals of Police 2024 that begins in Odisha's capital city of Bhubaneswar from November 30. (ANI) The three-day conference, being held from November 29 to December 1, will include deliberations on critical components of national security, including Counter Terrorism, Left Wing Extremism, Coastal Security, New Criminal Laws, Narcotics among others, as per a Prime Minister's Office release. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also attend the conference from November 30 to December 1. During the conference, the President's Police Medal for distinguished service will also be awarded. The Conference will provide an interactive platform for senior police professionals and security administrators in the country to freely discuss and debate diverse national security-related issues, as also various operational, infrastructural and welfare-related problems faced by the Police in India. Its deliberations will include the formulation and sharing of professional practices and processes in tackling challenges relating to crime control and law and order management, besides internal security threats. "Prime Minister has always demonstrated a deep interest in the DGP Conference. The Prime Minister not only listens attentively to all contributions but also fosters an environment of open and informal discussions, allowing for the emergence of new ideas," the release read. This year, some unique features have also been added to the conference. The entire day is being effectively utilized starting from Yoga session, business session, break-out sessions and thematic dining tables. This will also provide senior police officials with a valuable opportunity to present their perspectives and suggestions on critical policing and internal security matters that impact the country to the Prime Minister. The conference has been held in Guwahati (Assam), Rann of Kachchh (Gujarat), Hyderabad (Telangana), Tekanpur (Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh), Statue of Unity (Kevadiya, Gujarat), Pune (Maharashtra), Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), New Delhi and Jaipur (Rajasthan). The conference is being attended by the Principal Secretary to PM, Ministers of State (Home Affairs), DGP of states and Union Territories and chiefs of Central Police Organisations, among others. (ANI) Delhi Police has imposed a ban on the use of laser lights and drone activities in the funnel area within the approach path of flights to Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI). The order, which came into effect on November 28, will remain in force till January 26, 2025 (both dates inclusive). According to the order, a number of farmhouses, banquets, hotels, restaurants etc. have come up in and around the jurisdiction of IGI Airport, wherein a lot of lights, including laser beams, are used on celebrations of marriage parties and different events held therein, which is a source of nuisance in general and a cause of vision distraction to the pilots in particular. "At present, there are no rules and regulations to regulate the use of laser beams, especially in the open during night hours. It is necessary to take immediate measures in this regard to prevent danger to human life and safety of aircraft and to contain nuisance in the matter of use of laser beams in and around IGI Airport New Delhi," the other read. Additionally, another order includes a ban on drones in the airport's vicinity. "There have been frequent reports based on credible information that terrorists have plans to carry out terror attacks by using unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), including drones, paragliders & hang gliders, UAVs, aeroplanes, etc. However, the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), including drones, paragliders, aeroplanes, etc., by the members of the public is prohibited since it can be very hazardous to aviation safety and also poses a security threat of terrorist air attacks," the order read. "The safety and security of Govt./public property and human being is a matter of serious concern. And there is a need to deter operations of the Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) from the point of view of aviation safety and terrorist threat. And whereas it is necessary to take speedy measures in this behalf to prevent the above-mentioned dangerous threat," the order read. Any person, group of persons, organisers, owners, occupiers, employees, etc. contravening this order shall be liable to be punished in accordance with the provisions of Section 223(a) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), 2023, it added. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party MP Kangana Ranaut on Friday expressed concern over the condition of Hindu priests in Bangladesh amid the row over the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das. Kangana Ranaut, who is an MP from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh, said there is "no movement" on social media to raise awareness about the alleged atrocities against the Hindus in Bangladesh. "The condition of Sadhus and saints in Bangladesh is a matter of great concern for us. It is a matter of worry that no protests are taking place here against these atrocities...There is no movement on social media with all eyes on Bangladesh. These things are also worrying," Kangana Ranaut told reporters here on Friday. Blaming the interim Bangladesh government of Muhammad Yunus for the "unrest" in the country, Ranaut affirmed that they are standing in support of the Hindu community there. "Since he (Muhammad Yunus) came to power in Bangladesh, there has been total unrest in the country. We are standing in support of Hindus in Bangladesh. May God protect them," she said. Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das has been charged with sedition for allegedly hoisting a saffron flag above Bangladesh's national flag in Chittagong on October 25. Even though ISKCON's Bangladesh unit has rejected allegations linking the religious organisation to the killing of a lawyer in Chattogram, protests continue in the country. The situation has been tense after a lawyer was killed during clashes between police and alleged followers of Das in the Chattogram Court Building area on November 27. ISKCON had earlier expressed solidarity with Chinmoy Krishna Das. In a post on X, ISKCON, Inc. stated, "ISKCON, Inc. stands with Chinmoy Krishna Das. Our prayers to Lord Krishna for the protection of all these devotees." Chinmoy Krishna Das is currently lodged in a Bangladesh jail after a Chittagong court denied him bail on Tuesday. (ANI) Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat said that the name of the Chief Ministerial face for Maharashtra should be announced by Friday midnight and caretaker CM Eknath Shinde, will take a big decision in the next 24 hours. The Shiv Sena leader also asserted that Eknath Shinde will take any position in the Union cabinet as his interest lies in Maharashtra politics. "Yesterday the leaders of Maharashtra met at the residence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah...PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will decide who will be the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra...The name of the Maharashtra CM should be declared by today midnight. I have the information that the oath-taking ceremony will be on December 2," Shirsat told ANI. "Eknath Shinde will not go to Delhi. He is more interested in Maharashtra politics than Delhi politics," he added. On Eknath Shinde heading to his native village in Satara district amid the suspense over the chief ministerial face, the Shiv sena leader said that whenever Eknath Shinde feels that he needs some time to think, he goes to his native village. "When he (Eknath Shinde) has to make a big decision, he goes to his native village. By tomorrow evening, he (Eknath Shinde) will take a very big decision.," he added. Caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis, the front runner for CM, NCP chief Ajit Pawar, and other Mahayuti leaders met Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda in Delhi on Thursday amid the deadlock over the chief ministerial face in the state. The Maharashtra Assembly election results were declared on November 23, with BJP-led Mahayuti alliance storming back to power with a landslide majority, but the winning alliance is yet to finalise its choice for Chief Minister. The BJP emerged as the largest party with 132 seats in the 280-member Maharashtra Assembly, while its allies--the Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, and the NCP, led by Ajit Pawar--won 57 and 41 seats, respectively. (ANI) As the Mahayuti has yet to declare the Chief Minister face of Maharashtra, CPI leader D Raja on Friday expressed concern, stating that while the people have given their verdict in favour of the BJP and its allies, they are not able to choose their leader. He described this as a sign of internal contradictions within the BJP and its allies. Raja attributed the situation to "ideological, political, or personality problems" among the Mahayuti allies, calling it a matter of concern. He attributed this situation as a "matter of concern" and said that this situation shows there are problems among the allies of Mahayuti, whether they are ideological, political or personality problems. Speaking to ANI, D Raja said, "It is a matter of concern. Elections are over, counting is over and the verdict given by the people is known and BJP and its allies have won the elections. But why? They are not able to choose the leader to lead the government. It shows the internal contradictions which are there among the BJP and its allies. Otherwise, they could have chosen the Chief Minister by this time why they are delaying it. It shows there are problems among themselves and maybe there are ideological problems or political problems or personality problems. They are not able to find an acceptable Chief Minister face even today. That is the reality that BJP will have to explain and Mr Shinde will have to explain or Mr Ajit Pawar will have to explain why it is happening. What are the problems? They should tell the people why they are delaying it...." Earlier today, Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant clarified that the party chief would be back from his native village tomorrow and has the next cabinet will be finalised soon. This comes after Eknath Shinde travelled to his native village in Satara district on Friday. "The reports that he is upset are emerging from the media. We were with Eknath Shinde till early morning. Tomorrow he will be back and it is not as if the meeting takes place physically only, they also take place through video conferencing, mobile. As Eknath Shinde has said the Maharashtra cabinet will be finalised soon," Uday Samant told ANI. Earlier on late Thursday night, Maharashtra caretaker CM Eknath Shinde, Fadnavis, NCP chief Ajit Pawar and other Mahayuti leaders met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda in the national capital. After meeting with Shah and Nadda, Eknath Shinde said that the meeting was "good and positive", adding that another meeting will be conducted, which is expected to yield a decision for the Chief Minister face. "The meeting was good and positive. This was the first meeting. We had a discussion with Amit Shah and JP Nadda...There will be another meeting of the Mahayuti. In this meeting, a decision will be taken about who will be the Chief Minister. The meeting will be held in Mumbai," he said. The leaders gathered to deliberate on the formation of the new government in Maharashtra. Fadnavis asserted that the Mahayuti alliance had no internal differences and that a decision on the Chief Minister would be made soon after consulting the leaders. Speaking to the media, Fadnavis said, "In our Mahayuti alliance, there has never been a difference of opinion. We have always made decisions collectively. Before the elections, we announced that the decision regarding the Chief Minister's post would be taken collectively after the results. A few people had doubts, but Eknath Shinde ji has clarified those today. We will soon meet our leaders and finalise the decision." The Maharashtra Assembly election results were declared on November 23, with BJP-led Mahayuti alliance storming back to power with a landslide majority. The ruling alliance, however, is yet to finalise its Chief Minister face. The BJP emerged as the largest party with 132 seats in the 280-member Maharashtra Assembly, while its allies--the Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, and the NCP, led by Ajit Pawar--won 57 and 41 seats, respectively. (ANI) In view of Cyclone Fengal and the incessant rainfall warning, a holiday has been announced for Saturday in schools and colleges of the Kanchipuram district of Tamil Nadu, according to the District administration. This order has been issued for all educational institutions, including private ones, in the district on November 30, due to heavy rainfall warning by MeT. Cyclone Fengal is expected to make landfall on the coast of Tamil Nadu tomorrow evening and a red alert has been issued for various parts of the southern states in view of incessant rainfall, the India Meteorological Department said on Friday. As of Saturday evening, the cyclone was 300-350 km away from the coastline of Tamil Nadu, as per IMD Head of Cyclonic Division, Ananda Das. Das said that a red alert has been issued in view of heavy to extremely heavy rainfalls in several parts of Tamil Nadu, South Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and interior Karnataka. He further said that the coastal districts of North Tamil Nadu and South Andhra Pradesh will receive heavy rainfall, adding that on November 30, there will be heavy rainfall in the interior area of Tamil Nadu. "As far as the impact of the cyclone is concerned, slight rainfall has started. It is still 300-350 km away from the coastline of Tamil Nadu. The landfall is tomorrow evening on the coast of Tamil Nadu. During landfall, the speed of wind would be 70-80 kmph gusting to 90kmph. As per the latest observation, it has turned into a cyclonic storm. It will intensify slightly more and then make landfall. Coastal districts of North Tamil Nadu and South Andhra Pradesh will receive heavy to extremely heavy rainfall," Das said. "On November 30, there will be heavy rainfall in the interior area of Tamil Nadu... From Tamil Nadu to Kerala and interior Karnataka, heavy rainfall is expected till December 1. A red alert has been issued in view of heavy rainfall," he added. Meanwhile, the Puducherry Fisheries Department has issued an advisory for the fishermen and advised them not to venture into the sea as Cyclone Fengal is to make landfall tomorrow evening. Additionally, the advisory said fishermen should immediately move their fishing boats and equipment to higher grounds to avoid damage. Cyclone Fengal is expected to bring heavy rainfall, strong winds, and possible flooding to Tamil Nadu's coastal regions. Authorities have urged residents in low-lying and coastal areas to remain vigilant and adhere to safety advisories. (ANI) Press Release November 29, 2024 STATEMENT OF SENATE PRESIDENT FRANCIS JOSEPH "CHIZ" G. ESCUDERO ON THE PASSING OF FORMER SENATOR SANTANINA RASUL It is with deep sadness that I join the nation in mourning the passing of former Senator Santanina Tillah Rasul, a trailblazer and the first Muslim woman to serve in the Philippine Senate. She was a leader who broke the glass ceiling; more importantly, she shattered the glass ceiling for others, ensuring that the paths she tread would remain open for future generations of Filipino women. Her legacy as a champion of women empowerment, literacy and peace remains strong to this day. As a Senator, she was author of several laws including of R.A. 6949, which declares March 8 of every year as National Women's Day in the Philippines, and R.A. 7192 or the Women in Development and Nation Building Act that sought to break all barriers for women and paved the way for the entry of women into the Philippine Military Academy. Tunay na binigyan ni Senator Nina Rasul ng puso ang Senado sa loob ng dalawang termino o walong taong na paninilbihan bilang nag-iisang babeng Muslim sa kasaysaysan ng Senado. Her service to the nation did not end after her stint in the Senate. She was part of the historic peace talks with the Moro National Liberation Front as a member of the government peace panel during the administration of the late former President Fidel V. Ramos. She continued to push for her advocacies with the establishment of the Magbassa Kita Foundation Inc., whose work in promoting literacy for peace and development continues to this day. Senator Rasul was also a key member of the first post-EDSA Senate, which played a critical role in restoring democratic institutions and laying the foundations of modern Philippine democracy. On behalf of the Senate of the Philippines, I extend our deepest condolences to the family of Senator Rasul, her loved ones, and the communities she served with dedication and compassion. May she rest in peace. Amid the row over the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, the Indian Secular Front (ISF) staged a protest on Friday over the alleged atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh. ISF leader and MLA Naushad Siddiqui, speaking to ANI, emphasized the need to protect Hindu minorities in Bangladesh and called for respect for the Indian flag. "The safety of minorities in Bangladesh, especially Hindus, should be ensured. The Indian flag should not be disrespected in Bangladesh. It should be stopped," Siddiqui said. Pointing towards the Bangladesh flag, Siddiqui added, "You can see the Bangladesh flag waving here. We have not done anything. Confront me if you have any enmity towards me. Why are you (showing disrespect) towards the flag of my country?" The controversy centers on Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, who has been charged with sedition for allegedly hoisting a saffron flag above Bangladesh's national flag in Chittagong on October 25. Tensions escalated after a lawyer was killed during clashes between police and alleged followers of Das at the Chattogram Court Building on November 27. ISKCON's Bangladesh unit has rejected allegations linking the religious organisation to the killing of a lawyer in Chattogram, protests continue in the country. ISKCON had earlier expressed solidarity with Chinmoy Krishna Das. "ISKCON, Inc. stands with Chinmoy Krishna Das. Our prayers to Lord Krishna for the protection of all these devotees," ISKCON, Inc. had said in a post on X. Chinmoy Krishna Das remains in a Bangladesh jail after a Chittagong court denied him bail on Tuesday. His arrest has strained relations between the Bangladesh government and ISKCON, fueling protests and unrest. Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday that India has consistently and strongly raised the issue of targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities with the Bangladesh government. While addressing a weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal urged Bangladesh's interim government to take steps for the protection of minorities. On the situation of minorities in Bangladesh, Jaiswal said, "India has consistently and strongly raised with the Bangladesh government the threats and targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities. We made our position very clear as far as the situation of Hindus and minorities in Bangladesh is concerned. The interim government must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities." "We are concerned about the surge of extremist rhetoric, increasing incidents of violence and provocation. These developments cannot be dismissed only as media exaggerations. We once again call upon Bangladesh to take all steps for the protection of minorities and safeguarding their interests," he added. (ANI) Former President of the Jharkhand Congress, Rajesh Thakur, assured that the Congress will support Chief Minister Hemant Soren's decision on the cabinet expansion, stating that the decision will be made after careful consideration. On Friday, Thakur said that the chosen ministers might take their oath before December 9, when the government plans to prove its majority. "The government has been formed with a huge majority and the oath ceremony of the CM has been completed... Whenever a big decision has to be taken, a lot of thought is put into it. The CM will expand his cabinet and we will support him," he said. "The chosen people will take the oath. He has chosen to prove the majority on December 9. The oath ceremony may take place before that if the CM wants," the Congress leader added. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren assumed office on Thursday after taking the oath as Chief Minister for a second consecutive term. Stephen Marandi has been appointed as the pro-tem speaker of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly. "Stephen Marandi has been chosen as the pro-tem speaker of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly. The Jharkhand Legislative Assembly session will commence on December 9. Benefits under the Maiya Samman Yojana will be provided from December," Soren said. While speaking to reporters, the Jharkhand CM assured Agniveers in the state that the JMM-led government would support the families of those who had lost their lives. "The central government has started a scheme like Agniveer for the security of the nation. There are many questions about the future of the youth... The state government had already decided that it would stand with the families of those Agniveers of Jharkhand who have lost their lives in any incident... Agniveer Arjun Mahto recently laid down his life for the country... We have given an appointment letter to the brother of Agniveer Arjun Mahto, and an ex-gratia amount of Rs 10 lakh has been provided to the family," Soren told reporters. Earlier, the swearing-in ceremony was held at Morabadi Ground in Ranchi, with several prominent leaders from parties opposed to the BJP attending the event. This marks the first time in Jharkhand's history that an incumbent government, which has completed five years in office, has returned to power. (ANI) India and Bosnia and Herzegovina held their fourth Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in Sarajevo on Thursday, as announced by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). According to the MEA, The Indian delegation was led by Arun Kumar Sahu, Additional Secretary (Central Europe) in the Ministry of External Affairs, while the Bosnian delegation was headed by Tarik Bukvic, Head of the Department for Asia and Africa in Bosnia and Herzegovina's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the consultations, both sides conducted a comprehensive review of bilateral, regional, and international issues. Discussions focused on the progress made in political relations, trade and investment, cooperation in science and technology, cultural relations, and people-to-people contacts through student and youth exchanges, as well as the promotion of tourism between the two countries, the MEA noted. Both sides exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest, including developments in the neighbourhoods of India and Bosnia and Herzegovina, multilateralism including BRICS, UN, EU, NAM, and global developments of mutual concern. Additional Secretary Sahu also met with advisors Marko Milisav and Maja Gacic, from the Chairwoman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He further paid a courtesy call to Christian Schmidt, the High Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as per the press statement. Both sides agreed to hold the next round of Foreign Office Consultations at a mutually convenient time in New Delhi.India and Bosnia and Herzegovina are celebrating 30 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2025. Both countries share close and friendly relations. The details of the meeting were also shared on X, where it was stated: "The 4th India-Bosnia & Herzegovina FOC, co-chaired by Mr Arun Sahu, Additional Secretary (Central Europe), and Mr Tarik Bukvic, Head of Department for Asia & Africa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bosnia & Herzegovina, was held in Sarajevo today. Both sides reviewed various aspects of bilateral relations, including political, economic, educational, cultural, and S&T cooperation. They also exchanged views on regional and global issues." https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/1862168183920083307 India and Bosnia enjoy warm and friendly ties, with multi-faceted collaboration across various sectors. According to the MEA, Bosnia and Herzegovina attach great importance to good relations with India, and both countries are working to further develop and strengthen all-round cooperation, including in economic and cultural fields. (ANI) Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav delivered remarks on Thursday during an interactive session in Germany, discussing investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh. He said, "We want a new kind of partnership with Germany, a partnership that is not restricted to just trade. We want German companies with their advanced technologies, to invest in Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh is a complete investment destination today, it is a big market that is a golden opportunity for investors". The Chief Minister commented on the rich and historic relations between the two countries and said that his journey through Germany is a step towards strengthening these relations. Highlighting the incentives that Madhya Pradesh offers to investors, CM Yadav said, "I want a new kind of partnership with Germany. A partnership that is not limited to just trade. I want Germany's companies to invest in Madhya Pradesh with their advanced technology." He stressed that Madhya Pradesh is "a huge market, which is also a great opportunity for the investors. When I talk about the capabilities of Madhya Pradesh, the figures speak for themselves. Our economy has increased threefold in the last decade. Our economic conditions have increased threefold in the last decade. We are a power surplus state. Madhya Pradesh is the second largest state in the country in terms of the region". He further highlighted that in terms of green energy, Madhya Pradesh is a leading state in India, utilizing green energy while meeting international standards. CM Yadav remarked that the steps for starting businesses have been simplified in the state, calling these changes "revolutionary." He mentioned that the process of starting a business has been streamlined, with approvals granted from the necessary departments within a short time span of thirty days. "We have either eliminated or simplified more than 2000 processes. We have eliminated the principles of many laws that were a hindrance in business," he stated. He also noted that Madhya Pradesh has repeatedly been awarded by the Indian government for its efforts in emerging as a leading destination for investors. "Our special team in the Chief Minister's office is dedicated to the investors. We say that the investors are not guests but a part of the family. I monitor every project myself. Take a decision today and start your plan from tomorrow," he said while concluding his remarks. CM Yadav also invited investors to come to Bhopal in 2025 for the Global Investors Summit. CM Yadav is currently on a visit to Germany from November 28 to November 29, following his three-day visit to the UK. During his visit, he will attend several events in Munich and Stuttgart. (ANI) Johnnie Moore, the former Commissioner of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), and the former spiritual advisor to President Trump has called on Human Rights Organisations need to speak up on atrocities against Hindus in wake of the recent reports of persecution of minorities in Bangladesh. "Human rights organizations and religious freedom organizations sought to raise their voices every second right. I think that a lot of times the Hindu community, when they are persecuted around the world, unfortunately, fewer people speak up about it. I'm committing to doing the exact opposite... I'm calling for the world's human rights and religious freedom organizations to do the same... When Muhammad Yunus came in as the interim leader of the country, he made promises related to democracy, the rule of law, and all these values that are cherished by the West and our international institutions... This is a moment of existential threat not only for the minorities of Bangladesh but for the entire country. It is a call to advocate for human rights and religious freedom to speak up," he said. The former Commissioner of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom said that the interim government in Bangladesh has failed to manage the situation and ensure protection of minorities. "We're not sure who's really doing this, but let me just say, the way I see it, Muhammad Yunus is failing. That's what's happening in Bangladesh now. As, the leader of the country, as the interim leader of the country, there are no aspirations for the Bangladeshi people. If you can't manage a very, very simple component of civil society, which is you have to protect people, people have to be safe. If the rule of law becomes so inefficient that instead of getting due process, a lawyer is killed. This is unbelievable, I was astonished by the response of Mr Yunus in the Bangladeshi government. They are saying this is exaggerated. They're saying that this isn't as big a deal as it seems," he said Moore said that Bangladesh needs to reach out to India rather than have a sense of animosity towards India. "India is the largest and most important country in the region and rather than this enmity that seems to be growing between Bangladesh and India, it should actually be the exact opposite. They can have political disagreements. That's fine. Countries have political disagreements all the time. But the way this crisis is being handled is at risk of not only exacerbating those tensions but denying the Bangladeshi people all the benefits that can come from being in a close relationship with an economic, technological and political powerhouse, that is the Republic of India". He observed, "Bangladesh can chart a new political path while having open hands to everything it can benefit from its powerhouse neighbour. Or, Bangladesh can decide to do its own thing and chart a path separate from that. Then who will be aligned with Bangladesh? My concern is that those willing to help Bangladesh in its time of need, some of those have nefarious purposes in mind. What we cannot have, we cannot have a country overtaken by terrorists or communists or other interests which would be a threat not only to the Bangladeshi people, to Southeast Asia, but to the entire world." says Johnnie Moore. The remarks by Moore come amid the background of the arrest of priest Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh. The spiritual leader remains under arrest for alleged crimes of sedition. (ANI) Johnnie Moore, former Commissioner of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), has slammed the Bangladesh interim government over the situation of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh, saying "there isn't a minority in the country that doesn't feel under threat right now" and that "Muhammad Yunus is failing." In an interview with ANI, Moore said it is the government's first responsibility to protect those under threat. He also said that this is a moment of "existential threat not only for the minorities of Bangladesh but for the entire country". Moore criticised the arrest of priest Chinmoy Krishna Das by Bangladesh Police and said perception among minorities is "if they'll go after him, they'll go after any of us". The former USCIRF Commissioner said the global Christian community stands with the Hindu community in Bangladesh. "Bangladesh isn't just a Muslim country. It's a Muslim-majority country that has many, many minorities. There isn't a minority in the country that doesn't feel under threat right now. That's been globally evident in recent days as this high-profile arrest has taken place of not just a leader of the Hindu Bangladeshi community, but really a very serious religious figure. I think the perception is if they'll go after him, they'll go after any of us. I want to be crystal clear, that the global Christian community stands with the Hindu community in Bangladesh. It is the first responsibility of a government to protect those under threat. The religious minorities of Bangladesh are really feeling it now and they deserve our support," he said. "We're not sure who's really doing this, but let me just say, the way I see it, Muhammad Yunus is failing. That's what's happening in Bangladesh now. As, the leader of the country, as the interim leader of the country, there are no aspirations for the Bangladeshi people. If you can't manage a very, very simple component of civil society, which is you have to protect people, people have to be safe. If the rule of law becomes so inefficient that instead of getting due process, a lawyer is killed. This is unbelievable, I was astonished by the response of Mr Yunus in the Bangladeshi government. They are saying this is exaggerated. They're saying that this isn't as big a deal as it seems," he added. Moore said the visuals and the reports that are coming out of Bangladesh show that how a Hindu priest was first arrested then he was denied bail by the local court. "Then the lawyer defending the priest was killed amid protests outside the court where the lawyer was hacked to death by protesters, dragging him out of his chamber. It's become a major rallying point in the country," Moore said. "As the leader of the country, as the interim leader of the country, there are no aspirations for the Bangladeshi people if you can't manage a very, very simple component of civil society, which is you have to protect people. People have to be safe. And you certainly, you certainly cannot have a vibrant democratic country...if the rule of laws becomes so inefficient that instead of getting due process, a lawyer is killed," he added. Moore also expressed concern over Bangladesh's Attorney General's push to remove the word 'Secular' from the constitution amid growing attacks on religious minorities. "Bangladesh should ask for advice from India and the United States. These are incredibly pluralistic countries that despite a lot of religious competition people have found a way to manage it. Not perfectly. None of our countries are perfect. We make lots and lots of mistakes. But Bangladesh should ask for some help. But secondly, you can't make these promises and not keep them. The second thing they need to do is take what's happening seriously," he said. "The statement that came officially from Mohammed Yunus and the government of Bangladesh was in response to it - they diminished it. That's not what a leader does. A leader takes issues like this seriously... I'm afraid that this mistake could have other consequential effects. The good news is it's not too late to fix it... I'm sorry to say this, but we're finding a lot around the world, a lot of countries that are using the term democracy but aren't actually instituting its values," he added. Muhammad Yunus took over as interim leader of Bangladesh in August this year. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) also expressed solidarity with Chinmoy Krishna Das, who was arrested on charges of sedition for allegedly raising a flag on a stand displaying Bangladesh's national flag. Moore said the way the crisis relating to minorities is being handled by Bangladesh government poses risk of denying the Bangladeshi people all the benefits that can come from being in a close relationship with India which is "an economic, technological and political powerhouse". (ANI) The details were shared in a post on X. "33 PLA aircraft and 8 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 21 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern, southwestern and eastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1862300444275745152Chinese incursions around Taiwan have increased recently. In response, Taiwan has stepped up security along its maritime borders. Taiwan's armed forces conducted a comprehensive air defense drill on Thursday as China reportedly prepares for its third large-scale military exercise, Joint Sword-2024C, near Taiwan. The drill, which involved air, naval, and missile defense units, was conducted to strengthen readiness against potential aerial and missile threats, according to Taiwan News. The Air Force Command stated that the exercise took place from 5 am to 7 am, deploying fighter jets, naval vessels, and air defence missile systems. Aircraft such as the Indigenous Defence Fighter (IDF), Mirage 2000, F-16, and C-130 transport planes were utilised, along with ground-based air defence missile units. Recently, Taiwanese President, Lai Ching-te attended the completion ceremony for the #ROCN Shuei-Sing Barracks. The base will serve as the new home for the Taiwanese Navy Underwater Operations Unit and enhance its training capabilities. https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1859844282842218983 Taiwan President Lai Ching-te convened a high-level national security conference in which he assured the public about the government's commitment to neutralising any threat to Taiwan's democracy and security after China staged a large-scale military drill around the island. He made his remarks in response to the Chinese People's Liberation Army's (PLA) announcement of military drills, named "Joint Sword-2024B," in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding areas, which were described as a "stern warning" to advocates of Taiwan independence, according to the Taipei Times. (ANI) Bob Blackman, a Conservative Member of Parliament for Harrow East in the United Kingdom condemned the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh. Addressing the parliament on Thursday, Blackman showed his concern by the attempt of a High Court in Bangladesh to ban ISKCON from the country. In a post on X, he attached a video of himself speaking in the parliament and said, "Today, I condemned the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh and the imprisonment of Chinmoy Krishna Das. I am also concerned by the attempt in their High Court to rule that ISKCON should be banned from the country. Freedom of religion must be preserved globally." https://x.com/BobBlackman/status/1862166841944088810 He said that Hindus in Bangladesh are now subject to death, with their spiritual leader being arrested and their houses being burnt. He added that the UK has a responsibility to look into the matter because they had enabled Bangladesh's independence. "Now, right now, Mr Speaker, the International Society of Krishna Consciousness, who run Bhaktaventa Manor in Elstree, the largest Hindu temple in this country, in Bangladesh, their spiritual leader is under arrest. Hindus across Bangladesh are being subject literally to death by their houses being burnt, their temples are being burnt. And there was an attempt today in the Bangladesh High Court to rule that ISKCON should be banned from the country. This is a direct attack on Hindus. Now this is a threat from India now to take action. We have a responsibility because we enabled Bangladesh to be free and independent," he said. Blackman urged the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to provide an oral statement on the floor of the House to enable them to bring world's attention to Bangladesh. "Now whatever the change of government has been in Bangladesh it cannot be acceptable that religious minorities are persecuted in this way. So far we've only had a written statement from the FCDO so could the leader enable an oral statement on the floor of this house so we can bring to the world's attention what is going on in Bangladesh," he said. Lucy Powell, Labour and Co-op MP for Manchester Central, echoed Blackman's views and said that she would ask the Foreign Office to look into the Bangladesh situation. "He is absolutely right to highlight these issues. We support freedom of religion, belief everywhere, and that includes in Bangladesh. And I will certainly ask the Foreign Office to look into whether they can come forward with a statement about what's happening to Hindus in Bangladesh," she said. ISKCON) on Thursday expressed solidarity with priest Chinmoy Krishna Das, who was arrested on charges of sedition for allegedly raising a flag on a stand displaying Bangladesh's national flag. In a post on X, ISKCON, Inc. stated, "ISKCON, Inc. stands with Chinmoy Krishna Das. Our prayers to Lord Krishna for the protection of all these devotees." https://x.com/IskconInc/status/1862133717776679209 Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was arrested on charges of sedition for allegedly raising a flag on a stand displaying Bangladesh's national flag. He was presented before a Chittagong court on Tuesday, which denied his bail plea and remanded him in custody. The arrest has sparked widespread outrage, with many demanding his immediate release. (ANI) Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) Rana Muhammad Fayyaz have submitted a resolution to the Punjab Assembly Secretariat, demanding a ban on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Geo News reported. The resolution submitted by PML-N lawmaker demands strict action against Imran Khan-founded party, calling it a "disruptive group" functioning under the guise of a political party. He has called for action against those responsible for the events of November 24. The resolution demanding ban on PTI comes after a similar resolution was passed in the Balochistan Assembly on Thursday. The resolution in Balochistan Assembly was also initiated by PML-N, according to Geo News report. The Balochistan Assembly resolution accused Imran Khan's party of harming key institutions, including the judiciary, media, and economy. The resolution sought for federal intervention to impose a ban on PTI and hold party's leadership accountable for its alleged misdeeds. The resolution, supported by provincial ministers, accused PTI of planning violent demonstrations, including attacks on public and military properties during the protests held on May 9, 2023. Protests erupted in Paksitan on May 9 last year following PTI founder Imran Khan's arrest. The resolution also slammed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government over its alleged use of state machinery to challenge federal authority and labelled it a "non-political agenda." Criticising the mistreatment of PTI, the opposition in the Balochistan Assembly staged a walkout in protest. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also discussed the issue, condemning PTI for its recent moves, Geo News reported. During a high-level meeting on Thursday to review the law-and-order situation, Sharif ordered the formation of professional anti-riot forces to stop future unrest, Geo News reported. Accusing PTI of causing loss of billions of rupees, Shehbaz Sharif said, "Instead of taking the legal route, attempts were repeatedly made to spread chaos across the country by marching on Islamabad. He further asked officials to make a plan to stop such incidents and bring perpetrators to justice. PTI's "do-or-die" protest in Islamabad caused widespread disruption before it was abruptly called off after a crackdown was carried out by the government. As many as 1151 protesters were arrested, including 64 Afghan nationals. Authorities have said that they have recovered weapons, ball bearings and spiked clubs from the arrested Afghans. Meanwhile, PTI leader Salman Akram Raja said that 20 people claimed that 20 died during the protests. However, the authorities have rejected the claim made by PTI leader. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Wednesday described Pakistani forces' action against PTI protesters as a "massacre." Imran Khan's party alleged that the government's security forces assaulted the peaceful protesters in Islamabad during their rally. In a post on X, the PTI said, "A massacre has unfolded in Pakistan at the hands of security forces under the brutal, fascist military regime led by the establishment and PMLN's illegal government. The nation is drowning in blood." "Today, armed security forces launched a violent assault on peaceful PTI protesters in Islamabad, firing live rounds with the intent to kill as many people as possible. Snipers were also used in order to murder many civilians. With countless death and injured, the interior minister's threat to kill and then the declaration of "victory" over slaughtered innocents is enough evidence of the regime's inhumanity," it further said. The PTI added, "The world must condemn this atrocity and the erosion of democracy and humanity in Pakistan. The international community must take a strong stand against this brutal crackdown." PTI's protests, demanding the release of its leader Imran Khan, took a violent turn on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of four security personnel and two PTI supporters, Dawn reported. The PTI protestors were met with intense tear gas upon reaching Islamabad's D-Chowk following which the clash between protestors and security forces broke out. (ANI) The Pakistan security forces have reportedly abducted a law student and airport security personnel from their residence in Karachi. The victims have been identified as Hatim Bizenjo, a student at SM Law College and ASI Dilwash Baloch, airport security personnel, The Balochistan Post reported. They were forcibly abducted from Karachi's Gulshan-e-Iqbal area and then taken to an unknown place. According to their close associates, the two men were taken by personnel wearing plainclothes from a house in Gulshan-e-Iqbal without any explanation. Their families have voiced concerns regarding their well-being and have demanded justice, The Balochistan Post reported. The families of the two men said that that they requested local police to register an FIR over the incident. However, the police refused to entertain their request. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has condemned the incident. In a statement shared on X, the BYC stated, "In the last few days, the Law Enforcement Authorities have forcibly disappeared Hatim Bizenjo, a Law student and ASI Dilwash Baloch, an airport security personnel from Karachi. Both men were detained by security persons in plainclothes while raiding their homes in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. Since then their whereabouts are unknown and Police has refused to lodge their FIRs." The BYC said that the enforced disappearances have become rampant across Balochistan and stressed that they condemn the targeting of Baloch people based on their identity. Criticising the authorities for its actions against Baloch people, the BYC stated, "Enforced disappearances have become rampant across Balochistan and Baloch residing in Karachi. We strongly condemn this targeting of the Baloch based on their identity. The State is deliberately perpetuating Baloch genocide and systematically crushing political resistance of the Baloch demanding their genuine fundamental rights." https://x.com/BalochYakjehtiC/status/1862123923447402917 The rise in cases of enforced disappearances has raised deep concerns among the Baloch people. According to recent data, over 110 individuals have been forcibly abducted in October and more than 90 cases have been registered in November. The BYC has vowed to resist the intensified military operation against the Baloch people and stands in solidarity to protect the identity of the Baloch nation, The Balochistan Post reported. Political and human rights groups in Pakistan have consistently voiced concerns that the Pakistani government and its institutions might target civilians under the guise of military operations. These groups have called on international community to take note of these events and hold Pakistan responsible for any violations. (ANI) Chinese foreign minister meets Cambodian deputy prime minister Xinhua) 09:15, November 29, 2024 Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Prak Sokhonn, Cambodian deputy prime minister and foreign minister, and chairman of the Commission for External Relations of the Central Committee of the Cambodian People's Party, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) BEIJING, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday met with Prak Sokhonn, Cambodian deputy prime minister and foreign minister, and chairman of the Commission for External Relations of the Central Committee of the Cambodian People's Party. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that the friendship between China and Cambodia has withstood the test of international changes, and under the strategic guidance of the leaders of both countries, the ironclad friendship between the two countries has entered a new stage. Wang said China is willing to maintain close high-level exchanges with Cambodia, promote the construction of a China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, enhance high-level strategic coordination to address risks and challenges, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of both countries, and promote regional peace and stability. Prak Sokhonn said that Cambodia is firmly committed to a friendly policy toward China and is willing to enhance political mutual trust, promote practical cooperation, strengthen diplomatic coordination, and continuously elevate the Cambodia-China friendship to new heights. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Israel and Lebanon accused each other of ceasefire breach after Israeli military said they attacked a Hezbollah facility in South Lebanon, Al Jazeera reported. Thursday's attack came after hours after Israel Defence Forces said they fired in several areas in Lebanon, who "it said were violating the terms of the ceasefire". Lebanon then alleged that Israel violated the ceasefire terms several times on Wednesday and Thursday, as per Al Jazeera. Israel's air strike was the first attack since the ceasefire began on Wednesday morning, with Lebanese security sources and local news outlets reporting that the attack took place near Baysariyah, north of the Litani River. Following the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had directed the army to prepare for war if the ceasefire is violated, as per Al Jazeera. Earlier in the day, US President Joe Biden announced that he spoke to the Prime Ministers of Lebanon and Israel, who have accepted the US proposal to end the "devastating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah". US President Joe Biden announced the news in a post on X. https://x.com/POTUS/status/1861510037769732143 "Today, I have good news to report from the Middle East. I have spoken to the Prime Ministers of Lebanon and Israel. And I am pleased to announce: They have accepted the United States' proposal to end the devastating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah", he wrote. Israel and Lebanon have been engaged in a prolonged conflict that began in October last year, when Hezbollah attacked Israeli-controlled territory in solidarity with Hamas and Palestinians in Gaza, as reported by CNN. This incident sparked a series of tit-for-tat border attacks, which eventually escalated into a major military offensive launched by Israel in mid-September. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) had this September carried out air strikes against the Iran-backed Hezbollah group and sent troops into southern Lebanon. This was in response to Hezbollah's rocket strikes into Israel to show solidarity with the Hamas group that had carried out the deadly October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel. Amid the background of this volatile situation, a ceasefire was negotiated by the US and France between Israel and Lebanon. (ANI) The US Department of Homeland Security is looking into Chinese e-commerce platform Temu for potential breaches of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, a move that could result in the company being banned from selling its products in the US, The New York Post has exclusively reported. According to officials and intelligence experts speaking to The NY Post, the incredibly low-priced company has an unfair impact on the US market, monitors its mobile app users, and depends on products produced through slave labour to maintain its rock-bottom prices, New York Post reported. According to the report, a high-ranking DHS official confirmed to The NY Post that the agency is investigating Temu for potential slave-labour violations, but the Biden administration has not yet taken any action against the retailer. Temu was notably missing from a list of 29 Chinese companies added to the US banned list on Friday for violating the UFPLA. The UFLPA, which was drafted and pushed forward during the Trump administration and signed into law by President Biden in 2021, prohibits the import of goods that are "produced wholly or in part with forced labour" in China, particularly from Xinjiang, where Uyghur Muslims are detained in forced-labour camps. Companies found to violate this provision are added to the UFPLA entity list and are prohibited from selling any products in the United States. "[Customs and Border Protection]'s enforcement of this act is crucial to ensuring that goods entering the US are not the product of human suffering," the agency has said. The report further stated that The law is one of the most forceful US responses to Beijing's "systemic use of forced labour against Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region," according to CBP. Temu, which launched in 2022, has rapidly flooded the US and European markets with a wide range of products, from clothing to keychains to furniture, all at a fraction of the usual cost. On Monday, the website's top seller, a "luxurious faux rabbit fur throw blanket," was priced at just USD 12.05 less than a third of the price on Amazon. Kevin Hulbert, a former senior intelligence officer with the CIA's Directorate of Operations and CEO of XK Group Business Intelligence, told The Post that Temu's unusually low prices have raised concerns among officials for years. "It's unbelievable that they can produce a dress, ship it halfway around the world, and sell it for just $8, which drives many US businesses out of the market," Hulbert said. "Then the question arises: how are they able to do this?" "They do it probably by having cheap cotton in their goods and stuff, and so that's an issue. We shockingly allow Temu to self-certify that none of their cotton comes from the Xinjiang province, which is where slave labour's used." As a new presidential administration approaches, some national security advocates are urging the US to revoke Temu's ability to "self-certify" that it complies with the UFLPA. Hulbert explained that advanced intelligence technologies exist to verify whether the company uses Xinjiang-sourced goods, such as by testing the origin of materials like fabric. However, it remains unclear if DHS has applied this method to Temu's products. "You can forensically test cotton and see where it's from," he noted. "If you're wearing a cotton T-shirt right now, for example, I could take that cotton T-shirt off you, and I could test it forensically and tell you if that cotton was produced, grown and produced in Mississippi, Alabama, or if it was from Tajikistan, or if it was from China -- or if it was specifically from the Xinjiang province in China." "So that capability's out there," he added. In June 2023, the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party urged the federal government to investigate Temu, citing a report that claimed the company's business model enables it to evade accountability under the UFPLA unless businesses can prove that the products were made without forced labour. "American consumers should know that there is an extremely high risk that Temu's supply chains are contaminated with forced labour," the report said. There are also cybersecurity concerns related to Temu's mobile app, echoing the issues that led Congress to ban the social media platform TikTok. TikTok was accused of spying on its users and granting Beijing access to their data. A senior DHS official told The Post "There's no way I would download that to my phone." It's unclear whether those allegations are under investigation by the agency. Last month, the European Union began an investigation into Temu, focusing on whether the company breached its Digital Services Act. The probe includes concerns over practices related to the sale of illegal products, the potentially addictive nature of the platform, the algorithms used to recommend purchases, and data access for researchers. (ANI) A team of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) will be sent from its Rawalpindi bureau to arrest former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi, in the GBP 190 million reference, Geo News reported. The decision to arrest Bushra Bibi was taken by the accountability watchdog and it has directed the NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to fully cooperate with the Rawalpindi team, Geo News reported, citing The News. In order to arrest Bushra Bibi, the NAB team will also take help from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police. On November 22, an accountability court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Imran Khan's wife for not appearing in eight consecutive hearings. Judge Nasir Javed Rana had rejected her application requesting an exemption to appear before the court. The court had even issued a show-cause notice to Bushra Bibi's bail guarantor. In the court hearing, Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated in Adiala prison, was presented before the court, Geo News reported. However, a NAB official raised objected that the medical report Bushra Bibi's counsel submitted was issued by Peshawar's Lady Reading Hospital, while the notary attestation was done in Islamabad. Furthermore, Imran Khan and his wife did not submit their statement under Section 342 of CrPC, 1898. The couple had been given a over 79-point questionnaire for final statements at the second last hearing of this case, Geo News reported. Notably, Bushra Bibi was released from Adiala jail on bail in October after remaining in prison for around nine months in the new Toshakhana case. In the case filed by accountability bureau against former Pakistan PM Imran Khan, his wife and others in 2023, the couple is facing a NAB inquiry pertaining to a settlement between the PTI government and a property tycoon, which reportedly resulted in a loss of 190 million to the national exchequer. According to the charges, former Pakistan PM and other accused allegedly adjusted Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 50 billion -- 190 million at the time -- sent by the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) to the Pakistani government as part of the agreement with the property tycoon. Imran Khan's wife was named an accused in the case for being a trustee of the Al-Qadir Trust. They have been accused of taking undue benefit in the form of more than 458 kanals of land at Mouza Bakrala, Sohawa, to establish Al Qadir University. During Imran Khan-led government, the NCA seized assets worth 190 million from the property tycoon in the UK. The UK agency stated that the assets would be passed to the Pakistani government and the settlement with the Pakistani property tycoon was "a civil matter, and does not represent a finding of guilt". Subsequently, then-Pakistan PM Imran Khan got approval for the settlement with the UK crime agency from his cabinet on December 3, 2019, without sharing information regarding the confidential agreement, according to Geo News report. The decision was taken to submit the money to the Supreme court on behalf of the business tycoon. The Al-Qadir Trust was formed in Islamabad a few weeks after the PTI-led government approved the agreement with the property tycoon. (ANI) A US official has confirmed that three American citizens who were released after being detained for years in China were back in the United States. The three - Mark Swidan, Kai Li and John Leung returned to the US through Lackland Air Force Base, part of Joint Base San Antonio in Texas, an administration official confirmed Thursday (local time) as per NBC News. A spokesperson for the National Security Council (NSC) said in a statement on Wednesday that the three Americans are on their way back to the US and they will soon be reunited with their families for the first time in many years. The US government determined that Texas businessman Mark Swidan and Long Island Chinese businessman Kai Li were "wrongly detained" by the Chinese government, the Voice of America reported. In exchange for the three American nationals citizens, The New York Times reported that one of the Chinese citizens released may be Xu Yanjun, an intelligence officer of China's Ministry of State Security. According to NBC. In addition to Xu Yanjun, Ji Chaoqun, a Chinese American who became a citizen through military service, was also included in the prisoner exchange agreement. The NYT quoted John Kamm, founder of the Dui Hua Foundation, a human rights organization in San Francisco, as saying: "This shows that they not only want to give Joe Biden a parting gift, but also send a signal to Donald Trump that important concessions may be made in the future." NYT cited two US officials to report that Xu Yanjun, a Chinese intelligence officer serving a 20-year sentence after he was arrested in Brussels in 2018 and extradited to the United States in a dramatic F.B.I. operation.During a global summit in Peru earlier this month, President Joe Biden discussed a potential prisoner swap with Xi Jinping, the leader of China, the NYT said. The news outlet said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the three Americans while he was flying back to Washington from a diplomatic mission to Rome, and as the three men were on their way back to the United States. Earlier this year, at meetings in New York and Vientiane, Laos, Blinken pressed his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, repeatedly on the need for China to release all wrongfully detained Americans. Biden, has now helped secure the release of more than 70 Americans that the US considered wrongfully detained overseas, according to the White House. (ANI) Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's Advisor on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah said that there is no unanimous opinion among cabinet members regarding the ban on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Geo News reported. The politician's statement came after the Balochistan Assembly sought a ban on the Imran Khan-led party through a resolution on Thursday following the recent "violence" in its protest march on November 26, as per Geo News. "Once again, it [the former ruling party] is carrying out violent actions," the resolution stated, adding that the PTI's "anarchist agenda" has affected the country's system and every sector, including the judiciary, media and the economy. "This matter (the PTI ban) came before the federal cabinet yesterday. The cabinet members discussed the issue but no consensus could be evolved," Geo News quoted Sanaullah as saying. "Opinions were divided on the issue. However, the members decided to further deliberate on the matter." Sanaullah said that the Balochistan Assembly expressed its opinion on the proposal of PTI's ban. Geo News reported that a resolution seeking PTI's ban was submitted to Punjab Assembly's Secretariat. Senior PTI leader Raoof Hasan responded to ongoing speculation about a possible ban on the party, asserting that such a move "is not as simple as it seems". He also told Geo News that if any action is initiated to impose a ban, the party would take legal course to contest the decision. "There is an opinion that governor's rule could be imposed in the PTI-ruled province, as the Constitution provides a mechanism for it," he said. "However, the current situation does not warrant such a measure," he said because the governor's rule has both political and constitutional challenges. Sanaullah, while commenting on PTI's recent protest, said that the protesters were armed and were not coming to Islamabad for 'peaceful demonstration'. Earlier on Wednesday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf described Pakistani forces' action against PTI protesters as a "massacre ... under the brutal, fascist military regime." https://x.com/PTIofficial/status/1861561493940248991 The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf party's protests, demanding the release of its leader Imran Khan, took a violent turn on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of four security personnel and two PTI supporters, the Dawn reported. (ANI) Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will embark on official visit to China from Monday, Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Friday. It will be the first visit to foreign nation since he came to power on July this year. "Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli is paying an official visit to the People's Republic of China from December 2-5 at the cordial invitation of Li Qiang, Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China. The Prime Minister will be accompanied by his spouse Radhika Shakya," the Foreign Ministry stated in a statement. During his visit, Oli is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. It would be followed by a bilateral talk with his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang and exchange views on matters of mutual interest. Oli will also hold a meeting with Zhao Leji, Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China, the foreign ministry announced. Apart from formal engagements, the Nepali Prime Minister also will deliver a keynote address at Peking University. In addition, Prime Minister will address the Nepal-China Business Forum being jointly hosted by the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI). "The entourage of the Prime Minister will comprise Arzu Rana Deuba, Minister for Foreign Affairs; Bishnu Prasad Rimal, Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister; Yuba Raj Khatiwada, Economic and Development Advisor to the Prime Minister; Members of the Parliament; high-ranking government officials; representatives of private sector; and media persons," the release stated. Nepali Prime Minister and his delegation will return to Kathmandu on December 5. The visit comes at a heel when debate about signing the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) pact needs to be signed or not. The Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML government, led by Prime Minister Oli himself, have not been able to build trust over the issue. (ANI) Foreign Ministers of G7 nations and European Union's High Representative expressed concern over the human rights situation in China, particularly in regions such as Xinjiang and Tibet, as well as the continued erosion of civil liberties in Hong Kong. The statement of G7 Foreign Ministers EU's High Representative was released following the meeting held at Italy. The leaders termed sentencing of 45 pro-democracy politicians and activists a further deterioration of democratic participation and pluralism. In a statement, G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US and the High Representative of the EU, said, "We remain concerned by the human rights situation in China, including in Xinjiang and Tibet. We remain concerned by the erosion of civil society, human rights and fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong." "The sentencing of 45 pro-democracy politicians and activists marks a further deterioration of democratic participation and pluralism, which undermines confidence in the rule of law as enshrined in the Hong Kong Basic Law, and therefore Hong Kong's and the People's Republic of China's international legal obligations. We urge China and the Hong Kong authorities to abide by their international human rights commitments and legal obligations," the statement added. The international organisations have lamented the jail sentences of 45 Hong Kong opposition figures convicted of "conspiring to subvert state power" under the city's National Security Law. It is seen as a direct challenge to both Hong Kong's legal autonomy and China's international legal obligations under various agreements. The disproportionate use of the National Security Law in China is a threat to the independence and human rights in Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet. Since the enactment of the law, Hong Kong's human rights situation has deteriorated, with nearly 300 individuals arrested for breaching the National Security Law or colonial-era sedition laws. The recent introduction of the Article 23 legislation has intensified repression and further stifled opposition voices in the city. In the statement, the Foreign Ministers of G7 nations have also expressed concerns regarding situation in the East and South China Seas and reiterated opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. Expressing concern over China's action in the East and South China Seas, the G7 ministers said, "We remain seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas. We reiterate our strong opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. There is no legal basis for China's expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea." The G7 nations expressed opposition to China's militarization and coercive and intimidation activities in the South China Sea. The Foreign Ministers of G7 nations expressed opposition to oppose China's dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia in the South China Sea and its repeated obstruction of countries' freedom of navigation and overflight. In the statement, the Foreign Ministers of G7 nations and EU's High Representative said, "We reiterate our opposition to China's militarization and coercive and intimidation activities in the South China Sea. We re-emphasize the universal and unified character of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and reaffirm its important role in setting out the legal framework that governs all activities in the oceans and seas." "We continue to oppose China's dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia in the South China Sea and its repeated obstruction of countries' freedom of navigation and overflight. We express deep concern over the increasing use of dangerous maneuvers and water cannons against Philippine and Vietnamese vessels. We reiterate that the award rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal on 12 July 2016 is a significant milestone, which is legally binding upon the parties to those proceedings and a useful basis for peacefully resolving disputes between the parties," they added. (ANI) Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai has urged the United Nations and human rights organisations to take notice of the authorities "brutal" treatment against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers during their protest in Islamabad, Dawn reported. While addressing a press conference, Achakzai alleged that a large number of PTI workers and supporters were killed and hundreds of others were injured due to state violence. He accused the government of concealing information regarding casualties that occured due to action taken by police and security forces against protesters who had arrived in Islamabad despite roadblocks on the call of PTI founder Imran Khan, according to Dawn report. Achakzai, who also heads the opposition alliance Tehreek Tahafuz-i-Aaian Pakistan, rejected claims made by government about violence by PTI supporters. He called for an independent inquiry into the excessive use of power and demanded accountability for those responsible for it. PkMAP chief demanded that FIRs should be filed against the government action and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif along with the interior minister and IGP should be nominated as they were allegedly behind the brutal violence against the peaceful protesters. He called cases against cases against Imran Khan "politically motivated." Calling for PTI founder's release, he said, "The cases against Imran Khan are politically motivated, and therefore, he and all other political prisoners should be immediately released," Dawn reported. During the press conference, Achakzai also spoke on the representative status and role of the Balochistan Assembly which passed a resolution against Imran Khan's party. He stressed that restrictions against political parties did not end politics in the past nor will they do now. Speaking on the elections held on February 8, he said that the truth regarding polls is well known and one seat was allegedly sold for Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 700 million. Mahmood Khan Achakzai criticised the institutions that used all their power against political activists. However, they were unable to take any substantial action against criminals and armed gangs who had killed innocent people in Rahrah Sham, Duki, Musakhail and Khurram district. He also criticised the 26th Amendment and highlighted the role of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) in its passage. He further said that the constitutional framework everyone had agreed to was now being distorted. Earlier on Wednesday, Imran Khan's party described Pakistani forces' action against PTI protesters as a "massacre." Imran Khan's party alleged that the government's security forces assaulted the peaceful protesters in Islamabad during their rally. In a post on X, the PTI said, "A massacre has unfolded in Pakistan at the hands of security forces under the brutal, fascist military regime led by the establishment and PMLN's illegal government. The nation is drowning in blood." "Today, armed security forces launched a violent assault on peaceful PTI protesters in Islamabad, firing live rounds with the intent to kill as many people as possible. Snipers were also used in order to murder many civilians. With countless death and injured, the interior minister's threat to kill and then the declaration of "victory" over slaughtered innocents is enough evidence of the regime's inhumanity," it further said. The PTI added, "The world must condemn this atrocity and the erosion of democracy and humanity in Pakistan. The international community must take a strong stand against this brutal crackdown." PTI's protests, demanding the release of its leader Imran Khan, took a violent turn on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of four security personnel and two PTI supporters, Dawn reported. The PTI protests were met with intense tear gas upon reaching Islamabad's D-Chowk following which the clash between protesters and security forces broke out. (ANI) Expressing concern over the rise of "extremist rhetoric, increasing incidents of violence and provocation", Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday that India has consistently and strongly raised the issue of targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities with Bangladesh government. While addressing a weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal urged Bangladesh's interim government to take steps for protection of minorities. On situation of minorities in Bangladesh, Jaiswal said, "India has consistently and strongly raised with the Bangladesh government the threats and targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities. We made our position very clear as far as the situation of Hindus and minorities in Bangladesh is concerned. The interim government must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities. We are concerned about the surge of extremist rhetoric, increasing incidents of violence and provocation. These developments cannot be dismissed only as media exaggerations. We once again call upon Bangladesh to take all steps for the protection of minorities and safeguarding their interests." The MEA spokesperson called ISKCON a "globally well-regarded organisation with a strong record of social service. He expressed hope that legal processes will be dealt with in a fair, just and transparent manner. "We see ISKCON as a globally well-regarded organisation with a strong record of social service. As far as the arrest of Chinmoy Das is concerned, we had made our statement on that and it is our expectation that cases against individuals, as far as they are concerned, these legal processes are underway. We hope and expect that these processes will be dealt with in a fair, just and transparent manner ensuring full respect of their legal rights of these individuals and all those who are concerned," the MEA spokesperson said. On the supply of commodities from India to Bangladesh, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "The supply of commodities from India to Bangladesh continues. And likewise, the trade between Bangladesh and India continues in both directions..." Hindu Spirtual leader Chinmoy Krishna Das has been charged with sedition for allegedly hoisting a saffron flag above Bangladesh's national flag in Chittagong on October 25. Even though ISKCON's Bangladesh unit has rejected allegations linking the religious organisation to the killing of lawyer in Chattogram, protests continue in the country. The situation has been tense after a lawyer was killed during clashes between police and alleged followers of Das in the Chattogram Court Building area on November 27. ISKCON had earlier expressed solidarity with Chinmoy Krishna Das. In a post on X, ISKCON, Inc. stated, "ISKCON, Inc. stands with Chinmoy Krishna Das. Our prayers to Lord Krishna for the protection of all these devotees. "Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was arrested on charges of sedition for allegedly raising a flag on a stand displaying Bangladesh's national flag. Chinmoy Krishna Das is currently lodged in a Bangladesh jail after a Chittagong court denied him bail on Tuesday. (ANI) A noted Pakistani nationalist activist, Toqeer Gilani, has strongly condemned the Pakistan government's controversial presidential ordinance that bans all political rallies, gatherings, and protests in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) during a protest in New York, USA. The ordinance, which has sparked widespread criticism, has led to growing tensions and protests in the region, with many political figures and citizens describing it as an infringement on basic democratic rights. According to Toqeer Gilani, the Pakistani police have reportedly used tear gas and attempted lathi charges against individuals protesting against the new law. The situation has escalated, as people have been raising their voices against the government's increasing control over political expression in the region. Gilani, along with other political figures, has condemned the law as oppressive and undemocratic. Gilani expressed grief that Barrister Sultan, President of PoJK, has called the ordinance a "black law," claiming that it was implemented without proper consultation or discussions with stakeholders, including himself. Raja Farukh Haider, a former Prime Minister of PoJK, and Shah Gulam Qadir, a key political leader, have also labelled the ordinance as a "black law." Gilani stated, "All these prominent figures were involved in government activities but still they claim that they have no hand in implementing this law when they address the public." Gilani also highlighted, "I had been falsely accused of blasphemy by intelligence agencies during his fight against the government and faced harassment for more than a year and a half." Recently, The Awami Action Committee has also voiced strong opposition to the law and has called for an indefinite general strike, starting from December 5. Gilani and other political leaders have called for the immediate withdrawal of the controversial ordinance. They have vowed to continue standing in solidarity with the people of POJK and fight for the restoration of political freedoms and basic human rights in the region. (ANI) India and Syria held the sixth round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in New Delhi on Friday and discussed ways to deepen bilateral ties with a special focus on various sectors like pharmaceuticals, developmental partnership and capacity building. The officials of India and Syria exchanged perspectives on important regional and global issues of mutual interest, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). For the meeting, the Indian delegation was led by Suresh Kumar, Joint Secretary (WANA), Ministry of External Affairs and the Syrian delegation was led by Ayman Raad, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Syria. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated, "The discussions reviewed the entire range of India-Syria bilateral relations, with a renewed commitment to energize the institutional mechanisms between the two countries. Both sides also discussed avenues to deepen the bilateral relationship with a special focus on areas like pharmaceuticals, developmental partnership and capacity building. The two sides also exchanged perspectives on important regional and global issues of mutual interest." The MEA noted that the discussions held on Friday will contribute to strengthening bilateral ties. The two nations have decided to hold the next round of Foreign Office Consultations in Syria on a mutually convenient date. In the statement, MEA stated, "India and Syria enjoy warm and friendly relations based on historic and civilizational ties. India has been a keen developmental partner for Syria and is also actively involved in capacity building of the Syrian youth. Both countries also cooperate on various multilateral forums. The discussions held today will contribute in further strengthening of India- Syria bilateral partnership." Earlier in August, India sent a consignment of approximately 1400 kgs of anti-cancer drugs to Syria in humanitarian assistance, the Ministry of External Affairs said. The drugs are dispatched from India, keeping in mind the country's commitments to Syria. "India sends humanitarian assistance to Syria. In keeping with its humanitarian commitments, India has dispatches anti-cancer drugs to Syria," the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal wrote on X in August, while sharing a post of the consignment with pictures. "The consignment of approx 1400 kgs will support the Syrian government and its people combat the disease," the post added. (ANI) Representatives from the Baloch Voice Association (BVA) and Baloch People's Congress (BPC) called for an immediate investigation in human rights violations in Balochistan during their meeting on Friday with Stamatia Stavrinaki, a member of the UN Committee on Racial Discrimination and Torture, at the Palais Wilson in Geneva during the 114th Session of the UN Committee. The Baloch delegation delivered a powerful briefing highlighting ongoing human rights violations against the Baloch people. The delegation presented a comprehensive report and video evidence of systematic abuse, profiling, and oppression faced by the Baloch population. These violations include enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and widespread torture. Baloch civilians have also been subjected to discrimination based on their ethnicity, political views, and cultural identity. Particularly disturbing are the attacks on families of missing persons, many of whom are linked to the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP), a group advocating for justice and accountability. These camps, where families of the disappeared gather to protest, have been targeted by Pakistani state forces and intelligence agencies, including the notorious Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Reports indicate that the camps have been burnt, and family members have faced threats and intimidation. Munir Mengal, the Baloch representative to the United Nations, condemned Pakistan's continued violations of international human rights conventions. "We have come to the UN to call for an immediate investigation into these atrocities and demand that Pakistan be held accountable for its actions against the Baloch people," he stated. One of the most troubling aspects highlighted was the racial profiling of Baloch students, particularly in universities. Baloch students have been subjected to enforced disappearances simply for participating in cultural activities or wearing traditional Balochi clothing. These incidents, according to the delegation, underscore the racial profiling and systemic abuse faced by the Baloch in Pakistan. The Baloch representatives also called for a detailed investigation by the UN Committee. They urged the committee to visit Balochistan, meet with victims' families, and assess the situation on the ground to ensure an informed and impartial investigation. They stressed that Pakistan, a signatory to the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the Convention Against Torture, is in clear violation of its international obligations. Further, the Baloch delegation urged the UN Committee to consider the potential consequences for Pakistan's trade relations with the European Union. Pakistan's Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) status, which provides duty-free access to EU markets, should be contingent upon an independent investigation into the human rights situation in Balochistan. "We cannot allow Pakistan's non-response to these serious allegations to be used as justification for renewing their GSP+ status in the European Parliament," said one of the representatives. The Baloch representatives concluded by calling for immediate international intervention to address the growing crisis in Balochistan and to hold Pakistan accountable for its human rights violations. The delegation emphasized that the international community must take a stand to ensure that Pakistan's treatment of the Baloch people is thoroughly scrutinized. (ANI) The Union government has taken serious note of incidents of violence against Hindus and other minorities, and shared its concerns with the interim government in Bangladesh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed the Parliament on Friday. He further termed that protecting the life and liberty of citizens, including the minorities is the responsibility of the Bangladesh government. Responding to BJP MP Arun Kumar Sagar's question on violence against the Hindu community in Bangladesh, Jaishankar in a written reply to Lok Sabha, said, "Government have seen several reports of incidents of violence against Hindus and other minorities, their homes and business establishments and of attacks on temples/ religious places, including in the month of August 2024, across Bangladesh." "Government have taken a serious note of these incidents and shared its concerns with the Government of Bangladesh. Reports of attacks on temples and puja mandaps also came to light during the recent Durga Puja festival in Bangladesh," he added. The Foreign Minister said that the reports of attacks on temples and puja mandaps also came to light during the recent Durga Puja festival. Jaishankar added that the Indian High Commission in Dhaka is closely monitoring the situation related to the minorities in Bangladesh. "Government had expressed its serious concerns regarding the attack on a Puja mandap in Tantibazar, Dhaka and theft at the Jeshoreshwari Kali temple at Satkhira during Durga Puja 2024. Following these attacks, the Government of Bangladesh had issued instructions for providing special security including deployment of Army and Border Guards Bangladesh to ensure peaceful celebrations of Durga Puja," the EAM stated in his reply. "The High Commission of India in Dhaka continues to monitor the situation related to the minorities in Bangladesh closely. The primary responsibility for the protection of life and liberty of all citizens of Bangladesh, including minorities, rests with the Government of Bangladesh," he added. Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday that India has consistently and strongly raised the issue of targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities with the Bangladesh government. While addressing a weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal urged Bangladesh's interim government to take steps for the protection of minorities. On the situation of minorities in Bangladesh, Jaiswal said, "India has consistently and strongly raised with the Bangladesh government the threats and targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities. We made our position very clear as far as the situation of Hindus and minorities in Bangladesh is concerned. The interim government must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities." "We are concerned about the surge of extremist rhetoric, increasing incidents of violence and provocation. These developments cannot be dismissed only as media exaggerations. We once again call upon Bangladesh to take all steps for the protection of minorities and safeguarding their interests," he added. (ANI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, while addressing German investors on Friday, highlighted that the state is a major hub for emerging opportunities. Speaking at a roundtable meeting on investment prospects organized at Stuttgart, CM Yadav emphasized the state's growing potential. "Madhya Pradesh is a huge centre of emerging opportunities. The strength doubles because of the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said. CM Yadav is currently on a visit to Germany aimed at attracting investments through engagements with industrialists, business leaders, and government representatives from both nations. Speaking with ANI, CM Yadav expressed his satisfaction with the visit, noting the "huge" interest shown by investors. "I am very happy with how this visit has turned out, just as we had planned. We aim to drive the state's progress and create employment opportunities for the youth... Germany can be a very good partner in this. A large number of investors have shown their interest," he said. Lapp Group CEO Matthias Lapp shared his positive experience of investing in Madhya Pradesh, saying they had yielded "very good results and development." "We have heavily invested in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh... It's the biggest investment we have so far in Asia Pacific. Over the last few years, we had very good results and development... Offers from the government to make speedy process, get things done fast, efficiently and have everything done as we needed it to be to have our employees produce the right products that can be sold on the market," Lapp told ANI. Lapp also praised CM Yadav's efforts to bring investment to the state, saying, "It's the best thing to go directly into the country, to see the possibilities for entrepreneurs, people, and industries, to meet and chat with the CM to get direct a response and feedback. That is only done if you travel in person. Having him here in Germany. It is also of great value for the German industry to have direct contacts." On Thursday, Yadav participated in an interactive session in Germany, where he discussed investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh. "We want a new kind of partnership with Germany, a partnership that is not restricted to just trade. We want German companies with their advanced technologies, to invest in Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh is a complete investment destination today, it is a big market that is a golden opportunity for investors," he said. Yadav arrived in Germany on November 28 after completing a three-day visit to the UK. (ANI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Friday visited the State Museum of Natural History in Stuttgart as part of his Germany tour to attract investments for the state. CM Yadav signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the state museum to enhance knowledge sharing and exchange of resources to facilitate fossils found in Madhya Pradesh. This partnership will help to optimise the resources and learnings which will help study, preserve the finds and showcase in a scientific manner. CM Yadav's visit to Germany focuses on engaging with industrialists, business leaders, and government representatives from both nations to promote investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh. Earlier in the day, CM Yadav attended a roundtable meeting on investment prospects organized at Stuttgart. Speaking at the meeting Yadav highlighted that the state is a major hub for emerging opportunities. "Madhya Pradesh is a huge centre of emerging opportunities. The strength doubles because of the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said. Speaking with ANI, CM Yadav expressed his satisfaction with the visit, noting the "huge" interest shown by investors. "I am very happy with how this visit has turned out, just as we had planned. We aim to drive the state's progress and create employment opportunities for the youth... Germany can be a very good partner in this. A large number of investors have shown their interest," he said. Lapp Group CEO Matthias Lapp shared his positive experience of investing in Madhya Pradesh, saying they had yielded "very good results and development." "We have heavily invested in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh... It's the biggest investment we have so far in Asia Pacific. Over the last few years, we had very good results and development... Offers from the government to make speedy process, get things done fast, efficiently and have everything done as we needed it to be to have our employees produce the right products that can be sold on the market," Lapp told ANI. Lapp also praised CM Yadav's efforts to bring investment to the state, saying, "It's the best thing to go directly into the country, to see the possibilities for entrepreneurs, people, and industries, to meet and chat with the CM to get direct a response and feedback. That is only done if you travel in person. Having him here in Germany. It is also of great value for the German industry to have direct contacts." Yadav arrived in Germany on November 28 after completing a three-day visit to the UK. (ANI) This is the first time the rebels have entered the city since the Syrian government gained control of the city in 2016. The rebel forces launched a surprise attack earlier this week on Wednesday as they swept through several villages outside the city, reigniting the conflict. According to a video geolocated by CNN, a rebel fighter could be seen driving through the deserted streets on the western side of Aleppo city. The Syrian military said that it faced a "major attack", following which it is "reinforcing all locations along the various battlefronts." However, the locals claimed that forces had pulled back from the neighbourhood in the western part of Aleppo. "Our forces have begun entering the city of Aleppo," said the newly formed rebel coalition, the Military Operations Command. Earlier as reported by CNN, The rebel group stated that they had captured the Military Scientific Research Center on the outskirts of Aleppo city following the "intense clashes with the regime forces and Iranian militias." On Friday, Syrian rebels killed four people by an artillery shell strike at Aleppo University's student housing, according to Syria's state news agency, SANA. However, rebels group spokesperson Hassan Abdulghani refuted the accusations by the Syrian government media as "baseless lies." Aleppo University employee, who remained anonymous due to security reasons said that the said artillery hit the second floor of the said student's housing of the university. A video circulating on social media, geolocated by CNN, shows young men running out of a dormitory in Aleppo University campus and carrying an injured individual. On Thursday the airstrikes by these rebel groups killed at least 15 people, including six children and two women in Aleppo and Idlib countryside, according to the White Helmets, a volunteer rescue group, as reported by CNN Iranian state media said that Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Kioumars Pourhashemi was also killed in the city. (ANI) In a post on X, the External Affairs Minister shared the details of the meeting, saying, "Received Ambassador @svane_freddy of Denmark for a farewell call today." EAM Jaishankar appreciated the Ambassador's contributions in strengthening the India-Denmark partnership, stating that he "made a difference to the relationship" and wishing him the best for all future endeavours. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1862461140598460499 India and Denmark share friendly ties, with diplomatic relations established in September 1949, based on historical links, common democratic traditions, and a shared desire for regional and international peace and stability. The Ministry of External Affairs, in a press statement, informed that bilateral relations were elevated to the level of a "Green Strategic Partnership" during a Virtual Summit in 2020 between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark. The current development in India-Denmark relations has been guided by this "Green Strategic Partnership." The two countries have seen several high-level interactions. In 2024, EAM Jaishankar met Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue, where they exchanged views on bilateral, regional, and international issues of mutual interest. 2024 marks 75 years of diplomatic ties between India and the Kingdom of Denmark. To mark the occasion, both ministers unveiled a joint logo. The MEA noted in a press statement that the ministers highlighted significant outcomes under the Indo-Danish Green Strategic Partnership. They agreed to finalise a mid-term review of the partnership in 2024, which will conclude in an updated India-Denmark Joint Action Plan (2021-2026), and to hold the next round of the India-Denmark Joint Commission at the earliest possible convenience. India-Denmark relations have grown in depth and breadth in recent years. Prime Minister Modi paid an official visit to Denmark in May 2022, and Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen visited India in 2021. The Indo-Danish Green Strategic Partnership has catalysed enhanced cooperation between the two countries, the MEA noted. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met the Deputy Prime Minister of Fiji, Manoa Kamikamica, in Delhi on Friday. The External Affairs Minister shared the details of the meeting on X. He wrote, "Pleased to meet DPM Manoa Kamikamica of Fiji today in Delhi. Glad to hear his positive impressions of cooperatives and other development programs in India." EAM noted that the two leaders discussed the potential of organic farming, technology applications, and digital tools. He also expressed gratitude to DPM Kamikamica for his support in advancing India-Fiji bilateral ties. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1862451907257569340 Earlier, the Minister of State for External Affairs had also met the DPM. https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1861807652046873031 The meeting comes shortly after the Ministry of External Affairs signed a Project Implementation Agreement with the International Solar Alliance to operationalize a solar project worth USD 2 million in Fiji, Comoros, Madagascar, and Seychelles, according to an official release on Tuesday. This development follows India's commitment to invest USD 2 million in new solar projects in these Indo-Pacific countries under the Quad Climate Working Group initiative. Following the signing of the agreement, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal took to social media platform X to highlight India's commitment to renewables and just energy transitions in island nations of the Indo-Pacific. The bilateral relationship between India and Fiji received a significant boost after the visit of the Prime Minister of India to Fiji in November 2014, during which the First Meeting of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) was held. Over the years, as a major development partner of Fiji, India has been privileged to support Fiji in its nation-building efforts across key sectors, including capacity building, the MEA noted. The Government of India is a committed development partner of Fiji. According to the MEA, Indian assistance extends to sectors such as capacity building through human resource development and training under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programs. Every year, numerous ITEC slots are made available to Fijian nationals, while many others benefit from training opportunities and pursue higher education in India under various scholarships offered by the Ministry of AYUSH and the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR). India also provides Humanitarian and Disaster Relief assistance to Fiji from time to time whenever the need arises. India-Fiji relations are warm, based on mutual respect, cooperation, and strong cultural and people-to-people ties. (ANI) PANAMA CITY A Bay District Schools paraprofessional and bus driver are facing child abuse/neglect charges in connection with incidents that occurred on a school bus. The Panama City Police Department arrested Sylinda Goodman, a paraprofessional with the school system, on charges of child abuse, child neglect and simple assault. The bus driver involved has been identified as Althea Russell, who is being accused of child neglect for failing to report the abuse, according to a police department news release. According to that news release, on Nov. 22 the Panama City Police Department was alerted by the state Department of Children and Families (DCF) of possible acts of child abuse and neglect. Detectives coordinated with Bay District Schools to obtain videofootage from the school bus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through the course of the investigation, four children were identified as victims of neglect and abuse, with three of them also being found to have significant developmental challenges, the release says. Staff at the Childrens Advocacy Center conducted interviews with two of the child victims on Nov. 27. "The investigation revealed several instances of Goodman conducting several specific acts of child abuse toward the children to include hitting, pinching, and pushing them," the news release says. "There was also at least one instance of her directing a child to strikeanother child victim who was found to be autistic. Detectives identified that Russell was aware of these acts of abuse at the time, and made no effort to intervene, protect, or report Goodmans actions to DCF or law enforcement." Bay District Schools issued a statement on Friday saying that it is "deeply disturbed by the allegations of child abuse and neglect involving two of our Transportation employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statement goes on to say: The behaviors described in this investigation are reprehensible and completely contrary to the values we uphold. Our hearts are with the victims and their families during this painful and challenging time. As for the employees: According to the school district statement, "In compliance with our contractual obligations and legal requirements, both employees have been placed on leave pending hearings with the superintendent when schools reopen next week." This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with additional information about this case, or any other, is asked to call the Panama City Police Department at 850-872-3100. This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Child abuse/neglect allegations against 2 Bay school employees Timothy Doherty announced his resignation from the Burlington City Council following his appointment as a Superior Court Judge. Governor Phil Scott announced Nov. 27 the appointment of four Vermont Superior Court Judges: Bonnie Badgewick of Woodstock, Dana DiSano of South Burlington, Doherty of Burlington and Laura Rowntree of South Burlington. In the Front Porch Forum announcement, Doherty, a Democrat who represents the East of Burlington, said he is "humbled and profoundly grateful for this opportunity to serve Vermont and look forward to this new phase of my career." His resignation from the Burlington City Council is effective immediately. No information on filling that position has been released yet. On November 27, 2024, Governor Scott announced Tim Doherty's appointment to serve as a Superior Court Judge. About Doherty Doherty has been practicing law for over 20 years. He began his legal career in Vermont as a law clerk to U.S. District Court Judge William K. Sessions III and subsequently as a law clerk to the Honorable Peter W. Hall on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For a decade, Doherty served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the District of Vermont, prosecuting a wide variety of federal crimes. Most recently, Doherty has been a partner at the law firm Downs Rachlin Martin, where he handles both criminal and civil matters. Doherty graduated magna cum laude from the College of the Holy Cross with a B.A. in English. He earned his J.D. from Yale Law School. Doherty and his spouse live in Burlington with their three sons. About the other appointed judges Badgewick has worked in private practice for over 20 years, primarily focusing on litigation in civil and administrative fields. She has represented a variety of individuals and business entities in all types of litigated civil cases in all counties and courts in Vermont. Badgewick currently serves on the Civil Rules Committee, is vice-chair of the Professional Responsibility Board and is the president of the Vermont Bar Foundation. With over 14 years of legal experience, DiSano currently serves as a prosecutor in the Criminal Division of the Attorney Generals Office. Throughout her career, DiSano has tried dozens of cases and worked extensively with special victim units, including her most recent role as a prosecutor for the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and as vice-chair of the Chittenden Unit for Special Investigations Policy Board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rowntree has been with the Vermont Attorney Generals Office since August 2018 and became the chief of the Civil Division in April 2022, overseeing defensive litigation filed against the State. Prior to moving to Vermont and joining the Attorney Generals Office, Rowntree worked as an associate attorney for two law firms in New York City and as an assistant corporation counsel at the New York City Law Department. Rowntree also clerked for U.S. Magistrate Judge James L. Cott in the Southern District of New York. Before attending law school, she was a teacher. The State of Vermont press release noted that half of all the superior court judges Governor Scott has appointed have been women, increasing this Courts gender diversity. Women now represent nearly 40% of superior court judges in the state. The four Superior Court Judge appointees will be sworn in in the coming weeks. Sydney P. Hakes is the Burlington city reporter. Contact her at SHakes@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Burlington City Councilor resigns, appointed as Superior Court Judge After a two-year process, lawmakers approved a broad package of state rules last week governing how public schools should operate. But many public school educators say they arent happy. Known as the minimum standards for public school approval, the rules govern virtually every aspect of public school administration, from class sizes to curriculum requirements. They must be updated every 10 years or they will expire. The rules update pitted school administrators and board members against the State Board of Education and the Department of Education. This years update has divided lawmakers along party lines and pitted school administrators and board members against the State Board of Education and the Department of Education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department, which crafted the rules, says they provide flexibility for school districts around curriculum and other areas, and create new opportunities for innovative types of learning in public schools. Critics who include teachers unions, the New Hampshire School Administrators Association, and the New Hampshire School Boards Association say the rules dilute the states curriculum requirements for schools by removing some specific mandates. That could pave the way for schools in lower-income, higher property tax towns to cut back on instruction in order to contain costs, critics say. Our specific concerns remain as well including the removal of class size maximums, the removal of subject area requirements, and inconsistent application of competency terminology and differentiated instruction, wrote the Manchester Board of School Committee in a Sept. 23 letter to the State Board of Education asking that it reject the latest changes. Members of the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (JLCAR) met Thursday and approved the final rules on a party-line vote, with Republicans voting in favor of the rules and Democrats opposing them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres a guide to major changes in the rules. A focus on competency-based instruction Under the new rules, high school students will still need 20 credits in order to graduate. But the types of classes and the way in which they are assessed will be slightly different. According to the current rules, in order to pass a course, a student must demonstrate knowledge and skills on an assessment approved either by the school district or the Department of Education if no school district exists. The new rules have different metrics: Students could complete either a collection of evidence demonstrating their achievement of competency, or an assessment approved by the school district or state department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The approach adheres to a broader philosophy held by the National Center for Competency-Based Learning, a nonprofit advocacy group based in New Hampshire that has advised the Department of Education under a contract and helped craft the new rules. The centers president, Fred Bramante, joined State Board of Education members for a series of listening sessions across the state in 2023 to talk about the competency-based approach and explain its benefits. Moving forward, the rules echo the philosophy: Credits shall be awarded for achievement of competencies. Credits shall not be awarded based on time spent achieving these competencies. Bramante says the format will ensure that instruction is thorough and not constrained to an assessment or a number of hours of class time. But some educators have complained that the approach is not always feasible for every schools budget, and that the standards for what counts as competency can be vague. Expansion of extended learning opportunities The new rules also include a greater emphasis on extended learning opportunities, part of a policy shift in recent years that aligns with the school choice movement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Extended learning opportunities (ELOs) allow students to obtain credits for classes outside of the school classroom. A program known as Learn Everywhere implemented in 2020 allows the State Board of Education to approve programs that can count toward credits, without the power for local school boards to override the decision. And while the current rules include a basic requirement for school boards to pass policies laying out how the school district will engage with students on creating and supporting ELOs, the new rules go into more detail over how the school district should implement ELOs. The use of the word opportunity extends beyond ELOs; in the section of the new rules outlining middle school and high school curriculum requirements, subject areas and courses are referred to as learning opportunities. The new rules require school boards to require a program of studies with learning opportunities offered to high school students in arts education, English language arts, mathematics, science, and a number of other common subjects. State Board Chairman Drew Cline and department officials say the change is rhetorical. Critics have claimed it is part of a shift toward external private sector educational opportunities for students. A change to class size determinations One of the most contentious changes in the new rules involves class sizes. Currently, the states rules mandate that class sizes shall be capped at certain amounts for different grade levels: 25 for kindergarten to grade two, and 30 for grades three to 12. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new rules are somewhat more nuanced. They include the same caps, but they also say the local school board shall establish student-educator ratios that promote student learning for each learning opportunity and learning level based upon school safety policies, content, instructional method, (and) the characteristics of learners. By changing the language from shall be to shall establish ratios based upon, critics say the department has given wiggle room for school boards. State Board Chairman Drew Cline says that interpretation is false. Addressing the legislative committee, Cline said an earlier version had removed the class size caps and allowed school boards much more flexibility a move meant to respond to the post-pandemic reality for many school districts. But after pushback, the State Board relented. We incorporated the existing class size caps into the rule, and they are still there, he said. Subject descriptions aligned to curriculum frameworks The current rules describe a number of curriculum areas for specific subjects, such as arts education, mathematics, and English language arts, and lay out specific requirements for each subject that school boards are required to follow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new rules largely eliminate those lists of required elements. Instead, they simplify the direction to school boards. Each schools arts education program shall have (competencies) and curriculum aligned to K-12 Curriculum Framework for the Arts, April 2001 edition, as referenced in Appendix II, the new rules for arts education state. In a Nov. 19 letter to the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules, Milton Superintendent Karin Cevasco argued that by taking the required elements out of the rules themselves and requiring that districts align to the existing standards, the state could be creating the conditions for schools to have looser standards. Elimination of content area standards will further the divide of the haves and the have nots in our state, Cevasco wrote. Children in property rich town will have access to curriculum resources that are proven to set high standards for future success, while students in property poor towns will fall further behind with the elimination of the Arts and any curriculum resource deemed too rich for the teaching of science, math, and literacy. The State Board of Education is supposed to update the academic standards for each of those subjects as well. Cline said the board is planning to do so, but has been slowed down by the process of updating the minimum standards. Each subject can take a while, he said; the board started work on the social studies framework before the pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The academic standards are not as stringent as the rules passed by JLCAR last week and are not as high a priority, Cline said. Its a conveyor belt, right? he said. So every state board meeting, we have new rules that have expired or are going to expire that we have to update, and thats a lot of work. This story was originally published by the New Hampshire Bulletin. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Whats in New Hampshires new minimum public school standards Israeli fighter jets struck southern Lebanon on Thursday, a day after a ceasefire was implemented between Israel and Hezbollah. The Israeli military said it hit a facility belonging to Hezbollah, where it had detected terrorist activity. Nazih Eid, the mayor of Baysariyeh, said a warplane launched a raid about an hour ago on the eastern edge of the town of Baysariyeh. They targeted a forested area not accessible to civilians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier on Thursday, the army said tanks had fired at several suspects arriving with vehicles to a number of areas in southern Lebanon, breaching the conditions of the ceasefire. The ceasefire, which took effect on Wednesday under a deal brokered by the US and France, is intended to allow people in both countries to start returning to homes in border areas shattered by 14 months of fighting. However, the Israeli military had urged residents of towns along the border strip not to return yet for their own safety. On Thursday morning, Israeli tank fire hit six areas within that strip, state media and Lebanese security sources told Reuters. The rounds struck Markaba, Wazzani, Kfarchouba, Khiyam, Taybe and the agricultural plains around Marjayoun, all of which lie within two kilometres (1.2 miles) of the Blue Line demarcating the border between Lebanon and Israel. One of the security sources said two people were wounded in Markaba. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lebanese families displaced from their homes near the southern border have tried to return to check on their properties, but Israeli troops remain stationed within Lebanese territory in towns along the border. Daniel Hagari, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman, said the withdrawal of troops from the area would be gradual, reflecting the fragility of the deal. Sarit Zehavi, from Alma, an Israeli NGO focused on security on Israels northern border, said the situation in Lebanon was complicated for Israeli troops as Lebanese citizens return home. Hezbollah operatives, disguised amongst Lebanese civilians as human shields, are encouraging them to return to their homes despite the risks to their safety, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said he had instructed the military not to allow residents back to villages near the border. Nabih Berri, the speaker of Lebanons parliament and the top interlocutor for the country in negotiating the deal, had said on Wednesday that residents could return home. In Israels north, the ceasefire remained a contentious topic. Most of us didnt want it, said Alana Naim, a resident in Nahariya. We dont feel safe still, and now we are in a limbo. Uri Halevi, who has been displaced from Kiryat Shmona since last year, said he was unsure when he would be able to go home. Weve been told we have until the end of the school year next month before we need to leave the government accommodation, but a lot can happen in 60 days, he said. Right now, nothing feels stable, so do I want to take my children home to then have to relocate them again? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was no immediate comment on the tank rounds from Hezbollah or Israel, who had been fighting for over a year in parallel with the war in Gaza. The agreement, a rare diplomatic feat in a region racked by conflict, ended the deadliest confrontation between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group in years. But Israel is still fighting Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist group, in the Gaza Strip. Under the ceasefire terms, Israeli forces can take up to 60 days to withdraw from southern Lebanon, but neither side can launch offensive operations. Hezbollah has said its fighters remain fully equipped to deal with the aspirations and assaults of the Israeli enemy. Its forces will monitor Israels withdrawal from Lebanon with their hands on the trigger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group has been weakened by casualties and the killing by Israel of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, and other commanders. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A hiker was found alive this week in the remote wilderness of northwestern Canada, where he had been lost for more than five weeks, authorities said. Sam Benastick was initially reported missing on Oct. 19 after failing to return from a backcountry trip in Redfern-Kiely Provincial Park, an isolated landscape known for its alpine tundra and stark mountainscape in the northern Rockies of British Columbia. Two men spotted Benastick Tuesday on their way to the park's Redfern Lake trail for work, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Recognizing him as the missing hiker, they took Benastick to a hospital. Benastick told police he had stayed in his car for a couple of days at the start of his backcountry trip, before walking to a mountainside creek and camping there for 10 or 15 days, the RCMP said. At that point, the hiker said he moved to a different location farther down into the valley and a built a camp and shelter in a dried-out creek bed. Eventually, Benastick found his way to the road where he encountered the Redfern Lake trail employees, well over six weeks after he first set out on his journey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Finding Sam alive is the absolute best outcome. After all the time he was missing, it was feared that this was would not be the outcome," said Corporal Madonna Saunderson, a spokesperson for the RCMP in British Columbia, in a statement. Benastick, 20, survived extraordinarily harsh conditions. When he was found, the hiker was using two walking sticks to support himself and had cut his sleeping back to wrap the fabric around his legs for warmth, the Canadian broadcaster CBC News reported. Temperatures in the park were frigid while he was missing, at times dropping to -20 degrees Celsius, or -4 degrees Fahrenheit, according to BBC News, a CBS News partner. Missing hiker found alive after more than five weeks in wilderness https://t.co/X3dpSyNFcn BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) November 27, 2024 "Those are very difficult conditions for really anyone to survive in, especially [with] limited supplies and equipment and food," Prince George Search and Rescue search manager Adam Hawkins told the BBC. Mike Reid, the general manager of the inn near Redfern-Kiely Provincial Park where Benastick's family stayed as search efforts got underway in October, told CBC News that Benastick was in "rough shape" Tuesday. But he is expected to recover. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities initiated a massive search for Benastick when the missing person report for him was filed, but that search was called off at the end of October, BBC News reported. Police said they intend to gather more information about what happened to the hiker and why he remained missing for so long once Benastick's health has improved. Missing hiker found after nearly six weeks in the Canadian wilderness Trump and Trudeau praise their surprise meeting Rebels seize control of Syria's second-largest city Aleppo When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Shutterstock Two undersea internet cables connecting Finland and Sweden to Central Europe were cut last week, with authorities suspecting sabotage. According to the Wall Street Journal, investigators suspect that the Yi Peng 3, a Chinese bulk carrier traveling to Egypt from Russia and loaded with fertilizer, deliberately dropped its anchor in Swedish waters to sever the BCS East-West Interlink cable connecting it to Lithuania and then did it again the following day to damage the C-Lion1 cable between Finland and Germany. In total, they suspect the ship dragged its anchor for over 100 miles. Its extremely unlikely that the captain would not have noticed that his ship dropped and dragged its anchor, losing speed for hours and cutting cables on the way, said one of the investigators handling the probe. Whats more concerning is that the crew allegedly turned off the ships transponder during this time, making it impossible for the Automatic Identification System to track its movement. After the ship hit the second undersea cable, the investigators said that it zigzagged, raised its anchor, and continued underway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Open maritime tracking sources put the Yi Peng 3 in international waters between Denmark and Sweden. However, its currently stopped and surrounded by NATO ships as the investigation is underway. According to one source, the ships anchor and hull have damage consistent with dragging and cable damage. At the moment, Reuters said that Swedish authorities are talking with Ningbo Yipeng Shipping, the ship's owners, to sail it back into Swedish waters. However, since the Yi Peng 3 is anchored in international waters, NATO cannot force it to sail into any port under international maritime law for further investigation. However, even though the Yi Peng 3 is a Chinese-flagged ship helmed by a Chinese crew, many Western authorities do not suspect Chinese involvement. Instead, they suspect Russian involvement in this act of sabotage. In a statement regarding the accusations, the Kremlin said that they are absurd and unsubstantiated. Furthermore, it added that Western officials did not make any comments when Ukraine destroyed the Nord Stream gas pipeline in 2022. On the other hand, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said, I would like to reiterate Chinas consistent support working with all countries to maintain the security of international submarine cables and other infrastructure in accordance with international law. The Wall Street Journal said that the Yi Peng 3 only operated in Chinese waters from 2019 through the first quarter of 2024. However, it changed its route after this, traveling to Russian ports carrying coal, fertilizer, and other cargo. Experts say that this isnt definitive proof of Russian involvement, but it should be one of the things that investigators should look at, especially as this incident happened soon after the U.S. allowed Ukraine to strike targets within Russia using the long-range munitions it provided. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday praised US President-elect Donald Trump as an intelligent and experienced politician capable of finding solutions, as tensions between Moscow and the West ramp up over the war in Ukraine. Speaking to reporters in Kazakhstan, Putin castigated President Joe Biden for creating additional difficulties for the incoming Trump administration, after Biden gave Ukraine permission to fire longer-range American missiles, called ATACMS, at targets deep inside Russia. The Russian president also threatened to strike Ukraine again with a nuclear-capable ballistic missile, called Oreshnik, following Moscows widespread overnight attack Wednesday targeting critical energy infrastructure facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked whether Bidens decision would impact future relations between Moscow and Washington, Putin suggested things could improve after Trump takes office in January. As far as I can imagine, the newly elected president is an intelligent and already quite experienced person. I think he will find a solution, Putin said. Putins congenial tone is in marked contrast with the Kremlins threats against the outgoing Biden administration, which Putin accused of escalating the war in Ukraine by allowing Kyiv to fire ATACMS at military targets in Russia. Trump has pledged to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours, without saying how. During the election campaign, he repeatedly refused to say whether he wanted Ukraine to win the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putins comments come after Trump on Wednesday nominated Gen. Keith Kellogg to be special envoy to the warring countries. Together, we will secure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, and Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN! Trump wrote on social media, announcing his pick. Speaking from the sidelines of a security summit in the Kazakh capital Astana, Putin said Trump had overcome a serious test to return to the White House, referring to the two assassination attempts against him during the election campaign. Trump was wounded in the first attempt in Pennsylvania in July. In a separate incident in September, a man was charged with attempted assassination after camping out at one of Trumps Florida golf courses while armed with a rifle. Putin said absolutely uncivilized means of struggle were used against Trump more than once, adding that he fears the president-elect is not currently safe. Trump meets Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky at Trump Tower in New York, September 27. 2024. - Shannon Stapleton/Reuters He also criticized the humiliating, unfounded judicial procedures to which Trump was subjected during the campaign. In June, a Manhattan jury found Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in his hush money criminal trial, making him the first former US president to be convicted of a felony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Discussing the war in Ukraine, Putin also threatened more launches of Russias new medium-range ballistic missile which was used to attack Ukraines Dnipro region last week. The new missile, called Oreshnik, fires multiple warheads at once, and is capable of delivering a nuclear payload. We will use the means at our disposal, he warned. We do not exclude the use of Oreshnik against the (Ukrainian) military, against military industrial facilities, or against decision-making centers, including in Kyiv, bearing in mind that the Kyiv authorities today continue to attempt to strike our vital facilities. Asked to clarify if the decision-making centers the Kremlin warned it might hit are military or political, Putin replied: You know, in Soviet times there was a joke about weather forecasts? Heres the forecast: today, during the day, anything is possible. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The meteoric rise of Romanias unknown extremist presidential candidate, Calin Georgescu, marks a stark premiere for Europe. Despite repeated warnings about the onslaught of anti-Western social media disinformation across Europe, Georgescus bizarre first-round victory in Romania was made possible by a protest vote boosted by an unprecedented TikTok campaign, which now raises lots of questions in Bucharest and Brussels. Romanian authorities are now calling on the European Commission to investigate TikTok over its breach of the EU Digital Services Act regarding its massive influence campaign for the anti-EU, pro-Russian presidential candidate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Suddenly, TikTok users were faced with the TikTok system pushing more and more clips of this candidate into the feed, into the content recommendation area," Valentin Jucan, vice-president of the Romanian Audiovisual Council, told Euronews Romania. "And this is our question. Was the TikTok system, this risk to the public, a natural one? Did the TikTok system and algorithms work naturally or did TikTok deliberately modify its algorithms so that more and more Romanians receive and believe that all of Romania wants a certain candidate, Jucan asked. TikTok Messiah, 'robot candidate' Already dubbed as the Tiktok Messiah because of his ultra-religious statements, Georgescu claims Romania must be neutral and that the war in Ukraine does not exist. Praising Russia's Vladimir Putin, Georgescu blasts the EU as the enemy of Romanians, calls Romanias antisemitic collaborationist World War II leaders "heroes," and says that COVID-19 doesnt exist. He has a mission from God to save Romania, he says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His statements match the years-long anti-EU, pro-Russian social media campaign in Europe, but the magnitude and sophistication of the TikTok boost for this little-known, independent candidate is now raising calls for TikTok executives to appear before the European Parliament over a possible breach of the EU Digital Services Act. Youngsters shout slogans during a protest against Calin Georgescu, the far-right candidate for presidency who won the first round of elections in Bucharest, 25 November 2024 - AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru We witness how democracies are under attack in front of our eyes. We witness how social media, especially TikTok, has become a key battleground for voters. Clicks over content. Renew Europe Group's leader Valerie Hayer said. Romania is a warning bell. As protests erupted in Romanias main cities, the authorities are now under fire for missing Georgescus unprecedented boost. Former President Traian Basescu calls it a major failure of national security, asking for the secret services' explanation over what he called the robot candidate. "This guy didn't meet with citizens, he didn't travel the country, he didn't campaign, only some AI manufactured messages to put him in the lead in the first round," Basescu told Euronews Romania. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The fact that the security structures don't take any responsibility for the risk of having a president - a candidate for presidency in the second round - when we don't know who fabricated those messages, are we not electing based on the intelligence of a robot? Wrong tool for the wrong purpose The Romanian political system, the national polls and the national media mostly missed the candidates silent rise over all of the mainstream candidates. So, on the one hand it is the kind of message that Georgescu is launching, which has nothing of substance behind it, but addresses people's deepest fears and grievances, which creates this kind of loyalty of followers," Dragos Pislaru, co-president of the Renewing Romania's European Project or Reper party, told Euronews Romania. "Then on the other hand, we have China's algorithm and the potential influence that this transfer of know-how could have, he added. "There is a connection between these anti-system candidates in Europe, the United States and China, which owns the network." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The social media algorithm is not designed for better information, the social media algorithm is designed for the e-commerce players to be able to sell their products at the lowest price possible," Founder of Romania's Ethical Media Alliance Dragos Stanca told Euronews Romania. "For the machine it doesnt matter if we are talking about a shoe, a politician, a personal brand or a commercial brand or maybe dangerous ideology. Its the same. They have to close the transaction so we will see the same messages again and again until we are convinced that we have to buy or vote," Stanca explained. "Its time we realise that we are using the wrong tool for the wrong purpose and our democracies are in danger if we keep going on that road. Related Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, as Romania gears up for the parliamentary elections this Sunday, Georgescu has had his first clash with the media refusing to answer questions at his first makeshift press conference that he called. "Yes, I am not answering questions and i won't take any this evening," he told the journalists gathered outside of his home in the affluent town of Izvorani, just outside the capital Bucharest. After they pressed him for answers, Georgescu lashed back: "Could you let me continue saying what I have to say? Please do not interrupt me." Then, mid-sentence, he ran back inside. This article has been updated to clarify that the European Commission received the request for an investigation, but did not start a formal probe yet. In July 2023, as he was heading to Ukraine, General Keith Kellogg defended the US decision to send cluster munitions to Kyiv, saying: "When you make the decision to support a nation at war, give all of the means necessary to finish it. War is war." "If you want Ukrainians to win," he said, "you give them everything you can to win that fight," Kellogg exclaimed. On Wednesday, US President-elect Donald Trump nominated the retired US Army lieutenant general as his special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Where does he stand regarding Russia's full-scale invasion as it enters its third winter? Will the fears and concerns about Trump possibly forcing Ukraine into concessions materialise? Kellogg's 'peace plan' for Ukraine In June, Reuters reported that Kellogg and another of Trump's top advisors, Frederick H Fleitz, proposed a plan that would cease military aid to Ukraine unless Kyiv agreed to hold peace negotiations with Russia. The two also reportedly proposed to freeze the front lines in their current position and take Ukraine's NATO accession off the table. Washington would at the same time warn Moscow that any refusal to negotiate would result in increased US support for Ukraine, retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg said in an interview. He added that Trump - the Republican presidential candidate at that time - responded "favourably". "I'm not claiming he agreed with it or agreed with every word of it, but we were pleased to get the feedback we did," Fleitz said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kellogg spoke exclusively with VOAs Ukrainian service in July about his vision for ending the war in Ukraine, published as part of the book An America-First Approach to US National Security. He said that in order to persuade Kyiv to enter into any sort of talks with Russia, Washington would, in return, continue to arm Ukraine to deter Russia from attacking during or after a deal is reached. When it comes to convincing Russia to participate in the negotiations, Kellogg wrote that the US and other NATO partners would delay Ukraine's membership in the alliance for an extended period in exchange for a "comprehensive and verifiable deal with security guarantees." Kellogg's take on Ukraine's NATO accession A year ago, in November 2023, General Keith Kellogg co-authored a brief for the Centre for American Security, arguing that pushing for Ukraines NATO membership threatens to derail an end to the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kellogg wrote that Americas NATO allies are contemplating fast-tracking alliance membership for Ukraine "after the war" has ended. "This war, however, will likely end in a stalemate in which Ukrainian territory is still occupied by Russian forces with a ceasefire in place rather than a decisive military victory by Ukraine," he explained. According to Kellogg, granting Ukraine NATO membership in this context threatens to derail peace efforts toward a permanent end state while also risking an American military engagement with Russia. Putin has long used Kyiv's NATO aspirations as one of Moscows claimed reasons to go on an all-out invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. At that time, Ukraine hadnt yet submitted its application to join the military alliance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It finally applied for membership in September 2022 after Russia proclaimed it had annexed the country's southeast. Risking US military engagement with Russia In an interview with Fox last Friday, less than a week before Trump named him as the incoming administrations chief negotiator with Kyiv and Moscow, Kellogg said the US needed to call Russias bluff when commenting on Russia attacking the Ukrainian city of Dnipro with a new ballistic missile. "(Putin) used it for psychological reasons. He didnt use it because it was militarily effective, but because he is kind of saying to the West see what I can do?,'" Kellogg said, adding that this is when people "back off", but instead this is when you have to lean in because Putin will not start a nuclear war in Europe. We need to remind him: let me make sure you understand that the Brits have nuclear weapons, the French have nuclear weapons, weve got nuclear weapons. Dont go there. And we havent really said that to him. But with North Korea, China, Iran and Russia "having all joined" and now "feeding off one another", Kellogg said, I dont think that World War III has begun, but we are right on the precipice; it is right here and a simple spark can spin things out of control." Donald Trump has unveiled a new strategy for dealing with the fentanyl crisis. I will be working on a large-scale United States Advertising Campaign explaining how bad fentanyl is for people to use Millions of lives being so needlessly destroyed, Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday. By the time the campaign is over, everyone will know how really bad the horror of this drug is. Trump did not provide further details about what the campaign would look like. On Monday, he vowed to impose tariffs on China and Mexico to get their governments to do more about the fentanyl crisis, which killed 73,838 people in the US in 2022, the year for which the most recent data is available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump raised concerns about the drug entering the US through Mexico. The countrys President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo responded in a written statement: Mexico has consistently expressed its willingness to help prevent the fentanyl epidemic in the United States from continuing. This is, after all, a public health and consumption problem within your society. So far this year, Mexican armed forces and prosecutors have seized tons of various types of drugs, 10,340 firearms, and have detained 15,640 individuals for violence related to drug trafficking. A person prepares to smoke fentany in June in Portland, Oregon. Trump has announced his intentions to lauch an advertising campaign against the drug (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Trumps social media post came out around the time he announced he had a productive conversation with Sheinbaum. He claimed the president agreed to stop migration. Sheinbaum said the two had an excellent conversation but disagreed with Trumps characterization of the call. We reiterate that Mexicos position is not to close borders but to maintain bridges between governments and people, she said on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A majority of chemical precursors are produced in China. Trump has previously called on the countrys government to give the death penalty to drug dealers caught shipping the drug into the US. If they dont, Trump publicly said he would add 10 percent to tariffs already placed on the nation. A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy, Liu Pengyu, told The Hill: No one will win a trade war or a tariff war. Fentanyl is similar to morphine but about 100 times more potent. The illicit drug, which is primarily manufactured in foreign labs and smuggled into the US through Mexico among other routes, is being distributed across the country, according to the US Drug Enforcement Agency. Synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, are the primary driver of overdose deaths in the US. President-elect Donald Trump announced Monday he will impose tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada and China in multiple Truth Social posts, echoing past campaign promises to tax such imports. Trump said he will sign an executive order on Jan. 20 his first day in office to impose a 25% tariff on all imports from Mexico and Canada. He also pledged a 10% tariff on Chinese products above any additional Tariffs. Many economists believe these proposed sweeping tariffs could cause price spikes in the U.S., with an Oct. 17 report from the Tax Policy Center indicating previously proposed tariffs had the potential to hit Midwestern and Southern states the hardest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposed 25% tariff on Canada in particular could spell trouble for U.S. gas prices. So, what could this mean for Wisconsin gas prices? Heres what to know: First of all, what is a tariff? Tariffs are taxes that one country imposes on another country for imported goods, according to the Tax Foundation. The most common kind of tariffs, according to the Council on Foreign Relations, are called ad valorem tariffs. These tariffs are charged as fixed percentages of the value of imports. Another type of tariffs, per the CFR, are specific tariffs which are charged as fixed amounts on each imported good. Who pays for tariffs? Importers pay tariffs to their governments, according to the CFR. Despite this, consumers often feel the majority of the financial strain from the taxes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still other studies have pointed to different costs for consumers: with tariffs on their foreign competitors, domestic producers can safely raise their prices, the CFR said. Ultimately, consumers share the burden with importers. Furthermore, according to the Tax Foundation, tariffs directly increase the cost of domestic sales by artificially increasing the price on imports. Americans living in poverty often are most impacted by tariffs, the CRF said, citing a July 31 report from the Peterson Institute for International Economics. How do tariffs impact gas prices? Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said in a post on X the proposed tariffs would have huge impacts on prices in the Great Lakes, Midwest and Rockies in particular, given the reliance on Canadian oil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can't simply process different oil overnight, De Haan said. It would take investments/years. More US supply wouldn't help. A 25% tariff on Canadian oil would have huge impacts to #gasprices in the Great Lakes, Midwest & Rockies, which are major markets where refiners process Canadian oil. You can't simply process different oil overnight. It would take investments/years. More US supply wouldn't help. pic.twitter.com/IyoGnTK6Uw Patrick De Haan (@GasBuddyGuy) November 26, 2024 De Haan told the Journal Sentinel oil refineries in the Great Lakes, including Wisconsin, primarily refine Canadian oil. Canadian oil for decades has been reliable and plentiful, he said. "Also, refineries have been able to secure relatively low prices on Canadian oil over the years because of Canada's inability to ship that oil elsewhere." An Oct. 30 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration found that U.S. imports of crude oil from Canada reached a record high in July, when 4.3 million barrels were being shipped to the U.S. daily. Plus, Wisconsin itself has no crude oil production or reserves, according to the EIA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement De Haan said there is an inability for many refineries in the region "to use different types of oil", since many have been designed specifically for the Canadian oil. If Trump does move ahead with tariffs, it would essentially boost the price of oil that these refineries are paying by 25%, which in this case today, would amount to about $15 a barrel, he said. How much could proposed tariffs raise Wisconsin gas prices? De Haan said oil companies have no ability to digest the sort of cost increase that the tariffs would create, which would ultimately get passed on to consumers. That would mean about a 35 cent a gallon increase during normal times, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During summer months, prices could be even higher, De Haan said, citing more stringent gasoline standards and the work it takes to refine Canadian oil. There could be anywhere from a potential impact of 35 to 75 cents a gallon, De Haan said. At the end of February, Wisconsin and the Midwest begin an incremental switch to a lower-butane summer-blend gasoline a process that generally causes prices to rise. How long could it take for gas prices in Wisconsin to go up? De Haan said impacts would be seen very quick. If this is something that President Trump signed on his first day in office, theoretically, within 48 hours, motorists would likely start seeing a much higher price, because refineries would be paying a much higher price to buy Canadian oil, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Claire Reid contributed to this report. More: Businesses are worried about higher tariffs, like taxes, under Trump presidency More: Beer and tequila from Mexico, whisky from Canada could cost more with Trump's tariffs This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: How could Trumps proposed tariffs affect Wisconsin gas prices? OSAKA, Nov 29 (News On Japan) - A 35-year-old father, Takahiro Imanishi, was acquitted by the Osaka High Court on November 28th after being sentenced to 12 years in prison for the death of his 2-year-old stepdaughter, Noa. The court overturned the lower court's ruling, citing insufficient evidence of physical abuse or external injuries, and deemed the initial judgment unreasonable. Imanishi had been accused of inflicting fatal head injuries on Noa in their Osaka apartment in 2017. While prosecutors argued the case involved shaken baby syndrome (SBS), the defense claimed her death was due to myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart. The trial also underscored scientific debates surrounding SBS, which has seen multiple acquittals in similar cases since 2018. Released on bail earlier this year after 11 prior requests were denied, Imanishi endured over five years in detention. Following the verdict, he expressed relief, stating, "The verdict says 'not guilty,' but I am 'innocent.' Fighting to prove the truth was worth it." The Osaka High Public Prosecutors Office announced it would carefully review the judgment before deciding its next course of action. The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Friday said that eight terrorist commanders in Northcentral region have surrendered to troops. It said more have also indicated interest to surrender in the coming weeks. Those that have surrendered, according to the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen Edward are: Yellow Jambros, Alhaji Mallam, Ardo Idi( alias Alhaji Lawal), Lawal Kwalba, Salkado, Yellow Ibrahim, Ganae and Babangida. Gen. Buba said the surrenderings were occassioned by overtures from the terrorist leadership based on troops onslaught against them. He said a non kinetic collaborative effort with stakeholders have been deployed to encourage the surrendering process. Gen. Buba, however, said that despite the surrendering of terrorist leaders, troops would continue to sustain operational tempo in order to destroy or cause further surrendering by terrorists. Giving an update on troops successes within the week, the defence spokesman said troops killed 135 terrorists and arrested 185 criminals across theaters of operation. He said troops also arrested 61 oil thieves and rescued 129 kidnap victims. Furthermore, troops recovered 113 assorted weapons and 2,415 assorted ammunition. The breakdown as follows: 72 AK47 rifles, 11 fabricated rifles, 15 dane guns, three locally made pistols, eight pump action guns, four hand grenades, one RPG bomb and tube. Others are 1,554 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 380 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 203 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 129 live cartridges, 28 shotgun cartridges, 500 empty case of MG ammo, 30 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 49 rounds of 5.7mm ammo, 165 live cartridges, 10 rounds of 9mm ammo, 38 magazines, and two amongst other items, Gen. Buba said. The arraignment of the former governor of Kogi state Yahaya Bello at the federal high court Abuja, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, has been stalled due to the absence of his lawyers in court. The EFCC had brought the former governor for arraignment on a 19-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N80. 2 billion. At the days proceedings counsel to the EFCC Kemi Phinero had moved an application for the charge to be read to the defendant and his plea be taken, but Bello, addressed the court himself, telling the trial judge Justice Emeka Nwite that he was notified of the arraignment in the late hours of November 28th and as such he could not inform his lawyers. In a short ruling, Justice Nwite held that it would be in the interest of justice for the defendants counsel to be present for their clients arraignment. The trial judge noted that a warrant for his arrest cannot be sacrificed on the altar of breach of fair hearing, as Bellos lawyers should be put on notice. The court however adjourned to December 13, 2024 for arraignment and order that Bello be remanded in custody of the EFCC. Yahaya Bello who was charged with 80.2 billion Naira fraud allegation has refused to appear in court several times, which lead to the court issuing a bench warrant against him. The Government of Grenada has reiterated unwavering support to the autonomy plan offered by Morocco for the Sahara under the Kingdoms sovereignty, saying the plan is the ONLY credible, serious and realistic solution to the Sahara regional dispute. The supportive stand was expressed by Prime Minister of this Caribbean country Dickon Mitchell following his talks held Thursday in Rabat with Moroccan foreign minister Nasser Bourita. In a joint statement released following their talks, Grenada also voiced backing to the UN exclusive framework to achieve a realistic, practical and lasting solution to the Sahara regional conflict Mr. Dickon Mitchell commended the Royal Initiatives in the Sahel and the Atlantic seeking shared peace, stability and prosperity and offering unprecedented opportunities to promote regional integration and cooperation. Grenadas PM paid tribute to the vision spearheaded by King Mohammed VI for South-South cooperation, a vision which reinforces stability and security in the Caribbean. Grenada, a member of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), also welcomed the opening of an OECS Embassy in Rabat (October 18, 2018) and a Consulate General in Dakhla (March 31, 2022), which offer a significant opportunity to further strengthen exchanges between the Kingdom of Morocco and the six Eastern Caribbean States. Talks between Mitchell and Bourita were crowned with the signing of a cooperation roadmap for the 2025-2027 period, focusing on academic & vocational training, technical cooperation, agriculture, food security, climate change resilience, trade, and investment. High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell has called on Algerian authorities to release immediately Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal and denounced the repression of freedom of speech in Algeria. In a speech delivered Thursday on his behalf at the EU Parliament by Commissioner Helena Dalli, the Vice-President of the European Commission said the circumstances of the arrest and detention of Boualem raise many questions and concerns. The renowned writer has been taken by the police at Algiers airport on 16 November, but his arrest was only confirmed six days later. The writer is facing terrorism charges based on Algeria Penal Code. If this accusation were based exclusively on opinions expressed publicly by Boualem Sansal, it would represent a clear attack against freedom of expression, said Mr. Borrell, urging the Algerian judicial authorities to address all these issues, which are clearly related to the rule of law and respect for human rights. The universal human rights values are at the core of the relations between the European Union and Algeria, as reflected in the Association Agreement, he said. Algeria has been elected as a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the period 2023-2025. As with all members of the Council, we expect Algeria to respect, promote and protect human rights, underlined the senior EU official. Morocco has offered to support the Republic of Guinea in sustainable and inclusive socioeconomic development within the frame of solidarity- based South-South cooperation spearheaded by King Mohammed VI. The offer was made by Head of Govt. Aziz Akhannouch during talks he held Thursday in Rabat with Guineas Prime Minister Mamadou Oury Bah in presence of foreign minister Nasser Bourita. The Moroccan offer also includes support to the West African country, particularly in agriculture, fisheries, healthcare, and industry. Mr. Akhannouch hailed the bonds of brotherhood, friendship, and solidarity existing between the two African countries. He also recalled the visits paid by King Mohammed VI to Guinea in 2014 and 2017 to bolster cooperation ties with Conakry. Heads of government of the two countries also discussed ways of strengthening economic cooperation, trade, and investment in priority strategic sectors. In 2020, Guinea opened a consulate in Moroccan Saharan city of Dakhla, a diplomatic move reflecting recognition of the Moroccanness of the Sahara by this African country. Saint-Lucia and Dominica have reiterated firm support for Moroccos full sovereignty over its entire Saharan territory and voiced strong backing to the Moroccan Autonomy plan offering credible, serious and realistic solution to the Sahara regional conflict. The supportive stand of these two Caribbean countries was voiced by their Prime ministers during separate talks held Thursday in Rabat with Moroccan foreign minister Nasser Bourita. Speaking to journalists following their meetings with Moroccos top diplomat, the PM of Saint-Lucia Philip Joseph Pierre hailed the excellent friendship and cooperation ties between the two countries and expressed hope to see partnership enhanced further in sectors of mutual interests. Talks between the two parties focused on bilateral relations and latest developments on the regional and international scene. For his part, the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica Roosevelt Skerrit lauded the growing international support for Moroccos sovereignty over its Sahara, and hailed the South-South cooperation advocated by King Mohammed VI for shared progress and prosperity. He discussed with Bourita ways of strengthening cooperation in various sectors as well as political and economic issues of common interest. Some 1,005 suspected cybercriminals were arrested and malicious infrastructures and networks were dismantled across 19 African countries from early September to late October thanks to a joint operation by INTERPOL and AFRIPOL against cybercrime. The operation, dubbed Operation Serengeti, which was conducted in collaboration with AFRIPOL, the African Unions police agency, targeted criminals involved in ransomware, business email compromise schemes, digital extortion, and online fraud, INTERPOL stated in a press release on Tuesday (26 November). The arrests made during the successful two-month cybercrime crackdown across Africa included criminal capers from ransomware through to business email compromise (BEC) and other online offenses, including human trafficking cases, linked to more than $190 million in global losses and tens of thousands of victims. The arrests are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to organized cybercrime, said Valdecy Urquiza, INTERPOLs secretary general, who stressed that the agency would continue targeting these criminal groups worldwide. In Kenya, officers cracked a case of online credit card fraud linked to losses of US$ 8.6 million. Meanwhile, eight individuals, including five Chinese nationals, were arrested in Senegal for a US$ 6 million online Ponzi scheme affecting 1,811 victims. In Nigeria, authorities arrested a man accused of running online investment scams by making false promises of cryptocurrency returns. Another case was uncovered in Cameroon where the authorities arrested a group suspected of trafficking victims from seven different countries to run a multi-level marketing scam. Mauritania marked its 64th National Independence Day on November 28 with important announcements from President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El-Ghazouani. In a televised address, President El-Ghazouani announced several measures aimed at improving the welfare of teachers, the military, and public sector employees. He revealed that teachers in the sixth year of basic education will receive a monthly allowance of $500. Additionally, soldiers and security agents will see a $375 increase in their monthly pay, while non-commissioned officers will receive an extra $250. The President also instructed the government to speed up talks with social partners about raising the minimum wage and to begin a study on reforming the retirement system for public sector workers to improve conditions for retirees. These steps reflect the governments commitment to improving social welfare and economic stability as the nation celebrates its independence. The president also decorated, Thursday at the Presidential Palace in Nouakchott, several personalities as part of the activities commemorating the sixty-fourth anniversary of national independence. For the time being, the European Commission has not approved the second payment under Bulgaria's Recovery and Resilience Plan The European Commission has issued an ultimatum to Bulgaria regarding the funds from the second tranche of the Recovery Plan, a year after Bulgaria submitted its request. The Commission has noted that the reforms promised by Sofia have not been fully implemented. The European Commission has provided a preliminary assessment of Bulgaria`s request for the second payment under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, submitted on October 7, 2023. The Commission reports that out of the 62 milestones and targets set for this payment, 53 have been achieved. However, eight milestones and one target have not been satisfactorily met, which could lead to the suspension of the entire payment in accordance with the ECs methodology. Most of these outstanding commitments relate to key reforms addressing challenges identified in the country-specific recommendations for Bulgaria, which were fundamental to the initial approval of the Bulgarian Recovery and Resilience Plan. According to regulations, if key milestones and targets are not met, the EC may propose a partial or full suspension of payments. This procedure gives the member state an additional month to provide its comments and take corrective action. Bulgaria must submit its comments and arguments by December 29, 2024. The EC will then make its final decision within four weeks of Bulgaria`s response. From that point, following the final adoption of the ECs assessment, Bulgaria will have up to six months to fulfill the commitments related to the second payment under the Plan. At the end of this period, the EC will reassess the implementation of the eight milestones and one target. If the review is positive, the suspended funds will be released. The EC has emphasized that it is crucial for Bulgaria to continue its intensive efforts to complete the remaining commitments and make the best use of the resources provided under the Recovery Plan. The Commission has also expressed its willingness to support Bulgaria in successfully implementing the Plan. Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers Editors note: Black Friday has ended, so were no longer updating this post. If you want to shop Cyber Monday deals, see our roundup of the best Cyber Monday beauty deals here. The biggest shopping holiday of the year Black Friday is upon us. Once a one-day mad dash to the stores, its now a weekend-long (and sometimes monthlong) event, where products are deeply discounted and arrive in time to stick under the tree. Its my favorite to repurchase essentials and buy fancy beauty products that feel painful to purchase otherwise. As always, theres a lot of stuff to sift through, which is why Ive clicked through thousands (no, really) of products to surface stuff thats actually worth it. Each pick is at least 20 percent off (our deals editor says anything less isnt actually a good deal), and most of it weve written about before. To make navigation easy, Ive organized products by retailer. And if youre in the market for other stuff a new robe perhaps, Parachute is an impressive 30 percent off weve collected all the deals in our big Black Friday deals post for you to peruse. Deals I Personally Think Are the Best Dysons hot tools are pricey and tend to go on sale a couple times a year, but rarely do I see a bigger discount than 20 percent. Currently, the Supersonic hair dryer, my go-to, is 23 percent off at Amazon and Nordstrom (I believe theyre price-matching) the cheapest Ive seen it this year. Im also stocking up on Necessaires excellent body products, which are 25 percent off on the brands site and combing through Net-a-Porters beauty offerings while its selection is hypercurated, you can snag brands like Aesop and Le Labo for 30 percent off if you act fast. Amazon Lots of the stuff on sale is a rerun of what I saw during Prime Day (and at Prime Day prices), like Crest whitening strips and COSRx Snail Mucin Essence. Theres lots of Tatcha on sale too, a rare opportunity to snag the luxury skin-care brand at a discount. Anthropologie is offering 30 percent off on its beauty selection, which includes some of our favorite brands, like Slip, Salt & Stone, and LOccitane. I, for one, will be stocking up on more silk scrunchies and filling my shower with nice-smelling body washes. And if youre in the market for sunscreen, this is the best price Ive seen for Supergoop internetwide. CAP Beauty If youre on the hunt for natural beauty products (think fruit and vegetable extract moisturizers), CAP Beauty has a nice curation. Products are discounted up to 40 percent and if you spend more than $100, the order ships free. Credo Beauty, a leader in the clean beauty space, is running a 20 percent discount sitewide. That means cheaper-than-normal Kosas, Ilia, and Westman Atelier. Dermstore Dermstore is discounting its products up to 30 percent off when you use the code: JOY. That means cheaper-than-usual Elta MD, Sunday Riley and La-Roche Posay. Fur Fur is offering deep discounts sitewide 30 percent off all the products, including the ingrown hair-inhibiting Fur Oil, which launched the brand to fame. The only caveat: Bundles and kits arent included, but with such a big discount, you could theoretically re-create it on your own. Glossier This year, Glossier is doing a tiered discount structure. Orders over $100 will get 30 percent off and anything under that is 25 percent. That means under $60 Glossier You and $12 tubes of Balm dot com an unbeatable price. Carts over $120 also get a free tube of Cloud Paint through December 1. Loops Theres something soothing about a face mask on a Friday night, and with 30 percent off all Loops masks, you can test out a bunch. Marie Veronique The entire Marie Veronique line is 20 percent off, including the brands collaboration with skin-care specialist Kristina Holey. That collection includes our favorite cleansing oil, the Pure + E.O Free Cleanser, which nourishes the skin while cleaning and doesnt contain irritants like fragrance. Net-a-Porter Net-a-Porter has a highly curated beauty selection, but its a sleeper hit. They stock fancy beauty brands like Susanne Kaufman, Le Labo, and Cle de Peau and offer discounts up to 50 percent off. Anything over that (theres a few things hovering around the 70 percent off range) is likely final sale something to keep in mind. Necessaire Necessaire makes exceptional body products. Im personally a big fan of the body lotion and body wash as well as the now-discontinued body cream (RIP). Weve also written about it a lot over the years. In 2018 our beauty columnist Rio Viera-Newton sang the praises of the brands shockingly eczema-friendly body wash, and the body exfoliator, lotion, and hand cream are stars of their respective best-in-class stories. As for the deal, the entire site is 25 percent off, the cheapest Ive seen this year. Nordstrom Deals vary in Nordstroms beauty section ranging from 17 to 40 percent off. Ill be buying another TangleTeezer Ultimate Detangler (25 percent off) and trying out an Olaplex No. 5 in a bid to maintain my ginger-brown dye job. Paulas Choice For efficacious skin care that wont irritate, Paulas Choice is my go-to. Im a loyalist to the AHA/BHA chemical exfoliant and will be using the 25 percent sitewide discount to buy a bottle for myself and my skin-care-obsessed sister. Phlur Fragrance brand Phlur isnt often on sale, so the 20 percent discount is notable. Im personally considering restocking their Heavy Cream fragrance, which has notes of lemon sugar, marshmallow, jasmine, vanilla, and whipped cream. Refy New kid on the beauty block Refy is offering 20 percent off sitewide. Writer Emma Firth wrote convincingly about the Refy multi-sticks, which she said makes her feel like an early 90s Julie Delphy in Before Sunrise (a vibe). And if blush sticks dont appeal, I abandoned my Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze for the brow gel a year ago and never looked back. Sephora Sephora is rolling out new deals daily leading up to the big weekend, so youll have to keep an eye on the calendar. The deal for today, Black Friday, is 30 percent off Fenty Beauty by Rihanna. Theres also a grab bag of other Sephora products up to 50 percent off. (My fellow writer, Arielle Avila, has rounded up even more picks from the sale in her Sephora Black Friday deals post.) Shopbop is best-known for their fashion offerings, but it has a solid beauty section too. For Black Friday, the site is discounted 25 percent, so you can get a good deal on brands like Ouai and Tan-Luxe. Skinfix Everything is 25 percent off at Skinfix, making the brands fairly pricey moisturizers a bit more attainable. Its a good time to stock up on its popular peptide-packed moisturizer, which Rio has said supports the skins barrier, minimizes redness, and boosts skin hydration. Soft Services Soft Services is offering a tiered discount structure, starting at 5 percent when you spend up to $49 and $20 percent when you spend over $150. The brand very rarely goes on sale so the prospect of getting a buffing bar for cheap is compelling, but I recommend filling up your cart if youre planning on shopping. Soko Glam A longtime go-to for K-Beauty brands, Soko Glam is a great resource for product discovery and stocking up on products you might not find on Stateside shelves. Theres also deep discounts on the in-house brand Then I Met You, which makes a cleansing balm that Rio has said is on par with the ultrapopular Banila Clean It Zero (also on sale). Sol De Janiero Sol De Janiero is one of those rare brands still treating Black Friday as a one-day-only event. So if you want 25 percent off its mists, butters, or a big ol pot of bum bum cream, make sure you checkout before midnight. Ssense Dont sleep on the Ssense beauty section. Its highly curated and the deals are good for high end makeup brands like Hourglass, Byredo and Cle de Peau. What makes it good, though, is their fragrance selection. Ssense stocks brands like Floraiku and Vilhelm along with some designer favorites like Acqua di Parma and Tom Ford. With discounts up to 50 percent off, its a good opportunity to try out something you wont smell on everyone else. My only warning is reading the fine print; some of the really good deals are final sale. Target Targets beauty selection has become increasingly diverse over the years, with premium brands like K18 sitting alongside drugstore favorites like Aveeno and Dove, due partly to the collaboration with Ulta. Theres discounts across the spectrum, making it a good spot to grab a nice mix of products. Tower28 Tower28 is another brand doing a tiered discount structure. When you spend $50 or less, youll get 20 percent off. Over $50, 28 percent. Personally Ill be buying another shade of BeachPlease, the colorless highlighter and a refill-size bottle of the popular SOS Spray. T3 T3 which makes some of our favorite, versatile curling irons and very-convenient foldable travel blow dryer is 30 percent off with very few exceptions. Tatcha While you can find discounted Tatcha at a few retailers, the best deal is on the brand site. Everything is 25 percent off when you use the code: CYBER24. Its even cheaper than the annual Friends and Family sale, so if theres anything you have your eye on, I wouldnt wait. Ulta Similarly to Sephora, Ulta is offering different deals depending on the day. Unlike Sephora, there are deals on brands and selections from product categories like moisturizers or foundations. Ulta is doing both percentage and flat-price deals. The flat-price deal is limited but worth it if your favorite product is among the options in some cases, like the NARS matte lip balm, its a discount of over 50 percent. Violet Grey Everything on Violet Grey is vetted by beauty-industry veterans, so you can trust the selection is well curated. The Best of Beauty event is the brands answer to Black Friday, with an even tighter group of products discounted 20 percent. get the strategist newsletter Actually good deals, smart shopping advice, and exclusive discounts. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. 274 items in this article 274 items on sale! Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers Editors note: Black Friday has ended, so were no longer updating this post. If you want to shop Cyber Monday deals, see our roundup of all the best Cyber Monday deals here. Black Friday has come and gone, but hundreds of deals are still happening across the web. Ive been knee-deep in deals since the month began thats how early sales started this year so at this point, Ive got a strong sense of which deals are worth it. At this point, all the sales are live, and they wont be getting any better. In fact, theyre more likely to sell out now, so I wouldnt wait if you see something you really want, like half-off toys or a pretty cashmere scarf. As I do for every big shopping holiday, Ive whipped up a very extensive list organized alphabetically by company name for you to peruse all the deals that I think are worth a look. If youre not sure where to begin, Id start with the heavy hitters like Amazon, Nordstrom, and Target, where youll find deep discounts on tech, clothes, and toys. But tons of other Strategist-loved retailers have good deals, too, including clothing brands like Madewell and Everlane, travel brands like Away and Calpak, and bedding brands like Parachute and The Company Store. Of course, if youd like to jump to the list of things weve written about before that just happen to be on sale, weve got a roundup for just that. And if youd like to shop any particular category more in depth, Ive linked to my fellow writers detailed roundups below. If you want even more Black Friday sales coverage, sign up for our email newsletter and stay in the loop. Updated on December 1, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products; new products added. More Black Friday Deals Beauty Deals | Bedding Deals | Fashion Deals | Home Deals | Kitchen Deals | Mattress Deals | Tech Deals | Toy Deals | Vacuum Deals The deals I personally think are the best Our best overall womens sweater is half off right now, making it just $75 an unheard of price for Alex Mill. Nordstroms Black Friday sale is filled with great stocking stuffers, including the $26 cashmere beanie that was a hit with Strategist readers last year. And the all-new Kindle is on sale. It has wireless charging now! Alex Crane The breezy apparel brand is offering 30 percent off sitewide through December 3. They make our best linen tee for both men and women, and their lightweight chore coat even earned a spot in the Strategist Menswear 100. Alex Mill Speaking of fashionable Alexes, Alex Mill is offering up to 50 percent off sitewide right now, with some impressive deals on cozy winter basics. Alo Yoga Alo Yogas entire site is 30 percent off, just in time for loungewear season. You cant go wrong with any of its supersoft leggings or workout bras. Amazon Amazons Cyber Week deals are extensive, as expected. Some standouts: AirPods Pro at their lowest price ever, our best overall hair oil, and plenty of toys. Ive pulled a few favorites below, but we have an even more in-depth roundup of the best Cyber Monday deals at Amazon here. Anthropologie Most full-price things are 30 percent off, and sale items are an extra 40 percent off at checkout. Areaware All of Areawares colorful and kooky home decor is 30 percent off with the code MERRY30. (Thats 5 percent better than its Black Friday sale last year.) Aritzia If its wardrobe basics youre after, Aritzia is a good bet. Hundreds of styles are between 20 and 50 percent off (though it does seem like 20 percent off is the norm for most things). Article Article makes our best-in-class bed frame and dining chair, and I found those items (or very similar versions) for up to 40 percent off. Away The stylish luggage brand is having the best sale Ive ever seen it offer: Through December 2, everything is 25 percent off. Aways carry-on suitcase has been our best overall pick for years, with our experts citing durability and a forgiving warranty among its benefits. Backcountry The outdoor-gear retailer is offering up to 60 percent off winter apparel and accessories. Ski, snowboard, and travel gear (like duffels and backpacks) are on sale, too. Baggu This is one of the only sales Baggu holds all year, so dont sleep on it if youve been meaning to nab something from the brands new winter collection. Everything is 20 percent off at checkout, and that includes sale items, making Baggus stockings just $10. Balsam Hill Balsam Hills realistic-looking artificial Christmas trees are up to 50 percent off and dont snooze on the decor section to really spruce up your tree. Ban.do Everything at Ban.do (with a few exceptions) is 35 percent off with the code THEBEST through December 2. Ive been waiting for this sale to buy some Baggus some of the products are only 20 percent off in order to price-match the companys sale, but there are plenty of items that are 35 percent off. Bed Threads Australian brand Bed Threads is offering 20 percent off sitewide, and up to 35 percent off bundles, but I also dug around and found some final-sale colors for 50 percent off. Perhaps you remember the linen sheets from Troye Sivans viral Architectural Digest tour? Now, theyre a bit more within reach for a non-celebrity budget. Best Buy Best Buys Cyber Monday deals are a bit different from its Black Friday ones. Some items got more expensive, while others, like TVs, got cheaper. Blue Apron A meal-delivery kit service makes a surprisingly nice gift, especially for those low on time. Through December 8, the first four weeks of any subscription is half off at Blue Apron. Brooklinen Everything is 25 percent off and bundles are up to 50 percent off through December 4. Its the best discount the brand offers, so if youve been thinking about upgrading to its super-plush towels, silky bedsheets, supportive-yet-soft pillows, or fluffy bathrobes, now is the time. (Amazon is price-matching some items, too; youll just need to apply the on-site coupon.) Calpak Calpaks sleek suitcases, bags, and other travel accessories are up to 60 percent off. I love the Hue carry-on, which Ive been using for over five years with minimal scratches or scrapes; and the faux-leather Kaya backpack, which is one of our favorite work bags, is an especially excellent deal at just $55. Catbird Catbird is offering 20 percent off almost everything (exceptions include its collaboration with Laufey and select designers) through December 2. Its the best deal youll see all year, so nows a good time to pick up some nice jewelry at a good discount. And dont sleep on the home and beauty section, which has fun little tchotchkes like this wind-up pigeon toy. The Citizenry Everything at the Citizenry is up to 35 percent off through December 2. Were fans of the brands stonewashed French-flax linen sheets, and the half-moon mirrors are quite lovely, too. The Company Store Weekly epic deals are up to 60 percent off, and orders over $75 are 30 percent off with the code BFDEALS24. The Company Store makes plenty of our favorite bedding, including both our best overall down comforter and jersey sheets. Coyuchi All of Coyuchis stylish, sustainable, and Strategist-tested bedding and bath basics are 25 percent off, which is the best deal Ive seen the brand offer. A lot of Coyuchi products are also on sale at Amazon and Nordstrom, although the discount is only 20 percent. But it might be worth it to you if youd like faster shipping or a more forgiving return policy. Crate & Barrel Crate & Barrel has a host of furniture, lighting, tableware, and more for up to 50 percent off. All orders over $49 ship for free. Credo Beauty Credo is offering 20 percent off sitewide through December 2, which is a typical (and solid!) deal from the clean beauty retailer. Ilias skin tint is a best seller with Strategist readers. Dermstore I havent seen many sales at Dermstore this year, so nows the time to get some rare deals on Strategist- and dermatologist-approved skin care, hair care, and fragrances. Just use the code JOY to take up to 30 percent off through December 2. Doen If youre willing to do some digging, there are truly excellent deals to be found at Doen. I found swimsuits, sweaters, and sundresses for up to 70 percent off. Popular sizes go out of stock very quickly, so I wouldnt dillydally. DockATot Through December 2, everything (with a few exclusions, like gift cards) is 30 percent off with the code SAVE30. We especially like the cushy cotton play mat, which is great for tummy time and lounging. Everlane Everlanes Black Friday sale usually has the best deals the brand offers, and this year is no different with discounts up to 60 percent off. Id go for the beanie and scarf if youre looking for gifts for others and the jeans and coats if youre looking for gifts for yourself. For even more, Rachael Griffiths rounded up all her top picks from the Everlane Black Friday sale here. Fly by Jing Fly by Jings Sichuan spices and sauces are up to 50 percent off. The DIY hot-pot kit that Strategist contributor Kiki Aranita recommends for impromptu dinners (and fondue) is a particularly good deal at 40 percent off. Food52 Food52 is having its best sale ever. Normally the retailer maxes out at 20 percent off, but this year its offering 25 percent off sitewide through December 2 with the code 25OFFHOLIDAY. Gap In typical Gap fashion, everything is at least 50 percent off for Black Friday. But if you dig, youll find plenty of very big deals for 60 percent off, too, like the striped beanie below thats just $13 (63 percent off). Glossier Through December 3, nearly everything is 25 percent off, and orders over $100 are 30 percent off. (Note that the discounts will only show up once you add items to your cart.) The beloved Balm Dotcom is even cheaper at just $10 thats nearly 40 percent off! There are a few of the brands products on sale at Sephora, too, but youre more likely to get a better deal at Glossier. Great Jones Pretty much everything at Great Jones is on sale for up to 50 percent off through December 2. If youre going to buy one thing, let it be our best nonstick sheet pan. Im a fan of the brands cooking utensils, too especially the silicone serving spoon. Great Jones eye-catching, status-y Le Creuset Dutch oven dupe is also a good bet. Plus, orders over $200 get a free Holy Sheet in the green broccoli colorway. Hanna Andersson This is Hanna Anderssons best sale all year. Everything is 50 percent off, so make sure you stock up on adorable all-cotton pajamas, sweaters, and more for the whole family. Huckberry Menswear often tends to get overlooked when it comes to Black Friday sales, but there are a lot of nice jackets, shoes, and accessories for up to 50 percent off at Huckberry. J.Crew Basically everything at J.Crew is up to 50 percent off, though I did see a few things for even (a little) cheaper, like Ottessa Moshfeghs pajamas. Kosas Through December 2, everything at Kosas is 25 percent off, which is the best deal Ive seen the brand offer. If youve been looking for a sign to try the baby-pink powder thats going viral on TikTok, nows your chance to get it for $9 off. Lalo Stylish baby-gear brand Lalo is offering up to 40 percent off through December 2. The brands convertible high chair is our pick for infants (and comes with a free feeding smock), and its Strategist-approved Play Tent make a perfect gift. Levis Levis jeans are the most mentioned jeans in our best-in-class guides to denim for men and women, and right now everything is 40 percent off. Thats about as good a deal as the brand offers. And to outfit your little ones, kids denim and accessories get an even deeper discount at 50 percent off. Lisa Says Gah One of the sales Im most excited about is the one going on at Lisa Says Gah, where nearly everything is 30 percent off. Lululemon This is the best time to get actually good deals on Lululemons high-quality athleisure Im actually shocked that a pair of joggers is 50 percent off. Writer Katherine Gillespie has rounded up even more excellent deals from Lululemons Black Friday sale here. Madewell Everything (including sale items) at Madewell is up to 50 percent off with the code MADEBETTER. This is a good time to nab items that never really go on sale for more than 30 percent off, like our best-overall work bag, the Transport tote. Also worth considering: the Harlow pant (a Strategist favorite work pant), which is just $30 right now! Material Material Kitchen is having an even better deal than last year: Everything is up to 40 percent off through December 4. Im a fan of the brands cutting boards, and you can also find Materials knives and cookware in several of our best-in-class guides. Plus orders over $300 score an extra 10 percent off at checkout. Merrell Nearly everything is up to 40 percent off through Sunday night. The brands cult-y Encore Mocs, which designer Sandy Liang called the most comfortable shoes Ive ever worn, are the cheapest Ive seen them. And its hiking boots are the ones Strategist outdoors writer Jeremy Rellosa recommends nine times out of ten when someone asks for a hiking-boot recommendation. Net-a-Porter Thousands of items are up to 50 percent off at Net-a-Porter. There are some particularly good deals on both sneakers and holiday attire! For even more, check out fashion writer Ambar Pardillas guide to Net-a-Porters Black Friday sale here. Organic Basics Designed in Copenhagen and made with organic cotton, Organic Basics has plenty of wardrobe staples that weve tested and love. Everything is up to 60 percent off, but if its underwear youre after, buy three pairs and youll get one pair free. Our Place Our Places colorful cookware and tableware is up to 40 percent off through December 3. The miniAlways Pan is a good option if youre short on space. We also love the brands best-in-class drinking glasses, which come in eight gem-colored tones (as well as some multicolored sets if you cant decide). Outdoor Voices Everything, including sale items, is 30 percent off at Outdoor Voices, and starting today, OV Extra items are an additional 50 percent off (which makes items like the Zephyr shorts below a mere $12!). Parachute This is the best deal Ive ever seen Parachute offer: Everything is 30 percent off (including already-on-sale items). Included in the sale are their best-in-class bathrobes, duvet covers, poofy pillows, and sheets. Ive pulled some best sellers below, but I also rounded up all our top picks from Parachutes Black Friday sale here. Piglet in Bed If its cottagecore bedding youre after, you need U.K. brand Piglet in Bed. Its linen bedding comes in a huge array of colors and patterns, and right now, everything is 20 percent off. Bundles of three or more items are 30 percent off, too. Primary Primary makes colorful, non-gendered kids clothing thats already fairly affordable, and its all 40 percent off with the code CYBER40. Weve featured the brand in our guides to childrens clothing and shopping for trans kids and teens as well as the Strategist Baby Registry, but I think the grown-ups section is pretty nice too. Reformation Everything is 25 percent off at Reformation. Its cool-person-approved denim is a staple if youre looking for high-waisted jeans or mom jeans, and the Matteo trench coat recently earned a spot on our best-in-class list. Rothys All of the machine-washable shoes and bags at Rothys are discounted through December 2. The website says the savings are up to 30 percent off, but I found a few styles discounted even more, including the classic mary janes for nearly 40 percent off. Schoolhouse Everything is 20 percent off at Schoolhouse, and orders over $250 are 25 percent off. But if you dig, you can find a few 30 percent off discounts. Sephora Sephora so rarely has sales, and when it does, Im just not very impressed. But Black Friday is the one time per year you can find some really good discounts: Hundreds of items are 30 percent off, and the rotating daily deals are 50 percent off. Writer Arielle Avila has rounded up even more of the best Black Friday deals at Sephora. Shopbop Use the code HOLIDAY to take 25 percent off sitewide (even on already on sale items!) through December 2. Shopbop never has discounts this deep on in-season products, so I suggest checking out the new arrivals first. Silk & Snow Silk & Snow is offering up to 25 percent off everything, including Strategist-approved Egyptian-cotton sheets, through December 4. Plus youll get 25 percent off any bed frame when you buy a mattress and 30 percent off any nightstand when you buy a bed frame. Soko Glam Everything, with a few select exclusions, is up to 50 percent off. Id suggest starting with our best hydrating toner from Olivarrier. We also have an entire guide to shopping the retailer here, if you need more inspiration. Sonos Sonos doesnt have sales too often, so dont dillydally on these deals. Were big fans of Sonoss ultrasleek speaker systems and the brands first headphones, which we featured in our print gift guide. (Amazon is price-matching, too, if youd like faster delivery.) Ssense One of the best places to dig up designer goods is Ssense, and thankfully, its sale section is up and running for Black Friday already. Writer Lauren Ro rounded up even more picks from Ssenses winter sale here. State Bags State Bags makes one of our best kids backpacks and the sleek toiletry bag one Strategist contributor toted to Paris. Through December 2, the brand is offering 30 percent off sitewide and 40 percent off bundles with the code BF24. Plus all purchases include free embroidered initials. (The discount will show up at checkout.) Sundays The newish Canadian DTC-furniture brand is offering up to 40 percent off through December 3 (and free shipping on everything). The Japandi-esque coffee table from our best-in-class guide is the cheapest Ive ever seen it at 30 percent off. Sur La Table Hundreds of items are up to 60 percent off for Sur La Tables Black Friday sale. The best deals are on products from the brands in-house line, including a handsome trivet and the dishes two Strategist staffers praised in our recent guide to dinner plates. Kitchen-and-dining writer Emma Wartzman says this sale has some of the best discounts shes seen so far, and she has even more picks in her guide to the best Black Friday kitchen deals. Target Targets Black Friday deals are officially here, and theyre quite vast kitchen appliances, tech, kids toys, and so much more are up to 50 percent off until Saturday. Plus Target will price-match any items you buy if you find them cheaper somewhere else between now and Christmas Eve. Tatcha Tatchas best sale of the year is back: Use the code CYBER24 to take 25 percent off sitewide. Im eyeing the dewy skin cream, a reader favorite that our beauty columnist, Rio Viera-Newton, says instantly makes skin look plumper, brighter, and intensely nourished. True Botanicals True Botanicals Black Friday sale is even better than last year. Everything is 30 percent off through December 2, orders over $400 are 40 percent off, and orders over $1,000 are 50 percent off. The brands Phyto-Retinol Sleep Serum is a favorite of Jessica Chastain, who likes that its cruelty free, vegan, and doesnt leave dry patches (like traditional retinols are wont to do). Ulta Ulta has rolling out new deals weekly since November started. This weeks deals include 30 percent of Tarte products and Shark Beauty tools, as well as half off Lancome beauty. Urban Outfitters All sale items are an extra 50 percent off at checkout, making a lot of styles 66 percent off (or more). Walmart Hundreds (if not thousands) of items are up to 70 percent off at Walmart, but youll find the best deals in the tech section. Get the Strategist Sales Alert Daily dispatches from our deals-obsessed editors. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. As global markets experience broad-based gains, with smaller-cap indexes outperforming their larger counterparts, investors are increasingly turning their attention to the potential of small-cap stocks. Amidst this positive sentiment and a strong labor market, discovering hidden opportunities in lesser-known companies can be particularly rewarding for those looking to diversify their portfolios. Top 10 Undiscovered Gems With Strong Fundamentals Name Debt To Equity Revenue Growth Earnings Growth Health Rating ManpowerGroup Greater China NA 14.56% 1.58% Ovostar Union 0.01% 10.19% 49.85% Impellam Group 31.12% -5.43% -6.86% Tianyun International Holdings 10.09% -5.59% -9.92% Pro-Hawk 30.16% -5.27% -2.93% CTCI Advanced Systems 30.56% 24.10% 29.97% Chita Kogyo 8.34% 2.84% 8.49% A2B Australia 15.83% -7.78% 25.44% Wilson 64.79% 30.09% 68.29% Practic NA 3.63% 6.85% Click here to see the full list of 4634 stocks from our Undiscovered Gems With Strong Fundamentals screener. Let's explore several standout options from the results in the screener. Simply Wall St Value Rating: Overview: Shenzhen Tellus Holding Co., Ltd., along with its subsidiaries, operates in the automobile sales, maintenance, and testing sectors in China with a market capitalization of CN7.05 billion. Operations: Shenzhen Tellus Holding generates revenue primarily from its automobile sales and maintenance services in China. The company has a market capitalization of CN7.05 billion, reflecting its financial stature in the industry. Shenzhen Tellus Holding, a smaller player in its industry, has shown impressive growth with earnings surging by 60.5% over the past year, outpacing the Retail Distributors sector's -7.3%. Their debt-to-equity ratio improved from 7.9 to 6.3 over five years, indicating better financial health. Recent earnings for nine months ending September 2024 revealed sales of CNY 2.07 billion and net income of CNY 108 million, up from CNY 1.22 billion and CNY 73.7 million respectively a year ago, reflecting strong operational performance despite challenges in free cash flow management which remains negative at -CNY38 million as of September end. SZSE:000025 Debt to Equity as at Nov 2024 Simply Wall St Value Rating: Overview: Zoje Resources Investment Co., Ltd. focuses on the research, development, production, and sale of industrial sewing machines in China with a market capitalization of approximately CN2.89 billion. The share of electricity in China generated from coal dipped below 60% of the total for the first time since the start of the year. Some have seen this as a win for the countrys transition efforts. Alas, it is a temporary one. Chinas share of coal power generation in the total mix stood at 58.7% over the first ten months of the year, Reuters Gavin Maguire reported this week. This is down from 61.6% for the same period of 2023 and 61.8% for the first ten months of 2022. This may seem like a small but significant victory for the wind and solar industries of the country, and the global transition push as a whole. However, this is in percentage terms. In absolute terms, Chinas coal power generation hit an all-time high this year, rising to 4,838 TWh from 4,724 TWh from January to October last year. The data comes from transition advocacy outlet Ember and Maguire, who argued that as China accounts for roughly 40% of all power emissions from fossil fuels, sustained reductions to coal's use in Chinese power production are critical if worldwide pollution trends are to be reversed. The numbers, however, do not suggest that Chinas coal use is in decline. What they do suggest is that demand for electricity is on the rise and China is using all available sources to generate it, temporarily reducing the share of coal because there is availability of gas and hydro, since solar and wind tend to underperform in the winter months. Whats more, the dip in coals share of Chinas energy mix is about to reverse pretty soonbecause demand is about to pick up as the weather gets colder. Winter is peak demand season in the northern hemisphere and China has demonstrated it is prepared to go to great lengths to avoid a repeat of the power shortage from eight years ago. Interestingly, Reuters Maguire suggests that even with higher demand, China could keep the share of coal in its energy mix below 60% for the yearby relying on abundant wind power output and subdued industrial activity. In other words, it has to be hoped that the weather cooperates and that the industrial sectors of the economy do badly instead of well in order to keep a lid on coal-related carbon emissions. The suggestion is evidence of something that transition skeptics have been warning about for years: success with emission control means deindustrialization and economic stagnation, if not shrinkage, accompanied by a higher cost of living. The latest developments in Germany and the UK seem to support this view. In Germany, some of the biggest industrial conglomerates are planning massive layoffs, warning of factory closures, and plotting business relocations. In the UK, soaring energy costs have fueled a cost of living crisis that prompted a petition calling for snap elections that accumulated over 2 million signatures in the space of 48 hours. The petition comes just four months after the Keir Starmer government came into officewith the promise to turn the country into a transition leader and make energy cheaper for everyone. China is not oblivious to these unpleasant developments. Its government has signaled repeatedly that its approach to energy security is all of the above in terms of sources. So, celebrating the temporary dip in coal generation in China as a percentage of the total when its absolute volume has hit an all-time high may be a little premature. Especially since even the International Energy Agency admits that global coal demandcurrently led by China and Indiawas not about to start declining at least until 2030. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Canadas oil-producing province of Alberta is fighting the federal government on the plan to cap emissions from oil and gas production, which Alberta and the industry see essentially as a cap on output. Early this month, Canadas federal government unveiled its draft regulations to drive significant emissions cuts at one of the most polluting sectors of the economy. However, the oil and gas sector is of huge importance to Alberta and its economy, as well as to Canadas economy, exports of goods, and economic growth. Emission Cap The Government of Canada has proposed regulations to set a cap on greenhouse gas pollution within the oil and gas sector and have companies reduce emissions by 35% compared to 2019 levels. The planned legislation would also introduce a cap-and-trade system designed to recognize better-performing companies and incentivize those that are higher polluting to invest in making their production processes cleaner, the federal government says. Alberta and its oil and gas industry argue that the emissions cap is basically a cap on oil and gas production as companies are required to either invest a lot of money to make production cleaner, or simply cut production to comply with the emissions cap. Producers will have to be prepared to comply with the cap beginning in 2030. Commenting on the federal plans, the Business Council of Canada said At a time when Canadas economy is stalling, imposing an oil and gas emissions cap will only make Canadians poorer. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith didnt mince words. Im pissed Im absolutely angry, Smith said in response to the proposed emissions cap. Smith also said that the draft legislation violates Canadas constitution, whose Section 92A clearly gives provinces exclusive jurisdiction over non-renewable natural resource development yet this cap will require a one million barrel a day production cut by 2030. Canadian parents and workers will suffer while Justin Trudeau outsources the duty to provide safe, affordable, reliable and responsibly produced oil and gas to dictators and less clean producers around the world, the Alberta premier said when the emissions cap plan was unveiled. We could be the solution. Instead, Ottawa would rather sacrifice our ability to lead. Alberta Fights Back Three weeks later, Premier Smith said on Tuesday that Albertas government would introduce an Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act motion to stop a federal cap from infringing on the provinces distinct jurisdiction and killing good-paying jobs. The resolution asks the legislative assembly for approval to take a series of swift, effective actions designed to protect Alberta if the production cap ever becomes law. We will continue to defend our province from Ottawas senseless and direct attack. Our motion protects Albertans jobs and livelihoods, puts Ottawa back in their place, and ensures we can continue to support global energy security with Alberta oil and gas for decades to come, Smith noted. This cap is not actually about emissions. This is about the federal government wanting to cut oil and gas production and control our energy sector, even if it costs thousands of jobs and hurts Canadians from coast to coast, said Rebecca Schulz, Albertas Minister of Environment and Protected Areas. The actions in the motion, if approved, would ensure that no provincial entity participates in the enforcement or implementation of the federal cap. It would also ban entry to any individual, including any federal official or contractor, into oil and gas sites unless these are specifically licensed to enter by the Government of Alberta. In one of the more controversial actions, the motion would declare all information on emissions as proprietary information exclusively owned by the Government of Alberta, and mandate that all emissions data be reported and disclosed at the provinces discretion. Industry hasnt been consulted on these intentions of Alberta, but companies and sector associations have already expressed frustration over the proposed federal emissions cap. The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) commented on Albertas move to protect its oil and gas industry, with CAPP president and chief executive Lisa Baiton calling on the federal government to scrap the proposed emissions cap. This punitive policy, layered on top of an already complex web of energy and climate regulations, threatens to reduce oil and natural gas production in Canada and restrict cross-border energy trade, Baiton said on Tuesday. These challenges are especially significant given Canadas current struggles with productivity, competitiveness, and affordability, compounded by a new incoming U.S. administration considering 25% tariffs on all Canadian imports. Apart from the emissions cap, perceived as a cap on production, Canadas oil and gas companies are balking at the complexity of the planned cap-and-trade system as another layer of federal emissions rules on top of existing provincial and federal legislation. Michael Belenkie, chief executive of producer Advantage Energy, said, as carried by Financial Post, All were doing is were shutting ourselves down at our own expense and watching global emissions increase. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com It's been a relatively calm week for oil prices despite plenty of developments on both the geopolitical and fundamental front, but prices might just begin to climb next week. Thanksgiving has disrupted a highly eventful week that saw OPEC+ ramp up its shuttle diplomacy as the oil group postponed its December 1 meeting. Despite that move, ICE Brent settlements moved in a very narrow bandwidth of less than $1 per barrel all week, between $72 and $73 per barrel. As the Russia-Ukraine war intensifies and Iran comes to the forefront of Trumps policy moves, geopolitics could make a surprise comeback in December, complementing OPEC+s decisions and pushing oil prices higher. OPEC+ Postpones December Meeting. OPEC+ has delayed its upcoming policy meeting to December 5 as members are reportedly discussing postponing the anticipated output hike due to start in January 2025, simultaneously coordinating the future of compensation cuts with Iraq and Kazakhstan. Iran Prepares for New Uranium Enrichment Boost. Iran has notified the International Atomic Energy Agency that it would seek to install more than 6,000 additional uranium-enriching centrifuges at its enrichment plants, according to an IAEA internal report, raising the risks of confrontation with Tehran. Russia Bombards Ukraines Energy Infrastructure. Russia attacked Ukraines energy assets with 91 missiles and 97 drones this week in the second largest attack of the past month, with over 1 million people losing power in the immediate aftermath of the strikes and damages reported in 9 regions. Argentina Expands into Brazils Gas Market. Brazilian firm Matrix Energia and French oil major TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE) confirmed the first deal to supply shale gas from Argentinas Vaca Muerta patch to Brazil via Bolivias gas grid as the latters gas exports to Argentina ceased in September. Indonesia Courts Russia, US for Nuclear Plants. The new Indonesian government is in negotiations with the United States and Russia on acquiring nuclear technologies for power plants, seeking to start operating its first unit as early as 2036, despite a very pressing seismic risk across most of its islands. Europes Key Driller Expands in West Africa. Italys oil major ENI (BIT:ENI) managed to lock in four new exploration contracts offshore Ivory Coast, boosting its presence in the country after its 2.5 BBbls Baleine and 1.5 BBbls Calao discoveries, with the new contracts giving it nine years to explore. EU Tightens Tariff Pressure on China. Members of the European Union approved the imposition of anti-dumping duties on titanium dioxide from China, provisionally setting the tariffs between 14.4% and 39.7% as Chinas share rose to almost 25% lately in the product mostly used in paints and printing. Trump Mulling Sanctions on Iraq. US President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly considering placing secondary sanctions on Iraq, terminating Baghdads sanction waivers to import Iranian gas, sanctioning individuals across the countrys energy sector, and clamping down on fuel smuggling from the country. Panama Canal Transit Recovers on Higher Water Levels. Since September, vessel transits through the Panama Canal rose to 730-740 per month, the highest traction in a year with LPG flows ramping up to previously unseen levels, although more available tonnage also resulted in lower VLGC freight rates. Mexico Freezes New Oil Service Contracts. Mexicos embattled state oil firm Pemex froze most of its new service contracts with drilling companies as the NOCs top management mandated a $1 billion E&P budget cut, owing more than $5.2 billion overall, in a move that would lower the countrys production. China Doubles Down on Coal Imports. China is set to import its highest-ever volume of thermal coal amidst rising electricity demand, bringing in 37.5 million tonnes this month according to Kpler data, as global coal prices have been trending lower than domestic production, around $140 per metric tonne. Trafigura Adds Excitement to Zinc Markets. Global trading firm Trafigura has single-handedly launched a rally in zinc prices after it ordered thousands of tons of zinc out of LME warehouses, with total orders surging to a record 97,225 tonnes, sending prices of the base metal to $3,130 per metric tonne. ADNOC Spins Off Low-Carbon Business Unit. ADNOC, the national oil company of the UAE, has launched XRG, its new unit focused on investing in natural gas, low-carbon energy and chemicals that is slated to operate independently starting from Q1 2025, with an enterprise value of more than 80 billion. By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The IAEA has passed a resolution censuring Iran and is preparing a report on its nuclear program. Iran has warned it may develop a nuclear weapon if UN sanctions are reimposed. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says his country may change its nuclear doctrine and develop a bomb if UN sanctions are reimposed on Tehran. Speaking to reporters on November 28 in Lisbon, Portugal, Araqchi said Iran had long had the technical know-how to build a bomb but doing so "is not part of Tehrans security strategy," according to Iranian media. His comments come as negotiators from Iran and the E3 (Britain, France, and Germany) are scheduled to meet in Geneva to discuss a range of issues, including Irans nuclear program and conflicts in the Middle East. Araqchi described the meeting on November 29 as a brainstorming session to see if there really is a way out of the current nuclear impasse. The Geneva meeting is not billed as nuclear talks by any party but Irans atomic program is expected to be a central topic. Talks between Iran and world powers to restore the 2015 nuclear deal have stalled since September 2022. Last week, the 35-member board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) passed a censure resolution against Iran and tasked the UN nuclear watchdog to prepare a comprehensive and updated assessment on the state of Irans expanding nuclear program, including past and present attempts to develop a bomb. The report could pave the way for referring Irans case to the UN Security Council in a bid to trigger the so-called snapback mechanism to reimpose UN sanctions that had been lifted under the terms of the 2015 agreement with world powers. In response to the resolution, Iran activated several new and advanced centrifuges to enrich uranium. Araqchi said he was not optimistic about the Geneva talks because he was unsure whether Tehran was speaking to the right party. The 2015 nuclear agreement began to unravel after President-elect Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the accord during his first term in office in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran. Tehran responded by expanding its nuclear program, limiting inspections of its nuclear sites, and enriching uranium to as high as 60 percent. By RFE/RL More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Naval and coast guard vessels from several European countries have forced a Chinese commercial ship to anchor in the Baltic Sea after suspecting it deliberately sabotaged undersea internet infrastructure. International investigators believe the crew aboard Yi Peng 3, a Chinese bulk carrier transporting Russian fertilizer, dragged its anchor for more than 100 miles across the Baltic seabed, damaging internet cables that run across it. As a result, two different internet links--one between Finland and Germany and another between Swedens Gotland Island and Lithuania--stopped working earlier this month. Currently, investigators are trying to figure out if Russia ordered the cables destruction, though Moscow has denied any wrongdoing. Unnamed sources who spoke to the Wall Street Journal said the ships owner, Ningbo Yipeng Shipping, was cooperating with investigators. Initial assessments by American intelligence officials have determined that the cables were not cut deliberately, though European authorities say they have not been able to rule out sabotage. Previously, Russian intelligence operatives have been linked with arson attacks, vandalism and physical assaults on European infrastructure, with Moscow blamed for putting incendiary devices in cargo planes headed to North America, including one that ignited in a warehouse in England and another that caught fire at a courier hub in Germany. Last month, Poland announced it had arrested four people suspected to be linked to a foreign intelligence operation while Lithuanias prosecutor general Nida Grunskiene revealed there were an unspecified number of people detained in several countries. Related: Shares of Adani Group Companies Soar After U.S. Indictment Theres ample reason for European officials to suspect foul play, given previous similar experiences. Last year, a ship called the Newnew Polar Bear dropped its anchor and cut through a gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia. Inexplicably, the authorities allowed the ship to enter international waters and avoid capture, something they are keen to avoid with the Yi Peng 3. Its totally without question that if critical infrastructure of some countries has been destroyed or seriously damaged, and we have to find out who did it, there cannot be a situation in which one simply walks away from the scene, Finlands defense minister, Antti Hakkanen, said after the fiber-optic cables were cut this month. State-Sponsored Terrorism Tensions between the West and Russia have escalated ever since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The U.S. and Europe quickly moved to distance themselves from Russian oil and gas, imposing a raft of sanctions on Russian energy commodities, including a $60-a-barrel cap on Russia's seaborne exports of crude oil. Several months later, Gazprom-led Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines were damaged in an apparent act of sabotage. Three leaks--one in the Swedish zone and two in the Danish zone and--were first discovered in Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines designed to ship natural gas to Germany. Later, Sweden said its coast guard had found a fourth leak. Not surprisingly, Moscow quickly pointed fingers to the West, labeling the incident state-sponsored "terrorism. This looks like an act of terrorism, possibly on a state level. It is very difficult to imagine that such an act of a terrorism could have happened without the involvement of a state of some kind," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, as reported by Reuters. At first, Russia launched a thinly-veiled allusion to the United States, saying the U.S. stood to benefit, in a war of words with the West, over who was responsible. Moscow previously said the leaks occurred in territory that is "fully under the control" of U.S. intelligence agencies. Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claimed that Washington would be able to boost its liquefied natural gas (LNG) sales if the pipelines were put out of use. Zakharova called for an EU investigation to be "objective, saying that Washington would have to "explain itself," apparently in reference to President Joe Biden's earlier comment that if Russia sent troops into Ukraine "there will no longer be a Nord Stream 2". However, Biden was more likely referring to possible sanctions on the new pipeline, which has never been put into service despite being completed before Russia invaded Ukraine. The European Union conceded that sabotage was behind the damage off the coasts of Denmark and Sweden and said it was investigating the matter. Meanwhile, NATO voiced "deep concern" over the apparent attacks and extensive damage sustained by the Nord Stream pipelines, calling the incidents "deliberate, reckless, and irresponsible acts of sabotage." The finger-pointing continued: citing three sources, CNN reported that European security officials had observed Russian navy support ships and submarines not far from the leaks while Peskov countered by claiming that there had been a much larger NATO presence in the area. The Wall Street Journal reported that Ukraine's top military commander at the time, Valery Zaluzhny, oversaw the plan to blow up the pipelines. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky approved of the plan,but tried to have it aborted after Washington warned him against it. Then in August this year, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov finally dropped the bomb, openly claiming the United States issued the order for the 2022 attacks on the gas pipelines. "It is clear that to carry out such a terrorist attack, there was a command from the very top, as they say. The very top for the West is, of course, Washington," Lavrov told Izvestia newspaper in a video interview published on its Telegram channel. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The unexpected 60-day agreement to halt the ongoing military confrontation between Hezbollah and Israel could have significant consequences for the region, Israeli and Arab sources indicate. The US-France-brokered ceasefire between Lebanons extremist militia Hezbollah, supported by Iran and Russia, and Israel could bring some stability to Lebanon and the region, experts suggest. The 60-day ceasefire, if upheld by the warring parties, should lead not only to the removal of Hezbollah from the Lebanese-Israeli border region but also to the revamp of the Lebanese Army, in close cooperation with the US and France. Some even expect Arab countries, especially the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, to become involved. Overall, the ceasefire is seen as a big step toward a return to normalcy in the region. The current optimism, however, could be blindsided by other moves from regional powers. Israeli news sources have indicated that one reason for the Netanyahu government to support the ceasefire is so that Israeli armed forces can return home in the coming weeks and be revamped and upgraded for future operations elsewhere. Israeli military analysts have reported that the Israeli war cabinet will soon discuss a possible move against Iran. For most Israelis, the confrontation between Israel and Iran is far from resolved. Leaving Lebanon, especially after destroying a significant part of Hezbollahs infrastructure and missile capabilities, would enable Israels defense forces (IDF and IAF) to prepare for new actions against Iran. After recent Israeli attacks on Iran, the latters airspace is reportedly vulnerable, providing opportunities to address existing military threats and nuclear projects. One Israeli source claimed the US-France-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah implicitly included the option of Israeli military action against Iran, with the condition that Israel warns the US beforehand. Related: Trump Urged to Make Oil-for-Migrants Venezuela Deal These Israeli discussions, rooted in reality, could also intersect with OPEC+ deliberations involving Russia, Saudi Arabia, and others. The rescheduling of the OPEC+ meeting from December 1 to December 5, alongside the extension of production cuts into 2025, suggests broader connections. OPEC+especially Russia and Iranis facing challenges from struggling Asian demand, a weak Chinese economy, and dissent among member countries over export cuts. The incoming US President Trump, known for his tough stance on Russia-OPEC cooperation and hostility toward Iran, further complicates the picture. Trump's potential reinstatement of sanctions against Iran and aggressive energy policies could reshape the market. His approach could also benefit Israel, Riyadh, and Abu Dhabi by targeting Iranian oil and gas exports, reducing oil price pressures, and weakening Russia's influence. In Israel and likely in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, Trumps presidency is seen as an opportunity. Israel appears to have a green light from Trump to address Iran militarily. Stronger sanctions on Iran could also favor Gulf producers by easing the need for OPEC to maintain production cuts. Trumps stance against Russian and Iranian oil exports would remove competition for US and Gulf producers. While the ceasefire in the Middle East is viewed by Western analysts as a positive step, it may eventually lead to new confrontations elsewhere, while easing pressures on OPEC's key players. OPEC+s current spare production capacity is enough to offset the loss of Iranian and Russian volumes. The situation illustrates the interplay between disadvantages and advantages in geopolitics, with 2025 predicted to be even more volatile than 2024. By Cyril Widdershoven for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Brazil has announced the permanent offering of 91 oil blocks across key basins, aiming to attract significant investment and bolster energy security. The Ministry of Mines and Energy revealed that the next auction cycle, slated for 2025, could bring in an estimated 2.4 billion reais ($394 million) in signing bonuses. The blocks are spread across strategic regions: 39 in Minas Gerais Sao Francisco Basin, 41 and a marginal accumulation field in the Potiguar Basin, and 11 in the coveted pre-salt area. Companies can express interest in these blocks under the permanent offer model, triggering bidding opportunities. Energy Minister Alexandre Silveira didnt mince words about the stakes. Brazil's production expected to hit a peak of 5.3 million barrels per day in 2030--a reality that has Brazil on edge in search of fresh reserves lest they become an oil importer as soon as by 2040. This increase in production is essential to guarantee our energy security, he said, alluding to the importance of staying ahead of the curve. This move is part of Brazils push to secure its spot among the worlds top oil producers. Petrobras, the state-controlled oil giant, is already ramping up efforts in the pre-salt region with plans to add 11 platforms by 2027. However, not everyone is thrilledenvironmental concerns are bubbling over Petrobras ambitions to drill near the Amazon River. Meanwhile, global oil prices are relatively flat on the day. Brent crude is trading at $73.40 (+0.16%) per barrel, while WTI increased to $69.46 (+1.08%). Brazil was the ninth-largest oil-producing country in the world last year, with an average output of 3 million bpd, growing by 4 percent from 2021. The Brasilia government aims to increase this position to fourth in the world by 2030 by producing around 5.4 million bpd, and Petrobras is taking the lead in the industry. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire takes out just one strand of the geopolitical premium in oil prices, with a lot of uncertainties remaining for 2025, including the Trump Administrations sanctions against Iran and the Russia-Ukraine war, according to David Fyfe, chief economist at Argus. Its a complex picture, but youve essentially got several strands of geopolitical complications, Fyfe told CNBC on Friday. The geopolitical complications are underpinning crude on the one hand, but they also bring heightened concerns about the global economy, acting in the opposite direction to weigh down on oil prices, the economist added. The geopolitical complexities currently form a sort of dynamic equilibrium, Fyfe said. OPEC+ needs to take a hard look at supply, considering that Argus sees about 1 million barrels per day (bpd) of global oil demand growth next year, which will be more than matched by non-OPEC+ supply growth, mostly from the U.S., Brazil, and Guyana, according to the economist. The OPEC+ alliance needs to potentially further defer the easing of the cuts into 2025, he added. On Thursday, OPEC said that the OPEC+ group would move the meeting on its near-term oil production plans to December 5 from December 1, due to a scheduling conflict. Weak fundamentals could prompt the OPEC+ group at the December 1 meeting to delay once again the output increase currently planned to begin in January, according to recent market speculation. The ongoing OPEC+ oil production cuts and the improved compliance with quotas from some producers are supporting Brent Crude, offering a modest upside to oil prices in the near term, according to Goldman Sachs. The U.S. investment bank expects the OPEC+ cuts to be rolled over again and the easing of the output curbs could begin gradually in April 2025, after the first quarter of next year ends. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com It is hard to imagine that someone living on the other side of the world could be interested in your culture, inspired by just a handful of encounters. However, a series of activities in Bulgaria, titled "The Story of China -- How and Why," is proving this possible. Held from Nov. 7 to Nov. 29, the program aims to enhance Bulgarians' understanding of traditional Chinese culture and strengthen ties between the two nations. Eleven prominent Chinese experts have traveled to Bulgarian cities like Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo, and Plovdiv to share insights into Chinese civilization through philosophy, history, literature, and art. Seminars, open to the public, explore the evolution of Chinese culture and compare Eastern and Western traditions. Topics include Chinese philosophy, traditional medicine, ancient architecture, and classical poetry, all of which have drawn significant interest from local audiences. One highlight was a lecture titled "What is the Quintessence of Chinese Culture -- On the Charm of Peking Opera," led by Zhang Peng and Chen Pingyi. Attendees even tried playing the Jinghu, a traditional Peking Opera instrument. Zhang, a seasoned performer and researcher, said he was thrilled by Bulgarians' enthusiasm. "Things here exceeded my expectations," he said. Audience member Miglena Tzenova, who tried the Jinghu, called the experience "beyond description." Despite her background as a pianist, it was her first time playing a string instrument. "I really like Chinese music, culture, and especially traditional opera," she said. Chen, a renowned Jinghu teacher, highlighted an audience question about whether children in China still study Peking Opera. He explained that specialized schools in Beijing and Shanghai begin training students as young as 11. Gong Baorong, another expert, was surprised by the audience's knowledge of Chinese opera. "I didn't realize so many Bulgarians are interested in Chinese culture," he said. University students Kalina Gerginova and Mihaela Parvanova, both with study experience in China, said the events deepened their understanding. Parvanova, who once found Chinese opera incomprehensible, said meeting performers in person made it more accessible. "It's one thing to see it on stage, but another to engage directly with practitioners," she explained. Beyond Peking Opera, other events included a meeting with Chinese poet Yu Jian, where attendees discussed his work and explored new perspectives on his poetry. In Targovishte, lectures on Chinese philosophy and medicine were also well-received, with audiences particularly fascinated by health care methods. Sponsored by China's Ministry of Commerce and organized by Shandong Foreign Trade Vocational College, the program has successfully bridged cultures, sparking deeper interest and understanding among Bulgarians. Global exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) reached a record high of 106.4 million tons in the first quarter of 2024, the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) said. In the second quarter of the year, LNG exports dropped compared to the first quarter, to 98.6 million tons, according to an analysis of the organization cited by Shafaq News. The second-quarter global LNG exports were down by 0.4% compared to the same period of last year. In the third quarter, LNG exports rebounded to 100.9 million tons, up by 2.5% compared to the third quarter of 2023, according to the analysis by OAPEC. LNG exports globally rose by 1.9% between January and September from a year ago, to 305.9 million tons, the organization said. Per the OAPEC estimates, the United States remained the worlds top LNG exporter in the first nine months of the year, ahead of Australia and Qatar. The expansion of the LNG export infrastructure over the past five years and the flexibility in cargo destination of U.S. LNG have made America the worlds biggest exporter of liquefied natural gas. Soaring sales in Europe, which has scrambled to replace Russian pipeline gas, and more LNG projects coming online this decade boosted U.S. exports by 12% in 2023 from a year earlier. At 11.9 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of LNG exports, the United States easily beat its closest rivals Qatar and Australia to become the biggest LNG exporter last year, EIA data showed. Shell, the worlds top LNG trader, expects global LNG demand to surge by 50% by 2040, driven by higher demand from Asia, with coal-to-gas switching in China and a boost in LNG consumption to fuel economic growth in South and Southeast Asia. The global LNG market is set to continue growing into the 2040s, largely driven by Chinas industrial decarbonization and strengthening demand in other Asian countries, Shell said in its annual LNG outlook earlier this year. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Libyas National Oil Corporation (NOC) said it has hit a new production high, pumping 1,386,030 barrels of crude oil and condensate daily, along with 203,017 barrels of gas equivalent (boe). That brings Libyas total production to 1,589,047 barrels per daya major milestone for the oil-rich nation. The announcement comes as global oil prices remain relatively steady, with Brent crude trading at $73.04 per barrel. The US benchmark WTI is trading at $68.58. Last month, Libyas National Oil Company said its crude oil production had recovered to 1.3 million barrels per day following the resolution of the political dispute over the appointment of a new governor to the Libyan central bank. This came only after crude production at most Libyan oilfields had been suspended for over a month starting in late August. At the end of September, the rival factions reached an agreement in UN-mediated talks over the election of the central banks leadership, paving the way to restoring oil production and exports. The recent boost in production following the resumption of full-scale production in early October follows the country's effort to stabilize operations after political disputes and field blockades disrupted output earlier this year. The temporary resolution of those issues has allowed Libya to steadily ramp up production by bringing its largest fields back to full operation. But challenges remain. The countrys oil industry is still at risk of shutdowns due to ongoing political tensions. But with major companies like Eni and BP returning to Libya, theres hope that stability will continue to improve. For now, this record-breaking output is a win for Libyas economy and a sign that its oil sector is regaining momentum, even as the broader market faces uncertainty. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Crude oil prices were set for a weekly loss today despite a flare-up in the Middle East and the virtual certainty OPEC+ would not be bringing any barrels back anytime soon. Brent crude was trading at $73.38 per barrel at the time of writing, and West Texas Intermediate was changing hands for $69.15, both up from Thursday but down on the start of the week as the U.S. brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanons Hezbollah. The ceasefire is already fraying at the edges, with Israel bombing Lebanese targets hours after its announcements and a day later the two were trading accusations of ceasefire violations. Russia, meanwhile, pounded Ukrainian energy infrastructure again, boosting expectations of Western retaliation that could affect Russias oil industry, at least according to analysts from ANZ, as cited by Reuters. OPEC+, meanwhile, is keeping both energy analysts and oil traders guessing as it delayed its meeting, originally planned for Sunday, until next Friday. The reason given for the delay was a scheduling conflict. The group was almost unanimously expected to announce yet another delay to its planned easing of the production cuts in light of recent price movements. Meanwhile, the generally bearish sentiment on crude oil markets got a little shaken by predictions that once he takes office, Donald Trump would tighten the noose around Irans neck and possibly Russias, which would result in supply disruptions. On the other hand, the IEA continues to predict a sizable glut for next year and this is countering any possible swing into bullishness until a disruption actually materializes. The crude oil market continues to face uncertainties in terms of demand outlook and geopolitical events, Charu Chanana, chief investment strategist for Singapore-based Saxo Markets, told Bloomberg. These, together with market oversupply, raise doubts over OPEC+ unwinding its voluntary production cuts. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Russia continues to send stable volumes of natural gas supply to Europe via Ukraine, a month before the deal for transiting the gas via Ukrainian territory expires on December 31. Gazprom is sending 42.4 million cubic meters (mcm) of gas to Europe via Ukraine today, according to the Russian gas giant quoted by Reuters. These are the same volumes as Gazprom sent yesterday, and roughly the same as it has sent to Europe since it cut off supply to Austrias OMV in the middle of November. Russian gas supplies via Ukraine have not changed since Gazprom cut off Austrian energy company OMV. The Austrian firm said earlier this month that it would seek enforcement of the award it won against Gazprom in an arbitration dispute over Russian gas supply. The EU gas market has been on edge since OMV said two weeks ago it was awarded $243 million (230 million euros), plus interest and costs, in an arbitration case against Gazproms irregular German gas supplies and take the necessary next steps to enforce the arbitral award with immediate effect. As a result, Gazprom halted supply to OMV, but other customers in Austria continue to receive Russian gas. This week, nominations for Russian gas supply to Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic have remained stable, according to data from system operator Eustream compiled by Reuters. These supplies could sharply end a month from now. Thats when the gas transit deal for Russian flows to Europe via Ukraine expires on December 31, 2024. Ukraine has said multiple times that it would not pursue talks about renewing the agreement with Russia. Gazprom itself is assuming in its internal planning for 2025 that it will not be sending gas to Europe via Ukraine as of January 1, a source with knowledge of the Russian gas giants plans told Reuters earlier this week. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The federal government of Canada has signaled it worries about the possibility of the next U.S. administration imposing a 25% tariff on all Canadian exports south, Reuters has reported. We have some work to do to make sure we are effectively articulating the way in which tariffs would be counterproductive, and that's not just true of oil, natural resources minister Jonathan Wilkinson said, as quoted by the publication. He added that There's a lot of time and effort that will need to go into ensuring that we're having the appropriate conversations. The Trudeau government has been highly critical of the oil and gas industry, singling it out as the largest contributor to the countrys carbon dioxide emissions and recently seeking to reduce these with a cap that would prompt a substantial reduction in production. The Canadian oil sands are essentially the only source of heavy crude for Gulf Coast refineries because of the sanctions on Venezuela and Russia, and the simple fact of Canadas proximity to the United States. This essential nature of Canadian oil imports became reason for many to doubt Trump would go as far as to impose tariffs on Canadian imports. According to media reports, the president-elect has no plans for exceptions to his tariff regime but some observers have noted that this would push retail fuel prices in the United States higher and that would be the opposite of what Trump promised on the campaign trail. The Canadian governments worry about the tariffs on oil they want themselves to greatly reduce in terms of supply echoes similar sentiment in the industry. Canadian oil and gas producers are worried about the possibility of Trump making their products 25% more expensive for their biggest clients south of the borderand so are the clients. A tariff of 25% on Canadian crude would put them in a tight spot because alternative suppliers are not really numerous and two of them are heavily sanctioned by Washington. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Ukraine hit on Friday an oil depot in Russias southern region of Rostov amid an escalation of attacks from both Russia and Ukraine in recent days. Early on November 29, Ukraine hit the Atlas oil depot in the Rostov region, the Ukrainian armys General Staff said on their Telegram channel. The depot, part of the Russian military-industrial complex, supplies petroleum products for the Russian army, the Ukrainian army said, adding that the depot caught fire as a result of the strike. Ukraine also destroyed a radar station in Russia hosting the Russian Buk-M3 anti-aircraft missile system, the Ukrainian army said. The attack comes after a week of intensified drone and missile attacks from both sides. Earlier this week, Russia launched 188 drones and four cruise missiles at targets in Ukraine -- a record number of projectiles in a single attack, Kyiv's air force said. Critical infrastructure facilities such as the country's power grid and high-rise apartment buildings were damaged in several regions. Then Russia unleashed a "massive" attack on Ukraines infrastructure on November 28, leaving more than 1 million people without power in freezing temperatures across the country. Vladimir Putin claimed that the latest attack was Moscow's "response" to Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory with U.S. medium-range ATACMS missiles. The end of this year is set to see wild swings in oil prices amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Russia-Ukraine war and the renewed saber-rattling from Vladimir Putin about the potential use of nuclear weapons. Earlier this month, Ukraine fired long-range missiles supplied by the United States and the UK into Russian territory. Russia, for its part, deployed a new type of medium-range missile to strike the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Russia also lowered its threshold of scenarios in which it could use nuclear weapons, in yet another warning from Moscow to the West since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants are running near full throttle, with demand from export facilities hitting 14.6 billion cubic feet (bcf) on Friday. Thats just shy of the all-time record of 14.7 bcf set last December, according to data from LSEG. The surge comes as cooler weather settles in and outages at key facilities, like Freeport LNG, ease. The second-largest LNG exporter in the United States, Freeport LNG, was expected to draw just over 2 bcf on Friday after resolving several outages earlier this year. The plant is closely watched since its operationsor lack thereofcan send global gas prices swinging. Meanwhile, Cheniere Energys Sabine Pass facility in Louisiana, the largest U.S. LNG exporter, operated near its capacity, pulling almost 5.2 bcf. The U.S. continues to dominate as the worlds largest LNG exporter, with more production expected soon as two new plants gear up to go online. This comes as global LNG demand ramps up, especially in Europe, where natural gas prices have surged by 40% in the last two months due to cold weather forecasts and geopolitical tensions. Natural gas prices in the U.S. remain far lower than in Europe, where the benchmark Dutch TTF prices are nearly five times higher. This price gap is driving more U.S. LNG exports to European markets, helping meet their rising energy needs ahead of winter. As global markets tighten and colder temperatures arrive, U.S. LNG facilities are expected to play a crucial role in keeping the gas flowing to international buyers, all while pushing domestic production to new limits. With LNG demand near record levels, the U.S. solidifies its position as a global energy powerhouse. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Venture Global, the controversial LNG producer, is set to start production at its new facility within days, the Financial Times has reported, citing unnamed sources familiar with the situation. The launch of the Plaquemines LNG plant in Louisiana comes ahead of Venture Globals listing, which is expected to be among the largest energy IPOs ever. Venture Global acquired some notoriety over the past two years after Big Oil majors including BP and Shell accused it of withholding LNG volumes contracted under long-term deals in order to sell them on the spot market for a fatter profit. To do this, Venture Global used a loophole that allowed it to keep its one operating facility in Calcasieu Pass formally categorized as under construction, which relieved it of its supply commitments under long-term contracts. The European supermajors did not take this lying down and are suing, along with a handful of other big long-term buyers. The saga could undermine trust in Venture Global from potential future long-term investors, as the supermajors warned at one point in their battle with the LNG producer. And Venture Global will need investors. The Plaquemines project has suffered cost overruns and its final price tag could reach $22 billion, Reuters reported recently, citing Venture Globals IPO documentation. That would be $2.35 billion above the original budget and it could go even higher due to rising labor costs, higher steel prices, and higher equipment prices, the report noted. The Plaquemines plant will have a capacity to produce a maximum of 20 million tons of liquefied gas annually and it would be coming online right on time to take advantage of rising gas demand from Europe as winter sets in. It is the second-biggest U.S. LNG export terminal and the eighth to start operation since the birth of the LNG industry. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The East China Normal University held the opening ceremony of a cultural celebration on Tuesday highlighting the innovative spirit of Huang Daopo, a textile pioneer in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), and Shanghai's cotton textile culture. The opening featured fashion shows by students modeling handmade cotton garments, showcasing the fusion of textile artistry with modern fashion. Inheritors such as Lin Xiumei demonstrated cotton spinning techniques, operating the three-spindle spinning wheel as audiences observed this traditional craft up close. Beyond the live performances, interactive exhibits provided hands-on opportunities to try drop spindle spinning, weaving decorative bands, tie-dyeing cotton fabrics and more, appreciating the allure of this ancient handicraft. "Our museum houses nearly a thousand artifacts showcasing the diverse folk traditions of China, South Korea, Vietnam and beyond," said Xiong Qiong, Party secretary of ECNU's School of Social Development. "Yet our focus on preserving intangible cultural heritage plays a vital role in upholding the essence of our nation's identity across generations." Through Huang's story, people can feel the power of innovation, experience cultural charm, and be inspired to pursue a better life, Xiong added. "The exhibition's theme is Huang's innovative machine weaving technology," said curator Professor Tian Zhaoyuan. "Huang's revolutionary weaving technology transformed not just clothing, but helped propel Shanghai's rise as an economic powerhouse." Tian said the exhibition is divided into four sections: the historical cotton trade route network, Huang's life journey, how machine weaving brought a better life by "clothing the world", and preserving Huang's heritage. Tian highlighted the university museum's unique mission for academic-industrial integration and talent cultivation. "Our students have become key promoters for this intangible heritage, and our cotton textile exhibits embody disciplinary pursuit by uniting academic research, industrial development and cultural inheritance. We also aim to promote Shanghai's excellent traditional culture as an impetus for urban and campus cultural life." Former Manchester United striker, Dimitar Berbatov, has predicted some of this weekends Premier League fixtures. Berbatov, speaking with BetFair, expects Chelsea to see off Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge, in Saturdays early kick off. Its five league wins in a row for Chelsea and their stunning comeback against Ajax will have felt like a victory. But you have to remember Ajax had two players sent off and ask why Chelsea let themselves go 4-1 down at home in the first place. Against Crystal Palace, the Blues will concede again and it will be close. Dimitars prediction: 2-1, he said. The Bulgarian also expects Leicester to continue their great form, when they host out-of-sorts Arsenal. Berbatov said: What is Brendan Rodgers telling his players in training? What are they eating? Whatever it is, the results are there for all to see with Leicester flying in the Premier League this season. That man Jamie Vardy scored against last weekend and I can see him getting amongst the goals against a struggling Arsenal team that played in the Europa League in midweek (albeit on Wednesday). Dimitars prediction: 2-1. On Man Utd v Brighton, Berbatov said: Brighton sit above United in the table but its still difficult for me to contemplate anything other than a home victory when the Reds play at Old Trafford. Mason Greenwood, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford all scored in midweek which should be good for their confidence. United need to put the fear factor back into their performances, especially at home. Dimitars prediction: 2-0. PV: 0 Its no more news that Nigerian celebrities, especially the females detest each other as shown in their regular clashes. Eniola Badmus has dragged and shamed fellow actress, Uche Ogbodo, over her n#de birthday photoshoot. This comes after she agreed with controversial blogger, Kemi Omololu Olunloyo on her massive body mass. Kemi Olunloyo alleged that Badmus is prone to terminal diseases due to her being obese and her former friend, Uche Ogbodo attested painfully to that. Eniola Badmus then waited for her pound of flesh which she has taken today. She called Uche out on her Instagram page recently and really made jest of her for her unclad photos she posted to celebrate her birthday yesterday. Eniola Badmus mocked Uche Ogbodo, calling her photos ugly. Below is what Eniola wrote on insta-story to mock her. Share this: Should the topic of wheelchair-bound Chinese writers come up, Shi Tiesheng is usually the first to be mentioned. Despite his disability, the strength conveyed in his words is profoundly moving. Today, the emergence of Ma Jun, who writes under the pen name of Liu Kexing, has introduced a new wheelchair-bound writer to the public, one who shares his touching story, much like Shi. Born in 1995, Ma is the youngest laureate this year for the Junma Awards for Ethnic Literature in the prose category. Disabled since birth, and severely shortsighted, Ma has faced immense challenges throughout his life and although he was admitted to university at 21, his health prevented him from enrolling. As he struggled with pain, he found solace in Shi's work, particularly his acclaimed book Wo Yu Ditan (The Temple of Earth and Me). Inspired, Ma embarked on his own literary journey, pouring his experience into his writing. His award-winning book, Qing Bai Shijie (The Green and White Stone Steps), captures the complexities of life through the lens of his personal struggles. "In the world of literature, I stood up," Ma said in a video played at the award ceremony. "Shi Tiesheng illuminated my path, and I hope to be a light for others." Held at the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region on Nov 16, and hosted by the China Writers Association, the 2024 China Literature Gala: Junma Awards Night, celebrated the achievements of ethnic literature. In all, 25 works of literature and five translators were recognized. Among the winners was Ma Boyong, whose 2022 novel Da Yi (The Great Doctor), an exploration of modern Chinese medicine, won in the novel category. "This is the first time I've chosen modern Chinese history as a central theme, particularly the evolution of Chinese medical care. During my research, I found inspiring stories about the first generation of philanthropic doctors. They were the pioneers, and their work deserves to be remembered, introduced to readers in a way that resonates," Ma Boyong said, reflecting on his book. He then spoke of his personal connection to the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. Although he was born in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Ma Boyong grew up in Guilin, a famous tourist city in the region, and his time there left an indelible mark. "I'm not visiting here, I'm returning home," he said. "As an ethnic writer, I believe every group has its own uniqueness, but we are all part of the larger Chinese identity. It's within this shared memory that we find unity. By exploring our collective history, we can uncover a powerful source of strength," he added. This year's Junma Awards welcomed Mo Yan, Nobel laureate in literature, as presidium member. Mo Yan praised Guangxi's literary contributions, emphasizing the deep influence of its culture on the national literary landscape. "This land has nurtured its people like oysters making pearls, turning life's hardships and joys into luminous treasures. Their songs and emotions transform into stories, which in turn become a source of beauty," Mo Yan said. He also highlighted the growing role of Guangxi writers in enriching the diversity of Chinese literature. The celebration extended beyond the awards themselves. With its beautiful landscapes and mild weather, Nanning was an ideal backdrop for the event. Writers and attendees enjoyed the city and all it offered, with many noting how the vibrant environment was not only comfortable, but also sparked creativity. Award-winning author representatives took turns giving heartfelt acceptance speeches, which were followed by performances by ethnic artists. Established in 1981, the Junma Awards for Ethnic Literature is held every four years. Organized by the China Writers Association and the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, it is one of four major national literary prizes, alongside the Mao Dun Literature Prize, the Lu Xun Literature Prize, and the National Outstanding Children's Literature Award. The 13 editions have honored 759 books and 49 translators, and served as a cornerstone for recognizing ethnic writers, and promoting the richness of China's ethnic literary contributions. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain State-of-the-art software enabling insurance companies to judge with unprecedented accuracy how much cash to keep in the bank will help the industry thrive. It will lead to higher profits, an ability to insure more and more competitive premiums for customers. The innovative new tool will equip individual insurance firms to assess probable liabilities arising from their specific mix of products and customers. This will help them avoid overcompensating for risk by keeping too much cash in reserve, which can act as a serious brake on business growth. The tool builds on a patent secured by the University of Liverpool. Start-up firm Intellegri is taking it to market and recently signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Liverpool to exploit, in the insurance space, intellectual property arising from the research. A key component in the UK's world-leading financial services sector, the insurance industry must comply with a regulatory regime designed to safeguard its success and resilience. The Solvency II directive sets out requirements on cash reserves, aiming to ensure firms hit the "sweet spot" of having sufficient reserves to pay claims without tying up cash unnecessarily. This is especially challenging for the 80% of insurance firms that: lack resources to develop bespoke statistical models have to use a 'one size fits all' standard formula to calculate their capital reserve needs This formula treats companies as the same and does not account for the unique make-up of an individual firm's product and customer portfolios. Affordable and easy to use, the new tool addresses all of these problems head-on. The project is developing new algorithms that can harness the increasingly powerful computing hardware now available to deliver improved use of statistical models. This will result in reliable inferences being made from big, complex datasets more cheaply and quickly. Big Hypotheses also utilizes skills developed at the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Distributed Algorithms, based at the university. Potential fields of application include health care and defense and security. Contacts with the insurance industry highlighted the scope for this sector to benefit from Big Hypotheses too. An EPSRC impact acceleration account honed project outputs with this industry's needs in mind. This prepared the way for the licensing agreement with Intellegri, where insurance experts work alongside members of the Liverpool research team. A prototype commercial version of the tool is now in development and talks are under way with potential customers. Less risk, more reward Professor Charlotte Deane, EPSRC's executive chair, says, "The UK is a global leader in financial services and a healthy insurance industry is vital to the sector's continuing success. This new tool, made possible by EPSRC support for cutting-edge research and state-of-the-art training, will aid the industry's decision-making, as well as visibility and accountability. "It will not just help safeguard insurance firms against future events but enable them to channel more resources into serving new and existing markets more efficiently and cost-effectively." Professor Simon Maskell of the University of Liverpool, who is leading Big Hypotheses and is on Intellegri's board, says, "Dovetailing statistics, computer science, math, psychology and business expertise, our work provides a practical basis for all kinds of organizations to calculate probabilities of future events more accurately and without under- or overstating risk. We believe the new software tool could be in routine use by large swathes of the insurance industry in the UK, Europe and beyond within three to five years." This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Shallow water areas are important zones for metabolism, as this study of Lake Stechlin illustrates. Credit: Solvin Zankl Even deep clear water lakes, which are considered particularly valuable ecosystems, can show signs of eutrophication and algae growthoften for no apparent reason. A new study by four researchers from the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) now shows that the causes are not always to be found in increasing nutrient inputs from the catchment area or in re-dissolution processes in the deep areas of a lake, but also in the shallower areas up to a water depth of around 20 meters. The paper is published in the journal Global Change Biology. The team combined long-term data on water chemistry, several years of measurements with sediment traps, sediment analyses and simple mass balance models to decipher the mechanisms behind the sudden eutrophication of Lake Stechlin. The results are not only surprising, they could also apply to similar types of lakes worldwide. Over-fertilization, also known as eutrophication, is one of the most pressing environmental problems in lakes worldwide. It is usually caused by man-made nutrient inputs, such as inadequately treated wastewater and fertilization of agricultural land. The consequences, such as algal blooms, oxygen deficiency and fish mortality, have been known for a long time. However, more and more remote lakes, which are hardly influenced by human activity, are now showing signs of sudden eutrophication. So far, climate change, atmospheric inputs or internal pollution from the depths of the lakes have been discussed as possible causes. For their study, the IGB team investigated Lake Stechlin, a deep clear-water lake in north-east Germany, which has experienced a dramatic increase in nutrients in recent years. Within just ten years, the phosphorus concentration quadrupled, which was accompanied by algal blooms, oxygen depletion in the deep water and other symptoms of eutrophication. Shallow water areas: New plant composition and altered sediment properties led to phosphorus increase The researchers discovered that it is not only processes in the sediments of deeper areas that influence the natural phosphorus retention in the lake, but that the shallow water areas of the lake also play a decisive role. By this, the researchers mean the zones in which light still penetrates to the bottom, which in the Stechlin includes areas up to a water depth of around 20 meters and thus 46% of the lake surface. In particular, changes in the underwater plants found there and the reduced ability of the sediments to bind phosphorus intensify the internal phosphorus dynamics. So far, so-called regime shifts have mainly been described for shallow lakes, but not for stratified lakes. However, with a maximum depth of almost 70 meters, the Stechlin is one of the deepest lakes in northern Germany. As the researchers describe, the areas colonized by winter-green stonewort declined sharply, resulting in exposed sediment areas that were gradually colonized by annual, higher aquatic plants. These changes in the vegetation meant that the phosphorus previously bound in plants or sediments was able to enter the water column. The causes of this change in the underwater plant community are still the subject of scientific research and debate. Development of the mean annual total phosphorus concentration in Lake Stechlin since 1990. Credit: IGB In addition to the plants, changes in the sediment properties are also an important factor. The scientists found that the uppermost sediment layers contain less iron, which reduces the ability to bind phosphorus. This could have been caused over a period of several decades by the progressive formation of iron sulfide in the shallow and deep sediments of the lake. Iron is increasingly fixed as iron sulfide and is no longer available to bind the phosphorus. "These complex interactions between plant life and sediment properties could explain why Lake Stechlin has eutrophied so quickly in recent years," explains Dr. Thomas Gonsiorczyk, one of the two lead authors of the study. "Even deep lakes can reach a state of severe eutrophication in their shallow water areas as a result of these processes." Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Processes in the deep water and external inputs play a subordinate role at Stechlin The analysis of Lake Stechlin also showed that the increase in phosphorus concentrations cannot be explained by external nutrient inputs. The data analyses even suggest that the phosphorus load from the catchment area has decreased since 1990. Other potential sources such as rewetting measures or the late effects of previous pollution from wastewater from the region, which is heavily frequented by tourists, were also classified as unlikely causes of phosphorus enrichment. Trend reversal: phosphorus concentrations have been falling since 2020 The phosphorus concentration in the lake has fallen sharply again since 2020. "The phosphorus concentration in the lake in 2024 is only half as high as it was in 2020," says Prof Michael Hupfer, also lead author of the study. However, it remains to be seen whether this development will continue and whether this change will also result in a longer-term trend reversal in the colonization of underwater plants. The falling phosphorus concentrations have also not yet led to a decisive improvement in oxygen conditions in the deep water. Relevance for water protection The results of the current study are of interest for water protection, as many stratified lakes have a high proportion of shallow water in the sense described above despite their depth. Similar processes could therefore take place there. Climate change is exacerbating eutrophication phenomena in lakes through longer summer stratification, heavy rainfall and more frequent storms. "In order to preserve stratified clear water lakes in the long term, protection measures must therefore also include the shallow water areas with more light in the future," says Hupfer. "This could help us to better understand the nutrient dynamics of lakes and develop effective strategies to combat the deterioration of water quality." More information: Thomas Gonsiorczyk et al, Rapid Eutrophication of a Clearwater Lake: Trends and Potential Causes Inferred From Phosphorus Mass Balance Analyses, Global Change Biology (2024). DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17575 Journal information: Global Change Biology An exhibit is pictured in the Taosi Site Museum in Xiangfen County, north China's Shanxi Province, Nov. 12, 2024. A museum showing cultural relics dating back 3,900 to 4,300 years opened to the public Tuesday in north China's Shanxi Province, offering a look at early Chinese state formation and societal complexity. The Taosi Site Museum in Xiangfen County has been built on the northwestern edge of the Taosi relics site following 46 years of archaeological work. The Taosi site is believed to be most likely the ruins of the capital city during the period of Yao and Shun -- two sage emperors dating back more than 4,100 years. A total of 230 pieces or sets of cultural relics showing the culture and life of ancient inhabitants are on display, including painted pottery, turquoise-inlaid bracelets, bronze bells and jade axes. (Xinhua/Yang Chenguang) A museum collecting and exhibiting cultural relics representing one of the greatest archaeological discoveries over the past decades in China opened earlier this month in the Shanxi county of Xiangfen, offering visitors and researchers an opportunity to decipher information relating to the formation of Chinese civilization. The Taosi Site Museum, which opened to the public on Nov 11, was built near the Taosi relics site located in the village of Taosi in Xiangfen. It is aimed to showcase a civilization dating back to 3,900 to 4,300 years ago, following more than six decades of archaeological work. The Taosi site was discovered in 1958 and a large archaeological excavation began in 1978. Since the site was included in the national research project on tracing the origins of Chinese civilization in 2002, an urban settlement, a palace enclosure, a storage zone, cemeteries and an observatory altar have been excavated one after another. Judging from the relics discovered, researchers believe the site was most likely the ruins of the capital city during the period of Yao a sage emperor dating back more than 4,100 years and one of the founding fathers of the Chinese nation. Over the past decades, more than 5,500 pieces or sets of cultural relics have been unearthed at the Taosi site, giving researchers adequate material evidence to understand how the earliest Chinese society and nation were formed. Among the discovered cultural relics, a total of 230 pieces showing the culture and life of ancient inhabitants are on display at the museum, including items of pottery, jade, stone and copper. The museum also exhibits relics that some scholars speculate may be related to astronomical observation and timekeeping. Construction of the museum, covering about 5 hectares of land and nearly 10,000 square meters of floor space, started in 2021 and was completed in 2023. It is part of the Taosi Archaeological Site Park, which also includes an exhibition hall for ancient astronomy and a facility for the preservation of the bulk of the discovered relics. The museum now features such functions as the exhibition of relics, research and education. Prior to its opening, the National Cultural Heritage Administration hosted a special news conference for the museum on Nov 6 in Beijing. Officials from the city of Linfen, which has Xiangfen county in its jurisdiction, as well as the nation's archaeological experts, introduced the highlights of the museum to the media. Wang Yanfeng, mayor of Linfen, said that exhibitions at the museum are arranged in three sections, centering around the themes of "cradle of civilization", "ancient capital" and "the state in the early stage". There are also two special exhibition zones for "archaeological work in Taosi" and temporary displays, as well as a digital exhibition zone to get visitors familiar with the history of China's earliest civilization. "The use of digital and other modern technologies is a prominent feature of the museum," Wang said. "The combination of digital displays and physical exhibits is aimed to give a new interpretation of the cultural relics and offer an immersive experience to visitors." Zhang Guochun, Party secretary of the Institute of Archaeology, a branch of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, introduced the most noteworthy exhibits at the museum. Since 1978, the CASS institute has been responsible for the archaeological excavation work in Taosi and more than 90 percent of the exhibits at the museum have been unearthed by its archaeological team members. Precious exhibits Zhang said a gnomon shadow measurement tool called guibiao, a colored pottery plate with a curled dragon pattern and a flat pottery kettle with red-inked inscriptions, are the most valuable assets of the museum and worth the attention from visitors. Gao Jiangtao, head of the CASS archaeological team for the Taosi ruins, gave a detailed introduction to the three exhibits. He said the colored pottery plate with a dragon pattern which is 40.7 centimeters in diameter and 7.8 cm in depth might point to the origin of the Chinese totem of dragon. "The dragon pattern, in the interior surface of the plate, features a curled snake body, crocodile scales, two ears on the two sides of its head and saw-shaped teeth and a long jaw. These are the typical characteristics of the image of China's legendary dragon, similar to the dragon images in later periods like the Xia (c.21st century-16th century BC), Shang (c.16th century-11th century BC) and Zhou (c.11th century-256 BC) dynasties," Gao said. The dragon pattern, which was abstracted from a variety of beasts, helps to trace the origins of dragon totems in Chinese culture, the researcher said. When mentioning the flat pottery kettle, Gao said two red pictographic characters inscribed on it might be the earliest written language in China. "One character might be easily identified as wen meaning written language or culture in Chinese," Gao said. "This character is similar to those in the Shang and Zhou dynasties." He said there are different interpretations of the other character, but the most acceptable are yi which means "capital city" and yao the name of the legendary emperor of Yao. Gao said that archaeologists believe these two characters were part of an ancient writing system more than 500 years older than the Shang Dynasty oracles written on bones and turtle shells discovered in Anyang city, Henan province. When mentioning the guibiao, Gao said it is a set of gnomon shadow measurement tools comprising a vertical bar called biao and a horizontal scale called gui. Guibiao was also used as a timekeeping tool, with the vertical bar casting the shadow of sunlight on the horizontal scale to indicate the time of day. Prehistoric observatory The guibiao on display in the museum is a part of an ancient observatory discovered at the Taosi ruins. Archaeologists believe this is the earliest observatory known in China. The most exciting part of the observatory are 13 rammed-earth columns arranged in a semicircular shape, Gao said. "We didn't know the function of the columns at the beginning," Gao said. "However, after years of observation of the columns' projection under the sun, we realized this was the site of an ancient observatory, with the columns used to measure the sun's beam angle and determine the 24 zodiac terms of a year." He explained that, standing at a specific observation point, observers could determine the solar terms based on the position of the sun during sunrise. For example, the winter solstice occurs when the sun rises from the second narrow gap between the columns, while the spring and autumn equinoxes are marked by the seventh gap. The establishment of the 24 zodiac terms is believed to be an outstanding contribution to the world made by ancient Chinese almanac scientists. The system of the zodiac terms, used by Chinese people to guide agricultural production in both ancient and modern times, was recognized as an intangible cultural heritage item by UNESCO in 2016. Capital of Yao's state Gao said that historians believed that the earliest state of China was formed as a result of agricultural development. In Taosi, the discovery of astronomical tools to guide farming; the grain remains like millet, wheat, maize and rice; diverse farming tools; and the remains of a relatively big city all prove that the region was the center of one of the earliest states in China. "According to legends, Yao was one of the sage emperors living in the area. But the lack of confirmed historical records and materials makes many people skeptical of the existence of Yao and his regime," Gao said. Over the past four decades, remains of palaces, royal tombs, ceremonial buildings and storage areas, as well as fortifications such as high walls and moats, have been found at the Taosi site, showing that it is a capital settlement of an ancient state, Gao said. "Now with the discoveries in Taosi, we believe Linfen, of which Taosi is a part, was the hub of Yao's regime." Gao said. Legends said that Pingyang was the capital of Yao's state. Pingyang is the ancient name of Linfen, where the temple and mausoleum of Yao are located. People have visited the temple and mausoleum to pay homage to this legendary founding father of China for thousands of years but finding material evidence to prove his existence is still a challenge today. "Now our studies and findings of the Taosi relics proved that Emperor Yao is not just a legend, but a true story," Gao said. The value of the Taosi relics site in cultural research and tourism has been recognized by many experts and officials in the country. At the Taosi Site Museum's opening ceremony on Nov 11, Li Qun, vice-minister of culture and tourism and chief of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, delivered a speech, confirming the role of the Taosi site in the research to trace the origin of Chinese civilization. "The latest archaeological findings and research achievements show that Taosi is the site of a capital city of an ancient state, offering strong material evidence for prehistory studies and proving that Chinese civilization is an inclusive one that features multiple cultures and continuity," Li said. Zhang Hai, vice-dean of the School of Archaeology and Museology of Peking University, said he is proud of the discoveries at the Taosi site. "We noticed that a number of relics with cultural characteristics of both northern and southern China have been unearthed at the Taosi site, showing it was at the convergence of multiple cultures," Zhang said. "These discoveries justified a rule of the early development of civilizations and states it was the convergence of people and cultures that had led to the forming of an early state." New option for tourists Yan Jianguo, head of the publicity department of the Linfen committee of the Communist Party of China, said the opening of the museum is expected to promote the integration of cultural and tourism resources and offer a new option for tourists. Boasting such renowned attractions as the Hukou Waterfalls and Qiankun Bend on the Yellow River, and the Guangsheng Temple and Xiaoxitian Scenic Area, Yan said Linfen is a popular tourist destination in Shanxi. And the official noted that Linfen is more renowned among tourists as a destination to seek their ancestral and cultural roots. Dahuaishu township in Linfen's Hongtong county, for instance, is the place where many Chinese people inside and outside the country believe their ancestors emigrated from during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). This historical background has made Dahuaishu one of the most popular destinations in China for tourists who want to seek their ancestral roots. And with the temple and mausoleum of Yao, Yan said Linfen is a place where tourists can seek cultural roots dating back more than 4,000 years. "The opening of the Taosi Site Museum is offering a new option for root-seeking tourists and a great opportunity for cultural and historical enthusiasts to trace the origin of Chinese civilization," Yan said. A prominent feature of the museum is that it offers interactive and immersive experiences to visitors, with the use of digital technologies and innovative exhibition design and arrangement. Once entering the museum, visitors can interact with a sand table to view the map of the ancient capital city covering more than 2.8 million square meters. The sand table shows that the ruins of the city include foundations of palace buildings spreading 6,500 sq m, the largest prehistoric rammed-earth structure ever found. In the museum's ritual and music section, restored scenes of ancient banquets, complete with drums, bells and stone chimes, give visitors a glimpse into ancient feasts accompanied by live performances. A digital device also allows guests to hear sounds reconstructed from these ancient instruments, immersing them in a 4,000-year-old sound-scape. In the museum, there are also sculptures showing that ancient people cultivated millet, raised livestock and developed crafts such as pottery and jadeware, forming a vibrant urban culture. In addition to permanent displays, the museum will also arrange temporary exhibitions featuring relics relating to the sources of Chinese civilization discovered at other archaeological sites in the country, giving visitors a better understanding of the integration of cultures in the formation of the Chinese nation. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Taro fields are irrigated using pumps in Zixing City, Hunan Province, China, in August 2022. Credit: Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.adr6193 The global food system is uniquely vulnerable to climate impacts, making adaptation of paramount importance. While contributing roughly one-third of total anthropogenic emissions, food systems around the world fortunately also hold immense potential for mitigation through improved practices and land use. An article published in Science emphasizes the critical role of agrifood value chains (AVCs) in supporting both adaptation and mitigation at the farm level. Authored by Johan Swinnen (International Food Policy Research Institute), Loraine Ronchi (World Bank Group), and Thomas Reardon (Michigan State University and IFPRI), the paper pushes back against pessimism that agriculture cannot play an effective role in climate change mitigation and adaptation because of its fragmented nature. Structures and incentives within AVCs can effectively empower farmers to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices more widely. As such, AVCs have an important role to play in realizing the UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture from COP28, signed by some 160 nations committed to integrating agriculture into climate strategies. Unlocking the potential of agrifood value chains AVCs, which link input providers (e.g., of seeds, fertilizers) to downstream entities (e.g., processors, retailers), represent a powerful mechanism for advancing climate-smart agriculture. These chains capture most of the food system's economic value, both in OECD countries and the rapidly transforming Global South. "AVCs can drive farmers' adoption of climate-smart practices through tools like resource provision contracts, technology transfer, and financial incentives," says Johan Swinnen. "Historically, these mechanisms have been used to enhance food quality and safety, suggesting their applicability for addressing climate goals." Despite this potential, much of the effort on climate mitigation and adaptation to date has focused narrowly on large multinational firms and certification schemes for export markets. "Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which make up 8090% of AVC companies in the Global South, have a vital role to play," states Reardon, "and can unleash grassroots transformation by providing small farmers with essential inputs, training, credit, and logistics in support of climate-smart agriculture." The role of science and innovation The article emphasizes the importance of science and innovation in harnessing the power of AVCs in promoting climate-smart agriculture at the farm level. The authors emphasize that there is a role for economic and social science, as well as for engineering and digital sciences to help AVCs send effective climate practice signals to farmers. Public and private R&D must prioritize accessible and affordable technologies such as climate-resilient seeds, methane-reducing animal feed, and efficient irrigation systems. Collaborative initiatives, such as those between research institutions and AVC firms in the dairy sector, exemplify how science can simultaneously reduce farm-level emissions and boost productivity. Policy solutions for inclusive climate action The authors also highlight the crucial role of policy frameworks in strengthening the vital role of AVCs. They propose a range of policy measures, including: De-risking private investments through public procurement programs and the redirection of agricultural subsidies toward sustainable initiatives. Enabling private sector investment in the sector and business-friendly investments in transport, energy and communications networks. Regulating emissions reporting within supply chains while helping smaller enterprises with compliance costs to ensure inclusiveness. Addressing power imbalances in AVCs to promote fair income distribution and foster competition. "Agrifood value chains represent a significant, but still largely untapped opportunity to drive climate-smart agriculture and build sustainable food systems," states Loraine Ronchi, "given that processing and retail operations in AVCs share an interest in supply assurance and continuity, they are natural champions for supporting climate-smart, resource-wise approaches from their primary suppliers, who are farmers. "Robust scientific effort on affordable technologies for smallholders, effective policy design, and inclusive stakeholder collaboration can support this." More information: Johan Swinnen et al, Harnessing agrifood value chains to help farmers be climate smart, Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.adr6193. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adr6193 Journal information: Science Provided by International Food Policy Research Institute This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Graphical abstract. Credit: Science of The Total Environment (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177525 A study led by King's College London has provided further evidence that the deaths of 350 African elephants in Botswana during 2020 were the result of drinking from water holes where toxic algae populations had exploded due to climate change. The lead author of the report says their analysis shows animals were very likely poisoned by watering holes where toxic blooms of blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, had developed after a very wet year followed a very dry one. Davide Lomeo, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Geography at King's College London and co-supervised by Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) and the Natural History Museum, said, "Botswana is home to a third of all African elephants, and this unprecedented die-off within their largest remaining population underlines the escalating concerns surrounding the impact of drought and climate change on the Okavango Delta, one of the most important ecosystems in the world." Elephant carcasses were first spotted in the north-eastern sector of the country's Okavango Delta between May and June 2020, but poaching was soon ruled out as the cause. The event sparked global concern, with a total of 350 elephants now known to have died. Toxins produced by the algae growing in watering holes was one suspected cause, though evidence has remained inconclusive, in part because it occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic when movements were restricted, and this prevented the collection of samples at the time. The deaths of 25 elephants in neighboring Zimbabwe from septicemia in the same year cast some doubt on algal toxins being the reason for the Botswana deaths. However, writing in the journal Science of The Total Environment, the team say their analysis all but confirms toxic algae as the cause. Combining satellite data and spatial analysis, the team examined the relationship between about 3,000 waterholes and the locations of deceased elephants. Their analysis revealed waterholes near the carcasses showed elevated algal levels and repeated bloom events in 2020 compared to previous yearsparticularly during the period associated with the mass mortality event. The team also showed that decayed elephant carcasses were more spread out across the landscape than fresh carcasses, indicating that the die-off in 2020 was different from typical elephant mortality patterns. "We identified 20 waterholes near fresh carcasses that experienced increased algal bloom events in 2020 compared to the previous three years combined. These waterholes also exhibited the highest average algal biomass of the period 20152023," said Davide. After drinking, elephants were estimated to have walked an average of 16.5 km from the toxic waterholes and died within about 88 hours of exposure. These findings suggest a heightened risk and likelihood of the presence of algal toxins in these waterholes, he added. The team thinks that the shift from a very dry 2019the driest year in decades in the regionto an extremely wet 2020, may have led to a resuspension of significant amounts of sediment and nutrients from the ground, promoting the unprecedented algal growth. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Davide said, "Southern Africa is projected to become drier and hotter under climate changes, and as a result waterholes across this region will likely be drier for more months of the year. Our findings point to the potential negative effects on water quantity and quality, and the catastrophic repercussions on animals, this could have. "This work, conducted in collaboration with the local authorities, underscores the severe ecological consequences of toxic algal proliferation, emphasizing the critical need for comprehensive water quality surveillance across all waterbodies, including the smallest ones. "The research demonstrates the effectiveness of satellite-based detection in identifying diverse sources of contamination, reinforcing the importance of expanding Earth observation applications to enable swift intervention when similar environmental threats emerge." The research also involved colleagues from the University of Botswana, the Natural History Museum, London, Queen's University Belfast, and the Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML). More information: Davide Lomeo et al, Remote sensing and spatial analysis reveal unprecedented cyanobacteria bloom dynamics associated with elephant mass mortality, Science of The Total Environment (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177525 Journal information: Science of the Total Environment This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Representative images of rosette-stage soil-grown plants subjected to three weeks of sufficient watering (top) or progressive drought (lower) at 21 C, initiated when the plants were three weeks old. Credit: Nature Plants (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41477-024-01859-w We are increasingly confronted with the impacts of climate change, with failed harvests being only one example. Addressing these challenges requires multifaceted approaches, including making plants more resilient. An international research team led by researchers at VIB-UGent has unraveled how the opening and closing of stomatatiny pores on leavesis regulated in response to high temperatures and drought. These new insights, published in Nature Plants, pave the way for developing climate change-ready crops. Global climate change affects more and more people, with extreme weather conditions steadily becoming the norm. Beyond the immediate impacts like floods and severe droughts, it also significantly affects our natural ecosystems and crops, making it challenging in many regions to grow the food we rely on or to identify the right climate-adapted plants. Prof. Ive De Smet (VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology) said, "For years our research has focused on the impact of extreme weather conditions on plants. The molecular insights we gain can lead to solutions to enhance plant resilience. In essence, we learn from the natural mechanisms that plants themselves deploy. "For instance, how stomata on leaves play a crucial role in the plant's interaction with the environment. This makes insights into their activation mechanisms highly valuable." Conflicting responses in stomata, the 'sweat glands' of plants Plants respond to changing environmental conditions among others via opening or closing little pores in their epidermis. These stomata regulate gas and water vapor exchange with the environment, function as entry points for pathogens, and are pivotal in shielding plants against abiotic stress. When temperatures are high, the stomata open to cool down. In dry conditions, they close to prevent water loss. So, when conditions are dry and hot, this may evoke conflictingand therefore less efficientstomatal responses. The VIB-UGent team of Prof. Ive De Smet joined forces with research teams from the universities of Utrecht (NL), Valencia (Spain), and Wageningen (NL) and set out to unravel the underlying cellular mechanisms. A well-regulated signaling axis Dr. Xiangyu Xu (VIB-UGent), first author of the study said, "Opening and closing of stomata are rapid responses that require switch-like signaling mechanisms. We know that phosphorylation-encoded switches within protein networks are reversible and tend to be faster than genetic switches. That's why we studied the role of kinase-mediated phosphorylation relays in stomata opening and closing." Xu and his colleagues succeeded in identifying and characterizing a novel phosphorylation-dependent signaling axis that regulates stomatal aperture under high temperature and/or drought conditions. They demonstrated that TOT3, a high temperature-associated kinase, controls stomatal opening under high-temperature conditions, and that OST1, which regulates stomatal closure during drought stress, directly inactivates TOT3 through phosphorylation. This specific phosphorylation-mediated control of TOT3 activity acts as a switch to mediate stomatal aperture under high temperature and/or drought conditions. Dr. Lam Dai Vu (VIB-UGent) added, "As a researcher, it is rewarding to unravel a new signaling axis that coordinates stomatal opening and closing in response to various stress signals. More importantly, in the context of global climate change, understanding these mechanisms holds potential for developing crops that are resilient to climate challenges." More information: Xu, X., et al. High temperature-mediated stomatal opening is regulated by the OST1-regulated TOT3-AHA1 module, Nature Plants (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41477-024-01859-w Journal information: Nature Plants This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Water is the lifeblood of our planet. But in Aotearoa, New Zealand, a staggering two-thirds of the rivers monitored for water quality are classified as unswimmable. Only 2% of large lakes are deemed to be in "good health." Unfortunately, this decline is due to the human impacts of urbanization, intensive agriculture and poor land management. Many communities that depend on freshwater sources have witnessed this deterioration firsthand. To address this critical issue, numerous catchment care groups have emerged over the past decade, championing sustainable land management to enhance the health of New Zealand's rivers, lakes, aquifers and wetlands. These groups engage in activities such as planting native vegetation along waterways, erecting fences to keep livestock at bay and altering farming practices to be more environmentally friendly. Many people care deeply about the land and water, and their intricate, collective knowledge is a powerful force for change. Collective storytelling as a tool for freshwater restoration Over the past few years, we have been listening to these communities and exploring a tool that might elevate their efforts and empower those who haven't yet started on their river restoration journey. It's a simple and ancient tool rooted deeply in human history and embedded in our social identities today: collective storytelling by trusted storytellers. Rural communities, including food producers, identify with trusted peers. When they share their experiences, others can learn from them. We saw that this kind of trust motivates people to get involved in caring for waterways, for the benefit of generations to come. It is independent of changing governments and policies, and grows stronger when passionate people come together, united by their shared sense of place. Our research highlighted an absence of collective storytelling in national freshwater restoration efforts and pioneered a way to develop this at scale. To this end, we have been working with the Land Air Water Aotearoa (LAWA) environmental reporting platform. Communities can now share their restoration knowledge as "Actions for Healthy Waterways" in the form of stories. Beyond reporting facts and figures alone, stories represent more meaningful narratives that others striving for healthy waterways can relate to. We interviewed 23 land managers and met with five catchment care groups across Aotearoa, New Zealand. We discussed why knowledge sharing is important, how knowledge should be shared and who may be best placed as knowledge brokers. Based on those conversations, we highlight three guiding principles of collective storytelling that can enhance the restoration of rivers, lakes, wetlands and aquifers. 1. Respected storytellers Trust is crucial. It influences who is believed and who inspires action. When peers share their experiences, particularly farmers discussing restoration efforts, collective responsibility is created and drives others to participate. One food producer encapsulated this sentiment, noting, "If you start creating that collective responsibility, then you can go, 'Oh yeah, you've put a hundred [trees in]we'll do a hundred, too.'" Catchment championslocally respected individuals who are driving restoration activities and encouraging othersare immensely important in amplifying these stories. We found authentic storytellers could be individuals or an entire catchment group, as long as they held this trust. In the New Zealand context we would say they had the mana (authority, prestige, status, charisma). One participant shared, "I'm a newcomer, so I was learning what's gone well and what works. I don't want to make someone else's mistake, I can't afford to already, so if I go 'Oh this works well,' I will do that, too." Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. 2. Authenticity in storytelling The content of stories is as vital as the tellers. It needs to be genuine and honest. Catchment care groups emphasized that restoration stories need to include failures as well as successes. Celebrating successes, like the return of a fish species, while also acknowledging challenges, such as vegetation die-off, creates a more genuine narrative. This unconditional storytelling fosters connection through shared experiences. As one participant highlighted, "It is important to share what we know about land management and restoration: the things that worked and the things that didn't work." 3. Future generations motivate action The motivation behind restoration efforts is a crucial aspect of knowledge sharing. Our research shows that rural communities expressed a profound responsibility to act triggered by a concern for future generations. Farmers frequently voiced a desire to leave rivers in better condition for their children and grandchildren, saying, "We acknowledge that we are only passing through, so that whatever we do now should have long lasting impacts for our children." This inter-generational perspective fosters a long-term commitment to restoration. While our study participants were Pakeha (New Zealanders of European ancestry), this view aligns well with kaitiakitanga, the integral Maori principle of environmental stewardship. It illustrates a shared deep sense of responsibility for future generations. Given that reversing damage to freshwater systems will require sustained effort over time, collective storytelling that emphasizes inter-generational goals helps cultivate patience and resilience within communities. It also possibly avoids disappointment when improvements are not seen as quickly as hoped. We advocate for the broader integration of collective storytelling as a valuable strategic tool in restoring the health of waterways globally. At the same time, we emphasize that restoration is only one part of improving freshwater health. Substantial changes in land use will also be needed in New Zealand and elsewhere to prevent further degradation. Authentic, local and collective storytelling can help both the transition in land use and restoration. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: (a) Experimental setup. BP: bandpass filter, LP: longpass filter, HWP: half-wave plate, PBS: polarizing beam splitter, 2-SNSPD: two-element superconducting nanowire single photon detector. BBO crystal is used as a linear optical element to increase the group delay between the signal and idler photons produced by the ppKTP. Detection time of the photons is related to their frequency due to the dispersive fiber. (b) Group delay T measured as a function of parametric gain . Horizontal dashed line is an analytic model limited to the first-order Magnus term 1, in which case the expected group delay is simply the group velocity walk-off 0 = L(v s 1 v i 1 )/2. Dotted-dashed line is T = 0 242 / 3(12 + 2 ) based on Magnus expansion up to 3. Shaded black curve is the numerical model NeedALight [68], where shaded region represents 95% confidence interval. (c) Example of a spectrally-resolved coincidence histogram N(1, 2) measured when = 1.407(3). (d) Fourier transform of N(1, 2). Color bar shows number of events per bin collected in five minutes. Credit: Guillaume Thekkadath et al Since it was first demonstrated in the 1960s, spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) has been at the center of many quantum optics experiments that test the fundamental laws of physics in quantum mechanics, and in applications like quantum simulation, quantum cryptography, and quantum metrology. SPDC is the spontaneous splitting of a photon into two photons after it passes through a nonlinear object like certain crystals. The process is nonlinear and instantaneous, and the two output photons (called the signal photon and idler photon) satisfy conservation of energy and momentum compared to the input photon (the pump photon). SPDC is often used with a specially designed crystal to create pairs of entangled photons. A research team from Canada has discovered that there is a delay between the detection of the two output photons, one that depends on the intensity of the incoming light that impacts the crystal. They call this a "gain-induced group delay." Their study, published in the journal Physical Review Letters, uses theory and numerical simulations, and then data from their own experiment. The delay means applications whose design requires precisely timed photons, such as quantum sensors and quantum computers, could be affected. The time delay (also called the group delay) was discovered theoretically, by studying SPDC using so-called perturbation theory, a standard technique in physics in which complicated mathematical-like energy operators are simplified by only including the leading terms of their expansion, akin to a Taylor series expansion of a function. (Feynman diagram calculations rely heavily on perturbation expansions.) This makes the equations much easier to calculate with. Here, each term in the expansion represents a different, increasingly complicated type of SPDC photon scattering. The lowest-order is basica pump photon scatters into a pair of lower energy photons. The next-leading term is when the two produced photons scatter off one another, with a total of three photons produced as output. It's assumed both the signal and idler fields are initially in a vacuum state, so this term comes to zero. The third-order term describes a scattering process in which two pump photons each produce pairs of down-converted photons followed by the up-conversion of two of the latter photons. Each term is proportional to the power of the interaction strength, so the successive terms get smaller and smaller. Complicated quantum mechanical equations are thus used to calculate an expression for the group delay. They then developed a model of the SPDC perturbation processes to numerically calculate time delays. To test their theoretical analysis, the group used interferometry. A rapidly pulsed laser whose power varied from 0 to 60 milliwatts generated 180 femtosecond long pulses (that's 0.18 trillionths of a second) at wavelengths centered on 779 nanometers, with the wavelengths of the pulse being 5.37 nm at full width at half maximum. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. This light is in the very near infrared compared to human vision. Using a specially designed 2-mm long nonlinear crystal of potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP), they produced a collinear photon pair with both wavelengths centered on 1,558 nm (near-infrared light with frequencies of 192 terahertz each). Their polarizations were perpendicular to one another, and they separated the signal and idler using a polarizing beam splitter and sent the photons through an interferometer. The measured time delay was 150 nanoseconds. "We demonstrated that photon pairs generated by spontaneous parametric down-conversion exhibit a gain-induced group delay," the researchers, led by lead author Guillaume Thekkadath of the National Research Council of Canada in Ottawa, wrote. (The six other co-authors are in Canada as well.) Their results show that the joint amplitude of the output light is not simply that of the two photons overlapping. Such setups are "...becoming increasingly relevant for applications like photonic quantum computing, Gaussian boson sampling, interferometry and quantum frequency conversion," they write. They say such delays are straightforward to compensate for in bulk opticssolid instruments like mirrors, lenses, prisms and windows and crystals, but not thin films. However, "the delay may pose complications when designing quantum interference circuits integrated into chips." Although their study examined SPDC starting with ultrashort laser pulses as the pump photons, they write that it also applies to spontaneous four-wave mixinginteractions between photons of two or three wavelengths to produce photons of one or two new wavelengthsbecause they have an identical quantum mechanical description. This is often used in integrated circuits or optical fibers. They note that the observed group delay will also affect sources pumped by longer pulses or even continuous-wave light. 2024 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A young person praying on Calton Hill, Edinburgh. Credit: Newcastle University Young Muslims are less interested in national politics in Scotland and instead are increasingly involved with local and global issues, research led by Newcastle University shows. Researchers spoke to young Muslims aged 1418 who lived in Glasgow to understand their engagement with politics and the extent to which this was shaped by their own personal experiences. The research took place as a follow up to a similar study in 2017 which found that while young Muslims participated in politics in some form, and some had been inspired by Scottish nationalism, there was a concern about media and political representations of Muslims. There was also a recognition that everyday experiences of Islamophobia made participation in public life a challenge for many. In this latest study, which was carried out with the Institute for Economic and Social Inclusion at the University of Sunderland, Scottish politics and Scottish independence were less of an issue although there was a generally positive view of more Muslim politicians in leading roles in Holyrood. However, many participants doubted whether it would make a difference, and were unsure that taking part in elections could bring about lasting change. They also felt that work in areas such as anti-racism or public safety had stagnated since 2014. Instead, young people talked about playing an active role in their local communities, with some involved in fundraising for issues ranging from cystic fibrosis research to disaster relief following the earthquake in Syria and Turkey, while others took part in awareness raising in relation to anti-racism, migrant rights and Islamophobia. This was often done through their local mosques, schools or community groups, and was seen also as an opportunity for activities that celebrate different cultural identities. "This research found that young Muslims felt global politics was threaded through their lives through their own identity and family background," said Professor Peter Hopkins, professor of social geography at Newcastle University. Awareness and interest in global issues had also increased, and most participants expressed particular concern over events in Palestine in particular. Several related their interest in global politics to the personal experiences of friends and family members, connecting experiences of fleeing war and seeking asylum to ongoing conflicts. Many young Muslims were also critical of what they saw as a racist double standard in much media coverage of the war in Palestine and felt that there was negative, unbalanced and unsympathetic reporting of Muslims in mainstream media outlets. Although some recognized that social media platforms also could not be trusted, many said they did get most of their information online, from sources such as Reddit, TikTok, or Instagram. The fact that young people have grown up with social media helps them to recognize what's true, some said. Personal experiences of Islamophobia and racism was a continuing issue, the research highlighted. Young female participants said that they had experienced Islamophobic bullying at schooloften related to religious clothing such as headscarves and hijabs. And many voiced frustration about the scarcity of education about racism and Islamophobia in schools, where they argued anti-racist rhetoric was not combined with enough action. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Professor Hopkins said, "This research took place against the backdrop of Black Lives Matter, the pandemic, the cost of living crisis and increased global instability, so it was not surprising that young Muslims felt that global politics was threaded through their lives through their own identity and family background." Dr. Robin Finlay, Partnerships Manager and Research Associate in the Institute for Economic and Social Inclusion, University of Sunderland, added, "Comparing this report to our 2017 research highlights the evolving nature of young Muslims' political interests. In 2017, many young people were strongly motivated by the prospect of Scottish independence, whereas our recent findings reveal a declining engagement with independence debates. Nonetheless, the research underscores the enduring issue of Islamophobia in the everyday lives of young Muslims." Dr. Joel White, Postdoctoral Research Associate at Newcastle University noted, "Our research demonstrates that many young Muslims in Scotland feel let down by mainstream political parties and those in power, particularly in terms of the gap between political rhetoric around anti-racism and the lack of concrete actions to address this in their schools and communities. They connected this to what they saw as a shameful political silence around Israel's military campaign in Gaza, which for many of them represented a key formative moment of engaging in protest and activism." The report was launched at an event hosted by Community Policy Forum and attended by key figures including Dr. Zabir Ahmed, MP for Glasgow South West, and Linsay Taylor, Chair of Interfaith Scotland and Trustee of the Muslim Council of Scotland. More information: Joel White et al, Young Muslims in Scotland: politics, racism, and the media, Newcastle University (2024). DOI: 10.13140/rg.2.2.32065.77925 240 gambling, fraud suspects repatriated to China in joint operation Xinhua) 09:28, November 29, 2024 BEIJING, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- A total of 240 Chinese citizens suspected of involvement in cross-border gambling and fraud have been repatriated from Cambodia as a result of law enforcement cooperation between both countries, Chinese authorities said. Three chartered flights carrying the suspects on Thursday landed at an airport in Taiyuan, north China's Shanxi Province, according to a statement from the Ministry of Public Security. The suspects are among a total of more than 500 Chinese nationals who are expected to be returned home in phases following a recent crackdown by Cambodian police on a gambling and fraud compound in Phnom Penh -- which resulted in the capture of hundreds of suspects of various nationalities. This operation marks the second such repatriation effort between the two countries this year. During an earlier collaboration in April, over 680 Chinese nationals suspected of involvement in gambling and fraud were repatriated to China. Calling such crimes a serious threat to public welfare and economic stability, the ministry vowed to strengthen international law enforcement cooperation to dismantle criminal networks and curb the proliferation of gambling and fraud activities. The ministry also urged Chinese citizens to refrain from participating in online or overseas gambling and to remain vigilant in the face of evolving telecom fraud schemes. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) At the 2nd China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) being held in Beijing from Tuesday to Saturday, a big FARMER BOB statue made a debut at McDonald's booth in the "Green Agriculture Chain" exhibition hall, drawing wide attention from visitors. The FARMER BOB series was inspired by the theme of "McFarm," reflecting McDonald's efforts in bringing fresh, high-quality food to the table. Here, consumers and visitors have the opportunity to view McDonald's from a different perspective, exploring the brand's smart, digital, and eco-friendly supply chain system. In addition to McDonald's, other iconic global brands under Yum China, such as KFC and Pizza Hut, are also showcasing their supply chain stories at the ongoing CISCE, highlighting how digitalization, sustainability, and smart technology come together to ensure the variety and quality of their products. The global reach and resource integration of these food brands depend on robust, integrated supply chains that bring together high-quality ingredients from around the world, to offer diverse culinary experiences. This embodies the spirit of CISCE -- promoting global supply chain collaboration and mutual growth. With its theme "Connecting the World for A Shared Future," the expo highlights the shared vision of cooperation and win-win development. People visit the booth of Xiaomi at the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 28, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] Connecting partners This year, over 620 companies, institutions, and international organizations are participating in CISCE, a 20-percent increase from the inaugural expo. The proportion of overseas exhibitors has risen from 26 percent to 32 percent, with European and American companies accounting for half of that group. So, why are so many international companies flocking to CISCE? At the expo's opening, Ren Hongbin, chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, emphasized that CISCE serves as a bridge for industries, fostering innovation and facilitating market access across countries. As the world's first national-level exhibition dedicated to supply chains, CISCE helps businesses worldwide integrate into the global industrial and supply chains. What makes CISCE special is its focus on the entire supply chain ecosystem. Unlike traditional trade expos that showcase individual products, CISCE emphasizes the networks, collaborations and connections that drive the supply chains forward. Exhibitors are not just competing for customers; they are seeking long-term partnerships and new opportunities. "We're excited to engage with organizations across the life sciences and genomics industries at this year's expo, and we look forward to sparking new collaborations and breakthroughs," said Yang Shuang, executive vice president of BGI Group, a genome research organization. "At this year's expo, my company iMpact is focused on showcasing how we empower Chinese businesses to succeed in overseas markets by building trust and facilitating strong, localized partnerships. CISCE supplies us with a platform to connect my company with our potential partners," Chris Pereira, founder and CEO of communications and business consulting group iMpact, told Xinhua. "As a fast food chain enterprise, Burger King (China) came to the exhibition to showcase the services and products which we can supply to our partners and potential partners. Besides that, we seek new cooperation opportunities here, and CISCE supplies us with these opportunities," said Atakan Bozkurt, CEO of Burger King (China). People visit the booth of XPENG at the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 28, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] Collaboration for shared growth Procter & Gamble (P&G), a global leader in consumer goods, made its debut at the expo, highlighting its collaborations with domestic and international partners across various sectors. At the expo, P&G launched its "One Supply Chain" strategy, aiming to deepen its partnerships with global collaborators. The company works with over 60,000 partners worldwide, with more than 500 in China alone. "Our relationship with our partners is symbiotic and collaborative," said Jasmine Xu, CEO of P&G Greater China. "We've always said that innovation and shared prosperity cannot be achieved by one company alone. I can confidently say that all the examples we've shared, whether in innovation, product technology, or operational improvements, have been accomplished through close cooperation with our partners," Calvin Yin, vice president of Product Supply Market Operations, P&G Greater China, told Xinhua. This year, New Zealand's dairy giant Fonterra is also participating in CISCE along with its supply chain partners. "By participating in CISCE, Fonterra firmly supports China's efforts to establish an advanced supply chain -- particularly in the area of green agriculture, where we are keen to contribute," said Teh-han Chow, CEO of Fonterra Greater China. "In China, our vision of sustainability highly aligns with China's 'dual carbon' goals. Accordingly, we cooperate with local partners across the value chain to jointly achieve the sustainable development of the dairy industry," he noted. A visitor talks with a staff member at the booth of Beijing China-Germany Economic and Technological Cooperation Demonstration Zone at the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 28, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] China's crucial role The large presence of foreign companies at CISCE underscores the growing demand for global supply chain cooperation and highlights China's vital role in this ecosystem. Manuel Sanchez, chief representative director of the Beijing Office of U.S. Grains Council, told Xinhua that this is their second time participating in the expo. He emphasized that they have an extensive list of members and consider the Chinese market to be extremely important. "China is the largest buyer of agricultural products around the globe, so it's important to stay connected," he said. "It's important for not only the Chinese side to travel, but for us to also serve their needs to the best of our ability." At its CISCE booth, GE Healthcare is showcasing the latest achievements of its domestic supply chain, partnering with suppliers to present key components like CT tubes, bearings, detector crystals, MRI superconducting wires, and ultrasound circuit boards. Zhang Yihao, president and CEO of GE Healthcare China, said, "The common enemy of humanity is disease, and treating it requires a stable supply of medical equipment. China's medical equipment supply chain offers a powerful solution." Sanofi, a French multinational pharmaceutical and healthcare company headquartered in Paris, also made its debut at CISCE. China is one of the key markets for Sanofi's global leadership in immunology, said Shi Wang, president of Sanofi Greater China, noting that the expo presents Sanofi with an invaluable opportunity for deep interaction and communication with industry peers. Solar farms, data centers and carbon dioxide are on track to dominate General Assembly discussions on the environment in the 2025 session. So, too, will talk about cleaner waterways. Meeting restoration targets across Virginias bay watershed, protecting communities against extreme weather, and preserving beloved wildlife critical to the ecosystem and Virginias economy are at the top of this years legislative to-do list, said Chris Moore, executive director of Chesapeake Bay Foundation Virginia. Environmental issues include amendments to the current two-year budget. Moore said flood protection work could grind to a halt if the state does not invest more in the Community Flood Preparedness Fund, the only state program that funds such projects. He said the fund needs $100 million for the second year of the budget. The states Stormwater Local Assistance Fund, which helps finance projects to keep storm runoff from carrying pollutants to rivers and streams, needs $50 million. Solar As more localities balk at approving large installations of solar panels the solar farms that generate more than the amount of power a single home or business uses bills to give these a green light stalled in this years session and were formally carried over for consideration in 2025. One version passed the Senate, but the House of Delegates Counties Cities and Towns Committee decided, on a voice vote, to postpone consideration. A different approach, giving the State Corporation Commission power to approve solar farms, met the same fate in the House Labor and Commerce Committee. State Sen. David Marsden, D-Fairfax, said he is working on a solar bill. He hopes it can balance local needs to ensure new development is a good fit, with the long way Virginia needs to go to meet the clean power generation goals set in the 2020 Virginia Clean Economy Act. For Dominion Energy, the states largest utility and the provider of electricity to several electric cooperatives, that goal is 16,100 megawatts of solar- and land-based wind-powered generators, enough to power more than 4 million homes. Statewide, solar facilities now generate 5,799 megawatts, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. That includes rooftop panels that homeowners and business have installed. Clean Economy Act Environmentalists will be watching for any proposals to change the Virginia Clean Economy Act, said Lee Francis, a spokesman for the League of Conservation Voters. That is the law setting those clean generation goals and that requires the states two big electric utilities to eliminate carbon emissions from their power plants by 2045 and 2050. Environmentalists want to be sure changes do not expand the use of biomass wood or plants to fuel power plants or the use of coal mine methane gas. Because these contain carbon, burning them can produce carbon dioxide or other gases containing carbon, Francis said. The Clean Economy Acts zero-carbon goal has become a concern, meanwhile, after two recent long-term planning documents from Dominion say a projected explosive growth in electricity use mean it will have to continue to generate electricity with natural gas-fired plants, which emit carbon dioxide. Data centers Much of that growth is due to data centers. Northern Virginia already hosts the worlds largest concentration of these. More are coming, and to meet the huge data-crunching demands of artificial intelligence service, the newest versions are even more electricity-hungry than the current ones. Almost all of the several bills aimed at tightening local government standards for allowing data centers died in the 2024 session, but one. That was a measure from Del. Josh Thomas, D-Prince William, that says local governments would have the power to assess the impact of a proposed data center for carbon emissions and water use before acting on a zoning or conditional use permit for the facility. Legislators decided to hold off acting on data centers until the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission completes a study of the issue. JLARC is to look at industry trends and evaluate the impact of data centers on Virginias natural resources, cultural and historic resources and energy needs, including the states efforts to move away from fossil fuels. In addition, the commission is to study local impacts the questions of noise, impact on nearby property values and tax revenue. JLARC is slated to present its findings next month. Electric vehicles Besides data centers, Dominion has said Virginians increasing interest in electric vehicles is driving rising electricity use. Environmentalists want to make it easier for Virginians to opt for EVs, by funding expansion of the network of charging stations and offering rebates for purchase, said Francis, at the conservation voters league. EVs are seen as critical to efforts to cut carbon emissions, since gasoline- and diesel-powered cars and trucks are among the biggest carbon polluters. Burning fuels refined from crude oil is really a chemical reaction that frees carbon atoms from petrochemical compounds and unites them with oxygen in the air to produce carbon dioxide. This summer, Youngkin ordered Virginia to stop following a California mandate for electric vehicle sales as of the end of this year. Legislation in 2021 adopted what was then a California goal that 20% of new cars be EVs beginning in 2025, but when California stepped up the pace this year, Attorney General Jason Miyares ruled that Virginia was not obligated to follow. Environmentalists will be watching for, and fighting against, any legislation to overturn the states EV sales goals, Francis said. RGGI, menhaden Environmental groups are looking for legislation to further secure Virginias participation in an effort to cut the carbon dioxide emissions that cause climate change and sea level rise. They were buoyed by a ruling from Floyd County Circuit Court Judge C. Randall Lowe that only the legislature has the power to withdraw Virginia from the 11-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Environmentalists also want to push for legislation to make it easier for individuals and businesses to install their own clean energy systems. That includes looking at the billing and metering arrangements for installing rooftop solar panels, encouraging installing solar panels on parking lots and previously disturbed lands, and deploying small-scale battery facilities for homes or apartments. They will be urging that funding for water quality and land conservation programs be increased and watching to make sure these arent cut. Battles over menhaden the small fish that support a fish oil plant in Reedville and a related fleet of vessels are also on the horizon. Sports fishermen contend that the menhaden fleet takes too many fish from the Chesapeake Bay, leaving the overfished striped bass of the bay without enough food. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has said menhaden are not overfished, but Del. Lee Ware, R-Powhatan, asked for a state study about the bays population. His bill was carried over into the 2025 session. At the bay foundation, Moore hopes the General Assembly will set $3 million to fund a study of menhaden population in the bay. He will also be arguing for $4.5 million for continued restoration and replenishment efforts to rebuild the bays oyster population, as well as funding to expand efforts to restore freshwater mussel populations, which play a critical role in filtering out pollutants in streams and rivers. The bay foundation would also like to see the legislature expand state and local governments efforts to plant and maintain trees, which filter groundwater and prevent erosion. Cancun driver flees scene of single vehicle rollover Cancun, Q.R. The driver of a private vehicle left their car overturned in the middle of a residential road for Cancun police. City Transit officials found the abandoned car laying on its roof after crashing into two city poles Thursday morning. The white Kia was seen near SM 96 on Nichupte Avenue around 6:30 a.m. by motorists who reported the accident to emergency services. According to witnesses, the driver slammed into a metal streetlight before taking out a wood Telmex pole. The wood pole was found laying on the street in two pieces. The driver was then seen getting out of the car, leaving the demolished vehicle behind. Cancun Transit officers are using city surveillance cameras to identify and track down the driver. Police set up highway check point between Tulum and Playa del Carmen Tulum, Q.R. An inspection operation was in place Thursday on the highway border between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Elements of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection of Tulum (Ssypc) set up the inter-institutional filter on the municipal limits. Tulum Mayor Diego Castanon Trejo is seen here, right, talking with police during the Thursday highway inspection. The operation included agents from National Guard, Sedena and the State Police. During the Thursday afternoon highway inspection, police stopped more than 100 vehicles. Ssypc Secretary, Jose Roberto Rodriguez, said the filter was installed from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. between the limits of both municipalities. During those two hours, 80 vehicles were stopped along with 32 motorcycles. He says a total of 163 people were inspected, resulting in the arrest of a man for pot possession. Three canine teams were added to the highway afternoon inspection tasks along with two specialized drones. According to Roberto Rodriguez, the inspection point was set up to deter crime and avoid drug trafficking. Yum China launched a worldwide recruitment program seeking high-quality suppliers at the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing on Nov. 28. Yum China executives and guests launch a global supplier recruitment program at the 2nd CISCE in Beijing, Nov. 28, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Yum China] The company, which operates several fast-food chains in China including KFC and Pizza Hut, hosted a launch event at their expo booth. Ren Hongbin, chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, attended the event along with representatives from Yum China's suppliers. The event highlighted the company's new digital platform for supplier recruitment, extending an invitation to high-quality global enterprises to join its supply chain network. The initiative aims to promote collaboration with like-minded suppliers for joint development and innovate procurement strategies to enhance dining options and experiences for Chinese consumers. Chen Jianping, vice president of procurement management at Yum China, underscored that the company possesses strong brand influence and extensive market coverage, and provides its partners with stable procurement orders, giving them more opportunities for displaying their products and generating sales. "Yum China focuses on long-term cooperation and mutual development with suppliers. Additionally, we will offer a range of support and assistance, including technical support and marketing, to help suppliers continuously enhance their competitiveness," he said. In April, Yum China launched a pilot digital supplier recruitment platform. This online platform spans its corporate website and social media, enabling potential suppliers to conveniently submit their credentials to Yum China and showcase their strengths. The supplier recruitment platform marks a dramatic shift from traditional cooperation methods to a dynamic, interactive, data-driven approach, streamlining supplier engagement and significantly reducing manual workload and evaluation time. Promoting transparency and fairness, the platform is a key component of Yum China's "Spend Better, Buy Better" initiative, connecting the company with high-quality global suppliers. Since its pilot launch, the platform has attracted over 1,000 registrations from potential suppliers across more than 30 categories, covering over a third of the company's total business categories. Yum China has signed deals with two Chinese and one Thai enterprise at the 2nd CISCE to collaborate on raw material sourcing and product development. Of these, the partnership with Hubei Huagui Food Co. Ltd. was facilitated through the supplier recruitment platform. As a leading supplier of lotus root products, Hubei Huagui put itself forward through the platform, and Yum China quickly responded to form a partnership. The companies have now jointly developed a new lotus root product that aligns with traditional tastes and is set to launch soon. Over the years, Yum China has built a world-class supply chain management system, comprising over 800 core suppliers across a variety of categories, including food ingredients, beverages, packaging materials, construction, warehousing and transportation. Since opening its first restaurant in 1987, Yum China now operates over 15,800 outlets in China, managing six major restaurant brands KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Lavazza, Huang Ji Huang and Little Sheep. It has established a world-class supply chain management system, enabling its restaurants to offer ingredients from high-quality global production areas and local specialties. This covers Chinese and Western cuisines, coffee and more. Yum China, a first-time participant at the ongoing CISCE, is also showcasing its stories of supply chain collaboration, highlighting its use of digitalization, sustainability and smart technology to ensure the variety and quality of its products. Earlier this month, Yum China reported its financial results for the third quarter of 2024. The company's total revenues increased 5% year on year to $3.07 billion, marking the highest quarterly revenues in its history, with core operating profit rising 18% year on year. Swerving driver demolishes two Cancun vehicles Cancun, Q.R. A parked truck was left nearly destroyed Friday morning after being hit from behind by a passing car. The driver of the car collided with the parked truck Friday in SM 525 of Cancun, also leaving her car in ruins. The owner of the parked cargo truck called police. The owner of the vehicle came out to find his truck had been pushed into a concrete CFE pole. Police were sent to La Luna Avenue in the Santa Fe residential area in response to the report. There they located a badly damaged cargo truck and Kia car partially embedded under its rear. According to early information, the female driver of the car lost control as she was passing through the neighborhood. Her car swerved and landed in the back of the cargo truck, pushing it into a concrete pole. The bed of the truck was also damaged. Paramedics were requested to assist with the driver of the car, however, she did not sustain any major injuries and was not taken to hospital. The driver, a 35 year old woman from Valladolid was arrested at the scene for allegedly driving while intoxicated. You are here: Business AmCham China hosted the Global Supply Chain Seminar and launched its 2025 Navigator Program in Beijing on Nov. 26 during the second China International Supply Chain Expo. Participants pose for a photo at an AmCham China event during the second China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing, Nov. 26, 2024. [Photo courtesy of AmCham China] The event drew industry leaders from Fortune 500 companies in advanced manufacturing, health care and agriculture to address global supply chain challenges and mark the Navigator Program's debut. In their opening remarks, Michael Hart, president of AmCham China, and Sun Xiao, secretary-general of the China Chamber of International Commerce, emphasized how global supply chains drive economic growth and foster cross-industry collaboration. During the expo, Hart noted the Chinese government's engagement with foreign companies and expressed optimism about market growth prospects. He highlighted China's importance to American businesses' supply chain and manufacturing operations, with both nations maintaining strong partnerships in these sectors. A panel discussion followed featuring insights from three industry experts: Lawrence Lou, supply chain project director at Cummins China; Tony Zeng, chief revenue officer for SAP Greater China's Digital Supply Chain; and Steven Lin, senior manager of global field operations for China, Southeast Asia and Oceania at Boeing. The discussion explored key trends, including resilience-building strategies, local operational successes and talent development practices. The event concluded with AmCham China President Hart and Vice President Claire Ma launching the 2025 Manufacturing & Supply Chain Navigator Program. The initiative aims to cultivate young leaders in the U.S.-China business community, particularly those focused on manufacturing and supply chain operations, through engagement with industry leaders. Chuck Brown, a senior supply chain consultant and a 2024 Navigator Program graduate, joined Nokia's Head of Private Wireless Bai Rui to discuss the program's impact. They emphasized strategies for matching professional development with emerging supply chain industry needs. The six-month Navigator Program will select qualified applicants from various industries and companies across China, regardless of nationality. It equips professionals with strategic insights into manufacturing and supply chain operations, preparing them for success in the global business environment. Slate Plus members get more Care and Feeding every week. Have a question about kids, parenting, or family life? Submit it here! Dear Care and Feeding, I live in a duplex. There are no fences beyond a small privacy fence on the back porches. My backyard has the biggest tree and gets most of the shade. My bedroom backs up to it, and I often work nights. My neighbors moved in and have multiple children under the age of f5. I dont know what the parents do for a living because they seem to always be at home. The problem is, they think of nothing of trespassing on my side of the yard. They will pile out their plastic toys and let their kids run around screaming bloody murder. I have been woken up more than once because of their kids screaming. I have been friendly and patient and explained where my bedroom was and that even a white noise machine cant block the sounds when they are less than four feet from my window. My neighbors are apologetic, but say its just too hot for their kids to be playing on their side, without the shade tree. Well, I just hit my limit. I woke up and found the mother using my hose to fill up a kiddie pool. We got into a shouting match, and she told me to switch where I was sleeping since both sides have two bedrooms. I got cameras and some stakes to string plastic netting all around my side. The father came out and swore at me. I told him to smile as he was on camera, and let him know that if I caught them coming over again, I would go to the landlord with evidence. Since then, things have frosty, and nasty notes have been left in my mailbox. I just renewed my lease. I just want my peace and quiet back. Tired in Texas Dear Tired, Keep those notes and document every incident for your landlord. Make sure youre keeping track of whenever they come over to your side of the yard. Unfortunately, there isnt much else you can, short of calling the police when they cross over, but we know how badly police can escalate small issues. Let your landlord know now that youve been having a problem with this family and that they have dismissed your concerns. Hopefully, theyll pressure your neighbors to behave. Also, it may feel somewhat defeatist, but you may want to consider sleeping on the other side of the apartment if things will be quieter over there. I understand that you work nights, but details of this conflict aside, it is kind of hard to make a case against letting kids play outdoors during the day. Jamiah More Advice From Slate I am the mother of a very outgoing and charming 2-and-a-half-year-old girl. People often tell me she brightens their day with her warm and caring disposition. I adore her personality and want to continue to foster her open nature. However, I also want to teach her healthy boundary setting, particularly when it comes to stranger danger. Recently, we were at the museum of natural history when a stranger interacted with her in a manner that I found to be very concerning. My daughter was looking at the taxidermied cheetahs when the man squatting next to her reached out and put his hand over hers. He then proceeded to tickle her stomach. I felt extremely uncomfortable with this but froze for a moment thinking I was overreacting. Union, a documentary about the Amazon Labor Unions successful organizing drive at an Amazon fulfillment center on Staten Island, is a visually stunning movie thats part underdog tale, part thriller, and part workplace dramedy. Its also a valuable and too-rare representation of the relevance and power of union organizing in the modern world. But despite it receiving an award at Sundance and glowing reviews (including a rave from the festival in Slate), no major theatrical or streaming company has signed on to distribute the movie. According to Brett Story, who directed the movie with Stephen Maing, this is at least in part because those companies dont want to risk their relationships with Amazon Studios. Amazon owner Jeff Bezos billions of dollars and vast corporate ownerships mean he can go far beyond just fighting his employees union like a regular bosshe can effectively prevent most people in the country from watching and being inspired by the independent ALUs historic, long-shot victory. This veto power is reminiscent of Bezos recent torpedoing of the Washington Posts planned endorsement of Kamala Harris, and of his and rival billionaire spaceship fetishist Elon Musks legal attacks on the constitutionality of the federal labor laws under which nearly all private-sector union organizing occursa trio of examples of how easily the extremely rich can distort the media and laws in their own interests. Despite its lack of a distribution deal, Union is following the example of the ALU by promoting itself independently. From Black Friday through Giving Tuesday, you can stream it on a platform called Gathr. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Union contrasts Amazon, the enormous, faceless corporation, with the ALU, the scrappy, often messy, deeply connected community that Amazon workers built. The corporation is represented by shots of gigantic container ships gliding inexorably through the frame, and by cascades of Amazon packages hurtling down conveyor belts in cavernous, harshly bright warehouses. The only actual people associated with the company who make appearances are blandly threatening managers, anti-union consultants, and security guards. Jeff Bezos embarrassingly shaped rocket is also shown blasting off into space. Advertisement By contrast, the ALU campaign is headquartered in a tent on a sidewalk next to Amazons JFK8 warehouse, and on Zoom. In the tent, organizers hand out meals (and sometimes weed), huddle around a fire in winter, and laugh with, cajole, and convince their co-workers to support the union as they head into or out of the warehouse, often in the dark. The workers leader is the charismatic then-president of the ALU, Chris Smalls, who worked at Amazon until he was fired during the pandemic after protesting a lack of personal protective equipment. Another worker, meeting Smalls for the first time, points out that hes low-key famous, and its true. Smalls testifies before Congress, appears on TV, and is the one who speaks during the ALUs press conferences, thanking Jeff Bezos for going to space, because when he was up there, we were signing people up. In a painfully relatable scene, you also see Smalls trying to wrangle his three kids to participate in virtual school. Advertisement But the ALU is a union, not a one-man show, and other organizers play important roles. Natalie Monarrez is shown on hidden cellphone footage interrupting an anti-union captive audience meeting. The courage it must have taken to do this becomes clear when you learn that the company often fires warehouse workers for opaque reasons, with decisions apparently made by algorithms; turnover is 150 percent per year. What Monarrez is risking personally becomes even more stark when the film shows her going to sleep in her car in the early morning hours. She looks at her watch and calculates the amount of time she can sleep before she has to get up for work again. She tells herself Thats enough, even though its not, and pulls a sleeping bag up over her head. Monarrez later tells Smalls that shes been living in her car for three years. Advertisement Advertisement As the campaign trudges on, Monarrez becomes disillusioned with the ALU, telling another female organizer that the union is an old boys club. Union doesnt shy away from portraying the tensions that arise within the union. With their deep bonds and deep clashes, the union leaders and organizers are reminiscent of the team in The Bear, if the goal wasnt a Michelin star but a sliver of collective economic power. Advertisement Advertisement When the movie shows the JFK8 Amazon workers voting for their union in April 2022, making theirs the first unionized Amazon warehouse in the United States, their triumph is euphoric. But that victory has been followed by uncertainty and struggle. More than two years later, the ALU has affiliated with the Teamsters and elected new leaders, but it has also lost two elections at nearby Amazon facilities and failed to reach a contract because of Amazons illegal refusal to bargain. Instead, Amazon, along with SpaceX, Starbucks, and other corporations, has launched legal attacks on the constitutionality of the National Labor Relations Act, the almost 90-year-old federal law that governs private-sector unionization in the United States. With Donald Trump in the White House and avowedly anti-union SpaceX CEO Elon Musk joined to him at the hip, workers rights to form unions and bargain for better pay and working conditions will soon be besieged on all sides. Advertisement Union is a sorely needed representation of the relevance and potential power of unions in the modern world. Because the percentage of American workers represented by a union has been declining for decades, fewer and fewer people have personal or family experience with unions and what they can mean for peoples lives. Stories about unions in popular culture and media could help fill this vacuum, but these depictions are few and far between, and too often show unions as corrupt or ineffectual. Against that backdrop, the fact that Union wont be marketed to a wide audience is bad not just for the filmmakers, but for all workers. Advertisement Related From Slate Netflixs Hit New Christmas Movie Has Me Wondering if Women Are OK Read More According to the Hollywood Reporter, at least some distribution companies liked Union but didnt want to risk their relationship with Amazon by being associated with it. Jeff Bezos may not have nixed a distribution deal for Union as directly as he blocked the Washington Posts planned presidential endorsement. But in both cases, his enormous wealth and power are the reason the public will be deprived of information that might shape their views and their own decisions. The legal attacks on the constitutionality of the NLRA by Bezos, Musk, and others magnify this pattern of taking regular peoples choices out of their hands. If successful, their attacks on U.S. labor law would weaken or eliminate private-sector workers ability to bargain with their employers, thwarting a vital tool workers can use to shape their jobs and their lives. Advertisement In his apologia for the Posts decision not to endorse a presidential candidate for the first time in 36 years, Bezos asserted that readers might see his wealth and business interests as either a bulwark against intimidation or as a web of conflicting interests. But Bezos wealth is just raw power. Its the power to influence what people around the world read and see and learn, what they can buy, and what laws govern them. Its too much power for any one person to have. But its not absolute power. In Union, at a key point in the campaign, the ALU projects messages onto the warehouse, acknowledging and rejecting Amazons autocratic, dehumanizing vibe: You are not a number. You are not disposable. You are a human being. The workers won their election, and theyre fighting for a contract. We are lucky to be able to watch them do it. Most accounts of Beatlemania begin by dropping viewers in the midst of the fray, ears ringing from the ecstatic shrieks of teenage girls. But Beatles 64, which premieres on Disney+ on Nov. 29, starts by pulling back: way back. Instead of Paul, John, George, and Ringo, we get John F. Kennedy, urging us to go to the moon because it is hard and descending the airplane steps in Dallas, and then his funeral procession winding its way through the streets of Washington, D.C. The brief introduction sets up the idea, voiced by Paul McCartney toward the end of David Tedeschis feature-length documentary, that the U.S. was especially primed for the bands arrival by JFKs assassinationthat their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show less than three months after Kennedys death gave a mourning nation something joyous to celebrate, and the newspapers something else to focus on (although, as Slates Jack Hamilton has written, the link between the two is a fairly tenuous one). But its also a warning that the Beatles themselves are at best co-stars in this particular account, supporting players in a larger national drama. In large part, thats because after 60 years of documenting the phenomenon of Beatlemania, theres not much left in the way of new material. Beatles 64 includes new interviews with McCartney and Ringo Starr, the latters conducted by a briefly visible and uncredited Martin Scorsese, who produced the film, as well as an assortment of fans and music-industry figures who offer widely varying degrees of insight. But its most enticing and illuminating aspect by far is the unseen footage, about 17 minutes in total, shot by the direct cinema legends Albert and David Maysles as they followed the band on their whirlwind East Coast tour. Most of the Maysles footage has been released twice before, first as Whats Happening! The Beatles in the U.S.A., and then, in 1999, as The Beatles: The First U.S. Visit, which dropped several minutes of observational documentary and added the Fab Fours Sullivan appearance and other live performances. (The Maysles were not originally allowed to use the TV footage, so they devised an ingenious workaround, shooting a family watching the show in their living room instead.) But the previously unseen moments in Beatles 64 still manage to add something to this most pored-over of cultural watersheds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rather than introduce them fleeing from crazed fans or cracking wise to clueless reporters, Tedeschi introduces the Beatles as theyre marveling at the then-new apparatus that allowed the Maysles brothers to shadow them in relatively unobtrusive fashion. As Paul and Ringo point into the lens, Paul, the bands most technically minded member, points out how the Maysles innovative technology allowed them to keep Alberts camera and Davids tape recorder in sync without the need of a connecting wire that would have seriously limited their movement. Later, as the foursome chat around a coffee table in a hotel room, Paul insists that the camera pan down to show the woman sitting discreetly on the floor just outside their circle, poking a microphone into its centeran order Albert resists until it becomes clear that Paul wont move on until he gives in. Toting along a portable radio that he uses to track the news coverage of their visit, Paul is the most keenly attuned to the machinery of star-making, marveling at the reporters announcing their arrival at New Yorks Plaza Hotel the instant their car pulls up to the entrance. (Pauls on-camera deconstructions are sufficiently sharp that they render Beatles 64s use of Marshall McLuhan clips to explain the shifting nature of media entirely superfluous.) Advertisement Advertisement As a whole, the group seems astonished by the incessant commercialism of American culture. Paul reenacts a TV anchors seamless transition from a serious news item to a word from their sponsor, while John and George improvise a mock ad for Marlboros. Hounded by radio DJ Murray the K, who proclaimed himself the fifth Beatle despite a tenuous claim to the titlein an archival interview, an older Harrison says they never managed to figure out who kept letting him into the roomthey gamely yell station identifications into the phone, but they openly mock him when he bungles the title of Love Me Do. (An off-camera Lennon jokes, with just a hint of edge, that the flub should cost Murray his job.) When Paul pulls out his handheld radio, slyly noting that its regular appearance will give the filmmakers something to use for continuity, you cant help but notice the Pepsi logo on its plastic casing and wonder which enterprising adman contrived to slip it into his hands. Meanwhile, in the present, an avid collector shows off his preposterously large collection of Beatles artifacts, ranging from branded sneakers and mop-top wigs to a tin of Beatles-branded talcum powderwhich, he proudly notes, has never been used. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not surprising that the Maysles, who prided themselves on being able to disappear into the background, cut out moments that drew attention to their presence. But its a treat to have the exchange where two women attempting to sneak into the Beatles rooms explicitly enlist the brothers in their quest. More significantly, Beatles 64 reclaims the on-camera interviews that the Maysles shot and categorically discarded, especially a sequence where they interview Harlems Black residents about their opinions of the band. Two young girls proclaim them to be at best OK, while another, slightly older woman allows that she likes them, especially their hairdos. (Their songs, on the other hand, are merely nice.) A twentysomething man whose tastes lean toward Miles Davis and John Coltrane calls them simply disgusting, while another, attired in a scarf and overcoat, says that theyre very nice because I like anything thats original. But when hes asked how they stack up against the jazz organist Jimmy Smith, whose name hangs on the Apollo marquee behind him, he politely demurs; I wouldnt make a comparison. Smokey Robinson, at least, comes to the Beatles defense. In a new interview, he says they were the first white pop group he heard be open about Black influences on their music. (During the Revolver sessions, Paul marshalled all of Abbey Roads resources in an attempt to emulate the bass sound of the Motown records he loved.) Leonard Bernstein, too, is a fan, or at least someone who resists an interviews attempt at a culture-war soundbite by saying that adults would be foolish to brush off such a seismic cultural shift. A few years later, hed be guiding TV viewers through the tricky time signatures of She Said, She Said. Of course, he didnt understand them the way the young Juilliard student in Beatles 64 did, trotting over to wait outside the Plaza despite the fact that she doesnt normally care for rock, or Bernsteins own daughter, Jamie, who vividly recalls the contemporary dreams she had involving George Harrison and her bra. Related From Slate When the Beatles Made Their Avant-Garde R&B Album Read More Beatles 64 falls far short of being revelatory, and although the old footage and audio has been enhanced with the same techniques behind Peter Jacksons Get Back, it feels more like a series of footnotes than history itself. But it offers precious, if limited, glimpses of how the Beatles saw that history being formed even as they made it, and a world that was just beginning to understand what they were about to do. The Agency, Im sad to say, is missing that je ne sais quoi of Le Bureau des Legendes. If only Id encountered Showtimes new spy thriller having never seen its source material, the mid-2010s French drama known in English as The Bureau. Id have no idea that something might be missingthat je ne sais quoi of the originalor that there was a different way to be for Martian, Michael Fassbenders dead-in-the-eyes spy-who-came-in-from-the-cold character. I wouldnt know that the French external security service is altogether more pleasant (at least in television dramas) than the CIA, which is so often portrayed as violence-loving (see: Lioness), bumbling (see: The Looming Tower), and overly bureaucratic (see: The Agency, where multiple lines are spent arguing over the relatively menial cost, given the CIAs multibillion-dollar budget, of exfiltrating a source from a bad situation). But the fact is that I do know. And while Ill keep going with The AgencyIve seen the first three episodesI expect to feel some ennui for the first seasons duration. The American remake hews almost shockingly close to the original. Joe Wright (Atonement, Pride & Prejudice) directed the first couple of episodes, and while the first episode is not a shot-for-shot redo of Le Bureaus, it is damned close. Characters mirror each other, and the narrative elements are the same: A spy called back to HQ must hastily end a love affair in his undercover posting, hole up in a safe house for months before he can return to home base to train a new agent set to be deployed to Iran, and be reunited with his daughter. Meanwhile, in a parallel plotline, another undercover agent abroad has gotten drunk, been arrested, and disappearedpossibly into enemy arms, where his cover is potentially blown. A lot of stuff happens! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But as I watched The Agency, I had the sense that everything was rushed; I was failing to connect to any of the characters, really, except Jeffrey Wrights Henry, Martians boss who is perpetually afflicted with le malaise. To be fair, Fassbenders Martian is really the only way I can imagine a spy played by Fassbender to be: detached, impossible to read, icy. I love Michael Fassbender because he is both so hot and so deeply weirdboth qualities hold in The Agency. His Martian is only a half-step away from his role as the unnamed assassin in David Finchers Netflix movie The Killer, where he performs both Vinyasa yoga sequences and murders with balletic alacrity. He doesnt kill anyone in The Agency (yet, anyway), but his unnervingness is intact. Advertisement This would be fine except that his French counterpart in Le BureauMalotru, played by Mathieu Kassovitzis the opposite: warm, soulful, deeply connected with others inside and outside the spy business, and with us, the viewers. We feel his passion for and sweetness toward Nadia, his forbidden love, and we root for both of them from the first moment. Everything is so, well, French! He always has red wine around, and he smokes. He seems like a dad, an ex-husband, and a lover. He is someone we would know, except he is a spy. We believe in his essential goodness, even as he breaks rules all over the place. We believe hes doing it all for lamour foufor Nadia and for France. We like him so much. Advertisement Maybe the creators of The Agency decided that they needed to break from Kassovitzs portrayal to distinguish their show. Or maybe once Fassbender signed on, they had to make his Martian a different (read: hot and weird) kind of guy instead of someone wed actually like. Either way, there is, to me, a nearly fatal flaw in the decision: The forbidden relationship between our spy and his paramour is missing the actual chemistry required to undergird so much of what is sure to come in The Agency, given what happens in Le Bureau. This love affair has ramifications for global security! There is some sex between Martian and Sami (Jodie Turner-Smith), an Ethiopian historian he met during his deployment in Addis Ababa. But there is no electricity. Sami can voice-over the words, also nearly straight from Le BureauIt was dangerous. It was wrong. It had no future. But I wouldnt have missed it for the worldbut it feels rote more than it does wistful. Advertisement Advertisement I have some other complaints, but the funniest and most pedantic is about the fact that Richard Gere, who plays the head of the London CIA office where Martian is based, refers repeatedly to JSOC (the Joint Special Operations Command) as J-S-O-C, when it should be pronounced jaysock. Come on! Also, why is British broody middle-aged heartthrob Dominic West playing the director of the CIA? There really wasnt a single square-jawed American for that role? (No offence to Dominic West, but really!) The Agency premieres Thanksgiving weekend, and what I can say is: This would be a totally good show to watch with relatives. Its smart, it moves, its got great people in it. You may need to pause and explain thingslike when the show suddenly takes us to Ukraine or Belarusto your aged uncle. But youll enjoy it. And then, when you have a chance for some temps seul, do try Le Bureau. Im grateful that The Agency, at the very least, gave me a chance to go back for an encore. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241128/iv-congress-of-young-scientists-explores-future-of-ai-in-learning-and-research-1121040172.html IV Congress of Young Scientists Explores Future of AI in Learning and Research IV Congress of Young Scientists Explores Future of AI in Learning and Research Sputnik International Participants of the session titled "New Trends in the Development of Humanitarian Education" discussed the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on education systems and how new technologies can be used for the benefit of science and education. 2024-11-28T16:33+0000 2024-11-28T16:33+0000 2024-11-29T09:51+0000 russia 4th young scientists congress education ai https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0b/1d/1121040146_0:31:3533:2018_1920x0_80_0_0_46c1c15652a177a59bc54192d1cb61a9.jpg The panel discussion, supported by the Russian State University for the Humanities, was moderated by Andrey Fursenko, assistant to the president of Russia.Fursenko opened the debate by emphasizing the growing shortage of qualified personnel in various sectors and the transformative impact of new technologies, including AI, on education and research."New approaches to education are provoking mixed reactions among educators and researchers, and it's crucial to discuss which of these changes we should support," he said.Andrey Logvinov, acting rector of the Russian State University for the Humanities, highlighted the universitys efforts to incorporate AI into its educational processes. He argued that while AI can assist, it will never replace human capacity for knowledge and critical thinking.Alexander Gasnikov, rector of Innopolis University, compared the human brain's efficiency to AI, noting that while the number of neurons in both is similar, the brain is far more effective. "AI is essentially a large tool for solving complex multidisciplinary problems," he said.Svetlana Merkushina, executive director of Sbers Education Industry Center, discussed the role of AI in education, emphasizing that AI should not be feared. However, she stressed that the responsibility for defining its boundaries lies with humans. Merkushina also spoke about projects aimed at developing AI-powered assistants for researchers and educators, highlighting trends such as accessibility, multimodality, and specialized AI.Fedor Senatov, director of the Biomedical Engineering Institute at NITU MISIS, advocated for the active use of AI in science and education, particularly in developing technologies like robotic surgeons. He also stressed the importance of bioethics in this field.Elena Bryzgulina, head of the Philosophy of Education Department at Moscow State University, pointed out the need for ethical frameworks for AI developers, educators, and researchers. She emphasized the importance of instilling ethical standards in students at all stages of their education.The discussion also touched on the challenges posed by AI, including the need to develop critical thinking skills, create affordable technologies, and protect personal data. Despite the rapid advancement of AI, the participants agreed that it should be seen as a tool rather than a threat.In conclusion, Fursenko noted that while the development of AI in education should be supported, its potential consequences must be carefully considered. "Education must evolve in line with the needs of society and stay on a par with international developments," he said.The IV Congress of Young Scientists takes place from November 27-29 in Russia's Sirius federal territory. Part of the Decade of Science and Technology (2022-2031), the event brings together leading scientists, government officials, industry partners, and young researchers from Russia and abroad. Organized by the Roscongress Foundation, the Ministry of Science, and the Coordination Council for Youth Affairs in Science and Education, it highlights the achievements of the next generation of scientists.Sputnik is an official media partner of the event. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241128/putins-message-to-iv-young-scientists-congress-russia-is-open-to-global-scientific-collaboration-1121034226.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International 4th congress of young scientists, russia, educationa, ai in education https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/afd-advocating-for-germanys-exit-from-eu--election-program-1121042250.html AfD Advocating for Germany's Exit From EU Election Program AfD Advocating for Germany's Exit From EU Election Program Sputnik International The right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party wants to pull Germany out of the European Union and create a parallel European economic community, the Spiegel news website reported on Friday, citing the final draft of the party's election program. 2024-11-29T12:37+0000 2024-11-29T12:37+0000 2024-11-30T10:53+0000 world germany european union (eu) olaf scholz alternative for germany (afd) https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105063/92/1050639205_0:82:4009:2337_1920x0_80_0_0_ee7d3c812a403f28f367433ddfa46db6.jpg Germans are expected to vote in a snap general election on February 23, following the collapse of the three-party left-green coalition government. Social Democrat Chancellor Olaf Scholz has asked for a vote of confidence on December 16. The party plans to call a referendum to change Article 23 of the constitution, which regulates Germany's participation in the EU, to have it adjusted to refer to a new "Community of Economies and Interests (WIG)." The transition should be negotiated to reach consensus with both EU partners and new stakeholders, the program reads. The AfD also has plans for Germany to withdraw from the eurozone and adopt a stable national currency, possibly retaining the euro as a parallel currency. The use of cryptocurrency bitcoin should be deregulated, the program says. The election program will reportedly be discussed and adopted in January. The latest polls of national voting intentions put the AfD at 18%, second only to the conservative bloc of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU).Resuming Trade With RussiaAlternative for Germany (AfD) party will propose resuming trade with Russia in its election program, the newspaper reported on Friday, citing the draft document.Russia appears in the AfD's election program as a supplier of cheap gas, trade with which should be resumed.According to the draft program, Ukraine should build its future as a neutral state "outside the EU and NATO." It makes no mention of the Ukrainian conflict.The draft election program will reportedly be discussed and adopted at the AfD congress in January.Germany is expected to vote in a snap general election on February 23, following the collapse of the three-party coalition government. Social Democrat Chancellor Olaf Scholz has asked for a vote of confidence on December 16.The latest opinion survey conducted by Forsa pollster puts support for the AfD at 18%, second only to the conservative bloc of the Christian Democratic and Christian Social Unions (CDU/CSU) with 32%. The Social Democratic Party (SPD) polls at 15%, the Greens at 12%, the Left and the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance at 4% each.The German government imploded in early November after Scholz fired Finance Minister Christian Lindner, the leader of the liberal Free Democratic Party, citing his unwillingness to greenlight new proposals for the 2025 budget and more aid for Ukraine. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241107/as-germanys-ruling-coalition-implodes-whats-next-for-chancellor-scholz-1120801580.html germany Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International afd, afd program, alternative for germany program, afd eu exit, afd russia trade https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/biden-calls-russias-retaliatory-strikes-on-ukrainian-military-sites-outrageous-1121038320.html Biden Calls Russia's Retaliatory Strikes on Ukrainian Military Sites 'Outrageous' Biden Calls Russia's Retaliatory Strikes on Ukrainian Military Sites 'Outrageous' Sputnik International The Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday that the Russian armed forces have struck the locations of Ukraine's long-range weapons systems during the week in response to Kiev's strikes deep into Russian territory. 2024-11-29T05:52+0000 2024-11-29T05:52+0000 2024-11-29T05:52+0000 world russia-nato showdown us joe biden russia ukrainian crisis pentagon army tactical missile system (atacms) russia's new oreshnik ballistic missile us arms for ukraine https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/09/1a/1120292504_0:0:3068:1727_1920x0_80_0_0_c0327a468c614a18a0138448094fedb9.jpg The Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday that the Russian armed forces have struck the locations of Ukraine's long-range weapons systems during the week in response to Kiev's strikes deep into Russian territory. "This attack is outrageous and serves as yet another reminder of the urgency and importance of supporting the Ukrainian people in their defense against [Russia]," The White House quoted Biden as saying. The president also once again stated that Washington will continue delivering military assistance to Ukraine, adding that the next batch is "underway." The Biden administration is reportedly preparing a $725 million assistance package for Ukraine. The package is expected to include a variety of anti-tank weapons from US stockpiles, including land mines, drones, Stinger missiles, and ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS). Pentagon press secretary Pat Ryder has confirmed that the Biden administration had authorized Kiev to use long-range US-supplied missiles, such as ATACMS, to strike deep into Russian territory. He said that the attacks were focused on the western Russian region of Kursk. Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine had struck targets in the Kursk and Bryansk regions on November 19, using ATACMS missiles and UK-supplied Storm Shadows. He said Russia successfully test-fired an Oreshnik ballistic missile on November 21, hitting a Ukrainian defense industry complex in the city of Dnepropetrovsk. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241128/russia-target-ukraines-western-weapons-in-response-to-kievs-strikes-deep-into-its-territory-1121035740.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20241128/oreshnik-missile-putin-unveils-new-details-of-its-destructive-power-1121031302.html russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia's special military operation, ukraine crisis, russia-nato showdown, us arms for ukraine, ukraine conflict, atacms biden https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/fifth-case-of-new-mpox-strain-detected-in-uk---health-agency-1121042971.html Fifth Case of New Mpox Strain Detected in UK - Health Agency Fifth Case of New Mpox Strain Detected in UK - Health Agency Sputnik International Another case of the new mpox strain, Clade lb mpox, has been detected in the United Kingdom, bringing the total number of infections to five, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said on Friday. 2024-11-29T13:06+0000 2024-11-29T13:06+0000 2024-11-29T13:06+0000 beyond politics world health organization (who) england united kingdom (uk) https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/02/10/1107500798_0:96:3072:1824_1920x0_80_0_0_c11287b8fd9f97aab0686be43719921f.jpg "A new case of Clade Ib mpox has been detected in England This is the fifth case of Clade Ib mpox confirmed in England in recent weeks," the UKHSA said in a statement released by the government. The new case was detected in the city of Leeds in an individual who had recently returned from Uganda. The previous four cases were from the same household and have now fully recovered, the agency said, adding that there was no connection with the new case. The agency said the risk to the UK population was low, while some occasional imported cases may still occur. Clade Ib mpox has been widespread in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya in recent months. Imported cases have been detected in Canada, Sweden, India, Thailand and Germany. Mpox is a rare infectious disease that can spread between people. It is usually a mild disease that most people recover from within a few weeks, but some may develop complications. The initial symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, enlarged lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion. A rash may develop, often starting on the face and then spreading to other parts of the body. The World Health Organization declared the mpox outbreak in Africa a public health emergency of international concern in August. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241120/russia-discovers-new-way-to-diagnose-diabetic-foot-syndrome-1120943341.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240816/first-reported-case-of-mpox-outside-of-africa-in-sweden-who-declares-a-global-emergency-1119787757.html england united kingdom (uk) Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International mpox strain, new disease, medicine, strain mpox africa, medicine virus Yunnan Baiyao, a renowned traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) brand, is attending the second China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing from Nov. 26 to 30. Yunnan Baiyao's booth at the second China International Supply Chain Expo [Photo/China.org.cn] At the expo, the company is showcasing its integrated supply chain innovations, cutting-edge pharmaceutical R&D, and digital health solutions, drawing wide attention from global businesses and scholars. People visit Yunnan Baiyao's booth at the second China International Supply Chain Expo. [Photo/China.org.cn] The expo is a platform to foster connections across supply chains, and promote collaboration between companies, enabling cross-industry and international partnerships, the company's representative told China.org.cn. Yunnan Baiyao's booth at the second China International Supply Chain Expo [Photo/China.org.cn] The event allows exhibitors to identify global suppliers, enhance supply chain efficiency and reliability, and strengthen international trade and collaboration while boosting brand visibility and market influence, said the representative. Yunnan Baiyao's booth at the second China International Supply Chain Expo [Photo/China.org.cn] During the expo, Yunnan Baiyao also participated in a health-themed discussion on TCM inheritance and innovation, and issued a joint initiative to advance coordinated development of the health industry. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/germany-proposes-nato-redeploys-patriot-systems-in-poland-1121037355.html Germany Proposes NATO Redeploys Patriot Systems in Poland Germany Proposes NATO Redeploys Patriot Systems in Poland Sputnik International Germany has proposed that NATO redeploy Patriot air defense systems to Poland early next year to protect arms supplies to Ukraine, the German Defense Ministry said on Thursday. 2024-11-29T01:24+0000 2024-11-29T01:24+0000 2024-11-29T03:24+0000 military russia-nato showdown nato forces nato poland ukraine boris pistorius wladyslaw kosiniak-kamysz germany german defense ministry https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/08/0d/1119747204_0:89:3326:1960_1920x0_80_0_0_21782561bcffd83bf0e19ec06a96baab.jpg "The Federal Defense Ministry proposed that NATO send Patriot units to Poland in the beginning of the year," the ministry said in a statement, noting that the systems could be deployed for up to six months. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius specified that the deployment will protect a logistical hub in Poland, ensuring security of vehicles, weapons and ammunition supplies to Ukraine. Patriot air defense systems have already been deployed in Poland from January-November 2023 to protect the country's airspace after a Ukrainian missile fell in the country in November 2022, killing two people. Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said he thanked Germany for its commitment to Poland's security in a phone conversation with his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius. Russia believes that arms supplies to Ukraine hinder the settlement in Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the United States and NATO were directly involved in the conflict. The Kremlin warned that the West would only escalate the conflict by pumping Ukraine with weapons. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241128/france-eyes-developing-advanced-ballistic-missile-with-over-1000-km-range-due-to-oreshnik-fears-1121030788.html poland ukraine germany Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International patriot in poland, germany sends weapons to poland, nato weapons in poland, nato missiles target russia, nato puches for ww3 https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/hamas-discusses-concessions-to-israel-including-control-of-philadelphi-corridor---reports-1121039664.html Hamas Discusses Concessions to Israel, Including Control of Philadelphi Corridor - Reports Hamas Discusses Concessions to Israel, Including Control of Philadelphi Corridor - Reports Sputnik International Leaders of Palestinian movement Hamas are discussing possible concessions they could make if Israel showed a genuine interest in ending the war and withdrawing from the Gaza Strip, the New York Times newspaper reported, citing people familiar with the matter. 2024-11-29T07:32+0000 2024-11-29T07:32+0000 2024-11-29T07:32+0000 world palestine-israel conflict israeli-palestinian conflict middle east gaza strip israel defense forces (idf) hamas https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0a/12/1120596900_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_2c28b4fc9d2115d3fee8d0746d9951f7.jpg Hamas believes that Israel is demanding total surrender, which the movement continues to reject, the newspaper reported. One of Hamas' proposals could reportedly allow Israel to maintain a presence in the border region between Egypt and Gaza, also known as the Philadelphi Corridor. However, the movement's officials have publicly rejected any long-term Israeli control over the area. On October 7, 2023, Israel was subjected to an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. In addition, Palestinian movement Hamas fighters infiltrated the border areas, opened fire on the military and civilians and took hostages. Israeli authorities say that about 1,200 people were killed during the raid. The IDF launched Operation Iron Swords in Gaza and announced a complete blockade of the enclave. The death toll from the Israeli attacks has surpassed 44,300, according to local health authorities. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241127/ceasefire-deal-netanyahus-focus-on-iran-could-mean-serious-regional-war-if-backed-by-us-1121023849.html gaza strip Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International mideast conflict, mideast crisis, middle east war, palestie-israel conflict, gaza war, gaza crisis https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/lavrov-accuses-unesco-chief-of-role-in-information-war-on-russia-1121042461.html Lavrov Accuses UNESCO Chief of Role in Information War on Russia Lavrov Accuses UNESCO Chief of Role in Information War on Russia Sputnik International Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay on Friday of having a role in the West's information war against Russia after the UN agency's chief failed to mention murdered Russian journalists in her annual report on journalist safety. 2024-11-29T12:43+0000 2024-11-29T12:43+0000 2024-11-29T12:43+0000 world russia-nato showdown sergey lavrov russia unesco ukrainian crisis the united nations (un) rostislav zhuravlev https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0b/02/1120756223_0:0:2598:1461_1920x0_80_0_0_16f7d7fbe92863b714f3d4e4d7c3ed63.jpg "This report mentions none of the well-known facts of the deaths of Russian journalists, which makes Mrs Azoulay, director-general of UNESCO, a direct accomplice in the information war against the Russia, against the truth," Lavrov said during an ambassadorial roundtable on Ukraine. Lavrov accused the West of running an aggressive information campaign against Russia and the global majority majority, which pursues its independent domestic and foreign policies. The UNESCO chief published her 2022-2023 report on the impunity for crimes against journalists on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists last week. It omitted several cases of deaths and injuries among Russian journalists reported in the line of duty, including the killing of RIA Novosti correspondent Rostislav Zhuravlev in a Ukrainian shelling in July 2023. Rossiya Segodnya international media group demanded in a letter to Azoulay that UNESCO stop covering up violations of the rights of Russian journalists. Similar letters were sent by the Russian Union of Journalists and the VGTRK and RT broadcasters. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/russian-forces-liberate-two-key-settlements-in-donetsk-region-and-advance-westward-1121041337.html russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International unesco information war, information war against russia, psyhchological warfare, psy ops, lies https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/macron-grants-netanyahu-immunity-from-icc-warrant-for-role-in-lebanon-ceasefire-talks---report-1121043277.html Macron Grants Netanyahu Immunity From ICC Warrant for Role in Lebanon Ceasefire Talks - Report Macron Grants Netanyahu Immunity From ICC Warrant for Role in Lebanon Ceasefire Talks - Report Sputnik International French President Emmanuel Macron has guaranteed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immunity from the International Criminal Court (ICC)'s arrest warrant in exchange for a role in ceasefire talks in Lebanon, Le Point news magazine reported on Friday. 2024-11-29T14:21+0000 2024-11-29T14:21+0000 2024-11-29T14:21+0000 world benjamin netanyahu emmanuel macron yoav gallant lebanon france israel international criminal court (icc) french foreign ministry https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105987/72/1059877273_0:0:3949:2222_1920x0_80_0_0_17d47b9f282bd9c8df8c1df47ba47af9.jpg "This was the price France had to pay for participation in the agreement on Lebanon. For Paris to be able to play its role in this, Emmanuel Macron had to take three steps back through his foreign ministry by talking about diplomatic immunity," an Israeli source told the news outlet. The French Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that France would not be able to execute the ICC arrest warrant against Netanyahu because he had immunity as a head of state that was not part to the ICC's Rome Statute. Netanyahu pressed Macron in a telephone conversation last week to defy the ICC's decision, threatening to bar France from ceasefire talks in Lebanon, RMC radio reported. Le Point reported that the two leaders agreed on ceasefire details during that conversation. Netanyahu promised to "give France, along with the United States, an important role in the committee to monitor the implementation of UN Resolution 1701." The ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on November 21, citing war crimes committed in the Gaza Strip. Belgium, the Netherlands, Ireland and others pledged to abide by the ruling. Israel's security cabinet approved a US-brokered agreement with Lebanon on Tuesday night. Netanyahu explained that the ceasefire was needed to focus on the alleged Iranian threat and isolate Hamas in the Gaza Strip. He emphasized that Israel would resume hostilities if Lebanon's Hezbollah violated the truce. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241124/senator-graham-threatens-allies-with-sanctions-if-they-assist-icc-in-arresting-netanyahu-1120983186.html lebanon france israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International emmanuel macron, benjamin netanyahu, france, israel, israel-lebanon peace talks, icc, icc arrest warrant https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/nuclear-arms-race-with-russia-and-china-will-come-at-cost-for-us--economist--1121043834.html Nuclear Arms Race With Russia and China Will Come at Cost for US Economist Nuclear Arms Race With Russia and China Will Come at Cost for US Economist Sputnik International Despite kicking off nuclear arms modernization, the US is still struggling to catch up with Russia and China, according to Dmitry Stefanovich of the Moscow-based Institute of World Economy and International Relations with the Russian Academy of Sciences. 2024-11-29T15:57+0000 2024-11-29T15:57+0000 2024-11-29T15:57+0000 military opinion russia china institute of world economy and international relations us us economy nuclear nuclear warhead nuclear weapons https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/06/1e/1119185551_0:0:3222:1813_1920x0_80_0_0_4c65e1cbbb851acd81720540bf50c5b8.jpg "Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, [the US] had been engaged in everything, but the development and production of [nuclear] munitions. And, accordingly, to resume the process now is a very, very difficult task, which they are accomplishing at huge costs and with a significant disruption of deadlines," Stefanovich tells Sputnik. By contrast, Russia and China never stopped developing their respective nuclear and strategic missiles programs, he continues. If the US starts a nuclear race in earnest, the Russians and Chinese would be capable of immediately ramping up production, the pundit explains. The potential arms race would put a burden on the US economy, according to the expert. On November 29, Sputnik reviewed a report by the Russian think tank Roscongress Foundation that warned that the pace of US nuclear weapons modernization is accelerating, meaning Washington has de facto launched an arms race against Russia and China. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/is-the-us-fueling-a-new-nuclear-arms-race-1121042765.html russia china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova us nuclear modernization, us nuclear weapons, us nuclear arms race with russia and china, us nuclear deterrent, strategic missiles, nuclear missiles, us nuclear stockpiles, legacy nuclear weapons, us economy https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/russia-decries-aleppo-situation-as-violation-of-syrias-sovereignty-1121041484.html Russia Decries Aleppo Situation as Violation of Syrias Sovereignty Russia Decries Aleppo Situation as Violation of Syrias Sovereignty Sputnik International The situation in Aleppo is an encroachment on the sovereignty of Syria, and Russia stands for restoring order in the region, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday. 2024-11-29T11:22+0000 2024-11-29T11:22+0000 2024-11-29T13:03+0000 world syria russia collective security treaty organization (csto) russia-nato showdown ukrainian crisis japan nato dmitry peskov vladimir putin https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0b/16/1120965309_0:138:3151:1910_1920x0_80_0_0_4b440a71fa6aff4b9de47512708c5793.jpg On Thursday, the Syrian Defense Ministry said that the Syrian armed forces responded to the terrorist attack in the provinces of Aleppo and Idlib, where the militants suffered heavy losses in equipment and manpower.On Retaliatory Strikes on Ukraine's Military Facilities The strikes on Ukrainian defense industry facilities are carried out in line with Russia's response to US-made missile strikes on Russian territory, the spokesman said.Washington's decision to allow Kiev to use US missiles to strike deep into territory of Russia are irresponsible, he added.On Japan's Unfriendly ActionsTokyo's unfriendly actions completely hinder negotiations on a peace treaty between Russia and Japan, Peskov said.Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba earlier said that despite the difficult relations between Japan and Russia, Tokyo still adheres to the course of resolving the territorial problem and concluding a peace treaty.It was Japan, not Russia, that initiated the introduction of economic restrictions in bilateral relations, the official noted.On Western Peacekeepers in UkraineThe deployment of peacekeepers is possible only with the consent of the parties to the conflict, Dmitry Peskov said, commenting on reports about NATO's intentions to deploy the so-called "peacekeeping contingent" in Ukraine.Earlier, Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) said that the West plans deploy "peacekeeping forces" about 100,000 strong to restore Ukraine's combat capability.In order to reach the trajectory of the settlement in Ukraine, it is necessary to solve the root causes of the conflict, this issue is deeper than the direction of the peacekeeping mission, Peskov said, adding that Russia has clear parameters for the settlement of the Ukrainian issue.On Putin's Visit to KazakhstanThe state visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Kazakhstan earlier this week was very productive, Kremlin spokesman emphasized.On Elections in RomaniaRussia has not interfered and does not intend to interfere in the electoral processes in Romania, all accusations are groundless, Kremlin spokesman pointed out.By accusing Russia of meddling in elections, Bucharest is following the Western trend of blaming Moscow for everything, the official added. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241128/russia-target-ukraines-western-weapons-in-response-to-kievs-strikes-deep-into-its-territory-1121035740.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/russian-intel-warns-nato-plans-to-freeze-conflict-and-occupy-ukraine-under-peacekeeping-pretext-1121040605.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20241128/csto-calls-to-end-mideast-violence-prevent-space-arms-race-fight-terrorism-in-final-declaration-1121034289.html syria russia japan ukraine romania Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia-nato showdown, ukraine crisis, syria civil war, putin kazakhstan, elections in romania, us arms for ukraine, mideast crisis, mideast conflict https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/russia-destroyed-intercepted-47-ukrainian-drones-overnight--1121037544.html Russia Destroyed, Intercepted 47 Ukrainian Drones Overnight Russia Destroyed, Intercepted 47 Ukrainian Drones Overnight Sputnik International This night, Russian air defenses destroyed and intercepted 47 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions, the Defense Ministry said in a statement. 2024-11-29T05:06+0000 2024-11-29T05:06+0000 2024-11-29T05:06+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russian defense ministry russian armed forces russian army ukrainian drone attacks on russia ukrainian crisis https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/04/1113929892_0:189:2970:1860_1920x0_80_0_0_899e5c29b4a22d171d3f551638c3b356.jpg "This past night, during an attempt by the Kiev regime to carry out a terrorist attack using unmanned aerial vehicles on targets on the territory of the Russian Federation, air defense systems on duty destroyed and intercepted 47 Ukrainian aircraft-type UAVs," the ministry said. It said 29 drones were shot down over the Rostov Region, eight over the Krasnodar Territory, three over the territories of the Belgorod, Bryansk and Voronezh regions each and one over Crimea.Ukraine has been sending drones and missiles into Russia almost daily since it launched its counteroffensive in early June 2023. The United Nations said in August last year, following a botched drone strike on Moscow, that it did not want to see any targeting of civilian infrastructure. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241128/captured-uk-mercenary-calls-ukraines-kursk-offensive-a-mistake-1121036639.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russian armed forces, ukrainian crisis, russian army, ukraine drone terrorism, ukrainian drone attacks on russian territory https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/russian-defense-minister-arrives-in-north-korea-on-official-visit-1121037735.html Russian Defense Minister Arrives in North Korea on Official Visit Russian Defense Minister Arrives in North Korea on Official Visit Sputnik International PYONGYANG (Sputnik) - Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov has arrived in North Korea for an official visit, the Russian ministry said on Friday. 2024-11-29T05:20+0000 2024-11-29T05:20+0000 2024-11-29T05:48+0000 russia north korea andrei belousov world russian defense ministry russian ministry of defense https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/05/0c/1118401968_0:38:3072:1766_1920x0_80_0_0_5615ed6037757d3b6e486789c8220d1d.jpg "During the official visit of the Russian defense minister to North Korea, a number of bilateral meetings with representatives of the military and military-political leadership of the republic are planned," the ministry said in a statement.An official welcome ceremony for the Russian delegation, featuring an honor guard of the Korean Peoples Army, took place at Sunan International Airport, located in the suburbs of Pyongyang. At the foot of the aircrafts stairs, the head of the Russian defense delegation was greeted by North Koreas Minister of Defense, General of the Army No Kwang Chol.In June, Russia and North Korea signed the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. According to Article 4 of the agreement, should one of the parties be subjected to an armed aggression by any state or a group of states and find itself in a state of conflict, the other party shall immediately provide military and other forms of assistance with all available means in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter and in conformity with Russian and North Korean laws. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241121/north-korea-russia-sign-document-on-trade-technical-cooperation---state-media-1120950579.html russia north korea Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia-north korea security framework, russia-north korea partnership, russian-korean treaty, belousov north korea https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/russian-forces-liberate-two-key-settlements-in-donetsk-region-and-advance-westward-1121041337.html Russian Forces Liberate Two Key Settlements in Donetsk Region and Advance Westward Russian Forces Liberate Two Key Settlements in Donetsk Region and Advance Westward Sputnik International The Russian military has liberated two settlements in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), the Ministry of Defense has reported. 2024-11-29T11:33+0000 2024-11-29T11:33+0000 2024-11-29T11:33+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russian army russian armed forces ukrainian crisis russia-nato showdown ukraine https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0a/1c/1120703151_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_afc92054bd16b5a5551a67420131a583.jpg The Russian military has liberated two settlements in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), the Ministry of Defense has reported."Units of the Vostok Battlegroup, as a result of active operations, liberated the settlement of Razdolnoye," the report on the progress of the special military operation states.In addition, units of the Central Battlegroup have captured the village of Vorovskoye.Furthermore, between November 23 and 29, Russian forces launched a massive series of 32 group strikes using precision weapons and strike drones against Ukrainian defense industry enterprises and the energy infrastructure that supports them. The targets also included military airfield infrastructure, assembly and storage areas for aerial and naval drones, arsenals, and the locations of Ukrainian military units, foreign instructors, technical specialists, and mercenaries.Two launchers with experimental Grom-2 ballistic missiles, as well as a launcher and transport-loading vehicle for Ukraine's Neptune anti-ship missile system, were also destroyed.Other developments include:The Tsentr Battlegroup repelled 53 Ukrainian counterattacks, inflicting heavy losses on Ukrainian forces. Over the course of the week, the group destroyed more than 2,910 Ukrainian soldiers, two tanks, and various military vehicles, including seven armored vehicles, 31 field artillery pieces, and 27 trucks. The group targeted seven mechanized brigades, an infantry brigade, two ranger brigades, a marine brigade, three territorial defense brigades, and a national guard brigade.The Zapad Battlegroup captured the settlement of Kopanki in the Kharkov region and repelled 28 Ukrainian counterattacks. Ukrainian losses included over 3,150 soldiers, two tanks, 13 armored vehicles (including three US-made M113 APCs), 28 trucks, and 18 artillery pieces, including six 155mm NATO-made howitzers. Additionally, 10 electronic warfare stations and 21 ammunition depots were destroyed. The battlegroup's operations targeted five mechanized brigades, one air assault brigade, a marine brigade, two territorial defense brigades, and a national guard brigade.The Sever Battlegroup inflicted significant losses on Ukrainian forces, including up to 2,420 soldiers and 10 tanks. Other losses included 32 armored vehicles, 105 trucks, three HIMARS rocket systems, two US-made MLRS, and 20 artillery pieces. The group continued its operations in Kursk, striking two tank brigades, five mechanized brigades, two assault landing brigades, and multiple territorial defense and marine brigades. The group's efforts in the Kharkov direction further disrupted Ukrainian positions.The Yug Battlegroup advanced to more advantageous positions, destroying forces from four mechanized brigades, a motorized infantry brigade, a mountain assault brigade, two airborne brigades, and other Ukrainian units. The group repelled eight Ukrainian counterattacks, resulting in losses of over 2,790 soldiers, five armored vehicles, 19 trucks, and 10 artillery pieces, including eight NATO-produced pieces. Additionally, eight ammunition depots were destroyed during the week.The Vostok Battlegroup inflicted losses on Ukrainian formations, including up to 960 soldiers, six tanks (two of which were Leopard models), and 14 artillery pieces. The group also repelled eight counterattacks from Ukrainian assault groups. Targets included two mechanized brigades, a mountain assault brigade, an artillery brigade, and six territorial defense brigades.The Dnepr Battlegroup inflicted losses on Ukrainian forces, including up to 390 soldiers, five artillery pieces (including three US-made M777 howitzers), and 23 vehicles. The group's operations targeted two mechanized brigades, a motorized infantry brigade, four territorial defense brigades, and a national guard brigade. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/russian-intel-warns-nato-plans-to-freeze-conflict-and-occupy-ukraine-under-peacekeeping-pretext-1121040605.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/biden-calls-russias-retaliatory-strikes-on-ukrainian-military-sites-outrageous-1121038320.html ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia's special military operation, ukraine crisis, russia-nato showdown, ukraine conflict, russian offensive ukraine, russian offensive https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/russian-specialists-destroy-300-atacms-submunitions-in-kursk-region-in-past-day-1121039325.html Russian Specialists Destroy 300 ATACMS Submunitions in Kursk Region in Past Day Russian Specialists Destroy 300 ATACMS Submunitions in Kursk Region in Past Day Sputnik International Members of a bomb disposal squad of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations have discovered and destroyed 300 submunitions 74 of the US-made ATACMS missile system in Russias Kursk Region in the past day, the ministry told Sputnik on Friday. 2024-11-29T07:18+0000 2024-11-29T07:18+0000 2024-11-29T07:18+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russia-nato showdown ukrainian crisis army tactical missile system (atacms) russian defense ministry kursk https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/07/06/1119259859_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_f2a89ba11d4382a9a42d3380917ee86a.jpg "In the past day, specialists from the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations have discovered and destroyed 300 submunitions 74 of the US-made ATACMS missile. In just one week, deminers managed to process 11 requests. Among the explosive objects destroyed were combat units of drones, mines, and other weapons used by enemy forces," the ministry said. The ministry said that drones were also used for surveying territories, adding that explosive objects cannot be removed, they are destroyed on the spot. In such cases, specialists remotely set the charges, the authority said. According to the ministry, more than 1,480 explosive objects have been defused since early August. Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised speech that Ukraine had fired US-supplied ATACMS missiles and the UK's Storm Shadows at facilities in the Kursk and Bryansk regions. In response, Russia launched a strike against a defense industry facility, the Yuzhmash plant, in Dnepropetrovsk (Dnipro) on November 21, using its newest medium-range missile, the Oreshnik. Russia has already launched mass production of the Oreshnik missile, but ultimately the means of destruction will be chosen depending on the nature of the targets selected for destruction and the threats created for Russia, Putin said on Thursday. Ukrainian forces launched an offensive in the Kursk Region on August 6. Their advance was halted, Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov said, adding that Russia's operation in the region would be completed by defeating the enemy and reaching the border. The Russian Defense Ministry said Thursday that in total, Ukraine had lost over 36,260 servicepeople and 223 tanks during the offensive. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/russias-use-of-oreshnik-missile-a-grave-warning-to-nato-amid-danger-of-world-war---analysts--1120965488.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia' special military operation, ukraine crisis, ukraine conflict, russia-nato showdown, us arms for ukraine, atacms subminition, cluster munitions A Chinese defense spokesperson on Thursday urged the immediate withdrawal of the U.S. Typhon mid-range missile system from the Philippines. Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to a media query on the recent news that the Philippines is considering purchasing the missile system from the United States. China has repeatedly expressed its firm opposition to the U.S. deployment of mid-range missile system in the Philippines, Wu said. Calling Typhon "an offensive weapon," Wu said the Philippines' acceptance of the U.S. deployment has intensified geopolitical confrontation and escalated tensions in the region. This is by no means solely a matter for the Philippines; it concerns the common security of all countries in the region, Wu said. "History and reality have repeatedly proven that where there are U.S. weapons deployed, there will be a higher risk of conflicts," he said. "We urge the relevant parties to withdraw the Typhon mid-range missile system immediately," he said, stressing that if the United States and the Philippines insist on continuing down the wrong path, the Chinese side will take resolute countermeasures. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/syrian-army-launches-counteroffensive-in-aleppo-idlib-to-repel-militant-attacks---reports-1121038483.html Syrian Army Launches Counteroffensive in Aleppo, Idlib to Repel Militant Attacks - Reports Syrian Army Launches Counteroffensive in Aleppo, Idlib to Repel Militant Attacks - Reports Sputnik International MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Syrian army, having begun to repel the militants' attack, is conducting a counteroffensive against the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham* group (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra*) in Aleppo and Idlib, the Al-Mayadeen broadcaster reported. 2024-11-29T06:00+0000 2024-11-29T06:00+0000 2024-11-29T06:10+0000 world syria syrian defense ministry middle east hayat tahrir al-sham iran https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/04/1c/1118165104_0:126:3197:1924_1920x0_80_0_0_a82c8b8b3f585ae253342541c3f8ab09.jpg On Thursday, deputy head of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria, Captain 1st Rank Oleg Ignasyuk, said militants associated with al-Nusra attacked the area controlled by the Syrian government in the provinces of Aleppo and Idlib on November 27, and at least 400 militants were killed. Earlier, the Syrian Defense Ministry said the government army had engaged terrorists who had attacked the provinces of Aleppo and Idlib last Wednesday. In violation of the deescalation agreement, groups belonging to the terrorist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham attacked villages, settlements, and military positions in Aleppo and Idlib. According to the ministry, the army responded to the attack, and the terrorists suffered losses in manpower and equipment. An armed conflict has been ongoing in Syria since 2011. Separate groups of terrorists continue to operate in the desert areas of northern and northeastern Syria after the army liberated most of the country. Terrorists periodically carry out raids on civilian and military vehicles on highways and terrorize residents of remote villages. The Syrian army continues active targeted operations to eliminate the remaining militant groups.Terrorist Actions in Syria Part of US Plan to Destabilize West Asia - Iranian Ministry Recent actions of terrorist groups in Syria are part of the plan of Tel Aviv and Washington to destabilize the West Asian region, as well as a gross violation of the Astana process agreements, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said.*banned in Russia as terrorist organization https://sputnikglobe.com/20240811/syria-to-us-occupation-forces-get-out-1119722468.html syria iran Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International mideast war, islamist offensive syria, syrian counteroffensive, civil war in syria, hayat tahrir al-sham syria, syria jihadists https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/us-military-supplier-accuses-ukraines-police-and-ministry-of-defense-of-corruption--1121044516.html US Military Supplier Accuses Ukraine's Police and Ministry of Defense of Corruption US Military Supplier Accuses Ukraine's Police and Ministry of Defense of Corruption Sputnik International Sinclair & Wilde, which supplies military uniforms to Ukraine, has accused the country's National Police and Ministry of Defense of corruption and extortion over unpaid equipment. The company made the claim in an open letter posted by BGD Legal & Consulting, its official representative. 2024-11-29T18:23+0000 2024-11-29T18:23+0000 2024-11-29T18:23+0000 americas ukraine us ministry of defense kiev national police https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/102111/34/1021113419_0:215:2878:1834_1920x0_80_0_0_2095709bb127a5d71f695c55b14f82b0.jpg "Sinclair & Wilde categorically denies the false and baseless claims made in the recently released video by the National Police Force of Ukraine [which alleges illegitimate price hikes by the US firm]. It is clear that the release of this story is an attempt by the National Police Force to cover up their own internal corruption and the corruption of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine in its continued attempts to deny payment to Sinclair & Wilde after it repeatedly refused to pay bribes requested of it," the letter states.Sinclair & Wilde signed five contracts with Ukraine's Ministry of Defense for military uniforms. The company reportedly agreed to delay a $12.5 million payment on the fifth contract until the equipment was delivered. However, Ukraine purportedly later refused to pay both the fifth contract and the outstanding debt from the first one, despite receiving the goods."Throughout 2023, multiple individuals including subjects of US and Ukrainian investigations solicited bribes from Sinclair & Wilde to secure payment of the remaining $14.5 million owed to it," the letter continues.The company also reported informing the US Embassy in Kiev, as well as US and Ukrainian authorities, about "the solicitation of bribes and apparent MOD corruption." Sinclair & Wilde claims that the National Police went on to leak confidential information about the case, including the identities of undercover witnesses. The company now alleges that the lives and safety of these sources are at risk and "US authorities have refused to continue working with the National Police." https://sputnikglobe.com/20241019/mission-impossible-ukraine-would-have-to-beat-corruption-to-even-have-a-shot-at-nato-membership-1120604118.html americas ukraine kiev Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukraine, corruption, ukrainian national police, ukrainian ministry of defense, foreign aid to ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/us-plans-to-spend-140bln-to-upgrade-nuclear-arsenal-roscongress-reveals-1121040896.html US Plans to Spend $140bln to Upgrade Nuclear Arsenal, Roscongress Reveals US Plans to Spend $140bln to Upgrade Nuclear Arsenal, Roscongress Reveals Sputnik International The US upgrades its nuclear triad, which includes submarines carrying nuclear warheads, missiles, and strategic bombers, according to a report by the Roscongress Foundation obtained by Sputnik. 2024-11-29T10:10+0000 2024-11-29T10:10+0000 2024-11-29T10:10+0000 world nuclear triad nuclear deterrence us hegemony trident us navy joe biden us https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/06/17/1119069040_0:69:2000:1194_1920x0_80_0_0_6b125728ebcc3de2195476b8dba929b8.jpg "Development of the new LGM-35 Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile [ICBM], formerly known as the Ground-based Strategic Deterrent [GBSD], is ongoing. It will replace the existing Minuteman III ICBMs in their entirety. Their total number would remain unchanged at 400 for deployment, with another 259 missiles used by the Air Force for continuing tests. For fiscal year 2025, the administration of US President Joe Biden has requested $3.7 billion for research and development for Sentinel," the report read. Sentinel is expected to enter service in the 2030s, several years later than scheduled, and be deployed until the 2070s, the foundation said, adding that the total cost of the ICBM's development has already surpassed first estimates by 81% and is expected to amount to over $140 billion. The new submarines are expected to be equipped with Trident II submarine missiles, which will complete the second phase of life extension to ensure serviceability and reliability throughout the deployment of Columbias. The modernization of Trident's D5LE and D5LE2 life-extended versions is included in the Navy's 2025 budget request at an estimated cost of $2.5 billion. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241128/russia-will-not-allow-kiev-to-obtain-nuclear-weapons---putin-1121034893.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20241123/how-russias-icbm-design-school-laid-the-groundwork-for-the-oreshnik-hypersonic-ballistic-missile-1120980603.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us nuclear deterrence, us nuclear hegemony, us nukes, us nuclear weaponry, us nukes https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/us-plans-to-spend-around-138bln-on-upgrades-for-nuclear-arsenal-by-2049---roscongress-1121037218.html US Plans to Spend Around $138Bln on Upgrades for Nuclear Arsenal by 2049 - Roscongress US Plans to Spend Around $138Bln on Upgrades for Nuclear Arsenal by 2049 - Roscongress Sputnik International The US plans to spend around $138 billion on the modernization of its nuclear arsenal by 2049, which "in fact" signals the beginning of an arms race, according to a report by the Roscongress Foundation obtained by Sputnik. 2024-11-29T00:16+0000 2024-11-29T00:16+0000 2024-11-29T03:16+0000 military us russia china sputnik pentagon department of energy (doe) nuclear warhead nuclear weapons us nuclear weapons https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101472/50/1014725029_0:420:4203:2784_1920x0_80_0_0_2cfca4d0c715ae1eae5ea7dc2d9652f6.jpg "The pace of modernization of the US nuclear arsenal is accelerating. In 2023, the Pentagon received more than 200 upgraded nuclear warheads, the largest annual delivery since the end of the Cold War. The United States plans to spend about $138 billion on nuclear warhead modernization through the Department of Energy between fiscal years 2024 and 2049," the report said. Another $500 billion is expected to be spent on stockpile management, the foundation said, adding that the number of people employed by the nuclear modernization program has increased by more than 70 percent over the past decade. "The implementation of large-scale programs by the US to modernize nuclear warheads, replace nuclear weapons carriers, and increase the production capacity of enterprises for research and development of nuclear weapons in fact opens an arms race with Russia and China," the report said. As of 2020, the average age of US nuclear warheads was 27.5 years, which is the highest figure for the reported history of Washington's nuclear arsenal, Roscongress also said, adding, however, that since 2020, the US Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration has not disclosed the age of the stockpiled nuclear munitions. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241121/china-slams-us-nuclear-policy-as-outdated-and-driven-by-strategic-superiority-1120949887.html russia china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us nuclear arsenal, nuclear arsenal update, us russia china arms race, us nuclear warheads, us plans for nuclear war https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/whistleblower-explains-us-federal-trade-commissions-microsoft-probe-1121038955.html Whistleblower Explains US Federal Trade Commissions Microsoft Probe Whistleblower Explains US Federal Trade Commissions Microsoft Probe Sputnik International The investigation, approved by Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan, was launched as the clock ticks down on Donald Trump entering office. 2024-11-29T12:07+0000 2024-11-29T12:07+0000 2024-11-29T12:07+0000 analysis us microsoft investigation donald trump mark zuckerberg mar-a-lago federal trade commission (ftc) google white house https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107830/84/1078308472_0:0:3641:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_58b9960977b3086c3d1f07336cf568df.jpg This is clearly a regulation play into Microsofts AI dealings, Zach Vorhies, a former senior software engineer at YouTube and Google-turned-whistleblower, told Sputnik when commenting on a decision by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the countrys top antitrust watchdog, to launch an investigation into the tech giant.The FTC is reportedly investigating whether Microsoft has violated antitrust laws in multiple segments of its wide-ranging businesses related to cloud computing, software licensing, cybersecurity tools and AI products. The probe was announced less than two months before Donald Trumps return to the White House.This is a challenge that is compounded by the open nature of foundational AI research, such as Googles pivotal 2017 paper, Attention is All You Need, which laid the groundwork for modern AI chatbots. He also weighed in on Meta CEO Mark Zuckerbergs recent face-to-face with President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence. Vorhies said the meeting aligns logically with the developments related to Meta*s decision to cut off access to mainstream media content, which played a decisive role in the election outcome, effectively favoring Trump.*banned for extremism in Russia https://sputnikglobe.com/20240828/macron-set-up-telegram-ceo-at-us-deep-states-behest-ahead-of-2024-vote--wall-street-analyst-1119937507.html mar-a-lago Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg us federal trade commission, us federal trade commission's investigation into microsoft, antitrust law, tech giant, meta ceo mark zuckerbergs recent face-to-face with us president-elect donald trump There might be something to the naming of The Greek Freak. In 2024, at the age of seven, the son of Captaintreacherous - Thirty X posted his best season since his stakes-winning sophomore campaign in 2020 where he raced against the likes of Tall Dark Stranger and Cattlewash. This past July, The Greek Freak sped to a new lifetime mark of 1:48.4 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and his seasonal earnings sit just shy of six figures something only accomplished previously during that three-year-old year. Last seen in pari-mutuel action on Oct. 5, The Greek Freak returned to the racetrack during the session of qualifiers on Friday, Nov. 29 at Mohawk and once again found the wire first. Tyler Jones guided the Garry Merner trainee to a front-stepping score in 1:56.2 over the track listed with a one-second variant and temperatures hovering around the freezing mark. He was nearly four lengths better than Delitfulcatherin N, driven by a birthday-celebrating Louis-Philippe Roy, with Rockin N Talkin next to cross the wire for driver James MacDonald. Gino Toscani of Mount Hope, Ont. owns The Greek Freak, a 17-time winner with more than $530,000 in career purses. The full video stream is available below. For results from the qualifying session, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park (Qualifiers). (Standardbred Canada) The ASEAN-China Forum 2024 was held in Hong Kong on Thursday, with participants brainstorming on such issues as the development of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), its ties with China as well as joint efforts to deal with regional challenges. ASEAN is a priority for China's neighborhood diplomacy and a key region for Belt and Road cooperation, said Cui Jianchun, commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, while addressing the opening ceremony of the forum. "Hong Kong is a super connector and super value-adder between China and the world. All 10 ASEAN countries have consulates general in Hong Kong, which highlights ASEAN's high regard for Hong Kong," Cui noted. He said Hong Kong is a bond for cultural and people-to-people exchanges, a bridge for economic and trade cooperation as well as an important base for Belt and Road cooperation between China and ASEAN. Chanpheng Southivong, vice president of the Lao Front for National Development, said that Laos is an important partner of Belt and Road cooperation, and China is a major investor of Laos, particularly in infrastructure. The China-Laos railway has proven to be a path of transformation, promoting investment in transport, energy and telecommunications, strengthening people-to-people exchanges and educational cooperation, and providing more opportunities for businesses, Chanpheng said. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain With Anchorage streets mostly empty early on a November morning, dozens of workers at the new Amazon delivery station used tiny devices on their fingers to scan barcodes on packages. Details appeared on smartphones on their forearms, helping them organize the flood of shipments. The daily Amazon Air cargo jet to Anchorage had arrived from Seattle the night before, and more than 15,000 boxes and envelopes would soon hit doorsteps in Southcentral Alaska. Just outside, drivers began to fill delivery vans with packages. "Five minutes!" shouted Mitchell Cox, who manages the delivery teams, letting another wave of drivers know they'd soon be off for the day. Amazon, the world's largest online retailer, opened its first delivery station in Alaska a year ago. It came well after the company had opened nearly 500 other delivery stations across the U.S. But this one is unusual, company representatives say. It gets its product from air deliveries, unlike delivery stations in the Lower 48 that get their packages from semitrucks. Exactly how the facility will change Alaska's economy remains to be seen. A larger Amazon presence could naturally mean continued pressure on the brick-and-mortar retail industry that has struggled for years against rising e-commerce, an Alaska economist said. One thing is certain: Amazon package deliveries are growing in the state. The delivery station last month marked its 3 millionth package delivery, said station manager Austin Empey. "And it keeps getting busier, especially with holidays right around the corner," he said as boxes slid down conveyor belts and heavy metal blared from speakers. 14 packages for everyone annually In a first, Amazon Air plans to soon fly two large cargo jets to Anchorage per day, bringing packages for the holiday season and helping speed up delivery. The jets will help the delivery station move about 20,000 packages daily for several weeks over the holidays, Empey said. On normal days, the company delivers around 15,000 packages daily from Girdwood to around Big Lake, a region encompassing Anchorage, Wasilla and the state's urban heart. That's about 14 packages annually for each person in the region including newborns, on average. The company typically doesn't know what's inside. But electronics, dog food, beauty supplies and bottled water are commonly shipped through Amazon facilities, said Matthew Gardea, an Amazon spokesperson who led journalists on the tour of the station. Some large shipments are obvious, Empey said. "I've seen snow blowers, snow shovels, and during the summer, I saw more kayaks," he said. 'Busy for sure' The station goal is two-day delivery from time of order, he said. That service is included for Amazon Prime customers. Before Amazon opened the stationa former Sears warehouse off Dowling Road near the Seward Highwaydeliveries could take several days, even weeks, he said. At the time, the company got packages to the region through its Amazon Air Gateway at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. The gateway, similar to one at the Fairbanks International Airport, relies on third-party delivery contractors, such as the U.S. Postal Service. Now, Amazon's delivery station in Anchorage has its own delivery drivers, more than 60 of them under two private contractors, Empey said. About 100 employees also work at the warehouse, sorting packages largely overnight. The company will hire more workers for the holiday season, when warehouse employee numbers should grow to 150. Warehouse workers start at $21.50 an hour, with flexible hours, health care starting at 20 hours, and financial support for higher education, Gardea said. "We are busy for sure," Empey said. Deliveries optimized with AI The delivery station has multiple deadlines at each step, Empey said. Getting the drivers out that day was looking "pretty tight," he said. "But we'll make it. We'll make it." Each package is tracked digitally, allowing shoppers to follow their package's journey by app. The computer system uses artificial intelligence algorithms to fine-tune sorting and delivery, Empey said. Inside the station, lights brighten at certain bays after workers scan barcodes on packages, showing where to place them. Packages are sorted into smaller and smaller groupings, eventually down to the neighborhood and street, Empey said. Amazon's computer system also builds routes for the driver, guiding package placement in the van for orderly removal. "It calculates the best route for efficiency and safety," Empey said. "So it will minimize left-hand turns. It will try to avoid areas that are known for heavy traffic at rush hour." "So literally, the drivers hit start on their device and it will say, "Drive here, grab this package and drop it off. Drive to the next one, drop this one off," " he said. Packages aren't warehoused at the facility. "Our goal is we don't want to store anything here," Empey said. "So all the packages that you see here will get out today." The station's delivery times have improved since it opened, after new workers were trained and routing precision improved, Empey said. Last winter's snow-clogged streets hindered vans too. Drivers carry shovels and other gear to dig out. "Weather is probably our biggest challenge," Empey said. Pressure on retail, but a boost for some The 90,000-square-foot building went through extensive upgrades after Amazon began leasing it a couple of years ago. It brings Amazon's investment in Alaska to $80 million since 2010, the company said. Gardea said Amazon supports 400 independent sellers in Alaska that are largely small and midsize businesses, he said. "More than 60% of Amazon sales are from small and medium-sized businesses," he said. Other economic benefits of Amazon's increased presence in the state include spending by Amazon job holders, increased activity at the airport, and gas stations selling more fuel, said Dan Robinson, a research chief at the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. A bigger Amazon footprint will also mean continued pressure on the retail industry, where jobs have struggled for years, he said. The industry was particularly hard-hit during the pandemic's online shopping boost. "To the extent that market continues to grow, then some retail dollars that have been going to our local retailers will shift to Amazon," he said. "That has happened for at least a decade, and when consumers can get it that much easier, then that trend likely continues." 2024 Anchorage Daily News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Google's advertising practices are also subject to investigations or proceedings in Britain, the EU and the United States. Canada's competition watchdog announced Thursday it was taking Google to court, accusing the company of "anti-competitive behavior" in online advertising. Ads are typically bought and sold through automated auctions and managed by businesses using ad techa system that also decides which online advertisements people see when they visit websites. A Competition Bureau investigation found that Google is the largest provider of these tools in Canada. Commissioner Matthew Boswell said in a statement it "has abused its dominant position... by engaging in conduct that locks market participants into using its own ad tech tools." The watchdog accused Google of giving its own tools preferential access to ad inventory, at times selling ads at a loss to block rivals, and dictating terms for the use of others' ad tech tools. Boswell said he would ask a tribunal to level the playing field by forcing Google to sell two of its ad tech tools and pay an unspecified penalty. Google spokesman Dan Taylor said the company is prepared to fight the allegations that he said "ignore the intense competition (in this sector) where ad buyers and sellers have plenty of choice." France's competition watchdog fined Google 220 million euros in June 2021 for favoring its own services in the online advertising sector. Google's advertising practices are also subject to investigations or proceedings in Britain, the EU and the United States. The technology giant and the US government faced off in a federal court this week in a case revolving around Google's alleged unfair domination of online advertising. If the judge finds Google to be at fault, a new phase of the trial would decide how the company should comply with that conclusion. 2024 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Alphabet Inc.'s Google is asking a federal appeals court to throw out a ruling in an antitrust case brought by Fortnite-maker Epic Games that would force the search giant to overhaul its Play mobile app store. Google said in a filing Wednesday that U.S. District Judge James Donato's ruling is mistaken and asked that the outcome of the long-running litigation be set aside. For one thing, Google argued, Donato should have recognized that the company competes with Apple Inc. in the smartphone market, as a different judge found when she concluded that Apple's conduct toward Epic didn't violate federal antitrust laws. The judge also erred in holding a trial with a jury last year instead of deciding himself whether Google acted anticompetitively, the company said. Google says Donato's ruling would force it to do business with rival app storeswhich the company contends it is not legally required to do. Google's appeal is "meritless" and relies on "flawed arguments," a spokeswoman for Epic said in a statement. "We will fight to ensure that the jury's verdict and the court's injunction are upheld and Google is held to account for its anticompetitive behavior." A San Francisco jury concluded in December 2023 that Google violated antitrust law by blocking rival app stores through a series of revenue-sharing agreements with mobile device makers like Samsung. Following up with a fix in October, Donato ordered Google to allow developers to set up app marketplaces and offer consumers billing options other than its own payment system. "This case involves an extraordinary attempt by a lone competitor to use the federal judiciary to restructure the day-to-day operations of Google's app store, Google Play, and to unilaterally reshape markets with consequences for millions of non-parties," Google said in its filing. The jury verdict and Donato's injunction, unless reversed, "will directly undercut Google's efforts" to compete against Apple, Google said. Epic first sued Google and Apple in August 2020, accusing them of blocking competition for rival app stores. The judge in the Apple case largely ruled against Epic, though she directed the iPhone maker to make some changes to its App Store rules. Epic and Apple are currently fighting in an Oakland federal court over whether the iPhone maker is abiding by that ruling. Donato has temporarily put his ruling on hold. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco can extend that delay pending the outcome of Google's appeal, or force Google to make changes to its business while simultaneously seeking to overturn the ruling. Oral arguments are scheduled on Feb. 3 at the Ninth Circuit. 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: An original PlayStation on display in the lobby of the Sony headquarters building in central Tokyo. Since 1994, PlayStation's five consoles have changed video game history. From the development of the controller to scuffles at stores to Saddam Hussein's military, here are five interesting things to know: Gray or bust The original PlayStation, launched in Japan on December 3, 1994, was grayinspired by the "workstation" computers of the era, according to gaming history expert Hiroyuki Maeda. "The heads of Sony's US division would have preferred black, which they felt was more elegant, but the Japanese side categorically refused," Maeda told AFP. They eventually relented, however. Apart from colorful limited edition versions, the PlayStation 2, 3 and 4 were black. The PlayStation 5, released in 2020, is white. Joystick juggling When Sony built the first PlayStation, it was inexperienced in making consoles, so "the creation of the controller was one of the biggest challenges", Maeda said. "It's said they made more than 200 prototypes," he said. Sony's CEO at the time, Norio Ohgaan experienced pilotpushed for a more sculpted design for the controller, which with its signature triangle, circle, cross and square buttons, has changed little over the years. In Japan, a circle is a sign of approval, and so for years, it was the controller button for "OK", with the cross button meaning cancel. The feature was inverted on PlayStation models sold in the West. But Sony, conscious of the US market's importance, abandoned this Japanese peculiarity in its most recent console, the PlayStation 5. The original PlayStation, launched in Japan on December 3, 1994 was gray, but the PlayStation 2, 3 and 4 were black. Game library PlayStation owes much of its success to its roster of games. Sony's choice to use CDs instead of cartridges reduced manufacturing costs and production times, encouraging more game makers to create titles for its consoles. "Ridge Racer" brought the 3D racing genre out of arcades and showed off the console's technical abilities, while early stealth game "Metal Gear Solid" bridged the gap between games and cinema. "Final Fantasy VII"the first 3D installment in the cult series, and the first not made for Nintendo consolesalso introduced Japanese role-playing games to many Western players. Other titles with a place in video game history are survival-horror classic "Resident Evil" and the global media franchise "Tomb Raider". Store success The PlayStation 2 is the top-selling console in the history of video games, with more than 160 million units sold. In Japan, a circle is a sign of approval, and so for years, it was the controller button for "OK", with the cross button meaning cancel. The feature was inverted on PlayStation models sold in the West. Sony's decision use CDs instead of cartridges encouraged more gamemakers to create titles for its console. One reason for its success is that it can also play DVDsallowing customers to kill two birds with one stone. The limited supply of the PS2 and its huge demand led to fights when it was launched, including at the Virgin Megastore on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. War machine? In late 2000, US media network NBC reported that Saddam Hussein's Iraqhad acquired 1,400 PlayStation 2 consoles to use their powerful microprocessors in missile guidance systems. The same year, the machine was reportedly placed on a list of sensitive items by the Japanese government because of its advanced graphics processing capabilities, raising fears of potential military use. 2024 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Students look at their phones in Australia, where the government has passed a law banning social media for those under 16. Social media giants on Friday hit out at a landmark Australian law banning them from signing up under-16s, describing it as a rush job littered with "many unanswered questions". The UN children's charity UNICEF Australia warned the law was no "silver bullet" against online harm and could push kids into "covert and unregulated" spaces online. The legislation, approved by parliament on Thursday, orders social media firms to take "reasonable steps" to prevent young teens from having accounts. It is due to come into effect after a year. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the age limit may not be implemented perfectlymuch like existing restrictions on alcoholbut it was "the right thing to do". The crackdown on sites like Facebook, Instagram and X would lead to "better outcomes and less harm for young Australians", he told reporters. Platforms have a "social responsibility" to make children's safety a priority, Albanese said. Social media firms that fail to comply with the law face fines of up to Aus$50 million (US$32.5 million) for "systemic breaches". TikTok said it was "disappointed" in the law, accusing the government of ignoring mental health, online safety and youth experts who had opposed the ban. "It's entirely likely the ban could see young people pushed to darker corners of the internet where no community guidelines, safety tools, or protections exist," a TikTok spokesperson said. 'Traumatic' Tech companies said that despite the law's perceived shortcomings, they would engage with the government in shaping how it could be implemented in the next 12 months. Chart showing how many minutes per day Australian teenagers spend on most popular social media sites/apps, according to parental control app Qustodio. The legislation offers almost no details on how the rules will be enforcedprompting concern among experts that it will be largely symbolic. Members of the public appeared doubtful. "I don't think it will actually change a lot because I don't see that there's really a strong way to police it," 41-year-old Emily Beall told AFP in Melbourne. Arthur McCormack, 19, said some things he had seen on social media when he was younger were "sort of traumatic". "I think it's good that the government is on this ban. But in terms of enforcement, I'm not sure how it will be carried out," he said. Metaowner of Facebook and Instagram called for consultation on the rules to ensure a "technically feasible outcome that does not place an onerous burden on parents and teens". 'Serious concerns' But Meta said it was concerned "about the process, which rushed the legislation through while failing to properly consider the evidence, what industry already does to ensure age-appropriate experiences, and the voices of young people". A Snapchat spokesperson said the company had raised "serious concerns" about the law and that "many unanswered questions" remained about how it would work. But the company said it would engage closely with the government to develop an approach balancing "privacy, safety and practicality". UNICEF Australia policy chief Katie Maskiell said young people need to be protected online but also included in the digital world. "This ban risks pushing children into increasingly covert and unregulated online spaces as well as preventing them from accessing aspects of the online world essential to their well-being," she said. TikTok slammed the new legislation Friday, warning children might visit 'darker corners of the internet' if they can't access social media apps. Leo Puglisi, a 17-year-old online journalist based in Melbourne, was critical of the legislation. He founded streaming channel 6 News, which provides hourly news bulletins on national and international issues, in 2019 at the age of 11. Global attention "We've been built up by having 13 to 15-year-olds see 6 News online and then join the team," Puglisi said in a statement. "We have said that this ban seriously risks restricting creativity from our young people, no matter what passion or future career they want to explore," he added. One of the biggest issues will be privacywhat age-verification information is used, how it is collected and by whom. Social media companies remain adamant that age verification should be the job of app stores, but the government believes tech platforms should be responsible. Exemptions will likely be granted to some companies, such as WhatsApp and YouTube, which teenagers may need to use for recreation, school work or other reasons. The legislation will be closely monitored by other countries, with many weighing whether to implement similar bans. Lawmakers from Spain to Florida have proposed social media bans for young teens, although none of the measures have been implemented yet. China has restricted access for minors since 2021, with under-14s not allowed to spend more than 40 minutes a day on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. 2024 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Australia passed a new law banning under 16s from social media. An Australian teenage news boss says landmark legislation barring under-16s from social media is a "really bad idea" that will stifle young people's creativity. Leo Puglisi, 17, is uniquely placed to judge the new lawhe founded what claims to be the only national news streaming platform run by teens. Based in his bedroom at his parent's house in Melbourne, Puglisi began uploading local news videos to YouTube channel 6 News in 2019. Fast forward five years, the channel now broadcasts hourly bulletin and boasts 29,600 subscribers, with another 40,700 on X. He has a team of 10 reporters, whose ages range from 15 to their late teens. So the new law may pose a challenge to the news operation. The legislation, approved by parliament on Thursday, orders social media firms to take "reasonable steps" to prevent under 16s from having accounts. Due to come into effect after a year, it is a "really bad idea", Puglisi said. As of now, the legislation offers almost no details on how the law will be enforcedprompting concern among experts that it will be largely symbolic. Social media firms that fail to comply with the ban face fines of up to Aus$50 million (US$32.5 million) for "systemic breaches". Many of 6 News' viewers engage with the channel through social media, he said, so a ban could make things "really tough". 'We will continue' Puglisi said it was impossible to know how the ban would impact his teamsome of them under-16s who use X to communicate and publish content on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. But whatever happens, "6 News is definitely not going anywhere", he said. Puglisi said he was concerned by the speed of the law's passage, the limited information about which platforms would be banned and an apparent "lack of understanding about social media". Though he supports improving online safety, Puglisi stressed that social media sites also provide a place for young people to "explore their passions". "If this ban was in place a couple of years ago, 6 News wouldn't have existed in the first place which I think, personally, is a real shame," he told AFP. Experts have cautioned that the ban may push young people into unsafe and unregulated parts of the web. Griffith University social media expert Susan Grantham said the government had opted for a "quick fix". "The moment they turn 16, they're eligible to get an account with no education, no guidelines, no one there to hold their hand through understanding what could and couldn't be good decisions on these sorts of platforms," she said. The government could have opted instead for improved education or a regulatory framework that prevents children accessing harmful content, the expert said. Young people join online communities to follow interests and hobbies, Grantham said, and taking that away could be "detrimental" to their mental health. But others said the ban was the right choice. Body image expert Catherine Houlihan at University of the Sunshine Coast said the teenage years were fundamental to "identity and brain development". "Banning social media for this age group and under is an important step towards protecting young people's mental health," she said. 2024 AFP Flash People mourn over the body of a victim following an Israeli airstrike on al-Tabeen school sheltering displaced people in Gaza City, on Nov. 27, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] At least 27 Palestinians were killed on Thursday as Israeli forces continued to pound targets across the Gaza Strip, with a focus on the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza. Al-Awda Hospital in central Gaza reported receiving 16 bodies and 55 injured individuals since the morning, following heavy air and artillery strikes in the Nuseirat area. The hospital accused Israeli forces of directly targeting ambulance workers as they attempted to evacuate besieged families from northern Nuseirat. Palestinian security sources confirmed that Israeli artillery shelled multiple homes in the camp, while witnesses reported the army deploying vehicles and conducting destructive operations in northern Nuseirat. Eyewitnesses also stated that Israeli strikes hit a food distribution center, injuring displaced Palestinians, and targeted the upper floors of three residential buildings in the camp. In the southern Gaza Strip, four Palestinians were killed when Israeli shelling struck a bicycle near a camp for displaced persons in Abasan, east of Khan Younis, according to Nasser Hospital. In northern Gaza, paramedics reported four deaths in Beit Lahia after Israeli warplanes bombed two homes in the area. Two more people were killed when strikes hit the entrance to Kamal Adwan Hospital, and another person died in the Jabalia camp due to Israeli bombardment. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have not commented on these specific incidents. However, a Wednesday statement from the IDF confirmed continued military operations in Jabalia and Beit Lahia in northern Gaza. Gaza-based health authorities reported that the death toll among Palestinians has reached 44,282 as of Wednesday, underscoring the devastating human cost of the conflict. Chinese military conducts combat readiness patrols near Huangyan Dao Xinhua) 09:30, November 29, 2024 BEIJING, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese military on Thursday conducted combat readiness patrols in the surrounding areas of and airspace over the territorial waters of China's Huangyan Dao. The Chinese People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command said in a statement that since November, the theater command has been reinforcing patrols and vigilance in these areas. This effort aims to further strengthen control and management over relevant areas, resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and security, and firmly uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea region, according to the statement. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) You are here: World Flash Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong (6th L) meets with International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) President Ahmed Nasser Al-Raisi (6th R) in Lyon, France, on Nov. 28, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong met with International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) President Ahmed Nasser Al-Raisi in Lyon on Thursday, with both sides vowing to enhance law-enforcement cooperation. Endorsing China's support for Interpol's leadership in the multilateral law-enforcement framework, Wang said that China is willing to maintain strategic communication with Interpol, jointly map out a collaboration blueprint, deepen practical cooperation in areas such as combating telecom network fraud and cross-border gambling, counter-terrorism, fugitive repatriation and asset recovery, and enhance cooperation in law-enforcement capacity building and training. Wang called for both sides to forge a more strategic, pragmatic, guiding and universally beneficial bilateral cooperation so as to inject stronger impetus into the implementation of the Global Security Initiative and the promotion of global public security governance. Expressing gratitude for China's longstanding support, Al-Raisi affirmed Interpol's firm commitment to the one-China principle. He said that Interpol is ready to strengthen practical collaboration with China on law enforcement and security, and work together to ensure the success of the 94th Interpol General Assembly to be held in Hong Kong in 2026. During the meeting, Wang and Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza signed cooperation papers. While in France, Wang also met with French Minister of Interior Bruno Retailleau. Flash Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Prak Sokhonn, Cambodian deputy prime minister and foreign minister, and chairman of the Commission for External Relations of the Central Committee of the Cambodian People's Party, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 28, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday met with Prak Sokhonn, Cambodian deputy prime minister and foreign minister, and chairman of the Commission for External Relations of the Central Committee of the Cambodian People's Party. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that the friendship between China and Cambodia has withstood the test of international changes, and under the strategic guidance of the leaders of both countries, the ironclad friendship between the two countries has entered a new stage. Wang said China is willing to maintain close high-level exchanges with Cambodia, promote the construction of a China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, enhance high-level strategic coordination to address risks and challenges, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of both countries, and promote regional peace and stability. Prak Sokhonn said that Cambodia is firmly committed to a friendly policy toward China and is willing to enhance political mutual trust, promote practical cooperation, strengthen diplomatic coordination, and continuously elevate the Cambodia-China friendship to new heights. Zenna Lewis had her audience snapping their fingers but couldnt stop them clapping. An Evening of Poetry and Music (AEOPAM) turned out to be a treat for those who attended its inaugural edition, held on Sunday 24th November, at the Peace Memorial Hall. It was an evening, free of charge, that was filled primarily of readings by a group of young, Vincentian poets. AEOPAM, the brainchild of Steve Wyllie, a retired Customer Services Manager with VINLEC and himself a published writer, was staged as part of Drama Month and featured readings of poems written by young, aspiring poets and works from renowned Vincentian poets like the late Tim Daisy and Elsworth "Shake Keane. The evening opened with prayer and singing of the national anthem, following which remarks were made by Sean Frederick from the Department of Culture. From thence, Gloria Williams, MC for the evenings programme, assumed the reins of control and moved seamless through introducing the poets, and providing summaries of each poem, following the reading. The effectiveness of the MC contributed in no small measure to a programme that sailed smoothly along. As for the recitals, each poet had his or her own style. While most of the work was free style poetry, reminiscent of both Shake Keane and Tim Daisy, there was a strong use of metaphoric language. The audience showed how enthused they were with loud applause after each recital. And while all the poets delivered with emotion, one deserving of special mention was Ms. Zenna Lewis. Even before she began her recital, Zenna invited the audience to "snap your fingers instead of clapping. But her delivery was so emphatic and impactful, that there was no avoiding the spontaneous clapping, which she interrupted with a kind reminder to "snap your fingers. Then came the interactive segment a Question and Answer segment. A song was played live by renowned keyboardist Willis Williams, and members in the audience were asked to name the song, identify the artiste and give the year the song was released. As expected, this segment generated quite some interest not to mention participation. Winners were rewarded with prizes that included a Christmas hamper, a case of malt, dinner at a well-known restaurant, and cash. This aspect is expected to be made a fixture going forward. And there was still time for a crowning moment to the evenings programme: a reading of his work by the activitys instigator- Steve Wyllie. Known as one who prefers to have his work read by others, much of his work is found in his publication The Village In Us. He got his place in the programme going with a recital of one of his pieces- The Forgotten Moon. His portion was a precursor for recitals by seasoned local poets. The segment ended with a poem written in Spanish by Wyllie and recited fluently and flawlessly by Colin Sam, Headmaster of the St. Vincent Grammar School. Other local poets who read Whyliies work were David Darkie Williams and Cecil Blazer Williams. Jennifer Ollivierre, Vincent Reid, Melani Hoyte, Marlon Joseph and Marcella Dublin also contributed to the evenings recitals. Barbara Soso brought a most enjoyable and revealing evening with a Vote of Thanks. One has to be very observant to notice that a Category 4 hurricane tore this small Grenadine Island apart, just three months ago. The rebuilding of housing stock damaged or destroyed by Beryl has been remarkable. The 15% or so left to be completed accounts for about a dozen people still living in a shelter and others with family or close friends. One of the occupants at the lone official shelter in Grand Bay, who preferred to remain anonymous, noted that they have been without water for over a week, as the pump which is used to take the water from the reservoir to a holding tank has been inoperable, posing a serious inconvenience for the more than 12 persons still living there. They anxiously await news that their homes are ready for their return. The shelter has proper cooking facilities but the lack of running water is hampering daily living, not least the impact on sanitary conditions, especially as it relates to the disposal of human waste and personal hygiene. As some homes receive finishing touches, the relative peace that characterises the island is interrupted by the sound of hammers and power drills securing roofing, and power saws cutting lumber to size. Blocked drains were also being cleared, as Canouan was recently impacted by several rainstorms, causing topsoil to block some main drains and flooding in low lying areas close to the sea. Both primary and secondary schools are operational, with close to 300 students attending classes regularly. Just the library and computer lab at the primary school are yet to be completed. One of the main concrete tanks at the primary school has been refurbished, increasing the storage capacity of water for the growing numbers of students at both primary and secondary levels. Just some minor electrical works and a few windows badly damaged by Beryl are left to be completed at the old primary school. The revenue office has been given a facelift and what is evident now is a palatial edifice, of which the workers ought to be proud. Just a few balusters are left to be installed before the upper floors are habitable again. The teachers home, which caters to specialist teachers from the mainland, is also getting a much-needed facelift, making life a little more comfortable for these education professionals. The small central market that was not severely affected by the storm was a hive of activity. The Police Station is nearing completion, as is the Health Clinic. VINLEC seemed to have had all mainlines restored with power and tower climbers for the telecoms service providers were at work, ensuring microwave antennas were properly aligned. No visits were made to any of the resorts or airport on this visit due to time limitations. A name that is mentioned ever so often as being involved with the restoration and rebuilding in Canouan is Hedge Fund mogul Ian Wace, who didnt hesitate to provide assistance not only to residents in Canouan, but also to other affected islands that bore the full force of hurricane Beryl. Beryl claimed six lives in Union Island, and presumably sank "MV Guidance from Canouan, with five souls on board. A memorial service is being planned before year end by the families of the lost sailors. Canouan is taking on a fresh look and house owners are feeling a greater sense of security and assurance in their new and stronger homes. Most persons still have vivid memories of the experience with Beryl with many stating that they NEVER went through anything like it in their lifetime. Yes, Beryl will be a bad memory, haunting many for some time to come, especially when the thunder rolls and it rains heavily. But, out of this evil, a greater good is emerging like the proverbial Phoenix rising from the ashes! A joint agriculture initiative between St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Venezuela which was recently announced by Minister of Agriculture, Saboto Caesar, has been described as "nonsense by Opposition Leader, Godwin Friday. Minister Caesar made the announcement on the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) radio. He declared that a joint initiative has been entered into where 25,000 acres of land in Venezuela have been made available for Vincentian producers for joint investment. However, the Opposition Leader in responded to the announcement during the New Democratic Party (NDP) New Times radio programme on Nov. 25, said that the idea was a stupid one and "is nonsense masquerading as some initiative. He stated that the joint venture does not offer hope to local farmers, and questioned how the idea will help agriculture in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). "No farmer in St Vincent and the Grenadines is going to Venezuela. Venezuela is not a land of opportunity now, the Dr. Friday declared. He said that once elected as Prime Minister, he will be a prime minister for the farmers of this country and that his New Democratic Party has a comprehensive plan to assist farmers. He reminded his listening audience that his party has identified agriculture as one of the pillars of economic growth in SVG. Dr. Friday also took aim at the Ministry of Agriculture for its lack of attention to feeder roads and praedial larceny, describing the latter as having resulted in a situation where, "The women are now doing the farming and the men are doing the thieving, Meanwhile, Caesar, who signed the agreement earlier this month with his Venezuelan counterpart, said that the lands in Venezuela may be used to cultivate food or rear animals. Some members of the HIS Alumni Group in the USA who contributed to the donation to the Salvation Army (L-R standing) Garry Tunka Edwards Asst. Chairperson), Vlada Joseph, Vernis Preddie-John (Secretary), Millicent Phillips, Harriet Preddie-Mandley, Lavern Williams and Arnold Billinghurst (stooping) The Intermediate High School (IHS) Alumni Reunion Group is ramping up activities as they moved towards hosting the first-ever Intermediate High School Alumni Centenary Reunion carded for October 2025. The IHS, familiarly referred to as Timmy School, in respect of Bertrand Timmy Richards who was the schools longest-serving Principal and visionary, will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year, 2025. Several activities have been planned to mark the centenary, but even before that, hurricane Beryl prompted several past students living in the USA into action. They put together a number of barrels of new/used clothing and food items which were donated to the Salvation Army in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The idea to assist the Salvation Army was conceptualised by alumna Vernis Preddie-John, current Secretary of the IHS Alumni Reunion Group, supported by Gary Tunka Edwards, Vlada Joseph, Millicent Phillips, Harriet Preddie-Mandley, Laverne Williams, Arnold Billinghurst, Teckla Telesford-Richards and Julian Jack among others. Ms. Preddie-John, who lives in Boston, Massachusetts, filled two barrels with toiletries, non-perishable foodstuff clothing, pillowcases and shoes among other things, then journeyed to Brooklyn NY where other past students contributed to the shipment, which is due to arrive in SVG before the Christmas season. Next year, 2025, being the centenary year, several activities have been planned to mark the occasion. The Intermediate High School itself has a calendar of activities planned, while the group of alumni of the IHS have also planned a week of activities, coinciding with the 46th anniversary of this countrys Independence from Britain. Among the activities planned are a walk from the old "Timmy School in Middle Street to the current location at Mc Kies Hill; an ecumenical service for all alumni and a social evening that would allow past and present staff and students to dine, socialize and renew acquaintances. This will be the first IHS alumni reunion in the schools history. Submitted by Donald De Riggs and Vernis Preddie-John Damian Junior Gong Marley has been careful in his call to legalise cannabis, limiting his call for to religious and personal use. Damian Junior Gong Marley, son of music legend Robert Bob Marley, is advocating for more Caribbean countries to remove restrictions around the use of marijuana. During his appearance on Night Two of the World Creole Music Festival in Dominica on October 26, the 46-year-old, who has been an advocate for the use of marijuana in both religious and personal use, said the plant known as cannabis, has an array of medical benefits that can heal many of the illnesses faced by humans today. The younger Marley has several songs dedicated to marijuana, including "Medication which he performed with his older brother Stephen Marley at the festival. He expressed gratitude to the Dominican government for amending drug possession laws in 2020, which decriminalised possession of up to 28 grams of marijuana and allowed the cultivation of three cannabis plants at home. Possession of small amounts of marijuana has been decriminalised in over 7 Caribbean countries including Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and St Kitts and Nevis and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It is however illegal in The Bahamas, Guyana, Cuba, The Dominican Republic, the Dutch Caribbean, Grenada, Haiti, and Suriname. Two Unity Labour Party parliamentary representatives will retire from frontline politics. Party Leader, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves told his partys 26th Annual Convention held at the Campden Park Secondary School Sunday November 24, that Montgomery Daniel, parliamentary representative for North Windward since 2001, and Frederick Stephenson, parliamentary representative for South Windward since 2010 were putting a cap on their active political careers. There was also confirmation that Edwin Snagg, who has failed since 2001 to win the Southern Grenadines, will not put himself up as a candidate. While a replacement has been settled upon for Daniel, in the person of Dr. Grace Walters, current Hospital Administrator at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, the convention gave no definite indication as to who might replace Stephenson and Snagg. Indications are that there will be a new ULP candidate for West Kingstown, currently the domain of Daniel Cummings of the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP). The expressions at Sundays Convention gave the indication that Senator Keisal Peters is likely to challenge Cummings. One can conclude, therefore, that the ULP is likely to field up to four new candidates in the next general election, constitutionally due by March 2026. And while that is so, whether or not it was a Freudian slip or not, Dr. Gonsalves alluded to "keeping the nine (seats) that we have, and were going to add more to those nine come election 2025. (TBTCO) - Ngay 15/3, tai Tru so Trung uong ang, Tong Bi thu To Lam, Truong Tieu ban Van kien ai hoi XIV cua ang a chu tri hop Tieu ban Van kien, cho y kien vao du thao Bao cao Chinh tri do To Bien tap xay dung tren co so tiep thu y kien cua Hoi nghi Trung uong 10 va y kien chi ao cua ong chi Tong Bi thu tai cac cuoc hop voi Thuong truc cac Tieu ban ai hoi XIV cua ang, e trinh Bo Chinh tri, Ban Chap hanh Trung uong ang tai Hoi nghi Trung uong 11. Geidea, a leading provider of digital payment solutions in the Middle East, is now preparing to launch its innovative SoftPos service in Egypt, underscoring its commitment to driving financial inclusion and continuing to cement its position as a FinTech pioneer with a strong network of thousands of merchants and a robust presence in the UAE. The upcoming launch of SoftPos in Egypt follows a successful two-year rollout in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Since its launch in Saudi Arabia, Geidea has revolutionised the payment landscape by becoming the first company in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to introduce SoftPos solutions. This technology enables merchants to accept payments via smartphones, eliminating the need for traditional point-of-sale (POS) devices. SoftPos, which meets MPOC and CPOC standards, allows businesses of all sizes to process secure contactless payments directly from smartphones, significantly improving payment efficiency and accessibility. Geideas SoftPos service quickly gained traction in Saudi Arabia, building a robust network of thousands of merchants across the kingdom. The services success in Saudi Arabia and the UAE has paved the way for its upcoming launch in Egypt, where the company aims to empower merchants with advanced payment solutions that enhance business operations and provide consumers with more convenient ways to pay. Geideas SoftPos solution is part of the companys broader strategy to introduce innovative payment technologies that meet the evolving needs of modern businesses. With a focus on security, the company ensures that all transactions are processed in compliance with the highest international standards for data protection and financial transaction safety. This aligns with Geideas mission to provide a seamless, secure, and future-proof payment experience for merchants and consumers. As a key player in the Middle Easts digital payments sector, Geidea said it has become a market leader in Saudi Arabia and is poised for further growth in regional markets such as Egypt and the UAE. TradeArabia News Service Lulu Retail has launched its 57th store in Saudi Arabia at Dammam in the Eastern Province as part of its ambitious plan to launch 100 stores in the kingdom within three years. Four new outlets will be opened in Makkah and Madinah in the next two months, said the company in a statement. The Dammam hypermarket, located at Al Fakhriyah, Qutb Al Din Al Shafie Street, offers a modern and convenient shopping experience, featuring a curated selection of products - from fresh groceries and appliances to household products and furnishings. Strategically located to serve both the local community and travellers passing through the bustling Bu-Hadriyah Road, the store is spread over 20,000 sq ft, and provides a parking space with a capacity for 181 vehicles. Recently, Lulu began trading on ADX following its record-breaking IPO.-TradeArabia News Service SalamAir, Oman's Low-Fare airline, has launched two weekly flights from Muscat to Nairobi, Kenya its newest destination in Africa starting February 2025, connecting travellers to other vibrant destinations with low fares. The new operation aims to offer passengers a convenient and affordable way to explore Nairobi's vibrant culture, stunning landscapes, wildlife, and thriving economy, and foster increased tourism and trade between the Middle East and East Africa. The airline said its new service will expand its presence in Africa, and strengthen Omans ambition to foster increased tourism and trade between the Middle East and East Africa. SalamAirs CEO, Adrian Hamilton-Manns, said: "We are really thrilled to add Nairobi to our expanding network, marking a significant milestone in our expansion into the African market. Nairobi is not only a hub for international travellers but also a growing centre for business, technology, and education, making it a vital link for those looking to connect with opportunities in both regions, emphasising Nairobis position as the key gateway to East Africa. With Nairobi added to our network, we can now connect passengers from East Africa to India, Thailand, Central Asia, and other points on our network for very low fares. SalamAirs introduction of Nairobi to its expanding network is part of its strategic growth plan of offering cheaper travel options to passengers accustomed to high-fare legacy airline prices. It said it is dedicated to a low-cost model and remains committed to offering affordable fares. TradeArabia News Service Etihad Airways is set to double its routes to Africa over the next year, having announced three new routes to the continent in the past two months, and adding more destinations and frequencies to its services. Currently, Etihad serves four African destinations: Johannesburg, South Africa; Cairo, Egypt; Mahe, Seychelles; and Casablanca, Morocco. On December 15, the airline will resume flights to Nairobi, Kenya, and next year it will launch new routes to Tunis, Tunisia; Algiers, Algeria; and Al Alamein, Egypt. Arik De, Etihads Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, said: As we prepare to return to Nairobi, Kenya next month, we are committed to growing our network in Africa and doubling our destinations over the next year. We are expanding our frequencies, including boosting both Johannesburg and Casablanca to daily services from next summer. This expansion will connect our guests across the continent with our growing network and bring them to our fantastic home in Abu Dhabi. "Currently, we serve four cities with 39 frequencies a week. By next summer, this will increase to 50 frequencies a week to six cities, and by this time next year, we will reach 57 frequencies a week to eight cities. "And we are not stopping there. We recently announced ten new global destinations, including Tunis and Algiers, and plan to announce at least 10 more each year as we grow towards 2030. These will include new cities in Africa, and our goal is to make all of these flights daily. We are growing sustainably and offering our customers across Africa the flights and frequencies that make sense to them and fit with our global network. Etihad also enhances connectivity through its codeshare and interline partnerships with several African airlines, including Airlink South Africa, Air Seychelles, Royal Air Maroc, and EgyptAir. These partnerships allow Etihad to offer more convenient travel options and seamless connections for guests travelling to and from Africa. As the airline continues to expand its global network through its world-leading hub at Zayed International Airport, an increasing number of guests from African cities are taking advantage of the airlines free stopover offer. In collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, travellers booking flights with Etihad can easily add a stopover and enjoy a complimentary hotel stay for one or two nights at a selection of premier hotels across the city. TradeArabia News Service Turkish Airlines new A350-900 aircraft touched down in Sydney - its second destination in Australia - on on November 29 after completing a 19-hour long flight from Istanbul. The national flag-carrier's debut launch to Sydney was its longest flight which it will be operating with its new, modern Airbus A350-900 fleet which is designed for long haul comfort with 32 flatbed seats in business class, and 297 recliners for economy travellers. The flag-carrier will fly four times a week via Kuala Lumpur on this 9,300-mile flight path, said a statement from Turkish Airlines. Following the launch of Turkish Airlines' inaugural flight from Melbourne in March this year, Sydney becomes the second Australian city added to flag carriers ever-expanding network. It will set the stage for Turkish Airlines' future plans to introduce direct, non-stop services from Sydney to Istanbul, revolutionising travel between the two iconic travel destinations. On the arrival of the first aircraft in Sydney, Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Eksi, said: This momentous occasion marks Turkish Airlines' longest flight path in history, as we happily add our second Australian city to our flight network." The arrival of our first flight from Istanbul to Sydney represents our ongoing commitment to connect travellers across the globe, providing a seamless gateway between Europe and Australia with the comfort and hospitality of Turkish Airlines," he stated. "The new route will not only bolster the ties between Turkiye and Australia, driving growth in tourism, trade, and cultural exchange, but also provide Australian guests the airlines robust flight network, ensuring they can explore the world with the comfort and hospitality of Turkish Airlines," he noted. Once we receive our aircraft capable of conducting the journey in a single leap, we look forward to further expanding our offering in the near future with Australias first non-stop flights to Istanbul, he added. Australian Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham, said: "Turkish Airlines' arrival in Sydney is a landmark moment that offers a new high-quality option for local travellers to Europe and a boost in visitor numbers to Sydney." This exciting new route from Istanbul was made possible by a financial incentive from the Minns Government. We are backing our airports to increase capacity and bring more visitors to NSW, creating jobs and economic growth in our tourism destinations right across the state," he noted. Bringing more passengers into our airports is part of the Minns Governments plan to boost jobs and growth in our statewide visitor economy, he added. Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton, said: Were proud to welcome Turkish Airlines as they launch their inaugural flight to Sydney. This new service strengthens Sydneys already strong international network, offering passengers even more choice and connectivity to Europe and beyond through Turkish Airlines' extensive hub in Istanbul. Turkish Airlines will bring added competition to the market, and with over 15,000 Turkish-born Australians residing in New South Wales and Turkiye consistently being a top choice for Australian travellers, we are confident this new route will see strong demand." Providing a direct gateway between Sydney and Europe, the flight will not only bolster ties between Turkiye and Australia, but it will also spur growth across tourism, trade and cultural exchange programmes, supporting 290 jobs and generating an estimated A$53 million for New South Wales visitor economy. As the largest city in Australia and the capital of New South Wales, Sydney is a major global hub for business, tourism and the arts. Home to the famous Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, the city offers a unique and iconic experience for its visitors whether they are visiting for business or leisure. Now, travellers around the world have the opportunity to enjoy Sydney with the comfort and hospitality of Turkish Airlines while flag carriers Australian guests are able take advantage of its globe spanning network in a more convenient manner. TradeArabia News Service WHITE candles were yesterday placed on the side of the road in Sennon Village Number Three, Siparia, where the severed head of 59-year-old Joanne Estick was found in a bag on Thursday. Estick, a mother of one and grandmother of three, was last seen in the village earlier this week. A senior police officer of the South Western Police Division said they are yet to officially confirm that the head is that of Estick without the rest of the human remains. Ginnie Graham Tulsa World Editorials Editor Follow Ginnie Graham Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today For 16 years before the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the right to an abortion in the Dobbs decision, Oklahoma prosecutors in eight rural counties filed 113 pregnancy-related criminal charges. In the past two years, the pace of those filings has shot up, with 79 such charges mostly in Kay and Comanche counties. This information is highlighted in emerging research from the University of Tulsa College of Law, which is in a second year collaboration with the ONeill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University. Last year, the TU Reproductive Justice Practicum sought clarity about the breadth of Oklahomas current abortion laws after the U.S. Supreme Court took away abortion rights. This year, practicum students examined the use of criminal prosecutions against pregnant women using personhood laws. Students started with eight rural counties based on recommendations from a womens rights organization. The filings are typically criminal child neglect charges using laws on personhood, also called fetal personhood or prenatal personhood. These laws, like many other Oklahoma laws, define child or person as starting from the moment of fertilization. While Oklahoma has been unsuccessful in its attempts to legally define a person across the board as starting at the point of fertilization, there are many pieces of that concept that have explicitly incorporated prenatal personhood. In 2012, an initiative petition to grant that legal status was thrown out by the Oklahoma Supreme Court. But that was when abortion was legal under Roe v. Wade. Even last year, lawmakers were attempting to change the state constitution to give zygotes, embryos and fetuses the same rights as living people. States with those bills are experiencing complications, as those laws protect in vitro fertilization embryos. Even without that constitutional protection, Oklahoma prosecutors have been able to move forward using the personhood legal arguments. Its a type of backdoor to prosecuting pregnant women while the states near total abortion laws dont seek charges against women ending their pregnancies. This prenatal personhood has been on the march in Oklahoma for well over a decade, through our Legislature, through our courts and through our administrative agencies, said Janet Koven Levit, adviser to the practicum. And with the Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe, it only accelerated this process. Oklahoma remains high in the rate of female incarceration, at No. 4, and for generations has been among the nations top five states in imprisoning women. Also, the state ranks third in maternal health care deserts. All of this really works together, Levit said. TU law students examined six rural counties to find criminal cases filed since the Dobbs decision in June 2022 against pregnant women based on their behavior. They also looked at how information about women moves from an exam room onto a prosecutors desk. This practicum works at the intersection of two very stark realities in Oklahoma, Levit said. The first is a complete abortion ban, and the second is a mounting embrace of prenatal personhood. Of the six counties the students researched, three Washington, Nowata and Noble did not have any pregnancy-related prosecutions. Those counties also do not have hospitals providing obstetric services. The other three Muskogee, Rogers and Grady had a total of 14 criminal charges based on personhood statutes. Those charges either remain pending or have resulted in prison time. The women were held in jails with bail set on average at $12,500. In one case, a womans bail was set five times higher than the typical amount for the charge after she notified the court of her plans to seek an abortion. She was the only person among those in the research who stated a desire for an abortion. This case not only shows the power of fetal personhood but also shows how fetal personhood can be weaponized in the context of a state with harsh abortion bans, said one of the TU students, Kailey Chapman. Laws infused with fetal personhood like criminal child neglect are used to target pregnant women, whereas the abortion laws alone target providers and those who may aid or assist abortions. The flow of information on a womans medical records involves mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect laws to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. This includes doctor-ordered drug tests at the time of birth or miscarriage. DHS has a process of screening and investigating cases. As part of the research, interviews were conducted with former and current DHS employees, who called the laws ambiguous and confusing. In some cases, the laws are contradictory, giving flexibility to consider applying statutes in ways lawmakers didnt intend. The students recently presented their findings to a group of attorneys, professors and womens rights advocates, and they will be presenting the information at Georgetown University later this year. No matter the DHS final determination, a report is always created and forwarded to the county district attorney, who can decide whether to file charges. District attorneys are elected positions and have broad discretion in determining which cases to pursue, said TU law student Lacey Pogue. District attorneys who aggressively pursue child neglect cases due to behaviors people engage in while pregnant are going to result in higher rates of pregnancy criminalization in those counties. The findings are just a tip of what could be much more work in this field. Students noted possible future research, noting what their study could not encompass. No American Indian women were among the prosecuted women whose cases were studied. That could be due to referrals to tribal or federal courts, where more study could be done. Also, future studies could attempt to determine how the urban centers of Tulsa and Oklahoma counties are pursuing or resolving pregnancy-related cases. District attorneys may be using the deprived docket to refer cases involving pregnant women. Those courts and cases are closed from public scrutiny, opening a potential for abuse of the system. Also, physicians have discretion on when to administer a drug test on pregnant women. Not much is known about how that decision is made. We believe it is now more than ever in the publics best interest to study and disseminate easily understood information on pregnant patients rights, said TU student Stephanie Smith. Masan Group was honored on Wednesday as Business with Outstanding M&A Strategy 2023-2024 at M&A Forum. Throughout 28 years of operation, Masan Group has emerged as a key player in Vietnams dealmaking landscape, leveraging strategic deals to enhance its consumer-retail platform and deliver greater value to consumers. Masan has carried out numerous notable merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions, including acquiring over 98 percent of Vinacafe Bien Hoa and controlling stakes in Net Detergent JSC, Quang Ninh Natural Mineral Water Co. Ltd., as well as Saigon Nutri Food JSC. The group also acquired Sam Kim Co. Ltd., later rebranded as Masan Nutri-Science and subsequently Masan MEATLife. Other major deals include the purchase of the VinCommerce retail system (now WinCommerce) and a controlling stake in the Phuc Long Coffee & Tea chain. However, Masans strategy is not to merely expand its portfolio. According to CEO Danny Le, acquisitions focus on integrating platforms that align with its overarching strategy, rather than simply chasing revenue or profit. Over the years, Masan has transitioned from a fast-moving consumer goods company to a comprehensive consumer-retail ecosystem under its Point of Life strategy, designed to meet end-user needs holistically, Le said. Masan Group was honored as one of the Businesses with the Outstanding M&A Strategies of 2023-2024.' Photo: Supplied At its AGM in April, Masan announced plans to scale back M&A activities to focus on optimizing its business operations and deepening its core consumer-retail model. Masans recent deals have centered on either bolstering resources to serve consumer growth opportunities, increasing ownership in key businesses, or gradually divesting from non-core operations. In October 2023, Masan announced an equity investment of at least US$200 million from Bain Capital. By December, Bain had increased its total equity investment to $250 million. This investment, completed in April 2024, demonstrates confidence in Vietnams market and Masans consumer-centric strategy, despite challenging financial market conditions. The capital injection strengthens Masans financial position, enabling it to better seize opportunities to serve Vietnamese consumers in sectors such as groceries, financial services, and other daily needs. The groups focus remains on innovative solutions and optimizing its consumer-retail platform to capitalize on Vietnams golden consumption era. Since 2007, Masan has mobilized $5 billion, attracting investments from prominent funds such as KKR, TPG, and SK Group. In May this year, Masan High-Tech Materials, a subsidiary of Masan Group, signed a framework agreement with Mitsubishi Materials Corporation. Under the agreement, the latter will acquire all of Germanys H.C. Starck Holding from Masan. The deal includes a long-term offtake agreement for ammonium paratungstate and tungsten oxide. Masan retains ownership in Nyobolt, a UK-based fast-charging lithium-ion battery technology company, and rights to potential monetization of blackmass technology intellectual property developed by HCS. WinCommerce owns a large-scale modern retail system nationwide. Photo: Supplied Meanwhile, Masan continues to strengthen its core consumer-retail operations. In September, it acquired a 7.1 percent stake in WinCommerce from SK Group. WinCommerce, Vietnams largest modern retail operator, has been a cornerstone of Masans strategy to expand its retail footprint and increase control over its core business. Masan notes that WinCommerce has entered a profitability phase, with positive net profit after tax (NPAT) reported for the first time since the pandemic. WinCommerce posted revenue of VND8.6 trillion ($338.5 million) and positive NPAT of VND20 billion ($788,240) for the full quarter in 3Q2024, the first time since COVID-19, providing a clear pathway to sustainable and increasing profitability. By identifying a profitable retail model, Masan has resumed store expansion, aiming for 4,000 locations by the end of 2024. The group remains focused on delivering sustainable growth while contributing to Vietnams modern trade market. Masans M&A strategy and operations reflect a deliberate concentration on building a consumer-retail ecosystem in line with Vietnams evolving market dynamics. By divesting non-core assets and optimizing its core businesses, the group is positioning itself as a leader in Vietnams modern consumption era. Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! As Vietnam plays an increasingly important standing in the Southeast Asian region, it continues to solidify its role as an important U.S. partner, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the 2024 U.S.-Vietnam Business Summit in Hanoi on Wednesday. Jointly held by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), the event was attended by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, officials from VCCI and AmCham, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper, ambassadors from other countries, and business leaders from both countries. It also featured the virtual participation of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and former U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman. Addressing the summit, Blinken commented that cooperation between the two countries, as well as partnerships between their businesses, is stronger and more dynamic than ever. The success of these relationships, he said, was on full display during his three recent visits to Vietnam. He acknowledged Vietnams growing importance in the Southeast Asian region and underscored that Vietnam has become an important U.S. partner. One of Washington's top priorities is to further promote the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations, the diplomat affirmed. Over the past decade, two-way trade between Vietnam and the U.S. has quadrupled, with both having worked together to launch initiatives that benefit their respective communities, Blinken remarked. According to U.S. Ambassador Knapper, the Vietnam-U.S. partnership is a historical testament to cooperation and development. Last years decision to upgrade ties between the two countries has opened a new chapter for bilateral collaboration in a variety of sectors. Enhancing cooperation and mutual understanding will contribute to helping Vietnam achieve its objectives in high technology, digital economy, green economy, AI, and port infrastructure development, Knapper said. Speaking at the summit, PM Chinh pledged that Vietnam would continue to improve its investment climate to make it more stable, open, transparent, and in line with international practices, while facilitating investment from the U.S. and other countries. Vietnam will keep tackling institutional bottlenecks, cutting down on compliance costs, developing digital infrastructure, improving transportation systems, facilitating production, enhancing the competitiveness of goods, and developing a high-quality workforce. Furthermore, the country will prioritize growth by revitalizing traditional growth drivers such as investment, consumption, and exports. It will also focus on new growth drivers, including digital economy, green economy, circular economy, science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, AI, cloud computing, the Internet of Things, and blockchain. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the 2024 U.S.-Vietnam Business Summit in Hanoi, November 27, 2024. Photo: Doan Bac He called on American investors to engage in executing larger-scale projects with significant transformative impacts to create breakthroughs in bilateral investment cooperation, including establishing international financial centers, building the North-South high-speed railway, constructing nuclear power plants, expanding airport and seaport systems, implementing clean energy projects, and creating large-scale national data centers. PM Chinh also suggested that the U.S. remove barriers against Vietnam, recognize its market economy status, and continue to facilitate cooperation between the two countries and their enterprises. VCCI chairman Pham Tan Cong hoped that the two governments will promote and maintain stable trade relations to achieve a harmonious, sustainable, and mutually beneficial trade balance. Cong recommended that businesses from both countries promote cooperation, expand partnerships, share information, and develop joint projects, particularly in high technology, digital technology, circular economy, and green energy. Currently, the U.S. is Vietnams second-largest trading partner, with two-way trade reaching US$110.8 billion in 2023 and $110.9 billion in the first 10 months of this year. As of October, the U.S had about 1,400 FDI projects worth nearly $12 billion in Vietnam, ranking 11th among the 148 countries and territories investing in the Southeast Asian country. Vietnam and the U.S. normalized their diplomatic relations in July 1995 and entered a comprehensive partnership in July 2013. Ten years later, the two sides lifted their ties directly to a comprehensive strategic partnership on September 10, 2023, skipping the strategic partnership level, during U.S. President Joe Bidens official visit to Vietnam. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) has passed an amended Law on Value Added Tax (VAT), doubling the VAT-exempt revenue threshold to nearly US$8,000 per year, effective from July 2025. On Tuesday, the NA approved the revised Law on VAT with 407 out of 451 delegates present voting in favor following a presentation by chairman of the NA Finance and Budget Committee Le Quang Manh on the proposed amendments, according to the Vietnam News Agency. The revised law will take effect from July 1, 2025. As part of the amended law, the VAT-exempt revenue threshold has been doubled to VND200 million ($7,880) per year from VND100 million ($3,940), meaning only businesses with annual revenues above the new level will be subject to VAT, currently set at up to 10 percent. The new threshold was set after the drafting board of the revised law reviewed the country's annual GDP growth rates and yearly CPI rates from 2013 to the present, along with other relevant factors. Following the application of the new threshold, the number of taxpayers as business households and individuals will decrease by 620,653, and estimated budget revenues will correspondingly decrease by about VND2.63 trillion ($103.5 million), according to the Ministry of Finance. At a meeting held by the NA Standing Committee on November 14 to consider the revised law, NA Deputy Chairman Nguyen Duc Hai affirmed that the legislature agreed to grant the government authority to adjust annual VAT-exempted revenue thresholds based on the actual socio-economic development conditions of the country. Several NA deputies proposed that the threshold be further raised to VND300 million ($11,820) or VND400 million ($15,760) per year in the future. The revised Law on VAT consists of four chapters and 17 articles, providing regulations on taxable subjects, non-taxable subjects, taxpayers, bases and methods of VAT calculation, deductions and refunds, and other provisions, according to the Vietnam News Agency. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnam welcomes the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah and calls on both sides to immediately execute the deal, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang told a press briefing on Thursday. Vietnam applauds the ceasefire agreement for its potential to bring long-term and sustainable peace to the region, ensuring security, safety, and the well-being of all people, Hang stressed. Vietnam supports all efforts to achieve a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and end the conflict, contributing to building a peaceful and stable climate in the Middle East, she underlined. Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon agreed to a ceasefire on Wednesday (local time) after both sides accepted an agreement brokered by the United States and France. As per the deal, Israel will gradually withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon over 60 days, while Hezbollah will have to move north of the Litani River, some 30 kilometers from the border with Israel. The agreement also stipulates that the Lebanese government is responsible for preventing Hezbollah and other armed groups in Lebanon from carrying out activities against Israel from 4:00 am on Wednesday. In return, Israel will not conduct military attacks against Lebanese targets by land, air, or sea. Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu delivered his speech about the ceasefire agreement, explaining that he accepted the deal as it would help Israel focus on the Iranian threat. Iran was accused of being the main backer of Hamas and Hezbollah. After the deal took effect, thousands of displaced Lebanese people began returning to their homes. Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnam treasures and prioritizes its friendship and multifaceted cooperative relationship with neighboring Cambodia, State President Luong Cuong said during a meeting with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni in Hanoi on Thursday. The meeting took place as part of King Sihamonis two-day state visit to Vietnam at the invitation of President Cuong, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported. The Vietnamese leader shared his appreciation for the Cambodian kings visit, saying it would contribute to deepening the bilateral relationship between the two countries in line with the motto good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability. Congratulating Cambodia on its socio-economic achievements over the past 20 years under the reign of the king, President Cuong shared his wish that the Cambodian people would continue to achieve great accomplishments in years to come and meet its goal of becoming an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050. He underlined Vietnam's policy of prioritizing its all-round cooperative relations with Cambodia. In response, King Sihamoni shared his belief that Vietnam will continue to find success in the future thanks to the reformations it began nearly 40 years ago with its Doi Moi (renovation) policy. He affirmed that the Cambodian people will forever be grateful to Vietnam for helping end the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime, as well as aiding in Cambodias national building and development. The king said that he will continue to work with Senate President Hun Sen, National Assembly President Khuon Sudary, and Prime Minister Hun Manet to consolidate and deepen the friendship and cooperative ties with Vietnam. Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni (L) and Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong talk at their meeting in Hanoi on November 28, 2024. Photo: Danh Khang President Cuong suggested that King Sihamoni work with senior Cambodian leaders to facilitate the naturalization of eligible people of Vietnamese origin living in Cambodia, and to continue giving support to Vietnamese communities in the kingdom. The Vietnamese leader conveyed his regards to Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk and expressed his hope that the Queen Mother will accompany King Sihamoni on a visit to Vietnam for rest and relaxation at a suitable time. In return, the monarch expressed his desire to welcome President Cuong to Cambodia in the near future. Also on Thursday, the Cambodian king held separate meetings with Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man to discuss boosting bilateral comprehensive cooperation between the two nations. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! While Hanoi grapples with a severe shortage of schools and hospitals, several former state-run agency headquarters in Ha Dong District have been left deserted for years, indicating a waste of valuable public resources. A Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper correspondent on Thursday visited To Hieu Street in Ha Dong, where certain government buildings have remained unused for 17 years. Located at 32 To Hieu, the former headquarters of the Peoples Procuracy remains locked behind rusted gates. The building is in a state of disrepair, with large sections of walls peeling and ample plants. The rusty gates remain locked at the former headquarters of the Peoples Procuracy in Ha Dong District, Hanoi. Photo: Pham Tuan / Tuoi Tre This is such a waste, Loi, a local, said of the building, adding that it should be repurposed for public use. The former headquarters of the Peoples Procuracy in Ha Dong District, Hanoi is in a state of disrepair. Photo: Pham Tuan / Tuoi Tre The former headquarters of the Peoples Procuracy in Ha Dong District, Hanoi is in a state of disrepair. Photo: Pham Tuan / Tuoi Tre The former headquarters of the Peoples Procuracy in Ha Dong District, Hanoi is in a state of disrepair. Photo: Pham Tuan / Tuoi Tre Nearby, the former Ha Tay Provincial Radio and Television Station also stands vacant, with its three-story structure severely deteriorating. Cracks have appeared all along the walls, while the ground floor now serves as storage for discarded signs from a neighboring bank. The former Ha Tay Provincial Radio and Television Station also stands vacant in Ha Dong District, Hanoi, with its three-story structure suffering severe deterioration. Photo: Pham Tuan / Tuoi Tre Inside the former Ha Tay Provincial Radio and Television Station in Ha Dong District, Hanoi, wild plants and grass have grown unchecked from the lobby to the third-floor balcony. Photo: Pham Tuan / Tuoi Tre Inside the former Ha Tay Provincial Radio and Television Station in Ha Dong District, Hanoi, wild plants and grass have grown unchecked from the lobby to the third-floor balcony. Photo: Pham Tuan / Tuoi Tre Inside the former Ha Tay Provincial Radio and Television Station in Ha Dong District, Hanoi, wild plants and grass have grown unchecked from the lobby to the third-floor balcony. Photo: Pham Tuan / Tuoi Tre At 55 To Hieu, another abandoned facility -- formerly the headquarters of the Statistical Data Collection and Information Technology Application Department under the General Statistics Office -- is also in a run-down state. Located at 55 To Hieu Street in Ha Dong District, Hanoi, this neglected building, once a state-run office, is overshadowed by surrounding modern houses and lush greenery. Photo: Pham Tuan / Tuoi Tre Both the exterior and interior of the building at 55 To Hieu Street in Ha Dong District, Hanoi are in poor condition, appearing run-down despite its location on a busy street. Photo: Pham Tuan / Tuoi Tre Both the exterior and interior of the building at 55 To Hieu Street in Ha Dong District, Hanoi are in poor condition, appearing run-down despite its location on a busy street. Photo: Pham Tuan / Tuoi Tre Both the exterior and interior of the building at 55 To Hieu Street in Ha Dong District, Hanoi are in poor condition, appearing run-down despite its location on a busy street. Photo: Pham Tuan / Tuoi Tre Similarly, at 5 Nguyen Trai Street, the old Department of Science and Technology office is partially vacated, with its windows shattered and the front yard now serving as an informal marketplace for flower vendors. At 5 Nguyen Trai Street in Ha Dong District, Hanoi, the abandoned office, formerly the headquarters of the Hanoi Department of Science and Technology, has become a makeshift marketplace for flower vendors. Photo: Pham Tuan / Tuoi Tre The buildings glass panes shattered. Photo: Pham Tuan / Tuoi Tre At 29 To Hieu, the former Ha Dong State Treasury building remains shuttered. At 29 To Hieu, the former Ha Dong State Treasury building remains shuttered. Photo: Pham Tuan / Tuoi Tre At 29 To Hieu, the former Ha Dong State Treasury building remains shuttered. Photo: Pham Tuan / Tuoi Tre At 29 To Hieu, the former Ha Dong State Treasury building remains shuttered. Photo: Pham Tuan / Tuoi Tre At 29 To Hieu, the former Ha Dong State Treasury building remains shuttered. Photo: Pham Tuan / Tuoi Tre Speaking to Tuoi Tre the same day, a local official said that management and repurposing of these sites fall under the jurisdiction of the Hanoi Peoples Committee. In September, the Ha Dong administration issued an official dispatch, urging relevant agencies to assess and propose solutions for these neglected properties. The dispatch highlighted that these sites were originally reserved for administrative use prior to Ha Tay Province being merged into Hanoi in 2008. However, ineffective management has led to significant waste. The district has initiated a review and reallocation of these properties to prevent further waste of public assets. Properties identified as surplus will be reported to higher authorities for reassignment or repurposing, following legal guidelines to ensure their effective use for the community. In recent years, the Vietnamese capital has experienced a severe shortage of schools and hospitals, especially in newly-developed urban areas and inner-city districts. Rapid population growth, inadequate planning, and delayed implementation of social infrastructure projects were said to have presented multiple challenges for the citys education and healthcare sectors. Hanoi recorded a sharp rise in the number of sixth-grade students in the 2023-24 academic year at188,429, marking an increase of 38,519 from a year earlier. To satisfy this demand, the capital requires 1,315 additional classrooms, according to Tap Chi Cong San (Communist Magazine). In Hoang Mai District, which has the largest population in the city with more than 700,000, it adds around 4,000 new students annually, leading to a current shortfall of 43 schools, the Vietnam News Agency reported. VOV reported that Hanoi currently has nearly 23,000 hospital beds and needs over 4,000 more. This dearth is a key factor contributing to the localized bed capacity crisis at Thanh Nhan Hospital and several other hospitals across Hanoi. VOV added that the lack of hospital beds is even more severe at central-level hospitals. Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! What you need to know today in Vietnam: Politics -- Following an official welcome ceremony on Thursday, Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong held talks with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Cuong expressed confidence that King Sihamoni's visit would serve as a catalyst for strengthening the robust cooperation between the two neighboring nations. Society -- Hanoi is bracing for a sharp drop in temperatures on Friday, as chilly weather settles over the capital. The northern provinces are also experiencing cold to frigid conditions. Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City and the southern region are seeing cloudy skies and subdued sunshine. -- Vietnam ranks fourth among 20 Asian countries in gambling activity, based on casino operations and the number of players, Dr. Can Van Luc, chief economist at state-run bank BIDV, said at a conference in Hanoi on Thursday. He added that the country faces a significant challenge due to the lack of a comprehensive legal framework to effectively regulate the industry and collect taxes. -- Con Dao National Park on the eponymous island, off the coast of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province in southern Vietnam, has officially recognized 24 additional forest trees as 'Heritage Trees,' bringing the total number of heritage-designated trees in the area to 105. Business -- Poland's exports to Vietnam grew nearly 20 percent last year, underscoring the strengthening trade ties between the two nations, with the Southeast Asian country having emerged as Polands largest trading partner among ASEAN countries, according to figures released during a Vietnam-Poland trade conference in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday. Lifestyle -- As the year draws to a close, visitors to Hoi An in Quang Nam Province, central Vietnam are treated to a unique perspective of the ancient town. Floodwaters from upstream have submerged half of the pedestrian streets in murky water, turning the historic quarter into a picturesque scene. For many, the experience of gazing at the waterlogged town has become an unexpected and thrilling highlight. -- Crowds gathered on Thursday from across the region in the central area of Ward 6, Tan An City, Long An Province, a neighbor of Ho Chi Minh City, eagerly awaiting a spectacular display of 650 drones. The high-tech performance, set to light up the sky at 10:00 pm, marked the grand opening of the 'Khat Vong Song Vam' (Aspiration of the Vam River) festival. World News -- Australia made headlines on Thursday by approving a social media ban for children under 16, following a highly charged debate that captivated the nation, Reuters reported, adding that with this move, Australia has set a new standard for jurisdictions worldwide, implementing one of the strictest regulations aimed at Big Tech. Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! Cross-border and domestic social media platforms will be required to authenticate users accounts via their mobile phone numbers in Vietnam next month, as per a new government decree. The regulation is included in Government Decree 147/2024/ND-CP on the management, provision, and use of Internet services and online information, which will take effect from December 25. Le Quang Tu Do, director of the Department of Radio, Television, and Electronic Information, under the Ministry of Information and Communications, pointed out the new rule at a conference held on Thursday. Mandatory authentication of users social media accounts via mobile phone numbers is a measure to prevent anonymous people from scamming, spreading fake news, or committing other illegal acts, the official explained. The authentication process must be completed within 90 days from December 25, 2024, the decree states. If users have no mobile phone numbers in Vietnam, they can utilize their personal identification numbers for authentication. Users can only host live streams for commercial purposes when they have validated their accounts with personal identification numbers. Pursuant to the new rule, only verified accounts will be allowed to post or share information, or live-stream on social media. For children aged below 16 using social media platforms, the registration of their accounts must be carried out by using the personal information of their parents or guardians, who are responsible for managing and supervising the content that their children access, post or share on the sites. Social media platforms must be responsible for checking, monitoring, or removing any information, services, and applications that violate relevant laws and regulations. All platforms will have to secure the consent of media agencies before using their media products. They will also have to temporarily or permanently block accounts that frequently violate the law, and to tell account owners to be responsible for managing the content and comments posted on their social media pages, according to the fiat. In addition, social networking sites must provide information about violating users to state management agencies upon request. The department reported that Vietnamese users have created 110 million accounts on local social media platforms and 203 million accounts on international social media networks. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! 8 part Russian drama Dead Mountain: The Dyatlov Pass Incident gets a very late night slot on SBS next week. This intense thriller sheds light on the mysterious deaths of a soviet tourist group in the northern Ural Mountains in February 1959. Both following the students hike, day by day, hour by hour, and later the investigation lead by KGB agent Oleg Kostin, Dead Mountain: The Dyatlov Pass Incident is based on the de-classified files of the real-life case, that had people spinning wild theories all over the world for more than 60 years. Major Kostin, a war hero who lost his wife and son, has an almost supernatural intuition an ability to see and feel unexpected, concealed things. One question haunts his investigation: what could frighten the students so much that they left the safety of their tent, in the dead of a cold Siberian night, leaving their clothes and provisions behind? Oleg is hell-bent on finding the truth. But the more he learns, the more it becomes clear: The reason the students died will never see the light of day. No one can ever know what really happened. No one. Except him. Episode One: Soviet Union, 1959. KGB major Oleg Kostin arrives to Ivdel a small town on the edge of the Ural Mountains, in order to investigate the death of a group of young tourists. Monday, 2 December at 11.35pm on SBS. In 2001, a Media Watch interview by Paul Barry ended up costing him his job. Barry had conducted a robust interview with ABC chairman Donald McDonald, in which he questioned if the Board still supported managing director Jonathan Shier, who was locked in a funding battle with government. As his final episode for 2000 he signed off saying,We hope well be back next year on your ABC. But it was not to be, with Shier subsequently axing the program and replacing it with (Stuart) Littlemore. Shier eventually resigned from the ABC a year later with Media Watch reinstated in 2002 with new host David Marr. Barry, who is the shows longest-running host, returned to the chair in 2013. He departs on Monday. Upcoming Stan Original Documentary The Tattooists Son: Journey to Auschwitz, will premiere in January 2025. Co-commissioned with Sky and Hearst Networks EMEA, it is being produced by Synchronicity Films, the production company behind The Tattooist of Auschwitz, and is filmed and directed by Stephen Bennett. Filmed in Melbourne, Slovakia and Poland, it will follow Gary Sokolov, the only son of Gita and Lali Sokolov (one of the real-life tattooists of Auschwitz). Their incredible love story began when they met and fell in love as Slovakian Jewish prisoners at Auschwitz Concentration Camp, where the Nazi regime systematically murdered over a million Jews. The film will chart Garys first visit to this most notorious German death camp. This is a trip that Lali had always wanted to make before his death in October 2006 and one that Gary dearly wishes he had made with his father while he was still alive. Only now, after seeing the success of the drama series and the book which brought his parents story to a global audience, does Gary feel ready to undertake this journey. As the world prepares to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, Gary has embarked on what he describes as the trip of his lifetime. The Tattooists Son: Journey to Auschwitz will see Gary enter the camp through the infamous Arbeit Macht Frei gatehouse, where he will begin to explore the horrors confronted by his parents. Stan Chief Content Officer Cailah Scobie said: The global success of The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a testament to Lali and Gitas harrowing love story, and this brand new documentary will have an equally profound impact on our audiences. Exploring intergenerational trauma and the enduring pain and resilience of those who lived through the Holocaust, The Tattooists Son: Journey to Auschwitz is nothing short of powerful, and will hopefully foster healing and awareness in future generations. Claire Mundell Executive Producer at Synchronicity Films said: Having brought Lali and Gitas incredible love story to the screen in The Tattooist of Auschwitz, it is a privilege for us to walk with Gary through this emotional and personal pilgrimage for his parents. By sharing his story, we hope to give audiences an insight to the burden of intergenerational trauma and encourage empathy for the children of survivors coping with their parents painful legacies in order that neither they nor we ever forget. Dan Korn at Hearst Networks EMEA said: As the last survivors of the most terrible event in human history depart this life, it is down to the next generation and those like Gary to take this difficult journey and bear witness so that such incomprehensible violence and bloodshed can never happen again. Hayley Reynolds, Acting Director of Documentaries and Factual at Sky said: We are honoured to commission this poignant documentary that will follow Gary Sokolov as he embarks on this deeply personal journey. Building on the success of our critically acclaimed Sky Original drama, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, we hope this documentary will further engage audiences in a meaningful dialogue about the Holocaust. Among others in the documentary, Gary will meet with Heather Morris, author of the international best-selling novel The Tattooist of Auschwitz; actors Jonah Hauer-King and Anna Prochniak who portrayed his parents in the Stan Original Series; as well as Holocaust trauma psychiatrist George Halasz and 100-year-old Holocaust and Auschwitz survivor, Abram Goldberg, in his effort to understand the impact of Intergenerational Holocaust Trauma. Featuring footage of the real Lali Sokolov, clips from the drama series featuring the actors Jonah Hauer-King (Young Lali) and Anna Prochniak (Young Gita), archive footage, and compelling interviews, the documentary promises to be an emotional journey like no other. The film was commissioned for Sky History by Dan Korn, VP of Programming, Hearst Networks EMEA and Hayley Reynolds, Acting Director of Documentaries and Factual at Sky. Kathryn Taylor is the Commissioning Editor for Sky. Additional funding was provided by The National Lottery through Screen Scotland. The Tattooists Son: Journey to Auschwitz marks Synchronicity Films first foray into high-end feature documentary. Claire Mundell, Founder and Creative Director of Synchronicity Films, will executive produce and produce The Tattooists Son: Journey to Auschwitz, which is filmed and directed by award-winning director Stephen Bennett. The production team includes shooting AP Martin Campbell; line producer Priya Bhakta; researcher Irina Glinski and Scott Watkins, production coordinator. Stan Executive Producers are Cailah Scobie and Alicia Brown. HA NOI Merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in Viet Nam is expected to be bustling again, thanks to the domestic economic recovery and higher foreign investment. At the Vietnam M&A Forum 2024 held in HCM City on November 27, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen uc Tam said that M&A has become an effective capital mobilisation channel, contributing to promoting the process of economic restructuring, renewing the growth model, and equitising state-owned enterprises. Tam said that the socio-economic picture for 2024 was basically one of recovery, reaching 14 out of its 15 main economic targets, with an estimated GDP growth of 6.8 - 7 per cent. Those achievements will create an important foundation for new breakthroughs in economic growth in 2025. Among them, foreign investment is a bright spot. In the first ten months of 2024, Viet Nam attracted nearly US$27.3 billion of foreign investment capital, up 1.9 per cent year-on-year. Disbursed investment reached about $19.6 billion, up 8.8 per cent. Many large projects in the fields of semiconductors and energy have received new investment or increased capital, such as batteries, photovoltaic cells, and components. Viet Nam has many advantages to attract investment in pioneering industrial fields, such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and clean energy. However, Viet Nam's M&A market has shown some slowing signs. In the first 10 months of 2024, this market had only 2,669 transactions of capital contribution and share purchase made by foreign investors, with a total capital of more than $3.68 billion. Those were down 10.4 per cent in terms of the number of transactions and down 29 per cent in value compared with the same period in 2023. However, according to Tam, this slowdown is only a temporary pause, due to the general trend of the global market, not full recovery in the world economy after the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical fluctuations in the world. Viet Nam M&A market is always assessed by foreign investors as a safe, attractive and potential market. Tam said that the National Assembly has just approved the 2025 Socio-Economic Development Plan with an important goal of GDP growth at 6.5 - 7 per cent. Viet Nam's economy is forecast to maintain positive growth momentum, while institutions and legal frameworks strengthened in 2024 will have a clearer impact on economic growth and development in 2025. To achieve this goal, the National Assembly has proposed 12 groups of tasks and solutions to implement the 2025 Socio-Economic Development Plan, including drastic actions to remove institutional and legal bottlenecks. Tam believes that if the proposed solutions are implemented drastically and effectively, the Vietnamese economy can achieve all its targets for economic development next year. "This will be an important foundation for Viet Nam to attract more foreign investment in general, and investment via M&A activities in particular," Tam said. Once the economy recovers, the foreign investment flows will accelerate into Viet Nam, combined with the growth of domestic enterprises, M&A activities will soon recover and develop strongly. Foreign capital inflows Viet Nam's M&A market, one that has been dominated by domestic investors for some considerable time, is now forecast to attract even higher numbers. In a report on Viet Nam M&A market, KPMG said that foreign investors - mainly from Japan, South Korea, Singapore and the US - which had the most deals in Viet Nam in the past, are expected to return from 2025 onward. Viet Nams M&A landscape in the remaining months of 2024 and in 2025 presents an increasingly compelling opportunity for investors navigating an evolving regional dynamic. Tax incentives, regulatory reforms and strategic support for high-growth sectors are not simply symbolic they are concrete, value-enhancing measures that position Viet Nam as an increasingly attractive market for cross-border capital. Combined with a strong focus on infrastructure development and digital modernisation, these initiatives are setting Viet Nam on course to become a focal point for M&A activity in Southeast Asia. This alignment of economic stability, policy clarity and sectoral growth potential offers a powerful narrative for investors seeking durable, long-term returns in one of Asias most dynamic markets, according to KPMG. This year, Viet Nam expects to attract $39-40 billion in foreign investment capital, equivalent to last year. Many large projects in high-tech fields, including semiconductors, have been pouring into Viet Nam. LG Display has increased its capital by $1 billion for its new-generation screen factory in Hai Phong, after Samsung Display announced plans to increase its investment of $1.8 billion in its factory in Bac Ninh. A series of big names, such as Goertek, Foxconn and Luxshare, are continuing to send capital into Viet Nam. Many other foreign investors in the fields of semiconductors and AI are preparing plans to boost investment and business activities in the country, including Marvell, Lam Research, Synopsys, Infineon Technologies, HanaMicron, and Amkor Technology. Viet Nam also has many ambitions in developing the fields of semiconductors and AI, according to Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung. That will help Viet Nam not only participate in the global value chain, but also build an advanced and attractive semiconductor industrial ecosystem in the region and the world. VNS By Ly Ly Cao HA NOI Air pollution has been a headache issue for Hanoians for years, especially during seasonal transitions. And the fundamental solution to reversing the worsening pollution lies in 'greening' millions of vehicles, which are the primary drivers of the current environmental crisis, said experts. Seventy per cent of emissions stem from transportation According to air quality monitoring agency IQAir, Ha Noi City consistently ranked throughout all of October among the most polluted cities globally. On the morning of October 7, Ha Noi even earned the unfortunate title of the worlds most polluted city, with an air quality index nearing 200levels considered hazardous to human health. In fact, this is not the first time Vietnamese cities have appeared on this unwanted list. HCM City and Ha Noi, Viet Nams two largest and most densely populated cities, are frequently ranked among the worlds most polluted cities. I have to wear a face mask whenever I go out to the street. As Ha Noi enters the autumn season, the dry weather makes it worse, Luong Thi Tuyet, 50 years old from Thanh Xuan District, told Viet Nam News. The low-quality air also affects children's health, as records from the National Children's Hospital in October indicate a rapid increase in respiratory cases. According to a 2023 study by the Southern Centre for Environment Monitoring under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, pollution emissions in major urban areas are estimated to be 70 per cent attributable to transportation. By the end of 2023, Viet Nam had approximately 80.6 million cars and motorcycles, most of which run on gasoline or diesel, essentially serving as 'mobile exhaust pipes' contributing to air pollution. Dr Hoang Duong Tung, president of the Viet Nam Clean Air Network, said that reducing vehicle emissions must be prioritised to curb air pollution. He stressed the importance of policies promoting electric vehicles for public services and transportation, limiting gasoline and diesel vehicles, and encouraging people to adopt cleaner transportation options. He pointed to cities worldwide that were once air pollution hotspots but have gradually improved through bold policies. Recently, for example, the European Parliament approved a ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars starting in 2035. In Viet Nam, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 876/QD-TTg, approving the Green Energy Transition Programme to reduce carbon and methane emissions in the transportation sector. The programme aims to have 100 per cent of motor vehicles, including personal cars, public transport and special-use vehicles, powered by electricity or green energy by 2050. This decision has quickly gained enthusiastic support from the public and experts in transportation and environmental fields in Viet Nam. Observers believe that, with the rapid and continuous growth of electric cars and motorbikes, the goal of a full green transition is entirely achievable. I one hundred per cent support Ha Nois plan to restrict pollution-causing vehicles, said Kim Oanh from Ha ong District. I have been using public transport for years and I prefer travelling around by electric buses. They are quiet and comfortable while running and have zero-emissions. Similarly, Tuyet also backs the citys plan, adding that she will book an electric taxi or bike from Green SM if she has to go somewhere. Introducing electric bus lanes During a dialogue session between the Chairman of the Ha Noi People's Committee and young individuals on October 14, Le Thanh Nam, director of the Ha Noi Department of Natural Resources and Environment, said that starting in 2025, Ha Noi will experiment with implementing low-emission zones. In densely populated and pollution-prone areas, vehicles contributing to pollution will face restrictions. These zones aim to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce air pollution levels. "The expansion of dedicated lanes for electric buses and low-emission vehicles, in conjunction with public transportation systems, plays a pivotal role in regulating traffic flow and curbing emissions, Nam said. Moreover, enhancing transportation infrastructure and fostering smart transportation systems are crucial to easing congestion and optimising traffic flow." Promoting electric vehicles In early October, VinFast announced sales of over 9,300 vehicles in September, making it the top-selling brand in Viet Nam and surpassing international car brands with decades of presence in the market. Notably, VinFasts current product lineup is exclusively electric, as the company ceased production of internal combustion engine vehicles in 2022. It signals a growing consumer trust and awareness of the environmental benefits of electric vehicles. Encouragingly, along with individual consumers, many companies in the transportation sector have eagerly transitioned from petrol-powered to electric vehicles for their services. In a recent statement, Nguyen Van inh, chairman and CEO of International En Vang JSC, revealed the company's strategic shift towards incorporating electric vehicles into their services. This forward-looking decision, he emphasised, marks a significant stride in the fight against greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. According to inh, this transition isn't just about meeting environmental standards; it's about setting a positive example and establishing a brand identity that resonates with environmentally-conscious consumers. By embracing sustainable solutions like electric vehicles, En Vang aims to reduce its carbon footprint but also attract customers who value eco-friendly practices. En Vang was among the early adopters of electric vehicles, transitioning to VinFast EVs in April 2023 and is set to reach a fleet of 500 electric cars by the end of 2024. Other companies are making strong green transitions, including Lado (Lam ong Province), Bach ai Dung (Ha Tinh Province), MaiLove Taxi (Nghe An Province) and a newly formed alliance of four long-standing taxi companies in Ha Noi - Thanh Nga, Long Bien, Que Lua and Bac A. Beyond contributing to environmental protection, many businesses believe that electric vehicles are key to reducing costs and enhancing service quality, ultimately maximising economic benefits. Environmental experts commend these transitions, viewing the collective efforts of citizens, businesses and leaders like VinFast as a solid foundation in Viet Nams efforts to combat pollution. This is the right path forward, yet it needs more vigorous advancement given the ongoing pollution crisis. To go far, we must go together - no one can do it alone. Environmental protection isnt the responsibility of just one business or the government. Its a collective effort. The success lies in everyones participation, said Tung from the Viet Nam Clean Air Network. VNS By Tien at HOA BINH Amid the verdant landscapes of Hoa Binh Province, the Tan Lac red pomelo has emerged as a symbol of agricultural innovation and economic promise. Pomelo is one of Viet Nam's key crops, planted across 105,400 hectares, with orchards producing nearly 905,000 tonnes annually. In addition to local sales, many regions are focusing on exporting this specialty fruit, and to date it is being exported to about 19 markets. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, each region grows its own unique types of pomelos, including green-skinned, Nam Roi, Dien and oan Hung varieties. Notably, the Tan Lac red pomelo, known for its sweet, mild flavour and striking reddish-pink flesh, is boosting the livelihoods of farmers in Hoa Binh Province, and helping Viet Nams agricultural products gain more recognition across global markets. With over 1,200 hectares dedicated to red pomelo cultivation, Tan Lac District has become a significant producer, yielding an estimated 20,000 tonnes annually. Weve identified red pomelo as a key crop in our districts agricultural development strategy, Phung Van Thai, an officer from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Tan Lac District, told Viet Nam News. To maximise its economic potential, were actively promoting trade, attracting investment and providing material support to farmers, he said. A mature pomelo tree, at five years old, can produce between 260 and 320 fruits each year, so the impact on local farmers is substantial. With proper care, each hectare can generate an average income of about VN150 million (US$5,900), with some households earning several hundred million annually, Thai noted. Regions such as Thanh Hoi, ong Lai and Tu Ne have reported even higher incomes, reaching up to VN415 million per hectare. In 2022, Tan Lac red pomelo took a significant step onto the international stage with an initial export of six tonnes to the United Kingdom. Exporting to the UK not only opens up a new market but also enhances the value of our pomelos, showing how our product has met the stringent quality and food safety standards of the European market, Thai said. Through a contract with RYB Joint Stock Company in Ha Noi, Tan Lac supplied 9,000 red pomelos, a total of nine tonnes, for export. Each fruit weighs between 0.9 and 1.2 kilogrammes and adheres to strict standards regarding pesticide residue, sweetness and colour. Buoyed by this success, Tan Lac District aims to enter other demanding markets such as the United States, the European Union and New Zealand. This year, we plan to export between 1,000 and 1,200 tonnes of red pomelo to these markets. Its a significant opportunity to boost economic value for local farmers and strengthen the Tan Lac red pomelo brand internationally. Thai added. Challenges on the horizon Despite these achievements, exporting Tan Lac red pomelo is not without challenges. International markets impose rigorous requirements. Products must meet high-quality standards and undergo strict inspection processes, such as irradiation, Thai explained. A major hurdle is the lack of any irradiation facility in northern Viet Nam. Were forced to transport pomelos to the south for irradiation before export, which increases time and costs. These expenses can reduce farmers' profits and affect the products competitiveness globally. Thai said. Additionally, uncontrolled cultivation has led to declining domestic prices. Duong Van Tinh, a 72-year-old veteran and director of the Tan Huong Red Pomelo Cooperative, was among the pioneers of red pomelo cultivation in Tan Lac. I began planting red pomelo in 2004. Initially, prices were high, with each fruit selling for VN30,000 to VN35,000. However, prices have dropped significantly due to uncontrolled cultivation, Tinh told Viet Nam News. This decline has prompted some farmers to neglect their orchards or switch to other crops like acacia for paper production. This not only affects their income but also the reputation of Tan Lac red pomelo, Tinh added. Legal issues, market fluctuations and middlemen also hinder pomelo cultivation growth. Farmers sometimes break contracts for higher prices, while financial constraints prevent cooperatives from investing in necessary agricultural infrastructure. Some cooperative members arent proactive in intensive farming and care, leading to inconsistent product quality, Tinh said. A strategic vision To overcome challenges and promote Tan Lac red pomelo globally, the district has developed a clear strategy. The first step is to improve farming practices by adopting advanced techniques like efficient irrigation, organic fertilisers and eco-friendly pest control. Grafting low-yield areas is also a focus to increase both quantity and quality. The district also supports producers by encouraging larger-scale farming and the formation of cooperatives to improve coordination in farming, harvesting and marketing. Vocational training and business education help farmers gain skills for better production and trading, making them more competitive. Attracting investment is a key focus for Tan Lac District, which is creating favourable conditions for investors and businesses to partner in production and product sales. Establishing processing facilities near production sites is crucial for long-term growth and a stronger supply chain for red pomelo. The district is also prioritising technological innovation. By promoting research and the use of high-tech methods in production, processing and preservation, it aims to modernise the industry. The district is focused on improving certification and standards by supporting the establishment of planting area and packing facility codes. It also helps adopt good agricultural practices like VietGAP, GlobalG.A.P and organic standards to access premium markets and ensure product quality. Additionally, the district is working on product standardisation to boost the competitiveness and brand identity of Tan Lac red pomelo under the OCOP (One Commune One Product) standard, contributing to the regions sustainable economic development as a whole. By focusing on these areas, we aim to create specialised cultivation zones that meet international standards, providing technical training for farmers, along with intensifying trade promotion and marketing, are also crucial steps, Thai said. With the combined efforts of local authorities, agricultural experts and dedicated farmers, Tan Lac red pomelo is poised for greater success. If we work together and adhere to technical procedures, our pomelos will not only bring economic benefits but also enhance the status of Vietnamese agricultural products globally, Tinh said with optimism. VNS HA NOI The 2024 'Vietnamese Products Favoured by Consumers' awards, organised by the Ha Noi Fatherland Front and the Department of Industry and Trade, took place on November 28 at Trinh Cong Son Pedestrian Street, Tay Ho District. Nguyen Lan Huong, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Fronts Ha Noi Committee, said many businesses and production facilities have introduced innovative products and services, achieving recognition of high-quality Vietnamese products beloved by consumers. The programme, running for three months, attracted 276 products and services from 142 businesses in 18 categories. A total of 535,929 consumers participated in online and direct voting, up 5.55 per cent from 2023. In the end, 150 products and services were recognised. Among them, 25 products and services were ranked in the TOP 1 category, 35 in TOP 2, 40 in TOP 3 and 50 in TOP 4. This recognition serves not only as an honour for the business community but also as a symbol of innovation and the unwavering commitment of Vietnamese enterprises to assert their market position and elevate the status of Vietnamese goods. To support business recovery and growth, the Steering Committee urged party committees to strengthen leadership and called on agencies to boost communication, streamline procedures, and address enterprise issues. Meanwhile, businesses are encouraged to strengthen brand promotion, expand domestic and export markets and continue building consumer trust. VNS Central hub urges investment from US partners in key industries A NANG The central city of a Nang has been pushing for cooperations with US partners and businesses in the development of the semiconductor and AI industries, human resources training, sea port management, research, innovation, the environment and waste management and treatment. Chairman of the citys peoples committee, Le Trung Chinh, who paid working visits in the US recently, urged American companies to invest in a Nang and support the city in implementation of a series of key plans for hi-tech industries. Chinh asked the San Jose based Supermicro company, a premier provider of advanced server building block solutions, to review possible investment in an AI data centre in a Nang and human training in AI management. Senior vice president of worldwide sales at Supermicro, Phidias Chou said it will consider creating a centre in a Nang, adding that Supermicro and Sovico group from Viet Nam, had already inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed during the official visit to the US by the Vietnamese Partys Chief To Lam in September. In a visit to wireless company Qorvo Inc, headquartered in North Carolina, a Nang citys leader asked them to set up representative office in the city. a Nang has been accelerating the completion of Software Park No 2 in order to provide working space for strategic semiconductor and AI and hi-tech industries investors. Qorvos power General Manager, Jeff Strang said it would host a working team to make a survey and field visit to a Nang in readiness to open an office and begin expert training programmes in semiconductors and chip design. Qorvo Viet Nam Inc, which has one hundred members in Viet Nam, has positively participated in chip design and manufacture in the country. Having signed a MoU with Marvell Viet Nam in a Nang in August, the central city proposed the implementation of series items in the existing deal. Marvell Viet Nam opened an office in a Nang in May to accelerate co-operation in human resources development in chip design and AI. Loi Nguyen, executive vice president of cloud optics at Marvell, said employee numbers in Viet Nam have increased by 25 per cent and the company will be supporting them in training hi-quality human resources, as well as building a lab for semiconductor, AI and chip design studies. Chairman of a Nang City asked Nvidia company, the global chip maker, to continue the Deep Learning Institute University Ambassador programme in improving capability for lecturers at universities in a Nang. a Nang also urged Nvidia to support start-ups, innovation and R&D programmes, as well as improving the quality and the innovation ecological system in the city. In a working visit to ITS-Group INC and Philogix Consultant company, a Nang offered investment opportunities in building a manufacture plant in the supply chains of semiconductor equipment at a Nang Hi-tech Park. A series of programmes in R&D, technology transfer in biotech and pharmaceutical industries were also discussed with the US partners in the working session. Earlier, a Nang Citys working group paid visits to New York and Washington DC, to talk about plans to build an international finance centre in the city. Vice chairman of the Financial Services Volunteer Corps, Bill Mills said he highly appreciated the potential and opportunities of a Nang in developing a financial market. He said that a Nang should review experiences in operating a international finance centres and offer various preferential rates for investors. The company said it would help a Nang connect partners and businesses in finance centre development in the future. a Nang is hoping to get experience and learn more about management in waste-to-energy technology from Win Waste Innovations in operations of its Wheelabrator Westchester plant. In a meeting with assistant Secretary of State and Chief of the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, Carol Henniger, the chairman of a Nang City asked for further supports and assistance from the US department of State and the International Technology Security and Innovation Fund (ITSI Fund) in cooperative activities in the semiconductor industry. The assistant Secretary expressed her hopes for continuous cooperation between the city and Arizona State University in Assembling, Testing and Packaging (ATP). In a discussion with USAID, a Nang asked for implementation of co-operative fields that the two sides agreed in a MoU signed in January in environment, solid waste management, sorting waste at source and the proposal of establishment of a carbon credit office in a Nang. Its the second working visit by the city to call for investment from the US, after a first successful trip in 2023. HA NOI The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has urged localities in the Hong-Thai Binh rivers basin to develop plans for the extraction and use of water resources based on the principles of conservation, efficiency and waste prevention. This recommendation follows the ministry's release of the first-ever water resource scenario for the Hong-Thai Binh rivers basin earlier this week. The scenario predicts reduced rainfall and river flows during the dry season from December 2024 to June 2025, while water demand of major sectors is expected to remain high, increasing the risk of water shortages in several areas within the basin. Reduced river flow forecast Speaking about the water resource scenario, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Minh Ngan noted that temperatures from December 2024 to May 2025 are expected to be near the long-term average, with a rise of about 0.5 degrees Celsius above average for the remaining months. Heatwaves are likely to occur in northwest provinces from late February to early March and intensify from March to April 2025 in both the northwest and northeast regions, continuing with greater intensity and frequency during the peak summer months. In these climatic conditions, total rainfall in the a, Lo-Gam, Thao, Cau-Thuong rivers and the Hong River Delta is expected to range from 10-35 mm in December 2024, 5-10 mm below the long-term average. Rainfall in the first two months of 2025 is forecast at 15-40 mm, roughly average for the period. Dry-season river flows in the a, Thao and Cau rivers are predicted to decrease by 10-40 per cent between late November 2024 and January 2025. From February to May 2025, flows are expected to continue to drop 10-30 per cent below the long-term average, comparable to the 2020-2024 period. The Lo River is expected to experience similar flow reductions of 10-40 per cent from late November 2024 to January 2025 and 10-30 per cent from February to May 2025. On the Hong River, flows at the Son Tay hydrological station in Ha Noi are projected to be 10-25 per cent lower than the long-term average during February-May 2025. Meanwhile, total water demand for the Hong-Thai Binh rivers basin between December 2024 and June 2025 is projected at 9.71 billion cubic metres. Of that, groundwater is expected to account for 7.2 per cent of this demand, with surface water making up 92.8 per cent. The a River basin is expected to require 0.81 billion cubic metres of water. The Thao River basin will need approximately 0.67 billion cubic metres, the Cau-Thuong will require 1.58 billion cubic metres, and the Lo-Gam basin will require 1.02 billion cubic metres. The Hong River Delta will require the largest volume of water, approximately 5.63 billion cubic metres. Risks of water shortages The ministry highlighted the need for careful water resource planning and management to address these challenges and avert potential shortages across the basin. According to the ministry, from December 2024 to June 2025, the overall water resources from reservoirs, rivers and sub-basins are expected to suffice to meet domestic and economic demands. However, water availability in the basin during the forecast period is not abundant, posing risks of water shortages if resources are not used efficiently. Some sub-regions, sub-basins and districts within provinces such as ien Bien, Lai Chau, Phu Tho, Ha Giang, Yen Bai, Tuyen Quang and Bac Giang face potential localised water shortages. During the irrigation drainage period between January and February 2025 and the post-drainage period between March and June 2025, water released from the seven hydropower reservoirs in the basin may be insufficient to meet downstream demands if high volumes are discharged for irrigation and increased water use for power generation due to heatwaves. The primary causes of these potential shortages, according to the ministry, include insufficient rainfall, reduced river flows, limited capacity of water extraction facilities, and a lack of integrated, efficient irrigation systems. Water scarcity in these areas would primarily impact agricultural production and local livelihoods. Water management plans To mitigate the risk of water shortages, particularly ensuring adequate water supply for domestic use in the Hong-Thai Binh rivers basin, the ministry recommended that the ministries of agriculture and rural development, industry and trade, construction, and provincial authorities within the basin develop water resource utilisation plans. These plans should align with the normal water usage needs of each sector, region and locality. Key principles for these plans include avoiding waste and inefficiencies while preparing for potential droughts and shortages during the late dry season months, balancing water use for multiple purposes, including food security, energy security and the safety of the electrical grid, preparing for widespread heatwaves from April to June 2025, and mitigating risks of power shortages due to challenges in thermal power plant operations. The ministry also stresses the need to enhance water supply systems in the Hong River Delta, improve water use efficiency, minimise losses and waste and invest in infrastructure for water storage. Planning should be aligned with the water resource scenario to address shortages in areas with inadequate infrastructure for water regulation and storage. To ensure a continuous, stable and safe clean water supply for residents, the ministry urged provincial and municipal authorities to expedite the construction and operation of surface water plants and water distribution networks. Authorities should also review and report to the Prime Minister on necessary adjustments to the scale, capacity and timeline of water plant development plans if delays threaten stable water supply for residents. VNS BINH DUONG Many individuals with meritorious service in Binh Duong Province will celebrate the New Year in new homes. The Department of Labour, War Invalids, and Social Affairs (DOLISA) this year collaborated with localities and businesses to support the construction and renovation of 45 houses for people with meritorious service (NCC) in Binh Duong Province. As the Lunar New Year of 2025 approaches, many families can hardly contain their joy at celebrating the holiday in their new homes. According to Hoang Kim Ha, a war invalid residing in My Phuoc Ward, Ben Cat City, the Lunar New Year of 2025 will be her "warmest and happiest" after 12 years of living in rented accommodations. She now welcomes the holiday in her new home, measuring over 50 square metres, complete with a living room, bedroom, and kitchen. "For me, having a home like this is already a great blessing; I couldnt ask for more," she told Binh Duong Newspaper. Similarly, the family of Pham Thi Xiem, another NCC, in An Thuan Hamlet in Phu An Commune in Ben Cat City, is also overjoyed after receiving a gratitude house from local authorities. "My mother is over 90 now, and her health is frail. Since learning that the local authorities would build a house for us, she has been overjoyed. During the construction, she would often sit and watch the workers, asking when the house would be finished and smilingit was truly touching. Now, as we prepare for the New Year, with flowers planted in front of the house, her happiness has only grown. Our family feels deeply grateful for the care and support from the local authoritiesits more than enough," Pham Van Hai, Xiems eldest son, told Binh Duong Newspaper. For 62-year-old Nguyen Thi Ut in Phu Tho Ward in Thu Dau Mot City, the celebration on July 27, 2024, was unforgettable as she moved into her long-dreamed-of new home. Ut recalled how eight years ago, her husband passed away from a severe illness, leaving her to bear the family burden alone. She never imagined having a proper home in her twilight years due to her childrens financial struggles. However, the joy of receiving a new house from local authorities was overwhelming. "The local government has supported us not only with this house but also with gifts and health insuranceits truly wonderful. A few months ago, I had a severe accident, and without health insurance, I might not have survived. Since moving into this house, I feel at ease, free from the burdens that once weighed on me. This year will be even more joyful as we celebrate Tet in our new home," she said. Housing and livelihood support for people with meritorious service According to DOLISA, Binh Duong currently recognises over 64,000 individuals eligible for preferential policies for NCC to the revolution. Monthly allowances are provided to over 7,000 beneficiaries, amounting to more than VN12.5 billion (US$492,700). In addition to fully implementing policies for NCC, the department collaborates with agencies, organisations, and businesses to care for heroic Vietnamese mothers, war invalids, and martyrs. Annual activities such as tours, retreats, and programmes to showcase gratitudes to them are regularly organised. Among these efforts, housing construction for NCC has received significant attention from authorities, organisations, and businesses to ensure stable living conditions and help families improve their lives. In the past five years (20192023), DOLISA coordinated with localities and businesses to build or renovate 314 gratitude houses for NCC, with a total budget of over VN20.23 billion. This includes 98 newly built houses costing VN10.55 billion and 216 repaired houses costing over VND9.68 billion. In 2024 alone, 45 gratitude houses were built or repaired for NCC families at a total cost of VN2.72 billion, including eight new houses costing VN900 million, and 37 renovations costing VN1.82 billion. These activities aim to improve the welfare of NCC families and ensure effective implementation of social policies. VNS HCM CITY Viet Nam is committed to its responsibilities as a member of the Convention against Torture (CAT), Major General Nguyen Van Ky, deputy director of the Foreign Relations Department at the Ministry of Public Security, said at a workshop held in HCM City on Thursday (November 28). The workshop discussed the second periodic report of Viet Nam under the Convention against Torture (CAT) and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. It was organised by the Ministry of Public Security in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Nguyen Van Ky and Sabina Stein, Assistant Resident Representative, head of Governance and Participation of UNDP Viet Nam, co-chaired the workshop. The event brought together about 80 representatives from relevant ministries, departments, agencies and universities, along with UNDP officials and international organisations. It served as a platform to present Viet Nams latest national report, discuss progress in fulfilling its obligations under CAT, and gather expert feedback to enhance future efforts. Speaking at the workshop, Major General Ky highlighted Viet Nams responsibilities as a member of CAT since 2015, noting that the country has submitted three national reports to the CAT Committee, with the most recent report awaiting review. Raising public awareness about the reports findings and the countrys achievements in ensuring human rights protections during the implementation of the convention is also important, he said. Stein said submitting periodic reports is a core responsibility for member states under Article 19 of the Convention. The reports are a crucial way for countries to demonstrate their actions to respect, protect, and fulfill the human rights stipulated in the Convention, she said. Submitting two reports since ratifying the Convention in 2015 reaffirms Viet Nam's commitment to fulfilling its obligations as a responsible member state of the United Nations. Since the Convention came into force 40 years ago, the principle of absolute prohibition against torture has evolved into a widely accepted standard of customary international law. This universal commitment is evident in the Conventions large membership. With 174 States Parties, CAT is one of the most widely supported international human rights treaties. Countries have come to agree that no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. Viet Nam, like other member states, has undertaken its own journey in making these rights a reality within its borders, she said. The right to not be subjected to torture and cruel, inhumane, or degrading punishment is enshrined in Article 20 of Viet Nams 2013 Constitution. It is further reinforced in a wide range of legal documents across criminal, administrative and civil laws. However, obligations of member states toward international human rights treaty bodies, including the CAT, go beyond mere review and reporting responsibility. Its ultimate goal is to identify areas for improvement and to take concrete actions to translate these rights on paper into meaningful improvements in peoples lives. Stein said UNDP welcomes Decision No. 87, issued in 2023 by the Prime Minister to accelerate CAT implementation and recommendations of the CAT Committee nationwide. The Decision defined an action plan and assigned specific tasks to each government agency to implement the convention. Efforts to eradicate torture must first and foremost focus on prevention, which requires a holistic approach, combining education and capacity building with various legislative, administrative, judicial, and supervising measures, she said. A whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach is so important, she said. Active participation, genuine dialogue, and cooperation among various government sectors, subject matter experts and socio-political organisations are vital to promoting and protecting human rights on the ground, she said. Such collaboration plays a critical role in preventing acts of torture before they occur, she said. UNDP accompanied an MPS delegation to Geneva for technical discussions with the CAT Committee and Geneva-based UN entities earlier this month. It remains committed to supporting the Ministry in its efforts to implement the Conventions provisions. She also reiterated UNDPs unwavering commitment, alongside the entire UN, to support the Vietnamese Governments efforts in implementing CAT and ensuring the realisation of the rights of all people in Viet Nam. During the workshop, officials from various agencies delivered eight presentations on key aspects of CAT implementation. These included aligning Viet Nams legal framework with CAT principles, raising awareness about the Convention, safeguarding human rights in detention and custody facilities, and ensuring compliance with international human rights commitments. In his closing remarks, Colonel Ngo uc Thang, deputy director general of the Department of Legal Affairs and Administrative-Judicial Reforms under the Ministry of Public Security, expressed high appreciation for the valuable contributions of experts and international partners, including the support of UNDP, in raising critical issues and providing recommendations to further enhance Viet Nams implementation of the Convention. VNS HA NOI Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son received visiting Minister-President of Germanys State of Hesse Boris Rhein in Ha Noi on Thursday. Son affirmed that Hesse is an outstanding German locality in terms of cooperation with Viet Nam, especially after the two sides established a priority cooperation framework in 2012. He said he believes that the visit will contribute to creating a new driving force for the development of bilateral relations. Boris Rhein affirmed the state wishes to further deepen its cooperation with Viet Nam, a potential market where many of its enterprises have effective investment projects. He added that the Viet Nam-Germany University (VGU), a joint project between Viet Nam and Germany and the state of Hesse in the field of education and training, has become one of the prestigious high-quality human resources training establishments in Viet Nam. To enhance effective cooperation in the coming period, Son proposed that the Hesse government promptly draft an agreement on priority cooperation with Viet Nam; encourage its businesses to establish high-tech research and development (R&D) centres in the country; and continue supporting the development and expansion of the VGU to improve its organisational structure and operational process, and launch new majors in line with the needs of Viet Nam's economy, such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductor, and high technology. In the field of vocational education, where Hesse has strengths, he recommended that the Hesse government support the training of German language skills for Vietnamese vocational students and promote mutual recognition of qualifications and certificates between the two countries in this area. Regarding new areas of cooperation, Boris Rhein affirmed that Hesse is ready to share its experience and collaborate with Viet Nam in energy transition and green development; and support the country with financial resources, technology, and human resources training for climate change adaptation and sustainable development activities, as well as implementing commitments to net-zero emissions by 2050. He also appreciated the successful integration of the Vietnamese community in Hesse and confirmed that the state is willing to coordinate with Viet Nam to organise activities in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and Germany in 2025. VNS SINGAPORE - National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Mans upcoming visit to Singapore is another concrete manifestation of the excellent bilateral and inter-parliamentary ties between the two countries, Speaker of the Singaporean Parliament Seah Kian Peng has stated. In an interview granted to the Viet Nam News Agency on the threshold of the Vietnamese top legislators trip, Seah affirmed that Singapore and Viet Nam enjoy excellent bilateral relations underpinned by political trust, strong trade and investment links, and close people-to-people ties. Both countries share a similar strategic outlook and enjoy sustained high-level engagement between leaders. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations last year, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited Singapore in and then Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong visited Viet Nam in August, he said. To build on the momentum of high-level exchanges, Seah said he is delighted to welcome NA Chairman on an official visit to Singapore from December 1 to 3, noting that this visit follows his meeting with Man on the sidelines of the 45th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-45) held in Laos earlier this year. VNS HA NOI The National Assembly (NA) on Friday approved the Geology and Mineral Law with an overwhelming majority of 446 out of 448 deputies voting in favour, representing 93.11 per cent of its members. The legislation, including 12 chapters and 111 articles, provides regulations on geological investigations, mineral resource protection, mining operations, resource recovery, processing, financing and the auctioning of mineral extraction rights. It also delineates state management responsibilities across Viet Nams mainland, islands, internal waters, territorial sea, contiguous zones, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. The law excludes petroleum resources, natural water other than mineral or hot spring water, and mineral processing activities unlinked to projects eligible for mining permits. During the discussion, deputies recommended amendments to mineral planning regulations. Specifically, a proposal was made to rename categories to align with exploration, extraction, processing and utilisation activities. Article 12 now classifies them as 'Group I' and 'Group II Mineral Planning' for clarity and legal consistency. On the contentious issue of mining permit durations under Article 56, deputies agreed on a maximum validity of 30 years, extendable for an additional 20 years, making a total of 50 years. This aligns with international practice, as mining technology often becomes obsolete after three decades. To ensure resource efficiency, the law allows the re-issuance of permits for projects with remaining viable reserves beyond the stipulated time frame. On Friday morning, the Assembly also approved the Fire Prevention, Fighting and Rescue Law with 448 out of 450 deputies voting in favour, accounting for 93.53 per cent. The law consists of eight chapters and 55 articles laying out guidelines for fire prevention, firefighting and rescue operations, while clearly defining the responsibilities of state agencies, organisations, households and individuals. It highlights the public's role in fire safety, mandating that Vietnamese citizens aged 18 and above who are in good health participate in local firefighting and rescue teams when required. Administrative procedures have been simplified, reducing the number of fire safety-related processes from 37 to 10, thereby minimising compliance costs for businesses and individuals. For urban housing, the law mandates fire safety equipment such as alarms and extinguishers in densely populated areas with inadequate infrastructure. This requirement will initially apply to five centrally governed cities: Ha Noi, HCM City, a Nang, Can Tho and Hai Phong. Other regions are encouraged to adopt similar measures voluntarily. Additionally, strict regulations govern residential buildings repurposed for businesses like karaoke bars, nightclubs and dance halls. Such conversions must comply with construction laws and adhere to fire safety standards outlined in Article 23. The law also prohibits unauthorised modifications that could compromise fire safety, as stipulated in Article 14. VNS HA NOI State President Luong Cuong and Cambodian King Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneat Norodom Sihamoni toured Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature) in Ha Noi and enjoyed Viet Nam's tea there on Friday, as part of the Kings state visit. Cuong introduced the King to the historical significance of the relic site, highlighting it as a symbol of Ha Noi's thousand-year-old heritage and the countrys first university which houses 82 stone stelae of doctoral laureates, recognised by UNESCO as World Documentary Heritage. The site previously welcomed King Father Norodom Sihanouk and Queen Mother during their state visit to Viet Nam in December 1995. The State leader also shared with the King the unique style and art of drinking tea in Viet Nam. He expressed his delight at the stable development of the two countries relationship, with the trust and bond between their leaders and peoples being increasingly strengthened. President Cuong said he believes that the King, in his esteemed position, will continue to nurture this fine relationship and support efforts to educate the people, especially the younger generation, about the solidarity and mutual sacrifices between the two countries and peoples; and pay attention to further advancing the Viet Nam-Cambodia friendship. Earlier the same day, the Cambodia King and Viet Nam's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son visited Quan Su pagoda - the top sacred ancient pagoda in Ha Noi. VNA/VNS HAI PHONG Viet Nams Coast Guard Ships CSB 8004 and CSB 8003 docked at Squadron 11 Port in the northern city of Hai Phong, successfully concluding a joint patrol mission with the China Coast Guard. The activity took place from November 26-28 in the waters near the delimitation line of the Gulf of Tonkin. It was the second of its kind in 2024 and was conducted in a spirit of high responsibility by both sides, contributing to building a peaceful and stable sea region with respect to the law. This marks the ninth joint patrol between the two forces there, following the expiration of the Viet Nam-China agreement on fishery cooperation in the Gulf of Tonkin on June 30, 2020. The Vietnamese side in the joint patrol was led by Colonel Luong Cao Khai, Second-in-Command and Chief of Staff of the command of Coast Guard Region 1. Representatives from the Border Guard, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of northern coastal provinces, and Hai Phong Customs Department also joint the patrol. Meanwhile, the China Coast Guard sent its Ships 4301 and 4304 under the command of Zhan Dadong, Deputy Director of Nanhai Division, to the event which spanned 13 points along a distance of 255.5 nautical miles. During the mission, the forces held in-person and online talks, monitored the fishing vessels operating in the waters, and conducted popularisation and education activities to ensure fishermen from both sides comply with the law while operating at sea. The Viet Nam Coast Guard held a memorial ceremony for nine officers and crew members of a CASA-C212 flight coded 8983 who laid down their lives, as well as for fishermen who died while operating in the waters near Bach Long Vi island of Hai Phong. Additionally, over 20,000 fish fries were released into the waters to help restore marine life and maintain biodiversity in Vietnamese waters in the Gulf of Tonkin. Colonel Khai emphasised that the joint patrol demonstrates the close cooperation between the law enforcement forces of Viet Nam and China in the Gulf of Tonkin, contributing to strengthening the traditional friendship between the two countries and building a peaceful, stable, and law-abiding sea area in the Gulf of Tonkin. VNS HA NOI General Director of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Vu Viet Trang held talks with Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Chinas Xinhua News Agency Ren Weidong in Ha Noi on Friday, during the latters visit to Viet Nam under a high-ranking delegation exchange programme between the two news agencies. Trang affirmed that the visit comes at a significant time when relationship between the two countries has reached its most profound, comprehensive, and substantive level ever in line with the common perceptions reached by their high-ranking leaders. Based on the foundation, cooperation between the two news agencies has grown increasingly dynamic and practical. Highlighting a recent milestone, Trang mentioned the signing of a new professional cooperation agreement in August between the VNA and Xinhua, which not only honours the more than seven decades of collaboration but also heralds a new phase of cooperation, aligning with modern multimedia and technological trends in journalism, she said. Xinhuas information has helped diversify its Vietnamese counterpart's international news sources, she said, adding that the VNA focuses on covering the economic situation, climate change response, digital society building, and green economy promotion in China and the region. Ren proposed deepening collaboration, particularly for major joint events scheduled next year, saying the two news agencies should engage in activities to share information and effectively fulfill their dissemination duties, contributing to raising mutual understanding of both nations people. He expressed a desire for both sides to continue their joint work and mutual support at multilateral media platforms such as the Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA), especially as the year 2025 marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties (January 18) and the Viet Nam-China Year of Humanistic Exchange. In addition to the vibrant coverage of various celebration activities and exchanges at all levels, the two sides discussed plans for a photo exhibition featuring milestones in the 75-year development of the Viet Nam-China relations. The news agencies will also exchange journalists to write reports and special features throughout 2025. Ren extended an invitation to the VNA leader to visit Xinhua in the near future. Both sides also shared experiences in operations in the digital age, including the fight against fake news. The talks also included the signing of a memorandum of understanding on 2025 cooperation plans. At a reception for the Xinhua delegation later the same day, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committees Commission for Information and Education Phan Xuan Thuy commended the long-standing cooperative relationship between the VNA and Xinhua, which dates back to the early 1950s. Thuy praised their effective exchange of official information for both domestic and external new services, contributing to raising public awareness of each countrys situation, the Viet Nam-China relationship and their stances on global and regional issues. He wished that the VNA and Xinhua would maintain cooperation activities and share professional experiences through suitable forms. Ren, for his part, expressed hope for stronger cooperation between media agencies of both countries, facilitated by the commission, to promote the bilateral friendship effectively. In a separate meeting, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Nhan dan (People) newspaper Que inh Nguyen and Deputy Editor-in-Chief Ren discussed potential bilateral cooperation, particularly in multimedia information, the exchange and training of journalists, and digital transformation to align with modern communication methods. Accordingly, as Nhan dan and Xinhua share similar tasks, they can foster coordination in media coverage across various sectors, thus popularising Viet Nam, China, and their people, as well as the policies and guidelines of their Parties and Governments. Ren also took the occasion to invite leaders of Nhan dan newspaper to the upcoming annual international press event hosted by Xinhua. VNS Anh uc I was riding a bicycle in the early morning when an unknown call came. When I answered the call, an eerie robotic voice replied: "Dear Mister, please help us spread this message to Mrs. T., whose payments are behind..." I did not know the names of the people mentioned in the call. And then another call came, asking if I was willing to open a stock brokerage account, which services I have never registered for before. After having done some research, I found out that my phone number was exposed, leading to dozens of spam calls daily. But receiving spam calls and having your phone number and personal data exposed is not the most problematic result of loose data privacy protection, an aspect that both the public sector and the private sector in Viet Nam are currently working towards a compromise on, and eventually, a law on private data protection. Little photo, big problems A common practice in registering for loans or applying for jobs or programmes, requires people to send a picture or a scanned version of the Citizen Identification Card, which includes two sides of the card that contain the QR code, fingerprints, and multiple pieces of personal data. Some people also save these pictures and store them on their phones or computers in order to use them in the future if necessary. However, according to authorities, citizens are putting themselves at risk of getting defrauded or having to pay for loans they never applied for. Some finance apps now offer easier ways for people to apply for loans, to the point that they only require a two-sided copy of the Identification Card and information also available in the card, such as home address, birthday, etc. Some conmen even go further and register for a credit card using the information they have and the ID card photos that they have stolen. This led to victims receiving spam calls about a loan that was already overpaid, but they never applied for in the first place. Should the person deny and ignore the calls, their information may sometimes be defamed by an unknown party on social media. Friends and relatives of the person (and even friends of friends) are also contacted and harassed by these calls. In 2013 before graduation, my high school class decided to print out a yearbook that contained phone numbers and home address of everyone, as a way to keep us connected later on. As naive and silly kids, we never knew that ten years on the yearbook would bite us back. Just after the pandemic, spam calls started to spread in our class about a classmate named A having an unpaid financial loan. The callers were no-nonsense in their approach and even went as far as hurling insults towards the classmates that did not have any idea what was going on. We were stunned and did not know why our phone numbers were exposed and identified, until I rolled up my sleeves and did a quick Google search on my name and phone number. It turned out that the printing company that did our yearbook decided to post the whole yearbook online in the form of a PDF for advertising purposes. The spam caller did the same thing as me. A search on A's phone number with her name and found the yearbook, which he then used the remainder of the phone numbers to harass. It's startling when you know how companies handle your private data. After the leak was found, I immediately contacted the printing company and got the yearbook taken down with an apology. But who knows what damage might have been done during the past decade? According to a conference in September held by the Department of Cyber Security and Crime Prevention, during the first half of 2024, three terabytes of data were breached in hacker attacks, with the damages totalling US$10 million. Notable cases of data breaches found 12.3 million lines of data stolen within 201,903 packages, leaked by ransomware and malware. As data shows, even big corporations fail to do enough to protect customer data and the government's new Draft Law on Personal Data Protection comes in as a new way to regulate and protect citizens from complications of the new digital era. The saviour of the new resource At a recent scientific conference titled 'National Data Strategy Contributing to the Development of the Personal Data Protection Law,' held in Ha Noi in October by the Ministry of Public Security, protection of personal data was brought to the forefront of the debate. "Data is regarded as the 'new oil' of the 21st century, crucial in driving economic growth, innovating governance and improving quality of life," said Nguyen Hong Quan, Strategic Advisor on National Data & Policy Circles and former Deputy Director-General of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defence. The draft Law on Personal Data Protection, heavily discussed in the conference, is currently under construction and is slated to be effective on January 1, 2026, with a vision to enhance the legal framework governing personal data in Viet Nam. The draft law categorises personal data into two types: basic personal data and sensitive personal data. It outlines the rights and obligations of individuals and organisations involved in data processing, emphasising the necessity of obtaining explicit consent from data subjects. Additionally, the draft law proposes stringent penalties for violations, including substantial fines and potential criminal charges, to ensure compliance and protect individuals' privacy rights. An additional report from petrol firm Petrolimex on the impact of personal data protection laws on businesses revealed the significant adjustments enterprises are required to make under the evolving regulatory landscape. The report emphasised that transparency and ethical data practices are not only compliance requirements, but also essential for building consumer trust in a competitive marketplace. It warned that failing to meet these obligations risks financial penalties and reputational damage, with long-term consequences for consumer confidence. The report notes: "Personal data protection is increasingly seen as a cornerstone of business ethics in the digital age". However, significant challenges remain in implementing data protection laws effectively. A high financial cost, lack of awareness and expertise, as well as complexities in managing cross-border data transfers hinders businesses from successfully implementing the measures to comply with regulations. This is even harder for small- and medium-sized enterprises, whose limited resources create greater hurdles. "The effective protection of personal data requires collaboration between legal frameworks and practical business implementations," said Quan, who also acknowledged these challenges. To improve personal data protection, several recommendations emerged from the discussions. Public awareness campaigns were identified as crucial for educating individuals and businesses about their roles in protecting personal data. Training programmes for employees and stakeholders were also highlighted as essential for understanding and implementing privacy measures. Quan urged enterprises to adopt a proactive stance by integrating data protection into their core strategies, describing it as both a legal obligation and a moral responsibility to safeguard individual rights in the digital age. Additionally, collaboration between governments and enterprises to create practical, enforceable regulations was emphasised as vital for addressing emerging challenges. However, the most reasonable and practical way is for every individual to take charge and protect their own personal data and not rely upon any third party. Methods such as making passwords more complex and updating firewalls are crucial in preventing data breaches from hacks, and internet users are also advised not to publicise personal data such as supplying a phone number, email or personal ID, or sending them to other individuals or organisations without a legal privacy policy. As the age of AI and cloud computing emerges, data is becoming a new resource of the future, with governments and businesses racing for control. Personal data is not an exception, and its value should be treated as if we are all holding a gold bar in our hands. It is crucial that individuals, businesses and governments must work together to protect this new resource and only then will we be able to harness it to advance into a new era of digital greatness. VNS Paul Kennedy & Kieu Trinh* Sharing is caring. And thats exactly what doctors in Viet Nam and from the UK have been doing in a bid to improve health, enhance medical procedures and improve all-round knowledge. A team of surgeons who specialise in ear, nose and throat treatment has been in Ha Noi to meet with local medics offering invaluable advice and know-how. The visit was organised by UK charity Facing the World, which for the past 20 years has been working closely with the Vietnamese authorities, arranging regular visits. The highlight of the trip was a two-day conference at Hong Ngoc General Hospital, offering opportunities for doctors to learn, exchange experiences and adopt new techniques in treatment. In Viet Nam, over 20 per cent of the population suffers from chronic rhinosinusitis each year, while head and neck cancers account for 10 per cent of all cancer cases. With the rapid increase in these cases, improving the quality of diagnosis and treatment for rhinosinusitis and head and neck diseases has become an urgent necessity. To address this demand, the International Conference on Updates in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Rhinosinusitis and Head and Neck Diseases was held on November 23-24, 2024 at Hong Ngoc Phuc Truong Minh General Hospital. This event provided an invaluable opportunity for medical professionals to exchange knowledge, enhance treatment quality, and collectively contribute to improving public health. The conference was attended by notable figures, including British Ambassador Iain Frew; Dr Ha Anh uc, director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management; Assoc Prof Dr Le Minh Ky, vice president of the Hanoi Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Society; and Assoc Prof Dr Le Cong inh, also vice president of the ENT Society. Additionally, the event brought together nearly 200 leading ENT specialists in Viet Nam and from abroad, as well as distinguished speakers from the Ha Noi ENT Society and northern provinces, the Facing the World organisation, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of the United Kingdom, and the German ENT and Head and Neck Surgery Association. ENT surgeon Karan Kapoor from the UK attended the conference. He felt it was an excellent opportunity to share knowledge globally. The fact is that around the world we are all learning and we want to accelerate that learning. We want to see what people in other parts of the world are doing and we want to share what we are doing, he said. That kind of collaboration helps us all improve, and improve the outcomes of patients not only in the UK but in Viet Nam and that filters down to places where they might not have the access to the things we have in the UK. Whats really quite special here is everything has been translated from English into Vietnamese so even those doctors who might not have the ability to read the papers, they are getting that first-hand information from experts based in Ha Noi and from the United Kingdom. Nguyen Xuan Quang, head of the ENT department at Hong Ngoc Hospital, said: Air pollution in Ha Noi is getting worse. This is a big problem that government agencies are trying to solve. The increase in air pollution is related to the number of people suffering from nasal and sinus diseases. About 20 per cent of the population suffers from mild to severe sinusitis, affecting the quality of life and increasing the need for early diagnosis and thorough treatment. On the other hand, head and neck tumours account for 5 per cent of all cancers, due to the influence of the environment, food and genes. Doctors at Hong Ngoc and other hospitals are very fortunate to work with leading experts in the world. Through this seminar as well as short-term and long-term courses, Vietnamese doctors have the opportunity to learn and update their professional knowledge. Both sides learn from each other. With the conference, Vietnamese doctors have access to new treatment methods and new research to apply in daily practice. This event was for much more than a one-way street. Medics from the UK were impressed with what they saw and returned home more knowledgeable. We can learn from surgeons here who do a lot more surgery because the population is so big. And so there are some things that they are much more experienced than us about," UK-based ENT surgeon Peter Clarke said. But then there are ways of management that we are able to offer expertise around which hopefully they can benefit from as well. The visiting surgeons also spent time at Viet uc Hospital, where they sat in on consultations and operations. Dr Nguyen Hong Ha, head of jaw and head surgery department at Viet uc, said working with Facing the World has been a win-win for everyone concerned. The team has helped bring leading experts in the field to teach and share their experience with Vietnamese doctors. After the team organises programmes to bring these experts here, there will also be aid programmes that support medical equipment so that Vietnamese doctors can practise and implement these new techniques," Ha said. Before deploying these new techniques, Facing the World also organises trips for Vietnamese doctor teams to the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, and other countries to observe and participate in surgeries abroad. With sufficient knowledge, practical experience, and supported equipment, we can fully keep up when these new techniques are implemented. Facing the World team has also helped bring the Royal College of Surgeons of England to our hospital and has recognised the hospital as a global teaching centre of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Because of this recognition and collaboration, we not only gain knowledge but also have the opportunity to transfer and train the younger generations of doctors in Viet Nam and throughout the region. In fact, doctors from Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia have already expressed their desire to come here for internships to acquire new knowledge in the fields of craniofacial surgery and aesthetic reconstructive surgery. I believe this is a comprehensive and full development and collaboration that would be maintained. With such development, it will be very effective, contributing not only to our field in Viet Nam but even across the entire region. VNS Additional reporting by Minh Phuong Facing the World 20 years of dedicationUK-based charity Facing the World has been working to change lives in Viet Nam for the past two decades.Hundreds of procedures have been carried out by visiting doctors to repair and improve the deformed faces of children and adults.The collaboration between the charity and Viet Nams medical professionals has developed rapidly and grows stronger with every mission.Facing the World works in partnership with the hospitals of Hong Ngoc, Viet uc and Military 108 .During this latest trip, Facing the World and Military Hospital 108 extended their Memorandum of Understanding on medical specialist advisory and training programmes. Katrin Kandel, executive director of Facing the World, said: Facing the World has been active in Viet Nam for close to 20 years. We have a passion for helping the children who are born with facial deformities.This is all being done by upscaling and training the Vietnamese doctors. We are working with three different hospitals and three different systems.Dr Ha of Viet uc Hospital added: We believe that the collaboration with the Facing the World organisation will bring many benefits to the development of our speciality in craniofacial surgery and aesthetic reconstructive surgery.UK surgeon Karan Kapoor said: I am working with Facing the World, a phenomenal charity I have been involved with for the last year.We are here in Ha Noi, we are working with the team here at Hong Ngoc, and the wider Ha Noi ENT societies, trying to improve understanding about not only nasal disease, but head-neck disease, and to really collaborate with them and share some of the things that weve learned, and hopefully they can share some of the things theyve learned and we can work together. HCM CITY The Singapore International Foundations (SIF) specialist education project has enhanced autism education in HCM City by strengthening the capabilities of 170 special education practitioners from 15 schools and one hospital. The five-year Teaching and Learning for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (TLCASD) project was organised with the Ho Chi Minh City University of Education (HCMUE) and Rainbow Centre Singapore. It empowers educators to create inclusive learning environments for children with ASD through skills training and the exchange of best practices. The project aims to equip special educators with a deeper understanding of autism and effective strategies to work with children with ASD. It also develops a system for education professionals to address the specific needs of ASD students as well as create a framework to involve parents and caregivers, in a holistic approach to supporting children with ASD. About 170 Vietnamese teachers attended training workshops conducted by Singapore International Volunteers (SIVs) from Rainbow Centre Singapore. Some of these teachers also took part in a symposium and a study visit to Singapore. These enhanced teaching strategies and taught them how to foster an inclusive learning environment for children with ASD. Ten teachers were also selected as Master Trainers, who will share their expertise with their peers in the sector. This ensures the sustainability of the project. All participating teachers reported improved knowledge, skills and confidence to support students with ASD. Eighty per cent of the schools involved implemented changes to better address the needs of children with ASD, including evidence-based practices to improve classroom communication and structured learning environments. Classrooms were restructured to include designated learning corners and visual aids to encourage communication and social interaction among students. Teachers also introduced activity-based interventions that use everyday tasks to teach skills. These activities were tailored to students interests and routines to foster functional skill development. To extend support beyond the classroom, teachers conducted workshops and provided parents with strategies and resources to better guide their children at home. These efforts advanced inclusive and sustainable education for children. Speaking at the closing event, Jaryll Chan, Executive Director, Programmes Division, Singapore International Foundation said: This project is a testament to what can be achieved when communities across borders work together towards a common purpose. "Through the dedication and expertise of our partners and volunteers, we are building an inclusive foundation for education, where children with ASD receive the support they need to thrive. We are honoured to contribute to this meaningful cause with HCMUE and Rainbow Centre Singapore. Dr Bui Tran Quynh Ngoc, Vice President of Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, added: We are deeply grateful towards the SIF, Rainbow Centre, and all the dedicated experts and educators. This project has enhanced teacher competency, developed valuable educational resources, and raised community awareness, creating a better learning environment for children with autism spectrum disorder. "It is a testament to the enduring collaboration and friendship between Viet Nam and Singapore, and we look forward to continuing this partnership to advance special education and brighter futures for these children. Tan Sze Wee, Executive Director, Rainbow Centre Singapore, said: "Rainbow Centre's mission is to build good lives for persons with disabilities and we are proud to be part of this multi-year effort to share our team's knowledge and experience to contribute towards inclusive practices in Viet Nam. Regardless of geography and culture, we share a common mission towards empowering children with autism and their families." VNS HA NOI Viet Nam's health sector has mastered many new techniques in treating leukaemia and haematological diseases, especially new therapies related to cell therapy. Participants heard at the National Scientific Conference on Hematology and Blood Transfusion organised by the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT) and the Vietnam Association of Hematology and Blood Transfusion in Ha Noi on November 28. The event was attended by 1,600 leading domestic and international experts and scientists in the field of haematology and blood transfusion. Speaking at the event, NIHBT Director Nguyen Ha Thanh said that the haematology and blood transfusion industry has recently approached international standards for blood transfusion in applying new techniques to diagnose and treat haematological diseases as well as ensure blood transfusion safety. Thanh said that the NIHBT has earned many achievements in stem cell transplantation, which requires complex techniques and tissue from many different stem cell sources. The treatment of post-transplant complications has also achieved great progress, giving patients a new chance at life. "The NIHBT alone has successfully performed 660 stem cell transplants and successfully transferred autologous stem cell transplant techniques to many hospitals across the country, helping patients access this modern treatment method," Thanh said. In its treatment work, the NIHBT has continued to develop expertise and apply advances in world medicine. Thanks to continuously updating treatment regimens, including the use of new and targeted drugs and improving blood transfusion efficiency, the quality of treatment for haematological diseases is getting better and better, according to Thanh. The Institute has made breakthroughs in its blood transfusion work, increasing blood donation mobilisation, building blood donor sources and coordinating and ensuring blood transfusion safety nationwide. As a result, the rate of voluntary blood donors has reached over 97 per cent of the country's total donors. In the future, the haematology and blood transfusion industry will focus on developing advanced new techniques, such as hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, cell therapy such as CAR-T therapy and targeted treatment with new drugs. These are much more precise and effective treatments than traditional methods, helping to improve the quality of life for patients, Thanh said. The conference focused discussion on the fields of clinical haematology, paraclinical haematology, genetics and molecular biology, blood transfusion, stem cells, thalassemia, haemophilia and blood coagulation. In particular, five international experts presented reports updating knowledge on issues of stem cell transplantation from extracorporeal umbilical cord blood, targeted treatment, thrombosis and bleeding complications related to pacemaker implantation and cerebrovascular intervention. The event aims to improve knowledge and skills and update scientific research in the field of haematology and blood transfusion. It is also an opportunity for domestic and international scientists to meet, exchange expertise, and present thematic reports with an overview of new research in the field. VNS The Ministry of Science and Technology, in collaboration with the Hai Phong City People's Committee [municipal administration], organised Viet Nam's Creative Startup Festival (TechFest) 2024 on Wednesday. This years theme was "Joining Hands to Develop the Vietnamese Creative Startup Ecosystem". The programme was part of a series of events that took place in Hai Phong from Tuesday to Thursday. It aimed to identify the challenges and opportunities faced by multiple provinces and cities in building and developing their local startup ecosystems. The goal was to find innovative solutions and breakthroughs while linking domestic and international resources to establish a nationwide network of local creative startup support centres. With modern infrastructure, favourable investment policies, and strong commitment from local authorities, Hai Phong has been in the vanguard in developing startup ecosystems. Viet Nam's innovative startup ecosystem has experienced significant growth, facilitating the emergence of pioneering businesses that use new technologies and innovative business models, ready to compete in the global market. In 2024, Viet Nam's Global Startup Ecosystem Index rose two places, from 58th to 56th, ranking fifth in Southeast Asia and 12th in the Asia-Pacific region. Viet Nam's Global Innovation Index has also consistently improved. It climbed four places compared to 2022, ranking 44th out of 133 countries and territories. VNS JAKARTA Indonesia and Singapore are conducting a joint search and rescue (SAR) exercise in the formers Natuna district, Riau Islands, on Thursday and Friday. The drill aims to improve the understanding and knowledge of the National Search and Rescue Agency of Indonesia (Basarnas)s personnel and local stakeholders in conducting search and rescue missions for aviation accidents at sea. The Indonesian side features Basarnas, Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), National Police (Polri), and other supporting elements such as AirNav Indonesia, the Meteorological, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), the Indonesian Coast Guard (Bakamla), Transportation Ministry, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, and local governments, according to a Basarnas representative. The exercise is a simulation for facing a disaster or flight accident in the Natuna region. VNS SEOUL -- NewJeans has unilaterally terminated its exclusive contract with Ador, a subsidiary of Hybe, and announced plans to embark on a new journey outside the company, during a press conference held in Seoul, Thursday. "Our contract will be terminated as of midnight, today. It was Ador and Hybe that violated the contract, so we are ending it," member Minji said. "Moreover, we have never breached our exclusive contract and have always given our best efforts. There is no reason for us to pay any penalties. It is Ador and Hybe who have violated the terms, and the responsibility lies with them, she added. Hanni elaborated on their decision, citing Adors lack of will and ability to fulfill its fundamental duty of protecting NewJeans. Staying here feels like a waste of time and a source of continued mental anguish. Most importantly, there is nothing for us to gain professionally, which is why all five of us have no reason to remain, Hanni said. Hyein hinted at potential challenges regarding the continued use of their group name, NewJeans, but expressed their determination to fight for its trademark rights. The essence of NewJeans will always be with us, and we will not give away our name easily. It represents everything from the beginning of our journey to where we are now, Hyein said. The group also reassured fans and business partners that they would honour their planned schedules and advertisement commitments. We want to tell advertisers that they dont have to worry. We are committed to ensuring that our contract termination with Ador does not negatively impact others, member Danielle said. NewJeans also expressed a desire to collaborate with former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin in the future. We havent spoken to Min about our contract termination with Ador, but we would certainly love to work with her again if possible, Minji added. The termination comes just eight days after Min resigned from her position as an internal director at Ador. Reinstating Min as CEO, a role she was removed from in August, was one of several demands made by the group. NewJeans had warned that failure to meet these demands by Thursday would constitute a breach of their contract, leading to its termination. On Nov. 13, NewJeans sent a certification of contents to Ador, citing major contract violations and demanding corrective actions within 14 days. Their demands included reinstating Min Hee-jin as CEO, issuing a formal apology from the manager of Illit over alleged workplace harassment against member Hanni, and pursuing legal action to identify the author of an internal document that reportedly instructed Ador to discard NewJeans and start anew. Illit is a rookie girl group under Belift Lab, a Hybe subsidiary and sister company of Ador. However, Ador failed to meet the groups demands. On Wednesday, one day before the deadline, Ador only urged Belift Lab to adopt a sincere and respectful approach to the workplace harassment allegations involving Hanni, falling short of the actions NewJeans had requested. The Korea Herald/ANN